@article {pmid38607979, year = {2024}, author = {Brockhurst, MA and Cameron, DD and Beckerman, AP}, title = {Fitness trade-offs and the origins of endosymbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e3002580}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3002580}, pmid = {38607979}, issn = {1545-7885}, abstract = {Endosymbiosis drives evolutionary innovation and underpins the function of diverse ecosystems. The mechanistic origins of symbioses, however, remain unclear, in part because early evolutionary events are obscured by subsequent evolution and genetic drift. This Essay highlights how experimental studies of facultative, host-switched, and synthetic symbioses are revealing the important role of fitness trade-offs between within-host and free-living niches during the early-stage evolution of new symbiotic associations. The mutational targets underpinning such trade-offs are commonly regulatory genes, such that single mutations have major phenotypic effects on multiple traits, thus enabling and reinforcing the transition to a symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid38606974, year = {2024}, author = {Cardoso, PM and Hill, LJ and Villela, HDM and Vilela, CLS and Assis, JM and Rosado, PM and Rosado, JG and Chacon, MA and Majzoub, ME and Duarte, GAS and Thomas, T and Peixoto, RS}, title = {Localization and symbiotic status of probiotics in the coral holobiont.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0026124}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00261-24}, pmid = {38606974}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Corals establish symbiotic relationships with microorganisms, especially endosymbiotic photosynthetic algae. Although other microbes have been commonly detected in coral tissues, their identity and beneficial functions for their host are unclear. Here, we confirm the beneficial outcomes of the inoculation of bacteria selected as probiotics and use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to define their localization in the coral Pocillopora damicornis. Our results show the first evidence of the inherent presence of Halomonas sp. and Cobetia sp. in native coral tissues, even before their inoculation. Furthermore, the relative enrichment of these coral tissue-associated bacteria through their inoculation in corals correlates with health improvements, such as increases in photosynthetic potential, and productivity. Our study suggests the symbiotic status of Halomonas sp. and Cobetia sp. in corals by indicating their localization within coral gastrodermis and epidermis and correlating their increased relative abundance through active inoculation with beneficial outcomes for the holobiont. This knowledge is crucial to facilitate the screening and application of probiotics that may not be transient members of the coral microbiome.

IMPORTANCE: Despite the promising results indicating the beneficial outcomes associated with the application of probiotics in corals and some scarce knowledge regarding the identity of bacterial cells found within the coral tissue, the correlation between these two aspects is still missing. This gap limits our understanding of the actual diversity of coral-associated bacteria and whether these symbionts are beneficial. Some researchers, for example, have been suggesting that probiotic screening should only focus on the very few known tissue-associated bacteria, such as Endozoicomonas sp., assuming that the currently tested probiotics are not tissue-associated. Here, we provide specific FISH probes for Halomonas sp. and Cobetia sp., expand our knowledge of the identity of coral-associated bacteria and confirm the probiotic status of the tested probiotics. The presence of these beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs) inside host tissues and gastric cavities also supports the notion that direct interactions with the host may underpin their probiotic role. This is a new breakthrough; these results argue against the possibility that the positive effects of BMCs are due to factors that are not related to a direct symbiotic interaction, for example, that the host simply feeds on inoculated bacteria or that the bacteria change the water quality.}, } @article {pmid38606713, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, Z}, title = {Progress and challenges in the symbiosis of AI with science and medicine.}, journal = {European journal of clinical investigation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e14222}, doi = {10.1111/eci.14222}, pmid = {38606713}, issn = {1365-2362}, support = {32071045//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; Projects 2021ZD0204200//National Key R&D Program of China STI2030 Major/ ; JCYJ20210324134603010//Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program/ ; }, } @article {pmid38606343, year = {2024}, author = {Su, C and Xie, T and Jiang, L and Wang, Y and Wang, Y and Nie, R and Zhao, Y and He, B and Ma, J and Yang, Q and Hao, J}, title = {Host genetics and larval host plant modulate microbiome structure and evolution underlying the intimate insect-microbe-plant interactions in Parnassius species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {e11218}, pmid = {38606343}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Insects harbor a remarkable diversity of gut microbiomes critical for host survival, health, and fitness, but the mechanism of this structured symbiotic community remains poorly known, especially for the insect group consisting of many closely related species that inhabit the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Here, we firstly analyzed population-level 16S rRNA microbial dataset, comprising 11 Parnassius species covering 5 subgenera, from 14 populations mostly sampled in mountainous regions across northwestern-to-southeastern China, and meanwhile clarified the relative importance of multiple factors on gut microbial community structure and evolution. Our findings indicated that both host genetics and larval host plant modulated gut microbial diversity and community structure. Moreover, the effect analysis of host genetics and larval diet on gut microbiomes showed that host genetics played a critical role in governing the gut microbial beta diversity and the symbiotic community structure, while larval host plant remarkably influenced the functional evolution of gut microbiomes. These findings of the intimate insect-microbe-plant interactions jointly provide some new insights into the correlation among the host genetic background, larval host plant, the structure and evolution of gut microbiome, as well as the mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in closely related species of this alpine butterfly group.}, } @article {pmid38606339, year = {2024}, author = {Jin, P and Wang, L and Chen, D and Chen, Y}, title = {Unveiling the complexity of early childhood caries: Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans cooperative strategies in carbohydrate metabolism and virulence.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {2339161}, pmid = {38606339}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms underlying the virulence changes in early childhood caries (ECC) caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), with a focus on carbohydrate metabolism and environmental acidification.

METHODS: A review of literature was conducted to understand the symbiotic relationship between C. albicans and S. mutans, and their role in the pathogenesis of ECC. The review also examined how their interactions influence carbohydrate metabolism and environmental acidification in the oral cavity.

RESULTS: C. albicans and S. mutans play crucial roles in the onset and progression of ECC. C. albicans promotes the adhesion and accumulation of S. mutans, while S. mutans creates an environment favorable for the growth of C. albicans. Their interactions, especially through carbohydrate metabolism, strengthen their pathogenic potential. The review highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms for the development of effective management and treatment protocols for ECC.

CONCLUSION: The symbiotic relationship between C. albicans and S. mutans, and their interactions through carbohydrate metabolism and environmental acidification, are key factors in the pathogenesis of ECC. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective strategies to manage and treat ECC.}, } @article {pmid38606226, year = {2024}, author = {Sandeep, F and Kiran, N and Rahaman, Z and Devi, P and Bendari, A}, title = {Pathology in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Redefining Roles and Responsibilities for Tomorrow's Practitioners.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {e56040}, pmid = {38606226}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {The evolution of pathology from its rudimentary beginnings around 1700 BC to the present day has been marked by profound advancement in understanding and diagnosing diseases. This journey, from the earliest dissections to the modern era of histochemical analysis, sets the stage for the next transformative leap to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology. Recent research highlights AI's significant potential to revolutionize healthcare within the next decade, with a particular impact on diagnostic processes. A majority of pathologists foresee AI becoming a cornerstone in diagnostic workflow, driven by the advent of image-based algorithms and computational pathology. These innovations promise to enhance the precision of disease diagnosis, particularly in complex cases, such as cancers, by offering detailed insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms. Moreover, AI-assisted tools are improving the efficiency and accuracy of histological analysis by automating the evaluation of immunohistochemical biomarkers and tissue architecture. This shift not only accelerates diagnostic processes but also facilitates early disease management, crucial for improving patient outcomes. Furthermore, AI is reshaping educational paradigms in pathology, offering interactive learning environments that promise to enrich the training of future pathologists. Despite these advancements, the integration of AI in pathology raises ethical considerations regarding patient consent and data privacy. As pathology embarks on this AI-augmented era, it is imperative to navigate these challenges thoughtfully, ensuring that AI enhances rather than replaces the pathologist's role. This editorial discussed the historical progression of pathology, the current impact of AI on diagnostic practices, and the ethical implications of its adoption, underscoring the need for a symbiotic relationship between pathologists and AI to unlock the full potential of healthcare.}, } @article {pmid38605578, year = {2024}, author = {Belahmadi, MSO and Abdessemed, A}, title = {Enhancement of benzo[a]pyrene mineralization: symbiotic biodegradation by Acinetobacter sp. strain HAP1 in Association with Cyanobacteriota sp. S66.}, journal = {Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1080/03601234.2024.2336554}, pmid = {38605578}, issn = {1532-4109}, abstract = {The ability of Acinetobacter sp. strain HAP1, isolated from petroleum refinery effluent, to eliminate different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/L) of Benzo[a]Pyrene degradation (BaP) was studied. A test to improve this degradation capacity was carried out by culturing the bacterial strain in association with a cyanobacteria. The results show a highly significant effect of the concentration of (BaP) and a very highly significant effect of the symbiosis between the bacterial strain and the cyanobacteria. This combination was able to significantly improve the (BaP) degradation rate by up to 18%. This degradation and especially in association leads to a complete mineralization of (BaP) and there is a difference in yield that can go up to 15%. Through molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains HAP1 and S66 were recognized as Acinetobacter sp. strain HAP1 and Cyanobacteriota sp. S66, respectively. Comparison of the retrieved sequences with the NCBI GenBank database was done, and the closest matches were found to be Acinetobacter pittii strain JD-10 for bacteria and Pseudochroococcus couteii strain PMC 885.14 for cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid38604562, year = {2024}, author = {Song, G and Shin, D and Kim, JS}, title = {Microbiome changes in Akanthomyces attenuatus JEF-147-infected two-spotted spider mites.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {108102}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2024.108102}, pmid = {38604562}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) is an agriculturally serious polyphagous pest that has acquired strong resistance against acaricides because of its short life cycle and continuous exposure to acaricides. As an alternative, mite-pathogenic fungi with different modes of action could be used to control the mites. The spider mite has symbiotic microorganisms that could be involved in the physiological and ecological adaptations to biotic stresses. In this study, mite-pathogenic fungi were used to control female adults, and the microbiomes changes in the fungus-infected mites were analyzed. The acaricidal activity of 77 fungal isolates was tested, and Akanthomyces attenuatus JEF-147 exhibited the highest acaricidal activity. Subsequently a dose-response assay and morphological characterization was undertaken For microbiome analysis in female adults infected with A. attenuatus JEF-147, 16S rDNA and ITS1 were sequenced using Illumina Miseq. Infected mite showed a higher Shannon index in bacterial diversity but lower index in fungal diversity. In beta diversity using principal component analysis, JEF-147-treated mites were significantly different from non-treated controls in both bacteria and fungi. Particularly in bacterial abundance, arthropod defense-related Rickettsia increased, but arthropod reproduction-associated Wolbachia decreased. The change in major bacterial abundance in the infected mites could be explained by a trade-off between reproduction and immunity against the early stage of fungal attack. In fungal abundance, Akanthomyces showed up as expected. Foremost, this work reports microbiome changes in a fungus-infected mite and suggests a possible trade-off in mites against fungal pathogens. Future studies will focus on gene-based investigations related to this topic.}, } @article {pmid38604480, year = {2024}, author = {Yin, L and Zhou, A and Wei, Y and Varrone, C and Li, D and Luo, J and He, Z and Liu, W and Yue, X}, title = {Deep insights into the roles and microbial ecological mechanisms behind waste activated sludge digestion triggered by persulfate oxidation activated through multiple modes.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {118905}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118905}, pmid = {38604480}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Persulfate oxidation (PS) is widely employed as a promising alternative for waste activated sludge pretreatment due to the capability of generating free radicals. The product differences and microbiological mechanisms by which PS activation triggers WAS digestion through multiple modes need to be further investigated. This study comprehensively investigated the effects of persulfate oxidation activated through multiple modes, i.e., ferrous, zero-valent iron (ZVI), ultraviolet (UV) and heat, on the performance of sludge digestion. Results showed that PS_ZVI significantly accelerated the methane production rate to 12.02 mL/g VSS. By contrast, PS_Heat promoted the sludge acidification and gained the maximum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) yield (277.11 ± 7.81 mg COD/g VSS), which was 3.41-fold compared to that in PS_ZVI. Moreover, ferrous and ZVI activated PS achieved the oriented conversion of acetate, the proportions of which took 73% and 78%, respectively. MiSeq sequencing results revealed that PS_Heat and PS_UV evidently enriched anaerobic fermentation bacteria (AFB) (i.e., Macellibacteroides and Clostridium XlVa). However, PS_Ferrous and PS_ZVI facilitated the enrichment of Woesearchaeota and methanogens. Furthermore, molecular ecological network and mantel test revealed the intrinsic interactions among the multiple functional microbes and environmental variables. The homo-acetogens and sulfate-reducing bacterial had potential cooperative and symbiotic relationships with AFB, while the nitrate-reducing bacteria displayed distinguishing ecological niches. Suitable activation modes for PS pretreatments resulted in an upregulation of genes expression responsible for digestion. This study established a scientific foundation for the application of sulfate radical-based oxidation on energy or high value-added chemicals recovery from waste residues.}, } @article {pmid38604355, year = {2024}, author = {Yin, Z and Liang, J and Zhang, M and Chen, B and Yu, Z and Tian, X and Deng, X and Peng, L}, title = {Pan-genome insights into adaptive evolution of bacterial symbionts in mixed host-microbe symbioses represented by human gut microbiota Bacteroides cellulosilyticus.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {172251}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172251}, pmid = {38604355}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Animal hosts harbor diverse assemblages of microbial symbionts that play crucial roles in the host's lifestyle. The link between microbial symbiosis and host development remains poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the adaptive evolution of gut bacteria in host-microbe symbioses. Recently, symbiotic relationships have been categorized as open, closed, or mixed, reflecting their modes of inter-host transmission and resulting in distinct genomic features. Members of the genus Bacteroides are the most abundant human gut microbiota and possess both probiotic and pathogenic potential, providing an excellent model for studying pan-genome evolution in symbiotic systems. Here, we determined the complete genome of an novel clinical strain PL2022, which was isolated from a blood sample and performed pan-genome analyses on a representative set of Bacteroides cellulosilyticus strains to quantify the influence of the symbiotic relationship on the evolutionary dynamics. B. cellulosilyticus exhibited correlated genomic features with both open and closed symbioses, suggesting a mixed symbiosis. An open pan-genome is characterized by abundant accessory gene families, potential horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and diverse mobile genetic elements (MGEs), indicating an innovative gene pool, mainly associated with genomic islands and plasmids. However, massive parallel gene loss, weak purifying selection, and accumulation of positively selected mutations were the main drivers of genome reduction in B. cellulosilyticus. Metagenomic read recruitment analyses showed that B. cellulosilyticus members are globally distributed and active in human gut habitats, in line with predominant vertical transmission in the human gut. However, existence and/or high abundance were also detected in non-intestinal tissues, other animal hosts, and non-host environments, indicating occasional horizontal transmission to new niches, thereby creating arenas for the acquisition of novel genes. This case study of adaptive evolution under a mixed host-microbe symbiosis advances our understanding of symbiotic pan-genome evolution. Our results highlight the complexity of genetic evolution in this unusual intestinal symbiont.}, } @article {pmid38604305, year = {2024}, author = {Tang, CC and Hu, YR and Zhang, M and Chen, SL and He, ZW and Li, ZH and Tian, Y and Wang, XC}, title = {Role of phosphate in microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system treating wastewater containing heavy metals.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {123951}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123951}, pmid = {38604305}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Phosphorus is one of the important factors to successfully establish the microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system. The migration and transformation of phosphorus can occur in various ways, and the effects of phosphate on the MABS system facing environmental impacts like heavy metal stress are often ignored. This study investigated the roles of phosphate on the response of the MABS system to Zn[2+]. The results showed that the pollutant removal effect in the MABS system was significantly reduced, and microbial growth and activity were inhibited with the presence of zinc ion (Zn[2+]). When phosphate and Zn[2+] coexisted, the inhibition effects of pollutants removal and microbial growth rate were mitigated compared to that of only with the presence of Zn[2+], with the increasing rates of 28.3% for total nitrogen removal, 37% for chemical oxygen demand removal, 78.3% for chlorophyll a concentration, and 13.3% for volatile suspended solids concentration. When phosphate was subsequently supplemented in the MABS system after adding Zn[2+], both pollutants removal efficiency and microbial growth and activity were not recovered. Thus, the inhibition effect of Zn[2+] on the MABS system was irreversible. Further analysis showed that Zn[2+] preferentially combined with phosphate could form chemical precipitate, which reduced the fixation of MABS system for Zn[2+] through extracellular adsorption and intracellular uptake. Under Zn[2+] stress, the succession of microbial communities occurred, and Parachlorella was more tolerant to Zn[2+]. This study revealed the comprehensive response mechanism of the co-effects of phosphate and Zn[2+] on the MABS system, and provided some insights for the MABS system treating wastewater containing heavy metals, as well as migration and transformation of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38603520, year = {2024}, author = {Dingemanse, NJ and Guse, A}, title = {Linking cell biology and ecology to understand coral symbiosis evolution.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e3002593}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3002593}, pmid = {38603520}, issn = {1545-7885}, abstract = {Understanding the evolution of coral endosymbiosis requires a predictive framework that integrates life-history theory and ecology with cell biology. The time has come to bridge disciplines and use a model systems approach to achieve this aim.}, } @article {pmid38603509, year = {2024}, author = {Coale, TH and Loconte, V and Turk-Kubo, KA and Vanslembrouck, B and Mak, WKE and Cheung, S and Ekman, A and Chen, JH and Hagino, K and Takano, Y and Nishimura, T and Adachi, M and Le Gros, M and Larabell, C and Zehr, JP}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing organelle in a marine alga.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {384}, number = {6692}, pages = {217-222}, doi = {10.1126/science.adk1075}, pmid = {38603509}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions were key to the evolution of chloroplast and mitochondria organelles, which mediate carbon and energy metabolism in eukaryotes. Biological nitrogen fixation, the reduction of abundant atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) to biologically available ammonia, is a key metabolic process performed exclusively by prokaryotes. Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa, or UCYN-A, is a metabolically streamlined N2-fixing cyanobacterium previously reported to be an endosymbiont of a marine unicellular alga. Here we show that UCYN-A has been tightly integrated into algal cell architecture and organellar division and that it imports proteins encoded by the algal genome. These are characteristics of organelles and show that UCYN-A has evolved beyond endosymbiosis and functions as an early evolutionary stage N2-fixing organelle, or "nitroplast."}, } @article {pmid38602881, year = {2024}, author = {Han, Q and Shi, X and Kang, K and Cao, Y and Cong, L and Wang, J}, title = {Silver Nanoparticles In Situ Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence of the Porphyrin Organic Matrix for Highly Sensitive and Rapid Monitoring of Tetracycline Residues.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01525}, pmid = {38602881}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Accurate monitoring of tetracycline (TC) residues in the environment is crucial for avoiding contaminant risk. Herein, a novel TC biosensor was facilely designed by integrating silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) into the porphyrin metal-organic matrix (Ag@AgPOM) as a bifunctional electrochemiluminescence (ECL) probe. Different from the step-by-step synthesis of the co-reaction accelerator and ECL emitter, the co-reaction accelerators Ag NPs were in situ-grown on the surface of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) via a simple one-pot approach. Symbiotic Ag NPs on Ag@AgPOM formed an intimate interface and increased the collision efficiency of the ECL reaction, achieving the ECL enhancement of TCPP. Under the optimized conditions, the ternary ECL biosensor showed a wide linear detection range toward TC with a low detection limit of 0.14 fmol L[-1]. Compared with the traditional HPLC and ELISA methods, satisfied analytical adaptability made this sensing strategy feasible to monitor TC in complex environmental samples.}, } @article {pmid38602651, year = {2024}, author = {Massoud, R and Jafari, R and Khosravi-Darani, K}, title = {Kombucha as a Health-Beneficial Drink for Human Health.}, journal = {Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38602651}, issn = {1573-9104}, abstract = {Kombucha is a unique fermented beverage made from a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. Kombucha is normally based on black tea added to water, then sugar is added as a substrate for fermentation in this beverage. This unique beverage is composed of amino acids, flavonoids, vitamins, and some active enzymes. Several beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, antimicrobial effects have been reported as a result of probiotics and prebiotics presence. These health effects of kombucha are attributed to its bioactive chemical and biological agents of probiotics bacteria e.g., Gluconobacter, Acetobacter and yeasts like Saccharomyces sps., along with glucuronic acid as the main sources of the health protection. This review focuses on the beneficial effects of Kombucha including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer antidiabetic properties, as well as liver protection, treat of gastrointestinal problems, AIDS, gastric ulcers, obesity (and energy production), detoxification, and skin health.}, } @article {pmid38602389, year = {2024}, author = {Li, T and Ye, ZX and Feng, KH and Mao, QZ and Hu, QL and Zhuo, JC and Zhang, CX and Chen, JP and Li, JM}, title = {Molecular and biological characterization of a bunyavirus infecting the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens).}, journal = {The Journal of general virology}, volume = {105}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/jgv.0.001977}, pmid = {38602389}, issn = {1465-2099}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Orthobunyavirus ; Phylogeny ; *Hemiptera ; Insecta ; *RNA Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {A negative-strand symbiotic RNA virus, tentatively named Nilaparvata lugens Bunyavirus (NLBV), was identified in the brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NLBV is a member of the genus Mobuvirus (family Phenuiviridae, order Bunyavirales). Analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNA suggested that antiviral immunity of BPH was successfully activated by NLBV infection. Tissue-specific investigation showed that NLBV was mainly accumulated in the fat-body of BPH adults. Moreover, NLBV was detected in eggs of viruliferous female BPHs, suggesting the possibility of vertical transmission of NLBV in BPH. Additionally, no significant differences were observed for the biological properties between NLBV-infected and NLBV-free BPHs. Finally, analysis of geographic distribution indicated that NLBV may be prevalent in Southeast Asia. This study provided a comprehensive characterization on the molecular and biological properties of a symbiotic virus in BPH, which will contribute to our understanding of the increasingly discovered RNA viruses in insects.}, } @article {pmid38601943, year = {2024}, author = {Pang, F and Li, Q and Solanki, MK and Wang, Z and Xing, YX and Dong, DF}, title = {Soil phosphorus transformation and plant uptake driven by phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1383813}, pmid = {38601943}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for plants, and a lack of available P greatly limits plant growth and development. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) significantly enhance the ability of plants to absorb and utilize P, which is important for improving plant nutrient turnover and yield. This article summarizes and analyzes how PSMs promote the absorption and utilization of P nutrients by plants from four perspectives: the types and functions of PSMs, phosphate-solubilizing mechanisms, main functional genes, and the impact of complex inoculation of PSMs on plant P acquisition. This article reviews the physiological and molecular mechanisms of phosphorus solubilization and growth promotion by PSMs, with a focus on analyzing the impact of PSMs on soil microbial communities and its interaction with root exudates. In order to better understand the ability of PSMs and their role in soil P transformation and to provide prospects for research on PSMs promoting plant P absorption. PSMs mainly activate insoluble P through the secretion of organic acids, phosphatase production, and mycorrhizal symbiosis, mycorrhizal symbiosis indirectly activates P via carbon exchange. PSMs can secrete organic acids and produce phosphatase, which plays a crucial role in soil P cycling, and related genes are involved in regulating the P-solubilization ability. This article reviews the mechanisms by which microorganisms promote plant uptake of soil P, which is of great significance for a deeper understanding of PSM-mediated soil P cycling, plant P uptake and utilization, and for improving the efficiency of P utilization in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid38601932, year = {2024}, author = {Guo, H and Liu, W and Xie, Y and Wang, Z and Huang, C and Yi, J and Yang, Z and Zhao, J and Yu, X and Sibirina, LA}, title = {Soil microbiome of shiro reveals the symbiotic relationship between Tricholoma bakamatsutake and Quercus mongolica.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1361117}, pmid = {38601932}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Tricholoma bakamatsutake is a delicious and nutritious ectomycorrhizal fungus. However, its cultivation is hindered owing to limited studies on its symbiotic relationships. The symbiotic relationship between T. bakamatsutake and its host is closely related to the shiro, a complex network composed of mycelium, mycorrhizal roots, and surrounding soil. To explore the symbiotic relationship between T. bakamatsutake and its host, soil samples were collected from T. bakamatsutake shiro (Tb) and corresponding Q. mongolica rhizosphere (CK) in four cities in Liaoning Province, China. The physicochemical properties of all the soil samples were then analyzed, along with the composition and function of the fungal and bacterial communities. The results revealed a significant increase in total potassium, available nitrogen, and sand in Tb soil compared to those in CK soil, while there was a significant decrease in pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and silt. The fungal community diversity in shiro was diminished, and T. bakamatsutake altered the community structure of its shiro by suppressing other fungi, such as Russula (ectomycorrhizal fungus) and Penicillium (phytopathogenic fungus). The bacterial community diversity in shiro increased, with the aggregation of mycorrhizal-helper bacteria, such as Paenibacillus and Bacillus, and plant growth-promoting bacteria, such as Solirubrobacter and Streptomyces, facilitated by T. bakamatsutake. Microbial functional predictions revealed a significant increase in pathways associated with sugar and fat catabolism within the fungal and bacterial communities of shiro. The relative genetic abundance of carboxylesterase and gibberellin 2-beta-dioxygenase in the fungal community was significantly increased, which suggested a potential symbiotic relationship between T. bakamatsutake and Q. mongolica. These findings elucidate the microbial community and relevant symbiotic environment to better understand the relationship between T. bakamatsutake and Q. mongolica.}, } @article {pmid38601539, year = {2024}, author = {Jansen, CA and Zanzarin, DM and Março, PH and Porto, C and do Prado, RM and Carvalhaes, F and Pilau, EJ}, title = {Metabolomic kinetics investigation of Camellia sinensis kombucha using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics approaches.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e28937}, pmid = {38601539}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Kombucha is created through the fermentation of Camellia sinensis tea leaves, along with sucrose, utilizing a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeast cultures. Nonetheless, there exists a dearth of comprehensive information regarding the spectrum of metabolites that constitute this beverage. To explore this intricate system, metabolomics was used to investigate fermentation kinetics of Kombucha. For that, an experimental framework was devised to assess the impact of varying sucrose concentrations and fermentation temperatures over a ten-day period of kombucha fermentation. Following fermentation, samples were analyzed using an LC-QTOF-MS system and a distinctive metabolomic profile was observed. Principal component analysis was used to discriminate between metabolite profiles. Moreover, the identified compounds were subjected to classification using the GNPS platform. The findings underscore notable differences in compound class concentrations attributable to distinct fermentation conditions. Furthermore, distinct metabolic pathways were identified, specially some related to the biotransformation of flavonoids. This comprehensive investigation offers valuable insights into the pivotal role of SCOBY in driving metabolite production and underscores the potential bioactivity harbored within Kombucha.}, } @article {pmid38601215, year = {2024}, author = {Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Arellano, JB and Mellado-Ortega, E and Barro, F and Martínez-Castilla, A and González-Blanco, V and Vázquez de Aldana, BR}, title = {Symbiotic fungi from a wild grass (Celtica gigantea) increase the growth, grain yield and quality of tritordeum under field conditions.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {plae013}, pmid = {38601215}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Plants function in symbiosis with numerous microorganisms, which might contribute to their adaptation and performance. In this study, we tested whether fungal strains in symbiotic interaction with roots of Celtica gigantea, a wild grass adapted to nutrient-poor soils in semiarid habitats, could improve the field performance of the agricultural cereal tritordeum (Triticum durum × Hordeum chilense). Seedlings of tritordeum were inoculated with 12 different fungal strains isolated from roots of Celtica gigantea that were first proved to promote the growth of tritordeum plants under greenhouse conditions. The inoculated seedlings were transplanted to field plots at two locations belonging to different climatic zones in terms of mean temperatures and precipitation in the Iberian Peninsula. Only one strain, Diaporthe iberica T6, had a significant effect on plant height, number of tillers and grain yield in one location. This result showed a substantial divergence between the results of greenhouse and field tests. In terms of grain nutritional quality, several parameters were differentially affected at both locations: Diaporthe T6, Pleosporales T7, Zygomycota T29 and Zygomycota T80 increased the content of total carotenoids, mainly lutein, in the colder location; whereas gluten proteins increased with several treatments in the warmer location. In conclusion, early inoculation of tritordeum plants with fungal symbionts had substantial beneficial effects on subsequent plant growth and development in the field. Regarding grain nutritional quality, the effect of inoculation was affected by the agroclimatic differences between both field locations.}, } @article {pmid38600764, year = {2024}, author = {Güngör, E and Savary, J and Adema, K and Dijkhuizen, LW and Keilwagen, J and Himmelbach, A and Mascher, M and Koppers, N and Bräutigam, A and Van Hove, C and Riant, O and Nierzwicki-Bauer, S and Schluepmann, H}, title = {The crane fly glycosylated triketide δ-lactone cornicinine elicits akinete differentiation of the cyanobiont in aquatic Azolla fern symbioses.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14907}, pmid = {38600764}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; //Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; }, abstract = {The restriction of plant-symbiont dinitrogen fixation by an insect semiochemical had not been previously described. Here we report on a glycosylated triketide δ-lactone from Nephrotoma cornicina crane flies, cornicinine, that causes chlorosis in the floating-fern symbioses from the genus Azolla. Only the glycosylated trans-A form of chemically synthesized cornicinine was active: 500 nM cornicinine in the growth medium turned all cyanobacterial filaments from Nostoc azollae inside the host leaf-cavities into akinetes typically secreting CTB-bacteriocins. Cornicinine further inhibited akinete germination in Azolla sporelings, precluding re-establishment of the symbiosis during sexual reproduction. It did not impact development of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana or several free-living cyanobacteria from the genera Anabaena or Nostoc but affected the fern host without cyanobiont. Fern-host mRNA sequencing from isolated leaf cavities confirmed high NH4-assimilation and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in this trichome-rich tissue. After cornicinine treatment, it revealed activation of Cullin-RING ubiquitin-ligase-pathways, known to mediate metabolite signaling and plant elicitation consistent with the chlorosis phenotype, and increased JA-oxidase, sulfate transport and exosome formation. The work begins to uncover molecular mechanisms of cyanobiont differentiation in a seed-free plant symbiosis important for wetland ecology or circular crop-production today, that once caused massive CO2 draw-down during the Eocene geological past.}, } @article {pmid38599637, year = {2024}, author = {Yue, C and Du, C and Wang, X and Tan, Y and Liu, X and Fan, H}, title = {Powdery mildew-induced changes in phyllosphere microbial community dynamics of cucumber.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiae050}, pmid = {38599637}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {As an important habitat for microorganisms, the phyllosphere has a great impact on plant growth and health, and changes in phyllosphere microorganisms are closely related to the occurrence of leaf diseases. However, there remains a limited understanding regarding alterations to the microbial community in the phyllosphere resulting from pathogen infections. Here, we analyzed and compared the differences in phyllosphere microorganisms of powdery mildew cucumber from three disease severity levels (0% < L1 < 30%, 30% ≤ L2 < 50%, L3 ≥ 50%, the number represents the lesion coverage rate of powdery mildew on leaves). There were significant differences in α diversity and community structure of phyllosphere communities under different disease levels. Disease severity altered the community structure of phyllosphere microorganisms, Rosenbergiella, Rickettsia, and Cladosporium accounted for the largest proportion in the L1 disease grade, while Bacillus, Pantoea, Kocuria, and Podosphaera had the highest relative abundance in the L3 disease grade. The co-occurrence network analysis of the phyllosphere microbial community indicated that the phyllosphere bacterial community was most affected by the severity of disease. Our results suggested that with the development of cucumber powdery mildew, the symbiotic relationship between species was broken, and the entire bacterial community tended to compete.}, } @article {pmid38599021, year = {2024}, author = {de Carvalho Neta, SJ and Araújo, VLVP and Fracetto, FJC and da Silva, CCG and de Souza, ER and Silva, WR and Lumini, E and Fracetto, GGM}, title = {Growth-promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus enhance maize tolerance to saline stress.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {284}, number = {}, pages = {127708}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2024.127708}, pmid = {38599021}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Climate change intensifies soil salinization and jeopardizes the development of crops worldwide. The accumulation of salts in plant tissue activates the defense system and triggers ethylene production thus restricting cell division. We hypothesize that the inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) producing ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase favors the development of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), promoting the growth of maize plants under saline stress. We investigated the efficacy of individual inoculation of PGPB, which produce ACC deaminase, as well as the co-inoculation of PGPB with Rhizophagus clarus on maize plant growth subjected to saline stress. The isolates were acquired from the bulk and rhizospheric soil of Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) Kuntze in a temporary pond located in Pernambuco State, Brazil. In the first greenhouse experiment, 10 halophilic PGPB were inoculated into maize at 0, 40 and 80 mM of NaCl, and in the second experiment, the PGPB that showed the best performance were co-inoculated with R. clarus in maize under the same conditions as in the first experiment. Individual PGPB inoculation benefited the number of leaves, stem diameter, root and shoot dry mass, and the photosynthetic pigments. Inoculation with PGPB 28-10 Pseudarthrobacter enclensis, 24-1 P. enclensis and 52 P. chlorophenolicus increased the chlorophyll a content by 138%, 171%, and 324% at 0, 40 and 80 mM NaCl, respectively, comparing to the non-inoculated control. We also highlight that the inoculation of PGPB 28-10, 28-7 Arthrobacter sp. and 52 increased the content of chlorophyll b by 72%, 98%, and 280% and carotenoids by 82%, 98%, and 290% at 0, 40 and 80 mM of NaCl, respectively. Co-inoculation with PGPB 28-7, 46-1 Leclercia tamurae, 70 Artrobacter sp., and 79-1 Micrococcus endophyticus significantly increased the rate of mycorrhizal colonization by roughly 50%. Furthermore, co-inoculation promoted a decrease in the accumulation of Na and K extracted from plant tissue, with an increase in salt concentration, from 40 mM to 80 mM, also favoring the establishment and development of R. clarus. In addition, co-inoculation of these PGPB with R. clarus promoted maize growth and increased plant biomass through osmoregulation and protection of the photosynthetic apparatus. The tripartite symbiosis (plant-fungus-bacterium) is likely to reprogram metabolic pathways that improve maize growth and crop yield, suggesting that the AMF-PGPB consortium can minimize damages caused by saline stress.}, } @article {pmid38598552, year = {2024}, author = {Vandana, V and Dong, S and Sheth, T and Sun, Q and Wen, H and Maldonado, A and Xi, Z and Dimopoulos, G}, title = {Wolbachia infection-responsive immune genes suppress Plasmodium falciparum infection in Anopheles stephensi.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {e1012145}, doi = {10.1371/journal.ppat.1012145}, pmid = {38598552}, issn = {1553-7374}, abstract = {Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted symbiotic bacterium of insects, can suppress a variety of human pathogens in mosquitoes, including malaria-causing Plasmodium in the Anopheles vector. However, the mechanistic basis of Wolbachia-mediated Plasmodium suppression in mosquitoes is not well understood. In this study, we compared the midgut and carcass transcriptomes of stably infected Anopheles stephensi with Wolbachia wAlbB to uninfected mosquitoes in order to discover Wolbachia infection-responsive immune genes that may play a role in Wolbachia-mediated anti-Plasmodium activity. We show that wAlbB infection upregulates 10 putative immune genes and downregulates 14 in midguts, while it upregulates 31 putative immune genes and downregulates 15 in carcasses at 24 h after blood-fed feeding, the time at which the Plasmodium ookinetes are traversing the midgut tissue. Only a few of these regulated immune genes were also significantly differentially expressed between Wolbachia-infected and non-infected midguts and carcasses of sugar-fed mosquitoes. Silencing of the Wolbachia infection-responsive immune genes TEP 4, TEP 15, lysozyme C2, CLIPB2, CLIPB4, PGRP-LD and two novel genes (a peritrophin-44-like gene and a macro domain-encoding gene) resulted in a significantly greater permissiveness to P. falciparum infection. These results indicate that Wolbachia infection modulates mosquito immunity and other processes that are likely to decrease Anopheles permissiveness to Plasmodium infection.}, } @article {pmid38598294, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, L and Lawhorn, S and Bongrand, C and Kosmopoulos, JC and Kuwabara, J and VanNieuwenhze, M and Mandel, MJ and McFall-Ngai, M and Ruby, E}, title = {Bacterial growth dynamics in a rhythmic symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular biology of the cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {mbcE24010044}, doi = {10.1091/mbc.E24-01-0044}, pmid = {38598294}, issn = {1939-4586}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes serves as a valuable system to investigate bacterial growth and peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis within animal tissues. To better understand the growth dynamics of V. fischeri in the crypts of the light-emitting organ of its juvenile host, we showed that, after the daily dawn-triggered expulsion of most of the population, the remaining symbionts rapidly proliferate for about 6 h. At that point the population enters a period of extremely slow growth that continues throughout the night until the next dawn. Further, we found that PG synthesis by the symbionts decreases as they enter the slow-growing stage. Surprisingly, in contrast to the most mature crypts (i.e., Crypt 1) of juvenile animals, most of the symbiont cells in the least mature crypts (i.e., Crypt 3) were not expelled and, instead, remained in the slow-growing state throughout the day, with almost no cell division. Consistent with this observation, the expression of the gene encoding the PG-remodeling enzyme, L,D-transpeptidase (LdtA), was greatest during the slowly growing stage of Crypt 1 but, in contrast, remained continuously high in Crypt 3. Finally, deletion of the ldtA gene resulted in a symbiont that grew and survived normally in culture, but was increasingly defective in competing against its parent strain in the crypts. This result suggests that remodeling of the PG to generate additional 3-3 linkages contributes to the bacterium's fitness in the symbiosis, possibly in response to stresses encountered during the very slow-growing stage. [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text].}, } @article {pmid38594563, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, YW and Bai, DS and Zhang, Y and Luo, XG}, title = {The role of afforestation with diverse woody species in enhancing and restructuring the soil microenvironment in polymetallic coal gangue dumps.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38594563}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {To elucidate the effects of long-term (20 years) afforestation with different woody plant species on the soil microenvironment in coal gangue polymetallic contaminated areas. This study analyzed the soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, soil ionophore, bacterial community structure, soil metabolite, and their interaction relationships at different vertical depths. Urease, sucrase, and acid phosphatase activities in the shallow soil layers increased by 4.70-7.45, 3.83-7.64, and 3.27-4.85 times, respectively, after the restoration by the four arboreal plant species compared to the plant-free control soil. Additionally, it reduced the content of available elements in the soil and alleviated the toxicity stress for Cd, Ni, Co, Cr, As, Fe, Cu, U, and Pb. After the long-term restoration of arboreal plants, the richness and Shannon indices of soil bacteria significantly increased by 4.77-23.81% and 2.93-7.93%, respectively, broadening the bacterial ecological niche. The bacterial community structure shaped by different arboreal plants exhibited high similarity, but the community similarity decreased with increasing vertical depth. Soils Zn, U, Sr, S, P, Mg, K, Fe, Cu, Ca, Ba, and pH were identified as important influencing factors for the community structure of Sphingomonas, Pseudarthrobacter, Nocardioides, and Thiobacillus. The metabolites such as sucrose, raffinose, L-valine, D-fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate, and oxoglutaric acid were found to have the greatest effect on the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soils for arboreal plants. The results of the study demonstrated that long-term planting for woody plants in gangue dumps could regulate microbial abundance and symbiotic patterns through the accumulation of rhizosphere metabolites in the soil, increase soil enzyme activity, reduce heavy metal levels, and improve the soil environment in coal gangue dumps.}, } @article {pmid38594444, year = {2024}, author = {Li, D and Wang, X and Chen, K and Shan, D and Cui, G and Yuan, W and Lin, Q and Gimple, RC and Dixit, D and Lu, C and Gu, D and You, H and Gao, J and Li, Y and Kang, T and Yang, J and Yu, H and Song, K and Shi, Z and Fan, X and Wu, Q and Gao, W and Zhu, Z and Man, J and Wang, Q and Lin, F and Tao, W and Mack, SC and Chen, Y and Zhang, J and Li, C and Zhang, N and You, Y and Qian, X and Yang, K and Rich, JN and Zhang, Q and Wang, X}, title = {IFI35 regulates non-canonical NF-κB signaling to maintain glioblastoma stem cells and recruit tumor-associated macrophages.}, journal = {Cell death and differentiation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38594444}, issn = {1476-5403}, support = {82072779//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 82172667//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; BE2022770//Government of Jiangsu Province (Jiangsu Province)/ ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor characterized by a highly heterogeneous and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The symbiotic interactions between glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) in the TME are critical for tumor progression. Here, we identified that IFI35, a transcriptional regulatory factor, plays both cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic roles in maintaining GSCs and the immunosuppressive TME. IFI35 induced non-canonical NF-kB signaling through proteasomal processing of p105 to the DNA-binding transcription factor p50, which heterodimerizes with RELB (RELB/p50), and activated cell chemotaxis in a cell-autonomous manner. Further, IFI35 induced recruitment and maintenance of M2-like TAMs in TME in a paracrine manner. Targeting IFI35 effectively suppressed in vivo tumor growth and prolonged survival of orthotopic xenograft-bearing mice. Collectively, these findings reveal the tumor-promoting functions of IFI35 and suggest that targeting IFI35 or its downstream effectors may provide effective approaches to improve GBM treatment.}, } @article {pmid38594221, year = {2024}, author = {Mujica, MI and Silva-Flores, P and Bueno, CG and Duchicela, J}, title = {Integrating perspectives in developing mycorrhizal trait databases: a call for inclusive and collaborative continental efforts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19754}, pmid = {38594221}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {Ramón y Cajal fellowship #RYC2021-032533-I//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; 11230870//Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico/ ; 3200774//Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico/ ; }, abstract = {Global assessments of mycorrhizal symbiosis present large sampling gaps in rich biodiversity regions. Filling these gaps is necessary to build large-scale, unbiased mycorrhizal databases to obtain reliable analyses and prevent misleading generalizations. Underrepresented regions in mycorrhizal research are mainly in Africa, Asia, and South America. Despite the high biodiversity and endemism in these regions, many groups of organisms remain understudied, especially mycorrhizal fungi. In this Viewpoint, we emphasize the importance of inclusive and collaborative continental efforts in integrating perspectives for comprehensive trait database development and propose a conceptual framework that can help build large mycorrhizal databases in underrepresented regions. Based on the four Vs of big data (volume, variety, veracity, and velocity), we identify the main challenges of constructing a large mycorrhizal dataset and propose solutions for each challenge. We share our collaborative methodology, which involves employing open calls and working groups to engage all mycorrhizal researchers in the region to build a South American Mycorrhizal Database. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and embracing a continental-scale approach, we can create robust mycorrhizal trait databases that provide valuable insights into the evolution, ecology, and functioning of mycorrhizal associations, reducing the geographical biases that are so common in large-scale ecological studies.}, } @article {pmid38593123, year = {2024}, author = {Archibald, JM}, title = {Symbiotic revolutions at the interface of genomics and microbiology.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e3002581}, pmid = {38593123}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Genomics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is an old idea with a contentious history. New genomic technologies and research paradigms are fueling a shift in some of its central tenets; we need to be humble and open-minded about what the data are telling us.}, } @article {pmid38593079, year = {2024}, author = {Zhong, Q and Liao, B and Liu, J and Shen, W and Wang, J and Wei, L and Ma, Y and Dong, PT and Bor, B and McLean, JS and Chang, Y and Shi, W and Cen, L and Wu, M and Liu, J and Li, Y and He, X and Le, S}, title = {Episymbiotic Saccharibacteria TM7x modulates the susceptibility of its host bacteria to phage infection and promotes their coexistence.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {16}, pages = {e2319790121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2319790121}, pmid = {38593079}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01DE023810//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)/ ; R01DE030943//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)/ ; 31870167//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; R01AI087946//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; R01AI132818//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Bacteriophages/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophages (phages) play critical roles in modulating microbial ecology. Within the human microbiome, the factors influencing the long-term coexistence of phages and bacteria remain poorly investigated. Saccharibacteria (formerly TM7) are ubiquitous members of the human oral microbiome. These ultrasmall bacteria form episymbiotic relationships with their host bacteria and impact their physiology. Here, we showed that during surface-associated growth, a human oral Saccharibacteria isolate (named TM7x) protects its host bacterium, a Schaalia odontolytica strain (named XH001) against lytic phage LC001 predation. RNA-Sequencing analysis identified in XH001 a gene cluster with predicted functions involved in the biogenesis of cell wall polysaccharides (CWP), whose expression is significantly down-regulated when forming a symbiosis with TM7x. Through genetic work, we experimentally demonstrated the impact of the expression of this CWP gene cluster on bacterial-phage interaction by affecting phage binding. In vitro coevolution experiments further showed that the heterogeneous populations of TM7x-associated and TM7x-free XH001, which display differential susceptibility to LC001 predation, promote bacteria and phage coexistence. Our study highlights the tripartite interaction between the bacterium, episymbiont, and phage. More importantly, we present a mechanism, i.e., episymbiont-mediated modulation of gene expression in host bacteria, which impacts their susceptibility to phage predation and contributes to the formation of "source-sink" dynamics between phage and bacteria in biofilm, promoting their long-term coexistence within the human microbiome.}, } @article {pmid38592857, year = {2024}, author = {Azri, R and Lamine, M and Bensalem-Fnayou, A and Hamdi, Z and Mliki, A and Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Aroca, R}, title = {Genotype-Dependent Response of Root Microbiota and Leaf Metabolism in Olive Seedlings Subjected to Drought Stress.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {38592857}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Under stress or in optimum conditions, plants foster a specific guild of symbiotic microbes to strengthen pivotal functions including metabolic regulation. Despite that the role of the plant genotype in microbial selection is well documented, the potential of this genotype-specific microbial assembly in maintaining the host homeostasis remains insufficiently investigated. In this study, we aimed to assess the specificity of the foliar metabolic response of contrasting olive genotypes to microbial inoculation with wet-adapted consortia of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), to see if previously inoculated plants with indigenous or exogenous microbes would display any change in their leaf metabolome once being subjected to drought stress. Two Tunisian elite varieties, Chetoui (drought-sensitive) and Chemleli (drought-tolerant), were tested under controlled and stressed conditions. Leaf samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) to identify untargeted metabolites. Root and soil samples were used to extract microbial genomic DNA destined for bacterial community profiling using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Respectively, the score plot analysis, cluster analysis, heat map, Venn diagrams, and Krona charts were applied to metabolic and microbial data. Results demonstrated dynamic changes in the leaf metabolome of the Chetoui variety in both stress and inoculation conditions. Under the optimum state, the PGPR consortia induced noteworthy alterations in metabolic patterns of the sensitive variety, aligning with the phytochemistry observed in drought-tolerant cultivars. These variations involved fatty acids, tocopherols, phenols, methoxyphenols, stilbenoids, triterpenes, and sugars. On the other hand, the Chemleli variety displaying comparable metabolic profiles appeared unaffected by stress and inoculation probably owing to its tolerance capacity. The distribution of microbial species among treatments was distinctly uneven. The tested seedlings followed variety-specific strategies in selecting beneficial soil bacteria to alleviate stress. A highly abundant species of the wet-adapted inoculum was detected only under optimum conditions for both cultivars, which makes the moisture history of the plant genotype a selective driver shaping microbial community and thereby a useful tool to predict microbial activity in large ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38592805, year = {2024}, author = {Slimani, A and Ait-El-Mokhtar, M and Ben-Laouane, R and Boutasknit, A and Anli, M and Abouraicha, EF and Oufdou, K and Meddich, A and Baslam, M}, title = {Signals and Machinery for Mycorrhizae and Cereal and Oilseed Interactions towards Improved Tolerance to Environmental Stresses.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {38592805}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In the quest for sustainable agricultural practices, there arises an urgent need for alternative solutions to mineral fertilizers and pesticides, aiming to diminish the environmental footprint of farming. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) emerge as a promising avenue, bestowing plants with heightened nutrient absorption capabilities while alleviating plant stress. Cereal and oilseed crops benefit from this association in a number of ways, including improved growth fitness, nutrient uptake, and tolerance to environmental stresses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms shaping the impact of AMF on these crops offers encouraging prospects for a more efficient use of these beneficial microorganisms to mitigate climate change-related stressors on plant functioning and productivity. An increased number of studies highlighted the boosting effect of AMF on grain and oil crops' tolerance to (a)biotic stresses while limited ones investigated the molecular aspects orchestrating the different involved mechanisms. This review gives an extensive overview of the different strategies initiated by mycorrhizal cereal and oilseed plants to manage the deleterious effects of environmental stress. We also discuss the molecular drivers and mechanistic concepts to unveil the molecular machinery triggered by AMF to alleviate the tolerance of these crops to stressors.}, } @article {pmid38592801, year = {2024}, author = {Guo, L and Liu, S and Zhang, P and Hakeem, A and Song, H and Yu, M and Wang, F}, title = {Effects of Different Mulching Practices on Soil Environment and Fruit Quality in Peach Orchards.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {38592801}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {CARS-30//Falin Wang/ ; }, abstract = {Mulching practices have been used to improve peach growth and production across the globe. However, the impact of mulching on the physiochemical properties and soil characteristics of orchards remains largely unknown. This study aimed to decipher the impacts of various mulching patterns on the soil environment and the quality of Prunus persica fruit in "Zijinhuangcui". Three treatments were set up, which included black ground fabric mulch (BF) and two living grass mulch treatments (HV: hairy vetch and RG: ryegrass). The results showed that different mulching treatments have different effects on soil, plant growth, and fruit quality. Living grass mulch treatments, especially the HV treatment, significantly improved soil nutrients by enhancing nitrogen-related indicators. Of note, the BF treatment had higher total phosphorus and available phosphorus contents than the HV and RG treatments. The HV treatment had the highest relative abundance of Proteobacteria (33.49%), which is associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation, followed by RG (25.62%), and BF (22.38%) at the young fruit stage. Similarly, the abundance of Terrimonas, which has a unique nitrogen fixation system at the genus level, was significantly higher in the living grass mulch (HV, 1.30-3.13% and RG, 2.27-4.24%) than in the BF treatment. Living grass mulch also promoted tree growth, increased fruit sugar content, sugar-related components, and sugar-acid ratio, and reduced the acid content. Collectively, the findings of this study show that living grass mulch can promote tree growth and improve fruit quality by improving soil fertility, bacterial diversity, and richness.}, } @article {pmid38592780, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, DJ and Tong, CL and Wang, QS and Bie, S}, title = {Mycorrhizas Affect Physiological Performance, Antioxidant System, Photosynthesis, Endogenous Hormones, and Water Content in Cotton under Salt Stress.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {38592780}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {CARS-15-12//National Cotton Industry Technology System Project/ ; 31901507//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Saline-alkali stress seriously endangers the normal growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could enhance salt tolerance by establishing symbiotic relationships with plants. Based on it, a pot experiment was conducted to simulate a salt environment in which cotton was inoculated with Paraglomus occultum to explore its effects on the saline-alkali tolerance of cotton. Our results showed that salt stress noticeably decreased cotton seedling growth parameters (such as plant height, number of leaves, dry weight, root system architecture, etc.), while AMF exhibited a remarkable effect on promoting growth. It was noteworthy that AMF significantly mitigated the inhibitory effect of salt on cotton seedlings. However, AMF colonization in root and soil hyphal length were collectively descended via salt stress. With regard to osmotic regulating substances, Pro and MDA values in roots were significantly increased when seedlings were exposed to salt stress, while AMF only partially mitigated these reactions. Salt stress increased ROS levels in the roots of cotton seedlings and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, POD, and CAT), while AMF mitigated the increases in ROS levels but further strengthened antioxidant enzyme activity. AMF inoculation increased the photosynthesis parameters of cotton seedling leaves to varying degrees, while salt stress decreased them dramatically. When inoculated with AMF under a salt stress environment, only partial mitigation of these photosynthesis values was observed. Under saline-alkali stress, AMF improved the leaf fluorescence parameters (φPSII, Fv'/Fm', and qP) of cotton seedlings, leaf chlorophyll levels, and root endogenous hormones (IAA and BR); promoted the absorption of water; and maintained nitrogen balance, thus alleviating the damage from salt stress on the growth of cotton plants to some extent. In summary, mycorrhizal cotton seedlings may exhibit mechanisms involving root system architecture, the antioxidant system, photosynthesis, leaf fluorescence, endogenous hormones, water content, and nitrogen balance that increase their resistance to saline-alkali environments. This study provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the application of AMF to enhance the salt tolerance of cotton.}, } @article {pmid38591035, year = {2024}, author = {Gong, M and Bai, N and Su, J and Wang, Y and Wei, Y and Zhang, Q}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of Gossypium reveals the molecular mechanisms of Ca[2+] signaling pathway on arsenic tolerance induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1362296}, pmid = {38591035}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been demonstrated their ability to enhance the arsenic (As) tolerance of host plants, and making the utilization of mycorrhizal plants a promising and practical approach for remediating As-contaminated soils. However, comprehensive transcriptome analysis to reveal the molecular mechanism of As tolerance in the symbiotic process between AMF and host plants is still limited.

METHODS: In this study, transcriptomic analysis of Gossypium seedlings was conducted with four treatments: non-inoculated Gossypium under non-As stress (CK0), non-inoculated Gossypium under As stress (CK100), F. mosseae-inoculated Gossypium under non-As stress (FM0), and F. mosseae-inoculated Gossypium under As stress (FM100).

RESULTS: Our results showed that inoculation with F. mosseae led to a reduction in net fluxes of Ca[2+], while increasing Ca[2+] contents in the roots and leaves of Gossypium under the same As level in soil. Notably, 199 and 3129 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were specially regulated by F. mosseae inoculation under As stress and non-As stress, respectively. Through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation and enrichment analyses, we found that under As stress, F. mosseae inoculation up-regulated a significant number of genes related to the Ca[2+] signaling pathway genes, involved in cellular process, membrane part, and signal transduction. This suggests a potential role in mitigating As tolerance in Gossypium seedlings. Furthermore, our analysis identified specific DEGs in transcription factor families, including ERF, MYB, NAC, and WRKY, that were upregulated by F. mosseae inoculation. Conversely, MYB and HB-other were down-regulated. The ERF and MYB families exhibited the highest number of up- and down-regulated DEGs, respectively, which were speculated to play an important role in alleviating the As toxicity of Gossypium.

DISCUSSION: Our findings provided valuable insights into the molecular theoretical basis of the Ca[2+] signaling pathway in improving As tolerance of mycorrhizal plants in the future.}, } @article {pmid38591030, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, X and Chi, Y and Song, S}, title = {Important soil microbiota's effects on plants and soils: a comprehensive 30-year systematic literature review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1347745}, pmid = {38591030}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Clarifying the relationship between soil microorganisms and the plant-soil system is crucial for encouraging the sustainable development of ecosystems, as soil microorganisms serve a variety of functional roles in the plant-soil system. In this work, the influence mechanisms of significant soil microbial groups on the plant-soil system and their applications in environmental remediation over the previous 30 years were reviewed using a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology. The findings demonstrated that: (1) There has been a general upward trend in the number of publications on significant microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and archaea. (2) Bacteria and fungi influence soil development and plant growth through organic matter decomposition, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium element dissolution, symbiotic relationships, plant growth hormone production, pathogen inhibition, and plant resistance induction. Archaea aid in the growth of plants by breaking down low-molecular-weight organic matter, participating in element cycles, producing plant growth hormones, and suppressing infections. (3) Microorganism principles are utilized in soil remediation, biofertilizer production, denitrification, and phosphorus removal, effectively reducing environmental pollution, preventing soil pathogen invasion, protecting vegetation health, and promoting plant growth. The three important microbial groups collectively regulate the plant-soil ecosystem and help maintain its relative stability. This work systematically summarizes the principles of important microbial groups influence plant-soil systems, providing a theoretical reference for how to control soil microbes in order to restore damaged ecosystems and enhance ecosystem resilience in the future.}, } @article {pmid38590774, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, J and Wang, X and Li, Q and Zhang, P and Jing, Z and Zhang, J and Su, H and Sun, X}, title = {Effect of Mixed Probiotics on Ovalbumin-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in Juvenile Mice.}, journal = {International journal of microbiology}, volume = {2024}, number = {}, pages = {7172386}, pmid = {38590774}, issn = {1687-918X}, abstract = {Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common dermatologic problems, especially in children. Given the ability of symbiotic microorganisms in modulating the immune system, probiotics administration has been studied in previous research in the management of atopic dermatitis. However, there are conflicting results between studies. In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of mixed probiotics as a treatment option for atopic dermatitis induced by ovalbumin. BALB/c juvenile mice were classified and divided into the ovalbumin group, mixed probiotic group (ovalbumin + LK), and control group. Except for the control group, all mice were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish a model of atopic dermatitis. The mixed probiotics were given by gavage for 14 days. Mice body weight, skin lesions, skin inflammation, ovalbumin-specific Ig, the number of Treg and CD103[+]DC, and the expression level of PD-1/PD-L1 were examined. The results showed that mixed probiotics can improve body weight and alleviate skin symptoms. Mixed probiotics reduced serum Th2 inflammatory factors, eosinophils, mast cell degranulation, mast cell count, and the expression of ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E/G1 and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, Treg cells, CD103[+]DC cells, and the expression level of PD-1/PD-L1. These findings suggest that mixed probiotics could be a viable treatment option for atopic dermatitis and provide insight into the underlying mechanisms involved.}, } @article {pmid38590605, year = {2024}, author = {Ye, A and Shen, JN and Li, Y and Lian, X and Ma, BG and Guo, FB}, title = {Reconstruction of the genome-scale metabolic network model of Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 for free-living and symbiotic states.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1377334}, pmid = {38590605}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 is an excellent rhizobium that plays an important role in agricultural production. However, there still needs more comprehensive understanding of the metabolic system of S. fredii CCBAU45436, which hinders its application in agriculture. Therefore, based on the first-generation metabolic model iCC541 we developed a new genome-scale metabolic model iAQY970, which contains 970 genes, 1,052 reactions, 942 metabolites and is scored 89% in the MEMOTE test. Cell growth phenotype predicted by iAQY970 is 81.7% consistent with the experimental data. The results of mapping the proteome data under free-living and symbiosis conditions to the model showed that the biomass production rate in the logarithmic phase was faster than that in the stable phase, and the nitrogen fixation efficiency of rhizobia parasitized in cultivated soybean was higher than that in wild-type soybean, which was consistent with the actual situation. In the symbiotic condition, there are 184 genes that would affect growth, of which 94 are essential; In the free-living condition, there are 143 genes that influence growth, of which 78 are essential. Among them, 86 of the 94 essential genes in the symbiotic condition were consistent with the prediction of iCC541, and 44 essential genes were confirmed by literature information; meanwhile, 30 genes were identified by DEG and 33 genes were identified by Geptop. In addition, we extracted four key nitrogen fixation modules from the model and predicted that sulfite reductase (EC 1.8.7.1) and nitrogenase (EC 1.18.6.1) as the target enzymes to enhance nitrogen fixation by MOMA, which provided a potential focus for strain optimization. Through the comprehensive metabolic model, we can better understand the metabolic capabilities of S. fredii CCBAU45436 and make full use of it in the future.}, } @article {pmid38589941, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, F and Ryu, T and Ravasi, T and Wang, X and Wang, G and Li, Z}, title = {Niche-dependent sponge hologenome expression profiles and the host-microbes interplay: a case of the hawaiian demosponge Mycale Grandis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {38589941}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {31861143020, 41776138//This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most researches on sponge holobionts focus primarily on symbiotic microbes, yet data at the level of the sponge hologenome are still relatively scarce. Understanding of the sponge host and its microbial gene expression profiles and the host-microbes interplay in different niches represents a key aspect of sponge hologenome. Using the Hawaiian demosponge Mycale grandis in different niches as a model, i.e. on rocks, on the surface of coral Porites compressa, under alga Gracilaria salicornia, we compared the bacterial and fungal community structure, functional gene diversity, expression pattern and the host transcriptome by integrating open-format (deep sequencing) and closed-format (GeoChip microarray) high-throughput techniques.

RESULTS: Little inter-niche variation in bacterial and fungal phylogenetic diversity was detected for M. grandis in different niches, but a clear niche-dependent variability in the functional gene diversity and expression pattern of M. grandis host and its symbiotic microbiota was uncovered by GeoChip microarray and transcriptome analyses. Particularly, sponge host genes related to innate immunity and microbial recognition showed a strong correlation with the microbial symbionts' functional gene diversity and transcriptional richness in different niches. The cross-niche variability with respect to the symbiont functional gene diversity and the transcriptional richness of M. grandis holobiont putatively reflects the interplay of niche-specific selective pressure and the symbiont functional diversity.

CONCLUSIONS: Niche-dependent gene expression profiles of M. grandis hologenome and the host-microbes interplay were suggested though little inter-niche variation in bacterial and fungal diversity was detected, particularly the sponge innate immunity was found to be closely related to the symbiotic microbes. Altogether, these findings provide novel insights into the black box of one sponge holobiont in different niches at the hologenome level.}, } @article {pmid38589485, year = {2024}, author = {Serrano, K and Bezrutczyk, M and Goudeau, D and Dao, T and O'Malley, R and Malmstrom, RR and Visel, A and Scheller, HV and Cole, B}, title = {Spatial co-transcriptomics reveals discrete stages of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38589485}, issn = {2055-0278}, support = {DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//DOE | SC | Biological and Environmental Research (BER)/ ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is ancient and widespread. Plants provide AM fungi with carbon in exchange for nutrients and water, making this interaction a prime target for crop improvement. However, plant-fungal interactions are restricted to a small subset of root cells, precluding the application of most conventional functional genomic techniques to study the molecular bases of these interactions. Here we used single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing to explore both Medicago truncatula and Rhizophagus irregularis transcriptomes in AM symbiosis at cellular and spatial resolution. Integrated, spatially registered single-cell maps revealed infected and uninfected plant root cell types. We observed that cortex cells exhibit distinct transcriptome profiles during different stages of colonization by AM fungi, indicating dynamic interplay between both organisms during establishment of the cellular interface enabling successful symbiosis. Our study provides insight into a symbiotic relationship of major agricultural and environmental importance and demonstrates a paradigm combining single-cell and spatial transcriptomics for the analysis of complex organismal interactions.}, } @article {pmid38588812, year = {2024}, author = {Nascimento da Silva, J and Conceição, CC and Ramos de Brito, GC and Renato de Oliveira Daumas Filho, C and Walter Nuno, AB and Talyuli, OAC and Arcanjo, A and de Oliveira, PL and Moreira, LA and da Silva Vaz, I and Logullo, C}, title = {Immunometabolic crosstalk in Aedes fluviatilis Wolbachia pipientis symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107272}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107272}, pmid = {38588812}, issn = {1083-351X}, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is a maternally transmitted symbiotic bacterium that mainly colonizes arthropods, potentially affecting different aspects of the host's physiology, e.g. reproduction, immunity, and metabolism. It has been shown that Wolbachia modulates glycogen metabolism in mosquito Aedes fluviatilis (Ae. fluviatilis). Glycogen synthesis is controlled by the enzyme GSK3, which is also involved in immune responses in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. Here we investigated the mechanisms behind immune changes mediated by GSK3β in the symbiosis between Ae. fluviatilis and Wolbachia pipientis using a GSK3β inhibitor or RNAi-mediated gene silencing. GSK3β inhibition or knockdown increased glycogen content and Wolbachia population, together with a reduction in Relish2 (REL2) and gambicin transcripts. Furthermore, knockdown of REL2 or Caspar revealed that the Imd pathway acts to control Wolbachia numbers in the host. In conclusion, we describe for the first time the involvement of GSK3β in Ae. fluviatillis immune response, acting to control the Wolbachia endosymbiotic population.}, } @article {pmid38587812, year = {2024}, author = {Dolatabad, HK and Mahjenabadi, VAJ}, title = {Geographical and climatic distribution of lentil-nodulating rhizobia in Iran.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiae046}, pmid = {38587812}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Lentil is one of the most important legumes cultivated in various provinces of Iran. However, there is limited information about the symbiotic rhizobia of lentils in this country. In this study, molecular identification of lentil-nodulating rhizobia was performed based on 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) and recA, atpD, glnII, and nodC gene sequencing. Using PCR-RFLP analysis of 16S-23S rRNA IGS, a total of 116 rhizobia isolates were classified into 20 groups, leaving seven strains unclustered. Phylogenetic analysis of representative isolates revealed that the rhizobia strains belonged to Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium laguerreae, and the distribution of the species is partially related to geographical location. R. leguminosarum was the dominant species in North Khorasan and Zanjan, while R. laguerreae prevailed in Ardabil and East Azarbaijan. The distribution of the species was also influenced by agroecological climates; R. leguminosarum thrived in cold semi-arid climates, whereas R. laguerreae adapted to humid continental climates. Both species exhibited equal dominance in the Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, in Lorestan and Kohgiluyeh-Boyer Ahmad provinces.}, } @article {pmid38587196, year = {2024}, author = {Adams, TL}, title = {Politics, ecologies and professional regulation: The case of British Columbia's Professional Governance Act.}, journal = {The British journal of sociology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1468-4446.13093}, pmid = {38587196}, issn = {1468-4446}, support = {//Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada/ ; }, abstract = {A variety of theories have been proposed to explain why states pass legislation to regulate professional groups, and why, more recently, they have acted to curtail professional privileges. While these theories have drawn attention to the importance of power dynamics and public protection, among other factors, the role of political interests has been downplayed. This article builds on ecological theory to argue that, with some modifications, the theory illuminates the centrality of state-profession relations and politics to regulatory change. The theory is applied to a case study of regulatory change in British Columbia, Canada impacting resources-sector professions, with particular attention to the controversies and political considerations that shaped reform. The case study suggests that when the political and professions ecologies are overlapping and symbiotic, as they were in BC, a challenge in the political ecology can implicate professions, prompting a solution that brings change within both ecologies.}, } @article {pmid38586361, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, H and Liu, H and Sun, Y and Su, M and Lin, J and Wang, J and Lin, J and Zhao, X}, title = {Analysis of fecal microbiota and related clinical indicators in ICU patients with sepsis.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e28480}, pmid = {38586361}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: To analyze the characteristics of fecal microbiota disturbance in the intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis and the correlation with related clinical indicators.

METHODS: This study included 31 patients with sepsis admitted to the emergency ICU ward between September 2019 and December 2021. They were divided into Group without septic shock (ND_NS group, 7 cases) and Group with septic shock (ND_S group, 24 cases) according to the presence or absence of septic shock. Furthermore, we divided these 31 sepsis patients into Clinical Improvement group (21 cases) and Death or DAMA group (10 cases) based on clinical outcome, 15 cases of Physical Examiner recruited in the same period were included as control group: ND_HC group (15 cases). The fecal samples of the patients with sepsis within 24 h of admission and random fecal samples of the control group were collected and analyzed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing used for the analysis of fecal microbiota. At the same time, the relevant clinical data of these patients with sepsis were also collected for analysis.

RESULTS: There were 15 cases with drug-resistant bacteria in the ND_S group and only 2 cases in the ND_NS group (P = 0.015). There were significant differences in APACHE II score, length of ICU stay, lactate level, and oxygenation index of patients between the Death or DAMA group and Clinical Improvement group (all P < 0.05). For phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes decreased in the ND group compared with the ND_HC group, while the abundance of Proteobacteria increased (P < 0.05). For genus level, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella were significantly increased in the ND group compared with the ND_HC group (P < 0.05). The top six genera in relative abundance in the ND_S group were Escherichia-Shigella, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Klebsiella. Compared with the Clinical Improvement group, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella in the Death or DAMA group showed an increasing trend with no significant significance, while the relative abundance of Enterococcus and Faecalibacterium decreased in the Death or DAMA group (P < 0.05). Alpha diversity analysis showed that compared with the ND_HC group, the alpha diversity of the fecal microbiota in the ND group decreased. There were significant differences in the Observed_species index, Chao1 index, and ACE index of patients between the ND_HC group and ND group (all P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with the ND_NS group, the Alpha diversity of the ND_S group was more abundant. PCoA analysis showed significant differences in microbial community structure between the ND group and ND_HC group (P = 0.001). There also were significant differences in microbial community structure between the ND_S group and ND_NS group (P = 0.008). LEfSe analysis showed that compared with the ND_HC group, there were significant differences in the species of the ND group, including Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia-Shigella, Enterococcus, Elizabethkingia, and Family_XIII_AD3011_group.

CONCLUSIONS: ICU patients with sepsis suffered intestinal microecological disturbances with significantly decreased abundance of fecal microbiota, diversity, and beneficial symbiotic bacteria. For these patients, the ratio of pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia-Shigella and Klebsiella increased and became the main bacterial genus in some samples. Moreover, the increasing trend of these two pathogenic bacteria may be correlated with the development of septic shock and the risk of death in patients with sepsis.}, } @article {pmid38586336, year = {2024}, author = {Zhu, H and Zhu, J and Wang, Y and Xi, X and Wang, K and Wang, Y and Ding, R and Li, H}, title = {Osteomyelitis of the femur caused by Metamycoplasma orale in an immunocompromised patient using metagenomic next-generation sequencing: A case report.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e28730}, pmid = {38586336}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Metamycoplasma orale (M.orale), a symbiotic bacterium observed in the human oral cavity, is generally regarded as non-pathogenic to humans. Although infrequent, symptomatic infections caused by M.orale may occur in individuals with compromised humoral immunity. Accurate identification and early diagnosis of M.orale still present significant challenges due the limitations associated with conventional detection methods. Although metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is currently widely utilized in clinical practices and exhibits a remarkable specificity and sensitivity for detecting various pathogens, its application in the diagnosis of M.orale-induced osteomyelitis remains largely unexplored.

CASE DESCRIPTION: In this report, we present a case study of osteonecrosis caused by M.orale in a 20-year-old female patient with nephrotic syndrome and other comorbidities. She was administered long-term hormone therapy and immunosuppressants, leading to her admission to the hospital due to recurrent fever, hip abscess and left thigh pain. Imaging examination revealed bilateral mid-femoral lesions, with the extensive nature of the left femoral lesion suggesting a potential secondary infection. Although no pathogen was detected in pus culture, mNGS analysis identified M.orale in the sample. Following treatment with doxycycline and levofloxacin, the patient's symotoms improved and she was discharged with favorable outcomes.

CONCLUSION: mNGS enables rapid identification of etiology in patients with osteomyelitis caused by the rare pathogen M.orale. This case accentuate the strength of mNGS for early detection and targeted clinical treatment of infectious diseases caused by uncommon pathogens.}, } @article {pmid38585921, year = {2024}, author = {Nishino, T and Mukai, H and Moriyama, M and Hosokawa, T and Tanahashi, M and Tachikawa, S and Nikoh, N and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.03.25.586038}, pmid = {38585921}, abstract = {Tympanal organs as "insect ears" have evolved repeatedly. Dinidorid stinkbugs were reported to possess a conspicuous tympanal organ on female's hindlegs. Here we report an unexpected discovery that the stinkbug's "tympanal organ" is actually a novel symbiotic organ. The stinkbug's "tympanum" is not membranous but a porous cuticle, where each pore connects to glandular secretory cells. In reproductive females, the hindleg organ is covered with fungal hyphae growing out of the pores. Upon oviposition, the females skillfully transfer the fungi from the organ to the eggs. The eggs are quickly covered with hyphae and physically protected against wasp parasitism. The fungi are mostly benign Cordycipitaceae entomopathogens and show considerable diversity among insect individuals and populations, indicating environmental acquisition of specific fungal associates. These results uncover a novel external fungal symbiosis in which host's elaborate morphological, physiological and behavioral specializations underpin the selective recruitment of benign entomopathogens for a defensive purpose.}, } @article {pmid38585906, year = {2024}, author = {Gasser, MT and Liu, A and Altamia, M and Brensinger, BR and Brewer, SL and Flatau, R and Hancock, ER and Preheim, SP and Filone, CM and Distel, DL}, title = {Outer membrane vesicles can contribute to cellulose degradation in Teredinibacter turnerae, a cultivable intracellular endosymbiont of shipworms.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.03.27.587001}, pmid = {38585906}, abstract = {Teredinibacter turnerae is a cultivable cellulolytic Gammaproeteobacterium (Cellvibrionaceae) that commonly occurs as an intracellular endosymbiont in the gills of wood-eating bivalves of the family Teredinidae (shipworms). The genome of T. turnerae encodes a broad range of enzymes that deconstruct cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin and contribute to lignocellulose digestion in the shipworm gut. However, the mechanism by which symbiont-made enzymes are secreted by T. turnerae and subsequently transported to the site of lignocellulose digestion in the shipworm gut is incompletely understood. Here, we show that T. turnerae cultures grown on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that contain a variety of proteins identified by LC-MS/MS as carbohydrate-active enzymes with predicted activities against cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. Reducing sugar assays and zymography confirm that these OMVs retain cellulolytic activity, as evidenced by hydrolysis of CMC. Additionally, these OMVs were enriched with TonB -dependent receptors, which are essential to carbohydrate and iron acquisition by free-living bacteria. These observations suggest potential roles for OMVs in lignocellulose utilization by T. turnerae in the free-living state, in enzyme transport and host interaction during symbiotic association, and in commercial applications such as lignocellulosic biomass conversion.}, } @article {pmid38585661, year = {2024}, author = {Hill, LJ and Messias, CSMA and Vilela, CLS and Garritano, AN and Villela, HDM and do Carmo, FL and Thomas, T and Peixoto, RS}, title = {Bacteria associated with the in hospite Symbiodiniaceae's phycosphere.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {109531}, pmid = {38585661}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria are still poorly explored, especially those in hospite. Here, we adapted a technique that allows for the enrichment of intact and metabolically active in hospite Symbiodiniaceae cells (ihSC) and their associated bacteria from the tissue of the model coral Pocillopora damicornis, using a discontinuous gradient of solution of isotonic Percoll (SIP). The ihSC were concentrated in the 50% SIP fraction, as determined by microscopy. The presence of bacteria associated with ihSC was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, while microbiome analysis indicated that bacteria of the families Halieaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Alcanivoraceae are significantly associated with ihSC. Extracellular vesicles that could be exuding molecules were detected on the symbiosome membranes. Our technique and data contribute to elucidate ihSC-bacteria interactions.}, } @article {pmid38502533, year = {2024}, author = {Valente, EEL and Klotz, JL and Markmann, RC and Trotta, RJ and Edwards, JL and May, JB and Harmon, DL}, title = {Levodopa attenuates the feed intake reduction caused by ergot alkaloids in cattle.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jas/skae078}, pmid = {38502533}, issn = {1525-3163}, abstract = {Consumption of ergot alkaloids from endophyte-infected tall fescue results in losses to the livestock industry in many countries and a means to mitigate these losses is needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate intra-abomasal infusion of the dopamine precursor, levodopa (L-DOPA), on dopamine metabolism, feed intake, and serum metabolites of steers exposed to ergot alkaloids. Twelve Holstein steers (344.9 ± 9.48 kg) fitted with ruminal cannula were housed with a cycle of heat challenge during the daytime (32 °C) and thermoneutral at night (25 °C). The steers received a basal diet of alfalfa cubes containing equal amounts of tall fescue seed composed of a mixture of endophyte-free (E-) or endophyte-infected tall fescue seeds (E+) equivalent to 15 µg ergovaline/kg body weight (BW) for 9 d followed by intra-abomasal infusion of water (L-DOPA-) or levodopa (L-DOPA+; 2 mg/kg BW) for an additional 9 d. Afterward, the steers were pair-fed for 5 d to conduct a glucose tolerance test. The E+ treatment decreased (P = 0.005) prolactin by approximately 50%. However, prolactin increased (P = 0.050) with L-DOPA+. Steers receiving E+ decreased (P < 0.001) dry matter intake (DMI); however, when supplemented with L-DOPA+ the decrease in DMI was less severe (L-DOPA × E, P = 0.003). Also, L-DOPA+ infusion increased eating duration (L-DOPA × E, P = 0.012) when steers were receiving E+. The number of meals, meal duration, and intake rate were not affected (P > 0.05) by E+ or L-DOPA+. The L-DOPA+ infusion increased (P < 0.05) free L-DOPA, free dopamine, total L-DOPA, and total dopamine. Conversely, free epinephrine and free norepinephrine decreased (P < 0.05) with L-DOPA+. Total epinephrine and total norepinephrine were not affected (P > 0.05) by L-DOPA+. Ergot alkaloids did not affect (P > 0.05) circulating free or total L-DOPA, dopamine, or epinephrine. However, free and total norepinephrine decreased (P = 0.046) with E+. Glucose clearance rates at 15 to 30 min after glucose infusion increased with L-DOPA+ (P < 0.001), but not with E+ (P = 0.280). Administration of L-DOPA as an agonist therapy to treat fescue toxicosis provided a moderate increase in DMI and eating time and increased plasma glucose clearance for cattle dosed with E+ seed.}, } @article {pmid38585410, year = {2024}, author = {Asomadu, RO and Ezeorba, TPC and Ezike, TC and Uzoechina, JO}, title = {Exploring the antioxidant potential of endophytic fungi: a review on methods for extraction and quantification of total antioxidant capacity (TAC).}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {127}, pmid = {38585410}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi have emerged as a significant source of natural products with remarkable bioactivities. Recent research has identified numerous antioxidant molecules among the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi. These organisms, whether unicellular or micro-multicellular, offer the potential for genetic manipulation to enhance the production of these valuable antioxidant compounds, which hold promise for promoting health, vitality, and various biotechnological applications. In this study, we provide a critical review of methods for extracting, purifying, characterizing, and estimating the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of endophytic fungi metabolites. While many endophytes produce metabolites similar to those found in plants with established symbiotic associations, we also highlight the existence of novel metabolites with potential scientific interest. Additionally, we discuss how advancements in nanotechnology have opened new avenues for exploring nanoformulations of endophytic metabolites in future studies, offering opportunities for diverse biological and industrial applications.}, } @article {pmid38584356, year = {2024}, author = {Marzonie, MR and Nitschke, MR and Bay, LK and Bourne, DG and Harrison, HB}, title = {Symbiodiniaceae diversity varies by host and environment across thermally distinct reefs.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17342}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17342}, pmid = {38584356}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {DNP-MPA-1718-006//Parks Australia/ ; //American Australian Association/ ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) influence coral thermal tolerance at both local and regional scales. In isolation, the effects of host genetics, environment, and thermal disturbances on symbiont communities are well understood, yet their combined effects remain poorly resolved. Here, we investigate Symbiodiniaceae across 1300 km in Australia's Coral Sea Marine Park to disentangle these interactive effects. We identified Symbiodiniaceae to species-level resolution for three coral species (Acropora cf humilis, Pocillopora verrucosa, and Pocillopora meandrina) by sequencing two genetic markers of the symbiont (ITS2 and psbA[ncr]), paired with genotype-by-sequencing of the coral host (DArT-seq). Our samples predominantly returned sequences from the genus Cladocopium, where Acropora cf humilis affiliated with C3k, Pocillopora verrucosa with C. pacificum, and Pocillopora meandrina with C. latusorum. Multivariate analyses revealed that Acropora symbionts were driven strongly by local environment and thermal disturbances. In contrast, Pocillopora symbiont communities were both partitioned 2.5-fold more by host genetic structure than by environmental structure. Among the two Pocillopora species, the effects of environment and host genetics explained four times more variation in symbionts for P. meandrina than P. verrucosa. The concurrent bleaching event in 2020 had variable impacts on symbiont communities, consistent with patterns in P. verrucosa and A. cf humilis, but not P. meandrina. Our findings demonstrate how symbiont macroscale community structure responses to environmental gradients depend on host species and their respective population structure. Integrating host, symbiont, and environmental data will help forecast the adaptive potential of corals and their symbionts amidst a rapidly changing environment.}, } @article {pmid38583850, year = {2024}, author = {Hassler, V and Brand, N and Wefers, D}, title = {Isolation and characterization of exopolysaccharides from kombucha samples of different origins.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {131377}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131377}, pmid = {38583850}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Kombucha is prepared by fermenting sugared green or black tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Some of the bacteria within the SCOBY are known to form exopolysaccharides (EPS) from sucrose. However, it is yet unknown whether EPS are formed in kombucha, and if so, which specific EPS are present. Therefore, different kombucha samples were prepared by fermentation of green and black tea with SCOBYs from different manufacturers. Subsequently, the EPS were isolated and characterized by using various chromatographic methods, partial enzymatic hydrolyses and NMR spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that levans with a varying degree of branching at position O1 (4.3-7.9 %) are present, while only trace amounts of glucans were detected. Furthermore, levans isolated from kombucha had a comparably low molecular weight and the content of levan within the kombucha samples varied from 33 to 562 mg levan/L kombucha. Therefore, our study demonstrated that levans are the main EPS type in kombucha and that levan amounts and structures varied when different starter cultures and ingredients were used. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive data set on the structural variability of levans from kombucha.}, } @article {pmid38583677, year = {2024}, author = {Guo, G and Wang, Z and Lu, C and Xu, W and Lu, B and Zhao, Y}, title = {Removal of antibiotics by four microalgae-based systems for swine wastewater treatment under different phytohormone treatment.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130668}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130668}, pmid = {38583677}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {This study examined the removal of typical antibiotics from simulated swine wastewater. Microalgae-bacteria/fungi symbioses were constructed using Chlorella ellipsoidea, endophytic bacteria (S395-2), and Clonostachys rosea as biomaterials. The growth, photosynthetic performance, and removal of three types of antibiotics (tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and quinolones) induced by four phytohormones were analyzed in each system. The results showed that all four phytohormones effectively improved the tolerance of symbiotic strains against antibiotic stress; strigolactones (GR24) achieved the best performance. At 10[-9] M, GR24 achieved the best removal of antibiotics by C. elliptica + S395-2 + C. rosea symbiosis. The average removals of tetracycline, sulfonamide, and quinolone by this system reached 96.2-99.4 %, 75.2-81.1 %, and 66.8-69.9 %, respectively. The results of this study help to develop appropriate bio enhancement strategies as well as design and operate algal-bacterial-fungal symbiotic processes for the treatment of antibiotics-containing wastewater.}, } @article {pmid38582687, year = {2024}, author = {Zeng, H and Chen, H and Zhang, M and Ding, M and Xu, F and Yan, F and Kinoshita, T and Zhu, Y}, title = {Plasma membrane H[+]-ATPases in mineral nutrition and crop improvement.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2024.02.010}, pmid = {38582687}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Plasma membrane H[+]-ATPases (PMAs) pump H[+] out of the cytoplasm by consuming ATP to generate a membrane potential and proton motive force for the transmembrane transport of nutrients into and out of plant cells. PMAs are involved in nutrient acquisition by regulating root growth, nutrient uptake, and translocation, as well as the establishment of symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizas. Under nutrient stresses, PMAs are activated to pump more H[+] and promote organic anion excretion, thus improving nutrient availability in the rhizosphere. Herein we review recent progress in the physiological functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of PMAs in the efficient acquisition and utilization of various nutrients in plants. We also discuss perspectives for the application of PMAs in improving crop production and quality.}, } @article {pmid38581668, year = {2024}, author = {Ding, Y and Wang, T and Gasciolli, V and Reyt, G and Remblière, C and Marcel, F and François, T and Bendahmane, A and He, G and Bono, JJ and Lefebvre, B}, title = {The LysM receptor-like kinase SlLYK10 controls lipochitooligosaccharide signaling in inner cell layers of tomato roots.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcae035}, pmid = {38581668}, issn = {1471-9053}, support = {32100241//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; cstc2021jcyj-cxttx0004//Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing/ ; ANR-10-LABX-40-SPS ANR-10-LABX-41 ANR-16-CE20-0025-01 ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; }, abstract = {Establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) relies on a plant signaling pathway that can be activated by fungal chitinic signals such as short chain chitooligosaccharides (CO) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs). The tomato LysM receptor-like kinase (LysM RLK) SlLYK10 has high affinity for LCOs and is involved in root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), however its role in LCO responses has not yet been studied. Here, we show that SlLYK10 proteins produced by the Sllyk10-1 and Sllyk10-2 mutant alleles, which both cause decreases in AMF colonization, and carry mutations in LysM1 and 2 respectively, have similar LCO binding affinities compared to the WT SlLYK10. However, the mutant forms were no longer able to induce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana when co-expressed with MtLYK3, a Medicago truncatula LCO co-receptor, while they physically interacted with MtLYK3 in co-purification experiments. This suggests that the LysM mutations affect the ability of SlLYK10 to trigger signaling through a potential co-receptor rather than its ability to bind LCOs. Interestingly, tomato lines that contain a calcium (Ca2+) concentration reporter (Genetically Encoded Ca2+ indicators, GECO), showed Ca2+ spiking in response to LCO applications, but this occurred only in inner cell layers of the roots, while short chain COs also induced Ca2+ spiking in the epidermis. Moreover, LCO-induced Ca2+spiking was decreased in Sllyk10-1*GECO plants, suggesting that the decrease in AMF colonization in Sllyk10-1 is due to abnormal LCO signaling.}, } @article {pmid38581203, year = {2024}, author = {Lofgren, L and Nguyen, NH and Kennedy, P and Pérez-Pazos, E and Fletcher, J and Liao, HL and Wang, H and Zhang, K and Ruytinx, J and Smith, AH and Ke, YH and Cotter, HVT and Engwall, E and Hameed, KM and Vilgalys, R and Branco, S}, title = {Suillus: an emerging model for the study of ectomycorrhizal ecology and evolution.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19700}, pmid = {38581203}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {T32-AI052080/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Research on mycorrhizal symbiosis has been slowed by a lack of established study systems. To address this challenge, we have been developing Suillus, a widespread ecologically and economically relevant fungal genus primarily associated with the plant family Pinaceae, into a model system for studying ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations. Over the last decade, we have compiled extensive genomic resources, culture libraries, a phenotype database, and protocols for manipulating Suillus fungi with and without their tree partners. Our efforts have already resulted in a large number of publicly available genomes, transcriptomes, and respective annotations, as well as advances in our understanding of mycorrhizal partner specificity and host communication, fungal and plant nutrition, environmental adaptation, soil nutrient cycling, interspecific competition, and biological invasions. Here, we highlight the most significant recent findings enabled by Suillus, present a suite of protocols for working with the genus, and discuss how Suillus is emerging as an important model to elucidate the ecology and evolution of ECM interactions.}, } @article {pmid38579464, year = {2024}, author = {Han, Z and Deng, X}, title = {The impact of cross-regional social and ecological interactions on ecosystem service synergies.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {357}, number = {}, pages = {120671}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120671}, pmid = {38579464}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Increasing socioecological systems (SESs) sustainability requires establishing a reasonable cross-regional social and ecological interaction. In this study, we examine how cross-regional ecological and social interactions affect synergistic effects. Using InVEST and correlation analysis with data from 2010 through 2020, we assessed ESs (i.e., water retention-WR, nutrient retention-NR, and carbon storage-CS) in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. A small watershed, a river network, and settlement development capacity are used to delineate ecological and social interactions units. Based on a Bayesian network model that considers population, economy, and spatial agglomeration patterns between social units, we assessed the potential for achieving a synergistic improvement of ESs and the driving forces behind them. The results show that ESs in the BTH region compete, only a small percentage (6.38%) shows synergetic improvement across CS, WR, and NR. It is beneficial for upstream watersheds to retain water and nutrients, but to maintain carbon storage they may sacrifice water retention. Upstream areas with less development and higher vegetation density have better ecosystem integrity of up- and down-stream watersheds, and can be enhanced with minimal human impact, as social interactions and settlement spatial structures influence ES synergies. There is a higher risk for ecological issues in downstream areas, but greater awareness and collaboration can lead to better ES synergies.}, } @article {pmid38578728, year = {2024}, author = {McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Symbiosis takes a front and center role in biology.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e3002571}, pmid = {38578728}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Plants ; Biology ; }, abstract = {All animals and plants likely require interactions with microbes, often in strong, persistent symbiotic associations. While the recognition of this phenomenon has been slow in coming, it will impact most, if not all, subdisciplines of biology.}, } @article {pmid38578148, year = {2024}, author = {Xie, Z and Kim, C and Miller, MJ and Jin, YS}, title = {Effects of 2'-fucosyllactose on the viability of starter cultures and Bifidobacterium strains of human origin in yogurt during refrigerated storage.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.16996}, pmid = {38578148}, issn = {1750-3841}, abstract = {2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL) is postulated to provide health benefits and promote the growth of probiotics. This work was undertaken to study the effects of 2'-FL on the viability of starter cultures and Bifidobacterium strains of human origin in yogurt during refrigerated storage. Yogurts were produced containing 2'-FL (0 or 2 g/L) and Bifidobacterium strains of human origin (Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536 or Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697) at a concentration of at least 10[9] CFU/mL. All yogurts were stored at 4°C for 5 weeks. Results showed that 2'-FL was stable in yogurts for at least 5 weeks of cold storage, and the addition of 2'-FL did not significantly alter yogurt fermentation parameters, associated metabolites, and the viability of mixed yogurt starter cultures and Bifidobacterium strains (p > 0.05). The addition of bifidobacteria had a negative impact (p < 0.05) on the survival rate of starter cultures, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbureckii subsp. bulgaricus. Meanwhile, it is difficult to maintain a high survival rate of bifidobacteria in final yogurt products, and the addition of 2'-FL could not enhance the viability of bifidobacteria. B. longum BB536 survived at a level higher than 10[6] CFU/g for 28 days, while B. infantis ATCC15697 maintained this level for only 7 days. In summary, this study has shown the impact of 2'-FL and bifidobacterial species on yogurt properties, and results suggest that it is promising to use 2'-FL in yogurt products as a prebiotic. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Yogurt is known for its beneficial effects on human health and nutrition. This study reported the production of symbiotic yogurt containing bifidobacteria and 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) as a functional food for specified health uses. The viability of yogurt starter cultures and probiotic bifidobacterial strains was analyzed in this study. Moreover, this research demonstrated that 2'-FL could be added to yogurt without affecting the characteristics of yogurt significantly.}, } @article {pmid38577764, year = {2024}, author = {Garber, AI and Garcia de la Filia Molina, A and Vea, I and Mongue, AJ and Ross, L and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Retention of an endosymbiont for the production of a single molecule.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evae075}, pmid = {38577764}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {Sap-feeding insects often maintain two or more nutritional endosymbionts which act in concert to produce compounds essential for insect survival. Many mealybugs have endosymbionts in a nested configuration: one or two bacterial species reside within the cytoplasm of another bacterium, and together these bacteria have genomes which encode interdependent sets of genes needed to produce key nutritional molecules. Here we show that the mealybug Pseudococcus viburni has three endosymbionts, one of which contributes only two unique genes that produce the host nutrition-related molecule chorismate. All three bacterial endosymbionts have tiny genomes, suggesting that they have been co-evolving inside their insect host for millions of years.}, } @article {pmid38577158, year = {2024}, author = {Veselovsky, VA and Boldyreva, DI and Olekhnovich, EI and Klimina, KM and Babenko, VV and Zakharevich, NV and Larin, AK and Morozov, MD and Zoruk, PY and Sergiev, PV and Dontsova, OA and Maev, IV and Novik, TS and Kotlobay, AA and Lazarev, VN and Lagarkova, MA}, title = {Effect of the consumption of brazzein and monellin, two recombinant sweet-tasting proteins, on rat gut microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1362529}, pmid = {38577158}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Sweet-tasting proteins (SPs) are proteins of plant origin initially isolated from tropical fruits. They are thousands of times sweeter than sucrose and most artificial sweeteners. SPs are a class of proteins capable of causing a sweet taste sensation in humans when interacting with the T1R2/T1R3 receptor. SP thaumatin has already been introduced in the food industry in some countries. Other SPs, such as monellin and brazzein, are promising products. An important stage in researching SPs, in addition to confirming the absence of toxicity, mutagenicity, oncogenicity, and allergenic effects, is studying their influence on gut microbiota. In this paper we describe changes in the composition of rat gut microbiota after six months of consuming one of two recombinant SPs-brazzein or monellin. A full length 16S gene sequencing method was used for DNA library barcoding. The MaAsLin2 analysis results showed noticeable fluctuations in the relative abundances of Anaerocella delicata in brazzein-fed rat microbiota, and of Anaerutruncus rubiinfantis in monellin-fed rat microbiota, which, however, did not exceed the standard deviation. The sucrose-fed group was associated with an increase in the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum rodentium, which may contribute to obesity. Overall, prolonged consumption of the sweet proteins brazzein and monellin did not significantly change rat microbiota and did not result in the appearance of opportunistic microbiota. This provides additional evidence for the safety of these potential sweeteners.}, } @article {pmid38576433, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, B and Shi, Y and Sun, Y and Lu, L and Wang, L and Liu, Z and Cheng, S}, title = {Innovations in functional genomics and molecular breeding of pea: exploring advances and opportunities.}, journal = {aBIOTECH}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {71-93}, pmid = {38576433}, issn = {2662-1738}, abstract = {The garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a significant cool-season legume, serving as crucial food sources, animal feed, and industrial raw materials. The advancement of functional genomics over the past two decades has provided substantial theoretical foundations and progress to pea breeding. Notably, the release of the pea reference genome has enhanced our understanding of plant architecture, symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), flowering time, floral organ development, seed development, and stress resistance. However, a considerable gap remains between pea functional genomics and molecular breeding. This review summarizes the current advancements in pea functional genomics and breeding while highlighting the future challenges in pea molecular breeding.}, } @article {pmid38576431, year = {2024}, author = {Qiao, L and Lin, J and Suzaki, T and Liang, P}, title = {Staying hungry: a roadmap to harnessing central regulators of symbiotic nitrogen fixation under fluctuating nitrogen availability.}, journal = {aBIOTECH}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {107-113}, pmid = {38576431}, issn = {2662-1738}, abstract = {Legumes have evolved specific inventions to enhance nitrogen (N) acquisition by establishing symbiotic interactions with N-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Because symbiotic N fixation is energetically costly, legumes have developed sophisticated mechanisms to ensure carbon-nitrogen balance, in a variable environment, both locally and at the whole plant level, by monitoring nodule number, nodule development, and nodular nitrogenase activity, as well as controlling nodule senescence. Studies of the autoregulation of nodulation and regulation of nodulation by nodule inception (NIN) and NIN-LIKE PROTEINs (NLPs) have provided great insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the nitrate-induced regulation of root nodulation for adapting to N availability in the rhizosphere. However, many aspects of N-induced pleiotropic regulation remain to be fully explained, such as N-triggered senescence in mature nodules. Wang et al. determined that this process is governed by a transcriptional network regulated by NAC-type transcription factors. Characterization and dissection of these soybean nitrogen-associated NAPs (SNAPs) transcription factor-mastered networks have yielded a roadmap for exploring how legumes rewire nodule functions across a range of N levels, laying the foundation for enhancing the growth of N-deprived crops in agricultural settings.}, } @article {pmid38575584, year = {2024}, author = {Messer, LF and Bourne, DG and Robbins, SJ and Clay, M and Bell, SC and McIlroy, SJ and Tyson, GW}, title = {A genome-centric view of the role of the Acropora kenti microbiome in coral health and resilience.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2902}, pmid = {38575584}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Microbial diversity has been extensively explored in reef-building corals. However, the functional roles of coral-associated microorganisms remain poorly elucidated. Here, we recover 191 bacterial and 10 archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the coral Acropora kenti (formerly A. tenuis) and adjacent seawater, to identify microbial functions and metabolic interactions within the holobiont. We show that 82 MAGs were specific to the A. kenti holobiont, including members of the Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, and Desulfobacterota. A. kenti-specific MAGs displayed significant differences in their genomic features and functional potential relative to seawater-specific MAGs, with a higher prevalence of genes involved in host immune system evasion, nitrogen and carbon fixation, and synthesis of five essential B-vitamins. We find a diversity of A. kenti-specific MAGs encode the biosynthesis of essential amino acids, such as tryptophan, histidine, and lysine, which cannot be de novo synthesised by the host or Symbiodiniaceae. Across a water quality gradient spanning 2° of latitude, A. kenti microbial community composition is correlated to increased temperature and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, with corresponding enrichment in molecular chaperones, nitrate reductases, and a heat-shock protein. We reveal mechanisms of A. kenti-microbiome-symbiosis on the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the interactions underpinning the health of this keystone holobiont.}, } @article {pmid38575565, year = {2024}, author = {Qiao, M and Sun, R and Wang, Z and Dumack, K and Xie, X and Dai, C and Wang, E and Zhou, J and Sun, B and Peng, X and Bonkowski, M and Chen, Y}, title = {Legume rhizodeposition promotes nitrogen fixation by soil microbiota under crop diversification.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2924}, pmid = {38575565}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {41977098//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation by free-living bacteria and rhizobial symbiosis with legumes plays a key role in sustainable crop production. Here, we study how different crop combinations influence the interaction between peanut plants and their rhizosphere microbiota via metabolite deposition and functional responses of free-living and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Based on a long-term (8 year) diversified cropping field experiment, we find that peanut co-cultured with maize and oilseed rape lead to specific changes in peanut rhizosphere metabolite profiles and bacterial functions and nodulation. Flavonoids and coumarins accumulate due to the activation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways in peanuts. These changes enhance the growth and nitrogen fixation activity of free-living bacterial isolates, and root nodulation by symbiotic Bradyrhizobium isolates. Peanut plant root metabolites interact with Bradyrhizobium isolates contributing to initiate nodulation. Our findings demonstrate that tailored intercropping could be used to improve soil nitrogen availability through changes in the rhizosphere microbiome and its functions.}, } @article {pmid38574729, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, J and Sun, J and Chiu, CH and Landry, D and Li, K and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Fort, S and Lefebvre, B and Oldroyd, GED and Feng, F}, title = {A receptor required for chitin perception facilitates arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and distinguishes root symbiosis from immunity.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.015}, pmid = {38574729}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Plants establish symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to facilitate nutrient uptake, particularly in nutrient-limited conditions. This partnership is rooted in the plant's ability to recognize fungal signaling molecules, such as chitooligosaccharides (chitin) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides. In the legume Medicago truncatula, chitooligosaccharides trigger both symbiotic and immune responses via the same lysin-motif-receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs), notably CERK1 and LYR4. The nature of plant-fungal engagement is opposite according to the outcomes of immunity or symbiosis signaling, and as such, discrimination is necessary, which is challenged by the dual roles of CERK1/LYR4 in both processes. Here, we describe a LysM-RLK, LYK8, that is functionally redundant with CERK1 for mycorrhizal colonization but is not involved in chitooligosaccharides-induced immunity. Genetic mutation of both LYK8 and CERK1 blocks chitooligosaccharides-triggered symbiosis signaling, as well as mycorrhizal colonization, but shows no further impact on immunity signaling triggered by chitooligosaccharides, compared with the mutation of CERK1 alone. LYK8 interacts with CERK1 and forms a receptor complex that appears essential for chitooligosaccharides activation of symbiosis signaling, with the lyk8/cerk1 double mutant recapitulating the impact of mutations in the symbiosis signaling pathway. We conclude that this novel receptor complex allows chitooligosaccharides activation specifically of symbiosis signaling and helps the plant to differentiate between activation of these opposing signaling processes.}, } @article {pmid38574431, year = {2024}, author = {Cunha, ICMD and Silva, AVRD and Boleta, EHM and Pellegrinetti, TA and Zagatto, LFG and Zagatto, SDSS and Chaves, MG and Mendes, R and Patreze, CM and Tsai, SM and Mendes, LW}, title = {The interplay between the inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and the rhizosphere microbiome and their impact on plant phenotype.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {283}, number = {}, pages = {127706}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2024.127706}, pmid = {38574431}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Microbial inoculation stands as a pivotal strategy, fostering symbiotic relationships between beneficial microorganisms and plants, thereby enhancing nutrient uptake, bolstering resilience against environmental stressors, and ultimately promoting healthier and more productive plant growth. However, while the advantageous roles of inoculants are widely acknowledged, the precise and nuanced impacts of inoculation on the intricate interactions of the rhizosphere microbiome remain significantly underexplored. This study explores the impact of bacterial inoculation on soil properties, plant growth, and the rhizosphere microbiome. By employing various bacterial strains and a synthetic community (SynCom) as inoculants in common bean plants, the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere were assessed through 16 S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing. Concurrently, soil chemical parameters, plant traits, and gene expression were evaluated. The findings revealed that bacterial inoculation generally decreased pH and V%, while increasing H+Al and m% in the rhizosphere. It also decreased gene expression in plants related to detoxification, photosynthesis, and defense mechanisms, while enhancing bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere, potentially benefiting plant health. Specific bacterial strains showed varied impacts on rhizosphere microbiome assembly, predominantly affecting rhizospheric bacteria more than fungi, indirectly influencing soil conditions and plants. Notably, Paenibacillus polymyxa inoculation improved plant nitrogen (by 5.2%) and iron levels (by 28.1%), whereas Bacillus cereus boosted mycorrhization rates (by 70%). Additionally, inoculation led to increased complexity in network interactions within the rhizosphere (∼15%), potentially impacting plant health. Overall, the findings highlight the significant impact of introducing bacteria to the rhizosphere, enhancing nutrient availability, microbial diversity, and fostering beneficial plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid38574064, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Y and Wu, L}, title = {Multi-group symbiotic evolutionary mechanisms of a digital innovation ecosystem: Numerical simulation and case study.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {e0300218}, pmid = {38574064}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {In the digital innovation ecosystem, the symbiosis mode formed between ecosystem members not only relates to their survival and development but also affects the ecosystem's symbiosis evolution mechanism. Based on symbiosis theory, this study first explores the evolutionary equilibrium strategy and its stability for three types of populations-core enterprises, digital platforms, and university research institutes-and then uses numerical simulation and a case study to explore the symbiotic evolution mechanism of the digital innovation ecosystem. The results show that: First, the digital innovation ecosystem is a complex adaptive system in which the three types of populations form different symbiotic relationships under different symbiotic modes and conduct symbiotic activities, such as value co-creation, to characterize the unique symbiotic evolutionary structure. Second, in this ecosystem, the symbiotic relationship formed by the combined values of different symbiotic coefficients between populations determines the outcome of symbiotic evolution. Third, the ideal direction of the evolution of the digital innovation ecosystem is a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. Thus, the symbiotic relationship between populations should be transformed into a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships as much as possible. This study makes theoretical contributions by shedding light on the symbiotic evolution mechanism of the digital innovation ecosystem. It also offers countermeasures for the digital innovation cooperation of various stakeholders in China's digital innovation ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid38573881, year = {2024}, author = {Jenkins, BH}, title = {Mutualism on the edge: Understanding the Paramecium-Chlorella symbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e3002563}, pmid = {38573881}, issn = {1545-7885}, abstract = {Exploring the mechanisms that underpin symbiosis requires an understanding of how these complex interactions are maintained in diverse model systems. The ciliate protist, Paramecium bursaria, offers a valuable insight into how emergent endosymbiotic interactions have evolved.}, } @article {pmid38573536, year = {2024}, author = {Ben Gaied, R and Sbissi, I and Tarhouni, M and Brígido, C}, title = {Enhancing Pisum sativum growth and symbiosis under heat stress: the synergistic impact of co-inoculated bacterial consortia and ACC deaminase-lacking Rhizobium.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {206}, number = {5}, pages = {203}, pmid = {38573536}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Pisum sativum ; Bacteria ; *Fabaceae ; Endophytes/genetics ; Vegetables ; Heat-Shock Response ; *Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; }, abstract = {The 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase is a crucial bacterial trait, yet it is not widely distributed among rhizobia. Hence, employing a co-inoculation approach that combines selected plant growth-promoting bacteria with compatible rhizobial strains, especially those lacking ACC deaminase, presents a practical solution to alleviate the negative effects of diverse abiotic stresses on legume nodulation. Our objective was to explore the efficacy of three non-rhizobial endophytes, Phyllobacterium salinisoli (PH), Starkeya sp. (ST) and Pseudomonas turukhanskensis (PS), isolated from native legumes grown in Tunisian arid regions, in improving the growth of cool-season legume and fostering symbiosis with an ACC deaminase-lacking rhizobial strain under heat stress. Various combinations of these endophytes (ST + PS, ST + PH, PS + PH, and ST + PS + PH) were co-inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum 128C53 or its ΔacdS mutant derivative on Pisum sativum plants exposed to a two-week heat stress period.Our findings revealed that the absence of ACC deaminase activity negatively impacted both pea growth and symbiosis under heat stress. Nevertheless, these detrimental effects were successfully mitigated in plants co-inoculated with ΔacdS mutant strain and specific non-rhizobial endophytes consortia. Our results indicated that heat stress significantly altered the phenolic content of pea root exudates. Despite this, there was no impact on IAA production. Interestingly, these changes positively influenced biofilm formation in consortia containing the mutant strain, indicating synergistic bacteria-bacteria interactions. Additionally, no positive effects were observed when these endophytic consortia were combined with the wild-type strain. This study highlights the potential of non-rhizobial endophytes to improve symbiotic performance of rhizobial strains lacking genetic mechanisms to mitigate stress effects on their legume host, holding promising potential to enhance the growth and yield of targeted legumes by boosting symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38572243, year = {2024}, author = {Wei, L and Pan, Y and Guo, Y and Zhu, Y and Jin, H and Gu, Y and Li, C and Wang, Y and Lin, J and Chen, Y and Ke, C and Xu, L}, title = {Symbiotic combination of Akkermansia muciniphila and inosine alleviates alcohol-induced liver injury by modulating gut dysbiosis and immune responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1355225}, pmid = {38572243}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is exacerbated by disruptions in intestinal microecology and immune imbalances within the gut-liver axis. The present study assesses the therapeutic potential of combining Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) with inosine in alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury.

METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice, subjected to a Lieber-DeCarli diet with 5% alcohol for 4 weeks, served as the alcoholic liver injury model. Various analyzes, including quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), ELISA, immunochemistry, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and flow cytometry, were employed to evaluate liver injury parameters, intestinal barrier function, microbiota composition, and immune responses.

RESULTS: Compared to the model group, the A. muciniphila and inosine groups exhibited significantly decreased alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, reduced hepatic fat deposition and neutrophil infiltration, alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation, and increased expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1). These effects were further pronounced in the A. muciniphila and inosine combination group compared to individual treatments. While alcohol feeding induced intestinal dysbiosis and gut barrier disruption, the combined treatment reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria (Oscillibacter, Escherichia/Shigella, and Alistipes) induced by alcohol consumption, promoting the growth of butyrate-producing bacteria (Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium IV). Flow cytometry revealed that alcohol consumption reduced T regulatory (Treg) populations while increasing those of T-helper (Th) 1 and Th17, which were restored by A. muciniphila combined with inosine treatment. Moreover, A. muciniphila and inosine combination increased the expression levels of intestinal CD39, CD73, and adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) along with enhanced proportions of CD4[+]CD39[+]Treg and CD4[+]CD73[+]Treg cells in the liver and spleen. The A2AR antagonist KW6002, blocked the beneficial effects of the A. muciniphila and inosine combination on liver injury in ALD mice.

CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the combination of A. muciniphila and inosine holds promise for ameliorating ALD by enhancing the gut ecosystem, improving intestinal barrier function, upregulating A2AR, CD73, and CD39 expression, modulating Treg cells functionality, and regulating the imbalance of Treg/Th17/Th1 cells, and these beneficial effects are partly A2AR-dependent.}, } @article {pmid38571805, year = {2024}, author = {Shi, B and Wang, X and Yang, S and Chen, H and Zhao, Y and Shen, J and Xie, M and Huang, B}, title = {Changes and driving factors of microbial community composition and functional groups during the decomposition of Pinus massoniana deadwood.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {e11210}, pmid = {38571805}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Clarifying changes in the microbial community in deadwood at different stages of decomposition is crucial for comprehending the role of deadwood in the biogeochemical processes and the sustainability of forest development. However, there have been no reports on the dynamics of microbial community during the decomposition of Pinus massoniana. We used the "space-for-time" substitution to analyze the characteristics of microbial community changes and the key influencing factors in the P. massoniana deadwood during different decomposition stages by 16S and ITS rRNA gene sequencing. The results suggest that the microbial community structure of the early decomposition (decay class I) was significantly different from the other decay classes, while the diversity and richness of the microbial community were the highest in the late decomposition (decay class V). The Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size analysis revealed that most bacterial and fungal taxa were significantly enriched in decay classes I and V deadwood. During the initial stages of decomposition, the relative abundance of the bacterial functional group responsible for carbohydrate metabolism was greater than the later stages. As decomposition progressed, the relative abundance of saprophytic fungi gradually decreased, and there was a shift in the comparative abundance of mixed saprophytic-symbiotic fungi from low to high before eventually decreasing. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, total potassium, total phenol, condensed tannin, lignin, and cellulose were significantly correlated with microbial community structure, with the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio having the greatest effect. Our results indicate that the physicochemical properties of deadwood, microbial community structural composition and functional group changes were related to the decay class, among which the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio may be an important factor affecting the composition and diversity of microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid38570736, year = {2024}, author = {Jia, H and Lin, J and Lin, Z and Wang, Y and Xu, L and Ding, W and Ming, R}, title = {Haplotype-resolved genome of Mimosa bimucronata revealed insights into leaf movement and nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {334}, pmid = {38570736}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {2020J01593//The Natural Science Foundation Project of Fujian Province/ ; }, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Mimosa ; Haplotypes ; *Fabaceae ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mimosa bimucronata originates from tropical America and exhibits distinctive leaf movement characterized by a relative slow speed. Additionally, this species possesses the ability to fix nitrogen. Despite these intriguing traits, comprehensive studies have been hindered by the lack of genomic resources for M. bimucronata.

RESULTS: To unravel the intricacies of leaf movement and nitrogen fixation, we successfully assembled a high-quality, haplotype-resolved, reference genome at the chromosome level, spanning 648 Mb and anchored in 13 pseudochromosomes. A total of 32,146 protein-coding genes were annotated. In particular, haplotype A was annotated with 31,035 protein-coding genes, and haplotype B with 31,440 protein-coding genes. Structural variations (SVs) and allele specific expression (ASE) analyses uncovered the potential role of structural variants in leaf movement and nitrogen fixation in M. bimucronata. Two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events were detected, that occurred ~ 2.9 and ~ 73.5 million years ago. Transcriptome and co-expression network analyses revealed the involvement of aquaporins (AQPs) and Ca[2+]-related ion channel genes in leaf movement. Moreover, we also identified nodulation-related genes and analyzed the structure and evolution of the key gene NIN in the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF).

CONCLUSION: The detailed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses provided insights into the mechanisms governing leaf movement and nitrogen fixation in M. bimucronata. This research yielded genomic resources and provided an important reference for functional genomic studies of M. bimucronata and other legume species.}, } @article {pmid38570513, year = {2024}, author = {Golaz, D and Papenfuhs, CK and Bellés-Sancho, P and Eberl, L and Egli, M and Pessi, G}, title = {RNA-seq analysis in simulated microgravity unveils down-regulation of the beta-rhizobial siderophore phymabactin.}, journal = {NPJ microgravity}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {44}, pmid = {38570513}, issn = {2373-8065}, support = {31003A_179322//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; I-2022-03207//European Space Agency (ESA)/ ; }, abstract = {Exploiting the symbiotic interaction between crops and nitrogen-fixing bacteria is a simple and ecological method to promote plant growth in prospective extraterrestrial human outposts. In this study, we performed an RNA-seq analysis to investigate the adaptation of the legume symbiont Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815[T] to simulated microgravity (s0-g) at the transcriptome level. The results revealed a drastic effect on gene expression, with roughly 23% of P. phymatum genes being differentially regulated in s0-g. Among those, 951 genes were upregulated and 858 downregulated in the cells grown in s0-g compared to terrestrial gravity (1 g). Several genes involved in posttranslational modification, protein turnover or chaperones encoding were upregulated in s0-g, while those involved in translation, ribosomal structure and biosynthesis, motility or inorganic ions transport were downregulated. Specifically, the whole phm gene cluster, previously bioinformatically predicted to be involved in the production of a hypothetical malleobactin-like siderophore, phymabactin, was 20-fold downregulated in microgravity. By constructing a mutant strain (ΔphmJK) we confirmed that the phm gene cluster codes for the only siderophore secreted by P. phymatum as assessed by the complete lack of iron chelating activity of the P. phymatum ΔphmJK mutant on chrome azurol S (CAS) agar plates. These results not only provide a deeper understanding of the physiology of symbiotic organisms exposed to space-like conditions, but also increase our knowledge of iron acquisition mechanisms in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid38570360, year = {2024}, author = {Zou, Y and Suo, X and Zhang, Y}, title = {Transcriptomic responses of rabbits to infections by precocious line and wild-type Eimeria media: revealing molecular signatures and pathway differences in liver and duodenum during the peak and terminal phases of oocyst production.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {123}, number = {4}, pages = {175}, pmid = {38570360}, issn = {1432-1955}, abstract = {Eimeria media is a principal pathogen responsible for rabbit coccidiosis, targeting the rabbit's intestinal epithelial cells. This parasitism damages the intestinal mucosal barrier, initiating a systemic immune and inflammatory response that jeopardizes the sustainable growth of rabbit farming. To understand the implications of infection on the host's immune and metabolic responses, we employed RNA-Seq to analyze RNA from the liver and duodenum tissues of post-infected rabbits infected with both the precocious line and wild-type strain of E.media. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis revealed that the two parasites exhibit divergent transcriptomic imprints on host tissues. While the precocious line predominantly modulates immune-centric pathways with significant differential gene enrichment, wild-type strain favors pathways that affect metabolism. In addition, our study pinpointed a set of genes that undergo significant modifications in response to these effects. These revelations grant a fresh avenue to probe deeper into the symbiotic intricacies of the E.media and its rabbit host.}, } @article {pmid38569414, year = {2024}, author = {Cardoso, PIFDC and Grisi, CVB and Vieira, ÉA and de Almeida, DKL and Cardarelli, HR}, title = {Cereal flours with Bacillus coagulans and beta-glucan: Technological properties and sensory acceptability.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {448}, number = {}, pages = {139146}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139146}, pmid = {38569414}, issn = {1873-7072}, abstract = {This study aimed to develop three formulations of cereal flours: control cereal flour (CCF), probiotic cereal flour (PCF), and symbiotic cereal flour (SCF), and porridges from the flours were manufactured as a functional food. No significant differences were observed in the microbiological quality and the color of the flours for 150 days. The technological and functional potential of the flours were variously improved with the addition of Bacillus coagulans as a probiotic and beta-glucan as a prebiotic. The addition of beta-glucan fiber did not change the viability of the probiotic, which was higher than 7.45 log CFU/g for SCF and 7.13 log CFU/g for PCF until the end of the storage period. All porridge samples showed non-Newtonian fluid behavior with pseudoplastic characteristics; and the PCF and SCF porridges differed regarding the parameters of hardness (1.10 to 1.38 N), adhesiveness (5.88 to 8.86 mJ), cohesiveness (0.78 to 0.95) and gumminess (0.93 to 1.52 N) over time. The addition of the beta-glucan prebiotic interfered with these attributes due to its gelling capacity in the presence of water. The PCF obtained the best sensory acceptance scores when compared to the other formulations. The addition of Bacillus coagulans and beta-glucan did not interfere with thermographic behavior. The SCF differed in the observed crystallinity parameters from CCF and PCF, with the presence of larger solids and agglomerates.}, } @article {pmid38568895, year = {2024}, author = {Woznica, A}, title = {What choanoflagellates can teach us about symbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e3002561}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3002561}, pmid = {38568895}, issn = {1545-7885}, abstract = {Environmental bacteria influence many facets of choanoflagellate biology, yet surprisingly few examples of symbioses exist. We need to find out why, as choanoflagellates can help us to understand how symbiosis may have shaped the early evolution of animals.}, } @article {pmid38568247, year = {2024}, author = {Fu, S and Iqbal, B and Li, G and Alabbosh, KF and Khan, KA and Zhao, X and Raheem, A and Du, D}, title = {The role of microbial partners in heavy metal metabolism in plants: a review.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {111}, pmid = {38568247}, issn = {1432-203X}, support = {BK20220030//Open Project of the Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Technology Innovation Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; 32271587//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 3235041400//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 18JDG039//Senior Talent Foundation of Jiangsu University/ ; RGP2/360/44//Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University Saudi Arabia for funding this work through Large Groups Project/ ; }, mesh = {*Herb-Drug Interactions ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Heavy metal pollution threatens plant growth and development as well as ecological stability. Here, we synthesize current research on the interplay between plants and their microbial symbionts under heavy metal stress, highlighting the mechanisms employed by microbes to enhance plant tolerance and resilience. Several key strategies such as bioavailability alteration, chelation, detoxification, induced systemic tolerance, horizontal gene transfer, and methylation and demethylation, are examined, alongside the genetic and molecular basis governing these plant-microbe interactions. However, the complexity of plant-microbe interactions, coupled with our limited understanding of the associated mechanisms, presents challenges in their practical application. Thus, this review underscores the necessity of a more detailed understanding of how plants and microbes interact and the importance of using a combined approach from different scientific fields to maximize the benefits of these microbial processes. By advancing our knowledge of plant-microbe synergies in the metabolism of heavy metals, we can develop more effective bioremediation strategies to combat the contamination of soil by heavy metals.}, } @article {pmid38565816, year = {2024}, author = {Xiao, Y and Ma, J and Chen, R and Xiang, S and Yang, B and Chen, L and Fang, J and Liu, S}, title = {Two microbes assisting Miscanthus floridulus in remediating multi-metal(loid)s-contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38565816}, issn = {1614-7499}, support = {No. 41807135//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 31772642//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 31672457//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 21A0142//the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department/ ; XX2022-2024Aa01//the key project of Science and Technology of Hunan Branch of China National Tobacco Corporation/ ; 2023YSYB011//Yili Normal University School Program/ ; }, abstract = {Miscanthus has good tolerance to multi-metal(loid)s and has received increasing attention in remediated studies of metal(loid)s-contaminated soil. In this study, we conducted phytoextraction techniques to investigate the synergic effects of remediation of multi-metal(loid)s-contaminated soil by Miscanthus floridulus (Lab.) and two plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), TS8 and MR2, affiliated to Enterobacteriaceae. The results exhibited a decrease of arsenic (15.27-21.50%), cadmium (8.64-15.52%), plumbum (5.92-12.76%), and zinc (12.84-24.20%) except for copper contents in the soil in bacterial inoculation groups, indicating that MR2 and TS8 could enhance the remediation of metal(loid)s. Moreover, increased fresh/dry weight and height indicated that inoculated bacteria could promote Miscanthus growth. Although the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the content of chlorophyll in the overground tissues showed no significant increase or even decrease, the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the underground tissues and soil were elevated by 48.95-354.17%, available P by 19.07-23.02%, and available K by 15.34-17.79% (p < 0.05). Bacterial inoculants could also decrease the soil pH. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that the bacterial inoculant affected the rhizosphere bacterial community and reduced community diversity, but the relative abundance of some PGPB was found to increase. Phylogenetic molecular ecological networks indicated that bacterial inoculants reduced interactions between rhizosphere bacteria and thereby led to a simpler network structure but increased the proportion of positive-correlation links and enhanced the metabiosis and symbiosis of those bacteria. Spearman's test showed that OTUs affiliated with Enterobacteriaceae and soil nutrients were critical for metal(loid) remediation and Miscanthus growth. The results of this study provide a basis for the synergic remediation of multi-metal(loid)s-contaminated soils by Miscanthus and PGPB and provide a reference for the subsequent regulation of Miscanthus remediation efficiency by the other PGPB or critical bacteria.}, } @article {pmid38565802, year = {2024}, author = {Želježić, D and Kovačević, G and Matijević, A and Korać, P and Mihalić, KC}, title = {Does the Symbiotic Relationship Between Hydra Viridissima and Photoautotrophic Alga Provide an Evolutionary Advantage in Protecting DNA against Damage by the Cytotoxic or Genotoxic Mode of Action of Environmental Stressors?.}, journal = {Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology}, volume = {112}, number = {4}, pages = {56}, pmid = {38565802}, issn = {1432-0800}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hydra/genetics ; Symbiosis ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; }, abstract = {The aim of this paper was to evaluate whether symbiotic cooperation between green hydra (Hydra viridissima) and photoautotrophic alga gives higher resistance of the preservation of DNA integrity compared to brown hydra (Hydra oligactis). Norflurazon concentrations were 0.061 or 0.61 mg/L and UV-B light 254 nm, 0.023mWcm[- 2] applied separately or simultaneously. By alkaline comet assay primary DNA damage was assessed and cytotoxicity by fluorescent staining. Norflurazon at 0.61 mg L[- 1] significantly increased DNA damage in brown hydras compared to the control (6.17 ± 0.6 μm, 5.2 ± 1.7% vs. 2.9 ± 0.2 μm, 1.2 ± 0.2%). Cytotoxicity was significantly elevated, being higher in brown hydras (25.7 ± 3.5% vs. 8.2 ± 0.2%). UV-B irradiation induced significant DNA damage in brown hydras (13.5 ± 1.0 μm, 4.1 ± 1.0%). Simultaneous exposure to UV-B and norflurazon led to a synergistic DNA damaging. The frequency of cytotoxicity and hedgehog nucleoids was more pronounced in brown (78.3 ± 9.4%; 56.4 ± 6.0%) than in green hydras (34.7 ± 2.5%; 24.2 ± 0.6%). Evolutionary established symbiotic cooperation proved to provide resistance against cyto/genotoxicity.}, } @article {pmid38565745, year = {2024}, author = {Silva, GR and de Pina Cavalcanti, F and Melo, RM and Cintra, E and Lima, EM and Hamann, PRV and do Vale, LHF and Ulhoa, CJ and Almeida, F and Noronha, EF}, title = {Extracellular vesicles from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {117}, number = {1}, pages = {64}, pmid = {38565745}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {*Trichoderma/metabolism ; Proteomics ; *Hypocreales ; *Extracellular Vesicles ; }, abstract = {Trichoderma harzianum is a filamentous fungus that can act as a mycoparasite, saprophyte, or a plant symbiotic. It is widely used as a biological control agent against phytopathogenic fungi and can also be used for plant growth promotion and biofortification. Interaction between T. harzianum and phytopathogenic fungi involves mycoparasitism, competition, and antibiosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been described as presenting a central role in mechanisms of communication and interaction among fungus and their hosts. In this study, we characterized extracellular vesicles of T. harzianum produced during growth in the presence of glucose or S. sclerotiorum mycelia. A set of vesicular proteins was identified using proteomic approach, mainly presenting predicted signal peptides.}, } @article {pmid38565349, year = {2024}, author = {Deng, M and Xiao, T and Xu, X and Wang, W and Yang, Z and Lu, K}, title = {Nicotinamide deficiency promotes imidacloprid resistance via activation of ROS/CncC signaling pathway-mediated UGT detoxification in Nilaparvata lugens.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {172035}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172035}, pmid = {38565349}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Metabolic alternation is a typical characteristic of insecticide resistance in insects. However, mechanisms underlying metabolic alternation and how altered metabolism in turn affects insecticide resistance are largely unknown. Here, we report that nicotinamide levels are decreased in the imidacloprid-resistant strain of Nilaparvata lugens, may due to reduced abundance of the symbiotic bacteria Arsenophonus. Importantly, the low levels of nicotinamide promote imidacloprid resistance via metabolic detoxification alternation, including elevations in UDP-glycosyltransferase enzymatic activity and enhancements in UGT386B2-mediated metabolism capability. Mechanistically, nicotinamide suppresses transcriptional regulatory activities of cap 'n' collar isoform C (CncC) and its partner small muscle aponeurosis fibromatosis isoform K (MafK) by scavenging the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and blocking the DNA binding domain of MafK. In imidacloprid-resistant N. lugens, nicotinamide deficiency re-activates the ROS/CncC signaling pathway to provoke UGT386B2 overexpression, thereby promoting imidacloprid detoxification. Thus, nicotinamide metabolism represents a promising target to counteract imidacloprid resistance in N. lugens.}, } @article {pmid38564969, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, B and Ruiz, D and Case, H and Jinkerson, RE and Sun, Q}, title = {Engineering bacterial warriors: harnessing microbes to modulate animal physiology.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {87}, number = {}, pages = {103113}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103113}, pmid = {38564969}, issn = {1879-0429}, abstract = {A central goal of synthetic biology is the reprogramming of living systems for predetermined biological functions. While many engineering efforts have been made in living systems, these innovations have been mainly employed with microorganisms or cell lines. The engineering of multicellular organisms including animals remains challenging owing to the complexity of these systems. In this context, microbes, with their intricate impact on animals, have opened new opportunities. Through the utilization of the symbiotic relationships between microbes and animals, researchers have effectively manipulated animals in various ways using engineered microbes. This focused approach has demonstrated its significance in scientific exploration and engineering with model animals, coral preservation and restoration, and advancements in human health.}, } @article {pmid38564842, year = {2024}, author = {Chatterjee, S and Leach, ST and Lui, K and Mishra, A}, title = {Symbiotic symphony: Understanding host-microbiota dialogues in a spatial context.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {161-162}, number = {}, pages = {22-30}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2024.03.001}, pmid = {38564842}, issn = {1096-3634}, abstract = {Modern precision sequencing techniques have established humans as a holobiont that live in symbiosis with the microbiome. Microbes play an active role throughout the life of a human ranging from metabolism and immunity to disease tolerance. Hence, it is of utmost significance to study the eukaryotic host in conjunction with the microbial antigens to obtain a complete picture of the host-microbiome crosstalk. Previous attempts at profiling host-microbiome interactions have been either superficial or been attempted to catalogue eukaryotic transcriptomic profile and microbial communities in isolation. Additionally, the nature of such immune-microbial interactions is not random but spatially organised. Hence, for a holistic clinical understanding of the interplay between hosts and microbiota, it's imperative to concurrently analyze both microbial and host genetic information, ensuring the preservation of their spatial integrity. Capturing these interactions as a snapshot in time at their site of action has the potential to transform our understanding of how microbes impact human health. In examining early-life microbial impacts, the limited presence of communities compels analysis within reduced biomass frameworks. However, with the advent of spatial transcriptomics we can address this challenge and expand our horizons of understanding these interactions in detail. In the long run, simultaneous spatial profiling of host-microbiome dialogues can have enormous clinical implications especially in gaining mechanistic insights into the disease prognosis of localised infections and inflammation. This review addresses the lacunae in host-microbiome research and highlights the importance of profiling them together to map their interactions while preserving their spatial context.}, } @article {pmid38564797, year = {2024}, author = {Meaney, JS and Panchal, AK and Wilcox, AJ and diCenzo, GC and Karas, B}, title = {Identifying functional multi-host shuttle plasmids to advance synthetic biology applications in Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2023-0232}, pmid = {38564797}, issn = {1480-3275}, abstract = {Ammonia availability has a crucial role in agriculture as it ensures healthy plant growth and increased crop yields. Since diazotrophs are the only organisms capable of reducing dinitrogen to ammonia, they have a great ecological importance and potential to mitigate the environmental and economic costs of synthetic fertilizer use. Rhizobia are especially valuable being that they can engage in nitrogen-fixing symbiotic relationships with legumes, and they demonstrate great diversity and plasticity in genomic and phenotypic traits. However, few rhizobial species have improved genetic tractability for synthetic biology applications. This study established a basic genetic toolbox with antibiotic resistance markers, multi-host shuttle plasmids and a streamlined protocol for biparental conjugation with Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species. We identified two repABC origins of replication from Sinorhizobium meliloti (pSymB) and Rhizobium etli (p42d) that were stable across all three strains of interest. Furthermore, the NZP2235 genome was sequenced and phylogenetic analysis determined its reclassification to Mesorhizobium huakuii. These tools will enable the use of plasmid-based strategies for more advanced genetic engineering projects and ultimately contribute towards the development of more sustainable agriculture practices by means of novel nitrogen-fixing organelles, elite bioinoculants or symbiotic association with non-legumes.}, } @article {pmid38563292, year = {2024}, author = {Crehan, O and Davy, SK and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Nutrient depletion and heat stress impair the assimilation of nitrogen compounds in a scleractinian coral.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.246466}, pmid = {38563292}, issn = {1477-9145}, abstract = {Concentrations of dissolved nitrogen in seawater can affect the resilience of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis to climate change-induced bleaching. However, it is not yet known how the assimilation and translocation of the various nitrogen forms change during heat stress, nor how the symbiosis responds to nutrient depletion, which may be observed due to increasing water stratification. Here, the tropical scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata, in symbiosis with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, was grown at different temperatures (26°C, 30°C, and 34°C), before being placed in nutrient-replete or depleted seawater for 24 hours. The corals were then incubated with 13C-labelled sodium bicarbonate and different 15N-labelled nitrogen forms (ammonium, urea, and dissolved free amino acids) to determine their assimilation rates. We found that nutrient depletion inhibited the assimilation of all nitrogen sources studied and that heat stress reduced the assimilation of ammonium and dissolved free amino acids. However, the host assimilated over threefold more urea at 30°C relative to 26°C. Overall, both moderate heat stress (30°C) and nutrient depletion individually decreased the total nitrogen assimilated by the symbiont by 66%, and combined, they decreased assimilation by 79%. This led to the symbiotic algae becoming nitrogen starved, with the C:N ratio increasing over threefold at 34°C, potentially exacerbating the impacts of coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid38562549, year = {2024}, author = {Yahagi, K}, title = {Fucosylated human milk oligosaccharide-utilizing bifidobacteria regulate the gut organic acid profile of infants.}, journal = {Bioscience of microbiota, food and health}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {92-99}, pmid = {38562549}, issn = {2186-6953}, abstract = {Bifidobacteria are the predominant bacteria in the infant gut and have beneficial effects on host physiology. Infant cohort studies have demonstrated that a higher abundance of bifidobacteria in the gut is associated with a reduced risk of disease. Recently, bifidobacteria-derived metabolites, such as organic acid, have been suggested to play crucial roles in host physiology. This review focuses on an investigation of longitudinal changes in the gut microbiota and organic acid concentrations over 2 years of life in 12 Japanese infants and aims to identify bifidobacteria that contribute to the production of organic acid in healthy infants. Acetate, lactate, and formate, which are rarely observed in adults, are characteristically observed during breast-fed infancy. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis and the symbiosis of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium breve efficiently produce these organic acids through metabolization of human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) with different strategies. These findings confirmed that HMO-utilizing bifidobacteria play an important role in regulating the gut organic acid profiles of infants.}, } @article {pmid38562471, year = {2024}, author = {Tian, F and Wang, J and Ding, F and Wang, L and Yang, Y and Bai, X and Tan, C and Liao, X}, title = {Comparative transcriptomics and proteomics analysis of the symbiotic germination of Paphiopedilum barbigerum with Epulorhiza sp. FQXY019.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1358137}, pmid = {38562471}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Paphiopedilum barbigerum is currently the rarest and most endangered species of orchids in China and has significant ornamental value. The mature seeds of P. barbigerum are difficult to germinate owing to the absence of an endosperm and are highly dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for germination and subsequent development. However, little is known about the regulation mechanisms of symbiosis and symbiotic germination of P. barbigerum seeds.

METHODS: Herein, transcriptomics and proteomics were used to explore the changes in the P. barbigerum seeds after inoculation with (FQXY019 treatment group) or without (control group) Epulorhiza sp. FQXY019 at 90 days after germination.

RESULTS: Transcriptome sequencing revealed that a total of 10,961 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 2,599 upregulated and 8,402 downregulated) were identified in the control and FQXY019 treatment groups. These DEGs were mainly involved in carbohydrate, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, the expression levels of candidate DEGs related to nodulin, Ca[2+] signaling, and plant lectins were significantly affected in P. barbigerum in the FQXY019 treatment groups. Subsequently, tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics was performed to recognize the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and a total of 537 DEPs (220 upregulated and 317 downregulated) were identified that were enriched in processes including photosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, and fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism.

DISCUSSION: This study provides novel insight on the mechanisms underlying the in vitro seed germination and protocorm development of P. barbigerum by using a compatible fungal symbiont and will benefit the reintroduction and mycorrhizal symbiotic germination of endangered orchids.}, } @article {pmid38561780, year = {2024}, author = {Rill, A and Zhao, L and Bode, HB}, title = {Genetic toolbox for Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus: pSEVA based heterologous expression systems and CRISPR/Cpf1 based genome editing for rapid natural product profiling.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {98}, pmid = {38561780}, issn = {1475-2859}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus are motile, Gram-negative bacteria that live in symbiosis with entomopathogenic nematodes. Due to their complex life cycle, they produce a large number of specialized metabolites (natural products) encoded in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC). Genetic tools for Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus have been rare and applicable to only a few strains. In the past, several tools have been developed for the activation of BGCs and the deletion of individual genes. However, these often have limited efficiency or are time consuming. Among the limitations, it is essential to have versatile expression systems and genome editing tools that could facilitate the practical work.

RESULTS: In the present study, we developed several expression vectors and a CRISPR-Cpf1 genome editing vector for genetic manipulations in Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus using SEVA plasmids. The SEVA collection is based on modular vectors that allow exchangeability of different elements (e.g. origin of replication and antibiotic selection markers with the ability to insert desired sequences for different end applications). Initially, we tested different SEVA vectors containing the broad host range origins and three different resistance genes for kanamycin, gentamycin and chloramphenicol, respectively. We demonstrated that these vectors are replicative not only in well-known representatives, e.g. Photorhabdus laumondii TTO1, but also in other rarely described strains like Xenorhabdus sp. TS4. For our CRISPR/Cpf1-based system, we used the pSEVA231 backbone to delete not only small genes but also large parts of BGCs. Furthermore, we were able to activate and refactor BGCs to obtain high production titers of high value compounds such as safracin B, a semisynthetic precursor for the anti-cancer drug ET-743.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide new inducible expression vectors and a CRISPR/CPf1 encoding vector all based on the SEVA (Standard European Vector Architecture) collection, which can improve genetic manipulation and genome editing processes in Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus.}, } @article {pmid38559383, year = {2024}, author = {Hemali, NA and De Alwis, AAP and Wijesundara, M and Edirisinghe, LGLM}, title = {A method for determining the recycling value of unprocessed municipal solid waste in one cubic meter waste composition analysis technique.}, journal = {MethodsX}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {102626}, pmid = {38559383}, issn = {2215-0161}, abstract = {The transition from conventional landfill-centric waste management to resource-centric methodologies necessitates an enhanced comprehension of municipal solid waste (MSW) composition and its inherent value. Existing methodologies documented in the literature exhibit a lack of standardization, impending the formulation of a systematic engineering approach for MSW characterization and valuation. This study introduces a methodology specifically tailored to discern the composition of waste origination from urban households and evaluate its recyclability within the confines of a circular economy framework, Employing a volume-based measurement approach, aims to estimate the recycling value of waste materials. The study's outcomes contribute significantly to quantifying the potential recycling value that accrues to society. Furthermore, the validation of the proposed protocol elucidates the dynamic nature of recyclable value as it traverses the intricate pathways of the waste supply chain. This insight facilitates the formulation of commercial models grounded in circular economy principles for the effective management of household solid waste. Empirical findings reveal that the total recycling value fluctuates within the range of USD 3.39 and USD 5.76 per cubic meter of waste volume, contingent upon the specific waste composition at the experiment site. Additionally, the proposed methodology uncovers the nuanced variability in MSW composition and recycling value across diverse household collection patterns, identifying mixed plastic, paper, cardboard, mixed MSW, and clothing as primary constituents. The application of this methodology extends beyond mere quantification, providing a foundational framework for simulating the latent recycling value embedded within MSW samples. This, in turn, offers invaluable support to strategy developers, policymakers, and entrepreneurial ventures engaged in the sustainable management of household solid waste. In essence, this study establishes the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of MSW composition and its recyclability, facilitating informed decision-making in the pursuit of a circular economy.•Novel methodology based on one cubic meter (1m3) composition analysis of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).•A new method to evaluate the recycling value of Municipal Solid Waste.•A basis for business model development for the waste-to-resource conversion model.}, } @article {pmid38559356, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, M and Ding, Z and Zhou, M and Shang, Y and Li, C and Li, Q and Bu, T and Tang, Z and Chen, H}, title = {The diversity of endophytic fungi in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and its correlation with flavonoids and phenotypic traits.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1360988}, pmid = {38559356}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a significant medicinal crop, with flavonoids serving as a crucial measure of its quality. Presently, the artificial cultivation of Tartary buckwheat yields low results, and the quality varies across different origins. Therefore, it is imperative to identify an effective method to enhance the yield and quality of buckwheat. Endophytic fungi reside within plants and form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship, aiding plants in nutrient absorption, promoting host growth, and improving secondary metabolites akin to the host. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to assess the diversity of endophytic fungi in Tartary buckwheat. Subsequently, a correlation analysis was performed between fungi and metabolites, revealing potential increases in flavonoid content due to endophytic fungi such as Bipolaris, Hymenula, and Colletotrichum. Additionally, a correlation analysis between fungi and phenotypic traits unveiled the potential influence of endophytic fungi such as Bipolaris, Buckleyzyma, and Trichosporon on the phenotypic traits of Tartary buckwheat. Notably, the endophytic fungi of the Bipolaris genus exhibited the potential to elevate the content of Tartary buckwheat metabolites and enhance crop growth. Consequently, this study successfully identified the resources of endophytic fungi in Tartary buckwheat, explored potential functional endophytic fungi, and laid a scientific foundation for future implementation of biological fertilizers in improving the quality and growth of Tartary buckwheat.}, } @article {pmid38559107, year = {2024}, author = {Sikdar, R and Beauclaire, MV and Lima, BP and Herzberg, MC and Elias, MH}, title = {N -acyl homoserine lactone signaling modulates bacterial community associated with human dental plaque.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.03.15.585217}, pmid = {38559107}, abstract = {N -acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are small diffusible signaling molecules that mediate a cell density-dependent bacterial communication system known as quorum sensing (QS). AHL-mediated QS regulates gene expression to control many critical bacterial behaviors including biofilm formation, pathogenicity, and antimicrobial resistance. Dental plaque is a complex multispecies oral biofilm formed by successive colonization of the tooth surface by groups of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic bacteria, which can contribute to tooth decay and periodontal diseases. While the existence and roles of AHL-mediated QS in oral microbiota have been debated, recent evidence indicates that AHLs play significant roles in oral biofilm development and community dysbiosis. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain poorly characterized. To better understand the importance of AHL signaling in dental plaque formation, we manipulated AHL signaling by adding AHL lactonases or exogenous AHL signaling molecules. We find that AHLs can be detected in dental plaque grown under 5% CO 2 conditions, but not when grown under anaerobic conditions, and yet anaerobic cultures are still responsive to AHLs. QS signal disruption using lactonases leads to changes in microbial population structures in both planktonic and biofilm states, changes that are dependent on the substrate preference of the used lactonase but mainly result in the increase in the abundance of commensal and pioneer colonizer species. Remarkably, the opposite manipulation, that is the addition of exogenous AHLs increases the abundance of late colonizer bacterial species. Hence, this work highlights the importance of AHL-mediated QS in dental plaque communities, its potential different roles in anaerobic and aerobic parts of dental plaque, and underscores the potential of QS interference in the control of periodontal diseases.}, } @article {pmid38558826, year = {2024}, author = {Song, X and Lao, J and Wang, L and Liu, S}, title = {Research advances on short-chain fatty acids in gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease.}, journal = {Therapeutic advances in hematology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {20406207241237602}, pmid = {38558826}, issn = {2040-6207}, abstract = {Gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (GI-aGVHD) is a severe early complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It has been shown that the intestinal microbiota plays a critical role in this process. As metabolites of the intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are vital for maintaining the host-microbiota symbiotic equilibrium. This article provides an overview of the protective effect of SCFAs in the gastrointestinal tract, emphasizes their association with GI-aGVHD, and explores relevant research progress in prevention and treatment research.}, } @article {pmid38558277, year = {2024}, author = {Ye, S and Lu, Y and Li, G and Li, D and Wu, Y and Yao, Y}, title = {Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Isolated from the Gut Symbiotic Community of the Plastic-Eating Tenebrio molitor.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38558277}, issn = {1559-0291}, support = {02020200-K02013008//Zhejiang University/ ; }, abstract = {Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste is a major environmental challenge. In this study, we found that a PVC-eating insect, Tenebrio molitor, could survive by consuming PVC as a dietary supplement. To understand the gut symbiotic community, metagenomic analysis was performed to reveal the biodiversity of a symbiotic community in the midgut of Tenebrio molitor. Among them, seven genera were enriched from the midgut of the insect under culture conditions with PVC as carbon source. A strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated from the midgut symbiotic community of the plastic-eating Tenebrio molitor. To unravel the functional gene for the biodegradation enzyme, we sequenced the whole genome of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and found that orf00390, annotated as a hydrolase, was highly expressed in the PVC culture niche.}, } @article {pmid38557976, year = {2024}, author = {Kendlbacher, V and Winter, TMR and Bright, M}, title = {Zoothamnium mariella sp. nov., a marine, colonial ciliate with an atypcial growth pattern, and its ectosymbiont Candidatus Fusimicrobium zoothamnicola gen. nov., sp. nov.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {e0300758}, pmid = {38557976}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Ciliates are unicellular eukaryotes, regularly involved in symbiotic associations. Symbionts may colonize the inside of their cells as well as their surface as ectosymbionts. Here, we report on a new ciliate species, designated as Zoothamnium mariella sp. nov. (Peritrichia, Sessilida), discovered in the northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) in 2021. We found this ciliate species to be monospecifically associated with a new genus of ectosymbiotic bacteria, here proposed as Candidatus Fusimicrobium zoothamnicola gen. nov., sp. nov. To formally describe the new ciliate species, we investigated its morphology and sequenced its 18S rRNA gene. To demonstrate its association with a single species of bacterial ectosymbiont, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, we explored the two partners' cultivation requirements and ecology. Z. mariella sp. nov. was characterized by a colony length of up to 1 mm. A consistent number of either seven or eight long branches alternated on the stalk in close distance to each other. The colony developed three different types of zooids: microzooids ("trophic stage"), macrozooids ("telotroch stage"), and terminal zooids ("dividing stage"). Viewed from inside the cell, the microzooids' oral ciliature ran in 1 ¼ turns in a clockwise direction around the peristomial disc before entering the infundibulum, where it performed another ¾ turn. Phylogenetic analyses assigned Z. mariella sp. nov. to clade II of the family Zoothamnidae. The ectosymbiont formed a monophyletic clade within the Gammaproteobacteria along with two other ectosymbionts of peritrichous ciliates and a free-living vent bacterium. It colonized the entire surface of its ciliate host, except for the most basal stalk of large colonies, and exhibited a single, spindle-shaped morphotype. Furthermore, the two partners together appear to be generalists of temperate, oxic, marine shallow-water environments and were collectively cultivable in steady flow-through systems.}, } @article {pmid38557234, year = {2024}, author = {Damani, A and Ghoshal, A and Thota, R and Jain, PN}, title = {Initial Experiences With Integration of Palliative Medicine and Specialist Pain Services in a Tertiary Cancer Care Center in India.}, journal = {Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1080/15360288.2024.2320379}, pmid = {38557234}, issn = {1536-0539}, abstract = {Pain management constitutes a pivotal aspect of palliative care. Certain instances of distressing pain are significantly relieved through interventional pain methodologies, demanding the expertise of pain specialists. Our perspective revolves around the integration of these 2 facets, envisaging a symbiotic relationship that could enhance patient outcomes. A prospective assessment was carried out within a collaborative clinic, uniting the realms of pain management and palliative medicine. Anonymized patient information was scrutinized to grasp the advantages of this amalgamation and identify strategies to address any inherent deficiencies. Furthermore, an illustrative case study was delineated, spotlighting the collaborative dynamics at a systemic level. During the period spanning from November 2020 to June 2021, a total of 43 patients received consultations at this collaborative clinic. Each patient was exposed to a comprehensive pain management regimen, with the most frequently conducted procedure being an intercostal nerve block, which was administered in 9.30% of cases. For the provision of effective pain relief within the palliative care context, the confluence of joint consultations from cancer pain specialists emerges as a requisite measure. This approach carries the promise of optimizing pain control and augmenting the quality of palliative care.}, } @article {pmid38555351, year = {2024}, author = {Han, CJ and Cheng, CH and Yeh, TF and Pauchet, Y and Shelomi, M}, title = {Coconut rhinoceros beetle digestive symbiosis with potential plant cell wall degrading microbes.}, journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {34}, pmid = {38555351}, issn = {2055-5008}, support = {MOST-109-643 2311-B-002-016-MY3//Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Coleoptera/genetics/microbiology ; Larva/genetics/microbiology ; Cell Wall ; }, abstract = {Coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB, Oryctes rhinoceros) is an invasive palm pest whose larvae eat wood, yet lack the necessary digestive enzymes. This study confirmed endogenous CRB cellulase is inactive, suggesting microbial fermentation. The inner lining of the CRB hindgut has tree-like structures covered with a conspicuous biofilm. To identify possible symbionts, 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used on individuals from across Taiwan. Several taxa of Clostridia, an anaerobic class including many cellulolytic bacteria, were highly abundant in most individuals from all locations. Whole metagenome sequencing further confirmed many lignocellulose degrading enzymes are derived from these taxa. Analyses of eggs, larvae, adults, and soil found these cellulolytic microbes are not transmitted vertically or transstadially. The core microbiomes of the larval CRB are likely acquired and enriched from the environment with each molt, and enable efficient digestion of wood.}, } @article {pmid38554868, year = {2024}, author = {Sahu, S and Kaur, A and Singh, G and Arya, SK}, title = {Integrating biosorption and machine learning for efficient remazol red removal by algae-bacteria Co-culture and comparative analysis of predicted models.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {141791}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141791}, pmid = {38554868}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {This research investigates into the efficacy of algae and algae-bacteria symbiosis (ABS) in efficiently decolorizing Remazol Red 5B, a prevalent dye pollutant. The investigation encompasses an exploration of the biosorption isotherm and kinetics governing the dye removal process. Additionally, various machine learning models are employed to predict the efficiency of dye removal within a co-culture system. The results demonstrate that both Desmodesmus abundans and a composite of Desmodesmus abundans and Rhodococcus pyridinivorans exhibit significant dye removal percentages of 75 ± 1% and 78 ± 1%, respectively, after 40 min. The biosorption isotherm analysis reveals a significant interaction between the adsorbate and the biosorbent, and it indicates that the Temkin model best matches the experimental data. Moreover, the Langmuir model indicates a relatively high biosorption capacity, further highlighting the potential of the algae-bacteria composite as an efficient adsorbent. Decision Trees, Random Forest, Support Vector Regression, and Artificial Neural Networks are evaluated for predicting dye removal efficiency. The Random Forest model emerges as the most accurate, exhibiting an R[2] value of 0.98, while Support Vector Regression and Artificial Neural Networks also demonstrate robust predictive capabilities. This study contributes to the advancement of sustainable dye removal strategies and encourages future exploration of hybrid approaches to further enhance predictive accuracy and efficiency in wastewater treatment processes.}, } @article {pmid38553514, year = {2024}, author = {Konecka, E and Szymkowiak, P}, title = {Wolbachia supergroup A in Enoplognatha latimana (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Poland as an example of possible horizontal transfer of bacteria.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {7486}, pmid = {38553514}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Poland ; *Spiders/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia (phylum Pseudomonadota, class Alfaproteobacteria, order Rickettsiales, family Ehrlichiaceae) is a maternally inherited bacterial symbiont infecting more than half of arthropod species worldwide and constituting an important force in the evolution, biology, and ecology of invertebrate hosts. Our study contributes to the limited knowledge regarding the presence of intracellular symbiotic bacteria in spiders. Specifically, we investigated the occurrence of Wolbachia infection in the spider species Enoplognatha latimana Hippa and Oksala, 1982 (Araneae: Theridiidae) using a sample collected in north-western Poland. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Wolbachia infection in E. latimana. A phylogeny based on the sequence analysis of multiple genes, including 16S rRNA, coxA, fbpA, ftsZ, gatB, gltA, groEL, hcpA, and wsp revealed that Wolbachia from the spider represented supergroup A and was related to bacterial endosymbionts discovered in other spider hosts, as well as insects of the orders Diptera and Hymenoptera. A sequence unique for Wolbachia supergroup A was detected for the ftsZ gene. The sequences of Wolbachia housekeeping genes have been deposited in publicly available databases and are an important source of molecular data for comparative studies. The etiology of Wolbachia infection in E. latimana is discussed.}, } @article {pmid38552792, year = {2024}, author = {Cai, JA and Christophides, GK}, title = {Immune interactions between mosquitoes and microbes during midgut colonization.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101195}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2024.101195}, pmid = {38552792}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Mosquitoes encounter diverse microbes during their lifetime, including symbiotic bacteria, shaping their midgut ecosystem. The organization of the midgut supports microbiota persistence while defending against potential pathogens. The influx of nutrients during blood feeding triggers bacterial proliferation, challenging host homeostasis. Immune responses, aimed at controlling bacterial overgrowth, impact blood-borne pathogens like malaria parasites. However, parasites deploy evasion strategies against mosquito immunity. Leveraging these mechanisms could help engineer malaria-resistant mosquitoes, offering a transformative tool for malaria elimination.}, } @article {pmid38551849, year = {2024}, author = {Masuda, T and Mareš, J and Shiozaki, T and Inomura, K and Fujiwara, A and Prášil, O}, title = {Crocosphaera watsonii - A widespread nitrogen-fixing unicellular marine cyanobacterium.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13450}, pmid = {38551849}, issn = {1529-8817}, support = {23-06593S//Grantová Agentura České Republiky/ ; JP23H02301//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JPMJPR23GA//JST, PRESTO/ ; }, abstract = {Crocosphaera watsonii is a unicellular N2-fixing (diazotrophic) cyanobacterium observed in tropical and subtropical oligotrophic oceans. As a diazotroph, it can be a source of bioavailable nitrogen (N) to the microbial community in N-limited environments, and this may fuel primary production in the regions where it occurs. Crocosphaera watsonii has been the subject of intense study, both in culture and in field populations. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the phylogenetic and physiological diversity of C. watsonii, its distribution, and its ecological niche. Analysis of the relationships among the individual Crocosphaera species and related free-living and symbiotic lineages of diazotrophs based on the nifH gene have shown that the C. watsonii group holds a basal position and that its sequence is more similar to Rippkaea and Zehria than to other Crocosphaera species. This finding warrants further scrutiny to determine if the placement is related to a horizontal gene transfer event. Here, the nifH UCYN-B gene copy number from a recent synthesis effort was used as a proxy for relative C. watsonii abundance to examine patterns of C. watsonii distribution as a function of environmental factors, like iron and phosphorus concentration, and complimented with a synthesis of C. watsonii physiology. Furthermore, we have summarized the current knowledge of C. watsonii with regards to N2 fixation, photosynthesis, and quantitative modeling of physiology. Because N availability can limit primary production, C. watsonii is widely recognized for its importance to carbon and N cycling in ocean ecosystems, and we conclude this review by highlighting important topics for further research on this important species.}, } @article {pmid38550859, year = {2024}, author = {Luo, Z and Luo, J and Wu, S and Luo, X and Sui, X}, title = {Soil bacterial community in a photovoltaic system adopted different survival strategies to cope with small-scale light stress under different vegetation restoration modes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1365234}, pmid = {38550859}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a major carbon reduction technology that is rapidly developing worldwide. However, the impact of PV plant construction on subsurface microecosystems is currently understudied. We conducted a systematic investigation into the effects of small-scale light stress caused by shading of PV panels and sampling depth on the composition, diversity, survival strategy, and key driving factors of soil bacterial communities (SBCs) under two vegetation restoration modes, i.e., Euryops pectinatus (EP) and Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum (LC). The study revealed that light stress had a greater impact on rare species with relative abundances below 0.01% than on high-abundance species, regardless of the vegetation restoration pattern. Additionally, PV shadowing increased SBCs' biomass by 20-30% but had varying negative effects on the numbers of Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU), Shannon diversity, abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE), and Chao1 richness index. Co-occurrence and correlation network analysis revealed that symbiotic relationships dominated the key SBCs in the LC sample plots, with Chloroflexi and Actinobacteriota being the most ecologically important. In contrast, competitive relationships were significantly increased in the EP sample plots, with Actinobacteriota having the most ecological importance. In the EP sample plot, SBCs were found to be more tightly linked and had more stable ecological networks. This suggests that EP is more conducive to the stability and health of underground ecosystems in vulnerable areas when compared with LC. These findings offer new insights into the effects of small-scale light stress on subsurface microorganisms under different vegetation restoration patterns. Moreover, they may provide a reference for optimizing ecological restoration patterns in fragile areas.}, } @article {pmid38549276, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, J and Chen, L and Wang, J and Zhao, W and Zhang, J and Qin, Z and Wang, M and Chen, X and Li, M and Yang, Q}, title = {Response of the symbiotic microbial community of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun to root-knot nematode infection.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-01-24-0169-RE}, pmid = {38549276}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Yam is an important medicinal and edible dual-purpose plant with high economic value. However, nematode damage severely affects its yield and quality. One of the major effects of nematode infestations is the secondary infection of pathogenic bacteria or fungi through entry wounds made by the nematodes. Understanding the response of the symbiotic microbial community of yam plants to nematodes is crucial for controlling such a disease. In this study, we investigated the rhizosphere and endophytic microbiomes shift after nematode infection during the tuber expansion stage in the Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun yam. Our results revealed that soil depth affected the abundance of nematodes, and the relative number of Meloidogyne incognita was higher in the diseased soil at a depth of 16-40 cm than those at a depth of 0-15 cm and 41-70 cm. The abundance of and interactions among soil microbiota members were significantly correlated with root-knot nematode (RKN) parasitism at various soil depths. However, the comparison of the microbial alpha diversity and composition between healthy and diseased rhizosphere soil showed no difference. Compared with healthy soils, the co-occurrence networks of M. incognita-infested soils included a higher ratio of positive correlations linked to plant health. In addition, we detected a higher abundance of certain taxonomic groups belonging to Chitinophagaceae and Xanthobacteraceae in the rhizosphere of RKN-infested plants. The nematodes, besides causing direct damage to plants, also possess the ability to act synergistically with other pathogens, especially Ramicandelaber and Fusarium, leading to the development of disease complexes. In contrast to soil samples, RKN parasitism specifically had a significant effect on the composition and assembly of the root endophytic microbiota. The RKN colonization impacted a wide variety of endophytic microbiomes, including Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Rhizobium, Neocosmospora, and Fusarium. This study revealed the relationship between RKN disease and changes in the rhizosphere and endophytic microbial community, which may provide novel insights that help improve biological management of yam RKNs.}, } @article {pmid38548766, year = {2024}, author = {Pratt, CJ and Meili, CH and Jones, AL and Jackson, DK and England, EE and Wang, Y and Hartson, S and Rogers, J and Elshahed, MS and Youssef, NH}, title = {Anaerobic fungi in the tortoise alimentary tract illuminate early stages of host-fungal symbiosis and Neocallimastigomycota evolution.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2714}, pmid = {38548766}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {2029478//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 2029478//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Neocallimastigomycota/genetics/metabolism ; *Turtles/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Anaerobiosis ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Mammals ; Fungi/genetics ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF, Neocallimastigomycota) reside in the alimentary tract of herbivores. While their presence in mammals is well documented, evidence for their occurrence in non-mammalian hosts is currently sparse. Culture-independent surveys of AGF in tortoises identified a unique community, with three novel deep-branching genera representing >90% of sequences in most samples. Representatives of all genera were successfully isolated under strict anaerobic conditions. Transcriptomics-enabled phylogenomic and molecular dating analyses indicated an ancient, deep-branching position in the AGF tree for these genera, with an evolutionary divergence time estimate of 104-112 million years ago (Mya). Such estimates push the establishment of animal-Neocallimastigomycota symbiosis from the late to the early Cretaceous. Further, tortoise-associated isolates (T-AGF) exhibited limited capacity for plant polysaccharides metabolism and lacked genes encoding several carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) families. Finally, we demonstrate that the observed curtailed degradation capacities and reduced CAZyme repertoire is driven by the paucity of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in T-AGF genomes, compared to their mammalian counterparts. This reduced capacity was reflected in an altered cellulosomal production capacity in T-AGF. Our findings provide insights into the phylogenetic diversity, ecological distribution, evolutionary history, evolution of fungal-host nutritional symbiosis, and dynamics of genes acquisition in Neocallimastigomycota.}, } @article {pmid38548755, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, W and Xiong, J and Li, M and Bu, X and Jiang, C and Wang, G and Zhang, J and Li, W and Zou, H and Miao, W and Chen, K and Wang, G}, title = {Genome assembly of a symbiotic balantidia (Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni) in fish hindgut.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {323}, pmid = {38548755}, issn = {2052-4463}, support = {32170437//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32303066//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 2021M703435//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; CARS-45//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Balantidium/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromosomes ; Phylogeny ; *Genome, Protozoan ; Carps ; }, abstract = {Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni is identified as the sole ciliate species that exclusively resides within the hindgut of grass carp with high prevalence and intensity. In this study, the successful cultivation of B. ctenopharyngodoni enabled us to collect enough cells for genome sequencing. Consequently, we acquired a high-quality genome assembly spanning 68.66 Mb, encompassing a total of 22,334 nanochromosomes. Furthermore, we predicted 29,348 protein-coding genes, and 95.5% of them was supported by the RNA-seq data. The trend of GC content in the subtelomeric regions of single-gene chromosomes was similar to other ciliates containing nanochromosomes. A large number of genes encoding carbohydrate-binding modules with affinities for starch and peptidoglycans was identified. The identification of mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) within genome indicates its well-suited adaptation to the anaerobic conditions in the hindgut environment. In summary, our results will offer resources for understanding the genetic basis and molecular adaptations of balantidia to hindgut of herbivorous fish.}, } @article {pmid38548215, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, S and Xu, Y and Zhuo, W and Zhang, L}, title = {The emerging role of lactate in tumor microenvironment and its clinical relevance.}, journal = {Cancer letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {216837}, doi = {10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216837}, pmid = {38548215}, issn = {1872-7980}, abstract = {In recent years, the significant impact of lactate in the tumor microenvironment has been greatly documented. Acting not only as an energy substance in tumor metabolism, lactate is also an imperative signaling molecule. It plays key roles in metabolic remodeling, protein lactylation, immunosuppression, drug resistance, epigenetics and tumor metastasis, which has a tight relation with cancer patients' poor prognosis. This review illustrates the roles lactate plays in different aspects of tumor progression and drug resistance. From the comprehensive effects that lactate has on tumor metabolism and tumor immunity, the therapeutic targets related to it are expected to bring new hope for cancer therapy.}, } @article {pmid38548030, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, X and Liao, Y and Zeng, M and Qin, Y}, title = {Nitrite accumulation performance and microbial community of Algal-Bacterial symbiotic system constructed by Chlorella sp. And Navicula sp.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {399}, number = {}, pages = {130638}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130638}, pmid = {38548030}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Chlorella sp. and Navicula sp. were separately used to construct an algal-bacterial symbiotic system in two identical sequencing batch reactors (R1 and R2) to explore the influence of algal species differences on nitrite accumulation. The Navicula-bacterial symbiotic system showed a higher nitrite accumulation efficiency of 85% and a stronger resistance to ammonia load. It secreted twice as many extracellular polymeric substances than the Chlorella-bacterial symbiotic system. Nitrospira and SM1A02 were the dominant functional genera of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in R1. The dominant functional genus of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria and the dominant functional genus of denitrifying bacteria were Ellin6067 and unclassified_Saprospiraceae in R2, respectively. In general, this research provided some reference for the construction of an algal-bacterial symbiotic system and achieving nitrite accumulation through an algal-bacterial symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid38546390, year = {2024}, author = {Maroni, G and Krishnan, I and Alfieri, R and Maymi, VA and Pandell, N and Csizmadia, E and Zhang, J and Weetall, M and Branstrom, A and Braccini, G and Cabrera San Millán, E and Storti, B and Bizzarri, R and Kocher, O and Daniela Sanchez Bassères, DS and Welner, RS and Magli, MC and Merelli, I and Clohessy, JG and Ali, A and Tenen, DG and Levantini, E}, title = {Tumor Microenvironment Landscapes Supporting EGFR-mutant NSCLC Are Modulated at the Single-cell Interaction Level by Unesbulin Treatment.}, journal = {Cancer research communications}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {919-937}, pmid = {38546390}, issn = {2767-9764}, support = {CAO 2015//Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)/ ; BIDMC/Jax//Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)/ ; WBS R713-001-013-271//National University of Singapore (NUS)/ ; FAS Salute 2014//Regione Toscana (Tuscany Region)/ ; Flagship Interomics Project 20/2017//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR)/ ; sponsored research support//PTC Therapeutics (PTC)/ ; ID 25734//Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro ETS (AIRC)/ ; PNRR THE Spoke 1//Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze (MEF)/ ; STaR Investigator Award//National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF)/ ; LCG17MAY004//Ministry of Health -Singapore (MOH)/ ; Research Centres of Excellence//National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF)/ ; R35CA197697//HHS | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; P01HL131477//HHS | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; R713-000-216-720//NUS | Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (CSI)/ ; 2016/19757-2//FAPESP | Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão, Fundação Amazônia Paraense de Amparo à Pesquisa (RIDC)/ ; RBNEO01R4MJ-002//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR)/ ; Bridge Grant (2018)//University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Endothelial Cells ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; *Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy ; *Antineoplastic Agents ; *Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Cell Communication ; ErbB Receptors/genetics ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lethal pulmonary adenocarcinomas (ADC) present with frequent mutations in the EGFR. Genetically engineered murine models of lung cancer expedited comprehension of the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and drug response. Here, we systematically analyzed the evolution of tumor heterogeneity in the context of dynamic interactions occurring with the intermingled tumor microenvironment (TME) by high-resolution transcriptomics. Our effort identified vulnerable tumor-specific epithelial cells, as well as their cross-talk with niche components (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells), whose symbiotic interface shapes tumor aggressiveness and is almost completely abolished by treatment with Unesbulin, a tubulin binding agent that reduces B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (BMI-1) activity. Simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis demonstrated decreased tumor growth, setting the stage for future investigations into the potential of novel therapeutic strategies for EGFR-mutant ADCs.

SIGNIFICANCE: Targeting the TME is an attractive strategy for treatment of solid tumors. Here we revealed how EGFR-mutant landscapes are affected at the single-cell resolution level during Unesbulin treatment. This novel drug, by targeting cancer cells and their interactions with crucial TME components, could be envisioned for future therapeutic advancements.}, } @article {pmid38545609, year = {2024}, author = {Carbonne, C and Comeau, S and Plichon, K and Schaub, S and Gattuso, JP and Teixidó, N}, title = {Response of two temperate scleractinian corals to projected ocean warming and marine heatwaves.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {231683}, pmid = {38545609}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of global change, particularly exposed to ocean warming and the increasing occurrence of marine heatwaves (MHWs). However, experiments based on long-term temperature data from the field are scarce. Here, we investigate the response of the zooxanthellate coral Cladocora caespitosa and the azooxanthellate coral Astroides calycularis to future warming and MHWs based on 8 years of in situ data. Corals were maintained in the laboratory for five months under four temperature conditions: Warming (3.2°C above the in situ mean from 2012 to 2020), Heatwave (temperatures of 2018 with two heatwaves), Ambient (in situ mean) and Cool (deeper water temperatures). Under the Warming treatment, some C. caespitosa colonies severely bleached and A. calycularis colonies presented necrosis. Cladocora caespitosa symbiosis was impaired by temperature with a decrease in the density of endosymbiotic algae and an increase in per cent whiteness in all the treatments except for the coolest. Recovery for both species was observed through different mechanisms such as regrowth of polyps of A. calycularis and recovery of pigmentation for C. caespitosa. These results suggest that A. calycularis and C. caespitosa may be resilient to heat stress and can recover from physiological stresses caused by heatwaves in the laboratory.}, } @article {pmid38544857, year = {2024}, author = {Quaiyum, S and Sun, J and Marchand, V and Sun, G and Reed, CJ and Motorin, Y and Dedon, PC and Minnick, MF and de Crécy-Lagard, V}, title = {Mapping the tRNA modification landscape of Bartonella henselae Houston I and Bartonella quintana Toulouse.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1369018}, pmid = {38544857}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress response and virulence. Despite their pivotal roles, a comprehensive mapping of tRNA modifications and their associated synthesis genes is still limited, with a predominant focus on free-living bacteria. In this study, we employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating comparative genomics, mass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencing, to predict the set of tRNA modification genes responsible for tRNA maturation in two intracellular pathogens-Bartonella henselae Houston I and Bartonella quintana Toulouse, which are causative agents of cat-scratch disease and trench fever, respectively. This analysis presented challenges, particularly because of host RNA contamination, which served as a potential source of error. However, our approach predicted 26 genes responsible for synthesizing 23 distinct tRNA modifications in B. henselae and 22 genes associated with 23 modifications in B. quintana. Notably, akin to other intracellular and symbiotic bacteria, both Bartonella species have undergone substantial reductions in tRNA modification genes, mostly by simplifying the hypermodifications present at positions 34 and 37. Bartonella quintana exhibited the additional loss of four modifications and these were linked to examples of gene decay, providing snapshots of reductive evolution.}, } @article {pmid38544579, year = {2024}, author = {Baker, J and Antypas, A and Aggarwal, P and Elliott, C and Baxter, R and Singh, S and Jayasinghe, N and Reed, D and Boden, A and Evans, I and Hurst, B and Koo, A}, title = {Augmented Reality in Interventional Radiology: Transforming Training Paradigms.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {e54907}, pmid = {38544579}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {The ascent of medical technology places augmented reality (AR) at the forefront of potential advancements in interventional radiology (IR) training. This review delves into the symbiotic relationship between AR and conventional IR training, casting light on the opportunities and hurdles intrinsic to this integration. A targeted literature review was conducted using the databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Search terms included ((("Augmented Reality" OR "Virtual Reality")) AND ((Education OR Training))) AND (("Interventional Radiology")). Ten studies identified using the comprehensive inclusion criteria helped scrutinize the use of AR in IR training. Key outcomes include improved procedural accuracy, reduced training duration, and heightened trainee confidence. However, it also identifies limitations such as small sample sizes, reliance on simulation environments, and technological constraints in AR implementation. Despite these challenges, the review underscored the transformative potential of AR in IR education, suggesting its capacity to revolutionize training methodologies. However, it also calls for continued technological development and empirical research to address current challenges and fully leverage AR's capabilities in medical education.}, } @article {pmid38544121, year = {2024}, author = {González, V and Martín, L and Santana, JR and Sotres, P and Lanza, J and Sánchez, L}, title = {Reshaping Smart Cities through NGSI-LD Enrichment.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {38544121}, issn = {1424-8220}, support = {TED2021-131988B-I00//Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ ; 2020-EU-IA-0274//European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) - European Union/ ; }, abstract = {The vast amount of information stemming from the deployment of the Internet of Things and open data portals is poised to provide significant benefits for both the private and public sectors, such as the development of value-added services or an increase in the efficiency of public services. This is further enhanced due to the potential of semantic information models such as NGSI-LD, which enable the enrichment and linkage of semantic data, strengthened by the contextual information present by definition. In this scenario, advanced data processing techniques need to be defined and developed for the processing of harmonised datasets and data streams. Our work is based on a structured approach that leverages the principles of linked-data modelling and semantics, as well as a data enrichment toolchain framework developed around NGSI-LD. Within this framework, we reveal the potential for enrichment and linkage techniques to reshape how data are exploited in smart cities, with a particular focus on citizen-centred initiatives. Moreover, we showcase the effectiveness of these data processing techniques through specific examples of entity transformations. The findings, which focus on improving data comprehension and bolstering smart city advancements, set the stage for the future exploration and refinement of the symbiosis between semantic data and smart city ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38543596, year = {2024}, author = {Ilbeigi Khamseh Nejad, M and Cappelli, A and Damiani, C and Falcinelli, M and Catapano, PL and Nanfack-Minkeu, F and Mayi, MPA and Currà, C and Ricci, I and Favia, G}, title = {Wolbachia and Asaia Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12030545}, pmid = {38543596}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {PRIN 2022 PNRR MUR P20225TJWB//European Union - NextGenerationEU/ ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities play an important role in the fitness of mosquito hosts. However, the factors shaping microbial communities in wild populations, with regard to interactions among microbial species, are still largely unknown. Previous research has demonstrated that two of the most studied mosquito symbionts, the bacteria Wolbachia and Asaia, seem to compete or not compete, depending on the genetic background of the reference mosquito host. The large diversity of Wolbachia-Asaia strain combinations that infect natural populations of mosquitoes may offer a relevant opportunity to select suitable phenotypes for the suppression of pathogen transmission and for the manipulation of host reproduction. We surveyed Wolbachia and Asaia in 44 mosquito populations belonging to 11 different species of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex using qualitative PCR. Through quantitative PCR, the amounts of both bacteria were assessed in different mosquito organs, and through metagenomics, we determined the microbiota compositions in some selected mosquito populations. We show that variation in microbial community structure is likely associated with the species/strain of mosquito, its geographical position, and tissue localization. Together, our results shed light on the interactions among different bacterial species in the microbial communities of mosquito vectors, and this can aid the development and/or improvement of methods for symbiotic control of insect vectors.}, } @article {pmid38543583, year = {2024}, author = {Pandey, S and Blache, A and Achouak, W}, title = {Insights into Bacterial Extracellular Vesicle Biogenesis, Functions, and Implications in Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38543583}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions play a crucial role in shaping plant health and survival. In recent years, the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mediating intercellular communication between plants and microbes has emerged as an intriguing area of research. EVs serve as important carriers of bioactive molecules and genetic information, facilitating communication between cells and even between different organisms. Pathogenic bacteria leverage extracellular vesicles (EVs) to amplify their virulence, exploiting their cargo rich in toxins and virulence factors. Conversely, beneficial microbes initiate EV secretion to stimulate plant immune responses and nurture symbiotic relationships. The transfer of EV-packed small RNAs (sRNAs) has been demonstrated to facilitate the modulation of immune responses. Furthermore, harnessing the potential of EVs holds promise for the development of innovative diagnostic tools and sustainable crop protection strategies. This review highlights the biogenesis and functions of EVs in bacteria and their importance in plant defense, and paves the way for future research in this exciting field.}, } @article {pmid38543498, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, S and Wang, L and Li, S and Zhang, T and Cai, K}, title = {The Win-Win Effects of an Invasive Plant Biochar on a Soil-Crop System: Controlling a Bacterial Soilborne Disease and Stabilizing the Soil Microbial Community Network.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12030447}, pmid = {38543498}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {31870420//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2121A0505030057//Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province/ ; }, abstract = {Biochar is increasingly being recognized as an effective soil amendment to enhance plant health and improve soil quality, but the complex relationships among biochar, plant resistance, and the soil microbial community are not clear. In this study, biochar derived from an invasive plant (Solidago canadensis L.) was used to investigate its impacts on bacterial wilt control, soil quality, and microbial regulation. The results reveal that the invasive plant biochar application significantly reduced the abundance of Ralstonia solanacearum in the soil (16.8-32.9%) and wilt disease index (14.0-49.2%) and promoted tomato growth. The biochar treatment increased the soil organic carbon, nutrient availability, soil chitinase, and sucrase activities under pathogen inoculation. The biochar did not influence the soil bacterial community diversity, but significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial organisms, such as Bacillus and Sphingomonas. Biochar application increased the number of nodes, edges, and the average degree of soil microbial symbiotic network, thereby enhancing the stability and complexity of the bacterial community. These findings suggest that the invasive plant biochar produces win-win effects on plant-soil systems by suppressing soilborne wilt disease, enhancing the stability of the soil microbial community network, and promoting resource utilization, indicating its good potential in sustainable soil management.}, } @article {pmid38543496, year = {2024}, author = {Lacerda, AL and Briand, JF and Lenoble, V and Oreste, EQ and Kessler, F and Pedrotti, ML}, title = {Assessing the Plastisphere from Floating Plastics in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, with Emphasis on Viruses.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12030444}, pmid = {38543496}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {APIL 2022//Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-mer, LOV/ ; }, abstract = {Plastics in the ocean create the "plastisphere", a diverse habitat hosting various life forms. Other than the pollution induced by plastics, the co-occurrence of primary producers, symbiotic organisms, decomposers, and pathogens within the plastisphere raises questions about how they influence the dynamics of marine ecosystems. Here, we used a shotgun DNA-sequencing approach to describe the species thriving on floating plastics collected in two Mediterranean sites. Our findings revealed many species of bacteria, eukaryotes, viruses, and archaea on each plastic. Proteobacteria was dominant (70% of reads in the entire dataset), with other groups such as Ascomycota fungi (11%) and Bacteroidetes (9%) also being represented. The community structure was not affected by the polymeric composition or the plastic shape. Notably, pathogenic Vibrio species, including V. campbelli, V. alginolyticus, and V. coralliilyticus, were among the most abundant species. Viruses, despite showing lower relative abundances, occurred in all samples, especially Herpesvirales, Caudovirales, and Poxviridae groups. A significant finding was the presence of the White Spot Syndrome virus (WSSV). This pathogen, responsible for devastating outbreaks in aquaculture systems, had not been previously reported in the marine plastisphere. Our study emphasizes the need for further investigation into the ecological and economic impacts of plastisphere organisms in the ocean.}, } @article {pmid38542700, year = {2024}, author = {Fekete, M and Lehoczki, A and Major, D and Fazekas-Pongor, V and Csípő, T and Tarantini, S and Csizmadia, Z and Varga, JT}, title = {Exploring the Influence of Gut-Brain Axis Modulation on Cognitive Health: A Comprehensive Review of Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Symbiotics.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu16060789}, pmid = {38542700}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00003//the Ministry of Innovation and Technology under the National Cardiovascular Laboratory Program/ ; TKP2021-NKTA-47//Ministry for Innovation and Technology/ ; ÚNKP-23-4-I-SE-2//Ministry for Innovation and Technology/ ; ÚNKP-23-3-II-SE-14//Ministry for Innovation and Technology/ ; }, abstract = {Recent research exploring the relationship between the gut and the brain suggests that the condition of the gut microbiota can influence cognitive health. A well-balanced gut microbiota may help reduce inflammation, which is linked to neurodegenerative conditions. Prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotics are nutritional supplements and functional food components associated with gastrointestinal well-being. The bidirectional communication of the gut-brain axis is essential for maintaining homeostasis, with pre-, pro-, and symbiotics potentially affecting various cognitive functions such as attention, perception, and memory. Numerous studies have consistently shown that incorporating pre-, pro-, and symbiotics into a healthy diet can lead to improvements in cognitive functions and mood. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiota can support optimal cognitive function, which is crucial for disease prevention in our fast-paced, Westernized society. Our results indicate cognitive benefits in healthy older individuals with probiotic supplementation but not in healthy older individuals who have good and adequate levels of physical activity. Additionally, it appears that there are cognitive benefits in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, while mixed results seem to arise in younger and healthier individuals. However, it is important to acknowledge that individual responses may vary, and the use of these dietary supplements should be tailored to each individual's unique health circumstances and needs.}, } @article {pmid38542554, year = {2024}, author = {Hao, P and Zhang, S and Zhou, X and Man, Y and Liu, D}, title = {PaCHNOC: Packet and Circuit Hybrid Switching NoC for Real-Time Parallel Stream Signal Processing.}, journal = {Micromachines}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/mi15030304}, pmid = {38542554}, issn = {2072-666X}, support = {No. 2022YFB2901100//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {Real-time heterogeneous parallel embedded digital signal processor (DSP) systems process multiple data streams in parallel in a stringent time interval. This type of system on chip (SoC) requires the network on chip (NoC) to establish multiple symbiotic parallel data transmission paths with ultra-low transmission latency in real time. Our early NoC research PCCNOC meets this need. The PCCNOC uses packet routing to establish and lock a transmission circuit, so that PCCNOC is perfectly suitable for ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth transmission of long data packets. However, a parallel multi-data stream DSP system also needs to transmit roughly the same number of short data packets for job configuration and job execution status reports. While transferring short data packets, the link establishment routing delay of short data packets becomes relatively obvious. Our further research, thus, introduced PaCHNOC, a hybrid NoC in which long data packets are transmitted through a circuit established and locked by routing, and short data packets are attached to the routing packet and the transmission is completed during the routing process, thus avoiding the PCCNOC setup delay. Simulation shows that PaCHNOC performs well in supporting real-time heterogeneous parallel embedded DSP systems and achieves overall latency reduction 65% compared with related works. Finally, we used PaCHNOC in the baseband subsystem of a real 5G base station, which proved that our research is the best NoC for baseband subsystem of 5G base stations, which reduce 31% comprehensive latency in comparison to related works.}, } @article {pmid38542415, year = {2024}, author = {Kim, W and Acosta-Jurado, S and Kim, S and Krishnan, HB}, title = {Calcium Induces the Cleavage of NopA and Regulates the Expression of Nodulation Genes and Secretion of T3SS Effectors in Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms25063443}, pmid = {38542415}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {8042-21220-234-00D//USDA-ARS/ ; }, abstract = {The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a key factor for the symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes. In this study, we investigated the effect of calcium on the expression and secretion of T3SS effectors (T3Es) in Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234, a broad host range rhizobial strain. We performed RNA-Seq analysis of NGR234 grown in the presence of apigenin, calcium, and apigenin plus calcium and compared it with NGR234 grown in the absence of calcium and apigenin. Calcium treatment resulted in a differential expression of 65 genes, most of which are involved in the transport or metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates. Calcium had a pronounced effect on the transcription of a gene (NGR_b22780) that encodes a putative transmembrane protein, exhibiting a 17-fold change when compared to NGR234 cells grown in the absence of calcium. Calcium upregulated the expression of several sugar transporters, permeases, aminotransferases, and oxidoreductases. Interestingly, calcium downregulated the expression of nodABC, genes that are required for the synthesis of nod factors. A gene encoding a putative outer membrane protein (OmpW) implicated in antibiotic resistance and membrane integrity was also repressed by calcium. We also observed that calcium reduced the production of nodulation outer proteins (T3Es), especially NopA, the main subunit of the T3SS pilus. Additionally, calcium mediated the cleavage of NopA into two smaller isoforms, which might affect the secretion of other T3Es and the symbiotic establishment. Our findings suggest that calcium regulates the T3SS at a post-transcriptional level and provides new insights into the role of calcium in rhizobia-legume interactions.}, } @article {pmid38541376, year = {2024}, author = {Broc, G and Fassier, JB and Raffard, S and Lareyre, O}, title = {Planning Individual and Population-Based Interventions in Global Health: Applying the DEA-A Framework to Promote Behavioral, Emotional, and/or Cognitive Change among Stakeholders.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph21030378}, pmid = {38541376}, issn = {1660-4601}, abstract = {Addressing health challenges that impact human well-being requires a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that would be at the crossroad of population-based prevention and individual-level clinical care, which is in line with a Global Health perspective. In the absence of a unifying theoretical framework to guide such interventions, a Dynamic Ecosystem Adaptation through the Allostasis (DEA-A) framework has been proposed, emphasizing the functional adaptation of individuals and organizations in symbiosis with their living ecosystem. While a conceptual model has been presented, this methodological contribution aims at illustrating the practical application of the DEA-A framework for planning Global Health interventions. The methodology combines Intervention Mapping and Cognitive and Behavioral Theory, extended to the ecosystem. Practical guidelines and supporting tools are provided to help public health providers and clinicians in establishing a functional ecosystem diagnosis of the issue; defining not only behavioral, but also emotional and cognitive change objectives (allostasis targets) expected for each stakeholder; and designing intervention plans targeting determinants of these allostasis. The discussion addresses implementation and evaluation perspectives of interventions based on the DEA-A framework, emphasizing the importance of considering change in its processual and ecosystem complexity. Lastly, encouragements for a deeper understanding of individual and ecosystem homeostasis/allostasis processes are made in order to promote more functional interventions.}, } @article {pmid38540763, year = {2024}, author = {Anbalagan, C and Nandabalan, SK and Sankar, P and Rajaram, PS and Govindaraj, K and Rupert, S and Sathyanesan, J}, title = {Postbiotics of Naturally Fermented Synbiotic Mixture of Rice Water Aids in Promoting Colonocyte Health.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biom14030344}, pmid = {38540763}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {G.O.(Ms.) No.83 H&F//Tamil Nadu Innovative initiatives (TANII) G.O.(Ms.) No.83 H&F/ ; }, abstract = {The eubiotic state of the gut microbiota is primarily brought about by various probiotic species that colonize the gut. It is becoming very clear that the probiotic-metabolite mixtures in the gut luminal milieu is central in establishing cross-kingdom signalling networks to maintain gut-multi-organ axes health. Culturally, different fermented foods and beverages have been regional staples since ancient times, and are known to be enriched with probiotics. However, regional variations including the environment, the staple food source (prebiotics), and fermentation methods, among other factors, influence the fermenting probiotic species. Fermented rice water (FRW), an economical, easy to make, simple beverage is a rich source of synbiotics. Therefore, consumption of fermented rice water allows for the intake of a variety of region-specific live probiotics. The secondary metabolites (postbiotics) present in such symbiotic mixtures may also contribute toward maintaining normal intestinal cellular functions. In this study, we highlight that regional staples such as rice consumed in their fermented form may hold promise in alleviating gut-related diseases. Our results show that simple overnight fermentation of cooked edible rice enables the growth of probiotic bacterial species belonging to the Lactic Acid Bacteria group (Leuconostoc lactis, Weisella confusa, Weisella cibacria, Lactococcus lactis, lactococcus taiwanensis, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus nagelii, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. indicus). Metabolomic analysis of the overnight fermented and over two-nights fermented rice water identified more than 200 postbiotic metabolites. Our results show that postbiotics contributing to energy metabolism, gut-multiorgan axes, and microbial paraprobiotics are enriched in the overnight (~10 h) fermented rice water as compared to the over two-nights fermented rice water. Functional analysis via gene expression studies for nutrient absorption (mct-1 and mct-2) and barrier integrity (occludin and zo-1) reveals significant upregulation of these genes upon FRW treatment of HT29 colon cells. This study is a first-of-its-kind to demonstrate the proof-of-principle that postbiotics of naturally fermented rice water positively modulates colonocyte health.}, } @article {pmid38540332, year = {2024}, author = {Malhotra, P and Basu, S and Lee, BW and Oeller, L and Crowder, DW}, title = {Effects of Soil Rhizobia Abundance on Interactions between a Vector, Pathogen, and Legume Plant Host.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes15030273}, pmid = {38540332}, issn = {2073-4425}, support = {2016-67011-24693, 2017-67013-26537//United States Department of Agriculture/ ; 1014754//United States Department of Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Soil rhizobia promote nitrogen fixation in legume hosts, maximizing their tolerance to different biotic stressors, plant biomass, crop growth, and yield. While the presence of soil rhizobia is considered beneficial for plants, few studies have assessed whether variation in rhizobia abundance affects the tolerance of legumes to stressors. To address this, we assessed the effects of variable soil rhizobia inoculum concentrations on interactions between a legume host (Pisum sativum), a vector insect (Acyrthosiphon pisum), and a virus (Pea enation mosaic virus, PEMV). We showed that increased rhizobia abundance reduces the inhibitory effects of PEMV on the nodule formation and root growth in 2-week-old plants. However, these trends were reversed in 4-week-old plants. Rhizobia abundance did not affect shoot growth or virus prevalence in 2- or 4-week-old plants. Our results show that rhizobia abundance may indirectly affect legume tolerance to a virus, but effects varied based on plant age. To assess the mechanisms that mediated interactions between rhizobia, plants, aphids, and PEMV, we measured the relative expression of gene transcripts related to plant defense signaling. Rhizobia concentrations did not strongly affect the expression of defense genes associated with phytohormone signaling. Our study shows that an abundance of soil rhizobia may impact a plant's ability to tolerate stressors such as vector-borne pathogens, as well as aid in developing sustainable pest and pathogen management systems for legume crops. More broadly, understanding how variable rhizobia concentrations can optimize legume-rhizobia symbiosis may enhance the productivity of legume crops.}, } @article {pmid38539975, year = {2024}, author = {Korzhavina, OA and Gubareva, NV and Kitashov, AV and Britayev, TA and Ivanenko, VN}, title = {From Microscale Interactions to Macroscale Patterns in Copepod-Crinoid Symbiosis.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani14060877}, pmid = {38539975}, issn = {2076-2615}, support = {22-24-00365//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Crinoids (Echinodermata) exhibit unique morphological and behavioral characteristics that facilitate a wide range of symbiotic relationships with diverse organisms. Our comprehension of their interactions with microscopic copepod crustaceans is, however, still in a nascent and fragmented state. Here, we review and discuss the 166 literature records to date in which a total of 39 copepod species in 6 families have been reported in association with 33 species of the crinoid order Comatulida. Many of these associations have been reported just once. The respective localities cover 5 of the World Ocean's 12 ecoregions, with a notable concentration of both host and symbiont diversity in the Central and Western Indo-Pacific. In contrast, the documentation of copepod-crinoid associations in the Atlantic appears markedly limited. Copepods have been found predominantly in ectosymbiotic relationships with crinoids, with a lower incidence of endosymbiosis. Copepods of the genera Collocheres Canu, 1893 and Pseudanthessius Claus, 1889 are particularly prominent in the list, and the comatulid family Comatulidae displays the most diverse assortment of copepod associations. The current scope of knowledge encompasses a mere 5% of the potential crinoid host diversity, underscoring the need for more extensive research in this area.}, } @article {pmid38538528, year = {2024}, author = {Chiquito-Contreras, CJ and Meza-Menchaca, T and Guzmán-López, O and Vásquez, EC and Ricaño-Rodríguez, J}, title = {Molecular Insights into Plant-Microbe Interactions: A Comprehensive Review of Key Mechanisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition)}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {9}, doi = {10.31083/j.fbe1601009}, pmid = {38538528}, issn = {1945-0508}, abstract = {In most ecosystems, plants establish complex symbiotic relationships with organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, which significantly influence their health by promoting or inhibiting growth. These relationships involve biochemical exchanges at the cellular level that affect plant physiology and have evolutionary implications, such as species diversification, horizontal gene transfer, symbiosis and mutualism, environmental adaptation, and positive impacts on community structure and biodiversity. For these reasons, contemporary research, moving beyond observational studies, seeks to elucidate the molecular basis of these interactions; however, gaps in knowledge remain. This is particularly noticeable in understanding how plants distinguish between beneficial and antagonistic microorganisms. In light of the above, this literature review aims to address some of these gaps by exploring the key mechanisms in common interspecies relationships. Thus, our study presents novel insights into these evolutionary archetypes, focusing on the antibiosis process and microbial signaling, including chemotaxis and quorum sensing. Additionally, it examined the biochemical basis of endophytism, pre-mRNA splicing, and transcriptional plasticity, highlighting the roles of transcription factors and epigenetic regulation in the functions of the interacting organisms. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding these confluences in natural environments, which are crucial for future theoretical and practical applications, such as improving plant nutrition, protecting against pathogens, developing transgenic crops, sustainable agriculture, and researching disease mechanisms. It was concluded that because of the characteristics of the various biomolecules involved in these biological interactions, there are interconnected molecular networks in nature that give rise to different ecological scaffolds. These networks integrate a myriad of functionally organic units that belong to various kingdoms. This interweaving underscores the complexity and multidisciplinary integration required to understand plant-microbe interactions at the molecular level. Regarding the limitations inherent in this study, it is recognized that researchers face significant obstacles. These include technical difficulties in experimentation and fieldwork, as well as the arduous task of consolidating and summarizing findings for academic articles. Challenges range from understanding complex ecological and molecular dynamics to unbiased and objective interpretation of diverse and ever-changing literature.}, } @article {pmid38537113, year = {2024}, author = {Beza-Beza, CF and Wiegmann, BM and Ware, JA and Petersen, M and Gunter, N and Cole, ME and Schwarz, M and Bertone, MA and Young, D and Mikaelyan, A}, title = {Chewing through challenges: Exploring the evolutionary pathways to wood-feeding in insects.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2300241}, doi = {10.1002/bies.202300241}, pmid = {38537113}, issn = {1521-1878}, abstract = {Decaying wood, while an abundant and stable resource, presents considerable nutritional challenges due to its structural rigidity, chemical recalcitrance, and low nitrogen content. Despite these challenges, certain insect lineages have successfully evolved saproxylophagy (consuming and deriving sustenance from decaying wood), impacting nutrient recycling in ecosystems and carbon sequestration dynamics. This study explores the uneven phylogenetic distribution of saproxylophagy across insects and delves into the evolutionary origins of this trait in disparate insect orders. Employing a comprehensive analysis of gut microbiome data, from both saproxylophagous insects and their non-saproxylophagous relatives, including new data from unexplored wood-feeding insects, this Hypothesis paper discusses the broader phylogenetic context and potential adaptations necessary for this dietary specialization. The study proposes the "Detritivore-First Hypothesis," suggesting an evolutionary pathway to saproxylophagy through detritivory, and highlights the critical role of symbiotic gut microbiomes in the digestion of decaying wood.}, } @article {pmid38536528, year = {2024}, author = {Krueger, CB and Ray, JD and Smith, JR and Dhanapal, AP and Arifuzzaman, M and Gao, F and Fritschi, FB}, title = {Identification of QTLs for symbiotic nitrogen fixation and related traits in a soybean recombinant inbred line population.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {137}, number = {4}, pages = {89}, pmid = {38536528}, issn = {1432-2242}, support = {1820-172-0118-A//United Soybean Board/ ; }, abstract = {The genetic architecture of symbiotic N fixation and related traits was investigated in the field. QTLs were identified for percent N derived from the atmosphere, shoot [N] and C to N ratio. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is cultivated worldwide and is the most abundant source of plant-based protein. Symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF) in legumes such as soybean is of great importance; however, yields may still be limited by N in both high yielding and stressful environments. To better understand the genetic architecture of SNF and facilitate the development of high yielding cultivars and sustainable soybean production in stressful environments, a recombinant inbred line population consisting of 190 lines, developed from a cross between PI 442012A and PI 404199, was evaluated for N derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa), N concentration ([N]), and C to N ratio (C/N) in three environments. Significant genotype, environment and genotype × environment effects were observed for all three traits. A linkage map was constructed containing 3309 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. QTL analysis was performed for additive effects of QTLs, QTL × environment interactions, and QTL × QTL interactions. Ten unique additive QTLs were identified across all traits and environments. Of these, two QTLs were detected for Ndfa and eight for C/N. Of the eight QTLs for C/N, four were also detected for [N]. Using QTL × environment analysis, six QTLs were detected, of which five were also identified in the additive QTL analysis. The QTL × QTL analysis identified four unique epistatic interactions. The results of this study may be used for genomic selection and introgression of favorable alleles for increased SNF, [N], and C/N via marker-assisted selection.}, } @article {pmid38535382, year = {2024}, author = {Naveed, WA and Liu, Q and Lu, C and Huang, X}, title = {Symbiotic Bacterial Communities of Insects Feeding on the Same Plant Lineage: Distinct Composition but Congruent Function.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535382}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {31970446//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {The health and diversity of plant-feeding insects are strictly linked to their host plants and mutualistic symbionts. However, the study of bacterial symbionts within different insects on the same plant lineage is very limited. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial diversity in insect samples that exclusively feed on Bambusa, representing three insect orders, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, and Blattodea, each exhibiting distinct dietary preferences. The bacterial community was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, Spirochaetota, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota. The study found significant variations in symbiotic organisms among three insect orders: hemipterans had Buchnera, lepidopterans had Acinetobacter, and blattodean had Treponema. Furthermore, the dietary preferences of these insects played a pivotal role in shaping the symbiotic relationship of insects. Proteobacteria are prevalent in sap feeders, Spirochaetota dominate in stem feeders, and Cyanobacteria are abundant in leaf feeders. Seasonal influences also affect bacterial symbionts in P. bambucicola, with Serratia present exclusively in winter. We also observed that the bacterial composition varies across all samples, but their core functions appear to be consistent. This highlights the complex relationship between host phylogeny and diet, with phylogeny being the primary driver, shaping adaptations to specialized diets.}, } @article {pmid38535349, year = {2024}, author = {Ponnusamy, L and Travanty, NV and Watson, DW and Seagle, SW and Boyce, RM and Reiskind, MH}, title = {Microbiome of Invasive Tick Species Haemaphysalis Longicornis in North Carolina, USA.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535349}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {567473//Vector-Borne Disease Epidemiology, Ecology, and Response (VEER)./ ; }, abstract = {Ticks are one of the most important vectors of human and animal disease worldwide. In addition to pathogens, ticks carry a diverse microbiota of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms. In this study, we used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to survey the microbiomes of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) at different life stages collected from field populations in North Carolina (NC), USA. Sequence analyses were performed using QIIME2 with the DADA2 plugin and taxonomic assignments using the Greengenes database. Following quality filtering and rarefaction, the bacterial DNA sequences were assigned to 4795 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in 105 ticks. A core microbiome of H. longicornis was conserved across all ticks analyzed, and included bacterial taxa: Coxiella, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonadaceae, Actinomycetales, and Sphingobium. Less abundant bacterial taxa, including Rickettsia and Aeromonas, were also identified in some ticks. We discovered some ASVs that are associated with human and animal infections among the identified bacteria. Alpha diversity metrics revealed significant differences in bacterial diversity between life stages. Beta diversity metrics also revealed that bacterial communities across the three life stages were significantly different, suggesting dramatic changes in the microbiome as ticks mature. Based on these results, additional investigation is necessary to determine the significance of the Haemaphysalis longicornis microbiome for animal and human health.}, } @article {pmid38535346, year = {2024}, author = {Adler, PH and Haouchine, S and Belqat, B and Lounaci, A}, title = {North African Endemism: A New Species of Black Fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Djurdjura Mountains of Algeria.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535346}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {SC-1700596//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Discoveries of endemic species highlight areas of biogeographic and conservation interest. Endemic species, however, are often morphologically disguised as more common and widespread species. The larval polytene chromosomes revealed a new species of black fly, Prosimulium fungiforme, from the Djurdjura Mountains of northern Algeria, and its female, male, pupa, and larva are described. The species is chromosomally unique; none of its 11 chromosomal rearrangements are shared with other species. Although the new species structurally resembles Prosimulium rufipes (Meigen) with which it previously has been confused, it can be distinguished from all other known species of Prosimulium in the Western Palearctic based on at least one character in each described life stage. Symbiotic organisms included two species of microsporidia, at least one of which is probably undescribed, one unknown protozoan pathogen novel in simuliids, and the trichomycete fungus Harpella melusinae Léger and Duboscq. Associated simuliid species included at least one new species of the genus Helodon. The new species of Prosimulium is tentatively considered endemic to the mountains of northern Algeria but might be expected in the mountains of eastern Morocco and northern Tunisia and perhaps in Sicily. If its endemic status holds, it would be the only nominal species of black fly unique to Algeria.}, } @article {pmid38535234, year = {2024}, author = {Jin, Z and Wang, G and George, TS and Zhang, L}, title = {Potential Role of Sugars in the Hyphosphere of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Enhance Organic Phosphorus Mobilization.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535234}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {2022YFD1901304//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi engage in symbiosis with more than 80% of terrestrial plants, enlarging root phosphorus (P) absorption volume by producing extensive extraradical hyphae (ERH) in the soil. In addition, AM fungi recruit and cooperate with soil bacteria to enhance soil organic P mobilization and improve fungal and plant fitness through hyphal exudates. However, the role of the dominant compounds in the hyphal exudates in enhancing organic P mobilization in the mycorrhizal pathway is still not well understood. In this study, we added sugars, i.e., glucose, fructose, and trehalose, which are detected in the hyphal exudates, to the hyphal compartments (HCs) that allowed the ERH of the AM fungus to grow or not. The results showed that in AM fungus-inoculated pots, adding three sugars at a concentration of 2 mmol C kg[-1] soil significantly increased the phosphatase activity and facilitated the mobilization of organic P in the HCs. The addition of fructose at a concentration of 2 mmol C kg[-1] soil was the most efficient in increasing the phosphatase activity and enhancing organic P mobilization. The released inorganic P was then absorbed by the ERH of the AM fungus. The enhanced mobilization of organic P was correlated with the increase in phoD gene number and the changing bacterial community in the presence of fungal hyphae. The sugar addition enriched the relative abundance of some bacterial taxa, e.g., Betaproteobacteriales. Our study suggested that the addition of the sugars by mycorrhizae could be a pivotal strategy in managing P uptake in agricultural production, potentially directing future practices to optimize plant-fungi-bacteria interactions for improved P use efficiency.}, } @article {pmid38535219, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, J and An, M and Chen, Y and Wang, S and Liang, J}, title = {Chromosome-Level Assembly and Comparative Genomic Analysis of Suillus bovinus Provides Insights into the Mechanism of Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535219}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {32370018//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; CAFYBB2019ZA001//the National Non-profit Institute Research Fund of the Chinese Academy of Forestry/ ; }, abstract = {Suillus bovinus is a wild edible ectomycorrhizal fungus with important economic and ecological value, which often forms an ectomycorrhiza with pine trees. We know little about the mechanisms associated with the metabolism and symbiosis of S. bovinus and its effects on the nutritional value. In this study, the whole-genome sequencing of S. bovinus was performed using Illumina, HiFi, and Hi-C technologies, and the sequencing data were subjected to genome assembly, gene prediction, and functional annotation to obtain a high-quality chromosome-level genome of S. bovinus. The final assembly of the S. bovinus genome includes 12 chromosomes, with a total length of 43.03 Mb, a GC content of 46.58%, and a contig N50 size of 3.78 Mb. A total of 11,199 coding protein sequences were predicted from genome annotation. The S. bovinus genome contains a large number of small secreted proteins (SSPs) and genes that encode enzymes related to carbohydrates, as well as genes related to terpenoids, auxin, and lipochitooligosaccharides. These genes may contribute to symbiotic processes. The whole-genome sequencing and genetic information provide a theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of the mycorrhizal symbiosis of S. bovinus and can serve as a reference for comparative genomics of ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid38535214, year = {2024}, author = {Moya, P and Chiva, S and Pazos, T and Barreno, E and Carrasco, P and Muggia, L and Garrido-Benavent, I}, title = {Myco-Phycobiont Interactions within the "Ramalina farinacea Group": A Geographical Survey over Europe and Macaronesia.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535214}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {PID2021-127087NB-I00//Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/ ; PROMETEO/2021/005//Prometeo Excellence Research Program, Generalitat Valenciana/ ; }, abstract = {Ramalina farinacea is a widely distributed epiphytic lichen from the Macaronesian archipelagos to Mediterranean and Boreal Europe. Previous studies have indicated a specific association between R. farinacea and Trebouxia microalgae species. Here, we examined the symbiotic interactions in this lichen and its closest allies (the so-called "R. farinacea group") across ten biogeographic subregions, spanning diverse macroclimates, analyzing the climatic niche of the primary phycobionts, and discussing the specificity of these associations across the studied area. The most common phycobionts in the "R. farinacea group" were T. jamesii and T. lynnae, which showed a preference for continentality and insularity, respectively. The Canarian endemic R. alisiosae associated exclusively with T. lynnae, while the other Ramalina mycobionts interacted with both microalgae. The two phycobionts exhibited extensive niche overlap in an area encompassing Mediterranean, temperate Europe, and Macaronesian localities. However, T. jamesii occurred in more diverse climate types, whereas T. lynnae preferred warmer and more humid climates, often close to the sea, which could be related to its tolerance to salinity. With the geographical perspective gained in this study, it was possible to show how the association with different phycobionts may shape the ecological adaptation of lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid38535183, year = {2024}, author = {Shen, Y and Duan, T}, title = {The Interaction between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Grass Endophyte (Epichloë) on Host Plants: A Review.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38535183}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; }, abstract = {In nature, plants frequently experience concurrent colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and grass endophytes (Epichloë). These two fungi assist in mineral uptake and stress tolerance by the host. Despite the abundance of recent studies exploring the individual functions of these fungi in diverse ecosystems, research on the effects of the interaction between these two symbiotic fungi on the host, particularly in agricultural production and ecological conservation. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the interaction between AMF and grass endophytes and their synergistic effects on host plants in response to abiotic and biotic stress, while also outlining prospects for future research in this field. This knowledge not only enhances our comprehension of complex interaction effects between the two fungi, but also facilitates the optimal utilization of fungal resources, contributing to ecological construction and higher agricultural production.}, } @article {pmid38534456, year = {2024}, author = {Casey, W and Kumaran, T and Massey, SE and Mishra, B}, title = {How Mitochondrial Signaling Games May Shape and Stabilize the Nuclear-Mitochondrial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology13030187}, pmid = {38534456}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The eukaryotic lineage has enjoyed a long-term "stable" mutualism between nucleus and mitochondrion, since mitochondrial endosymbiosis began about 2 billion years ago. This mostly cooperative interaction has provided the basis for eukaryotic expansion and diversification, which has profoundly altered the forms of life on Earth. While we ignore the exact biochemical details of how the alpha-proteobacterial ancestor of mitochondria entered into endosymbiosis with a proto-eukaryote, in more general terms, we present a signaling games perspective of how the cooperative relationship became established, and has been maintained. While games are used to understand organismal evolution, information-asymmetric games at the molecular level promise novel insights into endosymbiosis. Using a previously devised biomolecular signaling games approach, we model a sender-receiver information asymmetric game, in which the informed mitochondrial sender signals and the uninformed nuclear receiver may take actions (involving for example apoptosis, senescence, regeneration and autophagy/mitophagy). The simulation shows that cellularization is a stabilizing mechanism for Pareto efficient sender/receiver strategic interaction. In stark contrast, the extracellular environment struggles to maintain efficient outcomes, as senders are indifferent to the effects of their signals upon the receiver. Our hypothesis has translational implications, such as in cellular therapy, as mitochondrial medicine matures. It also inspires speculative conjectures about how an analogous human-AI endosymbiosis may be engineered.}, } @article {pmid38534421, year = {2024}, author = {Hyder, M and Lodhi, AM and Wang, Z and Bukero, A and Gao, J and Mao, R}, title = {Wolbachia Interactions with Diverse Insect Hosts: From Reproductive Modulations to Sustainable Pest Management Strategies.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology13030151}, pmid = {38534421}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {32202276//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022GDASZH-2022010106, 2022GDASZH-2022030501-08//GDAS Special Project of Science and Technology Development/ ; KTP20210352//Guangdong Province Rural Science and Technology Commissioner Project/ ; 2023SDZG06//Top Ten Critical Priorities of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation for the 14th Five-Year Plan of Guangdong Province/ ; }, abstract = {Effective in a variety of insect orders, including dipteran, lepidopteran, and hemipteran, Wolbachia-based control tactics are investigated, noting the importance of sterile and incompatible insect techniques. Encouraging approaches for controlling Aedes mosquitoes are necessary, as demonstrated by the evaluation of a new SIT/IIT combination and the incorporation of SIT into Drosophila suzukii management. For example, Wolbachia may protect plants from rice pests, demonstrating its potential for agricultural biological vector management. Maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility dynamics are explored, while Wolbachia phenotypic impacts on mosquito and rice pest management are examined. The importance of host evolutionary distance is emphasised in recent scale insect research that addresses host-shifting. Using greater information, a suggested method for comprehending Wolbachia host variations in various contexts emphasises ecological connectivity. Endosymbionts passed on maternally in nematodes and arthropods, Wolbachia are widely distributed around the world and have evolved both mutualistic and parasitic traits. Wolbachia is positioned as a paradigm for microbial symbiosis due to advancements in multiomics, gene functional assays, and its effect on human health. The challenges and opportunities facing Wolbachia research include scale issues, ecological implications, ethical conundrums, and the possibility of customising strains through genetic engineering. It is thought that cooperative efforts are required to include Wolbachia-based therapies into pest management techniques while ensuring responsible and sustainable ways.}, } @article {pmid38532749, year = {2023}, author = {Gonçalves-Nobre, JG and Matos, A and Carreira, M and Santos, AC and Veiga, LC and Ginete, C and Brito, M and Pires, M and Pereira, H and Cardoso, C and Bicho, M and Bicho, MC}, title = {The interplay between HPV, other Sexually Transmissible Infections and genital microbiome on cervical microenvironment (MicroCervixHPV study).}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1251913}, pmid = {38532749}, issn = {2235-2988}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The importance of Cervicovaginal Microbiota in protecting against infections (such as HPV) is already well established, namely through Lactobacillus spp., as well as the mechanism through which HPV leads to Cervical Neoplasia. However, it is not possible to classify HPV as a complete carcinogen. Thus, the importance of exploring Cervicovaginal dysbiosis with the intention of deciphering this interaction with HPV, takes on greater relevance. The main objectives of this study were: 1) Comparison of the MCV composition of women with or without HPV and women with ASCUS or LSIL; 2) Characterization of cytokines present in the vaginal microenvironment; 3) Evaluation of the blood count ratios as prognostic systemic inflammatory biomarkers; 4) Correlation between MCV, HPV serotypes and cytokines.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, multicenter, cross-sectional study. CVM analysis was performed by isolation RNA and sequencing on a NGS platform. Cytokine concentrations of CVM were obtained through Multiplex platform. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS v 26.0. An α of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Highlighting the core of the study, CVM types of CST I and CST IV were found to influence the emergence of cervical lesions. Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio was found to impact the prognosis of ASCUS. Within CVM, Lactobacillus prevent the growth of other CST IV species, while the latter express symbiotic relationships with each other and show affinity for specific HPV serotypes. At last, RANTES chemokine is significantly elevated in cervicovaginal infections.

CONCLUSION: The importance of using vaginal cytokine profiles and CVM is highlighted in the hypothesis of prevention of Cervical Neoplasia development, as well as in its use as a prognostic biomarker. Taken together, these insights are one step closer to personalized medicine.}, } @article {pmid38532645, year = {2024}, author = {Berrabah, F and Benaceur, F and Yin, C and Xin, D and Magne, K and Garmier, M and Gruber, V and Ratet, P}, title = {Defense and senescence interplay in legume nodules.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {100888}, doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100888}, pmid = {38532645}, issn = {2590-3462}, abstract = {Immunity and senescence play a crucial role in the functioning of the legume symbiotic nodules. The miss-regulation of one of these processes compromises the symbiosis leading to death of the endosymbiont and the arrest of the nodule functioning. The relationship between immunity and senescence is highly studied in plant organs where a synergistic response can be observed. However, the interplay between immunity and senescence in the symbiotic organ is poorly discussed in the literature and these phenomena are often mixed up. Recent studies revealed that the cooperation between immunity and senescence is not always observed in the nodule, suggesting complex interactions between these two processes within the symbiotic organ. Here, we discussed recent results on the interplay between immunity and senescence in the nodule and the specificities of this relationship during legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38531927, year = {2024}, author = {Xing, L and Liu, B and Yu, D and Tang, X and Sun, J and Zhang, B}, title = {A near-complete genome assembly of Monochamus alternatus a major vector beetle of pinewood nematode.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {312}, pmid = {38531927}, issn = {2052-4463}, support = {32070486//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32088102//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {The Japanese sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus, is not only one of the most important wood boring pest itself, but also a major vector of the invasive pinewood nematode (PWN), which is the causal agent of the devastative pine wilt disease (PWD) and threats the global pine forest. Here, we present a near-complete genome of M. alternatus at the chromosome level. The assembled genome was 792.05 Mb with contig N50 length of 55.99 Mb, which is the largest N50 size among the sequenced Coleoptera insects currently. 99.57% of sequence was anchored onto ten pseudochromosomes (one X-chromosome and nine autosomes), and the final genome harbored only 13 gaps. BUSCO evaluation revealed the presence of 99.0% of complete core genes. Thus, our genome assembly represented the highest-contiguity genome assembly as well as high completeness in insects so far. We identified 20,471 protein-coding genes, of which 20,070 (98.04%) were functionally annotated. The genome assembly of M. alternatus provides a valuable resource for exploring the evolution of the symbiosis between PWN and the vector insects.}, } @article {pmid38531781, year = {2024}, author = {Jiang, X and Li, H and Ma, J and Li, H and Ma, X and Tang, Y and Li, J and Chi, X and Deng, Y and Zeng, S and Liu, Z}, title = {Role of type VI secretion system in pathogenic remodeling of host gut microbiota during Aeromonas veronii infection.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae053}, pmid = {38531781}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Intestinal microbial disturbance is a direct cause of host disease. The bacterial Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) often plays a crucial role in the fitness of pathogenic bacteria by delivering toxic effectors into target cells. However, its impact on the gut microbiota and host pathogenesis is poorly understood. To address this question, we characterized a new T6SS in the pathogenic Aeromonas veronii C4. First, we validated the secretion function of the core machinery of A. veronii C4 T6SS. Second, we found that the pathogenesis and colonization of A. veronii C4 is largely dependent on its T6SS. The effector secretion activity of A. veronii C4 T6SS not only provides an advantage in competition among bacteria in vitro, but also contributes to occupation of an ecological niche in the nutritionally deficient and anaerobic environment of the host intestine. Metagenomic analysis showed that the T6SS directly inhibits or eliminates symbiotic strains from the intestine, resulting in dysregulated gut microbiome homeostasis. In addition, we identified three unknown effectors, Tse1, Tse2, and Tse3, in the T6SS, which contribute to T6SS-mediated bacterial competition and pathogenesis by impairing targeted cell integrity. Our findings highlight that T6SS can remodel the host gut microbiota by intricate interplay between T6SS-mediated bacterial competition and altered host immune responses, which synergistically promote pathogenesis of A. veronii C4. Therefore, this newly characterized T6SS could represent a general interaction mechanism between the host and pathogen, and may offer a potential therapeutic target for controlling bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid38531780, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, YT and Ip, JC and He, X and Gao, ZM and Perez, M and Xu, T and Sun, J and Qian, PY and Qiu, JW}, title = {Scallop-bacteria symbiosis from the deep sea reveals strong genomic coupling in the absence of cellular integration.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae048}, pmid = {38531780}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Previous studies have revealed tight metabolic complementarity between bivalves and their endosymbiotic chemosynthetic bacteria, but little is known about their interactions with ectosymbionts. Our analysis of the ectosymbiosis between a deep-sea scallop (Catillopecten margaritatus) and a gammaproteobacterium showed that bivalves could be highly interdependent with their ectosymbionts as well. Our microscopic observation revealed abundant sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) on the surfaces of the gill epithelial cells. Microbial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the gill tissue showed the dominance of the SOB. An analysis of the SOB genome showed that it is substantially smaller than its free-living relatives and has lost cellular components required for free-living. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses showed that this ectosymbiont relies on rhodanese-like proteins and SOX multienzyme complex for energy generation and mainly on the CBB cycle for carbon assimilation. The symbiont encodes an incomplete TCA cycle that could also assimilate inorganic carbon via a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Observation of the scallop's digestive gland and its nitrogen metabolism pathways indicates it does not fully rely on the ectosymbiont for nutrition. Analysis of the host's gene expression provided evidence that it could offer intermediates for the ectosymbiont to complete its TCA cycle and some amino acid synthesis pathways using exosomes, and its phagosomes, endosomes, and lysosomes might be involved in harvesting nutrients from the symbionts. Overall, our study prompts us to rethink the intimacy between the hosts and ectosymbionts in Bivalvia and the evolution of chemosymbiosis in general.}, } @article {pmid38531677, year = {2024}, author = {Casaes, PA and Ferreira Dos Santos, JM and Silva, VC and Rhem, MFK and Teixeira Cota, MM and de Faria, SM and Rando, JG and James, EK and Gross, E}, title = {The radiation of nodulated Chamaecrista species from the rainforest into more diverse habitats has been accompanied by a reduction in growth form and a shift from fixation threads to symbiosomes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae134}, pmid = {38531677}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {All non-mimosoid nodulated genera in the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae confine their rhizobial symbionts within cell wall-bound "fixation threads" (FTs). The exception is the large genus Chamaecrista in which shrubs and subshrubs house their rhizobial bacteroids more intimately within symbiosomes, whereas large trees have FTs. This study aimed to unravel the evolutionary relationships between Chamaecrista growth habit, habitat, nodule bacteroid type, and rhizobial genotype. The growth habit, bacteroid anatomy, and rhizobial symbionts of 30 nodulated Chamaecrista species native to different biomes in the Brazilian state of Bahia, a major centre of diversity for the genus, was plotted onto an ITS-TrnL-F-derived phylogeny of Chamaecrista. The bacteroids from most of the Chamaecrista species examined were enclosed in symbiosomes (SYM-type nodules), but those in arborescent species in the section Apoucouita, at the base of the genus, were enclosed in cell wall material containing homogalacturonan (HG) and cellulose (FT-type nodules). Most symbionts were Bradyrhizobium genotypes grouped according to the growth habits of their hosts, but the tree, C. eitenorum, was nodulated by Paraburkholderia. Chamaecrista has a range of growth habits that allow it to occupy several different biomes and to co-evolve with a wide range of (mainly) bradyrhizobial symbionts. FTs represent a less intimate symbiosis linked with nodulation losses, so the evolution of SYM-type nodules by most Chamaecrista species may have (a) aided the genus-wide retention of nodulation, and (b) assisted in its rapid speciation and radiation out of the rainforest into more diverse and challenging habitats.}, } @article {pmid38529721, year = {2024}, author = {Pankey, MS and Gochfeld, DJ and Gastaldi, M and Macartney, KJ and Clayshulte Abraham, A and Slattery, M and Lesser, MP}, title = {Phylosymbiosis and metabolomics resolve phenotypically plastic and cryptic sponge species in the genus Agelas across the Caribbean basin.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17321}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17321}, pmid = {38529721}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {1632333//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; 1632348//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; 1638289//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; 1638296//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {Fundamental to holobiont biology is recognising how variation in microbial composition and function relates to host phenotypic variation. Sponges often exhibit considerable phenotypic plasticity and also harbour dense microbial communities that function to protect and nourish hosts. One of the most prominent sponge genera on Caribbean coral reefs is Agelas. Using a comprehensive set of morphological (growth form, spicule), chemical and molecular data on 13 recognised species of Agelas in the Caribbean basin, we were able to define only five species (=clades) and found that many morphospecies designations were incongruent with phylogenomic and population genetic analyses. Microbial communities were also strongly differentiated between phylogenetic species, showing little evidence of cryptic divergence and relatively low correlation with morphospecies assignment. Metagenomic analyses also showed strong correspondence to phylogenetic species, and to a lesser extent, geographical and morphological characters. Surprisingly, the variation in secondary metabolites produced by sponge holobionts was explained by geography and morphospecies assignment, in addition to phylogenetic species, and covaried significantly with a subset of microbial symbionts. Spicule characteristics were highly plastic, under greater impact from geographical location than phylogeny. Our results suggest that while phenotypic plasticity is rampant in Agelas, morphological differences within phylogenetic species affect functionally important ecological traits, including the composition of the symbiotic microbial communities and metabolomic profiles.}, } @article {pmid38529584, year = {2024}, author = {Krysa, M and Susniak, K and Song, CL and Szymanska-Chargot, M and Zdunek, A and Pieta, IS and Podleśny, J and Sroka-Bartnicka, A and Kazarian, SG}, title = {Multimodal Spectroscopic Studies to Evaluate the Effect of Nod-Factor-Based Fertilizer on the Maize (Zea mays) Stem.}, journal = {Applied spectroscopy}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {37028241239358}, doi = {10.1177/00037028241239358}, pmid = {38529584}, issn = {1943-3530}, abstract = {Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most cultivated plants in the world. Due to the large area, the scale of its production, and the demand to increase the yield, there is a need for new environmentally friendly fertilizers. One group of such candidates is bacteria-produced nodulation (or nod) factors. Limited research has explored the impact of nodulation, factors on maize within field conditions, with most studies restricted to greenhouse settings and early developmental stages. Additionally, there is a scarcity of investigations that elucidate the metabolic alterations in the maize stem due to nod-factor exposure. It was therefore the aim of this study. Maize stem's metabolites and fibers were analyzed with various imaging analytical techniques: matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. Moreover, the biochemical analyses were used to evaluate the proteins and soluble carbohydrates concentration and total phenolic content. These techniques were used to evaluate the influence of nod factor-based biofertilizer on the growth of a non-symbiotic plant, maize. The biofertilizer increased the grain yield and the stem mass. Moreover, the spectroscopic and biochemical investigation proved the appreciable biochemical changes in the stems of the maize in biofertilizer-treated plants. Noticeable changes were found in the spatial distribution and the increase in the concentration of flavonoids such as maysin, quercetin, and rutin. Moreover, the concentration of cell wall components (fibers) increased. Furthermore, it was shown that the use of untargeted analyses (such as Raman and ATR FT-IR, spectroscopic imaging, and MALDI-MSI) is useful for the investigation of the biochemical changes in plants.}, } @article {pmid38529308, year = {2024}, author = {Tian, Y and Xu, J and Li, L and Farooq, TH and Ma, X and Wu, P}, title = {Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on growth and biochemical characteristics of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) seedlings under low phosphorus environment.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e17138}, pmid = {38529308}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Humans ; Infant ; Seedlings ; *Cunninghamia ; Symbiosis ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Chlorophyll/pharmacology ; Phosphorus/pharmacology ; *Fungi ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The continuous establishment of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations across multiple generations has led to the limited impact of soil phosphorus (P) on tree growth. This challenge poses a significant obstacle in maintaining the sustainable management of Chinese fir.

METHODS: To investigate the effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth and physiological characteristics of Chinese fir under different P supply treatments. We conducted an indoor pot simulation experiment in the greenhouse of the Forestry College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University with one-and-half-year-old seedlings of Chinese fir from March 2019 to June 2019, with the two P level treatment groups included a normal P supply treatment (1.0 mmol L[-1] KH2PO4, P1) and a no P supply treatment (0 mmol L[-1] KH2PO4, P0). P0 and P1 were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae (F.m) or Rhizophagus intraradices (R.i) or not inoculated with AMF treatment. The AMF colonization rate in the root system, seedling height (SH), root collar diameter (RCD) growth, chlorophyll (Chl) photosynthetic characteristics, enzyme activities, and endogenous hormone contents of Chinese fir were estimated.

RESULTS: The results showed that the colonization rate of F.m in the roots of Chinese fir seedlings was the highest at P0, up to 85.14%, which was 1.66 times that of P1. Under P0 and P1 treatment, root inoculation with either F.m or R.i promoted SH growth, the SH of R.i treatment was 1.38 times and 1.05 times that of F.m treatment, respectively. In the P1 treatment, root inoculation with either F.m or R.i inhibited RCD growth. R.i inhibited RCD growth more aggressively than F.m. In the P0 treatment, root inoculation with F.m and R.i reduced the inhibitory effect of phosphorus deficiency on RCD. At this time, there was no significant difference in RCD between F.m, R.i and CK treatments (p < 0.05). AMF inoculation increased Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm, and Fv/Fo during the chlorophyll fluorescence response in the tested Chinese fir seedlings. Under the two phosphorus supply levels, the trend of Fv and Fm of Chinese fir seedlings in different treatment groups was F.m > R.i > CK. Under P0 treatment, The values of Fv were 235.86, 221.86 and 147.71, respectively. The values of Fm were 287.57, 275.71 and 201.57, respectively. It increased the antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced the leaf's malondialdehyde (MDA) content to a certain extent.

CONCLUSION: It is concluded that AMF can enhance the photosynthetic capacity of the host, regulate the distribution of endogenous hormones in plants, and promote plant growth by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. When the P supply is insufficient, AMF is more helpful to plants, and R.i is more effective than F.m in alleviating P starvation stress in Chinese fir.}, } @article {pmid38529060, year = {2024}, author = {Sinharoy, S and Tian, CF and Montiel, J}, title = {Editorial: Plant-rhizobia symbiosis and nitrogen fixation in legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1392006}, pmid = {38529060}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid38525881, year = {2024}, author = {De Waele, JJ and Boelens, J}, title = {Antimicrobial stewardship and molecular diagnostics: a symbiotic approach to combating resistance in the ED and ICU.}, journal = {Current opinion in critical care}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1097/MCC.0000000000001154}, pmid = {38525881}, issn = {1531-7072}, abstract = {PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to evaluate the incorporation of rapid molecular diagnostics (RMD) in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in the management of patients in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU), highlighting a shift from conventional microbiological diagnostic tests to RMD strategies to optimize antimicrobial use and improve patient outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent advances in RMD have demonstrated the superior accuracy of RMD in identifying pathogens, combined with shorter turnaround times. RMD allows speeding up of antimicrobial decision making in the ED and facilitates faster escalation when empirical therapy was inappropriate, as well as more efficient de-escalation of empirical therapy later in the course of the treatment. Implementation of RMD however may be challenging.

SUMMARY: RMD hold great value in simplifying patient management and mitigating antimicrobial exposure, particularly in settings with high levels of antimicrobial resistance where the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials is high. While the impact on the use of antimicrobials is significant, the impact on patient outcomes is not yet clear. Successful integration of RMD in clinical decision making in the ED and ICU requires a team approach and continued education, and its use should be adapted to the local epidemiology and infrastructure.}, } @article {pmid38525276, year = {2024}, author = {Guse, K and Pietri, JE}, title = {Endosymbiont and gut bacterial communities of the brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e17095}, pmid = {38525276}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Male ; Animals ; Female ; Adult ; Humans ; *Blattellidae/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Flavobacteriaceae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) is a widespread nuisance and public health pest. Like the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), this species is adapted to the indoor biome and completes the entirety of its life cycle in human-built structures. Recently, understanding the contributions of commensal and symbiotic microbes to the biology of cockroach pests, as well as the applications of targeting these microbes for pest control, have garnered significant scientific interest. However, relative to B. germanica, the biology of S. longipalpa, including its microbial associations, is understudied. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to quantitatively examine and characterize both the endosymbiont and gut bacterial communities of S. longipalpa for the first time. To do so, bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was conducted on DNA extracts from whole adult females and males, early instar nymphs, and late instar nymphs. The results demonstrate that the gut microbiome is dominated by two genera of bacteria known to have beneficial probiotic effects in other organisms, namely Lactobacillus and Akkermansia. Furthermore, our data show a significant effect of nymphal development on diversity and variation in the gut microbiome. Lastly, we reveal significant negative correlations between the two intracellular endosymbionts, Blattabacterium and Wolbachia, as well as between Blattabacterium and the gut microbiome, suggesting that Blattabacterium endosymbionts could directly or indirectly influence the composition of other bacterial populations. These findings have implications for understanding the adaptation of S. longipalpa to the indoor biome, its divergence from other indoor cockroach pest species such as B. germanica, the development of novel control approaches that target the microbiome, and fundamental insect-microbe interactions more broadly.}, } @article {pmid38524670, year = {2023}, author = {Yount, TA and Murtha, AN and Cecere, AG and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {Quorum sensing facilitates interpopulation signaling by Vibrio fischeri within the light organ of Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Israel journal of chemistry}, volume = {63}, number = {5-6}, pages = {}, pmid = {38524670}, issn = {0021-2148}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing is an intercellular signaling mechanism that enables bacterial cells to coordinate population-level behaviors. How quorum sensing functions in natural habitats remains poorly understood. Vibrio fischeri is a bacterial symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and depends on LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing to produce the symbiotic trait of bioluminescence. A previous study demonstrated that animals emit light when co-colonized by a Δlux mutant, which lacks several genes within the lux operon that are necessary for bioluminescence production, and a LuxI[-] mutant, which cannot synthesize the quorum signaling molecule N-3-oxohexanoyl-homoserine lactone. Here, we build upon that observation and show that populations of LuxI[-] feature elevated promoter activity for the lux operon. We find that population structures comprising of Δlux and LuxI[-] are attenuated within the squid, but a wild-type strain enables the LuxI[-] strain type to be maintained in vivo. These experimental results support a model of interpopulation signaling, which provides basic insight into how quorum sensing functions within the natural habitats found within a host.}, } @article {pmid38524601, year = {2024}, author = {Bustos-Segura, C and Godschalx, AL and Malacari, L and Deiss, F and Rasmann, S and Ballhorn, DJ and Benrey, B}, title = {Rhizobia-legume symbiosis mediates direct and indirect interactions between plants, herbivores and their parasitoids.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e27815}, pmid = {38524601}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Microorganisms associated with plant roots significantly impact the quality and quantity of plant defences. However, the bottom-up effects of soil microbes on the aboveground multitrophic interactions remain largely under studied. To address this gap, we investigated the chemically-mediated effects of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia on legume-herbivore-parasitoid multitrophic interactions. To address this, we initially examined the cascading effects of the rhizobia bean association on herbivore caterpillars, their parasitoids, and subsequently investigated how rhizobia influence on plant volatiles and extrafloral nectar. Our goal was to understand how these plant-mediated effects can affect parasitoids. Lima bean plants (Phaseoulus lunatus) inoculated with rhizobia exhibited better growth, and the number of root nodules positively correlated with defensive cyanogenic compounds. Despite increase of these chemical defences, Spodoptera latifascia caterpillars preferred to feed and grew faster on rhizobia-inoculated plants. Moreover, the emission of plant volatiles after leaf damage showed distinct patterns between inoculation treatments, with inoculated plants producing more sesquiterpenes and benzyl nitrile than non-inoculated plants. Despite these differences, Euplectrus platyhypenae parasitoid wasps were similarly attracted to rhizobia- or no rhizobia-treated plants. Yet, the oviposition and offspring development of E. platyhypenae was better on caterpillars fed with rhizobia-inoculated plants. We additionally show that rhizobia-inoculated common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) produced more extrafloral nectar, with higher hydrocarbon concentration, than non-inoculated plants. Consequently, parasitoids performed better when fed with extrafloral nectar from rhizobia-inoculated plants. While the overall effects of bean-rhizobia symbiosis on caterpillars were positive, rhizobia also indirectly benefited parasitoids through the caterpillar host, and directly through the improved production of high quality extrafloral nectar. This study underscores the importance of exploring diverse facets and chemical mechanisms that influence the dynamics between herbivores and predators. This knowledge is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the ecological implications of rhizobia symbiosis on these interactions.}, } @article {pmid38524400, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, B and Rutherfurd-Markwick, K and Liu, N and Zhang, XX and Mutukumira, AN}, title = {Evaluation of the probiotic potential of yeast isolated from kombucha in New Zealand.}, journal = {Current research in food science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {100711}, pmid = {38524400}, issn = {2665-9271}, abstract = {The current study investigated the in vitro probiotic potential of yeast isolated from kombucha, a tea beverage fermented with a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria and yeast. A total of 62 yeast strains were previously isolated from four different commercial kombucha samples sold in New Zealand. Fifteen representative isolates belonging to eight different species were evaluated for their growth under different conditions (temperature, low pH, concentrations of bile salts, and NaCl). Cell surface characteristics, functional and enzymatic activities of the selected strains were also studied in triplicate experiments. Results showed that six strains (Dekkera bruxellensis LBY1, Sachizosaccharomyces pombe LBY5, Hanseniaspora valbyensis DOY1, Brettanomyces anomalus DOY8, Pichia kudraivzevii GBY1, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae GBY2) were able to grow under low-acid conditions (at pH 2 and pH 3) and in the presence of bile salts. This suggests their potential to survive passage through the human gut. All 15 strains exhibited negative enzymatic activity reactions (haemolytic, gelatinase, phospholipase, and protease activities), and thus, they can be considered safe to consume. Notably, two of the fifteen strains (Pichia kudraivzevii GBY1 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae GBY2) exhibited desirable cell surface hydrophobicity (64.60-83.87%), auto-aggregation (>98%), co-aggregation, resistance to eight tested antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, colistin sulphate, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, streptomycin, and tetracycline), and high levels of antioxidant activities (>90%). Together, our data reveal the probiotic activities of two yeast strains GBY1 and GBY2 and their potential application in functional food production.}, } @article {pmid38522745, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, Z and Feng, L and Liu, C}, title = {Effect of bacteria-algae ratio on treatment of anaerobic digested wastewater by symbiotic coupling of bacteria and algae under the background of carbon neutralization.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {118771}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118771}, pmid = {38522745}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Environmental pollution is a growing concern, particularly the impact of sewage treatment gas on the atmosphere's greenhouse effect. Efficient sewage resource recycling is crucial to achieving carbon neutrality. The bacteria-algae symbiotic sewage treatment system combines wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide fixation, and biomass energy recovery to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, environmental protection, and the transformation of high-value added products. This paper presents the construction of a sequencing batch photobiological reaction system that utilizes a microbial-algae symbiotic relationship. The system was used to analyze the degradation effects of sCOD, TN, AN, and TP in anaerobic digestion wastewater by varying the microbial-algae ratios. Additionally, changes in the microbial community were analyzed to explore the system's potential for reducing carbon emissions. The study's findings indicate that: 1)When the ratio of bacteria to algae was 2:3, the removal rates of TN, AN, sCOD, and TP were 81.38%, 94.28%, 75.33%, and 96.56%. 2)Changing the ratio of bacteria to algae would affect the bacterial concentration in the mixed system, but not the bacterial community structure. The results indicate that a ratio of 2:3 enhances the removal of pollutants by bacteria and algae symbionts.3) Under the context of carbon neutralization, this paper investigates the reduction of carbon emissions in ADE treated by bacteria-algae symbiosis at the optimal bacteria to algae ratio. The experimental process can reduce 177.03 mg CO2 compared to complete nutrient consumption treatment, which is equivalent to a reduction of 355.08 g CO2 per 1 m[3] of ADE. For full anaerobic treatment, this experimental process can reduce 228.35 mg of CO2 equivalent CH4, which translates to a reduction of 456.71 g of CO2 equivalent CH4 per 1 m[3] of ADE.}, } @article {pmid38522648, year = {2024}, author = {de Faria, IJS and P de Almeida, JP and Marques, JT}, title = {The impact of symbiotic insect specific viruses on mosquito vector competence for arboviruses.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101194}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2024.101194}, pmid = {38522648}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Mosquitoes are vectors for arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. Symbiotic interactions can affect the intrinsic ability of mosquitoes to acquire and transmit arboviruses, e.g., vector competence. Insect specific viruses (ISVs) are commonly found in symbiotic associations with mosquitoes in the wild and can affect many aspects of mosquito biology. Here, we review current knowledge on the effects of symbiotic ISV-mosquito interactions on vector competence. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these interactions and their implications for shaping new biological control strategies. Finally, we highlight the need for field data analyzing the circulation of ISVs in mosquitoes associated with mechanistic studies in the laboratory.}, } @article {pmid38522341, year = {2024}, author = {Ishibashi, H and Nishimura, S and Tanaka, K and Haruta, S and Takayama, K and Yamashiro, H and Takeuchi, I}, title = {Transcriptome analysis reveals limited toxic effects of the UV-filter benzophenone-3 (BP-3) on the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {201}, number = {}, pages = {116260}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116260}, pmid = {38522341}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {This study aimed to investigate the toxic and transcriptomic effects of the ultraviolet filter benzophenone-3 (BP-3) on Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates while using acetone as a solvent. Seven-day exposure to 50 and 500 μg/L, which is higher than most BP-3 records from coastal waters, did not affect coral colour or dinoflagellate photosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between seawater and solvent controls were <20 in both corals and dinoflagellates. Eleven coral DEGs were detected after treatment with 50 μg/L BP-3. Fourteen coral DEGs, including several fluorescent protein genes, were detected after treatment with 500 μg/L BP-3. In contrast, no dinoflagellate DEGs were detected in the BP-3 treatment group. These results suggest that the effects of 50-500 μg/L BP-3 on adult A. tenuis and its dinoflagellates are limited. Our experimental methods with lower acetone toxicity provide a basis for establishing standard ecotoxicity tests for corals.}, } @article {pmid38521698, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, JY and Chen, GE and Braguy, J and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Distinguishing the functions of canonical strigolactones as rhizospheric signals.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2024.02.013}, pmid = {38521698}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) act as regulators of plant architecture as well as signals in rhizospheric communications. Reduced availability of minerals, particularly phosphorus, leads to an increase in the formation and release of SLs that enable adaptation of root and shoot architecture to nutrient limitation and, simultaneously, attract arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for establishing beneficial symbiosis. Based on their chemical structure, SLs are designated as either canonical or non-canonical; however, the question of whether the two classes are also distinguished in their biological functions remained largely elusive until recently. In this review we summarize the latest advances in SL biosynthesis and highlight new findings pointing to rhizospheric signaling as the major function of canonical SLs.}, } @article {pmid38520569, year = {2024}, author = {Muselikova, K and Mouralova, K}, title = {Synthetic auxin herbicide 2,4-D and its influence on a model BY-2 suspension.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {444}, pmid = {38520569}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {*Herbicides/pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Ethylenes ; 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {2,4-D is a broadly used auxin herbicide. The presence of the 2,4-D synthetic auxin in the medium is imperative for long-term BY-2 tobacco suspension viability. The precise mechanism of this symbiosis of the suspension and the synthetic auxin remains unclear. Our goal was to study the hormonal regulation of the growth of the cell suspension; and to describe the experiments clarifying the interaction between the chosen growth regulators and phytohormones on the cellular level, specifically between the 2,4-D synthetic auxin and the native stress phytohormone - ethylene. This study examined the influence of low 2,4-D concentrations stimulating cell growth in vitro as well as the influence of high herbicide concentrations on the model tobacco BY-2 suspension. The culture took 6 days. Different parameters were evaluated, including the influence of different 2,4-D concentrations on the production of the phytohormone ethylene and its precursor 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in the tobacco cells. The content of 2,4-D in the cells and the medium was established. The observations of the morphological changes showed that a heavy impregnation of the cell walls taking place depending on the concentration of 2,4-D. A dramatic increase in protective polysaccharides and a remodulation of the cell walls by the formation of a pectin shield in artificial conditions were expected and observed. At the same time, massive production of the stress phytohormone ethylene took place, and, because of that, plant mutagenicity, anomalous tumour-type proliferation growth, and the production of supercells were observed. The hypothesis of the protective shield is discussed.}, } @article {pmid38520554, year = {2024}, author = {Suetsugu, K and Ohta, T and Tayasu, I}, title = {Partial mycoheterotrophy in the leafless orchid Eulophia zollingeri specialized on wood-decaying fungi.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38520554}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {17H05016//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 16H02524//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JPMJPR21D6//Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology/ ; }, abstract = {Although the absence of normal leaves is often considered a sign of full heterotrophy, some plants remain at least partially autotrophic despite their leafless habit. Leafless orchids with green stems and capsules probably represent a late evolutionary stage toward full mycoheterotrophy and serve as valuable models for understanding the pathways leading to this nutritional strategy. In this study, based on molecular barcoding and isotopic analysis, we explored the physiological ecology of the leafless orchid Eulophia zollingeri, which displays green coloration, particularly during its fruiting phase. Although previous studies had shown that E. zollingeri, in its adult stage, is associated with Psathyrellaceae fungi and exhibits high [13]C isotope signatures similar to fully mycoheterotrophic orchids, it remained uncertain whether this symbiotic relationship is consistent throughout the orchid's entire life cycle and whether the orchid relies exclusively on mycoheterotrophy for its nutrition during the fruiting season. Our study has demonstrated that E. zollingeri maintains a specialized symbiotic relationship with Psathyrellaceae fungi throughout all life stages. However, isotopic analysis and chlorophyll data have shown that the orchid also engages in photosynthesis to meet its carbon needs, particularly during the fruiting stage. This research constitutes the first discovery of partial mycoheterotrophy in leafless orchids associated with saprotrophic non-rhizoctonia fungi.}, } @article {pmid38520167, year = {2024}, author = {Berckx, F and Wibberg, D and Brachmann, A and Morrison, C and Obaid, NB and Blom, J and Kalinowski, J and Wall, LG and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Genome analysis and biogeographic distribution of the earliest divergent Frankia clade in the southern hemisphere.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiae042}, pmid = {38520167}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Coriariaceae are a small plant family of 14-17 species and subspecies that currently have a global but disjunct distribution. All species can form root nodules in symbiosis with diazotrophic Frankia cluster-2 strains, which form the earliest divergent symbiotic clade within this bacterial genus. Studies on Frankia cluster-2 mostly have focused on strains occurring in the northern hemisphere. Except for one strain from Papua New Guinea, namely Candidatus Frankia meridionalis Cppng1, no complete genome of Frankia associated with Coriaria occurring in the southern hemisphere has been published thus far, yet the majority of the Coriariaceae species occur here. We present field sampling data of novel Frankia cluster-2 strains, representing two novel species, which are associated with Coriaria arborea and Coriaria sarmentosa in New Zealand, and with Coriaria ruscifolia in Patagonia (Argentina), in addition to identifying Ca. F. meridionalis present in New Zealand. The novel Frankia species were found to be closely related to both Ca. F. meridionalis, and a Frankia species occurring in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. Our data suggest that the different Frankia cluster-2 species diverged early after becoming symbiotic circa 100 million years ago.}, } @article {pmid38518909, year = {2024}, author = {Shaaban, M and Nunez-Delgado, A}, title = {Soil adsorption potential: Harnessing Earth's living skin for mitigating climate change and greenhouse gas dynamics.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {118738}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118738}, pmid = {38518909}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Soil adsorption, which could be seen as a crucial ecosystem service, plays a pivotal role in regulating environmental quality and climate dynamics. However, despite its significance, it is often undervalued within the realms of research and policy frameworks. This article delves into the multifaceted aspects of soil adsorption, incorporating insights from chemistry and material science, ecological perspectives, and recent advancements in the field. In exploring soil components and their adsorption capacities, the review highlights how organic and inorganic constituents orchestrate soil's aptitude for pollutant mitigation and nutrient retention/release. Innovative materials and technologies such as biochar are evaluated for their efficacy in enhancing these natural processes, drawing a link with the sustainability of agricultural systems. The symbiosis between soil microbial diversity and adsorption mechanisms is examined, emphasizing the potential for leveraging this interaction to bolster soil health and resilience. The impact of soil adsorption on global nutrient cycles and water quality underscores the environmental implications, portraying it as a sentinel in the face of escalating anthropogenic activities. The complex interplay between soil adsorption mechanisms and climate change is dissected, identifying research gaps and advocating for future investigations to elucidate the dynamics underpinning this relation. Policy and socioeconomic aspects form a crucial counterpart to the scientific discourse, with the review assessing how effective governance, incentivization, and community engagement are essential for translating soil adsorption's functionality into tangible climate change mitigation and sustainable land-use strategies. Integrating these diverse but interconnected strata, the article presents a comprehensive overview that not only charts the current state of soil adsorption research but also casts a vision for its future trajectory. It calls for an integrated approach combining scientific inquiry, technological innovation, and proactive policy to leverage soil adsorption's full potential to address environmental challenges and catalyze a transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future.}, } @article {pmid38517656, year = {2024}, author = {Nussaume, L and Kanno, S}, title = {Reviewing impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses on the regulation of phosphate homeostasis in plants.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38517656}, issn = {1618-0860}, abstract = {Adapting to varying phosphate levels in the environment is vital for plant growth. The PHR1 phosphate starvation response transcription factor family, along with SPX inhibitors, plays a pivotal role in plant phosphate responses. However, this regulatory hub intricately links with diverse biotic and abiotic signaling pathways, as outlined in this review. Understanding these intricate networks is crucial, not only on a fundamental level but also for practical applications, such as enhancing sustainable agriculture and optimizing fertilizer efficiency. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted connections between phosphate homeostasis and environmental stressors, including various biotic factors, such as symbiotic mycorrhizal associations and beneficial root-colonizing fungi. The complex coordination between phosphate starvation responses and the immune system are explored, and the relationship between phosphate and nitrate regulation in agriculture are discussed. Overall, this review highlights the complex interactions governing phosphate homeostasis in plants, emphasizing its importance for sustainable agriculture and nutrient management to contribute to environmental conservation.}, } @article {pmid38516594, year = {2024}, author = {Hobson, AD}, title = {The medicinal chemistry evolution of antibody-drug conjugates.}, journal = {RSC medicinal chemistry}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {809-831}, pmid = {38516594}, issn = {2632-8682}, abstract = {Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprise 3 components of wildly differing sizes: antibody (150 000 Da), linker (typically <500 Da) and payload (typically <500 Da). While the drug-linker makes up only a small percent of the ADC it has a disproportionately massive impact on all aspects of the ADC. Replacing maleimide with bromoacetamide (BrAc) affords stable attachment of the linker to the antibody cysteine, supports total flexibility for linker design and affords a more homogenous ADC. Optimisation of the protease cleavable dipeptide reduces aggregation, facilitates moderation of the physicochemical properties of the ADC and enables long-term stability to facilitate subcutaneous self-administration. Payloads are designed specifically to afford the optimal ADC. Structural information and SAR guide design to improve both potency and selectivity to the small molecule target improving the therapeutic index of resulting ADCs. Minimising the solvent exposed hydrophobic surface area improves the drug-like properties of the ADC, the realisation that the attachment heteroatom can be more than just the site for linker attachment as it can also drive potency and selectivity of the payload and the adoption of a prodrug strategy at project initiation are key areas that medicinal chemistry drives. For an optimal ADC the symbiotic relationship of the three structurally disparate components requires they all function in unison and medicinal chemistry has a huge role to ensure this happens.}, } @article {pmid38515679, year = {2024}, author = {Guo, J and Wang, L and Han, N and Yuan, C and Yin, Y and Wang, T and Sun, J and Jin, P and Liu, Y and Jia, Z}, title = {People are an organic unity: Gut-lung axis and pneumonia.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e27822}, pmid = {38515679}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {People are an organic unity. Every organ of our body doesn't exist alone. They are a part of our body and have important connections with other tissues or organs. The gut-lung axis is a typical example. Here, we reviewed the current research progress of the gut-lung axis. The main cross-talk between the intestine and lungs was sorted out, i.e. the specific interaction content contained in the gut-lung axis. We determine a relatively clear concept for the gut-lung axis, that is, the gut-lung axis is a cross-talk that the gut and lungs interact with each other through microorganisms and the immune system to achieve bidirectional regulation. The gut and lungs communicate with each other mainly through the immune system and symbiotic microbes, and these two pathways influence each other. The portal vein system and mesenteric lymphatics are the primary communication channels between the intestine and lungs. We also summarized the effects of pneumonia, including Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), on intestinal microbes and immune function through the gut-lung axis, and discussed the mechanism of this effect. Finally, we explored the value of intestinal microbes and the gut-lung axis in the treatment of pneumonia through the effect of intestinal microbes on pneumonia.}, } @article {pmid38515152, year = {2024}, author = {Zang, H and Cheng, Y and Li, M and Zhou, L and Hong, LL and Deng, H and Lin, HW and Zhou, Y}, title = {Mutagenetic analysis of the biosynthetic pathway of tetramate bripiodionen bearing 3-(2H-pyran-2-ylidene)pyrrolidine-2,4-dione skeleton.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {87}, pmid = {38515152}, issn = {1475-2859}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Natural tetramates are a family of hybrid polyketides bearing tetramic acid (pyrrolidine-2,4-dione) moiety exhibiting a broad range of bioactivities. Biosynthesis of tetramates in microorganisms is normally directed by hybrid polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) machineries, which form the tetramic acid ring by recruiting trans- or cis-acting thioesterase-like Dieckmann cyclase in bacteria. There are a group of tetramates with unique skeleton of 3-(2H-pyran-2-ylidene)pyrrolidine-2,4-dione, which remain to be investigated for their biosynthetic logics.

RESULTS: Herein, the tetramate type compounds bripiodionen (BPD) and its new analog, featuring the rare skeleton of 3-(2H-pyran-2-ylidene)pyrrolidine-2,4-dione, were discovered from the sponge symbiotic bacterial Streptomyces reniochalinae LHW50302. Gene deletion and mutant complementation revealed the production of BPDs being correlated with a PKS-NRPS biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC), in which a Dieckmann cyclase gene bpdE was identified by sit-directed mutations. According to bioinformatic analysis, the tetramic acid moiety of BPDs should be formed on an atypical NRPS module constituted by two discrete proteins, including the C (condensation)-A (adenylation)-T (thiolation) domains of BpdC and the A-T domains of BpdD. Further site-directed mutagenetic analysis confirmed the natural silence of the A domain in BpdC and the functional necessities of the two T domains, therefore suggesting that an unusual aminoacyl transthiolation should occur between the T domains of two NRPS subunits. Additionally, characterization of a LuxR type regulator gene led to seven- to eight-fold increasement of BPDs production. The study presents the first biosynthesis case of the natural molecule with 3-(2H-pyran-2-ylidene)pyrrolidine-2,4-dione skeleton. Genomic mining using BpdD as probe reveals that the aminoacyl transthiolation between separate NRPS subunits should occur in a certain population of NRPSs in nature.}, } @article {pmid38513884, year = {2024}, author = {Furtado, ANM and de Farias, ST and Maia, MDS}, title = {Structural analyzes suggest that MiSSP13 and MiSSP16.5 may act as proteases inhibitors during ectomycorrhiza establishment in Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {238}, number = {}, pages = {105194}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105194}, pmid = {38513884}, issn = {1872-8324}, abstract = {•The signaling process during mycorrhiza establishment involves intense molecular communication between symbionts. It has been suggested that a group of protein effectors, the so-called MiSSPs, plays a broader function in the symbiosis metabolism, however, many of these remain uncharacterized structurally and functionally. •Herein we used three-dimensional protein structure modeling methods, ligand analysis, and molecular docking to structurally characterize and describe two protein effectors, MiSSP13 and MiSSP16.5, with enhanced expression during the mycorrhizal process in Laccaria bicolor. •MiSSP13 and MiSSP16.5 show structural homology with the cysteine and aspartate protease inhibitor, cocaprin (CCP1). Through structural analysis, it was observed that MiSSP13 and MiSSP16.5 have an active site similar to that observed in CCP1. The protein-protein docking data showed that MiSSP13 and MiSSP16.5 interact with the papain and pepsin proteases at sites that are near to where CCP1 interacts with these same targets, suggesting a function as inhibitor of cysteine and aspartate proteases. The interaction of MiSSP13 with papain and MiSSP16.5 with pepsin was stronger than the interaction of CCP1 with these proteases, suggesting that the MiSSPs had a greater activity in inhibiting these classes of proteases. Based on the data supplied, a model is proposed for the function of MiSSPs 13 and 16.5 during the symbiosis establishment. Our findings, while derived from in silico analyses, enable us formulate intriguing hypothesis on the function of MiSSPs in ectomycorrhization, which will require experimental validation.}, } @article {pmid38513084, year = {2024}, author = {Boyd, BM and House, N and Carduck, CW and Reed, DL}, title = {Genomic diversity in the endosymbiotic bacteria of human head lice.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msae064}, pmid = {38513084}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {Insects have repeatedly forged symbioses with heritable microbes, gaining novel traits. For the microbe, the transition to symbioses can lead to the degeneration of the symbiont's genome through transmission bottlenecks, isolation, and the loss of DNA repair enzymes. However, some insect-microbial symbioses have persisted for millions of years, suggesting natural selection slows genetic drift and maintains functional consistency between symbiont populations. By sampling in multiple countries, we examine genomic diversity within a symbiont species, a heritable symbiotic bacterium found only in human head lice. We find that human head louse symbionts contain genetic diversity that appears to have arisen contemporaneously with the appearance of anatomically modern humans within Africa and/or during the colonization of Eurasia by humans. We predict that the observed genetic diversity underlies functional differences in extant symbiont lineages, through the inactivation of genes involved in symbiont membrane construction. Furthermore, we find evidence of additional gene losses prior to the appearance of modern humans, also impacting the symbiont membrane. From this, we conclude that symbiont genome degeneration is proceeding, via gene inactivation and subsequent loss, in human head louse symbionts, while genomic diversity is maintained. Collectively, our results provide a look into the genomic diversity within a single symbiont species and highlight the shared evolutionary history of humans, lice, and bacteria.}, } @article {pmid38511362, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, Z and Wang, QC and Zhang, Y and Xu, LQ and Li, QY}, title = {[Nutrient uptake strategy selection by first-order roots of Juglans mandshurica under shading and phosphorus limitation].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {3239-3244}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202312.008}, pmid = {38511362}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Plant Roots ; *Juglans ; Phosphorus ; Fertilizers ; *Phosphorus, Dietary ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; }, abstract = {We investigated root growth of 1-year-old Juglans mandshurica seedlings under different light environments and varying doses of phosphorus fertilizer, to understand the relationship between root resource acquisition strategies and the variations of light and phosphorus availability. There were four shading intensities (full light, 65% full light, 35% full light, and 20% full light) along with three doses of phosphate fertilizer (0 (CK), 200% soil background available phosphorus, and 500% soil background available phosphorus). We measured in root morphology characteristics, architectural characteristics, and mycorrhizal colonization rates of first-order roots. The results showed that average diameter, average root length, and mycorrhizal colonization rates of first-order roots gradually decreased, and the specific root length, specific surface area, branching ratio and branching intensity showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increases of shading degree. As the phosphorus content decreased, the first-order root diameter gradually became thinner, and the mycorrhizal infection rate gradually increased. Root morphology and architecture of J. mandshurica would undergo adaptive changes under shade, adapting to the shading environment by expanding specific root length, specific surface area, branching ratio and branching intensity. Under phosphorus limitation, root system of J. mandshurica would increase phosphorus absorption through symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. When J. mandshurica was artificially regenerate in forest land with a light transmittance of 35%, root morphology and architecture would adapt to the shading environment. The symbiosis between J. mandshurica and mycorrhizal fungi would be enhanced under phosphorus limitation, which could improve phosphorus absorption of roots.}, } @article {pmid38510603, year = {2024}, author = {Lavrador, JP and Mirallave-Pescador, A and Vergani, F}, title = {Neurosurgeon-Neurophysiologist mutualistic symbiosis.}, journal = {Brain & spine}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {102750}, pmid = {38510603}, issn = {2772-5294}, } @article {pmid38510434, year = {2024}, author = {Adra, C and Panchalingam, H and Foster, K and Tomlin, R and Hayes, RA and Kurtböke, Dİ}, title = {In vitro biological control of Pyrrhoderma noxium using volatile compounds produced by termite gut-associated streptomycetes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1371285}, pmid = {38510434}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Pyrrhoderma noxium is a plant pathogen that causes economic losses in agricultural and forestry industries, including significant destruction to amenity trees within the city of Brisbane in Australia. Use of chemical control agents are restricted in public areas, there is therefore an urgent need to investigate biological control approaches. Members of the phylum Actinomycetota, commonly known as actinomycetes, are known for their industrially important secondary metabolites including antifungal agents. They have proven to be ideal candidates to produce environmentally friendly compounds including the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be used as biofumigants.

METHODS: Different Streptomyces species (n=15) previously isolated from the guts of termites and stored in the University of the Sunshine Coast'sMicrobial Library were tested for their antifungal VOCs against Pyrrhoderma noxium.

RESULTS: Fourteen of them were found to display inhibition (39.39-100%) to the mycelial development of the pathogen. Strongest antifungal activity displaying isolates USC-592, USC-595, USC-6910 and USC-6928 against the pathogen were selected for further investigations. Their VOCs were also found to have plant growth promotional activity observed for Arabidopsis thaliana with an increase of root length (22-36%) and shoot length (26-57%). The chlorophyll content of the test plant had a slight increase of 11.8% as well. Identified VOCs included geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, 2-methylbutyrate, methylene cyclopentane, β-pinene, dimethyl disulfide, ethyl isovalerate, methoxyphenyl-oxime and α-pinene. Additionally, all 15 Streptomyces isolates were found to produce siderophores and indole acetic acid as well as the enzyme chitinase which is known to break down the fungal cell wall.

DISCUSSION: Findings indicate that termite gut-associated streptomycetes might be used to control Pyrrhoderma noxium by utilizing their wide range of inhibitory mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid38509908, year = {2024}, author = {Takemoto, K and Mikota, Y and Moriuchi, R and Yoneda, Y and Kawai, S}, title = {Cloning of three Alnus sieboldiana type III polyketide synthases and formation of polyketides in recombinant Escherichia coli using cinnamic acid analogs as substrates.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e27698}, pmid = {38509908}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Alnus sieboldiana is an actinorhizal plant that coexists with the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia via nodules. It produces a variety of polyketides, including flavonoids, stilbenoids, and diarylheptanoids. These compounds have beneficial biological activities. Plant polyketides are produced by type III polyketide synthases (PKSIII). In this study, three A. sieboldiana PKSIIIs (AsPKSIII1, AsPKSIII2, and AsPKSIII3) predicted from next-generation sequencing analysis of A. sieboldiana seedling RNA were amplified and cloned. Phylogenetic tree analysis classified AsPKSIII2 and AsPKSIII3 into the chalcone synthase (CHS) group, whereas AsPKSIII1 was not classified into this group. We attempted to produce polyketides by adding cinnamic acid analogs to the culture medium of Escherichia coli, in which the respective PKSIII gene and the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL) genes were simultaneously recombined. AsPKSIII1 is an enzyme that condensed only one molecule of malonyl-CoA to cinnamoyl-CoAs. In contrast, AsPKSIII2 and AsPKSIII3 produced chalcones as shown in a phylogenetic tree analysis, but also produced triketide pyrone. The ratio of these products differed between the two enzymes. We determined the gene and amino acid sequences as well as the substrate specificities of the two enzymes involved in flavonoid production and one enzyme potentially involved in diarylheptanoid production in A. sieboldiana.}, } @article {pmid38509266, year = {2024}, author = {Djotan, AKG and Matsushita, N and Fukuda, K}, title = {Year-round dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities in the roots and surrounding soils of Cryptomeria japonica.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38509266}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {JP22H02382//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) live simultaneously inside and outside of host plant roots for a functional mycorrhizal symbiosis. Still, the year-round dynamics and relationships between soil properties and AMF communities of trees in forest ecosystems remain unclear. We collected paired root and soil samples of the same Cryptomeria japonica trees at two forest sites (five trees at each site) every 2 months over a year. Total DNA was extracted from roots and soil separately and soil physicochemical properties were measured. With Illumina's next-generation amplicon sequencing targeting the small subunit of fungal ribosomal DNA, we clarified seasonal dynamics of soil properties and AMF communities. Soil pH and total phosphorus showed significant seasonality while total carbon, nitrogen, and C/N did not. Only pH was a good predictor of the composition and dynamics of the AMF community. The total AMF community (roots + soil) showed significant seasonality because of variation from May to September. Root and soil AMF communities were steady year-round, however, with similar species richness but contained significantly different AMF assemblages in any sampling month. Despite the weak seasonality in the communities, the top two dominant OTUs showed significant but different shifts between roots and soils across seasons with strong antagonistic relationships. In conclusion, few dominant AMF taxa are dynamically shifting between the roots and soils of C. japonica to respond to seasonal and phenological variations in their microhabitats. AMF inhabiting forest ecosystems may have high environmental plasticity to sustain a functional symbiosis regardless of seasonal variations that occur in the soil.}, } @article {pmid38509052, year = {2024}, author = {Ang'ang'o, LM and Waweru, JW and Makhulu, EE and Wairimu, A and Otieno, FG and Onchuru, T and Tastan Bishop, Ö and Herren, JK}, title = {Draft genome of Microsporidia sp. MB-a malaria-blocking microsporidian symbiont of the Anopheles arabiensis.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0090323}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00903-23}, pmid = {38509052}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report the draft whole-genome assembly of Microsporidia sp. MB, a symbiotic malaria-transmission-blocking microsporidian isolated from Anopheles arabiensis in Kenya. The whole-genome sequence of Microsporidia sp. MB has a length of 5,908,979 bp, 2,335 contigs, and an average GC content of 31.12%.}, } @article {pmid38509042, year = {2024}, author = {Dai, W and Leng, H and Li, J and Li, A and Li, Z and Zhu, Y and Li, X and Jin, L and Sun, K and Feng, J}, title = {The role of host traits and geography in shaping the gut microbiome of insectivorous bats.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0008724}, doi = {10.1128/msphere.00087-24}, pmid = {38509042}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The gut microbiome is a symbiotic microbial community associated with the host and plays multiple important roles in host physiology, nutrition, and health. A number of factors have been shown to influence the gut microbiome, among which diet is considered to be one of the most important; however, the relationship between diet composition and gut microbiota in wild mammals is still not well recognized. Herein, we characterized the gut microbiota of bats and examined the effects of diet, host taxa, body size, gender, elevation, and latitude on the gut microbiota. The cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and 16S rRNA gene amplicons were sequenced from the feces of eight insectivorous bat species in southern China, including Miniopterus fuliginosus, Aselliscus stoliczkanus, Myotis laniger, Rhinolophus episcopus, Rhinolophus osgoodi, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus affinis, and Rhinolophus pusillus. The results showed that the composition of gut microbiome and diet exhibited significant differences among bat species. Diet composition and gut microbiota were significantly correlated at the order, family, genus, and operational taxonomic unit levels, while certain insects had a marked effect on the gut microbiome at specific taxonomic levels. In addition, elevation, latitude, body weight of bats, and host species had significant effects on the gut microbiome, but phylosymbiosis between host phylogeny and gut microbiome was lacking. These findings clarify the relationship between gut microbiome and diet and contribute to improving our understanding of host ecology and the evolution of the gut microbiome in wild mammals.

IMPORTANCE: The gut microbiome is critical for the adaptation of wildlife to the dynamic environment. Bats are the second-largest group of mammals with short intestinal tract, yet their gut microbiome is still poorly studied. Herein, we explored the relationships between gut microbiome and food composition, host taxa, body size, gender, elevation, and latitude. We found a significant association between diet composition and gut microbiome in insectivorous bats, with certain insect species having major impacts on gut microbiome. Factors like species taxa, body weight, elevation, and latitude also affected the gut microbiome, but we failed to detect phylosymbiosis between the host phylogeny and the gut microbiome. Overall, our study presents novel insights into how multiple factors shape the bat's gut microbiome together and provides a study case on host-microbe interactions in wildlife.}, } @article {pmid38507780, year = {2024}, author = {Kosmopoulos, JC and Doyle, R and Heath, KD}, title = {Co-inoculation with novel nodule-inhabiting bacteria reduces the benefits of legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2023-0209}, pmid = {38507780}, issn = {1480-3275}, abstract = {The ecologically and economically vital symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and leguminous plants is often thought of as a bi-partite interaction, yet studies increasingly show the prevalence of non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs) that occupy nodules alongside rhizobia. Yet, what impact these NREs have on plant or rhizobium fitness remains unclear. Here, we investigated four NRE strains found to naturally co-occupy nodules of the legume Medicago truncatula alongside Sinorhizobium meliloti in native soils. Our objectives were to (1) examine the direct and indirect effects of NREs on M. truncatula and S. meliloti fitness, and (2), determine whether NREs can re-colonize root and nodule tissues upon reinoculation. We identified one NRE strain (522) as a novel Paenibacillus species, another strain (717A) as a novel Bacillus species, and the other two (702A and 733B) as novel Pseudomonas species. Additionally, we found that two NREs (Bacillus 717A and Pseudomonas 733B) reduced the fitness benefits obtained from symbiosis for both partners, while the other two (522, 702A) had little effect. Lastly, we found that NREs were able to co-infect host tissues alongside S. meliloti. This study demonstrates that variation of NREs present in natural populations must be considered to better understand legume-rhizobium dynamics in soil communities.}, } @article {pmid38507447, year = {2024}, author = {Kehlet-Delgado, H and Montoya, AP and Jensen, KT and Wendlandt, CE and Dexheimer, C and Roberts, M and Torres Martínez, L and Friesen, ML and Griffitts, JS and Porter, SS}, title = {The evolutionary genomics of adaptation to stress in wild rhizobium bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {13}, pages = {e2311127121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2311127121}, pmid = {38507447}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {IOS-1755454//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; DEB-1943239//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {Microbiota comprise the bulk of life's diversity, yet we know little about how populations of microbes accumulate adaptive diversity across natural landscapes. Adaptation to stressful soil conditions in plants provides seminal examples of adaptation in response to natural selection via allelic substitution. For microbes symbiotic with plants however, horizontal gene transfer allows for adaptation via gene gain and loss, which could generate fundamentally different evolutionary dynamics. We use comparative genomics and genetics to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms of adaptation to physiologically stressful serpentine soils in rhizobial bacteria in western North American grasslands. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the presence of a locus of major effect, the nre operon, is necessary and sufficient to confer adaptation to nickel, a heavy metal enriched to toxic levels in serpentine soil, and a major axis of environmental soil chemistry variation. We find discordance between inferred evolutionary histories of the core genome and nreAXY genes, which often reside in putative genomic islands. This suggests that the evolutionary history of this adaptive variant is marked by frequent losses, and/or gains via horizontal acquisition across divergent rhizobium clades. However, different nre alleles confer distinct levels of nickel resistance, suggesting allelic substitution could also play a role in rhizobium adaptation to serpentine soil. These results illustrate that the interplay between evolution via gene gain and loss and evolution via allelic substitution may underlie adaptation in wild soil microbiota. Both processes are important to consider for understanding adaptive diversity in microbes and improving stress-adapted microbial inocula for human use.}, } @article {pmid38506874, year = {2023}, author = {Rojo Gutiérrez, MI and Moncayo-Coello, CV}, title = {[Prevention in food allergies].}, journal = {Revista alergia Mexico (Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico : 1993)}, volume = {70}, number = {4}, pages = {293-296}, doi = {10.29262/ram.v70i4.1314}, pmid = {38506874}, issn = {2448-9190}, mesh = {Humans ; *Food Hypersensitivity/prevention & control ; *Biological Products ; *Dermatitis, Atopic ; Epinephrine ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {Preventing food allergies is key to reducing the incidence of the disease. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended during the first months of life, in addition to supplementation with vitamin D and, due to the importance of the microbiota, addition of probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotic. Currently, late exposure to foods is controversial, and it is suggested to introduce allergenic foods early, trying not to expose the cutaneous route. The application of biologics in food allergy is an evolving area of research and treatment. Biologics are indicated in diseases evaluated in various studies, such as atopic dermatitis, and are approved by the FDA for prescription; However, its potential administration in the treatment of severe allergic reactions caused by food is still debated. These therapies may change the way food allergy is addressed in the future, but they are still in experimental stages and not widely available. Food anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires quick action. Prevention involves avoiding the triggering food, awareness of symptoms, and availability of epinephrine for immediate administration in case of a reaction.}, } @article {pmid38506612, year = {2024}, author = {Hu, G and Huang, J and Fussenegger, M}, title = {Toward Photosynthetic Mammalian Cells through Artificial Endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2310310}, doi = {10.1002/smll.202310310}, pmid = {38506612}, issn = {1613-6829}, support = {(ElectroGene;grantno.785800)//European Research Council (ERC) advanced grant/ ; }, abstract = {Photosynthesis in plants occurs within specialized organelles known as chloroplasts, which are postulated to have originated through endosymbiosis with cyanobacteria. In nature, instances are also observed wherein specific invertebrates engage in symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic bacteria, allowing them to subsist as photoautotrophic organisms over extended durations. Consequently, the concept of engineering artificial endosymbiosis between mammalian cells and cyanobacteria represents a promising avenue for enabling photosynthesis in mammals. The study embarked with the identification of Synechocystis PCC 6803 as a suitable candidate for establishing a long-term endosymbiotic relationship with macrophages. The cyanobacteria internalized by macrophages exhibited the capacity to rescue ATP deficiencies within their host cells under conditions of illumination. Following this discovery, a membrane-coating strategy is developed for the intracellular delivery of cyanobacteria into non-macrophage mammalian cells. This pioneering technique led to the identification of human embryonic kidney cells HEK293 as optimal hosts for achieving sustained endosymbiosis with Synechocystis PCC 6803. The study offers valuable insights that may serve as a reference for the eventual achievement of artificial photosynthesis in mammals.}, } @article {pmid38506530, year = {2024}, author = {Grossman, AS and Gell, DA and Wu, DG and Carper, DL and Hettich, RL and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Bacterial hemophilin homologs and their specific type eleven secretor proteins have conserved roles in heme capture and are diversifying as a family.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0044423}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00444-23}, pmid = {38506530}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {Cellular life relies on enzymes that require metals, which must be acquired from extracellular sources. Bacteria utilize surface and secreted proteins to acquire such valuable nutrients from their environment. These include the cargo proteins of the type eleven secretion system (T11SS), which have been connected to host specificity, metal homeostasis, and nutritional immunity evasion. This Sec-dependent, Gram-negative secretion system is encoded by organisms throughout the phylum Proteobacteria, including human pathogens Neisseria meningitidis, Proteus mirabilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Haemophilus influenzae. Experimentally verified T11SS-dependent cargo include transferrin-binding protein B (TbpB), the hemophilin homologs heme receptor protein C (HrpC), hemophilin A (HphA), the immune evasion protein factor-H binding protein (fHbp), and the host symbiosis factor nematode intestinal localization protein C (NilC). Here, we examined the specificity of T11SS systems for their cognate cargo proteins using taxonomically distributed homolog pairs of T11SS and hemophilin cargo and explored the ligand binding ability of those hemophilin cargo homologs. In vivo expression in Escherichia coli of hemophilin homologs revealed that each is secreted in a specific manner by its cognate T11SS protein. Sequence analysis and structural modeling suggest that all hemophilin homologs share an N-terminal ligand-binding domain with the same topology as the ligand-binding domains of the Haemophilus haemolyticus heme binding protein (Hpl) and HphA. We term this signature feature of this group of proteins the hemophilin ligand-binding domain. Network analysis of hemophilin homologs revealed five subclusters and representatives from four of these showed variable heme-binding activities, which, combined with sequence-structure variation, suggests that hemophilins are diversifying in function.IMPORTANCEThe secreted protein hemophilin and its homologs contribute to the survival of several bacterial symbionts within their respective host environments. Here, we compared taxonomically diverse hemophilin homologs and their paired Type 11 secretion systems (T11SS) to determine if heme binding and T11SS secretion are conserved characteristics of this family. We establish the existence of divergent hemophilin sub-families and describe structural features that contribute to distinct ligand-binding behaviors. Furthermore, we demonstrate that T11SS are specific for their cognate hemophilin family cargo proteins. Our work establishes that hemophilin homolog-T11SS pairs are diverging from each other, potentially evolving into novel ligand acquisition systems that provide competitive benefits in host niches.}, } @article {pmid38505702, year = {2024}, author = {Nzeyimana, F and Onwonga, RN and Ayuke, FO and Chemining'wa, GN and Nabahungu, NL and Bigirimana, J and Noella Josiane, UK}, title = {Determination of abundance and symbiotic effectiveness of native rhizobia nodulating soybean and other legumes in Rwanda.}, journal = {Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {e10138}, pmid = {38505702}, issn = {2575-6265}, abstract = {Rhizobia diversity in the rhizosphere is one of the key promoters of biological nitrogen fixation between host legumes and microsymbionts, although related complex interaction may depend on various factors. This research was intended to assess the abundance of indigenous rhizobia isolates under various soil conditions, as well as their effectiveness to nodulate legumes such as soybeans. Factors such as soil properties and legume species influence the volume and symbiotic effectiveness of native rhizobia to nodulate crop legumes. To investigate the abundance of rhizobia isolates, legume crops were uprooted to obtain nodules for most probable number (MPN) determination of rhizobia isolates, and soybean (Glycine max.) was used to verify the presence of suitable and efficient rhizobia strains for nitrogen fixation. Soil samples were obtained from the holes out of which nodules were collected, and the laboratory analysis included pH, Mg, K, available P, organic C, Ca, and N to establish the correlation between the soil status and number of rhizobia isolates' cells. Significant variations (p-value <.05) were observed in the cell counts of Rhizobia isolates from Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, and Vigna unguiculata, particularly when compared to Arachis hypogaea isolates under acidic conditions. Notably, Pisum sativum and Vigna unguiculata showed consistent performance across all pH conditions. The number of rhizobia isolates was found to be significantly linked to total N and P deficiencies (p < .05). It was also established that total N was dependent on the number of rhizobia cells and that there is a strong correlation between organic carbon and N content. This study highlights the crucial role of understanding and optimizing conditions for rhizobia nodulation in diverse soil environments, emphasizing its potential impact on enhancing biological nitrogen fixation in legumes.}, } @article {pmid38505545, year = {2024}, author = {Xu, Z and Li, F and Liu, Q and Ma, T and Feng, X and Zhao, G and Zeng, D and Li, D and Jie, H}, title = {Chemical composition and microbiota changes across musk secretion stages of forest musk deer.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1322316}, pmid = {38505545}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Forest musk deer is the most important animal for natural musk production, and the musk composition changes periodically during musk secretion, accompanied by variation in the com-position of deer-symbiotic bacteria. GC-MS and 16S rRNA sequencing were conducted in this study, the dynamic changes to correlated chemical composition and the microbiota across musk secretion periods (prime musk secretion period, vigorous musk secretion period and late musk secretion period) were investigated by integrating its serum testosterone level in different mating states. Results showed that the testosterone level, musk composition and microbiota changed with annual cycle of musk secretion and affected by its mating state. Muscone and the testosterone level peaked at vigorous musk secretion period, and the microbiota of this stage was distinct from the other 2 periods. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant bacteria across musk secretion period. PICRUSt analysis demonstrated that bacteria were ubiquitous in musk pod and involved in the metabolism of antibiotics and terpenoids in musk. "Carbohydrates and amino acids," "fatty acids and CoA" and "secretion of metabolites" were enriched at 3 periods, respectively. Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Sulfuricurvum were potential biomarkers across musk secretion. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of genetic mechanism during musk secretion, emphasizing the importance of Actinobacteria and Corynebacterium in the synthesis of muscone and etiocholanone during musk secretion, which required further validation.}, } @article {pmid38505544, year = {2024}, author = {Zheng, F and Gu, J and Lu, D and Yang, J and Shuai, X and Li, C and Chen, H}, title = {Mixing with native broadleaf trees modified soil microbial communities of Cunninghamia lanceolata monocultures in South China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1372128}, pmid = {38505544}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mixing with different broadleaf trees into the monocultures of Cunninghamia lanceolata is widely adopted as an efficient transformation of the pure C. lanceolata forest. However, it is unclear how native broad-leaved trees influence the belowground ecological environment of the pure C. lanceolata culture plantation in nutrient-poor soil of South China. Herein, we aimed to investigate how a long-time mixing with native broadleaf trees shape soil microbial community of the pure C. lanceolata forest across different soil depth (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) and to clarify relationships between the modified soil microbial community and those affected soil chemical properties. Using high-throughput sequencing technology, microbial compositions from the mixed C. lanceolata-broadleaf forest and the pure C. lanceolata forest were analyzed. Network analysis was utilized to investigate correlations among microorganisms, and network robustness was assessed by calculating network natural connectivity. Results demonstrated that the content of soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, total phosphorus and pH in mixed forest stand were significantly higher than those in pure forest stand, except for available phosphorus in topsoil (0-20 cm). Simultaneously, the mixed C. lanceolata-broadleaf forest has a more homogeneous bacterial and fungal communities across different soil depth compared with the pure C. lanceolata forest, wherein the mixed forest recruited more diverse bacterial community in subsoil (20-40 cm) and reduced the diversity of fungal community in topsoil. Meanwhile, the mixed forest showed higher bacterial community stability while the pure forest showed higher fungal community stability. Moreover, bacterial communities showed significant correlations with various soil chemical indicators, whereas fungal communities exhibited correlations with only TP and pH. Therefore, the mixed C. lanceolata-broadleaf forest rely on their recruiting bacterial community to enhance and maintain the higher nutrient status of soil while the pure C. lanceolata forest rely on some specific fungi to satisfy their phosphorus requirement for survive strategy.}, } @article {pmid38503765, year = {2024}, author = {Shukla, G and Singh, S and Dhule, C and Agrawal, R and Saraswat, S and Al-Rasheed, A and Alqahtani, MS and Soufiene, BO}, title = {Point biserial correlation symbiotic organism search nanoengineering based drug delivery for tumor diagnosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {6530}, pmid = {38503765}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Glioblastoma ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Nanotechnology/methods ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; *Nanostructures ; *Nanoparticles/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Nanoparticulate systems have the prospect of accounting for a new making of drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology is manifested to traverse the hurdle of both physical and biological sciences by implementing nanostructures indistinct fields of science, particularly in nano-based drug delivery. The low delivery efficiency of nanoparticles is a critical obstacle in the field of tumor diagnosis. Several nano-based drug delivery studies are focused on for tumor diagnosis. But, the nano-based drug delivery efficiency was not increased for tumor diagnosis. This work proposes a method called point biserial correlation symbiotic organism search nanoengineering-based drug delivery (PBC-SOSN). The objective and aim of the PBC-SOSN method is to achieve higher drug delivery efficiency and lesser drug delivery time for tumor diagnosis. The contribution of the PBC-SOSN is to optimized nanonengineering-based drug delivery with higher r drug delivery detection rate and smaller drug delivery error detection rate. Initially, raw data acquired from the nano-tumor dataset, and nano-drugs for glioblastoma dataset, overhead improved preprocessed samples are evolved using nano variational model decomposition-based preprocessing. After that, the preprocessed samples as input are subjected to variance analysis and point biserial correlation-based feature selection model. Finally, the preprocessed samples and features selected are subjected to symbiotic organism search nanoengineering (SOSN) to corroborate the objective. Based on these findings, point biserial correlation-based feature selection and a symbiotic organism search nanoengineering were tested for their modeling performance with a nano-tumor dataset and nano-drugs for glioblastoma dataset, finding the latter the better algorithm. Incorporated into the method is the potential to adjust the drug delivery detection rate and drug delivery error detection rate of the learned method based on selected features determined by nano variational model decomposition for efficient drug delivery.}, } @article {pmid38503174, year = {2024}, author = {Kališ, R}, title = {From symbiosis to independence: Investigating changes in the relationship between general practitioners' presence and pharmacies' market size in Slovakia.}, journal = {Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {105040}, doi = {10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105040}, pmid = {38503174}, issn = {1872-6054}, abstract = {Using the Slovak pharmacy retail market case, this study examines the evolving interdependency between general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacies. Traditionally, they have operated symbiotically, with pharmacy revenues heavily reliant on prescriptions. However, the development of the market structures of these providers after the liberalization of the pharmacy retail market in 2005 raises a question about the stability of this relationship. By analyzing entry thresholds as a measure of the market size required for pharmacies to cover their entry costs, the study reveals that the dependency of pharmacies on the presence of GPs has diminished over time. In the initial year following the liberalization, the presence of a GP decreased the market size sufficient to cover entry costs for the first pharmacy by about 83% compared to a market without a GP. However, in 2019, this effect decreased to approximately 65%. This could imply worsened coverage of pharmaceutical services in small and rural areas with GPs as the entry decision of pharmacies is less elastic towards their presence.}, } @article {pmid38501779, year = {2024}, author = {Scott, A and Topp, E and Revellin, C and Hartmann, A and Fruci, M}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium ottawaense strain MIAE 01942 isolated from soybean nodules grown in antibiotic-amended soil.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0000424}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00004-24}, pmid = {38501779}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium ottawaense MIAE 01942 is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the root nodules of soybeans grown in agricultural soils amended with veterinary antibiotics. The genome consists of a single 8.45 Mb circular chromosome that harbors genes involved in nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and antibiotic and metal resistance.}, } @article {pmid38498468, year = {2024}, author = {Dyshko, V and Hilszczańska, D and Davydenko, K and Matić, S and Moser, WK and Borowik, P and Oszako, T}, title = {An Overview of Mycorrhiza in Pines: Research, Species, and Applications.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {38498468}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In the latest literature, climate models show that the conditions for pines, spruces, larches, and birches will deteriorate significantly. In Poland, as well as in other European countries, there are already signs of the decline of these species. This review article deals with the symbiotic relationships between fungi and plants, which can hardly be overestimated, using the example of pine trees. These are the oldest known symbiotic relationships, which are of great benefit to both components and can help plants, in particular, survive periods of severe drought and the attack of pathogens on the roots. This article describes symbioses and their causal conditions, as well as the mycorrhizal components of pine trees and their properties; characterizes ectomycorrhizal fungi and their mushroom-forming properties; and provides examples of the cultivation of pure fungal cultures, with particular attention to the specificity of the mycorrhizal structure and its effects on the growth and development of Pinus species. Finally, the role of mycorrhiza in plant protection and pathogen control is described.}, } @article {pmid38497713, year = {2024}, author = {Tang, X-F and Sun, Y-F and Liang, Y-S and Yang, K-Y and Chen, P-T and Li, H-S and Huang, Y-H and Pang, H}, title = {Metabolism, digestion, and horizontal transfer: potential roles and interaction of symbiotic bacteria in the ladybird beetle Novius pumilus and their prey Icerya aegyptiaca.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0295523}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02955-23}, pmid = {38497713}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {In this study, we first time sequenced and analyzed the 16S rRNA gene data of predator ladybird beetles Novius pumilus and globally distributed invasive pest Icerya aegyptiaca at different stages, and combined data with bacterial genome sequences in N. pumilus to explored the taxonomic distribution, alpha and beta diversity, differentially abundant bacteria, co-occurrence network, and putative functions of their microbial community. Our finding revealed that Candidatus Walczuchella, which exhibited a higher abundance in I. aegyptiaca, possessed several genes in essential amino acid biosynthesis and seemed to perform roles in providing nutrients to the host, similar to other obligate symbionts in scale insects. Lactococcus, Serratia, and Pseudomonas, more abundant in N. pumilus, were predicted to have genes related to hydrocarbon, fatty acids, and chitin degradation, which may assist their hosts in digesting the wax shell covering the scale insects. Notably, our result showed that Lactococcus had relatively higher abundances in adults and eggs compared to other stages in N. pumilus, indicating potential vertical transmission. Additionally, we found that Arsenophonus, known to influence sex ratios in whitefly and wasp, may also function in I. aegyptiaca, probably by influencing nutrient metabolism as it similarly had many genes corresponding to vitamin B and essential amino acid biosynthesis. Also, we observed a potential horizontal transfer of Arsenophonus between the scale insect and its predator, with a relatively high abundance in the ladybirds compared to other bacteria from the scale insects.IMPORTANCEThe composition and dynamic changes of microbiome in different developmental stages of ladybird beetles Novius pumilus with its prey Icerya aegyptiaca were detected. We found that Candidatus Walczuchella, abundant in I. aegyptiaca, probably provide nutrients to their host based on their amino acid biosynthesis-related genes. Abundant symbionts in N. pumilus, including Lactococcus, Serratia, and Pseudophonus, may help the host digest the scale insects with their hydrocarbon, fatty acid, and chitin degrading-related genes. A key endosymbiont Arsenophonus may play potential roles in the nutrient metabolisms and sex determination in I. aegyptiaca, and is possibly transferred from the scale insect to the predator.}, } @article {pmid38497265, year = {2024}, author = {Klimovich, A and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Novel technologies uncover novel 'anti'-microbial peptides in Hydra shaping the species-specific microbiome.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {1901}, pages = {20230058}, pmid = {38497265}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Hydra/physiology ; Peptides ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; Epithelial Cells ; }, abstract = {The freshwater polyp Hydra uses an elaborate innate immune machinery to maintain its specific microbiome. Major components of this toolkit are conserved Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated immune pathways and species-specific antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Our study harnesses advanced technologies, such as high-throughput sequencing and machine learning, to uncover a high complexity of the Hydra's AMPs repertoire. Functional analysis reveals that these AMPs are specific against diverse members of the Hydra microbiome and expressed in a spatially controlled pattern. Notably, in the outer epithelial layer, AMPs are produced mainly in the neurons. The neuron-derived AMPs are secreted directly into the glycocalyx, the habitat for symbiotic bacteria, and display high selectivity and spatial restriction of expression. In the endodermal layer, in contrast, endodermal epithelial cells produce an abundance of different AMPs including members of the arminin and hydramacin families, while gland cells secrete kazal-type protease inhibitors. Since the endodermal layer lines the gastric cavity devoid of symbiotic bacteria, we assume that endodermally secreted AMPs protect the gastric cavity from intruding pathogens. In conclusion, Hydra employs a complex set of AMPs expressed in distinct tissue layers and cell types to combat pathogens and to maintain a stable spatially organized microbiome. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.}, } @article {pmid38497261, year = {2024}, author = {Tran, C and Rosenfield, GR and Cleves, PA and Krediet, CJ and Paul, MR and Clowez, S and Grossman, AR and Pringle, JR}, title = {Photosynthesis and other factors affecting the establishment and maintenance of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {1901}, pages = {20230079}, pmid = {38497261}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida ; *Anthozoa ; *Sea Anemones ; Photosynthesis ; Larva ; }, abstract = {Coral growth depends on the partnership between the animal hosts and their intracellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts. In this study, we used the sea anemone Aiptasia, a laboratory model for coral biology, to investigate the poorly understood mechanisms that mediate symbiosis establishment and maintenance. We found that initial colonization of both adult polyps and larvae by a compatible algal strain was more effective when the algae were able to photosynthesize and that the long-term maintenance of the symbiosis also depended on photosynthesis. In the dark, algal cells were taken up into host gastrodermal cells and not rapidly expelled, but they seemed unable to reproduce and thus were gradually lost. When we used confocal microscopy to examine the interaction of larvae with two algal strains that cannot establish stable symbioses with Aiptasia, it appeared that both pre- and post-phagocytosis mechanisms were involved. With one strain, algae entered the gastric cavity but appeared to be completely excluded from the gastrodermal cells. With the other strain, small numbers of algae entered the gastrodermal cells but appeared unable to proliferate there and were slowly lost upon further incubation. We also asked if the exclusion of either incompatible strain could result simply from their cells' being too large for the host cells to accommodate. However, the size distributions of the compatible and incompatible strains overlapped extensively. Moreover, examination of macerates confirmed earlier reports that individual gastrodermal cells could expand to accommodate multiple algal cells. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.}, } @article {pmid38497258, year = {2024}, author = {Bosch, TCG and Blaser, MJ and Ruby, E and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {A new lexicon in the age of microbiome research.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {1901}, pages = {20230060}, pmid = {38497258}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {R01 AI158911/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; *Communicable Diseases ; Microbial Interactions ; Learning ; }, abstract = {At a rapid pace, biologists are learning the many ways in which resident microbes influence, and sometimes even control, their hosts to shape both health and disease. Understanding the biochemistry behind these interactions promises to reveal completely novel and targeted ways of counteracting disease processes. However, in our protocols and publications, we continue to describe these new results using a language that originated in a completely different context. This language developed when microbial interactions with hosts were perceived to be primarily pathogenic, as threats that had to be vanquished. Biomedicine had one dominating thought: winning this war against microorganisms. Today, we know that beyond their defensive roles, host tissues, especially epithelia, are vital to ensuring association with the normal microbiota, the communities of microbes that persistently live with the host. Thus, we need to adopt a language that better encompasses the newly appreciated importance of host-microbiota associations. We also need a language that frames the onset and progression of pathogenic conditions within the context of the normal microbiota. Such a reimagined lexicon should make it clear, from the very nature of its words, that microorganisms are primarily vital to our health, and only more rarely the cause of disease. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.}, } @article {pmid38497254, year = {2024}, author = {Galambos, N and Vincent-Monegat, C and Vallier, A and Parisot, N and Heddi, A and Zaidman-Rémy, A}, title = {Cereal weevils' antimicrobial peptides: at the crosstalk between development, endosymbiosis and immune response.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {1901}, pages = {20230062}, pmid = {38497254}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Weevils/genetics/microbiology ; Edible Grain ; Antimicrobial Peptides ; Immunity ; }, abstract = {Interactions between animals and microbes are ubiquitous in nature and strongly impact animal physiology. These interactions are shaped by the host immune system, which responds to infections and contributes to tailor the associations with beneficial microorganisms. In many insects, beneficial symbiotic associations not only include gut commensals, but also intracellular bacteria, or endosymbionts. Endosymbionts are housed within specialized host cells, the bacteriocytes, and are transmitted vertically across host generations. Host-endosymbiont co-evolution shapes the endosymbiont genome and host immune system, which not only fights against microbial intruders, but also ensures the preservation of endosymbionts and the control of their load and location. The cereal weevil Sitophilus spp. is a remarkable model in which to study the evolutionary adaptation of the immune system to endosymbiosis owing to its binary association with a unique, relatively recently acquired nutritional endosymbiont, Sodalis pierantonius. This Gram-negative bacterium has not experienced the genome size shrinkage observed in long-term endosymbioses and has retained immunogenicity. We focus here on the sixteen antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) identified in the Sitophilus oryzae genome and their expression patterns in different tissues, along host development or upon immune challenges, to address their potential functions in the defensive response and endosymbiosis homeostasis along the insect life cycle. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.}, } @article {pmid38494408, year = {2024}, author = {Saha, P and Ettel, P and Weichhart, T}, title = {Leveraging macrophage metabolism for anticancer therapy: opportunities and pitfalls.}, journal = {Trends in pharmacological sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tips.2024.02.005}, pmid = {38494408}, issn = {1873-3735}, abstract = {Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute an important part of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that regulates tumor progression. Tumor-derived signals, hypoxia, and competition for nutrients influence TAMs to reprogram their cellular metabolism. This altered metabolic profile creates a symbiotic communication between tumor and other immune cells to support tumor growth. In addition, the metabolic profile of TAMs regulates the expression of immune checkpoint molecules. The dynamic plasticity also allows TAMs to reshape their metabolism in response to modern therapeutic strategies. Therefore, over the years, a significant number of approaches have been implicated to reprogram cancer-promoting metabolism in TAMs. In this review, we discuss the current strategies and pitfalls, along with upcoming promising opportunities in leveraging TAM metabolism for developing better therapeutic approaches against cancer.}, } @article {pmid38493856, year = {2024}, author = {You, Z and Wang, C and Yang, X and Liu, Z and Guan, Y and Mu, J and Shi, H and Zhao, Z}, title = {Effects of eutrophication on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in microalgal-bacterial symbiotic systems.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {251}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {118692}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118692}, pmid = {38493856}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Overloading of nutrients such as nitrogen causes eutrophication of freshwater bodies. The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) poses a threat to ecosystems. However, studies on the enrichment and spread of ARGs from increased nitrogen loading in algal-bacterial symbiotic systems are limited. In this study, the transfer of extracellular kanamycin resistance (KR) genes from large (RP4) small (pEASY-T1) plasmids into the intracellular and extracellular DNA (iDNA, eDNA) of the inter-algal environment of Chlorella pyrenoidosa was investigated, along with the community structure of free-living (FL) and particle-attached (PA) bacteria under different nitrogen source concentrations (0-2.5 g/L KNO3). The results showed that KR gene abundance in the eDNA adsorbed on solid particles (D-eDNA) increased initially and then decreased with increasing nitrogen concentration, while the opposite was true for the rest of the free eDNA (E-eDNA). Medium nitrogen concentrations promoted the transfer of extracellular KR genes into the iDNA attached to algal microorganisms (A-iDNA), eDNA attached to algae (B-eDNA), and the iDNA of free microorganisms (C-iDNA); high nitrogen contributed to the transfer of KR genes into C-iDNA. The highest percentage of KR genes was found in B-eDNA with RP4 plasmid treatment (66.2%) and in C-iDNA with pEASY-T1 plasmid treatment (86.88%). In addition, dissolved oxygen (DO) significantly affected the bacterial PA and FL community compositions. Nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) reflected the abundance of ARGs in algae. Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota were the main potential hosts of ARGs. These findings provide new insights into the distribution and dispersal of ARGs in the phytoplankton inter-algal environment.}, } @article {pmid38493504, year = {2024}, author = {Fransgo, K and Lin, LC and Rho, H}, title = {Distinct interactions of ericoid mycorrhizae and plant growth-promoting bacteria: impacts on blueberry growth and heat resilience.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {2329842}, doi = {10.1080/15592324.2024.2329842}, pmid = {38493504}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Blueberry Plants ; *Resilience, Psychological ; Bacteria ; Water ; }, abstract = {Blueberries confront substantial challenges from climate change, such as rising temperatures and extreme heat, necessitating urgent solutions to ensure productivity. We hypothesized that ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ErM) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) would establish symbiotic relationships and increase heat stress tolerance in blueberries. A growth chamber study was designed with low (25/20°C) and high temperature (35/30°C) conditions with micropropagated blueberry plantlets inoculated with ErM, PGPB, and both. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence properties of the leaves were monitored throughout the growth. At harvest, biochemical assays and biomass analysis were performed to evaluate potential oxidative stress induced by elevated temperatures. ErM application boosted root biomass under 25/20°C conditions but did not impact photosynthetic efficiency. In contrast, PGPB demonstrated a dual role: enhancing photosynthetic capacity and reducing stomatal conductance notably under 35/30°C conditions. Moreover, PGPB showcased conflicting effects, reducing oxidative damage under 25/20°C conditions while intensifying it during 47°C heat shock. A significant highlight lies in the opposing effects of ErM and PGPB on root growth and stomatal conductance, signifying their reciprocal influence on blueberry plant behavior, which may lead to increased water uptake or reduced water use. Understanding these complex interactions holds promise for refining sustainable strategies to overcome climate challenges.}, } @article {pmid38493232, year = {2024}, author = {Moreno-Pino, M and Manrique-de-la-Cuba, MF and López-Rodríguez, M and Parada-Pozo, G and Rodríguez-Marconi, S and Ribeiro, CG and Flores-Herrera, P and Guajardo, M and Trefault, N}, title = {Unveiling microbial guilds and symbiotic relationships in Antarctic sponge microbiomes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {6371}, pmid = {38493232}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {3210656//ANID FONDECYT Postdoctoral Grant/ ; 21211164//ANID Doctoral Fellowships/ ; 21192150//ANID Doctoral Fellowships/ ; 21190286//ANID Doctoral Fellowships/ ; DG_02-22//INACH Grants/ ; DG_15-20//INACH Grants/ ; DG_12-20//INACH Grants/ ; RT_34-17//INACH Grants/ ; 1230758//ANID FONDECYT Grant/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Antarctic Regions ; Ammonia ; Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges host diverse microbial communities. Although we know many of its ecological patterns, a deeper understanding of the polar sponge holobiont is still needed. We combine high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes, including the largest taxonomic repertoire of Antarctic sponge species analyzed to date, functional metagenomics, and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Our findings show that sponges harbor more exclusive bacterial and archaeal communities than seawater, while microbial eukaryotes are mostly shared. Furthermore, bacteria in Antarctic sponge holobionts establish more cooperative interactions than in sponge holobionts from other environments. The bacterial classes that established more positive relations were Bacteroidia, Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria. Antarctic sponge microbiomes contain microbial guilds that encompass ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The retrieved MAGs showed a high level of novelty and streamlining signals and belong to the most abundant members of the main microbial guilds in the Antarctic sponge holobiont. Moreover, the genomes of these symbiotic bacteria contain highly abundant functions related to their adaptation to the cold environment, vitamin production, and symbiotic lifestyle, helping the holobiont survive in this extreme environment.}, } @article {pmid38493170, year = {2024}, author = {Anthony, MA and Tedersoo, L and De Vos, B and Croisé, L and Meesenburg, H and Wagner, M and Andreae, H and Jacob, F and Lech, P and Kowalska, A and Greve, M and Popova, G and Frey, B and Gessler, A and Schaub, M and Ferretti, M and Waldner, P and Calatayud, V and Canullo, R and Papitto, G and Marinšek, A and Ingerslev, M and Vesterdal, L and Rautio, P and Meissner, H and Timmermann, V and Dettwiler, M and Eickenscheidt, N and Schmitz, A and Van Tiel, N and Crowther, TW and Averill, C}, title = {Fungal community composition predicts forest carbon storage at a continental scale.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2385}, pmid = {38493170}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {PZ00P3_208648//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; PZ00P3_179900//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycobiome ; Carbon ; Soil Microbiology ; Forests ; Trees/microbiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Forest soils harbor hyper-diverse microbial communities which fundamentally regulate carbon and nutrient cycling across the globe. Directly testing hypotheses on how microbiome diversity is linked to forest carbon storage has been difficult, due to a lack of paired data on microbiome diversity and in situ observations of forest carbon accumulation and storage. Here, we investigated the relationship between soil microbiomes and forest carbon across 238 forest inventory plots spanning 15 European countries. We show that the composition and diversity of fungal, but not bacterial, species is tightly coupled to both forest biotic conditions and a seven-fold variation in tree growth rates and biomass carbon stocks when controlling for the effects of dominant tree type, climate, and other environmental factors. This linkage is particularly strong for symbiotic endophytic and ectomycorrhizal fungi known to directly facilitate tree growth. Since tree growth rates in this system are closely and positively correlated with belowground soil carbon stocks, we conclude that fungal composition is a strong predictor of overall forest carbon storage across the European continent.}, } @article {pmid38493166, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, LS and Wang, N and Li, K and Li, CY and Guo, JP and He, FY and Liu, GM and Chen, XL and Gao, J and Liu, LN and Zhang, YZ}, title = {Architecture of symbiotic dinoflagellate photosystem I-light-harvesting supercomplex in Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2392}, pmid = {38493166}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/V009729/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/ ; BB/R003890/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/ ; URF\R\180030//Royal Society/ ; }, mesh = {*Photosystem I Protein Complex/metabolism ; *Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Symbiodinium are the photosynthetic endosymbionts for corals and play a vital role in supplying their coral hosts with photosynthetic products, forming the nutritional foundation for high-yield coral reef ecosystems. Here, we determine the cryo-electron microscopy structure of Symbiodinium photosystem I (PSI) supercomplex with a PSI core composed of 13 subunits including 2 previously unidentified subunits, PsaT and PsaU, as well as 13 peridinin-Chl a/c-binding light-harvesting antenna proteins (AcpPCIs). The PSI-AcpPCI supercomplex exhibits distinctive structural features compared to their red lineage counterparts, including extended termini of PsaD/E/I/J/L/M/R and AcpPCI-1/3/5/7/8/11 subunits, conformational changes in the surface loops of PsaA and PsaB subunits, facilitating the association between the PSI core and peripheral antennae. Structural analysis and computational calculation of excitation energy transfer rates unravel specific pigment networks in Symbiodinium PSI-AcpPCI for efficient excitation energy transfer. Overall, this study provides a structural basis for deciphering the mechanisms governing light harvesting and energy transfer in Symbiodinium PSI-AcpPCI supercomplexes adapted to their symbiotic ecosystem, as well as insights into the evolutionary diversity of PSI-LHCI among various photosynthetic organisms.}, } @article {pmid38491814, year = {2024}, author = {Malakar, S and Sutaoney, P and Madhyastha, H and Shah, K and Chauhan, NS and Banerjee, P}, title = {Understanding gut microbiome-based machine learning platforms: A review on therapeutic approaches using deep learning.}, journal = {Chemical biology & drug design}, volume = {103}, number = {3}, pages = {e14505}, doi = {10.1111/cbdd.14505}, pmid = {38491814}, issn = {1747-0285}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Artificial Intelligence ; *Deep Learning ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Machine Learning ; }, abstract = {Human beings possess trillions of microbial cells in a symbiotic relationship. This relationship benefits both partners for a long time. The gut microbiota helps in many bodily functions from harvesting energy from digested food to strengthening biochemical barriers of the gut and intestine. But the changes in microbiota composition and bacteria that can enter the gastrointestinal tract can cause infection. Several approaches like culture-independent techniques such as high-throughput and meta-omics projects targeting 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing are popular methods to investigate the composition of the human gastrointestinal tract microbiota and taxonomically characterizing microbial communities. The microbiota conformation and diversity should be provided by whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing of site-specific community DNA associating genome mapping, gene inventory, and metabolic remodelling and reformation, to ease the functional study of human microbiota. Preliminary examination of the therapeutic potency for dysbiosis-associated diseases permits investigation of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic changes in microbial communities for escalation of treatment and dosage plan. Gut microbiome study is an integration of metagenomics which has influenced the field in the last two decades. And the incorporation of artificial intelligence and deep learning through "omics-based" methods and microfluidic evaluation enhanced the capability of identification of thousands of microbes.}, } @article {pmid38491088, year = {2024}, author = {Janczarek, M and Kozieł, M and Adamczyk, P and Buczek, K and Kalita, M and Gromada, A and Mordzińska-Rak, A and Polakowski, C and Bieganowski, A}, title = {Symbiotic efficiency of Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains originating from the subpolar and temperate climate regions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {6264}, pmid = {38491088}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {2018/31/B/NZ9/00663//National Science Centre of Poland/ ; }, mesh = {*Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; *Trifolium/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; }, abstract = {Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a forage legume cultivated worldwide. This plant is capable of establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii strains. To date, no comparative analysis of the symbiotic properties and heterogeneity of T. pratense microsymbionts derived from two distinct geographic regions has been performed. In this study, the symbiotic properties of strains originating from the subpolar and temperate climate zones in a wide range of temperatures (10-25 °C) have been characterized. Our results indicate that all the studied T. pratense microsymbionts from two geographic regions were highly efficient in host plant nodulation and nitrogen fixation in a wide range of temperatures. However, some differences between the populations and between the strains within the individual population examined were observed. Based on the nodC and nifH sequences, the symbiotic diversity of the strains was estimated. In general, 13 alleles for nodC and for nifH were identified. Moreover, 21 and 61 polymorphic sites in the nodC and nifH sequences were found, respectively, indicating that the latter gene shows higher heterogeneity than the former one. Among the nodC and nifH alleles, three genotypes (I-III) were the most frequent, whereas the other alleles (IV-XIII) proved to be unique for the individual strains. Based on the nodC and nifH allele types, 20 nodC-nifH genotypes were identified. Among them, the most frequent were three genotypes marked as A (6 strains), B (5 strains), and C (3 strains). Type A was exclusively found in the temperate strains, whereas types B and C were identified in the subpolar strains. The remaining 17 genotypes were found in single strains. In conclusion, our data indicate that R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains derived from two climatic zones show a high diversity with respect to the symbiotic efficiency and heterogeneity. However, some of the R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains exhibit very good symbiotic potential in the wide range of the temperatures tested; hence, they may be used in the future for improvement of legume crop production.}, } @article {pmid38489981, year = {2024}, author = {Cattaneo, A and Meneguz, M and Dabbou, S and Tambone, F and Scaglia, B}, title = {Local circular economy: BSF insect rearing in the Italian Agri-Food Industry.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {234-244}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2024.03.016}, pmid = {38489981}, issn = {1879-2456}, abstract = {With a growing population, both food and waste production will increase. There is an urgent need for innovative ways of valorizing waste. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) efficiently converts agri-food by-products (BPs) into high-quality materials; its rearing process yields larvae (BSFL) rich in fat and protein for feed purposes, with "frass" acting as organic fertilizer. While the insect rearing sector is expanding, few producers use BPs. Therefore, a case study approach was adopted to evaluate the potential for establishing an Italian BSFL production plant on BPs available on the territory. After contacting more than 115 agri-food companies (maximum 100 km from the BSFL plant), they were classified based on sector, distance, size, and BPs (quantity, seasonality, management). BPs with a low value (fruit and vegetable residues) were treated as waste, associated with costs and low valorization. By merging the available BPs on the territory and following the literature on BSFL nutritional needs' two diets (Scenario BSFL) were created, assessing their suitability comparing them to the current full-scale plant diet (Scenario 0). The exploitation of BPs for BSFL rearing reduced local waste production by 52 % compared to conventional composting (Scenario 0). In addition, integrating BPs into the larval feed formulation increased BSFL production value (+47 times). These results highlight the potential of locally-based insect rearing to valorize BPs and create a network of sustainable actors within the agri-food industry. Further investigations are needed to improve the connection between agri-food and insect industrial activities, expanding this framework to other regions.}, } @article {pmid38489511, year = {2024}, author = {Qiu, X and Wang, W and Yang, J and Li, D and Jiao, J and Wang, E and Yuan, H}, title = {Fulvic Acid Promotes Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis by Stimulating Endogenous Flavonoids Synthesis and Secretion.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c08837}, pmid = {38489511}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Fulvic acid (FA) promotes symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. To elucidate from the aspect of symbiosis, the effects of root irrigation of water-soluble humic materials (WSHM) or foliar spraying of its highly active component, FA, on soybean root exudates and on rhizosphere microorganisms were investigated. As a result, WSHM/FA treatments significantly altered root exudate metabolite composition, and isoflavonoids were identified as key contributors in both treatments compared to the control. Increased expression of genes related to the isoflavonoid biosynthesis were validated by RT-qPCR in both treatments, which notably elevated the synthesis of symbiotic signals genistein, daidzin, coumestrol, and biochanin A. Moreover, the WSHM/FA treatments induced a change in rhizosphere microbial community, coupled with an increase in the relative abundance of rhizobia. Our findings showed that WSHM/FA promotes symbiosis by stimulating the endogenous flavonoid synthesis and leads to rhizobia accumulation in the rhizosphere. This study provides new insights into mechanisms underlying the FA-mediated promotion of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38489376, year = {2024}, author = {Jayathilake, PG and Victori, P and Pavillet, CE and Lee, CH and Voukantsis, D and Miar, A and Arora, A and Harris, AL and Morten, KJ and Buffa, FM}, title = {Metabolic symbiosis between oxygenated and hypoxic tumour cells: An agent-based modelling study.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {e1011944}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011944}, pmid = {38489376}, issn = {1553-7358}, abstract = {Deregulated metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer. It is well-known that tumour cells tend to metabolize glucose via glycolysis even when oxygen is available and mitochondrial respiration is functional. However, the lower energy efficiency of aerobic glycolysis with respect to mitochondrial respiration makes this behaviour, namely the Warburg effect, counter-intuitive, although it has now been recognized as source of anabolic precursors. On the other hand, there is evidence that oxygenated tumour cells could be fuelled by exogenous lactate produced from glycolysis. We employed a multi-scale approach that integrates multi-agent modelling, diffusion-reaction, stoichiometric equations, and Boolean networks to study metabolic cooperation between hypoxic and oxygenated cells exposed to varying oxygen, nutrient, and inhibitor concentrations. The results show that the cooperation reduces the depletion of environmental glucose, resulting in an overall advantage of using aerobic glycolysis. In addition, the oxygen level was found to be decreased by symbiosis, promoting a further shift towards anaerobic glycolysis. However, the oxygenated and hypoxic populations may gradually reach quasi-equilibrium. A sensitivity analysis using Latin hypercube sampling and partial rank correlation shows that the symbiotic dynamics depends on properties of the specific cell such as the minimum glucose level needed for glycolysis. Our results suggest that strategies that block glucose transporters may be more effective to reduce tumour growth than those blocking lactate intake transporters.}, } @article {pmid38488669, year = {2024}, author = {Aichelman, HE and Huzar, AK and Wuitchik, DM and Atherton, KF and Wright, RM and Dixon, G and Schlatter, E and Haftel, N and Davies, SW}, title = {Symbiosis modulates gene expression of symbionts, but not coral hosts, under thermal challenge.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17318}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17318}, pmid = {38488669}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {2016222953//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program/ ; //Boston University Department of Biology/ ; //Boston University Marine Program/ ; //Boston University Start-Up Funds/ ; 1937650//National Science Foundation IOS-SDS/ ; 1659605 REP Supplement//National Science Foundation BIO/ ; }, abstract = {Increasing ocean temperatures are causing dysbiosis between coral hosts and their symbionts. Previous work suggests that coral host gene expression responds more strongly to environmental stress compared to their intracellular symbionts; however, the causes and consequences of this phenomenon remain untested. We hypothesized that symbionts are less responsive because hosts modulate symbiont environments to buffer stress. To test this hypothesis, we leveraged the facultative symbiosis between the scleractinian coral Oculina arbuscula and its symbiont Breviolum psygmophilum to characterize gene expression responses of both symbiotic partners in and ex hospite under thermal challenges. To characterize host and in hospite symbiont responses, symbiotic and aposymbiotic O. arbuscula were exposed to three treatments: (1) control (18°C), (2) heat (32°C), and (3) cold (6°C). This experiment was replicated with B. psygmophilum cultured from O. arbuscula to characterize ex hospite symbiont responses. Both thermal challenges elicited classic environmental stress responses (ESRs) in O. arbuscula regardless of symbiotic state, with hosts responding more strongly to cold challenge. Hosts also exhibited stronger responses than in hospite symbionts. In and ex hospite B. psygmophilum both down-regulated gene ontology pathways associated with photosynthesis under thermal challenge; however, ex hospite symbionts exhibited greater gene expression plasticity and differential expression of genes associated with ESRs. Taken together, these findings suggest that O. arbuscula hosts may buffer environments of B. psygmophilum symbionts; however, we outline the future work needed to confirm this hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid38488665, year = {2024}, author = {Bauri, AK and Blanco, CC and Castro-Dionicio, IY and Salinas Arellano, E and Jeyaraj, JG and Foro, S}, title = {A NEW RARE HALOGENATED DEPSIDE FROM LICHEN AND STUDY OF ITS ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202301874}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202301874}, pmid = {38488665}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {Lichens are (Permotrema parlatum) a symbiotic association of algae and fungus belonging to the family Parmeliaceae. Some of lichen species are consumable and used as an active ingredient for preparation exotic spices as well as folklore medicine to cure different kind of ailments. A specimen of lichen was collected from Munner in Kerala State of South India for its chemical profiling. Chemical analyses of diethyl extract of the defatted lichen led to the isolation of six phenols 1-6 with variation of relative abundance. Amongst them, the relative abundance of compound 3 was maximum (1% of crude extract) and it was identified as atranorin. The structures of known compounds were identified in comparison with their 1H & 13C NMR and mass data with published values available in literature. In vitro, bioassay of anti-proliferative activity of these compounds has been conducted against various human cancer cell lines in comparison with paclitaxel as control using SRB assay.}, } @article {pmid38488391, year = {2024}, author = {Jin, Y and Chen, Z and White, JF and Malik, K and Li, C}, title = {Interactions between Epichloë endophyte and the plant microbiome impact nitrogen responses in host Achnatherum inebrians plants.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0257423}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02574-23}, pmid = {38488391}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {The clavicipitaceous fungus Epichloë gansuensis forms symbiotic associations with drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians), providing biotic and abiotic stress protection to its host. However, it is unclear how E. gansuensis affects the assembly of host plant-associated bacterial communities after ammonium nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) treatment. We examined the shoot- and root-associated bacterial microbiota and root metabolites of A. inebrians when infected (I) or uninfected (F) with E. gansuensis endophyte. The results showed more pronounced NH4[+]-N-induced microbial and metabolic changes in the endophyte-infected plants compared to the endophyte-free plants. E. gansuensis significantly altered bacterial community composition and β-diversity in shoots and roots and increased bacterial α-diversity under NH4[+]-N treatment. The relative abundance of 117 and 157 root metabolites significantly changed with E. gansuensis infection under water and NH4[+]-N treatment compared to endophyte-free plants. Root bacterial community composition was significantly related to the abundance of the top 30 metabolites [variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 2 and VIP > 3] contributing to differences between I and F plants, especially alkaloids. The correlation network between root microbiome and metabolites was complex. Microorganisms in the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla were significantly associated with the R00693 metabolic reaction of cysteine and methionine metabolism. Co-metabolism network analysis revealed common metabolites between host plants and microorganisms.IMPORTANCEOur results suggest that the effect of endophyte infection is sensitive to nitrogen availability. Endophyte symbiosis altered the composition of shoot and root bacterial communities, increasing bacterial diversity. There was also a change in the class and relative abundance of metabolites. We found a complex co-occurrence network between root microorganisms and metabolites, with some metabolites shared between the host plant and its microbiome. The precise ecological function of the metabolites produced in response to endophyte infection remains unknown. However, some of these compounds may facilitate plant-microbe symbiosis by increasing the uptake of beneficial soil bacteria into plant tissues. Overall, these findings advance our understanding of the interactions between the microbiome, metabolome, and endophyte symbiosis in grasses. The results provide critical insight into the mechanisms by which the plant microbiome responds to nutrient stress in the presence of fungal endophytes.}, } @article {pmid38487209, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Q and Philp, J and Denton, MD and Huang, Y and Wei, J and Sun, H and Li, Y and Zhao, Q}, title = {Stoichiometric homeostasis of N:P ratio drives species-specific symbiotic N fixation inhibition under N addition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1076894}, pmid = {38487209}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Symbiotic N fixation inhibition induced by N supply to legumes is potentially regulated by the relative N and P availability in soil. However, the specific responses of different legume species to changes in N:P availability remain unclear, and must be better understood to optimize symbiotic N fixation inputs under N enrichment. This study investigated mechanisms by which soil N and P supply influence the symbiotic N fixation of eight legume species, to quantify the inter-specific differences, and to demonstrate how these differences can be determined by the stoichiometric homeostasis in N:P ratios (HN:P).

METHODS: Eight herbaceous legume species were grown separately in outdoor pots and treated with either no fertilizer (control), N fertilizer (14 g N m[-2]), P fertilizer (3.5 g P m[-2]) or both N and P fertilizer. Plant nutrients, stoichiometric characteristics, root biomass, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), rhizosphere chemistry, P mobilization, root nodulation and symbiotic N fixation were measured.

RESULTS: N addition enhanced rhizosphere P mobilization but drove a loss of root biomass and root NSC via exudation of P mobilization compound (organic acid), especially so in treatments without P addition. N addition also induced a 2-14% or 14-36% decline in symbiotic N fixation per plant biomass by legumes in treatments with or without P addition, as a result of decreasing root biomass and root NSC. The changes in symbiotic N fixation were positively correlated with stoichiometric homeostasis of N:P ratios in intact plants without root nodules, regardless of P additions.

DISCUSSION: This study indicates that N addition can induce relative P limitations for growth, which can stimulate rhizosphere P mobilization at the expense of root biomass and carbohydrate concentrations, reducing symbiotic N fixation in legumes. Legume species that had less changes in plant N:P ratio, such as Lespedeza daurica and Medicago varia maintained symbiotic N fixation to a greater extent under N addition.}, } @article {pmid38485049, year = {2024}, author = {Dai, J and Tang, X and Wu, C and Liu, S and Mi, W and Fang, W}, title = {Utilization of plant-derived sugars and lipids are coupled during colonization of rhizoplane and rhizosphere by the fungus Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {172}, number = {}, pages = {103886}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2024.103886}, pmid = {38485049}, issn = {1096-0937}, abstract = {Plant-derived sugars and lipids are key nutritional sources for plant associated fungi. However, the relationship between utilization of host-derived sugars and lipids during development of the symbiotic association remains unknown. Here we show that the fungus Metarhizium robertsii also needs plant-derived lipids to develop symbiotic relationship with plants. The fatty acid binding proteins FABP1 and FABP2 are important for utilization of plant-derived lipids as the deletion of Fabp1 and Fabp2 significantly reduced the ability of M. robertsii to colonize rhizoplane and rhizosphere of maize and Arabidopsis thaliana. Deleting Fabp1 and Fabp2 increased sugar utilization by upregulating six sugar transporters, and this explains why deleting the monosaccharide transporter gene Mst1, which plays an important role in utilization of plant-derived sugars, had no impact on the ability of the double-gene deletion mutant ΔFabp1::ΔFabp2 to colonize plant roots. FABP1 and FABP2 were also found in other plant-associated Metarhizium species, and they were highly expressed in the medium using the tomato root exudate as the sole carbon and nitrogen source, suggesting that they could be also important for these species to develop symbiotic relationship with plants. In conclusion, we discovered that utilization of plant-derived sugars and lipids are coupled during colonization of rhizoplane and rhizosphere by M. robertsii.}, } @article {pmid38483599, year = {2024}, author = {He, Z and Naganuma, T and Nakai, R and Uetake, J and Hahn, MW}, title = {Microbiomic Analysis of Bacteria Associated with Rock Tripe Lichens from Alpine Areas in Eastern Alps and Equatorial Africa.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {5}, pages = {115}, pmid = {38483599}, issn = {1432-0991}, support = {JP16H05765//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP25740012//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {The diversity of bacteria associated with alpine lichens was profiled. Lichen samples belonging to the Umbilicariaceae family, commonly known as rock tripe lichens, were gathered from two distinct alpine fellfields: one situated on Mt. Brennkogel located in the Eastern European Alps (Austria), and the other on Mt. Stanley located in the Rwenzori mountains of equatorial Africa (Uganda). The primary aim of this research was to undertake a comparative investigation into the bacterial compositions, and diversities, identifying potential indicators and exploring their potential metabolisms, of these lichen samples. Bulk genomic DNA was extracted from the lichen samples, which was used to amplify the 18S rRNA gene by Sanger sequencing and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene by Illumina Miseq sequencing. Examination of the fungal partner was carried out through the analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequences, belonging to the genus Umbilicaria (Ascomycota), and the algal partner affiliated with the lineage Trebouxia (Chlorophyta), constituted the symbiotic components. Analyzing the MiSeq datasets by using bioinformatics methods, operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were established based on a predetermined similarity threshold for the V3-V4 sequences, which were assigned to a total of 26 bacterial phyla that were found in both areas. Eight of the 26 phyla, i.e. Acidobacteriota, Actinomycota, Armatimonadota, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexota, Deinococcota, Planctomycetota, and Pseudomonadota, were consistently present in all samples, each accounting for more than 1% of the total read count. Distinct differences in bacterial composition emerged between lichen samples from Austria and Uganda, with the OTU frequency-based regional indicator phyla, Pseudomonadota and Armatimonadota, respectively. Despite the considerable geographic separation of approximately 5430 km between the two regions, the prediction of potential metabolic pathways based on OTU analysis revealed similar relative abundances. This similarity is possibly influenced by comparable alpine climatic conditions prevailing in both areas.}, } @article {pmid38482792, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, R and Feng, L and Xu, Q and Jiang, L and Liu, Y and Xia, L and Zhu, YG and Liu, B and Zhuang, M and Yang, Y}, title = {Sustainable Blue Foods from Rice-Animal Coculture Systems.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c07660}, pmid = {38482792}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Global interest grows in blue foods as part of sustainable diets, but little is known about the potential and environmental performance of blue foods from rice-animal coculture systems. Here, we compiled a large experimental database and conducted a comprehensive life cycle assessment to estimate the impacts of scaling up rice-fish and rice-crayfish systems in China. We find that a large amount of protein can be produced from the coculture systems, equivalent to ∼20% of freshwater aquaculture and ∼70% of marine wild capture projected in 2030. Because of the ecological benefits created by the symbiotic relationships, cocultured fish and crayfish are estimated to be carbon-negative (-9.8 and -4.7 kg of CO2e per 100 g of protein, respectively). When promoted at scale to displace red meat, they can save up to ∼98 million tons of greenhouse gases and up to ∼13 million hectares of farmland, equivalent to ∼44% of China's total rice acreage. These results suggest that rice-animal coculture systems can be an important source of blue foods and contribute to a sustainable dietary shift, while reducing the environmental footprints of rice production. To harvest these benefits, robust policy supports are required to guide the sustainable development of coculture systems and promote healthy and sustainable dietary change.}, } @article {pmid38482369, year = {2024}, author = {Kawato, S and Nozaki, R and Kondo, H and Hirono, I}, title = {Metagenome-assembled genomes of three Hepatoplasmataceae provide insights into isopod-mollicute symbiosis.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38482369}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {The digestive organs of terrestrial isopods harbour bacteria of the recently proposed mollicute family Hepatoplasmataceae. The only complete genome available so far for Hepatoplasmataceae is that of 'Candidatus Hepatoplasma crinochetorum'. The scarcity of genome sequences has hampered our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between isopods and mollicutes. Here, we present four complete metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of uncultured Hepatoplasmataceae members identified from shotgun sequencing data of isopods. We propose genomospecies names for three MAGs that show substantial sequence divergence from any previously known Hepatoplamsataceae members: 'Candidatus Tyloplasma litorale' identified from the semiterrestrial isopod Tylos granuliferus, 'Candidatus Hepatoplasma vulgare' identified from the common pill bug Armadillidium vulgare, and 'Candidatus Hepatoplasma scabrum' identified from the common rough woodlouse Porcellio scaber. Phylogenomic analysis of 155 mollicutes confirmed that Hepatoplasmataceae is a sister clade of Metamycoplasmataceae in the order Mycoplasmoidales. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and phylogenomic analysis showed that 'Candidatus Tyloplasma litorale' and other semiterrestrial isopod-associated mollicutes represent the placeholder genus 'g_Bg2' in the r214 release of the Genome Taxonomy Database, warranting their assignment to a novel genus. Our analysis also revealed that Hepatoplasmataceae lack major metabolic pathways but has a likely intact type IIA CRISPR-Cas9 machinery. Although the localization of the Hepatoplasmatacae members have not been verified microscopically in this study, these genomic characteristics are compatible with the idea that these mollicutes have an ectosymbiotic lifestyle with high nutritional dependence on their host, as has been demonstrated for other members of the family. We could not find evidence that Hepatoplasmataceae encode polysaccharide-degrading enzymes that aid host digestion. If they are to provide nutritional benefits, it may be through extra-copy nucleases, peptidases, and a patatin-like lipase. Exploration of potential host-symbiont interaction-associated genes revealed large, repetitive open reading frames harbouring beta-sandwich domains, possibly involved with host cell adhesion. Overall, genomic analyses suggest that isopod-mollicute symbiosis is not characterized by carbohydrate degradation, and we speculate on their potential role as defensive symbionts through spatial competition with pathogens to prevent infection.}, } @article {pmid38481791, year = {2024}, author = {Diarra, U and Osborne-Naikatini, T and Subramani, R}, title = {Actinomycetes associated with hymenopteran insects: a promising source of bioactive natural products.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1303010}, pmid = {38481791}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In recent years, the insect microbiome has become the focus of many actinomycete researchers in their search for novel bioactive compounds with members of the order Hymenoptera at the forefront of the revolution. Hymenoptera encompasses all bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies and is the third largest insect order by species richness. Additionally, Hymenoptera is the most diverse insect order in terms of ecological roles, behaviors, and social systems, thus making it an ideal starting point in the search for symbiotic actinomycetes. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge on hymenopteran associations with actinomycetes including information on interactions between actinomycetes and hymenopterans, isolation, and screening methodologies, as well as novel actinomycete species and natural products discovered between early 2013 and 2023. A total of 19 new species were discovered within this time period, with the genus Streptomyces being represented by 11 species while the remaining 8 belonged to rare actinomycetes genera. In addition, 35 novel compounds were reported from hymenopteran-associated actinomycetes within the same time period with the majority originating from Streptomyces strains. The reported novel compounds exhibit a range of biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-enzymatic, and antiproliferative activity, as well as cytotoxicity.}, } @article {pmid38481790, year = {2024}, author = {Yáñez-Cuna, FO and Aguilar-Gómez, D and Dávalos, A and Romero, D}, title = {Prevalent role of homologous recombination in the repair of specific double-strand breaks in Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1333194}, pmid = {38481790}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most dangerous injuries for a genome. When unrepaired, death quickly ensues. In most bacterial systems, DSBs are repaired through homologous recombination. Nearly one-quarter of bacterial species harbor a second system, allowing direct ligation of broken ends, known as Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). The relative role of both systems in DSBs repair in bacteria has been explored only in a few cases. To evaluate this in the bacterium Rhizobium etli, we used a modified version of the symbiotic plasmid (264 kb), containing a single copy of the nifH gene. In this plasmid, we inserted an integrative plasmid harboring a modified nifH gene fragment containing an I-SceI site. DSBs were easily inflicted in vivo by conjugating a small, replicative plasmid that expresses the I-SceI nuclease into the appropriate strains. Repair of a DSB may be achieved through homologous recombination (either between adjacent or distant repeats) or NHEJ. Characterization of the derivatives that repaired DSB in different configurations, revealed that in most cases (74%), homologous recombination was the prevalent mechanism responsible for repair, with a relatively minor contribution of NHEJ (23%). Inactivation of the I-SceI gene was detected in 3% of the cases. Sequence analysis of repaired derivatives showed the operation of NHEJ. To enhance the number of derivatives repaired through NHEJ, we repeated these experiments in a recA mutant background. Derivatives showing NHEJ were readily obtained when the DSB occurred on a small, artificial plasmid in a recA mutant. However, attempts to deliver a DSB on the symbiotic plasmid in a recA background failed, due to the accumulation of mutations that inactivated the I-SceI gene. This result, coupled with the absence of derivatives that lost the nonessential symbiotic plasmid, may be due to an unusual stability of the symbiotic plasmid, possibly caused by the presence of multiple toxin-antitoxin modules.}, } @article {pmid38481782, year = {2024}, author = {Yemula, N}, title = {Gut microbiota in celiac disease.}, journal = {Annals of gastroenterology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {125-132}, pmid = {38481782}, issn = {1108-7471}, abstract = {Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disease triggered by dietary gluten, occurring in genetically predisposed individuals. Currently, a gluten-free diet is the only current evidenced-based treatment for CD. With the growing prevalence of this condition worldwide, adjuvant therapies are needed. We understand that there are several factors that influence the pathogenesis of the condition. There is a complex interplay between genetics, environmental triggers, the immune system and gut microbiota. Recently, there has been a growing focus on the significance of gut microbiota in several autoimmune-based conditions. In particular, there has been much research involving the role of microbial flora and CD. Here, in this mini-review, we highlight the importance of gut microbiota and the symbiotic relationship with the host, introduce key factors that influence the development of the intestinal flora in early colonization, and ultimately explore its role in the pathogenesis of CD.}, } @article {pmid38481316, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, S and Han, L and Ren, Y and Hu, W and Xie, X and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {The receptor kinase RiSho1 in Rhizophagus irregularis regulates arbuscule development and drought tolerance during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19677}, pmid = {38481316}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32071639//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202206010019//Key Projects of Guangzhou of Science and Technology Plan/ ; NZ2021025//Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Project/ ; }, abstract = {In terrestrial ecosystems, most plant species can form beneficial associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi benefit plant nutrient acquisition and enhance plant tolerance to drought. The high osmolarity glycerol 1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (HOG1-MAPK) cascade genes have been characterized in Rhizophagus irregularis. However, the upstream receptor of the HOG1-MAPK cascade remains to be investigated. We identify the receptor kinase RiSho1 from R. irregularis, containing four transmembrane domains and one Src homology 3 (SH3) domain, corresponding to the homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Higher expression levels of RiSho1 were detected during the in planta phase in response to drought. RiSho1 protein was localized in the plasma membrane of yeast, and interacted with the HOG1-MAPK module RiPbs2 directly by protein-protein interaction. RiSho1 complemented the growth defect of the yeast mutant ∆sho1 under sorbitol conditions. Knock-down of RiSho1 led to the decreased expression of downstream HOG1-MAPK cascade (RiSte11, RiPbs2, RiHog1) and drought-resistant genes (RiAQPs, RiTPSs, RiNTH1 and Ri14-3-3), hampered arbuscule development and decreased plants antioxidation ability under drought stress. Our study reveals the role of RiSho1 in regulating arbuscule development and drought-resistant genes via the HOG1-MAPK cascade. These findings provide new perspectives on the mechanisms by which AM fungi respond to drought.}, } @article {pmid38480336, year = {2024}, author = {Dippenaar, SM}, title = {Twenty years later: Biodiversity of marine symbiotic Siphonostomatoida (Copepoda) off Southern Africa.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5419}, number = {1}, pages = {85-111}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5419.1.3}, pmid = {38480336}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Copepoda ; Biodiversity ; Invertebrates ; Africa, Southern ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {Siphonostomatoida (Copepoda) consists of 40 families of symbionts infecting vertebrates (17 families) and invertebrates (23 families) found mostly in marine habitats. In 2004, a list was compiled of all the reported families, genera and species symbiotic with marine fish in Southern African waters. Since this was done 20 years ago, it is necessary to re-evaluate the progress made in 20 years regarding our knowledge of the diversity of marine siphonostomatoids. To assess the current knowledge, the 2004 list was updated with reports published since 2004 as well as with new host and locality records including species with changes in taxonomy. Additionally, species collected but unreported as well as species previously reported but with new hosts and/or localities were also added. Currently reports include 16 families, 75 genera and 234 species. However, amongst these are reports of only two families (3 species) infecting invertebrates. Even though the report includes 71 additional species it still compares poorly with the about 2 274 accepted species, especially regarding species infecting invertebrates. Considering South Africas wealth in possible marine host species, examination of more hosts (especially marine teleosts and invertebrates) will definitely result in an increase in the current knowledge about the biodiversity of marine siphonostomatoids off Southern Africa.}, } @article {pmid38478715, year = {2024}, author = {Martinů, J and Tarabai, H and Štefka, J and Hypša, V}, title = {Highly resolved genomes of two closely related lineages of the rodent louse Polyplax serrata with different host specificities.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evae045}, pmid = {38478715}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {Sucking lice of the parvorder Anoplura are permanent ectoparasites with specific lifestyle and highly derived features. Currently, genomic data are only available for a single species, the human louse Pediculus humanus. Here, we present genomes of two distinct lineages, with different host spectra, of a rodent louse Polyplax serrata. Genomes of these ecologically different lineages are closely similar in gene content and display a conserved order of genes, with the exception of a single translocation. Compared to P. humanus, the P. serrata genomes are noticeably larger (139 Mbp vs 111 Mbp) and encode a higher number of genes. Similar to P. humanus, they are reduced in sensory-related categories such as vision and olfaction. Utilizing genome-wide data, we perform phylogenetic reconstruction and evolutionary dating of the P. serrata lineages. Obtained estimates reveal their relatively deep divergence (approx. 6.5 Mya), comparable to the split between the human and chimpanzee lice P. humanus and P. schaeffi. This supports the view that the P. serrata lineages are likely to represent two cryptic species with different host spectra. Historical demographies show glaciation-related population size (Ne) reduction, but recent restoration of Ne was seen only in the less host specific lineage. Together with the louse genomes, we analyze genomes of their bacterial symbiont Legionella polyplacis, and evaluate their potential complementarity in synthesis of amino acids and B vitamins. We show that both systems, Polyplax/Legionella and Pediculus/Riesia, display almost identical patterns, with symbionts involved in synthesis of B vitamins, but not amino acids.}, } @article {pmid38478382, year = {2024}, author = {Zenteno-Alegría, CO and Yarzábal Rodríguez, LA and Ciancas Jiménez, J and Álvarez Gutiérrez, PE and Gunde-Cimerman, N and Batista-García, RA}, title = {Fungi beyond limits: The agricultural promise of extremophiles.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {e14439}, pmid = {38478382}, issn = {1751-7915}, support = {389616//National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technologies (CONAHCyT)/ ; //Darwin Initiative UK/ ; DARPP220//Darwin Initiative Round 27/ ; DIR30S2/1004//Darwin Initiative Round 30/ ; I0-0022//Slovenian Research Agency to Infrastructural Centre Mycosmo/ ; P4-0432//Slovenian Research Agency to Infrastructural Centre Mycosmo/ ; P1-0198//Slovenian Research Agency to Infrastructural Centre Mycosmo/ ; RYC2022-037554-I//MCIN/AEI/ ; //FSE+/ ; }, abstract = {Global climate changes threaten food security, necessitating urgent measures to enhance agricultural productivity and expand it into areas less for agronomy. This challenge is crucial in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM), bacteria and fungi, emerge as a promising solution to mitigate the impact of climate extremes on agriculture. The concept of the plant holobiont, encompassing the plant host and its symbiotic microbiota, underscores the intricate relationships with a diverse microbial community. PGPM, residing in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere, play vital roles in nutrient solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and biocontrol of pathogens. Novel ecological functions, including epigenetic modifications and suppression of virulence genes, extend our understanding of PGPM strategies. The diverse roles of PGPM as biofertilizers, biocontrollers, biomodulators, and more contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience. Despite fungi's remarkable plant growth-promoting functions, their potential is often overshadowed compared to bacteria. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutualistic symbiosis with many terrestrial plants, enhancing plant nutrition, growth, and stress resistance. Other fungi, including filamentous, yeasts, and polymorphic, from endophytic, to saprophytic, offer unique attributes such as ubiquity, morphology, and endurance in harsh environments, positioning them as exceptional plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF). Crops frequently face abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, high UV doses and extreme temperatures. Some extremotolerant fungi, including strains from genera like Trichoderma, Penicillium, Fusarium, and others, have been studied for their beneficial interactions with plants. Presented examples of their capabilities in alleviating salinity, drought, and other stresses underscore their potential applications in agriculture. In this context, extremotolerant and extremophilic fungi populating extreme natural environments are muchless investigated. They represent both new challenges and opportunities. As the global climate evolves, understanding and harnessing the intricate mechanisms of fungal-plant interactions, especially in extreme environments, is paramount for developing effective and safe plant probiotics and using fungi as biocontrollers against phytopathogens. Thorough assessments, comprehensive methodologies, and a cautious approach are crucial for leveraging the benefits of extremophilic fungi in the changing landscape of global agriculture, ensuring food security in the face of climate challenges.}, } @article {pmid38477631, year = {2024}, author = {Perez-Lamarque, B and Morlon, H}, title = {Distinguishing cophylogenetic signal from phylogenetic congruence clarifies the interplay between evolutionary history and species interactions.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syae013}, pmid = {38477631}, issn = {1076-836X}, abstract = {Interspecific interactions, including host-symbiont associations, can profoundly affect the evolution of the interacting species. Given the phylogenies of host and symbiont clades and knowledge of which host species interact with which symbiont, two questions are often asked: "Do closely related hosts interact with closely related symbionts?" and "Do host and symbiont phylogenies mirror one another?". These questions are intertwined and can even collapse under specific situations, such that they are often confused one with the other. However, in most situations, a positive answer to the first question, hereafter referred to as "cophylogenetic signal", does not imply a close match between the host and symbiont phylogenies. It suggests only that past evolutionary history has contributed to shaping present-day interactions, which can arise, for example, through present-day trait matching, or from a single ancient vicariance event that increases the probability that closely related species overlap geographically. A positive answer to the second, referred to as "phylogenetic congruence", is more restrictive as it suggests a close match between the two phylogenies, which may happen, for example, if symbiont diversification tracks host diversification or if the diversifications of the two clades were subject to the same succession of vicariance events. Here we apply a set of methods (ParaFit, PACo, and eMPRess), which significance is often interpreted as evidence for phylogenetic congruence, to simulations under three biologically realistic scenarios of trait matching, a single ancient vicariance event, and phylogenetic tracking with frequent cospeciation events. The latter is the only scenario that generates phylogenetic congruence, whereas the first two generate a cophylogenetic signal in the absence of phylogenetic congruence. We find that tests of global-fit methods (ParaFit and PACo) are significant under the three scenarios, whereas tests of event-based methods (eMPRess) are only significant under the scenario of phylogenetic tracking. Therefore, significant results from global-fit methods should be interpreted in terms of cophylogenetic signal and not phylogenetic congruence; such significant results can arise under scenarios when hosts and symbionts had independent evolutionary histories. Conversely, significant results from event-based methods suggest a strong form of dependency between hosts and symbionts evolutionary histories. Clarifying the patterns detected by different cophylogenetic methods is key to understanding how interspecific interactions shape and are shaped by evolution.}, } @article {pmid38476021, year = {2024}, author = {Horta Araújo, N and Nouwen, N and Arrighi, JF}, title = {Nodulating another way: what can we learn from lateral root base (LRB) nodulation in legumes?.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae101}, pmid = {38476021}, issn = {1460-2431}, } @article {pmid38475474, year = {2024}, author = {Carvia-Hermoso, C and Cuéllar, V and Bernabéu-Roda, LM and van Dillewijn, P and Soto, MJ}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti GR4 Produces Chromosomal- and pSymA-Encoded Type IVc Pili That Influence the Interaction with Alfalfa Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {38475474}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {PID2021-123540NB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; PGC2018-096477-B-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; No grant number//European Regional Development Fund/ ; }, abstract = {Type IVc Pili (T4cP), also known as Tad or Flp pili, are long thin microbial filaments that are made up of small-sized pilins. These appendages serve different functions in bacteria, including attachment, biofilm formation, surface sensing, motility, and host colonization. Despite their relevant role in diverse microbial lifestyles, knowledge about T4cP in bacteria that establish symbiosis with legumes, collectively referred to as rhizobia, is still limited. Sinorhizobium meliloti contains two clusters of T4cP-related genes: flp-1 and flp-2, which are located on the chromosome and the pSymA megaplasmid, respectively. Bundle-forming pili associated with flp-1 are involved in the competitive nodulation of alfalfa plants, but the role of flp-2 remains elusive. In this work, we have performed a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of T4cP genes in the highly competitive S. meliloti GR4 strain and investigated the role of its flp clusters in pilus biogenesis, motility, and in the interaction with alfalfa. Single and double flp-cluster mutants were constructed on the wild-type genetic background as well as in a flagellaless derivative strain. Our data demonstrate that both chromosomal and pSymA flp clusters are functional in pili biogenesis and contribute to surface translocation and nodule formation efficiency in GR4. In this strain, the presence of flp-1 in the absence of flp-2 reduces the competitiveness for nodule occupation.}, } @article {pmid38474862, year = {2024}, author = {Laky, M and Arslan, M and Zhu, X and Rausch-Fan, X and Moritz, A and Sculean, A and Laky, B and Ramseier, CA and Stähli, A and Eick, S}, title = {Quercetin in the Prevention of Induced Periodontal Disease in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {38474862}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Animals ; Quercetin/therapeutic use ; *Alveolar Bone Loss ; *Periodontal Diseases ; *Periodontitis/drug therapy ; *Gingivitis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition initiated by oral bacteria and is associated with several systemic diseases. Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial poly-phenol present in various foods. The aim of this meta-analysis was the evaluation of the effects of quercetin administration in animal models of experimental periodontitis.

METHODS: A systematic search was performed in electronic databases using the following search terms: "periodontitis" or "periodontal disease" or "gingivitis" and "quercetin" or "cyanidanol" or "sophoretin" or "pentahydroxyflavone". In vivo preclinical animal models of experimental periodontal disease with a measurement of alveolar bone loss were included in the analysis. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the SYRCLE tool.

RESULTS: The systematic search yielded 335 results. Five studies were included, four of them qualified for a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that quercetin administration decreased alveolar bone loss (τ[2] = 0.31, 1.88 mm 95%CI: 1.09, 2.67) in experimental periodontal disease animal models. However, the risk of bias assessment indicated that four SYRCLE domains had a high risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin diminishes periodontal bone loss and prevents disease progression in animal models of experimental periodontal disease. Quercetin might facilitate periodontal tissue hemostasis by reducing senescent cells, decreasing oxidative stress via SIRT1-induced autophagy, limiting inflammation, and fostering an oral bacterial microenvironment of symbiotic microbiota associated with oral health. Future research will show whether and how the promising preclinical results can be translated into the clinical treatment of periodontal disease.}, } @article {pmid38474164, year = {2024}, author = {Semenova, MG and Petina, AN and Fedorova, EE}, title = {Autophagy and Symbiosis: Membranes, ER, and Speculations.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {38474164}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {122042700043-9//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, mesh = {Symbiosis/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Autophagy ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The interaction of plants and soil bacteria rhizobia leads to the formation of root nodule symbiosis. The intracellular form of rhizobia, the symbiosomes, are able to perform the nitrogen fixation by converting atmospheric dinitrogen into ammonia, which is available for plants. The symbiosis involves the resource sharing between two partners, but this exchange does not include equivalence, which can lead to resource scarcity and stress responses of one of the partners. In this review, we analyze the possible involvement of the autophagy pathway in the process of the maintenance of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria intracellular colony and the changes in the endomembrane system of the host cell. According to in silico expression analysis, ATG genes of all groups were expressed in the root nodule, and the expression was developmental zone dependent. The analysis of expression of genes involved in the response to carbon or nitrogen deficiency has shown a suboptimal access to sugars and nitrogen in the nodule tissue. The upregulation of several ER stress genes was also detected. Hence, the root nodule cells are under heavy bacterial infection, carbon deprivation, and insufficient nitrogen supply, making nodule cells prone to autophagy. We speculate that the membrane formation around the intracellular rhizobia may be quite similar to the phagophore formation, and the induction of autophagy and ER stress are essential to the success of this process.}, } @article {pmid38473774, year = {2024}, author = {Li, J and Fu, N and Wang, M and Gao, C and Gao, B and Ren, L and Tao, J and Luo, Y}, title = {Functional and Compositional Changes in Sirex noctilio Gut Microbiome in Different Habitats: Unraveling the Complexity of Invasive Adaptation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {38473774}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {2022YFD1401000//National Key R & D Program of China/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Wasps/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Pinus ; Larva ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis relationship between the gut microbiome and their insect hosts has attracted much scientific attention. The native woodwasp, Sirex nitobei, and the invasive European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, are two pests that infest pines in northeastern China. Following its encounter with the native species, however, there is a lack of research on whether the gut microbiome of S. noctilio changed, what causes contributed to these alterations, and whether these changes were more conducive to invasive colonization. We used high-throughput and metatranscriptomic sequencing to investigate S. noctilio larval gut and frass from four sites where only S. noctilio and both two Sirex species and investigated the effects of environmental factors, biological interactions, and ecological processes on S. noctilio gut microbial community assembly. Amplicon sequencing of two Sirex species revealed differential patterns of bacterial and fungal composition and functional prediction. S. noctilio larval gut bacterial and fungal diversity was essentially higher in coexistence sites than in separate existence sites, and most of the larval gut bacterial and fungal community functional predictions were significantly different as well. Moreover, temperature and precipitation positively correlate with most of the highly abundant bacterial and fungal genera. Source-tracking analysis showed that S. noctilio larvae at coexistence sites remain dependent on adult gut transmission (vertical transmission) or recruitment to frass (horizontal transmission). Meanwhile, stochastic processes of drift and dispersal limitation also have important impacts on the assembly of S. noctilio larval gut microbiome, especially at coexistence sites. In summary, our results reveal the potential role of changes in S. noctilio larval gut microbiome in the successful colonization and better adaptation of the environment.}, } @article {pmid38473173, year = {2024}, author = {Shao, P and Sha, Y and Liu, X and He, Y and Wang, F and Hu, J and Wang, J and Li, S and Chen, X and Yang, W and Chen, Q and Gao, M}, title = {Supplementation with Astragalus Root Powder Promotes Rumen Microbiota Density and Metabolome Interactions in Lambs.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {38473173}, issn = {2076-2615}, support = {32260820//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GAU-XKTD-2022-21//Discipline Team Project of Gansu Agricultural University/ ; GAU-QDFC-2022-06//Gansu Agricultural University Youth Mentor Support Fund project/ ; GSHZSF2023-01//Gansu HOME Program Characteristic Demonstration Project/ ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is highly symbiotic with the host, and the microbiota and its metabolites are essential for regulating host health and physiological functions. Astragalus, as a feed additive, can improve animal immunity. However, the effects of Astragalus root powder on the rumen microbiota and their metabolites in lambs are not apparent. In this study, thirty healthy Hu sheep lambs with similar body weights (17.42 ± 2.02 kg) were randomly selected for the feeding experiment. Lambs were fed diets supplemented with 0.3% Astragalus root powder, and the rumen microbiota density and metabolome were measured to determine the effects of Astragalus on the health of lambs in the rumen. The results showed that the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens (Bf), Ruminococcus flavefaciens (Rf), Succiniclasticum (Su), and Prevotella (Pr) in the rumen was increased in the Astragalus group (p < 0.01), and metabolic profiling showed that the metabolites, such as L-lyrosine and L-leucine, were upregulated in the Astragalus group (p < 0.01). KEGG functional annotation revealed that upregulated metabolites were mainly enriched in the pathways of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and bile secretion in the Astragalus group, and downregulated metabolites were enriched in the pathways of methane metabolism and other pathways. Correlation analysis revealed that butyric acid was positively correlated with Roseburia and Blautia (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with Desulfovibrio (p < 0.05). Thus, by analyzing the interactions of Astragalus root powder with the density of rumen microorganisms and their metabolites in lambs, it was shown that Astragalus root powder could improve the structure of rumen microbiota and their metabolites and then participate in the regulation of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, immune metabolism, and other pathways to improve the efficiency of energy absorption of the lambs.}, } @article {pmid38472458, year = {2024}, author = {Weitzman, CL and Tinning, Z and Day, KA and Garnett, ST and Christian, K and Gibb, K}, title = {Migratory Shorebird Gut Microbes are not Associated with Bivalve Prey in Monsoon Tropical Australia.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {5}, pages = {111}, pmid = {38472458}, issn = {1432-0991}, support = {DP210102176//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Migratory animals can carry symbionts over long distances. While well-studied for parasite and pathogen transmission, less is known about use of this route by other symbiotic taxa, particularly those non-pathogenic. Here we ask the question of whether gut bacteria can be spread between continents by long-distance bird migration, although gut microbiomes in birds may not be as stable or persistent as those of non-volant animals. We used amplicon sequencing of both bacterial 16S rRNA gene and Vibrio-centric hsp60 gene to determine whether the faecal bacteria of migratory great knots (Calidris tenuirostris) also occur in their main food source in Northern Australia or in nearby sand, comparing samples before and after the birds' long-distance migration. Our data suggest that there is little connectivity among the bacterial microbiomes, except in the bivalve prey. Our results are consistent with previous studies finding that bird faecal microbiomes were not host-specific and contrast with those showing an influence of diet on bird faecal bacteria. We also found little connectivity among Vibrio spp. However, although faecal sample sizes were small, the dominance of different individual Vibrio spp. suggests that they may have been well-established in knot guts and thus capable of moving with them on migration. We suggest that the physiological impacts of a long-distance migration may have caused shifts in the phyla comprising great knot faecal communities.}, } @article {pmid38471667, year = {2024}, author = {Ghelfenstein-Ferreira, T and Serris, A and Salmona, M and Lanternier, F and Alanio, A}, title = {Revealing the hidden interplay: the unexplored relationship between fungi and viruses beyond HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.}, journal = {Medical mycology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/mmy/myae021}, pmid = {38471667}, issn = {1460-2709}, abstract = {The complex interaction between viruses and fungi has profound implications, especially given the significant impact of these microorganisms on human health. While well-known examples such as HIV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 are recognized as risk factors for invasive fungal diseases (IFD), the relationship between viruses and fungi remains largely underexplored outside of these cases. Fungi and viruses can engage in symbiotic or synergistic interactions. Remarkably, some viruses, known as mycoviruses, can directly infect fungi, may influencing their phenotype and potentially their virulence. In addition, viruses and fungi can coexist within the human microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms. Under certain conditions, viral infection might predispose the host to an invasive fungal infection, as observed with Influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis or COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis. We aim in this review to highlight potential connections between fungi and viruses (CMV and other herpesviruses, HTLV-1 and respiratory viruses), excluding SARS-CoV-2 and influenza.}, } @article {pmid38471501, year = {2024}, author = {Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Inomura, K and Zehr, JP and Follows, MJ}, title = {Metabolic trade-offs constrain the cell size ratio in a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.016}, pmid = {38471501}, issn = {1097-4172}, abstract = {Biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation is a key metabolic process exclusively performed by prokaryotes, some of which are symbiotic with eukaryotes. Species of the marine haptophyte algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii harbor the N2-fixing endosymbiotic cyanobacteria UCYN-A, which might be evolving organelle-like characteristics. We found that the size ratio between UCYN-A and their hosts is strikingly conserved across sublineages/species, which is consistent with the size relationships of organelles in this symbiosis and other species. Metabolic modeling showed that this size relationship maximizes the coordinated growth rate based on trade-offs between resource acquisition and exchange. Our findings show that the size relationships of N2-fixing endosymbionts and organelles in unicellular eukaryotes are constrained by predictable metabolic underpinnings and that UCYN-A is, in many regards, functioning like a hypothetical N2-fixing organelle (or nitroplast).}, } @article {pmid38471445, year = {2024}, author = {Kashimoto, R and Mercader, M and Zwahlen, J and Miura, S and Tanimoto, M and Yanagi, K and Reimer, JD and Khalturin, K and Laudet, V}, title = {Anemonefish are better taxonomists than humans.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {R193-R194}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.051}, pmid = {38471445}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {The symbiosis between giant sea anemones, algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae, and anemonefish is an iconic example of a mutualistic trio[1][,][2]. Molecular analyses have shown that giant sea anemones hosting anemonefish belong to three clades: Entacmaea, Stichodactyla, and Heteractis[3][,][4][,][5] (Figure 1A). Associations among 28 species of anemonefish and 10 species of giant sea anemone hosts are complex. Some fish species are highly specialized to only one anemone species (e.g., Amphiprion frenatus with Entacmaea quadricolor), whereas others are more generalist (e.g., Amphiprion clarkii)[1][,][2][,][6]. Reasons for host preferences are obscured, among other things, by the lack of resolution in the giant sea anemone phylogeny. Here, we generated a transcriptomic dataset from 55 sea anemones collected from southern Japan to reconstruct these phylogenetic relationships. We observed that the bubble-tip sea anemone E. quadricolor, currently considered a single species, can be separated into at least four cryptic lineages (A-D). Surprisingly, these lineages can be precisely distinguished by observing their association with anemonefish: A. frenatus only associates with lineage D, whereas A. clarkii lives in the other three lineages.}, } @article {pmid38469601, year = {2024}, author = {Schramm, S and Weiß, D}, title = {Bioluminescence The Vibrant Glow of Nature and its Chemical Mechanisms.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202400106}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.202400106}, pmid = {38469601}, issn = {1439-7633}, abstract = {Bioluminescence, the mesmerizing natural phenomenon where living organisms produce light through chemical reactions, has long captivated scientists and laypersons alike, offering a rich tapestry of insights into biological function, ecology, evolution as well as the underlying chemistry. This comprehensive review systematically explores the phenomenon of bioluminescence, addressing its historical context, geographic dispersion, and ecological significance with a focus on their chemical mechanisms. We discuss terrestrial bioluminescence in various habitats, including fireflies in Central Europe, luminescent fungi in Brazil's Atlantic rainforest, and glowing species in New Zealand's Waitomo Caves and the Siberian Steppes. The marine section covers deep-sea jellyfish, seasonal bioluminescence in Japan's Toyama Bay, and symbiotic bioluminescent bacteria. Each organism's discovery, ecological function, and distribution are detailed, emphasizing the chemistry behind their luminescence. We conclude with practical experiments in bioluminescence and chemiluminescence for educational purposes. Our goal with this review is to provide a summary of bioluminescence across the diverse ecological contexts, contributing to the broader understanding of this unique biological phenomenon and its chemical mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid38469562, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, L and Wang, J and Wu, Z and Yu, Y and Zhou, M and Li, G}, title = {5G and energy internet planning for power and communication network expansion.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {109290}, pmid = {38469562}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Our research addresses the critical intersection of communication and power systems in the era of advanced information technologies. We highlight the strategic importance of communication base station placement, as its optimization is vital for minimizing operational disruptions in energy systems. Our study introduces a communications and power coordination planning (CPCP) model that encompasses both distributed energy resources and base stations to improve communication quality of service. This model facilitates optimal resource distribution, ensuring communication reliability over 96% and downlink transmission rates above 450 Mbps, enhancing network resilience and cost-effectiveness. Through case studies, we demonstrate CPCP's potential to significantly reduce planning costs, particularly with increased renewable energy integration, supporting the transition to low-carbon energy systems. Our findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between communication and power networks, emphasizing the need for coordinated planning in building future-proof energy infrastructures.}, } @article {pmid38469514, year = {2023}, author = {Tarasco, E and Fanelli, E and Salvemini, C and El-Khoury, Y and Troccoli, A and Vovlas, A and De Luca, F}, title = {Entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria: from genes to field uses.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1195254}, pmid = {38469514}, issn = {2673-8600}, abstract = {The term "microbial control" has been used to describe the use of microbial pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or fungi) or entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) to control various insect pest populations. EPNs are among the best biocontrol agents, and major developments in their use have occurred in recent decades, with many surveys having been conducted all over the world to identify EPNs that may have potential in the management of insect pests. For nematodes, the term "entomopathogenic" means "causing disease to insects" and is mainly used in reference to the bacterial symbionts of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis (Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, respectively), which cause EPN infectivity. A compendium of our multiannual experiences on EPN surveys and on their collection, identification, characterization, and use in agro-forestry ecosystems is presented here to testify and demonstrate once again that biological control with EPNs is possible and offers many advantages over chemicals, such as end-user safety, minimal damage to natural enemies, and lack of environmental pollution, which are essential conditions for an advanced IPM strategy.}, } @article {pmid38469480, year = {2023}, author = {Whitten, MMA and Xue, Q and Taning, CNT and James, R and Smagghe, G and Del Sol, R and Hitchings, M and Dyson, P}, title = {A narrow host-range and lack of persistence in two non-target insect species of a bacterial symbiont exploited to deliver insecticidal RNAi in Western Flower Thrips.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1093970}, pmid = {38469480}, issn = {2673-8600}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Insecticidal RNAi is a targeted pest insect population control measure. The specificity of insecticidal RNAi can theoretically be enhanced by using symbiotic bacteria with a narrow host range to deliver RNAi, an approach termed symbiont-mediated RNAi (SMR), a technology we have previously demonstrated in the globally-invasive pest species Western Flower Thrips (WFT).

METHODS: Here we examine distribution of the two predominant bacterial symbionts of WFT, BFo1 and BFo2, among genome-sequenced insects. Moreover, we have challenged two non-target insect species with both bacterial species, namely the pollinating European bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, and an insect predator of WFT, the pirate bug Orius laevigatus.

RESULTS: Our data indicate a very limited distribution of either symbiont among insects other than WFT. Moreover, whereas BFo1 could establish itself in both bees and pirate bugs, albeit with no significant effects on insect fitness, BFo2 was unable to persist in either species.

DISCUSSION: In terms of biosafety, these data, together with its more specific growth requirements, vindicate the choice of BFo2 for delivery of RNAi and precision pest management of WFT.}, } @article {pmid38469364, year = {2024}, author = {Qiu, YY and Xia, J and Guo, J and Gong, X and Zhang, L and Jiang, F}, title = {Groundwater chromate removal by autotrophic sulfur disproportionation.}, journal = {Environmental science and ecotechnology}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {100399}, pmid = {38469364}, issn = {2666-4984}, abstract = {Chromate [Cr(VI)] contamination in groundwater is a global environmental challenge. Traditional elemental sulfur-based biotechnologies for Cr(VI) removal depend heavily on the synthesis of dissolved organic carbon to fuel heterotrophic Cr(VI) reduction, a bottleneck in the remediation process. Here we show an alternative approach by leveraging sulfur-disproportionating bacteria (SDB) inherent to groundwater ecosystems, offering a novel and efficient Cr(VI) removal strategy. We implemented SDB within a sulfur-packed bed reactor for treating Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater, achieving a notable removal rate of 6.19 mg L[-1] h[-1] under oligotrophic conditions. We identified the chemical reduction of Cr(VI) via sulfide, produced through sulfur disproportionation, as a key mechanism, alongside microbial Cr(VI) reduction within the sulfur-based biosystem. Genome-centric metagenomic analysis revealed a symbiotic relationship among SDB, sulfur-oxidizing, and chromate-reducing bacteria within the reactor, suggesting that Cr(VI) detoxification by these microbial communities enhances the sulfur-disproportionation process. This research highlights the significance of sulfur disproportionation in the cryptic sulfur cycle in Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater and proposes its practical application in groundwater remediation efforts.}, } @article {pmid38469044, year = {2024}, author = {Burdine, LW and Moczek, AP and Rohner, PT}, title = {Sexually transmitted mutualist nematodes shape host growth across dung beetle species.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e11089}, pmid = {38469044}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Many symbionts are sexually transmitted and impact their host's development, ecology, and evolution. While the significance of symbionts that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is relatively well understood, the prevalence and potential significance of the sexual transmission of mutualists remain elusive. Here, we study the effects of sexually transmitted mutualist nematodes on their dung beetle hosts. Symbiotic Diplogastrellus monhysteroides nematodes are present on the genitalia of male and female Onthophagus beetles and are horizontally transmitted during mating and vertically passed on to offspring during oviposition. A previous study indicates that the presence of nematodes benefits larval development and life history in a single host species, Onthophagus taurus. However, Diplogastrellus nematodes can be found in association with a variety of beetle species. Here, we replicate these previous experiments, assess whether the beneficial effects extend to other host species, and test whether nematode-mediated effects differ between male and female host beetles. Rearing three relatively distantly related dung beetle species with and without nematodes, we find that the presence of nematodes benefits body size, but not development time or survival across all three species. Likewise, we found no difference in the benefit of nematodes to male compared to female beetles. These findings highlight the role of sexually transmitted mutualists in the evolution and ecology of dung beetles.}, } @article {pmid38469040, year = {2024}, author = {Choi, HK and Lee, HJ}, title = {Host size matters for reproduction: Evolution of spawning preference and female reproductive phenotypes in mussel-symbiotic freshwater bitterling fishes.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e11142}, pmid = {38469040}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Bitterling fishes evolve an idiosyncratic symbiosis with freshwater mussels, in which they are obligated to spawn in the gills of mussels for reproduction. In recent years, freshwater mussel populations have been drastically diminishing, due to accelerating anthropogenic impacts, which can be large threats to the risk of bitterling's extinction cascade (i.e. 'coextinction'). The host mussel size may be an important factor driving the adaptation and evolution of bitterling's reproductive phenotypes. Here we examined the host size preference and morphological adaptation of female bitterling to the host size from 17 localities at the Han River in Korea. Using our developed molecular-based species identification for bitterling's eggs/larvae inside the mussels, we further determined the spawning patterns of seven bitterling species. Mean length of spawned mussels (N = 453) was significantly larger than that of unspawned mussels (N = 1814), suggesting that bitterling prefers to use larger hosts as a spawning ground. Spawning probability was clearly greater as mussel size increases. Results of our reciprocal transplant experiments do provide some evidence supporting the 'bitterling's larger host preference' hypothesis. Interspecific competition appeared to be intense as two fish species often spawned eggs in the same mussel individuals simultaneously. Longer ovipositor and more elongated egg may evolve in females of Tanakia signifer in response to larger host environments. The observed bitterling's spawning preference for large-sized mussels may evolve perhaps because of the fitness advantage in relation to the offspring survival. Our findings further inform on the development of effective conservation and management strategy for the endangered bitterling fishes.}, } @article {pmid38468949, year = {2024}, author = {Ricci, F and Leggat, W and Pasella, MM and Bridge, T and Horowitz, J and Girguis, PR and Ainsworth, T}, title = {Deep sea treasures - Insights from museum archives shed light on coral microbial diversity within deepest ocean ecosystems.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e27513}, pmid = {38468949}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Deep sea benthic habitats are low productivity ecosystems that host an abundance of organisms within the Cnidaria phylum. The technical limitations and the high cost of deep sea surveys have made exploring deep sea environments and the biology of the organisms that inhabit them challenging. In spite of the widespread recognition of Cnidaria's environmental importance in these ecosystems, the microbial assemblage and its role in coral functioning have only been studied for a few deep water corals. Here, we explored the microbial diversity of deep sea corals by recovering nucleic acids from museum archive specimens. Firstly, we amplified and sequenced the V1-V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene of these specimens, then we utilized the generated sequences to shed light on the microbial diversity associated with seven families of corals collected from depth in the Coral Sea (depth range 1309 to 2959 m) and Southern Ocean (depth range 1401 to 2071 m) benthic habitats. Surprisingly, Cyanobacteria sequences were consistently associated with six out of seven coral families from both sampling locations, suggesting that these bacteria are potentially ubiquitous members of the microbiome within these cold and deep sea water corals. Additionally, we show that Cnidaria might benefit from symbiotic associations with a range of chemosynthetic bacteria including nitrite, carbon monoxide and sulfur oxidizers. Consistent with previous studies, we show that sequences associated with the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes and Acidobacteriota dominated the microbial community of corals in the deep sea. We also explored genomes of the bacterial genus Mycoplasma, which we identified as associated with specimens of three deep sea coral families, finding evidence that these bacteria may aid the host immune system. Importantly our results show that museum specimens retain components of host microbiome that can provide new insights into the diversity of deep sea coral microbiomes (and potentially other organisms), as well as the diversity of microbes writ large in deep sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38468855, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, B and Jia, C and Li, M and Wang, K and Chen, J and Zhao, J}, title = {Multiomics integration for the function of bacterial outer membrane vesicles in the larval settlement of marine sponges.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1268813}, pmid = {38468855}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) contain a variety of chemical compounds and play significant roles in maintaining symbiotic relationships in a changing ocean, but little is known about their function, particularly in sponge larval development. During the growth of sponge Tedania sp., OMVs from Bacteroidetes species significantly promoted larval settlement, and Tenacibaculum mesophilum SP-7-OMVs were selected as a representative strain for further investigation. According to OMVs metabolomics, larval settlement might be connected to organic acids and derivatives. The multiomics analysis of the T. mesophilum genome, SP-7-OMVs metabolome, and larval transcriptome revealed 47 shared KEGG pathways. Among the number of candidate metabolites, arginine was chosen for its greater ability to increase the settlement rate and its role as the principal substrate for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis of sponge larvae. In summary, these results demonstrated that sponge-associated bacteria might utilize OMVs and their cargo to support host development and make up for host metabolic pathway deficiencies. This study enhances our fundamental knowledge of OMVs in interactions between metazoan hosts and microorganisms that are crucial in the coevolution of marine ecosystems and the complex marine environment.}, } @article {pmid38468848, year = {2024}, author = {Gupta, G and Chauhan, PS and Jha, PN and Verma, RK and Singh, S and Yadav, VK and Sahoo, DK and Patel, A}, title = {Secretory molecules from secretion systems fine-tune the host-beneficial bacteria (PGPRs) interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1355750}, pmid = {38468848}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Numerous bacterial species associate with plants through commensal, mutualistic, or parasitic association, affecting host physiology and health. The mechanism for such association is intricate and involves the secretion of multiple biochemical substances through dedicated protein systems called secretion systems SS. Eleven SS pathways deliver protein factors and enzymes in their immediate environment or host cells, as well as in competing microbial cells in a contact-dependent or independent fashion. These SS are instrumental in competition, initiation of infection, colonization, and establishment of association (positive or negative) with host organisms. The role of SS in infection and pathogenesis has been demonstrated for several phytopathogens, including Agrobacterium, Xanthomonas, Ralstonia, and Pseudomonas. Since there is overlap in mechanisms of establishing association with host plants, several studies have investigated the role of SSs in the interaction of plant and beneficial bacteria, including symbiotic rhizobia and plant growth bacteria (PGPB). Therefore, the present review updates the role of different SSs required for the colonization of beneficial bacteria such as rhizobia, Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Herbaspirillum, etc., on or inside plants, which can lead to a long-term association. Most SS like T3SS, T4SS, T5SS, and T6SS are required for the antagonistic activity needed to prevent competing microbes, including phytopathogens, ameliorate biotic stress in plants, and produce substances for successful colonization. Others are required for chemotaxis, adherence, niche formation, and suppression of immune response to establish mutualistic association with host plants.}, } @article {pmid38468324, year = {2024}, author = {Turon, M and Ford, M and Maldonado, M and Sitjà, C and Riesgo, A and Díez-Vives, C}, title = {Microbiome changes through the ontogeny of the marine sponge Crambe crambe.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {15}, pmid = {38468324}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {FJC2020-043677-I//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; PID2019-105769GB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; PIE-202030E006//Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/ ; LCF/BQ/PI22/11910040//'la Caixa' Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Poriferans (sponges) are highly adaptable organisms that can thrive in diverse marine and freshwater environments due, in part, to their close associations with internal microbial communities. This sponge microbiome can be acquired from the surrounding environment (horizontal acquisition) or obtained from the parents during the reproductive process through a variety of mechanisms (vertical transfer), typically resulting in the presence of symbiotic microbes throughout all stages of sponge development. How and to what extent the different components of the microbiome are transferred to the developmental stages remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the microbiome composition of a common, low-microbial-abundance, Atlantic-Mediterranean sponge, Crambe crambe, throughout its ontogeny, including adult individuals, brooded larvae, lecithotrophic free-swimming larvae, newly settled juveniles still lacking osculum, and juveniles with a functional osculum for filter feeding.

RESULTS: Using 16S rRNA gene analysis, we detected distinct microbiome compositions in each ontogenetic stage, with variations in composition, relative abundance, and diversity of microbial species. However, a particular dominant symbiont, Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis, previously described as the main symbiont of C. crambe, consistently occurred throughout all stages, an omnipresence that suggests vertical transmission from parents to offspring. This symbiont fluctuated in relative abundance across developmental stages, with pronounced prevalence in lecithotrophic stages. A major shift in microbial composition occurred as new settlers completed osculum formation and acquired filter-feeding capacity. Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis decreased significatively at this point. Microbial diversity peaked in filter-feeding stages, contrasting with the lower diversity of lecithotrophic stages. Furthermore, individual specific transmission patterns were detected, with greater microbial similarity between larvae and their respective parents compared to non-parental conspecifics.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a putative vertical transmission of the dominant symbiont, which could provide some metabolic advantage to non-filtering developmental stages of C. crambe. The increase in microbiome diversity with the onset of filter-feeding stages likely reflects enhanced interaction with environmental microbes, facilitating horizontal transmission. Conversely, lower microbiome diversity in lecithotrophic stages, prior to filter feeding, suggests incomplete symbiont transfer or potential symbiont digestion. This research provides novel information on the dynamics of the microbiome through sponge ontogeny, on the strategies for symbiont acquisition at each ontogenetic stage, and on the potential importance of symbionts during larval development.}, } @article {pmid38467979, year = {2024}, author = {Shinkura, R}, title = {Development of Orally Ingestible IgA Antibody Drugs to Maintain Symbiosis Between Humans and Microorganisms.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1444}, number = {}, pages = {165-176}, pmid = {38467979}, issn = {0065-2598}, abstract = {In recent years, dysbiosis, abnormalities in the gut microbiota, has been reported to be associated with the development of many diseases, and improving the gut microbiota is important for health maintenance. It has been shown that the host recognizes and regulates intestinal bacteria by means of IgA antibodies secreted into the gut, but the precise nature of the commensal gut bacteria recognized by each IgA antibody is unclear. We have cloned monoclonal IgA antibodies from mouse intestinal IgA-producing cells and are searching for bacterial molecules recognized by each IgA clone. Although the interaction of IgA antibodies with intestinal bacteria is still largely unknown and requires further basic research, we discuss the potential use of orally ingestible IgA antibodies as agents to improve intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid38467089, year = {2024}, author = {Gregorin, C and Di Vito, M and Roveta, C and Pulido Mantas, T and Gridelli, S and Domenichelli, F and Cilenti, L and Vega Fernández, T and Puce, S and Musco, L}, title = {Reduction of small-prey capture rate and collective predation in the bleached sea anemone Exaiptasiadiaphana.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {106435}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106435}, pmid = {38467089}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Cnidarians may dominate benthic communities, as in the case of coral reefs that foster biodiversity and provide important ecosystem services. Polyps may feed by predating mesozooplantkon and large motile prey, but many species further obtain autotrophic nutrients from photosymbiosis. Anthropogenic disturbance, such as the rise of seawater temperature and turbidity, can lead to the loss of symbionts, causing bleaching. Prolonged periods of bleaching can induce mortality events over vast areas. Heterotrophy may allow bleached cnidarians to survive for long periods of time. We tested the reinforcement of heterotrophic feeding of bleached polyps of Exaiptasia diaphana fed with both small zooplantkon and large prey, in order to evaluate if heterotrophy allows this species to compensate the reduction of autotrophy. Conversely to expected, heterotrophy was higher in unbleached polyps (+54% mesozooplankton prey and +11% large prey). The increase of heterotrophic intake may not be always used as a strategy to compensate autotrophic depletion in bleached polyps. Such a resilience strategy might be more species-specific than expected.}, } @article {pmid38466444, year = {2024}, author = {Sehar, S and Adil, MF and Askri, SMH and Dennis, E and Faizan, M and Zhao, P and Zhou, F and Shamsi, IH}, title = {Nutrient and mycoremediation of a global menace 'arsenic': exploring the prospects of phosphorus and Serendipita indica-based mitigation strategies in rice and other crops.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {90}, pmid = {38466444}, issn = {1432-203X}, support = {32250410280//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31961143008//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Serendipita indica induced metabolic reprogramming in colonized plants complements phosphorus-management in improving their tolerance to arsenic stress on multifaceted biological fronts. Restoration of the anthropic damage done to our environment is inextricably linked to devising strategies that are not only economically sound but are self-renewing and ecologically conscious. The dilemma of heavy metal (HM) dietary ingestion, especially arsenic (As), faced by humans and animals alike, necessitates the exploitation of such technologies and the cultivation of healthy and abundant crops. The remarkable symbiotic alliance between plants and 'mycorrhizas' has evolved across eons, benefiting growth/yield aspects as well as imparting abiotic/biotic stress tolerance. The intricate interdependence of Serendipita indica (S. indica) and rice plant reportedly reduce As accumulation, accentuating the interest of microbiologists, agriculturists, and ecotoxicological scientists apropos of the remediation mechanisms of As in the soil-AMF-rice system. Nutrient management, particularly of phosphorus (P), is also praised for mitigating As phytotoxicity by deterring the uptake of As molecules due to the rhizospheric cationic competition. Taking into consideration the reasonable prospects of success in minimizing As acquisition by rice plants, this review focuses on the physiological, metabolic, and transcriptional alterations underlying S. indica symbiosis, recuperation of As stress together with nutritional management of P by gathering case studies and presenting successful paradigms. Weaving together a volume of literature, we assess the chemical forms of As and related transport pathways, discuss As-P-rice interaction and the significance of fungi in As toxicity mitigation, predominantly the role of mycorrhiza, as well as survey of the multifaceted impacts of S. indica on plants. A potential strategy for simultaneous S. indica + P administration in paddy fields is proposed, followed by future research orientation to expand theoretic comprehension and encourage field-based implementation.}, } @article {pmid38466433, year = {2024}, author = {Ważny, R and Jędrzejczyk, RJ and Rozpądek, P and Domka, A and Tokarz, KM and Janicka, M and Turnau, K}, title = {Bacteria Associated with Spores of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve the Effectiveness of Fungal Inocula for Red Raspberry Biotization.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {38466433}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Intensive crop production leads to the disruption of the symbiosis between plants and their associated microorganisms, resulting in suboptimal plant productivity and lower yield quality. Therefore, it is necessary to improve existing methods and explore modern, environmentally friendly approaches to crop production. One of these methods is biotization, which involves the inoculation of plants with appropriately selected symbiotic microorganisms which play a beneficial role in plant adaptation to the environment. In this study, we tested the possibility of using a multi-microorganismal inoculum composed of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and AMF spore-associated bacteria for biotization of the red raspberry. Bacteria were isolated from the spores of AMF, and their plant growth-promoting properties were tested. AMF inocula were supplemented with selected bacterial strains to investigate their effect on the growth and vitality of the raspberry. The investigations were carried out in the laboratory and on a semi-industrial scale in a polytunnel where commercial production of seedlings is carried out. In the semi-industrial experiment, we tested the growth parameters of plants and physiological response of the plant to temporary water shortage. We isolated over fifty strains of bacteria associated with spores of AMF. Only part of them showed plant growth-promoting properties, and six of these (belonging to the Paenibacillus genus) were used for the inoculum. AMF inoculation and co-inoculation of AMF and bacteria isolated from AMF spores improved plant growth and vitality in both experimental setups. Plant dry weight was improved by 70%, and selected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (the contribution of light to primary photochemistry and fraction of reaction centre chlorophyll per chlorophyll of the antennae) were increased. The inoculum improved carbon assimilation, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration after temporary water shortage. Raspberry biotization with AMF and bacteria associated with spores has potential applications in horticulture where ecological methods based on plant microorganism interaction are in demand.}, } @article {pmid38465733, year = {2024}, author = {Javourez, U and Matassa, S and Vlaeminck, SE and Verstraete, W}, title = {Ruminations on sustainable and safe food: Championing for open symbiotic cultures ensuring resource efficiency, eco-sustainability and affordability.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {e14436}, pmid = {38465733}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ruminants ; *Biotechnology ; Fermentation ; Animal Feed ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; }, abstract = {Microbes are powerful upgraders, able to convert simple substrates to nutritional metabolites at rates and yields surpassing those of higher organisms by a factor of 2 to 10. A summary table highlights the superior efficiencies of a whole array of microbes compared to conventionally farmed animals and insects, converting nitrogen and organics to food and feed. Aiming at the most resource-efficient class of microbial proteins, deploying the power of open microbial communities, coined here as 'symbiotic microbiomes' is promising. For instance, a production train of interest is to develop rumen-inspired technologies to upgrade fibre-rich substrates, increasingly available as residues from emerging bioeconomy initiatives. Such advancements offer promising perspectives, as currently only 5%-25% of the available cellulose is recovered by ruminant livestock systems. While safely producing food and feed with open cultures has a long-standing tradition, novel symbiotic fermentation routes are currently facing much higher market entrance barriers compared to axenic fermentation. Our global society is at a pivotal juncture, requiring a shift towards food production systems that not only embrace the environmental and economic sustainability but also uphold ethical standards. In this context, we propose to re-examine the place of spontaneous or natural microbial consortia for safe future food and feed biotech developments, and advocate for intelligent regulatory practices. We stress that reconsidering symbiotic microbiomes is key to achieve sustainable development goals and defend the need for microbial biotechnology literacy education.}, } @article {pmid38463806, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Q and Chen, L and Hao, T}, title = {Unlocking Urbanization: The symbiotic relationship between inclusive finance and urban development in China.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e27457}, pmid = {38463806}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The emergence and development of inclusive finance has made it possible for more economic entities to have easy access to a wider selection of financial services. This shift has significantly addressed the financial challenges inherent in the process of urbanization, making it a driver of the process of urban development. Therefore, this paper provides empirical evidence on the relationship between financial inclusion development and urbanization construction in China using provincial data and a panel-VAR model. The results show that: (1) There is a significant co-integration relationship among inclusive finance, urbanization, government support, and real estate development. (2) Inclusive finance has a long-term positive impact effect on urbanization. (3) Population urbanization has a positive impact on inclusive finance, but income urbanization has a negative impact on inclusive finance. To effectively promote the development of inclusive finance and urbanization, the following measures are of utmost importance: Firstly, while accelerating urbanization construction, it is necessary to expand and enhance the coverage of financial services. This will ensure that multiple regions can benefit from financial services. Secondly, to meet the diverse needs of different regions, more targeted financial products should be developed, making full use of the advantages of inclusive finance. Lastly, the government should strengthen its supervision of financial institutions and reduce the risks associated with inclusive finance, thereby ensuring a positive interaction between inclusive finance and urbanization development.}, } @article {pmid38463127, year = {2024}, author = {Ahmed, S and Maharjan, N and Hirachan, N}, title = {Meleney's gangrene managed with a single extensive debridement and resultant defect closure with abdominoplasty technique - a case report.}, journal = {Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)}, volume = {86}, number = {3}, pages = {1711-1715}, pmid = {38463127}, issn = {2049-0801}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Meleney's gangrene, or progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene, is a life-threatening subcutaneous tissue infection and skin necrosis of the abdomen that is persistent and quickly progressing and has documented cultural characteristics of a symbiotic organism. The nobility of this case lies in the use of the modern technique, abdominoplasty, used to close the wound post-radical debridement for Meleney's gangrene. This uncommon illness has a high fatality rate and requires immediate diagnosis, aggressive antibiotic treatment, and extensive debridement.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 55-year-old female with no known comorbidities, who presented to our center with features of Meleney's gangrene and pleural effusion. Radical debridement was performed and empirical intravenous antibiotics were administered. The wound was closed using the abdominoplasty approach.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Meleney's gangrene should be identified quickly and treated with wide-spectrum antibiotics and rigorous surgical debridement. It is difficult to diagnose the illness early, and skepticism is strong during this process. An increased risk of death may follow a postponed diagnosis of Meleney's gangrene. A long-term hospital stay can result from extensive debridement. Furthermore, skin transplants may be required to close wounds in certain instances.

CONCLUSION: This case is presented to show how early intervention and radical debridement can improve the outcome in cases of Meleney's gangrene, which is rare and clinically significant. Additionally, this suggests that a cosmetic procedure known as abdominoplasty could be a viable option for wound closure.}, } @article {pmid38462552, year = {2024}, author = {Ghosh, P and Chakraborty, J}, title = {Exploring the role of symbiotic modifier peptidases in the legume - rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {206}, number = {4}, pages = {147}, pmid = {38462552}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Peptide Hydrolases/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Peptides/metabolism ; Vegetables ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes can establish a mutual association with soil-derived nitrogen-fixing bacteria called 'rhizobia' forming lateral root organs called root nodules. Rhizobia inside the root nodules get transformed into 'bacteroids' that can fix atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia for host plants in return for nutrients and shelter. A substantial 200 million tons of nitrogen is fixed annually through biological nitrogen fixation. Consequently, the symbiotic mechanism of nitrogen fixation is utilized worldwide for sustainable agriculture and plays a crucial role in the Earth's ecosystem. The development of effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia is very specialized and requires coordinated signaling. A plethora of plant-derived nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR or NCR-like) peptides get actively involved in this complex and tightly regulated signaling process of symbiosis between some legumes of the IRLC (Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade) and Dalbergioid clades and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Recent progress has been made in identifying two such peptidases that actively prevent bacterial differentiation, leading to symbiotic incompatibility. In this review, we outlined the functions of NCRs and two nitrogen-fixing blocking peptidases: HrrP (host range restriction peptidase) and SapA (symbiosis-associated peptidase A). SapA was identified through an overexpression screen from the Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 core genome, whereas HrrP is inherited extra-chromosomally. Interestingly, both peptidases affect the symbiotic outcome by degrading the NCR peptides generated from the host plants. These NCR-degrading peptidases can shed light on symbiotic incompatibility, helping to elucidate the reasons behind the inefficiency of nitrogen fixation observed in certain groups of rhizobia with specific legumes.}, } @article {pmid38461752, year = {2024}, author = {Dolatmand-Shahri, N and Modarres-Sanavy, SAM and Mirjalili, MH and Mokhtassi-Bidgoli, A}, title = {Study the yield and quality of bitter gourd fruit (Momordica charantia) in inoculation with two species of mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus fertilizer under different irrigation regimes.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {108479}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108479}, pmid = {38461752}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Drought is known to be the most important constraint to the growth and yield of agricultural products in the world, and plant symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be a way to reduce drought stress negative impacts. A two-year experiment to investigate the factorial combination of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Control) and phosphorus fertilizer (application and non-application of phosphorus) on fruit yield and phenolic acids changes bitter gourd under different irrigation regimes as a split factorial based on a randomized complete block design. Three irrigation regimes, including irrigation after 20%, 50%, and 80% available soil water content depletion (ASWD), were considered in the main plots. The results showed that under water deficit stress, fruit yield and physiological (photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), RWC, total chlorophyll, and root colonization) parameters decreased compared to 20% ASWD, and biochemical (proline, soluble sugar, MDA, CAT, SOD, phenol) parameters and fruit phenolic acids (caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid) increased. However, the inoculation of AMF and phosphorus fertilizer in three irrigation regimes decreased MDA content, but physiological and biochemical parameters and fruit phenolic acids were increased. In this study, the factorial combination of AMF and sufficient phosphorus improved the resistance of bitter gourd to water deficit, and this not only improved fruit yield but also increased fruit phenolic acids under 80% ASWD, which can be an innovation in the management of water resources and the production industry of medicinal plants with high antioxidant properties in water deficit areas.}, } @article {pmid38461593, year = {2024}, author = {Bonito, G}, title = {Ecology and evolution of algal-fungal symbioses.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {102452}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2024.102452}, pmid = {38461593}, issn = {1879-0364}, abstract = {Ecological interactions and symbiosis between algae and fungi are ancient, widespread, and diverse with many independent origins. The heterotrophic constraint on fungal nutrition drives fungal interactions with autotrophic organisms, including algae. While ancestors of modern fungi may have evolved as parasites of algae, there remains a latent ability in algae to detect and respond to fungi through a range of symbioses that are witnessed today in the astounding diversity of lichens, associations with corticoid and polypore fungi, and endophytic associations with macroalgae. Research into algal-fungal interactions and biotechnological innovation have the potential to improve our understanding of their diversity and functions in natural systems, and to harness this knowledge to develop sustainable and novel approaches for producing food, energy, and bioproducts.}, } @article {pmid38460330, year = {2024}, author = {Fei, F and Wen, Z and Zhang, J and Xing, Y and Zhang, H and Li, Y}, title = {New multi-source waste co-incineration and clustering park operating model for small- and medium-sized city: A case study in China.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {355}, number = {}, pages = {120514}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120514}, pmid = {38460330}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {With improvements in urban waste management to promote sustainable development, an increasing number of waste types need to be sorted and treated separately. Due to the relatively low amount of waste generated in small- and medium-sized cities, separate treatment facilities for each waste type lack scale, waste is treated at a high cost and low efficiency. Therefore, industrial symbiosis principles are suggested to be used to guide collaborative waste treatment system of multi-source solid wastes, and co-incineration is the most commonly used technology. Most existing studies have focused on co-incineration of one certain waste type (such as sludge or medical waste) with municipal solid waste (MSW), but the systematic design and the comprehensive benefits on a whole city and park level have not been widely studied. Taking the actual operation of a multi-source waste co-incineration park in south-central China as an example, this study conducted a detailed analysis of the waste-energy-water metabolism process of MSW, sludge, food waste, and medical waste co-incineration. The environmental and economic benefits were evaluated and compared with the single decentralized waste treatment mode. The results showed that the multi-source waste co-incineration and clustering park operating model was comprehensively superior to the single treatment mode, greenhouse gases and human toxicity indicators were decreased by 11.87% and 295.74%, respectively, and the internal rate of return of the project was increased by 29.35%. This mainly benefits from the synergy of technical system and the economies of scale. Finally, this research proposed policy suggestions from systematic planning and design, technical route selection, and an innovative management mode in view of the potential challenges.}, } @article {pmid38459685, year = {2024}, author = {Li, H and Ge, Y and Zhang, Z and Zhang, H and Wang, Y and Wang, M and Zhao, X and Yan, J and Li, Q and Qin, L and Cao, Q and Bisseling, T}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal conserved genes are recruited for ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19657}, pmid = {38459685}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32002019//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; KZ20231002035//R&D Program of Beijing Municipal Education Commission/ ; }, } @article {pmid38459437, year = {2024}, author = {Sun, Y and Lan, Y and Rädecker, N and Sheng, H and Diaz-Pulido, G and Qian, PY and Huang, H}, title = {Gene expression of Pocillopora damicornis coral larvae in response to acidification and ocean warming.}, journal = {BMC genomic data}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {28}, pmid = {38459437}, issn = {2730-6844}, support = {42206153//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 41906040//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021HJ01, SMSEGL20SC01//Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)/ ; 2021HJ01, SMSEGL20SC01//Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)/ ; 2023B1212060047//Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Larva/genetics/metabolism ; Seawater ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The endosymbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae is key to the ecological success of reef-building corals. However, climate change is threatening to destabilize this symbiosis on a global scale. Most studies looking into the response of corals to heat stress and ocean acidification focus on coral colonies. As such, our knowledge of symbiotic interactions and stress response in other stages of the coral lifecycle remains limited. Establishing transcriptomic resources for coral larvae under stress can thus provide a foundation for understanding the genomic basis of symbiosis, and its susceptibility to climate change. Here, we present a gene expression dataset generated from larvae of the coral Pocillopora damicornis in response to exposure to acidification and elevated temperature conditions below the bleaching threshold of the symbiosis.

DATA DESCRIPTION: This dataset is comprised of 16 samples (30 larvae per sample) collected from four treatments (Control, High pCO2, High Temperature, and Combined pCO2 and Temperature treatments). Freshly collected larvae were exposed to treatment conditions for five days, providing valuable insights into gene expression in this vulnerable stage of the lifecycle. In combination with previously published datasets, this transcriptomic resource will facilitate the in-depth investigation of the effects of ocean acidification and elevated temperature on coral larvae and its implication for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38457521, year = {2024}, author = {Colombi, E and Bertels, F and Doulcier, G and McConnell, E and Pichugina, T and Sohn, KH and Straub, C and McCann, HC and Rainey, PB}, title = {Rapid dissemination of host metabolism-manipulating genes via integrative and conjugative elements.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {11}, pages = {e2309263121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2309263121}, pmid = {38457521}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {MAU1709//Royal Society of New Zealand | Marsden Fund (Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund)/ ; SFB1182 Project C4//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; }, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; }, abstract = {Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are self-transmissible mobile elements that transfer functional genetic units across broad phylogenetic distances. Accessory genes shuttled by ICEs can make significant contributions to bacterial fitness. Most ICEs characterized to date encode readily observable phenotypes contributing to symbiosis, pathogenicity, and antimicrobial resistance, yet the majority of ICEs carry genes of unknown function. Recent observations of rapid acquisition of ICEs in a pandemic lineage of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidae led to investigation of the structural and functional diversity of these elements. Fifty-three unique ICE types were identified across the P. syringae species complex. Together they form a distinct family of ICEs (PsICEs) that share a distant relationship to ICEs found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PsICEs are defined by conserved backbone genes punctuated by an array of accessory cargo genes, are highly recombinogenic, and display distinct evolutionary histories compared to their bacterial hosts. The most common cargo is a recently disseminated 16-kb mobile genetic element designated Tn6212. Deletion of Tn6212 did not alter pathogen growth in planta, but mutants displayed fitness defects when grown on tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. RNA-seq analysis of a set of nested deletion mutants showed that a Tn6212-encoded LysR regulator has global effects on chromosomal gene expression. We show that Tn6212 responds to preferred carbon sources and manipulates bacterial metabolism to maximize growth.}, } @article {pmid38457346, year = {2024}, author = {Li, H and Ou, Y and Huang, K and Zhang, Z and Cao, Y and Zhu, H}, title = {The pathogenesis-related protein, PRP1, negatively regulates root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae103}, pmid = {38457346}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis represents as a unique model within the realm of plant-microbe interactions. Unlike typical cases of pathogenic invasion, the infection of rhizobia and their residence within symbiotic cells do not elicit a noticeable immune response in plants. Nevertheless, there is still much to uncover regarding the mechanisms through which plant immunity influences rhizobia symbiosis. In this study, we identify an important player in this intricate interplay: the Lotus japonicus PRP1, which serves as a positive regulator of plant immunity but also exhibits the capacity to decrease rhizobial colonization and nitrogen fixation within nodules. The PRP1 gene encodes an uncharacterized protein and is named as Pathogenesis-Related Protein1, owing to its ortholog in Arabidopsis thaliana, a pathogenesis-related family protein (At1g78780). The PRP1 gene displays high expression levels in nodules compared to other tissues. We observed an increase in rhizobium infection in the L. japonicus prp1 mutants, while PRP1-overexpressing plants exhibited a reduction in rhizobium infection compared to control plants. Intriguingly, L. japonicus prp1 mutants produced nodules with a pinker color compared to wild-type controls, accompanied by elevated levels of leghemoglobin and an increased proportion of infected cells within the prp1 nodules. The Nodule Inception (NIN) could directly bind to the PRP1 promoter, activating PRP1 gene expression. Furthermore, we found that PRP1 is a positive mediator of innate immunity in plants. In summary, our study provides clear evidence of the intricate relationship between plant immunity and symbiosis. PRP1, acting as a positive regulator of plant immunity, simultaneously exerts suppressive effects on rhizobial infection and colonization within nodules.}, } @article {pmid38456669, year = {2024}, author = {Cubillos, CF and Aguilar, P and Moreira, D and Bertolino, P and Iniesto, M and Dorador, C and López-García, P}, title = {Exploring the prokaryote-eukaryote interplay in microbial mats from an Andean athalassohaline wetland.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0007224}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00072-24}, pmid = {38456669}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Microbial community assembly results from the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors. However, environmental selection is thought to predominantly shape communities in extreme ecosystems. Salar de Huasco, situated in the high-altitude Andean Altiplano, represents a poly-extreme ecosystem displaying spatial gradients of physicochemical conditions. To disentangle the influence of abiotic and biotic factors, we studied prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities from microbial mats and underlying sediments across contrasting areas of this athalassohaline ecosystem. The prokaryotic communities were primarily composed of bacteria, notably including a significant proportion of photosynthetic organisms like Cyanobacteria and anoxygenic photosynthetic members of Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria and Chloroflexi. Additionally, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Deltaproteobacteria were abundantly represented. Among eukaryotes, photosynthetic organisms (Ochrophyta and Archaeplastida) were predominant, alongside relatively abundant ciliates, cercozoans, and flagellated fungi. Salinity emerged as a key driver for the assembly of prokaryotic communities. Collectively, abiotic factors influenced both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, particularly those of algae. However, prokaryotic communities strongly correlated with photosynthetic eukaryotes, suggesting a pivotal role of biotic interactions in shaping these communities. Co-occurrence networks suggested potential interactions between different organisms, such as diatoms with specific photosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria or with protist predators, indicating influences beyond environmental selection. While some associations may be explained by environmental preferences, the robust biotic correlations, alongside insights from other ecosystems and experimental studies, suggest that symbiotic and trophic interactions significantly shape microbial mat and sediment microbial communities in this athalassohaline ecosystem.IMPORTANCEHow biotic and abiotic factors influence microbial community assembly is still poorly defined. Here, we explore their influence on prokaryotic and eukaryotic community assembly within microbial mats and sediments of an Andean high-altitude polyextreme wetland system. We show that, in addition to abiotic elements, mutual interactions exist between prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. Notably, photosynthetic eukaryotes exhibit a strong correlation with prokaryotic communities, specifically diatoms with certain bacteria and other protists. Our findings underscore the significance of biotic interactions in community assembly and emphasize the necessity of considering the complete microbial community.}, } @article {pmid38456555, year = {2024}, author = {Malandrakis, AA and Varikou, K and Kavroulakis, Ν and Nikolakakis, A and Dervisi, I and Reppa, CΙ and Papadakis, S and Holeva, MC and Chrysikopoulos, CV}, title = {Copper nanoparticles interfere with insecticide sensitivity, fecundity and endosymbiont abundance in olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.8068}, pmid = {38456555}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The potential of copper nanoparticles (NPs) to be used as an alternative control strategy against olive fruit flies (Bactrocera oleae) with reduced sensitivity to the pyrethroid deltamethrin and the impact of both nanosized and bulk copper [Cu(OH)2 ] on the insect's reproductive and endosymbiotic parameters were investigated.

RESULTS: The application of nanosized and bulk copper applied by feeding resulted in significant levels of adult mortality, comparable to or surpassing those achieved with deltamethrin at recommended doses. Combinations of Cu-NPs or CuO-NPs with deltamethrin significantly enhanced the insecticide's efficacy against B. oleae adults. When combined with deltamethrin, Cu-NPs significantly reduced the mean total number of offspring compared with the control, and the number of stings, pupae, female and total number of offspring compared with the insecticide alone. Both bulk and nanosized copper negatively affected the abundance of the endosymbiotic bacterium Candidatus Erwinia dacicola which is crucial for the survival of B. oleae larvae.

CONCLUSION: Cu-NPs can aid the control of B. oleae both by reducing larval survival and by enhancing deltamethrin performance in terms of toxicity and reduced fecundity, providing an effective anti-resistance tool and minimizing the environmental footprint of synthetic pesticides by reducing the required doses for the control of the pest.}, } @article {pmid38455465, year = {2024}, author = {Koh, CH and Kim, BS and Kang, CY and Chung, Y and Seo, H}, title = {IL-17 and IL-21: Their Immunobiology and Therapeutic Potentials.}, journal = {Immune network}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {e2}, pmid = {38455465}, issn = {1598-2629}, abstract = {Studies over the last 2 decades have identified IL-17 and IL-21 as key cytokines in the modulation of a wide range of immune responses. IL-17 serves as a critical defender against bacterial and fungal pathogens, while maintaining symbiotic relationships with commensal microbiota. However, alterations in its levels can lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-21, on the other hand, bridges the adaptive and innate immune responses, and its imbalance is implicated in autoimmune diseases and cancer, highlighting its important role in both health and disease. Delving into the intricacies of these cytokines not only opens new avenues for understanding the immune system, but also promises innovative advances in the development of therapeutic strategies for numerous diseases. In this review, we will discuss an updated view of the immunobiology and therapeutic potential of IL-17 and IL-21.}, } @article {pmid38455147, year = {2024}, author = {Hafer-Hahmann, N and Vorburger, C}, title = {Parasitoid species diversity has no effect on protective symbiont diversity in experimental host-parasitoid populations.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e11090}, pmid = {38455147}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {How does diversity in nature come about? One factor contributing to this diversity are species interactions; diversity on one trophic level can shape diversity on lower or higher trophic levels. For example, parasite diversity enhances host immune diversity. Insect protective symbionts mediate host resistance and are, therefore, also engaged in reciprocal selection with their host's parasites. Here, we applied experimental evolution in a well-known symbiont-aphid-parasitoid system to study whether parasitoid diversity contributes to maintaining symbiont genetic diversity. We used caged populations of black bean aphids (Aphis fabae), containing uninfected individuals and individuals infected with different strains of the bacterial endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa, which protects aphids against parasitoids. Over multiple generations, these populations were exposed to three different species of parasitoid wasps (Aphidius colemani, Binodoxys acalephae or Lysiphlebus fabarum), simultaneous or sequential mixtures of these species or no wasps. Surprisingly, we observed little selection for H. defensa in most treatments, even when it clearly provided protection against a fatal parasitoid infection. This seemed to be caused by high induced costs of resistance: aphids surviving parasitoid attacks suffered an extreme reduction in fitness. In marked contrast to previous studies looking at the effect of different genotypes of a single parasitoid species, we found little evidence for a diversifying effect of multiple parasitoid species on symbiont diversity in hosts.}, } @article {pmid38455060, year = {2024}, author = {Xu, J and Yu, L and Ye, S and Ye, Z and Yang, L and Xu, X}, title = {Oral microbiota-host interaction: the chief culprit of alveolar bone resorption.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1254516}, pmid = {38455060}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {There exists a bidirectional relationship between oral health and general well-being, with an imbalance in oral symbiotic flora posing a threat to overall human health. Disruptions in the commensal flora can lead to oral diseases, while systemic illnesses can also impact the oral cavity, resulting in the development of oral diseases and disorders. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, known as pathogenic bacteria associated with periodontitis, play a crucial role in linking periodontitis to accompanying systemic diseases. In periodontal tissues, these bacteria, along with their virulence factors, can excessively activate the host immune system through local diffusion, lymphatic circulation, and blood transmission. This immune response disruption contributes to an imbalance in osteoimmune mechanisms, alveolar bone resorption, and potential systemic inflammation. To restore local homeostasis, a deeper understanding of microbiota-host interactions and the immune network phenotype in local tissues is imperative. Defining the immune network phenotype in periodontal tissues offers a promising avenue for investigating the complex characteristics of oral plaque biofilms and exploring the potential relationship between periodontitis and associated systemic diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying Porphyromonas gingivalis- and Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced alveolar bone resorption, as well as the immunophenotypes observed in host periodontal tissues during pathological conditions.}, } @article {pmid38454820, year = {2024}, author = {Choi, J and Choi, JB and Bae, S and Lee, CH and Shin, YS and You, D and Lee, JY and Lee, SJ and Lee, KW}, title = {2023 Korean sexually transmitted infections guidelines for non-gonococcal bacterial infection (chlamydia, syphilis, etc.) by the Korean Association of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation.}, journal = {Investigative and clinical urology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {115-123}, doi = {10.4111/icu.20230322}, pmid = {38454820}, issn = {2466-054X}, support = {/KDCA/Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency/Korea ; }, abstract = {Non-gonococcal sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include chlamydia, syphilis, and chancroids. Chlamydia is the most common STI caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse or vertical transmission at birth. Although symptoms are mostly absent or mild, untreated chlamydial infections in females can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility due to the narrowing of fallopian tubes. Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum and is divided into phase I, phase II, latent syphilis, and phase III. The incidence of syphilis, including congenital syphilis, has significantly increased in the United States in recent years. The chronic status of this disease can significantly increase morbidity and potentially affect almost all body organs, which, in rare cases, can lead to death. Additionally, untreated maternal syphilis can lead to fetal death and fatal congenital infections in newborns. Chancroid is an STI caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, and its prevalence is gradually decreasing in Korea and worldwide. The symptoms include shallow genital ulcers with suppurative granulomatous inflammation and tender inguinal lymphadenopathy. Chancroids can be differentiated from syphilitic chancres based on their appearance. In contrast to painless chancres, chancroids are painful. Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, and Mycoplasma hominis are considered symbiotic bacteria. Infections caused by these bacteria are usually not considered STIs and do not require treatment unless they are suspected of being associated with infertility. This article presents the 2023 Korean STI guidelines for non-gonococcal bacterial infections.}, } @article {pmid38454530, year = {2024}, author = {Hegde, S and Khanipov, K and Hornett, EA and Nilyanimit, P and Pimenova, M and Saldaña, MA and de Bekker, C and Golovko, G and Hughes, GL}, title = {Interkingdom interactions shape the fungal microbiome of mosquitoes.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, pmid = {38454530}, issn = {2524-4671}, support = {BB/T001240/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The mosquito microbiome is an important modulator of vector competence and vectoral capacity. Unlike the extensively studied bacterial microbiome, fungal communities in the mosquito microbiome (the mycobiome) remain largely unexplored. To work towards getting an improved understanding of the fungi associated with mosquitoes, we sequenced the mycobiome of three field-collected and laboratory-reared mosquito species (Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus).

RESULTS: Our analysis showed both environment and host species were contributing to the diversity of the fungal microbiome of mosquitoes. When comparing species, Ae. albopictus possessed a higher number of diverse fungal taxa than Cx. quinquefasciatus, while strikingly less than 1% of reads from Ae. aegypti samples were fungal. Fungal reads from Ae. aegypti were < 1% even after inhibiting host amplification using a PNA blocker, indicating that this species lacked a significant fungal microbiome that was amplified using this sequencing approach. Using a mono-association mosquito infection model, we confirmed that mosquito-derived fungal isolates colonize Aedes mosquitoes and support growth and development at comparable rates to their bacterial counterparts. Strikingly, native bacterial taxa isolated from mosquitoes impeded the colonization of symbiotic fungi in Ae. aegypti suggesting interkingdom interactions shape fungal microbiome communities.

CONCLUSION: Collectively, this study adds to our understanding of the fungal microbiome of different mosquito species, that these fungal microbes support growth and development, and highlights that microbial interactions underpin fungal colonization of these medically relevent species.}, } @article {pmid38454103, year = {2024}, author = {Vázquez, X and Lumbreras-Iglesias, P and Rodicio, MR and Fernández, J and Bernal, T and Moreno, AF and de Ugarriza, PL and Fernández-Verdugo, A and Margolles, A and Sabater, C}, title = {Study of the intestinal microbiota composition and the effect of treatment with intensive chemotherapy in patients recovered from acute leukemia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {5585}, pmid = {38454103}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; FIS PI21/01590//Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; GRUPIN IDI/2022/000033//Regional Ministry of Science of Asturias/ ; }, abstract = {A dataset comprising metagenomes of outpatients (n = 28) with acute leukemia (AL) and healthy controls (n = 14) was analysed to investigate the associations between gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity and AL. According to the results obtained, no significant differences in the microbial diversity between AL outpatients and healthy controls were found. However, significant differences in the abundance of specific microbial clades of healthy controls and AL outpatients were found. We found some differences at taxa level. The relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotellaceae and Rikenellaceae was increased in AL outpatients, while Bacteirodaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae was decreased. Interestingly, the abundances of several taxa including Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium species showed variations based on recovery time from the last cycle of chemotherapy. Functional annotation of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) revealed the presence of functional domains corresponding to therapeutic enzymes including L-asparaginase in a wide range of genera including Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Alistipes, Akkermansia. Metabolic network modelling revealed potential symbiotic relationships between Veillonella parvula and Levyella massiliensis and several species found in the microbiota of AL outpatients. These results may contribute to develop strategies for the recovery of microbiota composition profiles in the treatment of patients with AL.}, } @article {pmid38453529, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, Y and Ali, H and Khan, F and Pang, L and Chen, P}, title = {Epigenetic regulation of tumor-immune symbiosis in glioma.}, journal = {Trends in molecular medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molmed.2024.02.004}, pmid = {38453529}, issn = {1471-499X}, abstract = {Glioma is a type of aggressive and incurable brain tumor. Patients with glioma are highly resistant to all types of therapies, including immunotherapies. Epigenetic reprogramming is a key molecular hallmark in tumors across cancer types, including glioma. Mounting evidence highlights a pivotal role of epigenetic regulation in shaping tumor biology and therapeutic responses through mechanisms involving both glioma cells and immune cells, as well as their symbiotic interactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation that impacts glioma cell biology and tumor immunity in both a cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, we provide an overview of potential therapeutic approaches that can disrupt epigenetic-regulated tumor-immune symbiosis in the glioma TME.}, } @article {pmid38453092, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, YC and Mao, Y and Fu, HM and Wang, J and Weng, X and Liu, ZH and Xu, XW and Yan, P and Fang, F and Guo, JS and Shen, Y and Chen, YP}, title = {New insights into functional divergence and adaptive evolution of uncultured bacteria in anammox community by complete genome-centric analysis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {171530}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171530}, pmid = {38453092}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Anaerobic ammonium-oxidation (anammox) bacteria play a crucial role in global nitrogen cycling and wastewater nitrogen removal, but they share symbiotic relationships with various other microorganisms. Functional divergence and adaptive evolution of uncultured bacteria in anammox community remain underexplored. Although shotgun metagenomics based on short reads has been widely used in anammox research, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) are often discontinuous and highly contaminated, which limits in-depth analyses of anammox communities. Here, for the first time, we performed Pacific Biosciences high-fidelity (HiFi) long-read sequencing on the anammox granule sludge sample from a lab-scale bioreactor, and obtained 30 accurate and complete metagenome-assembled genomes (cMAGs). These cMAGs were obtained by selecting high-quality circular contigs from initial assemblies of long reads generated by HiFi sequencing, eliminating the need for Illumina short reads, binning, and reassembly. One new anammox species affiliated with Candidatus Jettenia and three species affiliated with novel families were found in this anammox community. cMAG-centric analysis revealed functional divergence in general and nitrogen metabolism among the anammox community members, and they might adopt a cross-feeding strategy in organic matter, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, we identified 63 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and 50 putative horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events within these cMAGs. The results suggest that HGT events and MGEs related to phage and integration or excision, particularly transposons containing tnpA in anammox bacteria, might play important roles in the adaptive evolution of this anammox community. The cMAGs generated in the present study could be used to establish of a comprehensive database for anammox bacteria and associated microorganisms. Our findings highlight the advantages of HiFi sequencing for the studies of complex mixed cultures and advance our understanding of anammox communities.}, } @article {pmid38453085, year = {2024}, author = {Wu, J and Fu, X and Zhao, L and Lv, J and Lv, S and Shang, J and Lv, J and Du, S and Guo, H and Ma, F}, title = {Biochar as a partner of plants and beneficial microorganisms to assist in-situ bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {171442}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171442}, pmid = {38453085}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Synergistic remediation of heavy metal (HM) contaminated soil using beneficial microorganisms (BM) and plants is a common and effective in situ bioremediation method. However, the shortcomings of this approach are the low colonisation of BM under high levels of heavy metal stress (HMS) and the poor state of plant growth. Previous studies have overlooked the potential of biochar to mitigate the above problems and aid in-situ remediation. Therefore, this paper describes the characteristics and physicochemical properties of biochar. It is proposed that biochar enhances plant resistance to HMS and aids in situ bioremediation by increasing colonisation of BM and HM stability. On this basis, the paper focuses on the following possible mechanisms: specific biochar-derived organic matter regulates the transport of HMs in plants and promotes mycorrhizal colonisation via the abscisic acid signalling pathway and the karrikin signalling pathway; promotes the growth-promoting pathway of indole-3-acetic acid and increases expression of the nodule-initiating gene NIN; improvement of soil HM stability by ion exchange, electrostatic adsorption, redox and complex precipitation mechanisms. And this paper summarizes guidelines on how to use biochar-assisted remediation based on current research for reference. Finally, the paper identifies research gaps in biochar in the direction of promoting beneficial microbial symbiotic mechanisms, recognition and function of organic molecules, and factors affecting practical applications.}, } @article {pmid38452081, year = {2024}, author = {Kaur, R and McGarry, A and Shropshire, JD and Leigh, BA and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Prophage proteins alter long noncoding RNA and DNA of developing sperm to induce a paternal-effect lethality.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {383}, number = {6687}, pages = {1111-1117}, doi = {10.1126/science.adk9469}, pmid = {38452081}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {The extent to which prophage proteins interact with eukaryotic macromolecules is largely unknown. In this work, we show that cytoplasmic incompatibility factor A (CifA) and B (CifB) proteins, encoded by prophage WO of the endosymbiont Wolbachia, alter long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and DNA during Drosophila sperm development to establish a paternal-effect embryonic lethality known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CifA is a ribonuclease (RNase) that depletes a spermatocyte lncRNA important for the histone-to-protamine transition of spermiogenesis. Both CifA and CifB are deoxyribonucleases (DNases) that elevate DNA damage in late spermiogenesis. lncRNA knockdown enhances CI, and mutagenesis links lncRNA depletion and subsequent sperm chromatin integrity changes to embryonic DNA damage and CI. Hence, prophage proteins interact with eukaryotic macromolecules during gametogenesis to create a symbiosis that is fundamental to insect evolution and vector control.}, } @article {pmid38451250, year = {2024}, author = {Bustos-Diaz, ED and Cruz-Perez, A and Garfias-Gallegos, D and D'Agostino, PM and Gehringer, MM and Cibrian-Jaramillo, A and Barona-Gomez, F}, title = {Phylometagenomics of cycad coralloid roots reveals shared symbiotic signals.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001207}, pmid = {38451250}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Australia ; Coculture Techniques ; *Genomics ; }, abstract = {Cycads are known to host symbiotic cyanobacteria, including Nostocales species, as well as other sympatric bacterial taxa within their specialized coralloid roots. Yet, it is unknown if these bacteria share a phylogenetic origin and/or common genomic functions that allow them to engage in facultative symbiosis with cycad roots. To address this, we obtained metagenomic sequences from 39 coralloid roots sampled from diverse cycad species and origins in Australia and Mexico. Culture-independent shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to validate sub-community co-cultures as an efficient approach for functional and taxonomic analysis. Our metanalysis shows a host-independent microbiome core consisting of seven bacterial orders with high species diversity within the identified taxa. Moreover, we recovered 43 cyanobacterial metagenome-assembled genomes, and in addition to Nostoc spp., symbiotic cyanobacteria of the genus Aulosira were identified for the first time. Using this robust dataset, we used phylometagenomic analysis to reveal three monophyletic cyanobiont clades, two host-generalist and one cycad-specific that includes Aulosira spp. Although the symbiotic clades have independently arisen, they are enriched in certain functional genes, such as those related to secondary metabolism. Furthermore, the taxonomic composition of associated sympatric bacterial taxa remained constant. Our research quadruples the number of cycad cyanobiont genomes and provides a robust framework to decipher cyanobacterial symbioses, with the potential of improving our understanding of symbiotic communities. This study lays a solid foundation to harness cyanobionts for agriculture and bioprospection, and assist in conservation of critically endangered cycads.}, } @article {pmid38451026, year = {2024}, author = {Sharma, P and Vaiwala, R and Gopinath, AK and Chockalingam, R and Ayappa, KG}, title = {Structure of the Bacterial Cell Envelope and Interactions with Antimicrobials: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.}, journal = {Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03474}, pmid = {38451026}, issn = {1520-5827}, abstract = {Bacteria have evolved over 3 billion years, shaping our intrinsic and symbiotic coexistence with these single-celled organisms. With rising populations of drug-resistant strains, the search for novel antimicrobials is an ongoing area of research. Advances in high-performance computing platforms have led to a variety of molecular dynamics simulation strategies to study the interactions of antimicrobial molecules with different compartments of the bacterial cell envelope of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. In this review, we begin with a detailed description of the structural aspects of the bacterial cell envelope. Simulations concerned with the transport and associated free energy of small molecules and ions through the outer membrane, peptidoglycan, inner membrane and outer membrane porins are discussed. Since surfactants are widely used as antimicrobials, a section is devoted to the interactions of surfactants with the cell wall and inner membranes. The review ends with a discussion on antimicrobial peptides and the insights gained from the molecular simulations on the free energy of translocation. Challenges involved in developing accurate molecular models and coarse-grained strategies that provide a trade-off between atomic details with a gain in sampling time are highlighted. The need for efficient sampling strategies to obtain accurate free energies of translocation is also discussed. Molecular dynamics simulations have evolved as a powerful tool that can potentially be used to design and develop novel antimicrobials and strategies to effectively treat bacterial infections.}, } @article {pmid38450872, year = {2024}, author = {Rose, BD and Dellinger, MA and Larmour, CP and Polishook, MI and Higuita-Aguirre, MI and Dutta, S and Cook, RL and Zimmermann, SD and Garcia, K}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus ammoniavirescens influences the effects of salinity on loblolly pine in response to potassium availability.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {e16597}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16597}, pmid = {38450872}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; 2020-67013-31800//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Pinus taeda/genetics ; Salinity ; Potassium ; *Basidiomycota ; }, abstract = {Salinity is an increasing problem in coastal areas affected by saltwater intrusion, with deleterious effects on tree health and forest growth. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may improve the salinity tolerance of host trees, but the impact of external potassium (K[+]) availability on these effects is still unclear. Here, we performed several experiments with the ECM fungus Paxillus ammoniavirescens and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) in axenic and symbiotic conditions at limited or sufficient K[+] and increasing sodium (Na[+]) concentrations. Growth rate, biomass, nutrient content, and K[+] transporter expression levels were recorded for the fungus, and the colonization rate, root development parameters, biomass, and shoot nutrient accumulation were determined for mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. P. ammoniavirescens was tolerant to high salinity, although growth and nutrient concentrations varied with K[+] availability and increasing Na[+] exposure. While loblolly pine root growth and development decreased with increasing salinity, ECM colonization was unaffected by pine response to salinity. The mycorrhizal influence on loblolly pine salinity response was strongly dependent on external K[+] availability. This study reveals that P. ammoniavirescens can reduce Na[+] accumulation of salt-exposed loblolly pine, but this effect depends on external K[+] availability.}, } @article {pmid38450792, year = {2024}, author = {Makopa, TP and Ncube, T and Alwasel, S and Boekhout, T and Zhou, N}, title = {Yeast-insect interactions in southern Africa: Tapping the diversity of yeasts for modern bioprocessing.}, journal = {Yeast (Chichester, England)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/yea.3935}, pmid = {38450792}, issn = {1097-0061}, support = {//Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)/ ; //King Saud University/ ; }, abstract = {Yeast-insect interactions are one of the most interesting long-standing relationships whose research has contributed to our understanding of yeast biodiversity and their industrial applications. Although insect-derived yeast strains are exploited for industrial fermentations, only a limited number of such applications has been documented. The search for novel yeasts from insects is attractive to augment the currently domesticated and commercialized production strains. More specifically, there is potential in tapping the insects native to southern Africa. Southern Africa is home to a disproportionately high fraction of global biodiversity with a cluster of biomes and a broad climate range. This review presents arguments on the roles of the mutualistic relationship between yeasts and insects, the presence of diverse pristine environments and a long history of spontaneous food and beverage fermentations as the potential source of novelty. The review further discusses the recent advances in novelty of industrial strains of insect origin, as well as various ancient and modern-day industries that could be improved by use yeasts from insect origin. The major focus of the review is on the relationship between insects and yeasts in southern African ecosystems as a potential source of novel industrial yeast strains for modern bioprocesses.}, } @article {pmid38450439, year = {2024}, author = {Li, HH and Chen, XW and Zhai, FH and Li, YT and Zhao, HM and Mo, CH and Luo, Y and Xing, B and Li, H}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Alleviates Charged Nanoplastic Stress in Host Plants via Enhanced Defense-Related Gene Expressions and Hyphal Capture.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c07850}, pmid = {38450439}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Contamination of small-sized plastics is recognized as a factor of global change. Nanoplastics (NPs) can readily enter organisms and pose significant ecological risks. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most ubiquitous and impactful plant symbiotic fungi, regulating essential ecological functions. Here, we first found that an AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, increased lettuce shoot biomass by 25-100% when exposed to positively and negatively charged NPs vs control, although it did not increase that grown without NPs. The stress alleviation was attributed to the upregulation of gene expressions involving phytohormone signaling, cell wall metabolism, and oxidant scavenging. Using a root organ-fungus axenic growth system treated with fluorescence-labeled NPs, we subsequently revealed that the hyphae captured NPs and further delivered them to roots. NPs were observed at the hyphal cell walls, membranes, and spore walls. NPs mediated by the hyphae were localized at the root epidermis, cortex, and stele. Hyphal exudates aggregated positively charged NPs, thereby reducing their uptake due to NP aggregate formation (up to 5000 nm). This work demonstrates the critical roles of AM fungus in regulating NP behaviors and provides a potential strategy for NP risk mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems. Consequent NP-induced ecological impacts due to the affected AM fungi require further attention.}, } @article {pmid38450407, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, H and Ni, B and Duan, A and He, C and Zhang, J}, title = {High Frankia abundance and low diversity of microbial community are associated with nodulation specificity and stability of sea buckthorn root nodule.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1301447}, pmid = {38450407}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Actinorhizal symbioses are gaining attention due to the importance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in sustainable agriculture. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae L.) is an important actinorhizal plant, yet research on the microbial community and nitrogen cycling in its nodules is limited. In addition, the influence of environmental differences on the microbial community of sea buckthorn nodules and whether there is a single nitrogen-fixing actinomycete species in the nodules are still unknown.

METHODS: We investigated the diversity, community composition, network associations and nitrogen cycling pathways of the microbial communities in the root nodule (RN), nodule surface soil (NS), and bulk soil (BS) of Mongolian sea buckthorn distributed under three distinct ecological conditions in northern China using 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing. Combined with the data of environmental factors, the effects of environmental differences on different sample types were analyzed.

RESULTS: The results showed that plants exerted a clear selective filtering effect on microbiota, resulting in a significant reduction in microbial community diversity and network complexity from BS to NS to RN. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in the microbiomes of BS and NS. While RN was primarily dominated by Actinobacteria, with Frankia sp. EAN1pec serving as the most dominant species. Correlation analysis indicated that the host determined the microbial community composition in RN, independent of the ecological and geographical environmental changes of the sea buckthorn plantations. Nitrogen cycle pathway analyses showed that RN microbial community primarily functions in nitrogen fixation, and Frankia sp. EAN1pec was a major contributor to nitrogen fixation genes in RN.

DISCUSSION: This study provides valuable insights into the effects of eco-geographical environment on the microbial communities of sea buckthorn RN. These findings further prove that the nodulation specificity and stability of sea buckthorn root and Frankia sp. EAN1pec may be the result of their long-term co-evolution.}, } @article {pmid38449332, year = {2024}, author = {Rohner, PT and Jones, JA and Moczek, AP}, title = {Plasticity, symbionts and niche construction interact in shaping dung beetle development and evolution.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {227}, number = {Suppl_1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.245976}, pmid = {38449332}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {P400PB_199257/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, abstract = {Developmental plasticity is an important product of evolutionary processes, allowing organisms to maintain high fitness in the face of environmental perturbations. Once evolved, plasticity also has the potential to influence subsequent evolutionary outcomes, for example, by shaping phenotypic variation visible to selection and facilitating the emergence of novel trait variants. Furthermore, organisms may not just respond to environmental conditions through plasticity but may also actively modify the abiotic and (sym)biotic environments to which they themselves respond, causing plasticity to interact in complex ways with niche construction. Here, we explore developmental mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of plasticity in horned dung beetles. First, we discuss how post-invasion evolution of plasticity in an introduced Onthophagus species facilitated rapid range expansion and concurrent local adaptation of life history and morphology to novel climatic conditions. Second, we discuss how, in addition to plastically responding to variation in nutritional conditions, dung beetles engage in behaviors that modify the environment that they themselves respond to during later development. We document that these environment-modifying behaviors mask heritable variation for life history traits within populations, thereby shielding genetic variants from selection. Such cryptic genetic variation may be released and become selectable when these behaviors are compromised. Together, this work documents the complex interactions between plasticity, symbionts and niche construction, and highlights the usefulness of an integrative Eco-Evo-Devo framework to study the varied mechanisms and consequences of plasticity in development and evolution.}, } @article {pmid38447370, year = {2024}, author = {Pu, ZT and Wang, DD and Song, WX and Wang, C and Li, ZY and Chen, YL and Shimozono, T and Yang, ZM and Tian, YQ and Xie, ZH}, title = {The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic bacteria on peanuts under the combined pollution of cadmium and microplastics.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {469}, number = {}, pages = {133934}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133934}, pmid = {38447370}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {It remains unclear how symbiotic microbes impact the growth of peanuts when they are exposed to the pollutants cadmium (Cd) and microplastics (MPs) simultaneously. This study aimed to investigate the effects of endophytic bacteria Bacillus velezens SC60 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on peanut growth and rhizosphere microbial communities in the presence of Cd at 40 (Cd40) or 80 (Cd80) mg kg[-1] combined without MP or the presence of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and poly butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT). This study assessed soil indicators, plant parameters, and Cd accumulation indicators. Results showed that the application of R. irregularis and B. velezens significantly enhanced soil organic carbon and increased Cd content under the conditions of Cd80 and MPs co-pollution. R. irregularis and B. velezens treatment increased peanut absorption and the enrichment coefficient for Cd, with predominate concentrations localized in the peanut roots, especially under combined pollution by Cd and MPs. Under treatments with Cd40 and Cd80 combined with PBAT pollution, soil microbes Proteobacteria exhibited a higher relative abundance, while Actinobacteria showed a higher relative abundance under treatments with Cd40 and Cd80 combined with LDPE pollution. In conclusion, under the combined pollution conditions of MPs and Cd, the co-treatment of R. irregularis and B. velezens effectively immobilized Cd in peanut roots, impeding its translocation to the shoot.}, } @article {pmid38446401, year = {2024}, author = {Manresa-Grao, M and Pastor, V and Sánchez-Bel, P and Cruz, A and Cerezo, M and Jaques, JA and Flors, V}, title = {Mycorrhiza-induced resistance in citrus against Tetranychus urticae is plant-species dependent and inversely correlated to basal immunity.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.8059}, pmid = {38446401}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mycorrhizal plants show enhanced resistance to biotic stresses, but few studies address mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against biotic challenges in woody plants and particularly in citrus. Here we present a comparative study of two citrus species, Citrus aurantium, which is resistant, and Citrus reshni, which is highly susceptible to Tetranychus urticae. Although both mycorrhizal species are protected in locally infested leaves, they show very distinct responses to MIR.

RESULTS: Previous studies indicated that C. aurantium is insensitive to MIR in systemic tissues and MIR-triggered antixenosis. Conversely, C. reshni is highly responsive to MIR which triggers local, systemic and indirect defence, and antixenosis against the pest. Transcriptional, hormonal, and inhibition assays in C. reshni indicated regulation of JA- and ABA-dependent responses in MIR. The phytohormone JA-Ile and JA acid biosynthesis gene LOX2 are primed at early time-points. Evidence indicates a metabolic flux from phenylpropanoids to specific flavones that are primed at 24 h post infestation (hpi). MIR also triggers priming of naringenin in mycorrhizal C. reshni, which shows a strong correlation with several flavones and JA-Ile that overaccumulate in mycorrhizal plants. Treatments with an inhibitor of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis C4H enzyme impaired resistance and reduced the symbiosis, demonstrating that phenylpropanoids and derivatives mediate MIR in C. reshni.

CONCLUSION: Altogether, MIR effectiveness is inversely correlated to basal immunity in different citrus species, and it provides multifaceted protection in the susceptible C. reshni against T. urticae activating rapidly local, and systemic defenses that are mainly regulated by the accumulation of specific flavones and priming of JA-dependent responses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid38445991, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Y and Ning, X and Zhao, Z and He, X and Xue, Q and Zhou, M and Li, W and Li, M}, title = {Core fucosylation of maternal milk N-glycans imparts early-life immune tolerance through gut microbiota-dependent regulation in RORγt[+] Treg cells.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d4fo00230j}, pmid = {38445991}, issn = {2042-650X}, abstract = {Milk glycans play key roles in shaping and maintaining a healthy infant gut microbiota. Core fucosylation catalyzed by fucosyltransferase (Fut8) is the major glycosylation pattern on human milk N-glycan, which was crucial for promoting the colonization and dominant growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. in neonates. However, the influence of core-fucose in breast milk on the establishment of early-life immune tolerance remains poorly characterized. In this study, we found that the deficiency of core-fucose in the milk of maternal mice caused by Fut8 gene heterozygosity (Fut8[+/-]) resulted in poor immune tolerance towards the ovalbumin (OVA) challenge, accompanied by a reduced proportion of intestinal RORγt[+] Treg cells and the abundance of Lactobacillus spp., especially L. reuteri and L. johnsonii, in their breast-fed neonates. The administration of the L. reuteri and L. johnsonii mixture to neonatal mice compromised the OVA-induced allergy and up-regulated the intestinal RORγt[+] Treg cell proportions. However, Lactobacillus mixture supplementation did not alleviate allergic responses in RORγt[+] Treg cell-deficient mice caused by Rorc gene heterozygosity (Rorc[+/-]) post OVA challenge, indicating that the intervention effects depend on the RORγt[+] Treg cells. Interestingly, instead of L. reuteri and L. johnsonii, we found that the relative abundance of another Lactobacillus spp., L. murinus, in the gut of the offspring mice was significantly promoted by intervention, which showed enhancing effects on the proliferation of splenic and intestinal RORγt[+] Treg cells in in vitro studies. The above results indicate that core fucosylation of breast milk N-glycans is beneficial for the establishment of RORγt[+] Treg cell mediated early-life immune tolerance through the manipulation of symbiotic bacteria in mice.}, } @article {pmid38445862, year = {2024}, author = {Guo, W and Song, Y and Chen, H and Li, X}, title = {Dietary potential of the symbiotic fungus Penicillium herquei for the larvae of a nonsocial fungus-cultivating weevil Euops chinensis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0153723}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01537-23}, pmid = {38445862}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Many insect taxa cultivate fungi for food. Compared to well-known fungus cultivation in social insects, our knowledge on fungus cultivation in nonsocial insects is still limited. Here, we studied the nutritional potentials of the fungal cultivar, Penicillium herquei, for the larvae of its nonsocial insect farmer, Euops chinensis, a specialist on Japanese knotweed Reynoutria japonica. Overall, fungal hyphae and leaf rolls contained significantly higher carbon (C), stable isotopes of C (δ[13]C), and nitrogen (δ[15]N) but significantly lower C/N ratios compared to unrolled leaves, whereas insect bodies contained significantly higher N contents but lower C and C/N ratios compared to other types of samples. The MixSIAR model indicated that fungal hyphae contributed a larger proportion (0.626-0.797) to the diet of E. chinensis larvae than leaf materials. The levels of ergosterol, six essential amino acids, seven nonessential amino acids, and three B vitamins tested in fungal hyphae and/or leaf rolls were significantly higher than in unrolled leaves and/or larvae. The P. herquei genome contains the complete set of genes required for the biosynthesis of ergosterol, the essential amino acids valine and threonine, nine nonessential amino acids, and vitamins B2 and B3, whereas some genes associated with five essential and one nonessential amino acid were lost in the P. herquei genome. These suggest that P. herquei is capable of providing the E. chinensis larvae food with ergosterol, amino acids, and B vitamins. P. herquei appears to be able to synthesize or concentrate these nutrients considering that they were specifically concentrated in fungal hyphae.

IMPORTANCE: The cultivation of fungi for food has occurred across divergent insect lineages such as social ants, termites, and ambrosia beetles, as well as some seldom-reported solitary insects. Although the fungal cultivars of these insects have been studied for decades, the dietary potential of fungal cultivars for their hosts (especially for those nonsocial insects) is largely unknown. Our research on the mutualistic system Euops chinensis-Penicillium herquei represents an example of the diverse nutritional potentials of the fungal cultivar P. herquei in the diet of the larvae of its solitary host, E. chinensis. These results demonstrate that P. herquei has the potential to synthesize or concentrate ergosterol, amino acids, and B vitamins and benefits the larvae of E. chinensis. Our findings would shed light on poorly understood fungal cultivation mutualisms in nonsocial insects and underscore the nutritional importance of fungal cultivars in fungal cultivation mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid38445860, year = {2024}, author = {Pan, H and Shim, A and Lubin, MB and Belin, BJ}, title = {Hopanoid lipids promote soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0247823}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.02478-23}, pmid = {38445860}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {The symbioses between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia are well known for promoting plant growth and sustainably increasing soil nitrogen. Recent evidence indicates that hopanoids, a family of steroid-like lipids, promote Bradyrhizobium symbioses with tropical legumes. To characterize hopanoids in Bradyrhizobium symbiosis with soybean, we validated a recently published cumate-inducible hopanoid mutant of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, Pcu-shc::∆shc. GC-MS analysis showed that this strain does not produce hopanoids without cumate induction, and under this condition, is impaired in growth in rich medium and under osmotic, temperature, and pH stress. In planta, Pcu-shc::∆shc is an inefficient soybean symbiont with significantly lower rates of nitrogen fixation and low survival within the host tissue. RNA-seq revealed that hopanoid loss reduces the expression of flagellar motility and chemotaxis-related genes, further confirmed by swim plate assays, and enhances the expression of genes related to nitrogen metabolism and protein secretion. These results suggest that hopanoids provide a significant fitness advantage to B. diazoefficiens in legume hosts and provide a foundation for future mechanistic studies of hopanoid function in protein secretion and motility. A major problem for global sustainability is feeding our exponentially growing human population while available arable land decreases. Harnessing the power of plant-beneficial microbes is a potential solution, including increasing our reliance on the symbioses of leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. This study examines the role of hopanoid lipids in the symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, an important commercial inoculant strain, and its economically significant host soybean. Our research extends our knowledge of the functions of bacterial lipids in symbiosis to an agricultural context, which may one day help improve the practical applications of plant-beneficial microbes in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid38445332, year = {2024}, author = {Yao, Y and Han, B and Dong, X and Zhong, Y and Niu, S and Chen, X and Li, Z}, title = {Disentangling the variability of symbiotic nitrogen fixation rate and the controlling factors.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {e17206}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.17206}, pmid = {38445332}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {2022YFF0802104//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023YFE0105000//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; SWU-KR22019//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; SWU-XDZD22001//Innovation Research 2035 Pilot Plan of Southwest University/ ; }, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Biomass ; Earth, Planet ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation (SNF), replenishing bioavailable N for terrestrial ecosystems, exerts decisive roles in N cycling and gross primary production. Nevertheless, it remains unclear what determines the variability of SNF rate, which retards the accurate prediction for global N fixation in earth system models. This study synthesized 1230 isotopic observations to elucidate the governing factors underlying the variability of SNF rate. The SNF rates varied significantly from 3.69 to 12.54 g N m[-2] year[-1] across host plant taxa. The traits of host plant (e.g. biomass characteristics and taxa) far outweighed soil properties and climatic factors in explaining the variations of SNF rate, accounting for 79.0% of total relative importance. Furthermore, annual SNF yield contributed to more than half of N uptake for host plants, which was consistent across different ecosystem types. This study highlights that the biotic factors, especially host plant traits (e.g. biomass characteristics and taxa), play overriding roles in determining SNF rate compared with soil properties. The suite of parameters for SNF lends support to improve N fixation module in earth system models that can provide more confidence in predicting bioavailable N changes in terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38444282, year = {2024}, author = {van de Water, JAJM and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Bacterial symbionts of the precious coral Corallium rubrum are differentially distributed across colony-specific compartments and differ among colormorphs.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {e13236}, pmid = {38444282}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {//Chanel/ ; //Fondation Paul Hamel/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Prokaryotic Cells ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Corals engage in symbioses with micro-organisms that provide nutrients and protect the host. Where the prokaryotic microbes perform their symbiotic functions within a coral is, however, poorly understood. Here, we studied the tissue-specific microbiota of the coral Corallium rubrum by dissecting its tissues from the skeleton and separating the white polyps from the red-coloured coenenchyme, followed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding of the three fractions. Dissection was facilitated by incubating coral fragments in RNAlater, which caused tissues to detach from the skeleton. Our results show compartmentalisation of the microbiota. Specifically, Endozoicomonas, Parcubacteria and a Gammaproteobacteria were primarily located in polyps, whereas Nitrincolaceae and one Spirochaeta phylotype were found mainly in the coenenchyme. The skeleton-associated microbiota was distinct from the microbiota in the tissues. Given the difference in tissue colour and microbiota of the polyps and coenenchyme, we analysed the microbiota of three colormorphs of C. rubrum (red, pink, white), finding that the main difference was a very low abundance of Spirochaeta in white colormorphs. While the functions of C. rubrum's symbionts are unknown, their localisation within the colony suggests that microhabitats exist, and the presence of Spirochaeta appears to be linked to the colour of C. rubrum.}, } @article {pmid38444018, year = {2024}, author = {Sun, Y and Chen, C and Zeng, C and Xia, Q and Yuan, C and Pei, H}, title = {Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection shapes gut microbiome of the tick vector Haemaphysalis longicornis.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {107}, pmid = {38444018}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {HYYS2021A25//Innovative Research Project for Graduate Students of Hainan Medical University/ ; 82102433//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 822RC711//Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Animals ; *Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Haemaphysalis longicornis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Biomarkers ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ticks serve as vectors for a diverse array of pathogens, including viruses responsible for both human and livestock diseases. Symbiotic bacteria hold significant potential for controlling tick-borne disease. However, the alteration of tick gut bacterial community in response to pathogen infection has not been analyzed for any tick-borne viruses. Here, the impact of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection on bacterial diversity in the gut of Haemaphysalis longicornis is investigated.

METHODS: Unfed tick females were artificially infected with SFTSV. The gut samples were collected and the genomic DNA was extracted. We then investigated alterations in gut bacterial composition in response to SFTSV infection through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS: The study found that a reduction in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the tick gut following SFTSV infection. However, there were no significant changes in alpha diversity indices upon infection. Four genera, including Corynebacterium, Arthrobacter, Sphingomonas, and Escherichia, were identified as biomarkers for the tick gut without SFTSV infection. Notably, the predicted correlation network indicated that the biomarkers Sphingomonas and Escherichia exhibited positive correlations within the same subcommunity, which was altered upon viral infection.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings revealed that the change in tick gut bacterial composition upon SFTSV infection and could facilitate the discovery new target for tick-borne viral disease control.}, } @article {pmid38443788, year = {2024}, author = {Mierziak, J and Wojtasik, W}, title = {Epigenetic weapons of plants against fungal pathogens.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {175}, pmid = {38443788}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {2019/33/B/NZ9/00408//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/ ; 2019/33/B/NZ9/00408//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/ ; }, mesh = {*Genes, Plant ; Chromatin ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; *RNA, Small Untranslated ; }, abstract = {In the natural environment, plants face constant exposure to biotic stress caused by fungal attacks. The plant's response to various biotic stresses relies heavily on its ability to rapidly adjust the transcriptome. External signals are transmitted to the nucleus, leading to activation of transcription factors that subsequently enhance the expression of specific defense-related genes. Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modifications and DNA methylation, which are closely linked to chromatin states, regulate gene expression associated with defense against biotic stress. Additionally, chromatin remodelers and non-coding RNA play a significant role in plant defense against stressors. These molecular modifications enable plants to exhibit enhanced resistance and productivity under diverse environmental conditions. Epigenetic mechanisms also contribute to stress-induced environmental epigenetic memory and priming in plants, enabling them to recall past molecular experiences and utilize this stored information for adaptation to new conditions. In the arms race between fungi and plants, a significant aspect is the cross-kingdom RNAi mechanism, whereby sRNAs can traverse organismal boundaries. Fungi utilize sRNA as an effector molecule to silence plant resistance genes, while plants transport sRNA, primarily through extracellular vesicles, to pathogens in order to suppress virulence-related genes. In this review, we summarize contemporary knowledge on epigenetic mechanisms of plant defense against attack by pathogenic fungi. The role of epigenetic mechanisms during plant-fungus symbiotic interactions is also considered.}, } @article {pmid38443336, year = {2024}, author = {Khan, F and Lin, Y and Ali, H and Pang, L and Dunterman, M and Hsu, WH and Frenis, K and Grant Rowe, R and Wainwright, DA and McCortney, K and Billingham, LK and Miska, J and Horbinski, C and Lesniak, MS and Chen, P}, title = {Lactate dehydrogenase A regulates tumor-macrophage symbiosis to promote glioblastoma progression.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {1987}, pmid = {38443336}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS124594/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; *Glioblastoma/genetics ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Lactate Dehydrogenase 5 ; Lactic Acid ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Abundant macrophage infiltration and altered tumor metabolism are two key hallmarks of glioblastoma. By screening a cluster of metabolic small-molecule compounds, we show that inhibiting glioblastoma cell glycolysis impairs macrophage migration and lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor stiripentol emerges as the top hit. Combined profiling and functional studies demonstrate that lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)-directed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway activates yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) transcriptional co-activators in glioblastoma cells to upregulate C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and CCL7, which recruit macrophages into the tumor microenvironment. Reciprocally, infiltrating macrophages produce LDHA-containing extracellular vesicles to promote glioblastoma cell glycolysis, proliferation, and survival. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of LDHA-mediated tumor-macrophage symbiosis markedly suppresses tumor progression and macrophage infiltration in glioblastoma mouse models. Analysis of tumor and plasma samples of glioblastoma patients confirms that LDHA and its downstream signals are potential biomarkers correlating positively with macrophage density. Thus, LDHA-mediated tumor-macrophage symbiosis provides therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.}, } @article {pmid38442360, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, Y and Xu, N and Zhang, Z and Lei, C and Chen, B and Qin, G and Qiu, D and Lu, T and Qian, H}, title = {Deciphering Microbial Community and Nitrogen Fixation in the Legume Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09160}, pmid = {38442360}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Nitrogen is the most limiting factor in crop production. Legumes establish a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia and enhance nitrogen fixation. We analyzed 1,624 rhizosphere 16S rRNA gene samples and 113 rhizosphere metagenomic samples from three typical legumes and three non-legumes. The rhizosphere microbial community of the legumes had low diversity and was enriched with nitrogen-cycling bacteria (Sphingomonadaceae, Xanthobacteraceae, Rhizobiaceae, and Bacillaceae). Furthermore, the rhizosphere microbiota of legumes exhibited a high abundance of nitrogen-fixing genes, reflecting a stronger nitrogen-fixing potential, and Streptomycetaceae and Nocardioidaceae were the predominant nitrogen-fixing bacteria. We also identified helper bacteria and confirmed through metadata analysis and a pot experiment that the synthesis of riboflavin by helper bacteria is the key factor in promoting nitrogen fixation. Our study emphasizes that the construction of synthetic communities of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and helper bacteria is crucial for the development of efficient nitrogen-fixing microbial fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid38442178, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, Z and Agarwal, V and Cong, Y and Pomponi, SA and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Short macrocyclic peptides in sponge genomes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {11}, pages = {e2314383121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2314383121}, pmid = {38442178}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {CHE2003756//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; CHE2004030//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {Sponges (Porifera) contain many peptide-specialized metabolites with potent biological activities and significant roles in shaping marine ecology. It is well established that symbiotic bacteria produce bioactive "sponge" peptides, both on the ribosome (RiPPs) and nonribosomally. Here, we demonstrate that sponges themselves also produce many bioactive macrocyclic peptides, such as phakellistatins and related proline-rich macrocyclic peptides (PRMPs). Using the Stylissa carteri sponge transcriptome, methods were developed to find sequences encoding 46 distinct RiPP-type core peptides, of which ten encoded previously identified PRMP sequences. With this basis set, the genome and transcriptome of the sponge Axinella corrugata was interrogated to find 35 PRMP precursor peptides encoding 31 unique core peptide sequences. At least 11 of these produced cyclic peptides that were present in the sponge and could be characterized by mass spectrometry, including stylissamides A-D and seven previously undescribed compounds. Precursor peptides were encoded in the A. corrugata genome, confirming their animal origin. The peptides contained signal peptide sequences and highly repetitive recognition sequence-core peptide elements with up to 25 PRMP copies in a single precursor. In comparison to sponges without PRMPs, PRMP sponges are incredibly enriched in potentially secreted polypeptides, with >23,000 individual signal peptide encoding genes found in a single transcriptome. The similarities between PRMP biosynthetic genes and neuropeptides in terms of their biosynthetic logic suggest a fundamental biology linked to circular peptides, possibly indicating a widespread and underappreciated diversity of signaling peptide post-translational modifications across the animal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid38442144, year = {2024}, author = {Vardas, PE}, title = {Leadless and scarless pacing: towards symbiotic nanogenerators.}, journal = {European heart journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/eurheartj/ehae124}, pmid = {38442144}, issn = {1522-9645}, } @article {pmid38441978, year = {2024}, author = {Schwob, G and Cabrol, L and Saucède, T and Gérard, K and Poulin, E and Orlando, J}, title = {Unveiling the co-phylogeny signal between plunderfish Harpagifer spp. and their gut microbiomes across the Southern Ocean.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0383023}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03830-23}, pmid = {38441978}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Understanding the factors that sculpt fish gut microbiome is challenging, especially in natural populations characterized by high environmental and host genomic complexity. However, closely related hosts are valuable models for deciphering the contribution of host evolutionary history to microbiome assembly, through the underscoring of phylosymbiosis and co-phylogeny patterns. Here, we propose that the recent diversification of several Harpagifer species across the Southern Ocean would allow the detection of robust phylogenetic congruence between the host and its microbiome. We characterized the gut mucosa microbiome of 77 individuals from four field-collected species of the plunderfish Harpagifer (Teleostei, Notothenioidei), distributed across three biogeographic regions of the Southern Ocean. We found that seawater physicochemical properties, host phylogeny, and geography collectively explained 35% of the variation in bacterial community composition in Harpagifer gut mucosa. The core microbiome of Harpagifer spp. gut mucosa was characterized by a low diversity, mostly driven by selective processes, and dominated by a single Aliivibrio Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) detected in more than 80% of the individuals. Nearly half of the core microbiome taxa, including Aliivibrio, harbored co-phylogeny signal at microdiversity resolution with host phylogeny, indicating an intimate symbiotic relationship and a shared evolutionary history with Harpagifer. The clear phylosymbiosis and co-phylogeny signals underscore the relevance of the Harpagifer model in understanding the role of fish evolutionary history in shaping the gut microbiome assembly. We propose that the recent diversification of Harpagifer may have led to the diversification of Aliivibrio, exhibiting patterns that mirror the host phylogeny.

IMPORTANCE: Although challenging to detect in wild populations, phylogenetic congruence between marine fish and its microbiome is critical, as it highlights intimate associations between hosts and ecologically relevant microbial symbionts. Our study leverages a natural system of closely related fish species in the Southern Ocean to unveil new insights into the contribution of host evolutionary trajectory on gut microbiome assembly, an underappreciated driver of the global marine fish holobiont. Notably, we unveiled striking evidence of co-diversification between Harpagifer and its microbiome, demonstrating both phylosymbiosis of gut bacterial communities and co-phylogeny of some specific bacterial symbionts, mirroring the host diversification patterns. Given Harpagifer's significance as a trophic resource in coastal areas and its vulnerability to climatic and anthropic pressures, understanding the potential evolutionary interdependence between the hosts and its microbiome provides valuable microbial candidates for future monitoring, as they may play a pivotal role in host species acclimatization to a rapidly changing environment.}, } @article {pmid38441669, year = {2024}, author = {Plett, JM and Wojtalewicz, D and Plett, KL and Collin, S and Kohler, A and Jacob, C and Martin, F}, title = {Sesquiterpenes of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus alter root growth and promote host colonization.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38441669}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {DE150100408//Australian Research Council/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; }, abstract = {Trees form symbioses with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, maintained in part through mutual benefit to both organisms. Our understanding of the signaling events leading to the successful interaction between the two partners requires further study. This is especially true for understanding the role of volatile signals produced by ECM fungi. Terpenoids are a predominant class of volatiles produced by ECM fungi. While several ECM genomes are enriched in the enzymes responsible for the production of these volatiles (i.e., terpene synthases (TPSs)) when compared to other fungi, we have limited understanding of the biochemical products associated with each enzyme and the physiological impact of specific terpenes on plant growth. Using a combination of phylogenetic analyses, RNA sequencing, and functional characterization of five TPSs from two distantly related ECM fungi (Laccaria bicolor and Pisolithus microcarpus), we investigated the role of these secondary metabolites during the establishment of symbiosis. We found that despite phylogenetic divergence, these TPSs produced very similar terpene profiles. We focused on the role of P. microcarpus terpenes and found that the fungus expressed a diverse array of mono-, di-, and sesquiterpenes prior to contact with the host. However, these metabolites were repressed following physical contact with the host Eucalyptus grandis. Exposure of E. grandis to heterologously produced terpenes (enriched primarily in γ -cadinene) led to a reduction in the root growth rate and an increase in P. microcarpus-colonized root tips. These results support a very early putative role of fungal-produced terpenes in the establishment of symbiosis between mycorrhizal fungi and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid38441381, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, K and Gu, X and Yang, S and Tao, R and Fan, M and Bao, W and Wang, X}, title = {Research progress on intestinal tissue-resident memory T cells in inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of immunology}, volume = {98}, number = {6}, pages = {e13332}, doi = {10.1111/sji.13332}, pmid = {38441381}, issn = {1365-3083}, support = {BJ2020024//Wuxi 'double hundred' middle-aged and young medical and health top-notch talents/ ; CXTD2021020//Wuxi innovation team construction/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Memory T Cells ; Intestines ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Inflammation ; }, abstract = {Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are a recently discovered subpopulation of memory T cells that reside in non-lymphoid tissues such as the intestine and skin and do not enter the bloodstream. The intestine encounters numerous pathogens daily. Intestinal mucosal immunity requires a balance between immune responses to pathogens and tolerance to food antigens and symbiotic microbiota. Therefore, intestinal TRM cells exhibit unique characteristics. In healthy intestines, TRM cells induce necessary inflammation to strengthen the intestinal barrier and inhibit bacterial translocation. During intestinal infections, TRM cells rapidly eliminate pathogens by proliferating, releasing cytokines, and recruiting other immune cells. Moreover, certain TRM cell subsets may have regulatory functions. The involvement of TRM cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly recognized as a critical factor. In IBD, the number of pro-inflammatory TRM cells increases, whereas the number of regulatory subgroups decreases. Additionally, the classic markers, CD69 and CD103, are not ideal for intestinal TRM cells. Here, we review the phenotype, development, maintenance, and function of intestinal TRM cells, as well as the latest findings in the context of IBD. Further understanding of the function of intestinal TRM cells and distinguishing their subgroups is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies to target these cells.}, } @article {pmid38441172, year = {2024}, author = {Arellano, AA and Young, EB and Coon, KL}, title = {An inquiline mosquito modulates microbial diversity and function in an aquatic microecosystem.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17314}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17314}, pmid = {38441172}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {GT14993/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; NIGMS-5-T32 GM135066/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Understanding microbial roles in ecosystem function requires integrating microscopic processes into food webs. The carnivorous pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, offers a tractable study system where diverse food webs of macroinvertebrates and microbes facilitate digestion of captured insect prey, releasing nutrients supporting the food web and host plant. However, how interactions between these macroinvertebrate and microbial communities contribute to ecosystem functions remains unclear. We examined the role of the pitcher plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii, in top-down control of the composition and function of pitcher plant microbial communities. Mosquito larval abundance was enriched or depleted across a natural population of S. purpurea pitchers over a 74-day field experiment. Bacterial community composition and microbial community function were characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and profiling of carbon substrate use, bulk metabolic rate, hydrolytic enzyme activity, and macronutrient pools. Bacterial communities changed from pitcher opening to maturation, but larvae exerted minor effects on high-level taxonomic composition. Higher larval abundance was associated with lower diversity communities with distinct functions and elevated nitrogen availability. Treatment-independent clustering also supported roles for larvae in curating pitcher microbial communities through shifts in community diversity and function. These results demonstrate top-down control of microbial functions in an aquatic microecosystem.}, } @article {pmid38440859, year = {2024}, author = {Duan, L and Shao, C and Liao, J and Song, L and Zhang, Y and Li, R and Guo, S and Zhou, X and Zhou, H}, title = {A P2/P3 Biphasic Layered Oxide Composite as a High-Energy and Long-Cycle-Life Cathode for Potassium-Ion Batteries.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202400868}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202400868}, pmid = {38440859}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {Layered transition metal oxides are extensively considered as appealing cathode candidates for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to their abundant raw materials and low cost, but their further implementations are limited by slow dynamics and impoverished structural stability. Herein, a layered composite having a P2 and P3 symbiotic structure is designed and synthesized to realize PIBs with large energy density and long-term cycling stability. The unique intergrowth of P2 and P3 phases in the obtained layered oxide is plainly characterized by X-ray diffraction refinement, high-angle annular dark field and annular bright field-scanning transmission electron microscopy at atomic resolution, and Fourier transformation images. The synergistic effect of the two phases of this layered P2/P3 composite is well demonstrated in K+ intercalation/extraction process. The as-prepared layered composite can present a large discharge capacity with the remarkable energy density of 321 Wh kg -1 and also manifest excellent capacity preservation after 600 cycles of K+ uptake/removal.}, } @article {pmid38440144, year = {2024}, author = {Xi, M and Yan, Y and Duan, S and Li, T and Szeto, IM and Zhao, A}, title = {Short-chain fatty acids in breast milk and their relationship with the infant gut microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1356462}, pmid = {38440144}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contained in breast milk play a key role in infant growth, affecting metabolism and enhancing intestinal immunity by regulating inflammation.

METHODS: In order to examine the associations between the microbiota and SCFA levels in breast milk, and explore the roles of SCFAs in regulating the infant gut microbiota, we enrolled 50 paired mothers and infants and collected both breast milk and infant fecal samples. Breast milk SCFA contents were determined by UPLC-MS, and whole genome shotgun sequencing was applied to determine the microbial composition of breast milk and infant feces. The SCFA levels in breast milk were grouped into tertiles as high, medium, or low, and the differences of intestinal microbiota and KEGG pathways were compared among groups.

RESULTS: The results demonstrated that breast milk butyric acid (C4) is significantly associated with Clostridium leptum richness in breastmilk. Additionally, the specific Bifidobacterium may have an interactive symbiosis with the main species of C4-producing bacteria in human milk. Women with a low breast milk C4 tertile are associated with a high abundance of Salmonella and Salmonella enterica in their infants' feces. KEGG pathway analysis further showed that the content of C4 in breast milk is significantly correlated with the infants' metabolic pathways of lysine and arginine biosynthesis.

DISCUSSION: This study suggests that interactive symbiosis of the microbiota exists in breast milk. Certain breast milk microbes could be beneficial by producing C4 and further influence the abundance of certain gut microbes in infants, playing an important role in early immune and metabolic development.}, } @article {pmid38439943, year = {2024}, author = {González Porras, MÁ and Pons, I and García-Lozano, M and Jagdale, S and Emmerich, C and Weiss, B and Salem, H}, title = {Extracellular symbiont colonizes insect during embryo development.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {ycae005}, pmid = {38439943}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Insects typically acquire their beneficial microbes early in development. Endosymbionts housed intracellularly are commonly integrated during oogenesis or embryogenesis, whereas extracellular microbes are only known to be acquired after hatching by immature instars such as larvae or nymphs. Here, however, we report on an extracellular symbiont that colonizes its host during embryo development. Tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) host their digestive bacterial symbiont Stammera extracellularly within foregut symbiotic organs and in ovary-associated glands to ensure its vertical transmission. We outline the initial stages of symbiont colonization and observe that although the foregut symbiotic organs develop 3 days prior to larval emergence, they remain empty until the final 24 h of embryo development. Infection by Stammera occurs during that timeframe and prior to hatching. By experimentally manipulating symbiont availability to embryos in the egg, we describe a 12-h developmental window governing colonization by Stammera. Symbiotic organs form normally in aposymbiotic larvae, demonstrating that these Stammera-bearing structures develop autonomously. In adults, the foregut symbiotic organs are already colonized following metamorphosis and host a stable Stammera population to facilitate folivory. The ovary-associated glands, however, initially lack Stammera. Symbiont abundance subsequently increases within these transmission organs, thereby ensuring sufficient titers at the onset of oviposition ~29 days following metamorphosis. Collectively, our findings reveal that Stammera colonization precedes larval emergence, where its proliferation is eventually decoupled in adult beetles to match the nutritional and reproductive requirements of its host.}, } @article {pmid38439620, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, F and Zou, D and Wang, J and Xiong, B and Gao, L and Guo, P and Du, H and Ma, M and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Co-inoculation of rhizobia and AMF improves growth, nutrient uptake, and cadmium resistance of black locust grown in sand culture.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {176}, number = {2}, pages = {e14205}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.14205}, pmid = {38439620}, issn = {1399-3054}, support = {cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0020//"Prominent Scientist Program" of Chongqing Talents/ ; SWU019019//Foreign Talent Introduction Project of Southwest University/ ; 42177198//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202210635009//National College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program/ ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic microorganisms important for plants grown in nutrient-deficient and heavy metal-contaminated soils. However, it remains unclear how plants respond to the coupled stress by heavy metal and nitrogen (N) deficiency under co-inoculation. Here, we investigated the synergistic effect of Mesorhizobium huakuii QD9 and Funneliformis mosseae on the response of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) grown in sand culture to cadmium (Cd) under N deficiency conditions. The results showed that single inoculation of AMF improved the growth and Cd resistance of black locust, co-inoculation improved the most. Compared to non-inoculated controls, co-inoculation mediated higher biomass and antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced oxidative stress, and promoted nodulation, mycorrhizal colonization, photosynthetic capacity, and N, P, Fe and Mg acquisition when exposed to Cd. This increase was significantly higher under N deficiency compared to N sufficiency. In addition, the uptake of Cd by co-inoculated black locust roots increased, but Cd translocation to the above-ground decreased under both N deficiency and sufficiency. Thus, in the tripartite symbiotic system, not merely metabolic processes but also Cd uptake increased under N deficiency. However, enhanced Cd detoxification in the roots and reduced allocation to the shoot likely prevent Cd toxicity and rather stimulated growth under these conditions.}, } @article {pmid38439579, year = {2024}, author = {Tang, W and Wei, Y and Ni, Z and Hou, K and Luo, XM and Wang, H}, title = {IgA-mediated control of host-microbial interaction during weaning reaction influences gut inflammation.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {2323220}, doi = {10.1080/19490976.2024.2323220}, pmid = {38439579}, issn = {1949-0984}, abstract = {The mechanisms of how host-microbe mutualistic relationships are established at weaning contingently upon B-cell surveillance remain inadequately elucidated. We found that CD138[+] plasmacyte (PC)-mediated promotion of IgA response regulates the symbiosis between Bacteroides uniformis (B. uniformis) and the host during the weaning period. The IgA-skewed response of CD138[+] PCs is essential for B. uniformis to occupy a defined gut luminal niche, thereby fostering stable colonization. Furthermore, B. uniformis within the natural gut niche was perturbed in the absence of IgA, resulting in exacerbated gut inflammation in IgA-deficient mice and weaned piglets. Thus, we propose that the priming and maintenance of intestinal IgA response from CD138[+] PCs are required for host-microbial symbiosis, whereas the perturbation of which would enhance inflammation in weaning process.}, } @article {pmid38438489, year = {2024}, author = {Voolstra, CR and Raina, JB and Dörr, M and Cárdenas, A and Pogoreutz, C and Silveira, CB and Mohamed, AR and Bourne, DG and Luo, H and Amin, SA and Peixoto, RS}, title = {The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38438489}, issn = {1740-1534}, abstract = {Stony corals, the engines and engineers of reef ecosystems, face unprecedented threats from anthropogenic environmental change. Corals are holobionts that comprise the cnidarian animal host and a diverse community of bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microorganisms. Recent research shows that the bacterial microbiome has a pivotal role in coral biology. A healthy bacterial assemblage contributes to nutrient cycling and stress resilience, but pollution, overfishing and climate change can break down these symbiotic relationships, which results in disease, bleaching and, ultimately, coral death. Although progress has been made in characterizing the spatial-temporal diversity of bacteria, we are only beginning to appreciate their functional contribution. In this Review, we summarize the ecological and metabolic interactions between bacteria and other holobiont members, highlight the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the structure of bacterial communities and discuss the impact of climate change on these communities and their coral hosts. We emphasize how microbiome-based interventions can help to decipher key mechanisms underpinning coral health and promote reef resilience. Finally, we explore how recent technological developments may be harnessed to address some of the most pressing challenges in coral microbiology, providing a road map for future research in this field.}, } @article {pmid38438136, year = {2024}, author = {Kawade, K and Sugiura, D and Oikawa, A and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Control of root nodule formation ensures sufficient shoot water availability in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiae126}, pmid = {38438136}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Leguminous plants provide carbon to symbiotic rhizobia in root nodules to fuel the energy-consuming process of nitrogen fixation. The carbon investment pattern from the acquired sources is crucial for shaping the growth regime of the host plants. The autoregulation of nodulation (AON) signaling pathway tightly regulates the number of nodules that form. AON disruption leads to excessive nodule formation and stunted shoot growth. However, the physiological role of AON in adjusting the carbon investment pattern is unknown. Here, we show that AON plays an important role in sustaining shoot water availability, which is essential for promoting carbon investment in shoot growth in Lotus japonicus. We found that AON-defective mutants exhibit substantial accumulation of non-structural carbohydrates, such as sucrose. Consistent with this metabolic signature, resilience against water-deficit stress was enhanced in the shoots of the AON-defective mutants. Furthermore, the water uptake ability was attenuated in the AON-defective mutants, likely due to the increased ratio of nodulation zone, which is covered with hydrophobic surfaces, on the roots. These results increase our physiological understanding of legume-rhizobia symbiosis by revealing a trade-off between root nodule formation and shoot water availability.}, } @article {pmid38437561, year = {2024}, author = {Jang, S and Ishigami, K and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Ingested soil bacteria breach gut epithelia and prime systemic immunity in an insect.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {11}, pages = {e2315540121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2315540121}, pmid = {38437561}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {21F21090//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22KJ0057//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 21K18241//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)/ ; 22H05068//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)/ ; 22B303//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0007//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; }, abstract = {Insects lack acquired immunity and were thought to have no immune memory, but recent studies reported a phenomenon called immune priming, wherein sublethal dose of pathogens or nonpathogenic microbes stimulates immunity and prevents subsequential pathogen infection. Although the evidence for insect immune priming is accumulating, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris acquires its gut microbiota from ambient soil and spatially structures them into a multispecies and variable community in the anterior midgut and a specific, monospecies Caballeronia symbiont population in the posterior region. We demonstrate that a particular Burkholderia strain colonizing the anterior midgut stimulates systemic immunity by penetrating gut epithelia and migrating into the hemolymph. The activated immunity, consisting of a humoral and a cellular response, had no negative effect on the host fitness, but on the contrary protected the insect from subsequent infection by pathogenic bacteria. Interruption of contact between the Burkholderia strain and epithelia of the gut weakened the host immunity back to preinfection levels and made the insects more vulnerable to microbial infection, demonstrating that persistent acquisition of environmental bacteria is important to maintain an efficient immunity.}, } @article {pmid38435688, year = {2024}, author = {Baños-Quintana, AP and Gershenzon, J and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {The Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus shapes the microbial communities of its offspring and the gallery environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1367127}, pmid = {38435688}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is currently the most economically relevant pest of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Ips typographus associates with filamentous fungi that may help it overcome the tree's chemical defenses. However, the involvement of other microbial partners in this pest's ecological success is unclear. To understand the dynamics of the bark beetle-associated microbiota, we characterized the bacterial and fungal communities of wild-collected and lab-reared beetles throughout their development by culture-dependent approaches, meta-barcoding, and quantitative PCR. Gammaproteobacteria dominated the bacterial communities, while the fungal communities were mainly composed of yeasts of the Saccharomycetales order. A stable core of microbes is shared by all life stages, and is distinct from those associated with the surrounding bark, indicating that Ips typographus influences the microbial communities of its environment and offspring. These findings coupled with our observations of maternal behavior, suggest that Ips typographus transfers part of its microbiota to eggs via deposition of an egg plug treated with maternal secretions, and by inducing an increase in abundance of a subset of taxa from the adjacent bark.}, } @article {pmid38435473, year = {2024}, author = {Han, R and Yang, Z and Wang, C and Zhu, S and Tang, G and Shen, X and Duanmu, D and Cao, Y and Huang, R}, title = {Wild species rice OsCERK1[DY]-mediated arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis boosts yield and nutrient use efficiency in rice breeding.}, journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {22}, pmid = {38435473}, issn = {1572-9788}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Meeting the ever-increasing food demands of a growing global population while ensuring resource and environmental sustainability presents significant challenges for agriculture worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) has emerged as a potential solution by increasing the surface area of a plant's root system and enhancing the absorption of phosphorus, nitrogen nutrients, and water. Consequently, there is a longstanding hypothesis that rice varieties exhibiting more efficient AMS could yield higher outputs at reduced input costs, paving the way for the development of Green Super Rice (GSR). Our prior research study identified a variant, OsCERK1[DY], derived from Dongxiang wild-type rice, which notably enhanced AMS efficiency in the rice cultivar "ZZ35." This variant represents a promising gene for enhancing yield and nutrient use efficiency in rice breeding. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of biomass, crop growth characteristics, yield attributes, and nutrient absorption at varying soil nitrogen levels in the rice cultivar "ZZ35" and its chromosome single-segment substitution line, "GJDN1." In the field, GJDN1 exhibited a higher AM colonization level in its roots compared with ZZ35. Notably, GJDN1 displayed significantly higher effective panicle numbers and seed-setting rates than ZZ35. Moreover, the yield of GJDN1 with 75% nitrogen was 14.27% greater than the maximum yield achieved using ZZ35. At equivalent nitrogen levels, GJDN1 consistently outperformed ZZ35 in chlorophyll (Chl) content, dry matter accumulation, major nutrient element accumulation, N agronomic efficiency (NAE), N recovery efficiency (NRE), and N partial factor productivity (NPFP). The performance of OsCERK1[DY] overexpression lines corroborated these findings. These results support a model wherein the heightened level of AMS mediated by OsCERK1[DY] contributes to increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium accumulation. This enhancement in nutrient utilization promotes higher fertilizer efficiency, dry matter accumulation, and ultimately, rice yield. Consequently, the OsCERK1[DY] gene emerges as a robust candidate for improving yield, reducing fertilizer usage, and facilitating a transition towards greener, lower-carbon agriculture.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01459-8.}, } @article {pmid38435008, year = {2024}, author = {Rautiainen, M and Kuusinen, N and Majasalmi, T}, title = {Remote sensing and spectroscopy of lichens.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e11110}, pmid = {38435008}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Lichens are combinations of two symbiotic organisms, a green alga or cyanobacterium and a fungus. They grow in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems and survive in habitats, which are very dry or cold, or too poor in nutrients to maintain vegetation growth. Because lichens grow on visible surfaces and exhibit spectral properties, which are clearly different from, for example, vegetation, it is possible to distinguish them in remote sensing data. In this first systematic review article on remote sensing of lichens, we analyze and summarize which lichen species or genera, and in which habitats and geographical regions, have been remotely sensed, and which remote sensing or spectroscopic technologies have been used. We found that laboratory or in situ measured spectra of over 70 lichen species have been reported to date. We show that studies on remote sensing of lichens fall under seven broad themes: (1) collection of lichen spectra for quantification of lichen species or characteristics, (2) pollution monitoring with lichens as ecological indicators, (3) geological and lithological mapping, (4) desert and dryland monitoring, (5) animal habitat monitoring, (6) land cover or vegetation mapping, and (7) surface energy budget modeling.}, } @article {pmid38434990, year = {2024}, author = {Abe, T and Kubota, K and Nakamura, T and Kitabatake, Y and Furusawa, H and Hamaguchi, T and Kanemura, N and Amakusa, Y}, title = {Changes in caregiving risk and motor function among older adults participating in community gatherings in Koshigaya city.}, journal = {Journal of physical therapy science}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {117-122}, pmid = {38434990}, issn = {0915-5287}, abstract = {[Purpose] This study investigated the changes in caregiving risk and motor function among older adults participating in community gatherings ("Kayoinoba") in Koshigaya. [Participants and Methods] A total of 257 older participants who engaged in the Kayoinoba program for 6 months from its inception were included in the analysis. Caregiving risk and motor function were assessed twice-once at the beginning of the Kayoinoba (first assessment) and again 6 months later (second assessment). The Kihon Checklist was used to evaluate caregiving risk, and the timed up-and-go, one-leg standing, and 30-s chair-stand tests were done to evaluate motor functioning. Participants were divided into pre-frail and healthy groups, and the first and second assessments were compared. [Results] The Kihon Checklist score of the pre-frail group significantly improved from the first to the second assessment. The pre-frail group had lower composite scores for physical function, outdoor activities, and depression mood items based on the Kihon Checklist; the healthy group showed no such differences. Performance on the 30-s chair-stand test was significantly better in the second assessment than in the first assessment in both groups. [Conclusion] The findings of this study emphasize the benefits of participating in Kayoinoba among high-risk older adults and provide the knowledge for developing a healthier community-based symbiotic society.}, } @article {pmid38434188, year = {2024}, author = {Das, S and Sarkar, S}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal contribution towards plant resilience to drought conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {1355999}, pmid = {38434188}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Climate changes cause altering rainfall patterns resulting in an increase in drought occurrences globally. These events are disrupting plants and agricultural productivity. To evade droughts, plants try to adapt and modify in the best capacities possible. The plants have adapted by structurally modifying roots, stems, and leaves, as well as modifying functions. Lately, the association of microbial communities with plants has also been proven to be an important factor in aiding resilience. The fungal representatives of the microbial community also help safeguard the plants against drought. We discuss how these fungi associate with plants and contribute to evading drought stress. We specifically focus on Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mediated mechanisms involving antioxidant defenses, phytohormone mediations, osmotic adjustments, proline expressions, fungal water absorption and transport, morphological modifications, and photosynthesis. We believe understanding the mechanisms would help us to optimize the use of fungi in agricultural practices. That way we could better prepare the plants for the anticipated future drought events.}, } @article {pmid38433111, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, H and Zhang, J and Tong, Y and Luan, Z and Hou, J and Luan, F}, title = {Genomic insights into combating anthracnose with an endophytic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-06-23-1169-SC}, pmid = {38433111}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a common disease of Camellia oleifera. In this study, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain, GZY63, was isolated from fruit of the anthracnose-resistant cultivar of Ca. oleifera "Ganzhouyou7". Plate confrontation assays and field experiments demonstrated the strong inhibitory effect of GZY63 on anthracnose, and this strain exhibited broad-spectrum resistance to nine pathogenic Colletotrichum spp. This strain shows the potential as a fungicide alternative, but genetic information on this strain is critical for its optimal use. Combining Illumina and Nanopore sequencing, we assembled a high-quality circular genome of GZY63 that contained no plasmids. The GZY63 complete genome was approximately 3.93 Mb and had an average guanine-cytosine content of 46.5%. The genome comprised 4024 predicted coding sequences and 12 types of gene clusters involved in secondary metabolite production. This genome information provides insights into the mechanism underlying the antagonistic impact of the GZY63 strain on anthracnose and its symbiotic relationship with Ca. oleifera.}, } @article {pmid38430942, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, YN and Dong, SR and OuYang, HL and Yang, T and Wang, Y}, title = {Tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater in an IBFR dominated by PD/A with unique niche.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {141563}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141563}, pmid = {38430942}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {To explore the feasibility of biofilter reactor to treat municipal secondary effluent deeply without extra carbon source, this paper proposed an integrated biofilter reactor (IBFR) coupling partial denitrification (PD) with anammox (A) to treat the secondary effluent and raw sewage with the flow ratio of 3:1 together. The results show that the effluent concentration of TN and COD in IBFR could be reduced to 10 mg/L and was 15 mg/L, respectively, under hydraulic retention time of 1.5 h and nitrogen loading rate of 0.55 kg/(m[3]·d). The highest specific anammox activity (19.2 mg N/(g TVS·d)) and the maximum extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content (107.21 mg/g TVS) occurred at the 25-50 cm section of IBFR, where Thauera, Candidatus Anammoximicrobium and Candidatus Brocadia were the dominant denitrifiers and anammox bacteria. Furthermore, the cyclic self-stratification occurred along the reactor height, where the utilization, decomposition, transformation and cross-feeding of EPS enhanced the performance stability of nitrogen and carbon removal, strengthened the niche structure and promoted the synergistic symbiosis. In conclusion, IBFR coupling PD and A demonstrated the possibility to treat secondary effluent without additional carbon sources, which is expected as an alternative approach for tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater.}, } @article {pmid38430785, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, W and Xia, K and Feng, Z and Qin, Y and Zhou, Y and Feng, G and Zhu, H and Yao, Q}, title = {Tomato plant growth promotion and drought tolerance conferred by three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is mediated by lipid metabolism.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {108478}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108478}, pmid = {38430785}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote plant growth and enhance plant drought tolerance with varying effect size among different fungal species. However, the linkage between the variation and the lipid metabolism, which is exclusively derived from plants, has been little explored thus far. Here, we established AM symbiosis between tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants and three AMF species (Rhizophagus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis) under well watered (WW) or drought stressed (DS) conditions in pot experiment. The plant biomass, chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm, shoot P content and mycorrhizal colonization were determined. Meanwhile, fatty acid (FA) profiles and relative expression of genes encoding for nutrition exchange (SlPT4, SlPT5, RAM2, STR/STR2) in roots were also monitored. DS significantly decreased plant biomass while AMF significantly increased it, with three fungal species varying in their growth promoting capacity and drought tolerance capacity. The growth promoting effect of R. irregularis was lower than those of R. intraradices and F. mosseae, and was associated with higher mycorrhizal colonization and more consumption of lipids. However, the drought tolerance capacity of R. irregularis was greater than those of R. intraradices and F. mosseae, and was associated with less decrease in mycorrhizal colonization and lipid content. We also found that AMF mediated plant drought tolerance via regulating both AM specific FAs and non-AM specific FAs in a complementary manner. These data suggest that lipid metabolism in AM plays a crucial role in plant drought tolerance mediated by AMF.}, } @article {pmid38430379, year = {2024}, author = {Nanjareddy, K and Guerrero-Carrillo, MF and Lara, M and Arthikala, MK}, title = {Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of the Amino Acid Transporter (AAT) gene family and their roles during Phaseolus vulgaris symbioses.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {47}, pmid = {38430379}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Symbiosis/genetics ; *Phaseolus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Amino Acid Transport Systems/genetics ; Cell Membrane ; *Arabidopsis ; *Rhizobium ; }, abstract = {Amino acid transporters (AATs) are essential integral membrane proteins that serve multiple roles, such as facilitating the transport of amino acids across cell membranes. They play a crucial role in the growth and development of plants. Phaseolus vulgaris, a significant legume crop, serves as a valuable model for studying root symbiosis. In this study, we have conducted an exploration of the AAT gene family in P. vulgaris. In this research, we identified 84 AAT genes within the P. vulgaris genome sequence and categorized them into 12 subfamilies based on their similarity and phylogenetic relationships with AATs found in Arabidopsis and rice. Interestingly, these AAT genes were not evenly distributed across the chromosomes of P. vulgaris . Instead, there was an unusual concentration of these genes located toward the outer edges of chromosomal arms. Upon conducting motif analysis and gene structural analysis, we observed a consistent presence of similar motifs and an intron-exon distribution pattern among the subfamilies. When we analyzed the expression profiles of PvAAT genes, we noted tissue-specific expression patterns. Furthermore, our investigation into AAT gene expression under rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbiotic conditions revealed that certain genes exhibited high levels of expression. Specifically, ATLa5 and LHT2 was notably upregulated under both symbiotic conditions. These findings point towards a potential role of AATs in the context of rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbiosis in P. vulgaris, in addition to their well-established regulatory functions.}, } @article {pmid38429120, year = {2024}, author = {Qiao, J and Liu, S and Huang, Y and Zhu, X and Xue, C and Wang, Y and Xiong, H and Yao, J}, title = {Glycolysis-non-canonical glutamine dual-metabolism regulation nanodrug enhanced the phototherapy effect for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment.}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.141}, pmid = {38429120}, issn = {1095-7103}, abstract = {Clinical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treatment is severely limited by lack of effective KRAS suppression strategies. To address this dilemma, a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive and PDAC-targeted nanodrug named Z/B-PLS was constructed to confront KRAS through dual-blockade of its downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK for enhanced PDAC treatment. Specifically, photosensitizer zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 (BEZ) were co-loaded into PLS which was constructed by click chemistry conjugating MEK inhibitor selumetinib (SEL) to low molecular weight heparin with ROS-responsive oxalate bond. The BEZ and SEL blocked PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK respectively to remodel glycolysis and non-canonical glutamine metabolism. ZnPc mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) could enhance drug release through ROS generation, further facilitating KRAS downstream dual-blockade to create treatment-promoting drug delivery-therapeutic positive feedback. Benefiting from this broad metabolic modulation cascade, the metabolic symbiosis between normoxic and hypoxic tumor cells was also cut off simultaneously and effective tumor vascular normalization effects could be achieved. As a result, PDT was dramatically promoted through glycolysis-non-canonical glutamine dual-metabolism regulation, achieving complete elimination of tumors in vivo. Above all, this study achieved effective multidimensional metabolic modulation based on integrated smart nanodrug delivery, helping overcome the therapeutic challenges posed by KRAS mutations of PDAC.}, } @article {pmid38428606, year = {2024}, author = {Augustynowicz, J and Kowalczyk, A and Latowski, D and Kołton, A and Sitek, E and Kostecka-Gugała, A}, title = {Do chromium-resistant bacterial symbionts of hyperaccumulator Callitriche cophocarpa support their host in phytobial remediation of water?.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {922}, number = {}, pages = {171327}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171327}, pmid = {38428606}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Callitriche cophocarpa Sendtn. is a macrophyte widely distributed in aquatic systems of the temperate climate zone and a known hyperaccumulator of chromium. Ten pure symbiotic bacterial isolates of C. cophocarpa were obtained and identified. Three of the isolates showed the highest resistance to Cr(VI): Microbacterium sp. (Ct1), Aeromonas sp. (Ct3) and Acinetobacter sp. (Ct6). Acinetobacter sp. (Ct6) was able to survive up to a concentration of 104 mg/L (2 mM). The isolates were also able to effectively detoxify Cr(VI) by reducing it to Cr(III). We tested whether inoculation of plants with a consortium consisting of Ct1, Ct3 and Ct6 affects: (1) the phytoextraction of chromium from leachates, (2) the physiological state of plants after Cr(VI) treatment. The solutions were landfill leachates and contained 10.7 mg/L of Cr(VI) - an amount 530 times exceeding the legal limits. We influenced the plants with Cr in two steps, each lasting for 10 days, first using mature shoots and then apical ones. The highest Cr content concomitant with the highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) were found in the inoculated plants: 1274 and 119 mg/kg dry mass (d.m.), respectively. The physiological status of the plants was assessed by biometric tests and advanced chlorophyll fluorescence analyses. The photosynthetic activity of mature shoots was influenced by Cr(VI) more negatively than that of young apical shoots. The inoculation with the bacterial consortium significantly reduced the negative effect of Cr(VI) on mature organs. In some cases the inoculated mature plants exhibited photosynthetic activity that was even higher than in the control plants. The results unequivocally show a beneficial effect of C. cophocarpa inoculation with the tested isolates resulting in a significant improvement of the phytoremediation properties of this aquatic chromium hyperaccumulator.}, } @article {pmid38428592, year = {2024}, author = {Qin, B and Yu, K and Fu, Y and Zhou, Y and Wu, Y and Zhang, W and Chen, X}, title = {Responses in reef-building corals to wildfire emissions: Heterotrophic plasticity and calcification.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {171271}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171271}, pmid = {38428592}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Extreme wildfire events are on the rise globally, and although substantial wildfire emissions may find their way into the ocean, their impact on coral reefs remains uncertain. In a five-week laboratory experiment, we observed a significant reduction in photosynthesis in coral symbionts (Porites lutea) when exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfires. At low PM2.5 level (2 mg L[-1]), the changes in δ[13]C and δ[15]N values in the host and symbiotic algae suggest reduced autotrophy and the utilization of wildfire particulates as a source of heterotrophic nutrients. This adaptive strategy, characterized by an increase in heterotrophy, sustained some aspects of coral growth (total biomass, proteins and lipids) under wildfire stress. Nevertheless, at high PM2.5 level (5 mg L[-1]), both autotrophy and heterotrophy significantly decreased, resulting in an imbalanced coral-algal nutritional relationship. These changes were related to light attenuation in seawater and particulate accumulation on the coral surface during PM2.5 deposition, ultimately rendering the coral growth unsustainable. Further, the calcification rates decreased by 1.5 to 1.85 times under both low and high levels of PM2.5, primarily affected by photosynthetic autotrophy rather than heterotrophy. Our study highlights a constrained heterotrophic plasticity of corals under wildfire stress. This limitation may restrict wildfire emissions as an alternative nutrient source to support coral growth and calcification, especially when oceanic food availability or autotrophy declines, as seen during bleaching induced by the warming ocean.}, } @article {pmid38427979, year = {2024}, author = {Nisha, FA and Tagoe, J and Pease, A and Horne, SM and Ugrinov, A and Geddes, B and Pruess, B}, title = {Plant seedlings of peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers exude compounds that are needed for growth and chemoattraction of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 and Azospirillum brasilense Sp7.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2023-0217}, pmid = {38427979}, issn = {1480-3275}, abstract = {This study characterizes seedling exudates of peas, tomatoes and cucumbers at the level of chemical composition and functionality. A plant experiment confirmed that Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 enhanced growth of pea shoots, while Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 supported growth of pea, tomato, and cucumber roots. Chemical analysis of exudates after one day of seedling incubation in water yielded differences between the exudates of the three plants. Most remarkably, cucumber seedling exudate did not contain detectable sugars. All exudates contained amino acids, nucleobases/nucleosides, and organic acids, among other compounds. Cucumber seedling exudate contained reduced glutathione. Migration on semi solid agar plates containing individual exudate compounds as putative chemoattractants revealed that R. leguminosarum bv. viciae was more selective than A. brasilense, which migrated towards any of the compounds tested. Migration on semi solid agar plates containing 1:1 dilutions of seedling exudate was observed for each of the combinations of bacteria and exudates tested. Likewise, R. leguminosarum bv. viciae and A. brasilense grew on each of the three seedling exudates, though at varying growth rates. We conclude that the seedling exudates of peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers contain everything that is needed for their symbiotic bacteria to migrate and grow on.}, } @article {pmid38427305, year = {2024}, author = {Abd-Elgawad, MMM}, title = {Reproduction of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Use in Pest Control.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2756}, number = {}, pages = {351-382}, pmid = {38427305}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; *Nematoda ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; *Arthropods ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The growing interest in the use of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria as promising biocontrol agents of many arthropod pests and pathogens has created running technologies to expand their use globally. The related laboratory procedures and tests on these nematodes such as their isolation, count, culture, identification, pathogenicity, virulence, and environmental tolerance should form the solid basis for such an expansion with reliable uses. Extensive practical details of such procedures and tests as well as how to identify and overcome the problems associated with these aspects are addressed in this chapter.}, } @article {pmid38427046, year = {2024}, author = {Alvarenga, DO and Priemé, A and Rousk, K}, title = {The Feather Moss Hylocomium splendens Affects the Transcriptional Profile of a Symbiotic Cyanobacterium in Relation to Acquisition and Turnover of Key Nutrients.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {49}, pmid = {38427046}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {947719/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Symbiosis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Bryopsida/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Bryophyta ; *Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Moss-cyanobacteria symbioses were proposed to be based on nutrient exchange, with hosts providing C and S while bacteria provide N, but we still lack understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of their interactions. We investigated how contact between the ubiquitous moss Hylocomium splendens and its cyanobiont affects nutrient-related gene expression of both partners. We isolated a cyanobacterium from H. splendens and co-incubated it with washed H. splendens shoots. Cyanobacterium and moss were also incubated separately. After 1 week, we performed acetylene reduction assays to estimate N2 fixation and RNAseq to evaluate metatranscriptomes. Genes related to N2 fixation and the biosynthesis of several amino acids were up-regulated in the cyanobiont when hosted by the moss. However, S-uptake and the biosynthesis of the S-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine were down-regulated in the cyanobiont while the degradation of selenocysteine was up-regulated. In contrast, the number of differentially expressed genes in the moss was much lower, and almost no transcripts related to nutrient metabolism were affected. It is possible that, at least during the early stage of this symbiosis, the cyanobiont receives few if any nutrients from the host in return for N, suggesting that moss-cyanobacteria symbioses encompass relationships that are more plastic than a constant mutualist flow of nutrients.}, } @article {pmid38426790, year = {2024}, author = {Li, X and Li, Z and Wei, Y and Chen, Z and Xie, S}, title = {Identification and characterization of the TetR family transcriptional regulator NffT in Rhizobium johnstonii.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0185123}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01851-23}, pmid = {38426790}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) by rhizobia is not only the main natural bionitrogen-source for organisms but also a green process leveraged to increase the fertility of soil for agricultural production. However, an insufficient understanding of the regulatory mechanism of SNF hinders its practical application. During SNF, nifA-fixA signaling is essential for the biosynthesis of nitrogenases and electron transfer chain proteins. In the present study, the TetR regulator NffT, whose mutation increased fixA expression, was discovered through a fixA-promoter-β-glucuronidase fusion assay performed with Rhizobium johnstonii. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that nffT deletion increased the expression of symbiotic genes including nifA and fixA in nifA-fixA signaling, and fixL, fixK, fnrN, and fixN9 in fixL-fixN signaling. nffT overexpression resulted in disordered nodules and reduced nitrogen-fixing efficiency. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that NffT directly regulated the transcription of RL0091-93, which encode an ATP-binding ABC transporter predicted to be involved in carbohydrate transport. Purified His-tagged NffT bound to a 68 bp DNA sequence located -32 to -99 bp upstream of RL0091-93 and NffT deletion significantly increased the expression of RL0091-93. nffT-promoter-β-glucuronidase fusion assay indicated that nffT expression was regulated by the cobNTS genes and cobalamin. Mutations in cobNTS significantly decreased the expression of nffT, and cobalamin restored its expression. These results revealed that NffT affects nodule development and nitrogen-fixing reaction by participating in a complex regulatory network of symbiotic and carbohydrate metabolic genes and, thus, plays a pivotal regulatory role during symbiosis of R. johnstonii-Pisum sativum.IMPORTANCESymbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) by rhizobia is a green way to maintain soil fertility without causing environmental pollution or consuming chemical energy. A detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanism of this complex process is essential for promoting sustainable agriculture. In this study, we discovered the TetR-type regulator NffT, which suppressed the expression of fixA in Rhizobium johnstonii. Furthermore, NffT was confirmed to play pleiotropic roles in R. johnstonii-Pisum sativum symbiosis; specifically, it inhibited rhizobial growth, nodule differentiation, and nitrogen-fixing reactions. We revealed that NffT indirectly affected R. johnstonii-P. sativum symbiosis by participating in a complex regulatory network of symbiotic and carbohydrate metabolic genes. Furthermore, cobalamin, a chemical molecule, was reported for the first time to be involved in TetR-type protein transcription during symbiosis. Thus, NffT identification connects SNF regulation with genetic, metabolic, and chemical signals and provides new insights into the complex regulation of SNF, laying an experimental basis for the targeted construction of rhizobial strains with highly efficient nitrogen-fixing capacity.}, } @article {pmid38426767, year = {2024}, author = {Roman-Reyna, V and Heiden, N and Butchacas, J and Toth, H and Cooperstone, JL and Jacobs, JM}, title = {The timing of bacterial mesophyll infection shapes the leaf chemical landscape.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0413823}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.04138-23}, pmid = {38426767}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Chemistry in eukaryotic intercellular spaces is shaped by both hosts and symbiotic microorganisms such as bacteria. Pathogenic microorganisms like barley-associated Xanthomonas translucens (Xt) swiftly overtake the inner leaf tissue becoming the dominant microbial community member during disease development. The dynamic metabolic changes due to Xt pathogenesis in the mesophyll spaces remain unknown. Genomic group I of Xt consists of two barley-infecting lineages: pathovar translucens (Xtt) and pathovar undulosa (Xtu). Xtu and Xtt, although genomically distinct, cause similar water-soaked lesions. To define the metabolic signals associated with inner leaf colonization, we used untargeted metabolomics to characterize Xtu and Xtt metabolism signatures associated with mesophyll growth. We found that mesophyll apoplast fluid from infected tissue yielded a distinct metabolic profile and shift from catabolic to anabolic processes over time compared to water-infiltrated control. The pathways with the most differentially expressed metabolites by time were glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, sucrose metabolism, pentose interconversion, amino acids, galactose, and purine metabolism. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis showed that metabolic changes were more affected by the time point rather than the individual colonization of the inner leaves by Xtt compared to Xtu. Overall, in this study, we identified metabolic pathways that explain carbon and nitrogen usage during host-bacterial interactions over time for mesophyll tissue colonization. This foundational research provides initial insights into shared metabolic strategies of inner leaf colonization niche occupation by related but phylogenetically distinct phyllosphere bacteria.

IMPORTANCE: The phyllosphere is a habitat for microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria. Metabolic shifts in the inner leaf spaces for most plant-microbe interactions are unknown, especially for Xanthomonas species in understudied plants like barley (Hordeum vulgare). Xanthomonas translucens pv. translucens (Xtt) and Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) are phylogenomically distinct, but both colonize barley leaves for pathogenesis. In this study, we used untargeted metabolomics to shed light on Xtu and Xtt metabolic signatures. Our findings revealed a dynamic metabolic landscape that changes over time, rather than exhibiting a pattern associated with individual pathovars. These results provide initial insights into the metabolic mechanisms of X. translucens inner leaf pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid38426746, year = {2024}, author = {Brodersen, KE and Mosshammer, M and Bittner, MJ and Hallstrøm, S and Santner, J and Riemann, L and Kühl, M}, title = {Seagrass-mediated rhizosphere redox gradients are linked with ammonium accumulation driven by diazotrophs.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0333523}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03335-23}, pmid = {38426746}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Seagrasses can enhance nutrient mobilization in their rhizosphere via complex interactions with sediment redox conditions and microbial populations. Yet, limited knowledge exists on how seagrass-derived rhizosphere dynamics affect nitrogen cycling. Using optode and gel-sampler-based chemical imaging, we show that radial O2 loss (ROL) from rhizomes and roots leads to the formation of redox gradients around below-ground tissues of seagrass (Zostera marina), which are co-localized with regions of high ammonium concentrations in the rhizosphere. Combining such chemical imaging with fine-scale sampling for microbial community and gene expression analyses indicated that multiple biogeochemical pathways and microbial players can lead to high ammonium concentration within the oxidized regions of the seagrass rhizosphere. Symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria (Bradyrhizobium) were particularly abundant and expressed the diazotroph functional marker gene nifH in Z. marina rhizosphere areas with high ammonium concentrations. Such an association between Z. marina and Bradyrhizobium can facilitate ammonium mobilization, the preferred nitrogen source for seagrasses, enhancing seagrass productivity within nitrogen-limited environments. ROL also caused strong gradients of sulfide at anoxic/oxic interfaces in rhizosphere areas, where we found enhanced nifH transcription by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Furthermore, we found a high abundance of methylotrophic and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in rhizosphere areas, where O2 was released from seagrass rhizomes and roots. These bacteria could play a beneficial role for the plants in terms of their methane and sulfide oxidation, as well as their formation of growth factors and phytohormones. ROL from below-ground tissues of seagrass, thus, seems crucial for ammonium production in the rhizosphere via stimulation of multiple diazotrophic associations.

IMPORTANCE: Seagrasses are important marine habitats providing several ecosystem services in coastal waters worldwide, such as enhancing marine biodiversity and mitigating climate change through efficient carbon sequestration. Notably, the fitness of seagrasses is affected by plant-microbe interactions. However, these microscale interactions are challenging to study and large knowledge gaps prevail. Our study shows that redox microgradients in the rhizosphere of seagrass select for a unique microbial community that can enhance the ammonium availability for seagrass. We provide first experimental evidence that Rhizobia, including the symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria Bradyrhizobium, can contribute to the bacterial ammonium production in the seagrass rhizosphere. The release of O2 from rhizomes and roots also caused gradients of sulfide in rhizosphere areas with enhanced nifH transcription by sulfate-reducing bacteria. O2 release from seagrass root systems thus seems crucial for ammonium production in the rhizosphere via stimulation of multiple diazotrophic associations.}, } @article {pmid38426138, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, M and Yang, X}, title = {Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on blueberry growth and rhizosphere soil microenvironment.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e16992}, pmid = {38426138}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have a specific symbiotic relationship with plants and rhizosphere soil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of PGPR on blueberry plant growth, rhizospheric soil nutrients and the microbial community.

METHODS: In this study, nine PGPR strains, belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and Buttiauxella, were selected and added into the soil in which the blueberry cuttings were planted. All the physiological indexes of the cuttings and all rhizospheric soil element contents were determined on day 6 after the quartic root irrigation experiments were completed. The microbial diversity in the soil was determined using high-throughput amplicon sequencing technology. The correlations between phosphorus solubilization, the auxin production of PGPR strains, and the physiological indexes of blueberry plants, and the correlation between rhizospheric microbial diversity and soil element contents were determined using the Pearson's correlation, Kendall's tau correlation and Spearman's rank correlation analysis methods.

RESULTS: The branch number, leaf number, chlorophyllcontentand plant height of the treated blueberry group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The rhizospheric soil element contents also increased after PGPR root irrigation. The rhizospheric microbial community structure changed significantly under the PGPR of root irrigation. The dominant phyla, except Actinomycetota, in the soil samples had the greatest correlation with phosphorus solubilization and the auxin production of PGPR strains. The branch number, leaf number, and chlorophyllcontent had a positive correlation with the phosphorus solubilization and auxin production of PGPR strains and soil element contents. In conclusion, plant growth could be promoted by the root irrigation of PGPR to improve rhizospheric soil nutrients and the microenvironment, with modification of the rhizospheric soil microbial community.

DISCUSSION: Plant growth could be promoted by the root irrigation of PGPR to improve rhizospheric soil nutrients and the microenvironment, with the modification of the rhizospheric soil microbial community. These data may help us to better understand the positive effects of PGPR on blueberry growth and the rhizosphere soil microenvironment, as well as provide a research basis for the subsequent development of a rhizosphere-promoting microbial fertilizer.}, } @article {pmid38426058, year = {2024}, author = {Cantin, LJ and Dunning Hotopp, JC and Foster, JM}, title = {Improved metagenome assemblies through selective enrichment of bacterial genomic DNA from eukaryotic host genomic DNA using ATAC-seq.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1352378}, pmid = {38426058}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Genomics can be used to study the complex relationships between hosts and their microbiota. Many bacteria cannot be cultured in the laboratory, making it difficult to obtain adequate amounts of bacterial DNA and to limit host DNA contamination for the construction of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). For example, Wolbachia is a genus of exclusively obligate intracellular bacteria that live in a wide range of arthropods and some nematodes. While Wolbachia endosymbionts are frequently described as facultative reproductive parasites in arthropods, the bacteria are obligate mutualistic endosymbionts of filarial worms. Here, we achieve 50-fold enrichment of bacterial sequences using ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) with Brugia malayi nematodes, containing Wolbachia (wBm). ATAC-seq uses the Tn5 transposase to cut and attach Illumina sequencing adapters to accessible DNA lacking histones, typically thought to be open chromatin. Bacterial and mitochondrial DNA in the lysates are also cut preferentially since they lack histones, leading to the enrichment of these sequences. The benefits of this include minimal tissue input (<1 mg of tissue), a quick protocol (<4 h), low sequencing costs, less bias, correct assembly of lateral gene transfers and no prior sequence knowledge required. We assembled the wBm genome with as few as 1 million Illumina short paired-end reads with >97% coverage of the published genome, compared to only 12% coverage with the standard gDNA libraries. We found significant bacterial sequence enrichment that facilitated genome assembly in previously published ATAC-seq data sets from human cells infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and C. elegans contaminated with their food source, the OP50 strain of E. coli. These results demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of using ATAC-seq to easily obtain bacterial genomes to aid in symbiosis, infectious disease, and microbiome research.}, } @article {pmid38424629, year = {2024}, author = {Toullec, G and Rädecker, N and Pogoreutz, C and Banc-Prandi, G and Escrig, S and Genoud, C and Olmos, CM and Spangenberg, J and Meibom, A}, title = {Host starvation and in hospite degradation of algal symbionts shape the heat stress response of the Cassiopea-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {42}, pmid = {38424629}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {200021_179092//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 200021_179092//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 212614//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 200021_179092//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Global warming is causing large-scale disruption of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses fundamental to major marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs. However, the mechanisms by which heat stress perturbs these symbiotic partnerships remain poorly understood. In this context, the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea has emerged as a powerful experimental model system.

RESULTS: We combined a controlled heat stress experiment with isotope labeling and correlative SEM-NanoSIMS imaging to show that host starvation is a central component in the chain of events that ultimately leads to the collapse of the Cassiopea holobiont. Heat stress caused an increase in catabolic activity and a depletion of carbon reserves in the unfed host, concurrent with a reduction in the supply of photosynthates from its algal symbionts. This state of host starvation was accompanied by pronounced in hospite degradation of algal symbionts, which may be a distinct feature of the heat stress response of Cassiopea. Interestingly, this loss of symbionts by degradation was concealed by body shrinkage of the starving animals, resulting in what could be referred to as "invisible" bleaching.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study highlights the importance of the nutritional status in the heat stress response of the Cassiopea holobiont. Compared with other symbiotic cnidarians, the large mesoglea of Cassiopea, with its structural sugar and protein content, may constitute an energy reservoir capable of delaying starvation. It seems plausible that this anatomical feature at least partly contributes to the relatively high stress tolerance of these animals in rapidly warming oceans. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid38424314, year = {2024}, author = {Crovetto, L and Venn, AA and Sevilgen, D and Tambutté, S and Tambutté, E}, title = {Spatial variability of and effect of light on the cœlenteron pH of a reef coral.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {246}, pmid = {38424314}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {Coral reefs, the largest bioconstruction on Earth, are formed by calcium carbonate skeletons of corals. Coral skeleton formation commonly referred to as calcification occurs in a specific compartment, the extracellular calcifying medium (ECM), located between the aboral ectoderm and the skeleton. Calcification models often assume a direct link between the surrounding seawater and the ECM. However, the ECM is separated from the seawater by several tissue layers and the cœlenteron, which contains the cœlenteric fluid found in both polyps and cœnosarc (tissue connecting the polyps). Symbiotic dinoflagellate-containing cells line the cœlenteron and their photosynthetic activity contributes to changes in the chemistry of the cœlenteric fluid, particularly with respect to pH. The aim of our study is to compare cœlenteron pH between the cœnosarc and polyps and to compare areas of high or low dinoflagellate density based on tissue coloration. To achieve this, we use liquid ion exchange (LIX) pH microsensors to profile pH in the cœlenteron of polyps and the cœnosarc in different regions of the coral colony in light and darkness. We interpret our results in terms of what light and dark exposure means for proton gradients between the ECM and the coelenteron, and how this could affect calcification.}, } @article {pmid38424094, year = {2024}, author = {Manantsoa, FF and Rakotoarisoa, MF and Chaintreuil, C and Razakatiana, ATE and Gressent, F and Pervent, M and Bourge, M and Andrianandrasana, MD and Nouwen, N and Randriambanona, H and Ramanankierana, H and Arrighi, JF}, title = {Occurrence and diversity of stem nodulation in Aeschynomene and Sesbania legumes from wetlands of Madagascar.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {5024}, pmid = {38424094}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {ANR-SymWay-21-CE20-0011-01//French National Research Agency/ ; }, abstract = {Legumes have the ability to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with soil rhizobia that they house in specific organs, the nodules. In most rhizobium-legume interactions, nodulation occurs on the root. However, certain tropical legumes growing in wetlands possess a unique trait: the capacity to form rhizobia-harbouring nodules on the stem. Despite the originality of the stem nodulation process, its occurrence and diversity in waterlogging-tolerant legumes remains underexplored, impeding a comprehensive analysis of its genetics and biology. Here, we aimed at filling this gap by surveying stem nodulation in legume species-rich wetlands of Madagascar. Stem nodulation was readily observed in eight hydrophytic species of the legume genera, Aeschynomene and Sesbania, for which significant variations in stem nodule density and morphology was documented. Among these species, A. evenia, which is used as genetic model to study the rhizobial symbiosis, was found to be frequently stem-nodulated. Two other Aeschynomene species, A. cristata and A. uniflora, were evidenced to display a profuse stem-nodulation as occurs in S. rostrata. These findings extend our knowledge on legumes species that are endowed with stem nodulation and further indicate that A. evenia, A. cristata, A. uniflora and S. rostrata are of special interest for the study of stem nodulation. As such, these legume species represent opportunities to investigate different modalities of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis and this knowledge could provide cues for the engineering of nitrogen-fixation in non-legume crops.}, } @article {pmid38424057, year = {2024}, author = {Zhan, X and Zhang, K and Wang, C and Fan, Q and Tang, X and Zhang, X and Wang, K and Fu, Y and Liang, H}, title = {A c-di-GMP signaling module controls responses to iron in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {1860}, pmid = {38424057}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {32170188//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {Cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) serves as a bacterial second messenger that modulates various processes including biofilm formation, motility, and host-microbe symbiosis. Numerous studies have conducted comprehensive analysis of c-di-GMP. However, the mechanisms by which certain environmental signals such as iron control intracellular c-di-GMP levels are unclear. Here, we show that iron regulates c-di-GMP levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by modulating the interaction between an iron-sensing protein, IsmP, and a diguanylate cyclase, ImcA. Binding of iron to the CHASE4 domain of IsmP inhibits the IsmP-ImcA interaction, which leads to increased c-di-GMP synthesis by ImcA, thus promoting biofilm formation and reducing bacterial motility. Structural characterization of the apo-CHASE4 domain and its binding to iron allows us to pinpoint residues defining its specificity. In addition, the cryo-electron microscopy structure of ImcA in complex with a c-di-GMP analog (GMPCPP) suggests a unique conformation in which the compound binds to the catalytic pockets and to the membrane-proximal side located at the cytoplasm. Thus, our results indicate that a CHASE4 domain directly senses iron and modulates the crosstalk between c-di-GMP metabolic enzymes.}, } @article {pmid38423891, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, DK and Mou, ZM and Ruan, YL}, title = {Orchids acquire fungal carbon for seed germination: pathways and players.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2024.02.001}, pmid = {38423891}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {To germinate in nature, orchid seeds strictly rely on seed germination-promoting orchid mycorrhizal fungi (sgOMFs) for provision of carbon nutrients. The underlying delivery pathway, however, remains elusive. We develop here a plausible model for sugar transport from sgOMFs to orchid embryonic cells to fuel germination. Orchids exploit sgOMFs to induce the formation of pelotons, elaborate intracellular hyphal coils in orchid embryos. The colonized orchid cells then obtain carbon nutrients by uptake from living hyphae and peloton lysis, primarily as glucose derived from fungal trehalose hydrolyzed by orchid-specific trehalases. The uptake of massive fungally derived glucose is likely to be mediated by two classes of membrane proteins, namely, sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs) and H[+]-hexose symporters. The proposed model serves as a launch pad for further research to better understand and improve orchid seed germination and conservation.}, } @article {pmid38422964, year = {2024}, author = {Kuang, Z and Yan, Z and Yu, L}, title = {Weakly supervised learning for multi-class medical image segmentation via feature decomposition.}, journal = {Computers in biology and medicine}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {108228}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108228}, pmid = {38422964}, issn = {1879-0534}, abstract = {Weakly supervised learning with image-level labels, releasing deep learning from highly labor-intensive pixel-wise annotation, has gained great attention for medical image segmentation. However, existing weakly supervised methods are mainly designed for single-class segmentation while leaving multi-class medical image segmentation rarely-explored. Different from natural images, label symbiosis, together with location adjacency, are much more common in medical images, making it more challenging for multi-class segmentation. In this paper, we propose a novel weakly supervised learning method for multi-class medical image segmentation with image-level labels. In terms of the multi-class classification backbone, a multi-level classification network encoding multi-scale features is proposed to produce binary predictions, together with the corresponding CAMs, of each class separately. To address the above issues (i.e., label symbiosis and location adjacency), a feature decomposition module based on semantic affinity is first proposed to learn both class-independent and class-dependent features by maximizing the inter-class feature distance. Through a cross-guidance loss to jointly utilize the above features, label symbiosis is largely alleviated. In terms of location adjacency, a mutually exclusive loss is constructed to minimize the overlap among regions corresponding to different classes. Experimental results on three datasets demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed weakly-supervised framework for both single-class and multi-class medical image segmentation. We believe the analysis in this paper would shed new light on future work for multi-class medical image segmentation. The source code of this paper is publicly available at https://github.com/HustAlexander/MCWSS.}, } @article {pmid38420205, year = {2024}, author = {Sharko, FS and Mazloum, A and Krotova, AO and Byadovskaya, OP and Prokhvatilova, LB and Chvala, IA and Zolotikov, UE and Kozlova, AD and Krylova, AS and Grosfeld, EV and Prokopenko, AV and Korzhenkov, AA and Patrushev, MV and Namsaraev, ZB and Sprygin, AV and Toshchakov, SV}, title = {Metagenomic profiling of viral and microbial communities from the pox lesions of lumpy skin disease virus and sheeppox virus-infected hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1321202}, pmid = {38420205}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: It has been recognized that capripoxvirus infections have a strong cutaneous tropism with the manifestation of skin lesions in the form of nodules and scabs in the respective hosts, followed by necrosis and sloughing off. Considering that the skin microbiota is a complex community of commensal bacteria, fungi and viruses that are influenced by infections leading to pathological states, there is no evidence on how the skin microbiome is affected during capripoxvirus pathogenesis.

METHODS: In this study, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to investigate the microbiome in pox lesions from hosts infected with lumpy skin disease virus and sheep pox virus.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed a high degree of variability in bacterial community structures across affected skin samples, indicating the importance of specific commensal microorganisms colonizing individual hosts. The most common and abundant bacteria found in scab samples were Fusobacterium necrophorum, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Helcococcus ovis and Trueperella pyogenes, irrespective of host. Bacterial reads belonging to the genera Moraxella, Mannheimia, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus and Micrococcus were identified.

DISCUSSION: This study is the first to investigate capripox virus-associated changes in the skin microbiome using whole-genome metagenomic profiling. The findings will provide a basis for further investigation into capripoxvirus pathogenesis. In addition, this study highlights the challenge of selecting an optimal bioinformatics approach for the analysis of metagenomic data in clinical and veterinary practice. For example, direct classification of reads using a kmer-based algorithm resulted in a significant number of systematic false positives, which may be attributed to the peculiarities of the algorithm and database selection. On the contrary, the process of de novo assembly requires a large number of target reads from the symbiotic microbial community. In this work, the obtained sequencing data were processed by three different approaches, including direct classification of reads based on k-mers, mapping of reads to a marker gene database, and de novo assembly and binning of metagenomic contigs. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques and their practicality in veterinary settings are discussed in relation to the results obtained.}, } @article {pmid38418956, year = {2024}, author = {George, NM and Hany-Ali, G and Abdelhaliem, E and Abdel-Haleem, M}, title = {Alleviating the drought stress and improving the plant resistance properties of Triticum aestivum via biopriming with aspergillus fumigatus.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {150}, pmid = {38418956}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Triticum ; *Aspergillus fumigatus/metabolism ; Droughts ; Water/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Edible Grain/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most widely grown and vital cereal crops, containing a high percentage of basic nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins. Drought stress is one of the most significant limitations on wheat productivity. Due to climate change influences plant development and growth, physiological processes, grain quality, and yield. Drought stress has elicited a wide range of plant responses, namely physiological and molecular adaptations. Biopriming is one of the recent attempts to combat drought stress. Mitigating the harmful impact of abiotic stresses on crops by deploying extreme-habitat-adapted symbiotic microbes. The purpose of this study was to see how biopriming Triticum aestivum grains affected the effects of inoculating endophytic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus ON307213 isolated from stressed wheat plants in four model agricultural plants (Gemmiza-7, Sids-1, Sakha8, and Giza 168). And its viability in reducing drought stress through the use of phenotypic parameters such as root and shoot fresh and dry weight, shoot and root length, and so on. On a biochemical and physiological level, enzymatic parameters such as catalase and superoxidase dismutase are used. Total phenolics, flavonoids, and photosynthetic pigments are non-enzymatic parameters. Making use of molecular techniques such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS: It has been found that using Aspergillus fumigatus as a biological biopriming tool can positively impact wheat plants experiencing drought stress. The total biomass of stressed wheat plants that had been bio-primed rose by more than 40% as compared to wheat plants that had not been bio-primed. A. fumigatus biopriming either increased or decreased the amount of enzymatic and non-enzymatic substances on biochemical scales, aside from the noticeable increase in photosynthetic pigment that occurs in plants that have been bio-primed and stressed. Drought-resistant genes show a biopriming influence in gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first paper to describe the practicality of a. fumigatus biopriming and its effect on minimizing the degrading effects of drought through water limitation. It suggests the potential applications of arid habitat-adapted endophytes in agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid38417528, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, T and Wang, Q and Li, Y and Chen, Y and Jia, B and Zhang, J and Guo, W and Li, FY}, title = {Bio-organic fertilizer facilitated phytoremediation of heavy metal(loid)s-contaminated saline soil by mediating the plant-soil-rhizomicrobiota interactions.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {922}, number = {}, pages = {171278}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171278}, pmid = {38417528}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Bio-organic fertilizer (BOF) was effective to promote the phytoremediation efficiency of heavy metal(loid)s-contaminated saline soil (HCSS) by improving rhizosphere soil properties, especially microbiome. However, there existed unclear impacts of BOF on plant metabolome and plant-driven manipulation on rhizosphere soil microbiota in HCSS, which were pivotal contributors to stress defense of plants trapped in adverse conditions. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to explore the mechanisms of BOF in improving alfalfa (Medicago sativa)-performing phytoremediation of HCSS. BOF application significantly increased the biomass (150.87-401.58 %) to support the augments of accumulation regarding heavy metal(loid)s (87.50 %-410.54 %) and salts (38.27 %-271.04 %) in alfalfa. BOF promoted nutrients and aggregates stability but declined pH of rhizosphere soil, accompanied by the boosts of rhizomicrobiota including increased activity, reshaped community structure, enriched plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Blastococcus, Modestobacter, Actinophytocola, Bacillus, and Streptomyces), strengthened mycorrhizal symbiosis (Leohumicola, Funneliformis, and unclassified_f_Ceratobasidiaceae), optimized co-occurrence networks, and beneficial shift of keystones. The conjoint analysis of plant metabolome and physiological indices confirmed that BOF reprogrammed the metabolic processes (synthesis, catabolism, and long-distance transport of amino acid, lipid, carbohydrate, phytohormone, stress-resistant secondary metabolites, etc) and physiological functions (energy supply, photosynthesis, plant immunity, nutrients assimilation, etc) that are associated intimately. The consortium of root metabolome, soil metabolome, and soil microbiome revealed that BOF facilitated the exudation of metabolites correlated with rhizomicrobiota (structure, biomarker, and keystone) and rhizosphere oxidative status, e.g., fatty acyls, phenols, coumarins, phenylpropanoids, highlighting the plant-driven regulation on rhizosphere soil microbes and environment. By compiling various results and omics data, it was concluded that BOF favored the adaptation and phytoremediation efficiency of alfalfa by mediating the plant-soil-rhizomicrobiota interactions. The results would deepen understanding of the mechanisms by which BOF improved phytoremediation of HCSS, and provide theoretical guidance to soil amelioration and BOF application.}, } @article {pmid38417452, year = {2024}, author = {Doranga, S and Krogfelt, KA and Cohen, PS and Conway, T}, title = {Nutrition of Escherichia coli within the intestinal microbiome.}, journal = {EcoSal Plus}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {eesp00062023}, doi = {10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0006-2023}, pmid = {38417452}, issn = {2324-6200}, abstract = {In this chapter, we update our 2004 review of "The Life of Commensal Escherichia coli in the Mammalian Intestine" (https://doi.org/10.1128/ecosalplus.8.3.1.2), with a change of title that reflects the current focus on "Nutrition of E. coli within the Intestinal Microbiome." The earlier part of the previous two decades saw incremental improvements in understanding the carbon and energy sources that E. coli and Salmonella use to support intestinal colonization. Along with these investigations of electron donors came a better understanding of the electron acceptors that support the respiration of these facultative anaerobes in the gastrointestinal tract. Hundreds of recent papers add to what was known about the nutrition of commensal and pathogenic enteric bacteria. The fact that each biotype or pathotype grows on a different subset of the available nutrients suggested a mechanism for succession of commensal colonizers and invasion by enteric pathogens. Competition for nutrients in the intestine has also come to be recognized as one basis for colonization resistance, in which colonized strain(s) prevent colonization by a challenger. In the past decade, detailed investigations of fiber- and mucin-degrading anaerobes added greatly to our understanding of how complex polysaccharides support the hundreds of intestinal microbiome species. It is now clear that facultative anaerobes, which usually cannot degrade complex polysaccharides, live in symbiosis with the anaerobic degraders. This concept led to the "restaurant hypothesis," which emphasizes that facultative bacteria, such as E. coli, colonize the intestine as members of mixed biofilms and obtain the sugars they need for growth locally through cross-feeding from polysaccharide-degrading anaerobes. Each restaurant represents an intestinal niche. Competition for those niches determines whether or not invaders are able to overcome colonization resistance and become established. Topics centered on the nutritional basis of intestinal colonization and gastrointestinal health are explored here in detail.}, } @article {pmid38416560, year = {2024}, author = {Richter, F and Calonne-Salmon, M and van der Heijden, MGA and Declerck, S and Stanley, CE}, title = {AMF-SporeChip provides new insights into arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal asymbiotic hyphal growth dynamics at the cellular level.}, journal = {Lab on a chip}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3lc00859b}, pmid = {38416560}, issn = {1473-0189}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with the majority of land plants and deliver a wide range of soil-based ecosystem services. Due to their conspicuous belowground lifestyle in a dark environment surrounded by soil particles, much is still to be learned about the influence of environmental (i.e., physical) cues on spore germination, hyphal morphogenesis and anastomosis/hyphal healing mechanisms. To fill existing gaps in AMF knowledge, we developed a new microfluidic platform - the AMF-SporeChip - to visualise the foraging behaviour of germinating Rhizophagus and Gigaspora spores and confront asymbiotic hyphae with physical obstacles. In combination with timelapse microscopy, the fungi could be examined at the cellular level and in real-time. The AMF-SporeChip allowed us to acquire movies with unprecedented visual clarity and therefore identify various exploration strategies of AMF asymbiotic hyphae. We witnessed tip-to-tip and tip-to-side hyphal anastomosis formation. Anastomosis involved directed hyphal growth in a "stop-and-go" manner, yielding visual evidence of pre-anastomosis signalling and decision-making. Remarkably, we also revealed a so-far undescribed reversible cytoplasmic retraction, including the formation of up to 8 septa upon retraction, as part of a highly dynamic space navigation, probably evolved to optimise foraging efficiency. Our findings demonstrated how AMF employ an intricate mechanism of space searching, involving reversible cytoplasmic retraction, branching and directional changes. In turn, the AMF-SporeChip is expected to open many future frontiers for AMF research.}, } @article {pmid38415795, year = {2024}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Genre, A}, title = {Walking on a tightrope: cell wall-associated kinases act as sensors and regulators of immunity and symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19634}, pmid = {38415795}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid38414871, year = {2024}, author = {Sayed, T and Malan, H and Fourie, E}, title = {Exploring the associations between resilience and psychological well-being among South Africans during COVID-19.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1323466}, pmid = {38414871}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Resilience pertains to an individual's ability to withstand, adapt, and recuperate from adversity and stress. As the world grapples with unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the relationship between resilience and psychological well-being becomes essential. Preliminary observations suggest that those with a higher resilience tend to have better psychological well-being, indicating a possible symbiotic relationship between the two. This study was structured using a cross-sectional survey design. A convenience sampling technique was employed, including 631 respondents in South Africa. Data collection took place between June 11 and July 9, 2022, facilitated through a Google Forms questionnaire. This questionnaire encompassed various instruments, namely a biographical questionnaire, the CD-RISC 10, the WHO Well-being Index, the FACIT-Sp-12, and the PMHS. The findings from the collected data highlighted a strong correlation between resilience and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. This elevation in resilience can be instrumental in augmenting psychological well-being. As such, interventions or programs aimed at enhancing individual and community well-being might benefit from incorporating elements that bolster resilience, especially during periods of global adversity.}, } @article {pmid38413744, year = {2024}, author = {Zaman, R and Shah, A and Shah, A and Ullah, A and Ishangulyyeva, G and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Unraveling the multifaceted effects of climatic factors on mountain pine beetle and its interaction with fungal symbionts.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {e17207}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.17207}, pmid = {38413744}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {//Alberta Graduate Excellence Award/ ; //Al Brennen Memorial Graduate Scholarship/ ; //Alberta Conservation Association Grant in Biodiversity/ ; //NSERC/ ; //SERG-I (Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, The Forestry Branch of Sustainable Development in Manitoba, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, USDA-Forest Service)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; Carbon Dioxide ; Larva/physiology ; Humidity ; *Pinus ; }, abstract = {Mountain pine beetles (MPBs) pose a substantial threat to North American pine forests, causing extensive tree mortality over large areas. Their tree-killing ability is closely linked to mass aggregation on host trees triggered via pheromones and dependence on their symbiotic fungi. However, the influence of a changing climate on the biology of MPBs and their co-evolved interactions with their fungal symbionts remains uncertain. To investigate this, male and female pairs of beetles were introduced into freshly cut logs from lodgepole pine trees and placed in controlled climate chambers with manipulated environmental conditions, including two levels of CO2 (ambient vs. 1000 ppm), O3 (ambient vs. 100 ppb) and humidity (33% vs. 65%). The beetle-infested logs were left in these chambers for 1 month and then returned to ambient conditions until brood emergence. Emerging broods were collected for further analysis. Additionally, three species of fungal symbionts (Grosmannia clavigera, Ophiostoma montium and Leptographium longiclavatum) were subjected to the same CO2 , O3 and humidity conditions for 5 days. Lower humidity promoted MPB reproduction and fungal growth. Elevated CO2 accelerated larval growth and emergence while improving brood pheromone production. Elevated O3 had a negative impact on MPB reproduction and brood fitness while improving its immune responses to an entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana). It also inhibited fungal growth and reproduction, whereas elevated CO2 had varied (positive or negative) effects on fungal growth and ergosterol (proxy to fungal mass) production depending on the fungal species. Together, these findings suggest that climate change can potentially alter the interactions between MPBs and their fungal symbionts, highlighting the importance of understanding how climate change affects forest pests and their symbiotic relationships to develop effective management strategies in the future.}, } @article {pmid38412969, year = {2024}, author = {Valadez-Ingersoll, M and Aguirre Carrión, PJ and Bodnar, CA and Desai, NA and Gilmore, TD and Davies, SW}, title = {Starvation differentially affects gene expression, immunity and pathogen susceptibility across symbiotic states in a model cnidarian.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {291}, number = {2017}, pages = {20231685}, pmid = {38412969}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Symbiosis/physiology ; NF-kappa B/genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Transcriptome ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses between cnidarians and photosynthetic algae are modulated by complex interactions between host immunity and environmental conditions. Here, we investigate how symbiosis interacts with food limitation to influence gene expression and stress response programming in the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida (Aiptasia). Transcriptomic responses to starvation were similar between symbiotic and aposymbiotic Aiptasia; however, aposymbiotic anemone responses were stronger. Starved Aiptasia of both symbiotic states exhibited increased protein levels of immune-related transcription factor NF-κB, its associated gene pathways, and putative target genes. However, this starvation-induced increase in NF-κB correlated with increased immunity only in symbiotic anemones. Furthermore, starvation had opposite effects on Aiptasia susceptibility to pathogen and oxidative stress challenges, suggesting distinct energetic priorities under food scarce conditions. Finally, when we compared starvation responses in Aiptasia to those of a facultative coral and non-symbiotic anemone, 'defence' responses were similarly regulated in Aiptasia and the facultative coral, but not in the non-symbiotic anemone. This pattern suggests that capacity for symbiosis influences immune responses in cnidarians. In summary, expression of certain immune pathways-including NF-κB-does not necessarily predict susceptibility to pathogens, highlighting the complexities of cnidarian immunity and the influence of symbiosis under varying energetic demands.}, } @article {pmid38412968, year = {2024}, author = {Emerson, KJ and Woodley, SK}, title = {Something in the water: aquatic microbial communities influence the larval amphibian gut microbiota, neurodevelopment and behaviour.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {291}, number = {2017}, pages = {20232850}, pmid = {38412968}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Water ; *Microbiota ; Larva/microbiology ; Amphibians ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms colonize the gastrointestinal tract of animals and establish symbiotic host-associated microbial communities that influence vertebrate physiology. More specifically, these gut microbial communities influence neurodevelopment through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. We tested the hypothesis that larval amphibian neurodevelopment is affected by the aquatic microbial community present in their housing water. Newly hatched Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) tadpoles were raised in pond water that was unmanipulated (natural) or autoclaved. Tadpoles raised in autoclaved pond water had a gut microbiota with reduced bacterial diversity and altered community composition, had decreased behavioural responses to sensory stimuli, were larger in overall body mass, had relatively heavier brains and had altered brain shape when compared with tadpoles raised in natural pond water. Further, the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were associated with tadpole behavioural responses and brain measurements. Our results suggest that aquatic microbial communities shape tadpole behaviour and brain development, providing strong support for the occurrence of the MGB axis in amphibians. Lastly, the dramatic role played by aquatic microbial communities on vertebrate neurodevelopment and behaviour should be considered in future wildlife conservation efforts.}, } @article {pmid38412829, year = {2024}, author = {Davis, CC and Choisy, P}, title = {Medicinal plants meet modern biodiversity science.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {R158-R173}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.038}, pmid = {38412829}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Humans ; *Plants, Medicinal ; Medicine, Traditional/methods ; Ethnobotany/methods ; Phytotherapy ; Biodiversity ; }, abstract = {Plants have been an essential source of human medicine for millennia. In this review, we argue that a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the study of medicinal plants that combines methods and insights from three key disciplines - evolutionary ecology, molecular biology/biochemistry, and ethnopharmacology - is poised to facilitate new breakthroughs in science, including pharmacological discoveries and rapid advancements in human health and well-being. Such interdisciplinary research leverages data and methods spanning space, time, and species associated with medicinal plant species evolution, ecology, genomics, and metabolomic trait diversity, all of which build heavily on traditional Indigenous knowledge. Such an interdisciplinary approach contrasts sharply with most well-funded and successful medicinal plant research during the last half-century, which, despite notable advancements, has greatly oversimplified the dynamic relationships between plants and humans, kept hidden the larger human narratives about these relationships, and overlooked potentially important research and discoveries into life-saving medicines. We suggest that medicinal plants and people should be viewed as partners whose relationship involves a complicated and poorly explored set of (socio-)ecological interactions including not only domestication but also commensalisms and mutualisms. In short, medicinal plant species are not just chemical factories for extraction and exploitation. Rather, they may be symbiotic partners that have shaped modern societies, improved human health, and extended human lifespans.}, } @article {pmid38412007, year = {2024}, author = {Kim, M and Kim, W and Park, Y and Jung, J and Park, W}, title = {Lineage-specific evolution of Aquibium, a close relative of Mesorhizobium, during habitat adaptation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0209123}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02091-23}, pmid = {38412007}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {The novel genus Aquibium that lacks nitrogenase was recently reclassified from the Mesorhizobium genus. The genomes of Aquibium species isolated from water were smaller and had higher GC contents than those of Mesorhizobium species. Six Mesorhizobium species lacking nitrogenase were found to exhibit low similarity in the average nucleotide identity values to the other 24 Mesorhizobium species. Therefore, they were classified as the non-N2-fixing Mesorhizobium lineage (N-ML), an evolutionary intermediate species. The results of our phylogenomic analyses and the loss of Rhizobiales-specific fur/mur indicated that Mesorhizobium species may have evolved from Aquibium species through an ecological transition. Halotolerant and alkali-resistant Aquibium and Mesorhizobium microcysteis belonging to N-ML possessed many tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic transporter and sodium/proton antiporter subunits composed of seven genes (mrpABCDEFG). These genes were not present in the N2-fixing Mesorhizobium lineage (ML), suggesting that genes acquired for adaptation to highly saline and alkaline environments were lost during the evolution of ML as the habitat changed to soil. Land-to-water habitat changes in Aquibium species, close relatives of Mesorhizobium species, could have influenced their genomic evolution by the gain and loss of genes. Our study indicated that lineage-specific evolution could have played a significant role in shaping their genome architecture and conferring their ability to thrive in different habitats.IMPORTANCEPhylogenetic analyses revealed that the Aquibium lineage (AL) and non-N2-fixing Mesorhizobium lineage (N-ML) were monophyletically grouped into distinct clusters separate from the N2-fixing Mesorhizobium lineage (ML). The N-ML, an evolutionary intermediate species having characteristics of both ancestral and descendant species, could provide a genomic snapshot of the genetic changes that occur during adaptation. Genomic analyses of AL, N-ML, and ML revealed that changes in the levels of genes related to transporters, chemotaxis, and nitrogen fixation likely reflect adaptations to different environmental conditions. Our study sheds light on the complex and dynamic nature of the evolution of rhizobia in response to changes in their environment and highlights the crucial role of genomic analysis in understanding these processes.}, } @article {pmid38411238, year = {2024}, author = {Grundmann, CO and Guzman, J and Vilcinskas, A and Pupo, MT}, title = {The insect microbiome is a vast source of bioactive small molecules.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3np00054k}, pmid = {38411238}, issn = {1460-4752}, abstract = {Covering: September 1964 to June 2023Bacteria and fungi living in symbiosis with insects have been studied over the last sixty years and found to be important sources of bioactive natural products. Not only classic producers of secondary metabolites such as Streptomyces and other members of the phylum Actinobacteria but also numerous bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and an impressive array of fungi (usually pathogenic) serve as the source of a structurally diverse number of small molecules with important biological activities including antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiparasitic and specific enzyme inhibitors. The insect niche is often the exclusive provider of microbes producing unique types of biologically active compounds such as gerumycins, pederin, dinactin, and formicamycins. However, numerous insects still have not been described taxonomically, and in most cases, the study of their microbiota is completely unexplored. In this review, we present a comprehensive survey of 553 natural products produced by microorganisms isolated from insects by collating and classifying all the data according to the type of compound (rather than the insect or microbial source). The analysis of the correlations among the metadata related to insects, microbial partners, and their produced compounds provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics between insects and their symbionts as well as the impact of their metabolites on these relationships. Herein, we focus on the chemical structure, biosynthesis, and biological activities of the most relevant compounds.}, } @article {pmid38411078, year = {2024}, author = {Pees, B and Peters, L and Treitz, C and Hamerich, IK and Kissoyan, KAB and Tholey, A and Dierking, K}, title = {The Caenorhabditis elegans proteome response to two protective Pseudomonas symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0346323}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03463-23}, pmid = {38411078}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {The Caenorhabditis elegans natural microbiota isolates Pseudomonas lurida MYb11 and Pseudomonas fluorescens MYb115 protect the host against pathogens through distinct mechanisms. While P. lurida produces an antimicrobial compound and directly inhibits pathogen growth, P. fluorescens MYb115 protects the host without affecting pathogen growth. It is unknown how these two protective microbes affect host biological processes. We used a proteomics approach to elucidate the C. elegans response to MYb11 and MYb115. We found that both Pseudomonas isolates increase vitellogenin protein production in young adults, which confirms previous findings on the effect of microbiota on C. elegans reproductive timing. Moreover, the C. elegans responses to MYb11 and MYb115 exhibit common signatures with the response to other vitamin B12-producing bacteria, emphasizing the importance of vitamin B12 in C. elegans-microbe metabolic interactions. We further analyzed signatures in the C. elegans response specific to MYb11 or MYb115. We provide evidence for distinct modifications in lipid metabolism by both symbiotic microbes. We could identify the activation of host-pathogen defense responses as an MYb11-specific proteome signature and provide evidence that the intermediate filament protein IFB-2 is required for MYb115-mediated protection. These results indicate that MYb11 not only produces an antimicrobial compound but also activates host antimicrobial defenses, which together might increase resistance to infection. In contrast, MYb115 affects host processes such as lipid metabolism and cytoskeleton dynamics, which might increase host tolerance to infection. Overall, this study pinpoints proteins of interest that form the basis for additional exploration into the mechanisms underlying C. elegans microbiota-mediated protection from pathogen infection and other microbiota-mediated traits.IMPORTANCESymbiotic bacteria can defend their host against pathogen infection. While some protective symbionts directly interact with pathogenic bacteria, other protective symbionts elicit a response in the host that improves its own pathogen defenses. To better understand how a host responds to protective symbionts, we examined which host proteins are affected by two protective Pseudomonas bacteria in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that the C. elegans response to its protective symbionts is manifold, which was reflected in changes in proteins that are involved in metabolism, the immune system, and cell structure. This study provides a foundation for exploring the contribution of the host response to symbiont-mediated protection from pathogen infection.}, } @article {pmid38411057, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, Y and Cao, J and Zhu, M and Wang, Z and Jin, Z and Xiong, Z}, title = {Bacteroides fragilis aggravates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating lipid metabolism and remodeling gut microbiota.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0339323}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03393-23}, pmid = {38411057}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a prominent determinant that significantly contributes to the disruption of lipid metabolism. Consequently, it is essential to the occurrence and development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Nevertheless, the connection between diet and symbiotic gut microbiota in the progression of NAFLD remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of supplementing commensal Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis) on lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and metabolites in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, elucidating the impact of gut microbiota and metabolites on the development of NAFLD. Our study revealed that supplementation with B. fragilis exacerbated both weight gain and obesity in mice. B. fragilis exacerbated blood glucose levels and liver dysfunction in mice. Furthermore, an increase in liver lipid accumulation and the upregulation of genes correlated with lipid metabolism were observed in mice. Under an HFD, supplementation of commensal B. fragilis resulted in alterations in the gut microbiota, notably a significant increase in Desulfovibrionaceae, which led to elevated endotoxin levels and thereby influenced the progression of NAFLD. It was interesting that the simultaneous examination of gut microbiota metabolites revealed a more pronounced impact of diet on short-chain fatty acids. This study represented the pioneering investigation into the impact of B. fragilis on NAFLD. Our findings demonstrated that B. fragilis induced dysregulation in the intestinal microbiota, leading to elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide and dysfunction in glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby exacerbating NAFLD.IMPORTANCESome intestinal symbiotic microbes are involved in the occurrence of the metabolic disorders. Our study investigated the impact of supplementing commensal Bacteroides fragilis on host metabolism in high-fat diet-fed mice. Research results indicated that adding a specific bacterial strain to the complex intestinal microecology can worsen metabolic conditions. This effect mainly affects the structural diversity of intestinal microorganisms, the increase in harmful bacteria in the gut, and the elevation of endotoxin levels, blood glucose, and lipid metabolism, thereby impacting the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Understanding the principles that govern the establishment of microbial communities comprising multiple species is crucial for preventing or repairing dysfunctions in these communities, thereby enhancing host health and facilitating disease treatment. This study demonstrated that gut microbiota dysbiosis could contribute to metabolic dysfunction and provides new insights into how to promote gut microbiota in the prevention and therapy of NAFLD.}, } @article {pmid38410806, year = {2024}, author = {Kaweesi, T and Colvin, J and Campbell, L and Visendi, P and Maslen, G and Alicai, T and Seal, S}, title = {In silico prediction of candidate gene targets for the management of African cassava whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, SSA1-SG1), a key vector of viruses causing cassava brown streak disease.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e16949}, pmid = {38410806}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Manihot/genetics ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; Vegetables ; *Viruses ; Water ; }, abstract = {Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci sensu lato) have a wide host range and are globally important agricultural pests. In Sub-Saharan Africa, they vector viruses that cause two ongoing disease epidemics: cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic virus disease. These two diseases threaten food security for more than 800 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts are ongoing to identify target genes for the development of novel management options against the whitefly populations that vector these devastating viral diseases affecting cassava production in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to identify genes that mediate osmoregulation and symbiosis functions within cassava whitefly gut and bacteriocytes and evaluate their potential as key gene targets for novel whitefly control strategies. The gene expression profiles of dissected guts, bacteriocytes and whole bodies were compared by RNAseq analysis to identify genes with significantly enriched expression in the gut and bacteriocytes. Phylogenetic analyses identified three candidate osmoregulation gene targets: two α-glucosidases, SUC 1 and SUC 2 with predicted function in sugar transformations that reduce osmotic pressure in the gut; and a water-specific aquaporin (AQP1) mediating water cycling from the distal to the proximal end of the gut. Expression of the genes in the gut was enriched 23.67-, 26.54- and 22.30-fold, respectively. Genome-wide metabolic reconstruction coupled with constraint-based modeling revealed four genes (argH, lysA, BCAT & dapB) within the bacteriocytes as potential targets for the management of cassava whiteflies. These genes were selected based on their role and essentiality within the different essential amino acid biosynthesis pathways. A demonstration of candidate osmoregulation and symbiosis gene targets in other species of the Bemisia tabaci species complex that are orthologs of the empirically validated osmoregulation genes highlights the latter as promising gene targets for the control of cassava whitefly pests by in planta RNA interference.}, } @article {pmid38409828, year = {2024}, author = {Aboulhoda, BE and Abdelfatah, M and El-Wakil, ES and Alghamdi, M and Albadawi, EA and Hassan, FE and El Saftawy, EA}, title = {Microbiota-Parasite Interaction: Implication of Secretory Immunoglobulin A and P2X7 Receptor Signaling.}, journal = {Discovery medicine}, volume = {36}, number = {181}, pages = {217-233}, doi = {10.24976/Discov.Med.202436181.21}, pmid = {38409828}, issn = {1944-7930}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Parasites/metabolism ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Parasitic Diseases ; }, abstract = {The microbiota community is composed of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protists that exert symbiotic effects within the human body. Unlike microbiota, parasites are characteristically reliant on their hosts to thrive and flourish, producing toxic metabolites that agitate microbiota and disturb homeostasis. The proper management of parasitic infections addresses several important challenges related to low socioeconomic status and emergent resistance. Therefore, understanding the microbiota's role in interactions with hosts and parasites is crucial for managing parasite diseases with fewer economic and adverse effects associated with pharmaceutical interventions. The current review was divided into three sections. Section 1 focused on the mutual microbiota-host interaction through the purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). The P2X7R is an abundant intestinal cation channel that is crucial in mucosal immunity, facilitated by SIgA-mediated protection in both innate and adaptive immunity. This study demonstrated that microbiota continually "teach and train" host immunity to attain homeostasis via SIgA production (in T cell-independent and T cell-dependent pathways) and the purinergic receptor P2X7R. In addition, we discussed the potential of manipulating SIgA and P2X7R in immune therapies targeting parasitic infections. Section 2 exhibited parasite-microbiota (microbe-microbe) interactions wherein each can indirectly affect one another through physical and immunogenic alterations and directly via predation, bactericidal protein production, and overlapping of nutrient resources. Thus, microbe-microbe interactions appeared to be multifaceted and species-dependent. Section 3 showed the relationship between microbiota and specific parasites, and the promising role of probiotics. In this section, the review discussed examples of tissue, blood, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and respiratory parasitic diseases, while highlighting the associated dysbiosis. Furthermore, Section 3 acknowledged the importance of "strain-dependent" biotherapy to boost beneficial microbiota, modulate immunity, and exert anti-parasitic effects.}, } @article {pmid38271267, year = {2024}, author = {Shinzato, C and Yoshioka, Y}, title = {Genomic Data Reveal Diverse Biological Characteristics of Scleractinian Corals and Promote Effective Coral Reef Conservation.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evae014}, pmid = {38271267}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {20H03235//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 20J21301//Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows/ ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals (Scleractinia, Anthozoa, Cnidaria) are the keystone organisms of coral reefs, which constitute the most diverse marine ecosystems. Since the first decoded coral genome reported in 2011, about 40 reference genomes are registered as of 2023. Comparative genomic analyses of coral genomes have revealed genomic characters that may underlie unique biological characteristics and coral diversification. These include existence of genes for biosynthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids, loss of an enzyme necessary for cysteine biosynthesis in family Acroporidae, and lineage-specific gene expansions of DMSP lyase-like genes in the genus Acropora. While symbiosis with endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates is a common biological feature among reef-building corals, genes associated with the intricate symbiotic relationship encompass not only those shared by many coral species, but also genes that were uniquely duplicated in each coral lineage, suggesting diversified molecular mechanisms of coral-algal symbiosis. Coral genomic data have also enabled detection of hidden, complex population structures of corals, indicating the need for species-specific, local-scale, carefully considered conservation policies for effective maintenance of corals. Consequently, accumulating coral genomic data from a wide range of taxa and from individuals of a species not only promotes deeper understanding of coral reef biodiversity, but also promotes appropriate and effective coral reef conservation. Considering the diverse biological traits of different coral species and accurately understanding population structure and genetic diversity revealed by coral genomic analyses during coral reef restoration planning could enable us to "archive" coral reef environments that are nearly identical to natural coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid38409625, year = {2024}, author = {Cheema, A and Garg, N}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae reduced arsenic induced oxidative stress by coordinating nutrient uptake and proline-glutathione levels in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea).}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38409625}, issn = {1573-3017}, support = {BT/PR13409/BPA/118/122/2015//Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India/ ; }, abstract = {Accumulation of Arsenic (As) generates oxidative stress by reducing nutrients availability in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can impart metalloid tolerance in plants by enhancing the synthesis of sulfur (S)-rich peptides (glutathione- GSH) and low-molecular-weight nitrogenous (N) osmolytes (proline- Pro). The present study, therefore investigated the efficiency of 3 AM fungal species (Rhizoglomus intraradices-Ri, Funneliformis mosseae -Fm and Claroideoglomus claroideum- Cc) in imparting As (arsenate-AsV -40 at 60 mg kg[-1] and arsenite- AsIII at 5 and 10 mg kg[-1]) tolerance in two Cicer arietinum (chickpea) genotypes (HC 3 and C 235). As induced significantly higher negative impacts in roots than shoots, which was in accordance with proportionately higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the former, with AsIII more toxic than AsV. Mycorrhizal symbiosis overcame oxidative stress by providing the host plants with necessary nutrients (P, N, and S) through enhanced microbial enzyme activities (MEAs) in soil, which increased the synthesis of Pro and GSH and established a redox balance in the two genotypes. This coordination between nutrient status, Pro-GSH levels, and antioxidant defense was stronger in HC 3 than C 235 due to its higher responsiveness to the three AM species. However, Ri was most beneficial in inducing redox homeostasis, followed by Fm and Cc, since the Cicer arietinum-Ri combination displayed the maximum ability to boost antioxidant defense mechanisms and establish a coordination with Pro synthesis. Thus, the results highlighted the importance of selecting specific chickpea genotypes having an ability to establish effective mycorrhizal symbiosis for imparting As stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid38409267, year = {2024}, author = {Han, W and Chen, Z and Liu, H and Zheng, X and Wu, J and Yuan, Q}, title = {Experimental research on compressive strength deterioration of coal seam floor sandstone under the action of acidic mine drainage.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {4593}, pmid = {38409267}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {2022KF10//State Key Laboratory of Coal and CBM Co-mining opening fund/ ; }, abstract = {In sulphur-coal symbiotic coal seams, after the mining of sulphide iron ore, when the coal resources are mined, the mine water accumulated in the roadway mining area will have a certain impact on the stability of the surrounding rock of the coal seam roadway. Taking the floor sandstone of sulfur coal symbiotic coal seam as the research object, the roof fissure water with pH values of 7.48, 4.81 and 2.62 was used as the experimental solution. 10 experimental schemes were designed to measure the compressive strength of the samples under the action of AMD, and the hydrochemical analysis of AMD was conducted. The pore structures of the samples before and after the action of AMD were analyzed. Based on the hydrochemistry and pore structure, the deterioration mechanism of compressive strength of the coal seam floor sandstone under the action of AMD was explained. The results indicated that the compressive strength of the samples decreased with the increasing action time of AMD. The compressive strength decreased with the increment of the porosity. The concentration of H[+] ion in AMD was relatively small. Na2O in albite dissolved and reacted with water, leading to an increase in the concentration of Na[+] ion. Soluble substances such as MgCl2 and CaSO4 in the pore structure dissolved, leading to an increase in the concentration of Ca[2+] and Mg[2+] ions. The dissolution of soluble substances and the physical-chemical reactions between solutions and minerals were the essential causes of the continuous deterioration of the compressive strength of the coal seam floor sandstone. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the deterioration of the mechanical properties of the peripheral rock in the roadway of the sulphur coal seam, and can also provide a certain engineering reference for the sulphur coal seam roadway.}, } @article {pmid38407587, year = {2024}, author = {Kempraj, V and Auth, J and Cha, DH and Mason, CJ}, title = {Impact of Larval Food Source on the Stability of the Bactrocera dorsalis Microbiome.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {38407587}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {2040-22430-028-000-D//USDA ARS/ ; 2040-43000-018-000-D//USDA ARS/ ; 2040-22430-028-000-D//USDA ARS/ ; 60-2040-3-003//Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Animals ; Larva ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Fruit ; *Tephritidae ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts are crucial to the biology of Bactrocera dorsalis. With larval diet (fruit host) being a key factor that determines microbiome composition and with B. dorsalis using more than 400 fruits as hosts, it is unclear if certain bacterial symbionts are preserved and are passed on to B. dorsalis progenies despite changes in larval diet. Here, we conducted a fly rearing experiment to characterize diet-induced changes in the microbiome of female B. dorsalis. In order to explicitly investigate the impacts of larval diet on the microbiome, including potential stable bacterial constituents of B. dorsalis, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing on the gut tissues of teneral female flies reared from four different host fruits (guava, mango, papaya, and rose apple) infested using a single cohort of wild B. dorsalis that emerged from tropical almond (mother flies). Although B. dorsalis-associated microbiota were predominantly shaped by the larval diet, some major bacterial species from the mother flies were retained in progenies raised on different larval diets. With some variation, Klebsiella (ASV 1 and 2), Morganella (ASV 3), and Providencia (ASV 6) were the major bacterial symbionts that were stable and made up 0.1-80% of the gut and ovipositor microbiome of female teneral flies reared on different host fruits. Our results suggest that certain groups of bacteria are stably associated with female B. dorsalis across larval diets. These findings provide a basis for unexplored research on symbiotic bacterial function in B. dorsalis and may aid in the development of novel management techniques against this devastating pest of horticultural importance.}, } @article {pmid38407566, year = {2024}, author = {Zhou, Y and Guo, S and Wang, T and Zong, S and Ge, X}, title = {Modeling the pest-pathogen threats in a warming world for the red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) and its symbiotic fungus (Leptographium procerum).}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.8046}, pmid = {38407566}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dendroctonus valens along with its symbiotic fungi have caused unprecedented damage to pines in China. Leptographium procerum, its primary symbiotic fungus, facilitates the invasion and colonization of the pest, thereby aggravating ecological threats. Assessing shifts in the niches and ranges of D. valens and its symbiotic fungus could provide a valuable basis for pest control. Here, we conducted niche comparisons between native and invasive populations of D. valens. Then, we employed standard ecological niche models and ensembles of small models to predict the potential distributions of D. valens and L. procerum under climate change conditions and to estimate areas of overlap.

RESULTS: The niche of invasive population of D. valens in Chinese mainland only occupied a limited portion of the niche of native population in North America, leaving a substantial native niche unfilled and without any niche expansion. The suitable regions for D. valens are predicted in central and southern North America and central and northeastern Chinese mainland. The overlap with the suitable regions of L. procerum included eastern North America and the central and northeastern Chinese mainland under historical climatic scenarios. The regions susceptible to their symbiotic damage will shift northward in response to future climate change.

CONCLUSIONS: Projected distributions of D. valens and its symbiotic fungus, along with areas vulnerable to their symbiotic damage, provide essential insights for devising strategies against this association. Additionally, our study contributes to comprehending how biogeographic approaches aid in estimating potential risks of pest-pathogen interactions in forests within a warming world.}, } @article {pmid38405585, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, Q and Wang, G}, title = {Isoflavonoid metabolism in leguminous plants: an update and perspectives.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1368870}, pmid = {38405585}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Isoflavonoids constitute a well-investigated category of phenylpropanoid-derived specialized metabolites primarily found in leguminous plants. They play a crucial role in legume development and interactions with the environment. Isoflavonoids usually function as phytoalexins, acting against pathogenic microbes in nature. Additionally, they serve as signaling molecules in rhizobial symbiosis. Notably, owing to their molecular structure resembling human estrogen, they are recognized as phytoestrogens, imparting positive effects on human health. This review comprehensively outlines recent advancements in research pertaining to isoflavonoid biosynthesis, transcriptional regulation, transport, and physiological functions, with a particular emphasis on soybean plants. Additionally, we pose several questions to encourage exploration into novel contributors to isoflavonoid metabolism and their potential roles in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid38404602, year = {2024}, author = {Yan, J and Green, K and Noel, K and Kim, CH and Stone, CM}, title = {Effects of seasonality and developed land cover on Culex mosquito abundance and microbiome diversity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1332970}, pmid = {38404602}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The vectorial capacity of mosquitoes, which influences the dynamics of vector-borne disease transmission, is intricately linked to mosquito abundance and the composition and diversity of their associated microbiomes. However, the influence of environmental factors on mosquito populations and microbiome diversity remains underexplored. Here we examined the effects of seasonality and developed land cover on Culex mosquito abundance and bacterial diversity. Biweekly field sampling of female Culex mosquitoes was conducted using gravid and CDC light traps, spanning summer to autumn across varying developed land cover levels in two urban areas in Central Illinois. Mosquito abundance was assessed by the number of mosquitoes captured per trap night and compared across seasons and developed levels. The mean mosquito abundance for gravid and light traps was 12.96 ± 2.15 and 7.67 ± 1.44, respectively. Notably, higher levels of developed land cover exhibited higher Culex abundance than the low level for light traps, but no significant difference was found between summer and early autumn. In gravid traps, no significant differences were detected across seasons or developed levels. Microbial analysis of the mosquito microbiome revealed that Proteobacteria and Wolbachia, with a mean relative abundance of 80.77 and 52.66% respectively, were identified as the most dominant bacterial phylum and genus. Their relative abundance remained consistent across seasons and developed land cover levels, with negligible variations. Alpha diversity, as measured by observed species, Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson, showed slightly higher values in early-autumn compared to late-summer. A notable pattern of bacterial diversity, as indicated by all four diversity indexes, is evident across varying levels of land development. Significantly, high or intermediate developed levels consistently showed reduced alpha diversity when compared to the lower level. This underscores the pronounced impact of anthropogenic ecological disturbances in shaping mosquito microbiomes. Beta diversity analysis revealed no significant dissimilarities in bacterial community composition across seasons and developed levels, although some separation was noted among different levels of developed land cover. These findings highlight the significant role of environmental factors in shaping mosquito abundance and their associated microbiomes, with potential implications for the vectorial capacity in the transmission of vector-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid38404538, year = {2024}, author = {Alshareef, SA}, title = {Metabolic analysis of the CAZy class glycosyltransferases in rhizospheric soil fungiome of the plant species Moringa oleifera.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {103956}, pmid = {38404538}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {The target of the present work is to study the most abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) of glycosyltransferase (GT) class, which are encoded by fungiome genes present in the rhizospheric soil of the plant species Moringa oleifera. The datasets of this CAZy class were recovered using metagenomic whole shotgun genome sequencing approach, and the resultant CAZymes were searched against the KEGG pathway database to identify function. High emphasis was given to the two GT families, GT4 and GT2, which were the highest within GT class in the number and abundance of gene queries in this soil compartment. These two GT families harbor CAZymes playing crucial roles in cell membrane and cell wall processes. These CAZymes are responsible for synthesizing essential structural components such as cellulose and chitin, which contribute to the integrity of cell walls in plants and fungi. The CAZyme beta-1,3-glucan synthase of GT2 family accumulates 1,3-β-glucan, which provides elasticity as well as tensile strength to the fungal cell wall. Other GT CAZymes contribute to the biosynthesis of several compounds crucial for cell membrane and wall integrity, including lipopolysaccharide, e.g., lipopolysaccharide N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, cell wall teichoic acid, e.g., alpha-glucosyltransferase, and cellulose, e.g., cellulose synthase. These compounds also play pivotal roles in ion homeostasis, organic carbon mineralization, and osmoprotection against abiotic stresses in plants. This study emphasizes the major roles of these two CAZy GT families in connecting the structure and function of cell membranes and cell walls of fungal and plant cells. The study also sheds light on the potential occurrence of tripartite symbiotic relationships involving the plant, rhizospheric bacteriome, and fungiome via the action of CAZymes of GT4 and GT2 families. These findings provide valuable insights towards the generation of innovative agricultural practices to enhance the performance of crop plants in the future.}, } @article {pmid38403930, year = {2024}, author = {Lastovetsky, OA and Caruso, T and Brennan, FP and Wall, D and Pylni, S and Doyle, E}, title = {Spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi host surprisingly diverse communities of endobacteria.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19605}, pmid = {38403930}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {GOIPD/2017/879//Irish Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous plant root symbionts, which can house two endobacteria: Ca. Moeniiplasma glomeromycotorum (CaMg) and Ca. Glomeribacter gigasporarum (CaGg). However, little is known about their distribution and population structure in natural AMF populations and whether AMF can harbour other endobacteria. We isolated AMF from two environments and conducted detailed analyses of endobacterial communities associated with surface-sterilised AMF spores. Consistent with the previous reports, we found that CaMg were extremely abundant (80%) and CaGg were extremely rare (2%) in both environments. Unexpectedly, we discovered an additional and previously unknown level of bacterial diversity within AMF spores, which extended beyond the known endosymbionts, with bacteria belonging to 10 other phyla detected across our spore data set. Detailed analysis revealed that: CaGg were not limited in distribution to the Gigasporaceae family of AMF, as previously thought; CaMg population structure was driven by AMF host genotype; and a significant inverse correlation existed between the diversity of CaMg and diversity of all other endobacteria. Based on these data, we generate novel testable hypotheses regarding the function of CaMg in AMF biology by proposing that they might act as conditional mutualists of AMF.}, } @article {pmid38402014, year = {2024}, author = {Ke, X and Wang, X}, title = {Energy sensors: emerging regulators of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2024.01.010}, pmid = {38402014}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a highly energy-consuming process. Recent studies demonstrate that nodule-specific energy sensors play important roles in modulating nodule nitrogen fixation capacity. This opens a new field in the energy regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation that can provide insights into designing leguminous crops with efficient nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid38399740, year = {2024}, author = {Eren Eroğlu, AE and Eroğlu, V and Yaşa, İ}, title = {Genomic Insights into the Symbiotic and Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of "Candidatus Phyllobacterium onerii" sp. nov. Isolated from Endemic Astragalus flavescens.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38399740}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {A novel strain of Gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria, identified as IY22, was isolated from the root nodules of Astragalus flavescens. The analysis of the 16S rDNA and recA (recombinase A) gene sequences indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Phyllobacterium. During the phylogenetic analysis, it was found that strain IY22 is closely related to P. trifolii strain PETP02[T] and P. bourgognense strain STM 201[T]. The genome of IY22 was determined to be 6,010,116 base pairs long with a DNA G+C ratio of 56.37 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values showed a range from 91.7% to 93.6% when compared to its close relatives. Moreover, IY22 and related strains had digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values ranging from 16.9% to 54.70%. Multiple genes (including nodACDSNZ, nifH/frxC, nifUS, fixABCJ, and sufABCDES) associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation have been detected in strain IY22. Furthermore, this strain features genes that contribute to improving plant growth in various demanding environments. This study reports the first evidence of an association between A. flavescens and a rhizobial species. Native high-altitude legumes are a potential source of new rhizobia, and we believe that they act as a form of insurance for biodiversity against the threats of desertification and drought.}, } @article {pmid38399702, year = {2024}, author = {Cameirão, C and Costa, D and Rufino, J and Pereira, JA and Lino-Neto, T and Baptista, P}, title = {Diversity, Composition, and Specificity of the Philaenus spumarius Bacteriome.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38399702}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {UIDB/00690/2020; UIDP/00690/2020; LA/P/0007/2020; UIDB/04050/2020; UIDB/05757/2020 and UIDP/05757/2020//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; PRR-C05-i03-I-000083//Agriculture and Fisheries Financing Institute/ ; 727987//Horizon2020/ ; }, abstract = {Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) was recently classified as a pest due to its ability to act as a vector of the phytopathogen Xylella fastidiosa. This insect has been reported to harbour several symbiotic bacteria that play essential roles in P. spumarius health and fitness. However, the factors driving bacterial assemblages remain largely unexplored. Here, the bacteriome associated with different organs (head, abdomen, and genitalia) of males and females of P. spumarius was characterized using culturally dependent and independent methods and compared in terms of diversity and composition. The bacteriome of P. spumarius is enriched in Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteria phyla, as well as in Candidatus Sulcia and Cutibacterium genera. The most frequent isolates were Curtobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobiaceae sp.1. Males display a more diverse bacterial community than females, but no differences in diversity were found in distinct organs. However, the organ shapes the bacteriome structure more than sex, with the Microbacteriaceae family revealing a high level of organ specificity and the Blattabacteriaceae family showing a high level of sex specificity. Several symbiotic bacterial genera were identified in P. spumarius for the first time, including Rhodococcus, Citrobacter, Halomonas, Streptomyces, and Providencia. Differences in the bacterial composition within P. spumarius organs and sexes suggest an adaptation of bacteria to particular insect tissues, potentially shaped by their significance in the life and overall fitness of P. spumarius. Although more research on the bacteria of P. spumarius interactions is needed, such knowledge could help to develop specific bacterial-based insect management strategies.}, } @article {pmid38399694, year = {2024}, author = {He, Z and Naganuma, T and Melville, HIAS}, title = {Bacteriomic Profiles of Rock-Dwelling Lichens from the Venezuelan Guiana Shield and the South African Highveld Plateau.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38399694}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {JP16H05765//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {Lichens are not only fungal-algal symbiotic associations but also matrices for association with bacteria, and the bacterial diversity linked to lichens has been receiving more attention in studies. This study compares the diversity and possible metabolism of lichen-associated bacteria from saxicolous foliose and fruticose taxa Alectoria, Canoparmelia, Crocodia, Menegazzia, Usnea, and Xanthoparmelia from the Venezuelan Guiana Shield and the South African Highveld Plateau. We used DNA extractions from the lichen thalli to amplify the eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene (rDNA) and the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA, of which amplicons were then Sanger- and MiSeq-sequenced, respectively. The V3-V4 sequences of the associated bacteria were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) ascribed to twelve bacterial phyla previously found in the rock tripe Umbilicaria lichens. The bacterial OTUs emphasized the uniqueness of each region, while, at the species and higher ranks, the regional microbiomes were shown to be somewhat similar. Nevertheless, regional biomarker OTUs were screened to predict relevant metabolic pathways, which implicated different regional metabolic features.}, } @article {pmid38398697, year = {2024}, author = {Kalousi, FD and Tsakos, M and Nikolaou, CN and Georgantopoulos, A and Psarra, AG and Tsikou, D}, title = {Chemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Extracts Isolated from Symbiotic L. japonicus Plants.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38398697}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, including compounds with biological activities that could be used for the treatment of human diseases. In the present study, we examined the putative production of bioactive molecules in the legume plant Lotus japonicus, which engages into symbiotic relationships with beneficial soil microorganisms. To monitor the production of secondary metabolites when the plant develops beneficial symbiotic relationships, we performed single and double inoculations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. Plant extracts from non-inoculated and inoculated plants were chemically characterized and tested for anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects on human HEK-293 cells. Both shoot and root extracts from non-inoculated and inoculated plants significantly reduced the HEK-293 cell viability; however, a stronger effect was observed when the root extracts were tested. Shoot and root extracts from Rhizobium-inoculated plants and shoot extracts from AMF-inoculated plants showed apoptotic effects on human cells. Moreover, both shoot and root extracts from AMF-inoculated plants significantly reduced TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity, denoting anti-inflammatory activity. These results suggest that symbiotic L. japonicus plants are enriched with metabolites that have interesting biological activities and could be further explored for putative future use in the pharmaceutical sector.}, } @article {pmid38396504, year = {2024}, author = {Fournier, AK and French, M and Letson, EA and Hanson, J and Berry, TD and Cronin, S}, title = {The Behavioral Cost of Care: Changes in Maintenance Behavior during Equine-Assisted Interventions.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {38396504}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {This study examined human-animal symbiosis in an animal-assisted intervention through observations of animal maintenance behaviors. The rise of psychotherapy, learning, and recreation incorporating animals warrants exploration of the welfare of the animals involved in these interventions. The analysis of welfare in multispecies engagements can be discussed in terms of symbiosis. Regarding an intervention's animal provider (e.g., therapy horse) and human recipient (psychotherapy client), the balance of cost and benefit is important. Research describing human and animal interactive behavior during interventions is limited, whether focusing on client outcomes or animal welfare. The present study adapted ethological methods to study humans and animals in an equine-assisted intervention, observing equine maintenance behaviors and equid-human interactive behavior. Maintenance behaviors were recorded before, during, and after equine-assisted (psychosocial) learning sessions with youth, providing 1600 observations. Equine alertness, eating behavior, and ambulation varied significantly before, during, and after the equine-assisted sessions. Such interruptions of typical behavior are an important aspect of welfare and unit of analysis when examining symbiotic relationships. A total of 267 sequences of equid-human approach-response behavior were also recorded, indicating that human-animal interaction was predominantly from humans toward equids. Equids' dominant response to human approach was no response, followed by avoidance, while humans' dominant response to equid approach was reciprocation. The findings are discussed in terms of symbiosis and animal welfare.}, } @article {pmid38395175, year = {2024}, author = {Su, X and Li, J and Peng, Y and Yuan, Y and Wu, L and Peng, Y}, title = {An overlooked effect of hydroxylamine on anammox granular sludge: Promoting granulation and boosting activity.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {921}, number = {}, pages = {171176}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171176}, pmid = {38395175}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The exogenous hydroxylamine dosing has been proven to enhance nitrite supply for anammox bacteria. In this study, exogenous hydroxylamine was fed into a sequencing batch reactor to investigate its long-term effect on anammox granular sludge. The results showed that hydroxylamine enhanced the reactor's performance with an increase in total nitrogen removal rate from 0.23 to 0.52 kg N/m[3]/d and an increase in bacterial activity from 11.65 to 78.24 mg N/g VSS/h. Meanwhile, hydroxylamine promoted granulation by eluting flocs. And higher anammox activity and granulation were supported by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) characteristics. Moreover, Candidatus Brocadia's abundance increased from 1.10 % to 3.03 %, and its symbiosis with heterotrophic bacteria was intensified. Additionally, molecular docking detailed the mechanism of the hydroxylamine effect. Overall, this study would provide new insights into the hydroxylamine dosing strategy application.}, } @article {pmid38395103, year = {2024}, author = {Prathapan, P}, title = {Characterisation of the fig-fig wasp holobiont.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {105162}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105162}, pmid = {38395103}, issn = {1872-8324}, abstract = {Plants and animals have long been considered distinct kingdoms, yet here a hitherto undefined 'plant-animal' is described. In an extraordinary symbiosis in which neither organism can complete its lifecycle without the other, the fig tree (Ficus species) provides a habitat for its exclusive pollinator, the fig wasp (Agaonidae family). Characterisation of the 'fig-fig wasp holobiont' marks the first acknowledgement of plant-animal symbiogenesis.}, } @article {pmid38394357, year = {2024}, author = {Sun, K and Pan, YT and Jiang, HJ and Xu, JY and Ma, CY and Zhou, J and Liu, Y and Shabala, S and Zhang, W and Dai, CC}, title = {Root endophyte-mediated alteration in plant H2O2 homeostasis regulates symbiosis outcome and reshapes the rhizosphere microbiota.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae069}, pmid = {38394357}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Endophytic symbioses between plants and fungi are a dominant feature of many terrestrial ecosystems, yet little is known about the signaling that defines these symbiotic associations. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is recognized as a key signal mediating the plant adaptive response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the role of H2O2 in plant-fungal symbiosis remains elusive. Using a combination of physiological analysis, plant and fungal deletion mutants, and comparative transcriptomics, we reported that various environmental conditions differentially affect the interaction between Arabidopsis and a root endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris, and link this process to alterations in H2O2 levels and H2O2 fluxes across root tips. We found that enhanced H2O2 efflux leading to a moderate increase in H2O2 levels at the plant-fungal interface is required for maintaining plant-fungal symbiosis. Disturbance of plant H2O2 homeostasis compromises the symbiotic ability of plant roots. Moreover, the fungus-regulated H2O2 dynamics modulate the rhizosphere microbiome by selectively enriching for the phylum Cyanobacteria, with strong antioxidant defenses. Our results demonstrated that the regulation of H2O2 dynamics at the plant-fungal interface affects the symbiotic outcome in response to external conditions and highlight the importance of root endophyte in reshaping the rhizosphere microbiota.}, } @article {pmid38393616, year = {2024}, author = {de Souza Moreira, FM and Cabral Michel, D and Marques Cardoso, R}, title = {The elite strain INPA03-11B approved as a cowpea inoculant in Brazil represents a new Bradyrhizobium species and it has high adaptability to stressful soil conditions.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38393616}, issn = {1678-4405}, abstract = {The strain INPA03-11B[T], isolated in the 1980s from nodules of Centrosema sp. collected in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, was approved by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture as a cowpea inoculant in 2004. Since then, several studies have been conducted regarding its phenotypic, genetic, and symbiotic characteristics under axenic and field conditions. Phenotypic features demonstrate its high adaptability to stressful soil conditions, such as tolerance to acidity, high temperatures, and 13 antibiotics, and, especially, its high symbiotic efficiency with cowpea and soybean, proven in the field. The nodC and nifH phylogenies placed the INPA strain in the same clade as the species B. macuxiense BR 10303[T] which was also isolated from the Amazon region. The sequencing of the 16S rRNA ribosomal gene and housekeeping genes, as well as BOX-PCR profiles, showed its potential as a new species, which was confirmed by a similarity percentage of 94.7% and 92.6% in Average Nucleotide Identity with the closest phylogenetically related species Bradyrhizobium tropiciagri CNPSo1112[T] and B. viridifuturi SEMIA690[T], respectively. dDDH values between INPA03-11B[T] and both CNPSo 1112[T] and SEMIA690[T] were respectively 58.5% and 48.1%, which are much lower than the limit for species boundary (70%). Therefore, we propose the name Bradyrhizobium amazonense for INPA03-11B[T] (= BR3301 = SEMIA6463).}, } @article {pmid38393555, year = {2024}, author = {Shi, S and Wang, F and Hu, Y and Zhou, J and Zhang, H and He, C}, title = {Effects of running time on biological activated carbon filters: water purification performance and microbial community evolution.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38393555}, issn = {1614-7499}, support = {No. 42307498//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. G2023013023//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China/ ; }, abstract = {Ozone-biologically activated carbon (BAC) filtration is an advanced treatment process that can be applied to remove recalcitrant organic micro-pollutants in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). In this study, we continuously monitored a new and an old BAC filter in a DWTP for 1 year to compare their water purification performance and microbial community evolution. The results revealed that, compared with the new filter, the use of the old BAC filter facilitated a slightly lower rate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal. In the case of the new BAC filter, we recorded general increases in the biomass and microbial diversity of the biofilm with a prolongation of operating time, with the biomass stabilizing after 7 months. For both new and old BAC filters, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla. At the genus level, the microbial community gradually shifted over the course of operation from a predominance of Herminiimonas and Hydrogenophaga to one predominated by Bradyrhizbium, Bryobacter, Hyphomicrobium, and Pedomicrobium, with Bradyrhizobium being established as the most abundant genus in the old BAC filter. Regarding spatial distribution, we detected reductions in the biomass and number of operational taxonomic units with increasing biofilm depth, whereas there was a corresponding increase in microbial diversity. However, compared with the effects of time, the influence of depth on the composition of the biofilm microbial community was considerably smaller. Furthermore, co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the microbial community network of the new filter after 11 months of operation was the most tightly connected, although its modular coefficient was the lowest of those assessed. We speculate that the positive and negative interactions within the network may be attributable to symbiotic or competitive relationships among species. Moreover, there may have been a significant negative interaction between SWB02 and Acidovorax, plausibly associated with a competition for substrates.}, } @article {pmid38393187, year = {2024}, author = {Palma, L and Frizzo, L and Kaiser, S and Berry, C and Caballero, P and Bode, HB and Del Valle, EE}, title = {Genome Sequence Analysis of Native Xenorhabdus Strains Isolated from Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Argentina.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxins16020108}, pmid = {38393187}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {PICT 2017-0087//Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología/ ; PIP 2017-2019 GRUPO INVES//Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas/ ; PIC 2017-2019//National University of Villa María/ ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes from the genus Steinernema (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) are capable of causing the rapid killing of insect hosts, facilitated by their association with symbiotic Gram-negative bacteria in the genus Xenorhabdus (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae), positioning them as interesting candidate tools for the control of insect pests. In spite of this, only a limited number of species from this bacterial genus have been identified from their nematode hosts and their insecticidal properties documented. This study aimed to perform the genome sequence analysis of fourteen Xenorhabdus strains that were isolated from Steinernema nematodes in Argentina. All of the strains were found to be able of killing 7th instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Their sequenced genomes harbour 110 putative insecticidal proteins including Tc, Txp, Mcf, Pra/Prb and App homologs, plus other virulence factors such as putative nematocidal proteins, chitinases and secondary metabolite gene clusters for the synthesis of different bioactive compounds. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis plus average nucleotide identity calculations strongly suggested that three strains should be considered novel species. The species name for strains PSL and Reich (same species according to % ANI) is proposed as Xenorhabdus littoralis sp. nov., whereas strain 12 is proposed as Xenorhabdus santafensis sp. nov. In this work, we present a dual insight into the biocidal potential and diversity of the Xenorhabdus genus, demonstrated by different numbers of putative insecticidal genes and biosynthetic gene clusters, along with a fresh exploration of the species within this genus.}, } @article {pmid38393185, year = {2024}, author = {Ouyang, W and Liao, Z and Yang, X and Zhang, X and Zhu, X and Zhong, Q and Wang, L and Fang, X and Wang, J}, title = {Microbial Composition of Water Kefir Grains and Their Application for the Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxins16020107}, pmid = {38393185}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {2020B020226008//Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province/ ; 2022B0202040002//Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province/ ; 2023A1515030059//Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province/ ; }, abstract = {Water kefir grains (WKGs), the starter used to develop a traditional beverage named water kefir, consist of a symbiotic mixture of probiotics with diverse bioactivities, but little is known about their abilities to remove mycotoxins that have serious adverse effects on humans and animals. This study investigated the ability of WKGs to remove aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most toxic mycotoxins, under different settings, and determined the mechanism of absorption mediated by WKGs and the effect of WKGs on the toxicity induced by AFB1 and the reduction in AFB1 in cow milk and tea soups. The results showed the WKGs used herein were dominated by Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, Phenylobacterium, Sediminibacterium, Saccharomyces, Issatchenkia, and Kodamaea. HPLC analysis demonstrated that the WKGs effectively removed AFB1 at concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 µg/mL, pH values ranging from 3 to 9, and temperatures ranging from 4 to 45 °C. Additionally, the removal of AFB1 mainly depended on absorption, which was consistent with the Freundlich and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Moreover, only 49.63% of AFB1 was released from the AFB1-WKG complex after four washes when the release of AFB1 was non-detectable. Furthermore, WKG treatment caused a dramatic reduction in the mutagenicity induced by AFB1 according to an Ames test and reduced more than 54% of AFB1 in cow milk and three tea soups. These results suggested that WKGs can act as a potential bio-absorbent with a high binding ability to detoxify AFB1 in food and feed via a chemical action step and multi-binding sites of AFB1 absorption in a wide range of scenarios.}, } @article {pmid38393163, year = {2024}, author = {Hoepner, CM and Stewart, ZK and Qiao, R and Fobert, EK and Prentis, PJ and Colella, A and Chataway, T and Burke da Silva, K and Abbott, CA}, title = {Proteotransciptomics of the Most Popular Host Sea Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Reveals Not All Toxin Genes Expressed by Tentacles Are Recruited into Its Venom Arsenal.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxins16020085}, pmid = {38393163}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {CH 2019//Holsworth Endowment Fund/ ; CH 2019//Fisheries Society of the British Isles Small Research Grant/ ; }, abstract = {While the unique symbiotic relationship between anemonefishes and sea anemones is iconic, it is still not fully understood how anemonefishes can withstand and thrive within the venomous environment of their host sea anemone. In this study, we used a proteotranscriptomics approach to elucidate the proteinaceous toxin repertoire from the most common host sea anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor. Although 1251 different toxin or toxin-like RNA transcripts were expressed in E. quadricolor tentacles (0.05% of gene clusters, 1.8% of expression) and 5375 proteins were detected in milked venom, only 4% of proteins detected in venom were putative toxins (230), and they only represent on average 14% of the normalised protein expression in the milked venom samples. Thus, most proteins in milked venom do not appear to have a toxin function. This work raises the perils of defining a dominant venom phenotype based on transcriptomics data alone in sea anemones, as we found that the dominant venom phenotype differs between the transcriptome and proteome abundance data. E. quadricolor venom contains a mixture of toxin-like proteins of unknown and known function. A newly identified toxin protein family, Z3, rich in conserved cysteines of unknown function, was the most abundant at the RNA transcript and protein levels. The venom was also rich in toxins from the Protease S1, Kunitz-type and PLA2 toxin protein families and contains toxins from eight venom categories. Exploring the intricate venom toxin components in other host sea anemones will be crucial for improving our understanding of how anemonefish adapt to the venomous environment.}, } @article {pmid38392991, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, YH and Zhu, Q and Li, J and Yang, R and Zhang, J and You, M and Luo, L and Yang, B}, title = {Optimization of Fermentation Process for New Anti-Inflammatory Glycosylceramide Metabolite from Aspergillus sp.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38392991}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {A novel ceramide compound, named Aspercerebroside A (AcA), was successfully isolated from the ethyl acetate layer of the marine symbiotic fungus Aspergillus sp. AcA exhibited notable anti-inflammatory activity by effectively inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations of 30 μg/mL and 40 μg/mL, offering a promising avenue for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. To optimize the yield of glycosylceramide (AcA), a series of techniques, including single-factor experiments, orthogonal experiments, and response surface optimization, were systematically employed to fine-tune the composition of the fermentation medium. Initially, the optimal carbon source (sucrose), nitrogen source (yeast extract powder), and the most suitable medium salinity (14 ppt) were identified through single-factor experiments. Subsequently, orthogonal experiments, employing an orthogonal table for planning and analyzing multifactor experiments, were conducted. Finally, a mathematical model, established using a Box-Behnken design, comprehensively analyzed the interactions between the various factors to determine the optimal composition of the fermentation medium. According to the model's prediction, when the sucrose concentration was set at 37.47 g/L, yeast extract powder concentration at 19.66 g/L, and medium salinity at 13.31 ppt, the predicted concentration of glycosylceramide was 171.084 μg/mL. The experimental results confirmed the model's accuracy, with the actual average concentration of glycosylceramide under these conditions measured at 171.670 μg/mL, aligning closely with the predicted value.}, } @article {pmid38392820, year = {2024}, author = {Kgosiemang, JL and Ramakuwela, T and Figlan, S and Cochrane, N}, title = {Antifungal Effect of Metabolites from Bacterial Symbionts of Entomopathogenic Nematodes on Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38392820}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {117787//National Research Foundation/ ; 117787//National Research Centre/ ; }, abstract = {Fungal diseases such as Fusarium head blight (FHB) are significant biotic stressors, negatively affecting wheat production and quality. This study explored the antifungal activity of the metabolites produced by the bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against FHB-causing Fusarium sp. Fusarium graminearum. To achieve this, the symbiotic bacteria of nine EPN isolates from the EPN collection at the Agricultural Research Council-Small Grains (ARC-SG) were isolated from the cadavers of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae after infection with EPNs. Broth cultures (crude) and their supernatants (filtered and autoclaved) of each bacterial isolate were used as bacterial metabolite treatments to test their inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and spore germination of F. graminearum. Mycelial growth inhibition rates varied among both bacterial isolates and treatments. Crude metabolite treatments proved to be more effective than filtered and autoclaved metabolite treatments, with an overall inhibition rate of 75.25% compared to 23.93% and 13.32%, respectively. From the crude metabolite treatments, the Xenorhabdus khoisanae SGI 197 bacterial isolate from Steinernema beitlechemi SGI 197 had the highest mean inhibition rate of 96.25%, followed by Photorhabdus luminescens SGI 170 bacteria isolated from Heterorhabditis bacteriophora SGI 170 with a 95.79% mean inhibition rate. The filtered metabolite treatments of all bacterial isolates were tested for their inhibitory activity against Fusarium graminearum spore germination. Mean spore germination inhibition rates from Xenorhabdus spp. bacterial isolates were higher (83.91 to 96.29%) than those from Photorhabdus spp. (6.05 to 14.74%). The results obtained from this study suggest that EPN symbiotic bacterial metabolites have potential use as biological control agents of FHB. Although field efficacy against FHB was not studied, the significant inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination suggest that the application of these metabolites at the flowering stage may provide protection to plants against infection with or spread of F. graminearum. These metabolites have the potential to be employed as part of integrated pest management (IPM) to inhibit/delay conidia germination until the anthesis (flowering stage) of wheat seedlings has passed.}, } @article {pmid38392808, year = {2024}, author = {Zeng, Q and Dong, J and Lin, X and Zhou, X and Xu, H}, title = {Isolation and Identification of Acer truncatum Endophytic Fungus Talaromyces verruculosus and Evaluation of Its Effects on Insoluble Phosphorus Absorption Capacity and Growth of Cucumber Seedlings.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38392808}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between endophytic fungi and plants can promote the absorption of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients by plants. Phosphorus is one of the indispensable nutrient elements for plant growth and development. However, the content of available phosphorus in soil is very low, which limits the growth of plants. Phosphorus-soluble microorganisms can improve the utilization rate of insoluble phosphorus. In this study, Talaromyces verruculosus (T. verruculosus), a potential phosphorus-soluble fungus, was isolated from Acer truncatum, a plant with strong stress resistance, and its phosphorus-soluble ability in relation to cucumber seedlings under different treatment conditions was determined. In addition, the morphological, physiological, and biochemical indexes of the cucumber seedlings were assessed. The results show that T. verruculosus could solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and lecithin, and the solubilization effect of lecithin was higher than that of TCP. After the application of T. verruclosus, the leaf photosynthetic index increased significantly. The photosynthetic system damage caused by low phosphorus stress was alleviated, and the root morphological indexes of cucumber seedlings were increased. The plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of cucumber seedlings treated with T. verruculosus were also significantly higher than those without treatment. Therefore, it was shown that T. verruculosus is a beneficial endophytic fungus that can promote plant growth and improve plant stress resistance. This study will provide a useful reference for further research on endophytic fungi to promote growth and improve plant stress resistance.}, } @article {pmid38392771, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, W and Ran, Q and Li, H and Lou, H}, title = {Endolichenic Fungi: A Promising Medicinal Microbial Resource to Discover Bioactive Natural Molecules-An Update.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38392771}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {82293682, 82173703//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Lichens are some of the most unique fungi and are naturally encountered as symbiotic biological organisms that usually consist of fungal partners (mycobionts) and photosynthetic organisms (green algae and cyanobacteria). Due to their distinctive growth environments, including hot deserts, rocky coasts, Arctic tundra, toxic slag piles, etc., they produce a variety of biologically meaningful and structurally novel secondary metabolites to resist external environmental stresses. The endofungi that live in and coevolve with lichens can also generate abundant secondary metabolites with novel structures, diverse skeletons, and intriguing bioactivities due to their mutualistic symbiosis with hosts, and they have been considered as strategically significant medicinal microresources for the discovery of pharmaceutical lead compounds in the medicinal industry. They are also of great importance in the fundamental research field of natural product chemistry. In this work, we conducted a comprehensive review and systematic evaluation of the secondary metabolites of endolichenic fungi regarding their origin, distribution, structural characteristics, and biological activity, as well as recent advances in their medicinal applications, by summarizing research achievements since 2015. Moreover, the current research status and future research trends regarding their chemical components are discussed and predicted. A systematic review covering the fundamental chemical research advances and pharmaceutical potential of the secondary metabolites from endolichenic fungi is urgently required to facilitate our better understanding, and this review could also serve as a critical reference to provide valuable insights for the future research and promotion of natural products from endolichenic fungi.}, } @article {pmid38392507, year = {2024}, author = {Cheng, Y and Yang, J and Li, T and Li, J and Ye, M and Wang, J and Chen, R and Zhu, L and Du, B and He, G}, title = {Endosymbiotic Fungal Diversity and Dynamics of the Brown Planthopper across Developmental Stages, Tissues, and Sexes Revealed Using Circular Consensus Sequencing.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects15020087}, pmid = {38392507}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {2022ABA001//The Science and Technology Major Program of Hubei Province/ ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic fungi play an important role in the growth and development of insects. Understanding the endosymbiont communities hosted by the brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens Stål), the most destructive pest in rice, is a prerequisite for controlling BPH rice infestations. However, the endosymbiont diversity and dynamics of the BPH remain poorly studied. Here, we used circular consensus sequencing (CCS) to obtain 87,131 OTUs (operational taxonomic units), which annotated 730 species of endosymbiotic fungi in the various developmental stages and tissues. We found that three yeast-like symbionts (YLSs), Polycephalomyces prolificus, Ophiocordyceps heteropoda, and Hirsutella proturicola, were dominant in almost all samples, which was especially pronounced in instar nymphs 4-5, female adults, and the fat bodies of female and male adult BPH. Interestingly, honeydew as the only in vitro sample had a unique community structure. Various diversity indices might indicate the different activity of endosymbionts in these stages and tissues. The biomarkers analyzed using LEfSe suggested some special functions of samples at different developmental stages of growth and the active functions of specific tissues in different sexes. Finally, we found that the incidence of occurrence of three species of Malassezia and Fusarium sp. was higher in males than in females in all comparison groups. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive survey of symbiotic fungi in the BPH, which complements the previous research on YLSs. These results offer new theoretical insights and practical implications for novel pest management strategies to understand the BPH-microbe symbiosis and devise effective pest control strategies.}, } @article {pmid38392319, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, X and Zhang, Y and Tang, C and Li, H and Xia, H and Fan, S and Kong, L}, title = {Bicarbonate-Dependent Detoxification by Mitigating Ammonium-Induced Hypoxic Stress in Triticum aestivum Root.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology13020101}, pmid = {38392319}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {ZR2020MC087//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 2022YFD2300801//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; SDAIT-01-06//Shandong Modern Agricultural Technology and Industry System/ ; }, abstract = {Ammonium (NH4[+]) toxicity is ubiquitous in plants. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of this toxicity and bicarbonate (HCO3[-])-dependent alleviation, wheat plants were hydroponically cultivated in half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution containing 7.5 mM NO3[-] (CK), 7.5 mM NH4[+] (SA), or 7.5 mM NH4[+] + 3 mM HCO3[-] (AC). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that compared to CK, SA treatment at 48 h significantly upregulated the expression of genes encoding fermentation enzymes (pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) and oxygen consumption enzymes (respiratory burst oxidase homologs, dioxygenases, and alternative oxidases), downregulated the expression of genes encoding oxygen transporters (PIP-type aquaporins, non-symbiotic hemoglobins), and those involved in energy metabolism, including tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes and ATP synthases, but upregulated the glycolytic enzymes in the roots and downregulated the expression of genes involved in the cell cycle and elongation. The physiological assay showed that SA treatment significantly increased PDC, ADH, and LDH activity by 36.69%, 43.66%, and 61.60%, respectively; root ethanol concentration by 62.95%; and lactate efflux by 23.20%, and significantly decreased the concentrations of pyruvate and most TCA cycle intermediates, the complex V activity, ATP content, and ATP/ADP ratio. As a consequence, SA significantly inhibited root growth. AC treatment reversed the changes caused by SA and alleviated the inhibition of root growth. In conclusion, NH4[+] treatment alone may cause hypoxic stress in the roots, inhibit energy generation, suppress cell division and elongation, and ultimately inhibit root growth, and adding HCO3[-] remarkably alleviates the NH4[+]-induced inhibitory effects on root growth largely by attenuating the hypoxic stress.}, } @article {pmid38392314, year = {2024}, author = {Ben Gaied, R and Sbissi, I and Tarhouni, M and Brígido, C}, title = {Bacterial Endophytes from Legumes Native to Arid Environments Are Promising Tools to Improve Mesorhizobium-Chickpea Symbiosis under Salinity.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology13020096}, pmid = {38392314}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a major contributor of N in agricultural ecosystems, but the establishment of legume-rhizobium symbiosis is highly affected by soil salinity. Our interest is focused on the use of non-rhizobial endophytes to assist the symbiosis between chickpea and its microsymbiont under salinity to avoid loss of production and fertility. Our aims were (1) to investigate the impact of salinity on both symbiotic partners; including on early events of the Mesorhizobium-chickpea symbiosis, and (2) to evaluate the potential of four non-rhizobial endophytes isolated from legumes native to arid regions (Phyllobacterium salinisoli, P. ifriqiyense, Xanthomonas translucens, and Cupriavidus respiraculi) to promote chickpea growth and nodulation under salinity. Our results show a significant reduction in chickpea seed germination rate and in the microsymbiont Mesorhizobium ciceri LMS-1 growth under different levels of salinity. The composition of phenolic compounds in chickpea root exudates significantly changed when the plants were subjected to salinity, which in turn affected the nod genes expression in LMS-1. Furthermore, the LMS-1 response to root exudate stimuli was suppressed by the presence of salinity (250 mM NaCl). On the contrary, a significant upregulation of exoY and otsA genes, which are involved in exopolysaccharide and trehalose biosynthesis, respectively, was registered in salt-stressed LMS-1 cells. In addition, chickpea co-inoculation with LMS-1 along with the consortium containing two non-rhizobial bacterial endophytes, P. salinisoli and X. translucens, resulted in significant improvement of the chickpea growth and the symbiotic performance of LMS-1 under salinity. These results indicate that this non-rhizobial endophytic consortium may be an appropriate ecological and safe tool to improve chickpea growth and its adaptation to salt-degraded soils.}, } @article {pmid38390295, year = {2024}, author = {Oddi, L and Volpe, V and Carotenuto, G and Politi, M and Barni, E and Crosino, A and Siniscalco, C and Genre, A}, title = {Boosting species evenness, productivity and weed control in a mixed meadow by promoting arbuscular mycorrhizas.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1303750}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2024.1303750}, pmid = {38390295}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Lowland meadows represent aboveground and belowground biodiversity reservoirs in intensive agricultural areas, improving water retention and filtration, ensuring forage production, contrasting erosion and contributing to soil fertility and carbon sequestration. Besides such major ecosystem services, the presence of functionally different plant species improves forage quality, nutritional value and productivity, also limiting the establishment of weeds and alien species. Here, we tested the effectiveness of a commercial seed mixture in restoring a lowland mixed meadow in the presence or absence of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and biostimulation of symbiosis development with the addition of short chain chito-oligosaccharides (CO). Plant community composition, phenology and productivity were regularly monitored alongside AM colonization in control, inoculated and CO-treated inoculated plots. Our analyses revealed that the CO treatment accelerated symbiosis development significantly increasing root colonization by AM fungi. Moreover, the combination of AM fungal inoculation and CO treatment improved plant species evenness and productivity with more balanced composition in forage species. Altogether, our study presented a successful and scalable strategy for the reintroduction of mixed meadows as valuable sources of forage biomass; demonstrated the positive impact of CO treatment on AM development in an agronomic context, extending previous observations developed under controlled laboratory conditions and leading the way to the application in sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid38389997, year = {2024}, author = {Li, D and Jin, XH and Li, Y and Wang, YC and He, HY and Zhang, HB}, title = {Fungal communities associated with early immature tubers of wild Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e11004}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.11004}, pmid = {38389997}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Full myco-heterotrophic orchid Gastrodia elata Bl. is widely distributed in Northeast Asia, and previous research has not fully investigated the symbiotic fungal community of its early immature tubers. This study utilized Illumina sequencing to compare symbiotic fungal communities in natural G. elata immature tubers and their habitats. LEfSe (Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size) was used to screen for Biomarkers that could explain variations among different fungal communities, and correlation analyses were performed among Biomarkers and other common orchid mycorrhizal fungi. Our results illustrate that the symbiotic fungal communities of immature G. elata tubers cannot be simply interpreted as subsets of the environmental fungal communities because some key members cannot be traced back to the environment. The early growth of G. elata was related to a small group of fungi, such as Sebacina, Thelephora, and Inocybe, which were also common mycorrhizal fungi from other orchids. In addition, Mycena, Auricularia, and Cryptococcus were unique fungal partners of G. elata, and many new species have yet to be discovered. Possible symbiotic Mycena should be M. plumipes and its sibling species in this case. Our results provide insight into the symbiotic partner switch and trophic pattern change during the development and maturation of G. elata.}, } @article {pmid38389343, year = {2024}, author = {Kaur, H and Vig, R and Kumar, N and Sharma, A and Dogra, A and Goyal, B}, title = {Multimodal Medical Image Fusion Utilizing Two-scale Image Decomposition via Saliency Detection.}, journal = {Current medical imaging}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.2174/0115734056260083230924154700}, pmid = {38389343}, issn = {1573-4056}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Modern medical imaging modalities used by clinicians have many applications in the diagnosis of complicated diseases. These imaging technologies reveal the internal anatomy and physiology of the body. The fundamental idea behind medical image fusion is to increase the image's global and local contrast, enhance the visual impact, and change its format so that it is better suited for computer processing or human viewing while preventing noise magnification and accomplishing excellent real-time performance.

OBJECTIVE: The top goal is to combine data from various modal images (CT/MRI and MR-T1/MR-T2) into a solitary image that, to the greatest degree possible, retains the key characteristics (prominent features) of the source images.

METHODS: The clinical accuracy of medical issues is compromised because innumerable classical fusion methods struggle to conserve all the prominent features of the original images. Furthermore, complex implementation, high computation time, and more memory requirements are key problems of transform domain methods. With the purpose of solving these problems, this research suggests a fusion framework for multimodal medical images that makes use of a multi-scale edge-preserving filter and visual saliency detection. The source images are decomposed using a two-scale edge-preserving filter into base and detail layers. Base layers are combined using the addition fusion rule, while detail layers are fused using weight maps constructed using the maximum symmetric surround saliency detection algorithm.

RESULTS: The resultant image constructed by the presumed method has improved objective evaluation metrics than other classical methods, as well as unhindered edge contour, more global contrast, and no ringing effect or artifacts.

CONCLUSION: The methodology offers a dominant and symbiotic arsenal of clinical symptomatic, therapeutic, and biomedical research competencies that have the prospective to considerably strengthen medical practice and biological understanding.}, } @article {pmid38388783, year = {2024}, author = {Rehneke, L and Schäfer, P}, title = {Symbiont effector-guided mapping of proteins in plant networks to improve crop climate stress resilience: Symbiont effectors inform highly interconnected plant protein networks and provide an untapped resource for crop climate resilience strategies.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2300172}, doi = {10.1002/bies.202300172}, pmid = {38388783}, issn = {1521-1878}, support = {//Justus-Liebig-University Giessen/ ; 031B1226A//Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Wheat Interference/ ; }, abstract = {There is an urgent need for novel protection strategies to sustainably secure crop production under changing climates. Studying microbial effectors, defined as microbe-derived proteins that alter signalling inside plant cells, has advanced our understanding of plant immunity and microbial plant colonisation strategies. Our understanding of effectors in the establishment and beneficial outcome of plant symbioses is less well known. Combining functional and comparative interaction assays uncovered specific symbiont effector targets in highly interconnected plant signalling networks and revealed the potential of effectors in beneficially modulating plant traits. The diverse functionality of symbiont effectors differs from the paradigmatic immuno-suppressive function of pathogen effectors. These effectors provide solutions for improving crop resilience against climate stress by their evolution-driven specification in host protein targeting and modulation. Symbiont effectors represent stringent tools not only to identify genetic targets for crop breeding, but to serve as applicable agents in crop management strategies under changing environments.}, } @article {pmid38386019, year = {2024}, author = {Zhou, Y and Li, Q and Zhang, Q and Yuan, M and Zhu, X and Li, Y and Li, Q and Downs, CA and Huang, D and Chou, LM and Zhao, H}, title = {Environmental Concentrations of Herbicide Prometryn Render Stress-Tolerant Corals Susceptible to Ocean Warming.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c10417}, pmid = {38386019}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Global warming has caused the degradation of coral reefs around the world. While stress-tolerant corals have demonstrated the ability to acclimatize to ocean warming, it remains unclear whether they can sustain their thermal resilience when superimposed with other coastal environmental stressors. We report the combined impacts of a photosystem II (PSII) herbicide, prometryn, and ocean warming on the stress-tolerant coral Galaxea fascicularis through physiological and omics analyses. The results demonstrate that the heat-stress-induced inhibition of photosynthetic efficiency in G. fascicularis is exacerbated in the presence of prometryn. Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses indicate that the prometryn exposure may overwhelm the photosystem repair mechanism in stress-tolerant corals, thereby compromising their capacity for thermal acclimation. Moreover, prometryn might amplify the adverse effects of heat stress on key energy and nutrient metabolism pathways and induce a stronger response to oxidative stress in stress-tolerant corals. The findings indicate that the presence of prometryn at environmentally relevant concentrations would render corals more susceptible to heat stress and exacerbate the breakdown of coral Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis. The present study provides valuable insights into the necessity of prioritizing PSII herbicide pollution reduction in coral reef protection efforts while mitigating the effects of climate change.}, } @article {pmid38385710, year = {2024}, author = {Xiao, Y and Gao, L and Li, Z}, title = {Unique high-temperature tolerance mechanisms of zoochlorellae Symbiochlorum hainanensis derived from scleractinian coral Porites lutea.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0278023}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.02780-23}, pmid = {38385710}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Global warming is a key issue that causes coral bleaching mainly because of the thermosensitivity of zooxanthellae. Compared with the well-studied zooxanthellae Symbiodiniaceae in coral holobionts, we rarely know about other coral symbiotic algae, let alone their thermal tolerance. In this study, a zoochlorellae, Symbiochlorum hainanensis, isolated from the coral Porites lutea, was proven to have a threshold temperature of 38°C. Meanwhile, unique high-temperature tolerance mechanisms were suggested by integrated transcriptomics and real-time quantitative PCR, physiological and biochemical analyses, and electron microscopy observation. Under heat stress, S. hainanensis shared some similar response strategies with zooxanthellae Effrenium sp., such as increased ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase activities and chlorophyll a, thiamine, and thiamine phosphate contents. In particular, more chloroplast internal layered structure, increased CAT activity, enhanced selenate reduction, and thylakoid assembly pathways were highlighted for S. hainanensis's high-temperature tolerance. Notably, it is the first time to reveal a whole selenate reduction pathway from SeO4[2-] to Se[2-] and its contribution to the high-temperature tolerance of S. hainanensis. These unique mechanisms, including antioxidation and maintaining photosynthesis homeostasis, efficiently ensure the high-temperature tolerance of S. hainanensis than Effrenium sp. Compared with the thermosensitivity of coral symbiotic zooxanthellae Symbiodiniaceae, this study provides novel insights into the high-temperature tolerance mechanisms of coral symbiotic zoochlorellae S. hainanensis, which will contribute to corals' survival in the warming oceans caused by global climate change.IMPORTANCEThe increasing ocean temperature above 31°C-32°C might trigger a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses or coral bleaching because of the thermosensitivity of Symbiodiniaceae; therefore, the exploration of alternative coral symbiotic algae with high-temperature tolerance is important for the corals' protection under warming oceans. This study proves that zoochlorellae Symbiochlorum hainanensis can tolerate 38°C, which is the highest temperature tolerance known for coral symbiotic algae to date, with unique high-temperature tolerance mechanisms. Particularly, for the first time, an internal selenium antioxidant mechanism of coral symbiotic S. hainanensis to high temperature was suggested.}, } @article {pmid38384513, year = {2024}, author = {Yanan, L and Ismail, MA and Aminuddin, A}, title = {How has rural tourism influenced the sustainable development of traditional villages? A systematic literature review.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e25627}, pmid = {38384513}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Rural tourism has been widely recognized as a means of promoting the revival of traditional villages and has been supported by numerous researchers. It has the potential to provide significant social and economic advantages, making it a popular strategy for rural development in both developed and developing countries. Nevertheless, a growing body of research has substantiated the significant disruptions that rural tourism has imposed on traditional villages. This study employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) qualitative method to systematically analyze 92 papers from WOS and SCOPUS that investigate the impact of rural tourism on traditional villages. The papers were categorized into five groups: spatial, economic, sociocultural, and holistic. This categorization allowed for the identification of the purpose, theme, sub-topics, research methods, and data sources used in these papers, which in turn provided an overview of the characteristics and overall trends in research in this field. It compensates for the deficiencies of lesser reviews that just emphasize rural tourism as the primary catalyst for the sustainable development of traditional villages. Based on a thorough investigation, this paper asserts that the development of tourism in traditional villages should be differentiated from typical rural tourism sites that prioritize the preferences of tourists. The primary objective should be to prioritize the preservation of community values, with a strong emphasis on community participation. This should be done while considering the interests of various stakeholders and promoting a diverse range of livelihoods that are rooted in traditional practices. By doing so, the essence of authenticity in traditional villages can be reinforced, leading to a greater sense of connection and loyalty among tourists. The preservation of traditional village genes fosters a symbiotic relationship with rural tourism, resulting in a mutually beneficial cycle.}, } @article {pmid38383831, year = {2024}, author = {Hutchings, B and López-Legentil, S and Stefaniak, LM and Nydam, M and Erwin, PM}, title = {Distinct microbial communities in an ascidian-crustacean symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {e13242}, pmid = {38383831}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {//Ruth D. Turner Foundation Scholarship in Marine Biology/ ; DEB-2122475//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 1073//Smithsonian Institute's Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems (CCRE) Program/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Urochordata ; Symbiosis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Ascidians are marine invertebrates known to occasionally host symbiotic crustaceans. Although the microbiomes of both ascidians and free-living crustaceans have been characterized, there is no documentation of microbial communities in an ascidian-crustacean symbiosis. Samples of the solitary ascidian Ascidia sydneiensis and ambient seawater were collected in Belize. Four symbiotic amphipod crustaceans were retrieved from the branchial sac of the animal, and their microbiomes were compared with those from their ascidian host (tunic and branchial sac compartments) and seawater. Microbiome richness and diversity differed significantly between sample types, with amphipod microbiomes exhibiting significantly lower diversity than tunic and ambient seawater samples. Microbiome composition also differed significantly between sample types and among all pairwise comparisons, except for branchial sac and amphipod microbiomes. Differential operational taxonomic unit (OTU) analyses revealed that only 3 out of 2553 OTUs had significantly different relative abundances in amphipods compared with ascidian branchial sacs, whereas 72 OTUs differed between amphipod and tunic and 315 between amphipod and seawater samples. Thus, different body compartments of A. sydneiensis hosted distinct microbiomes, and symbiotic amphipods contained microbiomes resembling the region they inhabit (i.e., the branchial sac), suggesting that environmental filtering and co-evolutionary processes are determinants of microbiome composition within ascidian-crustacean symbioses.}, } @article {pmid38381255, year = {2024}, author = {Abulfaraj, AA and Shami, AY and Alotaibi, NM and Alomran, MM and Aloufi, AS and Al-Andal, A and AlHamdan, NR and Alshehrei, FM and Sefrji, FO and Alsaadi, KH and Abuauf, HW and Alshareef, SA and Jalal, RS}, title = {Exploration of genes encoding KEGG pathway enzymes in rhizospheric microbiome of the wild plant Abutilon fruticosum.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {27}, pmid = {38381255}, issn = {2191-0855}, support = {PNURSP2024R31//Deanship of Scientific Research, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University/ ; }, abstract = {The operative mechanisms and advantageous synergies existing between the rhizobiome and the wild plant species Abutilon fruticosum were studied. Within the purview of this scientific study, the reservoir of genes in the rhizobiome, encoding the most highly enriched enzymes, was dominantly constituted by members of phylum Thaumarchaeota within the archaeal kingdom, phylum Proteobacteria within the bacterial kingdom, and the phylum Streptophyta within the eukaryotic kingdom. The ensemble of enzymes encoded through plant exudation exhibited affiliations with 15 crosstalking KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways. The ultimate goal underlying root exudation, as surmised from the present investigation, was the biosynthesis of saccharides, amino acids, and nucleic acids, which are imperative for the sustenance, propagation, or reproduction of microbial consortia. The symbiotic companionship existing between the wild plant and its associated rhizobiome amplifies the resilience of the microbial community against adverse abiotic stresses, achieved through the orchestration of ABA (abscisic acid) signaling and its cascading downstream effects. Emergent from the process of exudation are pivotal bioactive compounds including ATP, D-ribose, pyruvate, glucose, glutamine, and thiamine diphosphate. In conclusion, we hypothesize that future efforts to enhance the growth and productivity of commercially important crop plants under both favorable and unfavorable environmental conditions may focus on manipulating plant rhizobiomes.}, } @article {pmid38381148, year = {2024}, author = {Yagame, T and Figura, T and Tanaka, E and Selosse, MA and Yukawa, T}, title = {Mycobiont identity and light conditions affect belowground morphology and physiology of a mixotrophic orchid Cremastra variabilis (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38381148}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {15H04417//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 15H04417//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 15K14442//Advanced Utilization of Fungus/Mushroom Resource for Sustainable Society in Harmony with Nature/ ; }, abstract = {We have investigated whether mycobiont identity and environmental conditions affect morphology and physiology of the chlorophyllous orchid: Cremastra variabilis. This species grows in a broad range of environmental conditions and associates with saprotrophic rhizoctonias including Tulasnellaceae and saprotrophic non-rhizoctonian fungi from the family Psathyrellaceae. We cultured the orchid from seeds under aseptic culture conditions and subsequently inoculated the individuals with either a Tulasnellaceae or a Psathyrellaceae isolate. We observed underground organ development of the inoculated C. variabilis plants and estimated their nutritional dependency on fungi using stable isotope abundance. Coralloid rhizome development was observed in all individuals inoculated with the Psathyrellaceae isolate, and 1-5 shoots per seedling grew from the tip of the coralloid rhizome. In contrast, individuals associated with the Tulasnellaceae isolate did not develop coralloid rhizomes, and only one shoot emerged per plantlet. In darkness, δ[13]C enrichment was significantly higher with both fungal isolates, whereas δ[15]N values were only significantly higher in plants associated with the Psathyrellaceae isolate. We conclude that C. variabilis changes its nutritional dependency on fungal symbionts depending on light availability and secondly that the identity of fungal symbiont influences the morphology of underground organs.}, } @article {pmid38380943, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, IH and Borer, B and Zhao, R and Wilbert, S and Newman, DK and Babbin, AR}, title = {Uncultivated DPANN archaea are ubiquitous inhabitants of global oxygen-deficient zones with diverse metabolic potential.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0291823}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.02918-23}, pmid = {38380943}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Archaea belonging to the DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota) superphylum have been found in an expanding number of environments and perform a variety of biogeochemical roles, including contributing to carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycling. Generally characterized by ultrasmall cell sizes and reduced genomes, DPANN archaea may form mutualistic, commensal, or parasitic interactions with various archaeal and bacterial hosts, influencing the ecology and functioning of microbial communities. While DPANN archaea reportedly comprise a sizeable fraction of the archaeal community within marine oxygen-deficient zone (ODZ) water columns, little is known about their metabolic capabilities in these ecosystems. We report 33 novel metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to the DPANN phyla Nanoarchaeota, Pacearchaeota, Woesearchaeota, Undinarchaeota, Iainarchaeota, and SpSt-1190 from pelagic ODZs in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific and the Arabian Sea. We find these archaea to be permanent, stable residents of all three major ODZs only within anoxic depths, comprising up to 1% of the total microbial community and up to 25%-50% of archaea as estimated from read mapping to MAGs. ODZ DPANN appear to be capable of diverse metabolic functions, including fermentation, organic carbon scavenging, and the cycling of sulfur, hydrogen, and methane. Within a majority of ODZ DPANN, we identify a gene homologous to nitrous oxide reductase. Modeling analyses indicate the feasibility of a nitrous oxide reduction metabolism for host-attached symbionts, and the small genome sizes and reduced metabolic capabilities of most DPANN MAGs suggest host-associated lifestyles within ODZs.IMPORTANCEArchaea from the DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota) superphylum have diverse metabolic capabilities and participate in multiple biogeochemical cycles. While metagenomics and enrichments have revealed that many DPANN are characterized by ultrasmall genomes, few biosynthetic genes, and episymbiotic lifestyles, much remains unknown about their biology. We report 33 new DPANN metagenome-assembled genomes originating from the three global marine oxygen-deficient zones (ODZs), the first from these regions. We survey DPANN abundance and distribution within the ODZ water column, investigate their biosynthetic capabilities, and report potential roles in the cycling of organic carbon, methane, and nitrogen. We test the hypothesis that nitrous oxide reductases found within several ODZ DPANN genomes may enable ultrasmall episymbionts to serve as nitrous oxide consumers when attached to a host nitrous oxide producer. Our results indicate DPANN archaea as ubiquitous residents within the anoxic core of ODZs with the potential to produce or consume key compounds.}, } @article {pmid38380907, year = {2024}, author = {Xiong, Q and Sopko, B and Klimov, PB and Hubert, J}, title = {A novel Bartonella-like bacterium forms an interdependent mutualistic symbiosis with its host, the stored-product mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0082923}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00829-23}, pmid = {38380907}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {A novel Bartonella-like symbiont (BLS) of Tyrophagus putrescentiae was characterized. BLS formed a separate cluster from the Bartonella clade together with an ant symbiont. BLS was present in mite bodies (103 16S DNA copies/mite) and feces but was absent in eggs. This indicated the presence of the BLS in mite guts. The BLS showed a reduction in genome size (1.6 Mb) and indicates gene loss compared to Bartonella apis. The BLS can be interacted with its host by using host metabolic pathways (e.g., the histidine and arginine metabolic pathways) as well as by providing its own metabolic pathways (pantothenate and lipoic acid) to the host, suggesting the existence of a mutualistic association. Our experimental data further confirmed these potential mutualistic nutritional associations, as cultures of T. putrescentiae with low BLS abundance showed the strongest response after the addition of vitamins. Despite developing an arguably tight dependency on its host, the BLS has probably retained flagellar mobility, as evidenced by the 32 proteins enriched in KEGG pathways associated with flagellar assembly or chemotaxis (e.g., fliC, flgE, and flgK, as highly expressed genes). Some of these proteins probably also facilitate adhesion to host gut cells. The microcin C transporter was identified in the BLS, suggesting that microcin C may be used in competition with other gut bacteria. The 16S DNA sequence comparison indicated a mite clade of BLSs with a broad host range, including house dust and stored-product mites. Our phylogenomic analyses identified a unique lineage of arachnid specific BLSs in mites and scorpions.IMPORTANCEA Bartonella-like symbiont was found in an astigmatid mite of allergenic importance. We assembled the genome of the bacterium from metagenomes of different stored-product mite (T. putrescentiae) cultures. The bacterium provides pantothenate and lipoic acid to the mite host. The vitamin supply explains the changes in the relative abundance of BLSs in T. putrescentiae as the microbiome response to nutritional or pesticide stress, as observed previously. The phylogenomic analyses of available 16S DNA sequences originating from mite, scorpion, and insect samples identified a unique lineage of arachnid specific forming large Bartonella clade. BLSs associated with mites and a scorpion. The Bartonella clade included the previously described Ca. Tokpelaia symbionts of ants.}, } @article {pmid38377997, year = {2024}, author = {García-Lozano, M and Henzler, C and Porras, MÁG and Pons, I and Berasategui, A and Lanz, C and Budde, H and Oguchi, K and Matsuura, Y and Pauchet, Y and Goffredi, S and Fukatsu, T and Windsor, D and Salem, H}, title = {Paleocene origin of a streamlined digestive symbiosis in leaf beetles.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.070}, pmid = {38377997}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Timing the acquisition of a beneficial microbe relative to the evolutionary history of its host can shed light on the adaptive impact of a partnership. Here, we investigated the onset and molecular evolution of an obligate symbiosis between Cassidinae leaf beetles and Candidatus Stammera capleta, a γ-proteobacterium. Residing extracellularly within foregut symbiotic organs, Stammera upgrades the digestive physiology of its host by supplementing plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. We observe that Stammera is a shared symbiont across tortoise and hispine beetles that collectively comprise the Cassidinae subfamily, despite differences in their folivorous habits. In contrast to its transcriptional profile during vertical transmission, Stammera elevates the expression of genes encoding digestive enzymes while in the foregut symbiotic organs, matching the nutritional requirements of its host. Despite the widespread distribution of Stammera across Cassidinae beetles, symbiont acquisition during the Paleocene (∼62 mya) did not coincide with the origin of the subfamily. Early diverging lineages lack the symbiont and the specialized organs that house it. Reconstructing the ancestral state of host-beneficial factors revealed that Stammera encoded three digestive enzymes at the onset of symbiosis, including polygalacturonase-a pectinase that is universally shared. Although non-symbiotic cassidines encode polygalacturonase endogenously, their repertoire of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes is more limited compared with symbiotic beetles supplemented with digestive enzymes from Stammera. Highlighting the potential impact of a symbiotic condition and an upgraded metabolic potential, Stammera-harboring beetles exploit a greater variety of plants and are more speciose compared with non-symbiotic members of the Cassidinae.}, } @article {pmid38377919, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Pan, Z and Liao, J and Dai, R and Lin, JG and Ling, J and Xu, Y}, title = {Micro-aeration and low influent C/N are key environmental factors for achieving ANAMMOX in livestock farming wastewater treatment plants.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {253}, number = {}, pages = {120141}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.120141}, pmid = {38377919}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX)-mediated system is a cost-effective green nitrogen removal process. However, there are few examples of successful application of this advanced wastewater denitrification process in wastewater treatment plants, and the understanding of how to implement anaerobic ammonia oxidation process in full-scale is still limited. In this study, it was found that the abundance of anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) in the two livestock wastewater plants named J1 and J2, respectively, showed diametrically opposed trends of waxing and waning with time. The microbial communities of the activated sludge in the two plants at different time were sampled and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Structural equation models (SEMs) were used to reveal the key factors affecting the realization of the ANAMMOX. Changes in the concentration of dissolved oxygen and C/N had a significant effect on the relative abundance of anaerobic ammonia oxidation bacteria (AnAOB). The low concentration of DO (0.2∼0.5 mg/L) could inhibit the activity of nitrifying bacteria (NOB) to achieve partial oxidation of ammonia nitrogen and provide sufficient substrate for the growth of AnAOB, similar to the CANON (Completely Autotrophic Nitrogen removal Over Nitrite). Unlike CANON, heterotrophic denitrification is also a particularly critical part of the livestock wastewater treatment, and a suitable C/N of about 0.6 could reduce the competition risk of heterotrophic microorganisms to AnAOB and ensure a good ecological niche for AnAOB. Based on the results of 16S rRNA and microbial co-occurrence networks, it was discovered that microorganisms in the sludge not only had a richer network interaction, but also achieved a mutually beneficial symbiotic interaction network among denitrifying bacteria (Pseudomonas sp., Terrimonas sp., Dokdonella sp.), AnAOB (Candidatus Brocadia sp.) at DO of 0.2∼0.5 mg/L and C/N of 0.6. Among the top 20 in abundance of genus level, AnAOB had a high relative abundance of 27.66%, followed by denitrifying bacteria of 3.67%, AOB of 0.64% and NOB of 0.26%, which is an essential indicator for the emergence of an AnAOB-dominated nitrogen removal cycle. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of dissolved oxygen and C/N regulation by analyzing the mechanism of ANAMMOX sludge extinction and growth in two plants under anthropogenic regulation of AnAOB in full-scale wastewater treatment systems.}, } @article {pmid38376262, year = {2024}, author = {Šibanc, N and Clark, DR and Helgason, T and Dumbrell, AJ and Maček, I}, title = {Extreme environments simplify reassembly of communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0133123}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.01331-23}, pmid = {38376262}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The ecological impacts of long-term (press) disturbance on mechanisms regulating the relative abundance (i.e., commonness or rarity) and temporal dynamics of species within a community remain largely unknown. This is particularly true for the functionally important arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi; obligate plant-root endosymbionts that colonize more than two-thirds of terrestrial plant species. Here, we use high-resolution amplicon sequencing to examine how AM fungal communities in a specific extreme ecosystem-mofettes or natural CO2 springs caused by geological CO2 exhalations-are affected by long-term stress. We found that in mofettes, specific and temporally stable communities form as a subset of the local metacommunity. These communities are less diverse and dominated by adapted, "stress tolerant" taxa. Those taxa are rare in control locations and more benign environments worldwide, but show a stable temporal pattern in the extreme sites, consistently dominating the communities in grassland mofettes. This pattern of lower diversity and high dominance of specific taxa has been confirmed as relatively stable over several sampling years and is independently observed across multiple geographic locations (mofettes in different countries). This study implies that the response of soil microbial community composition to long-term stress is relatively predictable, which can also reflect the community response to other anthropogenic stressors (e.g., heavy metal pollution or land use change). Moreover, as AM fungi are functionally differentiated, with different taxa providing different benefits to host plants, changes in community structure in response to long-term environmental change have the potential to impact terrestrial plant communities and their productivity.IMPORTANCEArbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic relationships with more than two-thirds of plant species. In return for using plant carbon as their sole energy source, AM fungi improve plant mineral supply, water balance, and protection against pathogens. This work demonstrates the importance of long-term experiments to understand the effects of long-term environmental change and long-term disturbance on terrestrial ecosystems. We demonstrated a consistent response of the AM fungal community to a long-term stress, with lower diversity and a less variable AM fungal community over time under stress conditions compared to the surrounding controls. We have also identified, for the first time, a suite of AM fungal taxa that are consistently observed across broad geographic scales in stressed and anthropogenically heavily influenced ecosystems. This is critical because global environmental change in terrestrial ecosystems requires an integrative approach that considers both above- and below-ground changes and examines patterns over a longer geographic and temporal scale, rather than just single sampling events.}, } @article {pmid38375883, year = {2024}, author = {Marqués-Gálvez, JE and Pandharikar, G and Basso, V and Kohler, A and Lackus, ND and Barry, K and Keymanesh, K and Johnson, J and Singan, V and Grigoriev, IV and Vilgalys, R and Martin, F and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {Populus MYC2 orchestrates root transcriptional reprogramming of defence pathway to impair Laccaria bicolor ectomycorrhizal development.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19609}, pmid = {38375883}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DE-AC05-589 00OR22725//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Recherches Avancees sur la Biologie de l'Arbre et les Ecosystemes Forestiers/ ; //Joint Genome Institute/ ; }, abstract = {The jasmonic acid (JA) signalling pathway plays an important role in the establishment of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. The Laccaria bicolor effector MiSSP7 stabilizes JA corepressor JAZ6, thereby inhibiting the activity of Populus MYC2 transcription factors. Although the role of MYC2 in orchestrating plant defences against pathogens is well established, its exact contribution to ECM symbiosis remains unclear. This information is crucial for understanding the balance between plant immunity and symbiotic relationships. Transgenic poplars overexpressing or silencing for the two paralogues of MYC2 transcription factor (MYC2s) were produced, and their ability to establish ectomycorrhiza was assessed. Transcriptomics and DNA affinity purification sequencing were performed. MYC2s overexpression led to a decrease in fungal colonization, whereas its silencing increased it. The enrichment of terpene synthase genes in the MYC2-regulated gene set suggests a complex interplay between the host monoterpenes and fungal growth. Several root monoterpenes have been identified as inhibitors of fungal growth and ECM symbiosis. Our results highlight the significance of poplar MYC2s and terpenes in mutualistic symbiosis by controlling root fungal colonization. We identified poplar genes which direct or indirect control by MYC2 is required for ECM establishment. These findings deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ECM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38375206, year = {2023}, author = {Sadeghi, M and Mestivier, D and Carbonnelle, E and Benamouzig, R and Khazaie, K and Sobhani, I}, title = {Loss of symbiotic and increase of virulent bacteria through microbial networks in Lynch syndrome colon carcinogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1313735}, pmid = {38375206}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {PURPOSE: Through a pilot study, we performed whole gut metagenomic analysis in 17 Lynch syndrome (LS) families, including colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their healthy first-degree relatives. In a second asymptomatic LS cohort (n=150) undergoing colonoscopy-screening program, individuals with early precancerous lesions were compared to those with a normal colonoscopy. Since bacteria are organized into different networks within the microbiota, we compared related network structures in patients and controls.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Fecal prokaryote DNA was extracted prior to colonoscopy for whole metagenome (n=34, pilot study) or 16s rRNA sequencing (validation study). We characterized bacteria taxonomy using Diamond/MEGAN6 and DADA2 pipelines and performed differential abundances using Shaman website. We constructed networks using SparCC inference tools and validated the construction's accuracy by performing qPCR on selected bacteria.

RESULTS: Significant differences in bacterial communities in LS-CRC patients were identified, with an enrichment of virulent bacteria and a depletion of symbionts compared to their first-degree relatives. Bacteria taxa in LS asymptomatic individuals with colonic precancerous lesions (n=79) were significantly different compared to healthy individuals (n=71). The main bacterial network structures, constructed based on bacteria-bacteria correlations in CRC (pilot study) and in asymptomatic precancerous patients (validation-study), showed a different pattern than in controls. It was characterized by virulent/symbiotic co-exclusion in both studies and illustrated (validation study) by a higher Escherichia/Bifidobacterium ratio, as assessed by qPCR.

CONCLUSION: Enhanced fecal virulent/symbiotic bacteria ratios influence bacterial network structures. As an early event in colon carcinogenesis, these ratios can be used to identify asymptomatic LS individual with a higher risk of CRC.}, } @article {pmid38374276, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, C and van der Heijden, MGA and Dodds, BK and Nguyen, TB and Spooren, J and Valzano-Held, A and Cosme, M and Berendsen, RL}, title = {Correction: A tripartite bacterial-fungal-plant symbiosis in the mycorrhiza-shaped microbiome drives plant growth and mycorrhization.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {38374276}, issn = {2049-2618}, } @article {pmid38373622, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, B and Wang, Y and Long, C and Long, L and Yang, F}, title = {Microplastics inhibit the growth of endosymbiotic Symbiodinium tridacnidorum by altering photosynthesis and bacterial community.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {346}, number = {}, pages = {123603}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123603}, pmid = {38373622}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Microplastics, ubiquitous anthropogenic marine pollutants, represent potential threats to coral-Symbiodiniaceae relationships in global reef ecosystems. However, the mechanism underlying the impacts of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on Symbiodiniaceae remains poorly understood. In this study, the cytological, physiological, and microbial responses of Symbiodinium tridacnidorum, a representative Symbiodiniaceae species, to varying concentrations of PS-MPs (0, 5, 50, 100, and 200 mg L[-1]) were investigated. The results revealed that microplastic exposure inhibited cell division, resulting in reduced cell density compared to control group. Furthermore, algal photosynthetic activity, as indicated by chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, and net photosynthetic rate, declined with increasing microplastic concentration up to 50 mg L[-1]. Notably, elevated levels of microplastics (100 and 200 mg L[-1]) prompted a significant increase in cell size in S. tridacnidorum. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy indicated that hetero-aggregation was formed between high levels of PS-MPs and algal cells, ultimately causing damage to S. tridacnidorum. Moreover, the impact of PS-MPs exposure on the bacterial community associated with S. tridacnidorum was investigated. The results showed a reduction in alpha diversity of the bacterial community in groups exposed to 50, 100, and 200 mg L[-1] of microplastics compared to those treated with 0 and 5 mg L[-1]. Additionally, the relative abundance of Marinobacter, Marivita, and Filomicrobium significantly increased, while Algiphilus and norank Nannocystaceae declined after microplastic exposure. These findings suggest that MPs can inhibit the growth of S. tridacnidorum and alter the associated bacterial community, posing a potential serious threat to coral symbiosis involving S. tridacnidorum.}, } @article {pmid38371634, year = {2024}, author = {Yuan, M and Jin, T and Wu, J and Li, L and Chen, G and Chen, J and Wang, Y and Sun, J}, title = {IAA-miR164a-NAC100L1 module mediates symbiotic incompatibility of cucumber/pumpkin grafted seedlings through regulating callose deposition.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {uhad287}, pmid = {38371634}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {Grafting is one of the key technologies to overcome the obstacles of continuous cropping, and improve crop yield and quality. However, the symbiotic incompatibility between rootstock and scion affects the normal growth and development of grafted seedlings after survival. The specific molecular regulation mechanism of graft incompatibility is still largely unclear. In this study, we found that the IAA-miR164a-NAC100L1 module induced callose deposition to mediate the symbiotic incompatibility of cucumber/pumpkin grafted seedlings. The incompatible combination (IG) grafting interface accumulated more callose, and the activity of callose synthase (CmCalS1) and IAA content were significantly higher than in the compatible combination (CG). Treatment with IAA polar transport inhibitor in the root of the IG plants decreased CmCalS activity and callose content. Furthermore, IAA negatively regulated the expression of Cm-miR164a, which directly targeted cleavage of CmNAC100L1. Interestingly, CmNAC100L1 interacted with CmCalS1 to regulate its activity. Further analysis showed that the interaction between CmNAC100L1 and CmCalS1 increased the activity of CmCalS1 in the IG plants but decreased it in the CG plants. Point mutation analysis revealed that threonine at the 57th position of CmCalS1 protein played a critical role to maintain its enzyme activity in the incompatible rootstock. Thus, IAA inhibited the expression of Cm-miR164a to elevate the expression of CmNAC100L1, which promoted CmNAC100L1 interaction with CmCalS1 to enhance CmCalS1 activity, resulting in callose deposition and symbiotic incompatibility of cucumber/pumpkin grafted seedlings.}, } @article {pmid38371405, year = {2024}, author = {Ghitti, E and Rolli, E and Vergani, L and Borin, S}, title = {Flavonoids influence key rhizocompetence traits for early root colonization and PCB degradation potential of Paraburkholderia xenovorans LB400.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1325048}, pmid = {38371405}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Flavonoids are among the main plant root exudation components, and, in addition to their role in symbiosis, they can broadly affect the functionality of plant-associated microbes: in polluted environments, for instance, flavonoids can induce the expression of the enzymatic degradative machinery to clean-up soils from xenobiotics like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, their involvement in root community recruitment and assembly involving non-symbiotic beneficial interactions remains understudied and may be crucial to sustain the holobiont fitness under PCB stress.

METHODS: By using a set of model pure flavonoid molecules and a natural blend of root exudates (REs) with altered flavonoid composition produced by Arabidopsis mutant lines affected in flavonoid biosynthesis and abundance (null mutant tt4, flavonoid aglycones hyperproducer tt8, and flavonoid conjugates hyperaccumulator ttg), we investigated flavonoid contribution in stimulating rhizocompetence traits and the catabolic potential of the model bacterial strain for PCB degradation Paraburkholderia xenovorans LB400.

RESULTS: Flavonoids influenced the traits involved in bacterial recruitment in the rhizoplane by improving chemotaxis and motility responses, by increasing biofilm formation and by promoting the growth and activation of the PCB-degradative pathway of strain LB400, being thus potentially exploited as carbon sources, stimulating factors and chemoattractant molecules. Indeed, early rhizoplane colonization was favored in plantlets of the tt8 Arabidopsis mutant and reduced in the ttg line. Bacterial growth was promoted by the REs of mutant lines tt4 and tt8 under control conditions and reduced upon PCB-18 stress, showing no significant differences compared with the WT and ttg, indicating that unidentified plant metabolites could be involved. PCB stress presumably altered the Arabidopsis root exudation profile, although a sudden "cry-for-help" response to recruit strain LB400 was excluded and flavonoids appeared not to be the main determinants. In the in vitro plant-microbe interaction assays, plant growth promotion and PCB resistance promoted by strain LB400 seemed to act through flavonoid-independent mechanisms without altering bacterial colonization efficiency and root adhesion pattern.

DISCUSSIONS: This study further contributes to elucidate the vast array of functions provided by flavonoids in orchestrating the early events of PCB-degrading strain LB400 recruitment in the rhizosphere and to support the holobiont fitness by stimulating the catabolic machinery involved in xenobiotics decomposition and removal.}, } @article {pmid38371317, year = {2024}, author = {St Thomas, NM and Myers, TG and Alani, OS and Goodrich-Blair, H and Heppert, JK}, title = {Green and red fluorescent strains of Xenorhabdus griffiniae HGB2511, the bacterial symbiont of the nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum (India).}, journal = {microPublication biology}, volume = {2024}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38371317}, issn = {2578-9430}, abstract = {Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes form specific, obligate symbiotic associations with gram-negative, gammaproteobacteria members of the Xenorhabdus genus. Together, the nematodes and symbiotic bacteria infect and kill insects, utilize the nutrient-rich cadaver for reproduction, and then reassociate, the bacteria colonizing the nematodes' anterior intestines before the nematodes leave the cadaver to search for new prey. In addition to their use in biocontrol of insect pests, these nematode-bacteria pairs are highly tractable experimental laboratory models for animal-microbe symbiosis and parasitism research. One advantageous feature of entomopathogenic nematode model systems is that the nematodes are optically transparent, which facilitates direct observation of nematode-associated bacteria throughout the lifecycle. In this work, green- and red-fluorescently labeled X. griffiniae HGB2511 bacteria were created and associated with their S . hermaphroditum symbiotic nematode partners and observed using fluorescence microscopy. As expected, the fluorescent bacteria were visible as a colonizing cluster in the lumen of the anterior intestinal caecum of the infective stage of the nematode. These tools allow detailed observations of X. griffiniae localization and interactions with its nematode and insect host tissues throughout their lifecycles.}, } @article {pmid38371298, year = {2024}, author = {Cheng, J and Zhou, L and Wang, H}, title = {Symbiotic microbial communities in various locations of the lung cancer respiratory tract along with potential host immunological processes affected.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1296295}, pmid = {38371298}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Humans ; *Lung Neoplasms ; *Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Lung ; *Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Dysbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all cancers worldwide. The 5-year overall survival rate for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is estimated at around 26%, whereas for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the survival rate is only approximately 7%. This disease places a significant financial and psychological burden on individuals worldwide. The symbiotic microbiota in the human body has been significantly associated with the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of various diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis. Studies have demonstrated that respiratory symbiotic microorganisms and their metabolites play a crucial role in modulating immune function and contributing to the pathophysiology of lung cancer through their interactions with the host. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the microbial characteristics associated with lung cancer, with a focus on the respiratory tract microbiota from different locations, including saliva, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), bronchial brush samples, and tissue. We describe the respiratory tract microbiota's biodiversity characteristics by anatomical region, elucidating distinct pathological features, staging, metastasis, host chromosomal mutations, immune therapies, and the differentiated symbiotic microbiota under the influence of environmental factors. Our exploration investigates the intrinsic mechanisms linking the microbiota and its host. Furthermore, we have also provided a comprehensive review of the immune mechanisms by which microbiota are implicated in the development of lung cancer. Dysbiosis of the respiratory microbiota can promote or inhibit tumor progression through various mechanisms, including DNA damage and genomic instability, activation and regulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems, and stimulation of epithelial cells leading to the upregulation of carcinogenesis-related pathways.}, } @article {pmid38369568, year = {2024}, author = {Li, TP and Wang, CH and Xie, JC and Wang, MK and Chen, J and Zhu, YX and Hao, DJ and Hong, XY}, title = {Microbial changes and associated metabolic responses modify host plant adaptation in Stephanitis nashi.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.13340}, pmid = {38369568}, issn = {1744-7917}, support = {163010320//Scientific Research Startup Project of Nanjing Forestry University/ ; 163010325//Scientific Research Startup Project of Nanjing Forestry University/ ; 32301594//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms are essential for the physiological processes of herbivorous pests, including the pear lace bug Stephanitis nashi, which is known for causing extensive damage to garden plants and fruit trees due to its exceptional adaptability to diverse host plants. However, the specific functional effects of the microbiome on the adaptation of S. nashi to its host plants remains unclear. Here, we identified significant microbial changes in S. nashi on 2 different host plants, crabapple and cherry blossom, characterized by the differences in fungal diversity as well as bacterial and fungal community structures, with abundant correlations between bacteria or fungi. Consistent with the microbiome changes, S. nashi that fed on cherry blossom demonstrated decreased metabolites and downregulated key metabolic pathways, such as the arginine and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, which were crucial for host plant adaptation. Furthermore, correlation analysis unveiled numerous correlations between differential microorganisms and differential metabolites, which were influenced by the interactions between bacteria or fungi. These differential bacteria, fungi, and associated metabolites may modify the key metabolic pathways in S. nashi, aiding its adaptation to different host plants. These results provide valuable insights into the alteration in microbiome and function of S. nashi adapted to different host plants, contributing to a better understanding of pest invasion and dispersal from a microbial perspective.}, } @article {pmid38369476, year = {2024}, author = {Palberg, D and Kaszecki, E and Dhanjal, C and Kisiała, A and Morrison, EN and Stock, N and Emery, RJN}, title = {Impact of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on phyllospheric Methylobacterium.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {119}, pmid = {38369476}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-05436//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, mesh = {*Glyphosate ; *Herbicides/toxicity ; Glycine/toxicity ; Polysorbates ; Surface-Active Agents ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic Methylobacterium comprise a significant portion of the phyllospheric microbiome, and are known to benefit host plant growth, development, and confer tolerance to stress factors. The near ubiquitous use of the broad-spectrum herbicide, glyphosate, in farming operations globally has necessitated a more expansive evaluation of the impacts of the agent itself and formulations containing glyphosate on important components of the plant phyllosphere, including Methylobacterium.This study provides an investigation of the sensitivity of 18 strains of Methylobacterium to glyphosate and two commercially available glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH). Nearly all strains of Methylobacterium showed signs of sensitivity to the popular GBH formulations WeatherMax® and Transorb® in a modified Kirby Bauer experiment. However, exposure to pure forms of glyphosate did not show a significant effect on growth for any strain in both the Kirby Bauer test and in liquid broth, until polysorbate-20 (Tween20) was added as a surfactant. Artificially increasing membrane permeability through the introduction of polysorbate-20 caused a 78-84% reduction in bacterial cell biomass relative to controls containing glyphosate or high levels of surfactant only (0-9% and 6-37% reduction respectively). Concentrations of glyphosate as low as 0.05% w/v (500 µg/L) from both commercial formulations tested, inhibited the culturability of Methylobacterium on fresh nutrient-rich medium.To better understand the compatibility of important phyllospheric bacteria with commercial glyphosate-based herbicides, this study endeavours to characterize sensitivity in multiple strains of Methylobacterium, and explore possible mechanisms by which toxicity may be induced.}, } @article {pmid38369215, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, K and Zheng, W and Guo, M and Zhou, R and Zhang, M and Liu, T}, title = {The intestinal microbial metabolite acetyl l-carnitine improves gut inflammation and immune homeostasis via CADM2.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {167089}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167089}, pmid = {38369215}, issn = {1879-260X}, abstract = {Intestinal symbiotic bacteria play a key role in the regulation of immune tolerance in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) hosts. However, the bacterial strains directly involved in this regulation and their related metabolites are largely unknown. We sought to investigate the effects of intestinal microbial metabolites on intestinal epithelium and to elucidate their therapeutic potential in regulating intestinal mucosal inflammation and immune homeostasis. Here, we used metagenomic data from Crohn's disease (CD) patients to analyze the composition of intestinal flora and identify metabolite profiles associated with disease behavior, and used the mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis to characterize the therapeutic effects of the flora metabolite acetyl l-carnitine (ALC) on DSS-induced colitis. We found that intraperitoneal injection of ALC treatment could significantly alleviate the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis in mice, including prevention of weight loss, reduction in disease activity index (DAI) scores, increasing of colonic length, reduction in histological scores, and improvement in intestinal barrier function. Further, transcriptome sequencing analysis and gene silencing experiments revealed that the absence of CADM2 abolished the inhibitory effect of ALC on the TLR-MyD88 pathway in colonic epithelial cells, thereby reducing the release of inflammatory factors in colon epithelial cells. And we confirmed a significant downregulation of CADM2 expression in intestinal tissues of CD patients compared to healthy people in a population cohort. In addition, we also found that ALC increased the ratio of Treg cells in colon, and decreased the ratio of Th17 cells and macrophages, thereby improving the immune tolerance of the organism. The proposed study could be a potential approach for the treatment of CD.}, } @article {pmid38368585, year = {2024}, author = {Hornstein, ED and Charles, M and Franklin, M and Edwards, B and Vintila, S and Kleiner, M and Sederoff, H}, title = {IPD3, a master regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, affects genes for immunity and metabolism of non-host Arabidopsis when restored long after its evolutionary loss.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {114}, number = {2}, pages = {21}, pmid = {38368585}, issn = {1573-5028}, support = {1T32GM133366-01/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genotype ; Agriculture ; Biological Evolution ; *Lotus/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AM) is a beneficial trait originating with the first land plants, which has subsequently been lost by species scattered throughout the radiation of plant diversity to the present day, including the model Arabidopsis thaliana. To explore if elements of this apparently beneficial trait are still present and could be reactivated we generated Arabidopsis plants expressing a constitutively active form of Interacting Protein of DMI3, a key transcription factor that enables AM within the Common Symbiosis Pathway, which was lost from Arabidopsis along with the AM host trait. We characterize the transcriptomic effect of expressing IPD3 in Arabidopsis with and without exposure to the AM fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis, and compare these results to the AM model Lotus japonicus and its ipd3 knockout mutant cyclops-4. Despite its long history as a non-AM species, restoring IPD3 in the form of its constitutively active DNA-binding domain to Arabidopsis altered expression of specific gene networks. Surprisingly, the effect of expressing IPD3 in Arabidopsis and knocking it out in Lotus was strongest in plants not exposed to AMF, which is revealed to be due to changes in IPD3 genotype causing a transcriptional state, which partially mimics AMF exposure in non-inoculated plants. Our results indicate that molecular connections to symbiosis machinery remain in place in this nonAM species, with implications for both basic science and the prospect of engineering this trait for agriculture.}, } @article {pmid38368353, year = {2024}, author = {Li, M and Zhou, Y and Cheng, J and Wang, Y and Lan, C and Shen, Y}, title = {Response of the mosquito immune system and symbiotic bacteria to pathogen infection.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {69}, pmid = {38368353}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology ; *Malaria ; *Zika Virus Infection ; *Zika Virus ; Immune System ; Bacteria ; *Communicable Diseases ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the word, transmitting a variety of insect-borne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika, causing more deaths than any other vector-borne pathogen. Moreover, in the absence of effective drugs and vaccines to prevent and treat insect-borne diseases, mosquito control is particularly important as the primary measure. In recent decades, due to the gradual increase in mosquito resistance, increasing attention has fallen on the mechanisms and effects associated with pathogen infection. This review provides an overview of mosquito innate immune mechanisms in terms of physical and physiological barriers, pattern recognition receptors, signalling pathways, and cellular and humoral immunity, as well as the antipathogenic effects of mosquito symbiotic bacteria. This review contributes to an in-depth understanding of the interaction process between mosquitoes and pathogens and provides a theoretical basis for biological defence strategies against mosquito-borne infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid38367618, year = {2024}, author = {U'Ren, JM and Oita, S and Lutzoni, F and Miadlikowska, J and Ball, B and Carbone, I and May, G and Zimmerman, NB and Valle, D and Trouet, V and Arnold, AE}, title = {Environmental drivers and cryptic biodiversity hotspots define endophytes in Earth's largest terrestrial biome.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.063}, pmid = {38367618}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Understanding how symbiotic associations differ across environmental gradients is key to predicting the fate of symbioses as environments change, and it is vital for detecting global reservoirs of symbiont biodiversity in a changing world.[1][,][2][,][3] However, sampling of symbiotic partners at the full-biome scale is difficult and rare. As Earth's largest terrestrial biome, boreal forests influence carbon dynamics and climate regulation at a planetary scale. Plants and lichens in this biome host the highest known phylogenetic diversity of fungal endophytes, which occur within healthy photosynthetic tissues and can influence hosts' resilience to stress.[4][,][5] We examined how communities of endophytes are structured across the climate gradient of the boreal biome, focusing on the dominant plant and lichen species occurring across the entire south-to-north span of the boreal zone in eastern North America. Although often invoked for understanding the distribution of biodiversity, neither a latitudinal gradient nor mid-domain effect[5][,][6][,][7] can explain variation in endophyte diversity at this trans-biome scale. Instead, analyses considering shifts in forest characteristics, Picea biomass and age, and nutrients in host tissues from 46° to 58° N reveal strong and distinctive signatures of climate in defining endophyte assemblages in each host lineage. Host breadth of endophytes varies with climate factors, and biodiversity hotspots can be identified at plant-community transitions across the boreal zone at a global scale. Placed against a backdrop of global circumboreal sampling,[4] our study reveals the sensitivity of endophytic fungi, their reservoirs of biodiversity, and their important symbiotic associations, to climate.}, } @article {pmid38366921, year = {2024}, author = {Bell, AG and McMurtrie, J and Bolaños, LM and Cable, J and Temperton, B and Tyler, CR}, title = {Influence of host phylogeny and water physicochemistry on microbial assemblages of the fish skin microbiome.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiae021}, pmid = {38366921}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {The skin of fish contains a diverse microbiota that has symbiotic functions with the host, facilitating pathogen exclusion, immune system priming and nutrient degradation. The composition of fish skin microbiomes varies across species and in response to a variety of stressors, however, there has been no systematic analysis across these studies to evaluate how these factors shape fish skin microbiomes. Here, we examined 1922 fish skin microbiomes from 36 studies that included 98 species and nine rearing conditions to investigate associations between fish skin microbiome, fish species, and water physiochemical factors. Proteobacteria, particularly the class Gammaproteobacteria, were present in all marine and freshwater fish skin microbiomes. Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Ralstonia, Sphingomonas and Flavobacterium were the most abundant genera within freshwater fish skin microbiomes, and Alteromonas, Photobacterium, Pseudoalteromonas, Psychrobacter and Vibrio were the most abundant in saltwater fish. Our results show that different culturing (rearing) environments have a small but significant effect on the skin bacterial community compositions. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration and salinity significantly correlated with differences in beta-diversity but not necessarily alpha-diversity. To improve study comparability on fish skin microbiomes, we provide recommendations for approaches to the analyses of sequencing data and improve study reproducibility.}, } @article {pmid38366679, year = {2024}, author = {Anneberg, TJ and Cullen, NP and O'Neill, EM and Wei, N and Ashman, TL}, title = {Neopolyploidy has variable effects on the diversity and composition of the wild strawberry microbiome.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e16287}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16287}, pmid = {38366679}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {PREMISE: Whole-genome duplication (neopolyploidy) can instantly differentiate the phenotype of neopolyploids from their diploid progenitors. These phenotypic shifts in organs such as roots and leaves could also differentiate the way neopolyploids interact with microbial species. While some studies have addressed how specific microbial interactions are affected by neopolyploidy, we lack an understanding of how genome duplication affects the diversity and composition of microbial communities.

METHODS: We performed a common garden experiment with multiple clones of artificially synthesized autotetraploids and their ancestral diploids, derived from 13 genotypes of wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca. We sequenced epiphytic bacteria and fungi from roots and leaves and characterized microbial communities and leaf functional traits.

RESULTS: Autotetraploidy had no effect on bacterial alpha diversity of either organ, but it did have a genotype-dependent effect on the diversity of fungi on leaves. In contrast, autotetraploidy restructured the community composition of leaf bacteria and had a genotype-dependent effect on fungal community composition in both organs. The most differentially abundant bacterial taxon on leaves belonged to the Sphingomonas, while a member of the Trichoderma was the most differentially abundant fungal taxon on roots. Ploidy-induced change in leaf size was strongly correlated with a change in bacterial but not fungal leaf communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Genome duplication can immediately alter aspects of the plant microbiome, but this effect varies by host genotype and bacterial and fungal community. Expanding these studies to wild settings where plants are exposed continuously to microbes are needed to confirm the patterns observed here.}, } @article {pmid38366186, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, X and Tang, Q and Liu, S and Li, C and Li, Y and Sun, Y and Ding, X and Xia, L and Hu, S}, title = {Discovery of an antitumor compound from xenorhabdus stockiae HN_xs01.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {101}, pmid = {38366186}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {32070090//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 19K053//Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Hunan Province/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Xenorhabdus/metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; *Nematoda/microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus, known for its symbiotic relationship with Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. This dual-host symbiotic nematode exhibits pathogenic traits, rendering it a promising biocontrol agent against insects. Our prior investigations revealed that Xenorhabdus stockiae HN_xs01, isolated in our laboratory, demonstrates exceptional potential in halting bacterial growth and displaying anti-tumor activity. Subsequently, we separated and purified the supernatant of the HN_xs01 strain and obtained a new compound with significant inhibitory activity on tumor cells, which we named XNAE. Through LC-MS analysis, the mass-to-nucleus ratio of XNAE was determined to be 254.24. Our findings indicated that XNAE exerts a time- and dose-dependent inhibition on B16 and HeLa cells. After 24 h, its IC50 for B16 and HeLa cells was 30.178 µg/mL and 33.015 µg/mL, respectively. Electron microscopy revealed conspicuous damage to subcellular structures, notably mitochondria and the cytoskeleton, resulting in a notable reduction in cell numbers among treated tumor cells. Interestingly, while XNAE exerted a more pronounced inhibitory effect on B16 cells compared to HeLa cells, it showed no discernible impact on HUVEC cells. Treatment of B16 cells with XNAE induced early apoptosis and led to cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase, as evidenced by flow cytometry analysis. The impressive capability of X. stockiae HN_xs01 in synthesizing bioactive secondary metabolites promises to significantly expand the reservoir of natural products. Further exploration to identify the bioactivity of these compounds holds the potential to shed light on their roles in bacteria-host interaction. Overall, these outcomes underscore the promising potential of XNAE as a bioactive compound for tumor treatment.}, } @article {pmid38366040, year = {2024}, author = {Hu, SK and Anderson, RE and Pachiadaki, MG and Edgcomb, VP and Serres, MH and Sylva, SP and German, CR and Seewald, JS and Lang, SQ and Huber, JA}, title = {Microbial eukaryotic predation pressure and biomass at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae004}, pmid = {38366040}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vent geochemistry shapes the foundation of the microbial food web by fueling chemolithoautotrophic microbial activity. Microbial eukaryotes (or protists) play a critical role in hydrothermal vent food webs as consumers, hosts of symbiotic bacteria, and as a nutritional source to higher trophic levels. We measured microbial eukaryotic cell abundance and predation pressure in low temperature diffuse hydrothermal fluids at the Von Damm and Piccard vent fields along the Mid-Cayman Rise in the Western Caribbean Sea. We present findings from experiments performed under in situ pressure that show higher cell abundances and grazing rates compared to those done at 1 atmosphere (shipboard ambient pressure); this trend was attributed to the impact of depressurization on cell integrity. A relationship between protistan grazing rate, prey cell abundance, and temperature of end member hydrothermal vent fluid was observed at both vent fields, regardless of experimental approach. Our results show substantial protistan biomass at hydrothermally-fueled microbial food webs, and when coupled with improved grazing estimates, suggests an important contribution of grazers to the local carbon export and supply of nutrient resources to the deep ocean.}, } @article {pmid38366018, year = {2024}, author = {Dong, PT and Tian, J and Kobayashi-Kirschvink, KJ and Cen, L and McLean, JS and Bor, B and Shi, W and He, X}, title = {Episymbiotic Saccharibacteria induce intracellular lipid droplet production in their host bacteria.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrad034}, pmid = {38366018}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Saccharibacteria (formerly TM7) are a group of widespread and genetically diverse ultrasmall bacteria with highly reduced genomes that belong to Candidate Phyla Radiation, a large monophyletic lineage with poorly understood biology. Nanosynbacter lyticus type strain TM7x is the first Saccharibacteria member isolated from the human oral microbiome. With restrained metabolic capacities, TM7x lives on the surface of, and forms an obligate episymbiotic relationship with its bacterial host, Schaalia odontolytica strain XH001. The symbiosis allows TM7x to propagate but presents a burden to host bacteria by inducing stress response. Here, we employed super-resolution fluorescence imaging to investigate the physical association between TM7x and XH001. We showed that the binding with TM7x led to a substantial alteration in the membrane fluidity of XH001. We also revealed the formation of intracellular lipid droplets (LDs) in XH001 when forming episymbiosis with TM7x, a feature that has not been reported in oral bacteria. The TM7x-induced LDs accumulation in XH001 was confirmed by label-free Raman spectroscopy, which also unveiled additional phenotypical features when XH001 cells are physically associated with TM7x. Further exploration through culturing XH001 under various stress conditions showed that LDs accumulation was a general response to stress. A survival assay demonstrated that the presence of LDs plays a protective role in XH001, enhancing its survival under adverse conditions. In conclusion, our study sheds new light on the intricate interaction between Saccharibacteria and their host bacterium, highlighting the potential benefit conferred by TM7x to its host, and further emphasizing the context-dependent nature of symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid38365913, year = {2024}, author = {Syska, C and Kiers, A and Rancurel, C and Bailly-Bechet, M and Lipuma, J and Alloing, G and Garcia, I and Dupont, L}, title = {VapC10 toxin of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti targets tRNASer and controls intracellular lifestyle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae015}, pmid = {38365913}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {The soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti can establish a nitrogen fixing symbiosis with the model legume Medicago truncatula. The rhizobia induce the formation of a specialized root organ called nodule, where they differentiate into bacteroids and reduce atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Little is known on the mechanisms involved in nodule senescence onset and in bacteroid survival inside the infected plant cells. Whereas Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) systems have been shown to promote intracellular survival within host cells in human pathogenic bacteria, their role in symbiotic bacteria was rarely investigated. S. meliloti encodes several TA systems, mainly of the VapBC family. Here we present the functional characterization, through a multidisciplinary approach, of the VapBC10 TA system of S. meliloti. Following a MORE RNA-seq analysis, we demonstrated that the VapC10 toxin is an RNase that cleaves the anticodon loop of two tRNASer. Thereafter, a bioinformatics approach was used to predict VapC10 targets in bacteroids. This analysis suggests that toxin activation triggers a specific proteome reprogramming that could limit nitrogen fixation capability and viability of bacteroids. Accordingly, a vapC10 mutant induces a delayed senescence in nodules, associated to an enhanced bacteroid survival. VapBC10 TA system could contribute to S. meliloti adaptation to symbiotic lifestyle, in response to plant nitrogen status.}, } @article {pmid38365260, year = {2024}, author = {Díez-Vives, C and Riesgo, A}, title = {High compositional and functional similarity in the microbiome of deep-sea sponges.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38365260}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {100010434//'la Caixa' Foundation/ ; PID2019-105769GB-I00//Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/ ; 796011//Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships Grant Agreement/ ; }, abstract = {Sponges largely depend on their symbiotic microbes for their nutrition, health, and survival. This is especially true in high microbial abundance (HMA) sponges, where filtration is usually deprecated in favor of a larger association with prokaryotic symbionts. Sponge-microbiome association is substantially less understood for deep-sea sponges than for shallow water species. This is most unfortunate, since HMA sponges can form massive sponge grounds in the deep sea, where they dominate the ecosystems, driving their biogeochemical cycles. Here, we assess the microbial transcriptional profile of three different deep-sea HMA sponges in four locations of the Cantabrian Sea and compared them to shallow water HMA and LMA (low microbial abundance) sponge species. Our results reveal that the sponge microbiome has converged in a fundamental metabolic role for deep-sea sponges, independent of taxonomic relationships or geographic location, which is shared in broad terms with shallow HMA species. We also observed a large number of redundant microbial members performing the same functions, likely providing stability to the sponge inner ecosystem. A comparison between the community composition of our deep-sea sponges and another 39 species of HMA sponges from deep-sea and shallow habitats, belonging to the same taxonomic orders, suggested strong homogeneity in microbial composition (i.e. weak species-specificity) in deep sea species, which contrasts with that observed in shallow water counterparts. This convergence in microbiome composition and functionality underscores the adaptation to an extremely restrictive environment with the aim of exploiting the available resources.}, } @article {pmid38365257, year = {2024}, author = {Dong, Q and Hua, D and Wang, X and Jiao, Y and Liu, L and Deng, Q and Wu, T and Zou, H and Zhao, C and Wang, C and Reng, J and Ding, L and Hu, S and Shi, J and Wang, Y and Zhang, H and Sheng, Y and Sun, W and Shen, Y and Tang, L and Kong, X and Chen, L}, title = {Temporal colonization and metabolic regulation of the gut microbiome in neonatal oxen at single nucleotide resolution.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38365257}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {32394052//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; JSSCBS20221815//Jiangsu Shuangchuang Project/ ; BK20220709//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu/ ; C2022204247//Natural Science Foundation of Hebei/ ; CMCM202204//Nanjing Medical University/ ; //Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions Priority Academic Program/ ; }, abstract = {The colonization of microbes in the gut is key to establishing a healthy host-microbiome symbiosis for newborns. We longitudinally profiled the gut microbiome in a model consisting of 36 neonatal oxen from birth up to 2 months postpartum and carried out microbial transplantation to reshape their gut microbiome. Genomic reconstruction of deeply sequenced fecal samples resulted in a total of 3931 metagenomic-assembled genomes from 472 representative species, of which 184 were identified as new species when compared with existing databases of oxen. Single nucleotide level metagenomic profiling shows a rapid influx of microbes after birth, followed by dynamic shifts during the first few weeks of life. Microbial transplantation was found to reshape the genetic makeup of 33 metagenomic-assembled genomes (FDR < 0.05), mainly from Prevotella and Bacteroides species. We further linked over 20 million microbial single nucleotide variations to 736 plasma metabolites, which enabled us to characterize 24 study-wide significant associations (P < 4.4 × 10-9) that identify the potential microbial genetic regulation of host immune and neuro-related metabolites, including glutathione and L-dopa. Our integration analyses further revealed that microbial genetic variations may influence the health status and growth performance by modulating metabolites via structural regulation of their encoded proteins. For instance, we found that the albumin levels and total antioxidant capacity were correlated with L-dopa, which was determined by single nucleotide variations via structural regulations of metabolic enzymes. The current results indicate that temporal colonization and transplantation-driven strain replacement are crucial for newborn gut development, offering insights for enhancing newborn health and growth.}, } @article {pmid38365249, year = {2024}, author = {Lee, J and Jeong, B and Kim, J and Cho, JH and Byeon, JH and Lee, BL and Kim, JK}, title = {Specialized digestive mechanism for an insect-bacterium gut symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrad021}, pmid = {38365249}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; NRF-2021R1A2C1006793//South Korean Government/ ; //NRF Basic Science Research Program/ ; RS-2023-00245952//Ministry of Education/ ; }, abstract = {In Burkholderia-Riptortus symbiosis, the host bean bug Riptortus pedestris harbors Burkholderia symbionts in its symbiotic organ, M4 midgut, for use as a nutrient source. After occupying M4, excess Burkholderia symbionts are moved to the M4B region, wherein they are effectively digested and absorbed. Previous studies have shown that M4B has strong symbiont-specific antibacterial activity, which is not because of the expression of antimicrobial peptides but rather because of the expression of digestive enzymes, mainly cathepsin L protease. However, in this study, inhibition of cathepsin L activity did not reduce the bactericidal activity of M4B, indicating that there is an unknown digestive mechanism that renders specifically potent bactericidal activity against Burkholderia symbionts. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the lumen of symbiotic M4B was filled with a fibrillar matter in contrast to the empty lumen of aposymbiotic M4B. Using chromatographic and electrophoretic analyses, we found that the bactericidal substances in M4B existed as high-molecular-weight (HMW) complexes that were resistant to protease degradation. The bactericidal HMW complexes were visualized on non-denaturing gels using protein- and polysaccharide-staining reagents, thereby indicating that the HMW complexes are composed of proteins and polysaccharides. Strongly stained M4B lumen with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent in M4B paraffin sections confirmed HMW complexes with polysaccharide components. Furthermore, M4B smears stained with Periodic acid-Schiff revealed the presence of polysaccharide fibers. Therefore, we propose a key digestive mechanism of M4B: bacteriolytic fibers, polysaccharide fibers associated with digestive enzymes such as cathepsin L, specialized for Burkholderia symbionts in Riptortus gut symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38365239, year = {2024}, author = {Maire, J and Tsang Min Ching, SJ and Damjanovic, K and Epstein, HE and Judd, LM and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Tissue-associated and vertically transmitted bacterial symbiont in the coral Pocillopora acuta.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrad027}, pmid = {38365239}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {FL180100036//Australian Research Council/ ; //Native Australian Animals Trust/ ; //Paul G. Allen Philanthropies/ ; //James Cook University/ ; //Australian Institute of Marine Science/ ; }, abstract = {Coral microhabitats are colonized by a myriad of microorganisms, including diverse bacteria which are essential for host functioning and survival. However, the location, transmission, and functions of individual bacterial species living inside the coral tissues remain poorly studied. Here, we show that a previously undescribed bacterial symbiont of the coral Pocillopora acuta forms cell-associated microbial aggregates (CAMAs) within the mesenterial filaments. CAMAs were found in both adults and larval offspring, suggesting vertical transmission. In situ laser capture microdissection of CAMAs followed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics produced a near complete metagenome-assembled genome. We subsequently cultured the CAMA bacteria from Pocillopora acuta colonies, and sequenced and assembled their genomes. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the CAMA bacteria belong to an undescribed Endozoicomonadaceae genus and species, which we propose to name Candidatus Sororendozoicomonas aggregata gen. nov sp. nov. Metabolic pathway reconstruction from its genome sequence suggests this species can synthesize most amino acids, several B vitamins, and antioxidants, and participate in carbon cycling and prey digestion, which may be beneficial to its coral hosts. This study provides detailed insights into a new member of the widespread Endozoicomonadaceae family, thereby improving our understanding of coral holobiont functioning. Vertically transmitted, tissue-associated bacteria, such as Sororendozoicomonas aggregata may be key candidates for the development of microbiome manipulation approaches with long-term positive effects on the coral host.}, } @article {pmid38365074, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, YL and Ikuma, K and Brooks, SC and Varonka, MS and Deonarine, A}, title = {Non-mercury methylating microbial taxa are integral to understanding links between mercury methylation and elemental cycles in marine and freshwater sediments.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {123573}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123573}, pmid = {38365074}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {The goal of this study was to explore the role of non mercury-methylating taxa in mercury methylation and to identify potential links between elemental cycles and mercury methylation. Statistical approaches were utilized to investigate the microbial community and biochemical functions in relation to methylmercury concentrations in marine and freshwater sediments. Sediments were collected from the methylation zone (top 15 cm) in four Hg-contaminated sites. Both abiotic (e.g., sulfate, sulfide, iron, salinity, total organic matter, etc.) and biotic factors (e.g., hgcA, abundances of methylating and non-methylating taxa) were quantified. Random forest and stepwise regression were performed to assess whether non-methylating taxa were significantly associated with methylmercury concentration. Co-occurrence and functional network analyses were constructed to explore associations between taxa by examining microbial community structure, composition, and biochemical functions across sites. Regression analysis showed that approximately 80% of the variability in sediment MeHg concentration was predicted by total mercury concentration, the abundances of mercury methylating taxa, and the abundances of the non-Hg methylating taxa. The co-occurrence networks identified Paludibacteraceae and Syntrophorhabdaceae as keystone non Hg methylating taxa in multiple sites, indicating the potential for syntrophic interactions with Hg methylators. Strong associations were also observed between methanogens and SRBs, which were likely symbiotic associations. The functional network results suggested that non-Hg methylating taxa play important roles in sulfur respiration, nitrogen respiration, and the carbon metabolism-related functions methylotrophy, methanotrophy, and chemoheterotrophy. Interestingly, keystone functions varied by site and did not involve carbon- and sulfur-related functions only. Our findings highlight associations between methylating and non methylating taxa and sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen cycles in sediment methylation zones, with implications for predicting and understanding the impact of climate and land/sea use changes on mercury methylation.}, } @article {pmid38365002, year = {2024}, author = {Zou, R and Zhou, J and Cheng, B and Wang, G and Fan, J and Li, X}, title = {Aquaporin LjNIP1;5 positively modulates drought tolerance by promoting arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {112036}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112036}, pmid = {38365002}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {Drought stress often affects crop growth and even causes crop death, while aquaporins can maintain osmotic balance by transporting water across membranes, so it is important to study how to improve drought tolerance of crops by using aquaporins. In this work, we characterize a set of subfamily members named NIPs belonging to the family of aquaporins in Lotus japonicus, grouping 14 family members based on the sequence similarity in the aromatic/arginine (Ar/R) region. Among these members, LjNIP1;5 is one of the genes with the highest expression in roots which is induced by the AM fungus. In Lotus japonicus, LjNIP1;5 is highly expressed in symbiotic roots, and its promoter can be induced by drought stress and AM fungus. Root colonization analysis reveals that ljnip1:5 mutant exhibits lower mycorrhizal colonization than the wild type, with increasing the proportion of large arbuscule, and fewer arbuscule produced by symbiosis under drought stress. In the LjNIP1;5OE plant, we detected a strong antioxidant capacity compared to the control, and LjNIP1;5OE showed higher stem length under drought stress. Taken together, the current results facilitate our comprehensive understanding of the plant adaptive to drought stress with the coordination of the specific fungi.}, } @article {pmid38364305, year = {2024}, author = {Berg, G and Dorador, C and Egamberdieva, D and Kostka, JE and Ryu, CM and Wassermann, B}, title = {Shared governance in the plant holobiont and implications for one health.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiae004}, pmid = {38364305}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {The Holobiont theory is more than eighty years old, while the importance of microbial communities for plant holobionts was already identified by Lorenz Hiltner more than a century ago. Both concepts are strongly supported by results from the new field of microbiome research. Here, we present ecological and genetic features of the plant holobiont that underpin principles of a shared governance between hosts and microbes and summarize the relevance of plant holobionts in the context of global change. Moreover, we uncover knowledge gaps that arise when integrating plant holobionts in the broader perspective of the holobiome as well as one and planetary health concepts. Action is needed to consider interacting holobionts at the holobiome scale, for prediction and control of microbiome function to improve human and environmental health outcomes.}, } @article {pmid38363863, year = {2024}, author = {Abel, NB and Nørgaard, MMM and Hansen, SB and Gysel, K and Díez, IA and Jensen, ON and Stougaard, J and Andersen, KR}, title = {Phosphorylation of the alpha-I motif in SYMRK drives root nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {8}, pages = {e2311522121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2311522121}, pmid = {38363863}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {NNF19SA0059362//Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF)/ ; OPP11772165//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (GF)/ ; 7292//Villum Fonden (Villum Foundation)/ ; NNF20OC0061575//Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF)/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis receptor-like kinase SYMRK is required for root nodule symbiosis between legume plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. To understand symbiotic signaling from SYMRK, we determined the crystal structure to 1.95 Å and mapped the phosphorylation sites onto the intracellular domain. We identified four serine residues in a conserved "alpha-I" motif, located on the border between the kinase core domain and the flexible C-terminal tail, that, when phosphorylated, drives organogenesis. Substituting the four serines with alanines abolished symbiotic signaling, while substituting them with phosphorylation-mimicking aspartates induced the formation of spontaneous nodules in the absence of bacteria. These findings show that the signaling pathway controlling root nodule organogenesis is mediated by SYMRK phosphorylation, which may help when engineering this trait into non-legume plants.}, } @article {pmid38363754, year = {2024}, author = {Lee, JE and Park, JK and Do, Y}, title = {Gut microbiome diversity and function during hibernation and spring emergence in an aquatic frog.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {e0298245}, pmid = {38363754}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {The gut microbiota maintains a deeply symbiotic relationship with host physiology, intricately engaging with both internal (endogenous) and external (exogenous) factors. Anurans, especially those in temperate regions, face the dual challenges of significant external influences like hibernation and complex internal variances tied to different life histories. In our research, we sought to determine whether different life stages (juvenile versus adult) of the Japanese wrinkled frog (Glandirana rugosa) lead to distinct shifts in gut bacterial communities during winter (hibernation) and its subsequent transition to spring. As hypothesized, we observed a more pronounced variability in the gut bacterial diversity and abundance in juvenile frogs compared to their adult counterparts. This suggests that the gut environment may be more resilient or stable in adult frogs during their hibernation period. However, this pronounced difference was confined to the winter season; by spring, the diversity and abundance of gut bacteria in both juvenile and adult frogs aligned closely. Specifically, the variance in gut bacterial diversity and composition between winter and spring appears to mirror the frogs' ecological adaptations. During the hibernation period, a dominance of Proteobacteria suggests an emphasis on supporting intracellular transport and maintaining homeostasis, as opposed to active metabolism in the frogs. Conversely, come spring, an uptick in bacterial diversity coupled with a dominance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes points to an upsurge in metabolic activity post-hibernation, favoring enhanced nutrient assimilation and energy metabolism. Our findings highlight that the relationship between the gut microbiome and its host is dynamic and bidirectional. However, the extent to which changes in gut bacterial diversity and composition contribute to enhancing hibernation physiology in frogs remains an open question, warranting further investigation.}, } @article {pmid38363436, year = {2024}, author = {Sanjana, S and Jazeel, K and Janeeshma, E and Nair, SG and Shackira, AM}, title = {Synergistic interactions of assorted ameliorating agents to enhance the potential of heavy metal phytoremediation.}, journal = {Stress biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {38363436}, issn = {2731-0450}, support = {211610064222//UGC-CSIR/ ; }, abstract = {Pollution by toxic heavy metals creates a significant impact on the biotic community of the ecosystem. Nowadays, a solution to this problem is an eco-friendly approach like phytoremediation, in which plants are used to ameliorate heavy metals. In addition, various amendments are used to enhance the potential of heavy metal phytoremediation. Symbiotic microorganisms such as phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), endophytes, mycorrhiza and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play a significant role in the improvement of heavy metal phytoremediation potential along with promoting the growth of plants that are grown in contaminated environments. Various chemical chelators (Indole 3-acetic acid, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid, ethylene glycol tetra acetic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N-disuccinic acid and nitrilotri-acetic acid) and their combined action with other agents also contribute to heavy metal phytoremediation enhancement. With modern techniques, transgenic plants and microorganisms are developed to open up an alternative strategy for phytoremediation. Genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics are widely used novel approaches to develop competent phytoremediators. This review accounts for the synergistic interactions of the ameliorating agent's role in enhancing heavy metal phytoremediation, intending to highlight the importance of these various approaches in reducing heavy metal pollution.}, } @article {pmid38362593, year = {2024}, author = {Verma, R and Shanmugavadivel, PS and Arora, NK and Senthilkumar, M}, title = {Natural variability and heritability of root-nodulation traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) minicore.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {70}, pmid = {38362593}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The existence of large variations for nodulation traits in chickpea minicore was revealed and genetic materials for beneficial biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) traits like early nodulation, high nodulation, and delayed nodule senescence were identified. Early-nodulating genotypes viz. ICC12968, ICC7867, ICC13816, ICC867, ICC15264, ICC15510, and ICC283 produced > 10 nodule number per plant (NNPP) at 15 as well as 30 days after sowing (DAS). Maximum of 36 NNPP at stage 3 i.e., 253% higher than check cultivar were observed in Iran originated ICC6874. Chickpea minicore showed large variations for nodule mass that ranged up to 850 mg/plant at 60 DAS and 2290 mg/plant at 90 DAS. Strong positive correlation was found between nodule fresh weight and specific weight at stage 3 (0.69) and stage 4 (0.76). Besides these, few slight positive significant correlations were also observed viz., nodule number per plant at stage 3 and 4 (0.45), nodule fresh weight at stage 3 and 4 (0.39). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that dimensions 1 (21%), 2 (17.6%), and 3 (13%) accounted for a substantial portion of the phenotypic variance, each contributing more than 10%. Accessions viz. ICC1431, ICC13599, ICC13764, and ICC13863 with pink active root nodules and high nodule biomass at later crop growth stages are considered as genetic resources to extend the BNF support in chickpea. High broad-sense heritability values of 76.43 and 90.23 were observed for early nodulation and delayed nodule senescence, respectively. Hence, the identified genotypes for early nodulation and delayed nodule senescence can be used for improving symbiotic efficiency in chickpea.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03908-1.}, } @article {pmid38362446, year = {2024}, author = {Shobade, SO and Zabotina, OA and Nilsen-Hamilton, M}, title = {Plant root associated chitinases: structures and functions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1344142}, pmid = {38362446}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Chitinases degrade chitin, a linear homopolymer of β-1,4-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) residues found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods. They are secreted by the roots into the rhizosphere, a complex and dynamic environment where intense nutrient exchange occurs between plants and microbes. Here we modeled, expressed, purified, and characterized Zea mays and Oryza sativa root chitinases, and the chitinase of a symbiotic bacterium, Chitinophaga oryzae 1303 for their activities with chitin, di-, tri-, and tetra-saccharides and Aspergillus niger, with the goal of determining their role(s) in the rhizosphere and better understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions. We show that Zea mays basic endochitinase (ZmChi19A) and Oryza sativa chitinase (OsChi19A) are from the GH19 chitinase family. The Chitinophaga oryzae 1303 chitinase (CspCh18A) belongs to the GH18 family. The three enzymes have similar apparent K M values of (20-40 µM) for the substrate 4-MU-GlcNAc3. They vary in their pH and temperature optima with OsChi19A activity optimal between pH 5-7 and 30-40°C while ZmChi19A and CspCh18A activities were optimal at pH 7-9 and 50-60°C. Modeling and site-directed mutation of ZmChi19A identified the catalytic cleft and the active residues E147 and E169 strategically positioned at ~8.6Å from each other in the folded protein. Cleavage of 4-MU-GlcNAc3 was unaffected by the absence of the CBD but diminished in the absence of the flexible C-terminal domain. However, unlike for the soluble substrate, the CBD and the newly identified flexible C-terminal domain were vital for inhibiting Aspergillus niger growth. The results are consistent with the involvement of the plant chitinases in defense against pathogens like fungi that have chitin exoskeletons. In summary, we have characterized the functional features and structural domains necessary for the activity of two plant root chitinases that are believed to be involved in plant defense and a bacterial chitinase that, along with the plant chitinases, may participate in nutrient recycling in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid38361647, year = {2024}, author = {Wilkes, TI}, title = {The influence of a soil amendment on the abundance and interaction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with arable soils and host winter wheat.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38361647}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been shown to be associated with an estimated 70 % of vascular terrestrial plants. Such relationships have been shown to be sensitive to soil disturbance, for example, tillage in the preparation of a seed bed. From the application of arable soil management, AM fungal populations have been shown to be negatively impacted in abundance and diversity, reducing plant growth and development. The present study aims to utilise two sources (multipurpose compost and a commercial inocula) of mycorrhizal fungi for the amendment of arable soils supporting Zulu winter wheat under controlled conditions and quantify plant growth responses. A total of nine fields across three participating farms were sampled, each farm practicing either conventional, reduced, or zero tillage soil management exclusively. Soil textures were assessed for each sampled soil. Via the employment of AM fungal symbiosis quantification methods, AM fungi were compared between soil amendments and their effects on crop growth and development. The present study was able to quantify a mean 6 cm increase to crop height (P<0.001), 10 cm reduction to root length corresponding with a 2.45-fold increase in AM fungal arbuscular structures (P<0.001), a 1.15-fold increase in soil glomalin concentration corresponding to a 1.26-fold increase in soil carbon, and a 1.32-fold increase in the relative abundance of molecular identified AM fungal sequences for compost amended soils compared to control samples. Mycorrhizal inocula, however, saw no change to crop height or root length, AM fungal arbuscules were reduced by 1.43-fold, soil glomalin was additionally reduced by 1.55-fold corresponding to a reduction in soil carbon by 1.31-fold, and a reduction to relative AM fungal species abundance by 1.26-fold. The present study can conclude the addition of compost as an arable soil amendment is more beneficial for the restoration of AM fungi beneficial to wheat production and soil carbon compared to the addition of a commercial mycorrhizal inocula.}, } @article {pmid38361469, year = {2024}, author = {Burin, G and Campbell, LCE and Renner, SS and Kiers, ET and Chomicki, G}, title = {Mutualisms drive plant trait evolution beyond interaction-related traits.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {e14379}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14379}, pmid = {38361469}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {EP/X026868/1//UK Research and Innovation/ ; NE/S014470/2//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms have driven the evolution of extraordinary structures and behavioural traits, but their impact on traits beyond those directly involved in the interaction remains unclear. We addressed this gap using a highly evolutionarily replicated system - epiphytes in the Rubiaceae forming symbioses with ants. We employed models that allow us to test the influence of discrete mutualistic traits on continuous non-mutualistic traits. Our findings are consistent with mutualism shaping the pace of morphological evolution, strength of selection and long-term mean of non-mutualistic traits in function of mutualistic dependency. While specialised and obligate mutualisms are associated with slower trait change, less intimate, facultative and generalist mutualistic interactions - which are the most common - have a greater impact on non-mutualistic trait evolution. These results challenge the prevailing notion that mutualisms solely affect the evolution of interaction-related traits via stabilizing selection and instead demonstrate a broader role for mutualisms in shaping trait evolution.}, } @article {pmid38361467, year = {2024}, author = {Zarate, D and Gary, J and Li, J}, title = {Flexibility in coral-algal symbiosis is positively correlated with the host geographic range.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {e14374}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14374}, pmid = {38361467}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {2019-69653//Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering/ ; }, abstract = {Generalists are thought to adapt to broader ecological conditions compared to less flexible specialists. However, few studies have systematically tested what ecological or life-history traits are associated with organisms' ecological flexibility. Here, we used stony corals to test the relative effects of host traits and ecological factors on corals' flexibility to form photosymbioses with algae. We analysed data from 211 stony coral species to test if coral's geographic distribution, depth range, symbiont transmission mode or colony morphology predict coral-algal flexibility. We report a novel positive correlation between coral-algal flexibility and coral species' geographic range. Symbiont transmission mode was also a predictor of flexibility, albeit the result is less robust against sampling bias. Coral depth range and morphology did not show significant effects. We highlight that host-symbiont dispersal abilities, interactions and evolutionary histories likely contribute to the observed patterns. We urge conservation efforts to consider the ecological implications of coral-algal flexibility.}, } @article {pmid38361340, year = {2024}, author = {Roy, S and Torres-Jerez, I and Zhang, S and Liu, W and Schiessl, K and Jain, D and Boschiero, C and Lee, HK and Krom, N and Zhao, PX and Murray, JD and Oldroyd, GED and Scheible, WR and Udvardi, M}, title = {The peptide GOLVEN10 alters root development and noduletaxis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16626}, pmid = {38361340}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {1444549//National Science Foundation/ ; 2217830//National Science Foundation/ ; 2022-38821-37353//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {The conservation of GOLVEN (GLV)/ROOT MERISTEM GROWTH FACTOR (RGF) peptide encoding genes across plant genomes capable of forming roots or root-like structures underscores their potential significance in the terrestrial adaptation of plants. This study investigates the function and role of GOLVEN peptide-coding genes in Medicago truncatula. Five out of fifteen GLV/RGF genes were notably upregulated during nodule organogenesis and were differentially responsive to nitrogen deficiency and auxin treatment. Specifically, the expression of MtGLV9 and MtGLV10 at nodule initiation sites was contingent upon the NODULE INCEPTION transcription factor. Overexpression of these five nodule-induced GLV genes in hairy roots of M. truncatula and application of their synthetic peptide analogues led to a decrease in nodule count by 25-50%. Uniquely, the GOLVEN10 peptide altered the positioning of the first formed lateral root and nodule on the primary root axis, an observation we term 'noduletaxis'; this decreased the length of the lateral organ formation zone on roots. Histological section of roots treated with synthetic GOLVEN10 peptide revealed an increased cell number within the root cortical cell layers without a corresponding increase in cell length, leading to an elongation of the root likely introducing a spatiotemporal delay in organ formation. At the transcription level, the GOLVEN10 peptide suppressed expression of microtubule-related genes and exerted its effects by changing expression of a large subset of Auxin responsive genes. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which GOLVEN peptides modulate root morphology, nodule ontogeny, and interactions with key transcriptional pathways.}, } @article {pmid38360316, year = {2024}, author = {Linsmayer, LB and Noel, SK and Leray, M and Wangpraseurt, D and Hassibi, C and Kline, DI and Tresguerres, M}, title = {Effects of bleaching on oxygen dynamics and energy metabolism of two Caribbean coral species.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {170753}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170753}, pmid = {38360316}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {As mass coral bleaching events become more frequent, it is increasingly important to elucidate the factors underlying coral susceptibility and survival. We measured photosynthesis, respiration, and O2 concentration at the coral tissue surface, Symbiodiniaceae genotypes, and energy metabolic enzyme activities in Agaricia agaricites and Orbicella franksi throughout experimentally-induced thermal bleaching (+3 °C). A. agaricites colonies started to bleach two days into the thermal treatment and were fully bleached between Days 19-31. In contrast, O. franksi colonies only started to bleach on Day 12 and five colonies fully bleached between Days 24-38 while the remining three colonies took up 55 days. Both species experienced decreased photosynthesis and respiration rates as bleaching progressed. As a result, daytime O2 concentration at the coral surface shifted from hyperoxia in unbleached corals to normoxia in partially bleached corals, and to near hypoxia in fully bleached corals. Additionally, nighttime tissue surface O2 concentration shifted from hypoxia to normoxia, likely resulting from decreased symbiotic algae density, respiration, and photosynthates that fuel coral aerobic respiration. Genetic profiling of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) revealed differences in Symbiodiniaceae clade proportions between control and bleached colonies. Activity levels of energy metabolic enzymes did not significantly vary between control and bleached A. agaricites, but malate dehydrogenase and strombine dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in bleached O. franksi colonies compared to controls. These differences were driven by the three O. franksi colonies that took the longest to bleach and contained >98 % Durusdinium sp. D1. The shifts in O2 dynamics within the microhabitat of bleached corals may have important implications for the metabolism of the coral holobiont while the changes in Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 profile and the upregulation of energy metabolic enzymes identify a potential factor contributing to bleaching dynamics.}, } @article {pmid38360314, year = {2024}, author = {Ayalon, I and Avisar, D and Jechow, A and Levy, O}, title = {Corals nitrogen and carbon isotopic signatures alters under Artificial Light at Night (ALAN).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {170513}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170513}, pmid = {38360314}, issn = {1879-1026}, } @article {pmid38359733, year = {2023}, author = {Favaron, A and Turkgeldi, E and Elbadawi, M and Gaisford, S and Basit, AW and Orlu, M}, title = {Do probiotic interventions improve female unexplained infertility? A critical commentary.}, journal = {Reproductive biomedicine online}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {103734}, doi = {10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103734}, pmid = {38359733}, issn = {1472-6491}, abstract = {Disruption of women's gut and cervicovaginal microbiota has been associated with multiple gynaecological diseases such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, non-cyclic pelvic pain and infertility. Female infertility affects 12.6% of women worldwide; its aetiology is complex and multifactorial and can be underpinned by uterine pathologies, systemic diseases and age. In addition, a new perspective has emerged on the role of the gut and vaginal microbiomes in reproductive health. Research shows that the administration of precisely selected probiotics, often in combination with prior antibiotic treatment, may facilitate the restoration of symbiotic microbiota to increase successful conception and assisted reproductive technology outcomes. However, clarity on this issue from fuller research is currently hampered by a lack of consistency and harmonization in clinical studies: various lactobacilli and bifidobacteria species have been delivered through both the oral and vaginal routes, in different dosages, for different treatment durations. This commentary explores the intricate relationship between the microbiota in the cervicovaginal area and gut of women, exploring their potential contribution to infertility. It highlights ongoing research on the use of probiotic formulations in improving pregnancy outcomes, critically examining the divergent findings in these studies, which complicate a conclusive assessment of the efficacy of these interventions.}, } @article {pmid38358485, year = {2024}, author = {Butterworth, S and Fallowfield, H}, title = {Comparison of the wastewater treatment performance of continuously and discontinuously mixed high-rate algal ponds at Kingston on Murray.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {89}, number = {3}, pages = {505-512}, doi = {10.2166/wst.2024.020}, pmid = {38358485}, issn = {0273-1223}, mesh = {Chlorophyll A ; *Escherichia coli ; *Ponds ; Wastewater ; Bays ; }, abstract = {High-rate algal ponds (HRAPs) incorporate shallow raceway designs and paddlewheel mixing. HRAPs use UV disinfection and the symbiotic environment between microalgal photosynthesis and heterotrophic bacteria for the assimilation of nutrients for efficient wastewater treatment. Mixing of a HRAP provides a homogenous environment and influences both the disinfection of pathogens and algal growth by exposing the wastewater to sunlight. Guidelines require continuous mixing of the HRAP. This study aimed to determine the effect of cessation of mixing for 10 days, on wastewater treatment by comparison with a continuously mixed pond operated over the same period. The period of 10 days was equivalent to the HRAP hydraulic retention time. Samples of inlet and HRAP-treated wastewater were collected from the HRAP at Kingston on Murray. Parameters measured were Escherichia coli, chlorophyll a, total suspended solids (TSS), NH4-N, NO2-N, NO3-N, PO4-P and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5). The discontinuously mixed and the continuously mixed HRAPs complied with the wastewater effluent guidelines, of an E. coli concentration ≤104 MPN100 mL[-1] and a BOD5 of <20 mg L[-1]. An E. coli log reduction value of >1 was also recorded. This study shows that cessation of mixing for 10 days had no significant effect on HRAP wastewater treatment performance.}, } @article {pmid38357705, year = {2024}, author = {Greenman, J and Thorn, R and Willey, N and Ieropoulos, I}, title = {Energy harvesting from plants using hybrid microbial fuel cells; potential applications and future exploitation.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1276176}, pmid = {38357705}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) can be fuelled using biomass derived from dead plant material and can operate on plant produced chemicals such as sugars, carbohydrates, polysaccharides and cellulose, as well as being "fed" on a regular diet of primary biomass from plants or algae. An even closer relationship can exist if algae (e.g., prokaryotic microalgae or eukaryotic and unicellular algae) can colonise the open to air cathode chambers of MFCs driving photosynthesis, producing a high redox gradient due to the oxygenic phase of collective algal cells. The hybrid system is symbiotic; the conditions within the cathodic chamber favour the growth of microalgae whilst the increased redox and production of oxygen by the algae, favour a more powerful cathode giving a higher maximum voltage and power to the photo-microbial fuel cell, which can ultimately be harvested for a range of end-user applications. MFCs can utilise a wide range of plant derived materials including detritus, plant composts, rhizodeposits, root exudates, dead or dying macro- or microalgae, via Soil-based Microbial Fuel Cells, Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells, Plant-based microbial fuel cells, floating artificial islands and constructed artificial wetlands. This review provides a perspective on this aspect of the technology as yet another attribute of the benevolent Bioelectrochemical Systems.}, } @article {pmid38356598, year = {2024}, author = {Hua, L}, title = {The impact of environmental taxation on the structure and performance of industrial symbiosis networks: An agent-based simulation study.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e25675}, pmid = {38356598}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {How to use appropriate policy measures to intervene industrial symbiosis is valuable in theory but still lacks exploration. This paper discusses the effect of environmental taxation on industrial symbiosis networks. Firstly, the formation mechanism of industrial symbiotic network is analysed with the idea of agent-based modelling. Then, a simulation model was built to simulate the emergence process of industrial symbiosis networks. On this basis, the influence of environmental taxation on the structure and performance of the industrial symbiosis networks is explored. The results show that when the intensity of environmental tax is low, the industrial symbiotic network has the structural characteristics of random network. With the increase of environmental tax intensity, the cyclic ordering of network structure is gradually enhanced. The collection of environmental tax will not only reduce pollution, but also reduce the economic output of the network and reduce enterprise income to a greater extent. Finally, some relevant suggestions for the government to formulate environmental tax policy are provided based on the results.}, } @article {pmid38354814, year = {2024}, author = {Alaraby, M and Abass, D and Farre, M and Hernández, A and Marcos, R}, title = {Are bioplastics safe? Hazardous effects of polylactic acid (PLA) nanoplastics in Drosophila.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {919}, number = {}, pages = {170592}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170592}, pmid = {38354814}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The expanded uses of bioplastics require understanding the potential health risks associated with their exposure. To address this issue, Drosophila melanogaster as a versatile terrestrial in vivo model was employed, and polylactic acid nanoplastics (PLA-NPLs), as a proxy for bioplastics, were tested as a material model. Effects were determined in larvae exposed for 4 days to different concentrations (25, 100, and 400 μg/mL) of 463.9 ± 129.4 nm PLA-NPLs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) approaches permitted the detection of PLA-NPLs in the midgut lumen of Drosophila larvae, interacting with symbiotic bacteria. Enzymatic vacuoles were observed as carriers, collecting PLA-NPLs and enabling the crossing of the peritrophic membrane, finally internalizing into enterocytes. Although no toxic effects were observed in egg-to-adult survival, cell uptake of PLA-NPLs causes cytological disturbances and the formation of large vacuoles. The translocation across the intestinal barrier was demonstrated by their presence in the hemolymph. PLA-NPL exposure triggered intestinal damage, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation responses, as evaluated via a wide set of marker genes. Collectively, these structural and molecular interferences caused by PLA-NPLs generated high levels of oxidative stress and DNA damage in the hemocytes of Drosophila larvae. The observed effects point out the need for further studies aiming to deepen the health risks of bioplastics before adopting their uses as a safe plastic alternative.}, } @article {pmid38354434, year = {2024}, author = {Soltangheisi, A and Hales-Henao, A and Pena, R and Tibbett, M}, title = {Species-specific effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Populus trichocarpa after a lethal dose of copper.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {272}, number = {}, pages = {116112}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116112}, pmid = {38354434}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Poplars have been identified as heavy metals hyperaccumulators and can be used for phytoremediation. We have previously established that their symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may alter their uptake, tolerance and distribution to excess concentrations of heavy metals in soils. In this study we hypothesised that mycorrhizal symbiosis improves the tolerance of poplars to lethal copper (Cu) concentrations, but this influence may vary among different AMF species. We conducted an experiment in a growth chamber with three Cu application levels of control (0 mg kg[-1]), threshold-lethal (729 mg kg[-1]) and supra-lethal (6561 mg kg[-1]), and three mycorrhizal treatments (non-mycorrhizal, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Paraglomus laccatum) in a completely randomized design with six replications. The poplars did not grow after application of 729 mg Cu kg[-1] substrate, and mycorrhizal symbiosis did not help plants to tolerate this level of Cu. This can be explained by the toxicity suffered by mycorrhizal fungi. Translocation of Cu from roots to shoots increased when plants were colonised with R. irregularis and P. laccatum under threshold-lethal and supra-lethal applications of Cu, respectively. This result shows that mycorrhizal mediation of Cu partitioning in poplars depends on the fungal species and substrate Cu concentration. Multi-model inference analysis within each mycorrhizal treatment showed that in plants colonised with R. irregularis, a higher level of mycorrhizal colonisation may prevent Cu transfer to the shoots. We did not observe this effect in P. laccatum plants probably due to the relatively low colonisation rate (14%). Nutrient concentrations in roots and shoots were impacted by applied substrate Cu levels, but not by mycorrhizas. Magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and manganese (Mn) concentrations in roots reduced with enhancing applied substrate Cu due to their similar ionic radii with Cu and having common transport mechanism. Synergistic effect on shoot concentration between applied substrate Cu levels and Mg, K, calcium, iron (Fe), and zinc was observed. Root Cu concentration was inversely related with root K and Mn concentrations, and shoot Cu concentration had a positive correlation with shoot Fe and K concentrations. Overall, mycorrhizal symbiosis has the potential to enhance plant health and their resilience to Cu toxicity in contamination events. However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of this symbiotic relationship varies among different mycorrhizal species and is influenced by the level of contamination.}, } @article {pmid38353550, year = {2024}, author = {Kim, J and Kang, D}, title = {Beyond Dollars and Scars: The Influence of Wealth Inequality on Total Expenditure on Cosmetic Procedures in the United States.}, journal = {The Journal of craniofacial surgery}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1097/SCS.0000000000010049}, pmid = {38353550}, issn = {1536-3732}, abstract = {The present study delves into the "beauty paradox," a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by wealth inequality, societal norms, and consumer behaviors, specifically regarding spending on cosmetic procedures. Relying on data from the United States Census Bureau and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the research primarily focuses on the Gini coefficient, Mean Logarithmic Deviation (MLD), and income data for the lowest and top 5% quintiles of mean household income over a 15-year span. The analysis uncovers a significant correlation between Total Expenditures on Cosmetic Surgery and minimally invasive procedures and the wealth of the top 5% income quintile. The "Cosmetic Enhancement Cycle (CEC)" is proposed, indicating a symbiotic growth between wealth accumulation among the affluent and the plastic surgery industry. As such, the "beauty paradox" lays bare the multifaceted consequences of wealth inequality, necessitating a comprehensive approach that addresses socioeconomic dynamics, accessibility of cosmetic procedures, societal norms, and perceptions. This investigation underscores the imperative for further exploration into the myriad ways that wealth inequality sculpts societies and influences behaviors, including within the context of the CEC.}, } @article {pmid38351612, year = {2024}, author = {Shi, CL and Liu, YX}, title = {Dynamic control of lipid provisioning in plant-fungal symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2024.02.009}, pmid = {38351612}, issn = {1752-9867}, } @article {pmid38351463, year = {2024}, author = {Matthews, AE}, title = {Empirically tuned theory reveals why symbiont abundance 'mite' vary across hosts.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.14057}, pmid = {38351463}, issn = {1365-2656}, abstract = {Research Highlight: del Mar Labrador, M., Serrano, D., Doña, J., Aguilera, E., Arroyo, J. L., Atiénzar, F., Barba, E., Bermejo, A., Blanco, G., Borràs, A., Calleja, J. A., Cantó, J. L., Cortés, V., de la Puente, J., de Palacio, D., Fernández-González, S., Figuerola, J., Frías, Ó., Fuertes-Marcos, B. Garamszegi, L. Z., Gordo, Ó., Gurpegui, M., Kovács, I., Martínez, J. L., Meléndez, L., Mestre, A., Møller, A. P., Monrós, J. S., Moreno-Opo, R., Navarro, C., Pap, P. L., Pérez-Tris, J., Piculo, R., Ponce, C., Proctor, H., Rodríguez, R., Sallent, Á., Senar, J., Tella, J. L., Vágási, C. I., Vögeli, M., & Jovani, R. (2023). Host space, not energy or symbiont size, constrains feather mite abundance across passerine bird species. Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14032. Symbionts represent crucial links between species in ecosystems. Consequently, understanding their patterns of abundance is a major goal in the study of symbioses. However, multiple biotic and abiotic factors may regulate symbionts, and disentangling the mechanisms that drive variation in their abundance across host species is challenging. One promising strategy to approach this challenge is to incorporate biologically relevant data into theoretical models. In a recent study, Labrador et al. (2023) used this strategy to investigate the poorly understood symbiosis between feather mites and their avian hosts. They integrate a remarkable amount of empirical data with models based on the metabolic theory of ecology to determine what factors limit feather mite abundance across European passerines. Their quantitative analyses indicate that the number of feather barbs limits mite abundance across host species, suggesting that mite populations are spatially, but not energetically, constrained. These findings not only reveal mechanisms that may drive the variation in feather mite abundances across hosts, but also advance our understanding of the ecology of interspecific interactions more generally.}, } @article {pmid38351312, year = {2024}, author = {Goodbody-Gringley, G and Martinez, S and Bellworthy, J and Chequer, A and Nativ, H and Mass, T}, title = {Irradiance driven trophic plasticity in the coral Madracis pharensis from the Eastern Mediterranean.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {3646}, pmid = {38351312}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {1937770//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 2019653//United States - Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Israel ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {The distribution of symbiotic scleractinian corals is driven, in part, by light availability, as host energy demands are partially met through translocation of photosynthate. Physiological plasticity in response to environmental conditions, such as light, enables the expansion of resilient phenotypes in the face of changing environmental conditions. Here we compared the physiology, morphology, and taxonomy of the host and endosymbionts of individual Madracis pharensis corals exposed to dramatically different light conditions based on colony orientation on the surface of a shipwreck at 30 m depth in the Bay of Haifa, Israel. We found significant differences in symbiont species consortia, photophysiology, and stable isotopes, suggesting that these corals can adjust multiple aspects of host and symbiont physiology in response to light availability. These results highlight the potential of corals to switch to a predominantly heterotrophic diet when light availability and/or symbiont densities are too low to sustain sufficient photosynthesis, which may provide resilience for corals in the face of climate change.}, } @article {pmid38351091, year = {2024}, author = {Grupstra, CGB and Gómez-Corrales, M and Fifer, JE and Aichelman, HE and Meyer-Kaiser, KS and Prada, C and Davies, SW}, title = {Integrating cryptic diversity into coral evolution, symbiosis and conservation.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38351091}, issn = {2397-334X}, support = {OCE-2048678//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OIA-2032919//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OCE-2048589//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; NA22OAR4050072//United States Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/ ; }, abstract = {Understanding how diversity evolves and is maintained is critical to predicting the future trajectories of ecosystems under climate change; however, our understanding of these processes is limited in marine systems. Corals, which engineer reef ecosystems, are critically threatened by climate change, and global efforts are underway to conserve and restore populations as attempts to mitigate ocean warming continue. Recently, sequencing efforts have uncovered widespread undescribed coral diversity, including 'cryptic lineages'-genetically distinct but morphologically similar coral taxa. Such cryptic lineages have been identified in at least 24 coral genera spanning the anthozoan phylogeny and across ocean basins. These cryptic lineages co-occur in many reef systems, but their distributions often differ among habitats. Research suggests that cryptic lineages are ecologically specialized and several examples demonstrate differences in thermal tolerance, highlighting the critical implications of this diversity for predicting coral responses to future warming. Here, we draw attention to recent discoveries, discuss how cryptic diversity affects the study of coral adaptation and acclimation to future environments, explore how it shapes symbiotic partnerships, and highlight challenges and opportunities for conservation and restoration efforts.}, } @article {pmid38350856, year = {2024}, author = {Hui, TKL and Lo, ICN and Wong, KKW and Tsang, CTT and Tsang, LM}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of gut microbiome illuminates the mechanisms and evolution of lignocellulose degradation in mangrove herbivorous crabs.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {57}, pmid = {38350856}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {CUHK14119419//Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Herbivory ; *Brachyura/physiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Cellulase/genetics ; Nitrogen ; *Lignin ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sesarmid crabs dominate mangrove habitats as the major primary consumers, which facilitates the trophic link and nutrient recycling in the ecosystem. Therefore, the adaptations and mechanisms of sesarmid crabs to herbivory are not only crucial to terrestrialization and its evolutionary success, but also to the healthy functioning of mangrove ecosystems. Although endogenous cellulase expressions were reported in crabs, it remains unknown if endogenous enzymes alone can complete the whole lignocellulolytic pathway, or if they also depend on the contribution from the intestinal microbiome. We attempt to investigate the role of gut symbiotic microbes of mangrove-feeding sesarmid crabs in plant digestion using a comparative metagenomic approach.

RESULTS: Metagenomics analyses on 43 crab gut samples from 23 species of mangrove crabs with different dietary preferences revealed a wide coverage of 127 CAZy families and nine KOs targeting lignocellulose and their derivatives in all species analyzed, including predominantly carnivorous species, suggesting the crab gut microbiomes have lignocellulolytic capacity regardless of dietary preference. Microbial cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase genes in herbivorous and detritivorous crabs were differentially more abundant when compared to omnivorous and carnivorous crabs, indicating the importance of gut symbionts in lignocellulose degradation and the enrichment of lignocellulolytic microbes in response to diet with higher lignocellulose content. Herbivorous and detritivorous crabs showed highly similar CAZyme composition despite dissimilarities in taxonomic profiles observed in both groups, suggesting a stronger selection force on gut microbiota by functional capacity than by taxonomy. The gut microbiota in herbivorous sesarmid crabs were also enriched with nitrogen reduction and fixation genes, implying possible roles of gut microbiota in supplementing nitrogen that is deficient in plant diet.

CONCLUSIONS: Endosymbiotic microbes play an important role in lignocellulose degradation in most crab species. Their abundance is strongly correlated with dietary preference, and they are highly enriched in herbivorous sesarmids, thus enhancing their capacity in digesting mangrove leaves. Dietary preference is a stronger driver in determining the microbial CAZyme composition and taxonomic profile in the crab microbiome, resulting in functional redundancy of endosymbiotic microbes. Our results showed that crabs implement a mixed mode of digestion utilizing both endogenous and microbial enzymes in lignocellulose degradation, as observed in most of the more advanced herbivorous invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid38349547, year = {2024}, author = {Kumar, MPS and Keerthana, A and Priya, and Singh, SK and Rai, D and Jaiswal, A and Reddy, MSS}, title = {Exploration of culturable bacterial associates of aphids and their interactions with entomopathogens.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {206}, number = {3}, pages = {96}, pmid = {38349547}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacillaceae ; Firmicutes ; *Bacillus ; }, abstract = {Aphids shelter several bacteria that benefit them in various ways. The associates having an obligatory relationship are non-culturable, while a few of facultative associates are culturable in insect cell lines, axenic media or standard microbiology media. In the present investigation, isolation, and characterization of the culturable bacterial associates of various aphid species, viz., Rhopalosiphum maidis, Rhopalosiphum padi, Sitobion avenae, Schizaphis graminum, and Lipaphis erysimi pseudobrassicae were carried out. A total of 42 isolates were isolated using different growth media, followed by their morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization. The isolated culturable bacterial associates were found to belong to the genera Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Cytobacillus, Fictibacillus, Planococcus, Priestia, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Sutcliffiella, and Tumebacillus which were grouped under seven families of four different orders of phyla Bacillota (Firmicutes) and Pseudomonata (Proteobacteria). Symbiont-entomopathogen interaction study was also conducted, in which the quantification of colony forming units of culturable bacterial associates of entomopathogenic fungal-treated aphids led us to the assumption that the bacterial load in aphid body can be altered by the application of entomopathogens. Whereas, the mycelial growth of entomopathogens Akanthomyces lecanii and Metarhizium anisopliae was found uninhibited by the bacterial associates obtained from Sitobion avenae and Rhopalosiphum padi. Analyzing persistent aphid microflora and their interactions with entomopathogens enhances our understanding of aphid resistance. It also fosters the development of innovative solutions for agricultural pest management, highlighting the intricate dynamics of symbiotic relationships in pest management strategies.}, } @article {pmid38349173, year = {2024}, author = {Mansky, J and Wang, H and Wagner-Döbler, I and Tomasch, J}, title = {The effect of site-specific recombinases XerCD on the removal of over-replicated chromosomal DNA through outer membrane vesicles in bacteria.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0234323}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02343-23}, pmid = {38349173}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are universally produced by Gram-negative bacteria and play important roles in symbiotic and pathogenic interactions. The DNA from the lumen of OMVs from the Alphaproteobacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae was previously shown to be enriched for the region around the terminus of replication ter and specifically for the recognition sequence dif of the two site-specific recombinases XerCD. These enzymes are highly conserved in bacteria and play an important role in the last phase of cell division. Here, we show that a similar enrichment of ter and dif is found in the DNA inside OMVs from Prochlorococcus marinus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae, and Escherichia coli. The deletion of xerC or xerD in E. coli reduced the enrichment peak directly at the dif sequence, while the enriched DNA region around ter became broader, demonstrating that either enzyme influences the DNA content inside the lumen of OMVs. We propose that the intra-vesicle DNA originated from over-replication repair and the XerCD enzymes might play a role in this process, providing them with a new function in addition to resolving chromosome dimers.IMPORTANCEImprecise termination of replication can lead to over-replicated parts of bacterial chromosomes that have to be excised and removed from the dividing cell. The underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Our data show that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from diverse Gram-negative bacteria are enriched for DNA around the terminus of replication ter and the site-specific XerCD recombinases influence this enrichment. Clearing the divisome from over-replicated parts of the bacterial chromosome might be a so far unrecognized and conserved function of OMVs.}, } @article {pmid38346639, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, YT and Ding, DS and Lim, YC and Dong, CD and Hsieh, SL}, title = {Combined toxicity of microplastics and copper on Goniopora columns.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {123515}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123515}, pmid = {38346639}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {As microplastics (MP) become ubiquitous, their interactions with heavy metals threatens the coral ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the combined toxicity of MP and copper (Cu) in the environment of coral. Goniopora columna was exposed to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) combined with Cu[2+] at 10, 20, 50, 100, and 300 μg/L for 7 days. Polyp length and adaptability were recorded daily, and coral samples were collected at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days to analyse zooxanthellae density and antioxidant activity. Tissue observations and the analysis of MP and Cu[2+] accumulation were conducted on the 7th day. After 1 day of exposure, PE-MP combined with different concentrations of Cu[2+] significantly decreased polyp length and adaptability compared with PE-MP alone. Simultaneously, a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, lead to coral oxidative stress, which was a combined effect with PE-MP. After 3 days of exposure, PE-MP combined with Cu[2+] at >50 μg/L significantly reduced zooxanthellae density, damaging the coral's symbiotic relationship. In antioxidant enzyme activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased significantly after 1 day of exposure. After 3 days of exposure, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity significantly increased with Cu[2+] at >20 μg/L. After 5 days of exposure, PE-MP combined with different concentrations of Cu[2+] significantly reduced catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione transferase (GST) activity, disrupting the antioxidant enzyme system, and acting antagonistically to PE-MP alone. Tissue observations revealed that the PE-MP combined with Cu[2+] at >50 μg/L caused severe mesenteric atrophy, vacuolar, and Cu[2+] accumulation in the coral mesenteric compared with PE-MP alone. The results suggest that combined exposure of PE-MP and copper leads to more severe oxidative stress, disruption antioxidant enzyme system, tissue damage, and Cu[2+] accumulation, resulting in a significant maladaptation of corals to the environment.}, } @article {pmid38345665, year = {2024}, author = {Sasaki, S and Mori, T and Enomoto, H and Nakamura, S and Yokota, H and Yamashita, H and Goto-Inoue, N}, title = {Assessing Molecular Localization of Symbiont Microalgae in Coral Branches Through Mass Spectrometry Imaging.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38345665}, issn = {1436-2236}, support = {21H04742//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals are a fundamental pillar of coral reef ecosystems in tropical and subtropical shallow environments. Corals harbor symbiotic dinoflagellates belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae, commonly known as zooxanthellae. Extensive research has been conducted on this symbiotic relationship, yet the fundamental information about the distribution and localization of Symbiodiniaceae cells in corals is still limited. This information is crucial to understanding the mechanism underlying the metabolite exchange between corals and their algal symbionts, as well as the metabolic flow within holobionts. To examine the distribution of Symbiodiniaceae cells within corals, in this study, we used fluorescence imaging and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MS-Imaging) on branches of the Acropora tenuis coral. We successfully prepared frozen sections of the coral for molecular imaging without fixing or decalcifying the coral branches. By combining the results of MS-Imaging with that of the fluorescence imaging, we determined that the algal Symbiodiniaceae symbionts were not only localized in the tentacle and surface region of the coral branches but also inhabited the in inner parts. Therefore, the molecular imaging technique used in this study could be valuable to further investigate the molecular dynamics between corals and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid38344184, year = {2024}, author = {da Silva, HAP and Caetano, VS and Pessôa, DDV and Pacheco, RS and Meneses, CHSG and Simões-Araújo, JL}, title = {Unraveling the drought-responsive transcriptomes in nodules of two common bean genotypes during biological nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1345379}, pmid = {38344184}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) can efficiently fix atmospheric nitrogen when associated with Rhizobia. However, drought stress impairs plant metabolic processes, especially the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Here, we assessed transcriptional responses in nodules of two common bean genotypes to drought stress under BNF reliance. The RNA-Seq analysis yielded a total of 81,489,262 and 72,497,478 high quality reads for Negro Argel and BAT 477 genotypes, respectively. The reads were mapped to the Phaseolus vulgaris reference genome and expression analysis identified 145 and 1451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for Negro Argel and BAT 477 genotypes, respectively. Although BAT 477 had more DEGs, both genotypes shared certain drought-responsive genes, including an up-regulated heat shock protein (HSP) and a down-regulated peroxidase, indicating shared pathways activated during drought in nodule tissue. Functional analysis using MapMan software highlighted the up-regulation of genes involved in abiotic stress responses, such as HSPs and specific transcription factors (TFs), in both genotypes. There was a significant down-regulation in metabolic pathways related to antioxidant protection, hormone signaling, metabolism, and transcriptional regulation. To validate these findings, we conducted RT-qPCR experiments for ten DEGs in nodules from both genotypes, for which the expression profile was confirmed, thus reinforcing their functional relevance in the nodule responses to drought stress during BNF. BAT 477 genotype exhibited more pronounced response to drought, characterized by a high number of DEGs. The strong down-regulation of DEGs leads to transcriptional disturbances in several pathways related to stress acclimation such as hormone and antioxidant metabolism. Additionally, we identified several genes that are known to play key roles in enhancing drought tolerance, such as HSPs and crucial TFs. Our results provide new insights into the transcriptional responses in root-nodules, an underexplored tissue of plants mainly under drought conditions. This research paves the way for potential improvements in plant-bacteria interactions, contributing to common bean adaptations in the face of challenging environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid38344064, year = {2024}, author = {Rodak, NY and Tan, CH and Sternberg, PW}, title = {An improved solid medium-based culturing method for Steinernema hermaphroditum.}, journal = {microPublication biology}, volume = {2024}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38344064}, issn = {2578-9430}, abstract = {Steinernema hermaphroditum is the only identified entomopathogenic nematode that is consistently hermaphroditic and thus offers a great opportunity to use genetic approaches to probe symbiosis. Evolutionarily, ecologically, and morphologically distinct from laboratory nematodes commonly used in the laboratory, with both forward and reverse genetics tools available, this species also provides an opportunity to explore other areas of biology, especially using comparative studies. Here, we describe an improved solid medium-based culturing method for S. hermaphroditum that we found particularly helpful for phenotypic analysis and genetic manipulation. We document the rapid increase in the size of the worm; and show that the uniform growth of the worm on this medium provides a good basis for developmental studies. Finally, we measure the brood size of individual animals, which, although far larger, has a very similar trajectory to that of the hermaphroditic Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting common reproductive restraints.}, } @article {pmid38342161, year = {2024}, author = {Dixit, NM and Guicking, D}, title = {Exploring the evolutionary dynamics of myrmecophytism: Perspectives from the Southeast Asian Macaranga ant-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {108028}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108028}, pmid = {38342161}, issn = {1095-9513}, abstract = {Myrmecophytic plants utilise defensive services offered by obligate ant partners nesting in their domatia in a novel means of survival in tropical habitats. Although much is known about the ecology of myrmecophytism, there aren't enough empirical examples to demonstrate whether it substantially influences evolutionary patterns in host plant lineages. In this study, we make use of the species-rich Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) ant-plant symbiosis distributed in the Southeast Asian Sundaland to delve into the evolutionary dynamics of myrmecophytism in host plants. We generated the most comprehensive dated phylogeny of myrmecophytic Macaranga till date using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). With this in hand, we traced the evolutionary history of myrmecophytism in Macaranga using parametric biogeography and ancestral state reconstruction. Diversification rate analysis methods were employed to determine if myrmecophytism enhanced diversification rates in the genus. Our results demonstrate that myrmecophytism is labile and easily lost. Ancestral state reconstruction supported a single origin of myrmecophytism in Macaranga ∼ 18 mya on Borneo followed by multiple losses. Diversification rate analysis methods did not yield sufficient evidence to support the hypothesis that myrmecophytism enhanced diversification rates in Macaranga; we found that topographical features on Borneo may have played a more direct role in the divergence of clades instead. Our study provides evidence that while the acquisition of domatia clearly functions as a key innovation that has enabled host plants to exploit the environment in novel ways, it may not necessarily enhance diversification rates. In fact, we hypothesise that overly specialised cases of myrmecophytism may even be an evolutionary dead end.}, } @article {pmid38341972, year = {2024}, author = {Kuroda, K and Maeda, R and Shinshima, F and Urasaki, K and Kubota, K and Nobu, MK and Noguchi, TQP and Satoh, H and Yamauchi, M and Narihiro, T and Yamada, M}, title = {Microbiological insights into anaerobic phenol degradation mechanisms and bulking phenomenon in a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor in long-term operation.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {253}, number = {}, pages = {121271}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.121271}, pmid = {38341972}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {In this study, a long-term operation of 2,747 days was conducted to evaluate the performance of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and investigated the degradation mechanisms of high-organic loading phenol wastewater. During the reactor operation, the maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate of 6.1 ± 0.6 kg/m[3]/day under 1,680 mg/L phenol concentration was achieved in the mesophilic UASB reactor. After a significant change in the operating temperature from 24.0 ± 4.1 °C to 35.9 ± 0.6 °C, frequent observations of floating and washout of the bloated granular sludge (novel types of the bulking phenomenon) were made in the UASB reactor, suggesting that the change in operating temperature could be a trigger for the bulking phenomenon. Through the metagenomic analysis, phenol degradation mechanisms were predicted that phenol was converted to 4-hydroxybenzoate via two possible routes by Syntrophorhabdaceae and Pelotomaculaceae bacteria. Furthermore, the degradation of 4-hydroxybenzoate to benzoyl-CoA was carried out by members of Syntrophorhabdaceae and Smithellaceae. In the bulking sludge, a predominant presence of Nanobdellota, belonging to DPANN archaea, was detected. The metagenome-assembled genome of the Nanobdellota lacks many biosynthetic pathways and has several genes for the symbiotic lifestyle such as trimeric autotransporter adhesin-related protein. Furthermore, the Nanobdellota have significant correlations with several methanogenic archaea that are predominantly present in the UASB reactor. Considering the results of this study, the predominant Nanobdellota may negatively affect the growth of the methanogens through the parasitic lifestyle and change the balance of microbial interactions in the granular sludge ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid38341846, year = {2024}, author = {García-Ledesma, JD and Cárdenas-Torres, L and Martínez-Aguilar, L and Chávez-Martínez, AI and Lozano, L and López-Lara, IM and Geiger, O}, title = {Phosphatidylcholine-deficient suppressor mutant of Sinorhizobium meliloti, altered in fatty acid synthesis, partially recovers nodulation ability in symbiosis with alfalfa (Medicago sativa).}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16661}, pmid = {38341846}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {P20 RR16475/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial phosphatidylcholine (PC) is thought to be a critical phospholipid for the symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and legume host plants. A PC-deficient mutant of Sinorhizobium meliloti overproduces succinoglycan, is unable to swim, and lacks the ability to form nodules on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) host roots. Suppressor mutants had been obtained which did not overproduce succinoglycan and regained the ability to swim. Previously, we showed that point mutations leading to altered ExoS proteins can reverse the succinoglycan and swimming phenotypes of a PC-deficient mutant. Here, we report that other point mutations leading to altered ExoS, ChvI, FabA, or RpoH1 proteins also revert the succinoglycan and swimming phenotypes of PC-deficient mutants. Notably, the suppressor mutants also restore the ability to form nodule organs on alfalfa roots. However, nodules generated by these suppressor mutants express only low levels of an early nodulin, do not induce leghemoglobin transcript accumulation, thus remain white, and are unable to fix nitrogen. Among these suppressor mutants, we detected a reduced function mutant of the 3-hydoxydecanoyl-acyl carrier protein dehydratase FabA that produces reduced amounts of unsaturated and increased amounts of shorter chain fatty acids. This alteration of fatty acid composition probably affects lipid packing thereby partially compensating for the previous loss of PC and contributing to the restoration of membrane homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid38341803, year = {2024}, author = {Cosier, DJ and Lambert, K and Neale, EP and Probst, Y and Charlton, K}, title = {The effect of oral synbiotics on the gut microbiota and inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {Nutrition reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/nutrit/nuae002}, pmid = {38341803}, issn = {1753-4887}, abstract = {CONTEXT: Prior research has explored the effect of synbiotics, the combination of probiotics and prebiotics, on the gut microbiota in clinical populations. However, evidence related to the effect of synbiotics on the gut microbiota in healthy adults has not been reviewed to date.

OBJECTIVE: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively investigate the effect of synbiotics on the gut microbiota and inflammatory markers in populations of healthy adults.

DATA SOURCES: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were systematically searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials examining the primary outcome of gut microbiota or intestinal permeability changes after synbiotic consumption in healthy adults. Secondary outcomes of interest were short-chain fatty acids, inflammatory biomarkers, and gut microbiota diversity.

DATA EXTRACTION: Weighted (WMD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) outcome data were pooled in restricted maximum likelihood models using random effects. Twenty-seven articles reporting on 26 studies met the eligibility criteria (n = 1319).

DATA ANALYSIS: Meta-analyses of 16 studies showed synbiotics resulted in a significant increase in Lactobacillus cell count (SMD, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15, 1.33; P = 0.01) and propionate concentration (SMD, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.02, 0.43; P = 0.03) compared with controls. A trend for an increase in Bifidobacterium relative abundance (WMD, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.42, 2.52; P = 0.10) and cell count (SMD, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.13, 1.88; P = 0.06) was seen. No significant differences in α-diversity, acetate, butyrate, zonulin, IL-6, CRP, or endotoxins were observed.

CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates that synbiotics modulate the gut microbiota by increasing Lactobacillus and propionate across various healthy adult populations, and may result in increased Bifidobacterium. Significant variations in synbiotic type, dose, and duration should be considered as limitations when applying findings to clinical practice.

PROSPERO no. CRD42021284033.}, } @article {pmid38341075, year = {2024}, author = {Bhatt, P and Brown, PB and Huang, JY and Hussain, AS and Liu, HT and Simsek, H}, title = {Algae and indigenous bacteria consortium in treatment of shrimp wastewater: A study for resource recovery in sustainable aquaculture system.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {118447}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118447}, pmid = {38341075}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Shrimp production facilities produce large quantities of wastewater, which consists of organic and inorganic pollutants. High concentrations of these pollutants in shrimp wastewater cause serious environmental problems and, therefore, a method of treating this wastewater is an important research topic. This study investigated the impact of algae and indigenous bacteria on treating shrimp wastewater. A total of four different microalgae cultures, including Chlorococcum minutus, Porphyridum cruentum, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella reinhardtii along with two cyanobacterial cultures, Microcystis aeruginosa and Fishcherella muscicola were used with indigenous bacterial cultures to treat shrimp wastewater. The highest soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) removal rate (95%) was observed in the samples that were incubated using F. muscicola. Total dissolved nitrogen was degraded >90% in the C. vulgaris, M. aeruginosa, and C. reinhardtii seeded samples. Dissolved organic nitrogen removal was significantly higher for C. vulgaris (93%) as compared to other treatments. Similarly, phosphate degradation was very successful for all the algae-bacteria consortium (>99%). Moreover, the degradation kinetics were calculated, and the lowest half-life (t1/2) for sCOD (5 days) was recorded for the samples seeded with M. aeruginosa. Similarly, treatment with F. muscicola and C. reinhardtii showed the lowest t1/2 of NH3-N (2.9 days) and phosphate (2.7 days) values. Overall, the results from this study suggest that the symbiotic relationship between indigenous bacteria and algae significantly enhanced the process of shrimp wastewater treatment within 21 days of incubation. The outcome of this study supports resource recovery in the aquaculture sector and could be beneficial to treat a large-scale shrimp facility's wastewater worldwide.}, } @article {pmid38340940, year = {2024}, author = {Sela, A and Moussa, S and Rodov, V and Kruh, LI and Poverenov, E}, title = {Carboxymethyl chitosan-N-alkylimine derivatives: Synthesis, characterization and use for preservation of symbiotic biofertilizer bacteria on chickpea seeds.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130057}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130057}, pmid = {38340940}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {A series of carboxymethyl chitosan-N-alkylimine derivatives with side chain length of 4 to 10 carbons (CMCS-n, n = 4, 6, 8, 10) was prepared in a one-step solvent-free synthesis using Schiff base chemistry. The modified polysaccharides were characterized by their spectral, thermal and physical properties. The prepared polymers demonstrated an ability to spontaneous self-assembly with a clear correlation between critical aggregation concentration and the chain length of the alkyl substituent. N-alkylimine-CMCS derivatives were found to deliver hydrophobic (curcumin) and hydrophilic (ascorbic acid) active agents in unfavorable environments of water and oil, respectively. Then, N-alkylimine-CMCS derivatives were used as a platform for the delivery of symbiotic Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis CJ onto chickpea seeds. These bacteria were able to proliferate in the liquid CMCS-n dispersions reaching densities up to 10[10] CFU/mL and demonstrated a significantly higher survival rate (10[6] CFU/mL) in dried CMCS-6 derivative film than in other films tested. The seeds treated with N-alkylimine-CMCS coatings that contained plant symbiotic biofertilizer bacteria demonstrated up to 100-fold increase of B. subtilis CJ population on the seedlings in comparison to the pristine CMCS.}, } @article {pmid38328118, year = {2024}, author = {Dupuis, S and Lingappa, UF and Mayali, X and Sindermann, ES and Chastain, JL and Weber, PK and Stuart, R and Merchant, SS}, title = {Scarcity of fixed carbon transfer in a model microbial phototroph-heterotroph interaction.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38328118}, support = {T32 GM132022/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {While the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has long served as a reference organism, few studies have interrogated its role as a primary producer in microbial interactions. Here, we quantitatively investigated C. reinhardtii's capacity to support a heterotrophic microbe using the established coculture system with Mesorhizobium japonicum, a vitamin B12-producing α-proteobacterium. Using stable isotope probing and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), we tracked the flow of photosynthetic fixed carbon and consequent bacterial biomass synthesis under continuous and diel light with single-cell resolution. We found that more [13]C fixed by the alga was taken up by bacterial cells under continuous light, invalidating the hypothesis that the alga's fermentative degradation of starch reserves during the night would boost M. japonicum heterotrophy. [15]NH4 assimilation rates and changes in cell size revealed that the carbon transferred was insufficient for balanced growth of M. japonicum cells, which instead underwent reductive division. However, despite this sign of starvation, M. japonicum still supported a B12-dependent C. reinhardtii mutant. Finally, we showed that bacterial proliferation could be supported solely by the algal lysis that occurred in coculture, highlighting the role of necromass in carbon cycling. Collectively, these results reveal the scarcity of fixed carbon in this microbial trophic relationship, demonstrate B12 exchange even during bacterial starvation, and underscore the importance of quantitative approaches for assessing metabolic coupling in algal-bacterial interactions.}, } @article {pmid38339826, year = {2024}, author = {Alon, M and Waitz, Y and Finkel, OM and Sheffer, E}, title = {The native distribution of a common legume shrub is limited by the range of its nitrogen-fixing mutualist.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19577}, pmid = {38339826}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {1142/19//Israeli Science Foundation (ISF)/ ; 508/16//Israeli Science Foundation (ISF)/ ; }, abstract = {Plant-microbe mutualisms, such as the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, are influenced by the geographical distributions of both partners. However, limitations on the native range of legumes, resulting from the absence of a compatible mutualist, have rarely been explored. We used a combination of a large-scale field survey and controlled experiments to determine the realized niche of Calicotome villosa, an abundant and widespread legume shrub. Soil type was a major factor affecting the distribution and abundance of C. villosa. In addition, we found a large region within its range in which neither C. villosa nor Bradyrhizobium, the bacterial genus that associates with it, were present. Seedlings grown in soil from this region failed to nodulate and were deficient in nitrogen. Inoculation of this soil with Bradyrhizobium isolated from root nodules of C. villosa resulted in the formation of nodules and higher growth rate, leaf N and shoot biomass compared with un-inoculated plants. We present evidence for the exclusion of a legume from parts of its native range by the absence of a compatible mutualist. This result highlights the importance of the co-distribution of both the host plant and its mutualist when attempting to understand present and future geographical distributions of legumes.}, } @article {pmid38339515, year = {2024}, author = {Ehrlich-Sommer, F and Hoenigsberger, F and Gollob, C and Nothdurft, A and Stampfer, K and Holzinger, A}, title = {Sensors for Digital Transformation in Smart Forestry.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38339515}, issn = {1424-8220}, support = {GFF NÖ FTI-22-I-004//Government of Lower Austria/ ; }, abstract = {Smart forestry, an innovative approach leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), aims to enhance forest management while minimizing the environmental impact. The efficacy of AI in this domain is contingent upon the availability of extensive, high-quality data, underscoring the pivotal role of sensor-based data acquisition in the digital transformation of forestry. However, the complexity and challenging conditions of forest environments often impede data collection efforts. Achieving the full potential of smart forestry necessitates a comprehensive integration of sensor technologies throughout the process chain, ensuring the production of standardized, high-quality data essential for AI applications. This paper highlights the symbiotic relationship between human expertise and the digital transformation in forestry, particularly under challenging conditions. We emphasize the human-in-the-loop approach, which allows experts to directly influence data generation, enhancing adaptability and effectiveness in diverse scenarios. A critical aspect of this integration is the deployment of autonomous robotic systems in forests, functioning both as data collectors and processing hubs. These systems are instrumental in facilitating sensor integration and generating substantial volumes of quality data. We present our universal sensor platform, detailing our experiences and the critical importance of the initial phase in digital transformation-the generation of comprehensive, high-quality data. The selection of appropriate sensors is a key factor in this process, and our findings underscore its significance in advancing smart forestry.}, } @article {pmid38339080, year = {2024}, author = {Song, J and Liu, Y and Cai, W and Zhou, S and Fan, X and Hu, H and Ren, L and Xue, Y}, title = {Unregulated GmAGL82 due to Phosphorus Deficiency Positively Regulates Root Nodule Growth in Soybean.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38339080}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {32002131//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; R19031//the Program for Scientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University/ ; 010413122221//the College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program/ ; A23081//the Project of Rural Science and Technology Team "One-to-One" Service to Help the Town Full Coverage of Action Funding in Zhanjiang City/ ; 080503052212//the Project of Social Services of Rural Science and Technology Specialists of Guangdong Ocean University/ ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation, occurring through the symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia in root nodules, is crucial in sustainable agriculture. Nodulation and soybean production are influenced by low levels of phosphorus stress. In this study, we discovered a MADS transcription factor, GmAGL82, which is preferentially expressed in nodules and displays significantly increased expression under conditions of phosphate (Pi) deficiency. The overexpression of GmAGL82 in composite transgenic plants resulted in an increased number of nodules, higher fresh weight, and enhanced soluble Pi concentration, which subsequently increased the nitrogen content, phosphorus content, and overall growth of soybean plants. Additionally, transcriptome analysis revealed that the overexpression of GmAGL82 significantly upregulated the expression of genes associated with nodule growth, such as GmENOD100, GmHSP17.1, GmHSP17.9, GmSPX5, and GmPIN9d. Based on these findings, we concluded that GmAGL82 likely participates in the phosphorus signaling pathway and positively regulates nodulation in soybeans. The findings of this research may lay the theoretical groundwork for further studies and candidate gene resources for the genetic improvement of nutrient-efficient soybean varieties in acidic soils.}, } @article {pmid38339023, year = {2024}, author = {Mohamed, AA and Al-Ramadi, BK and Fernandez-Cabezudo, MJ}, title = {Interplay between Microbiota and γδ T Cells: Insights into Immune Homeostasis and Neuro-Immune Interactions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38339023}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {21M101, 21M121//United Arab Emirates University/ ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) tract of multicellular organisms, especially mammals, harbors a symbiotic commensal microbiota with diverse microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbial and eukaryotic species. This microbiota exerts an important role on intestinal function and contributes to host health. The microbiota, while benefiting from a nourishing environment, is involved in the development, metabolism and immunity of the host, contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis in the GI tract. The immune system orchestrates the maintenance of key features of host-microbe symbiosis via a unique immunological network that populates the intestinal wall with different immune cell populations. Intestinal epithelium contains lymphocytes in the intraepithelial (IEL) space between the tight junctions and the basal membrane of the gut epithelium. IELs are mostly CD8[+] T cells, with the great majority of them expressing the CD8αα homodimer, and the γδ T cell receptor (TCR) instead of the αβ TCR expressed on conventional T cells. γδ T cells play a significant role in immune surveillance and tissue maintenance. This review provides an overview of how the microbiota regulates γδ T cells and the influence of microbiota-derived metabolites on γδ T cell responses, highlighting their impact on immune homeostasis. It also discusses intestinal neuro-immune regulation and how γδ T cells possess the ability to interact with both the microbiota and brain.}, } @article {pmid38338702, year = {2024}, author = {Rastoldo, G and Tighilet, B}, title = {The Vestibular Nuclei: A Cerebral Reservoir of Stem Cells Involved in Balance Function in Normal and Pathological Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38338702}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {ANR-17-EURE-0029//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; AMX-19-IET-004//This research was funded by grants from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and CNRS (Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7291). This work has received support from the French government under the Programme Investissements d'Avenir, Initiative/ ; }, abstract = {In this review, we explore the intriguing realm of neurogenesis in the vestibular nuclei-a critical brainstem region governing balance and spatial orientation. We retrace almost 20 years of research into vestibular neurogenesis, from its discovery in the feline model in 2007 to the recent discovery of a vestibular neural stem cell niche. We explore the reasons why neurogenesis is important in the vestibular nuclei and the triggers for activating the vestibular neurogenic niche. We develop the symbiotic relationship between neurogenesis and gliogenesis to promote vestibular compensation. Finally, we examine the potential impact of reactive neurogenesis on vestibular compensation, highlighting its role in restoring balance through various mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid38338619, year = {2024}, author = {Sales, AL and Cunha, SC and Ferreira, IMPLVO and Morgado, J and Melo, L and DePaula, J and Miguel, MAL and Farah, A}, title = {Volatilome, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles of Coffee Leaf and Coffee Leaf-Toasted Maté Kombuchas.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {38338619}, issn = {2304-8158}, support = {E26/200.940/2021-259919 and E26/210.107/2018-241762//Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/ ; Finance Code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; 2022.07841.CEECIND/CP1724/CT0014//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; UIDB/50006/2020.//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented beverage traditionally made from the leaves of Camelia sinensis. The market has drastically expanded recently, and the beverage has become more elaborated with new, healthy food materials and flavors. Pruning and harvesting during coffee production may generate tons of coffee leaves that are discarded although they contain substantial amounts of bioactive compounds, including those found in maté tea and coffee seeds. This study characterized the changes in volatilome, microbial, and sensory profiles of pure and blended arabica coffee leaf tea kombuchas between 3-9 days of fermentation. Acceptance was also evaluated by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 103). Kombuchas (K) were prepared using black tea kombucha starter (BTKS) (10%), sucrose (10%), a symbiotic culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY) (2.5%), and a pure coffee leaf infusion (CL) or a 50:50 blend with toasted maté infusion (CL-TM) at 2.5%. The RATA test was chosen for sensory profile characterization. One hundred volatile organic compounds were identified when all infusions and kombucha samples were considered. The potential impact compounds identified in CL K and CL-TM K were: methyl salicylate, benzaldehyde, hexanal, nonanal, pentadecanal, phenylethyl-alcohol, cedrol, 3,5-octadien-2-one, β-damascenone, α-ionone, β-ionone, acetic acid, caproic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, isovaleric acid, linalool, (S)-dihydroactinidiolide, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl hexanoate, and geranyl acetone. Aroma and flavor descriptors with higher intensities in CL K included fruity, peach, sweet, and herbal, while CL-TM K included additional toasted mate notes. The highest mean acceptance score was given to CL-TM K and CL K on day 3 (6.6 and 6.4, respectively, on a nine-point scale). Arabica coffee leaf can be a co-product with similar fingerprinting to maté and black tea, which can be explored for the elaboration of potentially healthy fermented beverages in food industries.}, } @article {pmid38337962, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, J and Wang, J and Zhu, C and Singh, RP and Chen, W}, title = {Chickpea: Its Origin, Distribution, Nutrition, Benefits, Breeding, and Symbiotic Relationship with Mesorhizobium Species.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants13030429}, pmid = {38337962}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {31970006//National Nature Science Foundation of China/ ; Yuzutong[2023]No.11//Central Plains youth top talent project/ ; }, abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), encompassing the desi and kabuli varieties, is a beloved pulse crop globally. Its cultivation spans over fifty countries, from the Indian subcontinent and southern Europe to the Middle East, North Africa, the Americas, Australia, and China. With a rich composition of carbohydrates and protein, constituting 80% of its dry seed mass, chickpea is also touted for its numerous health benefits, earning it the title of a 'functional food'. In the past two decades, research has extensively explored the rhizobial diversity associated with chickpea and its breeding in various countries across Europe, Asia, and Oceania, aiming to understand its impact on the sustainable yield and quality of chickpea crops. To date, four notable species of Mesorhizobium-M. ciceri, M. mediterraneum, M. muleiense, and M. wenxiniae-have been reported, originally isolated from chickpea root nodules. Other species, such as M. amorphae, M. loti, M. tianshanense, M. oportunistum, M. abyssinicae, and M. shonense, have been identified as potential symbionts of chickpea, possibly acquiring symbiotic genes through lateral gene transfer. While M. ciceri and M. mediterraneum are widely distributed and studied across chickpea-growing regions, they remain absent in China, where M. muleiense and M. wenxiniae are the sole rhizobial species associated with chickpea. The geographic distribution of chickpea rhizobia is believed to be influenced by factors such as genetic characteristics, competitiveness, evolutionary adaptation to local soil conditions, and compatibility with native soil microbes. Inoculating chickpea with suitable rhizobial strains is crucial when introducing the crop to new regions lacking indigenous chickpea rhizobia. The introduction of a novel chickpea variety, coupled with the effective use of rhizobia for inoculation, offers the potential not only to boost the yield and seed quality of chickpeas, but also to enhance crop productivity within rotation and intercropped systems involving chickpea and other crops. Consequently, this advancement holds the promise to drive forward the cause of sustainable agriculture on a global scale.}, } @article {pmid38337904, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, Y and Wang, C and Ma, Z and Zhang, L and Wu, F}, title = {Effects of Funneliformis mosseae on Growth and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Camellia oleifera under Different Nitrogen Forms.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants13030370}, pmid = {38337904}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {32001297; 32260377, 31660189//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fertilizer increases agricultural yields but increases economic costs and causes a series of environmental problems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to be used as biological fertilizer. However, the influence of nitrogen form on plant growth responsiveness to AMF inoculation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae on growth, root morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of Camellia oleifera under different nitrogen forms during three harvest periods and clarified the most suitable nitrogen form for C. oleifera-AMF symbiosis. The results showed that urea, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen promoted plant growth and photosynthetic capacity, among which urea treatment had the highest value in all three harvests. No significant difference in plant growth parameters was observed between ammonium and nitrate nitrogen treatments in the first two harvests, while the plant height was significantly lower under ammonium nitrogen treatment than nitrate nitrogen treatment in the third harvest. Inoculation with F. mosseae in the presence of indigenous AMF could promote AMF colonization and plant growth at all three harvest times. Inoculation with F. mosseae significantly increased gas exchange parameters, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII). Inoculation with AMF increased the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) better under urea treatment and improved the non-photochemical quenching coefficient (qN) better under ammonium nitrogen treatment. Principal component analysis showed that urea is the most beneficial nitrogen fertilizer for C. oleifera-AMF symbiosis. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the combination use of AMF and nitrogen fertilizer in agroforestry.}, } @article {pmid38336091, year = {2024}, author = {Ko, J and Hyung, S and Cheong, S and Chung, Y and Li Jeon, N}, title = {Revealing the clinical potential of high-resolution organoids.}, journal = {Advanced drug delivery reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {115202}, doi = {10.1016/j.addr.2024.115202}, pmid = {38336091}, issn = {1872-8294}, abstract = {The symbiotic interplay of organoid technology and advanced imaging strategies yields innovative breakthroughs in research and clinical applications. Organoids, intricate three-dimensional cell cultures derived from pluripotent or adult stem/progenitor cells, have emerged as potent tools for in vitro modeling, reflecting in vivo organs and advancing our grasp of tissue physiology and disease. Concurrently, advanced imaging technologies such as confocal, light-sheet, and two-photon microscopy ignite fresh explorations, uncovering rich organoid information. Combined with advanced imaging technologies and the power of artificial intelligence, organoids provide new insights that bridge experimental models and real-world clinical scenarios. This review explores exemplary research that embodies this technological synergy and how organoids reshape personalized medicine and therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid38335857, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, Q and Su, H and Lu, C and Huang, Q and Wang, S and He, X and Zou, J and Chen, Q and Liu, Y and Zeng, L}, title = {Ammonia removal mitigates white plague type II in the coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {106403}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106403}, pmid = {38335857}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {White Plague Type II (WPL II) is a disease increasingly affecting scleractinian coral species and progresses rapidly. However, the etiological pathogen and remedy remain elusive. In this study, transmission experiments demonstrated that Aureimonas altamirensis and Aurantimonas coralicida, representing the WPL II pathogens, could infect Pocillopora damicorni. The infection produced selected pathological symptoms, including bleaching, tissue loss, and decolorization. Furthermore, ammonia degradation significantly reduced the severity of infection by these pathogens, indicating that ammonia may be a virulence factor for WPL II. Coral microbiome analysis suggested that ammonia degradation mediates the anti-white plague effect by maintaining the density of Symbiodiniaceae and stabilizing the core and symbiotic bacteria. Aureimonas altamirensis and Aurantimonas coralicida have been shown to cause diseases of P. damicornis, with ammonia acting as a virulence factor, and ammoniac degradation may be a promising and innovative approach to mitigate coral mortality suffering from increasing diseases.}, } @article {pmid38334408, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, R and Meng, Q and Wang, X and Xiao, Y and Sun, R and Zhang, Z and Fu, Y and Di Giuseppe, G and Liang, A}, title = {Comparative genomic analysis of symbiotic and free-living Fluviibacter phosphoraccumulans strains provides insights into the evolutionary origins of obligate Euplotes-bacterial endosymbioses.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0190023}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01900-23}, pmid = {38334408}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Endosymbiosis is a widespread and important phenomenon requiring diverse model systems. Ciliates are a widespread group of protists that often form symbioses with diverse microorganisms. Endosymbioses between the ciliate Euplotes and heritable bacterial symbionts are common in nature, and four essential symbionts were described: Polynucleobacter necessarius, "Candidatus Protistobacter heckmanni," "Ca. Devosia symbiotica," and "Ca. Devosia euplotis." Among them, only the genus Polynucleobacter comprises very close free-living and symbiotic representatives, which makes it an excellent model for investigating symbiont replacements and recent symbioses. In this article, we characterized a novel endosymbiont inhabiting the cytoplasm of Euplotes octocarinatus and found that it is a close relative of the free-living bacterium Fluviibacter phosphoraccumulans (Betaproteobacteria and Rhodocyclales). We present the complete genome sequence and annotation of the symbiotic Fluviibacter. Comparative analyses indicate that the genome of symbiotic Fluviibacter is small in size and rich in pseudogenes when compared with free-living strains, which seems to fit the prediction for recently established endosymbionts undergoing genome erosion. Further comparative analysis revealed reduced metabolic capacities in symbiotic Fluviibacter, which implies that the symbiont relies on the host Euplotes for carbon sources, organic nitrogen and sulfur, and some cofactors. We also estimated substitution rates between symbiotic and free-living Fluviibacter pairs for 233 genes; the results showed that symbiotic Fluviibacter displays higher dN/dS mean value than free-living relatives, which suggested that genetic drift is the main driving force behind molecular evolution in endosymbionts.IMPORTANCEIn the long history of symbiosis research, most studies focused mainly on organelles or bacteria within multicellular hosts. The single-celled protists receive little attention despite harboring an immense diversity of symbiotic associations with bacteria and archaea. One subgroup of the ciliate Euplotes species is strictly dependent on essential symbionts for survival and has emerged as a valuable model for understanding symbiont replacements and recent symbioses. However, almost all of our knowledge about the evolution and functions of Euplotes symbioses comes from the Euplotes-Polynucleobacter system. In this article, we report a novel essential symbiont, which also has very close free-living relatives. Genome analysis indicated that it is a recently established endosymbiont undergoing genome erosion and relies on the Euplotes host for many essential molecules. Our results provide support for the notion that essential symbionts of the ciliate Euplotes evolve from free-living progenitors in the natural water environment.}, } @article {pmid38334378, year = {2024}, author = {Daniels, BN and Nurge, J and De Smet, C and Sleeper, O and White, C and Davidson, JM and Fidopiastis, P}, title = {Microbiome composition and function within the Kellet's whelk perivitelline fluid.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0351423}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03514-23}, pmid = {38334378}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Microbiomes have gained significant attention in ecological research, owing to their diverse interactions and essential roles within different organismal ecosystems. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and viruses, have profound impact on host health, influencing digestion, metabolism, immune function, tissue development, and behavior. This study investigates the microbiome diversity and function of Kellet's whelk (Kelletia kelletii) perivitelline fluid (PVF), which sustains thousands of developing K. kelletii embryos within a polysaccharide and protein matrix. Our core microbiome analysis reveals a diverse range of bacteria, with the Roseobacter genus being the most abundant. Additionally, genes related to host-microbe interactions, symbiosis, and quorum sensing were detected, indicating a potential symbiotic relationship between the microbiome and Kellet's whelk embryos. Furthermore, the microbiome exhibits gene expression related to antibiotic biosynthesis, suggesting a defensive role against pathogenic bacteria and potential discovery of novel antibiotics. Overall, this study sheds light on the microbiome's role in Kellet's whelk development, emphasizing the significance of host-microbe interactions in vulnerable life history stages. To our knowledge, ours is the first study to use 16S sequencing coupled with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to profile the microbiome of an invertebrate PVF.IMPORTANCEThis study provides novel insight to an encapsulated system with strong evidence of symbiosis between the microbial inhabitants and developing host embryos. The Kellet's whelk perivitelline fluid (PVF) contains microbial organisms of interest that may be providing symbiotic functions and potential antimicrobial properties during this vulnerable life history stage. This study, the first to utilize a comprehensive approach to investigating Kellet's whelk PVF microbiome, couples 16S rRNA gene long-read sequencing with RNA-seq. This research contributes to and expands our knowledge on the roles of beneficial host-associated microbes.}, } @article {pmid38334188, year = {2024}, author = {Baniya, A and Subkrasae, C and Ardpairin, J and Anesko, K and Vitta, A and Dillman, AR}, title = {STEINERNEMA ADAMSI N. SP. (RHABDITIDA: STEINERNEMATIDAE), A NEW ENTOMOPATHOGENIC NEMATODE FROM THAILAND.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {22-39}, doi = {10.1645/23-60}, pmid = {38334188}, issn = {1937-2345}, abstract = {A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema adamsi n. sp., was recovered from the soil of a longan tree (Dimocarpus sp.) in Mueang Lamphun District, Thailand, using baiting techniques. Upon analysis of the nematode's morphological traits, we found it to be a new species of Steinernema and a member of the Longicaudatum clade. Molecular analyses of the ITS rDNA and D2D3 of 28S rDNA sequences further confirmed that S. adamsi n. sp. is a new species of the Longicaudatum clade, which is closely related to Steinernema guangdongense and Steinernema longicaudam. Using morphometric analysis, the infective juveniles measure between 774.69 and 956.96 μm, males have a size range of 905.44 to 1,281.98 μm, and females are within the range of 1,628.21 to 2,803.64 μm. We also identified the symbiotic bacteria associated with the nematode based on 16S sequences as Xenorhabdus spp. closely related toXenorhabdus griffiniae. Furthermore, we have successfully assessed a cryopreservation method for the long-term preservation of S. adamsi n. sp. Successful cryopreservation of this new species will allow for the longer preservation of its traits and will be valuable for its future use. The discovery of this new species has significant implications for the development of effective biological control agents in Thailand, and our work contributes to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of entomopathogenic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid38334098, year = {2024}, author = {Mishra, SS and Krishnaswamy, S and Chand, DK}, title = {Neighboring Cage Participation for Assisted Construction of Self-Assembled Multicavity Conjoined Cages and Augmented Guest Binding.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.3c10565}, pmid = {38334098}, issn = {1520-5126}, abstract = {A set of Pd2L4, Pd3L4, and Pd4L4-type single-, double-, and triple-cavity cages are prepared by complexation of Pd(NO3)2 with designer bis-monodentate (L1), tris-monodentate (L2), and tetrakis-monodentate (L3) ligands. The Pd2L4 cage exists in equilibrium with a Pd3L6 cage; the equilibrium shifted to Pd2L4 at 70 °C or upon addition of pyrazine-N,N'-dioxide (PZDO). The Pd2L4 cage binds a PZDO molecule using electrostatic, bifurcated H-bonding and overcoordinated H-bonding interactions. The discrete Pd3L4 and Pd4L4 compounds are conjoined cages comprising of unequal sized Pd2L4 cages (bigger and smaller). The bigger unit of Pd3L4 cage selectively binds a PZDO, and the smaller one binds a nitrate, fluoride, chloride, or bromide. The Pd4L4 cage, having a central bigger Pd2L4 cavity and two smaller peripheral Pd2L4 cavities, binds one PZDO and two nitrate, fluoride, chloride, or bromide. The smaller cavity can be prepared individually from Pd(II) and bis-monodentate ligand (L4), however, in the presence of template like a nitrate, fluoride, chloride, or bromide; otherwise, it forms an oligomeric mixture. Notably, the conjoined Pd3L4 and Pd4L4 cages could be prepared with (preferably) or without using a template for smaller cavity, and the bigger Pd2L4 is formed by sacrificing the possibility of the Pd3L6 moiety. Thus, the conjoined cages are formed in a symbiotic manner where the neighboring cages participate in the formation of each other. The binding of PZDO shows that the presence of one neighboring cage (as in Pd3L4) augments the binding affinity and that is further augmented in the presence of two neighboring cages (as in Pd4L4).}, } @article {pmid38334077, year = {2024}, author = {He, YP and Xiang, J and Shao, XH and Feng, C and Zhang, Q and Wang, YM and Zhang, CX}, title = {New polyketides from the starfish-derived symbiotic fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2.}, journal = {Journal of Asian natural products research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1080/10286020.2024.2311140}, pmid = {38334077}, issn = {1477-2213}, abstract = {One new rare carbon-bridged citrinin dimer quinocitrindimer C (1) as a pair of epimers, two new polyketide penicilliodes D (3) and E (4) together with nine known citrinin derivatives, were isolated from the fermentation broth of starfish-derived symbiotic fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2. Their structures and configurations were elucidated by comprehensively spectroscopic data analysis and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Eleven citrinin derivatives were tested by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and compound 2 played a significant antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with LC50 value of 0.27 μg/ml.}, } @article {pmid38332146, year = {2024}, author = {Bringhurst, B and Greenwold, M and Kellner, K and Seal, JN}, title = {Symbiosis, dysbiosis and the impact of horizontal exchange on bacterial microbiomes in higher fungus-gardening ants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {3231}, pmid = {38332146}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {IOS-1552822//National Science Foundation/ ; DEB-1354629//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-1552822//National Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Advances in our understanding of symbiotic stability have demonstrated that microorganisms are key to understanding the homeostasis of obligate symbioses. Fungus-gardening ants are excellent model systems for exploring how microorganisms may be involved in symbiotic homeostasis as the host and symbionts are macroscopic and can be easily experimentally manipulated. Their coevolutionary history has been well-studied; examinations of which have depicted broad clade-to-clade specificity between the ants and fungus. Few studies hitherto have addressed the roles of microbiomes in stabilizing these associations. Here, we quantified changes in microbiome structure as a result of experimentally induced horizontal exchange of symbionts. This was done by performing cross-fostering experiments forcing ants to grow novel fungi and comparing known temporally unstable (undergoing dysbiosis) and stable combinations. We found that fungus-gardening ants alter their unstable, novel garden microbiomes into configurations like those found in native gardens. Patterns of dysbiosis/symbiosis appear to be predictable in that two related species with similar specificity patterns also show similar patterns of microbial change, whereas a species with more relaxed specificity does not show such microbiome change or restructuring when growing different fungi. It appears that clade-to-clade specificity patterns are the outcomes of community-level interactions that promote stability or cause symbiotic collapse.}, } @article {pmid38331718, year = {2024}, author = {Guillen-Otero, T and Lee, SJ and Hertel, D and Kessler, M}, title = {Facultative mycorrhization in a fern (Struthiopteris spicant L. Weiss) is bound to light intensity.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {103}, pmid = {38331718}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {188498//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 188498//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The establishment of mycorrhizal relationships between a fungus and a plant typically enhances nutrient and water uptake for the latter while securing a carbon source for the fungus. However, under a particular set of environmental conditions, such as low availability of light and abundant nutrients in the soil, the resources invested in the maintenance of the fungi surpass the benefits obtained by the host. In those cases, facultative mycorrhizal plants are capable of surviving without symbiosis. Facultative mycorrhization in ferns has been overlooked until now. The present study measured the response of Struthiopteris spicant L. Weiss, and its root-associated fungi to different levels of light and nutrient availability in terms of growth, mycorrhizal presence, and leaf nutrient content. This fern species exhibits a great tolerance to variable light, nutrient, and pH conditions, and it has been found with and without mycorrhizae. We conducted a greenhouse experiment with 80 specimens of S. spicant and three factors (Light, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen) resulting in eight treatments.

RESULTS: We found a significant influence of the factor light on fungal community composition, plant biomass, and nutrient accumulation. Departing from a lack of colonization at the initial stage, plants showed a remarkable increment of more than 80% in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) richness and abundance in their roots when grown under high light conditions, compared with the ones in low light. We also observed an upward trend of C:P and C:N ratios and the above- and belowground biomass production when AMF abundance increased. Furthermore, the compositional analysis of the whole fungal communities associated with S. spicant roots revealed clear differences among low-light and high-light treatments.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to investigate the importance of light and nutrient availability in determining fern-AMF relationships. We confirmed that Struthiopteris spicant is a facultative mycorrhizal plant. The composition and diversity of AMF found in the roots of this fern are strongly influenced by light and less by nutrient conditions. Our study shows that ferns respond very sensitively to changes in environmental factors, leading to shifts in the associated mycorrhizal communities.}, } @article {pmid38331144, year = {2024}, author = {Ren, Y and Shi, W and Chen, J and Li, J}, title = {Water quality drives the reconfiguration of riverine planktonic microbial food webs.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {118379}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118379}, pmid = {38331144}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {The food web is a cycle of matter and energy within river ecosystems. River environmental changes resulting from human activities are increasingly threatening the composition and diversity of global aquatic organisms and the multi-trophic networks. How multiple environmental factors influence food web patterns among multi-trophic microbial communities in rivers remains largely unknown. Using water quality evaluation and meta-omics techniques, we investigated the composition, structure and interaction characteristics, and drivers of food webs of microorganisms (archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, metazoa, viridiplantae and viruses) at multiple trophic levels in different water quality environments (Classes II, III, and IV). First, water quality deterioration led to significant changes in the composition of the microbial community at multiple trophic levels, which were represented by the enrichment of Euryarchaeota in the archaeal community, the increase of r-strategists in the bacterial community, and the increase of the proportion of predators in the protist community. Second, deteriorating water quality resulted in a significant reduction in the dissimilarity of community structure (homogenization of community structure in Class III and IV waters). Of the symbiotic, parasitic, and predatory networks, the community networks in Class II water all showed the most stable symbiotic, parasitic, and predatory correlations (higher levels of modularity in the networks). In Class III and IV waters, nutrient inputs have led to increased reciprocal symbiosis and decreased competition between communities, which may have the risk of a positive feedback loop driving a system collapse. Finally, inputs of phosphorus and organic matter could be the main drivers of changes in the planktonic microbial food web in the Fen River. Overall, the results indicated the potential ecological risks of exogenous nutrient inputs, which were important for aquatic ecosystem conservation.}, } @article {pmid38330914, year = {2024}, author = {Solovou, TGA and Stravodimos, G and Papadopoulos, GE and Skamnaki, VT and Papadopoulou, K and Leonidas, DD}, title = {Biochemical and Structural Studies of LjSK1, a Lotus japonicus GSK3β/SHAGGY-like Kinase, Reveal Its Functional Role.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07101}, pmid = {38330914}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {The crystal structure of a truncated form of the Lotus japonicus glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) like kinase (LjSK190-467) has been resolved at 2.9 Å resolution, providing, for the first time, structural data for a plant GKS3β like kinase. The 3D structure of LjSK190-467 revealed conservation at the structural level for this plant member of the GSK3β family. However, comparative structural analysis to the human homologue revealed significant differences at the N- and C-termini, supporting the notion for an additional regulatory mechanism in plant GSK3-like kinases. Structural similarities at the catalytic site and the ATP binding site explained the similarity in the function of the human and plant protein. LjSK1 and lupeol are strongly linked to symbiotic bacterial infection and nodulation initiation. An inhibitory capacity of lupeol (IC50 = 0.77 μM) for LjSK1 was discovered, providing a biochemical explanation for the involvement of these two molecules in nodule formation, and constituted LjSK1 as a molecular target for the discovery of small molecule modulators for crop protection and development. Studies on the inhibitory capacity of two phytogenic triterpenoids (betulinic acid and hederacoside C) to LjSK1 provided their structure-activity relationship and showed that hederacoside C can be the starting point for such endeavors.}, } @article {pmid38329966, year = {2024}, author = {Eskandari, F and Borzou, S and Razavian, A and Babanouri, N and Yousefi, K}, title = {Sustained antibacterial activity of orthodontic elastomeric ligature ties coated with a novel kombucha-derived bacterial nanocellulose: An in-vitro study.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {e0292966}, pmid = {38329966}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Incipient carious lesions, the most common complication in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances, call for the development of novel preventive dental materials that do not rely on patient adherence. The present study aimed to assess the ability of elastomeric ligatures coated with bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to deliver sustained antibacterial activity, during the standard 28-day interval between orthodontic appointments, without compromising their mechanical properties. Kombucha membrane was used to produce cellulose as a secondary product from the fermentation of tea broth with symbiotic bacteria and yeast culture. Characterization of BNC-coated elastomeric ligatures was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis. The samples were pre-treated by immersion first in isopropyl alcohol, then in 8 mL nanocellulose solution for 7 days. Tensile strain and strength of the BNC-coated and conventional ligatures were evaluated using a tensile testing machine. Direct contact and agar diffusion tests were performed to assess the antibacterial activity of nanocellulose. In addition, the release profile of BNC was evaluated. Data analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-hoc Tukey's test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. P values less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. There was no statistically significant difference in tensile strain and strength between the BNC-coated and conventional ligatures. The coated ligatures provided sustained antibacterial activity during the required 28 days. The use of BNC-coated elastomeric ligatures in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances might be a promising solution to plaque formation and subsequent enamel decalcification.}, } @article {pmid38329875, year = {2024}, author = {Pereira, WJ and Boyd, J and Conde, D and Triozzi, PM and Balmant, KM and Dervinis, C and Schmidt, HW and Boaventura-Novaes, C and Chakraborty, S and Knaack, SA and Gao, Y and Feltus, FA and Roy, S and Ané, JM and Frugoli, J and Kirst, M}, title = {The single-cell transcriptome program of nodule development cellular lineages in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {113747}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113747}, pmid = {38329875}, issn = {2211-1247}, abstract = {Legumes establish a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia by developing nodules. Nodules are modified lateral roots that undergo changes in their cellular development in response to bacteria, but the transcriptional reprogramming that occurs in these root cells remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we describe the cell-type-specific transcriptome response of Medicago truncatula roots to rhizobia during early nodule development in the wild-type genotype Jemalong A17, complemented with a hypernodulating mutant (sunn-4) to expand the cell population responding to infection and subsequent biological inferences. The analysis identifies epidermal root hair and stele sub-cell types associated with a symbiotic response to infection and regulation of nodule proliferation. Trajectory inference shows cortex-derived cell lineages differentiating to form the nodule primordia and, posteriorly, its meristem, while modulating the regulation of phytohormone-related genes. Gene regulatory analysis of the cell transcriptomes identifies new regulators of nodulation, including STYLISH 4, for which the function is validated.}, } @article {pmid38329329, year = {2024}, author = {Amill, F and Gauthier, J and Rautio, M and Derome, N}, title = {Characterization of gill bacterial microbiota in wild Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) across lakes, rivers, and bays in the Canadian Arctic ecosystems.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0294323}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02943-23}, pmid = {38329329}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Teleost gill mucus has a highly diverse microbiota, which plays an essential role in the host's fitness and is greatly influenced by the environment. Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), a salmonid well adapted to northern conditions, faces multiple stressors in the Arctic, including water chemistry modifications, that could negatively impact the gill microbiota dynamics related to the host's health. In the context of increasing environmental disturbances, we aimed to characterize the taxonomic distribution of transcriptionally active taxa within the bacterial gill microbiota of Arctic char in the Canadian Arctic in order to identify active bacterial composition that correlates with environmental factors. For this purpose, a total of 140 adult anadromous individuals were collected from rivers, lakes, and bays belonging to five Inuit communities located in four distinct hydrologic basins in the Canadian Arctic (Nunavut and Nunavik) during spring (May) and autumn (August). Various environmental factors were collected, including latitudes, water and air temperatures, oxygen concentration, pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), salinity, and chlorophyll-a concentration. The taxonomic distribution of transcriptionally active taxa within the gill microbiota was quantified by 16S rRNA gene transcripts sequencing. The results showed differential bacterial activity between the different geographical locations, explained by latitude, salinity, and, to a lesser extent, air temperature. Network analysis allowed the detection of a potential dysbiosis signature (i.e., bacterial imbalance) in fish gill microbiota from Duquet Lake in the Hudson Strait and the system Five Mile Inlet connected to the Hudson Bay, both showing the lowest alpha diversity and connectivity between taxa.IMPORTANCEThis paper aims to decipher the complex relationship between Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and its symbiotic microbial consortium in gills. This salmonid is widespread in the Canadian Arctic and is the main protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids source for Inuit people. The influence of environmental parameters on gill microbiota in wild populations remains poorly understood. However, assessing the Arctic char's active gill bacterial community is essential to look for potential pathogens or dysbiosis that could threaten wild populations. Here, we concluded that Arctic char gill microbiota was mainly influenced by latitude and air temperature, the latter being correlated with water temperature. In addition, a dysbiosis signature detected in gill microbiota was potentially associated with poor fish health status recorded in these disturbed environments. With those results, we hypothesized that rapid climate change and increasing anthropic activities in the Arctic might profoundly disturb Arctic char gill microbiota, affecting their survival.}, } @article {pmid38328577, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, H and Cui, X and Liu, W and Xiang, Z and Ye, JF}, title = {Regulation of intestinal microflora and metabolites of Penthorum chinense Pursh on alcoholic liver disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1331956}, doi = {10.3389/fphar.2023.1331956}, pmid = {38328577}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Introduction: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was the second leading cause of liver injury. Penthorum chinense Pursh (GHC) is an important Miao ethnic drug of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of liver disease, but the pathogenesis is not clear. Aim of the study: To analysis the intestinal microflora and metabolic pathway of GHC on ALD mice. Methods: An HPLC-QTOF-MS method was used to identified the components from GHC extract, firstly. 60 mice were divided into six groups including blank group, model group, positive group and GHC groups (0.29, 0.87 and 2.61 g/kg). ALD mice was treated with GHC for 12 days. ALT, AST, TC and TG in serum were determined, liver index and pathological analysis were achieved. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to detect the intestinal microbial diversity. Finally, UPLC-QTOF-MS was used to analysis the metabolic pathways. Results: 38 ingredients were identified in GHC extract. Compared with the model group, liver index of the positive group and GHC (2.61 g/kg) group was significantly reduced. Compared with the model group, contents of ALT, AST, TC and TG of GHC groups reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Intestinal microbial diversity analysis indicated that Chao1, Observed species, Pielou_e, and Shannon indexes in GHC group (2.61 g/kg) were lower than those in model group. Principal coordinate analysis indicated that the intestinal microbial composition between blank group and model group, the model group and GHC (2.61 g/kg) group changed significantly. Compared with the model group, proportion of Firmicutes decreased, and the proportion of Bacteroidetes increased significantly in GHC group, which were 50.84% and 40.15%. The more prominent bacteria in the GHC group were odoribacteraceae, turicibacter, deferribacteraceae, and the intestinal beneficial symbiotic bacteria mucispirillum. Metabolic analysis indicated that, compared with blank group, 90 metabolites in model group changed significantly, and 68 metabolites were significantly callback in GHC group. Discussion: GHC has a therapeutic effect on ALD by regulating intestinal flora imbalance and metabolic pathways including Glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, Glutathione metabolism, Arginine and proline metabolism, Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, Butanoate metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid38327615, year = {2024}, author = {Sittipo, P and Anggradita, LD and Kim, H and Lee, C and Hwang, NS and Lee, YK and Hwang, Y}, title = {Cell Surface Modification-Mediated Primary Intestinal Epithelial Cell Culture Platforms for Assessing Host-Microbiota Interactions.}, journal = {Biomaterials research}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {0004}, doi = {10.34133/bmr.0004}, pmid = {38327615}, issn = {1226-4601}, abstract = {Background: Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) play a crucial role in regulating the symbiotic relationship between the host and the gut microbiota, thereby allowing them to modulate barrier function, mucus production, and aberrant inflammation. Despite their importance, establishing an effective ex vivo culture method for supporting the prolonged survival and function of primary IECs remains challenging. Here, we aim to develop a novel strategy to support the long-term survival and function of primary IECs in response to gut microbiota by employing mild reduction of disulfides on the IEC surface proteins with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine. Methods: Recognizing the crucial role of fibroblast-IEC crosstalk, we employed a cell surface modification strategy, establishing layer-to-layer contacts between fibroblasts and IECs. This involved combining negatively charged chondroitin sulfate on cell surfaces with a positively charged chitosan thin film between cells, enabling direct intercellular transfer. Validation included assessments of cell viability, efficiency of dye transfer, and IEC function upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Results: Our findings revealed that the layer-by-layer co-culture platform effectively facilitates the transfer of small molecules through gap junctions, providing vital support for the viability and function of primary IECs from both the small intestine and colon for up to 5 days, as evident by the expression of E-cadherin and Villin. Upon LPS treatment, these IECs exhibited a down-regulation of Villin and tight junction genes, such as E-cadherin and Zonula Occludens-1, when compared to their nontreated counterparts. Furthermore, the transcription level of Lysozyme exhibited an increase, while Mucin 2 showed a decrease in response to LPS, indicating responsiveness to bacterial molecules. Conclusions: Our study provides a layer-by-layer-based co-culture platform to support the prolonged survival of primary IECs and their features, which is important for understanding IEC function in response to the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid38327377, year = {2023}, author = {Green, SM and Hearn, A and Green, JR}, title = {Species associated with whale sharks Rhincodontypus (Orectolobiformes, Rhincodontidae) in the Galapagos Archipelago.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e97864}, doi = {10.3897/BDJ.11.e97864}, pmid = {38327377}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {Whale sharks Rhincodontypus frequently appear to interact or associate with other species, which vary depending on the community structure and the demographic of the whale sharks at each location globally. Here, we present the species sighted frequently around whale sharks in the Galapagos Archipelago and reported by dive guides and scientists and also in earlier publications. These associated species include cetacean species: bottlenose dolphins Tursiopstruncatus, other shark species: silky sharks Carcharhinusfalciformis, Galapagos sharks Carcharhinusgalapagensis, scalloped hammerhead sharks Sphyrnalewini, tiger sharks Galeocerdocuvier and teleost fish species: remoras Remora remora, yellowfin tuna Thunnusalbacares, almaco jacks Seriolarivoliana and black jacks Caranxlugubris. The recording of interspecies associations and interactions may lead to better understanding of the natural history of whale sharks and can show important symbiotic relationships or interdependence between different species.}, } @article {pmid38327372, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, H and Jiang, S and Wang, Y and Hu, M and Xue, Y and Cao, B and Dou, H and Li, R and Yi, X and Jiang, L and Zhang, B and Li, Y}, title = {Comparison of gut bacterial communities of Hyphantriacunea Drury (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae), based on 16S rRNA full-length sequencing.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e98143}, doi = {10.3897/BDJ.11.e98143}, pmid = {38327372}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {There are a large number of microorganisms in the gut of insects, which form a symbiotic relationship with the host during the long-term co-evolution process and have a significant impact on the host's nutrition, physiology, development, immunity, stress tolerance and other aspects. However, the composition of the gut microbes of Hyphantriacunea remains unclear. In order to investigate the difference and diversity of intestinal microbiota of H.cunea larvae feeding on different host plants, we used PacBio sequencing technology for the first time to sequence the 16S rRNA full-length gene of the intestinal microbiota of H.cunea. The species classification, β diversity and function of intestinal microflora of the 5[th] instar larvae of four species of H.cunea feeding on apricot, plum, redbud and Chinese ash were analysed. The results showed that a total of nine phyla and 65 genera were identified by PacBio sequencing, amongst which Firmicutes was the dominant phylum and Enterococcus was the dominant genus, with an average relative abundance of 59.29% and 52.16%, respectively. PERMANOVA analysis and cluster heat map showed that the intestinal microbiomes of H.cunea larvae, fed on different hosts, were significantly different. LEfSe analysis confirmed the effect of host diet on intestinal community structure and PICRUSt2 analysis showed that most of the predictive functions were closely related to material transport and synthetic, metabolic and cellular processes. The results of this study laid a foundation for revealing the interaction between the intestinal microorganisms of H.cunea and its hosts and provided ideas for exploring new green prevention and control strategies of H.cunea.}, } @article {pmid38326788, year = {2024}, author = {Burger, NFV and Nicolis, VF and Botha, AM}, title = {Host-specific co-evolution likely driven by diet in Buchnera aphidicola.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {153}, pmid = {38326788}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {CSRU180414320893//National Research Foundation, South Africa/ ; WCT/W/2001/02//South African Winter Cereal Industry Trust/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia Kurd.) is a severe pest to wheat, and even though resistance varieties are available to curb this pest, they are becoming obsolete with the development of new virulent aphid populations. Unlike many other aphids, D noxia only harbours a single endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Considering the importance of Buchnera, this study aimed to elucidate commonalities and dissimilarities between various hosts, to better understand its distinctiveness within its symbiotic relationship with D. noxia. To do so, the genome of the D. noxia's Buchnera was assembled and compared to those of other aphid species that feed on diverse host species.

RESULTS: The overall importance of several features such as gene length and percentage GC content was found to be critical for the maintenance of Buchnera genes when compared to their closest free-living relative, Escherichia coli. Buchnera protein coding genes were found to have percentage GC contents that tended towards a mean of ~ 26% which had strong correlation to their identity to their E. coli homologs. Several SNPs were identified between different aphid populations and multiple isolates of Buchnera were confirmed in single aphids.

CONCLUSIONS: Establishing the strong correlation of percentage GC content of protein coding genes and gene identity will allow for identifying which genes will be lost in the continually shrinking Buchnera genome. This is also the first report of a parthenogenically reproducing aphid that hosts multiple Buchnera strains in a single aphid, raising questions regarding the benefits of maintaining multiple strains. We also found preliminary evidence for post-transcriptional regulation of Buchnera genes in the form of polyadenylation.}, } @article {pmid38325100, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, R and Hu, B and Dannenmann, M and Giesemann, A and Geilfus, CM and Li, C and Gao, L and Flemetakis, E and Haensch, R and Wang, D and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Significance of phosphorus deficiency for the mitigation of mercury toxicity in the Robinia pseudoacacia L.- rhizobia symbiotic association.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {467}, number = {}, pages = {133717}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133717}, pmid = {38325100}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N2)-fixing legumes can be used for phytoremediation of toxic heavy metal Mercury (Hg) contaminated soil, but N2-fixation highly relies on phosphorus (P) availability for nodule formation and functioning. Here, we characterized the significance of P deficiency for Hg accumulation and toxicity in woody legume plants. Consequences for foliar and root traits of rhizobia inoculation, Hg exposure (+Hg) and low P (-P) supply, individually and in combination were characterized at both the metabolite and transcriptome levels in seedlings of two Robinia pseudoacacia L. provenances originating from contrasting climate and soil backgrounds, i.e., GS in northwest and the DB in northeast China. Our results reveal that depleted P mitigates the toxicity of Hg at the transcriptional level. In leaves of Robinia depleted P reduced oxidative stress and improved the utilization strategy of C, N and P nutrition; in roots depleted P regulated the expression of genes scavenging oxidative stress and promoting cell membrane synthesis. Rhizobia inoculation significantly improved the performance of both Robinia provenances under individual and combined +Hg and -P by promoting photosynthesis, increasing foliar N and P content and reducing H2O2 and MDA accumulation despite enhanced Hg uptake. DB plants developed more nodules, had higher biomass and accumulated higher Hg amounts than GS plants and thus are suggested as the high potential Robinia provenance for future phytoremediation of Hg contaminated soils with P deficiency.}, } @article {pmid38325049, year = {2024}, author = {Hollender, M and Sałek, M and Karlicki, M and Karnkowska, A}, title = {Single-cell genomics revealed Candidatus Grellia alia sp. nov. as an endosymbiont of Eutreptiella sp. (Euglenophyceae).}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {175}, number = {2}, pages = {126018}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2024.126018}, pmid = {38325049}, issn = {1618-0941}, abstract = {Though endosymbioses between protists and prokaryotes are widespread, certain host lineages have received disproportionate attention what may indicate either a predisposition to such interactions or limited studies on certain protist groups due to lack of cultures. The euglenids represent one such group in spite of microscopic observations showing intracellular bacteria in some strains. Here, we perform a comprehensive molecular analysis of a previously identified endosymbiont in the Eutreptiella sp. CCMP3347 using a single cell approach and bulk culture sequencing. The genome reconstruction of this endosymbiont allowed the description of a new endosymbiont Candidatus Grellia alia sp. nov. from the family Midichloriaceae. Comparative genomics revealed a remarkably complete conjugative type IV secretion system present in three copies on the plasmid sequences of the studied endosymbiont, a feature missing in the closely related Grellia incantans. This study addresses the challenge of limited host cultures with endosymbionts by showing that the genomes of endosymbionts reconstructed from single host cells have the completeness and contiguity that matches or exceeds those coming from bulk cultures. This paves the way for further studies of endosymbionts in euglenids and other protist groups. The research also provides the opportunity to study the diversity of endosymbionts in natural populations.}, } @article {pmid38324392, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, TQ and Chen, YX and Zeng, SL and Lin, Y and Li, F and Jiang, ZM and Liu, EH}, title = {Bergenin Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis By Decreasing Gut Commensal Bacteroides vulgatus-Mediated Elevated Branched-Chain Amino Acids.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09448}, pmid = {38324392}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Ulcerative colitis is closely associated with the dysregulation of gut microbiota. There is growing evidence that natural products may improve ulcerative colitis by regulating the gut microbiota. In this research, we demonstrated that bergenin, a naturally occurring isocoumarin, significantly ameliorates colitis symptoms in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice. Transcriptomic analysis and Caco-2 cell assays revealed that bergenin could ameliorate ulcerative colitis by inhibiting TLR4 and regulating NF-κB and mTOR phosphorylation. 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics analyses revealed that bergenin could improve gut microbiota dysbiosis by decreasing branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels. BCAA intervention mediated the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway to exacerbate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis in mice. Notably, bergenin greatly decreased the symbiotic bacteria Bacteroides vulgatus (B. vulgatus), and the gavage of B. vulgatus increased BCAA concentrations and aggravated the symptoms of ulcerative colitis in mice. Our findings suggest that gut microbiota-mediated BCAA metabolism plays a vital role in the protective effect of bergenin on ulcerative colitis, providing novel insights for ulcerative colitis prevention through manipulation of the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid38323088, year = {2024}, author = {Hou, J and Yang, M and Wu, X and Chen, Q and Lu, Y and Zhang, J and Lin, D}, title = {Epidermal microorganisms contributed to the toxic mechanism of nZVI and TCEP in earthworms by robbing metal elements and nutrients.}, journal = {Eco-Environment & Health (Online)}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {80-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.eehl.2023.11.001}, pmid = {38323088}, issn = {2772-9850}, abstract = {Disrupting effects of pollutants on symbiotic microbiota have been regarded as an important mechanism of host toxicity, with most current research focusing on the intestinal microbiota. In fact, the epidermal microbiota, which participates in the nutrient exchange between hosts and environments, could play a crucial role in host toxicity via community changes. To compare the contributions of intestinal and epidermal symbiotic microorganisms to host toxicity, this study designed single and combined scenarios of soil contamination [nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)], and revealed the coupling mechanisms between intestinal/epidermal symbiotic bacterial communities and earthworm toxicological endpoints. Microbiome analysis showed that 15% of intestinal microbes were highly correlated with host endpoints, compared to 45% of epidermal microbes showing a similar correlation. Functional comparisons revealed that key species on the epidermis were mainly heterotrophic microbes with genetic abilities to utilize metal elements and carbohydrate nutrients. Further verifications demonstrated that when facing the co-contamination of nZVI and TCEP, certain symbiotic microorganisms became dominant and consumed zinc, copper, and manganese along with saccharides and amino acids, which may be responsible for the nutritional deficiencies in the host earthworms. The findings can enrich the understanding of the coupling relationship between symbiotic microorganisms and host toxicity, highlighting the importance of epidermal microorganisms in host resistance to environmental pollution.}, } @article {pmid38322985, year = {2024}, author = {Zhong, C and Hu, G and Hu, C and Xu, C and Zhang, Z and Ning, K}, title = {Comparative genomics analysis reveals genetic characteristics and nitrogen fixation profile of Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {108948}, doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2024.108948}, pmid = {38322985}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium is a genus of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, with some species producing nodules in leguminous plants. Investigations into Bradyrhizobium have recently revealed its substantial genetic resources and agricultural benefits, but a comprehensive survey of its genetic diversity and functional properties is lacking. Using a panel of various strains (N = 278), this study performed a comparative genomics analysis to anticipate genes linked with symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Bradyrhizobium's pan-genome consisted of 84,078 gene families, containing 824 core genes and 42,409 accessory genes. Core genes were mainly involved in crucial cell processes, while accessory genes served diverse functions, including nitrogen fixation and nodulation. Three distinct genetic profiles were identified based on the presence/absence of gene clusters related to nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and secretion systems. Most Bradyrhizobium strains from soil and non-leguminous plants lacked major nif/nod genes and were evolutionarily more closely related. These findings shed light on Bradyrhizobium's genetic features for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid38322319, year = {2024}, author = {Czajkowski, R and Zhu, L and Kuo, CH and Li, Z}, title = {Editorial: Insights in microbial symbioses: 2022/2023.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1367452}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2024.1367452}, pmid = {38322319}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid38322002, year = {2024}, author = {Zhai, X and Zhang, Y and Zhou, J and Li, H and Wang, A and Liu, L}, title = {Physiological and microbiome adaptation of coral Turbinaria peltata in response to marine heatwaves.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e10869}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.10869}, pmid = {38322002}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Against the backdrop of global warming, marine heatwaves are projected to become increasingly intense and frequent. This trend poses a potential threat to the survival of corals and the maintenance of entire coral reef ecosystems. Despite extensive evidence for the resilience of corals to heat stress, their ability to withstand repeated heatwave events has not been determined. In this study, we examined the responses and resilience of Turbinaria peltata to repeated exposure to marine heatwaves, with a focus on physiological parameters and symbiotic microorganisms. In the first heatwave, from a physiological perspective, T. peltata showed decreases in the Chl a content and endosymbiont density and significant increases in GST, caspase-3, CAT, and SOD levels (p < .05), while the effects of repeated exposure on heatwaves were weaker than those of the initial exposure. In terms of bacteria, the abundance of Leptospira, with the potential for pathogenicity and intracellular parasitism, increased significantly during the initial exposure. Beneficial bacteria, such as Achromobacter arsenitoxydans and Halomonas desiderata increased significantly during re-exposure to the heatwave. Overall, these results indicate that T. peltata might adapt to marine heatwaves through physiological regulation and microbial community alterations.}, } @article {pmid38321117, year = {2024}, author = {Xu, S}, title = {Fast hybrid methods for modeling landslide susceptibility in Ardal County.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {3003}, pmid = {38321117}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Recently, machine learning models have received huge attention for environmental risk modeling. One of these applications is landslide susceptibility mapping which is a necessary primary step for dealing with the landslide risk in prone areas. In this study, a conventional machine learning model called multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network is built upon advanced optimization algorithms to achieve a firm prediction of landslide susceptibility in Ardal County, West of Iran. The used geospatial dataset consists of fourteen conditioning factors and 170 landslide events. The used optimizers are electromagnetic field optimization (EFO), symbiotic organisms search (SOS), shuffled complex evolution (SCE), and electrostatic discharge algorithm (ESDA) that contribute to tuning MLP's internal parameters. The competency of the models is evaluated using several statistical methods to provide a comparison among them. It was discovered that the EFO-MLP and SCE-MLP enjoy much quicker training than SOS-MLP and ESDA-MLP. Further, relying on both accuracy and time criteria, the EFO-MLP was found to be the most efficient model (time = 1161 s, AUC = 0.879, MSE = 0.153, and R = 0.657). Hence, the landslide susceptibility map of this model is recommended to be used by authorities to provide real-world protective measures within Ardal County. For helping this, a random forest-based model showed that Elevation, Lithology, and Land Use are the most important factors within the studied area. Lastly, the solution discovered in this study is converted into an equation for convenient landslide susceptibility prediction.}, } @article {pmid38320313, year = {2024}, author = {Realini, FM and Escobedo, VM and Ueno, AC and Bastías, DA and Schardl, CL and Biganzoli, F and Gundel, PE}, title = {Anti-herbivory defenses delivered by Epichloë fungal endophytes: a quatitative review of alkaloid concentration variation among hosts and plant parts.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mcae014}, pmid = {38320313}, issn = {1095-8290}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the Poöideae subfamily (Poaceae), certain grass species possess antiherbivore alkaloids synthesized by fungal endophytes that belong to the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae). The protective role of these symbiotic endophytes can vary, depending on alkaloid concentrations within specific plant-endophyte associations and plant parts.

METHODS: We conducted a literature review to identify articles containing alkaloid concentration data for various plant parts in six important pasture species: Lolium arundinaceum, L. perenne, L. pratense, L. multiflorum|L. rigidum, and Festuca rubra associated with their common endophytes. We considered the alkaloids lolines (1-aminopyrrolizidines), peramine (pyrrolopyrazines), ergovaline (ergot alkaloids), and lolitrem B (indole-diterpenes), and. Whereas all these alkaloids have shown bioactivity against insect herbivores, ergovaline and lolitrem B are harmful to mammals.

KEY RESULTS: Loline alkaloid levels were higher in the perennial grasses L. pratense and L. arundinaceum compared to the annual species L. multiflorum and L. rigidum, and in reproductive tissues than in vegetative structures. This is likely due to the greater biomass accumulation in perennial species that can result in higher endophyte mycelial biomass. Peramine concentrations were higher in L. perenne than in L. arundinaceum and not affected by plant part. This can be attributed to the high within-plant mobility of the peramine. Ergovaline and lolitrem B, both hydrophobic compounds, were associated with plant parts where fungal mycelium is usually present, and their concentrations were higher in plant reproductive tissues. Only loline alkaloid data were sufficient for belowground tissue analysis and concentrations were lower than aboveground parts.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided a comprehensive synthesis of fungal alkaloid variation across host grasses and plant parts, essential for understanding endophyte-conferred defense extent. The patterns can be understood by considering endophyte growth within the plant and alkaloid mobility. Our study identifies research gaps, including the limited documentation of alkaloid presence in roots and the need to investigate the influece of different environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid38319970, year = {2024}, author = {Li, X and Li, Z and Wang, F and Zhao, S and Xu, C and Mao, Z and Duan, J and Feng, Y and Yang, Y and Shen, L and Wang, G and Yang, Y and Yu, LJ and Sang, M and Han, G and Wang, X and Kuang, T and Shen, JR and Wang, W}, title = {Structures and organizations of PSI-AcpPCI supercomplexes from red tidal and coral symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {7}, pages = {e2315476121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2315476121}, pmid = {38319970}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {2021YFA1300403//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 2019YFA0906300//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 2020081//Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS YIPA)/ ; JCTD-2020-06//CAS Interdisciplinary Innovation Team/ ; YSBR-004//Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research/ ; 32222007//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2022YSCXTD0005//Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province/ ; 2022SZX12//Science & Technology Specific Project in Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta/ ; }, abstract = {Marine photosynthetic dinoflagellates are a group of successful phytoplankton that can form red tides in the ocean and also symbiosis with corals. These features are closely related to the photosynthetic properties of dinoflagellates. We report here three structures of photosystem I (PSI)-chlorophylls (Chls) a/c-peridinin protein complex (PSI-AcpPCI) from two species of dinoflagellates by single-particle cryoelectron microscopy. The crucial PsaA/B subunits of a red tidal dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae are remarkably smaller and hence losing over 20 pigment-binding sites, whereas its PsaD/F/I/J/L/M/R subunits are larger and coordinate some additional pigment sites compared to other eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, which may compensate for the smaller PsaA/B subunits. Similar modifications are observed in a coral symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium species, where two additional core proteins and fewer AcpPCIs are identified in the PSI-AcpPCI supercomplex. The antenna proteins AcpPCIs in dinoflagellates developed some loops and pigment sites as a result to accommodate the changed PSI core, therefore the structures of PSI-AcpPCI supercomplex of dinoflagellates reveal an unusual protein assembly pattern. A huge pigment network comprising Chls a and c and various carotenoids is revealed from the structural analysis, which provides the basis for our deeper understanding of the energy transfer and dissipation within the PSI-AcpPCI supercomplex, as well as the evolution of photosynthetic organisms.}, } @article {pmid38318812, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Z and Feng, C and Lei, J and He, X and Wang, Q and Zhao, Y and Qian, Y and Zhan, X and Shen, Z}, title = {Farmland Microhabitat Mediated by a Residual Microplastic Film: Microbial Communities and Function.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c07717}, pmid = {38318812}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {How the plastisphere mediated by the residual microplastic film in farmlands affects microhabitat systems is unclear. Here, microbial structure, assembly, and biogeochemical cycling in the plastisphere and soil in 33 typical farmland sites were analyzed by amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and ITS and metagenome analysis. The results indicated that residual microplastic film was colonized by microbes, forming a unique niche called the plastisphere. Notable differences in the microbial community structure and function were observed between soil and plastisphere. Residual microplastic film altered the microbial symbiosis and assembly processes. Stochastic processes significantly dominated the assembly of the bacterial community in the plastisphere and soil but only in the plastisphere for the fungal community. Deterministic processes significantly dominated the assembly of fungal communities only in soil. Moreover, the plastisphere mediated by the residual microplastic film acted as a preferred vector for pathogens and microorganisms associated with plastic degradation and the nitrogen and sulfur cycle. The abundance of genes associated with denitrification and sulfate reduction activity in the plastisphere was pronouncedly higher than that of soil, which increase the potential risk of nitrogen and sulfur loss. The results will offer a scientific understanding of the harm caused by the residual microplastic film in farmlands.}, } @article {pmid38318644, year = {2024}, author = {Young, JS and Palepu, RR and Macdonald, M and Mcalpine, JR and Broadbent, JR}, title = {Development of a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) farm to manufacture artificial skin for front of neck airway access simulation.}, journal = {Anaesthesia and intensive care}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {310057X231213109}, doi = {10.1177/0310057X231213109}, pmid = {38318644}, issn = {0310-057X}, } @article {pmid38318337, year = {2024}, author = {Vazquez-Medina, A and Rodriguez-Trujillo, N and Ayuso-Rodriguez, K and Marini-Martinez, F and Angeli-Morales, R and Caussade-Silvestrini, G and Godoy-Vitorino, F and Chorna, N}, title = {Exploring the interplay between running exercises, microbial diversity, and tryptophan metabolism along the microbiota-gut-brain axis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1326584}, pmid = {38318337}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The emergent recognition of the gut-brain axis connection has shed light on the role of the microbiota in modulating the gut-brain axis's functions. Several microbial metabolites, such as serotonin, kynurenine, tryptamine, indole, and their derivatives originating from tryptophan metabolism have been implicated in influencing this axis. In our study, we aimed to investigate the impact of running exercises on microbial tryptophan metabolism using a mouse model. We conducted a multi-omics analysis to obtain a comprehensive insight into the changes in tryptophan metabolism along the microbiota-gut-brain axis induced by running exercises. The analyses integrated multiple components, such as tryptophan changes and metabolite levels in the gut, blood, hippocampus, and brainstem. Fecal microbiota analysis aimed to examine the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota, and taxon-function analysis explored the associations between specific microbial taxa and functional activities in tryptophan metabolism. Our findings revealed significant alterations in tryptophan metabolism across multiple sites, including the gut, blood, hippocampus, and brainstem. The outcomes indicate a shift in microbiota diversity and tryptophan metabolizing capabilities within the running group, linked to increased tryptophan transportation to the hippocampus and brainstem through circulation. Moreover, the symbiotic association between Romboutsia and A. muciniphila indicated their potential contribution to modifying the gut microenvironment and influencing tryptophan transport to the hippocampus and brainstem. These findings have potential applications for developing microbiota-based approaches in the context of exercise for neurological diseases, especially on mental health and overall well-being.}, } @article {pmid38318130, year = {2023}, author = {Koga, R and Moriyama, M and Nozaki, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Genome analysis of "Candidatus Aschnera chinzeii," the bacterial endosymbiont of the blood-sucking bat fly Penicillidia jenynsii (Insecta: Diptera: Nycteribiidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1336919}, pmid = {38318130}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insect-microbe endosymbiotic associations are omnipresent in nature, wherein the symbiotic microbes often play pivotal biological roles for their host insects. In particular, insects utilizing nutritionally imbalanced food sources are dependent on specific microbial symbionts to compensate for the nutritional deficiency via provisioning of B vitamins in blood-feeding insects, such as tsetse flies, lice, and bedbugs. Bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae (Diptera) are blood-sucking ectoparasites of bats and shown to be associated with co-speciating bacterial endosymbiont "Candidatus Aschnera chinzeii," although functional aspects of the microbial symbiosis have been totally unknown. In this study, we report the first complete genome sequence of Aschnera from the bristled bat fly Penicillidia jenynsii. The Aschnera genome consisted of a 748,020 bp circular chromosome and a 18,747 bp circular plasmid. The chromosome encoded 603 protein coding genes (including 3 pseudogenes), 33 transfer RNAs, and 1 copy of 16S/23S/5S ribosomal RNA operon. The plasmid contained 10 protein coding genes, whose biological function was elusive. The genome size, 0.77 Mbp, was drastically reduced in comparison with 4-6 Mbp genomes of free-living γ-proteobacteria. Accordingly, the Aschnera genome was devoid of many important functional genes, such as synthetic pathway genes for purines, pyrimidines, and essential amino acids. On the other hand, the Aschnera genome retained complete or near-complete synthetic pathway genes for biotin (vitamin B7), tetrahydrofolate (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (vitamin B6), suggesting that Aschnera provides these vitamins and cofactors that are deficient in the blood meal of the host bat fly. Similar retention patterns of the synthetic pathway genes for vitamins and cofactors were also observed in the endosymbiont genomes of other blood-sucking insects, such as Riesia of human lice, Arsenophonus of louse flies, and Wigglesworthia of tsetse flies, which may be either due to convergent evolution in the blood-sucking host insects or reflecting the genomic architecture of Arsenophonus-allied bacteria.}, } @article {pmid38318128, year = {2023}, author = {Rodríguez-Barreto, D and Sanz-González, JC and Martín, MV and Arrieta, JM and Almansa, E}, title = {Sex-specific bacterial microbiome variation in octopus vulgaris skin.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1233661}, pmid = {38318128}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Growing knowledge of the host-microbiota of vertebrates has shown the prevalence of sex-specific differences in the microbiome. However, there are virtually no studies assessing sex-associated variation in the microbiome of cephalopods. Here we assess sex-specific variation in the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) skin microbiome using amplicon sequencing targeting the V4 hypervariable region of prokaryote 16S rRNA genes. Skin and mantle-associated mucus was collected from wild adult individuals of common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) (9 males and 7 females of similar size). There were no significant differences in the alpha diversity of microbial communities associated with skin or mantle mucosa between sexes. However, our results clearly indicate that adult octopus males and females have a distinct microbial community composition in both skin and mantle associated mucus communities, with female microbiome being dominated by Firmicutes (48.1%), while that of males contained a majority of Proteobacteria (60.5%), with Firmicutes representing only 3.30%, not finding significant differentiation in the microbial communities between the tissues explored. The dominance of different taxa in the skin of O. vulgaris females and males (e.g., Mycoplasmatales and Lactococcus in females and Rhizobiales and Rhodobacteriales in males) suggests a sex-specific symbiosis in which those microbes benefit from easy access to distinct substrates present in female and male skin, respectively. Given the lack of differences in size between specimens of both sexes in this study, we hypothesize differences in hormone profile, as well as behavioral or ecological differences between sexes in the wild, as the main drivers of microbiome differentiation between sexes. Most knowledge of cephalopod microbiota is limited to the digestive tract and the reproductive system. However, cephalopod skin is an organ with a plethora of functions. This is a first attempt to characterize cephalopod skin microbiota and determine sex influence on it.}, } @article {pmid38316923, year = {2024}, author = {Poole, P}, title = {Symbiosis for rhizobia is not an easy ride.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {314-315}, pmid = {38316923}, issn = {2058-5276}, } @article {pmid38316910, year = {2024}, author = {Duscher, AA and Vroom, MM and Foster, JS}, title = {Impact of modeled microgravity stress on innate immunity in a beneficial animal-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2912}, pmid = {38316910}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {80NSSC19K0138/NASA/NASA/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Weightlessness ; Symbiosis ; Immunity, Innate ; Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology ; *Vibrio ; Decapodiformes/physiology ; }, abstract = {The innate immune response is the first line of defense for all animals to not only detect invading microbes and toxins but also sense and interface with the environment. One such environment that can significantly affect innate immunity is spaceflight. In this study, we explored the impact of microgravity stress on key elements of the NFκB innate immune pathway. The symbiosis between the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and its beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri was used as a model system under a simulated microgravity environment. The expression of genes associated with the NFκB pathway was monitored over time as the symbiosis progressed. Results revealed that although the onset of the symbiosis was the major driver in the differential expression of NFκB signaling, the stress of simulated low-shear microgravity also caused a dysregulation of expression. Several genes were expressed at earlier time points suggesting that elements of the E. scolopes NFκB pathway are stress-inducible, whereas expression of other pathway components was delayed. The results provide new insights into the role of NFκB signaling in the squid-vibrio symbiosis, and how the stress of microgravity negatively impacts the host immune response. Together, these results provide a foundation to develop mitigation strategies to maintain host-microbe homeostasis during spaceflight.}, } @article {pmid38236025, year = {2024}, author = {Ju, M and Zhang, Q and Wang, R and Yan, S and Zhang, Q and Li, P and Hao, F and Gu, P}, title = {Community ecological succession of endophytic fungi associates with medicinal compound accumulation in Sophora alopecuroides.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0307623}, pmid = {38236025}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {31260452//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2023BCF01026//Major R and D project of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region/ ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi of medicinal plants are symbiotic with the host and play an important role in determining metabolites. To understand the relationship between the accumulation of Sophora alopecuroides' medicinal bioactive compounds and the ecological succession of endophytic fungi, here we collected samples from S. alopecuroides at four developmental stages (adult, flowering, podding, and mature) and different organs (roots, stems, leaves, and seeds) at the mature stage. We then used high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-throughput sequencing on the internal transcribed spacer region to identify the medicinal compounds and endophytic fungal communities in each sample. The endophytic fungal community characteristics and accumulation of medicinally bioactive compounds of S. alopecuroides varied with the host's developmental stages and organs, with the highest total alkaloids content of 111.9 mg/g at the mature stage. Membership analysis and network connection analysis showed a total of 15 core endophytic fungi in different developmental stages and 16 core endophytic fungi in different organs at the mature stage. The unclassified Ascomycota, Aspergillus, and Alternaria were significantly and positively correlated with the medicinal compounds of S. alopecuroides at the mature stage (r > 0.6 or r < -0.6; P < 0.05). In this study, we identified key endophytic fungal resources that affect the content of medicinally bioactive compounds in S. alopecuroides. This discovery could lay the foundation for enhancing the yield of medicinally bioactive compounds in S. alopecuroides and the development and application of functional endophytic fungi.IMPORTANCESophora alopecuroides is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The major medicinal chemicals are considered to be quinolizidine alkaloids. Quinolizidine alkaloids have been widely used for the treatment of tumors, dysentery, and enteritis. Previous studies have found that endophytic fungi in S. alopecuroides can promote the accumulation of host quinolizidine alkaloids. However, the relationship between the accumulation of S. alopecuroides' medicinal bioactive compounds and the ecological succession of endophytic fungi remains unclear. In this study, we screened the key endophytic fungal resources affecting the content of medicinally bioactive compounds and laid the foundation for subsequent research on the mechanism by which endophytic fungi promote the accumulation of medicinally bioactive compounds in S. alopecuroides.}, } @article {pmid38171017, year = {2024}, author = {Matějková, T and Dodoková, A and Kreisinger, J and Stopka, P and Stopková, R}, title = {Microbial, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling of the estrous cycle in wild house mice.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0203723}, pmid = {38171017}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {19-19307S//Grantová Agentura České Republiky (GAČR)/ ; e-INFRA LM2018140//e-infrastruktura CZ/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities affect the host immune system and produce molecules contributing to the odor of an individual. In many mammalian species, saliva and vaginal fluids are important sources of chemical signals that originate from bacterial metabolism and may act as honest signals of health and reproductive status. In this study, we aimed to define oral and vaginal microbiomes and their dynamics throughout the estrous cycle in wild house mice. In addition, we analyzed a subset of vaginal proteomes and metabolomes to detect potential interactions with microbiomes. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that both saliva and vagina are dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria but differ at the genus level. The oral microbiome is more stable during the estrous cycle and most abundant bacteria belong to the genera Gemella and Streptococcus, while the vaginal microbiome shows higher bacterial diversity and dynamics during the reproductive cycle and is characterized by the dominance of Muribacter and Rodentibacter. These two genera cover around 50% of the bacterial community during estrus. Proteomic profiling of vaginal fluids revealed specific protein patterns associated with different estrous phases. Highly expressed proteins in estrus involve the keratinization process thus providing estrus markers (e.g., Hrnr) while some proteins are downregulated such as immune-related proteins that limit bacterial growth (Camp, Clu, Elane, Lyz2, and Ngp). The vaginal metabolome contains volatile compounds potentially involved in chemical communication, for example, ketones, aldehydes, and esters of carboxylic acids. Data integration of all three OMICs data sets revealed high correlations, thus providing evidence that microbiomes, host proteomes, and metabolomes may interact.IMPORTANCEOur data revealed dynamic changes in vaginal, but not salivary, microbiome composition during the reproductive cycle of wild mice. With multiple OMICs platforms, we provide evidence that changes in microbiota in the vaginal environment are accompanied by changes in the proteomic and metabolomics profiles of the host. This study describes the natural microbiota of wild mice and may contribute to a better understanding of microbiome-host immune system interactions during the hormonal and cellular changes in the female reproductive tract. Moreover, analysis of volatiles in the vaginal fluid shows particular substances that can be involved in chemical communication and reproductive behavior.}, } @article {pmid38315215, year = {2024}, author = {Metwally, RA and Taha, MA and El-Moaty, NMA and Abdelhameed, RE}, title = {Attenuation of Zucchini mosaic virus disease in cucumber plants by mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {54}, pmid = {38315215}, issn = {1432-203X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi generated systemic acquired resistance in cucumber to Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, indicating their prospective application in the soil as a sustainable, environmentally friendly approach to inhibit the spread of pathogens. The wide spread of plant pathogens affects the whole world, causing several plant diseases and threatening national food security as it disrupts the quantity and quality of economically important crops. Recently, environmentally acceptable mitigating practices have been required for sustainable agriculture, restricting the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural areas. Herein, the biological control of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants using arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was investigated. Compared to control plants, ZYMV-infected plants displayed high disease incidence (DI) and severity (DS) with various symptoms, including severe yellow mosaic, mottling and green blisters of leaves. However, AM fungal inoculation exhibited 50% inhibition for these symptoms and limited DS to 26% as compared to non-colonized ones. The detection of ZYMV by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique exhibited a significant reduction in AM-inoculated plants (5.23-fold) compared with non-colonized ones. Besides, mycorrhizal root colonization (F%) was slightly reduced by ZYMV infection. ZYMV infection decreased all growth parameters and pigment fractions and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, however, these parameters were significantly enhanced and the MDA content was decreased by AM fungal colonization. Also, the protein, proline and antioxidant enzymes (POX and CAT) were increased with ZYMV infection with more enhancements due to AM root colonization. Remarkably, defence pathogenesis-related (PR) genes such as PR-a, PR-b, and PR-10 were quickly expressed in response to AM treatment. Our findings demonstrated the beneficial function of AM fungi in triggering the plant defence against ZYMV as they caused systemic acquired resistance in cucumber plants and supported their potential use in the soil as an environment-friendly method of hindering the spread of pathogenic microorganisms sustainably.}, } @article {pmid38315036, year = {2024}, author = {Shi, P-Q and Wang, L and Chen, X-Y and Wang, K and Wu, Q-J and Turlings, TCJ and Zhang, P-J and Qiu, B-L}, title = {Rickettsia transmission from whitefly to plants benefits herbivore insects but is detrimental to fungal and viral pathogens.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0244823}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.02448-23}, pmid = {38315036}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts play important roles in the life histories of herbivorous insects by impacting their development, survival, reproduction, and stress tolerance. How endosymbionts may affect the interactions between plants and insect herbivores is still largely unclear. Here, we show that endosymbiotic Rickettsia belli can provide mutual benefits also outside of their hosts when the sap-sucking whitefly Bemisia tabaci transmits them to plants. This transmission facilitates the spread of Rickettsia but is shown to also enhance the performance of the whitefly and co-infesting caterpillars. In contrast, Rickettsia infection enhanced plant resistance to several pathogens. Inside the plants, Rickettsia triggers the expression of salicylic acid-related genes and the two pathogen-resistance genes TGA 2.1 and VRP, whereas they repressed genes of the jasmonic acid pathway. Performance experiments using wild type and mutant tomato plants confirmed that Rickettsia enhances the plants' suitability for insect herbivores but makes them more resistant to fungal and viral pathogens. Our results imply that endosymbiotic Rickettsia of phloem-feeding insects affects plant defenses in a manner that facilitates their spread and transmission. This novel insight into how insects can exploit endosymbionts to manipulate plant defenses also opens possibilities to interfere with their ability to do so as a crop protection strategy.IMPORTANCEMost insects are associated with symbiotic bacteria in nature. These symbionts play important roles in the life histories of herbivorous insects by impacting their development, survival, reproduction as well as stress tolerance. Rickettsia is one important symbiont to the agricultural pest whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Here, for the first time, we revealed that the persistence of Rickettsia symbionts in tomato leaves significantly changed the defense pattern of tomato plants. These changes benefit both sap-feeding and leaf-chewing herbivore insects, such as increasing the fecundity of whitefly adults, enhancing the growth and development of the noctuid Spodoptera litura, but reducing the pathogenicity of Verticillium fungi and TYLCV virus to tomato plants distinctively. Our study unraveled a new horizon for the multiple interaction theories among plant-insect-bacterial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid38315021, year = {2024}, author = {Vijayan, N and McAnulty, SJ and Sanchez, G and Jolly, J and Ikeda, Y and Nishiguchi, MK and Réveillac, E and Gestal, C and Spady, BL and Li, DH and Burford, BP and Kerwin, AH and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Evolutionary history influences the microbiomes of a female symbiotic reproductive organ in cephalopods.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0099023}, doi = {10.1128/aem.00990-23}, pmid = {38315021}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Many female squids and cuttlefishes have a symbiotic reproductive organ called the accessory nidamental gland (ANG) that hosts a bacterial consortium involved with egg defense against pathogens and fouling organisms. While the ANG is found in multiple cephalopod families, little is known about the global microbial diversity of these ANG bacterial symbionts. We used 16S rRNA gene community analysis to characterize the ANG microbiome from different cephalopod species and assess the relationship between host and symbiont phylogenies. The ANG microbiome of 11 species of cephalopods from four families (superorder: Decapodiformes) that span seven geographic locations was characterized. Bacteria of class Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Flavobacteriia were found in all species, yet analysis of amplicon sequence variants by multiple distance metrics revealed a significant difference between ANG microbiomes of cephalopod families (weighted/unweighted UniFrac, Bray-Curtis, P = 0.001). Despite being collected from widely disparate geographic locations, members of the family Sepiolidae (bobtail squid) shared many bacterial taxa including (~50%) Opitutae (Verrucomicrobia) and Ruegeria (Alphaproteobacteria) species. Furthermore, we tested for phylosymbiosis and found a positive correlation between host phylogenetic distance and bacterial community dissimilarity (Mantel test r = 0.7). These data suggest that closely related sepiolids select for distinct symbionts from similar bacterial taxa. Overall, the ANGs of different cephalopod species harbor distinct microbiomes and thus offer a diverse symbiont community to explore antimicrobial activity and other functional roles in host fitness.IMPORTANCEMany aquatic organisms recruit microbial symbionts from the environment that provide a variety of functions, including defense from pathogens. Some female cephalopods (squids, bobtail squids, and cuttlefish) have a reproductive organ called the accessory nidamental gland (ANG) that contains a bacterial consortium that protects eggs from pathogens. Despite the wide distribution of these cephalopods, whether they share similar microbiomes is unknown. Here, we studied the microbial diversity of the ANG in 11 species of cephalopods distributed over a broad geographic range and representing 15-120 million years of host divergence. The ANG microbiomes shared some bacterial taxa, but each cephalopod species had unique symbiotic members. Additionally, analysis of host-symbiont phylogenies suggests that the evolutionary histories of the partners have been important in shaping the ANG microbiome. This study advances our knowledge of cephalopod-bacteria relationships and provides a foundation to explore defensive symbionts in other systems.}, } @article {pmid38313259, year = {2024}, author = {Babajanyan, SG and Garushyants, SK and Wolf, YI and Koonin, EV}, title = {Microbial diversity and ecological complexity emerging from environmental variation and horizontal gene transfer in a simple mathematical model.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.01.17.576128}, pmid = {38313259}, abstract = {Microbiomes are generally characterized by high diversity of coexisting microbial species and strains that remains stable within a broad range of conditions. However, under fixed conditions, microbial ecology conforms with the exclusion principle under which two populations competing for the same resource within the same niche cannot coexist because the less fit population inevitably goes extinct. To explore the conditions for stabilization of microbial diversity, we developed a simple mathematical model consisting of two competing populations that could exchange a single gene allele via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We found that, although in a fixed environment, with unbiased HGT, the system obeyed the exclusion principle, in an oscillating environment, within large regions of the phase space bounded by the rates of reproduction and HGT, the two populations coexist. Moreover, depending on the parameter combination, all three major types of symbiosis obtained, namely, pure competition, host-parasite relationship and mutualism. In each of these regimes, certain parameter combinations provided for synergy, that is, a greater total abundance of both populations compared to the abundance of the winning population in the fixed environments. These findings show that basic phenomena that are universal in microbial communities, environmental variation and HGT, provide for stabilization of microbial diversity and ecological complexity.}, } @article {pmid38313028, year = {2024}, author = {Murthy, MHS and Jasbi, P and Lowe, W and Kumar, L and Olaosebikan, M and Roger, L and Yang, J and Lewinski, N and Daniels, N and Cowen, L and Klein-Seetharaman, J}, title = {Insulin signaling and pharmacology in humans and in corals.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e16804}, pmid = {38313028}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Insulin/metabolism ; *Islets of Langerhans/metabolism ; Pancreas/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Once thought to be a unique capability of the Langerhans islets in the pancreas of mammals, insulin (INS) signaling is now recognized as an evolutionarily ancient function going back to prokaryotes. INS is ubiquitously present not only in humans but also in unicellular eukaryotes, fungi, worms, and Drosophila. Remote homologue identification also supports the presence of INS and INS receptor in corals where the availability of glucose is largely dependent on the photosynthetic activity of the symbiotic algae. The cnidarian animal host of corals operates together with a 20,000-sized microbiome, in direct analogy to the human gut microbiome. In humans, aberrant INS signaling is the hallmark of metabolic disease, and is thought to play a major role in aging, and age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. We here would like to argue that a broader view of INS beyond its human homeostasis function may help us understand other organisms, and in turn, studying those non-model organisms may enable a novel view of the human INS signaling system. To this end, we here review INS signaling from a new angle, by drawing analogies between humans and corals at the molecular level.}, } @article {pmid38312502, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Q and Liu, M and Wang, Z and Li, J and Liu, K and Huang, D}, title = {The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant abiotic stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1323881}, pmid = {38312502}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can penetrate plant root cortical cells, establish a symbiosis with most land plant species, and form branched structures (known as arbuscules) for nutrient exchange. Plants have evolved a complete plant-AMF symbiosis system to sustain their growth and development under various types of abiotic stress. Here, we highlight recent studies of AM symbiosis and the regulation of symbiosis process. The roles of mycorrhizal symbiosis and host plant interactions in enhancing drought resistance, increasing mineral nutrient uptake, regulating hormone synthesis, improving salt resistance, and alleviating heavy metal stress were also discussed. Overall, studies of AM symbiosis and a variety of abiotic stresses will aid applications of AMF in sustainable agriculture and can improve plant production and environmental safety.}, } @article {pmid38311681, year = {2024}, author = {Sharma, V and Mohammed, SA and Devi, N and Vats, G and Tuli, HS and Saini, AK and Dhir, YW and Dhir, S and Singh, B}, title = {Unveiling the dynamic relationship of viruses and/or symbiotic bacteria with plant resilience in abiotic stress.}, journal = {Stress biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {10}, pmid = {38311681}, issn = {2731-0450}, support = {EEQ/2021/000312//Science and Engineering Research Board (India)/ ; }, abstract = {In the ecosphere, plants interact with environmental biotic and abiotic partners, where unbalanced interactions can induce unfavourable stress conditions. Abiotic factors (temperature, water, and salt) are primarily required for plants healthy survival, and any change in their availability is reflected as a stress signal. In certain cases, the presence of infectious pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and insects can also create stress conditions in plants, leading to the emergence of disease or deficiency symptoms. While these symptoms are often typical of abiotic or biotic stress, however, there are instances where they can intensify under specific conditions. Here, we primarily summarize the viral interactions with plants during abiotic stress to understand how these associations are linked together during viral pathogenesis. Secondly, focus is given to the beneficial effects of root-associated symbiotic bacteria in fulfilling the basic needs of plants during normal as well as abiotic stress conditions. The modulations of plant functional proteins, and their occurrence/cross-talk, with pathogen (virus) and symbiont (bacteria) molecules are also discussed. Furthermore, we have highlighted the biochemical and systematic adaptations that develop in plants due to bacterial symbiosis to encounter stress hallmarks. Lastly, directions are provided towards exploring potential rhizospheric bacteria to maintain plant-microbes ecosystem and manage abiotic stress in plants to achieve better trait health in the horticulture crops.}, } @article {pmid38308995, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, Y and Yao, J and Li, H and Sunahara, G and Li, M and Tang, C and Duran, R and Ma, B and Liu, H and Feng, L and Zhu, J and Wu, Y}, title = {Effects of three plant growth-promoting bacterial symbiosis with ryegrass for remediation of Cd, Pb, and Zn soil in a mining area.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {353}, number = {}, pages = {120167}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120167}, pmid = {38308995}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {The quality of soil containing heavy metals (HMs) around nonferrous metal mining areas is often not favorable for plant growth. Three types of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)-assisted ryegrass were examined here to treat Cd, Pb, and Zn contaminated soil collected from a nonferrous metal smelting facility. The effects of PGPR-assisted plants on soil quality, plant growth, and the migration and transformation of HMs were evaluated. Results showed that inter-root inoculation of PGPR to ryegrass increased soil redox potential, urease, sucrase and acid phosphatase activities, microbial calorimetry, and bioavailable P, Si, and K content. Inoculation with PGPR also increased aboveground parts and root length, P, Si, and K contents, and antioxidant enzyme activities. The most significant effect was that the simultaneous inoculation of all three PGPRs increased the ryegrass extraction (%) of Cd (59.04-79.02), Pb (105.56-157.13), and Zn (27.71-40.79), compared to CK control (without fungi). Correspondingly, the inter-root soil contents (%) of total Cd (39.94-57.52), Pb (37.59-42.17), and Zn (34.05-37.28) were decreased compared to the CK1 control (without fungi and plants), whereas their bioavailability was increased. Results suggest that PGPR can improve soil quality in mining areas, promote plant growth, transform the fraction of HMs in soil, and increase the extraction of Cd, Pb, and Zn by ryegrass. PGPR is a promising microbe-assisted phytoremediation strategy that can promote the re-greening of vegetation in the mining area while remediating HMs pollution.}, } @article {pmid38308359, year = {2024}, author = {Fan, MZ and Cheng, L and Wang, M and Chen, J and Fan, W and Jashari, F and Wang, W}, title = {Monomodular and multifunctional processive endocellulases: implications for swine nutrition and gut microbiome.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {38308359}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {Poor efficiency of dietary fibre utilization not only limits global pork production profit margin but also adversely affects utilization of various dietary nutrients. Poor efficiency of dietary nutrient utilization further leads to excessive excretion of swine manure nutrients and results in environmental impacts of emission of major greenhouse gases (GHG), odor, nitrate leaching and surface-water eutrophication. Emission of the major GHG from intensive pork production contributes to global warming and deteriorates heat stress to pigs in tropical and sub-tropical swine production. Exogenous fibre enzymes of various microbial cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases have been well studied and used in swine production as the non-nutritive gut modifier feed enzyme additives in the past over two decades. These research efforts have aimed to improve growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal fermentation as well as gut physiology, microbiome and health via complementing the porcine gut symbiotic microbial fibrolytic activities towards dietary fibre degradation. The widely reported exogenous fibre enzymes include the singular use of respective cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases as well as their multienzyme cocktails. The currently applied exogenous fibre enzymes are largely limited by their inconsistent in vivo efficacy likely due to their less defined enzyme stability and limited biochemical property. More recently characterized monomodular, multifunctional and processive endoglucanases have the potential to be more efficaciously used as the next-generation designer fibre biocatalysts. These newly emerging multifunctional and processive endoglucanases have the potential to unleash dietary fibre sugar constituents as metabolic fuels and prebiotics, to optimize gut microbiome, to maintain gut permeability and to enhance performance in pigs under a challenged environment as well as to parallelly unlock biomass to manufacture biofuels and biomaterials.}, } @article {pmid38308116, year = {2024}, author = {Zobel, M and Koorem, K and Moora, M and Semchenko, M and Davison, J}, title = {Symbiont plasticity as a driver of plant success.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19566}, pmid = {38308116}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {101044424//H2020 European Research Council/ ; //Centre of Excellence AgroCropFuture/ ; 1065//Eesti Teadusagentuur/ ; 1836//Eesti Teadusagentuur/ ; 1170//Eesti Teadusagentuur/ ; }, abstract = {We discuss which plant species are likely to become winners, that is achieve the highest global abundance, in changing landscapes, and whether plant-associated microbes play a determining role. Reduction and fragmentation of natural habitats in historic landscapes have led to the emergence of patchy, hybrid landscapes, and novel landscapes where anthropogenic ecosystems prevail. In patchy landscapes, species with broad niches are favoured. Plasticity in the degree of association with symbiotic microbes may contribute to broader plant niches and optimization of symbiosis costs and benefits, by downregulating symbiosis when it is unnecessary and upregulating it when it is beneficial. Plasticity can also be expressed as the switch from one type of mutualism to another, for example from nutritive to defensive mutualism with increasing soil fertility and the associated increase in parasite load. Upon dispersal, wide mutualistic partner receptivity is another facet of symbiont plasticity that becomes beneficial, because plants are not limited by the availability of specialist partners when arriving at new locations. Thus, under conditions of global change, symbiont plasticity allows plants to optimize the activity of mutualistic relationships, potentially allowing them to become winners by maximizing geographic occupancy and local abundance.}, } @article {pmid38307917, year = {2024}, author = {Mahajan, S and Chakraborty, A and Bisht, MS and Sil, T and Sharma, VK}, title = {Genome sequencing and functional analysis of a multipurpose medicinal herb Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2799}, pmid = {38307917}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Plants, Medicinal/genetics ; *Tinospora/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Extracts/metabolism ; *Alkaloids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson, also known as Giloy, is among the most important medicinal plants that have numerous therapeutic applications in human health due to the production of a diverse array of secondary metabolites. To gain genomic insights into the medicinal properties of T. cordifolia, the genome sequencing was carried out using 10× Genomics linked read and Nanopore long-read technologies. The draft genome assembly of T. cordifolia was comprised of 1.01 Gbp, which is the genome sequenced from the plant family Menispermaceae. We also performed the genome size estimation for T. cordifolia, which was found to be 1.13 Gbp. The deep sequencing of transcriptome from the leaf tissue was also performed. The genome and transcriptome assemblies were used to construct the gene set, resulting in 17,245 coding gene sequences. Further, the phylogenetic position of T. cordifolia was also positioned as basal eudicot by constructing a genome-wide phylogenetic tree using multiple species. Further, a comprehensive comparative evolutionary analysis of gene families contraction/expansion and multiple signatures of adaptive evolution was performed. The genes involved in benzyl iso-quinoline alkaloid, terpenoid, lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were found with signatures of adaptive evolution. These evolutionary adaptations in genes provide genomic insights into the presence of diverse medicinal properties of this plant. The genes involved in the common symbiosis signalling pathway associated with endosymbiosis (Arbuscular Mycorrhiza) were found to be adaptively evolved. The genes involved in adventitious root formation, peroxisome biogenesis, biosynthesis of phytohormones, and tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses were also found to be adaptively evolved in T. cordifolia.}, } @article {pmid38307350, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, J and Pan, L and Xu, W and Yang, H and He, F and Ma, J and Bai, L and Zhang, Q and Zhou, Q and Gao, H}, title = {Extracellular vesicles in plant-microbe interactions: Recent advances and future directions.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {341}, number = {}, pages = {111999}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111999}, pmid = {38307350}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanoparticles that have a crucial role in mediating intercellular communication in mammals by facilitating the transport of proteins and small RNAs. However, the study of plant EVs has been limited for a long time due to insufficient isolation and detection methods. Recent research has shown that both plants and plant pathogens can release EVs, which contain various bioactive molecules like proteins, metabolites, lipids, and small RNAs. These EVs play essential roles in plant-microbe interactions by transferring these bioactive molecules across different kingdoms. Additionally, it has been discovered that EVs may contribute to symbiotic communication between plants and pathogens. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the pivotal roles played by EVs in mediating interactions between plants and microbes, including pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, and symbiotic pathogens. We highlight the potential of EVs in transferring immune signals between plant cells and facilitating the exchange of active substances between different species.}, } @article {pmid38306832, year = {2024}, author = {Wu, C and Song, X and Wang, D and Ma, Y and Shan, Y and Ren, X and Hu, H and Cui, J and Ma, Y}, title = {Combined effects of mulch film-derived microplastics and pesticides on soil microbial communities and element cycling.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {466}, number = {}, pages = {133656}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133656}, pmid = {38306832}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Pesticides and microplastics (MPs) derived from mulch film in agricultural soil can independently impact soil ecology, yet the consequences of their combined exposure remain unclear. Therefore, the effects of simultaneous exposure to commonly used pesticides (imidacloprid and flumioxazin) and aged mulch film-derived MPs on soil microorganisms and element cycles in cotton fields were investigated. The combined exposure influenced soil microorganisms, alongside processes related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, exhibiting effects that were either neutralized or enhanced compared to individual exposures. The impact of pesticides in combined exposure was notably more significant and played a dominant role than that of MPs. Specifically, combined exposure intensified changes in soil bacterial community and symbiotic networks. The combined exposure neutralized NH4[+], NO3[-], DOC, and A-P contents, shifting from 0.33 % and 40.23 % increase in MPs and pesticides individually to a 40.24 % increase. Moreover, combined exposure resulted in the neutralization or amplification of the nitrogen-fixing gene nifH, nitrifying genes (amoA and amoB), and denitrifying genes (nirS and nirK), the carbon cycle gene cbbLG and the phosphorus cycle gene phoD from 0.48 and 2.57-fold increase to a 2.99-fold increase. The combined exposure also led to the neutralization or enhancement of carbon and nitrogen cycle functional microorganisms, shifting from a 1.53-fold inhibition and 10.52-fold increase to a 6.39-fold increase. These findings provide additional insights into the potential risks associated with combined pesticide exposure and MPs, particularly concerning soil microbial communities and elemental cycling processes.}, } @article {pmid38304453, year = {2023}, author = {Dos Santos, AR and da Rocha, GMG and Machado, AP and Fernandes-Junior, PI and Arriel, NHC and Gondim, TMS and de Lima, LM}, title = {Molecular and biochemical responses of sesame (Sesame indicum L.) to rhizobacteria inoculation under water deficit.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1324643}, pmid = {38304453}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Water scarcity is a challenge for sesame cultivation under rainfed conditions. In this scenario, a potential strategy to alleviate the water deficit is the application of plant growth-promoting bacteria. The objective of this study was to analyze the interaction of rhizobacteria with sesame cultivation under water deficit conditions.

METHODS: An experiment was conducted in pots in a greenhouse using the BRS Morena sesame cultivar. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme: 2 (irrigation regimes - daily irrigation and water deficit by suspending irrigation until 90% stomatal closure) x 6 (treatments with nitrogen or inoculants), with 5 replications. The types of fertilization were characterized by the addition of nitrogen (ammonium sulfate; 21% N), inoculants based on Bacillus spp. (pant001, ESA 13, and ESA 402), Agrobacterium sp. (ESA 441), and without nitrogen (control). On the fifth day after the suspension of irrigation, plant material was collected for gene expression analysis (DREB1 and HDZ7), activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), relative proline content, and photosynthetic pigments. At the end of the crop cycle (about 85 days), production characteristics (root dry matter, aboveground dry matter, number of capsules, and thousand seed weight), as well as leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content, were evaluated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was a positive effect on both production and biochemical characteristics (proline, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and photosynthetic pigments). Regarding gene expression, most of the inoculated treatments exhibited increased expression of the DREB1 and HDZ7 genes. These biological indicators demonstrate the potential of rhizobacteria for application in sesame cultivation, providing nutritional supply and reducing the effects of water deficit.}, } @article {pmid38304271, year = {2024}, author = {Hartvig, I and Kosawang, C and Rasmussen, H and Kjær, ED and Nielsen, LR}, title = {Co-occurring orchid species associated with different low-abundance mycorrhizal fungi from the soil in a high-diversity conservation area in Denmark.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e10863}, pmid = {38304271}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Plant-fungal interactions are ubiquitous across ecosystems and contribute significantly to plant ecology and evolution. All orchids form obligate symbiotic relationships with specific fungi for germination and early growth, and the distribution of terrestrial orchid species has been linked to occurrence and abundance of specific orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) in the soil. The availability of OMF can therefore be a habitat requirement that is relevant to consider when establishing management and conservation strategies for threatened orchid species, but knowledge on the spatial distribution of OMF in soil is limited. We here studied the mycorrhizal associations of three terrestrial orchid species (Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis purpurea and Platanthera chlorantha) found in a local orchid diversity hotspot in eastern Denmark, and investigated the abundance of the identified mycorrhizal fungi in the surrounding soil. We applied ITS metabarcoding to samples of orchid roots, rhizosphere soil and bulk soil collected at three localities, supplemented with standard barcoding of root samples with OMF specific primers, and detected 22 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) putatively identified as OMF. The three orchid species displayed different patterns of OMF associations, supporting the theory that association with specific fungi constitutes part of an orchid's ecological niche allowing co-occurrence of many species in orchid-rich habitats. The identified mycorrhizal partners in the basidiomycete families Tulasnellaceae and Ceratobasidiaceae (Cantharallales) were detected in low abundance in rhizosphere soil, and appeared almost absent from bulk soil at the localities. This finding highlights our limited knowledge of the ecology and trophic mode of OMF outside orchid tissues, as well as challenges in the detection of specific OMF with standard methods. Potential implications for management and conservation strategies are discussed.}, } @article {pmid38303509, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Y and Liu, Q and Zhang, DX and Zhang, ZY and Xu, A and Jiang, YL and Chen, ZC}, title = {Metal nutrition and transport in the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {100829}, doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100829}, pmid = {38303509}, issn = {2590-3462}, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) facilitated by the interaction between legumes and rhizobia is a well-documented and eco-friendly alternative to chemical nitrogen fertilizers. Host plants obtain fixed nitrogen from rhizobia by providing carbon and mineral nutrients. These mineral nutrients, which are mostly in the form of metal ions, are implicated in various stages of SNF process. This review elucidates the functional roles that metal ions play in nodule formation and nitrogen fixation, and specifically addresses the transport mechanisms of metal ions and the associated transporters within root nodules. Future research directions and potential strategies to enhance the SNF efficiency are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid38303445, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Q and Kashyap, AJ and Zhu, Q and Chen, F}, title = {Dynamical behaviours of discrete amensalism system with fear effects on first species.}, journal = {Mathematical biosciences and engineering : MBE}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {832-860}, doi = {10.3934/mbe.2024035}, pmid = {38303445}, issn = {1551-0018}, abstract = {Amensalism, a rare yet impactful symbiotic relationship in ecological systems, is the focus of this study. We examine a discrete-time amensalism system by incorporating the fear effect on the first species. We identify the plausible equilibrium points and analyze their local stability conditions. The global attractivity of the positive equilibrium, $ E^* $, and the boundary equilibrium, $ E_1 $, are analyzed by exploring threshold conditions linked to the level of fear. Additionally, we analyze transcritical bifurcations and flip bifurcations exhibited by the boundary equilibrium points analytically. Considering some biologically feasible parameter values, we conduct extensive numerical simulations. From numerical simulations, it is observed that the level of fear has a stabilizing effect on the system dynamics when it increases. It eventually accelerates the extinction process for the first species as the level of fear continues to increase. These findings highlight the complex interplay between external factors and intrinsic system dynamics, enriching potential mechanisms for driving species changes and extinction events.}, } @article {pmid38302607, year = {2024}, author = {Veličković, M and Wu, R and Gao, Y and Thairu, MW and Veličković, D and Munoz, N and Clendinen, CS and Bilbao, A and Chu, RK and Lalli, PM and Zemaitis, K and Nicora, CD and Kyle, JE and Orton, D and Williams, S and Zhu, Y and Zhao, R and Monroe, ME and Moore, RJ and Webb-Robertson, BM and Bramer, LM and Currie, CR and Piehowski, PD and Burnum-Johnson, KE}, title = {Mapping microhabitats of lignocellulose decomposition by a microbial consortium.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38302607}, issn = {1552-4469}, abstract = {The leaf-cutter ant fungal garden ecosystem is a naturally evolved model system for efficient plant biomass degradation. Degradation processes mediated by the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus are difficult to characterize due to dynamic metabolisms and spatial complexity of the system. Herein, we performed microscale imaging across 12-µm-thick adjacent sections of Atta cephalotes fungal gardens and applied a metabolome-informed proteome imaging approach to map lignin degradation. This approach combines two spatial multiomics mass spectrometry modalities that enabled us to visualize colocalized metabolites and proteins across and through the fungal garden. Spatially profiled metabolites revealed an accumulation of lignin-related products, outlining morphologically unique lignin microhabitats. Metaproteomic analyses of these microhabitats revealed carbohydrate-degrading enzymes, indicating a prominent fungal role in lignocellulose decomposition. Integration of metabolome-informed proteome imaging data provides a comprehensive view of underlying biological pathways to inform our understanding of metabolic fungal pathways in plant matter degradation within the micrometer-scale environment.}, } @article {pmid38301952, year = {2024}, author = {Kihika, JK and Pearman, J and Wood, SA and Rhodes, LL and Smith, KF and Miller, MR and Butler, J and Ryan, KG}, title = {Fatty acid production and associated gene pathways are altered by increased salinity and dimethyl sulfoxide treatments during cryopreservation of Symbiodinium pilosum (Symbiodiniaceae).}, journal = {Cryobiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104855}, doi = {10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104855}, pmid = {38301952}, issn = {1090-2392}, abstract = {The Symbiodinium genus is ancestral among other Symbiodiniaceae lineages with species that are both symbiotic and free living. Changes in marine ecosystems threaten their existence and crucial ecological roles. Cryopreservation offers an avenue for their long-term storage for future habitat restoration after coral bleaching. In our previous study we demonstrated that high salinity treatments of Symbiodiniaceae isolates led to changes in their fatty acid (FA) profiles and higher cell viabilities after cryopreservation. In this study, we investigated the role of increased salinity on FA production and the genes involved in FA biosynthesis and degradation pathways during the cryopreservation of Symbiodinium pilosum. Overall, there was a twofold increase in mass of FAs produced by S. pilosum after being cultured in medium with increased salinity (54 parts per thousand; ppt). Dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) led to a ninefold increase of FAs in standard salinity (SS) treatment, compared to a fivefold increase in increased salinity (IS) treatments. The mass of the FA classes returned to baseline during recovery. Transcriptomic analyses showed an acyl carrier protein gene was significantly upregulated after Me2SO treatment in the SS cultures. Cytochrome P450 reductase genes were significantly down regulated after Me2SO addition in SS treatment preventing FA degradation. These changes in the expression of FA biosynthesis and degradation genes contributed to more FAs in SS treated isolates. Understanding how increased salinity changes FA production and the roles of specific genes in regulating FA pathways will help improve current freezing protocols for Symbiodiniaceae and other marine microalgae.}, } @article {pmid38301650, year = {2024}, author = {Lee, T and Orvosova, M and Batzenschlager, M and Bueno Batista, M and Bailey, PC and Mohd-Radzman, NA and Gurzadyan, A and Stuer, N and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Ott, T and Oldroyd, GED and Schiessl, K}, title = {Light-sensitive short hypocotyl genes confer symbiotic nodule identity in the legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.018}, pmid = {38301650}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Legumes produce specialized root nodules that are distinct from lateral roots in morphology and function, with nodules intracellularly hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria. We have previously shown that a lateral root program underpins nodule initiation, but there must be additional developmental regulators that confer nodule identity. Here, we show two members of the LIGHT-SENSITIVE SHORT HYPOCOTYL (LSH) transcription factor family, predominantly known to define shoot meristem complexity and organ boundaries, function as regulators of nodule organ identity. In parallel to the root initiation program, LSH1/LSH2 recruit a program into the root cortex that mediates the divergence into nodules, in particular with cell divisions in the mid-cortex. This includes regulation of auxin and cytokinin, promotion of NODULE ROOT1/2 and Nuclear Factor YA1, and suppression of the lateral root program. A principal outcome of LSH1/LSH2 function is the production of cells able to accommodate nitrogen-fixing bacteria, a key feature unique to nodules.}, } @article {pmid38301528, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, J and Liu, X and Lu, T and Liu, W and Zheng, Z and Chen, W and Yang, C and Qin, Y}, title = {The coupling of anammox with microalgae-bacteria symbiosis: Nitrogen removal performance and microbial community.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {252}, number = {}, pages = {121214}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.121214}, pmid = {38301528}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {The partial nitrification-anammox process for ammonia nitrogen wastewater treatment requires mechanical aeration to provide oxygen, which is not conducive to energy saving. The microalgae-bacteria symbiotic system (MaBS) has the advantages of low carbon and energy saving in wastewater biological nitrogen removal. Therefore, this study combined the MaBS with an anammox process to provide oxygen, through the photosynthesis of microalgae instead of mechanical aeration. We investigated the nitrogen removal efficiency and long-term operation of a co-culture system comprising microalgae, nitrifying bacteria (NB), denitrifying bacteria (DnB), and anaerobic ammonium-oxidation bacteria (AnAOB) in a sequencing batch reactor without mechanical aeration. The experiment was divided into three steps: firstly, cultivating NB; then, adding three kinds of microalgae which were Chlorella sp., Anabaena sp., and Navicula sp. to the bioreactor to construct a microalgae-bacteria symbiotic system; finally, adding anammox sludge to construct the anammox and microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (Anammox-MaBS) system. The results demonstrated that nitrification, denitrification, and anammox processes were coupled successfully, and the maximum TN removal efficiency of the stable Anammox-MaBS system was 99.51 % when the concentration of the influent NH4[+]-N was 100 mg/L. The addition of microalgae in ammonia wastewater promoted the enrichment of DnB and AnAOB, which were Denitratisoma, Haliangium, unclassified_Rhodocyclaceae, and Candidatus_Brocadia. Furthermore, the unique biofilm structure could effectively alleviate the photoinhibition of light-sensitive bacteria, which may be the reason for the long-term adaptation of Candidatus_Brocadia to light conditions. This research can provide a low-cost solution to bacterial photoinhibition in the coexistence system of microalgae and bacteria without mechanical aeration, offering theoretical support for low-carbon and energy-efficient treatment of wastewater.}, } @article {pmid38301471, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, C and Li, Q and Wang, F and Hu, C and Ma, J}, title = {Dual-vacancies modulation of 1T/2H heterostructured MoS2-CdS nanoflowers via radiolytic radical chemistry for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution.}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {661}, number = {}, pages = {345-357}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2024.01.200}, pmid = {38301471}, issn = {1095-7103}, abstract = {Precise defect engineering of photocatalysts is highly demanding but remains a challenge. Here, we developed a facile and controllable γ-ray radiation strategy to assemble dual-vacancies confined MoS2-CdS-γ nanocomposite photocatalyst. We showed the solvated electron induced homogeneous growth of defects-rich CdS nanoparticles, while the symbiotic [•]OH radicals etched flower-like 1T/2H MoS2 substrate surfaces. The optimal MoS2-CdS-γ exhibited a H2 evolution rate of up to 37.80 mmol/h/g under visible light irradiation, which was 36.7 times higher than that of bare CdS-γ, and far superior to those synthesized by hydrothermal method. The microscopic characterizations and theoretical calculations revealed the formation of such unprecedented dual-sulfur-vacancies ensured the tight interfacial contact for fast charge separation. Besides, the existence of 1T-MoS2 phase further improved the conductivity and strengthened the adsorption interaction with H[+] intermediate. Therefore, the radiolytic radical chemistry offered a facile, ambient and effective synthetic strategy to improve the catalytic performances of photocatalytic materials.}, } @article {pmid38300345, year = {2024}, author = {Tanaka, N and Saito, R and Kobayashi, K and Nakai, H and Kamo, S and Kuramochi, K and Taguchi, H and Nakajima, M and Masaike, T}, title = {Functional and structural analysis of a cyclization domain in a cyclic β-1,2-glucan synthase.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {108}, number = {1}, pages = {187}, pmid = {38300345}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Cyclization ; Catalysis ; *Glucans ; *Glycoside Hydrolases ; *beta-Glucans ; }, abstract = {Cyclic β-1,2-glucan synthase (CGS) is a key enzyme in production of cyclic β-1,2-glucans (CβGs) which are involved in bacterial infection or symbiosis to host organisms. Nevertheless, a mechanism of cyclization, the final step in the CGS reaction, has not been fully understood. Here we performed functional and structural analyses of the cyclization domain of CGS alone from Thermoanaerobacter italicus (TiCGSCy). We first found that β-glucosidase-resistant compounds are produced by TiCGSCy with linear β-1,2-glucans as substrates. The [1]H-NMR analysis revealed that these products are CβGs. Next, action pattern analyses using β-1,2-glucooligosaccharides revealed a unique reaction pattern: exclusive transglycosylation without hydrolysis and a hexasaccharide being the minimum length of the substrate. These analyses also showed that longer substrate β-1,2-glucooligosaccharides are preferred, being consistent with the fact that CGSs generally produce CβGs with degrees of polymerization of around 20. Finally, the overall structure of the cyclization domain of TiCGSCy was found to be similar to those of β-1,2-glucanases in phylogenetically different groups. Meanwhile, the identified catalytic residues indicated clear differences in the reaction pathways between these enzymes. Overall, we propose a novel reaction mechanism of TiCGSCy. Thus, the present group of CGSs defines a new glycoside hydrolase family, GH189. KEY POINTS: • It was clearly evidenced that cyclization domain alone produces cyclic β-1,2-glucans. • The domain exclusively catalyzes transglycosylation without hydrolysis. • The present catalytic domain defines as a new glycoside hydrolase family 189.}, } @article {pmid38299816, year = {2024}, author = {Ferreira, MR and Queiroga, V and Moreira, LM}, title = {Genomic editing in Burkholderia multivorans by CRISPR/Cas9.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0225023}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02250-23}, pmid = {38299816}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria have emerged as opportunistic pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised individuals, causing life-threatening infections. Because of the relevance of these microorganisms, genetic manipulation is crucial for explaining the genetic mechanisms leading to pathogenesis. Despite the availability of allelic exchange tools to obtain unmarked gene deletions in Burkholderia, these require a step of merodiploid formation and another of merodiploid resolution through two independent homologous recombination events, making the procedure long-lasting. The CRISPR/Cas9-based system could ease this constraint, as only one step is needed for allelic exchange. Here, we report the modification of a two-plasmid system (pCasPA and pACRISPR) for genome editing in Burkholderia multivorans. Several modifications were implemented, including selection marker replacement, the optimization of araB promoter induction for the expression of Cas9 and λ-Red system encoding genes, and the establishment of plasmid curing procedures based on the sacB gene or growth at a sub-optimal temperature of 18°C-20°C with serial passages. We have shown the efficiency of this CRISPR/Cas9 method in the precise and unmarked deletion of different genes (rpfR, bceF, cepR, and bcsB) from two strains of B. multivorans, as well as its usefulness in the targeted insertion of the gfp gene encoding the green fluorescence protein into a precise genome location. As pCasPA was successfully introduced in other Burkholderia cepacia complex species, this study opens up the possibility of using CRISPR/Cas9-based systems as efficient tools for genome editing in these species, allowing faster and more cost-effective genetic manipulation.IMPORTANCEBurkholderia encompasses different species of bacteria, some of them pathogenic to animals and plants, but others are beneficial by promoting plant growth through symbiosis or as biocontrol agents. Among these species, Burkholderia multivorans, a member of the Burkholderia cepacia complex, is one of the predominant species infecting the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, often causing respiratory chronic infections that are very difficult to eradicate. Since the B. multivorans species is understudied, we have developed a genetic tool based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system to delete genes efficiently from the genomes of these strains. We could also insert foreign genes that can be precisely placed in a chosen genomic region. This method, faster than other conventional strategies based on allelic exchange, will have a major contribution to understanding the virulence mechanisms in B. multivorans, but it can likely be extended to other Burkholderia species.}, } @article {pmid38298572, year = {2023}, author = {Montoya, QV and Martiarena, MJS and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Taxonomy and systematics of the fungus-growing ant associate Escovopsis (Hypocreaceae).}, journal = {Studies in mycology}, volume = {106}, number = {}, pages = {349-397}, pmid = {38298572}, issn = {0166-0616}, abstract = {Escovopsis is a symbiont of fungus-growing ant colonies. Unstandardised taxonomy prevented the evaluation of the morphological diversity of Escovopsis for more than a century. The aim of this study is to create a standardised taxonomic framework to assess the morphological and phylogenetic diversity of Escovopsis. Therefore, to set the foundation for Escovopsis taxonomy and allow interspecific comparisons within the genus, we redescribe the ex-type cultures of Escovopsis aspergilloides, E. clavata, E. lentecrescens, E. microspora, E. moelleri, E. multiformis, and E. weberi. Thus, based on the parameters adopted in this study combined with phylogenetic analyses using five molecular markers, we synonymize E. microspora with E. weberi, and introduce 13 new species isolated from attine nests collected in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama: E. breviramosa, E. chlamydosporosa, E. diminuta, E. elongatistipitata, E. gracilis, E. maculosa, E. papillata, E. peniculiformis, E. phialicopiosa, E. pseudocylindrica, E. rectangula, E. rosisimilis, and E. spicaticlavata. Our results revealed a great interspecific morphological diversity throughout Escovopsis. Notwithstanding, colony growth rates at different temperatures, as well as vesicle shape, appear to be the most outstanding features distinguishing species in the genus. This study fills an important gap in the systematics of Escovopsis that will allow future researchers to unravel the genetic and morphological diversity and species diversification of these attine ant symbionts. Taxonomic novelties: New species: Escovopsis breviramosa Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. chlamydosporosa Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. diminuta Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. elongatistipitata Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. gracilis Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. maculosa Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. papillata Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. peniculiformis Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. phialicopiosa Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. pseudocylindrica Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. rectangula Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. rosisimilis Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues, E. spicaticlavata Q.V. Montoya, M.J.S. Martiarena & A. Rodrigues. Citation: Montoya QV, Martiarena MJS, Rodrigues A (2023). Taxonomy and systematics of the fungus-growing ant associate Escovopsis (Hypocreaceae). Studies in Mycology 106: 349-397. doi: 10.3114/sim.2023.106.06.}, } @article {pmid38298542, year = {2023}, author = {Hembach, N and Drechsel, V and Sobol, M and Kaster, AK and Köhler, HR and Triebskorn, R and Schwartz, T}, title = {Effect of glyphosate, its metabolite AMPA, and the glyphosate formulation Roundup[®] on brown trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) gut microbiome diversity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1271983}, pmid = {38298542}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Glyphosate is used worldwide as a compound of pesticides and is detectable in many environmental compartments. It enters water bodies primarily through drift from agricultural areas so that aquatic organisms are exposed to this chemical, especially after rain events. Glyphosate is advertised and sold as a highly specific herbicide, which interacts with the EPSP synthase, an enzyme of the shikimate metabolism, resulting in inhibition of the synthesis of vital aromatic amino acids. However, not only plants but also bacteria can possess this enzyme so that influences of glyphosate on the microbiomes of exposed organisms cannot be excluded. Those influences may result in subtle and long-term effects, e.g., disturbance of the symbiotic interactions of bionts with microorganisms of their microbiomes. Mechanisms how the transformation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) of glyphosate might interfere in this context have not understood so far. In the present study, molecular biological fingerprinting methods showed concentration-dependent effects of glyphosate and AMPA on fish microbiomes. In addition, age-dependent differences in the composition of the microbiomes regarding abundance and diversity were detected. Furthermore, the effect of exposure to glyphosate and AMPA was investigated for several fish pathogens of gut microbiomes in terms of their gene expression of virulence factors associated with pathogenicity. In vitro transcriptome analysis with the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri revealed that it is questionable whether the observed effect on the microbiome is caused by the intended mode of action of glyphosate, such as the inhibition of EPSP synthase activity.}, } @article {pmid38298194, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, C and Zou, RQ and He, GZ}, title = {Progress in mechanism-based diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis comorbid with tumor.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1344821}, pmid = {38298194}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; *Tuberculosis/diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology ; *Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Tuberculosis (TB) and tumor, with similarities in immune response and pathogenesis, are diseases that are prone to produce autoimmune stress response to the host immune system. With a symbiotic relationship between the two, TB can facilitate the occurrence and development of tumors, while tumor causes TB reactivation. In this review, we systematically sorted out the incidence trends and influencing factors of TB and tumor, focusing on the potential pathogenesis of TB and tumor, to provide a pathway for the co-pathogenesis of TB comorbid with tumor (TCWT). Based on this, we summarized the latest progress in the diagnosis and treatment of TCWT, and provided ideas for further exploration of clinical trials and new drug development of TCWT.}, } @article {pmid38297461, year = {2024}, author = {Martin, FM and van der Heijden, MGA}, title = {The mycorrhizal symbiosis: research frontiers in genomics, ecology, and agricultural application.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19541}, pmid = {38297461}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Huazhong Agricultural University/ ; ANR-12-LABX-ARBRE-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; 310030_188799//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 40IN40_215832//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//Office of Science of the US Department of Energy/ ; //Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design/ ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbioses between plants and fungi are vital for the soil structure, nutrient cycling, plant diversity, and ecosystem sustainability. More than 250 000 plant species are associated with mycorrhizal fungi. Recent advances in genomics and related approaches have revolutionized our understanding of the biology and ecology of mycorrhizal associations. The genomes of 250+ mycorrhizal fungi have been released and hundreds of genes that play pivotal roles in regulating symbiosis development and metabolism have been characterized. rDNA metabarcoding and metatranscriptomics provide novel insights into the ecological cues driving mycorrhizal communities and functions expressed by these associations, linking genes to ecological traits such as nutrient acquisition and soil organic matter decomposition. Here, we review genomic studies that have revealed genes involved in nutrient uptake and symbiosis development, and discuss adaptations that are fundamental to the evolution of mycorrhizal lifestyles. We also evaluated the ecosystem services provided by mycorrhizal networks and discuss how mycorrhizal symbioses hold promise for sustainable agriculture and forestry by enhancing nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance. Overall, unraveling the intricate dynamics of mycorrhizal symbioses is paramount for promoting ecological sustainability and addressing current pressing environmental concerns. This review ends with major frontiers for further research.}, } @article {pmid38296716, year = {2024}, author = {Ricci, F and Greening, C}, title = {Chemosynthesis: a neglected foundation of marine ecology and biogeochemistry.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.013}, pmid = {38296716}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Chemosynthesis is a metabolic process that transfers carbon to the biosphere using reduced compounds. It is well recognised that chemosynthesis occurs in much of the ocean, but it is often thought to be a negligible process compared to photosynthesis. Here we propose that chemosynthesis is the underlying process governing primary production in much of the ocean and suggest that it extends to a much wider range of compounds, microorganisms, and ecosystems than previously thought. In turn, this process has had a central role in controlling marine biogeochemistry, ecology, and carbon budgets across the vast realms of the ocean, from the dawn of life to contemporary times.}, } @article {pmid38295681, year = {2024}, author = {Kabir, AH and Bennetzen, JL}, title = {Molecular insights into the mutualism that induces iron deficiency tolerance in sorghum inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {281}, number = {}, pages = {127630}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2024.127630}, pmid = {38295681}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Iron (Fe) deficiency is a common mineral stress in plants, including sorghum. Although the soil fungus Trichoderma harzianum has been shown to mitigate Fe deficiency in some circumstances, neither the range nor mechanism(s) of this process are well understood. In this study, high pH-induced Fe deficiency in sorghum cultivated in pots with natural field soil exhibited a significant decrease in biomass, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and Fe-uptake in both the root and shoot. However, the establishment of T. harzianum colonization in roots of Fe-deprived sorghum showed significant improvements in morpho-physiological traits, Fe levels, and redox status. Molecular detection of the fungal ThAOX1 (L-aminoacid oxidase) gene showed the highest colonization of T. harzianum in the root tips of Fe-deficient sorghum, a location thus targeted for further analysis. Expression studies by RNA-seq and qPCR in sorghum root tips revealed a significant upregulation of several genes associated with Fe uptake (SbTOM2), auxin synthesis (SbSAURX15), nicotianamine synthase 3 (SbNAS3), and a phytosiderophore transporter (SbYS1). Also induced was the siderophore synthesis gene (ThSIT1) in T. harzianum, a result supported by biochemical evidence for elevated siderophore and IAA (indole acetic acid) levels in roots. Given the high affinity of fungal siderophore to chelate insoluble Fe[3+] ions, it is likely that elevated siderophore released by T. harzianum led to Fe(III)-siderophore complexes in the rhizosphere that were then transported into roots by the induced SbYS1 (yellow-stripe 1) transporter. In addition, the observed induction of several plant peroxidase genes and ABA (abscisic acid) under Fe deficiency after inoculation with T. harzianum may have helped induce tolerance to Fe-deficiency-induced oxidative stress and adaptive responses. This is the first mechanistic explanation for T. harzianum's role in helping alleviate Fe deficiency in sorghum and suggests that biofertilizers using T. harzianum will improve Fe availability to crops in high pH environments.}, } @article {pmid38295002, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, X and Guo, X and Su, X and Ji, B and Chang, Y and Huang, Q and Zhang, Y and Wang, X and Wang, P}, title = {Extracellular Vehicles from Commensal Skin Malassezia restricta Inhibit Staphylococcus aureus Proliferation and Biofilm Formation.}, journal = {ACS infectious diseases}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00511}, pmid = {38295002}, issn = {2373-8227}, abstract = {The colonizing microbiota on the body surface play a crucial role in barrier function. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a significant contributor to skin infection, and the utilization of colonization resistance of skin commensal microorganisms to counteract the invasion of pathogens is a viable approach. However, most studies on colonization resistance have focused on skin bacteria, with limited research on the resistance of skin fungal communities to pathogenic bacteria. Extracellular vehicles (EVs) play an important role in the colonization of microbial niches and the interaction between distinct strains. This paper explores the impact of Malassezia restricta (M. restricta), the fungus that dominates the normal healthy skin microbiota, on the proliferation of S. aureus by examining the distribution disparities between the two microorganisms. Based on the extraction of EVs, the bacterial growth curve, and biofilm formation, it was determined that the EVs of M. restricta effectively suppressed the growth and biofilm formation of S. aureus. The presence of diverse metabolites was identified as the primary factor responsible for the growth inhibition of S. aureus, specifically in relation to glycerol phospholipid metabolism, ABC transport, and arginine synthesis. These findings offer valuable experimental evidence for understanding microbial symbiosis and interactions within healthy skin.}, } @article {pmid38293214, year = {2024}, author = {Banerjee, A and Kang, CY and An, M and Koff, BB and Sunder, S and Kumar, A and Tenuta, LMA and Stockbridge, RB}, title = {Fluoride export is required for competitive fitness of pathogenic microorganisms in dental biofilm models.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.01.18.576223}, pmid = {38293214}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Microorganisms resist fluoride toxicity using fluoride export proteins from one of several different molecular families. Cariogenic species Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans extrude intracellular fluoride using a CLC [F] F [-] /H [+] antiporter and FEX fluoride channel, respectively, whereas commensal eubacteria, such as Streptococcus gordonii, export fluoride using a Fluc fluoride channel. In this work, we examine how genetic knockout of fluoride export impacts pathogen fitness in single-species and three-species dental biofilm models. For biofilms generated using S. mutans with genetic knockout of the CLC [F] transporter, exposure to low fluoride concentrations decreased S. mutans counts, synergistically reduced the populations of C. albicans , increased the relative proportion of commensal S. gordonii , and reduced properties associated with biofilm pathogenicity, including acid production and hydroxyapatite dissolution. Biofilms prepared with C. albicans with genetic knockout of the FEX channel also exhibited reduced fitness in the presence of fluoride, but to a lesser degree. Imaging studies indicate that S. mutans is highly sensitive to fluoride, with the knockout strain undergoing complete lysis when exposed to low fluoride for a moderate amount of time, and biochemical purification the S. mutans CLC [F] transporter and functional reconstitution establishes that the functional protein is a dimer encoded by a single gene. Together, these findings suggest that fluoride export by oral pathogens can be targeted by specific inhibitors to restore biofilm symbiosis in dental biofilms, and that S. mutans is especially susceptible to fluoride toxicity.

IMPORTANCE: Dental caries is a globally prevalent condition that occurs when pathogenic species, including Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans , outcompete beneficial species, such as Streptococcus gordonii, in the dental biofilm. Fluoride is routinely used in oral hygiene to prevent dental caries. Fluoride also has antimicrobial properties, although most microbes possess fluoride exporters to resist its toxicity. This work shows that sensitization of cariogenic species Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans to fluoride by genetic knockout of fluoride exporters alters the microbial composition and pathogenic properties of dental biofilms. These results suggest that the development of drugs that inhibit fluoride exporters could potentiate the anticaries effect of fluoride in over-the-counter products like toothpastes and mouth rinses. This is a novel strategy to treat dental caries.}, } @article {pmid38293123, year = {2024}, author = {Schaus, SR and Vasconcelos Periera, G and Luis, AS and Madlambayan, E and Terrapon, N and Ostrowski, MP and Jin, C and Hansson, GC and Martens, EC}, title = {Ruminococcus torques is a keystone degrader of intestinal mucin glycoprotein, releasing oligosaccharides used by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.01.15.575725}, pmid = {38293123}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Symbiotic interactions between humans and our communities of resident gut microbes (microbiota) play many roles in health and disease. Some gut bacteria utilize mucus as a nutrient source and can under certain conditions damage the protective barrier it forms, increasing disease susceptibility. We investigated how Ruminococcus torques- a known mucin-degrader that remains poorly studied despite its implication in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs)- degrades mucin glycoproteins or their component O -linked glycans to understand its effects on the availability of mucin-derived nutrients for other bacteria. We found that R. torques utilizes both mucin glycoproteins and released oligosaccharides from gastric and colonic mucins, degrading these substrates with a panoply of mostly constitutively expressed, secreted enzymes. Investigation of mucin oligosaccharide degradation by R. torques revealed strong fucosidase, sialidase and β1,4-galactosidase activities. There was a lack of detectable sulfatase and weak β1,3-galactosidase degradation, resulting in accumulation of glycans containing these structures on mucin polypeptides. While the Gram-negative symbiont, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron grows poorly on mucin glycoproteins, we demonstrate a clear ability of R. torques to liberate products from mucins, making them accessible to B. thetaiotaomicron . This work underscores the diversity of mucin-degrading mechanisms in different bacterial species and the probability that some species are contingent on others for the ability to more fully access mucin-derived nutrients. The ability of R. torques to directly degrade a variety of mucin and mucin glycan structures and unlock released glycans for other species suggests that it is a keystone mucin degrader, which may contribute to its association with IBD.

IMPORTANCE: An important facet of maintaining healthy symbiosis between host and intestinal microbes is the mucus layer, the first defense protecting the epithelium from lumenal bacteria. Some gut bacteria degrade different components of intestinal mucins, but detailed mechanisms used by different species are still emerging. It is imperative to understand these mechanisms as they likely dictate interspecies interactions and may illuminate particular species associated with bacterial mucus destruction and subsequent disease susceptibility. Ruminococcus torques is positively associated with IBD in multiple studies. We identified mucin glycan-degrading enzymes in R. torques and found that it shares mucin degradation products with another gut bacterium implicated in IBD, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron . Our findings underscore the importance of understanding the mucin degradation mechanisms of different gut bacteria and their consequences on interspecies interactions, which may identify keystone bacteria that disproportionately contribute to defects in mucus protection and could therefore be targets to prevent or treat IBD.}, } @article {pmid38292913, year = {2024}, author = {Salvioli di Fossalunga, A and Spina, F}, title = {Editorial: Women in plant symbiotic interactions: 2022.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1357641}, pmid = {38292913}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid38290636, year = {2024}, author = {Frota, EG and Pessoa, ARS and Souza de Azevedo, PO and Dias, M and Veríssimo, NVP and Zanin, MHA and Tachibana, L and de Souza Oliveira, RP}, title = {Symbiotic microparticles produced through spray-drying-induced in situ alginate crosslinking for the preservation of Pediococcus pentosaceus viability.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129818}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129818}, pmid = {38290636}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Probiotic microorganisms are a promising alternative to antibiotics in preventing and treating bacterial infections. Within the probiotic group, the lactic acid bacteria (LAB)stand out for their health benefits and for being recognized as safe by regulatory agencies. However, these microorganisms are sensitive to various environmental conditions, including the acidic environment of the stomach. Faced with these obstacles, this work aimed to promote the symbiotic microencapsulation of LAB in a composite matrix of alginate and prebiotics to enhance their survival and improve their probiotic activity during gastrointestinal transit. We evaluated the effect of inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) as prebiotic sources on the growth of Pediococcus pentosaceus LBM34 strain, finding that MOS favored LAB growth and maintenance of microencapsulated cell viability. The symbiotic microparticles were produced using the spray-drying technique with an average size of 10 μm, a smooth surface, and a composition that favored the stabilization of live cells according to the FTIR and the thermal analysis of the material. The best formulation was composed of 1 % of alginate, 10 % MOS and 1 % M10 (% w/v), which presented notable increases in the survival rates of the probiotic strain in both alkaline and acidic conditions. Therefore, this industrially scalable approach to symbiotic LAB microencapsulation can facilitate their growth and colonization within the host. This effort aims to contribute to reducing antibiotic reliance and mitigating the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, which pose significant challenges to public health.}, } @article {pmid38290333, year = {2024}, author = {Pan, G and Li, W and Huang, L and Mo, G and Wang, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote arsenic accumulation in Pteris vittata L. through arsenic solubilization in rhizosphere soil and arsenic uptake by hyphae.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {466}, number = {}, pages = {133579}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133579}, pmid = {38290333}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {The introduction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is considered an effective strategy for improving the arsenic phytoremediation efficiency of Pteris vittata L. (P. vittata). However, how hyphae take up arsenic and translocate it to the root cells of P. vittata in the symbiotic mycorrhizal structure is currently unclear. In this study, the role of hyphae in arsenic enrichment in P. vittata and the mechanism of arsenic species transformation in the rhizosphere were studied via a compartmented cultivation setup. After Claroidoglomus etunicatum (C. etunicatum) colonization, the arsenic content of P. vittata increased by 234%. Hyphae contributed 32% to the accumulation of arsenic in symbionts. C. etunicatum promoted the conversion of iron and aluminum oxides to crystalline states in rhizosphere soil, promoted the desorption of arsenic bound to iron and aluminum oxides, and increased the content of available arsenic in rhizosphere soil by 116%. The transfer of arsenic from arbuscular structures to root cells was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEMEDS) analysis. This study demonstrated that C. etunicatum inoculation enhances the phytoremediation efficiency of P. vittata in arsenic-contaminated soils through hyphal uptake, plant growth promotion, and alteration of the rhizosphere environment.}, } @article {pmid38289701, year = {2024}, author = {Shaikhet, L and Korobeinikov, A}, title = {Asymptotic properties of the Lotka-Volterra competition and mutualism model under stochastic perturbations.}, journal = {Mathematical medicine and biology : a journal of the IMA}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/imammb/dqae001}, pmid = {38289701}, issn = {1477-8602}, abstract = {Stochastically perturbed models, where the white noise type stochastic perturbations are proportional to the current system state, the most realistically describe real-life biosystems. However, such models essentially have no equilibrium states apart from one at the origin. This feature makes analysis of such models extremely difficult. Probably, the best result that can be found for such models is finding of accurate estimations of a region in the model phase space that serves as an attractor for model trajectories. In this paper, we consider a classical stochastically perturbed Lotka-Volterra model of competing or symbiotic populations, where the white noise type perturbations are proportional to the current system state. Using the direct Lyapunov method in a combination with a recently developed technique, we establish global asymptotic properties of this model. In order to do this, we, firstly, construct a Lyapunov function that is applicable to the both competing (and globally stable) and symbiotic deterministic Lotka-Volterra models. Then, applying this Lyapunov function to the stochastically perturbed model, we show that solutions with positive initial conditions converge to a certain compact region in the model phase space and oscillate around this region thereafter. The direct Lyapunov method allows to and estimates for this region. We also show that if the magnitude of the noise exceeds a certain critical level, then some or all species extinct via process of the stochastic stabilization ("stabilization by noise"). The approach applied in this paper allows to obtain necessary conditions for the extinction. Sufficient conditions for the extinction (that for this model occurs via the process that is known as the "stochastic stabilization", or the "stabilization by noise") are found applying the Khasminskii-type Lyapunov functions.}, } @article {pmid38289045, year = {2024}, author = {Kato, S and Tahara, YO and Nishimura, Y and Uematsu, K and Arai, T and Nakane, D and Ihara, A and Nishizaka, T and Iwasaki, W and Itoh, T and Miyata, M and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Cell surface architecture of the cultivated DPANN archaeon Nanobdella aerobiophila.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0035123}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00351-23}, pmid = {38289045}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {The DPANN archaeal clade includes obligately ectosymbiotic species. Their cell surfaces potentially play an important role in the symbiotic interaction between the ectosymbionts and their hosts. However, little is known about the mechanism of ectosymbiosis. Here, we show cell surface structures of the cultivated DPANN archaeon Nanobdella aerobiophila strain MJ1[T] and its host Metallosphaera sedula strain MJ1HA, using a variety of electron microscopy techniques, i.e., negative-staining transmission electron microscopy, quick-freeze deep-etch TEM, and 3D electron tomography. The thickness, unit size, and lattice symmetry of the S-layer of strain MJ1[T] were different from those of the host archaeon strain MJ1HA. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses highlighted the most highly expressed MJ1[T] gene for a putative S-layer protein with multiple glycosylation sites and immunoglobulin-like folds, which has no sequence homology to known S-layer proteins. In addition, genes for putative pectin lyase- or lectin-like extracellular proteins, which are potentially involved in symbiotic interaction, were found in the MJ1T genome based on in silico 3D protein structure prediction. Live cell imaging at the optimum growth temperature of 65°C indicated that cell complexes of strains MJ1[T] and MJ1HA were motile, but sole MJ1[T] cells were not. Taken together, we propose a model of the symbiotic interaction and cell cycle of Nanobdella aerobiophila.IMPORTANCEDPANN archaea are widely distributed in a variety of natural and artificial environments and may play a considerable role in the microbial ecosystem. All of the cultivated DPANN archaea so far need host organisms for their growth, i.e., obligately ectosymbiotic. However, the mechanism of the ectosymbiosis by DPANN archaea is largely unknown. To this end, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the cultivated DPANN archaeon, Nanobdella aerobiophila, using electron microscopy, live cell imaging, transcriptomics, and genomics, including 3D protein structure prediction. Based on the results, we propose a reasonable model of the symbiotic interaction and cell cycle of Nanobdella aerobiophila, which will enhance our understanding of the enigmatic physiology and ecological significance of DPANN archaea.}, } @article {pmid38288868, year = {2024}, author = {Buttimer, S and Moura-Campos, D and Greenspan, SE and Neely, WJ and Ferrante, L and Toledo, LF and Becker, CG}, title = {Skin microbiome disturbance linked to drought-associated amphibian disease.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {e14372}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14372}, pmid = {38288868}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {DEB 2227340//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS 2303908//National Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Droughts ; *Chytridiomycota ; *Mycoses/veterinary ; Amphibians/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; Animals, Wild ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The onset of global climate change has led to abnormal rainfall patterns, disrupting associations between wildlife and their symbiotic microorganisms. We monitored a population of pumpkin toadlets and their skin bacteria in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest during a drought. Given the recognized ability of some amphibian skin bacteria to inhibit the widespread fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), we investigated links between skin microbiome health, susceptibility to Bd and host mortality during a die-off event. We found that rainfall deficit was an indirect predictor of Bd loads through microbiome disruption, while its direct effect on Bd was weak. The microbiome was characterized by fewer putative Bd-inhibitory bacteria following the drought, which points to a one-month lagged effect of drought on the microbiome that may have increased toadlet susceptibility to Bd. Our study underscores the capacity of rainfall variability to disturb complex host-microbiome interactions and alter wildlife disease dynamics.}, } @article {pmid38288244, year = {2023}, author = {Alom, MS and Cen, Y and Tang, R and Chen, D and Dou, H and Mo, Z and Du, H}, title = {Change of termite hindgut metabolome and bacteria after captivity indicates the hindgut microbiota provides nutritional factors to the host.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1228918}, pmid = {38288244}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {The gut-dwelling microbiota is an indispensable part of termites. It is influenced by a series of factors, such as diet and captivity. The objectives of this study were to study the metabolic functions of hindgut microbiota and to investigate the influence of captivity on the hindgut microbiota. The dampwood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti was reared in the laboratory for 6 months. We conducted the metabolome analysis of the fat body from the freshly-collected workers (FBF), the hindgut fluid of the freshly-collected workers (HFF), and the hindgut fluid of laboratory-maintained workers. In addition, the 16S rRNA genes from the hindgut bacteria in the freshly-collected and laboratory-maintained workers were sequenced. According to our results, the concentrations of metabolites associated with amino acid biosynthesis, vitamin biosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis, and cofactor biosynthesis were higher in HFF compared with those in FBF, suggesting that the hindgut microbiota provides nutritional factors to the host. However, after captivity, the concentrations of metabolites in the hindgut associated with amino acid biosynthesis, nucleotide sugar metabolism, vitamin biosynthesis, and carbon metabolism decreased, while those associated with the steroid hormone biosynthesis and ovarian steroidogenesis increased. Meanwhile, the 16S amplicon study revealed that the abundance of certain bacteria changed after captivity, such as uncultured Termite Group 1 bacterium, Candidatus Symbiothrix dinenymphae, and unclassified Desulfovibrio. Our findings show that captivity influences the hindgut microbiota and shed light on the metabolic potential of the hindgut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid38287975, year = {2023}, author = {Wetzel, S and Müller, A and Kohnert, E and Mehrbarzin, N and Huber, R and Häcker, G and Kreutz, C and Lederer, AK and Badr, MT}, title = {Longitudinal dynamics of gut bacteriome and mycobiome interactions pre- and post-visceral surgery in Crohn's disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1275405}, pmid = {38287975}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mycobiome ; *Crohn Disease/surgery ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Prospective Studies ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Fungi/genetics ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Alterations of the gut microbiome are involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). The role of fungi in this context is unclear. This study aimed to determine postoperative changes in the bacterial and fungal gut communities of CD patients undergoing intestinal resection, and to evaluate interactions between the bacteriome and mycobiome and their impact on the patients' outcome.

METHODS: We report a subgroup analysis of a prospective cohort study, focusing on 10 CD patients whose fecal samples were collected for bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 genes next-generation sequencing the day before surgery and on the 5th or 6th postoperative day.

RESULTS: No significant differences in bacterial and fungal diversity were observed between preoperative and postoperative stool samples. By in-depth analysis, significant postoperative abundance changes of bacteria and fungi and 17 interkingdom correlations were detected. Network analysis identified 13 microbial clusters in the perioperative gut communities, revealing symbiotic and competitive interactions. Relevant factors were gender, age, BMI, lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption) and surgical technique. Postoperative abundance changes and identified clusters were associated with clinical outcomes (length of hospital stay, complications) and levels of inflammatory markers.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of dissecting the interactions of gut bacterial and fungal communities in CD patients and their potential influence on postoperative and disease outcomes.}, } @article {pmid38287457, year = {2024}, author = {Nweze, JE and Šustr, V and Brune, A and Angel, R}, title = {Functional similarity, despite taxonomical divergence in the millipede gut microbiota, points to a common trophic strategy.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {38287457}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {19-24309Y//Grantová Agentura České Republiky/ ; 19-24309Y//Grantová Agentura České Republiky/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Bacteria ; *Arthropods/genetics ; Metagenome ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Carbohydrates ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Sulfates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many arthropods rely on their gut microbiome to digest plant material, which is often low in nitrogen but high in complex polysaccharides. Detritivores, such as millipedes, live on a particularly poor diet, but the identity and nutritional contribution of their microbiome are largely unknown. In this study, the hindgut microbiota of the tropical millipede Epibolus pulchripes (large, methane emitting) and the temperate millipede Glomeris connexa (small, non-methane emitting), fed on an identical diet, were studied using comparative metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.

RESULTS: The results showed that the microbial load in E. pulchripes is much higher and more diverse than in G. connexa. The microbial communities of the two species differed significantly, with Bacteroidota dominating the hindguts of E. pulchripes and Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadota) in G. connexa. Despite equal sequencing effort, de novo assembly and binning recovered 282 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from E. pulchripes and 33 from G. connexa, including 90 novel bacterial taxa (81 in E. pulchripes and 9 in G. connexa). However, despite this taxonomic divergence, most of the functions, including carbohydrate hydrolysis, sulfate reduction, and nitrogen cycling, were common to the two species. Members of the Bacteroidota (Bacteroidetes) were the primary agents of complex carbon degradation in E. pulchripes, while members of Proteobacteria dominated in G. connexa. Members of Desulfobacterota were the potential sulfate-reducing bacteria in E. pulchripes. The capacity for dissimilatory nitrate reduction was found in Actinobacteriota (E. pulchripes) and Proteobacteria (both species), but only Proteobacteria possessed the capacity for denitrification (both species). In contrast, some functions were only found in E. pulchripes. These include reductive acetogenesis, found in members of Desulfobacterota and Firmicutes (Bacillota) in E. pulchripes. Also, diazotrophs were only found in E. pulchripes, with a few members of the Firmicutes and Proteobacteria expressing the nifH gene. Interestingly, fungal-cell-wall-degrading glycoside hydrolases (GHs) were among the most abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) expressed in both millipede species, suggesting that fungal biomass plays an important role in the millipede diet.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results provide detailed insights into the genomic capabilities of the microbial community in the hindgut of millipedes and shed light on the ecophysiology of these essential detritivores. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid38286991, year = {2024}, author = {Ito, M and Tajima, Y and Ogawa-Ohnishi, M and Nishida, H and Nosaki, S and Noda, M and Sotta, N and Kawade, K and Kamiya, T and Fujiwara, T and Matsubayashi, Y and Suzaki, T}, title = {IMA peptides regulate root nodulation and nitrogen homeostasis by providing iron according to internal nitrogen status.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {733}, pmid = {38286991}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {JP20H05908//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP23H02495//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JPMJMI20E4//MEXT | Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Lotus/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Homeostasis ; *Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes control root nodule symbiosis (RNS) in response to environmental nitrogen availability. Despite the recent understanding of the molecular basis of external nitrate-mediated control of RNS, it remains mostly elusive how plants regulate physiological processes depending on internal nitrogen status. In addition, iron (Fe) acts as an essential element that enables symbiotic nitrogen fixation; however, the mechanism of Fe accumulation in nodules is poorly understood. Here, we focus on the transcriptome in response to internal nitrogen status during RNS in Lotus japonicus and identify that IRON MAN (IMA) peptide genes are expressed during symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We show that LjIMA1 and LjIMA2 expressed in the shoot and root play systemic and local roles in concentrating internal Fe to the nodule. Furthermore, IMA peptides have conserved roles in regulating nitrogen homeostasis by adjusting nitrogen-Fe balance in L. japonicus and Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings indicate that IMA-mediated Fe provision plays an essential role in regulating nitrogen-related physiological processes.}, } @article {pmid38285970, year = {2024}, author = {Djerrad, Z and Terfi, S and Brakchi, L}, title = {Variability in Chemical Composition and Biochemical Activities of Mentha x piperita L. Essential Oil, in Response to Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Heavy Metal Stress.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202301980}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202301980}, pmid = {38285970}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {The present paper highlights the effect of Pb/Cd-stress and/or mycorrhizal colonization by Glomus Intraradices on yield, chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of Mentha x piperita L. essential oil. Our findings showed that mycorrhizal colonization could be used to improve the essential oil yield of M. x piperita, either in non-stressed or Pb/Cd-stressed plants. GC-MS analysis revealed three chemotypes: linalool/pulegone (32.6/30.8%) chemotype in essential oils of non-mycorrhizal Pb-stressed plants, menthone/menthyl acetate (30.3/25.1%) chemotype in essential oils of non-mycorrhizal Cd-stressed plants and menthol (44.6%) chemotype in essential oils of non-mycorrhizal non-stressed plants, mycorrhizal non-stressed plants and mycorrhizal Pb/Cd-stressed plants. The cytotoxicity of M. x piperita essential oil, evaluated by brine shrimp lethality bioassay, was increased in presence of Pb/Cd-stress (from 379.58 to 72.84 µm/mL) and decreased in mycorrhizal plants (from 379.58 to 482.32 µm/mL). The antimicrobial activity of M. x piperita essential oil, evaluated by disc diffusion method and determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration against ten microorganisms, was enhanced by the mycorrhizal colonization and deceased by the Pb/Cd-stress. In conclusion, the inoculation of medicinal plants with mycorrhizal fungi is a real avenue for alleviating abiotic stress and/or increasing the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites in terms of biological activities.}, } @article {pmid38284577, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, D and Jiang, K and Luo, H and Zhao, X and Yu, P and Gan, Y}, title = {Replacing animal proteins with plant proteins: Is this a way to improve quality and functional properties of hybrid cheeses and cheese analogs?.}, journal = {Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {1-36}, doi = {10.1111/1541-4337.13262}, pmid = {38284577}, issn = {1541-4337}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cheese/microbiology ; Plant Proteins ; Diet ; }, abstract = {The growing emphasis on dietary health has facilitated the development of plant-based foods. Plant proteins have excellent functional attributes and health-enhancing effects and are also environmentally conscientious and animal-friendly protein sources on a global scale. The addition of plant proteins (including soy protein, pea protein, zein, nut protein, and gluten protein) to diverse cheese varieties and cheese analogs holds the promise of manufacturing symbiotic products that not only have reduced fat content but also exhibit improved protein diversity and overall quality. In this review, we summarized the utilization and importance of various plant proteins in the production of hybrid cheeses and cheese analogs. Meanwhile, classification and processing methods related to these cheese products were reviewed. Furthermore, the impact of different plant proteins on the microstructure, textural properties, physicochemical attributes, rheological behavior, functional aspects, microbiological aspects, and sensory characteristics of both hybrid cheeses and cheese analogs were discussed and compared. Our study explores the potential for the development of cheeses made from full/semi-plant protein ingredients with greater sustainability and health benefits. Additionally, it further emphasizes the substantial chances for scholars and developers to investigate the optimal processing methods and applications of plant proteins in cheeses, thereby improving the market penetration of plant protein hybrid cheeses and cheese analogs.}, } @article {pmid38283980, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, L and Feng, J}, title = {NIN-at the heart of NItrogen-fixing Nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1284720}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1284720}, pmid = {38283980}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes and actinorhizal plants establish symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, resulting in the formation of nodules. Nodules create an ideal environment for nitrogenase to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biological available ammonia. NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is an indispensable transcription factor for all aspects of nodule symbiosis. Moreover, NIN is consistently lost in non-nodulating species over evolutions. Here we focus on recent advances in the signaling mechanisms of NIN during nodulation and discuss the role of NIN in the evolution of nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38283802, year = {2023}, author = {Kawakubo, D and Shuzo, M and Sugiyama, H and Maeda, E}, title = {Asymmetric communication: cognitive models of humans toward an android robot.}, journal = {Frontiers in robotics and AI}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1267560}, pmid = {38283802}, issn = {2296-9144}, abstract = {In the development of dialogue systems for android robots, the goal is to achieve human-like communication. However, subtle differences between android robots and humans are noticeable, leading even human-like android robots to be perceived differently. Understanding how humans accept android robots and optimizing their behavior is crucial. Generally, human customers have various expectations and anxieties when interacting with a robotic salesclerk instead of a human. Asymmetric communication arises when android robots treat customers like humans while customers treat robots as machines. Focusing on human-robot interaction in a tourist guide scenario, In this paper, we propose an asymmetric communication strategy that does not use estimation technology for preference information, but instead performs changing the agent's character in order to pretend to tailor to the customer. In line with this, we prepared an experimental method to evaluate asymmetric communication strategies, using video clips to simulate dialogues. Participants completed questionnaires without prior knowledge of whether the salesclerk was human-like or robotic. The method allowed us to assess how participants treated the salesclerk and the effectiveness of the asymmetric communication strategy. Additionally, during our demonstration in a dialogue robot competition, 29 visitors had a positive impression of the android robot's asymmetric communication strategy and reported a high level of satisfaction with the dialogue.}, } @article {pmid38283483, year = {2023}, author = {Mohanasundari, SK and Kalpana, M and Madhusudhan, U and Vasanthkumar, K and B, R and Singh, R and Vashishtha, N and Bhatia, V}, title = {Can Artificial Intelligence Replace the Unique Nursing Role?.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {e51150}, doi = {10.7759/cureus.51150}, pmid = {38283483}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, offering potential benefits and challenges. In healthcare, AI enhances efficiency, streamlines processes, and supports decision-making. However, challenges include potential errors and biases in algorithms, data privacy concerns, legal and ethical issues, and resistance to change. In nursing, a delicate balance emerges between AI and human touch. While AI aids in data-driven decision-making and administrative tasks, it lacks the emotional intelligence, empathy, and nuanced understanding crucial to nursing care. Nurses excel in critical thinking, adaptability to dynamic situations, patient advocacy, collaboration, and establishing human connections. AI supports these functions by automating routine tasks and offering decision support tools, yet its rigidity in dynamic situations and lack of human touch pose limitations. This review underscores the necessity of careful AI integration in healthcare, acknowledging its advantages while mitigating drawbacks. In nursing, the symbiosis between AI and human qualities is vital. The role of AI should be to complement, not replace, the unique skills and empathetic aspects of nursing care. Addressing concerns related to bias, transparency, data privacy, and professional training is essential for maximizing the benefits of AI in healthcare while preserving the human touch in patient care. This article explores whether AI can replace unique nursing roles.}, } @article {pmid38282642, year = {2024}, author = {Jouan, R and Lextrait, G and Lachat, J and Yokota, A and Cossard, R and Naquin, D and Timchenko, T and Kikuchi, Y and Ohbayashi, T and Mergaert, P}, title = {Transposon sequencing reveals the essential gene set and genes enabling gut symbiosis in the insect symbiont Caballeronia insecticola.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {ycad001}, doi = {10.1093/ismeco/ycad001}, pmid = {38282642}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Caballeronia insecticola is a bacterium belonging to the Burkholderia genus sensu lato, which is able to colonize multiple environments like soils and the gut of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris. We constructed a saturated Himar1 mariner transposon library and revealed by transposon-sequencing that 498 protein-coding genes constitute the essential genome of Caballeronia insecticola for growth in free-living conditions. By comparing essential gene sets of Caballeronia insecticola and seven related Burkholderia s.l. strains, only 120 common genes were identified, indicating that a large part of the essential genome is strain-specific. In order to reproduce specific nutritional conditions that are present in the gut of Riptortus pedestris, we grew the mutant library in minimal media supplemented with candidate gut nutrients and identified several condition-dependent fitness-defect genes by transposon-sequencing. To validate the robustness of the approach, insertion mutants in six fitness genes were constructed and their growth deficiency in media supplemented with the corresponding nutrient was confirmed. The mutants were further tested for their efficiency in Riptortus pedestris gut colonization, confirming that gluconeogenic carbon sources, taurine and inositol, are nutrients consumed by the symbiont in the gut. Thus, our study provides insights about specific contributions provided by the insect host to the bacterial symbiont.}, } @article {pmid38281893, year = {2024}, author = {Iio, M and Nagata, M and Narita, M}, title = {Factors associated with positive mental health in Japanese young adults with a history of chronic diseases during childhood: A qualitative study.}, journal = {Journal of pediatric nursing}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.pedn.2024.01.012}, pmid = {38281893}, issn = {1532-8449}, abstract = {PURPOSE: Factors associated with positive mental health in children with chronic diseases remain unclear. Supporting the development of positive mental health in children with chronic diseases can enhance their mental health throughout childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with positive mental health among Japanese young adults with a history of chronic pediatric diseases.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants aged 18-25 years, with a history of chronic pediatric diseases, were recruited from a population of students at a university. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. After the initial coding of each transcript, the researchers discussed and identified a set of main themes, categories, and subcategories.

RESULTS: Ten participants aged 19-22 years were interviewed. Their chronic diseases were diverse and included childhood cancers and allergic diseases. Seven themes (proactive coping, positive coping, negative coping, eudaimonia, hedonia, independence, and awareness) emerged from 21 categories and 70 subcategories identified. A thematic map was applied to two domains (protective factors and well-being factors) and to three inter-related constructs (individual, family, and community/society).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that within the well-being factors, meaning in life was prominent, and within the protective factors, stress coping was found to facilitate positive mental health among individuals with a history of chronic pediatric diseases.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In children with chronic diseases, support for finding appropriate coping strategies that enhance their optimism and symbiotic relationships in the community/society are important, including valuing little things in their lives, such as play and learning.}, } @article {pmid38279665, year = {2024}, author = {Jamili, S and Zalaghi, R and Mehdi Khanlou, K}, title = {Changes in microRNAs expression of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) planted in a cadmium-contaminated soil following the inoculation with root symbiotic fungi.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2024.2304562}, pmid = {38279665}, issn = {1549-7879}, abstract = {Cadmium is one of the most harmful heavy metals that harm agricultural products. Evaluating microRNAs expression is a new and accurate method to study plant response in various environmental conditions. So this study aimed to evaluate the contribution of two symbiotic fungi in improving flax tolerance in a Cd-polluted soil using microRNAs and their target gene expression. A factorial pot experiment in a completely randomized design was conducted with different levels of Cd (0, 20, and 40 mg kg[-1]) on non-inoculated and inoculated flax with Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Serendipita indica. The results presented that increasing Cd levels caused a constant decline of alkaline phosphatase of soil (from 243 to 210 and 153 μg PNP g[-1] h[-1]), respectively, from control (Cd0) to 20 and 40 mg Cd kg[-1]. However, the inoculation of flax with fungi significantly enhanced these properties. A negative correlation was observed between the expression level of microRNA 167 and microRNA 398 with their corresponding target genes, auxin response factor 8 and superoxide dismutase zinc/copper 1, respectively. The expression level of both microRNAs and their targets indicated that the inoculation with symbiont fungi could diminish Cd stress and enhance the growth of flax.}, } @article {pmid38279328, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, C and Wang, F and Jiao, P and Liu, J and Zhang, H and Liu, S and Guan, S and Ma, Y}, title = {The Overexpression of Zea mays Strigolactone Receptor Gene D14 Enhances Drought Resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana L.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38279328}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Zea mays/genetics/metabolism ; Drought Resistance ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; *Lactones ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) represent a recently identified class of plant hormones that are crucial for plant tillering and mycorrhizal symbiosis. The D14 gene, an essential receptor within the SLs signaling pathway, has been well-examined in crops, like rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.), yet the research on its influence in maize (Zea mays L.) remains scarce. This study successfully clones and establishes Arabidopsis D14 gene overexpression lines (OE lines). When compared with the wild type (WT), the OE lines exhibited significantly longer primary roots during germination. By seven weeks of age, these lines showed reductions in plant height and tillering, alongside slight decreases in rosette and leaf sizes, coupled with early aging symptoms. Fluorescence-based quantitative assays indicated notable hormonal fluctuations in OE lines versus the WT, implying that D14 overexpression disrupts plant hormonal homeostasis. The OE lines, exposed to cold, drought, and sodium chloride stressors during germination, displayed an especially pronounced resistance to drought. The drought resistance of OE lines, as evident from dehydration-rehydration assays, outmatched that of the WT lines. Additionally, under drought conditions, the OE lines accumulated less reactive oxygen species (ROS) as revealed by the assessment of the related physiological and biochemical parameters. Upon confronting the pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000), post-infection, fluorescence quantitative investigations showed a significant boost in the salicylic acid (SA)-related gene expression in OE lines compared to their WT counterparts. Overall, our findings designate the SL receptor D14 as a key upregulator of drought tolerance and a regulator in the biotic stress response, thereby advancing our understanding of the maize SL signaling pathway by elucidating the function of the pivotal D14 gene.}, } @article {pmid38278688, year = {2024}, author = {Sun, X and Hong, J and Ding, T and Wu, Z and Lin, D}, title = {Snail microbiota and snail-schistosome interactions: axenic and gnotobiotic technologies.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2024.01.002}, pmid = {38278688}, issn = {1471-5007}, abstract = {The microbiota in the intermediate snail hosts of human schistosomes can significantly affect host biology. For decades, researchers have developed axenic snails to manipulate the symbiotic microbiota. This review summarizes the characteristics of symbiotic microbes in intermediate snail hosts and describes their interactions with snails, affecting snail growth, development, and parasite transmission ability. We focus on advances in axenic and gnotobiotic technologies for studying snail-microbe interactions and exploring the role of microbiota in snail susceptibility to Schistosoma infection. We discuss the challenges related to axenic and gnotobiotic snails, possible solutions to address these challenges, and future research directions to deepen our understanding of snail-microbiota interactions, with the aim to develop microbiota-based strategies for controlling snail populations and reducing their competence in transmitting parasites.}, } @article {pmid38278266, year = {2024}, author = {Xu, J and Zhao, R and Liu, A and Li, L and Li, S and Li, Y and Qu, M and Di, Y}, title = {To live or die: "Fine-tuning" adaptation revealed by systemic analyses in symbiotic bathymodiolin mussels from diverse deep-sea extreme ecosystems.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {170434}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170434}, pmid = {38278266}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Hydrothermal vents (HVs) and cold seeps (CSs) are typical deep-sea extreme ecosystems with their own geochemical characteristics to supply the unique living conditions for local communities. Once HVs or CSs stop emission, the dramatic environmental change would pose survival risks to deep-sea organisms. Up to now, limited knowledge has been available to understand the biological responses and adaptive strategy to the extreme environments and their transition from active to extinct stage, mainly due to the technical difficulties and lack of representative organisms. In this study, bathymodiolin mussels, the dominant and successful species surviving in diverse deep-sea extreme ecosystems, were collected from active and extinct HVs (Southwest Indian Ocean) or CSs (South China Sea) via two individual cruises. The transcriptomic analysis and determination of multiple biological indexes in stress defense and metabolic systems were conducted in both gills and digestive glands of mussels, together with the metagenomic analysis of symbionts in mussels. The results revealed the ecosystem- and tissue-specific transcriptional regulation in mussels, addressing the autologous adaptations in antioxidant defense, energy utilization and key compounds (i.e. sulfur) metabolism. In detail, the successful antioxidant defense contributed to conquering the oxidative stress induced during the unavoidable metabolism of xenobiotics commonly existing in the extreme ecosystems; changes in metabolic rate functioned to handle toxic matters in different surroundings; upregulated gene expression of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase indicated an active sulfide detoxification in mussels from HVs and active stage of HVs & CSs. Coordinately, a heterologous adaptation, characterized by the functional compensation between symbionts and mussels in energy utilization, sulfur and carbon metabolism, was also evidenced by the bacterial metagenomic analysis. Taken together, a new insight was proposed that symbiotic bathymodiolin mussels would develop a "finetuning" strategy combining the autologous and heterologous regulations to fulfill the efficient and effective adaptations for successful survival.}, } @article {pmid38276779, year = {2024}, author = {Morère-Le Paven, MC and Clochard, T and Limami, AM}, title = {NPF and NRT2 from Pisum sativum Potentially Involved in Nodule Functioning: Lessons from Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {38276779}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In addition to absorbing nitrogen from the soil, legumes have the ability to use atmospheric N2 through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Therefore, legumes have developed mechanisms regulating nodulation in response to the amount of nitrate in the soil; in the presence of high nitrate concentrations, nodulation is inhibited, while low nitrate concentrations stimulate nodulation and nitrogen fixation. This allows the legumes to switch from soil nitrogen acquisition to symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Recently, particular interest has been given to the nitrate transporters, such as Nitrate Transporter1/Peptide transporter Family (NPF) and Nitrate Transporter 2 (NRT2), having a role in the functioning of nodules. Nitrate transporters of the two model plants, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, shown to have a positive and/or a negative role in nodule functioning depending on nitrate concentration, are presented in this article. In particular, the following transporters were thoroughly studied: (i) members of NPF transporters family, such as LjNPF8.6 and LjNPF3.1 in L. japonicus and MtNPF1.7 and MtNPF7.6 in M. truncatula, and (ii) members of NRT2 transporters family, such as LjNRT2.4 and LjNRT2.1 in L. japonicus and MtNRT2.1 in M. truncatula. Also, by exploiting available genomic and transcriptomic data in the literature, we have identified the complete PsNPF family in Pisum sativum (69 sequences previously described and 21 new that we have annotated) and putative nitrate transporters candidate for playing a role in nodule functioning in P. sativum.}, } @article {pmid38276282, year = {2024}, author = {Domínguez-Santos, R and Baixeras, J and Moya, A and Latorre, A and Gil, R and García-Ferris, C}, title = {Gut Microbiota Is Not Essential for Survival and Development in Blattella germanica, but Affects Uric Acid Storage.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38276282}, issn = {2075-1729}, support = {PGC2018-099344-B-I00//MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and "ERDF A way of making Europe"/ ; PID2021-128201NB-I00//MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and "ERDF A way of making Europe"/ ; PROMETEO/2018/133//Conselleria d'Educació, Generalitat Valenciana (Spain)/ ; CIPROM/2021/042//Conselleria d'Educació, Generalitat Valenciana (Spain)/ ; }, abstract = {Cockroaches harbor two coexisting symbiotic systems: the obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenotii, and a complex gut microbiota. Blattabacterium is the only bacterium present in the eggs, as the gut microbiota is acquired by horizontal transmission after hatching, mostly through coprophagy. Blattella germanica, a cosmopolitan omnivorous cockroach living in intimate association with humans, is an appropriate model system for studying whether the gut microbiota is essential for the cockroach's survival, development, or welfare. We obtained a germ-free cockroach population (i.e., containing normal amounts of the endosymbiont, but free of microbes on the insects' surface and digestive tract). Non-significant differences with the controls were detected in most fitness parameters analyzed, except for a slight shortening in the hatching time of the second generation and a reduction in female weight at 10 days after adult ecdysis. The latter is accompanied by a decrease in uric acid reserves. This starvation-like phenotype of germ-free B. germanica suggests that the microbiota is not essential in this species for survival and development throughout its complete life cycle, but it could participate in complementation of host nutrition by helping with food digestion and nutrient absorption.}, } @article {pmid38276200, year = {2024}, author = {Pilliol, V and Beye, M and Terlier, L and Balmelle, J and Kacel, I and Lan, R and Aboudharam, G and Grine, G and Terrer, E}, title = {Methanobrevibacter massiliense and Pyramidobacter piscolens Co-Culture Illustrates Transkingdom Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38276200}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Among oral microbiota methanogens, Methanobrevibacter massiliense (M. massiliense) has remained less studied than the well-characterised and cultivated methanogens Methanobrevibacter oralis and Methanobrevibacter smithii. M. massiliense has been associated with different oral pathologies and was co-isolated with the Synergistetes bacterium Pyramidobacter piscolens (P. piscolens) in one case of severe periodontitis. Here, reporting on two additional necrotic pulp cases yielded the opportunity to characterise two co-cultivated M. massiliense isolates, both with P. piscolens, as non-motile, 1-2-µm-long and 0.6-0.8-µm-wide Gram-positive coccobacilli which were autofluorescent at 420 nm. The two whole genome sequences featured a 31.3% GC content, gapless 1,834,388-base-pair chromosome exhibiting an 85.9% coding ratio, encoding a formate dehydrogenase promoting M. massiliense growth without hydrogen in GG medium. These data pave the way to understanding a symbiotic, transkingdom association with P. piscolens and its role in oral pathologies.}, } @article {pmid38276182, year = {2023}, author = {Gorlenko, V and Savvichev, A and Kadnikov, V and Rusanov, I and Beletsky, A and Zakharova, E and Kostrikina, N and Sigalevich, P and Veslopolova, E and Pimenov, N}, title = {A Novel View of the Diversity of Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria Inhabiting the Chemocline of Meromictic Karst Lakes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38276182}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {22-14-00038//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {The rates of oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis, the microorganisms responsible for these processes, and the hydrochemical characteristics of the sulfide-containing karst lakes, Black Kichier and Big Kichier (Mari El Republic), were investigated. In these lakes, a plate of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) is formed at the upper boundary of sulfide occurrence in the water. The phototrophic community of the chemocline zone was analyzed using a combination of high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragments and light and electron microscopic techniques. Green-colored Chlorobium clathratiforme were absolutely predominant in both lakes. The minor components included green sulfur bacteria (GSB) Chlorobium spp., symbiotic consortia Chlorochromatium magnum and Pelochromatium roseum, purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) Chromatium okenii, and unidentified phylotypes of the family Chromatiaceae, as well as members of the Chloroflexota: Chloronema sp. and Oscillochloris sp. Based on the results of the molecular analysis, the taxonomic status of Ancalochloris perfilievii and other prosthecate GSB, as well as of the PSB Thiopedia rosea, which were visually revealed in the studied freshwater lakes, is discussed.}, } @article {pmid38276024, year = {2024}, author = {Nicoletti, R and Russo, E and Becchimanzi, A}, title = {Cladosporium-Insect Relationships.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38276024}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The range of interactions between Cladosporium, a ubiquitous fungal genus, and insects, a class including about 60% of the animal species, is extremely diverse. The broad case history of antagonism and mutualism connecting Cladosporium and insects is reviewed in this paper based on the examination of the available literature. Certain strains establish direct interactions with pests or beneficial insects or indirectly influence them through their endophytic development in plants. Entomopathogenicity is often connected to the production of toxic secondary metabolites, although there is a case where these compounds have been reported to favor pollinator attraction, suggesting an important role in angiosperm reproduction. Other relationships include mycophagy, which, on the other hand, may reflect an ecological advantage for these extremely adaptable fungi using insects as carriers for spreading in the environment. Several Cladosporium species colonize insect structures, such as galleries of ambrosia beetles, leaf rolls of attelabid weevils and galls formed by cecidomyid midges, playing a still uncertain symbiotic role. Finally, the occurrence of Cladosporium in the gut of several insect species has intriguing implications for pest management, also considering that some strains have proven to be able to degrade insecticides. These interactions especially deserve further investigation to understand the impact of these fungi on pest control measures and strategies to preserve beneficial insects.}, } @article {pmid38275986, year = {2024}, author = {Martín-Rodríguez, A and Gostian-Ropotin, LA and Beltrán-Velasco, AI and Belando-Pedreño, N and Simón, JA and López-Mora, C and Navarro-Jiménez, E and Tornero-Aguilera, JF and Clemente-Suárez, VJ}, title = {Sporting Mind: The Interplay of Physical Activity and Psychological Health.}, journal = {Sports (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/sports12010037}, pmid = {38275986}, issn = {2075-4663}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between sports practice and psychological well-being has, in recent times, surged to the forefront of academic and public attention. The aim of this narrative review is to comprehensively explore the intricate pathways linking physical engagement in sports to its subsequent impacts on mental health and synthesize the multifarious effects of sports on psychological health, offering insights for integrating physical and psychological strategies to enhance well-being. From neurobiological underpinnings to therapeutic applications, this comprehensive manuscript provides an in-depth dive into the multifaceted world of sports and psychology. Highlighting evidence-based interventions, this review aspires to offer actionable insights for practitioners, athletes, and individuals alike, advocating for a holistic approach to mental well-being. This manuscript highlights the profound impact of sports on mental health, emphasizing its role in emotional regulation, resilience, cognitive function, and treating psychological conditions. It details how sports induce neurochemical changes, enhance brain functions like memory and learning, and aid against cognitive decline. This review also notes the benefits of regular exercise in mood improvement, stress management, and social skill enhancement, particularly when combined with mindfulness practices. It underscores the importance of considering cultural and gender perspectives in sports psychology, advocating for an integrated physical-psychological approach to promote overall well-being.}, } @article {pmid38275729, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, CX and Li, RJ and Baude, L and Reinhardt, D and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Generation of Mutant Lines in Medicago truncatula Indicates a Symbiotic Role of MtLYK10 during Nodule Formation.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38275729}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {IZLCZ0-206026/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, abstract = {CRISPR/Cas9 systems are commonly used for plant genome editing; however, the generation of homozygous mutant lines in Medicago truncatula remains challenging. Here, we present a CRISPR/Cas9-based protocol that allows the efficient generation of M. truncatula mutants. Gene editing was performed for the LysM receptor kinase gene MtLYK10 and two major facilitator superfamily transporter genes. The functionality of CRISPR/Cas9 vectors was tested in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by editing a co-transformed GUSPlus gene. Transformed M. truncatula leaf explants were regenerated to whole plants at high efficiency (80%). An editing efficiency (frequency of mutations at a given target site) of up to 70% was reached in the regenerated plants. Plants with MtLYK10 knockout mutations were propagated, and three independent homozygous mutant lines were further characterized. No off-target mutations were identified in these lyk10 mutants. Finally, the lyk10 mutants and wild-type plants were compared with respect to the formation of root nodules induced by nitrogen-fixing Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteria. Nodule formation was considerably delayed in the three lyk10 mutant lines. Surprisingly, the size of the rare nodules in mutant plants was higher than in wild-type plants. In conclusion, the symbiotic characterization of lyk10 mutants generated with the developed CRISPR/Cas9 protocol indicated a role of MtLYK10 in nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid38274759, year = {2023}, author = {Zou, Y and Zhang, Y and Wu, D and Lu, Z and Xiao, J and Huang, H and Fu, Q and Guo, Z}, title = {Multi-omics analysis revealed the differences in lipid metabolism of the gut between adult and juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1326247}, pmid = {38274759}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Tuna has a cost-effective energy supply to support the regional endothermic and high-speed swimming performance. The gut symbiotic microbiotas and their metabolites play essential roles in tuna's diet digestion, absorption, and energy acquirement, which are often highly related to the ontogenetic development of tuna.

METHODS: We compared gut microbial compositions and metabolites, as well as mRNA expression of the intestine between juvenile and adult yellowfin tuna using 16S rRNA sequencing, metabolomic and transcriptomic, respectively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results revealed that adults had a significantly higher microbial diversity and abundance of Acinetobacter than juveniles. Regarding the gut microbiota-derived metabolites, fatty acids, especially glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid, were significantly enriched in adults than in juveniles. Moreover, the short-chain fatty acid (butyrate and isobutyrate) contents were significantly higher in adults than in juveniles. To find the relationship between gut microbiotas and host physiology, intestinal transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the enriched pathways of differential expression genes (DEGs) in adult tuna were the lipid metabolism pathway, including "fat digestion and absorption," "cholesterol metabolism," "steroid hormone biosynthesis," "glycerolipid metabolism," and "glycerophospholipid metabolism." However, protein digestion and absorption and pancreatic secretion pathways were significantly enriched in the juveniles. The conjoint analysis indicated that the enriched pathways of both differential metabolites (DMs) and DEGs were remarkably related to the regulation of glycerophospholipids metabolism in adult tunas. This study highlights the role of gut microbiotas in fish nutrition metabolism. These findings provide new insights into the view of ontogenetic shifts of gut microbiotas and their metabolites on host health and gut function in endothermic and high-speed swimming marine fish species.}, } @article {pmid38274757, year = {2023}, author = {Zeng, G and Wen, Y and Luo, C and Zhang, Y and Li, F and Xiong, C}, title = {Plant-microorganism-soil interaction under long-term low-dose ionizing radiation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1331477}, pmid = {38274757}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {As the environmental nuclear radiation pollution caused by nuclear-contaminated water discharge and other factors intensifies, more plant-microorganism-soil systems will be under long-term low-dose ionizing radiation (LLR). However, the regulatory mechanisms of the plant-microorganism-soil system under LLR are still unclear. In this study, we study a system that has been stably exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation for 10 years and investigate the response of the plant-microorganism-soil system to LLR based on the decay of the absorbed dose rate with distance. The results show that LLR affects the carbon and nitrogen migration process between plant-microorganism-soil through the "symbiotic microbial effect." The increase in the intensity of ionizing radiation led to a significant increase in the relative abundance of symbiotic fungi, such as Ectomycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobiales, which is accompanied by a significant increase in soil lignin peroxidase (LiP) activity, the C/N ratio, and C%. Meanwhile, enhanced radiation intensity causes adaptive changes in the plant functional traits. This study demonstrates that the "symbiotic microbial effect" of plant-microorganism-soil systems is an important process in terrestrial ecosystems in response to LLR.}, } @article {pmid38274749, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, H and Zhong, J and Leng, X and Wu, J and Cheng, P and Shen, L and Wu, J and Li, P and Du, H}, title = {Effectiveness assessment of using water environmental microHI to predict the health status of wild fish.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1293342}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1293342}, pmid = {38274749}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Aquatic wildlife health assessment is critically important for aquatic wildlife conservation. However, the health assessment of aquatic wildlife (especially aquatic wild animals) is difficult and often accompanied by invasive survey activities and delayed observability. As there is growing evidence that aquatic environmental microbiota could impact the health status of aquatic animals by influencing their symbiotic microbiota, we propose a non-invasive method to monitor the health status of wild aquatic animals using the environmental microbiota health index (microHI). However, it is unknown whether this method is effective for different ecotype groups of aquatic wild animals. To answer this question, we took a case study in the middle Yangtze River and studied the water environmental microbiota and fish gut microbiota at the fish community level, population level, and ecotype level. The results showed that the gut microHI of the healthy group was higher than that of the unhealthy group at the community and population levels, and the overall gut microHI was positively correlated with the water environmental microHI, whereas the baseline gut microHI was species-specific. Integrating these variations in four ecotype groups (filter-feeding, scraper-feeding, omnivorous, and carnivorous), only the gut microHI of the carnivorous group positively correlated with water environmental microHI. Alcaligenaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Achromobacter were the most abundant groups with health-negative-impacting phenotypes, had high positive correlations between gut sample group and environment sample group, and had significantly higher abundance in unhealthy groups than in healthy groups of carnivorous, filter-feeding, and scraper-feeding ecotypes. Therefore, using water environmental microHI to indicate the health status of wild fish is effective at the community level, is effective just for carnivorous fish at the ecotype level. In the middle Yangtze River, Alcaligenaceae, Enterobacteriaceae (family level), and Achromobacter (genus level) were the key water environmental microbial groups that potentially impacted wild fish health status. Of course, more data and research that test the current hypothesis and conclusion are encouraged.}, } @article {pmid38274504, year = {2023}, author = {Amplatz, K and Zieger, E and Abed-Navandi, D and Weissenbacher, A and Wanninger, A}, title = {Neuromuscular development in the emerging scyphozoan model system, Cassiopea xamachana: implications for the evolution of cnidarian nervous systems.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {1324980}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2023.1324980}, pmid = {38274504}, issn = {1662-4548}, abstract = {The scyphozoan Cassiopea xamachana is an emerging cnidarian model system for studying regeneration, animal-algae symbiotic relationships, and various aspects of evolutionary biology including the early emergence of animal nervous systems. Cassiopea has a life cycle similar to other scyphozoans, which includes the alternation between a sessile, asexual form (polyp) and a sexually reproducing stage, the medusa. The transition between the two forms is called strobilation, where the polyp releases a miniature medusa, the iconic ephyra, that subsequently develops into the adult medusa. In addition, Cassiopea polyps may reproduce asexually by budding off free-swimming so-called planuloid buds. While the development of planuloid buds and polyps has been studied in some detail, little is known about the ontogeny of the sexually produced planula larva. Using immunofluorescence labeling and confocal microscopy, we examined neuromuscular development during metamorphosis of the planula larva into the juvenile polyp in C. xamachana. For this purpose, we used tyrosinated α-tubulin-, FMRFamide- and serotonin-like immunoreactivity together with phalloidin labeling. Our results show a planula nervous system that consists of a basiectodermal neural plexus with mostly longitudinally oriented neurites. This neural meshwork is connected to sensory neurons in the superficial stratum of the ectoderm, which are exclusively localized in the aboral half of the larva. During settlement, this aborally concentrated nervous system of the planula is replaced completely by the orally concentrated nervous system of the polyp. Adult polyps show an extensive nerve net with a loose concentration around the oral disc. These findings are consistent with data from other scyphozoans and most likely constitute a conserved feature of scyphozoan discomedusae. Taken together, the data currently available suggest an aborally concentrated nervous system including sensory cells as part of the neural ground pattern of cnidarian planula larvae. The reorganization of the nervous system from anterior to posterior in planula-to-polyp metamorphosis most likely also constitutes an ancestral trait in cnidarian evolution.}, } @article {pmid38274305, year = {2024}, author = {Contino, KF and Cook, KL and Shiozawa, Y}, title = {Bones and guts - Why the microbiome matters.}, journal = {Journal of bone oncology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {100523}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbo.2024.100523}, pmid = {38274305}, issn = {2212-1366}, abstract = {The importance of the gut microbiota in human health has become increasingly apparent in recent years, especially when the relationship between microbiota and host is no longer symbiotic. It has long been appreciated that gut dysbiosis can be detrimental to human health and is associated with numerous disease states. Only within the last decade, however, was the gut microbiota implicated in bone biology. Dubbed osteomicrobiology, this emerging field aims to understand the relationship between the gut microbiome and the bone microenvironment in both health and disease. Importantly, the key to one of the major clinical challenges facing both bone and cancer biologists: bone metastasis, may lie in the field of osteomicrobiology; however the link between gut bacteria and bone metastasis is only beginning to be explored. This review will discuss (i) osteomicrobiology as an emerging field, and (ii) the current understanding of osteomicrobiology in the context of cancer in bone.}, } @article {pmid38273950, year = {2023}, author = {Thomas, J and Frugoli, J}, title = {Mutation of BAM2 rescues the sunn hypernodulation phenotype in Medicago truncatula, suggesting that a signaling pathway like CLV1/BAM in Arabidopsis affects nodule number.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1334190}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1334190}, pmid = {38273950}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The unique evolutionary adaptation of legumes for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis leading to nodulation is tightly regulated by the host plant. The autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway negatively regulates the number of nodules formed in response to the carbon/nitrogen metabolic status of the shoot and root by long-distance signaling to and from the shoot and root. Central to AON signaling in the shoots of Medicago truncatula is SUNN, a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase with high sequence similarity with CLAVATA1 (CLV1), part of a class of receptors in Arabidopsis involved in regulating stem cell populations in the root and shoot. This class of receptors in Arabidopsis includes the BARELY ANY MERISTEM family, which, like CLV1, binds to CLE peptides and interacts with CLV1 to regulate meristem development. M. truncatula contains five members of the BAM family, but only MtBAM1 and MtBAM2 are highly expressed in the nodules 48 hours after inoculation. Plants carry mutations in individual MtBAMs, and several double BAM mutant combinations all displayed wild-type nodule number phenotypes. However, Mtbam2 suppressed the sunn-5 hypernodulation phenotype and partially rescued the short root length phenotype of sunn-5 when present in a sunn-5 background. Grafting determined that bam2 suppresses supernodulation from the roots, regardless of the SUNN status of the root. Overexpression of MtBAM2 in wild-type plants increases nodule numbers, while overexpression of MtBAM2 in some sunn mutants rescues the hypernodulation phenotype, but not the hypernodulation phenotypes of AON mutant rdn1-2 or crn. Relative expression measurements of the nodule transcription factor MtWOX5 downstream of the putative bam2 sunn-5 complex revealed disruption of meristem signaling; while both bam2 and bam2 sunn-5 influence MtWOX5 expression, the expression changes are in different directions. We propose a genetic model wherein the specific root interactions of BAM2/SUNN are critical for signaling in nodule meristem cell homeostasis in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid38272948, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, Y and Wang, M and Li, J and Zhang, J and Zhang, L}, title = {A chromosome-level genome assembly of a deep-sea symbiotic Aplacophora mollusc Chaetoderma sp.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {133}, pmid = {38272948}, issn = {2052-4463}, support = {41976088//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {The worm-shaped, shell-less Caudofoveata is one of the least known groups of molluscs. As early-branching molluscs, the lack of high-quality genomes hinders our understanding of their evolution and ecology. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of Chaetoderma sp. combining PacBio, Illumina, and high-resolution chromosome conformation capture sequencing. The final assembly has a size of 2.45 Gb, with a scaffold N50 length of 141.46 Mb, and is anchored to 17 chromosomes. Gene annotations showed a high level of accuracy and completeness, with 23,675 predicted protein-coding genes and 94.44% of the metazoan conserved genes by BUSCO assessment. We further present 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the gut microbiota in Chaetoderma sp., which was dominated by the chemoautotrophic bacteria (phylum Gammaproteobacteria). This chromosome-level genome assembly presents the first genome for the Caudofoveata, which constitutes an important resource for studies ranging from molluscan evolution, symposium, to deep-sea adaptation.}, } @article {pmid38272143, year = {2024}, author = {Xu, W and Wang, Z and Lu, B and Guo, G and Zhao, C and Zhao, Y}, title = {Effect of different concentrations of gibberellins on attenuation of nutrient and antibiotics from aquaculture wastewater using microalgae-bacteria-fungi consortia system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130369}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130369}, pmid = {38272143}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {This study assessed the effect of gibberellins (GAs) concentrations on antibiotic and nutrient removal using diverse microalgal-bacterial-fungal consortia. Five systems (Chlorella vulgaris, T1; C. vulgaris + S395-2 + Clonostachys rosea, T2; C. vulgaris + S395-2 + Ganoderma lucidum, T3; C. vulgaris + S395-2 + Pleurotus pulmonarius, T4; and C. vulgaris + S395-2, T5) were established, and optimal conditions and effective symbiosis were applied to improve antibiotic and nutrient removal. Consortium growth was T2 > T3 > T5 > T4 > T1, while GA impact ranked 50 mg L[-1] > 20 mg L[-1] > 80 mg L[-1] > 0 mg L[-1]. After 7 days at 50 mg L[-1] GAs, total nitrogen (TN), NH4-N, NO3-N, and total phosphorous (TP) removal reached 85.97 %, 78.08 %, 86.59 %, and 94.39 %, respectively. Florfenicol, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, ofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole removal efficiencies were 67.77 %, 98.29 %, 90.47 %, and 94.92 %, respectively. These findings highlight GAs' significant role in enhancing antibiotic and nutrient removal.}, } @article {pmid38272108, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, Q and Evans, JD}, title = {Host switch by honey bee parasitic mites leads to symbiont diversification.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {108068}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2024.108068}, pmid = {38272108}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {Host-parasite co-evolution is a reciprocal genetic change; however, the parasite may switch to a novel host, deviating from conventional co-evolution. Varroa destructor is a native parasite of the honey bee Apis cerana, and the mite has established infestation in another honey bee, Apis mellifera, causing colony failure. When mites switched to the novel host, they formed a distinct population from mites that remained on the native host. Consequently, this led to divergence in the microbiota associated with mites in two host populations. The microbes were conserved at the species level reflected by alpha diversity, with substantial relative abundance variance. Microbes found in mites were distinct from the bee microbiota. They mainly were pathogenic with antibiotic resistance, while a few bacterial taxa were previously found in honey bees, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomanas aeruginosa. These symbionts may transfer between the mites and honey bees.}, } @article {pmid38271606, year = {2024}, author = {Komori, S and Yamabe, S and Matsuta, R and Yamazaki, Y and Fukuoka, M and Sato, S and Takada, K}, title = {Mebamamide C, A Deoxy Analogue of Mebamamides in Bryopsis Marine Green Alga and Two Elysia Sacoglossan Mollusks.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbae007}, pmid = {38271606}, issn = {1347-6947}, abstract = {Kahalalides, originally isolated from the sacoglossan mollusk Elysia rufescens, have been found in various Elysia species and Bryopsis sp., with over twenty variants identified to date. These compounds are biosynthesized by Candidatus Endobryopsis kahalalidefaciens within Bryopsis species. In this study, we report the isolation and structural determination of a new cyclic depsipeptide, mebamamide C (1), from Bryopsis sp. The planar structure was determined by spectroscopic data analyses, and the absolute configurations were determined using Marfey's method and modified Mosher's method. Additionally, our study explores the chemical relationship between Bryopsis algae and Elysia mollusks. The individual chemical profiles of these marine organisms highlight a fascinating aspect of marine chemical ecology. The distinct, species-specific chemical profiles observed in Elysia species imply the possibility of a symbiotic relationship with the kahalalide-producing bacteria.}, } @article {pmid38271524, year = {2024}, author = {Ivanov, S and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Receptor-associated kinases control the lipid provisioning program in plant-fungal symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {383}, number = {6681}, pages = {443-448}, doi = {10.1126/science.ade1124}, pmid = {38271524}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {The mutualistic association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi requires intracellular accommodation of the fungal symbiont and maintenance by means of lipid provisioning. Symbiosis signaling through lysin motif (LysM) receptor-like kinases and a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 2 (DMI2) activates transcriptional programs that underlie fungal passage through the epidermis and accommodation in cortical cells. We show that two Medicago truncatula cortical cell-specific, membrane-bound proteins of a CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE-LIKE (CKL) family associate with, and are phosphorylation substrates of, DMI2 and a subset of the LysM receptor kinases. CKL1 and CKL2 are required for AM symbiosis and control expression of transcription factors that regulate part of the lipid provisioning program. Onset of lipid provisioning is coupled with arbuscule branching and with the REDUCED ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA 1 (RAM1) regulon for complete endosymbiont accommodation.}, } @article {pmid38270981, year = {2024}, author = {Luan, JB}, title = {Insect Bacteriocytes: Adaptation, Development, and Evolution.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {81-98}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-010323-124159}, pmid = {38270981}, issn = {1545-4487}, abstract = {Bacteriocytes are host cells specialized to harbor symbionts in certain insect taxa. The adaptation, development, and evolution of bacteriocytes underlie insect symbiosis maintenance. Bacteriocytes carry enriched host genes of insect and bacterial origin whose transcription can be regulated by microRNAs, which are involved in host-symbiont metabolic interactions. Recognition proteins of peptidoglycan, the bacterial cell wall component, and autophagy regulate symbiont abundance in bacteriocytes. Horizontally transferred genes expressed in bacteriocytes influence the metabolism of symbiont peptidoglycan, which may affect the bacteriocyte immune response against symbionts. Bacteriocytes release or transport symbionts into ovaries for symbiont vertical transmission. Bacteriocyte development and death, regulated by transcriptional factors, are variable in different insect species. The evolutionary origin of insect bacteriocytes remains unclear. Future research should elucidate bacteriocyte cell biology, the molecular interplay between bacteriocyte metabolic and immune functions, the genetic basis of bacteriocyte origin, and the coordination between bacteriocyte function and host biology in diverse symbioses.}, } @article {pmid38270381, year = {2024}, author = {Fung, BL and Esin, JJ and Visick, KL}, title = {Vibrio fischeri: a model for host-associated biofilm formation.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0037023}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00370-23}, pmid = {38270381}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {Multicellular communities of adherent bacteria known as biofilms are often detrimental in the context of a human host, making it important to study their formation and dispersal, especially in animal models. One such model is the symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Juvenile squid hatch aposymbiotically and selectively acquire their symbiont from natural seawater containing diverse environmental microbes. Successful pairing is facilitated by ciliary movements that direct bacteria to quiet zones on the surface of the squid's symbiotic light organ where V. fischeri forms a small aggregate or biofilm. Subsequently, the bacteria disperse from that aggregate to enter the organ, ultimately reaching and colonizing deep crypt spaces. Although transient, aggregate formation is critical for optimal colonization and is tightly controlled. In vitro studies have identified a variety of polysaccharides and proteins that comprise the extracellular matrix. Some of the most well-characterized matrix factors include the symbiosis polysaccharide (SYP), cellulose polysaccharide, and LapV adhesin. In this review, we discuss these components, their regulation, and other less understood V. fischeri biofilm contributors. We also highlight what is currently known about dispersal from these aggregates and host cues that may promote it. Finally, we briefly describe discoveries gleaned from the study of other V. fischeri isolates. By unraveling the complexities involved in V. fischeri's control over matrix components, we may begin to understand how the host environment triggers transient biofilm formation and dispersal to promote this unique symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid38269486, year = {2024}, author = {Allen-Waller, L and Jones, KG and Martynek, MP and Brown, KT and Barott, KL}, title = {Comparative physiology reveals heat stress disrupts acid-base homeostasis independent of symbiotic state in the model cnidarian Exaiptasia diaphana.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.246222}, pmid = {38269486}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {NSF-OCE 577582//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; New Investigator Award 581073//Charles E. Kaufman Foundation/ ; 2022 Career Services Summer Funding Grant//University of Pennsylvania - Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships/ ; //University of Pennsylvania/ ; }, abstract = {Climate change threatens symbiotic cnidarians' survival by causing photosymbiosis breakdown in a process known as bleaching. Direct effects of temperature on cnidarian host physiology remain difficult to describe because heatwaves depress symbiont performance, leading to host stress and starvation. The symbiotic sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana provides an opportune system to disentangle direct vs. indirect heat effects on the host, since it can survive indefinitely without symbionts. We tested the hypothesis that heat directly impairs cnidarian physiology by comparing symbiotic and aposymbiotic individuals of two laboratory subpopulations of a commonly used clonal strain of E. diaphana, CC7. We exposed anemones to a range of temperatures (ambient, +2°C, +4°C, +6°C) for 15-18 days, then measured their symbiont population densities, autotrophic carbon assimilation and translocation, photosynthesis, respiration, and host intracellular pH (pHi). Symbiotic anemones from the two subpopulations differed in size and symbiont density and exhibited distinct heat stress responses, highlighting the importance of acclimation to different laboratory conditions. Specifically, the cohort with higher initial symbiont densities experienced dose-dependent symbiont loss with increasing temperature and a corresponding decline in host photosynthate accumulation. In contrast, the cohort with lower initial symbiont densities did not lose symbionts or assimilate less photosynthate when heated, similar to the response of aposymbiotic anemones. However, anemone pHi decreased at higher temperatures regardless of cohort, symbiont presence, or photosynthate translocation, indicating that heat consistently disrupts cnidarian acid-base homeostasis independent of symbiotic status or mutualism breakdown. Thus, pH regulation may be a critical vulnerability for cnidarians in a changing climate.}, } @article {pmid38269293, year = {2024}, author = {Liao, Z and Zhang, T and Lei, W and Wang, Y and Yu, J and Wang, Y and Chai, K and Wang, G and Zhang, H and Zhang, X}, title = {A telomere-to-telomere reference genome of ficus (Ficus hispida) provides new insights into sex determination.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {uhad257}, pmid = {38269293}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {A high-quality reference genome is indispensable for resolving biologically essential traits. Ficus hispida is a dioecious plant. A complete Ficus reference genome will be crucial for understanding their sex evolution and important biological characteristics, such as aerial roots, mutualistic symbiosis with ficus-wasps, and fruiting from old stems. Here, we generated a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome for F. hispida using PacBio HiFi and Oxford Nanopore Ultra-long sequencing technologies. The genome contiguity and completeness has shown improvement compared with the previously released genome, with the annotation of six centromeres and 28 telomeres. We have refined our previously reported 2-Mb male-specific region into a 7.2-Mb genomic region containing 51 newly predicted genes and candidate sex-determination genes AG2 and AG3. Many of these genes showed extremely low expression, likely attributed to hypermethylation in the gene body and promoter regions. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) revealed that AG2 and AG3 are related to the regulation of stamen development in male flowers, while the AG1 gene is responsible for regulating female flowers' defense responses and secondary metabolite processes. Comparative analysis of GRNs showed that the NAC, WRKY, and MYB transcription factor families dominate the female GRN, whereas the MADS and MYB transcription factor families are prevalent in the male GRN.}, } @article {pmid38268341, year = {2024}, author = {Dauphin, B and Peter, M}, title = {Tracking signatures of selection in natural populations of ectomycorrhizal fungi - progress, challenges, and prospects.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19553}, pmid = {38268341}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {IZSEZ0_220684/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, } @article {pmid38266561, year = {2024}, author = {Sulieman, S and Sheteiwy, MS and Abdelrahman, M and Tran, LP}, title = {γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) in N2-fixing-legume symbiosis: Metabolic flux and carbon/nitrogen homeostasis in responses to abiotic constraints.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {108362}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108362}, pmid = {38266561}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Nodule symbiosis is an energetic process that demands a tremendous carbon (C) cost, which massively increases in responses to environmental stresses. Notably, most common respiratory pathways (e.g., glycolysis and Krebs cycle) that sustain nitrogenase activity and subsequent nitrogen (N) assimilation (amino acid formation) display a noncyclic mode of C flux. In such circumstances, the nodule's energy charge could markedly decrease, leading to a lower symbiotic activity under stresses. The host plant then attempts to induce alternative robust metabolic pathways to minimize the C expenditure and compensate for the loss in respiratory substrates. GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) shunt appears to be among the highly conserved metabolic bypass induced in responses to stresses. Thus, it can be suggested that GABA, via its primary biosynthetic pathway (GABA shunt), is simultaneously induced to circumvent stress-susceptible decarboxylating portion of the Krebs cycle and to replenish symbiosome with energy and C skeletons for enhancing nitrogenase activity and N assimilation besides the additional C costs expended in the metabolic stress acclimations (e.g., biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and excretion of anions). The GABA-mediated C/N balance is strongly associated with interrelated processes, including pH regulation, oxygen (O2) protection, osmoregulation, cellular redox control, and N storage. Furthermore, it has been anticipated that GABA could be implicated in other functions beyond its metabolic role (i.e., signaling and transport). GABA helps plants possess remarkable metabolic plasticity, which might thus assist nodules in attenuating stressful events.}, } @article {pmid38266080, year = {2024}, author = {de la Rosa, S and Del Mar Rigual, M and Vargiu, P and Ortega, S and Djouder, N}, title = {Endogenous retroviruses shape pluripotency specification in mouse embryos.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {eadk9394}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adk9394}, pmid = {38266080}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {The smooth and precise transition from totipotency to pluripotency is a key process in embryonic development, generating pluripotent stem cells capable of forming all cell types. While endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are essential for early development, their precise roles in this transition remains mysterious. Using cutting-edge genetic and biochemical techniques in mice, we identify MERVL-gag, a retroviral protein, as a crucial modulator of pluripotent factors OCT4 and SOX2 during lineage specification. MERVL-gag tightly operates with URI, a prefoldin protein that concurs with pluripotency bias in mouse blastomeres, and which is indeed required for totipotency-to-pluripotency transition. Accordingly, URI loss promotes a stable totipotent-like state and embryo arrest at 2C stage. Mechanistically, URI binds and shields OCT4 and SOX2 from proteasome degradation, while MERVL-gag displaces URI from pluripotent factor interaction, causing their degradation. Our findings reveal the symbiotic coevolution of ERVs with their host cells to ensure the smooth and timely progression of early embryo development.}, } @article {pmid38265722, year = {2024}, author = {Cutiño, AM and Del Carmen Sánchez-Aguilar, M and Ruiz-Sáinz, JE and Del Rosario Espuny, M and Ollero, FJ and Medina, C}, title = {A Novel System to Selective Tagging of Sinorhizobium fredii Symbiotic Plasmids.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {247-259}, pmid = {38265722}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Humans ; *Sinorhizobium fredii ; Clone Cells ; Homologous Recombination ; Kanamycin ; Plasmids ; *Skin Neoplasms ; }, abstract = {Conventional systems used to tag and transfer symbiotic plasmids (pSyms) of rhizobial strains are based in mutagenesis with transposons. In those processes, numerous clones must be analyzed to find one of them with the transposon inserted in the pSym. Following this strategy, the insertion might interrupt a gene that can affect the symbiotic phenotype of the bacteria tagged. Here, we have developed a new system based in homologous recombination that generates Sinorhizobium fredii strains with pSyms tagged by the insertion of a suicide vector which harbor a truncated copy of S. fredii HH103 nodZ gene, a mob site, and a kanamycin-resistant gene. When it is introduced by conjugation in a S. fredii strain, the vector integrates in pSym by only one recombination event. This pSym tagged can be transferred in matting experiments to other strains in the presence of a helper plasmid. Following this method, we have tagged several strains and transferred their pSyms to a recipient strain demonstrating the potential of this new system.}, } @article {pmid38265721, year = {2024}, author = {Jacott, CN and Lozano-Morillo, S and Del Cerro, P}, title = {Nod Factor Lipopolysaccharide Purification to Study Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Symbiosis with Legumes.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {237-245}, pmid = {38265721}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Symbiosis ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Vegetables ; *Rhizobium ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Nod factors (NF) are lipochitooligosaccharides produced by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. They are key components of the rhizobia-plant signaling exchange required for symbiosis. Thus, techniques to extract, detect, characterize, and purify NF are crucial for the identification of both rhizobial and plant mechanisms underlying nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Here, we describe a method for NF detection using radiolabeling and thin-layer chromatography. Furthermore, we describe a technique for purifying NF for downstream analyses.}, } @article {pmid38265720, year = {2024}, author = {Ayala-García, P and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Müsken, M and Ollero, FJ and Borrero-De Acuña, JM and Pérez-Montaño, F}, title = {Isolation of Rhizobial Extracellular Membrane Vesicles from Bacteroids.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {229-236}, pmid = {38265720}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Membranes ; *Extracellular Vesicles ; *Fabaceae ; Symbiosis ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {Extracellular-membrane vesicles (EMVs) are spherical buds of the extracellular membrane, commonly produced by Gram-negative bacteria, known to mediate intricate inter-kingdom communication. In this context, comprehensive research dissecting the role of EMVs in one of the most complex nature-occurring molecular dialogues, rhizobium-legume symbiosis, has been so far neglected. During the different stages of the symbiotic process, rhizobia and their host plants establish a very specific and controlled intercellular trafficking of signal molecules. Thus, as conveyors of a broad range of molecules into the target cell, EMVs are gaining weight in the field. Here, we describe a detailed protocol to isolate EMVs from bacteroids of legume nodules, opening a new door for discovering new authors of the symbiotic process.}, } @article {pmid38265719, year = {2024}, author = {Ayala-García, P and Moreno-de Castro, N and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Müsken, M and Arce-Rodríguez, A and Pérez-Montaño, F and Borrero-de Acuña, JM}, title = {Isolation, Quantification, and Visualization of Extracellular Membrane Vesicles in Rhizobia Under Free-Living Conditions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {219-228}, pmid = {38265719}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Social Conditions ; Membranes ; Biological Transport ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a group of soil proteobacteria that are able to establish a symbiotic interaction with legumes. These bacteria are capable to fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia within specific plant root organs called nodules. The rhizobia-legume interaction is established by a complex molecular dialogue that starts with flavonoids exudated by the plant roots. In response, signaling molecules known as Nod factors (NFs) are secreted by the bacteria. These factors are sensed by specific plant receptors that trigger a downstream signaling cascade leading to rhizobium-specific intracellular colonization of the root hair via the formation of infection threads and the eventual development of nodules on roots. In these organs, rhizobia can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere for the plant in exchange for photosynthates and the appropriate environment for nitrogen fixation. Recently, it has been demonstrated that extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs) produced by some rhizobia carry NFs. EMVs are proteolipidic structures that are secreted to the milieu from the bacterial membranes and are involved in several important biological processes, including intercellular communication. Thus far, little is known about rhizobia vesicles, and further studies are needed to understand their functions, including their role as transporting vessels of signaling molecules during the process of symbiosis. Here, we present a detailed protocol to isolate high-purity EMVs from free-living cultured rhizobia, test their integrity, and quantify their abundance.}, } @article {pmid38265718, year = {2024}, author = {Fuentes-Romero, F and Alías-Villegas, C and Navarro-Gómez, P and Acosta-Jurado, S and Bernabéu-Roda, LM and Cuéllar, V and Soto, MJ and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Methods for Studying Swimming and Surface Motilities in Rhizobia.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {205-217}, pmid = {38265718}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Swimming ; *Fabaceae ; Vegetables ; Flagella ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil proteobacteria able to establish a nitrogen-fixing interaction with legumes. In this interaction, rhizobia must colonize legume roots, infect them, and become hosted inside new organs formed by the plants and called nodules. Rhizobial motility, not being essential for symbiosis, might affect the degree of success of the interaction with legumes. Because of this, the study of rhizobial motility (either swimming or surface motility) might be of interest for research teams working on rhizobial symbiotic performance. In this chapter, we describe the protocols we use in our laboratories for studying the different types of motilities exhibited by Sinorhizobium fredii and Sinorhizobium meliloti, as well as for analyzing the presence of flagella in these bacteria. All these protocols might be used (or adapted) for studying bacterial motility in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid38265717, year = {2024}, author = {García-Tomsig, NI and Guedes-García, SK and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {A Workflow for the Functional Characterization of Noncoding RNAs in Legume Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {179-203}, pmid = {38265717}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Workflow ; Vegetables ; Bacteria ; *RNA, Small Untranslated ; RNA, Messenger ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; }, abstract = {Computational comparative genomics and, later, high-throughput transcriptome profiling (RNAseq) have uncovered a plethora of small noncoding RNA species (sRNAs) with potential regulatory roles in bacteria. A large fraction of sRNAs are differentially regulated in response to different biotic and abiotic stimuli and have the ability to fine-tune posttranscriptional reprogramming of gene expression through protein-assisted antisense interactions with trans-encoded target mRNAs. However, this level of gene regulation is still understudied in most non-model bacteria. Here, we compile experimental methods to detect expression, determine 5'/3'-ends, assess transcriptional regulation, generate mutants, and validate candidate target mRNAs of trans-acting sRNAs (trans-sRNAs) identified in the nitrogen-fixing α-rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. The workflow, molecular tools, and methods are suited to investigate the function of newly identified base-pairing trans-sRNAs in phylogenetically related α-rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid38265715, year = {2024}, author = {Tomás-Gallardo, L and Cabrera, JJ and Mesa, S}, title = {Surface Plasmon Resonance as a Tool to Elucidate the Molecular Determinants of Key Transcriptional Regulators Controlling Rhizobial Lifestyles.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2751}, number = {}, pages = {145-163}, pmid = {38265715}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Humans ; *Rhizobium ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; Oxygen ; DNA ; Transcription Factors ; }, abstract = {Bacteria must be provided with a battery of tools integrated into regulatory networks, in order to respond and, consequently, adapt their physiology to changing environments. Within these networks, transcription factors finely orchestrate the expression of genes in response to a variety of signals, by recognizing specific DNA sequences at their promoter regions. Rhizobia are host-interacting soil bacteria that face severe changes to adapt their physiology from free-living conditions to the nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic state inside root nodules associated with leguminous plants. One of these cues is the low partial pressure of oxygen within root nodules.Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) constitutes a technique that allows to measure molecular interactions dynamics at real time by detecting changes in the refractive index of a surface. Here, we implemented the SPR methodology to analyze the discriminatory determinants of transcription factors for specific interaction with their target genes. We focused on FixK2, a CRP/FNR-type protein with a central role in the complex oxygen-responsive regulatory network in the soybean endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Our study unveiled relevant residues for protein-DNA interaction as well as allowed us to monitor kinetics and stability protein-DNA complex. We believe that this approach can be employed for the characterization of other relevant transcription factors which can assist to the better understanding of the adaptation of bacteria with agronomic or human interest to their different modes of life.}, } @article {pmid37585608, year = {2024}, author = {Shao, Y and Mason, CJ and Felton, GW}, title = {Toward an Integrated Understanding of the Lepidoptera Microbiome.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {117-137}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-020723-102548}, pmid = {37585608}, issn = {1545-4487}, abstract = {Research over the past 30 years has led to a widespread acceptance that insects establish widespread and diverse associations with microorganisms. More recently, microbiome research has been accelerating in lepidopteran systems, leading to a greater understanding of both endosymbiont and gut microorganisms and how they contribute to integral aspects of the host. Lepidoptera are associated with a robust assemblage of microorganisms, some of which may be stable and routinely detected in larval and adult hosts, while others are ephemeral and transient. Certain microorganisms that populate Lepidoptera can contribute significantly to the hosts' performance and fitness, while others are inconsequential. We emphasize the context-dependent nature of the interactions between players. While our review discusses the contemporary literature, there are major avenues yet to be explored to determine both the fundamental aspects of host-microbe interactions and potential applications for the lepidopteran microbiome; we describe these avenues after our synthesis.}, } @article {pmid38264483, year = {2023}, author = {Xie, C and Ouyang, H and Zheng, H and Wang, M and Gu, J and Wang, Z and Tang, Y and Xiao, L}, title = {Community structure and association network of prokaryotic community in surface sediments from the Bering-Chukchi shelf and adjacent sea areas.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1312419}, pmid = {38264483}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Bering-Chukchi shelf is one of the world's most productive areas and characterized by high benthic biomass. Sedimentary microbial communities play a crucial role in the remineralization of organic matter and associated biogeochemical cycles, reflecting both short-term changes in the environment and more consistent long-term environmental characteristics in a given habitat. In order to get a better understanding of the community structure of sediment-associated prokaryotes, surface sediments were collected from 26 stations in the Bering-Chukchi shelf and adjacent northern deep seas in this study. Prokaryote community structures were analyzed by metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene, and potential interactions among prokaryotic groups were analyzed by co-occurrence networks. Relationships between the prokaryote community and environmental factors were assessed. Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Flavobacteriia were the dominant bacterial classes, contributing 35.0, 18.9, and 17.3% of the bacterial reads, respectively. The phototrophic cyanobacteria accounted for 2.7% of the DNA reads and occurred more abundantly in the Bering-Chukchi shelf. Prokaryotic community assemblages were different in the northern deep seas compared to the Bering-Chukchi shelf, represented by the lowered diversity and the increased abundant operational Taxonomic Units (OTU), suggesting that the abundant taxa may play more important roles in the northern deep seas. Correlation analysis showed that latitude, water depth, and nutrients were important factors affecting the prokaryote community structure. Abundant OTUs were distributed widely in the study area. The complex association networks indicated a stable microbial community structure in the study area. The high positive interactions (81.8-97.7%) in this study suggested that symbiotic and/or cooperative relationships accounted for a dominant proportion of the microbial networks. However, the dominant taxa were generally located at the edge of the co-occurrence networks rather than in the major modules. Most of the keystone OTUs were intermediately abundant OTUs with relative reads between 0.01 and 1%, suggesting that taxa with moderate biomass might have considerable impacts on the structure and function of the microbial community. This study enriched the understanding of prokaryotic community in surface sediments from the Bering-Chukchi shelf and adjacent sea areas.}, } @article {pmid38264162, year = {2024}, author = {Dungan, AM and Tandon, K and Jameson, V and Gotze, CR and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {A targeted approach to enrich host-associated bacteria for metagenomic sequencing.}, journal = {FEMS microbes}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {xtad021}, pmid = {38264162}, issn = {2633-6685}, abstract = {Multicellular eukaryotic organisms are hosts to communities of bacteria that reside on or inside their tissues. Often the eukaryotic members of the system contribute to high proportions of metagenomic sequencing reads, making it challenging to achieve sufficient sequencing depth to evaluate bacterial ecology. Stony corals are one such complex community; however, separation of bacterial from eukaryotic (primarily coral and algal symbiont) cells has so far not been successful. Using a combination of hybridization chain reaction fluorescence in situ hybridization and fluorescence activated cell sorting (HCR-FISH + FACS), we sorted two populations of bacteria from five genotypes of the coral Acropora loripes, targeting (i) Endozoicomonas spp, and (ii) all other bacteria. NovaSeq sequencing resulted in 67-91 M reads per sample, 55%-90% of which were identified as bacterial. Most reads were taxonomically assigned to the key coral-associated family, Endozoicomonadaceae, with Vibrionaceae also abundant. Endozoicomonadaceae were 5x more abundant in the 'Endozoicomonas' population, highlighting the success of the dual-labelling approach. This method effectively enriched coral samples for bacteria with <1% contamination from host and algal symbionts. The application of this method will allow researchers to decipher the functional potential of coral-associated bacteria. This method can also be adapted to accommodate other host-associated communities.}, } @article {pmid38264031, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, JJ and Yang, XQ and Li, ZY and Miao, JY and Li, SB and Zhang, WP and Lin, YC and Lin, LB}, title = {The role of symbiotic fungi in the life cycle of Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae): a comprehensive review.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1309038}, pmid = {38264031}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Gastrodia elata Blume, a fully mycoheterotrophic perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae, is a traditional Chinese herb with medicinal and edible value. Interestingly, G. elata requires symbiotic relationships with Mycena and Armillaria strains for seed germination and plant growth, respectively. However, there is no comprehensive summary of the symbiotic mechanism between fungi and G. elata. Here, the colonization and digestion of hyphae, the bidirectional exchange of nutrients, the adaptation of fungi and G. elata to symbiosis, and the role of microorganisms and secondary metabolites in the symbiotic relationship between fungi and G. elata are summarized. We comprehensively and deeply analyzed the mechanism of symbiosis between G. elata and fungi from three perspectives: morphology, nutrition, and molecules. The aim of this review was to enrich the understanding of the mutualistic symbiosis mechanisms between plants and fungi and lay a theoretical foundation for the ecological cultivation of G. elata.}, } @article {pmid38262927, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, S and Imad, S and Hussain, S and Xiao, S and Yu, X and Cao, H}, title = {Sex, health status and habitat alter the community composition and assembly processes of symbiotic bacteria in captive frogs.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {34}, pmid = {38262927}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {42077026, 41371262//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Frogs are critical economic animals essential to agricultural ecosystem equilibrium. However, Meningitis-like Infectious Disease (MID) often affects them in agricultural settings. While frog-associated microbiota contribute to elemental cycling and immunity, the effects of frog sex and health on gut bacteria remain understudied, and the relationship between frog habitat and soil microbes is unclear. We aimed to determine how frog sex, health status and habitat influence symbiotic bacteria and community assembly mechanism to provide guidance for sustainable frog farming and conservation.

RESULTS: We employed 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate gut microbiota differences in relation to frog sex and health status. We also compared symbiotic communities in frog-aggregation, native and soybean soil on the farm. Results showed that gut bacterial β-diversity and taxonomy were markedly influenced by frog sex and health. Healthy frogs had more robust gut bacterial metabolism than frogs infected with MID. Cooccurrence network analysis revealed that healthy female frogs had more complex microbial network structure than males; however, diseased males showed the greatest network complexity. The assembly mechanism of gut bacteria in male frogs was dominated by deterministic processes, whereas in female frogs it was dominated by stochastic processes. Among symbiotic bacteria in frog habitat soils, deterministic processes predominantly shaped the community assembly of soybean soil. In particular, soybean soil was enriched in pathogens and nitrogen functions, whereas frog-aggregation soil was markedly increased in sulphur respiration and hydrocarbon degradation.

CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that sex mainly alters the interaction network and assembly mechanism of frog intestinal bacteria; MID infection significantly inhibits the metabolic functions of intestinal bacteria. Furthermore, diverse frog habitat soils could shape more symbiotic bacteria to benefit frog farming. Our findings provide new horizons for symbiotic bacteria among frogs, which could contribute to sustainable agriculture and ecological balance.}, } @article {pmid38262802, year = {2024}, author = {Deutsch, C and Inomura, K and Luo, YW and Wang, YP}, title = {Projecting global biological N2 fixation under climate warming across land and ocean.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.12.007}, pmid = {38262802}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Biological N2 fixation sustains the global inventory of nitrogenous nutrients essential for the productivity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Like most metabolic processes, rates of biological N2 fixation vary strongly with temperature, making it sensitive to climate change, but a global projection across land and ocean is lacking. Here we use compilations of field and laboratory measurements to reveal a relationship between N2 fixation rates and temperature that is similar in both domains despite large taxonomic and environmental differences. Rates of N2 fixation increase gradually to a thermal optimum around ~25°C, and decline more rapidly toward a thermal maximum, which is lower in the ocean than on land. In both realms, the observed temperature sensitivities imply that climate warming this century could decrease N2 fixation rates by ~50% in the tropics while increasing rates by ~50% in higher latitudes. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding the physiological and ecological mechanisms that underpin and modulate the observed temperature dependence of global N2 fixation rates, facilitating cross-fertilization of marine and terrestrial research to assess its response to climate change.}, } @article {pmid38262702, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, JP and Liang, W and Liu, CW and Xie, F and Murray, JD}, title = {Unraveling the rhizobial infection thread.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae017}, pmid = {38262702}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Most legumes can form an endosymbiotic association with soil bacteria called rhizobia, which colonize specialized root structures called nodules where they fix nitrogen. To colonize nodule cells, rhizobia must first traverse the epidermis and outer cortical cell layers of the root. In most legumes, this involves formation of the infection thread, an intracellular structure that becomes colonized by rhizobia, guiding their passage through the outer cell layers of the root and into the newly formed nodule cells. In this brief review we recount the early research milestones relating to the rhizobial infection thread and highlight two relatively recent advances in the symbiotic infection mechanism, the eukaryotically conserved 'MYB-AUR1-MAP' mitotic module, which links cytokinesis mechanisms to intracellular infection, and the discovery of the 'infectosome' complex, which guides infection thread growth. We also discuss the potential intertwining of the two modules and the hypothesis that cytokinesis served as a foundation for intracellular infection of symbiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid38262442, year = {2024}, author = {Ruiz-Durán, S and Tenorio, CM and Vico-Zúñiga, I and Manzanares, S and Puertas-Prieto, A and Altmäe, S and Vargas, E}, title = {Microenvironment of the Lower Reproductive Tract: Focus on the Cervical Mucus Plug.}, journal = {Seminars in reproductive medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1055/s-0043-1778661}, pmid = {38262442}, issn = {1526-4564}, abstract = {The female lower reproductive tract microbiota is a complex ecosystem comprising various microorganisms that play a pivotal role in maintaining women's reproductive well-being. During pregnancy, the vaginal microbiota undergoes dynamic changes that are important for a successful gestation. This review summarizes the implications of the cervical mucus plug microenvironment and its profound impact on reproductive health. Further, the symbiotic relationship between the vaginal microbiome and the cervical mucus plug is highlighted, with a special emphasis on how this natural barrier serves as a guardian against ascending infections. Understanding this complex host-microbes interplay could pave the way for innovative approaches to improve women's reproductive health and fertility.}, } @article {pmid38261223, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, C and Yang, Q and Zhou, F and Ai, R and Cheng, L}, title = {Assessing production-living-ecological spaces and its urban-rural gradients in Xiangyang City, China: insights from land-use function symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38261223}, issn = {1614-7499}, support = {42101282//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Understanding the formation process and pattern of production-living-ecological spaces (PLES) is crucial for sustainable land-use management and adaptive city governance. However, previous studies have neglected the symbiotic relationships between land-use functions (LUFs) in identifying and optimizing PLES. To address this gap, this paper proposes a technical framework for assessing PLES from a LUF symbiosis perspective. A case study was conducted in Xiangyang City, China, to identify PLES and analyze its urban-rural differentiation using the symbiosis degree model and landscape pattern indices. Our findings revealed that the symbiotic relationships between LUFs varied. There were 25 combination types of PLES in Xiangyang City, with significantly varied area proportions and spatial distribution. The landscape types and fragmentation of PLES increased along with the gradient change from the old urban area to the rural area. Furthermore, we proposed a PLES optimization strategy involving LUFs symbiosis and the urban-rural gradient. Our study enriches the dimensions of PLES assessment and supports better-coordinated planning and the protection of PLES.}, } @article {pmid38260880, year = {2023}, author = {Nshimiyimana, JB and Zhao, K and Wang, W and Kong, W}, title = {Diazotrophic abundance and community structure associated with three meadow plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1292860}, pmid = {38260880}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic diazotrophs form associations with legumes and substantially fix nitrogen into soils. However, grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are dominated by non-legume plants, such as Kobresia tibetica. Herein, we investigated the diazotrophic abundance, composition, and community structure in the soils and roots of three plants, non-legume K. tibetica and Kobresia humilis and the legume Oxytropis ochrocephala, using molecular methods targeting nifH gene. Diazotrophs were abundantly observed in both bulk and rhizosphere soils, as well as in roots of all three plants, but their abundance varied with plant type and soil. In both bulk and rhizosphere soils, K. tibetica showed the highest diazotroph abundance, whereas K. humilis had the lowest. In roots, O. ochrocephala and K. humilis showed the highest and the lowest diazotroph abundance, respectively. The bulk and rhizosphere soils exhibited similar diazotrophic community structure in both O. ochrocephala and K. tibetica, but were substantially distinct from the roots in both plants. Interestingly, the root diazotrophic community structures in legume O. ochrocephala and non-legume K. tibetica were similar. Diazotrophs in bulk and rhizosphere soils were more diverse than those in the roots of three plants. Rhizosphere soils of K. humilis were dominated by Actinobacteria, while rhizosphere soils and roots of K. tibetica were dominated by Verrumicrobia and Proteobacteria. The O. ochrocephala root diazotrophs were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria. These findings indicate that free-living diazotrophs abundantly and diversely occur in grassland soils dominated by non-legume plants, suggesting that these diazotrophs may play important roles in fixing nitrogen into soils on the plateau.}, } @article {pmid38260499, year = {2024}, author = {Speare, L and Zhao, L and Pavelsky, MN and Jackson, A and Smith, S and Tyagi, B and Sharpe, GC and Woo, M and Satkowiak, L and Bolton, T and Gifford, SM and Septer, AN}, title = {Flagella are required to coordinately activate competition and host colonization factors in response to a mechanical signal.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.12.31.573711}, pmid = {38260499}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Bacteria employ antagonistic strategies to eliminate competitors of an ecological niche. Contact-dependent mechanisms, such as the type VI secretion system (T6SS), are prevalent in host-associated bacteria, yet we know relatively little about how T6SS+ strains make contact with competitors in highly viscous environments, such as host mucus. To better understand how cells respond to and contact one another in such environments, we performed a genome-wide transposon mutant screen of the T6SS-wielding beneficial bacterial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri , and identified two sets of genes that are conditionally required for killing. LPS/capsule and flagellar-associated genes do not affect T6SS directly and are therefore not required for interbacterial killing when cell contact is forced yet are necessary for killing in high-viscosity liquid (hydrogel) where cell-cell contact must be biologically mediated. Quantitative transcriptomics revealed that V. fischeri significantly increases expression of both T6SS genes and cell surface modification factors upon transition from low-to high-viscosity media. Consistent with coincubation and fluorescence microscopy data, flagella are not required for T6SS expression in hydrogel. However, flagella play a key role in responding to the physical environment by promoting expression of the surface modification genes identified in our screen, as well as additional functional pathways important for host colonization including uptake of host-relevant iron and carbon sources, and nitric oxide detoxification enzymes. Our findings suggest that flagella may act as a mechanosensor for V. fischeri to coordinately activate competitive strategies and host colonization factors, underscoring the significance of the physical environment in directing complex bacterial behaviors.

SIGNIFICANCE: The physical environment can have dramatic effects on bacterial behavior, but little is known about how mechanical signals impact antagonistic interactions. Symbiotic bacteria use molecular weapons to eliminate competitors for limited space within highly viscous host tissue and mucus.To better understand how the physical environment affects competition and adhesion within eukaryotic hosts, we used quantitative transcriptomics to reveal the flagella-dependent transcriptional response to bacterial transition from lower to a higher viscosity environment. This work revealed the T6SS interbacterial weapon is coordinately activated with host colonization factors, emphasizing the importance of integrating activation of interbacterial weapons into host colonization pathways to enhance a symbiont's ability to successfully colonize the host while efficiently eliminating potential competitors from the host niche.}, } @article {pmid38260440, year = {2024}, author = {Quaiyum, S and Sun, J and Marchand, V and Sun, G and Reed, CJ and Motorin, Y and Dedon, PC and Minnick, MF and de Crécy-Lagard, V}, title = {Mapping the tRNA Modification Landscape of Bartonella henselae Houston I and Bartonella quintana Toulouse.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.01.08.574729}, pmid = {38260440}, abstract = {Transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications play a crucial role in maintaining translational fidelity and efficiency, and they may function as regulatory elements in stress response and virulence. Despite their pivotal roles, a comprehensive mapping of tRNA modifications and their associated synthesis genes is still limited, with a predominant focus on free-living bacteria. In this study, we employed a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating comparative genomics, mass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencing, to predict the set of tRNA modification genes responsible for tRNA maturation in two intracellular pathogens- Bartonella henselae Houston I and Bartonella quintana Toulouse, which are causative agents of cat-scratch disease and trench fever, respectively. This analysis presented challenges, particularly because of host RNA contamination, which served as a potential source of error. However, our approach predicted 26 genes responsible for synthesizing 23 distinct tRNA modifications in B. henselae and 22 genes associated with 23 modifications in B. quintana . Notably, akin to other intracellular and symbiotic bacteria, both Bartonella species have undergone substantial reductions in tRNA modification genes, mostly by simplifying the hypermodifications present at positions 34 and 37. B. quintana exhibited the additional loss of four modifications and these were linked to examples of gene decay, providing snapshots of reductive evolution.}, } @article {pmid38260209, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, Y and Zhang, J and El-Mahallawy, HS}, title = {Editorial: Pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria in ruminants: antimicrobial resistance and microbial homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1355704}, pmid = {38260209}, issn = {2297-1769}, } @article {pmid38179921, year = {2024}, author = {Schott, J and Rakei, J and Remus-Emsermann, M and Johnston, P and Mbedi, S and Sparmann, S and Hilker, M and Paniagua Voirol, LR}, title = {Microbial associates of the elm leaf beetle: uncovering the absence of resident bacteria and the influence of fungi on insect performance.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {e0105723}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01057-23}, pmid = {38179921}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {SFB973//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts play crucial roles in the biology of many insects. While bacteria have been the primary focus of research on insect-microbe symbiosis, recent studies suggest that fungal symbionts may be just as important. The elm leaf beetle (ELB, Xanthogaleruca luteola) is a serious pest species of field elm (Ulmus minor). Using culture-dependent and independent methods, we investigated the abundance and species richness of bacteria and fungi throughout various ELB life stages and generations, while concurrently analyzing microbial communities on elm leaves. No persistent bacterial community was found to be associated with the ELB or elm leaves. By contrast, fungi were persistently present in the beetle's feeding life stages and on elm leaves. Fungal community sequencing revealed a predominance of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus in insects and on leaves. Culture-dependent surveys showed a high prevalence of two fungal colony morphotypes closely related to Penicillium lanosocoeruleum and Aspergillus flavus. Among these, the Penicillium morphotype was significantly more abundant on feeding-damaged compared with intact leaves, suggesting that the fungus thrives in the presence of the ELB. We assessed whether the detected prevalent fungal morphotypes influenced ELB's performance by rearing insects on (i) surface-sterilized leaves, (ii) leaves inoculated with Penicillium spores, and (iii) leaves inoculated with Aspergillus spores. Insects feeding on Penicillium-inoculated leaves gained more biomass and tended to lay larger egg clutches than those consuming surface-sterilized leaves or Aspergillus-inoculated leaves. Our results demonstrate that the ELB does not harbor resident bacteria and that it might benefit from associating with Penicillium fungi.IMPORTANCEOur study provides insights into the still understudied role of microbial symbionts in the biology of the elm leaf beetle (ELB), a major pest of elms. Contrary to expectations, we found no persistent bacterial symbionts associated with the ELB or elm leaves. Our research thus contributes to the growing body of knowledge that not all insects rely on bacterial symbionts. While no persistent bacterial symbionts were detectable in the ELB and elm leaf samples, our analyses revealed the persistent presence of fungi, particularly Penicillium and Aspergillus on both elm leaves and in the feeding ELB stages. Moreover, when ELB were fed with fungus-treated elm leaves, we detected a potentially beneficial effect of Penicillium on the ELB's development and fecundity. Our results highlight the significance of fungal symbionts in the biology of this insect.}, } @article {pmid38259477, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, M and Luo, J and Li, C and Eleftherianos, I and Zhang, W and Xu, L}, title = {A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1329843}, pmid = {38259477}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Insects constitute approximately 75% of the world's recognized fauna, with the majority of species considered as pests. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are parasitic microorganisms capable of efficiently infecting insects, rendering them potent biopesticides. In response to infections, insects have evolved diverse defense mechanisms, prompting EPF to develop a variety of strategies to overcome or circumvent host defenses. While the interaction mechanisms between EPF and insects is well established, recent findings underscore that their interplay is more intricate than previously thought, especially evident across different stages of EPF infection. This review primarily focuses on the interplay between EPF and the insect defense strategies, centered around three infection stages: (1) Early infection stage: involving the pre-contact detection and avoidance behavior of EPF in insects, along with the induction of behavioral responses upon contact with the host cuticle; (2) Penetration and intra-hemolymph growth stage: involving the initiation of intricate cellular and humoral immune functions in insects, while symbiotic microbes can further contribute to host resistance; (3) Host insect's death stage: involving the ultimate confrontation between pathogens and insects. Infected insects strive to separate themselves from the healthy population, while pathogens rely on the infected insects to spread to new hosts. Also, we discuss a novel pest management strategy underlying the cooperation between EPF infection and disturbing the insect immune system. By enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between EPF and the insect, this review provides novel perspectives for EPF-mediated pest management and developing effective fungal insecticides.}, } @article {pmid38259206, year = {2024}, author = {Gefter, WB and Prokop, M and Seo, JB and Raoof, S and Langlotz, CP and Hatabu, H}, title = {Human-AI Symbiosis: A Path Forward to Improve Chest Radiography and the Role of Radiologists in Patient Care.}, journal = {Radiology}, volume = {310}, number = {1}, pages = {e232778}, doi = {10.1148/radiol.232778}, pmid = {38259206}, issn = {1527-1315}, } @article {pmid38259099, year = {2024}, author = {Caesar, L and Rice, DW and McAfee, A and Underwood, R and Ganote, C and Tarpy, DR and Foster, LJ and Newton, ILG}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of the honey bee queen microbiome reveals low bacterial diversity and Caudoviricetes phages.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0118223}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.01182-23}, pmid = {38259099}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {In eusocial insects, the health of the queens-the colony founders and sole reproductive females-is a primary determinant for colony success. Queen failure in the honey bee Apis mellifera, for example, is a major concern of beekeepers who annually suffer colony losses, necessitating a greater knowledge of queen health. Several studies on the microbiome of honey bees have characterized its diversity and shown its importance for the health of worker bees, the female non-reproductive caste. However, the microbiome of workers differs from that of queens, which, in comparison, is still poorly studied. Thus, direct investigations of the queen microbiome are required to understand colony-level microbiome assembly, functional roles, and evolution. Here, we used metagenomics to comprehensively characterize the honey bee queen microbiome. Comparing samples from different geographic locations and breeder sources, we show that the microbiome of queens is mostly shaped by the environment experienced since early life and is predicted to play roles in the breakdown of the diet and protection from pathogens and xenobiotics. We also reveal that the microbiome of queens comprises only four candidate core bacterial species, Apilactobacillus kunkeei, Lactobacillus apis, Bombella apis, and Commensalibacter sp. Interestingly, in addition to bacteria, we show that bacteriophages infect the queen microbiome, for which Lactobacillaceae are predicted to be the main reservoirs. Together, our results provide the basis to understand the honey bee colony microbiome assemblage, can guide improvements in queen-rearing processes, and highlight the importance of considering bacteriophages for queen microbiome health and microbiome homeostasis in eusocial insects.IMPORTANCEThe queen caste plays a central role in colony success in eusocial insects, as queens lay eggs and regulate colony behavior and development. Queen failure can cause colonies to collapse, which is one of the major concerns of beekeepers. Thus, understanding the biology behind the queen's health is a pressing issue. Previous studies have shown that the bee microbiome plays an important role in worker bee health, but little is known about the queen microbiome and its function in vivo. Here, we characterized the queen microbiome, identifying for the first time the present species and their putative functions. We show that the queen microbiome has predicted nutritional and protective roles in queen association and comprises only four consistently present bacterial species. Additionally, we bring to attention the spread of phages in the queen microbiome, which increased in abundance in failing queens and may impact the fate of the colony.}, } @article {pmid38259091, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, G and Yang, A and Wang, J and Ke, L and Chen, S and Li, W}, title = {Effects of the synergistic treatments of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and trehalose on adaptability to salt stress in tomato seedlings.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0340423}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03404-23}, pmid = {38259091}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could establish symbiosis with plant roots, which enhances plant resistance to various stresses, including drought stress and salt stress. Besides AMF, chemical stimulants such as trehalose (Tre) can also play an important role in helping plants alleviate damage of adversity. However, the mechanism of the effect of AMF combined with chemicals on plant stress resistance is unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the synergistic effects of Claroideoglomus etunicatum AMF and exogenous Tre on the antioxidant system, osmoregulation, and resistance-protective substance in plants in response to salt stress. Tomato seedlings were inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum and combined with exogenous Tre in a greenhouse aseptic soil cultivation experiment. We measured the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiont development, organic matter content, and antioxidant enzyme activity in tomato seedlings. Both AMF and Tre improved the synthesis of chlorophyll content in tomato seedlings; regulated the osmotic substance including soluble sugars, soluble protein, and proline of plants; and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase. The combination of AMF and Tre also reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde and alleviated the damage of harmful substances to plant cells in tomato seedlings. We studied the effects of AMF combined with extraneous Tre on salt tolerance in tomato seedlings, and the results showed that the synergistic treatment of AMF and Tre was more efficient than the effects of AMF inoculation or Tre spraying separately by regulating host substance synthesis, osmosis, and antioxidant enzymes. Our results indicated that the synergistic effects of AMF and Tre increased the plant adaptability against salt damage by enhancing cell osmotic protection and cell antioxidant capacity.IMPORTANCEAMF improve the plant adaptability to salt resistance by increasing mineral absorption and reducing the damage of saline soil. Trehalose plays an important role in plant response to salt damage by regulating osmotic pressure. Together, the use of AMF and trehalose in tomato seedlings proved efficient in regulating host substance synthesis, osmosis, and antioxidant enzymes. These synergistic effects significantly improved seedling adaptability to salt stress by enhancing cell osmotic protection and cell antioxidant capacity, ultimately reducing losses to crops grown on land where salinization has occurred.}, } @article {pmid38259033, year = {2024}, author = {Marcano-Ruiz, M and Lima, T and Tavares, GM and Mesquita, MTS and Kaingang, LDS and Schüler-Faccini, L and Bortolini, MC}, title = {Oral microbiota, co-evolution, and implications for health and disease: The case of indigenous peoples.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {46}, number = {3 Suppl 1}, pages = {e20230129}, doi = {10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2023-0129}, pmid = {38259033}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {Evidence indicates that oral microbiota plays a crucial role in human health and disease. For instance, diseases with multifactorial etiology, such as periodontitis and caries, which cause a detrimental impact on human well-being and health, can be caused by alterations in the host-microbiota interactions, where non-pathogenic bacteria give way to pathogenic orange/red-complex bacterial species (a change from a eubiotic to dysbiotic state). In this scenario, where thousands of oral microorganisms, including fungi, archaea, and phage species, and their host are co-evolving, a set of phenomena, such as the arms race and Red or Black Queen dynamics, are expected to operate. We review concepts on the subject and revisit the nature of bacterial complexes linked to oral health and diseases, as well as the problem of the bacterial resistome in the face of the use of antibiotics and what is the impact of this on the evolutionary trajectory of the members of this symbiotic ecosystem. We constructed a 16SrRNA tree to show that adaptive consortia of oral bacterial complexes do not necessarily rescue phylogenetic relationships. Finally, we remember that oral health is not exempt from health disparity trends in some populations, such as Native Americans, when compared with non-Indigenous people.}, } @article {pmid38258023, year = {2024}, author = {Dor-Roterman, YR and Benayahu, Y and Reshef, L and Gophna, U}, title = {Host-Microbiome Interactions in a Changing Sea: The Gill Microbiome of an Invasive Oyster under Drastic Temperature Changes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12010197}, pmid = {38258023}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The gill tissue of bivalve mollusks hosts rich symbiotic microbial communities that may contribute to host health. Spondylus spinosus is an invasive Lessepsian oyster in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea that has become highly abundant while constantly expanding its range northwestward. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we examined how temperature affects S. spinosus oysters and their gill microbiota in a series of experiments: exposing them to the current annual seawater temperature range, to the colder temperature of the Western Mediterranean Sea, and to the elevated temperature as predicted under global warming scenarios. The bacterial genus Endozoicomonas dominated the communities of the S. spinosus, mainly upon exposure to winter-like (16 °C) temperatures. Exposure to the elevated seawater temperature resulted in a significant change in the bacterial communities, while the oysters maintained normal functioning, suggesting that the oyster may survive a seawater warming scenario. Exposure to 11 °C led to the health deterioration of the oysters, the emergence of opportunistic pathogens, such as Arcobacter, Vibrio, Colwelliaceae, and Pseudoalteromonas, and a decline in the relative abundance of Endozoicomonas, suggesting that S. spinosus might not survive Western Mediterranean Sea winters. Both the host and its gill bacteria are thus greatly affected by temperature, which could consequently restrict the range of expansion of this and other invasive oysters.}, } @article {pmid38257948, year = {2024}, author = {Spatafora, G and Li, Y and He, X and Cowan, A and Tanner, ACR}, title = {The Evolving Microbiome of Dental Caries.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12010121}, pmid = {38257948}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {DE014711/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DE019455/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DE023810/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DE020102/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DE026186/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Dental caries is a significant oral and public health problem worldwide, especially in low-income populations. The risk of dental caries increases with frequent intake of dietary carbohydrates, including sugars, leading to increased acidity and disruption of the symbiotic diverse and complex microbial community of health. Excess acid production leads to a dysbiotic shift in the bacterial biofilm composition, demineralization of tooth structure, and cavities. Highly acidic and acid-tolerant species associated with caries include Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus, Actinomyces, Bifidobacterium, and Scardovia species. The differences in microbiotas depend on tooth site, extent of carious lesions, and rate of disease progression. Metagenomics and metatranscriptomics not only reveal the structure and genetic potential of the caries-associated microbiome, but, more importantly, capture the genetic makeup of the metabolically active microbiome in lesion sites. Due to its multifactorial nature, caries has been difficult to prevent. The use of topical fluoride has had a significant impact on reducing caries in clinical settings, but the approach is costly; the results are less sustainable for high-caries-risk individuals, especially children. Developing treatment regimens that specifically target S. mutans and other acidogenic bacteria, such as using nanoparticles, show promise in altering the cariogenic microbiome, thereby combatting the disease.}, } @article {pmid38257131, year = {2024}, author = {Leach, ST}, title = {Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gut Symbiosis.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu16020238}, pmid = {38257131}, issn = {2072-6643}, abstract = {The objective of this Special Issue entitled 'Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gut Symbiosis' is to publish reviews, clinical trials and experimental studies that focus on probiotics and prebiotics that have a role in influencing disease and promoting gastrointestinal and overall health [...].}, } @article {pmid38256786, year = {2024}, author = {Han, S and Cheng, Y and Wu, G and He, X and Zhao, G}, title = {Enhancing Salt Tolerance in Poplar Seedlings through Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants13020233}, pmid = {38256786}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {32171869//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31770110//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021ZY61//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities at Beijing/ ; 202102083002//University-Industry Collaborative Education Program/ ; }, abstract = {Poplar (Populus spp.) is a valuable tree species with multiple applications in afforestation. However, its growth in saline areas, including coastal regions, is limited. This study aimed to investigate the physiological mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis with 84K (P. alba × P. tremula var. glandulosa) poplar under salt stress. We conducted pot experiments using NaCl solutions of 0 mM (control), 100 mM (moderate stress), and 200 mM (severe stress) and evaluated the colonization of AMF and various physiological parameters of plants, including photosynthesis, biomass, antioxidant enzyme activity, nutrients, and ion concentration. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) was employed to elucidate how AMF can improve salt tolerance in poplar. The results demonstrated that AMF successfully colonized the roots of plants under salt stress, effectively alleviated water loss by increasing the transpiration rate, and significantly enhanced the biomass of poplar seedlings. Mycorrhiza reduced proline and malondialdehyde accumulation while enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thus improving plasma membrane stability. Additionally, AMF mitigated Na[+] accumulation in plants, contributing to the maintenance of a favorable ion balance. These findings highlight the effectiveness of using suitable AMF to improve conditions for economically significant tree species in salt-affected areas, thereby promoting their utilization.}, } @article {pmid38256777, year = {2024}, author = {Giorgi, V and Amicucci, A and Landi, L and Castelli, I and Romanazzi, G and Peroni, C and Ranocchi, B and Zambonelli, A and Neri, D}, title = {Effect of Bacteria Inoculation on Colonization of Roots by Tuber melanosporum and Growth of Quercus ilex Seedlings.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants13020224}, pmid = {38256777}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {29162//PSR MARCHE (2014-2020 misura 16.1)/ ; }, abstract = {Tuber melanosporum is an ascomycete that forms ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses with a wide range of host plants, producing edible fruiting bodies with high economic value. The quality of seedlings in the early symbiotic stage is important for successful truffle cultivation. Numerous bacterial species have been reported to take part in the truffle biological cycle and influence the establishment of roots symbiosis in plant hosts and the development of the carpophore. In this work, three different bacteria formulations were co-inoculated in Quercus ilex L. seedlings two months after T. melanosporum inoculation. At four months of bacterial application, the T. melanosporum ECM root tip rate of colonization and bacterial presence were assessed using both morphological and molecular techniques. A 2.5-fold increase in ECM colonization rate was found in the presence of Pseudomonas sp. compared to the seedlings inoculated only with T. melanosporum. The same treatment caused reduced plant growth either for the aerial and root part. Meanwhile, the ECM colonization combined with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Pseudomonas sp. + Bradyrhizobium sp. reduced the relative density of fibrous roots (nutrient absorption). Our work suggests that the role of bacteria in the early symbiotic stages of ECM colonization involves both the mycorrhizal symbiosis rate and plant root development processes, both essential for improve the quality of truffle-inoculated seedlings produced in commercial nurseries.}, } @article {pmid38256729, year = {2024}, author = {Sanhueza, T and Hernández, I and Sagredo-Sáez, C and Villanueva-Guerrero, A and Alvarado, R and Mujica, MI and Fuentes-Quiroz, A and Menendez, E and Jorquera-Fontena, E and Valadares, RBDS and Herrera, H}, title = {Juvenile Plant-Microbe Interactions Modulate the Adaptation and Response of Forest Seedlings to Rapid Climate Change.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants13020175}, pmid = {38256729}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {ID23I10303//Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico/ ; DI23-0058; DI23-3009; and PP23-0038//by the Dirección de Investigación Universidad de La Frontera/ ; 3200774//M.I.M thanks ANID Fondecyt/ ; }, abstract = {The negative impacts of climate change on native forest ecosystems have created challenging conditions for the sustainability of natural forest regeneration. These challenges arise primarily from abiotic stresses that affect the early stages of forest tree development. While there is extensive evidence on the diversity of juvenile microbial symbioses in agricultural and fruit crops, there is a notable lack of reports on native forest plants. This review aims to summarize the critical studies conducted on the diversity of juvenile plant-microbe interactions in forest plants and to highlight the main benefits of beneficial microorganisms in overcoming environmental stresses such as drought, high and low temperatures, metal(loid) toxicity, nutrient deficiency, and salinity. The reviewed studies have consistently demonstrated the positive effects of juvenile plant-microbiota interactions and have highlighted the potential beneficial attributes to improve plantlet development. In addition, this review discusses the beneficial attributes of managing juvenile plant-microbiota symbiosis in the context of native forest restoration, including its impact on plant responses to phytopathogens, promotion of nutrient uptake, facilitation of seedling adaptation, resource exchange through shared hyphal networks, stimulation of native soil microbial communities, and modulation of gene and protein expression to enhance adaptation to adverse environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid38255984, year = {2024}, author = {Slimani, A and Ait-El-Mokhtar, M and Ben-Laouane, R and Boutasknit, A and Anli, M and Abouraicha, EF and Oufdou, K and Meddich, A and Baslam, M}, title = {Molecular and Systems Biology Approaches for Harnessing the Symbiotic Interaction in Mycorrhizal Symbiosis for Grain and Oil Crop Cultivation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms25020912}, pmid = {38255984}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {FOSC - SUS-AGRI-CC 862555//European Union/ ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis, the mutually beneficial association between plants and fungi, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its widespread significance in agricultural productivity. Specifically, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide a range of benefits to grain and oil crops, including improved nutrient uptake, growth, and resistance to (a)biotic stressors. Harnessing this symbiotic interaction using molecular and systems biology approaches presents promising opportunities for sustainable and economically-viable agricultural practices. Research in this area aims to identify and manipulate specific genes and pathways involved in the symbiotic interaction, leading to improved cereal and oilseed crop yields and nutrient acquisition. This review provides an overview of the research frontier on utilizing molecular and systems biology approaches for harnessing the symbiotic interaction in mycorrhizal symbiosis for grain and oil crop cultivation. Moreover, we address the mechanistic insights and molecular determinants underpinning this exchange. We conclude with an overview of current efforts to harness mycorrhizal diversity to improve cereal and oilseed health through systems biology.}, } @article {pmid38255816, year = {2024}, author = {Smutin, D and Taldaev, A and Lebedev, E and Adonin, L}, title = {Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals Minor Micro"bee"omes Diversity Defining Differences between Larvae and Pupae Brood Combs.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms25020741}, pmid = {38255816}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {agreement №075-15-2021-1345, unique identifier RF-193021X0012//the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies for 2019-2027./ ; }, abstract = {Bees represent not only a valuable asset in agriculture, but also serve as a model organism within contemporary microbiology. The metagenomic composition of the bee superorganism has been substantially characterized. Nevertheless, traditional cultural methods served as the approach to studying brood combs in the past. Indeed, the comb microbiome may contribute to determining larval caste differentiation and hive immunity. To further this understanding, we conducted a shotgun sequencing analysis of the brood comb microbiome. While we found certain similarities regarding species diversity, it exhibits significant differentiation from all previously described hive metagenomes. Many microbiome members maintain a relatively constant ratio, yet taxa with the highest abundance level tend to be ephemeral. More than 90% of classified metagenomes were Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinobacteria genetic signatures. Jaccard dissimilarity between samples based on bacteria genus classifications hesitate from 0.63 to 0.77, which for shotgun sequencing indicates a high consistency in bacterial composition. Concurrently, we identified antagonistic relationships between certain bacterial clusters. The presence of genes related to antibiotic synthesis and antibiotic resistance suggests potential mechanisms underlying the stability of comb microbiomes. Differences between pupal and larval combs emerge in the total metagenome, while taxa with the highest abundance remained consistent. All this suggests that a key role in the functioning of the comb microbiome is played by minor biodiversity, the function of which remains to be established experimentally.}, } @article {pmid38255316, year = {2024}, author = {Cruz-Martínez, Y and Aguilar-Ponce, L and Romo-Araiza, A and Chávez-Guerra, A and Martiñón, S and Ibarra-García, AP and Arias-Santiago, S and Gálvez-Susano, V and Ibarra, A}, title = {Supplementation with a Symbiotic Induced Neuroprotection and Improved Memory in Rats with Ischemic Stroke.}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biomedicines12010209}, pmid = {38255316}, issn = {2227-9059}, support = {201859//Universidad Anáhuac/ ; }, abstract = {After an ischemic stroke, various harmful mechanisms contribute to tissue damage, including the inflammatory response. The increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines has been related to greater damage to the neural tissue and the promotion of neurological alterations, including cognitive impairment. Recent research has shown that the use of prebiotics and/or probiotics counteracts inflammation and improves cognitive function through the production of growth factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), by reducing inflammatory molecules. Therefore, in this study, the effect of the symbiotic inulin and Enterococcus faecium on neuroprotection and memory improvement was evaluated in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). In order to accomplish this, the animals were subjected to ischemia; the experimental group was supplemented with the symbiotic and the control group with the vehicle. The neurological deficit as well as spatial and working memory were evaluated using the Zea Longa scale, Morris water maze, and the eight-arm maze tests, respectively. Infarct size, the levels of BDNF, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were also assessed. The results show that supplementation with the symbiotic significantly diminished the neurological deficit and infarct size, improved memory and learning, increased BDNF expression, and reduced TNF-α production. These findings provide new evidence about the therapeutic use of symbiotics for ischemic stroke and open up the possibilities for the design of further studies.}, } @article {pmid38254452, year = {2024}, author = {Cheng, Z and Liu, Q and Huang, X}, title = {Partial Correspondence between Host Plant-Related Differentiation and Symbiotic Bacterial Community in a Polyphagous Insect.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani14020283}, pmid = {38254452}, issn = {2076-2615}, support = {31970446//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Host plants play a vital role in insect population differentiation, while symbiotic associations between bacteria and insects are ubiquitous in nature. However, existing studies have given limited attention to the connection between host-related differentiation and symbiotic bacterial communities in phytophagous insects. In this study, we collected 58 samples of Aphis odinae from different host plants in southern China and constructed phylogenetic trees to investigate their differentiation in relation to host plants. We also selected aphid samples from the five most preferred host plants and analyzed their symbiotic bacterial composition using Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The phylogeny and symbiotic bacterial community structure of A. odinae populations on different host plants showed that samples from Triadica sebifera (Euphorbiaceae) had a consistent presence of Wolbachia as the predominant secondary symbiont and suggested the possibility of undergoing differentiation. Conversely, although differentiation was observed in samples from Rhus chinensis (Anacardiaceae), no consistent presence of predominant secondary symbionts was found. Additionally, the samples from Heptapleurum heptaphyllum (Araliaceae) consistently carried Serratia, but no host differentiation was evident. In summary, this study reveals a partial correspondence between symbiotic bacterial communities and host-related differentiation in A. odinae. The findings contribute to our understanding of the microevolutionary influencing the macroevolutionary relationships between bacterial symbionts and phytophagous insects. The identification of specific symbionts associated with host-related differentiation provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of insect-bacteria interactions.}, } @article {pmid38254432, year = {2024}, author = {Fan, S and Zheng, M and Ren, A and Mao, H and Long, D and Yang, L}, title = {Effects of High-Concentrate-Induced SARA on Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Levels and Rumen Microbiota and Function in Goats.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani14020263}, pmid = {38254432}, issn = {2076-2615}, support = {Grant No. CX2017B368//Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate/ ; }, abstract = {This study aims to explore the antioxidant, immune, and enzyme metabolism aspects in goats experiencing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Furthermore, we seek to elucidate the relationship between the symbiotic microbiota of goats and their metabolic function. Sixteen goats were equally divided into two groups and fed a normal-concentrate diet (NC, 55% concentrate) or a high-concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate) for five weeks. We found that the HC diet reduced the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.022) and increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (p = 0.015), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (p = 0.008) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p = 0.002) concentration of goats. Simultaneously, the HC diet significantly increased the concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and amylase (AMY) in the blood and rumen fluid of goats (p < 0.05). Microbial analysis in the rumen of goats revealed that the HC diet decreased bacterial richness and diversity, as evidenced by the changed observed species, Chao 1, PD whole tree and Shannon when compared to the NC diet (p < 0.01). The proportion of Proteobacteria increased while that of Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres significantly decreased with the HC diet (p < 0.05). The Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 in rumen was notably decreased when a diet was switched from 55% concentrate diet to 90% concentrate diet (p < 0.05). Additionally, microbial functional potentials deduced that the HC diet significantly increased the abundance of the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) (ko00020) associated with carbohydrate metabolism (p = 0.028). Furthermore, the HC diet significantly increased the glutathione metabolism (ko00480) associated with the metabolism of other amino acids (p = 0.008). Our findings suggested that SARA reduced the total antioxidant capacity and increased levels of inflammatory factors in goats, as well as decreased rumen bacterial species and abundance.}, } @article {pmid38254264, year = {2024}, author = {Cheng, P and Wang, Z and Lu, B and Zhao, Y and Zhang, H}, title = {Co-culturing microalgae with endophytic bacteria from bamboo for efficient nutrient and heavy metal removal coupling with biogas upgrading.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {96}, number = {1}, pages = {e10977}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10977}, pmid = {38254264}, issn = {1554-7531}, support = {31670511//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31971514//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023SS04//Science and Technology Program of Suzhou/ ; 232102111035//Scientific and Technological Project in Henan Province of China/ ; }, abstract = {The construction of dominant algal species and bacterial strains in algal treatment technology was crucial for pollutant removal. In order to enhance the purification capability of microalgae toward heavy metals in water as well as biogas slurry and biogas, symbiotic systems were respectively constructed using Chlorella vulgaris and two different endogenous bacteria (microalgal endophytic bacteria S395-2 and plant endophytic bacteria BEB7). The results demonstrated that the endogenous bacteria (S395-2 and BEB7) effectively promote the growth, biomass yield, photosynthetic activity, and carbonic anhydrase activity of microalgae. Additionally, BEB7 exhibited superior promotion effects on microalgae compared to S395-2. Moreover, the BEB7-microalgae co-cultivation system not only efficiently removed heavy metals from water but also effectively purified the nutrients and CO2 in biogas slurry. The optimal effect was observed when the ratio of BEB7 to microalgae was 10:1. This study has established a solid theoretical foundation for the application of microalgae in pollutant purification. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Endogenous bacteria effectively promoted microalgal performance. The optimal ratio of BEB7 to microalgae was 10:1. Chlorella vulgaris-BEB7 showed the best removal performance.}, } @article {pmid38253096, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, Y and Yan, Y and Huang, JG and Wang, M}, title = {Interguild fungal competition in litter and soil inversely modulate microbial necromass accumulation during Loess Plateau forest succession.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {916}, number = {}, pages = {170259}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170259}, pmid = {38253096}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Microbial interactions determine ecosystem carbon (C) and nutrient cycling, yet it remains unclear how interguild fungal interactions modulate microbial residue contribution to soil C pools (SOC) during forest succession. Here, we present a region-wide investigation of the relative dominance of saprophytic versus symbiotic fungi in litter and soil compartments, exploring their linkages to soil microbial residue pools and potential drivers along a chronosequence of secondary Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forests on the Loess Plateau. Despite minor changes in C and nitrogen (N) stocks in the litter or soil layers across successional stages, we found significantly lower soil phosphorus (P) stocks, higher ratios of soil C: N, soil N: P and soil C: P but lower ratios of litter C: N and litter C: P in old (>75 years) than young stands (<30 years). Pine stand development altered the saprotroph: symbiotroph ratios of fungal communities to favor the soil symbiotrophs versus the litter saprotrophs. The dominance of saprotrophs in litter is positively related to microbial necromass contribution to SOC, which is negatively related to the dominance of symbiotrophs in soils. Antagonistic interguild fungal competition in litter and soil layers, in conjunction with increased fungal but decreased bacterial necromass contribution to SOC, jointly contribute to unchanged total necromass contribution to SOC with stand development. The saprotroph: symbiotroph ratios in litter and soil layers are mainly driven by soil P stocks and stand parameters (e.g., stand age and slope), respectively, while substrate stoichiometries primarily regulate microbial necromass accumulation and fungal: bacterial necromass ratios. These results provide novel insights into how microbial interactions at local spatial scales modulate temporal changes in SOC pools, with management implications for mitigating regional land degradation.}, } @article {pmid38251894, year = {2024}, author = {Han, F and Li, H and Lyu, E and Zhang, Q and Gai, H and Xu, Y and Bai, X and He, X and Khan, AQ and Li, X and Xie, F and Li, F and Fang, X and Wei, M}, title = {Soybean-mediated suppression of BjaI/BjaR1 quorum sensing in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0137423}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01374-23}, pmid = {38251894}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {The acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing (QS) system orchestrates diverse bacterial behaviors in response to changes in population density. The role of the BjaI/BjaR1 QS system in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110, which shares homology with LuxI/LuxR, remains elusive during symbiotic interaction with soybean. Here this genetic system in wild-type (WT) bacteria residing inside nodules exhibited significantly reduced activity compared to free-living cells, potentially attributed to soybean-mediated suppression. The deletion mutant strain ΔbjaR1 showed significantly enhanced nodulation induction and nitrogen fixation ability. Nevertheless, its ultimate symbiotic outcome (plant dry weight) in soybeans was compromised. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and promoter activity revealed that the inactivation of BjaR1 systematically activated and inhibited genomic modules associated with nodulation and nitrogen metabolism. The former appeared to be linked to a significant decrease in the expression of NodD2, a key cell-density-dependent repressor of nodulation genes, while the latter conferred bacterial growth and nitrogen fixation insensitivity to environmental nitrogen. In addition, BjaR1 exerted a positive influence on the transcription of multiple genes involved in a so-called central intermediate metabolism within the nodule. In conclusion, our findings highlight the crucial role of the BjaI/BjaR1 QS circuit in positively regulating bacterial nitrogen metabolism and emphasize the significance of the soybean-mediated suppression of this genetic system for promoting efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation by B. diazoefficiens.IMPORTANCEThe present study demonstrates, for the first time, that the BjaI/BjaR1 QS system of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens has a significant impact on its nodulation and nitrogen fixation capability in soybean by positively regulating NodD2 expression and bacterial nitrogen metabolism. Moreover, it provides novel insights into the importance of suppressing the activity of this QS circuit by the soybean host plant in establishing an efficient mutual relationship between the two symbiotic partners. This research expands our understanding of legumes' role in modulating symbiotic nitrogen fixation through rhizobial QS-mediated metabolic functioning, thereby deepening our comprehension of symbiotic coevolution theory. In addition, these findings may hold great promise for developing quorum quenching technology in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid38251242, year = {2024}, author = {Son, DJ and Kim, GG and Choo, HY and Chung, NJ and Choo, YM}, title = {Functional Comparison of Three Chitinases from Symbiotic Bacteria of Entomopathogenic Nematodes.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxins16010026}, pmid = {38251242}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {120081-05//Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Chitinases/genetics/pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; Asian People ; Bacteria ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Insecticides/toxicity ; *Nematoda ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, respectively, have several biological activities including insecticidal and antimicrobial activities. Thus, XnChi, XhChi, and PtChi, chitinases of X. nematophila, X. hominickii, and P. temperata isolated from Korean indigenous EPNs S. carpocapsae GJ1-2, S. monticolum GJ11-1, and H. megidis GJ1-2 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 to compare their biological activities. Chitinase proteins of these bacterial symbionts purified using the Ni-NTA system showed different chitobiosidase and endochitinase activities, but N-acetylglucosamidinase activities were not shown in the measuring of chitinolytic activity through N-acetyl-D-glucosarmine oligomers. In addition, the proteins showed different insecticidal and antifungal activities. XnChi showed the highest insecticidal activity against Galleria mellonella, followed by PtChi and XhChi. In antifungal activity, XhChi showed the highest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) against Fusarium oxysporum with 0.031 mg/mL, followed by PtChi with 0.046 mg/mL, and XnChi with 0.072 mg/mL. XhChi also showed the highest IC50 against F. graminearum with 0.040 mg/mL, but XnChi was more toxic than PtChi with 0.055 mg/mL and 0.133 mg/mL, respectively. This study provides an innovative approach to the biological control of insect pests and fungal diseases of plants with the biological activity of symbiotic bacterial chitinases of entomopathogenic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid38250716, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, Z and Wang, Y and Guan, Y and Chen, Z and Zhai, Y and Wu, Y and Zhou, Y and Hu, J and Chen, L}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) gills in response to ammonia stress.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e16786}, pmid = {38250716}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ammonia/toxicity ; Gills ; *Lice Infestations ; Durable Medical Equipment ; Gene Expression Profiling ; }, abstract = {The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is an important commercial species in China. E. sinensis is typically farmed in rice-crab symbiosis, as an important ecological farming model. However, E. sinensis is often exposed to a high ammonia environment due to the application of nitrogen fertilizers essential for rice growth. We investigated the molecular mechanisms in the gills of E. sinensis exposed to high ammonia at transcriptional and histological levels. We randomly assigned E. sinensis to two groups (control group, CG; ammonia stress group, AG), and gill samples were excised from the CG and AG groups for histopathological and transcriptome analyses. The histopathological evaluation revealed that ammonia stress damaged the gills of E. sinensis. The transcriptome analysis showed that some essential genes, including Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L3 (UCHL3), O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT), Cathepsin B (CTSB), and Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 W (UBE2W) changed significantly during ammonia exposure. These genes are related to ammonia detoxification, the immune response, and apoptosis. This study demonstrated the molecular response mechanism of E. sinensis gills to ammonia stress at the transcriptional and histological levels. This study provides insight for further study on the molecular mechanism of ammonia stress in crustaceans and supplies technical support for rice crab symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38250449, year = {2023}, author = {García-Soto, I and Andersen, SU and Monroy-Morales, E and Robledo-Gamboa, M and Guadarrama, J and Aviles-Baltazar, NY and Serrano, M and Stougaard, J and Montiel, J}, title = {A collection of novel Lotus japonicus LORE1 mutants perturbed in the nodulation program induced by the Agrobacterium pusense strain IRBG74.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1326766}, pmid = {38250449}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The Lotus japonicus population carrying new Lotus retrotransposon 1 (LORE1) insertions represents a valuable biological resource for genetic research. New insertions were generated by activation of the endogenous retroelement LORE1a in the germline of the G329-3 plant line and arranged in a 2-D system for reverse genetics. LORE1 mutants identified in this collection contributes substantially to characterize candidate genes involved in symbiotic association of L. japonicus with its cognate symbiont, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Mesorhizobium loti that infects root nodules intracellularly. In this study we aimed to identify novel players in the poorly explored intercellular infection induced by Agrobacterium pusense IRBG74 sp. For this purpose, a forward screen of > 200,000 LORE1 seedlings, obtained from bulk propagation of G329-3 plants, inoculated with IRBG74 was performed. Plants with perturbed nodulation were scored and the offspring were further tested on plates to confirm the symbiotic phenotype. A total of 110 Lotus mutants with impaired nodulation after inoculation with IRBG74 were obtained. A comparative analysis of nodulation kinetics in a subset of 20 mutants showed that most of the lines were predominantly affected in nodulation by IRBG74. Interestingly, additional defects in the main root growth were observed in some mutant lines. Sequencing of LORE1 flanking regions in 47 mutants revealed that 92 Lotus genes were disrupted by novel LORE1 insertions in these lines. In the IM-S34 mutant, one of the insertions was located in the 5´UTR of the LotjaGi5g1v0179800 gene, which encodes the AUTOPHAGY9 protein. Additional mutant alleles, named atg9-2 and atg9-3, were obtained in the reverse genetic collection. Nodule formation was significantly reduced in these mutant alleles after M. loti and IRBG74 inoculation, confirming the effectiveness of the mutant screening. This study describes an effective forward genetic approach to obtain novel mutants in Lotus with a phenotype of interest and to identify the causative gene(s).}, } @article {pmid38249471, year = {2023}, author = {Chang, X and Xue, S and Li, R and Zhang, Y}, title = {Episyrphus balteatus symbiont variation across developmental stages, living states, two sexes, and potential horizontal transmission from prey or environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1308393}, pmid = {38249471}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Episyrphus balteatus is one representative Syrphidae insect which can provide extensive pollination and pest control services. To date, the symbiont composition and potential acquisition approaches in Syrphidae remain unclear.

METHODS: Herein, we investigated microbiota dynamics across developmental stages, different living states, and two sexes in E. balteatus via full-length 16S rRNA genes sequencing, followed by an attempt to explore the possibility of symbiont transmission from prey Megoura crassicauda to the hoverfly.

RESULTS: Overall, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant bacteria phyla with fluctuating relative abundances across the life stage. Cosenzaea myxofaciens is dominant in adulthood, while Enterococcus silesiacus and Morganella morganii dominate in larvae and pupae of E. balteatus, respectively. Unexpectedly, Serratia symbiotica, one facultative endosymbiont commonly harbored in aphids, was one of the predominant bacteria in larvae of E. balteatus, just behind Enterococcus silesiacus. In addition, S. symbiotica was also surprisingly most dominated in M. crassicauda aphids (92.1% relative abundance), which are significantly higher than Buchnera aphidicola (4.7% relative abundance), the primary obligate symbiont of most aphid species. Approximately 25% mortality was observed among newly emerged adults, of which microbiota was also disordered, similar to normally dying individuals. Sexually biased symbionts and 41 bacteria species with pairwise co-occurrence in E. balteatus and 23 biomarker species for each group were identified eventually. Functional prediction showed symbionts of hoverflies and aphids, both mainly focusing on metabolic pathways. In brief, we comprehensively explored the microbiome in one Syrphidae hoverfly using E. balteatus reared indoors on M. morganii as the model, revealed its dominated symbiont species, identified sexually biased symbionts, and found an aphid facultative endosymbiont inhabited in the hoverfly. We also found that the dominated symbiotic bacteria in M. crassicauda are S. symbiotica other than Buchnera aphidicola.

DISCUSSION: Taken together, this study provides new valuable resources about symbionts in hoverflies and prey aphids jointly, which will benefit further exploring the potential roles of microbiota in E. balteatus.}, } @article {pmid38249461, year = {2023}, author = {Potekhin, A and Plotnikov, AO and Gogoleva, N and Sonntag, B}, title = {Editorial: Microbial associations formed and hosted by protists, algae, and fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1341058}, pmid = {38249461}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid38249346, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, M and Fang, Y and Zheng, J and Shi, G and Guo, J and Zhang, X and Zhang, R}, title = {Role of symbiotic microbiota dysbiosis in the progression of chronic kidney disease accompanied with vascular calcification.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1306125}, pmid = {38249346}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now globally recognized as a critical public health concern. Vascular calcification (VC) represents a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events in individuals with CKD. It is the accessible and precise diagnostic biomarkers for monitoring the progression of CKD and the concurrent VC are urgently needed. Methods: The adenine diet-induced CKD rat model was utilized to investigate chronic kidney injury, calcification in the kidney and thoracic aorta, and dysregulation of biochemical indices. Enzyme-linked immune sandwich assays were employed to analyze changes in calcification-related proteins. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to delineate the microbiota characteristics in the gut and blood of CKD-afflicted rats. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing of kidney tissue was conducted to explore the relationship between CKD-associated microbiota features and alterations in kidney function. Results: The adenine diet-induced CKD inhibited body weight gain, and led to kidney injury, and pronounced calcification in kidney and thoracic aorta. The microbiota both in the gut and blood of these affected rats exhibited significantly lower alpha diversity and distinctive beta diversity than those in their healthy counterparts. CKD resulted in dysregulation of several biochemical indices (including elevated levels of creatinine, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, sodium, phosphorous, total cholesterol, and urea and decreased levels of albumin, calcium, lactate dehydrogenase, and total bilirubin). Moreover, it upregulated calcification-related factors (bone sialoprotein [BSP], Klotho, fibroblast growth factor [FGF]-23, and sclerostin [SOST]) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Notably, the increased Acinetobacter in the blood was positively associated with calcifications in the kidney and thoracic aorta, in addition to the positive correlation with gut microbiota. The enrichment of Acinetobacter was concurrent with increases in calcification factors (BSP, FGF-23, and SOST), LPS, and phosphorous. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing revealed that the enrichment of Acinetobacter was positively correlated with the majority of upregulated genes and negatively correlated with downregulated genes involved in the mineral absorption pathway. Conclusion: Our findings, for the first time, underscore that dysbiosis of symbiotic microbiota, both in the gut and blood, is involved in the progression of CKD. Particularly, the enrichment of Acinetobacter in blood emerges as a potential risk factor for CKD and its accompanying VC.}, } @article {pmid38249055, year = {2024}, author = {Marčiulynas, A and Lynikienė, J and Gedminas, A and Povilaitienė, A and Menkis, A}, title = {Fungal Communities Associated with Siricid Wood Wasps: Focus on Sirex juvencus, Urocerus gigas, and Tremex fuscicornis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects15010049}, pmid = {38249055}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {We investigated the diversity and occurrence of wood wasps in Lithuania and determined communities of associated fungi. Trapping of wood wasps resulted in three different species, including Sirex juvencus, Urocerus gigas, and Tremex fuscicornis. Fungal culturing from adult females of T. fuscicornis mainly resulted in fungi from the genera Penicillium and Trichoderma. High-throughput sequencing of ITS2 rDNA resulted in 59,797 high-quality fungal sequences, representing 127 fungal OTUs. There were 93 fungal OTUs detected in U. gigas, 66 in S. juvencus, and 10 in T. fuscicornis. The most common fungi were Fusarium sporotrichioides (63.1% of all fungal sequences), Amylostereum chailletii (14.9%), Penicillium crustosum (7.8%), Microascus sp. 2261_4 (5.0%), and Pithoascus ater (2.1%). Among these, only A. chailletii was found in all three insect species with the highest relative abundance in U. gigas (15.2%), followed by S. juvencus (7.7%), and the lowest in T. fuscicornis (0.3%) (p < 0.0003). Correspondence analysis of fungal communities showed a distant placement of different species of wood wasps, indicating that fungal communities in each of these were largely different. In conclusion, the study showed that the economically important tree pathogen A. chailletii was among the most common fungal OTUs vectored by siricid wood wasps.}, } @article {pmid38249041, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, Y and Feng, ZF and Li, F and Hou, YM}, title = {Host-Encoded Aminotransferase Import into the Endosymbiotic Bacteria Nardonella of Red Palm Weevil.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects15010035}, pmid = {38249041}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {32001972//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022J05032//Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic systems are intimately integrated at multiple levels. Host-endosymbiont metabolic complementarity in amino acid biosynthesis is especially important for sap-feeding insects and their symbionts. In weevil-Nardonella endosymbiosis, the final step reaction of the endosymbiont tyrosine synthesis pathway is complemented by host-encoded aminotransferases. Based on previous results from other insects, we suspected that these aminotransferases were likely transported into the Nardonella cytoplasm to produce tyrosine. Here, we identified five aminotransferase genes in the genome of the red palm weevil. Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed that RfGOT1 and RfGOT2A were specifically expressed in the bacteriome. RNA interference targeting these two aminotransferase genes reduced the tyrosine level in the bacteriome. The immunofluorescence-FISH double labeling localization analysis revealed that RfGOT1 and RfGOT2A were present within the bacteriocyte, where they colocalized with Nardonella cells. Immunogold transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the localization of RfGOT1 and RfGOT2A in the cytosol of Nardonella and the bacteriocyte. Our data revealed that RfGOT1 and RfGOT2A are transported into the Nardonella cytoplasm to collaborate with genes retained in the Nardonella genome in order to synthesize tyrosine. The results of our study will enhance the understanding of the integration of host and endosymbiont metabolism in amino acid biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid38248099, year = {2023}, author = {Mavrodontis, II and Trikoupis, IG and Kontogeorgakos, VA and Savvidou, OD and Papagelopoulos, PJ}, title = {Point-of-Care Orthopedic Oncology Device Development.}, journal = {Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.)}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {211-228}, doi = {10.3390/curroncol31010014}, pmid = {38248099}, issn = {1718-7729}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The triad of 3D design, 3D printing, and xReality technologies is explored and exploited to collaboratively realize patient-specific products in a timely manner with an emphasis on designs with meta-(bio)materials.

METHODS: A case study on pelvic reconstruction after oncological resection (osteosarcoma) was selected and conducted to evaluate the applicability and performance of an inter-epistemic workflow and the feasibility and potential of 3D technologies for modeling, optimizing, and materializing individualized orthopedic devices at the point of care (PoC).

RESULTS: Image-based diagnosis and treatment at the PoC can be readily deployed to develop orthopedic devices for pre-operative planning, training, intra-operative navigation, and bone substitution.

CONCLUSIONS: Inter-epistemic symbiosis between orthopedic surgeons and (bio)mechanical engineers at the PoC, fostered by appropriate quality management systems and end-to-end workflows under suitable scientifically amalgamated synergies, could maximize the potential benefits. However, increased awareness is recommended to explore and exploit the full potential of 3D technologies at the PoC to deliver medical devices with greater customization, innovation in design, cost-effectiveness, and high quality.}, } @article {pmid38247641, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, JH and Park, JW and Kim, HS and Lee, S and Yerke, AM and Jaiswal, YS and Williams, LL and Hwang, S and Moon, KH}, title = {Effects of Antibiotic Residues on Fish Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Mucosal Barrier-Related Pathogen Susceptibility in Zebrafish Experimental Model.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics13010082}, pmid = {38247641}, issn = {2079-6382}, support = {NRF2021R1C1C1004734//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; NIBR202322101//National Institute of Biological Resources/ ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic community of microorganisms in the gut plays an important role in the health of the host. While many previous studies have been performed on the interactions between the gut microbiome and the host in mammals, studies in fish are still lacking. In this study, we investigated changes in the intestinal microbiome and pathogen susceptibility of zebrafish (Danio rerio) following chronic antibiotics exposure. The chronic antibiotics exposure assay was performed on zebrafish for 30 days using oxytetracycline (Otc), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Smx/Tmp), or erythromycin (Ery), which are antibiotics widely used in the aquaculture industry. The microbiome analysis indicated that Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the gut microbiome of the zebrafish used in this study. However, in Smx/Tmp-treated zebrafish, the compositions of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria were changed significantly, and in Ery-treated zebrafish, the compositions of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were altered significantly. Although alpha diversity analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the richness, beta diversity analysis revealed a community imbalance in the gut microbiome of all chronically antibiotics-exposed zebrafish. Intriguingly, in zebrafish with dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, the pathogen susceptibility to Edwardsiella piscicida, a representative Gram-negative fish pathogen, was reduced. Gut microbiome imbalance resulted in a higher count of goblet cells in intestinal tissue and an upregulation of genes related to the intestinal mucosal barrier. In addition, as innate immunity was enhanced by the increased mucosal barrier, immune and stress-related gene expression in the intestinal tissue was downregulated. In this study, we provide new insight into the effect of gut microbiome dysbiosis on pathogen susceptibility.}, } @article {pmid38247604, year = {2024}, author = {Adra, C and Tran, TD and Foster, K and Tomlin, R and Kurtböke, Dİ}, title = {Identification of Acetomycin as an Antifungal Agent Produced by Termite Gut-Associated Streptomycetes against Pyrrhoderma noxium.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics13010045}, pmid = {38247604}, issn = {2079-6382}, support = {R22_0098//Brisbane City Council/ ; }, abstract = {Plant fungal pathogen Pyrrhoderma noxium is responsible for the destructive and invasive disease of brown root rot currently affecting the city of Brisbane, Australia. In order to address this issue, environmentally friendly and safe alternatives to chemical control are preferred due to the city's public setting. Antifungal natural products are ideal candidates as biological control alternatives and can be detected through investigating the metabolomes of microbial symbionts. Within this study, an NMR-based metabolomics approach was applied to fermentation extracts obtained from 15 termite gut-associated streptomycetes. By analysing the NMR spectra, six of the extracts which displayed similar chemical profiles exhibited antifungal activity against the P. noxium pathogen. The major compound within these extracts was identified as acetomycin using NMR and X-ray crystallography analyses. This is the first reporting of acetomycin as a potential natural product fungicide, particularly as an antifungal agent against P. noxium. Inhibitory activity was also found against other important fungal crop pathogens, including Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Alteranaria alternata. Further experimentation using a woodblock test found inhibitory activity on the growth of the P. noxium pathogen for up to 3 weeks and a significant difference in the integrity of the woodblocks when conducting compression strength tests after 6 weeks. Therefore, acetomycin may be used as a biological control agent and natural product fungicide against P. noxium.}, } @article {pmid38247591, year = {2023}, author = {Magaña, G and Harvey, C and Taggart, CC and Rodgers, AM}, title = {Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles: Role in Pathogenesis and Host-Cell Interactions.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics13010032}, pmid = {38247591}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are small, spherical structures released from the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria into the surrounding environment. Investigations into OMVs range from their biogenesis and cargo composition to their ability to transfer virulence factors and modulate host immune responses. This emerging understanding of OMVs has unveiled their pivotal role in the pathogenicity of infectious diseases, shedding light on their interactions with host cells, their contributions to inflammation, their potential involvement in antimicrobial resistance, and their promising use for the development of novel treatments and therapies. Numerous studies have associated the OMVs of pathogenic bacteria with the exacerbation of inflammatory diseases, underlining the significance of understanding the mechanisms associated with these vesicles to find alternatives for combating these conditions. Additionally, OMVs possess the ability to act as decoys, absorbing and neutralizing antibiotics, which significantly diminishes the efficacy of a broad spectrum of antimicrobial agents. Another subtopic of interest is OMVs produced by commensal microbiota. These vesicles are increasingly acknowledged for their mutualistic functions, significantly influencing their host's physiology and immune responses. Consequently, OMVs play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced gut microbiota by fostering symbiotic relationships that significantly contribute to the overall health and well-being of the host. This comprehensive review aims to provide an up-to-date review of OMVs derived from Gram-negative bacteria, summarizing current research findings, and elucidating the multifaceted role of these vesicles in diverse biological contexts.}, } @article {pmid38247576, year = {2023}, author = {Mukherjee, R and Vidic, J and Auger, S and Wen, HC and Pandey, RP and Chang, CM}, title = {Exploring Disease Management and Control through Pathogen Diagnostics and One Health Initiative: A Concise Review.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics13010017}, pmid = {38247576}, issn = {2079-6382}, support = {(SCRPD1L0221); DOXABIO-CGU, R.O.C., (SCRPD1K0131), and the CGU project grant (UZRPD1L0011).//Chang Gung University/ ; }, abstract = {The "One Health" initiative is a critical strategy that recognizes the interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health in the spread and containment of infectious pathogens. With the ease of global transportation, transboundary disease outbreaks pose a significant threat to food safety and security, endangering public health and having a negative economic impact. Traditional diagnostic techniques based on genotypic and phenotypic analyses are expensive, time-consuming, and cannot be translated into point-of-care tools, hindering effective disease management and control. However, with advancements in molecular methods, biosensors, and new generation sequencing, rapid and reliable diagnostics are now available. This review provides a comprehensive insight into emergent viral and bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the importance of "One Health" in connecting detection and effective treatment. By emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between human and animal health, this paper underscores the critical role of "One Health" initiatives in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid38246292, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, Z and Liao, Y and Yan, L and Liao, B}, title = {Biological performance and membrane fouling of a microalgal-bacterial membrane photobioreactor for wastewater treatment without external aeration and carbonation.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {118272}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118272}, pmid = {38246292}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Biological nutrient removal processes involving the use of activated sludge (AS) to treat municipal wastewater normally result in high aeration energy consumption and significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, developing cost-efficient and environmentally friendly processes for wastewater treatment is vital. In this work, a novel non-aerated microalgal-bacterial membrane photobioreactor (MB-MPBR) was proposed, and its feasibility for organic contaminant and nutrient removals was evaluated, for the first time. The effects of inoculation ratio (microalgae to bacteria (M/B)) on the biological performance and membrane fouling were systematically investigated. The results showed that 95.9% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD), 74.5% of total nitrogen (TN), 98.5% of NH4[+]-N and 42.0% of total phosphorus (TP) were removed at an inoculation M/B ratio of 3:2 at steady state, representing a significant improvement compared to the M/B inoculation ratio of 1:3. Additionally, the higher inoculation M/B ratio (3:2) significantly promoted the biomass production owing to the favorable mutual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between microalgae and bacteria. Cake layer formation was the primary fouling mechanism owing to the absence of aeration scouring on the membrane surface. The membrane fouling rate was slightly higher at the higher inoculation ratio (M/B = 3:2) owing to the increased biomass and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) productions, despite the larger particle size. These results demonstrated that the non-aerated MB-MPBR could achieve superior biological performance, of which the inoculation M/B ratio was of critical importance for the initiation and maintenance of microalgal-bacterial symbiotic system, yet possibly caused severer membrane fouling in the absence of external aeration and carbonation. This study provides a new perspective for further optimizing and applying non-aerated MB-MPBR to enhance municipal wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid38245821, year = {2024}, author = {Milbrath, LR and Biazzo, J and Mudrak, E}, title = {In-gallery social behaviors of the ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvae003}, pmid = {38245821}, issn = {1938-2936}, support = {#8062-22410-007-000D//USDA/ ; }, abstract = {The east Asian ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Blanford) was first detected in the United States in 1932. It now occurs across much of eastern North America and parts of the Pacific Northwest. It attacks a broad range of stressed, woody hosts including ornamental and orchard species. The foundress tunnels into the sapwood of hosts where it cultures a symbiotic fungus as food for its offspring. A few other ambrosia beetles have been shown to possess a facultatively eusocial structure among gallery members, but this has not been described for Xylosandrus spp. Using a novel artificial diet arena, we quantified the behaviors of X. germanus larvae and adults (foundress and mature offspring) over 10 wk inside their galleries. Foundresses were responsible for constructing the gallery. They also initially tended the fungal garden and brood but eventually spent most of their time blocking the gallery entrance. Larvae were mainly observed to feed, crawl, or be inactive within the gallery, regardless of the absence or presence of adult siblings. Adult female offspring were primarily inactive, likely due to dormancy. Adult male offspring actively crawled and attempted to mate with their sisters before eventually dispersing out of the gallery. Cooperative hygienic behaviors (removal of frass, cannibalism of dead nest mates, grooming siblings) were observed but a division of labor among offspring was not clear. Rather, foundress behaviors were mostly distinct from offspring behaviors, particularly as the gallery aged. Because no overlap in generations occurred, X. germanus displays a quasisocial structure.}, } @article {pmid38244689, year = {2024}, author = {Zhong, Z and Wang, K and Wang, J}, title = {Tick symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101163}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2024.101163}, pmid = {38244689}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {As obligate blood-feeders, ticks serve as vectors for a variety of pathogens that pose threats on both human and livestock health. The microbiota that ticks harbor play important roles in influencing tick nutrition, development, reproduction, and vector. These microbes also affect the capacity of ticks to transmit pathogens (vector competence). Therefore, comprehending the functions of tick microbiota will help in developing novel and effective tick control strategies. Here, we summarize the effects of main tick symbiotic bacteria on tick physiology and vector competency.}, } @article {pmid38244412, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, X and Wang, L and Zheng, J and Mao, W and Liu, W and Zhu, G and Ji, XM and Zhang, Q}, title = {Multi-omics analysis reveals the collaboration and metabolisms of the anammox consortia driven by soluble/non-soluble Fe(III) as the sole iron element.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {352}, number = {}, pages = {120124}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120124}, pmid = {38244412}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Iron is recognized as a physiological requirement for anammox bacteria (AnAOB), with Fe(II) considered to be the most effective form. However, Fe(III), instead of Fe(II) is the common iron form in natural and artificial ecosystems. In this study, the nitrogen removal performance and metabolic mechanisms in anammox consortia with soluble and non-soluble Fe(III) as the sole iron element were investigated. After the 150-day operation, the soluble (FeCl3) and insoluble (Fe2O3) Fe(III)-fed anammox systems reached nitrogen removal rates of 71.84 ± 0.80% and 50.20 ± 0.98%, respectively. AnAOB could survive with soluble (FeCl3) or insoluble (Fe2O3) Fe(III) as the sole iron element, reaching relative abundances of 18.49% and 13.16%, respectively. The results show that the formation of anammox core consortia can enable AnAOB's survival to adverse external conditions of Fe(II) deficiency. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis reveal that Ca. Kuenenia can only uptake Fe(II) into the cell for metabolisms either independently through the extracellular electron transfer or with the cross-feeding of symbiotic microbes. This study provides insight into the utilization and metabolic mechanisms of Fe(III) in Ca. Kuenenia-dominated consortia, and deepens the understanding of anammox core consortia in the nitrogen, carbon, and iron cycling, further promoting the practical applications of anammox processes.}, } @article {pmid38244387, year = {2024}, author = {Votta, C and Wang, JY and Cavallini, N and Savorani, F and Capparotto, A and Liew, KX and Giovannetti, M and Lanfranco, L and Al-Babili, S and Fiorilli, V}, title = {Integration of rice apocarotenoid profile and expression pattern of Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenases reveals a positive effect of β-ionone on mycorrhization.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {108366}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108366}, pmid = {38244387}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Carotenoids are susceptible to degrading processes initiated by oxidative cleavage reactions mediated by Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenases that break their backbone, leading to products called apocarotenoids. These carotenoid-derived metabolites include the phytohormones abscisic acid and strigolactones, and different signaling molecules and growth regulators, which are utilized by plants to coordinate many aspects of their life. Several apocarotenoids have been recruited for the communication between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and as regulators of the establishment of AM symbiosis. However, our knowledge on their biosynthetic pathways and the regulation of their pattern during AM symbiosis is still limited. In this study, we generated a qualitative and quantitative profile of apocarotenoids in roots and shoots of rice plants exposed to high/low phosphate concentrations, and upon AM symbiosis in a time course experiment covering different stages of growth and AM development. To get deeper insights in the biology of apocarotenoids during this plant-fungal symbiosis, we complemented the metabolic profiles by determining the expression pattern of CCD genes, taking advantage of chemometric tools. This analysis revealed the specific profiles of CCD genes and apocarotenoids across different stages of AM symbiosis and phosphate supply conditions, identifying novel reliable markers at both local and systemic levels and indicating a promoting role of β-ionone in AM symbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid38243337, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, C and van der Heijden, MGA and Dodds, BK and Nguyen, TB and Spooren, J and Valzano-Held, A and Cosme, M and Berendsen, RL}, title = {A tripartite bacterial-fungal-plant symbiosis in the mycorrhiza-shaped microbiome drives plant growth and mycorrhization.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {38243337}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {grant 310030-188799/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; grant 310030-188799/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Bacteria/genetics ; Soil ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant microbiomes play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and plant growth, and are shaped by a complex interplay between plants, microbes, and the environment. The role of bacteria as mediators of the 400-million-year-old partnership between the majority of land plants and, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is still poorly understood. Here, we test whether AM hyphae-associated bacteria influence the success of the AM symbiosis.

RESULTS: Using partitioned microcosms containing field soil, we discovered that AM hyphae and roots selectively assemble their own microbiome from the surrounding soil. In two independent experiments, we identified several bacterial genera, including Devosia, that are consistently enriched on AM hyphae. Subsequently, we isolated 144 pure bacterial isolates from a mycorrhiza-rich sample of extraradical hyphae and isolated Devosia sp. ZB163 as root and hyphal colonizer. We show that this AM-associated bacterium synergistically acts with mycorrhiza on the plant root to strongly promote plant growth, nitrogen uptake, and mycorrhization.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that AM fungi do not function in  isolation and that the plant-mycorrhiza symbiont can recruit beneficial bacteria that support the symbiosis. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid38242520, year = {2024}, author = {Bucci, P and Marcos Montero, EJ and García-Depraect, O and Zaritzky, N and Caravelli, A and Muñoz, R}, title = {Assessment of the performance of a symbiotic microalgal-bacterial granular sludge reactor for the removal of nitrogen and organic carbon from dairy wastewater.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {141250}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141250}, pmid = {38242520}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Cheese whey (CW) is a nutrient deficient dairy effluent, which requires external nutrient supplementation for aerobic treatment. CW, supplemented with ammonia, can be treated using aerobic granular sludge (AGS) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). AGS are aggregates of microbial origin that do not coagulate under reduced hydrodynamic shear and settle significantly faster than activated sludge flocs. However, granular instability, slow granulation start-up, high energy consumption and CO2 emission have been reported as the main limitations in bacterial AGS-SBR. Algal-bacterial granular systems have shown be an innovative alternative to improve these limitations. Unfortunately, algal-bacterial granular systems for the treatment of wastewaters with higher organic loads such as CW have been poorly studied. In this study, an algal-bacterial granular system implemented in a SBR (SBRAB) for the aerobic treatment of ammonia-supplemented CW wastewaters was investigated and compared with a bacterial granular reactor (SBRB). Mass balances were used to estimate carbon and nitrogen (N) assimilation, nitrification and denitrification in both set-ups. SBRB exhibited COD and ammonia removal of 100% and 94% respectively, high nitrification (89%) and simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) of 23% leading to an inorganic N removal of 30%. The efficient algal-bacterial symbiosis in granular systems completely removed COD and ammonia (100%) present in the dairy wastewater. SBRAB microalgae growth could reduce about 20% of the CO2 emissions produced by bacterial oxidation of organic compounds according to estimates based on synthesis reactions of bacterial and algal biomass, in which the amount of assimilated N determined by mass balance was taken into account. A lower nitrification (75%) and minor loss of N by denitrifying activity (<5% Ng, SND 2%) was also encountered in SBRAB as a result of its higher biomass production, which could be used for the generation of value-added products such as biofertilizers and biostimulants.}, } @article {pmid38242200, year = {2024}, author = {Slusher, EK and Lewis, E and Stevens, G and Shapiro-Ilan, D}, title = {MOVERS AND SHAKERS: DO NEMATODES THAT MOVE MORE INVADE MORE?.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {108060}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2024.108060}, pmid = {38242200}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are roundworms that parasitize insects with the aid of symbiotic bacteria. These nematodes have been used both as model organisms and for biological control of pests. The specialized third stage of an EPN, known as an infective juvenile (IJ) must forage to find a host (cruising, ambushing, and intermediate) with strategies varying from species to species. Some IJs move more than others to find a host, despite an increased risk of predation and desiccation. This hints at potential underlying benefits (e.g., increased invasion) for EPNs that move more. We assessed whether EPNs that moved farther down a soil column also exhibit higher levels of invasion when compared to nematodes that remained at or near their point of origin. We found that movers in the cruisier and intermediate species: Steinernema riobrave, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and H. indica had higher invasion rates compared to their counterparts that did not move. S. carpocapsae, an ambusher, did not exhibit invasion differences between EPNs that moved versus those that did not. For the three cruiser/intermediate EPNs we tested, our results support our hypothesis that EPNs that tend to move more enjoy related benefits such as increased invasion potential. Further studies are required to explore other parameters that may interact with movement. The results of this study can potentially be used to develop EPN strains that move more and invade more, and thus can potentially be more effective biological control agents.}, } @article {pmid38241405, year = {2024}, author = {Gu, J and Liu, Z}, title = {A study of the coupling between the digital economy and regional economic resilience: Evidence from China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {e0296890}, pmid = {38241405}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Humans ; *Resilience, Psychological ; China ; Macau ; Hong Kong ; Economic Development ; Cities ; }, abstract = {The contemporary economic landscape has placed significant emphasis on the digital economy and economic resilience, progressively emerging as pivotal focal points for examining the high-quality development of economic systems. However, there remains to be more research on several critical topics. This includes the characteristics of coordinated development between the digital economy and economic resilience systems and their interdependence. In response, this study formulates a comprehensive evaluative framework for digital economy development and regional economic resilience, grounded in the intrinsic mechanisms of both domains. It conducts a thorough evaluation employing entropy weight-TOPSIS methodology. Additionally, leveraging coupling theory, a coordination model's coupling degree serves as the foundational framework for scrutinizing the symbiotic advancement of the digital economy and economic resilience, along with their interdependent nature. The research sample comprises data from 31 provinces and municipalities in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from 2011 to 2020. Spatial autocorrelation and Geodetector methodologies probe the evolutionary traits and driving factors underlying the coordinated developmental relationship between these two systems. The findings indicate an upward trajectory in China's annual comprehensive development index for digital economy development (from 0.233 to 0.458) and regional economic resilience (from 0.393 to 0.497). The coupling and coordination between the two systems, measured from 0.504 in 2011 to 0.658 in 2020, demonstrate a consistent growth pattern with an average annual increase of 3.01%. These levels exhibit continuous improvement, with comprehensive economic zones manifesting hierarchical results within the coupling range of [0.5, 0.8]. Notably, agglomeration development evinces a pronounced spatial positive correlation, while local Moran scattering points are primarily concentrated in localized migration leaps. Factors such as foreign-funded enterprises' total import and export volume, online payment capability, and fiber-optic cable length greatly influence the coupling relationship. In contrast, other variables exhibit a lower and more fluctuating degree of weighted impact. This study establishes a foundation for the synergistic and effective development of the digital economy and economic resilience within the Chinese region. Simultaneously, it offers valuable insights for research of related subjects in global contexts.}, } @article {pmid38241343, year = {2024}, author = {Srinivasan, TS and Premachandran, K and Clinton, PX}, title = {Bacterial microbiome associated with cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) and its microbial plasticity in relation to diet sources.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {e0289215}, pmid = {38241343}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Insect-microbial symbiosis contributes positively to the physiology of the insect and diet is considered as one important factor determining microbial symbiosis. In this study, we have characterized the microbiota of cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) on different diets and phases. The beetles were reared on different diet sources (exposed phase) for six generations and were reverted to their natal source (reverted phase) and further maintained for six more generations. The bacterial diversity and richness were higher in the exposed phase and once reverted to the natal source, the microbial abundance has re-assembled according to the natal diet source. There was re-assemblage of microbial composition in accordance to the diet and the bacterial cells are able to establish and proliferate on reverting to their natal source. The bacterial composition of the beetle was mainly dynamic and not transient where the bacterial cells were maintained at low abundance and were re-established according to the diet source. Overall, we found that the microbiota of cigarette beetle to be dynamic and bacterial composition to re-assemble in a diet-specific manner. The study provides insights on diet associated microbial plasticity of cigarette beetle and a further comprehensive understanding on mechanisms involved in microbial plasticity will help develop novel pest management strategies for this invasive insect pest.}, } @article {pmid38240362, year = {2024}, author = {Hao, J and Li, B and Tan, J and Zhang, Y and Gu, X and Wang, S and Deng, Y and Zhang, X and Li, J}, title = {Double Advantages of Nutrients and Biostimulants Derived from Sewage Sludge by Alkaline Thermal Hydrolysis Process for Agricultural Use: Quality Promotion of Soil and Crop.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2307793}, doi = {10.1002/advs.202307793}, pmid = {38240362}, issn = {2198-3844}, support = {2023YFC3207602//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; BE2022030//Jiangsu Special Funding of Science and Technology Innovation for Carbon Emission Peaking and Carbon Neutrality/ ; BE2022303//Jiangsu Special Funding of Science and Technology Innovation for Carbon Emission Peaking and Carbon Neutrality/ ; XTCXSZ2020-2//Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment/ ; KYCX22-2382//Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province/ ; }, abstract = {Low-carbon alkaline thermal hydrolysis of sewage sludge for the production of high-quality plant-growth-promoting nutrients and biostimulants is a growing concern for sludge resource utilization in agriculture. Thus, this study aims to investigate functional characteristics and soil biochemical effects of sewage sludge-derived nutrients and biostimulants (SS-NB). The content of heavy metals in SS-NB decreased by 47.39-100%, and an increase in soil protease, invertase, and soil nutrient utilization rates are observed in SS-NB groups. SS-NB substituted for chemical fertilizer increased the diversity and evenness of microbial community and reduced the abundance of the soil-borne bacterial genus Arthrobacter. The dominant community of SS-NB100 group is mainly enriched in Microvirga, Ensifer, Novosphingobium, Bosea and Ellin6055, which are principally beneficial symbiotic bacteria of plants and participated in C and N cycles. Moreover, SS-NB reduced the accumulation of Ktedonobacteria and Nitrosospira, which are involved in the production of CO2 and N2 O, and also enhanced the coordination of soil microorganisms with enzyme activities and nutrient utilization rate. In conclusion, the results suggest that SS-NB exerts a positive effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing soil-borne diseases, and can further enhance collaboration with soil enzyme activity and soil nutrient utilization by stimulating soil microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid38239208, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, J and Longo, A and Dickstein, R}, title = {Expression and mutagenesis studies in the Medicago truncatula iron transporter MtVTL8 confirm its role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and reveal amino acids essential for transport.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1306491}, pmid = {38239208}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The model legume Medicago truncatula establishes a symbiosis with soil bacteria (rhizobia) that carry out symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in plant root nodules. SNF requires the exchange of nutrients between the plant and rhizobia in the nodule that occurs across a plant-derived symbiosome membrane. One iron transporter, belonging to the Vacuolar iron Transporter-Like (VTL) family, MtVTL8, has been identified as essential for bacteria survival and therefore SNF. In this work we investigated the spatial expression of MtVTL8 in nodules and addressed whether it could be functionally interchangeable with a similar nodule-expressed iron transporter, MtVTL4. Using a structural model for MtVTL8 and the previously hypothesized mechanism for iron transport in a phylogenetically-related Vacuolar Iron Transporter (VIT), EgVIT1 with known crystal structure, we identified critical amino acids and obtained their mutants. Mutants were tested in planta for complementation of an SNF defective line and in an iron sensitive mutant yeast strain. An extended phylogenetic assessment of VTLs and VITs showed that amino acids critical for function are conserved differently in VTLs vs. VITs. Our studies showed that some amino acids are essential for iron transport leading us to suggest a model for MtVTL8 function, one that is different for other iron transporters (VITs) studied so far. This study extends the understanding of iron transport mechanisms in VTLs as well as those used in SNF.}, } @article {pmid38238389, year = {2024}, author = {McDonald, AG and Lisacek, F}, title = {Simulated digestions of free oligosaccharides and mucin-type O-glycans reveal a potential role for Clostridium perfringens.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1649}, pmid = {38238389}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {31003A_179249//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {The development of a stable human gut microbiota occurs within the first year of life. Many open questions remain about how microfloral species are influenced by the composition of milk, in particular its content of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). The objective is to investigate the effect of the human HMO glycome on bacterial symbiosis and competition, based on the glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzyme activities known to be present in microbial species. We extracted from UniProt a list of all bacterial species catalysing glycoside hydrolase activities (EC 3.2.1.-), cross-referencing with the BRENDA database, and obtained a set of taxonomic lineages and CAZy family data. A set of 13 documented enzyme activities was selected and modelled within an enzyme simulator according to a method described previously in the context of biosynthesis. A diverse population of experimentally observed HMOs was fed to the simulator, and the enzymes matching specific bacterial species were recorded, based on their appearance of individual enzymes in the UniProt dataset. Pairs of bacterial species were identified that possessed complementary enzyme profiles enabling the digestion of the HMO glycome, from which potential symbioses could be inferred. Conversely, bacterial species having similar GH enzyme profiles were considered likely to be in competition for the same set of dietary HMOs within the gut of the newborn. We generated a set of putative biodegradative networks from the simulator output, which provides a visualisation of the ability of organisms to digest HMO and mucin-type O-glycans. B. bifidum, B. longum and C. perfringens species were predicted to have the most diverse GH activity and therefore to excel in their ability to digest these substrates. The expected cooperative role of Bifidobacteriales contrasts with the surprising capacities of the pathogen. These findings indicate that potential pathogens may associate in human gut based on their shared glycoside hydrolase digestive apparatus, and which, in the event of colonisation, might result in dysbiosis. The methods described can readily be adapted to other enzyme categories and species as well as being easily fine-tuneable if new degrading enzymes are identified and require inclusion in the model.}, } @article {pmid38237300, year = {2024}, author = {Healy, L and Zhu, X and Dong, G and Selli, S and Kelebek, H and Sullivan, C and Tiwari, U and Tiwari, BK}, title = {Investigation into the use of novel pretreatments in the fermentation of Alaria esculenta by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and kombucha SCOBY.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {442}, number = {}, pages = {138335}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138335}, pmid = {38237300}, issn = {1873-7072}, abstract = {High pressure processing (HPP), ultrasound probe (USP) and ultrasound bath (USB) were applied to Alaria esculenta as a fermentation pre-treatment. Seaweed was then fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LAB) or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Physiochemical properties of fermented seaweed were measured. pH was significantly different (p < 0.05) across SCOBY-fermented samples with different pre-treatments but not LAB-fermented samples (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in total viable count (TVC) with the highest count in HPP-treated samples, and lowest in control samples. Organic acids differed significantly (p < 0.05) across pre-treatments for both fermentation groups. 27 volatile compounds were detected in the samples, with alcohols and ketones the most prominent groups. The quantity of volatile compounds was not significantly lower (p > 0.05) from seaweed powder. The control sample had the highest levels of tropomyosin (15.92 mg/kg) followed by HPP samples.}, } @article {pmid38235490, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, J and Mao, Y and Wang, L}, title = {The crosstalk of intratumor bacteria and the tumor.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1273254}, pmid = {38235490}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Humans ; *Neoplasms ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; Bacteria ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The in-depth studies reveal the interaction between the host and commensal microbiomes. Symbiotic bacteria influence in tumor initiation, progression, and response to treatment. Recently, intratumor bacteria have been a burgeoning research field. The tumor microenvironment is under vascular hyperplasia, aerobic glycolysis, hypoxia, and immunosuppression. It might be attractive for bacterial growth and proliferation. As a component of the tumor microenvironment, intratumor bacteria influence tumor growth and metastasis, as well as the efficacy of anti-tumor therapies. Therefore, understanding the intricate interplay of intratumoral bacteria and the host might contribute to better approaches to treat tumors. In this review, we summarize current evidence about roles of intratumor bacteria in tumor initiation and anti-tumor therapy, and what is remained to be solved in this field.}, } @article {pmid38233948, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, K and Wang, S and Li, Y and Yin, Y and Zhang, X and Zhang, Q and Kong, X and Liu, W and Yao, D and Zhang, R and Zhang, Z}, title = {Application of bacteria and bacteriophage cocktails for biological control of houseflies.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {38233948}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {No.81871686//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No.81572028//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Houseflies/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Houseflies, Musca domestica L., are an ubiquitous pest that can transmit numerous diseases and threaten human health. Increasing insecticide resistance shown by houseflies necessitates the develop new control alternatives. The housefly gut is densely colonized with microorganisms that interact with each other dynamically and benefit the host's health. However, the impact of multiple symbiotic bacteria on the composition of housefly gut microbiota and the host's activities remains unclear.

METHODS: We isolated and cultured 12 bacterial species from the intestines of housefly larvae. We also isolated seven bacteriophages to precisely target the regulation of certain bacterial species. Using 16S rRNA high-throughput gene sequencing, we analyzed the bacterial diversity after orally administering bacteria/phage cocktails to houseflies.

RESULTS: Our results showed that larval growth was promoted, the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Klebsiella and Enterobacter, was increased and the abundance of harmful bacteria, such as Providencia, Morganella and Pseudomonas, was decreased in housefly larvae fed with the beneficial bacteria cocktail. However, oral administration of both beneficial and harmful bacterial phage cocktails inhibited larval growth, probably due to the drastic alteration of gut flora. Untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that disturbances in gut microbiota changed the larval metabolite profiles. Feeding experiments revealed that disrupting the intestinal flora suppressed the beneficial bacteria and increased the harmful bacteria, causing changes in the metabolites and inhibiting larval growth.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, bacteria/phage cocktails are effective tools for regulating the intestinal flora of insects and have a high potential as a biological control agent for incorporation into an integrated pest management program.}, } @article {pmid38235478, year = {2022}, author = {Dehais, F and Ladouce, S and Darmet, L and Nong, TV and Ferraro, G and Torre Tresols, J and Velut, S and Labedan, P}, title = {Dual Passive Reactive Brain-Computer Interface: A Novel Approach to Human-Machine Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroergonomics}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {824780}, pmid = {38235478}, issn = {2673-6195}, abstract = {The present study proposes a novel concept of neuroadaptive technology, namely a dual passive-reactive Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), that enables bi-directional interaction between humans and machines. We have implemented such a system in a realistic flight simulator using the NextMind classification algorithms and framework to decode pilots' intention (reactive BCI) and to infer their level of attention (passive BCI). Twelve pilots used the reactive BCI to perform checklists along with an anti-collision radar monitoring task that was supervised by the passive BCI. The latter simulated an automatic avoidance maneuver when it detected that pilots missed an incoming collision. The reactive BCI reached 100% classification accuracy with a mean reaction time of 1.6 s when exclusively performing the checklist task. Accuracy was up to 98.5% with a mean reaction time of 2.5 s when pilots also had to fly the aircraft and monitor the anti-collision radar. The passive BCI achieved a F1-score of 0.94. This first demonstration shows the potential of a dual BCI to improve human-machine teaming which could be applied to a variety of applications.}, } @article {pmid38231859, year = {2023}, author = {Morais, R and Soares, PI and Morais, SK and Oriente, S and Nascimento, A and Melo, MO and Sousa, FM and Cavalcanti-Mata, M and Lisboa, HM and Gusmão, RP and Abrantes, T}, title = {Development and Characterization of Symbiotic Buffalo Petit Suisse Cheese Utilizing Whey Retention and Inulin Incorporation.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {38231859}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {This study presents the development and characterization of a novel buffalo Petit Suisse cheese, enhanced with symbiotic properties through an innovative whey retention method and incorporating inulin and xanthan gum. The research focused on assessing the cheese's physicochemical properties, shelf life, lactic acid bacteria viability, syneresis behavior, and the impact of varying concentrations of functional ingredients. The addition of inulin and xanthan gum, following a design of experiments, significantly influenced the cheese's texture and consistency. Higher inulin concentrations were associated with increased fermentation activity, as indicated by total titratable acidity, which showed an increase from 1.22% to 1.50% over a 28-day period, and pH levels that decreased from 3.33 to 2.96. The syneresis index varied across trials, with the highest reduction observed in trials with increased xanthan gum concentrations, effectively reducing syneresis to 0%. Lactic acid bacteria viability also showed notable variations, with the highest cell survival percentage reaching 107.89% in formulations with higher inulin and xanthan gum concentrations. These results underscore the importance of inulin and xanthan gum in enhancing the cheese's microbial stability and textural quality. The study concludes that the strategic use of inulin and xanthan gum improves the nutritional profile of buffalo Petit Suisse cheese and optimizes its textural and sensory attributes.}, } @article {pmid38231280, year = {2024}, author = {Kodama, Y and Endoh, Y}, title = {Comparative Analyses of the Symbiotic Associations of the Host Paramecium bursaria with Free-Living and Native Symbiotic Species of Chlorella.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {66}, pmid = {38231280}, issn = {1432-0991}, support = {Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (grant number 20K06768)//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (grant number 23H02529)//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, mesh = {*Paramecium ; *Chlorella ; Cytoplasm ; }, abstract = {Each symbiotic Chlorella variabilis associated with the ciliate Paramecium bursaria is enclosed in a symbiosome called the perialgal vacuole. Various potential symbionts, such as bacteria, yeasts, other algae, and free-living Chlorella spp., can infect P. bursaria. However, the detailed infection process of each of them in algae-free P. bursaria is unknown. Here, we aimed to elucidate the difference of the infection process between the free-living C. sorokiniana strain NIES-2169 and native symbiotic C. variabilis strain 1N. We investigated the fate of ingested algae using algae-free P. bursaria exposed separately to three types of algal inocula: NIES-2169 only, 1N only, or a mixture of NIES-2169 and 1N. We found that (1) only one algal species, preferably the native one, was retained in host cells, indicating a type of host compatibility and (2) the algal localization style beneath the host cell cortex varied between different Chlorella spp. showing various levels of host compatibilities, which was prospectively attributable to the difference in the formation of the perialgal vacuole membrane.}, } @article {pmid38228651, year = {2024}, author = {Krishnan, N and Csiszár, V and Móri, TF and Garay, J}, title = {Genesis of ectosymbiotic features based on commensalistic syntrophy.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1366}, pmid = {38228651}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {955708//Horizon 2020/ ; 125569//NKFIH/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Eukaryota ; Mitochondria ; Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {The symbiogenetic origin of eukaryotes with mitochondria is considered a major evolutionary transition. The initial interactions and conditions of symbiosis, along with the phylogenetic affinity of the host, are widely debated. Here, we focus on a possible evolutionary path toward an association of individuals of two species based on unidirectional syntrophy. With the backing of a theoretical model, we hypothesize that the first step in the evolution of such symbiosis could be the appearance of a linking structure on the symbiont's membrane, using which it forms an ectocommensalism with its host. We consider a commensalistic model based on the syntrophy hypothesis in the framework of coevolutionary dynamics and mutant invasion into a monomorphic resident system (evolutionary substitution). We investigate the ecological and evolutionary stability of the consortium (or symbiotic merger), with vertical transmissions playing a crucial role. The impact of the 'effectiveness of vertical transmission' on the dynamics is also analyzed. We find that the transmission of symbionts and the additional costs incurred by the mutant determine the conditions of fixation of the consortia. Additionally, we observe that small and highly metabolically active symbionts are likely to form the consortia.}, } @article {pmid38228607, year = {2024}, author = {Akbarifard, S and Madadi, MR and Zounemat-Kermani, M}, title = {An artificial intelligence-based model for optimal conjunctive operation of surface and groundwater resources.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {553}, pmid = {38228607}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {A hybrid simulation-optimization model is proposed for the optimal conjunctive operation of surface and groundwater resources. This second-level model is created by finding and combining the best aspects of two resilient metaheuristics, the moth swarm algorithm and the symbiotic organization search algorithm, and then connecting the resulting algorithm to an artificial neural network simulator. For assessment of the developed model efficiency, its results are compared with two first-level simulation-optimization models. The comparisons reveal that the operation policies obtained by the developed second-level model can reliably supply more than 99% of the total demands in the study regions, indicating its superior efficiency compared to the two other first-level models. In addition, the highest sustainability index in the study regions belongs to the proposed model. Comparing the results of this research with those of other recent studies confirm the supremacy of the developed second-level model over several previously developed models.}, } @article {pmid38228017, year = {2024}, author = {Etesami, H and Glick, BR}, title = {Bacterial indole-3-acetic acid: A key regulator for plant growth, plant-microbe interactions, and agricultural adaptive resilience.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {281}, number = {}, pages = {127602}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2024.127602}, pmid = {38228017}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a fundamental phytohormone categorized under auxins, not only influences plant growth and development but also plays a critical role in plant-microbe interactions. This study reviews the role of IAA in bacteria-plant communication, with a focus on its biosynthesis, regulation, and the subsequent effects on host plants. Bacteria synthesize IAA through multiple pathways, which include the indole-3-acetamide (IAM), indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA), and several other routes, whose full mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. The production of bacterial IAA affects root architecture, nutrient uptake, and resistance to various abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity, enhancing plant resilience and thus offering promising routes to sustainable agriculture. Bacterial IAA synthesis is regulated through complex gene networks responsive to environmental cues, impacting plant hormonal balances and symbiotic relationships. Pathogenic bacteria have adapted mechanisms to manipulate the host's IAA dynamics, influencing disease outcomes. On the other hand, beneficial bacteria utilize IAA to promote plant growth and mitigate abiotic stresses, thereby enhancing nutrient use efficiency and reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. Advancements in analytical methods, such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, have improved the quantification of bacterial IAA, enabling accurate measurement and analysis. Future research focusing on molecular interactions between IAA-producing bacteria and host plants could facilitate the development of biotechnological applications that integrate beneficial bacteria to improve crop performance, which is essential for addressing the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring global food security. This integration of bacterial IAA producers into agricultural practice promises to revolutionize crop management strategies by enhancing growth, fostering resilience, and reducing environmental impact.}, } @article {pmid38227156, year = {2024}, author = {Erban, T and Sopko, B and Klimov, PB and Hubert, J}, title = {Mixta mediterraneensis as a novel and abundant gut symbiont of the allergen-producing domestic mite Blomia tropicalis.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38227156}, issn = {1572-9702}, support = {MZE-RO0423//Ministerstvo Zemědělství/ ; LUAUS23082//Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy/ ; RF 193021X0012//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Blomia tropicalis is an allergen-producing mite in the human environment in tropical regions. The microbiome of B. tropicalis was described using the barcode sequencing region of V4 16S rDNA and genome assemblage. Mixta mediterraneensis, previously isolated from human skin swabs, was identified as a B. tropicalis gut symbiont based on genome assembly. The microbiome contains two bacteria, Staphylococcus and M. mediterraneensis. The number of M. mediterraneensis 16S DNA copies was 10[6] per mite and 10[9] per feces in the rearing chamber based on qPCR quantification. The profile of this bacterium reached 50% of reads in the mite gut and feces. Genomic analyses revealed that the bacterium has several metabolic pathways that suggest metabolic cooperation with the mite host in vitamin and amino acid synthesis, nitrogen recycling, and antimicrobial defense. Lysozyme is present in the symbiotic bacterium but absent in the mite. The B. tropicalis microbiome contained Staphylococcus, which accelerates mite population growth. Mites can digest Staphylococcus by using specific enzymes with hydrolytic functions against bacterial cell walls (chitinases and cathepsin D), leading to endocytosis of bacteria and their degradation in lysosomes and phagosomes. Gene expression analysis of B. tropicalis indicated that phagocytosis was mediated by the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway interacting with the invasins produced by M. mediterraneensis. Moreover, the symbiont had metabolic pathways that allowed it to recycle the mite metabolic waste product guanine, known as a mite attractant. The mite host symbiont enhances mite aggregation in the feces, and the fecal-oral transmission route is excepted.}, } @article {pmid38225717, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, P and Zhang, X and Lin, L and Cao, Y and Lin, X and Ye, L and Yan, J and Gao, H and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Liu, J}, title = {Nodulation Signaling Pathway 1 and 2 Modulate Vanadium Accumulation and Tolerance of Legumes.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2306389}, doi = {10.1002/advs.202306389}, pmid = {38225717}, issn = {2198-3844}, support = {32071871//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Vanadium (V) pollution potentially threatens human health. Here, it is found that nsp1 and nsp2, Rhizobium symbiosis defective mutants of Medicago truncatula, are sensitive to V. Concentrations of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and sulfur (S) with V are negatively correlated in the shoots of wild-type R108, but not in mutant nsp1 and nsp2 shoots. Mutations in the P transporter PHT1, PHO1, and VPT families, Fe transporter IRT1, and S transporter SULTR1/3/4 family confer varying degrees of V tolerance on plants. Among these gene families, MtPT1, MtZIP6, MtZIP9, and MtSULTR1;1 in R108 roots are significantly inhibited by V stress, while MtPHO1;2, MtVPT2, and MtVPT3 are significantly induced. Overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana VPT1 or M. truncatula MtVPT3 increases plant V tolerance. However, the response of these genes to V is weakened in nsp1 or nsp2 and influenced by soil microorganisms. Mutations in NSPs reduce rhizobacterial diversity under V stress and simplify the V-responsive operational taxonomic unit modules in co-occurrence networks. Furthermore, R108 recruits more beneficial rhizobacteria related to V, P, Fe, and S than does nsp1 or nsp2. Thus, NSPs can modulate the accumulation and tolerance of legumes to V through P, Fe, and S transporters, ion homeostasis, and rhizobacterial community responses.}, } @article {pmid38225461, year = {2024}, author = {Quinn, A and El Chazli, Y and Escrig, S and Daraspe, J and Neuschwander, N and McNally, A and Genoud, C and Meibom, A and Engel, P}, title = {Host-derived organic acids enable gut colonization of the honey bee symbiont Snodgrassella alvi.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38225461}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {179487//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {Diverse bacteria can colonize the animal gut using dietary nutrients or by engaging in microbial crossfeeding interactions. Less is known about the role of host-derived nutrients in enabling gut bacterial colonization. Here we examined metabolic interactions within the evolutionary ancient symbiosis between the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the core gut microbiota member Snodgrassella alvi. This betaproteobacterium is incapable of metabolizing saccharides, yet colonizes the honey bee gut in the presence of a sugar-only diet. Using comparative metabolomics, [13]C-tracers and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we show in vivo that S. alvi grows on host-derived organic acids, including citrate, glycerate and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate, which are actively secreted by the host into the gut lumen. S. alvi also modulates tryptophan metabolism in the gut by converting kynurenine to anthranilate. These results suggest that S. alvi is adapted to a specific metabolic niche in the honey bee gut that depends on host-derived nutritional resources.}, } @article {pmid38224808, year = {2024}, author = {Fei, Z and Xie, H and Xie, D and Wang, M and Du, Q and Jin, P}, title = {Structural characterization and high-efficiency prebiotic activity of the polysaccharide from Tremella aurantialba endophytic bacteria.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129347}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129347}, pmid = {38224808}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Herein, the low-molecular-weight heteropolysaccharide (designated as TABP), with a weight-average Mw of 5408 Da, was produced by the endophytic bacterium Bacillus sp. TAB, which was initially isolated from the fruiting bodies of the wild Tremella aurantialba. A relatively high TABP accumulation was obtained and enhanced to 6.94 g/L in 5 L fed-batch fermentation by high-density cultivation. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that the TABP comprised arabinose, glucosamine, galactose, glucose, and mannose with a molar ratio of 0.073: 0.145: 0.406: 0.182: 0.195, respectively. Methylation and NMR analyses indicated that TABP contained 1,4-linked β-d-Galp and 1,4-linked β-d-Manp pyranosyl backbone, extensively substituted at the side chains to form a complex structure. Prebiotic potential analysis exhibited significant growth-promoting effects for various lactic acid bacteria by more than 90 %. Overall, this study initially provides valuable insights into the endophytic exopolysaccharides from T. aurantialba and their biological activity, which provides prospective sources of prebiotics for functional foods and aids in understanding the endophytes symbiosis mechanism in edible mushrooms.}, } @article {pmid38224483, year = {2024}, author = {Bishop, CD and Garbary, DJ}, title = {Taxonomy and nomenclature of Oophila amblystomatis (Chlorophyceae, Chlamydomonadales).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13430}, pmid = {38224483}, issn = {1529-8817}, support = {RGPIN-2015-05040//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, abstract = {The unicellular green alga Oophila amblystomatis was named by Lambert in 1905 based upon its association with egg masses of the spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum. We collected algal cells from Lambert's original egg capsule preparations that were contributed to Phycotheca Boreali-Americana (PBA) in 1905 and subjected them to DNA extraction and PCR with O. amblystomatis-specific 18S rRNA gene primers. DNA amplified from these preparations was cloned and nine clones were sequenced. Along with representative sequences from the Oophila clade and Chlorophyceae, a phylogenetic tree was inferred. Seven sequences clustered within the Oophila clade and two clustered with Chlamydomonas moewusii, which is included in a sister clade to Oophila. By sequencing algal material from the egg capsules of representative type material we can unambiguously characterize O. amblystomatis and define a monophyletic clade centered on this type material. Accordingly, we reject a recent proposal that this species be transferred to Chlorococcum.}, } @article {pmid38222793, year = {2024}, author = {Renoz, F}, title = {The nutritional dimension of facultative bacterial symbiosis in aphids: Current status and methodological considerations for future research.}, journal = {Current research in insect science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {100070}, pmid = {38222793}, issn = {2666-5158}, abstract = {Aphids are valuable models for studying the functional diversity of bacterial symbiosis in insects. In addition to their ancestral obligate nutritional symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, these insects can host a myriad of so-called facultative symbionts. The diversity of these heritable bacterial associates is now well known, and some of the ecologically important traits associated with them have been well documented. Some twenty years ago, it was suggested that facultative symbionts could play an important role in aphid nutrition, notably by improving feeding performance on specific host plants, thus influencing the adaptation of these insects to host plants. However, the underlying mechanisms have never been elucidated, and the nutritional role that facultative symbionts might perform in aphids remains enigmatic. In this opinion piece, I put forward a series of arguments in support of the hypothesis that facultative symbionts play a central role in aphid nutrition and emphasize methodological considerations for testing this hypothesis in future work. In particular, I hypothesize that the metabolic capacities of B. aphidicola alone may not always be able to counterbalance the nutritional deficiencies of phloem sap. The association with one or several facultative symbionts with extensive metabolic capabilities would then be necessary to buffer the insect from host plant-derived nutrient deficiencies, thus enabling it to gain access to certain host plants.}, } @article {pmid38220094, year = {2024}, author = {Fukudome, M and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Regulation of nitric oxide by phytoglobins in Lotus japonicus is involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis with Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {111984}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111984}, pmid = {38220094}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {Various reactive molecular species are generated in plant-microbe interactions, and these species participate in defense and symbiotic responses. Leguminous plants successfully establish symbiosis by maintaining an appropriate level of nitric oxide (NO), which is generated in the roots and nodules during root nodule symbiosis. Phytoglobin (plant hemoglobin) controls NO levels in plants. In this study, we investigated mycorrhizal symbiosis, which occurs in more than 80% of land plants, between Rhizophagus irregularis and Lotus japonicus to clarify the involvement of phytoglobin-mediated NO regulation. The mycorrhizae of L. japonicus exhibited higher NO levels in the presence of R. irregularis than in its absence, especially at the infection site. LjGlb1-1, a phytoglobin that regulates NO level in L. japonicus, was upregulated during symbiosis with R. irregularis. In transformed hairy roots carrying the ProLjGlb1-1:GUS construct, LjGlb1-1 expression was observed at the R. irregularis infection site. We further examined the symbiotic phenotypes of L. japonicus lines with high and low LjGlb1-1 expression with R. irregularis. During mycorrhizal symbiosis, the high LjGlb1-1 expression line exhibited better growth than the wild-type, whereas the low expression line exhibited poor growth. In addition, the expression of LjPT4, a phosphate transporter specific to mycorrhizal symbiosis, was higher in the high LjGlb1-1 expression line, whereas that of the tubulin gene of R. irregularis was lower in the low LjGlb1-1 expression line than in the wild-type. These results confirm that NO regulation by LjGlb1-1 is involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis in L. japonicus, as it is reportedly in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38219692, year = {2024}, author = {Li, X and Liu, Y and Wu, G and Lie, Z and Sheng, H and Aguila, LCR and Khan, MS and Liu, X and Zhou, S and Wu, T and Xu, W and Liu, J}, title = {Mixed plantations do not necessarily provide higher ecosystem multifunctionality than monoculture plantations.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {914}, number = {}, pages = {170156}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170156}, pmid = {38219692}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Forest stand transformation is a crucial strategy for enhancing the productivity and stability of planted forest ecosystems and maximizing their ecosystem functions. However, understanding forest ecosystem multifunctionality responses to various stand transformation methods remains limited. In this study, we assessed ecosystem multifunctionality, encompassing nutrient cycling, carbon stocks, water regulation, decomposition, wood production, and symbiosis, under different stand transformation methods (Chinese fir monoculture, mixed conifer and broad-leaf, broad-leaf mixed, and secondary forests). We also identified key factors contributing to variations in ecosystem multifunctionality. The results showed that Chinese fir plantations were more conducive to carbon stock creation, while broad-leaved mixed plantations excelled in water regulation. Secondary forests exhibited higher ecosystem multifunctionality than other plantation types, with Chinese fir plantations displaying the highest multifunctionality, significantly surpassing mixed coniferous and broad-leaved plantations. Our findings further revealed that soil nutrients and plant diversity have significant impacts on ecosystem multifunctionality. In summary, stand transformation profoundly influences ecosystem multifunctionality, and mixed plantations do not necessarily provide higher ecosystem multifunctionality than monoculture plantations.}, } @article {pmid38219578, year = {2024}, author = {He, L and Yang, SS and Ding, J and Chen, CX and Yang, F and He, ZL and Pang, JW and Peng, BY and Zhang, Y and Xing, DF and Ren, NQ and Wu, WM}, title = {Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate by Tenebrio molitor: Insights for polymer chain size, gut metabolome and host genes.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {465}, number = {}, pages = {133446}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133446}, pmid = {38219578}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or polyester) is a commonly used plastic and also contributes to the majority of plastic wastes. Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) are capable of biodegrading major plastic polymers but their degrading ability for PET has not been characterized based on polymer chain size molecular size, gut microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome. We verified biodegradation of commercial PET by T. molitor larvae in a previous report. Here, we reported that biodegradation of commercial PET (Mw 29.43 kDa) was further confirmed by using the δ[13]C signature as an indication of bioreaction, which was increased from - 27.50‰ to - 26.05‰. Under antibiotic suppression of gut microbes, the PET was still depolymerized, indicating that the host digestive enzymes could degrade PET independently. Biodegradation of high purity PET with low, medium, and high molecular weights (MW), i.e., Mw values of 1.10, 27.10, and 63.50 kDa with crystallinity 53.66%, 33.43%, and 4.25%, respectively, showed a mass reduction of > 95%, 86%, and 74% via broad depolymerization. Microbiome analyses indicated that PET diets shifted gut microbiota to three distinct structures, depending on the low, medium, and high MW. Metagenome sequencing, transcriptomic, and metabolic analyses indicated symbiotic biodegradation of PET by the host and gut microbiota. After PET was fed, the host's genes encoding degradation enzymes were upregulated, including genes encoding oxidizing, hydrolyzing, and non-specific CYP450 enzymes. Gut bacterial genes for biodegrading intermediates and nitrogen fixation also upregulated. The multiple-functional metabolic pathways for PET biodegradation ensured rapid biodegradation resulting in a half-life of PET less than 4 h with less negative impact by PET MW and crystallinity.}, } @article {pmid38219525, year = {2024}, author = {Romero, H and Aguilar, PS and Graña, M and Langleib, M and Gudiño, V and Podbilewicz, B}, title = {Membrane fusion and fission during eukaryogenesis.}, journal = {Current opinion in cell biology}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {102321}, doi = {10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102321}, pmid = {38219525}, issn = {1879-0410}, abstract = {All eukaryotes can be traced back to a single shared ancestral lineage that emerged from interactions between different prokaryotic cells. Current models of eukaryogenesis describe various selective forces and evolutionary mechanisms that contributed to the formation of eukaryotic cells. Central to this process were significant changes in cellular structure, resulting in the configuration of a new cell type characterized by internal membrane compartments. Additionally, eukaryogenesis results in a life cycle that relies on cell-cell fusion. We discuss the potential roles of proteins involved in remodeling cellular membranes, highlighting two critical stages in the evolution of eukaryotes: the internalization of symbiotic partners and a scenario wherein the emergence of sexual reproduction is linked to a polyploid ancestor generated by cell-cell fusion.}, } @article {pmid38218354, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, X and Liu, Y and Dong, X and Duan, T and Wang, C and Wang, L and Yang, X and Tian, H and Li, T}, title = {peu-MIR2916-p3-enriched garlic exosomes ameliorate murine colitis by reshaping gut microbiota, especially by boosting the anti-colitic Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107071}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107071}, pmid = {38218354}, issn = {1096-1186}, abstract = {Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) have drawn considerable attention for oral treatment of colonic diseases. However, the roles of ELNs derived from garlic on colitis remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that garlic ELNs (GELNs), with desirable particle sizes (79.60nm) and trafficking large amounts of functional proteins and microRNAs, stably roam in the gut and confer protection against ulcerative colitis (UC). In mice with DSS-induced colitis, orally administered GELNs effectively ameliorated bloody diarrhea, normalized the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and prevented colonic barrier impairment. Mechanistically, GELNs were taken up by gut microbes and reshaped DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, in which Bacteroides was the dominant respondent genus upon GELNs treatment. Notably, GELNs-enriched peu-MIR2916-p3 specifically promoted the growth of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, an intestinal symbiotic bacterium with palliative effects on colitis. Our findings provide new insights into the medicinal application of GELNs and highlight their potential as natural nanotherapeutic agents for preventing and treating UC.}, } @article {pmid38217884, year = {2024}, author = {Leng, L}, title = {Challenge, integration, and change: ChatGPT and future anatomical education.}, journal = {Medical education online}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {2304973}, doi = {10.1080/10872981.2024.2304973}, pmid = {38217884}, issn = {1087-2981}, mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; Educational Status ; *Students ; Curriculum ; Learning ; }, abstract = {With the vigorous development of ChatGPT and its application in the field of education, a new era of the collaborative development of human and artificial intelligence and the symbiosis of education has come. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into medical education has the potential to revolutionize it. Large language models, such as ChatGPT, can be used as virtual teaching aids to provide students with individualized and immediate medical knowledge, and conduct interactive simulation learning and detection. In this paper, we discuss the application of ChatGPT in anatomy teaching and its various application levels based on our own teaching experiences, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT in anatomy teaching. ChatGPT increases student engagement and strengthens students' ability to learn independently. At the same time, ChatGPT faces many challenges and limitations in medical education. Medical educators must keep pace with the rapid changes in technology, taking into account ChatGPT's impact on curriculum design, assessment strategies and teaching methods. Discussing the application of ChatGPT in medical education, especially anatomy teaching, is helpful to the effective integration and application of artificial intelligence tools in medical education.}, } @article {pmid38217089, year = {2024}, author = {Helgoe, J and Davy, SK and Weis, VM and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Triggers, cascades, and endpoints: connecting the dots of coral bleaching mechanisms.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/brv.13042}, pmid = {38217089}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {NSF-IOS-1453519//National Science Foundation/ ; HRD-2111661//National Science Foundation/ ; HRD-1547798//National Science Foundation/ ; //Florida International University/ ; }, abstract = {The intracellular coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis is the engine that underpins the success of coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. However, the breakdown of the symbiosis and the loss of the microalgal symbiont (i.e. coral bleaching) due to environmental changes are resulting in the rapid degradation of coral reefs globally. There is an urgent need to understand the cellular physiology of coral bleaching at the mechanistic level to help develop solutions to mitigate the coral reef crisis. Here, at an unprecedented scope, we present novel models that integrate putative mechanisms of coral bleaching within a common framework according to the triggers (initiators of bleaching, e.g. heat, cold, light stress, hypoxia, hyposalinity), cascades (cellular pathways, e.g. photoinhibition, unfolded protein response, nitric oxide), and endpoints (mechanisms of symbiont loss, e.g. apoptosis, necrosis, exocytosis/vomocytosis). The models are supported by direct evidence from cnidarian systems, and indirectly through comparative evolutionary analyses from non-cnidarian systems. With this approach, new putative mechanisms have been established within and between cascades initiated by different bleaching triggers. In particular, the models provide new insights into the poorly understood connections between bleaching cascades and endpoints and highlight the role of a new mechanism of symbiont loss, i.e. 'symbiolysosomal digestion', which is different from symbiophagy. This review also increases the approachability of bleaching physiology for specialists and non-specialists by mapping the vast landscape of bleaching mechanisms in an atlas of comprehensible and detailed mechanistic models. We then discuss major knowledge gaps and how future research may improve the understanding of the connections between the diverse cascade of cellular pathways and the mechanisms of symbiont loss (endpoints).}, } @article {pmid38216524, year = {2024}, author = {Aroney, STN and Pini, F and Kessler, C and Poole, PS and Sánchez-Cañizares, C}, title = {The motility and chemosensory systems of Rhizobium leguminosarum, their role in symbiosis, and link to PTS[Ntr] regulation.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16570}, pmid = {38216524}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Motility and chemotaxis are crucial processes for soil bacteria and plant-microbe interactions. This applies to the symbiotic bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum, where motility is driven by flagella rotation controlled by two chemotaxis systems, Che1 and Che2. The Che1 cluster is particularly important in free-living motility prior to the establishment of the symbiosis, with a che1 mutant delayed in nodulation and reduced in nodulation competitiveness. The Che2 system alters bacteroid development and nodule maturation. In this work, we also identified 27 putative chemoreceptors encoded in the R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 genome and characterized its motility in different growth conditions. We describe a metabolism-based taxis system in rhizobia that acts at high concentrations of dicarboxylates to halt motility independent of chemotaxis. Finally, we show how PTS[Ntr] influences cell motility, with PTS[Ntr] mutants exhibiting reduced swimming in different media. Motility is restored by the active forms of the PTS[Ntr] output regulatory proteins, unphosphorylated ManX and phosphorylated PtsN. Overall, this work shows how rhizobia typify soil bacteria by having a high number of chemoreceptors and highlights the importance of the motility and chemotaxis mechanisms in a free-living cell in the rhizosphere, and at different stages of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38216503, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, F and Yu, G and Wang, XF and Li, TL and Sun, YB}, title = {[Response Characteristics of Soil Fungal Community Structure to Long-term Continuous Cropping of Pepper].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {543-554}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202303078}, pmid = {38216503}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Soil/chemistry ; *Mycobiome ; Soil Microbiology ; Crops, Agricultural ; *Fusarium ; *Penicillium ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to clarify the effect of long-term continuous cropping of pepper on soil fungal community structure, reveal the mechanism of continuous cropping obstacles, and provide a theoretical basis for the ecological safety and sustainable development of pepper industry. We took the pepper continuous cropping soil in the vegetable greenhouse planting base of Tongren City as the research object. The diversity and community structure of fungi in farmland soil were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing, the responses of soil physio-chemical properties and fungal community characteristics to long-term continuous pepper cropping were discussed, and the relationships between the characteristics of fungal community structure and environmental factors were determined using CCA and correlation network analysis. The results showed that with the extension of pepper continuous cropping years, the soil pH value and organic matter (OM) content decreased, total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (AP) contents increased, hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN) and available potassium (AK) contents decreased first and then increased, and total nitrogen (TN) and total potassium (TK) contents did not change significantly. Long-term continuous cropping decreased the Chao1 index and observed species index and decreased the Shannon index and Simpson index. The change in continuous cropping years had a significant effect on the relative abundance of soil fungal dominant flora. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Mortierellomycota decreased with the extension of pepper continuous cropping years, the relative abundance of Ascomycota increased first and then decreased, and the relative abundance of Basidiomycota decreased first and then increased. At the genus level, with the increasing of pepper continuous cropping years, the relative abundance of Fusarium increased, and the relative abundance of Mortierella and Penicillium decreased. In addition, long-term continuous cropping simplified the soil fungal symbiosis network. CCA analysis indicated that pH, OM, TN, AN, AP, and AK were the driving factors of soil fungal community structure, and correlation network analysis showed that pH, OM, TN, TP, TK, AN, AP, and AK were the driving factors of soil fungal community structure, including Fusarium, Lophotrichus, Penicillium, Mortierella, Botryotrichum, Staphylotrichum, Plectosphaerella, and Acremonium. In conclusion, continuous cropping changed the soil physical and chemical properties, affected the diversity and community structure of the soil fungal community, changed the interaction between microorganisms, and destroyed the microecological balance of the soil, which might explain obstacles associated with continuous cropped pepper.}, } @article {pmid38216502, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, ML and Wang, YM and Jin, WH and Wang, YR and Wang, JH and Chai, YB and Peng, LY and Qin, H}, title = {[Effects of Organic Fertilizer of Kitchen Waste on Soil Microbial Activity and Function].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {530-542}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202301027}, pmid = {38216502}, issn = {0250-3301}, abstract = {Changes in soil microbial activity and ecological function can be used to assess the level of soil fertility and the stability of ecosystems. To assess the fertility and safety of organic fertilizer of kitchen waste (OFK), soils containing 0% (CK), 1%, 3%, and 5% OFK were cultured, and the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of the soils were measured dynamically with routine agrochemical analysis measures and amplicon sequencing. The results showed that compared with those in CK, the contents of organic matter, available phosphorus, available potassium, NH4[+]-N, and NO3[-]-N in soils with OFK increased by 23.80%-35.13%, 13.29%-29.72%, 16.91%-39.37%, 164.7%-340.2%, and 28.56%-32.71%, respectively. The activities of hydrolases related to the cycle of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (α-glucosidase, leucine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, etc.) were also significantly higher than those of the CK treatment. OFK stimulated the growth of soil microorganisms and increased the carbon content of the microbial biomass. The amplicon sequencing analysis found that the microbial community structures of different treatments were significantly different at both the class and genus levels. In addition, it was found that the abundance of beneficial microbes in the soils with OFK increased, whereas pathogenic microbes decreased. RDA results confirmed that soil properties (including soil pH, organic matter, available nutrients, and microbial biomass) had a significant impact on microbial community structure. The results of investing bacterial community based on PICRUSt and FAPROTAX revealed that the function of the soil bacterial community was similar in the four treatments, but OFK supply significantly improved the microbial carbon utilization and metabolic ability. Moreover, by using the FUNGuild software, we found that the application of OFK increased the proportion of saprotroph-symbiotroph and symbiotroph and stimulated the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi-undefined saprophytic fungi but inhibited plant and animal pathogenic fungi in soil. These results implied that OFK could promote the establishment of symbiotic relationships and inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi. In summary, OFK could improve soil fertility and hydrolase activity, stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and defend against pathogens, indicating a promising use as safe and efficient organic fertilizer.}, } @article {pmid38216372, year = {2023}, author = {Pogoreutz, C and Ziegler, M}, title = {Frenemies on the reef? Resolving the coral-Endozoicomonas association.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.006}, pmid = {38216372}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Stony corals are poster child holobionts due to their intimate association with diverse microorganisms from all domains of life. We are only beginning to understand the diverse functions of most of these microbial associates, including potential main contributors to holobiont health and resilience. Among these, bacteria of the elusive genus Endozoicomonas are widely perceived as beneficial symbionts based on their genomic potential and their high prevalence and ubiquitous presence in coral tissues. Simultaneously, evidence of pathogenic and parasitic Endozoicomonas lineages in other marine animals is emerging. Synthesizing the current knowledge on the association of Endozoicomonas with marine holobionts, we challenge the perception of a purely mutualistic coral-Endozoicomonas relationship and propose directions to elucidate its role along the symbiotic spectrum.}, } @article {pmid38216036, year = {2024}, author = {Yamamoto, E and Tooyama, E and Honme, Y}, title = {Role of fumarate reductase on the fermentation properties of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2023-24091}, pmid = {38216036}, issn = {1525-3198}, abstract = {Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are symbiotic starters widely used in yogurt fermentation. They exchange metabolites to meet their nutritional demands during fermentation, promoting mutual growth. Although S. thermophilus produces fumaric acid, and the addition of fumaric acid has been shown to promote the growth of L. bulgaricus monoculture, whether fumaric acid produced by S. thermophilus is used by L. bulgaricus during coculture remains unclear. Furthermore, the importance of fumaric acid metabolism in the growth of L. bulgaricus is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the importance of fumaric acid metabolism in L. bulgaricus monocultures and coculture with S. thermophilus. We deleted the fumarate reductase gene (frd), responsible for the metabolism of fumaric acid to succinic acid, in L. bulgaricus strains 2038 and NCIMB 701373. Both Δfrd strains exhibited longer fermentation times than their parent strains, and fumaric acid was metabolized to malic acid rather than succinic acid. Coculture of Δfrd strains with S. thermophilus 1131 also resulted in a longer fermentation time, and the accumulation of malic acid was observed. These results indicated that fumaric acid produced by S. thermophilus is utilized by L. bulgaricus as a symbiotic substance during yogurt fermentation and that the metabolism of fumaric acid to succinic acid by FRD is a key factor determining the fermentation ability of L. bulgaricus.}, } @article {pmid38215929, year = {2024}, author = {D'Adamo, I and Gastaldi, M and Giannini, M and Nizami, AS}, title = {Environmental implications and levelized cost analysis of E-fuel production under photovoltaic energy, direct air capture, and hydrogen.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {246}, number = {}, pages = {118163}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.118163}, pmid = {38215929}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {The ecological transition in the transport sector is a major challenge to tackle environmental pollution, and European legislation will mandate zero-emission new cars from 2035. To reduce the impact of petrol and diesel vehicles, much emphasis is being placed on the potential use of synthetic fuels, including electrofuels (e-fuels). This research aims to examine a levelised cost (LCO) analysis of e-fuel production where the energy source is renewable. The energy used in the process is expected to come from a photovoltaic plant and the other steps required to produce e-fuel: direct air capture, electrolysis and Fischer-Tropsch process. The results showed that the LCOe-fuel in the baseline scenario is around 3.1 €/l, and this value is mainly influenced by the energy production component followed by the hydrogen one. Sensitivity, scenario and risk analyses are also conducted to evaluate alternative scenarios, and it emerges that in 84% of the cases, LCOe-fuel ranges between 2.8 €/l and 3.4 €/l. The findings show that the current cost is not competitive with fossil fuels, yet the development of e-fuels supports environmental protection. The concept of pragmatic sustainability, incentive policies, technology development, industrial symbiosis, economies of scale and learning economies can reduce this cost by supporting the decarbonization of the transport sector.}, } @article {pmid38214876, year = {2024}, author = {Espindula, E and Passaglia, LMP}, title = {Maize-Azospirillum brasilense interaction: accessing maize's miRNA expression under the effect of an inhibitor of indole-3-acetic acid production by the plant.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38214876}, issn = {1678-4405}, abstract = {MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of non-coding RNAs. They play essential roles in plants' physiology, as in the regulation of plant development, response to biotic and abiotic stresses, and symbiotic processes. This work aimed to better understand the importance of maize's miRNA during Azospirillum-plant interaction when the plant indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production was inhibited with yucasin, an inhibitor of the TAM/YUC pathway. Twelve cDNA libraries from a previous Dual RNA-Seq experiment were used to analyze gene expression using a combined analysis approach. miRNA coding genes (miR) and their predicted mRNA targets were identified among the differentially expressed genes. Statistical differences among the groups indicate that Azospirillum brasilense, yucasin, IAA concentration, or all together could influence the expression of several maize's miRNAs. The miRNA's probable targets were identified, and some of them were observed to be differentially expressed. Dcl4, myb122, myb22, and morf3 mRNAs were probably regulated by their respective miRNAs. Other probable targets were observed responding to the IAA level, the bacterium, or all of them. A. brasilense was able to influence the expression of some maize's miRNA, for example, miR159f, miR164a, miR169j, miR396c, and miR399c. The results allow us to conclude that the bacterium can influence directly or indirectly the expression of some of the identified mRNA targets, probably due to an IAA-independent pathway, and that they are somehow involved in the previously observed physiological effects.}, } @article {pmid38213395, year = {2024}, author = {Khan, T and Song, W and Nappi, J and Marzinelli, EM and Egan, S and Thomas, T}, title = {Functional guilds and drivers of diversity in seaweed-associated bacteria.}, journal = {FEMS microbes}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {xtad023}, pmid = {38213395}, issn = {2633-6685}, abstract = {Comparisons of functional and taxonomic profiles from bacterial communities in different habitats have suggested the existence of functional guilds composed of taxonomically or phylogenetically distinct members. Such guild membership is, however, rarely defined and the factors that drive functional diversity in bacteria remain poorly understood. We used seaweed-associated bacteria as a model to shed light on these important aspects of community ecology. Using a large dataset of over 1300 metagenome-assembled genomes from 13 seaweed species we found substantial overlap in the functionality of bacteria coming from distinct taxa, thus supporting the existence of functional guilds. This functional equivalence between different taxa was particularly pronounced when only functions involved in carbohydrate degradation were considered. We further found that bacterial taxonomy is the dominant driver of functional differences between bacteria and that seaweed species or seaweed type (i.e. brown, red and green) had relatively stronger impacts on genome functionality for carbohydrate-degradation functions when compared to all other cellular functions. This study provides new insight into the factors underpinning the functional diversity of bacteria and contributes to our understanding how community function is generated from individual members.}, } @article {pmid38213202, year = {2024}, author = {Kordalivand, ZM and Farahani, A and Izadi, B and Sayad, B and Mohajeri, P}, title = {Molecular Identification of Escherichia coli Pathotypes and their Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles in Stool Samples Isolated from Patients in the West of Iran.}, journal = {Clinical laboratory}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7754/Clin.Lab.2023.230417}, pmid = {38213202}, issn = {1433-6510}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastroenteritis refers to an infection in the stomach and small intestine that may be caused by bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic agents. Most strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the gastrointestinal system have shared a symbiotic relationship with humans, but some serotypes are pathogenic. This study aimed to identify E. coli pathotypes isolated from stool samples and determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of these pathotypes in the west of Iran.

METHODS: The study was conducted on 106 samples of diarrheal feces which were sent to Imam Reza laboratory. First E. coli was detected and then the DNA was extracted. Next, the antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by the disk diffusion method. The E. coli pathotypes were qualitatively detected using the Amplisense Escherichioses-FRT PCR kit after DNA extraction from E. coli isolated in the stool sample.

RESULTS: In this study, out of 106 E. coli-positive samples, pathogenic E. coli were detected in 62 samples including 5 samples (8.1%) which only contained the EPEC pathotype, 10 samples (16.1%) contained only the EAEC pathotype, and 12 samples (19.4%) had only the EHEC pathotype. ETEC and EIEC were not isolated from any of the samples. The sensitivity to Meropenem (97%) and Gentamicin (96.2%) showed the highest frequency among the samples. The highest level of resistance was related to Amoxicillin (93.4%) and Ampicillin (78%).

CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological results show that the predominant pathotype among all isolates is EHEC and most antibiotic resistances were related to Amoxicillin and Ampicillin. Finally, a comprehensive molecular diagnosis of E. coli pathotypes, investigation of their incidence, and antibiogram profiles will help to determine better diagnostic and therapeutic measures for managing diarrheal diseases.}, } @article {pmid38205468, year = {2023}, author = {Iruvuri, AG and Miryala, G and Khan, Y and Ramalingam, NT and Sevugaperumal, B and Soman, M and Padmanabhan, A}, title = {Revolutionizing Dental Imaging: A Comprehensive Study on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {e50292}, pmid = {38205468}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {Recent advancements in deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have profoundly impacted various fields, including diagnostic imaging. Integrating AI technologies such as deep learning and convolutional neural networks has the potential to drastically improve diagnostic methods in the field of dentistry and maxillofacial radiography. A systematic study that adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards was carried out to examine the efficacy and uses of AI in dentistry and maxillofacial radiography. Incorporating cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomized clinical trials, the study used an interdisciplinary methodology. A thorough search spanning peer-reviewed research papers from 2009 to 2023 was done in databases including MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE. The inclusion criteria were original clinical research in English that employed AI models to recognize anatomical components in oral and maxillofacial pictures, identify anomalies, and diagnose disorders. The study looked at numerous research that used cutting-edge technology to show how accurate and dependable dental imaging is. Among the tasks covered by these investigations were age estimation, periapical lesion detection, segmentation of maxillary structures, assessment of dentofacial abnormalities, and segmentation of the mandibular canal. The study revealed important developments in the precise definition of anatomical structures and the identification of diseases. The use of AI technology in dental imaging marks a revolutionary development that will usher in a time of unmatched accuracy and effectiveness. These technologies have not only improved diagnostic accuracy and enabled early disease detection but have also streamlined intricate procedures, significantly enhancing patient outcomes. The symbiotic collaboration between human expertise and machine intelligence promises a future of more sophisticated and empathetic oral healthcare.}, } @article {pmid38205046, year = {2023}, author = {Folmann Lima, N and Maciel, GM and de Andrade Arruda Fernandes, I and Windson Isidoro Haminiuk, C}, title = {Optimising the Production Process of Bacterial Nanocellulose: Impact on Growth and Bioactive Compounds.}, journal = {Food technology and biotechnology}, volume = {61}, number = {4}, pages = {494-504}, pmid = {38205046}, issn = {1330-9862}, abstract = {RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Research into bacterial cellulose production has been growing rapidly in recent years, as it has a potential use in various applications, such as in the medical and food industries. Previous studies have focused on optimising the production process through various methods, such as using different carbon sources and manipulating environmental conditions. However, further research is still needed to optimise the production process and understand the underlying mechanisms of bacterial cellulose synthesis.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We used Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken experimental designs to analyse the effect of different factors on bacterial cellulose production. The fermentation kinetics of the optimised medium was analysed, and the produced cellulose was characterised. This approach was used because it allows the identification of significant factors influencing bacterial cellulose growth, the optimisation of the culture medium and the characterisation of the produced cellulose.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that higher sucrose concentrations, higher kombucha volume fractions and a smaller size of the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast were the most important factors for the improvement of bacterial cellulose production, while the other factors had no relevant influence. The optimised medium showed an increase in the concentrations of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids as well as significant antioxidant activity. The produced pure bacterial cellulose had a high water absorption capacity as well as high crystallinity and thermal stability.

The study makes an important scientific contribution by optimising the culture medium to produce bacterial cellulose more productively and efficiently. The optimised medium can be used for the production of a kombucha-like beverage with a high content of bioactive compounds and for the production of bacterial cellulose with high crystallinity and thermal stability. Additionally, the study highlights the potential of bacterial cellulose as a highly water-absorbent material with applications in areas such as packaging and biomedical engineering.}, } @article {pmid38204135, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, M and Yang, J and Xue, C and Tu, T and Su, Z and Feng, H and Shi, M and Zeng, G and Zhang, D and Qian, X}, title = {Community composition of phytopathogenic fungi significantly influences ectomycorrhizal fungal communities during subtropical forest succession.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {108}, number = {1}, pages = {1-13}, pmid = {38204135}, issn = {1432-0614}, support = {GDZZDC20228704//Guangdong Provincial Special Fund for Natural Resource Affairs on Ecology and Forestry Construction/ ; 32001128//National Nature Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021J05023//Nature Science Foundation of Fujian province/ ; 890-2020-XMZC-2758-01-0001//Revegetation assessment of stone desertification areas in Guangdong Province/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome ; Forests ; *Agaricales ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can form symbiotic relationships with plants, aiding in plant growth by providing access to nutrients and defense against phytopathogenic fungi. In this context, factors such as plant assemblages and soil properties can impact the interaction between EMF and phytopathogenic fungi in forest soil. However, there is little understanding of how these fungal interactions evolve as forests move through succession stages. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate fungal communities in young, intermediate, and old subtropical forests. At the genus level, EMF communities were dominated by Sebacina, Russula, and Lactarius, while Mycena was the most abundant genus in pathogenic fungal communities. The relative abundances of EMF and phytopathogenic fungi in different stages showed no significant difference with the regulation of different factors. We discovered that interactions between phytopathogenic fungi and EMF maintained a dynamic balance under the influence of the differences in soil quality attributed to each forest successional stage. The community composition of phytopathogenic fungi is one of the strong drivers in shaping EMF communities over successions. In addition, the EMF diversity was significantly related to plant diversity, and these relationships varied among successional stages. Despite the regulation of various factors, the positive relationship between the diversity of phytopathogenic fungi and EMF remained unchanged. However, there is no significant difference in the ratio of the abundance of EMF and phytopathogenic fungi over the course of successions. These results will advance our understanding of the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning during forest succession. KEY POINTS: •Community composition of both EMF and phytopathogenic fungi changed significantly over forest succession. •Phytopathogenic fungi is a key driver in shaping EMF community. •The effect of plant Shannon's diversity on EMF communities changed during the forest aging process.}, } @article {pmid38203820, year = {2024}, author = {Dai, M and Su, Z and Zhu, X and Li, L and Ye, Z and Tan, X and Kong, D and Liu, X and Lin, F}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Effector Candidates with Conserved Motif in Falciphora oryzae.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38203820}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {32370208//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021C02010//Key R&D projects of Zhejiang Province of China/ ; 2022C02029//Key R&D projects of Zhejiang Province of China/ ; 2021C02064//Zhejiang Science and Technology Major Program on Agricultural New Variety Breeding/ ; }, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Algorithms ; Biological Assay ; Chitin ; Endophytes ; }, abstract = {Microbes employ effectors to disrupt immune responses and promote host colonization. Conserved motifs including RXLR, LFLAK-HVLVxxP (CRN), Y/F/WxC, CFEM, LysM, Chitin-bind, DPBB_1 (PNPi), and Cutinase have been discovered to play crucial roles in the functioning of effectors in filamentous fungi. Nevertheless, little is known about effectors with conserved motifs in endophytes. This research aims to discover the effector genes with conserved motifs in the genome of rice endophyte Falciphora oryzae. SignalP identified a total of 622 secreted proteins, out of which 227 were predicted as effector candidates by EffectorP. By utilizing HMM features, we discovered a total of 169 effector candidates with conserved motifs and three novel motifs. Effector candidates containing LysM, CFEM, DPBB_1, Cutinase, and Chitin_bind domains were conserved across species. In the transient expression assay, it was observed that one CFEM and one LysM activated cell death in tobacco leaves. Moreover, two CFEM and one Chitin_bind inhibited cell death induced by Bax protein. At various points during the infection, the genes' expression levels were increased. These results will help to identify functional effector proteins involving omics methods using new bioinformatics tools, thus providing a basis for the study of symbiosis mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid38203810, year = {2024}, author = {Xuan, C and Feng, M and Li, X and Hou, Y and Wei, C and Zhang, X}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Chitinase Genes in Watermelon under Abiotic Stimuli and Fusarium oxysporum Infection.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38203810}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {NGSB-2021-7//Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/ ; 2452022116//North West Agriculture and Forestry University/ ; No. 2023-JC-YB-199//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Fusarium ; *Fusariosis ; *Chitinases/genetics ; *Citrullus/genetics ; }, abstract = {Chitinases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of chitin, the primary components of fungal cell walls, play key roles in defense responses, symbiotic associations, plant growth, and stress tolerance. In this study, 23 chitinase genes were identified in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb.]) and classified into five classes through homology search and phylogenetic analysis. The genes with similar exon-intron structures and conserved domains were clustered into the same class. The putative cis-elements involved in the responses to phytohormone, stress, and plant development were identified in their promoter regions. A tissue-specific expression analysis showed that the ClChi genes were primarily expressed in the roots (52.17%), leaves (26.09%), and flowers (34.78%). Moreover, qRT-PCR results indicate that ClChis play multifaceted roles in the interaction between plant/environment. More ClChi members were induced by Race 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, and eight genes were expressed at higher levels on the seventh day after inoculation with Races 1 and 2, suggesting that these genes play a key role in the resistance of watermelon to Fusarium wilt. Collectively, these results improve knowledge of the chitinase gene family in watermelon species and help to elucidate the roles played by chitinases in the responses of watermelon to various stresses.}, } @article {pmid38203809, year = {2024}, author = {Fedorova, EE and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {Microbial Colonization of the Host Plant: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38203809}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {grant PID2021-11253710B-100//AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación)/ ; No. АААА-А19-119041690042-7//funding within the state assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Communicable Diseases ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is an essential element for all plants, animals, and microorganisms in the Earth's biosphere [...].}, } @article {pmid38203702, year = {2023}, author = {Baranova, MN and Pilipenko, EA and Gabibov, AG and Terekhov, SS and Smirnov, IV}, title = {Animal Microbiomes as a Source of Novel Antibiotic-Producing Strains.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38203702}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {19-14-00331//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Fruit ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Natural compounds continue to serve as the most fruitful source of new antimicrobials. Analysis of bacterial genomes have revealed that the biosynthetic potential of antibiotic producers by far exceeds the number of already discovered structures. However, due to the repeated discovery of known substances, it has become necessary to change both approaches to the search for antibiotics and the sources of producer strains. The pressure of natural selection and the diversity of interactions in symbiotic communities make animal microbiomes promising sources of novel substances. Here, microorganisms associated with various animals were examined in terms of their antimicrobial agents. The application of alternative cultivation techniques, ultrahigh-throughput screening, and genomic analysis facilitated the investigation of compounds produced by unique representatives of the animal microbiota. We believe that new strategies of antipathogen defense will be discovered by precisely studying cell-cell and host-microbe interactions in microbiomes in the wild.}, } @article {pmid38203556, year = {2023}, author = {Deng, Z and Lai, C and Zhang, J and Sun, F and Li, D and Hao, P and Shentu, X and Pang, K and Yu, X}, title = {Effects of Secondary Metabolites of Rice on Brown Planthopper and Its Symbionts.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38203556}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Acetates ; China ; Cyclopentanes ; *Insecta/microbiology ; *Oryza/chemistry ; Oxylipins ; Animals ; }, abstract = {The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (BPH) is a main rice pest in China and many other Asian countries. In the control of BPH, the application of insect-resistant rice has proven to be quite effective. Secondary metabolites are essential weapons in plants' defense against phytophagous insects. Studies have found that differences in the content of secondary metabolites play a crucial role in determining whether rice exhibits resistance or susceptibility to BPH. Simultaneously, symbionts are essential to the BPH. Nevertheless, there is limited research on the impact of secondary metabolites on the symbionts within BPH. Therefore, investigating the influence of secondary metabolites on both BPH and their symbionts is significant for the control of BPH. In this experiment, newly emerged female adults of BPH were fed artificial diets containing 10 different secondary metabolites. The results indicated that methyl jasmonate had inhibitory effects on the survival rate, weight gain, and reproductive capacity of BPH. Using qPCR methods, it was discovered that the number of symbiotic fungi (Ascomycetes symbionts) within BPH significantly decreased under methyl jasmonate stress. In conclusion, this experiment has preliminarily revealed the inhibitory effects of methyl jasmonate on BPH and its symbionts, demonstrating its potential for controlling BPH.}, } @article {pmid38202386, year = {2023}, author = {Zorin, EA and Sulima, AS and Zhernakov, AI and Kuzmina, DO and Rakova, VA and Kliukova, MS and Romanyuk, DA and Kulaeva, OA and Akhtemova, GA and Shtark, OY and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Breeding Line 'Triumph' with High Symbiotic Responsivity.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38202386}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {22-16-00109//Russian Science Foundation/ ; Agreement 075-10-2021-093, Project PBB-RND-2243//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Pea (Pisum sativum L.), like most legumes, forms mutualistic symbioses with nodule bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The positive effect of inoculation is partially determined by the plant genotype; thus, pea varieties with high and low symbiotic responsivity have been described, but the molecular genetic basis of this trait remains unknown. Here, we compare the symbiotically responsive breeding line 'Triumph' of grain pea with its parental cultivars 'Vendevil' (a donor of high symbiotic responsivity) and 'Classic' (a donor of agriculturally valuable traits) using genome and transcriptome sequencing. We show that 'Triumph' inherited one-fourth of its genome from 'Vendevil', including the genes related to AM and nodule formation, and reveal that under combined inoculation with nodule bacteria and AM fungi, 'Triumph' and 'Vendevil', in contrast to 'Classic', demonstrate similar up-regulation of the genes related to solute transport, hormonal regulation and flavonoid biosynthesis in their roots. We also identify the gene PsGLP2, whose expression pattern distinguishing 'Triumph' and 'Vendevil' from 'Classic' correlates with difference within the promoter region sequence, making it a promising marker for the symbiotic responsivity trait. The results of this study may be helpful for future molecular breeding programs aimed at creation of symbiotically responsive cultivars of pea.}, } @article {pmid38201078, year = {2023}, author = {Jakubczyk, K and Łopusiewicz, Ł and Kika, J and Janda-Milczarek, K and Skonieczna-Żydecka, K}, title = {Fermented Tea as a Food with Functional Value-Its Microbiological Profile, Antioxidant Potential and Phytochemical Composition.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38201078}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented tea drink produced by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, known as SCOBY. Its base has traditionally been black tea, which has been recognized for its health-promoting properties, particularly its antioxidant activity based on its high content of pol-yphenolic compounds. A number of previous studies have demonstrated the equally favourable biochemical and phytochemical composition of green tea. The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the basic biochemical composition, microbiological composition and antioxidant properties of black and green tea-based Kombucha. The green tea-based Kombucha showed a quantitatively more abundant microbial composition (Lactic Acid Bacteria, Acetobacter sp., Yeast), a higher reducing potential (FRAP-4326.58 Fe(II)µM/L) and a higher content of total polyphenols (23.84 mg GAE/100 mL, reducing sugars (3212.00 mg/100 mL) as well as free amino acids (849.00 mg GLY/mL). Kombucha made from black tea, on the other hand, showed a higher anti-oxidant potential (1.17 Trolox (mM) TEAC), neutralising the DPPH radical at 94.33% and ABTS at 97.74%. It also had a higher level of acetic acid (0.08 g/100 mL). Green tea kombucha had a higher scavenging capacity of 90.6% for superoxide radical (O2[-]) and 69.28% for hydroxyl radical (·OH) than black tea kombucha. In the present study, both kombucha drinks tested were shown to be source of potent antioxidants. In addition, green tea, as a kombucha base, has proven to be as beneficial a raw material that will provide full nutritional and health-promoting values as traditional kombucha.}, } @article {pmid38200369, year = {2024}, author = {Medina-Vega, JA and Zuleta, D and Aguilar, S and Alonso, A and Bissiengou, P and Brockelman, WY and Bunyavejchewin, S and Burslem, DFRP and Castaño, N and Chave, J and Dalling, JW and de Oliveira, AA and Duque, Á and Ediriweera, S and Ewango, CEN and Filip, J and Hubbell, SP and Itoh, A and Kiratiprayoon, S and Lum, SKY and Makana, JR and Memiaghe, H and Mitre, D and Mohamad, MB and Nathalang, A and Nilus, R and Nkongolo, NV and Novotny, V and O'Brien, MJ and Pérez, R and Pongpattananurak, N and Reynolds, G and Russo, SE and Tan, S and Thompson, J and Uriarte, M and Valencia, R and Vicentini, A and Yao, TL and Zimmerman, JK and Davies, SJ}, title = {Tropical tree ectomycorrhiza are distributed independently of soil nutrients.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38200369}, issn = {2397-334X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizae, a form of plant-fungal symbioses, mediate vegetation impacts on ecosystem functioning. Climatic effects on decomposition and soil quality are suggested to drive mycorrhizal distributions, with arbuscular mycorrhizal plants prevailing in low-latitude/high-soil-quality areas and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) plants in high-latitude/low-soil-quality areas. However, these generalizations, based on coarse-resolution data, obscure finer-scale variations and result in high uncertainties in the predicted distributions of mycorrhizal types and their drivers. Using data from 31 lowland tropical forests, both at a coarse scale (mean-plot-level data) and fine scale (20 × 20 metres from a subset of 16 sites), we demonstrate that the distribution and abundance of EcM-associated trees are independent of soil quality. Resource exchange differences among mycorrhizal partners, stemming from diverse evolutionary origins of mycorrhizal fungi, may decouple soil fertility from the advantage provided by mycorrhizal associations. Additionally, distinct historical biogeographies and diversification patterns have led to differences in forest composition and nutrient-acquisition strategies across three major tropical regions. Notably, Africa and Asia's lowland tropical forests have abundant EcM trees, whereas they are relatively scarce in lowland neotropical forests. A greater understanding of the functional biology of mycorrhizal symbiosis is required, especially in the lowland tropics, to overcome biases from assuming similarity to temperate and boreal regions.}, } @article {pmid38200064, year = {2024}, author = {Schuck, LK and Neely, WJ and Buttimer, SM and Moser, CF and Barth, PC and Liskoski, PE and Caberlon, CA and Valiati, VH and Tozetti, AM and Becker, CG}, title = {Effects of grassland controlled burning on symbiotic skin microbes in Neotropical amphibians.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {959}, pmid = {38200064}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {DEB #2003523//National Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Climate change has led to an alarming increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires worldwide. While it is known that amphibians have physiological characteristics that make them highly susceptible to fire, the specific impacts of wildfires on their symbiotic skin bacterial communities (i.e., bacteriomes) and infection by the deadly chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, remain poorly understood. Here, we address this research gap by evaluating the effects of fire on the amphibian skin bacteriome and the subsequent risk of chytridiomycosis. We sampled the skin bacteriome of the Neotropical species Scinax squalirostris and Boana leptolineata in fire and control plots before and after experimental burnings. Fire was linked with a marked increase in bacteriome beta dispersion, a proxy for skin microbial dysbiosis, alongside a trend of increased pathogen loads. By shedding light on the effects of fire on amphibian skin bacteriomes, this study contributes to our broader understanding of the impacts of wildfires on vulnerable vertebrate species.}, } @article {pmid38197461, year = {2024}, author = {Dong, X and Gifford, ML and Su, C}, title = {Ca2+ signatures in symbiosis: another level of dynamism for this key messenger.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {508-510}, pmid = {38197461}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {105-11020117//Hubei Hongshan Laboratory/ ; 404/52011910135//National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Calcium ; }, abstract = {This article comments on: Binci F, Offer E, Crosino A, Sciascia I, Kleine-Vehn J, Genre A, Giovannetti M, Navazio L. 2024. Spatially and temporally distinct Ca[2+] changes in Lotus japonicus roots orient fungal-triggered signalling pathways towards symbiosis or immunity. Journal of Experimental Botany 75,605–619.}, } @article {pmid38196174, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, ZW and Zhao, J and Li, GY and Hu, D and Wang, ZG and Ye, C and Wang, JJ}, title = {The endosymbiont Serratia symbiotica improves aphid fitness by disrupting the predation strategy of ladybeetle larvae.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.13315}, pmid = {38196174}, issn = {1744-7917}, support = {32102195//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32020103010//National Natural Science Foundation of China - Major International (Regional) Joint Research Project/ ; CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0748//Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China/ ; SWU-KQ22020//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China/ ; }, abstract = {Aphids, the important global agricultural pests, harbor abundant resources of symbionts that can improve the host adaptability to environmental conditions, also control the interactions between host aphid and natural enemy, resulting in a significant decrease in efficiency of biological control. The facultative symbiont Serratia symbiotica has a strong symbiotic association with its aphid hosts, a relationship that is known to interfere with host-parasitoid interactions. We hypothesized that Serratia may also influence other trophic interactions by interfering with the physiology and behavior of major predators to provide host aphid defense. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of Serratia on the host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and its predator, the ladybeetle Propylaea japonica. First, the prevalence of Serratia in different A. pisum colonies was confirmed by amplicon sequencing. We then showed that harboring Serratia improved host aphid growth and fecundity but reduced longevity. Finally, our research demonstrated that Serratia defends aphids against P. japonica by impeding the predator's development and predation capacity, and modulating its foraging behavior. Our findings reveal that facultative symbiont Serratia improves aphid fitness by disrupting the predation strategy of ladybeetle larvae, offering new insight into the interactions between aphids and their predators, and providing the basis of a new biological control strategy for aphid pests involving the targeting of endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid38194929, year = {2024}, author = {Stier, AC and Osenberg, CW}, title = {Coral guard crabs.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {R5-R7}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.067}, pmid = {38194929}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Brachyura ; *Anthozoa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Adrian Stier and Craig Osenberg introduce Trapeziid crabs, which live in close symbiosis with corals.}, } @article {pmid38193705, year = {2024}, author = {Chery-Karschney, L and Patrapuvich, R and Mudeppa, DG and Kokkonda, S and Chakrabarti, R and Sriwichai, P and O'Connor, RM and Rathod, PK and White, J}, title = {Tartrolon E, a secondary metabolite of a marine symbiotic bacterium, is a potent inhibitor of asexual and sexual Plasmodium falciparum.}, journal = {Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0068423}, doi = {10.1128/aac.00684-23}, pmid = {38193705}, issn = {1098-6596}, abstract = {Due to the spread of resistance to front-line artemisinin derivatives worldwide, there is a need for new antimalarials. Tartrolon E (TrtE), a secondary metabolite of a symbiotic bacterium of marine bivalve mollusks, is a promising antimalarial because it inhibits the growth of sexual and asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum at sub-nanomolar levels. The potency of TrtE warrants further investigation into its mechanism of action, cytotoxicity, and ease with which parasites may evolve resistance to it.}, } @article {pmid38192905, year = {2024}, author = {Sun, SJ and Kilner, RM}, title = {Competition among host-specific lineages of Poecilochirus carabi mites influences the extent of co-adaptation with their Nicrophorus vespilloides burying beetle hosts.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e10837}, pmid = {38192905}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Reciprocal selection between symbiotic organisms and their hosts can generate variations in local adaptation between them. Symbionts often form species complexes with lineages partially adapted to various hosts. However, it is unclear how interactions among these lineages influences geographic variation in the extent of host-symbiont local adaptation. We addressed this shortcoming with experiments on burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides and their specialist phoretic mite Poecilochirus carabi in two adjacent woodlands. Burying beetles transport these mites to vertebrate carrion upon which they both reproduce. P. carabi appears to be a species complex, with distinct lineages that specialise on breeding alongside different Nicrophorus species. We found that in one wood (Gamlingay Woods), N. vespilloides carries a mixture of mite lineages, with each lineage corresponding to one of the four Nicrophorus species that inhabits this wood. However, two burying beetle species coexist in neighbouring Waresley Woods and here N. vespilloides predominantly carries the mite lineage that favours N. vespilloides. Mite lineage mixing alters the degree of local adaptation for both N. vespilloides and the P. carabi mites, affecting reproductive success variably across different woodlands. In Gamlingay, mite lineage mixing reduced N. vespilloides reproductive success, while experimentally purifying mites lineage enhanced it. The near pure lineage of vespilloides mites negligibly affected Waresley N. vespilloides. Mite reproductive success varied with host specificity: Gamlingay mites had greatest reproductive success on Gamlingay beetles, and performed less well with Waresley beetles. By contrast, Waresley mites had consistent reproductive success, regardless of beetle's woodland of origin. We conclude that there is some evidence that N. vespilloides and its specific mite lineage have coadapted. However, neither N. vespilloides nor its mite lineage adapted to breed alongside other mite lineages. This, we suggest, causes variation between Waresley and Gaminglay Woods in the extent of local adaptation between N. vespilloides beetles and their P. carabi mites.}, } @article {pmid38192286, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, L and Han, J and Zhou, Q and He, Z and Sun, SW and Li, R and Li, RS and Zhang, WK and Wang, YH and Xu, LL and Lu, ZH and Shao, ZJ}, title = {Differential microbial composition in parasitic vs. questing ticks based on 16S next-generation sequencing.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1264939}, pmid = {38192286}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: As tick-borne diseases rise to become the second most prevalent arthropod-transmitted disease globally, the increasing investigations focus on ticks correspondingly. Factors contributed to this increase include anthropogenic influences, changes in vertebrate faunal composition, social-recreational shifts, and climatic variation. Employing the 16S gene sequence method in next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows comprehensive pathogen identification in samples, facilitating the development of refined approaches to tick research omnidirectionally.

METHODS: In our survey, we compared the microbial richness and biological diversity of ticks in Wuwei City, Gansu province, differentiating between questing ticks found in grass and parasitic ticks collected from sheep based on 16S NGS method.

RESULTS: The results show Rickettsia, Coxiella, and Francisella were detected in all 50 Dermacentor nuttalli samples, suggesting that the co-infection may be linked to specific symbiotic bacteria in ticks. Our findings reveal significant differences in the composition and diversity of microorganisms, with the Friedmanniella and Bordetella genera existing more prevalent in parasitic ticks than in questing ticks (p < 0.05). Additionally, the network analysis demonstrates that the interactions among bacterial genera can be either promotive or inhibitive in ticks exhibiting different lifestyles with the correlation index |r| > 0.6. For instance, Francisella restrains the development of 10 other bacteria in parasitic ticks, whereas Phyllobacterium and Arthrobacter enhance colonization across all tick species.

DISCUSSION: By leveraging NGS techniques, our study reveals a high degree of species and phylogenetic diversity within the tick microbiome. It further highlights the potential to investigate the interplay between bacterial genera in both parasitic and questing ticks residing in identical habitat environments.}, } @article {pmid38192184, year = {2024}, author = {Strunov, A and Schönherr, C and Kapun, M}, title = {Wolbachia effects on thermal preference of natural Drosophila melanogaster are influenced by host genetic background, Wolbachia type, and bacterial titer.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e16579}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16579}, pmid = {38192184}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {FWF P32275//Austrian Science Fund/ ; }, abstract = {Temperature plays a fundamental role in the fitness of all organisms. In particular, it strongly affects metabolism and reproduction in ectotherms that have limited physiological capabilities to regulate their body temperature. The influence of temperature variation on the physiology and behaviour of ectotherms is well studied but we still know little about the influence of symbiotic interactions on thermal preference (Tp) of the host. A growing number of studies focusing on the Wolbachia-Drosophila host-symbiont system found that Wolbachia can influence Tp in Drosophila laboratory strains. Here, we investigated the effect of Wolbachia on Tp in wild-type D. melanogaster flies recently collected from nature. Consistent with previous data, we found reduced Tp compared to an uninfected control in one of two fly strains infected with the wMelCS Wolbachia type. Additionally, we, for the first time, found that Wolbachia titer variation influences the thermal preference of the host fly. These data indicate that the interaction of Wolbachia and Drosophila resulting in behavioural variation is strongly influenced by the genetic background of the host and symbiont. More studies are needed to better understand the evolutionary significance of Tp variation influenced by Wolbachia in natural Drosophila populations.}, } @article {pmid38192071, year = {2024}, author = {Grube, M and Balestrini, R}, title = {News from 'black belt' masters of symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19519}, pmid = {38192071}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid38190907, year = {2024}, author = {Ren, Z and Fu, R and Sun, L and Li, H and Bai, Z and Tian, Y and Zhang, G}, title = {Unraveling biological behavior and influence of magnetic iron-based nanoparticles in algal-bacterial systems: A comprehensive review.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {169852}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169852}, pmid = {38190907}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Magnetic iron-based nanoparticles have been found to stimulate algae growth and harvest, repair disintegrated particles and improve stability, and facilitate operation in extreme environments, which help improve the wide application of algal-bacterial technology. Nevertheless, up to now, no literature collected to systematically review the research progress of on the employment of magnetic iron-based nanoparticles in the algal-bacterial system. This review summarizes the special effects (e.g., size effect, surface effect and biological effect) and corresponding properties of magnetic iron-based nanoparticles (e.g., magnetism, adsorption, electricity, etc.), which is closely related to biological effects and algal-bacterial behaviors. Additionally, it was found that magnetic iron-based nanoparticles offer remarkable impacts on improving the growth and metabolism of algal-bacterial consortia and the mechanisms mainly include its possible iron uptake pathways in bacteria and/or algae cells, as well as the magnetic biological effect of magnetic iron-based nanoparticles on algae-bacteria growth. Furthermore, in terms of the mechanism for establishing the algae-bacteria symbiotic relationship, the most recent works reveal that the charge effect, material transfer and signal transmission of magnetic iron-based nanoparticles possess a large array of potential mechanisms by which it can affect the establishment of algal-bacterial symbiosis. This discussion is expected to promote the progress of magnetic iron-based nanoparticles, as an eco-friendly, convenient and cost-effective technology that can be applied in algal-bacterial wastewater treatment fields.}, } @article {pmid38188087, year = {2023}, author = {Van, TP and Phan, QK and Quang, HP and Pham, GB and Thi, NHN and Thi, HTT and Do, AD}, title = {Multi-Strain Probiotics Enhance the Bioactivity of Cascara Kombucha during Microbial Composition-Controlled Fermentation.}, journal = {Preventive nutrition and food science}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {502-513}, pmid = {38188087}, issn = {2287-1098}, abstract = {Kombucha is a widely consumed fermented tea beverage with diverse health benefits. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the use of cascara as a substrate results in a special kombucha beverage with high bioactivity. Traditional kombucha fermentation using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) can lead to inconsistent product quality because of the lack of control over microbial composition. We successfully isolated and identified yeast and bacteria, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Komagataeibacter rhaeticus, and Lactobacillus brevis that are appropriate starter cultures for cascara kombucha fermentation. We also demonstrated that a supplementation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and a mixture of S. cerevisiae and K. rhaeticus resulted in higher total polyphenol and flavonoid content of cascara kombucha compared with the traditionally fermented product using SCOBY as the inoculum. The free radical scavenging activity, inhibitory effects on α-amylase, tyrosinase activity, and antibacterial properties of cascara kombucha were also enhanced as a result of LAB supplement. These findings provide valuable insights into the controlled microbiological composition required for the fermentation of cascara kombucha, thereby ensuring consistent quality and enhanced bioactivity of the product. Further, the use of cascara as a substrate for kombucha production not only offers various health benefits and biological effects, but also repurposes by-products from the coffee industry, which contributes to sustainable development and is eco-friendly.}, } @article {pmid38188073, year = {2024}, author = {Hendrickson, EL and Bor, B and Kerns, KA and Cen, L and Shi, W and He, X and McLean, JS}, title = {Ultrasmall epibiont Nanosynbacter lyticus strain TM7x and host bacteria transcriptional activity after initial host parasitism.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {2287349}, pmid = {38188073}, issn = {2000-2297}, support = {R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE032890/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Oral Saccharibacteria Nanosynbacter lyticus strain TM7× lives as an ultrasmall epibiont on the surface of its host, Schaalia odontolytica strain XH001. Establishing this interaction is a poorly understood multi-step process. The recovery phase marks a shift in the TM7×/host interaction, switching from the early killing phase, with extensive host cell death, to a stable symbiosis phase where the host and epibiont can grow together.

RESULTS: Transcriptomes of TM7× and host, XH001, were captured during the recovery phase and compared to uninfected host and the early host/epibiont interaction (initial encounter). XH001 showed increased expression for rhamnose cell wall components and for the precursor to peptidoglycan while TM7× showed increases in the peptidoglycan pathway. Transporter expression was generally increased for both organisms during recovery compared to the initial encounter, though, XH001 showed lower amino acid transporter expression. Consistent with host parasitism, XH001 showed increased expression of various stress-related genes during recovery while TM7× showed reduced stress. TM7× displayed higher expression of type IV pili, consistent with increased attachment to new hosts.

CONCLUSION: As TM7× is a member of the broadly distributed Candidate Phyla Radiation with small genomes lacking numerous biosynthetic pathways, this study provides further insights into how these epibionts interact and modulate their host bacteria.}, } @article {pmid38187881, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, L and Zhao, Z and Yang, L and Ding, G and Xing, X}, title = {Bioactive steroids from seed germination supporting fungus (Ceratobasidium GS2) of the terrestrial orchid Gymnadenia conopsea.}, journal = {Mycology}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {371-380}, pmid = {38187881}, issn = {2150-1203}, abstract = {Almost all orchids rely on mycorrhizal fungus to support their seed germination. To date, the effect of active components in mycorrhizal fungus on orchid seed germination largely remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of active components found in mycorrhizal fungus on orchid seed germination. Specifically, we focused on a terrestrial orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and its host-specific seed germination supporting fungus Ceratobasidium GS2. In total, several steroids (1-7) were isolated from this fungus. Notably, compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 exhibited significant enhancements in protocorm volume. Moreover, compounds 1-6 demonstrated strong promotion of protocorm differentiation. These findings suggest that steroids may play a crucial role in the symbiotic germination of G. conopsea seeds. Future studies should continue to explore the specific mechanisms through which these steroids exert their effects, contributing to our understanding of orchid biology and mycorrhizal interaction.}, } @article {pmid38186594, year = {2023}, author = {Navarro-Gómez, P and Fuentes-Romero, F and Pérez-Montaño, F and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Alías-Villegas, C and Ayala-García, P and Almozara, A and Medina, C and Ollero, FJ and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and López-Baena, FJ and Vinardell, JM and Acosta-Jurado, S}, title = {A complex regulatory network governs the expression of symbiotic genes in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1322435}, pmid = {38186594}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The establishment of the rhizobium-legume nitrogen-fixing symbiosis relies on the interchange of molecular signals between the two symbionts. We have previously studied by RNA-seq the effect of the symbiotic regulators NodD1, SyrM, and TtsI on the expression of the symbiotic genes (the nod regulon) of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 upon treatment with the isoflavone genistein. In this work we have further investigated this regulatory network by incorporating new RNA-seq data of HH103 mutants in two other regulatory genes, nodD2 and nolR. Both genes code for global regulators with a predominant repressor effect on the nod regulon, although NodD2 acts as an activator of a small number of HH103 symbiotic genes.

METHODS: By combining RNA-seq data, qPCR experiments, and b-galactosidase assays of HH103 mutants harbouring a lacZ gene inserted into a regulatory gene, we have analysed the regulatory relations between the nodD1, nodD2, nolR, syrM, and ttsI genes, confirming previous data and discovering previously unknown relations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Previously we showed that HH103 mutants in the nodD2, nolR, syrM, or ttsI genes gain effective nodulation with Lotus japonicus, a model legume, although with different symbiotic performances. Here we show that the combinations of mutations in these genes led, in most cases, to a decrease in symbiotic effectiveness, although all of them retained the ability to induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. In fact, the nodD2, nolR, and syrM single and double mutants share a set of Nod factors, either overproduced by them or not generated by the wild-type strain, that might be responsible for gaining effective nodulation with L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid38186253, year = {2023}, author = {Lawther, K and Godoy Santos, F and Oyama, LB and Huws, SA}, title = {- Invited Review - Chemical signalling within the rumen microbiome.}, journal = {Animal bioscience}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.5713/ab.23.0374}, pmid = {38186253}, issn = {2765-0189}, abstract = {Ruminants possess a specialized four-compartment forestomach, consisting of the reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum. The rumen, the primary fermentative chamber, harbours a dynamic ecosystem comprising bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and bacteriophages. These microorganisms engage in diverse ecological interactions within the rumen microbiome, primarily benefiting the host animal by deriving energy from plant material breakdown. These interactions encompass symbiosis, such as mutualism and commensalism, as well as parasitism, predation, and competition. These ecological interactions are dependent on many factors, including the production of diverse molecules, such as those involved in quorum sensing (QS). QS is a density-dependent signalling mechanism involving the release of autoinducer (AIs) compounds, when cell density increases AIs bind to receptors causing the altered expression of certain genes. These AIs are classified as mainly being N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL); commonly used by Gram-negative bacteria) or Autoinducer-2 based systems (AI-2; used by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria); although other less common AI systems exist. Most of our understanding of QS at a gene-level comes from pure culture in vitro studies using bacterial pathogens, with much being unknown on a commensal bacterial and ecosystem level, especially in the context of the rumen microbiome. A small number of studies have explored QS in the rumen using 'omic' technologies, revealing a prevalence of AI-2 QS systems among rumen bacteria. Nevertheless, the implications of these signalling systems on gene regulation, rumen ecology, and ruminant characteristics are largely uncharted territory. Metatranscriptome data tracking the colonization of perennial ryegrass by rumen microbes suggest that these chemicals may influence transitions in bacterial diversity during colonization. The likelihood of undiscovered chemicals within the rumen microbial arsenal is high, with the identified chemicals representing only the tip of the iceberg. A comprehensive grasp of rumen microbial chemical signalling is crucial for addressing the challenges of food security and climate targets.}, } @article {pmid38186252, year = {2023}, author = {Mizoguchi, Y and Guan, LL}, title = {- Invited Review - Translational gut microbiome research for strategies to improve beef cattle production sustainability and meat quality.}, journal = {Animal bioscience}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.5713/ab.23.0387}, pmid = {38186252}, issn = {2765-0189}, abstract = {Advanced and innovative breeding and management of meat-producing animals are needed to address the global food security and sustainability challenges. Beef production is an important industry for securing animal protein resources in the world and meat quality significantly contributes to the economic values and human needs. Improvement of cattle feed efficiency has become an urgent task as it can lower the environmental burden of methane gas emissions and the reduce the consumption of human edible cereal grains. Cattle depend on their symbiotic microbiome and its activity in the rumen and gut to maintain growth and health. Recent developments in high-throughput omics analysis (metagenome, metatranscriptome, metabolome, metaproteome and so on) have made it possible to comprehensively analyze microbiome, hosts and their interactions and to define their roles in affecting cattle biology. In this review, we focus on the relationships among gut microbiome and beef meat quality, feed efficiency, methane emission as well as host genetics in beef cattle, aiming to determine the current knowledge gaps for the development of the strategies to improve the sustainability of beef production.}, } @article {pmid38185942, year = {2024}, author = {Zayed, N and Munjaković, H and Aktan, MK and Simoens, K and Bernaerts, K and Boon, N and Braem, A and Pamuk, F and Saghi, M and Van Holm, W and Fidler, A and Gašperšič, R and Teughels, W}, title = {Electrolyzed Saline Targets Biofilm Periodontal Pathogens In Vitro.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {220345231216660}, doi = {10.1177/00220345231216660}, pmid = {38185942}, issn = {1544-0591}, abstract = {Preventing the development and recurrence of periodontal diseases often includes antimicrobial mouthrinses to control the growth of the periodontal pathogens. Most antimicrobials are nonselective, targeting the symbiotic oral species as well as the dysbiosis-inducing ones. This affects the overall microbial composition and metabolic activity and consequently the host-microbe interactions, which can be detrimental (associated with inflammation) or beneficial (health-associated). Consequently, guiding the antimicrobial effect for modulating the microbial composition to a health-associated one should be considered. For such an approach, this study investigated electrolyzed saline as a novel rinse. Electrolyzed saline was prepared from sterile saline using a portable electrolysis device. Multispecies oral homeostatic and dysbiotic biofilms were grown on hydroxyapatite discs and rinsed daily with electrolyzed saline (EOS). Corresponding positive (NaOCl) and negative (phosphate-buffered saline) controls were included. After 3 rinses, biofilms were analyzed with viability quantitative polymerase chain reaction and scanning electron microscopy. Supernatants of rinsed biofilms were used for metabolic activity analysis (high-performance liquid chromatography) through measuring organic acid content. In addition, human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) were exposed to EOS to test biocompatibility (cytotoxicity and inflammation induction) and also to rinsed biofilms to assess their immunogenicity after rinsing. Rinsing the dysbiotic biofilms with EOS could reduce the counts of the pathobionts (>3 log10 Geq/mm[2] reduction) and avert biofilm dysbiosis (≤1% pathobiont abundance), leading to the dominance of commensal species (≥99%), which altered both biofilm metabolism and interleukin 8 (IL-8) induction in HOKs. EOS had no harmful effects on homeostatic biofilms. The scanning electron micrographs confirmed the same. In addition, tested concentrations of EOS did not have any cytotoxic effects and did not induce IL-8 production in HOKs. EOS showed promising results for diverting dysbiosis in in vitro rinsed biofilms and controlling key periopathogens, with no toxic effects on commensal species or human cells. This novel rinsing should be considered for clinical applications.}, } @article {pmid38185532, year = {2024}, author = {Subbaiyan, R and Ganesan, A}, title = {In vitro and in vivo assessment of antimicrobial, enzymatic, and antifouling properties of self-potent lichen symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Biotechnology and applied biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/bab.2551}, pmid = {38185532}, issn = {1470-8744}, abstract = {This study aimed to comprehensively assess the antimicrobial, antifouling, and antibiofilm-forming potential of lichen symbiotic bacteria against marine fouling bacterial strains. A total of 50 lichen-associated bacteria (LAB) isolates were successfully characterized and evaluated for their effectiveness in mitigating biofouling caused by various marine biofoulers. Through a battery of biological assays encompassing enzymatic, antagonistic, antimicrobial, and antifouling assays, 15 LAB isolates were identified based on their antagonist activities. Notably, the strain LAB4 exhibited remarkable performance across all bioassays, demonstrating its proficiency as an antifouling agent. The production of crude LAB extracts was successfully scaled up using a large-scale fermentor and further optimized. Additionally, a phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strain Bacillus proteolyticus D65's 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed a high query coverage and percentage identity of 92.62% (accession no. MK883171.1). In conclusion, the lichen bacterial symbiotic isolate B. proteolyticus exhibited significant in vitro and in vivo inhibition of foulants. This study highlights the potential of lichens as a valuable source of yet unexplored bacteria. The bacterial consortium associated with Parmotrema sp. holds promise in combatting biofouling, which poses a substantial threat to the maritime industries and their economic stability.}, } @article {pmid38185422, year = {2024}, author = {Ni, Z and Gong, Z and Song, L and Jia, C and Zhang, X}, title = {Adaptation strategies and functional transitions of microbial community in pyrene-contaminated soils promoted by lead with Pseudomonas veronii and its extracellular polymeric substances.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {141139}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141139}, pmid = {38185422}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Pyrene was designated as a remediation target in this study, and low contamination of lead (Pb) was introduced to induce heavy metal stress. Pseudomonas veronii and its extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) were chosen for biofortification, with the aim of elucidating the structural, metabolic, and functional responses of soil microbial communities. Community analysis of soil microorganisms using high-throughput sequencing showed that the co-addition of P. veronii and EPSs resulted in an increase in relative abundance of phyla associated with pyrene degradation, and formed a symbiotic system dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, which involved in pyrene metabolism. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the module containing P. veronii was the only one exhibiting a positive correlation between bacterial abundance and pyrene removal, indicating the potential of bioaugmentation in enriching functional taxa. Biofortification also enhanced the abundance of functional gene linked to EPS production (biofilm formation-Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and pyrene degradation. Furthermore, 17 potential functional bacteria were screened out using random forest algorithm. Lead contamination further promoted the growth of Proteobacteria, intensified cooperative associations among bacteria, and increased the abundance of bacteria with positive correlation with pyrene degradation. The results offer novel perspectives on alterations in microbial communities resulting from the synergistic impact of heavy metal stress and biofortification.}, } @article {pmid38184364, year = {2024}, author = {Sturgis, CD and LeBlanc, JB and Smith, MA and McNair, SA and Hansing, KL and Bammert, CE and Russell, DK and Howell, JM and Alperstein, SA and Lennen, K and Srebotnik-Kirbis, I and Paradis, VA and van Zuylen-Manders, L and Liikanen, E and Freund, G and Davey, DD and Goulart, R and Yuil-Valdes, A and Vielh, P and Brainard, JA and Hitchens, SW and Donnelly, A}, title = {Editorial: Optimizing Schools of Cytology: Discussions from the 2022 ASC/IAC Cytology Education Symposium, North American Strategies, and European Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {4-9}, doi = {10.1016/j.jasc.2023.06.004}, pmid = {38184364}, issn = {2213-2945}, mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis ; *Schools ; Educational Status ; Cytological Techniques ; North America ; }, abstract = {This report highlights information and outcomes from the November 2022 ASC/IAC joint Cytology Education Symposium, an annual conference organized by the Cytology Programs Review Committee. The manuscript provides information on shared educational opportunities and practices for cytology students and other learners in anatomic pathology, discusses recruitment strategies for schools of cytology, conveys teaching resources, introduces perspectives on virtual microscopy and online learning, and transmits information about wellness of students in schools of cytology.}, } @article {pmid38184153, year = {2024}, author = {Fang, Y and Lin, G and Liu, Y and Zhang, J}, title = {Advanced treatment of antibiotic-polluted wastewater by a consortium composed of bacteria and mixed cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {123293}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123293}, pmid = {38184153}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {This study constructed a cyanobacteria-bacteria consortium using a mixture of non-toxic cyanobacteria (Synechococcus sp. and Chroococcus sp.) immobilized in calcium alginate and native bacteria in wastewater. The consortium was used for the advanced treatment of sulfamethoxazole-polluted wastewater and the production of cyanobacterial lipid. Mixed cyanobacteria increased the abundances of denitrifying bacteria and phosphorus-accumulating bacteria as well as stimulated various functional enzymes in the wastewater bacterial community, which efficiently removed 70.01-71.86% of TN, 91.45-97.04% of TP and 70.72-76.85% of COD from the wastewater. The removal efficiency of 55.29-69.90% for sulfamethoxazole was mainly attributed to the upregulation of genes encoding oxidases, reductases, oxidoreductases and transferases in two cyanobacterial species as well as the increased abundances of Stenotrophomonas, Sediminibacterium, Arenimonas, Novosphingobium, Flavobacterium and Hydrogenophaga in wastewater bacterial community. Transcriptomic responses proved that mixed cyanobacteria presented an elevated lipid productivity of 33.90 mg/L/day as an adaptive stress response to sulfamethoxazole. Sediminibacterium, Flavobacterium and Exiguobacterium in the wastewater bacterial community may also promote cyanobacterial lipid synthesis through symbiosis. Results of this study proved that the mixed cyanobacteria-bacteria consortium was a promising approach for advanced wastewater treatment coupled to cyanobacterial lipid production.}, } @article {pmid38183985, year = {2023}, author = {Melville, KT and Kamran, M and Yao, J and Costa, M and Holland, M and Taylor, NL and Fritz, G and Flematti, GR and Waters, MT}, title = {Perception of butenolides by Bacillus subtilis via the α/β hydrolase RsbQ.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.035}, pmid = {38183985}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {The regulation of behavioral and developmental decisions by small molecules is common to all domains of life. In plants, strigolactones and karrikins are butenolide growth regulators that influence several aspects of plant growth and development, as well as interactions with symbiotic fungi.[1][,][2][,][3] DWARF14 (D14) and KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2) are homologous enzyme-receptors that perceive strigolactones and karrikins, respectively, and that require hydrolase activity to effect signal transduction.[4][,][5][,][6][,][7] RsbQ, a homolog of D14 and KAI2 from the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis, regulates growth responses to nutritional stress via the alternative transcription factor SigmaB (σ[B]).[8][,][9] However, the molecular function of RsbQ is unknown. Here, we show that RsbQ perceives butenolide compounds that are bioactive in plants. RsbQ is thermally destabilized by the synthetic strigolactone GR24 and its desmethyl butenolide equivalent dGR24. We show that, like D14 and KAI2, RsbQ is a functional butenolide hydrolase that undergoes covalent modification of the catalytic histidine residue. Exogenous application of both GR24 and dGR24 inhibited the endogenous signaling function of RsbQ in vivo, with dGR24 being 10-fold more potent. Application of dGR24 to B. subtilis phenocopied loss-of-function rsbQ mutations and led to a significant downregulation of σ[B]-regulated transcripts. We also discovered that exogenous butenolides promoted the transition from planktonic to biofilm growth. Our results suggest that butenolides may serve as inter-kingdom signaling compounds between plants and bacteria to help shape rhizosphere communities.}, } @article {pmid38183799, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, H and Jiao, P and Guan, L and Wang, C and Zhang, XX and Ma, L}, title = {Functional traits and health implications of the global household drinking-water microbiome retrieved using an integrative genome-centric approach.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {121094}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.121094}, pmid = {38183799}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {The biological safety of drinking water plays a crucial role in public health protection. However, research on the drinking water microbiome remains in its infancy, especially little is known about the potentially pathogenic bacteria in and functional characteristics of the microbiome in household tap water that people are directly exposed to. In this study, we used a genomic-centric approach to construct a genetic catalogue of the drinking water microbiome by analysing 116 metagenomic datasets of household tap water worldwide, spanning nine countries/regions on five continents. We reconstructed 859 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) spanning 27 bacterial and 2 archaeal phyla, and found that the core MAGs belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria encoded the highest metabolic functional diversity of the 33 key complete metabolic modules. In particular, we found that two core MAGs of Brevibacillus and Methylomona encoded genes for methane metabolism, which may support the growth of heterotrophic organisms observed in the oligotrophic ecosystem. Four MAGs of complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) Nitrospira were identified and functional metabolic analysis suggested these may enable mixotrophic growth and encode genes for reactive oxygen stress defence and arsenite reduction that could aid survival in the environment of oligotrophic drinking water systems. Four MAGs were annotated as potentially pathogenic bacteria (PPB) and thus represented a possible public health concern. They belonged to the genera Acinetobacter (n = 3) and Mycobacterium (n = 1), with a total relative abundance of 1.06 % in all samples. The genomes of PPB A. junii and A. ursingii were discovered to contain antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements that could contribute to antimicrobial dissemination in drinking water. Further network analysis suggested that symbiotic microbes which support the growth of pathogenic bacteria can be targets for future surveillance and removal.}, } @article {pmid38183219, year = {2024}, author = {Campos-Avelar, I and Montoya-Martínez, AC and Parra-Cota, FI and de Los Santos-Villalobos, S}, title = {Editorial: plant-microbial symbiosis toward sustainable food security.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {2298054}, doi = {10.1080/15592324.2023.2298054}, pmid = {38183219}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Crops, Agricultural ; Agriculture ; Climate Change ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The use of plant-associated microorganisms is increasingly being investigated as a key tool for mitigating the impact of biotic and abiotic threats to crops and facilitating migration to sustainable agricultural practices. The microbiome is responsible for several functions in agroecosystems, such as the transformation of organic matter, nutrient cycling, and plant/pathogen growth regulation. As climate change and global warming are altering the dynamics of plant-microbial interactions in the ecosystem, it has become essential to perform comprehensive studies to decipher current and future microbial interactions, as their useful symbiotic mechanisms could be better exploited to achieve sustainable agriculture. This will allow for the development of effective microbial inoculants that facilitate nutrient supply for the plant at its minimal energy expense, thus increasing its resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. This article collection aims to compile state-of-the-art research focused on the elucidation and optimization of symbiotic relationships between crops and their associated microbes. The information presented here will contribute to the development of next-generation microbial inoculants for achieving a more sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid38181077, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, T and Ouyang, H and Luo, Y and Xue, J and Wang, E and Zhang, L and Zhou, Z and Liu, Z and Li, X and Tan, S and Chen, Y and Nan, L and Cao, W and Li, Z and Chen, F and Zheng, L}, title = {Rehabilitation exercise-driven symbiotic electrical stimulation system accelerating bone regeneration.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {eadi6799}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adi6799}, pmid = {38181077}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Rats ; *Osteogenesis ; *Bone Regeneration ; Exercise Therapy ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Electric Stimulation ; }, abstract = {Electrical stimulation can effectively accelerate bone healing. However, the substantial size and weight of electrical stimulation devices result in reduced patient benefits and compliance. It remains a challenge to establish a flexible and lightweight implantable microelectronic stimulator for bone regeneration. Here, we use self-powered technology to develop an electric pulse stimulator without circuits and batteries, which removes the problems of weight, volume, and necessary rigid packaging. The fully implantable bone defect electrical stimulation (BD-ES) system combines a hybrid tribo/piezoelectric nanogenerator to provide biphasic electric pulses in response to rehabilitation exercise with a conductive bioactive hydrogel. BD-ES can enhance multiple osteogenesis-related biological processes, including calcium ion import and osteogenic differentiation. In a rat model of critical-sized femoral defects, the bone defect was reversed by electrical stimulation therapy with BD-ES and subsequent bone mineralization, and the femur completely healed within 6 weeks. This work is expected to advance the development of symbiotic electrical stimulation therapy devices without batteries and circuits.}, } @article {pmid38179746, year = {2023}, author = {He, M and Xu, S and Yan, F and Ruan, J and Zhang, X}, title = {Fatty Acid Metabolism: A New Perspective in Breast Cancer Precision Therapy.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {348}, doi = {10.31083/j.fbl2812348}, pmid = {38179746}, issn = {2768-6698}, support = {Y202043475//Educational Commission of Zhejiang Province of China Funder/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Breast Neoplasms/metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; *Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Adipocytes/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Breast cancer has a special tumor microenvironment compared to other solid tumors, which is usually surrounded by a large number of adipocytes that can produce and secrete fatty acids and adipokines. Adipocytes have a remodeling effect on breast cancer lipid metabolism, while fatty acids and lipid droplets can make breast cancer cells more aggressive. Lipid metabolism, especially the synthesis of fatty acids, is an important cellular process for membrane biosynthesis, energy storage, and signal molecule production. Therefore, blocking the lipid supply to cancer cells or changing the lipid composition has an important impact on the signal transmission and cell proliferation of cancer cells. Alterations in lipid availability can also affect cancer cell migration, induction of angiogenesis, metabolic symbiosis, evasion of immune surveillance, and cancer drug resistance. Fatty acid synthesis and metabolism have received extensive attention as potential targets for cancer therapy, and studies on modulating the tumor lipid microenvironment to improve the sensitivity of antitumor drugs have also been discussed; however, strategies to target these processes have not been translated into clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid38179456, year = {2023}, author = {Medina-Chávez, NO and Torres-Cerda, A and Chacón, JM and Harcombe, WR and De la Torre-Zavala, S and Travisano, M}, title = {Disentangling a metabolic cross-feeding in a halophilic archaea-bacteria consortium.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1276438}, pmid = {38179456}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial syntrophy, a cooperative metabolic interaction among prokaryotes, serves a critical role in shaping communities, due to the auxotrophic nature of many microorganisms. Syntrophy played a key role in the evolution of life, including the hypothesized origin of eukaryotes. In a recent exploration of the microbial mats within the exceptional and uniquely extreme Cuatro Cienegas Basin (CCB), a halophilic isolate, designated as AD140, emerged as a standout due to its distinct growth pattern. Subsequent genome sequencing revealed AD140 to be a co-culture of a halophilic archaeon from the Halorubrum genus and a marine halophilic bacterium, Marinococcus luteus, both occupying the same ecological niche. This intriguing coexistence hints at an early-stage symbiotic relationship that thrives on adaptability. By delving into their metabolic interdependence through genomic analysis, this study aims to uncover shared characteristics that enhance their symbiotic association, offering insights into the evolution of halophilic microorganisms and their remarkable adaptations to high-salinity environments.}, } @article {pmid38176103, year = {2024}, author = {Tamborini, M}, title = {From biomimicry to robotic co-creation: rethinking the boundaries between nature and technology.}, journal = {Bioinspiration & biomimetics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1088/1748-3190/ad1b2a}, pmid = {38176103}, issn = {1748-3190}, abstract = {This paper is an invitation to an interdisciplinary dialogue on new possibilities for integrating robotics, design, and nature. I ask: How can new cross-movements between bio-inspired science and design be fostered? How might we envision the future possible intersection between technology and nature? First, I recall key aspects of classical bioinspired engineering and highlight the role of nature in the emergence of technology. Second, I introduce a new approach to bioinspired engineering. In this approach, robots play an active role in design and construction, learning from material properties to form new shapes and thus reshaping design paradigms. The distinctive elements of this approach depart from classical nature-inspired engineering and foster a symbiotic relationship between technology and nature. I conclude by reflecting on the intersections of nature, technology, and design, and envisioning new avenues for interdisciplinary dialogue that foster collaboration and innovation among diverse bio-inspired disciplines.}, } @article {pmid38175242, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, F and Zeng, M and Zhou, X and Huang, F and Song, Z}, title = {Aspergillus fumigatus escape mechanisms from its harsh survival environments.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {108}, number = {1}, pages = {1-21}, pmid = {38175242}, issn = {1432-0614}, support = {2022NSFSC1539//Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province/ ; 2022YFS0629//Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province/ ; 2023NSFSC1698//Sichuan Science and Technology Program/ ; 2018LZNYD-ZK26//Technology Strategic Cooperation Project of Luzhou Municipal People's Government-Southwest Medical University/ ; 2022QN102//Foundation of Southwest Medical University/ ; 2022QN118//Foundation of Southwest Medical University/ ; 2022QN042//Foundation of Southwest Medical University/ ; 2022QN085//Foundation of Southwest Medical University/ ; }, mesh = {Aspergillus fumigatus ; *Aspergillosis ; *Hypersensitivity ; Antifungal Agents ; Ecosystem ; }, abstract = {Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous pathogenic mold and causes several diseases, including mycotoxicosis, allergic reactions, and systemic diseases (invasive aspergillosis), with high mortality rates. In its ecological niche, the fungus has evolved and mastered many reply strategies to resist and survive against negative threats, including harsh environmental stress and deficiency of essential nutrients from natural environments, immunity responses and drug treatments in host, and competition from symbiotic microorganisms. Hence, treating A. fumigatus infection is a growing challenge. In this review, we summarized A. fumigatus reply strategies and escape mechanisms and clarified the main competitive or symbiotic relationships between A. fumigatus, viruses, bacteria, or fungi in host microecology. Additionally, we discussed the contemporary drug repertoire used to treat A. fumigatus and the latest evidence of potential resistance mechanisms. This review provides valuable knowledge which will stimulate further investigations and clinical applications for treating and preventing A. fumigatus infections. KEY POINTS: • Harsh living environment was a great challenge for A. fumigatus survival. • A. fumigatus has evolved multiple strategies to escape host immune responses. • A. fumigatus withstands antifungal drugs via intrinsic escape mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid38173677, year = {2023}, author = {Jin, G and Hrithik, MTH and Lee, DH and Kim, IH and Jung, JS and Bode, HB and Kim, Y}, title = {Manipulation of GameXPeptide synthetase gene expression by a promoter exchange alters the virulence of an entomopathogenic bacterium, Photorhabdus temperata temperata, by modulating insect immune responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1271764}, pmid = {38173677}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {An entomopathogenic bacterium, Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata, is mutualistic to its host nematode, Heterorhabditis megidis. The infective juvenile nematodes enter target insects through natural openings and release the symbiotic bacteria into the insect hemocoel. The released bacteria suppress the insect immune responses and cause septicemia through their secondary metabolites. GameXPeptide (GXP) is one of the common secondary metabolites of most Photorhabdus species and is produced by the catalytic activity of a specific non-ribosomal peptide synthetase called GxpS encoded by the gxpS gene. This study confirmed gxpS to be encoded in the P. temperata temperata genome and analyzed its expression during bacterial growth. LC-MS/MS analysis of the bacterial culture broth contained at least four different GXPs (GXP-A to GXP-D), in which GXP-A was the most abundant. To investigate GXP synthesis following gxpS expression, the gxpS promoter of P. temperata temperata was replaced with an inducible arabinose promoter by homologous recombination. The gxpS transcript levels in the mutant were altered by the addition of l-arabinose. Without the inducer, the gxpS transcript level was significantly lower compared to the wild type and produced significantly lower amounts of the four GXPs. The addition of the inducer to the mutant significantly increased gxpS expression and produced significantly higher levels of the four GXPs compared to the wild type. The metabolite extracts obtained from wild-type and mutant bacteria showed differential immunosuppressive activities according to their GXP contents against the cellular and humoral immune responses of a lepidopteran insect, Spodoptera exigua. Interestingly, the gxpS-mutant bacteria showed less insecticidal activity compared to the wild type, whereas the addition of GXP to the mutant significantly restored insecticidal activity. These results suggest that the gxpS gene encoded in P. temperata temperata is responsible for the production of at least four different GXPs, which play crucial roles in bacterial virulence.}, } @article {pmid38173184, year = {2024}, author = {Lekberg, Y and Jansa, J and McLeod, M and DuPre, ME and Holben, WE and Johnson, D and Koide, RT and Shaw, A and Zabinski, C and Aldrich-Wolfe, L}, title = {Carbon and phosphorus exchange rates in arbuscular mycorrhizas depend on environmental context and differ among co-occurring plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19501}, pmid = {38173184}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) for carbon (C) exchange is the pivotal function of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), but how this exchange varies with soil P availability and among co-occurring plants in complex communities is still largely unknown. We collected intact plant communities in two regions differing c. 10-fold in labile inorganic P. After a 2-month glasshouse incubation, we measured [32] P transfer from AM fungi (AMF) to shoots and [13] C transfer from shoots to AMF using an AMF-specific fatty acid. AMF communities were assessed using molecular methods. AMF delivered a larger proportion of total shoot P in communities from high-P soils despite similar [13] C allocation to AMF in roots and soil. Within communities, [13] C concentration in AMF was consistently higher in grass than in blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata Pursh) roots, that is P appeared more costly for grasses. This coincided with differences in AMF taxa composition and a trend of more vesicles (storage structures) but fewer arbuscules (exchange structures) in grass roots. Additionally, [32] P-for-[13] C exchange ratios increased with soil P for blanketflower but not grasses. Contrary to predictions, AMF transferred proportionally more P to plants in communities from high-P soils. However, the [32] P-for-[13] C exchange differed among co-occurring plants, suggesting differential regulation of the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38171794, year = {2024}, author = {Akiyama, M and Uchiyama, J and Kumagai, Y and Kim, YG}, title = {[Supersulfides to Regulate Electrophilic Stress].}, journal = {Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan}, volume = {144}, number = {1}, pages = {47-50}, doi = {10.1248/yakushi.23-00162-2}, pmid = {38171794}, issn = {1347-5231}, mesh = {Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; *NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics/metabolism ; *Cystathionine gamma-Lyase/genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; }, abstract = {Environmental electrophiles modify thiol groups of proteins in organs, disrupting cellular functions carried out by the modified proteins and increasing the risk of various diseases. The transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a crucial role in detoxifying electrophiles by forming glutathione adducts and subsequently excreting them into extracellular spaces. Supersulfides such as cysteine persulfides (CysSSH) produced by cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) capture environmental electrophiles through sulfur adduct formation. However, the Nrf2 and CSE contributions to blocking environmental electrophile-mediated toxicity have yet to be evaluated. Therefore, we assessed the individual and combined roles of Nrf2 and CSE in suppressing toxicity induced by environmental electrophiles using Nrf2 knockout (KO), CSE KO, and Nrf2/CSE double KO (DKO) mice. Our findings indicate that CSE/Nrf2 DKO mice are more sensitive to environmental electrophiles compared to their single KO counterparts, highlighting the distinct mechanisms through which both pathways mitigate the toxic effects of reactive electrophiles. Moreover, diverse metabolites produced by symbiotic gut bacteria in the human body are known to exert various effects on host organ functions beyond the intestinal tract. We observed reduced blood supersulfide levels in mice lacking gut microflora compared to normal mice. Furthermore, we identified intestinal bacteria belonging to the families Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae as high CysSSH-producing bacteria. This suggests that the gut microbiota serves as a source of in vivo supersulfide molecules. These findings suggest that supersulfide derived from gut bacteria may act protectively against environmental electrophilic exposure in the host.}, } @article {pmid38171127, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, M and Zhou, S and Xiang, P and Wang, Y and Luo, X and Zhang, X and Wen, D}, title = {Elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition enhance the symbiosis and functions of rhizosphere microorganisms under cadmium exposure.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {351}, number = {}, pages = {120012}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.120012}, pmid = {38171127}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Soil microbes are fundamental to ecosystem health and productivity. How soil microbial communities are influenced by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) concentration and nitrogen (N) deposition under heavy metal pollution remains uncertain, despite global exposure of terrestrial ecosystems to eCO2, high N deposition and heavy metal stress. Here, we conducted a four year's open-top chamber experiment to assess the effects of soil cadmium (Cd) treatment (10 kg hm[-2] year[-1]) alone and combined treatments of Cd with eCO2 concentration (700 ppm) and/or N addition (100 kg hm[-2] year[-1]) on tree growth and rhizosphere microbial community. Relative to Cd treatment alone, eCO2 concentration in Cd contaminated soil increased the complexity of microbial networks, including the number links, average degree and positive/negative ratios. The combined effect of eCO2 and N addition in Cd contaminated soil not only increased the complexity of microbial networks, but also enhanced the abundance of microbial urealysis related UreC and nitrifying related amoA1 and amoA2, and the richness of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), thereby improving the symbiotic functions between microorganisms and plants. Results from correlation analysis and structural equation model (SEM) further demonstrated that eCO2 concentration and N addition acted on functions and networks differently. Elevated CO2 positively regulated microbial networks and functions through phosphorus (P) and Cd concentration in roots, while N addition affected microbial functions through soil available N and soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and microbial network through soil Cd concentration. Overall, our findings highlight that eCO2 concentration and N addition make microbial communities towards ecosystem health that may mitigate Cd stress, and provide new insights into the microbiology supporting phytoremediation for Cd contaminated sites in current and future global change scenarios.}, } @article {pmid38170903, year = {2024}, author = {Hajra, D and Kirthivasan, N and Chakravortty, D}, title = {Symbiotic Synergy from Sponges to Humans: Microflora-Host Harmony Is Crucial for Ensuring Survival and Shielding against Invading Pathogens.}, journal = {ACS infectious diseases}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00554}, pmid = {38170903}, issn = {2373-8227}, abstract = {Gut microbiota plays several roles in the host organism's metabolism and physiology. This phenomenon holds across different species from different kingdoms and classes. Different species across various classes engage in continuous crosstalk via various mechanisms with their gut microbiota, ensuring homeostasis of the host. In this Review, the diversity of the microflora, the development of the microflora in the host, its regulations by the host, and its functional implications on the host, especially in the context of dysbiosis, are discussed across different organisms from sponges to humans. Overall, our review aims to address the indispensable nature of the microbiome in the host's survival, fitness, and protection against invading pathogens.}, } @article {pmid38170717, year = {2024}, author = {López-Londoño, T and Enríquez, S and Iglesias-Prieto, R}, title = {Effects of surface geometry on light exposure, photoacclimation and photosynthetic energy acquisition in zooxanthellate corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {e0295283}, pmid = {38170717}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Acclimatization/physiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Physical Phenomena ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic corals display a great array of morphologies, each of which has unique effects on light interception and the photosynthetic performance of in hospite zooxanthellae. Changes in light availability elicit photoacclimation responses to optimize the energy balances in primary producers, extensively documented for corals exposed to contrasting light regimes along depth gradients. Yet, response variation driven by coral colony geometry and its energetic implications on colonies with contrasting morphologies remain largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the effect of the inclination angle of coral surface on light availability, short- and long-term photoacclimation responses, and potential photosynthetic usable energy. Increasing surface inclination angle resulted in an order of magnitude reduction of light availability, following a linear relationship explained by the cosine law and relative changes in the direct and diffuse components of irradiance. The light gradient induced by surface geometry triggered photoacclimation responses comparable to those observed along depth gradients: changes in the quantum yield of photosystem II, photosynthetic parameters, and optical properties and pigmentation of the coral tissue. Differences in light availability and photoacclimation driven by surface inclination led to contrasting energetic performance. Horizontally and vertically oriented coral surfaces experienced the largest reductions in photosynthetic usable energy as a result of excessive irradiance and light-limiting conditions, respectively. This pattern is predicted to change with depth or local water optical properties. Our study concludes that colony geometry plays an essential role in shaping the energy balance and determining the light niche of zooxanthellate corals.}, } @article {pmid38170242, year = {2024}, author = {Deng, QL and Xiao, Y and Jia, R and Xie, X and Wang, L and Wang, X and Yang, JY and Guo, QG and Zhang, BH}, title = {Devosia lacusdianchii sp. nov., an attached bacterium inhibited by metabolites from its symbiotic Microcystis.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {117}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {38170242}, issn = {1572-9699}, support = {32360028//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; *Microcystis/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A novel alphaproteobacterial strain JXJ CY 41[T] was isolated from a culture mass of Microcystis, collected from Lake Dianchi, south-west, China. Strain JXJ CY 41[T] was gram-strain-negative, aerobic, motile, with rod-shaped cells (0.4-1.0 × 1.7-3.5 μm). It was positive for catalase and starch hydrolysis, negative for oxidase and hydrolysis of Tweens (20, 40, and 80). Growth occurred at 10-44 °C, pH 5.0-10.0, and 0-5.0% (w/v) NaCl. Major fatty acids included C16:0 (28.1%), 11-methyl C18:1 ω7c (36.7%) and C18:1 ω7c (20.8%). Q10 was the sole ubiquinone. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G + C content was 63.1%. Its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed high similarities with Devosia oryziradicis G19[T] (99.5%; not validly published), D. yakushimensis Yak96B[T] (98.3%) and D. ginsengisoli Gsoil 520[T] (98.1%), and less than 98.1% similarities with other members of the genus Devosia. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain JXJ CY 41[T] and its 5 closest similar strains were 19.9-24.1% and 75.7-80.5%, respectively. Based on the data above, strain JXJ CY 41[T] was identified as a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the epithet Devosia lacusdianchii sp. nov. was proposed. The type strain is JXJ CY 41[T] (= KCTC 72812[T] = CGMCC 1.17502[T]). Strain JXJ CY 41[T] exhibited different interactions with Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 (Maf) under different conditions, and Maf could control the bacterial cellular density by secreting unknown specific chemical compounds according to its nutritional requirements.}, } @article {pmid38169949, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Tian, R and Sun, C and Guo, Y and Dong, L and Li, Y and Song, X}, title = {Microbial metabolites are involved in tumorigenesis and development by regulating immune responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1290414}, pmid = {38169949}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The human microbiota is symbiotic with the host and can create a variety of metabolites. Under normal conditions, microbial metabolites can regulate host immune function and eliminate abnormal cells in a timely manner. However, when metabolite production is abnormal, the host immune system might be unable to identify and get rid of tumor cells at the early stage of carcinogenesis, which results in tumor development. The mechanisms by which intestinal microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), microbial tryptophan catabolites (MTCs), polyamines (PAs), hydrogen sulfide, and secondary bile acids, are involved in tumorigenesis and development by regulating immune responses are summarized in this review. SCFAs and MTCs can prevent cancer by altering the expression of enzymes and epigenetic modifications in both immune cells and intestinal epithelial cells. MTCs can also stimulate immune cell receptors to inhibit the growth and metastasis of the host cancer. SCFAs, MTCs, bacterial hydrogen sulfide and secondary bile acids can control mucosal immunity to influence the occurrence and growth of tumors. Additionally, SCFAs, MTCs, PAs and bacterial hydrogen sulfide can also affect the anti-tumor immune response in tumor therapy by regulating the function of immune cells. Microbial metabolites have a good application prospect in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors, and our review provides a good basis for related research.}, } @article {pmid38169791, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, Y and Chen, Z and Huang, X and Wang, F and Guo, H and Huang, Z and Yang, H}, title = {Comparative analysis of nitrogen content and its influence on actinorhizal nodule and rhizospheric microorganism diversity in three Alnus species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1230170}, pmid = {38169791}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Alnus spp. (alder) are typical nonleguminous nitrogen-fixing trees that have a symbiotic relationship with Frankia. To explore the differences in nitrogen-fixing microorganisms between three alders (A. cremastogyne, A. glutinosa, and A. formosana) with different chromosome ploidies, the community structure and compositional diversity of potential nitrogen-fixing microorganism in root nodules and rhizosphere soil were comparatively analyzed using 16S rRNA and nitrogenase (nifH) gene sequencing. The nitrogen contents in the root nodules and rhizosphere soil were also determined. The results showed that the contents of total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen in the root nodules of the three alders are significantly higher than those in the rhizosphere soils, while the ammonium nitrogen content show the opposite trend. The family, genus, and species levels showed obviously differences between root nodules and rhizosphere soils, while there were no significant differences at the classification level between the three alders. At the phylum level, the dominant phyla from 16S rRNA and nifH gene data in the root nodules and rhizosphere soil of the three alders are phylum Actinomycetota and phylum Pseudomonadota, respectively. The LEfSe results showed that there are significant differences in the dominant groups in the root nodules and rhizosphere oil of the three alders. The relative abundances of dominant groups also showed obvious differences between the root nodules and rhizosphere soils of three alders. The relative abundances of Frankia and unclassified_Frankia in root nodules are obviously higher than those in rhizosphere soils, and their relative abundances in A. glutinosa root nodules are significantly higher than those in A. cremastogyne and A. formosana at the genus and species levels. The diversity of potential nitrogen-fixing microorganism from 16S rRNA and nifH gene data in the A. glutinosa root nodules and rhizosphere soils are all higher than those in A. cremastogyne and A. formosana. The results of functional prediction also showed that the OTUs for nitrogen fixation, nitrate respiration, and ureolysis in A. glutinosa root nodules are higher than those in the other two alders. Redundancy analysis revealed that the total nitrogen content mostly affects the Frankia community. Overall, there are significant differences in the community composition and structure of potential nitrogen-fixing microorganism in the root nodules and rhizosphere soils between the three alders. A. glutinosa showed a relatively stronger nitrogen fixation capacity than A. formosana and A. cremastogyne. The results help elucidates how the community structure and nitrogen-fixing ability of potential nitrogen-fixing microorganism differ between alder species and serve as a reference for applying Frankia to alder plantations.}, } @article {pmid38169225, year = {2023}, author = {Gu, L and Hou, Y and Sun, Y and Chen, X and Wang, H and Zhu, B and Du, X}, title = {ZmB12D, a target of transcription factor ZmWRKY70, enhances the tolerance of Arabidopsis to submergence.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {206}, number = {}, pages = {108322}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108322}, pmid = {38169225}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Submergence stress represents a serious threat to the yield and quality of maize because it can lead to oxygen deficiency and the accumulation of toxic metabolites. However, the mechanisms by which maize resists the adverse effects of submergence stress have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we cloned a gene from maize Balem (Barley aleurone and embryo), ZmB12D, which was expressed at significant levels in seed embryos during imbibition and in leaves under submergence stress. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that the ZmB12D protein was localized in the mitochondria. The overexpression of ZmB12D in increased the tolerance of Arabidopsis to submergence stress, probably due to a reduction in the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT), enhanced electron transport by coordinating the expression of non-symbiotic hemoglobin-2 (AHb2) and Fe transport-related (AtNAS3) genes (mediating Fe and oxygen availability) and also modulated the anaerobic respiration rates through upregulated the AtPDC1, AtADH1, AtSUS4 genes under submergence. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and transient transactivation assays demonstrated that ZmWRKY70 bound to the ZmB12D promoter and activated ZmB12D. Collectively, out findings indicate that ZmB12D plays an important role in the tolerance of maize to submergence stress. This research provides new insights into the genetic improvement of maize with regards to submergence tolerance.}, } @article {pmid38167969, year = {2024}, author = {Kaszecki, E and Palberg, D and Grant, M and Griffin, S and Dhanjal, C and Capperauld, M and Emery, RJN and Saville, BJ}, title = {Euglena mutabilis exists in a FAB consortium with microbes that enhance cadmium tolerance.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38167969}, issn = {1618-1905}, support = {RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN/6029-2019//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Synthetic algal-fungal and algal-bacterial cultures have been investigated as a means to enhance the technological applications of the algae. This inclusion of other microbes has enhanced growth and improved stress tolerance of the algal culture. The goal of the current study was to investigate natural microbial consortia to gain an understanding of the occurrence and benefits of these associations in nature. The photosynthetic protist Euglena mutabilis is often found in association with other microbes in acidic environments with high heavy metal (HM) concentrations. This may suggest that microbial interactions are essential for the protist's ability to tolerate these extreme environments. Our study assessed the Cd tolerance of a natural fungal-algal-bacterial (FAB) association whereby the algae is E. mutabilis.

RESULTS: This study provides the first assessment of antibiotic and antimycotic agents on an E. mutabilis culture. The results indicate that antibiotic and antimycotic applications significantly decreased the viability of E. mutabilis cells when they were also exposed to Cd. Similar antibiotic treatments of E. gracilis cultures had variable or non-significant impacts on Cd tolerance. E. gracilis also recovered better after pre-treatment with antibiotics and Cd than did E. mutabilis. The recoveries were assessed by heterotrophic growth without antibiotics or Cd. In contrast, both Euglena species displayed increased chlorophyll production upon Cd exposure. PacBio full-length amplicon sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing identified the microbial species present in the E. mutabilis culture to be the fungus Talaromyces sp. and the bacterium Acidiphilium acidophilum.

CONCLUSION: This study uncovers a possible fungal, algal, and bacterial relationship, what we refer to as a FAB consortium. The members of this consortium interact to enhance the response to Cd exposure. This results in a E. mutabilis culture that has a higher tolerance to Cd than the axenic E. gracilis. The description of this interaction provides a basis for explore the benefits of natural interactions. This will provide knowledge and direction for use when creating or maintaining FAB interactions for biotechnological purposes, including bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid38167673, year = {2024}, author = {Netherway, T and Bengtsson, J and Buegger, F and Fritscher, J and Oja, J and Pritsch, K and Hildebrand, F and Krab, EJ and Bahram, M}, title = {Pervasive associations between dark septate endophytic fungi with tree root and soil microbiomes across Europe.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {159}, pmid = {38167673}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {2017-05019//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; BB/r012490/1, BBS/e/F/000Pr10355, BB/CCG1720/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/ ; erc-stg-948219, EPYC//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)/ ; PSG784//Eesti Teadusagentuur (Estonian Research Council)/ ; }, abstract = {Trees interact with a multitude of microbes through their roots and root symbionts such as mycorrhizal fungi and root endophytes. Here, we explore the role of fungal root symbionts as predictors of the soil and root-associated microbiomes of widespread broad-leaved trees across a European latitudinal gradient. Our results suggest that, alongside factors such as climate, soil, and vegetation properties, root colonization by ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and dark septate endophytic fungi also shapes tree-associated microbiomes. Notably, the structure of root and soil microbiomes across our sites is more strongly and consistently associated with dark septate endophyte colonization than with mycorrhizal colonization and many abiotic factors. Root colonization by dark septate endophytes also has a consistent negative association with the relative abundance and diversity of nutrient cycling genes. Our study not only indicates that root-symbiotic interactions are an important factor structuring soil communities and functions in forest ecosystems, but also that the hitherto less studied dark septate endophytes are likely to be central players in these interactions.}, } @article {pmid38166092, year = {2024}, author = {Fu, Q and Zhang, X}, title = {Promoting community resilience through disaster education: Review of community-based interventions with a focus on teacher resilience and well-being.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {e0296393}, pmid = {38166092}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Disaster Planning ; *Disasters ; *Resilience, Psychological ; }, abstract = {Teachers play a pivotal role, both as educators and community leaders at the heart of any communities. This study seeks to address: "How do community-based interventions influence teacher resilience and well-being in the context of disaster education, and consequently, how does this affect overall community resilience?" Employing the rigorous PRISMA systematic review approach, we examined relevant studies, emphasizing the relationship between teacher resilience, well-being, and the efficacy of community-based disaster education interventions. 47 studies met the specific inclusion criteria and were included in in-depth analysis. This study identified a set of key interventions that have demonstrably boosted teacher resilience and well-being. There was a discernible positive relationship between teacher resilience and the effectiveness of community disaster education initiatives. The relationship between teacher resilience, their well-being, and effective community-based disaster education interventions is intricate and multifaceted. Enhanced teacher resilience contributes substantially to the success of disaster education programs. The interplay between teacher and community resilience emerged as a complex, symbiotic relationship, with teacher well-being acting as a cornerstone for effective community-based interventions. Reinforcing teacher resilience and well-being is integral to the success of community-based disaster education initiatives. Ensuring their well-being not only enhances educational outcomes but also fortifies community resilience. Teachers play a pivotal role in not only educating the younger generation but also in enhancing community resilience. Thus, any strategy aimed at supporting community resilience must integrate comprehensive measures to ensure the well-being and resilience of teachers. This nexus between education and community resilience emphasizes the necessity for integrated, holistic, and community-centric approaches to disaster management.}, } @article {pmid38164043, year = {2024}, author = {Li, D and Wang, W and Peng, Y and Qiu, X and Yang, J and Zhang, C and Wang, E and Wang, X and Yuan, H}, title = {Soluble humic acid suppresses plant immunity and ethylene to promote soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14801}, pmid = {38164043}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {2022YFA0912103//National Key Research and Development Programme of China/ ; //the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a crucial process for nitrogen geochemical cycling and plant-microbe interactions. Water-soluble humic acid (WSHM), an active component of soil humus, has been shown to promote SNF in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis, but its molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. To reveal the SNF-promoting mechanism, we conducted transcriptomic analysis on soybean treated with WSHM. Our findings revealed that up- and downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly involved in plant cell-wall/membrane formation and plant defence/immunity in the early stage, while the late stage was marked by the flavonoid synthesis and ethylene biosynthetic process. Further study on representative DEGs showed that WSHM could inhibit GmBAK1d-mediated immunity and BR signalling, thereby promoting rhizobial colonisation, infection, and nodulation, while not favoring pathogenic bacteria colonisation on the host plant. Additionally, we also found that the ethylene pathway is necessary for promoting the soybean nodulation by WSHM. This study not only provides a significant advance in our understanding of the molecular mechanism of WSHM in promoting SNF, but also provides evidence of the beneficial interactions among the biostimulator, host plant, and soil microbes, which have not been previously reported.}, } @article {pmid38162922, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, J and Luo, J and Wang, Y and Peng, Y and Yang, G and Zhu, J}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza augments aluminum tolerance in white clover (Trifoliumrepens L.) by strengthening the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and phosphorus acquisition.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {1647-1661}, pmid = {38162922}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {The ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle is essential for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) under environmental stresses. The toxicity of aluminum (Al) limits the growth and performance of cultivated plants in acidic soil. However, there is limited information available on the relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and the AsA-GSH cycle in host plants under Al stress. This study aimed to examine the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), specifically Funneliformis mosseae, on the growth, antioxidant enzymes, components of the AsA-GSH cycle, and stress response gene expressions in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) under Al stress. Our findings demonstrate that AMF inoculation significantly reduced Al accumulation and increased phosphorus (P) content in the roots of white clover, thereby promoting plant biomass accumulation and mycorrhizal colonization under Al stress. AMF effectively scavenged Al-induced ROS (H2O2 and O2[-]) by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as the components of the AsA-GSH cycle (e.g., enzymes and antioxidants) in the leaves and roots of white clover plants. Additionally, the mitigating effect of AMF was associated with the upregulation of genes involved in P transport (PHO1-2 and PHT1-7), the AsA-GSH pathway (GST-2 and APX-2), and Al stress (ALMT1) in white clover roots compared to control plants. Principal component analysis revealed that 65.9% of the total variance was explained by the first principal component. Dry mass showed a positive correlation with POD and P content, while exhibiting a highly negative correlation with ROS, antioxidant physiology index, Al content, and the expression of related genes in white clover. Overall, this study suggests that AMF enhances the tolerance of white clover to Al stress by improving P uptake and strengthening the AsA-GSH cycle.}, } @article {pmid38160253, year = {2023}, author = {Gu, T and Qi, Z and Wang, Y and Chen, S and Yan, J and Qiu, H and Yu, Y and Fang, Z and Wang, J and Gong, J}, title = {An endophytic fungus interacts with the defensin-like protein OsCAL1 to regulate cadmium allocation in rice.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2023.12.022}, pmid = {38160253}, issn = {1752-9867}, abstract = {Defensin-like proteins are conserved in multicellular organisms and contribute to innate immune responses against fungal pathogens. In rice, defensins play a novel role in regulating cadmium (Cd) efflux from the cytosol. However, whether the antifungal activity of defensins correlates with Cd-efflux function remains unknown. Here, an endophytic Fusarium we assigned Fo10 was isolated by comparative microbiome analysis of rice plants grown in a paddy contaminated with Cd. Fo10 is tolerant to high levels of Cd, but is sensitive to the defensin-like protein OsCAL1, which mediates Cd efflux to the apoplast. We find that Fo10 symbiosis in rice is regulated by OsCAL1 dynamics, and Fo10 coordinates multiple plant processes including Cd uptake, vacuolar sequestration, efflux to the environment, and formation of iron plaques in the rhizosphere. These processes are dependent on the salicylic-acid signaling pathway to keep Cd levels low in the cytosol of the rice host, and to decrease Cd levels in the grain without any yield penalty. Fo10 also plays a role in Cd tolerance in the poaceous crop maize and wheat, but apparently has no effect in the eudicot plants Arabidopsis and tomato. Our findings provide insight into the mechanistic basis underlying how a fungal endophyte and host plant interact to control host Cd accumulation by adapting defense responses to promote establishment of a symbiosis that permits adaptation to high-Cd environments.}, } @article {pmid38159796, year = {2023}, author = {Ogaya, C and Huong, N and Touceda-González, M and Barg, M and Dörfler, V and Ehlers, RU and Molina, C}, title = {Monitoring the Photorhabdus spp. bacterial load in Heterorhabditis bacteriophora dauer juveniles over different storage times and temperatures: A molecular approach.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {108048}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2023.108048}, pmid = {38159796}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {Biological control products based on the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora can vary in virulence (quality). The influence of their symbiotic bacteria Photorhabdus spp. inside the infective dauer juvenile (DJ) on DJ quality has not received much attention in the past. The presence of the bacteria in the DJ is crucial for its biocontrol potential. This investigation provides a method to quantify the bacterial load inside the DJ based on a qPCR technique. Information from the genome of Photorhabdus laumondii strain DE2 was used to identify single copy genes with no homology to any other bacterial accessions. One gene (hereby named CG2) was selected for primers design and for further qPCR experiments. Cross-amplification tests with P. thracensis and P. kayaii, also symbionts of H. bacteriophora, were positive, whereas no amplicons were produced for P. temperata or Xenorhabdus nematophila. We tested our qPCR system in DJ populations carrying defined proportions of bacteria-free (axenic) vs bacteria-carrying nematodes. With an increasing proportion of axenic DJ in a population, virulence declined, and the virulence was proportional to the amount of bacterial DNA detected in the population by qPCR. Along liquid storage over long time, virulence also decreased, and this factor correlated with the reduction of bacterial DNA on the respective DJ population. We observed that stored DJ kept virulent up to 90 days and thereafter the virulence as well as the amount of bacterial DNA drastically decreased. Storage temperature also influenced the bacterial survival. Inside formulated DJ, the loss of bacterial DNA on the DJ population was accelerated under storage temperatures below 7.5°C, suggesting that reproduction of the bacterial cells takes place when growth temperature is favorable. The role of bacterial survival inside stored DJ can now be adequately addressed using this molecular quality-control technique.}, } @article {pmid38159169, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, G and Wang, X and Yang, Z and Wang, S and Li, W and Shang, S and Luo, Y and Wang, L}, title = {Effects of Fusarium solani on the Growth and Development of Anoplophora glabripennis Larvae.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {38159169}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Larva/microbiology ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; *Fusarium ; }, abstract = {Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian longhorned beetle) is a wood-boring pest that can inhabit a wide range of healthy deciduous host trees in native and non-native habitats. Lignocellulose degradation plays a major role in the acquisition of nutrients during the growth and development of A. glabripennis larvae. In this study, the lignocellulose degradation capacity of Fusarium solani, a fungal symbiont of A. glabripennis, was investigated in fermentation culture and in four host tree species. The impact of F. solani on larval growth and survival parameters was assessed. Fermentation culture demonstrated continuous and stable production of lignocellulolytic enzymes over the cultivation period. Furthermore, F. solani was able to degrade host tree lignocellulose, as shown by decreased soluble sugar and cellulose contents and an increase in protein content. No significant differences in larval survival were observed in larvae fed with or without F. solani. However, weight and head capsule width were higher in larvae fed on F. solani, and gut lignocellulose activities were elevated in fed larvae. Our results indicate a role for F. solani in the predigestion of lignocellulose during the colonization and parasitic stages of A. glabripennis larval development, and also the F. solani an important symbiotic partner to A. glabripennis, lowering barriers to colonization and development in a range of habitats.}, } @article {pmid38157920, year = {2023}, author = {Mei, C and Shi, Y and Wang, Y and Qiu, Z and Yang, H}, title = {Termitidicoccus mucosus gen. nov. sp. nov. a novel Verrucomicrobiota species isolated from Reticulitermes chinensis gives insights of high adaptability of symbiotic bacteria to termite gut ecosystem.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104173}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104173}, pmid = {38157920}, issn = {1769-7123}, abstract = {Verrucomicrobiota is widely distributed in various habitats including insect guts. It was found to be prevalent in almost all investigated termite guts, whereas their physiological functions are not very clear. In this study we characterized the physiological and genomic properties of Verrucomicrobiota strain TSB47[T] isolated from Reticulitermes chinensis. The cells of strain TSB47[T] were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, and non-spore-forming coccoid with one or more warts. 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the closest relatives of strain TSB47[T] were Opitutaceae strain TAV1 and Ereboglobus luteus Ho45[T] (98.3% and 95.4% sequence similarity, respectively). Whole genome analysis revealed that there are a large number of glycoside hydrolase genes, amino acid metabolism genes, complete Mo-Fe nitrogenase and Fe-Fe nitrogenase gene clusters, as well as cbb3-type cytochrome oxidase gene in the genome of strain TSB47[T]. Strain TSB47[T] grows well under anaerobic and microaerophilic conditions with a strong tolerance to oxygen. Physiological and genomic characters of strain TSB47[T] indicated its high adaptability to termite gut ecosystem. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, we suggest strain TSB47[T] as the type species of a novel genus in the family Opitutaceae, for which the name Termitidicoccus mucosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TSB47[T] (CCTCC AB2022447[T]; KCTC 102044[T]).}, } @article {pmid38157897, year = {2023}, author = {Bolan, S and Sharma, S and Mukherjee, S and Kumar, M and Rao, CS and Nataraj, KC and Singh, G and Vinu, A and Bhowmik, A and Sharma, H and El-Naggar, A and Chang, SX and Hou, D and Rinklebe, J and Wang, H and Siddique, KHM and Abbott, LK and Kirkham, MB and Bolan, N}, title = {Biochar modulating soil biological health: A review.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {169585}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169585}, pmid = {38157897}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Biochar can be used for multifunctional applications including the improvement of soil health and carbon storage, remediation of contaminated soil and water resources, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and odorous compounds, and feed supplementation to improve animal health. A healthy soil preserves microbial biodiversity that is effective in supressing plant pathogens and pests, recycling nutrients for plant growth, promoting positive symbiotic associations with plant roots, improving soil structure to supply water and nutrients, and ultimately enhancing soil productivity and plant growth. As a soil amendment, biochar assures soil biological health through different processes. First, biochar supports habitats for microorganisms due to its porous nature and by promoting the formation of stable soil micro-aggregates. Biochar also serves as a carbon and nutrient source. Biochar alters soil physical and chemical properties, creating optimum soil conditions for microbial diversity. Biochar can also immobilize soil pollutants and reduce their bioavailability that would otherwise inhibit microbial growth. However, depending on the pyrolysis settings and feedstock resources, biochar can be comprised of contaminants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and potentially toxic elements that can inhibit microbial activity, thereby impacting soil health.}, } @article {pmid38157149, year = {2023}, author = {Damankeshan, B and Shamshiri, MH and Alaei, H}, title = {Endophytic fungi are able to induce tolerance to salt stress in date palm seedlings (Phoenix dactylifera L.).}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38157149}, issn = {1678-4405}, abstract = {Date palm, typically considered a salinity-resistant plant, grows in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide, and experiences decreased growth and yields under salt stress. This study investigates the efficacy of endophytic fungi (EF) in enhancing the salinity tolerance of date palm seedlings. In this experiment, EF were isolated from date tree roots and identified morphologically. Following molecular identification, superior strains were selected to inoculate date palm seedlings (Phoenix dactylifera L., cv. Mazafati). The seedlings were subjected to varying levels of salinity stress for 4 months, utilizing a completely randomized factorial design with two factors: fungal strain type (six levels) and salinity stress (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM sodium chloride). The diversity analysis of endophytic fungi in date palm trees revealed that the majority of isolates belonged to the Ascomycota family, with Fusarium and Alternaria being the most frequently isolated genera. In this research, the application of fungal endophytes resulted in increased dry weight of roots, shoots, root length, plant height, and leaf number. Additionally, EF symbiosis with date palm seedling roots led to a reduction in sodium concentration and an increase in potassium and phosphorus concentrations in aerial parts under salt-stress conditions. While salinity elevated lipid peroxidation, consequently increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, EF mitigated damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS) by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), while promoting proline and total soluble sugar (TSS) accumulation. The colonization percentage generally increased with salinity stress intensity in most strains. According to the results, the application of EF can alleviate the adverse effects of salinity stress and enhance the growth of date palm seedlings under saline conditions.}, } @article {pmid38155686, year = {2023}, author = {Chávez García, SN and Rodríguez-Herrera, R and Nery Flores, S and Silva-Belmares, SY and Esparza-González, SC and Ascacio-Valdés, JA and Flores-Gallegos, AC}, title = {Sprouts as probiotic carriers: A new trend to improve consumer nutrition.}, journal = {Food chemistry. Molecular sciences}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {100185}, pmid = {38155686}, issn = {2666-5662}, abstract = {Over the past few decades, efforts to eradicate hunger in the world have led to the generation of sustainable development goals to reduce poverty and inequality. It is estimated that the current coronavirus pandemic could add between 83 and 132 million to the total number of undernourished people in the world by 2021. Food insecurity is a contributing factor to the increase in malnutrition, overweight and obesity due to the quality of diets to which people have access. It is therefore necessary to develop functional foods that meet the needs of the population, such as the incorporation of sprouts in their formulation to enhance nutritional quality. Germination of grains and seeds can be used as a low-cost bioprocessing technique that provides higher nutritional value and better bioavailability of nutrients. Consequently, the manuscript describes relevant information about the germination process in different seeds, the changes caused in their nutritional value and the use of techniques within the imbibition phase to modify the metabolic profiles within the sprouts such as inoculation with lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, to generate a functional symbiotic food.}, } @article {pmid38155454, year = {2023}, author = {Peng, Z and Johnson, NC and Jansa, J and Han, J and Fang, Z and Zhang, Y and Jiang, S and Xi, H and Mao, L and Pan, J and Zhang, Q and Feng, H and Fan, T and Zhang, J and Liu, Y}, title = {Mycorrhizal effects on crop yield and soil ecosystem functions in a long-term tillage and fertilization experiment.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19493}, pmid = {38155454}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32060260//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32171579//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U21A20186//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32371592//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 23JRRA1029//Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; 23JRRA1034//Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; DE-FOA-0002214//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; }, abstract = {It is well understood that agricultural management influences arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but there is controversy about whether farmers should manage for AM symbiosis. We assessed AM fungal communities colonizing wheat roots for three consecutive years in a long-term (> 14 yr) tillage and fertilization experiment. Relationships among mycorrhizas, crop performance, and soil ecosystem functions were quantified. Tillage, fertilizers and continuous monoculture all reduced AM fungal richness and shifted community composition toward dominance of a few ruderal taxa. Rhizophagus and Dominikia were depressed by tillage and/or fertilization, and their abundances as well as AM fungal richness correlated positively with soil aggregate stability and nutrient cycling functions across all or no-tilled samples. In the field, wheat yield was unrelated to AM fungal abundance and correlated negatively with AM fungal richness. In a complementary glasshouse study, wheat biomass was enhanced by soil inoculum from unfertilized, no-till plots while neutral to depressed growth was observed in wheat inoculated with soils from fertilized and conventionally tilled plots. This study demonstrates contrasting impacts of low-input and conventional agricultural practices on AM symbiosis and highlights the importance of considering both crop yield and soil ecosystem functions when managing mycorrhizas for more sustainable agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38155006, year = {2023}, author = {Jiang, Q and Zhang, J and Zhou, G}, title = {Oral Malassezia infection co-occurring with tinea versicolor: Metagenomic sequencing of the saliva.}, journal = {Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.oooo.2023.10.009}, pmid = {38155006}, issn = {2212-4411}, abstract = {Malassezia is a lipid-dependent cutaneous symbiotic fungal genus associated with tinea versicolor. Here, we first present a rare case of a young tinea versicolor patient with oral manifestations presenting as white strips, patches, and pigmentation. The patient had a family history of tinea versicolor and a habit of frequent intake of cream. Histopathologic features and periodic acid-schiff staining of oral lesion indicated oral infection with round budding yeasts with short hyphae. Saliva metagenomic sequencing identified Malassezia and demonstrated the upregulated amount, diversity and activity of inflammatory bacteria. The clinical manifestations of oral Malassezia infection and changes in bacterial communities shed light on the pathogenic role of Malassezia in oral mucosa. In conclusion, we report the first oral Malassezia infection, which broadens the pathogenic cognitive scope of Malassezia and highlights the value of molecular techniques in the diagnostic process.}, } @article {pmid38152387, year = {2023}, author = {Gavrilov-Zimin, IA}, title = {Karyotype and reproductive traits of the unique symbiotic mealybug Orbuspedummachinator G.-Z. (Homoptera, Coccinea).}, journal = {Comparative cytogenetics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {283-286}, pmid = {38152387}, issn = {1993-0771}, abstract = {The karyotype and reproductive features of Orbuspedummachinator Gavrilov-Zimin, 2017 (Pseudococcidae) were studied for the first time. Diploid chromosome number is 18 in females. Reproduction is probably bisexual, as indicated by the presence of characteristic Lecanoid heterochromatinization of the paternal set of chromosomes in embryonic cells of about 50% of the embryos studied. The female reproductive system has a pair of lateral oviducts merged into enlarged common oviduct; the spermatheca and accessory glands are connected to the common oviduct in its proximal part. Complete ovoviviparity occurs in ontogenesis.}, } @article {pmid38152158, year = {2023}, author = {Klein, T and Rog, I and Livne-Luzon, S and van der Heijden, MGA and Körner, C}, title = {Belowground carbon transfer across mycorrhizal networks among trees: Facts, not fantasy.}, journal = {Open research Europe}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {168}, pmid = {38152158}, issn = {2732-5121}, abstract = {The mycorrhizal symbiosis between fungi and plants is among the oldest, ubiquitous and most important interactions in terrestrial life on Earth. Carbon (C) transfer across a common mycorrhizal network (CMN) was demonstrated over half a century ago in the lab (Reid & Woods, 1969), and later in the field (Simard et al., 1997a). Recent years have seen ample progress in this research direction, including evidence for ecological significance of carbon transfer (Klein et al., 2016). Furthermore, specific cases where the architecture of mycorrhizal networks have been mapped (Beiler et al., 2015) and CMN-C transfer from mature trees to seedlings has been demonstrated (Orrego, 2018) have suggested that trees in forests are more connected than once thought (Simard, 2021). In a recent Perspective, Karst et al. (2023) offered a valuable critical review warning of over-interpretation and positive citation bias in CMN research. It concluded that while there is evidence for C movement among plants, the importance of CMNs remains unclear, as noted by others too (Henriksson et al., 2023). Here we argue that while some of these claims are justified, factual evidence about belowground C transfer across CMNs is solid and accumulating.}, } @article {pmid38151658, year = {2023}, author = {Leon, D and Peyre, G and Zobel, M and Moora, M and Meng, Y and Diaz, M and Bueno, CG}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbioses in the Andean paramo.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38151658}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {PRG1065//Estonian Research Council/ ; PRG1065//Estonian Research Council/ ; PRG1065//Estonian Research Council/ ; PRG1065//Estonian Research Council/ ; RYC2021-032533-I//Ramon y Cajal program/ ; }, abstract = {The Andean paramo, hereafter "paramo", is a Neotropical high-mountain region between the treeline and permanent snowline (3500-4800 m) and is considered the world's coolest biodiversity hotspot. Because of paramo's high humidity, solar radiation and temperature variation, mycorrhizal symbiosis is expected to be essential for plants. Existing theory suggests that replacement of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and then ericoid mycorrhizal plants (ERM) can be expected with increasing elevation. Previous findings also suggest that non-(NM) and facultatively mycorrhizal (FM) species predominate over obligatory mycorrhizal (OM) species at high elevations. However, these expectations have never been tested outside of the northern temperate zone. We addressed the distribution and environmental drivers of plant mycorrhizal types (AM, ECM and ERM) and statuses (NM, FM and OM) along the paramo's elevational gradient. We used vegetation plots from the VegParamo database, climatic and edaphic data from online repositories, and up-to-date observation information about plant mycorrhizal traits at species and genus level, the latter being proposed as hypotheses. AM plants were dominant along the entire gradient, and ERM plants were most abundant at the lowest elevations (2500-3000 m). The share of FM plants increased and that of OM plants decreased with elevation, while NM plants increased above 4000 m. Temperature and soil pH were positively related to the abundance of AM plants and negatively to ERM plants. Our results reveal patterns that contrast with those observed in temperate northern-hemisphere ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38150088, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, XM and Fan, L and Meng, CC and Wang, YJ and Deng, LE and Yuan, Z and Zhang, JP and Li, YY and Lv, SC}, title = {Gut microbiota influence frailty syndrome in older adults: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.}, journal = {Biogerontology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38150088}, issn = {1573-6768}, support = {National Traditional Chinese Medicine People's Education Letter[2021] No. 203//the QI HUANG Scholars (Junping Zhang) Special Funding/ ; Jin Wei Zhong[2020]No.732//the Tianjin Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine (Junping Zhang) Inheritance Studio Special Funding/ ; No. CACM-2018-QNRC2-B04//the Young Talent Lifting Project of China Association of Chinese Medicine/ ; }, abstract = {Frailty syndrome denotes a decreased capacity of the body to maintain the homeostasis and stress of the internal environment, which simultaneously increases the risk of adverse health outcomes in older adults, including disability, hospitalization, falls, and death. To promote healthy aging, we should find strategies to cope with frailty. However, the pathogenesis of frailty syndrome is not yet clear. Recent studies have shown that the diversity, composition, and metabolites of gut microbiota significantly changed in older adults with frailty. In addition, several frailty symptoms were alleviated by adjusting gut microbiota with prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiosis. Therefore, we attempt to explore the pathogenesis of frailty syndrome in older people from gut microbiota and summarize the existing interventions for frailty syndrome targeting gut microbiota, with the aim of providing timely and necessary interventions and assistance for older adults with frailty.}, } @article {pmid38148391, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Xiao, Y and Lai, W and Jia, R and Deng, Q and Wang, X and Shi, H and Yang, Y and Zhang, B}, title = {Micrococcus lacusdianchii sp. nov., an attached bacterium inhibited by metabolites from its symbiotic algae.}, journal = {The Journal of antibiotics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38148391}, issn = {1881-1469}, support = {32360028//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {A novel actinobacterial strain, designated as JXJ CY 30 [T], was isolated from the phycosphere of Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 (Maf) collected from Lake Dianchi, China. The strain was a Gram-stain-positive, aerobic and coccus-shaped actinobacterium. It had alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and lysine in the peptidoglycan, and mannose, ribose and arabinose in its cell wall sugars, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0 as the main cellular fatty acids, MK-7 and MK-8 as the major respiratory quinones, and phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, glycolipid, and an unidentified phospholipid as the polar lipids. The DNA G + C content was 73.08%. Its 16 S rRNA gene sequence shared 99.14%, and 98.75% similarities with Micrococcus flavus DSM 19079 [T] and M. porci KD337-16[T], respectively, and ≤98.41% similarities with other type strains of the genus Micrococcus. It formed independent clade with M. flavus DSM 19079 [T] on the phylogenetic trees. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain JXJ CY 30 [T] and M. flavus DSM 19079 [T] and M. porci KD337-16[T] were 48.0% and 92.1%, 25.5% and 83.2%, respectively. These data above indicated that strain JXJ CY 30 [T] represented a new species of the genus Micrococcus, and the species epithet is proposed as Micrococcus lacusdianchii sp. nov. (type strain JXJ CY 30 [T] = KCTC 49378 [T] = CGMCC 1.17508 [T]). Strain JXJ CY 30 [T] can potentially provide Maf with various nutrients such as available phosphorus and nitrogen, plant hormones, various vitamins and carotenoids for growth, while it was inhibited by metabolites from its symbiotic algae Maf.}, } @article {pmid38148251, year = {2023}, author = {da Sousa, LDS and Correia, TS and Dos Farias, FDS and Santana, MDF and Lara, TS}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi density on growth and metabolism of Handroanthus serratifolius (Vahl) S.O. Grose seedlings.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {175}, number = {6}, pages = {e14067}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.14067}, pmid = {38148251}, issn = {1399-3054}, support = {//Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa, Pós-Graduação e Inovação Tecnológica/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Seedlings ; Spores, Fungal ; Plants ; Carbohydrates ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Studies on the relationship between Handroanthus serratifolius and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are limited in the literature. The influence of AMF spore density on plant development is fundamental information to determining the degree of benefits in this relationship. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different AMF spore densities on thirty-day-old H. serratifolius seedlings, focusing on growth and biochemical parameters using a completely randomized experimental design with three different spore densities and control. The spore densities were classified as low, medium, and high, with 1.54, 3.08, and 12.35 spores g[-1] , respectively. Plant growth analysis, mycorrhizal colonization, nitrogen compound concentration, and carbohydrate analysis were performed. The medium spore density treatment showed the greatest increases in biomass, height, leaf area, and root volume. Furthermore, greater absorption of phosphorus and better dynamics in nitrogen metabolism were observed in mycorrhizal plants compared to the control since the ammonium and nitrate compounds were rapidly incorporated into protein and chlorophyll compounds. The carbohydrate analysis revealed the influence of source-sink dynamics on sugar concentration in different plant parts. These findings support the importance of determining the appropriate spore density for assessing the symbiotic relationship between forest species and AMF.}, } @article {pmid38146927, year = {2023}, author = {Valim, HF and Grande, FD and Wong, ELY and Schmitt, I}, title = {Circadian clock- and temperature-associated genes contribute to overall genomic differentiation along elevation in lichenized fungi.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17252}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17252}, pmid = {38146927}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {//Hesse's "State Initiative for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence" (LOEWE initiative) through the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG)/ ; }, abstract = {Circadian regulation is linked to local environmental adaptation, and many species with broad climatic niches display variation in circadian genes. Here, we hypothesize that lichenizing fungi occupying different climate zones tune their metabolism to local environmental conditions with the help of their circadian systems. We study two species of the genus Umbilicaria occupying similar climatic niches (Mediterranean and the cold temperate) in different continents. Using homology to Neurospora crassa genes, we identify gene sets associated with circadian rhythms (11 core, 39 peripheral genes) as well as temperature response (37 genes). Nucleotide diversity of these genes is significantly correlated with mean annual temperature, minimum temperature of the coldest month and mean temperature of the coldest quarter. Furthermore, we identify altitudinal clines in allele frequencies in several non-synonymous substitutions in core clock components, for example, white collar-like, frh-like and various ccg-like genes. A dN/dS approach revealed a few significant peripheral clock- and temperature-associated genes (e.g. ras-1-like, gna-1-like) that may play a role in fine-tuning the circadian clock and temperature-response machinery. An analysis of allele frequency changes demonstrated the strongest evidence for differentiation above the genomic background in the clock-associated genes in U. pustulata. These results highlight the likely relevance of the circadian clock in environmental adaptation, particularly frost tolerance, of lichens. Whether or not the fungal clock modulates the symbiotic interaction within the lichen consortium remains to be investigated. We corroborate the finding of genetic variation in clock components along altitude-not only latitude-as has been reported in other species.}, } @article {pmid38146900, year = {2023}, author = {Vasquez, YM and Li, Z and Xue, AZ and Bennett, GM}, title = {Chromosome-level genome assembly of the aster leafhopper (Macrosteles quadrilineatus) reveals the role of environment and microbial symbiosis in shaping pest insect genome evolution.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e13919}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13919}, pmid = {38146900}, issn = {1755-0998}, support = {NSF-2214038//National Science Foundation Biological Integration Institute/ ; }, abstract = {Leafhoppers comprise over 20,000 plant-sap feeding species, many of which are important agricultural pests. Most species rely on two ancestral bacterial symbionts, Sulcia and Nasuia, for essential nutrition lacking in their phloem and xylem plant sap diets. To understand how pest leafhopper genomes evolve and are shaped by microbial symbioses, we completed a chromosomal-level assembly of the aster leafhopper's genome (ALF; Macrosteles quadrilineatus). We compared ALF's genome to three other pest leafhoppers, Nephotettix cincticeps, Homalodisca vitripennis, and Empoasca onukii, which have distinct ecologies and symbiotic relationships. Despite diverging ~155 million years ago, leafhoppers have high levels of chromosomal synteny and gene family conservation. Conserved genes include those involved in plant chemical detoxification, resistance to various insecticides, and defence against environmental stress. Positive selection acting upon these genes further points to ongoing adaptive evolution in response to agricultural environments. In relation to leafhoppers' general dependence on symbionts, species that retain the ancestral symbiont, Sulcia, displayed gene enrichment of metabolic processes in their genomes. Leafhoppers with both Sulcia and its ancient partner, Nasuia, showed genomic enrichment in genes related to microbial population regulation and immune responses. Finally, horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) associated with symbiont support of Sulcia and Nasuia are only observed in leafhoppers that maintain symbionts. In contrast, HTGs involved in non-symbiotic functions are conserved across all species. The high-quality ALF genome provides deep insights into how host ecology and symbioses shape genome evolution and a wealth of genetic resources for pest control targets.}, } @article {pmid38146350, year = {2024}, author = {Amwoma, JG and Kituyi, S and Wakoli, DM and Ochora, DO and Chemwor, G and Maisiba, R and Okore, W and Opot, B and Juma, D and Muok, EMO and Garges, EC and Egbo, TE and Nyabuga, FN and Andagalu, B and Akala, HM}, title = {Comparative analysis of peripheral whole blood transcriptome from asymptomatic carriers reveals upregulation of subsets of surface proteins implicated in Plasmodium falciparum phenotypic plasticity.}, journal = {Biochemistry and biophysics reports}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {101596}, pmid = {38146350}, issn = {2405-5808}, abstract = {The molecular mechanism underlying Plasmodium falciparum's persistence in the asymptomatic phase of infection remains largely unknown. However, large-scale shifts in the parasites' gene expression during asymptomatic infections may enhance phenotypic plasticity, maximizing their fitness and leading to the persistence of the asymptomatic infections. To uncover these mechanisms, we aimed to identify parasite genetic factors implicated in asymptomatic infections through whole transcriptome analysis. We analyzed publicly available transcriptome datasets containing asymptomatic malaria (ASM), uncomplicated malaria (SM), and malaria-naïve (NSM) samples from 35 subjects for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and long noncoding RNAs. Our analysis identified 755 and 1773 DEGs in ASM vs SM and NSM, respectively. These DEGs revealed sets of genes coding for proteins of unknown functions (PUFs) upregulated in ASM vs SM and ASM, suggesting their role in underlying fundamental molecular mechanisms during asymptomatic infections. Upregulated genes in ASM vs SM revealed a subset of 24 clonal variant genes (CVGs) involved in host-parasite and symbiotic interactions and modulation of the symbiont of host erythrocyte aggregation pathways. Moreover, we identified 237 differentially expressed noncoding RNAs in ASM vs SM, of which 11 were found to interact with CVGs, suggesting their possible role in regulating the expression of CVGs. Our results suggest that P. falciparum utilizes phenotypic plasticity as an adaptive mechanism during asymptomatic infections by upregulating clonal variant genes, with long noncoding RNAs possibly playing a crucial role in their regulation. Thus, our study provides insights into the parasites' genetic factors that confer a fitness advantage during asymptomatic infections.}, } @article {pmid38146206, year = {2023}, author = {Golan, J and Wang, YW and Adams, CA and Cross, H and Elmore, H and Gardes, M and Gonçalves, SC and Hess, J and Richard, F and Wolfe, B and Pringle, A}, title = {Death caps (Amanita phalloides) frequently establish from sexual spores, but individuals can grow large and live for more than a decade in invaded forests.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19483}, pmid = {38146206}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DGE-1747503//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; RGP0053/2012//Human Frontier Science Program/ ; //Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison/ ; }, abstract = {Global change is reshaping Earth's biodiversity, but the changing distributions of nonpathogenic fungi remain largely undocumented, as do mechanisms enabling invasions. The ectomycorrhizal Amanita phalloides is native to Europe and invasive in North America. Using population genetics and genomics, we sought to describe the life history traits of this successfully invading symbiotic fungus. To test whether death caps spread underground using hyphae, or aboveground using sexual spores, we mapped and genotyped mushrooms from European and US sites. Larger genetic individuals (genets) would suggest spread mediated by vegetative growth, while many small genets would suggest dispersal mediated by spores. To test whether genets are ephemeral or persistent, we also sampled from populations over time. At nearly every site and across all time points, mushrooms resolve into small genets. Individuals frequently establish from sexual spores. But at one Californian site, a single individual measuring nearly 10 m across dominated. At two Californian sites, the same genetic individuals were discovered in 2004, 2014, and 2015, suggesting single individuals (both large and small) can reproduce repeatedly over relatively long timescales. A flexible life history strategy combining both mycelial growth and spore dispersal appears to underpin the invasion of this deadly perennial ectomycorrhizal fungus.}, } @article {pmid38141881, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, MY and Xu, XR and Zhao, RP and Huang, C and Song, YD and Zhao, ZT and Zhao, YB and Ren, XJ and Zhao, XH}, title = {Mechanism of enhanced microalgal biomass and lipid accumulation through symbiosis between a highly succinic acid-producing strain of Escherichia coli SUC and Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {394}, number = {}, pages = {130232}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130232}, pmid = {38141881}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Microalgae, known for rapid growth and lipid richness, hold potential in biofuels and high-value biomolecules. The symbiotic link with bacteria is crucial in large-scale open cultures. This study explores algal-bacterial interactions using a symbiotic model, evaluating acid-resistant Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), stress-resilient Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, and various Escherichia coli strains in the Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1 system. It was observed that E. coli SUC significantly enhanced the growth and lipid production of Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1 by increasing enzyme activity (NAD-IDH, NAD-ME, G6PDH) while maintaining sustained succinic acid release. Optimal co-culture conditions included temperature 28 °C, a 1:10 algae-to-bacteria ratio, and pH 8. Under these conditions, Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1 biomass increased 3.17-fold to 27.83 g/L, and total lipid content increased 2.63-fold to 4.87 g/L. These findings have implications for more efficient microalgal lipid production and large-scale cultivation.}, } @article {pmid38140456, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, WY and Yang, HN and Hsieh, CY and Deng, C}, title = {Differential Responses of Medicago truncatula NLA Homologs to Nutrient Deficiency and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38140456}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {MOST 106-2313-B-002 -058 -MY2//Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan/ ; }, abstract = {NITROGEN LIMITATION ADAPTATION (NLA), a plasma-membrane-associated ubiquitin E3 ligase, plays a negative role in the control of the phosphate transporter family 1 (PHT1) members in Arabidopsis and rice. There are three NLA homologs in the Medicago truncatula genome, but it has been unclear whether the function of these homologs is conserved in legumes. Here we investigated the subcellular localization and the responses of MtNLAs to external phosphate and nitrate status. Similar to AtNLA1, MtNLA1/MtNLA2 was localized in the plasma membrane and nucleus. MtNLA3 has three alternative splicing variants, and intriguingly, MtNLA3.1, the dominant variant, was not able to target the plasma membrane, whereas MtNLA3.2 and MtNLA3.3 were capable of associating with the plasma membrane. In contrast with AtNLA1, we found that MtNLAs were not affected or even upregulated by low-phosphate treatment. We also found that MtNLA3 was upregulated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, and overexpressing MtNLA3.1 in Medicago roots resulted in a decrease in the transcription levels of STR, an essential gene for arbuscule development. Taken together, our results highlight the difference between MtNLA homologs and AtNLA1. Further characterization will be required to reveal the regulation of these genes and their roles in the responses to external nutrient status and AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38140452, year = {2023}, author = {Yarmus, I and Gelbart, D and Shemesh-Mayer, E and Teper, DD and Ment, D and Faigenboim, A and Peters, R and Kamenetsky-Goldstein, R}, title = {Pathogen Eradication in Garlic in the Phytobiome Context: Should We Aim for Complete Cleaning?.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38140452}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {85/22//ICA in Israel/ ; }, abstract = {Global food production is challenged by plant pathogens that cause significant crop losses. Fungi, bacteria, and viruses have long threatened sustainable and profitable agriculture. The danger is even higher in vegetatively propagated horticultural crops, such as garlic. Currently, quarantine, rouging infected plants, and control of natural vectors are used as the main means of disease and pest control in garlic crops. Agricultural biotechnology, meristem-tip culture, and cryotherapy offer solutions for virus eradication and for the multiplication of 'clean stocks', but at the same time, impact the symbiotic and beneficial components of the garlic microbiome. Our research involves the first metatranscriptomic analysis of the microbiome of garlic bulb tissue, PCR analyses, and a biological assay of endophytes and pathogens. We have demonstrated that in vitro sanitation methods, such as shoot tip culture or cryotherapy can alter the garlic microbiome. Shoot tip culture proved ineffective in virus elimination, but reduced bacterial load and eliminated fungal infections. Conversely, cryotherapy was efficient in virus eradication but demolished other components of the garlic microbiome. Garlic plants sanitized by cryotherapy exhibited a lower survival rate, and a longer in vitro regeneration period. The question arises whether total eradication of viruses, at the expense of other microflora, is necessary, or if a partial reduction in the pathogenic load would suffice for sanitized garlic production. We explore this question from both scientific and commercial perspectives.}, } @article {pmid38140436, year = {2023}, author = {Msaddak, A and Quiñones, MA and Mars, M and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {The Beneficial Effects of Inoculation with Selected Nodule-Associated PGPR on White Lupin Are Comparable to Those of Inoculation with Symbiotic Rhizobia.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38140436}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {P2ES2020-D1P1//Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research, Tunisia, Programme d'Encouragement à l'Excellence Scientifique 2020/ ; PID2021-125371OB-I00//Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ ; COOPB20610//Spanish National Research Council/ ; 2021AEP068//Spanish National Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Nodule endophytes and associated bacteria are non-symbiotic bacteria that colonize legume nodules. They accompany nodulating rhizobia and can form beneficial associations, as some of them are plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that are able to promote germination and plant growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. White lupin (Lupinus albus) is a legume crop that is gaining relevance as a suitable alternative to soybean as a plant protein source. Eleven nodule-associated bacteria were isolated from white lupin nodules grown in a Tunisian soil. They belonged to the genera Rhizobium, Ensifer, Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Their plant growth-promoting (PGP) and enzymatic activities were tested in vitro. Strains Pseudomonas sp., L1 and L12, displayed most PGP activities tested, and were selected for in planta assays. Inoculation with strains L1 or L12 increased seed germination and had the same positive effects on all plant growth parameters as did inoculation with symbiotic Bradyrhizobium canariense, with no significant differences among treatments. Inoculation with efficient nitrogen-fixing rhizobia must compete with rhizobia present in the soil that sometimes nodulate efficiently but fix nitrogen poorly, leading to a low response to inoculation. In such cases, inoculation with highly effective PGPR might represent a feasible alternative to boost crop productivity.}, } @article {pmid38140415, year = {2023}, author = {Papp, L and Habtemariam, AA and Brandt, S and Cseh, P and Heller, Á and Péter, B and Szakály, ÁP and Kiszel, P and Codogno, B and Bratek, Z and Tóth, Z}, title = {A Possible Perspective of Recultivation with Arbuscular Mycorrhiza-Inoculated Drought-Tolerant Herbaceous Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38140415}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Using native species for urban green space is rather important nowadays. Plant cover on soil is necessary for agronomical and architectural investments as well as conservational programs, which all need minimal maintenance and have to be cost efficient. Commercially available seed mixtures for grasslands and lawns include species that partly originated from other mesoclimatic zones, and thus they may not be able to survive in the long-term, nor will they be adventive to the local ecosystem. With a focus on climate change, the most arid part of the Pannon geographical region was selected (near Törökszentmiklós in Nagykunság, Hungarian Great Plain). The local flora has adapted effectively to the environment; therefore, many species growing there were candidates for this study. Annuals and herbaceous perennials were investigated with respect to harvestability, reproducibility, decorativity, seed production, seed morphological characters (size, mass) and germination features. The selected 20 taxa were inoculated with INOQ Agri mycorrhiza (Rhizophagus irregularis) to increase the drought tolerance and biomass of the plants. Mycorrhizal frequency was significantly different among the taxa, reflecting various responses to the symbiotic interaction and possibly various mycorrhizal dependence of the plant species examined. We did not observe significantly higher colonization rate in most cases of the samples with artificial inoculation treatment. We conclude that the degraded mowed lawn soil that we used could contain propagules of AM fungi in a sufficient amount, so in the artificial grassland restorations, the additional AM inoculation treatment is not necessary to achieve a higher AM colonization rate.}, } @article {pmid38139876, year = {2023}, author = {Nciri, N and Kim, N}, title = {Infrastructure in the Age of Pandemics: Utilizing Polypropylene-Based Mask Waste for Durable and Sustainable Road Pavements.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {15}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38139876}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {When navigating the environmental exigencies precipitated by global pandemics, the escalation of mask waste presents a multifaceted dilemma. In this avant-garde research, we unveil a novel approach: harnessing the sterilized shredded mask residues (SMRs), predominantly composed of 100 wt. % polypropylene, as pioneering modifiers for asphalt. Distinct proportions of SMR (e.g., 3, 6, and 9 wt. %) were judiciously integrated with fresh-virgin base AP-5 asphalt and subjected to an extensive suite of state-of-the-art examinations, encompassing thin-layer chromatography-flame ionization detection (TLC-FID), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and specific rheological metrics. The TLC-FID diagnostic trajectories highlighted the nuanced rejuvenating influence of SMR on the binder, a facet reinforced by a pronounced elevation in the thermodynamic stability index (IC). The FT-IR spectra elucidated SMR's preeminent role as a filler, negating notions of chemical reactivity. The TGA analyses unveiled an elevated thermal onset of degradation, signposting enhanced thermal resilience, whereas the DSC readings illuminated a superior thermal comportment at lower extremities. The SEM evaluations rendered a clearer panorama: there was heightened textural perturbation at escalated SMR incorporations, yet the 3 wt. % concoction showcased an optimal, coherent microtexture symbiosis with asphalt. The rheological scrutinies revealed a systematic trajectory: a diminishing penetration and ductility countered by ascending softening points and viscosity metrics. The coup de maître stemmed from the DSR analyses, unequivocally validating SMR's unparalleled prowess in curtailing rutting distress. This seminal inquiry not only posits a blueprint for refined pavement longevity but also champions a sustainable countermeasure to pandemic-propelled waste, epitomizing the confluence of environmental prudence an d infrastructural fortitude.}, } @article {pmid38139456, year = {2023}, author = {Mathieu, E and Léjard, V and Ezzine, C and Govindin, P and Morat, A and Giat, M and Lapaque, N and Doré, J and Blottière, HM}, title = {An Insight into Functional Metagenomics: A High-Throughput Approach to Decipher Food-Microbiota-Host Interactions in the Human Gut.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38139456}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {ANR-11-DPBS-0001//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metagenomics/methods ; Metagenome ; }, abstract = {Our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and its host has constantly evolved since our understanding that the "self" was not only defined by our genetic patrimony but also by the genomes of bugs living in us. The first culture-based methods highlighted the important functions of the microbiota. However, these methods had strong limitations and did not allow for a full understanding of the complex relationships that occur at the interface between the microbiota and the host. The recent development of metagenomic approaches has been a groundbreaking step towards this understanding. Its use has provided new insights and perspectives. In the present chapter, we will describe the advances of functional metagenomics to decipher food-microbiota and host-microbiota interactions. This powerful high-throughput approach allows for the assessment of the microbiota as a whole (including non-cultured bacteria) and enabled the discovery of new signaling pathways and functions involved in the crosstalk between food, the gut microbiota and its host. We will present the pipeline and highlight the most important studies that helped to develop the field. To conclude, we will emphasize the most recent developments and hot topics in functional metagenomics.}, } @article {pmid38139327, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Jia, X and Li, Y and Ma, S and Ma, C and Xin, D and Wang, J and Chen, Q and Liu, C}, title = {NopAA and NopD Signaling Association-Related Gene GmNAC27 Promotes Nodulation in Soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38139327}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {32072014//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32272072//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia secrete effectors that are essential for the effective establishment of their symbiotic interactions with leguminous host plants. However, the signaling pathways governing rhizobial type III effectors have yet to be sufficiently characterized. In the present study, the type III effectors, NopAA and NopD, which perhaps have signaling pathway crosstalk in the regulation of plant defense responses, have been studied together for the first time during nodulation. Initial qRT-PCR experiments were used to explore the impact of NopAA and NopD on marker genes associated with symbiosis and defense responses. The effects of these effectors on nodulation were then assessed by generating bacteria in which both NopAA and NopD were mutated. RNA-sequencing analyses of soybean roots were further utilized to assess signaling crosstalk between NopAA and NopD. NopAA mutant and NopD mutant were both found to repress GmPR1, GmPR2, and GmPR5 expression in these roots. The two mutants also significantly reduced nodules dry weight and the number of nodules and infection threads, although these changes were not significantly different from those observed following inoculation with double-mutant (HH103ΩNopAA&NopD). NopAA and NopD co-mutant inoculation was primarily found to impact the plant-pathogen interaction pathway. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with both NopAA and NopD were enriched in the plant-pathogen interaction, plant hormone signal transduction, and MAPK signaling pathways, and no further changes in these common DEGs were noted in response to inoculation with HH103ΩNopAA&NopD. Glyma.13G279900 (GmNAC27) was ultimately identified as being significantly upregulated in the context of HH103ΩNopAA&NopD inoculation, serving as a positive regulator of nodulation. These results provide new insight into the synergistic impact that specific effectors can have on the establishment of symbiosis and the responses of host plant proteins.}, } @article {pmid38139226, year = {2023}, author = {Shumilina, J and Soboleva, A and Abakumov, E and Shtark, OY and Zhukov, VA and Frolov, A}, title = {Signaling in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {38139226}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {075-15-2020-922//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Legumes represent an important source of food protein for human nutrition and animal feed. Therefore, sustainable production of legume crops is an issue of global importance. It is well-known that legume-rhizobia symbiosis allows an increase in the productivity and resilience of legume crops. The efficiency of this mutualistic association strongly depends on precise regulation of the complex interactions between plant and rhizobia. Their molecular dialogue represents a complex multi-staged process, each step of which is critically important for the overall success of the symbiosis. In particular, understanding the details of the molecular mechanisms behind the nodule formation and functioning might give access to new legume cultivars with improved crop productivity. Therefore, here we provide a comprehensive literature overview on the dynamics of the signaling network underlying the development of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Thereby, we pay special attention to the new findings in the field, as well as the principal directions of the current and prospective research. For this, here we comprehensively address the principal signaling events involved in the nodule inception, development, functioning, and senescence.}, } @article {pmid38138973, year = {2023}, author = {Serova, TA and Kusakin, PG and Kitaeva, AB and Seliverstova, EV and Gorshkov, AP and Romanyuk, DA and Zhukov, VA and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Effects of Elevated Temperature on Pisum sativum Nodule Development: I-Detailed Characteristic of Unusual Apical Senescence.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {24}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms242417144}, pmid = {38138973}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {21-16-00117//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Despite global warming, the influence of heat on symbiotic nodules is scarcely studied. In this study, the effects of heat stress on the functioning of nodules formed by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain 3841 on pea (Pisum sativum) line SGE were analyzed. The influence of elevated temperature was analyzed at histological, ultrastructural, and transcriptional levels. As a result, an unusual apical pattern of nodule senescence was revealed. After five days of exposure, a senescence zone with degraded symbiotic structures was formed in place of the distal nitrogen fixation zone. There was downregulation of various genes, including those associated with the assimilation of fixed nitrogen and leghemoglobin. After nine days, the complete destruction of the nodules was demonstrated. It was shown that nodule recovery was possible after exposure to elevated temperature for 3 days but not after 5 days (which coincides with heat wave duration). At the same time, the exposure of plants to optimal temperature during the night leveled the negative effects. Thus, the study of the effects of elevated temperature on symbiotic nodules using a well-studied pea genotype and Rhizobium strain led to the discovery of a novel positional response of the nodule to heat stress.}, } @article {pmid38138138, year = {2023}, author = {Blifernez-Klassen, O and Hassa, J and Reinecke, DL and Busche, T and Klassen, V and Kruse, O}, title = {Microbial Diversity and Community Structure of Wastewater-Driven Microalgal Biofilms.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11122994}, pmid = {38138138}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {17.02.12.01-8/19-EIP130321249-19-001//Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz Nordrhein-Westfalen/ ; }, abstract = {Dwindling water sources increase the need for efficient wastewater treatment. Solar-driven algal turf scrubber (ATS) system may remediate wastewater by supporting the development and growth of periphytic microbiomes that function and interact in a highly dynamic manner through symbiotic interactions. Using ITS and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we profiled the microbial communities of four microbial biofilms from ATS systems operated with municipal wastewater (mWW), diluted cattle and pig manure (CattleM and PigM), and biogas plant effluent supernatant (BGE) in comparison to the initial inocula and the respective wastewater substrates. The wastewater-driven biofilms differed significantly in their biodiversity and structure, exhibiting an inocula-independent but substrate-dependent establishment of the microbial communities. The prokaryotic communities were comparable among themselves and with other microbiomes of aquatic environments and were dominated by metabolically flexible prokaryotes such as nitrifiers, polyphosphate-accumulating and algicide-producing microorganisms, and anoxygenic photoautotrophs. Striking differences occurred in eukaryotic communities: While the mWW biofilm was characterized by high biodiversity and many filamentous (benthic) microalgae, the agricultural wastewater-fed biofilms consisted of less diverse communities with few benthic taxa mainly inhabited by unicellular chlorophytes and saprophytes/parasites. This study advances our understanding of the microbiome structure and function within the ATS-based wastewater treatment process.}, } @article {pmid38138095, year = {2023}, author = {Becerril-Espinosa, A and Mateos-Salmón, C and Burgos, A and Rodríguez-Zaragoza, FA and Meza-Canales, ID and Juarez-Carrillo, E and Rios-Jara, E and Ocampo-Alvarez, H}, title = {Dry Stamping Coral Powder: An Effective Method for Isolating Coral Symbiotic Actinobacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11122951}, pmid = {38138095}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Actinobacteria are important sources of antibiotics and have been found repeatedly in coral core microbiomes, suggesting this bacterial group plays important functional roles tied to coral survival. However, to unravel coral-actinobacteria ecological interactions and discover new antibiotics, the complex challenges that arise when isolating symbiotic actinobacteria must be overcome. Moreover, by isolating unknown actinobacteria from corals, novel biotechnological applications may be discovered. In this study, we compared actinobacteria recovery from coral samples between two widely known methods for isolating actinobacteria: dry stamping and heat shock. We found that dry stamping was at least three times better than heat shock. The assembly of isolated strains by dry stamping was unique for each species and consistent across same-species samples, highlighting that dry stamping can be reliably used to characterize coral actinobacteria communities. By analyzing the genomes of the closest related type strains, we were able to identify several functions commonly found among symbiotic organisms, such as transport and quorum sensing. This study provides a detailed methodology for isolating coral actinobacteria for ecological and biotechnological purposes.}, } @article {pmid38138066, year = {2023}, author = {Colorado Gómez, MA and Melo-Bolívar, JF and Ruíz Pardo, RY and Rodriguez, JA and Villamil, LM}, title = {Unveiling the Probiotic Potential of the Anaerobic Bacterium Cetobacterium sp. nov. C33 for Enhancing Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Cultures.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11122922}, pmid = {38138066}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The bacterium strain Cetobacterium sp. C33 was isolated from the intestinal microbial content of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) under anaerobic conditions. Given that Cetobacterium species are recognized as primary constituents of the intestinal microbiota in cultured Nile tilapia by culture-independent techniques, the adaptability of the C33 strain to the host gastrointestinal conditions, its antibacterial activity against aquaculture bacterial and its antibiotic susceptibility were assessed. The genome of C33 was sequenced, assembled, annotated, and subjected to functional inference, particularly regarding pinpointed probiotic activities. Furthermore, phylogenomic comparative analyses were performed including closely reported strains/species relatives. Comparative genomics with closely related species disclosed that the isolate is not phylogenetically identical to other Cetobacterium species, displaying an approximately 5% sequence divergence from C. somerae and a 13% sequence divergence from Cetobacterium ceti. It can be distinguished from other species through physiological and biochemical criteria. Whole-genome annotation highlighted that Cetobacterium sp. nov. C33 possesses a set of genes that may contribute to antagonism against competing bacteria and has specific symbiotic adaptations in fish. Additional in vivo experiments should be carried out to verify favorable features, reinforcing its potential as a probiotic bacterium.}, } @article {pmid38138008, year = {2023}, author = {Timofeeva, AM and Galyamova, MR and Sedykh, SE}, title = {Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria of Soil: Designing of Consortia Beneficial for Crop Production.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11122864}, pmid = {38138008}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {075-15-2021-1085//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting bacteria are commonly used in agriculture, particularly for seed inoculation. Multispecies consortia are believed to be the most promising form of these bacteria. However, designing and modeling bacterial consortia to achieve desired phenotypic outcomes in plants is challenging. This review aims to address this challenge by exploring key antimicrobial interactions. Special attention is given to approaches for developing soil plant growth-promoting bacteria consortia. Additionally, advanced omics-based methods are analyzed that allow soil microbiomes to be characterized, providing an understanding of the molecular and functional aspects of these microbial communities. A comprehensive discussion explores the utilization of bacterial preparations in biofertilizers for agricultural applications, focusing on the intricate design of synthetic bacterial consortia with these preparations. Overall, the review provides valuable insights and strategies for intentionally designing bacterial consortia to enhance plant growth and development.}, } @article {pmid38134513, year = {2023}, author = {Jin, Y and Liu, Y and Liu, S and Wang, E and Chen, W}, title = {Convergent gene pair dSH3 and irr regulate Pi and Fe homeostasis in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 and symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {280}, number = {}, pages = {127571}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127571}, pmid = {38134513}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing bacteroids inhabit inside legume root nodules must manage finely the utilization of P and Fe, the two most critical elements, due to their antagonistic interactions. While the balance mechanism for them remains unclear. A double SH3 domain-containing protein (dSH3) in the Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 was found to inhibit the alkaline phosphatase activity, thereby reducing P supply from organophosphates. The dSH3 gene is adjacent to the irr gene, which encodes the iron response repressor and regulates Fe homeostasis under Fe-limited conditions. Their transcription directions converge to a common intergenic sequence (IGS) region, forming a convergent transcription. Extending the IGS region through Tn5 transposon or pVO155 plasmid insertion significantly down-regulated expression of this gene pair, leading to a remarkable accumulation of P and an inability to grow under Fe-limited conditions. Inoculation of soybean with either of the insertion mutants resulted in N2-fixing failure. However, the IGS-deleted mutant showed no visible changes in N2-fixing efficiency on soybean compared to that inoculated with wild type. These findings reveal a novel regulative strategy in the IGS region and its flanking convergent gene pair for antagonistic utilization of P and Fe in rhizobia and coordination of N2-fixing efficiency.}, } @article {pmid38134100, year = {2023}, author = {Li, H and Wang, K and Hao, M and Liu, Y and Liang, X and Yuan, D and Ding, L}, title = {The role of intestinal microecology in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer: A review.}, journal = {Medicine}, volume = {102}, number = {51}, pages = {e36590}, pmid = {38134100}, issn = {1536-5964}, abstract = {Intestinal microecology is a dominant and complex microecological system in human body. Generally, intestinal microecosystem consists of normal symbiotic flora and its living environment (including intestinal epithelial tissue and intestinal mucosal immune system). Commensal flora is the core component of microecology. Both structures of intestinal mucosa and functions of immune system are essential to maintain homeostasis of intestinal microecosystem. Under normal conditions, intestinal microorganisms and intestinal mucosa coordinate with each other to promote host immunity. When certain factors in the intestine are altered, such as disruption of the intestinal barrier causing dysbiosis of the intestinal flora, the immune system of the host intestinal mucosa makes a series of responses, which leads to the development of intestinal inflammation and promotes colorectal cancer. In this review, to further understand the relationship between intestinal microecology and intestinal diseases, we systematically elaborate the composition of the intestinal mucosal immune system, analyze the relationship between intestinal flora and mucosal immune system, and the role of intestinal flora on intestinal inflammatory diseases and colorectal cancer.}, } @article {pmid38132761, year = {2023}, author = {Pino-Bodas, R and Blázquez, M and de Los Ríos, A and Pérez-Ortega, S}, title = {Myrmecia, Not Asterochloris, Is the Main Photobiont of Cladonia subturgida (Cladoniaceae, Lecanoromycetes).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {38132761}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {PID2019-111527GB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; 2020-T1/AMB-19852//Comunidad de Madrid/ ; }, abstract = {This study explores the diversity of photobionts associated with the Mediterranean lichen-forming fungus Cladonia subturgida. For this purpose, we sequenced the whole ITS rDNA region by Sanger using a metabarcoding method for ITS2. A total of 41 specimens from Greece, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain were studied. Additionally, two specimens from Spain were used to generate four cultures. Our molecular studies showed that the genus Myrmecia is the main photobiont of C. subturgida throughout its geographic distribution. This result contrasts with previous studies, which indicated that the main photobiont for most Cladonia species is Asterochloris. The identity of Myrmecia was also confirmed by ultrastructural studies of photobionts within the lichen thalli and cultures. Photobiont cells showed a parietal chloroplast lacking a pyrenoid, which characterizes the species in this genus. Phylogenetic analyses indicate hidden diversity within this genus. The results of amplicon sequencing showed the presence of multiple ASVs in 58.3% of the specimens studied.}, } @article {pmid38132755, year = {2023}, author = {Pan, XX and Liu, HZ and Li, Y and Zhou, P and Wen, Y and Lu, CX and Zhu, YY and Yang, MZ}, title = {The Interactions between Two Fungal Endophytes Epicoccum layuense R2-21 and Alternaria alternata XHYN2 and Grapevines (Vitis vinifera) with De Novo Established Symbionts under Aseptic Conditions.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {38132755}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {No. 32360255 and No. 31560538;No. 2019FY003024//the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the joint foundation of Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology and Yunnan University/ ; }, abstract = {In this study, we focused on grapevine-endophyte interactions and reprogrammed secondary metabolism in the host plant due to defense against the colonization of endophytes. Thus, the transcriptional responses of tissue cultured grapevine seedlings (Vitis vinifera L. cv.: Cabernet Sauvignon) to two fungal endophytes Epicoccum layuense R2-21 (Epi R2-21) and Alternaria alternata XHYN2 (Alt XHYN2) at three different time points (6 h, 6 d, 15 d) were analyzed. As expected, a total of 5748 and 5817 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were separately initiated in Epi R2-21 and Alt XHYN2 symbiotic tissue cultured seedlings compared to no endophyte treatment. The up-regulated DEGs at all time points in Epi R2-21- or Alt XHYN2-treated seedlings were mainly enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid and gingerol biosynthesis, and circadian rhythm-plant pathways. In addition, the up-regulated DEGs at all sampling times in Alt XHYN2-treated tissue cultured seedlings were enriched in the plant-pathogen interaction pathway, but appeared in Epi R2-21 symbiotic seedlings only after 15 d of treatment. The down-regulated DEGs were not enriched in any KEGG pathways after 6 h inoculation for Epi R2-21 and Alt XHYN2 treatments, but were enriched mainly in photosynthesis-antenna proteins and plant hormone signal transduction pathways at other sampling times. At three different time points, a total of 51 DEGs (all up-regulated, 1.33-10.41-fold) were involved in secondary metabolism, and 22 DEGs (all up-regulated, 1.01-8.40-fold) were involved in defense responses in endophytic fungi symbiotic tissue cultured seedlings. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network demonstrated that genes encoding CHS (VIT_10s0042g00920, VIT_14s0068g00920, and VIT_16s0100g00910) and the VIT_11s0065g00350 gene encoding CYP73A mediated the defense responses, and might induce more defense-associated metabolites. These results illustrated the activation of stress-associated secondary metabolism in the host grapevine during the establishment of fungi-plant endophytism. This work provides avenues for reshaping the qualities and characteristics of wine grapes utilizing specific endophytes and better understanding plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid38132753, year = {2023}, author = {Nacoon, S and Seemakram, W and Gateta, T and Theerakulpisut, P and Sanitchon, J and Kuyper, TW and Boonlue, S}, title = {Accumulation of Health-Promoting Compounds in Upland Black Rice by Interacting Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {38132753}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {Kh: FRB660052/0161//The National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; }, abstract = {There is an increasing interest in finding eco-friendly and safe approaches to increase agricultural productivity and deliver healthy foods. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and endophytic fungi (EPF) are important components of sustainable agriculture in view of their ability to increase productivity and various plant secondary metabolites with health-promoting effects. In a pot experiment, our main research question was to evaluate the additive and synergistic effects of an AMF and four root-endophytic fungi on plant performance and on the accumulation of health-promoting secondary compounds. Plant growth varied between the treatments with both single inoculants and co-inoculation of an AMF and four EPF strains. We found that inoculation with a single EPF positively affected the growth and biomass production of most of the plant-endophyte consortia examined. The introduction of AMF into this experiment (dual inoculation) had a beneficial effect on plant growth and yield. AMF, Rhizophagus variabilis KS-02 co-inoculated with EPF, Trichoderma zelobreve PBMP16 increased the highest biomass, exceeding the growth rate of non-inoculated plants. Co-inoculated R. variabilis KS-02 and T. zelobreve PBMP16 had significantly greater beneficial effects on almost all aspects of plant growth, photosynthesis-related parameters, and yield. It also promoted root growth quality and plant nutrient uptake. The phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and antioxidant capacity in rice seeds harvested from plants co-inoculated with AMF and EPF were dramatically increased compared with those from non-inoculated plants. In conclusion, our results indicated that EPF and AMF contributed to symbiosis in Maled Phai cultivar and were coordinately involved in promoting plant growth performance under a pot trial.}, } @article {pmid38132604, year = {2023}, author = {van der Merwe, E and Slippers, B and Dittrich-Schröder, G}, title = {Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {38132604}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {FLR\R1\201229//Royal Society/ ; }, abstract = {Egg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for the haplodiploid insect pest, Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), from two climatically different regions in South Africa to demonstrate the broad applicability of the method. In addition, activated eggs were exposed to three treatments involving water, pine sawdust, and the fungal symbiont of S. noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae), to determine if the symbiotic fungus is a requirement for egg development in an artificial laboratory environment, as the symbiotic fungus has been hypothesised to be necessary for egg and early larval development in a natural environment. A rearing protocol was developed for the first instar larvae using a modified Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) artificial diet. A significant difference between the mean survival rates of activated eggs from the two different regions was observed. Amylostereum areolatum was shown to be unnecessary for egg survival and adversely affected egg eclosion in an artificial laboratory environment. The maximum larval survival duration on the artificial diet was 92 days. The egg activation and rearing protocol developed in this study enables opportunities for research on the physiology, ecology, symbioses, and genetics of S. noctilio, which can be exploited for new genetic pest management strategies.}, } @article {pmid38132347, year = {2023}, author = {Gafarova, E and Kuracji, D and Sogomonyan, K and Gorokhov, I and Polev, D and Zubova, E and Golikova, E and Granovitch, A and Maltseva, A}, title = {Gut Bacteriomes and Ecological Niche Divergence: An Example of Two Cryptic Gastropod Species.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {38132347}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {19-14-00321//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms may provide their hosts with abilities critical to their occupation of microhabitats. Gut (intestinal) bacterial communities aid animals to digest substrates that are either innutritious or toxic, as well as support their development and physiology. The role of microbial communities associated with sibling species in the hosts' adaptation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the composition and plasticity of the bacteriomes in two sibling intertidal gastropod species, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, which are sympatric but differ in microhabitats. We applied 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and shotgun sequencing to describe associated microbial communities and their spatial and temporal variation. A significant drop in the intestinal bacteriome diversity was revealed during the cold season, which may reflect temperature-related metabolic shifts and changes in snail behavior. Importantly, there were significant interspecies differences in the gut bacteriome composition in summer but not in autumn. The genera Vibrio, Aliivibrio, Moritella and Planktotalea were found to be predominantly associated with L. fabalis, while Granulosicoccus, Octadecabacter, Colwellia, Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas and Maribacter were found to be mostly associated with L. obtusata. Based on these preferential associations, we analyzed the metabolic pathways' enrichment. We hypothesized that the L. obtusata gut bacteriome contributes to decomposing algae and detoxifying polyphenols produced by fucoids. Thus, differences in the sets of associated bacteria may equip their closely phylogenetically related hosts with a unique ability to occupy specific micro-niches.}, } @article {pmid38130785, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, QM and Zheng, L}, title = {Research progress on the relationship between Paneth cells-susceptibility genes, intestinal microecology and inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {World journal of clinical cases}, volume = {11}, number = {34}, pages = {8111-8125}, pmid = {38130785}, issn = {2307-8960}, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disorder of the immune system and intestinal microecosystem caused by environmental factors in genetically susceptible people. Paneth cells (PCs) play a central role in IBD pathogenesis, especially in Crohn's disease development, and their morphology, number and function are regulated by susceptibility genes. In the intestine, PCs participate in the formation of the stem cell microenvironment by secreting antibacterial particles and play a role in helping maintain the intestinal microecology and intestinal mucosal homeostasis. Moreover, PC proliferation and maturation depend on symbiotic flora in the intestine. This paper describes the interactions among susceptibility genes, PCs and intestinal microecology and their effects on IBD occurrence and development.}, } @article {pmid38130728, year = {2023}, author = {Zha, X and Su, S and Wu, D and Zhang, P and Wei, Y and Fan, S and Huang, Q and Peng, X}, title = {The impact of gut microbiota changes on the intestinal mucus barrier in burned mice: a study using 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing.}, journal = {Burns & trauma}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {tkad056}, pmid = {38130728}, issn = {2321-3868}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that plays a critical role in human health and disease. However, the relationship between gut microbiota and intestinal damage caused by burns is not well understood. The intestinal mucus layer is crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and providing a physiological barrier against bacterial invasion. This study aims to investigate the impact of gut microbiota on the synthesis and degradation of intestinal mucus after burns and explore potential therapeutic targets for burn injury.

METHODS: A modified histopathological grading system was employed to investigate the effects of burn injury on colon tissue and the intestinal mucus barrier in mice. Subsequently, 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to analyze alterations in the gut microbiota at days 1-10 post-burn. Based on this, metagenomic sequencing was conducted on samples collected at days 1, 5 and 10 to investigate changes in mucus-related microbiota and explore potential underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS: Our findings showed that the mucus barrier was disrupted and that bacterial translocation occurred on day 3 following burn injury in mice. Moreover, the gut microbiota in mice was significantly disrupted from days 1 to 3 following burn injury, but gradually recovered to normal as the disease progressed. Specifically, there was a marked increase in the abundance of symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria associated with mucin degradation on day 1 after burns, but the abundance returned to normal on day 5. Conversely, the abundance of probiotic bacteria associated with mucin synthesis changed in the opposite direction. Further analysis revealed that after a burn injury, bacteria capable of degrading mucus may utilize glycoside hydrolases, flagella and internalins to break down the mucus layer, while bacteria that synthesize mucus may help restore the mucus layer by promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONS: Burn injury leads to disruption of colonic mucus barrier and dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Some commensal and pathogenic bacteria may participate in mucin degradation via glycoside hydrolases, flagella, internalins, etc. Probiotics may provide short-chain fatty acids (particularly butyrate) as an energy source for stressed intestinal epithelial cells, promote mucin synthesis and accelerate repair of mucus layer.}, } @article {pmid38129884, year = {2023}, author = {Troitsky, TS and Laine, VN and Lilley, TM}, title = {When the host's away, the pathogen will play: the protective role of the skin microbiome during hibernation.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {66}, pmid = {38129884}, issn = {2524-4671}, support = {202300065//Maj ja Tor Nesslingin Säätiö/ ; 329250//Academy of Finland/ ; 329250//Academy of Finland/ ; }, abstract = {The skin of animals is enveloped by a symbiotic microscopic ecosystem known as the microbiome. The host and microbiome exhibit a mutualistic relationship, collectively forming a single evolutionary unit sometimes referred to as a holobiont. Although the holobiome theory highlights the importance of the microbiome, little is known about how the skin microbiome contributes to protecting the host. Existing studies focus on humans or captive animals, but research in wild animals is in its infancy. Specifically, the protective role of the skin microbiome in hibernating animals remains almost entirely overlooked. This is surprising, considering the massive population declines in hibernating North American bats caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which causes white-nose syndrome. Hibernation offers a unique setting in which to study the function of the microbiome because, during torpor, the host's immune system becomes suppressed, making it susceptible to infection. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on the protective role of the skin microbiome in non-human animals. We selected 230 publications that mentioned pathogen inhibition by microbes residing on the skin of the host animal. We found that the majority of studies were conducted in North America and focused on the bacterial microbiome of amphibians infected by the chytrid fungus. Despite mentioning pathogen inhibition by the skin microbiome, only 30.4% of studies experimentally tested the actual antimicrobial activity of symbionts. Additionally, only 7.8% of all publications studied defensive cutaneous symbionts during hibernation. With this review, we want to highlight the knowledge gap surrounding skin microbiome research in hibernating animals. For instance, research looking to mitigate the effects of white-nose syndrome in bats should focus on the antifungal microbiome of Palearctic bats, as they survive exposure to the Pseudogymnoascus destructans -pathogen during hibernation. We also recommend future studies prioritize lesser-known microbial symbionts, such as fungi, and investigate the effects of a combination of anti-pathogen microbes, as both areas of research show promise as probiotic treatments. By incorporating the protective skin microbiome into disease mitigation strategies, conservation efforts can be made more effective.}, } @article {pmid38129474, year = {2023}, author = {Thiem, D and Goebel, M and Gołębiewski, M and Baum, C and Koczorski, P and Szymańska, S and Hrynkiewicz, K}, title = {Endophytic microbiota and ectomycorrhizal structure of Alnus glutinosa Gaertn. at saline and nonsaline forest sites.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {22831}, pmid = {38129474}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {PRELUDIUM 2016/23/N/NZ8/00294//Narodowym Centrum Nauki/ ; }, abstract = {The tolerance of European alder (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.) to soil salinity can be attributed to symbiosis with microorganisms at the absorptive root level. However, it is uncertain how soil salinity impacts microbial recruitment in the following growing season. We describe the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere and endosphere of A. glutinosa absorptive roots at three tested sites with different salinity level. We determined the morphological diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, the endophytic microbiota in the rhizosphere, and the colonization of new absorptive roots in the following growing season. While bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere was higher than that in the absorptive root endosphere, the opposite was true for fungi. Actinomycetota, Frankiales, Acidothermus sp. and Streptomyces sp. were more abundant in the endosphere than in the rhizosphere, while Actinomycetota and Acidothermus sp. dominated at saline sites compared to nonsaline sites. Basidiomycota, Thelephorales, Russulales, Helotiales, Cortinarius spp. and Lactarius spp. dominated the endosphere, while Ascomycota, Hypocreales and Giberella spp. dominated the rhizosphere. The ECM symbioses formed by Thelephorales (Thelephora, Tomentella spp.) constituted the core community with absorptive roots in the spring and further colonized new root tips during the growing season. With an increase in soil salinity, the overall fungal abundance decreased, and Russula spp. and Cortinarius spp. were not present at all. Similarly, salinity also negatively affected the average length of the absorptive root. In conclusion, the endophytic microbiota in the rhizosphere of A. glutinosa was driven by salinity and season, while the ECM morphotype community was determined by the soil fungal community present during the growing season and renewed in the spring.}, } @article {pmid38128873, year = {2023}, author = {Seifert, G and Sealander, A and Marzen, S and Levin, M}, title = {From reinforcement learning to agency: Frameworks for understanding basal cognition.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {105107}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105107}, pmid = {38128873}, issn = {1872-8324}, abstract = {Organisms play, explore, and mimic those around them. Is there a purpose to this behavior? Are organisms just behaving, or are they trying to achieve goals? We believe this is a false dichotomy. To that end, to understand organisms, we attempt to unify two approaches for understanding complex agents, whether evolved or engineered. We argue that formalisms describing multiscale competencies and goal-directedness in biology (e.g., TAME), and reinforcement learning (RL), can be combined in a symbiotic framework. While RL has been largely focused on higher-level organisms and robots of high complexity, TAME is naturally capable of describing lower-level organisms and minimal agents as well. We propose several novel questions that come from using RL/TAME to understand biology as well as ones that come from using biology to formulate new theory in AI. We hope that the research programs proposed in this piece shape future efforts to understand biological organisms and also future efforts to build artificial agents.}, } @article {pmid38128668, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Q and Li, S and Fei, L and Wu, M and Zheng, R and Peng, Y and Shen, F}, title = {A study of typical plant growth changes in response to drainage water and salt in ditch wetland in arid area.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {169315}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169315}, pmid = {38128668}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Agricultural drainage significantly affected the changes of soil moisture and salinity in ditch wetlands. These changes can profoundly impact the spatial distribution and evolution of ditch wetland vegetation, thereby affecting the ecological environmental effects of these wetlands. Consequently, it is imperative to investigate the response of typical plant growth to drainage and soil salt in ditch wetlands in arid regions. Based on the classical metapopulation conceptual framework model (Levins model), this study established a new model of plant growth change in ditch wetlands, incorporating the key variables (water level and soil salinity) of arid area ditch wetlands. The application of the Gaussian model facilitates the resolution of species growth rates and mortality rates within this model. The study focused on the main drainage ditch (ditch M) and the drainage bucket ditch (ditch N) in the Lubotan saline-alkali land in Fuping, Shaanxi Province. The results revealed the following key findings: 1) the model effectively simulates the response of plant growth changes to water level and soil salinity in ditch wetlands in arid regions, particularly plants in the reed area and transition area disturbed by single factors such as water level and soil salinity; 2) the germination period of Phragmites australis in the reed area thrives in a shallow moisture environment, and adjusting the water level of the drainage ditch can maintain optimal growth conditions for Phragmites australis; 3) during the germination period of Suaeda salsa in the transition area, soil salinity should not be excessively high, though a moderate increase in soil salinity can promote the germination and growth of Suaeda salsa; and 4) Suaeda salsa in the symbiotic area has a higher adaptability to the soil salinity, with change in biomass consistent with plants in the transition area. The model provides an explanation and prediction for the growth changes of plant communities in ditch wetlands under drainage conditions. By integrating this model with the impact of farmland drainage on water level and soil salinity in drainage ditches, effective drainage management measures can be formulated, offering scientific support for the construction of ecological irrigation areas.}, } @article {pmid38127953, year = {2023}, author = {Nnaji, PT and Adukwu, E and Morse, HR and Chidugu-Ogborigbo, RU}, title = {Amylase production from marine sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis; potentials sustainability benefits.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {e0294931}, pmid = {38127953}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {The marine sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis is a globally distributed and invasive species with extensive filter-feeding characteristics. The symbiotic relationship fostered between the sea sponge and the inhabiting microorganism is key in the production of metabolic enzymes which is the focus of this study. Sponge bacterial symbionts were grown on starch agar for 48hrs. Colourimetric analyses of amylase were conducted at 540nm using a spectrophotometric plate reader. Using an X-Bridge column (3.5μM, 4.6x150mm), 80/20 acetonitrile/water in 0.1% ammonium were the conditions used for the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses. Seven reducing sugars were used to optimise LC-MS to determine the presence of the crude enzyme formed. Not all the bacterial symbionts isolated from H perlevis produced alpha and beta amylases to break down starch. From the statistical mean of crude enzyme concentrations from the hydrolysis of starch by amylase, isolate seven had the highest optical density (OD) at 0.43475 while isolate twelve had the lowest OD at 0.141417. From the LC-MS analysis, out of the seven sugars, Glucose and maltose constituted > 65% of the reducing sugars formed from the hydrolysis of starch by the amylases. Isolates 3,6 and 7 produced 6.906 mg/l, 12.309 mg/l, and 5.909 mg/l of glucose, while isolates 3,4,5,6 and 7 produced 203.391 mg/l, 176.238 mg/l, 139.938 mg/l, 39.030 mg/l, and 18.809 mg/l of maltose, respectively. Isolate two had the highest amount of maltose at a concentration of 267.237 mg/l while isolate four had the highest amount of glucose concentration of 53.084 mg/l. Enzymes from marine sponge bacteria offer greater potential for a green and sustainable production process. Amylase extraction from bacterial symbionts in H perlevis is sustainable and should be supported. They can serve as reliable sources of revenue for enzyme industries, and applications in food industries and biotechnological processes.}, } @article {pmid38127672, year = {2023}, author = {Rosenbluth, G and Choi, LW and Boscardin, CK and Gonzales, R and Green, A and Hernandez, A and Vidyarthi, AR and Julian, KA and Baron, RB}, title = {Engaging GME Learners in Health System-Aligned Improvement Work in the Clinical Learning Environment.}, journal = {American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1097/JMQ.0000000000000160}, pmid = {38127672}, issn = {1555-824X}, support = {//ACGME/ ; }, abstract = {Alignment between graduate medical education (GME) and health system priorities is foundational to meaningful engagement of residents and fellows in systems improvement work within the clinical learning environment. The Residents and Fellows Leading Interprofessional Continuous Improvement Teams program at the University of California San Francisco was designed over a decade ago to address barriers to trainee participation in health system-based improvement work. The program provides structure and support for health system-aligned trainee-led improvement projects in the clinic learning environment. Project champions (residents/fellows) from GME programs attend workshops where they learn improvement methodologies and develop proposals for health system-based improvement projects for their training programs. Proposals are supported by local faculty mentors and are reviewed and approved by GME and health systems' leaders. During the academic year, teams share their progress using visual management boards and interactive leader rounds. The health system provides a modest financial incentive for successful projects. Since the program's inception, thousands of trainees from 58 residency and fellowship programs have participated either as champions or participants in the program at least once, and in total over 300 projects have been implemented. Approximately three-quarters of the specific improvement goals were met, all projects meaningfully engaged residents and fellows, and many projects continued after the learners graduated. This active partnership between GME and a health system created a symbiotic relationship; trainees received education and support to complete improvement projects, while the health system reaped additional benefits from the alignment and impact of the projects. This partnership continues to grow with steady increases in participating programs, spread to partner health systems, and scholarship for trainees and faculty.}, } @article {pmid38126773, year = {2023}, author = {Vander Griend, JA and Isenberg, RY and Kotla, KR and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Transcriptional pathways across colony biofilm models in the symbiont Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0081523}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00815-23}, pmid = {38126773}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The V. fischeri-squid system provides an opportunity to study biofilm development both in the animal host and in culture-based biofilm models that capture key aspects of in vivo signaling. In this work, we report the results of the transcriptomic profiling of two V. fischeri biofilm models followed by phenotypic validation and examination of novel signaling pathway architecture. Remarkable consistency between the models provides a strong basis for future studies using either approach or both. A subset of the factors identified by the approaches were validated in the work, and the body of transcriptomic data provides a number of leads for future studies in culture and during animal colonization.}, } @article {pmid38126022, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, HP and Yang, QY and Liu, JX and Haq, IU and Li, Y and Zhang, QY and Attia, KA and Abushady, AM and Liu, CZ and Lv, N}, title = {Host plant-mediated effects on Buchnera symbiont: implications for biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1288997}, pmid = {38126022}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a typical sap-feeding insect and an important worldwide pest. There is a primary symbiont-Buchnera aphidicola, which can synthesize and provide some essential nutrients for its host. At the same time, the hosts also can actively adjust the density of bacterial symbiosis to cope with the changes in environmental and physiological factors. However, it is still unclear how symbionts mediate the interaction between herbivorous insects' nutrient metabolism and host plants.

METHODS: The current study has studied the effects of different host plants on the biological characteristics, Buchnera titer, and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids. This study investigated the influence of different host plants on biological characteristics, Buchnera titer, and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The titer of Buchnera was significantly higher on T. Pretense and M. officinalis, and the relative expression levels were 1.966±0.104 and 1.621±0.167, respectively. The content of soluble sugar (53.46±1.97µg/mg), glycogen (1.12±0.07µg/mg) and total energy (1341.51±39.37µg/mg) of the pea aphid on V. faba were significantly higher and showed high fecundity (143.86±11.31) and weight (10.46±0.77µg/mg). The content of total lipids was higher on P. sativum and T. pretense, which were 2.82±0.03µg/mg and 2.92±0.07µg/mg, respectively. Correlation analysis found that the difference in Buchnera titer was positively correlated with the protein content in M. officinalis and the content of total energy in T. pratense (P < 0.05). This study confirmed that host plants not only affected the biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids but also regulated the symbiotic density, thus interfering with the nutritional function of Buchnera. The results can provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the influence of different host plants on the development of pea aphids and other insects.}, } @article {pmid38125954, year = {2023}, author = {de Gier, W and Helleman, P and van den Oever, J and Fransen, CHJM}, title = {Ecomorphological convergence in the walking leg dactyli of two clades of ascidian- and mollusc-associated shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e10768}, pmid = {38125954}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Symbiotic species, living within or on the surface of host organisms, may evolve a wide range of adaptations as a result of various selection pressures, host specificity of the symbiont and the nature of the symbiosis. In tropical marine coral reef ecosystems, palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) live in association with at least five different invertebrate phyla. Host switches between (distantly) related host groups, and the thereby associated selection pressures were found to play a major role in the diversification of these shrimp lineages, giving rise to various host-specific adaptations. Two lineages of palaemonid shrimp, which have switched from an ectosymbiotic association towards endosymbiosis, are studied for their morphological diversification and possible convergence. Special attention is given to the between-phyla host switches involving ascidian and bivalve hosts, which are characteristic for these lineages. Using landmark-based (phylo)morphospace analyses and Scanning Electron Microscopy, the walking leg dactylus shape and the microstructures on these dactyli are studied. No specific bivalve- or ascidian-associated morphotypes were found, but morphological convergence in dactylus morphology was found in various species within the two studied clades with similar host groups. In addition, multiple lineages of bivalve-associated species appear to be morphologically diverging more than their ascidian-associated relatives, with 'intermediate' morphotypes found near host-switching events.}, } @article {pmid38125570, year = {2023}, author = {He, S and Ma, M and Epstein, S and Yin, Y}, title = {Editorial: Microbes from marine distinctive environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1300210}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1300210}, pmid = {38125570}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid38125253, year = {2023}, author = {Grezenko, H and Alsadoun, L and Farrukh, A and Rehman, A and Shehryar, A and Nathaniel, E and Affaf, M and I Kh Almadhoun, MK and Quinn, M}, title = {From Nanobots to Neural Networks: Multifaceted Revolution of Artificial Intelligence in Surgical Medicine and Therapeutics.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {e49082}, pmid = {38125253}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {This comprehensive exploration unveils the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within medicine and surgery. Through a meticulous journey, we examine AI's current applications in healthcare, including medical diagnostics, surgical procedures, and advanced therapeutics. Delving into the theoretical foundations of AI, encompassing machine learning, deep learning, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), we illuminate the critical underpinnings supporting AI's integration into healthcare. Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, we emphasize how AI augments clinical capabilities without supplanting the irreplaceable human touch in healthcare delivery. Also, we'd like to briefly mention critical findings and takeaways they can expect to encounter in the article. A thoughtful analysis of the economic, societal, and ethical implications of AI's integration into healthcare underscores our commitment to addressing critical issues, such as data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and equitable access to AI-driven healthcare services. As we contemplate the future landscape, we project an exciting vista where more sophisticated AI algorithms and real-time surgical visualizations redefine the boundaries of medical achievement. While acknowledging the limitations of the present research, we shed light on AI's pivotal role in enhancing patient engagement, education, and data security within the burgeoning realm of AI-driven healthcare.}, } @article {pmid38125017, year = {2023}, author = {Mizobata, H and Tomita, K and Yonezawa, R and Hayashi, K and Kinoshita, S and Yoshitake, K and Asakawa, S}, title = {The highly developed symbiotic system between the solar-powered nudibranch Pteraeolidia semperi and Symbiodiniacean algae.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {12}, pages = {108464}, pmid = {38125017}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {The intricate coexistence of Symbiodiniacean algae with a diverse range of marine invertebrates underpins the flourishing biodiversity observed within coral reef ecosystems. However, the breakdown of Symbiodiniaceae-host symbiosis endangers these ecosystems, necessitating urgent study of the symbiotic mechanisms. The symbiosis between nudibranchs and Symbiodiniaceae has been identified as an efficacious model for examining these mechanisms, yet a comprehensive understanding of their histological structures and cellular processes remains elusive. A meticulous histological exploration of the nudibranch Pteraeolidia semperi, employing optical, fluorescence, and electron microscopy, has revealed fine tubules extending to the body surface, with associated epithelial cells having been shown to adeptly encapsulate Symbiodiniaceae intracellularly. By tracing the stages of the "bleaching" in nudibranchs, it was inferred that algal cells, translocated via the digestive gland, are directly phagocytosed and expelled by these epithelial cells. Collectively, these insights contribute substantially to the scholarly discourse on critical marine symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid38118200, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, C and Ma, S and Yu, Y and Feng, H and Wang, Y and Liu, C and He, S and Yang, M and Chen, Q and Xin, D and Wang, J}, title = {Transcriptome-wide m[6]A methylation profiling identifies GmAMT1;1 as a promoter of lead and cadmium tolerance in soybean nodules.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {465}, number = {}, pages = {133263}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133263}, pmid = {38118200}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are common heavy metal pollutants that are often found in the soil in soybean agricultural production, adversely impacting symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean nodules. In this study, the exposure of soybean nodules to Pb and Cd stress was found to reduce nitrogenase activity. Shifts in the RNA methylation profiles of nodules were subsequently examined by profiling the differential expression of genes responsible for regulating m[6]A modifications and conducting transcriptome-wide analyses of m[6]A methylation profiles under Pb and Cd stress condition. Differentially methylated genes (DMGs) that were differentially expressed were closely related to reactive oxygen species activity and integral membrane components. Overall, 19 differentially expressed DMGs were ultimately determined to be responsive to both Pb and Cd stress, including Glyma.20G082450, which encodes GmAMT1;1 and was confirmed to be a positive regulator of nodules tolerance to Pb and Cd. Together, these results are the first published data corresponding to transcriptome-wide m[6]A methylation patterns in soybean nodules exposed to Cd and Pb stress, and provide novel molecular insight into the regulation of Pb and Cd stress responses in nodules, highlighting promising candidate genes related to heavy metal tolerance, that may also be amenable to application in agricultural production. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are prevalent heavy metal pollutants in soil, and pose a major threat to crop production, food security and human health. Here, MeRIP-seq approach was employed to analyze the regulatory network activated in soybean nodules under Pb and Cd stress, ultimately leading to the identification of 19 shared differentially expressed DMGs. When overexpressed, GmATM1;1 was found to enhance the Pb and Cd tolerance of soybean nodules. These results provide a theoretical basis for studies on tolerance to heavy metals in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and provide an approach to enhancing Pb and Cd tolerance in soybean production.}, } @article {pmid38117572, year = {2023}, author = {Mazel, F and Knowles, SCL and Videvall, E and Sweeny, AR}, title = {Evolutionary patterns and processes in animal microbiomes.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {36}, number = {12}, pages = {1653-1658}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.14248}, pmid = {38117572}, issn = {1420-9101}, support = {851550/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, } @article {pmid38116158, year = {2023}, author = {Andargie, YE and Lee, G and Jeong, M and Tagele, SB and Shin, JH}, title = {Deciphering key factors in pathogen-suppressive microbiome assembly in the rhizosphere.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1301698}, pmid = {38116158}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In a plant-microbe symbiosis, the host plant plays a key role in promoting the association of beneficial microbes and maintaining microbiome homeostasis through microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). The associated microbes provide an additional layer of protection for plant immunity and help in nutrient acquisition. Despite identical MAMPs in pathogens and commensals, the plant distinguishes between them and promotes the enrichment of beneficial ones while defending against the pathogens. The rhizosphere is a narrow zone of soil surrounding living plant roots. Hence, various biotic and abiotic factors are involved in shaping the rhizosphere microbiome responsible for pathogen suppression. Efforts have been devoted to modifying the composition and structure of the rhizosphere microbiome. Nevertheless, systemic manipulation of the rhizosphere microbiome has been challenging, and predicting the resultant microbiome structure after an introduced change is difficult. This is due to the involvement of various factors that determine microbiome assembly and result in an increased complexity of microbial networks. Thus, a comprehensive analysis of critical factors that influence microbiome assembly in the rhizosphere will enable scientists to design intervention techniques to reshape the rhizosphere microbiome structure and functions systematically. In this review, we give highlights on fundamental concepts in soil suppressiveness and concisely explore studies on how plants monitor microbiome assembly and homeostasis. We then emphasize key factors that govern pathogen-suppressive microbiome assembly. We discuss how pathogen infection enhances plant immunity by employing a cry-for-help strategy and examine how domestication wipes out defensive genes in plants experiencing domestication syndrome. Additionally, we provide insights into how nutrient availability and pH determine pathogen suppression in the rhizosphere. We finally highlight up-to-date endeavors in rhizosphere microbiome manipulation to gain valuable insights into potential strategies by which microbiome structure could be reshaped to promote pathogen-suppressive soil development.}, } @article {pmid38115053, year = {2023}, author = {Rincic, I and Muzur, A and Richie, C}, title = {The eco-ethical contribution of Menico Torchio - a forgotten pioneer of European Bioethics.}, journal = {Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {20}, pmid = {38115053}, issn = {1747-5341}, support = {IP-2020-02-7450.//Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost/ ; uniri-human-18-49//Sveučilište u Rijeci/ ; uniri-human-18-4-1130//Sveučilište u Rijeci/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Bioethics/history ; *Ecosystem ; Moral Obligations ; Morals ; Philosophy ; Principle-Based Ethics ; History, 20th Century ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In 1926, Fritz Jahr described bio-ethics (German: bio-ethik) as "the assumption of moral obligations not only towards humans, but towards all forms of life." Jahr summarized his philosophy by declaring, "Respect every living being on principle as an end in itself and treat it, if possible, as such!." Bioethics was thus originally an ethical system concerned with the "problems of interference with other living beings… and generally everything related to the balance of the ecosystem" according to the 1978 Encyclopedia of Bioethics. This definition was predicated on the work of Fritz Jahr, Menico Torchio, and Van Rensselaer Potter.

METHODS: In order to proceed with depthful analysis of the origin and major bioethical flare up, we will use critical analysis of existing literature, followed by a study trip to relevant bioethical localities (collecting photo and other documentations regarding Menico Torchio).

RESULTS: While Jahr and Potter are typically given intellectual credit for developing the field of bioethics, the eco-ethical contributions of Menico Torchio have been forgotten.This article will first trace the origins of "bioethics" - now commonly bifurcated into "biomedical ethics" and "environmental bioethics." The former was developed by Tom Beauchamp from the Philosophy Department and James Childress of the Religious Studies department at Georgetown University and is based on principlism, with a narrow focus on medical settings. The latter addresses the environmental impact of the medical industry and climate change health hazards. Second, we will present a panorama of Torchio's significant intellectual contribution to bioethics. Menico Torchio's concept of bioethics synthesized work of both Jahr and Potter, advocating "the need to expand our ethical obligations and embrace the most developed groups of animals, not only physically but also psychologically." Third, we will reflect on the lasting legacy of "bioethics" on biomedical and environmental bioethics today. Thematic elements such as interconnectedness of planetary health and human health, dedication to living in harmony with nature, and emphasis on systems and symbiosis remain unchanged from the legacy of Tochio onward.

CONCLUSION: Our conclusion will underscore the necessity of understanding the connections between planetary, environmental, and human health.}, } @article {pmid38113473, year = {2023}, author = {Shibata, T and Shimoda, M and Kobayashi, T and Arai, H and Owashi, Y and Uehara, T}, title = {High-quality genome of the zoophytophagous stink bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis, informs their food habit adaptation.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkad289}, pmid = {38113473}, issn = {2160-1836}, abstract = {The zoophytophagous stink bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis, is a promising natural enemy of micropests such as whiteflies and thrips. This bug possesses both phytophagous and entomophagous food habits, enabling it to obtain nutrition from both plants and insects. This trait allows us to maintain its population density in agricultural fields by introducing insectary plants, even when the pest prey density is extremely low. However, if the bugs' population becomes too dense, they can sometimes damage crop plants. This dual character seems to arise from the food preferences and chemosensation of this predator. To understand the genomic landscape of N. tenuis, we examined the whole genome sequence of a commercially available Japanese strain. We used longread sequencing and Hi-C analysis to assemble the genome at the chromosomal level. We then conducted a comparative analysis of the genome with previously reported genomes of phytophagous and hematophagous stink bugs to focus on the genetic factors contributing to this species' herbivorous and carnivorous tendencies. Our findings suggest that the gustatory gene set plays a pivotal role in adapting to food habits, making it a promising target for selective breeding. Furthermore, we identified the whole genomes of microorganisms symbiotic with this species through genomic analysis. We believe that our results shed light on the food habit adaptations of N. tenuis and will accelerate breeding efforts based on new breeding techniques for natural enemy insects, including genomics and genome editing.}, } @article {pmid38112751, year = {2023}, author = {Gould, AL and Henderson, JB}, title = {Comparative genomics of symbiotic Photobacterium using highly contiguous genome assemblies from long read sequences.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001161}, pmid = {38112751}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Animals ; *Photobacterium/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; Genome, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {This study presents the assembly and comparative genomic analysis of luminous Photobacterium strains isolated from the light organs of 12 fish species using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing. The majority of assemblies achieved chromosome-level continuity, consisting of one large (>3 Mbp) and one small (~1.5 Mbp) contig, with near complete BUSCO scores along with varying plasmid sequences. Leveraging this dataset, this study significantly expanded the available genomes for P. leiognathi and its subspecies P. 'mandapamensis', enabling a comparative genomic analysis between the two lineages. An analysis of the large and small chromosomes unveiled distinct patterns of core and accessory genes, with a larger fraction of the core genes residing on the large chromosome, supporting the hypothesis of secondary chromosome evolution from megaplasmids in Vibrionaceae. In addition, we discovered a proposed new species, Photobacterium acropomis sp. nov., isolated from an acropomatid host, with an average nucleotide identify (ANI) of 93 % compared to the P. leiognathi and P. 'mandapamensis' strains. A comparison of the P. leiognathi and P. 'mandapamensis' lineages revealed minimal differences in gene content, yet highlighted the former's larger genome size and potential for horizontal gene transfer. An investigation of the lux-rib operon, responsible for light production, indicated congruence between the presence of luxF and host family, challenging its role in differentiating P. 'mandapamensis' from P. leiognathi. Further insights were derived from the identification of metabolic differences, such as the presence of the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase respiratory complex I in P. leiognathi as well as variations in the type II secretion system (T2S) genes between the lineages, potentially impacting protein secretion and symbiosis. In summary, this study advances our understanding of Photobacterium genome evolution, highlighting subtle differences between closely related lineages, specifically P. leiognathi and P. 'mandapamensis'. These findings highlight the benefit of long read sequencing for bacterial genome assembly and pangenome analysis and provide a foundation for exploring early bacterial speciation processes of these facultative light organ symbionts.}, } @article {pmid38112464, year = {2023}, author = {Maggioni, D and Schuchert, P and Ostrovsky, AN and Schiavo, A and Hoeksema, BW and Pica, D and Piraino, S and Arrigoni, R and Seveso, D and Montalbetti, E and Galli, P and Montano, S}, title = {Systematics and character evolution of capitate hydrozoans.}, journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/cla.12567}, pmid = {38112464}, issn = {1096-0031}, support = {227799//EU FP7 Research Infrastructure Initiative 'ASSEMBLE'/ ; //Laurine Proud Fellowship and the Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station/ ; //Naturalis Biodiversity Center - Martin Fellowships/ ; 14384//PADI Foundation/ ; 28634//PADI Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Capitate hydrozoans are a morphologically and ecologically diverse hydrozoan suborder, currently including about 200 species. Being grouped in two clades, Corynida and Zancleida, these hydrozoans still show a number of taxonomic uncertainties at the species, genus and family levels. Many Capitata species established symbiotic relationships with other benthic organisms, including bryozoans, other cnidarians, molluscs and poriferans, as well as with planktonic dinoflagellates for mixotrophic relationships and with bacteria for thiotrophic ectosymbioses. Our study aimed at providing an updated and comprehensive phylogeny reconstruction of the suborder, at modelling the evolution of selected morphological and ecological characters, and at testing evolutionary relationships between the symbiotic lifestyle and the other characters, by integrating taxonomic, ecological and evolutionary data. The phylogenetic hypotheses here presented shed light on the evolutionary relationships within Capitata, with most families and genera being recovered as monophyletic. The genus Zanclea and family Zancleidae, however, were divided into four divergent clades, requiring the establishment of the new genus Apatizanclea and the new combinations for species in Zanclea and Halocoryne genera. The ancestral state reconstructions revealed that symbiosis arose multiple times in the evolutionary history of the Capitata, and that homoplasy is a common phenomenon in the group. Correlations were found between the evolution of symbiosis and morphological characters, such as the perisarc. Overall, our results highlighted that the use of genetic data and a complete knowledge of the life cycles are strongly needed to disentangle taxonomic and systematic issues in capitate hydrozoans. Finally, the colonization of tropical habitat appears to have influenced the evolution of a symbiotic lifestyle, playing important roles in the evolution of the group.}, } @article {pmid38111643, year = {2023}, author = {Ezediokpu, MN and Halitschke, R and Krause, K and Boland, W and Kothe, E}, title = {Pre-symbiotic response of the compatible host spruce and low-compatibility host pine to the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma vaccinum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1280485}, pmid = {38111643}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mutualistic ectomycorrhizal symbiosis requires the exchange of signals even before direct contact of the partners. Volatiles, and specifically volatile terpenoids, can be detected at a distance and may trigger downstream signaling and reprogramming of metabolic responses. The late-stage ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma vaccinum shows high host specificity with its main host spruce, Picea abies, while rarely associations can be found with pine, Pinus sylvestris. Hence, a comparison of the host and the low-compatibility host's responses can untangle differences in early signaling during mycorrhiza formation. We investigated sesquiterpenes and identified different patterns of phytohormone responses with spruce and pine. To test the specific role of volatiles, trees were exposed to the complete volatilome of the fungus versus volatiles present when terpene synthases were inhibited by rosuvastatin. The pleiotropic response in spruce included three non-identified products, a pyridine derivative as well as two diterpenes. In pine, other terpenoids responded to the fungal signal. Using exposure to the fungal volatilome with or without terpene synthesis inhibited, we could find a molecular explanation for the longer time needed to establish the low-compatibility interaction.}, } @article {pmid38109977, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, J and Shi, Z and Xu, L and Zheng, X and Zong, Y and Luo, G and Zhang, C and Liu, M and Xie, L}, title = {Recovery capability of anaerobic digestion from ammonia Stress: Metabolic Activity, energy Generation, and Genome-Centric metagenomics.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130203}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130203}, pmid = {38109977}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Excessive ammonia stresses anaerobic digestion (AD) significantly. Although there has been progress in understanding AD under ammonia exposure, investigations on AD liberated from ammonia exposure are limited. Here, the recovery capability of AD from ammonia stress was evaluated, by examining specific methanogenic activity, energy-conserving capability, microbial community succession, and metabolic pathway reconstruction. The findings demonstrated that ammonia stress relief resulted in < 50% methane recovery, with propionate conversion identified as the critical impediment to AD reactivation. Energy generation could not recovered either. Efforts to mitigate ammonia stress failed to restore acetoclastic methanogens, e.g., Methanothrix soehngenii, and proved futile in awakening propionate oxidizers, e.g., Desulfobulbus Interestingly, a symbiotic metabolism emerged, prevailing in stress-relieved AD due to its energy-conserving advantage. This study underscores the importance of targeted interventions, including stimulating acetoclastic methanogenesis, propionate oxidation, and energy generation, as priorities for AD recovery following ammonia stress, rather than focusing solely on ammonia level management.}, } @article {pmid38109545, year = {2023}, author = {Sannino, DR and Arroyo, FA and Pepe-Ranney, C and Chen, W and Volland, JM and Elisabeth, NH and Angert, ER}, title = {The exceptional form and function of the giant bacterium Ca. Epulopiscium viviparus revolves around its sodium motive force.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {52}, pages = {e2306160120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2306160120}, pmid = {38109545}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {1244378//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1354911//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Sodium/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Clostridiales/metabolism ; *Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Epulopiscium spp. are the largest known heterotrophic bacteria; a large cigar-shaped individual is a million times the volume of Escherichia coli. To better understand the metabolic potential and relationship of Epulopiscium sp. type B with its host Naso tonganus, we generated a high-quality draft genome from a population of cells taken from a single fish. We propose the name Candidatus Epulopiscium viviparus to describe populations of this best-characterized Epulopiscium species. Metabolic reconstruction reveals more than 5% of the genome codes for carbohydrate active enzymes, which likely degrade recalcitrant host-diet algal polysaccharides into substrates that may be fermented to acetate, the most abundant short-chain fatty acid in the intestinal tract. Moreover, transcriptome analyses and the concentration of sodium ions in the host intestinal tract suggest that the use of a sodium motive force (SMF) to drive ATP synthesis and flagellar rotation is integral to symbiont metabolism and cellular biology. In natural populations, genes encoding both F-type and V-type ATPases and SMF generation via oxaloacetate decarboxylation are among the most highly expressed, suggesting that ATPases synthesize ATP and balance ion concentrations across the cell membrane. High expression of these and other integral membrane proteins may allow for the growth of its extensive intracellular membrane system. Further, complementary metabolism between microbe and host is implied with the potential provision of nitrogen and B vitamins to reinforce this nutritional symbiosis. The few features shared by all bacterial behemoths include extreme polyploidy, polyphosphate synthesis, and thus far, they have all resisted cultivation in the lab.}, } @article {pmid38108379, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Q and Guo, J and Zhao, M}, title = {Quantification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Colonization Rate in the Study of Invasive Alien Plants.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {202}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/65971}, pmid = {38108379}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Hyphae ; Biological Transport ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely distributed soil fungi in ecosystems and can form symbiotic associations (mycorrhizae) with the roots of most terrestrial plants. Plants provide carbon sources to AMF through mycorrhizal associations, while AMF hyphae can expand the range of nutrient absorption by roots and promote plant nutrient uptake. There are many different species of AMF, and the symbiotic relationships between different species of AMF and different plants vary. Invasive plants can enrich AMF species with better symbiotic capabilities through root exudates, promoting their growth and thereby increasing their colonization in invasive plant roots. At the same time, invasive plants can also disrupt the symbiotic relationship between AMF and native plants, affecting the local plant community, which is one of the mechanisms for successful plant invasion. The colonization rate of AMF in the roots of invasive and native plants indirectly reflects the role of AMF in the process of invasive plant invasion. In this method, collected plant roots can be processed directly or saved in a fixative for later batch processing. Through decolorization, acidification, staining, and destaining treatment of roots, the hyphae, spores, and arbuscular structures of AMF in the root system can be clearly observed. This method can be completed in a basic laboratory to observe and calculate the colonization rate of AMF in the root systems of invasive plants.}, } @article {pmid38108291, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Wu, B and Cui, X and Ren, T and Ran, T and Rittmann, BE}, title = {Mass Flow and Metabolic Pathway of Nonaeration Greywater Treatment in an Oxygenic Microalgal-Bacterial Biofilm.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c06049}, pmid = {38108291}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {A symbiotic microalgal-bacterial biofilm can enable efficient carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) removal during aeration-free wastewater treatment. However, the contributions of microalgae and bacteria to C and N removal remain unexplored. Here, we developed a baffled oxygenic microalgal-bacterial biofilm reactor (MBBfR) for the nonaerated treatment of greywater. A hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 h gave the highest biomass concentration and biofilm thickness as well as the maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (94.8%), linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS, 99.7%), and total nitrogen (97.4%). An HRT of 4 h caused a decline in all of the performance metrics due to LAS biotoxicity. Most of C (92.6%) and N (95.7%) removals were ultimately associated with newly synthesized biomass, with only minor fractions transformed into CO2 (2.2%) and N2 (1.7%) on the function of multifarious-related enzymes in the symbiotic biofilm. Specifically, microalgae photosynthesis contributed to the removal of C and N at 75.3 and 79.0%, respectively, which accounted for 17.3% (C) and 16.7% (N) by bacteria assimilation. Oxygen produced by microalgae favored the efficient organics mineralization and CO2 supply by bacteria. The symbiotic biofilm system achieved stable and efficient removal of C and N during greywater treatment, thus providing a novel technology to achieve low-energy-input wastewater treatment, reuse, and resource recovery.}, } @article {pmid38108028, year = {2023}, author = {Erdman, SE}, title = {Brain trust.}, journal = {Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {100212}, pmid = {38108028}, issn = {2666-4976}, abstract = {This narrative describes a personal journey that led to the discovery of a profound connection between microbial symbionts and oxytocin. Pivotal oxytocin discoveries began to emerge in 2011 while this researcher's multidisciplinary team explored gut microbial priming of the immune system and perinatal health. Inspired by oxytocin's role in early life events of milk release, neural connections, and social bonding, the team hypothesized a symbiotic relationship between microbes and oxytocin. Scientific experiments demonstrated that specific milk-borne microbes boosted oxytocin levels through a vagus nerve-mediated gut-brain pathway, affecting immune functions and wound healing capacity in the host animal. The exploration then expanded to microbial impacts on reproductive fitness, body weight, and even mental health. Overarching hypotheses envisioned a nurturing symbiosis promoting survival and societal advancement. Ultimately, this oxytocin-mediated partnership between microbes and mammals is portrayed as a harmonious legacy of neurological stability, empathy, and universal wisdom, transcending generations. The author's personal journey underscores the beauty and inspiration found in her scientific exploration.}, } @article {pmid38108027, year = {2023}, author = {Varian, BJ and Weber, KT and Erdman, SE}, title = {Oxytocin and the microbiome.}, journal = {Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {100205}, pmid = {38108027}, issn = {2666-4976}, abstract = {The mammalian host microbiome affects many targets throughout the body, at least in part through an integrated gut-brain-immune axis and neuropeptide hormone oxytocin. It was discovered in animal models that microbial symbionts, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, leverage perinatal niches to promote multigenerational good health and reproductive fitness. While roles for oxytocin were once limited to women, such as giving birth and nurturing offspring, oxytocin is now also proposed to have important roles linking microbial symbionts with overall host fitness and survival throughout the evolutionary journey.}, } @article {pmid38106215, year = {2023}, author = {Maeda, GP and Kelly, MK and Sundar, A and Moran, NA}, title = {Intracellular defensive symbiont is culturable and capable of transovarial, vertical transmission.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.12.05.570145}, pmid = {38106215}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Insects frequently form heritable associations with beneficial bacteria that are vertically transmitted from parent to offspring. Long term vertical transmission has repeatedly resulted in genome reduction and gene loss rendering many such bacteria incapable of independent culture. Among aphids, heritable endosymbionts often provide a wide range of context-specific benefits to their hosts. Although these associations have large impacts on host phenotypes, experimental approaches are often limited by an inability to independently cultivate these microbes. Here, we report the axenic culture of Candidatus Fukatsuia symbiotica strain WIR, a heritable bacterial endosymbiont of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum . Whole genome sequencing revealed similar genomic features and high sequence similarity to previously described strains, suggesting the cultivation techniques used here may be applicable to Ca . F. symbiotica strains from distantly related aphids. Microinjection of the isolated strain into uninfected aphids revealed that it can reinfect developing embryos, and is maintained in subsequent generations via transovarial maternal transmission. Artificially infected aphids exhibit similar phenotypic and life history traits compared to native infections, including protective effects against an entomopathogenic Fusarium species. Overall, our results show that Ca . F. symbiotica may be a useful tool for experimentally probing the molecular mechanisms underlying heritable symbioses and antifungal defense in the pea aphid system.

IMPORTANCE: Diverse eukaryotic organisms form stable, symbiotic relationships with bacteria that provide benefits to their hosts. While these associations are often biologically important, they can be difficult to probe experimentally, because intimately host-associated bacteria are difficult to access within host tissues, and most cannot be cultured. This is especially true of the intracellular, maternally inherited bacteria associated with many insects, including aphids. Here, we demonstrate that a pea aphid-associated strain of the heritable endosymbiont, Candidatus Fukatsuia symbiotica, can be grown outside of its host using standard microbiology techniques, and can readily re-establish infection that is maintained across host generations. These artificial infections recapitulate the effects of native infections making this host-symbiont pair a useful experimental system. Using this system, we demonstrate that Ca . F. symbiotica infection reduces host fitness under benign conditions, but protects against a previously unreported fungal pathogen.}, } @article {pmid38106087, year = {2023}, author = {Chaulagain, D and Schnabel, E and Lin, EX and Garcia, RR and Noorai, RE and Müller, LM and Frugoli, JA}, title = {TML1 AND TML2 SYNERGISTICALLY REGULATE NODULATION BUT NOT ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA IN MEDICAGO TRUNCATULA.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.12.07.570674}, pmid = {38106087}, abstract = {Two symbiotic processes, nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza, are primarily controlled by the plant's need for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), respectively. Autoregulation of Nodulation (AON) and Autoregulation of Mycorrhization (AOM) share multiple components - plants that make too many nodules usually have higher arbuscule density. The protein TML (TOO MUCH LOVE) was shown to function in roots to maintain susceptibly to rhizobial infection under low N conditions and control nodule number through AON in Lotus japonicus. M. truncatula has two sequence homologs: MtTML1 and MtTML2. We report the generation of stable single and double mutants harboring multiple allelic variations in MtTML1 and MtTML2 using CRISPR-Cas9 targeted mutagenesis and screening of a transposon mutagenesis library. Plants containing single mutations in either gene produced twice the nodules of wild type plants whereas plants containing mutations in both genes displayed a synergistic effect, forming 20x more nodules and short roots compared to wild type plants. The synergistic effect on nodulation was maintained in the presence of 10mM nitrogen, but not observed in root length phenotypes. Examination of expression and heterozygote effects suggest genetic compensation may play a role in the observed synergy. However, plants with mutations in both TMLs had no detectable change in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations, suggesting that MtTMLs are specific to nodulation and nitrate signaling. The mutants created will be useful tools to dissect the mechanism of synergistic action of MtTML1 and MtTML2 in M. truncatula nodulation as well as the separation of AON from AOM.}, } @article {pmid38105548, year = {2023}, author = {Gille, CE and Finnegan, PM and Hayes, PE and Ranathunge, K and Burgess, TI and de Tombeur, F and Migliorini, D and Dallongeville, P and Glauser, G and Lambers, H}, title = {Facilitative and competitive interactions between mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants in an extremely phosphorus-impoverished environment: role of ectomycorrhizal fungi and native oomycete pathogens in shaping species coexistence.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19489}, pmid = {38105548}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DP200101013//Australian Research Council/ ; FT170100195//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Nonmycorrhizal cluster root-forming species enhance the phosphorus (P) acquisition of mycorrhizal neighbours in P-impoverished megadiverse systems. However, whether mycorrhizal plants facilitate the defence of nonmycorrhizal plants against soil-borne pathogens, in return and via their symbiosis, remains unknown. We characterised growth and defence-related compounds in Banksia menziesii (nonmycorrhizal) and Eucalyptus todtiana (ectomycorrhizal, ECM) seedlings grown either in monoculture or mixture in a multifactorial glasshouse experiment involving ECM fungi and native oomycete pathogens. Roots of B. menziesii had higher levels of phytohormones (salicylic and jasmonic acids, jasmonoyl-isoleucine and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid) than E. todtiana which further activated a salicylic acid-mediated defence response in roots of B. menziesii, but only in the presence of ECM fungi. We also found that B. menziesii induced a shift in the defence strategy of E. todtiana, from defence-related secondary metabolites (phenolic and flavonoid) towards induced phytohormone response pathways. We conclude that ECM fungi play a vital role in the interactions between mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants in a severely P-impoverished environment, by introducing a competitive component within the facilitation interaction between the two plant species with contrasting nutrient-acquisition strategies. This study sheds light on the interplay between beneficial and detrimental soil microbes that shape plant-plant interaction in severely nutrient-impoverished ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38105542, year = {2023}, author = {Gile, GH}, title = {Protist symbionts of termites: diversity, distribution, and coevolution.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/brv.13038}, pmid = {38105542}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {DEB-2045329//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between termites and their hindgut protists is mutually obligate and vertically inherited. It was established by the late Jurassic in the cockroach ancestors of termites as they transitioned to wood feeding. Since then, protist symbionts have been transmitted from host generation to host generation by proctodeal trophallaxis (anal feeding). The protists belong to multiple lineages within the eukaryotic superphylum Metamonada. Most of these lineages have evolved large cells with complex morphology, unlike the non-termite-associated Metamonada. The species richness and taxonomic composition of symbiotic protist communities varies widely across termite lineages, especially within the deep-branching clade Teletisoptera. In general, closely related termites tend to harbour closely related protists, and deep-branching termites tend to harbour deep-branching protists, reflecting their broad-scale co-diversification. A closer view, however, reveals a complex distribution of protist lineages across hosts. Some protist taxa are common, some are rare, some are widespread, and some are restricted to a single host family or genus. Some protist taxa can be found in only a few, distantly related, host species. Thus, the long history of co-diversification in this symbiosis has been complicated by lineage-specific loss of symbionts, transfer of symbionts from one host lineage to another, and by independent diversification of the symbionts relative to their hosts. This review aims to introduce the biology of this important symbiosis and serve as a gateway to the diversity and systematics literature for both termites and protists. A searchable database with all termite-protist occurrence records and taxonomic references is provided as a supplementary file to encourage and facilitate new research in this field.}, } @article {pmid38105450, year = {2023}, author = {Gur, L}, title = {Occurrence of powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe corylacearum on Hazelnuts in Israel.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-11-23-2386-PDN}, pmid = {38105450}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L) is an emerging crop in Israel, primarily cultivated as a host plant to establish truffle plantations through symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal fungi. A significant damage and yield reduction is caused by the prevalent occurrence of powdery mildew in hazelnut trees (Sezer et al., 2017). Until recently, Phyllactinia guttata was considered the primary pathogen in Western Asia, the Caucasus region, and Europe (Abasova et al. 2018; Arzanlou et al. 2018; Mezzalama et al. 2021). However, in the last years, a new destructive species Erysiphe corylacearum has been identified as the pathogen of powdery mildew on hazelnuts in these regions (Meparishvili et al. 2019; Mezzalama et al. 2021; Kalmár et al. 2022; Zajc et al. 2023). In May 2022, powdery mildew symptoms were observed on hazelnut plants in the Ein-Zivan truffle plantation, gardens of Merom-Golan, and the adjacent garden of the packing house Pri-Beresheet in the northern Golan region of Israel. Symptoms were observed on the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces, fruits, and husks. Disease incidence and severity ranged between 30-70% and 5-90%, respectively. Disease severity was significantly greater on the leaves of the offshoots compared to those on the tree canopy. Morphological characterization of leaf samples from ten different trees showed the following characteristics: hyphal appressoria were lobed, solitary, 1-4 μm in diameter; mycelium was amphigenous, hyaline, and septate; conidiophores vertically elevated from the mycelium 50- 80 μm long. Conidia (n= 30) on conidiophores were hyaline, ellipsoid to ovoid, 24 - 34 μm long and 15.5 - 23 μm wide. Chasmothecia in several maturation degrees appeared in October on both sides of the leaves. They were spherical (n= 30) 86 - 125 μm in diameter, with 7 - 14 aseptate straight appendages, 67 - 96 μm long, 4.9 - 7.1 μm wide, dichotomous branched at the end 42 - 56 μm wide. In each chasmothecia, there were 3-5 asci (n=30) with a width of 38 - 43 μm and a length of 48-64 μm of oval-ellipsoid shape. Asci contained 4-8 ascospores (n=30), 18 - 26 μm long and 11 - 15.5 μm wide. A pathogenicity test was conducted to fulfill Koсh's postulates. Both detached leaves and plants of C. avellana were artificially infected by brushing conidia from infected leaves. Inoculated leaves in Petri dishes on 2% water agar (n= 5), and plants (n= 5) were incubated under 25°C and 12-h photoperiod/day. Untreated leaves and plants served as control. Typical symptoms appeared on the upper surface of the leaves within 7-10 days after inoculation. No symptoms were found on untreated control plants or detached leaves. The fungus isolated from the inoculated leaves was morphologically identical to the original isolates from natural diseased plants. DNA was extracted and the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region of five isolates originated from leaves of the tree canopy and offshoots was amplified using primers ITS1 and ITS4, and sequenced. BLAST analysis of 595 bp fragments (all identical and represented by isolate Cora1, GenBank Accession No. OR752437) showed 99% identity to ITS rDNA sequences of E. corylacearum from Georgia (MK157199) and 100% identity to isolates from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Italy (LC270863, KY082910 and MW045425, respectively) and only 83% similarity to P. guttata (accession number AB080558). To the best of my knowledge this is the first report on E. corylacearum causing powdery mildew in Israel. Future control measures to manage the disease on hazelnuts in truffle plantations in Israel should be considered.}, } @article {pmid38104263, year = {2023}, author = {Tian, F and Wang, JC and Bai, XX and Yang, YB and Huang, L and Liao, XF}, title = {Symbiotic seed germination and seedling growth of mycorrhizal fungi in Paphiopedilum hirsutissimun (Lindl.Ex Hook.) Stein from China.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {2293405}, doi = {10.1080/15592324.2023.2293405}, pmid = {38104263}, issn = {1559-2324}, abstract = {Similar to other orchid species, Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum (Lindl.ex Hook.) Stein, relies on nutrients provided by mycorrhizal fungus for seed germination and seedling development in the wild owing to a lack of endosperm in its seeds. Therefore, obtaining suitable and specialized fungi to enhance seed germination, seedling formation, and further development is considered a powerful tool for orchid seedling propagation, reintroduction, and species conservation. In this study, we investigated the diversity, abundance, and frequency of endophytic fungal strains in the root organs of P. hirsutissimum. One family and five genera of the fungi were isolated and identified through rDNA-ITS sequencing. The ability of isolated fungi to germinate in vitro from the seeds of this species was evaluated, and the development of P. hirsutissimum protocorm has been described. The findings showed that the treatments inoculated with endophytic fungal DYXY033 may successfully support the advanced developmental stage of seedlings up to stage 5. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the mycelium of this strain began to invade from either end of the seeds up to the embryo, extending rapidly from the inside to the outside. Its lengthening resulted in the bursting of the seed coat to form protocorms, which developed into seedlings. The results showed that DYXY033 has a high degree of mycobiont specificity under in vitro symbiotic seed germination conditions and is a representative mycorrhizal fungus with ecological value for the species. In summary, this strain may particularly be significant for the protection of P. hirsutissimum species that are endangered in China. In the long run, it may also contribute to global efforts in reintroducing orchid species and in realizing in situ restorations of threatened orchid populations.}, } @article {pmid38102829, year = {2023}, author = {Castel, B and El Mahboubi, K and Jacquet, C and Delaux, PM}, title = {Immunobiodiversity: conserved and specific immunity across land plants and beyond.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2023.12.005}, pmid = {38102829}, issn = {1752-9867}, abstract = {Angiosperms represent most of plants that human cultivate, grow and eat. However, angiosperms are only one of five major land plant lineages. As a whole lineage, plants also include algal groups. All these clades represent a tremendous genetic diversity, that can be investigated to reveal the evolutionary history of any given mechanism. In this review, we describe the current model of the plant immune system, discuss its evolution based on the recent literature and propose future directions for the field. In angiosperms, plant-microbe interactions have been intensively studied, revealing essential cell surface and intracellular immune receptors, as well as metabolic and hormonal defence pathways. Exploring diversity at the genomic and functional levels demonstrated the conservation of theses pathways across land plants, and for some of them beyond plants. From the conserved mechanisms, lineage-specific variations have occurred leading to diversified reservoirs of immune mechanisms. In rare cases, this diversity has been harnessed and successfully transferred to other species, by integration of wild immune receptors or engineering of novel forms of receptors, for improved resistance to pathogens. We propose that exploring further the diversity of immune mechanisms in the whole plant lineage will reveal completely novel sources of resistance to be deployed in crops.}, } @article {pmid38102045, year = {2023}, author = {Prout, JN and Williams, A and Wanke, A and Schornack, S and Ton, J and Field, KJ}, title = {Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophytes': a new molecular model for plant-fungal mutualisms?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2023.11.014}, pmid = {38102045}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {The most studied plant-fungal symbioses to date are the interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of the Glomeromycotina clade. Advancements in phylogenetics and microbial community profiling have distinguished a group of symbiosis-forming fungi that resemble AM fungi as belonging instead to the Mucoromycotina. These enigmatic fungi are now known as Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophytes' and could provide a means to understand the origins of plant-fungal symbioses. Most of our knowledge of the mechanisms of fungal symbiosis comes from investigations using AM fungi. Here, we argue that inclusion of Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes in future studies will expand our understanding of the mechanisms, evolution, and ecology of plant-fungal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid38099615, year = {2023}, author = {Hu, G and Zhou, Y and Mou, D and Qu, J and Luo, L and Duan, L and Xu, Z and Zou, X}, title = {Filtration effect of Cordyceps chanhua mycoderm on bacteria and its transport function on nitrogen.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0117923}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01179-23}, pmid = {38099615}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {During the natural growth of Cordyceps chanhua, it will form a mycoderm structure specialized from hyphae. We found that the bacterial membrane of C. chanhua not only filters environmental bacteria but also absorbs and transports nitrogen elements inside and outside the body of C. chanhua. These findings are of great significance for understanding the stable mechanism of the internal microbial community maintained by C. chanhua and how C. chanhua maintains its own nutritional balance. In addition, this study also enriched our understanding of the differences in bacterial community composition and related bacterial community functions of C. chanhua at different growth stages, which is of great value for understanding the environmental adaptation mechanism, the element distribution network, and the changing process of symbiotic microbial system after Cordyceps fungi infected the host. At the same time, it can also provide a theoretical basis for some important ecological imitation cultivation technology of Cordyceps fungi.}, } @article {pmid38098943, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, JJ and Wei, Z}, title = {Advances in the study of the effects of gut microflora on microglia in Alzheimer's disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular neuroscience}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {1295916}, pmid = {38098943}, issn = {1662-5099}, abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disorder, is caused by various factors including β-amyloid toxicity, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, oxidative stress, and others. The dysfunction of microglia has been associated with the onset and advancement of different neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, such as AD. The gut of mammals harbors a vast and complex population of microorganisms, commonly referred to as the microbiota. There's a growing recognition that these gut microbes are intrinsically intertwined with mammalian physiology. Through the circulation of metabolites, they establish metabolic symbiosis, enhance immune function, and establish communication with different remote cells, including those in the brain. The gut microbiome plays a crucial part in influencing the development and performance of microglia, as indicated by recent preclinical studies. Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora leads to alterations in the microglia transcriptome that regulate the interconversion of microglia subtypes. This conversation explores recent research that clarifies how gut bacteria, their byproducts, and harmful elements affect the activation and characteristics of microglia. This understanding opens doors to innovative microbial-based therapeutic strategies for early identification and treatment goals in AD.}, } @article {pmid38098619, year = {2023}, author = {Yastrebov, K and Costello, C and Taylor, B and Torda, A}, title = {Point-of-care ultrasonography-An essential skill for medical graduates?.}, journal = {Australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {272-274}, pmid = {38098619}, issn = {2205-0140}, abstract = {The recent proliferation of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in the clinical practice of many medical specialties has exposed persistent barriers to education, training and standardisation. Specialist training curriculums are already overwhelming, having grossly insufficient time available for the specialist trainees and for the small number of available trainers alike to incorporate POCUS into postgraduate education. The logical solution to overcome these barriers could be to incorporate basic POCUS education and training into the undergraduate university curriculums, introducing longitudinal integration with other relevant medical sciences. The Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine already has well-established educational programmes in POCUS with standardised assessment of competency, which could potentially offer the basis for symbiosis with the Australian and New Zealand medical schools.}, } @article {pmid38098135, year = {2023}, author = {Nouioui, I and Neumann-Schaal, M and Pujic, P and Fournier, P and Normand, P and Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Vemulapally, S and Guerra, T and Hahn, D}, title = {Frankia nepalensis sp. nov., a non-infective non-nitrogen-fixing isolate from root nodules of Coriaria nepalensis Wall.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006199}, pmid = {38098135}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Frankia ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; *Magnoliopsida ; }, abstract = {Strains CN4[T], CN6, CN7 and CNm7 were isolated from root nodules of Coriaria nepalensis from Murree in Pakistan. They do not form root nodules on C. nepalensis nor on Alnus glutinosa although they deformed root hairs of Alnus. The colonies are bright red-pigmented, the strains form hyphae and sporangia but no N2-fixing vesicles and do not fix nitrogen in vitro. The peptidoglycan of strain CN4[T] contains meso-diaminopimelic acid; whole cell sugars consist of ribose, mannose, glucose, galactose and rhamnose. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two unknown lipids represent the major polar lipids; MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6) are the predominant menaquinones (>15 %), and iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c are the major fatty acids (>15 %). The results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses indicated that strain CN4[T] is most closely related to Frankia saprophytica CN 3[T]. An MLSA phylogeny using amino acids sequences of AtpD, DnaA, FtsZ, Pgk and RpoB, assigned the strain to cluster 4 non-nodulating species, close to F. saprophytica CN 3[T] , Frankia asymbiotica M16386[T] and Frankia inefficax EuI1c[T] with 0.04 substitutions per site, while that value was 0.075 with other strains. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between CN4[T] and all species of the genus Frankia with validly published names were below the defined threshold for prokaryotic species demarcation, with dDDH and ANI values at or below 27.8 and 83.7 %, respectively. The four strains CN4[T], CN6, CN7 and CNm7 had dDDH (98.6-99.6 %) and ANI values that grouped them as representing a single species. CN4[T] has a 10.76 Mb genome. CN4[T] was different from its close phylogenetic neighbours with validly published names in being red-pigmented, in having several lantibiotic-coding clusters, a carbon monoxide dehydrogenase cluster and a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) cluster. The results of phenotypic, physiological and phylogenomic analyses confirmed the assignment of strain CN4[T] (=DSM 114740[T] = LMG 32595[T]) to a novel species, with CN4[T] as type strain, for which the name Frankia nepalensis sp. nov. is proposed.}, } @article {pmid38096930, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Dai, Y and Dai, W and He, F and Li, Z and Zhong, X and Tao, Q}, title = {Bifunctional solid-state ionic liquid supported amidoxime chitosan adsorbents for Th(IV) and U(VI): Enhanced adsorption capacity from the synergistic effect.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {257}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {128708}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128708}, pmid = {38096930}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Uranium and thorium of symbiotic relationship commonly appear in one kind of raw or spent ore. The simultaneous enrichment toward both metals in the first step is essential during many hydrometallurgy processing. Therefore bifunctional solid-state ionic liquid supported amidoxime chitosan (ACS) adsorbents were developed to simultaneously adsorb the two metal from the aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of the bifunctional adsorbents toward uranium and thorium were significantly superior to the ionic liquid-free amidoxime chitosan, obviously proving the synergistic effect. For both uranium and thorium, the adsorption capacity in the consequence of ACS-[N4444][DEHP], ACS-[N4444][EHEHP], ACS-[N1888][DEHP] and ACS-[N1888][EHEHP] prove the steric effect and PO bonding played important roles in the adsorption. Study on isotherms and kinetics demonstrated the adsorption of ionic liquid-ACS adopted monolayer and chemical way. The ΔG[o] of very small negative values highlighted ionic liquid-ACS were prone to adsorb uranium and thorium. The study showed feasibility of bifunctional solid-state ionic liquid supported amidoxime chitosan adsorbents for Th(IV) and U(VI).}, } @article {pmid38076953, year = {2023}, author = {Fricke, LC and Lindsey, AR}, title = {Identification of parthenogenesis-inducing effector proteins in Wolbachia.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38076953}, support = {R35 GM150991/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria in the genus Wolbachia have evolved numerous strategies to manipulate arthropod sex, including the conversion of would-be male offspring to asexually reproducing females. This so-called "parthenogenesis-induction" phenotype can be found in a number of Wolbachia strains that infect arthropods with haplodiploid sex determination systems, including parasitoid wasps. Despite the discovery of microbe-mediated parthenogenesis more than 30 years ago, the underlying genetic mechanisms have remained elusive. We used a suite of genomic, computational, and molecular tools to identify and characterize two proteins that are uniquely found in parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia and have strong signatures of host-associated bacterial effector proteins. These putative parthenogenesis-inducing proteins have structural homology to eukaryotic protein domains including nucleoporins, the key insect sex-determining factor Transformer, and a eukaryotic-like serine-threonine kinase with leucine rich repeats. Furthermore, these proteins significantly impact eukaryotic cell biology in the model, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We suggest these proteins are parthenogenesis-inducing factors and our results indicate this would be made possible by a novel mechanism of bacterial-host interaction.}, } @article {pmid38096484, year = {2023}, author = {Wolf, ESA and Vela, S and Wilker, J and Davis, A and Robert, M and Infante, V and Venado, RE and Voiniciuc, C and Ané, JM and Vermerris, W}, title = {Identification of genetic and environmental factors influencing aerial root traits that support biological nitrogen fixation in sorghum.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkad285}, pmid = {38096484}, issn = {2160-1836}, abstract = {Plant breeding and genetics play a major role in the adaptation of plants to meet human needs. The current requirement to make agriculture more sustainable can be partly met by a greater reliance on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by symbiotic diazotrophic microorganisms that provide crop plants with ammonium. Select accessions of the cereal crop sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) form mucilage-producing aerial roots that harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Breeding programs aimed at developing sorghum varieties that support diazotrophs will benefit from a detailed understanding of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to aerial root formation. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the sorghum minicore, a collection of 242 landraces, and 30 accessions from the sorghum association panel (SAP) was conducted in Florida and Wisconsin and under two fertilizer treatments to identify loci associated with the number of nodes with aerial roots and aerial root diameter. Sequence variation in genes encoding transcription factors that control phytohormone signaling and root system architecture showed significant associations with these traits. In addition, the location had a significant effect on the phenotypes. Concurrently, we developed F2 populations from crosses between bioenergy sorghums and a landrace that produced extensive aerial roots to evaluate the mode of inheritance of the loci identified by the GWAS. Furthermore, the mucilage collected from aerial roots contained polysaccharides rich in galactose, arabinose, and fucose, whose composition displayed minimal variation among 10 genotypes and two fertilizer treatments. These combined results support the development of sorghums with the ability to acquire nitrogen via BNF.}, } @article {pmid38096323, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, X and Guo, S and Yuan, H}, title = {The impact of total factor mobility on rural-urban symbiosis: Evidence from 27 Chinese provinces.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {e0294788}, pmid = {38096323}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {The rational flow and optimal allocation of urban and rural factors is the key to solving the problem of unbalanced and insufficient urban and rural development. This study draws on the theory of ecological symbiosis to examine the mechanism of factor flow and urban-rural symbiosis. It analyzes panel data from 27 Chinese provinces and autonomous regions between 2010 and 2020 to empirically demonstrate the influence of labor, capital, technology, and land mobility on urban-rural symbiosis. The study found that: (1) The relationship between the total factor flow and urban-rural symbiosis is U-shaped nonlinear, and the time when cities feed the development of rural areas has come; (2) The impact of labor factor flow on urban-rural symbiosis exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship, the impact of capital factor flow displays a positive U-shaped relationship, the impact of land factor flow shows an inverted U-shaped relationship, and the impact of technical factor flow on urban-rural symbiotic development is not significant. (3) The factor flow exerts a region-oriented impact on the level of urban-rural symbiosis. In developed areas, total factor flow does not affect urban-rural symbiosis, but the level of labor flow and the urban-rural symbiosis demonstrates an inverted U-shaped relationship, the flow of technological factors has a U-shaped impact on the urban-rural symbiosis level, the flow of land factors and the urban-rural symbiosis show an inverted U-shaped relationship, and the flow of capital factors has no impact on the urban-rural symbiosis relationship. In underdeveloped areas, the impact of the total factor flow on urban-rural symbiosis shows a significantly positive U-shaped characteristic, the labor mobility level and urban-rural symbiosis show an inverted U-shaped relationship, the flow of capital factors has a U-shaped impact on the urban-rural symbiosis level, and the flow of lands and technology does not have a remarkable impact on urban-rural symbiosis in underdeveloped areas.}, } @article {pmid38095549, year = {2023}, author = {Rivera-Millot, A and Harrison, LB and Veyrier, FJ}, title = {Copper management strategies in obligate bacterial symbionts: balancing cost and benefit.}, journal = {Emerging topics in life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1042/ETLS20230113}, pmid = {38095549}, issn = {2397-8554}, abstract = {Bacteria employ diverse mechanisms to manage toxic copper in their environments, and these evolutionary strategies can be divided into two main categories: accumulation and rationalization of metabolic pathways. The strategies employed depend on the bacteria's lifestyle and environmental context, optimizing the metabolic cost-benefit ratio. Environmental and opportunistically pathogenic bacteria often possess an extensive range of copper regulation systems in order to respond to variations in copper concentrations and environmental conditions, investing in diversity and/or redundancy as a safeguard against uncertainty. In contrast, obligate symbiotic bacteria, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Bordetella pertussis, tend to have specialized and more parsimonious copper regulation systems designed to function in the relatively stable host environment. These evolutionary strategies maintain copper homeostasis even in challenging conditions like encounters within phagocytic cells. These examples highlight the adaptability of bacterial copper management systems, tailored to their specific lifestyles and environmental requirements, in the context of an evolutionary the trade-off between benefits and energy costs.}, } @article {pmid38095429, year = {2023}, author = {Bogri, A and Jensen, EEB and Borchert, AV and Brinch, C and Otani, S and Aarestrup, FM}, title = {Transmission of antimicrobial resistance in the gut microbiome of gregarious cockroaches: the importance of interaction between antibiotic exposed and non-exposed populations.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0101823}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.01018-23}, pmid = {38095429}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance is a rising threat to human and animal health. The spread of resistance through the transmission of the symbiotic gut microbiome is of concern and has been explored in theoretical modeling studies. In this study, we employ gregarious insect populations to examine the emergence and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in vivo and validate modeling hypotheses. We find that antimicrobial treatment increases the levels of resistance in treated populations. Most importantly, we show that resistance increased in untreated populations after interacting with the treated ones. The level of resistance transmission was affected by the magnitude and frequency of population mixing. Our results highlight the importance of microbial transmission in the spread of antimicrobial resistance.}, } @article {pmid38095050, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, X and Jia, S and He, Y and Wen, J and Li, D and Yang, W and Yue, Y and Li, H and Cheng, K and Zhang, X}, title = {Wall-associated kinase GhWAK13 mediates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19468}, pmid = {38095050}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32070262//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32301768//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 234400510004//Project of Zhongyuan Scholars Workstation/ ; 232300421255//Youth Science Foundation of Henan Province of China/ ; }, abstract = {The cell wall is the major interface for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. However, the roles of cell wall proteins and cell wall synthesis in AM symbiosis remain unclear. We reported that a novel wall-associated kinase 13 (GhWAK13) positively regulates AM symbiosis and negatively regulates Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton. GhWAK13 transcription was induced by AM symbiosis and Verticillium dahliae (VD) infection. GhWAK13 is located in the plasma membrane and expressed in the arbuscule-containing cortical cells of mycorrhizal cotton roots. GhWAK13 silencing inhibited AM colonization and repressed gene expression of the mycorrhizal pathway. Moreover, GhWAK13 silencing improved Verticillium wilt resistance and triggered the expression of immunity genes. Therefore, GhWAK13 is considered an immune suppressor required for AM symbiosis and disease resistance. GhWAK7A, a positive regulator of Verticillium wilt resistance, was upregulated in GhWAK13-silenced cotton plants. Silencing GhWAK7A improved AM symbiosis. Oligogalacturonides application also suppressed AM symbiosis. Finally, GhWAK13 negatively affected the cellulose content by regulating the transcription of cellulose synthase genes. The results of this study suggest that immunity suppresses AM symbiosis in cotton. GhWAK13 affects AM symbiosis by suppressing immune responses.}, } @article {pmid38093453, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Xu, Z and Chen, L and Xun, W and Shu, X and Chen, Y and Sun, X and Wang, Z and Ren, Y and Shen, Q and Zhang, R}, title = {Root colonization by beneficial rhizobacteria.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuad066}, pmid = {38093453}, issn = {1574-6976}, abstract = {Rhizosphere microbes play critical roles for plant's growth and health. Among them, the beneficial rhizobacteria have the potential to be developed as the biofertilizer or bioinoculants for sustaining the agricultural development. The efficient rhizosphere colonization of these rhizobacteria is a prerequisite for exerting their plant beneficial functions, but the colonizing process and underlying mechanisms have not been thoroughly reviewed, especially for the non-symbiotic beneficial rhizobacteria. This review systematically analyzed the root colonizing process of the non-symbiotic rhizobacteria and compared it with that of the symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. This review also highlighted the approaches to improve the root colonization efficiency and proposed to study the rhizobacterial colonization from a holistic perspective of the rhizosphere microbiome under more natural conditions.}, } @article {pmid38092093, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, H and Wang, Z and Li, Y and Xu, Z}, title = {The distribution and function of teleost IgT.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {109281}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109281}, pmid = {38092093}, issn = {1095-9947}, abstract = {Given the uniquely close relationship between fish and aquatic environments, fish mucosal tissues are constantly exposed to a wide array of pathogenic microorganisms in the surrounding water. To maintain mucosal homeostasis, fish have evolved a distinct mucosal immune system known as mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTs). These MALTs consist of key effector cells and molecules from the adaptive immune system, such as B cells and immunoglobulins (Igs), which play crucial roles in maintaining mucosal homeostasis and defending against external pathogen infections. Until recently, three primary Ig isotypes, IgM, IgD, and IgT, have been identified in varying proportions within the mucosal secretions of teleost fish. Similar to the role of mucosal IgA in mammals and birds, teleost IgT plays a predominant role in mucosal immunity. Following the identification of the IgT gene in 2005, significant advances have been made in researching the origin, evolution, structure, and function of teleost IgT. Multiple IgT variants have been identified in various species of teleost fish, underscoring the remarkable complexity of IgT in fish. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of the recent advances in various aspects of teleost IgT, including its genomic and structural features, the diverse distribution patterns within various fish mucosal tissues (the skin, gills, gut, nasal, buccal, pharyngeal, and swim bladder mucosa), its interaction with mucosal symbiotic microorganisms, and its immune responses towards diverse pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. We also highlight the existing research gaps in the study of teleost IgT, suggesting the need for further investigation into the functional aspects of IgT and IgT[+] B cells. This research is aimed at providing valuable insights into the immune functions of IgT and the mechanisms underlying the immune responses of fish against infections.}, } @article {pmid38092076, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Cui, YW}, title = {Mutualistic symbiosis of fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in halophilic aerobic granular sludge treating nitrogen-deficient hypersaline organic wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130183}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130183}, pmid = {38092076}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Hypersaline organic wastewater is characterized as being nitrogen-deficient, and is easily prone to sludge bulking. In this study, the stability of halophilic aerobic granular sludge (HAGS) for the treatment of hypersaline organic wastewater is explored. Along with the decrease of influent ammonium, the bacterial population substantially reduces, whereas the fungal population continuously increased in HAGS. Saccharomycetales in fungi become the dominant sequence (99.78%) in HAGS bulking. Additionally, Halanaerobium (77.47%) remained prevalent in HAGS despite bacterial washout. Halanaerobium represents an anaerobic, nitrogen-fixing genus of bacteria that provides nitrogen for ammonium-assimilating fungi. Saccharomycetales encapsulating HAGS reduced the transfer efficiency of dissolved oxygen, thereby creating favorable growth conditions for Halanaerobium. This paper for the first time highlights the mutualistic symbiosis of fungi and bacteria in HAGS treating the hypersaline organic wastewater. The study lays the foundation for the control and recovery of HAGS bulking.}, } @article {pmid38091367, year = {2023}, author = {Zeng, B and Zhang, F and Liu, YT and Wu, SF and Bass, C and Gao, CF}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria confer insecticide resistance by metabolizing buprofezin in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål).}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {e1011828}, pmid = {38091367}, issn = {1553-7374}, abstract = {Buprofezin, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, is widely used to control several economically important insect crop pests. However, the overuse of buprofezin has led to the evolution of resistance and exposed off-target organisms present in agri-environments to this compound. As many as six different strains of bacteria isolated from these environments have been shown to degrade buprofezin. However, whether insects can acquire these buprofezin-degrading bacteria from soil and enhance their own resistance to buprofezin remains unknown. Here we show that field strains of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, have acquired a symbiotic bacteria, occurring naturally in soil and water, that provides them with resistance to buprofezin. We isolated a symbiotic bacterium, Serratia marcescens (Bup_Serratia), from buprofezin-resistant N. lugens and showed it has the capacity to degrade buprofezin. Buprofezin-susceptible N. lugens inoculated with Bup_Serratia became resistant to buprofezin, while antibiotic-treated N. lugens became susceptible to this insecticide, confirming the important role of Bup_Serratia in resistance. Sequencing of the Bup_Serratia genome identified a suite of candidate genes involved in the degradation of buprofezin, that were upregulated upon exposure to buprofezin. Our findings demonstrate that S. marcescens, an opportunistic pathogen of humans, can metabolize the insecticide buprofezin and form a mutualistic relationship with N. lugens to enhance host resistance to buprofezin. These results provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance and the interactions between bacteria, insects and insecticides in the environment. From an applied perspective they also have implications for the control of highly damaging crop pests.}, } @article {pmid38091256, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, S and Chen, S and Ying, Y and Li, G and Wang, H and Cheung, KKK and Meng, Q and Huang, H and Ma, L and Zapien, JA}, title = {Fast Reaction Kinetics and Commendable Low-Temperature Adaptability of Zinc Batteries Enabled by Aprotic Water-Acetamide Symbiotic Solvation Sheath.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202316841}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202316841}, pmid = {38091256}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {Although rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries are cost effectiveness, intrinsic safety, and high activity, they are also known for bringing rampant hydrogen evolution reaction and corrosion. While eutectic electrolytes can effectively eliminate these issues, its high viscosity severely reduces the mobility of Zn2+ ions and exhibits poor temperature adaptability. Here, we infuse acetamide molecules with Lewis base and hydrogen bond donors into a solvated shell of Zn[(H2O)6]2+ to create Zn(H2O)3(ace)(BF4)2.The viscosity of 1ace-1H2O is 0.032 Pa s, significantly lower than that of 1ace-0H2O (995.6 Pa s), which improves ionic conductivity (9.56 mS cm-1) and shows lower freezing point of -45 , as opposed to 1ace-0H2O of 4.04 mS cm-1 and 12 , respectively. The acidity of 1ace-1H2O is ~2.8, higher than 0ace-1H2O at ~0.76, making side reactions less likely. Furthermore, benefiting from the ZnCO3/ZnF2-rich organic/inorganic solid electrolyte interface, the Zn||Zn cells cycle more than 1300 hours at 1 mA cm-2, and the Zn||Cu operate over 1800 cycles with an average Coulomb efficiency of ~99.8%. The Zn||PANI cell cycles over 8500 cycles, with a specific capacity of 99.8 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 at room temperature, and operated at -40 with a capacity of 66.8 mAh g-1.}, } @article {pmid38088556, year = {2023}, author = {Toullec, G and Lyndby, NH and Banc-Prandi, G and Pogoreutz, C and Martin Olmos, C and Meibom, A and Rädecker, N}, title = {Symbiotic nutrient exchange enhances the long-term survival of cassiosomes, the autonomous stinging-cell structures of Cassiopea.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0032223}, doi = {10.1128/msphere.00322-23}, pmid = {38088556}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {The upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea releases autonomous tissue structures, which are a major cause of contactless stinging incidents in (sub-) tropical coastal waters. These so-called cassiosomes frequently harbor algal symbionts, yet their role in cassiosome functioning and survival is unknown. Our results show that cassiosomes are metabolically active and supported by algal symbionts. Algal photosynthesis enhances the cassiosomes long-term survival in the light. This functional understanding of cassiosomes thereby contributes to explaining the prevalence of contactless stinging incidents and the ecological success of some Cassiopea species. Finally, we show that cassiosomes are miniaturized symbiotic holobionts that can be used to study host-microbe interactions in a simplified system.}, } @article {pmid38089067, year = {2022}, author = {Daisley, BA and Chernyshova, AM and Thompson, GJ and Allen-Vercoe, E}, title = {Deteriorating microbiomes in agriculture - the unintended effects of pesticides on microbial life.}, journal = {Microbiome research reports}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {38089067}, issn = {2771-5965}, abstract = {There is emerging concern regarding the unintentional and often unrecognized antimicrobial properties of "non-antimicrobial" pesticides. This includes insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides commonly used in agriculture that are known to produce broad ranging, off-target effects on beneficial wildlife, even at seemingly non-toxic low dose exposures. Notably, these obscure adverse interactions may be related to host-associated microbiome damage occurring from antimicrobial effects, rather than the presumed toxic effects of pesticides on host tissue. Here, we critically review the literature on this topic as it pertains to the rhizosphere microbiome of crop plants and gut microbiome of pollinator insects (namely managed populations of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera), since both are frequent recipients of chronic pesticide exposure. Clear linkages between pesticide mode of action and host-specific microbiome functionalities are identified in relation to potential antimicrobial risks. For example, inherent differences in nitrogen metabolism of plant- and insect-associated microbiomes may dictate whether neonicotinoid-based insecticides ultimately exert antimicrobial activities or not. Several other context-dependent scenarios are discussed. In addition to direct effects (e.g., microbicidal action of the parent compound or breakdown metabolites), pesticides may indirectly alter the trajectory of host-microbiome coevolution in honey bees via modulation of social behaviours and the insect gut-brain axis - conceivably with consequences on plant-pollinator symbiosis as well. In summary, current evidence suggests: (1) immediate action is needed by regulatory authorities in amending safety assessments for "non-antimicrobial" pesticides; and (2) that the development of host-free microbiome model systems could be useful for rapidly screening pesticides against functionally distinct microbial catalogues of interest.}, } @article {pmid38087390, year = {2023}, author = {Ferrarini, MG and Vallier, A and Vincent-Monégat, C and Dell'Aglio, E and Gillet, B and Hughes, S and Hurtado, O and Condemine, G and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Rebollo, R and Parisot, N and Heddi, A}, title = {Coordination of host and endosymbiont gene expression governs endosymbiont growth and elimination in the cereal weevil Sitophilus spp.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {274}, pmid = {38087390}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {ANR-17-CE20-0031-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-17-CE20-0015//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-17-CE20-0015//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-17-CE20-0031-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects living in nutritionally poor environments often establish long-term relationships with intracellular bacteria that supplement their diets and improve their adaptive and invasive powers. Even though these symbiotic associations have been extensively studied on physiological, ecological, and evolutionary levels, few studies have focused on the molecular dialogue between host and endosymbionts to identify genes and pathways involved in endosymbiosis control and dynamics throughout host development.

RESULTS: We simultaneously analyzed host and endosymbiont gene expression during the life cycle of the cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae, from larval stages to adults, with a particular emphasis on emerging adults where the endosymbiont Sodalis pierantonius experiences a contrasted growth-climax-elimination dynamics. We unraveled a constant arms race in which different biological functions are intertwined and coregulated across both partners. These include immunity, metabolism, metal control, apoptosis, and bacterial stress response.

CONCLUSIONS: The study of these tightly regulated functions, which are at the center of symbiotic regulations, provides evidence on how hosts and bacteria finely tune their gene expression and respond to different physiological challenges constrained by insect development in a nutritionally limited ecological niche. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid38086471, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Cao, Y and Lou, E and Zhao, X and Chen, X}, title = {The role of gut fungi in Clostridioides difficile infection.}, journal = {Biomedical journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {100686}, doi = {10.1016/j.bj.2023.100686}, pmid = {38086471}, issn = {2320-2890}, abstract = {Clostridioides difficile, the etiological agent of C. difficile infection (CDI), elicits a spectrum of diarrheal symptoms with varying severity and the potential to result in severe complications such as colonic perforation, pseudomembranous colitis, and toxic megacolon. The perturbation of gut microbiome, often triggered by antibiotic usage, represents the primary factor augmenting the risk of CDI. This underscores the significance of interactions between C. difficile and the microbiome in determining pathogen adaptability. In recent years, researchers have increasingly recognized the pivotal role played by intestinal microbiota in host health and its therapeutic potential as a target for medical interventions. While extensive evidence has been established regarding the involvement of gut bacteria in CDI, our understanding of symbiotic interactions between hosts and fungi within intestinal microbiota remains limited. Herein, we aim to comprehensively elucidate both composition and key characteristics of gut fungal communities that significantly contribute to CDI, thereby enhancing our comprehension from pharmacological and biomarker perspectives while exploring their prospective therapeutic applications for CDI.}, } @article {pmid38086458, year = {2023}, author = {Guendouzi, S and Benmati, M and Bounabi, H and Vicente Carbajosa, J}, title = {Application of response surface Methodology coupled with Artificial Neural network and genetic algorithm to model and optimize symbiotic interactions between Chlorella vulgaris and Stutzerimonas stutzeri strain J3BG for chlorophyll accumulation.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130148}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130148}, pmid = {38086458}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Research on microalgae has surged due to its diverse biotechnological applications and capacity for accumulating bioactive compounds. Despite considerable advancements, microalgal cultivation remains costly, prompting efforts to reduce expenses while enhancing productivity. This study proposes a cost-effective approach through the coculture of microalgae and bacteria, exploiting mutualistic interactions. An engineered consortium of Chlorella vulgaris and Stutzerimonas stutzeri strain J3BG demonstrated biofilm-like arrangements, indicative of direct cell-to-cell interactions and metabolite exchange. Strain J3BG's enzymatic characterization revealed amylase, lipase, and protease production, sustaining mutual growth. Employing Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) in a hybrid modeling approach resulted in a 2.1-fold increase in chlorophyll production. Optimized conditions included a NaNO3 concentration of 128.52 mg/l, a 1:2 (Algae:Bacteria) ratio, a 6-day cultivation period, and a pH of 5.4, yielding 10.92 ± 0.88 mg/l chlorophyll concentration.}, } @article {pmid38085925, year = {2023}, author = {Williams, A and Sinanaj, B and Hoysted, GA}, title = {Plant-microbe interactions through a lens: Tales from the mycorrhizosphere.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mcad191}, pmid = {38085925}, issn = {1095-8290}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The soil microbiome plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting food production, preserving water quality, and safeguarding human health. Understanding the intricate dynamics within the soil microbiome necessitates unravelling complex bacterial-fungal interactions (BFIs). BFIs occur in diverse habitats, such as the phyllosphere, rhizosphere, and bulk soil, where they exert substantial influence on plant-microbe associations, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem functions. In various symbiotic associations, fungi form mycorrhizal connections with plant roots, enhancing nutrient uptake through the root and mycorrhizal pathways. Concurrently, specific soil bacteria, including mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB), play a pivotal role in nutrient acquisition and promoting plant growth. Chemical communication and biofilm formation further shape plant-microbial interactions, affecting plant growth, disease resistance, and nutrient acquisition processes.

SCOPE: Promoting synergistic interactions between mycorrhizal fungi and soil microbes holds immense potential for advancing ecological knowledge and conservation. However, despite the significant progress, gaps remain in our understanding of the evolutionary significance, perception, functional traits, and ecological relevance of BFIs. Here we review recent findings obtained with respect to complex microbial communities - particularly in the mycorrhizosphere - and include the latest advances in the field, outlining their profound impacts on our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and plant physiology and function.

CONCLUSIONS: Deepening our understanding of plant BFIs can help assess their capabilities with regard to ecological and agricultural safe-guarding, in particular buffering soil stresses, and ensuring sustainable land management practices. Preserving and enhancing soil biodiversity emerge as critical imperatives in sustaining life on Earth amidst pressures of anthropogenic climate change. A holistic approach integrates scientific knowledge on bacteria and fungi, which includes their potential to foster resilient soil ecosystems for present and future generations.}, } @article {pmid38084838, year = {2024}, author = {Lu, C and Lan, Q and Song, Q and Yu, X}, title = {Identification and validation of ferroptosis-related genes for diabetic retinopathy.}, journal = {Cellular signalling}, volume = {113}, number = {}, pages = {110955}, doi = {10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110955}, pmid = {38084838}, issn = {1873-3913}, abstract = {Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness, and ferroptosis may be an essential component of the pathological process of DR. In this study, we aimed to screen five hub genes (TLR4, CAV1, HMOX1, TP53, and IL-1B) using bioinformatics analysis and experimentally verify their expression and effects on ferroptosis and cell function. The online Gene Expression Omnibus microarray expression profiling datasets GSE60436 and GSE1025485 were selected for investigation. Ferroptosis-related genes that might be differentially expressed in DR were identified. Then, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were conducted to characterize the differentially-expressed ferroptosis-related genes. After tissue-specific analyses and external dataset validation of hub genes, the mRNA and protein levels of hub genes in retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) symbiotic with high glucose were verified using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry (ICC). Finally, hub genes were knocked down using siRNA, and changes in ferroptosis and cell function were observed. Based on the differential expression analysis, 19 ferroptosis-related genes were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that ferroptosis-related genes were significantly enriched in reactive oxygen species metabolic processes, necrotic cell death, hypoxia responses, iron ion responses, positive regulation of cell migration involved in sprouting angiogenesis, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, ferroptosis, fluid shear stress, and atherosclerosis. Subsequently, PPI network analysis and critical module construction were used to identify five hub genes. Based on bioinformatics analysis of mRNA microarrays, qRT-PCR confirmed higher mRNA expression of five genes in the DR model, and immunocytochemistry confirmed their higher protein expression. Finally, siRNA interference was used to verify the effects of five genes on ferroptosis and cell function. Based on bioinformatics analysis, five potential genes related to ferroptosis were identified, and their upregulation may affect the onset or progression of DR. This study sheds new light on the pathogenesis of DR.}, } @article {pmid38081426, year = {2023}, author = {Di, S and Diao, Z and Cang, T and Wang, Z and Xu, L and Qi, P and Zhao, H and Liu, Z and Wang, X}, title = {Enantioselective fate and risk assessment of chiral fungicide pydiflumetofen in rice-fish and wheat farming systems.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {169262}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169262}, pmid = {38081426}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Fungicides have been widely used for reducing the losses caused by plant diseases. Rice and wheat are the most basic food crops, and the potential risks after applying fungicides are worthy of attention. Especially rice-fish farming system is an ecological symbiosis system that is beneficial to both environmental and ecological protection. However, the application of pesticides will stress the ecosystem, and the pesticide residues in rice and fish would be transmitted along the food chain, which is harmful to human health. Here, the enantioselective behaviors of chiral pydiflumetofen in rice-fish and wheat farming systems were clarified. In the rice-fish farming system, pydiflumetofen enantiomers were preferentially attached to the plants, entering the paddy water and settling into the paddy soil, and then accumulating and dissipating in the fish. With the growth of rice, it was transported to rice fruits. The wheat farming system was similar. Enantioselective dissipation occurred in carp (Cyprinus carpio), brown rice and wheat soil, and S-(+)-pydiflumetofen was preferentially dissipated. In other words, R-(-)-pydiflumetofen showed higher concentrations, especially in carp, which meant R-(-)-pydiflumetofen was more easily accumulated in the environment, and posed a greater potential risk to the farming system. The pydiflumetofen residues in brown rice and wheat were lower than MRLs from the EFSA (0.02 mg/kg) and eCFR (0.3 mg/kg), respectively. What deserves attention is that the MRL of pydiflumetofen in fish is not clear. Meanwhile, pydiflumetofen in paddy soil and wheat soil had a persistent residual effect, and the risks could not be ignored. Combined with the previous research, developing S-(+)-pydiflumetofen products will help to reduce the dosage and reduce the risks to environment and people. This study evaluated the environmental fate and risk of chiral pydiflumetofen from the perspective of farming system, and would provide data support for its rational use and risk assessment.}, } @article {pmid38078801, year = {2023}, author = {El Maksoud, AIA and Al-Karmalawy, AA and ElEbeedy, D and Ghanem, A and Rasheed, Y and Ibrahim, IA and Elghaish, RA and Belal, A and Raslan, MA and Taher, RF}, title = {Symbiotic Antidiabetic Effect of Lactobacillus casei and the Bioactive Extract of Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Del. on Mice with Type 2 Diabetes Induced by Alloxan.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202301397}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202301397}, pmid = {38078801}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {The consumption of probiotics protects pancreatic β-cells from oxidative damage, delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and preventing microvascular and macrovascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of CDE fermented by Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 39539) (LC) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The oxidative stress identified by catalase (CAT), serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were measured. The chemical profiles of the plant extract and the fermented extract were studied using HPLC/MS. The potential of the compounds towards the binding pockets of aldose reductase and PPAR was discovered by molecular docking. A significant reduction in fasting blood glucose in alloxan-treated rats. The CAT showed a significant decrease in diabetic rats. Also, serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were significantly decreased in the mixture group. Mild histological changes of pancreatic and kidney tissues suggested that the mixture of probiotics and cleome possesses a marked anti-diabetic effect. Overall, the study suggests that the combination of Cleome droserifolia fermented by Lactobacillus casei exhibits significant antidiabetic activity (p-value=0.05), reduces oxidative stress, improves lipid profiles, and shows potential for the treatment of diabetes.}, } @article {pmid38078093, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, H and Ji, C and Zheng, Z and Yu, M and Liu, Y and Xiao, S and Pan, Z}, title = {Comparative proteomic analysis identifies proteins associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Poncirus trifoliata.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1294086}, pmid = {38078093}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Citrus, one of the most widely cultivated fruit crops in the world, relies on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to absorb nutrients and water from soil. However, the molecular mechanism of AM symbiosis (AMS) in citrus in general have largely been understudied. Here, using a TMT labeling proteomic approach, we identified 365 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in roots of Poncirus trifoliata (a common citrus rootstock) upon Rhizophagus irregularis colonization as compared with uninoculated roots, of which 287 were up-regulated and 78 were down-regulated. GO analysis revealed that the DEPs were mainly involved in biological processes such as negative regulation of endopeptidase inhibitor activity, negative regulation of endopeptidase, one-carbon metabolic process and carbohydrate metabolic process. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the DEPs were mainly involved in regulating metabolic pathways such as fatty acid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and carbon metabolism. Furthermore, 194 of the 365 DEPs were found to be associated with AMS-responsive genes by association analysis with our previous transcriptomes data, which highlighted the important roles of these proteins in AMS. One of the 194 DEPs, neutral ceramidase (PtNCER), was further chosen for function analysis via RNAi interfering its homologous gene MtNCER in a mycorrhizal model plant Medicago truncatula, which confirmed a positive role of NCER in AM establishment. Our results provided basic data and key candidate genes for genetic improvement of efficient nutrient uptake through AM establishment in citrus and other crops.}, } @article {pmid38077513, year = {2023}, author = {Aguirre, EG and Fine, MJ and Kenkel, CD}, title = {Abundance of Oligoflexales bacteria is associated with algal symbiont density, independent of thermal stress in Aiptasia anemones.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e10805}, pmid = {38077513}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Many multicellular organisms, such as humans, plants, and invertebrates, depend on symbioses with microbes for metabolic cooperation and exchange. Reef-building corals, an ecologically important order of invertebrates, are particularly vulnerable to environmental stress in part because of their nutritive symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae, and yet also benefit from these and other microbial associations. While coral microbiomes remain difficult to study because of their complexity, the anemone Aiptasia is emerging as a simplified model. Research has demonstrated co-occurrences between microbiome composition and the abundance and type of algal symbionts in cnidarians. However, whether these patterns are the result of general stress-induced shifts or depletions of algal-associated bacteria remains unclear. Our study aimed to distinguish the effect of changes in symbiont density and thermal stress on the microbiome of symbiotic Aiptasia strain CC7 by comparing them with aposymbiotic anemones, depleted of their native symbiont, Symbiodinium linucheae. Our analysis indicated that overall thermal stress had the greatest impact on disrupting the microbiome. We found that three bacterial classes made up most of the relative abundance (60%-85%) in all samples, but the rare microbiome fluctuated between symbiotic states and following thermal stress. We also observed that S. linucheae density correlated with abundance of Oligoflexales, suggesting these bacteria may be primary symbionts of the dinoflagellate algae. The findings of this study help expand knowledge on prospective multipartite symbioses in the cnidarian holobiont and how they respond to environmental disturbance.}, } @article {pmid38077429, year = {2023}, author = {Corso, AJ and Pina-Amargós, F and Rodriguez-Viera, L}, title = {Cleaning symbiosis in coral reefs of Jardines de la Reina National Park.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16524}, pmid = {38077429}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cleaning symbiotic interactions are an important component of coral reef biodiversity and the study of the characteristics of these interacting species networks allows to assess the health of communities. The coral reefs of Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) are subject to a protection gradient and there is a lack of knowledge about the effect of different levels of protection on the cleaning mutualistic networks in the area. The present study aims to characterize the mutualistic cleaning networks in the reefs of JRNP and to assess the potential effect of the protection gradient on their characteristics.

METHODS: We visited 26 reef sites distributed along the National Park and performed 96 band transects (50 m × 4 m). Low, medium and highly protected regions were compared according to the number of cleaning stations and the abundance and number of species of clients and cleaners associated with them. Additionally, we built interaction networks for the three regions and the entire archipelago based on a total of 150 minutes' video records of active cleaning stations. We assessed ecological networks characteristics (specialization, nestedness) using network topological metrics.

RESULTS: We found a high diversity and complex cleaning interaction network with 6 cleaner species and 39 client species, among them, the threatened grouper Epinephelus striatus was one of the most common clients. No clear effect of the protection level on the density, abundance or diversity of cleaners and clients was detected during this study. However, we found that the network structure varied among regions, with the highly protected region being more specialized and less nested than the other regions. Our research reveals some patterns that suggest the effect of fishing pressure on cleaning symbiosis, as fishing may reduce the abundance and composition of client species, especially those that are targeted by fishers. However, fishing pressure may not be the main factor influencing cleaning symbiosis inside of the National Park, as other factors, such as habitat quality or environmental conditions may have stronger effects on the demand for cleaning services and the interactions between cleaners and clients. Our research provides insights into the factors that influence cleaning symbiosis and its implications for coral reef conservation and management.}, } @article {pmid38077420, year = {2023}, author = {Villafranca, N and Changsut, I and Diaz de Villegas, S and Womack, H and Fuess, LE}, title = {Characterization of trade-offs between immunity and reproduction in the coral species Astrangia poculata.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16586}, pmid = {38077420}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Living organisms face ubiquitous pathogenic threats and have consequently evolved immune systems to protect against potential invaders. However, many components of the immune system are physiologically costly to maintain and engage, often drawing resources away from other organismal processes such as growth and reproduction. Evidence from a diversity of systems has demonstrated that organisms use complex resource allocation mechanisms to manage competing needs and optimize fitness. However, understanding of resource allocation patterns is limited across taxa. Cnidarians, which include ecologically important organisms like hard corals, have been historically understudied in the context of resource allocations. Improving understanding of resource allocation-associated trade-offs in cnidarians is critical for understanding future ecological dynamics in the face of rapid environmental change.

METHODS: Here, we characterize trade-offs between constitutive immunity and reproduction in the facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata. Male colonies underwent ex situ spawning and sperm density was quantified. We then examined the effects of variable symbiont density and energetic budget on physiological traits, including immune activity and reproductive investment. Furthermore, we tested for potential trade-offs between immune activity and reproductive investment.

RESULTS: We found limited associations between energetic budget and immune metrics; melanin production was significantly positively associated with carbohydrate concentration. However, we failed to document any associations between immunity and reproductive output which would be indicative of trade-offs, possibly due to experimental limitations. Our results provide a preliminary framework for future studies investigating immune trade-offs in cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid38075887, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, N and Jin, CZ and Zhuo, Y and Li, T and Jin, FJ and Lee, HG and Jin, L}, title = {Genetic diversity into a novel free-living species of Bradyrhizobium from contaminated freshwater sediment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1295854}, pmid = {38075887}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A free-living Bradyrhizobium strain isolated from a contaminated sediment sample collected at a water depth of 4 m from the Hongze Lake in China was characterized. Phylogenetic investigation of the 16S rRNA gene, concatenated housekeeping gene sequences, and phylogenomic analysis placed this strain in a lineage distinct from all previously described Bradyrhizobium species. The sequence similarities of the concatenated housekeeping genes support its distinctiveness with the type strains of the named species. The complete genome of strain S12-14-2 consists of a single chromosome of size 7.3M. The strain lacks both a symbiosis island and important nodulation genes. Based on the data presented here, the strain represents a new species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium roseus sp. nov. is proposed for the type strain S12-14-2[T]. Several functional differences between the isolate and other published genomes indicate that the genus Bradyrhizobium is extremely heterogeneous and has functions within the community, such as non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Functional denitrification and nitrogen fixation genes were identified on the genomes of strain S12-14-2[T]. Genes encoding proteins for sulfur oxidation, sulfonate transport, phosphonate degradation, and phosphonate production were also identified. Lastly, the B. roseus genome contained genes encoding ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, a trait that presumably enables autotrophic flexibility under varying environmental conditions. This study provides insights into the dynamics of a genome that could enhance our understanding of the metabolism and evolutionary characteristics of the genus Bradyrhizobium and a new genetic framework for future research.}, } @article {pmid38075882, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, Y and Li, W and Guo, X}, title = {Composition, interaction networks, and nitrogen metabolism patterns of bacterioplankton communities in a grassland type Lake: a case of Hulun Lake, China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1305345}, pmid = {38075882}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The composition of bacterial communities in freshwater ecosystems is influenced by numerous factors including environmental conditions and biological interactions. In grassland inland closed lakes, factors affecting lake ecosystems are either exogenous or endogenous, contributing to the formation of distinct habitats in the surface and bottom waters of the bacterial communities. However, the extent to which environmental factors selectively shape the bacterial communities in aquatic systems remains unclear. Therefore, we sampled the surface, middle, and bottom waters at 13 sampling points in each layer. High-throughput sequencing techniques were employed to examine the spatial heterogeneity of the bacterial community structure during summer in Hulun Lake, the largest grassland-type lake in Inner Mongolia, China, to determine the microbial community dynamics and symbiosis patterns under different habitat conditions. Our results revealed a decrease in the diversity and heterogeneity of the bacterioplankton community, influenced by changes in the environment from exogenous inputs to endogenous releases. Furthermore, this alteration in community structure was concomitant with enhanced co-occurrences among microorganisms in the bottom water layers. This finding suggests that endogenous release promotes heightened symbiotic interactions, thereby facilitating the development of more complex modular structures. Symbiotic networks in different layers were differentiated by key species, with the ecological clustering modules of these species demonstrating dissimilar environmental preferences. The microbial communities were highly habitat-specific, mimicking responses to total nitrogen (TN) in the surface layer, pH in the middle layer, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the bottom layer. Bacterioplankton functions were assessed using Tax4Fun, indicating exogenous inputs and endogenous release increased the relative abundance of genes with nitrogen-fixing and nitrification potential nitrogen metabolism functions in surface and bottom waters, respectively. With Planctomycetota and Proteobacteria phyla as potential key groups for regulating nitrogen metabolic processes, Proteobacteria may facilitate the depletion of nitrate in surface and bottom waters, while the close contact of surface waters with the atmosphere accelerated Planctomycetota-dominated nitrogen fixation into the lake. Our findings contribute to the understanding of vertical microbial diversity and its network patterns in grassland type lakes, underscoring the potential role of environmental factors (exogenous inputs and endogenous releases) in bacterioplankton community formation.}, } @article {pmid38075222, year = {2023}, author = {Ciernikova, S and Sevcikova, A and Stevurkova, V and Mego, M}, title = {Diet-driven microbiome changes and physical activity in cancer patients.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1285516}, pmid = {38075222}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Exploring the role of the gut microbiome in oncology is gaining more attention, mainly due to its ability to shape the immune system in cancer patients. A well-balanced microbial composition forms a symbiotic relationship with the host organism. Mounting evidence supports the potential of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity, in restoring intestinal dysbiosis related to cancer development and treatment. In this Minireview, we describe the host-microbiome interplay following different dietary patterns, including a high-fat diet, fiber-rich diet, diet rich in rice and beans, Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, and physical activity in preclinical findings and clinical settings. According to the results, nutrition is a critical factor influencing the composition of gut microbial communities. Therefore, knowledge about the patient's nutritional status in pre-treatment and treatment becomes crucial for further management. A combination of individualized dietary habits and professional training plans might help to maintain gut homeostasis, potentially improving the response to anti-cancer therapy and the quality of life in cancer survivors. However, a deep understanding of underlying mechanisms and large clinical trials are needed to uncover clinically relevant correlations for personalized treatment approaches leading to better outcomes for cancer patients.}, } @article {pmid38074323, year = {2023}, author = {Clark, A and Mach, N}, title = {The gut mucin-microbiota interactions: a missing key to optimizing endurance performance.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1284423}, pmid = {38074323}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Endurance athletes offer unique physiology and metabolism compared to sedentary individuals. Athletes training at high intensities for prolonged periods are at risk for gastrointestinal disturbances. An important factor in endurance performance is the integrity and function of the gut barrier, which primarily depends on heavily O-glycosylated mucins. Emerging evidence shows a complex bidirectional dialogue between glycans on mucins and gut microorganisms. This review emphasizes the importance of the crosstalk between the gut microbiome and host mucus mucins and some of the mechanisms underlying this symbiosis. The contribution of mucin glycans to the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome is discussed, as well as the persuasive impact of the gut microbiome on mucin composition, thickness, and immune and metabolic functions. Lastly, we propose natural and synthetic glycans supplements to improve intestinal mucus production and barrier function, offering new opportunities to enhance endurance athletes' performance and gut health.}, } @article {pmid38074174, year = {2023}, author = {Lockhart, JW}, title = {Because the machine can discriminate: How machine learning serves and transforms biological explanations of human difference.}, journal = {Big data & society}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {38074174}, issn = {2053-9517}, abstract = {Research on scientific/intellectual movements, and social movements generally, tends to focus on resources and conditions outside the substance of the movements, such as funding and publication opportunities or the prestige and networks of movement actors. Drawing on Pinch's theory of technologies as institutions, I argue that research methods can also serve as resources for scientific movements by institutionalizing their ideas in research practice. I demonstrate the argument with the case of neuroscience, where the adoption of machine learning changed how scientists think about measurement and modeling of group difference. This provided an opportunity for members of the sex difference movement by offering a 'truly categorical' quantitative methodology that aligned more closely with their understanding of male and female brains and bodies as categorically distinct. The result was a flurry of publications and symbiotic relationships with other researchers that rescued a scientific movement which had been growing increasingly untenable under the prior methodological regime of univariate, frequentist analyses. I call for increased sociological attention to the inner workings of technologies that we typically black box in light of their potential consequences for the social world. I also suggest that machine learning in particular might have wide-reaching implications for how we conceive of human groups beyond sex, including race, sexuality, criminality, and political position, where scientists are just beginning to adopt its methods.}, } @article {pmid38072900, year = {2023}, author = {Souza, RJF and Matos, ER and da Silva Souza, AL and Fazzi-Gomes, PF and de Melo, NFAC and Owatari, MS and Palheta, GDA and Takata, R and Sterzelecki, FC}, title = {Dietary effect of multi-strain prebiotics and probiotics on growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, intestinal histomorphometry, and resistance to hypoxia in juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum).}, journal = {Veterinary research communications}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38072900}, issn = {1573-7446}, support = {40221741291, public notice n° 21/2018, project nº 88887.200588/2018-00.//Programa Nacional de Cooperação Acadêmica na Amazônia - PROCAD/ ; }, abstract = {This study evaluated the effects of a multi-strain prebiotics and probiotics on the diet of tambaqui Colossoma macropomum. One hundred and fifty juvenile tambaqui (20.2 ± 3.6 g and 10.32 ± 5.78 cm) were randomly distributed in 15 experimental units with a volume of 80 L and fed for 45 days with a diet containing the symbiotic additive at five inclusion levels (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g kg feed[- 1]). At the end of the period, growth performance, survival, hemato-biochemical and intestinal parameters, as well as the fish's resistance to stress were evaluated. The additive did not alter the growth performance, hemato-biochemical and intestinal parameters of the tambaqui. However, the hemato-biochemical parameters of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma protein, hematocrit, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol showed differences between treatments after the stress challenge. AST increased significantly during challenge and post-challenge. Plasma protein increased significantly during and after the challenge. The hematocrit was highest at 48 h after the challenge and lowest in the 2 g, 6 g and 8 g groups. Glucose was significantly reduced 24 h after the challenge, while triglycerides were lower 24 h and 48 h after the challenge. Cholesterol increased significantly in the challenge. There was an interaction between the factors sampling time and symbiotic concentration for hematocrit and glucose. In hypoxic stress situations, the 2 g concentration was more favorable for the fish. We recommend further studies with 2 g kg feed[- 1] in trials lasting more than 45 days.}, } @article {pmid38072824, year = {2023}, author = {Valadez-Cano, C and Olivares-Hernández, R and Espino-Vázquez, AN and Partida-Martínez, LP}, title = {Genome-Scale Model of Rhizopus microsporus: Metabolic integration of a fungal holobiont with its bacterial and viral endosymbionts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16551}, pmid = {38072824}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {FOINS-2015-01-006//Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología/ ; }, abstract = {Rhizopus microsporus often lives in association with bacterial and viral symbionts that alter its biology. This fungal model represents an example of the complex interactions established among diverse organisms in functional holobionts. We constructed a Genome-Scale Model (GSM) of the fungal-bacterial-viral holobiont (iHol). We employed a constraint-based method to calculate the metabolic fluxes to decipher the metabolic interactions of the symbionts with their host. Our computational analyses of iHol simulate the holobiont's growth and the production of the toxin rhizoxin. Analyses of the calculated fluxes between R. microsporus in symbiotic (iHol) versus asymbiotic conditions suggest that changes in the lipid and nucleotide metabolism of the host are necessary for the functionality of the holobiont. Glycerol plays a pivotal role in the fungal-bacterial metabolic interaction, as its production does not compromise fungal growth, and Mycetohabitans bacteria can efficiently consume it. Narnavirus RmNV-20S and RmNV-23S affected the nucleotide metabolism without impacting the fungal-bacterial symbiosis. Our analyses highlighted the metabolic stability of Mycetohabitans throughout its co-evolution with the fungal host. We also predicted changes in reactions of the bacterial metabolism required for the active production of rhizoxin. This iHol is the first GSM of a fungal holobiont.}, } @article {pmid38071273, year = {2023}, author = {Bai, Y and Ji, B}, title = {Advances in responses of microalgal-bacterial symbiosis to emerging pollutants in wastewater.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {40}, pmid = {38071273}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {52270048//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Nowadays, emerging pollutants are widely used and exist in wastewater, such as antibiotics, heavy metals, nanoparticle and microplastic. As a green alternative for wastewater treatment, microalgal-bacterial symbiosis has been aware of owning multiple merits of low energy consumption and little greenhouse gas emission. Thus, the responses of microalgal-bacterial symbiosis to emerging pollutants in wastewater treatment have become a hotspot in recent years. In this review paper, the removal performance of microalgal-bacterial symbiosis on organics, nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater containing emerging pollutants has been summarized. The adaptation mechanisms of microalgal-bacterial symbiosis to emerging pollutants have been analyzed. It is found that antibiotics usually have hormesis effects on microalgal-bacterial symbiosis, and that microalgal-bacterial symbiosis appears to show more capacity to remove tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole, rather than oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin. Generally, microalgal-bacterial symbiosis can adapt to heavy metals at a concentration of less than 1 mg/L, but its capabilities to remove contaminants can be significantly affected at 10 mg/L heavy metals. Further research should focus on the influence of mixed emerging pollutants on microalgal-bacterial symbiosis, and the feasibility of using selected emerging pollutants (e.g., antibiotics) as a carbon source for microalgal-bacterial symbiosis should also be explored. This review is expected to deepen our understandings on emerging pollutants removal from wastewater by microalgal-bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38070626, year = {2023}, author = {Maha Swetha, BR and Saravanan, M and Piruthivraj, P}, title = {Emerging trends in the inhibition of bacterial molecular communication: An overview.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {106495}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106495}, pmid = {38070626}, issn = {1096-1208}, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) is a molecular cell-cell communication utilized by several bacteria and some fungi. It involves cell density dependent gene expression that includes extra polymeric substance production, sporulation, antibiotic production, motility, competence, symbiosis and conjugation. These expressions were carried out by different signaling molecules like Acyl Homo-serine Lactone (AHL) and Auto-inducing peptides (AIPs) which was effluxed by gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Pathogenic bacteria and biofilms often exhibit high resistance to antibiotics, attributed to the presence of antibiotic efflux pumps, reduced membrane permeability, and enzymes that deactivate quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors. To counteract virulence and multi-drug resistance (MDR), novel strategies such as employing quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors and quorum quenchers are employed. It targets signaling molecules with synthesis and prevents the signal from binding to receptors. In this present review, the mechanisms of QS along with inhibitors from different sources are described. These strategies potentially interfere with QS and it can be applied in different fields, mainly in hospitals and marine environments where the pathogenic infections and biofilm formation are highly involved.}, } @article {pmid38069790, year = {2022}, author = {Machado, RAR and Von Reuss, SH}, title = {Chemical Ecology of Nematodes.}, journal = {Chimia}, volume = {76}, number = {11}, pages = {945-953}, doi = {10.2533/chimia.2022.945}, pmid = {38069790}, issn = {0009-4293}, support = {186094/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; 169700/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; 197228/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, abstract = {Nematodes represent the most abundant group of metazoans on earth. They utilize diverse chemicals to interact with con-specific and hetero-specific organisms, and are also impacted by compounds produced by other interacting organisms. In the first part of this review we discuss how nematode-derived glycolipids modulate their behavior and development, as well as the interactions with other organisms. Furthermore, we provide a short overview about other secondary metabolites produced by nematodes that affect different life traits of free-living nematodes. In the second part of this review we discuss how different bacteria-, nematode-, and plant-derived chemicals such as volatile organic compounds, root exudates, and plant defenses regulate the interaction between entomopathogenic nematodes, their symbiotic bacteria, insect prey, predators, and plants.}, } @article {pmid38069598, year = {2023}, author = {Methou, P and Guéganton, M and Copley, JT and Watanabe, HK and Pradillon, F and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Chen, C}, title = {Distinct development trajectories and symbiosis modes in vent shrimps.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpad217}, pmid = {38069598}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Most animal species have a singular developmental pathway and adult ecology, but developmental plasticity is well-known in some such as honeybees where castes display profoundly different morphology and ecology. An intriguing case is the Atlantic deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp pair Rimicaris hybisae and R. chacei that share dominant COI haplotypes and could represent very recently diverging lineages or even morphs of the same species. Rimicaris hybisae is symbiont-reliant with a hypertrophied head chamber (in the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre), while R. chacei is mixotrophic with a narrow head chamber (on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Here, we use X-ray micro-computed tomography and fluorescence in situ hybridization to show that key anatomical shifts in both occur during the juvenile-subadult transition, when R. hybisae has fully established symbiosis but not R. chacei. On the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the diet of R. chacei has been hypothetically linked to competition with the obligatorily symbiotic congener R. exoculata, and we find anatomical evidence that R. exoculata is indeed better adapted for symbiosis. We speculate the possibility that the distinct development trajectories in R. hybisae and R. chacei may be determined by symbiont colonisation at a 'critical period' before subadulthood, though further genetic studies are warranted to test this hypothesis along with the true relationship between R. hybisae and R. chacei.}, } @article {pmid38069427, year = {2023}, author = {Torres-Carrillo, N and Martínez-López, E and Torres-Carrillo, NM and López-Quintero, A and Moreno-Ortiz, JM and González-Mercado, A and Gutiérrez-Hurtado, IA}, title = {Pharmacomicrobiomics and Drug-Infection Interactions: The Impact of Commensal, Symbiotic and Pathogenic Microorganisms on a Host Response to Drug Therapy.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {38069427}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Microorganisms have a close relationship with humans, whether it is commensal, symbiotic, or pathogenic. Recently, it has been documented that microorganisms may influence the response to drug therapy. Pharmacomicrobiomics is an emerging field that focuses on the study of how variations in the microbiome affect the disposition, action, and toxicity of drugs. Two additional sciences have been added to complement pharmacomicrobiomics, namely toxicomicrobiomics, which explores how the microbiome influences drug metabolism and toxicity, and pharmacoecology, which refers to modifications in the microbiome as a result of drug administration. In this context, we introduce the concept of "drug-infection interaction" to describe the influence of pathogenic microorganisms on drug response. This review analyzes the current state of knowledge regarding the relevance of microorganisms in the host's response to drugs. It also highlights promising areas for future research and proposes the term "drug-infection interaction" as an extension of pharmacomicrobiomics.}, } @article {pmid38069383, year = {2023}, author = {Kitaeva, AB and Serova, TA and Kusakin, PG and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Effects of Elevated Temperature on Pisum sativum Nodule Development: II-Phytohormonal Responses.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {38069383}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {21-16-00117//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {High temperature is one of the most important factors limiting legume productivity. We have previously shown the induction of senescence in the apical part of nodules of the pea SGE line, formed by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain 3841, when they were exposed to elevated temperature (28 °C). In this study, we analyzed the potential involvement of abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, and gibberellins in apical senescence in pea nodules under elevated temperature. Immunolocalization revealed an increase in ABA and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC, the precursor of ethylene biosynthesis) levels in cells of the nitrogen fixation zone in heat-stressed nodules in 1 day of exposure compared to heat-unstressed nodules. Both ABA and ethylene appear to be involved in the earliest responses of nodules to heat stress. A decrease in the gibberellic acid (GA3) level in heat-stressed nodules was observed. Exogenous GA3 treatment induced a delay in the degradation of the nitrogen fixation zone in heat-stressed nodules. At the same time, a decrease in the expression level of many genes associated with nodule senescence, heat shock, and defense responses in pea nodules treated with GA3 at an elevated temperature was detected. Therefore, apical senescence in heat-stressed nodules is regulated by phytohormones in a manner similar to natural senescence. Gibberellins can be considered as negative regulators, while ABA and ethylene can be considered positive regulators.}, } @article {pmid38069142, year = {2023}, author = {Lebedeva, MA and Dobychkina, DA and Lutova, LA}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knock-Out of the MtCLE35 Gene Highlights Its Key Role in the Control of Symbiotic Nodule Numbers under High-Nitrate Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {38069142}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {№ 075-15-2022-322//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Legume plants have the ability to establish a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. The legume-rhizobium symbiosis results in the formation of symbiotic root nodules, where rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen. A host plant controls the number of symbiotic nodules to meet its nitrogen demands. CLE (CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION) peptides produced in the root in response to rhizobial inoculation and/or nitrate have been shown to control the number of symbiotic nodules. Previously, the MtCLE35 gene was found to be upregulated by rhizobia and nitrate treatment in Medicago truncatula, which systemically inhibited nodulation when overexpressed. In this study, we obtained several knock-out lines in which the MtCLE35 gene was mutated using the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated system. M. truncatula lines with the MtCLE35 gene knocked out produced increased numbers of nodules in the presence of nitrate in comparison to wild-type plants. Moreover, in the presence of nitrate, the expression levels of two other nodulation-related MtCLE genes, MtCLE12 and MtCLE13, were reduced in rhizobia-inoculated roots, whereas no significant difference in MtCLE35 gene expression was observed between nitrate-treated and rhizobia-inoculated control roots. Together, these findings suggest the key role of MtCLE35 in the number of nodule numbers under high-nitrate conditions, under which the expression levels of other nodulation-related MtCLE genes are reduced.}, } @article {pmid38069097, year = {2023}, author = {Boyno, G and Rezaee Danesh, Y and Demir, S and Teniz, N and Mulet, JM and Porcel, R}, title = {The Complex Interplay between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Strigolactone: Mechanisms, Sinergies, Applications and Future Directions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {38069097}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Plants, the cornerstone of life on Earth, are constantly struggling with a number of challenges arising from both biotic and abiotic stressors. To overcome these adverse factors, plants have evolved complex defense mechanisms involving both a number of cell signaling pathways and a complex network of interactions with microorganisms. Among these interactions, the relationship between symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and strigolactones (SLs) stands as an important interplay that has a significant impact on increased resistance to environmental stresses and improved nutrient uptake and the subsequent enhanced plant growth. AMF establishes mutualistic partnerships with plants by colonizing root systems, and offers a range of benefits, such as increased nutrient absorption, improved water uptake and increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. SLs play a fundamental role in shaping root architecture, promoting the growth of lateral roots and regulating plant defense responses. AMF can promote the production and release of SLs by plants, which in turn promote symbiotic interactions due to their role as signaling molecules with the ability to attract beneficial microbes. The complete knowledge of this synergy has the potential to develop applications to optimize agricultural practices, improve nutrient use efficiency and ultimately increase crop yields. This review explores the roles played by AMF and SLs in plant development and stress tolerance, highlighting their individual contributions and the synergistic nature of their interaction.}, } @article {pmid38069024, year = {2023}, author = {Karasev, ES and Hosid, SL and Aksenova, TS and Onishchuk, OP and Kurchak, ON and Dzyubenko, NI and Andronov, EE and Provorov, NA}, title = {Impacts of Natural Selection on Evolution of Core and Symbiotically Specialized (sym) Genes in the Polytypic Species Neorhizobium galegae.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {38069024}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {19-16-00081-P//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Nodule bacteria (rhizobia) represent a suitable model to address a range of fundamental genetic problems, including the impacts of natural selection on the evolution of symbiotic microorganisms. Rhizobia possess multipartite genomes in which symbiotically specialized (sym) genes differ from core genes in their natural histories. Diversification of sym genes is responsible for rhizobia microevolution, which depends on host-induced natural selection. By contrast, diversification of core genes is responsible for rhizobia speciation, which occurs under the impacts of still unknown selective factors. In this paper, we demonstrate that in goat's rue rhizobia (Neorhizobium galegae) populations collected at North Caucasus, representing two host-specific biovars orientalis and officianalis (N2-fixing symbionts of Galega orientalis and G. officinalis), the evolutionary mechanisms are different for core and sym genes. In both N. galegae biovars, core genes are more polymorphic than sym genes. In bv. orientalis, the evolution of core genes occurs under the impacts of driving selection (dN/dS > 1), while the evolution of sym genes is close to neutral (dN/dS ≈ 1). In bv. officinalis, the evolution of core genes is neutral, while for sym genes, it is dependent on purifying selection (dN/dS < 1). A marked phylogenetic congruence of core and sym genes revealed using ANI analysis may be due to a low intensity of gene transfer within and between N. galegae biovars. Polymorphism in both gene groups and the impacts of driving selection on core gene evolution are more pronounced in bv. orientalis than in bv. officianalis, reflecting the diversities of their respective host plant species. In bv. orientalis, a highly significant (P0 < 0.001) positive correlation is revealed between the p-distance and dN/dS values for core genes, while in bv. officinalis, this correlation is of low significance (0.05 < P0 < 0.10). For sym genes, the correlation between p-distance and dN/dS values is negative in bv. officinalis but is not revealed in bv. orientalis. These data, along with the functional annotation of core genes implemented using Gene Ontology tools, suggest that the evolution of bv. officinalis is based mostly on adaptation for in planta niches while in bv. orientalis, evolution presumably depends on adaptation for soil niches. New insights into the tradeoff between natural selection and genetic diversity are presented, suggesting that gene nucleotide polymorphism may be extended by driving selection only in ecologically versatile organisms capable of supporting a broad spectrum of gene alleles in their gene pools.}, } @article {pmid38069003, year = {2023}, author = {Wójcik, M and Koper, P and Żebracki, K and Marczak, M and Mazur, A}, title = {Genomic and Metabolic Characterization of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Isolated from Nodules of Clovers Grown in Non-Farmed Soil.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {23}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms242316679}, pmid = {38069003}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {MN/2021/4; MN/2022/2//Institute of Biological Sciences of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland/ ; }, abstract = {The rhizosphere microbiota, which includes plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), is essential for nutrient acquisition, protection against pathogens, and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. However, agricultural practices affect the composition and functions of microbiota, reducing their beneficial effects on plant growth and health. Among PGPR, rhizobia form mutually beneficial symbiosis with legumes. In this study, we characterized 16 clover nodule isolates from non-farmed soil to explore their plant growth-promoting (PGP) potential, hypothesizing that these bacteria may possess unique, unaltered PGP traits, compared to those affected by common agricultural practices. Biolog profiling revealed their versatile metabolic capabilities, enabling them to utilize a wide range of carbon and energy sources. All isolates were effective phosphate solubilizers, and individual strains exhibited 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase and metal ion chelation activities. Metabolically active strains showed improved performance in symbiotic interactions with plants. Comparative genomics revealed that the genomes of five nodule isolates contained a significantly enriched fraction of unique genes associated with quorum sensing and aromatic compound degradation. As the potential of PGPR in agriculture grows, we emphasize the importance of the molecular and metabolic characterization of PGP traits as a fundamental step towards their subsequent application in the field as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and supplements.}, } @article {pmid38068759, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, W and Zhao, Z and Zhao, Z and Zhang, D and Zhang, Q and Zhang, J and Fang, Z and Bai, Y and Guo, X}, title = {Structure, Health Benefits, Mechanisms, and Gut Microbiota of Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides: A Review.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {23}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu15234901}, pmid = {38068759}, issn = {2072-6643}, abstract = {Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOPs) are important active polysaccharides found in Dendrobium officinale, which is commonly used as a conventional food or herbal medicine and is well known in China. DOPs can influence the composition of the gut microbiota and the degradation capacity of these symbiotic bacteria, which in turn may determine the efficacy of dietary interventions. However, the necessary analysis of the relationship between DOPs and the gut microbiota is lacking. In this review, we summarize the extraction, structure, health benefits, and related mechanisms of DOPs, construct the DOPs-host axis, and propose that DOPs are potential prebiotics, mainly composed of 1,4-β-D-mannose, 1,4-β-D-glucose, and O-acetate groups, which induce an increase in the abundance of gut microbiota such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Prevotella. In addition, we found that when exposed to DOPs with different structural properties, the gut microbiota may exhibit different diversity and composition and provide health benefits, such as metabolism regulations, inflammation modulation, immunity moderation, and cancer intervention. This may contribute to facilitating the development of functional foods and health products to improve human health.}, } @article {pmid38067739, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, J and Wang, Q and Zou, R and Wang, Y and Liu, F and Zheng, H and Du, S and Yuan, C}, title = {A Heart Image Segmentation Method Based on Position Attention Mechanism and Inverted Pyramid.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {23}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/s23239366}, pmid = {38067739}, issn = {1424-8220}, support = {2023I0025//External Collaboration Project of Science and Technology Department of Fujian Province/ ; 2021J011086, 2023J01964, 2023J01965, 2023J01966//Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province/ ; }, abstract = {In the realm of modern medicine, medical imaging stands as an irreplaceable pillar for accurate diagnostics. The significance of precise segmentation in medical images cannot be overstated, especially considering the variability introduced by different practitioners. With the escalating volume of medical imaging data, the demand for automated and efficient segmentation methods has become imperative. This study introduces an innovative approach to heart image segmentation, embedding a multi-scale feature and attention mechanism within an inverted pyramid framework. Recognizing the intricacies of extracting contextual information from low-resolution medical images, our method adopts an inverted pyramid architecture. Through training with multi-scale images and integrating prediction outcomes, we enhance the network's contextual understanding. Acknowledging the consistent patterns in the relative positions of organs, we introduce an attention module enriched with positional encoding information. This module empowers the network to capture essential positional cues, thereby elevating segmentation accuracy. Our research resides at the intersection of medical imaging and sensor technology, emphasizing the foundational role of sensors in medical image analysis. The integration of sensor-generated data showcases the symbiotic relationship between sensor technology and advanced machine learning techniques. Evaluation on two heart datasets substantiates the superior performance of our approach. Metrics such as the Dice coefficient, Jaccard coefficient, recall, and F-measure demonstrate the method's efficacy compared to state-of-the-art techniques. In conclusion, our proposed heart image segmentation method addresses the challenges posed by diverse medical images, offering a promising solution for efficiently processing 2D/3D sensor data in contemporary medical imaging.}, } @article {pmid38066630, year = {2023}, author = {Baud, GLC and Prasad, A and Ellegaard, KM and Engel, P}, title = {Turnover of strain-level diversity modulates functional traits in the honeybee gut microbiome between nurses and foragers.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {283}, pmid = {38066630}, issn = {1474-760X}, support = {714804//H2020 European Research Council/ ; 180575//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 179487//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; IZSTZ0_189496//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Strain-level diversity is widespread among bacterial species and can expand the functional potential of natural microbial communities. However, to what extent communities undergo consistent shifts in strain composition in response to environmental/host changes is less well understood.

RESULTS: Here, we used shotgun metagenomics to compare the gut microbiota of two behavioral states of the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), namely nurse and forager bees. While their gut microbiota is composed of the same bacterial species, we detect consistent changes in strain-level composition between nurses and foragers. Single nucleotide variant profiles of predominant bacterial species cluster by behavioral state. Moreover, we identify strain-specific gene content related to nutrient utilization, vitamin biosynthesis, and cell-cell interactions specifically associated with the two behavioral states.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that strain-level diversity in host-associated communities can undergo consistent changes in response to host behavioral changes modulating the functional potential of the community.}, } @article {pmid38065515, year = {2023}, author = {Ren, M and Bai, Y and Su, J and Min, Y and Wang, Y and Ali, A}, title = {Immobilized bioreactor for enhanced ammonia, phosphorus, and phenol removal and effects of phenol on microbial communities, potential functions, and nitrogen metabolism.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130161}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130161}, pmid = {38065515}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {In the present study, an immobilized bioreactor was established to remove ammonia (NH4[+]-N), phosphate (PO4[3-]-P), and phenol using composite mycelium spheres (CMP) as the immobilization material in combination with Pseudomonas sp. Y1. Under optimal operating conditions, the bioreactor achieved 98.07, 91.71, and 92.57 % removal of NH4[+]-N, PO4[3-]-P, and phenol, respectively. The results showed that the bioreactor removed PO4[3-]-P by biomineralization and co-precipitation. Phenol removal relied on a Fenton-like reaction achieved by CMP-induced quinone redox cycling. High-throughput sequencing analysis and functional gene prediction indicated that Pseudomonas was the dominant genus and that the bioreactor had much potential for nitrogen removal, respectively. In addition, phenol affected the performance of functional genes and the associated enzymes, which influenced the nitrogen metabolism process in the bioreactor. This work serves as a guideline for the development of more stable and sustainable composite pollution removal technologies and fungal-bacterial symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid38065507, year = {2023}, author = {Geng, J and Yan, H and Liu, C and Han, T and Liu, S and Zhao, N and Wen, H and Yang, H and Zhou, P and Wang, G and Dodson, J}, title = {Reconstruction of ENSO variability using the standardized growth index of a Tridacna shell from Yongshu Reef, South China Sea.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {169118}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169118}, pmid = {38065507}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest signal of global interannual climate anomaly and reconstructing past ENSO variations using high-resolution paleoclimate archives can improve our understanding of ENSO variability, as well as improve our ability to predict future climate changes. Here, a daily resolution standardized growth index (SGI) was established using a giant clam (Tridacna spp.) shell specimen MD2 (life span: 1994-2013 CE), collected from the Yongshu Reef, southern South China Sea (SCS). The cross-spectral and correlation analysis indicated that the SGI variation of MD2 was strongly influenced by ENSO variability on an interannual timescale. Tridacna spp. is in symbiosis with zooxanthellae, and its growth index is usually modulated by the photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae. During the El Niño (La Niña) period, the convective anomalies stimulated in western Pacific would increase (decrease) the effective solar radiation on Yongshu Reef, and in turn influence the photosynthesis rate of zooxanthellae and enzyme activity for the calcification site and thus the SGI of giant clam MD2. The SGI can explain 54.7 % of ENSO variance, demonstrating the potential for Tridacna SGI in ENSO reconstruction. Compared with conventional ENSO reconstruction using high-resolution geochemical proxies, the method of giant clam SGI is rapid and economical.}, } @article {pmid38064548, year = {2023}, author = {Veličković, D and Zemaitis, KJ and Bhattacharjee, A and Anderton, CR}, title = {Mass spectrometry imaging of natural carbonyl products directly from agar-based microbial interactions using 4-APEBA derivatization.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0080323}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00803-23}, pmid = {38064548}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The metabolic profiles within microbial biofilms and interkingdom interactions are extremely complex and serve a variety of functions, which include promoting colonization, growth, and survival within competitive and symbiotic environments. However, measuring and differentiating many of these molecules, especially in an in situ fashion, remains a significant analytical challenge. We demonstrate a chemical derivatization strategy that enabled highly sensitive, multiplexed mass spectrometry imaging of over 300 metabolites from a model microbial co-culture. Notably, this approach afforded us to visualize over two dozen classes of ketone-, aldehyde-, and carboxyl-containing molecules, which were previously undetectable from colonies grown on agar. We also demonstrate that this chemical derivatization strategy can enable the discrimination of isobaric and isomeric metabolites without the need for orthogonal separation (e.g., online chromatography or ion mobility). We anticipate that this approach will further enhance our knowledge of metabolic regulation within microbiomes and microbial systems used in bioengineering applications.}, } @article {pmid38064511, year = {2023}, author = {Ramanan, D and Chowdhary, K and Candéias, SM and Sassone-Corsi, M and Gelineau, A and Mathis, D and Benoist, C}, title = {Homeostatic, repertoire and transcriptional relationships between colon T regulatory cell subsets.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {50}, pages = {e2311566120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2311566120}, pmid = {38064511}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {AI125603//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; AI150686//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; DRG 2300-17//Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (DRCRF)/ ; T32GM007753//HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)/ ; T32GM144273//HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)/ ; }, abstract = {Foxp3[+] regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the colon are key to promoting peaceful coexistence with symbiotic microbes. Differentiated in either thymic or peripheral locations, and modulated by microbes and other cellular influencers, colonic Treg subsets have been identified through key transcription factors (TFs; Helios, Rorγ, Gata3, and cMaf), but their interrelationships are unclear. Applying a multimodal array of immunologic, genomic, and microbiological assays, we find more overlap than expected between populations. The key TFs (Rorγ, Helios, Gata3, and cMaf) play different roles, some essential for subset identity, others driving functional gene signatures. Functional divergence was clearest under challenge. Single-cell genomics revealed a spectrum of phenotypes between the Helios+ and Rorγ+ poles, different Treg-inducing bacteria inducing the same Treg phenotypes to varying degrees, not distinct populations. TCR repertoires in monocolonized mice revealed that Helios+ and Rorγ+ Tregs are related and cannot be uniquely equated to tTreg and pTreg. Comparison of spleen and colon repertoires revealed that 2 to 5% of clonotypes are shared between the locations. We propose that rather than the origin of their differentiation, tissue-specific cues dictate the spectrum of colonic Treg phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid38064371, year = {2023}, author = {Kawamura, K and Shoguchi, E and Nishitsuji, K and Sekida, S and Narisoko, H and Zhao, H and Shu, Y and Fu, P and Yamashita, H and Fujiwara, S and Satoh, N}, title = {In Vitro Phagocytosis of Different Dinoflagellate Species by Coral Cells.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, pages = {444-454}, doi = {10.2108/zs230045}, pmid = {38064371}, issn = {0289-0003}, abstract = {Coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis is a unique biological phenomenon, in which animal cells engulf single-celled photosynthetic algae and maintain them in their cytoplasm mutualistically. Studies are needed to reveal the complex mechanisms involved in symbiotic processes, but it is difficult to answer these questions using intact corals. To tackle these issues, our previous studies established an in vitro system of symbiosis between cells of the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis and the dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum, and showed that corals direct phagocytosis, while algae are likely engulfed by coral cells passively. Several genera of the family Symbiodiniaceae can establish symbioses with corals, but the symbiotic ratio differs depending on the dinoflagellate clades involved. To understand possible causes of these differences, this study examined whether cultured coral cells show phagocytotic activity with various dinoflagellate strains similar to those shown by intact A. tenuis. We found that (a) A. tenuis larvae incorporate Symbiodinium and Breviolum, but not Cladocopium, and very few Effrenium, (b) cultured coral cells engulfed all four species but the ratio of engulfment was significantly higher with Symbiodinium and Breviolum than Cladocopium and Effrenium, (c) cultured coral cells also phagocytosed inorganic latex beads differently than they do dinoflagellates . It is likely that cultured coral cells preferentially phagocytose Symbiodinium and Breviolum, suggesting that specific molecular mechanisms involved in initiation of symbiosis should be investigated in the future.}, } @article {pmid38063979, year = {2023}, author = {de Oliveira, KB and Goes, AC and Silva, AD and Vieira, PC and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Fungal Cultivars of Higher Attine Ants Promote Escovopsis Chemotropism.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {1}, pages = {37}, pmid = {38063979}, issn = {1432-0991}, support = {2019/03746-0//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2018/12481-7//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2012/25299-6//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 305269/2018-6//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; }, abstract = {In varied environments, microorganisms search for partners or nutritional resources using chemical signals. Microbes are drawn (chemotaxis) or grow directionally (chemotropism) towards the chemical source, enabling them to establish and maintain symbiosis. The hypocrealean fungi Escovopsis enhance their growth towards the basidiomycete fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, which is cultivated by leaf-cutting attine ants for food. Although directional growth is well documented in this symbiosis, it is unclear whether non-volatile or volatile organic compounds participate in the interaction between cultivar and Escovopsis, and which specific chemical compounds might attract and induce chemotropism. In this study, we examined the growth responses of Escovopsis isolates to non-volatile and volatile organic compounds produced by fungal cultivars of higher attine ants. We also isolated and identified molecules released by the ant-cultivar and assessed the chemotropism of Escovopsis towards them. Our results indicate that the growth of Escovopsis is stimulated in the presence of both non-volatile and volatile compounds from fungal cultivars. We also identified three isomeric diketopiperazines molecules from crude extracts of the ant cultivar, suggesting that these might play a role in Escovopsis chemotropism. Our findings provide insights into the complex chemical interactions that govern the association between Escovopsis and fungal cultivars.}, } @article {pmid38063396, year = {2023}, author = {Makhulu, EE and Onchuru, TO and Gichuhi, J and Otieno, FG and Wairimu, AW and Muthoni, JN and Koekemoer, L and Herren, JK}, title = {Localization and tissue tropism of the symbiont Microsporidia MB in the germ line and somatic tissues of Anopheles arabiensis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0219223}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.02192-23}, pmid = {38063396}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Microsporidia MB is a symbiont with a strong malaria transmission-blocking phenotype in Anopheles arabiensis. It spreads in mosquito populations through mother-to-offspring and sexual transmission. The ability of Microsporidia MB to block Plasmodium transmission, together with its ability to spread within Anopheles populations and its avirulence to the host, makes it a very attractive candidate for developing a key strategy to stop malaria transmissions. Here, we report tissue tropism and localization patterns of Microsporidia MB, which are relevant to its transmission. We find that Microsporidia MB accumulates in Anopheles arabiensis tissues, linked to its sexual and vertical transmission. Its prevalence and intensity in the tissues over the mosquito life cycle suggest adaptation to maximize transmission and avirulence in Anopheles arabiensis. These findings provide the foundation for understanding the factors that may affect Microsporidia MB transmission efficiency. This will contribute to the development of strategies to maximize Microsporidia MB transmission to establish and sustain a high prevalence of the symbiont in Anopheles mosquito populations for malaria transmission blocking.}, } @article {pmid38062903, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, K and Wang, H and Tappero, R and Bhatnagar, JM and Vilgalys, R and Barry, K and Keymanesh, K and Tejomurthula, S and Grigoriev, IV and Kew, WR and Eder, EK and Nicora, CD and Liao, HL}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi enhance pine growth by stimulating iron-dependent mechanisms with trade-offs in symbiotic performance.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19449}, pmid = {38062903}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DE-SC0012704//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; DE-SC0020403//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; 2029168//Division of Integrative Organismal Systems/ ; 1026825//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 7001162//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Iron (Fe) is crucial for metabolic functions of living organisms. Plants access occluded Fe through interactions with rhizosphere microorganisms and symbionts. Yet, the interplay between Fe addition and plant-mycorrhizal interactions, especially the molecular mechanisms underlying mycorrhiza-assisted Fe processing in plants, remains largely unexplored. We conducted mesocosms in Pinus plants inoculated with different ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) Suillus species under conditions with and without Fe coatings. Meta-transcriptomic, biogeochemical, and X-ray fluorescence imaging analyses were applied to investigate early-stage mycorrhizal roots. While Fe addition promoted Pinus growth, it concurrently reduced mycorrhiza formation rate, symbiosis-related metabolites in plant roots, and aboveground plant carbon and macronutrient content. This suggested potential trade-offs between Fe-enhanced plant growth and symbiotic performance. However, the extent of this trade-off may depend on interactions between host plants and EMF species. Interestingly, dual EMF species were more effective at facilitating plant Fe uptake by inducing diverse Fe-related functions than single-EMF species. This subsequently triggered various Fe-dependent physiological and biochemical processes in Pinus roots, significantly contributing to Pinus growth. However, this resulted in a greater carbon allocation to roots, relatively reducing the aboveground plant carbon content. Our study offers critical insights into how EMF communities rebalance benefits of Fe-induced effects on symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid38062896, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, X and Chen, JX and Lian, WT and Zhou, HW and He, Y and Li, XX and Liao, H}, title = {Molecular module GmPTF1a/b-GmNPLa regulates rhizobia infection and nodule formation in soybean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19462}, pmid = {38062896}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {2021YFF1000500//National Key Research and Development Program/ ; 32072661//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Nodulation begins with the initiation of infection threads (ITs) in root hairs. Though mutual recognition and early symbiotic signaling cascades in legumes are well understood, molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial infection processes and successive nodule organogenesis remain largely unexplored. We functionally investigated a novel pectate lyase enzyme, GmNPLa, and its transcriptional regulator GmPTF1a/b in soybean (Glycine max), where their regulatory roles in IT development and nodule formation were elucidated through investigation of gene expression patterns, bioinformatics analysis, biochemical verification of genetic interactions, and observation of phenotypic impacts in transgenic soybean plants. GmNPLa was specifically induced by rhizobium inoculation in root hairs. Manipulation of GmNPLa produced remarkable effects on IT and nodule formation. GmPTF1a/b displayed similar expression patterns as GmNPLa, and manipulation of GmPTF1a/b also severely influenced nodulation traits. LI soybeans with low nodulation phenotypes were nearly restored to HI nodulation level by complementation of GmNPLa and/or GmPTF1a. Further genetic and biochemical analysis demonstrated that GmPTF1a can bind to the E-box motif to activate transcription of GmNPLa, and thereby facilitate nodulation. Taken together, our findings potentially reveal novel mediation of cell wall gene expression involving the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor GmPTF1a/b acts as a key early regulator of nodulation in soybean.}, } @article {pmid38062814, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, Z and Liu, F and Yuan, Y and Pan, H}, title = {Structural Composition and Diversity of Bacterial Communities in High- and Low-Yielding Moso Bamboo Forests.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {290}, doi = {10.31083/j.fbl2811290}, pmid = {38062814}, issn = {2768-6698}, support = {2021FKJ07//Forestry Science and Technology Project of Fujian Province/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial communities play an important role in helping plants absorb nutrients, promoting plant development, and preventing diseases. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis [Carriere] J. Houzeau) has a long history of cultivation and important economic value.

METHODS: In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was utilized to analyze the differences in the diversity of endophytic and root zone soil bacterial communities between high-yielding (HY) and low-yielding (LY) P. edulis forests in subtropical China.

RESULTS: Notably, the soil conditions and bacterial communities in Yong'an (YA) and Jiangle (JL) differed, but the bacterial community structures in the root zone soil of both regions were similar with the dominant bacterial phyla composed of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota. The Chao1 and Shannon indices of the root zone soil and endophytic bacterial communities in the LY were higher than those in the HY. Moreover, the bacterial community structures of HY and LY were significantly different. Notably, the relative abundances of Actinobacteriota, Myxococcota, and Cyanobacteria were higher in the HY soil samples. The bacterial community differences between the tissues and root zone soil of HY and LY indicated that healthy HY P. edulis plants were enriched with specific bacterial communities, suggesting associations between yield and both endophytic and root zone soil bacterial communities.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide a basis to regulate artificial bacterial communities to benefit the future cultivation of HY P. edulis.}, } @article {pmid38062479, year = {2023}, author = {Dungan, AM and Geissler, L and Williams, AS and Gotze, CR and Flynn, EC and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {DNA from non-viable bacteria biases diversity estimates in the corals Acropora loripes and Pocillopora acuta.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {86}, pmid = {38062479}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {2022ECR096//University of Melbourne/ ; DP210100630//Australian Research Council/ ; DP210100630//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nucleic acid-based analytical methods have greatly expanded our understanding of global prokaryotic diversity, yet standard metabarcoding methods provide no information on the most fundamental physiological state of bacteria, viability. Scleractinian corals harbour a complex microbiome in which bacterial symbionts play critical roles in maintaining health and functioning of the holobiont. However, the coral holobiont contains both dead and living bacteria. The former can be the result of corals feeding on bacteria, rapid swings from hyper- to hypoxic conditions in the coral tissue, the presence of antimicrobial compounds in coral mucus, and an abundance of lytic bacteriophages.

RESULTS: By combining propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment with high-throughput sequencing on six coral species (Acropora loripes, A. millepora, A. kenti, Platygyra daedalea, Pocillopora acuta, and Porites lutea) we were able to obtain information on bacterial communities with little noise from non-viable microbial DNA. Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene showed significantly higher community evenness (85%) and species diversity (31%) in untreated compared with PMA-treated tissue for A. loripes only. While PMA-treated coral did not differ significantly from untreated samples in terms of observed number of ASVs, > 30% of ASVs were identified in untreated samples only, suggesting that they originated from cell-free/non-viable DNA. Further, the bacterial community structure was significantly different between PMA-treated and untreated samples for A. loripes and P. acuta indicating that DNA from non-viable microbes can bias community composition data in coral species with low bacterial diversity.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study is highly relevant to microbiome studies on coral and other host organisms as it delivers a solution to excluding non-viable DNA in a complex community. These results provide novel insights into the dynamic nature of host-associated microbiomes and underline the importance of applying versatile tools in the analysis of metabarcoding or next-generation sequencing data sets.}, } @article {pmid38061081, year = {2023}, author = {Kushwaha, AS and Ahmad, I and Lata, S and Padalia, K and Yadav, AK and Kumar, M}, title = {Mycorrhizal fungus Serendipita indica-associated acid phosphatase rescues the phosphate nutrition with reduced arsenic uptake in the host plant under arsenic stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {269}, number = {}, pages = {115783}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115783}, pmid = {38061081}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions play a vital role in maintaining the phosphate (Pi) nutrient status of host plants and providing resilience during biotic and abiotic stresses. Serendipita indica, a mycorrhiza-like fungus, supports plant growth by transporting Pi to the plant. Despite the competitive behaviour of arsenate (As[V]) with Pi, the association with S. indica promotes plant growth under arsenic (As) stress by reducing As bioavailability through adsorption, accumulation, and precipitation within the fungus. However, the capacity of S. indica to enhance Pi accumulation and utilization under As stress remains unexplored. Axenic studies revealed that As supply significantly reduces intracellular ACPase activity in S. indica, while extracellular ACPase remains unaffected. Further investigations using Native PAGE and gene expression studies confirmed that intracellular ACPase (isoform2) is sensitive to As, whereas extracellular ACPase (isoform1) is As-insensitive. Biochemical analysis showed that ACPase (isoform1) has a Km of 0.5977 µM and Vmax of 0.1945 Unit/min. In hydroponically cultured tomato seedlings, simultaneous inoculation of S. indica with As on the 14thday after seed germination led to hyper-colonization, increased root/shoot length, biomass, and induction of ACPase expression and secretion under As stress. Arsenic-treated S. indica colonized groups (13.33 µM As+Si and 26.67 µM As+Si) exhibited 8.28-19.14 and 1.71-3.45-fold activation of ACPase in both rhizospheric media and root samples, respectively, thereby enhancing Pi availability in the surrounding medium under As stress. Moreover, S. indica (13.33 µM As+Si and 26.67 µM As+Si) significantly improved Pi accumulation in roots by 7.26 and 9.46 times and in shoots by 4.36 and 8.85 times compared to the control. Additionally, S. indica induced the expression of SiPT under As stress, further improving Pi mobilization. Notably, fungal colonization also restricted As mobilization from the hydroponic medium to the shoot, with a higher amount of As (191.01 ppm As in the 26.67 µM As+Si group) accumulating in the plant's roots. The study demonstrates the performance of S. indica under As stress in enhancing Pi mobilization while limiting As uptake in the host plant. These findings provide the first evidence of the As-Pi interaction in the AM-like fungus S. indica, indicating reduced As uptake and regulation of PHO genes (ACPase and SiPT genes) to increase Pi acquisition. These data also lay the foundation for the rational use of S. indica in agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid38060423, year = {2024}, author = {Winslow, ER}, title = {Invited Commentary: Symbiotic Relationship between the Pancreatic Surgeon and the Pancreatic Imager: Necessity of Reciprocal Communication.}, journal = {Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {e230225}, doi = {10.1148/rg.230225}, pmid = {38060423}, issn = {1527-1323}, } @article {pmid38059992, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, M and Zhang, W and He, T and Rong, L and Yang, Q}, title = {Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic environments by a symbiotic system consisting of algae and bacteria: green and sustainable technology.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {206}, number = {1}, pages = {10}, pmid = {38059992}, issn = {1432-072X}, support = {2015ZX07406-005//National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 2016YFC0209205//National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 50578151//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are genotoxic, carcinogenic, and persistent in the environment and are therefore of great concern in the environmental protection field. Due to the inherent recalcitrance, persistence and nonreactivity of PAHs, they are difficult to remediate via traditional water treatment methods. In recent years, microbial remediation has been widely used as an economical and environmentally friendly degradation technology for the treatment of PAH-contaminated water. Various bacterial and microalgal strains are capable of potentially degrading or transforming PAHs through intrinsic metabolic pathways. However, their biodegradation potential is limited by the cytotoxic effects of petroleum hydrocarbons, unfavourable environmental conditions, and biometabolic limitations. To address this limitation, microbial communities, biochemical pathways, enzyme systems, gene organization, and genetic regulation related to PAH degradation have been intensively investigated. The advantages of algal-bacterial cocultivation have been explored, and the limitations of PAHs degradation by monocultures of algae or bacteria have been overcome by algal-bacterial interactions. Therefore, a new model consisting of a "microalgal-bacterial consortium" is becoming a new management strategy for the effective degradation and removal of PAHs. This review first describes PAH pollution control technologies (physical remediation, chemical remediation, bioremediation, etc.) and proposes an algal-bacterial symbiotic system for the degradation of PAHs by analysing the advantages, disadvantages, and PAH degradation performance in this system to fill existing research gaps. Additionally, an algal-bacterial system is systematically developed, and the effects of environmental conditions are explored to optimize the degradation process and improve its technical feasibility. The aim of this paper is to provide readers with an effective green and sustainable remediation technology for removing PAHs from aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid38057446, year = {2023}, author = {Asrat, A and Sitotaw, B and Dawoud, TM and Nafidi, HA and Bourhia, M and Mekuriaw, A and Wondmie, GF}, title = {Effect of glyphosate on the growth and survival of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {21535}, pmid = {38057446}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Grass pea (L. sativus L.) is a widely cultivated crop worldwide, forming a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Glyphosate is commonly used by farmers for weed control during agricultural processes. However, the application of this chemical herbicide negatively impacts soil fertility by affecting the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. This study aimed to assess the effects of glyphosate on rhizobia isolated from healthy and robust Grass pea plants. Specifically, Grass pea plants exhibiting vigorous growth and a healthy appearance were intentionally selected to isolate rhizobia from their root nodules. The isolated rhizobia were then characterized based on their morphological features, biochemical properties, and resistance to abiotic traits. Rhizobial isolates from grass peas exhibited Gram-negative, rod-shaped morphology, milky colony color, and variable colony sizes. Additionally, the majority displayed smooth colony surfaces on yeast extract mannitol agar medium. Based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, the isolates could be grouped under the genus Rhizobium. Optimum growth conditions for these isolates were observed at temperatures between 28 and 38 °C, pH levels ranging from 5 to 8, and salt (NaCl) concentrations of 0.5% and 1%. At a concentration of 20 mL L[-1], glyphosate inhibited 5.52-47% of the Rhizobium population. The inhibition percentage increased to 17.1-53.38% at a concentration of 40 mL L[-1]. However, when exposed to a higher concentration (60 mL/L) of glyphosate, 87% of the isolates were inhibited. The number of colonies after glyphosate exposure was significantly dependent on concentration, and there were notable differences between treatments with varying glyphosate concentrations (p < 0.05). Glyphosate negatively impacted the survival of grass pea rhizobia, leading to a reduction in the Rhizobium population (CFU). However, the effect varied between Rhizobium isolated from grass pea root nodules.}, } @article {pmid38057302, year = {2023}, author = {Sexauer, M and Bhasin, H and Schön, M and Roitsch, E and Wall, C and Herzog, U and Markmann, K}, title = {A micro RNA mediates shoot control of root branching.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {8083}, pmid = {38057302}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {Az:7533-30-20/1//Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg (Ministry of Science, Research and Art Baden-Württemberg)/ ; CRC101, project 07//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {Plants extract mineral nutrients from the soil, or from interactions with mutualistic soil microbes via their root systems. Adapting root architecture to nutrient availability enables efficient resource utilization, particularly in patchy and dynamic environments. Root growth responses to soil nitrogen levels are shoot-mediated, but the identity of shoot-derived mobile signals regulating root growth responses has remained enigmatic. Here we show that a shoot-derived micro RNA, miR2111, systemically steers lateral root initiation and nitrogen responsiveness through its root target TML (TOO MUCH LOVE) in the legume Lotus japonicus, where miR2111 and TML were previously shown to regulate symbiotic infections with nitrogen fixing bacteria. Intriguingly, systemic control of lateral root initiation by miR2111 and TML/HOLT (HOMOLOGUE OF LEGUME TML) was conserved in the nonsymbiotic ruderal Arabidopsis thaliana, which follows a distinct ecological strategy. Thus, the miR2111-TML/HOLT regulon emerges as an essential, conserved factor in adaptive shoot control of root architecture in dicots.}, } @article {pmid38055153, year = {2023}, author = {Fasel, C and Chiapperino, L}, title = {Between the genotype and the phenotype lies the microbiome: symbiosis and the making of 'postgenomic' knowledge.}, journal = {History and philosophy of the life sciences}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {43}, pmid = {38055153}, issn = {1742-6316}, support = {PZ00P1_185822//FNS Ambizione/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Emphatic claims of a "microbiome revolution" aside, the study of the gut microbiota and its role in organismal development and evolution is a central feature of so-called postgenomics; namely, a conceptual and/or practical turn in contemporary life sciences, which departs from genetic determinism and reductionism to explore holism, emergentism and complexity in biological knowledge-production. This paper analyses the making of postgenomic knowledge about developmental symbiosis in Drosophila melanogaster by a specific group of microbiome scientists. Drawing from both practical philosophy of science and Science and Technology Studies, the paper documents epistemological questions of artefactuality and representativeness of model organisms as they emerge in the day-to-day labour producing and being produced by the "microbiome revolution." Specifically, the paper builds on all the written and editorial exchanges involved in the troubled publication of a research paper studying the symbiotic role of the microbiota in the flies' development. These written materials permit us to delimit the network of justifications, evidence, standards of knowledge-production, trust in the tools and research designs that make up the conditions of possibility of a postgenomic fact. More than reframing the organism as a radically novel multiplicity of reactive genomes, we conclude, doing postgenomic research on the microbiota and symbiosis means producing a story that deviates from the scripts embedded into the sociotechnical experimental systems of post-Human Genome Project life sciences.}, } @article {pmid38053772, year = {2023}, author = {Martin, ML and Pervent, M and Lambert, I and Colella, S and Tancelin, M and Severac, D and Clément, G and Tillard, P and Frugier, F and Lepetit, M}, title = {Localized osmotic stress activates systemic responses to N limitation in Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium symbiotic plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1288070}, pmid = {38053772}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In mature symbiotic root nodules, differentiated rhizobia fix atmospheric dinitrogen and provide ammonium to fulfill the plant nitrogen (N) demand. The plant enables this process by providing photosynthates to the nodules. The symbiosis is adjusted to the whole plant N demand thanks to systemic N signaling controlling nodule development. Symbiotic plants under N deficit stimulate nodule expansion and activate nodule senescence under N satiety. Besides, nodules are highly sensitive to drought. Here, we used split-root systems to characterize the systemic responses of symbiotic plants to a localized osmotic stress. We showed that polyéthylène glycol (PEG) application rapidly inhibited the symbiotic dinitrogen fixation activity of nodules locally exposed to the treatment, resulting to the N limitation of the plant supplied exclusively by symbiotic dinitrogen fixation. The localized PEG treatment triggered systemic signaling stimulating nodule development in the distant untreated roots. This response was associated with an enhancement of the sucrose allocation. Our analyses showed that transcriptomic reprogramming associated with PEG and N deficit systemic signaling(s) shared many targets transcripts. Altogether, our study suggests that systemic N signaling is a component of the adaptation of the symbiotic plant to the local variations of its edaphic environment.}, } @article {pmid38053218, year = {2023}, author = {Prioux, C and Tignat-Perrier, R and Gervais, O and Estaque, T and Schull, Q and Reynaud, S and Béraud, E and Mérigot, B and Beauvieux, A and Marcus, MI and Richaume, J and Bianchimani, O and Cheminée, A and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Unveiling microbiome changes in Mediterranean octocorals during the 2022 marine heatwaves: quantifying key bacterial symbionts and potential pathogens.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {271}, pmid = {38053218}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Temperature ; Forests ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Climate change has accelerated the occurrence and severity of heatwaves in the Mediterranean Sea and poses a significant threat to the octocoral species that form the foundation of marine animal forests (MAFs). As coral health intricately relies on the symbiotic relationships established between corals and microbial communities, our goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the role of bacteria in the observed tissue loss of key octocoral species following the unprecedented heatwaves in 2022.

RESULTS: Using amplicon sequencing and taxon-specific qPCR analyses, we unexpectedly found that the absolute abundance of the major bacterial symbionts, Spirochaetaceae (C. rubrum) and Endozoicomonas (P. clavata), remained, in most cases, unchanged between colonies with 0% and 90% tissue loss. These results suggest that the impairment of coral health was not due to the loss of the main bacterial symbionts. However, we observed a significant increase in the total abundance of bacterial opportunists, including putative pathogens such as Vibrio, which was not evident when only their relative abundance was considered. In addition, there was no clear relation between bacterial symbiont loss and the intensity of thermal stress, suggesting that factors other than temperature may have influenced the differential response of octocoral microbiomes at different sampling sites.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that tissue loss in octocorals is not directly caused by the decline of the main bacterial symbionts but by the proliferation of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings thus underscore the significance of considering both relative and absolute quantification approaches when evaluating the impact of stressors on coral microbiome as the relative quantification does not accurately depict the actual changes in the microbiome. Consequently, this research enhances our comprehension of the intricate interplay between host organisms, their microbiomes, and environmental stressors, while offering valuable insights into the ecological implications of heatwaves on marine animal forests. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid38053000, year = {2023}, author = {Pena, R and Bluhm, SL and Ammerschubert, S and Agüi-Gonzalez, P and Rizzoli, SO and Scheu, S and Polle, A}, title = {Mycorrhizal C/N ratio determines plant-derived carbon and nitrogen allocation to symbiosis.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {1230}, pmid = {38053000}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {Cluster of Excellence: Functional Biodiversity Research//Niedersächsische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture)/ ; PE 2256/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; PE 2256/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen ; Carbon ; Ecosystem ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Carbon allocation of trees to ectomycorrhizas is thought to shape forest nutrient cycling, but the sink activities of different fungal taxa for host resources are unknown. Here, we investigate fungal taxon-specific differences in naturally composed ectomycorrhizal (EM) communities for plant-derived carbon and nitrogen. After aboveground dual labeling of young beech with [15]N and [13]C, ectomycorrhizas formed with different fungal taxa exhibit strong differences in label enrichment. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) imaging of nitrogen in cross sections of ectomycorrhizas demonstrates plant-derived [15]N in both root and fungal structures. Isotope enrichment in ectomycorrhizas correlates with that in the corresponding ectomycorrhiza-attached lateral root, supporting fungal taxon-specific N and C fluxes in ectomycorrhizas. The enrichments with [13]C and [15]N in the symbiosis decrease with increasing C/N ratio of ectomycorrhizas, converging to zero at high C/N. The relative abundances of EM fungal species on roots are positively correlated with [13]C enrichment, demonstrating higher fitness of stronger than of less C-demanding symbioses. Overall, our results support that differences among the C/N ratios in ectomycorrhizas formed with different fungal species regulate the supply of the symbioses with host-derived carbon and provide insights on functional traits of ectomycorrhizas, which are important for major ecosystem processes.}, } @article {pmid38051239, year = {2023}, author = {Cohen, PR and Parish, LC and Lambert, WC and Gaspari, AA}, title = {Editors and Journals: Part II-Relationship between the Editor-in-Chief and the Owner of the Journal: The Consequences When Editorial Independence Dissolves.}, journal = {Skinmed}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {411-415}, pmid = {38051239}, issn = {1751-7125}, abstract = {A symbiotic relationship between the editor and the owner of a medical journal is important for the journal to fulfill successfully the expectations of its readers and authors. Editorial freedom and transparency by owner of the journal are important qualities that enable the editor to provide valid scientific information in an unbiased manner. Unresolved impedance of editorial freedom or the persistent lack of transparency or both frequently results in untenable consequences for editor and often a substantial defamation of the journal's credibility. Unfortunately, misguided and inappropriate behavior by a medical society or the publication owner repeatedly occurs with the same devastating effect for the editor: prompt, unanticipated, and unjustified termination of the position at the journal. Alternatively, conditions imposed by a journal's owner may lead to the resignation of the editor because of untenable conditions. Because the owner does not have to account for its actions and there is no recourse for the editor, currently there seems to be no effective measures to prevent this tragic sequence of events in the future.}, } @article {pmid38047691, year = {2023}, author = {Nakabachi, A and Suzaki, T}, title = {Ultrastructure of the bacteriome and bacterial symbionts in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0224923}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02249-23}, pmid = {38047691}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Omics analyses suggested a mutually indispensable tripartite association among the host D. citri and organelle-like bacteriome associates, Carsonella and Profftella, which are vertically transmitted through host generations. This relationship is based on the metabolic complementarity among these organisms, which is partly enabled by horizontal gene transfer between partners. However, little was known about the fine morphology of the symbionts and the bacteriome, the interface among these organisms. As a first step to address this issue, the present study performed transmission electron microscopy, which revealed previously unrecognized ultrastructures, including aggregations of ribosomes in Carsonella, numerous tubes and occasional protrusions of Profftella, apparently degrading Profftella, and host organelles with different abundance and morphology in distinct cell types. These findings provide insights into the behaviors of the symbionts and host cells to maintain the symbiotic relationship in D. citri.}, } @article {pmid38047686, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, W and Wang, J and Huang, Z and He, X and Wei, C}, title = {Symbionts in Hodgkinia-free cicadas and their implications for co-evolution between endosymbionts and host insects.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0137323}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01373-23}, pmid = {38047686}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Obligate symbionts in sap-sucking hemipterans are harbored in either the same or different organs, which provide a unique perspective for uncovering complicated insect-microbe symbiosis. Here, we investigated the distribution of symbionts in adults of 10 Hodgkinia-free cicada species of 2 tribes (Sonatini and Polyneurini) and the co-phylogeny between 65 cicada species and related symbionts (Sulcia and YLSs). We revealed that YLSs commonly colonize the bacteriome sheath besides the fat bodies in these two tribes, which is different with that in most other Hodgkinia-free cicadas. Co-phylogeny analyses between cicadas and symbionts suggest that genetic variation of Sulcia occurred in Sonatini and some other cicada lineages and more independent replacement events in the loss of Hodgkinia/acquisition of YLS in Cicadidae. Our results provide new information on the complex relationships between auchenorrhynchans and related symbionts.}, } @article {pmid38046823, year = {2023}, author = {Gotoh, A and Hidaka, M and Sakurama, H and Nishimoto, M and Kitaoka, M and Sakanaka, M and Fushinobu, S and Katayama, T}, title = {Substrate recognition mode of a glycoside hydrolase family 42 β-galactosidase from Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (BiBga42A) revealed by crystallographic and mutational analyses.}, journal = {Microbiome research reports}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {20}, pmid = {38046823}, issn = {2771-5965}, abstract = {Aim: Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis uses a glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 42 β-galactosidase (BiBga42A) for hydrolyzing lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), which is the most abundant core structure of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). As such, BiBga42A represents one of the pivotal enzymes underpinning the symbiosis between bifidobacteria and breastfed infants. Despite its importance, the structural basis underlying LNT hydrolysis by BiBga42A is not understood. Moreover, no substrate-complexed structures are available to date for GH42 family members. Methods: X-ray crystallography was used to determine the structures of BiBga42A in the apo- and liganded forms. The roles of the amino acid residues that were presumed to be involved in catalysis and substrate recognition were examined by a mutational study, in which kinetic parameters of each mutant were determined using 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactoside, lacto-N-biose I, LNT, and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) as substrates. Conservation of those amino acid residues was examined among structure-determined GH42 β-galactosidases. Results: Crystal structures of the wild-type enzyme complexed with glycerol, the E160A/E318A double mutant complexed with galactose (Gal), and the E318S mutant complexed with LNT were determined at 1.7, 1.9, and 2.2 Å resolutions, respectively. The LNT molecule (excluding the Gal moiety at subsite +2) bound to the E318S mutant is recognized by an extensive hydrogen bond network and several hydrophobic interactions. The non-reducing end Gal moiety of LNT adopts a slightly distorted conformation and does not overlap well with the Gal molecule bound to the E160A/E318A mutant. Twelve of the sixteen amino acid residues responsible for LNT recognition and catalysis in BiBga42A are conserved among all homologs including β-1,6-1,3-galactosidase (BlGal42A) from Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. Conclusion: BlGal42A is active on 3-β-galactobiose similarly to BiBga42A but is inactive on LNT. Interestingly, we found that the entrance of the catalytic pocket of BlGal42A is narrower than that of BiBga42A and seems not easily accessible from the solvent side due to the presence of two bulky amino acid side chains. The specificity difference may reflect the structural difference between the two enzymes.}, } @article {pmid38045608, year = {2023}, author = {Segers, A and de Vos, WM}, title = {Mode of action of Akkermansia muciniphila in the intestinal dialogue: role of extracellular proteins, metabolites and cell envelope components.}, journal = {Microbiome research reports}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {38045608}, issn = {2771-5965}, abstract = {Akkermansia muciniphila is a promising next-generation beneficial microbe due to its natural presence in the mucus layer of the gut, its symbiotic ability to degrade mucus, and its capacity to improve the intestinal barrier function. A. muciniphila is able to counteract weight gain and immuno-metabolic disturbances in several animal models. Many of these disorders, including obesity and auto-immune diseases, have been associated with decreased gut barrier function and consequent increased inflammation. Since A. muciniphila was found to normalize these changes and strengthen the gut barrier function, it is hypothesized that other beneficial effects of A. muciniphila might be caused by this restoration. In search for A. muciniphila's mode of action in enhancing the gut barrier function and promoting health, we reasoned that secreted components or cell envelope components of A. muciniphila are interesting candidates as they can potentially reach and interact with the epithelial barrier. In this review, we focus on the potential mechanisms through which A. muciniphila can exert its beneficial effects on the host by the production of extracellular and secreted proteins, metabolites and cell envelope components. These products have been studied in isolation for their structure, signaling capacity, and in some cases, also for their effects in preclinical models. This includes the protein known as Amuc_1100, which we here rename as pilus-associated signaling (PAS) protein , the P9 protein encoded by Amuc_1631, the short-chain fatty acids acetate and propionate, and cell envelope components, such as phosphatidylethanolamine and peptidoglycan.}, } @article {pmid38045388, year = {2023}, author = {Cao, M}, title = {CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.11.24.568619}, pmid = {38045388}, abstract = {Molecular tool development in traditionally non-tractable animals opens new avenues to study gene functions in the relevant ecological context. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Steinernema and their symbiotic bacteria of Xenorhabdus spp are a valuable experimental system in the laboratory and are applicable in the field to promote agricultural productivity. The infective juvenile (IJ) stage of the nematode packages mutualistic symbiotic bacteria in the intestinal pocket and invades insects that are agricultural pests. The lack of consistent and heritable genetics tools in EPN targeted mutagenesis severely restricted the study of molecular mechanisms underlying both parasitic and mutualistic interactions. Here, I report a protocol for CRISPR-Cas9 based genome-editing that is successful in two EPN species, S. carpocapsae and S. hermaphroditum . I adapted a gonadal microinjection technique in S. carpocapsae , which created on-target modifications of a homologue Sc-dpy-10 (cuticular collagen) by homology-directed repair. A similar delivery approach was used to introduce various alleles in S. hermaphroditum including Sh-dpy-10 and Sh-unc-22 (a muscle gene), resulting in visible and heritable phenotypes of dumpy and twitching, respectively. Using conditionally dominant alleles of Sh-unc-22 as a co-CRISPR marker, I successfully modified a second locus encoding Sh-Daf-22 (a homologue of human sterol carrier protein SCPx), predicted to function as a core enzyme in the biosynthesis of nematode pheromone that is required for IJ development. As a proof of concept, Sh-daf-22 null mutant showed IJ developmental defects in vivo (in insecta) . This research demonstrates that Steinernema spp are highly tractable for targeted mutagenesis and has great potential in the study of gene functions under controlled laboratory conditions within the relevant context of its ecological niche.}, } @article {pmid38044128, year = {2023}, author = {Chiba, Y and Sasaki, M and Masuda, S and Shibata, A and Shirasu, K and Kawaharada, Y}, title = {A Novel Rhizobium sp. Chiba-1 Strain Exhibits a Host Range for Nodule Symbiosis in Lotus Species.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME23056}, pmid = {38044128}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/genetics ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Lotus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that induce the formation of nodules in the roots of leguminous plants for mutualistic establishment. Although the symbiotic mechanism between Lotus japonicus and its major symbiotic rhizobia, Mesorhizobium loti, has been extensively characterized, our understanding of symbiotic mechanisms, such as host specificity and host ranges, remains limited. In the present study, we isolated a novel Rhizobium strain capable of forming nodules on L. burttii from agricultural soil at Iwate prefecture in Japan. We conducted genomic and host range ana-lyses of various Lotus species. The results obtained revealed that the novel isolated Rhizobium sp. Chiba-1 was closely related to R. leguminosarum and had a wide host range that induced nodule development, including L. burttii and several L. japonicus wild-type accessions. However, L. japonicus Gifu exhibited an incompatible nodule phenotype. We also identified the formation of an epidermal infection threads that was dependent on the Lotus species and independent of nodule organ development. In conclusion, this newly isolated Rhizobium strain displays a distinct nodulation phenotype from Lotus species, and the results obtained herein provide novel insights into the functional mechanisms underlying host specificity and host ranges.}, } @article {pmid38044013, year = {2023}, author = {Ray, PP}, title = {Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Medical Ethics: A Symbiotic Dance for the Future.}, journal = {Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons}, volume = {81}, number = {12}, pages = {1457-1459}, doi = {10.1016/j.joms.2023.09.015}, pmid = {38044013}, issn = {1531-5053}, } @article {pmid38042930, year = {2023}, author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and Scharnagl, K and Yan, X and Talbot, NJ}, title = {Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {21285}, pmid = {38042930}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BBS/E/J/000PR9798/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Lichen symbiosis is centered around a relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic microbe, usually a green alga. In addition to their main photosynthetic partner (the photobiont), lichen symbioses can contain additional algae present in low abundance. The biology of these algae and the way they interact with the rest of lichen symbionts remains largely unknown. Here we present the first genome sequence of a non-photobiont lichen-associated alga. Coccomyxa viridis was unexpectedly found in 12% of publicly available lichen metagenomes. With few exceptions, members of the Coccomyxa viridis clade occur in lichens as non-photobionts, potentially growing in thalli endophytically. The 45.7 Mbp genome of C. viridis was assembled into 18 near chromosome-level contigs, making it one of the most contiguous genomic assemblies for any lichen-associated algae. Comparing the C. viridis genome to its close relatives revealed the presence of traits associated with the lichen lifestyle. The genome of C. viridis provides a new resource for exploring the evolution of the lichen symbiosis, and how symbiotic lifestyles shaped evolution in green algae.}, } @article {pmid38042473, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, R and Hu, B and Flemetakis, E and Dannenmann, M and Geilfus, CM and Haensch, R and Wang, D and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Antagonistic effect of mercury and excess nitrogen exposure reveals provenance-specific phytoremediation potential of black locust-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {342}, number = {}, pages = {123050}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123050}, pmid = {38042473}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Interaction of different environmental constrains pose severe threats to plants that cannot be predicted from individual stress exposure. In this context, mercury (Hg), as a typical toxic and hazardous heavy metal, has recently attracted particular attention. Nitrogen (N2)-fixing legumes can be used for phytoremediation of Hg accumulation, whereas N availability could greatly affect its N2-fixation efficiency. However, information on the physiological responses to combined Hg exposure and excess N supply of woody legume species is still lacking. Here, we investigated the interactive effects of rhizobia inoculation, Hg exposure (+Hg), and high N (+N) supply, individually and in combination (+N*Hg), on photosynthesis and biochemical traits in Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings of two provenances, one from Northeast (DB) and one from Northwest (GS) China. Our results showed antagonistic effects of combined + N*Hg exposure compared to the individual treatments that were provenance-specific. Compared to individual Hg exposure, combined + N*Hg stress significantly increased foliar photosynthesis (+50.6%) of inoculated DB seedlings and resulted in more negative (-137.4%) δ[15]N abundance in the roots. Furthermore, combined + N*Hg stress showed 47.7% increase in amino acid N content, 39.4% increase in NR activity, and 14.8% decrease in MDA content in roots of inoculated GS seedlings. Inoculation with rhizobia significantly promoted Hg uptake in both provenances, reduced MDA contents of leaves and roots, enhanced photosynthesis and maintained the nutrient balance of Robinia. Among the two Robinia provenances investigated, DB seedlings formed more nodules, had higher biomass and Hg accumulation than GS seedlings. For example, total Hg concentrations in leaves and roots and total biomass of inoculated DB seedlings were 1.3,1.9 and 3.4 times higher than in inoculated GS seedlings under combined + N*Hg stress, respectively. Therefore, the DB provenance is considered to possess a higher potential for phytoremediation of Hg contamination compared to the GS provenance in environments subjected to N deposition.}, } @article {pmid38040609, year = {2023}, author = {Anz, RI and Chung, P}, title = {Animals as healers: A historical journey through the impact of animals on human health across the ages.}, journal = {Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101476}, doi = {10.1016/j.cppeds.2023.101476}, pmid = {38040609}, issn = {1538-3199}, abstract = {Animals have had a profound impact on health throughout the course of human history. Beginning with zootherapy in the ancient world, where animals were used as sources of mystical healing, animals have been crucial in the scientific discovery of human health and disease. In the modern world, the therapeutic application of emotional support animals serves as recognition for the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans. Appreciating the continued application of animals in human health serves as a reminder of the connectivity between humanity and the animal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid38040356, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, L and Wang, D and Liu, X and Zhou, Y and Hang, W and Guan, X and Zhang, X and Xie, Z}, title = {The volatile organic compound acetoin enhances the colonization of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 on Sesbania rostrata.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {169006}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169006}, pmid = {38040356}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Chemoreceptors play a crucial role in assisting bacterial sensing and response to environmental stimuli. Genome analysis of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 revealed the presence of 43 putative chemoreceptors, but their biological functions remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified the chemoreceptor AmaP (methyl-accepting protein of A. caulinodans), characterized by the presence of the CHASE3 domain and exhibited a notable response to acetoin. Thus, we investigated the effect of acetoin sensing on its symbiotic association with the host. Our findings uncovered a compelling role for acetoin as a key player in enhancing various facets of A. caulinodans ORS571's performance including biofilm formation, colonization, and nodulation abilities. Notably, acetoin bolstered A. caulinodans ORS571's efficacy in promoting the growth of S. rostrata, even under moderate salt stress conditions. This study not only broadens our understanding of the AmaP protein with its distinctive CHASE3 domain but also highlights the promising potential of acetoin in fortifying the symbiotic relationship between A. caulinodans and Sesbania rostrata.}, } @article {pmid38039119, year = {2023}, author = {Nouwen, N and Pervent, M and El M'Chirgui, F and Tellier, F and Rios, M and Horta Araújo, N and Klopp, C and Gressent, F and Arrighi, JF}, title = {OROSOMUCOID PROTEIN 1 regulation of sphingolipid synthesis is required for nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad642}, pmid = {38039119}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Legumes establish symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia that are accomodated in root-derived organs known as nodules. Rhizobial recognition triggers a plant symbiotic signalling pathway that activates two coordinated processes: infection and nodule organogenesis. How these processes are orchestrated in legume species utilizing intercellular infection and lateral root base nodulation remains elusive. Here, we show that Aeschynomene evenia OROSOMUCOID PROTEIN 1 (AeORM1), a key regulator of sphingolipid biosynthesis, is required for nodule formation. Using A. evenia orm1 mutants, we demonstrate that alterations in AeORM1 function trigger numerous early aborted nodules, defence-like reactions, and shorter lateral roots. Accordingly, AeORM1 is expressed during lateral root initiation and elongation, including at lateral root bases where nodule primordia form in the presence of symbiotic bradyrhizobia. Sphingolipidomics revealed that mutations in AeORM1 lead to sphingolipid overaccumulation in roots relative to the wild type, particularly for very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-containing ceramides. Taken together, our findings reveal that AeORM1-regulated sphingolipid homeostasis is essential for rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis, as well as for lateral root development in A. evenia.}, } @article {pmid38038797, year = {2023}, author = {Mustaq, S and Moin, A and Pandit, B and Tiwary, BK and Alam, M}, title = {Phyllobacteriaceae: a family of ecologically and metabolically diverse bacteria with the potential for different applications.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38038797}, issn = {1874-9356}, abstract = {The family Phyllobacteriaceae is a heterogeneous assemblage of more than 146 species of bacteria assigned to its existing 18 genera. Phylogenetic analyses have shown great phylogenetic diversity and also suggested about incorrect classification of several species that need to be reassessed for their proper phylogenetic classification. However, almost 50% of the family members belong to the genus Mesorhizobium only, of which the majority are symbiotic nitrogen fixers associated with different legumes. Other major genera are Phyllobacterium, Nitratireductor, Aquamicrobium, and Aminobacter. Nitrogen-fixing, legume nodulating members are present in Aminobacter and Phyllobacterium as well. Aquamicrobium spp. can degrade environmental pollutants, like 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chloro-2-methylphenol, and 4-chlorophenol. Chelativorans, Pseudaminobacter, Aquibium, and Oricola are the other genera that contain multiple species having diverse metabolic capacities, the rest being single-membered genera isolated from varied environments. In addition, heavy metal and antibiotic resistance, chemolithoautotrophy, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate storage, cellulase production, etc., are the other notable characteristics of some of the family members. In this report, we have comprehensively reviewed each of the species of the family Phyllobacteriaceae in their eco-physiological aspects and found that the family is rich with ecologically and metabolically highly diverse bacteria having great potential for human welfare and environmental clean-up.}, } @article {pmid38038369, year = {2023}, author = {Neubauer, A and Aros-Mualin, D and Mariscal, V and Szövényi, P}, title = {Challenging the term symbiosis in plant-microbe associations to create an understanding across sciences.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13588}, pmid = {38038369}, issn = {1744-7909}, abstract = {Effective communication across fields and disciplines relies on well-defined terminology. Standardized use of accurate definitions has been advocated by scientists across various disciplines (Tipton et al., 2019; PySek, 1995; Dubrovsky, 2022; Rillig, 2023; Rabin and Brownson, 2017). Divergent interpretations or the application of differing terminology can negatively impact interdisciplinary exchange, leading to missed information, hampered methodology transfer, and ultimately impeding progress (Sapp, 2010; Tipton et al., 2019). An impressive example of the use of multiple terms with the same interpretation is the definition of non-native or invasive plants encompassing at least 14 different terms (PySek, 1995). An abundance of definitions for the same term can be equally confusing which is thoroughly discussed in a recent review on plant root terminology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid38037476, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, YC and Yu, CW and Chiu, JY and Chiang, YH and Mitsuda, N and Yen, XC and Huang, TP and Chang, TF and Yen, CJ and Guo, WJ}, title = {The AT-hook protein AHL29 promotes Bacillus subtilis colonization by suppressing SWEET2-mediated sugar retrieval in Arabidopsis roots.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14779}, pmid = {38037476}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {MOST 104-2311-B-006-004-MY3//National Science and Technology Council/ ; MOST 108-2314-B-006-077-MY3//National Science and Technology Council/ ; MOST 111-2313-B-005-020//National Science and Technology Council/ ; //Ministry of Education in Taiwan/ ; }, abstract = {Beneficial Bacillus subtilis (BS) symbiosis could combat root pathogenesis, but it relies on root-secreted sugars. Understanding the molecular control of sugar flux during colonization would benefit biocontrol applications. The SWEET (Sugar Will Eventually Be Exported Transporter) uniporter regulates microbe-induced sugar secretion from roots; thus, its homologs may modulate sugar distribution upon BS colonization. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that gene transcripts of SWEET2, but not SWEET16 and 17, were significantly induced in seedling roots after 12 h of BS inoculation. Particularly, SWEET2-β-glucuronidase fusion proteins accumulated in the apical mature zone where BS abundantly colonized. Yet, enhanced BS colonization in sweet2 mutant roots suggested a specific role for SWEET2 to constrain BS propagation, probably by limiting hexose secretion. By employing yeast one-hybrid screening and ectopic expression in Arabidopsis protoplasts, the transcription factor AHL29 was identified to function as a repressor of SWEET2 expression through the AT-hook motif. Repression occurred despite immunity signals. Additionally, enhanced SWEET2 expression and reduced colonies were specifically detected in roots of BS-colonized ahl29 mutant. Taken together, we propose that BS colonization may activate repression of AHL29 on SWEET2 transcription that would be enhanced by immunity signals, thereby maintaining adequate sugar secretion for a beneficial Bacillus association.}, } @article {pmid38037395, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, PN and Rehan, SM}, title = {Wild bee and pollen microbiomes across an urban-rural divide.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad158}, pmid = {38037395}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Wild pollinators and their microbiota are sensitive to land use changes from anthropogenic activities that disrupt landscape and environmental features. As urbanization and agriculture affect bee habitats, human led disturbances are driving changes in bee microbiomes, potentially leading to dysbiosis detrimental to bee fitness. This study examines the bacterial, fungal, and plant compositions of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata, and its pollen provisions across an urban-rural divide. We performed metabarcoding of C. calcarata and provisions in Toronto by targeting the 16S rRNA, ITS, and rbcL regions. Despite similar plant composition and diversity across bees and their provisions, there was a greater microbial diversity in pollen provisions than in bees. By characterizing the differences in land use, climate, and pesticide residues that differentiate urban and rural landscapes, we find that urban areas support elevated levels of microbial diversity and more complex networks between microbes and plants than rural areas. However, urban areas may lead to lower relative abundances of known beneficial symbionts and increased levels of pathogens, such as Ascosphaera and Alternaria fungi. Further, rural pollen provisions indicate elevated pesticide residues that may dysregulate symbiosis. As anthropogenic activities continue to alter land use, ever changing environments threaten microbiota crucial in maintaining bee health.}, } @article {pmid38034649, year = {2023}, author = {Morales-Cortés, VI and Domínguez-Soberanes, J and Hernández-Lozano, LC and Licon, CC and Estevez-Rioja, A and Peralta-Contreras, M}, title = {Sensory characterization of functional guava symbiotic petit cheese product.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e21747}, pmid = {38034649}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The consumption of functional dairy products continues to rise due to consumer needs. This study aimed to develop a dairy guava functional symbiotic petit cheese product that included probiotics (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, Chr. Hansen, Denmark) and prebiotics (inulin), which had adequate organoleptic characteristics. Moreover, adequate physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics during its shelf life were expected. A pasteurized skim milk curd flavored with a guava pulp was stabilized with gelatin to formulate this product. As sweeteners, iso maltol, erythritol, and Luo Han Guo extract from monk fruit (Siraitia Grosvenorii) were added. The prebiotic used was inulin, and the probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, Chr. Hansen, Denmark). The product was kept refrigerated (4 °C) during the shelf life of 28 days. For the organoleptic analysis (100 consumers), the evaluations performed were: (1) overall liking (OL), (2) CATA (Check all that apply) testing 19 attributes, and (3) purchase intention was evaluated. Results were analyzed with FIZZ Software Biosystèmes. During shelf life, (1) physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory tests were performed. The product was evaluated as "liked much'' (7.16 out of 9); it was described as a creamy (71 %) natural product (73 %) with a fruity odor (57 %). It could be suitable for marketing because 82 % of the consumers would buy it. The product's probiotic character (over 1 × 10[6]) was established through a microbiological count. On day one, the CFU was found to be 4.15 × 10[8], and after 28 days, 1.98 × 10[8] CFU of viable Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, leading us to establish its probiotic characteristics. The shelf life was estimated at 21 days.}, } @article {pmid38034552, year = {2023}, author = {Arifuzzaman, M and Mamidi, S and Sanz-Saez, A and Zakeri, H and Scaboo, A and Fritschi, FB}, title = {Identification of loci associated with water use efficiency and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1271849}, pmid = {38034552}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) production is greatly affected by persistent and/or intermittent droughts in rainfed soybean-growing regions worldwide. Symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF) in soybean can also be significantly hampered even under moderate drought stress. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with shoot carbon isotope ratio (δ[13]C) as a surrogate measure for water use efficiency (WUE), nitrogen isotope ratio (δ[15]N) to assess relative SNF, N concentration ([N]), and carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N). Genome-wide association mapping was performed with 105 genotypes and approximately 4 million single-nucleotide polymorphism markers derived from whole-genome resequencing information. A total of 11, 21, 22, and 22 genomic loci associated with δ[13]C, δ[15]N, [N], and C/N, respectively, were identified in two environments. Nine of these 76 loci were stable across environments, as they were detected in both environments. In addition to the 62 novel loci identified, 14 loci aligned with previously reported quantitative trait loci for different C and N traits related to drought, WUE, and N2 fixation in soybean. A total of 58 Glyma gene models encoding for different genes related to the four traits were identified in the vicinity of the genomic loci.}, } @article {pmid38031601, year = {2023}, author = {Zartdinova, R and Nikitin, A}, title = {Calcium in the Life Cycle of Legume Root Nodules.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {4}, pages = {410-420}, pmid = {38031601}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {The present review highlights both the fundamental questions of calcium localization, compartmentation, and its participation in symbiosome signaling cascades during nodule formation and functioning. Apparently, the main link of such signaling is the calmodulin…calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases…CYCLOPS…NIN…target genes cascade. The minimum threshold level of calcium as a signaling agent in the presence of intracellular reserves determines the possibility of oligotrophy and ultraoligotrophy in relation to this element. During the functioning of root nodules, the Ca[2+]-ATPases activity maintains homeostasis of low calcium concentrations in the cytosol of nodule parenchyma cells. Disturbation of this homeostasis can trigger the root nodule senescence. The same reasons determine the increase in the effectiveness of symbiosis with the help of seed priming with sources of calcium. Examples of calcium response polymorphism in components of nitrogen fixing simbiosis important in practical terms are shown.}, } @article {pmid38031529, year = {2023}, author = {Sanders, WB}, title = {The disadvantages of current proposals to redefine lichens: A comment on Hawksworth & Grube (2020): 'Lichens redefined as complex ecosystems'.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19321}, pmid = {38031529}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid38031487, year = {2023}, author = {Hawksworth, DL and Grube, M}, title = {Reflections on lichens as ecosystems.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19418}, pmid = {38031487}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid38030972, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, F and Zhao, M and Zhang, Y and Si, W and Cheng, B and Li, X}, title = {Systematic analysis of the Rboh gene family in seven gramineous plants and its roles in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in maize.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {603}, pmid = {38030972}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {GXXT-2019-032//Collaborative Innovation Project for Universities in Anhui Province/ ; U21A20235//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202204c06020021//The key research and development Program of Anhui Province/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Zea mays/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh) gene family produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), and it plays key roles in plant-microbe interaction. Most Rboh gene family-related studies mainly focused on dicotyledonous plants; however, little is known about the roles of Rboh genes in gramineae.

RESULTS: A total of 106 Rboh genes were identified in seven gramineae species, including Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa, Setaria italica, Hordeum vulgare, and Triticum aestivum. The Rboh protein sequences showed high similarities, suggesting that they may have conserved functions across different species. Duplication mode analysis detected whole-genome/segmental duplication (WGD)/(SD) and dispersed in the seven species. Interestingly, two local duplication (LD, including tandem and proximal duplication) modes were found in Z. mays, S. italica and H. vulgare, while four LD were detected in T. aestivum, indicating that these genes may have similar functions. Collinearity analysis indicated that Rboh genes are at a stable evolution state in all the seven species. Besides, Rboh genes from Z. mays were closely related to those from S. bicolor, consistent with the current understanding of plant evolutionary history. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the genes in the subgroups I and II may participate in plant-AM fungus symbiosis. Cis-element analysis showed that different numbers of elements are related to fungal induction in the promoter region. Expression profiles of Rboh genes in Z. mays suggested that Rboh genes had distinct spatial expression patterns. By inoculation with AM fungi, our transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of Rboh genes varies upon AM fungal inoculation. In particularly, ZmRbohF was significantly upregulated after inoculation with AM fungi. pZmRbohF::GUS expression analyses indicated that ZmRbohF was induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in maize. By comparing WT and ZmRbohF mutant, we found ZmRbohF had limited impact on the establishment of maize-AM fungi symbiosis, but play critical roles in regulating the proper development of arbuscules.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution relationship of Rboh genes in seven gramineae species. Results showed that several Rboh genes regulate maize-AM fungal symbiosis process. This study provides valuable information for further studies of Rboh genes in gramineae.}, } @article {pmid38029803, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Liu, L and Huang, G and Yang, C and Tian, W and Ge, Z and Zhang, B and Wang, S and Zhang, H}, title = {Enhancing humification and microbial interactions during co-composting of pig manure and wine grape pomace: The role of biochar and Fe2O3.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130120}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130120}, pmid = {38029803}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Phenol-rich wine grape pomace (WGP) improves the conversion of pig manure (PM) into humic acid (HA) during composting. However, the impact of using combinations of Fe2O3 and biochar known to promote compost maturation remains uncertain. This research explored the individual and combined influence of biochar and Fe2O3 during the co-composting of PM and WGP. The findings revealed that Fe2O3 boosts microbial network symbiosis (3233 links), augments the HA yield to 3.38 by promoting polysaccharide C-O stretching, and improves the germination index to 124.82 %. Limited microbial interactions, increased by biochar, resulted in a lower HA yield (2.50). However, the combination weakened the stretching of aromatics and quinones, which contribute to the formation of HA, resulting in reduced the humification to 2.73. In addition, Bacillus and Actinomadura were identified as pivotal factors affecting HA content. This study highlights Fe2O3 and biochar's roles in phenol-rich compost humification, but combined use reduces efficacy.}, } @article {pmid38029247, year = {2023}, author = {Jiao, X and Li, Z}, title = {Temporal dynamics and composition of ocular surface microbiota in C57BL/6J mice: uncovering a 12h ultradian rhythm.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1244454}, pmid = {38029247}, issn = {2235-2988}, abstract = {PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the presence of rhythmic fluctuations in the composition, abundance, and functions of commensal core bacteria on the ocular surface of C57BL/6J mice.

METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice, aged 12 weeks, were subjected to a 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle. Ocular surface tissue samples were collected at four time points (ZT) over a 24-hour period at six-hour intervals. The core ocular surface microbiota's oscillation cycles and frequencies were assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region, along with the JTK_CYCLE algorithm. Functional predictions of these bacteria were conducted using PICRUSt2.

RESULTS: Deep sequencing of the ocular surface microbiota highlighted the high abundance of commensal bacteria, with Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Firmicutes collectively constituting over 90% of the total sample abundance. Among the 22 core bacterial genera, 11 exhibited robust 12-hour rhythms, including Halomonas, Pelagibacterium, Pseudomonas, Nesterenkonia, norank_f_Hyphomonadaceae, Stenotrophomonas, Anoxybacillus, Acinetobacter, Zoogloea, Brevibacillus, and Ralstonia. Further taxonomic analysis indicated significant intra-cluster similarities and inter-cluster differences at the order, family, and genus levels during ZT0/12 and ZT6/18. Community interaction networks and functional prediction analyses revealed synchronized 12-hour rhythmic oscillations in neural, immune, metabolic, and other pathways associated with symbiotic bacteria.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the presence of ultradian rhythmic oscillations in commensal bacteria on the ocular surface of normal C57BL/6J mice, with a 12-hour cycle. These findings suggest a crucial role for ultradian rhythms in maintaining ocular surface homeostasis in the host.}, } @article {pmid38029204, year = {2023}, author = {Venice, F and Vizzini, A and Danti, R and Della Rocca, G and Mello, A}, title = {Responses of a soil fungal community to severe windstorm damages in an old silver fir stand.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1246874}, pmid = {38029204}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Forests are increasingly threatened by climate change and the Anthropocene seems to have favored the emergence and adaptation of pathogens. Robust monitoring methods are required to prevent biodiversity and ecosystems losses, and this imposes the choice of bioindicators of habitat health. Fungal communities are increasingly recognized as fundamental components in nearly all natural and artificial environments, and their ecosystem services have a huge impact in maintaining and restoring the functionality of ecosystems. We coupled metabarcoding and soil analyses to infer the dynamics of a fungal community inhabiting the old silver fir stand in Vallombrosa (Italy), which is known to be afflicted by both Armillaria and Annosum root rot. The forest was affected in 2015, by a windstorm which caused a partial falling and uprooting of trees. The remaining stand, not affected by the windstorm, was used as a comparison to infer the consequences of the ecosystem disturbance. We demonstrated that the abundance of pathogens alone is not able to explain the soil fungal differences shown by the two areas. The fungal community as a whole was equally rich in the two areas, even if a reduction of the core ectomycorrhizal mycobiome was observed in the wind-damaged area, accompanied by the increase of wood saprotrophs and arbuscular mycorrhizas. We hypothesize a reshaping of the fungal community and a potentially ongoing re-generation of its functionalities. Our hypothesis is driven by the evidence that key symbiotic, endophytic, and saprotrophic guilds are still present and diversified in the wind-damaged area, and that dominance of single taxa or biodiversity loss was not observed from a mycological point of view. With the present study, we aim at providing evidence that fungal communities are fundamental for the monitoring and the conservation of threatened forest ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid38029197, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Q and Chang, S and Yang, Y and Xi, C and Dong, Y and Liu, L and He, Y and Liu, Y and Cai, B and Liu, T}, title = {Endophyte-inoculated rhizomes of Paris polyphylla improve polyphyllin biosynthesis and yield: a transcriptomic analysis of the underlying mechanism.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1261140}, pmid = {38029197}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Polyphyllin from Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. However, the current production of polyphyllin can barely meet market demand. To improve the content of polyphyllin produced by P. polyphylla, two endophyte strains, Bacillus cereus LgD2 and Fusarium oxysporum TPB, were isolated from Paris fargesii Franch. and inoculated in the roots of P. polyphylla. Both symbiotic strains significantly promoted the accumulation of saponins in P. polyphylla.

METHODS: The content of polyphyllin in rhizomes of P. polyphylla treated with TPB with LgD2 strain was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and the expressed genes were analyzed by RNA-seq. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes annotations were performed on the differentially expressed genes, a clustering tree of UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene families was constructed, and UGT and CYP450 involved in the biosynthesis of polyphyllin were predicted using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA).

RESULTS: RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses showed that endophytic inoculation did not promote polyphyllin accumulation by enhancing the upstream terpene biosynthesis pathway, but probably by up-regulating the downstream CYP450 and UGT genes associated with polyphyllin biosynthesis. Genomes enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes indicated that inoculation with LgD2 and TPB played a positive role in promoting the defense against pathogenic bacteria, enhancing the biosynthesis of carbohydrates, attenuating the process of nitrogen metabolism, and maintaining the equilibrium of the redox reaction homeostasis, potentially indirectly enhancing the polyphyllin yield of P. polyphylla. By combining differentially expressed genes screening, WGCNA, and phylogenetic tree analyses, 17 CYP450 and 2 UGT candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VII, polyphyllin D, and polyphyllin H were identified. These results suggest that endophytes probably effectively promote the accumulation of polyphyllin by regulating key downstream genes in biosynthetic pathways.

DISCUSSION: This study provides a new approach for investigating the regulatory mechanisms of endophytes that promote the production and accumulation of polyphyllin in P. polyphylla, providing a basis for further elucidating the mechanisms of plant-endophyte interactions.}, } @article {pmid38029157, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, M and Ding, J and Lu, M}, title = {Influence of symbiotic bacteria on the susceptibility of Plagiodera versicolora to Beauveria bassiana infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1290925}, pmid = {38029157}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic bacterial microbiota of insects has been shown to play essential roles in processes related to physiology, metabolism, and innate immunity. In this study, the symbiotic microbiome of Plagiodera versicolora at different developmental stages was analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The result showed that symbiotic bacteria community in P. versicolora was primarily made up of Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Dependentiae. The bacterial composition among different age individuals were highly diverse, while 65 core genera were distributed in all samples which recommend core bacterial microbiome. The 8 species core bacteria were isolated from all samples, and all of them were classified as Pseudomonas sp. Among them, five species have been proven to promote the vegetable growth of Beauveria bassiana. Moreover, the virulence of B. bassiana against nonaxenic larvae exceeded B. bassiana against axenic larvae, and the introduction of the Pseudomonas sp. to axenic larvae augmented the virulence of fungi. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the symbiotic bacteria of P. versicolora are highly dissimilar, and Pseudomonas sp. core bacteria can promote host infection by entomopathogenic fungus. This result emphasizes the potential for harnessing these findings in the development of effective pest management strategies.}, } @article {pmid38029104, year = {2023}, author = {Carrouel, F and Kanoute, A and Lvovschi, VE and Bourgeois, D}, title = {Periodontal pathogens of the interdental microbiota in a 3 months pregnant population with an intact periodontium.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1275180}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1275180}, pmid = {38029104}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Steroid hormones and the oral microbiota of pregnant women both appear as cumulative risk factors for gingivitis. This cross-sectional study, using real-time PCR, investigated the composition and diversity of the microbiota in interdental spaces of 3 months pregnant women with intact periodontium according the 2018 EFP/AAP classification. Bacteria identified were belonged to the red (Porphyromonas gingivalis Treponema denticola, and Tanerella forsythia), orange (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Campylobacter rectus, and Parvimonas micra), and green (Eikenella corrodens and A. actinomycetencomitans) Socransky complexes. Approximatively 10[9.11] bacteria were counted per interdental space in pregnant women. Bacteria from the red complex represented 33.80% versus 62.81% for the orange group versus 3.39% for the green group of the total number spread over the 3 groups. Dietary habits and physical activity did not have a significant impact on interdental microbiota, although a decrease in the median amount of 9 periodontopathogens was observed when fruit and vegetable consumption increased. Pregnant women who brushed their teeth at least twice a day had lower counts of total bacteria and 9 periodontal pathogens than those who brushed less. In 3 months pregnant women at high risk of periodontal disease (>30% bleeding sites), the dendogram revealed 2 clusters of the 9 periodontopathogens. This provides further support for the "key pathogen" hypothesis, among which Porphyromonas gingivalis plays a key role, indicating that specific bacteria in limited quantities can influence the host immune system and convert the microbiota from symbiotic to dysbiotic to induce inflammatory disorder. As a result, this study reported that 3 months pregnant women with healthy periodontium had high levels of interdental bleeding and a dysbiotic microbiota with periodontal pathogens of the Socransky orange and red complexes. These subjects were therefore potentially at increased risk of developing periodontal disease and, consequently, an adverse pregnancy outcome. So, preventive oral prophylaxis measures, in particular individual interdental prophylaxis, should be implemented as soon as pregnancy is established.}, } @article {pmid38028661, year = {2023}, author = {Mazarakis, A and Bernhard-Skala, C and Braun, M and Peters, I}, title = {What is critical for human-centered AI at work? - Toward an interdisciplinary theory.}, journal = {Frontiers in artificial intelligence}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1257057}, doi = {10.3389/frai.2023.1257057}, pmid = {38028661}, issn = {2624-8212}, abstract = {Human-centered artificial intelligence (HCAI) has gained momentum in the scientific discourse but still lacks clarity. In particular, disciplinary differences regarding the scope of HCAI have become apparent and were criticized, calling for a systematic mapping of conceptualizations-especially with regard to the work context. This article compares how human factors and ergonomics (HFE), psychology, human-computer interaction (HCI), information science, and adult education view HCAI and discusses their normative, theoretical, and methodological approaches toward HCAI, as well as the implications for research and practice. It will be argued that an interdisciplinary approach is critical for developing, transferring, and implementing HCAI at work. Additionally, it will be shown that the presented disciplines are well-suited for conceptualizing HCAI and bringing it into practice since they are united in one aspect: they all place the human being in the center of their theory and research. Many critical aspects for successful HCAI, as well as minimum fields of action, were further identified, such as human capability and controllability (HFE perspective), autonomy and trust (psychology and HCI perspective), learning and teaching designs across target groups (adult education perspective), as much as information behavior and information literacy (information science perspective). As such, the article lays the ground for a theory of human-centered interdisciplinary AI, i.e., the Synergistic Human-AI Symbiosis Theory (SHAST), whose conceptual framework and founding pillars will be introduced.}, } @article {pmid38028650, year = {2023}, author = {Carrell, AA and Clark, M and Jawdy, S and Muchero, W and Alexandre, G and Labbé, JL and Rush, TA}, title = {Interactions with microbial consortia have variable effects in organic carbon and production of exometabolites among genotypes of Populus trichocarpa.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e544}, doi = {10.1002/pld3.544}, pmid = {38028650}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {Poplar is a short-rotation woody crop frequently studied for its significance as a sustainable bioenergy source. The successful establishment of a poplar plantation partially depends on its rhizosphere-a dynamic zone governed by complex interactions between plant roots and a plethora of commensal, mutualistic, symbiotic, or pathogenic microbes that shape plant fitness. In an exploratory endeavor, we investigated the effects of a consortium consisting of ectomycorrhizal fungi and a beneficial Pseudomonas sp. strain GM41 on plant growth (including height, stem girth, leaf, and root growth) and as well as growth rate over time, across four Populus trichocarpa genotypes. Additionally, we compared the level of total organic carbon and plant exometabolite profiles across different poplar genotypes in the presence of the microbial consortium. These data revealed no significant difference in plant growth parameters between the treatments and the control across four different poplar genotypes at 7 weeks post-inoculation. However, total organic carbon and exometabolite profiles were significantly different between the genotypes and the treatments. These findings suggest that this microbial consortium has the potential to trigger early signaling responses in poplar, influencing its metabolism in ways crucial for later developmental processes and stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid38028595, year = {2023}, author = {Adedayo, AA and Babalola, OO}, title = {Genomic mechanisms of plant growth-promoting bacteria in the production of leguminous crops.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1276003}, doi = {10.3389/fgene.2023.1276003}, pmid = {38028595}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Legumes are highly nutritious in proteins and are good food for humans and animals because of their nutritional values. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) are microbes dwelling in the rhizosphere soil of a plant contributing to the healthy status, growth promotion of crops, and preventing the invasion of diseases. Root exudates produced from the leguminous plants' roots can lure microbes to migrate to the rhizosphere region in other to carry out their potential activities which reveals the symbiotic association of the leguminous plant and the PGPR (rhizobia). To have a better cognition of the PGPR in the rhizosphere of leguminous plants, genomic analyses would be conducted employing various genomic sequences to observe the microbial community and their functions in the soil. Comparative genomic mechanism of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) was discussed in this review which reveals the activities including plant growth promotion, phosphate solubilization, production of hormones, and plant growth-promoting genes required for plant development. Progress in genomics to improve the collection of genotyping data was revealed in this review. Furthermore, the review also revealed the significance of plant breeding and other analyses involving transcriptomics in bioeconomy promotion. This technological innovation improves abundant yield and nutritional requirements of the crops in unfavorable environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid38027833, year = {2023}, author = {Widodo, }, title = {A new technique inversion Time-Domain electromagnetic data.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e21638}, doi = {10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21638}, pmid = {38027833}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Time-Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) data modeling, especially for central-loop configurations, is often achieved through 1D inversion models. This study aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of TDEM data inversion by employing the Born Approximation method to address calculation and convergence speed issues. We also utilize the modified Symbiotic Organism Search (mSOS), a global optimization algorithm capable of handling multi-minimum problems in non-linear objective functions, to optimize the inversion process. Our research includes the assessment of the accuracy and performance of this approach through inversion modeling on both synthetic and field data. The accuracy of the synthetic data was evaluated based on the algorithm's capability to retrieve the values of the synthetic data, as indicated by the small relative error between the synthetic model parameters and the calculated model. In the case of field data modeling, the accuracy relied on the consistency achieved when modeling the data with different numbers of layers. Additionally, we considered the time required to perform the inversion as an evaluation metric for inversion performance. For the synthetic data case, the algorithm produced relatively accurate models with misfit values of approximately 0 % and low relative error values. In the field data case, the inversion models demonstrated consistency and reduced misfit values when the data was modeled with different numbers of layers, specifically 8.72 % for the 2-layer model, 3.92 % for the 3-layer model, and 2.61 % for the 4- and 5-layer models. Both datasets required less than 19 min for 10,000 iterations. These findings highlight the innovative nature of the mSOS algorithm and its potential for practical applications in TDEM inversion studies.}, } @article {pmid38025720, year = {2023}, author = {Sánchez-Matiz, JJ and Díaz-Ariza, LA}, title = {Glomeromycota associations with bamboos (Bambusoideae) worldwide, a qualitative systematic review of a promising symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16151}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.16151}, pmid = {38025720}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Around the world, bamboos are ecologically, economically, and culturally important plants, particularly in tropical regions of Asia, America, and Africa. The association of this plant group with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi belonging to the phylum Glomeromycota is still a poorly studied field, which limits understanding of the reported ecological and physiological benefits for the plant, fungus, soil, and ecosystems under this symbiosis relationship.

METHODS: Through a qualitative systematic review following the PRISMA framework for the collection, synthesis, and reporting of evidence, this paper presents a compilation of the research conducted on the biology and ecology of the symbiotic relationship between Glomeromycota and Bambusoideae from around the world. This review is based on academic databases enriched with documents retrieved using different online databases and the Google Scholar search engine.

RESULTS: The literature search yielded over 6,000 publications, from which 18 studies were included in the present review after a process of selection and validation. The information gathered from the publications included over 25 bamboo species and nine Glomeromycota genera from eight families, distributed across five countries on two continents.

CONCLUSION: This review presents the current state of knowledge regarding the symbiosis between Glomeromycota and Bambusoideae, while reflecting on the challenges and scarcity of research on this promising association found across the world.}, } @article {pmid38025692, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Huang, Y and Wronski, T and Huang, M}, title = {Diversity of bacteria associated with lichens in Mt. Yunmeng in Beijing, China.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16442}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.16442}, pmid = {38025692}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Lichens host highly complex and diverse microbial communities, which may perform essential functions in these symbiotic micro-ecosystems. In this research, sequencing of 16S rRNA was used to investigate the bacterial communities associated with lichens of two growth forms (foliose and crustose). Results showed that Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota and Acidobacteriota were dominant phyla in both types of lichens, while Acetobacterales and Hyphomicrobiales were the dominant orders. Alpha diversity index showed that the richness of bacteria hosted by foliose lichens was significantly higher than that hosted by crustose ones. Principal co-ordinates analysis showed a significant difference between beta diversity of the foliose lichen-associated bacterial communities and those of crustose lichen-associated ones. Gene function prediction showed most functions, annotated by the lichen-associated bacteria, to be related to metabolism, suggesting that related bacteria may provide nutrients to their hosts. Generally, our results propose that microbial communities play important roles in fixing nitrogen, providing nutrients, and controlling harmful microorganisms, and are therefore an integral and indispensable part of lichens.}, } @article {pmid38023845, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, X and Feng, Z and Zhang, W and Yao, Q and Zhu, H}, title = {Exogenous myristate promotes the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1250684}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1250684}, pmid = {38023845}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can establish symbiotic associations with the roots of most terrestrial plants, thereby improving the tolerance of the host plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although AMF cannot synthesize lipids de novo, they can obtain lipids from the root cells for their growth and development. A recent study reveals that AMF can directly take up myristate (C14:0 lipid) from the environment and produce a large amount of hyphae in asymbiotic status; however, the effect of environmental lipids on AM symbiosis is still unclear. In this study, we inoculated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) with AMF in an in vitro dual culture system and a sand culture system, and then applied exogenous myristate to the substrate, in order to explore the effect of exogenous lipids on the mycorrhizal colonization of AMF. We investigated the hyphae growth, development, and colonization of AMF, and examined the gene expression involved in phosphate transport, lipid biosynthesis, and transport. Results indicate that exogenous lipids significantly stimulated the growth and branching of hyphae, and significantly increased the number of hyphopodia and mycorrhizal colonization of AMF, with arbuscular abundance and intraradical spores or vesicles being the most promoted. In contrast, exogenous myristate decreased the growth range and host tropism of the germ tubes, and largely inhibited the exchange of nutrition between symbionts. As a result, exogenous myristate did not affect the plant growth. This study suggests that lipids promote mycorrhizal colonization by enhancing the growth and development of AMF hyphae and increasing their contact opportunities with plant roots. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that shows that lipids promote the colonization of AMF. Our study highlights the importance of better understanding the roles of environmental lipids in the establishment and maintenance of AM symbiosis and, thus, in agricultural production.}, } @article {pmid38023592, year = {2023}, author = {Yun, HM and Hyun, S}, title = {Role of gut commensal bacteria in juvenile developmental growth of the host: insights from Drosophila studies.}, journal = {Animal cells and systems}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {329-339}, doi = {10.1080/19768354.2023.2282726}, pmid = {38023592}, issn = {1976-8354}, abstract = {The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining health in a variety of organisms, from insects to humans. Further, beneficial symbiotic microbes are believed to contribute to improving the quality of life of the host. Drosophila is an optimal model for studying host-commensal microbe interactions because it allows for convenient manipulation of intestinal microbial composition. Fly microbiota has a simple taxonomic composition and can be cultivated and genetically tracked. This permits functional studies and analyses of the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects on host physiological processes. In this context, we briefly introduce the principle of juvenile developmental growth in Drosophila. Then, we discuss the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of gut commensal bacteria, such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Acetobacter pomorum, in the fly gut microbiome on Drosophila juvenile growth, including specific actions of gut hormones and metabolites in conserved cellular signaling systems, such as the insulin/insulin-like (IIS) and the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathways. Given the similarities in tissue function/structure, as well as the high conservation of physiological systems between Drosophila and mammals, findings from the Drosophila model system will have significant implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying the interaction between the host and the gut microbiome in metazoans.}, } @article {pmid38023456, year = {2023}, author = {Liang, J}, title = {Harmonizing minds and machines: survey on transformative power of machine learning in music.}, journal = {Frontiers in neurorobotics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {1267561}, doi = {10.3389/fnbot.2023.1267561}, pmid = {38023456}, issn = {1662-5218}, abstract = {This survey explores the symbiotic relationship between Machine Learning (ML) and music, focusing on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the musical sphere. Beginning with a historical contextualization of the intertwined trajectories of music and technology, the paper discusses the progressive use of ML in music analysis and creation. Emphasis is placed on present applications and future potential. A detailed examination of music information retrieval, automatic music transcription, music recommendation, and algorithmic composition presents state-of-the-art algorithms and their respective functionalities. The paper underscores recent advancements, including ML-assisted music production and emotion-driven music generation. The survey concludes with a prospective contemplation of future directions of ML within music, highlighting the ongoing growth, novel applications, and anticipation of deeper integration of ML across musical domains. This comprehensive study asserts the profound potential of ML to revolutionize the musical landscape and encourages further exploration and advancement in this emerging interdisciplinary field.}, } @article {pmid38020871, year = {2023}, author = {Li, D and Xia, W and Cui, X and Zhao, M and Huang, K and Wang, X and Shen, J and Chen, H and Zhu, L}, title = {The putatively high-altitude adaptation of macaque monkeys: Evidence from the fecal metabolome and gut microbiome.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {1708-1720}, doi = {10.1111/eva.13595}, pmid = {38020871}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Animals living in high-altitude environments, such as the Tibetan Plateau, must face harsh environmental conditions (e.g., hypoxia, cold, and strong UV radiation). These animals' physiological adaptations (e.g., increased red cell production and turnover rate) might also be associated with the gut microbial response. Bilirubin is a component of red blood cell turnover or destruction and is excreted into the intestine and reduced to urobilinoids and/or urobilinogen by gut bacteria. Here, we found that the feces of macaques living in high-altitude regions look significantly browner (with a high concentration of stercobilin, a component from urobilinoids) than those living in low-altitude regions. We also found that gut microbes involved in urobilinogen reduction (e.g., beta-glucuronidase) were enriched in the high-altitude mammal population compared to the low-altitude population. Moreover, the spatial-temporal change in gut microbial function was more profound in the low-altitude macaques than in the high-altitude population, which might be attributed to profound changes in food resources in the low-altitude regions. Therefore, we conclude that a high-altitude environment's stress influences living animals and their symbiotic microbiota.}, } @article {pmid38020682, year = {2023}, author = {McPherson, AE and Abram, PK and Curtis, CI and Wannop, ER and Dudzic, JP and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Dynamic changes in Wolbachia infection over a single generation of Drosophila suzukii, across a wide range of resource availability.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e10722}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.10722}, pmid = {38020682}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Wolbachia bacteria are maternally inherited symbionts that commonly infect terrestrial arthropods. Many Wolbachia reach high frequencies in their hosts by manipulating their reproduction, for example by causing reproductive incompatibilities between infected male and uninfected female hosts. However, not all strains manipulate reproduction, and a key unresolved question is how these non-manipulative Wolbachia persist in their hosts, often at intermediate to high frequencies. One such strain, wSuz, infects the invasive fruit pest Drosophila suzukii, spotted-wing drosophila. Here, we tested the hypothesis that wSuz infection provides a competitive benefit when resources are limited. Over the course of one season, we established population cages with varying amounts of food in a semi-field setting and seeded them with a 50:50 mixture of flies with and without Wolbachia. We predicted that Wolbachia-infected individuals should have higher survival and faster development than their uninfected counterparts when there was little available food. We found that while food availability strongly impacted fly fitness, there was no difference in development times or survival between Wolbachia-infected and uninfected flies. Interestingly, however, Wolbachia infection frequencies changed dramatically, with infections either increasing or decreasing by as much as 30% in a single generation, suggesting the possibility of unidentified factors shaping Wolbachia infection over the course of the season.}, } @article {pmid38019961, year = {2023}, author = {Carobene, A and Padoan, A and Cabitza, F and Banfi, G and Plebani, M}, title = {Rising adoption of artificial intelligence in scientific publishing: evaluating the role, risks, and ethical implications in paper drafting and review process.}, journal = {Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38019961}, issn = {1437-4331}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the rapid evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), scientific publishing is experiencing significant transformations. AI tools, while offering unparalleled efficiencies in paper drafting and peer review, also introduce notable ethical concerns.

CONTENT: This study delineates AI's dual role in scientific publishing: as a co-creator in the writing and review of scientific papers and as an ethical challenge. We first explore the potential of AI as an enhancer of efficiency, efficacy, and quality in creating scientific papers. A critical assessment follows, evaluating the risks vs. rewards for researchers, especially those early in their careers, emphasizing the need to maintain a balance between AI's capabilities and fostering independent reasoning and creativity. Subsequently, we delve into the ethical dilemmas of AI's involvement, particularly concerning originality, plagiarism, and preserving the genuine essence of scientific discourse. The evolving dynamics further highlight an overlooked aspect: the inadequate recognition of human reviewers in the academic community. With the increasing volume of scientific literature, tangible metrics and incentives for reviewers are proposed as essential to ensure a balanced academic environment.

SUMMARY: AI's incorporation in scientific publishing is promising yet comes with significant ethical and operational challenges. The role of human reviewers is accentuated, ensuring authenticity in an AI-influenced environment.

OUTLOOK: As the scientific community treads the path of AI integration, a balanced symbiosis between AI's efficiency and human discernment is pivotal. Emphasizing human expertise, while exploit artificial intelligence responsibly, will determine the trajectory of an ethically sound and efficient AI-augmented future in scientific publishing.}, } @article {pmid38018541, year = {2023}, author = {Varshney, U}, title = {Co-evolution of the translation apparatus and eukaryotes.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {48}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {38018541}, issn = {0973-7138}, abstract = {The symbiotic evolution between the two prokaryotic domains of life (bacteria and archaea) is believed to have given rise to the third domain of life, the eukaryotes. Common to all three domains of life, is an ancient mechanism of ribosome-mediated protein synthesis (translation). Can the evolutionary history of the protein translation apparatus shed light on the evolutionary history of life forms? This commentary addresses this broad question with the spotlight on a specific component of the translation apparatus.}, } @article {pmid38017446, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, YH and Qin, Y and Cai, QQ and Liu, M and He, DM and Chen, X and Wang, H and Yan, ZY}, title = {Effect the accumulation of bioactive constituents of a medicinal plant (Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bge.) by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {597}, pmid = {38017446}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {81973416//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021YFS0045//the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with various terrestrial plants and have attracted considerable interest as biofertilizers for improving the quality and yield of medicinal plants. Despite the widespread distribution of AMFs in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge's roots, research on the impact of multiple AMFs on biomass and active ingredient accumulations has not been conducted. In this study, the effects of five native AMFs (Glomus formosanum, Septoglomus constrictum, Rhizophagus manihotis, Acaulospora laevis, and Ambispora gerdemannii) and twenty-six communities on the root biomass and active ingredient concentrations of S. miltiorrhiza were assessed using the total factor design method.

RESULTS: Thirty-one treatment groups formed symbiotic relationships with S. miltiorrhiza based on the pot culture results, and the colonization rate ranged from 54.83% to 89.97%. AMF communities had higher colonization rates and total phenolic acid concentration than single AMF, and communities also appeared to have higher root fresh weight, dry weight, and total phenolic acid concentration than single inoculations. As AMF richness increased, there was a rising trend in root biomass and total tanshinone accumulations (ATTS), while total phenolic acid accumulations (ATP) showed a decreasing trend. This suggests that plant productivity was influenced by the AMF richness, with higher inoculation benefits observed when the communities contained three or four AMFs. Additionally, the affinities of AMF members were also connected to plant productivity. The inoculation effect of closely related AMFs within the same family, such as G. formosanum, S. constrictum, and R. manihotis, consistently yielded lower than that of mono-inoculation when any combinations were applied. The co-inoculation of S. miltiorrhiza with nearby or distant AMFs from two families, such as G. formosanum, R. manihotis, and Ac. laevis or Am. gerdemannii resulted in an increase of ATP and ATTS by more than 50%. AMF communities appear to be more beneficial to the yield of bioactive constituents than the single AMF, but overall community inoculation effects are related to the composition of AMFs and the relationship between members.

CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the AMF community has great potential to improve the productivity and the accumulation of bioactive constituents in S. miltiorrhiza, indicating that it is an effective way to achieve sustainable agricultural development through using the AMF community.}, } @article {pmid38016867, year = {2023}, author = {Quevarec, L and Brasseur, G and Aragnol, D and Robaglia, C}, title = {Tracking the early events of photosymbiosis evolution.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2023.11.005}, pmid = {38016867}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Oxygenic photosynthesis evolved in cyanobacteria around 3.2 giga-annum (Ga) ago and was acquired by eukaryotes starting around 1.8 Ga ago by endosymbiosis. Photosymbiosis results either from integration of a photosynthetic bacteria by heterotrophic eukaryotes (primary photosymbiosis) or by successive integration of photosymbiotic eukaryotes by heterotrophic eukaryotes (secondary photosymbiosis). Primary endosymbiosis is thought to have been a rare event, whereas secondary and higher-order photosymbiosis evolved multiple times independently in different taxa. Despite its recurrent evolution, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying photosymbiosis are unknown. In this opinion, we discuss the primary events leading to the establishment of photosymbiosis, and we present recent research suggesting that, in some cases, domestication occurred instead of symbiosis, and how oxygen and host immunity can be involved in symbiont maintenance.}, } @article {pmid38016543, year = {2023}, author = {Biswas, A and Chakraborty, S}, title = {Assessment of microbial population in integrated CW-MFC system and investigation of organics and fecal coliform removal pathway.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {168809}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168809}, pmid = {38016543}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The current study is focused on understanding the operational mechanism of an integrated constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) reactor emphasizing fecal coliform (FC) removal. Few studies are available in the literature investigating the inherent mechanisms of pathogen inactivation in a CW-MFC system. Raw domestic wastewater was treated in three vertical reactors, one planted constructed wetland (R1), one planted CW-MFC (R2), and one unplanted CW-MFC (R3). Spatial analysis of treated effluents showed a considerable amount of organics and fecal coliform removal at the vicinity of the anode in R2. Assessment of the microbial population inside all the reactors revealed that EABs (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria) were more abundant in R2 compared to R1 and R3. During the activity study, biomass obtained from R2 showed a maximum substrate utilization rate of 1.27 mg COD mgVSS[-1] d[-1]. Kinetic batch studies were carried out for FC removal in all the reactors, and the maximum first order FC removal rate was obtained at the anode of R2 as 2.13 d[-1] when operated in closed circuit mode. This value was much higher than the natural die-off rate of FCs in raw wastewater which was 1.16 d[-1]. Simultaneous bioelectricity monitoring inferred that voltage generation can be correlated to faster FC inactivation, which was probably due to EABs outcompeting other exogenous microbes in a preferable anaerobic environment with the presence of an anode. Reactor R2 was found to be functioning as a symbiotic bio-electrochemical mesocosm.}, } @article {pmid38016408, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and Li, Y and Xiao, H and Li, W and Ye, F and Wang, L and Li, Y and Wang, C and Wu, Y and Xuan, R and Huang, Y and Huang, J}, title = {The intestinal microflora diversity of aboriginal chickens in Jiangxi province, China.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {103}, number = {2}, pages = {103198}, doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2023.103198}, pmid = {38016408}, issn = {1525-3171}, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota can coevolve with host to form symbiotic relationship and be participated in the regulation of host physiological function. At present, there is no clear explanation on the effect of intestinal microflora in Jiangxi aboriginal chickens. Here, we investigated the association between gut microbiota and host genome of Jiangxi local chickens using 16S rRNA sequencing and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The results showed that the breeds and genders had important effects on the intestinal microbiota of chickens. A total of 28 SNPs in 14 regions of the chicken genome were related to the relative abundance of microorganisms in 5 genera: Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Enterococcus, Gallibacterium, Turicibacter, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group. A total of 17 candidate genes were identified composition of chicken microbiome and show an association between the host genome and the chicken intestinal microbiota, which also unveiled the diversity of intestinal microbes in Jiangxi chickens. Given the correlation between chicken genome and intestinal microbe found in the present study, a new idea for the protection of aboriginal chicken genetic resources in China could be provided.}, } @article {pmid38016378, year = {2023}, author = {Cao, X and Cheng, XW and Liu, YY and Dai, HW and Gan, RY}, title = {Inhibition of pathogenic microbes in oral infectious diseases by natural products: Sources, mechanisms, and challenges.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {279}, number = {}, pages = {127548}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127548}, pmid = {38016378}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {The maintenance of oral health is of utmost importance for an individual's holistic well-being and standard of living. Within the oral cavity, symbiotic microorganisms actively safeguard themselves against potential foreign diseases by upholding a multifaceted equilibrium. Nevertheless, the occurrence of an imbalance can give rise to a range of oral infectious ailments, such as dental caries, periodontitis, and oral candidiasis. Presently, clinical interventions encompass the physical elimination of pathogens and the administration of antibiotics to regulate bacterial and fungal infections. Given the limitations of various antimicrobial drugs frequently employed in dental practice, the rising incidence of oral inflammation, and the escalating bacterial resistance to antibiotics, it is imperative to explore alternative remedies that are dependable, efficacious, and affordable for the prevention and management of oral infectious ailments. There is an increasing interest in the creation of novel antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources, which possess attributes such as safety, cost-effectiveness, and minimal adverse effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of natural products on the development and progression of oral infectious diseases. Specifically, these products exert their influences by mitigating dental biofilm formation, impeding the proliferation of oral pathogens, and hindering bacterial adhesion to tooth surfaces. The review also encompasses an examination of the various classes of natural products, their antimicrobial mechanisms, and their potential therapeutic applications and limitations in the context of oral infections. The insights garnered from this review can support the promising application of natural products as viable therapeutic options for managing oral infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid38016137, year = {2023}, author = {Azarm, A and Koosha, M and Dalimi, A and Zahraie-Ramazani, A and Akhavan, AA and Saeidi, Z and Mohebali, M and Azam, K and Vatandoost, H and Oshaghi, MA}, title = {Association Between Wolbachia Infection and Susceptibility to Deltamethrin Insecticide in Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae), the Main Vector of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.}, journal = {Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1089/vbz.2023.0085}, pmid = {38016137}, issn = {1557-7759}, abstract = {Background: Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Wolbachia is a symbiotic alphaproteobacteria of arthropods that can be involved in susceptibility or resistance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Wolbachia and Deltamethrin susceptibility/resistance in Ph. papatasi. Deltamethrin filter papers (0.00002%) were used to test sand fly field collected from southern Iran. After the test, PCR amplification of the Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp) was used to measure Wolbachia infection rate in the killed, surviving, and control groups. Result: The rates of infection by Wolbachia strain (wPap, super group A) differed between killed (susceptible) and surviving (resistant) Ph. papatasi specimens. The rate of Wolbachia infection in susceptible individuals was more than twice (2.3) (39% vs. 17%) in resistant individuals with the same genetic background. This difference was highly significant (p < 0.001), indicating a positive association between Wolbachia infection and susceptibility to Deltamethrin. In addition, the results showed that Deltamethrin can act as a PCR inhibitor during detection of Wolbachia in Ph. papatasi. Conclusion: Results of this study show that Wolbachia is associated with Deltamethrin susceptibility level in Ph. papatasi. Also, as Deltamethrin has been identified as a PCR inhibitor, great care must be taken in interpreting Wolbachia infection status in infected populations. The results of this study may provide information for a better understanding of the host-symbiont relationship, as well as application of host symbiosis in pest management.}, } @article {pmid38014981, year = {2023}, author = {Ball, LM and Bronstein, E and Liechti, GW and Maurelli, AT}, title = {Neisseria gonorrhoeae drives Chlamydia trachomatis into a persistence-like state during in vitro co-infection.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0017923}, doi = {10.1128/iai.00179-23}, pmid = {38014981}, issn = {1098-5522}, abstract = {Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) globally. Despite frequent co-infections in patients, few studies have investigated how mono-infections may differ from co-infections. We hypothesized that a symbiotic relationship between the pathogens could account for the high rates of clinical co-infection. During in vitro co-infection, we observed an unexpected phenotype where the C. trachomatis developmental cycle was impaired by N. gonorrhoeae. C. trachomatis is an obligate intracellular pathogen with a unique biphasic developmental cycle progressing from infectious elementary bodies (EB) to replicative reticulate bodies (RB), and back. After 12 hours of co-infection, we observed fewer EBs than in a mono-infection. Chlamydial genome copy number remained equivalent between mono- and co-infections. This is a hallmark of Chlamydial persistence. Chlamydial persistence alters inclusion morphology but varies depending on the stimulus/stress. We observed larger, but fewer, Chlamydia during co-infection. Tryptophan depletion can induce Chlamydial persistence, but tryptophan supplementation did not reverse the co-infection phenotype. Only viable and actively growing N. gonorrhoeae produced the inhibition phenotype in C. trachomatis. Piliated N. gonorrhoeae had the strongest effect on C. trachomatis, but hyperpiliated or non-piliated N. gonorrhoeae still produced the phenotype. EB development was modestly impaired when N. gonorrhoeae were grown in transwells above the infected monolayer. C. trachomatis serovar L2 was not impaired during co-infection. Chlamydial impairment could be due to cytoskeletal or osmotic stress caused by an as-yet-undefined mechanism. We conclude that N. gonorrhoeae induces a persistence-like state in C. trachomatis that is serovar dependent.}, } @article {pmid38013749, year = {2023}, author = {Tran, TT and van Leeuwen, J and Tran, DTM and Bush, SR}, title = {Beyond compliance: public voluntary standards and their effect on state institutional capacity in Vietnam.}, journal = {Journal of environmental policy & planning}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {511-523}, pmid = {38013749}, issn = {1522-7200}, abstract = {Public certification standards have received limited scholarly attention, especially the institutional capacity of public authorities that develop and implement these standards to address complex challenges, such as the promotion of industrial ecology and industrial symbiosis for enhancing resource use efficiency. This research uses an institutional capacity assessment framework to examine the ways in which a voluntary public standard for certifying eco-industrial parks affected the Vietnamese state's capacity to coordinate and implement industrial ecology. The article draws upon the interviews and a review of official documentation to show that the benefits of public standards extend beyond compliance to the enhancement of state capacities to coordinate complex policy domains such as industrial ecology. The findings contribute to providing a basis to redesign standard-setting processes to move beyond end-user compliance and provide insights into how public actors can more effectively address 'systemic' sustainability challenges - from circular economy ambitions to the Sustainable Development Goals.}, } @article {pmid38013635, year = {2023}, author = {Ntui, VO and Tripathi, JN and Shah, T and Tripathi, L}, title = {Targeted knockout of early nodulin-like 3 (MusaENODL3) gene in banana reveals its function in resistance to Xanthomonas wilt disease.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pbi.14248}, pmid = {38013635}, issn = {1467-7652}, support = {//CGIAR research program for roots, tubers, and banana/ ; USAID//The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/ ; }, abstract = {Nodulins and nodulin-like proteins play an essential role in the symbiotic associations between legumes and Rhizobium bacteria. Their role extends beyond the leguminous species, as numerous nodulin-like proteins, including early nodulin-like proteins (ENODL), have been identified in various non-leguminous plants, implying their involvement in functions beyond nodulation, such as nutrient transport and growth modulation. Some ENODL proteins have been associated with plant defense against pathogens, as evident in banana infected with Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) causing banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease. Nonetheless, the specific role of ENODL in plant defense remains to be fully elucidated. The MusaENODL3 gene was found to be repressed in BXW-resistant banana progenitor 'Musa balbisiana' and 20-fold upregulated in BXW-susceptible cultivar 'Gonja Manjaya' upon early infection with Xcm. To further unravel the role of the ENODL gene in disease resistance, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was employed to disrupt the MusaENODL3 gene in 'Gonja Manjaya' precisely. Analysis of the enodl3 edited events confirmed the accurate manipulation of the MusaENODL3 gene. Disease resistance and gene expression analysis demonstrated that editing the MusaENODL3 gene resulted in resistance to BXW disease, with 50% of the edited plants remaining asymptomatic. The identification and manipulation of the MusaENODL3 gene highlight its potential as a critical player in plant-pathogen interactions, offering new opportunities for enhancing disease resistance in crops like banana, an important staple food crop and source of income for resource-poor farmers in the tropics. This study provides the first evidence of the direct role of the ENODL3 gene in developing disease-resistant plants.}, } @article {pmid38013492, year = {2023}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Binci, F and Navazio, L and Genre, A}, title = {Nonbinary fungal signals and calcium-mediated transduction in plant immunity and symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19433}, pmid = {38013492}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {PRID - BIRD180317//Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova/ ; PRID - BIRD214519//Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Padova/ ; //European Commission/ ; 2022NW97JX//Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca/ ; //Università di Torino - Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi/ ; }, abstract = {Chitin oligomers (COs) are among the most common and active fungal elicitors of plant responses. Short-chain COs from symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activate accommodation responses in the host root, while long-chain COs from pathogenic fungi are acknowledged to trigger defence responses. The modulation of intracellular calcium concentration - a common second messenger in a wide variety of plant signal transduction processes - plays a central role in both signalling pathways with distinct signature features. Nevertheless, mounting evidence suggests that plant immunity and symbiosis signalling partially overlap at multiple levels. We here elaborate on recent findings on this topic, highlighting the nonbinary nature of chitin-based fungal signals, their perception and their interpretation through Ca[2+] -mediated intracellular signals. Based on this, we propose that plant perception of symbiotic and pathogenic fungi is less clear-cut than previously described and involves a more complex scenario in which partially overlapping and blurred signalling mechanisms act upstream of the unambiguous regulation of gene expression driving accommodation or defence responses.}, } @article {pmid38011635, year = {2023}, author = {Choueiry, F and Gold, A and Xu, R and Zhang, S and Zhu, J}, title = {Secondary-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry-Based Online Analyses of Mouse Volatilome Uncover Gut Microbiome-Dictated Metabolic Changes in the Host.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/jasms.3c00304}, pmid = {38011635}, issn = {1879-1123}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between the gut microbial population is capable of regulating numerous aspects of host physiology, including metabolism. Bacteria can modulate the metabolic processes of the host by feeding on nutritional components within the lumen and releasing bioactive components into circulation. Endogenous volatile organic compound (VOC) synthesis is dependent on the availability of precursors found in mammalian metabolism. Herein, we report that microbial-mediated metabolic influences can alter the host volatilome and the prominent volatile changes can be uncovered by a novel volatile analysis technique named secondary electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Mice were subjected to an antibiotic cocktail to deplete the microbiome and then inoculated with either single strain bacteria or fecal matter transplantation (FMT) to replete the microbial population in the gut. VOC sampling was achieved by using an advanced secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) source that directly mounted onto a Thermo Q-Exactive high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). A principal component analysis summarizing the volatile profiles of the mice revealed independent clustering of each strain of the FMT-inoculated groups, suggesting unique volatile profiles. The Mummichog algorithm uncovered phenylalanine metabolism as a significantly altered metabolic profile in the volatilome of the microbiome-repleted mice. Our results indicated that the systemic metabolic changes incurred by the host are translated to unique volatile profiles correlated to the diversity of the microbial population colonized within the host. It is thus possible to take advantage of SESI-HRMS-based platforms for noninvasive screening of VOCs to determine the contribution of various microbial colonization within human gut that may impact host health.}, } @article {pmid38010368, year = {2023}, author = {Yeo, XY and Chae, WR and Lee, HU and Bae, HG and Pettersson, S and Grandjean, J and Han, W and Jung, S}, title = {Nuanced contribution of gut microbiome in the early brain development of mice.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {2283911}, doi = {10.1080/19490976.2023.2283911}, pmid = {38010368}, issn = {1949-0984}, abstract = {The complex symbiotic relationship between the mammalian body and gut microbiome plays a critical role in the health outcomes of offspring later in life. The gut microbiome modulates virtually all physiological functions through direct or indirect interactions to maintain physiological homeostasis. Previous studies indicate a link between maternal/early-life gut microbiome, brain development, and behavioral outcomes relating to social cognition. Here we present direct evidence of the role of the gut microbiome in brain development. Through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the impact of the gut microbiome on brain organization and structure using germ-free (GF) mice and conventionalized mice, with the gut microbiome reintroduced after weaning. We found broad changes in brain volume in GF mice that persist despite the reintroduction of gut microbes at weaning. These data suggest a direct link between the maternal gut or early-postnatal microbe and their impact on brain developmental programming.}, } @article {pmid38009998, year = {2023}, author = {Naka, H and Haygood, MG}, title = {The dual role of TonB genes in turnerbactin uptake and carbohydrate utilization in the shipworm symbiont Teredinibacter turnerae.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0074423}, doi = {10.1128/aem.00744-23}, pmid = {38009998}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {This study highlights diversity in iron acquisition and regulation in bacteria. The mechanisms of iron acquisition and its regulation in Teredinibacter turnerae, as well as its connection to cellulose utilization, a hallmark phenotype of T. turnerae, expand the paradigm of bacterial iron acquisition. Two of the four TonB genes identified in T. turnerae exhibit functional redundancy and play a crucial role in siderophore-mediated iron transport. Unlike typical TonB genes in bacteria, none of the TonB genes in T. turnerae are clearly iron regulated. This unusual regulation could be explained by another important finding in this study, namely, that the two TonB genes involved in iron transport are also essential for cellulose utilization as a carbon source, leading to the expression of TonB genes even under iron-rich conditions.}, } @article {pmid38009979, year = {2023}, author = {Roda, C and Clúa, J and Eylenstein, A and Greco, M and Ariel, F and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {The C subunit of the nuclear factor Y binds to the Cyclin P4;1 promoter to modulate nodule organogenesis and infection during symbiosis in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19419}, pmid = {38009979}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {PICT 2019/00029;//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT2020-00053//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; }, } @article {pmid38009302, year = {2023}, author = {Ferrer-Orgaz, S and Tiwari, M and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Pozas-Rodriguez, EA and Vernié, T and Rich, MK and Mbengue, M and Formey, D and Delaux, PM and Ané, JM and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Early Phosphorylated Protein 1 is required to activate the early rhizobial infection program.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19423}, pmid = {38009302}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {OPP1172165//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/ ; DE-SC0018247//DOE/ ; 101001675//European Union's Horizon 2020/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Laboratoire d'Excellence TULIP/ ; 2010789//NSF-IOS/ ; IN201320//Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica/ ; }, } @article {pmid38008224, year = {2023}, author = {Ruangwicha, J and Chiersilp, B and Suyotha, W}, title = {Green biorefinery of shrimp shell waste for α-chitin and high-value co-products through successive fermentation by co-lactic acid bacteria and proteolytic fungus.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130106}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130106}, pmid = {38008224}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Green biorefinery process was conducted to extract α-chitin and high-value co-products from shrimp shell waste through microbial fermentation using mature coconut water (MCW) as a sole nutrient source. Symbiotic co-lactic acid fermentation (Co-LAF) by Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus produced higher levels of lactic acid (LA) and protease activity than their mono-cultures, which led to greater demineralization (DM) and deproteinization (DP) of shrimp shell powder (SSP). After optimizing Co-LAF through Response Surface Methodology and successive fermentation by an acid-active proteolytic fungus Rhizopus oligosporus, the highest DM of 94.0 ± 0.91 % and DP of 86.7 ± 0.1 % were achieved. Based on FT-IR, XRD, and SEM analysis, the bio-extracted chitin had similar structural characteristics to commercial α-chitin but with better quality. These strategies not only contribute to environmentally-friendly and cost-effective extraction of α-chitin (303 ± 18 mg/g-SSP), but also co-produce LA (57.18 ± 0.89 g/L), acid protease (4.33 ± 0.5 U/mL), bio-calcium (277 ± 12 mg-CaSO4/g-SSP), protein hydrolysate (268 ± 5 mg/g-SSP), and pigments (28.78 ± 1.56 µg/g-SSP).}, } @article {pmid38008016, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, J and Miao, X and Li, X and Zhang, Y and Lou, Y and Chen, H and Liu, X}, title = {Granulomatous lobular mastitis co-existing with ductal carcinoma in situ: Report of three cases and review of the literature.}, journal = {Annals of diagnostic pathology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {152241}, doi = {10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2023.152241}, pmid = {38008016}, issn = {1532-8198}, abstract = {Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a benign and infrequent chronic breast ailment. Although this lesion can be clinically and radiographically mistaken for early-onset breast cancer, it is a rare occurrence for the two to coexist. This report describes three such cases. In all three patients, the primary signs and symptoms were related to the formation of diffuse breast masses or abscesses. Breast ultrasound and MRI revealed glandular edema and dilated breast ducts. The biopsies of all lesions exhibited both granulomatous inflammation confined to the lobules of the breast, abundant interstitial inflammatory cell infiltrates, and apparently cancerous cells located in dilated ducts with intact basement membranes. The surgically excised specimens confirmed the diagnosis of GLM and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in all three patients who underwent breast mass resection. By clinical imaging and clinical manifestations, GLM may obscure a concurrent DCIS, as highlighted by the cases reported herein.}, } @article {pmid38007735, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, Y and Liang, L and Liang, W}, title = {Exploring of Diverse Plant Communities and Adaptation to Drought Conditions Based on Advanced Logistics Model with Variable Growth.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {308}, number = {}, pages = {137-145}, doi = {10.3233/SHTI230834}, pmid = {38007735}, issn = {1879-8365}, abstract = {Bio reciprocal symbiosis is very common in nature, such as soybeans providing food for rhizobia, which uses atmospheric nitrogen to synthesize nitrogen to provide nutrients to soybeans. This paper proposes an advanced Logistic model that adjusts to changes in precipitation and an environmental capacity parameter that varies with the level of symbiosis. The aim is to precisely depict the symbiotic relationship between plants and the interplay among symbiosis, competition, and independent growth of each population in the plant community, as precipitation changes by adapting finite difference method and tertiary Hermit interpolation. The model in this paper offers a comprehensive understanding of how plant populations interact with one another, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of plant growth and development. This paper finally finds that a combination of woody and herbaceous plants had the highest growth rate and total biomass, while herbaceous-only plants required 7 times longer to reach environmental capacity. This paper also reveals that irregular weather patterns, and different levels of species biomass can have different impacts on the recovery time of plant communities after drought or damage, and different types of pollution can have various effects on the community's regeneration, while the effect of overgrazing is the smallest.}, } @article {pmid38007500, year = {2023}, author = {Matthews, JL and Hoch, L and Raina, JB and Pablo, M and Hughes, DJ and Camp, EF and Seymour, JR and Ralph, PJ and Suggett, DJ and Herdean, A}, title = {Symbiodiniaceae photophysiology and stress resilience is enhanced by microbial associations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {20724}, pmid = {38007500}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Temperature ; Bacteria ; Photosystem II Protein Complex ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae form associations with extra- and intracellular bacterial symbionts, both in culture and in symbiosis with corals. Bacterial associates can regulate Symbiodiniaceae fitness in terms of growth, calcification and photophysiology. However, the influence of these bacteria on interactive stressors, such as temperature and light, which are known to influence Symbiodiniaceae physiology, remains unclear. Here, we examined the photophysiological response of two Symbiodiniaceae species (Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Breviolum minutum) cultured under acute temperature and light stress with specific bacterial partners from their microbiome (Labrenzia (Roseibium) alexandrii, Marinobacter adhaerens or Muricauda aquimarina). Overall, bacterial presence positively impacted Symbiodiniaceae core photosynthetic health (photosystem II [PSII] quantum yield) and photoprotective capacity (non-photochemical quenching; NPQ) compared to cultures with all extracellular bacteria removed, although specific benefits were variable across Symbiodiniaceae genera and growth phase. Symbiodiniaceae co-cultured with M. aquimarina displayed an inverse NPQ response under high temperatures and light, and those with L. alexandrii demonstrated a lowered threshold for induction of NPQ, potentially through the provision of antioxidant compounds such as zeaxanthin (produced by Muricauda spp.) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP; produced by this strain of L. alexandrii). Our co-culture approach empirically demonstrates the benefits bacteria can deliver to Symbiodiniaceae photochemical performance, providing evidence that bacterial associates can play important functional roles for Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid38007126, year = {2023}, author = {Förster, F and Reynaud, S and Sauzéat, L and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Samankassou, E and Sheldrake, TE}, title = {Increased coral biomineralization due to enhanced symbiotic activity upon volcanic ash exposure.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {168694}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168694}, pmid = {38007126}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Coral reefs, which are among the most productive ecosystems on earth, are in global decline due to rapid climate change. Volcanic activity also results in extreme environmental changes at local to global scales, and may have significant impacts on coral reefs compared to other natural disturbances. During explosive eruptions, large amounts of volcanic ash are generated, significantly disrupting ecosystems close to a volcano, and depositing ash over distal areas (10s - 1000s of km depending on i.a. eruption size and wind direction). Once volcanic ash interacts with seawater, the dissolution of metals leads to a rapid change in the geochemical properties of the seawater column. Here, we report the first known effects of volcanic ash on the physiology and elemental cycling of a symbiotic scleractinian coral under laboratory conditions. Nubbins of the branching coral Stylophora pistillata were reared in aquaria under controlled conditions (insolation, temperature, and pH), while environmental parameters, effective quantum yield, and skeletal growth rate were monitored. Half the aquaria were exposed to volcanic ash every other day for 6 weeks (250 mg L[-1] week[-1]), which induced significant changes in the fluorescence-derived photochemical parameters (ΦPSII, Fv/Fm, NPQ, rETR), directly enhanced the efficiency of symbiont photosynthesis (Pg, Pn), and lead to increased biomineralization rates. Enhancement of symbiont photosynthesis is induced by the supply of essential metals (Fe and Mn), derived from volcanic ash leaching in ambient seawater or within the organism following ingestion. The beneficial role of volcanic ash as an important micronutrient source is supported by the fact that neither photophysiological stress nor signs of lipid peroxidation were detected. Subaerial volcanism affects micronutrient cycling in the coral ecosystem, but the implication for coral ecophysiology on a reef scale remains to be tested. Nevertheless, exposure to volcanic ash can improve coral health and thus influence resilience to external stressors.}, } @article {pmid38006561, year = {2024}, author = {Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Isolation of Phage WO Particles from Wolbachia-Infected Arthropods.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2739}, number = {}, pages = {337-348}, pmid = {38006561}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Prophages ; Myoviridae ; }, abstract = {Nearly all arthropod-associated Wolbachia contain intact and/or genomic remnants of phage WO, temperate bacteriophages that facilitate horizontal gene transfer, genomic rearrangement of the bacterial chromosome, and symbiotic interactions between Wolbachia and their arthropod hosts. Integrated prophage WO genomes produce active, lytic particles; but the lack of a cell-free culturing system for Wolbachia render them difficult to purify and study. This chapter describes polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation of phage particles from Wolbachia-infected arthropods, followed by confirmation of phage WO isolation and purification using electron microscopy and PCR.}, } @article {pmid38006559, year = {2024}, author = {Cortez, CT and Murphy, RO and Owens, IM and Beckmann, JF}, title = {Use of Drosophila Transgenics to Identify Functions for Symbiont Effectors.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2739}, number = {}, pages = {301-320}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-3553-7_18}, pmid = {38006559}, issn = {1940-6029}, abstract = {Wolbachia, one of the most successful and studied insect symbionts, and Drosophila, one of the most understood model insects, can be exploited as complementary tools to unravel mechanisms of insect symbiosis. Although Wolbachia itself cannot be grown axenically as clonal isolates or genetically manipulated by standard methods, its reproductive phenotypes, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), have been elucidated using well-developed molecular tools and precise transgenic manipulations available for Drosophila melanogaster. Current research only scratches the surface of how Drosophila can provide a tool for understanding Wolbachia's evolutionary success and the molecular roles of its genetic elements. Here, we briefly outline basic methodologies inherent to transgenic Drosophila systems that have already contributed significant advances in understanding CI, but may be unfamiliar to those who lack experience in Drosophila genetics. In the future, these approaches will continue providing significant insights into Wolbachia that undoubtedly will be extended to other insect symbionts and their biological capabilities.}, } @article {pmid38006556, year = {2024}, author = {Duplouy, A}, title = {Validating a Mitochondrial Sweep Accompanying the Rapid Spread of a Maternally Inherited Symbiont.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2739}, number = {}, pages = {239-247}, pmid = {38006556}, issn = {1940-6029}, abstract = {Maternally inherited symbiotic bacteria that interfere with the reproduction of their hosts can contribute to selective sweeps of mitochondrial haplotypes through hitch-hiking or coordinate inheritance of cytoplasmic bacteria and host mitochondria. The sweep will be manifested by genetic variations of mitochondrial genomic DNA of symbiont-infected hosts relative to their uninfected counterparts. In particular, at the population level, infected specimens will show a reduced mitochondrial DNA polymorphism compared to that in the nuclear DNA. This may challenge the use of mitochondrial DNA sequences as neutral genetic markers, as the mitochondrial patterns will reflect the evolutionary history of parasitism, rather than the sole evolutionary history of the host. Here, I describe a detailed step-by-step procedure to infer the occurrence and timing of symbiont-induced mitochondrial sweeps in host species.}, } @article {pmid38006552, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, M and Xi, Z}, title = {Wolbachia Transinfection Via Embryonic Microinjection.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2739}, number = {}, pages = {175-188}, pmid = {38006552}, issn = {1940-6029}, abstract = {The process of transferring Wolbachia from one species to another to establish a stable, maternally inherited infection in the target species is known as transinfection. The success of transinfection is primarily achieved through embryonic microinjection, which is the most direct and efficient means of delivering Wolbachia into the germline of the target species and establishing stable maternal transmission. For the fundamental studies, transinfection is often used to characterize Wolbachia-host interactions, including Wolbachia host range, the role of host or bacterial factors in symbiosis, and evolution of Wolbachia-host associations. For the applied studies, use of transinfection to generate a novel infection in the target species is the first step to build the weapon for both population replacement and population suppression for controlling insect pests or their transmitted diseases. For the primary dengue vector Aedes aegypti and Anopheles vectors of malaria, which either do not naturally carry Wolbachia or are infected with strains that lack necessary features for implementation, transinfection can be established by introducing a novel strain capable of inducing both cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and pathogen blocking. For A. albopictus and Culex mosquito species, which naturally harbor CI-inducing Wolbachia, transinfection can be achieved by either introducing a novel strain to generate superinfection or replacing the native infection with a different Wolbachia strain in a symbiont-free line, which is derived from antibiotic treatment of the wild type. Here, we use A. aegypti as an example to describe the Wolbachia transinfection method, which can be adapted to other insect species, such as planthoppers, according to their specific developmental requirements.}, } @article {pmid38006547, year = {2024}, author = {Kakumanu, ML and Hickin, ML and Schal, C}, title = {Detection, Quantification, and Elimination of Wolbachia in Bed Bugs.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2739}, number = {}, pages = {97-114}, pmid = {38006547}, issn = {1940-6029}, abstract = {Wolbachia is an obligatory nutritional symbiont of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, providing B-vitamins to its host. The biological significance of Wolbachia to bed bugs is investigated primarily by eliminating the symbiont with antibiotics, which is followed by confirmation with molecular assays. In this chapter, we describe a protocol for eliminating Wolbachia in bed bugs using the ansamycin antibiotic rifampicin (also known as rifampin) and three molecular methods to accurately detect and quantify the Wolbachia gene copies in bed bug samples. We describe the digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), a highly sensitive technique for absolute quantification of low abundance target genes, which has proven to be a valuable technique for confirmation of the elimination of Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid38006542, year = {2024}, author = {Fallon, AM}, title = {Wolbachia: Advancing into a Second Century.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2739}, number = {}, pages = {1-13}, pmid = {38006542}, issn = {1940-6029}, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis had its scientific debut nearly a century ago and has recently emerged as a target for therapeutic treatment of filarial infections and an attractive tool for control of arthropod pests. Wolbachia was known as a biological entity before DNA was recognized as the molecule that carries the genetic information on which life depends, and before arthropods and nematodes were grouped in the Ecdysozoa. Today, some investigators consider Wolbachia the most abundant endosymbiont on earth, given the numbers of its hosts and its diverse mutualistic, commensal, and parasitic roles in their life histories. Recent advances in molecular technologies have revolutionized our understanding of Wolbachia and its associated reproductive phenotypes. New models have emerged for its investigation, and substantial progress has been made towards Wolbachia-based interventions in medicine and agriculture. Here I introduce Wolbachia, with a focus on aspects of its biology that are covered in greater detail in subsequent chapters.}, } @article {pmid38006236, year = {2023}, author = {Watanabe, D}, title = {Sake yeast symbiosis with lactic acid bacteria and alcoholic fermentation.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbad167}, pmid = {38006236}, issn = {1347-6947}, abstract = {The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays a pivotal role in the production of fermented foods by converting sugars in ingredients into ethanol through alcoholic fermentation. However, how accurate is our understanding of its biological significance? Although yeast is essential to produce alcoholic beverages and bioethanol, yeast does not yield ethanol for humankind. Yeast obtains energy in the form of ATP for its own vital processes through alcoholic fermentation, which generates ethanol as a byproduct. The production of ethanol may have more significance for yeast, since many other organisms do not produce ethanol, a highly toxic substance, to obtain energy. The key to address this issue has not been found using conventional microbiology, where yeasts are isolated and cultured in pure form. This review focuses on a possible novel role of yeast alcohol fermentation, which is revealed through our recent studies of microbial interactions.}, } @article {pmid38006200, year = {2023}, author = {Houldcroft, CJ and Underdown, S}, title = {Infectious disease in the Pleistocene: Old friends or old foes?.}, journal = {American journal of biological anthropology}, volume = {182}, number = {4}, pages = {513-531}, doi = {10.1002/ajpa.24737}, pmid = {38006200}, issn = {2692-7691}, support = {//Oxford Brookes University/ ; }, abstract = {The impact of endemic and epidemic disease on humans has traditionally been seen as a comparatively recent historical phenomenon associated with the Neolithisation of human groups, an increase in population size led by sedentarism, and increasing contact with domesticated animals as well as species occupying opportunistic symbiotic and ectosymbiotic relationships with humans. The orthodox approach is that Neolithisation created the conditions for increasing population size able to support a reservoir of infectious disease sufficient to act as selective pressure. This orthodoxy is the result of an overly simplistic reliance on skeletal data assuming that no skeletal lesions equated to a healthy individual, underpinned by the assumption that hunter-gatherer groups were inherently healthy while agricultural groups acted as infectious disease reservoirs. The work of van Blerkom, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., vol. suppl 37 (2003), Wolfe et al., Nature, vol. 447 (2007) and Houldcroft and Underdown, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., vol. 160, (2016) has changed this landscape by arguing that humans and pathogens have long been fellow travelers. The package of infectious diseases experienced by our ancient ancestors may not be as dissimilar to modern infectious diseases as was once believed. The importance of DNA, from ancient and modern sources, to the study of the antiquity of infectious disease, and its role as a selective pressure cannot be overstated. Here we consider evidence of ancient epidemic and endemic infectious diseases with inferences from modern and ancient human and hominin DNA, and from circulating and extinct pathogen genomes. We argue that the pandemics of the past are a vital tool to unlock the weapons needed to fight pandemics of the future.}, } @article {pmid38005785, year = {2023}, author = {Amoako, FK and Sulieman, S and Mühling, KH}, title = {Mineral and Carbon Metabolic Adjustments in Nodules of Symbiotically Grown Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties in Response to Organic Phosphorus Supplementation.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {38005785}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a major limiting factor for legume and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Although overall adaptations of legumes to P supplementation have been extensively studied in connection with inorganic P, little information is currently available regarding nodulation or SNF responses to organic P (Po) in hydroponics. We investigated the mineral and carbon metabolism of Po-induced nodules of two contrasting faba bean varieties grown hydroponically under inorganic P (Pi), viz., in P-deficient (2 µM KH2PO4, -Pi), sufficient-P (200 µM KH2PO4, +Pi), and phytic acid (200 µM, Po) conditions, and were inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 and grown for 30 days. The results consistently reveal similar growth and biomass partitioning patterns between +Pi and Po, with both varying substantially from -Pi. In comparison, +Pi and Po observed equivalent accumulations of overall elemental P concentrations, with both increasing by 114 and 119%, respectively, relative to -Pi. A principal component analysis on metabolites showed a clear separation of the -Pi treatment from the others, with +Pi and Po correlating closely together, highlighting the nonsignificant differences between them. Additionally, the δ[15]N abundance of shoots, roots, and nodules was not significantly different between treatments and varieties and exhibited negative δ[15]N signatures for all tissues. Our study provides a novel perspective on mineral and carbon metabolism and their regulation of the growth, functioning, and reprogramming of nodules upon phytate supply.}, } @article {pmid38004797, year = {2023}, author = {Ngwenya, ZD and Dakora, FD}, title = {Symbiotic Functioning and Photosynthetic Rates Induced by Rhizobia Associated with Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) Nodulation in Eswatini.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {38004797}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Improving the efficiency of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis in African soils for increased grain yield would require the use of highly effective strains capable of nodulating a wide range of legume plants. This study assessed the photosynthetic functioning, N2 fixation, relative symbiotic effectiveness (%RSE) and C assimilation of 22 jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) microsymbionts in Eswatini soils as a first step to identifying superior isolates for inoculant production. The results showed variable nodule number, nodule dry matter, shoot biomass and photosynthetic rates among the strains tested under glasshouse conditions. Both symbiotic parameters and C accumulation differed among the test isolates at the shoot, root and whole-plant levels. Although 7 of the 22 jack bean isolates showed much greater relative symbiotic efficiency than the commercial Bradyrhizobium strain XS21, only one isolate (TUTCEeS2) was statistically superior to the inoculant strain, which indicates its potential for use in inoculant formulation after field testing. Furthermore, the isolates that recorded high %RSE elicited greater amounts of fixed N.}, } @article {pmid38004772, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, P and Meng, S and Bao, G and Li, Y and Feng, X and Lu, H and Ma, J and Wei, X and Liu, W}, title = {Effect of Epichloë Endophyte on the Growth and Carbon Allocation of Its Host Plant Stipa purpurea under Hemiparasitic Root Stress.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {38004772}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {2022-ZJ-715//the basic research program of science and technology of Qinghai Province, China/ ; 32060398 and U21A20239//The Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes not only affect the growth and resistance of their host plants but also confer nutrient benefits to parasitized hosts. In this study, we used Pedicularis kansuensis to parasitize Stipa purpurea, both with and without endophytic fungi, and to establish a parasitic system. In this study, endophytic fungal infection was found to increase the dry weight of the leaf, stem, and leaf sheath, as well as the plant height, root length, tiller number, aboveground biomass, and underground biomass of S. purpurea under root hemiparasitic stress. Meanwhile, the [13]C allocation of the leaf sheaths and roots of S. purpurea increased as the density of P. kansuensis increased, while the [13]C allocation of the leaf sheaths and roots of E+ S. purpurea was lower than that of E- S. purpurea. The [13]C allocation of the stem, leaf sheath, and root of E+ S. purpurea was higher than that of its E- counterpart. Furthermore, the content of photosynthetic [13]C and the [13]C partition rate of the stems, leaves, roots, and entire plant of S. purpurea and P. kansuensis transferred from S. purpurea increased as the density of P. kansuensis increased. These results will generate new insights into the potential role of symbiotic microorganisms in regulating the interaction between root hemiparasites and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid38004718, year = {2023}, author = {Kampen, H and Werner, D}, title = {Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as Vectors of Viruses.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {38004718}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Biting midges of the genus Culicoides occur almost globally and can regionally and seasonally reach high abundances. Most species are hematophagous, feeding on all groups of vertebrates, including humans. In addition to being nuisance pests, they are able to transmit disease agents, with some viruses causing high morbidity and/or mortality in ruminants, horses and humans. Despite their impact on animal husbandry, public health and tourism, knowledge on the biology and ecology of culicoid biting midges and their interactions with ingested pathogens or symbiotic microorganisms is limited. Research is challenging due to unknown larval habitats, the insects' tiny size, the inability to establish and breed most species in the laboratory and the laborious maintenance of colonies of the few species that can be reared in the laboratory. Consequently, the natural transmission of pathogens has experimentally been demonstrated for few species while, for others, only indirect evidence of vector potential exists. Most experimental data are available for Culicoides sonorensis and C. nubeculosus, the only species kept in western-world insectaries. This contribution gives an overview on important biting midge vectors, transmitted viruses, culicoid-borne viral diseases and their epidemiologies and summarizes the little knowledge on interactions between biting midges, their microflora and culicoid-borne arboviruses.}, } @article {pmid38004678, year = {2023}, author = {Mondal, S and Somani, J and Roy, S and Babu, A and Pandey, AK}, title = {Insect Microbial Symbionts: Ecology, Interactions, and Biological Significance.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11112665}, pmid = {38004678}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {BT/PR45283/NER/95/1919/2022//Department of Biotechnology/ ; }, abstract = {The guts of insect pests are typical habitats for microbial colonization and the presence of bacterial species inside the gut confers several potential advantages to the insects. These gut bacteria are located symbiotically inside the digestive tracts of insects and help in food digestion, phytotoxin breakdown, and pesticide detoxification. Different shapes and chemical assets of insect gastrointestinal tracts have a significant impact on the structure and makeup of the microbial population. The number of microbial communities inside the gastrointestinal system differs owing to the varying shape and chemical composition of digestive tracts. Due to their short generation times and rapid evolutionary rates, insect gut bacteria can develop numerous metabolic pathways and can adapt to diverse ecological niches. In addition, despite hindering insecticide management programs, they still have several biotechnological uses, including industrial, clinical, and environmental uses. This review discusses the prevalent bacterial species associated with insect guts, their mode of symbiotic interaction, their role in insecticide resistance, and various other biological significance, along with knowledge gaps and future perspectives. The practical consequences of the gut microbiome and its interaction with the insect host may lead to encountering the mechanisms behind the evolution of pesticide resistance in insects.}, } @article {pmid38004180, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, J and Ho, V}, title = {Role of Baseline Gut Microbiota on Response to Fiber Intervention in Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {22}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu15224786}, pmid = {38004180}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {Investigator Initiated Funding Scheme//Nestlé Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent functional gut disorders in the world. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum, a low-viscosity soluble fiber, has shown promise in the management of IBS-related symptoms. In this study, we aimed to determine if an individual's baseline gut microbiota impacted their response to a partially hydrolyzed guar gum intervention. Patients diagnosed with IBS undertook a 90-day intervention and follow-up. IBS symptom severity, tolerability, quality-of-life, and fecal microbiome composition were recorded during this study. Patients with normal microbiota diversity (Shannon index ≥ 3) showed significant improvements to IBS symptom scores, quality-of-life, and better tolerated the intervention compared to patients with low microbiota diversity (Shannon index < 3). Our findings suggest that an individual's baseline microbiome composition exerts a substantial influence on their response to fiber intervention. Future investigations should explore a symbiotic approach to the treatment of IBS.}, } @article {pmid38003711, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Z and Yu, T and Li, F and Zhang, Y and Liu, C and Chen, Q and Xin, D}, title = {NopC/T/L Signal Crosstalk Gene GmPHT1-4.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {22}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms242216521}, pmid = {38003711}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {National Natural Science Foundation of China//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; High oil and yield germplasm development and breeding utilization//High oil and yield germplasm development and breeding utilization/ ; National Key Research and Development Program of China//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nodulation between leguminous plants and rhizobia is a critical biological interaction. The type III secretion system (T3SS) employed by rhizobia manipulates the host's nodulation signaling, analogous to mechanisms used by certain bacterial pathogens for effector protein delivery into host cells. This investigation explores the interactive signaling among type III effectors HH103ΩNopC, HH103ΩNopT, and HH103ΩNopL from SinoRhizobium fredii HH103. Experimental results revealed that these effectors positively regulate nodule formation. Transcriptomic analysis pinpointed GmPHT1-4 as the key gene facilitating this effector-mediated signaling. Overexpression of GmPHT1-4 enhances nodulation, indicating a dual function in nodulation and phosphorus homeostasis. This research elucidates the intricate regulatory network governing Rhizobium-soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) interactions and the complex interplay between type III effectors.}, } @article {pmid38003367, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, D and Wu, Q and Zhao, Y and Yan, Z and Xiao, A and Yu, H and Cao, Y}, title = {Dual RNA-Seq Analysis Pinpoints a Balanced Regulation between Symbiosis and Immunity in Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti Symbiotic Nodules.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {22}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms242216178}, pmid = {38003367}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {32090063//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32000191//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; AML2023B01//self-inovation project from the national laboratory/ ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobial symbiosis initiates the formation of root nodules, within which rhizobia reside and differentiate into bacteroids to convert nitrogen into ammonium, facilitating plant growth. This process raises a fundamental question: how is plant immunity modulated within nodules when exposed to a substantial number of foreign bacteria? In Medicago truncatula, a mutation in the NAD1 (Nodules with Activated Defense 1) gene exclusively results in the formation of necrotic nodules combined with activated immunity, underscoring the critical role of NAD1 in suppressing immunity within nodules. In this study, we employed a dual RNA-seq transcriptomic technology to comprehensively analyze gene expression from both hosts and symbionts in the nad1-1 mutant nodules at different developmental stages (6 dpi and 10 dpi). We identified 89 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to symbiotic nitrogen fixation and 89 DEGs from M. truncatula associated with immunity in the nad1-1 nodules. Concurrently, we identified 27 rhizobial DEGs in the fix and nif genes of Sinorhizobium meliloti. Furthermore, we identified 56 DEGs from S. meliloti that are related to stress responses to ROS and NO. Our analyses of nitrogen fixation-defective plant nad1-1 mutants with overactivated defenses suggest that the host employs plant immunity to regulate the substantial bacterial colonization in nodules. These findings shed light on the role of NAD1 in inhibiting the plant's immune response to maintain numerous rhizobial endosymbiosis in nodules.}, } @article {pmid38003319, year = {2023}, author = {Svietlova, N and Reichelt, M and Zhyr, L and Majumder, A and Scholz, SS and Grabe, V and Krapp, A and Oelmüller, R and Mithöfer, A}, title = {The Beneficial Fungus Mortierella hyalina Modulates Amino Acid Homeostasis in Arabidopsis under Nitrogen Starvation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {22}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms242216128}, pmid = {38003319}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {A139316//Volkswagen Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Non-mycorrhizal but beneficial fungi often mitigate (a)biotic stress-related traits in host plants. The underlying molecular mechanisms are mostly still unknown, as in the interaction between the endophytic growth-promoting soil fungus Mortierella hyalina and Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, abiotic stress in the form of nitrogen (N) deficiency was used to investigate the effects of the fungus on colonized plants. In particular, the hypothesis was investigated that fungal infection could influence N deficiency via an interaction with the high-affinity nitrate transporter NRT2.4, which is induced by N deficiency. For this purpose, Arabidopsis wild-type nrt2.4 knock-out and NRT2.4 reporter lines were grown on media with different nitrate concentrations with or without M. hyalina colonization. We used chemical analysis methods to determine the amino acids and phytohormones. Experimental evidence suggests that the fungus does not modulate NRT2.4 expression under N starvation. Instead, M. hyalina alleviates N starvation in other ways: The fungus supplies nitrogen ([15]N) to the N-starved plant. The presence of the fungus restores the plants' amino acid homeostasis, which was out of balance due to N deficiency, and causes a strong accumulation of branched-chain amino acids. We conclude that the plant does not need to invest in defense and resources for growth are maintained, which in turn benefits the fungus, suggesting that this interaction should be considered a mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38003254, year = {2023}, author = {Kaya, C and Uğurlar, F and Adamakis, IS}, title = {Epigenetic and Hormonal Modulation in Plant-Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganism Symbiosis for Drought-Resilient Agriculture.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {22}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms242216064}, pmid = {38003254}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) have emerged as valuable allies for enhancing plant growth, health, and productivity across diverse environmental conditions. However, the complex molecular mechanisms governing plant-PGPM symbiosis under the climatic hazard of drought, which is critically challenging global food security, remain largely unknown. This comprehensive review explores the involved molecular interactions that underpin plant-PGPM partnerships during drought stress, thereby offering insights into hormonal regulation and epigenetic modulation. This review explores the challenges and prospects associated with optimizing and deploying PGPMs to promote sustainable agriculture in the face of drought stress. In summary, it offers strategic recommendations to propel research efforts and facilitate the practical implementation of PGPMs, thereby enhancing their efficacy in mitigating drought-detrimental effects in agricultural soils.}, } @article {pmid38002796, year = {2023}, author = {Wong, PY and Yip, C and Lemberg, DA and Day, AS and Leach, ST}, title = {Evolution of a Pathogenic Microbiome.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {12}, number = {22}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jcm12227184}, pmid = {38002796}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {The process of microbiome development arguably begins before birth. Vertical transmission of bacteria from the mother to the infant is a keystone event in microbiome development. Subsequent to birth, the developing microbiome is vulnerable to influence from a wide range of factors. Additionally, the microbiome can influence the health and development of the host infant. This intricate interaction of the gastrointestinal microbiome and the host has been described as both symbiotic and dysbiotic. Defining these terms, a symbiotic microbiome is where the microbiome and host provide mutual benefit to each other. A pathogenic microbiome, or more precisely a gastrointestinal microbiome associated with disease, is increasing described as dysbiotic. This review seeks to investigate the factors that contribute to evolving a disease-causing or 'dysbiotic' microbiome. This review covers the development of the gastrointestinal microbiome in infants, the interaction of the microbiome with the host, and its contribution to host immunity and investigates specific features of the gastrointestinal microbiome that are associated with disease.}, } @article {pmid38002331, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, H and Li, Y and Yin, Y and Li, J and Li, L and Wu, K and Fang, L and Zeng, S}, title = {Gibberellic Acid Inhibits Dendrobium nobile-Piriformospora Symbiosis by Regulating the Expression of Cell Wall Metabolism Genes.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biom13111649}, pmid = {38002331}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {2022B1111040003//the Guangdong Research and Development Program of Key Areas/ ; E11510BH01//the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2022KJ121//the Guangdong Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Program/ ; }, abstract = {Orchid seeds lack endosperms and depend on mycorrhizal fungi for germination and nutrition acquisition under natural conditions. Piriformospora indica is a mycorrhizal fungus that promotes seed germination and seedling development in epiphytic orchids, such as Dendrobium nobile. To understand the impact of P. indica on D. nobile seed germination, we examined endogenous hormone levels by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We performed transcriptomic analysis of D. nobile protocorm at two developmental stages under asymbiotic germination (AG) and symbiotic germination (SG) conditions. The result showed that the level of endogenous IAA in the SG protocorm treatments was significantly higher than that in the AG protocorm treatments. Meanwhile, GA3 was only detected in the SG protocorm stages. IAA and GA synthesis and signaling genes were upregulated in the SG protocorm stages. Exogenous GA3 application inhibited fungal colonization inside the protocorm, and a GA biosynthesis inhibitor (PAC) promoted fungal colonization. Furthermore, we found that PAC prevented fungal hyphae collapse and degeneration in the protocorm, and differentially expressed genes related to cell wall metabolism were identified between the SG and AG protocorm stages. Exogenous GA3 upregulated SRC2 and LRX4 expression, leading to decreased fungal colonization. Meanwhile, GA inhibitors upregulated EXP6, EXB16, and EXP10-2 expression, leading to increased fungal colonization. Our findings suggest that GA regulates the expression of cell wall metabolism genes in D. nobile, thereby inhibiting the establishment of mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38001333, year = {2023}, author = {Güngör, B and Biró, JB and Domonkos, Á and Horváth, B and Kaló, P}, title = {Targeted mutagenesis of Medicago truncatula Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich (NCR) genes using the Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 system.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {20676}, pmid = {38001333}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {OTKA 119652//Hungarian National Research Fund/National Research, Development and Innovation Office/ ; 129547//Hungarian National Research Fund/National Research, Development and Innovation Office/ ; 132646//Hungarian National Research Fund/National Research, Development and Innovation Office/ ; HUN17-03//Collaborative Research Programme ICGEB/ ; }, abstract = {The host-produced nodule specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides control the terminal differentiation of endosymbiotic rhizobia in the nodules of IRLC legumes. Although the Medicago truncatula genome encodes about 700 NCR peptides, only few of them have been proven to be crucial for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. In this study, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to generate knockout mutants of NCR genes for which no genetic or functional data were previously available. We have developed a workflow to analyse the mutation and the symbiotic phenotype of individual nodules formed on Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transgenic hairy roots. The selected NCR genes were successfully edited by the CRISPR/Cas9 system and nodules formed on knockout hairy roots showed wild type phenotype indicating that peptides NCR068, NCR089, NCR128 and NCR161 are not essential for symbiosis between M. truncatula Jemalong and Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419. We regenerated stable mutants edited for the NCR068 from hairy roots obtained by A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation. The analysis of the symbiotic phenotype of stable ncr068 mutants showed that peptide NCR068 is not required for symbiosis with S. meliloti strains 2011 and FSM-MA either. Our study reports that gene editing can help to elicit the role of certain NCRs in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid38000723, year = {2023}, author = {Mao, Q and Xie, Z and Pinzon-Nuñez, DA and Issaka, S and Liu, T and Zhang, L and Irshad, S}, title = {Leptolyngbya sp. XZMQ and Bacillus XZM co-inoculation reduced sunflower arsenic toxicity by regulating rhizosphere microbial structure and enzyme activity.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {123001}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123001}, pmid = {38000723}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Microorganisms are of great significance for arsenic (As) toxicity amelioration in plants as soil fertility is directly affected by microbes. In this study, we innovatively explored the effects of indigenous cyanobacteria (Leptolyngbya sp. XZMQ) and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) (Bacillus XZM) on the growth and As absorption of sunflower plants from As-contaminated soil. Results showed that single inoculation and co-inoculation stimulated the growth of sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.), enhanced enzyme activities, and reduced As contents. In comparison to the control group, single innoculation of microalgae and bacteria in the rhizosphere increased extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by 21.99% and 14.36%, respectively, whereas co-inoculation increased them by 35%. Compared with the non-inoculated group, As concentration in the roots, stems and leaves of sunflower plants decreased by 38%, 70% and 41%, respectively, under co-inoculation conditions. Inoculation of Leptolyngbya sp. XZMQ significantly increased the abundance of nifH in soil, while co-inoculation of cyanobacteria and Bacillus XZM significantly increased the abundance of cbbL, indicating that the coupling of Leptolyngbya sp. XZMQ and Bacillus XZM could stimulate the activity of nitrogen-fixing and carbon-fixing microorganisms and increased soil fertility. Moreover, this co-inoculation increased the enzyme activities (catalase, sucrase, urease) in the rhizosphere soil of sunflower and reduced the toxic effect of As on plant. Among these, the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase decreased. Meanwhile, co-inoculation enables cyanobacteria and bacteria to attach and entangle in the root area of the plant and develop as symbiotic association, which reduced As toxicity. Co-inoculation increased the abundance of aioA, arrA, arsC, and arsM genes in soil, especially the abundance of microorganisms with aioA and arsM, which reduced the mobility and bioavailability of As in soil, hence, reduced the absorption of As by plants. This study provides a theoretical basis for soil microbial remediation in mining areas.}, } @article {pmid38001306, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Wu, Y and Yang, Z and Shi, R and Zhang, L and Feng, Z and Wei, G and Chou, M}, title = {The Rpf107 gene, a homolog of LOR, is required for the symbiotic nodulation of Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {259}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {38001306}, issn = {1432-2048}, support = {41977052//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2020ZDLNY07-09//Key Research & Development program of Shaanxi Province/ ; }, abstract = {Rpf107 is involved in the infection process of rhizobia and the maintenance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in black locust root nodules. The LURP-one related (LOR) protein family plays a pivotal role in mediating plant defense responses against both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, our understanding of its function in the symbiotic interaction between legumes and rhizobia remains limited. Here, Rpf107, a homolog of LOR, was identified in Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust). The subcellular localization of Rpf107 was analyzed, and its function was investigated using RNA interference (RNAi) and overexpression techniques. The subcellular localization assay revealed that Rpf107 was mainly distributed in the plasma membrane and nucleus. Rpf107 silencing prevented rhizobial infection and hampered plant growth. The number of infected cells in the nitrogen fixation zone of the Rpf107-RNAi nodules was also noticeably lower than that in the control nodules. Notably, Rpf107 silencing resulted in bacteroid degradation and the premature aging of nodules. In contrast, the overexpression of Rpf107 delayed the senescence of nodules and prolonged the nitrogen-fixing ability of nodules. These results demonstrate that Rpf107 was involved in the infection of rhizobia and the maintenance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in black locust root nodules. The findings reveal that a member of the LOR protein family plays a role in leguminous root nodule symbiosis, which is helpful to clarify the functions of plant LOR protein family and fully understand the molecular mechanisms underlying legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid38001080, year = {2023}, author = {Choi, W and Mangal, U and Park, JY and Kim, JY and Jun, T and Jung, JW and Choi, M and Jung, S and Lee, M and Na, JY and Ryu, DY and Kim, JM and Kwon, JS and Koh, WG and Lee, S and Hwang, PTJ and Lee, KJ and Jung, UW and Cha, JK and Choi, SH and Hong, J}, title = {Occlusive membranes for guided regeneration of inflamed tissue defects.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {7687}, pmid = {38001080}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {KRIT-CT-21-034//Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea | Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)/ ; NRF-2022K2A9A1A0609182711//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; HI22C1609//Ministry of Health and Welfare (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs)/ ; }, abstract = {Guided bone regeneration aided by the application of occlusive membranes is a promising therapy for diverse inflammatory periodontal diseases. Symbiosis, homeostasis between the host microbiome and cells, occurs in the oral environment under normal, but not pathologic, conditions. Here, we develop a symbiotically integrating occlusive membrane by mimicking the tooth enamel growth or multiple nucleation biomineralization processes. We perform human saliva and in vivo canine experiments to confirm that the symbiotically integrating occlusive membrane induces a symbiotic healing environment. Moreover, we show that the membrane exhibits tractability and enzymatic stability, maintaining the healing space during the entire guided bone regeneration therapy period. We apply the symbiotically integrating occlusive membrane to treat inflammatory-challenged cases in vivo, namely, the open and closed healing of canine premolars with severe periodontitis. We find that the membrane promotes symbiosis, prevents negative inflammatory responses, and improves cellular integration. Finally, we show that guided bone regeneration therapy with the symbiotically integrating occlusive membrane achieves fast healing of gingival soft tissue and alveolar bone.}, } @article {pmid38001035, year = {2023}, author = {Kamran, M and Melville, KT and Waters, MT}, title = {Karrikin signalling: impacts on plant development and abiotic stress tolerance.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad476}, pmid = {38001035}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Plants rely upon a diverse range of metabolites to control growth and development, and to overcome stress that results from suboptimal conditions. Karrikins (KARs) are a class of butenolide compounds found in smoke that stimulate seed germination and regulate various developmental processes in plants. KARs are perceived via a plant α/β-hydrolase called KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2), which also functions as a receptor for a postulated phytohormone, provisionally termed KAI2-ligand (KL). Considered natural analogues of KL, KARs have been extensively studied for their effects on plant growth and their crosstalk with plant hormones. The perception and response pathway for KAR-KL signalling is closely related to that of strigolactones, another class of butenolides with numerous functions in regulating plant growth. KAR-KL signalling influences seed germination, seedling photomorphogenesis, root system architecture, abiotic stress responses, and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here, we summarise the current knowledge of KAR-KL signalling, focussing on its role in plant development, its effects on stress tolerance, and its interaction with other signalling mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid38000749, year = {2023}, author = {Lewin, S and Wende, S and Wehrhan, M and Verch, G and Ganugi, P and Sommer, M and Kolb, S}, title = {Cereals rhizosphere microbiome undergoes host selection of nitrogen cycle guilds correlated to crop productivity.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {168794}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168794}, pmid = {38000749}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Sustainable transformation of agricultural plant production requires the reduction of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application. Such a reduced N fertilizer application may impede crop production due to an altered symbiosis of crops and their rhizosphere microbiome, since reduced N input may affect the competition and synergisms with the plant. The assessment of such changes in the crop microbiome functionalities at spatial scales relevant for agricultural management remains challenging. We investigated in a field plot experiment how and if the N cycling guilds of the rhizosphere of globally relevant cereal crops - winter barley, wheat and rye - are influenced by reduced N fertilization. Crop productivity was assessed by remote sensing of the shoot biomass. Microbial N cycling guilds were investigated by metagenomics targeting diazotrophs, nitrifiers, denitrifiers and the dissimilatory nitrate to ammonium reducing guild (DNRA). The functional composition of microbial N cycling guilds was explained by crop productivity parameters and soil pH, and diverged substantially between the crop species. The responses of individual microbial N cycling guild abundances to shoot dry weight and rhizosphere nitrate content was modulated by the N fertilization treatments and the crop species, which was identified based on regression analyses. Thus, characteristic shifts in the microbial N cycling guild acquisition associated with the crop host species were resolved. Particularly, the rhizosphere of rye was enriched with potentially N-preserving microbial guilds - diazotrophs and the DNRA guild - when no fertilizer was applied. We speculate that the acquisition of microbial N cycling guilds was the result of plant species-specific acquisition strategies. Thus, the investigated cereal crop holobionts have likely different symbiotic strategies that make them differently resilient against reduced N fertilizer inputs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these belowground patterns of N cycling guilds from the rhizosphere microbiome are linked to remotely sensed aboveground plant productivity.}, } @article {pmid38000638, year = {2023}, author = {Dai, C and Wang, F}, title = {Potential applications of microalgae-bacteria consortia in wastewater treatment and biorefinery.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130019}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130019}, pmid = {38000638}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {The use of microalgae-bacteria consortia (MBC) for wastewater treatment has garnered attention as their interactions impart greater environmental adaptability and stability compared with that obtained by only microalgae or bacteria use, thereby improving the efficiency of pollutant removal and bio-product productivity. Additionally, the value-added bio-products produced via biorefineries can improve economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability. Therefore, this review focuses on the interaction between microalgae and bacteria that leads to nutrient exchange, gene transfer and signal transduction to comprehensively understand the interaction mechanisms underlying their strong adaptability. In addition, it includes recent research in which MBC has been efficiently used to treat various wastewater. Moreover, the review summarizes the use of MBC-produced biomass in a biorefining context to produce biofuel, biomaterial, high-value bio-products and bio-fertilizer. Overall, more effort is needed to identify the symbiotic mechanism in MBC to provide a foundation for circular bio-economy and environmentally friendly development programmes.}, } @article {pmid38000489, year = {2023}, author = {Jin, G and Kim, IH and Kim, Y}, title = {The Lrp transcriptional factor of an entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii, activates non-ribosomal peptide synthetases to suppress insect immunity.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {105101}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2023.105101}, pmid = {38000489}, issn = {1879-0089}, abstract = {Two bacterial genera, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, are mutually symbiotic to the entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, respectively. The infective juveniles deliver the symbiotic bacteria to the hemocoel of target insects, in which the bacteria proliferate and help the development of the host nematode. The successful parasitism of the nematode-bacterial complex depends on host immunosuppression by the bacteria via their secondary metabolites. Leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) is a global bacterial transcriptional factor that plays a crucial role in parasitism. However, its regulatory targets to suppress insect immunity are not clearly understood. This study investigated the bacterial genes regulated by Lrp and the subsequent production of secondary metabolites in Xenorhabdus hominickii. Lrp expression occurred at the early infection stage of the bacteria in a target insect, Spodoptera exigua. A preliminary in silico screening indicated that 3.7% genes among 4075 predicted genes encoded in X. hominickii had the Lrp-response element on their promoters, including two non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). Eight NRPS (NRPS1-NRPS8) genes were predicted in the bacterial genome, in which six NRPS (NRPS3-NRPS8) expressions were positively correlated with Lrp expression in the infected larvae of S. exigua. Exchange of the Lrp promoter with an inducible promoter altered the production of the secondary metabolites and the NRPS expression levels. The immunosuppressive activities of X. hominickii were dependent on the Lrp expression level. The metabolites produced by Lrp expression included the eicosanoid-biosynthesis inhibitors and hemolytic factors. A cyclic dipeptide (=cPF) was produced by the bacteria at high Lrp expression and inhibited the phospholipase A2 activity of S. exigua in a competitive inhibitory manner. These results suggest that Lrp is a global transcriptional factor of X. hominickii and plays a crucial role in insect immunosuppression by modulating NRPS expression.}, } @article {pmid37999398, year = {2023}, author = {Jahajeeah, D and Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya, M and Schäfer, G}, title = {Metabolic Profiling, Antiviral Activity and the Microbiome of Some Mauritian Soft Corals.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {37999398}, issn = {1660-3397}, support = {WS/MUS22-01//International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/ ; }, abstract = {Soft corals, recognized as sessile marine invertebrates, rely mainly on chemical, rather than physical defense, by secreting intricate secondary metabolites with plausible pharmaceutical implication. Their ecological niche encompasses a diverse community of symbiotic microorganisms which potentially contribute to the biosynthesis of these bioactive metabolites. The emergence of new viruses and heightened viral resistance underscores the urgency to explore novel pharmacological reservoirs. Thus, marine organisms, notably soft corals and their symbionts, have drawn substantial attention. In this study, the chemical composition of four Mauritian soft corals: Sinularia polydactya, Cespitularia simplex, Lobophytum patulum, and Lobophytum crassum was investigated using LC-MS techniques. Concurrently, Illumina 16S metagenomic sequencing was used to identify the associated bacterial communities in the named soft corals. The presence of unique biologically important compounds and vast microbial communities found therein was further followed up to assess their antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 and HPV pseudovirus infection. Strikingly, among the studied soft corals, L. patulum displayed an expansive repertoire of unique metabolites alongside a heightened bacterial consort. Moreover, L. patulum extracts exerted some promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and HPV pseudovirus infection, and our findings suggest that L. patulum may have the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent in the prevention of infectious diseases, thereby warranting further investigation.}, } @article {pmid37999393, year = {2023}, author = {Chukwudulue, UM and Barger, N and Dubovis, M and Luzzatto Knaan, T}, title = {Natural Products and Pharmacological Properties of Symbiotic Bacillota (Firmicutes) of Marine Macroalgae.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {37999393}, issn = {1660-3397}, abstract = {The shift from the terrestrial to the marine environment to discover natural products has given rise to novel bioactive compounds, some of which have been approved for human medicine. However, the ocean, which makes up nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface, contains macro- and microorganisms whose natural products are yet to be explored. Among these underexplored marine organisms are macroalgae and their symbiotic microbes, such as Bacillota, a phylum of mostly Gram-positive bacteria previously known as Firmicutes. Macroalgae-associated Bacillota often produce chemical compounds that protect them and their hosts from competitive and harmful rivals. Here, we summarised the natural products made by macroalgae-associated Bacillota and their pharmacological properties. We discovered that these Bacillota are efficient producers of novel biologically active molecules. However, only a few macroalgae had been investigated for chemical constituents of their Bacillota: nine brown, five red and one green algae. Thus, Bacillota, especially from the marine habitat, should be investigated for potential pharmaceutical leads. Moreover, additional diverse biological assays for the isolated molecules of macroalgae Bacillota should be implemented to expand their bioactivity profiles, as only antibacterial properties were tested for most compounds.}, } @article {pmid37999195, year = {2023}, author = {Alonazi, M and Alshahrani, HM and Kouki, F and Almalki, NS and Mahmud, A and Majdoubi, J}, title = {Deep Convolutional Neural Network with Symbiotic Organism Search-Based Human Activity Recognition for Cognitive Health Assessment.}, journal = {Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37999195}, issn = {2313-7673}, support = {PNURSP2023R237//Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University/ ; }, abstract = {Cognitive assessment plays a vital role in clinical care and research fields related to cognitive aging and cognitive health. Lately, researchers have worked towards providing resolutions to measure individual cognitive health; however, it is still difficult to use those resolutions from the real world, and therefore using deep neural networks to evaluate cognitive health is becoming a hot research topic. Deep learning and human activity recognition are two domains that have received attention for the past few years. The former is for its relevance in application fields like health monitoring or ambient assisted living, and the latter is due to their excellent performance and recent achievements in various fields of application, namely, speech and image recognition. This research develops a novel Symbiotic Organism Search with a Deep Convolutional Neural Network-based Human Activity Recognition (SOSDCNN-HAR) model for Cognitive Health Assessment. The goal of the SOSDCNN-HAR model is to recognize human activities in an end-to-end way. For the noise elimination process, the presented SOSDCNN-HAR model involves the Wiener filtering (WF) technique. In addition, the presented SOSDCNN-HAR model follows a RetinaNet-based feature extractor for automated extraction of features. Moreover, the SOS procedure is exploited as a hyperparameter optimizing tool to enhance recognition efficiency. Furthermore, a gated recurrent unit (GRU) prototype can be employed as a categorizer to allot proper class labels. The performance validation of the SOSDCNN-HAR prototype is examined using a set of benchmark datasets. A far-reaching experimental examination reported the betterment of the SOSDCNN-HAR prototype over current approaches with enhanced precision of 86.51% and 89.50% on Penn Action and NW-UCLA datasets, respectively.}, } @article {pmid37999039, year = {2023}, author = {El Yamlahi, Y and Bel Mokhtar, N and Maurady, A and Britel, MR and Batargias, C and Mutembei, DE and Nyingilili, HS and Malulu, DJ and Malele, II and Asimakis, E and Stathopoulou, P and Tsiamis, G}, title = {Characterization of the Bacterial Profile from Natural and Laboratory Glossina Populations.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {37999039}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {URT-22658//FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories/ ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.; Diptera: Glossinidae) are viviparous flies that feed on blood and are found exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa. They are the only cyclic vectors of African trypanosomes, responsible for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT). In this study, we employed high throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to unravel the diversity of symbiotic bacteria in five wild and three laboratory populations of tsetse species (Glossina pallidipes, G. morsitans, G. swynnertoni, and G. austeni). The aim was to assess the dynamics of bacterial diversity both within each laboratory and wild population in relation to the developmental stage, insect age, gender, and location. Our results indicated that the bacterial communities associated with the four studied Glossina species were significantly influenced by their region of origin, with wild samples being more diverse compared to the laboratory samples. We also observed that the larval microbiota was significantly different than the adults. Furthermore, the sex and the species did not significantly influence the formation of the bacterial profile of the laboratory colonies once these populations were kept under the same rearing conditions. In addition, Wigglesworthia, Acinetobacter, and Sodalis were the most abundant bacterial genera in all the samples, while Wolbachia was significantly abundant in G. morsitans compared to the other studied species. The operational taxonomic unit (OTU) co-occurrence network for each location (VVBD insectary, Doma, Makao, and Msubugwe) indicated a high variability between G. pallidipes and the other species in terms of the number of mutual exclusion and copresence interactions. In particular, some bacterial genera, like Wigglesworthia and Sodalis, with high relative abundance, were also characterized by a high degree of interactions.}, } @article {pmid37998900, year = {2023}, author = {Marchetta, A and Papale, M and Rappazzo, AC and Rizzo, C and Camacho, A and Rochera, C and Azzaro, M and Urzì, C and Lo Giudice, A and De Leo, F}, title = {A Deep Insight into the Diversity of Microfungal Communities in Arctic and Antarctic Lakes.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {37998900}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {PNRA18_00194//Italian National Antarctic Research Program project MicroPolArS 2020-2023./ ; }, abstract = {We assessed fungal diversity in water and sediment samples obtained from five Arctic lakes in Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard Islands, High Arctic) and five Antarctic lakes on Livingston and Deception Islands (South Shetland Islands), using DNA metabarcoding. A total of 1,639,074 fungal DNA reads were detected and assigned to 5980 ASVs amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), with only 102 (1.7%) that were shared between the two Polar regions. For Arctic lakes, unknown fungal taxa dominated the sequence assemblages, suggesting the dominance of possibly undescribed fungi. The phylum Chytridiomycota was the most represented in the majority of Arctic and Antarctic samples, followed by Rozellomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and the less frequent Monoblepharomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, and Neocallimastigomycota. At the genus level, the most abundant genera included psychrotolerant and cosmopolitan cold-adapted fungi including Alternaria, Cladosporium, Cadophora, Ulvella (Ascomycota), Leucosporidium, Vishniacozyma (Basidiomycota), and Betamyces (Chytridiomycota). The assemblages displayed high diversity and richness. The assigned diversity was composed mainly of taxa recognized as saprophytic fungi, followed by pathogenic and symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid37998876, year = {2023}, author = {Ni, Y and Cao, L and Li, W and Zhang, Q and Feng, R and Zhao, Z and Zhao, X}, title = {The Research Status and Prospects of Floccularia luteovirens: A Mycorrhizal Fungus with Edible Fruiting Bodies.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {37998876}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {No.2022JDRC0034//Xu Zhao/ ; ASTIP-IUA-2023005//Xu Zhao/ ; }, abstract = {Floccularia luteovirens, a rare wild edible and medicinal fungus, is endemic to the Tibetan plateau. However, attempts to artificially domesticate this species have not been successful, resulting in extremely limited utilization of this valuable resource. This paper presents the geographical distribution of F. luteovirens, along with its ecological and biological characteristics. It explores population relations, symbiotic relationships, soil microbial community relations, fruiting body occurrence conditions, nutritional metabolism, and reproductive patterns. The cultivation techniques, as well as the edible and medicinal value of this mushroom, are also reviewed. Through an overall analysis of the physiological characteristics and current research status of F. luteovirens, the paper discusses its development prospects. The aim is to provide a reference for other researchers and promote its artificial domestication, resource development, and utilization.}, } @article {pmid37998032, year = {2023}, author = {Li, X and Yang, L and Jiang, S and Zhou, F and Jiang, S and Li, Y and Chen, X and Yang, Q and Duan, Y and Huang, J}, title = {Effect of Fly Maggot Protein as Dietary on Growth and Intestinal Microbial Community of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12111433}, pmid = {37998032}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {2022YFD2400104, 2022SPY02001,2022SPY00002,2022SJS02001, CARS-48, CAFS (NO.2023TD34)//National Key R & D Program of China (2022YFD2400104), Rural Revitalization Strategy Special Fund Seed Industry Revitalization Project of Guangdong Province (2022SPY02001,2022SPY00002,2022SJS02001), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-48/ ; }, abstract = {As the intensive development of aquaculture persists, the demand for fishmeal continues to grow; however, since fishery resources are limited, the price of fishmeal remains high. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new sources of protein. They are rich in proteins, fatty acids, amino acids, chitin, vitamins, minerals, and antibacterial substances. Maggot meal-based diet is an ideal source of high-quality animal protein and a new type of protein-based immune enhancer with good application prospects in animal husbandry and aquaculture. In the present study, we investigated the effects of three different diets containing maggot protein on the growth and intestinal microflora of Litopenaeus vannamei. The shrimp were fed either a control feed (no fly maggot protein added), FM feed (compound feed with 30% fresh fly maggot protein added), FF feed (fermented fly maggot protein), or HT feed (high-temperature pelleted fly maggot protein) for eight weeks. The results showed that fresh fly maggot protein in the feed was detrimental to shrimp growth, whereas fermented and high-temperature-pelleted fly maggot protein improved shrimp growth and survival. The effects of different fly maggot protein treatments on the intestinal microbiota of L. vannamei also varied. Fermented fly maggot protein feed and high-temperature-pelleted fly maggot protein feed increased the relative abundance of Ruegeria and Pseudomonas, which increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria and thus inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria. In contrast, fresh fly maggot proteins alter the intestinal microbiome, disrupting symbiotic relationships between bacteria, and causing invasion by Vibrio and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These results suggest that fresh fly maggot proteins affect the composition of intestinal microorganisms, which is detrimental to the intestinal tract of L. vannamei, whereas fermented fly maggot protein feed affected the growth of L. vannamei positively by improving the composition of intestinal microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid37997205, year = {2023}, author = {Zheng, L and Zhao, S and Zhou, Y and Yang, G and Chen, A and Li, X and Wang, J and Tian, J and Liao, H and Wang, X}, title = {The soybean sugar transporter GmSWEET6 participates in sucrose transport towards fungi during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14772}, pmid = {37997205}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {2021YFF1000500//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 31672237//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, sugars in root cortical cells could be exported as glucose or sucrose into peri-arbuscular space for use by AM fungi. However, no sugar transporter has been identified to be involved in sucrose export. An AM-inducible SWEET transporter, GmSWEET6, was functionally characterised in soybean, and its role in AM symbiosis was investigated via transgenic plants. The expression of GmSWEET6 was enhanced by inoculation with the cooperative fungal strain in both leaves and roots. Heterologous expression in a yeast mutant showed that GmSWEET6 mainly transported sucrose. Transgenic plants overexpressing GmSWEET6 increased sucrose concentration in root exudates. Overexpression or knockdown of GmSWEET6 decreased plant dry weight, P content, and sugar concentrations in non-mycorrhizal plants, which were partly recovered in mycorrhizal plants. Intriguingly, overexpression of GmSWEET6 increased root P content and decreased the percentage of degraded arbuscules, while knockdown of GmSWEET6 increased root sugar concentrations in RNAi2 plants and the percentage of degraded arbuscules in RNAi1 plants compared with wild-type plants when inoculated with AM fungi. These results in combination with subcellular localisation of GmSWEET6 to peri-arbuscular membranes strongly suggest that GmSWEET6 is required for AM symbiosis by mediating sucrose efflux towards fungi.}, } @article {pmid37996841, year = {2023}, author = {Alhusayni, S and Roswanjaya, YP and Rutten, L and Huisman, R and Bertram, S and Sharma, T and Schon, M and Kohlen, W and Klein, J and Geurts, R}, title = {A rare non-canonical splice site in Trema orientalis SYMRK does not affect its dual symbiotic functioning in endomycorrhiza and rhizobium nodulation.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {587}, pmid = {37996841}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {10598//Ministry of Education, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia/ ; 8245-ID//Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia/ ; OPP1172165//ENSA project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge/ ; OPP1172165//ENSA project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge/ ; OPP1172165//ENSA project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge/ ; VI.Veni.212.132//Dutch Science Organization (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek)/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen-fixing nodules occur in ten related taxonomic lineages interspersed with lineages of non-nodulating plant species. Nodules result from an endosymbiosis between plants and diazotrophic bacteria; rhizobia in the case of legumes and Parasponia and Frankia in the case of actinorhizal species. Nodulating plants share a conserved set of symbiosis genes, whereas related non-nodulating sister species show pseudogenization of several key nodulation-specific genes. Signalling and cellular mechanisms critical for nodulation have been co-opted from the more ancient plant-fungal arbuscular endomycorrhizal symbiosis. Studies in legumes and actinorhizal plants uncovered a key component in symbiotic signalling, the LRR-type SYMBIOSIS RECEPTOR KINASE (SYMRK). SYMRK is essential for nodulation and arbuscular endomycorrhizal symbiosis. To our surprise, however, despite its arbuscular endomycorrhizal symbiosis capacities, we observed a seemingly critical mutation in a donor splice site in the SYMRK gene of Trema orientalis, the non-nodulating sister species of Parasponia. This led us to investigate the symbiotic functioning of SYMRK in the Trema-Parasponia lineage and to address the question of to what extent a single nucleotide polymorphism in a donor splice site affects the symbiotic functioning of SYMRK.

RESULTS: We show that SYMRK is essential for nodulation and endomycorrhization in Parasponia andersonii. Subsequently, it is revealed that the 5'-intron donor splice site of SYMRK intron 12 is variable and, in most dicotyledon species, doesn't contain the canonical dinucleotide 'GT' signature but the much less common motif 'GC'. Strikingly, in T. orientalis, this motif is converted into a rare non-canonical 5'-intron donor splice site 'GA'. This SYMRK allele, however, is fully functional and spreads in the T. orientalis population of Malaysian Borneo. A further investigation into the occurrence of the non-canonical GA-AG splice sites confirmed that these are extremely rare.

CONCLUSION: SYMRK functioning is highly conserved in legumes, actinorhizal plants, and Parasponia. The gene possesses a non-common 5'-intron GC donor splice site in intron 12, which is converted into a GA in T. orientalis accessions of Malaysian Borneo. The discovery of this functional GA-AG splice site in SYMRK highlights a gap in our understanding of splice donor sites.}, } @article {pmid37995699, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Liu, S and Liu, CB and Zhang, M and Fu, XQ and Wang, YL and Song, T and Chao, ZF and Han, ML and Tian, Z and Chao, DY}, title = {Natural variants of molybdate transporters contribute to yield traits of soybean by affecting auxin synthesis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.072}, pmid = {37995699}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is a crop with high demand for molybdenum (Mo) and typically requires Mo fertilization to achieve maximum yield potential. However, the genetic basis underlying the natural variation of Mo concentration in soybean and its impact on soybean agronomic performance is still poorly understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2 that drive the natural variation of soybean Mo concentration and confer agronomic traits by affecting auxin synthesis. The soybean population exhibits five haplotypes of the two genes, with the haplotype 5 demonstrating the highest expression of GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2, as well as the highest transport activities of their proteins. Further studies showed that GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2 improve soybean yield, especially when cultivated in acidic or slightly acidic soil. Surprisingly, these two genes contribute to soybean growth by enhancing the activity of indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) aldehyde oxidase (AO), leading to increased indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis, rather than being involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation or nitrogen assimilation. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of five haplotypes in China and their correlation with soil pH suggest the potential significance of GmMOT1.1 and GmMOT1.2 in soybean breeding strategies.}, } @article {pmid37994686, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z and Dong, Y and Ge, M and Zhang, Q and Sun, Y and Dai, M and Zhang, X and Li, X and Wang, Z and Xu, Q}, title = {Symbiotic relationship of Comaster schlegelii (Crinoidea: Comatulidae) And Gymnolophus obscura (Ophiuroidea: Ophiotrichidae) derived from stable isotope and fatty acid analyses.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icad128}, pmid = {37994686}, issn = {1557-7023}, abstract = {Coral reef community exhibit high species diversity and a broad range of biological relationships including widespread symbiosis and complex food utilization patterns. In our study, we investigated the symbiotic relationship between the commonly crinoid host Comaster schlegelii and its ophiuroid obligatory symbiont Gymnolophus obscura. Using a combination of fatty acid biomarkers and stable isotopic compositions, we explored differences in their organic matter utilization strategies and nutritional relationships. The result of stable isotopes revealed that G. obscura had higher δ15N values than its crinoid host. Particulate organic matter and phytoplankton were identified as the primary food sources for both species, however C. schlegelii showed a higher proportional contribution from benthic microalgae. Fatty acid markers showed that C. schlegelii was more dependent on benthic microalgae such as diatoms, and less on debritic organic matter and bacteria than G. obscura. Elevated δ15N values of G. obscura and similar food source contribution rates between the host and symbiont suggest that ophiuroid feeds on materials filtered by crinoids and have similar diet to the host. Our results provide insights into the symbiotic patterns of crinoids and ophiuroids, while also supplying foundational data on how symbiotic reef species select organic matter utilization strategies to adapt to their environment.}, } @article {pmid37992950, year = {2023}, author = {Gómez-Gallego, T and Molina-Luzón, MJ and Conéjéro, G and Berthomieu, P and Ferrol, N}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis uses the copper exporting ATPase RiCRD1 as a major strategy for copper detoxification.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {122990}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122990}, pmid = {37992950}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish a mutualistic symbiosis with most land plants. AM fungi regulate plant copper (Cu) acquisition both in Cu deficient and polluted soils. Here, we report characterization of RiCRD1, a Rhizophagus irregularis gene putatively encoding a Cu transporting ATPase. Based on its sequence analysis, RiCRD1 was identified as a plasma membrane Cu [+] efflux protein of the P1B1-ATPase subfamily. As revealed by heterologous complementation assays in yeast, RiCRD1 encodes a functional protein capable of conferring increased tolerance against Cu. In the extraradical mycelium, RiCRD1 expression was highly up-regulated in response to high concentrations of Cu in the medium. Comparison of the expression patterns of different players of metal tolerance in R. irregularis under high Cu levels suggests that this fungus could mainly use a metal efflux based-strategy to cope with Cu toxicity. RiCRD1 was also expressed in the intraradical fungal structures and, more specifically, in the arbuscules, which suggests a role for RiCRD1 in Cu release from the fungus to the symbiotic interface. Overall, our results show that RiCRD1 encodes a protein which could have a pivotal dual role in Cu homeostasis in R. irregularis, playing a role in Cu detoxification in the extraradical mycelium and in Cu transfer to the apoplast of the symbiotic interface in the arbuscules.}, } @article {pmid37992160, year = {2023}, author = {Coffroth, MA and Buccella, LA and Eaton, KM and Lasker, HR and Gooding, AT and Franklin, H}, title = {What makes a winner? Symbiont and host dynamics determine Caribbean octocoral resilience to bleaching.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {47}, pages = {eadj6788}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adj6788}, pmid = {37992160}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Coral Reefs ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Caribbean Region ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Unlike reef-building, scleractinian corals, Caribbean soft corals (octocorals) have not suffered marked declines in abundance associated with anthropogenic ocean warming. Both octocorals and reef-building scleractinians depend on a nutritional symbiosis with single-celled algae living within their tissues. In both groups, increased ocean temperatures can induce symbiont loss (bleaching) and coral death. Multiple heat waves from 2014 to 2016 resulted in widespread damage to reef ecosystems and provided an opportunity to examine the bleaching response of three Caribbean octocoral species. Symbiont densities declined during the heat waves but recovered quickly, and colony mortality was low. The dominant symbiont genotypes within a host generally did not change, and all colonies hosted symbiont species in the genus Breviolum. Their association with thermally tolerant symbionts likely contributes to the octocoral holobiont's resistance to mortality and the resilience of their symbiont populations. The resistance and resilience of Caribbean octocorals offer clues for the future of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid37991578, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, HH and Chen, L and Shao, HB and Gao, S and Hong, XY and Bing, XL}, title = {Environmental Factors and the Symbiont Cardinium Influence the Bacterial Microbiome of Spider Mites Across the Landscape.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {37991578}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {32001905 and 32020103011//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32001905 and 32020103011//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022YFC2601000//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; BK20211213//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; KJQN202110//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Tetranychidae ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; *Arthropods ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Microbes play a key role in the biology, ecology, and evolution of arthropods. Despite accumulating data on microbial communities in arthropods that feed on plants using piercing-sucking mouthparts, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the composition and assembly factors of the microbiota, particularly in field-collected spider mites. Here, we applied 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to investigate the characters of the bacterial community in 140 samples representing 420 mite individuals, belonging to eight Tetranychus species (Acari: Tetranychidae) collected from 26 sites in China. The results showed that the bacterial composition of spider mites varied significantly among different species, locations, and plants. The environment showed a significant influence on the bacterial community of spider mites, with different relative contributions. Latitude and precipitation were found to be the main factors influencing the bacterial community composition. The dissimilarity of bacterial community and geographical distance between mite locations were significantly correlated. The assembly of spider mite bacterial communities seemed to be mainly influenced by stochastic processes. Furthermore, the symbiont Cardinium was found to be important in shaping the microbiota of many Tetranychus species. The relative abundance of Cardinium was > 50% in T. viennensis, T. urticae G, T. urticae R, and T. turkestani. Removing Cardinium reads from our analysis significantly changed Shannon diversity index and weighted beta diversity in these species. Altogether, this study provides novel insights into bacterial diversity patterns that contribute to our knowledge of the symbiotic relationships between arthropods and their bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid37991548, year = {2023}, author = {Si, W and Li, M and Wang, K and Li, J and Xu, M and Zhou, X and Bai, J and Qu, Z and Song, G and Wu, X and Guo, Y and Hu, H and Fu, D and Yang, Z and Wu, M and Yan, D and Song, X and Tian, Z}, title = {Staphylococcus warneri strain XSB102 exacerbates psoriasis and promotes keratinocyte proliferation in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis mice.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {206}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {37991548}, issn = {1432-072X}, support = {No. 212102310184 and 202102310270//the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province/ ; No. 212102310184 and 202102310270//the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province/ ; No. 212102310184 and 202102310270//the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province/ ; No. 212102310184 and 202102310270//the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province/ ; No. 212102310184 and 202102310270//the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province/ ; No. LHGJ20190469//the Joint Construction Project of Health Commission of Henan Province/ ; No. LHGJ20190469//the Joint Construction Project of Health Commission of Henan Province/ ; No. LHGJ20190469//the Joint Construction Project of Health Commission of Henan Province/ ; No. LHGJ20190469//the Joint Construction Project of Health Commission of Henan Province/ ; No. 32000006//the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; No. 32000006//the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; No. 32000006//the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; No. 32000006//the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; }, abstract = {Psoriasis is one of the common chronic inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. The skin microbiota plays a role in psoriasis through regulating skin homeostasis. However, the studies on the interactions between symbiotic microbial strains and psoriasis are limited. In this study, Staphylococcus strain XSB102 was isolated from the skin of human, which was identified as Staphylococcus warneri using VITEK2 Compact. To reveal the roles of Staphylococcus warneri on psoriasis, XSB102 were applied on the back of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis mice. The results indicated that it exacerbated the psoriasis and significantly increased the thickening of the epidermis. Furthermore, in vitro experiments confirmed that inactivated strain XSB102 could promote the proliferation of human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell. However, real-time quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence results suggested that the expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-17a, IL-6, and so on were not significantly increased, while extracellular matrix related factors such as Col6a3 and TGIF2 were significantly increased after XSB102 administration. This study indicates that Staphylococcus warneri XSB102 can exacerbate psoriasis and promote keratinocyte proliferation independently of inflammatory factors, which paves the way for further exploration of the relationship between skin microbiota and psoriasis.}, } @article {pmid37991154, year = {2023}, author = {Jaeger, ACH and Hartmann, M and Conz, RF and Six, J and Solly, EF}, title = {Prolonged water limitation shifts the soil microbiome from copiotrophic to oligotrophic lifestyles in Scots pine mesocosms.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.13211}, pmid = {37991154}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {PZ00P2_180030//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {Reductions in soil moisture due to prolonged episodes of drought can potentially affect whole forest ecosystems, including soil microorganisms and their functions. We investigated how the composition of soil microbial communities is affected by prolonged episodes of water limitation. In a mesocosm experiment with Scots pine saplings and natural forest soil maintained at different levels of soil water content over 2 years, we assessed shifts in prokaryotic and fungal communities and related these to changes in plant development and soil properties. Prolonged water limitation induced progressive changes in soil microbial community composition. The dissimilarity between prokaryotic communities at different levels of water limitation increased over time regardless of the recurrent seasons, while fungal communities were less affected by prolonged water limitation. Under low soil water contents, desiccation-tolerant groups outcompeted less adapted, and the lifestyle of prokaryotic taxa shifted from copiotrophic to oligotrophic. While the abundance of saprotrophic and ligninolytic groups increased alongside an accumulation of dead plant material, the abundance of symbiotic and nutrient-cycling taxa decreased, likely impairing the development of the trees. Overall, prolonged episodes of drought appeared to continuously alter the structure of microbial communities, pointing to a potential loss of critical functions provided by the soil microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37988895, year = {2023}, author = {Ramin, E and Faria, L and Gargalo, CL and Ramin, P and Flores-Alsina, X and Andersen, MM and Gernaey, KV}, title = {Water innovation in industrial symbiosis - A global review.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {349}, number = {}, pages = {119578}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119578}, pmid = {37988895}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Motivated by the limited attention given to water management in industrial symbiosis research, this study presents the first global review of water innovation practices in the implemented industrial symbiosis cases reported in literature. We analyze the prevalence of global water innovation practices extending beyond the commonly used broad practices of water treatment and reuse to propose six categories, including utility sharing for alternative water supply, utility sharing for wastewater treatment, water recovery, energy recovery from water, material recovery from water, and material exchange to enhance water/wastewater treatment. Our findings highlight regional variations in adoption, with Asian and Europe showcasing diverse practices. Additionally, they indicate that most symbiosis cases center on the extensive role of public utilities and shared water facilities in pursuing water innovation, while 'pure' interfirm water-related symbiosis is limited. Finally, this review highlights extensive knowledge gaps and research needs in advancing sustainable water management and innovation in industrial symbiosis. Overall, our study contributes to the development of a comprehensive framework for water innovation practices in industrial symbiosis and emphasizes the need for future research in this area.}, } @article {pmid37986040, year = {2023}, author = {Jemo, M and Nkenmegne, S and Buernor, AB and Raklami, A and Ambang, Z and Souleyamanou, A and Ouhdouch, Y and Hafidi, M}, title = {Mycorrhizas and Trichoderma fungi increase the accumulation of secondary metabolites in grain legume leaves and suppress foliar diseases in field-grown conditions of the humid forest of Cameroon.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {582}, pmid = {37986040}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {01 to UM6P//OCP Group/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal and Trichoderma fungi alter the synthesis of secondary metabolites of plants and confer tolerance from pathogens attacks. However, there is less supportive evidence from on-field studies confirming the above-mentioned hypothesis, particularly for the humid forest zone of Cameroon where pathogens are important sources of yield losses for legumes such as soybean and common bean.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the impacts of mycorrhiza isolates of Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) and Trichoderma asperellum (Ta) fungi and their co-inoculations (Ta x Ri) in the synthetizing of leaves secondary metabolites, foliar disease symptoms, growth, N and P uptake, and yields of three genotypes of soybean (TGx 1485-1D, TGx 1990-93 F, and TGx 1990-97 F) and common beans (NUA-99, DOR-701, and PNN) under field conditions of Cameroon.

RESULTS: We found that common bean plants showed a lower foliar infection rate but a higher increase in root colonization intensity, shoot dry weight, and N and P uptakes than soybeans when inoculated with Ri and Ta treatment. However, the grain yield of soybean soybean was higher (2000 kg ha [1]) than the common bean plants for the Ri × Ta treatment. The soybean genotype TGx 1990-93F had increased root colonization intensity and the lowest foliar infection rate, making it stronger and tolerant to pathogen attacks when co-inoculated with Ri × Ta fungi (F). Bean plants inoculated with Ri and the co-inoculated with Ri × Ta demonstrated lower symptoms of foliar attack, and increased root colonization, particularly the PNN variety. The total amino acid and proline accumulations were higher for soybean than common bean plants due to fungi inoculations, and soybean genotypes accumulated more excellent contents of amino acid and proline in the control (10.1 mg g[- 1] fwt) that significantly increased under the Ri × Ta inoculation (13.4 mg g[- 1] fwt).

CONCLUSIONS: Common bean plants inoculated with Ta and Ri fungi accumulated higher phenolic compounds in their leaves that aided them in overcoming the pathogen attacks than soybean plants.}, } @article {pmid37985876, year = {2023}, author = {Lötstedt, B and Stražar, M and Xavier, R and Regev, A and Vickovic, S}, title = {Spatial host-microbiome sequencing reveals niches in the mouse gut.}, journal = {Nature biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37985876}, issn = {1546-1696}, support = {HG011014-01//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)/ ; }, abstract = {Mucosal and barrier tissues, such as the gut, lung or skin, are composed of a complex network of cells and microbes forming a tight niche that prevents pathogen colonization and supports host-microbiome symbiosis. Characterizing these networks at high molecular and cellular resolution is crucial for understanding homeostasis and disease. Here we present spatial host-microbiome sequencing (SHM-seq), an all-sequencing-based approach that captures tissue histology, polyadenylated RNAs and bacterial 16S sequences directly from a tissue by modifying spatially barcoded glass surfaces to enable simultaneous capture of host transcripts and hypervariable regions of the 16S bacterial ribosomal RNA. We applied our approach to the mouse gut as a model system, used a deep learning approach for data mapping and detected spatial niches defined by cellular composition and microbial geography. We show that subpopulations of gut cells express specific gene programs in different microenvironments characteristic of regional commensal bacteria and impact host-bacteria interactions. SHM-seq should enhance the study of native host-microbe interactions in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid37985403, year = {2023}, author = {Ledford, WC and Silvestri, A and Fiorilli, V and Roth, R and Rubio-Somoza, I and Lanfranco, L}, title = {A journey into the world of small RNAs in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19394}, pmid = {37985403}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {RTI2018-097262-B-I00//ERDF A way of making Europe/ ; CN_00000033//Next Generation EU/ ; //Royal Society/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction between fungi and most land plants that is underpinned by a bidirectional exchange of nutrients. AM development is a tightly regulated process that encompasses molecular communication for reciprocal recognition, fungal accommodation in root tissues and activation of symbiotic function. As such, a complex network of transcriptional regulation and molecular signaling underlies the cellular and metabolic reprogramming of host cells upon AM fungal colonization. In addition to transcription factors, small RNAs (sRNAs) are emerging as important regulators embedded in the gene network that orchestrates AM development. In addition to controlling cell-autonomous processes, plant sRNAs also function as mobile signals capable of moving to different organs and even to different plants or organisms that interact with plants. AM fungi also produce sRNAs; however, their function in the AM symbiosis remains largely unknown. Here, we discuss the contribution of host sRNAs in the development of AM symbiosis by considering their role in the transcriptional reprogramming of AM fungal colonized cells. We also describe the characteristics of AM fungal-derived sRNAs and emerging evidence for the bidirectional transfer of functional sRNAs between the two partners to mutually modulate gene expression and control the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37984824, year = {2023}, author = {Voller, F and Ardanuy, A and Taylor, AFS and Johnson, D}, title = {Maintenance of host specialisation gradients in ectomycorrhizal symbionts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19395}, pmid = {37984824}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {NE/M015653/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Many fungi that form ectomycorrhizas exhibit a degree of host specialisation, and individual trees are frequently colonised by communities of mycorrhizal fungi comprising species that fall on a gradient of specialisation along genetic, functional and taxonomic axes of variation. By contrast, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi exhibit little specialisation. Here, we propose that host tree root morphology is a key factor that gives host plants fine-scale control over colonisation and therefore opportunities for driving specialisation and speciation of ectomycorrhizal fungi. A gradient in host specialisation is likely driven by four proximate mechanistic 'filters' comprising partner availability, signalling recognition, competition for colonisation, and symbiotic function (trade, rewards and sanctions), and the spatially restricted colonisation seen in heterorhizic roots enables these mechanisms, especially symbiotic function, to be more effective in driving the evolution of specialisation. We encourage manipulation experiments that integrate molecular genetics and isotope tracers to test these mechanisms, alongside mathematical simulations of eco-evolutionary dynamics in mycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37984669, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, M and Wang, L and Feng, P and Wang, Z and Zhu, S}, title = {Treatment of mixed wastewater by vertical rotating microalgae-bacteria symbiotic biofilm reactor.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {130057}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130057}, pmid = {37984669}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {A novel vertical rotating microalgae-bacteria symbiotic biofilm reactor was built to treat the mixed wastewater containing municipal and soybean soaking wastewater. The reactor was operated in both sequential batch and semi-continuous modes. Under the sequential batch operation mode, the maximum removal rates for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TP), and Ammonia Nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) of the mixed wastewater were 95.6 %, 96.1 %, 97.6 %, and 100 %, respectively. During the semi-continuous operation, the water discharge indices decreased gradually and eventually stabilized. At stabilization, the removal rates of COD, TN, and NH4[+]-N achieved 98 %, 95 %, and 99.9 %, respectively. The maximum biomass productivity of the biofilm was 2.69 g·m[-2]·d[-1]. Additionally, the carbohydrate, protein and lipid comprised approximately 22 %, 51 % and 10 % of the dry weight of Chlorella. This study demonstrates the great potential of the microalgae-bacteria symbiotic biofilm system to treat food and domestic wastewater while harvesting microalgal biomass.}, } @article {pmid37984021, year = {2023}, author = {Xie, W and Hao, Z and Zhou, J and Fu, W and Guo, L and Zhang, X and Chen, B}, title = {Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal specific phenolic and flavonoid accumulation in licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) induced by arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis under drought stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {108173}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108173}, pmid = {37984021}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can strengthen plant defense against abiotic stress, such as drought, through multiple mechanisms; however, the specialized chemical defenses induced by AM symbiosis are largely unknown. In a pot experiment, licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) inoculated with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis Schenck & Smith were grown under well-watered or water deficit conditions. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were combined to investigate licorice root specialized metabolism induced by AM symbiosis under drought stress. Results showed that mycorrhizal plants had few dead leaves, less biomass reduction, and less differentially expressed genes and metabolite features in response to drought compared with nonmycorrhizal plants. Transcriptomic and metabolomic data revealed that mycorrhizal roots generally accumulated lignin regardless of the water regime; however, the expression of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis was significantly downregulated by drought stress in mycorrhizal plants. By contrast, AM inoculation significantly decreased specialized metabolites accumulation, including phenolics and flavonoids under well-watered conditions, whereas these decreases turned to be nonsignificant under drought stress. Moreover, these specific phenolics and flavonoids showed significant drought-induced accumulation pattern in mycorrhizal roots. These results highlight that accumulation of specific root phenolics and flavonoids may support the drought tolerance of mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid37983125, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, S and Bai, M and Kwok, LY and Zhong, Z and Sun, Z}, title = {The intricate symbiotic relationship between lactic acid bacterial starters in the milk fermentation ecosystem.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-18}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2023.2280706}, pmid = {37983125}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Fermentation is one of the most effective methods of food preservation. Since ancient times, food has been fermented using lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Fermented milk is a very intricate fermentation ecosystem, and the microbial metabolism of fermented milk largely determines its metabolic properties. The two most frequently used dairy starter strains are Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus). To enhance both the culture growth rate and the flavor and quality of the fermented milk, it has long been customary to combine S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus in milk fermentation due to their mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship. On the one hand, the symbiotic relationship is reflected by the nutrient co-dependence of the two microbes at the metabolic level. On the other hand, more complex interaction mechanisms, such as quorum sensing between cells, are involved. This review summarizes the application of LAB in fermented dairy products and discusses the symbiotic mechanisms and interactions of milk LAB starter strains from the perspective of nutrient supply and intra- and interspecific quorum sensing. This review provides updated information and knowledge on microbial interactions in a fermented milk ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37981364, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Wang, S and Wang, L and Liu, X and Wang, X and Cai, R and Yuan, Y and Yue, T and Wang, Z}, title = {Unraveling symbiotic microbial communities, metabolomics and volatilomics profiles of kombucha from diverse regions in China.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {174}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {113652}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113652}, pmid = {37981364}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Metabolomics ; *Microbiota ; Lactones ; China ; *Saccharomycetales ; *Acetobacteraceae ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a natural fermented beverage (mixed system). This study aimed to unravel the signatures of kombucha in China to achieve tailor-made microbial consortium. Here, biochemical parameters, microbiome, metabolite production and volatile profile were comprehensively compared and characterized across four regions (AH, HN, SD, SX), both commonalities and distinctions were highlighted. The findings revealed that yeast species yeast Starmerella, Zygosaccharomyces, Dekkera, Pichia and bacterium Komagataeibacter, Gluconobacter were the most common microbes. Additionally, the composition, distribution and stability of microbial composition in liquid phase were superior to those in biofilm. The species diversity, differences, marker and association were analyzed across four areas. Metabolite profiles revealed a total of 163 bioactive compounds (23 flavonoids, 13 phenols), and 68 differential metabolites were screened and identified. Moreover, the metabolic pathways of phenylpropanoids biosynthesis were closely linked with the highest number of metabolites, followed by flavonoid biosynthesis. Sixty-five volatile compounds (23 esters) were identified. Finally, the correlation analysis among the microbial composition and volatile and functional metabolites showed that Komagataeibacter, Gluconolactone, Zygosacchaaromycess, Starmerella and Dekkera seemed closely related to bioactive compounds, especially Komagataeibacter displayed positive correlations with 1-hexadecanol, 5-keto-D-gluconate, L-malic acid, 6-aminohexanoate, Starmerella contributed greatly to gluconolactone, thymidine, anabasine, 2-isopropylmalic acid. Additionally, Candida was related to β-damascenone and α-terpineol, and Arachnomyces and Butyricicoccus showed the consistency of associations with specific esters and alcohols. These findings provided crucial information for creating a stable synthetic microbial community structure, shedding light on fostering stable kombucha and related functional beverages.}, } @article {pmid37979259, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Ma, Q and Cai, P and Sun, X and Sun, Q and Li, M and Wang, Y and Zhong, L and Xie, F}, title = {On the investigation of composite cooling/heating set gel systems based on rice starch and curdlan.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {438}, number = {}, pages = {137960}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137960}, pmid = {37979259}, issn = {1873-7072}, abstract = {In pursuit of advancing the understanding of composite gel systems, this study delves into the intricate realm of rheology, structural elucidation, and mechanical attributes. Specifically, it scrutinizes the symbiotic interplay between rice starch, a cooling-set gel, and curdlan, a thermo-irreversible heating-set gel. A higher curdlan content enhances the inter-chain hydrogen bonding between rice starch and curdlan, resulting in a denser gel structure and thus increased moduli, solid-like behavior, and mechanical properties, and reduced frequency-dependence, especially at high temperatures (>65 °C). For example, with 50 % curdlan incorporation, G' (90 °C) improved by 252 %. Notably, thermal treatment can compromise the structural integrity of the rice starch gel, reducing strength and softening texture. However, this textural degradation can be effectively mitigated with, for example, 30 % curdlan incorporation, resulting in a 55-fold hardness increase at 85 °C. The knowledge gained from this work offers valuable guidance for tailoring starch-based gel products to specific properties.}, } @article {pmid37978188, year = {2023}, author = {Campoy, AN and Rivadeneira, MM and Hernández, CE and Meade, A and Venditti, C}, title = {Deep-sea origin and depth colonization associated with phenotypic innovations in scleractinian corals.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {7458}, pmid = {37978188}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {1200843//Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development)/ ; 1201506//Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development)/ ; 1220998//Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development)/ ; RL-2019-012//Leverhulme Trust/ ; }, abstract = {The deep sea (>200 m) is home to a surprisingly rich biota, which in some cases compares to that found in shallow areas. Scleractinian corals are an example of this - they are key species in both shallow and deep ecosystems. However, what evolutionary processes resulted in current depth distribution of the marine fauna is a long-standing question. Various conflicting hypotheses have been proposed, but few formal tests have been conducted. Here, we use global spatial distribution data to test the bathymetric origin and colonization trends across the depth gradient in scleractinian corals. Using a phylogenetic approach, we infer the origin and historical trends in directionality and speed of colonization during the diversification in depth. We also examine how the emergence of photo-symbiosis and coloniality, scleractinian corals' most conspicuous phenotypic innovations, have influenced this process. Our results strongly support an offshore-onshore pattern of evolution and varying dispersion capacities along depth associated with trait-defined lineages. These results highlight the relevance of the evolutionary processes occurring at different depths to explain the origin of extant marine biodiversity and the consequences of altering these processes by human impact, highlighting the need to include this overlooked evolutionary history in conservation plans.}, } @article {pmid37977140, year = {2023}, author = {Wanke, A and van Boerdonk, S and Mahdi, LK and Wawra, S and Neidert, M and Chandrasekar, B and Saake, P and Saur, IML and Derbyshire, P and Holton, N and Menke, FLH and Brands, M and Pauly, M and Acosta, IF and Zipfel, C and Zuccaro, A}, title = {A GH81-type β-glucan-binding protein enhances colonization by mutualistic fungi in barley.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.048}, pmid = {37977140}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Cell walls are important interfaces of plant-fungal interactions, acting as robust physical and chemical barriers against invaders. Upon fungal colonization, plants deposit phenolics and callose at the sites of fungal penetration to prevent further fungal progression. Alterations in the composition of plant cell walls significantly impact host susceptibility. Furthermore, plants and fungi secrete glycan hydrolases acting on each other's cell walls. These enzymes release various sugar oligomers into the apoplast, some of which activate host immunity via surface receptors. Recent characterization of cell walls from plant-colonizing fungi has emphasized the abundance of β-glucans in different cell wall layers, which makes them suitable targets for recognition. To characterize host components involved in immunity against fungi, we performed a protein pull-down with the biotinylated β-glucan laminarin. Thereby, we identified a plant glycoside hydrolase family 81-type glucan-binding protein (GBP) as a β-glucan interactor. Mutation of GBP1 and its only paralog, GBP2, in barley led to decreased colonization by the beneficial root endophytes Serendipita indica and S. vermifera, as well as the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The reduction of colonization was accompanied by enhanced responses at the host cell wall, including an extension of callose-containing cell wall appositions. Moreover, GBP mutation in barley also reduced fungal biomass in roots by the hemibiotrophic pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana and inhibited the penetration success of the obligate biotrophic leaf pathogen Blumeria hordei. These results indicate that GBP1 is involved in the establishment of symbiotic associations with beneficial fungi-a role that has potentially been appropriated by barley-adapted pathogens.}, } @article {pmid37976624, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, S and Lin, Y and Liu, T and Xu, X and Wang, J and Chen, Q and Sun, W and Dang, C and Ni, J}, title = {Planktonic/benthic Bathyarchaeota as a "gatekeeper" enhance archaeal nonrandom co-existence and deterministic assembling in the Yangtze River.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {120829}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.120829}, pmid = {37976624}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Archaea, the third proposed domain of life, mediate carbon and nutrient cycling in global natural habitats. Compared with bacteria, our knowledge about archaeal ecological modes in large freshwater environments subject to varying natural and human factors is limited. By metabarcoding analysis of 303 samples, we provided the first integrate biogeography about archaeal compositions, co-existence networks, and assembling processes within a 6000 km continuum of the Yangtze River. Our study revealed that, among the major phyla, water samples owned a higher proportion of Thaumarchaeota (62.8%), while sediments had higher proportions of Euryarchaeota (33.4%) and Bathyarchaeota (18.8%). A decline of polarization in phylum abundance profile was observed from plateau/mountain/hill to basin/plain areas, which was attributed to the increase of nutrients and metals. Planktonic and benthic Bathyarchaeota tended to co-occur with both major (e.g., methanogens or Thermoplasmata) and minor (e.g., Asgard or DPANN) taxa in the non-random networks, harboring the highest richness and abundances of keystone species and contributing the most positively to edge number, node degree, and nearest neighbor degree. Furthermore, we noted significantly positive contributions of Bathyarchaeota abundance and network complexity to the dominance of deterministic process in archaeal assembly (water: 65.3%; sediments: 92.6%), since higher carbon metabolic versatility of Bathyarchaeota would benefit archaeal symbiotic relations. Stronger deterministic assembling was identified at the lower-reach plain, and higher concentrations of ammonium and aluminum separately functioning as nutrition and agglomerator were the main environmental drivers. We lastly found that the Three Gorges Dam caused a simultaneous drop of benthic Bathyarchaeota abundance, network co-existence, and deterministic effects immediately downstream due to riverbed erosion as a local interference. These findings highlight that Bathyarchaeota are a "gatekeeper" to promote fluvial archaeal diversity, stability, and predictability under varying macroscopic and microscopic factors, expanding our knowledge about microbial ecology in freshwater biogeochemical cycling globally.}, } @article {pmid37976184, year = {2023}, author = {Minguillón, S and Román, Á and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Wang, L and Xu, P and Murray, JD and Duanmu, D and Rubio, MC and Becana, M}, title = {Dynamics of of Lotus japonicus hemoglobins during nodule development, nitrate response, and dark stress.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad455}, pmid = {37976184}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Legume nodules express multiple leghemoglobins (Lbs) and nonsymbiotic hemoglobins (Glbs), but how they are regulated is unclear. Here, we study the regulation of all Lbs and Glbs of Lotus japonicus in different physiologically-relevant conditions and mutant backgrounds. We quantified hemoglobin expression, localized reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in nodules, and deployed mutants deficient in Lbs and in the transcription factors NLP4 (associated with nitrate sensitivity) and NAC094 (associated with senescence). Expression of Lbs and class 2 Glbs was supressed by nitrate, whereas expression of class 1 and 3 Glbs was positively correlated with external nitrate concentrations. Nitrate-responsive elements were found in the promoters of several hemoglobin genes. Mutant nodules without Lbs showed accumulation of ROS and NO, and alterations of antioxidants and senescence markers. NO accumulation occurred by a nitrate-independent pathway, probably due to the virtual disappearance of Glb1-1 and the deficiency of Lbs. We conclude that hemoglobins are regulated in a gene-specific manner during nodule development and in response to nitrate and dark stress. Mutant analyses reveal that nodules lacking Lbs experience nitro-oxidative stress and that there is compensation of expression between Lb1 and Lb2. They also show modulation of hemoglobin expression by NLP4 and NAC094.}, } @article {pmid37975984, year = {2023}, author = {Ali, MI and Ceh, B and Salahuddin, M}, title = {The energy-growth nexus in Canada: new empirical insights.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37975984}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Over the past two decades, numerous developed and developing nations have witnessed a remarkable shift from manufacturing-based economies to those that center around the service sector. This development has led to a staggering growth in the consumption of energy-intensive goods, and Canada has not been immune to this trend. Despite being home to abundant energy reserves, the country's economic expansion has manifestly relied on prodigious energy consumption. Within this context of symbiotic energy-economic growth, this study investigates the empirical relationship between energy consumption and economic growth using Canadian time-series data from 1980 to 2020. In doing so, this paper offers a vital contribution to the development of theoretical frameworks within the sphere of endogenous growth. Besides, to arrive at empirical findings, a model known as the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, renowned for its ability to discern both short- and long-term coefficients, is employed. The results reveal that economic growth has a significant positive long-run effect on energy consumption and other explanatory variables. All variables other than trade openness demonstrate a positive relationship with economic growth in the short run. From Toda-Yamamoto causality test, it is evident that there exist bidirectional causal links between economic growth and energy consumption and between economic growth and financial development. Several unidirectional causalities were also observed for other variables. Based on these findings, it is recommended that Canada boosts its investment in energy infrastructure, especially in rural and backward regions, to deliver necessary energy services. An optimal trade-off between Canada's vast energy resources and economic growth can perhaps be achieved by minimizing the disparity in access to energy services across all parts of the country. Other policy implications are discussed.}, } @article {pmid37975670, year = {2023}, author = {Cinar, MS and Niyas, A and Avci, FY}, title = {Serine-rich repeat proteins: well-known yet little-understood bacterial adhesins.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0024123}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00241-23}, pmid = {37975670}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {Serine-rich-repeat proteins (SRRPs) are large mucin-like glycoprotein adhesins expressed by a plethora of pathogenic and symbiotic Gram-positive bacteria. SRRPs play major functional roles in bacterial-host interactions, like adhesion, aggregation, biofilm formation, virulence, and pathogenesis. Through their functional roles, SRRPs aid in the development of host microbiomes but also diseases like infective endocarditis, otitis media, meningitis, and pneumonia. SRRPs comprise shared domains across different species, including two or more heavily O-glycosylated long stretches of serine-rich repeat regions. With loci that can be as large as ~40 kb and can encode up to 10 distinct glycosyltransferases that specifically facilitate SRRP glycosylation, the SRRP loci makes up a significant portion of the bacterial genome. The significance of SRRPs and their glycans in host-microbe communications is becoming increasingly evident. Studies are beginning to reveal the glycosylation pathways and mature O-glycans presented by SRRPs. Here we review the glycosylation machinery of SRRPs across species and discuss the functional roles and clinical manifestations of SRRP glycosylation.}, } @article {pmid37974494, year = {2023}, author = {Plett, KL and Wojtalewicz, D and Anderson, IC and Plett, JM}, title = {Fungal metabolism and free amino acid content may predict nitrogen transfer to the host plant in the ectomycorrhizal relationship between Pisolithus spp. and Eucalyptus grandis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19400}, pmid = {37974494}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DP190102254//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are crucial for tree nitrogen (N) nutrition; however, mechanisms governing N transfer from fungal tissues to the host plant are not well understood. ECM fungal isolates, even from the same species, vary considerably in their ability to support tree N nutrition, resulting in a range of often unpredictable symbiotic outcomes. In this study, we used isotopic labelling to quantify the transfer of N to the plant host by isolates from the ECM genus Pisolithus, known to have significant variability in colonisation and transfer of nutrients to a host. We considered the metabolic fate of N acquired by the fungi and found that the percentage of plant N acquired through symbiosis significantly correlated to the concentration of free amino acids in ECM extra-radical mycelium. Transcriptomic analyses complemented these findings with isolates having high amino acid content and N transfer showing increased expression of genes related to amino acid transport and catabolic pathways. These results suggest that fungal N metabolism impacts N transfer to the host plant in this interaction and that relative N transfer may be possible to predict through basic biochemical analyses.}, } @article {pmid37974493, year = {2023}, author = {Miao, S and Qiu, H}, title = {The microbiome in the pathogenesis of lung cancer: The role of microbiome in lung cancer pathogenesis.}, journal = {APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/apm.13359}, pmid = {37974493}, issn = {1600-0463}, support = {hlqm12023023//2023 Postgraduate Youth Training Program of School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University/ ; 2020xkjT023//Basic and Clinical Collaboration Enhancement Program of Anhui Medical University/ ; 82002450//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2020xkj018//The Scientific Research Foundation of Anhui Medical University/ ; }, abstract = {As one of the malignant tumors with high incidence rate and high mortality, lung cancer seriously threatens the life safety of patients. Research shows that microorganisms are closely related to lung cancer. The microbiome is symbiotic with the host and plays a vital role in the functions of the human body. Microbiota dysbiosis is correlated with development of lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This paper summarizes the composition characteristics of the gut-lung axis microbiome and intratumoral microbiome in patients with lung cancer. We then expound five potential carcinogenic mechanisms based on microorganisms, such as genotoxicity, metabolism, inflammation, immune response, and angiogenesis. Next, we list three high-throughput sequencing methods, and finally looks forward to the prospect of microorganisms as novel targets for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.}, } @article {pmid37974472, year = {2023}, author = {Lahari, Z and van Boerdonk, S and Omoboye, OO and Reichelt, M and Höfte, M and Gershenzon, J and Gheysen, G and Ullah, C}, title = {Strigolactone deficiency induces jasmonate, sugar and flavonoid phytoalexin accumulation enhancing rice defense against the blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19354}, pmid = {37974472}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Max-Planck-Gesellschaft/ ; BOF13/GOA/030//Special Research Fund of Ghent University/ ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development. While root-secreted SLs are well-known to facilitate plant symbiosis with beneficial microbes, the role of SLs in plant interactions with pathogenic microbes remains largely unexplored. Using genetic and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate a negative role of SLs in rice (Oryza sativa) defense against the blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae (syn. Magnaporthe oryzae). We found that SL biosynthesis and perception mutants, and wild-type (WT) plants after chemical inhibition of SLs, were less susceptible to P. oryzae. Strigolactone deficiency also resulted in a higher accumulation of jasmonates, soluble sugars and flavonoid phytoalexins in rice leaves. Likewise, in response to P. oryzae infection, SL signaling was downregulated, while jasmonate and sugar content increased markedly. The jar1 mutant unable to synthesize jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine, and the coi1-18 RNAi line perturbed in jasmonate signaling, both accumulated lower levels of sugars. However, when WT seedlings were sprayed with glucose or sucrose, jasmonate accumulation increased, suggesting a reciprocal positive interplay between jasmonates and sugars. Finally, we showed that functional jasmonate signaling is necessary for SL deficiency to induce rice defense against P. oryzae. We conclude that a reduction in rice SL content reduces P. oryzae susceptibility by activating jasmonate and sugar signaling pathways, and flavonoid phytoalexin accumulation.}, } @article {pmid37974296, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, Y and Wang, M and Cao, L and Seim, I and Zhou, L and Chen, J and Wang, H and Zhong, Z and Chen, H and Fu, L and Li, M and Li, C and Sun, S}, title = {Mosaic environment-driven evolution of the deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons bacterial endosymbiont.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {253}, pmid = {37974296}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {2022QNLM030004//Marine S&T Fund of Shandong Province for Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao)/ ; 2022QNLM030004//Marine S&T Fund of Shandong Province for Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao)/ ; 2022QNLM030004//Marine S&T Fund of Shandong Province for Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao)/ ; 42076091//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42030407//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; JSSCTD202142//Jiangsu Provincial Department of Technology/ ; XDB42020401//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; ZDBS-LY-DQC032//Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The within-species diversity of symbiotic bacteria represents an important genetic resource for their environmental adaptation, especially for horizontally transmitted endosymbionts. Although strain-level intraspecies variation has recently been detected in many deep-sea endosymbionts, their ecological role in environmental adaptation, their genome evolution pattern under heterogeneous geochemical environments, and the underlying molecular forces remain unclear.

RESULTS: Here, we conducted a fine-scale metagenomic analysis of the deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons bacterial endosymbiont collected from distinct habitats: hydrothermal vent and methane seep. Endosymbiont genomes were assembled using a pipeline that distinguishes within-species variation and revealed highly heterogeneous compositions in mussels from different habitats. Phylogenetic analysis separated the assemblies into three distinct environment-linked clades. Their functional differentiation follows a mosaic evolutionary pattern. Core genes, essential for central metabolic function and symbiosis, were conserved across all clades. Clade-specific genes associated with heavy metal resistance, pH homeostasis, and nitrate utilization exhibited signals of accelerated evolution. Notably, transposable elements and plasmids contributed to the genetic reshuffling of the symbiont genomes and likely accelerated adaptive evolution through pseudogenization and the introduction of new genes.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study uncovers the environment-driven evolution of deep-sea symbionts mediated by mobile genetic elements. Its findings highlight a potentially common and critical role of within-species diversity in animal-microbiome symbioses. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37974002, year = {2023}, author = {Kipp, MA and Stüeken, EE and Strömberg, CAE and Brightly, WH and Arbour, VM and Erdei, B and Hill, RS and Johnson, KR and Kvaček, J and McElwain, JC and Miller, IM and Slodownik, M and Vajda, V and Buick, R}, title = {Nitrogen isotopes reveal independent origins of N2-fixing symbiosis in extant cycad lineages.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37974002}, issn = {2397-334X}, support = {DGE-1256082//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; AI-F-GB56.20.2//Agouron Institute/ ; NNX16AI37G//National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/ ; }, abstract = {Cycads are ancient seed plants (gymnosperms) that emerged by the early Permian. Although they were common understory flora and food for dinosaurs in the Mesozoic, their abundance declined markedly in the Cenozoic. Extant cycads persist in restricted populations in tropical and subtropical habitats and, with their conserved morphology, are often called 'living fossils.' All surviving taxa receive nitrogen from symbiotic N2-fixing cyanobacteria living in modified roots, suggesting an ancestral origin of this symbiosis. However, such an ancient acquisition is discordant with the abundance of cycads in Mesozoic fossil assemblages, as modern N2-fixing symbioses typically occur only in nutrient-poor habitats where advantageous for survival. Here, we use foliar nitrogen isotope ratios-a proxy for N2 fixation in modern plants-to probe the antiquity of the cycad-cyanobacterial symbiosis. We find that fossilized cycad leaves from two Cenozoic representatives of extant genera have nitrogen isotopic compositions consistent with microbial N2 fixation. In contrast, all extinct cycad genera have nitrogen isotope ratios that are indistinguishable from co-existing non-cycad plants and generally inconsistent with microbial N2 fixation, pointing to nitrogen assimilation from soils and not through symbiosis. This pattern indicates that, rather than being ancestral within cycads, N2-fixing symbiosis arose independently in the lineages leading to living cycads during or after the Jurassic. The preferential survival of these lineages may therefore reflect the effects of competition with angiosperms and Cenozoic climatic change.}, } @article {pmid37971579, year = {2023}, author = {Lock, TJ and Mah, SH and Lai, ZW}, title = {Versatile Applications of Brewer's Spent Grain: Solid-State Fermentation and Nutritional Added Value.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37971579}, issn = {1559-0291}, abstract = {Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is a major by-product in the beer-brewing process which contributes to 85% of the entire generated by-product in the brewing process. BSG is rich in proteins, and most of the malt proteins (74-78%) remain insoluble in BSG after the mashing process. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is a promising bioprocess that enables microorganisms to survive in environments with minimal water and has shown to enhance the nutritional composition of BSG. In this review, the potential application of protein, amino acids (proline, threonine, and serine), phenolic contents, and soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, xylose, arabinose, and cellobiose) extracted from BSG by various microorganisms using SSF is explored. Incorporation of BSG into animal feed, human diets, and as a substrate for microorganisms are the prospects that could be implemented in the industrial scale. This review also discussed various advances to improve the fermentation yield such as symbiotic fermentation, the addition of nitrogen supplements, and an optimal mixture of the agro-industrial waste substrate. Future perspectives on SSF are also addressed to provide important ideas for immediate and future studies. However, challenges include optimizing SSF conditions and design of bioreactors, and operational costs must be addressed in the future to overcome current obstacles. Overall, this mini review highlights the potential benefits of BSG utilization and SSF in a sustainable way.}, } @article {pmid37971247, year = {2023}, author = {Richter, I and Uzum, Z and Wein, P and Molloy, EM and Moebius, N and Stinear, TP and Pidot, SJ and Hertweck, C}, title = {Transcription activator-like effectors from endosymbiotic bacteria control the reproduction of their fungal host.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0182423}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.01824-23}, pmid = {37971247}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Interactions between fungi and bacteria are critically important in ecology, medicine, and biotechnology. In this study, we shed light on factors that promote the persistence of a toxin-producing, phytopathogenic Rhizopus-Mycetohabitans symbiosis that causes severe crop losses in Asia. We present an unprecedented case where bacterially produced transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors are key to maintaining a stable endosymbiosis. In their absence, fungal sporulation is abrogated, leading to collapse of the phytopathogenic alliance. The Mycetohabitans TAL (MTAL)-mediated mechanism of host control illustrates a unique role of bacterial effector molecules that has broader implications, potentially serving as a model to understand how prokaryotic symbionts interact with their eukaryotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid37970133, year = {2023}, author = {Antony, MA and Chowdhury, A and Edem, D and Raj, R and Nain, P and Joglekar, M and Verma, V and Kant, R}, title = {Gut microbiome supplementation as therapy for metabolic syndrome.}, journal = {World journal of diabetes}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {1502-1513}, pmid = {37970133}, issn = {1948-9358}, abstract = {The gut microbiome is defined as an ecological community of commensal symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that exist in our body. Gut microbiome dysbiosis is a condition of dysregulated and disrupted intestinal bacterial homeostasis, and recent evidence has shown that dysbiosis is related to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. It is well known that obesity, T2DM and CVD are caused or worsened by multiple factors like genetic predisposition, environmental factors, unhealthy high calorie diets, and sedentary lifestyle. However, recent evidence from human and mouse models suggest that the gut microbiome is also an active player in the modulation of metabolic syndrome, a set of risk factors including obesity, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia that increase the risk for CVD, T2DM, and other diseases. Current research aims to identify treatments to increase the number of beneficial microbiota in the gut microbiome in order to modulate metabolic syndrome by reducing chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. There is increasing interest in supplements, classified as prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, or postbiotics, and their effect on the gut microbiome and metabolic syndrome. In this review article, we have summarized current research on these supplements that are available to improve the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota and to reduce the harmful ones in patients with metabolic syndrome.}, } @article {pmid37967850, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, H and Zhang, X and Wang, H and Xing, S and Yin, R and Fu, W and Rillig, MC and Chen, B and Zhu, Y}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Can Inhibit the Allocation of Microplastics from Crop Roots to Aboveground Edible Parts.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05570}, pmid = {37967850}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Microplastics are emerging pollutants that threaten soil health and food safety. Recently, there has been increasing interest in understanding the behavior of these particles in the rhizosphere, specifically regarding the potential uptake of microplastics into crops. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread soil fungi, forming symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants. Therefore, it is essential to investigate if AM fungi could protect crops from microplastics in soil. Here, we grew vegetables (Lactuca sativa) inoculated with/without the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis at various levels of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) soil pollution (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%, mass ratio of the pollutant to soil). Our findings revealed that the proportion of transport of PMMA from roots to shoots decreased significantly in mycorrhizal crops. This reduction occurred because some PMMA particles were immobilized by AM vesicles and intraradical fungal hyphae. However, AM symbiosis did not substantially reduce the uptake of microplastics by crops from soil. Mycorrhizal fungi might enhance the resistance of crops to microplastics through transforming the chemical properties of microplastics, reducing their complexation to crop components, and promoting crop phosphorus nutrition at high microplastic addition levels. Our study is the first report to achieve rapid quantification of microplastics in mycorrhizal crops using microscale combustion calorimetry, demonstrating that AM fungi have the ability to immobilize microplastics. The study allows a deeper insight into microplastic behavior in AM-associated crops and supports the potential application of AM fungi in crop cultivation under microplastic contamination.}, } @article {pmid37965551, year = {2023}, author = {Suraby, EJ and Agisha, VN and Dhandapani, S and Sng, YH and Lim, SH and Naqvi, NI and Sarojam, R and Yin, Z and Park, BS}, title = {Plant growth promotion under phosphate deficiency and improved phosphate acquisition by new fungal strain, Penicillium olsonii TLL1.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1285574}, pmid = {37965551}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbiomes in soil ecosystems play a significant role in solubilizing insoluble inorganic and organic phosphate sources with low availability and mobility in the soil. They transfer the phosphate ion to plants, thereby promoting plant growth. In this study, we isolated an unidentified fungal strain, POT1 (Penicillium olsonii TLL1) from indoor dust samples, and confirmed its ability to promote root growth, especially under phosphate deficiency, as well as solubilizing activity for insoluble phosphates such as AlPO4, FePO4·4H2O, Ca3(PO4)2, and hydroxyapatite. Indeed, in vermiculite containing low and insoluble phosphate, the shoot fresh weight of Arabidopsis and leafy vegetables increased by 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively, with POT1 inoculation. We also conducted tests on crops in Singapore's local soil, which contains highly insoluble phosphate. We confirmed that with POT1, Bok Choy showed a 2-fold increase in shoot fresh weight, and Rice displayed a 2-fold increase in grain yield. Furthermore, we demonstrated that plant growth promotion and phosphate solubilizing activity of POT1 were more effective than those of four different Penicillium strains such as Penicillium bilaiae, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium janthinellum, and Penicillium simplicissimum under phosphate-limiting conditions. Our findings uncover a new fungal strain, provide a better understanding of symbiotic plant-fungal interactions, and suggest the potential use of POT1 as a biofertilizer to improve phosphate uptake and use efficiency in phosphate-limiting conditions.}, } @article {pmid37965269, year = {2023}, author = {Narayan, OP and Yadav, B and Verma, N and Dua, M and Johri, AK}, title = {Maize Seedlings Colonization with Serendipita indica and Its Colonization Efficiency Analysis.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {13}, number = {20}, pages = {e4855}, pmid = {37965269}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Maize is one of the most important crops in the world, and ensuring its successful growth and productivity is crucial for global food security. One way to enhance maize growth and productivity is by improving the colonization of its roots by beneficial microorganisms. In this regard, Serendipita indica, a plant growth-promoting fungus, has gained attention for its ability to enhance plant growth and productivity, especially in cereal crops and medicinal plants. Previous studies have shown that S. indica can colonize various plant species, including maize, but the efficiency of the colonization process in maize seedlings has not been extensively characterized. This protocol outlines a method for efficient colonization of maize seedlings with the beneficial fungus S. indica. The protocol includes the preparation of stock solutions, maintenance and growth of S. indica, surface sterilization and germination of seeds, preparation of S. indica chlamydospores, and colonization of maize plants with S. indica. The advantages of this protocol include the use of surface sterilization techniques that minimize contamination, the production of a large number of viable chlamydospores, and efficient colonization of maize seedlings with S. indica. This protocol may be useful for researchers studying the role of S. indica in promoting plant growth and combating biotic and abiotic stress. Additionally, this protocol may be used in the development of biofertilizers using S. indica as a means of increasing crop yields and reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Overall, this protocol offers a reliable and efficient method for colonizing maize seedlings with S. indica and may have potential applications in the agricultural industry. This study also provides a valuable tool for researchers interested in studying plant-microbe interactions in maize and highlights the potential of S. indica as a biocontrol agent to enhance maize productivity under adverse conditions. Key features • This protocol builds upon the method developed by Narayan et al. (2022), and its application optimized for the root endophytic symbiotic fungus S. indica. • This protocol also allows for histochemical analysis to visualize the colonized fungal spores in the root cells of host plant species. • This protocol helps in mathematical calculation of the percent colonization or efficiency of colonization. • This protocol utilizes readily available laboratory equipment, including a light microscope, autoclave, and laminar flow hood, ensuring ease of reproducibility in other research laboratories.}, } @article {pmid37965028, year = {2023}, author = {Sarkar, A and Fwanyanga, FM and Horn, LN and Welzel, S and Diederichs, M and Kerk, LJ and Zimmermann, M and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Towards inoculant development for Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc) pulse crop production in Namibia.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1270356}, pmid = {37965028}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The globally expanding population, together with climate change, poses a risk to the availability of food for humankind. Bambara groundnut (BGN) (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) is a neglected, relatively drought-tolerant native legume of Sub-Saharan Africa that has the potential to become a successful food crop because of its nutritional quality and climate-smart features. Nitrogen fixation from root nodule symbiosis with climate-adapted rhizobial symbionts can contribute nitrogen and organic material in nutrient-poor soil and improve yields. However, high soil temperature and drought often reduce the abundance of native rhizobia in such soil. Therefore, the formulation of climate-smart biofertilizers has the potential to improve the farming of BGN at a low cost in a sustainable manner.

METHOD: The effect of seven Bradyrhizobium spp. strains native to Namibia, including B. vignae and B. subterraneum, were tested on three Namibian BGN varieties (red, brown, cream) in greenhouse pot experiments in Namibia, using soil from the target region of Kavango. Each variety was treated with a mixed inoculant consisting of seven preselected strains ("MK") as well as with one promising single inoculant strain.

RESULTS: The results revealed that in all three varieties, the two inoculants (mixed or single) outperformed the non-inoculated cultivars in terms of shoot dry weight by up to 70%; the mixed inoculant treatment performed significantly better (p < 0.05) in all cases compared to the single inoculant used. To test whether the inoculant strains were established in root nodules, they were identified by sequence analysis. In many cases, the indigenous strains of Kavango soil outcompeted the inoculant strains of the mix for nodule occupancy, depending on the BGN variety. As a further preselection, each of the individual strains of the mix was used to inoculate the three varieties under sterile conditions in a phytotron. The agronomic trait and root nodulation response of the host plant inoculations strongly differed with the BGN variety. Even competitiveness in nodule occupancy without involving any indigenous strains from soil differed and depended strictly on the variety.

DISCUSSION: Severe differences in symbiont-plant interactions appear to occur in BGN depending on the plant variety, demanding for coupling of breeding efforts with selecting efficient inoculant strains.}, } @article {pmid37963459, year = {2023}, author = {Turnau, K and Płachno, BJ and Bień, P and Świątek, P and Dąbrowski, P and Kalaji, H}, title = {Fungal symbionts impact cyanobacterial biofilm durability and photosynthetic efficiency.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.056}, pmid = {37963459}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria contribute to over 25% of the world's net primary photosynthetic production and are pivotal in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.[1] This study unveils a previously unobserved symbiotic relationship between benthic cyanobacteria and fungi that have also adapted to life as a plant endophyte. The interaction suggests an initial phase of lichenization. We isolated Leptolyngbya frigida from the Naracauli stream, which emanates from abandoned Zn industrial waste in Sardinia. Seasonally, L. frigida participates in a biomineralization processes, mitigating the Zn transfer to rivers and, subsequently, the sea.[2][,][3][,][4]L. frigida is a benthic cyanobacterium that establishes a biofilm on the stream bed. Notably, the area predominantly features Juncus acutus. From these roots, endophytic fungi were predominantly isolated as Clonostachys rosea, a fungus recognized for its biocontrol capabilities against plant pathogens. An intriguing observation was made when L. frigida was cultured with C. rosea on a low-carbohydrate agar medium: the fungal mycelium transformed into wall-less forms, a phenomenon not documented previously. In liquid environments, the resulting biofilm first settled at the container's bottom. Even upon rising to the surface, this biofilm remained pigment rich. Concurrently, a secondary biofilm began its formation at the bottom. These fungal-integrated biofilms displayed enhanced resilience and superior photosynthetic performance compared to those without fungal presence. Moreover, the symbiotic relationship significantly amplified O2 emission and CO2 sequestration by the biofilm.}, } @article {pmid37963399, year = {2023}, author = {Jennings, SAV and Clavel, T}, title = {Synthetic Communities of Gut Microbes for Basic Research and Translational Approaches in Animal Health and Nutrition.}, journal = {Annual review of animal biosciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-025552}, pmid = {37963399}, issn = {2165-8110}, abstract = {Microbes and animals have a symbiotic relationship that greatly influences nutrient uptake and animal health. This relationship can be studied using selections of microbes termed synthetic communities, or SynComs. SynComs are used in many different animal hosts, including agricultural animals, to investigate microbial interactions with nutrients and how these affect animal health. The most common host focuses for SynComs are currently mouse and human, from basic mechanistic research through to translational disease models and live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) as treatments. We discuss SynComs used in basic research models and findings that relate to human and animal health and nutrition. Translational use cases of SynCom are discussed, followed by LBPs, especially within the context of agriculture. SynComs still face challenges, such as standardization for reproducibility and contamination risks. However, the future of SynComs is hopeful, especially in the areas of genome-guided SynCom design and custom SynCom-based treatments. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 12 is February 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, } @article {pmid37963116, year = {2023}, author = {Kagawa, O and Hirota, SK and Saito, T and Uchida, S and Watanabe, H and Miyazoe, R and Yamaguchi, T and Matsuno, T and Araki, K and Wakasugi, H and Suzuki, S and Kobayashi, G and Miyazaki, H and Suyama, Y and Hanyuda, T and Chiba, S}, title = {Host-Shift Speciation Proceeded with Gene Flow in Algae Covering Shells.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {202}, number = {5}, pages = {721-732}, doi = {10.1086/726221}, pmid = {37963116}, issn = {1537-5323}, abstract = {AbstractHost shifts represent the advancement of a novel niche and often lead to speciation in symbionts. However, its mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we focused on the alga Pseudocladophora conchopheria growing on the shells of intertidal snails. Previous surveys have shown that the alga has host specificity-only attaching to the shell of Lunella correensis-but we discovered that the alga attaches to the shells of multiple sympatric snails. A genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis (MIG-seq) was performed to determine whether host-associated speciation occurred in the algae. As a result, there was no gene flow or limited gene flow among the algae from different hosts, and some algae were genetically differentiated among hosts. In addition, the demographic estimate revealed that speciation with gene flow occurred between the algae from different hosts. Therefore, these results support the idea that host-shift speciation gradually proceeded with gene flow in the algae, providing insight into the early evolution of host shifts.}, } @article {pmid37960132, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Feng, Y and Wang, J and Wang, E and Andrews, M}, title = {Diverse Bradyrhizobium spp. with Similar Symbiosis Genes Nodulate Peanut in Different Regions of China: Characterization of Symbiovar sv. Arachis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {21}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12213776}, pmid = {37960132}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {Yuzutong[2023]No.11//Central Plains youth top talent project/ ; 31970006//National Nature Science Foundation of China/ ; 22HASTIT035//Henan University Science and Technology Innovation Talent Support Program/ ; SIP20200726//IPN, Mexico/ ; }, abstract = {A total of 219 rhizobial strains isolated from peanut grown in soils from six peanut croplands in Zhengyang county, Henan Province, were typed by PCR-RFLP of IGS sequences. Their phylogenetic relationships were refined on representative strains using sequence analyses of 16S rRNA genes, housekeeping genes (atpD, recA, glnII) and symbiosis genes (nodA, nodC and nifH). The 219 rhizobial isolates were classified into 13 IGS types, and twenty representatives were defined within eight Bradyrhizobium genospecies: B. guangdongense covering 5 IGS types (75.2% of total isolates), B. guangzhouense (2 IGS types, 2.7% total isolates), B. zhengyangense (1 IGS type, 11.3% total isolates) and five novel genospecies (5 IGS types, 0.9 to 3.2% total isolates). All representative strains had identical nodA, nodC and nifH sequences except for one nifH sequence. With this one exception, these sequences were identical to those of the type strains of Bradyrhizobium species and several Bradyrhizobium genospecies isolated from peanut in different regions of China. The nodC sequences of all strains showed < 67% similarity to the closest strains on the Genbank database indicating that they are representative of a novel Bradyrhiobium symbiovar. This study has shown that (1) diverse Bradyrhizobium spp. with similar symbiosis genes nodulate peanut in different regions of China. (2) Horizontal transfer of genes involved in nodulating peanut is common between Bradyrhizobium species in soils used to grow the crop in China. (3) The strains studied here are representative of a novel Bradyrhizobium symbiovar that nodulates peanut in China. We propose the name sv. arachis for this novel symbiovar indicating that the strains were isolated from Arachis hypogaea. Results here have practical implications in relation to the selection of rhizobial inoculants for peanut in China.}, } @article {pmid37959736, year = {2023}, author = {Vega-Bello, MJ and Moreno, ML and Estellés-Leal, R and Hernández-Andreu, JM and Prieto-Ruiz, JA}, title = {Usnea aurantiaco-atra (Jacq) Bory: Metabolites and Biological Activities.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {21}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/molecules28217317}, pmid = {37959736}, issn = {1420-3049}, support = {2011-011-012//Valencia Catholic University Saint Vincent Martyr/ ; }, mesh = {Antioxidants/chemistry ; *Usnea/chemistry ; *Lichens/chemistry ; Phenols/chemistry ; Terpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are complex symbiotic associations between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. Due to their great adaptability to the environment, they have managed to colonize many terrestrial habitats, presenting a worldwide distribution from the poles to the tropical regions and from the plains to the highest mountains. In the flora of the Antarctic region, lichens stand out due to their variety and development and are a potential source of new bioactive compounds.

METHODS: A phytochemical study of the Antarctic lichen Usnea aurantiaco-atra (Jacq) Bory was conducted with the intention of determining the most important metabolites. In addition, the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of its extracts were determined.

RESULTS: Cytotoxicity studies revealed that the hexane extract contains usnic acid as a majority metabolite, in addition to linoleic acid, ergosterols and terpenes, and demonstrates cytotoxic activity against an A375 melanoma cell line. On the other hand, the presence of total phenols in the extracts did not influence their antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSIONS: U. aurantiaco-atra contains mainly usnic acid, although there are terpenes and ergosta compounds that could be responsible for its cytotoxic activity. The presence of phenols did not confer antioxidant properties.}, } @article {pmid37957741, year = {2023}, author = {Moldovan, OT and Carrell, AA and Bulzu, PA and Levei, E and Bucur, R and Sitar, C and Faur, L and Mirea, IC and Șenilă, M and Cadar, O and Podar, M}, title = {The gut microbiome mediates adaptation to scarce food in Coleoptera.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {80}, pmid = {37957741}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {R01DE024463/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01DE024463/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Beetles are ubiquitous cave invertebrates worldwide that adapted to scarce subterranean resources when they colonized caves. Here, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the adaptation of beetles to caves from different climatic regions of the Carpathians. The beetles' microbiota was host-specific, reflecting phylogenetic and nutritional adaptation. The microbial community structure further resolved conspecific beetles by caves suggesting microbiota-host coevolution and influences by local environmental factors. The detritivore species hosted a variety of bacteria known to decompose and ferment organic matter, suggesting turnover and host cooperative digestion of the sedimentary microbiota and allochthonous-derived nutrients. The cave Carabidae, with strong mandibula, adapted to predation and scavenging of animal and plant remains, had distinct microbiota dominated by symbiotic lineages Spiroplasma or Wolbachia. All beetles had relatively high levels of fermentative Carnobacterium and Vagococcus involved in lipid accumulation and a reduction of metabolic activity, and both features characterize adaptation to caves.}, } @article {pmid37956857, year = {2023}, author = {Scro, AK and Bojko, J and Behringer, DC}, title = {Symbiotic survey of the Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) from the Gulf Coast of Florida, USA.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {108019}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2023.108019}, pmid = {37956857}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {The bay scallop Argopecten irradians supported a commercial fishery in Florida but their population declined and the fishery closed in 1994. A recreational fishery remains open along the west coast of Florida despite continued threats from overfishing and a changing environment. Disease is among those threats, as it is for bivalve fisheries globally. We examined the relationship between bay scallop population density, its symbiotic microbiome, and geographic location. We focused on three sites within the range of Florida's recreational scallop fishery: St. Joseph Bay (northern extent), offshore of the Steinhatchee River (central), and offshore of Hernando County (southern extent). The study was conducted prior to the seasonal opening of the fishery to minimize the impact of fishing on our results. We also sampled caged scallops that are used for restocking in St. Joseph Bay to assess the effect of artificially high density and confinement on the scallop pathobiome. Using a combination of traditional histological methods, molecular diagnostics, and metagenomics, a suite of 15 symbionts were identified. Among them, RNA-seq data revealed four novel +ssRNA viral genomes: three picorna-like viruses and one hepe-like virus. The DNA-seq library revealed a novel Mycoplasma species. Histological evaluation revealed that protozoan, helminth and crustacean infections were common in A. irradians. These potential pathogens add to those already known for A. irradians and underscores the risk they pose to the fishery.}, } @article {pmid37956837, year = {2023}, author = {Ueno, AC and Vila-Aiub, MM and Gundel, PE}, title = {Intergenerational consequences of an auxin-like herbicide on plant sensitivity to a graminicide mediated by a fungal endophyte.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {168522}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168522}, pmid = {37956837}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {In agroecosystems, herbicides are the predominant anthropogenic selection pressure for arable weed species. While weeds are the primary target, herbicides can have adverse impacts on non-target plant beneficial microorganisms. We aimed to investigate the influence of a foliar endophytic fungus (Epichloë occultans) on the sensitivity of Lolium multiflorum to a graminicide herbicide (diclofop-methyl) during both plant ontogeny and progeny. Susceptible individuals to diclofop-methyl with and without endophyte were pre-exposed to the auxin 2,4-D herbicide. This herbicide is known to stimulate the metabolic detoxification mechanism (CYP-450) of diclofop-methyl. Regardless of the endophyte, 2,4-D pre-treatment increased mother plant survival to nearly 100 % under diclofop treatment but not in the progeny. Furthermore, maternal plant exposure to 2,4-D reduced endophyte transmission to the seeds and from seed-to-seedlings. Our findings suggest that, despite a reduction in diclofop-methyl sensitivity during the ontogeny of mother plants, 2,4-D-mediated induction of likely CYP-450 metabolism is not intergenerationally transmitted and showing detrimental effects on the symbiotic endophyte persistence.}, } @article {pmid37956228, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, R and Feng, H and Wei, GW}, title = {ChatGPT in Drug Discovery: A Case Study on Anticocaine Addiction Drug Development with Chatbots.}, journal = {Journal of chemical information and modeling}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01429}, pmid = {37956228}, issn = {1549-960X}, abstract = {The birth of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge language model-based chatbot developed by OpenAI, ushered in a new era in AI. However, due to potential pitfalls, its role in rigorous scientific research is not clear yet. This paper vividly showcases its innovative application within the field of drug discovery. Focused specifically on developing anticocaine addiction drugs, the study employs GPT-4 as a virtual guide, offering strategic and methodological insights to researchers working on generative models for drug candidates. The primary objective is to generate optimal drug-like molecules with desired properties. By leveraging the capabilities of ChatGPT, the study introduces a novel approach to the drug discovery process. This symbiotic partnership between AI and researchers transforms how drug development is approached. Chatbots become facilitators, steering researchers toward innovative methodologies and productive paths for creating effective drug candidates. This research sheds light on the collaborative synergy between human expertise and AI assistance, wherein ChatGPT's cognitive abilities enhance the design and development of pharmaceutical solutions. This paper not only explores the integration of advanced AI in drug discovery but also reimagines the landscape by advocating for AI-powered chatbots as trailblazers in revolutionizing therapeutic innovation.}, } @article {pmid37955984, year = {2023}, author = {Jung, P and Baumann, K and Emrich, D and Schermer, M and Eckhardt, KU and Jandl, G and Leinweber, P and Harion, F and Wruck, A and Grube, M and Büdel, B and Lakatos, M}, title = {The dark side of orange: Multiorganismic continuum dynamics within a lichen of the Atacama Desert.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-15}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2023.2263148}, pmid = {37955984}, issn = {1557-2536}, abstract = {Over the decades our understanding of lichens has shifted to the fact that they are multiorganismic, symbiotic microecosystems, with their complex interactions coming to the fore due to recent advances in microbiomics. Here, we present a mutualistic-parasitic continuum dynamics scenario between an orange lichen and a lichenicolous fungus from the Atacama Desert leading to the decay of the lichen's photobiont and leaving behind a black lichen thallus. Based on isolation, sequencing, and ecophysiological approaches including metabolic screenings of the symbionts, we depict consequences upon infection with the lichenicolous fungus. This spans from a loss of the lichen's photosynthetic activity and an increased roughness of its surface to an inhibition of the parietin synthesis as a shared pathway between the photobiont and the mycobiont, including a shift of secondary metabolism products. This degree of relations has rarely been documented before, although lichenicolous fungi have been studied for over 200 years, adding an additional level to the view of interactions within lichens.}, } @article {pmid37955547, year = {2023}, author = {John, EJ and Chau, MQ and Hoang, CV and Chandrasekharan, N and Bhaskar, C and Ma, LS}, title = {Fungal cell wall-associated effectors: Sensing, integration, suppression and protection.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-23-0142-FI}, pmid = {37955547}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {The cell wall (CW) of plant-interacting fungi, as the direct interface with host plants, plays a crucial role in fungal development. A number of secreted proteins are directly associated with the fungal CW, either through covalent or non-covalent interactions, and serve a range of important functions. In the context of plant-fungal interactions many are important for fungal development in the host environment, and may therefore be considered fungal cell wall-associated effectors (CWAEs). Key CWAE functions include integrating chemical/physical signals to direct hyphal growth, interfering with plant immunity or providing protection against plant defences. In recent years a diverse range of mechanisms have been reported that underpin their roles, with some CWAEs harboring conserved motifs or functional domains, while others are reported with novel features. As such, the current understanding regarding fungal CWAEs is systematically presented here from the perspective of their biological function in plant-fungal interactions. An overview of the fungal CW architecture and the mechanisms by which proteins are secreted, modified and incorporated into the CW is first presented to provide context for their biological role. Some CWAE functions are reported across a broad range of pathosystems or symbiotic/mutualistic associations. Prominent are the chitin interacting-effectors that facilitate fungal CW modification, protection or the suppression of host immune responses. However, several alternative functions are now reported which are presented and discussed. As such, CWAEs can play diverse roles, some possibly unique to fungal lineages and others conserved across a broad range of plant-interacting fungi.}, } @article {pmid37955420, year = {2023}, author = {Whittle, M and Bonsall, MB and Barreaux, AMG and Ponton, F and English, S}, title = {A theoretical model for host-controlled regulation of symbiont density.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.14246}, pmid = {37955420}, issn = {1420-9101}, abstract = {There is growing empirical evidence that animal hosts actively control the density of their mutualistic symbionts according to their requirements. Such active regulation can be facilitated by compartmentalization of symbionts within host tissues, which confers a high degree of control of the symbiosis to the host. Here, we build a general theoretical framework to predict the underlying ecological drivers and evolutionary consequences of host-controlled endosymbiont density regulation for a mutually obligate association between a host and a compartmentalized, vertically transmitted symbiont. Building on the assumption that the costs and benefits of hosting a symbiont population increase with symbiont density, we use state-dependent dynamic programming to determine an optimal strategy for the host, i.e., that which maximizes host fitness, when regulating the density of symbionts. Simulations of active host-controlled regulation governed by the optimal strategy predict that the density of the symbiont should converge to a constant level during host development, and following perturbation. However, a similar trend also emerges from alternative strategies of symbiont regulation. The strategy which maximizes host fitness also promotes symbiont fitness compared to alternative strategies, suggesting that active host-controlled regulation of symbiont density could be adaptive for the symbiont as well as the host. Adaptation of the framework allowed the dynamics of symbiont density to be predicted for other host-symbiont ecologies, such as for non-essential symbionts, demonstrating the versatility of this modelling approach.}, } @article {pmid37955263, year = {2023}, author = {Das, A and Behera, RN and Kapoor, A and Ambatipudi, K}, title = {The Potential of Meta-Proteomics and Artificial Intelligence to Establish the Next Generation of Probiotics for Personalized Healthcare.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03834}, pmid = {37955263}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {The symbiosis of probiotic bacteria with humans has rendered various health benefits while providing nutrition and a suitable environment for their survival. However, the probiotics must survive unfavorable gut conditions to exert beneficial effects. The intrinsic resistance of probiotics to survive harsh conditions results from a myriad of proteins. Interaction of microbial proteins with the host is indispensable for modulating the gut microbiome, such as interaction with cell receptors and protective action against pathogens. The complex interplay of proteins should be unraveled by utilizing metaproteomic strategies. The contribution of probiotics to health is now widely accepted. However, due to the inconsistency of generalized probiotics, contemporary research toward precision probiotics has gained momentum for customized treatment. This review explores the application of metaproteomics and AI/ML algorithms in resolving multiomics data analysis and in silico prediction of microbial features for screening specific beneficial probiotic organisms. Implementing these integrative strategies could augment the potential of precision probiotics for personalized healthcare.}, } @article {pmid37954141, year = {2023}, author = {Xue, Q and Shen, C and Liu, Q and Liu, P and Guo, D and Zheng, L and Liu, J and Liu, C and Ye, Q and Wang, T and Dong, J}, title = {The PtdIns3P phosphatase MtMP promotes symbiotic nitrogen fixation via mitophagy in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {107752}, pmid = {37954141}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a complex process in which legumes interact with rhizobia under nitrogen starvation. In this study, we found that myotubularin phosphatase (MtMP) is mainly expressed in roots and nodules in Medicago truncatula. MtMP promotes autophagy by dephosphorylating PtdIns3P on autophagosomes. The mp mutants inoculated with rhizobia showed a significant reduction in nitrogenase activity and significantly higher number of mitochondria than those of wild-type plants under nitrogen starvation, indicating that MtMP is involved in mitophagy of the infection zone. Mitophagy may provide carbon skeletons and nitrogen for the development of bacteroids and the reprogramming of infected cells. In conclusion, we found, for the first time, that myotubularin phosphatase is involved in autophagy in plants. MtMP-involved autophagy plays an active role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. These results deepen our understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37953792, year = {2023}, author = {Furtado, DP and Vieira, EA and Nascimento, WF and Inagaki, KY and Bleuel, J and Alves, MAZ and Longo, GO and Oliveira, LS}, title = {#DeOlhoNosCorais: a polygonal annotated dataset to optimize coral monitoring.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16219}, pmid = {37953792}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Corals are colonial animals within the Phylum Cnidaria that form coral reefs, playing a significant role in marine environments by providing habitat for fish, mollusks, crustaceans, sponges, algae, and other organisms. Global climate changes are causing more intense and frequent thermal stress events, leading to corals losing their color due to the disruption of a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic endosymbionts. Given the importance of corals to the marine environment, monitoring coral reefs is critical to understanding their response to anthropogenic impacts. Most coral monitoring activities involve underwater photographs, which can be costly to generate on large spatial scales and require processing and analysis that may be time-consuming. The Marine Ecology Laboratory (LECOM) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) developed the project "#DeOlhoNosCorais" which encourages users to post photos of coral reefs on their social media (Instagram) using this hashtag, enabling people without previous scientific training to contribute to coral monitoring. The laboratory team identifies the species and gathers information on coral health along the Brazilian coast by analyzing each picture posted on social media. To optimize this process, we conducted baseline experiments for image classification and semantic segmentation. We analyzed the classification results of three different machine learning models using the Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME) algorithm. The best results were achieved by combining EfficientNet for feature extraction and Logistic Regression for classification. Regarding semantic segmentation, the U-Net Pix2Pix model produced a pixel-level accuracy of 86%. Our results indicate that this tool can enhance image selection for coral monitoring purposes and open several perspectives for improving classification performance. Furthermore, our findings can be expanded by incorporating other datasets to create a tool that streamlines the time and cost associated with analyzing coral reef images across various regions.}, } @article {pmid37953106, year = {2023}, author = {Bhattacharya, D and Stephens, TG and Chille, EE and Benites, LF and Chan, CX}, title = {Facultative lifestyle drives diversity of coral algal symbionts.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2023.10.005}, pmid = {37953106}, issn = {1872-8383}, abstract = {The photosynthetic symbionts of corals sustain biodiverse reefs in nutrient-poor, tropical waters. Recent genomic data illuminate the evolution of coral symbionts under genome size constraints and suggest that retention of the facultative lifestyle, widespread among these algae, confers a selective advantage when compared with a strict symbiotic existence. We posit that the coral symbiosis is analogous to a 'bioreactor' that selects winner genotypes and allows them to rise to high numbers in a sheltered habitat prior to release by the coral host. Our observations lead to a novel hypothesis, the 'stepping-stone model', which predicts that local adaptation under both the symbiotic and free-living stages, in a stepwise fashion, accelerates coral alga diversity and the origin of endemic strains and species.}, } @article {pmid37952184, year = {2023}, author = {Matamoros, MA and Romero, LC and Tian, T and Román, Á and Duanmu, D and Becana, M}, title = {Persulfidation of plant and bacteroid proteins is involved in legume nodule development and senescence.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad436}, pmid = {37952184}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Legumes establish symbiosis with rhizobia forming nitrogen-fixing nodules. The central role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in nodule biology has been clearly established. Recently, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other reactive sulfur species (RSS) have emerged as novel signaling molecules in animals and plants. A major mechanism by which ROS, RNS, and RSS fulfil their signaling role is the post-translational modification of proteins. To identify possible functions of H2S in nodule development and senescence, we used the tag-switch method to quantify changes in the persulfidation profile of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nodules at different developmental stages. Proteomic analyses indicate that persulfidation plays a regulatory role in plant and bacteroid metabolism and senescence. The effect of a H2S donor on nodule functioning and on several proteins involved in ROS and RNS homeostasis was also investigated. Our results using recombinant proteins and nodulated plants support a crosstalk among H2S, ROS and RNS, a protective function of persulfidation on redox-sensitive enzymes, and a beneficial effect of H2S on symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We conclude that the general decrease of persulfidation levels observed in plant proteins of aging nodules is one of the mechanisms that disrupt redox homeostasis leading to senescence.}, } @article {pmid37952047, year = {2023}, author = {Fan, W and He, Y and Su, J and Feng, Y and Zhuo, T and Wang, J and Jiao, X and Luo, Y and Wu, J and Geng, Y}, title = {Effects of leucism on organ development and molecular mechanisms in Northern snakehead (Channa argus) beyond pigmentation alterations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {19689}, pmid = {37952047}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Fishes/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Liver/metabolism ; Pigmentation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Leucism, a widespread occurrence observed in Northern snakehead (Channa argus), bestows a striking white jade-like body coloration upon affected individuals and has gained substantial popularity in commercial breeding. While the visible manifestation of leucism in snakeheads is primarily limited to body coloration, it is crucial to explore the potential influence of leucism on organ development and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Through a comparative analysis of growth differences, our study revealed that at 150 days post-fertilization, the white variety exhibited an 8.5% higher liver index and intestinal index, but experienced a 20% and 38% decreased in spleen index and renal interstitial index, respectively, suggesting an enlarged digestive area but relatively smaller immune tissues. Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed in the intestinal flora between the two varieties, suggesting the exclusion of any exogenous impacts from symbiotic flora on the growth and development of the white variety. Importantly, transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the white variety exhibited higher expression levels of innate immune genes. Furthermore, annotation of the gene sets expressed in the liver and spleen revealed 76 and 35 genes respectively, with the white variety displaying lower expression in genes associated with "Viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor", "Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum", and "TNF signaling pathway", while exhibiting higher expression in "Estrogen signaling pathway". Notably, three genes, namely pcdhf 4, nlrc3 card 15-like, and a pol-like were identified in both the liver and spleen, indicating their potential involvement in altering the development and innate immunity of the white variety. This study reveals the systemic impact of leucism that extends beyond mere pigmentation alterations, highlighting the prominent characteristics of this phenotype and providing a foundation for future molecular breeding programs aimed at enhancing this variety.}, } @article {pmid37951293, year = {2023}, author = {Cambronero-Heinrichs, JC and Battisti, A and Biedermann, P and Cavaletto, G and Castro-Gutierrez, V and Favaro, L and Santoiemma, G and Rassati, D}, title = {Erwiniaceae bacteria play defensive and nutritional roles in two widespread ambrosia beetles.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad144}, pmid = {37951293}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles are fungal-growing insects excavating galleries deep inside the wood. Their success as invaders increased scientific interest towards them. However, most studies on their microbiota targeted their fungal associates whereas the role of bacterial associates is understudied. To explore the role of abundant microbial associates, we isolated bacteria from active galleries of two widespread ambrosia beetles, Xylosandrus crassiusculus and X. germanus. These isolates were classified within the Erwiniaceae family and through a phylogenetic analysis including isolates from other insects we showed that they clustered with isolates obtained from ambrosia and bark beetles, including Erwinia typographi. The whole genome analysis of the isolate from active galleries of X. crassiusculus suggested how this bacterium play both a nutritional role, by providing essential amino acids and enzymes for the hydrolysis of plant biomass, and a defensive role, by producing antibiotics. This defensive role was also tested in vitro against fungi, including mutualists, common associates, and parasites. The bacteria inhibited the growth of some of the common associates and parasites but did not affect mutualists. Our study supported the hypothesis of a mutualist role of Erwiniaceae bacteria in ambrosia beetles and highlights the importance of bacteria in maintaining the symbiosis with their nutritional fungi.}, } @article {pmid37949964, year = {2023}, author = {Bickerstaff, JRM and Jordal, BH and Riegler, M}, title = {Two sympatric lineages of Australian Cnestus solidus share Ambrosiella symbionts but not Wolbachia.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37949964}, issn = {1365-2540}, abstract = {Sympatric lineages of inbreeding species provide an excellent opportunity to investigate species divergence patterns and processes. Many ambrosia beetle lineages (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) reproduce by predominant inbreeding through sib mating in nests excavated in woody plant parts wherein they cultivate symbiotic ambrosia fungi as their sole source of nutrition. The Xyleborini ambrosia beetle species Cnestus solidus and Cnestus pseudosolidus are sympatrically distributed across eastern Australia and have overlapping morphological variation. Using multilocus sequencing analysis of individuals collected from 19 sites spanning their sympatric distribution, we assessed their phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic status and microbial symbionts. We found no genetic differentiation between individuals morphologically identified as C. solidus and C. pseudosolidus confirming previous suggestions that C. pseudosolidus is synonymous to C. solidus. However, within C. solidus we unexpectedly discovered the sympatric coexistence of two morphologically indistinguishable but genetically distinct lineages with small nuclear yet large mitochondrial divergence. At all sites except one, individuals of both lineages carried the same primary fungal symbiont, a new Ambrosiella species, indicating that fungal symbiont differentiation may not be involved in lineage divergence. One strain of the maternally inherited bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia was found at high prevalence in individuals of the more common lineage but not in the other, suggesting that it may influence host fitness. Our data suggest that the two Australian Cnestus lineages diverged allopatrically, and one lineage then acquired Wolbachia. Predominant inbreeding and Wolbachia infection may have reinforced reproductive barriers between these two lineages after their secondary contact contributing to their current sympatric distribution.}, } @article {pmid37949428, year = {2023}, author = {Lal, S and Sayeed Akhtar, M and Faiyaz Khan, M and Aldosari, SA and Mukherjee, M and Sharma, AK}, title = {Molecular basis of phytochemical-gut microbiota interactions.}, journal = {Drug discovery today}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {103824}, doi = {10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103824}, pmid = {37949428}, issn = {1878-5832}, abstract = {Dysbiosis-associated molecular pathology is significantly involved in developing and perpetuating metabolic disorders, disrupting host energy regulation, and triggering inflammatory signaling cascades, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction. Concurrently, numerous phytoconstituents are able to interact with the gut microbiota and produce bioactive metabolites that influence host cellular pathways, inflammation, and metabolic processes. These effects include improved insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism regulation, and suppression of chronic inflammation, highlighting the therapeutic potential of phytoconstituents against metabolic abnormalities. Understanding this symbiotic relationship and the underlying molecular cascades offers innovative strategies for tailored interventions and promising therapeutic approaches to address the growing burden of metabolic disease.}, } @article {pmid37949122, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, G and Sun, J and Xie, P and Guo, C and Zhu, K and Tian, K}, title = {Climate warming enhances microbial network complexity by increasing bacterial diversity and fungal interaction strength in litter decomposition.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {908}, number = {}, pages = {168444}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168444}, pmid = {37949122}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Microbial communities are important drivers of plant litter decomposition; however, the mechanisms of microbial co-occurrence networks and their network interaction dynamics in response to climate warming in wetlands remain unclear. Here, we conducted a 1.5-year warming experiment on the bacterial and fungal communities involved in litter decomposition in a typical wetland. The results showed that warming accelerated the decomposition of litter and had a greater effect on the diversity of bacteria than on that of fungi. Dominant bacterial communities, such as Bacteroidia, Alphaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, and dominant fungal communities, such as Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes, showed significant positive correlations with lignin and cellulose. Co-occurrence networks revealed that the average path length and betweenness centrality under warming conditions increased in the bacterial community but decreased in the fungal community. Both bacterial and fungal networks in the 2.0 °C warming treatment had the highest ratio of positive links (58.53 % and 98.14 %), indicating that moderate warming can promote the positive correlations and symbiotic relationships observed in the microbial community. This also suggests that small-world characteristics and weak-link advantages accelerate diffusion, and scale-free features facilitate propagation in microbial communities in response to climate warming. Logistic growth and Lotka-Volterra competition models revealed that climate warming enhances microbial network complexity mainly by increasing bacterial diversity and fungal interaction strength in litter decomposition. However, the symbiotic relationship decreased slightly under 4.0 °C warming, indicating that climate warming is a random attack rather than a targeted attack, and the microbial network has strong resistance to random attack, as shown by the highly robust dynamic performance of the microbial network in litter decomposition. Overall, the microbial community in litter decomposition responded to climate warming and shifted its network interactions, leading to further changes in emergent network topology and dynamics, thus accelerating litter decomposition in wetlands.}, } @article {pmid37947881, year = {2023}, author = {Reiter, N and Dimon, R and Arifin, A and Linde, C}, title = {Culture age of Tulasnella affects symbiotic germination of the critically endangered Wyong sun orchid Thelymitra adorata (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37947881}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {LP200200264//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Orchids (Orchidaceae) are dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for germination and to a varying extent as adult plants. We isolated fungi from wild plants of the critically endangered terrestrial orchid Thelymitra adorata and identified them using a multi-region barcoding approach as two undescribed Tulasnella species, one in each of phylogenetic group II and III (OTU1) of the Tulasnellaceae. Using symbiotic propagation methods, we investigated the role of Tulasnella identity (species and isolate) and age post isolation, on the fungus's ability and efficacy in germinating T. adorata. The group II isolate did not support germination. Seed germination experiments were conducted using either (i) three different isolates of OTU1, (ii) 4- and 12-week-old fungal cultures (post isolation) of a single isolate of OTU1, and (iii) T. subasymmetrica which is widespread and known to associate with other species of Thelymitra. Culture age and fungal species significantly (P < 0.05) affected the time to germination and percentage of seed germination, with greater and faster germination with 4-week-old cultures. Tulasnella subasymmetrica was able to germinate T. adorata to leaf stage, although at slightly lower germination percentages than OTU1. The ability of T. adorata to germinate with T. subasymmetrica may allow for translocation sites to be considered outside of its native range. Our findings on the age of Tulasnella culture affecting germination may have applications for improving the symbiotic germination success of other orchids. Furthermore, storage of Tulasnella may need to take account of the culture age post-isolation, with storage at - 80 °C as soon as possible recommended, post isolation.}, } @article {pmid37944675, year = {2023}, author = {Chaves-Olarte, E and Meza-Torres, J and Herrera-Rodríguez, F and Lizano-González, E and Suárez-Esquivel, M and Baker, KS and Rivas-Solano, O and Ruiz-Villalobos, N and Villalta-Romero, F and Cheng, HP and Walker, GC and Cloeckaert, A and Thomson, NR and Frisan, T and Moreno, E and Guzmán-Verri, C}, title = {A sensor histidine kinase from a plant-endosymbiont bacterium restores the virulence of a mammalian intracellular pathogen.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {106442}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106442}, pmid = {37944675}, issn = {1096-1208}, abstract = {Alphaproteobacteria include organisms living in close association with plants or animals. This interaction relies partly on orthologous two-component regulatory systems (TCS), with sensor and regulator proteins modulating the expression of conserved genes related to symbiosis/virulence. We assessed the ability of the exoS[+]Sm gene, encoding a sensor protein from the plant endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti to substitute its orthologous bvrS in the related animal/human pathogen Brucella abortus. ExoS phosphorylated the B. abortus regulator BvrR in vitro and in cultured bacteria, showing conserved biological function. Production of ExoS in a B. abortus bvrS mutant reestablished replication in host cells and the capacity to infect mice. Bacterial outer membrane properties, the production of the type IV secretion system VirB, and its transcriptional regulators VjbR and BvrR were restored as compared to parental B. abortus. These results indicate that conserved traits of orthologous TCS from bacteria living in and sensing different environments are sufficient to achieve phenotypic plasticity and support bacterial survival. The knowledge of bacterial genetic networks regulating host interactions allows for an understanding of the subtle differences between symbiosis and parasitism. Rewiring these networks could provide new alternatives to control and prevent bacterial infection.}, } @article {pmid37943609, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, D and Li, Y}, title = {Gut microbiota and tumor-associated macrophages: potential in tumor diagnosis and treatment.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {2276314}, doi = {10.1080/19490976.2023.2276314}, pmid = {37943609}, issn = {1949-0984}, abstract = {Avoiding immune destruction and polymorphic microbiomes are two key hallmarks of cancer. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is essential for the development of solid tumors, and the function of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the TME is closely linked to tumor prognosis. Therefore, research on TAMs could improve the progression and control of certain tumor patients. Additionally, the intestinal flora plays a crucial role in metabolizing substances and maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the host through a complex network of interactions. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested a potential link between gut microbiome and TME, particularly in regulating TAMs. Understanding this association could improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. This review highlights the regulatory role of intestinal flora on TAMs, with a focus on gut microbiota and their metabolites. The implications of this association for tumor diagnosis and treatment are also discussed, providing a promising avenue for future clinical treatment strategies.}, } @article {pmid37943432, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, Z and Shi, Z and Ni, S and Ren, B and Hu, J}, title = {Origin, formation, and transformation of different forms of silica in Xuanwei Formation coal, China, and its' emerging environmental problem.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-023-30757-5}, pmid = {37943432}, issn = {1614-7499}, support = {12120113002301//China Geological Survey/ ; }, abstract = {The study on the origin of quartz and silica in Xuanwei Formation coal in Northwest Yunnan, China, is helpful to understand the relationship between quartz and silica and the high incidence of lung cancer from the root. To address these questions, the mineralogy and microscopic studies of silica in Xuanwei Formation coal were performed. The following results were obtained: (1) silica in the late Permian Xuanwei Formation coal seams originated from detrital input, early diagenesis, and late diagenesis. (2) A more significant contribution comes from early diagenesis, which contains abundant authigenic quartz and amorphous silica. (3) Quartz and silica from inorganic silicon are more symbiotic with kaolinite and from biogenic silicon with chamosite. (4) Three silica polymorphs in coal samples have been identified: opal-A (amorphous silica), opal-CT/-C (cristobalite/tridymite), and α quartz. (5) Opal-A is ubiquitous, while opal-CT/-C and α quartz are rare. (5) Opal-A is an amorphous and nontoxic ordinary silica. (6) Since the toxicity of amorphous silica and its presence in coal is an emerging topic, it should be continuously monitored.}, } @article {pmid37942072, year = {2023}, author = {Robak, MJ and Saenz, V and de Cortie, E and Richards-Zawacki, CL}, title = {Effects of temperature on the interaction between amphibian skin bacteria and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1253482}, pmid = {37942072}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between animals and microbes are important for a range of functions, from digestion to protection from pathogens. However, the impact of temperature variation on these animal-microbe interactions remains poorly understood. Amphibians have experienced population declines and even extinctions on a global scale due to chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by chytrid fungi in the genus Batrachochytrium. Variation in susceptibility to this disease exists within and among host species. While the mechanisms generating differences in host susceptibility remain elusive, differences in immune system components, as well as variation in host and environmental temperatures, have been associated with this variation. The symbiotic cutaneous bacteria of amphibians are another potential cause for variation in susceptibility to chytridiomycosis, with some bacterial species producing antifungal metabolites that prevent the growth of Bd. The growth of both Bd and bacteria are affected by temperature, and thus we hypothesized that amphibian skin bacteria may be more effective at preventing Bd growth at certain temperatures. To test this, we collected bacteria from the skins of frogs, harvested the metabolites they produced when grown at three different temperatures, and then grew Bd in the presence of those metabolites under those same three temperatures in a three-by-three fully crossed design. We found that both the temperature at which cutaneous bacteria were grown (and metabolites produced) as well as the temperature at which Bd is grown can impact the ability of cutaneous bacteria to inhibit the growth of Bd. While some bacterial isolates showed the ability to inhibit Bd growth across multiple temperature treatments, no isolate was found to be inhibitive across all combinations of bacterial incubation or Bd challenge temperatures, suggesting that temperature affects both the metabolites produced and the effectiveness of those metabolites against the Bd pathogen. These findings move us closer to a mechanistic understanding of why chytridiomycosis outbreaks and related amphibian declines are often limited to certain climates and seasons.}, } @article {pmid37941681, year = {2023}, author = {Brewer, PJ and Sweet, AD}, title = {Prevalence and diversity of parasitic bird lice (Insecta: Psocodea) in northeast Arkansas.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {22}, number = {}, pages = {205-215}, pmid = {37941681}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {Many groups of parasites lack basic information on biodiversity and host associations, which poses challenges for conservation and understanding the ecological relationships between hosts and their parasites. This gap in knowledge is particularly relevant for parasitic species with obscure lifestyles. Ectoparasitc bird lice (Insecta: Psocodea: Phthiraptera) are a group of parasites that has received a relatively substantial research focus, yet patterns of bird-louse relationships and louse diversity remain understudied in many geographic regions, including in parts of the southeastern United States. In this study, we assessed the diversity, prevalence, abundance, and intensity of lice from live and salvaged birds in northeastern Arkansas. We also focused on the frequency of co-occurrence of lice and symbiotic feather mites. Finally, we used nuclear and mitochondrial genes to assess the phylogenic relationships among the most common genera of lice in our sample. We found a total louse prevalence of 10.57% with the highest prevalence on the Passeriformes families Turdidae, Passerellidae, and Parulidae. We also found the louse genera Myrsidea and Brueelia to be the most prevalent and abundant in our sample. Additionally, we reported several novel associations among well-studied bird species. We also found that louse phylogenic patterns tend to reflect host taxonomy and/or ecology. Overall, our results provide important insight into the biodiversity, community structure, and host interactions of parasitic lice from North American birds.}, } @article {pmid37941658, year = {2023}, author = {Guigard, L and Jobert, L and Busset, N and Moulin, L and Czernic, P}, title = {Symbiotic compatibility between rice cultivars and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi genotypes affects rice growth and mycorrhiza-induced resistance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1278990}, pmid = {37941658}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belong to the Glomeromycota clade and can form root symbioses with 80% of Angiosperms, including crops species such as wheat, maize and rice. By increasing nutrient availability, uptake and soil anchoring of plants, AMF can improve plant's growth and tolerance to abiotic stresses. AMF can also reduce symptoms and pathogen load on infected plants, both locally and systemically, through a phenomenon called mycorrhiza induced resistance (MIR). There is scarce information on rice mycorrhization, despite the high potential of this symbiosis in a context of sustainable water management in rice production systems.

METHODS: We studied the symbiotic compatibility (global mycorrhization & arbuscules intensity) and MIR phenotypes between six rice cultivars from two subspecies (indica: IR64 & Phka Rumduol; japonica: Nipponbare, Kitaake, Azucena & Zhonghua 11) and three AMF genotypes (Funneliformis mosseae FR140 (FM), Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198 (RIR) & R. intraradices FR121 (RIN)). The impact of mycorrhization on rice growth and defence response to Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo) infection was recorded via both phenotypic indexes and rice marker gene expression studies.

RESULTS: All three AMF genotypes colonise the roots of all rice varieties, with clear differences in efficiency depending on the combination under study (from 27% to 84% for Phka Rumduol-RIN and Nipponbare-RIR combinations, respectively). Mycorrhization significantly (α=0.05) induced negative to beneficial effects on rice growth (impact on dry weight ranging from -21% to 227% on Azucena-FM and Kitaake-RIN combinations, respectively), and neutral to beneficial effects on the extent of Xoo symptoms on leaves (except for Azucena-RIN combination which showed a 68% increase of chlorosis). R. irregularis DAOM197198 was the most compatible AMF partner of rice, with high root colonisation intensity (84% of Nipponbare's roots hyphal colonisation), beneficial effects on rice growth (dry weight +28% (IR64) to +178% (Kitaake)) and decrease of Xoo-induced symptoms (-6% (Nipponbare) to -27% (IR64)). Transcriptomic analyses by RT-qPCR on leaves of two rice cultivars contrasting in their association with AMF show two different patterns of response on several physiological marker genes.

DISCUSSION: Overall, the symbiotic compatibility between rice cultivars and AMF demonstrates adequate colonization, effectively restricting the nutrient starvation response and mitigating symptoms of phytopathogenic infection.}, } @article {pmid37941312, year = {2023}, author = {Harrison, TL and Parshuram, ZA and Frederickson, ME and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Is there a latitudinal diversity gradient for symbiotic microbes? A case study with sensitive partridge peas.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17191}, pmid = {37941312}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {RGPIN-2021-03711//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2022-04366//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, abstract = {Mutualism is thought to be more prevalent in the tropics than temperate zones and may therefore play an important role in generating and maintaining high species richness found at lower latitudes. However, results on the impact of mutualism on latitudinal diversity gradients are mixed, and few empirical studies sample both temperate and tropical regions. We investigated whether a latitudinal diversity gradient exists in the symbiotic microbial community associated with the legume Chamaecrista nictitans. We sampled bacteria DNA from nodules and the surrounding soil of plant roots across a latitudinal gradient (38.64-8.68 °N). Using 16S rRNA sequence data, we identified many non-rhizobial species within C. nictitans nodules that cannot form nodules or fix nitrogen. Species richness increased towards lower latitudes in the non-rhizobial portion of the nodule community but not in the rhizobial community. The microbe community in the soil did not effectively predict the non-rhizobia community inside nodules, indicating that host selection is important for structuring non-rhizobia communities in nodules. We next factorially manipulated the presence of three non-rhizobia strains in greenhouse experiments and found that co-inoculations of non-rhizobia strains with rhizobia had a marginal effect on nodule number and no effect on plant growth. Our results suggest that these non-rhizobia bacteria are likely commensals-species that benefit from associating with a host but are neutral for host fitness. Overall, our study suggests that temperate C. nictitans plants are more selective in their associations with the non-rhizobia community, potentially due to differences in soil nitrogen across latitude.}, } @article {pmid37940503, year = {2023}, author = {Steffan, SA and Dharampal, PS and Kueneman, JG and Keller, A and Argueta-Guzmán, MP and McFrederick, QS and Buchmann, SL and Vannette, RL and Edlund, AF and Mezera, CC and Amon, N and Danforth, BN}, title = {Microbes, the 'silent third partners' of bee-angiosperm mutualisms.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.001}, pmid = {37940503}, issn = {1872-8383}, abstract = {While bee-angiosperm mutualisms are widely recognized as foundational partnerships that have shaped the diversity and structure of terrestrial ecosystems, these ancient mutualisms have been underpinned by 'silent third partners': microbes. Here, we propose reframing the canonical bee-angiosperm partnership as a three-way mutualism between bees, microbes, and angiosperms. This new conceptualization casts microbes as active symbionts, processing and protecting pollen-nectar provisions, consolidating nutrients for bee larvae, enhancing floral attractancy, facilitating plant fertilization, and defending bees and plants from pathogens. In exchange, bees and angiosperms provide their microbial associates with food, shelter, and transportation. Such microbial communities represent co-equal partners in tripartite mutualisms with bees and angiosperms, facilitating one of the most important ecological partnerships on land.}, } @article {pmid37940019, year = {2023}, author = {Xing, S and Shen, Q and Ji, C and You, L and Li, J and Wang, M and Yang, G and Hao, Z and Zhang, X and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviates arsenic phytotoxicity in flooded Iris tectorum Maxim. Dependent on arsenic exposure levels.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {122841}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122841}, pmid = {37940019}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Arsenic (As) pollution in wetlands has emerged as a serious global concern, posing potential threat to the growth of wetland plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate As phytotoxicity to host plants, but their ecological functions in wetland plants under flooding conditions remain largely unknown. Thus, a pot experiment was conducted using Rhizophagus irregularis and Iris tectorum Maxim. exposed to light (15 and 30 mg/kg As) and high (75 and 100 mg/kg As) levels of As, to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant As tolerance under flooding conditions. The mycorrhizal colonization rates ranged from 31.47 ± 3.92 % to 60.69 ± 5.58 %, which were higher than the colonization rate (29.55 ± 13.60%) before flooding. AMF significantly increased biomass of I. tectorum under light As levels, together with increased phosphorus (P) and As uptake. Moreover, expression of arsenate reductase gene RiarsC and a trace of dimethylarsenic (1.87 mg/kg in shoots) were detected in mycorrhizal plants, suggesting As transformation and detoxification by AMF exposed to light levels of As. However, under high As levels, AMF inhibited As translocation from roots to shoots, and facilitated the formation of iron plaque. The immobilized As concentrations in iron plaque of mycorrhizal plants were respectively 1133.68 ± 179.17 mg/kg and 869.11 ± 248.90 mg/kg at 75 and 100 mg/kg As addition level, both significantly higher than that in non-inoculated plants. Irrespective of As exposure levels, mycorrhizal symbiosis decreased soil As bioavailability. Overall, the study provides insights into the alleviation of As phytotoxicity in natural wetland plants through mycorrhizal symbiosis, and potentially indicates function diversity of AMF under flooding conditions and As stress, supporting the subsequent phytoremediation and restoration of As-contaminated wetlands.}, } @article {pmid37939952, year = {2023}, author = {Tang, CH and Lin, CY and Li, HH and Kuo, FW}, title = {Microplastics elicit an immune-agitative state in coral.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {168406}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168406}, pmid = {37939952}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Microplastic pollution in the ocean is a major problem, as its pervasiveness elicits concerns the health impacts microplastics may have on marine life (such as reef-building corals). As a primary endpoint, the organismal lipidome can define the weakening of fitness and reveal the physiological context of adverse health effects in organisms. To gain insight into the effects of microplastics on coral health, lipid profiling was performed via an untargeted lipidomic approach on the coral Turbinaria mesenterina exposed to ~10 μm polystyrene microparticles for 10 days. Considerable microplastic accumulation and obvious effects relating with immune activation were observed in the coral treated with a near environmentally relevant concentration of microplastics (10 μg/L); however, these effects were not evident in the high level (100 μg/L) treatment group. In particular, increased levels of membrane lipids with 20:4 and 22:6 fatty acid chains reallocated from the triacylglycerol pool were observed in coral host cells and symbiotic algae, respectively, which could upregulate immune activity and realign symbiotic communication in coral. High levels of polyunsaturation can sensitize the coral cell membrane to lipid peroxidation and increase cell death, which is of greater concern; additionally, the photoprotective capacity of symbiotic algae was compromised. As a result, coral physiological functions were altered. These results show that, realistic levels of microplastic pollution can affect coral health and should be a concern.}, } @article {pmid37938888, year = {2023}, author = {Diarra, U and Osborne-Naikatini, T}, title = {Isolation, characterization and screening of actinomycetes associated with fijian ant-plant symbioses.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {169}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001410}, pmid = {37938888}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {In the search for novel therapeutics to combat the ongoing antimicrobial resistance crisis, scientists are turning to underexplored environments. Defensive mutualisms between hymenopteran insects and actinomycetes represent important reservoirs for bioactive compounds. In this study, we examined the association between actinomycetes and Squamellaria ant-plants spanning three different ant and plant species combinations (Squamellaria imberbis-Philidris nagasau, Squamellaria tenuiflora- Technomyrmex vitiensis, and Squamellaria tenuiflora-Tetramorium insolens). Eight Squamellaria plants were sampled including four containing T. vitiensis, three containing P. nagasau, and a single plant containing T. insolens. A total of 47 actinomycetes were obtained from the sampled material, with 5, 16, and 26 isolates originating from cuticle, tissue, and nest samples, respectively. Cross-streaking tests showed that 12 out of 47 isolates inhibited bacterial pathogens. The most frequently inhibited pathogens in the cross-streaking tests were S. aureus and E. coli while S. enterica was the least inhibited. Among the three primary screening media used, ISP2 agar was the most suitable for secondary metabolism as more isolates exhibited antibacterial activity when grown on the medium. TFS2010 and TFS2003, which matched to Streptomyces gramineus (>99% similarity), were the most bioactive isolates in cross-streaking tests. TFS2010 displayed the strong antibacterial on Nutrient agar, Mueller Hinton agar, and ISP2 agar while TFS2003 only exhibited strong antibacterial activity on Nutrient agar. Furthermore, a difference in potency of extracts based on batch culture medium was noted in TFS2010. DNA was extracted from 19 isolates and followed by 16SrRNA gene sequencing. Analysis of sequence data revealed the presence of six genera, including Amycolatopsis, Asanoa, Jiangella, Nocardia, Nocardiopsis, and Streptomyces, with the latter being the most abundant taxon. Among these, three isolates (PNS3002, PNS3005, and TFS3001) are likely to represent new species while one (TFS2015) is likely to be a member of a novel genus. Our work represents the first attempt to study actinomycetes from Squamellaria-ant mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid37938763, year = {2022}, author = {Xiang, N and Rädecker, N and Pogoreutz, C and Cárdenas, A and Meibom, A and Wild, C and Gärdes, A and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Presence of algal symbionts affects denitrifying bacterial communities in the sea anemone Aiptasia coral model.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {105}, pmid = {37938763}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {15902919 FP 029/19//Universität Konstanz (University of Konstanz)/ ; 15902919 FP 029/19//Universität Konstanz (University of Konstanz)/ ; 15902919 FP 029/19//Universität Konstanz (University of Konstanz)/ ; 200021_179092//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {The coral-algal symbiosis is maintained by a constant and limited nitrogen availability in the holobiont. Denitrifiers, i.e., prokaryotes reducing nitrate/nitrite to dinitrogen, could contribute to maintaining the nitrogen limitation in the coral holobiont, however the effect of host and algal identity on their community is still unknown. Using the coral model Aiptasia, we quantified and characterized the denitrifier community in a full-factorial design combining two hosts (CC7 and H2) and two strains of algal symbionts of the family Symbiodiniaceae (SSA01 and SSB01). Strikingly, relative abundance of denitrifiers increased by up to 22-fold in photosymbiotic Aiptasia compared to their aposymbiotic (i.e., algal-depleted) counterparts. In line with this, while the denitrifier community in aposymbiotic Aiptasia was largely dominated by diet-associated Halomonas, we observed an increasing relative abundance of an unclassified bacterium in photosymbiotic CC7, and Ketobacter in photosymbiotic H2, respectively. Pronounced changes in denitrifier communities of Aiptasia with Symbiodinium linucheae strain SSA01 aligned with the higher photosynthetic carbon availability of these holobionts compared to Aiptasia with Breviolum minutum strain SSB01. Our results reveal that the presence of algal symbionts increases abundance and alters community structure of denitrifiers in Aiptasia. Thereby, patterns in denitrifier community likely reflect the nutritional status of aposymbiotic vs. symbiotic holobionts. Such a passive regulation of denitrifiers may contribute to maintaining the nitrogen limitation required for the functioning of the cnidarian-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37938762, year = {2022}, author = {Lesser, MP and Sabrina Pankey, M and Slattery, M and Macartney, KJ and Gochfeld, DJ}, title = {Microbiome diversity and metabolic capacity determines the trophic ecology of the holobiont in Caribbean sponges.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {112}, pmid = {37938762}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {OCE 1638296//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OCE 1638296//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OCE 1638289//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OCE 1638296//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OCE 1638289//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {Sponges are increasingly recognized as an ecologically important taxon on coral reefs, representing significant biomass and biodiversity where sponges have replaced scleractinian corals. Most sponge species can be divided into two symbiotic states based on symbiont community structure and abundance (i.e., the microbiome), and are characterized as high microbial abundance (HMA) or low microbial abundance (LMA) sponges. Across the Caribbean, sponge species of the HMA or LMA symbiotic states differ in metabolic capacity, as well as their trophic ecology. A metagenetic analysis of symbiont 16 S rRNA and metagenomes showed that HMA sponge microbiomes are more functionally diverse than LMA microbiomes, offer greater metabolic functional capacity and redundancy, and encode for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Stable isotope analyses showed that HMA and LMA sponges primarily consume dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from external autotrophic sources, or live particulate organic matter (POM) in the form of bacterioplankton, respectively, resulting in a low degree of resource competition between these symbiont states. As many coral reefs have undergone phase shifts from coral- to macroalgal-dominated reefs, the role of DOM, and the potential for future declines in POM due to decreased picoplankton productivity, may result in an increased abundance of chemically defended HMA sponges on tropical coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid37938191, year = {2024}, author = {Warerkar, OD and Mudliar, NH and Momin, MM and Singh, PK}, title = {Targeting Amyloids with Coated Nanoparticles: A Review on Potential Combinations of Nanoparticles and Bio-Compatible Coatings.}, journal = {Critical reviews in therapeutic drug carrier systems}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {85-119}, doi = {10.1615/CritRevTherDrugCarrierSyst.2023046209}, pmid = {37938191}, issn = {2162-660X}, abstract = {Amyloidosis is the major cause of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's where the misfolding and deposition of a previously functional protein make it inept for carrying out its function. The genesis of amyloid fibril formation and the strategies to inhibit it have been studied extensively, although some parts of this puzzle still remain unfathomable to date. Many classes of molecules have been explored as potential drugs in vitro, but their inability to work in vivo by crossing the blood-brain-barrier has made them an inadequate treatment option. In this regard, nanoparticles (NPs) have turned out to be an exciting alternative because they could overcome many drawbacks of previously studied molecules and provide advantages, such as, greater bioavailability of molecules and target-specific delivery of drugs. In this paper, we present an overview on several coated NPs which have shown promising efficiency in inhibiting fibril formation. A hundred and thirty papers published in the past two decades have been comprehensively reviewed, which majorly encompass NPs comprising different materials like gold, silver, iron-oxide, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polymeric NP, etc., which are coated with various molecules of predominantly natural origin, such as different types of amino acids, peptides, curcumin, drugs, catechin, etc. We hope that this review will shed light on the advancement of symbiotic amalgamation of NPs with molecules from natural sources and will inspire further research on the tremendous therapeutic potential of these combinations for many amyloid-related diseases.}, } @article {pmid37937304, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, Z and Guan, D and Wang, Z and Li, X and Dong, S and Huang, J and Zhou, W}, title = {Microbiota in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.}, journal = {MedComm}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {e417}, pmid = {37937304}, issn = {2688-2663}, abstract = {The diverse bacterial populations within the symbiotic microbiota play a pivotal role in both health and disease. Microbiota modulates critical aspects of tumor biology including cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This regulation occurs through mechanisms like enhancing genomic damage, hindering gene repair, activating aberrant cell signaling pathways, influencing tumor cell metabolism, promoting revascularization, and remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment. These microbiota-mediated effects significantly impact overall survival and the recurrence of tumors after surgery by affecting the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy. Moreover, leveraging the microbiota for the development of biovectors, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, in addition to utilizing antibiotics, dietary adjustments, defensins, oncolytic virotherapy, and fecal microbiota transplantation, offers promising alternatives for cancer treatment. Nonetheless, due to the extensive and diverse nature of the microbiota, along with tumor heterogeneity, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of microbiota in cancer remain a subject of intense debate. In this context, we refocus on various cancers, delving into the molecular signaling pathways associated with the microbiota and its derivatives, the reshaping of the tumor microenvironmental matrix, and the impact on tolerance to tumor treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This exploration aims to shed light on novel perspectives and potential applications in the field.}, } @article {pmid37935666, year = {2023}, author = {Frank, M and Fechete, LI and Tedeschi, F and Nadzieja, M and Nørgaard, MMM and Montiel, J and Andersen, KR and Schierup, MH and Reid, D and Andersen, SU}, title = {Single-cell analysis identifies genes facilitating rhizobium infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {7171}, pmid = {37935666}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {834221//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)/ ; 1026-00032B//Natur og Univers, Det Frie Forskningsråd (Natural Sciences, Danish Council for Independent Research)/ ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium signaling during establishment of symbiotic nitrogen fixation restricts rhizobium colonization to specific cells. A limited number of root hair cells allow infection threads to form, and only a fraction of the epidermal infection threads progress to cortical layers to establish functional nodules. Here we use single-cell analysis to define the epidermal and cortical cell populations that respond to and facilitate rhizobium infection. We then identify high-confidence nodulation gene candidates based on their specific expression in these populations, pinpointing genes stably associated with infection across genotypes and time points. We show that one of these, which we name SYMRKL1, encodes a protein with an ectodomain predicted to be nearly identical to that of SYMRK and is required for normal infection thread formation. Our work disentangles cellular processes and transcriptional modules that were previously confounded due to lack of cellular resolution, providing a more detailed understanding of symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid37935243, year = {2023}, author = {Bach, E and Volpiano, CG and Sant'Anna, FH and Passaglia, LMP}, title = {Genome-based taxonomy of Burkholderia sensu lato: Distinguishing closely related species.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {46}, number = {3 Suppl 1}, pages = {e20230122}, doi = {10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2023-0122}, pmid = {37935243}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {The taxonomy of Burkholderia sensu lato (s.l.) has been revisited using genome-based tools, which have helped differentiate closely related species. Many species from this group are indistinguishable through phenotypic traits and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Furthermore, they also exhibit whole-genome Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) values in the twilight zone for species circumscription (95-96%), which may impair their correct classification. In this work, we provided an updated Burkholderia s.l. taxonomy focusing on closely related species and give other recommendations for those developing genome-based taxonomy studies. We showed that a combination of ANI and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) applying the universal cutoff values of 95% and 70%, respectively, successfully discriminates Burkholderia s.l. species. Using genome metrics with this pragmatic criterion, we demonstrated that i) Paraburkholderia insulsa should be considered a later heterotypic synonym of Paraburkholderia fungorum; ii) Paraburkholderia steynii differs from P. terrae by harboring symbiotic genes; iii) some Paraburkholderia are indeed different species based on dDDH values, albeit sharing ANI values close to 95%; iv) some Burkholderia s.l. indeed represent new species from the genomic viewpoint; iv) some genome sequences should be evaluated with care due to quality concerns.}, } @article {pmid37932953, year = {2023}, author = {Lyu, Y and Feng, ZA and Ji, T and Tian, J and Chen, L}, title = {Networking Chemicals Flows: Efficiency-Value-Environment Functionalized Symbiosis Algorithms and Application.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c04291}, pmid = {37932953}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Maximizing the network of chemical symbiosis can enhance economic benefits and reduce life cycle environmental impacts, which are pivotal for achieving sustainability in the chemical industry. This study designs two innovative symbiosis algorithms, the Longest Path Algorithm and the Maximum Symbiosis Algorithm, specifically for chemical industrial clusters (CICs). The algorithms are applied to a prototypical CIC encompassing 569 distinct raw materials and yielding 435 unique products alongside 55 byproducts. First, the study provides an exhaustive overview of the assorted chemicals and their intrinsic traits, flow patterns, and conventional relationships within the cluster. On that basis, the former algorithm reveals that the longest path constitutes 5 enterprises, embodying the entire disperse dyestuff industry chain; the latter algorithm identifies 218 pairs of symbiotic relationships, leading to an additional 0.91 million tonnes of symbiotic chemicals. These interrelations also yield substantial cost savings of 1.25 billion CNY (0.17 billion US dollar) and enhance life cycle benefits by 0.62 to 11.87 times compared to the present status. The efficacious application of these algorithms to the cluster reaffirms their capacity to meet the designated objectives. This study introduces a fresh interdisciplinary standpoint to optimize chemical manufacturing processes and contributes essential theoretical underpinning for implementing pollution and carbon reduction strategies in similar CICs.}, } @article {pmid37932839, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, ZW and Luo, JY and Men, Y and Liu, ZH and Zheng, ZK and Wang, YH and Xie, Q}, title = {Different roles of host and habitat in determining the microbial communities of plant-feeding true bugs.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {244}, pmid = {37932839}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {202102080191//Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou, China/ ; 31772425//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023B1515040002//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province-Outstanding Youth Team Project/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Biological Evolution ; *Heteroptera/genetics/microbiology ; Insecta ; Plants/genetics ; Fungi ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The true bugs (Heteroptera) occupy nearly all of the known ecological niches of insects. Among them, as a group containing more than 30,000 species, the phytophagous true bugs are making increasing impacts on agricultural and forestry ecosystems. Previous studies proved that symbiotic bacteria play important roles in these insects in fitting various habitats. However, it is still obscure about the evolutionary and ecological patterns of the microorganisms of phytophagous true bugs as a whole with comprehensive taxon sampling.

RESULTS: Here, in order to explore the symbiotic patterns between plant-feeding true bugs and their symbiotic microorganisms, 209 species belonging to 32 families of 9 superfamilies had been sampled, which covered all the major phytophagous families of true bugs. The symbiotic microbial communities were surveyed by full-length 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicons respectively for bacteria and fungi using the PacBio platform. We revealed that hosts mainly affect the dominant bacteria of symbiotic microbial communities, while habitats generally influence the subordinate ones. Thereafter, we carried out the ancestral state reconstruction of the dominant bacteria and found that dramatic replacements of dominant bacteria occurred in the early Cretaceous and formed newly stable symbiotic relationships accompanying the radiation of insect families. In contrast, the symbiotic fungi were revealed to be horizontally transmitted, which makes fungal communities distinctive in different habitats but not significantly related to hosts.

CONCLUSIONS: Host and habitat determine microbial communities of plant-feeding true bugs in different roles. The symbiotic bacterial communities are both shaped by host and habitat but in different ways. Nevertheless, the symbiotic fungal communities are mainly influenced by habitat but not host. These findings shed light on a general framework for future microbiome research of phytophagous insects. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37931098, year = {2023}, author = {Di Marco, M and Santini, L and Corcos, D and Tschorsnig, HP and Cerretti, P}, title = {Elevational homogenization of mountain parasitoids across six decades.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {46}, pages = {e2308273120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2308273120}, pmid = {37931098}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {CUP B83C22002950007//Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca (MUR)/ ; Rita Levi Montalcini program//Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca (MUR)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Altitude ; Biodiversity ; Insecta ; Geography ; }, abstract = {Elevational gradients are characterized by strong environmental changes within small geographical distances, providing important insights on the response of biological communities to climate change. Mountain biodiversity is particularly sensitive to climate change, given the limited capacity to colonize new areas and the competition from upshifting lowland species. Knowledge on the impact of climate change on mountain insect communities is patchy, but elevation is known to influence parasitic interactions which control insect communities and functions within ecosystems. We analyzed a European dataset of bristle flies, a parasitoid group which regulates insect herbivory in both managed and natural ecosystems. Our dataset spans six decades and multiple elevational bands, and we found marked elevational homogenization in the host specialization of bristle fly species through time. The proportion of specialized parasitoids has increased by ca. 70% at low elevations, from 17 to 29%, and has decreased by ca. 20% at high elevations, from 48 to 37%. As a result, the strong elevational gradient in bristle fly specialization observed in the 1960s has become much flatter over time. As climate warming is predicted to accelerate, the disappearance of specialized parasitoids from high elevations might become even faster. This parasitoid homogenization can reshape the ecological function of mountain insect communities, increasing the risk of herbivory outbreak at high elevations. Our results add to the mounting evidence that symbiotic species might be especially at risk from climate change: Monitoring the effects of these changes is urgently needed to define effective conservation strategies for mountain biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid37930516, year = {2023}, author = {Peng, F and Li, X and Wei, Z and Luo, Y and Wang, W and Han, G}, title = {Structure and Ecological Function of Fungal Endophytes from Stems of Different Mulberry Cultivars.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {12}, pages = {401}, pmid = {37930516}, issn = {1432-0991}, support = {CSTC2018JXJL0118//Chongqing Research Institutions Performance Incentive And Guidance Special Project/ ; NKY-2021AB019//Chongqing Agricultural Development Fund - Improved Seed Innovation Project/ ; NKY-2019QC08//Young Innovation Team Project of Chongqing Agriculture Science Academy/ ; cqaas2021.jx.j108//Chongqing Research Institutions Performance Incentive And Guidance Special Project/ ; 2023NCSQ-MSX4070//Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing, Chongqing Science and Technology Commission/ ; }, mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics ; *Morus ; Fruit ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; }, abstract = {To explore the microbial community structure and ecological function of mulberry and their potential relationship with the resistance of mulberry, the community structure and function of endophytic fungi in 18 mulberry cultivars were analyzed and predicted by using high-throughput sequencing technology and the FUNGuild database. A total of 352 operational taxonomic units of fungi were observed at a 97% similarity level, representing six phyla of fungi, Fungi_unclassified, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, Rozellomycota, and Chytridiomycota. Fungi_unclassified was dominant, and Ascomycota was relatively dominant in all cultivars. At the genus level, Ascomycota_unclassified was dominant, and Ampelomyces was relatively dominant, with a richness in TAIWANCHANGGUOSANG 16.47-8975.69 times that in the other cultivars. Classified Ascomycota_unclassified was 4.75-296.65 times more common in NANYUANSIJI than in the other cultivars. Based on the FUNGuild analysis method, we successfully annotated six nutrient types, namely, pathotroph, pathotroph-saprotroph, pathotroph-saprotroph-symbiotroph, saprotroph, saprotroph-symbiotroph, and symbiotroph, among which saprophytic-symbiotic accounted for the largest proportion and was absolutely dominant in TWC. This research suggests that community composition differs among cultivars and that the diversity and richness of endophytic fungi in resistant cultivars are higher than those in susceptible cultivars. The ecological functions of cultivars with different resistances are quite different.}, } @article {pmid37938401, year = {2022}, author = {Andrew, S and Wilson, T and Smith, S and Marchetti, A and Septer, AN}, title = {A tripartite model system for Southern Ocean diatom-bacterial interactions reveals the coexistence of competing symbiotic strategies.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {97}, pmid = {37938401}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {OPP1745036//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OPP1745036//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; OPP1745036//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {Southern Ocean (SO) diatoms play an important role in global carbon flux, and their influence on carbon export is directly linked to interactions with epiphytic bacteria. Bacterial symbionts that increase diatom growth promote atmospheric carbon uptake, while bacterial degraders divert diatom biomass into the microbial loop where it can then be released as carbon dioxide through respiration. To further explore SO diatom-bacterial associations, a natural model system is needed that is representative of these diverse and important interactions. Here, we use concurrent cultivation to isolate a species of the ecologically-important SO diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia subcurvata, and its co-occurring bacteria. Although vitamin-depleted, axenic Pseudo-nitzschia grew poorly in culture, addition of a co-isolated Roseobacter promoted diatom growth, while addition of a co-isolated Flavobacterium negatively impacted diatom growth. Microscopy revealed both bacterial isolates are physically associated with diatom cells and genome sequencing identified important predicted functions including vitamin synthesis, motility, cell attachment mechanisms, and diverse antimicrobial weapons that could be used for interbacterial competition. These findings revealed the natural coexistence of competing symbiotic strategies of diatom-associated bacteria in the SO, and the utility of this tripartite system, composed of a diatom and two bacterial strains, as a co-culture model to probe ecological-relevant interactions between diatoms and the bacteria that compete for access to the phycosphere.}, } @article {pmid37938734, year = {2022}, author = {Engelberts, JP and Abdul Wahab, MA and Maldonado, M and Rix, L and Marangon, E and Robbins, SJ and Wagner, M and Webster, NS}, title = {Microbes from Mum: symbiont transmission in the tropical reef sponge Ianthella basta.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {90}, pmid = {37938734}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Most marine sponge species harbour distinct communities of microorganisms which contribute to various aspects of their host's health and physiology. In addition to their key roles in nutrient transformations and chemical defence, these symbiotic microbes can shape sponge phenotype by mediating important developmental stages and influencing the environmental tolerance of the host. However, the characterisation of each microbial taxon throughout a sponge's life cycle remains challenging, with several sponge species hosting up to 3000 distinct microbial species. Ianthella basta, an abundant broadcast spawning species in the Indo-Pacific, is an emerging model for sponge symbiosis research as it harbours only three dominant symbionts: a Thaumarchaeotum, a Gammaproteobacterium, and an Alphaproteobacterium. Here, we successfully spawned Ianthella basta, characterised its mode of reproduction, and used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, and transmission electron microscopy to characterise the microbial community throughout its life cycle. We confirmed I. basta as being gonochoric and showed that the three dominant symbionts, which together make up >90% of the microbiome according to 16S rRNA gene abundance, are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring by a unique method involving encapsulation in the peri-oocytic space, suggesting an obligate relationship between these microbes and their host.}, } @article {pmid37938648, year = {2022}, author = {Tsang Min Ching, SJ and Chan, WY and Perez-Gonzalez, A and Hillyer, KE and Buerger, P and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Colonization and metabolite profiles of homologous, heterologous and experimentally evolved algal symbionts in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {37938648}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {The sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana, is a model of coral-dinoflagellate (Symbiodiniaceae) symbiosis. However, little is known of its potential to form symbiosis with Cladocopium-a key Indo-Pacific algal symbiont of scleractinian corals, nor the host nutritional consequences of such an association. Aposymbiotic anemones were inoculated with homologous algal symbionts, Breviolum minutum, and seven heterologous strains of Cladocopium C1[acro] (wild-type and heat-evolved) under ambient conditions. Despite lower initial algal cell density, Cladocopium C1[acro]-anemeones achieved similar cell densities as B. minutum-anemones by week 77. Wild-type and heat-evolved Cladocopium C1[acro] showed similar colonization patterns. Targeted LC-MS-based metabolomics revealed that almost all significantly different metabolites in the host and Symbiodiniaceae fractions were due to differences between Cladocopium C1[acro] and B. minutum, with little difference between heat-evolved and wild-type Cladocopium C1[acro] at week 9. The algal fraction of Cladocopium C1[acro]-anemones was enriched in metabolites related to nitrogen storage, while the host fraction of B. minutum-anemones was enriched in sugar-related metabolites. Compared to B. minutum, Cladocopium C1[acro] is likely slightly less nutritionally beneficial to the host under ambient conditions, but more capable of maintaining its own growth when host nitrogen supply is limited. Our findings demonstrate the value of E. diaphana to study experimentally evolved Cladocopium.}, } @article {pmid37938661, year = {2021}, author = {Shimoji, H and Itoh, H and Matsuura, Y and Yamashita, R and Hori, T and Hojo, MK and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Worker-dependent gut symbiosis in an ant.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {60}, pmid = {37938661}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {18K14798//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 15H02652//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 18 K19217//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; }, abstract = {The hallmark of eusocial insects, honeybees, ants, and termites, is division of labor between reproductive and non-reproductive worker castes. In addition, environmental adaption and ecological dominance are also underpinned by symbiotic associations with beneficial microorganisms. Microbial symbionts are generally considered to be maintained in an insect colony in two alternative ways: shared among all colony members or inherited only by a specific caste. Especially in ants, the reproductive caste plays a crucial role in transmission of the symbionts shared among colony members over generations. Here, we report an exceptional case, the worker-dependent microbiota in an ant, Diacamma cf. indicum from Japan. By collecting almost all the individuals from 22 colonies in the field, we revealed that microbiota of workers is characterized by a single dominant bacterium localized at the hindgut. The bacterium belonging to an unclassified member within the phylum Firmicutes, which is scarce or mostly absent in the reproductive castes. Furthermore, we show that the gut symbiont is acquired at the adult stage. Collectively, our findings strongly suggest that the specific symbiont is maintained by only workers, demonstrating a novel pattern of ant-associated bacterial symbiosis, and thus further our understanding of host-microbe interactions in the light of sociobiology.}, } @article {pmid37938275, year = {2021}, author = {Ponsero, AJ and Hurwitz, BL and Magain, N and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F and U'Ren, JM}, title = {Cyanolichen microbiome contains novel viruses that encode genes to promote microbial metabolism.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {56}, pmid = {37938275}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Lichen thalli are formed through the symbiotic association of a filamentous fungus and photosynthetic green alga and/or cyanobacterium. Recent studies have revealed lichens also host highly diverse communities of secondary fungal and bacterial symbionts, yet few studies have examined the viral component within these complex symbioses. Here, we describe viral biodiversity and functions in cyanolichens collected from across North America and Europe. As current machine-learning viral-detection tools are not trained on complex eukaryotic metagenomes, we first developed efficient methods to remove eukaryotic reads prior to viral detection and a custom pipeline to validate viral contigs predicted with three machine-learning methods. Our resulting high-quality viral data illustrate that every cyanolichen thallus contains diverse viruses that are distinct from viruses in other terrestrial ecosystems. In addition to cyanobacteria, predicted viral hosts include other lichen-associated bacterial lineages and algae, although a large fraction of viral contigs had no host prediction. Functional annotation of cyanolichen viral sequences predicts numerous viral-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in amino acid, nucleotide, and carbohydrate metabolism, including AMGs for secondary metabolism (antibiotics and antimicrobials) and fatty acid biosynthesis. Overall, the diversity of cyanolichen AMGs suggests that viruses may alter microbial interactions within these complex symbiotic assemblages.}, } @article {pmid37938253, year = {2021}, author = {Ikuta, T and Amari, Y and Tame, A and Takaki, Y and Tsuda, M and Iizuka, R and Funatsu, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Inside or out? Clonal thiotrophic symbiont populations occupy deep-sea mussel bacteriocytes with pathways connecting to the external environment.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {38}, pmid = {37938253}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels are generally thought to harbour chemosynthetic symbiotic bacteria in gill epithelial cells called bacteriocytes. However, previously observed openings at the apical surface of bacteriocytes have not been conclusively explained and investigated as to whether the Bathymodiolus symbiosis is intracellular or extracellular. In this study, we show that almost all the membranous chambers encompassing symbionts in a single bacteriocyte of Bathymodiolus septemdierum are interconnected and have pathways connecting to the external environment. Furthermore, the symbiont population colonising a single bacteriocyte is mostly clonal. This study hypothesises on a novel model of cellular localization at the interface between extra- and intracellular symbiosis, and the cellular-level process of symbiont acquisition in Bathymodiolus mussels.}, } @article {pmid37930060, year = {2023}, author = {Tan, Y and Yu, P and Huang, D and Yuan, MM and Yu, Z and Lu, H and Alvarez, PJJ and Zhu, L}, title = {Enhanced Bacterium-Phage Symbiosis in Attached Microbial Aggregates on a Membrane Surface Facing Elevated Hydraulic Stress.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c05452}, pmid = {37930060}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Phages are increasingly recognized for their importance in microbial aggregates, including their influence on microbial ecosystem services and biotechnology applications. However, the adaptive strategies and ecological functions of phages in different aggregates remain largely unexplored. Herein, we used membrane bioreactors to investigate bacterium-phage interactions and related microbial functions within suspended and attached microbial aggregates (SMA vs AMA). SMA and AMA represent distinct microbial habitats where bacterial communities display distinct patterns in terms of dominant species, keystone species, and bacterial networks. However, bacteria and phages in both aggregates exhibited high lysogenicity, with 60% lysogenic phages in the virome and 70% lysogenic metagenome-assembled genomes of bacteria. Moreover, substantial phages exhibited broad host ranges (34% in SMA and 42% in AMA) and closely interacted with habitat generalist species (43% in SMA and 49% in AMA) as adaptive strategies in stressful operation environments. Following a mutualistic pattern, phage-carried auxiliary metabolic genes (pAMGs; 238 types in total) presumably contributed to the bacterial survival and aggregate stability. The SMA-pAMGs were mainly associated with energy metabolism, while the AMA-pAMGs were mainly associated with antioxidant biosynthesis and the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances, representing habitat-dependent patterns. Overall, this study advanced our understanding of phage adaptive strategies in microbial aggregate habitats and emphasized the importance of bacterium-phage symbiosis in the stability of microbial aggregates.}, } @article {pmid37930041, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, W and Li, R and Li, S and Li, S-Y and Niu, J and Wang, J-J}, title = {RNA virus diversity in three parasitoid wasps of tephritid flies: insights from novel and known species.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0313923}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03139-23}, pmid = {37930041}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Parasitoid wasps are a diverse group of parasitoid insects that play a crucial role in biological control and integrated pest management programs due to their wide range of host species and complex behaviors. Previous studies have reported that select RNA viruses in parasitoid wasps can affect either the host-parasitoid wasp or the pest host parasitized by the wasps. Therefore, a study of the dynamics of RNA viruses in parasitoid wasps is essential for artificial breeding programs and improving their parasitic capabilities. In this study, we detected the presence of nine novel and three known RNA viruses with complete genomes in three parasitoid wasp species: Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, Fopius arisanus, and Spalangia endius. These wasps are parasitoids that can parasitel tephritid flies, one of the most important pest groups of fruits and vegetables. In D. longicaudata, the small RNAs derived from the viruses exhibited distinct peaks at 22 nt and were symmetrically distributed across the viral genome. These findings indicate that these viruses can activate the host's RNAi immune response. PCR detection further revealed that DlNaLV efficiently infects female individuals of D. longicaudata with 100% efficiency, and ZcNLV is capable of infecting both D. longicaudata and its host, Zeugodacus cucurbitae. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of RNA viruses in parasitoid wasps and lay the foundation for future research on the triple-level trophic relationships between tephritid flies, parasitoid wasps, and RNA viruses.IMPORTANCEParasitoid wasp populations have developed persistent beneficial symbiotic relationships with several viruses through repeated evolution. However, there have been limited reports on RNA viruses in parasitoid wasps of tephritid flies, a significant pest group affecting fruits and vegetables. This study explores the diversity of RNA viruses in three parasitoid wasps of tephritid flies and highlights the potential biological significance of specific viruses in Diachasmimorpha longicaudata. These findings have important implications for the development of sustainable pest management strategies and the enhancement of artificial rearing techniques for parasitoid wasps.}, } @article {pmid37929874, year = {2023}, author = {Pavlátová, M and Hanousková, P and Čepička, I}, title = {Anaeramoeba pumila sp. nov. and Anaeramoeba sp. OCE22C represent two novel types of symbiosis of Anaeramoebae and prokaryotes.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e13008}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.13008}, pmid = {37929874}, issn = {1550-7408}, support = {21-30563S//Czech Science Foundation/ ; 60323//Charles University Grant Agency/ ; SVV 260686/2023//Institutional research support grant of the Charles University/ ; }, abstract = {Anaeramoebae is a recently described phylum of anaerobic, marine amoebae, and amoeboflagellates belonging to the Metamonada supergroup. So far, six species have been described based on light microscopic morphology and sequences of the SSU rRNA gene. Here we present three new strains of Anaeramoeba with a description of their morphology, ultrastructure, and phylogenetic position based on the analysis of SSU rRNA gene sequences. Two of the strains represent a new species, Anaeramoeba pumila sp. nov., that has the smallest cells of all known Anaeramoeba species, and one that represents a species from the newly recognized Anaeramoeba flamelloides complex. Anaeramoebae are known to have a syntrophic relationship with prokaryotes. Our strains display two novel, remarkable types of symbioses, previously unknown from Anaeramoebae.}, } @article {pmid37929182, year = {2023}, author = {Hashemi, M and Amiel, A and Zouaoui, M and Adam, K and Clemente, HS and Aguilar, M and Pendaries, R and Couzigou, JM and Marti, G and Gaulin, E and Roy, S and Rey, T and Dumas, B}, title = {The mycoparasite Pythium oligandrum induces legume pathogen resistance and shapes rhizosphere microbiota without impacting mutualistic interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1156733}, pmid = {37929182}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Pythium oligandrum is a soil-borne oomycete associated with rhizosphere and root tissues. Its ability to enhance plant growth, stimulate plant immunity and parasitize fungal and oomycete preys has led to the development of agricultural biocontrol products. Meanwhile, the effect of P. oligandrum on mutualistic interactions and more generally on root microbial communities has not been investigated. Here, we developed a biological system comprising P. oligandrum interacting with two legume plants, Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum. P. oligandrum activity was investigated at the transcriptomics level through an RNAseq approach, metabolomics and finally metagenomics to investigate the impact of P. oligandrum on root microbiota. We found that P. oligandrum promotes plant growth in these two species and protects them against infection by the oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches, a devastating legume root pathogen. In addition, P. oligandrum up-regulated more than 1000 genes in M. truncatula roots including genes involved in plant defense and notably in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial compounds and validated the enhanced production of M. truncatula phytoalexins, medicarpin and formononetin. Despite this activation of plant immunity, we found that root colonization by P. oligandrum did not impaired symbiotic interactions, promoting the formation of large and multilobed symbiotic nodules with Ensifer meliloti and did not negatively affect the formation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Finally, metagenomic analyses showed the oomycete modifies the composition of fungal and bacterial communities. Together, our results provide novel insights regarding the involvement of P. oligandrum in the functioning of plant root microbiota.}, } @article {pmid37929168, year = {2023}, author = {d'Entremont, TW and Kivlin, SN}, title = {Specificity in plant-mycorrhizal fungal relationships: prevalence, parameterization, and prospects.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1260286}, pmid = {37929168}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Species interactions exhibit varying degrees of specialization, ranging from generalist to specialist interactions. For many interactions (e.g., plant-microbiome) we lack standardized metrics of specialization, hindering our ability to apply comparative frameworks of specificity across niche axes and organismal groups. Here, we discuss the concept of plant host specificity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, including the predominant theories for their interactions: Passenger, Driver, and Habitat Hypotheses. We focus on five major areas of interest in advancing the field of plant-mycorrhizal fungal host specificity: phylogenetic specificity, host physiology specificity, functional specificity, habitat specificity, and mycorrhizal fungal-mediated plant rarity. Considering the need to elucidate foundational concepts of specificity in this globally important symbiosis, we propose standardized metrics and comparative studies to enhance our understanding. We also emphasize the importance of analyzing global mycorrhizal data holistically to draw meaningful conclusions and suggest a shift toward single-species analyses to unravel the complexities underlying these associations.}, } @article {pmid37929148, year = {2023}, author = {Hernández-Martínez, AX and Lozano-Puentes, HS and Camacho-Montealegre, CM and Costa, GM and Díaz-Ariza, LA}, title = {Establishing the Relationship Between Flavonoid Content, Mycorrhization, and Soil Nutritional Content in Different Species of the Genus Passiflora in Colombia.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {43}, pages = {40647-40656}, pmid = {37929148}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The genus Passiflora comprises more than 500 species distributed in tropical and semitropical regions. With a great diversity of species, it is estimated that one-third is found in Colombian territory. Besides the food importance, Passiflora species are important sources of biologically active compounds, such as flavonoids. The most important symbiosis between soil fungi and vascular plants related to plant nutrition and tolerance to stress conditions is mycorrhizae. Passiflora species form arbuscular mycorrhizae, with several species of Glomeromycota. This association has been reported to alter the production of secondary metabolites. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the relation between flavonoid content, mycorrhization, and soil nutritional content of Passiflora alata, Passiflora quadrangularis, Passiflora maliformis, and Passiflora ligularis in Colombian crops. The extracts were prepared and analyzed using UPLC/PDA-MS, and total flavonoids were quantified with the method of AlCl3. Soil characteristics, including nutritional content and percentage of colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, were also determined. All variables were analyzed using Spearman's correlation and principal component analysis. Chromatographic analysis of the extracts allowed us to visualize the different flavonoid compositions of each extract, identifying several C-glycosylflavonoids. In this paper, we report for the first time the presence of luteolin-8-C-rhamnosyl-4'-O-glucoside, apigenin-6-C-arabinosyl-7-O-glucoside, and orientin for P. maliformis. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between available phosphorus (ρ = -0.90, p = <0.05) and magnesium (Mg) saturation (ρ = -0.70, p = <0.05) on flavonoid content, whereas the calcium magnesium (Ca/Mg) ratio was positively correlated (ρ = 0.70, p = <0.01). There was a nonsignificant correlation between mycorrhization and flavonoid content (ρ = -0.70, p = >0.1). These results contribute to understanding the relationship between flavonoid-mycorrhization-soil nutritional content on Passiflora spp.}, } @article {pmid37929007, year = {2023}, author = {AlShamakhi, HS and Al-Sadi, AM and Cook, LG}, title = {Phylogenetic Relationships of the Mutualistic Fungi Associated with Macrotermes subhyalinus in Oman.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {51}, number = {5}, pages = {281-287}, pmid = {37929007}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {The symbiotic association between fungus-gardening termites Macrotermes and its fungal symbiont has a moderate degree of specificity-although the symbiotic fungi (Termitomyces) form a monophyletic clade, there is not a one-to-one association between termite species and their fungus-garden associates. Here, we aim to determine the origin and phylogenetic relationships of Termitomyces in Oman. We used sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA, 25S) gene and analyzed these with sequences of Termitomyces from other geographic areas. We find no evidence for more than a single colonization of Oman by Termitomyces. Unexpectedly, we find Termitomyces in Oman is most closely related to the symbiont of M. subhyalinus in West Africa rather than to those of geographically closer populations in East Africa.}, } @article {pmid37928691, year = {2023}, author = {André, MR and Ikeda, P and Lee, DAB and do Amaral, RB and Carvalho, LAL and Pinheiro, DG and Torres, JM and de Mello, VVC and Rice, GK and Cer, RZ and Lourenço, EC and Oliveira, CE and Herrera, HM and Barros-Battesti, DM and Machado, RZ and Bishop-Lilly, KA and Dalgard, CL and Dumler, JS}, title = {Characterization of the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and associated ectoparasites from Brazil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1261156}, pmid = {37928691}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bats, along with their ectoparasites, harbor a wide diversity of symbiotic and potential pathogenic bacteria. Despite the enormous diversity of bats (181 species), few studies aimed to investigate the bacterial microbiome of Brazilian chiropterans and associated ectoparasites. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and associated Streblidae flies and Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil.

METHODS: Oral and rectal swabs were collected from 30 bats (Artibeus lituratus [n = 13], Artibeus planirostris [n  =  9], Eptesicus furinalis [n = 5], Carollia perspicillata [n = 2], and Platyrrhinus lineatus [n = 1]). In addition, a total of 58 mites (15 Macronyssidae and 43 Spinturnicidae) and 48 Streblidae bat flies were collected from the captured bats. After DNA extraction and purification, each sample's bacterial composition was analyzed with metagenomic sequencing.

RESULTS: The microbiome composition of both oral and rectal bat swab samples showed that Gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant bacterial class. Spiroplasma, Wolbachia and Bartonella represented the most abundant genera in Streblidae flies. While Wolbachia (Alphaproteobacteria) was the most abundant genus found in Spinturnicidae, Arsenophonus (Gammaproteobacteria) was found in high abundance in Macronyssidae mites. In addition to characterizing the microbiome of each sample at the class and genus taxonomic levels, we identified medically significant bacteria able to infect both animals and humans in oral (Streptococcus and Anaplasma) and rectal swabs (Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Streptococcus), Macronyssidae (Anaplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia) and Spinturnicidae (Anaplasma, Bartonella) mites as well as Streblidae flies (Spiroplasma, Bartonella).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Besides expanding the knowledge on the bacterial microbiome of non-hematophagous bats and Streblidae flies from Brazil, the present work showed, for the first time, the bacterial community of bat-associated Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae mites.}, } @article {pmid37927790, year = {2023}, author = {Jimi, N and Nakajima, H and Sato, T and Gonzalez, BC and Woo, SP and Rouse, GW and Britayev, T}, title = {Two new species of Parahesione (Annelida: Hesionidae) associated with ghost shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) and their phylogenetic relationships.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16346}, pmid = {37927790}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Two new species of Hesionidae, Parahesione pulvinata sp. nov. and Parahesione apiculata sp. nov. are described based on materials collected at tidal flats in Okinawa (Japan) from burrows of the ghost shrimps Neocallichirus jousseaumei and Glypturus armatus. The two new species are characterized by having eight enlarged cirri, dorsal cirrophores with dorsal foliose lobe and biramous parapodia, and by lacking median antenna. Parahesione apiculata sp. nov. has digitate lobes on the posterior margin of the dorsal foliose lobe (absent in P. pulvinata sp. nov.). The two new species were never found outside the ghost shrimp burrows, suggesting they are obligate symbionts. Phylogenetic analyses based on four concatenated genes suggest that the symbiotic lifestyle has evolved several times in Hesionidae.}, } @article {pmid37925991, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, C and Li, P and Yin, M and Wang, J and Sun, Y and Ju, W and Liu, L and Li, ZH}, title = {Deciphering characterization of seasonal variations in microbial communities of marine ranching: Diversity, co-occurrence network patterns, and assembly processes.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {197}, number = {}, pages = {115739}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115739}, pmid = {37925991}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Offshore coastal marine ranching ecosystems are one of the most productive ecosystems. The results showed that the composition and structure of the microbial communities varied considerably with the season. Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that the microbial network was more complex in summer and positively correlated links (cooperative or symbiotic) were dominated in autumn and winter. Null model indicated that the ecological processes of the bacterial communities were mainly governed by deterministic processes (mainly homogeneous selection) in summer. For microeukaryotic communities, assembly processes were more regulated by stochastic processes in all seasons. For rare taxa, assembly processes were regulated by stochastic processes and were not affected by seasonality. Changes in water temperature due to seasonal variations were the main, but not the only, environmental factor driving changes in microbial communities. This study will improve the understanding of offshore coastal ecosystems through the perspective of microbial ecology.}, } @article {pmid37925989, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, X and Tong, W and Wu, G and Yang, G and Zhou, J and Feng, L}, title = {A collaborative effect of solid-phase denitrification and algae on secondary effluent purification.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {348}, number = {}, pages = {119393}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119393}, pmid = {37925989}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {This study explored the collaborative effect on nutrients removal performance and microbial community in solid-phase denitrification based bacteria-algae symbiosis system. Three biodegradable carriers (apple wood, poplar wood and corncob) and two algae species (Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa) were selected in these bacteria-algae symbiosis systems. Results demonstrated that corncob as the carrier exhibited the highest average removal efficiencies of total nitrogen (83.7%-85.1%) and phosphorus removal (38.1%-49.1%) in comparison with apple wood (65.8%-71.5%, 25.5%-32.7%) and poplar wood (42.5%-49.1%, 14.2%-20.7%), which was mainly attributed to the highest organics availability of corncob. The addition of Chlorella acquired approximately 3%-5% of promotion rates for nitrated removal among three biodegradable carriers, but only corncob reactor acquired significant promotions by 3%-11% for phosphorous removal. Metagenomics sequencing analysis further indicated that Proteobacteria was the largest phylum in all wood reactors (77.1%-93.3%) and corncob reactor without Chlorella (85.8%), while Chlorobi became the most dominant phylum instead of Proteobacteria (20.5%-41.3%) in the corncob with addition of Chlorella vulgaris (54.5%) and Chlorella pyrenoidosa (76.3%). Thus, the higher organics availability stimulated the growth of algae, and promoted the performance of bacteria-algae symbiosis system based biodegradable carriers.}, } @article {pmid37923272, year = {2023}, author = {Billen, G and Aguilera, E and Einarsson, R and Garnier, J and Gingrich, S and Grizzetti, B and Lassaletta, L and Le Noë, J and Sanz-Cobena, A}, title = {Beyond the farm to fork strategy: Methodology for designing a European agro-ecological future.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {168160}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168160}, pmid = {37923272}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The publication of the European Commission's Farm to Fork Strategy has sparked a heated debate between those who advocate the intensification of agriculture in the name of food security and those who recommend its de-intensification for environmental reasons. The design of quantified scenarios is a key approach to objectively evaluate the arguments of the two sides. To this end, we used the accounting methodology GRAFS (Generalized Representation of Agri-Food Systems) to describe the agri-food system of Europe divided into 127 geographical units of similar agricultural area, in terms of nitrogen (N) fluxes across cropland, grassland, livestock, and human consumption. This analysis reveals, in current European agriculture, a high level of territorial specialization, a strong dependence on long distance trade, and environmental N losses amounting to about 14 TgN/yr, i.e. nearly 70 % of the annual N input (including N synthetic fertilizers, symbiotic N fixation, oxidized N deposition and import of food and feed). Based on the analysis of the yield-fertilization relationship of cropping systems at the scale of their full rotation cycle, and on a simplified model of livestock ingestion, excretion and production, we advanced the GRAFS methodology for prospective scenario design. Three scenarios for the European agri-food system were explored for 2050: a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, a scenario based on the measures considered by the EU Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), and a fully agro-ecological scenario (AE). The results show that the F2F scenario reduces the dependence of Europe on imports of synthetic fertilizers and feed resources by 40 % as well as the environmental N losses by 30 %, but not to the level of its claimed ambitions as N lost to the environment still amounts to about 10 TgN/yr, i.e. 67 % of N inputs. Of the three scenarios studied, only in the AE scenario, involving the relocation of feed production, the generalization of organic crop rotations with N fixing legume crops, and a shift of agricultural production and food consumption toward less animal-based products, would Europe be able to dispense with N imports, still being able to export some cereals, meat, and milk products to the rest of the world, while halving today's reactive N emissions to the environment.}, } @article {pmid37924702, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Yu, S and Nie, Y and Liu, R and Zhu, W and Zhou, Z and Ma, Y and Diao, J}, title = {Effect of acetochlor on the symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {463}, number = {}, pages = {132848}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132848}, pmid = {37924702}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {In this study, two strains of symbiotic bacteria (SOB-1 and SOB-2) were isolated from Scenedesmus obliquus, and various algal-bacterial mutualistic systems were established under acetochlor (ACT) stress conditions. Following exposure to varying ACT concentrations from 2.0 to 25.0 μg/L, the capacity for co-cultured bacteria to degrade ACT was enhanced in 7 days by up to 226.9% (SOB-1) and 193.0% (SOB-2), compared with axenic algae, although bacteria exposed to higher ACT concentrations exacerbated algal metabolic stress, oxidative states, apoptosis and cellular lysis. ACT reduced carbohydrates in the phycosphere by up to 31.5%; compensatory nutrient plunder and structural damage by bacteria were the potential exploitation pathways determined based on the inhibition of bacterial infection using a glucanase inhibitor. The ACT-induced reduction in algal antimicrobial substances, including fatty acids and phenolics (by up to 58.1% and 56.6%, respectively), also facilitated bacterial exploitation of algae. ACT-dependent interspecific interaction coefficients between algae and bacteria generated from long-term symbiosis cultures implied that bacteria moved from mutualism (0 and 2.0 μg/L ACT) to exploitation (7.9 and 25.0 μg/L ACT). The population dynamic model under incremental ACT-concentration scenarios inferred that theoretical systematic extinction may occur in algal-bacterial systems earlier than in axenic algae. These outcomes provide interspecific insights into the distortion of algal-bacterial reciprocity due to the ecotoxicological effects of ACT.}, } @article {pmid37924218, year = {2023}, author = {Laffont, C and Frugier, F}, title = {Rhizobium symbiotic efficiency meets CEP signaling peptides.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19367}, pmid = {37924218}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; }, abstract = {C-terminally encoded peptides (CEP) signaling peptides are drivers of systemic pathways regulating nitrogen (N) acquisition in different plants, from Arabidopsis to legumes, depending on mineral N availability (e.g. nitrate) and on the whole plant N demand. Recent studies in the Medicago truncatula model legume revealed how root-produced CEP peptides control the root competence for endosymbiosis with N fixing rhizobia soil bacteria through the activity of the Compact Root Architecture 2 (CRA2) CEP receptor in shoots. Among CEP genes, MtCEP7 was shown to be tightly linked to nodulation, and the dynamic temporal regulation of its expression reflects the plant ability to maintain a different symbiotic root competence window depending on the symbiotic efficiency of the rhizobium strain, as well as to reinitiate a new window of root competence for nodulation.}, } @article {pmid37924049, year = {2023}, author = {Amidu, SB and Boamah, VE and Ekuadzi, E and Mante, PK}, title = {Gut-Brain-axis: effect of basil oil on the gut microbiota and its contribution to the anticonvulsant properties.}, journal = {BMC complementary medicine and therapies}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {393}, pmid = {37924049}, issn = {2662-7671}, mesh = {Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Brain-Gut Axis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Phylogeny ; Seizures/drug therapy/chemically induced ; Pentylenetetrazole/adverse effects ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Epilepsy/drug therapy ; Brain ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain and it is characterized by seizures. Research suggests the involvement of the Gut-Brain axis in epilepsy. This study seeks to determine the role of the gut microbiota in the anticonvulsant effect of basil oil (BO) using antibiotic-depleted and altered germ-free mice against naïve mice in Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure model. There is an ever growing interest in improvement of treatment outcomes in epilepsy and also in the development of newer therapeutic options, especially in the population of patients that do not attain seizure relief from available antiseizure medications (ASMs). According to research, gut microbiota can alter brain function and development. Increasing evidence suggests disrupting the delicate symbiotic balance existing between the gut and brain results in disease conditions. Also, the oil from Ocimum basilicum L., (BO) has been proven scientifically to significantly block clonic seizures induced by PTZ and picrotoxin in seizure models.

METHODS: The microbiota of mice were depleted or altered by administering cocktail antibiotics and individual antibiotics respectively. DNA was isolated from mouse stool, and then the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene was quantitatively amplified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Amplicons were sequenced to determine the phylogenetic make-up of the bacteria involved. Metabolic profiles of the serum and stool of mice were determined using Proton (1H) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

RESULTS: Cocktail antibiotic pre-treatment significantly reversed the anticonvulsant effect of BO by increasing frequency and duration of seizures but did not affect latency to seizure. In mice pre-treated with single antibiotics, the anticonvulsant effect of BO was lost as latency to seizures, frequency and duration of seizures increased compared to mice that received only BO. Assessment of the phylogenetic make-up of the microbiota in antibiotic pre-treated mice showed a distorted composition of the microbiota compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: Depletion of the microbiota significantly reversed the anticonvulsant actions of BO. The concentrations of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was higher in stool than in the serum of the mice. Administration of BO probably does not influence the microbial composition within the mouse microbiota. The elevated ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in microbiota-depleted groups might have contributed to the reversal of anticonvulsant actions of BO.}, } @article {pmid37921161, year = {2023}, author = {Rajangam, J and Lakshmanan, AP and Palei, NN and Elumalai, K and Kotakonda, M and Prakash, R and Latha, P}, title = {Differential Pharmacokinetic Interplay of Atorvastatin on Lacosamide and Levetiracetam on Experimental Convulsions in Mice.}, journal = {Current drug metabolism}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/0113892002253895231020100743}, pmid = {37921161}, issn = {1875-5453}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of statins, other than their hypocholesterolemia role, have been well documented, however, their use as an adjuvant drug with other antiseizure drugs, in the treatment of epilepsy is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the symbiotic effect of ATOR along with either lacosamide (LACO) or levetiracetam (LEVE) on experimentally induced epilepsy (Maximal electro-shock-MES or pentylenetetrazol- PTZ) in mice models.

METHODS: Conventional elevated-maze (EPM) and rotarod methods were performed to observe the behavioral effects.

RESULTS: In both the animal models, we found that co-administration of ATOR along with LACO showed a significant reduction in hind-limb extension (HLE) and clonic convulsion (CC) responses, respectively, but not in the ATOR+LEVE treated group. Intriguingly, comparable Straub tail response and myoclonic convulsion as the diazepam (DIA) group were observed only in the ATOR+LACO treated group. Moreover, a significant muscle-grip strength was observed in both groups. Also, pharmacokinetic analysis has indicated that the mean plasma concentration of ATOR peaked at 2ndhr in the presence of LACO but marginally peaked in the presence of LEVE. An Insilico study has revealed that ATOR has a higher binding affinity toward neuronal sodium channels.

CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that the plasma concentration of ATOR was potentiated in the presence of LACO, but not in the presence of LEVE and it has provided significant protection against both the electro and chemo-convulsive models in mice. This could be due to the symbiotic pharmacokinetic interplay of ATOR with LACO, and possibly, this interplay may interfere with sodium channel conductance.}, } @article {pmid37920264, year = {2023}, author = {Humphrey, B and Mackenzie, M and Lobitz, M and Schambach, JY and Lasley, G and Kolker, S and Ricken, B and Bennett, H and Williams, KP and Smallwood, CR and Cahill, J}, title = {Biotic countermeasures that rescue Nannochloropsis gaditana from a Bacillus safensis infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1271836}, pmid = {37920264}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The natural assemblage of a symbiotic bacterial microbiome (bacteriome) with microalgae in marine ecosystems is now being investigated as a means to increase algal productivity for industry. When algae are grown in open pond settings, biological contamination causes an estimated 30% loss of the algal crop. Therefore, new crop protection strategies that do not disrupt the native algal bacteriome are needed to produce reliable, high-yield algal biomass. Bacteriophages offer an unexplored solution to treat bacterial pathogenicity in algal cultures because they can eliminate a single species without affecting the bacteriome. To address this, we identified a highly virulent pathogen of the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana, the bacterium Bacillus safensis, and demonstrated rescue of the microalgae from the pathogen using phage. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that phage treatment did not alter the composition of the bacteriome. It is widely suspected that the algal bacteriome could play a protective role against bacterial pathogens. To test this, we compared the susceptibility of a bacteriome-attenuated N. gaditana culture challenged with B. safensis to a N. gaditana culture carrying a growth-promoting bacteriome. We showed that the loss of the bacteriome increased the susceptibility of N. gaditana to the pathogen. Transplanting the microalgal bacteriome to the bacteriome-attenuated culture reconstituted the protective effect of the bacteriome. Finally, the success of phage treatment was dependent on the presence of beneficial bacteriome. This study introduces two synergistic countermeasures against bacterial pathogenicity in algal cultures and a tractable model for studying interactions between microalgae, phages, pathogens, and the algae microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37918595, year = {2023}, author = {Jeong, GJ and Khan, F and Tabassum, N and Kim, YM}, title = {Cellular and physiological roles of sigma factors in Vibrio spp.: A comprehensive review.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {127833}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127833}, pmid = {37918595}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Vibrio species are motile gram-negative bacteria commonly found in aquatic environments. Vibrio species include pathogenic as well as non-pathogenic strains. Pathogenic Vibrio species have been reported in invertebrates and humans, whereas non-pathogenic strains are involved in symbiotic relationships with their eukaryotic hosts. These bacteria are also able to adapt to fluctuations in temperature, salinity, and pH, in addition to oxidative stress, and osmotic pressure in aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, they have also developed protective mechanisms against the immune systems of their hosts. Vibrio species accomplish adaptation to changing environments outside or inside the host by altering their gene expression profiles. To this end, several sigma factors specifically regulate gene expression, particularly under stressful environmental conditions. Moreover, other sigma factors are associated with biofilm formation and virulence as well. This review discusses different types of sigma and anti-sigma factors of Vibrio species involved in virulence and regulation of gene expression upon changes in environmental conditions. The evolutionary relationships between sigma factors with various physiological roles in Vibrio species are also discussed extensively.}, } @article {pmid37917645, year = {2023}, author = {Uchimiya, M and DeRito, CM and Hay, AG}, title = {Sugarcane mill mud-induced putative host (soybean (Glycine max))-rhizobia symbiosis in sandy loam soil.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {e0293317}, pmid = {37917645}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Domestic production of controlled-release, compost-based, and microbe-enhanced fertilizers is being expanded in the U.S. as a part of rural development. Sugarcane mill mud is a sterilized (≈90°C) agricultural byproduct in surplus that has received interests as a soil amendment in several Southern states, because of its high phosphorus and organic carbon contents. Addition of mill mud to sandy loam significantly increased the nodule formation compared to fertilized and unfertilized controls. Mill mud addition also resulted in pod yields similar to the fertilized control. Though not found in mill mud itself, mill mud additions correlated with an increase in soil Rhizobia as determined by deep 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We hypothesize that Firmicutes in sterilized mill mud induced Rhizobia that in turn enhanced soybean (Glycine max) growth. Collectively, mill mud enhanced the plant growth promoting bacteria when applied to a silt loam, although the relative influence of mill mud-derived bacteria, organic carbon, and nutrients is yet to be determined.}, } @article {pmid37917254, year = {2023}, author = {Chot, E and Medicherla, KM and Reddy, MS}, title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis of ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus in response to individual and combined stress of copper and cadmium.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37917254}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {An ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus establishes the natural symbiosis with plant roots on extreme heavy metal (HM)-rich soil and enables their survival in toxic metal concentrations. Understanding P. albus key genes and pathways behind strong metal tolerance is crucial for its successful application in the rehabilitation of metal-contaminated barren lands. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the whole transcriptome profile of P. albus under individual and combined metal stress of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd). At 480 µM Cu and 16 µM Cd toxic concentrations, P. albus has shown growth and survival and accumulated high metal (1.46 µg Cu and 1.13 µg Cd per mg of dry mycelia). The study found a stronger response of P. albus to single-metal stress in high concentration as compared to multi-metal stress in relatively lower concentration. Hence, the intensity of fungal response to HM stress is mainly determined by the metal concentration involved in stress. We have found a total of 11 pathways significantly associated with HM stress, among which amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolisms were highly affected. The functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes has shown the induced biosynthesis of arginine, melanin, metal chelating agents, membrane phospholipids, fatty acids, folate, pantothenate, ergothioneine, and other antioxidant agents; upregulation of zinc ion uptake, potassium transporters, and lysine degradation; and reduction of phosphatidylcholine degradation, incorrect protein folding, iron uptake, and potassium efflux as the top efficient tolerance mechanisms of P. albus against HM stress. The current study would contribute to understanding fungal HM tolerance and its further utilization in the bioremediation of metal-contaminated abandoned lands. The validation of RNA-sequencing analysis with RT-qPCR of selected genes showed the high credibility of the presented data.}, } @article {pmid37916638, year = {2023}, author = {Elfarargy, MS and Elbadry, DH and Roshdy, A and Elhady, H}, title = {Neonatal Microbiome: Is it still Beneficial?.}, journal = {Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/0118715303238665231010062701}, pmid = {37916638}, issn = {2212-3873}, abstract = {The neonatal microbiome includes all the microorganisms living within or on the surface of the newborn, as well as their genes (i.e., bacteria, fungi, and viruses), which are composed mainly of bacteria. The majority of these microorganisms reside in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which is known as the gut microbiome. They include trillions of microbes, which exceed the total number of neonate cells. In this study, we have examined factors affecting neonatal microbiome colonization, various phyla of the microbiome in neonates, and their characteristics. In addition, we have discussed symbiosis and dysbiosis, precipitating diseases, breast milk's role in the neonatal gut microbiome, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and synbiotics, as well as the airway or respiratory microbiome, and the main role of the neonatal microbiome. We have also discussed neonatal mycobiome and neonatal virome, as well as the research done on the neonatal microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37915957, year = {2023}, author = {Niang, D and Gueddou, A and Niang, N and Nzepang, D and Sambou, A and Diouf, A and Zaiya, AZ and Cissoko, M and Gully, D and Nguepjop, JR and Svistoonoff, S and Fonceka, D and Hocher, V and Diouf, D and Fall, S and Tisa, LS}, title = {Permanent draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium vignae, strain ISRA 400, an elite nitrogen-fixing bacterium, isolated from the groundnut growing area in Senegal.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {52-57}, pmid = {37915957}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {A new Bradyrhizobium vignae strain called ISRA400 was isolated from groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) root nodules obtained by trapping the bacteria from soil samples collected in the Senegalese groundnut basin. In this study, we present the draft genome sequence of this strain ISRA400, which spans approximatively 7.9 Mbp and exhibits a G+C content of 63.4%. The genome analysis revealed the presence of 48 tRNA genes and one rRNA operon (16S, 23S, and 5S). The nodulation test revealed that this strain ISRA400 significantly improves the nodulation parameters and chlorophyll content of the Arachis hypogaea variety Fleur11. These findings suggest the potential of Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ISRA400 as an effective symbiotic partner for improving the growth and productivity of groundnut crop.}, } @article {pmid37915805, year = {2023}, author = {Rohner, PT and Moczek, AP}, title = {Vertically inherited microbiota and environment-modifying behaviors indirectly shape the exaggeration of secondary sexual traits in the gazelle dung beetle.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e10666}, pmid = {37915805}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Many organisms actively manipulate the environment in ways that feed back on their own development, a process referred to as developmental niche construction. Yet, the role that constructed biotic and abiotic environments play in shaping phenotypic variation and its evolution is insufficiently understood. Here, we assess whether environmental modifications made by developing dung beetles impact the environment-sensitive expression of secondary sexual traits. Gazelle dung beetles both physically modify their ontogenetic environment and structure their biotic interactions through the vertical inheritance of microbial symbionts. By experimentally eliminating (i) physical environmental modifications and (ii) the vertical inheritance of microbes, we assess the degree to which (sym)biotic and physical environmental modifications shape the exaggeration of several traits varying in their degree and direction of sexual dimorphism. We expected the experimental reduction of a larva's ability to shape its environment to affect trait size and scaling, especially for traits that are sexually dimorphic and environmentally plastic. We find that compromised developmental niche construction indeed shapes sexual dimorphism in overall body size and the absolute sizes of male-limited exaggerated head horns, the strongly sexually dimorphic fore tibia length and width, as well as the weakly dimorphic elytron length and width. This suggests that environmental modifications affect sex-specific phenotypic variation in functional traits. However, most of these effects can be attributed to nutrition-dependent plasticity in size and non-isometric trait scaling rather than body-size-independent effects on the developmental regulation of trait size. Our findings suggest that the reciprocal relationship between developing organisms, their symbionts, and their environment can have considerable impacts on sexual dimorphism and functional morphology.}, } @article {pmid37915139, year = {2023}, author = {Navarro-Gómez, C and León-Mediavilla, J and Küpper, H and Rodríguez-Simón, M and Paganelli-López, A and Wen, J and Burén, S and Mysore, KS and Bokhari, SNH and Imperial, J and Escudero, V and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Nodule-specific Cu[+] -chaperone NCC1 is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula root nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19360}, pmid = {37915139}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {60077344//Biologické Centrum, Akademie Věd České Republiky/ ; PEJ-2020-TL-BIO-18547//Comunidad de Madrid/ ; CA19116//European Cooperation in Science and Technology/ ; AGL2018-095996-B-100//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; PRE2019-089164//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15_003/0000336//Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy/ ; DBI-0703285//National Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Cu[+] -chaperones are a diverse group of proteins that allocate Cu[+] ions to specific copper proteins, creating different copper pools targeted to specific physiological processes. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation carried out in legume root nodules indirectly requires relatively large amounts of copper, for example for energy delivery via respiration, for which targeted copper deliver systems would be required. MtNCC1 is a nodule-specific Cu[+] -chaperone encoded in the Medicago truncatula genome, with a N-terminus Atx1-like domain that can bind Cu[+] with picomolar affinities. MtNCC1 is able to interact with nodule-specific Cu[+] -importer MtCOPT1. MtNCC1 is expressed primarily from the late infection zone to the early fixation zone and is located in the cytosol, associated with plasma and symbiosome membranes, and within nuclei. Consistent with its key role in nitrogen fixation, ncc1 mutants have a severe reduction in nitrogenase activity and a 50% reduction in copper-dependent cytochrome c oxidase activity. A subset of the copper proteome is also affected in the ncc1 mutant nodules. Many of these proteins can be pulled down when using a Cu[+] -loaded N-terminal MtNCC1 moiety as a bait, indicating a role in nodule copper homeostasis and in copper-dependent physiological processes. Overall, these data suggest a pleiotropic role of MtNCC1 in copper delivery for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37914724, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Li, R and Wang, D and Qian, B and Bian, Z and Wei, J and Wei, X and Xu, JR}, title = {Regulation of symbiotic interactions and primitive lichen differentiation by UMP1 MAP kinase in Umbilicaria muhlenbergii.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {6972}, pmid = {37914724}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {1758434//NSF | BIO | Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)/ ; 32170082//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32070096//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {Lichens are of great ecological importance but mechanisms regulating lichen symbiosis are not clear. Umbilicaria muhlenbergii is a lichen-forming fungus amenable to molecular manipulations and dimorphic. Here, we established conditions conducive to symbiotic interactions and lichen differentiation and showed the importance of UMP1 MAP kinase in lichen development. In the initial biofilm-like symbiotic complexes, algal cells were interwoven with pseudohyphae covered with extracellular matrix. After longer incubation, fungal-algal complexes further differentiated into primitive lichen thalli with a melanized cortex-like and pseudoparenchyma-like tissues containing photoactive algal cells. Mutants deleted of UMP1 were blocked in pseudohyphal growth and development of biofilm-like complexes and primitive lichens. Invasion of dividing mother cells that contributes to algal layer organization in lichens was not observed in the ump1 mutant. Overall, these results showed regulatory roles of UMP1 in symbiotic interactions and lichen development and suitability of U. muhlenbergii as a model for studying lichen symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37914705, year = {2023}, author = {Rädecker, N and Escrig, S and Spangenberg, JE and Voolstra, CR and Meibom, A}, title = {Coupled carbon and nitrogen cycling regulates the cnidarian-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {6948}, pmid = {37914705}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {205321_212614//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {Efficient nutrient recycling underpins the ecological success of cnidarian-algal symbioses in oligotrophic waters. In these symbioses, nitrogen limitation restricts the growth of algal endosymbionts in hospite and stimulates their release of photosynthates to the cnidarian host. However, the mechanisms controlling nitrogen availability and their role in symbiosis regulation remain poorly understood. Here, we studied the metabolic regulation of symbiotic nitrogen cycling in the sea anemone Aiptasia by experimentally altering labile carbon availability in a series of experiments. Combining [13]C and [15]N stable isotope labeling experiments with physiological analyses and NanoSIMS imaging, we show that the competition for environmental ammonium between the host and its algal symbionts is regulated by labile carbon availability. Light regimes optimal for algal photosynthesis increase carbon availability in the holobiont and stimulate nitrogen assimilation in the host metabolism. Consequently, algal symbiont densities are lowest under optimal environmental conditions and increase toward the lower and upper light tolerance limits of the symbiosis. This metabolic regulation promotes efficient carbon recycling in a stable symbiosis across a wide range of environmental conditions. Yet, the dependence on resource competition may favor parasitic interactions, explaining the instability of the cnidarian-algal symbiosis as environmental conditions in the Anthropocene shift towards its tolerance limits.}, } @article {pmid37914686, year = {2023}, author = {Cui, G and Mi, J and Moret, A and Menzies, J and Zhong, H and Li, A and Hung, SH and Al-Babili, S and Aranda, M}, title = {A carbon-nitrogen negative feedback loop underlies the repeated evolution of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {6949}, pmid = {37914686}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with Symbiodiniaceae have evolved independently across a diverse range of cnidarian taxa including reef-building corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying their regulation and repeated evolution are still elusive. Here, we show that despite their independent evolution, cnidarian hosts use the same carbon-nitrogen negative feedback loop to control symbiont proliferation. Symbiont-derived photosynthates are used to assimilate nitrogenous waste via glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase-mediated amino acid biosynthesis in a carbon-dependent manner, which regulates the availability of nitrogen to the symbionts. Using nutrient supplementation experiments, we show that the provision of additional carbohydrates significantly reduces symbiont density while ammonium promotes symbiont proliferation. High-resolution metabolic analysis confirmed that all hosts co-incorporated glucose-derived [13]C and ammonium-derived [15]N via glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase-mediated amino acid biosynthesis. Our results reveal a general carbon-nitrogen negative feedback loop underlying these symbioses and provide a parsimonious explanation for their repeated evolution.}, } @article {pmid37914055, year = {2023}, author = {Li, C and Lü, F and Peng, W and He, P and Zhang, H}, title = {Efficacy of bioaugmentation with nondomesticated mixed microbial consortia under ammonia inhibition in anaerobic digestion.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129954}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129954}, pmid = {37914055}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Bioaugmentation shows promise in mitigating ammonia-induced microbial inhibition in anaerobic digestion processes. However, the advanced technical requirements and high costs associated with pure strain cultivation, as well as the time-consuming and labor-intensive process of domesticating consortia, present challenges for industrial applications. Herein, the efficacy of bioaugmentation with nondomesticated mixed microbial consortia was evaluated, which resulted in a significant methane production improvement of 5.6 %-11.7 % and 10.3 %-13.5 % under total ammonia nitrogen concentrations of 2.0 and 4.9 g-N/L, respectively. Microbial analysis revealed that at high ammonium levels, the bioaugmented culture facilitated a transition in the methanogenic pathway from acetoclastic to hydrogenotrophic by regulating symbiotic relationships between propionate- and acetate-oxidizing bacteria and methanogens. Consortium type and dose applied were identified as crucial factors determining bioaugmentation effectiveness. Overall, nondomesticated mixed microbial consortia demonstrate potential as cost-effective bioaugmentation agents for mitigating ammonia-induced inhibition.}, } @article {pmid37914031, year = {2023}, author = {Grossi, AA and Tian, C and Ren, M and Zou, F and Gustafsson, DR}, title = {Co-phylogeny of a hyper-symbiotic system: endosymbiotic bacteria (Gammaproteobacteria), chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) and birds (Passeriformes).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107957}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107957}, pmid = {37914031}, issn = {1095-9513}, abstract = {Chewing lice are hosts to endosymbiotic bacteria as well as themselves being permanent parasites. This offers a unique opportunity to examine the cophylogenetic relationships between three ecologically interconnected organismal groups: birds, chewing lice, and bacteria. Here, we examine the cophylogenetic relationships between lice in the genus Guimaraesiella Eichler, 1949, their endosymbiotic Sodalis-allied bacteria, and a range of bird species from across South China. Both event and distance-based cophylogenetic analyses were explored to compare phylogenies of the three organismal groups. Pair-wise comparisons between lice-endosymbionts and bird-endosymbionts indicated that their evolutionary histories are not independent. However, comparisons between lice and birds, showed mixed results; the distance-based method of ParaFit indicated that their evolutionary histories are not independent, while the event-based method of Jane indicated that their phylogenies were no more congruent than expected by chance. Notably, louse host-switching does not seem to have affected bacterial strains, as conspecific lice sampled from distantly related hosts share bacteria belonging to the same clade.}, } @article {pmid37913765, year = {2023}, author = {Chan, WY and Meyers, L and Rudd, D and Topa, SH and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Heat-evolved algal symbionts enhance bleaching tolerance of adult corals without trade-off against growth.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16987}, pmid = {37913765}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {//Australian Governments Reef Trust/ ; FL180100036//Australian Research Council/ ; //Great Barrier Reef Foundation/ ; //Paul G. Allen Family Foundation/ ; //Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program/ ; }, abstract = {Ocean warming has caused coral mass bleaching and mortality worldwide and the persistence of symbiotic reef-building corals requires rapid acclimation or adaptation. Experimental evolution of the coral's microalgal symbionts followed by their introduction into coral is one potential method to enhance coral thermotolerance. Heat-evolved microalgal symbionts of the generalist species, Cladocopium proliferum (strain SS8), were exposed to elevated temperature (31°C) for ~10 years, and were introduced into four genotypes of chemically bleached adult fragments of the scleractinian coral, Galaxea fascicularis. Two of the four coral genotypes acquired SS8. The new symbionts persisted for the 5 months of the experiment and enhanced adult coral thermotolerance, compared with corals that were inoculated with the wild-type C. proliferum strain. Thermotolerance of SS8-corals was similar to that of coral fragments from the same colony hosting the homologous symbiont, Durusdinium sp., which is naturally heat tolerant. However, SS8-coral fragments exhibited faster growth and recovered cell density and photochemical efficiency more quickly following chemical bleaching and inoculation under ambient temperature relative to Durusdinium-corals. Mass spectrometry imaging suggests that algal pigments involved in photobiology and oxidative stress were the greatest contributors to the thermotolerance differences between coral hosting heat-evolved versus wild-type C. proliferum. These pigments may have increased photoprotection in the heat-evolved symbionts. This is the first laboratory study to show that thermotolerance of adult corals (G. fascicularis) can be enhanced via the uptake of exogenously supplied, heat-evolved symbionts, without a trade-off against growth under ambient temperature. Importantly, heat-evolved C. proliferum remained in the corals in moderate abundance 2 years after first inoculation, suggesting long-term stability of this novel symbiosis and potential long-term benefits to coral thermotolerance.}, } @article {pmid37913580, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, F and Liang, Q and Zhao, X and Wu, X and Fan, S and Zhang, X}, title = {Comparative metaproteomics reveal co-contribution of onion maggot and its gut microbiota to phoxim resistance.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {267}, number = {}, pages = {115649}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115649}, pmid = {37913580}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Pesticide resistance inflicts significant economic losses on a global scale each year. To address this pressing issue, substantial efforts have been dedicated to unraveling the resistance mechanisms, particularly the newly discovered microbiota-derived pesticide resistance in recent decades. Previous research has predominantly focused on investigating microbiota-derived pesticide resistance from the perspective of the pest host, associated microbes, and their interactions. However, a gap remains in the quantification of the contribution by the pest host and associated microbes to this resistance. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of phoxim by examining one resistant and one sensitive Delia antiqua strain. We also explored the critical role of associated microbiota and host in conferring phoxim resistance. In addition, we used metaproteomics to compare the proteomic profile of the two D. antiqua strains. Lastly, we investigated the activity of detoxification enzymes in D. antiqua larvae and phoxim-degrading gut microbes, and assessed their respective contributions to phoxim resistance in D. antiqua. The results revealed contributions by D. antiqua and its gut bacteria to phoxim resistance. Metaproteomics showed that the two D. antiqua strains expressed different protein profiles. Detoxifying enzymes including Glutathione S-transferases, carboxylesterases, Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and esterase B1 were overexpressed in the resistant strain and dominated in differentially expressed insect proteins. In addition, organophosphorus hydrolases combined with a group of ABC type transporters were overexpressed in the gut microbiota of resistant D. antiqua compared to the sensitive strain. 85.2% variation of the larval mortality resulting from phoxim treatment could be attributed to the combined effects of proteins from both from gut bacteria and D. antiqua, while the individual contribution of proteins from gut bacteria or D. antiqua alone accounted for less than 10% of the variation in larval mortality caused by phoxim. The activity of the overexpressed insect enzymes and the phoxim-degrading activity of gut bacteria in resistant D. antiqua larvae were further confirmed. This work enhances our understanding of microbiota-derived pesticide resistance and illuminates new strategies for controlling pesticide resistance in the context of insect-microbe mutualism.}, } @article {pmid37909976, year = {2023}, author = {Rubio, CA and Matek, C and Vieth, M and Lang-Schwarz, C}, title = {Sporadic Colorectal Tubular Adenomas Thrive in Symbiosis With Underlying Nondysplastic Branching Crypts.}, journal = {Anticancer research}, volume = {43}, number = {11}, pages = {4947-4952}, doi = {10.21873/anticanres.16692}, pmid = {37909976}, issn = {1791-7530}, mesh = {Humans ; Symbiosis ; *Adenoma/genetics ; Epithelium ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics ; Hyperplasia ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/AIM: Nondysplastic crypt branching (NDCB), mostly asymmetric branching (NDCAB), was previously found beneath the dysplastic epithelium of colorectal tubular adenomas (TA) in Swedish patients. This study examined the frequency of NDCB and NDCAB beneath the dysplastic epithelium of TA, in German patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a collection of 305 TA, 121 TA fulfilled the prerequisites for inclusion. All NDCB were registered.

RESULTS: Of 673 NDBCs, 572 (85%) NDCABs and 101 (15%) NDCSs, were found beneath the neoplastic tissue in the 121 TA. When the frequency of NDCB was challenged against the TA size, a linear correlation was found in the 121 TA (p<0.05, p=0.020172). Most NDCB were NDCAB (p<0.05, p=0.00001). The frequency of NDCB correlated with increasing TA size, implying that the higher frequency of both NDCB, dysplastic crypt branching, and their dysplastic offspring crypts were the most probable sources of TA enlargement. The frequency of NDCB underneath TA was not influenced by increasing age, sex or TA localization.

CONCLUSION: Similar findings as those reported here were previously found in TA in Swedish patients. The similarity between these two populations, located in disparate geographical areas and subjected to dissimilar microenvironmental conditions suggests that NDBC in TA might be a ubiquitous unreported phenomenon. According to the literature, normal colon cells often harbor somatic mutations. Consequently, NDCB underneath TA may be mutated nondysplastic branching crypts upon which the dysplastic epithelium in TA eventually develops.}, } @article {pmid37909778, year = {2023}, author = {Xia, X and Wang, Q and Gurr, GM and Vasseur, L and Han, S and You, M}, title = {Gut bacteria mediated adaptation of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, to secondary metabolites of host plants.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0082623}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00826-23}, pmid = {37909778}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, has successfully adapted to the potent chemical defenses of Brassicaceae plants that deter most other herbivores. Gut bacteria are increasingly recognized as key to the biology of many species but their role in DBM adaptation to plant defense compounds is not well known. In this study, the secondary metabolites of radish seedlings, rich in flavonoids, were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. These secondary metabolites reduced the larval growth of DBM lacking gut bacteria. The effect was rapidly eclipsed by the re-introduction of gut microbiota, which was dominated by Enterobacter (Proteobacteria). Similarly, while treatment with the flavonoid kaempferol adversely affected growth and extended the development time, these were alleviated by the re-introduction of Enterobacter sp. EbPXG5 (EbPXG5) to the DBM gut. EbPXG5 not only degrades kaempferol both in vitro and DBM gut, but is also shown to colonize the gut epithelium, forming a protective biofilm. Genomic sequencing of EbPXG5 showed that metabolic genes were the most abundant, especially those involved in xenobiotic degradation, and the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, which could participate in the degradation of plant secondary metabolites such as kaempferol. Overall, our results showed that EbPXG5 is a bacterium common in the gut of DBM larvae and has the in vitro and in vivo capacity to detoxify a major secondary metabolite that is produced in brassica plants as a defense against herbivores. This insect-bacterial association may be an important contributor to the status of DBM as a major pest of brassica crops worldwide.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we identify an important role of gut bacteria in mediating the adaptation of diamondback moth (DBM) to plant secondary metabolites. We demonstrate that kaempferol's presence in radish seedlings greatly reduces the fitness of DBM with depleted gut biota. Reinstatement of gut biota, particularly Enterobacter sp. EbPXG5, improved insect performance by degrading kaempferol. This bacterium was common in the larval gut of DBM, lining the epithelium as a protective film. Our work highlights the role of symbiotic bacteria in insect herbivore adaptation to plant defenses and provides a practical and mechanistic framework for developing a more comprehensive understanding of insect-gut microbe-host plant co-evolution.}, } @article {pmid37909753, year = {2023}, author = {Maire, J and Philip, GK and Livingston, J and Judd, LM and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Functional potential and evolutionary response to long-term heat selection of bacterial associates of coral photosymbionts.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0086023}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00860-23}, pmid = {37909753}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Corals rely on a wide range of microorganisms for their functioning, including intracellular dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) and bacteria. Marine heatwaves trigger the loss of Symbiodiniaceae from coral tissues-coral bleaching-often leading to death. While coral-bacteria interactions are widely studied, Symbiodiniaceae-bacteria interactions have remained largely uninvestigated. Here, we provide a genomic analysis of 49 bacteria, spanning 16 genera, that are closely associated with six cultured Symbiodiniaceae species. We analyzed bacterial functional potential by focusing on potentially beneficial functions for the Symbiodiniaceae host, including B vitamin synthesis and antioxidant abilities, which may be crucial for Symbiodiniaceae heat tolerance and, in turn, coral resistance to thermal bleaching. These analyses suggest a wide potential for B vitamin synthesis and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (through the production of carotenoids or antioxidant enzymes), and possibly the transfer of organic carbon to host cells. Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis between bacteria isolated from wild-type and heat-evolved Symbiodiniaceae cultures revealed that exposure to long-term elevated temperature has resulted in mutations in genes known to be involved in host-symbiont interactions, such as secretion systems. Climate change may therefore modify how Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria interact. This study provides an overview of the possible roles of Symbiodiniaceae-associated bacteria in Symbiodiniaceae functioning and heat tolerance, reinforcing the need for further studies of such interactions to fully understand coral biology and climate resilience. IMPORTANCE Symbiotic microorganisms are crucial for the survival of corals and their resistance to coral bleaching in the face of climate change. However, the impact of microbe-microbe interactions on coral functioning is mostly unknown but could be essential factors for coral adaption to future climates. Here, we investigated interactions between cultured dinoflagellates of the Symbiodiniaceae family, essential photosymbionts of corals, and associated bacteria. By assessing the genomic potential of 49 bacteria, we found that they are likely beneficial for Symbiodiniaceae, through the production of B vitamins and antioxidants. Additionally, bacterial genes involved in host-symbiont interactions, such as secretion systems, accumulated mutations following long-term exposure to heat, suggesting symbiotic interactions may change under climate change. This highlights the importance of microbe-microbe interactions in coral functioning.}, } @article {pmid37909590, year = {2023}, author = {Souza, GG and Santos, SC and Santos, CC and Dias, AS and Silverio, JM and Trovato, VW and Flauzino, DS}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote the growth of Dipteryx alata Vogel.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {83}, number = {}, pages = {e275172}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.275172}, pmid = {37909590}, issn = {1678-4375}, abstract = {The symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and fruit tree plants is a sustainable strategy for producing seedlings. However, information for Dipteryx alata Vogel., a native species, is still scarce. Thus, this study aimed to identify the most promising AMF inoculum for producing D. alata seedlings and their effects on growth. Seedlings were inoculated with Clareoideoglomus etunicatum, Gigaspora albida, Gigaspora margarita, a mixture of these three species, and an uninoculated control. Height, diameter, and chlorophyll index were evaluated at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days after seedling transplanting, while biomass production, quality index, dependence, and mycorrhizal efficiency were evaluated at 180 days. Greater diameter and height values were observed for D. alata seedlings at 180 days and inoculated with G. albida, G. margarita, and the mixture. AMF of the genus Gigaspora positively contributed to biomass production and seedling quality. D. alata seedlings show high mycorrhizal dependence on G. albida and G. margarita inoculum, which had good mycorrhizal efficiency. AMF, especially those of the genus Gigaspora, favor the production of high-quality D. alata seedlings.}, } @article {pmid37909057, year = {2023}, author = {Ingham, CS and Engl, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Protection of a defensive symbiont does not constrain the composition of the multifunctional hydrocarbon profile in digger wasps.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {11}, pages = {20230301}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2023.0301}, pmid = {37909057}, issn = {1744-957X}, abstract = {Hydrocarbons (HCs) fulfil indispensable functions in insects, protecting against desiccation and serving chemical communication. However, the link between composition and function, and the selection pressures shaping HC profiles remain poorly understood. Beewolf digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) use an antennal gland secretion rich in linear unsaturated HCs to form a hydrophobic barrier around their defensive bacterial symbiont, protecting it from brood cell fumigation by toxic egg-produced nitric oxide (NO). Virtually identical HC compositions mediate desiccation protection and prey preservation from moulding in underground beewolf brood cells. It is unknown whether this composition presents an optimized adaptation to all functions, or a compromise due to conflicting selection pressures. Here, we reconstitute the NO barrier with single and binary combinations of synthetic linear saturated and unsaturated HCs, corresponding to HCs found in beewolves. The results show that pure alkanes as well as 3 : 1 mixtures of alkanes and alkenes resembling the composition of beewolf HCs form efficient protective barriers against NO, indicating that protection can be achieved by different mixtures of HCs. Since in vitro assays with symbiont cultures from different beewolf hosts indicate widespread NO sensitivity, HC-mediated protection from NO is likely important across Philanthini wasps. We conclude that HC-mediated protection of the symbiont from NO does not exert a conflicting selection pressure on the multifunctional HC profile of beewolves.}, } @article {pmid37908362, year = {2023}, author = {Yue, R and Wei, X and Hao, L and Dong, H and Guo, W and Sun, X and Zhao, J and Zhou, Z and Zhong, W}, title = {Promoting intestinal antimicrobial defense and microbiome symbiosis contributes to IL-22-mediated protection against alcoholic hepatitis in mice.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1289356}, pmid = {37908362}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The hepatoprotective effect of interleukin 22 (IL-22) has been reported in several models of liver injuries, including alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). However, the intestinal role of IL-22 in alcoholic hepatitis remains to be elucidated.

METHODS: Intestinal IL-22 levels were measured in mice fed with alcohol for 8 weeks. IL-22 was then administered to alcohol-fed mice to test its protective effects on alleviating alcoholic hepatitis, focusing on intestinal protection. Acute IL-22 treatment was conducted in mice to further explore the link between IL-22 and the induction of antimicrobial peptide (AMP). Intestinal epithelial cell-specific knockout of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mice were generated and used for organoid study to explore its role in IL-22-mediated AMP expression and gut barrier integrity.

RESULTS: After alcohol feeding for 8 weeks, the intestinal levels of IL-22 were significantly reduced in mice. IL-22 treatment to alcohol-fed mice mitigated liver injury as indicated by normalized serum transaminase levels, improved liver histology, reduced lipid accumulation, and attenuated inflammation. In the intestine, alcohol-reduced Reg3γ and α-defensins levels were reversed by IL-22 treatment. IL-22 also improved gut barrier integrity and decreased endotoxemia in alcohol-fed mice. While alcohol feeding significantly reduced Akkermansia, IL-22 administration dramatically expanded this commensal bacterium in mice. Regardless of alcohol, acute IL-22 treatment induced a fast and robust induction of intestinal AMPs and STAT3 activation. By using in vitro cultured intestinal organoids isolated from WT mice and mice deficient in intestinal epithelial-STAT3, we further demonstrated that STAT3 is required for IL-22-mediated AMP expression. In addition, IL-22 also regulates intestinal epithelium differentiation as indicated by direct regulation of sodium-hydrogen exchanger 3 via STAT3.

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that IL-22 not only targets the liver but also benefits the intestine in many aspects. The intestinal effects of IL-22 include regulating AMP expression, microbiota, and gut barrier function that is pivotal in ameliorating alcohol induced translocation of gut-derived bacterial pathogens and liver inflammation.}, } @article {pmid37907538, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Pan, L and Li, P and Gao, F and Wang, L and Chen, J and Li, Z and Gao, Y and Gong, Y and Jin, F}, title = {Isolation of Enterococcus faecium and determination of its mechanism for promoting the growth and development of Drosophila.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {18726}, pmid = {37907538}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {2022ZDLSF01-10//The Key R & D Program of Shaanxi Province/ ; }, abstract = {Intestinal symbiotic microorganisms have a strong capacity to regulate the physiological functions of their host, and Drosophila serves as a useful model. Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) is a member of the normal intestinal flora of animals. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as E. faecium can promote the growth and development of Drosophila, but the mechanism of regulation of Drosophila is poorly understood. In this study, we found that E. faecium used a carbon source to produce probiotic acids. E. faecium is a symbiotic bacterium for Drosophila, and adult flies passed on parental flora to offspring. E. faecium promoted the growth and development of Drosophila, especially under poor nutritional conditions. E. faecium shortened the developmental process for Drosophila and accelerated the transformation from larva to pupa. Finally, E. faecium promoted the growth and development of Drosophila through TOR and insulin signalling pathways.}, } @article {pmid37906201, year = {2023}, author = {Hussein, N and Rajasuriar, R and Khan, AM and Lim, YA and Gan, GG}, title = {The role of the gut microbiome in hematological cancers.}, journal = {Molecular cancer research : MCR}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-23-0080}, pmid = {37906201}, issn = {1557-3125}, abstract = {Humans are in a complex symbiotic relationship with a wide range of microbial organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The evolution and composition of the human microbiome indicate how it may affect human health and disease susceptibility. Microbiome alteration, termed as dysbiosis, has been linked to the pathogenesis and progression of haematological cancers. A variety of mechanisms, including epithelial barrier disruption, local chronic inflammation response triggering, antigen dis-sequestration, and molecular mimicry have been proposed to be associated with gut microbiota. Dysbiosis may be induced or worsened by cancer therapies (such as chemotherapy and/or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation) or infection. The use of antibiotics during treatment may also promote dysbiosis, with possible long-term consequences. The aim of this review is to provide a succinct summary of the current knowledge describing the role of the microbiome in haematological cancers, as well as its influence on their therapies. Modulation of the gut microbiome, involving modifying beneficial microorganisms in the management and treatment of haematological cancers is also discussed. Furthermore, the latest developments on modelling approaches and tools used for computational analyses of the gut microbiome data are included to aid better understanding in interpretation of information.}, } @article {pmid37905914, year = {2023}, author = {Tian, B and Chen, Z and Yu, Y and Yang, Y and Fang, A and Bi, C and Qu, Z and Fu, Y and Mehmood, MA and Zhou, C and Jiang, D}, title = {Transcriptional plasticity of schizotrophic Sclerotinia sclerotiorum responds to symptomatic rapeseed and endophytic wheat hosts.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0261223}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02612-23}, pmid = {37905914}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a widespread pathogen of dicotyledons, is also a reciprocal endophytic fungus in monocot plants. However, it is unclear how it responds to two distinct plants. Comparative transcriptomic analyses uncovered a network rewiring, with 14.1% up-differentially expressed genes overlapping upon colonizing the endophytic host wheat and a symptomatic host rapeseed. The divergent transcript of genes originating from host-specific induction is central to infection and colonization, including genes related to appressorium, oxalic acid, carbohydrate-active enzymes, and effector-like proteins. We confirmed that appressorium is required for S. sclerotiorum during colonization in symptomatic hosts but not in endophytic wheat via the observation of the infection process of ΔSs-caf1, a compound appressorium formation-defective mutant with hypovirulence to symptomatic hosts. SS1G_10617 and SS1G_13809 are components of the starch degradation pathways. ΔSS1G_10617 displayed lower virulence on symptomatic host plants and abnormal endophytic growth on wheat, and ΔSS1G_13809 only showed an abnormal symbiotic relationship with wheat, implying that starch may be the major carbon source for S. sclerotiorum in the symbiosis with wheat. Our results herein suggest that S. sclerotiorum modulates biphasic colonization via a divergent transcriptional landscape. This study contributes to a better understanding of schizotrophic fungi and provides new clues for cultivating disease-resistant varieties and adjusting reasonable farming strategies. IMPORTANCE The broad host range of fungi with differential fungal responses leads to either a pathogenic or an endophytic lifestyle in various host plants. Yet, the molecular basis of schizotrophic fungal responses to different plant hosts remains unexplored. Here, we observed a general increase in the gene expression of S. sclerotiorum associated with pathogenicity in symptomatic rapeseed, including small protein secretion, appressorial formation, and oxalic acid toxin production. Conversely, in wheat, many carbohydrate metabolism and transport-associated genes were induced, indicating a general increase in processes associated with carbohydrate acquisition. Appressorium is required for S. sclerotiorum during colonization in symptomatic hosts but not in endophytic wheat. These findings provide new clues for understanding schizotrophic fungi, fungal evolution, and the emergence pathways of new plant diseases.}, } @article {pmid37904993, year = {2023}, author = {Cantalupo, P and Diacou, A and Park, S and Soman, V and Chen, J and Glenn, D and Chandran, U and Clark, D}, title = {Single-cell Transcriptional Analysis of the Cellular Immune Response in the Oral Mucosa of Mice.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.10.18.562816}, pmid = {37904993}, abstract = {Periodontal health is dependent on a symbiotic relationship of the host immune response with the oral microbiota. Pathologic shifts of the microbial plaque elicit an immune response that eventually leads to the recruitment and activation of osteoclasts and matrix metalloproteinases and the eventual tissue destruction that is evident in periodontal disease. Once the microbial stimulus is removed, an active process of inflammatory resolution begins. The goal of this work was to use scRNAseq to demonstrate the unique cellular immune response across three distinct conditions of periodontal health, disease, and resolution using mouse models. Periodontal disease was induced using a ligature model. Resolution was modeled by removing the ligature and allowing the mouse to recover. Immune cells (Cd45+) were isolated from the periodontium and analyzed via scRNAseq. Gene signature shifts across the three conditions were characterized and shown to be largely driven by macrophage and neutrophils during the periodontal disease and resolution conditions. Resolution of periodontal disease was characterized by the differential regulation of unique gene subsets. Clustering analysis characterized multiple cellular subpopulations within B Cells, macrophages, and neutrophils that demonstrated differential expansion and contraction across conditions of periodontal health, disease, and resolution. Interestingly, we identified a transcriptionally distinct macrophage subpopulation that expanded during the resolution condition and demonstrated an immunoregulatory gene signature. We identified a cell surface marker for this resolution-associated macrophage subgroup (Cd74) and validated the expansion of this subgroup during resolution via flow cytometry. This work presents a robust immune cell atlas for study of the immunological changes in the oral mucosa during three distinct conditions of periodontal health, disease, and resolution and it improves our understanding of the cellular and molecular markers that characterize health from disease for the development of future diagnostics and therapies.}, } @article {pmid37903823, year = {2023}, author = {Holt, CC and Dhaliwal, S and Na, I and Mtawali, M and Boscaro, V and Keeling, P}, title = {Spatial compartmentalisation of bacteria in phoronid microbiomes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {18612}, pmid = {37903823}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {GBMF9201//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {The phylum Phoronida comprises filter-feeding invertebrates that live in a protective tube sometimes reinforced with particulate material from the surrounding environments. Animals with these characteristics make promising candidate hosts for symbiotic bacteria, given the constant interactions with various bacterial colonizers, yet phoronids are one of the very few animal phyla with no available microbiome data whatsoever. Here, by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, we compare bacterial microbiomes in whole phoronids, including both tube and living tissues, with those associated exclusively to the isolated tube and/or the naked animal inside. We also compare these communities with those from the surrounding water. Phoronid microbiomes from specimens belonging to the same colony but collected a month apart were significantly different, and bacterial taxa previously reported in association with invertebrates and sediment were found to drive this difference. The microbiomes associated with the tubes are very similar in composition to those isolated from whole animals. However, just over half of bacteria found in whole specimens are also found both in tubes and naked specimens. In conclusion, phoronids harbour bacterial microbiomes that differ from those in the surrounding water, but the composition of those microbiomes is not stable and appears to change in the same colony over a relatively short time frame. Considering individual spatial/anatomical compartments, the phoronid tube contributes most to the whole-animal microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37902324, year = {2023}, author = {Matthews, JL and Bartels, N and Elahee Doomun, SN and Davy, SK and De Souza, DP}, title = {Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Targeted Metabolomics of Hard Coral Samples.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {200}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/65628}, pmid = {37902324}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics/methods ; Bacteria ; Temperature ; Symbiosis ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based approaches have proven to be powerful for elucidating the metabolic basis of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and how coral responds to stress (i.e., during temperature-induced bleaching). Steady-state metabolite profiling of the coral holobiont, which comprises the cnidarian host and its associated microbes (Symbiodiniaceae and other protists, bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses), has been successfully applied under ambient and stress conditions to characterize the holistic metabolic status of the coral. However, to answer questions surrounding the symbiotic interactions, it is necessary to analyze the metabolite profiles of the coral host and its algal symbionts independently, which can only be achieved by physical separation and isolation of the tissues, followed by independent extraction and analysis. While the application of metabolomics is relatively new to the coral field, the sustained efforts of research groups have resulted in the development of robust methods for analyzing metabolites in corals, including the separation of the coral host tissue and algal symbionts. This paper presents a step-by-step guide for holobiont separation and the extraction of metabolites for GC-MS analysis, including key optimization steps for consideration. We demonstrate how, once analyzed independently, the combined metabolite profile of the two fractions (coral and Symbiodiniaceae) is similar to the profile of the whole (holobiont), but by separating the tissues, we can also obtain key information about the metabolism of and interactions between the two partners that cannot be obtained from the whole alone.}, } @article {pmid37901831, year = {2023}, author = {Tani, A and Masuda, S and Fujitani, Y and Iga, T and Haruna, Y and Kikuchi, S and Shuaile, W and Lv, H and Katayama, S and Yurimoto, H and Sakai, Y and Kato, J}, title = {Metabolism-linked methylotaxis sensors responsible for plant colonization in Methylobacterium aquaticum strain 22A.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1258452}, pmid = {37901831}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Motile bacteria take a competitive advantage in colonization of plant surfaces to establish beneficial associations that eventually support plant health. Plant exudates serve not only as primary growth substrates for bacteria but also as bacterial chemotaxis attractants. A number of plant-derived compounds and corresponding chemotaxis sensors have been documented, however, the sensors for methanol, one of the major volatile compounds released by plants, have not been identified. Methylobacterium species are ubiquitous plant surface-symbiotic, methylotrophic bacteria. A plant-growth promoting bacterium, M. aquaticum strain 22A exhibits chemotaxis toward methanol (methylotaxis). Its genome encodes 52 methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), among which we identified three MCPs (methylotaxis proteins, MtpA, MtpB, and MtpC) responsible for methylotaxis. The triple gene mutant of the MCPs exhibited no methylotaxis, slower gathering to plant tissues, and less efficient colonization on plants than the wild type, suggesting that the methylotaxis mediates initiation of plant-Methylobacterium symbiosis and engages in proliferation on plants. To examine how these MCPs are operating methylotaxis, we generated multiple gene knockouts of the MCPs, and Ca[2+]-dependent MxaFI and lanthanide (Ln[3+])-dependent XoxF methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs), whose expression is regulated by the presence of Ln[3+]. MtpA was found to be a cytosolic sensor that conducts formaldehyde taxis (formtaxis), as well as methylotaxis when MDHs generate formaldehyde. MtpB contained a dCache domain and exhibited differential cellular localization in response to La[3+]. MtpB expression was induced by La[3+], and its activity required XoxF1. MtpC exhibited typical cell pole localization, required MxaFI activity, and was regulated under MxbDM that is also required for MxaF expression. Strain 22A methylotaxis is realized by three independent MCPs, two of which monitor methanol oxidation by Ln[3+]-regulated MDHs, and one of which monitors the common methanol oxidation product, formaldehyde. We propose that methanol metabolism-linked chemotaxis is the key factor for the efficient colonization of Methylobacterium on plants.}, } @article {pmid37901806, year = {2023}, author = {Shankregowda, AM and Siriyappagouder, P and Kuizenga, M and Bal, TMP and Abdelhafiz, Y and Eizaguirre, C and Fernandes, JMO and Kiron, V and Raeymaekers, JAM}, title = {Host habitat rather than evolutionary history explains gut microbiome diversity in sympatric stickleback species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1232358}, pmid = {37901806}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Host-associated microbiota can influence host phenotypic variation, fitness and potential to adapt to local environmental conditions. In turn, both host evolutionary history and the abiotic and biotic environment can influence the diversity and composition of microbiota. Yet, to what extent environmental and host-specific factors drive microbial diversity remains largely unknown, limiting our understanding of host-microbiome interactions in natural populations. Here, we compared the intestinal microbiota between two phylogenetically related fishes, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and the nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) in a common landscape. Using amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, we characterised the α and β diversity of the microbial communities in these two fish species from both brackish water and freshwater habitats. Across eight locations, α diversity was higher in the nine-spined stickleback, suggesting a broader niche use in this host species. Habitat was a strong determinant of β diversity in both host species, while host species only explained a small fraction of the variation in gut microbial composition. Strong habitat-specific effects overruled effects of geographic distance and historical freshwater colonisation, suggesting that the gut microbiome correlates primarily with local environmental conditions. Interestingly, the effect of habitat divergence on gut microbial communities was stronger in three-spined stickleback than in nine-spined stickleback, possibly mirroring the stronger level of adaptive divergence in this host species. Overall, our results show that microbial communities reflect habitat divergence rather than colonisation history or dispersal limitation of host species.}, } @article {pmid37901801, year = {2023}, author = {Minwuyelet, A and Petronio, GP and Yewhalaw, D and Sciarretta, A and Magnifico, I and Nicolosi, D and Di Marco, R and Atenafu, G}, title = {Symbiotic Wolbachia in mosquitoes and its role in reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases: updates and prospects.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1267832}, pmid = {37901801}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, Zika fever, and filariasis have the greatest health and economic impact. These mosquito-borne diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Due to the lack of effective vector containment strategies, the prevalence and severity of these diseases are increasing in endemic regions. Nowadays, mosquito infection by the endosymbiotic Wolbachia represents a promising new bio-control strategy. Wild-infected mosquitoes had been developing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), phenotypic alterations, and nutrition competition with pathogens. These reduce adult vector lifespan, interfere with reproduction, inhibit other pathogen growth in the vector, and increase insecticide susceptibility of the vector. Wild, uninfected mosquitoes can also establish stable infections through trans-infection and have the advantage of adaptability through pathogen defense, thereby selectively infecting uninfected mosquitoes and spreading to the entire population. This review aimed to evaluate the role of the Wolbachia symbiont with the mosquitoes (Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex) in reducing mosquito-borne diseases. Global databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and pro-Quest were accessed to search for potentially relevant articles. We used keywords: Wolbachia, Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, and mosquito were used alone or in combination during the literature search. Data were extracted from 56 articles' texts, figures, and tables of the included article.}, } @article {pmid37900395, year = {2023}, author = {Arigbede, O and Amusa, T and Buxbaum, SG}, title = {Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Prostate Cancer Management.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e46021}, pmid = {37900395}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in prostate cancer (PCa) offers a game-changing breakthrough with far-reaching implications for diagnosis, treatment, and research. AI-driven algorithms have tremendous promise for assisting early diagnosis by analyzing invisible trends within medical imaging devices such as MRI and ultrasounds. In addition, by evaluating big datasets containing patient data, genetic attributes, and treatment outcomes, these AI algorithms offer the possibility of allowing individualized treatment regimens. This ability to personalize actions to specific patients might improve therapy efficacy while reducing side effects. Robotics can increase accuracy in less invasive surgery, revolutionize therapies like prostatectomies, and improve recovery time for patients. Robotic-assisted procedures provide clinicians with remarkable skills and flexibility, allowing clinicians to negotiate complicated anatomical structures more precisely. However, the symbiotic combination of AI and robotics has several drawbacks. Concerns about data privacy, algorithm biases, and the need to continually assess AI's diagnostic proficiency offer significant hurdles. To ensure patient privacy and data security, the ethical and regulatory aspects of integrating AI and robotics require proper attention. However, combining AI and robotics opens up a galaxy of possibilities. The joint use of AI and robotics can potentially speed up drug development procedures by filtering through massive databases, resulting in the identification of new medicinal compounds. Furthermore, combining AI and robotics might usher in an innovative era of personalized medicine, allowing healthcare providers to design therapies based on detailed patient profiles. The merging of AI and robotics in PCa care gives up unprecedented prospects. While limitations highlight the necessity for caution, the possibilities of better diagnostics, tailored therapies, and new research pathways highlight the transformational abilities of AI and robotics in determining the future of PCa management. This study explores the limitations and opportunities presented by using AI and robotics in the context of PCa.}, } @article {pmid37896275, year = {2023}, author = {Mikame, Y and Yamayoshi, A}, title = {Recent Advancements in Development and Therapeutic Applications of Genome-Targeting Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotides and Peptide Nucleic Acids.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {37896275}, issn = {1999-4923}, support = {22H00593//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 20H05874//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; 22K14839//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {Recent developments in artificial nucleic acid and drug delivery systems present possibilities for the symbiotic engineering of therapeutic oligonucleotides, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs). Employing these technologies, triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) or peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) can be applied to the development of symbiotic genome-targeting tools as well as a new class of oligonucleotide drugs, which offer conceptual advantages over antisense as the antigene target generally comprises two gene copies per cell rather than multiple copies of mRNA that are being continually transcribed. Further, genome editing by TFOs or PNAs induces permanent changes in the pathological genes, thus facilitating the complete cure of diseases. Nuclease-based gene-editing tools, such as zinc fingers, CRISPR-Cas9, and TALENs, are being explored for therapeutic applications, although their potential off-target, cytotoxic, and/or immunogenic effects may hinder their in vivo applications. Therefore, this review is aimed at describing the ongoing progress in TFO and PNA technologies, which can be symbiotic genome-targeting tools that will cause a near-future paradigm shift in drug development.}, } @article {pmid37896043, year = {2023}, author = {Yurkov, AP and Afonin, AM and Kryukov, AA and Gorbunova, AO and Kudryashova, TR and Kovalchuk, AI and Gorenkova, AI and Bogdanova, EM and Kosulnikov, YV and Laktionov, YV and Kozhemyakov, AP and Romanyuk, DA and Zhukov, VA and Puzanskiy, RK and Mikhailova, YV and Yemelyanov, VV and Shishova, MF}, title = {The Effects of Rhizophagus irregularis Inoculation on Transcriptome of Medicago lupulina Leaves at Early Vegetative and Flowering Stages of Plant Development.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {37896043}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {075-15-2022-320//The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in accordance with agreement No. 075-15-2022-320 date 20 April 2022 on providing a grant in the form of subsidies from the Federal budget of Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {The study is aimed at revealing the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on the transcriptome of Medicago lupulina leaves at the early (second leaf formation) and later (flowering) stages of plant development. A pot experiment was conducted under conditions of low phosphorus (P) level in the substrate. M. lupulina plants were characterized by high mycorrhizal growth response and mycorrhization parameters. Library sequencing was performed on the Illumina HiseqXTen platform. Significant changes in the expression of 4863 (padj < 0.01) genes from 34049 functionally annotated genes were shown by Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE-Seq). GO enrichment analysis using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was performed, and 244 functional GO groups were identified, including genes contributing to the development of effective AM symbiosis. The Mercator online tool was used to assign functional classes of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The early stage was characterized by the presence of six functional classes that included only upregulated GO groups, such as genes of carbohydrate metabolism, cellular respiration, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, and solute transport. At the later stage (flowering), the number of stimulated GO groups was reduced to photosynthesis and protein biosynthesis. All DEGs of the GO:0016036 group were downregulated because AM plants had higher resistance to phosphate starvation. For the first time, the upregulation of genes encoding thioredoxin in AM plant leaves was shown. It was supposed to reduce ROS level and thus, consequently, enhance the mechanisms of antioxidant protection in M. lupulina plants under conditions of low phosphorus level. Taken together, the obtained results indicate genes that are the most important for the effective symbiosis with M. lupulina and might be engaged in other plant species.}, } @article {pmid37895405, year = {2023}, author = {Saxami, G and Kerezoudi, EN and Eliopoulos, C and Arapoglou, D and Kyriacou, A}, title = {The Gut-Organ Axis within the Human Body: Gut Dysbiosis and the Role of Prebiotics.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {37895405}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {The human gut microbiota (GM) is a complex microbial ecosystem that colonises the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is comprised of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The GM has a symbiotic relationship with its host that is fundamental for body homeostasis. The GM is not limited to the scope of the GIT, but there are bidirectional interactions between the GM and other organs, highlighting the concept of the "gut-organ axis". Any deviation from the normal composition of the GM, termed "microbial dysbiosis", is implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Only a few studies have demonstrated a relationship between GM modifications and disease phenotypes, and it is still unknown whether an altered GM contributes to a disease or simply reflects its status. Restoration of the GM with probiotics and prebiotics has been postulated, but evidence for the effects of prebiotics is limited. Prebiotics are substrates that are "selectively utilized by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit". This study highlights the bidirectional relationship between the gut and vital human organs and demonstrates the relationship between GM dysbiosis and the emergence of certain representative diseases. Finally, this article focuses on the potential of prebiotics as a target therapy to manipulate the GM and presents the gaps in the literature and research.}, } @article {pmid37894886, year = {2023}, author = {Dwivedi, SL and Quiroz, LF and Reddy, ASN and Spillane, C and Ortiz, R}, title = {Alternative Splicing Variation: Accessing and Exploiting in Crop Improvement Programs.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {37894886}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {DBI1949036//National Science Foundation/ ; MCB 2014542//National Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {*Alternative Splicing ; Plant Breeding ; RNA Splicing ; *Arabidopsis/genetics ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/metabolism ; RNA Precursors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Alternative splicing (AS) is a gene regulatory mechanism modulating gene expression in multiple ways. AS is prevalent in all eukaryotes including plants. AS generates two or more mRNAs from the precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) to regulate transcriptome complexity and proteome diversity. Advances in next-generation sequencing, omics technology, bioinformatics tools, and computational methods provide new opportunities to quantify and visualize AS-based quantitative trait variation associated with plant growth, development, reproduction, and stress tolerance. Domestication, polyploidization, and environmental perturbation may evolve novel splicing variants associated with agronomically beneficial traits. To date, pre-mRNAs from many genes are spliced into multiple transcripts that cause phenotypic variation for complex traits, both in model plant Arabidopsis and field crops. Cataloguing and exploiting such variation may provide new paths to enhance climate resilience, resource-use efficiency, productivity, and nutritional quality of staple food crops. This review provides insights into AS variation alongside a gene expression analysis to select for novel phenotypic diversity for use in breeding programs. AS contributes to heterosis, enhances plant symbiosis (mycorrhiza and rhizobium), and provides a mechanistic link between the core clock genes and diverse environmental clues.}, } @article {pmid37894539, year = {2023}, author = {Popa, DG and Georgescu, F and Dumitrascu, F and Shova, S and Constantinescu-Aruxandei, D and Draghici, C and Vladulescu, L and Oancea, F}, title = {Novel Strigolactone Mimics That Modulate Photosynthesis and Biomass Accumulation in Chlorella sorokiniana.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {37894539}, issn = {1420-3049}, support = {project POC-A1-A1.2.3-G-2015-P_40_352-SECVENT, Sequential processes to close bioeconomy side stream and innovative bioproducts resulted from these, contract 81/2016, SMIS 105684, subsidiary project 1500/2020 BioLignol.//Cohesion Funds of the European Union/ ; }, mesh = {*Chlorella/metabolism ; Biomass ; Photosynthesis ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Furans/pharmacology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In terrestrial plants, strigolactones act as multifunctional endo- and exo-signals. On microalgae, the strigolactones determine akin effects: induce symbiosis formation with fungi and bacteria and enhance photosynthesis efficiency and accumulation of biomass. This work aims to synthesize and identify strigolactone mimics that promote photosynthesis and biomass accumulation in microalgae with biotechnological potential. Novel strigolactone mimics easily accessible in significant amounts were prepared and fully characterized. The first two novel compounds contain 3,5-disubstituted aryloxy moieties connected to the bioactive furan-2-one ring. In the second group of compounds, a benzothiazole ring is connected directly through the cyclic nitrogen atom to the bioactive furan-2-one ring. The novel strigolactone mimics were tested on Chlorella sorokiniana NIVA-CHL 176. All tested strigolactones increased the accumulation of chlorophyll b in microalgae biomass. The SL-F3 mimic, 3-(4-methyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)-3H-benzothiazol-2-one (7), proved the most efficient. This compound, applied at a concentration of 10[-7] M, determined a significant biomass accumulation, higher by more than 15% compared to untreated control, and improved the quantum yield efficiency of photosystem II. SL-F2 mimic, 5-(3,5-dibromophenoxy)-3-methyl-5H-furan-2-one (4), applied at a concentration of 10[-9] M, improved protein production and slightly stimulated biomass accumulation. Potential utilization of the new strigolactone mimics as microalgae biostimulants is discussed.}, } @article {pmid37894261, year = {2023}, author = {Hassan, A and Akram, W and Rizwana, H and Aftab, ZE and Hanif, S and Anjum, T and Alwahibi, MS}, title = {The Imperative Use of Bacillus Consortium and Quercetin Contributes to Suppress Fusarium Wilt Disease by Direct Antagonism and Induced Resistance.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11102603}, pmid = {37894261}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {RSPD2023R1048//King Saud University/ ; }, abstract = {Fusarium wilt diseases severely influence the growth and productivity of numerous crop plants. The consortium of antagonistic rhizospheric Bacillus strains and quercetin were evaluated imperatively as a possible remedy to effectively manage the Fusarium wilt disease of tomato plants. The selection of Bacillus strains was made based on in-vitro antagonistic bioassays against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycoprsici (FOL). Quercetin was selected after screening a library of phytochemicals during in-silico molecular docking analysis using tomato LysM receptor kinases "SILKY12" based on its dual role in symbiosis and plant defense responses. After the selection of test materials, pot trials were conducted where tomato plants were provided consortium of Bacillus strains as soil drenching and quercetin as a foliar spray in different concentrations. The combined application of consortium (Bacillus velezensis strain BS6, Bacillus thuringiensis strain BS7, Bacillus fortis strain BS9) and quercetin (1.0 mM) reduced the Fusarium wilt disease index up to 69%, also resulting in increased plant growth attributes. Likewise, the imperative application of the Bacillus consortium and quercetin (1.0 mM) significantly increased total phenolic contents and activities of the enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis was performed to investigate the perturbation in metabolites. FOL pathogen negatively affected a range of metabolites including carbohydrates, amino acids, phenylpropanoids, and organic acids. Thereinto, combined treatment of Bacillus consortium and quercetin (1.0 mM) ameliorated the production of different metabolites in tomato plants. These findings prove the imperative use of Bacillus consortium and quercetin as an effective and sustainable remedy to manage Fusarium wilt disease of tomato plants and to promote the growth of tomato plants under pathogen stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid37894258, year = {2023}, author = {Ingersoll, JG}, title = {Thermophilic Fungi as the Microbial Agents of Choice for the Industrial Co-Fermentation of Wood Wastes and Nitrogen-Rich Organic Wastes to Bio-Methane.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11102600}, pmid = {37894258}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The novel industrial approach of co-fermenting wood wastes with agricultural wastes that are rich in nitrogen such as animal manures to produce bio-methane (renewable natural gas) fuel via thermophilic anaerobic digestion mimics an analogous process occurring in lower termites, but it relies instead on thermophilic fungi along with other thermophilic microorganisms comprising suitable bacteria and archaea. Wood microbial hydrolysis under thermophilic temperatures (range of 55 °C to 70 °C) and aerobic or micro-aerobic conditions constitutes the first step of the two-step (hydrolysis and fermentation) dry thermophilic anaerobic digestion industrial process, designated as "W2M3+2", that relies on thermophilic fungi species, most of which grow naturally in wood piles. Eleven thermophilic fungi have been identified as likely agents of the industrial process, and their known growth habitats and conditions have been reviewed. Future research is proposed such that the optimal growth temperature of these thermophilic fungi could be increased to the higher thermophilic range approaching 70 °C, and a tolerance to partial anaerobic conditions can be obtained by modifying the fungal microbiome via a symbiotic existence with bacteria and/or viruses.}, } @article {pmid37894248, year = {2023}, author = {Mlambo, G and Padayachee, T and Nelson, DR and Syed, K}, title = {Genome-Wide Analysis of the Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases in the Lichenized Fungi of the Class Lecanoromycetes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11102590}, pmid = {37894248}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {MND210504599108//National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa/ ; P419//University of Zululand, South Africa/ ; }, abstract = {Lichens are unique organisms that exhibit a permanent symbiosis between fungi and algae or fungi and photosynthetic bacteria. Lichens have been found to produce biotechnologically valuable secondary metabolites. A handful of studies showed that tailoring enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs/P450s) play a key role in synthesizing these metabolites. Despite the critical role of P450s in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, the systematic analysis of P450s in lichens has yet to be reported. This study is aimed to address this research gap. A genome-wide analysis of P450s in five lichens from the fungal class Lecanoromycetes revealed the presence of 434 P450s that are grouped into 178 P450 families and 345 P450 subfamilies. The study indicated that none of the P450 families bloomed, and 15 P450 families were conserved in all five Lecanoromycetes. Lecanoromycetes have more P450s and higher P450 family diversity compared to Pezizomycetes. A total of 73 P450s were found to be part of secondary metabolite gene clusters, indicating their potential involvement in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Annotation of P450s revealed that CYP682BG1 and CYP682BG2 from Cladonia grayi and Pseudevernia furfuracea (physodic acid chemotype) are involved in the synthesis of grayanic acid and physodic acid, CYP65FQ2 from Stereocaulon alpinum is involved in the synthesis of atranorin, and CYP6309A2 from Cladonia uncialis is involved in the synthesis of usnic acid. This study serves as a reference for future annotation of P450s in lichens.}, } @article {pmid37894056, year = {2023}, author = {Caetano, CF and Gaspar, C and Oliveira, AS and Palmeira-de-Oliveira, R and Rodrigues, L and Gonçalves, T and Martinez-de-Oliveira, J and Palmeira-de-Oliveira, A and Rolo, J}, title = {Study of Ecological Relationship of Yeast Species with Candida albicans in the Context of Vulvovaginal Infections.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11102398}, pmid = {37894056}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {UIDB/00709/2020//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; UIDP/00709/2020//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; }, abstract = {The role of the fungal community, the mycobiota, in the health of the vagina is currently an important area of research. The emergence of new sequencing technologies and advances in bioinformatics made possible the discovery of novel fungi inhabiting this niche. Candida spp. constitutes the most important group of opportunistic pathogenic fungi, being the most prevalent fungal species in vulvovaginal infections. However, fungi such as Rhodotorula spp., Naganishia spp. and Malassezia spp. have emerged as potential pathogens in this niche, and therefore it is clinically relevant to understand their ecological interaction with Candida spp. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of yeasts on Candida albicans' pathogenicity, focusing on in-vitro growth, and biofilm formation at different times of co-culture and germ tube formation. The assays were performed with isolated species or with co-cultures of C. albicans (ATCC10231) with one other yeast species: Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (DSM13621), Malassezia furfur (DSM6170) or Naganishia albida (DSM70215). The results showed that M. furfur creates a symbiotic relationship with C. albicans, enhancing the growth rate of the co-culture (149.69%), and of germ tube formation of C. albicans (119.8%) and inducing a higher amount of biofilm biomass of the co-culture, both when mixed (154.1%) and preformed (166.8%). As for the yeasts R. mucilaginosa and N. albida, the relationship is antagonistic (with a significant decrease in all assays), thus possibly repressing the mixture's pathogenicity. These results shed light on the complex interactions between yeasts in the vaginal mycobiome.}, } @article {pmid37891696, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, J and Woo, JJ and Kim, W and Oh, SY and Hur, JS}, title = {Exploring the influence of climatic variables on mycobiome composition and community diversity in lichens: insights from structural equation modeling analysis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {79}, pmid = {37891696}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {NRF-2020R1I1A2073283//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, which are key ecological bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. The endolichenic fungi (ELF) living inside lichen thalli, are an important but understudied component of playing crucial ecological roles such as nutrient cycling and protection against environmental stressors. Therefore ELF community investigation is vital for fostering sustainable ecosystems and leveraging their ecological benefits. Deciphering the intricate relationships between ELF and their lichen hosts, alongside the influence of environmental factors on these communities, presents a significant challenge in pinpointing the underlying drivers of community structure and diversity.

RESULTS: Our research demonstrated that locational factors were the main drivers of the ELF community structure, rather than host haplotype. Several climatic factors affected the diversity of the ELF community and contributed to the prevalence of different types of fungal residents within the ELF community. A decrease in isothermality was associated with a greater prevalence of pathotrophic and saprotrophic fungi within the ELF community, resulting in an overall increase in community diversity. By conducting a structural equation modeling analysis, we identified a robust link between climatic variables, fungal trophic mode abundance, and the species diversity of the ELF community.

CONCLUSION: This study's discoveries emphasize the significance of examining climate-related factors when investigating ELF's structure and function. The connection between fungi and climate is intricate and complex, and can be influenced by various other factors. Investigating the potential for ELF to adapt to changing climatic conditions, as well as the potential effects of changes in ELF communities on lichen function, would be valuable research areas. We anticipate that our research results will establish a basis for numerous future ELF research projects and have a significant impact on the field.}, } @article {pmid37891426, year = {2023}, author = {Gould, AL and Donohoo, SA and Román, ED and Neff, EE}, title = {Strain-level diversity of symbiont communities between individuals and populations of a bioluminescent fish.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37891426}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {The bioluminescent symbiosis involving the urchin cardinalfish, Siphamia tubifer, and Photobacterium mandapamensis, a luminous member of the Vibrionaceae, is highly specific compared to other bioluminescent fish-bacteria associations. Despite this high degree of specificity, patterns of genetic diversity have been observed for the symbionts from hosts sampled over relatively small spatial scales. We characterized and compared sub-species, strain-level symbiont diversity within and between S. tubifer hosts sampled from the Philippines and Japan using PCR fingerprinting. We then carried out whole genome sequencing of the unique symbiont genotypes identified to characterize the genetic diversity of the symbiont community and the symbiont pangenome. We determined that an individual light organ contains six symbiont genotypes on average, but varied between 1-13. Additionally, we found that there were few genotypes shared between hosts from the same location. A phylogenetic analysis of the unique symbiont strains indicated location-specific clades, suggesting some genetic differentiation in the symbionts between host populations. We also identified symbiont genes that were variable between strains, including luxF, a member of the lux operon, which is responsible for light production. We quantified the light emission and growth rate of two strains missing luxF along with the other strains isolated from the same light organs and determined that strains lacking luxF were dimmer but grew faster than most of the other strains, suggesting a potential metabolic trade-off. This study highlights the importance of strain-level diversity in microbial associations and provides new insight into the underlying genetic architecture of intraspecific symbiont communities within a host.}, } @article {pmid37891011, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, H and Plett, JM and Catunda, KLM and Churchill, AC and Moore, BD and Powell, JR and Power, SA and Yang, J and Anderson, IC}, title = {Rapid quantification of biological nitrogen fixation using optical spectroscopy.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad426}, pmid = {37891011}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a globally important input of nitrogen (N), its quantification being critical but technically challenging. Leaf reflectance spectroscopy offers a rapid approach to traditional techniques for measuring plant N concentration ([N]) and isotopes (δ15N). Here we present a novel method for rapidly and inexpensively quantifying BNF using optical spectroscopy. We measured plant [N], δ15N, and the amount of N derived from atmospheric fixation (Ndfa) following the standard traditional methodology using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) from tissues grown under controlled conditions and taken from field experiments. Using the same tissues, we predicted the same three parameters using optical spectroscopy. By comparing the optical spectroscopy-derived results with traditional measurements (i.e., IRMS), the amount of Ndfa predicted by optical spectroscopy was very comparable to IRMS-based quantification, with the R2 being 0.90 (slope = 0.90) and 0.94 (slope = 1.02) for legumes grown in glasshouse and field (RMSE for predicting legume δ15N are 0.38 and 0.43), respectively. This novel application of optical spectroscopy facilitates BNF studies because it is rapid, scalable, low cost, and complementary to existing technologies. Moreover, the proposed method successfully captures the dynamic response of BNF to climate changes such as warming and drought.}, } @article {pmid37890741, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, S and Zhang, M and Yao, Z and Liu, J and Li, X and Zhang, Z and Li, D}, title = {Isolation, structural characterization, and bioactivities of neutral polysaccharides from Zizania latifolia.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {127679}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127679}, pmid = {37890741}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {The swollen culm (also known as Jiaobai) of Zizania latifolia is formed by the smut Ustilago esculenta invades the Z. latifolia. The new tissue formed due to the symbiotic relationship has entices the attention of researchers to study its polysaccharide structure along with biological evaluation. Five fractions of polysaccharides were obtained owing to hot water extraction, alcoholic precipitation, and chromatographic purification. Bioactivity assays showed that ZLPs have good antioxidant, hypoglycemic activities and protective activity against oxidative damage. The ZLP-1 and ZLP-2 were determined to be neutral polysaccharides with high purity, exhibiting propitious bioactivity, consequently were subjected to indispensable structural characterization. These results showed that ZLP-1 has molecular weight (Mw) of 103 kDa and glucose (Glc) (76.68 %) as the primary monosaccharide; the ZLP-2 has Mw of 122 kDa and galactose (Gal) (41.04 %) and arabinose (Ara) (27.12 %). Structural elucidation by methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis suggested ZLP-1 was a glucan, with →3)-β-Glcp-(1→3)-β-Glcp-(1→4)-β-Glcp-(1→4)-β-Glcp-(1→3,6)-β-Galp-(1→3)-β-Glcp-(1→ as the mainchain and the terminal Araf and Glcp; the ZLP-2 is a Galactoxylan, with →3,4)-β-xylp-(1→3)-β-Galp-(1→3)-β-Galp-(1→3,6)-β-Galp-(1→ as the mainchain and the terminal Araf and Glcp. The structural arrangements provide a chemical basis for understanding the nutritional and pharmacological activities of polysaccharides from Zizania latifolia.}, } @article {pmid37889949, year = {2023}, author = {Tiwari, M and Lovelace, AH}, title = {Sowing Symbiotic Success: Defining the Role of O-Antigen Polymerase in a Legume-Rhizobia Interaction.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {36}, number = {10}, pages = {606-607}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-23-0128-CM}, pmid = {37889949}, issn = {0894-0282}, } @article {pmid37889694, year = {2023}, author = {Piredda, I and Bertoldi, L and Pedditzi, A and Pintore, P and Palmas, B and Chisu, V}, title = {Co-Infection by Leptospira montravelensis and Leptospira interrogans Serovar Pomona in Urine Samples of Donkeys and Pigs in Sardinia, Italy.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13111803}, pmid = {37889694}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Saprophytic leptospires are spirochetes enclosed within the non-pathogenic clade of the genus Leptospira, which in turn is subdivided into two subclades S1 and S2. To date, the microorganisms included in these subclades have been isolated from the environment in various parts of the world, and are believed to have no known animal reservoirs. After a case of Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona was notified to the owner of a farm in Sardinia, all of the farm animals (11 pigs and 3 donkeys) were examined for the presence of Leptospira. Sera of all tested animals resulted positive for antibodies to Leptospira using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Moreover, nine (82%) kidney samples from pigs and three urine samples collected from donkeys (100%) tested positive for Leptospira DNA after qPCR. Results obtained after MLST analysis and sequencing of rrs, rpoB, and secY genes, performed on six Leptospira strains isolated in culture, revealed the presence of the genomospecies L. interrogans serovar Pomona in the kidney samples. Conversely, whole-genome sequencing combined with mean nucleotide identity revealed the presence of the saprophytic L. montravelensis in the urine samples. Our results report, for the first time, the isolation of a saprophytic species from mammalian urine, suggesting a new ecological specialization for these bacteria, with a possible transition from free-living to a symbiotic lifestyle. Further studies will have to be conducted to understand the evolution of virulence of these bacteria, potential infectivity, and possible public health implications.}, } @article {pmid37889636, year = {2023}, author = {Yamazaki, Y and Yamabe, S and Komori, S and Yoshitake, K and Fukuoka, M and Sato, S and Takada, K}, title = {Structure Determination of Kahalalide Analogues Based on Metagenomic Analysis of a Bryopsis sp. Marine Green Alga.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00760}, pmid = {37889636}, issn = {1520-6025}, abstract = {Two kahalalide analogues were isolated from a Bryopsis sp. marine green alga. Even though our initial structure determination of the peptides by NMR and MS identified them as kahalalide Z1 (KZ1; 3) and Z2 (KZ2; 4), the absolute configuration of the Thr residues by Marfey's analysis was different from those found in kahalalide F (KF), 3, and 4. To ascertain the absolute configuration of the amino acid residues genetically, we conducted a metagenomic analysis for symbiotic bacteria in the alga, leading to the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) responsible for producing the kahalalides named kahalalides Z3 (KZ3; 1) and Z4 (KZ4; 2). The identification of amino acid residues based on the A-domain suggested these peptides possess the amino acid sequence d-allo-Thr-l-Val-l-Val-d-Val residues at the N-terminus, instead of the d-Val-l-Thr-l-Val-d-Val residues found in KF, 3, and 4. The N-terminal amino acid sequence including absolute configuration was unambiguously determined by a comparison of LCMS data of synthetic tetrapeptides and the hydrolysates derived from 1 and 2. This structural difference is caused by swapping the substrate specificities of the first two A-domains.}, } @article {pmid37889154, year = {2023}, author = {Coe, LSY and Fei, C and Weston, J and Amin, SA}, title = {Phycobacter azelaicus gen. nov. sp. nov., a diatom symbiont isolated from the phycosphere of Asterionellopsis glacialis.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006104}, pmid = {37889154}, issn = {1466-5034}, abstract = {A diatom-associated bacterium, designated as strain F10[T], was isolated from a pure culture of the pennate diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis A3 and has since been used to characterize molecular mechanisms of symbiosis between phytoplankton and bacteria, including interactions using diatom-derived azelaic acid. Its origin from a hypersaline environment, combined with its capacity for quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and potential for dimethylsulfoniopropionate methylation/cleavage, suggest it is within the family Roseobacteraceae. Initial phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed this isolate within the Phaeobacter genus, but recent genomic and phylogenomic analyses show strain F10[T] is a separate lineage diverging from the genus Pseudophaeobacter. The genomic DNA G+C content is 60.0 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone is Q-10. The major fatty acids are C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0. Strain F10[T] also contains C10 : 03-OH and the furan-containing fatty acid 10,13-epoxy-11-methyl-octadecadienoate (9-(3-methyl-5-pentylfuran-2-yl)nonanoic acid). The major polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Based on genomic, phylogenomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations, strain F10[T] represents a novel genus and species with the proposed name, Phycobacter azelaicus gen. nov. sp. nov. The type strain is F10[T] (=NCMA B37[T]=NCIMB 15470[T]=NRIC 2002[T]).}, } @article {pmid37888876, year = {2023}, author = {Gaikwad, SB and Mapari, SV and Sutar, RR and Syed, M and Khare, R and Behera, BC}, title = {In-vitro & In-silico Studies of Lichen Compounds Atranorin and Salazinic acid as Potential Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anticancer Agents.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202301229}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202301229}, pmid = {37888876}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms made up of alga/cyanobacterium and fungus. We investigated antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer properties of two lichen compounds, atranorin and salazinic acid, and five lichen species: Heterodermia boryi, Heterodermia diademata, Heterodermia hypocaesia, Parmotrema reticulatum, and Stereocaulon foliolosum. Free radical scavenging, Ferric reducing potential, Nitric oxide scavenging, and Trolox equivalent capacity were used to measure antioxidant activity. Strong radical scavenging action was demonstrated by atranorin and salazinic acid, with IC50 values of 39.31 µM and 12.14 µM, respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay based on resazurin, was used to measure antibacterial activity. Parmotrema reticulatum demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Raoultella planticola with MIC of 7.8 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity assay on breast cancer cell line was used to assess anticancer activity. To further understand the binding locations on the target proteins Er (Estrogen Receptor alpha), EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin), and PgR (Progesterone Receptor), molecular docking experiments were conducted. Docking study showed that the binding energies of atranorin and salazinic acid with mTOR were -5.31 kcal/mol and -3.43 kcal/mol, respectively. The results suggest that atranorin has the potential to be a multitargeted molecule with natural antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.}, } @article {pmid37888474, year = {2023}, author = {Imbs, AB and Dembitsky, VM}, title = {Coral Lipids.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md21100539}, pmid = {37888474}, issn = {1660-3397}, abstract = {Reef-building corals, recognized as cornerstone species in marine ecosystems, captivate with their unique duality as both symbiotic partners and autotrophic entities. Beyond their ecological prominence, these corals produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which are poised to revolutionize the domains of pharmacology and medicine. This exhaustive review delves deeply into the multifaceted world of coral-derived lipids, highlighting both ubiquitous and rare forms. Within this spectrum, we navigate through a myriad of fatty acids and their acyl derivatives, encompassing waxes, sterol esters, triacylglycerols, mono-akyl-diacylglycerols, and an array of polar lipids such as betaine lipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, phospholipids, and phosphonolipids. We offer a comprehensive exploration of the intricate biochemical variety of these lipids, related fatty acids, prostaglandins, and both cyclic and acyclic oxilipins. Additionally, the review provides insights into the chemotaxonomy of these compounds, illuminating the fatty acid synthesis routes inherent in corals. Of particular interest is the symbiotic bond many coral species nurture with dinoflagellates from the Symbiodinium group; their lipid and fatty acid profiles are also detailed in this discourse. This exploration accentuates the vast potential and intricacy of coral lipids and underscores their profound relevance in scientific endeavors.}, } @article {pmid37888253, year = {2023}, author = {Wijesekara, T and Xu, B}, title = {Health-Promoting Effects of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Endophytic Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9100997}, pmid = {37888253}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {UICR0200007-23//BNU-HKBU United International College/ ; }, abstract = {The study examines the intricate relationship between plants and the endophytic fungi inhabiting their tissues. These fungi harmoniously coexist with plants, forming a distinct symbiotic connection that has caught scientific attention due to its potential implications for plant health and growth. The diverse range of bioactive compounds produced by these fungi holds significant promise for human health. The review covers various aspects of this topic, starting by introducing endophytic microorganisms, explaining their colonization of different plant parts, and illuminating their potential roles in enhancing plant defense against diseases and promoting growth. The review emphasizes the widespread occurrence and diversity of these microorganisms among plant species while highlighting the complexities and significance of isolating and extracting bioactive compounds from them. It focuses on the health benefits of these bioactive compounds, including their capacity to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. The review delves into the mechanisms behind these health-promoting effects, spotlighting how the compounds interact with cellular receptors, signaling pathways, and gene expression. In conclusion, the review provides a comprehensive overview of health-promoting bioactive compounds from plant endophytic fungi. It outlines their multifaceted impact, potential applications, and future research avenues in health and medicine.}, } @article {pmid37888222, year = {2023}, author = {Li, L and Feng, Y and Qi, F and Hao, R}, title = {Research Progress of Piriformospora indica in Improving Plant Growth and Stress Resistance to Plant.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9100965}, pmid = {37888222}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {C2021202005//Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province/ ; 31801948//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 19226505D//Key R&D Projects in Hebei Province/ ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica (Serendipita indica), a mycorrhizal fungus, has garnered significant attention in recent decades owing to its distinctive capacity to stimulate plant growth and augment plant resilience against environmental stressors. As an axenically cultivable fungus, P. indica exhibits a remarkable ability to colonize varieties of plants and promote symbiotic processes by directly influencing nutrient acquisition and hormone metabolism. The interaction of plant and P. indica raises hormone production including ethylene (ET), jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellin (GA), salicylic acid (SA), and abscisic acid (ABA), which also promotes root proliferation, facilitating improved nutrient acquisition, and subsequently leading to enhanced plant growth and productivity. Additionally, the plant defense system was employed by P. indica colonization and the defense genes associated with oxidation resistance were activated subsequently. This fungus-mediated defense response elicits an elevation in the enzyme activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and, finally, bolsters plant tolerance. Furthermore, P. indica colonization can initiate local and systemic immune responses against fungal and viral plant diseases through signal transduction mechanisms and RNA interference by regulating defense gene expression and sRNA secretion. Consequently, P. indica can serve diverse roles such as plant promoter, biofertilizer, bioprotectant, bioregulator, and bioactivator. A comprehensive review of recent literature will facilitate the elucidation of the mechanistic foundations underlying P. indica-crop interactions. Such discussions will significantly contribute to an in-depth comprehension of the interaction mechanisms, potential applications, and the consequential effects of P. indica on crop protection, enhancement, and sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid37887804, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Liu, J and Zhang, X and Yun, Y}, title = {Diversity of Bacteria Associated with Guts and Gonads in Three Spider Species and Potential Transmission Pathways of Microbes within the Same Spider Host.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14100792}, pmid = {37887804}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {2018YFA0901101//The National Key Technology R&D Program of China/ ; 2016AHB003//Key Scientific and Technological Projects of Hubei/ ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis plays a crucial role in the ecological and evolutionary processes of animals. It is well known that spiders, with their unique and diverse predatory adaptations, assume an indispensable role in maintaining ecological balance and the food chain. However, our current understanding of spider microbiomes remains relatively limited. The gut microbiota and gonad microbiota of spiders can both potentially influence their physiology, ecology, and behavior, including aspects such as digestion, immunity, reproductive health, and reproductive behavior. In the current study, based on high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3 and V4 regions, we detected the gut and gonad microbiota communities of three spider species captured from the same habitat, namely, Eriovixia cavaleriei, Larinioides cornutus, and Pardosa pseudoannulata. In these three species, we observed that, at the phylum level classification, the gut and gonad of E. cavaleriei are primarily composed of Proteobacteria, while those of L. cornutus and P. pseudoannulata are primarily composed of Firmicutes. At the genus level of classification, we identified 372 and 360 genera from the gut and gonad bacterial communities. It is noteworthy that the gut and gonad bacterial flora of E. cavaleriei and L. cornutus were dominated by Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Results show that there were no differences in microbial communities between females and males of the same spider species. Furthermore, there is similarity between the gut and ovary microbial communities of female spiders, implying a potential avenue for microbial transmission between the gut and gonad within female spiders. By comprehensively studying these two microbial communities, we can establish the theoretical foundation for exploring the relationship between gut and gonad microbiota and their host, as well as the mechanisms through which microbes exert their effects.}, } @article {pmid37886803, year = {2023}, author = {Kong, L and Feng, Y and Du, W and Zheng, R and Sun, J and Rong, K and Sun, W and Liu, S}, title = {Cross-Feeding between Filamentous Cyanobacteria and Symbiotic Bacteria Favors Rapid Photogranulation.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c04867}, pmid = {37886803}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Photogranules are dense algal-bacterial aggregates used in aeration-free and carbon-negative wastewater treatment, wherein filamentous cyanobacteria (FC) are essential components. However, little is known about the functional role of symbiotic bacteria in photogranulation. Herein, we combined cyanobacterial isolation, reactor operation, and multiomics analysis to investigate the cyanobacterial-bacterial interaction during photogranulation. The addition of FC to the inoculated sludge achieved a 1.4-fold higher granule size than the control, and the aggregation capacity of FC-dominant photogranules was closely related to the extracellular polysaccharide (PS) concentration (R = 0.86). Importantly, we found that cross-feeding between FC and symbiotic bacteria for macromolecular PS synthesis is at the heart of photogranulation and substantially enhanced the granular stability. Chloroflexi-affiliated bacteria intertwined with FC throughout the photogranules and promoted PS biosynthesis using the partial nucleotide sugars produced by FC. Proteobacteria-affiliated bacteria were spatially close to FC, and highly expressed genes for vitamin B1 and B12 synthesis, contributing the necessary cofactors to promote FC proliferation. In addition, Bacteroidetes-affiliated bacteria degraded FC-derived carbohydrates and influenced granules development. Our metabolic characterization identified the functional role of symbiotic bacteria of FC during photogranulation and shed light on the critical cyanobacterial-bacterial interactions in photogranules from the viewpoint of cross-feeding.}, } @article {pmid37886538, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, P and Khan, F and Lin, Y and Ali, H and Pang, L and Dunterman, M and Hsu, WH and Frenis, K and Rowe, RG and Wainwright, D and McCortney, K and Billingham, L and Miska, J and Horbinski, C and Lesniak, M}, title = {LDHA-regulated tumor-macrophage symbiosis promotes glioblastoma progression.}, journal = {Research square}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-3401154/v1}, pmid = {37886538}, abstract = {Abundant macrophage infiltration and altered tumor metabolism are two key hallmarks of glioblastoma. By screening a cluster of metabolic small-molecule compounds, we show that inhibiting glioblastoma cell glycolysis impairs macrophage migration and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) inhibitor stiripentol (an FDA-approved anti-seizure drug for Dravet Syndrome) emerges as the top hit. Combined profiling and functional studies demonstrate that LDHA-directed ERK pathway activates YAP1/STAT3 transcriptional co-activators in glioblastoma cells to upregulate CCL2 and CCL7, which recruit macrophages into the tumor microenvironment. Reciprocally, infiltrating macrophages produce LDHA-containing extracellular vesicles to promote glioblastoma cell glycolysis, proliferation, and survival. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of LDHA-mediated tumor-macrophage symbiosis markedly suppresses tumor progression and macrophage infiltration in glioblastoma mouse models. Analysis of tumor and plasma samples of glioblastoma patients confirms that LDHA and its downstream signals are potential biomarkers correlating positively with macrophage density. Thus, LDHA-mediated tumor-macrophage symbiosis provides therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.}, } @article {pmid37885374, year = {2023}, author = {Mei, Y and Zhang, M and Cao, G and Zhu, J and Zhang, A and Bai, H and Dai, C and Jia, Y}, title = {Endofungal bacteria and ectomycorrhizal fungi synergistically promote the absorption of organic phosphorus in Pinus massoniana.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14742}, pmid = {37885374}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {PAPD//Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions/ ; 32171754//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMFs) that are involved in phosphorus mobilisation and turnover have limited ability to mineralise phytate alone. The endofungal bacteria in the ectomycorrhizal fruiting body may contribute to achieving this ecological function of ECMFs. We investigated the synergistic effect and mechanisms of endofungal bacteria and ECMF Suillus grevillea on phytate mineralisation. The results showed that soluble phosphorus content in the combined system of endofungal bacterium Cedecea lapagei and S. grevillea was 1.8 times higher than the sum of C. lapagei and S. grevillea alone treatment under the phytate mineralisation experiment. The S. grevillea could first chemotactically assist C. lapagei in adhering to the surface of S. grevillea. Then, the mineralisation of phytate was synergistically promoted by increasing the biomass of C. lapagei and the phosphatase and phytase activities of S. grevillea. The expression of genes related to chemotaxis, colonisation, and proliferation of C. lapagei and genes related to phosphatase and phytase activity of S. grevillea was also significantly upregulated. Furthermore, in the pot experiment, we verified that there might exist a ternary symbiotic system in the natural forest in which endofungal bacteria and ECMFs could synergistically promote phytate uptake in the plant Pinus massoniana via the ectomycorrhizal system.}, } @article {pmid37884478, year = {2023}, author = {Perotto, S and Balestrini, R}, title = {At the core of the endomycorrhizal symbioses: intracellular fungal structures in orchid and arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19338}, pmid = {37884478}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Arbuscular (AM) and orchid (OrM) mycorrhiza are the most widespread mycorrhizal symbioses among flowering plants, formed by distinct fungal and plant species. They are both endosymbioses because the fungal hyphae can enter inside the plant cell to develop intracellular fungal structures that are surrounded by the plant membrane. The symbiotic plant-fungus interface is considered to be the major site of nutrient transfer to the host plant. We summarize recent data on nutrient transfer in OrM and compare the development and function of the arbuscules formed in AM and the pelotons formed in OrM in order to outline differences and conserved traits. We further describe the unexpected similarities in the form and function of the intracellular mycorrhizal fungal structures observed in orchids and in the roots of mycoheterotrophic plants forming AM. We speculate that these similarities may be the result of convergent evolution of mycorrhizal types in mycoheterotrophic plants and highlight knowledge gaps and new research directions to explore this scenario.}, } @article {pmid37884341, year = {2023}, author = {Deng, J and Liu, YJ and Wei, WT and Huang, QX and Zhao, LP and Luo, LY and Zhu, Q and Zhang, L and Chen, Y and Ren, YL and Jia, SG and Lin, YL and Yang, J and Lv, FH and Zhang, HP and Li, FE and Li, L and Li, MH}, title = {Single-cell transcriptome and metagenome profiling reveals the genetic basis of rumen functions and convergent developmental patterns in ruminants.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/gr.278239.123}, pmid = {37884341}, issn = {1549-5469}, abstract = {The rumen undergoes developmental changes during maturation. To characterize this understudied dynamic process, we profiled single-cell transcriptomes of about 308,000 cells from the rumen tissues of sheep and goats at 17 time points. We built comprehensive transcriptome and metagenome atlases from early embryonic to rumination stages, and recapitulated histomorphometric and transcriptional features of the rumen, revealing key transitional signatures associated with the development of ruminal cells, microbiota, and core transcriptional regulatory networks. In addition, we identified and validated potential cross-talk between host cells and microbiomes and revealed their roles in modulating the spatiotemporal expression of key genes in ruminal cells. Cross-species analyses revealed convergent developmental patterns of cellular heterogeneity, gene expression, and cell-cell and microbiome-cell interactions. Finally, we uncovered how the interactions can act upon the symbiotic rumen system to modify the processes of fermentation, fiber digestion, and immune defense. These results significantly enhance understanding of the genetic basis of the unique roles of rumen.}, } @article {pmid37884147, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Luo, L and Gan, P and Chen, X and Li, X and Pang, Y and Yu, X and Yu, K}, title = {Exposure to pentachlorophenol destructs the symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae and host and induces pathema in coral Porites lutea.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {167956}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167956}, pmid = {37884147}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Stress from chemical pollutants is among the key issues that have adverse impacts on coral reefs. As a persistent organic pollutant, pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been detected in the seawater of Weizhou Island and was proved to have significant adverse effects on aquatic animals. However, little is known about its effects on scleractinian coral. Therefore, we investigated the response of the coral Porites lutea to PCP stress. Coral bleaching, photosynthesis parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities of P. lutea under PCP exposure were documented. After 96 h of exposure, significant tissue loss and bleaching occurred when the PCP concentration exceeded 100 μg/L. The density of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased from 2.06 × 10[6] cells/cm[2] to 0.93 × 10[6] cells/cm[2] when the PCP concentration increased from 1 μg/L- 1000 μg/L. Long-term exposure of 120 days to PCP at 0.1 μg/L also led to coral bleaching, the maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII in P. lutea nubbins significantly decreased to 0.482. The analysis of microbial community distribution indicated that the increase of the pathogenic bacterium Citrobacter may be one of the inducers of coral bleaching. Conjoint analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics showed that the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates in zooxanthellae was abnormal, leading to the destruction of its symbiotic relationship with the host. The immune system of the host was disrupted, which could be linked to the prevalence of coral pathema. The toxic responses of PCP on both zooxanthellae and its host were further confirmed by the upregulation of the differential metabolites including 1-naphthylamine and phosphatidylcholine, etc.}, } @article {pmid37883035, year = {2023}, author = {Ugochukwu, ICI and Rhimi, W and Chebil, W and Rizzo, A and Tempesta, M and Giusiano, G and Tábora, RFM and Otranto, D and Cafarchia, C}, title = {Part 2: understanding the role of Malassezia spp. In skin disorders: pathogenesis of Malassezia associated skin infections.}, journal = {Expert review of anti-infective therapy}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1080/14787210.2023.2274500}, pmid = {37883035}, issn = {1744-8336}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Malassezia is a major component of the skin microbiome, a lipophilic symbiotic organism of the mammalian skin, which can switch to opportunistic pathogens triggering multiple dermatological disorders in humans and animals. This phenomenon is favored by endogenous and exogenous host predisposing factors, which may switch Malassezia from a commensal to a pathogenic phenotype.

AREA COVERED: This review summarizes and discusses the most recent literature on the pathogenesis of Malassezia yeasts, which ultimately results in skin disorders with different clinical presentation. A literature search of Malassezia pathogenesis was performed via PubMed and Google scholar (up to May 2023), using the following keywords: Pathogenesis and Malassezia host risk factors and Malassezia, Malassezia and skin disorders; Malassezia and virulence factors: Malassezia and metabolite production; Immunology and Malassezia.

EXPERT OPINION: Malassezia yeasts can maintain skin homeostasis being part of the cutaneous mycobiota, however, when the environmental or host conditions change, these yeasts are endowed with a remarkable plasticity and adaptation by modifying their metabolism and thus contributing to the appearance or aggravation of human and animal skin disorders.}, } @article {pmid37882797, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, K and Li, X and Tong, M and Jong, M-C and Cai, Z and Zheng, H and Xiao, B and Zhou, J}, title = {Integrated metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses reveal bacterial micro-ecological mechanisms in coral bleaching.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0050523}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00505-23}, pmid = {37882797}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Coral bleaching has been rapidly increasing in recent years due to abnormally elevated temperature, leading to massive damage to coral reefs worldwide. Understanding the processes and micro-ecological mechanisms of coral symbionts in response to bleaching is crucial as evidence accumulates that micro-organisms (particularly the bacteria) contribute to the health and recovery of coral, especially during heat stress. However, the exact functional mechanism of bacteria has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we performed metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses of healthy and bleached Acropora muricata corals to identify taxonomic and functional shifts in coral symbionts during a natural thermal bleaching event on Hainan Island. The results showed that symbiont species tended to be more abundant in bleached corals than healthy corals, and the bacterial community appeared to be crucial to coral bleaching. The relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens dramatically increased in bleached corals, accompanied by the reduction of beneficial bacteria. In addition, a direct comparison of metagenomic data sets indicated major changes in functional genes, with bleached corals exhibiting significant metabolic enrichment, while healthy corals maintained lower metabolism and energy consumption. Carbohydrate-active enzyme genes were remarkably activated, and virulence factors were highly represented in bleached corals, which was directly related to the increased abundance of pathogenic bacteria. Metaproteomic analysis also demonstrated that bleaching greatly affected photosynthesis and energy metabolism of coral symbionts. Among them, the biological processes of photosynthesis and chlorophyll biosynthesis were common in healthy corals, while pathways involved in gluconeogenesis and apoptosis were significantly enriched in bleached corals. Bacteria-mediated processes in healthy corals contribute to maintaining the basic functions of symbionts and resisting stress, whereas the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in bleached corals leads to metabolic abnormalities of symbionts, showing enhanced energy metabolism and catalytic activity. In summary, the two omics analyzes revealed that bleaching caused enormous physiological damage to corals, and bacterial imbalance and dysfunction were the potential micro-ecological mechanisms underlying this event.IMPORTANCECoral reefs worldwide are facing rapid decline due to coral bleaching. However, knowledge of the physiological characteristics and molecular mechanisms of coral symbionts respond to stress is scarce. Here, metagenomic and metaproteomic approaches were utilized to shed light on the changes in the composition and functions of coral symbiotic bacteria during coral bleaching. The results demonstrated that coral bleaching significantly affected the composition of symbionts, with bacterial communities dominating in bleached corals. Through differential analyses of gene and protein expression, it becomes evident that symbionts experience functional disturbances in response to heat stress. These disturbances result in abnormal energy metabolism, which could potentially compromise the health and resilience of the symbionts. Furthermore, our findings highlighted the highly diverse microbial communities of coral symbionts, with beneficial bacteria providing critical services to corals in stress responses and pathogenic bacteria driving coral bleaching. This study provides comprehensive insights into the complex response mechanisms of coral symbionts under heat stress from the micro-ecological perspective and offers fundamental data for future monitoring of coral health.}, } @article {pmid37882570, year = {2023}, author = {Lim, AL and Miller, BW and Lin, Z and Fisher, MA and Barrows, LR and Haygood, MG and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Resistance mechanisms for Gram-negative bacteria-specific lipopeptides, turnercyclamycins, differ from that of colistin.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0230623}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02306-23}, pmid = {37882570}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Turnercyclamycin A and B lipopeptides exhibit Gram-negative bacteria-specific toxicity. This includes CDC urgent threat organisms such as multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Like the last-line agent colistin, turnercyclamycins interact with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pathway, but they remain active against clinical isolates that are colistin resistant. Here, we aimed to determine why turnercyclamycins A and B show little cross-resistance with colistin despite some potential mechanistic and structural similarities. The outer membrane was important in the actions of all three agents, since the deletion of lpxC that synthesizes LPS and the addition of exogenous LPS led to resistance to turnercyclamycins and colistin. Even so, it was much more difficult to generate resistance to turnercyclamycin A than turnercyclamycin B. In Escherichia coli, disruption of the mlaA gene, which is involved in outer membrane homeostasis, resulted in resistance to turnercyclamycin B. However, mlaA disruption blocked neither turnercyclamycin A nor colistin activity. This activity was recapitulated in A. baumannii, where transposon mutants were more resistant to turnercyclamycin B. Moreover, the common A. baumannii colistin resistance gene mcr-1 blocked colistin activity in E. coli but did not affect turnercyclamycins. These results demonstrate a unique resistance profile for turnercyclamycins A and B, in addition to suggesting differences in the mechanism of action. Further, turnercyclamycin A was effective in a mouse model of A. baumannii infection, indicating that this compound class may have potential promise in treating drug-resistant infections.IMPORTANCEBacterial resistance to antibiotics is a crisis. Acinetobacter baumannii is among the CDC urgent threat pathogens in part for this reason. Lipopeptides known as turnercyclamycins are produced by symbiotic bacteria that normally live in marine mollusks, where they may be involved in shaping their symbiotic niche. Turnercyclamycins killed Gram-negative pathogens including drug-resistant Acinetobacter, but how do the mechanisms of resistance compare to other lipopeptide drugs? Here, we define resistance from a truncation of MlaA, a protein involved in regulating bacterial membrane phospholipids. Intriguingly, this resistance mechanism only affected one turnercyclamycin variant, which differed only in two atoms in the lipid tail of the compounds. We could not obtain significant resistance to the second turnercyclamycin variant, which was also effective in an infection model. This study reveals an unexpected subtlety in resistance to lipopeptide antibiotics, which may be useful in the design and development of antibiotics to combat drug resistance.}, } @article {pmid37882523, year = {2023}, author = {Głowska, E and Gerth, M}, title = {Draft genome sequence of a Wolbachia endosymbiont from Syringophilopsis turdi (Fritsch, 1958) (Acari, Syringophilidae).}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0060523}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00605-23}, pmid = {37882523}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We present the draft genome of a Wolbachia endosymbiont from quill mites. This is the first representative of a recently discovered distinct Wolbachia lineage (supergroup P). We hope the genome will be a useful resource for comparative evolutionary and genomic studies across the globally distributed symbiont Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid37881025, year = {2023}, author = {Seto, Y}, title = {This review was written in response to the author's receipt of the JSBBA Award for Young Scientists in 2022.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbad150}, pmid = {37881025}, issn = {1347-6947}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of terpenoid lactones initially identified as seed germination stimulants for root parasitic plants more than 50 years ago. Long after this initial discovery, SLs were re-characterized as the symbiotic signals for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that supply inorganic nutrients, such as phosphate, to their host plants. In 2008, SLs were found to be endogenous plant hormones that regulate shoot branching in plants. The discovery of SLs as a new class of plant hormones has significantly advanced research in this field. Studies over the past 15 years have elucidated almost the entire pathway of SL biosynthesis and the overall mechanism of its signalling. This review summarizes research on the SL biosynthetic pathway, and the current state of knowledge of the SL perception mechanism.}, } @article {pmid37880759, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, Y and Yu, S and Zhao, H and Li, L and Li, Y and Liu, M and Jiang, L}, title = {Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals the positive leverage of citrus flavonoids on hindgut microbiota and host homeostasis by modulating sphingolipid metabolism in mid-lactation dairy cows consuming a high-starch diet.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {236}, pmid = {37880759}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {6232004//Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2022M710181//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2022-ZZ-129//Beijing Postdoctoral Research Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Modern dairy diets have shifted from being forage-based to grain and energy dense. However, feeding high-starch diets can lead to a metabolic disturbance that is linked to dysregulation of the gastrointestinal microbiome and systemic inflammatory response. Plant flavonoids have recently attracted extensive interest due to their anti-inflammatory effects in humans and ruminants. Here, multi-omics analysis was conducted to characterize the biological function and mechanisms of citrus flavonoids in modulating the hindgut microbiome of dairy cows fed a high-starch diet.

RESULTS: Citrus flavonoid extract (CFE) significantly lowered serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), acute phase proteins (LPS-binding protein and haptoglobin) in dairy cows fed a high-starch diet. Dietary CFE supplementation increased fecal butyrate production and decreased fecal LPS. In addition, dietary CFE influenced the overall hindgut microbiota's structure and composition. Notably, potentially beneficial bacteria, including Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Alistipes, and Akkermansia, were enriched in CFE and were found to be positively correlated with fecal metabolites and host metabolites. Fecal and serum untargeted metabolomics indicated that CFE supplementation mainly emphasized the metabolic feature "sphingolipid metabolism." Metabolites associated with the sphingolipid metabolism pathway were positively associated with increased microorganisms in dairy cows fed CFE, particularly Bacteroides. Serum lipidomics analysis showed that the total contents of ceramide and sphingomyelin were decreased by CFE addition. Some differentially abundant sphingolipid species were markedly associated with serum IL-6, TNF-α, LPS, and fecal Bacteroides. Metaproteomics revealed that dietary supplementation with CFE strongly impacted the overall fecal bacterial protein profile and function. In CFE cows, enzymes involved in carbon metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates the importance of bacterial sphingolipids in maintaining hindgut symbiosis and homeostasis. Dietary supplementation with CFE can decrease systemic inflammation by maintaining hindgut microbiota homeostasis and regulating sphingolipid metabolism in dairy cows fed a high-starch diet. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37880744, year = {2023}, author = {Bhat, AH and Machado, RAR and Abolafia, J and Ruiz-Cuenca, AN and Askary, TH and Ameen, F and Dass, WM}, title = {Taxonomic and molecular characterization of a new entomopathogenic nematode species, Heterorhabditis casmirica n. sp., and whole genome sequencing of its associated bacterial symbiont.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {383}, pmid = {37880744}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {186094/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis are important biocontrol agents as they form a lethal combination with their symbiotic Photorhabdus bacteria against agricultural insect pests. This study describes a new species of Heterorhabditis.

METHODS: Six Heterorhabditis nematode populations were recovered from agricultural soils in Jammu and Kashmir, India. An initial examination using mitochondrial and nuclear genes showed that they belong to a new species. To describe this new species, a variety of analyses were conducted, including reconstructing phylogenetic relationships based on multiple genes, characterizing the nematodes at the morphological and morphometric levels, performing self-crossing and cross-hybridization experiments, and isolating and characterizing their symbiotic bacteria.

RESULTS: The newly discovered species, Heterorhabditis casmirica n. sp., shares 94% mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequence identity with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Heterorhabditis ruandica, and 93% with Heterorhabditis zacatecana. Morphologically, it differs from H. bacteriophora in its infective juvenile phasmids (present vs. inconspicuous) and bacterial pouch visibility in the ventricular portion of the intestine (invisible vs. visible); genital papilla 1 (GP1) position (at manubrium level vs. more anterior), and in its b ratio (body length/neck length), c ratio (tail length/bulb width), and D% [(excretory pore/neck length) × 100]. Other morphological differences include anterior end to the nerve ring distance (77-100 vs. 121-130 μm), V% [(anterior end of vulva/body length) × 100] (46-57 vs. 41-47) in hermaphroditic females; rectum size (slightly longer than the anal body diameter vs. about three times longer), phasmids (smaller vs. inconspicuous), body length (0.13-2.0 vs. 0.32-0.39 mm), body diameter (73-150 vs. 160-220 μm), anterior end to the excretory pore distance (135-157 vs. 174-214 μm), and demanian ratios in amphimictic females. Morphological differences with H. ruandica and H. zacatecana were also observed. Furthermore, H. casmirica n. sp. did not mate or produce fertile progeny with other Heterorhabditis nematodes reported from India. It was also discovered that H. casmirica n. sp. is associated with Photorhabdus luminescence subsp. clarkei symbiotic bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of H. casmirica n. sp. provides novel insights into the diversity and evolution of Heterorhabditis nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria. This new species adds to the catalog of entomopathogenic nematodes in India.}, } @article {pmid37877689, year = {2023}, author = {Sturgis, CD and LeBlanc, JB and Smith, MA and McNair, SA and Hansing, KL and Bammert, CE and Russell, DK and Howell, JM and Alperstein, SA and Lennen, K and Srebotnik-Kirbis, I and Paradis, VA and van Zuylen-Manders, L and Liikanen, E and Freund, G and Davey, DD and Goulart, R and Yuil-Valdes, A and Vielh, P and Brainard, JA and Hitchens, SW and Donnelly, A}, title = {Optimizing schools of cytology: Discussions from the 2022 ASC/IAC Cytology Education Symposium, North American Strategies, and European Symbiosis.}, journal = {Cytopathology : official journal of the British Society for Clinical Cytology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/cyt.13314}, pmid = {37877689}, issn = {1365-2303}, abstract = {This report highlights information and outcomes from the November 2022 ASC/IAC joint Cytology Education Symposium, an annual conference organized by the Cytology Programs Review Committee. The manuscript provides information on shared educational opportunities and practices for cytology students and other learners in anatomic pathology, discusses recruitment strategies for schools of cytology, conveys teaching resources, introduces perspectives on virtual microscopy and online learning, and transmits information about wellness of students in schools of cytology.}, } @article {pmid37877655, year = {2023}, author = {Ahmad, N and Ritz, M and Calchera, A and Otte, J and Schmitt, I and Brueck, T and Mehlmer, N}, title = {Biosynthetic gene cluster synteny: Orthologous polyketide synthases in Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e1386}, pmid = {37877655}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {*Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Depsides/metabolism ; Synteny ; *Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; Fungi/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus), which together generate a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here, we provide a comparative view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of three lichen mycobionts derived from Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata. In addition, we present a high-quality PacBio metagenome of Parmelia sulcata, from which we extracted the mycobiont bin containing 214 biosynthetic gene clusters. Most biosynthetic gene clusters in these genomes were associated with T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs and terpenes. This study focused on biosynthetic gene clusters related to polyketide synthesis. Based on ketosynthase homology, we identified nine highly syntenic clusters present in all three species. Among the four clusters belonging to nonreducing PKSs, two are putatively linked to lichen substances derived from orsellinic acid (orcinol depsides and depsidones, e.g., lecanoric acid, physodic acid, lobaric acid), one to compounds derived from methylated forms of orsellinic acid (beta orcinol depsides, e.g., atranorin), and one to melanins. Five clusters with orthologs in all three species are linked to reducing PKSs. Our study contributes to sorting and dereplicating the vast PKS diversity found in lichenized fungi. High-quality sequences of biosynthetic gene clusters of these three common species provide a foundation for further exploration into biotechnological applications and the molecular evolution of lichen substances.}, } @article {pmid37877089, year = {2023}, author = {Granada Agudelo, M and Ruiz, B and Capela, D and Remigi, P}, title = {The role of microbial interactions on rhizobial fitness.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1277262}, pmid = {37877089}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that can establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legume plants. As horizontally transmitted symbionts, the life cycle of rhizobia includes a free-living phase in the soil and a plant-associated symbiotic phase. Throughout this life cycle, rhizobia are exposed to a myriad of other microorganisms that interact with them, modulating their fitness and symbiotic performance. In this review, we describe the diversity of interactions between rhizobia and other microorganisms that can occur in the rhizosphere, during the initiation of nodulation, and within nodules. Some of these rhizobia-microbe interactions are indirect, and occur when the presence of some microbes modifies plant physiology in a way that feeds back on rhizobial fitness. We further describe how these interactions can impose significant selective pressures on rhizobia and modify their evolutionary trajectories. More extensive investigations on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of rhizobia in complex biotic environments will likely reveal fascinating new aspects of this well-studied symbiotic interaction and provide critical knowledge for future agronomical applications.}, } @article {pmid37876779, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, J and Chen, R and Peng, Y and Chai, J and Li, Y and Deng, F}, title = {The role of gut archaea in the pig gut microbiome: a mini-review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1284603}, pmid = {37876779}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal microbiota of swine harbors an essential but often overlooked component: the gut archaea. These enigmatic microorganisms play pivotal roles in swine growth, health, and yield quality. Recent insights indicate that the diversity of gut archaea is influenced by various factors including breed, age, and diet. Such factors orchestrate the metabolic interactions within the porcine gastrointestinal environment. Through symbiotic relationships with bacteria, these archaea modulate the host's energy metabolism and digestive processes. Contemporary research elucidates a strong association between the abundance of these archaea and economically significant traits in swine. This review elucidates the multifaceted roles of gut archaea in swine and underscores the imperative for strategic interventions to modulate their population and functionality. By exploring the probiotic potential of gut archaea, we envisage novel avenues to enhance swine growth, health, and product excellence. By spotlighting this crucial, yet under-investigated, facet of the swine gut microbiome, we aim to galvanize further scientific exploration into harnessing their myriad benefits.}, } @article {pmid37874980, year = {2023}, author = {Wulf, K and Sun, J and Wang, C and Ho-Plagaro, T and Kwon, CT and Velandia, K and Correa-Lozano, A and Tamayo-Navarrete, MI and Reid, JB and García Garrido, JM and Foo, E}, title = {The role of CLE peptides in suppression of mycorrhizal colonisation of tomato.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad124}, pmid = {37874980}, issn = {1471-9053}, support = {PID2020-115336GB-100//Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ ; 2022R1C1C1002941//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; CE200100015 DP190101817//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Symbioses with beneficial microbes are widespread in plants, but these relationships must balance the energy invested by the plants with the nutrients acquired. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi occurs throughout land plants but our understanding of the genes and signals that regulate colonisation levels is limited, especially in non-legumes. Here, we demonstrate that in tomato two CLV3/EMBRYO-SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) peptides, SlCLE10 and SlCLE11, act to suppress AM colonisation of roots. Mutant studies and over expression via hairy transformation indicate SlCLE11 acts locally in the root to limit AM colonisation. Indeed, SlCLE11 expression is strongly induced in AM colonised roots but SlCLE11 is not required for phosphate suppression of AM colonisation. SlCLE11 requires the FIN gene that encodes an enzyme required for CLE peptide arabinosylation to suppress mycorrhizal colonisation. However, SlCLE11 suppression of AM does not require two CLE receptors with roles in regulating AM colonisation, SlFAB (CLAVATA1 orthologue) or SlCLV2. Indeed, multiple parallel pathways appear to suppress mycorrhizal colonisation in tomato, as double mutant studies indicate SlCLV2 and FIN have an additive influence on mycorrhizal colonisation. SlCLE10 appears to play a more minor or redundant role, as cle10 mutants did not influence intraradical AM colonisation. However, the fact that cle10 mutants had elevated number of hyphopodia and that ectopic over expression of SlCLE10 did suppress colonisation suggests SlCLE10 may also play a role in regulating AM colonisation. Our findings show that CLE peptides regulate AM colonisation in tomato and at least SlCLE11 likely requires arabinosylation for activity.}, } @article {pmid37872593, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, W and Chen, X and Liu, R and Tian, P and Niu, W and Zhang, XH and Liu, J and Wang, X}, title = {Distinct coral environments shape the dynamic of planktonic Vibrio spp.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {77}, pmid = {37872593}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {42006085//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021J05094//Marine S&T Fund of Fujian Province/ ; EPR2023001//Fund of Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources/ Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration/ ; 202312034//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 2020005//Scientific Research Foundation of the Third Institute of Oceanography, MNR/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems, providing habitat for a vast of species. Reef-building scleractinian corals with a symbiotic microbiome, including bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microbes, are referred to coral holobionts. Among them, coral diseases, mainly caused by Vibrio spp., have significantly contributed to the loss of coral cover and diversity. Habitat filtering across the globe has led to a variety structure of marine bacterial communities. Coral species, quantity and characteristics are significant differences between the Xisha Islands and Daya Bay (Guangdong Province). Thus, the Vibrio communities may be distinct between coral rich and poor areas.

RESULTS: Through comparison of Vibrio dynamics between coral-rich (Xisha Islands) and coral-poor (Daya Bay) locations, we uncovered differences in Vibrio abundance, diversity, community composition and assembly mechanisms associated with corals. The higher abundance of Vibrio in coral rich areas may indicate a strong interaction between vibrios and corals. V. campbellii, Paraphotobacterium marinum and V. caribbeanicus were widely distributed in both coral rich and poor areas, likely indicating weak species specificity in the coral-stimulated growth of Vibrio. Random-forest prediction revealed Vibrio species and Photobacterium species as potential microbial indicators in the coral rich and coral poor areas, respectively. Ecological drift rather than selection governed the Vibrio community assembly in the Xisha Islands. Comparatively, homogenizing selection was more important for the Daya Bay community, which may reflect a role of habitat filtration.

CONCLUSION: This study revealed the different distribution pattern and assembly mechanism of Vibrio spp. between coral rich and poor areas, providing the background data for the research of Vibrio community in coral reef areas and may help the protection of coral reef at the biological level. The main reasons for the difference were different number and species of corals, environmental (e.g., temperature) and spatial factors. It reflected the strong interaction between Vibrio and corals, and provided a new perspective for the investigation of Vibrio in coral reef ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37872273, year = {2023}, author = {Hirakata, Y and Mei, R and Morinaga, K and Katayama, T and Tamaki, H and Meng, XY and Watari, T and Yamaguchi, T and Hatamoto, M and Nobu, MK}, title = {Identification and cultivation of anaerobic bacterial scavengers of dead cells.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37872273}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {18H03367//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22K18046//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; }, abstract = {The cycle of life and death and Earth's carbon cycle(s) are intimately linked, yet how bacterial cells, one of the largest pools of biomass on Earth, are recycled back into the carbon cycle remains enigmatic. In particular, no bacteria capable of scavenging dead cells in oxygen-depleted environments have been reported thus far. In this study, we discover the first anaerobes that scavenge dead cells and the two isolated strains use distinct strategies. Based on live-cell imaging, transmission electron microscopy, and hydrolytic enzyme assays, one strain (designated CYCD) relied on cell-to-cell contact and cell invagination for degrading dead food bacteria where as the other strain (MGCD) degraded dead food bacteria via excretion of lytic extracellular enzymes. Both strains could degrade dead cells of differing taxonomy (bacteria and archaea) and differing extents of cell damage, including those without artificially inflicted physical damage. In addition, both depended on symbiotic metabolic interactions for maximizing cell degradation, representing the first cultured syntrophic Bacteroidota. We collectively revealed multiple symbiotic bacterial decomposition routes of dead prokaryotic cells, providing novel insight into the last step of the carbon cycle.}, } @article {pmid37871742, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, L and Huang, X and Chen, W and Fu, G and Zhang, Z}, title = {Microalgae-assisted heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification process for cost-effective nitrogen and phosphorus removal from high-salinity wastewater: Performance, mechanism, and bacterial community.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129901}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129901}, pmid = {37871742}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {A microalgae-assisted heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HNAD) system for efficient nutrient removal from high-salinity wastewater was constructed for the first time as a cost-effective process in the present study. Excellent nutrient removal (∼100.0 %) was achieved through the symbiotic system. The biological removal process, biologically induced phosphate precipitation (BIPP), microalgae uptake, and ammonia stripping worked together for nutrient removal. Furthermore, the biological removal process achieved by biofilm contributed to approximately 55.3-71.8 % of nitrogen removal. BIPP undertook approximately 45.6-51.8 % of phosphorus removal. Batch activity tests confirmed that HNAD fulfilled an extremely critical role in nitrogen removal. Microalgal metabolism drove BIPP to achieve efficient phosphorus removal. Moreover, as the main HNAD bacteria, OLB13 and Thauera were enriched. The preliminary energy flow analysis demonstrated that the symbiotic system could achieve energy neutrality, theoretically. The findings provide novel insights into strategies of low-carbon and efficient nutrient removal from high-salinity wastewater.}, } @article {pmid37871041, year = {2023}, author = {Bustamante, JA and Ceron, JS and Gao, IT and Ramirez, HA and Aviles, MV and Bet Adam, D and Brice, JR and Cuellar, R and Dockery, E and Jabagat, MK and Karp, DG and Lau, JK and Li, S and Lopez-Magaña, R and Moore, RR and Morin, BKR and Nzongo, J and Rezaeihaghighi, Y and Sapienza-Martinez, J and Tran, TTK and Huang, Z and Duthoy, AJ and Barnett, MJ and Long, SR and Chen, JC}, title = {A protease and a lipoprotein jointly modulate the conserved ExoR-ExoS-ChvI signaling pathway critical in Sinorhizobium meliloti for symbiosis with legume hosts.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {e1010776}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1010776}, pmid = {37871041}, issn = {1553-7404}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a model alpha-proteobacterium for investigating microbe-host interactions, in particular nitrogen-fixing rhizobium-legume symbioses. Successful infection requires complex coordination between compatible host and endosymbiont, including bacterial production of succinoglycan, also known as exopolysaccharide-I (EPS-I). In S. meliloti EPS-I production is controlled by the conserved ExoS-ChvI two-component system. Periplasmic ExoR associates with the ExoS histidine kinase and negatively regulates ChvI-dependent expression of exo genes, necessary for EPS-I synthesis. We show that two extracytoplasmic proteins, LppA (a lipoprotein) and JspA (a lipoprotein and a metalloprotease), jointly influence EPS-I synthesis by modulating the ExoR-ExoS-ChvI pathway and expression of genes in the ChvI regulon. Deletions of jspA and lppA led to lower EPS-I production and competitive disadvantage during host colonization, for both S. meliloti with Medicago sativa and S. medicae with M. truncatula. Overexpression of jspA reduced steady-state levels of ExoR, suggesting that the JspA protease participates in ExoR degradation. This reduction in ExoR levels is dependent on LppA and can be replicated with ExoR, JspA, and LppA expressed exogenously in Caulobacter crescentus and Escherichia coli. Akin to signaling pathways that sense extracytoplasmic stress in other bacteria, JspA and LppA may monitor periplasmic conditions during interaction with the plant host to adjust accordingly expression of genes that contribute to efficient symbiosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying host colonization in our model system may have parallels in related alpha-proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid37870554, year = {2023}, author = {Aytar, EC and Harzli, I and Kömpe, YÖ}, title = {Phytochemical Analysis of Anacamptis coriophora Plant Cultivated Using Ex Vitro Symbiotic Propagation.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202301218}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202301218}, pmid = {37870554}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {This study aims to investigate the functional groups and phytochemical profile of Anacamptis coriophora seeds, tubers, and flowers. Symbiotic seedlings produced using the ex vitro method were transferred to their natural habitat and grown to analyze the functional groups and phytochemical profiles of tubers and flowers. The life cycles of the transferred seedlings were monitored, and tubers and flowers were harvested for analysis. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed the presence of functional groups such as polysaccharides, lignin, and proteins in both tubers and flowers. Differences in spectral frequencies between first-year and second-year tubers were observed. Fatty acid analysis identified 30 different compounds in seeds, flowers, and tubers, with linoleic acid being the most abundant (27% in seeds, 33% in tubers), and palmitic acid present in flowers (24%). GC-MS analysis of ethanol extracts from these components highlighted the presence of 32 compounds, including hydroxyacetic acid, hydrazide, cytidine (Z)-7-hexadecenal, 2,2-dimethoxyethane, 2,5,6-trimethyldecane, and butanamide, 4-amino-N-hydroxy. A. coriophora's tubers, flowers, and seeds may contain active metabolites with therapeutic potential. These results are valuable for the commercial cultivation of the plant.}, } @article {pmid37868316, year = {2023}, author = {Das, D and Kafle, A and Ho-Plágaro, T and Zimmermann, SD and Bücking, H and Garcia, K}, title = {Editorial: Importance of root symbiomes for plant nutrition: new insights, perspectives and future challenges, volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1296604}, pmid = {37868316}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37868050, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, T and Bravo, H and van der Meij, SET}, title = {Phylomitogenomics elucidates the evolution of symbiosis in Thoracotremata (Decapoda: Cryptochiridae, Pinnotheridae, Varunidae).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16217}, pmid = {37868050}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Thoracotremata belong to the large group of "true" crabs (infraorder Brachyura), and they exhibit a wide range of physiological and morphological adaptations to living in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats. Moreover, the clade comprises various symbiotic taxa (Aphanodactylidae, Cryptochiridae, Pinnotheridae, some Varunidae) that are specialised in living with invertebrate hosts, but the evolutionary history of these symbiotic crabs is still partially unresolved.

METHODS: Here we assembled and characterised the complete mitochondrial genomes (hereafter mitogenomes) of three gall crab species (Cryptochiridae): Kroppcarcinus siderastreicola, Opecarcinus hypostegus and Troglocarcinus corallicola. A phylogenetic tree of the Thoracotremata was reconstructed using 13 protein-coding genes and two ribosomal RNA genes retrieved from three new gall crab mitogenomes and a further 72 available thoracotreme mitogenomes. Furthermore, we applied a comparative analysis to characterise mitochondrial gene order arrangement, and performed a selection analysis to test for selective pressure of the protein-coding genes in symbiotic Cryptochiridae, Pinnotheridae, and Varunidae (Asthenognathus inaequipes and Tritodynamia horvathi).

RESULTS: The results of the phylogenetic reconstruction confirm the monophyly of Cryptochiridae, which clustered separately from the Pinnotheridae. The latter clustered at the base of the tree with robust branch values. The symbiotic varunids A. inaequipes and T. horvathi clustered together in a clade with free-living Varunidae species, highlighting that symbiosis in the Thoracotremata evolved independently on multiple occasions. Different gene orders were detected in symbionts and free-living species when compared with the ancestral brachyuran gene order. Lastly, the selective pressure analysis detected two positively selected sites in the nad6 gene of Cryptochiridae, but the evidence for positive selection in Pinnotheridae and A. inaequipes and T. horvathi was weak. Adaptive evolution of mitochondrial protein-coding genes is perhaps related to the presumably higher energetic demands of a symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid37867936, year = {2023}, author = {Brunetti, AE and Lyra, ML and Bauermeister, A and Bunk, B and Boedeker, C and Müsken, M and Neto, FC and Mendonça, JN and Caraballo-Rodríguez, AM and Melo, WGP and Pupo, MT and Haddad, CFB and Cabrera, GM and Overmann, J and Lopes, NP}, title = {Host macrocyclic acylcarnitines mediate symbiotic interactions between frogs and their skin microbiome.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {108109}, pmid = {37867936}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {The host-microbiome associations occurring on the skin of vertebrates significantly influence hosts' health. However, the factors mediating their interactions remain largely unknown. Herein, we used integrated technical and ecological frameworks to investigate the skin metabolites sustaining a beneficial symbiosis between tree frogs and bacteria. We characterize macrocyclic acylcarnitines as the major metabolites secreted by the frogs' skin and trace their origin to an enzymatic unbalance of carnitine palmitoyltransferases. We found that these compounds colocalize with bacteria on the skin surface and are mostly represented by members of the Pseudomonas community. We showed that Pseudomonas sp. MPFS isolated from frogs' skin can exploit acylcarnitines as its sole carbon and nitrogen source, and this metabolic capability is widespread in Pseudomonas. We summarize frogs' multiple mechanisms to filter environmental bacteria and highlight that acylcarnitines likely evolved for another function but were co-opted to provide nutritional benefits to the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid37866881, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, L and Deng, M and Li, X and Schmid, B and Huang, J and Wu, Y and Peng, Z and Yang, L and Liu, L}, title = {Evolutionary and ecological forces shape nutrient strategies of mycorrhizal woody plants.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14330}, pmid = {37866881}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {31988102//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32125025//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022YFF130170//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {The associations of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhiza (EcM) fungi with plants have sequentially evolved and significantly contributed to enhancing plant nutrition. Nonetheless, how evolutionary and ecological forces drive nutrient acquisition strategies of AM and EcM woody plants remains poorly understood. Our global analysis of woody species revealed that, over divergence time, AM woody plants evolved faster nitrogen mineralization rates without changes in nitrogen resorption. However, EcM woody plants exhibited an increase in nitrogen mineralization but a decrease in nitrogen resorption, indicating a shift towards a more inorganic nutrient economy. Despite this alteration, when evaluating present-day woody species, AM woody plants still display faster nitrogen mineralization and lower nitrogen resorption than EcM woody plants. This inorganic nutrient economy allows AM woody plants to thrive in warm environments with a faster litter decomposition rate. Our findings indicate that the global pattern of nutrient acquisition strategies in mycorrhizal plants is shaped by the interplay between phylogeny and climate.}, } @article {pmid37865950, year = {2023}, author = {da Silva, RM and Santos, BN and da Silva Oliveira, FA and Filho, EGA and Fonteles, TV and Campelo, PH and Rodrigues, S}, title = {Synbiotic Sapota-do-Solimões (Quararibea cordata Vischer) Juice Improves Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production in an In Vitro Model.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37865950}, issn = {1867-1314}, support = {Financial code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; Financial code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; Financial code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; }, abstract = {Sapota-do-Solimões (Quararibea cordata Vischer) is Amazon South América fruit found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The orange-yellow fruit is usually eaten out of hand or as juice. Despite being a source of carotenoids and dietary fibers (pectin) that can reach the colon and act as an energy source for intestinal microbiota, the fruit is rarely known outside of South America. The symbiotic juice was prepared by fermenting the fruit juice with Lacticaseibacillus casei B-442 and adding prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS, 7% w/v). This study evaluated the functional juice immediately after L. casei fermentation (SSJ0) and after 30 days of cold storage (SSJ30) regarding its effect on human colonic microbiota composition after in vitro fermentation. Fecal samples were collected from two healthy female volunteers, and the 16s rRNA gene sequencing analyzed the fecal microbiota composition. In vitro, colonic fermentation was performed using a batch bioreactor to simulate gastrointestinal conditions. The L. casei viability did not change significantly after 30 days of the synbiotic juice cold storage (4 °C). After the colonic fermentation, the relative abundance of Firmicutes decreased while Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria increased. Regarding short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production by fecal colonic microbiota, the butyric acid was higher after sample SSJ0 fecal fermentation. In contrast, propionic, isobutyric, and acetic acids were higher after SSJ30 sample fecal fermentation. This study contributes to understanding the interactions between specific foods and the gut microbiota, which can affect human health and well-being.}, } @article {pmid37863655, year = {2023}, author = {Manjarres, Z and Calvo, M and Pacheco, R}, title = {Regulation of pain perception by microbiota in Parkinson's Disease.}, journal = {Pharmacological reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1124/pharmrev.122.000674}, pmid = {37863655}, issn = {1521-0081}, abstract = {Pain perception involves current stimulation in peripheral nociceptive nerves and the subsequent stimulation of postsynaptic excitatory neurons in the spinal cord. Importantly, in chronic pain, the neural activity of both peripheral nociceptors and postsynaptic neurons in the central nervous system is influenced by several inflammatory mediators produced by the immune system. Growing evidence has indicated that the commensal microbiota plays an active role in regulating pain perception by either acting directly on nociceptors or indirectly through the modulation of the inflammatory activity on immune cells. This symbiotic relationship is mediated by soluble bacterial mediators or intrinsic structural components of bacteria that act on eukaryotic cells, including neurons, microglia, astrocytes, macrophages, T-cells, enterochromaffin cells, and enteric glial cells. The molecular mechanisms involve bacterial molecules that act directly on neurons affecting their excitability, or indirectly on non-neuronal cells inducing changes in the production of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory mediators. Importantly, Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorder that affect mainly the dopaminergic neurons implicated in the control of voluntary movements, involves not only a motor decline but also non-motor symptomatology, including chronic pain. Of note, several recent studies have shown that Parkinson's disease involves a dysbiosis in the composition of the gut microbiota. In this review, first, we summarize, integrate and classify the molecular mechanisms implicated in the microbiota-mediated regulation of chronic pain. Secondly, we analyze the changes on the commensal microbiota associated to Parkinson's disease and propose how these changes affect the development of chronic pain in this pathology. Significance Statement The microbiota regulates chronic-pain through the action of bacterial signals into two main locations: the peripheral nociceptors and the postsynaptic excitatory neurons in the spinal cord. The dysbiosis associated to Parkinson's disease reveals increased representation of commensals that potentially exacerbate chronic pain and reduced levels of bacteria with beneficial effects on pain. This review encourages further research to better understand the signals involved in bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host communication to get the clues for the development of probiotics with therapeutic potential.}, } @article {pmid37861881, year = {2023}, author = {Ranhotra, HS}, title = {Discrete interplay of gut microbiota L-tryptophan metabolites in host biology and disease.}, journal = {Molecular and cellular biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37861881}, issn = {1573-4919}, abstract = {The gut microbiota and the host maintain a conjoint relationship and together achieve optimal physiology via a multitude of interactive signalling cues. Dietary-derived L-tryptophan (L-trp) is enzymatically metabolized by the resident symbiotic gut microbiota to indole and various indole derivatives. Indole and indole metabolites secreted by the gut bacteria act locally in the intestinal cells as well as distally and modulate tissue-specific functions which are beneficial to the host. Functions attributed to these microbial indole metabolites in the host include regulation of intestinal permeability, immunity and mucosal roles, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity. On the other hand, dysregulation of gut microbiota L-trp metabolism compromises the optimal availability of indole and indole metabolites and can induce the onset of metabolic disorders, inflammation, liver steatosis, and decrease gut barrier integrity. Gut dysbiosis is regarded as one of the prime reasons for this deregulated microbial-derived indole metabolites. A number of indole metabolites from the gut bacteria have been identified recently displaying variable affinity towards xenobiotic nuclear receptors. Microbial metabolite mimicry concept can be used to design and develop novel indole-moiety-containing compounds with higher affinity towards the receptors and efficacy in preclinical studies. Such compounds may serve as therapeutic drugs in clinical trials in the future. In this article, I review L-trp metabolism in the host and gut microbiota and the various physiological functions, patho-physiologies associated with the microbial-released indole metabolites in the host, including the metabolite mimicry-based concept to develop tailored indole-containing novel experimental drugs.}, } @article {pmid37861344, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, B and Yu, K and Fu, L and Wei, Y and Liang, J and Liao, Z and Qin, Z and Yu, X and Deng, C and Han, M and Ma, H}, title = {The diversity, community dynamics, and interactions of the microbiome in the world's deepest blue hole: insights into extreme environmental response patterns and tolerance of marine microorganisms.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0053123}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00531-23}, pmid = {37861344}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Blue holes are unique marine sinkholes with extreme environments and biogeochemical processes. However, our understanding of community dynamics, functional profiles, and microbial interactions in blue holes remains limited. We studied the extreme environmental response pattern of the microbiome (Symbiodiniaceae, bacteria, archaea, and fungi) across 14 depths in the world's deepest blue hole, the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole. The α-diversities of Symbiodiniaceae and archaea were stable to extreme environmental conditions, whereas those of bacteria and fungi varied. Physical and nutrient factors primarily influenced the β-diversities of these four microbes, and there were significant differences in microbial communities among water layers. Nine microbial taxa of Cladocopium sp, γ-proteobacteria, Nanoarchaeota, and Ascomycota representing the core microbiome occurred in all water layers. These four microbial groups exhibited potential interactions, with a positive correlation between Symbiodiniaceae and archaea α-diversities. The microbial biogeochemical profiles exhibited notable enrichment characteristics among distinct water layers. Archaea metabolized sulfides in the oxic and upper deep layers, while bacteria dominated sulfide decomposition in the chemocline and lower deep layers. These findings suggest the acclimation of Symbiodiniaceae to an extreme environment may rely on archaea, as a result of a partial niche overlap. The bacterial communities exhibited an environmental response pattern consistent with the Anna Karenina effects, whereas fungal communities displayed an opposite trend. The wide tolerance of the core microbiome to environmental gradients may be linked to evolution, acclimatization, and symbiosis. Bacteria, archaea, and fungi have distinct ecological niches and biogeochemical functions in the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole. IMPORTANCE This study comprehensively examined the community dynamics, functional profiles, and interactions of the microbiome in the world's deepest blue hole. The findings revealed a positive correlation between the α-diversities of Symbiodiniaceae and archaea, indicating the potential reliance of Symbiodiniaceae on archaea in an extreme environment resulting from a partial niche overlap. The negative association between the α-diversity and β-diversity of the bacterial community suggested that the change rule of the bacterial community was consistent with the Anna Karenina effects. The core microbiome comprised nine microbial taxa, highlighting their remarkable tolerance and adaptability to sharp environmental gradient variations. Bacteria and archaea played significant roles in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, while fungi contributed to carbon metabolism. This study advanced our understanding of the community dynamics, response patterns, and resilience of microorganisms populating the world's deepest blue hole, thereby facilitating further ecological and evolutional exploration of microbiomes in diverse extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid37860235, year = {2023}, author = {De-la-Vega-Camarillo, E and Hernández-García, JA and Villa-Tanaca, L and Hernández-Rodríguez, C}, title = {Unlocking the hidden potential of Mexican teosinte seeds: revealing plant growth-promoting bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1247814}, pmid = {37860235}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The bacterial component of plant holobiont maintains valuable interactions that contribute to plants' growth, adaptation, stress tolerance, and antagonism to some phytopathogens. Teosinte is the grass plant recognized as the progenitor of modern maize, domesticated by pre-Hispanic civilizations around 9,000 years ago. Three teosinte species are recognized: Zea diploperennis, Zea perennis, and Zea mays. In this work, the bacterial diversity of three species of Mexican teosinte seeds was explored by massive sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. Streptomyces, Acinetobacter, Olivibacter, Erwinia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Cellvibrio, Achromobacter, Devosia, Lysobacter, Sphingopyxis, Stenotrophomonas, Ochrobactrum, Delftia, Lactobacillus, among others, were the bacterial genera mainly represented. The bacterial alpha diversity in the seeds of Z. diploperennis was the highest, while the alpha diversity in Z. mays subsp. mexicana race was the lowest observed among the species and races. The Mexican teosintes analyzed had a core bacteriome of 38 bacterial genera, including several recognized plant growth promoters or fungal biocontrol agents such as Agrobacterium, Burkholderia, Erwinia, Lactobacillus, Ochrobactrum, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, among other. Metabolic inference analysis by PICRUSt2 of bacterial genera showed several pathways related to plant growth promotion (PGP), biological control, and environmental adaptation. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, as they highlight the existence of an exceptional bacterial germplasm reservoir teeming with potential plant growth promotion bacteria (PGPB). This reserve holds the key to cultivating innovative bioinoculants and formidable fungal antagonistic strains, thereby paving the way for a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to agriculture. Embracing these novel NGS-based techniques and understanding the profound impact of the vertical transference of microorganisms from seeds could revolutionize the future of agriculture and develop a new era of symbiotic harmony between plants and microbes.}, } @article {pmid37857737, year = {2023}, author = {Kishimoto, M and Gornik, SG and Foulkes, NS and Guse, A}, title = {Negative phototaxis in the photosymbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia as a potential strategy to protect symbionts from photodamage.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {17857}, pmid = {37857737}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {NFRFE-2019-00189//Government of Canada/ ; 724715//H2020 European Research Council/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Phototaxis ; Photosynthesis ; Light ; Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; }, abstract = {Photosymbiotic cnidarians generally seek bright environments so that their symbionts can be photosynthetically active. However, excess light may result in a breakdown of symbiosis due to the accumulation of photodamage in symbionts causing symbiont loss (bleaching). It is currently unknown if photosymbiotic cnidarians sense light only to regulate spawning time and to facilitate predation, or whether they also use their light-sensing capacities to protect their symbionts from photodamage. In this study, we examined how the sea anemone Aiptasia changes its behaviour when exposed to excess light. We reveal that Aiptasia polyps, when carrying symbionts, contract their bodies when exposed to high light intensities and subsequently migrate away in a direction perpendicular to the light source. Interestingly, this negative phototaxis was only evident under blue light and absent upon UV, green and red light exposure. Non-symbiotic Aiptasia did not exhibit this light response. Our study demonstrates that photosymbiotic Aiptasia polyps display negative phototactic behaviour in response to blue light, and that they also can perceive its direction, despite lacking specialized eye structures. We postulate that Aiptasia uses blue light, which penetrates seawater efficiently, as a general proxy for sunlight exposure to protect its symbionts from photodamage.}, } @article {pmid37857037, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, Z and Liu, H and Xie, F}, title = {Cellular and molecular basis of symbiotic nodule development.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {102478}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102478}, pmid = {37857037}, issn = {1879-0356}, abstract = {Root nodule development plays a vital role in establishing the mutualistic relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Two primary processes are involved in nodule development: formative cell divisions in the root cortex and the subsequent differentiation of nodule cells. The first process involves the mitotic reactivation of differentiated root cortex cells to form nodule primordium after perceiving symbiotic signals. The second process enables the nascent nodule primordium cells to develop into various cell types, leading to the creation of a functional nodule capable of supporting nitrogen fixation. Thus, both division and differentiation of nodule cells are crucial for root nodule development. This review provides an overview of the most recent advancements in comprehending the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic nodule development in legumes.}, } @article {pmid37855643, year = {2023}, author = {Villabona, N and Moran, N and Hammer, T and Reyes, A}, title = {Conserved, yet disruption-prone, gut microbiomes in neotropical bumblebees.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0013923}, doi = {10.1128/msphere.00139-23}, pmid = {37855643}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {Bumblebees are important pollinators in natural ecosystems and agriculture, but many species are declining. Temperate-zone bumblebees have host-specific and beneficial gut microbiomes, which may have a role in mediating the effects of stressors. However, there is almost no published information on the gut microbiomes of tropical bumblebees. As temperate and tropical bumblebees encounter different floral resources and environmental conditions, their microbiomes could differ. Here, we characterized the gut microbiomes of four neotropical Bombus species and, for comparison, co-occurring solitary bees (genus Thygater). We collected wild-foraging bees from multiple sites in central Colombia and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize their gut microbiomes. DNA barcoding and morphology were used to identify bumblebee species. We found that the microbiomes of neotropical bumblebees cluster with those of closely related temperate-zone species, in agreement with a model of bumblebee-symbiont codiversification. There was no evidence of geographic differences in microbiome composition between neotropical and temperate-zone bumblebees. These results suggest that the microbiome was conserved during bumblebee dispersal from North America, despite major shifts in ecology and life history. As previously observed in temperate-zone species, some neotropical bumblebees have highly disrupted microbiomes, in which conserved gut bacterial symbionts are replaced by environmental microbes. In these individuals, the gut microbial profile is more like that of solitary bees than of conspecifics. The gut parasites Nosema and Crithidia are also prevalent and associated with microbiome disruption. Our findings provide insights into the biogeography of bee microbiomes and a foundation for studying bee-microbe-stressor interactions in the neotropics. IMPORTANCE Social bees are an important model for the ecology and evolution of gut microbiomes. These bees harbor ancient, specific, and beneficial gut microbiomes and are crucial pollinators. However, most of the research has concentrated on managed honeybees and bumblebees in the temperate zone. Here we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize gut microbiomes in wild neotropical bumblebee communities from Colombia. We also analyzed drivers of microbiome structure across our data and previously published data from temperate bumblebees. Our results show that lineages of neotropical bumblebees not only retained their ancient gut bacterial symbionts during dispersal from North America but also are prone to major disruption, a shift that is strongly associated with parasite infection. Finally, we also found that microbiomes are much more strongly structured by host phylogeny than by geography, despite the very different environmental conditions and plant communities in the two regions.}, } @article {pmid37853476, year = {2023}, author = {Nakamura, Y and Itagaki, H and Tuji, A and Shimode, S and Yamaguchi, A and Hidaka, K and Ogiso-Tanaka, E}, title = {DNA metabarcoding focused on difficult-to-culture protists: An effective approach to clarify biological interactions.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16524}, pmid = {37853476}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//Fisheries Research and Education Agency of Japan/ ; JP20K15589//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {DNA metabarcoding on a single organism is a promising approach to clarify the biological interactions (e.g., predator-prey relationships and symbiosis, including parasitism) of difficult-to-culture protists. To evaluate the effectiveness of this method, Radiolaria and Phaeodaria, which are ecologically important protistan groups, were chosen as target taxa. DNA metabarcoding on a single organism focused on the V9 region of the 18S rRNA gene revealed potential symbionts, parasites and food sources of Radiolaria and Phaeodaria. Previously reported hosts and symbionts (parasites) were detected, and newly recognized combinations were also identified. The contained organisms largely differed between Radiolaria and Phaeodaria. In Radiolaria, members of the same order tended to contain similar organisms, and the taxonomic composition of possible symbionts, parasites, and food sources was fixed at the species level. Members of the same phaeodarian family, however, did not contain similar organisms, and body part (i.e., the central capsule or the phaeodium) was the most important factor that divided the taxonomic composition of detected organisms, implying that the selection of appropriate body part is important when trying to ascertain contained organisms, even for unicellular zooplankton. Our results show that DNA metabarcoding on a single organism is effective in revealing the biological interactions of difficult-to-culture protists.}, } @article {pmid37853218, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Guan, C and Chen, C and Fu, Z and Wang, R and Zhang, Q and Yu, Z and Huang, H}, title = {The effects of earthworm inoculation on cadmium-contaminated rice field in Southern China: a pot experiment and a field test.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37853218}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Currently, the effects of earthworm inoculation on cadmium-contaminated rice field remain unclear. In this study, four treatments were tested, including rice monoculture (CK), earthworm inoculation with low density (L, 30 g/m[2]), middle density (M, 60 g/m[2]), and high density (H, 90 g/m[2]). The pot and field experiment were conducted in Hunan Province, China. In the pot experiment, the H treatment significantly decreased the available cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 5.21% ~ 16.51%, and the M treatment significantly decreased in 0 ~ 10 cm soil by 7.29% ~ 8.96%. The H treatment significantly decreased the total cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 5 cm soil by 10.36%. Moreover, the earthworm inoculation treatments significantly reduced cadmium accumulation in rice organs. In the field experiment, the M and H treatment decreased the available cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 14.05% ~ 47.52% and the H treatment decreased the total cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 0.78% ~ 5.75% although there was no significant difference. Furthermore, the earthworm inoculation treatments significantly decreased cadmium accumulation in part of rice organs. In conclusion, this study recommends that earthworm inoculation is an effective method of controlling cadmium contamination for rice production.}, } @article {pmid37853100, year = {2023}, author = {Yoshioka, Y and Chiu, YL and Uchida, T and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Shinzato, C}, title = {Genes possibly related to symbiosis in early life stages of Acropora tenuis inoculated with Symbiodinium microadriaticum.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {1027}, pmid = {37853100}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {20J21301//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 23KJ2129//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 18H02270//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 21H04742//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 20H03066//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 20H03235//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 20K21860//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; }, abstract = {Due to the ecological importance of mutualism between reef-building corals and symbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae), various transcriptomic studies on coral-algal symbiosis have been performed; however, molecular mechanisms, especially genes essential to initiate and maintain these symbioses remain unknown. We investigated transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis to inoculation with the native algal symbiont, Symbiodinium microadriaticum, during early life stages, and identified possible symbiosis-related genes. Genes involved in immune regulation, protection against oxidative stress, and metabolic interactions between partners are particularly important for symbiosis during Acropora early life stages. In addition, molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that some possible symbiosis-related genes originated by gene duplication in the Acropora lineage, suggesting that gene duplication may have been the driving force to establish stable mutualism in Acropora, and that symbiotic molecular mechanisms may vary among coral lineages.}, } @article {pmid37851914, year = {2023}, author = {Mongès, A and Yaakoub, H and Bidon, B and Glévarec, G and Héricourt, F and Carpin, S and Chauderon, L and Drašarová, L and Spíchal, L and Binder, BM and Papon, N and Rochange, S}, title = {Are Histidine Kinases of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Involved in the Response to Ethylene and Cytokinins?.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {MPMI05230056R}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-23-0056-R}, pmid = {37851914}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {Signals are exchanged at all stages of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis between fungi and their host plants. Root-exuded strigolactones are well-known early symbiotic cues, but the role of other phytohormones as interkingdom signals has seldom been investigated. Here we focus on ethylene and cytokinins, for which candidate receptors have been identified in the genome of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Ethylene is known from the literature to affect asymbiotic development of AM fungi, and in the present study, we found that three cytokinin forms could stimulate spore germination in R. irregularis. Heterologous complementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain with the candidate ethylene receptor RiHHK6 suggested that this protein can sense and transduce an ethylene signal. Accordingly, its N-terminal domain expressed in Pichia pastoris displayed saturable binding to radiolabeled ethylene. Thus, RiHHK6 displays the expected characteristics of an ethylene receptor. In contrast, the candidate cytokinin receptor RiHHK7 did not complement the S. cerevisiae mutant strain or Medicago truncatula cytokinin receptor mutants and seemed unable to bind cytokinins, suggesting that another receptor is involved in the perception of these phytohormones. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that AM fungi respond to a range of phytohormones and that these compounds bear multiple functions in the rhizosphere beyond their known roles as internal plant developmental regulators. Our analysis of two phytohormone receptor candidates also sheds new light on the possible perception mechanisms in AM fungi. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid36945377, year = {2023}, author = {Septer, AN and Sharpe, G and Shook, EA}, title = {The Vibrio fischeri type VI secretion system incurs a fitness cost under host-like conditions.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36945377}, abstract = {The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is an interbacterial weapon composed of thousands of protein subunits and predicted to require significant cellular energy to deploy, yet a fitness cost from T6SS use is rarely observed. Here, we identify host-like conditions where the T6SS incurs a fitness cost using the beneficial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, which uses its T6SS to eliminate competitors in the natural squid host. We hypothesized that a fitness cost for the T6SS could be dependent on the cellular energetic state and used theoretical ATP cost estimates to predict when a T6SS-dependent fitness cost may be apparent. Theoretical energetic cost estimates predicted a minor relative cost for T6SS use in fast-growing populations (0.4-0.45% of total ATP used cell[-1]), and a higher relative cost (3.1-13.6%) for stationary phase cells. Consistent with these predictions, we observed no significant T6SS-dependent fitness cost for fast-growing populations typically used for competition assays. However, the stationary phase cell density was significantly lower in the wild-type strain, compared to a regulator mutant that does not express the T6SS, and this T6SS-dependent fitness cost was between 11 and 23%. Such a fitness cost could influence the prevalence and biogeography of T6SSs in animal-associated bacteria. While the T6SS may be required in kill or be killed scenarios, once the competitor is eliminated there is no longer selective pressure to maintain the weapon. Our findings indicate an evolved genotype lacking the T6SS would have a growth advantage over its parent, resulting in the eventual dominance of the unarmed population.}, } @article {pmid37850924, year = {2023}, author = {Sacande, M and Muir, G}, title = {Restoring Food Systems with Nutritious Native Plants: Experiences from the African Drylands.}, journal = {Food and nutrition bulletin}, volume = {44}, number = {2_suppl}, pages = {S58-S68}, doi = {10.1177/03795721231190779}, pmid = {37850924}, issn = {1564-8265}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Twenty-seven African countries have committed to restore more than 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 as part of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). In addition, for the same period of time, the African-led Great Green Wall initiative seeks to restore 100 million hectares of degraded agro-sylvo-pastoral lands in the Sahel. The current UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) moreover marks an unprecedented opportunity to shape future landscapes, and forge more biodiverse and nutritious food systems. Yet most large-scale restoration actions continue to be largely isolated from socioeconomic challenges facing dryland communities, not least food security and acute malnutrition. Such isolations contribute to low restoration successes and outcomes in Africa's drylands. At the same time, international interventions aimed at improving acute malnutrition in the drylands have not adequately considered the agriculture-nutrition linkages, particularly "pre-farm gate"-including consumption pathways which optimize the use of native plant diversity.

OBJECTIVES: This article identifies priority action areas emerging from experiences over 5 years of restoration activities carried out in the Sahel through Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Action Against Desertification Programme supporting the implementation of Africa's Great Green Wall. These actions aim to inform development and humanitarian interventions on the ground to render restoration interventions nutrition-sensitive and hence more effective in practice.

RESULTS: Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between landscapes and livelihoods, FAO developed a blueprint for large-scale restoration that combines biophysical and socioeconomic aspects for the benefit of rural communities. The approach builds climate and nutritional resilience into its restoration interventions as a preventative approach to reverse land degradation and ultimately improve livelihoods, food security, and nutrition.

CONCLUSIONS: FAO's experience demonstrated that what is planted and when has the potential to not only significantly improve biodiversity and reverse land degradation, but also positively influence nutrition outcomes. Future interventions in the drylands must involve joint efforts between nutritionists and natural resource managem prove both human and planetary health.}, } @article {pmid37850753, year = {2023}, author = {García-Tomsig, NI and García-Rodriguez, FM and Guedes-García, SK and Millán, V and Becker, A and Robledo, M and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {A double-negative feedback loop between NtrBC and a small RNA rewires nitrogen metabolism in legume symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0200323}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.02003-23}, pmid = {37850753}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {The nitrogen (N) status transduced via the NtrBC two-component system is a major signaling cue in the root nodule endosymbiosis of diazotrophic rhizobia with legumes. NtrBC is upregulated in the N-limiting rhizosphere environment at the onset of nodulation but silenced in nodules to favor the assimilation of the fixed N into plant biomass. We reported that the trans-acting sRNA NfeR1 (Nodule Formation Efficiency RNA) broadly influences the symbiotic performance of the α-rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Here, we show that NfeR1 is indeed an N-responsive sRNA that fine-tunes NtrBC output during the symbiotic transition. Biochemical and genetic approaches unveiled that NtrC and the LysR-type symbiotic regulator LsrB bind at distinct nearby sites in the NfeR1 promoter, acting antagonistically as repressor and activator of transcription, respectively. This complex transcriptional control specifies peak NfeR1 steady-state levels in N-starved and endosymbiotic bacteria. Furthermore, NfeR1 base pairs the translation initiation region of the histidine kinase coding mRNA ntrB, causing a decrease in both NtrB and NtrC abundance as assessed by double-plasmid genetic assays. In the context of endogenous regulation, NfeR1-mediated ntrBC silencing most likely amends the effective strength of the known operon autorepression exerted by NtrC. Accordingly, a lack of NfeR1 shifts the wild-type NtrBC output, restraining the fitness of free-living rhizobia under N stress and plant growth upon nodulation. The mixed NtrBC-NfeR1 double-negative feedback loop is thus an unprecedented adaptive network motif that helps α-rhizobia adjust N metabolism to the demands of an efficient symbiosis with legume plants. IMPORTANCE Root nodule endosymbioses between diazotrophic rhizobia and legumes provide the largest input of combined N to the biosphere, thus representing an alternative to harmful chemical fertilizers for sustainable crop production. Rhizobia have evolved intricate strategies to coordinate N assimilation for their own benefit with N2 fixation to sustain plant growth. The rhizobial N status is transduced by the NtrBC two-component system, the seemingly ubiquitous form of N signal transduction in Proteobacteria. Here, we show that the regulatory sRNA NfeR1 (nodule formation efficiency RNA) of the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is transcribed from a complex promoter repressed by NtrC in a N-dependent manner and feedback silences ntrBC by complementary base-pairing. These findings unveil a more prominent role of NtrC as a transcriptional repressor than hitherto anticipated and a novel RNA-based mechanism for NtrBC regulation. The NtrBC-NfeR1 double-negative feedback loop accurately rewires symbiotic S. meliloti N metabolism and is likely conserved in α-rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid37850034, year = {2023}, author = {Gultyaev, AP and Koster, C and van Batenburg, DC and Sistermans, T and van Belle, N and Vijfvinkel, D and Roussis, A}, title = {Conserved structured domains in plant non-coding RNA enod40, their evolution and recruitment of sequences from transposable elements.}, journal = {NAR genomics and bioinformatics}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {lqad091}, pmid = {37850034}, issn = {2631-9268}, abstract = {Plant long noncoding RNA enod40 is involved in the regulation of symbiotic associations with bacteria, in particular, in nitrogen-fixing root nodules of legumes, and with fungi in phosphate-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhizae formed by various plants. The presence of enod40 genes in plants that do not form such symbioses indicates its other roles in cell physiology. The molecular mechanisms of enod40 RNA function are poorly understood. Enod40 RNAs form several structured domains, conserved to different extents. Due to relatively low sequence similarity, identification of enod40 sequences in plant genomes is not straightforward, and many enod40 genes remain unannotated even in complete genomes. Here, we used comparative structure analysis and sequence similarity searches in order to locate enod40 genes and determine enod40 RNA structures in nitrogen-fixing clade plants and in grasses. The structures combine conserved features with considerable diversity of structural elements, including insertions of structured domain modules originating from transposable elements. Remarkably, these insertions contain sequences similar to tandem repeats and several stem-loops are homologous to microRNA precursors.}, } @article {pmid37849822, year = {2023}, author = {Arrieta-Echeverri, MC and Fernandez, GJ and Duarte-Riveros, A and Correa-Álvarez, J and Bardales, JA and Villanueva-Mejía, DF and Sierra-Zapata, L}, title = {Multi-omics characterization of the microbial populations and chemical space composition of a water kefir fermentation.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1223863}, pmid = {37849822}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {In recent years, the popularity of fermented foods has strongly increased based on their proven health benefits and the adoption of new trends among consumers. One of these health-promoting products is water kefir, which is a fermented sugary beverage based on kefir grains (symbiotic colonies of yeast, lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria). According to previous knowledge and the uniqueness of each water kefir fermentation, the following project aimed to explore the microbial and chemical composition of a water kefir fermentation and its microbial consortium, through the integration of culture-dependent methods, compositional metagenomics, and untargeted metabolomics. These methods were applied in two types of samples: fermentation grains (inoculum) and fermentation samples collected at different time points. A strains culture collection of ∼90 strains was established by means of culture-dependent methods, mainly consisting of individuals of Pichia membranifaciens, Acetobacter orientalis, Lentilactobacillus hilgardii, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Acetobacter pomorum, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, Pichia kudriavzevii, Acetobacter pasteurianus, Schleiferilactobacillus harbinensis, and Kazachstania exigua, which can be further studied for their use in synthetic consortia formulation. In addition, metabarcoding of each fermentation time was done by 16S and ITS sequencing for bacteria and yeast, respectively. The results show strong population shifts of the microbial community during the fermentation time course, with an enrichment of microbial groups after 72 h of fermentation. Metataxonomics results revealed Lactobacillus and Acetobacter as the dominant genera for lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria, whereas, for yeast, P. membranifaciens was the dominant species. In addition, correlation and systematic analyses of microbial growth patterns and metabolite richness allowed the recognition of metabolic enrichment points between 72 and 96 h and correlation between microbial groups and metabolite abundance (e.g., Bile acid conjugates and Acetobacter tropicalis). Metabolomic analysis also evidenced the production of bioactive compounds in this fermented matrix, which have been associated with biological activities, including antimicrobial and antioxidant. Interestingly, the chemical family of Isoschaftosides (C-glycosyl flavonoids) was also found, representing an important finding since this compound, with hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity, had not been previously reported in this matrix. We conclude that the integration of microbial biodiversity, cultured species, and chemical data enables the identification of relevant microbial population patterns and the detection of specific points of enrichment during the fermentation process of a food matrix, which enables the future design of synthetic microbial consortia, which can be used as targeted probiotics for digestive and metabolic health.}, } @article {pmid37849466, year = {2023}, author = {Bennett, EM and Murray, JW and Isalan, M}, title = {Engineering Nitrogenases for Synthetic Nitrogen Fixation: From Pathway Engineering to Directed Evolution.}, journal = {Biodesign research}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {0005}, pmid = {37849466}, issn = {2693-1257}, abstract = {Globally, agriculture depends on industrial nitrogen fertilizer to improve crop growth. Fertilizer production consumes fossil fuels and contributes to environmental nitrogen pollution. A potential solution would be to harness nitrogenases-enzymes capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen N2 to NH3 in ambient conditions. It is therefore a major goal of synthetic biology to engineer functional nitrogenases into crop plants, or bacteria that form symbiotic relationships with crops, to support growth and reduce dependence on industrially produced fertilizer. This review paper highlights recent work toward understanding the functional requirements for nitrogenase expression and manipulating nitrogenase gene expression in heterologous hosts to improve activity and oxygen tolerance and potentially to engineer synthetic symbiotic relationships with plants.}, } @article {pmid37848699, year = {2023}, author = {Klinsawat, W and Uthaipaisanwong, P and Jenjaroenpun, P and Sripiboon, S and Wongsurawat, T and Kusonmano, K}, title = {Microbiome variations among age classes and diets of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand using full-length 16S rRNA nanopore sequencing.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {17685}, pmid = {37848699}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {Project ID N42A660897//National Research Council of Thailand/ ; }, abstract = {Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is the national symbol of Thailand and linked to Thai history and culture for centuries. The elephant welfare improvement is one of the major components to achieve sustainable captive management. Microbiome inhabiting digestive tracts have been shown with symbiotic relations to host health. This work provided high-resolution microbiome profiles of 32 captive elephants at a species level by utilizing full-length 16S rRNA gene nanopore sequencing. Eleven common uncultured bacterial species were found across elephants fed with solid food including uncultured bacterium Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Kiritimatiellae WCHB1-41, Phascolarctobacterium, Oscillospiraceae NK4A214 group, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Oribacterium, Oscillospirales UCG-010, Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroidales F082, uncultured rumen Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, and Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group. We observed microbiome shifts along the age classes of baby (0-2 years), juvenile (2-10 years), and adult (> 10 years). Interestingly, we found distinct microbiome profiles among adult elephants fed with a local palm, Caryota urens, as a supplement. Potential beneficial microbes have been revealed according to the age classes and feed diets. The retrieved microbiome data could be provided as good baseline microbial profiles for monitoring elephant health, suggesting further studies towards dietary selection suitable for each age class and the use of local supplementary diets.}, } @article {pmid37848653, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, W and Ahmed, W and Mahmood, M and Li, W and Mehmood, S}, title = {Physiological and biochemical responses of soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum to doxycycline hydrochloride exposure.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {17665}, pmid = {37848653}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {In light of the rapid expansion of the marine aquaculture industry, there has been widespread and irregular usage of aquatic drugs to combat biological diseases, which significantly impact the neighboring aquatic ecosystems. This study delves into the impact of the antibiotic aquatic drug known as doxycycline hydrochloride (DOX) on offshore soft corals, providing valuable data for the responsible use and management of aquatic drugs. In this investigation, we subjected Sarcophyton trocheliophorum to acute exposure to varying concentrations of DOX (0, 1, 5, and 10 mg L[-1]). We meticulously assessed critical parameters and observed alterations in protein levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, Acid phosphatase (ACP) activity, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, glutathione (GSH) concentration, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, zooxanthellae density, and chlorophyll content. Our findings reveal that in the presence of DOX-induced environmental stress, there is a significant increase in LPO, MDA, chlorophyll, carotenoid levels, and the activities of ACP, GST, and GSH-Px in soft corals. Simultaneously, there is a noteworthy decrease in zooxanthellae density. Additionally, the protein concentration and SOD activity in soft corals experience substantial reduction when exposed to 5 mg L[-1] DOX. Notably, CAT activity varies significantly in environments with 1 and 10 mg L[-1] DOX. Moreover, these conditions exhibit a discernible influence on AKP activity, GSH content, and chlorophyll levels. These findings suggest that DOX exposure carries the potential for toxicity in aquaculture settings, affecting protein synthesis in soft corals and influencing oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, immunity, and detoxification processes within these organisms. There is also a risk of compromising the coral defense system, potentially leading to coral bleaching. Furthermore, this study underscores the significant impact on photosynthesis, growth, and the metabolic dynamics of the coral-zooxanthellae symbiotic system. Consequently, our research offers vital insights into the mortality and bleaching effects of aquatic drugs on marine corals, offering a foundation for the prudent use and management of such substances.}, } @article {pmid37848079, year = {2023}, author = {Tong, CY and Kee, CY and Honda, K and Derek, CJC}, title = {Bio-coatings in permeated cultivation systems: Unprecedented impacts on microalgal monoculture growth and organic matter yield.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {117403}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.117403}, pmid = {37848079}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Bio-coating, a recent and promising approach in attached microalgal cultivation systems, has garnered attention due to its efficiency in enhancing immobilized algal growth, particularly in submerged cultivation systems. However, when the cells are cultured on thin solid microporous substrates that physically separate them from the nutrient medium, it remains unclear whether the applied bio-coatings still have a significant impact on algal growth or the subsequent rates of algal organic matter (AOM) release. Therefore, this current work investigated the role of bio-coatings on the microalgal monoculture growth of one freshwater species, Chlorella vulgaris ESP 31, and one marine species, Cylindrotheca fusiformis on a hydrophilic substrate, polyvinylidene fluoride membrane in a permeated cultivation system. Wide range of bio-coating sources were adapted, with the result demonstrating that bacteria-derived coating promoted algal growth by as high as 140% when compared with the control group for both species. Interestingly, two distinct adaptation mechanisms were observed between the species, with only C. fusiformis demonstrating a positive correlation between cell growth and AOM productivity, particularly in its extracellularly bound fractions. It is worth noting that despite this specific fraction exhibiting the lowest content among all; it displayed significant relevance in terms of AOM productivity. High extracellular protein-to-polysaccharide ratio (>5.7 fold) quantified on bacterial intracellular exudate-coated membranes indirectly revealed an underlying symbiotic microalgal-bacterial interaction. This is the first study showing how bio-coating influenced AOM yield without any physical interaction between microalgae and bacteria. It further confirms the practical benefits of bio-coating in attached cultivation systems.}, } @article {pmid37848067, year = {2023}, author = {Sinotte, VM and Renelies-Hamilton, J and Andreu-Sánchez, S and Vasseur-Cognet, M and Poulsen, M}, title = {Selective enrichment of founding reproductive microbiomes allows extensive vertical transmission in a fungus-farming termite.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2009}, pages = {20231559}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.1559}, pmid = {37848067}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Mutualistic coevolution can be mediated by vertical transmission of symbionts between host generations. Termites host complex gut bacterial communities with evolutionary histories indicative of mixed-mode transmission. Here, we document that vertical transmission of gut bacterial strains is congruent across parent to offspring colonies in four pedigrees of the fungus-farming termite Macrotermes natalensis. We show that 44% of the offspring colony microbiome, including more than 80 bacterial genera and pedigree-specific strains, are consistently inherited. We go on to demonstrate that this is achieved because colony-founding reproductives are selectively enriched with a set of non-random, environmentally sensitive and termite-specific gut microbes from their colonies of origin. These symbionts transfer to offspring colony workers with high fidelity, after which priority effects appear to influence the composition of the establishing microbiome. Termite reproductives thus secure transmission of complex communities of specific, co-evolved microbes that are critical to their offspring colonies. Extensive yet imperfect inheritance implies that the maturing colony benefits from acquiring environmental microbes to complement combinations of termite, fungus and vertically transmitted microbes; a mode of transmission that is emerging as a prevailing strategy for hosts to assemble complex adaptive microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid37847957, year = {2023}, author = {Davison, HR and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Hidden from plain sight: Novel Simkaniaceae and Rhabdochlamydiaceae diversity emerging from screening genomic and metagenomic data.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {6}, pages = {126468}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126468}, pmid = {37847957}, issn = {1618-0984}, abstract = {Chlamydiota are an ancient and hyperdiverse phylum of obligate intracellular bacteria. The best characterized representatives are pathogens or parasites of mammals, but it is thought that their most common hosts are microeukaryotes like Amoebozoa. The diversity in taxonomy, evolution, and function of non-pathogenic Chlamydiota are slowly being described. Here we use data mining techniques and genomic analysis to extend our current knowledge of Chlamydiota diversity and its hosts, in particular the Order Parachlamydiales. We extract one Rhabdochlamydiaceae and three Simkaniaceae Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs) from NCBI Short Read Archive deposits of ciliate and algal genome sequencing projects. We then use these to identify a further 14 and 8 MAGs respectively amongst existing, unidentified environmental assemblies. From these data we identify two novel clades with host associated data, for which we propose the names "Sacchlamyda saccharinae" (Family Rhabdochlamydiaceae) and "Amphrikana amoebophyrae" (Family Simkaniaceae), as well as a third new clade of environmental MAGs "Acheromyda pituitae" (Family Rhabdochlamydiaceae). The extent of uncharacterized diversity within the Rhabdochlamydiaceae and Simkaniaceae is indicated by 16 of the 22 MAGs being evolutionarily distant from currently characterised genera. Within our limited data, there was great predicted diversity in Parachlamydiales metabolism and evolution, including the potential for metabolic and defensive symbioses as well as pathogenicity. These data provide an imperative to link genomic diversity in metagenomics data to their associated eukaryotic host, and to develop onward understanding of the functional significance of symbiosis with this hyperdiverse clade.}, } @article {pmid37847414, year = {2023}, author = {Sharma, S and Ganotra, J and Samantaray, J and Sahoo, RK and Bhardwaj, D and Tuteja, N}, title = {An emerging role of heterotrimeric G-proteins in nodulation and nitrogen sensing.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {258}, number = {5}, pages = {101}, pmid = {37847414}, issn = {1432-2048}, abstract = {A comprehensive understanding of nitrogen signaling cascades involving heterotrimeric G-proteins and their putative receptors can assist in the production of nitrogen-efficient plants. Plants are immobile in nature, so they must endure abiotic stresses including nutrient stress. Plant development and agricultural productivity are frequently constrained by the restricted availability of nitrogen in the soil. Non-legume plants acquire nitrogen from the soil through root membrane-bound transporters. In depleted soil nitrogen conditions, legumes are naturally conditioned to fix atmospheric nitrogen with the aid of nodulation elicited by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Moreover, apart from the symbiotic nitrogen fixation process, nitrogen uptake from the soil can also be a significant secondary source to satisfy the nitrogen requirements of legumes. Heterotrimeric G-proteins function as molecular switches to help plant cells relay diverse stimuli emanating from external stress conditions. They are comprised of Gα, Gβ and Gγ subunits, which cooperate with several downstream effectors to regulate multiple plant signaling events. In the present review, we concentrate on signaling mechanisms that regulate plant nitrogen nutrition. Our review highlights the potential of heterotrimeric G-proteins, together with their putative receptors, to assist the legume root nodule symbiosis (RNS) cascade, particularly during calcium spiking and nodulation. Additionally, the functions of heterotrimeric G-proteins in nitrogen acquisition by plant roots as well as in improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) have also been discussed. Future research oriented towards heterotrimeric G-proteins through genome editing tools can be a game changer in the enhancement of the nitrogen fixation process. This will foster the precise manipulation and production of plants to ensure global food security in an era of climate change by enhancing crop productivity and minimizing reliance on external inputs.}, } @article {pmid37845824, year = {2023}, author = {Dagan, R and Dovrat, G and Masci, T and Sheffer, E}, title = {Competition-induced downregulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19322}, pmid = {37845824}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {508/16//Israel Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Controlled experiments at the level of individual plants show that legume species use different strategies for the regulation of symbiotic dinitrogen fixation in response to nitrogen availability. These strategies were suggested to improve legume fitness in the context of the plant community, although rarely studied at this level. We evaluated how nitrogen availability and conspecific vs heterospecific interactions influenced the strategy of regulation of nitrogen fixation. We grew two species of herbaceous legumes representing two different strategies of regulation without interaction, under treatments of deficient and sufficient nitrogen availability, with conspecific or heterospecific interaction. We found that Hymenocarpus circinnatus maintained a facultative strategy of downregulating nitrogen fixation when nitrogen was available under both con- and heterospecific interactions, as was also found for this species when grown alone. Vicia palaestina also downregulated nitrogen fixation under both con- and heterospecific interactions but did not regulate fixation when grown alone. Our results showed that under nitrogen limitation, interaction with a neighboring plant reduced fitness, reflecting a competitive effect. Our findings suggest that when interacting with other plants, downregulation of nitrogen fixation is more likely, therefore reducing the energetic cost of fixation, and improving plant performance in competitive ecological communities, especially when nitrogen is available.}, } @article {pmid37844340, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z and Ma, H and Hong, Z and Zhang, T and Cao, M and Cui, F and Grossart, HP}, title = {Phytoplankton interspecific interactions modified by symbiotic fungi and bacterial metabolites under environmentally relevant hydrogen peroxide concentrations stress.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {246}, number = {}, pages = {120739}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.120739}, pmid = {37844340}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which accumulates in water and triggers oxidative stress for aquatic microbes, has been shown to have profound impacts on planktonic microbial community dynamics including cyanobacterial bloom formation. Yet, potential effects of H2O2 on interspecific relationships of phytoplankton-microbe symbiotic interactions remain unclear. Here, we investigated effects of environmentally relevant H2O2 concentrations on interspecific microbial relationships in algae-microbe symbiosis. Microbes play a crucial role in the competition between M. aeruginosa and Chlorella vulgaris at low H2O2 concentrations (∼400 nM), in which fungi and bacteria protect Microcystis aeruginosa from oxidative stress. Moreover, H2O2 stimulated the synthesis and release of extracellular microcystin-LR from Microcystis aeruginosa, while intracellular microcystin-LR concentrations remained at a relatively constant level. In the presence of H2O2, loss of organoheterocyclic compounds, organic acids and ketones contributed to the growth of M. aeruginosa, but the reduction of vitamins inhibited it. Regulation of interspecific relationships by H2O2 is achieved by its action on fungal species and bacterial secretory metabolites. This study explored the response of phytoplankton interspecific relationships in symbiotic phytoplankton-microbe interactions to environmentally relevant H2O2 concentrations stress, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the formation of harmful-algae blooming and impact of photochemical properties of water on aquatic ecological safety and stability.}, } @article {pmid37844224, year = {2023}, author = {Duncan, RP and Anderson, CMH and Thwaites, DT and Luetje, CW and Wilson, ACC}, title = {Co-option of a conserved host glutamine transporter facilitates aphid/Buchnera metabolic integration.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {43}, pages = {e2308448120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2308448120}, pmid = {37844224}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {DEB-1406631//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; IOS-1354154//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; N/A//Newcastle University NUAcT fellowship/ ; RGS\R1\221113//Royal Society (The Royal Society)/ ; 47690-FR//The Physiological Society Momentum Fellowship/ ; N/A//Rank Prize new lecturer grant/ ; }, abstract = {Organisms across the tree of life colonize novel environments by partnering with bacterial symbionts. These symbioses are characterized by intimate integration of host/endosymbiont biology at multiple levels, including metabolically. Metabolic integration is particularly important for sap-feeding insects and their symbionts, which supplement nutritionally unbalanced host diets. Many studies reveal parallel evolution of host/endosymbiont metabolic complementarity in amino acid biosynthesis, raising questions about how amino acid metabolism is regulated, how regulatory mechanisms evolve, and the extent to which similar mechanisms evolve in different systems. In the aphid/Buchnera symbiosis, the transporter ApGLNT1 (Acyrthosiphon pisum glutamine transporter 1) supplies glutamine, an amino donor in transamination reactions, to bacteriocytes (where Buchnera reside) and is competitively inhibited by Buchnera-supplied arginine-consistent with a role regulating amino acid metabolism given host demand for Buchnera-produced amino acids. We examined how ApGLNT1 evolved a regulatory role by functionally characterizing orthologs in insects with and without endosymbionts. ApGLNT1 orthologs are functionally similar, and orthology searches coupled with homology modeling revealed that GLNT1 is ancient and structurally conserved across insects. Our results indicate that the ApGLNT1 symbiotic regulatory role is derived from its ancestral role and, in aphids, is likely facilitated by loss of arginine biosynthesis through the urea cycle. Given consistent loss of host arginine biosynthesis and retention of endosymbiont arginine supply, we hypothesize that GLNT1 is a general mechanism regulating amino acid metabolism in sap-feeding insects. This work fills a gap, highlighting the broad importance of co-option of ancestral proteins to novel contexts in the evolution of host/symbiont systems.}, } @article {pmid37843647, year = {2023}, author = {Lebrazi, S and Fadil, M and Chraibi, M and Fikri-Benbrahim, K}, title = {Phenotypic, molecular, and symbiotic characterization of the rhizobial symbionts isolated from Acacia saligna grown in different regions in Morocco: a multivariate approach.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {12}, pages = {343}, pmid = {37843647}, issn = {1573-0972}, abstract = {The introduced species Acacia saligna is a very promiscuous host as it can be efficiently nodulated with a wide range diversity of rhizobia taxa, including both fast and slow-growing strains. Fourteen nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria were isolated from root nodules of wild Acacia saligna growing in distinct geographic locations in Morocco and were examined for their symbiotic efficiency and phenotypic properties. Multivariate tools, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), were used to study the correlation between phenotypic and symbiotic variables and discriminate and describe the similarities between different isolated bacteria with respect to all the phenotypic and symbiotic variables. Phenotypic characterization showed a variable response to extreme temperature, salinity and soil pH. At the plant level, the nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and the shoot and root dry weights were considered. The obtained results show that some of the tested isolates exhibit remarkable tolerances to the studied abiotic stresses while showing significant N2 fixation, indicating their usefulness as effective candidates for the inoculation of acacia trees. The PCA also allowed showing the isolates groups that present a similarity with evaluated phenotypic and symbiotic parameters. The genotypic identification of N2-fixing bacteria, carried out by the 16S rDNA approach, showed a variable genetic diversity among the 14 identified isolates, and their belonging to three different genera, namely Agrobacterium, Phyllobacterium and Rhizobium.}, } @article {pmid37843377, year = {2023}, author = {Ang, WSL and Burleigh, O and Frail, S and Santos, YVS and Tyagi, B and Li, FW}, title = {Genome sequence of a symbiotic cyanobacterium from the flowering plant Gunnera tinctoria.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0056323}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00563-23}, pmid = {37843377}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Metagenomic analysis of the symbiotic cyanobacteria colonies within Gunnera tinctoria stems revealed a new strain of Nostoc. Here, we report its genome sequence.}, } @article {pmid37843034, year = {2023}, author = {Pathak, PK and Yadav, N and Kaladhar, VC and Jaiswal, R and Kumari, A and Igamberdiev, AU and Loake, GJ and Gupta, KJ}, title = {The emerging roles of nitric oxide and its associated scavengers, phytoglobins, in plant-symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad399}, pmid = {37843034}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {A key feature in the establishment of symbiosis between plants and microbes is the maintenance of the balance between the production of the small redox-related molecule, nitric oxide (NO) and its cognate scavenging pathways. During the establishment of symbiosis, a transition from a normoxic to a microoxic environment often takes place triggering the production of NO from nitrite via a reductive production pathway. Plant hemoglobins (phytoglobins) are a central tenant of NO scavenging, with NO homeostasis maintained via the phytoglobin-NO cycle. While the first plant hemoglobin (leghemoglobin), associated with the symbiotic relationship between leguminous plants and bacterial Rhizobium species, was discovered in 1939, most other plant hemoglobins, identified only in the 1990s, were considered as non-symbiotic. From recent studies, it is becoming evident that the role of Phytogbs1 in the establishment and maintenance of plant-bacterial and plant-fungal symbiosis is also essential in roots. Consequently, the division of plant hemoglobins into symbiotic and non-symbiotic groups becomes less justified. While the main function of Phytogbs1 is related to the regulation of NO levels, participation of these proteins in the establishment of symbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms represents another important dimension among the other processes in which these key redox-regulatory proteins play a central role.}, } @article {pmid37842253, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, YJ and Kang, HJ and Yi, SH and Jung, YH}, title = {Antioxidant Properties of Kombucha Made with Tartary Buckwheat Tea and Burdock Tea.}, journal = {Preventive nutrition and food science}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {347-352}, pmid = {37842253}, issn = {2287-1098}, abstract = {Kombucha is a beverage fermented by SCOBY, which is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Recently, kombucha has received significant attention due to its health benefits, which include antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of kombucha made with Tartary buckwheat and burdock, both known for their high polyphenols content. First, the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assays, which revealed a polyphenol content of 180 ug/mL in Tartary buckwheat kombucha and a high radical scavenging ability of over 90% in both kombucha preparations. Analysis of the changes in the organic acid content during fermentation revealed increases in various organic acid contents, such as glucuronic acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid. Glucuronic acid, especially, which has many functional properties in health, was found to be produced at a concentration of 4.03 g/L in Tartary buckwheat kombucha. Pancreatic lipase inhibitory ability analysis revealed inhibitory effects of 40.47% and 57.68% for Tartary buckwheat and burdock kombucha, respectively. The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant and anti-obesity effects of kombucha made from Tartary buckwheat and burdock, indicating the potential value of these ingredients as functional kombucha ingredients.}, } @article {pmid37841893, year = {2023}, author = {Xiang, X and Vilar Gomez, AA and Blomberg, SP and Yuan, H and Degnan, BM and Degnan, SM}, title = {Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica.}, journal = {Frontiers in neural circuits}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {1250694}, pmid = {37841893}, issn = {1662-5110}, abstract = {Interkingdom signalling within a holobiont allows host and symbionts to communicate and to regulate each other's physiological and developmental states. Here we show that a suite of signalling molecules that function as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in most animals with nervous systems, specifically dopamine and trace amines, are produced exclusively by the bacterial symbionts of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Although sponges do not possess a nervous system, A. queenslandica expresses rhodopsin class G-protein-coupled receptors that are structurally similar to dopamine and trace amine receptors. When sponge larvae, which express these receptors, are exposed to agonists and antagonists of bilaterian dopamine and trace amine receptors, we observe marked changes in larval phototactic swimming behaviour, consistent with the sponge being competent to recognise and respond to symbiont-derived trace amine signals. These results indicate that monoamines synthesised by bacterial symbionts may be able to influence the physiology of the host sponge.}, } @article {pmid37840369, year = {2023}, author = {Chrismas, N and Tindall-Jones, B and Jenkins, H and Harley, J and Bird, K and Cunliffe, M}, title = {Metatranscriptomics reveals diversity of symbiotic interaction and mechanisms of carbon exchange in the marine cyanolichen Lichina pygmaea.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19320}, pmid = {37840369}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 206194/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Lichens are exemplar symbioses based upon carbon exchange between photobionts and their mycobiont hosts. Historically considered a two-way relationship, some lichen symbioses have been shown to contain multiple photobiont partners; however, the way in which these photobiont communities react to environmental change is poorly understood. Lichina pygmaea is a marine cyanolichen that inhabits rocky seashores where it is submerged in seawater during every tidal cycle. Recent work has indicated that L. pygmaea has a complex photobiont community including the cyanobionts Rivularia and Pleurocapsa. We performed rRNA-based metabarcoding and mRNA metatranscriptomics of the L. pygmaea holobiont at high and low tide to investigate community response to immersion in seawater. Carbon exchange in L. pygmaea is a dynamic process, influenced by both tidal cycle and the biology of the individual symbiotic components. The mycobiont and two cyanobiont partners exhibit distinct transcriptional responses to seawater hydration. Sugar-based compatible solutes produced by Rivularia and Pleurocapsa in response to seawater are a potential source of carbon to the mycobiont. We propose that extracellular processing of photobiont-derived polysaccharides is a fundamental step in carbon acquisition by L. pygmaea and is analogous to uptake of plant-derived carbon in ectomycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37839742, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, XR and Wang, R and Tang, CC and Varrone, C and He, ZW and Li, ZH and Wang, XC}, title = {Advances, challenges, and prospects in microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system treating heavy metal wastewater.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {140448}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140448}, pmid = {37839742}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Heavy metal (HM) pollution, particularly in its ionic form in water bodies, is a chronic issue threatening environmental security and human health. The microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system, as the basis of water ecosystems, has the potential to treat HM wastewater in a sustainable manner, with the advantages of environmental friendliness and carbon sequestration. However, the differences between laboratory studies and engineering practices, including the complexity of pollutant compositions and extreme environmental conditions, limit the applications of the MABS system. Additionally, the biomass from the MABS system containing HMs requires further disposal or recycling. This review summarized the recent advances of the MABS system treating HM wastewater, including key mechanisms, influence factors related to HM removal, and the tolerance threshold values of the MABS system to HM toxicity. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of the MABS system in treating actual HM wastewater are analyzed and discussed, and suggestions for biochar preparation from the MABS biomass containing HMs are provided. This review provides a reference point for the MABS system treating HM wastewater and the corresponding challenges faced by future engineering practices.}, } @article {pmid37838471, year = {2023}, author = {Klure, DM and Dearing, MD}, title = {Seasonal restructuring facilitates compositional convergence of gut microbiota in free-ranging rodents.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad127}, pmid = {37838471}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Gut microbes provide essential services to their host and shifts in their composition can impact host fitness. However, despite advances in our understanding of how microbes are assembled in the gut, we understand little about the stability of these communities within individuals, nor what factors influence its composition over the life of an animal. For this reason, we conducted a longitudinal survey of the gut microbial communities of individual free-ranging woodrats (Neotoma spp.) across a hybrid zone in the Mojave Desert, USA, using amplicon sequencing approaches to characterize gut microbial profiles and diet. We found that gut microbial communities were individualized and experienced compositional restructuring as a result of seasonal transitions and changes in diet. Turnover of gut microbiota was highest amongst bacterial subspecies and was much lower at the rank of Family, suggesting there may be selection for conservation of core microbial functions in the woodrat gut. Lastly, we identified an abundant core gut bacterial community that may aid woodrats in metabolizing a diet of plants and their specialized metabolites. These results demonstrate that the gut microbial communities of woodrats are highly dynamic and experience seasonal restructuring which may facilitate adaptive plasticity in response to changes in diet.}, } @article {pmid37836386, year = {2023}, author = {Abaidullah, M and La, S and Liu, M and Liu, B and Cui, Y and Wang, Z and Sun, H and Ma, S and Shi, Y}, title = {Polysaccharide from Smilax glabra Roxb Mitigates Intestinal Mucosal Damage by Therapeutically Restoring the Interactions between Gut Microbiota and Innate Immune Functions.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {37836386}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {22IRTSTHN022//Modern Agroindustry Technology Research System of China (CARS-34) and Science and Technology Innovation Team of Henan Province High Quality Forage and Animal Health/ ; }, abstract = {Smilax glabra Roxb (S. glabra) is a conventional Chinese medicine that is mainly used for the reliability of inflammation. However, bioactive polysaccharides from S. glabra (SGPs) have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that SGPs preserve the integrity of the gut epithelial layer and protect against intestinal mucosal injury induced by dextran sulfate sodium. Mechanistically, SGPs mitigated colonic mucosal injury by restoring the association between the gut flora and innate immune functions. In particular, SGPs increased the number of goblet cells, reduced the proportion of apoptotic cells, improved the differentiation of gut tight junction proteins, and enhanced mucin production in the gut epithelial layer. Moreover, SGPs endorsed the propagation of probiotic bacteria, including Lachnospiraceae bacterium, which strongly correlated with decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via the blocking of the TLR-4 NF-κB and MyD88 pathways. Overall, our study establishes a novel use of SGPs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated mucosal injury and provides a basis for understanding the therapeutic effects of natural polysaccharides from the perspective of symbiotic associations between host innate immune mechanisms and the gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37836161, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Wang, N and Li, S and Wang, J and Feng, Y and Wang, E and Li, Y and Yang, T and Chen, W}, title = {The Effect of Different Rhizobial Symbionts on the Composition and Diversity of Rhizosphere Microorganisms of Chickpea in Different Soils.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {37836161}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {31970006//National Nature Science Foundation of China/ ; 22HASTIT035//Henan University Science and Technology Innovation Talent Support Program/ ; SIP20200726//IPN, Mexico/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is currently the third most important legume crop in the world. It could form root nodules with its symbiotic rhizobia in soils and perform bio-nitrogen fixation. Mesorhizobium ciceri is a prevalent species in the world, except China, where Mesorhizobium muleiense is the main species associated with chickpea. There were significant differences in the competitive ability between M. ciceri and M. muleiense in sterilized and unsterilized soils collected from Xinjiang, China, where chickpea has been grown long term. In unsterilized soils, M. muleiense was more competitive than M. ciceri, while in sterilized soils, the opposite was the case. In addition, the competitive ability of M. ciceri in soils of new areas of chickpea cultivation was significantly higher than that of M. muleiense. It was speculated that there might be some biological factors in Xinjiang soils of China that could differentially affect the competitive nodulation of these two chickpea rhizobia. To address this question, we compared the composition and diversity of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of chickpea inoculated separately with the above two rhizobial species in soils from old and new chickpea-producing regions.

RESULTS: Chickpea rhizosphere microbial diversity and composition varied in different areas and were affected significantly due to rhizobial inoculation. In general, eight dominant phyla with 34 dominant genera and 10 dominant phyla with 47 dominant genera were detected in the rhizosphere of chickpea grown in soils of Xinjiang and of the new zones, respectively, with the inoculated rhizobia. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were dominant at the phylum level in the rhizosphere of all soils. Pseudomonas appeared significantly enriched after inoculation with M. muleiense in soils from Xinjiang, a phenomenon not found in the new areas of chickpea cultivation, demonstrating that Pseudomonas might be the key biological factor affecting the competitive colonization of M. muleiense and M. ciceri there.

CONCLUSIONS: Different chickpea rhizobial inoculations of M. muleiense and M. ciceri affected the rhizosphere microbial composition in different sampling soils from different chickpea planting areas. Through high throughput sequencing and statistical analysis, it could be found that Pseudomonas might be the key microorganism influencing the competitive nodulation of different chickpea rhizobia in different soils, as it is the dominant non-rhizobia community in Xinjiang rhizosphere soils, but not in other areas.}, } @article {pmid37835354, year = {2023}, author = {Pronina, Y and Kulazhanov, T and Nabiyeva, Z and Belozertseva, O and Burlyayeva, A and Cepeda, A and Askarbekov, E and Urazbekova, G and Bazylkhanova, E}, title = {Development of a Technology for Protein-Based, Glueless Belevskaya Pastille with Study of the Impact of Probiotic Sourdough Dosage and Technological Parameters on Its Rheological Properties.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {37835354}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {The proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in strengthening the immune system. It is an undeniable fact that lactic acid microorganisms are necessary for the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the source of which are mainly dairy products. However, there is a problem with the digestibility of lactose; therefore, alternative sources and carriers of probiotics are of particular interest. Due to its dietary and natural properties, protein marshmallow can serve as such a carrier. Therefore, the direction of this study is to identify the dependence of technological factors on the rheological properties of the product and the growth of lactic acid microorganisms in confectionery products enriched with lyophilised strains. According to the results of the study, the following was determined: the optimal technology to produce enriched Belevskaya pastille with a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus makes it possible to obtain a product with the necessary rheological properties, utilising a mass drying mode in a dehydrator at 50 °C for 16 h. The strains L. acidophilus M3 and L. acidophilus M4 were the most resistant to a high concentration of bile (40%) in the substrate. Based on the analysis of variance and the obtained regression equations, it was revealed that the growth of lactic acid microorganisms in the product was strongly influenced by the amount of ferment introduced (R[2] = 0.96). The level of penetration is influenced by factors such as the amount of probiotic starter introduced, the drying time and the interaction of drying time factors on the amount of starter added. The higher the level of penetration, the crumblier the product. The resulting functional product can be characterized as symbiotic since the main raw material of plant origin contains a large amount of fibre, which acts as a prebiotic, and the strain of microorganism, which acts as a probiotic. The data described in the article can be applied in the technological processes of similar products to regulate the structure of the product and vary the dosage of enrichment with probiotic starter cultures.}, } @article {pmid37835198, year = {2023}, author = {Andreson, M and Kazantseva, J and Malv, E and Kuldjärv, R and Priidik, R and Kütt, ML}, title = {Evaluation of Microbial Dynamics of Kombucha Consortia upon Continuous Backslopping in Coffee and Orange Juice.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {37835198}, issn = {2304-8158}, support = {2014-2020.4.02.19-0228//European Regional Development Fund/ ; }, abstract = {The kombucha market is diverse, and competitors constantly test new components and flavours to satisfy customers' expectations. Replacing the original brewing base, adding flavours, or using "backslopping" influence the composition of the symbiotic starter culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Yet, deep characterisation of microbial and chemical changes in kombucha consortia in coffee and orange juice during backslopping has not been implemented. This study aimed to develop new kombucha beverages in less-conventional matrices and characterise their microbiota. We studied the chemical properties and microbial growth dynamics of lactic-acid-bacteria-tailored (LAB-tailored) kombucha culture by 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing in coffee and orange juice during a backslopping process that spanned five cycles, each lasting two to four days. The backslopping changed the culture composition and accelerated the fermentation. This study gives an overview of the pros and cons of backslopping technology for the production of kombucha-based beverages. Based on research conducted using two different media, this work provides valuable information regarding the aspects to consider when using the backslopping method to produce novel kombucha drinks, as well as identifying the main drawbacks that need to be addressed.}, } @article {pmid37834166, year = {2023}, author = {Slapakova, M and Sgambati, D and Pirone, L and Russo, V and D'Abrosca, G and Valletta, M and Russo, R and Chambery, A and Malgieri, G and Pedone, EM and Dame, RT and Pedone, PV and Baglivo, I}, title = {MucR from Sinorhizobium meliloti: New Insights into Its DNA Targets and Its Ability to Oligomerize.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {19}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241914702}, pmid = {37834166}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Proteins of the MucR/Ros family play a crucial role in bacterial infection or symbiosis with eukaryotic hosts. MucR from Sinorhizobium meliloti plays a regulatory role in establishing symbiosis with the host plant, both dependent and independent of Quorum Sensing. Here, we report the first characterization of MucR isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti by mass spectrometry and demonstrate that this protein forms higher-order oligomers in its native condition of expression by SEC-MALS. We show that MucR purified from Sinorhizobium meliloti can bind DNA and recognize the region upstream of the ndvA gene in EMSA, revealing that this gene is a direct target of MucR. Although MucR DNA binding activity was already described, a detailed characterization of Sinorhizobium meliloti DNA targets has never been reported. We, thus, analyze sequences recognized by MucR in the rem gene promoter, showing that this protein recognizes AT-rich sequences and does not require a consensus sequence to bind DNA. Furthermore, we investigate the dependence of MucR DNA binding on the length of DNA targets. Taken together, our studies establish MucR from Sinorhizobium meliloti as a member of a new family of Histone-like Nucleoid Structuring (H-NS) proteins, thus explaining the multifaceted role of this protein in many species of alpha-proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid37833524, year = {2023}, author = {Michalik, A and Bauer, E and Szklarzewicz, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Nutrient supplementation by genome-eroded Burkholderia symbionts of scale insects.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37833524}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {2021/41/B/NZ8/04526//Narodowe Centrum Nauki (National Science Centre)/ ; }, abstract = {Hemipterans are known as hosts to bacterial or fungal symbionts that supplement their unbalanced diet with essential nutrients. Among them, scale insects (Coccomorpha) are characterized by a particularly large diversity of symbiotic systems. Here, using microscopic and genomic approaches, we functionally characterized the symbionts of two scale insects belonging to the Eriococcidae family, Acanthococcus aceris and Gossyparia spuria. These species host Burkholderia bacteria that are localized in the cytoplasm of the fat body cells. Metagenome sequencing revealed very similar and highly reduced genomes (<900KBp) with a low GC content (~38%), making them the smallest and most AT-biased Burkholderia genomes yet sequenced. In their eroded genomes, both symbionts retain biosynthetic pathways for the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, lysine, arginine, histidine, phenylalanine, and precursors for the semi-essential amino acid tyrosine, as well as the cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase MetH. A tryptophan biosynthesis pathway is conserved in the symbiont of G. spuria, but appeared pseudogenized in A. aceris, suggesting differential availability of tryptophan in the two host species' diets. In addition to the pathways for essential amino acid biosynthesis, both symbionts maintain biosynthetic pathways for multiple cofactors, including riboflavin, cobalamin, thiamine, and folate. The localization of Burkholderia symbionts and their genome traits indicate that the symbiosis between Burkholderia and eriococcids is younger than other hemipteran symbioses, but is functionally convergent. Our results add to the emerging picture of dynamic symbiont replacements in sap-sucking Hemiptera and highlight Burkholderia as widespread and versatile intra- and extracellular symbionts of animals, plants, and fungi.}, } @article {pmid37831253, year = {2023}, author = {Styburski, J and Skubała, K}, title = {Do urban air pollutants induce changes in the thallus anatomy and affect the photosynthetic efficiency of the nitrophilous lichen Physcia adscendens?.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37831253}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that are generally sensitive to air pollution due to their specific biological and physiological features. Physcia adscendens is a nitrophilous lichen well-known for being resistant to air pollution associated with progressive anthropopressure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen oxides and suspended particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) on anatomical structure of the thallus and photobiont's photosynthetic efficiency in P. adscendens inhabiting sites that differ in terms of air pollution level and thereby to determine the relevance of these pollutants for shaping the structure of the thallus and the physiological condition of the photosynthetic partner. We found that P. adscendens from polluted sites had increased thickness of the algal layer and the larger size of the algae cells, but a much lower ratio of the algal layer to the whole thallus. Lichens from highly polluted sites had also higher photosynthetic efficiency, which indicates a relatively good physiological condition of the photobiont. This indicates that the photobiont of P. adscendens is well-adapted to function under air pollution stress which may contribute to its success in colonizing polluted sites. Both changes in the anatomy of the lichen thallus and the efficiency of photosynthesis may be related to the enrichment of the environment with nitrogen. The increased photosynthetic efficiency as well as investment in the size of photobiont cells and growth mycobiont hyphae confirms that P. adscendens is well-adapted to urban conditions; however, the mechanism behind those adaptations needs more focus in the context of global environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid37830846, year = {2023}, author = {Barron, AJ and Broderick, NA}, title = {Whole-genome sequences of two Drosophila melanogaster microbiome symbionts.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0060223}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00602-23}, pmid = {37830846}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Acetobacter tropicalis are bacterial symbionts commonly isolated from decaying fruits and from the microbiome of Drosophila melanogaster. Studies have shown that these organisms interact synergistically, imparting beneficial effects on the host. Here, we report whole-genome sequences of these microbes obtained from long and short reads.}, } @article {pmid37830742, year = {2023}, author = {Wigren, MA and Johnson, TA and Griffitt, RJ and Hay, AG and Knott, JA and Sepúlveda, MS}, title = {Limited impact of weathered residues from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the gut-microbiome and foraging behavior of sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus).}, journal = {Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-21}, doi = {10.1080/15287394.2023.2265413}, pmid = {37830742}, issn = {1528-7394}, abstract = {The Deepwater Horizon disaster of April 2010 was the largest oil spill in U.S. history and exerted catastrophic effects on several ecologically important fish species in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Within fish, the microbiome plays a key symbiotic role in maintaining host health and aids in acquiring nutrients, supporting immune function, and modulating behavior. The aim of this study was to examine if exposure to weathered oil might produce significant shifts in fish gut-associated microbial communities as determined from taxa and genes known for hydrocarbon degradation, and whether foraging behavior was affected. The gut microbiome (16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomics) of sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) was characterized after fish were exposed to oil in High Energy Water Accommodated Fractions (HEWAF; tPAH = 81.1 ± 12.4 µg/L) for 7 days. A foraging behavioral assay was used to determine feeding efficiency before and after oil exposure. The fish gut microbiome was not significantly altered in alpha or beta diversity. None of the most abundant taxa produced any significant shifts as a result of oil exposure, with only rare taxa showing significant shifts in abundance between treatments. However, several bioindicator taxa known for hydrocarbon degradation were detected in the oil treatment, primarily Sphingomonas and Acinetobacter. Notably, the genus Stenotrophomonas was detected in high abundance in 16S data, which previously was not described as a core member of fish gut microbiomes. Data also demonstrated that behavior was not significantly affected by oil exposure. Potential low bioavailability of the oil may have been a factor in our observation of minor shifts in taxa and no behavioral effects. This study lays a foundation for understanding the microbiome of captive sheepshead minnows and indicates the need for further research to elucidate the responses of the fish gut-microbiome under oil spill conditions.}, } @article {pmid37828645, year = {2023}, author = {Bongrand, C and Foster, JS}, title = {Modelled microgravity impacts Vibrio fischeri population structure in a mutualistic association with an animal host.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16522}, pmid = {37828645}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {80NSSC18K1465/NASA/NASA/United States ; 80NSSC19K0138/NASA/NASA/United States ; }, abstract = {Perturbations to host-microbe interactions, such as environmental stress, can alter and disrupt homeostasis. In this study, we examined the effects of a stressor, simulated microgravity, on beneficial bacteria behaviours when colonising their host. We studied the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which establishes a mutualistic association in a symbiosis-specific organ within the bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. To elucidate how animal-microbe interactions are affected by the stress of microgravity, squid were inoculated with different bacterial strains exhibiting either a dominant- or sharing-colonisation behaviour in High Aspect Ratio Vessels, which simulate the low-shear environment of microgravity. The colonisation behaviours of the sharing and dominant strains under modelled microgravity conditions were determined by counting light-organ homogenate of squids as well as confocal microscopy to assess the partitioning of different strains within the light organ. The results indicated that although the colonisation behaviours of the strains did not change, the population levels of the sharing strains were at lower relative abundance in single-colonised animals exposed to modelled microgravity compared to unit gravity; in addition, there were shifts in the relative abundance of strains in co-colonised squids. Together these results suggest that the initiation of beneficial interactions between microbes and animals can be altered by environmental stress, such as simulated microgravity.}, } @article {pmid37827772, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, Y and Wang, P and Ding, MJ and Huang, GX and Zhang, H and Nie, MH and Gao, PF and Ye, S}, title = {[Community Composition, Symbiotic Patterns, and Influencing Factors of Planktonic Fungi in Urban Lakes of Nanchang].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {44}, number = {10}, pages = {5556-5566}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202210191}, pmid = {37827772}, issn = {0250-3301}, abstract = {To investigate the characteristics of planktonic fungal communities in Nanchang lakes and the mechanism of environmental stress on planktonic fungal communities, surface water samples were collected from seven major urban lakes evenly distributed in different county-level districts of Nanchang in the dry (February and December), normal (April and October), and wet (June and August) seasons, respectively. The environmental stressors such as WT, DO, NH4[+]-N, and NO3[-]-N were measured; the characteristics of planktonic fungal communities were studied using high-throughput sequencing; the symbiotic patterns of planktonic fungal communities were elucidated using network analysis and other methods; and the environmental stressors affecting the structure and symbiotic patterns of planktonic fungal communities were revealed. The results showed that ① the planktonic fungal community composition in lakes of Nanchang varied significantly among seasons but not significantly among the lakes. WT, DO, pH, and NH4[+]-N were the significant environmental stressors affecting the planktonic fungal community composition. ② The dominant phyla of the planktonic fungal community were Chytridiomycota (9.55%-33.14%), Basidiomycota (0.48%-4.25%), and Ascomycota (1.29%-3.19%), and the sizes of the dominant phyla were in the following order:wet season>normal season>dry season. The relative abundance of Chytridiomycota was significantly higher in the wet season than that in the normal season and the dry season, the relative abundance of Basidiomycota was significantly lower in the dry season than that in the normal and wet seasons, and the difference in Ascomycota among seasons was not significant. ③ The stability size of the planktonic fungal community symbiosis network in lakes of Nanchang was in the following order:wet season>normal season>dry season. WT was the best environmental stressor affecting the planktonic fungal community symbiosis pattern. The study can provide theoretical basis for the comprehensive evaluation and management study of the lake and provide guidance for protecting the lake ecosystem in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.}, } @article {pmid37827310, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, M and Bai, L and Xiao, L and Peng, H and Chen, Q and Qiu, W and Song, Z}, title = {Micro (nano)plastics and phthalate esters drive endophytic bacteria alteration and inhibit wheat root growth.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {167734}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167734}, pmid = {37827310}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Endophytes play an important role in plant growth and stress tolerance, but limited information is available on the complex effects of micro (nano)plastics and phthalate esters (PAEs) on endophytes in terrestrial plants. To better elucidate the ecological response of endophytic bacteria on exogenous pollutants, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to examine the combined impact of polystyrene (PS) and PAEs on endophyte community structure, diversity, and wheat growth. The findings revealed that wheat roots were capable of absorbing and accumulating PS nanoparticles (PS-NPs, 0.1 μm), whereas PS microparticles (PS-MPs, 1 and 10 μm) merely adhered to the root surface. The addition of PAEs resulted in a stronger accumulation of fluorescent signal from PS-NPs in the roots. The dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were identified in wheat roots, and they could be metabolized to form minobutyl phthalate and phthalic acid, and mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, respectively. Compared to single PAEs, the concentration of PAEs and their metabolites in the roots treated with PS-NPs showed a great increase, while they exhibited a significant decline in the presence of PS-MPs. Principal coordinate analysis and permutational multivariate analysis of variance demonstrated that PS size were the major factor that induced oxidative damage, and altered the endogenous homeostasis of wheat roots. The increase in PS size positively promoted the relative abundance of dominant endophytes, specifically Proteobacteria. Proteobacteria were the most important in the symbiosis survival, which had a great impact on the microbial community and diversity. Therefore, PS and PAEs could affect the endophytes directly and indirectly. Structural equation modeling further implied that these endophytic bacteria and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, regulated by non-enzymatic mechanisms, promoted root biomass increase. These results indicated a synergistic resistance mechanism between antioxidant enzymes and endophytic bacteria in response to environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid37826989, year = {2023}, author = {Cui, S and Inaba, S and Suzaki, T and Yoshida, S}, title = {Developing for nutrient uptake: Induced organogenesis in parasitic plants and root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {102473}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102473}, pmid = {37826989}, issn = {1879-0356}, abstract = {Plants have evolved diverse strategies to meet their nutritional needs. Parasitic plants employ haustoria, specialized structures that facilitate invasion of host plants and nutrient acquisition. Legumes have adapted to nitrogen-limited conditions by developing nodules that accommodate nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. The formation of both haustoria and nodules is induced by signals originating from the interacting organisms, namely host plants and rhizobial bacteria, respectively. Emerging studies showed that both organogenesis crucially involves plant hormones such as auxin, cytokinins, and ethylene and also integrate nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen. In this review, we discuss recent advances on hormonal and environmental control of haustoria and nodules development with side-by-side comparison. These underscore the remarkable plasticity of plant organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid37676703, year = {2023}, author = {Avontuur, JR and Wilken, PM and Palmer, M and Coetzee, MPA and Stępkowski, T and Venter, SN and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Complex evolutionary history of photosynthesis in Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {37676703}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium comprises a diverse group of bacteria with various lifestyles. Although best known for their nodule-based nitrogen-fixation in symbiosis with legumes, a select group of bradyrhizobia are also capable of photosynthesis. This ability seems to be rare among rhizobia, and its origin and evolution in these bacteria remain a subject of substantial debate. Therefore, our aim here was to investigate the distribution and evolution of photosynthesis in Bradyrhizobium using comparative genomics and representative genomes from closely related taxa in the families Nitrobacteraceae, Methylobacteriaceae, Boseaceae and Paracoccaceae. We identified photosynthesis gene clusters (PGCs) in 25 genomes belonging to three different Bradyrhizobium lineages, notably the so-called Photosynthetic, B. japonicum and B. elkanii supergroups. Also, two different PGC architectures were observed. One of these, PGC1, was present in genomes from the Photosynthetic supergroup and in three genomes from a species in the B. japonicum supergroup. The second cluster, PGC2, was also present in some strains from the B. japonicum supergroup, as well as in those from the B. elkanii supergroup. PGC2 was largely syntenic to the cluster found in Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Tardiphaga . Bayesian ancestral state reconstruction unambiguously showed that the ancestor of Bradyrhizobium lacked a PGC and that it was acquired horizontally by various lineages. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses of individual photosynthesis genes also suggested multiple acquisitions through horizontal gene transfer, followed by vertical inheritance and gene losses within the different lineages. Overall, our findings add to the existing body of knowledge on Bradyrhizobium ’s evolution and provide a meaningful basis from which to explore how these PGCs and the photosynthesis itself impact the physiology and ecology of these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37826950, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, X and Guo, Y and Chen, H and Liu, X and He, P and Li, W and Zhang, MQ and Dai, Q}, title = {Systematic comparison of genome information processing and boundary recognition tools used for genomic island detection.}, journal = {Computers in biology and medicine}, volume = {166}, number = {}, pages = {107550}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107550}, pmid = {37826950}, issn = {1879-0534}, abstract = {Genomic islands are fragments of foreign DNA that are found in bacterial and archaeal genomes, and are typically associated with symbiosis or pathogenesis. While numerous genomic island detection methods have been proposed, there has been limited evaluation of the efficiency of the genome information processing and boundary recognition tools. In this study, we conducted a review of the statistical methods involved in genomic signatures, host signature extraction, informative signature selection, divergence measures, and boundary detection steps in genomic island prediction. We compared the performances of these methods on simulated experiments using alien fragments obtained from both artificial and real genomes. Our results indicate that among the nine genomic signatures evaluated, genomic signature frequency and full probability performed the best. However, their performance declined when normalized to their expectations and variances, such as Z-score and composition vector. Based on our experiments of the E. coli genome, we found that the confidence intervals of the window variances achieved the best performance in the signature extraction of the host, with the best confidence interval being 1.5-2 times the standard error. Ordered kurtosis was most effective in selecting informative signatures from a single genome, without requiring prior knowledge from other datasets. Among the three divergence measures evaluated, the two-sample t-test was the most successful, and a non-overlapping window with a small eye window (size 2) was best suited for identifying compositionally distinct regions. Finally, the maximum of the Markovian Jensen-Shannon divergence score, in terms of GC-content bias, was found to make boundary detection faster while maintaining a similar error rate.}, } @article {pmid37824622, year = {2023}, author = {Pinko, D and Abramovich, S and Rahav, E and Belkin, N and Rubin-Blum, M and Kucera, M and Morard, R and Holzmann, M and Abdu, U}, title = {Shared ancestry of algal symbiosis and chloroplast sequestration in foraminifera.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {41}, pages = {eadi3401}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adi3401}, pmid = {37824622}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Foraminifera are unicellular organisms that established the most diverse algal symbioses in the marine realm. Endosymbiosis repeatedly evolved in several lineages, while some engaged in the sequestration of chloroplasts, known as kleptoplasty. So far, kleptoplasty has been documented exclusively in the rotaliid clade. Here, we report the discovery of kleptoplasty in the species Hauerina diversa that belongs to the miliolid clade. The existence of kleptoplasty in the two main clades suggests that it is more widespread than previously documented. We observed chloroplasts in clustered structures within the foraminiferal cytoplasm and confirmed their functionality. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences showed that H. diversa branches next to symbiont-bearing Alveolinidae. This finding represents evidence of of a relationship between kleptoplastic and symbiotic foraminifera.. Analysis of ribosomal genes and metagenomics revealed that alveolinid symbionts and kleptoplasts belong to the same clade, which suggests a common ancestry.}, } @article {pmid37822833, year = {2023}, author = {Bibi, F and Naseer, MI and Azhar, EI}, title = {Exploring bioactive compounds from a symbiotic bacterial strain of Spongiobacter sp.}, journal = {Bioinformation}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {369-374}, pmid = {37822833}, issn = {0973-2063}, abstract = {Marine sponges are a host of different symbiotic groups of bacteria playing crucial roles in the protection and survival of marine sponges. Marine symbiotic bacteria from sponges are promising sources of bioactive chemicals and are increasingly being investigated. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to analyze total compounds from active symbiotic bacterial strain from sponge, Pione vastifical. Potential bacterial strain EA276 previously isolated from P. vastifical and was identified as Spongiobacter sp. Among 57 isolates, only 42% exhibited antagonistic activity. Four major classes of bacteria were reported previously where γ-Proteobacteria, was the dominant class. From these active antagonistic bacterial isolates, a potential bacterial strain Spongiobacter sp. EA276 was selected, and total metabolites were identified using GC and LC-MS analyses. Using LC-MS analysis bioactive compounds Dichlorphenamide, Amifloxacin and Carbenicillin are identified in both positive and negative mode. Plant growth hormones, Indole-3-acetic acid and Methyl jasmonate were identified using GC-MS analysis from culture extract of strain Spongiobacter sp. EA276. Our results highlighted the significance of marine flora inhabiting sponges from the Red Sea as potential source of bioactive compounds and plant growth hormones of biological and agricultural significance.}, } @article {pmid37821966, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, H and Huang, Y and Huang, M and Wang, M and Ming, Y and Chen, W and Chen, Y and Tang, Z and Jia, B}, title = {From nitrate to NO: potential effects of nitrate-reducing bacteria on systemic health and disease.}, journal = {European journal of medical research}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {425}, pmid = {37821966}, issn = {2047-783X}, support = {201802020018//Bo Jia/ ; }, abstract = {Current research has described improving multisystem disease and organ function through dietary nitrate (DN) supplementation. They have provided some evidence that these floras with nitrate (NO3[-]) reductase are mediators of the underlying mechanism. Symbiotic bacteria with nitrate reductase activity (NRA) are found in the human digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract (GT). Nitrate in food can be converted to nitrite under the tongue or in the stomach by these symbiotic bacteria. Then, nitrite is transformed to nitric oxide (NO) by non-enzymatic synthesis. NO is currently recognized as a potent bioactive agent with biological activities, such as vasodilation, regulation of cardiomyocyte function, neurotransmission, suppression of platelet agglutination, and prevention of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. NO also can be produced through the conventional L-arginine-NO synthase (L-NOS) pathway, whereas endogenous NO production by L-arginine is inhibited under hypoxia-ischemia or disease conditions. In contrast, exogenous NO3[-]/NO2[-]/NO activity is enhanced and becomes a practical supplemental pathway for NO in the body, playing an essential role in various physiological activities. Moreover, many diseases (such as metabolic or geriatric diseases) are primarily associated with disorders of endogenous NO synthesis, and NO generation from the exogenous NO3[-]/NO2[-]/NO route can partially alleviate the disease progression. The imbalance of NO in the body may be one of the potential mechanisms of disease development. Therefore, the impact of these floras with nitrate reductase on host systemic health through exogenous NO3[-]/NO2[-]/NO pathway production of NO or direct regulation of floras ecological balance is essential (e.g., regulation of body homeostasis, amelioration of diseases, etc.). This review summarizes the bacteria with nitrate reductase in humans, emphasizing the relationship between the metabolic processes of this microflora and host systemic health and disease. The potential effects of nitrate reduction bacteria on human health and disease were also highlighted in disease models from different human systems, including digestive, cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, respiratory, and urinary systems, providing innovative ideas for future disease diagnosis and treatment based on nitrate reduction bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37821639, year = {2023}, author = {Ito, A}, title = {Global termite methane emissions have been affected by climate and land-use changes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {17195}, pmid = {37821639}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {JPMEERF21S20800//Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan/ ; }, abstract = {Termites with symbiotic methanogens are a known source of atmospheric methane (CH4), but large uncertainties remain regarding the flux magnitude. This study estimated global termite CH4 emissions using a framework similar to previous studies but with contemporary datasets and a biogeochemical model. The global termite emission in 2020 was estimated as 14.8 ± 6.7 Tg CH4 year[-1], mainly from tropical and subtropical ecosystems, indicating a major natural source from upland regions. Uncertainties associated with estimation methods were assessed. The emission during the historical period 1901-2021 was estimated to have increased gradually (+ 0.7 Tg CH4 year[-1]) as a result of combined influences of elevated CO2 (via vegetation productivity), climatic warming, and land-use change. Future projections using climate and land-use scenarios (shared socioeconomic pathways [ssp] 126 and 585) also showed increasing trends (+ 0.5 to 5.9 Tg CH4 year[-1] by 2100). These results suggest the importance of termite emissions in the global CH4 budget and, thus, in climatic prediction and mitigation.}, } @article {pmid37821597, year = {2023}, author = {Han, J and Zhang, Y and Xi, H and Zeng, J and Peng, Z and Ali, G and Liu, Y}, title = {Maize, wheat, and soybean root traits depend upon soil phosphorus fertility and mycorrhizal status.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37821597}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {32060260, 32171579//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32060260, 32171579//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32060260, 32171579//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 23JRRA1029//Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; }, abstract = {Strong effects of plant identity, soil nutrient availability or mycorrhizal fungi on root traits have been well documented, but their interactive influences on root traits are still poorly understood. Here, three crop species (maize, wheat and soybean) were grown under four phosphorus (P) addition levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 mg P kg[-1] dry soil), and plants were inoculated with or without five combined arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species. Plant biomass, nutrient contents, root traits (including total root length, average root diameter, specific root length and root tissue density) and plants' mycorrhizal responses were measured. Crop species, P level, AMF, and their interactions strongly affected plant biomass and root traits. P fertilization promoted plant growth but reduced mycorrhizal benefits on plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Root traits of maize were sensitive to P addition only under the non-mycorrhizal condition, whilst most root traits of soybean and wheat plants were responsive to mycorrhizal inoculation but not P addition. Mycorrhizal colonization reduced the root plasticity in response to P fertility for maize but not for wheat or soybean. This study highlights the importance of soil nutrient fertility and mycorrhizal symbiosis in influencing root traits.}, } @article {pmid37819983, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, GE and Wang, JY and Votta, C and Braguy, J and Jamil, M and Kirschner, GK and Fiorilli, V and Berqdar, L and Balakrishna, A and Blilou, I and Lanfranco, L and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Disruption of the rice 4-DEOXYOROBANCHOL HYDROXYLASE unravels specific functions of canonical strigolactones.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {42}, pages = {e2306263120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2306263120}, pmid = {37819983}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {baseline funding//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)/ ; OPP1136424//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (GF)/ ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) regulate many developmental processes, including shoot-branching/tillering, and mediate rhizospheric interactions. SLs originate from carlactone (CL) and are structurally diverse, divided into a canonical and a noncanonical subfamily. Rice contains two canonical SLs, 4-deoxyorobanchol (4DO) and orobanchol (Oro), which are common in different plant species. The cytochrome P450 OsMAX1-900 forms 4DO from CL through repeated oxygenation and ring closure, while the homologous enzyme OsMAX1-1400 hydroxylates 4DO into Oro. To better understand the biological function of 4DO and Oro, we generated CRISPR/Cas9 mutants disrupted in OsMAX1-1400 or in both OsMAX1-900 and OsMAX1-1400. The loss of OsMAX1-1400 activity led to a complete lack of Oro and an accumulation of its precursor 4DO. Moreover, Os1400 mutants showed shorter plant height, panicle and panicle base length, but no tillering phenotype. Hormone quantification and transcriptome analysis of Os1400 mutants revealed elevated auxin levels and changes in the expression of auxin-related, as well as of SL biosynthetic genes. Interestingly, the Os900/1400 double mutant lacking both Oro and 4DO did not show the observed Os1400 architectural phenotypes, indicating their being a result of 4DO accumulation. Treatment of wild-type plants with 4DO confirmed this assumption. A comparison of the Striga seed germinating activity and the mycorrhization of Os900, Os900/1400, and Os1400 loss-of-function mutants demonstrated that the germination activity positively correlates with 4DO content while disrupting OsMAX1-1400 has a negative impact on mycorrhizal symbiosis. Taken together, our paper deciphers the biological function of canonical SLs in rice and reveals their particular contributions to establishing architecture and rhizospheric communications.}, } @article {pmid37819592, year = {2023}, author = {Haghshenas-Gorgabi, N and Poorjavd, N and Khajehali, J and Wybouw, N}, title = {Cardinium symbionts are pervasive in Iranian populations of the spider mite Panonychus ulmi despite inducing an infection cost and no demonstrable reproductive phenotypes when Wolbachia is a symbiotic partner.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37819592}, issn = {1572-9702}, abstract = {Maternally transmitted symbionts such as Cardinium and Wolbachia are widespread in arthropods. Both Cardinium and Wolbachia can cause cytoplasmic incompatibility, a reproductive phenotype that interferes with the development of uninfected eggs that are fertilized by infected sperm. In haplodiploid hosts, these symbionts can also distort sex allocation to facilitate their spread through host populations. Without other fitness effects, symbionts that induce strong reproductive phenotypes tend to spread to high and stable infection frequencies, whereas variants that induce weak reproductive phenotypes are typically associated with intermediate and variable frequencies. To study the spread of Cardinium in a haplodiploid host, we sampled Iranian populations of the economically important spider mite Panonychus ulmi in apple orchards. Within several field populations, we also studied the Wolbachia infection frequencies. All P. ulmi field populations carried a Cardinium infection and exhibited high infection frequencies. In contrast, Wolbachia frequency ranged between ca. 10% and ca. 70% and was only found in co-infected mites. To test whether Cardinium induce reproductive phenotypes in P. ulmi, a Cardinium-cured derived line was generated by antibiotic treatment from a co-infected field population. Genetic crosses indicated that Cardinium do not induce demonstrable levels of cytoplasmic incompatibility and sex allocation distortion in co-infected P. ulmi. However, Cardinium infection was associated with a longer developmental time and reduced total fecundity for co-infected females. We hypothesize that Cardinium spread through P. ulmi populations via uncharacterized fitness effects and that co-infection with Wolbachia might impact these drive mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid37818715, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, S and Huang, J and Qian, W and Zhu, X and Wang, S and Jiang, X}, title = {Are Physical Sunscreens Safe for Marine Life? A Study on a Coral-Zooxanthellae Symbiotic System.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c04603}, pmid = {37818715}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Limited toxic and ecological studies were focused on physical sunscreen that is considered to have "safer performance", in which nanosize zinc oxide (nZnO) and nanosize titanium dioxide (nTiO2) generally are added as ultraviolet filters. Herein, the common button coral Zoanthus sp. was newly used to assess the toxic effects and underlying mechanisms of physical sunscreen. Results showed that physical sunscreen induced severe growth inhibition effects and largely compelled the symbiotic zooxanthellae, indicating that their symbiotic systems were threatened and, also, that neural and photosynthesis functions were influenced. Zn[2+] toxicity and bioaccumulation were identified as the main toxic mechanisms, and nTiO2 particles released from physical sunscreen also displayed limited bioattachment and toxicity. Oxidative stress, determined by increased reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde content, was indicated as another important toxic mechanism. Furthermore, when Zoanthus sp. was restored, the inhibited individual coral could be largely recovered after a short (3 d) exposure time; however, a longer exposure time damaged the coral irretrievably, which revealed the latent environmental risks of physical sunscreen. This study investigated the toxic effect of physical sunscreen on Zoanthus sp. in a relatively comprehensive manner, thus providing new insights into the toxic response of sunscreen on marine organisms.}, } @article {pmid37818375, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Wang, J and Tian, X and Toufeeq, S and Huang, W}, title = {Immunometabolic regulation during the presence of microorganisms and parasitoids in insects.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {905467}, pmid = {37818375}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Multicellular organisms live in environments containing diverse nutrients and a wide variety of microbial communities. On the one hand, the immune response of organisms can protect from the intrusion of exogenous microorganisms. On the other hand, the dynamic coordination of anabolism and catabolism of organisms is a necessary factor for growth and reproduction. Since the production of an immune response is an energy-intensive process, the activation of immune cells is accompanied by metabolic transformations that enable the rapid production of ATP and new biomolecules. In insects, the coordination of immunity and metabolism is the basis for insects to cope with environmental challenges and ensure normal growth, development and reproduction. During the activation of insect immune tissues by pathogenic microorganisms, not only the utilization of organic resources can be enhanced, but also the activated immune cells can usurp the nutrients of non-immune tissues by generating signals. At the same time, insects also have symbiotic bacteria in their body, which can affect insect physiology through immune-metabolic regulation. This paper reviews the research progress of insect immune-metabolism regulation from the perspective of insect tissues, such as fat body, gut and hemocytes. The effects of microorganisms (pathogenic bacteria/non-pathogenic bacteria) and parasitoids on immune-metabolism were elaborated here, which provide guidance to uncover immunometabolism mechanisms in insects and mammals. This work also provides insights to utilize immune-metabolism for the formulation of pest control strategies.}, } @article {pmid37817383, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, B and Wang, T and Liu, L and Xiao, D and Yang, Y and Yuan, L and Zhang, A and Xu, K and Liu, S and Liu, K and Chen, L}, title = {MYB6/bHLH13-AbSUS2 involved in sugar metabolism regulates root hair initiation of Abies beshanzuensis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19301}, pmid = {37817383}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32100301//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021M702823//Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China/ ; 2019C02026//Zhejiang Province Key Research and Development Program/ ; }, abstract = {Root hair is regarded as a pivotal complementary survival tactic for mycorrhizal plant like Abies beshanzuensis when symbiosis is disrupted. Relatively little is known about the mechanism underlying root hair morphogenesis in plant species that are strongly dependent on mycorrhizal symbiosis. Many of these species are endangered, and this knowledge is critical for ensuring their survival. Here, a MYB6/bHLH13-sucrose synthase 2 (AbSUS2) module was newly identified and characterized in A. beshanzuensis using bioinformatics, histochemistry, molecular biology, and transgenesis. Functional, expression pattern, and localization analysis showed that AbSUS2 participated in sucrose synthesis and was involved in root hair initiation in A. beshanzuensis. Additionally, the major enzymatic product of AbSUS2 was found to suppress root hair initiation in vitro. Our data further showed that a complex involving the transcription factors AbMYB6 and AbbHLH13 directly interacted with the promoter of AbSUS2 and strengthened its expression, thereby inhibiting root hair initiation in response to exogenous sucrose. Our findings offer novel insights into how root hair morphogenesis is regulated in mycorrhizal plants and also provide a new strategy for the preservation of endangered mycorrhizal plant species.}, } @article {pmid37816963, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Qian, Y and Yin, T and Song, S}, title = {Does industrial symbiotic agglomeration reduce pollution emissions: evidence from eco-industrial demonstration parks in China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37816963}, issn = {1614-7499}, support = {71973068//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 2023r051//Wuxi University Research Start-up Fund for Introduced Talents/ ; }, abstract = {Industrial symbiotic agglomeration is important for promoting the circular economy and reducing pollution emissions. This paper examines the effects of industrial symbiotic agglomeration on pollution emissions using the staggered difference-in-difference model. The findings suggest the following: (1) industrial symbiotic agglomeration reduces total urban pollution emissions, with significant reductions in SO2 and wastewater, although not in solid waste and PM2.5 emissions. (2) The emission reduction effect is achieved mainly through green innovation, the recycling effect, and structural optimization, whereas the cost reduction effect of symbiotic agglomeration is not obvious. (3) Industrial symbiotic agglomeration promotes emission reduction in neighboring cities within a 300-km range, and this reduction decays with geographical distance. In addition, the pollution emission reduction effect of industrial symbiotic agglomeration is only realized when its size reaches 187.17 km[2], with the effect becoming stronger as the size increases. At present, industrial symbiotic agglomeration mainly plays an emission reduction effect in non-resource cities. This paper provides a new way to promote the green development of industry and region.}, } @article {pmid37816850, year = {2023}, author = {Win, KT and Wasai-Hara, S and Tanaka, F and Oo, AZ and Minamisawa, K and Shimoda, Y and Imaizumi-Anraku, H}, title = {Synergistic N2-fixation and salt stress mitigation in soybean through dual inoculation of ACC deaminase-producing Pseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {17050}, pmid = {37816850}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {We investigated the potential dual application of two Bradyrhizobium strains (B. diazoefficiens USDA110 and B. ottawaense SG09) and plant growth-promoting bacteria, PGPB (Pseudomonas spp.: OFT2 and OFT5), to improve nodulation and N2-fixation in soybean plants. The growth-promoting effects of dual inoculation were observed on plant growth, physiology, and nodulation of soybean under normal conditions compared with plants individually inoculated with either USDA110 or SG09. Both OFT2 and OFT5 promoted N2-fixation by 11% and 56%, respectively, when dual inoculation with USDA110 and by 76% and 81%, respectively, when dual inoculation with SG09. Salinity stress significantly reduces soybean growth, physiology, nutrient uptake, nodulation, and N2-fixation. However, these adverse effects were attenuated by the dual inoculation of PGPB and rhizobia depending on the combination of inoculants. In particular, dual inoculation of PGPB with SG09 was more effective in enhancing the salt tolerance of soybean by reducing salt-induced ethylene production and improving nutrient uptake. However, no such effect was observed with the combined inoculation of USDA110 and OFT5. An effective symbiotic association between SG09 and two Pseudomonas bacteria can be considered a beneficial approach to improving the symbiotic efficiency of nodulation and mitigating salinity stress in soybeans.}, } @article {pmid37815552, year = {2023}, author = {Miao, L and Tilg, H and Zheng, MH}, title = {Microbial-host-isozyme: unveiling a new era in microbiome-host interaction.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {2267185}, doi = {10.1080/19490976.2023.2267185}, pmid = {37815552}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Isoenzymes ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 ; *Microbiota ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; }, abstract = {Wang K. et al. introduced the concept of Microbial-Host isozymes (MHIs) and highlighted their role in mediating microbiota-host interactions. They identified bacterial-derived DPP4 as an isoenzyme affecting glucose tolerance and showed that host DPP4 inhibitors may not effectively target bacterial DPP4. They developed an MHI screen system, identifying 71 MHIs in healthy gut microbiota. Among them, DPP4 isozymes degrade GLP-1, explaining variable responses to sitagliptin. This breakthrough opens new avenues for metabolic disorder treatment. However, the complex nature of gut symbiotic bacteria requires further research to understand MHI mechanisms, regulatory roles, and interactions with the host. Precise interventions in gut microbiota offer personalized approaches to metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid37814667, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, PY and Salim, H and Abdullah, A and Teo, CH}, title = {Use of ChatGPT in medical research and scientific writing.}, journal = {Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia}, volume = {18}, number = {}, pages = {58}, pmid = {37814667}, issn = {1985-207X}, abstract = {ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) language model based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, is revolutionising scientific writing and medical research. Researchers employ ChatGPT for diverse tasks, including automated literature reviews, structured-outline generation and drafting/editing assistance. The tool adapts language for varied audiences, aids in citation management, supports collaborative writing and peer review and facilitates table/figure creation. While it enhances efficiency, concerns arise regarding ethics, bias, accuracy and originality. Transparent data sourcing and validation are crucial, as ChatGPT complements human efforts but does not replace critical thinking. Accordingly, researchers must uphold integrity, ensuring that AI-assisted content aligns with research principles. Acknowledgement of AI use in manuscripts, as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, ensures accountability. ChatGPT's transformative potential lies in harmonising its capabilities with researchers' expertise, fostering a symbiotic relationship that advances scientific progress and ethical standards.}, } @article {pmid37814628, year = {2023}, author = {Riewluang, S and Wakeman, KC}, title = {Biodiversity of symbiotic microalgae associated with meiofaunal marine acoels in Southern Japan.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16078}, pmid = {37814628}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Acoels in the family Convolutidae are commonly found with microalgal symbionts. Convolutids can host green algal Tetraselmis and dinoflagellates within the family Symbiodiniaceae and the genus Amphidinium. The diversity of these microalgae has not been well surveyed. In this study, we used PCR and culture techniques to demonstrate the biodiversity of Tetraselmis and dinoflagellates in symbiosis with meiofaunal acoels. Here, 66 acoels were collected from seven localities around Okinawa, Ishigaki, and Kochi, Japan. While convolutids were heavily represented in this sampling, some acoels formed a clade outside Convolutidae and are potentially a new family of acoels harboring symbiotic microalgae. From the acoels collected, a total of 32 Tetraselmis and 26 Symbiodiniaceae cultures were established. Molecular phylogenies were constructed from cultured material (and from total host DNA) using the 18S rRNA gene (Tetraselmis) and 28S rRNA gene (dinoflagellates). The majority of Tetraselmis sequences grouped within the T. astigmatica clade but strains closely related to T. convolutae, T. marina, and T. gracilis were also observed. This is the first report of Tetraselmis species, other than T. convolutae, naturally associating with acoels. For dinoflagellates, members of Cladocopium and Miliolidium were observed, but most Symbiodiniaceae sequences formed clusters within Symbiodinium, grouping with S. natans, or sister to S. tridacnidorum. Several new Symbiodinium sequences from this study may represent novel species. This is the first molecular record of Miliolidium and Symbiodinium from acoels. Microalgal strains from this study will provide a necessary framework for future taxonomic studies and research on symbiotic relationships between acoels and microalgae.}, } @article {pmid37813863, year = {2023}, author = {Gunununu, RP and Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Phylogeny and symbiotic effectiveness of indigenous rhizobial microsymbionts of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Malkerns, Eswatini.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {17029}, pmid = {37813863}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {47720//National Research Foundation, South Africa/ ; }, abstract = {In most legumes, the rhizobial symbionts exhibit diversity across different environments. Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the important legumes in southern Africa, there is no available information on the genetic diversity and N2-fixing effectiveness of its symbionts in Malkerns, Eswatini. In this study, we assessed the phylogenetic positions of rhizobial microsymbionts of common bean from Malkerns in Eswatini. The isolates obtained showed differences in morpho-physiology and N2-fixing efficiency. A dendrogram constructed from the ERIC-PCR banding patterns, grouped a total of 88 tested isolates into 80 ERIC-PCR types if considered at a 70% similarity cut-off point. Multilocus sequence analysis using 16S rRNA, rpoB, dnaK, gyrB, and glnII and symbiotic (nifH and nodC) gene sequences closely aligned the test isolates to the type strains of Rhizobium muluonense, R. paranaense, R. pusense, R. phaseoli and R. etli. Subjecting the isolates in this study to further description can potentially reveal novel species. Most of the isolates tested were efficient in fixing nitrogen and elicited greater stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates in the common bean. Relative effectiveness (RE) varied from 18 to 433%, with 75 (85%) out of the 88 tested isolates being more effective than the nitrate fed control plants.}, } @article {pmid37813315, year = {2023}, author = {Tseng, YS and Kumar Patel, A and Haldar, D and Chen, CW and Dong, CD and Rani Singhania, R}, title = {Microalgae and nano-cellulose composite produced via a co-culturing strategy for ammonia removal from the aqueous phase.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129801}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129801}, pmid = {37813315}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {This study addresses the pressing need for sustainable bioremediation solutions to combat increasing pollution challenges in alignment with sustainability development goals. The research focuses on developing a co-culture approach involving microalgae and Komagataeibacter europaeus BCRC 14148 bacterium to create a biocomposite for efficient ammonia removal. Nanocellulose, produced by the bacterium, serves as a substrate for microalgae attachment. Optimization using specific growth media ratios resulted in biocomposite yields of 4.05±0.16 g/L and 3.83±0.13 g/L in HS medium with fructose and glucose, respectively. The optimal conditions include a 40:60 ratio of HS-F to TAP medium, 25 ℃ incubation, 6000 Lux light intensity, pH 5.5, and a 48-hour incubation period. When applied to wastewater treatment, the biocomposite demonstrated exceptional ammonium removal efficiency at 91.64±1.27%. This co-culture-derived biocomposite offers an eco-friendly, recyclable, and effective solution for sustainable environmental bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid37812720, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, S and Liu, X and Dong, A and Gragnoli, C and Griffin, C and Wu, J and Yau, ST and Wu, R}, title = {The metabolomic physics of complex diseases.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {42}, pages = {e2308496120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2308496120}, pmid = {37812720}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {001//Start-up Fund of BIMSA/ ; }, abstract = {Human diseases involve metabolic alterations. Metabolomic profiles have served as a vital biomarker for the early identification of high-risk individuals and disease prevention. However, current approaches can only characterize individual key metabolites, without taking into account the reality that complex diseases are multifactorial, dynamic, heterogeneous, and interdependent. Here, we leverage a statistical physics model to combine all metabolites into bidirectional, signed, and weighted interaction networks and trace how the flow of information from one metabolite to the next causes changes in health state. Viewing a disease outcome as the consequence of complex interactions among its interconnected components (metabolites), we integrate concepts from ecosystem theory and evolutionary game theory to model how the health state-dependent alteration of a metabolite is shaped by its intrinsic properties and through extrinsic influences from its conspecifics. We code intrinsic contributions as nodes and extrinsic contributions as edges into quantitative networks and implement GLMY homology theory to analyze and interpret the topological change of health state from symbiosis to dysbiosis and vice versa. The application of this model to real data allows us to identify several hub metabolites and their interaction webs, which play a part in the formation of inflammatory bowel diseases. The findings by our model could provide important information on drug design to treat these diseases and beyond.}, } @article {pmid37812522, year = {2023}, author = {David, AS and Hernandez, DJ and Menges, ES and Sclater, VL and Afkhami, ME and Searcy, CA}, title = {Heterogeneous landscape promotes distinct microbial communities in an imperiled scrub ecosystem.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2023.2258268}, pmid = {37812522}, issn = {1557-2536}, abstract = {Habitat heterogeneity is a key driver of biodiversity of macroorganisms, yet how heterogeneity structures belowground microbial communities is not well understood. Importantly, belowground microbial communities may respond to any number of abiotic, biotic, and spatial drivers found in heterogeneous environments. Here, we examine potential drivers of prokaryotic and fungal communities in soils across the heterogenous landscape of the imperiled Florida scrub, a pyrogenic ecosystem where slight differences in elevation lead to large changes in water and nutrient availability and vegetation composition. We employ a comprehensive, large-scale sampling design to characterize the communities of prokaryotes and fungi associated with three habitat types and two soil depths (crust and subterranean) to evaluate (i) differences in microbial communities across these heterogeneous habitats, (ii) the relative roles of abiotic, biotic, and spatial drivers in shaping community structure, and (iii) the distribution of fungal guilds across these habitats. We sequenced soils from 40 complete replicates of habitat × soil depth combinations and sequenced the prokaryotic 16S and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions using Illumina MiSeq. Habitat heterogeneity generated distinct communities of soil prokaryotes and fungi. Spatial distance played a role in structuring crust communities, whereas subterranean microbial communities were primarily structured by the shrub community, whose roots they presumably interacted with. This result helps to explain the unexpected transition we observed between arbuscular mycorrhiza-dominated soils at low-elevation habitats to ectomycorrhiza-dominated soils at high-elevation habitats. Our results challenge previous notions of environmental determinism of microbial communities and generate new hypotheses regarding symbiotic relationships across heterogeneous environments.}, } @article {pmid37812199, year = {2023}, author = {Garzo, E and Sánchez-López, CM and Fereres, A and Soler, C and Marcilla, A and Pérez-Bermúdez, P}, title = {Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles from Phloem Sap by Size Exclusion Chromatography.}, journal = {Current protocols}, volume = {3}, number = {10}, pages = {e903}, doi = {10.1002/cpz1.903}, pmid = {37812199}, issn = {2691-1299}, abstract = {Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles that are released by cells and participate in the transfer of information. It is now known that EVs from mammalian cells are involved in different physiological and pathophysiological processes (antigen presentation, tissue regeneration, cancer, inflammation, diabetes, etc.). In the past few years, several studies on plants have demonstrated that EVs are also key tools for plant intercellular and cross-kingdom communications, suggesting that these nanostructures may contribute to distinct aspects of plant physiology such as development, defense, reproduction, symbiotic relationships, etc. These findings are challenging the traditional view of signaling in plants. EVs are probably involved in the phloem's transport system, since this vascular tissue plays a crucial role in translocating nutrients, defensive compounds, and informational signals throughout the plant. The collection of phloem is experimentally challenging because sap is under high turgor pressure inside the sieve elements, which have a small diameter and are hidden within the plant organs. The goals of this work are to develop new protocols that allow us to detect EVs for the first time in the phloem of the plants, and to isolate these nanovesicles for in-depth analysis and characterization. Our protocols describe two distinct methods to collect the phloem sap from rice and melon. The first method (Basic Protocol 1) involves 'Aphid stylectomy by radiofrequency microcautery' using rice plants and the aphid Sitobion avenae. This is considered the least invasive method for collecting phloem sap. The second method, 'Stem incision', involves cutting the stem of melon plants for collecting the exuded sap. Phloem sap EVs are then isolated by size exclusion chromatography. The results obtained in this study represent the first report on typical EVs isolated from in vivo-collected phloem sap. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Isolation of EVs from phloem sap: Aphid stylectomy by radiofrequency microcautery Basic Protocol 2: Isolation of EVs from phloem sap: Stem incision method.}, } @article {pmid37810228, year = {2023}, author = {Kwak, Y and Hansen, AK}, title = {Unveiling metabolic integration in psyllids and their nutritional endosymbionts through comparative transcriptomics analysis.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {107930}, pmid = {37810228}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Psyllids, a group of insects that feed on plant sap, have a symbiotic relationship with an endosymbiont called Carsonella. Carsonella synthesizes essential amino acids and vitamins for its psyllid host, but lacks certain genes required for this process, suggesting a compensatory role of psyllid host genes. To investigate this, gene expression was compared between two psyllid species, Bactericera cockerelli and Diaphorina citri, in specialized cells where Carsonella resides (bacteriomes). Collaborative psyllid genes, including horizontally transferred genes, showed patterns of conserved gene expression; however, species-specific patterns were also observed, suggesting differences in the nutritional metabolism between psyllid species. Also, the recycling of nitrogen in bacteriomes may primarily rely on glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). Additionally, lineage-specific gene clusters were differentially expressed in B. cockerelli and D. citri bacteriomes and are highlighted here. These findings shed light on potential host adaptations for the regulation of this symbiosis due to host, microbiome, and environmental differences.}, } @article {pmid37809444, year = {2023}, author = {Agbanyo, GK and Ofori, C and Prah, GJ and Chin, T}, title = {Exploring the energy-economy-environment paradox through Yin-Yang harmony cognition.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e19864}, pmid = {37809444}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Adopting a symbiotic perspective, this study aimed to examine the paradoxical interrelationship of the energy-economy-environment nexus through the novel lens of Yin-Yang cognitive harmony. With a broad sample of countries (6 African lions, 5 Asian tigers, 3 NAFTA countries, and 10 top European Union economies), we applied the cointegration and fully modified ordinary least squares techniques to evaluate the short- and long-term relationships between energy consumption, economic growth and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for the period 1980-2012. The results were heterogeneous across countries, but a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship between total economic growth and CO2 emissions in conformity with the environmental Kuznets curve was confirmed in many cases. However, there was no evidence that economic growth resulting from energy consumption has been responsible for CO2 reduction, which suggests a 'trilemma' - that is, a challenge in balancing energy production, economic growth and environmental degradation. From a behavioural economic perspective, this paper draws on the Kuznets hypothesis and Jevon's paradox by adopting a paradoxical frame to characterise the complex energy-growth-environment interaction as a balanced, symbiotic coexistence. It thus provides novel insights into the energy-growth-environment trilemma through an unconventional perspective based on Yin-Yang cognitive harmony (Fig. 1, see the Appendix).}, } @article {pmid37808304, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, H and Dai, J and Fan, Z and Yang, B and Wang, H and Hu, Y and Shao, K and Gao, G and Tang, X}, title = {Bacterial community assembly driven by temporal succession rather than spatial heterogeneity in Lake Bosten: a large lake suffering from eutrophication and salinization.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1261079}, pmid = {37808304}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Oligosaline lakes in arid and semi-arid regions play a crucial role in providing essential water resources for local populations. However, limited research exists on the impact of the environment on bacterial community structure in these lakes, co-occurrence patterns and the mechanisms governing bacterial community assembly. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by examining samples collected from five areas of Lake Bosten over four seasons. Using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing method, we identified a total of 510 to 1,005 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 37 phyla and 359 genera in Lake Bosten. The major bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (46.5%), Actinobacteria (25.9%), Bacteroidetes (13.2%), and Cyanobacteria (5.7%), while the major genera were hgcI_clade (12.9%), Limnohabitans (6.2%), and Polynucleobacter (4.7%). Water temperature emerged as the primary driver of these community structure variations on global level. However, when considering only seasonal variations, pH and nitrate were identified as key factors influencing bacterial community structures. Summer differed from other seasons in aspects of seasonal symbiotic patterns of bacterial communities, community assembly and function are different from other seasons. There were notable variations in bacterial community structures between winter and summer. Deterministic processes dominated community assembly, but there was an increase in the proportion of stochastic processes during summer. In summer, the functions related to photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and decomposition of organic matter showed higher abundance. Our findings shed light on the response of bacterial communities to environmental changes and the underlying mechanisms of community assembly in oligosaline lakes in arid regions.}, } @article {pmid37808290, year = {2023}, author = {Bailey, NP and Shao, Y and Du, S and Foster, PG and Fettweis, J and Hall, N and Wang, Z and Hirt, RP}, title = {Evolutionary conservation of Trichomonas-mycoplasma symbiosis across the host species barrier.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1242275}, pmid = {37808290}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common cellular sexually transmitted disease in humans, and the closely related species Trichomonas gallinae is an avian parasite of ecological and economic importance. Phylogenetic evidence suggests T. vaginalis arose during bird to human transmission of a T. gallinae-like ancestor. Trichomonas vaginalis shares a strong clinical association with the independent sexually transmitted pathogen Metamycoplasma (formerly Mycoplasma) hominis, and the uncultured bacterium "Candidatus Malacoplasma (formerly Mycoplasma) girerdii," with the latter association being an order of magnitude stronger. Both bacterial species have been shown to profoundly influence T. vaginalis growth, energy production and virulence-associated mechanisms.

METHODS: Evidence for a novel Malacoplasma sp. was discovered by in vivo Illumina metatranscriptomics sequencing of the T. gallinae-infected pigeon mouth. We leveraged published 16S rDNA profiling data from digestive tract of 12 healthy and 24 T. gallinae-infected pigeons to investigate association between the novel Malacoplasma sp. and T. gallinae. We utilised Illumina metagenomics sequencing targeted to pigeon oral and crop samples infected with the novel Malacoplasma sp. to generate its full-length genome sequence. Sequence similarity network analysis was used to compare annotated proteins from the novel Malacoplasma sp. with a range of other related species.

RESULTS: Here we present evidence for a novel Malacoplasma species, related to "Ca. M. girerdii," that is strongly associated with T. gallinae in the upper digestive tract of domestic pigeons. Analysis of the genome sequence revealed gene features apparently specific to a Trichomonas-symbiotic Malacoplasma lineage.

DISCUSSION: These data support a model of long-term association between Trichomonas and Malacoplasma spp. that has been conserved across diversification of the Trichomonas lineage and the host species barrier from birds to human.}, } @article {pmid37808282, year = {2023}, author = {Rui, J and Zhao, Y and Cong, N and Wang, F and Li, C and Liu, X and Hu, J and Ling, N and Jing, X}, title = {Elevational distribution and seasonal dynamics of alpine soil prokaryotic communities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1280011}, pmid = {37808282}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The alpine grassland ecosystem is a biodiversity hotspot of plants on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, where rapid climate change is altering the patterns of plant biodiversity along elevational and seasonal gradients of environments. However, how belowground microbial biodiversity changes along elevational gradient during the growing season is not well understood yet. Here, we investigated the elevational distribution of soil prokaryotic communities by using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing along an elevational gradient between 3,200 and 4,200 m, and a seasonal gradient between June and September in the Qinghai-Tibetan alpine grasslands. First, we found soil prokaryotic diversity and community composition significantly shifted along the elevational gradient, mainly driven by soil temperature and moisture. Species richness did not show consistent elevational trends, while those of evenness declined with elevation. Copiotrophs and symbiotic diazotrophs declined with elevation, while oligotrophs and AOB increased, affected by temperature. Anaerobic or facultatively anaerobic bacteria and AOA were hump-shaped, mainly influenced by moisture. Second, seasonal patterns of community composition were mainly driven by aboveground biomass, precipitation, and soil temperature. The seasonal dynamics of community composition indicated that soil prokaryotic community, particularly Actinobacteria, was sensitive to short-term climate change, such as the monthly precipitation variation. At last, dispersal limitation consistently dominated the assembly process of soil prokaryotic communities along both elevational and seasonal gradients, especially for those of rare species, while the deterministic process of abundant species was relatively higher at drier sites and in drier July. The balance between deterministic and stochastic processes in abundant subcommunities might be strongly influenced by water conditions (precipitation/moisture). Our findings suggest that both elevation and season can alter the patterns of soil prokaryotic biodiversity in alpine grassland ecosystem of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, which is a biodiversity hotspot and is experiencing rapid climate change. This work provides new insights into the response of soil prokaryotic communities to changes in elevation and season, and helps us understand the temporal and spatial variations in such climate change-sensitive regions.}, } @article {pmid37807189, year = {2023}, author = {Turchmanovych-Hienkel, N and Lacy, M}, title = {A - 65 Neuropsychological Sequela of Late-Onset Epilepsy in Older Adults: a Case Study.}, journal = {Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/arclin/acad067.082}, pmid = {37807189}, issn = {1873-5843}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Late-onset epilepsy is increasingly recognized as playing a role in cognitive decline during aging. Late-onset epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease (ad) appear to share pathological links mediated by vascular changes and tau pathology (Sen et al., 2020). Current literature has established a bi-directional association between ad and epilepsy with each being a risk factor of the other (Zhang et al., 2022). The present case illustrates the complexity of differential diagnosis in older adults presenting with progressive memory decline and late-onset epilepsy.

METHOD: Clinical interviews with the patient and his wife, a review of medical records including neuroimaging results, neuropsychological history questionnaire, and neuropsychological assessment.

RESULTS: 59-year-old male with a three-to-four-year history of focal seizures and slowly progressive memory decline. Medical history was void of vascular risk factors. Family history of memory disorders was denied. Brain MRI scans were read as unremarkable. However, video EEG revealed independent sharp waves from bilateral temporal areas. Neuropsychological assessment revealed deficits in verbal memory, confrontation naming, and semantic fluency but otherwise intact cognition. Per family, the patient displayed increased irritability, apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction.

CONCLUSION: Clinicians need to be increasingly aware of the growing incidence of late-onset epilepsy with aging and its symbiotic role in the risk for ad. Mechanistic evidence will be reviewed such as similar network hyperexcitability along with the accumulation of amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau-protein.}, } @article {pmid37806588, year = {2023}, author = {Guan, ZH and Cao, Z and Li, XG and Scholten, T and Kühn, P and Wang, L and Yu, RP and He, JS}, title = {Soil phosphorus availability mediates the effects of nitrogen addition on community- and species-level phosphorus-acquisition strategies in alpine grasslands.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {167630}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167630}, pmid = {37806588}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Plants modulate their phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies (i.e., change in root morphology, exudate composition, and mycorrhizal symbiosis) to adapt to varying soil P availability. However, how community- and species-level P-acquisition strategies change in response to nitrogen (N) supply under different P levels remain unclear. To address this research gap, we conducted an 8-year fully factorial field experiment in an alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) combined with a 12-week glasshouse experiment with four treatments (N addition, P addition, combined N and P addition, and control). In the field experiment (community-level), when P availability was low, N addition increased the release of carboxylate from roots and led to a higher percentage of colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), along with decreased root length, specific root length (SRL), and total root length colonised by AMF. When P availability was higher, N addition resulted in an increase in the plant's demand for P, accompanied by an increase in root diameter and phosphatase activity. In the glasshouse experiment (species-level), the P-acquisition strategies of grasses and sedge in response to N addition alone mirrored those observed in the field, exhibiting a reduction in root length, SRL, and total root length colonised, but an increased percentage of AMF colonisation. Forbs responded to N addition alone with increased investment in all P-acquisition strategies, especially increased root biomass and length. P-acquisition strategies showed consistent changes among all species in response to combined N and P addition. Our results suggest that increased carboxylate release and AMF colonisation rate are common P-acquisition strategies of plants in alpine grasslands under N-induced P limitation. The main difference in P-acquisition strategies between forbs and grasses/sedges in response to N addition under low-P conditions was an increase in root biomass and length.}, } @article {pmid37804964, year = {2023}, author = {Tong, CY and Honda, K and Derek, CJC}, title = {Enhancing organic matter productivity in microalgal-bacterial biofilm using novel bio-coating.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {167576}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167576}, pmid = {37804964}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Research on renewable energy from microalgae has led to a growing interest in porous substrate photobioreactors, but their widespread adoption is currently limited to pure microalgal biofilm cultures. The behavior of microalgal-bacterial biofilms immobilized on microporous substrates remains as a research challenge, particularly in uncovering their mutualistic interactions in environment enriched with dissolved organic matter. Therefore, this study established a novel culture platform by introducing microalgal-derived bio-coating that preconditioned hydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride membranes for the microalgal-bacterial biofilm growth of freshwater microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris ESP 31 and marine microalgae, Cylindrotheca fusiformis with bacteria, Escherichia coli. In the attached co-culture mode, the bio-coating we proposed demonstrated the ability to enhance microalgal growth for both studied species by a range of 2.5 % to 19 % starting from day 10 onwards. Additionally, when compared to co-culture on uncoated membranes, the bio-coating exhibited a significant bacterial growth promotion effect, increasing bacterial growth by at least 2.35 times for the C. vulgaris-E. coli co-culture after an initial adaptation phase. A significant increase of at least 72 % in intracellular biochemical compounds (including chlorophyll, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids) was observed within just five days, primarily due to the high concentration of pre-coated organic matter, mainly sourced from the internal organic matter (IOM) of C. fusiformis. Higher accumulation of organic compounds in the bio-coating indirectly triggers a competition between microalgae and bacteria which potentially stimulate the production of additional intra-/extra-organic substances as a defensive response. In short, insight gained from this study may represent a paradigm shift in the ways that symbiotic interactions are promoted to increase the yield of specific bio-compounds with the presence of bio-coating.}, } @article {pmid37802162, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, YJ and Ferrari, MW and Lin, S and Wang, ZH}, title = {Recent advances on the role of gut microbiota in the development of heart failure by mediating immune metabolism.}, journal = {Current problems in cardiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {102128}, doi = {10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.102128}, pmid = {37802162}, issn = {1535-6280}, abstract = {The association between gut microbiota and the development of heart failure has become a research hotspot in recent years and the impact of gut microbiota on heart failure has attracted growing interest. From 2006 to 2021, the global research on gut microbiota and heart failure has gradually expanded, indicating a developed and promising research field. There were 40 countries, 196 institutions, and 257 authors involved in the publication on the relationship between gut microbiota and heart failure, respectively. In patients with heart failure, inadequate visceral perfusion leads to ischaemia and intestinal oedema, which compromise the gut barrier. This subsequently results in the translocation of bacteria and bacterial metabolites into the circulatory system and causes local and systemic inflammatory responses. The gastrointestinal tract contains the largest number of immune cells in the human body and gut microbiota play important roles in the immune system by promoting immune tolerance to symbiotic bacteria. Studies have shown that probiotics can act on gut microorganisms, thereby increasing choline metabolism and reducing plasma TMA and TMAO concentrations, thus inhibiting the development of heart failure. Meanwhile, probiotics induce the production of inflammatory suppressors to maintain gut immune stability and inhibit the progression of heart failure by reducing ventricular remodeling. Here, we review the current understanding of gut microbiota-driven immune dysfunction in experimental and clinical heart failure, as well as the therapeutic interventions that could be used to address these issues.}, } @article {pmid37801450, year = {2023}, author = {Leonov, GE and Varaeva, YR and Livantsova, EN and Starodubova, AV}, title = {[The oral microbiome in the context of systemic disease].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {92}, number = {4}, pages = {6-19}, doi = {10.33029/0042-8833-2023-92-4-6-19}, pmid = {37801450}, issn = {0042-8833}, support = {grant No. 22-15-00252//The research was carried out at the expense of the Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Dysbiosis ; *Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevotella intermedia ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; }, abstract = {The oral microbiome is a community of symbiotic, commensal and opportunistic microorganisms, usually present in the form of biofilm, that plays a critical role in maintaining the homeostasis and protective function of the oral cavity. Recently, the study of the human oral microbiome to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches has become a promising new area of the research in the field of personalized medicine. The aim of this review was to generalise and analyse the accumulated data on the relationship between the oral microbiome characteristics and the course of systemic diseases. Material and methods. Literature searches were performed using RSCI, PubMed, Google Scholar, and included original research data published mainly in the last 5 years. Results. The review summarized data on the role of the oral microbiome in the development of a number of systemic diseases, including alimentary diseases. The importance of the major exogenous and endogenous factors that lead to changes in the oral microbiome, including diet, macro- and micronutrient composition of foods, was highlighted. Data were provided on the main types of microorganisms associated with the development and c ourse of a number of somatic diseases, represented mainly by obligate anaerobic periodontal pathogens (Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans). The role of the systemic inflammatory response as the main pathogenetic factor of oral dysbiosis has been described. The benefits of periodontal therapy in metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dyslipidemia have been discussed. Promising approaches to correct oral dysbiosis have been presented. Conclusion. The knowledge of the relationships between the oral microbiome composition, the development and characteristics of the course of somatic disease can contribute to the development of new technologies for its prevention and treatment. The change in the structure of the oral microbiome observed in systemic diseases is usually accompanied by a decrease in bacterial diversity and an increase in the number of pathogenic bacteria. Lifestyle modification, dietary therapy, smoking cessation, rational use of antibacterial drugs and treatment of periodontitis play an important role in normalising the structure of the oral microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37799356, year = {2023}, author = {Alqam, ML and Jones, BC and Hitchcock, TM}, title = {Study to determine the safety and efficacy of microneedling as an effective treatment for acne vulgaris.}, journal = {Skin health and disease}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {e264}, doi = {10.1002/ski2.264}, pmid = {37799356}, issn = {2690-442X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Acne is an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit that occurs primarily in adolescents. There is no current ideal treatment for acne vulgaris, as many mainstay prescription treatment modalities can compromise the skin microbiome or have deleterious health effects. Further research is needed to investigate novel treatment modalities that account for the importance of the skin microbiome. Other developing treatment modalities for acne are still taking a similar mode of action as current treatments by trying to eliminate Cutibacterium acnes despite growing evidence that some C. acnes strains may be symbiotic in nature. The perception that microneedling will exacerbate the disease state and trigger more acneic lesions via the spread of acne-associated microbes has hindered research investigating whether microneedling is a safe and effective treatment. This pilot clinical study challenges such perceptions by clinical assessment to determine if microneedling may produce beneficial treatment outcomes without disrupting critical skin structure or skin microbiome.

OBJECTIVES: Test the safety and efficacy of microneedling as an effective treatment modality for acne vulgaris.

METHODS: Subjects were split into two groups, one group received three treatments 4 weeks apart, and the second group received four treatments 2 weeks apart. Subjects received an acne assessment by an expert clinical grader at all clinical visits.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in both non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions at the 2-month follow-up compared to the baseline for Group 1. Group 1 and Group 2 saw a decline of 48.20% and 54.00% in non-inflammatory lesions and 57.97% and 36.67% in inflammatory lesions, respectively, at their last visit compared to baseline.

CONCLUSION: This study expands the utility of microneedling into a potential therapeutic modality for acne vulgaris. The data generated during the duration of this clinical study demonstrates that there is no scientific reason for microneedling to be contraindicated for acne. In this pilot, microneedling did not cause post-treatment complications and was seen to reduce acne lesions effectively. Thus, microneedling may have the potential to be a well-tolerated option for those suffering from acne, being a treatment that neither damages the sebaceous glands nor disrupts the skin microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37795946, year = {2023}, author = {Ramanathan, K and Padmanabhan, G and Gulilat, H and Malik, T}, title = {Salivary microbiome in kidney diseases: A narrative review.}, journal = {Cell biochemistry and function}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/cbf.3864}, pmid = {37795946}, issn = {1099-0844}, abstract = {Many research has been conducted since the microbiota's discovery that have focused on the role it plays in health and disease. Microbiota can be divided into categories like intestinal, oral, respiratory, and skin microbiota based on the specific localized areas. To maintain homeostasis and control immunological response, the microbial populations live in symbiosis with the host. On the other hand, dysbiosis of the microbiota can cause diseases including kidney diseases and the deregulation of body functioning. We discuss the current understanding of how various kidney diseases are caused by the salivary microbiome (SM) in this overview. First, we review the studies on the salivary microbiota in diverse clinical situations. The importance of the SM in diabetic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, membranous nephropathy, and IgA nephropathy is next highlighted. We conclude that the characteristics of the SM of patients with various kidney diseases have revealed the potential of salivary microbial markers as noninvasive tool for the detection of various kidney diseases.}, } @article {pmid37794681, year = {2023}, author = {Lepetit, M and Brouquisse, R}, title = {New insight in the control of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by carbon supply.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2023.09.021}, pmid = {37794681}, issn = {1752-9867}, } @article {pmid37792114, year = {2023}, author = {Vohník, M and Bruzone, MC and Knoblochová, T and Fernández, NV and Kolaříková, Z and Větrovský, T and Fontenla, SB}, title = {Exploring structural and molecular diversity of Ericaceae hair root mycobionts: a comparison between Northern Bohemia and Argentine Patagonia.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37792114}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {GAČR 18-05886S//Grantová Agentura České Republiky/ ; GAČR 18-05886S//Grantová Agentura České Republiky/ ; RVO 67985939//Akademie Věd České Republiky/ ; RVO 67985939//Akademie Věd České Republiky/ ; RVO 67985939//Akademie Věd České Republiky/ ; AMB12AR014 and 7AMB14AR003//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic/ ; AMB12AR014 and 7AMB14AR003//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic/ ; 04/B143 and 04/B170//Universidad Nacional del Comahue/ ; 04/B143 and 04/B170//Universidad Nacional del Comahue/ ; 04/B143 and 04/B170//Universidad Nacional del Comahue/ ; ARC/11/05 and ARC/13/03//Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva de la República Argentina/ ; ARC/11/05 and ARC/13/03//Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva de la República Argentina/ ; ARC/11/05 and ARC/13/03//Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva de la República Argentina/ ; }, abstract = {Core Ericaceae produce delicate hair roots with inflated rhizodermal cells that host plethora of fungal symbionts. These poorly known mycobionts include various endophytes, parasites, saprobes, and the ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi (ErMF) that form the ErM symbiosis crucial for the fitness of their hosts. Using microscopy and high-throughput sequencing, we investigated their structural and molecular diversity in 14 different host × site combinations in Northern Bohemia (Central Europe) and Argentine Patagonia (South America). While we found typical ericoid mycorrhiza in all combinations, we did not detect ectomycorrhiza and arbuscular mycorrhiza. Superficial mantles of various thickness formed by non-clamped hyphae were observed in all combinations except Calluna vulgaris from N. Bohemia. Some samples contained frequent intercellular hyphae while others possessed previously unreported intracellular haustoria-like structures linked with intracellular hyphal coils. The 711 detected fungal OTU were dominated by Ascomycota (563) and Basidiomycota (119), followed by four other phyla. Ascomycetes comprised Helotiales (255), Pleosporales (53), Chaetothyriales (42), and other 19 orders, while basidiomycetes Sebacinales (42), Agaricales (28), Auriculariales (7), and other 14 orders. While many dominant OTU from both hemispheres lacked close relatives in reference databases, many were very similar to identical to unnamed sequences from around the world. On the other hand, several significant ericaceous mycobionts were absent in our dataset, incl. Cairneyella, Gamarada, Kurtia, Lachnum, and Leohumicola. Most of the detected OTU could not be reliably linked to a particular trophic mode, and only two could be reliably assigned to the archetypal ErMF Hyaloscypha hepaticicola. Probable ErMF comprised Hyaloscypha variabilis and Oidiodendron maius, both detected only in N. Bohemia. Possible ErMF comprised sebacinoid fungi and several unnamed members of Hyaloscypha s. str. While H. hepaticicola was dominant only in C. vulgaris, this model ErM host lacked O. maius and sebacinoid mycobionts. Hyaloscypha hepaticicola was absent in two and very rare in six combinations from Patagonia. Nine OTU represented dark septate endophytes from the Phialocephala fortinii s. lat.-Acephala applanata species complex, including the most abundant OTU (the only detected in all combinations). Statistical analyses revealed marked differences between N. Bohemia and Patagonia, but also within Patagonia, due to the unique community detected in a Valdivian temperate rainforest. Our results show that the ericaceous hair roots may host diverse mycobionts with mostly unknown functions and indicate that many novel ErMF lineages await discovery. Transhemispheric differences (thousands of km) in their communities may be evenly matched by local differences (scales of km, m, and less).}, } @article {pmid37790788, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, W and Shan, W and Niu, T and Ye, T and Sun, Q and Zhang, J}, title = {Insight into regulation of adventitious root formation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and exogenous auxin in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) cuttings.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1258410}, pmid = {37790788}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Adventitious root (AR) development, affected by various biotic and abiotic factors, is the most important procedure in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) cutting propagation. Establishing symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants, AMF (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) can mediate the AR formation of several herbaceous and woody plants in previous studies.

METHODS: In this paper, effects of combined application of AMF and exogenous auxin on AR formation of cuttings from different tea plant varieties ('Pingyangtezao', 'Longjing 43' and 'Longjingchangye') were studied. Then we also performed RNA-Seq analysis with 'Pingyangtezao' cuttings aiming to find the possible auxin-related pathway of AM fungal regulation on AR formation. To accurately uncover the regulatory mechanism of AMF on AR formation of tea cuttings, rooting process were separated into four stages (S0, non-rooting; S1, AR protrusion; S2, AR formation and S3, AR elongation) at the same sampling time.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results showed that IBA treatment increased the mycorrhizal colonization rate, especially in 'Pingyangtezao' variety (from 37.58% to 46.29%). Both inoculating AMF and addition of IBA promoted the AR formation, and rooting of different tea plant varieties showed different dependence on auxin. AMF could alleviate the effect of auxin-related inhibitors (2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, L-α-(Aminooxy)-β-phenylpropionic acid and α-(phenylethyl-2-oxo)-IAA) on rooting of tea cuttings, even though the colonization of AMF was hindered at various degrees. Transcriptomic analysis showed that different numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at various rooting stages of tea cuttings with the most at S2 stage (1360 DEGs), indicating the increasing regulation by AMF with the development of AR. Similar trend was found in auxin-related DEGs, and family genes of YUC, GH, PIN, LAX, SAUR, AUX, and ABP involved in the AM fungal regulation on AR formation of tea cuttings. Additionally, AMF strongly mediated auxin transport and signal transduction pathways in tea cuttings as showed by the results of correlation analysis. Overall, interaction of AMF and exogenous auxin in promoting rooting and the preliminary mechanism of AMF regulating AR formation of tea cuttings was deciphered in this paper, which may provide a basis for further deep mechanistic research and cutting propagation of tea production.}, } @article {pmid37790632, year = {2023}, author = {DiBattista, JD and Liu, SYV and De Brauwer, M and Wilkinson, SP and West, K and Koziol, A and Bunce, M}, title = {Gut content metabarcoding of specialized feeders is not a replacement for environmental DNA assays of seawater in reef environments.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e16075}, pmid = {37790632}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {In tropical marine ecosystems, the coral-based diet of benthic-feeding reef fishes provides a window into the composition and health of coral reefs. In this study, for the first time, we compare multi-assay metabarcoding sequences of environmental DNA (eDNA) isolated from seawater and partially digested gut items from an obligate corallivore butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) resident to coral reef sites in the South China Sea. We specifically tested the proportional and statistical overlap of the different approaches (seawater vs gut content metabarcoding) in characterizing eukaryotic community composition on coral reefs. Based on 18S and ITS2 sequence data, which differed in their taxonomic sensitivity, we found that gut content detections were only partially representative of the eukaryotic communities detected in the seawater based on low levels of taxonomic overlap (3 to 21%) and significant differences between the sampling approaches. Overall, our results indicate that dietary metabarcoding of specialized feeders can be complimentary to, but is no replacement for, more comprehensive environmental DNA assays of reef environments that might include the processing of different substrates (seawater, sediment, plankton) or traditional observational surveys. These molecular assays, in tandem, might be best suited to highly productive but cryptic oceanic environments (kelp forests, seagrass meadows) that contain an abundance of organisms that are often small, epiphytic, symbiotic, or cryptic.}, } @article {pmid37787562, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, H and Wang, F and Liu, C and Reddy, GVP and Li, H and Li, Z and Sun, Y and Zhao, Z}, title = {Discovery of a new highly pathogenic toxin involved in insect sepsis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0142223}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01422-23}, pmid = {37787562}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Insect sepsis is a severe consequence that arises from the invasion of the hemocoel by symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes and bacteria. In the present study, we unveiled the heightened virulence of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae and the entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus bovienii, which operate symbiotically, against the wax moth Galleria mellonella. Maximum mortality was observed at 25°C while the optimal infestation efficiency was 20 nematodes per host. After infestation, G. mellonella displayed rapid darkening and softening, accompanied by an escalated esterase activity at 9 h. The X. bovienii, released by S. feltiae, underwent substantial proliferation and discharged toxins that attacked hemocytes, thus triggering extensive hemolysis and sepsis. The host G. mellonella was usually killed within 24 h due to disseminated septicemia. Additionally, X. bovienii infestation led to the upregulation of metabolites like 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid. Strikingly, we identified the perilous actinomycin D, generated through kynurenine metabolites, representing a novel biomarker of insect sepsis. Furthermore, a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis unveiled a noteworthy upregulation of gene expression associated with actinomycin D. Overall, X. bovienii induced apoptosis and sepsis through actinomycin D production, indicating its pivotal role in infestation activity. These findings open up new avenues for studying the mechanism of sepsis and developing innovative biotic pesticides. IMPORTANCE As a current biocontrol resource, entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacterium can produce many toxin factors to trigger insect sepsis, having the potential to promote sustainable pest management. In this study, we found Steinernema feltiae and Xenorhabdus bovienii were highly virulent against the insects. After infective juvenile injection, Galleria mellonella quickly turned black and softened with increasing esterase activity. Simultaneously, X. bovienii attacked hemocytes and released toxic components, resulting in extensive hemolysis and sepsis. Then, we applied high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and found multiple substances were upregulated in the host hemolymph. We found extremely hazardous actinomycin D produced via 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid metabolites. Moreover, a combined transcriptomic analysis revealed that gene expression of proteins associated with actinomycin D was upregulated. Our research revealed actinomycin D might be responsible for the infestation activity of X. bovienii, indicating a new direction for exploring the sepsis mechanism and developing novel biotic pesticides.}, } @article {pmid37780897, year = {2023}, author = {Padhi, A and Agarwal, A and Saxena, SK and Katoch, CDS}, title = {Transforming clinical virology with AI, machine learning and deep learning: a comprehensive review and outlook.}, journal = {Virusdisease}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {345-355}, pmid = {37780897}, issn = {2347-3584}, abstract = {In the rapidly evolving field of clinical virology, technological advancements have always played a pivotal role in driving transformative changes. This comprehensive review delves into the burgeoning integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and deep learning into virological research and practice. As we elucidate, these computational tools have significantly enhanced diagnostic precision, therapeutic interventions, and epidemiological monitoring. Through in-depth analyses of notable case studies, we showcase how algorithms can optimize viral genome sequencing, accelerate drug discovery, and offer predictive insights into viral outbreaks. However, with these advancements come inherent challenges, particularly in data security, algorithmic biases, and ethical considerations. Addressing these challenges head-on, we discuss potential remedial measures and underscore the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration between virologists, data scientists, and ethicists. Conclusively, this review posits an outlook that anticipates a symbiotic relationship between AI-driven tools and virology, heralding a new era of proactive and personalized patient care.}, } @article {pmid37779967, year = {2023}, author = {Bjørk, PK and Johansen, NT and Havshøi, NW and Rasmussen, SA and Ipsen, JØ and Isbrandt, T and Larsen, TO and Fuglsang, AT}, title = {Trichoderma harzianum Peptaibols Stimulate Plant Plasma Membrane H[+]-ATPase Activity.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {38}, pages = {34928-34937}, pmid = {37779967}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Because of their ability to promote growth, act as biopesticides, and improve abiotic stress tolerance, Trichoderma spp. have been used for plant seed coating. However, the mechanism for the promotion of plant growth remains unknown. In this study, we investigate the effect of fungal extracts on the plant plasma membrane (PM) H[+]-ATPase, which is essential for plant growth and often a target of plant-associated microbes. We show that Trichoderma harzianum extract increases H[+]-ATPase activity, and by fractionation and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), we identify the activating components trichorzin PA (tPA) II and tPA VI that belong to the class of peptaibols. Peptaibols are nonribosomal peptides that can integrate into membranes and form indiscriminate ion channels, which causes pesticidal activity. To further investigate peptaibol-mediated H[+]-ATPase activation, we compare the effect of tPA II and VI to that of the model peptaibol alamethicin (AlaM). We show that AlaM increases H[+]-ATPase turnover rates in a concentration-dependent manner, with a peak in activity measured at 31.25 μM, above which activity decreases. Using fluorescent probes and light scattering, we find that the AlaM-mediated increase in activity is not correlated to increased membrane fluidity or vesicle integrity, whereas the activity decrease at high AlaM concentrations is likely due to PM overloading of AlaM pores. Overall, our results suggest that the symbiosis of fungi and plants, specifically related to peptaibols, is a concentration-dependent balance, where peptaibols do not act only as biocontrol agents but also as plant growth stimulants.}, } @article {pmid37779696, year = {2023}, author = {Su, J and Tan, Q and Tang, Q and Tong, Z and Yang, M}, title = {Research progress on alternative kombucha substrate transformation and the resulting active components.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1254014}, pmid = {37779696}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Kombucha is a customary tea-based beverage that is produced through the process of fermenting a mixture of tea and sugar water with symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Traditional kombucha has various beneficial effects and can improve immunity. The significant market share of Kombucha can be attributed to the growing consumer inclination towards healthy foods within the functional beverage industry. The research focus has recently expanded from the probiotics of traditional black tea kombucha to encompass other teas, Chinese herbs, plant materials, and alternative substrates. There is a lack of comprehensive literature reviews focusing on substance transformation, functional, active substances, and efficacy mechanisms of alternative kombucha substrates. This article aimed to bridge this gap by providing an in-depth review of the biological transformation pathways of kombucha metabolites and alternative substrates. The review offers valuable insights into kombucha research, including substance metabolism and transformation, efficacy, pharmacological mechanism, and the purification of active components, offering direction and focus for further studies in this field.}, } @article {pmid37779688, year = {2023}, author = {González, D and Morales-Olavarria, M and Vidal-Veuthey, B and Cárdenas, JP}, title = {Insights into early evolutionary adaptations of the Akkermansia genus to the vertebrate gut.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1238580}, pmid = {37779688}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Akkermansia, a relevant mucin degrader from the vertebrate gut microbiota, is a member of the deeply branched Verrucomicrobiota, as well as the only known member of this phylum to be described as inhabitants of the gut. Only a few Akkermansia species have been officially described so far, although there is genomic evidence addressing the existence of more species-level variants for this genus. This niche specialization makes Akkermansia an interesting model for studying the evolution of microorganisms to their adaptation to the gastrointestinal tract environment, including which kind of functions were gained when the Akkermansia genus originated or how the evolutionary pressure functions over those genes. In order to gain more insight into Akkermansia adaptations to the gastrointestinal tract niche, we performed a phylogenomic analysis of 367 high-quality Akkermansia isolates and metagenome-assembled genomes, in addition to other members of Verrucomicrobiota. This work was focused on three aspects: the definition of Akkermansia genomic species clusters and the calculation and functional characterization of the pangenome for the most represented species; the evolutionary relationship between Akkermansia and their closest relatives from Verrucomicrobiota, defining the gene families which were gained or lost during the emergence of the last Akkermansia common ancestor (LAkkCA) and; the evaluation of the evolutionary pressure metrics for each relevant gene family of main Akkermansia species. This analysis found 25 Akkermansia genomic species clusters distributed in two main clades, divergent from their non-Akkermansia relatives. Pangenome analyses suggest that Akkermansia species have open pangenomes, and the gene gain/loss model indicates that genes associated with mucin degradation (both glycoside hydrolases and peptidases), (micro)aerobic metabolism, surface interaction, and adhesion were part of LAkkCA. Specifically, mucin degradation is a very ancestral innovation involved in the origin of Akkermansia. Horizontal gene transfer detection suggests that Akkermansia could receive genes mostly from unknown sources or from other Gram-negative gut bacteria. Evolutionary metrics suggest that Akkemansia species evolved differently, and even some conserved genes suffered different evolutionary pressures among clades. These results suggest a complex evolutionary landscape of the genus and indicate that mucin degradation could be an essential feature in Akkermansia evolution as a symbiotic species.}, } @article {pmid37778737, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, L and Zhang, S and Qiao, Y and Cao, X and Jiang, G and Cheng, J and Wan, X and Meng, Q and Shen, H}, title = {A comparative transcriptome analysis of how shrimp endure and adapt to long-term symbiosis with Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {109088}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109088}, pmid = {37778737}, issn = {1095-9947}, abstract = {Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a prevalent microsporidian pathogen responsible for hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM) in Litopenaeus vannamei. This infection not only leads to slowed growth in shrimp abut aslo inflicts substantial economic losses in the global aquaculture industry. However, the molecular mechanisms by which EHP influences the host during various infection stages remain unclear. This study employed comparative transcriptomics to examine the effects of EHP infection on Litopenaeus vannamei between early and late stage of infection groups. Utilizing transcriptomic approaches, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with notable biological significance through the COG, GO, KEGG, GSEA, and Mufzz time-series methodologies. The results reveal that EHP infection considerably influences host gene expression, with marked differences between early and late infection across distinct timeframes. Key processes such as detoxification, cell apoptosis, and lipid metabolism are pivotal during host-parasite interactions. Hexokinase and phosphatidic acid phosphatase emerge as key factors enabling invasion and sustained effects. Cytochrome P450 and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase could facilitate infection progression. EHP significantly impacts growth, especially through ecdysteroids and 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase. By delineating stage-specific effects, we gain insights into interaction between EHP and Litopenaeus vannamei, showing how intracellular pathogens reprogram host defenses into mechanisms enabling long-term persistence. This study provides a deeper understanding of host-pathogen dynamics, emphasizing the interplay between detoxification, metabolism, immunity, apoptosis and growth regulation over the course of long-term symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37778062, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Liu, L and Wang, S and Sun, S and Hu, C and Zhao, Y}, title = {Enhancement of carbon nanotubes on microalgal-fungal consortium formation and wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {347}, number = {}, pages = {119120}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119120}, pmid = {37778062}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {As a promising material with an efficient light capture capability, a low amount of carbon nanotubes can affect growth and photosynthesis by regulating microalgal cells, thereby enhancing the pollutant removal efficiency in wastewater. In this study, microalgal-fungal consortia of Chlorella vulgaris and Ganoderma lucidum were developed with different types and concentrations of carbon nanotubes. The treatment effect of microalgal-fungal consortia on simulated digestate was also studied. The results demonstrate that 1.5 mg/L of carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes remarkably promoted the formation, growth and photosynthesis of consortium. The dry weight and chlorophyll a content reached 19.3 ± 0.53 mg/symbiont and 27.3 ± 0.52 μg/L, respectively. Moreover, the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and tetracycline hydrochloride were 94.1%, 65.5%, 61.9% and 96.2%, respectively. Overall, these findings suggest a promising future for the use of carbon nanotubes in wastewater treatment by regulating microalgal-fungal consortia.}, } @article {pmid37777517, year = {2023}, author = {Ghasemi, M and Zahedi, M and Gheysari, M and Sabzalian, MR}, title = {Effects of inoculation with four mycorrhizal species on seed phenolic and fatty acids of sesame plants grown under different irrigation regimes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {16482}, pmid = {37777517}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; *Sesamum ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/pharmacology ; Dehydration ; Phenols/pharmacology ; Seeds ; Flavonoids/pharmacology ; Stearic Acids/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {This study evaluated the interaction effects of irrigation level (well-watered and water stress conditions) and inoculation by different mycorrhizal species (non-inoculated, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis, Claroideoglomus claroideum, and Glomus fasciculatum) on mycorrhizal colonization, antioxidant activity, seed yield and oil quality of two sesame cultivars (Yekta and Naz). Water deficit decreased mycorrhizal colonization, seed yield and oil concentration but increased antioxidant activity and seed total phenol and flavonoid concentrations. However, mycorrhizal inoculation increased antioxidant activity, seed yield, oil concentration and total phenolic and flavonoids. The lowest reduction by water stress and the highest increase by inoculation in seed yield were observed in Naz plants inoculated by Cl. claroideum. Principal component analysis showed the highest differentiation effect of water stress compared to mycorrhizal inoculation on both cultivars, indicating the relative sensitivity of the two cultivars to water deficit. However, the application of different species of mycorrhizal fungi versus the non-inoculation conditions was somewhat discriminative. In terms of fatty acids, in most cases, water stress increased oleic, palmitic and stearic acids and decreased linoleic and linolenic acids but inoculation increased oleic and linoleic acids and decreased linolenic, palmitic and stearic acids. Regarding phenolic and flavonoids components, the contents of chlorogenic and caffeic acids were increased by water stress but no consistent trend was noted in response to water stress for the other compounds. Mycorrhizal inoculation generally decreased chlorogenic acid but increased gallic, caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids. In conclusion, the results of the present study may help to increase the level of valuable compounds in sesame for further pharmaceutical purposes under water stress conditions and mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37777191, year = {2023}, author = {Tao, Y and Li, C and Liu, Y and Xu, C and Okabe, S and Matsushita, N and Lian, C}, title = {Identification of microRNAs involved in ectomycorrhizal formation in Populus tomentosa.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpad102}, pmid = {37777191}, issn = {1758-4469}, support = {17H03824//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; SWU-KQ22074//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; }, abstract = {The majority of woody plants are able to form ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses with fungi. During symbiotic development, plants undergo a complex re-programming process involving a series of physiological and morphological changes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important components of the regulatory network underlying symbiotic development. To elucidate the mechanisms of miRNAs and miRNA-mediated mRNA cleavage during symbiotic development, we conducted high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs and degradome tags from roots of Populus tomentosa inoculated with Cenococcum geophilum. This process led to the annotation of 51 differentially expressed miRNAs between non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal roots of P. tomentosa, including 13 novel miRNAs. Increased or decreased accumulation of several novel and conserved miRNAs in ECM roots, including miR162, miR164, miR319, miR396, miR397, miR398, novel-miR44 and novel-miR47, suggests essential roles for these miRNAs in ECM formation. The degradome analysis identified root transcripts as miRNA-mediated mRNA cleavage targets, which was confirmed using real-time quantitative PCR. Several of the identified miRNAs and corresponding targets are involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. In summary, increased or decreased accumulation of specific miRNAs and miRNA-mediated cleavage of symbiosis-related genes indicate that miRNAs play important roles in the regulatory network underlying symbiotic development.}, } @article {pmid37776523, year = {2023}, author = {Miura, C and Furui, Y and Yamamoto, T and Kanno, Y and Honjo, M and Yamaguchi, K and Suetsugu, K and Yagame, T and Seo, M and Shigenobu, S and Yamato, M and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Auto-activation of mycorrhizal symbiosis signaling through gibberellin deactivation in orchid seed germination.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad517}, pmid = {37776523}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Orchids parasitically depend on external nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination. Previous findings suggest that orchids utilize a genetic system of mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, in which the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) negatively affects fungal colonization and development, to establish parasitic symbiosis. Although GA generally promotes seed germination in photosynthetic plants, previous studies have reported low sensitivity of GA in seed germination of mycoheterotrophic orchids where mycorrhizal symbiosis occurs concurrently. To elucidate the connecting mechanisms of orchid seed germination and mycorrhizal symbiosis at the molecular level, we investigated the effect of GA on a hyacinth orchid (Bletilla striata) seed germination and mycorrhizal symbiosis using asymbiotic and symbiotic germination methods. Additionally, we compared the transcriptome profiles between asymbiotically and symbiotically germinated seeds. Exogenous GA negatively affected seed germination and fungal colonization, and endogenous bioactive GA was actively converted to the inactive form during seed germination. Transcriptome analysis showed that B. striata shared many of the induced genes between asymbiotically and symbiotically germinated seeds, including GA metabolism- and signaling-related genes and AM-specific marker homologs. Our study suggests that orchids have evolved in a manner that they do not use bioactive GA as a positive regulator of seed germination and instead auto-activate the mycorrhizal symbiosis pathway through GA inactivation to accept the fungal partner immediately during seed germination.}, } @article {pmid37776487, year = {2023}, author = {Kulshreshtha, S}, title = {Mushroom as Prebiotics: a Sustainable Approach for Healthcare.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37776487}, issn = {1867-1314}, abstract = {Mushrooms are considered as sustainable foods as they require less effort and can be cultivated on different agro-industrial wastes. Besides, these possess many nutraceuticals for providing health benefits along with supplementing nutrition. The mushrooms are also used as prebiotics for their ability to support beneficial microbes in the gut and inhibit the growth of pathogens. Furthermore, these remain undigested in the upper gut and reach the intestine to replenish the gut microbiota. The mushrooms boost health by inhibiting the binding of pathogenic bacteria, by promoting the growth of specific gut microbiota, producing short chain fatty acids, and regulating lipid metabolism and cancer. Research has been initiated in the commercial formulation of various products such as yogurt and symbiotic capsules. This paper sheds light on health-promoting effect, disease controlling, and regulating effect of mushroom prebiotics. This paper also presented a glimpse of commercialization of mushroom prebiotics. In the future, proper standardization of mushroom-based prebiotic formulations will be available to boost human health.}, } @article {pmid37775072, year = {2023}, author = {Hlaváčková, K and Šamaj, J and Ovečka, M}, title = {Cytoskeleton as a roadmap navigating rhizobia to establish symbiotic root nodulation in legumes.}, journal = {Biotechnology advances}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {108263}, doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108263}, pmid = {37775072}, issn = {1873-1899}, abstract = {Legumes enter into symbiotic associations with soil nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, culminating in the creation of new organs, root nodules. This complex process relies on chemical and physical interaction between legumes and rhizobia, including early signalling events informing the host legume plant of a potentially beneficial microbe and triggering the nodulation program. The great significance of this plant-microbe interaction rests upon conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen not accessible to plants into a biologically active form of ammonia available to plants. The plant cytoskeleton consists in a highly dynamic network and undergoes rapid remodelling upon sensing various developmental and environmental cues, including response to attachment, internalization, and accommodation of rhizobia in plant root and nodule cells. This dynamic nature is governed by cytoskeleton-associated proteins that modulate cytoskeletal behaviour depending on signal perception and transduction. Precisely localized cytoskeletal rearrangements are therefore essential for the uptake of rhizobia, their targeted delivery, and establishing beneficial root nodule symbiosis. This review summarizes current knowledge about rhizobia-dependent rearrangements and functions of the cytoskeleton in legume roots and nodules. General patterns and nodule type-, nodule stage-, and species-specific aspects of actin filaments and microtubules remodelling are discussed. Moreover, emerging evidence is provided about fine-tuning the root nodulation process through cytoskeleton-associated proteins. We also consider future perspectives on dynamic localization studies of the cytoskeleton during early symbiosis utilizing state of the art molecular and advanced microscopy approaches. Based on acquired detailed knowledge of the mutualistic interactions with microbes, these approaches could contribute to broader biotechnological crop improvement.}, } @article {pmid37775014, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, M and Lyu, Y and Cheng, K and Zhang, B and Cai, Z and Chen, G and Zhou, J}, title = {Interactions between quorum sensing/quorum quenching and virulence genes may affect coral health by regulating symbiotic bacterial community.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {238}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {117221}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.117221}, pmid = {37775014}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) and quorum quenching (QQ) are two antagonistic processes that may regulate the composition, function and structure of bacterial community. In coral holobiont, autoinducers signaling mediate the communication pathways between interspecies and intraspecies bacteria, which regulate the expression of the virulence factors that can damage host health. However, under environmental stressors, the interaction between the QS/QQ gene and virulence factors and their role in the bacterial communities and coral bleaching is still not fully clear. To address this question, here, metagenomics method was used to examine the profile of QS/QQ and virulence genes from a deeply sequenced microbial database, obtained from three bleached and non-bleached corals species. The prediction of bacterial genes of bleached samples involved in functional metabolic pathways were remarkably decreased, and the bacterial community structure on bleached samples was significantly different compared to non-bleached samples. The distribution and significant difference in QS/QQ and virulence genes were also carried out. We found that Proteobacteria was dominant bacteria among all samples, and AI-1 system is widespread within this group of bacteria. The identified specific genes consistently exhibited a trend of increased pathogenicity in bleached corals relative to non-bleached corals. The abundance of pathogenicity-associated QS genes, including bapA, pfoA and dgcB genes, were significantly increased in bleached corals and can encode the protein of biofilm formation and the membrane damaging toxins promoting pathogenic adhesion and infection. Similarly, the virulence genes, such as superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD gene), metalloproteinase (yme1, yydH and zmpB), glycosidases (malE, malF, malG, and malK) and LodAB (lodB) genes significantly increased. Conversely, QQ genes that inhibit QS activity and virulence factors to defense the pathogens, including blpA, lsrK, amiE, aprE and gmuG showed a significant decrease in bleached groups. Furthermore, the significant correlations were found among virulence, QS/QQ genes, and coral associated bacterial community, and the virulence genes interact with key QS/QQ genes, directly or indirectly influence symbiotic bacterial communities homeostasis, thereby impacting coral health. It suggested that the functional and structural divergence in the symbiont bacteria may be partially attribute to the interplay, involving interactions among the host, bacterial communication signal systems, and bacterial virulence factors. In conclusion, these data helped to reveal the characteristic behavior of coral symbiotic bacteria, and facilitated a better understanding of bleaching mechanism from a chemical ecological perspective.}, } @article {pmid37775013, year = {2023}, author = {Liang, X and Wang, H and Wang, C and Yao, Z and Qiu, X and Ju, H and Wang, J}, title = {Disentangling the impact of biogas slurry topdressing as a replacement for chemical fertilizers on soil bacterial and fungal community composition, functional characteristics, and co-occurrence networks.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {238}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {117256}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.117256}, pmid = {37775013}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {The application of biogas slurry topdressing with drip irrigation systems can compensate for the limitation of traditional solid organic fertilizer, which can only be applied at the bottom. Based on this, we attempted to define the response of soil bacterial and fungal communities of maize during the tasseling and full maturity stages, by using a no-topdressing control and different ratios of biogas slurry nitrogen in place of chemical fertilizer topdressing. The application of biogas slurry resulted in the emergence of new bacterial phyla led by Synergistota. Compared with pure urea chemical topdressing, the pure biogas slurry topdressing treatment significantly enriched Firmicutes and Basidiomycota communities during the tasseling stage, in addition to affecting the separation of bacterial and fungal α-diversity indices between the tasseling and full maturity stages. Based on the prediction of community composition and function, the changes in bacterial and fungal communities caused by biogas slurry treatment stimulated the ability of microorganisms to decompose refractory organic components, which was conducive to turnover in the soil carbon cycle, and improved multi-element (such as sulfur) cycles; however it may also bring potential risks of heavy metal and pathogenic microbial contamination. Notably, the biogas slurry treatment reduced the correlation and aggregation of bacterial and fungal symbiotic networks, and had a dual effect on ecological randomness. These findings contribute to a deeper comprehension of the alterations occurring in soil microbial communities when substituting chemical fertilizers treated with biogas slurry topdressing, and promote the efficient and sustainable utilization of biogas slurry resources.}, } @article {pmid37774025, year = {2023}, author = {Robicheau, BM and Tolman, J and Desai, D and LaRoche, J}, title = {Microevolutionary patterns in ecotypes of the symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A revealed from a Northwest Atlantic coastal time series.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {39}, pages = {eadh9768}, pmid = {37774025}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {UCYN-A is a globally important nitrogen-fixing symbiotic microbe often found in colder regions and coastal areas where nitrogen fixation has been overlooked. We present a 3-year coastal Northwest Atlantic time series of UCYN-A by integrating oceanographic data with weekly nifH and16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR assays for UCYN-A ecotypes. High UCYN-A relative abundances dominated by A1 to A4 ecotypes reoccurred annually in the coastal Northwest Atlantic. Although UCYN-A was detected every summer/fall, the ability to observe separate ecotypes may be highly dependent on sampling time given intense interannual and weekly variability of ecotype-specific occurrences. Additionally, much of UCYN-A's rarer diversity was populated by short-lived neutral mutational variants, therefore providing insight into UCYN-A's microevolutionary patterns. For instance, rare ASVs exhibited community composition restructuring annually, while also sharing a common connection to a dominant ASV within each ecotype. Our study provides additional perspectives for interpreting UCYN-A intraspecific diversity and underscores the need for high-resolution datasets when deciphering spatiotemporal ecologies within UCYN-A.}, } @article {pmid37773438, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and Liu, ZF and Jin, MK and Zhang, W and Lambers, H and Hui, D and Liang, C and Zhang, J and Wu, D and Sardans, J and Peñuelas, J and Petticord, DF and Frey, DW and Zhu, YG}, title = {Microbial controls over soil priming effects under chronic nitrogen and phosphorus additions in subtropical forests.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37773438}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {2021M703135//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 42207262//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {The soil priming effect (PE), defined as the modification of soil organic matter decomposition by labile carbon (C) inputs, is known to influence C storage in terrestrial ecosystems. However, how chronic nutrient addition, particularly in leguminous and non-leguminous forests, will affect PE through interaction with nutrient (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) availability is still unclear. Therefore, we collected soils from leguminous and non-leguminous subtropical plantations across a suite of historical nutrient addition regimes. We added [13]C-labeled glucose to investigate how background soil nutrient conditions and microbial communities affect priming and its potential microbial mechanisms. Glucose addition increased soil organic matter decomposition and prompted positive priming in all soils, regardless of dominant overstory tree species or fertilizer treatment. In non-leguminous soil, only combined nitrogen and phosphorus addition led to a higher positive priming than the control. Conversely, soils beneath N-fixing leguminous plants responded positively to P addition alone, as well as to joint NP addition compared to control. Using DNA stable-isotope probing, high-throughput quantitative PCR, enzyme assays and microbial C substrate utilization, we found that positive PE was associated with increased microbial C utilization, accompanied by an increase in microbial community activity, nutrient-related gene abundance, and enzyme activities. Our findings suggest that the balance between soil available N and P effects on the PE, was dependent on rhizosphere microbial community composition. Furthermore, these findings highlight the roles of the interaction between plants and their symbiotic microbial communities in affecting soil priming and improve our understanding of the potential microbial pathways underlying soil PEs.}, } @article {pmid37772919, year = {2023}, author = {Weber, I and Sienko, A and Urban, A and Szwed, C and Czajkowski, K and Basta, P and Sienko, J}, title = {Relationship between the gut microbiome and endometriosis and its role in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment: a systematic review.}, journal = {Ginekologia polska}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.5603/gpl.97581}, pmid = {37772919}, issn = {2543-6767}, abstract = {Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of women. It is defined as endometrial tissue outside of the uterus and produces a variety of symptoms including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and intermenstrual bleeding. Although several theories have been postulated regarding the pathogenesis of endometriosis, no theory has provided a complete explanation, therefore limiting our progress in diagnostic tools and management of endometriosis. Recently, much attention has been paid to the importance and role of the gut microbiome in endometriosis. As defined by Joshua Lederberg - microbiome is a set of the genome of microorganisms inhabiting a human body, including commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this systematic review was to conduct a search in the Embase, Medline, and PubMed databases for literature from July 2013 to July 2023 regarding the relationship between the gut microbiome and endometriosis. 147 records were screened, of which 26 met the eligibility criteria, and 16 were included in this review. Our review concludes that patients with endometriosis show an altered gut microbiome, and that this has the potential to provide insight for pathogenesis, markers for diagnosis, as well as therapeutic options for treatment of endometriosis. Future research is necessary to confirm this and further investigate the relationship between the gut microbiome and endometriosis.}, } @article {pmid37772259, year = {2023}, author = {Rook, GAW}, title = {The old friends hypothesis: evolution, immunoregulation and essential microbial inputs.}, journal = {Frontiers in allergy}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1220481}, pmid = {37772259}, issn = {2673-6101}, abstract = {In wealthy urbanised societies there have been striking increases in chronic inflammatory disorders such as allergies, autoimmunity and inflammatory bowel diseases. There has also been an increase in the prevalence of individuals with systemically raised levels of inflammatory biomarkers correlating with increased risk of metabolic, cardiovascular and psychiatric problems. These changing disease patterns indicate a broad failure of the mechanisms that should stop the immune system from attacking harmless allergens, components of self or gut contents, and that should terminate inappropriate inflammation. The Old Friends Hypothesis postulates that this broad failure of immunoregulation is due to inadequate exposures to the microorganisms that drive development of the immune system, and drive the expansion of components such as regulatory T cells (Treg) that mediate immunoregulatory mechanisms. An evolutionary approach helps us to identify the organisms on which we are in a state of evolved dependence for this function (Old Friends). The bottom line is that most of the organisms that drive the regulatory arm of the immune system come from our mothers and family and from the natural environment (including animals) and many of these organisms are symbiotic components of a healthy microbiota. Lifestyle changes that are interrupting our exposure to these organisms can now be identified, and many are closely associated with low socioeconomic status (SES) in wealthy countries. These insights will facilitate the development of education, diets and urban planning that can correct the immunoregulatory deficit, while simultaneously reducing other contributory factors such as epithelial damage.}, } @article {pmid37771128, year = {2023}, author = {Song, X and Huang, T and Yan, X and Zuo, M and Pan, Y and He, H and Li, Y and Zou, Y and Du, C and Zheng, F and Yang, T}, title = {The pederin-producing bacteria density dynamics in Paederus fuscipes at different developmental stages.}, journal = {Medical and veterinary entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mve.12697}, pmid = {37771128}, issn = {1365-2915}, support = {22kA015//Fundamental Research Funds of China West Normal University/ ; ISTC202201//National Base for International Science and Technology Cooperation of Chengdu University/ ; 2020YFS0322//Sichuan Science and Technology Program/ ; 2023NSFSC0154//Sichuan Science and Technology Program/ ; }, abstract = {Pederin, a defensive toxin in Paederus fuscipes, is produced by an uncultured Gram-negative symbiont, which establishes a stable symbiotic relationship with a female host before completion of metamorphosis. However, the transmission process of pederin-producing bacteria (PPB) in P. fuscipes at different life stages remains unknown. Herein, the PPB population dynamics and transcriptome atlas for P. fuscipes development (egg, first-instar larva, second-instar larva, pupa, and newly emerged female and male) were characterised. We found that a microbial layer containing PPB covered the eggshell, which could be sterilised by smearing the eggshell with streptomycin. Maternal secretions over the eggshell are likely the main PPB acquisition route for P. fuscipes offspring. The PPB density in eggs was significantly higher than that in other life stages (p < 0.05), which demonstrated that the beetle mothers gave more PPB than the larvae acquired. Physiological changes (hatching and eclosion) led to a decreased PPB density in P. fuscipes. Pattern recognition receptors related to Gram-negative bacteria recognition were identified from P. fuscipes transcriptomes across various life stages, which might be used to screen genes involved in PPB regulation. These results will help advance future efforts to determine the molecular mechanisms of PPB colonisation of P. fuscipes.}, } @article {pmid37769803, year = {2023}, author = {Bryja, A and Zadka, Ł and Farzaneh, M and Zehtabi, M and Ghasemian, M and Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska, M and Mozdziak, P and Zabel, M and Podhorska-Okołów, M and Dzięgiel, P and Piotrowska-Kempisty, H and Kempisty, B}, title = {Small extracellular vesicles - A host for advanced bioengineering and "Trojan Horse" of non-coding RNAs.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {122126}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122126}, pmid = {37769803}, issn = {1879-0631}, abstract = {Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) as a type of membranous vesicle that can be released by cells into the extracellular space. The relationship between sEVs and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is highly intricate and interdependent. This symbiotic relationship plays a pivotal role in facilitating intercellular communication and holds profound implications for a myriad of biological processes. The concept of sEVs and their ncRNA cargo as a "Trojan Horse" highlights their remarkable capacity to traverse biological barriers and surreptitiously deliver their cargo to target cells, evading detection by the host-immune system. Accumulating evidence suggests that sEVs may be harnessed as carriers to ferry therapeutic ncRNAs capable of selectively silencing disease-driving genes, particularly in conditions such as cancer. This approach presents several advantages over conventional drug delivery methods, opening up new possibilities for targeted therapy and improved treatment outcomes. However, the utilization of sEVs and ncRNAs as therapeutic agents raises valid concerns regarding the possibility of unforeseen consequences and unintended impacts that may emerge from their application. It is important to consider the fundamental attributes of sEVs and ncRNAs, including by an in-depth analysis of the practical and clinical potentials of exosomes, serving as a representative model for sEVs encapsulating ncRNAs.}, } @article {pmid37769258, year = {2023}, author = {Oishi, S and Moriyama, M and Mizutani, M and Futahashi, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Regulation and remodeling of microbial symbiosis in insect metamorphosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {40}, pages = {e2304879120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2304879120}, pmid = {37769258}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {JPMJER1902//MEXT | JST | Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO)/ ; JP17H06388//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP19H02973//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP20J21460//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; }, abstract = {Many insects are dependent on microbial mutualists, which are often harbored in specialized symbiotic organs. Upon metamorphosis, insect organs are drastically reorganized. What mechanism regulates the remodeling of the symbiotic organ upon metamorphosis? How does it affect the microbial symbiont therein? Here, we addressed these fundamental issues of symbiosis by experimentally manipulating insect metamorphosis. The stinkbug Plautia stali possesses a midgut symbiotic organ wherein an essential bacterial symbiont resides. By RNAi of master regulator genes for metamorphosis, Kr-h1 over nymphal traits and E93 over adult traits, we generated precocious adults and supernumerary nymphs of P. stali, thereby disentangling the effects of metamorphosis, growth level, developmental stage, and other factors on the symbiotic system. Upon metamorphosis, the symbiotic organ of P. stali was transformed from nymph type to adult type. The supernumerary nymphs and the precocious adults, respectively, developed nymph-type and adult-type symbiotic organs not only morphologically but also transcriptomically, uncovering that metamorphic remodeling of the symbiotic organ is under the control of the MEKRE93 pathway. Transcriptomic, cytological, and biochemical analyses unveiled that the structural and transcriptomic remodeling of the symbiotic organ toward adult emergence underpins its functional extension to food digestion in addition to the original role of symbiont retention for essential nutrient production. Notably, we found that the symbiotic bacteria in the adult-type symbiotic organ up-regulated genes for production of sulfur-containing essential amino acids, methionine and cysteine, that are rich in eggs and sperm, uncovering adult-specific symbiont functioning for host reproduction and highlighting intricate host-symbiont interactions associated with insect metamorphosis.}, } @article {pmid37768069, year = {2023}, author = {Dittmer, J and Corretto, E and Štarhová Serbina, L and Michalik, A and Nováková, E and Schuler, H}, title = {Division of labor within psyllids: metagenomics reveals an ancient dual endosymbiosis with metabolic complementarity in the genus Cacopsylla.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0057823}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00578-23}, pmid = {37768069}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Hemipteran insects are well-known for their ancient associations with beneficial bacterial endosymbionts, particularly nutritional symbionts that provide the host with essential nutrients such as amino acids or vitamins lacking in the host's diet. Therefore, these primary endosymbionts enable the exploitation of nutrient-poor food sources such as plant sap or vertebrate blood. In turn, the strictly host-associated lifestyle strongly impacts the genome evolution of the endosymbionts, resulting in small and degraded genomes. Over time, even the essential nutritional functions can be compromised, leading to the complementation or replacement of an ancient endosymbiont by another, more functionally versatile bacterium. Herein, we provide evidence for a dual primary endosymbiosis in several psyllid species. Using metagenome sequencing, we produced the complete genome sequences of both the primary endosymbiont "Candidatus Carsonella ruddii" and an as yet uncharacterized Enterobacteriaceae bacterium from four species of the genus Cacopsylla. The latter represents a new psyllid-associated endosymbiont clade for which we propose the name "Candidatus Psyllophila symbiotica." Fluorescent in situ hybridization confirmed the co-localization of both endosymbionts in the bacteriome. The metabolic repertoire of Psyllophila is highly conserved across host species and complements the tryptophan biosynthesis pathway that is incomplete in the co-occurring Carsonella. Unlike co-primary endosymbionts in other insects, the genome of Psyllophila is almost as small as the one of Carsonella, indicating an ancient co-obligate endosymbiosis rather than a recent association to rescue a degrading primary endosymbiont. IMPORTANCE Heritable beneficial bacterial endosymbionts have been crucial for the evolutionary success of numerous insects by enabling the exploitation of nutritionally limited food sources. Herein, we describe a previously unknown dual endosymbiosis in the psyllid genus Cacopsylla, consisting of the primary endosymbiont "Candidatus Carsonella ruddii" and a co-occurring Enterobacteriaceae bacterium for which we propose the name "Candidatus Psyllophila symbiotica." Its localization within the bacteriome and its small genome size confirm that Psyllophila is a co-primary endosymbiont widespread within the genus Cacopsylla. Despite its highly eroded genome, Psyllophila perfectly complements the tryptophan biosynthesis pathway that is incomplete in the co-occurring Carsonella. Moreover, the genome of Psyllophila is almost as small as Carsonella's, suggesting an ancient dual endosymbiosis that has now reached a precarious stage where any additional gene loss would make the system collapse. Hence, our results shed light on the dynamic interactions of psyllids and their endosymbionts over evolutionary time.}, } @article {pmid37767872, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, K and Jang, H and Kim, E and Kim, H and Sung, GY}, title = {Recent advances in understanding the role of the skin microbiome in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.}, journal = {Experimental dermatology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/exd.14940}, pmid = {37767872}, issn = {1600-0625}, support = {(NRF- 2020R1A2C2009928)//Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning/ ; }, abstract = {The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and histologically consists of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Humans maintain a cooperative symbiotic relationship with their skin microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live on the surface of the skin, and which act as a barrier to protect the body from the inside and outside. The skin is a 'habitat' and vast 'ecosystem' inhabited by countless microbes; as such, relationships have been forged through millions of years of coevolution. It is not surprising then that microbes are key participants in shaping and maintaining essential physiological processes. In addition to maintaining barrier function, the unique symbiotic microbiota that colonizes the skin increases the immune response and provides protection against pathogenic microbes. This review examines our current understanding of skin microbes in shaping and enhancing the skin barrier, as well as skin microbiome-host interactions and their roles in skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). We also report on the current status of AD therapeutic drugs that target the skin microbiome, related research on current therapeutic strategies, and the limitations and future considerations of skin microbiome research. In particular, as a future strategy, we discuss the need for a skin-on-a-chip-based microphysiological system research model amenable to biomimetic in vitro studies and human skin equivalent models, including skin appendages.}, } @article {pmid37766859, year = {2023}, author = {Rajput, M and Thakur, N}, title = {Editorial: Advances in host-pathogen interactions for diseases in animals and birds.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1282110}, pmid = {37766859}, issn = {2297-1769}, } @article {pmid37765426, year = {2023}, author = {Guardiola-Márquez, CE and Santos-Ramírez, MT and Figueroa-Montes, ML and Valencia-de Los Cobos, EO and Stamatis-Félix, IJ and Navarro-López, DE and Jacobo-Velázquez, DA}, title = {Identification and Characterization of Beneficial Soil Microbial Strains for the Formulation of Biofertilizers Based on Native Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms Isolated from Northern Mexico.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12183262}, pmid = {37765426}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) benefit plant health by enhancing plant nutrient-use efficiency and protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to isolate and characterize autochthonous PGPM from important agri-food crops and nonagricultural plants to formulate biofertilizers. Native microorganisms were isolated and evaluated for PGP traits (K, P, and Zn solubilization, N2-fixation, NH3-, IAA and siderophore production, and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum). Isolates were tested on radish and broccoli seedlings, evaluating 19 individual isolates and 12 microbial consortia. Potential bacteria were identified through DNA sequencing. In total, 798 bacteria and 209 fungi were isolated. Isolates showed higher mineral solubilization activity than other mechanisms; 399 bacteria and 156 fungi presented mineral solubilization. Bacteria were relevant for nitrogen fixation, siderophore, IAA (29-176 mg/L), and ammonia production, while fungi for Fusarium growth inhibition (40-69%). Twenty-four bacteria and eighteen fungi were selected for their PGP traits. Bacteria had significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.05) better effects on plants than fungi; treatments improved plant height (23.06-51.32%), leaf diameter (25.43-82.91%), and fresh weight (54.18-85.45%) in both crops. Most potential species belonged to Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Serratia, and Rahnella genera. This work validated a high-throughput approach to screening hundreds of rhizospheric microorganisms with PGP potential isolated from rhizospheric samples.}, } @article {pmid37765024, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, J and Cao, B and Zhao, R and Li, H and Xu, Q and Wei, B}, title = {Critical Signaling Transduction Pathways and Intestinal Barrier: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics.}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ph16091216}, pmid = {37765024}, issn = {1424-8247}, abstract = {The intestinal barrier is a sum of the functions and structures consisting of the intestinal mucosal epithelium, mucus, intestinal flora, secretory immunoglobulins, and digestive juices. It is the first-line defense mechanism that resists nonspecific infections with powerful functions that include physical, endocrine, and immune defenses. Health and physiological homeostasis are greatly dependent on the sturdiness of the intestinal barrier shield, whose dysfunction can contribute to the progression of numerous types of intestinal diseases. Disorders of internal homeostasis may also induce barrier impairment and form vicious cycles during the response to diseases. Therefore, the identification of the underlying mechanisms involved in intestinal barrier function and the development of effective drugs targeting its damage have become popular research topics. Evidence has shown that multiple signaling pathways and corresponding critical molecules are extensively involved in the regulation of the barrier pathophysiological state. Ectopic expression or activation of signaling pathways plays an essential role in the process of shield destruction. Although some drugs, such as molecular or signaling inhibitors, are currently used for the treatment of intestinal diseases, their efficacy cannot meet current medical requirements. In this review, we summarize the current achievements in research on the relationships between the intestinal barrier and signaling pathways. The limitations and future perspectives are also discussed to provide new horizons for targeted therapies for restoring intestinal barrier function that have translational potential.}, } @article {pmid37764903, year = {2023}, author = {Yüksel, E and Yıldırım, A and İmren, M and Canhilal, R and Dababat, AA}, title = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus Bacteria as Potential Candidates for the Control of Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae), the Principal Vector of West Nile Virus and Lymphatic Filariasis.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12091095}, pmid = {37764903}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Vector-borne diseases pose a severe threat to human and animal health. Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a widespread mosquito species and serves as a vector for the transmission of infectious diseases such as West Nile disease and Lymphatic Filariasis. Synthetic insecticides have been the prime control method for many years to suppress Cx. pipiens populations. However, recently, the use of insecticides has begun to be questioned due to the detrimental impact on human health and the natural environment. Therefore, many authorities urge the development of eco-friendly control methods that are nontoxic to humans. The bacterial associates [Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae)] of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Sterinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp.) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) are one of the green approaches to combat a variety of insect pests. In the present study, the mosquitocidal activity of the cell-free supernatants and cell suspension (4 × 10[7] cells mL[-1]) of four different symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila, X. bovienii, X. budapestensis, and P. luminescens subsp. kayaii) was assessed against different development stages of Cx. pipiens (The 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th instar larvae and pupa) under laboratory conditions. The bacterial symbionts were able to kill all the development stages with varying levels of mortality. The 1st/2nd instar larvae exhibited the highest susceptibility to the cell-free supernatants and cell suspensions of symbiotic bacteria and the efficacy of the cell-free supernatants and cell suspensions gradually declined with increasing phases of growth. The highest effectiveness was achieved by the X. bovienii KCS-4S strain inducing 95% mortality to the 1st/2nd instar larvae. The results indicate that tested bacterial symbionts have great potential as an eco-friendly alternative to insecticides.}, } @article {pmid37764891, year = {2023}, author = {Margarita, V and Congiargiu, A and Diaz, N and Fiori, PL and Rappelli, P}, title = {Mycoplasma hominis and Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii in Trichomonas vaginalis: Peaceful Cohabitants or Contentious Roommates?.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12091083}, pmid = {37764891}, issn = {2076-0817}, support = {2017SFBFER_004//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell' Università e della Ricerca/ ; }, abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis is a pathogenic protozoan diffused worldwide capable of infecting the urogenital tract in humans, causing trichomoniasis. One of its most intriguing aspects is the ability to establish a close relationship with endosymbiotic microorganisms: the unique association of T. vaginalis with the bacterium Mycoplasma hominis represents, to date, the only example of an endosymbiosis involving two true human pathogens. Since its discovery, several aspects of the symbiosis between T. vaginalis and M. hominis have been characterized, demonstrating that the presence of the intracellular guest strongly influences the pathogenic characteristics of the protozoon, making it more aggressive towards host cells and capable of stimulating a stronger proinflammatory response. The recent description of a further symbiont of the protozoon, the newly discovered non-cultivable mycoplasma Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii, makes the picture even more complex. This review provides an overview of the main aspects of this complex microbial consortium, with particular emphasis on its effect on protozoan pathobiology and on the interplays among the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid37764208, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Xu, H and Wang, Z and Liu, J and Gong, X}, title = {Core Endophytic Bacteria and Their Roles in the Coralloid Roots of Cultivated Cycas revoluta (Cycadaceae).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11092364}, pmid = {37764208}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {31970230//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {As a gymnosperm group, cycads are known for their ancient origin and specialized coralloid root, which can be used as an ideal system to explore the interaction between host and associated microorganisms. Previous studies have revealed that some nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria contribute greatly to the composition of the endophytic microorganisms in cycad coralloid roots. However, the roles of host and environment in shaping the composition of endophytic bacteria during the recruitment process remain unclear. Here, we determined the diversity, composition, and function prediction of endophytic bacteria from the coralloid roots of a widely cultivated cycad, Cycas revoluta Thunb. Using next-generation sequencing techniques, we comprehensively investigated the diversity and community structure of the bacteria in coralloid roots and bulk soils sampled from 11 sites in China, aiming to explore the variations in core endophytic bacteria and to predict their potential functions. We found a higher microbe diversity in bulk soils than in coralloid roots. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in the diversity and composition of endophytic bacteria across different localities, and the same result was found after removing cyanobacteria. Desmonostoc was the most dominant in coralloid roots, followed by Nostoc, yet these two cyanobacteria were not shared by all samples. Rhodococcus, Edaphobacter, Niastella, Nordella, SH-PL14, and Virgisporangium were defined as the core microorganisms in coralloid roots. A function prediction analysis revealed that endophytic bacteria majorly participated in the plant uptake of phosphorus and metal ions and in disease resistance. These results indicate that the community composition of the bacteria in coralloid roots is affected by both the host and environment, in which the host is more decisive. Despite the very small proportion of core microbes, their interactions are significant and likely contribute to functions related to host survival. Our study contributes to an understanding of microbial diversity and composition in cycads, and it expands the knowledge on the association between hosts and symbiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid37764161, year = {2023}, author = {Hernández, I and Taulé, C and Pérez-Pérez, R and Battistoni, F and Fabiano, E and Villanueva-Guerrero, A and Nápoles, MC and Herrera, H}, title = {Endophytic Seed-Associated Bacteria as Plant Growth Promoters of Cuban Rice (Oryza sativa L.).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11092317}, pmid = {37764161}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Cuban rice cultivars INCA LP-5 and INCA LP-7 are widely distributed in Cuba and Caribbean countries. Although there are studies about rhizospheric bacteria associated with these cultivars, there are no reports about their seed-associated bacteria. This study aimed to isolate endophytic bacteria from rice seeds and select those with the greatest plant growth-promoting traits. A total of nineteen bacterial strains from the genera Pantoea, Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Pseudomonas were isolated from the husk and endosperm of rice seeds. The strains Pantoea sp. S5-1, Pseudomonas sp. S5-38, and Pseudomonas sp. S7-1 were classified as the most promissory to increase rice growth as they demonstrated the presence of multiple plant growth-promoting traits such as the production of auxins, phosphate, and potassium solubilization, the production of siderophores, and the inhibition of the phytopathogen Pyricularia oryzae. The inoculation of strains of Pantoea sp. and Pseudomonas spp. in rice improves the height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of the shoot and root after 21 days post-inoculation in hydroponic assays. This study constitutes the first report on Cuban rice cultivars about the presence of endophytes in seeds and their potential to promote seedling growth. Pantoea sp. S5-1, Pseudomonas sp. S5-38, and Pseudomonas sp. S7-1 were selected as the more promising strains for the development of bio-stimulators or bio-inoculants for Cuban rice crops.}, } @article {pmid37764151, year = {2023}, author = {Nagakubo, D and Kaibori, Y}, title = {Oral Microbiota: The Influences and Interactions of Saliva, IgA, and Dietary Factors in Health and Disease.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11092307}, pmid = {37764151}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Recent advances in metagenomic analyses have made it easier to analyze microbiota. The microbiota, a symbiotic community of microorganisms including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses within a specific environment in tissues such as the digestive tract and skin, has a complex relationship with the host. Recent studies have revealed that microbiota composition and balance particularly affect the health of the host and the onset of disease. Influences such as diet, food preferences, and sanitation play crucial roles in microbiota composition. The oral cavity is where the digestive tract directly communicates with the outside. Stable temperature and humidity provide optimal growth environments for many bacteria. However, the oral cavity is a unique environment that is susceptible to pH changes, salinity, food nutrients, and external pathogens. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of the oral microbiota, as changes in bacterial composition and balance could contribute to the development of systemic diseases. This review focuses on saliva, IgA, and fermented foods because they play critical roles in maintaining the oral bacterial environment by regulating its composition and balance. More attention should be paid to the oral microbiota and its regulatory factors in oral and systemic health.}, } @article {pmid37764125, year = {2023}, author = {Feng, Z and Wang, Y and Ma, L and Huang, S and Wang, L and He, J and Guo, C}, title = {Genomic Characteristics and Functional Analysis of Brucella sp. Strain WY7 Isolated from Antarctic Krill.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11092281}, pmid = {37764125}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a key species of the Antarctic ecosystem whose unique ecological status and great development potential have attracted extensive attention. However, the genomic characteristics and potential biological functions of the symbiotic microorganisms of Antarctic krill remain unknown. In this study, we cultured and identified a strain of Brucella sp. WY7 from Antarctic krill using whole-genome sequencing and assembly, functional annotation, and comparative genomics analysis. First, based on 16S rDNA sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis, we identified strain WY7 as Brucella. The assembled genome of strain WY7 revealed that it has two chromosomes and a plasmid, with a total genome length of 4,698,850 bp and an average G + C content of 57.18%. The DNA-DNA hybridization value and average nucleotide identity value of strain WY7 and Brucella anthropi ATCC[®] 49188[TM], a type strain isolated from human clinical specimens, were 94.8% and 99.07%, respectively, indicating that strain WY7 is closely related to Brucella anthropi. Genomic island prediction showed that the strain has 60 genomic islands, which may produce HigB and VapC toxins. AntiSMASH analysis results showed that strain WY7 might produce many secondary metabolites, such as terpenes, siderophores and ectoine. Moreover, the genome contains genes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds, suggesting that strain WY7 can use aromatic compounds in its metabolism. Our work will help to understand the genomic characteristics and metabolic potential of bacterial strains isolated from Antarctic krill, thereby revealing their roles in Antarctic krill and marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37764004, year = {2023}, author = {Colletti, A and Pellizzato, M and Cicero, AF}, title = {The Possible Role of Probiotic Supplementation in Inflammation: A Narrative Review.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11092160}, pmid = {37764004}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The fine balance between symbiotic and potentially opportunistic and/or pathogenic microorganisms can undergo quantitative alterations, which, when associated with low intestinal biodiversity, could be responsible for the development of gut inflammation and the so-called "intestinal dysbiosis". This condition is characterized by the disbalance of a fine synergistic mechanism involving the mucosal barrier, the intestinal neuroendocrine system, and the immune system that results in an acute inflammatory response induced by different causes, including viral or bacterial infections of the digestive tract. More frequently, however, dysbiosis is induced slowly and subtly by subliminal causal factors, resulting in a chronic condition related to different diseases affecting the digestive tract and other organs and apparatuses. Studies on animal models, together with studies on humans, highlight the significant role of the gut microbiota and microbiome in the occurrence of inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); neurodegenerative, urologic, skin, liver, and kidney pathologies; and premature aging. The blood translocation of bacterial fragments has been found to be one of the processes linked to gut dysbiosis and responsible for the possible occurrence of "metabolic endotoxemia" and systemic inflammation, associated with an increased risk of oxidative stress and related diseases. In this context, supplementation with different probiotic strains has been shown to restore gut eubiosis, especially if administered in long-term treatments. The aim of this review is to describe the anti-inflammatory effects of specific probiotic strains observed in clinical trials and the respective indications, highlighting the differences in efficacy depending on strain, formulation, time and duration of treatment, and dosage used.}, } @article {pmid37763995, year = {2023}, author = {Ruan, M and Hu, Z and Zhu, Q and Li, Y and Nie, X}, title = {16S rDNA Sequencing-Based Insights into the Bacterial Community Structure and Function in Co-Existing Soil and Coal Gangue.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11092151}, pmid = {37763995}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {2019YFC1805003//National Key Research and Development Program/ ; }, abstract = {Coal gangue is a solid waste emitted during coal production. Coal gangue is deployed adjacent to mining land and has characteristics similar to those of the soils of these areas. Coal gangue-soil ecosystems provide habitats for a rich and active bacterial community. However, co-existence networks and the functionality of soil and coal gangue bacterial communities have not been studied. Here, we performed Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing, symbiotic network and statistical analyses, and microbial phenotype prediction to study the microbial community in coal gangue and soil samples from Shanxi Province, China. In general, the structural difference between the bacterial communities in coal gangue and soil was large, indicating that interactions between soil and coal gangue are limited but not absent. The bacterial community exhibited a significant symbiosis network in soil and coal gangue. The co-occurrence network was primarily formed by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. In addition, BugBase microbiome phenotype predictions and PICRUSt bacterial functional potential predictions showed that transcription regulators represented the highest functional category of symbiotic bacteria in soil and coal gangue. Proteobacteria played an important role in various processes such as mobile element pathogenicity, oxidative stress tolerance, and biofilm formation. In general, this work provides a theoretical basis and data support for the in situ remediation of acidified coal gangue hills based on microbiological methods.}, } @article {pmid37762703, year = {2023}, author = {Skiba, EA and Shavyrkina, NA and Skiba, MA and Mironova, GF and Budaeva, VV}, title = {Biosynthesis of Bacterial Nanocellulose from Low-Cost Cellulosic Feedstocks: Effect of Microbial Producer.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241814401}, pmid = {37762703}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Biodegradable bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a highly in-demand but expensive polymer, and the reduction of its production cost is an important task. The present study aimed to biosynthesize BNC on biologically high-quality hydrolyzate media prepared from miscanthus and oat hulls, and to explore the properties of the resultant BNC depending on the microbial producer used. In this study, three microbial producers were utilized for the biosynthesis of BNC: individual strains Komagataeibacter xylinus B-12429 and Komagataeibacter xylinus B-12431, and symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12. The use of symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 was found to have technological benefits: nutrient media require no mineral salts or growth factors, and pasteurization is sufficient for the nutrient medium instead of sterilization. The yield of BNCs produced by the symbiotic culture turned out to be 44-65% higher than that for the individual strains. The physicochemical properties of BNC, such as nanofibril width, degree of polymerization, elastic modulus, Iα allomorph content and crystallinity index, are most notably dependent on the microbial producer type rather than the nutrient medium composition. This is the first study in which we investigated the biosynthesis of BNC on hydrolyzate media prepared from miscanthus and oat hulls under the same conditions but using different microbial producers, and showed that it is advisable to use the symbiotic culture. The choice of a microbial producer is grounded on the yield, production process simplification and properties. The BNC production from technical raw materials would cover considerable demands of BNC for technical purposes without competing with food resources.}, } @article {pmid37762569, year = {2023}, author = {Ovchinnikova, E and Chiasson, D and Wen, Z and Wu, Y and Tahaei, H and Smith, PMC and Perrine-Walker, F and Kaiser, BN}, title = {Arbuscular-Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Medicago Regulated by the Transcription Factor MtbHLHm1;1 and the Ammonium Facilitator Protein MtAMF1;3.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241814263}, pmid = {37762569}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {DP150102264//Australian Research Council/ ; IH140100013//ARC ITRH - Legumes for Sustainable Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Root systems of most land plants are colonised by arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi. The symbiosis supports nutrient acquisition strategies predominantly associated with plant access to inorganic phosphate. The nutrient acquisition is enhanced through an extensive network of external fungal hyphae that extends out into the soil, together with the development of fungal structures forming specialised interfaces with root cortical cells. Orthologs of the bHLHm1;1 transcription factor, previously described in soybean nodules (GmbHLHm1) and linked to the ammonium facilitator protein GmAMF1;3, have been identified in Medicago (Medicago truncatula) roots colonised by AM fungi. Expression studies indicate that transcripts of both genes are also present in arbuscular containing root cortical cells and that the MtbHLHm1;1 shows affinity to the promoter of MtAMF1;3. Both genes are induced by AM colonisation. Loss of Mtbhlhm1;1 expression disrupts AM arbuscule abundance and the expression of the ammonium transporter MtAMF1;3. Disruption of Mtamf1;3 expression reduces both AM colonisation and arbuscule development. The respective activities of MtbHLHm1;1 and MtAMF1;3 highlight the conservation of putative ammonium regulators supporting both the rhizobial and AM fungal symbiosis in legumes.}, } @article {pmid37762151, year = {2023}, author = {Tsyganova, AV and Seliverstova, EV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Comparison of the Formation of Plant-Microbial Interface in Pisum sativum L. and Medicago truncatula Gaertn. Nitrogen-Fixing Nodules.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241813850}, pmid = {37762151}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {23-16-00090//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Different components of the symbiotic interface play an important role in providing positional information during rhizobial infection and nodule development: successive changes in cell morphology correspond to subsequent changes in the molecular architecture of the apoplast and the associated surface structures. The localisation and distribution of pectins, xyloglucans, and cell wall proteins in symbiotic nodules of Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula were studied using immunofluorescence and immunogold analysis in wild-type and ineffective mutant nodules. As a result, the ontogenetic changes in the symbiotic interface in the nodules of both species were described. Some differences in the patterns of distribution of cell wall polysaccharides and proteins between wild-type and mutant nodules can be explained by the activation of defence reaction or premature senescence in mutants. The absence of fucosylated xyloglucan in the cell walls in the P. sativum nodules, as well as its predominant accumulation in the cell walls of uninfected cells in the M. truncatula nodules, and the presence of the rhamnogalacturonan I (unbranched) backbone in meristematic cells in P. sativum can be attributed to the most striking species-specific features of the symbiotic interface.}, } @article {pmid37761205, year = {2023}, author = {Geraris Kartelias, I and Karantonis, HC and Giaouris, E and Panagiotakopoulos, I and Nasopoulou, C}, title = {Kombucha Fermentation of Olympus Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica) Sweetened with Thyme Honey: Physicochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Functional Properties.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12183496}, pmid = {37761205}, issn = {2304-8158}, support = {5046750//EPAnEk -NRSF 2014-2020/ ; }, abstract = {This study implemented kombucha fermentation of Olympus Mountain tea (Sideritis scardica) sweetened with honey (OMTWH) in order to investigate the potential for producing a novel beverage with functional properties. The increase in the total count of bacteria and yeast suggests that the OMTWH acts as a viable substrate for supporting the proliferation of the microorganisms of the Kombucha symbiotic culture. The fermentation resulted in a reduction in pH and increased total titratable acidity. After fermentation, a statistically significant increase in the vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, B7, and B12 content was observed (p < 0.05). Total phenolics and antioxidant activity of the fermented beverage was significantly enhanced, as assessed by the method of Folin-Ciocalteu and ABTS assay, respectively. Results revealed that OMTWH had a potent inhibitory activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase; OMTWH fermented with a kombucha consortium exhibited even higher inhibition. Hence, the process of kombucha fermentation can convert OMTWH into a novel beverage with enhanced functional properties.}, } @article {pmid37760758, year = {2023}, author = {Fodor, A and Hess, C and Ganas, P and Boros, Z and Kiss, J and Makrai, L and Dublecz, K and Pál, L and Fodor, L and Sebestyén, A and Klein, MG and Tarasco, E and Kulkarni, MM and McGwire, BS and Vellai, T and Hess, M}, title = {Antimicrobial Peptides (AMP) in the Cell-Free Culture Media of Xenorhabdus budapestensis and X. szentirmaii Exert Anti-Protist Activity against Eukaryotic Vertebrate Pathogens including Histomonas meleagridis and Leishmania donovani Species.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics12091462}, pmid = {37760758}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Anti-microbial peptides provide a powerful toolkit for combating multidrug resistance. Combating eukaryotic pathogens is complicated because the intracellular drug targets in the eukaryotic pathogen are frequently homologs of cellular structures of vital importance in the host organism. The entomopathogenic bacteria (EPB), symbionts of entomopathogenic-nematode species, release a series of non-ribosomal templated anti-microbial peptides. Some may be potential drug candidates. The ability of an entomopathogenic-nematode/entomopathogenic bacterium symbiotic complex to survive in a given polyxenic milieu is a coevolutionary product. This explains that those gene complexes that are responsible for the biosynthesis of different non-ribosomal templated anti-microbial protective peptides (including those that are potently capable of inactivating the protist mammalian pathogen Leishmania donovanii and the gallinaceous bird pathogen Histomonas meleagridis) are co-regulated. Our approach is based on comparative anti-microbial bioassays of the culture media of the wild-type and regulatory mutant strains. We concluded that Xenorhabdus budapestensis and X. szentirmaii are excellent sources of non-ribosomal templated anti-microbial peptides that are efficient antagonists of the mentioned pathogens. Data on selective cytotoxicity of different cell-free culture media encourage us to forecast that the recently discovered "easy-PACId" research strategy is suitable for constructing entomopathogenic-bacterium (EPB) strains producing and releasing single, harmless, non-ribosomal templated anti-microbial peptides with considerable drug, (probiotic)-candidate potential.}, } @article {pmid37760670, year = {2023}, author = {Adra, C and Tran, TD and Foster, K and Tomlin, R and Kurtböke, Dİ}, title = {Untargeted MS-Based Metabolomic Analysis of Termite Gut-Associated Streptomycetes with Antifungal Activity against Pyrrhoderma noxium.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics12091373}, pmid = {37760670}, issn = {2079-6382}, support = {R22_0098//Brisbane City Council/ ; }, abstract = {Pyrrhoderma noxium is a plant fungal pathogen that induces the disease of brown root rot in a large variety of tree species. It is currently infecting many of the amenity trees within Brisbane City of Queensland, Australia. Steering away from harmful chemical fungicides, biological control agents offer environmentally friendly alternatives. Streptomycetes are known for their production of novel bioactive secondary metabolites with biocontrol potential, particularly, streptomycete symbionts isolated from unique ecological niches. In this study, 37 termite gut-associated actinomycete isolates were identified using molecular methods and screened against P. noxium. A majority of the isolates belonged to the genus Streptomyces, and 15 isolates exhibited strong antifungal activity with up to 98.5% mycelial inhibition of the fungal pathogen. MS/MS molecular networking analysis of the isolates' fermentation extracts revealed several chemical classes with polyketides being among the most abundant. Most of the metabolites, however, did not have matches to the GNPS database, indicating potential novel antifungal compounds in the active extracts obtained from the isolates. Pathway enrichment and overrepresentation analyses revealed pathways relating to polyketide antibiotic production, among other antibiotic pathways, further confirming the biosynthetic potential of the termite gut-associated streptomycetes with biocontrol potential against P. noxium.}, } @article {pmid37760260, year = {2023}, author = {De Marco, G and Cappello, T and Maisano, M}, title = {Histomorphological Changes in Fish Gut in Response to Prebiotics and Probiotics Treatment to Improve Their Health Status: A Review.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13182860}, pmid = {37760260}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) promotes the digestion and absorption of feeds, in addition to the excretion of waste products of digestion. In fish, the GIT is divided into four regions, the headgut, foregut, midgut, and hindgut, to which glands and lymphoid tissues are associated to release digestive enzymes and molecules involved in the immune response and control of host-pathogens. The GIT is inhabited by different species of resident microorganisms, the microbiota, which have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship and are responsible for metabolic benefits and counteracting pathogen infection. There is a strict connection between a fish's gut microbiota and its health status. This review focuses on the modulation of fish microbiota by feed additives based on prebiotics and probiotics as a feasible strategy to improve fish health status and gut efficiency, mitigate emerging diseases, and maximize rearing and growth performance. Furthermore, the use of histological assays as a valid tool for fish welfare assessment is also discussed, and insights on nutrient absorptive capacity and responsiveness to pathogens in fish by gut morphological endpoints are provided. Overall, the literature reviewed emphasizes the complex interactions between microorganisms and host fish, shedding light on the beneficial use of prebiotics and probiotics in the aquaculture sector, with the potential to provide directions for future research.}, } @article {pmid37760014, year = {2023}, author = {Tritean, N and Dima, ȘO and Trică, B and Stoica, R and Ghiurea, M and Moraru, I and Cimpean, A and Oancea, F and Constantinescu-Aruxandei, D}, title = {Selenium-Fortified Kombucha-Pollen Beverage by In Situ Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles with High Biocompatibility and Antioxidant Activity.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antiox12091711}, pmid = {37760014}, issn = {2076-3921}, support = {POC-A1-A1.2.3-G-2015-P_40_352-SECVENT, Sequential processes to close bioeconomy side stream and innovative bioproducts resulted from these, contract 81/2016, SMIS 105684, subsidiary projects 1393/2022 FructiRan//Cohesion funds of the European Union/ ; 366/PED//Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI - UEFISCDI, PNCDI III/ ; }, abstract = {Biogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have been shown to exhibit increased bioavailability. Fermentation of pollen by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY/Kombucha) leads to the release of pollen content and enhances the prebiotic and probiotic effects of Kombucha. The aim of this study was to fortify Kombucha beverage with SeNPs formed in situ by Kombucha fermentation with pollen. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the biosynthesis of SeNPs and the pollen-fermented Kombucha beverage. SeNPs were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta potential. The pollen-fermented Kombucha beverage enriched with SeNPs was characterized by measuring the total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, soluble silicon, saccharides, lactic acid, and the total content of Se[0]. The polyphenols were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The pollen and the bacterial (nano)cellulose were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), FTIR, and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). We also assessed the in vitro biocompatibility in terms of gingival fibroblast viability and proliferation, as well as the antioxidant activity of SeNPs and the pollen-fermented Kombucha beverage enriched with SeNPs. The results highlight their increased biological performance in this regard.}, } @article {pmid37759568, year = {2023}, author = {Jesus, JG and Máguas, C and Dias, R and Nunes, M and Pascoal, P and Pereira, M and Trindade, H}, title = {What If Root Nodules Are a Guesthouse for a Microbiome? The Case Study of Acacia longifolia.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12091168}, pmid = {37759568}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {UIDB/00329/2020//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; PCIF/GVB/0202/2017//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; 2021.08482.BD//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; }, abstract = {Acacia longifolia is one of the most aggressive invaders worldwide whose invasion is potentiated after a fire, a common perturbation in Mediterranean climates. As a legume, this species establishes symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria inside root nodules; however, the overall microbial diversity is still unclear. In this study, we addressed root nodules' structure and biodiversity through histology and Next-Generation Sequencing, targeting 16S and 25S-28S rDNA genes for bacteria and fungi, respectively. We wanted to evaluate the effect of fire in root nodules from 1-year-old saplings, by comparing unburnt and burnt sites. We found that although having the same general structure, after a fire event, nodules had a higher number of infected cells and greater starch accumulation. Starch accumulated in uninfected cells can be a possible carbon source for the microbiota. Regarding diversity, Bradyrhizobium was dominant in both sites (ca. 77%), suggesting it is the preferential partner, followed by Tardiphaga (ca. 9%), a non-rhizobial Alphaproteobacteria, and Synechococcus, a cyanobacteria (ca. 5%). However, at the burnt site, additional N-fixing bacteria were included in the top 10 genera, highlighting the importance of this process. Major differences were found in the mycobiome, which was diverse in both sites and included genera mostly described as plant endophytes. Coniochaeta was dominant in nodules from the burnt site (69%), suggesting its role as a facilitator of symbiotic associations. We highlight the presence of a large bacterial and fungal community in nodules, suggesting nodulation is not restricted to nitrogen fixation. Thus, this microbiome can be involved in facilitating A. longifolia invasive success.}, } @article {pmid37758591, year = {2023}, author = {A, L and J, K}, title = {At the root of plant symbioses: Untangling the genetic mechanisms behind mutualistic associations.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {102448}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102448}, pmid = {37758591}, issn = {1879-0356}, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions between plants and microorganisms shape the continuous evolution and adaptation of plants such as to the terrestrial environment that was a founding event of subsequent life on land. Such interactions also play a central role in the natural and agricultural ecosystems and are of primary importance for a sustainable future. To boost plant's productivity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, new approaches involving associated symbiotic organisms have recently been explored. New discoveries on mutualistic symbioses evolution and the interaction between partners will be key steps to enhance plant potential.}, } @article {pmid37755994, year = {2023}, author = {Shikov, AE and Savina, IA and Nizhnikov, AA and Antonets, KS}, title = {Recombination in Bacterial Genomes: Evolutionary Trends.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxins15090568}, pmid = {37755994}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {075-15-2021-1055//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Bacterial organisms have undergone homologous recombination (HR) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) multiple times during their history. These processes could increase fitness to new environments, cause specialization, the emergence of new species, and changes in virulence. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of the impact and intensity of genetic exchanges and the location of recombination hotspots on the genome is necessary for understanding the dynamics of adaptation to various conditions. To this end, we aimed to characterize the functional impact and genomic context of computationally detected recombination events by analyzing genomic studies of any bacterial species, for which events have been detected in the last 30 years. Genomic loci where the transfer of DNA was detected pertained to mobile genetic elements (MGEs) housing genes that code for proteins engaged in distinct cellular processes, such as secretion systems, toxins, infection effectors, biosynthesis enzymes, etc. We found that all inferences fall into three main lifestyle categories, namely, ecological diversification, pathogenesis, and symbiosis. The latter primarily exhibits ancestral events, thus, possibly indicating that adaptation appears to be governed by similar recombination-dependent mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid37755279, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, CY and Huang, CK and Hong, WS and Liu, YH and Shih, MC and Lin, JC}, title = {Influence of Symbiotic Fermentation Broth on Regulating Metabolism with Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Profiles Is Estimated Using a Third-Generation Sequencing Platform.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/metabo13090999}, pmid = {37755279}, issn = {2218-1989}, support = {110-6603-005-400//Ministry of Education, Taiwan/ ; A-111-008//Sagittarius Life Science Corporations, Taiwan/ ; }, abstract = {Overnutrition with a high-fat or high-sugar diet is widely considered to be the risk factor for various metabolic, chronic, or malignant diseases that are accompanied by alterations in gut microbiota, metabolites, and downstream pathways. In this study, we investigated supplementation with soybean fermentation broth containing saponin (SFBS, also called SAPOZYME) in male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat-fructose diet or normal chaw. In addition to the lessening of weight gain, the influence of SFBS on reducing hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia associated with a high-fat-fructose diet was estimated using the results of related biological tests. The results of gut microbial profiling indicated that the high-fat-fructose diet mediated increases in opportunistic pathogens. In contrast, SFBS supplementation reprogrammed the high-fat-fructose diet-related microbial community with a relatively high abundance of potential probiotics, including Akkermansia and Lactobacillus genera. The metagenomic functions of differential microbial composition in a mouse model and enrolled participants were assessed using the PICRUSt2 algorithm coupled with the MetaCyc and the KEGG Orthology databases. SFBS supplementation exerted a similar influence on an increase in the level of 4-aminobutanoate (also called GABA) through the L-glutamate degradation pathway in the mouse model and the enrolled healthy population. These results suggest the beneficial influence of SFBS supplementation on metabolic disorders associated with a high-fat-fructose diet, and SFBS may function as a nutritional supplement for people with diverse requirements.}, } @article {pmid37765717, year = {2016}, author = {Rosenberg, N}, title = {From Trees to Rhizomes.}, journal = {Perspectives in biology and medicine}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {246-252}, doi = {10.1353/pbm.2017.0009}, pmid = {37765717}, issn = {1529-8795}, abstract = {This essay argues for a reorientation in medicine, a reorientation that integrates Descartes's tree-like approach to medical knowledge, which positions medical care in traditional, vertically hierarchical processes of patient differentiation, with the rhizome-like approach proposed by Deleuze and Guattari, which offers a more horizontal, weblike approach to patient care. The result would be a symbiosis that better uses the strengths of both models to treat patients.}, } @article {pmid37756745, year = {1917}, author = {}, title = {Studies in Wound Infections: On the Question of Bacterial Symbiosis in Wound Infections.}, journal = {Medical bulletin (Paris, France)}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {92-94}, pmid = {37756745}, } @article {pmid37755090, year = {2023}, author = {Deutsch, Y and Samara, M and Nasser, A and Berman-Frank, I and Ezra, D}, title = {Kocuria flava, a Bacterial Endophyte of the Marine Macroalga Bryopsis plumosa, Emits 8-Nonenoic Acid Which Inhibits the Aquaculture Pathogen Saprolegnia parasitica.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md21090476}, pmid = {37755090}, issn = {1660-3397}, support = {20-02-0122//Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture/ ; no grant number//Copia Agro Israel/ ; }, abstract = {Secondary metabolites-organic compounds that are often bioactive-produced by endophytes, among others, provide a selective advantage by increasing the organism's survivability. Secondary metabolites mediate the symbiotic relationship between endophytes and their host, potentially providing the host with tolerance to, and protection against biotic and abiotic stressors. Secondary metabolites can be secreted as a dissolved substance or emitted as a volatile. In a previous study, we isolated bioactive endophytes from several macroalgae and tested them in vitro for their ability to inhibit major disease-causing pathogens of aquatic animals in the aquaculture industry. One endophyte (isolate Abp5, K. flava) inhibited and killed, in vitro, the pathogen Saprolegnia parasitica, an oomycete that causes saprolegniasis-a disease affecting a wide range of aquatic animals. Here, using analytical chemistry tools, we found that Abp5 produces the volatile organic compound (VOC) 8-nonenoic acid. Once we confirmed the production of this compound by the endophyte, we tested the compound's ability to treat S. parasitica in in vitro and in vivo bioassays. In the latter, we found that 5 mg/L of the compound improves the survival of larvae challenged with S. parasitica by 54.5%. Our isolation and characterization of the VOC emitted by the endophytic K. flava establish the groundwork for future studies of endophytic biocontrol agents from macroalgae. Use of this compound could enable managing oomycete agricultural pathogens in general, and S. parasitica in particular, a major causal agent in aquaculture diseases.}, } @article {pmid37754993, year = {2023}, author = {Zhong, Z and Zhang, G and Fu, G}, title = {Effect of Experiment Warming on Soil Fungi Community of Medicago sativa, Elymus nutans and Hordeum vulgare in Tibet.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9090885}, pmid = {37754993}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The uncertainty response of soil fungi community to climate warming in alpine agroecosystems will limit our ability to fully exploit and utilize soil fungi resources, especially in alpine regions. In this study, a warming experiment was conducted in one perennial leguminous agroecosystem [i.e., alfalfa (Medicago sativa)], perennial gramineous agroecosystem (i.e., Elymus nutans) and annual gramineous agroecosystem [i.e., highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L)] in Tibet since 2016 to investigate the response of soil fungi community to climate warming. Soils at two layers (i.e., 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) were collected in August 2017 to estimate soil fungi community based on the ITS method. The α-diversity, community composition and functional group abundance of soil fungi in the leguminous agroecosystem were more sensitive to climate warming. The α-diversity of soil fungi in the perennial gramineous agroecosystem were more sensitive to climate warming, but topology parameters of soil fungi species cooccurrence network in the annual gramineous agroecosystem were more sensitive to climate warming. Compared with 0-10 cm, soil fungal α-diversity, community composition and functional group abundance at 10-20 cm were more sensitive to climate warming. The topological parameters of soil fungi species cooccurrence network at 0-10 cm in the gramineous agroecosystem were more sensitive to climate warming, but those at 10-20 cm in the leguminous agroecosystem were more sensitive to climate warming. Warming increased the differences of soil fungi α-diversity and functional composition. For the Medicago sativa agroecosystem, warming increased the abundance of soil pathogenic fungi but decreased the abundance of soil symbiotic and saprophytic fungi at 10-20 cm. Therefore, responses of the soil fungi community to climate warming varied with agroecosystem types and soil depth. Climate warming can alter the differences of the soil fungi community among agroecosystems. Changes in soil fungi community caused by climate warming may be detrimental to the growth of alpine crops, at least for perennial Medicago sativa in Tibet.}, } @article {pmid37754978, year = {2023}, author = {Fang, LL and Liu, YJ and Wang, ZH and Lu, XY and Li, JH and Yang, CX}, title = {Electrical Conductivity and pH Are Two of the Main Factors Influencing the Composition of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in the Vegetation Succession Series of Songnen Saline-Alkali Grassland.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9090870}, pmid = {37754978}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely distributed microorganisms in the soil, playing an important role in vegetation succession, plant community diversity, and improving soil physicochemical properties. In this study, morphological identification and high-throughput sequencing technology were used to comprehensively analyze the AMF community composition and diversity at different succession stages of Songnen saline-alkali grassland. To determine the root colonization status of plants collected in the field, a colonization system was established using late-succession plants as host plants to verify the existence of mycorrhizal symbiosis and the matching phenomenon of AMF in Songnen saline-alkali grassland. The results indicated that both morphological methods and high-throughput sequencing technology showed that glomus was the dominant genus of AMF in Songnen saline grassland. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and linear regression analysis showed that electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were the main environmental factors affecting AMF species diversity and community structure in the succession sequence of Songnen saline grassland. In addition, the results of root colonization identification and the colonization system test in the field showed that AMF successfully colonized vegetation at different succession stages and had mycorrhizal symbiosis. The results of this study could help to understand the AMF community of Songnen saline-alkali grassland as well as provide a reference and basis for optimizing the AMF community structure of Songnen saline-alkali grassland through human intervention in the future and using mycorrhizal technology to restore and rebuild the degraded ecosystem of Songnen saline-alkali grassland.}, } @article {pmid37754736, year = {2023}, author = {Schwarz, M and Tokuda, G and Osaki, H and Mikaelyan, A}, title = {Reevaluating Symbiotic Digestion in Cockroaches: Unveiling the Hindgut's Contribution to Digestion in Wood-Feeding Panesthiinae (Blaberidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14090768}, pmid = {37754736}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {2022-A2-14//University of the Ryukyus/ ; 1019324//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; KAKENHI 22H02360//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; G-2022-2-041//Institute for Fermentation/ ; }, abstract = {Cockroaches of the subfamily Panesthiinae (family Blaberidae) are among the few major groups of insects feeding on decayed wood. Despite having independently evolved the ability to thrive on this recalcitrant and nitrogen-limited resource, they are among the least studied of all wood-feeding insect groups. In the pursuit of unraveling their unique digestive strategies, we explored cellulase and xylanase activity in the crop, midgut, and hindgut lumens of Panesthia angustipennis and Salganea taiwanensis. Employing Percoll density gradient centrifugation, we further fractionated luminal fluid to elucidate how the activities in the gut lumen are further partitioned. Our findings challenge conventional wisdom, underscoring the significant contribution of the hindgut, which accounts for approximately one-fifth of cellulase and xylanase activity. Particle-associated enzymes, potentially of bacterial origin, dominate hindgut digestion, akin to symbiotic strategies observed in select termites and passalid beetles. Our study sheds new light on the digestive prowess of panesthiine cockroaches, providing invaluable insights into the evolution of wood-feeding insects and their remarkable adaptability to challenging, nutrient-poor substrates.}, } @article {pmid37754709, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, S and Zhou, A and Xu, Y}, title = {Symbiotic Bacteria Regulating Insect-Insect/Fungus/Virus Mutualism.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14090741}, pmid = {37754709}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {32261160374//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021N007//Special Project for Sustainable Development Science and Technology of Shenzhen/ ; }, abstract = {Bacteria associated with insects potentially provide many beneficial services and have been well documented. Mutualism that relates to insects is widespread in ecosystems. However, the interrelation between "symbiotic bacteria" and "mutualism" has rarely been studied. We introduce three systems of mutualism that relate to insects (ants and honeydew-producing Hemiptera, fungus-growing insects and fungi, and plant persistent viruses and vector insects) and review the species of symbiotic bacteria in host insects, as well as their functions in host insects and the mechanisms underlying mutualism regulation. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and role of symbiotic bacteria, based on metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiology, will be required for describing the entire interaction network.}, } @article {pmid37752841, year = {2023}, author = {Lyndby, NH and Murthy, S and Bessette, S and Jakobsen, SL and Meibom, A and Kühl, M}, title = {Non-invasive investigation of the morphology and optical properties of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea with optical coherence tomography.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2007}, pages = {20230127}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.0127}, pmid = {37752841}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {The jellyfish Cassiopea largely cover their carbon demand via photosynthates produced by microalgal endosymbionts, but how holobiont morphology and tissue optical properties affect the light microclimate and symbiont photosynthesis in Cassiopea remain unexplored. Here, we use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to study the morphology of Cassiopea medusae at high spatial resolution. We include detailed 3D reconstructions of external micromorphology, and show the spatial distribution of endosymbionts and white granules in the bell tissue. Furthermore, we use OCT data to extract inherent optical properties from light-scattering white granules in Cassiopea, and show that granules enhance local light-availability for symbionts in close proximity. Individual granules had a scattering coefficient of µs = 200-300 cm[-1], and scattering anisotropy factor of g = 0.7, while large tissue-regions filled with white granules had a lower µs = 40-100 cm[-1], and g = 0.8-0.9. We combined OCT information with isotopic labelling experiments to investigate the effect of enhanced light-availability in whitish tissue regions. Endosymbionts located in whitish tissue exhibited significantly higher carbon fixation compared to symbionts in anastomosing tissue (i.e. tissue without light-scattering white granules). Our findings support previous suggestions that white granules in Cassiopea play an important role in the host modulation of the light-microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid37751888, year = {2023}, author = {Shah, S and Dougan, KE and Chen, Y and Bhattacharya, D and Chan, CX}, title = {Gene duplication is the primary driver of intraspecific genomic divergence in coral algal symbionts.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {230182}, doi = {10.1098/rsob.230182}, pmid = {37751888}, issn = {2046-2441}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates in the order Suessiales include the family Symbiodiniaceae, which have essential roles as photosymbionts in corals, and their cold-adapted sister group, Polarella glacialis. These diverse taxa exhibit extensive genomic divergence, although their genomes are relatively small (haploid size < 3 Gbp) when compared with most other free-living dinoflagellates. Different strains of Symbiodiniaceae form symbiosis with distinct hosts and exhibit different regimes of gene expression, but intraspecific whole-genome divergence is poorly understood. Focusing on three Symbiodiniaceae species (the free-living Effrenium voratum and the symbiotic Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Durusdinium trenchii) and the free-living outgroup P. glacialis, for which whole-genome data from multiple isolates are available, we assessed intraspecific genomic divergence with respect to sequence and structure. Our analysis, based on alignment and alignment-free methods, revealed a greater extent of intraspecific sequence divergence in Symbiodiniaceae than in P. glacialis. Our results underscore the role of gene duplication in generating functional innovation, with a greater prevalence of tandemly duplicated single-exon genes observed in the genomes of free-living species than in symbionts. These results demonstrate the remarkable intraspecific genomic divergence in dinoflagellates under the constraint of reduced genome sizes, shaped by genetic duplications and symbiogenesis events during the diversification of Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid37751860, year = {2023}, author = {Shatova, OP and Zabolotneva, AA and Shestopalov, AV}, title = {Molecular Ensembles of Microbiotic Metabolites in Carcinogenesis.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {88}, number = {7}, pages = {867-879}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297923070027}, pmid = {37751860}, issn = {1608-3040}, abstract = {The mechanisms of carcinogenesis are extremely complex and involve multiple components that contribute to the malignant cell transformation, tumor growth, and metastasis. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the role of symbiotic human microbiota in the regulation of metabolism and functioning of host immune system. The symbiosis between a macroorganism and its microbiota has given rise to the concept of a holoorganism. Interactions between the components of a holoorganism have formed in the process of coevolution, resulting in the acquisition by microbiotic metabolites of a special role of signaling molecules and main regulators of molecular interactions in the holoorganism. As elements of signaling pathways in the host organism, bacterial metabolites have become essential participants in various physiological and pathological processes, including tumor growth. At the same time, signaling metabolites often exhibit multiple effects and impact both the functions of the host cells and metabolic activity and composition of the microbiome. This review discusses the role of microbiotic metabolites in the induction and prevention of malignant transformation of cells in the host organism and their impact on the efficacy of anticancer therapy, with special emphasis on the involvement of some components of the microbial metabolite molecular ensemble in the initiation and progression of tumor growth.}, } @article {pmid37750682, year = {2023}, author = {Martin Říhová, J and Gupta, S and Darby, AC and Nováková, E and Hypša, V}, title = {Arsenophonus symbiosis with louse flies: multiple origins, coevolutionary dynamics, and metabolic significance.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0070623}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00706-23}, pmid = {37750682}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Arsenophonus is a widespread insect symbiont with life strategies that vary from parasitism to obligate mutualism. In insects living exclusively on vertebrate blood, mutualistic Arsenophonus strains are presumed to provide B vitamins missing in the insect host diet. Hippoboscidae, obligate blood feeders related to tsetse flies, have been previously suggested to have acquired Arsenophonus symbionts in several independent events. Based on comparative genomic analyses of 11 Hippoboscidae-associated strains, 9 of them newly assembled, we reveal a wide range of their genomic characteristics and phylogenetic affiliations. Phylogenetic patterns and genomic traits split the strains into two different types. Seven strains display characteristics of obligate mutualists with significantly reduced genomes and long phylogenetic branches. The remaining four strains cluster on short branches, and their genomes resemble those of free-living bacteria or facultative symbionts. Both phylogenetic positions and genomic traits indicate that evolutionary history of the Hippoboscidae-Arsenophonus associations is a mixture of short-term coevolutions with at least four independent origins. The comparative approach to a reconstruction of B vitamin pathways across the available Arsenophonus genomes has produced two kinds of patterns. On one hand, it indicates the different importance of individual B vitamins in the host-symbiont interaction. While some (riboflavin, pantothenate, and folate) seem to be synthesized by all Hippoboscidae-associated obligate symbionts, pathways for others (thiamine, nicotinamide, and cobalamin) are mostly missing. On the other hand, the broad comparison has produced patterns that can serve as bases for further assessments of the pathways' completeness and functionality. IMPORTANCE Insects that live exclusively on vertebrate blood utilize symbiotic bacteria as a source of essential compounds, e.g., B vitamins. In louse flies, the most frequent symbiont originated in genus Arsenophonus, known from a wide range of insects. Here, we analyze genomic traits, phylogenetic origins, and metabolic capacities of 11 Arsenophonus strains associated with louse flies. We show that in louse flies, Arsenophonus established symbiosis in at least four independent events, reaching different stages of symbiogenesis. This allowed for comparative genomic analysis, including convergence of metabolic capacities. The significance of the results is twofold. First, based on a comparison of independently originated Arsenophonus symbioses, it determines the importance of individual B vitamins for the insect host. This expands our theoretical insight into insect-bacteria symbiosis. The second outcome is of methodological significance. We show that the comparative approach reveals artifacts that would be difficult to identify based on a single-genome analysis.}, } @article {pmid37750335, year = {2023}, author = {Anneberg, TJ and Turcotte, MM and Ashman, TL}, title = {Plant neopolyploidy and genetic background differentiate the microbiome of duckweed across a variety of natural freshwater sources.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17142}, pmid = {37750335}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {1912180//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; 1935410//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; 2027604//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; 2109452//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {Whole-genome duplication has long been appreciated for its role in driving phenotypic novelty in plants, often altering the way organisms interface with the abiotic environment. Only recently, however, have we begun to investigate how polyploidy influences interactions of plants with other species, despite the biotic niche being predicted as one of the main determinants of polyploid establishment. Nevertheless, we lack information about how polyploidy affects the diversity and composition of the microbial taxa that colonize plants, and whether this is genotype-dependent and repeatable across natural environments. This information is a first step towards understanding whether the microbiome contributes to polyploid establishment. We, thus, tested the immediate effect of polyploidy on the diversity and composition of the bacterial microbiome of the aquatic plant Spirodela polyrhiza using four pairs of diploids and synthetic autotetraploids. Under controlled conditions, axenic plants were inoculated with pond waters collected from 10 field sites across a broad environmental gradient. Autotetraploids hosted 4%-11% greater bacterial taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity than their diploid progenitors. Polyploidy, along with its interactions with the inoculum source and genetic lineage, collectively explained 7% of the total variation in microbiome composition. Furthermore, polyploidy broadened the core microbiome, with autotetraploids having 15 unique bacterial taxa in addition to the 55 they shared with diploids. Our results show that whole-genome duplication directly leads to novelty in the plant microbiome and importantly that the effect is dependent on the genetic ancestry of the polyploid and generalizable over many environmental contexts.}, } @article {pmid37749577, year = {2023}, author = {Nattoh, G and Onyango, B and Makhulu, EE and Omoke, D and Ang'ang'o, LM and Kamau, L and Gesuge, MM and Ochomo, E and Herren, JK}, title = {Microsporidia MB in the primary malaria vector Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto is avirulent and undergoes maternal and horizontal transmission.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {335}, pmid = {37749577}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {I-1-F-5852-1//The International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, Sweden/ ; Open Philanthropy (SYMBIOVECTOR Track A) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV0225840)//International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya/ ; SMBV-FFT//The Childrens' Investment Fund Foundation/ ; AV/AASS/006//The ANTi-VeC network/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The demonstration that the recently discovered Anopheles symbiont Microsporidia MB blocks malaria transmission in Anopheles arabiensis and undergoes vertical and horizontal transmission suggests that it is a promising candidate for the development of a symbiont-based malaria transmission-blocking strategy. The infection prevalence and characteristics of Microsporidia MB in Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.), another primary vector species of malaria in Kenya, were investigated.

METHODS: Field-collected females were confirmed to be Microsporidia MB-positive after oviposition. Egg counts of Microsporidia MB-infected and non-infected individuals were used to infer the effects of Microsporidia MB on fecundity. The time to pupation, adult sex ratio and survival were used to determine if Microsporidia MB infection has similar characteristics in the host mosquitoes An. gambiae and An. arabiensis. The intensity of Microsporidia MB infection in tissues of the midgut and gonads, and in carcasses, was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To investigate horizontal transmission, virgin males and females that were either Microsporidia MB-infected or non-infected were placed in standard cages for 48 h and allowed to mate; transmission was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting Microsporidia MB genes.

RESULTS: Microsporidia MB was found to naturally occur at a low prevalence in An. gambiae s.s. collected in western Kenya. Microsporidia MB shortened the development time from larva to pupa, but other fitness parameters such as fecundity, sex ratio, and adult survival did not differ between Microsporidia MB-infected and non-infected hosts. Microsporidia MB intensities were high in the male gonadal tissues. Transmission experiments indicated that Microsporidia MB undergoes both maternal and horizontal transmission in An. gambiae s.s.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings that Microsporidia MB naturally infects, undergoes maternal and horizontal transmission, and is avirulent in An. gambiae s.s. indicate that many of the characteristics of its infection in An. arabiensis hold true for the former. The results of the present study indicate that Microsporidia MB could be developed as a tool for the transmission-blocking of malaria across different Anopheles species.}, } @article {pmid37749242, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Z and Yang, J and Long, Y and Zhang, C and Wang, D and Zhang, X and Dong, W and Zhao, L and Liu, C and Zhai, J and Wang, E}, title = {Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal spatiotemporal symbiotic perception and early response in Medicago.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37749242}, issn = {2055-0278}, abstract = {Establishing legume-rhizobial symbiosis requires precise coordination of complex responses in a time- and cell type-specific manner. Encountering Rhizobium, rapid changes of gene expression levels in host plants occur in the first few hours, which prepare the plants to turn off defence and form a symbiotic relationship with the microbes. Here, we applied single-nucleus RNA sequencing to characterize the roots of Medicago truncatula at 30 min, 6 h and 24 h after nod factor treatment. We found drastic global gene expression reprogramming at 30 min in the epidermis and cortex and most of these changes were restored at 6 h. Moreover, plant defence response genes are activated at 30 min and subsequently suppressed at 6 h in non-meristem cells. Only in the cortical cells but not in other cell types, we found the flavonoid synthase genes required to recruit rhizobia are highly expressed 30 min after inoculation with nod factors. A gene module enriched for symbiotic nitrogen fixation genes showed that MtFER (MtFERONIA) and LYK3 (LysM domain receptor-like kinase 3) share similar responses to symbiotic signals. We further found that MtFER can be phosphorylated by LYK3 and it participates in rhizobial symbiosis. Our results expand our understanding of dynamic spatiotemporal symbiotic responses at the single-cell level.}, } @article {pmid37749152, year = {2023}, author = {Gasser, M and Keller, J and Fournier, P and Pujic, P and Normand, P and Boubakri, H}, title = {Identification and evolution of nsLTPs in the root nodule nitrogen fixation clade and molecular response of Frankia to AgLTP24.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {16020}, pmid = {37749152}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {10459//EC2CO (Ecosphère Continentale et Côtière)/ ; }, abstract = {Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are antimicrobial peptides, involved in several plant biological processes including root nodule nitrogen fixation (RNF). Nodulating plants belonging to the RNF clade establish symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria rhizobia (legumes symbiosis model) and Frankia (actinorhizal symbiosis model) leading to root nodule formation. nsLTPs are involved in processes active in early step of symbiosis and functional nodule in both models. In legumes, nsLTPs have been shown to regulate symbiont entry, promote root cortex infection, membrane biosynthesis, and improve symbiosis efficiency. More recently, a nsLTP, AgLTP24 has been described in the context of actinorhizal symbiosis between Alnus glutinosa and Frankia alni ACN14a. AgLTP24 is secreted at an early step of symbiosis on the deformed root hairs and targets the symbiont in the nitrogen-fixing vesicles in functional nodules. nsLTPs are involved in RNF, but their functions and evolutionary history are still largely unknown. Numerous putative nsLTPs were found up-regulated in functional nodules compared to non-infected roots in different lineages within the RNF clade. Here, results highlight that nodulating plants that are co-evolving with their nitrogen-fixing symbionts appear to have independently specialized nsLTPs for this interaction, suggesting a possible convergence of function, which opens perspectives to investigate nsLTPs functions in RNF.}, } @article {pmid37748072, year = {2023}, author = {Maegele, I and Rupp, S and Özbek, S and Guse, A and Hambleton, EA and Holstein, TW}, title = {A predatory gastrula leads to symbiosis-independent settlement in Aiptasia.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {40}, pages = {e2311872120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2311872120}, pmid = {37748072}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {SFB1324-A5//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; D.A.C.H.//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; SFB1324-B7//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; Oe416/8-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; 724715//European Resuscitation Council (ERC)/ ; }, abstract = {The planula larvae of the sea anemone Aiptasia have so far not been reported to complete their life cycle by undergoing metamorphosis into adult forms. This has been a major obstacle in their use as a model for coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. Here, we show that Aiptasia larvae actively feed on crustacean nauplii, displaying a preference for live prey. This feeding behavior relies on functional stinging cells, indicative of complex neuronal control. Regular feeding leads to significant size increase, morphological changes, and efficient settlement around 14 d postfertilization. Surprisingly, the presence of dinoflagellate endosymbionts does not affect larval growth or settlement dynamics but is crucial for sexual reproduction. Our findings finally close Aiptasia's life cycle and highlight the functional nature of its larvae, as in Haeckel's Gastrea postulate, yet reveal its active carnivory, thus contributing to our understanding of early metazoan evolution.}, } @article {pmid37746220, year = {2022}, author = {Cabrera-Rangel, JF and Mendoza-Servín, JV and Córdova-López, G and Alcalde-Vázquez, R and García-Estrada, RS and Winkler, R and Partida-Martínez, LP}, title = {Symbiotic and toxinogenic Rhizopus spp. isolated from soils of different papaya producing regions in Mexico.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {893700}, pmid = {37746220}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Mucoralean fungi from the genus Rhizopus are common inhabitants of terrestrial ecosystems, being some pathogens of animals and plants. In this study, we analyzed the symbiotic and toxinogenic potential of Rhizopus species derived from agricultural soils dedicated to the production of papaya (Carica papaya L.) in Mexico. Four representative strains of soil-derived Rhizopus spp. were analyzed employing molecular, microscopic, and metabolic methods. The ITS phylogenies identified the fungi as Rhizopus microsporus HP499, Rhizopus delemar HP475 and HP479, and Rhizopus homothallicus HP487. We discovered that R. microsporus HP499 and R. delemar HP475 harbor similar endofungal bacterial symbionts that belong to the genus Mycetohabitans (Burkholderia sensu lato) and that none of the four fungi were associated with Narnavirus RmNV-20S and RmNV-23S. Intriguingly, the interaction between R. delemar - Mycetohabitans showed different phenotypes from known R. microsporus - Mycetohabitans symbioses. Elimination of bacteria in R. delemar HP475 did not cause a detrimental effect on fungal growth or asexual reproduction. Moreover, metabolic and molecular analyses confirmed that, unlike symbiotic R. microsporus HP499, R. delemar HP475 does not produce rhizoxin, one of the best-characterized toxins produced by Mycetohabitans spp. The rhizoxin (rhi) biosynthetic gene cluster seems absent in this symbiotic bacterium. Our study highlights that the symbioses between Rhizopus and Mycetohabitans are more diverse than anticipated. Our findings contribute to expanding our understanding of the role bacterial symbionts have in the pathogenicity, biology and evolution of Mucorales.}, } @article {pmid37746131, year = {2023}, author = {Hoosein, S and Neuenkamp, L and Trivedi, P and Paschke, MW}, title = {AM fungal-bacterial relationships: what can they tell us about ecosystem sustainability and soil functioning?.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1141963}, pmid = {37746131}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Considering our growing population and our continuous degradation of soil environments, understanding the fundamental ecology of soil biota and plant microbiomes will be imperative to sustaining soil systems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi extend their hyphae beyond plant root zones, creating microhabitats with bacterial symbionts for nutrient acquisition through a tripartite symbiotic relationship along with plants. Nonetheless, it is unclear what drives these AM fungal-bacterial relationships and how AM fungal functional traits contribute to these relationships. By delving into the literature, we look at the drivers and complexity behind AM fungal-bacterial relationships, describe the shift needed in AM fungal research towards the inclusion of interdisciplinary tools, and discuss the utilization of bacterial datasets to provide contextual evidence behind these complex relationships, bringing insights and new hypotheses to AM fungal functional traits. From this synthesis, we gather that interdependent microbial relationships are at the foundation of understanding microbiome functionality and deciphering microbial functional traits. We suggest using pattern-based inference tools along with machine learning to elucidate AM fungal-bacterial relationship trends, along with the utilization of synthetic communities, functional gene analyses, and metabolomics to understand how AM fungal and bacterial communities facilitate communication for the survival of host plant communities. These suggestions could result in improving microbial inocula and products, as well as a better understanding of complex relationships in terrestrial ecosystems that contribute to plant-soil feedbacks.}, } @article {pmid37745999, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, CY and Selvaraj, P and Naqvi, NI}, title = {Functional analysis of auxin derived from a symbiotic mycobiont.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1216680}, pmid = {37745999}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The biosynthesis of auxin or indole-3-acetic acid by microorganisms has a major impact on plant-microbe interactions. Several beneficial microbiota are known to produce auxin, which largely influences root development and growth in the host plants. Akin to findings in rhizobacteria, recent studies have confirmed the production of auxin by plant growth-promoting fungi too. Here, we show that Penicillium citrinum isolate B9 produces auxin as deduced by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry analysis. Such fungal auxin is secreted and contributes directly to enhanced root and shoot development and overall plant growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, auxin production by P. citrinum likely involves more than one tryptophan-dependent pathway. Using auxin biosynthesis inhibitor L-Kynurenine, we show that the indole-3-pyruvate pathway might be one of the key biosynthetic routes involved in such auxin production. Confocal microscopy of the DR5rev:GFP Arabidopsis reporter line helped demonstrate that P. citrunum B9-derived auxin is biologically active and is able to significantly enhance auxin signaling in roots during such improved root growth and plant development. Furthermore, the phenotypic growth defects arising from impaired auxin signaling in Arabidopsis taa1 mutant or upon L-Kynurenine treatment of wild-type Arabidopsis seedlings could be significantly alleviated by fungus B9-derived auxin, thus suggesting its positive role in plant growth promotion. Collectively, our results provide clear evidence that the production of auxin is one of the main mechanisms involved in induction of the beneficial plant growth by P. citrinum.}, } @article {pmid37744903, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, S and Zhao, Y and Dong, Q and Yang, X and Liu, Y and Liu, W and Shi, G and Liu, W and Zhang, C and Yu, Y}, title = {Symbiotic diazotrophs in response to yak grazing and Tibetan sheep grazing in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau grassland soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1257521}, pmid = {37744903}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Grazing by local livestock is the traditional human practice in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau grassland, and moderate intensity grazing can maintain high productivity and diversity of alpine grassland. Grazing ecosystems are often nitrogen-limited, but N2-fixing communities in response to yak grazing and Tibetan sheep grazing in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau grassland have remained underexplored. In this study, we applied quantitative PCR quantitation and MiSeq sequencing of nifH under yak grazing and Tibetan grazing through a manipulated grazing experiment on an alpine grassland. The results showed that the grazing treatments significantly increased the soil ammonium nitrogen (AN) and total phosphorus (TP), but reduced the diazotrophs abundance. Compared with no grazing treatment, the composition of diazotrophs could be maximally maintained when the ratio of yak and Tibetan sheep were 1:2. The foraging strategies of grazing livestock reduced the legumes biomass, and thus reduced the diazotrophs abundance. Data analysis suggested that the direct key factors in regulating diazotrophs are AN and TP, and the changes of these two soil chemical properties were affected by the dung and urine of herbivore assemblages. Overall, these results indicated that the mixed grazing with a ratio of yak to Tibetan sheep as 1:2 can stabilize the soil diazotrophsic community, suggesting that MG12 are more reasonable grazing regimes in this region.}, } @article {pmid37744901, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, C and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Zhu, X and Li, D and Ji, J and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Variation of Helicoverpa armigera symbionts across developmental stages and geographic locations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1251627}, pmid = {37744901}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) poses a global problem, causing substantial economic and ecological losses. Endosymbionts in insects play crucial roles in multiple insect biological processes. However, the interactions between H. armigera and its symbionts have not been well characterized to date. We investigated the symbionts of H. armigera in the whole life cycle from different geographical locations. In the whole life cycle of H. armigera, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacteria at the phylum level, while Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Glutamicibacter, and Bacillus were the four dominant bacteria at the genus level. Furthermore, high similarity in symbiotic bacterial community was observed in different stages of H. armigera, which were dominated by Enterococcus and Enterobacter. In fields, the dominant bacteria were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, whereas, in the laboratory, the dominant bacteria were Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the dominant bacteria in cotton bollworm eggs of wild populations were Enterobacter, Morganella, Lactococcus, Asaia, Apibacter, and Enterococcus, and the subdominant bacteria were Bartonella, Pseudomonas, and Orbus. Moreover, the symbionts varied with geographical locations, and the closer the geographical distance, the more similar the microbial composition. Taken together, our study identifies and compares the symbiont variation along with geographical gradients and host development dynamic and reveals the high flexibility of microbiome communities in H. armigera, which probably benefits for the successful survival in a complicated changing environment.}, } @article {pmid37744896, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Xu, J and Yuan, Q and Guo, L and Xiao, C and Yang, C and Li, L and Jiang, W and Zhou, T}, title = {Effect of symbiotic fungi-Armillaria gallica on the yield of Gastrodia elata Bl. and insight into the response of soil microbial community.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1233555}, pmid = {37744896}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Armillaria members play important roles in the nutrient supply and growth modulation of Gastrodia elata Bl., and they will undergo severe competition with native soil organisms before colonization and become symbiotic with G. elata. Unraveling the response of soil microbial organisms to symbiotic fungi will open up new avenues to illustrate the biological mechanisms driving G. elata's benefit from Armillaria. For this purpose, Armillaria strains from four main G. elata production areas in China were collected, identified, and co-planted with G. elata in Guizhou Province. The result of the phylogenetic tree indicated that the four Armillaria strains shared the shortest clade with Armillaria gallica. The yields of G. elata were compared to uncover the potential role of these A. gallica strains. Soil microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced using Illumina sequencing of 16S and ITS rRNA gene amplicons to decipher the changes of soil bacterial and fungal communities arising from A. gallica strains. The yield of G. elata symbiosis with the YN strain (A. gallica collected from Yunnan) was four times higher than that of the GZ strain (A. gallica collected from Guizhou) and nearly two times higher than that of the AH and SX strains (A. gallica collected from Shanxi and Anhui). We found that the GZ strain induced changes in the bacterial community, while the YN strain mainly caused changes in the fungal community. Similar patterns were identified in non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, in which the GZ strain greatly separated from others in bacterial structure, while the YN strain caused significant separation from other strains in fungal structure. This current study revealed the assembly and response of the soil microbial community to A. gallica strains and suggested that exotic strains of A. gallica might be helpful in improving the yield of G. elata by inducing changes in the soil fungal community.}, } @article {pmid37742881, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, T and Vďačný, P}, title = {Deciphering phylogenetic relationships of and delimiting species boundaries within the controversial ciliate genus Conchophthirus using an integrative morpho-evo approach.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107931}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107931}, pmid = {37742881}, issn = {1095-9513}, abstract = {The phylum Ciliophora (ciliates) comprises about 2600 symbiotic and over 5500 free-living species. The inclusion of symbiotic ciliates in phylogenetic analyses often challenges traditional classification frameworks due to their morphological adaptions to the symbiotic lifestyle. Conchophthirus is such a controversial obligate endocommensal genus whose affinities to other symbiotic and free-living scuticociliates are still poorly understood. Using uni- and multivariate morphometrics as well as 2D-based molecular and phylogenetic analyses, we attempted to test for the monophyly of Conchophthirus, study the boundaries of Conchophthirus species isolated from various bivalves at mesoscale, and reveal the phylogenetic relationships of Conchophthirus to other scuticociliates. Multidimensional analyses of morphometric and cell geometric data generated the same homogenous clusters, as did phylogenetic analyses based on 144 new sequences of two mitochondrial and five nuclear molecular markers. Conchophthirus is not closely related to 'core' scuticociliates represented by the orders Pleuronematida and Philasterida, as assumed in the past using morphological data. Nuclear and mitochondrial markers consistently showed the free-living Dexiotricha and the mouthless endosymbiotic Haptophrya to be the nearest relatives of Conchophthirus. These three highly morphologically and ecologically dissimilar genera represent an orphan clade from the early radiation of scuticociliates in molecular phylogenies.}, } @article {pmid37741057, year = {2023}, author = {Aminov, R and Aminova, L}, title = {The role of the glycome in symbiotic host-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Glycobiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/glycob/cwad073}, pmid = {37741057}, issn = {1460-2423}, abstract = {Glycosylation plays a crucial role in many aspects of cell biology, including cellular and organismal integrity, structure-and-function of many glycosylated molecules in the cell, signal transduction, development, cancer, and in a number of diseases. Besides, at the inter-organismal level of interaction, a variety of glycosylated molecules are involved in the host-microbiota recognition and initiation of downstream signalling cascades depending on the outcomes of the glycome-mediated ascertainment. The role of glycosylation in host-microbe interactions is better elaborated within the context of virulence and pathogenicity in bacterial infection processes but the symbiotic host-microbe relationships also involve substantive glycome-mediated interactions. The works in the latter field have been reviewed to a much lesser extent, and the main aim of this mini-review is to compensate for this deficiency and summarise the role of glycomics in host-microbe symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid37740668, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and Zhang, K and Li, L and Wang, Y and Lin, S}, title = {Phosphorus nutrition strategies in a Symbiodiniacean species: Implications in coral-alga symbiosis facing increasing phosphorus deficiency in future warmer oceans.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16945}, pmid = {37740668}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {2022YFC3102003//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 42276096//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 422QN265//Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province/ ; 4980.01//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation grant:/ ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs thrive in the oligotrophic ocean and rely on symbiotic algae to acquire nutrients. Global warming is projected to intensify surface ocean nutrient deficiency and anthropogenic discharge of wastes with high nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) ratios can exacerbate P nutrient limitation. However, our understanding on how symbiotic algae cope with P deficiency is limited. Here, we investigated the responses of a coral symbiotic species of Symbiodiniaceae, Cladocopium goreaui, to P-limitation by examining its physiological performance and transcriptomic profile. Under P stress, C. goreaui exhibited decreases in algal growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and cellular P content but enhancement in carbon fixation, N assimilation, N:P ratio, and energy metabolism, with downregulated expression of carbohydrate exporter genes. Besides, C. goreaui showed flexible mechanisms of utilizing different dissolved organic phosphorus to relieve P deficiency. When provided glycerol phosphate, C. goreaui hydrolyzed it extracellularly to produce phosphate for uptake. When grown on phytate, in contrast, C. goreaui upregulated the endocytosis pathway while no dissolved inorganic phosphorus was released into the medium, suggesting that phytate was transported into the cell, potentially via the endocytosis pathway. This study sheds light on the survival strategies of C. goreaui and potential weakening of its role as an organic carbon supplier in P-limited environments, underscoring the importance of more systematic investigation on future projections of such effects.}, } @article {pmid37740386, year = {2023}, author = {Adams, JN and Escalona, M and Marimuthu, MPA and Fairbairn, CW and Beraut, E and Seligmann, W and Nguyen, O and Chumchim, N and Stajich, JE}, title = {The reference genome assembly of the bright cobblestone lichen, Acarospora socialis.}, journal = {The Journal of heredity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jhered/esad052}, pmid = {37740386}, issn = {1465-7333}, support = {RSI-19-690224//University of California/ ; //National Science Foundation/ ; //National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Acarospora socialis, the bright cobblestone lichen, is commonly found in southwestern North America. This charismatic yellow lichen is a species of key ecological significance as it is often a pioneer species in new environments. Despite their ecological importance virtually no research has been conducted on the genomics of A. socialis. To address this, we used long-read sequencing to generate the first high-quality draft genome of A. socialis. Lichen thallus tissue was collected from Pinkham Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park, California and deposited in the UC Riverside herbarium under accession #295874. The de novo assembly of the mycobiont partner of the lichen was generated from Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Dovetail Omni-C chromatin capture data. After removing algal and bacterial contigs, the fungal genome was approximately 31.2 Mb consisting of 38 scaffolds with contig and scaffold N50 of 2.4 Mb. The BUSCO completeness score of the assembled genome was 97.5% using the Ascomycota gene set. Information on the genome of A. socialis is important for California conservation purposes given that this lichen is threatened in some places locally by wildfires due to climate change. This reference genome will be used for understanding the genetic diversity, population genomics, and comparative genomics of A. socialis species. Genomic resources for this species will support population and landscape genomics investigations, exploring the use of A. socialis as a bioindicator species for climate change, and in studies of adaptation by comparing populations that occur across aridity gradients in California.}, } @article {pmid37746223, year = {2022}, author = {Lopes, BAB and Silva, AMM and Santana, MC and Feiler, HP and Pereira, APA and Teixeira, MF and de Araújo, VLVP and de Ávila, PA and Gonçalves, JLM and Staunton, S and Cardoso, EJBN}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Soil Quality Indicators in Eucalyptus genotypes With Different Drought Tolerance Levels.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {913570}, pmid = {37746223}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Silviculture has great importance worldwide, and the use of Eucalyptus species, which account for 75% of the local planted forest in Brazil, is one of the factors that contributes to the success of this activity in the country. Despite its adaptability, the yield of Eucalyptus is often affected by climate change, particularly water deficiency. Plants have developed strategies to mitigate water stress, for example, through their association with mycorrhizal fungi. The genus Eucalyptus, particularly in the plant domain, establishes symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF). The influence of Eucalyptus species on AMF and soil quality indicators is not well understood. Our aim was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the various responses of soil AMF communities and soil nutrient dynamics in the presence of Eucalyptus species with different degrees of drought tolerance. A field experiment was established containing six Eucalyptus species, E. brassiana, E. camaldulensis, E. citriodora, E. cloeziana, E. grandis, and E. urophylla, all of which were planted in large plots. Soil and root samples were taken when the plants were 1.7 and 2.2 years old. We found that Eucalyptus species with low (E. grandis and E. urophylla) and intermediate drought tolerance (E. citriodora and E. cloeziana) showed stronger correlations with the AMF community than Eucalyptus species with high drought tolerance (E. brassiana and E. camaldulensis). Differences were also found between Eucalyptus species for AMF spore numbers and root colonization percentages, which was most evident for E. urophylla. The microbiological attributes found to be most responsive to Eucalyptus species were soil enzyme activities, AMF spore numbers, root colonization percentages, and fungal abundance. Soil organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and iron were the main chemical drivers related to the soil AMF community structure in the presence of E. brassiana.}, } @article {pmid37746179, year = {2022}, author = {Tang, D and Tang, X and Fang, W}, title = {New Downstream Signaling Branches of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascades Identified in the Insect Pathogenic and Plant Symbiotic Fungus Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {911366}, pmid = {37746179}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Fungi rely on major signaling pathways such as the MAPK (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase) signaling pathways to regulate their responses to fluctuating environmental conditions, which is vital for fungi to persist in the environment. The cosmopolitan Metarhizium fungi have multiple lifestyles and remarkable stress tolerance. Some species, especially M. robertsii, are emerging models for investigating the mechanisms underlying ecological adaptation in fungi. Here we review recently identified new downstream branches of the MAPK cascades in M. robertsii, which controls asexual production (conidiation), insect infection and selection of carbon and nitrogen nutrients. The Myb transcription factor RNS1 appears to be a central regulator that channels information from the Fus3- and Slt2-MAPK cascade to activate insect infection and conidiation, respectively. Another hub regulator is the transcription factor AFTF1 that transduces signals from the Fus3-MAPK and the membrane protein Mr-OPY2 for optimal formation of the infection structures on the host cuticle. Homologs of these newly identified regulators are found in other Metarhizium species and many non-Metarhizium fungi, indicating that these new downstream signaling branches of the MAPK cascades could be widespread.}, } @article {pmid37746205, year = {2022}, author = {Mukherjee, PK and Horwitz, BA and Vinale, F and Hohmann, P and Atanasova, L and Mendoza-Mendoza, A}, title = {Editorial: Molecular Intricacies of Trichoderma-Plant-Pathogen Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {892228}, pmid = {37746205}, issn = {2673-6128}, } @article {pmid37746164, year = {2022}, author = {Mattila, H and Österman-Udd, J and Mali, T and Lundell, T}, title = {Basidiomycota Fungi and ROS: Genomic Perspective on Key Enzymes Involved in Generation and Mitigation of Reactive Oxygen Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {837605}, pmid = {37746164}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Our review includes a genomic survey of a multitude of reactive oxygen species (ROS) related intra- and extracellular enzymes and proteins among fungi of Basidiomycota, following their taxonomic classification within the systematic classes and orders, and focusing on different fungal lifestyles (saprobic, symbiotic, pathogenic). Intra- and extracellular ROS metabolism-involved enzymes (49 different protein families, summing 4170 protein models) were searched as protein encoding genes among 63 genomes selected according to current taxonomy. Extracellular and intracellular ROS metabolism and mechanisms in Basidiomycota are illustrated in detail. In brief, it may be concluded that differences between the set of extracellular enzymes activated by ROS, especially by H2O2, and involved in generation of H2O2, follow the differences in fungal lifestyles. The wood and plant biomass degrading white-rot fungi and the litter-decomposing species of Agaricomycetes contain the highest counts for genes encoding various extracellular peroxidases, mono- and peroxygenases, and oxidases. These findings further confirm the necessity of the multigene families of various extracellular oxidoreductases for efficient and complete degradation of wood lignocelluloses by fungi. High variations in the sizes of the extracellular ROS-involved gene families were found, however, among species with mycorrhizal symbiotic lifestyle. In addition, there are some differences among the sets of intracellular thiol-mediation involving proteins, and existence of enzyme mechanisms for quenching of intracellular H2O2 and ROS. In animal- and plant-pathogenic species, extracellular ROS enzymes are absent or rare. In these fungi, intracellular peroxidases are seemingly in minor role than in the independent saprobic, filamentous species of Basidiomycota. Noteworthy is that our genomic survey and review of the literature point to that there are differences both in generation of extracellular ROS as well as in mechanisms of response to oxidative stress and mitigation of ROS between fungi of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota.}, } @article {pmid37746234, year = {2022}, author = {Villalobos Solis, MI and Engle, NL and Spangler, MK and Cottaz, S and Fort, S and Maeda, J and Ané, JM and Tschaplinski, TJ and Labbé, JL and Hettich, RL and Abraham, PE and Rush, TA}, title = {Expanding the Biological Role of Lipo-Chitooligosaccharides and Chitooligosaccharides in Laccaria bicolor Growth and Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {808578}, pmid = {37746234}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {The role of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) as signaling molecules that mediate the establishment of symbiotic relationships between fungi and plants is being redefined. New evidence suggests that the production of these molecular signals may be more of a common trait in fungi than what was previously thought. LCOs affect different aspects of growth and development in fungi. For the ectomycorrhizal forming fungi, Laccaria bicolor, the production and effects of LCOs have always been studied with a symbiotic plant partner; however, there is still no scientific evidence describing the effects that these molecules have on this organism. Here, we explored the physiological, molecular, and metabolomic changes in L. bicolor when grown in the presence of exogenous sulfated and non-sulfated LCOs, as well as the chitooligomers, chitotetraose (CO4), and chitooctaose (CO8). Physiological data from 21 days post-induction showed reduced fungal growth in response to CO and LCO treatments compared to solvent controls. The underlying molecular changes were interrogated by proteomics, which revealed substantial alterations to biological processes related to growth and development. Moreover, metabolite data showed that LCOs and COs caused a downregulation of organic acids, sugars, and fatty acids. At the same time, exposure to LCOs resulted in the overproduction of lactic acid in L. bicolor. Altogether, these results suggest that these signals might be fungistatic compounds and contribute to current research efforts investigating the emerging impacts of these molecules on fungal growth and development.}, } @article {pmid37744129, year = {2021}, author = {Rollano-Peñaloza, OM and Mollinedo, PA and Widell, S and Rasmusson, AG}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis of Quinoa Reveals a Group of Germin-Like Proteins Induced by Trichoderma.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {768648}, pmid = {37744129}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Symbiotic strains of fungi in the genus Trichoderma affect growth and pathogen resistance of many plant species, but the interaction is not known in molecular detail. Here we describe the transcriptomic response of two cultivars of the crop Chenopodium quinoa to axenic co-cultivation with Trichoderma harzianum BOL-12 and Trichoderma afroharzianum T22. The response of C. quinoa roots to BOL-12 and T22 in the early phases of interaction was studied by RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR verification. Interaction with the two fungal strains induced partially overlapping gene expression responses. Comparing the two plant genotypes, a broad spectrum of putative quinoa defense genes were found activated in the cultivar Kurmi but not in the Real cultivar. In cultivar Kurmi, relatively small effects were observed for classical pathogen response pathways but instead a C. quinoa-specific clade of germin-like genes were activated. Germin-like genes were found to be more rapidly induced in cultivar Kurmi as compared to Real. The same germin-like genes were found to also be upregulated systemically in the leaves. No strong correlation was observed between any of the known hormone-mediated defense response pathways and any of the quinoa-Trichoderma interactions. The differences in responses are relevant for the capabilities of applying Trichoderma agents for crop protection of different cultivars of C. quinoa.}, } @article {pmid37744156, year = {2021}, author = {Figueiredo, AF and Boy, J and Guggenberger, G}, title = {Common Mycorrhizae Network: A Review of the Theories and Mechanisms Behind Underground Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {735299}, pmid = {37744156}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Most terrestrial plants establish symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi for accessing essential plant nutrients. Mycorrhizal fungi have been frequently reported to interconnect plants via a common mycelial network (CMN), in which nutrients and signaling compounds can be exchanged between the connected plants. Several studies have been performed to demonstrate the potential effects of the CMN mediating resource transfer and its importance for plant fitness. Due to several contrasting results, different theories have been developed to predict benefits or disadvantages for host plants involved in the network and how it might affect plant communities. However, the importance of the mycelium connections for resources translocation compared to other indirect pathways, such as leakage of fungi hyphae and subsequent uptake by neighboring plant roots, is hard to distinguish and quantify. If resources can be translocated via mycelial connections in significant amounts that could affect plant fitness, it would represent an important tactic for plants co-existence and it could shape community composition and dynamics. Here, we report and critically discuss the most recent findings on studies aiming to evaluate and quantify resources translocation between plants sharing a CMN and predict the pattern that drives the movement of such resources into the CMN. We aim to point gaps and define open questions to guide upcoming studies in the area for a prospect better understanding of possible plant-to-plant interactions via CMN and its effect in shaping plants communities. We also propose new experiment set-ups and technologies that could be used to improve previous experiments. For example, the use of mutant lines plants with manipulation of genes involved in the symbiotic associations, coupled with labeling techniques to track resources translocation between connected plants, could provide a more accurate idea about resource allocation and plant physiological responses that are truly accountable to CMN.}, } @article {pmid37744123, year = {2021}, author = {Balestrini, R}, title = {Grand Challenges in Fungi-Plant Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {750003}, pmid = {37744123}, issn = {2673-6128}, } @article {pmid37744095, year = {2021}, author = {Taylor, JT and Wang, KD and Horwitz, B and Kolomiets, M and Kenerley, CM}, title = {Early Transcriptome Response of Trichoderma virens to Colonization of Maize Roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {718557}, pmid = {37744095}, issn = {2673-6128}, abstract = {Trichoderma virens is a well-known mycoparasitic fungal symbiont that is valued for its biocontrol capabilities. T. virens initiates a symbiotic relationship with a plant host through the colonization of its roots. To achieve colonization, the fungus must communicate with the host and evade its innate defenses. In this study, we explored the genes involved with the host communication and colonization process through transcriptomic profiling of the wild-type fungus and selected deletion mutants as they colonized maize roots. Transcriptome profiles of the T. virens colonization of maize roots over time revealed that 24 h post inoculation appeared to be a key time for plant-microbe communication, with many key gene categories, including signal transduction mechanisms and carbohydrate transport and metabolism, peaking in expression at this early colonization time point. The transcriptomic profiles of Sm1 and Sir1 deletion mutants in the presence of plants demonstrated that Sir1, rather than Sm1, appears to be the key regulator of the fungal response to maize, with 64% more unique differentially expressed genes compared to Sm1. Additionally, we developed a novel algorithm utilizing gene clustering and coexpression network analyses to select potential colonization-related gene targets for characterization. About 40% of the genes identified by the algorithm would have been missed using previous methods for selecting gene targets.}, } @article {pmid37739156, year = {2023}, author = {Du, L and Gao, X and Zhao, L and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Assessment of the risk of imidaclothiz to the dominant aphid parasitoid Binodoxys communis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {117165}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.117165}, pmid = {37739156}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {The neonicotinoid of imidaclothiz insecticide with low resistance and high efficiency, has great potential for application in pest control in specifically cotton field. In this systematically evaluate the effects of sublethal doses of imidaclothiz (LC10: 11.48 mg/L; LC30: 28.03 mg/L) on the biology, transcriptome, and microbiome of Binodoxys communis, the predominant primary parasitic natural enemy of aphids. The findings indicated that imidaclothiz has significant deleterious effects on the survival rate, parasitic rate, and survival time of B. communis. Additionally, there was a marked reduction in the survival rate and survival time of the F1 generation, that is, the negative effect of imidaclothiz on B. communis was continuous and trans-generational. Transcriptome analysis revealed that imidaclothiz treatment elicited alterations in the expression of genes associated with energy and detoxification metabolism. In addition, 16S rRNA analysis revealed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Rhodococcus and Pantoea, which are associated with detoxification metabolism, due to imidaclothiz exposure. These findings provide evidence that B. communis may regulate gene expression in conjunction with symbiotic bacteria to enhance adaptation to imidaclothiz. Finally, this study precise evaluation of imidaclothiz's potential risk to B. communis and provides crucial theoretical support for increasing the assessment of imidaclothiz in integrated pest management.}, } @article {pmid37739152, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, X and Hu, F and Cui, H and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Glyphosate decreases survival, increases fecundity, and alters the microbiome of the natural predator Harmonia axyridis (ladybird beetle).}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {117174}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.117174}, pmid = {37739152}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Glyphosate is a widely-used herbicide that shows toxicity to non-target organisms. The predatory natural enemy Harmonia axyridis may ingest glyphosate present in pollen and aphid prey. The present study characterized the responses of adult H. axyridis to environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate (5, 10, and 20 mg/L) for one or five days. There were no obvious effects on adult H. axyridis survival rates or fecundity in response to 5 or 10 mg/L glyphosate. However, exposure to 20 mg/L glyphosate significantly reduced the survival rate and increased fecundity. Analysis of the adult H. axyridis microbiota with 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated changes in the relative and/or total abundance of specific taxa, including Serratia, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, and Hafnia-Obesumbacterium. These changes in symbiotic bacterial abundance may have led to changes in survival rates or fecundity of this beetle. This is the first report of herbicide-induced stimulation of fecundity in a non-target predatory natural enemy, reflecting potentially unexpected risks of glyphosate exposure in adult H. axyridis. Although glyphosate resistant crops have been widely planted, the results of this study indicate a need to strengthen glyphosate management to prevent over-use, which could cause glyphosate toxicity and threaten environmental and human health.}, } @article {pmid37738984, year = {2023}, author = {Jiang, Y and Gao, H and Wang, L and Hu, W and Wang, G and Wang, S}, title = {Quorum sensing-activated phenylalanine metabolism drives OMV biogenesis to enhance mosquito commensal colonization resistance to Plasmodium.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.017}, pmid = {37738984}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {Gut microbiota and its symbiotic relationship with the host are crucial for preventing pathogen infection. However, little is known about the mechanisms that drive commensal colonization. Serratia bacteria, commonly found in Anopheles mosquitoes, potentially mediate mosquito resistance to Plasmodium. Using S. ureilytica Su_YN1 as a model, we show that a quorum sensing (QS) circuit is crucial for stable colonization. After blood ingestion, the QS synthase SueI generates the signaling molecule N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL). Once C6-HSL binds to the QS receptor SueR, repression of the phenylalanine-to-acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) conversion pathway is lifted. This pathway regulates outer membrane vesicle (OMV) biogenesis and promotes Serratia biofilm-like aggregate formation, facilitating gut adaptation and colonization. Notably, exposing Serratia Su_YN1-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes to C6-HSL increases Serratia gut colonization and enhances Plasmodium transmission-blocking efficacy. These findings provide insights into OMV biogenesis and commensal gut colonization and identify a powerful strategy for enhancing commensal resistance to pathogens.}, } @article {pmid37737528, year = {2023}, author = {Kalayci, FNC and Ozen, S}, title = {Possible Role of Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiome in SLE.}, journal = {Current rheumatology reports}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37737528}, issn = {1534-6307}, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The resident gut microbiota serves as a double-edged sword that aids the host in multiple ways to preserve a healthy equilibrium and serve as early companions and boosters for the gradual evolution of our immune defensive layers; nevertheless, the perturbation of the symbiotic resident intestinal communities has a profound impact on autoimmunity induction, particularly in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we seek to critically evaluate the microbiome research in SLE with a focus on intestinal dysbiosis.

RECENT FINDINGS: SLE is a complex and heterogeneous disorder with self-attack due to loss of tolerance, and there is aberrant excessive immune system activation. There is mounting evidence suggesting that intestinal flora disturbances may accelerate the formation and progression of SLE, presumably through a variety of mechanisms, including intestinal barrier dysfunction and leaky gut, molecular mimicry, bystander activation, epitope spreading, gender bias, and biofilms. Gut microbiome plays a critical role in SLE pathogenesis, and additional studies are warranted to properly define the impact of gut microbiome in SLE, which can eventually lead to new and potentially safer management approaches for this debilitating disease.}, } @article {pmid37736273, year = {2023}, author = {von Beeren, C and Pohl, S and Fikáček, M and Kleinfelder, S and Tishechkin, AK and Yamamoto, S and Chani-Posse, M and Żyła, D and Tokareva, A and Maruyama, M and Hall, WE and Sandoval, LP and Kronauer, DJC}, title = {Army ant middens - Home and nursery of a diverse beetle fauna.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {e10451}, pmid = {37736273}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Army ants provide nourishment to a large variety of animals. This includes birds that feed on animals flushed out by army ant raids, symbiotic arthropods that consume the ants' prey or their brood, and other arthropods that scavenge on army ant refuse deposits. The latter have not received much attention, and the few published studies lack detailed species identifications. Here we provide a first systematic inventory of the beetle fauna associated with refuse deposits of Eciton army ants, with a focus on Eciton burchellii. We collected 8364 adult beetles, 511 larvae, and 24 eggs from 34 deposits at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We used a combination of DNA barcoding and morphology to identify a subset of 436 specimens to species level. The samples included several new species, and we here formally describe two water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae). Refuse deposits harbored a diverse beetle fauna. The identified subset consisted of 91 beetle species from 12 families, with rove beetles being the most abundant and diverse visitors. Of the 85 species found with E. burchellii, 50 species were collected from only one or two refuse deposits. Conversely, seven species were found in 10 or more refuse deposits, indicating a certain level of habitat specialization. We matched adults and immatures for 22 beetle species via DNA barcodes, demonstrating that army ant middens also serve as a beetle nursery. The present survey highlights the significant ecological function of army ants as promoters of biodiversity and their status as keystone species in tropical rainforests.}, } @article {pmid37734213, year = {2023}, author = {Sahu, S and Kaur, A and Singh, G and Kumar Arya, S}, title = {Harnessing the potential of microalgae-bacteria interaction for eco-friendly wastewater treatment: A review on new strategies involving machine learning and artificial intelligence.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {346}, number = {}, pages = {119004}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119004}, pmid = {37734213}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {In the pursuit of effective wastewater treatment and biomass generation, the symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria emerges as a promising avenue. This analysis delves into recent advancements concerning the utilization of microalgae-bacteria consortia for wastewater treatment and biomass production. It examines multiple facets of this symbiosis, encompassing the judicious selection of suitable strains, optimal culture conditions, appropriate media, and operational parameters. Moreover, the exploration extends to contrasting closed and open bioreactor systems for fostering microalgae-bacteria consortia, elucidating the inherent merits and constraints of each methodology. Notably, the untapped potential of co-cultivation with diverse microorganisms, including yeast, fungi, and various microalgae species, to augment biomass output. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) stand out as transformative catalysts. By addressing intricate challenges in wastewater treatment and microalgae-bacteria symbiosis, AI and ML foster innovative technological solutions. These cutting-edge technologies play a pivotal role in optimizing wastewater treatment processes, enhancing biomass yield, and facilitating real-time monitoring. The synergistic integration of AI and ML instills a novel dimension, propelling the fields towards sustainable solutions. As AI and ML become integral tools in wastewater treatment and symbiotic microorganism cultivation, novel strategies emerge that harness their potential to overcome intricate challenges and revolutionize the domain.}, } @article {pmid37733051, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Ogaya, C and Dörfler, V and Barg, M and Ehlers, RU and Molina, C}, title = {Pheno- and genotyping in vitro dauer juvenile recovery in the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37733051}, issn = {1432-0614}, support = {57507871//German Academic Exchange Service/ ; 201906850084//University Postgraduate Programme/ ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is an effective biological-control agent of insect pests. The dauer juveniles (DJs) seek for, infect insects, and release cells of the carried symbiotic bacterium of the genus Photorhabdus. Inside the host, the DJs perceive signals from the insect's haemolymph that trigger the exit from the arrested stage and the further development to mature adults. This developmental step is called DJ recovery. In commercial production, a high and synchronous DJ recovery determines the success of liquid-culture mass production. To enhance the understanding about genetic components regulating DJ recovery, more than 160 mutant- and 25 wild type inbred lines (WT ILs) were characterized for DJ recovery induced by cell-free bacterial supernatant. The mutant lines exhibited a broader DJ recovery range than WT ILs (4.6-67.2% vs 1.6-35.7%). A subset of mutant lines presented high variability of virulence against mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) (from 22 to 78% mortality) and mean time survival under oxidative stress (70 mM H2O2; from 10 to 151 h). Genotyping by sequencing of 96 mutant lines resulted in more than 150 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which four results are strongly associated with the DJ recovery trait. The present results are the basis for future approaches in improving DJ recovery by breeding under in vitro liquid-culture mass production in H. bacteriophora. This generated platform of EMS-mutants is as well a versatile tool for the investigation of many further traits of interest in EPNs. KEYPOINTS: • Exposure to bacterial supernatants of Photorhabdus laumondii induces the recovery of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora dauer juveniles (DJs). Both, the bacteria and the nematode partner, influence this response. However, the complete identity of its regulators is not known. • We dissected the genetic component of DJ recovery regulation in H. bacteriophora nematodes by generating a large array of EMS mutant lines and characterizing their recovery pheno- and genotypes. • We determined sets of mutants with contrasting DJ recovery and genotyped a subset of the EMS-mutant lines via genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and identified SNPs with significant correlation to the recovery trait.}, } @article {pmid37732801, year = {2023}, author = {Yamamoto, Y and Suzuki, Y and Tsukuda, R and Asai, C and Ishizuka, M and Tsujikawa, Y and Sakane, I and Osawa, R and Mukai, T}, title = {Genome sequence of Enterococcus gallinarum AH4, a milk oligosaccharide-degrading strain isolated from suckling rats.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0039523}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00395-23}, pmid = {37732801}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We had previously isolated Enterococcus gallinarum AH4, a strain capable of degrading rat milk oligosaccharides. In this study, we determined the whole-genome sequence of AH4. This whole-genome information will expand our understanding of milk oligosaccharide-mediated symbioses between bacteria and host mammals.}, } @article {pmid37732248, year = {2023}, author = {Dong, PT and Tian, J and Kobayashi-Kirschvink, KJ and Cen, L and McLean, JS and Bor, B and Shi, W and He, X}, title = {Episymbiotic bacterium induces intracellular lipid droplet production in its host bacteria.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.09.06.556576}, pmid = {37732248}, abstract = {Saccharibacteria (formerly TM7) Nanosynbacter lyticus type strain TM7x exhibits a remarkably compact genome and an extraordinarily small cell size. This obligate epibiotic parasite forms a symbiotic relationship with its bacterial host, Schaalia odontolytica , strain XH001 (formerly Actinomyces odontolyticus strain XH001). Due to its limited genome size, TM7x possesses restrained metabolic capacities, predominantly living on the surface of its bacterial host to sustain this symbiotic lifestyle. To comprehend this intriguing, yet understudied interspecies interaction, a thorough understanding of the physical interaction between TM7x and XH001 is imperative. In this study, we employed super-resolution fluorescence imaging to investigate the physical association between TM7x and XH001. We found that the binding with TM7x led to a substantial alteration in the membrane fluidity of the host bacterium XH001. Unexpectedly, we revealed the formation of intracellular lipid droplets in XH001 when forming episymbiosis with TM7x, a feature not commonly observed in oral bacteria cells. The TM7x-induced LD accumulation in XH001 was further confirmed by label-free non-invasive Raman spectroscopy, which also unveiled additional phenotypical features when XH001 cells are physically associated with TM7x. Further exploration through culturing host bacterium XH001 alone under various stress conditions showed that LD accumulation was a general response to stress. Intriguingly, a survival assay demonstrated that the presence of LDs likely plays a protective role in XH001, enhancing its overall survival under adverse conditions. In conclusion, our study sheds new light on the intricate interaction between Saccharibacteria and its host bacterium, highlighting the potential benefit conferred by TM7x to its host, and further emphasizing the context-dependent nature of symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid37732186, year = {2023}, author = {Pan, H and Shim, A and Lubin, MB and Belin, BJ}, title = {Hopanoid lipids promote soybean- Bradyrhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.09.04.556284}, pmid = {37732186}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The symbioses between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia are well known for promoting plant growth and sustainably increasing soil nitrogen. Recent evidence indicates that hopanoids, a family of steroid-like lipids, promote Bradyrhizobium symbioses with tropical legumes. To characterize hopanoids in Bradyrhizobium symbiosis with soybean, the most economically significant Bradyrhizobium host, we validated a recently published cumate-inducible hopanoid mutant of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, Pcu- shc ::Δ shc . GC-MS analysis showed that this strain does not produce hopanoids without cumate induction, and under this condition, is impaired in growth in rich medium and under osmotic, temperature, and pH stress. In planta , Pcu- shc ::Δ shc is an inefficient soybean symbiont with significantly lower rates of nitrogen fixation and low survival within host tissue. RNA-seq revealed that hopanoid loss reduces expression of flagellar motility and chemotaxis-related genes, further confirmed by swim plate assays, and enhances expression of genes related to nitrogen metabolism and protein secretion. These results suggest that hopanoids provide a significant fitness advantage to B. diazoefficiens in legume hosts and provide a foundation for future mechanistic studies of hopanoid function in protein secretion and motility.

IMPORTANCE: A major problem for global sustainability is feeding our exponentially growing human population while available arable land is decreasing, especially in areas with the greatest population growth. Harnessing the power of plant-beneficial microbes has gained attention as a potential solution, including the increasing our reliance on the symbioses of leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. This study examines the role of hopanoid lipids in the symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, an important commercial inoculant strain, and its economically important host soybean. Our research extends our knowledge of the functions of bacterial lipids in symbiosis to an agricultural context, which may one day help improve the practical applications of plant-beneficial microbes in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid37731976, year = {2023}, author = {Gerullis, M and Pieruschka, R and Fahrner, S and Hartl, L and Schurr, U and Heckelei, T}, title = {From genes to policy: mission-oriented governance of plant-breeding research and technologies.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1235175}, pmid = {37731976}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mission-oriented governance of research focuses on inspirational, yet attainable goals and targets the sustainable development goals through innovation pathways. We disentangle its implications for plant breeding research and thus impacting the sustainability transformation of agricultural systems, as it requires improved crop varieties and management practices. Speedy success in plant breeding is vital to lower the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, increase crop resilience to climate stresses and reduce postharvest losses. A key question is how this success may come about? So far plant breeding research has ignored wider social systems feedbacks, but governance also failed to deliver a set of systemic breeding goals providing directionality and organization to research policy of the same. To address these challenges, we propose a heuristic illustrating the core elements needed for governing plant breeding research: Genetics, Environment, Management and Social system (GxExMxS) are the core elements for defining directions for future breeding. We illustrate this based on historic cases in context of current developments in plant phenotyping technologies and derive implications for governing research infrastructures and breeding programs. As part of mission-oriented governance we deem long-term investments into human resources and experimental set-ups for agricultural systems necessary to ensure a symbiotic relationship for private and public breeding actors and recommend fostering collaboration between social and natural sciences for working towards transdisciplinary collaboration.}, } @article {pmid37731610, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Liu, Y and Wang, H and Roy, A and Liu, H and Han, F and Zhang, X and Lu, Q}, title = {Genome and transcriptome of Ips nitidus provide insights into high-altitude hypoxia adaptation and symbiosis.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {107793}, pmid = {37731610}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Ips nitidus is a well-known conifer pest that has contributed significantly to spruce forest disturbance in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and seriously threatens the ecological balance of these areas. We report a chromosome-level genome of I. nitidus determined by PacBio and Hi-C technology. Phylogenetic inference showed that it diverged from the common ancestor of I. typographus ∼2.27 mya. Gene family expansion in I. nitidus was characterized by DNA damage repair and energy metabolism, which may facilitate adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. Interestingly, differential gene expression analysis revealed upregulated genes associated with high-altitude hypoxia adaptation and downregulated genes associated with detoxification after feeding and tunneling in fungal symbiont Ophiostoma bicolor-colonized substrates. Our findings provide evidence of the potential adaptability of I. nitidus to conifer host, high-altitude hypoxia and insight into how fungal symbiont assist in this process. This study enhances our understanding of insect adaptation, symbiosis, and pest management.}, } @article {pmid37731234, year = {2023}, author = {Zeng, RE and Geng, QH and Gao, HK and Pan, QQ and Chen, TT and Chen, Y and Zhang, L}, title = {Mechanism of symbiotic nodulation between nitrogen and peanut.}, journal = {Yi chuan = Hereditas}, volume = {45}, number = {9}, pages = {801-812}, doi = {10.16288/j.yczz.23-083}, pmid = {37731234}, issn = {0253-9772}, abstract = {Nitrogen is critical for peanut growth and development, and symbiotic nodulation and nitrogen fixation is one of the main ways for peanut to obtain nitrogen. The influence of exogenous nitrogen on nodule nitrogen fixation involves complex regulatory mechanisms, revealing the regulatory mechanisms of nitrogen on nodule nitrogen fixation is of great significance for realizing the potential of biological nitrogen fixation. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of "Crack entry" in the formation of peanut root nodule, the mechanism of symbiotic nodulation and quantitative regulation of peanut, and the regulatory mechanism of nitrogen affecting peanut nodulation. At present, the molecular mechanism by which nitrogen affects the interaction between Bradyrhizobium and peanut, thereby regulating nodulation, is still unclear. Therefore, future research should focus on the signal exchange, nodule number regulation, and nutrient exchange mechanism of nitrogen effects on Bradyrhizobium and peanut, which would provide a theoretical basis for improving nodule nitrogen fixation efficiency and peanut yield, and reduce chemical nitrogen fertilizer application.}, } @article {pmid37731005, year = {2023}, author = {Hussain, A and Dar, MNR and Cheema, WK and Han, Y and Kanwal, R}, title = {Clinical symbiosis of hybrid nanoparticles and induced magnetic field on heat and mass transfer in multiple stenosed artery with erratic thrombosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {15588}, pmid = {37731005}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {This article scrutinizes blood circulation through an artery having magnetized hybrid nanoparticles (silver and gold) with multiple stenoses at the outer walls and erratic thrombus of different radii at the center. In the realm of biomedical innovation, magnetized hybrid nanoparticles emerge as a captivating frontier. These nanoparticles, amalgamating diverse materials, exhibit magnetic properties that engender novel prospects for targeted drug delivery, medical imaging enhancement, and therapeutic interventions. The study was carried out employing modern bio-fluid dynamics (BFD) software. In this iterative procedure, a second-order finite difference approach is used to solve the governing equations with 0.005 tolerance. The experiment is performed on a blood conduit with mild stenosis assumptions, and expressions of temperature, resistance impedance to flow, velocity, wall shear stress, and pressure gradient are generated by employing related boundary conditions. No one has ever attempted to acquire the remedial impact of an induced magnetic field and hybrid nanoparticles on the bloodstream in a tapering artery containing multiple stenoses on the outside walls and multi-thrombus at the center using 3-D bio-fluid simulation. Furthermore, the study's findings are unique, and these computational discoveries were not previously published by any researcher. The findings suggest that hybrid nanoparticles can be used as medication carriers to reduce the impact of thrombosis and stenosis-induced resistance to blood flow or coagulation-related factors.}, } @article {pmid37729536, year = {2023}, author = {Gong, S and Liang, J and Jin, X and Xu, L and Zhao, M and Yu, K}, title = {Unfolding the secrets of microbiome (Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria) in cold-water coral.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0131523}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01315-23}, pmid = {37729536}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Recent deep-ocean exploration has uncovered a variety of cold-water coral (CWC) ecosystems around the world ocean, but it remains unclear how microbiome is associated with these corals at a molecular levels. This study utilized metabarcoding, tissue section observation, and metatranscriptomes to investigate the microbiome (Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria) of CWC species (Narella versluysi, Heterogorgia uatumani, and Muriceides sp.) from depths ranging from 260 m to 370 m. Warm-water coral (WWC) species (Acropora pruinosa, Pocillopora damicornis, and Galaxea fascicularis) were used as control groups. Results revealed that CWC host diverse bacteria and Symbiodiniaceae cells were observed in endoderm of CWC tissues. Several new candidate bacterial phyla were found in both CWC and WWC, including Coralsanbacteria, Coralqiangbacteria, Coralgsqaceae, Coralgongineae, etc. Both the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metatranscriptomes revealed that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were abundant bacterial phyla in CWC. At the gene transcription level, the CWC-associated Symbiodiniaceae community showed a low-level transcription of genes involved in photosynthesis, CO2 fixation, glycolysis, citric acid cycle, while bacteria associated with CWC exhibited a high-level transcription of genes for carbon fixation via the Wood-Lijungdahl pathway, short chain fatty acids production, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. IMPORTANCE This study shed new light on the functions of both Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria in cold-water coral (CWC). The results demonstrated that Symbiodiniaceae can survive and actively transcribe genes in CWC, suggesting a possible symbiotic or parasitic relationship with the host. This study also revealed complete non-photosynthetic CO2 fixation pathway of bacteria in CWC, as well as their roles in short chain fatty acids production and assimilation of host-derived organic nitrogen and sulfur. These findings highlight the important role of bacteria in the carbon, nitrogen sulfur cycles in CWC, which were possibly crucial for CWC survival in in deep-water environments.}, } @article {pmid37729205, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, Z and Du, K and Yan, Y and Huang, R and Zhu, F and Yuan, X and Wang, S and Ferry, JG}, title = {Respiration-driven methanotrophic growth of diverse marine methanogens.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {39}, pages = {e2303179120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2303179120}, pmid = {37729205}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {DE-FG02-95ER20198//U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/ ; 22008142//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; ZR2022YQ31//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Natural Science Foundation of Shandong)/ ; BK20200232//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic marine environments are the third largest producer of the greenhouse gas methane. The release to the atmosphere is prevented by anaerobic 'methanotrophic archaea (ANME) dependent on a symbiotic association with sulfate-reducing bacteria or direct reduction of metal oxides. Metagenomic analyses of ANME are consistent with a reverse methanogenesis pathway, although no wild-type isolates have been available for validation and biochemical investigation. Herein is reported the characterization of methanotrophic growth for the diverse marine methanogens Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A and Methanococcoides orientis sp. nov. Growth was dependent on reduction of either ferrihydrite or humic acids revealing a respiratory mode of energy conservation. Acetate and/or formate were end products. Reversal of the well-characterized methanogenic pathways is remarkably like the consensus pathways for uncultured ANME based on extensive metagenomic analyses.}, } @article {pmid37728396, year = {2023}, author = {Parrott, A and Tavakol, SA and Zieles, K and Jea, A and Desai, VR}, title = {The evolution of stereoelectroencephalography: symbiotic progress in medical imaging and procedural technologies.}, journal = {Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.3171/2023.7.PEDS2344}, pmid = {37728396}, issn = {1933-0715}, abstract = {Stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) was pioneered in France, at a time when cerebral anatomy was invisible to contemporaneous imaging modalities. Epilepsy surgeons relied on indirect targeting techniques to identify epileptogenic tissue. Since then, alongside the rapid rise of medical imaging technology, sEEG has experienced dramatic stepwise progress. A flurry of advancements has pushed this technique to its current-day standards, enabling neurosurgeons to access any intracranial location in a safe, highly precise, and expeditious manner. Presently, epilepsy surgeons throughout the world apply robot-assisted sEEG. Herein, the authors chronicle this incredible evolution.}, } @article {pmid37728112, year = {2023}, author = {Yadav, VS and Majumdar, A}, title = {Mitigating the barriers of industrial symbiosis for waste management: An integrated decision-making framework for the textile and clothing industry.}, journal = {Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {734242X231197367}, doi = {10.1177/0734242X231197367}, pmid = {37728112}, issn = {1096-3669}, abstract = {Waste management in the textile and clothing (TAC) industry is a challenging issue due to high resource consumption and pollution generation. Therefore, the adoption of industrial symbiosis (IS) is the need of the hour for the TAC industry. However, the adoption of IS in emerging economies like India, Brazil, Bangladesh, etc. is limited due to various impediments. The present work aims to identify and analyse these barriers and develop mitigation strategies in the context of Indian TAC industry. Eighteen IS barriers have been identified and validated; and the interrelationships among them are studied by applying the 'weighted influence non-linear gauge system (WINGS)' method, which not only estimates the intensity of influence but also takes the self-strength of barriers into account. The results show that lack of trust amongst supply chain partners, lack of financial incentives from the government, lack of guidance from regularity bodies and industry associations and lack of consumer awareness are the most significant barriers. Additionally, the strategies to mitigate these barriers are developed based on a quadruple helix framework considering academia--government-industry-society as the main actors. The findings of the study will be helpful for the TAC industry, policymakers and other concerned stakeholders in framing suitable strategies to improve the long-term waste management practices of the industry and to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).}, } @article {pmid37727091, year = {2023}, author = {Kemp, DW and Hoadley, KD and Lewis, AM and Wham, DC and Smith, RT and Warner, ME and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Thermotolerant coral-algal mutualisms maintain high rates of nutrient transfer while exposed to heat stress.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2007}, pages = {20231403}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.1403}, pmid = {37727091}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Symbiotic mutualisms are essential to ecosystems and numerous species across the tree of life. For reef-building corals, the benefits of their association with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates differ within and across taxa, and nutrient exchange between these partners is influenced by environmental conditions. Furthermore, it is widely assumed that corals associated with symbionts in the genus Durusdinium tolerate high thermal stress at the expense of lower nutrient exchange to support coral growth. We traced both inorganic carbon (H[13]CO3[-]) and nitrate ([15]NO3[-]) uptake by divergent symbiont species and quantified nutrient transfer to the host coral under normal temperatures as well as in colonies exposed to high thermal stress. Colonies representative of diverse coral taxa associated with Durusdinium trenchii or Cladocopium spp. exhibited similar nutrient exchange under ambient conditions. By contrast, heat-exposed colonies with D. trenchii experienced less physiological stress than conspecifics with Cladocopium spp. while high carbon assimilation and nutrient transfer to the host was maintained. This discovery differs from the prevailing notion that these mutualisms inevitably suffer trade-offs in physiological performance. These findings emphasize that many host-symbiont combinations adapted to high-temperature equatorial environments are high-functioning mutualisms; and why their increased prevalence is likely to be important to the future productivity and stability of coral reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37723723, year = {2023}, author = {Vats, A and Yadav, PK and Banerjee, V and Puri, S}, title = {Symbiotic dynamics in living liquid crystals.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {108}, number = {2-1}, pages = {024701}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.108.024701}, pmid = {37723723}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {An amalgam of nematic liquid crystals and active matter, referred to as living liquid crystals, is a promising self-healing material with futuristic applications for targeted delivery of information and microcargo. We provide a phenomenological model to study the symbiotic pattern dynamics in this contemporary system using the Toner-Tu model for active matter (AM), the Landau-de Gennes free energy for liquid crystals (LCs), and an experimentally motivated coupling term that favours coalignment of the active and nematic components. Our extensive theoretical studies unfold two novel steady states, chimeras and solitons, with sharp regions of distinct orientational order that sweep through the coupled system in synchrony. The induced dynamics in the passive nematic is unprecedented. We show that the symbiotic dynamics of the AM and LC components can be exploited to induce and manipulate order in an otherwise disordered system.}, } @article {pmid37722685, year = {2023}, author = {Jacobovitz, MR and Hambleton, EA and Guse, A}, title = {Unlocking the Complex Cell Biology of Coral-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis: A Model Systems Approach.}, journal = {Annual review of genetics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-genet-072320-125436}, pmid = {37722685}, issn = {1545-2948}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions occur in all domains of life, providing organisms with resources to adapt to new habitats. A prime example is the endosymbiosis between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Eukaryotic dinoflagellate symbionts reside inside coral cells and transfer essential nutrients to their hosts, driving the productivity of the most biodiverse marine ecosystem. Recent advances in molecular and genomic characterization have revealed symbiosis-specific genes and mechanisms shared among symbiotic cnidarians. In this review, we focus on the cellular and molecular processes that underpin the interaction between symbiont and host. We discuss symbiont acquisition via phagocytosis, modulation of host innate immunity, symbiont integration into host cell metabolism, and nutrient exchange as a fundamental aspect of stable symbiotic associations. We emphasize the importance of using model systems to dissect the cellular complexity of endosymbiosis, which ultimately serves as the basis for understanding its ecology and capacity to adapt in the face of climate change. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genetics, Volume 57 is November 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, } @article {pmid37721899, year = {2023}, author = {Rúa-Giraldo, ÁL}, title = {Fungal taxonomy: A puzzle with many missing pieces.}, journal = {Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud}, volume = {43}, number = {Sp. 1}, pages = {288-311}, doi = {10.7705/biomedica.7052}, pmid = {37721899}, issn = {2590-7379}, abstract = {Fungi are multifaceted organisms found in almost all ecosystems on Earth, where they establish various types of symbiosis with other living beings. Despite being recognized by humans since ancient times, and the high number of works delving into their biology and ecology, much is still unknown about these organisms. Some criteria classically used for their study are nowadays limited, generating confusion in categorizing them, and even more, when trying to understand their genealogical relationships. To identify species within Fungi, phenotypic characters to date are not sufficient, and to construct a broad phylogeny or a phylogeny of a particular group, there are still gaps affecting the generated trees, making them unstable and easily debated. For health professionals, fungal identification at lower levels such as genus and species, is enough to select the most appropriate therapy for their control, understand the epidemiology of clinical pictures associated, and recognize outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance. However, the taxonomic location within the kingdom, information with apparently little relevance, can allow phylogenetic relationships to be established between fungal taxa, facilitating the understanding of their biology, distribution in nature, and pathogenic potential evolution. Advances in molecular biology and computer science techniques from the last 30 years have led to crucial changes aiming to establish the criteria to define a fungal species, allowing us to reach a kind of stable phylogenetic construction. However, there is still a long way to go, and it requires the joint work of the scientific community at a global level and support for basic research.}, } @article {pmid37721797, year = {2023}, author = {Gould, DJ and Dowsey, MM and Glanville-Hearst, M and Spelman, T and Bailey, JA and Choong, PFM and Bunzli, S}, title = {Patients' Views on AI for Risk Prediction in Shared Decision-Making for Knee Replacement Surgery: Qualitative Interview Study.}, journal = {Journal of medical Internet research}, volume = {25}, number = {}, pages = {e43632}, doi = {10.2196/43632}, pmid = {37721797}, issn = {1438-8871}, mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Male ; Aged ; Artificial Intelligence ; *Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; *Orthopedic Procedures ; Clinical Decision-Making ; Communication ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in decision-making around knee replacement surgery is increasing, and this technology holds promise to improve the prediction of patient outcomes. Ambiguity surrounds the definition of AI, and there are mixed views on its application in clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to explore the understanding and attitudes of patients who underwent knee replacement surgery regarding AI in the context of risk prediction for shared clinical decision-making.

METHODS: This qualitative study involved patients who underwent knee replacement surgery at a tertiary referral center for joint replacement surgery. The participants were selected based on their age and sex. Semistructured interviews explored the participants' understanding of AI and their opinions on its use in shared clinical decision-making. Data collection and reflexive thematic analyses were conducted concurrently. Recruitment continued until thematic saturation was achieved.

RESULTS: Thematic saturation was achieved with 19 interviews and confirmed with 1 additional interview, resulting in 20 participants being interviewed (female participants: n=11, 55%; male participants: n=9, 45%; median age: 66 years). A total of 11 (55%) participants had a substantial postoperative complication. Three themes captured the participants' understanding of AI and their perceptions of its use in shared clinical decision-making. The theme Expectations captured the participants' views of themselves as individuals with the right to self-determination as they sought therapeutic solutions tailored to their circumstances, needs, and desires, including whether to use AI at all. The theme Empowerment highlighted the potential of AI to enable patients to develop realistic expectations and equip them with personalized risk information to discuss in shared decision-making conversations with the surgeon. The theme Partnership captured the importance of symbiosis between AI and clinicians because AI has varied levels of interpretability and understanding of human emotions and empathy.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent knee replacement surgery in this study had varied levels of familiarity with AI and diverse conceptualizations of its definitions and capabilities. Educating patients about AI through nontechnical explanations and illustrative scenarios could help inform their decision to use it for risk prediction in the shared decision-making process with their surgeon. These findings could be used in the process of developing a questionnaire to ascertain the views of patients undergoing knee replacement surgery on the acceptability of AI in shared clinical decision-making. Future work could investigate the accuracy of this patient group's understanding of AI, beyond their familiarity with it, and how this influences their acceptance of its use. Surgeons may play a key role in finding a place for AI in the clinical setting as the uptake of this technology in health care continues to grow.}, } @article {pmid37720772, year = {2023}, author = {Noreen, S and Yaseen, T and Iqbal, J and Abbasi, BA and Farouk Elsadek, M and Eldin, SM and Ijaz, S and Ali, I}, title = {Morphological and Molecular Characterizations of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Their Influence on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Plant Nutrition.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {36}, pages = {32468-32482}, doi = {10.1021/acsomega.3c02489}, pmid = {37720772}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Pulses are considered a remarkable and stable source of nutrients, which are being presently extensively cultivated and consumed in different parts of the world. Pulses belong to the family Leguminosae and are a rich source of nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) for best growth via symbiotic relationship with bacteria and AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi). The aim of the current study was evaluating the influence of AMF diversity associated with various pulses (French bean, mung bean, kidney bean, peas, soybean, peanuts, and grams). Furthermore, AMF characterization was done using morphological features of spores and sequencing of the rDNA gene, which confirmed the existence of 10 different AMF taxa. Among the different genera, the genus Glomus was observed to be the most dominant with 30% species followed by Gigaspora (22%), Sclerocystis (12%), Acaulospora (8%), Rhizophagus and Septoglomus (7%), Diversispora (5%), and Claroideoglomus, Archaeospora, and Ambispora (3%). Furthermore, soil physicochemical analysis and percentage of AMF colonization results revealed the fact that the phosphorus content (inversely proportional to the AMF diversity) was a determining factor of AMF diversity. The highest amount of available phosphorus (62.825 mg kg[-1]) in the district Swabi resulted in a low rate of AMF colonization (6.66 ± 11.54%) with a comparatively higher rate of AMF colonization (50.66 ± 1.15%) found in the soil of the district Chitral having a low phosphorus content (17.3 ± 7.6 mg kg[-1]). Nutrient uptake by pulses including nitrogen (2.4 ± 1.3%), phosphorus (13.5 ± 7.6 mg kg [-1]), potassium (99.5 ± 25.8 mg kg [-1]), zinc (1.4 ± 0.5 mg kg [-1]), moisture (2.3 ± 1.3%), crude fats (5.6 ± 2.8%), ash (4 ± 1.2%), and proteins (13.6 ± 9.01%) determined the fact that AMF species diversity is positively correlated to the plant mineral nutrition. From the current study, it is concluded that AMF inoculation to the soil fields is beneficial to ensure the sustainability and productivity of pulse crops in diverse environmental conditions without polluting the soil.}, } @article {pmid37720140, year = {2023}, author = {Xiao, M and Li, G and Yang, H}, title = {Microbe-host interactions: structure and functions of Gram-negative bacterial membrane vesicles.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1225513}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1225513}, pmid = {37720140}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacteria-host interaction is a common, relevant, and intriguing biological phenomena. The host reacts actively or passively to the bacteria themselves, their products, debris, and so on, through various defense systems containing the immune system, the bacteria communicate with the local or distal tissues of the host via their own surface antigens, secreted products, nucleic acids, etc., resulting in relationships of attack and defense, adaptation, symbiosis, and even collaboration. The significance of bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) as a powerful vehicle for the crosstalk mechanism between the two is growing. In the recent decade, the emergence of MVs in microbial interactions and a variety of bacterial infections, with multiple adhesions to host tissues, cell invasion and evasion of host defense mechanisms, have brought MVs to the forefront of bacterial pathogenesis research. Whereas MVs are a complex combination of molecules not yet fully understood, research into its effects, targeting and pathogenic components will advance its understanding and utilization. This review will summarize structural, extraction and penetration information on several classes of MVs and emphasize the role of MVs in transport and immune response activation. Finally, the potential of MVs as a therapeutic method will be highlighted, as will future research prospects.}, } @article {pmid37718573, year = {2023}, author = {Cabirol, A and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Engel, P}, title = {Neuroactive metabolites modulated by the gut microbiota in honey bees.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.15167}, pmid = {37718573}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {179487/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, abstract = {Honey bees have emerged as a new model to study the gut-brain axis, as they exhibit complex social behaviors and cognitive abilities, while experiments with gnotobiotic bees have revealed that their gut microbiota alters both brain and behavioral phenotypes. Furthermore, while honey bee brain functions supporting a broad range of behaviors have been intensively studied for over 50 years, the gut microbiota of bees has been experimentally characterized only recently. Here, we combined six published datasets from metabolomic analyses to provide an overview of the neuroactive metabolites whose abundance in the gut, hemolymph and brain varies in presence of the gut microbiota. Such metabolites may either be produced by gut bacteria, released from the pollen grains during their decomposition by bacteria, or produced by other organs in response to different bacterial products. We describe the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of such metabolites on brain function and behavior and provide further hypotheses to explore in this emerging field of research.}, } @article {pmid37718389, year = {2023}, author = {Rogowska-van der Molen, MA and Berasategui-Lopez, A and Coolen, S and Jansen, RS and Welte, CU}, title = {Microbial degradation of plant toxins.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16507}, pmid = {37718389}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {024002001//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; 024002002//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; }, abstract = {Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although they have many functions, a subclass of toxic secondary metabolites mainly serve plants as deterring agents against herbivores, insects, or pathogens. Microorganisms present in divergent ecological niches, such as soil, water, or insect and rumen gut systems have been found capable of detoxifying these metabolites. As a result of detoxification, microbes gain growth nutrients and benefit their herbivory host via detoxifying symbiosis. Here, we review current knowledge on microbial degradation of toxic alkaloids, glucosinolates, terpenes, and polyphenols with an emphasis on the genes and enzymes involved in breakdown pathways. We highlight that the insect-associated microbes might find application in biotechnology and become targets for an alternative microbial pest control strategy.}, } @article {pmid37717820, year = {2023}, author = {Fang, C and Du, H and Wang, L and Liu, B and Kong, F}, title = {Mechanisms underlying key agronomic traits and implications for molecular breeding in soybean.}, journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2023.09.004}, pmid = {37717820}, issn = {1673-8527}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is an important crop that provides protein and vegetable oil for human consumption. As soybean is a photoperiod-sensitive crop, its cultivation and yield are limited by the photoperiodic conditions in the field. In contrast to other major crops, soybean has a special plant architecture and a special symbiotic nitrogen fixation system, representing two unique breeding directions. Thus, flowering time, plant architecture, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation are three critical or unique yield-determinative factors. This review summarizes the progress made in our understanding of these three critical yield-determining factors in soybean. Meanwhile, we propose potential research directions to increase soybean production, discuss the application of genomics and genomic-assisted breeding, and explore research directions to address future challenges, particularly those posed by global climate change.}, } @article {pmid37717076, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Q and Wang, S and Xie, Q and Xia, Y and Lu, L and Wang, M and Wang, G and Long, S and Cai, Y and Xu, L and Wang, E and Jiang, Y}, title = {Control of arbuscule development by a transcriptional negative feedback loop in Medicago.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {5743}, pmid = {37717076}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {31871228//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 31900215//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 31825003//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 31730103//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {Most terrestrial plants establish a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which provide them with lipids and sugars in exchange for phosphorus and nitrogen. Nutrient exchange must be dynamically controlled to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between the two symbiotic partners. The WRI5a and its homologues play a conserved role in lipid supply to AMF. Here, we demonstrate that the AP2/ERF transcription factor MtERM1 binds directly to AW-box and AW-box-like cis-elements in the promoters of MtSTR2 and MtSTR, which are required for host lipid efflux and arbuscule development. The EAR domain-containing transcription factor MtERF12 is also directly activated by MtERM1/MtWRI5a to negatively regulate arbuscule development, and the TOPLESS co-repressor is further recruited by MtERF12 through EAR motif to oppose MtERM1/MtWRI5a function, thereby suppressing arbuscule development. We therefore reveal an ERM1/WRI5a-ERF12-TOPLESS negative feedback loop that enables plants to flexibly control nutrient exchange and ensure a mutually beneficial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37716961, year = {2023}, author = {Mfopit, YM and Engel, JS and Chechet, GD and Ibrahim, MAM and Signaboubo, D and Achukwi, DM and Mamman, M and Balogun, EO and Shuaibu, MN and Kabir, J and Kelm, S}, title = {Molecular detection of Sodalis glossinidius, Spiroplasma species and Wolbachia endosymbionts in wild population of tsetse flies collected in Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {260}, pmid = {37716961}, issn = {1471-2180}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tsetse flies are cyclical vectors of African trypanosomiasis (AT). The flies have established symbiotic associations with different bacteria that influence certain aspects of their physiology. Vector competence of tsetse flies for different trypanosome species is highly variable and is suggested to be affected by bacterial endosymbionts amongst other factors. Symbiotic interactions may provide an avenue for AT control. The current study provided prevalence of three tsetse symbionts in Glossina species from Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.

RESULTS: Tsetse flies were collected and dissected from five different locations. DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction used to detect presence of Sodalis glossinidius, Spiroplasma species and Wolbachia endosymbionts, using species specific primers. A total of 848 tsetse samples were analysed: Glossina morsitans submorsitans (47.52%), Glossina palpalis palpalis (37.26%), Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (9.08%) and Glossina tachinoides (6.13%). Only 95 (11.20%) were infected with at least one of the three symbionts. Among infected flies, six (6.31%) had Wolbachia and Spiroplasma mixed infection. The overall symbiont prevalence was 0.88, 3.66 and 11.00% respectively, for Sodalis glossinidius, Spiroplasma species and Wolbachia endosymbionts. Prevalence varied between countries and tsetse fly species. Neither Spiroplasma species nor S. glossinidius were detected in samples from Cameroon and Nigeria respectively.

CONCLUSION: The present study revealed, for the first time, presence of Spiroplasma species infections in tsetse fly populations in Chad and Nigeria. These findings provide useful information on repertoire of bacterial flora of tsetse flies and incite more investigations to understand their implication in the vector competence of tsetse flies.}, } @article {pmid37715981, year = {2023}, author = {de Freitas Pereira, M and Cohen, D and Auer, L and Aubry, N and Bogeat-Triboulot, MB and Buré, C and Engle, NL and Jolivet, Y and Kohler, A and Novák, O and Pavlović, I and Priault, P and Tschaplinski, TJ and Hummel, I and Vaultier, MN and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis prepares its host locally and systemically for abiotic cue signaling.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16465}, pmid = {37715981}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000827//European Regional Development Fund/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002//Recherches Avancées sur la Biologie de l'Arbre et les Ecosystèmes Forestiers/ ; DE-AC05-00OR22725//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; JG_2020_002//Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci/ ; }, abstract = {Tree growth and survival are dependent on their ability to perceive signals, integrate them, and trigger timely and fitted molecular and growth responses. While ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is a predominant tree-microbe interaction in forest ecosystems, little is known about how and to what extent it helps trees cope with environmental changes. We hypothesized that the presence of Laccaria bicolor influences abiotic cue perception by Populus trichocarpa and the ensuing signaling cascade. We submitted ectomycorrhizal or non-ectomycorrhizal P. trichocarpa cuttings to short-term cessation of watering or ozone fumigation to focus on signaling networks before the onset of any physiological damage. Poplar gene expression, metabolite levels, and hormone levels were measured in several organs (roots, leaves, mycorrhizas) and integrated into networks. We discriminated the signal responses modified or maintained by ectomycorrhization. Ectomycorrhizas buffered hormonal changes in response to short-term environmental variations systemically prepared the root system for further fungal colonization and alleviated part of the root abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. The presence of ectomycorrhizas in the roots also modified the leaf multi-omics landscape and ozone responses, most likely through rewiring of the molecular drivers of photosynthesis and the calcium signaling pathway. In conclusion, P. trichocarpa-L. bicolor symbiosis results in a systemic remodeling of the host's signaling networks in response to abiotic changes. In addition, ectomycorrhizal, hormonal, metabolic, and transcriptomic blueprints are maintained in response to abiotic cues, suggesting that ectomycorrhizas are less responsive than non-mycorrhizal roots to abiotic challenges.}, } @article {pmid37715479, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, B and Jia, X and Yu, N and Murray, JD and Yi, K and Wang, E}, title = {Microbe-dependent and independent nitrogen and phosphate acquisition and regulation in plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19263}, pmid = {37715479}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {31870218//National Science Foundation/ ; 32050081//National Science Foundation/ ; 31825003//National Science Foundation/ ; 31730103//National Science Foundation/ ; 32001886//National Science Foundation/ ; 32088102//National Science Foundation/ ; YSBR-011//Chinese Academy of Sciences Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research/ ; //XPLORER PRIZE/ ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the most important macronutrients required for plant growth and development. To cope with the limited and uneven distribution of N and P in complicated soil environments, plants have evolved intricate molecular strategies to improve nutrient acquisition that involve adaptive root development, production of root exudates, and the assistance of microbes. Recently, great advances have been made in understanding the regulation of N and P uptake and utilization and how plants balance the direct uptake of nutrients from the soil with the nutrient acquisition from beneficial microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhiza. Here, we summarize the major advances in these areas and highlight plant responses to changes in nutrient availability in the external environment through local and systemic signals.}, } @article {pmid37715276, year = {2023}, author = {Leal-Dutra, CA and Yuen, LM and Guedes, BAM and Contreras-Serrano, M and Marques, PE and Shik, JZ}, title = {Evidence that the domesticated fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus recycles its cytoplasmic contents as nutritional rewards to feed its leafcutter ant farmers.}, journal = {IMA fungus}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {19}, pmid = {37715276}, issn = {2210-6340}, support = {ERC-2017-STG-757810/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Leafcutter ants farm a fungal cultivar (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) that converts inedible vegetation into food that sustains colonies with up to millions of workers. Analogous to edible fruits of crops domesticated by humans, L. gongylophorus has evolved specialized nutritional rewards-swollen hyphal cells called gongylidia that package metabolites and are consumed by ant farmers. Yet, little is known about how gongylidia form, and thus how fungal physiology and ant provisioning collectively govern farming performance. We explored the process of gongylidium formation using advanced microscopy to image the cultivar at scales of nanometers, and both in vitro experiments and in silico analyses to examine the mechanisms of gongylidia formation when isolated from ant farmers. We first used transmission electron, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy imaging to see inside hyphal cells. This imaging showed that the cultivar uses a process called autophagy to recycle its own cellular material (e.g. cytosol, mitochondria) and then shuttles the resulting metabolites into a vacuole whose continual expansion displaces other organelles and causes the gongylidium cell's bulging bulb-like appearance. We next used scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to link this intracellular rearrangement to the external branching patterns of gongylidium cells as they clump together into edible bundles called staphyla. We next confirmed that autophagy plays a critical role in gongylidium formation both: (1) in vitro as gongylidium suppression occurred when isolated fungal cultures were grown on media with autophagy inhibitors, and (2) in silico as differential transcript expression (RNA-seq) analyses showed upregulation of multiple autophagy gene isoforms in gongylidia relative to undifferentiated hyphae. While autophagy is a ubiquitous and often highly derived process across the tree of life, our study reveals a new role for autophagy as a mechanism of functional integration between ant farmers and their fungal crop, and potentially as a signifier of higher-level homeostasis between uniquely life-time committed ectosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid37714489, year = {2023}, author = {Duo, L and Yang, Y and Gao, Y and Zhao, S}, title = {Graphene oxide affects the symbiosis of legume-rhizobium and associated rhizosphere rhizobial communities.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {140166}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140166}, pmid = {37714489}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {The large-scale production and utilization of graphene oxide (GO) have raised concerns regarding its environmental exposure and potential risks. However, existing research on GO toxicity has primarily focused on individual organisms. Little attention has been given to the interaction between GO and the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of legume-rhizobium. In this study, we focused on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a typical leguminous nitrogen-fixing plant, to investigate the effects of GO on various aspects of this symbiotic relationship, including root nodulation, rhizobial viability, nodule nitrogen fixation, DNA damage, and the composition of the rhizobial community in the rhizosphere. As the dosage of GO increased, a significant inhibition in nodulation development was observed. Exposure to GO resulted in decreased growth and viability of rhizobia, as well as induced DNA damage in nodule cells. Furthermore, with increasing GO dosage, there were significant reductions in nitrogenase activity, leghemoglobin level, and cytoplasmic ammonia content within the root nodules. Additionally, the presence of GO led to notable changes in the rhizobial community in the rhizosphere. Our findings support the existence of the damage promoted by GO in the symbiosis of nitrogen fixing rhizobia with legumes. This underscores the importance of careful soil GO management.}, } @article {pmid37713067, year = {2023}, author = {Tian, H and Ma, Z and Yang, H and Wang, Y and Ren, H and Zhao, P and Fan, W and Tian, Y and Wang, Y and Wang, R}, title = {Fermentation of Persimmon Leaves Extract by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, journal = {Molecular biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37713067}, issn = {1559-0305}, support = {31960491//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 20JR10RA159//Science and Technology Plan Project of Gansu Province/ ; 22CX8GA120//Special fund project for science and technology specialists of Gansu Province/ ; }, abstract = {Persimmon leaves usually as agricultural and forestry waste were fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Growth and metabolic performances of L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae, as well as the effect of fermentation on the antioxidant abilities of the extract was investigated, including the content of flavonoids, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical clearance rates. Growth of L. plantarum was limited, even though the acid production was sustainable, while S. cerevisiae was more suitable to inhabit in the persimmon leaves extract. A symbiotic relationship was observed between the two microbes, reflected in aspects of growth of S. cerevisiae, pH reduction, and ethanol production. The DPPH radical clearance rates of all groups decreased at the early period, and increased later. The co-culture group reached the second highest value of DPPH radical clearance rate only next to the single group of L. plantarum at 9 h. All groups showed an overall downward trend of the hydroxyl radical clearance rates during the 9 h-fermentation. These findings highlight the promising industrial application of fermentation of the plant-based materials with Lactiplantibacillus and Saccharomyces species to improve the biological properties.}, } @article {pmid37712795, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Liu, X and Zhang, Z and Lu, J and Wang, Y and Xu, K and Zhu, H and Wang, B and Lin, L and Xue, W}, title = {Experimental and fluid flow simulation studies of laser-electrochemical hybrid manufacturing of micro-nano symbiotic superamphiphobic surfaces.}, journal = {The Journal of chemical physics}, volume = {159}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1063/5.0166375}, pmid = {37712795}, issn = {1089-7690}, abstract = {Micro-nano symbiotic superamphiphobic surfaces can prevent liquids from adhering to metal surfaces and, as a result, improve their corrosion resistance, self-cleaning performance, pollution resistance, and ice resistance. However, the fabrication of stable and controllable micro-nano symbiotic superamphiphobic structures on metal surfaces commonly used in industry remains a significant challenge. In this study, a laser-electrochemical hybrid subtractive-additive manufacturing method was proposed and developed for preparing copper superamphiphobic surfaces. Both experimental and fluid simulation studies were carried out. Utilizing this novel hybrid method, the controllable preparation of superamphiphobic micro-nano symbiotic structures was realized. The experimental results showed that the prepared surfaces had excellent superamphiphobic properties following subsequent modification with low surface energy substances. The contact angles of water droplets and oil droplets on the surface following electrodeposition treatment reached values of 161 ± 4° and 151 ± 4°, respectively, which showed that the prepared surface possessed perfect superamphiphobicity. Both the fabrication method and the test results provided useful insights for the preparation of stable and controllable superamphiphobic structures on metal surfaces in the future.}, } @article {pmid37712520, year = {2023}, author = {Binci, F and Offer, E and Crosino, A and Sciascia, I and Kleine-Vehn, J and Genre, A and Giovannetti, M and Navazio, L}, title = {Spatially and temporally distinct Ca 2+ changes in Lotus japonicus roots orient fungal-triggered signalling pathways towards symbiosis or immunity.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad360}, pmid = {37712520}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Plants activate an immune or symbiotic response depending on the detection of distinct signals from root-interacting microbes. Both signalling cascades involve Ca 2+ as a central mediator of early signal transduction. In this study, we combined aequorin- and cameleon-based methods to dissect the changes in cytosolic and nuclear Ca 2+ concentration caused by different chitin-derived fungal elicitors in Lotus japonicus roots. Our quantitative analyses highlighted the dual character of the evoked Ca 2+ responses taking advantage of the comparison between different genetic backgrounds: an initial Ca 2+ influx, dependent on the LysM receptor CERK6 and independent of the Common Symbiotic Signalling Pathway (CSSP), is followed by a second CSSP-dependent and CERK6-independent phase, that corresponds to the well-known perinuclear/nuclear Ca 2+ spiking. We show that the expression of immunity marker genes correlates with the amplitude of the first Ca 2+ change, depends on elicitor concentration and is controlled by Ca 2+ storage in the vacuole. Our findings provide an insight into the Ca 2+-mediated signalling mechanisms discriminating plant immunity- and symbiosis-related pathways in the context of their simultaneous activation by single fungal elicitors.}, } @article {pmid37711514, year = {2023}, author = {Trognon, J and Rima, M and Lajoie, B and Roques, C and El Garah, F}, title = {NaCl-induced modulation of species distribution in a mixed P. aeruginosa / S. aureus /B.cepacia biofilm.}, journal = {Biofilm}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {100153}, doi = {10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100153}, pmid = {37711514}, issn = {2590-2075}, abstract = {Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Burkholderia cepacia are notorious pathogens known for their ability to form resilient biofilms, particularly within the lung environment of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The heightened concentration of NaCl, prevalent in the airway liquid of CF patients' lungs, has been identified as a factor that promotes the growth of osmotolerant bacteria like S. aureus and dampens host antibacterial defenses, thereby fostering favorable conditions for infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate how increased NaCl concentrations impact the development of multi-species biofilms in vitro, using both laboratory strains and clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and B. cepacia co-cultures. Employing a low-nutrient culture medium that fosters biofilm growth of the selected species, we quantified biofilm formation through a combination of adherent CFU counts, qPCR analysis, and confocal microscopy observations. Our findings reaffirmed the challenges faced by S. aureus in establishing growth within 1:1 mixed biofilms with P. aeruginosa when cultivated in a minimal medium. Intriguingly, at an elevated NaCl concentration of 145 mM, a symbiotic relationship emerged between S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, enabling their co-existence. Notably, this hyperosmotic environment also exerted an influence on the interplay of these two bacteria with B. cepacia. We demonstrated that elevated NaCl concentrations play a pivotal role in orchestrating the distribution of these three species within the biofilm matrix. Furthermore, our study unveiled the beneficial impact of NaCl on the biofilm growth of clinically relevant mucoid P. aeruginosa strains, as well as two strains of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. This underscores the crucial role of the microenvironment during the colonization and infection processes. The results suggest that hyperosmotic conditions could hold the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of the genesis and behavior of CF multi-species biofilms.}, } @article {pmid37709854, year = {2023}, author = {Kolanowska, M}, title = {Future distribution of the epiphytic leafless orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii), its pollinators and phorophytes evaluated using niche modelling and three different climate change projections.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {15242}, pmid = {37709854}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {The identification of future refugia for endangered species from the effects of global warming is crucial for improving their conservation. Because climate-driven shifts in ranges and local extinctions can result in a spatial mismatch with their symbiotic organisms, however, it is important to incorporate in niche modelling the ecological partners of the species studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of climate change on the distribution of suitable niches for the ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) and its phorophytes and pollinators. Thus, its five species of host trees and three pollen vectors were included in the analysis. Climatic preferences of all the species studied were evaluated. The modelling was based on three different climate change projections and four Shared Socio-economic Pathway trajectories. All the species analysed are characterized by narrow temperature tolerances, which with global warming are likely to result in local extinctions and range shifts. D. lindenii is likely to be subjected to a significant loss of suitable niches, but within a reduced geographical range, both host trees and pollen vectors will be available in the future. Future conservation of this orchid should focus on areas that are likely be suitable for it and its ecological partners.}, } @article {pmid37708987, year = {2023}, author = {Krishnan, N and Rózsa, L and Szilágyi, A and Garay, J}, title = {Coevolutionary Stability of Host-Symbiont Systems with Mixed-mode Transmission.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {111620}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2023.111620}, pmid = {37708987}, issn = {1095-8541}, abstract = {The coevolution of hosts and symbionts based on virulence and mode of transmission is a complex and diverse biological phenomenon. We introduced a conceptual model to study the stable coexistence and coevolution of an obligate symbiont (mutualist or parasite) with mixed-mode transmission and its host. Using an age-structured Leslie model for the host, we demonstrated how the obligate symbiont could modify the host's life history traits (survival and fecundity) and the long-term growth rate of the infected lineage. When the symbiont is vertically transmitted, we found that the host and its symbiont could maximize the infected lineage's evolutionary success (multi-level selection). Our model showed that symbionts' effect on host longevity and reproduction might differ, even be opposing, and their net effect might often be counterintuitive. The evolutionary stability of the ecologically stable coexistence was analyzed in the framework of coevolutionary dynamics. Moreover, we found conditions for the ecological and evolutionary stability of the resident host-symbiont pair, which does not allow invasion by rare mutants (each mutant dies out by ecological selection). We concluded that, within the context of our simplified model conditions, a host-symbiont system with mixed-mode transmission is evolutionarily stable unconditionally only if the host can maximize the Malthusian parameters of the infected and non-infected lineages using the same strategy. Finally, we performed a game-theoretical analysis of our selection situation and compared two stability definitions.}, } @article {pmid37437216, year = {2023}, author = {Weisberg, AJ and Chang, JH}, title = {Mobile Genetic Element Flexibility as an Underlying Principle to Bacterial Evolution.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {603-624}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-032521-022006}, pmid = {37437216}, issn = {1545-3251}, abstract = {Mobile genetic elements are key to the evolution of bacteria and traits that affect host and ecosystem health. Here, we use a framework of a hierarchical and modular system that scales from genes to populations to synthesize recent findings on mobile genetic elements (MGEs) of bacteria. Doing so highlights the role that emergent properties of flexibility, robustness, and genetic capacitance of MGEs have on the evolution of bacteria. Some of their traits can be stored, shared, and diversified across different MGEs, taxa of bacteria, and time. Collectively, these properties contribute to maintaining functionality against perturbations while allowing changes to accumulate in order to diversify and give rise to new traits. These properties of MGEs have long challenged our abilities to study them. Implementation of new technologies and strategies allows for MGEs to be analyzed in new and powerful ways.}, } @article {pmid37708848, year = {2023}, author = {Tang, H and Wu, L}, title = {MAMPs: A devil tamed becomes an angel.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {1422-1425}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.009}, pmid = {37708848}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms modulate systemic immunity with unclear mechanisms. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Clarke and colleagues uncover a coherent mechanism where the systemic spread of Firmicutes cell wall glycoconjugates enhances global immune fitness while simultaneously being delicately controlled to prevent systemic inflammation.}, } @article {pmid37708174, year = {2023}, author = {Anthony, CJ and Lock, C and Bentlage, B}, title = {Rapid, high-throughput phenotypic profiling of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) using benchtop flow cytometry.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {e0290649}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0290649}, pmid = {37708174}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Family Symbiodiniaceae) are the primary producer of energy for many cnidarians, including corals. The intricate coral-dinoflagellate symbiotic relationship is becoming increasingly important under climate change, as its breakdown leads to mass coral bleaching and often mortality. Despite methodological progress, assessing the phenotypic traits of Symbiodiniaceae in-hospite remains a complex task. Bio-optics, biochemistry, or "-omics" techniques are expensive, often inaccessible to investigators, or lack the resolution required to understand single-cell phenotypic states within endosymbiotic dinoflagellate assemblages. To help address this issue, we developed a protocol that collects information on cell autofluorescence, shape, and size to simultaneously generate phenotypic profiles for thousands of Symbiodiniaceae cells, thus revealing phenotypic variance of the Symbiodiniaceae assemblage to the resolution of single cells. As flow cytometry is adopted as a robust and efficient method for cell counting, integration of our protocol into existing workflows allows researchers to acquire a new level of resolution for studies examining the acclimation and adaptation strategies of Symbiodiniaceae assemblages.}, } @article {pmid37706532, year = {2023}, author = {Straube, H}, title = {Rooted in chemistry: Two secoiridoid glucosides promoting fungal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad501}, pmid = {37706532}, issn = {1532-2548}, } @article {pmid37705565, year = {2023}, author = {Ananda Rao, A and Awale, M and Davis, S}, title = {Medical Diagnosis Reimagined as a Process of Bayesian Reasoning and Elimination.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e45097}, doi = {10.7759/cureus.45097}, pmid = {37705565}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {This article delves into the interface between the art of medical diagnosis and the mathematical foundations of probability, the Bayes theorem. In a healthcare ecosystem witnessing an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven transformation, understanding the convergence becomes crucial for physicians. Contrary to viewing AI as a mysterious "black box," we demonstrate how every diagnostic decision by a medical practitioner is, in essence, Bayesian reasoning in action. The Bayes theorem is a mathematical translation of systematically updating our belief: it quantifies how an additional piece of information updates our prior belief in something. Using a clinical scenario of Kartagener syndrome, we showcase the parallels between a physician's evolving diagnostic thought process and the mathematical updating of prior beliefs with new evidence. By reimagining medical diagnosis through the lens of Bayes, this paper aims to demystify AI, accentuating its potential role as an enhancer of clinical acumen rather than a replacement. The ultimate vision presented is one of harmony, where AI serves as a symbiotic partner to physicians, with the shared goal of holistic patient care.}, } @article {pmid37704685, year = {2023}, author = {Gook, DH and Jung, M and Kim, S and Lee, DH}, title = {Species diversity of environmentally-transmitted bacteria colonizing Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) and symbiotic effects of the most dominant bacteria.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {15166}, pmid = {37704685}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {GCU-202008490005//Gachon University/ ; 2021R1A2C1010679//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; }, abstract = {Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) establish endosymbiosis with specific bacteria from extremely diverse microbiota in soil. To better understand ecology and evolution of the symbiosis, it is important to characterize bacterial species diversity colonizing R. pedestris and evaluate their symbiotic effects. Nonetheless, previous research was limited to a few bacteria strains such as Caballeronia insecticola. In this study, second-instar nymphs were provided with field soils and reared to adult. Then, bacteria colonizing the midgut M4 region of R. pedestris were analyzed for bacterial species identification based on the 16S rRNA gene. First, a total of 15 bacterial species were detected belonging to Burkholderiaceae. Most of R. pedestris were found to harbor single bacterial species, whereas several insects harbored at most two bacterial species simultaneously. Among the total insects harboring single bacterial species, 91.2% harbored genus Caballeronia. The most dominant species was C. jiangsuensis, not previously documented for symbiotic associations with R. pedestris. Second, in laboratory conditions, C. jiangsuensis significantly enhanced the development, body size, and reproductive potentials of R. pedestris, compared to individuals with no symbiotic bacteria. These results add novel information to better understand symbiotic bacteria community establishing in R. pedestris and symbiotic effects on the host insects.}, } @article {pmid37704435, year = {2023}, author = {Fukudome, M and Ishizaki, H and Shimokawa, Y and Mori, T and Uchi-Fukudome, N and Umnajkitikorn, K and Murakami, EI and Uchiumi, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Reactive Sulfur Species Produced by Cystathionine γ-lyase Function in the Establishment of Mesorhizobium loti-Lotus japonicus Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME23021}, pmid = {37704435}, issn = {1347-4405}, abstract = {Reactive sulfur species (RSS) are present in root nodules; however, their role in symbiosis and the mechanisms underlying their production remain unclear. We herein investigated whether RSS produced by the cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) of microsymbionts are involved in root nodule symbiosis. A cse mutant of Mesorhizobium loti exhibited the decreased production of hydrogen sulfide and other RSS. Although the CSE mutation of M. loti did not affect the early stages of symbiosis, i.e., infection and nodulation, with Lotus japonicus, it reduced the nitrogenase activity of nodules and induced their early senescence. Additionally, changes in the production of sulfur compounds and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed in the infected cells of nodules induced by the cse mutants. The effects of CSE inhibitors in the L. japonicus rhizosphere on symbiosis with M. loti were also investigated. All three CSE inhibitors suppressed infection and nodulation by M. loti concomitant with decreased RSS levels and increased ROS and nitric oxide levels. Therefore, RSS derived from the CSE activity of both the microsymbiont and host plant are required for symbiosis, but function at different stages of symbiosis, possibly with crosstalk with other reactive mole-cular species.}, } @article {pmid37704203, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, W and Forester, NT and Chettri, P and Heilijgers, M and Mace, WJ and Maes, E and Morozova, Y and Applegate, ER and Johnson, RD and Johnson, LJ}, title = {Characterization of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for the Ribosomally Synthesized Cyclic Peptide Epichloëcyclins in Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03073}, pmid = {37704203}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {The various grass-induced epichloëcyclins of the Epichloë spp. are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), produced as small, secreted cyclopeptides from a single gene, gigA. Here, four clustered and coregulated genes (gigA, gigB, gigC, and kexB) with predicted roles in epichloëcyclin production in Epichloë festucae were evaluated through gene disruption. Subsequent chemical analysis indicates that GigB is a DUF3328 domain-containing protein associated with cyclization of epichloëcyclins; GigC is a methyltransferase enzyme responsible for N-methylation of desmethylepichloëcyclins; and KexB is a subtilisin-like enzyme, partly responsible for the propeptide cleavage of epichloëcyclin intermediates. Symbiotic effects on the host phenotype were not observed for gigA, gigC, or kexB mutants, although ΔgigB infection correlated with increased host tiller height and biomass, while only ΔkexB exhibited an effect on endophyte morphology. Disrupting epichloëcyclin biosynthesis showed negligible influence on the biosynthesis of E. festucae-associated alkaloids. Epichloëcyclins may perform other secondary metabolism functions in Epichloë and other fungi.}, } @article {pmid37703976, year = {2023}, author = {Candra, A and Darge, HF and Ahmed, YW and Saragi, IR and Kitaw, SL and Tsai, HC}, title = {Eco-benign synthesis of nano-gold chitosan-bacterial cellulose in spent ground coffee kombucha consortium: Characterization, microbiome community, and biological performance.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {126869}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126869}, pmid = {37703976}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Biomaterials that are mediocre for cell adhesion have been a concern for medical purposes. In this study, we fabricated nano‑gold chitosan-bacterial cellulose (CBC-Au) via a facile in-situ method using spent ground coffee (SGC) in a kombucha consortium. The eco-benign synthesis of monodispersed gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in modified bacterial cellulose (BC) was successfully achieved in the presence of chitosan (CHI) and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The dominant microbiome community in SGC kombucha were Lactobacillaceae and Saccharomycetes. Chitosan-bacterial cellulose (CBC) and CBC-Au affected the microfibril networks in the nano cellulose structures and decreased the porosity. The modified BC maintained its crystallinity up to 80 % after incorporating CHI and Au NPs. Depth profiling using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that the Au NPs were distributed in the deeper layers of the scaffolds and a limited amount on the surface of the scaffold. Aspergillus niger fungal strains validated the biodegradability of each scaffold as a decomposer. Bacteriostatically CBC-Au showed better antimicrobial activity than BC, in line with the adhesion of NIH-3 T3 fibroblast cells and red blood cells (RBCs), which displayed good biocompatibility performance, indicating its potential use as a medical scaffold.}, } @article {pmid37703769, year = {2023}, author = {Flores-Félix, JD and Sánchez-Juanes, F and Araujo, J and Díaz-Alcántara, CA and Velázquez, E and González-Andrés, F}, title = {Two novel symbiovars of Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, americaense and caribense, the symbiovar tropici of Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi and the symbiovar cajani of Bradyrhizobium cajani are microsymbionts of the legume Cajanus cajan in Dominican Republic.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {126454}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126454}, pmid = {37703769}, issn = {1618-0984}, abstract = {Cajanus cajan L. (guandul) is commonly cultivated in Dominican Republic where this legume is a subsistence crop. Here we identified through MALDI-TOF MS several rhizobial strains nodulating C. cajan in two Dominican locations as Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense. The phylogenetic analysis of recA and glnII housekeeping genes showed that these strains belong to a wide cluster together with the type strain of B. yuanmingense and other C. cajan nodulating strains previously isolated in Dominican Republic. The comparison of genomes from strains representative of different lineages within this cluster support the existence of several genospecies within B. yuanmingense, which is the major microsymbiont of C. cajan in Dominican Republic where it is also nodulated by Bradyrhizobium cajani and Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi. The analysis of the symbiotic nodC gene showed that the C. cajan nodulating strains from the B. yuanmingense complex belong to two clusters with less than 90% similarity between them. The strains from these two clusters showed nodC gene similarity values lower than 90% with respect to the remaining Bradyrhizobium symbiovars and then they correspond to two new symbiovars for which we propose the names americaense and caribense. The results of the nodC gene analysis also showed that C. cajan is nodulated by the symbiovar tropici, which has been found by first time in this work within the species Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi. These results confirmed the high promiscuity degree of C. cajan, which is also nodulated by the symbiovar cajani of Bradyrhizobium cajani in Dominican Republic.}, } @article {pmid37703725, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, K and Song, IG and Yoon, H and Park, JW}, title = {Sub-micron microplastics affect nitrogen cycling by altering microbial abundance and activities in a soil-legume system.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {460}, number = {}, pages = {132504}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132504}, pmid = {37703725}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Recently, the environmental and agricultural impact of plastic waste has attracted considerable attention. Here, we investigated the impact of sub-micron polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics (MPs) on nitrogen cycling, with emphasis on bacterial abundance and diversity in a soil-soybean (Glycine max) system. Exposure to soil containing MPs (50 and 500 mg kg[-1]) did not affect soybean growth, but significantly increased plant nitrogen uptake, which was confirmed by increased activities of nitrogenase in the soil and glutamine synthetase in soybean root. Additionally, there was an increase in 16S gene copy number and carbon and nitrogen substrate utilization, indicating increased abundance and activity of rhizosphere microbial communities. Moreover, MP contamination affected the taxonomic profile of rhizosphere bacteria, especially the abundance of symbiotic and free-living bacteria involved in nitrogen cycling. Furthermore, qPCR analysis of nitrogen-related genes and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing data revealed an increased abundance of functional genes associated with nitrogen fixation and nitrification. However, the concentration and polymer type of MPs did not have a significant impact in our system. Overall, these results provide insights into the interactions between MPs and rhizosphere bacterial communities in the soil-legume system.}, } @article {pmid37703307, year = {2023}, author = {Sinaimeri, B and Urbini, L and Sagot, MF and Matias, C}, title = {Cophylogeny Reconstruction Allowing for Multiple Associations Through Approximate Bayesian Computation.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syad058}, pmid = {37703307}, issn = {1076-836X}, abstract = {Phylogenetic tree reconciliation is extensively employed for the examination of coevolution between host and symbiont species. An important concern is the requirement for dependable cost values when selecting event-based parsimonious reconciliation. Although certain approaches deduce event probabilities unique to each pair of host and symbiont trees, which can subsequently be converted into cost values, a significant limitation lies in their inability to model the invasion of diverse host species by the same symbiont species (termed as a spread event), which is believed to occur in symbiotic relationships. Invasions lead to the observation of multiple associations between symbionts and their hosts (indicating that a symbiont is no longer exclusive to a single host), which are incompatible with the existing methods of coevolution. Here, we present a method called AmoCoala (an enhanced version of the tool Coala) that provides a more realistic estimation of cophylogeny event probabilities for a given pair of host and symbiont trees, even in the presence of spread events. We expand the classical 4-event coevolutionary model to include 2 additional outcomes, vertical and horizontal spreads, that lead to multiple associations. In the initial step, we estimate the probabilities of spread events using heuristic frequencies. Subsequently, in the second step, we employ an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach to infer the probabilities of the remaining 4 classical events (cospeciation, duplication, host switch, and loss) based on these values. By incorporating spread events, our reconciliation model enables a more accurate consideration of multiple associations. This improvement enhances the precision of estimated cost sets, paving the way to a more reliable reconciliation of host and symbiont trees. To validate our method, we conducted experiments on synthetic datasets and demonstrated its efficacy using real-world examples. Our results showcase that AmoCoala produces biologically plausible reconciliation scenarios, further emphasizing its effectiveness.}, } @article {pmid37702497, year = {2023}, author = {Ravindran, C and Irudayarajan, L and Raveendran, HP}, title = {Possible beneficial interactions of ciliated protozoans with coral health and resilience.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0121723}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01217-23}, pmid = {37702497}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Microbial interactions contribute significantly to coral health in the marine environment. Most beneficial associations have been described with their bacterial communities, but knowledge of beneficial associations between protozoan ciliates and corals is still lacking. Ciliates are important bacterial predators and provide nutrition to higher trophic-level organisms. The mucus secreted by corals and the microenvironment of the coral surface layer attract ciliates based on their food preferences. The mixotrophic and heterotrophic ciliates play a major role in nutrient cycling by increasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and extractable sulfur, which can enhance the proliferation of coral beneficial microbe. Besides, bacterial predator ciliates reduce the pathogenic bacterial population that infects the coral and also act as bioindicators for assessing the toxicity of the reef ecosystem. Thus, these ciliates can be used as a beneficial partner in influencing coral health and resilience under various stress conditions. Herein, we explore the urgent need to understand the complex beneficial interactions of ciliates that may occur in the coral reef ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37700257, year = {2023}, author = {Minasiewicz, J and Zwolicki, A and Figura, T and Novotná, A and Bocayuva, MF and Jersáková, J and Selosse, MA}, title = {Stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus is closely linked to trophic modes in orchids.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {422}, pmid = {37700257}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {531-D110-D585-21//Faculty of Biology; University of Gdańsk/ ; 18-11378S//Czech Science Foundation/ ; 2015/18/A/NZ8/00149//National Science Centre/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mycorrhiza is a ubiquitous form of symbiosis based on the mutual, beneficial exchange of resources between roots of autotrophic (AT) plants and heterotrophic soil fungi throughout a complex network of fungal mycelium. Mycoheterotrophic (MH) and mixotrophic (MX) plants can parasitise this system, gaining all or some (respectively) required nutrients without known reciprocity to the fungus. We applied, for the first time, an ecological stoichiometry framework to test whether trophic mode of plants influences their elemental carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) composition and may provide clues about their biology and evolution within the framework of mycorrhizal network functioning.

RESULTS: We analysed C:N:P stoichiometry of 24 temperate orchid species and P concentration of 135 species from 45 plant families sampled throughout temperate and intertropical zones representing the three trophic modes (AT, MX and MH). Welch's one-way ANOVA and PERMANOVA were used to compare mean nutrient values and their proportions among trophic modes, phylogeny, and climate zones. Nutrient concentration and stoichiometry significantly differentiate trophic modes in orchids. Mean foliar C:N:P stoichiometry showed a gradual increase of N and P concentration and a decrease of C: nutrients ratio along the trophic gradient AT < MX < MH, with surprisingly high P requirements of MH orchids. Although P concentration in orchids showed the trophy-dependent pattern regardless of climatic zone, P concentration was not a universal indicator of trophic modes, as shown by ericaceous MH and MX plants.

CONCLUSION: The results imply that there are different evolutionary pathways of adaptation to mycoheterotrophic nutrient acquisition, and that the high nutrient requirements of MH orchids compared to MH plants from other families may represent a higher cost to the fungal partner and consequently lead to the high fungal specificity observed in MH orchids.}, } @article {pmid37699452, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, SL and Wang, TY and Tang, CC and Wang, R and He, ZW and Li, ZH and Tian, Y and Wang, XC}, title = {Revealing mechanisms of triclosan on the removal and distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus in microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {122539}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122539}, pmid = {37699452}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system performs synergistic effect on the reduction of nutrients and carbon emissions in the water treatment process. However, antimicrobial agents are frequently detected in water, which influence the performance of MABS system. In this study, triclosan (TCS) was selected to reveal the effects and mechanisms of antimicrobial agents on MABS system. Results showed that the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, NH4[+]-N and total phosphorus decreased by 3.0%, 24.0% and 14.3% under TCS stress. In contrast, there were no significant decrease on the removal effect of total nitrogen. Mechanism analysis showed that both the growth rate of microorganisms and the nutrients retention capacity of extracellular polymeric substances were decreased. The intracellular accumulation for nitrogen and phosphorus was promoted due to the increased cytomembrane permeability caused by lipid peroxidation. Moreover, microalgae were dominant in MABS system with ratio between microalgae and bacteria of more than 5.49. The main genus was Parachlorella, with abundance of more than 90%. Parachlorella was highly tolerant to TCS, which might be conductive to maintain its survival. This study revealed the nutrients pathways of MABS system under TCS stress, and helped to optimize the operation of MABS system.}, } @article {pmid37698455, year = {2023}, author = {Keller-Pearson, M and Bortolazzo, A and Willems, L and Smith, B and Peterson, A and Ané, JM and Silva, E}, title = {A dual transcriptomic approach reveals contrasting patterns of differential gene expression during drought in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and carrot.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-23-0038-R}, pmid = {37698455}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {While arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known for providing host plants with improved drought tolerance, we know very little about the fungal response to drought in the context of the fungal-plant relationship. In this study, we evaluated the drought responses of the host and symbiont, using the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis with carrot as a plant model. Carrots (Daucus carota) inoculated with spores of R. irregularis DAOM 197198 grew in a greenhouse. During taproot development, carrots were exposed to a 10-day water restriction. Compared with well-watered conditions, drought caused diminished photosynthetic activity and reduced plant growth in carrot with and without AM fungi. Droughted carrots had lower root colonization. For R. irregularis, 93% of 826 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated during drought, including phosphate transporters, several predicted transport proteins of potassium, and the aquaporin RiAQPF2. In contrast, 78% of 2,486 DEGs in AM carrot were downregulated during drought, including the symbiosis-specific genes FatM, RAM2, and STR, which are implicated in lipid transfer from the host to the fungus and were upregulated exclusively in AM carrot during well-watered conditions. Overall, this study provides insight into the drought response of an AM fungus in relation to its host; the expression of genes related to symbiosis and nutrient exchange were downregulated in carrot but upregulated in the fungus. This study reveals that carrot and R. irregularis exhibit contrast in their regulation of gene expression during drought, with carrot reducing its apparent investment in symbiosis and the fungus increasing its apparent symbiotic efforts.}, } @article {pmid37697733, year = {2023}, author = {Murugesan, B and Subramanian, A and Bakthavachalam, S and Rajendran, K and Raju, S and Gabriel, S}, title = {Molecular insights of anticancer potential of usnic acid towards cervical cancer target proteins: An in silico validation for novel anti-cancer compound from lichens.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-19}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2023.2252076}, pmid = {37697733}, issn = {1538-0254}, abstract = {Usnic acid is a marker compound produced from numerous lichens (symbiotic association of mycobiont and phycobiont) possessing higher bioavailability, potent and selective against cancer cells. Usnic acid is an underutilized and well-documented anti-cancer compound from lichens and its activity is not yet documented against cervical cancer. The main aim of the present research is to screen the anti-cancer potential of usnic acid against cervical cancer target proteins. The drug-likeness validation of usnic acid shows nil violations against all drug-likeness rules when compared with all three screened anti-cancer standard drugs and shows some violation in drug likeness prediction. Further, ADMET screening reveals usnic acids shows effective pharmacokinetic profiles with good bioactivity scores, essential for drug delivery and metabolism. DFT analysis of usnic acid reveals less energy gap (-0.1184), hardness (0.0592 eV), and high softness (16.8918 eV) scores against three anti-cancer drug DFT scores. Molecular docking study shows usnic acid possesses excellent binding affinity with all the nine screened cervical cancer target proteins with docking scores ranging from -6.9 to -9.1 kcal/mol. Three anti-cancer drugs showed docking scores with a range of -5.2 to -8.4 kcal/mol. Further, four top-scored complexes were taken for molecular dynamic simulation study reveal that usnic acid complexes (1KTZ-usnic acid and 2BIM-usnic acid) possess good simulation trajectories with cervical cancer target proteins than the selected anti-cancer drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.}, } @article {pmid37696893, year = {2023}, author = {Yoo, JS and Oh, SF}, title = {Unconventional immune cells in the gut mucosal barrier: regulation by symbiotic microbiota.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37696893}, issn = {2092-6413}, support = {R01-AT010268//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)/ ; R01-AI165987//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gut is the most densely colonized organ by microbial species, which are in constant contact with the host throughout life. Hosts have developed multifaceted cellular and molecular mechanisms to distinguish and respond to benign and pathogenic bacteria. In addition to relatively well-characterized innate and adaptive immune cells, a growing body of evidence shows additional important players in gut mucosal immunity. Among them, unconventional immune cells, including innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and unconventional T cells, are essential for maintaining homeostasis. These cells rapidly respond to bacterial signals and bridge the innate immunity and adaptive immunity in the mucosal barrier. Here, we focus on the types and roles of these immune cells in physiological and pathological conditions as prominent mechanisms by which the host immune system communicates with the gut microbiota in health and diseases.}, } @article {pmid37696726, year = {2023}, author = {Geurts, R and Huisman, R}, title = {Innovations in two genes kickstarted the evolution of nitrogen-fixing nodules.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {102446}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102446}, pmid = {37696726}, issn = {1879-0356}, abstract = {The root nodule symbiosis between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria is a fascinating trait limited to several plant species. Given the agronomic potential of transferring this symbiosis to nonleguminous crops, the symbiosis has attracted researchers' attention for over a century. The origins of this symbiosis can be traced back to a single ancestor, around 110 million years ago. Recent findings have uncovered that adaptations in a receptor complex and the recruitment of the transcription factor Nodule Inception (NIN) are among the first genetic adaptations that allowed this ancestor to respond to its microsymbiont. Understanding the consequences of recruiting these genes provides insights into the start of this complex genetic trait.}, } @article {pmid37695803, year = {2023}, author = {Wolf, H}, title = {Tove Jansson's Moominland Midwinter: Closeness and Separateness in Psychoanalytic Work.}, journal = {Psychoanalytic review}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {321-342}, doi = {10.1521/prev.2023.110.3.321}, pmid = {37695803}, issn = {1943-3301}, abstract = {A research adventure on closeness and separateness in psychoanalysis is presented. The theme is explored through the author's daydreams evoked by clinical encounters. These are analyzed and metaphorically illustrated with psychoanalytical theories in dialogue with Tove Jansson's Moominland Midwinter. Closeness is likened to "mother's house" and separateness to "midwinter." Vacillation between and balancing of "mother's house" and "midwinter" following the patient's and the dyad's unique needs are suggested as pivotal for psychic development and creativity. A conclusion is that the author's practice can be enhanced by letting the cool winds and the mysteries of "midwinter" in.}, } @article {pmid37695720, year = {2023}, author = {Kryukova, NA and Kryukov, VY and Polenogova, OV and Chertkova, ЕА and Tyurin, MV and Rotskaya, UN and Alikina, T and Kabilov, МR and Glupov, VV}, title = {The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia (Rickettsiales) alters larval metabolism of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e22053}, doi = {10.1002/arch.22053}, pmid = {37695720}, issn = {1520-6327}, support = {//Federal Fundamental Scientific Research Program/ ; //Russian Science Foundation/ ; 23-24-00259//The Russian Science Foundation/ ; 1021051703454-5-1.6.12//The Federal Fundamental Scientific Research Program/ ; }, abstract = {Infection of intestinal tissues with Wolbachia has been found in Habrobracon hebetor. There are not many studies on the relationship between Habrobracon and Wolbachia, and they focus predominantly on the sex index of an infected parasitoid, its fertility, and behavior. The actual role of Wolbachia in the biology of Habrobracon is not yet clear. The method of complete eradication of Wolbachia in the parasitoid was developed here, and effects of the endosymbiont on the host's digestive metabolism were compared between two lines of the parasitoid (Wolbachia-positive and Wolbachia-negative). In the gut of Wolbachia[+] larvae, lipases' activity was higher almost twofold, and activities of acid proteases, esterases, and trehalase were 1.5-fold greater than those in the Wolbachia[-] line. Analyses of larval homogenates revealed that Wolbachia[+] larvae accumulate significantly more lipids and have a lower amount of pyruvate as compared to Wolbachia[-] larvae. The presented results indicate significant effects of the intracellular symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia on the metabolism of H. hebetor larvae and on the activity of its digestive enzymes.}, } @article {pmid37695645, year = {2023}, author = {Göker, M and Oren, A}, title = {Valid publication of four additional phylum names.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006024}, pmid = {37695645}, issn = {1466-5034}, abstract = {The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) now includes the phylum category. For the purpose of the valid publication of their names under the ICNP, we consider here four phyla. Slightly modified descriptions of 'Abditibacteriota' Tahon et al. 2018 and 'Desulfobacterota' Waite et al. 2020 are provided to meet the requirements of the ICNP for phylum names. Methanobacteriota is proposed as a substitute for 'Euryarchaeota' Garrity and Holt 2021, while Nanobdellota is proposed to replace 'Nanoarchaeota' Huber et al. 2002, based on the genus Nanobdella Kato et al. 2022.}, } @article {pmid37695480, year = {2023}, author = {Dhayal, KS and Giri, AK and Kumar, A and Samadhiya, A and Agrawal, S and Agrawal, R}, title = {Can green finance facilitate Industry 5.0 transition to achieve sustainability? A systematic review with future research directions.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37695480}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Most of the world's rising carbon emission results from industrial activities. Previous industrial revolutions did not put much thought into safeguarding the natural world. Governments worldwide have been continuously implementing regulations and policies for the mitigation of climate change to promote sustainable development. To achieve decarbonization, the climate change discussion is merged with Industry 5.0 (I5.0) where green finance (GF) plays a crucial role. This technological metamorphosis of transition from Industry 4.0 (I4.0) to I5.0 will affect humans and their society. I5.0 forms a symbiotic relationship with different aspects of Society 5.0 (S5.0) such as social (human‒machine centricity), ecological (zero emissions), and technological (green innovations). Thus, the I5.0 transition prioritizes greening the economy in pursuit of achieving S5.0. Through a systematic review of 196 articles, this research study concisely summarizes the rapidly expanding body of information. The research domain gave six major themes: Green Innovations (GI), Green Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Circular Economy (CE), Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM), Emerging Economies, and Net Zero Economy (NZE). Finally, a framework has been provided that illustrates the supporting role of GF for the I5.0 transition eventually followed by S5.0. This study provides an overview of these themes with their propositions and future research directions. The present study addresses the knowledge gap by providing valuable contributions to the burgeoning research domain of I5.0 and GF. Moreover, it aims to garner the attention of different stakeholders to integrate these two concepts of research to attain the goal of sustainable development.}, } @article {pmid37694307, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, YK and Li, SS and Yang, C and Zhang, YF and Zhang, XY and Liu, JZ}, title = {Tetracycline inhibit tick host reproduction by modulating bacterial microbiota, gene expression, and metabolism levels.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7766}, pmid = {37694307}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ticks are disease vectors that are matters of worldwide concern. Antibiotic treatments have been used to explore the interactions between ticks and their symbiotic microorganisms. In addition to altering the host microbial community, antibiotics can have toxic effects on the host.

RESULTS: In the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, the engorged females showed reproductive disruption after microinjection of tetracycline Multi-omics approaches were implemented to unravel the mechanisms of tick reproductive inhibition in this study. There were no significant changes in bacterial density in the whole ticks on days 2 or 4 after tetracycline treatment, while the bacterial microbial community was significantly altered, especially on day 4. The relative abundances of the bacteria Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas decreased after tetracycline treatment, while the relative abundances of Coxiella and Rhodococcus increased. Ovarian transcriptional analysis revealed a cumulative effect of tetracycline treatment, as there was a significant increase in the number of differentially expressed genes with treatment time and a higher number of downregulated genes. The tick physiological pathways including lysosome, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, biosynthesis of ubiquinone and other terpenoids-quinones, insect hormone biosynthesis, and focal adhesion were significantly inhibited after 4 days of tetracycline treatment. Metabolite levels were altered after tetracycline treatment, and the differences increased with treatment time. The differential metabolites were involved in a variety of physiological pathways; the downregulated metabolites were significantly enriched in the nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, galactose metabolism, and ether lipid metabolism pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that tetracycline inhibits tick reproduction through the regulation of tick bacterial communities, gene expression, and metabolic levels. The results may provide new strategies for tick control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid37692429, year = {2023}, author = {Doni, F and Safitri, R and Suhaimi, NSM and Miranti, M and Rossiana, N and Mispan, MS and Anhar, A and Uphoff, N}, title = {Evaluating the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms in the system of rice intensification performance with Trichoderma-rice plant symbiosis as a model system.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1214213}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1214213}, pmid = {37692429}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The system of rice intensification (SRI) is an extensively-researched and increasingly widely-utilized methodology for alleviating current constraints on rice production. Many studies have shown physiological and morphological improvements in rice plants induced by SRI management practices to be very similar to those that are associated with the presence of beneficial microbial endophytes in or around rice plants, especially their roots. With SRI methods, grain yields are increased by 25-100% compared to conventional methods, and the resulting plant phenotypes are better able to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses. SRI management practices have been shown to be associated with significant increases in the populations of certain microorganisms known to enhance soil health and plant growth, e.g., Azospirillum, Trichoderma, Glomus, and Pseudomonas. This article evaluates the effects of applying Trichoderma as a model microbe for assessing microbial growth-promotion, biological control activity, and modulation of gene expression under the conditions created by SRI practices. Information about the molecular changes and interactions associated with certain effects of SRI management suggests that these practices are enhancing rice plants' expression of their genetic potentials. More systematic studies that assess the effects of SRI methods respectively and collectively, compared with standard rice production methods, are needed to develop a more encompassing understanding of how SRI modifications of crops' growing environment elicit and contribute to more robust and more productive phenotypes of rice.}, } @article {pmid37692400, year = {2023}, author = {Li, P and Teng, C and Zhang, J and Liu, Y and Wu, X and He, T}, title = {Characterization of drought stress-mitigating Rhizobium from faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in the Chinese Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1212996}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1212996}, pmid = {37692400}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobium-driven symbiotic nitrogen-fixation in legumes not only benefits the growth but also enhances the stress tolerance of plants. Isolating and characterizing efficient, drought-tolerant rhizobia is a central goal for improving crop yields in arid regions. Here, we phylogenetically and biochemically characterized a novel strain of Rhizobium ('QHCD11') sampled from the root nodules of faba beans growing in an arid agricultural area in Qinghai-Tibet. We further tested the drought tolerance of the strain as well as of 'Qingcan 14' faba bean seedlings inoculated with it. Biochemical characterization involved bromothymol blue (BTB) tests, carbon metabolic profiling (Biolog GENIII), DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) assays, average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses, and 16S rRNA sequencing. The result indicated that strain 'QHCD11' likely belongs to the Rhizobium indicum species. Drought stress tolerance was assessed by exposure to polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) at concentrations of 0, 10, 15, and 20%. Increasing concentrations of PEG-6000 tended to result in decreased growth of 'QHCD11', although the strain performed better at 20% PEG 6000 than at 15%. Inoculation of drought-stressed faba bean seedlings with strain 'QHCD11' improved root vitality, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and plant height. We suggest that inoculation of faba beans with 'QHCD11' is an environmentally sound strategy for mitigating crop drought stress in arid and semi-arid regions. In addition, the results presents here will benefit future studies into faba bean-rhizobia symbioses under drought stress.}, } @article {pmid37691964, year = {2023}, author = {Xue, JY and Fan, HY and Zeng, Z and Zhou, YH and Hu, SY and Li, SX and Cheng, YJ and Meng, XR and Chen, F and Shao, ZQ and Van de Peer, Y}, title = {Comprehensive regulatory networks for tomato organ development based on the genome and RNAome of MicroTom tomato.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {uhad147}, doi = {10.1093/hr/uhad147}, pmid = {37691964}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {MicroTom has a short growth cycle and high transformation efficiency, and is a prospective model plant for studying organ development, metabolism, and plant-microbe interactions. Here, with a newly assembled reference genome for this tomato cultivar and abundant RNA-seq data derived from tissues of different organs/developmental stages/treatments, we constructed multiple gene co-expression networks, which will provide valuable clues for the identification of important genes involved in diverse regulatory pathways during plant growth, e.g. arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and fruit development. Additionally, non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs were also identified, together with their potential targets. Interacting networks between different types of non-coding RNAs (miRNA-lncRNA), and non-coding RNAs and genes (miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-mRNA) were constructed as well. Our results and data will provide valuable information for the study of organ differentiation and development of this important fruit. Lastly, we established a database (http://eplant.njau.edu.cn/microTomBase/) with genomic and transcriptomic data, as well as details of gene co-expression and interacting networks on MicroTom, and this database should be of great value to those who want to adopt MicroTom as a model plant for research.}, } @article {pmid37691931, year = {2023}, author = {Xue, X and Li, R and Chen, Z and Li, G and Liu, B and Guo, S and Yue, Q and Yang, S and Xie, L and Zhang, Y and Zhao, J and Tan, R}, title = {The role of the symbiotic microecosystem in cancer: gut microbiota, metabolome, and host immunome.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1235827}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235827}, pmid = {37691931}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is not just a simple nutritional symbiosis that parasitizes the host; it is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that coevolves actively with the host and is involved in a variety of biological activities such as circadian rhythm regulation, energy metabolism, and immune response. The development of the immune system and immunological functions are significantly influenced by the interaction between the host and the microbiota. The interactions between gut microbiota and cancer are of a complex nature. The critical role that the gut microbiota plays in tumor occurrence, progression, and treatment is not clear despite the already done research. The development of precision medicine and cancer immunotherapy further emphasizes the importance and significance of the question of how the microbiota takes part in cancer development, progression, and treatment. This review summarizes recent literature on the relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer immunology. The findings suggest the existence of a "symbiotic microecosystem" formed by gut microbiota, metabolome, and host immunome that is fundamental for the pathogenesis analysis and the development of therapeutic strategies for cancer.}, } @article {pmid37691419, year = {2023}, author = {Yadav, PR and Basha, SH}, title = {Impact of Fe + 2 ions on structural integrity of A0A6P1CI42_RHITR NifA protein from Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2023.2256883}, pmid = {37691419}, issn = {1538-0254}, abstract = {A0A6P1CI42_RHITR, a protein originating from Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899, has emerged as a key player in leguminous plant symbiosis and nitrogen fixation processes. Understanding the intricate details of its structure and function holds immense significance for unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying its biological activities. In this study, we employed molecular modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the A0A6P1CI42_RHITR protein, with a specific emphasis on the influence of Fe-atoms, linker structural integrity, and conformational changes within the GAF domain. Our findings unveiled noteworthy conformational changes in the A0A6P1CI42_RHITR protein, particularly within the GAF domain, when Fe-atoms were present compared to its apo form. Significant conformational rearrangements after an initial 20 ns, accompanied by the opening of the ligand substrate accommodating loop in the GAF domain influenced by Fe-atoms was observed. At the residue level, the investigation revealed substantial activity variations in individual residues, particularly in those contributing to the GAF domain from positions 51 to 223. Intriguingly, the presence of Fe-atoms led to controlled movement of conserved cysteine residues at positions 467 and 472, indicating a correlation between interlinker domain motion and the activity of the GAF domain loop responsible for substrate accommodation. Moreover, in the presence of Fe-atoms, the distance between Cys467 and Cys472 residues was maintained, ensuring the overall structural integrity of the interdomain loop necessary for protein activation. Conversely, in the apo form, a sudden flip motion of cysteine residues' thiol groups was observed, leading to a loss of structural integration. Overall, our study utilizing molecular modeling and MD simulations offers valuable insights into the structural dynamics and functional implications of the A0A6P1CI42_RHITR protein.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.}, } @article {pmid37691279, year = {2023}, author = {Bogar, LM}, title = {Modified source-sink dynamics govern resource exchange in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19259}, pmid = {37691279}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between roots and fungi is founded on the movement of carbon from plants to fungi, and of soil resources from fungi to plants. Framing this movement as a trade can facilitate an understanding of how this mutualism has developed over evolutionary time, but fails to explain experimental observations of carbon and nutrient movement. Here, I propose that source-sink dynamics are an essential basic model to explain the movement of plant and fungal resources, which may be modified by plant immune response, variability in fungal molecular repertoires, and competition in the soil. Source-sink dynamics provide testable hypotheses to illuminate mechanisms of ectomycorrhizal resource movement and its consequences for mutualism stability and forest function under climate change.}, } @article {pmid37691149, year = {2023}, author = {Mazuecos, L and González-García, A and de la Fuente, J}, title = {Genetic modification, characterization, and co-infection of Franken Sphingomonas and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in tick cells.}, journal = {STAR protocols}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {102557}, doi = {10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102557}, pmid = {37691149}, issn = {2666-1667}, abstract = {Paratransgenesis through genetic manipulation of symbiotic or commensal microorganisms has been proposed as an effective and environmentally sound approach for the control of vector-borne diseases, including tick bite-related pathologies, and reducing pathogen transmission. Here, we present a protocol for Sphingomonas transformation with Anaplasma phagocytophilum major surface protein 4 and heat shock protein 70. We describe a step-by-step protocol for in vitro study of interactions between transformed Franken Sphingomonas and Ixodes scapularis ISE6 tick cells during A. phagocytophilum infection. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Mazuecos et al. (2023).[1].}, } @article {pmid37690205, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Luo, B and Zhang, S and Zhu, Y and Du, S}, title = {Nitrate-induced AHb1 expression aggravates Cd toxicity in plants.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {460}, number = {}, pages = {132495}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132495}, pmid = {37690205}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) causes severe toxicity in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resistance to Cd in relation to nitrogen (N) supply remain unclear. The non-symbiotic hemoglobin gene Hb1 plays an important role in scavenging nitric oxide (NO) in plants. In this study, there was no differential effect of Cd on the biomass of wild-type (WT) and AHb1-overexpressing (H7) plants when NH4[+]-N was used as a nitrogen source. However, under NO3[-]-N conditions, Cd exerted less biomass stress on AHb1-silenced (L3) plants and more stress on H7 plants than on WT plants. The Cd tolerance index followed the order: L3 > WT > H7. However, there was no difference in Cd concentrations in the roots or shoots of the WT, L3, and H7 plants, indicating that differences in AHb1 expression were unrelated to Cd uptake. Further investigation showed that Cd exposure enhanced H2O2 accumulation and aggravated oxidative damage in H7 plants. The application of an NO donor effectively reversed growth inhibition, H2O2 burst, and oxidative stress induced by Cd in H7 plants. Thus, we suggest that NO3[-]-induced AHb1 expression suppresses Cd-induced NO production in plants, increasing the ROS burst and exacerbating Cd toxicity.}, } @article {pmid37690173, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, J and Wang, L and Liang, X and Li, B and He, Y and Zhan, F}, title = {An arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus differentially regulates root traits and cadmium uptake in two maize varieties.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {264}, number = {}, pages = {115458}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115458}, pmid = {37690173}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi that colonize plant roots, and they are more common in Cd-polluted habitats. However, there is limited understanding of the response of root traits and cadmium (Cd) uptake to AMF in different crop varieties. Two maize varieties, Panyu 3 and Ludan 8, with high and low Cd uptake capacities, respectively, were cultivated as host plants in a pot experiment with Cd-polluted soil (17.1 mg/kg Cd). The effects of AMF on the growth, mineral nutrient concentration, root traits, phytohormone concentrations and Cd uptake of the two maize varieties and their comprehensive response to AMF fungal inoculation were investigated. AMF improved growth, mineral nutrient levels and root morphology and increased lignin and phytohormone concentrations in roots and Cd uptake in the two maize varieties. However, the two maize varieties, Panyu 3 and Ludan 8, had different responses to AMF, and their comprehensive response indices were 753.6% and 389.4%, respectively. The root biomass, branch number, abscisic acid concentrations, lignin concentrations and Cd uptake of maize Panyu 3 increased by 151.1%, 28.6%, 139.7%, 99.5% and 84.7%, respectively. The root biomass, average diameter, auxin concentration, lignin concentration and Cd uptake of maize Ludan 8 increased by 168.7%, 31.8%, 31.4%, 41.7% and 136.7%, respectively. Moreover, Cd uptake in roots presented very significant positive correlations with the average root diameter and abscisic acid concentration. A structural equation model indicated that the root abscisic acid concentration and root surface area had positive effects on Cd uptake by the Panyu 3 maize roots; the root abscisic acid concentration and root tip number had positive effects on Cd uptake by the Ludan 8 maize roots. Thus, AMF differentially regulated Cd uptake in the two maize varieties, and the regulatory effect was closely related to root traits and phytohormone concentrations.}, } @article {pmid37690114, year = {2023}, author = {Manzano-Marn, A and Kvist, S and Oceguera-Figueroa, A}, title = {Evolution of an alternative genetic code in the Providencia symbiont of the haematophagous leech Haementeria acuecueyetzin.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evad164}, pmid = {37690114}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {Strict blood-feeding animals are confronted with a strong B vitamin de_ciency. Blood-feeding leeches from the Glossiphoniidae family, similarly to haematophagous insects, have evolved specialised organs called bacteriomes to harbour symbiotic bacteria. Leeches of the Haementeria genus have two pairs of globular bacteriomes attached to the oesophagus which house intracellular 'Candidatus Providencia siddallii' bacteria. Previous work analysing a draft genome of the Providencia symbiont of the Mexican leech Haementeria officinalis showed that, in this species, the bacteria hold a reduced genome capable of synthesising B vitamins. In this work, we aimed to expand our knowledge on the diversity and evolution of Providencia symbionts of Haementeria. For this purpose, we sequenced the symbiont genomes of three selected leech species. We found that all genomes are highly syntenic and have kept a stable genetic repertoire, mirroring ancient insect endosymbionts. Additionally, we found B vitamin pathways to be conserved among these symbionts, pointing to a conserved symbiotic role. Lastly and most notably, we found that the symbiont of Haementeria acuecueyetzin has evolved an alternative genetic code, affecting a portion of its proteome and showing evidence of a lineage-specific and likely intermediate stage of genetic code reassignment.}, } @article {pmid37689488, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Feng, H and Druzhinina, IS and Xie, X and Wang, E and Martin, F and Yuan, Z}, title = {Phosphorus/nitrogen sensing and signaling in diverse root-fungus symbioses.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.005}, pmid = {37689488}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Establishing mutualistic relationships between plants and fungi is crucial for overcoming nutrient deficiencies in plants. This review highlights the intricate nutrient sensing and uptake mechanisms used by plants in response to phosphate and nitrogen starvation, as well as their interactions with plant immunity. The coordination of transport systems in both host plants and fungal partners ensures efficient nutrient uptake and assimilation, contributing to the long-term maintenance of these mutualistic associations. It is also essential to understand the distinct responses of fungal partners to external nutrient levels and forms, as they significantly impact the outcomes of symbiotic interactions. Our review also highlights the importance of evolutionarily younger and newly discovered root-fungus associations, such as endophytic associations, which offer potential benefits for improving plant nutrition. Mechanistic insights into the complex dynamics of phosphorus and nitrogen sensing within diverse root-fungus associations can facilitate the identification of molecular targets for engineering symbiotic systems and developing plant phenotypes with enhanced nutrient use efficiency. Ultimately, this knowledge can inform tailored fertilizer management practices to optimize plant nutrition.}, } @article {pmid37689417, year = {2023}, author = {Venegas, CA and Saona, LA and Urbina, K and Quintrel, P and Peña, TA and Mardones, W and Cubillos, FA}, title = {Addition of Saccharomyces eubayanus to SCOBY fermentations modulates the chemical and volatile compound profiles in kombucha.}, journal = {Food microbiology}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {104357}, doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2023.104357}, pmid = {37689417}, issn = {1095-9998}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented beverage derived from a sweetened tea fermentation inoculated with a bacteria-yeast consortium referred to as Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY). Different SCOBY cultures can impact the beverage's quality and make the whole process highly variable. Adding Saccharomyces yeast cultures to the fermentation process can avoid stalled fermentations, providing a reproducible beverage. Here, we explored using different Saccharomyces eubayanus strains together with SCOBY in the context of kombucha fermentation. Our results show that yeast x SCOBY co-cultures exhibited a robust fermentation profile, providing ethanol and acetic acid levels ranging from 0,18-1,81 %v/v and 0,35-1,15 g/L, respectively. The kombucha volatile compound profile of co-cultures was unique, where compounds such as Isopentyl acetate where only found in yeast x SCOBY fermentations. Metabarcoding revealed that the SCOBY composition was also dependent on the S. eubayanus genotype, where besides Saccharomyces, amplicon sequence variants belonging to Brettanomyces and Starmerella were detected. These differences concomitated global changes in transcript levels in S. eubayanus related to the metabolism of organic molecules used in kombucha fermentation. This study highlights the potential for exploring different S. eubayanus strains for kombucha fermentation, and the significant yeast genotype effect in the profile differentiation in this process.}, } @article {pmid37689204, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, Y and Peng, L and Feng, P and Han, R and Khan, A and Kulshreshtha, S and Ling, Z and Liu, P and Li, X}, title = {Gut microbes consume host energy and reciprocally provides beneficial factors to sustain a symbiotic relationship with the host.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166773}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166773}, pmid = {37689204}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The gut microbes thrive by utilizing host energy and, in return, provide valuable benefits, akin to the symbiotic relationship. To study the mutualistic association between the gut microbiota and host, a range of gut microbe populations (85 %, 66 %, 45 % and 38 % at the normal level) with comparable structures were constructed in broiler model. The results revealed that reductions in gut microbial population led to decreased energy consumption, resulting in increased host weight (10.26 %, 30.88 %, 17.65 % and - 12.77 %, respectively). Fecal metabolome revealed that among 85 % and 66 % of the normal population level, the gut microbes downregulated the immune-associated pathways of tryptophan metabolism and catecholamine biosynthesis, while the level of fatty acid oxidation was upregulated at 45 %. In the host, the concentration of gut microbes contributed to regulate functions related to lipid biosynthesis (from glycerophosphoserines to glycerophosphoethanolamines (9.63 %, 12.20 %, 6.66 % and 47.75 %) and glycerophosphocholines (10.78 %, 36.51 %, 2.00 % and 87.11 %)) and inflammation responses (methionine and betaine metabolism). From 85 % to 45 % of gut microbes, broiler showed an inhibited immunity (thymus gland, spleen, SIgG and IgA) and increased lower inflammation response (ALT and T-SOD). However, at 38 %, the immune indexes exhibited an increase (thymus gland, spleen, SIgG, and IgA increased by 8.67 %, 8.50 %, 20.87 %, and 29.43 %, respectively), indicating the host lipid accumulation and inflammation response were negatively correlated with the immune reaction. Collectively, the gut microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host through the secretion of benefit substances to interact with the host.}, } @article {pmid37689064, year = {2023}, author = {Guckes, KR and Yount, TA and Steingard, CH and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {Quorum sensing inhibits interference competition among bacterial symbionts within a host.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.051}, pmid = {37689064}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {The symbioses that animals form with bacteria play important roles in health and disease, but the molecular details underlying how bacterial symbionts initially assemble within a host remain unclear.[1][,][2][,][3] The bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri establishes a light-emitting symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes by colonizing specific epithelium-lined crypt spaces within a symbiotic organ called the light organ.[4] Competition for these colonization sites occurs between different strains of V. fischeri, with the lancet-like type VI secretion system (T6SS) facilitating strong competitive interference that results in strain incompatibility within a crypt space.[5][,][6] Although recent studies have identified regulators of this T6SS, how the T6SS is controlled as symbionts assemble in vivo remains unknown.[7][,][8] Here, we show that T6SS activity is suppressed by N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C8 HSL), which is a signaling molecule that facilitates quorum sensing in V. fischeri and is important for efficient symbiont assembly.[9][,][10] We find that this signaling depends on the quorum-sensing regulator LitR, which lowers expression of the needle subunit Hcp, a key component of the T6SS, by repressing transcription of the T6SS regulator VasH. We show that LitR-dependent quorum sensing inhibits strain incompatibility within the squid light organ. Collectively, these results provide new insights into the mechanisms by which regulatory networks that promote symbiosis also control competition among symbionts, which in turn may affect the overall symbiont diversity that assembles within a host.}, } @article {pmid37688959, year = {2023}, author = {Min, Y and Xu, L and Su, J and Ma, J and Ali, A and Li, X}, title = {Enhanced ammonia nitrogen and phenol removal by immobilized bacteria through composite mycelium pellet-driven quinone redox cycle.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {345}, number = {}, pages = {118893}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118893}, pmid = {37688959}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {The composite mycelium pellet (CMP) was coupled with Pseudomonas sp. Y1 (CMP-Y1) to remove phenol and ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N). The CMP was formed by the self-assembly of fungal mycelium with sponge iron (SIO), gallic acid (GA), and oxalic acid. The results showed that CMP with abundant pore size and successful internal loading of sponge iron containing iron nanoparticles. CMP could induce GA redox cycle to form Fenton-like reaction and thus achieve efficient phenol removal (93.32%, 24 h). Meanwhile, the removal efficiencies of phenol, NH4[+]-N, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) using CMP-Y1 at 12 h were 93.71, 92.40, and 89.00%, respectively. The increase in the electron transfer activity of strain Y1 by the addition of CMP could facilitate the nitrogen removal processes. In addition, high-throughput sequencing results indicated the abundance of antioxidant and repair genes was increased, which might be a strategy of strain Y1 to cope with oxidative stress. This strategy provided the possibility for the practical application of the combination of advanced oxidation and biological treatment, and offered new insights into the symbiotic system of fungi and bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37688275, year = {2023}, author = {Dudun, AA and Chesnokova, DV and Voinova, VV and Bonartsev, AP and Bonartseva, GA}, title = {Changes in the Gut Microbiota Composition during Implantation of Composite Scaffolds Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Alginate on the Large-Intestine Wall.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {15}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/polym15173649}, pmid = {37688275}, issn = {2073-4360}, support = {20-64-47008//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {The development of biopolymer scaffolds for intestine regeneration is one of the most actively developing areas in tissue engineering. However, intestinal regenerative processes after scaffold implantation depend on the activity of the intestinal microbial community that is in close symbiosis with intestinal epithelial cells. In this work, we study the impact of different scaffolds based on biocompatible poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and alginate (ALG) as well as PHB/ALG scaffolds seeded with probiotic bacteria on the composition of gut microbiota of Wistar rats. Implantation of PHB/ALG scaffolds on the large-intestine wall to close its injury showed that alpha diversity of the gut microbiota was not reduced in rats implanted with different PHB/ALG scaffolds except for the PHB/ALG scaffolds with the inclusion of Lactobacillus spheres (PHB/ALG-L). The composition of the gut microbiota of rats implanted with PHB/ALG scaffolds with probiotic bacteria or in simultaneous use of an antimicrobial agent (PHB/ALG-AB) differed significantly from other experimental groups. All rats with implanted scaffolds demonstrated shifts in the composition of the gut microbiota by individual operational taxonomic units. The PHB/ALG-AB construct led to increased abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria: Ileibacterium sp. dominated in rats with implanted PHB/ALG-L and Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. dominated in the control group. In addition, the PHB/ALG scaffolds had a favourable effect on the growth of commensal bacteria. Thus, the effect of implantation of the PHB/ALG scaffold compared to other scaffolds on the composition of the gut microbiota was closest to the control variant, which may demonstrate the biocompatibility of this device with the microbiota.}, } @article {pmid37687418, year = {2023}, author = {Zuo, YB and Han, DY and Wang, YY and Yang, QX and Ren, Q and Liu, XZ and Wei, XL}, title = {Fungal-Algal Association Drives Lichens' Mutualistic Symbiosis: A Case Study with Trebouxia-Related Lichens.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12173172}, pmid = {37687418}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {32070096//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; KJZ-YY-WSM05//Space Application System of China Manned Space Program/ ; 5232020//Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Biotic and abiotic factors influence the formation of fungal-algal pairings in lichen symbiosis. However, the specific determinants of these associations, particularly when distantly related fungi are involved, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of different drivers on the association patterns between taxonomically diverse lichenized fungi and their trebouxioid symbiotic partners. We collected 200 samples from four biomes and identified 41 species of lichenized fungi, associating them with 16 species of trebouxioid green algae, of which 62% were previously unreported. The species identity of both the fungal and algal partners had the most significant effect on the outcome of the symbiosis, compared to abiotic factors like climatic variables and geographic distance. Some obviously specific associations were observed in the temperate zone; however, the nestedness value was lower in arid regions than in cold, polar, and temperate regions according to interaction network analysis. Cophylogenetic analyses revealed congruent phylogenies between trebouxioid algae and associated fungi, indicating a tendency to reject random associations. The main evolutionary mechanisms contributing to the observed phylogenetic patterns were "loss" and "failure to diverge" of the algal partners. This study broadens our knowledge of fungal-algal symbiotic patterns in view of Trebouxia-associated fungi.}, } @article {pmid37687353, year = {2023}, author = {Wahab, A and Muhammad, M and Munir, A and Abdi, G and Zaman, W and Ayaz, A and Khizar, C and Reddy, SPP}, title = {Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Regulating Growth, Enhancing Productivity, and Potentially Influencing Ecosystems under Abiotic and Biotic Stresses.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12173102}, pmid = {37687353}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with the roots of nearly all land-dwelling plants, increasing growth and productivity, especially during abiotic stress. AMF improves plant development by improving nutrient acquisition, such as phosphorus, water, and mineral uptake. AMF improves plant tolerance and resilience to abiotic stressors such as drought, salt, and heavy metal toxicity. These benefits come from the arbuscular mycorrhizal interface, which lets fungal and plant partners exchange nutrients, signalling molecules, and protective chemical compounds. Plants' antioxidant defence systems, osmotic adjustment, and hormone regulation are also affected by AMF infestation. These responses promote plant performance, photosynthetic efficiency, and biomass production in abiotic stress conditions. As a result of its positive effects on soil structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration, AMF contributes to the maintenance of resilient ecosystems. The effects of AMFs on plant growth and ecological stability are species- and environment-specific. AMF's growth-regulating, productivity-enhancing role in abiotic stress alleviation under abiotic stress is reviewed. More research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive AMF-plant interactions and their responses to abiotic stresses. AMF triggers plants' morphological, physiological, and molecular responses to abiotic stress. Water and nutrient acquisition, plant development, and abiotic stress tolerance are improved by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. In plants, AMF colonization modulates antioxidant defense mechanisms, osmotic adjustment, and hormonal regulation. These responses promote plant performance, photosynthetic efficiency, and biomass production in abiotic stress circumstances. AMF-mediated effects are also enhanced by essential oils (EOs), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and phosphorus (P). Understanding how AMF increases plant adaptation and reduces abiotic stress will help sustain agriculture, ecosystem management, and climate change mitigation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have gained prominence in agriculture due to their multifaceted roles in promoting plant health and productivity. This review delves into how AMF influences plant growth and nutrient absorption, especially under challenging environmental conditions. We further explore the extent to which AMF bolsters plant resilience and growth during stress.}, } @article {pmid37687349, year = {2023}, author = {Dong, X and Xu, D and Wang, D and Han, C and Huang, Y and Zhang, J}, title = {Leaf-Root-Soil Stoichiometric Characteristics in Different Shrub Ages of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12173103}, pmid = {37687349}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {CAFYBB2021MA006, CAFYBB2023XC001//Central Public Welfare Research Institutes/ ; 32101595//National Science Foundation of China/ ; CAFYBB2021MC002-02//Fundamental Research Funds of Chinese Academy of Forestry/ ; }, abstract = {The ecological indicators for the growth and restoration of A. mongolicus populations are important for grasping the regulatory mechanisms of the biogeochemistry cycle, and for providing basic data for the prediction and evaluation of the evolution characteristics of natural A. mongolicus populations. We conducted studies on the eco-stoichiometric characteristics of natural A. mongolicus in different shrub ages, in order to understand the nutrient limitations for the growth and development of A. mongolicus and the synergy between the soil, leaves and roots, and to explore the C, N and P stoichiometric characteristics on A. mongolicus. The results showed the following: (1) The response of C, N and P stoichiometric characteristics in the leaves, roots and soil to changes in shrub age was not completely consistent. The leaf C content was young shrub> mature shrub> middle age shrub. The C content in the root system and C and N content in the soil showed an upward trend with increasing shrub age. The N and P contents of the root system and the P content of the soil showed a downward trend with increasing shrub age. The stoichiometric ratios C:N, C:P and N:P in the leaves, roots and soil showed an upward trend, and the N:P ratios in the leaves and roots were similar. (2) Among the stoichiometric characteristics of the leaves, C, N and P, leaves P and C:P are the most sensitive to shrub age changes, and have ecological implications for the growth and population dynamics of A. mongolicus. The average N:P ratios of young A. mongolicus leaves in young, middle-aged and mature shrubs were 15.32, 18.23 and 21.76, respectively. It can be seen that with an increase in shrub age, the growth of A. mongolicus gradually shifted from being jointly restricted by N and P to being more restricted by P. (3) The N content and the C∶N and N∶P ratios of A. mongolicus are classified as "strictly homoeostasis ", which shows strong plant homoeostasis for environmental adaptability. The N supplemented by symbiotic nitrogen fixation makes A. mongolicus have strong N internal homoeostasis. Therefore, in a desert grassland with low N content, the growth process of A. mongolicus may be easily restricted by P due to the additional N absorbed by it. (4) The C, N and P contents of the leaves, roots and soils of the three shrubs were shown as leaf > root > soil, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the C, N and P contents of the soil, roots and leaves and their stoichiometric ratio characteristics of the three shrubs showed a certain correlation. Among them, the P content of the soil was significantly related to the N:P ratio of the leaves and roots. Therefore, P is likely to become a limiting factor in the plant growth and repair process of the plant ecosystem in the A. mongolicus population. In summary, during the growth of A. mongolicus, special attention should be paid to the balance of nutrients. In order to improve its productivity, it is recommended to reasonably apply P fertilizers in the process of tending management to enhance the soil nutrient status and improve plant nutrient utilization efficiency and homoeostasis.}, } @article {pmid37686427, year = {2023}, author = {Yao, K and Wang, Y and Li, X and Ji, H}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification of the Soybean LysM-RLK Family Genes and Its Nitrogen Response.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241713621}, pmid = {37686427}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {NZ2021013; 31961133029 ; 31730066 ;2015RC014//Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Project (NZ2021013), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31961133029 and 31730066), Huazhong Agricultural University Scientific & Technological Self-innovation Foundation, grant number 2015RC014/ ; }, abstract = {Lysin-Motif receptor-like kinase (LysM-RLK) proteins are widely distributed in plants and serve a critical role in defending against pathogens and establishing symbiotic relationships. However, there is a lack of comprehensive identification and analysis of LysM-RLK family members in the soybean genome. In this study, we discovered and named 27 LysM-RLK genes in soybean. The majority of LysM-RLKs were highly conserved in Arabidopsis and soybean, while certain members of subclades III, VI, and VII are unique to soybean. The promoters of these LysM-RLKs contain specific cis-elements associated with plant development and responses to environmental factors. Notably, all LysM-RLK gene promoters feature nodule specificity elements, while 51.86% of them also possess NBS sites (NIN/NLP binding site). The expression profiles revealed that genes from subclade V in soybean roots were regulated by both rhizobia and nitrogen treatment. The expression levels of subclade V genes were then validated by real-time quantitative PCR, and it was observed that the level of GmLYK4a and GmLYK4c in roots was inhibited by rhizobia but induced via varying concentrations of nitrate. Consequently, our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the soybean LysM-RLK gene family and emphasize the role of subclade V in coupling soybean symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nitrogen response.}, } @article {pmid37686117, year = {2023}, author = {Ajeethan, N and Yurgel, SN and Abbey, L}, title = {Role of Bacteria-Derived Flavins in Plant Growth Promotion and Phytochemical Accumulation in Leafy Vegetables.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241713311}, pmid = {37686117}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {37581//Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant/ ; 2090-21000-003-00D//USDA ARS Project/ ; RNS-SIG-2021-1613//Research Nova Scotia Corp grant/ ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 bacteria secretes a considerable amount of flavins (FLs) and can form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes. This strain is also associated with non-legume plants. However, its role in plant growth promotion (PGP) of non-legumes is not well understood. The present study evaluated the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) plants inoculated with S. meliloti 1021 (FL[+]) and its mutant 1021ΔribBA, with a limited ability to secrete FLs (FL[-]). The results from this study indicated that inoculation with 1021 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the lengths and surface areas of the roots and hypocotyls of the seedlings compared to 1021ΔribBA. The kale and lettuce seedlings recorded 19% and 14% increases in total root length, respectively, following inoculation with 1021 compared to 1021ΔribBA. A greenhouse study showed that plant growth, photosynthetic rate, and yield were improved by 1021 inoculation. Moreover, chlorophylls a and b, and total carotenoids were more significantly (p < 0.05) increased in kale plants associated with 1021 than non-inoculated plants. In kale, total phenolics and flavonoids were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 6% and 23%, respectively, and in lettuce, the increments were 102% and 57%, respectively, following 1021 inoculation. Overall, bacterial-derived FLs enhanced kale and lettuce plant growth, physiological indices, and yield. Future investigation will use proteomic approaches combined with plant physiological responses to better understand host-plant responses to bacteria-derived FLs.}, } @article {pmid37686049, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Z and Zhang, J and Chen, Q and He, J and Li, X and Wang, Y and Lu, Y}, title = {Complete De Novo Assembly of Wolbachia Endosymbiont of Frankliniella intonsa.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241713245}, pmid = {37686049}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {31672031, 32272537//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021C02003//Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province, China/ ; 2022YFD1401204, 2022YFC2601405//Key R&D Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {As an endosymbiont, Wolbachia exerts significant effects on the host, including on reproduction, immunity, and metabolism. However, the study of Wolbachia in Thysanopteran insects, such as flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa, remains limited. Here, we assembled a gap-free looped genome assembly of Wolbachia strain wFI in a length of 1,463,884 bp (GC content 33.80%), using Nanopore long reads and Illumina short reads. The annotation of wFI identified a total of 1838 protein-coding genes (including 85 pseudogenes), 3 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 35 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 1 transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA). Beyond this basic description, we identified mobile genetic elements, such as prophage and insertion sequences (ISs), which make up 17% of the entire wFI genome, as well as genes involved in riboflavin and biotin synthesis and metabolism. This research lays the foundation for understanding the nutritional mutualism between Wolbachia and flower thrips. It also serves as a valuable resource for future studies delving into the intricate interactions between Wolbachia and its host.}, } @article {pmid37685086, year = {2023}, author = {Mehta, A and Serventi, L and Kumar, L and Torrico, DD}, title = {The Scoop on SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast): Exploring Consumer Behaviours towards a Novel Ice Cream.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12173152}, pmid = {37685086}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {With the growing demand for sustainable practises, the food industry is increasingly adopting circular economy approaches. One example is recycling the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) used in kombucha fermentation to create value-added products. However, consumer acceptance of such novel products remains unclear. To address this, the present study examined consumer attitudes towards ice cream made with SCOBY as an ingredient and how this affected their intention to consume it. Drawing on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and additional constructs such as emotions and food neophobia, an online survey was conducted with New Zealand consumers (N = 170). Results showed that the TPB constructs significantly predicted the intention to consume SCOBY ice cream. Moreover, by adding emotions to the constructs, the model's explanatory power was enhanced. Attitudes, subjective norms, and emotions were the main predictors of intention, which in turn was found to be the main predictor of behaviour. Participants' beliefs about the safety and taste of SCOBY ice cream were significantly correlated with their intention and behaviour, as were the opinions of nutritionists/dietitians, friends, and family. The model accounted for 21.7% of the variance in behaviour and 57.4% of the variance in intention. These findings can be used to plan marketing strategies related to waste-to-value-added products such as SCOBY ice cream.}, } @article {pmid37684263, year = {2023}, author = {Sciascia, I and Crosino, A and Genre, A}, title = {Quantifying root colonization by a symbiotic fungus using automated image segmentation and machine learning approaches.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {14830}, pmid = {37684263}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {PhD fellowship to AC Università degli Studi di Torino//Università degli Studi di Torino/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are one of the most widespread symbiosis on earth. This plant-fungus interaction involves around 72% of plant species, including most crops. AM symbiosis improves plant nutrition and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The fungus, in turn, receives carbon compounds derived from the plant photosynthetic process, such as sugars and lipids. Most studies investigating AM and their applications in agriculture requires a precise quantification of the intensity of plant colonization. At present, the majority of researchers in the field base AM quantification analyses on manual visual methods, prone to operator errors and limited reproducibility. Here we propose a novel semi-automated approach to quantify AM fungal root colonization based on digital image analysis comparing three methods: (i) manual quantification (ii) image thresholding, (iii) machine learning. We recognize machine learning as a very promising tool for accelerating, simplifying and standardizing critical steps in analysing AM quantification, answering to an urgent need by the scientific community studying this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37681944, year = {2023}, author = {Wongdee, J and Piromyou, P and Songwattana, P and Greetatorn, T and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N and Giraud, E and Gully, D and Nouwen, N and Kiatponglarp, W and Tanthanuch, W and Tittabutr, P}, title = {Exploring the cellular surface polysaccharide and root nodule symbiosis characteristics of the rpoN mutants of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 using synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy in conjunction with X-ray absorption spectroscopy.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0194723}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01947-23}, pmid = {37681944}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {The functional significance of rpoN genes that encode two sigma factors in the Bradyrhizobium sp. strain DOA9 has been reported to affect colony formation, root nodulation characteristics, and symbiotic interactions with Aeschynomene americana. rpoN mutant strains are defective in cellular surface polysaccharide (CSP) production compared with the wild-type (WT) strain, and they accordingly exhibit smaller colonies and diminished symbiotic effectiveness. To gain deeper insights into the changes in CSP composition and the nodules of rpoN mutants, we employed synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. FTIR analysis of the CSP revealed the absence of specific components in the rpoN mutants, including lipids, carboxylic groups, polysaccharide-pyranose rings, and β-galactopyranosyl residues. Nodules formed by DOA9WT exhibited a uniform distribution of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates; mutant strains, particularly DOA9∆rpoNp:ΩrpoNc, exhibited decreased distribution uniformity and a lower concentration of C=O groups. Furthermore, Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analyses revealed deficiencies in the nitrogenase enzyme in the nodules of DOA9∆rpoNc and DOA9∆rpoNp:ΩrpoNc mutants; nodules from DOA9WT and DOA9∆rpoNp exhibited both leghemoglobin and the nitrogenase enzyme. IMPORTANCE This work provides valuable insights into how two rpoN genes affect the composition of cellular surface polysaccharides (CSPs) in Bradyrhizobium sp., which subsequently dictates root nodule chemical characteristics and nitrogenase production. We used advanced synchrotron methods, including synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), for the first time in this field to analyze CSP components and reveal the biochemical changes occurring within nodules. These cutting-edge techniques confer significant advantages by providing detailed molecular information, enabling the identification of specific functional groups, chemical bonds, and biomolecule changes. This research not only contributes to our understanding of plant-microbe interactions but also establishes a foundation for future investigations and potential applications in this field. The combined use of the synchrotron-based FTIR and XAS techniques represents a significant advancement in facilitating a comprehensive exploration of bacterial CSPs and their implications in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid37679800, year = {2023}, author = {Rombaut, A and Gallet, R and Qitout, K and Samy, M and Guilhot, R and Ghirardini, P and Lazzaro, BP and Becher, PG and Xuéreb, A and Gibert, P and Fellous, S}, title = {Microbiota-mediated competition between Drosophila species.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {201}, pmid = {37679800}, issn = {2049-2618}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The influence of microbiota in ecological interactions, and in particular competition, is poorly known. We studied competition between two insect species, the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii and the model Drosophila melanogaster, whose larval ecological niches overlap in ripe, but not rotten, fruit.

RESULTS: We discovered D. suzukii females prevent costly interspecific larval competition by avoiding oviposition on substrates previously visited by D. melanogaster. More precisely, D. melanogaster association with gut bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus triggered D. suzukii avoidance. However, D. suzukii avoidance behavior is condition-dependent, and D. suzukii females that themselves carry D. melanogaster bacteria stop avoiding sites visited by D. melanogaster. The adaptive significance of avoiding cues from the competitor's microbiota was revealed by experimentally reproducing in-fruit larval competition: reduced survival of D. suzukii larvae only occurred if the competitor had its normal microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes microbiotas as potent mediators of interspecific competition and reveals a central role for context-dependent behaviors under bacterial influence. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37676026, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, X and Zhao, Y and Ding, G}, title = {Morphogenesis and metabolomics reveal the compatible relationship among Suillus bovinus, Phialocephala fortinii, and their co-host, Pinus massoniana.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0145323}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01453-23}, pmid = {37676026}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and dark septate endophytes (DSEs) can both form a symbiotic relationship with the same host plant. However, the interactions that occur among these two types of fungi and their co-hosts are largely unknown. Here, we investigated interactions that occur among the ECM fungus Suillus bovinus, the DSE Phialocephala fortinii, and their co-host Pinus massoniana. We used both scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy to characterize the morphogenesis of the two symbionts and employed the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique to assess the effects of fungal inoculation on the root metabolome. Under pure culture conditions, no synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed between Phi. fortinii and S. bovinus. Generally, S. bovinus and Phi. fortinii can simultaneously colonize P. massoniana roots without affecting each other's symbiotic processes. S. bovinus can colonize the root locus where Phi. fortinii has already invaded but not vice versa, which may be due to the physical barrier effect of the mantle. Both fungi can significantly promote the growth of P. massoniana, and they have a synergistic effect on host N and K uptake. Metabolite accumulation patterns in roots inoculated with Phi. fortinii and/or S. bovinus were greatly altered, especially with respect to organic acids, flavonoids, lipids, and phenolic acids. S. bovinus inoculation significantly enhanced root flavonoid biosynthesis, whereas Phi. fortinii and dual-inoculation treatments mainly induced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. These findings reveal compatible relationships among P. massoniana, S. bovinus, and Phi. fortinii, and suggest a theoretical basis for ECM fungi and DSE co-application when cultivating seedlings. IMPORTANCE The prevalence of both ectomycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes in the roots of a wide spectrum of tree species is well recognized. In this study, we investigated the interactions that occur among the ECM fungus S. bovinus, the DSE Phi. fortinii, and their co-host, P. massoniana. The two fungi can simultaneously colonize P. massoniana roots without affecting each other's symbiotic processes. S. bovinus appears to be superior to Phi. fortinii in microniche competition, which may be due to the physical barrier effect of the mantle. The two fungi have different effects on root metabolite accumulation patterns. S. bovinus inoculation significantly enhanced root flavonoid biosynthesis, whereas Phi. fortinii and dual-inoculation treatments mainly induced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. This is the first study revealing the morphological and metabolic mechanisms that contribute to the compatible relationship among ECM fungi, DSEs, and their co-host.}, } @article {pmid37673840, year = {2023}, author = {Protachevicz, AP and Paulitsch, F and Klepa, MS and Hainosz, J and Olchanheski, LR and Hungria, M and Stefania da Silva Batista, J}, title = {Pioneering Desmodium spp. are nodulated by natural populations of stress-tolerant alpha- and beta-rhizobia.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37673840}, issn = {1678-4405}, support = {408481/2021//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 465133/2014-4//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; }, abstract = {The rhizobia-Desmodium (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) symbiosis is generally described by its specificity with alpha-rhizobia, especially with Bradyrhizobium. Our study aimed to isolate rhizobia from root nodules of native D. barbatum, D. incanum, and D. discolor, collected in remnants of the biomes of Atlantic Forest and Cerrado in protected areas of the Paraná State, southern Brazil. Based on the 16S rRNA phylogeny, 18 out of 29 isolates were classified as Alphaproteobacteria (Bradyrhizobium and Allorhizobium/Rhizobium) and 11 as Betaproteobacteria (Paraburkholderia). Phylogeny of the recA gene of the alpha-rhizobia resulted in ten main clades, of which two did not group with any described rhizobial species. In the 16S rRNA phylogeny of the beta-rhizobia, Paraburkholderia strains from the same host and conservation unity occupied the same clade. Phenotypic characterization of representative strains revealed the ability of Desmodium rhizobia to grow under stressful conditions such as high temperature, salinity, low pH conditions, and tolerance of heavy metals and xenobiotic compounds. Contrasting with previous reports, our results revealed that Brazilian native Desmodium can exploit symbiotic interactions with stress-tolerant strains of alpha- and beta-rhizobia. Stress tolerance can highly contribute to the ecological success of Desmodium in this phytogeographic region, possibly relating to its pioneering ability in Brazil. We propose Desmodium as a promising model for studies of plant-rhizobia interactions.}, } @article {pmid37673252, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, Y and Liu, Y and Chen, W and Li, F and Guo, R and Ji, R and Chen, J}, title = {Carbon quantum dot-induced developmental toxicity in Daphnia magna involves disturbance of symbiotic microorganisms.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166825}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166825}, pmid = {37673252}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {With the increasing synthesis and application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), their prevalence as pollution in water environments has increased. However, the toxic effects of CQDs on aquatic organisms are unclear, and their environmental safety must be evaluated. Herein, Daphnia magna was used as a model organism to explore the developmental toxicity of CQDs under a full life-cycle exposure. It was found that the feeding rate and offing number of D. magna decreased with increasing CQD concentration, and the body length of D. magna showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. These results indicated that long-term exposure to CQDs has evident toxic effects on D. magna development. Symbiosis analysis showed that the composition of the symbiotic microbial community of D. magna was disturbed by CQDs. The abundance of microorganisms involved in the immune response of D. magna such as Rhodobacter, decreased; those involved in the inflammation such as Gemmobacter, increased; and those involved in the nitrogen cycle, such as Hydrogenophaga and Paracoccus, decreased. When D. magna was subjected to environmental pressure, host-microflora interactive immune regulation was induced. The abundance of probiotics in D. magna, such as Rhodococcus, increased in response to environmental pressure. The results of KEGG function prediction showed that the abundance of symbiotic microorganisms involved in energy absorption and metabolism was affected by CQDs. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that there was a correlation between the changes in the symbiotic microbial community and the damage to D. magna after exposure to CQDs. Thus, it is appealed that as a potential environmental pollutant, CQDs have aquatic environmental risks, and their safe application deserves attention.}, } @article {pmid37673219, year = {2023}, author = {Riquelme, S and Campos, V and Alzamora, R and Fiehn, O and Pérez, AJ}, title = {Lipidomics analysis reveals the effect of Sirex noctilio infestation on the lipid metabolism in Pinus radiata needles.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {111858}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111858}, pmid = {37673219}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {The Sirex noctilio's climatic adaption and rapid proliferation have caused Pinus mortality worldwide. The infestation combines the early effect of female S. noctilio gland secretion and the spreading symbiotic fungus Amylostereum areolatum. 'Lipidomics' is the study of all non-water-soluble components of the metabolome. Most of these non-water-soluble compounds correspond to lipids which can provide information about a biological activity, an organelle, an organism, or a disease. Using HPLC-MS/MS based lipidomics, 122 lipids were identified in P. radiata needles during S. noctilio infestation. Phosphatidic acids, N-acylethanolamines, and phosphatidylinositol-ceramides accumulated in infested trees could suggest a high level of phospholipases activities. The phosphatidylcholines were the most down-regulated species during infection, which could also suggest that they may be used as a substrate for up-regulated lipids. The accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids during the infestation could imply the tree defence response to create a barrier in the drilled zone to avoid larvae development and fungus proliferation. Also, the growth arrest phase of the trees during the prolonged infestation suggests a resistance response, regulated by the accumulation of NAE, which potentially shifts the tree energy to respond to the infestation.}, } @article {pmid37673189, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, J and Cheng, S and Zhang, Y and Teng, J and Zhang, M and Lin, H}, title = {Optimizing aeration intensity to enhance self-flocculation in algal-bacterial symbiosis systems.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {140064}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140064}, pmid = {37673189}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Effectuating optimal wastewater treatment via algae-bacterial symbiosis (ABS) systems necessitates the precise selection of aeration intensity. This study pioneers an in-depth investigation into the interplay of aeration intensity on the microalgal-bacterial consortia's self-flocculation efficacy and the overall treatment performance within ABS systems. The research provides evidence for a direct association between aeration intensity and biomass proliferation, indicating enhanced pollutant removal efficiency with escalated intensities (1.0 and 1.5 L min[-1]), though the variance lacks statistical significance. The peak self-flocculation efficacy of the microalgal-bacterial consortium (82.39% at 30 min) was manifested at an aeration intensity of 1.0 L min[-1]. The meticulous analysis of biomass properties showed the complexity of self-flocculation capacity in the consortium, which involves a dynamic interplay of several pivotal factors, including floc size, zeta potential, and EPS content. In situations where these factors pose conflicting influences, the determining factor emerges as the dominant influencer. In this study, the optimal aeration intensity was identified as 1 L min[-1], shedding light on the critical threshold for ABS system operation. This study not only enriches the understanding of microalgal-bacterial wastewater treatment mechanisms but also fosters innovative strategies to enhance the performance of such systems.}, } @article {pmid37673069, year = {2023}, author = {Harumoto, T}, title = {Self-stabilization mechanism encoded by a bacterial toxin facilitates reproductive parasitism.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.032}, pmid = {37673069}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {A wide variety of maternally transmitted endosymbionts in insects are associated with reproductive parasitism, whereby they interfere with host reproduction to increase the ratio of infected females and spread within populations.[1][,][2] Recent successes in identifying bacterial factors responsible for reproductive parasitism[3][,][4][,][5][,][6][,][7] as well as further omics approaches[8][,][9][,][10][,][11][,][12] have highlighted the common appearance of deubiquitinase domains, although their biological roles-in particular, how they link to distinct manipulative phenotypes-remain poorly defined. Spiroplasma poulsonii is a helical and motile bacterial endosymbiont of Drosophila,[13][,][14] which selectively kills male progeny with a male-killing toxin Spaid (S. poulsonii androcidin), which encodes an ovarian tumor (OTU) deubiquitinase domain.[6] Artificial expression of Spaid in flies reproduces male-killing-associated pathologies that include abnormal apoptosis and neural defects during embryogenesis[6][,][15][,][16][,][17][,][18][,][19]; moreover, it highly accumulates on the dosage-compensated male X chromosome,[20] congruent with cellular defects such as the DNA damage/chromatin bridge breakage specifically induced upon that chromosome.[6][,][21][,][22][,][23] Here, I show that without the function of OTU, Spaid is polyubiquitinated and degraded through the host ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, leading to the attenuation of male-killing activity as shown previously.[6] Furthermore, I find that Spaid utilizes its OTU domain to deubiquitinate itself in an intermolecular manner. Collectively, the deubiquitinase domain of Spaid serves as a self-stabilization mechanism to facilitate male killing in flies, optimizing a molecular strategy of endosymbionts that enables the efficient manipulation of the host at a low energetic cost.}, } @article {pmid37671776, year = {2023}, author = {Holkar, K and Kale, V and Pethe, P and Ingavle, G}, title = {The symbiotic effect of osteoinductive extracellular vesicles and mineralized microenvironment on osteogenesis.}, journal = {Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jbm.a.37600}, pmid = {37671776}, issn = {1552-4965}, support = {BT/PR41330/MED/32/768/2020//Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of India/ ; BT/RLF/Re-entry/37/2017//Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of India/ ; }, abstract = {The increasing prevalence of bone-related diseases has raised concern about the need for an osteoinductive and mechanically stronger scaffold-based bone tissue engineering (BTE) alternative. A mineralized microenvironment, similar to the native bone microenvironment, is required in the scaffold to recruit and differentiate local mesenchymal stem cells at the bone defect site. Further, extracellular vesicles (EVs), pre-osteoblasts' secretome, contain osteoinductive cargo and have recently been exploited in bone regeneration. This work developed a cell-free and mechanically strong interpenetrating network-based scaffold for BTE by combining the action of osteoinductive EVs with a mineralized microenvironment. The MC3T3 (a pre-osteoblast cell line) is used as a source of EVs and as the target population. The optimal concentration of MC3T3-EVs was first determined to induce osteogenesis in target cells. The osteoinductive potential of the scaffold was estimated in vitro by osteogenesis-related markers like the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme and calcium content. The MC3T3-EVs cargo was also studied for osteoinductive signals such as ALP, calcium, and mRNA. The findings of this work indicated that MC3T3-EVs at a 90 μg/mL dose had significantly higher ALP activity than 0 μg/mL (1.47-fold), 10 μg/mL (1.41-fold), and 30 μg/mL (1.39-fold) EV-concentration on day 14. Further combination of the optimum dose of EVs with a mineralized microenvironment significantly enhanced ALP activity (1.5-fold) and mineralization (3.36-fold) as compared to the control group on day 7. EV cargo analysis revealed the presence of calcium, the ALP enzyme, and the mRNAs necessary for osteogenesis and angiogenesis. ALP activity was significantly boosted in the EV-containing target cells as early as day 1, and mineralization began on day 7 because MC3T3-EVs carry ALP enzymes and calcium as cargo. When osteoinductive EVs were combined with an osteoconductive mineralized microenvironment, osteogenesis was significantly enhanced in target cells at early time points. The interaction between osteoinductive EVs and the mineralized milieu facilitates the process of osteogenesis in the target cells and suggests a potential cell-free strategy for in vivo bone repair.}, } @article {pmid37671087, year = {2023}, author = {Sethu Madhavan, A and Montanez Hernandez, LE and Gu, ZR and Subramanian, S}, title = {Effect of graphene on soybean root colonization by Bradyrhizobium strains.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e522}, pmid = {37671087}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {Legume crops such as soybean obtain a large portion of their nitrogen nutrition through symbiotic nitrogen fixation by diazotrophic rhizobia bacteria in root nodules. However, nodule occupancy by low-capacity nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can lead to lower-than-optimal levels of nitrogen fixation. Seed/root coating with engineered materials such as graphene-carrying biomolecules that may promote specific attraction/attachment of desirable bacterial strains is a potential strategy that can help overcome this rhizobia competition problem. As a first step towards this goal, we assessed the impact of graphene on soybean and Bradyrhizobium using a set of growth, biochemical, and physiological assays. Three different concentrations of graphene were tested for toxicity in soybean (50, 250, and 1,000 mg/l) and Bradyrhizobia (25, 50, and 100 mg/l). Higher graphene concentrations (250 mg/l and 1,000 mg/l) promoted seed germination but slightly delayed plant development. Spectrometric and microscopy assays for hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion suggested that specific concentrations of graphene led to higher levels of reactive oxygen species in the roots. In agreement, these roots also showed higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Conversely, no toxic effects were detected on Bradyrhizobia treated with graphene, and neither did they have higher levels of reactive oxygen species. Graphene treatments at 250 mg/l and 1,000 mg/l significantly reduced the number of nodules, but rhizobia infection and the overall nitrogenase activity were not affected. Our results show that graphene can be used as a potential vehicle for seed/root treatment.}, } @article {pmid37670990, year = {2023}, author = {Pérez-Llano, Y and Yarzábal Rodríguez, LA and Martínez-Romero, E and Dobson, ADW and Gunde-Cimerman, N and Vasconcelos, V and Batista-García, RA}, title = {From friends to foes: fungi could be emerging marine sponge pathogens under global change scenarios.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1213340}, pmid = {37670990}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid37667205, year = {2023}, author = {Araya, S and Elia, P and Quigley, CV and Song, Q}, title = {Genetic variation and genetic complexity of nodule occupancy in soybean inoculated with USDA110 and USDA123 rhizobium strains.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {520}, pmid = {37667205}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {8042-21000-289-00D and 8042-21000-285-00D//U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service/ ; }, mesh = {Soybeans/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Cytoplasm ; *Rhizobium ; Genetic Variation ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation differs among Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains. Soybean inoculated with USDA123 has a lower yield than strains known to have high nitrogen fixation efficiency, such as USDA110. In the main soybean-producing area in the Midwest of the United States, USDA123 has a high nodule incidence in field-grown soybean and is competitive but inefficient in nitrogen fixation. In this study, a high-throughput system was developed to characterize nodule number among 1,321 Glycine max and 69 Glycine soja accessions single inoculated with USDA110 and USDA123.

RESULTS: Seventy-three G. max accessions with significantly different nodule number of USDA110 and USDA123 were identified. After double inoculating 35 of the 73 accessions, it was observed that PI189939, PI317335, PI324187B, PI548461, PI562373, and PI628961 were occupied by USDA110 and double-strain nodules but not by USDA123 nodules alone. PI567624 was only occupied by USDA110 nodules, and PI507429 restricted all strains. Analysis showed that 35 loci were associated with nodule number in G. max when inoculated with strain USDA110 and 35 loci with USDA123. Twenty-three loci were identified in G. soja when inoculated with strain USDA110 and 34 with USDA123. Only four loci were common across two treatments, and each locus could only explain 0.8 to 1.5% of phenotypic variation.

CONCLUSIONS: High-throughput phenotyping systems to characterize nodule number and occupancy were developed, and soybean germplasm restricting rhizobium strain USDA123 but preferring USDA110 was identified. The larger number of minor effects and a small few common loci controlling the nodule number indicated trait genetic complexity and strain-dependent nodulation restriction. The information from the present study will add to the development of cultivars that limit USDA123, thereby increasing nitrogen fixation efficiency and productivity.}, } @article {pmid37667053, year = {2023}, author = {}, title = {TFPI2 is key for cancer stem cell-microglia symbiosis in glioblastoma.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37667053}, issn = {1529-2916}, } @article {pmid37664184, year = {2023}, author = {Mendoza-Hoffmann, F and Yang, L and Buratto, D and Brito-Sánchez, J and Garduño-Javier, G and Salinas-López, E and Uribe-Álvarez, C and Ortega, R and Sotelo-Serrano, O and Cevallos, MÁ and Ramírez-Silva, L and Uribe-Carvajal, S and Pérez-Hernández, G and Celis-Sandoval, H and García-Trejo, JJ}, title = {Inhibitory to non-inhibitory evolution of the ζ subunit of the F1FO-ATPase of Paracoccus denitrificans and α-proteobacteria as related to mitochondrial endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1184200}, pmid = {37664184}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Introduction: The ζ subunit is a potent inhibitor of the F1FO-ATPase of Paracoccus denitrificans (PdF1FO-ATPase) and related α-proteobacteria different from the other two canonical inhibitors of bacterial (ε) and mitochondrial (IF1) F1FO-ATPases. ζ mimics mitochondrial IF1 in its inhibitory N-terminus, blocking the PdF1FO-ATPase activity as a unidirectional pawl-ratchet and allowing the PdF1FO-ATP synthase turnover. ζ is essential for the respiratory growth of P. denitrificans, as we showed by a Δζ knockout. Given the vital role of ζ in the physiology of P. denitrificans, here, we assessed the evolution of ζ across the α-proteobacteria class. Methods: Through bioinformatic, biochemical, molecular biology, functional, and structural analyses of several ζ subunits, we confirmed the conservation of the inhibitory N-terminus of ζ and its divergence toward its C-terminus. We reconstituted homologously or heterologously the recombinant ζ subunits from several α-proteobacteria into the respective F-ATPases, including free-living photosynthetic, facultative symbiont, and intracellular facultative or obligate parasitic α-proteobacteria. Results and discussion: The results show that ζ evolved, preserving its inhibitory function in free-living α-proteobacteria exposed to broad environmental changes that could compromise the cellular ATP pools. However, the ζ inhibitory function was diminished or lost in some symbiotic α-proteobacteria where ζ is non-essential given the possible exchange of nutrients and ATP from hosts. Accordingly, the ζ gene is absent in some strictly parasitic pathogenic Rickettsiales, which may obtain ATP from the parasitized hosts. We also resolved the NMR structure of the ζ subunit of Sinorhizobium meliloti (Sm-ζ) and compared it with its structure modeled in AlphaFold. We found a transition from a compact ordered non-inhibitory conformation into an extended α-helical inhibitory N-terminus conformation, thus explaining why the Sm-ζ cannot exert homologous inhibition. However, it is still able to inhibit the PdF1FO-ATPase heterologously. Together with the loss of the inhibitory function of α-proteobacterial ε, the data confirm that the primary inhibitory function of the α-proteobacterial F1FO-ATPase was transferred from ε to ζ and that ζ, ε, and IF1 evolved by convergent evolution. Some key evolutionary implications on the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria, as most likely derived from α-proteobacteria, are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid37664126, year = {2023}, author = {Sui, L and Lu, Y and Zhou, L and Li, N and Li, Q and Zhang, Z}, title = {Endophytic Beauveria bassiana promotes plant biomass growth and suppresses pathogen damage by directional recruitment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1227269}, pmid = {37664126}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) can colonize and establish symbiotic relationships with plants as endophytes. Recently, EPF have been reported to suppress plant pathogens and induce plant resistance to diseases. However, the potential mechanisms via which EPF as endophytes control major plant diseases in situ remain largely unknown.

METHODS: Pot and field experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanisms via which an EPF, Beauveria bassiana, colonizes tomato, under Botrytis cinerea infection stress. B. bassiana blastospores were inoculated into tomato plants by root irrigation. Tomato resistance to tomato gray mold caused by B. cinerea was evaluated by artificial inoculation, and B. bassiana colonization in plants and rhizosphere soil under B. cinerea infection stress was evaluated by colony counting and quantitative PCR. Furthermore, the expression levels of three disease resistance-related genes (OXO, CHI, and atpA) in tomato leaves were determined to explore the effect of B. bassiana colonization on plant disease resistance performance in pot experiments.

RESULTS: B. bassiana colonization could improve resistance of tomato plants to gray mold caused by B. cinerea. The incidence rate, lesion diameter, and disease index of gray mold decreased in both the pot and field experiments following B. bassiana colonization. B. bassiana was more likely to accumulate in the pathogen infected leaves, while decreasing in the rhizosphere soil, and induced the expression of plant resistance genes, which were up-regulated in leaves.

DISCUSSION: The results indicated that plants could "recruit" B. bassiana from rhizosphere soil to diseased plants as directional effects, which then enhanced plant growth and resistance against pathogens, consequently inhibiting pathogen infection and multiplication in plants. Our findings provide novel insights that enhance our understanding of the roles of EPF during pathogen challenge.}, } @article {pmid37662426, year = {2023}, author = {Kuroda, K and Tomita, S and Kurashita, H and Hatamoto, M and Yamaguchi, T and Hori, T and Aoyagi, T and Sato, Y and Inaba, T and Habe, H and Tamaki, H and Hagihara, Y and Tamura, T and Narihiro, T}, title = {Metabolic implications for predatory and parasitic bacterial lineages in activated sludge wastewater treatment systems.}, journal = {Water research X}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {100196}, pmid = {37662426}, issn = {2589-9147}, abstract = {Deciphering unclear microbial interactions is key to improving biological wastewater treatment processes. Microbial predation and parasitism in wastewater treatment ecosystems are unexplored survival strategies that have long been known and have recently attracted attention because these interspecies interactions may contribute to the reduction of excess sludge. Here, microbial community profiling of 600 activated sludge samples taken from six industrial and one municipal wastewater treatment processes (WWTPs) was conducted. To identify the shared lineages in the WWTPs, the shared microbial constituents were defined as the family level taxa that had ≥ 0.1% average relative abundance and detected in all processes. The microbial community analysis assigned 106 families as the shared microbial constituents in the WWTPs. Correlation analysis showed that 98 of the 106 shared families were significantly correlated with total carbon (TC) and/or total nitrogen (TN) concentrations, suggesting that they may contribute to wastewater remediation. Most possible predatory or parasitic bacteria belonging to the phyla Bdellovibrionota, Myxococcota, and Candidatus Patescibacteria were found to be the shared families and negatively correlated with TC/TN; thus, they were frequently present in the WWTPs and could be involved in the removal of carbon/nitrogen derived from cell components. Shotgun metagenome-resolved metabolic reconstructions indicated that gene homologs associated with predation or parasitism are conserved in the Bdellovibrionota, Myxococcota, and Ca. Patescibacteria genomes (e.g., host interaction (hit) locus, Tad-like secretion complexes, and type IV pilus assembly proteins). This study provides insights into the complex microbial interactions potentially linked to the reduction of excess sludge biomass in these processes.}, } @article {pmid37662018, year = {2023}, author = {Hua, Z and Xu, L and Zhu, J and Xiao, L and Lu, B and Wu, J and Wu, Z and Zhou, Q and Zhang, J}, title = {Helicobacter pylori infection altered gastric microbiota in patients with chronic gastritis.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1221433}, pmid = {37662018}, issn = {2235-2988}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection on gastric mucosal microbiota in patients with chronic gastritis.

METHODS: Here recruited a population of 193 patients with both chronic gastritis and positive rapid urease, including 124 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and 69 patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis (nCAG). Immunoblotting was used to detect four serum Hp antibodies (UreA, UreB, VacA and CagA) to determine the types of virulent Hp-I and avirulent Hp-II infections. Gastric microbiota was profiled by 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region, and R software was used to present the relationship between the microbial characteristics and the type of Hp infection.

RESULTS: In the stomach of patients with Hp-positive gastritis, the dominant gastric bacterial genera included Ralstonia (23.94%), Helicobacter (20.28%), Pseudonocardia (9.99%), Mesorhizobium (9.21%), Bradyrhizobium (5.05%), and Labrys (4.75%). The proportion of Hp-I infection was significantly higher in CAG patients (91.1%) than in nCAG patients (71.0%) (P < 0.001). The gastric microbiota richness index (observed OTUs, Chao) was significantly lower in CAG patients than in nCAG patients (P <0.05). Compared with avirulent Hp-II infection, virulent Hp-I infection significantly decreased the Shannon index in CAG patients (P <0.05). In nCAG patients, Hp-I infected patients had lower abundances of several dominant gastric bacteria (Aliidiomarina, Reyranella, Halomonas, Pseudomonas, Acidovorax) than Hp-II infected patients. Meanwhile, in CAG patients, Hp-I infected patients occupied lower abundances of several dominant oral bacteria (Neisseria, Staphylococcus and Haemophilus) than Hp-II infected patients. In addition, bile reflux significantly promoted the colonization of dominant oral microbiota (Veillonella, Prevotella 7 and Rothia) in the stomach of CAG patients. There was no significant symbiotic relationship between Helicobacter bacteria and non-Helicobacter bacteria in the stomach of nCAG patients, while Helicobacter bacteria distinctly linked with the non-Helicobacter bacteria (Pseudolabrys, Ralstonia, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Variovorax) in CAG patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Virulent Hp infection alters the gastric microbiota, reduces microbial diversity, and enhances the symbiotic relationship between the Helicobacter bacteria and non-Helicobacter bacteria in patients with chronic gastritis. The data provides new evidence for treating Hp infection by improving the gastric microbiota.}, } @article {pmid37661977, year = {2023}, author = {Agrawal, A and Kumar, V and Pillai, AR}, title = {Contribution of masticatory muscle pattern to craniofacial morphology in normal adults: A cross-sectional MRI study.}, journal = {National journal of maxillofacial surgery}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {213-220}, pmid = {37661977}, issn = {0975-5950}, abstract = {PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the muscle pattern of medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid, and masseter (length, cross-section, and angulation) in adult non-orthodontic patients and its effect on craniofacial structures.

METHODS: The study was conducted from January 14, 2019 to January 14, 2020. Ethical clearance of this study was obtained from the ethical committee Ethical Clearance was obtained from Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS, BHU, Institutional Ethical Committee with Ref no. Dean/2019/EC/1824 dated 23.04.2019 of the university. The sample size was estimated using the G-power statistical program. Power analysis indicated a minimum sample size of 27. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set. Consent was taken from participants. Seventy-seven subjects who were willing to participate and have given written consent were enrolled for the study. Participants were sent for lateral cephalometry (Dolphin Cephalometric software) Dolphin Imaging and management solution, for 6 angular and 11 linear measurements. Nineteen subjects did not turn up for the scan. Twenty-eight participants underwent MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to evaluate muscle patterns (masseter, medial, and lateral pterygoid). The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, descriptive statistics, and multiple regression analysis were computed. The P value was set as ≤0.001(highly statistically significant) and ≤0.05 (significant relation).

RESULTS: There was a highly statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) association between masseter length to upper facial height (N-Ans) and ramal length (Cd-Go). Length of medial pterygoid was significantly related (p ≤ 0.05) with SNB and length of body of mandible (Pog-Go). The cross-section of this muscle showed significant relation with upper facial height (N-Ans) and ramal length (Cd-Go). The correlation of the length of lateral pterygoid with upper facial height (N-Ans) and maxillary length (A-Ptm) was highly significant.

CONCLUSION: The muscle pattern has a significant correlation with maxillofacial morphology. The masseter muscle is the longest and thickest (cross-section) and is angulated vertically than the other two muscles (medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid). Of the three muscles, the medial pterygoid influences more common craniofacial parameters suggestive of its symbiotic activity. Lateral pterygoid affects the maxillary length and facial height.}, } @article {pmid37661212, year = {2023}, author = {Bandeira, JB and Rodrigues, JN and de Oliveira, RS and Pinto, IO and Chagas-Júnior, AF and Nascimento, VL and Sarmento, MI and de Moraes, CB and Sarmento, RA}, title = {Endophytic colonization of five Trichoderma species and their effects on growth of a Eucalyptus hybrid.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37661212}, issn = {1678-4405}, abstract = {The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of endophytic colonization via leaf and root inoculation of five Trichoderma species in a Eucalyptus hybrid, as well as the effects of inoculation on plant growth. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme. Plant growth was evaluated during the experimental period at three different times: 20 days after inoculation (d.a.i), 40 d.a.i., and 60 d.a.i. A statistical difference was observed between the inoculation methods during each period and between the Trichoderma species. Plants inoculated with T. asperellum showed the greatest growth among the treatments. Root-inoculated plants produced the greatest growth response. This showed that the presence of Trichoderma in the roots assisted in nutrient assimilation, promoted greater plant growth, when compared with leaf-inoculated plants. Evaluation of the effectiveness of endophytic colonization was performed at each sampling period by collecting leaf samples, and at 60 d.a.i., by collecting leaf, stem, and root samples. T. longibrachiatum and T. harzianum were isolated from leaves at 20 d.a.i., with an increase in the number of colonized plants throughout the evaluation of leaf-inoculated plants. In root-inoculated plants, treatment with T. longibrachiatum, T. harzianum, and T. asperellum presented the highest endophytic colonization in the stem and root samples (at 60 d.a.i.).}, } @article {pmid37660824, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, Y and Cheung, S and Koh, XP and Xia, X and Jing, H and Lee, P and Kao, SJ and Gan, J and Dai, M and Liu, H}, title = {Active degradation-nitrification microbial assemblages in the hypoxic zone in a subtropical estuary.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166694}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166694}, pmid = {37660824}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {In 2017 summer, we observed widespread bottom hypoxia at the lower estuary of the Pearl River estuary (PRE). Our previous study noticed that AOA and bacteria were highly abundant and clustered within the hypoxia zone. Moreover, nitrification and respiration rates were also evidently higher in these hypoxic waters. These observations prompt us to investigate whether these two oxygen-consuming microorganisms have symbiotic relationships and whether specific groups consistently coexist and form ecological-meaningful associations. In this study, we use network analysis to investigate the presence and active communities (DNA-RNA) based on bacterial and AOA communities sequencing (inferred from the 16S rRNA and amoA gene, respectively) to gain more insight into ecological-meaningful associations. We observed a highly diverse and active bacterial community in the hypoxia zone. The RNA networks were more modulized than the corresponding DNA networks, indicating that the active communities were better parsed into functional microbial assemblages. The network topology revealed that Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes (Flavobacteriales), Alphaproteobacteria (Rhodobacterales and Rhodospirillales), Marinimicrobia, Cyanobacteria (Synechococcales), and AOA sublineages were module hubs and connectors, indicating that they were the keystone taxa of the microbial communities. The hub-subnetwork further showed robust co-occurrence between Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes (Flavobacteriales), Alphaproteobacteria (Rhodobacterales and Rhodospirillales), Marinimicrobia with AOA sublineages, and Nitrospinae (presumably NOB) reflecting the formation of Degradation-Nitrification (sequential oxidation of Organic matter degradation to ammonia, then nitrate) microbial assemblage in the hypoxia zone. The subnetworks revealed AOA ecotype-specific modularization and niche partitioning of different AOA sublineages. Interestingly, the recurring co-occurrence of nitrifiers assemblage in the RNA subnetworks (SCM1-like-II (AOA) and Nitrospinae OTUs (NOB) suggests an active interaction via nitrite exchange. The Degradation-Nitrification microbial assemblage may contribute substantially to the oxygen consumption in the hypoxia formation in PRE. Our results provide new insight into the functional microbial assemblages, which is worth further investigation on their ecological implication in estuarine waters.}, } @article {pmid37660816, year = {2023}, author = {Dong, J and Yang, B and Wang, H and Cao, X and He, F and Wang, L}, title = {Reveal molecular mechanism on the effects of silver nanoparticles on nitrogen transformation and related functional microorganisms in an agricultural soil.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166765}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166765}, pmid = {37660816}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely present in aquatic and soil environment, raising significant concerns about their impacts on creatures in ecosystem. While the toxicity of AgNPs on microorganisms has been reported, their effects on biogeochemical processes and specific functional microorganisms remain relatively unexplored. In this study, a 28-day microcosmic experiment was conducted to investigate the dose-dependent effects of AgNPs (10 mg and 100 mg Ag kg[-1] soil) on nitrogen transformation and functional microorganisms in agricultural soils. The molecular mechanisms were uncovered by examining change in functional microorganisms and metabolic pathways. To enable comparison, the toxicity of positive control with an equivalent Ag[+] dose from CH3COOAg was also included. The results indicated that both AgNPs and CH3COOAg enhanced nitrogen fixation and nitrification, corresponding to increased relative abundances of associated functional genes. However, they inhibited denitrification via downregulating nirS, nirK, and nosZ genes as well as reducing nitrate and nitrite reductase activities. In contrast to high dose of AgNPs, low levels increased bacterial diversity. AgNPs and CH3COOAg altered the activities of associated metabolic pathways, resulting in the enrichment of specific taxa that demonstrated tolerance to Ag. At genus level, AgNPs increased the relative abundances of nitrogen-fixing Microvirga and Bacillus by 0.02 %-629.39 % and 14.44 %-30.10 %, respectively, compared with control group (CK). The abundances of denitrifying bacteria, such as Rhodoplanes, Pseudomonas, and Micromonospora, decreased by 19.03 % to 32.55 %, 24.73 % to 50.05 %, and 15.66 % to 76.06 %, respectively, compared to CK. CH3COOAg reduced bacterial network complexity, diminished the symbiosis mode compared to AgNPs. The prediction of genes involved in metabolic pathways related to membrane transporter and cell motility showed sensitive to AgNPs exposure in the soil. Further studies involving metabolomics are necessary to reveal the essential effects of AgNPs and CH3COOAg on biogeochemical cycle of elements in agricultural soil.}, } @article {pmid37660246, year = {2023}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Role of host ciliate Paramecium bursaria mitochondria and trichocysts for symbiotic Chlorella variabilis attachment beneath the host cell cortex.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnad088}, pmid = {37660246}, issn = {1574-6968}, abstract = {Symbiotic Chlorella variabilis is encased in the perialgal vacuole (PV) membrane of ciliate Paramecium bursaria. The PV membrane is stably anchored below the host cell cortex by adhesion to host mitochondria. Host trichocysts, which are defensive organelles against predators, are present in the mitochondria and PV membrane vicinity. The mechanism by which PV attaches beneath the host cell cortex remains unknown. When P. bursaria is centrifuged at high speed, the symbiotic algae are displaced from the host cell cortex and concentrate at the posterior end. When centrifugation is stopped, the dislocated algae reattach beneath the host cell cortex with fast cytoplasmic streaming. The densities of mitochondria and trichocysts before and after centrifugation were compared using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with monoclonal antibodies. Almost all trichocysts were shed by high-speed centrifugation, but dislocated algae could reattach even in the absence of trichocysts. In contrast, host mitochondria were unaffected in localization and number, and the dislocated algae also reattached. These findings suggest trichocysts are unnecessary for algal re-localization and that mitochondria are colocalized with the algae. However, many mitochondria were also present in the cell's anterior region without symbiotic algae. Therefore, not all areas with mitochondria contained algae, but there was a localization bias within the host cell.}, } @article {pmid37660169, year = {2023}, author = {Sevanto, S and Gehring, CA and Ryan, MG and Patterson, A and Losko, AS and Vogel, SC and Carter, KR and Dickman, LT and Espy, MA and Kuske, CR}, title = {Benefits of symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi to plant water relations depend on plant genotype in pinyon pine.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {14424}, pmid = {37660169}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {20160373ER//Los Alamos National Laboratory Directed Research and Development/ ; 20200109DR//Los Alamos National Laboratory Directed Research and Development/ ; }, abstract = {Rhizosphere microbes, such as root-associated fungi, can improve plant access to soil resources, affecting plant health, productivity, and stress tolerance. While mycorrhizal associations are ubiquitous, plant-microbe interactions can be species specific. Here we show that the specificity of the effects of microbial symbionts on plant function can go beyond species level: colonization of roots by ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) of the genus Geopora has opposite effects on water uptake, and stomatal control of desiccation in drought tolerant and intolerant genotypes of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis Engelm.). These results demonstrate, for the first time, that microorganisms can have significant and opposite effects on important plant functional traits like stomatal control of desiccation that are associated with differential mortality and growth in nature. They also highlight that appropriate pairing of plant genotypes and microbial associates will be important for mitigating climate change impacts on vegetation.}, } @article {pmid37659972, year = {2023}, author = {Moura, FT and Helene, LCF and Ribeiro, RA and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {The outstanding diversity of rhizobia microsymbionts of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Mato Grosso do Sul, central-western Brazil, revealing new Rhizobium species.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {205}, number = {9}, pages = {325}, pmid = {37659972}, issn = {1432-072X}, support = {CNPq 465133/2014-4//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; Fundação Araucária-STI 043/2019//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; CAPES//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; CNPq 465133/2014-4//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; Fundação Araucária-STI 043/2019//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; CAPES//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; CNPq 465133/2014-4//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; Fundação Araucária-STI 043/2019//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; CAPES//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; }, abstract = {Common bean is considered a legume of great socioeconomic importance, capable of establishing symbioses with a wide variety of rhizobial species. However, the legume has also been recognized for its low efficiency in fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Brazil is a hotspot of biodiversity, and in a previous study, we identified 13 strains isolated from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nodules in three biomes of Mato Grosso do Sul state, central-western Brazil, that might represent new phylogenetic groups, deserving further polyphasic characterization. The phylogenetic tree of the 16S rRNA gene split the 13 strains into two large clades, seven in the R. etli and six in the R. tropici clade. The MLSA with four housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoA) confirmed the phylogenetic allocation. Genomic comparisons indicated eight strains in five putative new species and the remaining five as R. phaseoli. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) comparing the putative new species and the closest neighbors ranged from 81.84 to 92.50% and 24.0 to 50.7%, respectively. Other phenotypic, genotypic, and symbiotic features were evaluated. Interestingly, some strains of both R. etli and R. tropici clades lost their nodulation capacity. The data support the description of the new species Rhizobium cerradonense sp. nov. (CNPSo 3464[T]), Rhizobium atlanticum sp. nov. (CNPSo 3490[T]), Rhizobium aureum sp. nov. (CNPSo 3968[T]), Rhizobium pantanalense sp. nov. (CNPSo 4039[T]), and Rhizobium centroccidentale sp. nov. (CNPSo 4062[T]).}, } @article {pmid37658881, year = {2023}, author = {Owashi, Y and Minami, T and Kikuchi, T and Yoshida, A and Nakano, R and Kageyama, D and Adachi-Hagimori, T}, title = {Microbiome of Zoophytophagous Biological Control Agent Nesidiocoris tenuis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37658881}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Many insects are associated with endosymbionts that influence the feeding, reproduction, and distribution of their hosts. Although the small green mirid, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), a zoophytophagous predator that feeds on plants as well as arthropods, is a globally important biological control agent, its microbiome has not been sufficiently studied. In the present study, we assessed the microbiome variation in 96 N. tenuis individuals from 14 locations throughout Japan, based on amplicon sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Nine major bacteria associated with N. tenuis were identified: Rickettsia, two strains of Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Providencia, Serratia, Pseudochrobactrum, Lactococcus, and Stenotrophomonas. Additionally, a diagnostic PCR analysis for three typical insect reproductive manipulators, Rickettsia, Wolbachia, and Spiroplasma, was performed on a larger sample size (n = 360) of N. tenuis individuals; the most prevalent symbiont was Rickettsia (69.7%), followed by Wolbachia (39.2%) and Spiroplasma (6.1%). Although some symbionts were co-infected, their prevalence did not exhibit any specific tendency, such as a high frequency in specific infection combinations. The infection frequency of Rickettsia was significantly correlated with latitude and temperature, while that of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma was significantly correlated with host plants. The predominance of these bacteria and the absence of obligate symbionts suggested that the N. tenuis microbiome is typical for predatory arthropods rather than sap-feeding insects. Rickettsia and Wolbachia were vertically transmitted rather than horizontally transmitted from the prey. The functional validation of each symbiont would be warranted to develop N. tenuis as a biological control agent.}, } @article {pmid37658745, year = {2023}, author = {Davison, HR and Crozier, J and Pirro, S and Kampen, H and Werner, D and Hurst, GDD}, title = {'Candidatus Tisiphia' is a widespread Rickettsiaceae symbiont in the mosquito Anopheles plumbeus (Diptera: Culicidae).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16486}, pmid = {37658745}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {IRGEN_RG_2021-1345/IRGEN/IRGEN/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria can alter host biology by providing protection from natural enemies, or alter reproduction or vectoral competence. Symbiont-linked control of vector-borne disease in Anopheles has been hampered by a lack of symbioses that can establish stable vertical transmission in the host. Previous screening found the symbiont 'Candidatus Tisiphia' in Anopheles plumbeus, an aggressive biter and potential secondary vector of malaria parasites and West Nile virus. We screened samples collected over 10-years across Germany and used climate databases to assess environmental influence on incidence. We observed a 95% infection rate, and that the frequency of infection did not fluctuate with broad environmental factors. Maternal inheritance is indicated by presence in the ovaries through FISH microscopy. Finally, we assembled a high-quality 1.6 Mbp draft genome of 'Ca. Tisiphia' to explore its phylogeny and potential metabolic competence. The infection is closely related to strains found in Culicoides biting midges and shows similar patterns of metabolism, providing no evidence of the capacity to synthesize B-vitamins. This infection offers avenues for onward research in anopheline mosquito symbioses. Additionally, it provides future opportunity to study the impact of 'Ca. Tisiphia' on natural and transinfected hosts, especially in relation to reproductive fitness and vectorial competence and capacity.}, } @article {pmid37659705, year = {2023}, author = {Takemoto, K and Tsurugi-Sakurada, A and Moriuchi, R and Yoneda, Y and Kawai, S}, title = {Cloning and characterization of NADPH-dependent double-bond reductases from Alnus sieboldiana that recognize linear diarylheptanoids as substrates.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {113850}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113850}, pmid = {37659705}, issn = {1873-3700}, abstract = {Diarylheptanoids are secondary metabolites of plants that comprise a C6-C7-C6 scaffold. They can be broadly classified into linear-type and cyclic-type diarylheptanoids based on their chemical structures. Actinorhizal trees, such as Casuarina, Alnus, and Myrica, which form nodule symbiosis with actinomycetes Frankia, produce cyclic diarylheptanoids (CDHs); in Alnus sieboldiana Matsum. in particular, we have reported that the addition of CDHs leads to an increase in the number of nodules. However, the information available on the biosynthesis of CDHs is scarce. A greater number of plants CDHs (including those isolated from actinorhizal trees) with a saturated heptane chain have been isolated compared with linear, non-cyclic diarylheptanoids. To identify the genes involved in the synthesis of these compounds, genes with significant sequence similarity to existing plant double-bond reductases were screened in A. sieboldiana. This report describes the isolation and characterization of two A. sieboldiana double-bond reductases (AsDBR1 and AsDBR2) that catalyze the NADPH-dependent reduction of bisdemethoxycurcumin and curcumin. The optimum pH for the two enzymes was 5.0. The apparent Km values for bisdemethoxycurcumin and NADPH were 4.24 and 3.53 μM in the case of AsDBR1, and 2.55 and 2.13 μM for AsDBR2. The kcat value was 9.4-fold higher for AsDBR1 vs. AsDBR2 when using the bisdemethoxycurcumin substrate. Interestingly, the two AsDBRs failed to reduce the phenylpropanoid monomer.}, } @article {pmid37659235, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, X and Chen, D and Hou, X and Jiang, N and Li, Y and Ge, S and Mu, Y and Shen, J}, title = {Nitrification-denitrification co-metabolism in an algal-bacterial aggregates system for simultaneous pyridine and nitrogen removal.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {460}, number = {}, pages = {132390}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132390}, pmid = {37659235}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Photosynthetic oxygenation in algal-bacterial symbiotic (ABS) system was mainly concerned to enhance contaminant biodegradation by developing an aerobic environment, while the role of nitrification-denitrification involved is often neglected. In this study, an algal-bacterial aggregates (ABA) system was developed with algae and activated sludge (PBR-1) to achieve simultaneous pyridine and nitrogen removal. In PBR-1, as high as 150 mg·L[-1] pyridine could be completely removed at hydraulic residence time of 48 h. Besides, total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency could be maintained above 80%. Nitrification-denitrification was verified as the crucial process for nitrogen removal, accounting for 79.3% of TN removal at 180 μmol·m[-2]·s[-1]. Moreover, simultaneous pyridine and nitrogen removal was enhanced through nitrification-denitrification co-metabolism in the ABA system. Integrated bioprocesses in PBR-1 including photosynthesis, pyridine biodegradation, carbon and nitrogen assimilation, and nitrification-denitrification, were revealed at metabolic and transcriptional levels. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis indicated that algae and aerobic species were located in the surface layer, while denitrifiers were situated in the inner layer. Microelectrode analysis confirmed the microenvironment of ABA with dissolved oxygen and pH gradients, which was beneficial for simultaneous pyridine and nitrogen removal. Mechanism of nitrification-denitrification involved in pyridine and nitrogen removal was finally elucidated under the scale of ABA.}, } @article {pmid37658688, year = {2023}, author = {Khazi, MI and Liaqat, F and Liu, X and Yilin, Y and Zhu, D}, title = {Fermentation, functional analysis and biological activities of turmeric kombucha.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.12962}, pmid = {37658688}, issn = {1097-0010}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Kombucha is a popular fermented drink with therapeutic benefits. The purpose of this study was to examine the fermentation of turmeric-infused kombucha and evaluate its biological activities and functional properties.

RESULTS: The study of pH dynamics during fermentation found that turmeric kombucha has a lesser pH decrease than standard kombucha, with the lowest pH of 3.1 was observed in 0.1% turmeric kombucha and the maximum pH of 3.8 was found in 1% turmeric kombucha. The research shows that the symbiotic consortia of bacteria and yeast alters during the fermentation process with turmeric. GC-MS analysis revealed that turmeric kombucha is abundant in terpenes, ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, phenols, and fatty acids, with higher levels of active ingredients than regular kombucha. The kombucha with 0.6% turmeric had the highest overall acceptance score (9.0) in sensory evaluation. The total phenolic content after fermentation was in the range of 0.2 - 0.8 mg GAE/mL. Increasing turmeric concentrations increased the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activity of kombucha analogues, with the highest antioxidant activity (89%) observed at 0.8% turmeric, and the maximum cytotoxicity (74%) and antibacterial activity (zones of inhibition of 17.7 mm and 15.6 mm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively) observed at 1% turmeric.

CONCLUSION: The fermentation of kombucha infused with turmeric enhanced its biological activities, making it a healthier alternative to traditional kombucha and presenting new opportunities in the field of functional foods. Further investigations into the mechanisms underlying these effects and in vivo studies are warranted to fully comprehend the impact of turmeric kombucha consumption on human health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid37657822, year = {2023}, author = {Ishida, H and John, U and Murray, SA and Bhattacharya, D and Chan, CX}, title = {Developing model systems for dinoflagellates in the post-genomic era.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13386}, pmid = {37657822}, issn = {1529-8817}, support = {Thomas Davies Research Grant//Australian Academy of Science/ ; DP190102474//Australian Research Council/ ; Hatch NJ01180//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; Research Training Program//The University of Queensland/ ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of eukaryotic microbes that are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. Largely photosynthetic, they encompass symbiotic, parasitic, and free-living lineages with a broad spectrum of trophism. Many free-living taxa can produce bioactive secondary metabolites such as biotoxins, some of which cause harmful algal blooms. In contrast, most symbiotic species are crucial for sustaining coral reef health. The year 2023 marked a decade since the first genome data of dinoflagellates became available. The growing genome-scale resources for these taxa are highlighting their remarkable evolutionary and genomic complexities. Here, we discuss the prospect of developing dinoflagellate models using the criteria of accessibility, tractability, resources, research support, and promise. Moving forward in the post-genomic era, we argue for the development of fit-to-purpose models that tailor to specific biological contexts, and that a one-size-fits-all model is inadequate for encapsulating the complex biology, ecology, and evolutionary history of dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid37657540, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, Y and Callaham, MA and Wu, X and Zhang, Y and Wu, D}, title = {Gut microbial communities and their potential roles in cellulose digestion and thermal adaptation of earthworms.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166666}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166666}, pmid = {37657540}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Adaptations to temperature and food resources, which can be affected by gut microbiota, are two main adaptive strategies allowing soil fauna to survive in their habitats, especially for cold-blooded animals. Earthworms are often referred to as ecosystem engineers because they make up the biggest component of the animal biomass found in the soil. They are considered as an important indicator in the triangle of soil quality, health and functions. However, the roles of gut microbiota in the environmental adaptation of earthworms at a large scale remain obscure. We explored the gut bacterial communities and their functions in the environmental adaptation of two widespread earthworm species (Eisenia nordenskioldi Eisen and Drawida ghilarovi Gates) in northeast China (1661 km). Based on our findings, the alpha diversity of gut bacterial communities decreased with the increase of latitude, and the gut bacterial community composition was shaped by both mean annual temperature (MAT) and cellulose. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetes, recognized as the predominant cellulose degraders, were keystone taxa driving gut bacterial interactions. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetes were influenced by MAT and cellulose, and had higher contributions to gut total cellulase activity. The optimal temperature for total cellulase in the gut of E. nordenskioldi (25-30 °C) was lower than that of D ghilarovi (40 °C). The gut microbiota-deleted earthworms had the lowest cellulose degradation rate (1.07 %). The cellulose was degraded faster by gut bacteria from the host they were derived, indicating the presence of home field advantage of cellulose decomposition. This study provides a foundation for understanding the biotic strategies adopted by earthworms when they enter a new habitat, with gut microbiota being central to food digestion and environmental adaptability.}, } @article {pmid37656879, year = {2023}, author = {Haldar, S and Jadhav, SR and Gulati, V and Beale, DJ and Balkrishna, A and Varshney, A and Palombo, EA and Karpe, AV and Shah, RM}, title = {Unravelling the gut-lung axis: insights into microbiome interactions and Traditional Indian Medicine's perspective on optimal health.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad103}, pmid = {37656879}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {The microbiome of the human gut is a complex assemblage of microorganisms that are in a symbiotic relationship with one another and profoundly influence every aspect of human health. According to converging evidence, the human gut is a nodal point for the physiological performance matrixes of the vital organs on several axes (i.e. gut-brain, gut-lung, etc.). As a result of COVID-19, the importance of gut-lung dysbiosis (balance or imbalance) has been realised. In view of this, it is of utmost importance to develop a comprehensive understanding of the microbiome, as well as its dysbiosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the gut-lung axial microbiome and its importance in maintaining optimal health. Human populations have successfully adapted to geophysical conditions through traditional dietary practices from around the world. In this context, a section has been devoted to the traditional Indian system of medicine and its theories and practices regarding the maintenance of optimally customized gut health.}, } @article {pmid37656822, year = {2023}, author = {Shimizu-Kaya, U and Hyodo, F and Ueda, S and Komatsu, T and Meleng, P and Itioka, T}, title = {Food habits of 3 myrmecophilous bug species on myrmecophytic Macaranga (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) vary from herbivory to predation.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jisesa/iead078}, pmid = {37656822}, issn = {1536-2442}, support = {21255004//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; //JST/JICA/ ; JPMJSA1902//Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development/ ; }, abstract = {Myrmecophytes have mutualistic relationships with symbiotic ants. Although myrmecophytic Macaranga (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) species are well protected by aggressive Crematogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ants, some bug species occur on the myrmecophytes. To clarify the associations of these bugs with the plants and the ants, we studied the food habits of 3 bug species, Pilophorus lambirensis Nakatani et Komatsu, 2013 (Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae), Phylinae sp. 1, and Arbela sp. 1 (Hemiptera: Nabidae). We conducted field observations in a Bornean rainforest. First, we located these bugs and studied their behavioral responses to the ants on Macaranga species; we then conducted stable isotope analyses. All bugs avoided direct contact with ants, but they occurred only on trees with active ants. Pilophorus lambirensis and Phylinae sp. 1 were most commonly observed on the apical parts of host trees, whereas Arbela sp. 1 was mainly in areas distant from the apical parts where ants were sparse. The stable isotope ratios indicated that Phylinae sp. 1 fed on food bodies, which are nutrient-rich spherical bodies produced by Macaranga trees on the apical parts for ants. Although the main diet of the other 2 species remains unclear, nitrogen isotopic signatures demonstrated that P. lambirensis is herbivorous, whereas Arbela sp. 1 is carnivorous. However, the distant location from ants and its isotopic signatures indicated that Arbela sp. 1 rarely fed on the ants. At least 2 mirid bug species might obtain enemy-free space in addition to the food provided by the myrmecophytes.}, } @article {pmid37655911, year = {2023}, author = {Tominaga, T and Ueno, K and Saito, H and Egusa, M and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Monoterpene glucosides in Eustoma grandiflorum roots promote hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad482}, pmid = {37655911}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Host plant-derived strigolactones trigger hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, initiating a symbiotic interaction between land plants and AM fungi. However, our previous studies revealed that gibberellin-treated Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum, Gentianaceae) activates rhizospheric hyphal branching in AM fungi using unidentified molecules other than strigolactones. In this study, we analyzed independent transcriptomic data of E. grandiflorum and found that the biosynthesis of gentiopicroside (GPS) and swertiamarin (SWM), characteristic monoterpene glucosides in Gentianaceae, was upregulated in gibberellin-treated E. grandiflorum roots. Moreover, these metabolites considerably promoted hyphal branching in the Glomeraceae AM fungi Rhizophagus irregularis and R. clarus. GPS treatment also enhanced R. irregularis colonization of the monocotyledonous crop chive (Allium schoenoprasum). Interestingly, these metabolites did not provoke the germination of the root parasitic plant common broomrape (Orobanche minor). Altogether, our study unveiled the role of GPS and SWM in activating the symbiotic relationship between AM fungi and E. grandiflorum.}, } @article {pmid37655177, year = {2023}, author = {Yi, MH and Kim, M and Yong, TS and Kim, JY}, title = {Investigating the microbiome of house dust mites in South Korea.}, journal = {Frontiers in allergy}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1240727}, pmid = {37655177}, issn = {2673-6101}, abstract = {Understanding the house dust mites (HDMs) microbiome is crucial due to its potential effects on the development of allergic diseases. In 1998, our laboratory collected Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus from beds in a Korean household and began cultivating these HDMs. Our laboratory has been actively investigating several topics about HDMs in recent years, including the bacterial and fungal microbiome and their interactions, as well as the impact of the HDM microbiome on airway inflammation. To study the D. farinae microbiome, we employed high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA amplicons. The results revealed that the two most abundant bacteria were Enterococcus faecalis and Bartonella spp. In contrast, we found almost no bacteria in D. pteronyssinus. By inoculating bacteria to HDMs, we found that D. farinae is more susceptible to bacteria than D. pteronyssinus. This susceptibility was associated with the presence of certain fungal species in D. pteronyssinus. Additionally, we have recently made efforts to produce HDMs with reduced levels of symbiotic bacteria. We believe that standardizing and controlling the microbiome in HDMs are crucial steps for the future development and improvement of allergic immunotherapies.}, } @article {pmid37654454, year = {2023}, author = {Mei-Sheng, D and Hong, GX and Yassir Hussain, R and Tajeddini, K}, title = {Is state-owned enterprise merging private enterprise "market choice" or "space crowding" ? -Based on the motives of equity transfer of mixed-ownership enterprises.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e19014}, pmid = {37654454}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Many state-owned enterprises have mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with private enterprises, which has caused private enterprises to worry about their living space being squeezed. Based on 572 data records about equity transfers of Chinese listed companies extracted from CSMAR4.0 from 2013 to 2020, this paper categorized ownership structures into three categories: privatization of state-owned enterprises (Category 1), state-owned enterprises merging private enterprises (Category 2), and state-owned enterprises merging state-owned enterprises (Category 3). The categorical regression of ex-ante equity transfer motivation revealed that the motives for Category 1 conformed to the phenomenon of the "pretty girl gets married first" and "embezzlement view." Category In contrast, the motives for Category 2 conformed to the "fiscal revenue view." The categorical regression of ex-post equity transfer motivation showed that all three types significantly improved various efficiencies and represented an optimal allocation of resources. Moreover, it was revealed that the transfer of equity to state-owned enterprises by inefficient private firms in Category 2 also significantly improved enterprise efficiency. Thus, it can be considered as a rational behavior of market selection and never squeezed the space crowding. Further analysis showed that the efficiency improvement is due to the symbiotic development relationship rather than the antagonistic relationship between heterogeneous shareholders. Therefore, it is suggested to initiate market-oriented reform by actively developing ownership mixed-ownership economy and adhering to the "two unwavering" basic economic system.}, } @article {pmid37653900, year = {2023}, author = {Neagoe, A and Iordache, V}, title = {A Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum Alleviated the Effects of Acid Water on Lupinus angustifolius Grown in a Sterilized Mining Dump.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12101983}, pmid = {37653900}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {EVK1-CT-2001-56001//European Commission/ ; PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-0494//Unitatea Executiva Pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior a Cercetarii Dezvoltarii si Inovarii/ ; }, abstract = {Lupinus species have been sporadically reported to be colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The interactions between AMF and lupine plants could also be non-symbiotic, from positive to negative, as controlled by the stress conditions of the plant. The goal of the study was to reveal the existence of such positive interactions and provide preliminary data for a myco-phytoremediation technology of mining dumps using L. angustifolius as a first crop. The objective was to test the hypothesis that the AMF inoculation of an acidified dump material contaminated with heavy metals would improve the growth of L. angustifolius and decrease oxidative stress. The design consisted of a one-month bivariate pot experiment with plants grown in a mining dump soil inoculated and not inoculated with a commercial AMF inoculum sequestered in expanded clay and watered with acidic and neutral water. There was no AMF root colonization under the experimental conditions, but under neutral and acidic water conditions, the phosphorus concentrations in roots and leaves increased, and the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities significantly decreased due to AMF inoculation. The increase in leaf phosphorus concentration was correlated with the decrease in peroxidase activity. The fresh weight of shoots and leaves significantly increased due to the commercial inoculum (under acidic water conditions). At the end of the experiment, the ammonium concentration in the substrate was higher in the inoculated treatments than in the not inoculated ones, and the concentrations of many elements in the dump material decreased compared to the start of the experiment. A comprehensive discussion of the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of the commercial AMF inoculum on the non-host L. angustifolius is completed.}, } @article {pmid37653881, year = {2023}, author = {Wilkinson, H and Coppock, A and Richmond, BL and Lagunas, B and Gifford, ML}, title = {Plant-Environment Response Pathway Regulation Uncovered by Investigating Non-Typical Legume Symbiosis and Nodulation.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12101964}, pmid = {37653881}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {MIBTP/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/T015357/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is an essential element needed for plants to survive, and legumes are well known to recruit rhizobia to fix atmospheric nitrogen. In this widely studied symbiosis, legumes develop specific structures on the roots to host specific symbionts. This review explores alternate nodule structures and their functions outside of the more widely studied legume-rhizobial symbiosis, as well as discussing other unusual aspects of nodulation. This includes actinorhizal-Frankia, cycad-cyanobacteria, and the non-legume Parasponia andersonii-rhizobia symbioses. Nodules are also not restricted to the roots, either, with examples found within stems and leaves. Recent research has shown that legume-rhizobia nodulation brings a great many other benefits, some direct and some indirect. Rhizobial symbiosis can lead to modifications in other pathways, including the priming of defence responses, and to modulated or enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. With so many avenues to explore, this review discusses recent discoveries and highlights future directions in the study of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid37653875, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Xiong, Z and Wu, W and Ling, HQ and Kong, D}, title = {Iron in the Symbiosis of Plants and Microorganisms.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12101958}, pmid = {37653875}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {32260768//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 20223BBG71003//Jiangxi Provincial Key R&D Program/ ; jxsq2020101088//Talents Program of Jiangxi/ ; jxsq2020101020//Talents Program of Jiangxi/ ; }, abstract = {Iron is an essential element for most organisms. Both plants and microorganisms have developed different mechanisms for iron uptake, transport and storage. In the symbiosis systems, such as rhizobia-legume symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, maintaining iron homeostasis to meet the requirements for the interaction between the host plants and the symbiotic microbes is a new challenge. This intriguing topic has drawn the attention of many botanists and microbiologists, and many discoveries have been achieved so far. In this review, we discuss the current progress on iron uptake and transport in the nodules and iron homeostasis in rhizobia-legume symbiosis. The discoveries with regard to iron uptake in AM fungi, iron uptake regulation in AM plants and interactions between iron and other nutrient elements during AM symbiosis are also summarized. At the end of this review, we propose prospects for future studies in this fascinating research area.}, } @article {pmid37653468, year = {2023}, author = {Eke, M and Tougeron, K and Hamidovic, A and Tinkeu, LSN and Hance, T and Renoz, F}, title = {Deciphering the functional diversity of the gut microbiota of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens): recent advances and future challenges.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {40}, pmid = {37653468}, issn = {2524-4671}, support = {1B374.21//Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS/ ; }, abstract = {Bioconversion using insects is a promising strategy to convert organic waste (catering leftovers, harvest waste, food processing byproducts, etc.) into biomass that can be used for multiple applications, turned into high added-value products, and address environmental, societal and economic concerns. Due to its ability to feed on a tremendous variety of organic wastes, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has recently emerged as a promising insect for bioconversion of organic wastes on an industrial scale. A growing number of studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in the performance and health of this insect species. This review aims to provide a critical overview of current knowledge regarding the functional diversity of the gut microbiota of H. illucens, highlighting its importance for bioconversion, food safety and the development of new biotechnological tools. After providing an overview of the different strategies that have been used to outline the microbial communities of H. illucens, we discuss the diversity of these gut microbes and the beneficial services they can provide to their insect host. Emphasis is placed on technical strategies and aspects of host biology that require special attention in the near future of research. We also argue that the singular digestive capabilities and complex gut microbiota of H. illucens make this insect species a valuable model for addressing fundamental questions regarding the interactions that insects have evolved with microorganisms. By proposing new avenues of research, this review aims to stimulate research on the microbiota of a promising insect to address the challenges of bioconversion, but also fundamental questions regarding bacterial symbiosis in insects.}, } @article {pmid37653163, year = {2023}, author = {Dantas, EF and de Freitas, ADS and de Rosáliae Silva Santos, CE and de Arruda Santana, AC and de Sousa Oliveira, JR and da Silva, BLR and de Vasconcelos Bezerra, R and de Sá Barretto Sampaio, EV}, title = {Decomposition and nutrient release of green manure biomass in a passion fruit orchard in the brazilian semiarid region.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {195}, number = {9}, pages = {1131}, pmid = {37653163}, issn = {1573-2959}, abstract = {Green manure decomposition and nutrient recycling improve soil quality and productivity of different crops, but information on irrigated fruit orchards in the Brazilian semi-arid region is still scarce. Decomposition and nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium release from the cut biomass of three green manure legumes (sunn hemp, pigeon pea and jack bean) placed in litterbags, and spontaneous vegetation grown for 90 days in the rows of a passion fruit orchard were followed for 150 days. Biomasses decreased exponentially, reaching 12 (sunn hemp) to 25% (jack beans and spontaneous vegetation) after 150 days. K was rapidly released (< 21 and 4% of the original content remaining after 7 and 150 days, respectively), contrasting with more than half of the P and one third of the N remaining after 150 days. The amounts released were more influenced by the amounts of biomass produced (sunn hemp, 1583); (Jack bean 5152 kg ha[-1]); (Pigeon pea 822 kg ha[-1]); (Spontaneous plants 3175 kg ha[-1]); (spontaneous legumes 744 kg ha[-1]) than by variation in decomposition proportions among species. N release represented a liquid input to the soil, since more than 80% of the green manure and spontaneous vegetation contents came from N2-symbiotic fixation. Therefore, green manure is an effective technique to incorporate N and recycle K and P in irrigated orchards in the Brazilian semi-arid region.}, } @article {pmid37652383, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, J and Mu, X and Zhang, S and Song, Y and Ma, Y and Luo, M and Duan, R}, title = {Coupling of submerged macrophytes and epiphytic biofilms reduced methane emissions from wetlands: Evidenced by an antibiotic inhibition experiment.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166710}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166710}, pmid = {37652383}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Wetlands are the largest natural methane source, but how submerged macrophytes affect methane emission remains controversial. In this study, the impacts of submerged macrophytes on methane fluxes, water purification, and epiphytic microbial community dynamics were investigated in simulated wetlands (with and without Hydrilla verticillata) treated with norfloxacin (NOR) for 24 days. Mean methane fluxes were significantly lower in treatments with Hydrilla verticillata (56.84-90.94 mg/m[2]/h) than bulks (65.96-113.21 mg/m[2]/h) (p < 0.05) during the experiment regardless of NOR. The relative conductivity (REC) values, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents increased in plant leaves, while water nutrients removal rates decreased with increasing NOR concentration at the same sampling time. The partial least squares path model analysis revealed that plant physiological indices and water nutrients positively affected methane fluxes (0.72 and 0.49, p < 0.001). According to illumina sequencing results of 16S rRNA and pmoA genes, α-proteobacteria (type II) and γ-proteobacteria (type I) were the dominant methanotroph classes in all epiphytic biofilms. The ratio of type I/type II methanotrophs and pmoA gene abundance in epiphytic biofilm was considerably lower in treatment with 16 mg/L NOR than without it (p < 0.05). pmoA gene abundance was negatively correlated with methane fluxes (p < 0.05). Additionally, the assembly of epiphytic bacterial community was mainly governed by deterministic processes, while stochastic dispersal limitation was the primary assembly process in the epiphytic methanotrophic community under NOR stress. The deterministic process gained more importance with time both in bacterial and methanotrophic community assembly. Network analysis revealed that relationships among bacteria in epiphytic biofilms weakened with time but associations among methanotrophic members were enhanced under NOR stress over time. It could be concluded that submerged macrophytes-epiphytic biofilms symbiotic system exhibited potential prospects to reduce methane emissions from wetlands under reasonable management.}, } @article {pmid37652008, year = {2023}, author = {Jang, KK and Heaney, T and London, M and Ding, Y and Putzel, G and Yeung, F and Ercelen, D and Chen, YH and Axelrad, J and Gurunathan, S and Zhou, C and Podkowik, M and Arguelles, N and Srivastava, A and Shopsin, B and Torres, VJ and Keestra-Gounder, AM and Pironti, A and Griffin, ME and Hang, HC and Cadwell, K}, title = {Antimicrobial overproduction sustains intestinal inflammation by inhibiting Enterococcus colonization.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.002}, pmid = {37652008}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {Loss of antimicrobial proteins such as REG3 family members compromises the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Here, we demonstrate that overproduction of REG3 proteins can also be detrimental by reducing a protective species in the microbiota. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experiencing flares displayed heightened levels of secreted REG3 proteins that mediated depletion of Enterococcus faecium (Efm) from the gut microbiota. Efm inoculation of mice ameliorated intestinal inflammation through activation of the innate immune receptor NOD2, which was associated with the bacterial DL-endopeptidase SagA that generates NOD2-stimulating muropeptides. NOD2 activation in myeloid cells induced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion to increase the proportion of IL-22-producing CD4[+] T helper cells and innate lymphoid cells that promote tissue repair. Finally, Efm was unable to protect mice carrying a NOD2 gene variant commonly found in IBD patients. Our findings demonstrate that inflammation self-perpetuates by causing aberrant antimicrobial activity that disrupts symbiotic relationships with gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid37653089, year = {2023}, author = {Mannochio-Russo, H and Swift, SOI and Nakayama, KK and Wall, CB and Gentry, EC and Panitchpakdi, M and Caraballo-Rodriguez, AM and Aron, AT and Petras, D and Dorrestein, K and Dorrestein, TK and Williams, TM and Nalley, EM and Altman-Kurosaki, NT and Martinelli, M and Kuwabara, JY and Darcy, JL and Bolzani, VS and Wegley Kelly, L and Mora, C and Yew, JY and Amend, AS and McFall-Ngai, M and Hynson, NA and Dorrestein, PC and Nelson, CE}, title = {Microbiomes and metabolomes of dominant coral reef primary producers illustrate a potential role for immunolipids in marine symbioses.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {896}, pmid = {37653089}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {OCE-2118618//NSF | Office of the Director (NSF Office of the Director)/ ; 2025669//NSF | Office of the Director (NSF Office of the Director)/ ; 2124922//NSF | Office of the Director (NSF Office of the Director)/ ; OCE-2023298//NSF | Office of the Director (NSF Office of the Director)/ ; P20GM125508//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; P20GM125508//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; }, abstract = {The dominant benthic primary producers in coral reef ecosystems are complex holobionts with diverse microbiomes and metabolomes. In this study, we characterize the tissue metabolomes and microbiomes of corals, macroalgae, and crustose coralline algae via an intensive, replicated synoptic survey of a single coral reef system (Waimea Bay, O'ahu, Hawaii) and use these results to define associations between microbial taxa and metabolites specific to different hosts. Our results quantify and constrain the degree of host specificity of tissue metabolomes and microbiomes at both phylum and genus level. Both microbiome and metabolomes were distinct between calcifiers (corals and CCA) and erect macroalgae. Moreover, our multi-omics investigations highlight common lipid-based immune response pathways across host organisms. In addition, we observed strong covariation among several specific microbial taxa and metabolite classes, suggesting new metabolic roles of symbiosis to further explore.}, } @article {pmid37653056, year = {2023}, author = {Takahashi, K and Kuwahara, H and Horikawa, Y and Izawa, K and Kato, D and Inagaki, T and Yuki, M and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Emergence of putative energy parasites within Clostridia revealed by genome analysis of a novel endosymbiotic clade.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37653056}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {17H01447//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 19H05689//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; GS009//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22241046//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 16H04840//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 20H02897//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 20H05584//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22K19342//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 14532219//MEXT | JST | Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST)/ ; }, abstract = {The Clostridia is a dominant bacterial class in the guts of various animals and are considered to nutritionally contribute to the animal host. Here, we discovered clostridial endosymbionts of cellulolytic protists in termite guts, which have never been reported with evidence. We obtained (near-)complete genome sequences of three endosymbiotic Clostridia, each associated with a different parabasalid protist species with various infection rates: Trichonympha agilis, Pseudotrichonympha grassii, and Devescovina sp. All these protists are previously known to harbor permanently-associated, mutualistic Endomicrobia or Bacteroidales that supplement nitrogenous compounds. The genomes of the endosymbiotic Clostridia were small in size (1.0-1.3 Mbp) and exhibited signatures of an obligately-intracellular parasite, such as an extremely limited capability to synthesize amino acids, cofactors, and nucleotides and a disrupted glycolytic pathway with no known net ATP-generating system. Instead, the genomes encoded ATP/ADP translocase and, interestingly, regulatory proteins that are unique to eukaryotes in general and are possibly used to interfere with host cellular processes. These three genomes formed a clade with metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) derived from the guts of other animals, including human and ruminants, and the MAGs shared the characteristics of parasites. Gene flux analysis suggested that the acquisition of the ATP/ADP translocase gene in a common ancestor was probably key to the emergence of this parasitic clade. Taken together, we provide novel insights into the multilayered symbiotic system in the termite gut by adding the presence of parasitism and present an example of the emergence of putative energy parasites from a dominant gut bacterial clade.}, } @article {pmid37653009, year = {2023}, author = {Obeng, N and Czerwinski, A and Schütz, D and Michels, J and Leipert, J and Bansept, F and García García, MJ and Schultheiß, T and Kemlein, M and Fuß, J and Tholey, A and Traulsen, A and Sondermann, H and Schulenburg, H}, title = {Bacterial c-di-GMP has a key role in establishing host-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37653009}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {CRC 1182, A4//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; NGS_CC project 407495230//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; CRC 1182, Z3//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; CRC 1182, A4//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; Fellowship//Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (Max Planck Society)/ ; IMPRS Evolutionary Biology//Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (Max Planck Society)/ ; R01AI168017//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; }, abstract = {Most microbes evolve faster than their hosts and should therefore drive evolution of host-microbe interactions. However, relatively little is known about the characteristics that define the adaptive path of microbes to host association. Here we identified microbial traits that mediate adaptation to hosts by experimentally evolving the free-living bacterium Pseudomonas lurida with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as its host. After ten passages, we repeatedly observed the evolution of beneficial host-specialist bacteria, with improved persistence in the nematode being associated with increased biofilm formation. Whole-genome sequencing revealed mutations that uniformly upregulate the bacterial second messenger, cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). We subsequently generated mutants with upregulated c-di-GMP in different Pseudomonas strains and species, which consistently increased host association. Comparison of pseudomonad genomes from various environments revealed that c-di-GMP underlies adaptation to a variety of hosts, from plants to humans. This study indicates that c-di-GMP is fundamental for establishing host association.}, } @article {pmid37652785, year = {2023}, author = {Hammer, TJ}, title = {Why do hosts malfunction without microbes? Missing benefits versus evolutionary addiction.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.07.012}, pmid = {37652785}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Microbes are widely recognized to be vital to host health. This new consensus rests, in part, on experiments showing how hosts malfunction when microbes are removed. More and more microbial dependencies are being discovered, even in fundamental processes such as development, immunity, physiology, and behavior. But why do they exist? The default explanation is that microbes are beneficial; when hosts lose microbes, they also lose benefits. Here I call attention to evolutionary addiction, whereby a host trait evolves a need for microbes without having been improved by them. Evolutionary addiction should be considered when interpreting microbe-removal experiments, as it is a distinct and potentially common process. Further, it may have unique implications for the evolution and stability of host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid37651100, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Hu, H and Chang, Z and Zhang, S and Lu, Y}, title = {Molecular mechanism of Enterococcus faecalis-induced phosphine sensitivity in Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad171}, pmid = {37651100}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) has developed extensive resistance to the fumigant phosphine. Knowledge of the resistance mechanisms offers insight into resistance management. Although several studies have highlighted the positive or negative impacts of symbiotic microbiota on host pesticide resistance, little is known about the association between gut symbionts and host phosphine resistance. To reveal the effect of the gut bacterium, Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes & Horder) (Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae), on host phosphine resistance and its underlying mechanism, we investigated mortality, fitness, redox responses, and immune responses of adult T. castaneum when challenged with E. faecalis inoculation and/or phosphine exposure. When T. castaneum was exposed to phosphine, E. faecalis inoculation decreased its survival and female fecundity and aggravated its oxidative stress. Furthermore, E. faecalis inoculation suppressed the expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase in phosphine-exposed T. castaneum. Enterococcus faecalis inoculation also triggered excessive host immune responses, including the immune deficiency signaling pathway and the dual oxidase-reactive oxygen species system. These findings suggest that E. faecalis likely modulates host phosphine resistance by interfering with the redox system. This provides information for examining the symbiotic function in the insect-microorganism relationship and new avenues for pesticide resistance management.}, } @article {pmid37650927, year = {2023}, author = {Ho, HVN and Dunigan, DD and Salsbery, ME and Agarkova, IV and Al Ameeli, Z and Van Etten, JL and DeLong, JP}, title = {Viral Chemotaxis of Paramecium Bursaria Altered by Algal Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37650927}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {1736030//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; 1736030//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; 1736030//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {Chemotaxis is widespread across many taxa and often aids resource acquisition or predator avoidance. Species interactions can modify the degree of movement facilitated by chemotaxis. In this study, we investigated the influence of symbionts on Paramecium bursaria's chemotactic behavior toward chloroviruses. To achieve this, we performed choice experiments using chlorovirus and control candidate attractors (virus stabilization buffer and pond water). We quantified the movement of Paramecia grown with or without algal and viral symbionts toward each attractor. All Paramecia showed some chemotaxis toward viruses, but cells without algae and viruses showed the most movement toward viruses. Thus, the endosymbiotic algae (zoochlorellae) appeared to alter the movement of Paramecia toward chloroviruses, but it was not clear that ectosymbiotic viruses (chlorovirus) also had this effect. The change in behavior was consistent with a change in swimming speed, but a change in attraction remains possible. The potential costs and benefits of chemotactic movement toward chloroviruses for either the Paramecia hosts or its symbionts remain unclear.}, } @article {pmid37650658, year = {2023}, author = {Sharma, C and Singh, D and Srivastava, R and Sharma, SN}, title = {Symbiotic antimicrobial effects of cellulose-based bio-nanocomposite for disease management of agricultural crops.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202300714}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202300714}, pmid = {37650658}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {In the present work, a bionanocomposite for plant crop protection was prepared by non-toxic biocompatible & biodegradable nanomaterials (Cellulose & TiO2) to utilize its synergistic effects against antimicrobial pathogens. The commercially available microcrystalline cellulose has been reduced to a nanometric scale regime using acid hydrolysis, while the standard TiO2 nano-powder of particle size ~20nm has been used to prepare their nanocomposite (NC). The antibacterial studies via agar well diffusion method demonstrated that after 72 hrs of incubation, parent nanomaterials Ncell and TiO2 were not showing any activity against phytopathogens X. campestris pv. campestris, and Clavibacter while the nanocomposite's NC's were still effective depicting both bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions. However, the bacterial growth of biocontrol P. fluorescence was not affected by Ncell, TiO2 NPs and NC after 72hrs of incubation. The antifungal testing results via poison food agar assay method suggest that the nanocomposite, along with Ncell and TiO2 NPs, exhibited strong inhibition of fungal growth of Phytophthora Spp at 0.125mg/ml concentration while for F. graminearum, similar effect was observed at 0.25mg/ml concentration. The nanocomposite has proved its potential by exhibiting longer & stronger synergestic effects against plant pathogens as a good antimicrobial agent for protection of agricultural crops.}, } @article {pmid37649881, year = {2023}, author = {Nagpal, S and Sirari, A and Sharma, P and Singh, S and Mandahal, KS and Singh, H and Singh, S}, title = {Marker trait association for biological nitrogen fixation traits in an interspecific cross of chickpea (Cicer arietinum × Cicer reticulatum).}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {29}, number = {7}, pages = {1005-1018}, pmid = {37649881}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: A set of 165 Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from an interspecific cross of chickpea was used to identify QTLs for key biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) traits. The phenotyping of BNF and related traits was done at two different agroclimatic zones viz., Central plain zone (Ludhiana) and Sub-Mountainous undulating zone (Gurdaspur) for 2 consecutive rabi seasons (2018-2020). Wild parent C. reticulatum ILWC292 showed significantly high performance in terms of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) traits over the cultivated C. arietinum GPF-2. The triple interaction of genotypes × locations × years was significant (p 0.05) for all BNF traits in parental lines. Highly significant positive correlation was obtained between grain yield and key growth and symbiotic parameters at both the sites. Phenotypic analysis revealed nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin content as key traits for BNF efficiency and contrasting DNA bulks were constituted on the basis of these traits. Out of 535 SSR markers, 139 exhibited polymorphism between the parental lines on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A total of 30 SSR markers showed polymorphism between the higher and lower bulks for nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin content. Out of these, 20 SSRs did not show any segregation distortion in RIL population as determined by chi square analysis (p < 0.05) and were used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Using QTL cartographer, markers- CAGM02697, CAGM09835, CAGM09777, CAGM09227, CAGM09021, CAGM08679 were found linked with QTLs for BNF. These markers can be validated further for identification of genes for BNF traits and marker assisted selection in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on identification of genomic regions associated with key BNF traits in chickpea across different agro-climatic zones.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01335-3.}, } @article {pmid37649265, year = {2023}, author = {Holland, BL and Matthews, ML and Bota, P and Sweetlove, LJ and Long, SP and diCenzo, GC}, title = {A genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of soybean and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens reveals the cost-benefit of nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19203}, pmid = {37649265}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {OPP1028264//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/ ; //Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office/ ; Discovery Grants Program//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing symbioses allow legumes to thrive in nitrogen-poor soils at the cost of diverting some photoassimilate to their microsymbionts. Effort is being made to bioengineer nitrogen fixation into nonleguminous crops. This requires a quantitative understanding of its energetic costs and the links between metabolic variations and symbiotic efficiency. A whole-plant metabolic model for soybean (Glycine max) with its associated microsymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens was developed and applied to predict the cost-benefit of nitrogen fixation with varying soil nitrogen availability. The model predicted a nitrogen-fixation cost of c. 4.13 g C g[-1] N, which when implemented into a crop scale model, translated to a grain yield reduction of 27% compared with a non-nodulating plant receiving its nitrogen from the soil. Considering the lower nitrogen content of cereals, the yield cost to a hypothetical N-fixing cereal is predicted to be less than half that of soybean. Soybean growth was predicted to be c. 5% greater when the nodule nitrogen export products were amides versus ureides. This is the first metabolic reconstruction in a tropical crop species that simulates the entire plant and nodule metabolism. Going forward, this model will serve as a tool to investigate carbon use efficiency and key mechanisms within N-fixing symbiosis in a tropical species forming determinate nodules.}, } @article {pmid37648122, year = {2023}, author = {Cooreman, K and Spiegeleer, B and Poucke, CV and Vanavermaete, D and Delbare, D and Wynendaele, E and Witte, B}, title = {Emerging pharmaceutical therapies of Ascidian-derived natural products and derivatives.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and pharmacology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104254}, doi = {10.1016/j.etap.2023.104254}, pmid = {37648122}, issn = {1872-7077}, abstract = {In a growing multidrug-resistant environMent, the identification of potential new drug candidates with an acceptable safety profile is a substantial crux in pharmaceutical discovery. This review discusses several aspects and properties of approved Marine Natural Products derived from ascidian sources (phylum Chordata, subphylum Tunicata) and/or their deduced analogues including their biosynthetic origin, (bio)chemical preclinical assessments and known efficacy-safety profiles, clinical status in trials, but also translational developments, opportunities and final conclusions. The review also describes the preclinical assessments of a large number of other ascidian compounds that have not been involved in clinical trials yet. Finally, the emerging research on the connectivity of the ascidian hosts and their independent or obligate symbiotic guests is discussed. The review covers the latest information on the topic of ascidian-derived Marine Natural Products over the last two decades including 2022, with the majority of publications published in the last decade.}, } @article {pmid37647612, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, K and Zhang, T and Chen, XW and Xu, Y and Zhang, R and Qian, PY}, title = {Viruses in Marine Invertebrate Holobionts: Complex Interactions Between Phages and Bacterial Symbionts.}, journal = {Annual review of marine science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-021623-093133}, pmid = {37647612}, issn = {1941-0611}, abstract = {Marine invertebrates are ecologically and economically important and have formed holobionts by evolving symbiotic relationships with cellular and acellular microorganisms that reside in and on their tissues. In recent decades, significant focus on symbiotic cellular microorganisms has led to the discovery of various functions and a considerable expansion of our knowledge of holobiont functions. Despite this progress, our understanding of symbiotic acellular microorganisms remains insufficient, impeding our ability to achieve a comprehensive understanding of marine holobionts. In this review, we highlight the abundant viruses, with a particular emphasis on bacteriophages; provide an overview of their diversity, especially in extensively studied sponges and corals; and examine their potential life cycles. In addition, we discuss potential phage-holobiont interactions of various invertebrates, including participating in initial bacterial colonization, maintaining symbiotic relationships, and causing or exacerbating the diseases of marine invertebrates. Despite the importance of this subject, knowledge of how viruses contribute to marine invertebrate organisms remains limited. Advancements in technology and greater attention to viruses will enhance our understanding of marine invertebrate holobionts. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Marine Science, Volume 16 is January 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, } @article {pmid37646822, year = {2023}, author = {Corona Ramírez, A and Symanczik, S and Gallusser, T and Bodenhausen, N}, title = {Quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi root colonization in wheat, tomato, and leek using absolute qPCR.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37646822}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {727247//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; 727247//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; 17.00094//Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)/ ; 17.00094//Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)/ ; 727247//HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with most terrestrial plants and are known to have a positive effect on plant growth and health. Different methodologies have been developed to assess the AMF-plant symbiosis. The most applied method, which involves staining of roots and microscopic observation of the AMF structures, is tedious and time-consuming and the results are highly dependent on the observer. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to quantify AMF root colonization represents a reliable, high-throughput technique that allows the assessment of numerous samples. Quantification with qPCR can be performed through two methods: relative quantification and absolute quantification. In relative quantification, the target gene is normalized with a reference gene. On the other hand, absolute quantification involves the use of a standard curve, for which template DNA is serially diluted. In a previous paper, we validated the primer pair AMG1F and AM1 for a relative quantification approach to assess AMF root colonization in Petunia. Here, we tested the same primers with an absolute quantification approach and compared the results with the traditional microscopy method. We evaluated the qPCR method with three different crops, namely, wheat (cv. Colmetta and Wiwa), tomato, and leek. We observed a strong correlation between microscopy and qPCR for Colmetta (r = 0.90, p < 0.001), Wiwa (r = 0.94, p < 0.001), and tomato (r = 0.93, p < 0.001), but no correlation for leek (r = 0.27, p = 0.268). This highlights the importance of testing the primer pair for each specific crop.}, } @article {pmid37645039, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, R and Feng, H and Wei, GW}, title = {Chatbots in Drug Discovery: A Case Study on Anti-Cocaine Addiction Drug Development with ChatGPT.}, journal = {ArXiv}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37645039}, issn = {2331-8422}, abstract = {The birth of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge language model chatbot developed by OpenAI, ushered in a new era in AI, and this paper vividly showcases its innovative application within the field of drug discovery. Focused specifically on developing anti-cocaine addiction drugs, the study employs GPT-4 as a virtual guide, offering strategic and methodological insights to researchers working on generative models for drug candidates. The primary objective is to generate optimal drug-like molecules with desired properties. By leveraging the capabilities of ChatGPT, the study introduces a novel approach to the drug discovery process. This symbiotic partnership between AI and researchers transforms how drug development is approached. Chatbots become facilitators, steering researchers towards innovative methodologies and productive paths for creating effective drug candidates. This research sheds light on the collaborative synergy between human expertise and AI assistance, wherein ChatGPT's cognitive abilities enhance the design and development of potential pharmaceutical solutions. This paper not only explores the integration of advanced AI in drug discovery but also reimagines the landscape by advocating for AI-powered chatbots as trailblazers in revolutionizing therapeutic innovation.}, } @article {pmid37644507, year = {2023}, author = {Fu, Y and Yao, S and Wang, T and Lu, Y and Han, H and Liu, X and Lv, D and Ma, X and Guan, S and Yao, Y and Liu, Y and Yu, H and Li, S and Yang, N and Liu, G}, title = {Effects of melatonin on rumen microorganisms and methane production in dairy cow: results from in vitro and in vivo studies.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {196}, pmid = {37644507}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {2020M670540//The 67th general grant of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; BAIC05-2022//Beijing Innovation Consortium of Livestock Research System/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Methane (CH4) is a major greenhouse gas, and ruminants are one of the sources of CH4 which is produced by the rumen microbiota. Modification of the rumen microbiota compositions will impact the CH4 production. In this study, the effects of melatonin on methane production in cows were investigated both in the in vitro and in vivo studies.

RESULTS: Melatonin treatment significantly reduced methane production in both studies. The cows treated with melatonin reduced methane emission from their respiration by approximately 50%. The potential mechanisms are multiple. First, melatonin lowers the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production in rumen and reduces the raw material for CH4 synthesis. Second, melatonin not only reduces the abundance of Methanobacterium which are responsible for generating methane but also inhibits the populations of protozoa to break the symbiotic relationship between Methanobacterium and protozoa in rumen to further lowers the CH4 production. The reduced VFA production is not associated with food intake, and it seems also not to jeopardize the nutritional status of the cows. This was reflected by the increased milk lipid and protein contents in melatonin treated compared to the control cows. It is likely that the energy used to synthesize methane is saved to compensate the reduced VFA production.

CONCLUSION: This study enlightens the potential mechanisms by which melatonin reduces rumen methane production in dairy cows. Considering the greenhouse effects of methane on global warming, these findings provide valuable information using different approaches to achieve low carbon dairy farming to reduce the methane emission. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37642958, year = {2023}, author = {Xue, X and Su, X and Zhou, L and Ji, J and Qin, Z and Liu, J and Li, K and Wang, H and Wang, Z}, title = {Antibiotic-Induced Recruitment of Specific Algae-Associated Microbiome Enhances the Adaptability of Chlorella vulgaris to Antibiotic Stress and Incidence of Antibiotic Resistance.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.3c02801}, pmid = {37642958}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Insights into the symbiotic relation between eukaryotic hosts and their microbiome lift the curtain on the crucial roles of microbes in host fitness, behavior, and ecology. However, it remains unclear whether and how abiotic stress shapes the microbiome and further affects host adaptability. This study first investigated the effect of antibiotic exposure on behavior across varying algae taxa at the community level. Chlorophyta, in particular Chlorella vulgaris, exhibited remarkable adaptability to antibiotic stress, leading to their dominance in phytoplankton communities. Accordingly, we isolated C. vulgaris strains and compared the growth of axenic and nonaxenic ones under antibiotic conditions. The positive roles of antibiotics in algal growth were apparent only in the presence of bacteria. Results of 16S rRNA sequencing further revealed that antibiotic challenges resulted in the recruitment of specific bacterial consortia in the phycosphere, whose functions were tightly linked to the host growth promotion and adaptability enhancement. In addition, the algal phycosphere was characterized with 47-fold higher enrichment capability of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) than the surrounding water. Under antibiotic stress, specific ARG profiles were recruited in C. vulgaris phycosphere, presumably driven by the specific assembly of bacterial consortia and mobile genetic elements induced by antibiotics. Moreover, the antibiotics even enhanced the dissemination potential of the bacteria carrying ARGs from the algal phycosphere to broader environmental niches. Overall, this study provides an in-depth understanding into the potential functional significance of antibiotic-mediated recruitment of specific algae-associated bacteria for algae adaptability and ARG proliferation in antibiotic-polluted waters.}, } @article {pmid37645195, year = {2021}, author = {Akrivou, C and Łȩkawska-Andrinopoulou, L and Tsimiklis, G and Amditis, A}, title = {Industrial symbiosis platforms for synergy identification and their most important data points: a systematic review.}, journal = {Open research Europe}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {101}, pmid = {37645195}, issn = {2732-5121}, abstract = {Background: Industrial symbiosis (IS) primarily involves interfirm utilization of industrial residual resources. An important factor determining the success of IS is the identification and matching of cooperation opportunities. Digital tools, including IS platforms, are considered facilitators of this process. This systematic literature review addresses the research question: ' Which are the most important data points of an IS platform and how can they be used for the promotion of IS?'. Methods: The review is based on scientific publications from the following academic research databases: ScienceDirect, Scopus, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, AISel and IEEE (via Google Scholar), and grey literature obtained through a customized Google search technique, last performed on 9/3/2021. Records were included according to their scientific content, namely if the document: i) examined the identification of synergies utilizing ICT tools, ii) data requirements or platform related information were presented or iii) the impact of a digital tool in promoting IS was discussed. Exclusion criteria were: articles not written in English, not peer-reviewed, published before 2016 or document type other than scientific article, conference paper or EU project deliverable. Two independent reviewers performed title scanning and abstract reading of the documents to reduce the risk of bias. Results: The total number of records included after abstract and full text reading was 32. The main results of this review suggest that two significant types of data points are encountered in IS platforms; i) data required for synergy identification and ii) platform related information. Conclusions: A possible limitation of the study is a minor risk of bias due to one reviewer performing full text reading and synthesis of results; however, they reported to and consulted with the supervising reviewer. Overall, the results indicate that several types of data points are required for effective matching and successful promotion of IS through digital tools.}, } @article {pmid37641256, year = {2023}, author = {Ge, Y and Yu, X and Zhao, X and Liu, C and Li, T and Mu, S and Zhang, L and Chen, Z and Zhang, Z and Song, Z and Zhao, H and Yao, S and Zhang, B}, title = {Fermentation characteristics and post-acidification of yogurt by Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047 at optimal inoculum ratio.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2023-23817}, pmid = {37641256}, issn = {1525-3198}, abstract = {This study aimed to investigate the symbiosis between Streptococcus thermophilus CICC 6038 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus CICC 6047. In addition, the effect of their different inoculum ratios was determined, and comparison experiments of fermentation characteristics and storage stability of milk fermented by their mono-cultures and cocultures at optimal inoculum ratio were performed. We found the time to obtain pH 4.6 (tpH4.6) and ΔpH during storage varied among 6 inoculum ratios (1:1, 2:1, 10:1, 19:1, 50:1, 100:1). By the statistical model to evaluate the optimal ratio, the ratio of 19:1 was selected which exhibited high acidification rate and low post-acidification with pH values remaining 4.2 - 4.4 after a 50-d storage. Among the 3 groups included in our analyses, i.e., the mono-cultures of S. thermophilus CICC 6038 (St) and Lb. bulgaricus CICC 6047 (Lb) and their cocultures (St+Lb) at 19:1, the coculture group showed higher acidification activity, improved rheological properties, richer typical volatile compounds, more desirable sensor quality after the fermentation process than the other 2 groups. However, the continuous accumulation of acetic acid during storage showed that acetic acid was more highly correlated with post-acidification than D-lactic acid for the Lb group and St+Lb group. Our study emphasized the importance of selecting an appropriate bacterial consortium at the optimal inoculum ratio to achieve favorable fermentation performance and enhanced post-acidification stability during storage.}, } @article {pmid37640917, year = {2023}, author = {Spahr, EJ and Wasef, F and Kasson, MT and Kijimoto, T}, title = {Developmental genetic underpinnings of a symbiosis-associated organ in the fungus-farming ambrosia beetle Euwallacea validus.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {14014}, pmid = {37640917}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {(HATCH) WVA00712//U.S. Department of Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions between organisms often mediate the innovation of traits essential to maintain the relationship. Yet our understanding of these interactions has been stymied due to various hurdles in studying the genetics of non-model animals. To understand the genetic mechanisms by which such traits develop, we examined the function of genes breathless (btl), trachealess (trh), and doublesex in the development of a novel fungus-carrying organ (mycangium) that facilitates an obligate relationship between fungus-farming ambrosia beetles and specific fungal partners. Gene knockdown by RNA interference and subsequent micro-computed tomography visualization suggest btl and trh are required for initiation of mycangia and that tubulogenesis may have been co-opted for early mycangial development.}, } @article {pmid37640896, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Jiao, Y and Bi, Y and Hu, Y and Jiang, Y and Wang, S and Wang, S}, title = {Nodulation number tempers the relative importance of stochastic processes in the assembly of soybean root-associated communities.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {89}, pmid = {37640896}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {2021YFD1201103-01-04//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology)/ ; 2021YFD1201103-01-04//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology)/ ; 2022ZX02B05//Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Department (Science and Technology Department of Heilongjiang Province)/ ; 2022ZX02B05//Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Department (Science and Technology Department of Heilongjiang Province)/ ; }, abstract = {Identifying the ecological forces that structure root-associated microbial communities is an essential step toward more sustainable agriculture. Legumes are widely utilized as model plants to study selective forces and their functioning in plant-microbial interactions owing to their ability to establish mutualism with rhizobia. Root nodules act as symbiotic organs to optimize the cost-benefit balance in this mutualistic relationship by modulating the number of nodules. However, it is not known whether the number of nodules is related to the structure of root-associated bacterial communities. Here, the root-associated bacterial communities of soybean grown in native soil by means of soybean cultivars with super- or normal nodulation were investigated across four developmental stages. We compared ecological processes between communities and found decreased relative importance of neutral processes for super-nodulating soybean, although the overall structures resembled those of normal-nodulating soybean. We identified the generalist core bacterial populations in each root-associated compartment, that are shared across root-associated niches, and persist through developmental stages. Within core bacterial species, the relative abundances of bacterial species in the rhizosphere microbiome were linked to host-plant functional traits and can be used to predict these traits from microbes using machine learning algorithms. These findings broaden the comprehensive understanding of the ecological forces and associations of microbiotas in various root-associated compartments and provide novel insights to integrate beneficial plant microbiomes into agricultural production to enhance plant performance.}, } @article {pmid37639983, year = {2023}, author = {Bakhshi, S and Eshghi, S and Banihashemi, Z}, title = {Application of candidate endophytic fungi isolated from extreme desert adapted trees to mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress on maize (Zea mays L.).}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {107961}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107961}, pmid = {37639983}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {The survival of plants under adverse conditions in desert habitats is related to microbial interactions, which can be an innovative strategy for reducing the effects of drought stress in colonized plants. In this study, two endophytic fungi, Trichoderma harzianum, and Fusarium solani, were recovered from the roots of trees in desert regions of Iran. A greenhouse experiment with two fungal agents (control, T. harzianum, F. solani, and T. harzianum + F. solani) and drought (100, 75, and 50% water-holding capacity) was performed on maize (Zea mays L.). Findings indicate that increasing drought levels negatively affect maize plant growth and physiological traits. However, the symbiotic relationship between fungal endophytes and maize roots increased fresh and dry biomass, root/shoot ratio, leaf area, relative water content, and membrane stability index compared with their control counterparts. Maize plants inoculated with endophytic fungi had 52.07, 40, 33.03, and 55.62% higher total phenolic, proline and soluble sugar concentrations, respectively than uninoculated controls. Photosynthetic parameters, including chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, and gas exchange, were improved in the endophyte-treated plants. However, with increasing drought stress, maize plants colonized with endophytes, electrolyte leakage, and sub-stomatal CO2 concentrations decreased by 28.93% and 47.62%, respectively, compared to endophyte-free plants. When plants were exposed to higher levels of drought stress, endophytes were more effective in improving most parameters, and inoculation of maize seedlings with a combination of endophytes isolated from plants in harsh regions was more effective in increasing their tolerance to drought stress than individual inoculation of each fungus.}, } @article {pmid37639496, year = {2023}, author = {Ali, SA and Ahmed, J and Mao, Y and Ahmad, T}, title = {Symbiotic MoO3-SrTiO3 Heterostructured Nanocatalysts for Sustainable Hydrogen Energy: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Simulations.}, journal = {Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01418}, pmid = {37639496}, issn = {1520-5827}, abstract = {Highly efficient Z-scheme MoO3-SrTiO3 heterostructured nanocatalytic systems were engineered via a sol-gel chemical route and exploited in green H2 energy synthesis via overall water splitting. The optical and electronic investigations corroborated the enhancement of the optoelectronic properties of SrTiO3 after the incorporation of MoO3. Emergence of the interfacial charge transfer between SrTiO3 and MoO3 is the driving force, which synergistically triggered the catalytic efficiency of MoO3-SrTiO3 heterostructures. The substitution of Ti[4+] by Mo[6+] ions led to the suppression of Ti[3+] mid-gap states, as the potential involved in the Mo[6+]/Mo[5+] reduction is higher than that in Ti[4+]/Ti[3+]. Theoretical studies were employed in order to comprehend the mechanism behind the advancement in the catalytic activity of MoO3-SrTiO3 porous heterostructures, which also possessed a higher surface area. 2% MoO3-SrTiO3 exhibited the optimum catalytic response toward H2 evolution via photochemical, electrochemical, and photo-electrochemical water splitting. 2% MoO3-SrTiO3 evolved H2 at the fourfold higher rate than SrTiO3 with phenomenal 16.06% AQY during photochemical water splitting and photo-degraded MB dye at nearly 88% against the 42% degradation in SrTiO3-led photocatalysis. Electrochemical and photo-electrochemical investigations also manifested the superiority of 2% MoO3-SrTiO3 toward HER, as it exhibited accelerated current and photocurrent densities of 25.02 and 27.45 mA/cm[2], respectively, at the 1 V potential. EIS studies demonstrated the improved charge separation efficiency of MoO3-SrTiO3 heterostructures. This work highlights the multi-dimensional approach of obtaining green H2 energy as the sustainable energy source using MoO3@SrTiO3 heterostructures.}, } @article {pmid37638099, year = {2023}, author = {Escórcio, R and Sandhu, AK and Bento, A and Tomé, AS and Moreira, CJS and Brözel, VS and Silva Pereira, C}, title = {Purification of archetypal soybean root suberin mostly comprising alka(e)noic acids using an ionic liquid catalyst.}, journal = {Frontiers in chemistry}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1165234}, pmid = {37638099}, issn = {2296-2646}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is an increasingly relevant crop due to its economic importance and also a model plant for the study of root symbiotic associations with nodule forming rhizobia. Plant polyesters mediate plant-microbe interactions with both pathogenic and beneficial microbes; suberin has been hypothesized to play a key role during the early steps of rhizobia attachment to the root. The downside is that suberin chemistry in soybean root is still scarcely studied. This study addresses this outstanding question by reporting a straightforward workflow for a speedy purification of suberin from soybean root and for its subsequent detailed chemical analysis. To purify suberin, cholinium hexanoate (an ionic liquid) was used as the catalyst. The ensuing suberin is highly esterified as observed by a precise Nuclear Magnetic Resonance quantification of each ester type, discriminating between primary and acylglycerol esters. Moreover, the composing hydrolysable monomers detected through GC-MS revealed that hexadecanoic acid is the most abundant monomer, similar to that reported before by others. Overall, this study highlights the adequacy of the ionic liquid catalyst for the isolation of suberin from soybean roots, where the polymer natural abundance is low, and builds new knowledge on the specificities of its chemistry; essential to better understand the biological roles of suberin in roots.}, } @article {pmid37637253, year = {2023}, author = {Ishibashi, H and Minamide, S and Takeuchi, I}, title = {Expression analyses of stress-responsive genes in the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates after exposure to the herbicide Diuron.}, journal = {Marine life science & technology}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {289-299}, pmid = {37637253}, issn = {2662-1746}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Diuron is one of the most frequently applied herbicides in sugarcane farming in southern Japan, and Australia. In addition, it is used as a booster substance in copper-based antifouling paints. Due to these various uses, Diuron is released into the marine environment; however, little information is available on gene expression in corals and their symbiotic algae exposed to Diuron. We investigated the effects of Diuron on stress-responsive gene expression in the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates. After seven days of exposure to 1 µg/L and 10 µg/L Diuron, no significant changes in the body colour of corals were observed. However, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that the expression levels of stress-responsive genes, such as heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), HSP70, and calreticulin (CALR), were significantly downregulated in corals exposed to 10 µg/L of Diuron for seven days. Moreover, aquaglyceroporin was significantly downregulated in corals exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of 1 µg/L Diuron. In contrast, no such effects were observed on the expression levels of other stress-responsive genes, such as oxidative stress-responsive proteins, methionine adenosyltransferase, and green/red fluorescent proteins. Diuron exposure had no significant effect on the expression levels of HSP90, HSP70, or HSP40 in the symbiotic dinoflagellates. These results suggest that stress-responsive genes, such as HSPs, respond differently to Diuron in corals and their symbiotic dinoflagellates and that A. tenuis HSPs and CALRs may be useful molecular biomarkers for predicting stress responses induced by the herbicide Diuron.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-023-00183-0.}, } @article {pmid37637170, year = {2023}, author = {Wax, N and Walke, JB and Haak, DC and Belden, LK}, title = {Comparative genomics of bacteria from amphibian skin associated with inhibition of an amphibian fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15714}, pmid = {37637170}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a skin disease associated with worldwide amphibian declines. Symbiotic microbes living on amphibian skin interact with Bd and may alter infection outcomes. We completed whole genome sequencing of 40 bacterial isolates cultured from the skin of four amphibian species in the Eastern US. Each isolate was tested in vitro for the ability to inhibit Bd growth. The aim of this study was to identify genomic differences among the isolates and generate hypotheses about the genomic underpinnings of Bd growth inhibition. We identified sixty-five gene families that were present in all 40 isolates. Screening for common biosynthetic gene clusters revealed that this set of isolates contained a wide variety of clusters; the two most abundant clusters with potential antifungal activity were siderophores (N=17 isolates) and Type III polyketide synthases (N=22 isolates). We then examined various subsets of the 22 isolates in the phylum Proteobacteria for genes encoding specific compounds that may inhibit fungal growth, including chitinase and violacein. We identified differences in Agrobacterium and Sphingomonas isolates in the chitinase genes that showed some association with anti-Bd activity, as well as variation in the violacein genes in the Janthinobacterium isolates. Using a comparative genomics approach, we generated several testable hypotheses about differences among bacterial isolates from amphibian skin communities that could contribute to variation in the ability to inhibit Bd growth. Further work is necessary to explore and uncover the various mechanisms utilized by amphibian skin bacterial isolates to inhibit Bd.}, } @article {pmid37637114, year = {2023}, author = {de Paula, GT and Melo, WGDP and de Castro, I and Menezes, C and Paludo, CR and Rosa, CA and Pupo, MT}, title = {Further evidences of an emerging stingless bee-yeast symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1221724}, pmid = {37637114}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between microorganisms and social insects have been described as crucial for the maintenance of these multitrophic systems, as observed for the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis and the yeast Zygosaccharomyces sp. SDBC30G1. The larvae of S. depilis ingest fungal filaments of Zygosaccharomyces sp. SDBC30G1 to obtain ergosterol, which is the precursor for the biosynthesis of ecdysteroids that modulate insect metamorphosis. In this work, we find a similar insect-microbe interaction in other species of stingless bees. We analyzed brood cell samples from 19 species of stingless bees collected in Brazil. The osmophilic yeast Zygosaccharomyces spp. was isolated from eight bee species, namely Scaptotrigona bipunctata, S. postica, S. tubiba, Tetragona clavipes, Melipona quadrifasciata, M. fasciculata, M. bicolor, and Partamona helleri. These yeasts form pseudohyphae and also accumulate ergosterol in lipid droplets, similar to the pattern observed for S. depilis. The phylogenetic analyses including various Zygosaccharomyces revealed that strains isolated from the brood cells formed a branch separated from the previously described Zygosaccharomyces species, suggesting that they are new species of this genus and reinforcing the symbiotic interaction with the host insects.}, } @article {pmid37636112, year = {2023}, author = {Mortier, E and Mounier, A and Kreplak, J and Martin-Laurent, F and Recorbet, G and Lamotte, O}, title = {Evidence that a common arbuscular mycorrhizal network alleviates phosphate shortage in interconnected walnut sapling and maize plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1206047}, pmid = {37636112}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Under agroforestry practices, inter-specific facilitation between tree rows and cultivated alleys occurs when plants increase the growth of their neighbors especially under nutrient limitation. Owing to a coarse root architecture limiting soil inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake, walnut trees (Juglans spp.) exhibit dependency on soil-borne symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that extend extra-radical hyphae beyond the root Pi depletion zone. To investigate the benefits of mycorrhizal walnuts in alley cropping, we experimentally simulated an agroforestry system in which walnut rootstocks RX1 (J. regia x J. microcarpa) were connected or not by a common mycelial network (CMN) to maize plants grown under two contrasting Pi levels. Mycorrhizal colonization parameters showed that the inoculum reservoir formed by inoculated walnut donor saplings allowed the mycorrhization of maize recipient roots. Relative to non-mycorrhizal plants and whatever the Pi supply, CMN enabled walnut saplings to access maize Pi fertilization residues according to significant increases in biomass, stem diameter, and expression of JrPHT1;1 and JrPHT1;2, two mycorrhiza-inducible phosphate transporter candidates here identified by phylogenic inference of orthologs. In the lowest Pi supply, stem height, leaf Pi concentration, and biomass of RX1 were significantly higher than in non-mycorrhizal controls, showing that mycorrhizal connections between walnut and maize roots alleviated Pi deficiency in the mycorrhizal RX1 donor plant. Under Pi limitation, maize recipient plants also benefited from mycorrhization relative to controls, as inferred from larger stem diameter and height, biomass, leaf number, N content, and Pi concentration. Mycorrhization-induced Pi uptake generated a higher carbon cost for donor walnut plants than for maize plants by increasing walnut plant photosynthesis to provide the AM fungus with carbon assimilate. Here, we show that CMN alleviates Pi deficiency in co-cultivated walnut and maize plants, and may therefore contribute to limit the use of chemical P fertilizers in agroforestry systems.}, } @article {pmid37635403, year = {2023}, author = {Matthews, AE and Boves, TJ and Sweet, AD and Ames, EM and Bulluck, LP and Johnson, EI and Johnson, M and Lipshutz, SE and Percy, KL and Raybuck, DW and Schelsky, WM and Tonra, CM and Viverette, CB and Wijeratne, AJ}, title = {Novel insights into symbiont population structure: Globe-trotting avian feather mites contradict the specialist-generalist variation hypothesis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17115}, pmid = {37635403}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {1907134//National Science Foundation/ ; DUE-1564954//National Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Researchers often examine symbiont host specificity as a species-level pattern, but it can also be key to understanding processes occurring at the population level, which are not as well understood. The specialist-generalist variation hypothesis (SGVH) attempts to explain how host specificity influences population-level processes, stating that single-host symbionts (specialists) exhibit stronger population genetic structure than multi-host symbionts (generalists) because of fewer opportunities for dispersal and more restricted gene flow between populations. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in systems with highly mobile hosts, in which population connectivity may vary temporally and spatially. To address this gap, we tested the SGVH on proctophyllodid feather mites found on migratory warblers (family Parulidae) with contrasting host specificities, Amerodectes protonotaria (a host specialist of Protonotaria citrea) and A. ischyros (a host generalist of 17 parulid species). We used a pooled-sequencing approach and a novel workflow to analyse genetic variants obtained from whole genome data. Both mite species exhibited fairly weak population structure overall, and contrary to predictions of the SGVH, the generalist was more strongly structured than the specialist. These results may suggest that specialists disperse more freely among conspecifics, whereas generalists sort according to geography. Furthermore, our results may reflect an unexpected period for mite transmission - during the nonbreeding season of migratory hosts - as mite population structure more closely reflects the distributions of hosts during the nonbreeding season. Our findings alter our current understanding of feather mite biology and highlight the potential for studies to explore factors driving symbiont diversification at multiple evolutionary scales.}, } @article {pmid37634485, year = {2023}, author = {Claassens, R and Venter, SN and Beukes, CW and Stępkowski, T and Chan, WY and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Bradyrhizobium xenonodulans sp. nov. isolated from nodules of Australian Acacia species invasive to South Africa.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {126452}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126452}, pmid = {37634485}, issn = {1618-0984}, abstract = {A genealogical concordance approach was used to delineate strains isolated from Acacia dealbata and Acacia mearnsii root nodules in South Africa. These isolates form part of Bradyrhizobium based on 16S rRNA sequence similarity. Phylogenetic analysis of six housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) confirmed that these isolates represent a novel species, while pairwise average nucleotide identity (ANIb) calculations with the closest type strains (B. cosmicum 58S1[T], B. betae PL7HG1[T], B. ganzhouense CCBAU 51670 [T], B. cytisi CTAW11[T] and B. rifense CTAW71[T]) resulted in values well below 95-96%. We further performed phenotypic tests which revealed that there are high levels of intraspecies variation, while an additional analysis of the nodA and nifD loci indicated that the symbiotic loci of the strains are closely related to those of Bradyrhizobium isolates with an Australian origin. Strain 14AB[T] (=LMG 31415 [T] = SARCC-753 [T]) is designated as the type strain of the novel species for which we propose the name Bradyrhizobium xenonodulans sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid37633907, year = {2023}, author = {Klein, R and Brehm, J and Wissig, J and Heermann, R and Unden, G}, title = {A signaling complex of adenylate cyclase CyaC of Sinorhizobium meliloti with cAMP and the transcriptional regulators Clr and CycR.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {236}, pmid = {37633907}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {INST 247/992-1 FUGG//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; UN 49/20-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {*Adenylyl Cyclases/genetics ; Cyclic AMP ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Second Messenger Systems ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Adenylate cyclases (ACs) generate the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP), which is found in all domains of life and is involved in the regulation of various cell physiological and metabolic processes. In the plant symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, synthesis of cAMP by the membrane-bound AC CyaC responds to the redox state of the respiratory chain and the respiratory quinones. However, nothing is known about the signaling cascade that is initiated by cAMP produced by CyaC.

RESULTS: Here, the CRP-like transcriptional regulator Clr and the TetR-like regulator CycR (TR01819 protein) were identified to interact with CyaC using the bacterial two-hybrid system (BACTH), co-sedimentation assays, and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Interaction of CycR with Clr, and of CyaC with Clr requires the presence of cAMP and of ATP, respectively, whereas that of CyaC with CycR was independent of the nucleotides.

CONCLUSION: The data implicate a ternary CyaC×CycR×cAMP-Clr complex, functioning as a specific signaling cascade which is formed after activation of CyaC and synthesis of cAMP. cAMP-Clr is thought to work in complex with CycR to regulate a subset of genes of the cAMP-Clr regulon in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid37633611, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, Y and Guo, R and Zheng, Z and Min, P and Ji, R and Chen, J and Liu, Y}, title = {Developmental toxicity in Daphnia magna induced by environmentally relevant concentrations of carbon black: From the perspective of metabolomics and symbiotic bacteria composition.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139889}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139889}, pmid = {37633611}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {The level of carbon black (CB) pollution in the environment is rapidly increasing, owing to the increase in natural and industrial emissions. The water environment has become an important sink for CB. However, studies on CB mainly focused on its impact on air pollution and phytoremediation applications, and the toxicity mechanism of CB in aquatic organisms is relatively limited. Thus, Daphnia magna was used as a model organism to explore the developmental toxicity of environmentally relevant concentrations of CB under a full life-cycle exposure. The toxicity mechanism of CB in aquatic organisms was investigated based on metabolomic and symbiotic microbial analyses. It was found that compared with the control group, the body length of exposed D. magna decreased, while the mortality and intestinal inflammation increased with increasing concentration of CB. The normal reproductive regularity of D. magna was disturbed, and the deformity and body length of the offspring increased and decreased, respectively, after CB exposure. Metabolomic analysis showed that the urea cycle metabolic pathway of exposed D. magna was increased significantly, suggesting a perturbation of N metabolism. In addition, two eicosanoids were increased, suggesting possible inflammation in D. magna. The levels of seven phospholipid metabolites decreased that might be responsible for offspring malformations. Microbiological analysis showed that the composition of the symbiotic microbial community of D. magna was disturbed, including microorganisms involved in carbon cycling, nitrogen cycling, and biodegradation of pollutants, as well as pathogenic microorganisms. Overall, this study found that the inflammatory related metabolites and symbiotic bacterial, as well as reproductive related metabolites, were disrupted after D. magna exposed to different concentrations of CB, which revealed a possible developmental toxicity mechanism of CB in D. magna. These findings provide a scientific basis for analyzing the risks of CB in aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid37633494, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, D and Nambara, E}, title = {Conserved and Unique Functions of NIN-Like Proteins in Nitrate Sensing and Signaling.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {111842}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111842}, pmid = {37633494}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {Nitrogen is the most abundant element in the atmosphere and serves as the foundation block of life, including plants on earth. Unlike carbon fixation through photosynthesis, plants rely heavily on external supports to acquire nitrogen. To this end, plants have adapted various strategies such as forming mutualistic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and evolving a large regulatory network that includes multiple transporters, sensors, and transcription factors for fine-tuning nitrate sensing and signaling. Nodule Inception (NIN) and NIN-like protein (NLP) are central in this network by executing multiple functions such as initiating and regulating the nodule symbiosis for nitrogen fixation, acting as the intracellular sensor to monitor the nitrate fluctuations in the environment, and activating the transcription of nitrate-responsive genes for optimal nitrogen uptake, assimilation, and usage. The involvement of NLPs in intracellular nitrate binding and early nitrate responses highlight their pivotal role in the primary nitrate response (PNR). Genome-wide reprogramming in response to nitrate by NLP is highly transient and rapid, requiring regulation in a precise and dynamic manner. This review aims to summarize recent progress in the study of NIN/NLP for a better understanding of the molecular basis of their roles and regulations in nitrate sensing and signaling, with the hope of shedding light on increasing biological nitrogen fixation and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) to minimize fertilizer input in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid37633410, year = {2023}, author = {Mizuta, H and Morozumi, Y and Watanabe, M and Ohta, S and Ômura, H}, title = {Role of trisaccharides in larval secretion of Lycaeides argyrognomon butterfly on ant attendance.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104558}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104558}, pmid = {37633410}, issn = {1879-1611}, abstract = {Several myrmecophilous insects participate in symbiotic relationships with ants that receive sugar-rich food rewards. For instance, certain aphid species secrete honeydew containing high concentration of melezitose, which acts as a potent feeding-stimulant and attractant for ants. Lycaenid butterfly larvae possess dorsal nectary glands that secrete sugar-rich droplets for tending ants. However, the roles of sugar components in ant foraging and larva-tending activities are unknown. Lycaeides (Plebejus) argyrognomon are larvae that are frequently and facultatively attended by various ant species, including Formica japonica, on the host plant Indigofera pseudotinctoria. The larval secretions of this insect contained small amounts of trisaccharides, melezitose and maltotriose, which were not detected in the host plant's flower nectar, and larval secretions of two sympatric and myrmecophilous lycaenids, Zizeeria maha and Everes argiades. Melezitose and maltotriose, along with sucrose, were preferred by the worker ants. Of the four sugar mixture samples that mimicked I. pseudotinctoria floral nectar and the larval secretions of three lycaenids, respectively, the L. argyrognomon mimic was the most preferred by F. japonica ants. Moreover, the removal of trisaccharides from this mimic significantly reduced its stimulatory activity to ant feedings. These results indicated that the sugar composition of L. argyrognomon larval secretions is suited to the feeding preference of F. japonica ants, and that the trisaccharide components play a key role in increasing their preference. However, only half of the ants responded to the L. argyrognomon mimic even at the concentration corresponding to the maximum total sugar concentration in the collected larval secretions. The fact that the secretions of all L. argyrognomon larvae did not have sufficient sugar levels to stimulate ant feeding suggests that the production of sugar-rich secretions and trisaccharide components is metabolically costly for the larvae and that components other than sugars may be involved in ant attendance.}, } @article {pmid37633397, year = {2023}, author = {Shakoor, N and Hussain, M and Adeel, M and Azeem, I and Ahmad, MA and Zain, M and Zhang, P and Li, Y and Quanlong, W and Horton, R and Rui, Y}, title = {Lithium-induced alterations in soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation through multifunctional mechanisms.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166438}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166438}, pmid = {37633397}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The increasing footprints of lithium (Li) in agroecosystems combined with limited recycling options have raised uncertain consequences for important crops. Nitrogen (N2)-fixation by legumes is an important biological response process, but the cause and effect of Li exposure on plant root-nodule symbiosis and biological N2-fixation (BNF) potential are still unclear. Soybean as a model plant was exposed to Li at low (25 mg kg[-1]), medium (50 mg kg[-1]), and high (100 mg kg[-1]) concentrations. We found that soybean growth and nodulation capacity had a concentration-dependent response to Li. Li at 100 mg kg[-1] reduced the nodule numbers, weight, and BNF potential of soybean in comparison to the low and medium levels. Significant shift in soybean growth and BNF after exposure to Li were associated with alteration in the nodule metabolic pathways involved in nitrogen uptake and metabolism (urea, glutamine and glutamate). Importantly, poor soybean nodulation after high Li exposure was due in part to a decreased abundance of bacterium Ensifer in the nodule bacterial community. Also, the dominant N2-fixing bacterium Ensifer was significantly correlated with carbon and nitrogen metabolic pathways. The findings of our study offer mechanistic insights into the environmental and biological impacts of Li on soybean root-nodule symbiosis and N2-acquisition and provide a pathway to develop strategies to mitigate the challenges posed by Li in agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37632677, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, A and Guan, C and Wang, T and Mu, G and Tuo, Y}, title = {Changes in Intracellular and Extracellular Metabolites of Mixed Lactobacillus Strains Enhance Inhibition of Pathogenic Bacterial Growth and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Alleviation of RAW264.7 Cellular Inflammation.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37632677}, issn = {1867-1314}, support = {2021YFD2100700//the National Key Research and Development Plan/ ; }, abstract = {It is important to explore whether there are antagonistic and synergistic effects between different strains of Lactobacillus when developing mixed Lactobacillus strain products. In this study, we investigated the antagonistic and symbiotic effects of co-cultured Lactobacillus strains, as well as their amelioratory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. The Lactobacillus strains tested in this paper showed no antagonism. Co-culture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y44 and L. plantarum AKS-WS9 was found to show inhibiting effects on the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the co-cultured Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y44 and L. plantarum AKS-WS9 relieved inflammation in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and P38 signaling pathways and down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines NO, ROS, iNOs and TNF-α. And the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells to promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes in response to oxidative stress. There was a difference in intracellular and extracellular metabolites between single or co-cultured Lactobacillus strains, and the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains significantly increased extracellular metabolites 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, psoromic acid, and 2-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and intracellular metabolites 9(S)-HODE, pyocyanin, and LysoPA. We inferred that the better antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ability of the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains were related to the changes in the metabolites of the co-cultured Lactobacillus strains. The co-cultured L. plantarum Y44 and L. plantarum AKS-WS9 strains exhibited better anti-inflammatory abilities and had the potential to alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory diseases as mixed probiotics.}, } @article {pmid37632199, year = {2023}, author = {Escobar, MR and Lepek, VC and Basile, LA}, title = {Influence of cyclic di-GMP metabolism to T3SS expression, biofilm formation and symbiosis efficiency in Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF303099.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnad087}, pmid = {37632199}, issn = {1574-6968}, abstract = {A link between the T3SS and inhibition of swimming motility by the transcriptional regulator TtsI in Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF303099 has been previously reported. Here, we show that mutants in T3SS components display impaired biofilm formation capacity, indicating that a functional T3SS, or at least pili formation, is required for this process. As a first approach to the cdiG regulation network in this bacterium, we started a study of the second messenger cdiG by overexpressing or by deleting some genes encoding cdiG metabolizing enzymes. Overexpression of two putative PDEs as well as deletion of various DGCs led to reduced biofilm formation on glass tubes. Mutation of dgc9509 also affected negatively the nodulation and symbiosis efficiency on Lotus plants, which can be related to the observed reduction in adhesion to plant roots. Results from transcriptional nopX- and ttsI-promoter-lacZ fusions suggested that cdiG negatively regulates T3SS expression in M. japonicum MAFF303099.}, } @article {pmid37631158, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Zhou, M and Li, X and Li, T and Jiang, H and Zhao, L and Chen, S and Tian, J and Han, W}, title = {Phosphorus Addition Reduces Seedling Growth and Survival for the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Tree Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae) and Ectomycorrhizal Tree Castanopsis sclerophylla (Fagaceae) in Fragmented Forests in Eastern China.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {37631158}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {LY21C030003//Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32271606//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Global changes in nutrient deposition rates and habitat fragmentation are likely to have profound effects on plant communities, particularly in the nutrient-limited systems of the tropics and subtropics. However, it remains unclear how increased phosphorus (P) supply affects seedling growth in P-deficient subtropical fragmented forests. To explore this, we applied P to 11 islands in a subtropical Chinese archipelago and examined the results in combination with a contemporary greenhouse experiment to test the influence of P addition on seedling growth and survival. We measured the growth (i.e., base area) and mortality rate of seedlings for one arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and one ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree species separately and calculated their relative growth rate and mortality when compared with P addition and control treatment on each island. We also measured three functional traits and the biomass of seedlings in the greenhouse experiment. Results showed that P addition significantly increased the mortality of AM and EcM seedlings and reduced the growth rate of EcM seedlings. The relative growth rate of AM seedlings, but not EcM seedlings, significantly decreased as the island area decreased, suggesting that P addition could promote the relative growth rate of AM seedlings on larger islands. The greenhouse experiment showed that P addition could reduce the specific root length of AM and EcM seedlings and reduce the aboveground and total biomass of seedlings, indicating that P addition may affect the resource acquisition of seedlings, thereby affecting their survival and growth. Our study reveals the synergistic influence of habitat fragmentation and P deposition, which may affect the regeneration of forest communities and biodiversity maintenance in fragmented habitats.}, } @article {pmid37630684, year = {2023}, author = {Dove, A and Charters, MD and Campbell, MJ and Blake, H and Menon, M and Sarasan, V}, title = {Fungal Community Composition at the Last Remaining Wild Site of Yellow Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. ochroleuca).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11082124}, pmid = {37630684}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {SRP 2021-22//Natural England/ ; }, abstract = {The yellow early marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. ochroleuca) is a critically endangered terrestrial orchid in Britain. Previous attempts to translocate symbiotic seedlings to a site near the last remaining wild site demonstrated some success, with a 10% survival rate despite adverse weather conditions over a two-year period. However, to facilitate future reintroduction efforts or conservation translocations, a more comprehensive understanding of the fungal microbiome and abiotic soil characteristics at the final remaining wild site is required. Obtaining comprehensive information on both the fungal community and soil nutrient composition from wild sites has significant benefits and may prove critical for the success of future conservation translocations involving threatened orchids. This preliminary study, conducted at the last remaining wild site, revealed a significant correlation between the relative abundance of the orchid mycorrhizal fungal order Cantharellales and the concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in the soil. Another orchid mycorrhizal fungal group, Sebacinales, was found to be distributed extensively throughout the site. The composition of fungal communities across the entire site, orchid-hosting and non-orchid-hosting soils is discussed in relation to reinforcing the current population and preventing the extinction of this orchid.}, } @article {pmid37630621, year = {2023}, author = {Mazoyon, C and Catterou, M and Alahmad, A and Mongelard, G and Guénin, S and Sarazin, V and Dubois, F and Duclercq, J}, title = {Sphingomonas sediminicola Dae20 Is a Highly Promising Beneficial Bacteria for Crop Biostimulation Due to Its Positive Effects on Plant Growth and Development.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11082061}, pmid = {37630621}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {ERDF/FSE 2014-2020//European Regional Development Fund/ ; }, abstract = {Current agricultural practices rely heavily on synthetic fertilizers, which not only consume a lot of energy but also disrupt the ecological balance. The overuse of synthetic fertilizers has led to soil degradation. In a more sustainable approach, alternative methods based on biological interactions, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPRs), are being explored. PGPRs, which include both symbiotic and free-living bacteria, form mutualistic relationships with plants by enhancing nutrient availability, producing growth regulators, and regulating stress responses. This study investigated the potential of Sphingomonas sediminicola Dae20, an α-Proteobacteria species commonly found in the rhizosphere, as a beneficial PGPR. We observed that S. sediminicola Dae20 stimulated the root system and growth of three different plant species in the Brassicaceae family, including Arabidopsis thaliana, mustard, and rapeseed. The bacterium produced auxin, nitric oxide, siderophores and showed ACC deaminase activity. In addition to activating an auxin response in the plant, S. sediminicola Dae20 exhibited the ability to modulate other plant hormones, such as abscisic acid, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, which are critical for plant development and defense responses. This study highlights the multifunctional properties of S. sediminicola Dae20 as a promising PGPR and underscores the importance of identifying effective and versatile beneficial bacteria to improve plant nutrition and promote sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid37630585, year = {2023}, author = {Rahman, KU and Ali, K and Rauf, M and Arif, M}, title = {Aspergillus nomiae and fumigatus Ameliorating the Hypoxic Stress Induced by Waterlogging through Ethylene Metabolism in Zea mays L.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11082025}, pmid = {37630585}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {C/5895-1//International Foundation for Science/ ; }, abstract = {Transient and prolonged waterlogging stress (WS) stimulates ethylene (ET) generation in plants, but their reprogramming is critical in determining the plants' fate under WS, which can be combated by the application of symbiotically associated beneficial microbes that induce resistance to WS. The present research was rationalized to explore the potential of the newly isolated 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing fungal endophytic consortium of Aspergillus nomiae (MA1) and Aspergillus fumigatus (MA4) on maize growth promotion under WS. MA1 and MA4 were isolated from the seeds of Moringa oleifera L., which ably produced a sufficient amount of IAA, proline, phenols, and flavonoids. MA1 and MA4 proficiently colonized the root zone of maize (Zea mays L.). The symbiotic association of MA1 and MA4 promoted the growth response of maize compared with the non-inoculated plants under WS stress. Moreover, MA1- and MA4-inoculated maize plants enhanced the production of total soluble protein, sugar, lipids, phenolics, and flavonoids, with a reduction in proline content and H2O2 production. MA1- and MA4-inoculated maize plants showed an increase in the DPPH activity and antioxidant enzyme activities of CAT and POD, along with an increased level of hormonal content (GA3 and IAA) and decreased ABA and ACC contents. Optimal stomatal activity in leaf tissue and adventitious root formation at the root/stem junction was increased in MA1- and MA4-inoculated maize plants, with reduced lysigenous aerenchyma formation, ratio of cortex-to-stele, water-filled cells, and cell gaps within roots; increased tight and round cells; and intact cortical cells without damage. MA1 and MA4 induced a reduction in deformed mesophyll cells, and deteriorated epidermal and vascular bundle cells, as well as swollen metaxylem, phloem, pith, and cortical area, in maize plants under WS compared with control. Moreover, the transcript abundance of ethylene-responsive gene ZmEREB180, responsible for the induction of the WS tolerance in maize, showed optimally reduced expression sufficient for induction in WS tolerance, in MA1- and MA4-inoculated maize plants under WS compared with the non-inoculated control. The existing research supported the use of MA1 and MA4 isolates for establishing the bipartite mutualistic symbiosis in maize to assuage the adverse effects of WS by optimizing ethylene production.}, } @article {pmid37630572, year = {2023}, author = {Koziol, L and Bever, JD}, title = {Crop Productivity Boosters: Native Mycorrhizal Fungi from an Old-Growth Grassland Benefits Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Varieties in Organically Farmed Soils.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11082012}, pmid = {37630572}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {2120153//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; 1556664//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; 1738041//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 1656006//Office of Integrative Activities/ ; 2016549//NSF Partnerships for Innovation/ ; }, abstract = {This paper investigates the response of five tomato and five pepper varieties to native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculation in an organic farming system. The field experiment was conducted across a growing season at a working organic farm in Lawrence, KS, USA. The researchers hypothesized that native AM fungi inoculation would improve crop biomass production for both crop species, but that the magnitude of response would depend on crop cultivar. The results showed that both crops were significantly positively affected by inoculation. AM fungal inoculation consistently improved total pepper biomass throughout the experiment (range of +2% to +8% depending on the harvest date), with a +3.7% improvement at the final harvest for inoculated plants. An interaction between pepper variety and inoculation treatment was sometimes observed, indicating that some pepper varieties were more responsive to AM fungi than others. Beginning at the first harvest, tomatoes showed a consistent positive response to AM fungal inoculation among varieties. Across the experiment, AM fungi-inoculated tomatoes had +10% greater fruit biomass, which was driven by a +20% increase in fruit number. The study highlights the potential benefits of using native AM fungi as a soil amendment in organic farmed soils to improve pepper and tomato productivity.}, } @article {pmid37630514, year = {2023}, author = {Sokolovs-Karijs, O and Brīvība, M and Saksis, R and Rozenberga, M and Girotto, F and Osīte, J and Reinis, A and Sumeraga, G and Krūmiņa, A}, title = {Identifying the Microbiome of the Adenoid Surface of Children Suffering from Otitis Media with Effusion and Children without Middle Ear Effusion Using 16S rRNA Genetic Sequencing.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11081955}, pmid = {37630514}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The upper respiratory tract harbors diverse communities of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic organisms, originating from both the oral and nasopharyngeal microbiota. Among the primary sites of microbial colonization in the upper airways are the adenoids. Alterations in the adenoid microbiota have been implicated in the development of various conditions, including secretory otitis media.

AIM: This study aims to employ 16S rRNA genetic sequencing to identify the most common bacteria present on the surface of adenoids in children with otitis media with effusion and compare them with children without pathologies in the tympanic cavity. Additionally, we seek to determine and compare the bacterial diversity in these two study groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of nineteen samples from the adenoid surfaces were collected, comprising two groups: thirteen samples from children without middle ear effusion and six samples from children with secretory otitis media. The libraries of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was made and sequenced using MiSeq platform.

RESULTS: The most prevalent phyla observed in both groups were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The most common bacterial genera identified in both groups were Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Moraxella, Fusobacterium, and Bordetella, with Fusobacterium and Moraxella being more prevalent in the groups that had no middle ear effusion, while Haemophulus and Streptococcus were more prevalent in the otitis media with effusion group, although not in a statistically significant way. Statistical analysis shows a trend towards bacterial composition and beta diversity being similar between the study groups; however, due to the limited sample size and unevenness between groups, we should approach this data with caution.

CONCLUSION: The lack of prolific difference in bacterial composition between the study groups suggests that the role of the adenoid microbiome in the development of otitis media with effusion may be less significant.}, } @article {pmid37630474, year = {2023}, author = {Li, B and Liu, L and Zhang, D and Guo, S}, title = {Hallmarks of Comparative Transcriptome between Rhizomorphs and Hyphae of Armillaria sp. 541 Participating in Fungal Symbiosis with Emphasis on LysM Domains.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11081914}, pmid = {37630474}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {No.2021-I2M-1-031//CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences/ ; 2022-I2M-2-001//CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences/ ; No. 81803666//National Natural Sciences Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Armillaria sp. 541, a genus of root-infecting fungi, forms a symbiosis with traditional Chinese medicine Gastrodia elata (Orchid) and Polyporus umbellatus via extensive networks of durable rhizomorphs. It is not clear the hallmarks of comparative transcriptome between the rhizomorphs and hyphae of Armillaria sp. 541. In the present study, transcriptomic analysis of Armillaria sp. 541 identified 475 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Armillaria rhizomorphs (AR) and hyphae (AH). Of them, 285 genes were upregulated and 190 were downregulated. Bioinformatics analyses and tests demonstrated DEGs involved in oxidoreductase activity and peptidoglycan binding were significantly enriched in this process when rhizomorph formed from hyphae. We accordingly obtained 14 gene-encoding proteins containing the LysM domain, and further consensus pattern and phylogenetic analysis indicated that their amino acid sequences were conserved and their biological functions may be peptidoglycan binding for recognition between the fungus and host. Among these genes, one, named Armillaria LysM domain recognition gene (aLDRG), was expressed significantly when rhizomorphs were differentiated from hyphae. It was located in the cortical cells of the rhizomorph by in situ hybridization. Furthermore, biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay demonstrated that aLDRG can bind specifically to chitin oligosaccharide of the fungal cell wall, including N,N',N″-Triacetylchitotriose (CO3) and N,N',N″,N'″,N″″-Pentaacetylchitopentaose (CO5). Therefore, we deduced that Armillaria sp. 541 expressed higher levels of LysM protein aLDRG for better binding of oligosaccharide after rhizomorphs were generated. This study provides functional genes for further studies on the interaction between Armillaria sp. 541 and its host.}, } @article {pmid37630336, year = {2023}, author = {Suffys, S and Goffin, D and Richard, G and Francis, A and Haubruge, E and Fauconnier, ML}, title = {Unveiling the Aromas and Sensory Evaluation of Hakko Sobacha: A New Functional Non-Dairy Probiotic Fermented Drink.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {16}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/molecules28166084}, pmid = {37630336}, issn = {1420-3049}, support = {FoodWal agreement n°2210182//Public Service of Wallonia (Economy, Employment and Research) - MICROBoost Win4Excellence project/ ; }, abstract = {At the dawn of a food transition encouraging the consumption of healthy and sustainable non-dairy probiotic products, the development of a fermented functional drink based on Sobacha is considered. Sobacha is an infusion of roasted buckwheat seeds widely consumed in Asian countries for its health benefits. As fermentation improves the nutritional and organoleptic status of grains, the mixed fermentation process involved in the development of kombucha beverages (fermented sweet tea) is conducted by inoculating a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts into the transposable matrix (Sobacha instead of tea). Sobacha, a healthy pseudo-cereal matrix with promising aromas, could be fermented to potentially develop an innovative drink, named "Hakko Sobacha". This neologism would reveal the fermented character of the infusion, Hakko meaning fermented in Japanese. Considering the beverage characterization, the kinetics of the volatile organic compound syntheses were determined using stir-bar sorptive extraction followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis. Odor-active compounds were theoretically calculated to estimate the flavor composition. Finally, sensory analyses highlighted the appreciation and preferences of the consumer towards the beverages. The fermentative yield differences observed between the two buckwheat concentration modalities tested seemed to be correlated with the sugar and nutrient levels available from the starch (buckwheat) matrix. Having characterized Hakko Sobacha, this study proposed the possibility of developing new beverages by monitoring the fermentative process. This should enable improved control and enhancement of their sensorial properties, which could in turn lead to greater customer acceptability.}, } @article {pmid37628979, year = {2023}, author = {Melendez-Perez, AM and Escobar Niño, A and Carrasco-Reinado, R and Martin Diaz, L and Fernandez-Acero, FJ}, title = {Proteomic Approach to Anemonia sulcata and Its Symbiont Symbiodinium spp. as New Source of Potential Biotechnological Applications and Climate Change Biomarkers.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {16}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241612798}, pmid = {37628979}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Marine ecosystems are among the richest in terms of biodiversity, and at present, still remain largely unknown today. In the molecular biology era, several analyses have been conducted to unravel the biological processes in this ecosystem. These systems have provided biotechnological solutions to current problems, including the treatment of diseases, as well as for the development of new biotechnological tools with applications in biomedicine and/or agri-food. In addition, in the context of climate change and global warming, these studies become even more necessary for the development of molecular tools that allow a reliable follow-up of this situation to anticipate alterations and responses of bioindicator species and to create a database to prevent and predict the environmental and climatic changes before the damage is irreversible. Proteomics approaches have revealed their potential use to obtain the set of biological effectors that lead to the real biological station on a specific stage, the proteins. In addition, proteomics-based algorithms have allowed the discovery of proteins with new potential biotechnological applications from proteome data through "applied proteomics". In this project, the first proteome analysis of the sea anemone, Anemonia sulcata, and its symbiont has been developed. These organisms present a wide distribution sea ecosystem. In Spain, it is accepted as a fishing and aquaculture species. Moreover, Anemonia sulcate has a symbiotic relation with autotroph Dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium spp., that allows the study of its relation at the molecular level. For the first characterization of A. sulcata proteome, three independent biological replicates were used, and proteins were extracted and analyzed by LC-MS/MS, allowing the quantification of 325 proteins, 81 from Symbiodinium spp. proteins and 244 from A. sulcata proteins. These proteins were subjected to gene ontology categorization by Cellular Component, Molecular Function and Biological Process. These analyzes have allowed the identification of biomarkers of gene expression as potential powerful emerging diagnostic tools to identify and characterize the molecular drivers of climate change stresses and improve monitoring techniques. In addition, through the application of novel algorithms for the detection of bioactive compounds based on the analysis of molecules of marine origin, the proteome has allowed the identification of proteins with potential applications in the fields of biomedicine and agri-food.}, } @article {pmid37628847, year = {2023}, author = {Iannelli, MA and Nicolodi, C and Coraggio, I and Fabriani, M and Baldoni, E and Frugis, G}, title = {A Novel Role of Medicago truncatula KNAT3/4/5-like Class 2 KNOX Transcription Factors in Drought Stress Tolerance.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {16}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241612668}, pmid = {37628847}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Class 2 KNOX homeobox transcription factors (KNOX2) play a role in promoting cell differentiation in several plant developmental processes. In Arabidopsis, they antagonize the meristematic KNOX1 function during leaf development through the modulation of phytohormones. In Medicago truncatula, three KNOX2 genes belonging to the KNAT3/4/5-like subclass (Mt KNAT3/4/5-like or MtKNOX3-like) redundantly works upstream of a cytokinin-signaling module to control the symbiotic root nodule formation. Their possible role in the response to abiotic stress is as-of-yet unknown. We produced transgenic M. truncatula lines, in which the expression of four MtKNOX3-like genes was knocked down by RNA interference. When tested for response to water withdrawal in the soil, RNAi lines displayed a lower tolerance to drought conditions compared to the control lines, measured as increased leaf water loss, accelerated leaf wilting time, and faster chlorophyll loss. Reanalysis of a transcriptomic M. truncatula drought stress experiment via cluster analysis and gene co-expression networks pointed to a possible role of MtKNOX3-like transcription factors in repressing a proline dehydrogenase gene (MtPDH), specifically at 4 days after water withdrawal. Proline measurement and gene expression analysis of transgenic RNAi plants compared to the controls confirmed the role of KNOX3-like genes in inhibiting proline degradation through the regulation of the MtPDH gene.}, } @article {pmid37628727, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, ZP and Gu, WC and Li, J and Qiu, QT and Ma, BG}, title = {Independent Component Analysis Reveals the Transcriptional Regulatory Modules in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {16}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241612544}, pmid = {37628727}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {31971184//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {The dynamic adaptation of bacteria to environmental changes is achieved through the coordinated expression of many genes, which constitutes a transcriptional regulatory network (TRN). Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 is an important model strain for the study of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), and its SNF ability largely depends on the TRN. In this study, independent component analysis was applied to 226 high-quality gene expression profiles of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 microarray datasets, from which 64 iModulons were identified. Using these iModulons and their condition-specific activity levels, we (1) provided new insights into the connection between the FixLJ-FixK2-FixK1 regulatory cascade and quorum sensing, (2) discovered the independence of the FixLJ-FixK2-FixK1 and NifA/RpoN regulatory cascades in response to oxygen, (3) identified the FixLJ-FixK2 cascade as a mediator connecting the FixK2-2 iModulon and the Phenylalanine iModulon, (4) described the differential activation of iModulons in B. diazoefficiens USDA110 under different environmental conditions, and (5) proposed a notion of active-TRN based on the changes in iModulon activity to better illustrate the relationship between gene regulation and environmental condition. In sum, this research offered an iModulon-based TRN for B. diazoefficiens USDA110, which formed a foundation for comprehensively understanding the intricate transcriptional regulation during SNF.}, } @article {pmid37628715, year = {2023}, author = {Long, S and Su, M and Chen, X and Hu, A and Yu, F and Zou, Q and Cheng, G}, title = {Proteomic and Mutant Analysis of Hydrogenase Maturation Protein Gene hypE in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation of Mesorhizobium huakuii.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {16}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241612534}, pmid = {37628715}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {31772399//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Hydrogenases catalyze the simple yet important redox reaction between protons and electrons and H2, thus mediating symbiotic interactions. The contribution of hydrogenase to this symbiosis and anti-oxidative damage was investigated using the M. huakuii hypE (encoding hydrogenase maturation protein) mutant. The hypE mutant grew a little faster than its parental 7653R and displayed decreased antioxidative capacity under H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that hypE gene expression is significantly up-regulated in all the detected stages of nodule development. Although the hypE mutant can form nodules, the symbiotic ability was severely impaired, which led to an abnormal nodulation phenotype coupled to a 47% reduction in nitrogen fixation capacity. This phenotype was linked to the formation of smaller abnormal nodules containing disintegrating and prematurely senescent bacteroids. Proteomics analysis allowed a total of ninety differentially expressed proteins (fold change > 1.5 or <0.67, p < 0.05) to be identified. Of these proteins, 21 are related to stress response and virulence, 21 are involved in transporter activity, and 18 are involved in energy and nitrogen metabolism. Overall, the HypE protein is essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, playing independent roles in supplying energy and electrons, in bacterial detoxification, and in the control of bacteroid differentiation and senescence.}, } @article {pmid37626984, year = {2023}, author = {Kaval, A and Yılmaz, H and Tunca Gedik, S and Yıldız Kutman, B and Kutman, ÜB}, title = {The Fungal Root Endophyte Serendipita indica (Piriformospora indica) Enhances Bread and Durum Wheat Performance under Boron Toxicity at Both Vegetative and Generative Stages of Development through Mechanisms Unrelated to Mineral Homeostasis.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12081098}, pmid = {37626984}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {118Z984//Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey/ ; 100 / 2000 CoHE PhD Scholarship Program//Council of Higher Education, Turkey/ ; }, abstract = {While the importance of beneficial soil microorganisms for soil health and crop performance has been receiving ever-increasing attention, Serendipita indica has been widely studied as a fungal root endophyte with significant potential for increasing the stress tolerance of host plants. Boron (B) toxicity as an adverse soil condition is particularly prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions and threatens crop production. Studies on S. indica-wheat symbiosis are limited, and effects of S. indica on crops have never been reported in the context of B toxicity. Here, two pot experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to investigate the effects of S. indica on the growth and yield parameters of bread (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum durum) grown at different levels of B toxicity in native vs. sterilized soil, and parameters related to root colonization, membrane damage, oxidative stress, chlorophyll, and mineral nutrition were measured to elucidate the physiological mechanisms of damage and benefit. Boron toxicity decreased early vegetative growth and grain yield, but it did not affect the straw dry weight of mature plants, whereas S. indica significantly enhanced the vegetative growth, straw dry weight, and the grain number of both wheat species. Membrane damage as demonstrated by increased lipid peroxidation and relative electrolyte leakage was caused by B toxicity and alleviated by S. indica. The benefits provided by S. indica could not be attributed to any significant changes in tissue concentrations of B or other minerals such as phosphorus. Soil sterilization generally improved plant performance but it did not consistently strengthen or weaken the effects of S. indica. The presented results suggest that S. indica may be used as an effective microbial inoculant to enhance wheat growth under adverse soil conditions such as B toxicity through mechanisms that are possibly unrelated to mineral homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid37626979, year = {2023}, author = {Niza Costa, M and Gil, T and Teixeira, R and Rodrígues Dos Santos, AS and Rebelo Romão, I and Sequero López, C and Vílchez, JI}, title = {Combined Use of a Bacterial Consortium and Early-Colonizing Plants as a Treatment for Soil Recovery after Fire: A Model Based on Los Guájares (Granada, Spain) Wildfire.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12081093}, pmid = {37626979}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {UIDP/04551/2020//FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., through the R&D Unit "GREEN-IT - Biore-sources for Sustainability"/ ; UIDB/04551/2020//FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., through the R&D Unit "GREEN-IT - Biore-sources for Sustainability"/ ; }, abstract = {During 2022, intense heat waves, together with particularly extreme dry conditions, created a propitious scenario for wildfires, resulting in the area of vegetation consumed in Europe doubling. Mediterranean countries have been particularly affected, reaching 293,155 hectares in Spain, the worst data in the last 15 years. The effects on the vegetation and the soil are devastating, so knowing the recovery factors is essential for after-fire management. Resilient microorganisms play a fundamental role in rapid nutrient recycling, soil structure, and plant colonization in fire-affected soils. In this present work, we have studied emergent microbial communities in the case of the Los Guájares (Granada, Spain) fire, one of the most extensive of the year, to evaluate their role in the recovery of soil and vegetation cover. We aim to discern which are the main actors in order to formulate a new treatment that helps in the ecosystem recovery. Thus, we have found the relevant loss in phosphorous and potassium solubilizers, as well as siderophores or biofilm producers. Here, we decided to use the strains Pseudomonas koreensis AC, Peribacillus frigoritolerans CB, Pseudomonas fluorescens DC, Paenibacillus lautus C, Bacillus toyonensis CD, and Paenarthrobacter nitroguajacolicus AI as a consortium, as they showed most of the capacities required in a regenerative treatment. On the other hand, the microcosm test showed an enhanced pattern of germination of the emerging model plant, Bituminaria bituminosa, as well as a more aggregated structure for soil. This new approach can create a relevant approach in order to recover fire-affected soils in the future.}, } @article {pmid37626172, year = {2023}, author = {Mars Brisbin, M and Schofield, A and McIlvin, MR and Krinos, AI and Alexander, H and Saito, MA}, title = {Vitamin B12 conveys a protective advantage to phycosphere-associated bacteria at high temperatures.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {88}, pmid = {37626172}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {874439//Simons Foundation/ ; 931886//Simons Foundation/ ; DE-SC0020347//U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/ ; GM135709-01A1//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; 1850719//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {Many marine microbes require vitamin B12 (cobalamin) but are unable to synthesize it, necessitating reliance on other B12-producing microbes. Thus, phytoplankton and bacterioplankton community dynamics can partially depend on the production and release of a limiting resource by members of the same community. We tested the impact of temperature and B12 availability on the growth of two bacterial taxa commonly associated with phytoplankton: Ruegeria pomeroyi, which produces B12 and fulfills the B12 requirements of some phytoplankton, and Alteromonas macleodii, which does not produce B12 but also does not strictly require it for growth. For B12-producing R. pomeroyi, we further tested how temperature influences B12 production and release. Access to B12 significantly increased growth rates of both species at the highest temperatures tested (38 °C for R. pomeroyi, 40 °C for A. macleodii) and A. macleodii biomass was significantly reduced when grown at high temperatures without B12, indicating that B12 is protective at high temperatures. Moreover, R. pomeroyi produced more B12 at warmer temperatures but did not release detectable amounts of B12 at any temperature tested. Results imply that increasing temperatures and more frequent marine heatwaves with climate change will influence microbial B12 dynamics and could interrupt symbiotic resource sharing.}, } @article {pmid37624812, year = {2023}, author = {Tabatabaei, S}, title = {Introducing a new routing method in the MANET using the symbionts search algorithm.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {e0290091}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0290091}, pmid = {37624812}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {A wireless MANET network is a grouping of wireless nodes that communicate without the use of a centralized network infrastructure. The lack of reliable elements, such as routers, as well as severe resource constraints, have an important impact on the performance of these networks. To improve the efficiency of MANET, intelligent routing algorithms are required; in fact, the design of a smart and efficient routing algorithm can significantly affect the efficiency of these networks. In this regard, this paper proposes an intelligent routing method for MANET networks based on (SOS) symbiotic organism search. The proposed method is implemented in dynamic environments by considering four important criteria: available bandwidth, remaining battery energy, mobility speed, and hop count. The simulation results show that the learning process of the symbionts search algorithm has a significant impact on network performance and outperforms the FBRP algorithms in terms of throughput rate, data loss rate, packet delivery rate, and the number of hops.}, } @article {pmid37623748, year = {2023}, author = {Clark, J and Bennett, T}, title = {Cracking the enigma: understanding strigolactone signalling in the rhizosphere.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad335}, pmid = {37623748}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {The rhizosphere is a complex physical and chemical interface between plants and their underground environment, both biotic and abiotic. Plants exude large number of chemicals into the rhizosphere in order to manipulate these biotic and abiotic components. Among such chemicals are strigolactones, ancient signalling molecules that in flowering plants act as both internal hormones and external rhizosphere signals. Plants exude strigolactones to communicate with their preferred symbiotic partners and neighbouring plants, but at least some classes of parasitic organisms are able to 'crack' these private messages and eavesdrop on the signals. In this review, we examine the intentional consequences of strigolactone exudation, and also the unintentional consequences caused by eavesdroppers. We examine the molecular mechanisms by which strigolactones act within the rhizosphere, and attempt to understand the enigma of the strigolactone molecular diversity synthesised and exude into the rhizosphere by plants. We conclude by looking at the prospects of using improved understanding of strigolactones in agricultural contexts.}, } @article {pmid37623597, year = {2023}, author = {Prieto, M and Montané, N and Aragón, G and Martínez, I and Rodríguez-Arribas, C}, title = {Cyanobacterial Variability in Lichen Cephalodia.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9080826}, pmid = {37623597}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {NOTHODIVERSITY CGL2016-80562-P//Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness/ ; }, abstract = {The ecological success of lichens is related to both myco- and photobionts which condition the physiological limits of the lichen symbioses and thus affect their ecological niches and geographic ranges. A particular type of lichen, called cephalolichen, is characterized by housing both green algal and cyanobacterial symbionts-the latter is restricted to special structures called cephalodia. In this type of lichen, questions related to specialization within species or within individuals are still unsolved as different patterns have previously been observed. In order to study the variability at the intrathalline, intraspecific, and interspecific level, cyanobionts from different cephalodia within the same thalli and from different thalli were genetically analysed in three cephalolichen species at two different forests (18 thalli, 90 cephalodia). The results showed variability in the cephalodial Nostoc OTUs in all the studied species, both at the intrathalline and intraspecific levels. The variability of Nostoc OTUs found in different cephalodia of the same thallus suggests low specialization in this relationship. Additionally, differences in OTU diversity in the three studied species and in the two forests were found. The variability observed may confer an increased ecological plasticity and an advantage to colonize or persist under additional or novel habitats or conditions.}, } @article {pmid37623420, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, W and Lei, JN and Mao, Q and Tian, YZ and Shan, HW and Chen, JP}, title = {Distribution, Vertical Transmission, and Cooperative Mechanisms of Obligate Symbiotic Bacteria in the Leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis (Hemiptera, Cicadellidea).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14080710}, pmid = {37623420}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {20231JCGY010444//Ningbo Natural Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Many insects rely on ancient symbiotic bacterial associations for essential nutrition. Auchenorrhyncha commonly harbor two obligate symbionts: Sulcia (Bacteroidetes) and a proteobacterial partner that supplies essential amino acids lacking in their plant-sap diets. In this study focusing on Maiestas dorsalis, we investigated the distribution and vertical transmission of two obligate symbiotic bacteria, Sulcia and Nasuia, within the leafhopper. Sulcia primarily inhabits the external region of the bacteriome, while Nasuia is restricted to the internal region. Both symbionts progressively infiltrate the ovary through the epithelial plug, ultimately reaching the developing primary oocyte. Furthermore, co-phylogenetic analysis suggests a close correlation between the evolution of Auchenorrhyncha insects and the presence of their obligate symbiotic bacteria. Genomic analysis further unveiled the extreme genome reduction of the obligate symbiotic bacteria, with Sulcia retaining genes involved in basic cellular processes and limited energy synthesis, while Nasuia exhibited further gene loss in replication, transcription, translation, and energy synthesis. However, both symbionts retained the genes for synthesizing the essential amino acids required by the host insect. Our study highlights the coevolutionary dynamics between Sulcia, proteobacterial partners, and their insect hosts, shedding light on the intricate nutritional interactions and evolutionary adaptations in Auchenorrhyncha insects.}, } @article {pmid37623217, year = {2023}, author = {Petrushin, IS and Vasilev, IA and Markova, YA}, title = {Drought Tolerance of Legumes: Physiology and the Role of the Microbiome.}, journal = {Current issues in molecular biology}, volume = {45}, number = {8}, pages = {6311-6324}, doi = {10.3390/cimb45080398}, pmid = {37623217}, issn = {1467-3045}, support = {23-26-00204//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Water scarcity and global warming make drought-tolerant plant species more in-demand than ever. The most drastic damage exerted by drought occurs during the critical growth stages of seed development and reproduction. In the course of their evolution, plants form a variety of drought-tolerance mechanisms, including recruiting beneficial microorganisms. Legumes (one of the three largest groups of higher plants) have unique features and the potential to adapt to abiotic stress. The available literature discusses the genetic (breeding) and physiological aspects of drought tolerance in legumes, neglecting the role of the microbiome. Our review aims to fill this gap: starting with the physiological mechanisms of legume drought adaptation, we describe the symbiotic relationship of the plant host with the microbial community and its role in facing drought. We consider two types of studies related to microbiomes in low-water conditions: comparisons and microbiome engineering (modulation). The first type of research includes diversity shifts and the isolation of microorganisms from the various plant niches to which they belong. The second type focuses on manipulating the plant holobiont through microbiome engineering-a promising biotech strategy to improve the yield and stress-resistance of legumes.}, } @article {pmid37622355, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, C and Liu, D}, title = {[Characterization of bacterial swarming motility: a review].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {3188-3203}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.220892}, pmid = {37622355}, issn = {1872-2075}, abstract = {Swarming motility is a typical synergistic motion, in which bacteria use flagella and Type Ⅳ Pili together to move collectively on semi-solid surfaces. Swarming motility is a hot topic of research in the field of microbiology because of its close relationship with biofilm formation, fruiting bodies formation, pathogen invasion and microbial dispersal and symbiosis. A large number of studies have been conducted on bacterial swarming motility, including changes in the expression of key proteins, changes in chemical communications between bacteria as well as mechanical changes. The expression of flagellin and the level of intracellular c-di-GMP complicatedly regulates the collective behavior of bacteria in colonies, which consequently impacts the swarming motility. The unique physical properties of swarmer cells are conducive to the expansion of the whole colony. Factors such as nutrient and water content in the surrounding growth environment of bacteria also affect the ability of bacteria to swarm to different degrees. It is challenging to construct a universal model of swarming motility based on the molecular mechanisms of swarming in the future.}, } @article {pmid37620964, year = {2023}, author = {Gahan, JM and Cartwright, P and Nicotra, ML and Schnitzler, CE and Steinmetz, PRH and Juliano, CE}, title = {Cnidofest 2022: hot topics in cnidarian research.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {37620964}, issn = {2041-9139}, support = {2229016//National Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {The second annual Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting, aka "Cnidofest", took place in Davis, California from 7 to 10th of September, 2022. The meeting brought together scientists using cnidarians to study molecular and cellular biology, development and regeneration, evo-devo, neurobiology, symbiosis, physiology, and comparative genomics. The diversity of topics and species represented in presentations highlighted the importance and versatility of cnidarians in addressing a wide variety of biological questions. In keeping with the spirit of the first meeting (and its predecessor, Hydroidfest), almost 75% of oral presentations were given by early career researchers (i.e., graduate students and postdocs). In this review, we present research highlights from the meeting.}, } @article {pmid37620328, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, H and Jiang, Y and Wang, L and Wang, G and Hu, W and Dong, L and Wang, S}, title = {Outer membrane vesicles from a mosquito commensal mediate targeted killing of Plasmodium parasites via the phosphatidylcholine scavenging pathway.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {5157}, pmid = {37620328}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {31830086 and 32021001//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a crucial modulator of Plasmodium infection in mosquitoes, including the production of anti-Plasmodium effector proteins. But how the commensal-derived effectors are translocated into Plasmodium parasites remains obscure. Here we show that a natural Plasmodium blocking symbiotic bacterium Serratia ureilytica Su_YN1 delivers the effector lipase AmLip to Plasmodium parasites via outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). After a blood meal, host serum strongly induces Su_YN1 to release OMVs and the antimalarial effector protein AmLip into the mosquito gut. AmLip is first secreted into the extracellular space via the T1SS and then preferentially loaded on the OMVs that selectively target the malaria parasite, leading to targeted killing of the parasites. Notably, these serum-induced OMVs incorporate certain serum-derived lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, which is critical for OMV uptake by Plasmodium via the phosphatidylcholine scavenging pathway. These findings reveal that this gut symbiotic bacterium evolved to deliver secreted effector molecules in the form of extracellular vesicles to selectively attack parasites and render mosquitoes refractory to Plasmodium infection. The discovery of the role of gut commensal-derived OMVs as carriers in cross-kingdom communication between mosquito microbiota and Plasmodium parasites offers a potential innovative strategy for blocking malaria transmission.}, } @article {pmid37616244, year = {2023}, author = {Aroh, O and Liles, MR and Halanych, KM}, title = {Genomic characterization of a novel, widely distributed Mycoplasma species "Candidatus Mycoplasma mahonii" associated with the brittlestar Gorgonocephalus chilensis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {e0290305}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0290305}, pmid = {37616244}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are ubiquitous throughout the world's oceans, yet for many marine organisms, including those in the high latitudes, little is understood about symbiotic associations and functional relationships. From a recently determined genome sequence of a filter-feeding basket star from Argentina, Gorgonocephalus chilensis, we discovered a novel Mycoplasma species with a 796Kb genome (CheckM completeness of 97.9%, G+C content = 30.1%). Similar to other Mycoplasma spp. within Mycoplasmatota, genomic analysis of the novel organism revealed reduced metabolic pathways including incomplete biosynthetic pathways, suggesting an obligate association with their basket star host. Results of 16S rRNA and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses revealed that this organism belonged to a recently characterized non-free-living lineage of Mycoplasma spp. specifically associated with marine invertebrate animals. Thus, the name "Candidatus Mycoplasma mahonii" is proposed for this novel species. Based on 16S rRNA PCR-screening, we found that Ca. M. mahonii also occurs in Gorgonocephalus eucnemis from the Northwest Pacific and other Gorgonocephalus chilensis from Argentinian waters. The level of sequence conservation within Ca. M. mahonii is considerable between widely disparate high-latitude Gorgonocephalus species, suggesting that oceanic dispersal of this microbe may be greater than excepted.}, } @article {pmid37615902, year = {2023}, author = {Lanzoni, O and Szokoli, F and Schrallhammer, M and Sabaneyeva, E and Krenek, S and Doak, TG and Verni, F and Berendonk, TU and Castelli, M and Petroni, G}, title = {"Candidatus Intestinibacterium parameciiphilum"-member of the "Candidatus Paracaedibacteraceae" family (Alphaproteobacteria, Holosporales) inhabiting the ciliated protist Paramecium.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37615902}, issn = {1618-1905}, abstract = {Protists frequently host diverse bacterial symbionts, in particular those affiliated with the order Holosporales (Alphaproteobacteria). All characterised members of this bacterial lineage have been retrieved in obligate association with a wide range of eukaryotes, especially multiple protist lineages (e.g. amoebozoans, ciliates, cercozoans, euglenids, and nucleariids), as well as some metazoans (especially arthropods and related ecdysozoans). While the genus Paramecium and other ciliates have been deeply investigated for the presence of symbionts, known members of the family "Candidatus Paracaedibacteraceae" (Holosporales) are currently underrepresented in such hosts. Herein, we report the description of "Candidatus Intestinibacterium parameciiphilum" within the family "Candidatus Paracaedibacteraceae", inhabiting the cytoplasm of Paramecium biaurelia. This novel bacterium is almost twice as big as its relative "Candidatus Intestinibacterium nucleariae" from the opisthokont Nuclearia and does not present a surrounding halo. Based on phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, we identified six further potential species-level lineages within the genus. Based on the provenance of the respective samples, we investigated the environmental distribution of the representatives of "Candidatus Intestinibacterium" species. Obtained results are consistent with an obligate endosymbiotic lifestyle, with protists, in particular freshwater ones, as hosts. Thus, available data suggest that association with freshwater protists could be the ancestral condition for the members of the "Candidatus Intestinibacterium" genus.}, } @article {pmid37615669, year = {2023}, author = {Mendes, RCMG and Morais, SCRV and Pontes, CM and Frazão, CMFQ and França, MS and Lopes, MVO and Silva, GP and Mangueira, SO and Linhares, FMP}, title = {Clinical validation of the nursing diagnosis risk for disturbed maternal-fetal dyad in high-risk pregnancy: A case-control study.}, journal = {International journal of nursing knowledge}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/2047-3095.12444}, pmid = {37615669}, issn = {2047-3095}, support = {001//Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES), Brazil/ ; 06-2022//Research Support Notice linked to the Graduate Programs of the Federal University of Pernambuco-PROPG/ ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: To obtain evidence of the clinical validity of the nursing diagnosis (ND) risk for disturbed maternal-fetal dyad in high-risk pregnancy.

METHOD: Causal validation of the ND through a case-control study performed in a university hospital with 155 high-risk pregnant women: 31 cases and 124 controls. A causal association was found between the ND etiological factors and the occurrence of disruption of the symbiotic maternal-fetal dyad; an association was verified when the etiological factor presented a p-value <0.05 and odds ratio >1.

FINDINGS: The risk factor absent-inadequate prenatal care; populations at risk, such as young-advanced maternal age and economically disadvantaged pregnant women; and association conditions, such as maternal conditions and compromised fetal oxygen transport, increased the outcome likelihood. The associated condition maternal illnesses appeared as a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of clinical validity of the ND risk for disturbed maternal-fetal dyad was obtained, and an association between etiological factors and disruption of the symbiotic maternal-fetal dyad was found.

The results contribute to advance scientific knowledge in nursing teaching, research, and practice and support the nursing process in high-risk pregnancies.}, } @article {pmid37614922, year = {2023}, author = {Parmentier, T}, title = {Differential transport of a guild of mutualistic root aphids by the ant Lasius flavus.}, journal = {Current zoology}, volume = {69}, number = {4}, pages = {409-417}, pmid = {37614922}, issn = {1674-5507}, abstract = {Mutually beneficial associations are widespread in ecological networks. They are typically assembled as multispecies guilds of symbionts that compete for one or more host species. The ant Lasius flavus engages in an intriguing and obligate mutualistic association with a community of aphids that are cultivated on plant roots in its nests. The ant displays a repertoire of amicable behaviors toward the aphids, including their transport. I examined whether L. flavus preferentially carried some of the root aphids. Using a no-choice and a choice experiment, I comparatively analyzed the transport rate of 5 obligate and one loosely associated species back to the ant nest and used the transport rate of the ant larvae as a reference. All associated root aphids were carried back to the nest, but in a clear preferential hierarchy. Geoica utricularia, Forda Formicaria, and Trama rara were rapidly transported, but slower than the own larvae. Tetraneura ulmi and Geoica setulosa were collected at a moderate rate and the loosely associated Aploneura lentisci was slowly retrieved. In contrast, different species of unassociated aphids were not transported and even provoked aggressive behavior in L. flavus. This study revealed that co-occurring symbionts may induce different degrees of host attraction, which ultimately may affect the coexistence and assembly of ant-symbiont communities.}, } @article {pmid37613768, year = {2023}, author = {Gibson, W and Mulvey, J and Patterson, J}, title = {Symbiotic Beams: Using Non-microscopy Electron Sources to Bring LPTEM's Puzzles into Better Focus.}, journal = {Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada}, volume = {29}, number = {Supplement_1}, pages = {1491-1492}, doi = {10.1093/micmic/ozad067.766}, pmid = {37613768}, issn = {1435-8115}, } @article {pmid37612775, year = {2023}, author = {Fusi, M and Ngugi, DK and Marasco, R and Booth, JM and Cardinale, M and Sacchi, L and Clementi, E and Yang, X and Garuglieri, E and Fodelianakis, S and Michoud, G and Daffonchio, D}, title = {Gill-associated bacteria are homogeneously selected in amphibious mangrove crabs to sustain host intertidal adaptation.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {189}, pmid = {37612775}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {CRG-7-3739//KAUST Competitive Research Grant/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The transition from water to air is a key event in the evolution of many marine organisms to access new food sources, escape water hypoxia, and exploit the higher and temperature-independent oxygen concentration of air. Despite the importance of microorganisms in host adaptation, their contribution to overcoming the challenges posed by the lifestyle changes from water to land is not well understood. To address this, we examined how microbial association with a key multifunctional organ, the gill, is involved in the intertidal adaptation of fiddler crabs, a dual-breathing organism.

RESULTS: Electron microscopy revealed a rod-shaped bacterial layer tightly connected to the gill lamellae of the five crab species sampled across a latitudinal gradient from the central Red Sea to the southern Indian Ocean. The gill bacterial community diversity assessed with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was consistently low across crab species, and the same actinobacterial group, namely Ilumatobacter, was dominant regardless of the geographic location of the host. Using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, we detected that these members of actinobacteria are potentially able to convert ammonia to amino acids and may help eliminate toxic sulphur compounds and carbon monoxide to which crabs are constantly exposed.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that bacteria selected on gills can play a role in the adaptation of animals in dynamic intertidal ecosystems. Hence, this relationship is likely to be important in the ecological and evolutionary processes of the transition from water to air and deserves further attention, including the ontogenetic onset of this association. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37612503, year = {2023}, author = {Wiedenmann, J and D'Angelo, C and Mardones, ML and Moore, S and Benkwitt, CE and Graham, NAJ and Hambach, B and Wilson, PA and Vanstone, J and Eyal, G and Ben-Zvi, O and Loya, Y and Genin, A}, title = {Reef-building corals farm and feed on their photosynthetic symbionts.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37612503}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {Coral reefs are highly diverse ecosystems that thrive in nutrient-poor waters, a phenomenon frequently referred to as the Darwin paradox[1]. The energy demand of coral animal hosts can often be fully met by the excess production of carbon-rich photosynthates by their algal symbionts[2,3]. However, the understanding of mechanisms that enable corals to acquire the vital nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus from their symbionts is incomplete[4-9]. Here we show, through a series of long-term experiments, that the uptake of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus by the symbionts alone is sufficient to sustain rapid coral growth. Next, considering the nitrogen and phosphorus budgets of host and symbionts, we identify that these nutrients are gathered through symbiont 'farming' and are translocated to the host by digestion of excess symbiont cells. Finally, we use a large-scale natural experiment in which seabirds fertilize some reefs but not others, to show that the efficient utilization of dissolved inorganic nutrients by symbiotic corals established in our laboratory experiments has the potential to enhance coral growth in the wild at the ecosystem level. Feeding on symbionts enables coral animals to tap into an important nutrient pool and helps to explain the evolutionary and ecological success of symbiotic corals in nutrient-limited waters.}, } @article {pmid37611892, year = {2023}, author = {Hoyek, S and Cruz, NFD and Patel, NA and Al-Khersan, H and Fan, KC and Berrocal, AM}, title = {Identification of novel biomarkers for retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants by use of innovative technologies and artificial intelligence.}, journal = {Progress in retinal and eye research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101208}, doi = {10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101208}, pmid = {37611892}, issn = {1873-1635}, abstract = {Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable vision loss in preterm infants. While appropriate screening is crucial for early identification and treatment of ROP, current screening guidelines remain limited by inter-examiner variability in screening modalities, absence of local protocol for ROP screening in some settings, a paucity of resources and an increased survival of younger and smaller infants. This review summarizes the advancements and challenges of current innovative technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and predictive biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of ROP. We provide a contemporary overview of AI-based models for detection of ROP, its severity, progression, and response to treatment. To address the transition from experimental settings to real-world clinical practice, challenges to the clinical implementation of AI for ROP are reviewed and potential solutions are proposed. The use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) technology is also explored, providing evaluation of subclinical ROP characteristics that are often imperceptible on fundus examination. Furthermore, we explore several potential biomarkers to reduce the need for invasive procedures, to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy. Finally, we emphasize the need of a symbiotic integration of biologic and imaging biomarkers and AI in ROP screening, where the robustness of biomarkers in early disease detection is complemented by the predictive precision of AI algorithms.}, } @article {pmid37611703, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Li, X and Chen, J and Li, W and Wang, F}, title = {Carbon sequestration performance, enzyme and photosynthetic activity, and transcriptome analysis of algae-bacteria symbiotic system after antibiotic exposure.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166486}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166486}, pmid = {37611703}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Wastewater treatment technology based on algae-bacteria successfully combines pollutant purification, CO2 reduction and clean energy production to provide new insights into climate solutions. In this study, the reciprocal mechanisms between algae and bacteria were explored through physiological and biochemical levels of algae cells and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the performance of immobilized algae-bacteria symbiotic particles (ABSPs) for CO2 fixation. The results showed that ABSPs promoted the CO2 fixation capacity of microalgae. The enhanced growth capacity and photosynthetic activity of algal cells in ABSPs are key to promoting CO2 uptake, and the stimulation of photosynthetic system and the promotion of Calvin cycle were the main contributors to enhanced carbon sequestration. These findings will provide guidance for carbon reduction using immobilized ABSS as well as deciphering the algae-bacteria reciprocal mechanism.}, } @article {pmid37611392, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Liu, H and Peng, MW and Qing, T and Feng, B and Zhang, P}, title = {Amoxicillin degradation and high-value extracellular polymer recovery by algal-bacterial symbiosis systems.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {460}, number = {}, pages = {132344}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132344}, pmid = {37611392}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Algal-bacterial symbiosis systems have emerged as sustainable methods for the treatment of new pollutants and the recovery of resources. However, the bio-refinery of biomass derived from microalgae is inefficient and expensive. In order to simultaneously degrade antibiotic and recover resources efficiently, two algal-bacterial symbiosis systems were constructed using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (alginate overproduction) and Bacillus subtilis (poly-γ-glutamic acid overproduction) with amoxicillin-degrading-microalga Prototheca zopfii W1. The optimal conditions for W1 to degrade amoxicillin are 35 °C, pH 7, and 180 rpm. In the presence of 5-50 mg/L of amoxicillin, W1-P. aeruginosa and W1-B. subtilis exhibit higher amoxicillin degradation and produce more extracellular polymers than W1 or bacteria alone. The metabolomic analysis demonstrates that the algal-bacterial symbiosis enhances the tolerance of W1 to amoxicillin by altering carbohydrate metabolism and promotes the production of biopolymers by upregulating the precursors synthesis. Moreover, the removal of amoxicillin (10 mg/L) from livestock effluent by W1-P. aeruginosa and W1-B. subtilis is greater than 90 % in 3 days, and the maximum yields of alginate and poly-γ-glutamate are 446.1 and 254.3 mg/g dry cell weight, respectively. These outcomes provide theoretical support for the application of algal-bacterial symbiosis systems to treatment of amoxicillin wastewater and efficient production of biopolymers.}, } @article {pmid37611098, year = {2023}, author = {Tame, A and Maruyama, T and Ikuta, T and Chikaraishi, Y and Ogawa, NO and Tsuchiya, M and Takishita, K and Tsuda, M and Hirai, M and Takaki, Y and Ohkouchi, N and Fujikura, K and Yoshida, T}, title = {mTORC1 regulates phagosome digestion of symbiotic bacteria for intracellular nutritional symbiosis in a deep-sea mussel.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {34}, pages = {eadg8364}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adg8364}, pmid = {37611098}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Phagocytosis is one of the methods used to acquire symbiotic bacteria to establish intracellular symbiosis. A deep-sea mussel, Bathymodiolus japonicus, acquires its symbiont from the environment by phagocytosis of gill epithelial cells and receives nutrients from them. However, the manner by which mussels retain the symbiont without phagosome digestion remains unknown. Here, we show that controlling the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in mussels leads to retaining symbionts in gill cells. The symbiont is essential for the host mussel nutrition; however, depleting the symbiont's energy source triggers the phagosome digestion of symbionts. Meanwhile, the inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin prevented the digestion of the resident symbionts and of the engulfed exogenous dead symbionts in gill cells. This indicates that mTORC1 promotes phagosome digestion of symbionts under reduced nutrient supply from the symbiont. The regulation mechanism of phagosome digestion by mTORC1 through nutrient signaling with symbionts is key for maintaining animal-microbe intracellular nutritional symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37610465, year = {2023}, author = {Szuhaj, M and Kakuk, B and Wirth, R and Rákhely, G and Kovács, KL and Bagi, Z}, title = {Regulation of the methanogenesis pathways by hydrogen at transcriptomic level in time.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37610465}, issn = {1432-0614}, support = {2020-3.1.2-ZFR-KVG-2020-00009//Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal/ ; K143198//Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal/ ; FK123902//Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal/ ; 2019-2.1.13-TÉT_IN-2020-00016//Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal/ ; PD 132145//Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal/ ; }, abstract = {The biomethane formation from 4 H2 + CO2 by pure cultures of two methanogens, Methanocaldococcus fervens and Methanobacterium thermophilum, has been studied. The goal of the study was to understand the regulation of the enzymatic steps associated with biomethane biosynthesis by H2, using metagenomic, pan-genomic, and transcriptomic approaches. Methanogenesis in the autotrophic methanogen M. fervens could be easily "switched off" and "switched on" by H2/CO2 within about an hour. In contrast, the heterotrophic methanogen M. thermophilum was practically insensitive to the addition of the H2/CO2 trigger although this methanogen also converted H2/CO2 to CH4. From practical points of view, the regulatory function of H2/CO2 suggests that in the power-to-gas (P2G) renewable excess electricity conversion and storage systems, the composition of the biomethane-generating methanogenic community is essential for sustainable operation. In addition to managing the specific hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis biochemistry, H2/CO2 affected several, apparently unrelated, metabolic pathways. The redox-regulated overall biochemistry and symbiotic relationships in the methanogenic communities should be explored in order to make the P2G technology more efficient. KEY POINTS : • Hydrogenotrophic methanogens may respond distinctly to H2/CO2 in bio-CH4 formation. • H2/CO2 can also activate metabolic routes, which are apparently unrelated to methanogenesis. • Sustainable conversion of the fluctuating renewable electricity to bio-CH4 is an option.}, } @article {pmid37610417, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, D and Li, D and Li, Z and Song, Y and Li, Q and Wang, L and Zhou, D and Xie, F and Li, Y}, title = {Legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation require interaction of DnaJ-like protein and lipid transfer protein.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad437}, pmid = {37610417}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {2021YFD1700201-05//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 31970267//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2020CFA008//Hubei Natural Science Foundation/ ; 32000193//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {The lipid transport protein (LTP) product of the AsE246 gene of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus) contributes to the transport of plant-synthesized lipids to the symbiosome membranes (SMs) that are required for nodule organogenesis in this legume. However, the mechanisms used by nodule-specific LTPs remain unknown. In this study, a functional protein in the DnaJ-like family, designated AsDJL1, was identified and shown to interact with AsE246. Immunofluorescence showed that AsDJL1 was expressed in infection threads (ITs) and in nodule cells and that it co-localized with rhizobium, and an immunoelectron microscopy assay localized the protein to SMs. Via co-transformation into Nicotiana benthamiana cells, AsDJL1 and AsE246 displayed subcellular co-localization in the cells of this heterologous host. Co-immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that AsDJL1 interacted with AsE246 in nodules. The essential interacting region of AsDJL1 was determined to be the zinc finger domain at its C-terminus. Chinese milk vetch plants transfected with AsDJL1-RNAi had significantly decreased numbers of ITs, nodule primordia and nodules as well as reduced (by 83%) nodule nitrogenase activity compared with the controls. By contrast, AsDJL1 overexpression led to increased nodule fresh weight and nitrogenase activity. RNAi-AsDJL1 also significantly affected the abundance of lipids, especially digalactosyldiacylglycerol, in early-infected roots and transgenic nodules. Taken together, the results of this study provide insights into the symbiotic functions of AsDJL1, which may participate in lipid transport to SMs and play an essential role in rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid37609283, year = {2023}, author = {Griend, JAV and Isenberg, RY and Kotla, KR and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Transcriptional pathways across colony biofilm models in the symbiont Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.08.07.552283}, pmid = {37609283}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Beneficial microbial symbionts that are horizontally acquired by their animal hosts undergo a lifestyle transition from free-living in the environment to associated with host tissues. In the model symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its microbial symbiont Vibrio fischeri, one mechanism used to make this transition during host colonization is the formation of biofilm-like aggregates in host mucosa. Previous work identified factors that are sufficient to induce V. fischeri biofilm formation, yet much remains unknown regarding the breadth of target genes induced by these factors. Here, we probed two widely-used in vitro models of biofilm formation to identify novel regulatory pathways in the squid symbiont V. fischeri ES114. We discovered a shared set of 232 genes that demonstrated similar patterns in expression in both models. These genes comprise multiple exopolysaccharide loci that are upregulated and flagellar motility genes that are downregulated, with a consistent decrease in measured swimming motility. Furthermore, we identified genes regulated downstream of the key sensor kinase RscS that are induced independent of the response regulator SypG. Our data suggest that putative response regulator VpsR plays a strong role in expression of at least a subset of these genes. Overall, this study adds to our understanding of the genes involved in V. fischeri biofilm regulation, while revealing new regulatory pathways branching from previously characterized signaling networks.

IMPORTANCE: The V. fischeri- squid system provides an opportunity to study biofilm development both in the animal host and in culture-based biofilm models that capture key aspects of in vivo signaling. In this work, we report the results of the transcriptomic profiling of two V. fischeri biofilm models followed by phenotypic validation and examination of novel signaling pathway architecture. Remarkable consistency between the models provides a strong basis for future studies using either-or both-approaches. A subset of the factors identified by the approaches were validated in the work, and the body of transcriptomic data provides a number of leads for future studies in culture and during animal colonization.}, } @article {pmid37608949, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, H and Qi, H and Lu, G and Zhou, X and Wang, J and Li, J and Zheng, K and Fan, Y and Zhou, H and Wang, J and Wu, C}, title = {Non-targeted metabolomics analysis reveals the mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis regulating the cold-resistance of Elymus nutans.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1134585}, pmid = {37608949}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Elymus nutans is a perennial grass of the Gramineae family. Due to its cold-resistance and nutrition deficiency tolerance, it has been applied to the ecological restoration of degraded alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. As an important symbiotic microorganism, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been proven to have great potential in promoting the growth and stress resistance of Gramineae grasses. However, the response mechanism of the AMF needs to be clarified. Therefore, in this study, Rhizophagus irregularis was used to explore the mechanism regulating cold resistance of E. nutans. Based on pot experiments and metabolomics, the effects of R. irregularis were investigated on the activities of antioxidant enzyme and metabolites in the roots of E. nutans under cold stress (15/10°C, 16/8 h, day/night). The results showed that lipids and lipid molecules are the highest proportion of metabolites, accounting for 14.26% of the total metabolites. The inoculation with R. irregularis had no significant effects on the activities of antioxidant enzyme in the roots of E. nutans at room temperature. However, it can significantly change the levels of some lipids and other metabolites in the roots. Under cold stress, the antioxidant enzyme activities and the levels of some metabolites in the roots of E. nutans were significantly changed. Meanwhile, most of these metabolites were enriched in the pathways related to plant metabolism. According to the correlation analysis, the activities of antioxidant enzyme were closely related to the levels of some metabolites, such as flavonoids and lipids. In conclusion, AMF may regulate the cold-resistance of Gramineae grasses by affecting plant metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activities and antioxidant-related metabolites like flavonoids and lipids. These results can provide some basis for studying the molecular mechanism of AMF regulating stress resistance of Gramineae grasses.}, } @article {pmid37608631, year = {2023}, author = {Van Dingenen, J and De Keyser, A and Desmet, S and Clarysse, A and Beullens, S and Michiels, J and Planque, M and Goormachtig, S}, title = {Strigolactones repress nodule development and senescence in pea.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16421}, pmid = {37608631}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {1213520N//Research Foundation-Flanders/ ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are a class of phytohormones that are involved in many different plant developmental processes, including the rhizobium-legume nodule symbiosis. Although both positive and negative effects of strigolactones on the number of nodules have been reported, the influence of strigolactones on nodule development is still unknown. Here, by means of the ramosus (rms) mutants of Pisum sativum (pea) cv Terese, we investigated the impact of strigolactone biosynthesis (rms1 and rms5) and signaling (rms3 and rms4) mutants on nodule growth. The rms mutants had more red, that is, functional, and larger nodules than the wild-type plants. Additionally, the increased nitrogen fixation and senescence zones with consequently reduced meristematic and infection zones indicated that the rms nodules developed faster than the wild-type nodules. An enhanced expression of the nodule zone-specific molecular markers for meristem activity and senescence supported the enlarged, fast maturing nodules. Interestingly, the master nodulation regulator, NODULE INCEPTION, NIN, was strongly induced in nodules of all rms mutants but not prior to inoculation. Determination of sugar levels with both bulk and spatial metabolomics in roots and nodules, respectively, hints at slightly increased malic acid levels early during nodule primordia formation and reduced sugar levels at later stages, possibly the consequence of an increased carbon usage of the enlarged nodules, contributing to the enhanced senescence. Taken together, these results suggest that strigolactones regulate the development of nodules, which is probably mediated through NIN, and available plant sugars.}, } @article {pmid37606945, year = {2023}, author = {Ricks, KD and Ricks, NJ and Yannarell, AC}, title = {Patterns of Plant Salinity Adaptation Depend on Interactions with Soil Microbes.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {202}, number = {3}, pages = {276-287}, doi = {10.1086/725393}, pmid = {37606945}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Humans ; *Salinity ; Acclimatization ; *Infertility ; Phenotype ; Soil ; }, abstract = {AbstractAs plant-microbe interactions are both ubiquitous and critical in shaping plant fitness, patterns of plant adaptation to their local environment may be influenced by these interactions. Identifying the contribution of soil microbes to plant adaptation may provide insight into the evolution of plant traits and their microbial symbioses. To this end, we assessed the contribution of soil microbes to plant salinity adaptation by growing 10 populations of Bromus tectorum, collected from habitats differing in their salinity, in the greenhouse under either high-salinity or nonsaline conditions and with or without soil microbial partners. Across two live soil inoculum treatments, we found evidence for adaptation of these populations to their home salinity environment. However, when grown in sterile soils, plants were slightly maladapted to their home salinity environment. As plants were on average more fit in sterile soils, pathogenic microbes may have been significant drivers of plant fitness herein. Consequently, we hypothesized that the plant fitness advantage in their home salinity may have been due to increased plant resistance to pathogenic attack in those salinity environments. Our results highlight that plant-microbe interactions may partially mediate patterns of plant adaptation as well as be important selective agents in plant evolution.}, } @article {pmid37604917, year = {2023}, author = {Ning, J and Gu, X and Zhou, J and Zhang, H and Sun, J and Zhao, L}, title = {Palmitoleic acid as a coordinating molecule between the invasive pinewood nematode and its newly associated fungi.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37604917}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms are ubiquitous on the body surface or internal tissues of invertebrates, providing them with benefits. Developing symbiotic relationships requires synchronization of developmental stages and physical proximity of partners. Therefore, the identification of metabolites that coordinate the reproduction of symbiotic partners is essential. This study demonstrates that palmitoleic acid (C16: 1) coordinates bilateral propagation by regulating the synchronization of reproduction between the invasive pinewood nematode (PWN) and its newly associated blue-stain fungus, Sporothrix sp.1. When the PWN fed on Sporothrix sp.1, there was a significant increase in lipid metabolism gene expression and metabolite abundance. Through further investigations, it highlighted a significant enhancement in the reproduction of the PWN through direct acquisition of C16: 1, which was abundantly present in Sporothrix sp.1. Furthermore, the PWN biosynthesized C16: 1 through the involvement of the stearoyl-CoA 9-desaturase gene fat-5 and its hormone nuclear receptor nhr-80, which was clarified to promote the egg-laying capacity of females. Moreover, it is worth noting that the production of C16: 1 was significantly higher by the associated fungus Sporothrix sp.1 to enhance sporulation during the spore formation phase compared to the hypha growth phase. Thus, by coordinating the fecundity and spore production, the key lipid metabolite C16: 1 facilitates the rapid and successful colonization of a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship between the invasive PWN and the native Sporothrix sp.1 within the host. This finding emphasizes the significant role of metabolite sharing and its function in promoting partner synchronization within symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid37604380, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, X and Yu, K and Liao, Z and Chen, B and Qin, Z and Liang, J and Gao, X}, title = {Adaptation strategies of relatively high-latitude marginal reef corals in response to severe temperature fluctuations.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166439}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166439}, pmid = {37604380}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The large seasonal temperature fluctuations caused by global warming and frequent marine heatwaves pose new challenges to survival of relatively high-latitude marginal reef corals. However, the adaptation strategies of high-latitude marginal corals are not fully understood. We employed integrated approach to investigate the response mechanism of hosts, Symbiodiniaceae, and symbiotic bacteria of marginal reef corals Acropora pruinosa and Pavona decussate in response to large seasonal temperature fluctuations. The coral holobiont maintained a high level of immunity to adapt to seasonal pressure by increasing Symbiodiniaceae energy supply. The symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae of two coral was dominated by C1 subgroup, and was stable across seasons. The α-diversity of symbiotic bacteria P. decussata and A. pruinosa in summer was higher than that in winter. The symbiotic bacterial community of two coral reorganized during different seasons. Scleractinian corals improve adaptability to seasonal stress by increasing energy supply to maintain high levels of immunity, increasing symbiotic bacterial α-diversity, and changing dominant bacteria. This study demonstrates the adaptation strategies of marginal reef corals to seasonal temperature fluctuations and provides novel insights into the study of the adaptation of corals and relatively high-latitude coral refuges in the context of global warming and intensified marine heatwaves.}, } @article {pmid37603903, year = {2023}, author = {Gomes, AF and Viana, ML and Vaz-Tostes, MDG and Costa, NMB}, title = {Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) and kefir improved intestinal and bone health but without symbiotic benefits in rats.}, journal = {Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {118}, number = {}, pages = {85-93}, doi = {10.1016/j.nutres.2023.07.009}, pmid = {37603903}, issn = {1879-0739}, abstract = {Kefir is a natural source of probiotics, and yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a tuberous root rich in fructooligosaccharides, with prebiotic properties. We hypothesized that kefir and yacon can improve bone and intestinal health and that their synbiotic effects will enhance these benefits. The properties of yacon and kefir and their association were evaluated in the intestinal and bone health in rats. Forty Wistar male rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 10): control (C), kefir (K), yacon (Y), and yacon + kefir (YK) and received an AIN-93 M diet containing 50% of the daily recommendation of calcium for 42 days. Group K received 1 mL/day of kefir containing 10[8] CFU/mL; group Y received yacon flour (5% fructooligosaccharides); and the YK group received the same treatment as the Y and K groups. Urine and feces were collected to determine the calcium balance. Serum biomarkers of bone formation and resorption, osteocalcin, N telopeptides of collagen type I and C-telopeptide of collagen type I, intraluminal pH, intestinal permeability, and secretory immunoglobulin A were evaluated. Yacon reduced intraluminal pH alone or in association with kefir (groups Y and YK). Yacon also improved intestinal permeability (lowered lactulose and mannitol excretion) and increased calcium balance and osteocalcin, a biomarker of bone formation. In turn, K improved immunity by increasing secretory immunoglobulin A secretion and reducing bone resorption biomarkers (C-telopeptide of collagen type I and N telopeptides of collagen type I). Thus, yacon and kefir had beneficial effects on intestinal and bone health; however, the association between them did not demonstrate a synbiotic effect.}, } @article {pmid37601346, year = {2023}, author = {Zhai, J and Wang, Y and Tang, B and Zheng, S and He, S and Zhao, W and Chen, H and Lin, J and Li, F and Bao, Y and Lancuo, Z and Sharshov, K and Liu, C and Wang, W}, title = {Comparative analysis of gut DNA viromes in wild and captive Himalayan vultures.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1120838}, pmid = {37601346}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Himalayan vultures (Gyps hinalayensis) are widely distributed on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance by feeding on decayed corpses of wild and domestic animals. Large-scale culture and metagenomics studies have broadened our understanding of viral diversity in animals' gastrointestinal tracts. However, despite the importance of gut viral communities in regulating bacterial diversity and performing symbiotic functions, no gut viral study has been conducted on Himalayan vultures. Furthermore, the impact of captivity on the gut virome of these vultures remains unknown.

METHODS: In this study, metagenomic sequencing methods targeting DNA of virus-like particles enriched from feces were used to characterize the gut DNA viromes of wild and captive Himalayan vultures.

RESULTS: In total, 22,938 unique viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) were identified and assigned to 140 viral genera in 41 viral families. These families included viruses associated with bacteria, animals, plants, insects, and archaea. Phage communities, including Siphoviridae, Microviridae, Myoviridae, Inoviridae, and Herelleviridae, dominated the gut virome of Himalayan vultures. Wild vultures exhibited higher viral richness and diversity compared with those in captivity. The functional capacity of the gut virome was characterized by identifying 93 KEGG pathways, which were significantly enriched in metabolism and genetic information processing. Abundant auxiliary metabolic genes, such as carbohydrate-active enzyme, and antibiotic resistance genes, were also found in the vultures' gut virome.

DISCUSSION: Our findings reveal the complex and diverse viral community present in the gut virome of Himalayan vultures, which varies between wild, and captive states. The DNA virome dataset establishes a baseline for the vultures' gut virome and will serve as a reference for future virus isolation and cultivation. Understanding the impact of captivity on the gut virome contributes to our knowledge of vultures' response to captivity and aids in optimizing their rehabilitation and implementing protective measures.}, } @article {pmid37601261, year = {2023}, author = {Malmberg, J and Martin, SH and Gordon, IJ and Sihvonen, P and Duplouy, A}, title = {Morphological changes in female reproductive organs in the African monarch butterfly, host to a male-killing Spiroplasma.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15853}, pmid = {37601261}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sexual selection and conflicts within and between sexes promote morphological diversity of reproductive traits within species. Variation in the morphology of diagnostic reproductive characters within species offer an excellent opportunity to study these evolutionary processes as drivers of species diversification. The African monarch, Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758), is widespread across Africa. The species is polytypic, with the respective geographical ranges of the four colour morphs only overlapping in East Africa. Furthermore, some of the populations host an endosymbiotic bacterium, Spiroplasma, which induces son-killing and distorts the local host population sex-ratio, creating sexual conflicts between the females seeking to optimize their fecundity and the limited mating capacity of the rare males.

METHODS: We dissected females from Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, where Spiroplasma vary in presence and prevalence (high, variable and absent, respectively), and conducted microscopy imaging of their reproductive organs. We then characterized the effect of population, female body size, and female mating status, on the size and shape of different genitalia characters of the D. chrysippus female butterflies.

RESULTS: We showed that although the general morphology of the organs is conserved in D. chrysippus, female genitalia vary in size and shape between and within populations. The virgin females have smaller organs, while the same organs were expanded in mated females. Females from highly female-biased populations, where the male-killing Spiroplasma is prevalent, also have a larger area of their corpus bursae covered with signa structures. However, this pattern occurs because a larger proportion of the females remains virgin in the female-biased populations rather than because of male depletion due to the symbiont, as males from sex-ratio distorted populations did not produce significantly smaller nutritious spermatophores.}, } @article {pmid37601250, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Liu, X and Ruan, Y}, title = {Sex-specific differences in symbiotic microorganisms associated with an invasive mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley) based on 16S ribosomal DNA.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15843}, pmid = {37601250}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The ability of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) to utilize a wide range of host plants is closely related to the symbiotic bacteria within its body. This study investigated the diversity of symbiotic microorganisms associated with the sap-sucking hemipteran insect. Using deep sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and subsequent analysis with the Qiime software package, we constructed a comprehensive library of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). We compared the microbial communities of female and male adult mealybugs. Our results showed significant differences in bacterial composition between the sexes, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes being the dominant phyla in both female and male mealybugs. These results suggest that the diverse assemblage of symbiotic bacteria in P. solenopsis may be critical in enabling this insect to utilize a wide range of host plants by facilitating carbohydrate digestion and energy uptake.}, } @article {pmid37599843, year = {2023}, author = {Coutinho, GSM and Ribeiro, AEC and Prado, PMC and Oliveira, ÉR and Careli-Gondim, Í and Oliveira, AR and Soares Júnior, MS and Caliari, M and Vilas Boas, EVB}, title = {New plant-based fermented beverage made of baru nut enriched with probiotics and green banana: composition, physicochemical and sensory properties.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {60}, number = {10}, pages = {2607-2618}, pmid = {37599843}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of potential functional ingredients-green banana starch, green banana pulp flour or whole green banana flour-on the composition, physicochemical and sensory properties of plant-based fermented beverages made of baru nuts. The incorporation of green banana-derived ingredients, especially the whole flour, increased protein (2.44-2.81 g/100 g), fibre (1.53-2.32 g/100 g), resistant starch (0.15-0.33 g/100 g) and ash (0.36-0.61 g/100 g) content in fermented beverages. The total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were higher in beverages added with pulp or whole flour. The main polyphenols identified were catechin (0.75-4.97 mg/100 g), gallic acid (0.29-0.52 mg/100 g) and ferulic acid (0.17-0.64 mg/100 g). All beverages showed to be rich in unsaturated fatty acids (68%) as omega-3, omega-6, and conjugated linoleic acid. The incorporation of green banana in beverages enhanced the probiotic bacteria growth indicating the potential prebiotic effect of the unripe fruit. The sensory acceptance of fermented beverages was also improved after adding green banana. Overall, whole green banana flour stood out as the main factor that increased the nutritional value of baru nut fermented beverage. Green banana was used for the first time as a potential prebiotic ingredient in a plant-based beverage. This novel product represents a potential symbiotic non-dairy alternative that could offer health benefits to consumers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05781-5.}, } @article {pmid37599342, year = {2023}, author = {Shamsaie, P and Hosseini, SE and Asadi, G and Sharifan, A}, title = {Production and Characterization of a Novel Symbiotic Plant-based Beverage Rich in Antioxidant Phenolic: Mung Bean and Rye Sprouts.}, journal = {Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37599342}, issn = {1573-9104}, abstract = {There is an increasing demand for non-dairy probiotic food due to the constraints associated with dairy probiotics. In this study, a co-culture synbiotic beverage was prepared using a mixture of mung bean and rye sprouts inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (B-28) and Lactobacillus casei (B-29), along with inulin and oligofructose as prebiotics. The effects of prebiotic addition and starter culture on the survival of probiotics during cold storage and simulated gastric conditions were examined. Additionally, titratable acidity, pH, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and sensory characteristics were evaluated over a 28-day period. The resulting product demonstrated good survival for L. casei (10[7] CFU.ml[-1]) and L. plantarum (10[6] CFU.ml[-1]) after 4 weeks under refrigeration with no significant changes in quality. The samples exhibited significantly high total phenolic content (TPC), ranging from 19.18 to 25.75 mg GAE/100 mL, which L. casei-containing drinks exhibited the highest TPC activity (p < 0.05). All treatments showed a significant reduction in probiotic survival during gastrointestinal digestion in the laboratory conditions (p < 0.05), although more than 50% survival was observed for all strains. The addition of prebiotics to the beverages led to a significant decrease in phenolic content (p < 0.05), but improved sensory scores. The highest turbidity was observed in the sample containing both probiotics and inulin on the 28th day at 38.1 (NTU). In general, the synergistic effect of probiotics was more pronounced when used together with both prebiotics in the beverages compared to their individual use. The results suggest that the production of this beverage could serve as a nutritious alternative to lactose-sensitive dairy beverages and contribute to the development of future probiotic food products.}, } @article {pmid37598296, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, D and Liu, P and Liu, Q and Zheng, L and Liu, S and Shen, C and Liu, L and Fan, S and Li, N and Dong, J and Wang, T}, title = {Legume-specific SnRK1 promotes malate supply to bacteroids for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2023.08.009}, pmid = {37598296}, issn = {1752-9867}, abstract = {Nodulation is an energy-expensive behavior driven by legumes by providing carbon sources to bacteroids and obtaining nitrogen sources in return. The energy sensor sucrose nonferment 1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) is the hub of energy regulation in eukaryotes, However, the molecular mechanism of how SnRK1 coordinates the allocation of energy and substances during symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is unknown. Here, we found that a novel legume-specific SnRK1α4 emerged from the SnRK1 family and positively regulates symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Phenotypic analysis showed that nodule size and nitrogenase activity increased in SnRK1α4-overexpressing plants and significantly decreased in snrk1α4 mutants. We demonstrated that a key upstream kinase involved in nodulation, Does Not Make Infection 2 (DMI2) can phosphorylate SnRK1α4 at Thr[175] to cause its activation. Further evidence clarified that SnRK1α4 phosphorylated the malate dehydrogenases MDH1/2 to promote malate production in the cytoplasm, supplying carbon sources to bacteroids. Therefore, our findings revealed an essential role of the DMI2-SnRK1α4-MDH pathway in promoting carbon sources to bacteroids for SNF and provided a new module for constructing cereal crops for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37597290, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, C and Jia, X and Zhao, Y and Wang, L and Wang, Y}, title = {Adaptive response of flavonoids in Robinia pseudoacacia L. affected by the contamination of cadmium and elevated CO2 to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {115379}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115379}, pmid = {37597290}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {As a key component in non-enzyme resistance system, flavonoids play a crucial role in the plant growth and defenses, which are significantly affected by biotic and abiotic factors such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and atmospheric CO2. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in enhancing plant tolerance to adverse environments, which can significantly affect the synthesis of flavonoids by forming mycorrhizal symbionts with plant roots. However, few studies explored the combined effects of AMF, elevated CO2, and heavy metals on flavonoids in plants. Here, we investigated the adaptive response of flavonoids accumulation in Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings affected by the contamination of cadmium (Cd) and elevated CO2 to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The results showed that G. mosseae decreased (p < 0.05) Cd content in leaves by 62.2% under elevated CO2. Moreover, G. mosseae colonization led to significant decreases in robinin, quercetin, kaempferol and acacetin by 17.4%, 11.1%, 15.5% and 23.1% under elevated CO2 + Cd, respectively. Additionally, G. mosseae down-regulated (p < 0.05) expression levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) genes under elevated CO2 + Cd, and CHS and uridine diphosphate flavonoid glucosyltransferase (UFGT) activities decreased (p < 0.05). Quercetin, kaempferol and acacetin showed positive (p < 0.05) correlation with PAL and CHS genes expression and PAL, CHS, and UFGT activities. Cadmium, C/N ratio, carotenoids, leaf biomass, total chlorophyll, P, and starch in leaves and G. mosseae colonization rate in roots influenced (p < 0.05) flavonoids content. Overall, G. mosseae reduced flavonoids synthesis by down-regulating gene expression levels and activities of key enzymes under elevated CO2 + Cd. The results improved our understanding of the regulation of AMF on non-enzymatic resistance of plants grown in heavy metal-contaminated soils under increasing atmospheric CO2 scenarios.}, } @article {pmid37595809, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, H and Zhangsun, X and Li, N and Liu, X and Zhang, H and Huang, T}, title = {Enhanced nitrogen removal of micropolluted source waterbodies using an iron activated carbon system with siliceous materials: Insights into metabolic activity, biodiversity, interactions of core genus and co-existence.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129656}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129656}, pmid = {37595809}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Aerobic denitrification technology can effectively abate the nitrogen pollution of water source reservoirs. In this study, 40% siliceous material was used as the carrier to replace the activated carbon in Fe/C material to enhance denitrification and purify water. The removal efficiency of new material for target pollutants were nitrate nitrogen (95.68%), total phosphorus (68.23%) and chemical oxygen demand (46.20%). Aerobic denitrification of water samples and anaerobic denitrification of sediments in three systems jointly assisted nitrogen removal. In a reactor with new material, diversity and richness of denitrifying bacterial communities were enhanced, and the symbiotic structure of aerobic denitrifying bacteria was more complex (Bacillus and Mycobacteria as the dominant bacteria); the microbial distribution better matched the Zif and Mandelbrot models. This system significantly increased the abundance of key enzymes in water samples. The new material effectively removed pollutants and represents a promising and innovative in-situ remediation method for reservoirs.}, } @article {pmid37595699, year = {2023}, author = {Zhi, M and Zhao, Y and Zeng, X and Maddela, NR and Xiao, Y and Chen, Y and Prasad, R and Zhou, Z}, title = {Filamentous cyanobacteria and hydrophobic protein in extracellular polymeric substances facilitate algae-bacteria aggregation during partial nitrification.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {126379}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126379}, pmid = {37595699}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {In algae-bacteria symbiotic wastewater treatment, the excellent settling performance of algae-bacteria aggregates is critical for biomass separation and recovery. Here, the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), microbial profiles, and functional genes of algae-bacteria aggregates were investigated at different solids retention times (SRTs) (10, 20, and 40 d) during partial nitrification in photo sequencing bioreactors (PSBRs). Results showed that SRTs greatly influenced the nitrogen transformation and the formation and morphological structure of algae-bacteria aggregates. The highest nitrite accumulation, the largest particle size (~1.54 mm) and the best settling performance were observed for the algae-bacteria aggregates in the PSBR with an SRT of 10 d, where the abundant occurrence of filamentous cyanobacteria with the highest ratio of chlorophyll a/b and the lowest EPS amount with the highest protein-to-polysaccharide ratio were observed. In particular, the EPS at 10 d of SRT contained a higher amount of protein-related hydrophobic groups and a lower ratio of α-helix/(β-sheet + random coil), indicating a looser protein structure, which might facilitate the formation and stabilization of algae-bacteria aggregates. Moreover, algal-bacterial aggregation greatly depended on the composition and evolution of filamentous cyanobacteria (unclassified _o__Oscillatoriales and Phormidium accounted for 56.29 % of the identified algae at SRT 10 d). The metagenomic analysis further revealed that functional genes related to amino acid metabolism (e.g., genes of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis) were expressed at high levels within 10 d of SRT. Overall, this study demonstrates the influence of EPS structures and filamentous cyanobacteria on algae-bacteria aggregation and reveals the biological mechanisms driving photogranule structure and function.}, } @article {pmid37594611, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, G and Cao, Y and Tian, M and Mo, H and Chen, X and Li, Z and Ji, Q and He, K and Du, G and Yang, H}, title = {Characterization of the transcriptional responses of Armillaria gallica 012m to GA3.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {205}, number = {9}, pages = {308}, pmid = {37594611}, issn = {1432-072X}, support = {81860624//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Gastrodia elata needs to establish a symbiotic relationship with Armillaria strains to obtain nutrients and energy. However, the signaling cross talk between G. elata and Armillaria strains is still unclear. During our experiment, we found that the vegetative mycelium of Armillaria gallica 012m grew significantly better in the media containing gibberellic acid (GA3) than the blank control group (BK). To explore the response mechanism, we performed an RNA-sequencing experiment to profile the transcriptome changes of A. gallica 012m cultured in the medium with exogenous GA3. The transcriptome-guided differential expression genes (DEGs) analysis of GA3 and BK showed that a total of 1309 genes were differentially expressed, including 361 upregulated genes and 948 downregulated genes. Some of those DEGs correlated with the biological process, including positive regulation of chromosome segregation, mitotic metaphase/anaphase transition, attachment of mitotic spindle microtubules to kinetochore, mitotic cytokinesis, and nuclear division. These analyses explained that GA3 actively promoted the growth of A. gallica to some extent. Further analysis of protein domain features showed that the deduced polypeptide contained 41 candidate genes of GA receptor, and 27 of them were expressed in our samples. We speculate that GA receptors exist in A. gallica 012m. Comparative studies of proteins showed that the postulated GA receptor domains of A. gallica 012m have a higher homologous correlation with fungi than others based on cluster analysis.}, } @article {pmid37594171, year = {2023}, author = {Ishii, Y and Ishii, H and Kuroha, T and Yokoyama, R and Deguchi, R and Nishitani, K and Minagawa, J and Kawata, M and Takahashi, S and Maruyama, S}, title = {Environmental pH signals the release of monosaccharides from cell wall in coral symbiotic alga.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.80628}, pmid = {37594171}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {JP20J01658//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP21H05040//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP17K15163//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP19H04713//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP19K06786//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP22H05668//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP22H02697//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; Collaborative Research Program 18-321//National Institute for Basic Biology/ ; Collaborative Research Program 19-332//National Institute for Basic Biology/ ; General Research Grant//Institute for Fermentation, Osaka/ ; Program for Creation of Interdisciplinary Research//Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University/ ; Marine Microbiology Initiative #4985//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals thrive in oligotrophic environments due to their possession of endosymbiotic algae. Confined to the low pH interior of the symbiosome within the cell, the algal symbiont provides the coral host with photosynthetically fixed carbon. However, it remains unknown how carbon is released from the algal symbiont for uptake by the host. Here we show, using cultured symbiotic dinoflagellate, Breviolum sp., that decreases in pH directly accelerates the release of monosaccharides, that is, glucose and galactose, into the ambient environment. Under low pH conditions, the cell surface structures were deformed and genes related to cellulase were significantly upregulated in Breviolum. Importantly, the release of monosaccharides was suppressed by the cellulase inhibitor, glucopyranoside, linking the release of carbon to degradation of the agal cell wall. Our results suggest that the low pH signals the cellulase-mediated release of monosaccharides from the algal cell wall as an environmental response in coral reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37594170, year = {2023}, author = {Hambleton, EA}, title = {How corals get their nutrients.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.90916}, pmid = {37594170}, issn = {2050-084X}, abstract = {Algae living inside corals provide sugars for their host by digesting their own cell walls.}, } @article {pmid37593719, year = {2023}, author = {Scott, TJ and Larsen, TJ and Brock, DA and Uhm, SYS and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria, immune-like sentinel cells, and the response to pathogens in a social amoeba.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {230727}, pmid = {37593719}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Some endosymbionts living within a host must modulate their hosts' immune systems in order to infect and persist. We studied the effect of a bacterial endosymbiont on a facultatively multicellular social amoeba host. Aggregates of the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum contain a subpopulation of sentinel cells that function akin to the immune systems of more conventional multicellular organisms. Sentinel cells sequester and discard toxins from D. discoideum aggregates and may play a central role in defence against pathogens. We measured the number and functionality of sentinel cells in aggregates of D. discoideum infected by bacterial endosymbionts in the genus Paraburkholderia. Infected D. discoideum produced fewer and less functional sentinel cells, suggesting that Paraburkholderia may interfere with its host's immune system. Despite impaired sentinel cells, however, infected D. discoideum were less sensitive to ethidium bromide toxicity, suggesting that Paraburkholderia may also have a protective effect on its host. By contrast, D. discoideum infected by Paraburkholderia did not show differences in their sensitivity to two non-symbiotic pathogens. Our results expand previous work on yet another aspect of the complicated relationship between D. discoideum and Paraburkholderia, which has considerable potential as a model for the study of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37592136, year = {2023}, author = {Middleton, JS and Hovren, HL and Kha, N and Medina, MJ and MacLeod, KR and Concha-Marambio, L and Jensen, KJ}, title = {Seed amplification assay results illustrate discrepancy in Parkinson's disease clinical diagnostic accuracy and error rates.}, journal = {Journal of neurology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37592136}, issn = {1432-1459}, support = {U44NS111672/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Parkinson's disease (PD) may be misdiagnosed due to the clinical overlap between PD and atypical parkinsonism. The utility of α-Synuclein (αSyn) Seed Amplification Assay (SAA) as a diagnostic indicator for PD has been reported in numerous studies, but never when administered as a validated clinical laboratory test. This study compares results from αSyn-SAA validation testing performed using well-characterized cohorts from two biorepositories to better understand the accuracy of PD clinical diagnosis. Blinded cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from a repository that included cohorts of subjects clinically diagnosed as PD or healthy controls, both with confirmatory dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT SPECT) imaging, and blinded CSF specimens from a repository that included cohorts of subjects clinically diagnosed as PD or healthy controls based on clinical diagnosis alone, were tested as part of the validation studies for the diagnostic αSyn-SAA test (SYNTap® Biomarker Test). Measured αSyn-SAA test accuracy was 83.9% using clinical diagnosis as comparator, and 93.6% using clinical diagnosis with confirmatory DAT- SPECT imaging as comparator. The statistically significant discordance between accuracy determinations using specimens classified using different diagnostic inclusion criteria indicates that there is some symbiosis between dopamine-weighted imaging and αSyn-SAA results, both of which are associated with higher accuracy compared with the clinical diagnosis alone.}, } @article {pmid37590143, year = {2023}, author = {Miyamoto, K and Sujino, T and Harada, Y and Ashida, H and Yoshimatsu, Y and Yonemoto, Y and Nemoto, Y and Tomura, M and Melhem, H and Niess, JH and Suzuki, T and Suzuki, T and Suzuki, S and Koda, Y and Okamoto, R and Mikami, Y and Teratani, T and Tanaka, K and Yoshimura, A and Sato, T and Kanai, T}, title = {The gut microbiota-induced kynurenic acid recruits GPR35-positive macrophages to promote experimental encephalitis.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {42}, number = {8}, pages = {113005}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113005}, pmid = {37590143}, issn = {2211-1247}, abstract = {The intricate interplay between gut microbes and the onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) remains poorly understood. Here, we uncover remarkable similarities between CD4[+] T cells in the spinal cord and their counterparts in the small intestine. Furthermore, we unveil a synergistic relationship between the microbiota, particularly enriched with the tryptophan metabolism gene EC:1.13.11.11, and intestinal cells. This symbiotic collaboration results in the biosynthesis of kynurenic acid (KYNA), which modulates the recruitment and aggregation of GPR35-positive macrophages. Subsequently, a robust T helper 17 (Th17) immune response is activated, ultimately triggering the onset of EAE. Conversely, modulating the KYNA-mediated GPR35 signaling in Cx3cr1[+] macrophages leads to a remarkable amelioration of EAE. These findings shed light on the crucial role of microbial-derived tryptophan metabolites in regulating immune responses within extraintestinal tissues.}, } @article {pmid37588796, year = {2023}, author = {Sharma, P and Phatak, SM and Warikoo, P and Mathur, A and Mahant, S and Das, K and Das, R}, title = {Crosstalk between Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal microbiota in various gastroduodenal diseases-A systematic review.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {303}, pmid = {37588796}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Gastroduodenal diseases have prevailed for a long time and more so due to dominance of gut bacteria Helicobacter pylori in most of the cases. But habitation by other gut microbiota in gastroduodenal diseases and the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal microbiota in different gastroduodenal diseases is somewhat being unravelled in the current times. For this systematic review, we did a literature search of various gastroduodenal diseases and the effect on gut microbiota pertaining to it. A search of the online bibliographic databases PUBMED and PUBMED CENTRAL was carried out to identify articles published between 1977 and May 2022. The analysis of these selected studies highlighted the inhabitation of other gut microbiota such as Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Streptococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, and many others. Interplay between these microbiota and H. pylori have also been noted which suggested that gastroduodenal diseases and gut microbiota are intertwined by a symbiotic association regardless of the H. pylori status. The relationship between the gut microbiota and many gastroduodenal diseases, such as gastritis, gastric cancer, lymphomas, and ulcers, demonstrates the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in both the presence and absence of H. pylori. The evolving ways for eliminating H. pylori are provided along with inhibiting qualities of other species on H. pylori. Most significant member of our gut system is Helicobacter pylori which has been associated with numerous diseases like gastric cancer, gastritis, duodenal ulcer.}, } @article {pmid37587369, year = {2023}, author = {Gavriilidou, A and Avcı, B and Galani, A and Schorn, MA and Ingham, CJ and Ettema, TJG and Smidt, H and Sipkema, D}, title = {Candidatus Nemesobacterales is a sponge-specific clade of the candidate phylum Desulfobacterota adapted to a symbiotic lifestyle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37587369}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {897121//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (H2020 Excellent Science - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions)/ ; 817834//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)/ ; 679849//EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020)/ ; }, abstract = {Members of the candidate phylum Dadabacteria, recently reassigned to the phylum Candidatus Desulfobacterota, are cosmopolitan in the marine environment found both free-living and associated with hosts that are mainly marine sponges. Yet, these microorganisms are poorly characterized, with no cultured representatives and an ambiguous phylogenetic position in the tree of life. Here, we performed genome-centric metagenomics to elucidate their phylogenomic placement and predict the metabolism of the sponge-associated members of this lineage. Rank-based phylogenomics revealed several new species and a novel family (Candidatus Spongomicrobiaceae) within a sponge-specific order, named here Candidatus Nemesobacterales. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that Ca. Nemesobacterales are aerobic heterotrophs, capable of synthesizing most amino acids, vitamins and cofactors and degrading complex carbohydrates. We also report functional divergence between sponge- and seawater-associated metagenome-assembled genomes. Niche-specific adaptations to the sponge holobiont were evident from significantly enriched genes involved in defense mechanisms against foreign DNA and environmental stressors, host-symbiont interactions and secondary metabolite production. Fluorescence in situ hybridization gave a first glimpse of the morphology and lifestyle of a member of Ca. Desulfobacterota. Candidatus Nemesobacterales spp. were found both inside sponge cells centred around sponge nuclei and in the mesohyl of the sponge Geodia barretti. This study sheds light on the enigmatic group Ca. Nemesobacterales and their functional characteristics that reflect a symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid37586490, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Q and Sun, X and Fan, W and Chen, X and Han, W and Zhao, S and Jia, W}, title = {Insights into the response of anammox process to oxytetracycline: Impacts of static magnetic field.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139821}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139821}, pmid = {37586490}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {The long-term effects of oxytetracycline (OTC) with a high concentration on the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process were evaluated, and the role of static magnetic field (SMF) was further explored. The stress of OTC at 50 mg/L had little effect on the nitrogen removal of anammox process at the first 16 days. With the continuous addition of OTC and the increase of nitrogen loading, the OTC inhibited the nitrogen removal and anammox activity severely. During the 32 days of recovery period without OTC addition, the nitrogen removal was further deteriorated, indicating the inhibition of OTC on anammox activity was irreversible and persistent. The application of SMF alleviated the inhibition of OTC on anammox to some extent, and the specific anammox activity was enhanced by 47.1% compared to the system without SMF during the OTC stress stage. Antibiotic efflux was the major resistance mechanism in the anammox process, and tetA, tetG and rpsJ were the main functional antibiotic resistance genes. The addition of OTC weakened the metabolic interactions between the anammox bacteria and the symbiotic bacteria involved in the metabolism of cofactors and secondary metabolites, leading to the poor anammox activity. The adaptability of microbes to the OTC stress was improved by the application of SMF, which can enhance the metabolic pathways related to bacterial growth and resistance to environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid37586194, year = {2023}, author = {Jia, Y and Lu, J and Wang, M and Qin, W and Chen, B and Xu, H and Ma, Z}, title = {Algicidal bacteria in phycosphere regulate free-living Symbiodinium fate via triggering oxidative stress and photosynthetic system damage.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {115369}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115369}, pmid = {37586194}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Free-living Symbiodinium, which forms symbiotic relationships with many marine invertebrates, plays an important role in the vast ocean. Nutrient levels have been shown to significantly impact microbial community structure and regulate algal communities. In this study, the bacterial community structure within the phycosphere of free-living Symbiodinium underwent significant changes in response to nutrient stimulation. Alteromonas exhibited dominance in Zobell 2216E broth nutrient stimulation concomitant with the demise of algal cells. Alteromonas abrolhosensis JY-JZ1, a marine bacterium isolated from the phycosphere of Symbiodinium, demonstrated an algicidal effect on Symbiodinium cells. Optical and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the algal cell membrane structure was disrupted, leading to intracellular leakage. Strain JY-JZ1 exerted its cytotoxicity by producing and secreting bioactive compounds into the supernatant. The marked declines in the chlorophyll a content, photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the electron transport rate (rETR) indicated that the photosynthetic system of Symbiodinium was damaged by JY-JZ1 supernatant. The observed elevation in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) content suggested that the algal cells experienced oxidative stress. Moreover, the supernatant exhibited remarkable adaptability to temperature and pH. Additionally, it displayed exceptional algicidal efficacy against various harmful algae species. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first successful isolation of an algicidal bacterial strain from the phycosphere of free-living Symbiodinium and subsequent investigation into its mechanism for controlling Symbiodinium growth, thereby providing novel insights into algae-bacteria interactions. The remarkable algicidal efficacy exhibited by strain JY-JZ1 against other harmful algae species suggests its significant potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs) control.}, } @article {pmid37585933, year = {2023}, author = {Younespour, MP and Samdeliri, M and Mazloom, P and Mirkalaei, AM and Moballeghi, M}, title = {Effect of foliar application of salicylic acid and mycorrhiza on quantitative and qualitative traits of maize.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {83}, number = {}, pages = {e274601}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.274601}, pmid = {37585933}, issn = {1678-4375}, abstract = {An experiment was performed to investigate the effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis and foliar application of salicylic acid on quantitative and qualitative traits of maize during 2018 and 2019 in the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Chalous Branch. Split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Experimental factors included mycorrhiza species of (G. mosseae), (G. geosporum) and (G. intraradices) at two levels (no consumption and consumption of mycorrhiza) and salicylic acid at two levels (no consumption and consumption of 1 mμ of salicylic acid). Results of interaction effects of mycorrhiza and salicylic acid on the measured traits revealed that the maximum 1000-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen percentage and yield of maize grain protein were observed in G. mosseae treatment under foliar application of salicylic acid. Foliar application of salicylic acid increases the root length and provides the necessary conditions for increasing water and nutrient uptake alongwith increase in photosynthesis and thus allocates more photosynthetic substance for development of reproductive organs. Hence, it increases maize grain weight and accordingly grain yield. In general, the results revealed that mycorrhiza and foliar application of salicylic acid increase growth indicators, yield and yield components. It also improved the quality traits of the maize plant. Based on results, the interaction effect of G. mosseae treatment and foliar application of salicylic acid yielded better results than other treatments. Mycorrhiza increases the number of grain in the ear, the number of rows in the ear, increases the plant's ability to absorb phosphorus, and the increase of mycorrhiza along with salicylic acid shows the maximum grain yield in maize. Finally, it can be concluded that the use of mycorrhiza and salicylic acid can be effective in increasing grain in the plant.}, } @article {pmid37583325, year = {2023}, author = {Travers-Cook, TJ and Jokela, J and Buser, CC}, title = {The evolutionary ecology of fungal killer phenotypes.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2005}, pages = {20231108}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.1108}, pmid = {37583325}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Ecological interactions influence evolutionary dynamics by selecting upon fitness variation within species. Antagonistic interactions often promote genetic and species diversity, despite the inherently suppressive effect they can have on the species experiencing them. A central aim of evolutionary ecology is to understand how diversity is maintained in systems experiencing antagonism. In this review, we address how certain single-celled and dimorphic fungi have evolved allelopathic killer phenotypes that engage in antagonistic interactions. We discuss the evolutionary pathways to the production of lethal toxins, the functions of killer phenotypes and the consequences of competition for toxin producers, their competitors and toxin-encoding endosymbionts. Killer phenotypes are powerful models because many appear to have evolved independently, enabling across-phylogeny comparisons of the origins, functions and consequences of allelopathic antagonism. Killer phenotypes can eliminate host competitors and influence evolutionary dynamics, yet the evolutionary ecology of killer phenotypes remains largely unknown. We discuss what is known and what remains to be ascertained about killer phenotype ecology and evolution, while bringing their model system properties to the reader's attention.}, } @article {pmid37582375, year = {2023}, author = {Jordan, CKI and Brown, RL and Larkinson, MLY and Sequeira, RP and Edwards, AM and Clarke, TB}, title = {Symbiotic Firmicutes establish mutualism with the host via innate tolerance and resistance to control systemic immunity.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.07.008}, pmid = {37582375}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota regulates immunity across organ systems. Which symbionts control systemic immunity, the mechanisms they use, and how they avoid widespread inflammatory damage are unclear. We uncover host tolerance and resistance mechanisms that allow Firmicutes from the human microbiota to control systemic immunity without inducing immunopathology. Intestinal processing releases Firmicute glycoconjugates that disseminate, resulting in release of cytokine IL-34 that stimulates macrophages and enhances defenses against pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. Despite systemic penetration of Firmicutes, immune homeostasis is maintained through feedback control whereby IL-34-mediated mTORC1 activation in macrophages clears polymeric glycoconjugates from peripheral tissues. Smaller glycoconjugates evading this clearance mechanism are tolerated through sequestration by albumin, which acts as an inflammatory buffer constraining their immunological impact. Without these resistance and tolerance mechanisms, Firmicutes drive catastrophic organ damage and cachexia via IL-1β. This reveals how Firmicutes are safely assimilated into systemic immunity to protect against infection without threatening host viability.}, } @article {pmid37580827, year = {2023}, author = {Mueth, NA and Hulbert, SH}, title = {Dual host-pathogen small RNA sequencing during wheat stem rust infection.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {171}, pmid = {37580827}, issn = {1756-0500}, support = {2017-67011-26066//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2017-67011-26066//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; Mistletoe Research Fellowship//Momental Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: RNA sequencing of two organisms in a symbiotic interaction can yield insights that are not found in samples from each organism alone. We present a sequencing dataset focusing on the small RNA fraction from wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) infected with the biotrophic pathogen wheat stem rust fungus (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici). Simultaneous small RNA sequencing of this agronomically important crop and its adversary can lead to a better understanding of the role of noncoding RNAs in both plant and fungal biology.

DATA DESCRIPTION: Small RNA libraries were constructed from infected and mock-infected plant tissue and sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform. Quality control was performed to ensure sample and data integrity. Using this dataset, researchers can employ previously established methods to map subsets of reads exclusively to each organism's genome. Subsequent analyses can be undertaken to discover microRNAs, predict small RNA targets, and generate hypotheses for further laboratory experiments.}, } @article {pmid37580593, year = {2023}, author = {Reysenbach, AL and Terns, MP}, title = {CRISPR-influenced symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37580593}, issn = {2058-5276}, } @article {pmid37580334, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, Y and Lei, Y and Qu, Y and Fan, Z and Zhang, T and Xu, Y and Du, Q and Brugger, D and Chen, Y and Zhang, K and Zhang, E}, title = {Bacteroides uniformis-induced perturbations in colonic microbiota and bile acid levels inhibit TH17 differentiation and ameliorate colitis developments.}, journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {56}, pmid = {37580334}, issn = {2055-5008}, support = {NYKJ-2021-YL (XN) 43//Agriculture Department of Shaanxi Province (Department of Agriculture, Shaanxi Province)/ ; NYKJ-2022-YL (XN) 46//Agriculture Department of Shaanxi Province (Department of Agriculture, Shaanxi Province)/ ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with gut dysbiosis and can lead to colitis-associated malignancies. Bacteroides uniformis (Bu) regulates animal intestinal homeostasis; however, the mechanism by which it alleviates colitis in mice remains unknown. We investigated the effects of B. uniformis JCM5828 and its metabolites on female C57BL/6J mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced colitis. Treatment with Bu considerably alleviated colitis progression and restored the mechanical and immune barrier protein expression. Additionally, Bu increased the abundance of the symbiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus vaginalis while decreasing that of pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella, and modulated intestinal bile acid metabolism. Bu largely regulated the expression of key regulatory proteins of the NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in colonic tissues and the differentiation of TH17 cells. However, Bu could not directly inhibit TH17 cell differentiation in vitro; it modulated the process in the lamina propria by participating in bile acid metabolism and regulating key metabolites (alpha-muricholic, hyodeoxycholic, and isolithocholic acid), thereby modulating the intestinal immune response. Our findings suggest that Bu or bile acid supplements are potential therapies for colitis and other diseases associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction.}, } @article {pmid37580280, year = {2023}, author = {Tan, HY and Yang, Y and Xu, R and Zhao, X and Zhu, SM and Gong, HX and Wang, ZL and Lu, Y and Liu, HW and Li, CW}, title = {ent-Herqueidiketal and epi-Peniciherqueinone Isolated from a Mushroom Derived Fungus Penicillium herquei YNJ-35.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202300991}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202300991}, pmid = {37580280}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {A new polyaromatic metabolite, ent-herqueidiketal (1), and a new phenalenone derivative, epi-peniciherqueinone (2), along with twelve known compounds 3-14, were isolated from the fungus Penicillium herquei YNJ-35, a symbiotic fungus of Pulveroboletus brunneopunctatus collected from Nangunhe Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China. The structures of 1-14 and the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by their spectroscopic data or by their single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis or optical rotation values. Compound 1 showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 μg/mL. In the cytotoxicity assays, compound 1 showed weak inhibitory activity against breast cancer MCF-7 and mice microglial BV2 cells with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 17.58 and 29.56 μM; compound 14 showed stronger cytotoxicity against BV2 and MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 6.57 and 10.26 μM.}, } @article {pmid37579893, year = {2023}, author = {Him Chow, L and Ahyong, ST and T T Tsang, C and Fung Lam, Y and Naruse, T and K L Ng, P and Ming Tsang, L}, title = {Shift in symbiotic lifestyle as the major process shaping the evolution of pea crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheroidea).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107904}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107904}, pmid = {37579893}, issn = {1095-9513}, abstract = {The pea crabs, superfamily Pinnotheroidea, are exceptional among brachyuran crabs in their diverse symbiotic associations involving both inquilinism and protective symbiosis. While this group presents a rare opportunity for evolutionary comparative study of host switching and morphological evolution in marine macroinvertebrates, previous phylogenetic studies have been focused on systematics. Here, we reconstructed the most extensive phylogeny of Pinnotheroidea based on two mitochondrial and six nuclear markers, with the aim of elucidating the host switching pathways and the correlation between symbiotic lifestyles and selected morphological adaptations. Ancestral state reconstruction of host association revealed a monophyletic origin of symbiosis in the form of inquilinism. Subsequent shifts in microhabitat preference for burrows or worm tubes, and the move to protective symbiosis, primarily in the switch to mollusc endosymbiosis, contributed to radiation in Pinnotheridae. Further parallel colonisations of echinoderms and tunicates occurred but did not lead to extensive diversification, except in the Clypeasterophilus + Dissodactylus lineage, which experienced a unique switch to echinoderm ectosymbiosis. The evolution of the third maxillipeds, carapace shape and ambulatory pereiopods suggests a rather strong coupling with the symbiotic lifestyle (whether inquilinism or protective symbiosis). Phenotypic diversity of these characters was higher among species engaged in protective symbiosis, with convergence in form (or function) among those sharing the same host affiliation. Species having different host affiliations or symbiotic lifestyles might also exhibit convergence in the form of the three morphological traits, suggesting a common adaptive value of the specialisations. Pinnotherid crabs overall exhibited a lower trait diversity than the also symbiotic palaemonid shrimps with comparable species diversity. This may plausibly be attributed to differences in potential for morphological modification to serve additional functions among the traits analysed in the two groups, the less frequent host switching and the less diverse host affiliations, and thus a less complicated evolutionary history in pinnotherids.}, } @article {pmid37579703, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z and Wang, J and Fan, J and Yue, H and Zhang, X}, title = {Marine toxin domoic acid alters protistan community structure and assembly process in sediments.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {106131}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106131}, pmid = {37579703}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Domoic acid (DA)-producing algal blooms have been the issue of worldwide concerns in recent decades, but there has never been any attempt to investigate the effects of DA on microbial ecology in marine environments. Protists are considered to be key regulators of microbial activity, community structure and evolution, we therefore explore the effect of DA on the ecology of protists via metagenome in this work. The results indicate that trace amounts of DA can act as a stressor to alter alpha and beta diversity of protistan community. Among trophic functional groups, consumers and phototrophs are negative responders of DA, implying DA is potentially capable of functional-level effects in the ocean. Moreover, microecological theory reveals that induction of DA increases the role of deterministic processes in microbial community assembly, thus altering the biotic relationships and successional processes in symbiotic patterns. Finally, we demonstrate that the mechanism by which DA shapes protistan ecological network is by acting on phototrophs, which triggers cascading effects in networks and eventually leading to shifts in ecological succession of protists. Overall, our results present the first perspective regarding the effects of DA on marine microbial ecology, which will supplement timely information on the ecological impacts of DA in the ocean.}, } @article {pmid37579647, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, P and Lin, S and Lin, Q and Wei, S and Ye, D and Liu, J}, title = {The digestive tract histology and geographical distribution of gastrointestinal microbiota in yellow-feather broilers.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {102}, number = {10}, pages = {102844}, doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2023.102844}, pmid = {37579647}, issn = {1525-3171}, abstract = {Exhaustive understanding of intestinal physiological characteristics is the critical precondition for the improvement of intestinal health and growth performance of yellow-feather broilers (YFB). As a vital part of gastrointestinal tract, the symbiotic, complex, and variable microbiota have a profound effect on the nutrition, immunity, health, and production of broilers. Hence, the development status of proventriculus, jejunum, and cecum, and spatial heterogeneity of bacterial community in crop, proventriculus, gizzard, jejunum, cecum, and rectum of adult YFB were detected in our study. The results revealed that proventriculus, jejunum, and cecum of broilers are well-developed based on morphological observation. The Chao and Shannon indexes in cecum and rectum are notably higher than other sections and their microbiota structure is also distinct from foregut. Firmicutes and Lactobacillus are the predominant phylum and genus in all gastrointestinal sections, respectively. As feature species of crop, Lactobacillus spp. mainly settle in foregut, whereas some Clostridia species (unclassified Lachnospiraceae, Faecalibacterium, Romboutsia and so on) are characteristic and more abundant in cecum and rectum. Interestingly, there are 2 Ruminococcus torques strains positively and negatively correlated with cecum development, respectively. In a whole, our findings reveal the specialized digestive physiology and regional distribution of intestinal microbiota in YFB, which provides a reference for the future study on the improvement of growth performance and intestinal development through microbiota manipulation in yellow-feather broilers.}, } @article {pmid37579595, year = {2023}, author = {Mardones, ML and Lambert, J and Wiedenmann, J and Davies, TW and Levy, O and D'Angelo, C}, title = {Artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts behavioural patterns of reef corals.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {194}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {115365}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115365}, pmid = {37579595}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Increasing levels of Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) alter the natural diel cycles of organisms at global scale. ALAN constitutes a potential threat to the light-dependent functioning of symbiotic scleractinian corals, the habit-founders of warm, shallow water reefs. Here, we show that ALAN disrupts the natural diel tentacle expansion and contraction behaviour, a key mechanism for prey capture and nutrient acquisition in corals. We exposed four symbiotic scleractinian coral species to different ALAN treatments (0.4-2.5 μmol quanta m[-2] s[-1]). Exposure to ALAN levels of 1.2 μmol quanta m[-2] s[-1] and above altered the normal tentacle expansion response in diurnal species (Stylophora pistillata and Duncanopsammia axifuga). The tentacle expansion pattern of nocturnal species (Montastraea cavernosa and Lobophyllia hemprichii) was less affected, which may indicate a greater capacity to tolerate ALAN exposure. The results of this work suggest that ALAN has the potential to affect nutrient acquisition mechanisms of symbiotic corals which may in turn result in changes in the coral community structure in shallow water reefs in ALAN-exposed areas.}, } @article {pmid37577441, year = {2023}, author = {Santana-Pereira, ALR and Moen, FS and Severance, B and Liles, MR}, title = {Influence of soil nutrients on the presence and distribution of CPR bacteria in a long-term crop rotation experiment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1114548}, pmid = {37577441}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacteria affiliated with the Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) are a hyper-diverse group of ultra-small bacteria with versatile yet sparse metabolisms. However, most insights into this group come from a surprisingly small number of environments, and recovery of CPR bacteria from soils has been hindered due to their extremely low abundance within complex microbial assemblages. In this study we enriched soil samples from 14 different soil fertility treatments for ultra-small (<0.45 μm) bacteria in order to study rare soil CPR. 42 samples were sequenced, enabling the reconstruction of 27 quality CPR metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) further classified as Parcubacteria/Paceibacteria, Saccharibacteria/Saccharimonadia and ABY1, in addition to representative genomes from Gemmatimonadetes, Dependentiae and Chlamydae phyla. These genomes were fully annotated and used to reconstruct the CPR community across all 14 plots. Additionally, for five of these plots, the entire microbiota was reconstructed using 16S amplification, showing that specific soil CPR may form symbiotic relationships with a varied and circumstantial range of hosts. Cullars CPR had a prevalence of enzymes predicted to degrade plant-derived carbohydrates, which suggests they have a role in plant biomass degradation. Parcubacteria appear to be more apt at microfauna necromass degradation. Cullars Saccharibacteria and a Parcubacteria group were shown to carry a possible aerotolerance mechanism coupled with potential for aerobic respiration, which appear to be a unique adaptation to the oxic soil environment. Reconstruction of CPR communities across treatment plots showed that they were not impacted by changes in nutrient levels or microbiota composition, being only impacted by extreme conditions, causing some CPR to dominate the community. These findings corroborate the understanding that soil-dwelling CPR bacteria have a very broad symbiont range and have metabolic capabilities associated to soil environments which allows them to scavenge resources and form resilient communities. The contributions of these microbial dark matter species to soil ecology and plant interactions will be of significant interest in future studies.}, } @article {pmid37576043, year = {2023}, author = {Asif, A and Afzaal, M and Shahid, H and Saeed, F and Ahmed, A and Shah, YA and Ejaz, A and Ghani, S and Ateeq, H and Khan, MR}, title = {Probing the functional and therapeutic properties of postbiotics in relation to their industrial application.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {4472-4484}, pmid = {37576043}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {Functional foods are gaining significant research attention of researchers due to their health-endorsing properties due to their bioactive components either living cells (probiotics) or nonviable cells (prebiotics). The term "postbiotic" specifies the soluble substances, such as enzymes, peptides, teichoic acids, muropeptides derived from peptidoglycans, polysaccharides, cell surface proteins, and organic acids, that are secreted by living bacteria or released after bacterial lysis. Due to various signaling molecules which may have antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiinflammatory, antihypertensive, and antiproliferative activities, postbiotics offer great potential to be used in pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical industries, to promote health and ailment prevention. This recent review is a landmark of information relevant to the production of postbiotics along with salient features to use in various fields ranging from food to immunomodulation and selective and effective therapy. It also puts forward the concept that postbiotics are way more effective than probiotics in the veterinary, food as well as medical field which ultimately helps in reducing the disease burden along with human health.}, } @article {pmid37572664, year = {2023}, author = {Voss, PA and Gornik, SG and Jacobovitz, MR and Rupp, S and Dörr, M and Maegele, I and Guse, A}, title = {Host nutrient sensing is mediated by mTOR signaling in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.038}, pmid = {37572664}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {To survive in the nutrient-poor waters of the tropics, reef-building corals rely on intracellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts. Photosynthates produced by the symbiont are translocated to the host, and this enables corals to form the structural foundation of the most biodiverse of all marine ecosystems. Although the regulation of nutrient exchange between partners is critical for ecosystem stability and health, the mechanisms governing how nutrients are sensed, transferred, and integrated into host cell processes are largely unknown. Ubiquitous among eukaryotes, the mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway integrates intracellular and extracellular stimuli to influence cell growth and cell-cycle progression and to balance metabolic processes. A functional role of mTOR in the integration of host and symbiont was demonstrated in various nutritional symbioses, and a similar role of mTOR was proposed for coral-algal symbioses. Using the endosymbiosis model Aiptasia, we examined the role of mTOR signaling in both larvae and adult polyps across various stages of symbiosis. We found that symbiosis enhances cell proliferation, and using an Aiptasia-specific antibody, we localized mTOR to symbiosome membranes. We found that mTOR signaling is activated by symbiosis, while inhibition of mTOR signaling disrupts intracellular niche establishment and symbiosis altogether. Additionally, we observed that dysbiosis was a conserved response to mTOR inhibition in the larvae of a reef-building coral species. Our data confim that mTOR signaling plays a pivotal role in integrating symbiont-derived nutrients into host metabolism and symbiosis stability, ultimately allowing symbiotic cnidarians to thrive in challenging environments.}, } @article {pmid37577036, year = {2019}, author = {M'Koma, AE}, title = {The Multifactorial Etiopathogeneses Interplay of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Overview.}, journal = {Gastrointestinal disorders (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {75-105}, pmid = {37577036}, issn = {2624-5647}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal system where inflammatory bowel disease occurs is central to the immune system where the innate and the adaptive/acquired immune systems are balanced in interactions with gut microbes under homeostasis conditions. This article overviews the high-throughput research screening on multifactorial interplay between genetic risk factors, the intestinal microbiota, urbanization, modernization, Westernization, the environmental influences and immune responses in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease in humans. Inflammatory bowel disease is an expensive multifactorial debilitating disease that affects thousands new people annually worldwide with no known etiology or cure. The conservative therapeutics focus on the established pathology where the immune dysfunction and gut injury have already happened but do not preclude or delay the progression. Inflammatory bowel disease is evolving globally and has become a global emergence disease. It is largely known to be a disease in industrial-urbanized societies attributed to modernization and Westernized lifestyle associated with environmental factors to genetically susceptible individuals with determined failure to process certain commensal antigens. In the developing nations, increasing incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been associated with rapid urbanization, modernization and Westernization of the population. In summary, there are identified multiple associations to host exposures potentiating the landscape risk hazards of inflammatory bowel disease trigger, that include: Western life-style and diet, host genetics, altered innate and/or acquired/adaptive host immune responses, early-life microbiota exposure, change in microbiome symbiotic relationship (dysbiosis/dysbacteriosis), pollution, changing hygiene status, socioeconomic status and several other environmental factors have long-standing effects/influence tolerance. The ongoing multipronged robotic studies on gut microbiota composition disparate patterns between the rural vs. urban locations may help elucidate and better understand the contribution of microbiome disciplines/ecology and evolutionary biology in potentially protecting against the development of inflammatory bowel disease.}, } @article {pmid37572611, year = {2023}, author = {Yin, CM and Niu, RG and Wang, H and Li, XY and Zeng, QF and Lan, JF}, title = {Symbiotic hemolymph bacteria reduce hexavalent chromium to protect the host from chromium toxicity in Procambarus clarkii.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {459}, number = {}, pages = {132257}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132257}, pmid = {37572611}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a cytotoxic heavy metal pollutant that adversely affects all life forms. Interestingly, the crustacean Procambarus clarkii exhibits a relatively high tolerance to heavy metals. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of symbiotic bacteria in P. clarkii in alleviating Cr(VI)-induced damage and explored their potential mechanisms of action. Through transcriptomic analysis, we observed that Cr(VI) activated P. clarkii's antimicrobial immune responses and altered the bacterial composition in the hemolymph. After antibiotic treatment to reduce bacterial populations, Cr(VI)-induced intestinal and liver damage worsened, and crayfish exhibited lower levels of GSH/CAT/SOD activity. The Exiguobacterium, the symbiotic bacteria in the hemolymph of P. clarkii, were proved to be primary contributor to Cr(VI) tolerance. Further investigation suggested that it resists Cr(VI) through the activation of the ABC transporter system and the reduction of Cr(VI) via the reductase gene nfsA. To validate the role of Exiguobacterium in Cr(VI) tolerance, crayfish treated with antibiotics then supplemented with Exiguobacterium H6 and recombinant E. coli (with the nfsA gene), reduced Cr(VI)-induced ovarian damage. Overall, this study revealed that the symbiotic bacteria Exiguobacterium can absorb and reduce hexavalent chromium, mitigating Cr(VI)-induced damage in P. clarkii. These findings provide new insights into hexavalent chromium tolerance mechanisms in crustaceans.}, } @article {pmid37572403, year = {2023}, author = {Kundu, R and Kunnoth, B and Pilli, S and Polisetty, VR and Tyagi, RD}, title = {Biochar symbiosis in anaerobic digestion to enhance biogas production: A comprehensive review.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {344}, number = {}, pages = {118743}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118743}, pmid = {37572403}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {In recent years, anaerobic digestion (AD) has gained popularity as a practical method for generating clean energy and efficiently managing organic waste. However, the effectiveness of the reactor is compromised by the accumulation of ammonia, acids, and nutrients, leading to inhibition and instability. Because of its adaptability, biochar (BC) has sparked a substantial interest in biogas production and can be created by charring biomass and waste materials. Adding BC to the AD process could yield the following benefits: mitigating toxic inhibition, reducing the duration of the methanogenic lag phase, immobilising functional bacteria, and enhancing the rate of electron transfer between methanogenic and acetogenic microorganisms. Nonetheless, there remains to be more comprehensive knowledge regarding the multifaceted function of BC and its intricate mechanisms in the generation of biogas in AD. The research summarises scattered information from the literature on BC production from various feedstocks and factors affecting its characteristics. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of the utilisation of BC as an additive within AD is presented here, emphasising how BC characteristics impact AD processes and how they effectively engage key challenges.}, } @article {pmid37572242, year = {2023}, author = {Rammitsu, K and Goto, M and Yamashita, Y and Yukawa, T and Ogura-Tsujita, Y}, title = {Mycorrhizal specificity differences in epiphytic habitat: three epiphytic orchids harbor distinct ecological and physiological specificity.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37572242}, issn = {1618-0860}, support = {21K06306//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {Orchidaceae has diversified in tree canopies and accounts for 68% of vascular epiphytes. Differences in mycorrhizal communities among epiphytic orchids can reduce species competition for mycorrhizal fungi and contribute to niche partitioning, which may be a crucial driver of the unusual species diversification among orchids. Mycorrhizal specificity-the range of fungi allowing mycorrhizal partnerships-was evaluated by assessment of mycorrhizal communities in the field (ecological specificity) and symbiotic cultures in the laboratory (physiological specificity) for three epiphytic orchids inhabiting Japan. Mycorrhizal communities were assessed with co-existing individuals growing within 10 cm of each other, revealing that ecological specificity varied widely among the three species, ranging from dominance by a single Ceratobasidiaceae fungus to diverse mycobionts across the Ceratobasidiaceae and Tulasnellaceae. In vitro seed germination tests revealed clear differences in physiological specificity among the three orchids, and that the primary mycorrhizal partners contributed to seed germination. In vitro compatibility ranges of three orchids strongly reflect the mycorrhizal community composition of wild populations. This suggests that differences in in situ mycorrhizal communities are not strongly driven by environmental factors, but are primarily due to physiological differences among orchid species. This study shows that the symbiotic strategy among the epiphytic orchid species varies from specialized to generalized association, which may contribute to biotic niche partitioning.}, } @article {pmid37569319, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, Q and Zhang, P and Zhao, Z and Sun, X and Liu, X and Zhang, H and Jiang, W}, title = {Maize Genotypes Sensitive and Tolerant to Low Phosphorus Levels Exhibit Different Transcriptome Profiles under Talaromyces purpurogenus Symbiosis and Low-Phosphorous Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {15}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241511941}, pmid = {37569319}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {32201905//Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2020QC108//Youth Program of the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong/ ; 2022SZX24//Science & Technology Specific Projects in Agricultural High-tech Industrial Demonstration Area of the Yellow River Delta/ ; SAIT-02-06//Shandong Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System Construction Fund/ ; }, abstract = {Talaromyces purpurogenus, an endophytic fungus, exhibits beneficial effects on plants during plant-fungus interactions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plants' responses to T. purpurogenus under low-phosphorous (P) stress are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic changes in maize with low-P-sensitive (31778) and -tolerant (CCM454) genotypes under low-P stress and its symbiotic interaction with T. purpurogenus. Its colonization enhanced plant growth and facilitated P uptake, particularly in 31778. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that 135 DEGs from CCM454 and 389 from 31778 were identified, and that only 6 DEGs were common. This suggested that CCM454 and 31778 exhibited distinct molecular responses to T. purpurogenus inoculation. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that DEGs in 31778 were associated with nicotianamine biosynthesis, organic acid metabolic process, inorganic anion transport, biosynthesis of various secondary metabolites and nitrogen metabolism. In CCM454, DEGs were associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis, diterpenoid biosynthesis and metabolic process. After T. purpurogenus inoculation, the genes associated with phosphate transporter, phosphatase, peroxidase and high-affinity nitrate transporter were upregulated in 31778, whereas AP2-EREBP-transcription factors were detected at significantly higher levels in CCM454. This study provided insights on the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-endophytic fungus symbiosis and low-P stress in maize with low-P-sensitive and -tolerant genotypes.}, } @article {pmid37569279, year = {2023}, author = {Dmitrieva, A and Kozlova, O and Atuchin, V and Milentieva, I and Vesnina, A and Ivanova, S and Asyakina, L and Prosekov, A}, title = {Study of the Effect of Baicalin from Scutellaria baicalensis on the Gastrointestinal Tract Normoflora and Helicobacter pylori.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {15}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241511906}, pmid = {37569279}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {FZSR-2023-0002//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {The antimicrobial properties of baicalin against H. pylori and several probiotic cultures were evaluated. Baicalin was isolated from a dry plant extract obtained by extraction with water at 70 °C. For isolation, extraction was carried out with n-butanol and purification on a chromatographic column. The antimicrobial potential was assessed by evaluating changes in the optical density of the bacterial suspension during cultivation; additionally, the disk diffusion method was used. During the study, the baicalin concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL) and the pH of the medium in the range of 1.5-8.0 were tested. The test objects were: suspensions of H. pylori, Lactobacillus casei, L. brevis, Bifidobacterium longum, and B. teenis. It was found that the greater the concentration of the substance in the solution, the greater the delay in the growth of the strain zone. Thus, the highest antimicrobial activity against H. pylori was observed at pH 1.5-2.0 and a baicalin concentration of 1.00 mg/mL. In relation to probiotic strains, a stimulating effect of baicalin (1.00 mg/mL) on the growth of L. casei biomass at pH 1.5-2.0 was observed. The results open up the prospects for the use of baicalin and probiotics for the treatment of diseases caused by H. pylori.}, } @article {pmid37567299, year = {2023}, author = {Vo, TK and Hoang, QH and Ngo, HH and Tran, CS and Ninh, TNN and Le, SL and Nguyen, AT and Pham, TT and Nguyen, TB and Lin, C and Bui, XT}, title = {Influence of salinity on microalgae-bacteria symbiosis treating shrimp farming wastewater.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166111}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166111}, pmid = {37567299}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Shrimp farming has strongly developed in recent years, and became an important economic sector that helps create jobs and increase incomes for Vietnamese. However, the aquatic environment has also been greatly affected by the development due to the amount of wastewater discharged from shrimp farms. Among biological processes used for treating shrimp farming wastewater, the application of microalgae-bacteria co-culture is considered high potential due to its treatment and energy saving. Consequently, a photobioreactor operated with microalgae-bacteria co-culture was employed to treat shrimp farming wastewater. The salinity of wastewater and the operating condition (ratio of biomass retention time and hydraulic retention time, BRT/HRT) are the major factors affecting pollutant removal. Thus, this study investigated the effects of salinities of 0.5-20 ppt and BRT/HRT ratios of 1.5-16 on the removal performance. The results indicated that the nutrient removal was reduced when PBR operated under salinity over than 10 ppt and BRT/HRT over 5.5. Particularly, the nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates were achieved 6.56 ± 1.33 gN m[-3] d[-1] and 1.49 ± 0.59 gP m[-3] d[-1], and the removal rates decreased by 2-4 times under a salinity >10 ppt and 2-6 times under a BRT/HRT ratio >5.5. Whereas, organic matter treatment seems not to be affected when the removal rate was maintained at 28-34 gCOD m[-3] d[-1] under various conditions.}, } @article {pmid37567258, year = {2023}, author = {Pan, G and Wang, W and Li, X and Pan, D and Liu, W}, title = {Revealing the effects and mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on manganese uptake and detoxification in Rhus chinensis.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139768}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139768}, pmid = {37567258}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate heavy metal phytotoxicity and promote plant growth, while the underlying mechanisms of AMF symbiosis with host plants under manganese (Mn) stress remain elusive. A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the plant growth, micro-structure, Mn accumulation, subcellular distribution, chemical forms, and physiological and biochemical response of Rhus chinensis inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae (FM) under different Mn treatments. The results showed that compared with plants without FM, FM-associated plants exhibited higher growth status, photosynthetic pigments, and photosynthesis under Mn stress. FM-associated plants were able to maintain greater integrity in mesophyll structure, higher thickness of leaf, upper epidermis, and lower epidermis under Mn treatment, and promote leaf growth. Mn accumulation in leaves (258.67-2230.50 mg kg[-1]), stems (132.67-1160.00 mg kg[-1]), and roots (360.92-2446.04 mg kg[-1]) of the seedlings inoculated with FM was higher than non-inoculated ones. FM-associated plants exhibited higher osmotic regulating substances and antioxidant enzymes' activities under Mn exposure, suggesting lower Mn toxicity in FM inoculated seedlings, despite the augment in Mn accumulation. After FM inoculation, Mn concentration (151.04-1211.32 mg kg[-1]) and percentage (64.41-78.55%) enhanced in the cell wall, whilst the transport of Mn to aerial plant organs decreased. Furthermore, FM symbiosis favored the conversion of Mn from high toxic forms (2.17-15.68% in FEthanol, 11.37-24.52% in Fdeionized water) to inactive forms (28.30-38.15% in FNaCl, 18.07-28.59% in FHAc, 4.41-17.99% in FHCl) with low phytotoxicity. Our study offers a theoretical basis for remediation of the FM- R. chinensis symbiotic system in Mn-contaminated environments.}, } @article {pmid37566650, year = {2023}, author = {Starko, S and Fifer, JE and Claar, DC and Davies, SW and Cunning, R and Baker, AC and Baum, JK}, title = {Marine heatwaves threaten cryptic coral diversity and erode associations among coevolving partner.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {32}, pages = {eadf0954}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adf0954}, pmid = {37566650}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Climate change-amplified marine heatwaves can drive extensive mortality in foundation species. However, a paucity of longitudinal genomic datasets has impeded understanding of how these rapid selection events alter cryptic genetic structure. Heatwave impacts may be exacerbated in species that engage in obligate symbioses, where the genetics of multiple coevolving taxa may be affected. Here, we tracked the symbiotic associations of reef-building corals for 6 years through a prolonged heatwave, including known survivorship for 79 of 315 colonies. Coral genetics strongly predicted survival of the ubiquitous coral, Porites (massive growth form), with variable survival (15 to 61%) across three morphologically indistinguishable-but genetically distinct-lineages. The heatwave also disrupted strong associations between these coral lineages and their algal symbionts (family Symbiodiniaceae), with symbiotic turnover in some colonies, resulting in reduced specificity across lineages. These results highlight how heatwaves can threaten cryptic genotypes and decouple otherwise tightly coevolved relationships between hosts and symbionts.}, } @article {pmid37564284, year = {2023}, author = {Roylawar, P and Khandagale, K and Nanda, S and Soumia, PS and Jadhav, S and Mahajan, V and Gawande, S}, title = {Colonization of Serendipita indica promotes resistance against Spodoptera exigua in onion (Allium cepa L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1190942}, pmid = {37564284}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant-endophyte symbiosis influences plant defense and growth. Serendipita indica is a root endophyte that promotes growth and induces tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress in plants. In this study, we examined the effect of S. indica colonization on herbivore (Spodoptera exigua) resistance of onion (Allium cepa L.). We found that colonization of S. indica in the roots of onion significantly reduced the feeding damage of leaves by S. exigua larvae, and also resulted in a reduction in weight gain of the larvae when fed on S. indica plants. This enhanced resistance is a result of modulation of antioxidant and defense enzymes/genes in the host by S. indica mutualism. Specifically, the activities of enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and H2O2 content were significantly higher in the early stages of S. exigua feeding in the S. indica colonized plants compared to the non-colonized counterparts. Similarly, defense genes also showed modulation in response to this tripartite interaction of onion -S. indica mutualism and S. exigua herbivory. The hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis indicated a clear difference in the onion biochemical responses, which is due to the S. indica symbiosis. Our investigation demonstrates that onion-S. indica symbiosis significantly decreases chewing injury by efficiently modulating antioxidant and defense enzyme activities and gene expression in response to S. exigua herbivory. Therefore, S. indica can be used as a potential biocontrol agent for sustainable management of this important pest of Alliums.}, } @article {pmid37563834, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, H and Zhong, Z and Li, Z and Zhang, Y and Stukenbrock, EH and Tang, B and Yang, N and Baroncelli, R and Peng, L and Liu, Z and He, X and Yang, Y and Yuan, Z}, title = {Loss of the accessory chromosome converts a pathogenic tree root fungus into a mutualistic endophyte.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {100672}, doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100672}, pmid = {37563834}, issn = {2590-3462}, abstract = {Fungal accessory chromosomes (ACs), if not all, contribute to virulence in plants. However, mechanisms by which the ACs determine specific traits associated with lifestyle transitions along a symbiotic continuum are not clear. Here we delineated the genetic divergence in two sympatric but considerably variable isolates (16B and 16W) of a poplar-associated fungus Stagonosporopsis rhizophilae. We identified an ∼0.6 Mb horizontally acquired AC in 16W that resulted in a mildly parasitic lifestyle in plants. The complete deletion of the AC (Δ16W) significantly altered the phenotypes. Specifically, Δ16W was morphologically more similar to 16B, showed enhanced melanization, and established beneficial interactions with poplar plants, thereby acting as a dark septate endophyte. RNA-seq analysis showed that AC loss induced upregulation of genes related to biosynthesis of indole acetic acid and melanin, and root colonization. We further observed that the AC maintained a more open status of chromatin across the genome, indicating an impressive remodeling of cis-regulatory elements upon AC loss, which potentially enhanced symbiotic effectiveness. We demonstrated that the symbiotic capacities were non-host specific using comparable experiments of Triticum- and Arabidopsis-fungus associations. Furthermore, the three isolates generated symbiotic interactions with the nonvascular liverwort. In summary, our study suggests that the AC is a suppressor of symbiosis and provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of mutualism with vascular plants in the absence of traits encoded by AC. We speculate that the AC-situated effectors and other potential secreted molecules may have evolved to specifically target the vascular plants and promote mild virulence.}, } @article {pmid37562924, year = {2023}, author = {Hiiesalu, I and Schweichhart, J and Angel, R and Davison, J and Doležal, J and Kopecký, M and Macek, M and Řehakova, K}, title = {Plant-symbiotic fungal diversity tracks variation in vegetation and the abiotic environment along an extended elevational gradient in the Himalayas.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad092}, pmid = {37562924}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can benefit plants under environmental stress, and influence plant adaptation to warmer climates. However, very little is known about the ecology of these fungi in alpine environments. We sampled plant roots along a large fraction (1941-6150 m asl) of the longest terrestrial elevational gradient on Earth and used DNA metabarcoding to identify AM fungi. We hypothesized that AM fungal alpha and beta diversity decreases with increasing elevation, and that different vegetation types comprise dissimilar communities, with cultured (putatively ruderal) taxa increasingly represented at high elevations. We found that alpha diversity of AM fungal communities declined linearly with elevation, whereas within-site taxon turnover (beta diversity) was unimodally related to elevation. Composition of AM fungal communities differed between vegetation types and was influenced by elevation, mean annual temperature and precipitation. In general, Glomeraceae taxa dominated at all elevations and vegetation types, however, higher elevations were associated with increased presence of Acaulosporaceae, Ambisporaceae and Claroideoglomeraceae. Contrary to our expectation, the proportion of cultured AM fungal taxa in communities decreased with elevation. These results suggest that, in this system, climate-induced shifts in habitat conditions may facilitate more diverse AM fungal communities at higher elevations but could also favour ruderal taxa.}, } @article {pmid37562449, year = {2023}, author = {Blackmer-Raynolds, L and Sampson, TR}, title = {Overview of the Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Seminars in neurology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1055/s-0043-1771463}, pmid = {37562449}, issn = {1098-9021}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is home to trillions of microorganisms-collectively referred to as the gut microbiome-that maintain a symbiotic relationship with their host. This diverse community of microbes grows and changes as we do, with developmental, lifestyle, and environmental factors all shaping microbiome community structure. Increasing evidence suggests this relationship is bidirectional, with the microbiome also influencing host physiological processes. For example, changes in the gut microbiome have been shown to alter neurodevelopment and have lifelong effects on the brain and behavior. Age-related changes in gut microbiome composition have also been linked to inflammatory changes in the brain, perhaps increasing susceptibility to neurological disease. Indeed, associations between gut dysbiosis and many age-related neurological diseases-including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-have been reported. Further, microbiome manipulation in animal models of disease highlights a potential role for the gut microbiome in disease development and progression. Although much remains unknown, these associations open up an exciting new world of therapeutic targets, potentially allowing for improved quality of life for a wide range of patient populations.}, } @article {pmid37562359, year = {2023}, author = {Han, G and Vaishnava, S}, title = {Mucin-binding adhesins: A key to unlocking the door of mutualism.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {1254-1256}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.07.007}, pmid = {37562359}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {From corals to mammals, mucus is a conserved feature that prevents microbes from accessing the surfaces that produce it. However, interactions between mucus and microbes remain poorly understood. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Smith et al. unveil that mucus binding by bacteria is crucial for host-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37562204, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, X and Wang, S and Farag, MA and Han, Z and Chen, D and Zhang, X and Si, J and Wu, L}, title = {Interactions between endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. DO14 and Dendrobium catenatum: Deciphering plant polysaccharide and flavonoid accumulation and underlying mechanisms by comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {107942}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107942}, pmid = {37562204}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Dendrobium catenatum, which belongs to the Orchidaceae family, has been used as a traditional medicine and healthy food in China for over 2000 years, and is of enormous economic value. Polysaccharides and flavonoids are two major functional ingredients in D. catenatum stems that contribute to its health benefits. D. catenatum lives in close association with endophytic fungi, but the literature regarding the further relations between them, especially the fungal-induced accumulation of metabolites in the host plant, is sparse. Our previous study showed that Pestalotiopsis sp. DO14 isolated from D. catenatum improved the host plant growth and metabolite accumulation. This study was performed to investigate dynamic variations of the growth traits, key metabolites (polysaccharides and flavonoids), and expression of key genes of D. catenatum under conditions of the DO14 colonization. Colonization with DO14 promoted D. catenatum growth as indicated by increased leaf area, mid-stem thickness, and plant height. The content of polysaccharides, mannose, and sucrose increased even without DO14 entering the host cells or forming a mature symbiotic relationship concurrent with improved photosynthesis rate. Furthermore, DO14 induced upregulation of genes involved in sugar and flavonoid metabolism, especially phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCKA), chalcone synthase (CHS) and UDP-glycose flavonoid glycosyltransferase (UFGT). These observations suggested that endophytic fungi induce the accumulation of polysaccharides and flavonoids by plants, increasing the efficiency of carbon assimilation and carbon turnover. The findings of this study provide insight into the mechanisms underlying Orchidaceae-endophyte interactions, and suggest potential novel applications of endophytic fungi in D. catenatum breeding to improved plant quality.}, } @article {pmid37561219, year = {2023}, author = {Sportes, A and Hériché, M and Mounier, A and Durney, C and van Tuinen, D and Trouvelot, S and Wipf, D and Courty, PE}, title = {Comparative RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling of ten grapevine rootstocks: shared and specific sets of genes respond to mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37561219}, issn = {1432-1890}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis improves water and nutrient uptake by plants and provides them other ecosystem services. Grapevine is one of the major crops in the world. Vitis vinifera scions generally are grafted onto a variety of rootstocks that confer different levels of resistance against different pests, tolerance to environmental stress, and influence the physiology of the scions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are involved in the root architecture and in the immune response to soil-borne pathogens. However, the fine-tuned regulation and the transcriptomic plasticity of rootstocks in response to mycorrhization are still unknown. We compared the responses of 10 different grapevine rootstocks to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) formed with Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198 using RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling. We have highlighted a few shared regulation mechanisms, but also specific rootstock responses to R. irregularis colonization. A set of 353 genes was regulated by AMS in all ten rootstocks. We also compared the expression level of this set of genes to more than 2000 transcriptome profiles from various grapevine varieties and tissues to identify a class of transcripts related to mycorrhizal associations in these 10 rootstocks. Then, we compared the response of the 351 genes upregulated by mycorrhiza in grapevine to their Medicago truncatula homologs in response to mycorrhizal colonization based on available transcriptomic studies. More than 97% of the 351 M. truncatula-homologous grapevine genes were expressed in at least one mycorrhizal transcriptomic study, and 64% in every single RNAseq dataset. At the intra-specific level, we described, for the first time, shared and specific grapevine rootstock genes in response to R. irregularis symbiosis. At the inter-specific level, we defined a shared subset of mycorrhiza-responsive genes.}, } @article {pmid37561161, year = {2023}, author = {Palm, V and Molwitz, I and Rischen, R and Westphalen, K and Kauczor, HU and Schreyer, AG}, title = {[Sustainability and climate protection : Implications on patient-centered care in radiology].}, journal = {Radiologie (Heidelberg, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37561161}, issn = {2731-7056}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sustainability and patient-centered radiology (PCR) include a multivariant, complex network of synergic and opportunistic elements. PCR is a subfactor of the social element, climate protection is part of the ecological element, and sustainable economics are part of the financial element.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify PCR-symbiotic and PCR-opposed elements of sustainability using literature research. This article will provide an overview of the core sustainability elements and innovative concepts for supporting PCR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A digital literature search was carried out to identify scientific publications about sustainability and PCR via Medline. Results are provided as a narrative summary.

RESULTS: In particular, the social component and parts of the ecological element of sustainability support PCR. Climate protection and a natural environment show a positive correlation with health and patient satisfaction. Patient contact improves the quality of the diagnostic report and promotes satisfaction of patients and radiologists. However, increasing economization is often conditionally compatible with the social core element of sustainability and especially with PCR. Digital tools can ease communication and improve reports in times of increasing workload.

CONCLUSION: Socially and environmentally sustainable radiology supports the well-being of both employees and patients. Innovative concepts are necessary to balance the ecological elements of sustainability with employees' and patients' interests.}, } @article {pmid37560665, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, L and Zhang, Y and Hao, Z and Zhang, J}, title = {Insight into the effect of chemical structure for microbial lignite methanation.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e18352}, pmid = {37560665}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The chemical structure of lignite plays a fundamental role in microbial degradation, which can be altered to increase gas production. In this study, the structural changes in lignite were analyzed by conducting pretreatment and biomethane gas production experiments using crushing and ball milling processes, respectively. The results revealed that different particle size ranges of lignite considerably influence gas production. The maximum methane yield under both treatments corresponded to a particle size range of 400-500 mesh. The gas production after ball milling was higher than that after crushing, irrespective of particle size. Compared with lignite subjected to crushing, that subjected to ball milling exhibited more oxygen-containing functional groups, less coalification, more disordered structures, and small aromatic ring structures, demonstrating more unstable properties, which are typically favorable to microbial flora for the utilization and degradation of lignite. Additionally, a symbiotic microbial community comprising multiple species was established during the microbial degradation of lignite into biogas. This study provides new insights and a strong scientific foundation for further research on microbial lignite methanation.}, } @article {pmid37560311, year = {2023}, author = {Masse, KE and Lu, VB}, title = {Short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids and indoles: gut microbial metabolites with effects on enteroendocrine cell function and their potential as therapies for metabolic disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1169624}, pmid = {37560311}, issn = {1664-2392}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract hosts the largest ecosystem of microorganisms in the body. The metabolism of ingested nutrients by gut bacteria produces novel chemical mediators that can influence chemosensory cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically, hormone-releasing enteroendocrine cells which express a host of receptors activated by these bacterial metabolites. This review will focus on the activation mechanisms of glucagon-like peptide-1 releasing enteroendocrine cells by the three main bacterial metabolites produced in the gut: short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids and indoles. Given the importance of enteroendocrine cells in regulating glucose homeostasis and food intake, we will also discuss therapies based on these bacterial metabolites used in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Elucidating the mechanisms gut bacteria can influence cellular function in the host will advance our understanding of this fundamental symbiotic relationship and unlock the potential of harnessing these pathways to improve human health.}, } @article {pmid37558860, year = {2023}, author = {Béchade, B and Cabuslay, CS and Hu, Y and Mendonca, CM and Hassanpour, B and Lin, JY and Su, Y and Fiers, VJ and Anandarajan, D and Lu, R and Olson, CJ and Duplais, C and Rosen, GL and Moreau, CS and Aristilde, L and Wertz, JT and Russell, JA}, title = {Physiological and evolutionary contexts of a new symbiotic species from the nitrogen-recycling gut community of turtle ants.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37558860}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {GRF-2041772//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; TUES-1245632//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; DEB-1900357//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; CBET-1653092//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; DEB-1442156//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; DOB-1442144//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; TUES-1245632//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {While genome sequencing has expanded our knowledge of symbiosis, role assignment within multi-species microbiomes remains challenging due to genomic redundancy and the uncertainties of in vivo impacts. We address such questions, here, for a specialized nitrogen (N) recycling microbiome of turtle ants, describing a new genus and species of gut symbiont-Ischyrobacter davidsoniae (Betaproteobacteria: Burkholderiales: Alcaligenaceae)-and its in vivo physiological context. A re-analysis of amplicon sequencing data, with precisely assigned Ischyrobacter reads, revealed a seemingly ubiquitous distribution across the turtle ant genus Cephalotes, suggesting ≥50 million years since domestication. Through new genome sequencing, we also show that divergent I. davidsoniae lineages are conserved in their uricolytic and urea-generating capacities. With phylogenetically refined definitions of Ischyrobacter and separately domesticated Burkholderiales symbionts, our FISH microscopy revealed a distinct niche for I. davidsoniae, with dense populations at the anterior ileum. Being positioned at the site of host N-waste delivery, in vivo metatranscriptomics and metabolomics further implicate I. davidsoniae within a symbiont-autonomous N-recycling pathway. While encoding much of this pathway, I. davidsoniae expressed only a subset of the requisite steps in mature adult workers, including the penultimate step deriving urea from allantoate. The remaining steps were expressed by other specialized gut symbionts. Collectively, this assemblage converts inosine, made from midgut symbionts, into urea and ammonia in the hindgut. With urea supporting host amino acid budgets and cuticle synthesis, and with the ancient nature of other active N-recyclers discovered here, I. davidsoniae emerges as a central player in a conserved and impactful, multipartite symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37558078, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, K and Xing, S and Shi, H and Tang, Y and Yang, M and Gu, Q and Li, Y and Ji, B and Zhang, J}, title = {Long-term fencing can't benefit plant and microbial network stability of alpine meadow and alpine steppe in Three-River-Source National Park.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166076}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166076}, pmid = {37558078}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {A great number of fencing facilities has been established in Three-River-Source National Park. However, with the transformation of wild animals into the main consumers of grassland ecosystem and the increasing years of fence (>15 years), whether the fence still has a positive effect on grassland ecosystem has become controversial. Therefore, taking the alpine steppe and alpine meadow in Three-River-Source National Park as the case study, this study focused on the effects of long-term enclosure on different ecological components by investigating plant communities, soil physical and chemical characteristics and soil microbial characteristics (16S, ITS). Furthermore, we evaluated the ecological benefits of long-term fencing based on the stability of plant communities and microbial networks. We found that fencing did not significantly promote the stability of plant community in different grassland types. The analysis of bacteria-fungal symbiotic network indicated that fencing significantly reduced the stability of soil microbial network in alpine meadows. The results of structural equation showed that the microbial community was indirectly affected by the changes of soil moisture content (SMC) and soil total nutrient content in the alpine steppe, and the stability of microbial network was significantly correlated with the diversity of fungal community. In alpine meadows, fencing indirectly affected soil microbial community by changing SMC and pH. High SMC was not conducive to microbial network stability, while high plant community stability was beneficial to microbial network stability. Network stability was remarkably related to bacterial community composition and diversity, as well as fungal community diversity. Therefore, in Three-River-Source National Park, the positive effects of long-term fencing on various components in different grassland types are weak, especially the negative effects on the stability of soil microbial community in alpine meadows may also weaken the stability of the ecosystem, which is not conducive to the ecological protection of grassland ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37557061, year = {2023}, author = {Hassani, Y and Aboudharam, G and Drancourt, M and Grine, G}, title = {Current knowledge and clinical perspectives for a unique new phylum: Nanaorchaeota.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {276}, number = {}, pages = {127459}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127459}, pmid = {37557061}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Nanoarchaea measuring less than 500 nm and encasing an average 600-kb compact genome have been studied for twenty years, after an estimated 4193-million-year evolution. Comprising only four co-cultured representatives, these symbiotic organisms initially detected in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and geothermal springs, have been further distributed in various environmental ecosystems worldwide. Recent isolation by co-culture of Nanopusillus massiliensis from the unique ecosystem of the human oral cavity, prompted us to review the evolutionary diversity of nanaorchaea resulting in a rapidly evolving taxonomiy. Regardless of their ecological niche, all nanoarchaea share limited metabolic capacities correlating with an obligate ectosymbiotic or parasitic lifestyle; focusing on the dynamics of nanoarchaea-bacteria nanoarchaea-archaea interactions at the morphological and metabolic levels; highlighting proteins involved in nanoarchaea attachment to the hosts, as well metabolic exchanges between both organisms; and highlighting clinical nanoarchaeology, an emerging field of research in the frame of the recent discovery of Candidate Phyla radiation (CPR) in human microbiota. Future studies in clinical nanobiology will expand knowledge of the nanaorchaea repertoire associated with human microbiota and diseases, to improve our understanding of the diversity of these nanoorganims and their intreactions with microbiota and host tissues.}, } @article {pmid37556501, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, L and Tang, J and Tang, M and Luo, S and Zhou, X}, title = {Reactive oxygen species are regulated by immune deficiency and Toll pathways in determining the host specificity of honeybee gut bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {33}, pages = {e2219634120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2219634120}, pmid = {37556501}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {32000343//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; National Special Support Program for High-level Talents//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (MOST)/ ; 2115 Talent Development Program//China Agricultural University (CAU)/ ; }, abstract = {Host specificity is observed in gut symbionts of diverse animal lineages. But how hosts maintain symbionts while rejecting their close relatives remains elusive. We use eusocial bees and their codiversified gut bacteria to understand host regulation driving symbiotic specificity. The cross-inoculation of bumblebee Gilliamella induced higher prostaglandin in the honeybee gut, promoting a pronounced host response through immune deficiency (IMD) and Toll pathways. Gene silencing and vitamin C treatments indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS), not antimicrobial peptides, acts as the effector in inhibiting the non-native strain. Quantitative PCR and RNAi further reveal a regulatory function of the IMD and Toll pathways, in which Relish and dorsal-1 may regulate Dual Oxidase (Duox) for ROS production. Therefore, the honeybee maintains symbiotic specificity by creating a hostile gut environment to exotic bacteria, through differential regulation of its immune system, reflecting a co-opting of existing machinery evolved to combat pathogens.}, } @article {pmid37555666, year = {2023}, author = {Oka, S and Watanabe, M and Ito, E and Takeyama, A and Matsuoka, T and Takahashi, M and Izumi, Y and Arichi, N and Ohno, H and Yamasaki, S and Inuki, S}, title = {Archaeal Glycerolipids Are Recognized by C-Type Lectin Receptor Mincle.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.3c05473}, pmid = {37555666}, issn = {1520-5126}, abstract = {Recently, various metabolites derived from host microbes have been reported to modulate the immune system, with potential involvement in health or diseases. Archaea, prokaryotic organisms, are present in the human body, but their connection with the host is largely unknown when compared to other microorganisms such as bacteria. This study focused on unique glycerolipids from symbiotic methanogenic archaea and evaluated their activities toward an innate immune receptor. The results revealed that archaeal lipids were recognized by the C-type lectin receptor Mincle and induced immune responses. A concurrent structure-activity relationship study identified the key structural features of archaeal lipids required for recognition by Mincle. Subsequent gene expression profiling suggested qualitative differences between the symbiotic archaeal lipid and the pathogenic bacteria-derived lipid. These findings have broad implications for understanding the function of symbiotic archaea in host health and diseases.}, } @article {pmid37555634, year = {2023}, author = {Zhanserkeev, AA and Yang, EL and Steele, RP}, title = {Accelerating Anharmonic Spectroscopy Simulations via Local-Mode, Multilevel Methods.}, journal = {Journal of chemical theory and computation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00589}, pmid = {37555634}, issn = {1549-9626}, abstract = {Ab initio computer simulations of anharmonic vibrational spectra provide nuanced insight into the vibrational behavior of molecules and complexes. The computational bottleneck in such simulations, particularly for ab initio potentials, is often the generation of mode-coupling potentials. Focusing specifically on two-mode couplings in this analysis, the combination of a local-mode representation and multilevel methods is demonstrated to be particularly symbiotic. In this approach, a low-level quantum chemistry method is employed to predict the pairwise couplings that should be included at the target level of theory in vibrational self-consistent field (and similar) calculations. Pairs that are excluded by this approach are "recycled" at the low level of theory. Furthermore, because this low-level pre-screening will eventually become the computational bottleneck for sufficiently large chemical systems, distance-based truncation is applied to these low-level predictions without substantive loss of accuracy. This combination is demonstrated to yield sub-wavenumber fidelity with reference vibrational transitions when including only a small fraction of target-level couplings; the overhead of predicting these couplings, particularly when employing distance-based, local-mode cutoffs, is a trivial added cost. This combined approach is assessed on a series of test cases, including ethylene, hexatriene, and the alanine dipeptide. Vibrational self-consistent field (VSCF) spectra were obtained with an RI-MP2/cc-pVTZ potential for the dipeptide, at approximately a 5-fold reduction in computational cost. Considerable optimism for increased accelerations for larger systems and higher-order couplings is also justified, based on this investigation.}, } @article {pmid37555448, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, R and Shen, Y and He, J and Zhang, C and Ma, Y and Sun, C and Son, X and Li, L and Zhang, S and Biró, JB and Saifi, F and Kalo, P and Chen, R}, title = {Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptide 343 is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad454}, pmid = {37555448}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between legumes and rhizobia lead to development of root nodules and nitrogen fixation by differentiated bacteroids within nodules. Differentiation of the endosymbionts is reversible or terminal, determined by plant effectors. In IRLC legumes, Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides (NCRs) control the terminal differentiation of bacteroids. Medicago truncatula contains ∼700 NCR-coding genes. However, the role of few NCRs has been demonstrated. Here, we report characterization of FN2106 (Fast Neutron 2106), a symbiotic nitrogen fixation defective (fix-) mutant of M. truncatula. Using a transcript-based approach, together with linkage and complementation tests, we showed that loss-of-function of NCR343 results in impaired bacteroid differentiation and/or maintenance and premature nodule senescence of the FN2106 mutant. NCR343 was specifically expressed in nodules. Subcellular localization studies showed that the functional NCR343-YFP fusion protein colocalizes with bacteroids in symbiosomes in infected nodule cells. Transcriptomic analyses identified senescence-, but not defense-related genes, as being significantly upregulated in ncr343 (FN2106) nodules. Taken together, results from our phenotypic and transcriptomic analyses of a loss-of-function ncr343 mutant demonstrate an essential role of NCR343 in bacteroid differentiation and/or maintenance required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37554339, year = {2023}, author = {Verstraete, B and Janssens, S and De Block, P and Asselman, P and Méndez, G and Ly, S and Hamon, P and Guyot, R}, title = {Metagenomics of African Empogona and Tricalysia (Rubiaceae) reveals the presence of leaf endophytes.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15778}, pmid = {37554339}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leaf symbiosis is a phenomenon in which host plants of Rubiaceae interact with bacterial endophytes within their leaves. To date, it has been found in around 650 species belonging to eight genera in four tribes; however, the true extent in Rubiaceae remains unknown. Our aim is to investigate the possible occurrence of leaf endophytes in the African plant genera Empogona and Tricalysia and, if present, to establish their identity.

METHODS: Total DNA was extracted from the leaves of four species of the Coffeeae tribe (Empogona congesta, Tricalysia hensii, T. lasiodelphys, and T. semidecidua) and sequenced. Bacterial reads were filtered out and assembled. Phylogenetic analysis of the endophytes was used to reveal their identity and their relationship with known symbionts.

RESULTS: All four species have non-nodulated leaf endophytes, which are identified as Caballeronia. The endophytes are distinct from each other but related to other nodulated and non-nodulated endophytes. An apparent phylogenetic or geographic pattern appears to be absent in endophytes or host plants. Caballeronia endophytes are present in the leaves of Empogona and Tricalysia, two genera not previously implicated in leaf symbiosis. This interaction is likely to be more widespread, and future discoveries are inevitable.}, } @article {pmid37553834, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Fu, Y and Xian, W and Li, X and Feng, Y and Bu, F and Shi, Y and Chen, S and Velzen, RV and Battenberg, K and Berry, AM and Salgado, MG and Liu, H and Yi, T and Fournier, P and Alloisio, N and Pujic, P and Boubakri, H and Schranz, ME and Delaux, PM and Wong, GK and Hocher, V and Svistoonoff, S and Gherbi, H and Wang, E and Kohlen, W and Wall, LG and Parniske, M and Pawlowski, K and Philippe, N and Doyle, JJ and Cheng, S}, title = {Comparative Phylogenomics and Phylotranscriptomics Provide Insights into the Genetic Complexity of Nitrogen Fixing Root Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {100671}, doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100671}, pmid = {37553834}, issn = {2590-3462}, abstract = {Plant root nodule symbiosis (RNS) with mutualistic nitrogen-fixing bacteria is restricted to a single clade of angiosperms, the Nitrogen-Fixing Nodulation Clade (NFNC), and is best understood in the legume family. Nodulating species share many commonalities, explained either by divergence from a common ancestor over 100 million years ago or by convergence following independent origins over that same time period. Regardless, comparative analyses of diverse nodulation syndromes can provide insights into constraints on nodulation-what must be acquired or cannot be lost for a functional symbiosis-and what the latitude is for variation in the symbiosis. However, much remains to be learned about nodulation, especially outside of legumes. Here, we employed a large-scale phylogenomic analysis across 88 species, complemented by 151 RNA-seq libraries, to elucidate the evolution of RNS. Our phylogenomic analyses further emphasize the uniqueness of the transcription factor, NIN, as a master regulator of nodulation, and identify key mutations affecting its function across the NFNC. Comparative transcriptomic assessment reveals nodule-specific upregulated genes across diverse nodulating plants, while also identifying nodule-specific and nitrogen-response genes. Approximately 70% of symbiosis-related genes are highly conserved in the four representative species, whereas defense-related and host range restriction genes tend to be lineage-specific. Our study also identifies over 900,000 conserved non-coding elements (CNEs), of which over 300,000 are unique to sampled NFNC species. NFNC-specific CNEs are enriched with the active H3K9ac mark and are correlated with accessible chromatin regions, and thus represent a pool of candidate regulatory elements for genes involved in root nodule symbiosis. Collectively, our results provide novel insights into the evolution of nodulation and lays a foundation for engineering of RNS traits in agriculturally important crops.}, } @article {pmid37553640, year = {2023}, author = {Su, HY and Hussain, B and Hsu, BM and Lee, KH and Mao, YC and Chiang, LC and Chen, JS}, title = {Bacterial community analysis identifies Klebsiella pneumoniae as a native symbiotic bacterium in the newborn Protobothrops mucrosquamatus.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {213}, pmid = {37553640}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {EDAHP110044//E-Da Hospital/ ; EDPJ111040//E-Da Hospital/ ; EDAHP110022//E-DA Hospital/ ; 110-2314-B-650 -011 -MY2//National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The study of the native microbiome of organisms is crucial. The connection between the native microbiome and the host affects the formation of the innate immune system and the organism's growth. However, the native microbiome of newborn venomous snakes has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to determine the oral and skin microbiomes of newborn Protobothrops mucrosquamatus.

RESULTS: We performed 16 S full-length sequencing on 14 samples collected from 7 newborn P. mucrosquamatus individuals, specifically targeting their oral and skin microbiomes. In terms of the oral and skin microbiome, the main species were Klebsiella pneumoniae lineages. According to subspecies/species analysis, the proportion from highest to lowest was K. quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae, K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, and K. pneumoniae subsp. rhinoscleromatis. These three bacteria accounted for 62.5% and 85% of the skin and oral activity, respectively. The oral microbiome of newborn P. mucrosquamatus did not comprise common bacteria found in snakebite wounds or oral cultures in adult snakes. Therefore, the source of other microbiomes in the oral cavities of adult snakes may be the environment or prey. Functional Annotation of the Prokaryotic Taxa analysis showed that the skin/oral native microbiome metabolism was related to fermentation and human infection owing to the dominance of K. pneumoniae lineages. The characteristics of K. pneumoniae may impact the development of venom in venomous snakes.

CONCLUSION: The results of the native microbiome in the oral cavity and skin of newborn P. mucrosquamatus demonstrated that the habitat environment and prey capture may affect the composition of bacteria in adult snakes. We hypothesized that the native microbiome influences newborn venomous snakes and that K. pneumoniae lineages related to citrate fermentation may play a role in venom growth. However, further verification of this is required.}, } @article {pmid37553055, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, Y and An, T and Kuang, Q and Wu, Y and Liu, S and Liang, L and Yu, M and Macrae, A and Chen, Y}, title = {The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the alleviation of cadmium stress in cereals: A multilevel meta-analysis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {166091}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166091}, pmid = {37553055}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationships between crop species and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial for plant health, productivity, and environmental sustainability. The roles of AMF in reducing crop stress caused by cadmium (Cd) toxicity and in the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil are not fully understood. Here we report on a meta-analysis that sought to identify the functions of AMF in cereals under Cd stress. A total of 54 articles published between January 1992 and September 2022 were used to create the dataset, which provided 7216 data sets on mycorrhizal cereals under Cd stress examined. AMF effects on colonization rate, biomass, physiological level, nutritional level, and plant Cd level were measured using the logarithmic response ratio (Ln R). The results showed that AMF overall greatly reduced 5.14-33.6 % Cd stress on cereals in greenhouse experiments under controlled conditions. AMF colonization significantly stimulated crop biomass by 65.7 %, boosted the formation of photosynthetic pigments (23.2 %), and greatly increased plant nitrogen (24.8 %) and phosphorus (58.4 %) uptake. The dilution effect of mycorrhizal plants made the Cd concentration decline by 25.2 % in AMF plants compared to non-mycorrhizal ones. AMF also alleviated Cd stress by improving osmotic regulators (soluble protein, sugar, and total proline, from 14.8 to 36.0 %) and lowering the membrane lipid peroxidation product (MDA, 12.9 %). Importantly, the results from the random forest and model selection analysis demonstrated that crop type, soil characteristics, chemical form, and Cd levels were the main factors determining the function of AMF in alleviating Cd stress. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between AMF colonization rate and Cd addition, but their interactive effect was less than the colonization rate alone. This meta-analysis demonstrated that AMF inoculation could be considered as a promising strategy for mitigation of Cd stress in cereals.}, } @article {pmid37552928, year = {2023}, author = {Pazzaglia, A and Gelosia, M and Giannoni, T and Fabbrizi, G and Nicolini, A and Castellani, B}, title = {Wood waste valorization: Ethanol based organosolv as a promising recycling process.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {170}, number = {}, pages = {75-81}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2023.08.003}, pmid = {37552928}, issn = {1879-2456}, abstract = {Wood waste is a valuable material that could constitute an abundant and inexpensive source to produce new materials and energy recovery. In Europe, about 46 % of wood waste is recycled to particleboard and fiberboard, while the other fraction is incinerated. However, a considerable quantity of wood waste has the potentiality to be transformed into value-added products due to its compositional quality. In this work, wood waste collected at a mechanical treatment (MT) plant underwent organosolv treatment to produce a cellulose pulp suitable for manufacturing containerboard. Wood waste was microwave heated at 160 °C for 15 min using an acidified ethanol-water solution (2 % w/w H2SO4 and 0.8 w/w ethanol concentration), producing pulp with an average cellulose content of 76 % where 93 % of initial cellulose was retained. Thanks to a one-pot approach, ethanol was totally recovered, 62 % of initial lignin was precipitated, and 20 g/l of hemicellulose-derived sugars solution was obtained. Finally, three wood waste samples collected in different periods of the years yielded comparable outcomes, suggesting a good reproducibility of the organosolv process. This study paves the way for an industrial symbiosis between recycling centers and paper mills located in the same territory, increasing the sustainability and worth of the wood waste recycling process.}, } @article {pmid37553473, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, J and Chen, F and Wu, G}, title = {Potential effects of gut microbiota on host cancers: focus on immunity, DNA damage, cellular pathways, and anticancer therapy.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37553473}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {The symbiotic bacteria that live in the human gut and the metabolites they produce have long influenced local and systemic physiological and pathological processes of the host. The gut microbiota are increasingly being recognized for its impact on a range of human diseases, including cancer, it may play a key role in the occurrence, progression, treatment, and prognosis of many types of cancer. Understanding the functional role of the gut microbiota in cancer is crucial for the development of the era of personalized medicine. Here, we review recent advances in research and summarize the important associations and clear experimental evidence for the role of the gut microbiota in a variety of human cancers, focus on the application and possible challenges associated with the gut microbiota in antitumor therapy. In conclusion, our research demonstrated the multifaceted mechanisms of gut microbiota affecting human cancer and provides directions and ideas for future clinical research.}, } @article {pmid37552896, year = {2023}, author = {González-Pech, RA and Li, VY and Garcia, V and Boville, E and Mammone, M and Kitano, H and Ritchie, KB and Medina, M}, title = {The Evolution, Assembly, and Dynamics of Marine Holobionts.}, journal = {Annual review of marine science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-022123-104345}, pmid = {37552896}, issn = {1941-0611}, abstract = {The holobiont concept (i.e., multiple living beings in close symbiosis with one another and functioning as a unit) is revolutionizing our understanding of biology, especially in marine systems. The earliest marine holobiont was likely a syntrophic partnership of at least two prokaryotic members. Since then, symbiosis has enabled marine organisms to conquer all ocean habitats through the formation of holobionts with a wide spectrum of complexities. However, most scientific inquiries have focused on isolated organisms and their adaptations to specific environments. In this review, we attempt to illustrate why a holobiont perspective-specifically, the study of how numerous organisms form a discrete ecological unit through symbiosis-will be a more impactful strategy to advance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of marine life. We argue that this approach is instrumental in addressing the threats to marine biodiversity posed by the current global environmental crisis. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Marine Science, Volume 16 is January 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, } @article {pmid37548791, year = {2023}, author = {Rotini, A and Conte, C and Winters, G and Vasquez, MI and Migliore, L}, title = {Undisturbed Posidonia oceanica meadows maintain the epiphytic bacterial community in different environments.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37548791}, issn = {1614-7499}, support = {COST-STSM- CA15121-39495//COST Action CA 15121 Mar Cons/ ; }, abstract = {Seagrasses harbour different and rich epiphytic bacterial communities. These microbes may establish intimate and symbiotic relationships with the seagrass plants and change according to host species, environmental conditions, and/or ecophysiological status of their seagrass host. Although Posidonia oceanica is one of the most studied seagrasses in the world, and bacteria associated with seagrasses have been studied for over a decade, P. oceanica's microbiome remains hitherto little explored. Here, we applied 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to explore the microbiome associated with the leaves of P. oceanica growing in two geomorphologically different meadows (e.g. depth, substrate, and turbidity) within the Limassol Bay (Cyprus). The morphometric (leaf area, meadow density) and biochemical (pigments, total phenols) descriptors highlighted the healthy conditions of both meadows. The leaf-associated bacterial communities showed similar structure and composition in the two sites; core microbiota members were dominated by bacteria belonging to the Thalassospiraceae, Microtrichaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Saprospiraceae, and Hyphomonadaceae families. This analogy, even under different geomorphological conditions, suggest that in the absence of disturbances, P. oceanica maintains characteristic-associated bacterial communities. This study provides a baseline for the knowledge of the P. oceanica microbiome and further supports its use as a putative seagrass descriptor.}, } @article {pmid37548463, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, J and Yuan, T and Huang, H and Lu, X}, title = {An Integrated Micro-Device System for Coral Growth and Monitoring.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {197}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/65651}, pmid = {37548463}, issn = {1940-087X}, abstract = {Corals are fundamental organisms in marine and coastal ecosystems. With the advancement of coral protection research in recent years, precise control of the coral culture environment is highly in demand for coral conservation and study. Here, we developed a semi-closed coral culture micro-device system as a multi-functional platform, which can provide accurate and programmable temperature control, a sterile initial environment, long-term stable water quality, an adjustable dissolved oxygen concentration, and a customized light spectrum for corals. Owing to the modular design, the coral culture system can be upgraded or modified by installing desirable new modules or removing existing ones. Currently, under appropriate conditions and with proper system maintenance, the sample corals can survive for at least 30 days in a healthy state. Furthermore, due to the controllable and sterile initial environment, this coral culture system can support research into the symbiotic relationship between corals and associated microorganisms. Therefore, this micro-device system can be applied to monitor and investigate sea corals in a relatively quantitative manner.}, } @article {pmid37548071, year = {2023}, author = {Kantharia, BK}, title = {Heart failure and atrial fibrillation: Is atrial fibrillation ablation in heart failure pointless or mandatory?.}, journal = {Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jce.16021}, pmid = {37548071}, issn = {1540-8167}, abstract = {A vast amount of now well-established clinical and epidemiological data indicates a close, interdependent, and symbiotic association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Both AF and HF, when co-exist in a patient, have serious treatment and prognostic implications. Based on the prevailing knowledge of the topic, various societies have issued a number of guidelines regarding the management of patients with AF and HF. Overall, it is the rhythm control strategy that has shown beneficial effect over the rate control strategy with improvement in symptoms of AF and HF. While antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) and catheter ablation (CA) may be utilized as rhythm control strategy for AF, both AADs and CA have limitations of their own. Furthermore, with the progress made in various pharmacotherapeutic agents in HF, one could question the utility of CA in HF (i.e., whether ablation is mandatory or pointless in patients who have HF). The purpose of this review is to discuss this very point, focusing on the beneficial, neutral, or detrimental outcome of CA based on the category and class of HF.}, } @article {pmid37546929, year = {2023}, author = {Isenberg, RY and Holschbach, CS and Gao, J and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Functional analysis of cyclic diguanylate-modulating proteins in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.07.24.550417}, pmid = {37546929}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: As bacterial symbionts transition from a motile free-living state to a sessile biofilm state, they must coordinate behavior changes suitable to each lifestyle. Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is an intracellular signaling molecule that can regulate this transition, and it is synthesized by diguanylate cyclase (DGC) enzymes and degraded by phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes. Generally, c-di-GMP inhibits motility and promotes biofilm formation. While c-di-GMP and the enzymes that contribute to its metabolism have been well-studied in pathogens, considerably less focus has been placed on c-di-GMP regulation in beneficial symbionts. Vibrio fischeri is the sole beneficial symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) light organ, and the bacterium requires both motility and biofilm formation to efficiently colonize. C-di-GMP regulates swimming motility and cellulose exopolysaccharide production in V. fischeri . The genome encodes 50 DGCs and PDEs, and while a few of these proteins have been characterized, the majority have not undergone comprehensive characterization. In this study, we use protein overexpression to systematically characterize the functional potential of all 50 V. fischeri proteins. All 28 predicted DGCs and 14 predicted PDEs displayed at least one phenotype consistent with their predicted function, and a majority of each displayed multiple phenotypes. Finally, active site mutant analysis of proteins with the potential for both DGC and PDE activities revealed potential activities for these proteins. This work presents a systems-level functional analysis of a family of signaling proteins in a tractable animal symbiont and will inform future efforts to characterize the roles of individual proteins during lifestyle transitions.

IMPORTANCE: C-di-GMP is a critical second messenger that mediates bacterial behaviors, and V. fischeri colonization of its Hawaiian bobtail squid host presents a tractable model in which to interrogate the role of c-di-GMP during animal colonization. This work provides systems-level characterization of the 50 proteins predicted to modulate c-di-GMP levels. By combining multiple assays, we generated a rich understanding of which proteins have the capacity to influence c-di-GMP levels and behaviors. Our functional approach yielded insights into how proteins with domains to both synthesize and degrade c-di-GMP may impact bacterial behaviors. Finally, we integrated published data to provide a broader picture of each of the 50 proteins analyzed. This study will inform future work to define specific pathways by which c-di-GMP regulates symbiotic behaviors and transitions.}, } @article {pmid37545348, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, Y and Zhu, W and Zhao, W and Zhang, B and He, J and Zhang, C and Li, P and Hu, Y and Zhou, Z and Yan, Z and Li, J and Cai, W and Ren, G and Chen, R}, title = {MtESN2 is a subgroup II sulphate transporter required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation and prevention of nodule early senescence in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14678}, pmid = {37545348}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {32270261//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022YFF1003200//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 22JR5RA466//Natural Science Foundation of Gansu/ ; (21)0520//Technical Service Contract of Microbiology Mechanism in the Process of Themeda japonica Adapting to Different Degrees of Rocky Desertification/ ; }, abstract = {Adequate distribution of mineral sulphur (S) nutrition to nodules mediated by sulphate transporters is crucial for nitrogen fixation in symbiosis establishment process. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the function of Early Senescent Nodule 2 (MtESN2), a gene crucial to nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula. Mutations in MtESN2 resulted in severe developmental and functional defects including dwarf shoots, early senescent nodules, and lower nitrogenase activity under symbiotic conditions compared to wild-type plants. MtESN2 encodes an M. truncatula sulphate transporter that is expressed only in roots and nodules, with the highest expression levels in the transition zone and nitrogen-fixing zone of nodules. MtESN2 exhibited sulphate transport activity when expressed in yeast. Immunolocalization analysis showed that MtESN2-yellow fluorescent protein fusion protein was localized to the plasma membranes of both uninfected and infected cells of nodules, where it might transport sulphate into both rhizobia-infected and uninfected cells within the nodules. Our results reveal an unreported sulphate transporter that contributes to effective symbiosis and prevents nodule early senescence in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid37543605, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, X and Qiu, Z and Zhu, W and Wang, N and Bai, M and Kuang, H and Cai, C and Zhong, X and Kong, F and Lü, P and Guan, Y}, title = {The NAC transcription factors SNAP1/2/3/4 are central regulators mediating high nitrogen responses in mature nodules of soybean.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {4711}, pmid = {37543605}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Soybeans/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes can utilize atmospheric nitrogen via symbiotic nitrogen fixation, but this process is inhibited by high soil inorganic nitrogen. So far, how high nitrogen inhibits N2 fixation in mature nodules is still poorly understood. Here we construct a co-expression network in soybean nodule and find that a dynamic and reversible transcriptional network underlies the high N inhibition of N2 fixation. Intriguingly, several NAC transcription factors (TFs), designated as Soybean Nitrogen Associated NAPs (SNAPs), are amongst the most connected hub TFs. The nodules of snap1/2/3/4 quadruple mutants show less sensitivity to the high nitrogen inhibition of nitrogenase activity and acceleration of senescence. Integrative analysis shows that these SNAP TFs largely influence the high nitrogen transcriptional response through direct regulation of a subnetwork of senescence-associated genes and transcriptional regulators. We propose that the SNAP-mediated transcriptional network may trigger nodule senescence in response to high nitrogen.}, } @article {pmid37543226, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Q and Fu, D and Zhou, Y and Li, Y and Chen, L and Wang, Z and Wan, Y and Huang, Z and Zhao, H}, title = {Individual and combined effects of herbicide prometryn and nitrate enrichment at environmentally relevant concentrations on photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and endosymbiont community diversity of coral Acropora hyacinthus.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139729}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139729}, pmid = {37543226}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Nitrogen pollution and pesticides such as photosystem II (PSII) inhibitor herbicides have several detrimental impacts on coral reefs, including breakdown of the symbiosis between host corals and photosynthetic symbionts. Although nitrogen and PSII herbicide pollution separately cause coral bleaching, the combined effects of these stressors at environmentally relevant concentrations on corals have not been assessed. Here, we report the combined effects of nitrate enrichment and PSII herbicide (prometryn) exposure on photosynthesis, oxidative status and endosymbiont community diversity of the reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus. Coral fragments were exposed in a mesocosm system to nitrate enrichment (9 μmol/L) and two prometryn concentrations (1 and 5 μg/L). The results showed that sustained prometryn exposure in combination with nitrate enrichment stress had significant detrimental impacts on photosynthetic apparatus [the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ)] and oxidative status in the short term. Nevertheless, the adaptive mechanism of corals allowed the normal physiological state to be recovered following 1 μg/L prometryn and 9 μmol/L nitrate enrichment individual exposure. Moreover, exposure for 9 days was insufficient to trigger a shift in Symbiodiniaceae community. Most importantly, the negative impact of exposure to the combined environmental concentrations of 1 μg/L prometryn and 9 μmol/L nitrate enrichment was found to be significantly greater on the Fv/Fm, quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation [Y(NO)], NPQ, and oxidative status of corals compared to the impact of individual stressors. Our results show that interactions between prometryn stress and nitrate enrichment have a synergistic impact on the photosynthetic and oxidative stress responses of corals. This study provides valuable insights into combined effects of nitrate enrichment and PSII herbicides pollution for coral's physiology. Environmental concentrations of PSII herbicides may be more harmful to photosystems and antioxidant systems of corals under nitrate enrichment stress. Thus, future research and management of seawater quality stressors should consider combined impacts rather than just the impacts of individual stressors alone.}, } @article {pmid37542687, year = {2023}, author = {Li, X and Li, Z}, title = {What determines symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency in rhizobium: recent insights into Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {205}, number = {9}, pages = {300}, pmid = {37542687}, issn = {1432-072X}, support = {LQ20C010003//Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province/ ; 22nya12//Taizhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) by rhizobium, a Gram-negative soil bacterium, is an essential component in the nitrogen cycle and is a sustainable green way to maintain soil fertility without chemical energy consumption. SNF, which results from the processes of nodulation, rhizobial infection, bacteroid differentiation and nitrogen-fixing reaction, requires the expression of various genes from both symbionts with adaptation to the changing environment. To achieve successful nitrogen fixation, rhizobia and their hosts cooperate closely for precise regulation of symbiotic genes, metabolic processes and internal environment homeostasis. Many researches have progressed to reveal the ample information about regulatory aspects of SNF during recent decades, but the major bottlenecks regarding improvement of nitrogen-fixing efficiency has proven to be complex. In this mini-review, we summarize recent advances that have contributed to understanding the rhizobial regulatory aspects that determine SNF efficiency, focusing on the coordinated regulatory mechanism of symbiotic genes, oxygen, carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, combined nitrogen, non-coding RNAs and internal environment homeostasis. Unraveling regulatory determinants of SNF in the nitrogen-fixing protagonist rhizobium is expected to promote an improvement of nitrogen-fixing efficiency in crop production.}, } @article {pmid37542089, year = {2023}, author = {Lourtie, A and Eeckhaut, I and Mallefet, J and Savarino, P and Isorez, M and Mussoi, L and Bischoff, H and Delroisse, J and Hédouin, L and Gerbaux, P and Caulier, G}, title = {Species-specific metabolites mediate host selection and larval recruitment of the symbiotic seastar shrimp.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {12674}, pmid = {37542089}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {FRIA Grant//F.R.S.-FNRS/ ; Ref n°34761044//F.R.S.-FNRS/ ; Crédit séjour à l'étranger//F.R.S.-FNRS/ ; Travel Grant//Fond Léopold III/ ; }, abstract = {In marine environments, host selection, defining how symbiotic organisms recognize and interact with their hosts, is often mediated by olfactory communication. Although adult symbionts may select their hosts detecting chemosensory cues, no information is available concerning the recruitment of symbiotic larvae which is a crucial step to sustain symbioses over generations. This study investigates the olfactory recognition of seastar hosts by adult Zenopontonia soror shrimps and the recruitment of their larvae. We examine the semiochemicals that influence host selection using chemical extractions, behavioural experiments in olfactometers, and mass spectrometry analyses. After describing the symbiotic population and the embryonic development of shrimps, our results demonstrate that asterosaponins, which are traditionally considered as chemical defences in seastars, are species-specific and play a role in attracting the symbiotic shrimps. Adult shrimps were found to be attracted only by their original host species Culcita novaeguineae, while larvae were attracted by different species of seastars. This study provides the first chemical identification of an olfactory cue used by larvae of symbiotic organisms to locate their host for recruitment. These findings highlight the importance of chemical communication in the mediation of symbiotic associations, which has broader significant implications for understanding the ecological dynamics of marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37541387, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, X and He, H and Sun, J and Kang, L}, title = {Plasticity of aggregation pheromones in insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {101098}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2023.101098}, pmid = {37541387}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Pheromone plasticity is widely observed in insects and enhances their survival, adaptation, and reproductive success. Aggregation pheromones, which cause notable individual aggregation and consequently impact agriculture and human life, are renowned for their special function. Here, we present a review of research progress regarding pheromone plasticity in three typical aggregative insects: locusts, bark beetles, and cockroaches. These insects are major pest species with considerable impacts on the social economy and public health. Numerous studies have demonstrated the plasticity of aggregation pheromones in different populations of these insect species. Although pheromone chemicals and compositions vary across the three groups, the plasticity of aggregation pheromones is significantly impacted by population density, location, food resources, and gut symbiotic microorganisms, indicating the complexity of pheromone plasticity regulated by multiple factors. Finally, we discuss the potential application of pheromone plasticity in basic research and pest management.}, } @article {pmid37540013, year = {2023}, author = {Moura, FT and Helene, LCF and Klepa, MS and Ribeiro, RA and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Genomes of two type strains of the Rhizobium tropici group: R. calliandrae CCGE524[T] and R. mayense CCGE526[T].}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0047223}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00472-23}, pmid = {37540013}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {The genome sequences of two nitrogen-fixing type strains of the Rhizobium tropici group were obtained: Rhizobium calliandrae CCGE524[T] and R. mayense CCGE526[T]. Genomic analyses confirmed their taxonomic position and identified three complete sequences of the repABC genes, indicative of three plasmids, one of them carrying symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid37540005, year = {2023}, author = {Tiwari, S and Lee, DK and Lachance, MA and Baghela, A}, title = {Metschnikowia ahupensis f.a., sp. nov., a new yeast species isolated from the gut of the wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes sp.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006012}, pmid = {37540005}, issn = {1466-5034}, abstract = {The gut of xylophagous insects such as termites harbours various symbiotic micro-organisms, including many yeast species. In a taxonomic study of gut-associated yeasts, two strains (ATS2.16 and ATS2.18) were isolated from the gut of the wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes sp. in Maharashtra, India. Morphological and physiological characteristics and sequence analyses of the ITS and D1/D2 region of the large subunit rRNA gene revealed that these two strains represent a novel asexual ascomycetous yeast species in the genus Metschnikowia. The species differs from some of its close affiliates in the genus in its inability to utilize ethanol and succinate as the sole carbon source and growth in high sugar concentrations (up to 50 % glucose). In contrast to most members of Metschnikowia, the formation of ascospores was not observed on various sporulation media. Moreover, whole-genome sequencing was used to further confirm the novelty of this species. When compared with other large-spored Metschnikowia species, average nucleotide identity values of 79-80 % and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of 16-17 % were obtained. The name Metschnikowia ahupensis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate this novel yeast species, with ATS2.16 as the holotype and strains NFCCI 4949, MTCC 13085 and PYCC 9152 as isotypes. The MycoBank number is MB 844210.}, } @article {pmid37536342, year = {2023}, author = {Sørensen, MES and Zlatogursky, VV and Onuţ-Brännström, I and Walraven, A and Foster, RA and Burki, F}, title = {A novel kleptoplastidic symbiosis revealed in the marine centrohelid Meringosphaera with evidence of genetic integration.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.017}, pmid = {37536342}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Plastid symbioses between heterotrophic hosts and algae are widespread and abundant in surface oceans. They are critically important both for extant ecological systems and for understanding the evolution of plastids. Kleptoplastidy, where the plastids of prey are temporarily retained and continuously re-acquired, provides opportunities to study the transitional states of plastid establishment. Here, we investigated the poorly studied marine centrohelid Meringosphaera and its previously unidentified symbionts using culture-independent methods from environmental samples. Investigations of the 18S rDNA from single-cell assembled genomes (SAGs) revealed uncharacterized genetic diversity within Meringosphaera that likely represents multiple species. We found that Meringosphaera harbors plastids of Dictyochophyceae origin (stramenopiles), for which we recovered six full plastid genomes and found evidence of two distinct subgroups that are congruent with host identity. Environmental monitoring by qPCR and catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) revealed seasonal dynamics of both host and plastid. In particular, we did not detect the plastids for 6 months of the year, which, combined with the lack of plastids in some SAGs, suggests that the plastids are temporary and the relationship is kleptoplastidic. Importantly, we found evidence of genetic integration of the kleptoplasts as we identified host-encoded plastid-associated genes, with evolutionary origins likely from the plastid source as well as from other alga sources. This is only the second case where host-encoded kleptoplast-targeted genes have been predicted in an ancestrally plastid-lacking group. Our results provide evidence for gene transfers and protein re-targeting as relatively early events in the evolution of plastid symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37535741, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, W and Rodrigues, J and Bilgo, E and Tormo, JR and Challenger, JD and De Cozar-Gallardo, C and Pérez-Victoria, I and Reyes, F and Castañeda-Casado, P and Gnambani, EJ and Hien, DFS and Konkobo, M and Urones, B and Coppens, I and Mendoza-Losana, A and Ballell, L and Diabate, A and Churcher, TS and Jacobs-Lorena, M}, title = {Delftia tsuruhatensis TC1 symbiont suppresses malaria transmission by anopheline mosquitoes.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {381}, number = {6657}, pages = {533-540}, doi = {10.1126/science.adf8141}, pmid = {37535741}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {Malaria control demands the development of a wide range of complementary strategies. We describe the properties of a naturally occurring, non-genetically modified symbiotic bacterium, Delftia tsuruhatensis TC1, which was isolated from mosquitoes incapable of sustaining the development of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. D. tsuruhatensis TC1 inhibits early stages of Plasmodium development and subsequent transmission by the Anopheles mosquito through secretion of a small-molecule inhibitor. We have identified this inhibitor to be the hydrophobic molecule harmane. We also found that, on mosquito contact, harmane penetrates the cuticle, inhibiting Plasmodium development. D. tsuruhatensis TC1 stably populates the mosquito gut, does not impose a fitness cost on the mosquito, and inhibits Plasmodium development for the mosquito's life. Contained field studies in Burkina Faso and modeling showed that D. tsuruhatensis TC1 has the potential to complement mosquito-targeted malaria transmission control.}, } @article {pmid37535649, year = {2023}, author = {Hou, X and Gao, X and Yin, S and Li, J}, title = {A three evolutionary game model for driving mechanism of industry-university-research collaborative innovation in agricultural innovation ecosystems.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {e0289408}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0289408}, pmid = {37535649}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Based on the current state of China's agricultural industry, this article proposes an integrated framework for the agricultural innovation ecosystem in developing countries. Furthermore, a dynamic simulation model is constructed to analyze the game process and factors influencing the agricultural innovation ecosystem. The results indicate that industry-university-research collaboration serves as the main source of innovation within the agricultural innovation ecosystem, playing a central role in its development. The willingness to participate, cost of participation, and establishment of default fees by governments, agro-related enterprises, universities, and research institutions have significant implications for the evolution of collaborative innovation within agricultural innovation ecosystems. In order to promote the evolution of the system, agriculture-related enterprises, universities, and research institutions should establish more effective reward and punishment mechanisms, as well as cost control mechanisms. Governments should set reasonable regulatory costs and incentive intervals to actively foster a collaborative innovation atmosphere. The innovation points of this paper are as follows: extending the theory of innovation ecosystems to agriculture, particularly in developing countries characterized by imbalanced and insufficient development. A game model is also constructed to represent the collaborative innovation evolution among government, agriculture-related enterprises, universities, and research institutions, with the government as the endogenous variable. Through numerical simulation, the dynamic evolution process of collaborative innovation within the agricultural innovation ecosystem is revealed. This research enriches and expands upon innovation ecosystem theory, providing guidance for the of innovation ecology in agriculture through mathematical models in developing countries. This, in turn, promotes the convergence of symbiotic, shared, and-creation development.}, } @article {pmid37535152, year = {2023}, author = {Ren, Y and Shao, Q and Ge, W and Li, X and Wang, H and Dong, C and Zhang, Y and Deshmukh, SK and Han, Y}, title = {Assembly Processes and Biogeographical Characteristics of Soil Bacterial Sub-communities of Different Habitats in Urban Green Spaces.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {9}, pages = {309}, pmid = {37535152}, issn = {1432-0991}, support = {[No.32060011//The Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32160007]//The Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; [Qian Ke He [2020] 6005]//Guangxi Overseas High-level Talent "Hundred People Program"/ ; [No. 2018B020205003]//the Key Areas of Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province/ ; [GNYL [2017]009]//Key Supported Discipline of Guizhou Provence/ ; }, abstract = {The process of urbanization is one of the most important human-driven activities that reshape the natural distribution of soil microorganisms. However, it is still unclear about the effects of urbanization on the different taxonomic soil bacterial community dynamics. In this study, we collected soil samples from highly urbanized the regions of Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei in China, to explore the bio-geographic patterns, assembly processes, and symbiotic patterns of abundant, moderate, and rare bacterial communities. We found that the number of moderate and rare taxa species were lower than that of abundant taxa, but their α-diversity index was higher than abundant taxa. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacterioidetes, and Chloroflexi were the dominant phylum across all three sub-communities. And the β-diversity value of rare taxa was significantly higher than those of moderate and abundant taxa. Abundant, moderate, and rare sub-communities showed a weak distance-decay relationship, and the moderate taxa had the highest turnover rate of microbial geography in the context of urbanization. Diffusion limitation was the dominant process of soil bacterial community assembly. The co-occurrence networks of abundant, moderate, and rare taxa were dominated by positive correlations. The network of moderate taxa had the highest modularity, followed by abundant taxa. The main functions of the abundant, moderate, and rare taxa were related to Chemoheterotrophy and N transformations. Redundancy analysis showed that the dispersal limitation, climate, and soil properties were the main factors dominating bio-geographic differences in soil bacterial community diversity. We conclude that human-dominated urbanization processes have generated more uncertain survival pressures on soil bacteria, which resulted in a stronger linkage but weak bio-geographic variation for soil bacteria. In the future urban planning process, we suggest that such maintenance of native vegetation and soil types should be considered to maintain the long-term stability of local microbial ecosystem functions.}, } @article {pmid37534171, year = {2023}, author = {Attardo, GM and Benoit, JB and Michalkova, V and Kondragunta, A and Baumann, AA and Weiss, BL and Malacrida, A and Scolari, F and Aksoy, S}, title = {Lipid metabolism dysfunction following symbiont elimination is linked to altered Kennedy pathway homeostasis.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {107108}, pmid = {37534171}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Lipid metabolism is critical for insect reproduction, especially for species that invest heavily in the early developmental stages of their offspring. The role of symbiotic bacteria during this process is understudied but likely essential. We examined the role of lipid metabolism during the interaction between the viviparous tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans morsitans) and its obligate endosymbiotic bacteria (Wigglesworthia glossinidia) during tsetse pregnancy. We observed increased CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (cct1) expression during pregnancy, which is critical for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in the Kennedy pathway. Experimental removal of Wigglesworthia impaired lipid metabolism via disruption of the Kennedy pathway, yielding obese mothers whose developing progeny starve. Functional validation via experimental cct1 suppression revealed a phenotype similar to females lacking obligate Wigglesworthia symbionts. These results indicate that, in Glossina, symbiont-derived factors, likely B vitamins, are critical for the proper function of both lipid biosynthesis and lipolysis to maintain tsetse fly fecundity.}, } @article {pmid37533821, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, K and Zhan, FD and Shi, Y and Zhou, J and Zhou, J and Peng, L}, title = {Editorial: New insights into the influences of soil nutrients on plant-fungal symbiosis in agro- and forest ecosystems.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1237534}, pmid = {37533821}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid37533094, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, F and Yang, J and Zhai, N and Zhang, C and Ren, X and Zeng, Y and Chen, Y and Chen, R and Pan, H}, title = {NCR343 is required to maintain the viability of differentiated bacteroids in nodule cells in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19180}, pmid = {37533094}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32161133006//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31870221//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32070271//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32200201//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Bacteroid (name for rhizobia inside nodule cells) differentiation is a prerequisite for successful nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. In certain legumes, under the regulation of host proteins, for example, a large group of NCR (nodule cysteine rich) peptides, bacteroids undergo irreversible terminal differentiation. This process causes them to lose the ability to propagate inside nodule cells while boosting their competency for nitrogen fixation. How host cells maintain the viability of differentiated bacteroids while maximizing their nitrogen-reducing activities remains elusive. Here, through mutant screen, map-based cloning, and genetic complementation, we find that NCR343 is required for the viability of differentiated bacteroids. In Medicago truncatula debino1 mutant, differentiated bacteroids decay prematurely, and NCR343 is proved to be the casual gene for debino1. NCR343 is mainly expressed in the nodule fixation zone, where bacteroids are differentiated. In nodule cells, mature NCR343 peptide is secreted into the symbiosomes. RNA-Seq assay shows that many stress-responsive genes are significantly induced in debino1 bacteroids. Additionally, a group of stress response-related rhizobium proteins are identified as putative interacting partners of NCR343. In summary, our findings demonstrate that beyond promoting bacteroid differentiation, NCR peptides are also required in maintaining the viability of differentiated bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid37532933, year = {2023}, author = {Khan, MT and Dwibedi, C and Sundh, D and Pradhan, M and Kraft, JD and Caesar, R and Tremaroli, V and Lorentzon, M and Bäckhed, F}, title = {Synergy and oxygen adaptation for development of next-generation probiotics.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37532933}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {The human gut microbiota has gained interest as an environmental factor that may contribute to health or disease[1]. The development of next-generation probiotics is a promising strategy to modulate the gut microbiota and improve human health; however, several key candidate next-generation probiotics are strictly anaerobic[2] and may require synergy with other bacteria for optimal growth. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a highly prevalent and abundant human gut bacterium associated with human health, but it has not yet been developed into probiotic formulations[2]. Here we describe the co-isolation of F. prausnitzii and Desulfovibrio piger, a sulfate-reducing bacterium, and their cross-feeding for growth and butyrate production. To produce a next-generation probiotic formulation, we adapted F. prausnitzii to tolerate oxygen exposure, and, in proof-of-concept studies, we demonstrate that the symbiotic product is tolerated by mice and humans (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03728868) and is detected in the human gut in a subset of study participants. Our study describes a technology for the production of next-generation probiotics based on the adaptation of strictly anaerobic bacteria to tolerate oxygen exposures without a reduction in potential beneficial properties. Our technology may be used for the development of other strictly anaerobic strains as next-generation probiotics.}, } @article {pmid37532771, year = {2023}, author = {Saldaña-Mendoza, SA and Pacios-Michelena, S and Palacios-Ponce, AS and Chávez-González, ML and Aguilar, CN}, title = {Trichoderma as a biological control agent: mechanisms of action, benefits for crops and development of formulations.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {10}, pages = {269}, pmid = {37532771}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {868325//National Council of Humanities Sciences and Technologies of Mexico (CONAHCYT)/ ; COAH-2021-C15-C075//State Council of Science and Technology of Coahuila (COECYT)/ ; COAH-2021-C15-C075//State Council of Science and Technology of Coahuila (COECYT)/ ; COAH-2021-C15-C075//State Council of Science and Technology of Coahuila (COECYT)/ ; }, abstract = {Currently, the food and economic losses generated by the attack of phytopathogens on the agricultural sector constitute a severe problem. Conventional crop protection techniques based on the application of synthetic pesticides to combat these undesirable microorganisms have also begun to represent an inconvenience since the excessive use of these substances is associated with contamination problems and severe damage to the health of farmers, consumers, and communities surrounding the fields, as well as the generation of resistance by the phytopathogens to be combated. Using biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma to mitigate the attack of phytopathogens represents an alternative to synthetic pesticides, safe for health and the environment. This work explains the mechanisms of action through which Trichoderma exerts biological control, some of the beneficial aspects that it confers to the development of crops through its symbiotic interaction with plants, and the bioremedial effects that it presents in fields contaminated by synthetic pesticides. Also, detail the production of spore-based biopesticides through fermentation processes and formulation development.}, } @article {pmid37532306, year = {2023}, author = {Ren, Z and Cai, T and Wan, Y and Zeng, Q and Li, C and Zhang, J and Ma, K and He, S and Li, J and Wan, H}, title = {Unintended consequences: Disrupting microbial communities of Nilaparvata lugens with non-target pesticides.}, journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {194}, number = {}, pages = {105522}, doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105522}, pmid = {37532306}, issn = {1095-9939}, abstract = {Insects are frequently exposed to a range of insecticides that can alter the structure of the commensal microbiome. However, the effects of exposure to non-target pesticides (including non-target insecticides and fungicides) on insect pest microbiomes are still unclear. In the present study, we exposed Nilaparvata lugens to three target insecticides (nitenpyram, pymetrozine, and avermectin), a non-target insecticide (chlorantraniliprole), and two fungicides (propiconazole and tebuconazole), and observed changes in the microbiome's structure and function. Our results showed that both non-target insecticide and fungicides can disrupt the microbiome's structure. Specifically, symbiotic bacteria of N. lugens were more sensitive to non-target insecticide compared to target insecticide, while the symbiotic fungi were more sensitive to fungicides. We also found that the microbiome in the field strain was more stable under pesticides exposure than the laboratory strain (a susceptible strain), and core microbial species g_Pseudomonas, s_Acinetobacter soli, g_Lactobacillus, s_Metarhizium minus, and s_Penicillium citrinum were significantly affected by specifically pesticides. Furthermore, the functions of symbiotic bacteria in nutrient synthesis were predicted to be significantly reduced by non-target insecticide. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of non-target pesticides on insect microbial communities and highlight the need for scientific and rational use of pesticides.}, } @article {pmid37531662, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, JY and Chen, GE and Braguy, J and Jamil, M and Berqdar, L and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Disruption of the cytochrome CYP711A5 gene reveals MAX1 redundancy in rice strigolactone biosynthesis.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {287}, number = {}, pages = {154057}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2023.154057}, pmid = {37531662}, issn = {1618-1328}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) inhibit shoot branching/tillering and are secreted by plant roots as a signal to attract symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere, particularly under phosphate starvation. However, SLs are also hijacked by root parasitic weeds as inducer for the germination of their seeds. There are around 35 natural SLs divided, based on their structures, into canonical and non-canonical SLs. Cytochrome P450 enzymes of the 711 clade, such as MORE AXILLARY GROWTH1 (MAX1) in Arabidopsis, are a major driver of SL structural diversity. Monocots, such as rice, contain several MAX1 homologs that participate in SL biosynthesis. To investigate the function of OsMAX1-1900 in planta, we generated CRISPR/Cas9 mutants disrupted in the corresponding gene. Characterizing of the generated mutants at metabolite and phenotype level suggests that OsMAX1-1900 loss-of-function does neither affect the SL pattern nor rice architecture, indicating functional redundancy among rice MAX1 homologs.}, } @article {pmid37530941, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, S and Kaur, S and Kaur, R and Kaur, A}, title = {Impact of Plant Symbiotic Endophytic Fungus, Aspergillus terreus on Insect Herbivore Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37530941}, issn = {1678-8052}, support = {F. No. - 43-568/2014(SR)//University Grants Commission/ ; }, abstract = {Herbivorous insects are known to be resistant to fungal endophytes that asymptomatically inhabit plant tissues. The insecticidal ability of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus isolated from Catharanthus roseus against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) was assessed in the current study. The survival and growth of S. litura were adversely impacted by the ethyl acetate extract of endophytic A. terreus. Fungal extract supplemented diet caused 14 to 94% larval mortality in comparison to 2% in control. Additionally, retarded insect growth was observed after ingestion of supplemented diet. The fungal metabolites were also observed to have an inhibitory influence on the adult emergence and reproductive potential of adults. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolic compounds in the crude extract of endophytic fungus which may be responsible for toxicity. It was also determined how endophyte-infected cauliflower plants affected S. litura's survival and growth. Endophyte-infected plants exhibited resistance to S. litura by causing 54% larval mortality and delaying development by 5.2 days. In comparison to uninfected plants, adult emergence, lifespan, fecundity and egg hatchability of insects was significantly decreased on infected plants. There was a significant decrease in relative growth and consumption rates as well as in the efficiency of food conversion, which indicates toxic and antifeedant effect of the fungus on S. litura. This suggests that endophyte-inoculated plants exhibit antibiosis against S. litura. In conclusion, the endophytic fungi having insecticidal activity could be used to develop alternative ecologically safe control strategies.}, } @article {pmid37530556, year = {2023}, author = {Alker, AT and Farrell, MV and Aspiras, AE and Dunbar, TL and Fedoriouk, A and Jones, JE and Mikhail, SR and Salcedo, GY and Moore, BS and Shikuma, NJ}, title = {A modular plasmid toolkit applied in marine bacteria reveals functional insights during bacteria-stimulated metamorphosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0150223}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.01502-23}, pmid = {37530556}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {A conspicuous roadblock to studying marine bacteria for fundamental research and biotechnology is a lack of modular synthetic biology tools for their genetic manipulation. Here, we applied, and generated new parts for, a modular plasmid toolkit to study marine bacteria in the context of symbioses and host-microbe interactions. To demonstrate the utility of this plasmid system, we genetically manipulated the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea, which stimulates the metamorphosis of the model tubeworm, Hydroides elegans. Using these tools, we quantified constitutive and native promoter expression, developed reporter strains that enable the imaging of host-bacteria interactions, and used CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) to knock down a secondary metabolite and a host-associated gene. We demonstrate the broader utility of this modular system for testing the genetic tractability of marine bacteria that are known to be associated with diverse host-microbe symbioses. These efforts resulted in the successful conjugation of 12 marine strains from the Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria classes. Altogether, the present study demonstrates how synthetic biology strategies enable the investigation of marine microbes and marine host-microbe symbioses with potential implications for environmental restoration and biotechnology. IMPORTANCE Marine Proteobacteria are attractive targets for genetic engineering due to their ability to produce a diversity of bioactive metabolites and their involvement in host-microbe symbioses. Modular cloning toolkits have become a standard for engineering model microbes, such as Escherichia coli, because they enable innumerable mix-and-match DNA assembly and engineering options. However, such modular tools have not yet been applied to most marine bacterial species. In this work, we adapt a modular plasmid toolkit for use in a set of 12 marine bacteria from the Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria classes. We demonstrate the utility of this genetic toolkit by engineering a marine Pseudoalteromonas bacterium to study their association with its host animal Hydroides elegans. This work provides a proof of concept that modular genetic tools can be applied to diverse marine bacteria to address basic science questions and for biotechnology innovations.}, } @article {pmid37529971, year = {2023}, author = {Aravind Kumar, N and Aradhana, S and Harleen, and Vishnuraj, MR}, title = {SARS-CoV-2 in digital era: Diagnostic techniques and importance of nucleic acid quantification with digital PCRs.}, journal = {Reviews in medical virology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2471}, doi = {10.1002/rmv.2471}, pmid = {37529971}, issn = {1099-1654}, abstract = {Studies related to clinical diagnosis and research of SARS-CoV-2 are important in the current pandemic era. Although molecular biology has emphasised the importance of qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis with nucleic acids in relation to SARS-CoV-2 needs to be clearly emphasised, which can provide perspective for viral dynamic studies of SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, the requirement and utilization of digital PCR in COVID-19 research has substantially increased during the pandemic, necessitating the aggregation of its cardinal applications and future scopes. Hence, this meta-review comprehensively addresses and emphasises the importance of nucleic acid quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA with digital PCR (dPCR). Various quantitative techniques of clinical significance like immunological, proteomic and nucleic acid-based diagnosis and quantification, have been comparatively discussed. Furthermore, the core part of the article focusses on the working principle and advantages of digital PCR, along with its applications in COVID-19 research. Several important applications like viral load quantitation, environmental surveillance and assay validation have been extensively investigated and discussed. Certain key future scopes of clinical importance, like mortality prediction, viral/variant-symbiosis, and antiviral studies were also identified, suggesting several possible digital PCR applications in COVID-19 research.}, } @article {pmid37529086, year = {2023}, author = {van Heerwaarden, J and Ronner, E and Baijukya, F and Adjei-Nsiah, S and Ebanyat, P and Kamai, N and Wolde-Meskel, E and Vanlauwe, B and Giller, KE}, title = {Consistency, variability, and predictability of on-farm nutrient responses in four grain legumes across East and West Africa.}, journal = {Field crops research}, volume = {299}, number = {}, pages = {108975}, pmid = {37529086}, issn = {0378-4290}, abstract = {Grain legumes are key components of sustainable production systems in sub-Saharan Africa, but wide-spread nutrient deficiencies severely restrict yields. Whereas legumes can meet a large part of their nitrogen (N) requirement through symbiosis with N2-fixing bacteria, elements such as phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and secondary and micronutrients may still be limiting and require supplementation. Responses to P are generally strong but variable, while evidence for other nutrients tends to show weak or highly localised effects. Here we present the results of a joint statistical analysis of a series of on-farm nutrient addition trials, implemented across four legumes in four countries over two years. Linear mixed models were used to quantify both mean nutrient responses and their variability, followed by a random forest analysis to determine the extent to which such variability can be explained or predicted by geographic, environmental or farm survey data. Legume response to P was indeed variable, but consistently positive and we predicted application to be profitable for 67% of farms in any given year, based on prevailing input costs and grain prices. Other nutrients did not show significant mean effects, but considerable response variation was found. This response heterogeneity was mostly associated with local or temporary factors and could not be explained or predicted by spatial, biophysical or management factors. An exception was K response, which displayed appreciable spatial variation that could be partly accounted for by spatial and environmental covariables. While of apparent relevance for targeted recommendations, the minor amplitude of expected response, the large proportion of unexplained variation and the unreliability of the predicted spatial patterns suggests that such data-driven targeting is unlikely to be effective with current data.}, } @article {pmid37528331, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, S and Wang, J and Zeng, X and Wang, T and Yu, Z and Wei, Y and Cai, M and Zhuoma, D and Chu, XY and Chen, YZ and Zhao, Y}, title = {Database of space life investigations and information on spaceflight plant biology.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {258}, number = {3}, pages = {58}, pmid = {37528331}, issn = {1432-2048}, support = {TKTSPY-2020-04-03//the Space Exploration Breeding Grant of Qian Xuesen Lab/ ; 215-432000282//Scientific Research Grant of Ningbo University/ ; 215-432094250//Ningbo Top Talent Project/ ; }, abstract = {Extensive spaceflight life investigations (SLIs) have revealed observable space effects on plants, particularly their growth, nutrition yield, and secondary metabolite production. Knowledge of these effects not only facilitates space agricultural and biopharmaceutical technology development but also provides unique perspectives to ground-based investigations. SLIs are specialized experimental protocols and notable biological phenomena. These require specialized databases, leading to the development of the NASA Science Data Archive, Erasmus Experiment Archive, and NASA GeneLab. The increasing interests of SLIs across diverse fields demand resources with comprehensive content, convenient search facilities, and friendly information presentation. A new database SpaceLID (Space Life Investigation Database http://bidd.group/spacelid/) was developed with detailed menu search tools and categorized contents about the phenomena, protocols, and outcomes of 459 SLIs (including 106 plant investigations) of 92 species, where 236 SLIs and 57 plant investigations are uncovered by the existing databases. The usefulness of SpaceLID as an SLI information source is illustrated by the literature-reported analysis of metabolite, nutrition, and symbiosis variations of spaceflight plants. In conclusion, this study extensively investigated the impact of the space environment on plant biology, utilizing SpaceLID as an information source and examining various plant species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica rapa L., and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. The findings provide valuable insights into the effects of space conditions on plant physiology and metabolism.}, } @article {pmid37528296, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, Y and Fei, Y and Ding, S and Jiang, H and Fang, J and Liu, G}, title = {Trace metal elements: a bridge between host and intestinal microorganisms.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37528296}, issn = {1869-1889}, abstract = {Trace metal elements, such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc, are essential nutrients for biological processes. Although their intake demand is low, they play a crucial role in cell homeostasis as the cofactors of various enzymes. Symbiotic intestinal microorganisms compete with their host for the use of trace metal elements. Moreover, the metabolic processes of trace metal elements in the host and microorganisms affect the organism's health. Supplementation or the lack of trace metal elements in the host can change the intestinal microbial community structure and function. Functional changes in symbiotic microorganisms can affect the host's metabolism of trace metal elements. In this review, we discuss the absorption and transport processes of trace metal elements in the host and symbiotic microorganisms and the effects of dynamic changes in the levels of trace metal elements on the intestinal microbial community structure. We also highlight the participation of trace metal elements as enzyme cofactors in the host immune process. Our findings indicate that the host uses metal nutrition immunity or metal poisoning to resist pathogens and improve immunity.}, } @article {pmid37526441, year = {2023}, author = {Kohlmeier, MG and Farquharson, EA and Ballard, RA and O'Hara, GW and Terpolilli, JJ}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae SRDI969, an acid-tolerant, efficient N2-fixing microsymbiont of Vicia faba.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0048923}, doi = {10.1128/MRA.00489-23}, pmid = {37526441}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report the complete genome sequence of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae SRDI969, an acid-tolerant, efficient nitrogen-fixing microorganism of Vicia faba. The 6.8 Mbp genome consists of a chromosome and four plasmids, with the symbiosis and nitrogen fixation genes encoded on the chromosome.}, } @article {pmid37526309, year = {2023}, author = {Pastana, MNL and Johnson, GD and Mundy, B and Datovo, A}, title = {A new gelatinous host for pelagic fishes: first in situ record of an association between driftfishes (Stromateiformes, Ariommatidae) and nudibranchs (Mollusca, Phylliroidae).}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.15517}, pmid = {37526309}, issn = {1095-8649}, abstract = {We describe the first recorded association between fishes and nudibranchs in epipelagic waters. In situ observations and photographs of a juvenile spotted driftfish Ariomma regulus (Stromateiformes; Ariommatidae) swimming alongside the planktonic nudibranch Phylliroe lichtensteinii (Gastropoda; Phylliroidae) were made during blackwater scuba dives off Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America. In this paper, we describe this behavior, highlighting a previously undocumented zooplanktonic host used by fishes. This finding also demonstrates the importance of community science in advancing our understanding of the early life history of marine species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid37525959, year = {2023}, author = {Kolasa, M and Kajtoch, Ł and Michalik, A and Maryańska-Nadachowska, A and Łukasik, P}, title = {Till evolution do us part: The diversity of symbiotic associations across populations of Philaenus spittlebugs.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16473}, pmid = {37525959}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {PPN/PPO/2018/1/00015//Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej/ ; 2018/30/E/NZ8/00880//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/ ; 2018/31/B/NZ8/01158//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria have played crucial roles in the evolution of sap-feeding insects and can strongly affect host function. However, their diversity and distribution within species are not well understood; we do not know to what extent environmental factors or associations with other species may affect microbial community profiles. We addressed this question in Philaenus spittlebugs by surveying both insect and bacterial marker gene amplicons across multiple host populations. Host mitochondrial sequence data confirmed morphology-based identification of six species and revealed two divergent clades of Philaenus spumarius. All of them hosted the primary symbiont Sulcia that was almost always accompanied by Sodalis. Interestingly, populations and individuals often differed in the presence of Sodalis sequence variants, suggestive of intra-genome 16S rRNA variant polymorphism combined with rapid genome evolution and/or recent additional infections or replacements of the co-primary symbiont. The prevalence of facultative endosymbionts, including Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma, varied among populations. Notably, cytochrome I oxidase (COI) amplicon data also showed that nearly a quarter of P. spumarius were infected by parasitoid flies (Verralia aucta). One of the Wolbachia operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was exclusively present in Verralia-parasitized specimens, suggestive of parasitoids as their source and highlighting the utility of host gene amplicon sequencing in microbiome studies.}, } @article {pmid37525301, year = {2023}, author = {Shu, LJ and Kahlon, PS and Ranf, S}, title = {The power of patterns: new insights into pattern-triggered immunity.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19148}, pmid = {37525301}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {RA2541/1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; RA2541/2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; SFB924/TP-B10//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 310030_208139//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {The plant immune system features numerous immune receptors localized on the cell surface to monitor the apoplastic space for danger signals from a broad range of plant colonizers. Recent discoveries shed light on the enormous complexity of molecular signals sensed by these receptors, how they are generated and removed to maintain cellular homeostasis and immunocompetence, and how they are shaped by host-imposed evolutionary constraints. Fine-tuning receptor sensing mechanisms at the molecular, cellular and physiological level is critical for maintaining a robust but adaptive host barrier to commensal, pathogenic, and symbiotic colonizers alike. These receptors are at the core of any plant-colonizer interaction and hold great potential for engineering disease resistance and harnessing beneficial microbiota to keep crops healthy.}, } @article {pmid37523875, year = {2023}, author = {Abdel, Z and Abdeliyev, B and Yessimseit, D and Begimbayeva, E and Mussagalieva, R}, title = {Natural foci of plague in Kazakhstan in the space-time continuum.}, journal = {Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases}, volume = {100}, number = {}, pages = {102025}, doi = {10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102025}, pmid = {37523875}, issn = {1878-1667}, abstract = {The relevance of the problem of the stated topic lies in the fact that the causative agent of the plague infection demonstrates high survival while maintaining high virulence in the territories, which are enzootic in terms of the plague. The study aimed to investigate the geographic distribution and genetic diversity of the plague pathogen in endemic regions through molecular genetic research. The work included the results of laboratory studies of 3058 samples, including soil - 1154, burrow substrates - 549, the contents of the feeding chamber - 349, bone remains - 18, biological objects - 988 samples of sera and suspensions from carriers and vectors of plague infection collected from 14 autonomous plague foci of Kazakhstan for the period 2021-2022. The leading method in the study was a laboratory experiment, thanks to which, using a new advanced technology on a microbiological analyser VITEK 2 COMPACT 30, it was possible to study pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of the genus Yersinia isolated during field experiment. As a result of experimental work, it was shown that during a long inter-epizootic period, the plague pathogen can persist in the soil in symbiosis with soil microorganisms, and in this area, it chooses soil with a low-quality index of 10 points, where soils with a low total microbial number and species landscape prevail.}, } @article {pmid37525294, year = {2023}, author = {Hartman, K and Schmid, MW and Bodenhausen, N and Bender, SF and Valzano-Held, AY and Schlaeppi, K and van der Heijden, MGA}, title = {A symbiotic footprint in the plant root microbiome.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {65}, pmid = {37525294}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A major aim in plant microbiome research is determining the drivers of plant-associated microbial communities. While soil characteristics and host plant identity present key drivers of root microbiome composition, it is still unresolved whether the presence or absence of important plant root symbionts also determines overall microbiome composition. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and N-fixing rhizobia bacteria are widespread, beneficial root symbionts that significantly enhance plant nutrition, plant health, and root structure. Thus, we hypothesized that symbiont types define the root microbiome structure.

RESULTS: We grew 17 plant species from five families differing in their symbiotic associations (no symbioses, AMF only, rhizobia only, or AMF and rhizobia) in a greenhouse and used bacterial and fungal amplicon sequencing to characterize their root microbiomes. Although plant phylogeny and species identity were the most important factors determining root microbiome composition, we discovered that the type of symbioses also presented a significant driver of diversity and community composition. We found consistent responses of bacterial phyla, including members of the Acidobacteria, Chlamydiae, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia, to the presence or absence of AMF and rhizobia and identified communities of OTUs specifically enriched in the different symbiotic groups. A total of 80, 75 and 57 bacterial OTUs were specific for plant species without symbiosis, plant species forming associations with AMF or plant species associating with both AMF and rhizobia, respectively. Similarly, 9, 14 and 4 fungal OTUs were specific for these plant symbiont groups. Importantly, these generic symbiosis footprints in microbial community composition were also apparent in absence of the primary symbionts.

CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that symbiotic associations of the host plant leaves an imprint on the wider root microbiome - which we term the symbiotype. These findings suggest the existence of a fundamental assembly principle of root microbiomes, dependent on the symbiotic associations of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid37523538, year = {2023}, author = {Xia, JY and Hepler, C and Tran, P and Waldeck, NJ and Bass, J and Prindle, A}, title = {Engineered calprotectin-sensing probiotics for IBD surveillance in humans.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {32}, pages = {e2221121120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2221121120}, pmid = {37523538}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {1015883.01//Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF)/ ; 2018-68055//David and Lucile Packard Foundation (PF)/ ; W911NF-19-1-0136//DOD | USA | CCDC | Army Research Office (ARO)/ ; 2019-A-06953//Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew)/ ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a spectrum of autoimmune diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract characterized by a relapsing and remitting course of gut mucosal inflammation. Disease flares can be difficult to predict, and the current practice of IBD disease activity surveillance through endoscopy is invasive and requires medical expertise. Recent advancements in synthetic biology raise the possibility that symbiotic microbes can be engineered to selectively detect disease biomarkers used in current clinical practice. Here, we introduce an engineered probiotic capable of detecting the clinical gold standard IBD biomarker, calprotectin, with sensitivity and specificity in IBD patients. Specifically, we identified a bacterial promoter in the probiotic strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) which exhibits a specific expression increase in the presence of calprotectin. Using murine models of colitis, we show that the reporter signal is activated in vivo during transit of the GI tract following oral delivery. Furthermore, our engineered probiotic can successfully discriminate human patients with active IBD from those in remission and without IBD using patient stool samples, where the intensity of reporter signal quantitatively tracks with clinical laboratory-measured levels of calprotectin. Our pilot study sets the stage for probiotics that can be engineered to detect fecal calprotectin for precise noninvasive disease activity monitoring in IBD patients.}, } @article {pmid37520716, year = {2023}, author = {Kuroki, M and Yaguchi, T and Urayama, SI and Hagiwara, D}, title = {Experimental verification of strain-dependent relationship between mycovirus and its fungal host.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {107337}, pmid = {37520716}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Mycoviruses are viruses that infect fungi. Unlike mammalian infectious viruses, their life cycle does not generally have an extracellular stage, and a symbiosis-like relationship is maintained between virus and host fungi. Recently, mycoviruses have been reported to show effects on host fungi, altering biological properties such as growth rate, virulence, drug resistance, and metabolite production. In this study, we systematically elucidated the effects of viruses on host cells by comparing host phenotypes and transcriptomic responses in multiple sets of virus-infected and -eliminated Aspergillus flavus strains. The comparative study showed that mycoviruses affect several cellular activities at the molecular level in a virus- and host strain-dependent manner. The virus-swapping experiment revealed that difference with only three bases in the virus genome led to different host fungal response at the transcriptional level. Our results highlighted highly specific relationship between viruses and their host fungi.}, } @article {pmid37520373, year = {2023}, author = {Roy, A and Houot, B and Kushwaha, S and Anderson, P}, title = {Impact of transgenerational host switch on gut bacterial assemblage in generalist pest, Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1172601}, pmid = {37520373}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Diet composition is vital in shaping gut microbial assemblage in many insects. Minimal knowledge is available about the influence of transgenerational diet transition on gut microbial community structure and function in polyphagous pests. This study investigated transgenerational diet-induced changes in Spodoptera littoralis larval gut bacteriome using 16S ribosomal sequencing. Our data revealed that 88% of bacterial populations in the S. littoralis larval gut comprise Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The first diet transition experiment from an artificial diet (F0) to a plant diet (F1), cabbage and cotton, caused an alteration of bacterial communities in the S. littoralis larval gut. The second transgenerational diet switch, where F1 larvae feed on the same plant in the F2 generation, displayed a significant variation suggesting further restructuring of the microbial communities in the Spodoptera larval gut. F1 larvae were also challenged with the plant diet transition at the F2 generation (cabbage to cotton or cotton to cabbage). After feeding on different plant diets, the microbial assemblage of F2 larvae pointed to considerable differences from other F2 larvae that continued on the same diet. Our results showed that S. littoralis larval gut bacteriome responds rapidly and inexplicably to different diet changes. Further experiments must be conducted to determine the developmental and ecological consequences of such changes. Nevertheless, this study improves our perception of the impact of transgenerational diet switches on the resident gut bacteriome in S. littoralis larvae and could facilitate future research to understand the importance of symbiosis in lepidopteran generalists better.}, } @article {pmid37518892, year = {2023}, author = {Fladerer, JP and Grollitsch, S and Bucar, F}, title = {Three cuticular amides in the tripartite symbiosis of leafcutter ants.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e22041}, doi = {10.1002/arch.22041}, pmid = {37518892}, issn = {1520-6327}, support = {//University of Graz/ ; }, abstract = {Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) play various roles in insects' chemical ecology. As leafcutter ants live in a specific symbiosis with fungi, they harvest and with different bacteria, some of these CHCs might be associated with a mutualistic function within this symbiosis. To obtain a more precise picture in that respect we compared the CHC profiles of the leafcutter ants, Atta sexdens, Atta cephalotes, and Acromyrmex octospinosus inhabited by mutualistic bacteria with the profiles of Polyrhachis dives and Messor aciculatus by GC-EI-MS analysis and 28 other ant species by data from the literature. We were able to identify three alkyl amides (hexadecanamide, hexadecenamide, and tetradecanamide), occurring only in the CHC profiles of leafcutter ants inhabited by symbiotic bacteria. Our results lead to the conclusion that those alkyl amides could have a function in the tripartite symbiosis of leafcutter ants.}, } @article {pmid37518296, year = {2023}, author = {Anker, A and Benzoni, F}, title = {Hidden in plain sight: two new species of decapod crustaceans (Palaemonidae and Porcellanidae) discovered in the Red Sea on a university campus in Saudi Arabia.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5278}, number = {1}, pages = {78-102}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5278.1.3}, pmid = {37518296}, issn = {1175-5334}, abstract = {Two new symbiotic species of decapod crustaceans, a palaemonid shrimp and a porcellanid crab, are described from the same type locality situated on the campus of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The palaemonid shrimp Palaemonella jamila sp. nov. is described based on one male and one female, whereas the porcellanid crab Enosteoides habibi sp. nov. is described based on three males and two females. Unfortunately, the originally collected and studied specimens were lost shortly after study. However, subsequent recollection of one specimen of P. jamila sp. nov. and one specimen of E. habibi sp. nov. enabled to deposit a holotype of each new species in the collections of the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, USA. Both species inhabit burrows of goby-associated snapping shrimps, Alpheus spp., in the shallow subtidal areas, at depths less than 1 m. In addition, a single female specimen of Palaemonella aliska Marin, 2008 collected at Al Fahal reef off KAUST represents the first record of the species in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and a considerable range extension of its previously known distribution range. This species may be a close relative of P. jamila sp. nov., to which it is also ecologically similar. The present study highlights the necessity of prospecting the largely neglected and still undersampled shallow subtidal habitats of the Red Sea, and the Indo-West Pacific in general.}, } @article {pmid37518251, year = {2023}, author = {Velásquez-Rodríguez, K and Lin, XL and Sánchez-Vendizú, P and Loayza-Muro, R and Huamantinco, A and Prat, N}, title = {DNA Barcode of symbiotic chironomids: Findings in the genus Symbiocladius (Diptera: Chironomidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5319}, number = {1}, pages = {48-56}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5319.1.3}, pmid = {37518251}, issn = {1175-5334}, abstract = {Chironomidae of symbiotic habits have been recorded in different parts of the world, among commensals and parasites. There are different genera reported at the moment, however questions such as the origin of commensal or parasitic life, which occurred first or what are their benefits remain debatable. In order to contribute with information to elucidate the above mentioned issues, the present study reports the finding of immature stages of Symbiocladius (Acletus) wygodzinskyi Roback, 1965 in the Churup stream located in the Andes Cordillera (Peru), living on nymphs of Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera). We present a morphological description of immature stages of this species and for the first time the sequence of COX1 gene S. (A.) wygodzinskyi. The genetic result also supports differences between the morphospecies of Symbiocladius (Symbiocladius) rhithrogenae Zavřel, 1924 and S. (A.) wygodzinskyi in 23%.}, } @article {pmid37517877, year = {2023}, author = {Hanson, MB and Adams, M}, title = {Follow the Wax: The Natural Protection of the Ear Canal and Its Biome.}, journal = {Otolaryngologic clinics of North America}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.otc.2023.06.005}, pmid = {37517877}, issn = {1557-8259}, abstract = {The external canal is a unique environment that has an elaborate mechanism for self-cleaning and protection. The fundamental basis of this is the epithelial migration of the desquamating layers of the keratinizing epithelium that lines the entire canal and ear drum. This migratory movement results in a "conveyor belt" effect where the dead skin is moved out of the bony ear canal to the cartilaginous portion, where it is lifted off with the help of glandular skin secretions and the hairs of the canal to form what we call "ear wax." The ear wax has numerous protective properties and is essential to the health of the external ear. The protective properties are due to chemical properties of the wax, in addition to intrinsic chemical secretions by the sebaceous and cerumen apocrine glands. The protection also comes from a diverse population of organisms that exist in the external ear that are usually saprophytic, commensal, and symbiotic, but in some cases, they can become parasitic and pathologic. Detection and quantification of the members of this biome has been difficult, and their overall role in the normal biome of the ear and their transition into pathogens remain an area of active research and investigation.}, } @article {pmid37516109, year = {2023}, author = {Smith, TJ and Sundarraman, D and Melancon, E and Desban, L and Parthasarathy, R and Guillemin, K}, title = {A mucin-regulated adhesin determines the spatial organization and inflammatory character of a bacterial symbiont in the vertebrate gut.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.07.003}, pmid = {37516109}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {In a healthy gut, microbes are often aggregated with host mucus, yet the molecular basis for this organization and its impact on intestinal health are unclear. Mucus is a viscous physical barrier separating resident microbes from epithelia, but it also provides glycan cues that regulate microbial behaviors. Here, we describe a mucin-sensing pathway in an Aeromonas symbiont of zebrafish, Aer01. In response to the mucin-associated glycan N-acetylglucosamine, a sensor kinase regulates the expression of an aggregation-promoting adhesin we named MbpA. Upon MbpA disruption, Aer01 colonizes to normal levels but is largely planktonic and more pro-inflammatory. Increasing cell surface MbpA rescues these traits. MbpA-like adhesins are common in human-associated bacteria, and the expression of an Akkermansia muciniphila MbpA-like adhesin in MbpA-deficient Aer01 restores lumenal aggregation and reverses its pro-inflammatory character. Our work demonstrates how resident bacteria use mucin glycans to modulate behaviors congruent with host health.}, } @article {pmid37515992, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Q and Feng, X and Liu, Y and Li, W and Cui, W and Sun, Y and Zhang, S and Wang, F and Xing, B}, title = {Response of peanut plant and soil N-fixing bacterial communities to conventional and biodegradable microplastics.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {459}, number = {}, pages = {132142}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132142}, pmid = {37515992}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Microplastics (MPs) occur and distribute widely in agroecosystems, posing a potential threat to soil-plant systems. However, little is known about their effects on legumes and N-fixing microbes. Here, we explored the effects of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) on the growth of peanuts and soil N-fixing bacterial communities. All MPs treatments showed no phytotoxic effects on plant biomass, and PS and PLA even increased plant height, especially at the high dose. All MPs changed soil NO3[-]-N and NH4[+]-N contents and the activities of urease and FDAse. Particularly, high-dose PLA decreased soil NO3[-]-N content by 97% and increased soil urease activity by 104%. In most cases, MPs negatively affected plant N content, and high-dose PLA had the most pronounced effects. All MPs especially PLA changed soil N-fixing bacterial community structure. Symbiotic N-fixer Rhizoboales were greatly enriched by high-dose PLA, accompanied by the emergence of root nodulation, which may represent an adaptive strategy for peanuts to overcome N deficiency caused by PLA MPs pollution. Our findings indicate that MPs can change peanut-N fixing bacteria systems in a type- and dose-dependent manner, and biodegradable MPs may have more profound consequences for N biogeochemical cycling than traditional MPs.}, } @article {pmid37515687, year = {2023}, author = {Xiao, L and Tang, R and Wang, J and Wan, D and Yin, Y and Xie, L}, title = {Gut microbiota bridges the iron homeostasis and host health.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37515687}, issn = {1869-1889}, abstract = {The gut microbiota acts as a symbiotic microecosystem that plays an indispensable role in the regulation of a number of metabolic processes in the host by secreting secondary metabolites and impacting the physiology and pathophysiology of numerous organs and tissues through the circulatory system. This relationship, referred to as the "gut-X axis", is associated with the development and progression of disorders, including obesity, fatty liver and Parkinson's disease. Given its importance, the gut flora is a vital research area for the understanding and development of the novel therapeutic approaches for multiple disorders. Iron is a common but necessary element required by both mammals and bacteria. As a result, iron metabolism is closely intertwined with the gut microbiota. The host's iron homeostasis affects the composition of the gut microbiota and the interaction between host and gut microbiota through various mechanisms such as nutrient homeostasis, intestinal peaceability, gut immunity, and oxidative stress. Therefore, understanding the relationship between gut microbes and host iron metabolism is not only of enormous significance to host health but also may offer preventative and therapeutic approaches for a number of disorders that impact both parties. In this review, we delve into the connection between the dysregulation of iron metabolism and dysbiosis of gut microbiota, and how it contributes to the onset and progression of metabolic and chronic diseases.}, } @article {pmid37515179, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, D and Zhang, P and Xu, C and Hu, Y and Liang, Y and Li, M}, title = {Microplitis bicoloratus Bracovirus Promotes Cyclophilin D-Acetylation at Lysine 125 That Correlates with Apoptosis during Insect Immunosuppression.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/v15071491}, pmid = {37515179}, issn = {1999-4915}, support = {31960557, 31360454, and 31560528//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Cyclophilin D (CypD) is regulated during the innate immune response of insects. However, the mechanism by which CypD is activated under innate immunosuppression is not understood. Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus (MbBV), a symbiotic virus in the parasitoid wasp, Microplitis bicoloratus, suppresses innate immunity in parasitized Spodoptera litura. Here, we demonstrate that MbBV promotes the CypD acetylation of S. litura, resulting in an immunosuppressive phenotype characterized by increased apoptosis of hemocytes and MbBV-infected cells. Under MbBV infection, the inhibition of CypD acetylation significantly rescued the apoptotic cells induced by MbBV, and the point-mutant fusion proteins of CypDK125R-V5 were deacetylated. The CypD-V5 fusion proteins were acetylated in MbBV-infected cells. Deacetylation of CypDK125R-V5 can also suppress the MbBV-induced increase in apoptosis. These results indicate that CypD is involved in the MbBV-suppressed innate immune response via the CypD-acetylation pathway and S. litura CypD is acetylated on K125.}, } @article {pmid37514211, year = {2023}, author = {Gong, M and Bai, N and Wang, P and Su, J and Chang, Q and Zhang, Q}, title = {Co-Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Dark Septate Endophytes under Drought Stress: Synergistic or Competitive Effects on Maize Growth, Photosynthesis, Root Hydraulic Properties and Aquaporins?.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12142596}, pmid = {37514211}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {31870093//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31800096//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 212102110475//Key Technology Research and Development Program of Henan Province/ ; 222103810057//Henan province science and technology research and development plan joint fund/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate fungi (DSE) were simultaneously colonized in the root cells of maize. Single AMF and DSE symbiosis have been proven to improve the drought tolerance of maize. However, the effects of both fungi coexisting in maize roots under drought stress are not yet known. In this study, pot experiments of maize seedlings were conducted through four inoculation treatments (single AMF inoculation of Rhizophagus irregularis, single DSE inoculation of Exophiala pisciphila, co-inoculation of AMF + DSE and non-mycorrhizal inoculation) under well-watered (WW) and drought-stressed (DS) conditions. AMF and DSE colonization status, maize physiology and aquaporin gene expression in maize roots were investigated. The objective of this paper was to evaluate whether AMF and DSE had competitive, independent or synergistic effects on regulating the drought tolerance of maize. When maize seedlings of three inoculation treatments were subjected to drought stress, single AMF inoculation had the highest shoot and root dry weight, plant height, root length, osmotic root hydraulic conductivity and hydrostatic root hydraulic conductivity in maize seedlings. However, co-inoculation of AMF + DSE induced the highest stomatal conductance in maize leaves and the lowest H2O2 and O2[•-] concentration, membrane electrolyte leakage, intercellular CO2 concentration and gene expression level of ZmPIP1;1, ZmPIP1;2, ZmPIP2;1, ZmPIP2;5 and ZmPIP2;6. In addition, co-inoculation of AMF + DSE also obviously down-regulated the GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2 expression in R. irregularis compared with single AMF inoculation treatment. Under DS stress, there were competitive relationships between AMF and DSE with regard to regulating mycorrhizal colonization, maize growth, root hydraulic conductivity and the gene expression of aquaporins in R. irregularis, but there were synergistic relationships with regard to regulating membrane electrolyte leakage, oxidative damage, photosynthesis and the aquaporin gene expression of maize seedlings. The obtained results improve our knowledge about how the mechanisms of AMF and DSE coexist, promoting the drought tolerance of host plants.}, } @article {pmid37513562, year = {2023}, author = {Calcaterra, V and Rossi, V and Massini, G and Casini, F and Zuccotti, G and Fabiano, V}, title = {Probiotics and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Perspective for Management in Adolescents with Obesity.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu15143144}, pmid = {37513562}, issn = {2072-6643}, abstract = {Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects a considerable percentage of females of reproductive age. PCOS is an obesity-related condition and its effects are greatly amplified by obesity. Even though the pathogenesis of PCOS remains complex and has not been fully elucidated, a link between obesity, PCOS, and dysbiosis has been described. The potential role of the gut microbiota in the development and progression of PCOS and its associated symptoms has also been reported. The aim of this narrative review is to present a non-systematic analysis of the available literature on the topic of probiotics and PCOS in adolescents with obesity in order to revise the beneficial effects of probiotics/symbiotic supplementation on hormonal and metabolic profiles and inflammatory conditions. The effectiveness of probiotics/synbiotics in PCOS has been supported. The literature suggests that probiotic/symbiotic supplementation may ameliorate hormonal profiles, inflammatory indicators, and lipid metabolism disturbances caused by PCOS. Studies also show improvements in weight, BMI, insulin, and HOMA-IR, including a potential role it plays in protecting fertility. Even though further studies are needed to confirm these findings, particularly in adolescent patients, probiotic supplementation may be considered a solution for managing PCOS in adolescents with obesity.}, } @article {pmid37513036, year = {2023}, author = {Nemadodzi, LE and Prinsloo, G}, title = {A New Proposed Symbiotic Plant-Herbivore Relationship between Burkea africana Trees, Cirina forda Caterpillars and Their Associated Fungi Pleurostomophora richardsiae and Aspergillus nomius.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11071864}, pmid = {37513036}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {11282//National Research Foundation/ ; N/a//Oppenheimer & sons Pty (Ltd)/ ; }, abstract = {Burkea africana is a tree found in savannah and woodland in southern Africa, as well as northwards into tropical African regions as far as Nigeria and Ethiopia. It is used as fuel wood, medicinally to treat various conditions, such as toothache, headache, migraine, pain, inflammation, and sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhoea, but also an ornamental tree. The current study investigated the possible symbiotic relationship between B. africana trees and the C. forda caterpillars and the mutual role played in ensuring the survival of B. africana trees/seedlings in harsh natural conditions and low-nutrient soils. Deoxyribonucleic acid isolation and sequencing results revealed that the fungal species Pleurostomophora richardsiae was highly predominant in the leaves of B. africana trees and present in the caterpillars. The second most prominent fungal species in the caterpillars was Aspergillus nomius. The latter is known to be related to a Penicillium sp. which was found to be highly prevalent in the soil where B. africana trees grow and is suggested to play a role in enhancing the effective growth of B. africana trees in their natural habitat. To support this, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted, and a tree was constructed, which shows a high percentage similarity between Aspergillus and Penicillium sp. The findings of the study revealed that B. africana trees not only serve as a source of feed for the C. forda caterpillar but benefit from C. forda caterpillars which, after dropping onto the soil, is proposed to inoculate the soil surrounding the trees with the fungus A. nomius which suggests a symbiotic and/or synergistic relationship between B. africana trees and C. forda caterpillars.}, } @article {pmid37512979, year = {2023}, author = {Say, P and Nimikul, S and Bunnoy, A and Na-Nakorn, U and Srisapoome, P}, title = {Long-Term Application of a Synbiotic Chitosan and Acinetobacter KU011TH Mixture on the Growth Performance, Health Status, and Disease Resistance of Hybrid Catfish (Clarias gariepinus × C. macrocephalus) during Winter.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11071807}, pmid = {37512979}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {RGU6280008//National Research Council of Thailand/ ; }, abstract = {The effects of potential synbiotic chitosan and Acinetobacter KU011TH mixture on growth performance, immune response, and A. hydrophila resistance were investigated for the first time. The control group was fed a basal diet (A), and group B was given the formula B diet that was supplemented with chitosan at 20 mL/kg diet via top dressing. The other synbiotic groups, C, D, and E, were top-dressed with the target probiotics at 1 × 10[8], 1 × 10[9], and 1 × 10[10] CFU/kg diet, respectively, and coated with the same concentration of chitosan. Fish were continuously fed the five different feeds for 16 weeks during winter. At the end of the trial, the growth parameters of the test groups did not significantly differ from those of the control (p > 0.05). All the symbiotic-chitosan treatments significantly increased various hematological and serum immune parameters. Moreover, the expression levels of immune-related genes were strongly elevated in the head kidney and spleen, whereas upregulated expression was observed in the liver and whole blood (p < 0.05). Survival analysis indicated that fish in groups B and C showed significantly higher survival (84.33 ± 2.21 and 79.50 ± 6.34%) than those in groups A, D and E (55.33 ± 8.82%-74.00 ± 6.50) (p < 0.05) after injection with A. hydrophila for 14 days.}, } @article {pmid37512934, year = {2023}, author = {Caudal, F and Rodrigues, S and Dufour, A and Artigaud, S and Le Blay, G and Petek, S and Bazire, A}, title = {Extracts from Wallis Sponges Inhibit Vibrio harveyi Biofilm Formation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11071762}, pmid = {37512934}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {ANR-17-EURE-0015//Interdisciplinary graduate school for the blue planet/ ; //FC is the recipient of a doctoral fellowship (PhD SPOQS project) co-funded by the Université de Bretagne Sud (UBS) and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)/ ; //French Oceanographic Fleet, IRD, MNHN, Labex Mer and the Wallis and Futuna Environment Service/ ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic bacteria and their biofilms are involved in many human and animal diseases and are a major public health problem with, among other things, the development of antibiotic resistance. These biofilms are known to induce chronic infections for which classical treatments using antibiotic therapy are often ineffective. Sponges are sessile filter-feeding marine organisms known for their dynamic symbiotic partnerships with diverse microorganisms and their production of numerous metabolites of interest. In this study, we investigated the antibiofilm efficacy of different extracts from sponges, isolated in Wallis, without biocidal activity. Out of the 47 tested extracts, from 28 different genera, 11 showed a strong activity against Vibrio harveyi biofilm formation. Moreover, one of these extracts also inhibited two quorum-sensing pathways of V. harveyi.}, } @article {pmid37512856, year = {2023}, author = {Toledo, J and Morán-Aceves, BM and Ibarra, JE and Liedo, P}, title = {Can Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria Suppress Fruit Fly Pests? A Review.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11071682}, pmid = {37512856}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are serious pests that affect fruit production and marketing. Both third instar larvae and pupae are biological stages that persist in the soil until adult emergence. Entomopathogenic nematodes (ENs) are biological control agents that are used to control agricultural pests in greenhouse or field conditions. Several studies have been carried out under laboratory and field conditions showing how ENs can be applied within an area-wide integrated pest management approach to control fruit fly species in orchards and backyard fruit trees. In this review, we analyze how soil physical characteristics and biotic factors affect the performance of these biological control agents. Of the reviewed papers, more than half evaluated the influence of soil texture, humidity, temperature, and other factors on the performance of infective juveniles (IJs). Abiotic factors that significantly influence the performance of IJs are temperature, humidity, and texture. Among the biotic factors that affect IJs are fungi, bacteria, mites, insects, and earthworms. We conclude that ENs have the potential to be applied in the drip area of fruit trees that are infested by fruit flies and contribute to their suppression. This approach, in conjunction with an area-wide pest management approach, may contribute to pest suppression and increase the sustainability of agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37512851, year = {2023}, author = {Shaik, HA and Mishra, A}, title = {Influence of Asafoetida Extract on the Virulence of the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and Its Symbiotic Bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila in the Host Pyrrhocoris apterus.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11071678}, pmid = {37512851}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {8J21FR021//Ministry of Education Youth and Sports/ ; RVO: 60077344//Czech Academy of Sciences/ ; GACR 22-185975//Czech Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Nematode-microbe symbiosis plays a key role in determining pathogenesis against pests. The modulation of symbiotic bacteria may affect the virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and the biological management of pests. We tested the influence of asafoetida (ASF) extract on the virulence of Steinernema carpocapsae and its symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, in Pyrrhocoris apterus. A total of 100 mg of ASF killed 30% of EPNs in 48 h, while P. apterus remained unaffected. The EPNs pre-treated with 100 mg of ASF influenced P. apterus's mortality by 24-91.4% during a period of 24 to 72 h. The topical application of ASF acted as a deterrent to S. carpocapsae, lowering host invasion to 70% and delaying infectivity with 30% mortality for 168 h. Interestingly, Steinernema's symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus, remained unaffected by ASF. An in vitro turbidity test containing 100 mg of ASF in a medium increased the growth rate of Xenorhabdus compared to a control. A disc diffusion assay confirmed the non-susceptibility of Xenorhabdus to ASF compared to a positive control, streptomycin. Pro-phenol oxidase (PPO) and phenol oxidase (PO) upregulation showed that ASF influences immunity, while EPN/ASF showed a combined immunomodulatory effect in P. apterus. We report that ASF modulated the virulence of S. carpocapsae but not that of its symbiotic bacterium, X. nematophila, against P. apterus.}, } @article {pmid37512836, year = {2023}, author = {Thielicke, M and Ahlborn, J and Eichler-Löbermann, B and Eulenstein, F}, title = {On the Negative Impact of Mycorrhiza Application on Maize Plants (Zea mays) Amended with Mineral and Organic Fertilizer.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11071663}, pmid = {37512836}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Many studies describe the positive effect of mycorrhiza, but few report on negative effects. Furthermore, there is a research gap on the mechanisms under which conditions the symbiotic mycorrhizal plant interaction or a parasitic one predominates. The study was conducted as a field experiment over three years to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza (Rhizoglomus intraradices) and soil bacteria applications on fertile soil. A standard fertilizer (diammonium phosphate) and two microgranular fertilizers (mineral and organomineral) were applied alone or in combination with the biostimulants mycorrhiza and/or soil bacteria (Bacillus velezensis). The application of the mycorrhiza as the only biostimulant resulted in lower yields compared to all fertilizer variants without the mycorrhiza or with mycorrhiza in combination with soil bacteria in the dry years 2015 (p = 0.0241) and 2016 (p = 0.0003). The usage of soil bacteria alone, or soil bacteria with fertilizer, resulted in few occasional significant differences. The combination with soil bacteria raised the yield of mycorrhiza-treated fertilizer variants to a significant extent in 2015 (p = 0.0007) and 2016 (p = 0.0019). The negative effects of mycorrhiza application in this study were alleviated by the simultaneous use of soil bacteria. Treatments with organomineral microgranular fertilizer, which were expected to promote the naturally occurring soil microbiome more than the mineral fertilizer variants, were most negatively affected by the mycorrhiza. We hypothesize that the naturally occurring microbiome of the study site was already optimal for maize plants, and thus the successful introduction of other microorganisms through the application of the mycorrhiza and soil bacteria tended not to be beneficial. The present study is the first report on the negative influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza on maize yields gained with a standard fertilizer (diammonium phosphate) and two microgranular fertilizer, and the alleviation of that impact by combined application of soil bacteria. We conclude that the application of the used biostimulants may have negative impacts on maize yield if the soil is already rich in nutrients and water is the limiting factor.}, } @article {pmid37512512, year = {2023}, author = {Poulsen-Silva, E and Gordillo-Fuenzalida, F and Atala, C and Moreno, AA and Otero, MC}, title = {Bioactive Lichen Secondary Metabolites and Their Presence in Species from Chile.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/metabo13070805}, pmid = {37512512}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of at least one fungal and one algal species. They are found in different environments around the world, even in the poles and deserts. Some species can withstand extreme abiotic conditions, including radiation and the vacuum of space. Their chemistry is mainly due to the fungal metabolism and the production of several secondary metabolites with biological activity, which have been isolated due to an increasing interest from the pharmaceutical community. However, beyond the experimental data, little is known about their mechanisms of action and the potential pharmaceutical use of these kinds of molecules, especially the ones isolated from lesser-known species and/or lesser-studied countries. The main objective of this review is to analyze the bibliographical data of the biological activity of secondary metabolites from lichens, identifying the possible mechanisms of action and lichen species from Chile. We carried out a bibliographic revision of different scientific articles in order to collect all necessary information on the biological activity of the metabolites of these lichen species. For this, validated databases were used. We found the most recent reports where in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the biological properties of these metabolites. The biological activity, namely anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, of 26 secondary metabolites are described, as well as their reported molecular mechanisms. The most notable metabolites found in this review were usnic acid, atranorin, protolichesterinic acid, and lobaric acid. Usnic acid was the most investigated metabolite, in addition to undergoing toxicological and pharmacological studies, where a hepatotoxicity effect was reported due to uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, no major studies have been made to validate the pharmacological application of these metabolites, and few advancements have been made in their artificial growth in bioreactors. Despite the described biological activities, there is little support to consider these metabolites in pharmaceutical formulations or to evaluate them in clinical trials. Nevertheless, it is important to carry out further studies regarding their possible human health effects. These lichen secondary metabolites present a promising research opportunity to find new pharmaceutical molecules due to their bioactive properties.}, } @article {pmid37511479, year = {2023}, author = {Lecona, AM and Nanjareddy, K and Blanco, L and Piazza, V and Vera-Núñez, JA and Lara, M and Arthikala, MK}, title = {CRK12: A Key Player in Regulating the Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium tropici Symbiotic Interaction.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241411720}, pmid = {37511479}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {CF-MI-20191017134234199-316538//Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología/ ; IN216321 and IN213221//National Autonomous University of Mexico/ ; }, abstract = {Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) are a type of receptor-like kinases (RLKs) that are important for pathogen resistance, extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, and programmed cell death in plants. In a previous study, we identified 46 CRK family members in the Phaseolus vulgaris genome and found that CRK12 was highly upregulated under root nodule symbiotic conditions. To better understand the role of CRK12 in the Phaseolus-Rhizobia symbiotic interaction, we functionally characterized this gene by overexpressing (CRK12-OE) and silencing (CRK12-RNAi) it in a P. vulgaris hairy root system. We found that the constitutive expression of CRK12 led to an increase in root hair length and the expression of root hair regulatory genes, while silencing the gene had the opposite effect. During symbiosis, CRK12-RNAi resulted in a significant reduction in nodule numbers, while CRK12-OE roots showed a dramatic increase in rhizobial infection threads and the number of nodules. Nodule cross sections revealed that silenced nodules had very few infected cells, while CRK12-OE nodules had enlarged infected cells, whose numbers had increased compared to controls. As expected, CRK12-RNAi negatively affected nitrogen fixation, while CRK12-OE nodules fixed 1.5 times more nitrogen than controls. Expression levels of genes involved in symbiosis and ROS signaling, as well as nitrogen export genes, supported the nodule phenotypes. Moreover, nodule senescence was prolonged in CRK12-overexpressing roots. Subcellular localization assays showed that the PvCRK12 protein localized to the plasma membrane, and the spatiotemporal expression patterns of the CRK12-promoter::GUS-GFP analysis revealed a symbiosis-specific expression of CRK12 during the early stages of rhizobial infection and in the development of nodules. Our findings suggest that CRK12, a membrane RLK, is a novel regulator of Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium tropici symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37509803, year = {2023}, author = {Sales, AL and Cunha, SC and Morgado, J and Cruz, A and Santos, TF and Ferreira, IMPLVO and Fernandes, JO and Miguel, MAL and Farah, A}, title = {Volatile, Microbial, and Sensory Profiles and Consumer Acceptance of Coffee Cascara Kombuchas.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12142710}, pmid = {37509803}, issn = {2304-8158}, support = {E26/200.940/2021-259919 and E26/210.107/2018-241762//Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/ ; 001//Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; NORTE- 01-0145-FEDER-000041, UIDB/04423/2020 and IF/01616/2015//Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/ ; }, abstract = {Given the substantial world coffee production, tons of coffee fruit cascara rich in bioactive compounds are discarded annually. Using this by-product to produce potentially healthy and acceptable foods is a sustainable practice that aggregates value to coffee production and may help improve people's lives. This study aimed to elaborate kombuchas from coffee cascara tea, evaluate their microbial profile, and monitor the changes in the volatile profile during fermentation, together with sensory attributes and acceptance by consumers from Rio de Janeiro (n = 113). Arabica coffee cascaras from Brazil and Nicaragua were used to make infusions, to which black tea kombucha, a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY), and sucrose were added. Fermentation of plain black tea kombucha was also monitored for comparison. The volatile profile was analyzed after 0, 3, 6, and 9 days of fermentation via headspace solid phase microextraction GC-MS. A total of 81 compounds were identified considering all beverages, 59 in coffee cascara kombuchas and 59 in the black tea kombucha, with 37 common compounds for both. An increase mainly in acids and esters occurred during fermentation. Despite the similarity to black tea kombucha, some aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and ketones in coffee cascara kombucha were not identified in black tea kombucha. Potential impact compounds in CC were linalool, decanal, nonanal, octanal, dodecanal, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, β-damascenone, γ-nonalactone, linalool oxide, phenylethyl alcohol, geranyl acetone, phenylacetaldehyde, isoamyl alcohol, acetic acid, octanoic acid, isovaleric acid, ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl hexanoate, and limonene. The mean acceptance scores for cascara kombuchas varied between 5.7 ± 0.53 and 7.4 ± 0.53 on a nine-point hedonic scale, with coffee cascara from three-day Nicaragua kombucha showing the highest score, associated with sweetness and berry, honey, woody, and herbal aromas and flavors. The present results indicate that coffee cascara is a promising by-product for elaboration of fermented beverages, exhibiting exotic and singular fingerprinting that can be explored for applications in the food industry.}, } @article {pmid37509057, year = {2023}, author = {Nicoletti, R and Bellavita, R and Falanga, A}, title = {The Outstanding Chemodiversity of Marine-Derived Talaromyces.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biom13071021}, pmid = {37509057}, issn = {2218-273X}, abstract = {Fungi in the genus Talaromyces occur in every environment in both terrestrial and marine contexts, where they have been quite frequently found in association with plants and animals. The relationships of symbiotic fungi with their hosts are often mediated by bioactive secondary metabolites, and Talaromyces species represent a prolific source of these compounds. This review highlights the biosynthetic potential of marine-derived Talaromyces strains, using accounts from the literature published since 2016. Over 500 secondary metabolites were extracted from axenic cultures of these isolates and about 45% of them were identified as new products, representing a various assortment of chemical classes such as alkaloids, meroterpenoids, isocoumarins, anthraquinones, xanthones, phenalenones, benzofurans, azaphilones, and other polyketides. This impressive chemodiversity and the broad range of biological properties that have been disclosed in preliminary assays qualify these fungi as a valuable source of products to be exploited for manifold biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid37508832, year = {2023}, author = {Fan, H and Wang, L and Zhang, ZK and Wu, PP and He, YP and Chen, LY and Wang, Q and Zhang, CX}, title = {Bioactive Aspergteroids G-J from Soft-Coral-Associated Symbiotic and Epiphytic Fungus Aspergillus terreus EGF7-0-1.}, journal = {Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/bioengineering10070805}, pmid = {37508832}, issn = {2306-5354}, support = {GDNRC [2023]37, GDNRC [2021]48 and GDNRC [2020]039//Marine Economic Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong Province/ ; No. 82273845 and No. 81741160//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 2017A020217008 and No. 2015A020216017//the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province/ ; pdjh2023b0126//Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Strategy Special Fund-Guangdong 'Climbing Plan'/ ; }, abstract = {Two new disubstituted maleimides, aspergteroids G-H (1-2), and two trisubstituted butenolides aspergteroids I-J (3-4), along with four known analogs, were isolated and structurally identified from the fermentation extract of soft-coral-associated symbiotic and epiphytic fungus Aspergillus terreus EGF7-0-1. The structures of the new compounds were established mainly via spectroscopic data analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined via X-ray diffraction analysis and comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism. Myocardial protection assays showed that compounds 1, 2, 5, and 6 possess protective effects against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced H9c2 (rat myocardial cells) apoptosis at low concentrations. Based on the analyses of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Western blotting, compound 1 may inhibit the apoptosis and inflammatory response of cardiomyocytes after TBHP induction and improve the antioxidant capacity of cardiomyocytes. We speculate that the anti-inflammatory response of compound 1 is suppressed by the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), downregulated by the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and suppressed by the expression of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (caspase-3) and B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein (Bax).}, } @article {pmid37508443, year = {2023}, author = {Wuerz, M and Lawson, CA and Oakley, CA and Possell, M and Wilkinson, SP and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Suggett, DJ and Davy, SK}, title = {Symbiont Identity Impacts the Microbiome and Volatilome of a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12071014}, pmid = {37508443}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {DP200100091//Australian Research Council discovery project/ ; 19-VUW-086//Marsden Fund/ ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between cnidarians and dinoflagellates underpins the success of reef-building corals in otherwise nutrient-poor habitats. Alterations to symbiotic state can perturb metabolic homeostasis and thus alter the release of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). While BVOCs can play important roles in metabolic regulation and signalling, how the symbiotic state affects BVOC output remains unexplored. We therefore characterised the suite of BVOCs that comprise the volatilome of the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana ('Aiptasia') when aposymbiotic and in symbiosis with either its native dinoflagellate symbiont Breviolum minutum or the non-native symbiont Durusdinium trenchii. In parallel, the bacterial community structure in these different symbiotic states was fully characterised to resolve the holobiont microbiome. Based on rRNA analyses, 147 unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were observed across symbiotic states. Furthermore, the microbiomes were distinct across the different symbiotic states: bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae were the most abundant in aposymbiotic anemones; those in the family Crocinitomicaceae were the most abundant in anemones symbiotic with D. trenchii; and anemones symbiotic with B. minutum had the highest proportion of low-abundance ASVs. Across these different holobionts, 142 BVOCs were detected and classified into 17 groups based on their chemical structure, with BVOCs containing multiple functional groups being the most abundant. Isoprene was detected in higher abundance when anemones hosted their native symbiont, and dimethyl sulphide was detected in higher abundance in the volatilome of both Aiptasia-Symbiodiniaceae combinations relative to aposymbiotic anemones. The volatilomes of aposymbiotic anemones and anemones symbiotic with B. minutum were distinct, while the volatilome of anemones symbiotic with D. trenchii overlapped both of the others. Collectively, our results are consistent with previous reports that D. trenchii produces a metabolically sub-optimal symbiosis with Aiptasia, and add to our understanding of how symbiotic cnidarians, including corals, may respond to climate change should they acquire novel dinoflagellate partners.}, } @article {pmid37508388, year = {2023}, author = {Zuber, NE and Fornasero, LV and Erdozain Bagolín, SA and Lozano, MJ and Sanjuán, J and Del Papa, MF and Lagares, A}, title = {Diversity, Genomics and Symbiotic Characteristics of Sinorhizobia That Nodulate Desmanthus spp. in Northwest Argentina.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12070958}, pmid = {37508388}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {PICT-2019-01021//Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnolología e Innovación Productiva - MinCyT, Argentina/ ; PIP 2022-2024-11220210100367CO//Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - CONICET, Argentina/ ; ATN-RF-18786-RG//FONTAGRO/ ; }, abstract = {Desmanthus spp. are legumes with the ability to associate with diverse α-proteobacteria-a microsymbiont-in order to establish nitrogen-fixing root nodules. A previous investigation from our laboratory revealed that the main bacteria associated with Desmanthus paspalaceus in symbiosis in central Argentina (Province of Santa Fe) were quite diverse and belonged to the genera Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium. To achieve a more extensive view of the local microsymbionts associated with Desmanthus spp., we sampled three different sites in Jujuy and Salta, in northwest Argentina. Matrix-assisted Laser-Desorption-Ionization Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) typing, 16S-rDNA analysis, and genome sequencing demonstrated that the dominant root-nodule microsymbionts belonged to the genus Sinorhizobium, with some sequenced genomes related to Sinorhizobium mexicanum, Sinorhizobium chiapanecum, and Sinorhizobium psoraleae. An analysis of nodA and nodC markers indicated that, in some of the isolates, horizontal gene transfer appeared to be responsible for the lack of congruence between the phylogenies of the chromosome and of the symbiotic region. These results revealed diverse evolutionary strategies for reaching the current Desmanthus-microsymbiont diversity. What is remarkable beside their observed genetic diversity is that the tolerance profiles of these isolates to abiotic stresses (temperature, salt concentration, pH) were quite coincident with the separation of the sinorhizobia according to place of origin, suggesting possible ecoedaphic adaptations. This observation, together with the higher aerial dry-weight matter that some isolates generated in Desmanthus virgatus cv. Marc when compared to the biomass generated by the commercial strain Sinorhizobium terangae CB3126, distinguish the collected sinorhizobia as constituting valuable germplasm for evaluation in local fields to select for more efficient symbiotic pairs.}, } @article {pmid37508385, year = {2023}, author = {Cazzaniga, M and Domínguez-Santos, R and Marín-Miret, J and Gil, R and Latorre, A and García-Ferris, C}, title = {Exploring Gut Microbial Dynamics and Symbiotic Interaction in Blattella germanica Using Rifampicin.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12070955}, pmid = {37508385}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {PGC2018-099344-B-I00//MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Spain) and "ERDF A way of making Europe"/ ; PID2021-128201NB-I00//MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Spain) and "ERDF A way of making Europe"/ ; Prometeo/2018/A/133//Conselleria d'Educació, Generalitat Valenciana/ ; CIPROM/2021/042//Conselleria d'Educació, Generalitat Valenciana/ ; }, abstract = {Blattella germanica harbours two cohabiting symbiotic systems: an obligate endosymbiont, Blattabacterium, located inside bacteriocytes and vertically transmitted, which is key in nitrogen metabolism, and abundant and complex gut microbiota acquired horizontally (mainly by coprophagy) that must play an important role in host physiology. In this work, we use rifampicin treatment to deepen the knowledge on the relationship between the host and the two systems. First, we analysed changes in microbiota composition in response to the presence and removal of the antibiotic with and without faeces in one generation. We found that, independently of faeces supply, rifampicin-sensitive bacteria are strongly affected at four days of treatment, and most taxa recover after treatment, although some did not reach control levels. Second, we tried to generate an aposymbiotic population, but individuals that reached the second generation were severely affected and no third generation was possible. Finally, we established a mixed population with quasi-aposymbiotic and control nymphs sharing an environment in a blind experiment. The analysis of the two symbiotic systems in each individual after reaching the adult stage revealed that endosymbiont's load does not affect the composition of the hindgut microbiota, suggesting that there is no interaction between the two symbiotic systems in Blattella germanica.}, } @article {pmid37508021, year = {2023}, author = {Xie, J and Tan, B and Zhang, Y}, title = {A Large-Scale Study into Protist-Animal Interactions Based on Public Genomic Data Using DNA Barcodes.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ani13142243}, pmid = {37508021}, issn = {2076-2615}, support = {31900152//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; cstc2020jcyj-msxmX0695//Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau/ ; }, abstract = {With the birth of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, genomic data in public databases have increased exponentially. Unfortunately, exogenous contamination or intracellular parasite sequences in assemblies could confuse genomic analysis. Meanwhile, they can provide a valuable resource for studies of host-microbe interactions. Here, we used a strategy based on DNA barcodes to scan protistan contamination in the GenBank WGS/TSA database. The results showed a total of 13,952 metazoan/animal assemblies in GenBank, where 17,036 contigs were found to be protistan contaminants in 1507 assemblies (10.8%), with even higher contamination rates in taxa of Cnidaria (150/281), Crustacea (237/480), and Mollusca (107/410). Taxonomic analysis of the protists derived from these contigs showed variations in abundance and evenness of protistan contamination across different metazoan taxa, reflecting host preferences of Apicomplexa, Ciliophora, Oomycota and Symbiodiniaceae for mammals and birds, Crustacea, insects, and Cnidaria, respectively. Finally, mitochondrial proteins COX1 and CYTB were predicted from these contigs, and the phylogenetic analysis corroborated the protistan origination and heterogeneous distribution of the contaminated contigs. Overall, in this study, we conducted a large-scale scan of protistan contaminant in genomic resources, and the protistan sequences detected will help uncover the protist diversity and relationships of these picoeukaryotes with Metazoa.}, } @article {pmid37507806, year = {2023}, author = {Cecere, AG and Cook, RA and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {A case study assessing the impact of mating frequency on the reproductive performance of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Laboratory animal research}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {17}, pmid = {37507806}, issn = {1738-6055}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and bacterium Vibrio fischeri serves as a model for investigating the molecular mechanisms that promote the initial formation of animal-bacterial symbioses. Research with this system frequently depends on freshly hatched E. scolopes, but the husbandry factors that promote hatchling production in a mariculture facility remain underreported. Here we report on the reproductive performance of E. scolopes in response to decreased mating frequency.

RESULTS: One animal cohort was maintained in a mariculture facility for 107 days, with females assigned to either a control group (mating once every 14 days) or an experimental group (mating once every 21 days). No differences between the groups were observed in survival, the number of egg clutches laid, or hatchling counts. Each group featured multiple females that were hyper-reproductive, i.e., they generated more than 8 egg clutches while in captivity. Examination of the distributions for daily hatchling counts of individual egg clutches revealed significant variation in the hatching patterns among clutches that was independent of mating frequency. Finally, an assessment of hatchling production showed that 93.5% of total hatchlings produced by the cohort were derived from egg clutches laid within the first 70 days.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a lower mating frequency does not impede hatchling production. Furthermore, the variation in hatchling production among egg clutches provides new insight into the reproductive performance of E. scolopes as a lab animal for microbiology research.}, } @article {pmid37507628, year = {2023}, author = {Derrien, V and André, E and Bernad, S}, title = {Peroxidase activity of rice (Oryza sativa) hemoglobin: distinct role of tyrosines 112 and 151.}, journal = {Journal of biological inorganic chemistry : JBIC : a publication of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37507628}, issn = {1432-1327}, abstract = {Five non-symbiotic hemoglobins (nsHb) have been identified in rice (Oryza sativa). Previous studies have shown that stress conditions can induce their overexpression, but the role of those globins is still unclear. To better understand the functions of nsHb, the reactivity of rice Hb1 toward hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been studied in vitro. Our results show that recombinant rice Hb1 dimerizes through dityrosine cross-links in the presence of H2O2. By site-directed mutagenesis, we suggest that tyrosine 112 located in the FG loop is involved in this dimerization. Interestingly, this residue is not conserved in the sequence of the five rice non-symbiotic hemoglobins. Stopped-flow spectrophotometric experiments have been performed to measure the catalytic constants of rice Hb and its variants using the oxidation of guaiacol. We have shown that Tyrosine112 is a residue that enhances the peroxidase activity of rice Hb1, since its replacement by an alananine leads to a decrease of guaiacol oxidation. In contrast, tyrosine 151, a conserved residue which is buried inside the heme pocket, reduces the protein reactivity. Indeed, the variant Tyr151Ala exhibits a higher peroxidase activity than the wild type. Interestingly, this residue affects the heme coordination and the replacement of the tyrosine by an alanine leads to the loss of the distal ligand. Therefore, even if the amino acid at position 151 does not participate to the formation of the dimer, this residue modulates the peroxidase activity and plays a role in the hexacoordinated state of the heme.}, } @article {pmid37507565, year = {2023}, author = {Zare, L and Ronaghi, A and Ghasemi-Fasaei, R and Zarei, M and Sepehri, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitric oxide alleviate cadmium phytotoxicity by improving internal detoxification mechanisms of corn plants.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37507565}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Plants develop several external and internal mechanisms to increase their tolerance to heavy metals (HMs) toxicity including cadmium (Cd). Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) is one of the plants' strategies to tolerate HMs toxicity. Nitric oxide (NO), as a signaling molecule, is also involved in physiological responses of plants to various stresses. The present work was conducted as a factorial completely randomized design with three replications to study the effects of Funneliformis mosseae fungi and Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 100 mM) as a donor of NO alone, in combination (AMF + SNP) on corn plant growth, and internal detoxification mechanisms of Cd toxicity in a Cd-contaminated calcareous soil (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg Cd kg[-1]). The results showed that under Cd stress, AMF inoculation and/or foliar application of SNP significantly increased plant growth (32% to 103% for shoot and 44% to 84% for root) by decreasing Cd concentration in corn plant tissues (23% to 46% for shoot and 19% to 40% for root). Cd-induced oxidative stress was mitigated by AMF and/or SNP by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and concentration of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin (PC). Increasing the tolerance index (TI) and decreasing the transfer factor (TF) in the corn plants treated with AMF and/or SNP, confirm the efficient role of SNP and AMF in stimulating the detoxification mechanisms of Cd within the plant cells, which was more pronounced at the lowest Cd level (25 mg Cd kg[-1]). In conclusion, symbiotic associations of corn plants with AMF alone or in combination with SNP mitigated the detrimental effect of Cd toxicity in corn grown in Cd-contaminated calcareous soil. The corn's internal detoxification mechanisms lowered the Cd concentration in plant tissue which resulted in the improvement of the corn's growth parameters.}, } @article {pmid37506936, year = {2023}, author = {Feng, ZT and Ma, X and Sun, YJ and Zhou, JM and Liao, ZG and He, ZC and Ding, F and Zhang, QQ}, title = {Promotion of nitrogen removal in a denitrification process elevated by zero-valent iron under low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129566}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129566}, pmid = {37506936}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {The nitrogen removal efficiency and distribution of microbial community in a denitrification process aided by zero-valent iron (ZVI) under low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N) were assessed in this study. Experimental results demonstrated that the nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) increased to 96.4 ± 2.72% and 63.3 ± 4.02% after continuous addition of ZVI with molar ratio of ZVI to nitrate (NO3[-]-N) (ZVI/N) of 6 at C/N of 3 and 2, respectively, which was 4% and 7.7% higher than the blank one. Meanwhile, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) could be used as electron transfer medium and endogenous carbon source for denitrification system and also the production of which increased by 28.43% and 53.10% under ZVI stimulation compared to the control group. Finally, a symbiotic system composed by autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification bacteria was formed by aid of ZVI. This study proposed new insights into denitrification process improved by ZVI.}, } @article {pmid37506055, year = {2023}, author = {Jeong, SY and Alishir, A and Zhang, S and Zhang, Y and Choi, S and Pang, C and Bae, HY and Jung, WH and Kim, KH}, title = {Identification of Obscurolide-Type Metabolites and Antifungal Metabolites from the Termite-Associated Streptomyces neopeptinius BYF101.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00193}, pmid = {37506055}, issn = {1520-6025}, abstract = {Streptomyces spp. are well-known symbiotic microorganisms that produce antimicrobial metabolites against various pathogens. We isolated actinomycetes from the body surface of the termite Odontotermes formosanus and identified it as Streptomyces neopeptinius BYF101 based on 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis. Chemical analysis of the cultures of termite-associated S. neopeptinius BYF101 via HR-MS[2] and GNPS analyses enabled the isolation and identification of 20 metabolites, including the unreported obscurolide-type metabolites (1-3). The chemical structures of unreported compounds (1-3) were elucidated using HR-ESI-MS and 1D and 2D NMR analysis, and their absolute configurations were determined via chemical reactions followed by the application of competing enantioselective acylation (CEA) and computational methods for ECD and DP4+ probability calculation. The isolated compounds (1-20) were tested to determine their antifungal activity against two human fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Among the compounds tested, indole-3-carboxylic acid (9) displayed antifungal activity against C. neoformans, with an MIC value of 12 μg/mL.}, } @article {pmid37504767, year = {2023}, author = {Ye, Y and Zhan, X and Wang, K and Zhong, J and Liao, F and Chen, W and Guo, W}, title = {A Symbiotic Fungus Sistotrema Benefits Blueberry Rejuvenation and Abiotic Stress Tolerance.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9070779}, pmid = {37504767}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {2021C02066-9//the Key Research Project of Science Technology Department of Zhejiang Province/ ; 2018C02007//the Project of the Major Program for Science and Technology of Zhejiang province/ ; 2020-2-006//the Key project for Science and Technology Research Program of Jinhua/ ; 202310345054//the Project of National Undergraduate Innovation Entrepreneurship/ ; }, abstract = {Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) rhizosphere microorganisms can significantly increase the absorption area and improve the efficiency of rhizospheric nutrient uptake. However, there has been little research on blueberry rhizosphere microorganisms, especially those that can complement root function deficiency. In this study, we analyzed the rhizosphere fungi of 'O'Neal,' 'Sharpblue,' and 'Premier' blueberry cultivars and found that 'Premier' blueberries showed strong growth potential and relatively high root regulation ability. The dominant symbiotic fungus Sistotrema was correlated with the strong growth of 'Premier' and was directionally screened and isolated based on conserved gene structures and COG function analysis. This fungus was reinoculated onto the roots of 'Gulfcoast' and 'Star' blueberry cultivars. Sistotrema promoted the growth of blueberries and improved their ability to resist stress and grow under adverse conditions, as indicated by maintained or increased chlorophyll content under such conditions. Further analyses showed that Sistotrema has certain functional characteristics such as the ability to dissolve iron in its insoluble form and then release it, to fix nitrogen, and to inhibit nitrification in soil. Thus, it effectively doubled the soil nitrogen content and increased the soluble iron content in soil by 50%. This investigation indicates sistotrema inoculation as an approach to increase blueberry stress tolerance and complete their root nutrition deficiency.}, } @article {pmid37504600, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Yong, H and Zhang, S and Liu, Z and Zhao, Y}, title = {Colonization Resistance of Symbionts in Their Insect Hosts.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14070594}, pmid = {37504600}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {32272531//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 222103810069//Henan Science and Technology Department/ ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic microbiome is critical in promoting insect resistance against colonization by exogenous microorganisms. The mechanisms by which symbionts contribute to the host's immune capacity is referred to as colonization resistance. Symbionts can protect insects from exogenous pathogens through a variety of mechanisms, including upregulating the expression of host immune-related genes, producing antimicrobial substances, and competitively excluding pathogens. Concordantly, insects have evolved fine-tuned regulatory mechanisms to avoid overactive immune responses against symbionts or specialized cells to harbor symbionts. Alternatively, some symbionts have evolved special adaptations, such as the formation of biofilms to increase their tolerance to host immune responses. Here, we provide a review of the mechanisms about colonization resistance of symbionts in their insect hosts. Adaptations of symbionts and their insect hosts that may maintain such symbiotic relationships, and the significance of such relationships in the coevolution of symbiotic systems are also discussed to provide insights into the in-depth study of the contribution of symbionts to host physiology and behavior.}, } @article {pmid37504589, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, P and Hao, E and Li, H and Yang, X and Lu, P and Qiao, H}, title = {Expression Pattern and Ligand Binding Characteristics Analysis of Chemosensory Protein SnitCSP2 from Sirex nitobei.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14070583}, pmid = {37504589}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {Grant No. 31570643, 81774015//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2017YFD0600103//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; 202110022007//the National Undergraduate Training Programs for Innovation and Entrepreneurship/ ; }, abstract = {Sirex nitobei is an important wood-boring wasp to conifers native to Asia, causing considerable economic and ecological damage. However, the current control means cannot achieve better efficiency, and it is expected to clarify the molecular mechanism of protein-ligand binding for effective pest control. This study analyzed the expression pattern of CSP2 in S. nitobei (SnitCSP2) and its features of binding to the screened ligands using molecular docking and dynamic simulations. The results showed that SnitCSP2 was significantly expressed in female antennae. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations revealed that SnitCSP2 bound better to the host plant volatile (+)-α-pinene and symbiotic fungal volatiles terpene and (-)-globulol than other target ligands. By the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method, the free binding energies of the three complexes were calculated as -44.813 ± 0.189 kJ/mol, -50.446 ± 0.396 kJ/mol, and -56.418 ± 0.368 kJ/mol, and the van der Waals energy was found to contribute significantly to the stability of the complexes. Some key amino acid residues were also identified: VAL13, GLY14, LYS61, MET65, and LYS68 were important for the stable binding of (+)-α-pinene by SnitCSP2, while for terpenes, ILE16, ALA25, TYR26, CYS29, GLU39, THR37, and GLY40 were vital for a stable binding system. We identified three potential ligands and analyzed the interaction patterns of the proteins with them to provide a favorable molecular basis for regulating insect behavioral interactions and developing new pest control strategies.}, } @article {pmid37503354, year = {2023}, author = {Carley, CN and Zubrod, MJ and Dutta, S and Singh, AK}, title = {Using machine learning enabled phenotyping to characterize nodulation in three early vegetative stages in soybean.}, journal = {Crop science}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {204-226}, pmid = {37503354}, issn = {0011-183X}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.)] roots and bacteria (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) lead to the development of nodules, important legume root structures where atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is fixed into bio-available ammonia (NH3) for plant growth and development. With the recent development of the Soybean Nodule Acquisition Pipeline (SNAP), nodules can more easily be quantified and evaluated for genetic diversity and growth patterns across unique soybean root system architectures. We explored six diverse soybean genotypes across three field year combinations in three early vegetative stages of development and report the unique relationships between soybean nodules in the taproot and non-taproot growth zones of diverse root system architectures of these genotypes. We found unique growth patterns in the nodules of taproots showing genotypic differences in how nodules grew in count, size, and total nodule area per genotype compared to non-taproot nodules. We propose that nodulation should be defined as a function of both nodule count and individual nodule area resulting in a total nodule area per root or growth regions of the root. We also report on the relationships between the nodules and total nitrogen in the seed at maturity, finding a strong correlation between the taproot nodules and final seed nitrogen at maturity. The applications of these findings could lead to an enhanced understanding of the plant-Bradyrhizobium relationship and exploring these relationships could lead to leveraging greater nitrogen use efficiency and nodulation carbon to nitrogen production efficiency across the soybean germplasm.}, } @article {pmid37500801, year = {2023}, author = {Esser, SP and Rahlff, J and Zhao, W and Predl, M and Plewka, J and Sures, K and Wimmer, F and Lee, J and Adam, PS and McGonigle, J and Turzynski, V and Banas, I and Schwank, K and Krupovic, M and Bornemann, TLV and Figueroa-Gonzalez, PA and Jarett, J and Rattei, T and Amano, Y and Blaby, IK and Cheng, JF and Brazelton, WJ and Beisel, CL and Woyke, T and Zhang, Y and Probst, AJ}, title = {A predicted CRISPR-mediated symbiosis between uncultivated archaea.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37500801}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {PR1603/2-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; RA3432/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; BE6703/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 1553211//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, abstract = {CRISPR-Cas systems defend prokaryotic cells from invasive DNA of viruses, plasmids and other mobile genetic elements. Here, we show using metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and single-cell genomics that CRISPR systems of widespread, uncultivated archaea can also target chromosomal DNA of archaeal episymbionts of the DPANN superphylum. Using meta-omics datasets from Crystal Geyser and Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, we find that CRISPR spacers of the hosts Candidatus Altiarchaeum crystalense and Ca. A. horonobense, respectively, match putative essential genes in their episymbionts' genomes of the genus Ca. Huberiarchaeum and that some of these spacers are expressed in situ. Metabolic interaction modelling also reveals complementation between host-episymbiont systems, on the basis of which we propose that episymbionts are either parasitic or mutualistic depending on the genotype of the host. By expanding our analysis to 7,012 archaeal genomes, we suggest that CRISPR-Cas targeting of genomes associated with symbiotic archaea evolved independently in various archaeal lineages.}, } @article {pmid37499834, year = {2023}, author = {Solé, M and De Vreese, S and Fortuño, JM and van der Schaar, M}, title = {Artificial sound impact could put at risk hermit crabs and their symbiont anemones.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165756}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165756}, pmid = {37499834}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The sea anemone Calliactis parasitica, which is found in the East Atlantic (Portugal to Senegal) and the Mediterranean Sea, forms a symbiotic relationship with the red hermit crab, Dardanus calidus, in which the anemone provides protection from predators such as the octopus while it gains mobility, and possibly food scraps, from the hermit crab. Acoustic pollution is recognised by the scientific community as a growing threat to ocean inhabitants. Recent findings on marine invertebrates showed that exposure to artificial sound had direct behavioural, physiological and ultrastructural consequences. In this study we assess the impact of artificial sound (received level 157 ± 5 dB re 1 μPa[2] with peak levels up to 175 dB re 1 μPa[2]) on the red hermit crab and its symbiotic sea anemone. Scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed lesions in the statocyst of the red hermit crab and in the tentacle sensory epithelia of its anemone when exposed to low-intensity, low-frequency sounds. These ultrastructural changes under situations of acoustic stress in symbiotic partners belonging to different phyla is a new issue that may limit their survival capacity, and a new challenge in assessing the effects of acoustic disturbance in the oceanic ecosystem. Despite the lesions found in the red hermit crab, its righting reflex time was not as strongly affected showing only an increase in the range of righting times. Given that low-frequency sound levels in the ocean are increasing and that reliable bioacoustic data on invertebrates is very scarce, in light of the results of the present study, we argue that anthropogenic sound effects on invertebrates species may have direct consequences in the entire ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37497544, year = {2023}, author = {Kanyile, SN and Engl, T and Heddi, A and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Endosymbiosis allows Sitophilus oryzae to persist in dry conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1199370}, pmid = {37497544}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insects frequently associate with intracellular microbial symbionts (endosymbionts) that enhance their ability to cope with challenging environmental conditions. Endosymbioses with cuticle-enhancing microbes have been reported in several beetle families. However, the ecological relevance of these associations has seldom been demonstrated, particularly in the context of dry environments where high cuticle quality can reduce water loss. Thus, we investigated how cuticle-enhancing symbionts of the rice-weevil, Sitophilus oryzae contribute to desiccation resistance. We exposed symbiotic and symbiont-free (aposymbiotic) beetles to long-term stressful (47% RH) or relaxed (60% RH) humidity conditions and measured population growth. We found that symbiont presence benefits host fitness especially under dry conditions, enabling symbiotic beetles to increase their population size by over 33-fold within 3 months, while aposymbiotic beetles fail to increase in numbers beyond the starting population in the same conditions. To understand the mechanisms underlying this drastic effect, we compared beetle size and body water content and found that endosymbionts confer bigger body size and higher body water content. While chemical analyses revealed no significant differences in composition and quantity of cuticular hydrocarbons after long-term exposure to desiccation stress, symbiotic beetles lost water at a proportionally slower rate than did their aposymbiotic counterparts. We posit that the desiccation resistance and higher fitness observed in symbiotic beetles under dry conditions is due to their symbiont-enhanced thicker cuticle, which provides protection against cuticular transpiration. Thus, we demonstrate that the cuticle enhancing symbiosis of Sitophilus oryzae confers a fitness benefit under drought stress, an ecologically relevant condition for grain pest beetles. This benefit likely extends to many other systems where symbiont-mediated cuticle synthesis has been identified, including taxa spanning beetles and ants that occupy different ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid37497538, year = {2023}, author = {Jha, P and Kaur, T and Chhabra, I and Panja, A and Paul, S and Kumar, V and Malik, T}, title = {Endophytic fungi: hidden treasure chest of antimicrobial metabolites interrelationship of endophytes and metabolites.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1227830}, pmid = {37497538}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi comprise host-associated fungal communities which thrive within the tissues of host plants and produce a diverse range of secondary metabolites with various bioactive attributes. The metabolites such as phenols, polyketides, saponins, alkaloids help to mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, fight against pathogen attacks and enhance the plant immune system. We present an overview of the association of endophytic fungal communities with a plant host and discuss molecular mechanisms induced during their symbiotic interaction. The overview focuses on the secondary metabolites (especially those of terpenoid nature) secreted by endophytic fungi and their respective function. The recent advancement in multi-omics approaches paved the way for identification of these metabolites and their characterization via comparative analysis of extensive omics datasets. This study also elaborates on the role of diverse endophytic fungi associated with key agricultural crops and hence important for sustainability of agriculture.}, } @article {pmid37494415, year = {2023}, author = {Mashiguchi, K and Morita, R and Tanaka, K and Kodama, K and Kameoka, H and Kyozuka, J and Seto, Y and Yamaguchi, S}, title = {Activation of strigolactone biosynthesis by the DWARF14-LIKE/KARRIKIN-INSENSITIVE2 pathway in mycorrhizal angiosperms, but not in Arabidopsis, a non-mycorrhizal plant.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad079}, pmid = {37494415}, issn = {1471-9053}, support = {JPMJCR13B1//Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology/ ; JP19H02892 JP20H05684 JP23H02149 JP23H05409//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP17H06474 JP24114010//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology KAKENHI/ ; 2023-132//the International Collaborative Research Program of Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University/ ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones that regulate many aspects of plant growth and development. SLs also improve symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere. Recent studies have shown that the DWARF14-LIKE (D14L)/ KARRIKIN-INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2) family, paralogs of the SL receptor D14, are required for AMF colonization in several flowering plants, including rice. In this study, we found that (-)-GR5, a (2'S)-configured enantiomer of a synthetic SL analog (+)-GR5, significantly activated SL biosynthesis in rice roots via D14L. This result is consistent with a recent report showing that the D14L pathway positively regulates SL biosynthesis in rice. In fact, the SL levels tended to be lower in the roots of the d14l mutant under both inorganic nutrient-deficient and -sufficient conditions. We also show that the increase in SL levels by (-)-GR5 was observed in other mycorrhizal plant species. In contrast, the KAI2 pathway did not upregulate the SL level and the expression of SL biosynthetic genes in Arabidopsis, a non-mycorrhizal plant. We also examined whether the KAI2 pathway enhances SL biosynthesis in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea, where SL functions as a rhizosphere signaling molecule for AMF. However, the SL level and SL biosynthetic genes were not positively regulated by the KAI2 pathway. These results imply that the activation of SL biosynthesis by the D14L/KAI2 pathway has been evolutionarily acquired after the divergence of bryophytes to efficiently promote symbiosis with AMF, although we cannot exclude the possibility that liverworts have specifically lost this regulatory system.}, } @article {pmid37493648, year = {2023}, author = {Breusing, C and Xiao, Y and Russell, SL and Corbett-Detig, RB and Li, S and Sun, J and Chen, C and Lan, Y and Qian, PY and Beinart, RA}, title = {Ecological differences among hydrothermal vent symbioses may drive contrasting patterns of symbiont population differentiation.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0028423}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00284-23}, pmid = {37493648}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The intra-host composition of horizontally transmitted microbial symbionts can vary across host populations due to interactive effects of host genetics, environmental, and geographic factors. While adaptation to local habitat conditions can drive geographic subdivision of symbiont strains, it is unknown how differences in ecological characteristics among host-symbiont associations influence the genomic structure of symbiont populations. To address this question, we sequenced metagenomes of different populations of the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus septemdierum, which are common at Western Pacific deep-sea hydrothermal vents and show characteristic patterns of niche partitioning with sympatric gastropod symbioses. Bathymodiolus septemdierum lives in close symbiotic relationship with sulfur-oxidizing chemosynthetic bacteria but supplements its symbiotrophic diet through filter-feeding, enabling it to occupy ecological niches with little exposure to geochemical reductants. Our analyses indicate that symbiont populations associated with B. septemdierum show structuring by geographic location, but that the dominant symbiont strain is uncorrelated with vent site. These patterns are in contrast to co-occurring Alviniconcha and Ifremeria gastropod symbioses that exhibit greater symbiont nutritional dependence and occupy habitats with higher spatial variability in environmental conditions. Our results suggest that relative habitat homogeneity combined with sufficient symbiont dispersal and genomic mixing might promote persistence of similar symbiont strains across geographic locations, while mixotrophy might decrease selective pressures on the host to affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains. Overall, these data contribute to our understanding of the potential mechanisms influencing symbiont population structure across a spectrum of marine microbial symbioses that occupy contrasting ecological niches. IMPORTANCE Beneficial relationships between animals and microbial organisms (symbionts) are ubiquitous in nature. In the ocean, microbial symbionts are typically acquired from the environment and their composition across geographic locations is often shaped by adaptation to local habitat conditions. However, it is currently unknown how generalizable these patterns are across symbiotic systems that have contrasting ecological characteristics. To address this question, we compared symbiont population structure between deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels and co-occurring but ecologically distinct snail species. Our analyses show that mussel symbiont populations are less partitioned by geography and do not demonstrate evidence for environmental adaptation. We posit that the mussel's mixotrophic feeding mode may lower its need to affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains, while microhabitat stability and symbiont genomic mixing likely favors persistence of symbiont strains across geographic locations. Altogether, these findings further our understanding of the mechanisms shaping symbiont population structure in marine environmentally transmitted symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37492462, year = {2023}, author = {Six, DL and Biedermann, PHW}, title = {Fidelity or love the one you're with? Biotic complexity and tradeoffs can drive strategy and specificity in beetle-fungus by-product mutualisms.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e10345}, pmid = {37492462}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {By-product mutualisms are ubiquitous yet seldom considered in models of mutualism. Most models represent conditional mutualisms that shift between mutualism and antagonism in response to shifts in costs and benefits resulting from changes in environmental quality. However, in by-product mutualisms, benefits arise as a part of normal life processes that may be costly to produce but incur little-to-no additional costs in response to the interaction. Without costs associated with the interaction, they do not have antagonistic alternate states. Here, we present a conceptual model that differs from traditional conditional models in three ways: (1) partners exchange by-product benefits, (2) interactions do not have alternate antagonistic states, and (3) tradeoffs are allowed among factors that influence environmental quality (rather than all factors that contribute to environmental quality being combined into a single gradient ranging from high to low). We applied this model to bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a diverse group that associates with fungi and that has repeatedly developed two distinct pathways to by-product mutualism. We used independent axes for each major factor influencing environmental quality in these systems, including those that exhibit tradeoffs (tree defense and nutritional quality). For these symbioses, tradeoffs in these two factors are key to which mutualism pathway is taken.}, } @article {pmid37490853, year = {2023}, author = {Rahman, A and Manci, M and Nadon, C and Perez, IA and Farsamin, WF and Lampe, MT and Le, TH and Torres Martínez, L and Weisberg, AJ and Chang, JH and Sachs, JL}, title = {Competitive interference among rhizobia reduces benefits to hosts.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {14}, pages = {2988-3001.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.081}, pmid = {37490853}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {The capacity of beneficial microbes to compete for host infection-and the ability of hosts to discriminate among them-introduces evolutionary conflict that is predicted to destabilize mutualism. We investigated fitness outcomes in associations between legumes and their symbiotic rhizobia to characterize fitness impacts of microbial competition. Diverse Bradyrhizobium strains varying in their capacity to fix nitrogen symbiotically with a common host plant, Acmispon strigosus, were tested in full-factorial coinoculation experiments involving 28 pairwise strain combinations. We analyzed the effects of interstrain competition and host discrimination on symbiotic-interaction outcomes by relativizing fitness proxies to clonally infected and uninfected controls. More than one thousand root nodules of coinoculated plants were genotyped to quantify strain occupancy, and the Bradyrhizobium strain genome sequences were analyzed to uncover the genetic bases of interstrain competition outcomes. Strikingly, interstrain competition favored a fast-growing, minimally beneficial rhizobia strain. Host benefits were significantly diminished in coinoculation treatments relative to expectations from clonally inoculated controls, consistent with competitive interference among rhizobia that reduced both nodulation and plant growth. Competition traits appear polygenic, linked with inter-strain allelopathic interactions in the rhizosphere. This study confirms that competition among strains can destabilize mutualism by favoring microbes that are superior in colonizing host tissues but provide minimal benefits to host plants. Moreover, our findings help resolve the paradox that despite efficient host control post infection, legumes nonetheless encounter rhizobia that vary in their nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37490823, year = {2023}, author = {Duc, NH and Szentpéteri, V and Mayer, Z and Posta, K}, title = {Distinct impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal isolates on tomato plant tolerance to drought combined with chronic and acute heat stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {201}, number = {}, pages = {107892}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107892}, pmid = {37490823}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi could mitigate individual drought and heat stress in host plants. However, there are still major gaps in our understanding of AM symbiosis response to the combined stresses. Here, we compared seven AM fungi, Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, Funneliformis geosporum, Funneliformis verruculosum, Funneliformis coronatum, Septoglomus deserticola, Septoglomus constrictum, distributed to many world regions in terms of their impacts on tomato endurance to combined drought and chronic heat as well as combined drought and heat shock. A multidisciplinary approach including morphometric, ecophysiological, biochemical, targeted metabolic (by ultrahigh-performance LC-MS), and molecular analyses was applied. The variation among AM fungi isolates in the enhancement in leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic activity, and maximal PSII photochemical efficiency, proline accumulation, antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, CAT), and lowered ROS markers (H2O2, MDA) in host plants under combined stresses were observed. S. constrictum inoculation could better enhanced the host plant physiology and biochemical parameters, while F. geosporum colonization less positively influenced the host plants than other treatments under both combined stresses. F. mosseae- and S. constrictum-associated plants showed the common AM-induced modifications and AM species-specific alterations in phytohormones (ABA, SA, JA, IAA), aquaporin (SlSIP1-2; SlTIP2-3; SlNIP2-1; SlPIP2-1) and abiotic stress-responsive genes (SlAREB1, SlLEA, SlHSP70, SlHSP90) in host plants under combined stresses. Altogether, mycorrhizal mitigation of the negative impacts of drought + prolonged heat and drought + acute heat, with the variation among different AM fungi isolates, depending on the specific combined stress and stress duration.}, } @article {pmid37489874, year = {2023}, author = {Bhattacharya, U and Lamprou, T and Maxwell, AS and Ordonez, A and Pisanty, E and Rivera-Dean, J and Stammer, P and Ciappina, MF and Lewenstein, M and Tzallas, P}, title = {Strong-laser-field physics, non-classical light states and quantum information science.}, journal = {Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1088/1361-6633/acea31}, pmid = {37489874}, issn = {1361-6633}, abstract = {Strong--laser--field physics is a research direction that relies on the use of high-power lasers and has led to fascinating achievements ranging from relativistic particle acceleration to attosecond science. On the other hand, quantum optics has been built on the use of low photon number sources and has opened the way for groundbreaking discoveries in quantum technology, advancing investigations ranging from fundamental tests of quantum theory to quantum information processing. Despite the tremendous progress, until recently these directions have remained disconnected. This is because, the majority of the interactions in the strong-field limit have been successfully described by semi-classical approximations treating the electromagnetic field classically, as there was no need to include the quantum properties of the field to explain the observations. The link between strong--laser--field physics, quantum optics, and quantum information science has been developed in the recent past. Studies based on fully quantized and conditioning approaches have shown that intense laser--matter interactions can be used for the generation of controllable entangled and non-classical light states. These achievements open the way for a vast number of investigations stemming from the symbiosis of strong--laser--field physics, quantum optics, and quantum information science. Here, after an introduction to the fundamentals of these research directions, we report on the recent progress in the fully quantized description of intense laser--matter interaction and the methods that have been developed for the generation of non-classical light states and entangled states. Also, we discuss the future directions of non-classical light engineering using strong laser fields, and the potential applications in ultrafast and quantum information science.}, } @article {pmid37489639, year = {2023}, author = {Kodama, K and Xie, X and Kyozuka, J}, title = {The D14 and KAI2 Orthologs of Gymnosperms Sense Strigolactones and KL Mimics, Respectively, and the Signals Are Transduced to Control Downstream Genes.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad072}, pmid = {37489639}, issn = {1471-9053}, support = {17H06475 20H05684//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Canon foundation/ ; 17H06475 20H05684//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Canon foundation/ ; 17H06475 20H05684//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Canon foundation/ ; 17H06475 20H05684//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Canon foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), lactone-containing carotenoid derivatives, function as signaling molecules in the rhizosphere, inducing symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal. In addition, as a class of plant hormones, SLs control plant growth and development in flowering plants (angiosperms). Recent studies show that the ancestral function of SLs, which precede terrestrialization of plants, is as rhizosphere signaling molecules. SLs were then recruited as a class of plant hormones through the step-by-step acquisition of signaling components. The D14 gene encoding the SL receptor arose by gene duplication of KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2), the receptor of karrikins and KAI2 ligand (KL), an unknown ligand, in the common ancestor of seed plants. KL signaling targets SMAX1, a repressor protein. On the other hand, the SL signaling targets SMXL78 subclade repressors, which arose by duplication of SMAX1 in angiosperms. Thus, gymnosperms contain the SL receptor D14 but not SMXL78, the SL signaling-specific repressor proteins. We studied two gymnosperm species, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata), to clarify whether SLs are perceived and the signals are transduced in gymnosperms. We show that D14 and KAI2 of ginkgo and Japanese umbrella pine specifically perceive an SL analog and KL mimic, respectively. Furthermore, our results suggest that both SL signaling and KL signaling target SMAX1, and the specific localization of the receptor may result in the specificity of the signaling in gymnosperms.}, } @article {pmid37488173, year = {2023}, author = {da Silva Soares, NF and Quagliariello, A and Yigitturk, S and Martino, ME}, title = {Gut microbes predominantly act as living beneficial partners rather than raw nutrients.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {11981}, pmid = {37488173}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {Starting Grant 2017 D.R. 872/2017//Università degli Studi di Padova/ ; }, abstract = {Animals and their gut microbes mutually benefit their health. Nutrition plays a central role in this, directly influencing both host and microbial fitness and the nature of their interactions. This makes nutritional symbioses a complex and dynamic tri-system of diet-microbiota-host. Despite recent discoveries on this field, full control over the interplay among these partners is challenging and hinders the resolution of fundamental questions, such as how to parse the gut microbes' effect as raw nutrition or as symbiotic partners? To tackle this, we made use of the well-characterized Drosophila melanogaster/Lactiplantibacillus plantarum experimental model of nutritional symbiosis to generate a quantitative framework of gut microbes' effect on the host. By coupling experimental assays and Random Forest analysis, we show that the beneficial effect of L. plantarum strains primarily results from the active relationship as symbionts rather than raw nutrients, regardless of the bacterial strain. Metabolomic analysis of both active and inactive bacterial cells further demonstrated the crucial role of the production of beneficial bacterial metabolites, such as N-acetylated-amino-acids, as result of active bacterial growth and function. Altogether, our results provide a ranking and quantification of the main bacterial features contributing to sustain animal growth. We demonstrate that bacterial activity is the predominant and necessary variable involved in bacteria-mediated benefit, followed by strain-specific properties and the nutritional potential of the bacterial cells. This contributes to elucidate the role of beneficial bacteria and probiotics, creating a broad quantitative framework for host-gut microbiome that can be expanded to other model systems.}, } @article {pmid37488011, year = {2023}, author = {Seo Jeon, M and Han, SI and Ahn, JW and Jung, JH and Choi, JS and Choi, YE}, title = {Endophyte Bacillus tequilensis improves the growth of microalgae Haematococcus lacustris by regulating host cell metabolism.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129546}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129546}, pmid = {37488011}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {This study identified an endosymbiotic bacterium, Bacillus tequilensis, residing within the cells of the microalga Haematococcus lacustris through 16S rRNA analysis. To confirm the optimal interactive conditions between H. lacustris and B. tequilensis, the effects of different ratios of cells using H. lacustris of different growth stages were examined. Under optimized conditions, the cell density, dry weight, chlorophyll content, and astaxanthin content of H. lacustris increased significantly, and the fatty acid content improved 1.99-fold. Microscopy demonstrated the presence of bacteria within the H. lacustris cells. The interaction upregulated amino acid and nucleotide metabolism in H. lacustris. Interestingly, muramic and phenylacetic acids were found exclusively in H. lacustris cells in the presence of B. tequilensis. Furthermore, B. tequilensis delayed pigment degradation in H. lacustris. This study reveals the impact of the endosymbiont B. tequilensis on the metabolism of H. lacustris and offers new perspectives on the symbiotic relationship between them.}, } @article {pmid37487539, year = {2023}, author = {Formenti, F and Cortés, A and Deiana, M and Salter, S and Parkhill, J and Berriman, M and Rinaldi, G and Cantacessi, C}, title = {The human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, harbours bacteria throughout the parasite's life cycle.}, journal = {The Journal of infectious diseases}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/infdis/jiad288}, pmid = {37487539}, issn = {1537-6613}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between invertebrates and bacteria have been extensively described; nevertheless, studies of microbial communities inhabiting parasitic worms remain scarce. Exploring the microbiota associated with helminths responsible for major infectious diseases will inform on parasite biology, host-pathogen interactions, and disease pathophysiology. We investigated the presence of microorganisms inhabiting tissues of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. In situ hybridisation using a pan-bacterial 16S rRNA gene probe revealed bacteria colonising key developmental stages that were successfully removed after antibiotic treatment of live parasites. Understanding the composition and function of S. mansoni-associated microbiota may lead to the development of novel microbiome-targeted control strategies.}, } @article {pmid37487102, year = {2023}, author = {Ingham, CS and Engl, T and Matarrita-Carranza, B and Vogler, P and Huettel, B and Wielsch, N and Svatoš, A and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Host hydrocarbons protect symbiont transmission from a radical host defense.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {31}, pages = {e2302721120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2302721120}, pmid = {37487102}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {KA2846/2-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; KA2846/7-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; ERC CoG 819585 "SYMBeetle"//EC | European Research Council (ERC)/ ; }, abstract = {Symbioses with microbes play a pivotal role in the evolutionary success of insects, and can lead to intimate host-symbiont associations. However, how the host maintains a stable symbiosis with its beneficial partners while keeping antagonistic microbes in check remains incompletely understood. Here, we uncover a mechanism by which a host protects its symbiont from the host's own broad-range antimicrobial defense during transmission. Beewolves, a group of solitary digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), provide their brood cells with symbiotic Streptomyces bacteria that are later transferred to the cocoon and protect the offspring from opportunistic pathogens by producing antibiotics. In the brood cell, however, the symbiont-containing secretion is exposed to a toxic burst of nitric oxide (NO) released by the beewolf egg, which effectively kills antagonistic microorganisms. How the symbiont survives this lethal NO burst remained unknown. Here, we report that upon NO exposure in vitro, the symbionts mount a global stress response, but this is insufficient to ensure survival at brood cell-level NO concentrations. Instead, in vivo bioassays demonstrate that the host's antennal gland secretion (AGS) surrounding the symbionts in the brood cell provides an effective diffusion barrier against NO. This physicochemical protection can be reconstituted in vitro by beewolf hydrocarbon extracts and synthetic hydrocarbons, indicating that the host-derived long-chain alkenes and alkanes in the AGS are responsible for shielding the symbionts from NO. Our results reveal how host adaptations can protect a symbiont from host-generated oxidative and nitrosative stress during transmission, thereby efficiently balancing pathogen defense and mutualism maintenance.}, } @article {pmid37486583, year = {2023}, author = {Zaman, R and Antonioli, F and Shah, A and Ullah, A and May, C and Klutsch, JG and Erbilgin, N}, title = {A Pine in Distress: How Infection by Different Pathogenic Fungi Affect Lodgepole Pine Chemical Defenses.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37486583}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {In North America, lodgepole pine is frequently subjected to attacks by various biotic agents that compromise its ability to defend against subsequent attacks by insect herbivores. We investigated whether infections of lodgepole pine by different pathogenic fungal species have varying effects on its defense chemistry. We selected two common pathogens, Atropellis canker, Atropellis piniphila, and western gall rust, Endocronartium harknessii, affecting mature lodgepole pine trees in western Canada. We also included three ophiostomatoid fungi Grosmannia clavigera, Ophiostoma montium, and Leptographium longiclavatum associated with the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), because they are commonly used to investigate induced defenses of host trees of bark beetles. We collected phloem samples from lodgepole pines infected with the rust or the canker and healthy lodgepole pines in the same stand. We also inoculated mature lodgepole pines with the three fungal symbionts and collected phloem samples 2 weeks later when the defense chemistry was at its highest level. Different fungal species differentially altered the terpene chemistry of lodgepole pine trees. E. harknessii and the fungal symbionts altered the terpene chemistry in a similar pattern while trees responded to the infection by the A. piniphila differently. Our study highlights the importance of considering specific biotic stress agents in tree susceptibility or resistance to the subsequent attacks by insect herbivores, such as mountain pine beetle.}, } @article {pmid37486265, year = {2023}, author = {Seto, K and Simmons, DR and Quandt, CA and Frenken, T and Dirks, AC and Clemons, RA and McKindles, KM and McKay, RML and James, TY}, title = {A combined microscopy and single-cell sequencing approach reveals the ecology, morphology, and phylogeny of uncultured lineages of zoosporic fungi.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0131323}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.01313-23}, pmid = {37486265}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Environmental DNA analyses of fungal communities typically reveal a much larger diversity than can be ascribed to known species. Much of this hidden diversity lies within undescribed fungal lineages, especially the early diverging fungi (EDF). Although these EDF often represent new lineages even at the phylum level, they have never been cultured, making their morphology and ecology uncertain. One of the methods to characterize these uncultured fungi is a single-cell DNA sequencing approach. In this study, we established a large data set of single-cell sequences of EDF by manually isolating and photographing parasitic fungi on various hosts such as algae, protists, and micro-invertebrates, combined with subsequent long-read sequencing of the ribosomal DNA locus (rDNA). We successfully obtained rDNA sequences of 127 parasitic fungal cells, which clustered into 71 phylogenetic lineages belonging to seven phylum-level clades of EDF: Blastocladiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Rozellomycota, and three unknown phylum-level clades. Most of our single cells yielded novel sequences distinguished from both described taxa and existing metabarcoding data, indicating an expansive and hidden diversity of parasitic taxa of EDF. We also revealed an unexpected diversity of endobiotic Olpidium-like chytrids and hyper-parasitic lineages. Overall, by combining photographs of parasitic fungi with phylogenetic analyses, we were able to better understand the ecological function and morphology of many of the branches on the fungal tree of life known only from DNA sequences. IMPORTANCE Much of the diversity of microbes from natural habitats, such as soil and freshwater, comprise species and lineages that have never been isolated into pure culture. In part, this stems from a bias of culturing in favor of saprotrophic microbes over the myriad symbiotic ones that include parasitic and mutualistic relationships with other taxa. In the present study, we aimed to shed light on the ecological function and morphology of the many undescribed lineages of aquatic fungi by individually isolating and sequencing molecular barcodes from 127 cells of host-associated fungi using single-cell sequencing. By adding these sequences and their photographs into the fungal tree, we were able to understand the morphology of reproductive and vegetative structures of these novel fungi and to provide a hypothesized ecological function for them. These individual host-fungal cells revealed themselves to be complex environments despite their small size; numerous samples were hyper-parasitized with other zoosporic fungal lineages such as Rozellomycota.}, } @article {pmid37486074, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and He, X and Lin, Y and Li, YX and Kamenev, GM and Li, J and Qiu, JW and Sun, J}, title = {Reduced chemosymbiont genome in the methane seep thyasirid and the cooperated metabolisms in the holobiont under anaerobic sediment.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13846}, pmid = {37486074}, issn = {1755-0998}, support = {LSKJ202203104//Science and Technology Innovation Project of Laoshan Laboratory/ ; 202172002//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 202241002//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 12101021//General Research Fund of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region/ ; KF2022NO03//Open Fund of CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology/ ; tsqn202103036//Young Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province/ ; }, abstract = {Previous studies have deciphered the genomic basis of host-symbiont metabolic complementarity in vestimentiferans, bathymodioline mussels, vesicomyid clams and Alviniconcha snails, yet little is known about the chemosynthetic symbiosis in Thyasiridae-a family of Bivalvia regarded as an excellent model in chemosymbiosis research due to their wide distribution in both deep-sea and shallow-water habitats. We report the first circular thyasirid symbiont genome, named Candidatus Ruthturnera sp. Tsphm01, with a size of 1.53 Mb, 1521 coding genes and 100% completeness. Compared to its free-living relatives, Ca. Ruthturnera sp. Tsphm01 genome is reduced, lacking components for chemotaxis, citric acid cycle and de novo biosynthesis of small molecules (e.g. amino acids and cofactors), indicating it is likely an obligate intracellular symbiont. Nevertheless, the symbiont retains complete genomic components of sulphur oxidation and assimilation of inorganic carbon, and these systems were highly and actively expressed. Moreover, the symbiont appears well-adapted to anoxic environment, including capable of anaerobic respiration (i.e. reductions of DMSO and nitrate) and possession of a low oxygen-adapted type of cytochrome c oxidase. Analysis of the host transcriptome revealed its metabolic complementarity to the incomplete metabolic pathways of the symbiont and the acquisition of nutrients from the symbiont via phagocytosis and exosome. By providing the first complete genome of reduced size in a thyasirid symbiont, this study enhances our understanding of the diversity of symbiosis that has enabled bivalves to thrive in chemosynthetic habitats. The resources will be widely used in phylogenetic, geographic and evolutionary studies of chemosynthetic bacteria and bivalves.}, } @article {pmid37485523, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Liu, L and Hu, D and Wang, ET and Gu, C and Wang, H}, title = {Diversity of common bean rhizobia in blackland of northeastern China and their symbiotic compatibility with two host varieties.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1195307}, pmid = {37485523}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important crop in the world that forms root nodules with diverse rhizobia. Aiming to learn the rhizobial communities associated with the common bean in the black soil of Northeast China, 79 rhizobia were isolated from root nodules of two host varieties (Cuican and Jiadouwang) grown in two sites of blackland and were characterized by comparative sequence analyses of 16S rRNA, recA, atpD, nodC, and nifH genes, and whole genome. As a result, Rhizobium indigoferae, R. anhuiense, and R. croatiense as minor groups and three dominant novel Rhizobium species were identified based on their average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA hybridization values to the type strains of relative species. This community composition of rhizobia associated with the common bean in the tested black soils was unique. Despite their different species affiliations, all of them were identified into the symbiovar phaseoli according to the phylogenies of symbiotic genes, nodC and nifH. While the phylogenetic discrepancies found in nodC, nifH evidenced that the evolutions of nodulation (nod) and nitrogen fixation (nif) genes were partially independent. In addition, only one dominant rhizobial species was shared by the two common bean varieties grown in the two soil samples, implying that both the plant variety and the soil characteristics affected the compatibility between rhizobia and their hosts. These findings further enlarged the spectrum of common bean-nodulating rhizobia and added more information about the interactions among the soil factors, rhizobial species, and host plants in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37485511, year = {2023}, author = {Kucuk, RA and Campbell, BJ and Lyon, NJ and Shelby, EA and Caterino, MS}, title = {Gut bacteria of adult and larval Cotinis nitida Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) demonstrate community differences according to respective life stage and gut region.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1185661}, pmid = {37485511}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The close association between bacteria and insect hosts has played an indispensable role in insect diversity and ecology. Thus, continued characterization of such insect-associated-microbial communities is imperative, especially those of saprophagous scarab beetles. The bacterial community of the digestive tract of adults and larvae of the cetoniine scarab species Cotinis nitida is characterized according to life stage, gut structure, and sex via high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Through permutational ANOVAs of the resulting sequences, bacterial communities of the digestive system are shown to differ significantly between adults and larvae in taxon richness, evenness and relatedness. Significant bacterial community-level differences are also observed between the midgut and hindgut in adult beetles, while no significant host-sex differences are observed. The partitioning between bacterial communities in the larval digestive system is shown through significant differences in two distinct hindgut regions, the ileum and the expanded paunch, but not between the midgut and ileum portion of the hindgut region. These data further corroborate the hypothesis of strong community partitioning in the gut of members of the Scarabaeoidea, suggest hypotheses of physiological-digestive association, and also demonstrate the presence of a seemingly unusual non-scarab-associated taxon. These findings contribute to a general portrait of scarabaeoid digestive tract bacterial communities while illuminating the microbiome of a common new world cetoniine of the Gymnetini-a tribe largely neglected in scarab and beetle microbiome and symbiosis literature.}, } @article {pmid37484463, year = {2023}, author = {Limami, AM and Hirel, B}, title = {Editorial: The role of nitrate in plant response to biotic and abiotic stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1240256}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1240256}, pmid = {37484463}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37483240, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Yang, Y and Zeng, Q}, title = {Research on Coal Gangue Recognition Based on Multi-source Time-Frequency Domain Feature Fusion.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {28}, pages = {25221-25235}, pmid = {37483240}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The over-exploitation of resources caused by the increasing coal demand has resulted in a sharp increase in solid waste emissions mainly gangue, which has made the burden on the environment, economy, resources, and society of our country heavier. In order to achieve a balance between energy consumption and solid waste emission in the process of top coal caving, this study carried out coal gangue recognition research based on multi-source time-frequency domain feature fusion (MS-TFDF-F). First, the process of coal gangue symbiosis and the harm of gangue in top coal caving are analyzed, and the fundamental method of comprehensive treatment of gangue is put forward, which is the accurate recognition of the coal gangue interface. Second, by building a top coal caving simulation test bed, the MS signals generated in the caving process of the coal gangue mixture with a gangue content of 0-100% are collected and the TFDFs are extracted. Third, the MS-TFDF-F-based coal gangue recognition model is established. Then, the recognition effect of the two TFDF-F sample sets was compared, and the results show that the time-frequency domain feature selection fusion method (TFDFS-FM) has higher accuracy. On this basis, this paper studies the variation law of the number of sensors on the coal gangue recognition accuracy of MS information fusion. Finally, the economic, social, environmental, and resource benefits of the model are qualitatively described. The final results show that the MS-TFDF-F-based coal gangue recognition model has the strongest recognition ability when fusing six sensor signals, and the recognition accuracy reaches 99% under the AdaBoost algorithm. The establishment of this model brings huge benefits to China's environment, economy, resources, and society, and it is helpful to realize the balance between loss reduction mining and solid waste emission reduction in the process of top coal caving.}, } @article {pmid37482960, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, Y and Rutten, G and Liu, X and Ma, M and Song, Z and Maaroufi, NI and Zhou, S}, title = {Host plant height explains the effect of nitrogen enrichment on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19140}, pmid = {37482960}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {U22A20449:31830009//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; KYQD (ZR)-20081//Fundamental Research Funds in Hainan University/ ; //China Scholarship Council/ ; FORMAS 2018-00748//Swedish Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) enrichment is widely known to affect the root-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community in different ways, for example, via altering soil properties and/or shifting host plant functional structure. However, empirical knowledge of their relative importance is still lacking. Using a long-term N addition experiment, we measured the AMF community taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity at the single plant species (roots of 15 plant species) and plant community (mixed roots) levels. We also measured four functional traits of 35 common plant species along the N addition gradient. We found divergent responses of AMF diversity to N addition for host plants with different innate heights (i.e. plant natural height under unfertilized treatment). Furthermore, our data showed that species-specific responses of AMF diversity to N addition were negatively related to the change in maximum plant height. When scaling up to the community level, N addition affected AMF diversity mainly through increasing the maximum plant height, rather than altering soil properties. Our results highlight the importance of plant height in driving AMF community dynamics under N enrichment at both species and community levels, thus providing important implications for understanding the response of AMF diversity to anthropogenic N deposition.}, } @article {pmid37481992, year = {2023}, author = {Makaranga, A and Jutur, PP}, title = {Dynamic metabolomic crosstalk between Chlorella saccharophila and its new symbiotic bacteria enhances lutein production in microalga without compromising its biomass.}, journal = {Enzyme and microbial technology}, volume = {170}, number = {}, pages = {110291}, doi = {10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110291}, pmid = {37481992}, issn = {1879-0909}, abstract = {The microalgae Chlorella saccharophila UTEX247 was co-cultured with its symbiotic indigenous isolated bacterial strain, Exiguobacterium sp., to determine the possible effects of bacteria on microalgae growth and lutein productivity. Under optimal conditions, the lutein productivity of co-culture was 298.97 µg L[-1] d[-1], which was nearly 1.45-fold higher compared to monocultures i.e., 103.3 µg L[-1] d[-1]. The highest lutein productivities were obtained in co-cultures, accompanied by a significant increase in cell biomass up to 0.84-fold. These conditions were analyzed using an untargeted metabolomics approach to identify metabolites enhancing valuable renewables, i.e., lutein, without compromising growth. Our qualitative metabolomic analysis identified nearly 30 (microalgae alone), 41 (bacteria alone), and 75 (co-cultures) metabolites, respectively. Among these, 46 metabolites were unique in the co-culture alone. The co-culture interactions significantly altered the role of metabolites such as thiamine precursors, reactive sugar anomers like furanose and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Nevertheless, the central metabolism cycle upregulation depicted increased availability of carbon skeletons, leading to increased cell biomass and pigments. In conclusion, the co-cultures induce the production of relevant metabolites which regulate growth and lutein simultaneously in C. saccharophila UTEX247, which paves the way for a new perspective in microalgal biorefineries.}, } @article {pmid37483657, year = {2022}, author = {Ong, T and Wilczewski, H and Soni, H and Nisbet, Q and Paige, SR and Barrera, JF and Welch, BM and Bunnell, BE}, title = {The Symbiosis of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy and Telemental Health: A Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in virtual reality}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37483657}, issn = {2673-4192}, abstract = {Phobias and related anxiety are common and costly mental health disorders. Experts anticipate the prevalence of phobias will increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposure therapies have been established as effective and reliable treatments for anxiety, including recent innovations in virtual reality-based exposure therapy (VRET). With the recent advent of telemental health (TMH), VRET is poised to become mainstream. The combination of VRET and TMH has the potential to extend provider treatment options and improve patient care experiences. In this narrative review, we describe how recent events have accelerated VRET + TMH, identify barriers to VRET + TMH implementation, and discuss strategies to navigate those barriers.}, } @article {pmid37481685, year = {2023}, author = {Leiva, C and Pérez-Portela, R and Lemer, S}, title = {Genomic signatures suggesting adaptation to ocean acidification in a coral holobiont from volcanic CO2 seeps.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {769}, pmid = {37481685}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {Ocean acidification, caused by anthropogenic CO2 emissions, is predicted to have major consequences for reef-building corals, jeopardizing the scaffolding of the most biodiverse marine habitats. However, whether corals can adapt to ocean acidification and how remains unclear. We addressed these questions by re-examining transcriptome and genome data of Acropora millepora coral holobionts from volcanic CO2 seeps with end-of-century pH levels. We show that adaptation to ocean acidification is a wholistic process involving the three main compartments of the coral holobiont. We identified 441 coral host candidate adaptive genes involved in calcification, response to acidification, and symbiosis; population genetic differentiation in dinoflagellate photosymbionts; and consistent transcriptional microbiome activity despite microbial community shifts. Coral holobionts from natural analogues to future ocean conditions harbor beneficial genetic variants with far-reaching rapid adaptation potential. In the face of climate change, these populations require immediate conservation strategies as they could become key to coral reef survival.}, } @article {pmid37481658, year = {2023}, author = {Petrosyan, K and Thijs, S and Piwowarczyk, R and Ruraż, K and Kaca, W and Vangronsveld, J}, title = {Diversity and potential plant growth promoting capacity of seed endophytic bacteria of the holoparasite Cistanche phelypaea (Orobanchaceae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {11835}, pmid = {37481658}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BOF21BL12//Universiteit Hasselt/ ; SUPB.RN.23.236//Jan Kochanowski University/ ; 2023-2024//Jan Kochanowski University/ ; }, abstract = {Salt marshes are highly dynamic, biologically diverse ecosystems with a broad range of ecological functions. We investigated the endophytic bacterial community of surface sterilized seeds of the holoparasitic Cistanche phelypaea growing in coastal salt marshes of the Iberian Peninsula in Portugal. C. phelypaea is the only representative of the genus Cistanche that was reported in such habitat. Using high-throughput sequencing methods, 23 bacterial phyla and 263 different OTUs on genus level were found. Bacterial strains belonging to phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota were dominating. Also some newly classified or undiscovered bacterial phyla, unclassified and unexplored taxonomic groups, symbiotic Archaea groups inhabited the C. phelypaea seeds. γ-Proteobacteria was the most diverse phylogenetic group. Sixty-three bacterial strains belonging to Bacilli, Actinomycetes, α-, γ- and β-Proteobacteria and unclassified bacteria were isolated. We also investigated the in vitro PGP traits and salt tolerance of the isolates. Among the Actinobacteria, Micromonospora spp. showed the most promising endophytes in the seeds. Taken together, the results indicated that the seeds were inhabited by halotolerant bacterial strains that may play a role in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress on the host plant. In future research, these bacteria should be assessed as potential sources of novel and unique bioactive compounds or as novel bacterial species.}, } @article {pmid37481564, year = {2023}, author = {Saati-Santamaría, Z and Vicentefranqueira, R and Kolařik, M and Rivas, R and García-Fraile, P}, title = {Microbiome specificity and fluxes between two distant plant taxa in Iberian forests.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {64}, pmid = {37481564}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant-associated microbial communities play important roles in host nutrition, development and defence. In particular, the microbes living within internal plant tissues can affect plant metabolism in a more intimate way. Understanding the factors that shape plant microbial composition and discovering enriched microbes within endophytic compartments would thus be valuable to gain knowledge on potential plant-microbial coevolutions. However, these interactions are usually studied through reductionist approaches (in vitro models or crop controlled systems). Here, we investigate these ecological factors in wild forest niches using proximally located plants from two distant taxa (blueberry and blackberry) as a model.

RESULTS: Although the microbial communities were quite similar in both plants, we found that sampling site had a high influence on them; specifically, its impact on the rhizosphere communities was higher than that on the roots. Plant species and sample type (root vs. rhizosphere) affected the bacterial communities more than the fungal communities. For instance, Xanthobacteraceae and Helotiales taxa were more enriched in roots, while the abundance of Gemmatimonadetes was higher in rhizospheres. Acidobacteria abundance within the endosphere of blueberry was similar to that in soil. Several taxa were significantly associated with either blackberry or blueberry samples regardless of the sampling site. For instance, we found a significant endospheric enrichment of Nevskia in blueberry and of Sphingobium, Novosphingobium and Steroidobacter in blackberry.

CONCLUSIONS: There are selective enrichment and exclusion processes in the roots of plants that shapes a differential composition between plant species and sample types (root endosphere-rhizosphere). The special enrichment of some microbial taxa in each plant species might suggest the presence of ancient selection and/or speciation processes and might imply specific symbiosis. The selection of fungi by the host is more pronounced when considering the fungal trait rather than the taxonomy. This work helps to understand plant-microbial interactions in natural ecosystems and the microbiome features of plants.}, } @article {pmid37481084, year = {2023}, author = {Hildebrand, GA and Honeker, LK and Freire-Zapata, V and Ayala-Ortiz, C and Rajakaruna, S and Fudyma, J and Daber, E and AminiTabrizi, R and Chu, RL and Toyoda, J and Flowers, SE and Hoyt, DW and Hamdan, R and Gil-Loaiza, J and Shi, L and Dippold, MA and Ladd, SN and Werner, C and Meredith, LK and Tfaily, MM}, title = {Uncovering the dominant role of root metabolism in shaping rhizosphere metabolome under drought in tropical rainforest plants.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165689}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165689}, pmid = {37481084}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Plant-soil-microbe interactions are crucial for driving rhizosphere processes that contribute to metabolite turnover and nutrient cycling. With the increasing frequency and severity of water scarcity due to climate warming, understanding how plant-mediated processes, such as root exudation, influence soil organic matter turnover in the rhizosphere is essential. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, rhizosphere metabolomics, and position-specific [13]C-pyruvate labeling to examine the effects of three different plant species (Piper auritum, Hibiscus rosa sinensis, and Clitoria fairchildiana) and their associated microbial communities on soil organic carbon turnover in the rhizosphere. Our findings indicate that in these tropical plants, the rhizosphere metabolome was primarily shaped by the response of roots to drought rather than direct shifts in the rhizosphere bacterial community composition. Specifically, the reduced exudation of plant roots had a notable effect on the metabolome of the rhizosphere of P. auritum, with less reliance on neighboring microbes. Contrary to P. auritum, H. rosa sinensis and C. fairchildiana experienced changes in their exudate composition during drought, causing alterations to the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. This, in turn, had a collective impact on the rhizosphere's metabolome. Furthermore, the exclusion of phylogenetically distant microbes from the rhizosphere led to shifts in its metabolome. Additionally, C. fairchildiana appeared to be associated with only a subset of symbiotic bacteria under drought conditions. These results indicate that plant species-specific microbial interactions systematically change with the root metabolome. As roots respond to drought, their associated microbial communities adapt, potentially reinforcing the drought tolerance strategies of plant roots. These findings have significant implications for maintaining plant health and preference during drought stress and improving plant performance under climate change.}, } @article {pmid37480396, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, M and Liu, X and Qu, L and Wang, T and Zhu, L and Feng, J}, title = {Untangling microbiota diversity and assembly patterns in the world's longest underground culvert water diversion canal.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {195}, number = {8}, pages = {981}, pmid = {37480396}, issn = {1573-2959}, support = {19AZD005//Key Project of the National Social Science Fund of China/ ; 19AZD005//Key Project of the National Social Science Fund of China/ ; 19AZD005//Key Project of the National Social Science Fund of China/ ; }, abstract = {The long-distance underground box culvert water transport system (LUBWT) is a crucial link between the source of drinking water and the consumers. It must ensure the stability of water quality during transportation. However, uncontrollable microbial growth can develop in the water delivery system during the long delivery process, posing a risk to health and safety. Therefore, we applied 16 s and 18 s gene sequence analysis in order to study microbial communities in box culvert waters sampled in 2021, as well as a molecular ecological network-based approach to decipher microbial interactions and stability. Our findings revealed that, in contrast to natural freshwater ecosystems, micro-eukaryotes in LUBWT have complex interactions such as predation, parasitism, and symbiosis due to their semi-enclosed box culvert environment. Total nitrogen may be the primary factor affecting bacterial community interactions in addition to temperature. Moreover, employing stability indicators such as robustness and vulnerability, we also found that microbial stability varied significantly from season to season, with summer having the higher stability of microbial communities. Not only that but also the stability of the micronuclei also varied greatly during water transport, which might also be related to the complex interactions among the micro-eukaryotes. To summarize, our study reveals the microbial interactions and stability in LUBWT, providing essential ecological knowledge to ensure the safety of LUBWT's water quality.}, } @article {pmid37478643, year = {2023}, author = {Yin, X and Li, X and Li, Q and Wang, B and Zheng, L}, title = {Complete genome analysis reveals environmental adaptability of sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thioclava nitratireducens M1-LQ-LJL-11 and symbiotic relationship with deep-sea hydrothermal vent Chrysomallon squamiferum.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {101058}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2023.101058}, pmid = {37478643}, issn = {1876-7478}, abstract = {One sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thioclava sp. M1-LQ-LJL-11 was isolated from the gill of Chrysomallon squamiferum collected from 2700 m deep hydrothermal named Longqi on the southwest Indian Ocean ridge. In order to understand its survival mechanism in hydrothermal extreme environment and symbiotic relationship with its host, the complete genome of strain M1-LQ-LJL-11 was sequenced and analyzed. A total of 6117 Mb of valid data was obtained, including 4096 coding genes, 61 non coding genes, including 9 rRNAs (among them, there are 3 in 23S rRNA, 3 in 5S rRNA, and 3 in 16S rRNA.), 52 tRNAs and 35 genomic islands. Strain M1-LQ-LJL-11 contains one chromosome and two plasmids. In the genome annotation information of the strain, we found 28 genes including cys sox, sor, sqr, tst related to sulfur metabolism and 17 metal resistance genes. Interestingly, a pair of quorum sensing system which probably regulating biofilm formation located in chromosome was found. These genes are critical for self-adaptation against severe environment as well as host survival. This study provides a basis understanding for the adaptive strategies of deep-sea hydrothermal bacteria and symbiotic relationship with its host in extreme environments through gene level.}, } @article {pmid37478589, year = {2023}, author = {Liang, J and Wang, Z and Ren, Y and Jiang, Z and Chen, H and Hu, W and Tang, M}, title = {The alleviation mechanisms of cadmium toxicity in Broussonetia papyrifera by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis varied with different levels of cadmium stress.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {459}, number = {}, pages = {132076}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132076}, pmid = {37478589}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {The alleviation of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Broussonetia papyrifera by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are still not completely elucidated. This study investigated the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis on physiological and biochemical characteristics, and molecular regulation in B. papyrifera under different levels of Cd (0, 30, 90 and 270 mg kg[-1] Cd) stress. Results showed that (1) AM symbiosis improved the growth and photosynthesis, enhanced ROS levels as stress signaling and maintained ROS balance under low and medium Cd stress. (2) AM symbiosis regulated AsA-GSH cycle to mitigate ROS overproduction under high Cd stress. (3) AM fungus can chelate more Cd under high Cd stress, increasing soil pH and GRSP content. (4) AM plants can fix or chelate more Cd by P in leaves and reserve more P in stems under high Cd stress. (5) AM symbioses increased root net Cd[2+] influx and uptake under medium Cd stress but inhibited under high Cd stress, with upregulation of genes related heavy metals (HMs) transport under medium Cd stress and inhibited the transcription of genes related HMs transport under high Cd stress. Therefore, the alleviation mechanisms of Cd toxicity in B. papyrifera by R. irregularis symbiosis depends on the levels of Cd stress.}, } @article {pmid37478540, year = {2023}, author = {Hakim, S and Imran, A and Hussain, MS and Mirza, MS}, title = {RNA-Seq analysis of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) roots shows differential gene expression and predicts regulatory pathways responding to taxonomically different rhizobia.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {275}, number = {}, pages = {127451}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127451}, pmid = {37478540}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Symbiotic interaction among legume and rhizobia is a complex phenomenon which results in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Mung bean is promiscuous host however expression profile of this important legume plant in response to rhizobial infection was particularly lacking and urgently needed. We have demonstrated the pattern of gene expression of mung bean roots inoculated with two symbionts Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense Vr50 and Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) aridi Vr33 and non-inoculated control (CK). The RNA-Seq data analyzed at two growth stages i.e., 1-3 h and 10-16 days post inoculation revealed significantly higher number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at nodulation stage. The DEGs encoding receptor kinases identified at early stage might be involved in perception of Nod factors produced by different rhizobia. At nodulation stage important genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction, nitrogen and sulfur metabolism were identified. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that metabolic pathways were most prominent in both groups (Group 1: Vr33 vs CK; Group 2: Vr50 vs CK), followed by biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant hormone signal transduction and biosynthesis of amino acids. Furthermore, DEGs involved in cell communication and plant hormone signal transduction were found to be different among two symbiotic systems while DEGs involved in carbon, nitrogen and sulfur metabolism were similar but their expression varied in response to two rhizobial strains. This study provides the first insight into the mechanisms underlying interactions of mung bean host with two taxonomically different symbionts (Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium) and the candidate genes for better understanding the mechanisms of symbiotic host-specificity.}, } @article {pmid37477813, year = {2023}, author = {Chojnacka, K and Moustakas, K and Mikulewicz, M}, title = {The combined rhizoremediation by a triad: plant-microorganism-functional materials.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37477813}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {The article describes new strategies for the remediation of soils contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants. The aim of this study is to investigate the synergistic effects of combining plant-microorganism-functional materials for a more effective reduction of soil contamination with toxic chemicals. The innovative triad involves functional materials as a habitat for microorganisms, which helps to control the release of pollutants into the soil solution from the adsorbed form. This, in turn, reduces the toxic effect on microorganisms and plants. Microorganisms play a complex role, consisting of partial biodegradation of pollutants, stimulation of plant growth, and support for nutrient supply. Plants synthesize root exudates that facilitate microorganisms in biodegrading organic pollutants and stimulate their growth. The plant takes up pollutants through the root system, which can be further supported by endophytic microorganisms. The cooperation of the three players produces a synergistic effect that enhances the effectiveness of rhizodegradation supported by functional materials, which is more effective than using microorganisms, phytoremediation, or functional materials alone. The combination of physicochemical methods (functional materials) and microbiological methods (bacteria and fungi, rhizosphere, symbiotic and non-symbiotic) supported by plants (hyperaccumulators) is a promising approach for reducing chemicals from soil. Key examples of the synergistic effects of combining plant-microorganism-functional materials have been provided in this article.}, } @article {pmid37477276, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, W and Forester, NT and Applegate, ER and Liu, X and Johnson, LJ}, title = {High-affinity iron uptake is required for optimal Epichloë festucae colonization of Lolium perenne and seed transmission.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mpp.13379}, pmid = {37477276}, issn = {1364-3703}, support = {A20067//MBIE Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF)/ ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae uses a siderophore-mediated system to acquire iron, which is important to maintain endophyte-grass symbioses. Here we investigate the roles of the alternative iron acquisition system, reductive iron assimilation (RIA), via disruption of the fetC gene, which encodes a multicopper ferroxidase, either alone (i.e., ΔfetC) or in combination with disruption of the gene sidA, which encodes a siderophore biosynthesis enzyme (i.e., ΔfetC/ΔsidA). The phenotypic characteristics of these mutants were compared to ΔsidA and wild-type (WT) strains during growth under axenic culture conditions (in culture) and in symbiosis with the host grass, perennial ryegrass (in planta). Under iron deficiency, the colony growth rate of ΔfetC was slightly slower than that of WT, while the growth of ΔsidA and ΔfetC/ΔsidA mutants was severely suppressed. Siderophore analyses indicated that ΔfetC mutants hyperaccumulate ferriepichloënin A (FEA) at low iron concentrations and ferricrocin and FEA at higher iron concentrations. When compared to WT, all mutant strains displayed hyperbranching hyphal structures and a reduced ratio of Epichloë DNA to total DNA in planta. Furthermore, host colonization and vertical transmission through infection of the host seed were significantly reduced in the ΔfetC/ΔsidA mutants, confirming that high-affinity iron uptake is a critical process for Epichloë transmission. Thus, RIA and siderophore iron uptake are complementary systems required for the maintenance of iron metabolism, fungal growth, and symbiosis between E. festucae and perennial ryegrass.}, } @article {pmid37477209, year = {2023}, author = {}, title = {Correction to: Symbiosis between cyanobacteria and plants: from molecular studies to agronomic applications.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad278}, pmid = {37477209}, issn = {1460-2431}, } @article {pmid37476685, year = {2023}, author = {Calevro, F and Callaerts, P and Matsuura, Y and Michalik, A}, title = {Editorial: Symbiotic organs in insects: development, metabolism, and physiological regulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1248654}, pmid = {37476685}, issn = {1664-042X}, } @article {pmid37476672, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, R}, title = {The human gut phageome: composition, development, and alterations in disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1213625}, pmid = {37476672}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a large number of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes. The bacterial community has been widely confirmed to have a significant impact on human health, while viruses, particularly phages, have received less attention. Phages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They are abundant in the biosphere and exist in a symbiotic relationship with their host bacteria. Although the application of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics technology has greatly improved our understanding of the genomic diversity, taxonomic composition, and spatio-temporal dynamics of the human gut phageome, there is still a large portion of sequencing data that is uncharacterized. Preliminary studies have predicted that the phages play a crucial role in driving microbial ecology and evolution. Prior to exploring the function of phages, it is necessary to address the obstacles that hinder establishing a comprehensive sequencing database with sufficient biological properties and understanding the impact of phage-bacteria interactions on human health. In this study, we provide an overview of the human gut phageome, including its composition, structure, and development. We also explore the various factors that may influence the phageome based on current research, including age, diet, ethnicity, and geographical location. Additionally, we summarize the relationship between the phageome and human diseases, such as IBD, IBS, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.}, } @article {pmid37476663, year = {2023}, author = {Enebe, MC and Erasmus, M}, title = {Susceptibility and plant immune control-a case of mycorrhizal strategy for plant colonization, symbiosis, and plant immune suppression.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1178258}, pmid = {37476663}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants and microbes (mycorrhizal fungi to be precise) have evolved together over the past millions of years into an association that is mutualist. The plants supply the fungi with photosynthates and shelter, while the fungi reciprocate by enhancing nutrient and water uptake by the plants as well as, in some cases, control of soil-borne pathogens, but this fungi-plant association is not always beneficial. We argue that mycorrhizal fungi, despite contributing to plant nutrition, equally increase plant susceptibility to pathogens and herbivorous pests' infestation. Understanding of mycorrhizal fungi strategies for suppressing plant immunity, the phytohormones involved and the signaling pathways that aid them will enable the harnessing of tripartite (consisting of three biological systems)-plant-mycorrhizal fungi-microbe interactions for promoting sustainable production of crops.}, } @article {pmid37475754, year = {2023}, author = {Smith, CA and Ashby, B}, title = {Tolerance-conferring defensive symbionts and the evolution of parasite virulence.}, journal = {Evolution letters}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {262-272}, pmid = {37475754}, issn = {2056-3744}, abstract = {Defensive symbionts in the host microbiome can confer protection from infection or reduce the harms of being infected by a parasite. Defensive symbionts are therefore promising agents of biocontrol that could be used to control or ameliorate the impact of infectious diseases. Previous theory has shown how symbionts can evolve along the parasitism-mutualism continuum to confer greater or lesser protection to their hosts and in turn how hosts may coevolve with their symbionts to potentially form a mutualistic relationship. However, the consequences of introducing a defensive symbiont for parasite evolution and how the symbiont may coevolve with the parasite have received relatively little theoretical attention. Here, we investigate the ecological and evolutionary implications of introducing a tolerance-conferring defensive symbiont into an established host-parasite system. We show that while the defensive symbiont may initially have a positive impact on the host population, parasite and symbiont evolution tend to have a net negative effect on the host population in the long term. This is because the introduction of the defensive symbiont always selects for an increase in parasite virulence and may cause diversification into high- and low-virulence strains. Even if the symbiont experiences selection for greater host protection, this simply increases selection for virulence in the parasite, resulting in a net negative effect on the host population. Our results therefore suggest that tolerance-conferring defensive symbionts may be poor biocontrol agents for population-level infectious disease control.}, } @article {pmid37474671, year = {2023}, author = {Rasche, L and Becker, JN and Chimwamurombe, P and Eschenbach, A and Gröngröft, A and Jeong, J and Luther-Mosebach, J and Reinhold-Hurek, B and Sarkar, A and Schneider, UA}, title = {Exploring the benefits of inoculated cowpeas under different climatic conditions in Namibia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {11761}, pmid = {37474671}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {01DG17004A-1//Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung/ ; 57369814//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/ ; }, abstract = {Cowpeas (Vigna uniculata L. Walp) are grown by many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa for food and their ability to fix nitrogen even under stress. Their performance depends on the indigenous rhizobial strains that live in symbiotic association with the roots; it can be enhanced if the seeds are inoculated with more effective ones. Data of the effectiveness of the technique under a variety of climatic conditions is rare. Here, we thus use a model to upscale two field experiments conducted in Namibia to include different climate change scenarios. The simulations show that non-inoculated cowpeas have mean yields of 0.5 t/ha and inoculated cowpeas 1 t/ha. If climatic conditions are favorable (cool and wet), estimated yield differences increase to over 1 t/ha. In dry years (< 200 mm), the average yield difference is only 0.1 t/ha. In the far future (2080-2100), instances of dry and hot years will increase. Using inoculated cowpea seeds instead of non-inoculated ones thus does not benefit farmers as much then as in the near future (2030-2050). In conclusion, using cowpea seeds inoculated with an efficient rhizobial strain can significantly increase yields under varying climatic conditions, but yield advantages decrease markedly in very dry and hot years.}, } @article {pmid37470327, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, S and Ke, D and Liu, B and Zhang, M and Li, X and Chen, H and Zhang, C and Huang, Y and Sun, S and Shen, J and Yang, S and Zhou, S and Leng, P and Guan, Y and Zhou, X}, title = {The Bax inhibitor GmBI-1α interacts with a Nod factor receptor and plays a dual role in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad276}, pmid = {37470327}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {The surrounding gene networks of Nod factor receptors that govern the symbiotic process remain largely unexplored. In the present study, we identified 13 novel GmNFR1α-associated proteins by Y2H screening, and a potential interacting protein GmBI-1α was described. GmBI-1α had the highst positive correlation with GmNFR1α in the co-expression network analysis, and its expression at the mRNA level in roots was enhanced by rhizobial infection. Moreover, GmBI-1α- GmNFR1α interaction was shown to occur in vitro and in vivo. The GmBI-1α protein was localized to multiple subcellular locations, including the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) and Plasma Membrane (PM). Overexpression of GmBI-1α increased the nodule number in transgenic hairy roots or transgenic soybean, whereas down-regulation of GmBI-1α transcripts by RNA interference (RNAi) reduced the nodule number. Besides, the nodules in GmBI-1α-OX plants became smaller in size and infected area with reduced nitrogenase activity. In GmBI-1α-OX transgenic soybean, the elevated GmBI-1α level also promoted plant growth and suppressed the expression of defense signaling-related genes. IT analysis of GmBI-1α-OX showed that GmBI-1α promoted rhizobial infection. Collectively, our current findings supported a GmNFR1α-associated protein in the Nod factor signaling pathway and shed new light on the regulatory mechanism of GmNFR1α in rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37469428, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Wang, N and Li, S and Brunel, B and Wang, J and Feng, Y and Yang, T and Zong, X}, title = {Genotypic composition and performance of pea-nodulating rhizobia from soils outside the native plant-host range.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1201140}, pmid = {37469428}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cultivated soils need to shelter suitable rhizobia for legume cropping, especially in areas outside of the plant-host native range, where soils may lack efficient symbiotic partners. We analyzed the distribution patterns and traits of native rhizobia associated with Pisum sativum L. in soils of Hebei Province, a region that has recently experienced an expansion of pea production in China. A total of 43 rhizobial isolates were obtained from root-nodules and characterized genetically and symbiotically. The isolates discriminated into 12 genotypes as defined by PCR-RFLP of IGS DNA. Multiple locus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on the 16S rRNA, recA, atpD and gyrB of representative strains placed them into five clusters of four defined species (R. sophorae, R. indicum, R. changzhiense, and R. anhuiense) and a novel Rhizobium genospecies. R. sophorae was the dominant group (58%) followed by R. indicum (23%). The other groups composed of R. changzhiense (14%), R. anhuiense (1 isolate) and the new genospecies (1 isolate), were minor and site-specific. Based on nodC phylogeny, all representatives were intermingled within the symbiovar viciae with R. sophorae and R. changzhiense being a new record. All the tested strains showed efficient symbiotic fixation on pea plants, with half of them exhibiting better plant biomass performance. This suggests that the pea-nodulating rhizobia in Hebei Province form a specific community of efficient symbiotic rhizobia on pea, distinct from those reported in other countries.}, } @article {pmid37469110, year = {2023}, author = {Alinejad, Z and Abtahi, SA and Jafarinia, M and Yasrebi, J}, title = {The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, Funneliformis mosseae, on rosemary phytoremediation ability under urban traffic.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2023.2236729}, pmid = {37469110}, issn = {1549-7879}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate the symbiotic relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizae (Funneliformis mosseae) and the ability of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) to mitigate urban traffic pollution. A factorial experiment with three replications and three factors (inoculated/non-inoculated with G. mosseae, traffic volume, and pot type) was conducted in Shiraz, a metropolis in south-central Iran. Inoculation with F. mosseae led to a 33% increase in root weight and a 20% increase in root length under a traffic volume of 4,200 Vehicles/H. Additionally, as traffic volume increased, stem length and dry weight of the entire plant inoculated with the fungus increased by 8.33% and 29.53%, respectively. The presence of fungus in the rosemary plant decreased the accumulation of Cd and increased the accumulation of Pb by 12.82% and 55.82%, respectively under traffic conditions of 4,200 Vehicles/H. The transfer factor (TF) of Cd and Pb in rosemary plant inoculated under these traffic conditions decreased by 25.74% and 25.24%, respectively. These findings indicate that mycorrhiza-inoculated rosemary plants can thrive in Cd- and Pb-contaminated soils, effectively remediating heavy metals, particularly Pb, with a TF >1.}, } @article {pmid37468736, year = {2023}, author = {Yadav, R and Ramakrishna, W}, title = {MicroRNAs Involved in Nutritional Regulation During Plant-Microbe Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions with Rice as a Model.}, journal = {Molecular biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37468736}, issn = {1559-0305}, abstract = {Plants are constantly challenged with numerous adverse environmental conditions, including biotic and abiotic stresses. Coordinated regulation of plant responses requires crosstalk between regulatory pathways initiated by different external cues. Stress induced by excessiveness or deficiency of nutrients has been shown to positively or negatively interact with pathogen-induced immune responses. Also, colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve plant nutrition, mainly phosphorus and resistance to pathogen infection. The proposed review addresses these issues about a new question that integrates adaptation to nutrient stress and disease resistance. The main goal of the current review is to provide insights into the interconnected regulation between nutrient signaling and immune signaling pathways in rice, focusing on phosphate, potassium and iron signaling. The underpinnings of plant/pathogen/AM fungus interaction concerning rice/M. oryzae/R. irregularis is highlighted. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in Pi (miR399, miR827) and Fe (miR7695) homeostasis in pathogenic/symbiotic interactions in rice is discussed. The intracellular dynamics of membrane proteins that function in nutrient transport transgenic rice lines expressing fluorescent protein fusion genes are outlined. Integrating functional genomic, nutritional and metal content, molecular and cell biology approaches to understand how disease resistance is regulated by nutrient status leading to novel concepts in fundamental processes underlying plant disease resistance will help to devise novel strategies for crop protection with less input of pesticides and fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid37467971, year = {2023}, author = {Taniguchi, T and Isobe, K and Imada, S and Eltayeb, MM and Akaji, Y and Nakayama, M and Allen, MF and Aronson, EL}, title = {Root endophytic bacterial and fungal communities in a natural hot desert are differentially regulated in dry and wet seasons by stochastic processes and functional traits.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165524}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165524}, pmid = {37467971}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Dryland ecosystems experience seasonal cycles of severe drought and moderate precipitation. Desert plants may develop symbiotic relationships with root endophytic microbes to survive under the repeated wet and extremely dry conditions. Although community coalescence has been found in many systems, the colonization by functional microbes and its relationship to seasonal transitions in arid regions are not well understood. Here we examined root endophytic microbial taxa, and their traits in relation to their root colonization, during the dry and wet seasons in a hot desert of the southwestern United States. We used high-throughput DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer gene profiling of five desert shrubs, and analyzed the seasonal change in endophytic microbial lineages. Goodness of fit to the neutral community model in relationship to microbial traits was evaluated. In summer, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidia increased, although this was not genus-specific. For fungi, Glomeraceae selectively increased in summer. In winter, Gram-negative bacterial genera, including those capable of nitrogen fixation and plant growth promotion, increased. Neutral model analysis revealed a strong stochastic influence on endophytic bacteria but a weak effect for fungi, especially in summer. The taxa with higher frequency than that predicted by neutral model shared environmental adaptability and symbiotic traits, whereas the frequency of pathogenic fungi was at or under the predicted value. These results suggest that community assembly of bacteria and fungi is regulated differently. The bacterial community was affected by stochastic and deterministic processes via bacterial response to drought (response trait), beneficial effect on plants (effect trait), and likely stable mutualistic interactions with plants suggested by the frequency of nodule bacteria. For fungi, mycorrhizal fungi were selected by plants in summer. The regulation of beneficial microbes by plants in both dry and wet seasons suggests the presence of plant-soil positive feedback in this natural desert ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37468586, year = {2023}, author = {Hickey, JW and Becker, WR and Nevins, SA and Horning, A and Perez, AE and Zhu, C and Zhu, B and Wei, B and Chiu, R and Chen, DC and Cotter, DL and Esplin, ED and Weimer, AK and Caraccio, C and Venkataraaman, V and Schürch, CM and Black, S and Brbić, M and Cao, K and Chen, S and Zhang, W and Monte, E and Zhang, NR and Ma, Z and Leskovec, J and Zhang, Z and Lin, S and Longacre, T and Plevritis, SK and Lin, Y and Nolan, GP and Greenleaf, WJ and Snyder, M}, title = {Organization of the human intestine at single-cell resolution.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {619}, number = {7970}, pages = {572-584}, pmid = {37468586}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {The intestine is a complex organ that promotes digestion, extracts nutrients, participates in immune surveillance, maintains critical symbiotic relationships with microbiota and affects overall health[1]. The intesting has a length of over nine metres, along which there are differences in structure and function[2]. The localization of individual cell types, cell type development trajectories and detailed cell transcriptional programs probably drive these differences in function. Here, to better understand these differences, we evaluated the organization of single cells using multiplexed imaging and single-nucleus RNA and open chromatin assays across eight different intestinal sites from nine donors. Through systematic analyses, we find cell compositions that differ substantially across regions of the intestine and demonstrate the complexity of epithelial subtypes, and find that the same cell types are organized into distinct neighbourhoods and communities, highlighting distinct immunological niches that are present in the intestine. We also map gene regulatory differences in these cells that are suggestive of a regulatory differentiation cascade, and associate intestinal disease heritability with specific cell types. These results describe the complexity of the cell composition, regulation and organization for this organ, and serve as an important reference map for understanding human biology and disease.}, } @article {pmid37468528, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, J and Zhai, N and Chen, Y and Wang, L and Chen, R and Pan, H}, title = {A signal peptide peptidase is required for ER-symbiosome proximal association and protein secretion.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {4355}, pmid = {37468528}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {31870221//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32161133006//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; kq2004026//Science and Technology Bureau, Changsha (Changsha Municipal Science and Technology Bureau)/ ; }, abstract = {During legume-rhizobia symbiosis, differentiation of the symbiosome (engulfed intracellular rhizobia) is necessary for successful nitrogen fixation. To control symbiosome differentiation, host cell subcellular components, e.g., ER (endoplasmic reticulum), must adapt robustly to ensure large-scale host protein secretion to the new organelle. However, the key components controlling the adaption of ER in nodule cells remain elusive. We report that Medicago BID1, a nodule-specific signal peptide peptidase (SPP), is central to ER structural dynamics and host protein secretion. In bid1, symbiosome differentiation is blocked. BID1 localizes specifically to the ER membrane and expresses exclusively in nodule cells with symbiosomes. In the wild type ER forms proximal association structures with symbiosomes, but not in bid1. Consequently, in bid1 excessive ER stress responses are induced and ER-to-symbiosome protein secretion is impaired. In summary, a nodule-specific SPP is necessary for ER-symbiosome proximal association, host protein secretion, and symbiosome differentiation.}, } @article {pmid37467039, year = {2023}, author = {Gomez, SK and Maurya, AK and Irvin, L and Kelly, MP and Schoenherr, AP and Huguet-Tapia, JC and Bombarely, A}, title = {A snapshot of the transcriptome of Medicago truncatula (Fabales: Fabaceae) shoots and roots in response to an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvad070}, pmid = {37467039}, issn = {1938-2936}, abstract = {Plants simultaneously interact with belowground symbionts such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and aboveground antagonists such as aphids. Generally, plants gain access to valuable resources including nutrients and water through the AM symbiosis and are more resistant to pests. Nevertheless, aphids' performance improves on mycorrhizal plants, and it remains unclear whether a more nutritious food source and/or attenuated defenses are the contributing factors. This study examined the shoot and root transcriptome of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) plants highly colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (Blaszk., Wubet, Renker, and Buscot) C. Walker and A. Schüßler (Glomerales: Glomeraceae) and exposed to 7 days of mixed age pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)) herbivory. The RNA-seq samples chosen for this study showed that aphids were heavier when fed mycorrhizal plants compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. We hypothesized that (i) insect-related plant defense pathways will be downregulated in shoots of mycorrhizal plants with aphids compared to nonmycorrhizal plants with aphids; (ii) pathways involved in nutrient acquisition, carbohydrate-related and amino acid transport will be upregulated in shoots of mycorrhizal plants with aphids compared to nonmycorrhizal plants with aphids; and (iii) roots of mycorrhizal plants with aphids will exhibit mycorrhiza-induced resistance. The transcriptome data revealed that the gene repertoire related to defenses, nutrient transport, and carbohydrates differs between nonmycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants with aphids, which could explain the weight gain in aphids. We also identified novel candidate genes that are differentially expressed in nonmycorrhizal plants with aphids, thus setting the stage for future functional studies.}, } @article {pmid37466533, year = {2023}, author = {Li, TX and Su, HY and Yu, JC and Hao, H and Jia, XW and Shi, FC and Xu, CP}, title = {Antibacterial metabolites from the beetle-associated fungus Penicillium chrysogenum.}, journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias}, volume = {95}, number = {suppl 1}, pages = {e20220178}, doi = {10.1590/0001-3765202320220178}, pmid = {37466533}, issn = {1678-2690}, abstract = {The antibacterial secondary metabolites of the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum associated with the beetle Aspongopus chinensis were investigated through chromatographic fractionation methods of ethyl acetate extracts of the fungal cultures. Five compounds were isolated, and their structures were determined as emodin, 4-(methoxymethyl)benzoic acid, isoochracinic acid, secalonic acid D, and dicerandrol A using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses. Emodin exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus even when growing on cooked pork, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.3 μg/mL. Dimeric tetrahydroxanthones, such as secalonic acid D and dicerandrol A, also exhibited potent activity, with MIC values ranging from 9.5 to 28.5 μg/mL. In summary, P. chrysogenum was isolated as a symbiotic fungus of the beetle A. chinensis for the first time and this strain could generate antibacterial secondary metabolites, which could potently inhibit gram-positive bacteria growth in vitro.}, } @article {pmid37466504, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Q and Fei, YJ and Wu, YB and Luo, DL and Chen, M and Sun, K and Zhang, W and Dai, CC}, title = {Endophytic Fungus Reshapes Spikelet Microbiome to Reduce Mycotoxin Produced by Fusarium proliferatum through Altering Rice Metabolites.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02616}, pmid = {37466504}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Rice spikelet rot disease (RSRD) caused by Fusarium proliferatum seriously reduces rice yield and produces mycotoxins that threaten human health. The root symbiotic endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris reduces RSRD incidence and fumonisins accumulation in grain by 21.5 and 9.3%, respectively, while the mechanism of disease resistance remains largely elusive. Here, we found that B3 significantly reduced the abundance of pathogen from 79.91 to 2.84% and considerably enriched resistant microbes Pseudomonas and Proteobacteria in the spikelet microbial community. Further study revealed that B3 altered the metabolites of spikelets, especially hordenine and l-aspartic acid, which played a key role in reshaping the microbiome and supporting the growth of the functional core microbe Pseudomonas, and inhibited the pathogen growth and mycotoxin production. This study provided a feasibility of regulating the function of aboveground microbial communities by manipulating plant subsurface tissues to control disease and mycotoxin pollutants in agricultural production.}, } @article {pmid37466334, year = {2023}, author = {Ranner, JL and Schalk, S and Martyniak, C and Parniske, M and Gutjahr, C and Stark, TD and Dawid, C}, title = {Primary and Secondary Metabolites in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02709}, pmid = {37466334}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Lotus japonicus is a leguminous model plant used to gain insight into plant physiology, stress response, and especially symbiotic plant-microbe interactions, such as root nodule symbiosis or arbuscular mycorrhiza. Responses to changing environmental conditions, stress, microbes, or insect pests are generally accompanied by changes in primary and secondary metabolism to account for physiological needs or to produce defensive or signaling compounds. Here we provide an overview of the primary and secondary metabolites identified in L. japonicus to date. Identification of the metabolites is mainly based on mass spectral tags (MSTs) obtained by gas chromatography linked with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) or liquid chromatography-MS/MS (LC-MS/MS). These MSTs contain retention index and mass spectral information, which are compared to databases with MSTs of authentic standards. More than 600 metabolites are grouped into compound classes such as polyphenols, carbohydrates, organic acids and phosphates, lipids, amino acids, nitrogenous compounds, phytohormones, and additional defense compounds. Their physiological effects are briefly discussed, and the detection methods are explained. This review of the exisiting literature on L. japonicus metabolites provides a valuable basis for future metabolomics studies.}, } @article {pmid37465020, year = {2023}, author = {Yadav, VK and Kumar, D and Jha, RK and Bairwa, RK and Singh, R and Mishra, G and Singh, JP and Kumar, A and Vinesh, B and Jayaswall, K and Rai, AK and Singh, AN and Kumar, S and Rajavat, MVS and Jayaswal, D}, title = {Mycorrhizae set the stage for plants to produce a higher production of biomolecules and stress-related metabolites: a sustainable alternative of agrochemicals to enhance the quality and yield of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1196101}, pmid = {37465020}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Population explosions, environmental deprivation, and industrial expansion led to an imbalanced agricultural system. Non-judicial uses of agrochemicals have decreased agrodiversity, degraded agroecosystems, and increased the cost of farming. In this scenario, a sustainable agriculture system could play a crucial role; however, it needs rigorous study to understand the biological interfaces within agroecosystems. Among the various biological components with respect to agriculture, mycorrhizae could be a potential candidate. Most agricultural crops are symbiotic with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In this study, beetroot has been chose to study the effect of different AMFs on various parameters such as morphological traits, biochemical attributes, and gene expression analysis (ALDH7B4 and ALDH3I1). The AMF Gm-Funneliformis mosseae (Glomus mosseae), Acaulospora laevis, and GG-Gigaspora gigantean were taken as treatments to study the effect on the above-mentioned parameters in beetroot. We observed that among all the possible combinations of mycorrhizae, Gm+Al+GG performed best, and the Al-alone treatment was found to be a poor performer with respect to all the studied parameters. This study concluded that the more the combinations of mycorrhizae, the better the results will be. However, the phenomenon depends on the receptivity, infectivity, and past nutrient profile of the soil.}, } @article {pmid37464886, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, R and Wenzel, M and Messer, PW and Aquadro, CF}, title = {Evolution under a model of functionally buffered deleterious mutations can lead to positive selection in protein-coding genes.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpad131}, pmid = {37464886}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Selective pressures on DNA sequences often result in departures from neutral evolution that can be captured by the McDonald-Kreitman (MK) test. However, the nature of such selective forces often remains unknown to experimentalists. Amino acid fixations driven by natural selection in protein coding genes are commonly associated with a genetic arms race or changing biological purposes, leading to proteins with new functionality. Here, we evaluate the expectations of population genetic patterns under a buffering mechanism driving selective amino acids to fixation, which is motivated by an observed phenotypic rescue of otherwise deleterious nonsynonymous substitutions at bag of marbles (bam) and Sex lethal (Sxl) in Drosophila melanogaster. These two genes were shown to experience strong episodic bursts of natural selection potentially due to infections of the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia observed among multiple Drosophila species. Using simulations to implement and evaluate the evolutionary dynamics of a Wolbachia buffering model, we demonstrate that selectively fixed amino acid replacements will occur, but that the proportion of adaptive amino acid fixations and the statistical power of the MK test to detect the departure from an equilibrium neutral model are both significantly lower than seen for an arms race/change-in-function model that favors proteins with diversified amino acids. We find that the observed selection pattern at bam in a natural population of D. melanogaster is more consistent with an arms race model than with the buffering model.}, } @article {pmid37464760, year = {2023}, author = {Mather, RV and Larsen, TJ and Brock, DA and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Paraburkholderia symbionts isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum induce bacterial carriage in other Dictyostelium species.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2003}, pages = {20230977}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.0977}, pmid = {37464760}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum engages in a complex relationship with bacterial endosymbionts in the genus Paraburkholderia, which can benefit their host by imbuing it with the ability to carry prey bacteria throughout its life cycle. The relationship between D. discoideum and Paraburkholderia has been shown to take place across many strains and a large geographical area, but little is known about Paraburkholderia's potential interaction with other dictyostelid species. We explore the ability of three Paraburkholderia species to stably infect and induce bacterial carriage in other dictyostelid hosts. We found that all three Paraburkholderia species successfully infected and induced carriage in seven species of Dictyostelium hosts. While the overall behaviour was qualitatively similar to that previously observed in infections of D. discoideum, differences in the outcomes of different host/symbiont combinations suggest a degree of specialization between partners. Paraburkholderia was unable to maintain a stable association with the more distantly related host Polysphondylium violaceum. Our results suggest that the mechanisms and evolutionary history of Paraburkholderia's symbiotic relationships may be general within Dictyostelium hosts, but not so general that it can associate with hosts of other genera. Our work further develops an emerging model system for the study of symbiosis in microbes.}, } @article {pmid37464442, year = {2023}, author = {Paudel, D and Wang, L and Poudel, R and Acharya, JP and Victores, S and de Souza, CHL and Rios, E and Wang, J}, title = {Elucidating the effects of organic vs. conventional cropping practice and rhizobia inoculation on rhizosphere microbial diversity and yield of peanut.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {60}, pmid = {37464442}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {GS18-195//Southern SARE/ ; GS18-195//Southern SARE/ ; }, abstract = {Legumes such as peanut (Arachis hypogea) can fulfill most of their nitrogen requirement by symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, rhizobia. Nutrient availability is largely determined by microbial diversity and activity in the rhizosphere that influences plant health, nutrition, and crop yield, as well as soil quality and soil fertility. However, our understanding of the complex effects of microbial diversity and rhizobia inoculation on crop yields of different peanut cultivars under organic versus conventional farming systems is extremely limited. In this research, we studied the impacts of conventional vs. organic cultivation practices and inoculation with commercial vs. single strain inoculum on peanut yield and soil microbial diversity of five peanut cultivars. The experiment was set up in the field following a split-split-plot design. Our results from the 16 S microbiome sequencing showed considerable variations of microbial composition between the cultivation types and inoculum, indicating a preferential association of microbes to peanut roots with various inoculum and cropping system. Alpha diversity indices (chao1, Shannon diversity, and Simpson index) of soil microbiome were generally higher in plots with organic than conventional inorganic practices. The cultivation type and inoculum explained significant differences among bacterial communities. Taxonomic classification revealed two phyla, TM6 and Firmicutes were significantly represented in inorganic as compared to organic soil, where significant phyla were Armatimonadetes, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospirae, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and WS3. Yields in the organic cultivation system decreased by 10-93% of the yields in the inorganic cultivation system. Cultivar G06 and T511 consistently showed relative high yields in both organic and inorganic trials. Our results show significant two-way interactions between cultivation type and genotype for most of the trait data collected. Therefore, it is critical for farmers to choose varieties based on their cultivation practices. Our results showed that bacterial structure was more uniform in organic fields and microbial diversity in legumes was reduced in inorganic fields. This research provided guides for farmers and scientists to improve peanut yield while promoting microbial diversity and increasing sustainability.}, } @article {pmid37464285, year = {2023}, author = {Uliano-Silva, M and Ferreira, JGRN and Krasheninnikova, K and , and Formenti, G and Abueg, L and Torrance, J and Myers, EW and Durbin, R and Blaxter, M and McCarthy, SA}, title = {MitoHiFi: a python pipeline for mitochondrial genome assembly from PacBio high fidelity reads.}, journal = {BMC bioinformatics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {288}, pmid = {37464285}, issn = {1471-2105}, support = {218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 218328/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: PacBio high fidelity (HiFi) sequencing reads are both long (15-20 kb) and highly accurate (> Q20). Because of these properties, they have revolutionised genome assembly leading to more accurate and contiguous genomes. In eukaryotes the mitochondrial genome is sequenced alongside the nuclear genome often at very high coverage. A dedicated tool for mitochondrial genome assembly using HiFi reads is still missing.

RESULTS:  MitoHiFi was developed within the Darwin Tree of Life Project to assemble mitochondrial genomes from the HiFi reads generated for target species. The input for MitoHiFi is either the raw reads or the assembled contigs, and the tool outputs a mitochondrial genome sequence fasta file along with annotation of protein and RNA genes. Variants arising from heteroplasmy are assembled independently, and nuclear insertions of mitochondrial sequences are identified and not used in organellar genome assembly. MitoHiFi has been used to assemble 374 mitochondrial genomes (368 Metazoa and 6 Fungi species) for the Darwin Tree of Life Project, the Vertebrate Genomes Project and the Aquatic Symbiosis Genome Project. Inspection of 60 mitochondrial genomes assembled with MitoHiFi for species that already have reference sequences in public databases showed the widespread presence of previously unreported repeats.

CONCLUSIONS:  MitoHiFi is able to assemble mitochondrial genomes from a wide phylogenetic range of taxa from Pacbio HiFi data. MitoHiFi is written in python and is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/marcelauliano/MitoHiFi). MitoHiFi is available with its dependencies as a Docker container on GitHub (ghcr.io/marcelauliano/mitohifi:master).}, } @article {pmid37464224, year = {2023}, author = {Mirmajid, SH and Irajie, C and Savardashtaki, A and Negahdaripour, M and Nezafat, N and Ghasemi, Y}, title = {Identification of potential RapJ hits as sporulation pathway inducer candidates in Bacillus coagulans via structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation studies.}, journal = {Journal of molecular modeling}, volume = {29}, number = {8}, pages = {256}, pmid = {37464224}, issn = {0948-5023}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The bacterium Bacillus coagulans has attracted interest because of its ability to produce spores and advantageous probiotic traits, such as facilitating food digestion in the intestine, managing some disorders, and controlling the symbiotic microbiota. Spore-forming probiotic bacteria are especially important in the probiotic industry compared to non-spore-forming bacteria due to their stability during production and high resistance to adverse factors such as stomach acid. When spore-forming bacteria are exposed to environmental stresses, they enter the sporulation pathway to survive. This pathway is activated by the final phosphorylation of the master regulator of spore response, Spo0A, and upon achieving the phosphorylation threshold. Spo0A is indirectly inhibited by some enzymes of the aspartate response regulator phosphatase (Rap) family, such as RapJ. RapJ is one of the most important Rap enzymes in the sporogenesis pathway, which is naturally inhibited by the pentapeptides.

METHODS: This study used structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies to find potential RapJ hits that could induce the sporulation pathway. The crystal structures of RapJ complexed with pentapeptide clearly elucidated their interactions with the enzyme active site.

RESULTS: Based on the binding compartment, through molecular docking, MD simulation, hydrogen bonds, and binding-free energy calculations, a series of novel hits against RapJ named tandutinib, infigratinib, sitravatinib, linifanib, epertinib, surufatinib, and acarbose were identified. Among these compounds, acarbose obtained the highest score, especially in terms of the number of hydrogen bonds, which plays a major role in stabilizing RapJ-ligand complexes, and also according to the occupancy percentages of hydrogen bonds, its hydrogen bonds were more stable during the simulation time. Consequently, acarbose is probably the most suitable hit for RapJ enzyme. Notably, experimental validation is crucial to confirm the effectiveness of the selected ligands.}, } @article {pmid37463653, year = {2023}, author = {Hemmati, M and Kashanipoor, S and Mazaheri, P and Alibabaei, F and Babaeizad, A and Asli, S and Mohammadi, S and Gorgin, AH and Ghods, K and Yousefi, B and Eslami, M}, title = {Importance of gut microbiota metabolites in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {121947}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121947}, pmid = {37463653}, issn = {1879-0631}, abstract = {Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the most common cause of death worldwide and has become a public health concern. The proven notable risk factors for CVD are atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and some genetic defects. However, research has shown a correlation between metabolic health, gut microbiota, and dietary risk factors. The gut microbiota makes an important contribution to human functional metabolic pathways by contributing enzymes that are not encoded by the human genome, for instance, the breakdown of polysaccharides, polyphenols and vitamins synthesis. TMAO and SCFAs, human gut microbiota compounds, have respective immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory effects. Choline and l-carnitine are abundant in high-fat diets and are transformed into TMA by gut bacteria. The liver's phase of metabolism then changes TMA into TMAO. In turn, TMAO promotes the activation of macrophages, damages vascular endothelium, and results in CVD-however, dysbiosis decreases SCFAs and bile acids, which raises intestinal permeability. Congestion in the portal vein, a drop in cardiac output, a reduction in intestinal perfusion, and intestinal leakage are all caused by heart failure. These factors induce systemic inflammation by increasing intestinal leakage. By raising CRP and pro-inflammatory reactions, human gut dysbiosis and elevated TMAO levels promote the development of arterial plaque, hasten the beginning of atherosclerosis, and raise the risk of CAD. A healthy symbiosis between the gut microbiota and host is a key factor in shaping the biochemical profile of the diet, therefore which are crucial for maintaining the intestinal epithelial barrier, growing mucosa, reducing inflammation, and controlling blood pressure.}, } @article {pmid37462722, year = {2023}, author = {Čejka, T and Trnka, M and Büntgen, U}, title = {Sustainable cultivation of the white truffle (Tuber magnatum) requires ecological understanding.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37462722}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000797//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic/ ; CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000797//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic/ ; CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000797//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic/ ; }, abstract = {The white truffle (Tuber magnatum Picco.; WT) is the most expensive and arguably also the most delicious species within the genus Tuber. Due to its hidden belowground life cycle, complex host symbiosis, and yet unknown distribution, cultivation of the enigmatic species has only recently been achieved at some plantations in France. A sustainable production of WTs under future climate change, however, requires a better ecological understanding of the species' natural occurrence. Here, we combine information from truffle hunters with a literature review to assess the climatic, edaphic, geographic, and symbiotic characteristics of 231 reported WT sites in southeast Europe. Our meta-study shows that 75% of the WT sites are located outside the species' most famous harvest region, the Piedmont in northern Italy. Spanning a wide geographic range from ~ 37° N in Sicily to ~ 47° N in Hungary, and elevations between sea level in the north and 1000 m asl in the south, all WT sites are characterised by mean winter temperatures > 0.4 °C and summer precipitation totals of ~ 50 mm. Often formed during past flood or landslide events, current soil conditions of the WT sites exhibit pH levels between 6.4 and 8.7, high macroporosity, and a cation exchange capacity of ~ 17 meq/100 g. At least 26 potential host species from 12 genera were reported at the WT sites, with Populus alba and Quercus cerris accounting for 23.5% of all plant species. We expect our findings to contribute to a sustainable WT industry under changing environmental and economic conditions.}, } @article {pmid37458768, year = {2023}, author = {Hoque, MM and Espinoza-Vergara, G and McDougald, D}, title = {Protozoan predation as a driver of diversity and virulence in bacterial biofilms.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuad040}, pmid = {37458768}, issn = {1574-6976}, abstract = {Protozoa are eukaryotic organisms that play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and maintaining balance in the food web. Predation, symbiosis and parasitism are three types of interactions between protozoa and bacteria. However, not all bacterial species are equally susceptible to protozoan predation as many are capable of defending against predation in numerous ways and may even establish either a symbiotic or parasitic life-style. Biofilm formation is one such mechanism by which bacteria can survive predation. Structural and chemical components of biofilms enhance resistance to predation compared to their planktonic counterparts. Predation on biofilms gives rise to phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity in prey that leads to trade-offs in virulence in other eukaryotes. Recent advances, using molecular and genomics techniques, allow us to generate new information about the interactions of protozoa and biofilms of prey bacteria. This review presents the current state of the field on impacts of protozoan predation on biofilms. We provide an overview of newly gathered insights into (i) molecular mechanisms of predation resistance in biofilms, (ii) phenotypic and genetic diversification of prey bacteria, and (iii) evolution of virulence as a consequence of protozoan predation on biofilms.}, } @article {pmid37462964, year = {2022}, author = {Kong, XB and Dong, ZL and Wang, ZP}, title = {[Human microbiome and chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome: An update].}, journal = {Zhonghua nan ke xue = National journal of andrology}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {243-246}, pmid = {37462964}, issn = {1009-3591}, abstract = {The significance of symbiotic microorganisms in the human body was recognized with the advancing of the concept of human microbiome and the development of related studies and technologies. These microorganisms play important roles in metabolism, immune regulation, the maintenance of health, and the development and progression of diseases in the human body. Recent studies show that chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is related with human microbiome, mainly involving the urogenital tract, intestinal canal, and oral cavity. This review summarizes the studies on the relationship between the human microbiome and CP/CPPS in recent years.}, } @article {pmid37458601, year = {2023}, author = {Ding, J and Cui, C and Wang, G and Wei, G and Bai, L and Li, Y and Sun, P and Dong, L and Liu, Z and Yun, J and Li, F and Li, K and He, L and Wang, S}, title = {Engineered Gut Symbiotic Bacterium-Mediated RNAi for Effective Control of Anopheles Mosquito Larvae.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0166623}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01666-23}, pmid = {37458601}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Anopheles mosquitoes are the primary vectors for the transmission of malaria parasites, which poses a devastating burden on global public health and welfare. The recent invasion of Anopheles stephensi in Africa has made malaria eradication more challenging due to its outdoor biting behavior and widespread resistance to insecticides. To address this issue, we developed a new approach for mosquito larvae control using gut microbiota-mediated RNA interference (RNAi). We engineered a mosquito symbiotic gut bacterium, Serratia fonticola, by deleting its RNase III gene to produce double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) in the mosquito larval gut. We found that the engineered S. fonticola strains can stably colonize mosquito larval guts and produce dsRNAs dsMet or dsEcR to activate RNAi and effectively suppress the expression of methoprene-tolerant gene Met and ecdysone receptor gene EcR, which encode receptors for juvenile hormone and ecdysone pathways in mosquitoes, respectively. Importantly, the engineered S. fonticola strains markedly inhibit the development of A. stephensi larvae and leads to a high mortality, providing an effective dsRNA delivery system for silencing genes in insects and a novel RNAi-mediated pest control strategy. Collectively, our symbiont-mediated RNAi (smRNAi) approach offers an innovative and sustainable method for controlling mosquito larvae and provides a promising strategy for combating malaria. IMPORTANCE Mosquitoes are vectors for various diseases, imposing a significant threat to public health globally. The recent invasion of A. stephensi in Africa has made malaria eradication more challenging due to its outdoor biting behavior and widespread resistance to insecticides. RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising approach that uses dsRNA to silence specific genes in pests. This study presents the use of a gut symbiotic bacterium, Serratia fonticola, as an efficient delivery system of dsRNA for RNAi-mediated pest control. The knockout of RNase III, a dsRNA-specific endonuclease gene, in S. fonticola using CRISPR-Cas9 led to efficient dsRNA production. Engineered strains of S. fonticola can colonize the mosquito larval gut and effectively suppress the expression of two critical genes, Met and EcR, which inhibit mosquito development and cause high mortality in mosquito larvae. This study highlights the potential of exploring the mosquito microbiota as a source of dsRNA for RNAi-based pest control.}, } @article {pmid37457346, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, Y and Ma, Y and Li, D and Kang, M and Pei, Y and Zhang, R and Tao, W and Huang, S and Song, W and Li, Y and Huang, W and Wang, D and Chen, Y}, title = {Biological and genomic analysis of a symbiotic nitrogen fixation defective mutant in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1209664}, pmid = {37457346}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Medicago truncatula has been selected as one of the model legume species for gene functional studies. To elucidate the functions of the very large number of genes present in plant genomes, genetic mutant resources are very useful and necessary tools. Fast Neutron (FN) mutagenesis is effective in inducing deletion mutations in genomes of diverse species. Through this method, we have generated a large mutant resource in M. truncatula. This mutant resources have been used to screen for different mutant using a forward genetics methods. We have isolated and identified a large amount of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) deficiency mutants. Here, we describe the detail procedures that are being used to characterize symbiotic mutants in M. truncatula. In recent years, whole genome sequencing has been used to speed up and scale up the deletion identification in the mutant. Using this method, we have successfully isolated a SNF defective mutant FN007 and identified that it has a large segment deletion on chromosome 3. The causal deletion in the mutant was confirmed by tail PCR amplication and sequencing. Our results illustrate the utility of whole genome sequencing analysis in the characterization of FN induced deletion mutants for gene discovery and functional studies in the M. truncatula. It is expected to improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume plants to a great extent.}, } @article {pmid37457334, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, TY and Gao, TY and Li, WJ and Cui, DL}, title = {"Single-pole dual-control" competing mode in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1149522}, pmid = {37457334}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant development and pattern formation depend on diffusible signals and location cues. These developmental signals and cues activate intracellular downstream components through cell surface receptors that direct cells to adopt specific fates for optimal function and establish biological fitness. There may be a single-pole dual-control competing mode in controlling plant development and microbial infection. In plant development, paracrine signaling molecules compete with autocrine signaling molecules to bind receptors or receptor complexes, turn on antagonistic molecular mechanisms, and precisely regulate developmental processes. In the process of microbial infection, two different signaling molecules, competing receptors or receptor complexes, form their respective signaling complexes, trigger opposite signaling pathways, establish symbiosis or immunity, and achieve biological adaptation. We reviewed several "single-pole dual-control" competing modes, focusing on analyzing the competitive commonality and characterization of "single-pole dual-control" molecular mechanisms. We suggest it might be an economical protective mechanism for plants' sequentially and iteratively programmed developmental events. This mechanism may also be a paradigm for reducing internal friction in the struggle and coexistence with microbes. It provides extraordinary insights into molecular recognition, cell-to-cell communication, and protein-protein interactions. A detailed understanding of the "single-pole dual-control" competing mode will contribute to the discovery of more receptors or antagonistic peptides, and lay the foundation for food, biofuel production, and crop improvement.}, } @article {pmid37455851, year = {2023}, author = {Bhat, AH and Machado, RAR and Abolafia, J and Askary, TH and Půža, V and Ruiz-Cuenca, AN and Rana, A and Sayed, S and Al-Shuraym, LA}, title = {Multigene Sequence-Based and Phenotypic Characterization Reveals the Occurrence of a Novel Entomopathogenic Nematode Species, Steinernema anantnagense n. sp.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {20230029}, pmid = {37455851}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Three entomopathogenic nematode populations were isolated from agricultural fields in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir (India). Sequences of multiple gene regions and phenotypic features show that they are conspecific and represent a novel species. Molecular and morphological features provided evidence for placing the new species into the "Kushidai" clade. Within this clade, analysis of sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene, the D2D3 region of the 28S rRNA gene, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene, and the mitochondrial 12S (mt12S) gene depicted the novel species as a distinctive entity closely related to Steinernema akhursti, S. kushidai, and S. populi. Phylogenetic analyses also show that the new species is a sister species to S. akhursti, and these two species are closely related to S. kushidai and S. populi. Additionally, the new species does not mate or produce fertile progeny with any of the closely related species, reinforcing its uniqueness from a biological species concept standpoint. The new species is further characterized by the third-stage infective juveniles with almost straight bodies (0.7-0.8 mm length), poorly developed stoma and pharynx, and conoid-elongate tail (49-66 µm) with hyaline posterior part. Adult females are characterized by short and conoid tails bearing a short mucron in the first generation and long conoid tails with thin mucron in the second generation. Adult males have ventrally curved spicules in both generations. Moreover, the first-generation male has rounded manubrium, fusiform gubernaculum, conoid and slightly ventrally curved tails with minute mucron, and the second generation has rhomboid manubrium anteriorly ventrad bent, and tails with long and robust mucron. The morphological, morphometrical, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses support the new species status of this nematode, which is hereby described as Steinernema anantnagense n. sp. The bacterial symbiont associated with S. anantnagense n. sp. represents a novel species, closely related to Xenorhabdus japonica. These findings shed light on the diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria, providing valuable information for future studies in this field.}, } @article {pmid37455748, year = {2023}, author = {Qi, L and Shi, M and Zhu, FC and Lian, CA and He, LS}, title = {Genomic evidence for the first symbiotic Deferribacterota, a novel gut symbiont from the deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris kairei.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1179935}, pmid = {37455748}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The genus Rimicaris is the dominant organism living in hydrothermal vents. However, little research has been done on the functions of their intestinal flora. Here, we investigated the potential functions of Deferribacterota, which is dominant in the intestine of Rimicaris kairei from the Central Indian Ridge. In total, six metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Deferribacterota were obtained using the metagenomic approach. The six Deferribacterota MAGs (Def-MAGs) were clustered into a new branch in the phylogenetic tree. The six Def-MAGs were further classified into three species, including one new order and two new genera, based on the results of phylogenetic analysis, relative evolutionary divergence (RED), average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) values. The results of the energy metabolism study showed that these bacteria can use a variety of carbon sources, such as glycogen, sucrose, salicin, arbutin, glucose, cellobiose, and maltose. These bacteria have a type II secretion system and effector proteins that can transport some intracellular toxins to the extracellular compartment and a type V CRISPR-Cas system that can defend against various invasions. In addition, cofactors such as biotin, riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) synthesized by R. kairei gut Deferribacterota may also assist their host in surviving under extreme conditions. Taken together, the potential function of Deferribacterota in the hydrothermal R. kairei gut suggests its long-term coevolution with the host.}, } @article {pmid37452489, year = {2023}, author = {Qiao, SA and Gao, Z and Roth, R}, title = {A perspective on cross-kingdom RNA interference in mutualistic symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19122}, pmid = {37452489}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/T008784/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {RNA interference (RNAi) is arguably one of the more versatile mechanisms in cell biology, facilitating the fine regulation of gene expression and protection against mobile genomic elements, whilst also constituting a key aspect of induced plant immunity. More recently, the use of this mechanism to regulate gene expression in heterospecific partners - cross-kingdom RNAi (ckRNAi) - has been shown to form a critical part of bidirectional interactions between hosts and endosymbionts, regulating the interplay between microbial infection mechanisms and host immunity. Here, we review the current understanding of ckRNAi as it relates to interactions between plants and their pathogenic and mutualistic endosymbionts, with particular emphasis on evidence in support of ckRNAi in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37450045, year = {2023}, author = {Braga, JGB and de Novais, CB and Diniz, PP and da Silva Aragão, OO and Saggin Júnior, OJ and da Conceição Jesus, E}, title = {Association of mycoheterotrophic Gentianaceae with specific Glomus lineages.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37450045}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {Finance code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; Finance code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; AID-OAA-A-11-00012//National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine/ ; 312781/2022-9//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; }, abstract = {Some plant species took an alternative evolutionary pathway in which they lost their photosynthetic capacity to depend exclusively on carbon supplied by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in an association called mycoheterotrophy. Among them is Voyriella parviflora, a species of the family Gentianaceae, which is found in tropical regions such as the Amazon basin. Here, we assessed the identity of AMF symbionts associated with this species. DNA was isolated from eight Gentianaceae specimens and from litter and surrounding roots of photosynthetic plants. The atp1 gene was amplified by Sanger sequencing to determine the taxonomic affiliation of the mycoheterotrophic plants. A 280 bp region of the 18S rRNA gene of AMF was amplified with primers NS31/AML2 by high-throughput sequencing. The mycoheterotrophic specimens were assigned to V. parviflora with a bootstrap support of 72%. Glomus was the most abundant AMF genus, both in the mycoheterotrophic plants and in the litter and roots of photosynthetic plants. In addition, a few Glomus genotypes were abundantly enriched in the mycoheterotrophic plants, with only a few specimens colonized by Gigaspora, Acaulospora, and Scutellospora in a low proportion. These genotypes formed a cluster within a larger clade, suggesting that V. parviflora shows a preferential association with a narrow Glomus lineage which is not phylogenetically close to a previously identified V. parviflora's associated lineage. Furthermore, detecting fungi from other families suggests that V. parviflora is colonized by other genera, although with low frequency. These findings provide new insights into the association between AMF and mycoheterotrophic species and highlight the importance of considering trap culture-independent approaches in understanding this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37449473, year = {2023}, author = {Ye, Z and Yang, X and Deng, B and Liao, Z and Fang, X and Wang, J}, title = {Prevention of DSS-induced colitis in mice with water kefir microbiota via anti-inflammatory and microbiota-balancing activity.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3fo00354j}, pmid = {37449473}, issn = {2042-650X}, abstract = {Water kefir, a natural and stable functional microbiota system consisting of a symbiotic mixture of probiotics, shows multiple bioactivities but little is known about the effect of water kefir microbiota on the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is one of the most common intestinal problems and has become a worldwide public health concern. Here, the main objectives of the present study were to investigate the preventative effects of water kefir microbiota, a probiotic consortium mainly consisting of bacteria belonging to Acetobacter, Lactobacillus, and Komagataeibacter and fungi belonging to Saccharomyces and Talaromyces, in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model and unveil the underlying mechanism of the action. Water kefir microbiota effectively improved the disease severity of DSS-induced colitis, including decreased body weight and colon length, increased spleen index and DAI score, and colonic tissue damage. Moreover, water kefir microbiota restored the abnormal expression of tight junction proteins (such as occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-1) and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, and IL-10) and inactivated TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway induced by DSS. Water kefir microbiota also improved the composition and metabolism of intestinal microbiota. These findings demonstrated that water kefir microbiota could exert protective roles in the DSS-induced colitis mouse model by reducing inflammation and regulating microbial dysbiosis, which will be helpful for the development of water kefir microbiota-based microbial products as an alternative preventative strategy for IBD.}, } @article {pmid37448846, year = {2023}, author = {Kusmita, L and Nur Prasetyo Edi, A and Dwi Franyoto, Y and Mutmainah, and Haryanti, S and Dwi Retno Nurcahyanti, A}, title = {Sun protection and antibacterial activities of carotenoids from the soft coral Sinularia sp. symbiotic bacteria from Panjang Island, North Java Sea.}, journal = {Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {101680}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsps.2023.06.013}, pmid = {37448846}, issn = {1319-0164}, abstract = {Carotenoids have shown beneficial applications in cosmetology, pharmacology, and medicine. However, environmental stress in the marine environment can trigger the production of unique secondary metabolites, such as carotenoids. These compounds can also be sustainably produced by symbiotic bacteria. We hypothesized that the soft corals in tropical regions may produce diverse biological secondary metabolites, including carotenoids, both by the host organism and their bacterial symbiont. The unique carotenoids may provide promising biological activity such as antioxidant, UV photoprotector, and antibacterial activities. To this end, we isolated and characterized the carotenoids isolated from the bacterial symbiont of Sinularia sp., a soft coral from Panjang Island, North Java Sea, strain 19. PP.Sc.13. Bacterial identification was performed using DNA barcoding of the 16S rRNA region. Identification of carotenoids was carried out using a spectrophotometer, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and attenuated total reflection fourier-transformed infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was estimated using the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, while the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and % transmission of erythema and pigmentation were determined based on colorimetric methods. The antibacterial activity assay was carried out using the agar diffusion method against two multidrug-resistant bacteria. The bacterial symbiont was identified as Virgibacillus sp. and the carotenoids isolated from this symbiont exhibited significant antioxidant activity and extra sun protection effect, thus categorized as UVA sunblock. Furthermore, the isolated carotenoids exhibited antibacterial activities against Methicillin Resistant-Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli. This study provides evidence of the carotenoids produced by the soft coral bacterial symbiont Virgibacillus sp., which may be used as an antioxidant, sun protection, and antibacterial agent. Further investigation of the de novo biological production of carotenoids by Virgibacillus sp. is warranted.}, } @article {pmid37448580, year = {2023}, author = {Schwarz, M and Beza-Beza, CF and Mikaelyan, A}, title = {Wood fibers are a crucial microhabitat for cellulose- and xylan- degrading bacteria in the hindgut of the wood-feeding beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1173696}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1173696}, pmid = {37448580}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Wood digestion in insects relies on the maintenance of a mosaic of numerous microhabitats, each colonized by distinct microbiomes. Understanding the division of digestive labor between these microhabitats- is central to understanding the physiology and evolution of symbiotic wood digestion. A microhabitat that has emerged to be of direct relevance to the process of lignocellulose digestion is the surface of ingested plant material. Wood particles in the guts of some termites are colonized by a specialized bacterial fiber-digesting microbiome, but whether this represents a widespread strategy among insect lineages that have independently evolved wood-feeding remains an open question.

METHODS: In this study, we investigated the bacterial communities specifically associated with wood fibers in the gut of the passalid beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus. We developed a Percoll-based centrifugation method to isolate and enrich the wood particles from the anterior hindgut, allowing us to access the wood fibers and their associated microbiome. We then performed assays of enzyme activity and used short-read and long-read amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to identify the composition of the fiber-associated microbiome.

RESULTS: Our assays demonstrated that the anterior hindgut, which houses a majority of the bacterial load, is an important site for lignocellulose digestion. Wood particles enriched from the anterior hindgut contribute to a large proportion of the total enzyme activity. The sequencing revealed that O. disjunctus, like termites, harbors a distinct fiber-associated microbiome, but notably, its community is enriched in insect-specific groups of Lactococcus and Turicibacter.

DISCUSSION: Our study underscores the importance of microhabitats in fostering the complex symbiotic relationships between wood-feeding insects and their microbiomes. The discovery of distinct fiber-digesting symbionts in O. disjunctus, compared to termites, highlights the diverse evolutionary paths insects have taken to adapt to a challenging diet.}, } @article {pmid37447493, year = {2023}, author = {Peng, W and Guo, X and Xu, X and Zou, D and Zou, H and Yang, X}, title = {Advances in Polysaccharide Production Based on the Co-Culture of Microbes.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {15}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/polym15132847}, pmid = {37447493}, issn = {2073-4360}, support = {2081922015//Chengdu University Talent Project/ ; }, abstract = {Microbial polysaccharides are natural carbohydrates that can confer adhesion capacity to cells and protect them from harsh environments. Due to their various physiological activities, these macromolecules are widely used in food, medicine, environmental, cosmetic, and textile applications. Microbial co-culture is an important strategy that is used to increase the production of microbial polysaccharides or produce new polysaccharides (structural alterations). This is achieved by exploiting the symbiotic/antagonistic/chemo-sensitive interactions between microbes and stimulating the expression of relevant silent genes. In this article, we review the performance of polysaccharides produced using microbial co-culture in terms of yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to the advantages and application prospects of co-culture. Moreover, the potential for microbial polysaccharides to be used in various applications is discussed.}, } @article {pmid37447068, year = {2023}, author = {Caronni, S and Quaglini, LA and Franzetti, A and Gentili, R and Montagnani, C and Citterio, S}, title = {Does Caulerpa prolifera with Its Bacterial Coating Represent a Promising Association for Seawater Phytoremediation of Diesel Hydrocarbons?.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12132507}, pmid = {37447068}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {CN_00000033//Governo Italiano/ ; }, abstract = {Anthropic diesel-derived contamination of Mediterranean coastal waters is of great concern. Nature-based solutions such as phytoremediation are considered promising technologies to remove contaminants from marine environments. The aim of this work was to investigate the tolerance of the Mediterranean autochthonous seaweed Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskal) Lamouroux to diesel fuel and its hydrocarbon degradation potential. Changes in C. prolifera traits, including its associated bacterial community abundance and structure, were determined by fluorescence microscopy and next-generation sequencing techniques. Thalli of C. prolifera artificially exposed to increasing concentration of diesel fuel for 30 days and thalli collected from three natural sites with different levels of seawater diesel-derived hydrocarbons were analysed. Gas chromatography was applied to determine the seaweed hydrocarbon degradation potential. Overall, in controlled conditions the lower concentration of diesel (0.01%) did not affect C. prolifera survival and growth, whereas the higher concentration (1%) resulted in high mortality and blade damages. Similarly, only natural thalli, collected at the most polluted marine site (750 mg L[-1]), were damaged. A higher abundance of epiphytic bacteria, with a higher relative abundance of Vibrio bacteria, was positively correlated to the health status of the seaweed as well as to its diesel-degradation ability. In conclusion, C. prolifera tolerated and degraded moderate concentrations of seawater diesel-derived compounds, especially changing the abundance and community structure of its bacterial coating. The protection and exploitation of this autochthonous natural seaweed-bacteria symbiosis represents a useful strategy to mitigate the hydrocarbon contamination in moderate polluted Mediterranean costal environments.}, } @article {pmid37447039, year = {2023}, author = {Tripolskaja, L and Kazlauskaite-Jadzevice, A and Razukas, A}, title = {Organic Carbon, Nitrogen Accumulation and Nitrogen Leaching as Affected by Legume Crop Residues on Sandy Loam in the Eastern Baltic Region.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12132478}, pmid = {37447039}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Legumes have a wide range of positive effects on soil properties, including nitrogen and carbon storage, soil structure and the phytosanitary condition of crops. From an agronomic point of view, legumes are most valued for their ability to take up atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of legume residues (peas, fodder beans, narrow-leaved lupins) on the N (Ntotal) and organic carbon (Corg) accumulation in soil and N leaching under temperate climate conditions. The experiment was carried out in lysimetric equipment in 2016-2023. The effect of legumes on Corg and Ntotal accumulation in soil and N leaching were studied in a Fabaceae-Cereals sequence. Three species of legumes-peas, fodder beans and narrow-leaved lupines-were tested; spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was grown as a control treatment. The lysimeter surface area was 1.75 m[2] and the experimental soil layer was 0.60 m (sand loam Haplic Luvisol). It was found that after harvesting, more residues were incorporated into the soil with lupines (p < 0.05), which, compared to pea and bean residues, increased Ntotal and Corg concentrations in the soil. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.95) between the Ntotal concentration in the soil and the N amount incorporated with residues. Mineral N released during residue decomposition was leached from the humic horizon under conditions of excess moisture in the autumn-winter period and increased the nitrate concentration in the lysimeter water. The increase in concentration was recorded within 5 to 6 months after the application of the residues. As a result, the N leaching losses increased on average by 24.7-33.2% (p < 0.05) during the year of legume cultivation. In the following year, after legume residue incorporation, the effect of residues on nitrate concentration and N leaching decreased and did not differ significantly from that of barley residues.}, } @article {pmid37447037, year = {2023}, author = {Llamas, A and Leon-Miranda, E and Tejada-Jimenez, M}, title = {Microalgal and Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterial Consortia: From Interaction to Biotechnological Potential.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12132476}, pmid = {37447037}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {PID2020-118398GB-I00//Gobierno de España, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion/ ; ProyExcel_00483//Regional Government of Andalusia/ ; Plan Propio//University of Córdoba/ ; Torres-Gutierrez//Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Microalgae are used in various biotechnological processes, such as biofuel production due to their high biomass yields, agriculture as biofertilizers, production of high-value-added products, decontamination of wastewater, or as biological models for carbon sequestration. The number of these biotechnological applications is increasing, and as such, any advances that contribute to reducing costs and increasing economic profitability can have a significant impact. Nitrogen fixing organisms, often called diazotroph, also have great biotechnological potential, mainly in agriculture as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Microbial consortia typically perform more complex tasks than monocultures and can execute functions that are challenging or even impossible for individual strains or species. Interestingly, microalgae and diazotrophic organisms are capable to embrace different types of symbiotic associations. Certain corals and lichens exhibit this symbiotic relationship in nature, which enhances their fitness. However, this relationship can also be artificially created in laboratory conditions with the objective of enhancing some of the biotechnological processes that each organism carries out independently. As a result, the utilization of microalgae and diazotrophic organisms in consortia is garnering significant interest as a potential alternative for reducing production costs and increasing yields of microalgae biomass, as well as for producing derived products and serving biotechnological purposes. This review makes an effort to examine the associations of microalgae and diazotrophic organisms, with the aim of highlighting the potential of these associations in improving various biotechnological processes.}, } @article {pmid37446991, year = {2023}, author = {Jarecki, W}, title = {Soybean Response to Seed Inoculation or Coating with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Foliar Fertilization with Molybdenum.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12132431}, pmid = {37446991}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Soybean is one of the most important legumes in the world, and its advantages and disadvantages are well known. As a result of symbiosis with the bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum, soybean can assimilate nitrogen from the air and is therefore not fertilized with this element, or if it is, only at small doses. In soybean agriculture practice, an important treatment is the inoculation of seeds with symbiotic bacteria and optimal fertilization with selected nutrients. Therefore, a three-year (2019-2021) field experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of soybean in the field to a seed Rhizobium inoculation or coating and molybdenum foliar fertilization. There were no significant interactions between the tested treatments over the years. It was demonstrated that the best variant was seed inoculation before sowing in combination with foliar molybdenum application. As a result of this treatment, a significant increase in nodulation, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) index, leaf area index (LAI) and seed yield (by 0.61 t·ha[-1]) was obtained compared to the control. In addition, the content of total protein in the seeds increased, while the content of crude fat decreased, which significantly modified the yield of both components. Sowing coated seeds in the Fix Fertig technology was less effective compared to inoculation, but it was significantly better than that in the control. Coating seeds with B. japonicum, in combination with foliar fertilization with molybdenum, could be recommended for agricultural practice, which was confirmed by economic calculations. Future experiments will assess the soybean's response to seed inoculation or coating and fertilization with other micronutrients.}, } @article {pmid37446966, year = {2023}, author = {Cloonan, KR and Montgomery, WS and Narvaez, TI and Kendra, PE}, title = {A New Repellent for Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Primary Vector of the Mycopathogen That Causes Laurel Wilt.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12132406}, pmid = {37446966}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {6038-22000-007-00D//United States Department of Agriculture/ ; 58-6631-3-002FN//Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement between USDA-ARS and Synergy Semiochemicals Corp./ ; DE-SC0014664//an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the USDA/ ; }, abstract = {The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, was detected in Georgia, USA, in 2002 and has since spread to 11 additional states. This wood-boring weevil carries a symbiotic fungus, Harringtonia lauricola, that causes laurel wilt, a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae family. Native ambrosia beetles that breed in infected trees can acquire H. lauricola and contribute to the spread of laurel wilt. Since 2002, laurel wilt has devastated native Persea species in coastal forests and has killed an estimated 200,000 avocado trees in Florida. Since laurel wilt is difficult to manage once it has entered a susceptible agrosystem, this study evaluated piperitone as a candidate repellent to deter attacks by X. glabratus and other ambrosia beetles. Additionally, piperitone was compared to the known repellent verbenone as a potential cost-effective alternative. The repellent efficacy was determined by comparing captures in traps baited with commercial beetle lures containing α-copaene versus captures in traps baited with lures plus a repellent. In parallel 10-week field tests, the addition of piperitone reduced the captures of X. glabratus in α-copaene-baited traps by 90%; however, there was no significant reduction in the captures of native ambrosia beetles in ethanol-baited traps. In two replicate 10-week comparative tests, piperitone and verbenone both reduced X. glabratus captures by 68-90%, with longevity over the full 10 weeks. This study identifies piperitone as a new X. glabratus repellent with potential for pest management.}, } @article {pmid37446705, year = {2023}, author = {Padilla-Vaca, F and de la Mora, J and García-Contreras, R and Ramírez-Prado, JH and Alva-Murillo, N and Fonseca-Yepez, S and Serna-Gutiérrez, I and Moreno-Galván, CL and Montufar-Rodríguez, JM and Vicente-Gómez, M and Rangel-Serrano, Á and Vargas-Maya, NI and Franco, B}, title = {Two-Component System Sensor Kinases from Asgardian Archaea May Be Witnesses to Eukaryotic Cell Evolution.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/molecules28135042}, pmid = {37446705}, issn = {1420-3049}, abstract = {The signal transduction paradigm in bacteria involves two-component systems (TCSs). Asgardarchaeota are archaea that may have originated the current eukaryotic lifeforms. Most research on these archaea has focused on eukaryotic-like features, such as genes involved in phagocytosis, cytoskeleton structure, and vesicle trafficking. However, little attention has been given to specific prokaryotic features. Here, the sequence and predicted structural features of TCS sensor kinases analyzed from two metagenome assemblies and a genomic assembly from cultured Asgardian archaea are presented. The homology of the sensor kinases suggests the grouping of Lokiarchaeum closer to bacterial homologs. In contrast, one group from a Lokiarchaeum and a meta-genome assembly from Candidatus Heimdallarchaeum suggest the presence of a set of kinases separated from the typical bacterial TCS sensor kinases. AtoS and ArcB homologs were found in meta-genome assemblies along with defined domains for other well-characterized sensor kinases, suggesting the close link between these organisms and bacteria that may have resulted in the metabolic link to the establishment of symbiosis. Several kinases are predicted to be cytoplasmic; some contain several PAS domains. The data shown here suggest that TCS kinases in Asgardian bacteria are witnesses to the transition from bacteria to eukaryotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid37446193, year = {2023}, author = {Nihashi, Y and Song, X and Yamamoto, M and Setoyama, D and Kida, YS}, title = {Decoding Metabolic Symbiosis between Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Using Cultured Tumor Microenvironment.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241311015}, pmid = {37446193}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {JP23K13919//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP18be0304401j0002//AMED/ ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis, largely due to its unique tumor microenvironment (TME) and dense fibrotic stroma. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in promoting tumor growth and metastasis, contributing to the metabolic adaptation of PDAC cells. However, the metabolic interactions between PDAC cells and CAFs are not well-understood. In this study, an in vitro co-culture model was used to investigate these metabolic interactions. Metabolomic analysis was performed under monoculture conditions of Capan-1 PDAC cells and CAF precursor cells, as well as co-culture conditions of PDAC cells and differentiated inflammatory CAF (iCAF). Co-cultured Capan-1 cells displayed significant metabolic changes, such as increased 2-oxoglutaric acid and lauric acid and decreased amino acids. The metabolic profiles of co-cultured Capan-1 and CAFs revealed differences in intracellular metabolites. Analysis of extracellular metabolites in the culture supernatant showed distinct differences between Capan-1 and CAF precursors, with the co-culture supernatant exhibiting the most significant changes. A comparison of the culture supernatants of Capan-1 and CAF precursors revealed different metabolic processes while co-culturing the two cell types demonstrated potential metabolic interactions. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of metabolic interactions between cancer cells and CAFs in tumor progression and highlights the role of TME in metabolic reprogramming.}, } @article {pmid37446159, year = {2023}, author = {Tomazeli, EC and Alfaro, M and Zambonelli, A and Garde, E and Pérez, G and Jiménez, I and Ramírez, L and Salman, H and Pisabarro, AG}, title = {Transcriptome Metabolic Characterization of Tuber borchii SP1-A New Spanish Strain for In Vitro Studies of the Bianchetto Truffle.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241310981}, pmid = {37446159}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {0011-1408-2020-000000//Doctorado Industrial, Gobierno de Navarra, España/ ; RTI2018-099371-B-I00 (MCIU, AEI, FEDER/UE//Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica, Gobierno de España,/ ; }, abstract = {Truffles are ascomycete hypogeous fungi belonging to the Tuberaceae family of the Pezizales order that grow in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with tree roots, and they are known for their peculiar aromas and flavors. The axenic culture of truffle mycelium is problematic because it is not possible in many cases, and the growth rate is meager when it is possible. This limitation has prompted searching and characterizing new strains that can be handled in laboratory conditions for basic and applied studies. In this work, a new strain of Tuber borchii (strain SP1) was isolated and cultured, and its transcriptome was analyzed under different in vitro culture conditions. The results showed that the highest growth of T. borchii SP1 was obtained using maltose-enriched cultures made with soft-agar and in static submerged cultures made at 22 °C. We analyzed the transcriptome of this strain cultured in different media to establish a framework for future comparative studies, paying particular attention to the central metabolic pathways, principal secondary metabolite gene clusters, and the genes involved in producing volatile aromatic compounds (VOCs). The results showed a transcription signal for around 80% of the annotated genes. In contrast, most of the transcription effort was concentrated on a limited number of genes (20% of genes account for 80% of the transcription), and the transcription profile of the central metabolism genes was similar in the different conditions analyzed. The gene expression profile suggests that T. borchii uses fermentative rather than respiratory metabolism in these cultures, even in aerobic conditions. Finally, there was a reduced expression of genes belonging to secondary metabolite clusters, whereas there was a significative transcription of those involved in producing volatile aromatic compounds.}, } @article {pmid37444583, year = {2023}, author = {Chetta, P and Sriram, R and Zadra, G}, title = {Lactate as Key Metabolite in Prostate Cancer Progression: What Are the Clinical Implications?.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {15}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/cancers15133473}, pmid = {37444583}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Advanced prostate cancer represents the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. Although androgen-receptor signaling is the major driver of the disease, evidence is accumulating that disease progression is supported by substantial metabolic changes. Alterations in de novo lipogenesis and fatty acid catabolism are consistently reported during prostate cancer development and progression in association with androgen-receptor signaling. Therefore, the term "lipogenic phenotype" is frequently used to describe the complex metabolic rewiring that occurs in prostate cancer. However, a new scenario has emerged in which lactate may play a major role. Alterations in oncogenes/tumor suppressors, androgen signaling, hypoxic conditions, and cells in the tumor microenvironment can promote aerobic glycolysis in prostate cancer cells and the release of lactate in the tumor microenvironment, favoring immune evasion and metastasis. As prostate cancer is composed of metabolically heterogenous cells, glycolytic prostate cancer cells or cancer-associated fibroblasts can also secrete lactate and create "symbiotic" interactions with oxidative prostate cancer cells via lactate shuttling to sustain disease progression. Here, we discuss the multifaceted role of lactate in prostate cancer progression, taking into account the influence of the systemic metabolic and gut microbiota. We call special attention to the clinical opportunities of imaging lactate accumulation for patient stratification and targeting lactate metabolism.}, } @article {pmid37444320, year = {2023}, author = {Pihurov, M and Păcularu-Burada, B and Cotârleț, M and Grigore-Gurgu, L and Borda, D and Stănciuc, N and Kluz, M and Bahrim, GE}, title = {Kombucha and Water Kefir Grains Microbiomes' Symbiotic Contribution to Postbiotics Enhancement.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12132581}, pmid = {37444320}, issn = {2304-8158}, support = {PCE 159/2021//Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education/ ; }, abstract = {Wild artisanal cultures, such as a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) and water kefir grains (WKG), represent a complex microorganism consortia that is composed of yeasts and lactic and acetic acid bacteria, with large strains of diversity and abundance. The fermented products (FPs) obtained by the microbiome's contribution can be included in functional products due to their meta-biotics (pre-, pro-, post-, and paraprobiotics) as a result of complex and synergistic associations as well as due to the metabolic functionality. In this study, consortia of both SCOBY and WKG were involved in the co-fermentation of a newly formulated substrate that was further analysed, aiming at increasing the postbiotic composition of the FPs. Plackett-Burman (PBD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) techniques were employed for the experimental designs to select and optimise several parameters that have an influence on the lyophilised starter cultures of SCOBY and WKG activity as a multiple inoculum. Tea concentration (1-3%), sugar concentration (5-10%), raisins concentration (3-6%), SCOBY lyophilised culture concentration (0.2-0.5%), WKG lyophilised culture concentration (0.2-0.5%), and fermentation time (5-7 days) were considered the independent variables for mathematical analysis and fermentation conditions' optimisation. Antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis MIUG B1, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Aspergillus niger MIUG M5, antioxidant capacity (DPPH), pH and the total acidity (TA) were evaluated as responses. The rich postbiotic bioactive composition of the FP obtained in optimised biotechnological conditions highlighted the usefulness of the artisanal co-cultures, through their symbiotic metabolic interactions for the improvement of bioactive potential.}, } @article {pmid37443341, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, K and Jiang, HJ and Pan, YT and Lu, F and Zhu, Q and Ma, CY and Zhang, AY and Zhou, JY and Zhang, W and Dai, CC}, title = {Hyphosphere microorganisms facilitate hyphal spreading and root colonization of plant symbiotic fungus in ammonium-enriched soil.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37443341}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {No. 32071638//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 2021M701748//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic nitrogen inputs lead to a high ammonium (NH4[+])/nitrate (NO3[-]) ratio in the soil, which restricts hyphal spreading of soil fungi. Access of symbiotic fungi to roots is a prerequisite for plant-fungal interactions. Hyphosphere bacteria protect fungi from environmental stress, yet the impact of hyphosphere bacteria on adaptation of host fungi to NH4[+]-enriched conditions remains unclear. By developing soil microcosm assays, we report that a plant-symbiotic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris, harbors specific hyphosphere bacteria that facilitate hyphal spreading and assist in the root colonization in NH4[+]-enriched soil. Genetic manipulation, 16S rRNA gene analysis and coinoculation assays revealed that the genus Enterobacter was enriched in the hyphosphere of NH4[+]-sensitive wild-type compared to NH4[+]-preferring nitrite reductase-deficient strain. The representative Enterobacter sp. SZ2-promoted hyphal spreading is only evident in nonsterilized soil. We further identified an increased abundance and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and a synchronously decreased NH4[+]:NO3[-] ratio following SZ2 inoculation. Microbial supplementation and inhibitor assays showed that AOA-mediated reduction in NH4[+]:NO3[-] ratio is responsible for SZ2-enhanced fungal adaptation to NH4[+]-enriched conditions. The Ph. liquidambaris-Enterobacter-AOA triple interaction promoted rice growth in NH4[+]-enriched soil. Our study reveals the essential role of hyphosphere microorganism-based hyphal spreading in plant-fungal symbiosis establishment within nitrogen-affected agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37443091, year = {2023}, author = {Ishizaka, A and Koga, M and Mizutani, T and Uraki, R and Yamayoshi, S and Iwatsuki-Horimoto, K and Yamamoto, S and Imai, M and Tsutsumi, T and Suzuki, Y and Kawaoka, Y and Yotsuyanagi, H}, title = {Research article antibody induction and immune response in nasal cavity by third dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.}, journal = {Virology journal}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {146}, pmid = {37443091}, issn = {1743-422X}, support = {22K20926//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 21K07314//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 21K11592//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JPMJMS2025//Moonshot Research and Development Program/ ; UTOPIA, 223fa627001h0001//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP22wm0125002 and JP223fa627001//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The mucosa serves as the first defence against pathogens and facilitates the surveillance and elimination of symbiotic bacteria by mucosal immunity. Recently, the mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated to induce secretory antibodies in the oral and nasal cavities in addition to a systemic immune response. However, the mechanism of induced immune stimulation effect on mucosal immunity and commensal bacteria profile remains unclear.

METHODS: Here, we longitudinally analysed the changing nasal microbiota and both systemic and nasal immune response upon SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, and evaluated how mRNA vaccination influenced nasal microbiota in 18 healthy participants who had received the third BNT162b.

RESULTS: The nasal S-RBD IgG level correlated significantly with plasma IgG levels until 1 month and the levels were sustained for 3 months post-vaccination. In contrast, nasal S-RBD IgA induction peaked at 1 month, albeit slightly, and correlated only with plasma IgA, but the induction level decreased markedly at 3 months post-vaccination. 16 S rRNA sequencing of the nasal microbiota post-vaccination revealed not an overall change, but a decrease in certain opportunistic bacteria, mainly Fusobacterium. The decrease in these bacteria was more pronounced in those who exhibited nasal S-RBD IgA induction, and those with higher S-RBD IgA induction had lower relative amounts of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas pre-vaccination. In addition, plasma and mucosal S-RBD IgG levels correlated with decreased commensal pathogens such as Finegoldia.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the third dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination induced S-RBD antibodies in the nasal mucosa and may have stimulated mucosal immunity against opportunistic bacterial pathogens. This effect, albeit probably secondary, may be considered one of the benefits of mRNA vaccination. Furthermore, our data suggest that a cooperative function of mucosal and systemic immunity in the reduction of bacteria and provides a better understanding of the symbiotic relationship between the host and bacteria in the nasal mucosa.}, } @article {pmid37442416, year = {2023}, author = {Shaaban, AA and Khalaf, EM and Hazem, SH and Shaker, ME and Shata, A and Nouh, NA and Jamil, L and Hafez, MM and El-Baz, AM}, title = {Vinpocetine and Lactobacillus improve fatty liver in rats via modulating the oxidative stress, inflammation, adiponectin and gut microbiome.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {121931}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121931}, pmid = {37442416}, issn = {1879-0631}, abstract = {Therapeutics that interfere with the damage/pathogen-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs/PAMPs) have evolved as promising candidates in the context of hepatic inflammation like that occurring in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, we investigated the therapeutic impact phosphodiesterase-1 inhibitor vinpocetine (Vinpo), alone or when combined with Lactobacillus, on hepatic abnormalities caused by a 13-week high-fat diet (HFD) and diabetes in rats. The results have shown that Vinpo (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) dose-dependently limited HFD-instigated rise of hepatic injury parameters in serum (ALT, AST) and tissue (histological necroinflammation score). These effects were concordant with Vinpo potential to ameliorate HFD-induced fibrosis (Histological fibrosis score, hydroxyproline, TGF-β1) and oxidative stress (MDA, NOx) alongside restoring the antioxidants (GSH, SOD, Nrf-2, HO-1) in the liver. Mechanistically, Vinpo attenuated the hepatocellular release of DAMPs like HMGB1 alongside lowering the overactivation of the pattern recognition receptors TLR4 and RAGE. Consequently, there was a less activation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor-kappa B that was ensued with a decline in overexpression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in Vinpo-treated HFD/diabetes-rats. In comparison to Vinpo treatment alone, Lactobacillus probiotics as an adjunctive therapy with Vinpo significantly improved the disease-associated inflammation and oxidative stress injury, as well as the insulin resistance and lipid profile abnormalities via enhancing the restoration of the symbiotic gut microbiota. In conclusion, combining Vinpo and Lactobacillus probiotics may be a successful approach for limiting the NAFLD in humans.}, } @article {pmid37442391, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Y and Wang, Y and He, X and Li, B and Du, S}, title = {Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: A good companion for heavy metal phytoremediation.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139475}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139475}, pmid = {37442391}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Phytoremediation is an environment-friendly approach regarded as a potential candidate for remediating heavy metal (HM)-contaminated soils. However, the low efficacy of phytoremediation is a major limitation that hampers its large-scale application. Therefore, developing strategies to enhance phytoremediation efficacy for contaminated soils is crucial. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) considerably contribute to phytoremediation intensification. To improve the efficiency of plant-microbe symbiosis for remediation, the mechanisms underlying PGPR-stimulated HM accumulation and tolerance in plants should be comprehensively understood. This review focuses on hyperaccumulators, PGPR, and the mechanisms by which PGPR enhance phytoremediation from four aspects: providing nutrients to plants, secreting plant hormones and specific enzymes, inducing systemic resistance, and altering the bioavailability of HMs in soils. It also provides a theoretical and technical basis for future research on PGPR synergism in promoting the phytoextraction efficiency in HM-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid37442256, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, C and Li, W and Shang, D and Ma, Q and Liu, L and Xu, J and Meng, J and Zhang, T and Wang, Q and Wang, X and Zhang, J and Kong, Q}, title = {Influence of nitrogen sources on wastewater treatment performance by filamentous algae in constructed wetland system.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {116638}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.116638}, pmid = {37442256}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Although filamentous algae have the characteristics of high nutrient assimilation ability, and adaptation to different conditions, studies on their role in water purification of constructed wetlands (CWs) are limited. In this study, the wastewater treatment capacity under different nitrogen sources was explored by constructing a filamentous algal CW (FACW) system. Results confirmed the fast and stable operation efficiency of the FACW system. Ammonia nitrogen was preferred in Cladophora sp. absorption and assimilation. The nutrient consumption rate (NCR) for total nitrogen (TN) of AG was 2.65 mg g[-1] d[-1], much higher than that of nitrate nitrogen (NG) (0.89 mg g[-1] d[-1]). The symbiosis of bacteria and Cladophora sp. Contributed to pollutant removal. A stable and diverse community of microorganisms was found on Cladophora sp. Surface, which revealed different phylogenetic relationships and functional bacterial proportions with those attached on sediment surface. In addition, temperature and light intensity have great influence on the purification ability of plants, and low hydraulic retention time is beneficial to the cost-effective operation of the system. This study provides a method to expand the utilization of wetland plants and apply large filamentous algae to the purification of wetland water quality.}, } @article {pmid37441095, year = {2023}, author = {Rodríguez-Arribas, C and Martínez, I and Aragón, G and Zamorano-Elgueta, C and Cavieres, L and Prieto, M}, title = {Specialization patterns in symbiotic associations: A community perspective over spatial scales.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e10296}, pmid = {37441095}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Specialization, contextualized in a resource axis of an organism niche, is a core concept in ecology. In biotic interactions, specialization can be determined by the range of interacting partners. Evolutionary and ecological factors, in combination with the surveyed scale (spatial, temporal, biological, and/or taxonomic), influence the conception of specialization. This study aimed to assess the specialization patterns and drivers in the lichen symbiosis, considering the interaction between the principal fungus (mycobiont) and the associated Nostoc (cyanobiont), from a community perspective considering different spatial scales. Thus, we determined Nostoc phylogroup richness and composition of lichen communities in 11 Nothofagus pumilio forests across a wide latitudinal gradient in Chile. To measure specialization, cyanobiont richness, Simpson's and d' indices were estimated for 37 mycobiont species in these communities. Potential drivers that might shape Nostoc composition and specialization measures along the environmental gradient were analysed. Limitations in lichen distributional ranges due to the availability of their cyanobionts were studied. Turnover patterns of cyanobionts were identified at multiple spatial scales. The results showed that environmental factors shaped the Nostoc composition of these communities, thus limiting cyanobiont availability to establish the symbiotic association. Besides, specialization changed with the spatial scale and with the metric considered. Cyanolichens were more specialized than cephalolichens when considering partner richness and Simpson's index, whereas the d' index was mostly explained by mycobiont identity. Little evidence of lichen distributional ranges due to the distribution of their cyanobionts was found. Thus, lichens with broad distributional ranges either associated with several cyanobionts or with widely distributed cyanobionts. Comparisons between local and regional scales showed a decreasing degree of specialization at larger scales due to an increase in cyanobiont richness. The results support the context dependency of specialization and how its consideration changes with the metric and the spatial scale considered. Subsequently, we suggest considering the entire community and widening the spatial scale studied as it is crucial to understand factors determining specialization.}, } @article {pmid37440630, year = {2023}, author = {Yip, M and Salcudean, S and Goldberg, K and Althoefer, K and Menciassi, A and Opfermann, JD and Krieger, A and Swaminathan, K and Walsh, CJ and Huang, HH and Lee, IC}, title = {Artificial intelligence meets medical robotics.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {381}, number = {6654}, pages = {141-146}, doi = {10.1126/science.adj3312}, pmid = {37440630}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in medical robots are bringing a new era to medicine. Advanced medical robots can perform diagnostic and surgical procedures, aid rehabilitation, and provide symbiotic prosthetics to replace limbs. The technology used in these devices, including computer vision, medical image analysis, haptics, navigation, precise manipulation, and machine learning (ML) , could allow autonomous robots to carry out diagnostic imaging, remote surgery, surgical subtasks, or even entire surgical procedures. Moreover, AI in rehabilitation devices and advanced prosthetics can provide individualized support, as well as improved functionality and mobility (see the figure). The combination of extraordinary advances in robotics, medicine, materials science, and computing could bring safer, more efficient, and more widely available patient care in the future. -Gemma K. Alderton.}, } @article {pmid37440554, year = {2023}, author = {Donnelly, AR and Giacobe, EJ and Cook, RA and Francis, GM and Buddle, GK and Beaubrun, CL and Cecere, AG and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {Quantification of the capacity of vibrio fischeri to establish symbiosis with Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {7}, pages = {e0287519}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0287519}, pmid = {37440554}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Most animals establish long-term symbiotic associations with bacteria that are critical for normal host physiology. The symbiosis that forms between the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri serves as an important model system for investigating the molecular mechanisms that promote animal-bacterial symbioses. E. scolopes hatch from their eggs uncolonized, which has led to the development of squid-colonization assays that are based on introducing culture-grown V. fischeri cells to freshly hatched juvenile squid. Recent studies have revealed that strains often exhibit large differences in how they establish symbiosis. Therefore, we sought to develop a simplified and reproducible protocol that permits researchers to determine appropriate inoculum levels and provides a platform to standardize the assay across different laboratories. In our protocol, we adapt a method commonly used for evaluating the infectivity of pathogens to quantify the symbiotic capacity of V. fischeri strains. The resulting metric, the symbiotic dose-50 (SD50), estimates the inoculum level that is necessary for a specific V. fischeri strain to establish a light-emitting symbiosis. Relative to other protocols, our method requires 2-5-fold fewer animals. Furthermore, the power analysis presented here suggests that the protocol can detect up to a 3-fold change in the SD50 between different strains.}, } @article {pmid37439322, year = {2023}, author = {Cao, Q and Xiao, X and Tao, C and Shi, R and Lv, R and Guo, R and Li, X and Sui, B and Liu, X and Liu, J}, title = {Efficient clearance of periodontitis pathogens by S. gordonii membrane-coated H2O2 self-supplied nanocomposites in a "Jenga" style.}, journal = {Biomaterials science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3bm00641g}, pmid = {37439322}, issn = {2047-4849}, abstract = {As a key pathogen of periodontitis, P. gingivalis requires support of the initial colonizing bacterium (S. gordonii preferably) to form symbiotic biofilms on gingival tissues with enhanced antibiotic resistance. Here, we report a new strategy to treat periodontitis biofilms with S. gordonii membrane-coated H2O2 self-supplied nanocomposites (ZnO2/Fe3O4@MV NPs) in a "Jenga" style. Integration of our special MV coatings enables selectively enhanced internalization of the cargos in S. gordonii, thus inducing severe damage to the foundational bacterial layer and collapse/clearance of symbiotic biofilms consequently. This strategy allows us to clear the symbiotic biofilms of S. gordonii and P. gingivalis with active hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) derived from ZnO2-Fe3O4@MV NPs in a H2O2 self-supplied, nanocatalyst-assisted manner. This "Jenga-style" treatment provides a cutting-edge proof of concept for the removal of otherwise robust symbiotic biofilms of periodontitis where the critical pathogens are difficult to target and have antibiotic resistance.}, } @article {pmid37438766, year = {2023}, author = {Shigdel, R and Johannessen, A and Lin, H and Peddada, S and Gómez Real, F and Ringel-Kulka, T and Svanes, C and Bertelsen, RJ}, title = {Oral bacterial composition associated with lung function and lung inflammation in a community-based Norwegian population.}, journal = {Respiratory research}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {183}, pmid = {37438766}, issn = {1465-993X}, support = {804199/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The oral cavity is the gateway to the bacteria community in the lung. Disruption of the symbiotic balance of the oral microbiota has been associated with respiratory diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between oral bacteria and respiratory outcomes in the general population. We aimed to describe the associations between oral bacteria, lung function, and lung inflammation in a community-based population.

METHODS: Oral (gingival) samples were collected concurrently with spirometry tests in 477 adults (47% males, median age 28 years) from the RHINESSA study in Bergen, Norway. Bacterial DNA from the 16S rRNA gene from gingival fluid were sequenced by Illumina[®]MiSeq. Lung function was measured using spirometry and measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were performed to examine airway inflammation. Differential abundance analysis was performed using ANCOM-BC, adjusting for weight, education, and smoking.

RESULTS: The abundance of the genera Clostridiales, Achromobacter, Moraxella, Flavitalea and Helicobacter were significantly different among those with low FEV1 (< lower limit of normal (LLN)) as compared to normal FEV1 i.e. ≥ LLN. Twenty-three genera differed in abundance between among those with low FVC < LLN as compared to normal FEV1 ≥ LLN. The abundance of 27 genera from phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Sacchribacteria differed significantly between elevated FeNO levels (≥ 50 ppb) compared to FeNO ≤ 25 ppb.

CONCLUSION: Oral bacterial composition was significantly different for those with low FEV or FVC as compared to those with normal lung function equal to or higher than LLN. Differential bacterial composition was also observed for elevated FeNO levels.}, } @article {pmid37438329, year = {2023}, author = {Uzum, Z and Ershov, D and Pavia, MJ and Mallet, A and Gorgette, O and Plantard, O and Sassera, D and Stavru, F}, title = {Three-dimensional images reveal the impact of the endosymbiont Midichloria mitochondrii on the host mitochondria.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {4133}, pmid = {37438329}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {RGY-0075//Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)/ ; RGY-0075//Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)/ ; RGY-0075//Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)/ ; RGY-0075//Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)/ ; }, abstract = {The hard tick, Ixodes ricinus, a main Lyme disease vector, harbors an intracellular bacterial endosymbiont. Midichloria mitochondrii is maternally inherited and resides in the mitochondria of I. ricinus oocytes, but the consequences of this endosymbiosis are not well understood. Here, we provide 3D images of wild-type and aposymbiotic I. ricinus oocytes generated with focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative image analyses of endosymbionts and oocyte mitochondria at different maturation stages show that the populations of both mitochondrion-associated bacteria and bacterium-hosting mitochondria increase upon vitellogenisation, and that mitochondria can host multiple bacteria in later stages. Three-dimensional reconstructions show symbiosis-dependent morphologies of mitochondria and demonstrate complete M. mitochondrii inclusion inside a mitochondrion. Cytoplasmic endosymbiont located close to mitochondria are not oriented towards the mitochondria, suggesting that bacterial recolonization is unlikely. We further demonstrate individual globular-shaped mitochondria in the wild type oocytes, while aposymbiotic oocytes only contain a mitochondrial network. In summary, our study suggests that M. mitochondrii modulates mitochondrial fragmentation in oogenesis possibly affecting organelle function and ensuring its presence over generations.}, } @article {pmid37435799, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, B and Li, Y and Lv, Y and Jiao, X and Wang, Z and He, Y and Wen, L}, title = {Dehydration-rehydration mechanism of vegetables at the cell-wall and cell-membrane levels and future research challenges.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-17}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2023.2233620}, pmid = {37435799}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {The quality of dehydrated vegetables is affected by the degree to which they are returned to their original state during rehydration (restorability). At present, whether this mechanism occurs at the cell-wall or cell-membrane level is unclear. This paper reviews the important factors affecting the mechanism of dehydration-rehydration, focusing on the analysis of the composition and structure of the cell wall and cell membrane, and summarizes the related detection and analytical techniques that can be used to explore the mechanisms of dehydration-rehydration at the cell-wall and cell-membrane levels. The integrity and permeability of the cell membrane affect water transport during the dehydration-rehydration process. The cell wall and cell membrane are supporting materials for tissue morphology. The arabinan side chains of the primary structure and fibers are important for water retention. Water transport may be classified as symplastic and apoplastic. Cell membrane disruption occurs with symbiotic transport but increases the drying rate. An in-depth analysis of the dehydration-rehydration mechanism of vegetables will help develop and improve their processing methods and inspire new applications.}, } @article {pmid37434349, year = {2023}, author = {Forró, C and Musall, S and Montes, VR and Linkhorst, J and Walter, P and Wessling, M and Offenhäusser, A and Ingebrandt, S and Weber, Y and Lampert, A and Santoro, F}, title = {Toward the Next Generation of Neural Iontronic Interfaces.}, journal = {Advanced healthcare materials}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2301055}, doi = {10.1002/adhm.202301055}, pmid = {37434349}, issn = {2192-2659}, abstract = {Neural interfaces are evolving at a rapid pace owing to advances in material science and fabrication, reduced cost of scalable complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, and highly interdisciplinary teams of researchers and engineers that span a large range from basic to applied and clinical sciences. This study outlines currently established technologies, defined as instruments and biological study systems that are routinely used in neuroscientific research. After identifying the shortcomings of current technologies, such as a lack of biocompatibility, topological optimization, low bandwidth, and lack of transparency, it maps out promising directions along which progress should be made to achieve the next generation of symbiotic and intelligent neural interfaces. Lastly, it proposes novel applications that can be achieved by these developments, ranging from the understanding and reproduction of synaptic learning to live-long multimodal measurements to monitor and treat various neuronal disorders.}, } @article {pmid37434339, year = {2023}, author = {Kokkoris, V and Banchini, C and Paré, L and Abdellatif, L and Séguin, S and Hubbard, K and Findlay, W and Dalpé, Y and Dettman, J and Corradi, N and Stefani, F}, title = {Rhizophagus irregularis, the model fungus in arbuscular mycorrhiza research, forms dimorphic spores.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19121}, pmid = {37434339}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {J-002272//Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ ; RGPAS-2020-00033//Discovery Accelerator Supplements Program/ ; RGPIN2020-05643//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, abstract = {Rhizophagus irregularis is the model species for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) research and the most widely propagated species for commercial plant biostimulants. Using asymbiotic and symbiotic cultivation systems initiated from single spores, advanced microscopy, Sanger sequencing of the glomalin gene, and PacBio sequencing of the partial 45S rRNA gene, we show that four strains of R. irregularis produce spores of two distinct morphotypes, one corresponding to the morphotype described in the R. irregularis protologue and the other having the phenotype of R. fasciculatus. The two spore morphs are easily distinguished by spore colour, thickness of the subtending hypha, thickness of the second wall layer, lamination of the innermost layer, and the dextrinoid reaction of the two outer spore wall layers to Melzer's reagent. The glomalin gene of the two spore morphs is identical and that of the PacBio sequences of the partial SSU-ITS-LSU region (2780 bp) obtained from single spores of the R. cf fasciculatus morphotype has a median pairwise similarity of 99.8% (SD = 0.005%) to the rDNA ribotypes of R. irregularis DAOM 197198. Based on these results, we conclude that the model AMF species R. irregularis is dimorphic, which has caused taxonomic confusion in culture collections and possibly in AMF research.}, } @article {pmid37433981, year = {2023}, author = {Gomes, AFF and de Almeida, LG and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Pesticide-Degrading Enterococcus Symbionts of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Leads to the Identification of Two New Species and the Reappraisal of Insect-Associated Enterococcus Species.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37433981}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {140835/2019-9//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 2010/13714-3//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2011/50877-0//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; }, abstract = {Enterococcus species have been described as core members of the microbial community of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and have been previously reported as insecticide degrading agents. This study aimed to investigate the molecular composition of these microbial symbionts of S. frugiperda to better understand their association with the host and their potential for insecticide metabolization. Through phenotypic assays and comparative genomic analyses of several pesticide-degrading Enterococcus isolated from the gut of S. frugiperda larvae, we identified two new species: Enterococcus entomosocium n. sp. and Enterococcus spodopteracolus n. sp. Their identities as new species were confirmed by whole genome alignment, utilizing cut-offs of 95-96% for the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 70% for the digital DNA: DNA hybridization (dDDH) values. The systematic positioning of these new species within the genus Enterococcus was resolved using genome-based analysis, revealing Enterococcus casseliflavus as a sister group of E. entomosocium n. sp., and Enterococcus mundtii as a sister group of E. spodopteracolus n. sp. Comparative genomic analyses of several isolates of E. entomosocium n. sp. and E. spodopteracolus n. sp. provided a better assessment of the interactions established in the symbiotic association with S. frugiperda and led to the discovery of misidentified new species of Enterococcus associated with insects. Our analyses indicated that the potential of E. entomosocium n. sp. and E. spodopteracolus n. sp. to metabolize different pesticides arises from molecular mechanisms that result in rapid evolution of new phenotypes in response to environmental stressors, in this case, the pesticides their host insect is exposed to.}, } @article {pmid37433657, year = {2023}, author = {Bogatenko, T and Sergeev, K and Slepnev, A and Kurths, J and Semenova, N}, title = {Symbiosis of an artificial neural network and models of biological neurons: Training and testing.}, journal = {Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)}, volume = {33}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1063/5.0152703}, pmid = {37433657}, issn = {1089-7682}, abstract = {In this paper, we show the possibility of creating and identifying the features of an artificial neural network (ANN), which consists of mathematical models of biological neurons. The FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) system is used as a paradigmatic model demonstrating basic neuron activities. First, in order to reveal how biological neurons can be embedded within an ANN, we train the ANN with nonlinear neurons to solve a basic image recognition problem with an MNIST database; next, we describe how FHN systems can be introduced into this trained ANN. After all, we show that an ANN with FHN systems inside can be successfully trained with improved accuracy comparing with first trained ANN and then with inserted FHN systems. This approach opens up great opportunities in terms of the direction of analog neural networks, in which artificial neurons can be replaced by more appropriate biological ones.}, } @article {pmid37433354, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, X and Chi, J and Liu, Y and Du, R and Guo, M and Xu, W}, title = {Synthetic symbiotic bacteria reduces the toxicity of mercury ingested via contaminated food.}, journal = {Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {113937}, doi = {10.1016/j.fct.2023.113937}, pmid = {37433354}, issn = {1873-6351}, abstract = {Mercury contamination in food poses a significant threat to human health. In this article, we propose a novel approach to solve this problem by enhancing the function of gut microbiota against mercury using a synthetically engineered bacterial strain. An engineered Escherichia coli biosensor MerR with mercury binding function was introduced into the intestines of mice for colonization, whereafter the mice were challenged with oral mercury. Compared with the control mice and mice colonized with unengineered Escherichia coli, the mice with biosensor MerR cells in their gut showed significantly stronger mercury resistance. Furthermore, mercury distribution analysis revealed that biosensor MerR cells promoted the excretion of oral mercury with feces, thereby blocking the entry of mercury into the mice, decreasing the concentration of mercury in the circulatory system and organs, and, thus, attenuating the toxicity of mercury to the liver, kidneys and intestines. Colonization with the biosensor MerR did not result in significant health problems in the mice, nor were genetic circuit mutations or lateral transfers identified during the experiments, thus demonstrating the safety of this approach. This study elucidates the remarkable promise of synthetic biology for modulating gut microbiota function.}, } @article {pmid37433270, year = {2023}, author = {Gawryluk, RMR}, title = {Symbiosis: A duplicated host protein controlling a nascent mutualism.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {13}, pages = {R712-R715}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.052}, pmid = {37433270}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Mechanistic studies on how eukaryotes ensure vertical inheritance of beneficial intracellular prokaryotes have focused mostly on highly integrated relationships. A new study by Zakharova, Tashyreva et al. reveals how a duplicated host gene impacts symbiont inheritance in a young mutualism.}, } @article {pmid37433233, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, X and Liu, L and Liu, X and Xie, S and Feng, J and Lv, J}, title = {The responding mechanism of indigenous bacteria in municipal wastewater inoculated with different concentrations of exogenous microalgae.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {345}, number = {}, pages = {118547}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118547}, pmid = {37433233}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Indigenous bacteria popularly exist in real wastewater. Therefore, the potential interaction between bacteria and microalgae is inevitable in microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems. It is likely to affect the performance of systems. Accordingly, the characteristics of indigenous bacteria is worth serious concerning. Here we investigated the response of indigenous bacterial communities to variant inoculum concentrations of Chlorococcum sp. GD in municipal wastewater treatment systems. The removal efficiency of COD, ammonium and total phosphorus were 92.50%-95.55%, 98.00%-98.69%, and 67.80%-84.72%, respectively. The bacterial community responded differently to different microalgal inoculum concentrations, which was mainly affected by microalgal number, ammonium and nitrate. Besides, there were differential co-occurrence patterns and carbon and nitrogen metabolic function of indigenous bacterial communities. All these results indicated that bacterial communities responded significantly to environmental changes caused by the change of microalgal inoculum concentrations. The response of bacterial communities to different microalgal inoculum concentrations was beneficial for forming a stable symbiotic community of both microalgae and bacteria to remove pollutants in wastewater.}, } @article {pmid37432453, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Lin, Y and Wei, F and Lv, Y and Xie, F and Chen, D and Lin, H and Li, Y}, title = {G-type receptor-like kinase AsNIP43 interacts with rhizobia effector nodulation outer protein P and is required for symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad318}, pmid = {37432453}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {2019YFA0904704//the National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 31970267//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2020CFA008//Hubei Natural Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {In the Rhizobium-Legume symbiosis, the nodulation outer protein P (NopP) effector is one of the key regulators for rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism through which host legume plants sense NopP remains largely unknown. Here, we constructed an nopP deletion mutant of Mesorhizobium huakuii and found that nopP negatively regulates nodulation on Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus). Screening for NopP interacting proteins in host plants using the yeast 2-hybrid system identified NopP interacting protein 43 (AsNIP43), which encodes a G-type receptor-like kinase (LecRLK). The B-lectin domain at the N terminus of AsNIP43 was essential in mediating its interaction with NopP, which was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Subcellular localization, co-localization, and gene expression analyses showed that AsNIP43 and NopP function tightly associated with earlier infection events. RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of AsNIP43 expression by hairy root transformation led to decreased nodule formation. AsNIP43 plays a positive role in symbiosis, which was further verified in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Transcriptome analysis indicated that MtRLK (a homolog of AsNIP43 in M. truncatula) may function to affect defense gene expression and thus to regulate early nodulation. Taken together, we show that LecRLK AsNIP43 is a legume host target that interacts with rhizobia effector NopP is essential for rhizobial infection and nodulation.}, } @article {pmid37432248, year = {2023}, author = {Miniello, VL and Miniello, A and Ficele, L and Skublewska-D'Elia, A and Dargenio, VN and Cristofori, F and Francavilla, R}, title = {Gut Immunobiosis and Biomodulators.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu15092114}, pmid = {37432248}, issn = {2072-6643}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract hosts complex and dynamic populations of microorganisms (gut microbiota) in advantageous symbiosis with the host organism through sophisticated molecular cross-talk. The balance and diversification within microbial communities (eubiosis) are crucial for the immune and metabolic homeostasis of the host, as well as for inhibiting pathogen penetration. In contrast, compositional dysregulation of the microbiota (dysbiosis) is blamed for the determinism of numerous diseases. Although further advances in the so-called 'omics' disciplines are needed, dietary manipulation of the gut microbial ecosystem through biomodulators (prebiotics, probiotics, symbionts, and postbiotics) represents an intriguing target to stabilize and/or restore eubiosis. Recently, new approaches have been developed for the production of infant formulas supplemented with prebiotics (human milk oligosaccharides [HMOs], galacto-oligosaccharides [GOS], fructo-oligosaccharides [FOS]), probiotics, and postbiotics to obtain formulas that are nutritionally and biologically equivalent to human milk (closer to the reference).}, } @article {pmid37432150, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, X and Bao, J and Zeng, Y and Meng, G and Lu, X and Wu, TT and Ren, Y and Xiao, J}, title = {Anti-cariogenic Properties of Lactobacillus plantarum in the Utilization of Galacto-Oligosaccharide.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu15092017}, pmid = {37432150}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {K23DE027412/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01DE031025/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Ecological approaches can help to correct oral microbial dysbiosis and drive the advent and persistence of a symbiotic oral microbiome, which benefits long-term dental caries control. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the prebiotic Galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) on the growth of probiotics L. plantarum 14,917 and its effect on the inhibitory ability of L. plantarum 14,917 against the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in an in vitro model. Single-species growth screenings were conducted in TSBYE broth with 1% glucose and 1-5% GOS. Interaction experiments were performed using duo- and multi-species models with inoculation of 10[5] CFU/mL S. mutans, 10[3] CFU/mL C. albicans, and 10[8] CFU/mL L. plantarum 14,917 under 1%, 5% GOS or 1% glucose. Viable cells and pH changes were measured. Real-time PCR was utilized to assess expression of C. albicans and S. mutans virulence genes. Six replicates were used for each group. Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis were employed to compare the outcomes of different groups. GOS significantly inhibited the growth of C. albicans and S. mutans in terms of growth quantity and speed when the two strains were grown individually. However, GOS did not affect the growth of L. plantarum 14,917. Moreover, 1% and 5% GOS enhanced the anti-fungal performance of L. plantarum 14,917 in comparison to 1% glucose. GOS as the carbon source resulted in a less acidic environment in the C. albicans and S. mutans duo-species model and multispecies model where L. plantarum 14,917 was added. When GOS was utilized as the carbohydrate substrate, S. mutans and C. albicans had a significant reduction in the expression of the HWP1, ECE1, atpD, and eno genes (p < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first study that reported the ability of GOS to neutralize S. mutans-C. albicans high caries of medium pH and to disrupt virulence gene expression. Moreover, as a prebiotic, GOS augmented the inhibitory ability of L. plantarum against C. albicans in vitro. The current study revealed the anti-caries potential of prebiotics GOS and shed light on novel caries prevention strategies from the perspective of prebiotics and probiotics. These findings provide a rationale for future biofilm or clinical studies to elucidate the effect of GOS on modulating oral microbiota and caries control.}, } @article {pmid37430816, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, H and Hussein, A and Garratt, MA and Abbass, HA}, title = {Swarm Metaverse for Multi-Level Autonomy Using Digital Twins.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/s23104892}, pmid = {37430816}, issn = {1424-8220}, support = {DP200101211//Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Robot swarms are becoming popular in domains that require spatial coordination. Effective human control over swarm members is pivotal for ensuring swarm behaviours align with the dynamic needs of the system. Several techniques have been proposed for scalable human-swarm interaction. However, these techniques were mostly developed in simple simulation environments without guidance on how to scale them up to the real world. This paper addresses this research gap by proposing a metaverse for scalable control of robot swarms and an adaptive framework for different levels of autonomy. In the metaverse, the physical/real world of a swarm symbiotically blends with a virtual world formed from digital twins representing each swarm member and logical control agents. The proposed metaverse drastically decreases swarm control complexity due to human reliance on only a few virtual agents, with each agent dynamically actuating on a sub-swarm. The utility of the metaverse is demonstrated by a case study where humans controlled a swarm of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) using gestural communication, and via a single virtual uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV). The results show that humans could successfully control the swarm under two different levels of autonomy, while task performance increases as autonomy increases.}, } @article {pmid37430430, year = {2023}, author = {Cao, H and Shi, Y and Wang, J and Niu, Z and Wei, L and Tian, H and Yu, F and Gao, L}, title = {The intestinal microbiota and metabolic profiles of Strauchbufo raddei underwent adaptive changes during hibernation.}, journal = {Integrative zoology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1749-4877.12749}, pmid = {37430430}, issn = {1749-4877}, support = {31471953//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota help regulate hibernation in vertebrates. However, it needs to be established how hibernation modulates the gut microbiome and intestinal metabolism. In the present study, we used an artificial hibernation model to examine the responses of the gut microbiota of the Strauchbufo raddei to the environmental changes associated with this behavior. Hibernation significantly lowered the diversity of the microbiota and altered the microbial community of the gut. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota were the major bacterial phyla in the intestines of S. raddei. However, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria predominated in the gut of active and hibernating S. raddei, respectively. Certain bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Ralstonia, and Rhodococcus could serve as biomarkers distinguishing hibernating and non-hibernating S. raddei. The gut microbiota was more resistant to environmental stress in hibernating than active S. raddei. Moreover, metabolomics revealed that metabolites implicated in fatty acid biosynthesis were highly upregulated in the intestines of hibernating S. raddei. The metabolites that were enriched during hibernation enabled S. raddei to adapt to the low temperatures and the lack of exogenous food that are characteristic of hibernation. A correlation analysis of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites revealed that the gut microbiota might participate in the metabolic regulation of hibernating S. raddei. The present study clarified the modifications that occur in the intestinal bacteria and their symbiotic relationship with their host during hibernation. These findings are indicative of the adaptive changes in the metabolism of amphibians under different environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid37429841, year = {2023}, author = {Tisza, MJ and Smith, DDN and Clark, AE and Youn, JH and , and Khil, PP and Dekker, JP}, title = {Roving methyltransferases generate a mosaic epigenetic landscape and influence evolution in Bacteroides fragilis group.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {4082}, pmid = {37429841}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Three types of DNA methyl modifications have been detected in bacterial genomes, and mechanistic studies have demonstrated roles for DNA methylation in physiological functions ranging from phage defense to transcriptional control of virulence and host-pathogen interactions. Despite the ubiquity of methyltransferases and the immense variety of possible methylation patterns, epigenomic diversity remains unexplored for most bacterial species. Members of the Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) reside in the human gastrointestinal tract as key players in symbiotic communities but also can establish anaerobic infections that are increasingly multi-drug resistant. In this work, we utilize long-read sequencing technologies to perform pangenomic (n = 383) and panepigenomic (n = 268) analysis of clinical BFG isolates cultured from infections seen at the NIH Clinical Center over four decades. Our analysis reveals that single BFG species harbor hundreds of DNA methylation motifs, with most individual motif combinations occurring uniquely in single isolates, implying immense unsampled methylation diversity within BFG epigenomes. Mining of BFG genomes identified more than 6000 methyltransferase genes, approximately 1000 of which were associated with intact prophages. Network analysis revealed substantial gene flow among disparate phage genomes, implying a role for genetic exchange between BFG phages as one of the ultimate sources driving BFG epigenome diversity.}, } @article {pmid37429779, year = {2023}, author = {Azour, L and McGuinness, G}, title = {From Great Resignation to Great Retention: Orientation as a First Step in Engaging Faculty Well-being.}, journal = {Academic radiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.acra.2023.06.007}, pmid = {37429779}, issn = {1878-4046}, abstract = {Onboarding lays a foundation spanning multipart missions and teaches faculty how to engage and excel in the departmental environment. At the enterprise level, onboarding is a process to connect and support diverse teams, with a range of symbiotic phenotypes, into thriving departmental ecosystems. At the more personal level, onboarding involves guiding individuals with unique backgrounds, experiences, and strengths into their new roles, growing both the individual and the system. This guide will share elements of an initial step in the departmental faculty onboarding process, faculty orientation.}, } @article {pmid37429000, year = {2023}, author = {Wan, H and Zhang, Y and Wu, L and Zhou, G and Pan, L and Fernie, AR and Ruan, YL}, title = {Evolution of cytosolic and organellar invertases empowered the colonization and thriving of land plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad401}, pmid = {37429000}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {The molecular innovation underpinning efficient carbon and energy metabolism during evolution of land plants remains largely unknown. Invertase-mediated sucrose cleavage into hexoses is central to fuel growth. Why some cytoplasmic invertases (CINs) function in the cytosol, whereas others operate in chloroplasts and mitochondria, is puzzling. We attempted to shed light on this question from an evolutionary perspective. Our analyses indicated that plant CINs originated from an putatively orthologous ancestral gene in cyanobacteria and formed the plastidic CIN (α1 clade) through endo-symbiotic gene transfer, while its duplication in algae with a loss of its signal peptide produced the β clade CINs in the cytosol. The mitochondrial CINs (α2) derived from duplication of the plastidic CINs and co-evolved with vascular plants. Importantly, the copy number of mitochondrial and plastidic CINs increased upon the emergence of seed plants, corresponding with the rise of respiratory, photosynthetic and growth rates. The cytosolic CIN (β subfamily) kept expanding from algae to gymnosperm, indicating its role in supporting the increase in carbon use efficiency during evolution. Affinity purification mass spectrometry identified a cohort of proteins interacting with α1 and 2 CINs, which points to their roles in plastid and mitochondrial glycolysis, oxidative stress tolerance and the maintenance of subcellular sugar homeostasis. Collectively, the findings indicate evolutionary roles of α1 and α2 CINs in chloroplasts and mitochondria for achieving high photosynthetic and respiratory rates, respectively, which, together with the expanding of cytosolic CINs, likely underpin the colonization of land plants through fueling rapid growth and biomass production.}, } @article {pmid37427869, year = {2023}, author = {Montiel, J and García-Soto, I and James, EK and Reid, D and Cárdenas, L and Napsucialy-Mendivil, S and Ferguson, S and Dubrovsky, JG and Stougaard, J}, title = {Aromatic amino acid biosynthesis impacts root hair development and symbiotic associations in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad398}, pmid = {37427869}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Legume roots can be symbiotically colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In Lotus japonicus, the latter occurs intracellularly by the cognate rhizobial partner Mesorhizobium loti or intercellularly with the Agrobacterium pusense strain IRBG74. Although these symbiotic programs show distinctive cellular and transcriptome signatures, some molecular components are shared. In this study, we demonstrate that 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase 1 (DAHPS1), the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of aromatic amino acids (AAAs), plays a critical role in root hair development and for AM and rhizobial symbioses in Lotus. Two homozygous DAHPS1 mutants (dahps1-1 and dahps1-2) showed drastic alterations in root hair morphology, associated with alterations in cell wall dynamics and a progressive disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. The altered root hair structure was prevented by pharmacological and genetic complementation. dahps1-1 and dahps1-2 showed significant reductions in rhizobial infection (intracellular and intercellular) and nodule organogenesis and a delay in AM colonization. RNAseq analysis of dahps1-2 roots suggested that these phenotypes are associated with downregulation of several cell wall-related genes, and with an attenuated signaling response. Interestingly, the dahps1 mutants showed no detectable pleiotropic effects, suggesting a more selective recruitment of this gene in certain biological processes. This work provides robust evidence linking AAA metabolism to root hair development and successful symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid37427467, year = {2023}, author = {Seymour, CL and Korb, J and Joseph, GS and Hassall, R and Coetzee, BWT}, title = {Need for shared internal mound conditions by fungus-growing Macrotermes does not predict their species distributions, in current or future climates.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {378}, number = {1884}, pages = {20220152}, doi = {10.1098/rstb.2022.0152}, pmid = {37427467}, issn = {1471-2970}, abstract = {The large, iconic nests constructed by social species are engineered to create internal conditions buffered from external climatic extremes, to allow reproduction and/or food production. Nest-inhabiting eusocial Macrotermitinae (Blattodea: Isoptera) are outstanding palaeo-tropical ecosystem engineers that evolved fungus-growing to break down plant matter ca 62 Mya; the termites feed on the fungus and plant matter. Fungus-growing ensures a constant food supply, but the fungi need temperature-buffered, high humidity conditions, created in architecturally complex, often tall, nest-structures (mounds). Given the need for constant and similar internal nest conditions by fungi farmed by different Macrotermes species, we assessed whether current distributions of six African Macrotermes correlate with similar variables, and whether this would reflect in expected species' distribution shifts with climate change. The primary variables explaining species' distributions were not the same for the different species. Distributionally, three of the six species are predicted to see declines in highly suitable climate. For two species, range increases should be small (less than 9%), and for a single species, M. vitrialatus, 'very suitable' climate could increase by 64%. Mismatches in vegetation requirements and anthropogenic habitat transformation may preclude range expansion, however, presaging disruption to ecosystem patterns and processes that will cascade through systems at both landscape and continental scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.}, } @article {pmid37426991, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, Z and Wang, Y and Peng, Z and Luo, Z and Zhao, M and Wang, J}, title = {Allelic expression of AhNSP2-B07 due to parent of origin affects peanut nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1193465}, pmid = {37426991}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes are well-known for establishing a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia in root nodules to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. The nodulation signaling pathway 2 (NSP2) gene plays a critical role in the symbiotic signaling pathway. In cultivated peanut, an allotetraploid (2n = 4x = 40, AABB) legume crop, natural polymorphisms in a pair of NSP2 homoeologs (Na and Nb) located on chromosomes A08 and B07, respectively, can cause loss of nodulation. Interestingly, some heterozygous (NBnb) progeny produced nodules, while some others do not, suggesting non-Mendelian inheritance in the segregating population at the Nb locus. In this study, we investigated the non-Mendelian inheritance at the NB locus. Selfing populations were developed to validate the genotypical and phenotypical segregating ratios. Allelic expression was detected in roots, ovaries, and pollens of heterozygous plants. Bisulfite PCR and sequencing of the Nb gene in gametic tissue were performed to detect the DNA methylation variations of this gene in different gametic tissues. The results showed that only one allele at the Nb locus expressed in peanut roots during symbiosis. In the heterozygous (Nbnb) plants, if dominant allele expressed, the plants produced nodules, if recessive allele expressed, then no nodules were produced. qRT-PCR experiments revealed that the expression of Nb gene in the ovary was extremely low, about seven times lower than that in pollen, regardless of genotypes or phenotypes of the plants at this locus. The results indicated that Nb gene expression in peanut depends on the parent of origin and is imprinted in female gametes. However, no significant differences of DNA methylation level were detected between these two gametic tissues by bisulfite PCR and sequencing. The results suggested that the remarkable low expression of Nb in female gametes may not be caused by DNA methylation. This study provided a unique genetic basis of a key gene involved in peanut symbiosis, which could facilitate understanding the regulation of gene expression in symbiosis in polyploid legumes.}, } @article {pmid37426987, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, Y and Yan, Y and Qin, J and Ou, L and Yang, X and Liu, F and Xu, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance phosphate uptake and alter bacterial communities in maize rhizosphere soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1206870}, pmid = {37426987}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can symbiose with many plants and improve nutrient uptake for their host plant. Rhizosphere microorganisms have been pointed to play important roles in helping AMF to mobilize soil insoluble nutrients, especially phosphorus. Whether the change in phosphate transport under AMF colonization will affect rhizosphere microorganisms is still unknown. Here, we evaluated the links of interactions among AMF and the rhizosphere bacterial community of maize (Zea mays L.) by using a maize mycorrhizal defective mutant. Loss of mycorrhizal symbiosis function reduced the phosphorus concentration, biomass, and shoot length of maize colonized by AMF. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon high-throughput sequencing, we found that the mutant material shifted the bacterial community in the rhizosphere under AMF colonization. Further functional prediction based on amplicon sequencing indicated that rhizosphere bacteria involved in sulfur reduction were recruited by the AMF colonized mutant but reduced in the AMF- colonized wild type. These bacteria harbored much abundance of sulfur metabolism-related genes and negatively correlated with biomass and phosphorus concentrations of maize. Collectively, this study shows that AMF symbiosis recruited rhizosphere bacterial communities to improve soil phosphate mobilization, which may also play a potential role in regulating sulfur uptake. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving crop adaptation to nutrient deficiency through soil microbial management practices.}, } @article {pmid37426963, year = {2023}, author = {Amenc, L and Becquer, A and Trives-Segura, C and Zimmermann, SD and Garcia, K and Plassard, C}, title = {Overexpression of the HcPT1.1 transporter in Hebeloma cylindrosporum alters the phosphorus accumulation of Pinus pinaster and the distribution of HcPT2 in ectomycorrhizae.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1135483}, pmid = {37426963}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are associated with the roots of woody plants in temperate and boreal forests and help them to acquire water and nutrients, particularly phosphorus (P). However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the transfer of P from the fungus to the plant in ectomycorrhizae are still poorly understood. In the model association between the ECM fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum and its host plant Pinus pinaster, we have shown that the fungus, which possesses three H+:Pi symporters (HcPT1.1, HcPT1.2 and HcPT2), expresses mainly HcPT1.1 and HcPT2 in the extraradical and intraradical hyphae of ectomycorrhizae to transport P from the soil to colonized roots. The present study focuses on the role of the HcPT1.1 protein in plant P nutrition, in function of P availability. We artificially overexpressed this P transporter by fungal Agrotransformation and investigated the effect of the different lines, wild-type and transformed ones, on plant P accumulation, the distribution of HcPT1.1 and HcPT2 proteins in ectomycorrhizae by immunolocalization, and 32P efflux in an experimental system mimicking intraradical hyphae. Surprisingly, we showed that plants interacting with transgenic fungal lines overexpressing HcPT1.1 did not accumulate more P in their shoots than plants colonized with the control ones. Although the overexpression of HcPT1.1 did not affect the expression levels of the other two P transporters in pure cultures, it induced a strong reduction in HcPT2 proteins in ectomycorrhizae, particularly in intraradical hyphae, but still improved the P status of host plant shoots compared with non-mycorrhizal plants. Finally, 32P efflux from hyphae was higher in lines overexpressing HcPT1.1 than in the control ones. These results suggest that a tight regulation and/or a functional redundancy between the H+:Pi symporters of H. cylindrosporum might exist to ensure a sustainable P delivery to P. pinaster roots.}, } @article {pmid37426801, year = {2023}, author = {Park, JW and Kim, M and Kim, SY and Bae, J and Kim, TJ}, title = {Biodegradation of polystyrene by intestinal symbiotic bacteria isolated from mealworms, the larvae of Tenebrio molitor.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e17352}, pmid = {37426801}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Polystyrene is a plastic that leads to environmental pollution. In particular, expanded polystyrene is very light and takes up much space, causing additional environmental problems. The aim of this study was to isolate new symbiotic bacteria which degraded polystyrene from mealworms.

METHODS: The population of polystyrene degrading bacteria was increased by enrichment culture of intestinal bacteria from mealworms with polystyrene as a sole carbon source. The degradation activity of isolated bacteria was evaluated by morphological change of micro-polystyrene particles and the surface change of polystyrene films.

RESULTS: Eight isolated species (Acinetobacter septicus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Klebsiella grimontii, Pseudomonas multiresinivorans, Pseudomonas nitroreducens, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, Serratia marcescens, and Yokenella regensburgei) were identified that degrade polystyrene.

CONCLUSION: Bacterial identification shows that a broad spectrum of bacteria decomposing polystyrene coexists in the intestinal tract of mealworms.}, } @article {pmid37426346, year = {2023}, author = {Rouressol, L and Briseno, J and Vijayan, N and Chen, GY and Ritschard, EA and Sanchez, G and Nyholm, SV and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Simakov, O}, title = {Emergence of novel genomic regulatory regions associated with light-organ development in the bobtail squid.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {107091}, pmid = {37426346}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Light organs (LO) with symbiotic bioluminescent bacteria are hallmarks of many bobtail squid species. These organs possess structural and functional features to modulate light, analogous to those found in coleoid eyes. Previous studies identified four transcription factors and modulators (SIX, EYA, PAX6, DAC) associated with both eyes and light organ development, suggesting co-option of a highly conserved gene regulatory network. Using available topological, open chromatin, and transcriptomic data, we explore the regulatory landscape around the four transcription factors as well as genes associated with LO and shared LO/eye expression. This analysis revealed several closely associated and putatively co-regulated genes. Comparative genomic analyses identified distinct evolutionary origins of these putative regulatory associations, with the DAC locus showing a unique topological and evolutionarily recent organization. We discuss different scenarios of modifications to genome topology and how these changes may have contributed to the evolutionary emergence of the light organ.}, } @article {pmid37426218, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Qin, T and Liang, Z and Zheng, C}, title = {Oil Has a Higher Methanogenic Potential than Coal in an Oil-Bearing Coal Seam.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {26}, pages = {23880-23888}, pmid = {37426218}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The presence of oil in coal seams from coal-oil symbiosis areas poses a serious threat to the safe and efficient mining of coal. However, the information about the application of microbial technology in oil-bearing coal seams was insufficient. In this study, the biological methanogenic potential of coal and oil samples in an oil-bearing coal seam was analyzed by anaerobic incubation experiments. The results showed that the biological methanogenic efficiency of the coal sample increased from 0.74 to 1.06 from day 20 to day 90, and the biological methanogenic potential of the oil sample was about twice as high as that of the coal sample after 40 days of incubation. The Shannon diversity and observed operational taxonomic unit (OTU) number of oil were lower than those in coal. The major genera in coal were Sedimentibacter, Lysinibacillus, Brevibacillus, etc., and the major genera in oil mainly included Enterobacter, Sporolactobacillus, and Bacillus. The methanogenic archaea in coal mainly belonged to the order Methanobacteriales, Methanocellales, Methanococcales, etc., and the methanogenic archaea in oil mainly belonged to the genera Methanobacterium, Methanobrevibacter, Methanoculleus, and Methanosarcina. In addition, metagenome analysis showed that functional genes belonging to processes such as methane metabolism, microbial metabolism in different environments, and benzoate degradation were in a higher abundance in the oil culture system, while genes belonging to sulfur metabolism, biotin metabolism, and glutathione metabolism were in a higher abundance in the coal culture system. The metabolites specific to coal samples mainly belonged to phenylpropanoids, polyketides, lipids, and lipid-like molecules; meanwhile, the metabolites specific to oil were mainly organic acids and their derivatives. In summary, this study has a reference value for the elimination of oil from coal in oil-bearing coal seams and can be used to separate oil from oil-bearing coal seams and reduce the hazard brought by oil for coal seam mining.}, } @article {pmid37426014, year = {2023}, author = {Marriott, AE and Dagley, JL and Hegde, S and Steven, A and Fricks, C and DiCosty, U and Mansour, A and Campbell, EJ and Wilson, CM and Gusovsky, F and Ward, SA and Hong, WD and O'Neill, P and Moorhead, A and McCall, S and McCall, JW and Taylor, MJ and Turner, JD}, title = {Dirofilariasis mouse models for heartworm preclinical research.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1208301}, pmid = {37426014}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Dirofilariasis, including heartworm disease, is a major emergent veterinary parasitic infection and a human zoonosis. Currently, experimental infections of cats and dogs are used in veterinary heartworm preclinical drug research.

METHODS: As a refined alternative in vivo heartworm preventative drug screen, we assessed lymphopenic mouse strains with ablation of the interleukin-2/7 common gamma chain (γc) as susceptible to the larval development phase of Dirofilaria immitis.

RESULTS: Non-obese diabetic (NOD) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)γc[-/-] (NSG and NXG) and recombination-activating gene (RAG)2[-/-]γc[-/-] mouse strains yielded viable D. immitis larvae at 2-4 weeks post-infection, including the use of different batches of D. immitis infectious larvae, different D. immitis isolates, and at different laboratories. Mice did not display any clinical signs associated with infection for up to 4 weeks. Developing larvae were found in subcutaneous and muscle fascia tissues, which is the natural site of this stage of heartworm in dogs. Compared with in vitro-propagated larvae at day 14, in vivo-derived larvae had completed the L4 molt, were significantly larger, and contained expanded Wolbachia endobacteria titres. We established an ex vivo L4 paralytic screening system whereby assays with moxidectin or levamisole highlighted discrepancies in relative drug sensitivities in comparison with in vitro-reared L4 D. immitis. We demonstrated effective depletion of Wolbachia by 70%-90% in D. immitis L4 following 2- to 7-day oral in vivo exposures of NSG- or NXG-infected mice with doxycycline or the rapid-acting investigational drug, AWZ1066S. We validated NSG and NXG D. immitis mouse models as a filaricide screen by in vivo treatments with single injections of moxidectin, which mediated a 60%-88% reduction in L4 larvae at 14-28 days.

DISCUSSION: Future adoption of these mouse models will benefit end-user laboratories conducting research and development of novel heartworm preventatives via increased access, rapid turnaround, and reduced costs and may simultaneously decrease the need for experimental cat or dog use.}, } @article {pmid37423871, year = {2023}, author = {Szathmáry, E}, title = {Modeling the origin of cells.}, journal = {Trends in genetics : TIG}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tig.2023.06.011}, pmid = {37423871}, issn = {0168-9525}, abstract = {Protocells (dividing supramolecular vesicles harboring unlinked genetic replicators) are thought to have played an important role in the origin and early evolution of life. Under what scenario did such reproducers come into play? New work by Babajanyan et al. provides theoretical insight into the symbiosis between replicators and reproducing compartments.}, } @article {pmid37422707, year = {2023}, author = {Álvarez, C and Jiménez-Ríos, L and Iniesta-Pallarés, M and Jurado-Flores, A and Molina-Heredia, FP and Ng, CKY and Mariscal, V}, title = {Symbiosis between cyanobacteria and plants: from molecular studies to agronomic applications.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad261}, pmid = {37422707}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria from the order Nostocales are able to establish symbiotic relationships with diverse plant species. They are promiscuous symbionts as the same strain of cyanobacterium is able to form symbiotic biological nitrogen fixing (BNF) relationships with different plants species. This review will focus on the different types of cyanobacterial-plant associations, both endophytic and epiphytic, and provide insights from a structural viewpoint, as well as our current understanding of the mechanisms involved in the symbiotic crosstalk. In all these symbioses, the benefit for the plant is clear; they obtain from the cyanobacterium, fixed-nitrogen and other bioactive compounds, such as phytohormones, polysaccharides, siderophores or vitamins, leading to enhanced plant growth and productivity. Additionally, there is increasing use of different cyanobacterial species as bio-inoculants for BNF to improve soil fertility and crop production, thus providing an eco-friendly, alternative, and sustainable approach to reduce the over-reliance on synthetic chemical fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid37422657, year = {2023}, author = {Sanahuja, I and Ruiz, A and Firmino, JP and Reyes-López, FE and Ortiz-Delgado, JB and Vallejos-Vidal, E and Tort, L and Tovar-Ramírez, D and Cerezo, IM and Moriñigo, MA and Sarasquete, C and Gisbert, E}, title = {Debaryomyces hansenii supplementation in low fish meal diets promotes growth, modulates microbiota and enhances intestinal condition in juvenile marine fish.}, journal = {Journal of animal science and biotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {90}, pmid = {37422657}, issn = {1674-9782}, support = {PID2019-106878RB-I00//Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital, Gobierno de España/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The development of a sustainable business model with social acceptance, makes necessary to develop new strategies to guarantee the growth, health, and well-being of farmed animals. Debaryomyces hansenii is a yeast species that can be used as a probiotic in aquaculture due to its capacity to i) promote cell proliferation and differentiation, ii) have immunostimulatory effects, iii) modulate gut microbiota, and/or iv) enhance the digestive function. To provide inside into the effects of D. hansenii on juveniles of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) condition, we integrated the evaluation of the main key performance indicators coupled with the integrative analysis of the intestine condition, through histological and microbiota state, and its transcriptomic profiling.

RESULTS: After 70 days of a nutritional trial in which a diet with low levels of fishmeal (7%) was supplemented with 1.1% of D. hansenii (17.2 × 10[5] CFU), an increase of ca. 12% in somatic growth was observed together with an improvement in feed conversion in fish fed a yeast-supplemented diet. In terms of intestinal condition, this probiotic modulated gut microbiota without affecting the intestine cell organization, whereas an increase in the staining intensity of mucins rich in carboxylated and weakly sulphated glycoconjugates coupled with changes in the affinity for certain lectins were noted in goblet cells. Changes in microbiota were characterized by the reduction in abundance of several groups of Proteobacteria, especially those characterized as opportunistic groups. The microarrays-based transcriptomic analysis found 232 differential expressed genes in the anterior-mid intestine of S. aurata, that were mostly related to metabolic, antioxidant, immune, and symbiotic processes.

CONCLUSIONS: Dietary administration of D. hansenii enhanced somatic growth and improved feed efficiency parameters, results that were coupled to an improvement of intestinal condition as histochemical and transcriptomic tools indicated. This probiotic yeast stimulated host-microbiota interactions without altering the intestinal cell organization nor generating dysbiosis, which demonstrated its safety as a feed additive. At the transcriptomic level, D. hansenii promoted metabolic pathways, mainly protein-related, sphingolipid, and thymidylate pathways, in addition to enhance antioxidant-related intestinal mechanisms, and to regulate sentinel immune processes, potentiating the defensive capacity meanwhile maintaining the homeostatic status of the intestine.}, } @article {pmid37422442, year = {2023}, author = {Rutkowski, D and Weston, M and Vannette, RL}, title = {Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with non-pathogenic fungi.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad077}, pmid = {37422442}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Bee-fungus associations are common, and while most studies of these focus on entomopathogens, emerging evidence suggests that bees associate with a variety of symbiotic fungi that can influence bee behavior and health. Here, we review non-pathogenic fungal taxa associated with different bee species and bee-related habitats. We synthesize results of studies examining fungal effects on bee behavior, development, survival, and fitness. We find that fungal communities differ across habitats, with some groups restricted mostly to flowers (Metschnikowia), while others are present almost exclusively in stored provisions (Zygosaccharomyces). Starmerella yeasts are found in multiple habitats in association with many bee species. Bee species differ widely in the abundance and identity of fungi hosted. Functional studies suggest that yeasts affect bee foraging, development, and pathogen interactions, though few bee and fungal taxa have been examined in this context. Rarely, fungi are obligately beneficial symbionts of bees, whereas most are facultative bee associates with unknown or ecologically contextual effects. Fungicides can reduce fungal abundance and alter fungal communities associated with bees, potentially disrupting bee-fungi associations. We recommend that future study focus on fungi associated with non-honeybee species and examine multiple bee life stages to document fungal composition, abundance, and mechanistic effects on bees.}, } @article {pmid37422088, year = {2023}, author = {Warren, DA and Burgess, AL and Prati, S and Bacela-Spychalska, K and S J Rogers, M and Bojko, J}, title = {Histopathological screening of Pontogammarus robustoides (Amphipoda), an invader on route to the United Kingdom.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107970}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2023.107970}, pmid = {37422088}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {Biological invasions may act as conduits for pathogen introduction. To determine which invasive non-native species pose the biggest threat, we must first determine the symbionts (pathogens, parasites, commensals, mutualists) they carry, via pathological surveys that can be conducted in multiple ways (i.e., molecular, pathological, and histological). Whole animal histopathology allows for the observation of pathogenic agents (virus to Metazoa), based on their pathological effect upon host tissue. Where the technique cannot accurately predict pathogen taxonomy, it does highlight pathogen groups of importance. This study provides a histopathological survey of Pontogammarus robustoides (invasive amphipod in Europe) as a baseline for symbiont groups that may translocate to other areas/hosts in future invasions. Pontogammarus robustoides (n=1,141) collected throughout Poland (seven sites), were noted to include a total of 13 symbiotic groups: a putative gut epithelia virus (overall prevalence = 0.6%), a putative hepatopancreatic cytoplasmic virus (1.4%), a hepatopancreatic bacilliform virus (15.7%), systemic bacteria (0.7%), fouling ciliates (62.0%), gut gregarines (39.5%), hepatopancreatic gregarines (0.4%), haplosporidians (0.4%), muscle infecting microsporidians (6.4%), digeneans (3.5%), external rotifers (3.0%), an endoparasitic arthropod (putatively: Isopoda) (0.1%), and Gregarines with putative microsporidian infections (1.4%). Parasite assemblages partially differed across collection sites. Co-infection patterns revealed strong positive and negative associations between five parasites. Microsporidians were common across sites and could easily spread to other areas following the invasion of P. robustoides. By providing this initial histopathological survey, we hope to provide a concise list of symbiont groups for risk-assessment in the case of a novel invasion by this highly invasive amphipod.}, } @article {pmid37422071, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Lyu, A and Wang, C}, title = {The molecular insights of bile acids homeostasis in host diseases.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {121919}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121919}, pmid = {37422071}, issn = {1879-0631}, abstract = {Bile acids (BAs) function as detergents promoting nutrient absorption and as hormones regulating nutrient metabolism. Most BAs are key regulatory factors of physiological activities, which are involved in the regulation of glucose, lipid, and drug metabolisms. Hepatic and intestinal diseases have close connections with the systemic cycling disorders of BAs. The abnormal in BA absorption came up with overmuch BAs could be involved in the pathophysiology of liver and bowel and metabolic disorders such as fatty liver diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases. The primary BAs (PBAs), which are synthesized in the liver, can be transformed into the secondary BAs (SBAs) by gut microbiota. The transformation processes are tightly associated with the gut microbiome and the host endogenous metabolism. The BA biosynthesis gene cluster bile-acid-inducible operon is essential for modulating BA pool, gut microbiome composition, and the onset of intestinal inflammation. This forms a bidirectional interaction between the host and its gut symbiotic ecosystem. The subtle changes in the composition and abundance of BAs perturb the host physiological and metabolic activity. Therefore, maintaining the homeostasis of BAs pool contributes to the balance of the body's physiological and metabolic system. Our review aims to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the BAs homeostasis, assess the key factors sustaining the homeostasis and the role of BA acting on host diseases. By linking the BAs metabolic disorders and their associated diseases, we illustrate the effects of BAs homeostasis on health and potential clinical interventions can be taken under the latest research findings.}, } @article {pmid37421904, year = {2023}, author = {Estes, S and Dietz, ZP and Katju, V and Bergthorsson, U}, title = {Evolutionary codependency: insights into the mitonuclear interaction landscape from experimental and wild Caenorhabditis nematodes.}, journal = {Current opinion in genetics & development}, volume = {81}, number = {}, pages = {102081}, doi = {10.1016/j.gde.2023.102081}, pmid = {37421904}, issn = {1879-0380}, abstract = {Aided by new technologies, the upsurgence of research into mitochondrial genome biology during the past 15 years suggests that we have misunderstood, and perhaps dramatically underestimated, the ongoing biological and evolutionary significance of our long-time symbiotic partner. While we have begun to scratch the surface of several topics, many questions regarding the nature of mutation and selection in the mitochondrial genome, and the nature of its relationship to the nuclear genome, remain unanswered. Although best known for their contributions to studies of developmental and aging biology, Caenorhabditis nematodes are increasingly recognized as excellent model systems to advance understanding in these areas. We review recent discoveries with relevance to mitonuclear coevolution and conflict and offer several fertile areas for future work.}, } @article {pmid37421313, year = {2023}, author = {De Rose, S and Kuga, Y and Sillo, F and Fochi, V and Sakamoto, N and Calevo, J and Perotto, S and Balestrini, R}, title = {Plant and fungal gene expression coupled with stable isotope labelling provide novel information on sulfur uptake and metabolism in orchid mycorrhizal protocorms.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16381}, pmid = {37421313}, issn = {1365-313X}, abstract = {Orchid mycorrhiza (OM) represents an unusual symbiosis between plants and fungi because in all orchid species carbon is provided to the host plant by the mycorrhizal fungus at least during the early stages of orchid development, named a protocorm. In addition to carbon, orchid mycorrhizal fungi provide the host plant with essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. In mycorrhizal protocorms, nutrients transfer occurs in plant cells colonized by the intracellular fungal coils, or pelotons. Whereas the transfer of these vital nutrients to the orchid protocorm in the OM symbiosis has been already investigated, there is currently no information on the transfer of sulfur (S). Here, we used ultra-high spatial resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) as well as targeted gene expression studies and laser microdissection to decipher S metabolism and transfer in the model system formed by the Mediterranean orchid Serapias vomeracea and the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella calospora. We revealed that the fungal partner is actively involved in S supply to the host plant, and expression of plant and fungal genes involved in S uptake and metabolism, both in the symbiotic and asymbiotic partners, suggest that S transfer most likely occurs as reduced organic forms. Thus, this study provides novel information about the regulation of S metabolism in OM protocorms, adding a piece of the puzzle on the nutritional framework in OM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37420159, year = {2023}, author = {Shu, L and Li, J and Xu, J and Zheng, Z}, title = {Nutrient removal and biogas upgrade using co-cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris and three different bacteria under various GR24 concentrations by induction with 5-deoxystrigol.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {9}, pages = {245}, pmid = {37420159}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {2017ZX07204-005//National Major Science and Technology Projects of China/ ; }, abstract = {Algae symbiosis technology shows great potential in the synchronous treatment of biogas slurry and biogas, which has promising applications. For improving nutrients and CO2 removal rates, the present work constructed four microalgal systems: Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) monoculture, C. vulgaris-Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis), C. vulgaris-activated sludge, and C. vulgaris-endophytic bacteria (S395-2) to simultaneously treat biogas as well as biogas slurry under GR24 and 5DS induction. Our results showed that the C. vulgaris-endophytic bacteria (S395-2) showed optimal growth performance along with photosynthetic activity under the introduction of GR24 (10[-9] M). Under optimal conditions, CO2 removal efficiency form biogas, together with chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus and total nitrogen removal efficiencies from biogas slurry reached 67.25 ± 6.71%, 81.75 ± 7.93%, 83.19 ± 8.32%, and 85.17 ± 8.26%, respectively. The addition of symbiotic bacteria isolated from microalgae can promote the growth of C. vulgaris, and the exogenous addition of GR24 and 5DS can strengthen the purification performance of the algae symbiosis to achieve the maximum removal of conventional pollutants and CO2.}, } @article {pmid37419551, year = {2023}, author = {Stengel, D and Spranger, N and Bhandari, M and Giannoudis, PV}, title = {Clinical research- turning an oxymoron into symbiosis.}, journal = {Injury}, volume = {54 Suppl 3}, number = {}, pages = {S1}, doi = {10.1016/j.injury.2023.04.002}, pmid = {37419551}, issn = {1879-0267}, } @article {pmid37419209, year = {2023}, author = {Giambalvo, D and Amato, G and Ingraffia, R and Lo Porto, A and Mirabile, G and Ruisi, P and Torta, L and Frenda, AS}, title = {Nitrogen fertilization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi do not mitigate the adverse effects of soil contamination with polypropylene microfibers on maize growth.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {122146}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122146}, pmid = {37419209}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Soil contamination with microplastics may adversely affect soil properties and functions and consequently crop productivity. In this study, we wanted to verify whether the adverse effects of microplastics in the soil on maize plants (Zea mays L.) are due to a reduction in nitrogen (N) availability and a reduced capacity to establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. To do this, we performed a pot experiment in which a clayey soil was exposed to two environmentally relevant concentrations of polypropylene (PP; one of the most used plastic materials) microfibers (0.4% and 0.8% w/w) with or without the addition of N fertilizer and with or without inoculation with AM fungi. The experiment began after the soil had been incubated at 23 °C for 5 months. Soil contamination with PP considerably reduced maize root and shoot biomass, leaf area, N uptake, and N content in tissue. The adverse effects increased with the concentration of PP in the soil. Adding N to the soil did not alleviate the detrimental effects of PP on plant growth, which suggests that other factors besides N availability played a major role. Similarly, although the presence of PP did not inhibit root colonization by AM fungi (no differences were observed for this trait between the uncontaminated and PP-contaminated soils), the addition of the fungal inoculum to the soil failed to mitigate the negative impact of PP on maize growth. Quite the opposite: mycorrhization further reduced maize root biomass accumulation. Undoubtedly, much research remains to be done to shed light on the mechanisms involved in determining plant behavior in microplastic-contaminated soils, which are most likely complex. This research is a priority given the magnitude of this contamination and its potential implications for human and environmental health.}, } @article {pmid37419003, year = {2023}, author = {Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {Lessons from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal genomes.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {102357}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2023.102357}, pmid = {37419003}, issn = {1879-0364}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have accompanied the majority of land plants since their evolution in the Devonian period with a symbiotic alliance centered on nutrient exchanges. The exploration of AMF genomes is providing clues to explain major questions about their biology, evolution, and ecology. The dynamics of nuclei across the fungal life cycle, the abundance of transposable elements, and the epigenome landscape are emerging as sources of intraspecific variability, which can be especially important in organisms with no or rare sexual reproduction such as AMF. These features have been hypothesized to support AMF adaptability to a wide host range and to environmental changes. New insights on plant-fungus communication and on the iconic function of phosphate transport were also recently obtained that overall contribute to a better understanding of this ancient and fascinating symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37416943, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, YH and Liu, W and Cheng, J and Li, RJ and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Xie, ZP and Reinhardt, D and Staehelin, C}, title = {An extracellular β-N-acetylhexosaminidase of Medicago truncatula hydrolyzes chitooligosaccharides and is involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis but not required for nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19094}, pmid = {37416943}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources/ ; 31670241//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32161133026//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; IZLCZ0-206026//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; //State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/ ; }, abstract = {Establishment of symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi depends on fungal chitooligosaccharides (COs) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs). The latter are also produced by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to induce nodules on leguminous roots. However, host enzymes regulating structure and levels of these signals remain largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the expression of a β-N-acetylhexosaminidase gene of Medicago truncatula (MtHEXO2) and biochemically characterized the enzyme. Mutant analysis was performed to study the role of MtHEXO2 during symbiosis. We found that expression of MtHEXO2 is associated with AM symbiosis and nodulation. MtHEXO2 expression in the rhizodermis was upregulated in response to applied chitotetraose, chitoheptaose, and LCOs. M. truncatula mutants deficient in symbiotic signaling did not show induction of MtHEXO2. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that MtHEXO2 is an extracellular protein. Biochemical analysis showed that recombinant MtHEXO2 does not cleave LCOs but can degrade COs into N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Hexo2 mutants exhibited reduced colonization by AM fungi; however, nodulation was not affected in hexo2 mutants. In conclusion, we identified an enzyme, which inactivates COs and promotes the AM symbiosis. We hypothesize that GlcNAc produced by MtHEXO2 may function as a secondary symbiotic signal.}, } @article {pmid37410249, year = {2023}, author = {Silva, AMM and Feiler, HP and Lacerda-Júnior, GV and Fernandes-Júnior, PI and de Tarso Aidar, S and de Araújo, VAVP and Matteoli, FP and de Araújo Pereira, AP and de Melo, IS and Cardoso, EJBN}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with the rhizosphere of an endemic terrestrial bromeliad and a grass in the Brazilian neotropical dry forest.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37410249}, issn = {1678-4405}, support = {2019/13436-8//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2019/27682-0//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2017/24785-8//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2016/18944-3//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2016/18944-3//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; Finance Code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; Finance Code 001//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with 80-90% of all known plants, allowing the fungi to acquire plant-synthesized carbon, and confer an increased capacity for nutrient uptake by plants, improving tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. We aimed at characterizing the mycorrhizal community in the rhizosphere of Neoglaziovia variegata (so-called `caroa`) and Tripogonella spicata (so-called resurrection plant), using high-throughput sequencing of the partial 18S rRNA gene. Both plants are currently undergoing a bioprospecting program to find microbes with the potential of helping plants tolerate water stress. Sampling was carried out in the Caatinga biome, a neotropical dry forest, located in northeastern Brazil. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 37 rhizosphere samples (19 for N. variegata and 18 for T. spicata) revealed a distinct mycorrhizal community between the studied plants. According to alpha diversity analyses, T. spicata showed the highest richness and diversity based on the Observed ASVs and the Shannon index, respectively. On the other hand, N. variegata showed higher modularity of the mycorrhizal network compared to T. spicata. The four most abundant genera found (higher than 10%) were Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, and Scutellospora, with Glomus being the most abundant in both plants. Nonetheless, Gigaspora, Diversispora, and Ambispora were found only in the rhizosphere of N. variegata, whilst Scutellospora, Paraglomus, and Archaeospora were exclusive to the rhizosphere of T. spicata. Therefore, the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the rhizosphere of each plant encompasses a unique composition, structure and modularity, which can differentially assist them in the hostile environment.}, } @article {pmid37409696, year = {2023}, author = {Abdalla, M and Bitterlich, M and Jansa, J and Püschel, D and Ahmed, MA}, title = {The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in improving plant water status under drought.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad249}, pmid = {37409696}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been presumed to ameliorate crop tolerance to drought. Here, we review the role of AMF in maintaining water supply to plants from drying soils and the underlying biophysical mechanisms. We used a soil-plant hydraulic model to illustrate the impact of several AMF mechanisms on plant responses to edaphic drought. The AMF enhance soil's capability to transport water and extend the effective root length, thereby attenuating the drop in matric potential at the root surface during soil drying. The synthesized evidence and the corresponding simulations demonstrate that symbiosis with AMF postpones the stress onset limit, which is defined as the disproportionality between transpiration rates and leaf water potentials, during soil drying. The symbiosis can thus help crops survive extended intervals of limited water availability. We also provide our perspective on future research needs and call for reconciling the dynamic changes in soil and root hydraulics in order to better understand the role of AMF in plant water relations in the face of climate changes.}, } @article {pmid37409286, year = {2023}, author = {Huertas, R and Torres-Jerez, I and Curtin, SJ and Scheible, W and Udvardi, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula PHO2 genes have distinct roles in phosphorus homeostasis and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1211107}, pmid = {37409286}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Three PHO2-like genes encoding putative ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzymes of Medicago truncatula were characterized for potential roles in phosphorous (P) homeostasis and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). All three genes, MtPHO2A, B and C, contain miR399-binding sites characteristic of PHO2 genes in other plant species. Distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns and responsiveness of gene expression to P- and N-deprivation in roots and shoots indicated potential roles, especially for MtPHO2B, in P and N homeostasis. Phenotypic analysis of pho2 mutants revealed that MtPHO2B is integral to Pi homeostasis, affecting Pi allocation during plant growth under nutrient-replete conditions, while MtPHO2C had a limited role in controlling Pi homeostasis. Genetic analysis also revealed a connection between Pi allocation, plant growth and SNF performance. Under N-limited, SNF conditions, Pi allocation to different organs was dependent on MtPHO2B and, to a lesser extent, MtPHO2C and MtPHO2A. MtPHO2A also affected Pi homeostasis associated with nodule formation. Thus, MtPHO2 genes play roles in systemic and localized, i.e., nodule, P homeostasis affecting SNF.}, } @article {pmid37409282, year = {2023}, author = {Vicré, M and Lionetti, V}, title = {Editorial: Plant cell wall in pathogenesis, parasitism and symbiosis, Volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1230438}, pmid = {37409282}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37408704, year = {2023}, author = {Jaramillo, HN and Salas-Yanquin, LP and Büchner-Miranda, JA and Cubillos, VM and Montory, JA and Pechenik, JA and Pardo, LM and Chaparro, OR}, title = {Understanding the Symbiotic Relationship between the Sea Urchin Loxechinus albus (Molina, 1782) and the Pea Crab Pinnaxodes chilensis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837): a Potential Parasitism.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {e18}, pmid = {37408704}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {The echinoderm Loxechinus albus has a symbiotic relationship with the pinnotherid crustacean Pinnaxodes chilensis. Females of the crustacean develop in the terminal section of the sea urchin's digestive system, remaining there for life. This relationship has been suggested as commensalism. However, a potential negative impact on gonadal development and on the morphology of the sea urchin's digestive system suggest that it is instead parasitic. To study if there is a negative impact of the crustacean symbiont on the host, specimens of L. albus of all sizes were collected from a rocky shore in southern Chile. The gonadal and somatic tissues of sea urchins that were and were not harboring the pinnotherid were weighed and compared. Our results show that the presence of the pinnotherid was related to sea urchin gonads of lower biomass, decreased gonadosomatic index levels, and alterations in the morphology of the terminal portion of the host digestive system. The lower gonadal biomass suggests a negative impact on gamete production as well as a diversion of energy due to changes of the digestive system tissues and the potential consumption of algal food by the resident crustacean. These results suggest that the prolonged relationship between these two species is one of parasitism rather than one of commensalism.}, } @article {pmid37407321, year = {2023}, author = {Adhikary, S and Esmeeta, A and Dey, A and Banerjee, A and Saha, B and Gopan, P and Duttaroy, AK and Pathak, S}, title = {Impacts of gut microbiota alteration on age-related chronic liver diseases.}, journal = {Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.dld.2023.06.017}, pmid = {37407321}, issn = {1878-3562}, abstract = {The gut microbiome and its metabolites are involved in developing and progressing liver disease. Various liver illnesses, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis C, and hepatocellular carcinoma, are made worse and have worse prognoses with aging. Dysbiosis, which occurs when the symbiosis between the microbiota and the host is disrupted, can significantly negatively impact health. Liver disease is linked to qualitative changes, such as an increase in hazardous bacteria and a decrease in good bacteria, as well as quantitative changes in the overall amount of bacteria (overgrowth). Intestinal gut microbiota and their metabolites may lead to chronic liver disease development through various mechanisms, such as increasing gut permeability, persistent systemic inflammation, production of SCFA, bile acids, and alteration in metabolism. Age-related gut dysbiosis can disrupt the communication between gut microbiota and the host, impacting the host's health and lifespan. With aging, a gradual loss of the ability to maintain homeostasis because of structural alteration and gut dysbiosis leads to the disease progression in end-stage liver disease. Recently chronic liver disease has been identified as a global problem. A large number of patients are receiving liver transplants yearly. Thereby gut microbiome ecology is changing in the patients of the gut due to the changes in pathophysiology during the preoperative stage. The present review summarises the age-associated dysbiosis of gut microbial composition and its contribution to chronic liver disease. This review also provides information about the impact of liver transplant on the gut microbiome and possible disadvantageous effects of alteration in gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid37405170, year = {2023}, author = {Soto, MJ and Pérez, J and Muñoz-Dorado, J and Contreras-Moreno, FJ and Moraleda-Muñoz, A}, title = {Transcriptomic response of Sinorhizobium meliloti to the predatory attack of Myxococcus xanthus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1213659}, pmid = {37405170}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial predation impacts microbial community structures, which can have both positive and negative effects on plant and animal health and on environmental sustainability. Myxococcus xanthus is an epibiotic soil predator with a broad range of prey, including Sinorhizobium meliloti, which establishes nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes. During the M. xanthus-S. meliloti interaction, the predator must adapt its transcriptome to kill and lyse the target (predatosome), and the prey must orchestrate a transcriptional response (defensome) to protect itself against the biotic stress caused by the predatory attack. Here, we describe the transcriptional changes taking place in S. meliloti in response to myxobacterial predation. The results indicate that the predator induces massive changes in the prey transcriptome with up-regulation of protein synthesis and secretion, energy generation, and fatty acid (FA) synthesis, while down-regulating genes required for FA degradation and carbohydrate transport and metabolism. The reconstruction of up-regulated pathways suggests that S. meliloti modifies the cell envelop by increasing the production of different surface polysaccharides (SPSs) and membrane lipids. Besides the barrier role of SPSs, additional mechanisms involving the activity of efflux pumps and the peptide uptake transporter BacA, together with the production of H2O2 and formaldehyde have been unveiled. Also, the induction of the iron-uptake machinery in both predator and prey reflects a strong competition for this metal. With this research we complete the characterization of the complex transcriptional changes that occur during the M. xanthus-S. meliloti interaction, which can impact the establishment of beneficial symbiosis with legumes.}, } @article {pmid37405164, year = {2023}, author = {Haro, R and Lanza, M and Aguilella, M and Sanz-García, E and Benito, B}, title = {The transportome of the endophyte Serendipita indica in free life and symbiosis with Arabidopsis and its expression in moderate salinity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1191255}, pmid = {37405164}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Serendipita indica is an endophytic root symbiont fungus that enhances the growth of various plants under different stress conditions, including salinity. Here, the functional characterization of two fungal Na[+]/H[+] antiporters, SiNHA1 and SiNHX1 has been carried out to study their putative role in saline tolerance. Although their gene expression does not respond specifically to saline conditions, they could contribute, together with the previously characterized Na[+] efflux systems SiENA1 and SiENA5, to relieve Na[+] from the S. indica cytosol under this stressed condition. In parallel, an in-silico study has been carried out to define its complete transportome. To further investigate the repertoire of transporters expressed in free-living cells of S. indica and during plant infection under saline conditions, a comprehensive RNA-seq approach was taken. Interestingly, SiENA5 was the only gene significantly induced under free-living conditions in response to moderate salinity at all the tested time points, revealing that it is one of the main salt-responsive genes of S. indica. In addition, the symbiosis with Arabidopsis thaliana also induced SiENA5 gene expression, but significant changes were only detected after long periods of infection, indicating that the association with the plant somehow buffers and protects the fungus against the external stress. Moreover, the significant and strongest induction of the homologous gene SiENA1 occurred during symbiosis, regardless the exposure to salinity. The obtained results suggest a novel and relevant role of these two proteins during the establishment and maintenance of fungus-plant interaction.}, } @article {pmid37405163, year = {2023}, author = {Shen, T and Jin, R and Yan, J and Cheng, X and Zeng, L and Chen, Q and Gu, Y and Zou, L and Zhao, K and Xiang, Q and Penttinen, P and Ma, M and Li, S and Zou, T and Yu, X}, title = {Study on diversity, nitrogen-fixing capacity, and heavy metal tolerance of culturable Pongamia pinnata rhizobia in the vanadium-titanium magnetite tailings.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1078333}, pmid = {37405163}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The diversity, nitrogen-fixing capacity and heavy metal tolerance of culturable rhizobia in symbiotic relationship with Pongamia pinnata surviving in vanadium (V) - titanium (Ti) magnetite (VTM) tailings is still unknown, and the rhizobia isolates from the extreme barren VTM tailings contaminated with a variety of metals would provide available rhizobia resources for bioremediation.

METHODS: P. pinnata plants were cultivated in pots containing the VTM tailings until root nodules formed, and then culturable rhizobia were isolated from root nodules. The diversity, nitrogen-fixing capacity and heavy metal tolerance of rhizobia were performed.

RESULTS: Among 57 rhizobia isolated from these nodules, only twenty strains showed different levels of tolerance to copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), especially strains PP1 and PP76 showing high tolerance against these four heavy metals. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and four house-keeping genes (atpD, recA, rpoB, glnII), twelve isolates were identified as Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi, four as Ochrobactrum anthropic, three as Rhizobium selenitireducens and one as Rhizobium pisi. Some rhizobia isolates showed a high nitrogen-fixing capacity and promoted P. pinnata growth by increasing nitrogen content by 10%-145% in aboveground plant part and 13%-79% in the root. R. pachyrhizi PP1 showed the strongest capacity of nitrogen fixation, plant growth promotion and resistance to heavy metals, which provided effective rhizobia strains for bioremediation of VTM tailings or other contaminated soils. This study demonstrated that there are at least three genera of culturable rhizobia in symbiosis with P. pinnata in VTM tailings.

DISCUSSION: Abundant culturable rhizobia with the capacity of nitrogen fixation, plant growth promotion and resistance to heavy metals survived in VTM tailings, indicating more valuable functional microbes could be isolated from extreme soil environments such as VTM tailings.}, } @article {pmid37404912, year = {2023}, author = {Palve, SS and Palve, SB}, title = {Attitude and perceptions of the faculty toward use of LMS in a tertiary medical college: An interventional study.}, journal = {Journal of education and health promotion}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {176}, pmid = {37404912}, issn = {2277-9531}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: E-learning has become a new technique of instructional strategy during the current instructional era where we are surrounded with the uncertainty of pandemic outbreak and unrest in the educational system.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze and modulate the attitude and perception of the faculty towards the use of the Learning Management System for teaching and learning.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 faculty members of Symbiosis Medical College for Women Pune. An elaborated research tool was designed to measure the attitudes and perception of the faculty members toward the use of the learning management system in teaching. The research tool was administered before and after the LMS sensitization workshop to all the participants. Workshop was planned to sensitize faculty regarding MOODLE (E-learning platform).

RESULTS: Statically, significant change in the mindset of the faculty members was found after sensitization workshop regarding incorporating LMS as an instructional method. Statistically, significant variations were found in the attitude toward using LMS based on gender variation, (0.021, F = 5341), experience (0.033, F = 0.189), and discipline (0.052, F = 0.233). Based on the themes derived from responses faculty felt that training and sensitization will help them to use LMS more effectively.

CONCLUSION: Use of blended learning strategies are need of an hour, there are lot of problems which can be faced by the faculty members while incorporating use of LMS in their routine teaching process. Training sessions for implementing any e-learning platform should be done on priority basis to increase its use more effectively.}, } @article {pmid37404161, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, AY and Zhang, ML and Zhu, JL and Mei, Y and Xu, FJ and Bai, HY and Sun, K and Zhang, W and Dai, CC and Jia, Y}, title = {Endofungal Bacterial Microbiota Promotes the Absorption of Chelated Inorganic Phosphorus by Host Pine through the Ectomycorrhizal System.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0016223}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00162-23}, pmid = {37404161}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi play an irreplaceable role in phosphorus cycling. However, ectomycorrhizal fungi have a limited ability to dissolve chelated inorganic phosphorus, which is the main component of soil phosphorus. Endofungal bacteria in ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies are always closely related to the ecological function of ectomycorrhizal fungi. In this study, we explore endofungal bacteria in the fruiting body of Tylopilus neofelleus and their function during the absorption of chelated inorganic phosphorus by host pine through the ectomycorrhizal system. The results showed that the endofungal bacterial microbiota in the fruiting body of T. neofelleus might be related to the dissolution of chelated inorganic phosphorus in soil. The soluble phosphorus content in the combined system of T. neofelleus and endofungal bacteria Bacillus sp. strain B5 was five times higher than the sum of T. neofelleus-only treatment and Bacillus sp. strain B5-only treatment in the dissolution experiment of chelated inorganic phosphorus. The results showed that T. neofelleus not only promoted the proliferation of Bacillus sp. strain B5 in the combined system but also improved the expression of genes related to organic acid metabolism, as assesed by transcriptomic analysis. Lactic acid content was five times higher in the combined system than the sum of T. neofelleus-only treatment and Bacillus sp. strain B5-only treatment. Two essential genes related to lactate metabolism of Bacillus sp. strain B5, gapA and pckA, were significantly upregulated. Finally, in a pot experiment, we verified that T. neofelleus and Bacillus sp. strain B5 could synergistically promote the absorption of chelated inorganic phosphorus by Pinus sylvestris in a ternary symbiotic system. IMPORTANCE Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) have a limited ability to dissolve chelated inorganic phosphorus, which is the main component of soil phosphorus. In the natural environment, the extraradical hyphae of ECMF alone may not satisfy the phosphorus demand of the plant ectomycorrhizal system. In this study, our results innovatively show that the ectomycorrhizal system might be a ternary symbiont in which ectomycorrhizal fungi might recruit endofungal bacteria that could synergistically promote the mineralization of chelated inorganic phosphorus, which ultimately promotes plant phosphorus absorption by the ectomycorrhizal system.}, } @article {pmid37402088, year = {2023}, author = {Nishida, H and Shimoda, Y and Win, KT and Imaizumi-Anraku, H}, title = {Rhizosphere frame system enables nondestructive live-imaging of legume-rhizobium interactions in the soil.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37402088}, issn = {1618-0860}, support = {JPNP18016//New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization/ ; 22K14807//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {Most plants interact with various soil microorganisms as they grow through the soil. Root nodule symbiosis by legumes and rhizobia is a well-known phenomenon of plant-microbe interactions in the soil. Although microscopic observations are useful for understanding the infection processes of rhizobia, nondestructive observation methods have not been established for monitoring interactions between rhizobia and soil-grown roots. In this study, we constructed Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens strains that constitutively express different fluorescent proteins, which allows identification of tagged rhizobia by the type of fluorophores. In addition, we constructed a plant cultivation device, Rhizosphere Frame (RhizoFrame), which is a soil-filled container made of transparent acrylic plates that allows observation of roots growing along the acrylic plates. Combining fluorescent rhizobia with RhizoFrame, we established a live imaging system, RhizoFrame system, that enabled us to track the nodulation processes with fluorescence stereomicroscope while retaining spatial information about roots, rhizobia, and soil. Mixed inoculation with different fluorescent rhizobia using RhizoFrame enabled the visualization of mixed infection of a single nodule with two strains. In addition, observation of transgenic Lotus japonicus expressing auxin-responsive reporter genes indicated that RhizoFrame system could be used for a real-time and nondestructive reporter assay. Thus, the use of RhizoFrame system is expected to enhance the study of the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant-microbe interactions in the soil.}, } @article {pmid37401840, year = {2023}, author = {Li, C and Zheng, H and Li, H and Liu, L and Wang, J and Ni, J}, title = {Synthetic Light-Driven Consortia for Carbon-Negative Biosynthesis.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202300122}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.202300122}, pmid = {37401840}, issn = {1439-7633}, abstract = {Synthetic light-driven consortia composed of phototrophs and heterotrophs have attracted increasing attention owing to their potential to be used in sustainable biotechnology. In recent years, synthetic phototrophic consortia have been used to produce bulk chemicals, biofuels, and other valuable bioproducts. In addition, autotrophic-heterotrophic symbiosis systems have potential applications in wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and as a method for phytoplankton bloom control. Here, we discuss progress made on the biosynthesis of phototrophic microbial consortia. In addition, strategies for optimizing the synthetic light-driven consortia are summarized. Moreover, we highlight current challenges and future research directions for the development of robust and controllable synthetic light-driven consortia.}, } @article {pmid37399384, year = {2023}, author = {Keady, MM and Jimenez, RR and Bragg, M and Wagner, JCP and Bornbusch, SL and Power, ML and Muletz-Wolz, CR}, title = {Ecoevolutionary processes structure milk microbiomes across the mammalian tree of life.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {28}, pages = {e2218900120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2218900120}, pmid = {37399384}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {SS-FY2019//Smithsonian Institution (SI)/ ; SS-FY2019//Smithsonian Institution (SI)/ ; }, abstract = {Milk production is an ancient adaptation that unites all mammals. Milk contains a microbiome that can contribute to offspring health and microbial-immunological development. We generated a comprehensive milk microbiome dataset (16S rRNA gene) for the class Mammalia, representing 47 species from all placental superorders, to determine processes structuring milk microbiomes. We show that across Mammalia, milk exposes offspring to maternal bacterial and archaeal symbionts throughout lactation. Deterministic processes of environmental selection accounted for 20% of milk microbiome assembly processes; milk microbiomes were similar from mammals with the same host superorder (Afrotheria, Laurasiathera, Euarchontoglires, and Xenarthra: 6%), environment (marine captive, marine wild, terrestrial captive, and terrestrial wild: 6%), diet (carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, and insectivore: 5%), and milk nutrient content (sugar, fat, and protein: 3%). We found that diet directly and indirectly impacted milk microbiomes, with indirect effects being mediated by milk sugar content. Stochastic processes, such as ecological drift, accounted for 80% of milk microbiome assembly processes, which was high compared to mammalian gut and mammalian skin microbiomes (69% and 45%, respectively). Even amid high stochasticity and indirect effects, our results of direct dietary effects on milk microbiomes provide support for enteromammary trafficking, representing a mechanism by which bacteria are transferred from the mother's gut to mammary gland and then to offspring postnatally. The microbial species present in milk reflect both selective pressures and stochastic processes at the host level, exemplifying various ecological and evolutionary factors acting on milk microbiomes, which, in turn, set the stage for offspring health and development.}, } @article {pmid37399060, year = {2023}, author = {Nawroth, JC and Giez, C and Klimovich, A and Kanso, E and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Spontaneous body wall contractions stabilize the fluid microenvironment that shapes host-microbe associations.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.83637}, pmid = {37399060}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {grant 1 R01 HL 15362201-A/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The freshwater polyp Hydra is a popular biological model system; however, we still do not understand one of its most salient behaviours, the generation of spontaneous body wall contractions. Here, by applying experimental fluid dynamics analysis and mathematical modelling, we provide functional evidence that spontaneous contractions of body walls enhance the transport of chemical compounds from and to the tissue surface where symbiotic bacteria reside. Experimentally, a reduction in the frequency of spontaneous body wall contractions is associated with a changed composition of the colonizing microbiota. Together, our findings suggest that spontaneous body wall contractions create an important fluid transport mechanism that (1) may shape and stabilize specific host-microbe associations and (2) create fluid microhabitats that may modulate the spatial distribution of the colonizing microbes. This mechanism may be more broadly applicable to animal-microbe interactions since research has shown that rhythmic spontaneous contractions in the gastrointestinal tracts are essential for maintaining normal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid37398185, year = {2023}, author = {Kitchen, SA and Naragon, TH and Brückner, A and Ladinsky, MS and Quinodoz, SA and Badroos, JM and Viliunas, JW and Wagner, JM and Miller, DR and Yousefelahiyeh, M and Antoshechkin, IA and Eldredge, KT and Pirro, S and Guttman, M and Davis, SR and Aardema, ML and Parker, J}, title = {The genomic and cellular basis of biosynthetic innovation in rove beetles.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.05.29.542378}, pmid = {37398185}, abstract = {How evolution at the cellular level potentiates change at the macroevolutionary level is a major question in evolutionary biology. With >66,000 described species, rove beetles (Staphylinidae) comprise the largest metazoan family. Their exceptional radiation has been coupled to pervasive biosynthetic innovation whereby numerous lineages bear defensive glands with diverse chemistries. Here, we combine comparative genomic and single-cell transcriptomic data from across the largest rove beetle clade, Aleocharinae. We retrace the functional evolution of two novel secretory cell types that together comprise the tergal gland-a putative catalyst behind Aleocharinae's megadiversity. We identify key genomic contingencies that were critical to the assembly of each cell type and their organ-level partnership in manufacturing the beetle's defensive secretion. This process hinged on evolving a mechanism for regulated production of noxious benzoquinones that appears convergent with plant toxin release systems, and synthesis of an effective benzoquinone solvent that weaponized the total secretion. We show that this cooperative biosynthetic system arose at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and that following its establishment, both cell types underwent ∼150 million years of stasis, their chemistry and core molecular architecture maintained almost clade-wide as Aleocharinae radiated globally into tens of thousands of lineages. Despite this deep conservation, we show that the two cell types have acted as substrates for the emergence of adaptive, biochemical novelties-most dramatically in symbiotic lineages that have infiltrated social insect colonies and produce host behavior-manipulating secretions. Our findings uncover genomic and cell type evolutionary processes underlying the origin, functional conservation and evolvability of a chemical innovation in beetles.}, } @article {pmid37397022, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Q and Chen, Y and Liu, G and Qiao, P and Tang, C}, title = {A preliminary study of the salivary microbiota of young male subjects before, during, and after acute high-altitude exposure.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15537}, pmid = {37397022}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbial community structure in saliva differs at different altitudes. However, the impact of acute high-altitude exposure on the oral microbiota is unclear. This study explored the impact of acute high-altitude exposure on the salivary microbiome to establish a foundation for the future prevention of oral diseases. Methods. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 12 male subjects at the following three time points: one day before entering high altitude (an altitude of 350 m, pre-altitude group), seven days after arrival at high altitude (an altitude of 4,500 m, altitude group) and seven days after returning to low altitude (an altitude of 350 m, post-altitude group). Thus, a total of 36 saliva samples were obtained. 16S rRNA V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was used to analyze the diversity and structure of the salivary microbial communities, and a network analysis was employed to investigate the relationships among salivary microorganisms. The function of these microorganisms was predicted with a Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis.

RESULTS: In total, there were 756 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified, with 541, 613, and 615 OTUs identified in the pre-altitude, altitude, and post-altitude groups, respectively. Acute high-altitude exposure decreased the diversity of the salivary microbiome. Prior to acute high-altitude exposure, the microbiome mainly consisted of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria. After altitude exposure, the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Veillonella increased, and the relative abundance of Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Alloprevotella decreased. The relationship among the salivary microorganisms was also affected by acute high-altitude exposure. The relative abundance of carbohydrate metabolism gene functions was upregulated, while the relative abundance of coenzyme and vitamin metabolism gene functions was downregulated.

CONCLUSION: Rapid high-altitude exposure decreased the biodiversity of the salivary microbiome, changing the community structure, symbiotic relationships among species, and abundance of functional genes. This suggests that the stress of acute high-altitude exposure influenced the stability of the salivary microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37396649, year = {2023}, author = {Qu, Y and Qin, T and Zhang, J and Deng, Y and Yu, X and Wei, X and Zhao, N and Gao, Y and Ren, A}, title = {Endophytic infection increases the belowground over-yielding effects of the host grass community mainly by increasing the complementary effects.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1191904}, pmid = {37396649}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Increases in plant species diversity may increase the community diversity effect and produce community over-yielding. Epichloë endophytes, as symbiotic microorganisms, are also capable of regulating plant communities, but their effects on community diversity effects are often overlooked.

METHODS: In this experiment, we investigated the effects of endophytes on the diversity effects of host plant community biomass by constructing artificial communities with 1-species monocultures and 2- and 4-species mixtures of endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E-) Achnatherum sibiricum and three common plants in its native habitat, which were potted in live and sterilized soil.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results showed that endophyte infection significantly increased the belowground biomass and abundance of Cleistogenes squarrosa, marginally significantly increased the abundance of Stipa grandis and significantly increased the community diversity (evenness) of the 4-species mixtures. Endophyte infection also significantly increased the over-yielding effects on belowground biomass of the 4-species mixtures in the live soil, and the increase in diversity effects on belowground biomass was mainly due to the endophyte significantly increasing the complementary effects on belowground biomass. The effects of soil microorganisms on the diversity effects on belowground biomass of the 4-species mixtures were mainly derived from their influences on the complementary effects. The effects of endophytes and soil microorganisms on the diversity effects on belowground biomass of the 4-species communities were independent, and both contributed similarly to the complementary effects on belowground biomass. The finding that endophyte infection promotes belowground over-yielding in live soil at higher levels of species diversity suggests that endophytes may be one of the factors contributing to the positive relationship between species diversity and productivity and explains the stable co-existence of endophyte-infected Achnatherum sibiricum with a variety of plants in the Inner Mongolian grasslands.}, } @article {pmid37396393, year = {2023}, author = {Li, B and Yin, W and Lei, M and Wang, X and Yang, Y and Zhang, C and Chen, Y}, title = {Exploring the digesta- and mucosa-associated microbial community dynamics in the rumen and hindgut of goats from birth to adult.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1190348}, pmid = {37396393}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Recently, the relationship between the goat host and its gastrointestinal microbiome has emerged as a hallmark of host-microbiota symbiosis, which was indispensable for the proper physiological function that convert the plant biomass to livestock products. However, little integrative information about the establishment of gastrointestinal microflora in goats exists. Herein, we characterized the colonizing process of the bacterial community in the digesta and mucosa of the rumen, cecum, and colon of the cashmere goat from birth to adulthood to compare its spatiotemporal difference via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A total of 1,003 genera belonging to 43 phyla were identified. Principal coordinate analysis unveiled the similarity of microbial community between or within each age group increased and gradually developed toward mature whatever in digesta or mucosa. In the rumen, the composition of the bacterial community in digesta differed significantly from in mucosa across age groups; whereas in the hindgut, there was a high similarity of bacterial composition between the in digesta and mucosa in each age group before weaning, while the bacterial community structure differed markedly between these two types of samples after weaning. Taxonomic analysis indicated that 25 and 21 core genera coexisted in digesta and mucosa of the rumen and hindgut, respectively; but their abundances differed considerably by GIT region and/or age. In digesta, as goats aged, a lower abundance of Bacillus was observed with higher abundances of Prevotella 1 and Rikenellaceae RC9 in the rumen; while in the hindgut, the genera Escherichia-Shigella, Variovorax, and Stenotrophomonas decreased and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Ruminococcaceae UCG-010, and Alistipes increased with age increased. In mucosa, the rumen showed microbial dynamics with increases of Butyrivibrio 2 and Prevotellaceae UCG-001 and decreases of unclassified_f_Pasteurellaceae; while the genera Treponema 2 and Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 increased and Escherichia-Shigella decreased in the hindgut as goats aged. These results shed light on the colonization process of microbiota in the rumen and hindgut, which mainly include the initial, transit, and mature phases. Furthermore, there is a significant difference in the microbial composition between in digesta and mucosa, and both these exhibit a considerable spatiotemporal specificity.}, } @article {pmid37396392, year = {2023}, author = {Cappelli, A and Damiani, C and Capone, A and Bozic, J and Mensah, P and Clementi, E and Spaccapelo, R and Favia, G and Ricci, I}, title = {Tripartite interactions comprising yeast-endobacteria systems in the gut of vector mosquitoes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1157299}, pmid = {37396392}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {It is shown that bacteria use yeast as a niche for survival in stressful conditions, therefore yeasts may act as temporary or permanent bacterial reservoirs. Endobacteria colonise the fungal vacuole of various osmotolerant yeasts which survive and multiply in sugar-rich sources such as plant nectars. Nectar-associated yeasts are present even in the digestive system of insects and often establish mutualistic symbioses with both hosts. Research on insect microbial symbioses is increasing but bacterial-fungal interactions are yet unexplored. Here, we have focused on the endobacteria of Wickerhamomyces anomalus (formerly Pichia anomala and Candida pelliculosa), an osmotolerant yeast associated with sugar sources and the insect gut. Symbiotic strains of W. anomalus influence larval development and contribute digestive processes in adults, in addition to exerting wide antimicrobial properties for host defence in diverse insects including mosquitoes. Antiplasmodial effects of W. anomalus have been shown in the gut of the female malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi. This discovery highlights the potential of utilizing yeast as a promising tool for symbiotic control of mosquito-borne diseases. In the present study, we have carried out a large Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) metagenomics analysis including W. anomalus strains associated with vector mosquitoes Anopheles, Aedes and Culex, which has highlighted wide and heterogeneous EB communities in yeast. Furthermore, we have disclosed a Matryoshka-like association in the gut of A stephensi that comprises different EB in the strain of W. anomalus WaF17.12. Our investigations started with the localization of fast-moving bacteria-like bodies within the yeast vacuole of WaF17.12. Additional microscopy analyses have validated the presence of alive intravacuolar bacteria and 16S rDNA libraries from WaF17.12 have identified a few bacterial targets. Some of these EB have been isolated and tested for lytic properties and capability to re-infect the yeast cell. Moreover, a selective competence to enter yeast cell has been shown comparing different bacteria. We suggested possible tripartite interactions among EB, W. anomalus and the host, opening new knowledge on the vector biology.}, } @article {pmid37394786, year = {2023}, author = {de Vries, S and Herrfurth, C and Li, FW and Feussner, I and de Vries, J}, title = {An ancient route towards salicylic acid and its implications for the perpetual Trichormus-Azolla symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14659}, pmid = {37394786}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {852725//H2020 European Research Council/ ; 440231723//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 515101361//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; INST 186/822-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {Despite its small size, the water fern Azolla is a giant among plant symbioses. Within each of its leaflets, a specialized leaf cavity is home to a population of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (cyanobionts). Although a number of plant-cyanobiont symbioses exist, Azolla is unique in that its symbiosis is perpetual: the cyanobionts are inherited during sexual and vegetative propagation. What underpins the communication between the two partners? In angiosperms, the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) is a well-known regulator of plant-microbe interactions. Using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we pinpoint the presence of SA in the fern. Comparative genomics and phylogenetics on SA biosynthesis genes across Chloroplastida reveal that the entire Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase-dependent pathway likely existed in the last common ancestor of land plants. Indeed, Azolla filiculoides secondarily lost its isochorismate synthase but has the genetic competence to derive SA from benzoic acid; the presence of SA in artificially cyanobiont-free Azolla supports the existence of this route. Global gene expression data and SA levels from cyanobiont-containing and -free A. filiculoides link SA synthesis with the symbioses: SA appears to induce cyanobacterial proliferation, whereas removal of the symbiont results in reduced SA levels in a nitrogen-dependent manner.}, } @article {pmid37394584, year = {2023}, author = {Seo, SK and Kwon, B}, title = {Immune regulation through tryptophan metabolism.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37394584}, issn = {2092-6413}, support = {RS-2022-00165759//Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF)/ ; NRF-2020M3A9D303789112//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; }, abstract = {Amino acids are fundamental units of molecular components that are essential for sustaining life; however, their metabolism is closely interconnected to the control systems of cell function. Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid catabolized by complex metabolic pathways. Several of the resulting Trp metabolites are bioactive and play central roles in physiology and pathophysiology. Additionally, various physiological functions of Trp metabolites are mutually regulated by the gut microbiota and intestine to coordinately maintain intestinal homeostasis and symbiosis under steady state conditions and during the immune response to pathogens and xenotoxins. Cancer and inflammatory diseases are associated with dysbiosis- and host-related aberrant Trp metabolism and inactivation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which is a receptor of several Trp metabolites. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms through which Trp metabolism converges to AHR activation for the modulation of immune function and restoration of tissue homeostasis and how these processes can be targeted using therapeutic approaches for cancer and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.}, } @article {pmid37394496, year = {2023}, author = {Lagunas, B and Richards, L and Sergaki, C and Burgess, J and Pardal, AJ and Hussain, RMF and Richmond, BL and Baxter, L and Roy, P and Pakidi, A and Stovold, G and Vázquez, S and Ott, S and Schäfer, P and Gifford, ML}, title = {Rhizobial nitrogen fixation efficiency shapes endosphere bacterial communities and Medicago truncatula host growth.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {146}, pmid = {37394496}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; MIBTP/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; MIBTP/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; MIBTP/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; MIBTP/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Despite the knowledge that the soil-plant-microbiome nexus is shaped by interactions amongst its members, very little is known about how individual symbioses regulate this shaping. Even less is known about how the agriculturally important symbiosis of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia with legumes is impacted according to soil type, yet this knowledge is crucial if we are to harness or improve it. We asked how the plant, soil and microbiome are modulated by symbiosis between the model legume Medicago truncatula and different strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti or Sinorhizobium medicae whose nitrogen-fixing efficiency varies, in three distinct soil types that differ in nutrient fertility, to examine the role of the soil environment upon the plant-microbe interaction during nodulation.

RESULTS: The outcome of symbiosis results in installment of a potentially beneficial microbiome that leads to increased nutrient uptake that is not simply proportional to soil nutrient abundance. A number of soil edaphic factors including Zn and Mo, and not just the classical N/P/K nutrients, group with microbial community changes, and alterations in the microbiome can be seen across different soil fertility types. Root endosphere emerged as the plant microhabitat more affected by this rhizobial efficiency-driven community reshaping, manifested by the accumulation of members of the phylum Actinobacteria. The plant in turn plays an active role in regulating its root community, including sanctioning low nitrogen efficiency rhizobial strains, leading to nodule senescence in particular plant-soil-rhizobia strain combinations.

CONCLUSIONS: The microbiome-soil-rhizobial dynamic strongly influences plant nutrient uptake and growth, with the endosphere and rhizosphere shaped differentially according to plant-rhizobial interactions with strains that vary in nitrogen-fixing efficiency levels. These results open up the possibility to select inoculation partners best suited for plant, soil type and microbial community. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37394428, year = {2023}, author = {Barone, M and Ramayo-Caldas, Y and Estellé, J and Tambosco, K and Chadi, S and Maillard, F and Gallopin, M and Planchais, J and Chain, F and Kropp, C and Rios-Covian, D and Sokol, H and Brigidi, P and Langella, P and Martín, R}, title = {Gut barrier-microbiota imbalances in early life lead to higher sensitivity to inflammation in a murine model of C-section delivery.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {140}, pmid = {37394428}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {RYC2019-027244-I//Ramon y Cajal post-doctoral fellowship/ ; MICA internal call//Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most interactions between the host and its microbiota occur at the gut barrier, and primary colonizers are essential in the gut barrier maturation in the early life. The mother-offspring transmission of microorganisms is the most important factor influencing microbial colonization in mammals, and C-section delivery (CSD) is an important disruptive factor of this transfer. Recently, the deregulation of symbiotic host-microbe interactions in early life has been shown to alter the maturation of the immune system, predisposing the host to gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation. The main goal of this study is to decipher the role of the early-life gut microbiota-barrier alterations and its links with later-life risks of intestinal inflammation in a murine model of CSD.

RESULTS: The higher sensitivity to chemically induced inflammation in CSD mice is related to excessive exposure to a too diverse microbiota too early in life. This early microbial stimulus has short-term consequences on the host homeostasis. It switches the pup's immune response to an inflammatory context and alters the epithelium structure and the mucus-producing cells, disrupting gut homeostasis. This presence of a too diverse microbiota in the very early life involves a disproportionate short-chain fatty acids ratio and an excessive antigen exposure across the vulnerable gut barrier in the first days of life, before the gut closure. Besides, as shown by microbiota transfer experiments, the microbiota is causal in the high sensitivity of CSD mice to chemical-induced colitis and in most of the phenotypical parameters found altered in early life. Finally, supplementation with lactobacilli, the main bacterial group impacted by CSD in mice, reverts the higher sensitivity to inflammation in ex-germ-free mice colonized by CSD pups' microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: Early-life gut microbiota-host crosstalk alterations related to CSD could be the linchpin behind the phenotypic effects that lead to increased susceptibility to an induced inflammation later in life in mice. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37394073, year = {2023}, author = {Bastianoni, S and Goffetti, G and Neri, E and Patrizi, N and Ruini, A and Sporchia, F and Pulselli, FM}, title = {LCA based circularity indices of systems at different scales: A holistic approach.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165245}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165245}, pmid = {37394073}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Many are the definitions of Circular Economy as well as the policies and strategies for its implementation. However, gaps still exist in quantifying the effects of circularity. The existing approaches are usually sector- or product-specific, limited to microscale systems, and/or fail to simultaneously assess the environmental impacts of the studied system. This paper introduces a generally applicable method in which a set of LCA-based indices of circularity are able to detect the effects of circularity/symbiosis strategies on the environmental performance of meso- and macro-systems. These indices quantify the overall system's circularity level by comparing the impacts of a system in which the components interact with each other (with a certain level of circularity) with an equivalent linear system (where no circularity takes place). The method works both on existing and projected systems, being able to track the effects of future circularity policies. This method obviates the limitations and the gaps mentioned above: it applies to meso- and macro-systems, it is not bound to a specific sector, it allows to capture the environmental impacts, and it is sensitive to the temporal dimension. This approach provides a tool to inform managers and policymakers for planning circularity actions and monitor their effectiveness while also capturing the temporal dimension.}, } @article {pmid37391152, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and DeLuca, TH and Chenpeng, Z and Li, A and Wang, G and Sun, S}, title = {Comparison of the seasonal and successional variation of asymbiotic and symbiotic nitrogen fixation along a glacial retreat chronosequence.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165163}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165163}, pmid = {37391152}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Climate change is resulting in accelerated retreat of glaciers worldwide and much nitrogen-poor debris is left after glacier retreats. Asymbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixation (ANF) can be considered a 'hidden' source of nitrogen (N) for non-nodulating plants in N limited environments; however, seasonal variation and its relative importance in ecosystem N budgets, especially when compared with nodulating symbiotic N2-fixation (SNF), is not well-understood. In this study, seasonal and successional variations in nodulating SNF and non-nodulating ANF rates (nitrogenase activity) were compared along a glacial retreat chronosequence on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Key factors regulating the N2-fixation rates as well as the contribution of ANF and SNF to ecosystem N budget were also examined. Significantly greater nitrogenase activity was observed in nodulating species (0.4-17,820.8 umol C2H4 g[-1] d[-1]) compared to non-nodulating species (0.0-9.9 umol C2H4 g[-1] d[-1]) and both peaked in June or July. Seasonal variation in acetylene reduction activity (ARA) rate in plant nodules (nodulating species) and roots (non-nodulating species) was correlated with soil temperature and moisture while ARA in non-nodulating leaves and twigs was correlated with air temperature and humidity. Stand age was not found to be a significant determinant of ARA rates in nodulating or non-nodulating plants. ANF and SNF contributed 0.3-51.5 % and 10.1-77.8 %, respectively, of total ecosystem N input in the successional chronosequence. In this instance, ANF exhibited an increasing trend with successional age while SNF increased only at stages younger than 29 yr and then decreased as succession proceeded. These findings help improve our understanding of ANF activity in non-nodulating plants and N budgets in post glacial primary succession.}, } @article {pmid37389589, year = {2023}, author = {Albuquerque Pereira, MF and Morais de Ávila, LG and Ávila Alpino, GC and Dos Santos Cruz, BC and Almeida, LF and Macedo Simões, J and Ladeira Bernardes, A and Xisto Campos, I and de Oliveira Barros Ribon, A and de Oliveira Mendes, TA and Gouveia Peluzio, MDC}, title = {Milk kefir alters fecal microbiota impacting gut and brain health in mice.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37389589}, issn = {1432-0614}, abstract = {Kefir is a fermented beverage made of a symbiotic microbial community that stands out for health benefits. Although its microbial profile is still little explored, its effects on modulation of gut microbiota and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) seems to act by improving brain health. This work aimed to analyze the microbiota profile of milk kefir and its effect on metabolism, oxidative stress, and in the microbiota-gut-brain axis in a murine model. The experimental design was carried out using C57BL-6 mice (n = 20) subdivided into groups that received 0.1 mL water or 0.1 mL (10% w/v) kefir. The kefir proceeded to maturation for 48 h, and then it was orally administered, via gavage, to the animals for 4 weeks. Physicochemical, microbiological, antioxidant analyzes, and microbial profiling of milk kefir beverage were performed as well as growth parameters, food intake, serum markers, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, SCFAs, and metabarcoding were analyzed in the mice. Milk kefir had 76.64 ± 0.42% of free radical scavenging and the microbiota composed primarily by the genus Comamonas. Moreover, kefir increased catalase and superoxide dismutase (colon), and SCFAs in feces (butyrate), and in the brain (butyrate and propionate). Kefir reduced triglycerides, uric acid, and affected the microbiome of animals increasing fecal butyrate-producing bacteria (Lachnospiraceae and Lachnoclostridium). Our results on the brain and fecal SCFAs and the antioxidant effect found were associated with the change in the gut microbiota caused by kefir, which indicates that kefir positively influences the gut-microbiota-brain axis and contributes to the preservation of gut and brain health. KEY POINTS: • Milk kefir modulates fecal microbiota and SCFA production in brain and colon. • Kefir treatment increases the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria. • Milk kefir increases antioxidant enzymes and influences the metabolism of mice.}, } @article {pmid37389331, year = {2023}, author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S and Hynes, MF}, title = {Ensifer canadensis sp. nov. strain T173[T] isolated from Melilotus albus (sweet clover) in Canada possesses recombinant plasmid pT173b harbouring symbiosis and type IV secretion system genes apparently acquired from Ensifer medicae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1195755}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1195755}, pmid = {37389331}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A bacterial strain, designated T173[T], was previously isolated from a root-nodule of a Melilotus albus plant growing in Canada and identified as a novel Ensifer lineage that shared a clade with the non-symbiotic species, Ensifer adhaerens. Strain T173[T] was also previously found to harbour a symbiosis plasmid and to elicit root-nodules on Medicago and Melilotus species but not fix nitrogen. Here we present data for the genomic and taxonomic description of strain T173[T]. Phylogenetic analyses including the analysis of whole genome sequences and multiple locus sequence analysis (MLSA) of 53 concatenated ribosome protein subunit (rps) gene sequences confirmed placement of strain T173[T] in a highly supported lineage distinct from named Ensifer species with E. morelensis Lc04[T] as the closest relative. The highest digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of genome sequences of strain T173[T] compared with closest relatives (35.7 and 87.9%, respectively) are well below the respective threshold values of 70% and 95-96% for bacterial species circumscription. The genome of strain T173[T] has a size of 8,094,229 bp with a DNA G + C content of 61.0 mol%. Six replicons were detected: a chromosome (4,051,102 bp) and five plasmids harbouring plasmid replication and segregation (repABC) genes. These plasmids were also found to possess five apparent conjugation systems based on analysis of TraA (relaxase), TrbE/VirB4 (part of the Type IV secretion system (T4SS)) and TraG/VirD4 (coupling protein). Ribosomal RNA operons encoding 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNAs that are usually restricted to bacterial chromosomes were detected on plasmids pT173d and pT173e (946,878 and 1,913,930 bp, respectively) as well as on the chromosome of strain T173[T]. Moreover, plasmid pT173b (204,278 bp) was found to harbour T4SS and symbiosis genes, including nodulation (nod, noe, nol) and nitrogen fixation (nif, fix) genes that were apparently acquired from E. medicae by horizontal transfer. Data for morphological, physiological and symbiotic characteristics complement the sequence-based characterization of strain T173[T]. The data presented support the description of a new species for which the name Ensifer canadensis sp. nov. is proposed with strain T173[T] (= LMG 32374[T] = HAMBI 3766[T]) as the species type strain.}, } @article {pmid37389212, year = {2023}, author = {Stefano, GB and Büttiker, P and Weissenberger, S and Esch, T and Anders, M and Raboch, J and Kream, RM and Ptacek, R}, title = {Independent and sensory human mitochondrial functions reflecting symbiotic evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1130197}, doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2023.1130197}, pmid = {37389212}, issn = {2235-2988}, abstract = {The bacterial origin of mitochondria has been a widely accepted as an event that occurred about 1.45 billion years ago and endowed cells with internal energy producing organelle. Thus, mitochondria have traditionally been viewed as subcellular organelle as any other - fully functionally dependent on the cell it is a part of. However, recent studies have given us evidence that mitochondria are more functionally independent than other organelles, as they can function outside the cells, engage in complex "social" interactions, and communicate with each other as well as other cellular components, bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, mitochondria move, assemble and organize upon sensing different environmental cues, using a process akin to bacterial quorum sensing. Therefore, taking all these lines of evidence into account we hypothesize that mitochondria need to be viewed and studied from a perspective of a more functionally independent entity. This view of mitochondria may lead to new insights into their biological function, and inform new strategies for treatment of disease associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.}, } @article {pmid37387693, year = {2023}, author = {Holkar, K and Kale, V and Ingavle, G}, title = {Cell-Instructive Mineralized Microenvironment Regulates Osteogenesis: A Growing SYMBIOSIS of Cell Biology and Biomaterials Engineering in Bone Tissue Regeneration.}, journal = {ACS biomaterials science & engineering}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00058}, pmid = {37387693}, issn = {2373-9878}, abstract = {One of the objectives of bone tissue engineering is to produce scaffolds that are biocompatible, osteoinductive, and mechanically equivalent to the natural extracellular matrix of bone in terms of structure and function. Reconstructing the osteoconductive bone microenvironment into a scaffold can attract native mesenchymal stem cells and differentiate them into osteoblasts at the defect site. The symbiotic relationship between cell biology and biomaterial engineering could result in composite polymers containing the necessary signals to recreate tissue- and organ-specific differentiation. In the current work, drawing inspiration from the natural stem cell niche to govern stem cell fate, the cell-instructive hydrogel platforms were constructed by engineering the mineralized microenvironment. This work employed two different hydroxyapatite delivery strategies to create a mineralized microenvironment in an alginate-PEGDA interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel. The first approach involved coating of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres and then encapsulating the coated microspheres in an IPN hydrogel for a sustained release of nHAp, whereas the second approach involved directly loading nHAp into the IPN hydrogel. This study demonstrate that both direct encapsulation and a sustained release approach showed enhanced osteogenesis in target-encapsulated cells; however, direct loading of nHAp into the IPN hydrogel increased the mechanical strength and swelling ratio of the scaffold by 4.6-fold and 1.14-fold, respectively. In addition, the biochemical and molecular studies revealed improved osteoinductive and osteoconductive potential of encapsulated target cells. Being less expensive and simple to perform, this approach could be beneficial in clinical settings.}, } @article {pmid37385360, year = {2023}, author = {Resci, I and Cilia, G}, title = {The use of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) as biological monitors for pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance: A systematic review.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {122120}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122120}, pmid = {37385360}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly real and relevant health problem. It is essential to verify the spread of this phenomenon in the environment. The European honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is a globally managed pollinator continuously used for biomonitoring thanks to its morphological and behavioural characteristics. During their foraging activities, a large number of honey bees move in the area surrounding the hive within a 1.5 km of radius. Besides, their body covered with hair and bristles are able to intercept pollen and minute particles, such as atmospheric particles, contaminants and microorganisms. For these reasons, A. mellifera L. is widely used as an environmental sentinel, especially for detecting pollutants, pesticides, microorganisms, and AMR. This systematic review aimed to collect and summarize the role of honey bee colonies as a biological monitor of AMR pathogenic bacteria and the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). From honey bees were isolated a wide range of pathogenic and environmental bacteria strains, harbouring AMR and ARGs. However, AMR and ARGs were detected not only in environmental bacteria but also in symbiotic bacteria colonizing the bee gut. This systematic review highlights the employment of potential use of honey bees as AMR sentinel helpful for ecosystem health to implement possible control measures for humans, animals and plants, in the context of the "One-Health" approach.}, } @article {pmid37385254, year = {2023}, author = {Villa, SM and Chen, JZ and Kwong, Z and Acosta, A and Vega, NM and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Specialized acquisition behaviors maintain reliable environmental transmission in an insect-microbial mutualism.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.062}, pmid = {37385254}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Understanding how horizontally transmitted mutualisms are maintained is a major focus of symbiosis research.[1][,][2][,][3][,][4] Unlike vertical transmission, hosts that rely on horizontal transmission produce symbiont-free offspring that must find and acquire their beneficial microbes from the environment. This transmission strategy is inherently risky since hosts may not obtain the right symbiont every generation. Despite these potential costs, horizontal transmission underlies stable mutualisms involving a large diversity of both plants and animals.[5][,][6][,][7][,][8][,][9] One largely unexplored way horizontal transmission is maintained is for hosts to evolve sophisticated mechanisms to consistently find and acquire specific symbionts from the environment. Here, we examine this possibility in the squash bug Anasa tristis, an insect pest that requires bacterial symbionts in the genus Caballeronia[10] for survival and development.[11] We conduct a series of behavioral and transmission experiments that track strain-level transmission in vivo among individuals in real-time. We demonstrate that nymphs can accurately find feces from adult bugs in both the presence and absence of those adults. Once nymphs locate the feces, they deploy feeding behavior that results in nearly perfect symbiont acquisition success. We further demonstrate that nymphs can locate and feed on isolated, cultured symbionts in the absence of feces. Finally, we show this acquisition behavior is highly host specific. Taken together, our data describe not only the evolution of a reliable horizontal transmission strategy, but also a potential mechanism that drives patterns of species-specific microbial communities among closely related, sympatric host species.}, } @article {pmid37384598, year = {2023}, author = {Khan, M and Rahman-Shepherd, A and Noor, MN and Sharif, S and Hamid, M and Aftab, W and Isani, AK and Khan, RI and Hasan, R and Shakoor, S and Siddiqi, S}, title = {Incentivisation practices and their influence on physicians' prescriptions: A qualitative analysis of practice and policy in Pakistan.}, journal = {PLOS global public health}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {e0001890}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0001890}, pmid = {37384598}, issn = {2767-3375}, abstract = {Focus on profit-generating enterprise in healthcare can create conflicts of interest that adversely impact prescribing and pricing of medicines. Although a global challenge, addressing the impacts on quality of care is particularly difficult in countries where the pharmaceutical industry and physician lobby is strong relative to regulatory institutions. Our study characterises the range of incentives exchanged between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians, and investigates the differences between incentivisation practices and policies in Pakistan. In this mixed methods study, we first thematically analysed semi-structured interviews with 28 purposively selected for-profit primary-care physicians and 13 medical sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies working across Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. We then conducted a content analysis of policies on ethical practice issued by two regulatory bodies responsible in Pakistan, and the World Health Organization. This enabled a systematic comparison of incentivisation practices with what is considered 'prohibitive' or 'permissive' in policy. Our findings demonstrate that incentivisation of physicians to meet pharmaceutical sales targets is the norm, and that both parties play in the symbiotic physician-pharma incentivisation dynamics. Further, we were able to categorise the types of incentive exchanged into one of five categories: financial, material, professional or educational, social or recreational, and familial. Our comparison of incentivisation practices with policies revealed three reasons for such widespread incentivisation linked to sales targets: first, some clear policies were being ignored by physicians; second, there are ambiguous or contradictory policies with respect to specific incentive types; and third, numerous incentive types are unaddressed by existing policies, such as pharmaceutical companies paying for private clinic renovations. There is a need for policies to be clarified and updated, and to build buy-in for policy enforcement from pharmaceutical companies and physicians, such that transgressions on target-driven prescribing are seen to be unethical.}, } @article {pmid37383816, year = {2023}, author = {Setia, G and Schlub, R and Husseneder, C}, title = {Next-generation sequencing dataset of bacterial communities of Microcerotermes crassus workers associated with Ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia) in Guam.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {48}, number = {}, pages = {109286}, pmid = {37383816}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia) in Guam have been suffering from Ironwood Tree Decline (IWTD) since 2002. Putative plant pathogenic bacteria such as Ralstonia solanacearum and Klebsiella species were identified in the ooze of declining trees and considered to be linked to IWTD. In addition, termites were found to be significantly associated with IWTD. Microcerotermes crassus Snyder (Blattodea: Termitidae) was identified as a termite species that attacks ironwood trees in Guam. Since termites harbor a diverse community of symbiotic and environmental bacteria, we sequenced the microbiome of M. crassus workers attacking ironwood trees in Guam to assess the presence of IWTD-associated pathogens in termite bodies. This dataset contains 652,571 raw sequencing reads present in M. crassus worker samples collected from six ironwood trees in Guam obtained via sequencing the V4 region of the16S rRNA gene on the Illumina NovaSeq (2 × 250bp) platform. Sequences were taxonomically assigned in QIIME2 using SILVA 132 and NCBI GenBank as reference databases. Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres were the most dominant phyla in M. crassus workers. No putative plant pathogens of the genera Ralstonia or Klebsiella were found in the M. crassus samples. The dataset has been made publicly available through NCBI GenBank under BioProject ID PRJNA883256. This dataset can be used to compare the bacterial taxa present in M. crassus workers in Guam to bacteria communities of related termite species from other geographical locations. In addition, this dataset can also be used to investigate the relationship between termite microbiomes and the microbiomes of ironwood trees they attack and of the surrounding soil.}, } @article {pmid37383020, year = {2023}, author = {Nieves-Morión, M and Camargo, S and Bardi, S and Ruiz, MT and Flores, E and Foster, RA}, title = {Heterologous expression of genes from a cyanobacterial endosymbiont highlights substrate exchanges with its diatom host.}, journal = {PNAS nexus}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {pgad194}, pmid = {37383020}, issn = {2752-6542}, abstract = {A few genera of diatoms are widespread and thrive in low-nutrient waters of the open ocean due to their close association with N2-fixing, filamentous heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. In one of these symbioses, the symbiont, Richelia euintracellularis, has penetrated the cell envelope of the host, Hemiaulus hauckii, and lives inside the host cytoplasm. How the partners interact, including how the symbiont sustains high rates of N2 fixation, is unstudied. Since R. euintracellularis has evaded isolation, heterologous expression of genes in model laboratory organisms was performed to identify the function of proteins from the endosymbiont. Gene complementation of a cyanobacterial invertase mutant and expression of the protein in Escherichia coli showed that R. euintracellularis HH01 possesses a neutral invertase that splits sucrose producing glucose and fructose. Several solute-binding proteins (SBPs) of ABC transporters encoded in the genome of R. euintracellularis HH01 were expressed in E. coli, and their substrates were characterized. The selected SBPs directly linked the host as the source of several substrates, e.g. sugars (sucrose and galactose), amino acids (glutamate and phenylalanine), and a polyamine (spermidine), to support the cyanobacterial symbiont. Finally, transcripts of genes encoding the invertase and SBPs were consistently detected in wild populations of H. hauckii collected from multiple stations and depths in the western tropical North Atlantic. Our results support the idea that the diatom host provides the endosymbiotic cyanobacterium with organic carbon to fuel N2 fixation. This knowledge is key to understanding the physiology of the globally significant H. hauckii-R. euintracellularis symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37382438, year = {2023}, author = {Goffredi, SK and Panossian, B and Brzechffa, C and Field, N and King, C and Moggioli, G and Rouse, GW and Martín-Durán, JM and Henry, LM}, title = {A dynamic epibiont community associated with the bone-eating polychaete genus Osedax.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0314022}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03140-22}, pmid = {37382438}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Osedax, the deep-sea annelid found at sunken whalefalls, is known to host Oceanospirillales bacterial endosymbionts intracellularly in specialized roots, which help it feed exclusively on vertebrate bones. Past studies, however, have also made mention of external bacteria on their trunks. During a 14-yr study, we reveal a dynamic, yet persistent, shift of Campylobacterales integrated into the epidermis of Osedax, which change over time as the whale carcass degrades on the sea floor. The Campylobacterales associated with seven species of Osedax, which comprise 67% of the bacterial community on the trunk, appear initially dominated by the genus Arcobacter (at early time points <24 mo), the Sulfurospirillum at intermediate stages (~50 mo), and the Sulfurimonas at later stages (>140 mo) of whale carcass decomposition. Metagenome analysis of the epibiont metabolic capabilities suggests potential for a transition from heterotrophy to autotrophy and differences in their capacity to metabolize oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Compared to free-living relatives, the Osedax epibiont genomes were enriched in transposable elements, implicating genetic exchange on the host surface, and contained numerous secretions systems with eukaryotic-like protein (ELP) domains, suggesting a long evolutionary history with these enigmatic, yet widely distributed deep-sea worms. IMPORTANCE Symbiotic associations are widespread in nature and we can expect to find them in every type of ecological niche. In the last twenty years, the myriad of functions, interactions and species comprising microbe-host associations has fueled a surge of interest and appreciation for symbiosis. During this 14-year study, we reveal a dynamic population of bacterial epibionts, integrated into the epidermis of 7 species of a deep-sea worm group that feeds exclusively on the remains of marine mammals. The bacterial genomes provide clues of a long evolutionary history with these enigmatic worms. On the host surface, they exchange genes and appear to undergo ecological succession, as the whale carcass habitat degrades over time, similar to what is observed for some free-living communities. These, and other annelid worms are important keystone species for diverse deep-sea environments, yet the role of attached external bacteria in supporting host health has received relatively little attention.}, } @article {pmid37381995, year = {2023}, author = {Cao, YY and Chen, YC and Guo, SH and Gan, XY and Tian, L and Huang, LQ and Yuan, Y}, title = {[Research progress in strigolactones and application prospect in medicinal plants].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {48}, number = {12}, pages = {3132-3139}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20221221.101}, pmid = {37381995}, issn = {1001-5302}, abstract = {Strigolactones(SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids derived from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway with the core carbon skeleton consisting of tricyclic lactone(ABC tricyclic ring) and α,β-unsaturated furan ring(D ring). SLs are widely distributed in higher plants and are symbiotic signals between plants and Arbuscular mycorrhiza(AM), which play key roles in the evolution of plant colonizing terrestrial habitats. As a new type of plant hormone, SLs possess such important biological functions as inhibiting shoot branching(tillers), regulating root architecture, promoting secondary growth, and improving plant stress resistance. Therefore, SLs have attracted wide attention. The biological functions of SLs are not only closely related to the formation of "excellent shape and quality" of Chinese medicinal materials but also have important practical significance for the production of high-quality medicinal materials. However, SLs have been currently widely studied in model plants and crops such as Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, and few related studies have been reported on SLs in medicinal plants, which need to be strengthened. This review focused on the latest research progress in the isolation and identification, biological and artificial synthesis pathways, biosynthesis sites and transport modes, signal transduction pathways and mechanisms, and biological functions of SLs, and prospected the research on the regulation mechanism of SLs in the growth and development of medicinal plants and their related application on targeted regulation of Chinese herbal medicine production, which is expected to provide some references for the in-depth research on SLs in the field of Chinese medicinal resources.}, } @article {pmid37381081, year = {2023}, author = {Horváth, B and Güngör, B and Tóth, M and Domonkos, Á and Ayaydin, F and Saifi, F and Chen, Y and Biró, JB and Bourge, M and Szabó, Z and Tóth, Z and Chen, R and Kaló, P}, title = {The Medicago truncatula nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides, NCR343 and NCR-new35 are required for the maintenance of rhizobia in nitrogen-fixing nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19097}, pmid = {37381081}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {106068/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {In the nodules of IRLC legumes, including Medicago truncatula, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia undergo terminal differentiation resulting in elongated and endoreduplicated bacteroids specialized for nitrogen fixation. This irreversible transition of rhizobia is mediated by host produced nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, of which c. 700 are encoded in the M. truncatula genome but only few of them have been proved to be essential for nitrogen fixation. We carried out the characterization of the nodulation phenotype of three ineffective nitrogen-fixing M. truncatula mutants using confocal and electron microscopy, monitored the expression of defence and senescence-related marker genes, and analysed the bacteroid differentiation with flow cytometry. Genetic mapping combined with microarray- or transcriptome-based cloning was used to identify the impaired genes. Mtsym19 and Mtsym20 mutants are defective in the same peptide NCR-new35 and the lack of NCR343 is responsible for the ineffective symbiosis of NF-FN9363. We found that the expression of NCR-new35 is significantly lower and limited to the transition zone of the nodule compared with other crucial NCRs. The fluorescent protein-tagged version of NCR343 and NCR-new35 localized to the symbiotic compartment. Our discovery added two additional members to the group of NCR genes essential for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid37379700, year = {2023}, author = {Hill, B and Schafer, B and Vargas, N and Zamora, D and Shrotri, R and Perez, S and Farmer, G and Avon, A and Pai, A and Mori, H and Zhong, J}, title = {Functional analysis of Rickettsia monacensis strain humboldt folA dihydrofolate reductase gene via complementation assay.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {102217}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102217}, pmid = {37379700}, issn = {1877-9603}, abstract = {Nutritive symbiosis between bacteria and ticks is observed across a range of ecological contexts; however, little characterization on the molecular components responsible for this symbiosis has been done. Previous studies in our lab demonstrated that Rickettsia monacensis str. Humboldt (strain Humboldt) can synthesize folate de novo via the folate biosynthesis pathway involving folA, folC, folE, folKP, and ptpS genes. In this study, expression of the strain Humboldt folA gene within a folA mutant Escherichia coli construct was used to functionally characterize the strain Humboldt folA folate gene in vivo. The strain Humboldt folA folate gene was subcloned into a TransBac vector and transformed into a folA mutant E. coli construct. The mutant containing strain Humboldt folA subclone and a pFE604 clone of the knocked-out folA gene was cured of pFE604. Curing of the folA mutant E. coli construct was successful using acridine orange and 43.5 °C incubation temperature. The plasmid curing assay showed curing efficiency of the folA mutant at 100%. Functional complementation was assessed by growth phenotype on minimal media with and without IPTG between strain Humboldt folA and E. coli folA. Large and homogenous wild-type colony growth was observed for both strain Humboldt and E. coli folA on minimal media with 0.1 mM IPTG, wild-type growth for strain Humboldt folA and pin-point growth for E. coli folA on 0.01 mM IPTG, and pin-point growth without IPTG for both strain Humboldt and E. coli folA. This study provides evidence substantiating the in vivo functionality of strain Humboldt folA in producing functional gene products for folate biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid37379424, year = {2023}, author = {Seabourn, PS and Weber, DE and Spafford, H and Medeiros, MCI}, title = {Aedes albopictus microbiome derives from environmental sources and partitions across distinct host tissues.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e1364}, doi = {10.1002/mbo3.1364}, pmid = {37379424}, issn = {2045-8827}, support = {P20GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The mosquito microbiome consists of a consortium of interacting microorganisms that reside on and within culicid hosts. Mosquitoes acquire most of their microbial diversity from the environment over their life cycle. Once present within the mosquito host, the microbes colonize distinct tissues, and these symbiotic relationships are maintained by immune-related mechanisms, environmental filtering, and trait selection. The processes that govern how environmental microbes assemble across the tissues within mosquitoes remain poorly resolved. We use ecological network analyses to examine how environmental bacteria assemble to form bacteriomes among Aedes albopictus host tissues. Mosquitoes, water, soil, and plant nectar were collected from 20 sites in the Mānoa Valley, Oahu. DNA was extracted and associated bacteriomes were inventoried using Earth Microbiome Project protocols. We find that the bacteriomes of A. albopictus tissues were compositional taxonomic subsets of environmental bacteriomes and suggest that the environmental microbiome serves as a source pool that supports mosquito microbiome diversity. Within the mosquito, the microbiomes of the crop, midgut, Malpighian tubules, and ovaries differed in composition. This microbial diversity partitioned among host tissues formed two specialized modules: one in the crop and midgut, and another in the Malpighian tubules and ovaries. The specialized modules may form based on microbe niche preferences and/or selection of mosquito tissues for specific microbes that aid unique biological functions of the tissue types. A strong niche-driven assembly of tissue-specific microbiotas from the environmental species pool suggests that each tissue has specialized associations with microbes, which derive from host-mediated microbe selection.}, } @article {pmid37378705, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, H and Feng, Y and Cao, Q and Jia, J and Ali, M and Shah, D and Meyers, BC and He, H and Zhang, Y}, title = {Evolution of antimicrobial cysteine-rich peptides in plants.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37378705}, issn = {1432-203X}, support = {2022A1515110240//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; 2020A1515011030//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; 32070250//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {We analyzed the evolutionary pattern of cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) to infer the relationship between CRP copy number and plant ecotype, and the origin of bi-domains CRPs. Plants produce cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) that have long-lasting broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity to protect themselves from various groups of pathogens. We analyzed 240 plant genomes, ranging from algae to eudicots, and discovered that CRPs are widely distributed in plants. Our comparative genomics results revealed that CRP genes have been amplified through both whole genome and local tandem duplication. The copy number of these genes varied significantly across lineages and was associated with the plant ecotype. This may be due to their resistance to changing pathogenic environments. The conserved and lineage-specific CRP families contribute to diverse antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, we investigated the unique bi-domain CRPs that result from unequal crossover events. Our findings provide a unique evolutionary perspective on CRPs and insights into their antimicrobial and symbiosis characteristics.}, } @article {pmid37378351, year = {2023}, author = {Zhai, K}, title = {The changing landscape of semiconductor manufacturing: why the health sector should care.}, journal = {Frontiers in health services}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1198501}, pmid = {37378351}, issn = {2813-0146}, abstract = {As semiconductor devices become increasingly ubiquitous in healthcare, the health sector has in turn grown highly dependent on the semiconductor industry. This relationship is not always symbiotic, and even mild turbulence in the semiconductor industry has the potential to derail patient care. Here, we introduce semiconductor manufacturing and discuss political and economic forces that will shape the industry for years to come. The uncertain outlook for semiconductors underscores the need for stakeholder collaboration to ensure an adequate supply of semiconductor-utilizing medical devices for the patients of today and tomorrow.}, } @article {pmid37377814, year = {2023}, author = {Hijri, M and Bâ, A}, title = {Editorial: Mycorrhizal fungi and plants in terrestrial ecosystems, volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1180884}, pmid = {37377814}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37377110, year = {2023}, author = {Tian, L and An, M and Wu, M and Liu, F and Zhang, Y}, title = {Habitat ecological characteristics and soil fungal community structure of Paphiopedilum subgenus Brachypetalum Hallier (Orchidaceae) plants in Southwest China.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {2227365}, doi = {10.1080/15592324.2023.2227365}, pmid = {37377110}, issn = {1559-2324}, abstract = {Species of the subgenus Brachypetalum are the most primitive, most ornamental and most threatened group in the Orchid. This study revealed the ecological characteristics, soil nutrient characteristics and soil fungal community structure of habitats of the subgenus Brachypetalum in Southwest China. Lays a foundation for research on the wild populations and conservation Brachypetalum. The results showed that species of the subgenus Brachypetalum preferred a cool and humid environment, grew in scattered or aggregated form in narrow negative terrain, mainly in humic soil. The soil physical and chemical properties and soil enzyme activity indexes of the habitats were significantly different among different species, and the soil properties of different distribution points of the same species also varied greatly. There were significant differences in the soil fungal community structure among the habitats of different species. Basidiomycetes and ascomycetes were the main fungi in habitats of subgenus Brachypetalum species, and their relative abundance varied among different species. The functional groups of soil fungi were mainly symbiotic fungi and saprophytic fungi. LEfSe analysis found that there were different numbers and species of biomarkers in the habitats of subgenus Brachypetalum species, indicating that the habitat preference characteristics of each species in subgenus Brachypetalum were reflected in the fungal community. It was found that environmental factors had an impact on the changes in soil fungal communities in the habitats of subgenus Brachypetalum species, with climatic factors having the highest explanation rate (20.96%). Soil properties were significantly positively or negatively correlated with a variety of dominant soil fungal groups. Conclusions: The results of this study lay the foundation for the study of the habitat characteristics of wild populations of subgenus Brachypetalum and provides data to support in situ and ex situ conservation in the future.}, } @article {pmid37376819, year = {2023}, author = {Contardi, M and Fadda, M and Isa, V and Louis, YD and Madaschi, A and Vencato, S and Montalbetti, E and Bertolacci, L and Ceseracciu, L and Seveso, D and Lavorano, S and Galli, P and Athanassiou, A and Montano, S}, title = {Biodegradable Zein-Based Biocomposite Films for Underwater Delivery of Curcumin Reduce Thermal Stress Effects in Corals.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.3c01166}, pmid = {37376819}, issn = {1944-8252}, abstract = {Massive coral bleaching episodes induced by thermal stress are one of the first causes of coral death worldwide. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been identified as one of the potential causes of symbiosis breakdown between polyps and algae in corals during extreme heat wave events. Here, we propose a new strategy for mitigating heat effects by delivering underwater an antioxidant to the corals. We fabricated zein/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based biocomposite films laden with the strong and natural antioxidant curcumin as an advanced coral bleaching remediation tool. Biocomposites' mechanical, water contact angle (WCA), swelling, and release properties can be tuned thanks to different supramolecular rearrangements that occur by varying the zein/PVP weight ratio. Following immersion in seawater, the biocomposites became soft hydrogels that did not affect the coral's health in the short (24 h) and long periods (15 days). Laboratory bleaching experiments at 29 and 33 °C showed that coral colonies of Stylophora pistillata coated with the biocomposites had ameliorated conditions in terms of morphological aspects, chlorophyll content, and enzymatic activity compared to untreated colonies and did not bleach. Finally, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) confirmed the full biodegradability of the biocomposites, showing a low potential environmental impact in the case of open-field application. These insights may pave the way for new frontiers in mitigating extreme coral bleaching events by combining natural antioxidants and biocomposites.}, } @article {pmid37376638, year = {2023}, author = {Niu, J and Meng, G}, title = {Roles and Mechanisms of NLRP3 in Influenza Viral Infection.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/v15061339}, pmid = {37376638}, issn = {1999-4915}, support = {2022YFC2303200//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2022YFC2304700//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 81830049//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 92269202//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; XDB29030303//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 2019SHZDZX02//the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 20XD1403900//Research Leader Program/ ; BM2020019//Innovation Capacity Building Project of Jiangsu province/ ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic viral infection represents a major challenge to human health. Due to the vast mucosal surface of respiratory tract exposed to the environment, host defense against influenza viruses has perpetually been a considerable challenge. Inflammasomes serve as vital components of the host innate immune system and play a crucial role in responding to viral infections. To cope with influenza viral infection, the host employs inflammasomes and symbiotic microbiota to confer effective protection at the mucosal surface in the lungs. This review article aims to summarize the current findings on the function of NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) in host response to influenza viral infection involving various mechanisms including the gut-lung crosstalk.}, } @article {pmid37375958, year = {2023}, author = {Belimov, AA and Shaposhnikov, AI and Azarova, TS and Yuzikhin, OS and Sekste, EA and Safronova, VI and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Aluminum-Immobilizing Rhizobacteria Modulate Root Exudation and Nutrient Uptake and Increase Aluminum Tolerance of Pea Mutant E107 (brz).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12122334}, pmid = {37375958}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {19-16-00097, 22-26-00341//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {It is well known that plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) increase the tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses; however, the counteraction of Al toxicity has received little attention. The effects of specially selected Al-tolerant and Al-immobilizing microorganisms were investigated using pea cultivar Sparkle and its Al-sensitive mutant E107 (brz). The strain Cupriavidus sp. D39 was the most-efficient in the growth promotion of hydroponically grown peas treated with 80 µM AlCl3, increasing the plant biomass of Sparkle by 20% and of E107 (brz) by two-times. This strain immobilized Al in the nutrient solution and decreased its concentration in E107 (brz) roots. The mutant showed upregulated exudation of organic acids, amino acids, and sugars in the absence or presence of Al as compared with Sparkle, and in most cases, the Al treatment stimulated exudation. Bacteria utilized root exudates and more actively colonized the root surface of E107 (brz). The exudation of tryptophan and the production of IAA by Cupriavidus sp. D39 in the root zone of the Al-treated mutant were observed. Aluminum disturbed the concentrations of nutrients in plants, but inoculation with Cupriavidus sp. D39 partially restored such negative effects. Thus, the E107 (brz) mutant is a useful tool for studying the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions, and PGPR plays an important role in protecting plants against Al toxicity.}, } @article {pmid37375117, year = {2023}, author = {Valente, J and Gerin, F and Mini, A and Richard, R and Le Gouis, J and Prigent-Combaret, C and Moënne-Loccoz, Y}, title = {Symbiotic Variations among Wheat Genotypes and Detection of Quantitative Trait Loci for Molecular Interaction with Auxin-Producing Azospirillum PGPR.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061615}, pmid = {37375117}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {project BacterBlé (ANR-14-CE19-0017)//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; project Deep Impact (ANR-20-PCPA-0004)//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; }, abstract = {Crop varieties differ in their ability to interact with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), but the genetic basis for these differences is unknown. This issue was addressed with the PGPR Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245, using 187 wheat accessions. We screened the accessions based on the seedling colonization by the PGPR and the expression of the phenylpyruvate decarboxylase gene ppdC (for synthesis of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid), using gusA fusions. Then, the effects of the PGPR on the selected accessions stimulating Sp245 (or not) were compared in soil under stress. Finally, a genome-wide association approach was implemented to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with PGPR interaction. Overall, the ancient genotypes were more effective than the modern genotypes for Azospirillum root colonization and ppdC expression. In non-sterile soil, A. baldaniorum Sp245 improved wheat performance for three of the four PGPR-stimulating genotypes and none of the four non-PGPR-stimulating genotypes. The genome-wide association did not identify any region for root colonization but revealed 22 regions spread on 11 wheat chromosomes for ppdC expression and/or ppdC induction rate. This is the first QTL study focusing on molecular interaction with PGPR bacteria. The molecular markers identified provide the possibility to improve the capacity of modern wheat genotypes to interact with Sp245, as well as, potentially, other Azospirillum strains.}, } @article {pmid37375072, year = {2023}, author = {Moreno-León, GR and Avila-Reyes, SV and Villalobos-Espinosa, JC and Camacho-Díaz, BH and Tapia-Maruri, D and Jiménez-Aparicio, AR and Arenas-Ocampo, ML and Solorza-Feria, J}, title = {Effect of Agave Fructans on Changes in Chemistry, Morphology and Composition in the Biomass Growth of Milk Kefir Grains.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061570}, pmid = {37375072}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {SIP20221319//Instituto Politécnico Nacional/ ; SIP20231320//Instituto Politécnico Nacional/ ; }, abstract = {Prebiotic effects have been attributed to agave fructans through bacterial and yeast fermentations, but there are few reports on their use as raw materials of a carbon source. Kefir milk is a fermented drink with lactic acid bacteria and yeast that coexist in a symbiotic association. During fermentation, these microorganisms mainly consume lactose and produce a polymeric matrix called kefiran, which is an exopolysaccharide composed mainly of water-soluble glucogalactan, suitable for the development of bio-degradable films. Using the biomass of microorganisms and proteins together can be a sustainable and innovative source of biopolymers. In this investigation, the effects of lactose-free milk as a culture medium and the addition of other carbon sources (dextrose, fructose, galactose, lactose, inulin and fructans) in concentrations of 2, 4 and 6% w/w, coupled with initial parameters such as temperature (20, 25 and 30 °C), % of starter inoculum (2, 5 and 10% w/w) was evaluated. The method of response surface analysis was performed to determine the optimum biomass production conditions at the start of the experiment. The response surface method showed that a 2% inoculum and a temperature of 25 °C were the best parameters for fermentation. The addition of 6% w/w agave fructans in the culture medium favored the growth of biomass (75.94%) with respect to the lactose-free culture medium. An increase in fat (3.76%), ash (5.57%) and protein (7.12%) content was observed when adding agave fructans. There was an important change in the diversity of microorganisms with an absence of lactose. These compounds have the potential to be used as a carbon source in a medium culture to increase kefir granule biomass. There was an important change in the diversity of microorganisms with an absence of lactose, where the applied image digital analysis led to the identification of the morphological changes in the kefir granules through modification of the profile of such microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid37375038, year = {2023}, author = {Petrou, K}, title = {Phytoplankton-Bacteria Interactions 2.0.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061536}, pmid = {37375038}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {There are multiple ways in which phytoplankton and bacteria interact, starting from the fundamental symbiotic associations of direct attachment, through intimate interactions within the phytoplankton phycosphere, to random associations within the water column via the exudation and cycling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and other chemical compounds [...].}, } @article {pmid37375019, year = {2023}, author = {García-Breijo, FJ and Molins, A and Reig-Armiñana, J and Barreno, E}, title = {The Tripartite Lichen Ricasolia virens: Involvement of Cyanobacteria and Bacteria in Its Morphogenesis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061517}, pmid = {37375019}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {Excellence in Research projects: PROMETEO/2017/039 and PROMETEO/2021/005//Generalitat Valenciana/ ; }, abstract = {Ricasolia virens is an epiphytic lichen-forming fungus mainly distributed in Western Europe and Macaronesia in well-structured forests with ecological continuity that lack eutrophication. It is considered to be threatened or extinct in many territories in Europe (IUCN). Despite its biological and ecological relevance, studies on this taxon are scarce. The thalli are tripartite, and the mycobiont has a simultaneous symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria and green microalgae, which represent interesting models to analyse the strategies and adaptations resulting from the interactions of lichen symbionts. The present study was designed to contribute to a better understanding of this taxon, which has shown a clear decline over the last century. The symbionts were identified by molecular analysis. The phycobiont is Symbiochloris reticulata, and the cyanobionts (Nostoc) are embedded in internal cephalodia. Light, transmission electron and low-temperature scanning microscopy techniques were used to investigate the thallus anatomy, ultrastructure of microalgae and ontogeny of pycnidia and cephalodia. The thalli are very similar to its closest relative, Ricasolia quercizans. The cellular ultrastructure of S. reticulata by TEM is provided. Non-photosynthetic bacteria located outside the upper cortex are introduced through migratory channels into the subcortical zone by the splitting of fungal hyphae. Cephalodia were very abundant, but never as external photosymbiodemes.}, } @article {pmid37375002, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, X and Bi, L and Gentekaki, E and Zhao, J and Shen, P and Zhang, Q}, title = {Culture-Independent Single-Cell PacBio Sequencing Reveals Epibiotic Variovorax and Nucleus Associated Mycoplasma in the Microbiome of the Marine Benthic Protist Geleia sp. YT (Ciliophora, Karyorelictea).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061500}, pmid = {37375002}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {42176163, 31970398, 31672251, and 31772413//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 2019216//Youth Innovation Promotion Association/ ; No. XDA23050303//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {Microbes in marine sediments constitute up to five-sixths of the planet's total biomass, but their diversity is little explored, especially for those forming associations with unicellular protists. Heterotrophic ciliates are among the most dominant and diversified marine benthic protists and comprise hotspot niches of bacterial colonization. To date, studies using culture-independent single-cell approaches to explore microbiomes of marine benthic ciliates in nature are almost absent, even for the most ubiquitous species. Here, we characterize the major bacterial groups associated with a representative marine benthic ciliate, Geleia sp. YT, collected directly from the coastal zone of Yantai, China. PacBio sequencing of the nearly full-length 16Sr RNA genes was performed on single cells of Geleia. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with genus-specific probes was further applied to locate the dominant bacterial groups. We identified a Variovorax-like bacterium as the major epibiotic symbiont residing in the kineties of the ciliate host. We provide evidence of a nucleus-associated bacterium related to the human pathogen Mycoplasma, which appeared prevalently in the local populations of Geleia sp. YT for 4 months. The most abundant bacterial taxa associated with Geleia sp. YT likely represent its core microbiome, hinting at the important roles of the ciliate-bacteria consortium in the marine benthos. Overall, this work has contributed to the knowledge of the diversity of life in the enigmatic marine benthic ciliate and its symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37374957, year = {2023}, author = {Goyal, RK and Habtewold, JZ}, title = {Evaluation of Legume-Rhizobial Symbiotic Interactions Beyond Nitrogen Fixation That Help the Host Survival and Diversification in Hostile Environments.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061454}, pmid = {37374957}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plants often experience unfavorable conditions during their life cycle that impact their growth and sometimes their survival. A temporary phase of such stress, which can result from heavy metals, drought, salinity, or extremes of temperature or pH, can cause mild to enormous damage to the plant depending on its duration and intensity. Besides environmental stress, plants are the target of many microbial pathogens, causing diseases of varying severity. In plants that harbor mutualistic bacteria, stress can affect the symbiotic interaction and its outcome. To achieve the full potential of a symbiotic relationship between the host and rhizobia, it is important that the host plant maintains good growth characteristics and stay healthy under challenging environmental conditions. The host plant cannot provide good accommodation for the symbiont if it is infested with diseases and prone to other predators. Because the bacterium relies on metabolites for survival and multiplication, it is in its best interests to keep the host plant as stress-free as possible and to keep the supply stable. Although plants have developed many mitigation strategies to cope with stress, the symbiotic bacterium has developed the capability to augment the plant's defense mechanisms against environmental stress. They also provide the host with protection against certain diseases. The protective features of rhizobial-host interaction along with nitrogen fixation appear to have played a significant role in legume diversification. When considering a legume-rhizobial symbiosis, extra benefits to the host are sometimes overlooked in favor of the symbionts' nitrogen fixation efficiency. This review examines all of those additional considerations of a symbiotic interaction that enable the host to withstand a wide range of stresses, enabling plant survival under hostile regimes. In addition, the review focuses on the rhizosphere microbiome, which has emerged as a strong pillar of evolutionary reserve to equip the symbiotic interaction in the interests of both the rhizobia and host. The evaluation would draw the researchers' attention to the symbiotic relationship as being advantageous to the host plant as a whole and the role it plays in the plant's adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid37374907, year = {2023}, author = {Topilina, YS and Luk'yanova, EA and Glukhova, LB and Shurupova, MN and Gerasimchuk, AL and Frank, YA and Antsiferov, DV}, title = {Beneficial Effect of the New Leptodophora sp. Strain on Development of Blueberry Microclones in the Process of Their Adaptation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061406}, pmid = {37374907}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {0000000//The study was supported by the Development Program of Tomsk State University (Priority 306 2030)/ ; }, abstract = {The paper searches for new solutions for the development of highbush blueberry orchards (Vaccinium corymbosum L. (1753)) in Western Siberia. All species of the genus Vaccinium display special symbiotic mycorrhizal associations with root systems-ericoid mycorrhiza, which essentially enhances the formation of adventitious and lateral roots. For the first time, we obtained pure cultures of micromycetes associated with the roots of wild species of the family Ericaceae in the Tomsk region, Russia. With regard to the data of molecular genetic analysis of the ITS region sequence, we selected the BR2-1 isolate based on its morphophysiological traits, which was assigned to the genus Leptodophora. Representatives of this genus typically enter into symbiotic relationships with heathers to form ericoid mycorrhizae. We studied the effect of strain BR2-1 on the development of microclones of the highbush blueberry var. Nord blue during their in vitro adaptation and showed its beneficial effect on growth and shoot formation in young plants. Experiments performed using submerged and solid-state methods showed that the most optimal method for commercial production of BR2-1 is cultivation on grain sterilized by boiling, followed by spore washing.}, } @article {pmid37374896, year = {2023}, author = {Zotti, M and Bonanomi, G and Saulino, L and Allevato, E and Saracino, A and Mazzoleni, S and Idbella, M}, title = {Shifts of Leaf Litter-Induced Plant-Soil Feedback from Negative to Positive Driven by Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis between Quercus ilex and Pisolithus arrhizus.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11061394}, pmid = {37374896}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizas (ECM) are a common symbiotic association between fungi and various plant species in forest ecosystems, affecting community assemblages at the landscape level. ECMs benefit host plants by increasing the surface area for nutrient uptake, defending against pathogens, and decomposing organic matter in the soil. ECM-symbiotic seedlings are also known to perform better in conspecific soils than other species unable to carry the symbiosis, in a process referred to as plant-soil feedback (PSF). In this study, we tested the effects of different leaf litter amendments on ECM and non-ECM seedlings of Quercus ilex inoculated with Pisolithus arrhizus and how they altered the litter-induced PSF. Our experiment showed that the ECM symbiont induced a shift from negative PSF to positive PSF in Q. ilex seedlings by analysing plant and root growth parameters. However, non-ECM seedlings performed better than ECM seedlings in a no-litter condition, indicating an autotoxic effect when litter is present without ECM symbionts. Conversely, ECM seedlings with litter performed better at different decomposition stages, suggesting a possible role of the symbiosis of P. arrhizus and Q. ilex in recycling autotoxic compounds released from conspecific litter, transforming them into nutrients that are transferred to the plant host.}, } @article {pmid37374054, year = {2023}, author = {Aguinaga-Ontoso, I and Guillen-Aguinaga, S and Guillen-Aguinaga, L and Alas-Brun, R and Guillen-Grima, F}, title = {Effects of Nutrition Interventions on Athletic Performance in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/life13061271}, pmid = {37374054}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: More than 270 million participants and 128,893 professional players play soccer. Although UEFA recommendations for nutrition in elite football exist, implementing these guidelines among professional and semiprofessional soccer players remains suboptimal, emphasizing the need for targeted and individualized nutritional strategies to improve adherence to established recommendations.

METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and clinical trial registers. Inclusion criteria focused on professional or semiprofessional soccer players, nutrition or diet interventions, performance improvement outcomes, and randomized clinical trial study types. We assessed quality using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool. We identified 16 eligible articles involving 310 participants. No nutritional interventions during the recovery period effectively improved recovery. However, several performance-based interventions showed positive effects, such as tart cherry supplementation, raw pistachio nut kernels, bicarbonate and mineral ingestion, creatine supplementation, betaine consumption, symbiotic supplements, and a high-carbohydrate diet. These interventions influenced various aspects of soccer performance, including endurance, speed, agility, strength, power, explosiveness, and anaerobic capacity.

CONCLUSIONS: Specific strategies, such as solutions with bicarbonate and minerals, high carbohydrate diets, and supplements like creatine, betaine, and tart cherry, can enhance the performance of professional soccer players. These targeted nutritional interventions may help optimize performance and provide the competitive edge required in professional soccer. We did not find any dietary interventions that could enhance recovery.}, } @article {pmid37373390, year = {2023}, author = {Rui, W and Ma, J and Wei, N and Zhu, X and Li, Z}, title = {Genome-Wide Analysis of the PHT Gene Family and Its Response to Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Tomatoes under Phosphate Starvation Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241210246}, pmid = {37373390}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {BAIC01-2023//Beijing Innovation Consortium of Agriculture Research Systems project/ ; }, abstract = {Phosphate is one of the essential mineral nutrients. Phosphate transporter genes (PHTs) play an important role in Pi acquisition and homeostasis in tomato plants. However, basic biological information on PHT genes and their responses of symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal in the genome remains largely unknown. We analyzed the physiological changes and PHT gene expression in tomatoes (Micro-Tom) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Funneliformis mosseae) under different phosphate conditions (P1: 0 µM, P2: 25 µM, and P3: 200 µM Pi). Twenty-three PHT genes were identified in the tomato genomics database. Protein sequence alignment further divided the 23 PHT genes into three groups, with similar classifications of exons and introns. Good colonization of plants was observed under low phosphate conditions (25 µM Pi), and Pi stress and AM fungi significantly affected P and N accumulation and root morphological plasticity. Moreover, gene expression data showed that genes in the SlPHT1 (SlPT3, SlPT4, and SlPT5) gene family were upregulated by Funneliformis mosseae under all conditions, which indicated that these gene levels were significantly increased with AM fungi inoculation. None of the analyzed SlPHT genes in the SlPH2, SlPHT3, SlPHT4, and SlPHO gene families were changed at any Pi concentration. Our results indicate that inoculation with AM fungi mainly altered the expression of the PHT1 gene family. These results will lay a foundation for better understanding the molecular mechanisms of inorganic phosphate transport under AM fungi inoculation.}, } @article {pmid37373299, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Diao, R and Wu, Z and Wan, S and Yang, S and Li, X}, title = {Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Roles of Flavonoids and Auxin on Peanut Nodulation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241210152}, pmid = {37373299}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Rhizobia form symbiotic relationships with legumes, fixing atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-accessible form within their root nodules. Nitrogen fixation is vital for sustainable soil improvements in agriculture. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a leguminous crop whose nodulation mechanism requires further elucidation. In this study, comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to assess the differences between a non-nodulating peanut variety and a nodulating peanut variety. Total RNA was extracted from peanut roots, then first-strand and second-strand cDNA were synthesized and purified. After sequencing adaptors were added to the fragments, the cDNA libraries were sequenced. Our transcriptomic analysis identified 3362 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two varieties. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in metabolic pathways, hormone signal transduction, secondary metabolic biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, or ABC transport. Further analyses indicated that the biosynthesis of flavonoids, such as isoflavones, flavonols, and flavonoids, was important for peanut nodulation. A lack of flavonoid transport into the rhizosphere (soil) could prevent rhizobial chemotaxis and the activation of their nodulation genes. The downregulation of AUXIN-RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) genes and lower auxin content could reduce rhizobia's invasion of peanut roots, ultimately reducing nodule formation. Auxin is the major hormone that influences the cell-cycle initiation and progression required for nodule initiation and accumulates during different stages of nodule development. These findings lay the foundation for subsequent research into the nitrogen-fixation efficiency of peanut nodules.}, } @article {pmid37373241, year = {2023}, author = {Rutkowska, N and Drożdżyński, P and Ryngajłło, M and Marchut-Mikołajczyk, O}, title = {Plants as the Extended Phenotype of Endophytes-The Actual Source of Bioactive Compounds.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms241210096}, pmid = {37373241}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {For thousands of years, plants have been used for their medicinal properties. The industrial production of plant-beneficial compounds is facing many drawbacks, such as seasonal dependence and troublesome extraction and purification processes, which have led to many species being on the edge of extinction. As the demand for compounds applicable to, e.g., cancer treatment, is still growing, there is a need to develop sustainable production processes. The industrial potential of the endophytic microorganisms residing within plant tissues is undeniable, as they are often able to produce, in vitro, similar to or even the same compounds as their hosts. The peculiar conditions of the endophytic lifestyle raise questions about the molecular background of the biosynthesis of these bioactive compounds in planta, and the actual producer, whether it is the plant itself or its residents. Extending this knowledge is crucial to overcoming the current limitations in the implementation of endophytes for larger-scale production. In this review, we focus on the possible routes of the synthesis of host-specific compounds in planta by their endophytes.}, } @article {pmid37372525, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, B and Rutherfurd-Markwick, K and Naren, N and Zhang, XX and Mutukumira, AN}, title = {Microbiological and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Black Tea Kombucha Fermented with a New Zealand Starter Culture.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12122314}, pmid = {37372525}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha is a popular sparkling sugared tea, fermented by a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and yeast. The demand for kombucha continues to increase worldwide, mainly due to its perceived health benefits and appealing sensory properties. This study isolated and characterised the dominant AAB and yeast from a starter culture and kombucha broth after 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 14 days of fermentation at ambient temperature (22 °C). Yeast and AAB were isolated from the Kombucha samples using glucose yeast extract mannitol ethanol acetic acid (GYMEA) and yeast extract glucose chloramphenicol (YGC) media, respectively. The phenotypic and taxonomic identification of AAB and yeast were determined by morphological and biochemical characterisation, followed by a sequence analysis of the ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA for AAB and ITS for yeast). The changes in the microbial composition were associated with variations in the physico-chemical characteristics of kombucha tea, such as pH, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids (TSS). During fermentation, the acidity increased and the TSS decreased. The yield, moisture content, and water activity of the cellulosic pellicles which had developed at the end of fermentation were attributed to the presence of AAB. The dominant AAB species in the cellulosic pellicles and kombucha broth were identified as Komagataeibacter rhaeticus. The yeast isolates belonged to Debaryomyces prosopidis and Zygosaccharomyces lentus.}, } @article {pmid37372094, year = {2023}, author = {Priyashantha, AKH and Dai, DQ and Bhat, DJ and Stephenson, SL and Promputtha, I and Kaushik, P and Tibpromma, S and Karunarathna, SC}, title = {Plant-Fungi Interactions: Where It Goes?.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12060809}, pmid = {37372094}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {NSFC 31760013 and 32260004//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; "Young Talent" Program//High-Level Talent Recruitment Plan of Yunnan Provinces/ ; }, abstract = {Fungi live different lifestyles-including pathogenic and symbiotic-by interacting with living plants. Recently, there has been a substantial increase in the study of phytopathogenic fungi and their interactions with plants. Symbiotic relationships with plants appear to be lagging behind, although progressive. Phytopathogenic fungi cause diseases in plants and put pressure on survival. Plants fight back against such pathogens through complicated self-defense mechanisms. However, phytopathogenic fungi develop virulent responses to overcome plant defense reactions, thus continuing their deteriorative impacts. Symbiotic relationships positively influence both plants and fungi. More interestingly, they also help plants protect themselves from pathogens. In light of the nonstop discovery of novel fungi and their strains, it is imperative to pay more attention to plant-fungi interactions. Both plants and fungi are responsive to environmental changes, therefore construction of their interaction effects has emerged as a new field of study. In this review, we first attempt to highlight the evolutionary aspect of plant-fungi interactions, then the mechanism of plants to avoid the negative impact of pathogenic fungi, and fungal strategies to overcome the plant defensive responses once they have been invaded, and finally the changes of such interactions under the different environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid37370253, year = {2023}, author = {Fan, X and Xie, H and Huang, X and Zhang, S and Nie, Y and Chen, H and Xie, X and Tang, M}, title = {A module centered on the transcription factor Msn2 from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis regulates drought stress tolerance in the host plant.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19077}, pmid = {37370253}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {201904020022//Key Projects of Guangzhou of Science and Technology Plan/ ; NZ2021025//Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture Project/ ; 32071639//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32170116//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form mutualistic endosymbiosis with > 70% of land plants for obtaining fatty acids and sugars, in return, AM fungi promote plant nutrients and water acquisition to enhance plant fitness. However, how AM fungi orchestrate its own signaling components in response to drought stress remains elusive. Here, we identify a transcription factor containing C2H2 zinc finger domains, RiMsn2 from Rhizophagus irregularis. To characterize the RiMsn2, we combined heterologous expression, subcellular localization in yeasts, and biochemical and molecular studies with reverse genetics approaches during the in planta phase. The results indicate that RiMsn2 is highly conserved across AM fungal species and induced during the early stages of symbiosis. It is significantly upregulated in mycorrhizal roots under severe drought conditions. The nucleus-localized RiMsn2 regulates osmotic homeostasis and trehalose contents of yeasts. Importantly, gene silencing analyses indicate that RiMsn2 is essential for arbuscule formation and enhances plant tolerance to drought stress. Results from yeasts and biochemical experiments suggest that the RiHog1-RiMsn2-STREs module controls the drought stress-responsive genes in AM fungal symbiont. In conclusion, our findings reveal that a module centered on the transcriptional activator RiMsn2 from AM fungus regulates drought stress tolerance in host plant.}, } @article {pmid37369285, year = {2023}, author = {Chuah, LF and Nawaz, A and Dailin, DJ and Oloruntobi, O and Habila, MA and Tong, WY and Misson, M}, title = {Investigating the crude oil biodegradation performance in membrane bioreactor by using a consortium of symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139293}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139293}, pmid = {37369285}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Crude oil pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues today, and the clean-up procedure is perhaps the most difficult. Within one to three weeks, the vast majority of oil bacteria may degrade approximately 60% of the crude oil, leaving approximately 40% intact. The by-product metabolites produced during the breakdown of oil are essentially organic molecules in nature. These metabolites inhibit its enzymes, preventing the oil bacteria from further degrading the oil. By combining a variety of different oils with heterotrophic bacteria in a bioreactor, the rate of crude oil biodegradation was accelerated. In this study, two strains of oil-resistant, heterotrophic bacteria (OG1 and OG2-Erythrobacter citreus) and a bacterium that uses hydrocarbons (AR3-Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes) were used. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to investigate the effectiveness of this consortium of symbiotic bacteria in the biodegradation of crude oil. According to gravimetric and gas chromatography analyses, the consortium bacteria digested 69.6% of the crude oil in the bioreactor, while the AR3 single strain was only able to destroy 61.9% of it. Under the same experimental conditions, consortium bacteria degraded approximately 84550.851 ppb (96.3%) of 16 aliphatic hydrocarbons and 9333.178 ppb (70.5%) of 16 aromatic hydrocarbons in the bioreactor. It may be inferred that the novel consortium of symbiotic bacteria accelerated the biodegradation process and had great potential for use in increasing the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated locations.}, } @article {pmid37369121, year = {2023}, author = {Yin, Z and Gao, N and Xu, C and Li, M and Mann, S}, title = {Autonomic Integration in Nested Protocell Communities.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.3c02816}, pmid = {37369121}, issn = {1520-5126}, abstract = {The self-driven organization of model protocells into higher-order nested cytomimetic systems with coordinated structural and functional relationships offers a step toward the autonomic implementation of artificial multicellularity. Here, we describe an endosymbiotic-like pathway in which proteinosomes are captured within membranized alginate/silk fibroin coacervate vesicles by guest-mediated reconfiguration of the host protocells. We demonstrate that interchange of coacervate vesicle and droplet morphologies through proteinosome-mediated urease/glucose oxidase activity produces discrete nested communities capable of integrated catalytic activity and selective disintegration. The self-driving capacity is modulated by an internalized fuel-driven process using starch hydrolases sequestered within the host coacervate phase, and structural stabilization of the integrated protocell populations can be achieved by on-site enzyme-mediated matrix reinforcement involving dipeptide supramolecular assembly or tyramine-alginate covalent cross-linking. Our work highlights a semi-autonomous mechanism for constructing symbiotic cell-like nested communities and provides opportunities for the development of reconfigurable cytomimetic materials with structural, functional, and organizational complexity.}, } @article {pmid37368927, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, H and Bai, F and Ji, C and Fan, Z and Luo, J and Ouyang, B and Deng, X and Xiao, S and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E and Pan, Z}, title = {Plant lysin motif extracellular proteins are required for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {27}, pages = {e2301884120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2301884120}, pmid = {37368927}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {2018YFD1000103//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 2020YFD1000102//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 32172515//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2662022YJ013//MOE | Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Fundamental Research Fund for the Central Universities)/ ; CARS26//the earmarked fund/ ; 0120220084//the earmarked knowledge innovation of Wuhan Science and Technology Bureau/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with most land plants. They are known to secrete lysin motif (LysM) effectors into host root cells for successful colonization. Intriguingly, plants secrete similar types of LysM proteins; however, their role in plant-microbe interactions is unknown. Here, we show that Medicago truncatula deploys LysM extracellular (LysMe) proteins to facilitate symbiosis with AMF. Promoter analyses demonstrated that three M. truncatula LysMe genes MtLysMe1/2/3, are expressed in arbuscule-containing cells and those adjacent to intercellular hyphae. Localization studies showed that these proteins are targeted to the periarbuscular space between the periarbuscular membrane and the fungal cell wall of the branched arbuscule. M. truncatula mutants in which MtLysMe2 was knocked out via CRISPR/Cas9-targeted mutagenesis exhibited a significant reduction in AMF colonization and arbuscule formation, whereas genetically complemented transgenic plants restored wild-type level AMF colonization. In addition, knocking out the ortholog of MtLysMe2 in tomato resulted in a similar defect in AMF colonization. In vitro binding affinity precipitation assays suggested binding of MtLysMe1/2/3 with chitin and chitosan, while microscale thermophoresis (MST) assays revealed weak binding of these proteins with chitooligosaccharides. Moreover, application of purified MtLysMe proteins to root segments could suppress chitooctaose (CO8)-induced reactive oxygen species production and expression of reporter genes of the immune response without impairing chitotetraose (CO4)-triggered symbiotic responses. Taken together, our results reveal that plants, like their fungal partners, also secrete LysM proteins to facilitate symbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid37367533, year = {2023}, author = {Yao, N and Zheng, B and Wang, T and Cao, X}, title = {Isolation of Tulasnella spp. from Cultivated Paphiopedilum Orchids and Screening of Germination-Enhancing Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9060597}, pmid = {37367533}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {CAFYBB2019ZA001//National Non-profit Institute Research Fund of Chinese Academy of Forestry/ ; No. 31700547//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Ex situ conservation, an important way to increase the survival and sustainability of endangered species, is widely used in the conservation of endangered orchids. However, long-term ex situ conservation might affect the dominant group of orchid symbiotic fungi, which are crucial for orchid growth and reintroduction. This study investigated the culturable Tulasnella spp. associated with Paphiopedilum orchids after long-term greenhouse cultivation, and identified germination-enhancing isolates. A total of 44 Tulasnella isolates were obtained from the roots of 14 Paphiopedilum spp., and 29 of them were selected for phylogenetic analysis. They clustered mainly with Tulasnella deliquescens, Tulasnella calospora, Tulasnella bifrons, and Tulasnella irregularis, but included two potential new groups. Compared with published uncultured data, most of the isolates were grouped together with the reported types, and the dominant Tulasnella associated with P. armeniacum and P. micranthum could still be isolated after ten years of cultivation, most of which were the first isolation. In vitro symbiotic germination showed that certain root isolates could promote seed germination (e.g., parm152 isolated from P. armeniacum, Php12 from P. hirsutissimum, and prhi68 from P. rhizomatosum). These data indicated that the dominant Tulasnella types colonizing the roots of cultivated Paphiopedilum are stable over time, and germination-enhancing fungi colonizing the roots would benefit for seed reproduction after population reintroduction into the wild.}, } @article {pmid37367361, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, Q and Shan, HW and Chen, JP and Wu, W}, title = {Diversity and Dynamics of Bacterial Communities in the Digestive and Excretory Systems across the Life Cycle of Leafhopper, Recilia dorsalis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14060545}, pmid = {37367361}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {U20A2036//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Recilia dorsalis is a notorious rice pest that harbors numerous symbiotic microorganisms. However, the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in various tissues of R. dorsalis throughout its life cycle remain unclear. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the bacterial communities in the digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems of R. dorsalis at different developmental stages. The results showed that the initial microbiota in R. dorsalis mostly originated from vertical transmission via the ovaries. After the second-instar nymphs, the diversity of bacterial communities in the salivary gland and Malpighian tubules gradually decreased, while the midgut remained stable. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that the structure of bacterial communities in R. dorsalis was primarily influenced by the developmental stage, with minimal variation in bacterial species among different tissues but significant variation in bacterial abundance. Tistrella was the most abundant bacterial genus in most developmental stages, followed by Pantoea. The core bacterial community in R. dorsalis continuously enriched throughout development and contributed primarily to food digestion and nutrient supply. Overall, our study enriches our knowledge of the bacterial community associated with R. dorsalis and provides clues for developing potential biological control technologies against this rice pest.}, } @article {pmid37366577, year = {2023}, author = {Tang, Z and Cai, S and Liu, Y and Li, D and Xie, F and Lin, H and Chen, DS and Li, Y}, title = {An LPS O-antigen synthesis gene in Mesorhizobium huakuii plays differentiated roles in root nodule symbiotic compatibility with Astragalus sinicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-23-0066-R}, pmid = {37366577}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a ubiquitous microbial-associated molecular pattern. Plants can sense the three components of LPS, including core polysaccharide, lipidA, and O-antigen. LPS biosynthesis is an essential factor for the successful establishment of symbiosis in the rhizobium-legume plant system. The MCHK_1752 gene (Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R gene) encodes O-antigen polymerase and affects the synthesis of O-antigen. Here, we investigated the symbiotic phenotypes of six Astragalus sinicus species inoculated with the MCHK_1752 deletion mutant strain. The results revealed that the MCHK_1752 deletion mutant strain had a suppressing effect on the symbiotic nitrogen fixation of two A. sinicus species, a promoting effect on that of three A. sinicus species, while no significant effect on that of one A. sinicus species. In addition, the effect of MCHK_1752 on the phenotype was confirmed by its complementary strains and LPS exogenous application. Deletion of the MCHK_1752 showed no effect on the growth of the strain, but affected the biofilm formation and led to higher susceptibility of the strain to stresses. At the early symbiosis stage, Xinzi formed more infection threads and nodule primordia than Shengzhong under inoculation with the mutant, which might be an important reason for the final symbiotic phenotype. A comparison of early transcriptome data between Xinzi and Shengzhong also confirmed the phenotype at the early symbiotic stage. Our results suggest that O-antigen synthesis genes influences the symbiotic compatibility during symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37365851, year = {2023}, author = {Timms, VJ and Hassan, KA and Pearson, LA and Neilan, BA}, title = {Cyanobacteria as a critical reservoir of the environmental antimicrobial resistome.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16453}, pmid = {37365851}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {FT180100123//Australian Research Council/ ; CE200100029//Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian Research Council/ ; }, abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is predicted to cause a worldwide annual toll of 10 million deaths by 2050. This looming public health threat has been linked to antibiotic overuse and pollution, which places selective pressures on AMR maintenance and transfer in and between microbial populations. We examined the distribution, diversity and potential mobility of AMR genes in cyanobacteria. While cyanobacteria are not pathogenic, we hypothesised that they could be a major environmental reservoir for AMR genes. Genes encoding AMR to seven antimicrobial drug classes were found in 10% of cyanobacterial genomes. AMR genes were found in 13% of freshwater, 19% of terrestrial, 34% of symbiotic, 2% of thermal spring, and 3% of marine genomes. AMR genes were found in five cyanobacterial orders with 23% of Nostocales and 8% of Oscillatoriales strains containing AMR genes. The most frequently observed alleles were ansamycin resistance genes, which were present in 7% of strains. AMR genes responsible for resistance to broad-spectrum β-lactams, chloramphenicols, tetracyclines, macrolides, and aminoglycosides were associated with mobile genetic elements or plasmid replicons or both. These results suggest that cyanobacteria are an extensive reservoir, and potential vector, for AMR genes in diverse terrestrial and aquatic habitats.}, } @article {pmid37361202, year = {2023}, author = {Asseri, AH and Bakhsh, T and Abuzahrah, SS and Ali, S and Rather, IA}, title = {The gut dysbiosis-cancer axis: illuminating novel insights and implications for clinical practice.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1208044}, pmid = {37361202}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota, also known as the gut microbiota, comprises more than 100 trillion organisms, mainly bacteria. This number exceeds the host body cells by a factor of ten. The gastrointestinal tract, which houses 60%-80% of the host's immune cells, is one of the largest immune organs. It maintains systemic immune homeostasis in the face of constant bacterial challenges. The gut microbiota has evolved with the host, and its symbiotic state with the host's gut epithelium is a testament to this co-evolution. However, certain microbial subpopulations may expand during pathological interventions, disrupting the delicate species-level microbial equilibrium and triggering inflammation and tumorigenesis. This review highlights the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis on the development and progression of certain types of cancers and discusses the potential for developing new therapeutic strategies against cancer by manipulating the gut microbiota. By interacting with the host microbiota, we may be able to enhance the effectiveness of anticancer therapies and open new avenues for improving patient outcomes.}, } @article {pmid37360672, year = {2023}, author = {Sarabeev, V and Ovcharenko, M and Jarosiewicz, A and Ahmed, A and Sueiro, RA and Leiro, JM}, title = {Database on eukaryotic symbionts of native and invasive gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the Baltic region of Poland with information on water parameters for sampling sites.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {109308}, doi = {10.1016/j.dib.2023.109308}, pmid = {37360672}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {This dataset documents the diversity of eukaryotic endo- and epibiotic organisms from 612 host individuals of seven gammarid (Amphipoda) species (Gammarus pulex, Gammarus zaddachi, Gammarus roeselii, Gammarus tigrinus, Dikerogammarus villosus, Pontogammarus robustoides, Echinogammarus ischnus) of native and invasive origin in the Baltic region of Poland. We identify 60 symbiotic species of nine phyla from 16 localities of freshwater and brackish habitats. Twenty-nine symbiotic species belonged to the Ciliophora, 12 to Apicomplexa, 8 to Microsporidia, 3 to Platyhelminthes, 2 to Acanthocephala, 2 to Nematoda, 2 to Rotifera, 1 to Choanozoa and 1 to Nematomorha. The material in this Data in Brief paper is composed of three Microsoft® Excel files. The first file represents the raw data on the number of individuals (infrapopulation size) of each eukaryotic symbiont taxa recorded in each host individual and location. The data set contains information on the assemblage of symbionts per host individual in one table-matrix; macro- (host) and symbiont taxa name, host length, the date of collection, the geographic coordinates and locality name in columns; and amphipod host specimens in lines. The second file reports the symbiont species list (the species breakdown by phyla in spreadsheets) with information on host species, sampling date, locality and geographic coordinates, infection site, obtained sequences (if the case), brief morphological characteristics and microphotographs. The third file reports measured water parameters, habitat features and host density per sample. We generate the present dataset to evaluate the richness, diversity, population and community features of symbiotic organisms in native and invasive gammarid hosts in Poland. Biological sciences: ParasitologyEnvironmental Science: Ecology; Hydrology and Water Quality.}, } @article {pmid37360319, year = {2023}, author = {Karatas, IB}, title = {Does the COVID-19 pandemic lead to an infra-state of exception: Turkey's responses and dismantling its medico-scientific policies.}, journal = {Subjectivity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-23}, doi = {10.1057/s41286-023-00156-9}, pmid = {37360319}, issn = {1755-6341}, abstract = {The new coronavirus strain that spread across the globe in clusters and claimed millions of lives has significantly impacted how subjectivity and power are performed. The scientific committees empowered by the state have become the leading actors, lying at the heart of all responses to this performance. The article critically examines the symbiotic interaction of these dynamics regarding the COVID-19 experience in Turkey. The analysis of this emergency is divided into two basic stages: the pre-pandemic period, during which infra-level healthcare and risk mechanisms evolve, and the early post-pandemic period, during which alternative subjectivities are marginalised to hold a monopoly over the new normal and victims. Pivoting around the scholarly debates about sovereign exclusion, biopower, and environmental power, this analysis concludes that the Turkish case is an encounter in which these techniques are materialised within the body of the 'infra-state of exception.'}, } @article {pmid37359767, year = {2023}, author = {Gu, H}, title = {Data, Big Tech, and the New Concept of Sovereignty.}, journal = {Journal of Chinese political science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-22}, doi = {10.1007/s11366-023-09855-1}, pmid = {37359767}, issn = {1874-6357}, abstract = {Despite the massive amount of data and sophisticated computing capacity, Big Tech has evolved into the new data sovereigns that governments must accept in the data era. Data mining and application determine the true value of data; in this regard, Big Tech is tough to replace. The so-called "Fourth Industrial Revolution" is reshaping the emerging global order, and at its core are Big Tech firms. They not only express their concerns and spread their values and ideologies but also make their strong presence felt in international affairs, as Big Tech appears to be transforming into a new type of Leviathan. With access to significant amounts of data, the rise of Big Tech poses a challenge to sovereignty's exclusivity and superiority, assuming the position of de facto data sovereign. The article holds that the Big Tech firms, by virtue of their technical advantages, have not only deconstructed the traditional concept of sovereignty, but also formed a complex symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid37358811, year = {2023}, author = {Hamoda, AM and Hamdy, R and Fayed, B and Abouleish, M and Sulaiman, A and Hamad, M and Soliman, SSM}, title = {Evolutionary relevance of metabolite production in relation to marine sponge bacteria symbiont.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37358811}, issn = {1432-0614}, support = {‎2301110176‎//University of Sharjah/ ; }, abstract = {Sponges are habitats for a diverse community of microorganisms. Sponges provide shelter, whereas microbes provide a complementary defensive mechanism. Here, a symbiotic bacterium, identified as Bacillus spp., was isolated from a marine sponge following culture enrichment. Fermentation-assisted metabolomics using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) indicated that marine simulated nutrition and temperature was the optimum in metabolite production represented by the highest number of metabolites and the diverse chemical classes when compared to other culture media. Following large-scale culture in potato dextrose broth (PDB) and dereplication, compound M1 was isolated and identified as octadecyl-1-(2',6'-di-tert-butyl-1'-hydroxyphenyl) propionate. M1, at screening concentrations up to 10 mg/ml, showed no activity against prokaryotic bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while 1 mg/ml of M1 was sufficient to cause a significant killing effect on eukaryotic cells including Candida albicans, Candida auris, and Rhizopus delemar fungi and different mammalian cells. M1 exhibited MIC50 0.97 ± 0.006 and 7.667 ± 0.079 mg/ml against C. albicans and C. auris, respectively. Like fatty acid esters, we hypothesize that M1 is stored in a less harmful form and upon pathogenic attack is hydrolyzed to a more active form as a defensive metabolite. Subsequently, [3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid] (DTBPA), the hydrolysis product of M1, exhibited ~ 8-fold and 18-fold more antifungal activity than M1 against C. albicans and C. auris, respectively. These findings indicated the selectivity of that compound as a defensive metabolite towards the eukaryotic cells particularly the fungi, a major infectious agent to sponges. Metabolomic-assisted fermentation can provide a significant understanding of a triple marine-evolved interaction. KEY POINTS: • Bacillus species, closely related to uncultured Bacillus, is isolated from Gulf marine sponge • Metabolomic-assisted fermentations showed diverse metabolites • An ester with a killing effect against eukaryotes but not prokaryotes is isolated.}, } @article {pmid37358445, year = {2023}, author = {Kong, HG and Son, JS and Chung, JH and Lee, S and Kim, JS and Ryu, CM}, title = {Population Dynamics of Intestinal Enterococcus Modulate Galleria mellonella Metamorphosis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0278022}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02780-22}, pmid = {37358445}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Microbes found in the digestive tracts of insects are known to play an important role in their host's behavior. Although Lepidoptera is one of the most varied insect orders, the link between microbial symbiosis and host development is still poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the role of gut bacteria in metamorphosis. Here, we explored gut microbial biodiversity throughout the life cycle of Galleria mellonella, using amplicon pyrosequencing with the V1 to V3 regions, and found that Enterococcus spp. were abundant in larvae, while Enterobacter spp. were predominant in pupae. Interestingly, eradication of Enterococcus spp. from the digestive system accelerated the larval-to-pupal transition. Furthermore, host transcriptome analysis demonstrated that immune response genes were upregulated in pupae, whereas hormone genes were upregulated in larvae. In particular, regulation of antimicrobial peptide production in the host gut correlated with developmental stage. Certain antimicrobial peptides inhibited the growth of Enterococcus innesii, a dominant bacterial species in the gut of G. mellonella larvae. Our study highlights the importance of gut microbiota dynamics on metamorphosis as a consequence of the active secretion of antimicrobial peptides in the G. mellonella gut. IMPORTANCE First, we demonstrated that the presence of Enterococcus spp. is a driving force for insect metamorphosis. RNA sequencing and peptide production subsequently revealed that antimicrobial peptides targeted against microorganisms in the gut of Galleria mellonella (wax moth) did not kill Enterobacteria species, but did kill Enterococcus species, when the moth was at a certain stage of growth, and this promoted moth pupation.}, } @article {pmid37358264, year = {2023}, author = {Goliwas, KF and Libring, S and Berestesky, E and Gholizadeh, S and Schwager, SC and Frost, AR and Gaborski, TR and Zhang, J and Reinhart-King, CA}, title = {Mitochondrial transfer from cancer associated fibroblasts increases migration in aggressive breast cancer.}, journal = {Journal of cell science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jcs.260419}, pmid = {37358264}, issn = {1477-9137}, support = {HL127499/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have distinct roles within the tumor microenvironment, which may impact the mode and efficacy of tumor cell migration. CAFs are known to increase invasion of less-aggressive breast cancer cells through matrix remodeling and leader-follower dynamics. Here, we demonstrate that CAFs communicate with breast cancer cells through the formation of contact-dependent tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) that allow for the exchange of cargo between cell types. The transferring of CAF mitochondria is an integral cargo component, and CAF mitochondria are sufficient to increase the 3D migration of cancer cells. This cargo transfer results in an increase in mitochondrial ATP production in cancer cells while having negligible impact on glycolytic ATP production. Manually increasing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by providing extra substrates for OXPHOS fails to enhance cancer cell migration unless glycolysis is maintained at a constant level. Together, these data indicate that tumor-stromal crosstalk via TNTs and the associated metabolic symbiosis is a finely controlled mechanism by which tumor cells co-opt their microenvironment to promote cancer progression and may become a potential therapeutic target.}, } @article {pmid37358253, year = {2023}, author = {Uchida, T and Yoshioka, Y and Yoshida, Y and Fujie, M and Yamaki, A and Sasaki, A and Inoue, K and Shinzato, C}, title = {Genomic and transcriptomic analyses illuminate the molecular basis of the unique lifestyle of a tubeworm, Lamellibrachia satsuma.}, journal = {DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/dnares/dsad014}, pmid = {37358253}, issn = {1756-1663}, support = {20H03235//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; }, abstract = {Vestimentiferan tubeworms are representative members of deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems. In this study, we developed a draft genome and gene models and performed genomic and transcriptomic analyses of Lamellibrachia satsuma, the only vestimentiferan reported from the euphotic zone. The quality of the genome assembly and gene models is comparable to or higher than those of previously reported vestimentiferan tubeworms. Tissue-specific transcriptome sequencing revealed that Toll-like receptor genes and lineage-specific expanded bacteriolytic enzyme genes are highly expressed in the obturacular and vestimental regions, respectively, suggesting the importance of these tissues in defense against pathogens. On the other hand, globin subunit genes are expressed almost exclusively in the trunk region, supporting the hypothesis that the trophosome is the site of haemoglobin biosynthesis. Vestimentiferan-specific expanded gene families included chitinases, ion channels, and C-type lectins, suggesting the importance of these functions for vestimentiferans. C-type lectins in the trunk region, in particular, may be involved in recognition of pathogens, or in interactions between tubeworms and symbiotic bacteria. Our genomic and transcriptomic analyses enhance understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the unique lifestyle of vestimentiferan tubeworms, particularly their obligate mutualism with chemosynthetic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37357963, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Liu, X and Wang, L and Wang, K and Li, M and Wang, X and Yuan, Y and Yue, T and Cai, R and Wang, Z}, title = {Innovative beverage creation through symbiotic microbial communities inspired by traditional fermented beverages: current status, challenges and future directions.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-28}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2023.2225191}, pmid = {37357963}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Fermented beverages (FBs) are facing challenges in functional performance and flavor complexity, necessitating the development of new multi-functional options. Traditional fermented beverages (TFBs), both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, have gained increased attention for their health-promoting effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarized the primary commercially available probiotics of FBs, along with the limitations of single and mixed probiotic FBs. It also examined the recent research progress on TFBs, emphasizing the typical microbial communities (MC) of TFBs, and TFBs made from crops (grains, vegetables, fruits, etc.) worldwide and their associated functions and health benefits. Furthermore, the construction, technical bottlenecks of the synthetic MC involved in developing innovative FBs were presented, and the promising perspective of FBs was described. Drawing inspiration from the MC of TFBs, developing of stable and multifunctional FBs using synthetic MC holds great promise for beverage industry. However, synthetic MC suffers from structural instability and poorly acknowledged interaction mechanisms, resulting in disappointing results in FBs. Future researches should prioritize creating synthetic MC fermentation that closely resemble natural fermentation, tailored to meet the needs of different consumers. Creating personalized FBs with high-tech intelligence is vital in attracting potential consumers and developing novel beverages for the future.}, } @article {pmid37357952, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, H and Zhang, X and Chen, W and Wang, C}, title = {The regulatory functions of oxylipins in fungi: A review.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202200721}, pmid = {37357952}, issn = {1521-4028}, support = {KZ202010011016//Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation Beijing Municipal Education Commission Science & Technology Plan Key Joint Project/ ; BTBUYXTD202208//Cultivation Project of Double First-Class Disciplines of Food Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology & Business University/ ; 19008021085//The Construction of High-precision Disciplines in Beijing-Food Science & Engineering/ ; 19008022080//Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center Platform Construction Project/ ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) is a communication mechanism between microorganisms originally found in bacteria. In recent years, an important QS mechanism has been discovered in the field of fungi, namely, the lipoxygenase compound oxylipin of arachidonic acid acts as a QS molecule in life cycle control, particularly in the sexual and asexual development of fungi. However, the role of oxylipins in mediating eukaryotic communication has not been previously described. In this paper, we review the regulatory role of oxylipins and the underlying mechanisms and discuss the potential for application in major fungi. The role of oxylipin as a fungal quorum-sensing molecule is the main focus of the review. Besides, the quorum regulation of fungal morphological transformation, biofilm formation, virulence factors, secondary metabolism, infection, symbiosis, and other physiological behaviors are discussed. Moreover, future prospectives and applications are elaborated as well.}, } @article {pmid37357866, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, YH and Luan, YX and Luo, JY and Men, Y and Engel, MS and Damgaard, J and Khila, A and Chen, PP and Figueiredo Moreira, FF and Rafael, JA and Xie, Q}, title = {300 Million years of coral treaders (Insecta: Heteroptera: Hermatobatidae) back to the ocean in the phylogenetic context of Arthropoda.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2001}, pages = {20230855}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2023.0855}, pmid = {37357866}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Among hundreds of insect families, Hermatobatidae (commonly known as coral treaders) is one of the most unique. They are small, wingless predaceous bugs in the suborder Heteroptera. Adults are almost black in colour, measuring about 5 mm in body length and 3 mm in width. Thirteen species are known from tropical coral reefs or rocky shores, but their origin and evolutionary adaptation to their unusual marine habitat were unexplored. We report here the genome and metagenome of Hermatobates lingyangjiaoensis, hitherto known only from its type locality in the South China Sea. We further reconstructed the evolutionary history and origin of these marine bugs in the broader context of Arthropoda. The dated phylogeny indicates that Hexapoda diverged from their marine sister groups approximately 498 Ma and that Hermatobatidae originated 192 Ma, indicating that they returned to an oceanic life some 300 Myr after their ancestors became terrestrial. Their origin is consistent with the recovery of tropical reef ecosystems after the end-Triassic mass extinction, which might have provided new and open niches for them to occupy and thrive. Our analyses also revealed that both the genome changes and the symbiotic bacteria might have contributed to adaptations necessary for life in the sea.}, } @article {pmid37357159, year = {2023}, author = {Shu, L and Wang, Z and Li, Y and Zheng, Z}, title = {Performance of co-culture strategy on nutrient removal and biogas upgrading by strigolactone induction.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e10907}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10907}, pmid = {37357159}, issn = {1554-7531}, abstract = {In this study, we investigated the performance and elucidated the synergistic effects of microalgae-fungi symbionts co-cultured with 10[-7] and 10[-9] mol L[-1] of GR24 and supplemented with endophytic bacteria, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or vitamin B12 (VB12), on nutrient removal and biogas upgrading. The results showed that the microalgae-fungi-bacteria symbiotic system co-cultured with 10[-9] mol L[-1] GR24 presented the optimal growth performance of 0.368 ± 0.04 d[-1] , chlorophyll a of 249.36 ± 22.31 μg L[-1] , and extracellular carbonic anhydrase activity of 42.55 ± 3.755 enzyme units. In this co-culture system, the organic matter, nutrients and CO2 purification obtained the highest removal efficiency, with 81.35 ± 7.96% for chemical oxygen demand, 83.56 ± 7.91% total nitrogen, 84.17 ± 7.95% total phosphorus, and 63.72 ± 6.06% CO2 . The symbiont system also greatly increased the methane content in the biogas by 30.67%. The remarkable performance of the microalgae-fungi-bacteria symbiotic system shows its ability to be broadly applied in simultaneous biogas upgrading and wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid37356774, year = {2023}, author = {Ondik, MM and Ooi, MKJ and Muñoz-Rojas, M}, title = {Soil microbial community composition and functions are disrupted by fire and land use in a Mediterranean woodland.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165088}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165088}, pmid = {37356774}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The intersection of fire, land use transformations, and climate change is putting Mediterranean climate-type ecosystems at risk of soil degradation and loss of ecosystem services. Ondik et al. (2022b) showed that in a Mediterranean dry sclerophyll woodland of South Australia, high severity fire and clearing and grazing practices impacted both physicochemical and biological soil quality indicators. Building upon the work of Ondik et al. (2022b) this study aims to 1) identify soil physicochemical properties impacted by fire and land management that are indirect drivers of changes to soil microbial community composition and 2) determine whether the observed changes to soil microbial community composition affect soil microbial functions. Via a redundancy analysis, we identified fire and management-induced changes to pH, soil water repellency, nutrient stoichiometry, and total nutrient content as significant drivers of the composition of soil microbial communities. We then measured basal respiration, substrate induced respiration, and the carbon mineralisation quotient, and calculated functional trait distributions among microbial communities by linking 16S and 18S rRNA sequences to respiration modes and functional guilds, respectively. We found that fire reduced soil microbial respiration and the relative abundance (RA) of microbial symbionts, anaerobic bacteria, and microaerophilic bacteria, while increasing the RA of aerobic bacteria. Furthermore, management increased the RA of post-fire ectomycorrhizal fungi and may have reduced pathogenic load, microbial efficiency, and wood saprotrophs, while increasing litter, soil, and other saprotrophic species that are adapted to grasslands. This study shows that, through changes to microbial community composition, high severity wildfire and land management affected soil respiration rates, bacterial modes of respiration, prevalence of symbiotic bacteria and fungi, and microbial substrate preference. Having identified the main physicochemical drivers of changes to microbial community composition, we provide valuable insights into how fire and land management can impact soils in Mediterranean woodland.}, } @article {pmid37356197, year = {2023}, author = {Fokin, SI and Lebedeva, NA and Potekhin, A and Gammuto, L and Petroni, G and Serra, V}, title = {Holospora-like bacteria "Candidatus Gortzia yakutica" and Preeria caryophila: Ultrastructure, promiscuity, and biogeography of the symbionts.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {125998}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2023.125998}, pmid = {37356197}, issn = {1618-0429}, abstract = {Two already known representatives of Holospora-like bacteria, "Candidatus Gortzia yakutica" from Paramecium putrinum and Preeria caryophila, originally retrieved from the Paramecium aurelia complex, were found in new hosts: Paramecium nephridiatum and Paramecium polycaryum, respectively. In the present study, these bacteria were investigated using morphological and molecular methods. For "Ca. G. yakutica", the first details of the electron microscopic structure in the main and new hosts were provided. Regarding Pr. caryophila, the ultrastructural description of this species was implemented by several features previously unknown, such as the so called "membrane cluster" dividing periplasm from cytoplasm and fine composition of infectious forms before and during its releasing from the infected macronucleus. The new combinations of these Holospora-like bacteria with ciliate hosts were discussed from biogeographical and ecological points of view. Host specificity of symbionts as a general paradigm was critically reviewed as well.}, } @article {pmid37355742, year = {2023}, author = {Camuel, A and Teulet, A and Carcagno, M and Haq, F and Pacquit, V and Gully, D and Pervent, M and Chaintreuil, C and Fardoux, J and Horta-Araujo, N and Okazaki, S and Ratu, STN and Gueye, F and Zilli, J and Nouwen, N and Arrighi, JF and Luo, H and Mergaert, P and Deslandes, L and Giraud, E}, title = {Widespread Bradyrhizobium distribution of diverse Type III effectors that trigger legume nodulation in the absence of Nod factor.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37355742}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-11-IDEX-0002-02//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-11-IDEX-0002-02//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-11-IDEX-0002-02//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; }, abstract = {The establishment of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis is generally based on plant perception of Nod factors (NFs) synthesized by the bacteria. However, some Bradyrhizobium strains can nodulate certain legume species, such as Aeschynomene spp. or Glycine max, independently of NFs, and via two different processes that are distinguished by the necessity or not of a type III secretion system (T3SS). ErnA is the first known type III effector (T3E) triggering nodulation in Aeschynomene indica. In this study, a collection of 196 sequenced Bradyrhizobium strains was tested on A. indica. Only strains belonging to the photosynthetic supergroup can develop a NF-T3SS-independent symbiosis, while the ability to use a T3SS-dependent process is found in multiple supergroups. Of these, 14 strains lacking ernA were tested by mutagenesis to identify new T3Es triggering nodulation. We discovered a novel T3E, Sup3, a putative SUMO-protease without similarity to ErnA. Its mutation in Bradyrhizobium strains NAS96.2 and WSM1744 abolishes nodulation and its introduction in an ernA mutant of strain ORS3257 restores nodulation. Moreover, ectopic expression of sup3 in A. indica roots led to the formation of spontaneous nodules. We also report three other new T3Es, Ubi1, Ubi2 and Ubi3, which each contribute to the nodulation capacity of strain LMTR13. These T3Es have no homology to known proteins but share with ErnA three motifs necessary for ErnA activity. Together, our results highlight an unsuspected distribution and diversity of T3Es within the Bradyrhizobium genus that may contribute to their symbiotic efficiency by participating in triggering legume nodulation.}, } @article {pmid37355737, year = {2023}, author = {Fletcher-Hoppe, C and Yeh, YC and Raut, Y and Weissman, JL and Fuhrman, JA}, title = {Symbiotic UCYN-A strains co-occurred with El Niño, relaxed upwelling, and varied eukaryotes over 10 years off Southern California.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {63}, pmid = {37355737}, issn = {2730-6151}, support = {1737409//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1737409//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1737409//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1737409//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1737409//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 3779//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; 3779//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; 3779//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; 3779//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; 3779//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of N2 gas into a bioavailable form, is vital to sustaining marine primary production. Studies have shifted beyond traditionally studied tropical diazotrophs. Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (or UCYN-A) has emerged as a focal point due to its streamlined metabolism, intimate partnership with a haptophyte host, and broad distribution. Here, we explore the environmental parameters that govern UCYN-A's presence at the San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT), its host specificity, and statistically significant interactions with non-host eukaryotes from 2008-2018. 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequences were amplified by "universal primers" from monthly samples and resolved into Amplicon Sequence Variants, allowing us to observe multiple UCYN-A symbioses. UCYN-A1 relative abundances increased following the 2015-2016 El Niño event. This "open ocean ecotype" was present when coastal upwelling declined, and Ekman transport brought tropical waters into the region. Network analyses reveal all strains of UCYN-A co-occur with dinoflagellates including Lepidodinium, a potential predator, and parasitic Syndiniales. UCYN-A2 appeared to pair with multiple hosts and was not tightly coupled to its predominant host, while UCYN-A1 maintained a strong host-symbiont relationship. These biological relationships are particularly important to study in the context of climate change, which will alter UCYN-A distribution at regional and global scales.}, } @article {pmid37355143, year = {2023}, author = {Tang, CC and Wang, TY and Wang, R and Varrone, C and Gan, Z and He, ZW and Li, ZH and Wang, XC}, title = {Insights into roles of triclosan in microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system treating wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129331}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129331}, pmid = {37355143}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent and frequently detected in wastewater or water body. This study investigated the role of TCS in microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system treating wastewater. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of NH4[+]-N, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus decreased under increased TCS stress, with decrease ratios of 32.0%, 28.9%, and 46.1%. The activities of microalgae were more affected than that of bacteria. The secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and activity of superoxide dismutase firstly increased and then decreased with aggravated TCS stress, while the accumulation of malondialdehyde increased, leading to increased permeability of cytomembrane and bioaccumulation of TCS. In addition, the aggregation properties of microalgae and bacteria were enhanced with TCS loading increasing, and the migration of TCS was affected by enhanced EPSs secretions and MABS aggregates. This work may provide some new insights into the roles of TCS in MABS system.}, } @article {pmid37354904, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, J and Chen, Z and Castellano, D and Bao, B and Han, W and Li, J and Kim, G and An, D and Lu, W and Wu, C}, title = {Lipids regulate peripheral serotonin release via gut CD1d.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2023.06.001}, pmid = {37354904}, issn = {1097-4180}, abstract = {The crosstalk between the immune and neuroendocrine systems is critical for intestinal homeostasis and gut-brain communications. However, it remains unclear how immune cells participate in gut sensation of hormones and neurotransmitters release in response to environmental cues, such as self-lipids and microbial lipids. We show here that lipid-mediated engagement of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells with enterochromaffin (EC) cells, a subset of intestinal epithelial cells, promoted peripheral serotonin (5-HT) release via a CD1d-dependent manner, regulating gut motility and hemostasis. We also demonstrated that inhibitory sphingolipids from symbiotic microbe Bacteroides fragilis represses 5-HT release. Mechanistically, CD1d ligation on EC cells transduced a signal and restrained potassium conductance through activation of protein tyrosine kinase Pyk2, leading to calcium influx and 5-HT secretion. Together, our data reveal that by engaging with iNKT cells, gut chemosensory cells selectively perceive lipid antigens via CD1d to control 5-HT release, modulating intestinal and systemic homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid37354226, year = {2023}, author = {Sehar, S and Adil, MF and Askri, SMH and Feng, Q and Wei, D and Sahito, FS and Shamsi, IH}, title = {Pan-transcriptomic Profiling Demarcates Serendipita Indica-Phosphorus Mediated Tolerance Mechanisms in Rice Exposed to Arsenic Toxicity.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {28}, pmid = {37354226}, issn = {1939-8425}, support = {32250410280//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31961143008//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Inadvertent accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a concern for people depending on it for their subsistence, as it verily causes epigenetic alterations across the genome as well as in specific cells. To ensure food safety, certain attempts have been made to nullify this highest health hazard encompassing physiological, chemical and biological methods. Albeit, the use of mycorrhizal association along with nutrient reinforcement strategy has not been explored yet. Mechanisms of response and resistance of two rice genotypes to As with or without phosphorus (P) nutrition and Serendipita indica (S. indica; S.i) colonization were explored by root transcriptome profiling in the present study. Results revealed that the resistant genotype had higher auxin content and root plasticity, which helped in keeping the As accumulation and P starvation response to a minimum under alone As stress. However, sufficient P supply and symbiotic relationship switched the energy resources towards plant's developmental aspects rather than excessive root proliferation. Higher As accumulating genotype (GD-6) displayed upregulation of ethylene signaling/biosynthesis, root stunting and senescence related genes under As toxicity. Antioxidant defense system and cytokinin biosynthesis/signaling of both genotypes were strengthened under As + S.i + P, while the upregulation of potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) transporters depicted underlying cross-talk with iron (Fe) and P. Differential expression of phosphate transporters, peroxidases and GSTs, metal detoxification/transport proteins, as well as phytohormonal metabolism were responsible for As detoxification. Taken together, S. indica symbiosis fortified with adequate P-fertilizer can prove to be effective in minimizing As acquisition and accumulation in rice plants.}, } @article {pmid37351943, year = {2023}, author = {Normand, P and Nouioui, I and Neumann-Schaal, M and Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Abrouk, D and Vemulapally, S and Guerra, T and Hahn, D}, title = {Frankia umida sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Alnus glutinosa L.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005939}, pmid = {37351943}, issn = {1466-5034}, abstract = {Frankia strain Ag45/Mut15[T] was isolated from a root nodule of Alnus glutinosa growing in a swamp at lake Grossensee, Germany. The strain forms root nodules on A. glutinosa, in which it produces hyphae and clusters of N2-fixing vesicles. N2-fixing vesicles are also produced in nitrogen-free growth medium, in addition to hyphae and sporangia. The whole-cell hydrolysates of strain Ag45/Mut15[T] contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in the peptidoglycan and ribose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose and a trace of rhamnose as cell-wall sugars. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol and glyco-phospholipid. The predominant (>20 %) menaquinones were MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H4). The major fatty acid profile (>10 %) consisted of iso-C16:0, C17 : 1 ω8c and C17 : 0. Pairwise 16S rRNA gene distances showed that strain Ag45/Mut15[T] was most closely related to Frankia torreyi CpI1[T] and Candidatus Frankia nodulisporulans with 16S rRNA gene similarity values of 0.001335 substitutions per site. An multilocus sequence analysis phylogeny based on atpD, dnaA, ftsZ, pgk and rpoB amino acid sequences positioned the strain within cluster 1 of Alnus- and Myrica-nodulating species, close to Candidatus F. nodulisporulans AgTrS[T] and F. canadensis ARgP5[T]. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the studied strain Ag45/Mut15[T] and all validly named Frankia species were below the defined threshold for prokaryotic species demarcation. Candidatus F. nodulisporulans AgTrS[T], which cannot be cultivated in vitro, was found to be the closest phylogenetic neighbour to strain strain Ag45/Mut15[T] with dDDH and ANI values of 61.8 and 97 %, respectively. Strain Ag45/Mut15[T] was not able to sporulate in nodule tissues like strain AgTrS[T].Phenotypic, physiological and phylogenomic analyses confirmed the assignment of strain Ag45/Mut15[T] (=DSM 114737[T]=LMG 326O1[T]) to a novel species, with Ag45/Mut15[T] as type strain, for which the name Frankia umida sp. nov. is proposed.}, } @article {pmid37351422, year = {2023}, author = {Mikhaylov, AN and Shchanikov, SA and Demin, VA and Makarov, VA and Kazantsev, VB}, title = {Editorial: Neuroelectronics: towards symbiosis of neuronal systems and emerging electronics.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {1227798}, doi = {10.3389/fnins.2023.1227798}, pmid = {37351422}, issn = {1662-4548}, } @article {pmid37350376, year = {2023}, author = {Carlson, C and Frederickson, ME}, title = {An emerging view of coevolution in the legume-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17055}, pmid = {37350376}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Mutualisms are often framed as 'delicately balanced antagonisms' (Bronstein, 1994), with the net fitness benefits to both partners potentially masking underlying conflicts of interest. How commonly symbionts evolve to 'cheat' their hosts and hosts evolve to 'sanction' or 'control' uncooperative symbionts is the subject of debate, especially in legume-rhizobium interactions (Frederickson, 2013; Kiers et al., 2003). This kind of antagonistic coevolution should result in either arms-race dynamics characterized by repeated selective sweeps or fluctuating selection dynamics that leave signatures of balancing selection in host and symbiont genomes (Frederickson, 2013; Kortright et al., 2022; O'Brien et al., 2021). In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Epstein et al. (2022) combine GWAS and population genomic analyses to assess the evidence for positive or balancing selection consistent with ongoing, antagonistic coevolution between legumes and rhizobia. They found few genomic signatures of fitness conflicts between mutualistic partners, suggesting that legume and rhizobium fitness interests are largely aligned and symbiotic traits are mostly under stabilizing selection. In combination with other recent work (e.g. Batstone et al., 2020), the results of Epstein et al. (2022) indicate that there is little ongoing fitness conflict between legumes and rhizobia that shapes host and symbiont genomes in this system. It may be time to move beyond symbiont 'cheating' and host 'control' as the dominant paradigm for understanding how partners in mutualism coevolve.}, } @article {pmid37348726, year = {2023}, author = {Yin, R and Hao, Z and Yuan, X and Wang, M and Li, S and Zhang, X and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviates ozone injury in ozone-tolerant poplar clone but not in ozone-sensitive poplar clone.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {165023}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165023}, pmid = {37348726}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a typical air pollutant with harmful effects on plants, whereas arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous plant symbionts that enhance plant resistance to various abiotic stresses. However, whether AM symbiosis decreases plant O3 sensitivity and what the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, O3-tolerant poplar clone 107 and O3-sensitive poplar clone 546 were used as test plants. An open-top chamber experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of AM inoculation on plant growth and physiological parameters under O3 enrichment. The results showed that O3 enrichment significantly decreased plant biomass and net photosynthetic rate and increased the leaf shedding rate and malondialdehyde concentration of clone 546. Generally, clone 107 was less responsive to O3 enrichment than clone 546 was. Differences in antioxidant enzyme activity, rather than in specific leaf weight or stomatal conductance, were responsible for the differences in O3 sensitivity between the two clones. AM inoculation significantly increased the biomass and decreased the leaf shedding rate and malondialdehyde concentration of clone 107 but had no significant effect on almost all the indexes of clone 546, suggesting a species-specific mycorrhizal effect on plant O3 sensitivity. Mechanistically, AM symbiosis did not significantly affect nutrient uptake, stomatal conductance, or specific leaf weight of poplar but did significantly increase antioxidant enzyme activity. Linear regression analysis of antioxidant enzyme activities and the effect of O3 on growth and physiological parameters showed that AM symbiosis mediated antioxidant enzyme activities to mitigate O3 injury to the two poplars. This study improved the understanding of the protective effects of AM fungi on plants against O3 pollution.}, } @article {pmid37348721, year = {2023}, author = {Ke, W and Li, C and Zhu, F and Luo, X and Li, X and Wu, C and Hartley, W and Xue, S}, title = {The assembly process and co-occurrence patterns of soil microbial communities at a lead smelting site.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164932}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164932}, pmid = {37348721}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The potential toxic elements of the site are diverse and complex, seriously threatening the land utilization potential and soil ecological function. Microbial community is critical to maintaining ecosystem function, their assembly processes and diversity play an essential role in predicting changes in soil ecological function. However, our understanding of the mechanisms that shape community composition and successional direction in complex polluted environments is very limited. In this study, to explore the mechanisms driving community assembly and symbiosis in different contaminated regional environments, the biological characteristics of bacterial and fungal communities in four different polluted areas of a typical lead smelting site were studied. Contamination by PTEs appears to increase microbial networks, as well as altering microbial community composition, with relative abundance of dominant phyla such as Actinomycetes and Acidobacteria decreasing, whilst Proteobacteria and Ascomycota increased, this indicated that communities may shift from K-strategy to r-strategy and become opportunistic. Dispersal limitation (DL, 42 %-86 %), drift (Dr, 8 %-37 %) and homogeneous selection (HoS, 1 %-31 %) proved to be the important community assembly process. The top ten bins controlling the contribution of different biological processes were identified, and the relative abundance of these bacterial and fungal taxa varied with CPI. Collectively, our results suggest that CPI and nutrient availability regulate soil bacterial and fungal community assembly processes. The results of this study provide potential guidance for community regulation in the process of ecological restoration and mitigating degraded soils at smelting sites.}, } @article {pmid37347191, year = {2023}, author = {Kawasaki, S and Ozawa, K and Mori, T and Yamamoto, A and Ito, M and Ohkuma, M and Sakamoto, M and Matsutani, M}, title = {Symbiosis of Carpenter Bees with Uncharacterized Lactic Acid Bacteria Showing NAD Auxotrophy.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0078223}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00782-23}, pmid = {37347191}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Eusocial bees (such as honey bees and bumble bees) harbor core gut microbiomes that are transmitted through social interaction between nestmates. Carpenter bees are not eusocial; however, recent microbiome analyses found that Xylocopa species harbor distinctive core gut microbiomes. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiomes of three Xylocopa species in Japan between 2016 and 2021 by V1 to V2 region-based 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing, and 14 candidate novel species were detected based on the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences. All Xylocopa species harbor core gut microbiomes consisting of primarily lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that were phylogenetically distant from known species. Although they were difficult to cultivate, two LAB species from two different Xylocopa species were isolated by supplementing bacterial culture supernatants. Both genomes exhibited an average LAB genome size with a large set of genes for carbohydrate utilization but lacked genes to synthesize an essential coenzyme NAD, which is unique among known insect symbionts. Our findings of phylogenetically distinct core LAB of NAD auxotrophy reflected the evolution of Xylocopa-restricted bacteria retention and maintenance through vertical transmission of microbes during solitary life. We propose five candidate novel species belonging to the families Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae, including a novel genus, and their potential functions in carbohydrate utilization. IMPORTANCE Recent investigations found unique microbiomes in carpenter bees, but the description of individual microbes, including isolation and genomics, remains largely unknown. Here, we found that the Japanese Xylocopa species also harbor core gut microbiomes. Although most of them were difficult to isolate a pure colony, we successfully isolated several strains. We performed whole-genome sequencing of the isolated candidate novel species and found that the two Lactobacillaceae strains belonging to the Xylocopa-specific novel LAB clade lack the genes for synthesizing NAD, a coenzyme central to metabolism in all living organisms. Here, we propose a novel genus for the two LAB species based on very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and genotypic characters.}, } @article {pmid37345909, year = {2023}, author = {Zeiner, A and Colina, FJ and Citterico, M and Wrzaczek, M}, title = {CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN KINASES - their evolution, structure and roles in stress response and development.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad236}, pmid = {37345909}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Plant-specific receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) are central components for sensing the extracellular microenvironment. CYSTEINE-RICH RLKs (CRKs) are one of the biggest subgroups of RLKs. Their physiological and molecular roles have only begun to be elucidated, but recent studies highlight the diverse types of proteins interacting with CRKs, as well as the localization of CRKs and their lateral organization within the plasma membrane. Originally proposed to act as redox sensors, the potential ligands perceived by the DOMAIN OF UNKNOWN FUNCTION 26 (DUF26)-containing extracellular region of the CRKs remain elusive. Here, we summarize the recent progress in the analysis of CRK evolution, molecular function and their roles in plant development, abiotic stress responses, plant immunity and symbiosis. The currently available information on CRKs and related proteins suggests the CRKs to be central regulators of plant signaling pathways. However, more research using classical methods and interdisciplinary approaches in various plant model species, as well as structural analyses, will not only enhance our understanding of the molecular function of CRKs, but also elucidate the contribution of other cellular components in CRK-mediated signaling pathways.}, } @article {pmid37344994, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Yang, R and Yan, J and Li, C and Lin, X and Lin, L and Cao, Y and Xu, T and Li, J and Yuan, Y and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Luan, S}, title = {VPT-like genes modulate Rhizobium-legume symbiosis and phosphorus adaptation.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16363}, pmid = {37344994}, issn = {1365-313X}, abstract = {Although vacuolar phosphate transporters (VPTs) are essential for plant phosphorus adaptation, their role in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is unclear. In this study, homologous genes of VPT1 (MtVPTs) were identified in Medicago truncatula to assess their roles in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis and phosphorus adaptation. MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 mainly positively responded to low and high phosphate, respectively. However, both mtvpt2 and mtvpt3 mutants displayed shoot phenotypes with high phosphate sensitivity and low phosphate tolerance. The root-to-shoot phosphate transfer efficiency was significantly enhanced in mtvpt3 but weakened in mtvpt2, accompanied by lower and higher root cytosolic inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration, respectively. Low phosphate induced MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 expressions in nodules. MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 mutations markedly reduced the nodule number and nitrogenase activity under different phosphate conditions. Cytosolic Pi concentration in nodules was significantly lower in mtvpt2 and mtvpt3 than in the wild-type, especially in tissues near the base of nodules, probably due to inhibition of long-distance Pi transport and cytosolic Pi supply. Also, mtvpt2 and mtvpt3 could not maintain a stable cytosolic Pi level in the nodule fixation zone as the wild-type under low phosphate stress. These findings show that MtVPT2 and MtVPT3 modulate phosphorus adaptation and rhizobia-legume symbiosis, possibly by regulating long-distance Pi transport.}, } @article {pmid37344007, year = {2023}, author = {Panneerselvam, P and Senapati, A and Chidambaranathan, P and Prabhukarthikeyan, SR and Mitra, D and Pandi Govindharaj, GP and Nayak, AK and Anandan, A}, title = {Long-term impact of pulses crop rotation on soil fungal diversity in aerobic and wetland rice cultivation.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {127}, number = {6}, pages = {1053-1066}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2023.04.005}, pmid = {37344007}, issn = {1878-6146}, abstract = {Pulse crop rotation in rice cultivation is a widely accepted agronomic practice. Depending upon the water regime, rice cultivation has been classified into wetland and aerobic practices. However, no studies have been conducted so far to understand the impact of pulse crop rotation and rice mono-cropping on fungal diversity, particularly in aerobic soil. A targeted metagenomic study was conducted to compare the effects of crop rotations (rice-rice and rice-pulse) on fungal diversity in wetland and aerobic rice soils. Out of 445 OTUs, 41.80% was unknown and 58.20% were assigned to six phyla, namely Ascomycota (56.57%), Basidiomycota (1.32%), Zygomycota (0.22%), Chytridiomycota (0.04%), Glomeromycota (0.03%), and Blastocladiomycota (0.02%). Functional trait analysis found wetland rice-pulse rotation increased symbiotrophs (36.7%) and saprotrophs (62.1%) population, whereas higher pathotrophs were found in aerobic rice-rice (62.8%) and rice-pulse (61.4%) cropping system. Certain soil nutrients played a major role in shaping the fungal community; Ca had significant (p < 0.05) positive impact on saprotroph, symbiotroph and endophytes, whereas Cu had significant (p < 0.05) negative impact on pathotrophs. This study showed that rice-pulse crop rotation could enhance the saprophytic and symbiotic fungal diversity in wetland and reduce the population of pathogens in aerobic rice cultivation.}, } @article {pmid37343864, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, Z and Zhongbing, C and Xiuqin, Y and Luying, S and Huan, M and Sixi, Z}, title = {Metagenomics reveal arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi altering functional gene expression of rhizosphere microbial community to enhance Iris tectorum's resistance to Cr stress.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164970}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164970}, pmid = {37343864}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Chromium (Cr) can disrupt a plant's normal physiological and metabolic functions and severely impact the microenvironment. However, limited studies have investigated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the rhizosphere microorganisms of Iris tectorum under Cr stress, and the mechanisms of how rhizosphere microorganisms interact with hosts and contaminants. In this study, we investigated the effects of AMF inoculation on the growth, absorption of nutrients and heavy metals, and functional genes of the rhizosphere microbial community of I. tectorum under Cr stress in a greenhouse pot experiment. The results showed that AMF significantly increased the biomass and nutrient levels of I. tectorum, while decreasing the content of Cr in soil. Furthermore, metagenome analysis demonstrated significant changes in the structure and composition of the rhizosphere microbial community after AMF formed a mycorrhizal symbiosis system with the I. tectorum. Specifically, the abundance of functional genes related to nutrient cycling (N, P) and heavy metal resistance (chrA and arsB), as well as the abundance of heavy metal transporter family (P-atPase, MIT, CDF, and ABC) in the rhizosphere microbial community were up-regulated and their expression. Additionally, the synergies between rhizosphere microbial communities were regulated, and the complexity and stability of the rhizosphere microbial ecological network were enhanced. This study provides evidence that AMF can regulate rhizosphere microbial communities to improve plant growth and heavy metal stress tolerance, and helps us to understand the potential mechanism of wetland plant remediation of Cr-contaminated soil under AMF symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37343397, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, H and Li, A and Zhang, H and Gao, S and Li, S and Cai, J and Yan, R and Xing, Z}, title = {The potential and sustainable strategy for swine wastewater treatment: Resource recovery.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {336}, number = {}, pages = {139235}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139235}, pmid = {37343397}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Swine wastewater is highly polluted with complex and harmful substances that require effective treatment to minimize environmental damage. There are three commonly used biological technologies for treating swine wastewater: conventional biological technology (CBT), microbial electrochemical technology (MET), and microalgae technology (MT). However, there is a lack of comparison among these technologies and a lack of understanding of their unique advantages and efficient operation strategies. This review aims to compare and contrast the characteristics, influencing factors, improvement methods, and microbial mechanisms of each technology. CBT is cost-effective but has low resource recovery efficiency, while MET and MT have the highest potential for resource recovery. However, all three technologies are affected by various factors and toxic substances such as heavy metals and antibiotics. Improved methods include exogenous/endogenous enhancement, series reactor operation, algal-bacterial symbiosis system construction, etc. Though MET is limited by construction costs, CBT and MT have practical applications. While swine wastewater treatment processes have developed automatic control systems, the application need further promotion. Furthermore, key functional microorganisms involved in CBT's pollutant removal or transformation have been detected, as have related genes. The unique electroactive microbial cooperation mode and symbiotic mode of MET and MT were also revealed, respectively. Importantly, the future research should focus on broadening the scope and scale of engineering applications, preventing and controlling emerging pollutants, improving automated management level, focusing on microbial synergistic metabolism, enhancing resource recovery performance, and building a circular economy based on low-cost and resource utilization.}, } @article {pmid37342147, year = {2023}, author = {Zheng, J and Sun, L and Wang, D and He, L and Du, W and Guo, S and Wang, L}, title = {Roles of a CCR4-NOT complex component GmNOT4-1 in regulating soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1172354}, pmid = {37342147}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legume-rhizobial symbiotic nitrogen fixation is the most efficient nitrogen assimilation system in the ecosystem. In the special interaction between organ-root nodules, legumes supply rhizobial carbohydrates for their proliferation, while rhizobials provide host plants with absorbable nitrogen. Nodule initiation and formation require a complex molecular dialogue between legumes and rhizobia, which involves the accurate regulation of a series of legume genes. The CCR4-NOT complex is a conserved multi-subunit complex with functions regulating gene expression in many cellular processes. However, the functions of the CCR4-NOT complex in rhizobia-host interactions remain unclear. In this study, we identified seven members of the NOT4 family in soybean and further classified them into three subgroups. Bioinformatic analysis showed that NOT4s shared relatively conserved motifs and gene structures in each subgroup, while there were significant differences between NOT4s in the different subgroups. Expression profile analysis indicated that NOT4s may be involved in nodulation in soybean, as most of them were induced by Rhizobium infection and highly expressed in nodules. We further selected GmNOT4-1 to clarify the biological function of these genes in soybean nodulation. Interestingly, we found that either GmNOT4-1 overexpression or down-regulation of GmNOT4-1 by RNAi or CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing would suppress the number of nodules in soybean. Intriguingly, alterations in the expression of GmNOT4-1 repressed the expression of genes in the Nod factor signaling pathway. This research provides new insight into the function of the CCR4-NOT family in legumes and reveals GmNOT4-1 to be a potent gene for regulating symbiotic nodulation.}, } @article {pmid37342145, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, H and Zhou, J and Kou, X and Liu, Y and Zhao, X and Qin, G and Wang, M and Qian, G and Li, W and Huang, Y and Wang, X and Zhao, Z and Li, S and Wu, X and Jiang, L and Feng, X and Zhu, JK and Li, L}, title = {Syntaxin of plants71 plays essential roles in plant development and stress response via regulating pH homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1198353}, pmid = {37342145}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {SYP71, a plant-specific Qc-SNARE with multiple subcellular localization, is essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in nodules in Lotus, and is implicated in plant resistance to pathogenesis in rice, wheat and soybean. Arabidopsis SYP71 is proposed to participate in multiple membrane fusion steps during secretion. To date, the molecular mechanism underlying SYP71 regulation on plant development remains elusive. In this study, we clarified that AtSYP71 is essential for plant development and stress response, using techniques of cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and transcriptomics. AtSYP71-knockout mutant atsyp71-1 was lethal at early development stage due to the failure of root elongation and albinism of the leaves. AtSYP71-knockdown mutants, atsyp71-2 and atsyp71-3, had short roots, delayed early development, and altered stress response. The cell wall structure and components changed significantly in atsyp71-2 due to disrupted cell wall biosynthesis and dynamics. Reactive oxygen species homeostasis and pH homeostasis were also collapsed in atsyp71-2. All these defects were likely resulted from blocked secretion pathway in the mutants. Strikingly, change of pH value significantly affected ROS homeostasis in atsyp71-2, suggesting interconnection between ROS and pH homeostasis. Furthermore, we identified AtSYP71 partners and propose that AtSYP71 forms distinct SNARE complexes to mediate multiple membrane fusion steps in secretory pathway. Our findings suggest that AtSYP71 plays an essential role in plant development and stress response via regulating pH homeostasis through secretory pathway.}, } @article {pmid37342133, year = {2023}, author = {Rasouli, F and Amini, T and Skrovankova, S and Asadi, M and Hassanpouraghdam, MB and Ercisli, S and Buckova, M and Mrazkova, M and Mlcek, J}, title = {Influence of drought stress and mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae) symbiosis on growth parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant activity, and essential oil composition of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1151467}, pmid = {37342133}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Drought stress unfavorably influences the growth and physiological traits of plants in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. This study aimed to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF; Funneliformis mosseae) inoculation on the physiological and biochemical responses of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) under different irrigation regimes.

METHODS: The first factor was different irrigation regimes, including no drought stress (100% field capacity; FC), moderate drought stress (60% FC), and severe drought stress (30% FC); the second factor included the plants without AMF (AMF0) and with AMF inoculation (AMF1).

RESULTS: The results showed that better values, higher plant height, shoot mass (fresh and dry weight), relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), photosynthesis pigments, Fv, Fm, Fv/Fm, and total soluble proteins were obtained in the plants inoculated with AMF. The highest values were obtained for plants with no drought stress, then the plants subjected to AMF1 under 60% FC, and the lowest ones for plants under 30% FC without AMF inoculation. Thus, these properties are reduced under moderate and severe drought stress. At the same time, the utmost activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and the highest malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, proline, and antioxidant activity (TAA) were achieved for 30% FC + AMF0. It was also found that AMF inoculation improved essential oil (EO) composition, also as EO obtained from plants under drought stress. Carvacrol (50.84-60.03%) was the dominant component in EO; γ-terpinene (19.03-27.33%), p-cymene, α-terpinene, and myrcene, were recognized as other important components in EO. The higher carvacrol and γ-terpinene contents were obtained from summer savory plants with AMF inoculation and the lowest for plants without AMF and under 30% FC.

CONCLUSION: According to the present findings, using AMF inoculation could be a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to improve physiological and biochemical characteristics and the essential oil quality of summer savory plants under water shortage conditions.}, } @article {pmid37342132, year = {2023}, author = {Khan, I and Lubna, and Asaf, S and Jan, R and Bilal, S and Khan, AL and Kim, KM and Al-Harrasi, A}, title = {Dynamic interplay of WRKY, GRAS, and ERF transcription factor families in tomato-endophytic fungal symbiosis: insights from transcriptome and genome-wide analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1181227}, pmid = {37342132}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions play a crucial role in shaping plant growth and development, as well as in mediating plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we used RNA-seq data to examine the expression profiles of SlWRKY, SlGRAS, and SlERF genes during the symbiotic association of Curvularia lunata SL1 with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. We also conducted functional annotation analysis by comparative genomics studies of their paralogs and orthologs genes, as well as other approaches, such as gene analysis and protein interaction networks, to identify and characterize the regulatory roles of these TFs in the development of the symbiotic association. We found that more than half of the investigated SlWRKY genes exhibited significant upregulation during symbiotic association, including SlWRKY38, SlWRKY46, SlWRKY19, and SlWRKY51. Several SlGRAS and SlERF genes were upregulated, such as SlGLD2, SlGLD1, SlERF.C.5, ERF16, and SlERF.B12. Conversely, a smaller proportion of SlWRKY, SlGRAS, and SlERF genes were significantly downregulated during symbiotic association. Furthermore, we investigated the possible roles of SlWRKY, SlGRAS, and SlERF genes in hormonal regulation during plant-microbe interactions. We identified several upregulated candidate transcripts likely to be involved in plant hormone signaling pathways. Our findings are consistent with previous studies on these genes, providing further evidence of their involvement in hormonal regulation during plant-microbe interactions. To validate the RNA-seq data accuracy, we performed RT-qPCR analyses of selected SlWRKY, SlGRAS, and SlERF genes, which showed similar expression patterns to those observed in the RNA-seq data. These results confirmed the accuracy of our RNA-seq data and provided additional support for the differential expression of these genes during plant-microbe interactions. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the differential expression profiles of SlWRKY, SlGRAS, and SlERF genes during symbiotic association with C. lunata, as well as their potential roles in hormonal regulation during plant-microbe interactions. These findings could be useful for guiding future research on the ways in which plants and microbes interact, and may ultimately lead to the creation of better approaches for promoting plant growth under stressful conditions.}, } @article {pmid37341857, year = {2023}, author = {Thacher, RR and Retzky, JS and Dekhne, MS and Oquendo, YA and Greditzer, HG}, title = {Current Concepts in the Measurement of Glenohumeral Bone Loss.}, journal = {Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37341857}, issn = {1935-973X}, abstract = {PURPOSE: The extent of glenohumeral bone loss seen in anterior shoulder dislocations plays a major role in guiding surgical management of these patients. The need for accurate and reliable preoperative assessment of bone loss on imaging studies is therefore of paramount importance to orthopedic surgeons. This article will focus on the tools that are available to clinicians for quantifying glenoid bone loss with a focus on emerging trends and research in order to describe current practices.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent evidence supports the use of 3D CT as the most optimal method for quantifying bone loss on the glenoid and humerus. New trends in the use of 3D and ZTE MRI represent exciting alternatives to CT imaging, although they are not widely used and require further investigation. Contemporary thinking surrounding the glenoid track concept and the symbiotic relationship between glenoid and humeral bone loss on shoulder stability has transformed our understanding of these lesions and has inspired a new focus of study for radiologists and orthopedist alike. Although a number of different advanced imaging modalities are utilized to detect and quantify glenohumeral bone loss in practice, the current literature supports 3D CT imaging to provide the most reliable and accurate assessments. The emergence of the glenoid track concept for glenoid and humeral head bone loss has inspired a new area of study for researchers that presents exciting opportunities for the development of a deeper understanding of glenohumeral instability in the future. Ultimately, however, the heterogeneity of literature, which speaks to the diverse practices that exist across the world, limits any firm conclusions from being drawn.}, } @article {pmid37341685, year = {2023}, author = {Brady, G and Franklin, A and , }, title = {'I am more than just my label': Rights, fights, validation and negotiation. Exploring theoretical debates on childhood disability with disabled young people.}, journal = {Sociology of health & illness}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1467-9566.13678}, pmid = {37341685}, issn = {1467-9566}, abstract = {Through the creation of safe spaces in which to explore and challenge dominant negative views of disabled children and young people, this co-written paper presents unique insight into the meaning and impact upon disabled young people's lives of medical lenses and deficit models of disability. Bodies of work and dominant debates in medical sociology, disability studies and childhood studies have so far largely overlooked the experiences and positioning of disabled children and young people and have rarely involved them in the development or discussion of theory. Drawing on empirical data, and through a series of creative, reflective workshops with a UK-based disabled young researchers' collective (RIP:STARS), this paper discusses areas of theoretical importance identified by the disabled young researcher collective-the validation of their lives, negotiation of their identity and acceptance in society. The implications, and possibilities, of platforming disabled children and young people's voices in theoretical debates are deliberated and are achieved through the yielding of privileged academic voice and the development of a symbiotic, genuine partnership which resonates with disabled young people and recognises them as experts in their own lives.}, } @article {pmid37340839, year = {2023}, author = {González-Guerrero, M and Navarro-Gómez, C and Rosa-Núñez, E and Echávarri-Erasun, C and Imperial, J and Escudero, V}, title = {Forging a symbiosis: transition metal delivery in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19098}, pmid = {37340839}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {CEX2020-000999-S//Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ ; SEV-2016-0672//Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ ; ERC-2013-Stg-335284//FP7 Ideas: European Research Council/ ; PID2021-124060OB-100//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/ ; PGC2018-095996-B-100//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/ ; AGL2012-32974//Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/ ; AGL2015-65866-P//Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/ ; PRE2018-084895//Formación de Personal de Investigación fellowships/ ; PRE2019-089164//Formación de Personal de Investigación fellowships/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation carried out by the interaction between legumes and rhizobia is the main source of nitrogen in natural ecosystems and in sustainable agriculture. For the symbiosis to be viable, nutrient exchange between the partners is essential. Transition metals are among the nutrients delivered to the nitrogen-fixing bacteria within the legume root nodule cells. These elements are used as cofactors for many of the enzymes controlling nodule development and function, including nitrogenase, the only known enzyme able to convert N2 into NH3 . In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on how iron, zinc, copper, and molybdenum reach the nodules, how they are delivered to nodule cells, and how they are transferred to nitrogen-fixing bacteria within.}, } @article {pmid37340616, year = {2023}, author = {Griffin, CD and Weber, DE and Seabourn, P and Waianuhea, LK and Medeiros, MCI}, title = {Filtration of environmentally sourced aquatic media impacts laboratory-colonised Aedes albopictus early development and adult bacteriome composition.}, journal = {Medical and veterinary entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mve.12672}, pmid = {37340616}, issn = {1365-2915}, support = {P20GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms form close associations with metazoan hosts forming symbiotic communities, known as microbiomes, that modulate host physiological processes. Mosquitoes are of special interest in exploring microbe-modulated host processes due to their oversized impact on human health. However, most mosquito work is done under controlled laboratory conditions where natural microbiomes are not present and inferences from these studies may not extend to natural populations. Here we attempt to assemble a wild-resembling bacteriome under laboratory conditions in an established laboratory colony of Aedes albopictus using aquatic media from environmentally-exposed and differentially filtered larval habitats. While we did not successfully replicate a wild bacteriome using these filtrations, we show that these manipulations alter the bacteriomes of mosquitoes, generating a unique composition not seen in wild populations collected from and near our source water or in our laboratory colony. We also demonstrate that our filtration regimens impact larval development times, as well as impact adult survival on different carbohydrate diets.}, } @article {pmid37340058, year = {2023}, author = {Watanabe, D and Hashimoto, W}, title = {Adaptation of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to grape-skin environment.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {9279}, pmid = {37340058}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {20K05958//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, abstract = {Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an essential player in alcoholic fermentation during winemaking, is rarely found in intact grapes. Although grape-skin environment is unsuitable for S. cerevisiae's stable residence, Saccharomycetaceae-family fermentative yeasts can increase population on grape berries after colonization during raisin production. Here, we addressed adaptation of S. cerevisiae to grape-skin ecosystem. The yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, a major grape-skin resident, exhibited broad spectrum assimilation of plant-derived carbon sources, including ω-hydroxy fatty acid, arising from degradation of plant cuticles. In fact, A. pullulans encoded and secreted possible cutinase-like esterase for cuticle degradation. When intact grape berries were used as a sole carbon source, such grape-skin associated fungi increased the accessibility to fermentable sugars by degrading and assimilating the plant cell wall and cuticle compounds. Their ability seems also helpful for S. cerevisiae to obtain energy through alcoholic fermentation. Thus, degradation and utilization of grape-skin materials by resident microbiota may account for their residence on grape-skin and S. cerevisiae's possible commensal behaviors. Conclusively, this study focused on the symbiosis between grape-skin microbiota and S. cerevisiae from the perspective of winemaking origin. Such plant-microbe symbiotic interaction may be a prerequisite for triggering spontaneous food fermentation.}, } @article {pmid37339556, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Liang, J and Li, JW and Xing, LH and Li, FX and Wang, N and Wu, YJ and Ma, YZ and Xing, ZR and Jiang, X and Zhang, XY and Lei, ZX and Wang, X and Yu, SX}, title = {Phagocyte extracellular traps formation contributes to host defense against Clostridium perfringens infection.}, journal = {Cytokine}, volume = {169}, number = {}, pages = {156276}, doi = {10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156276}, pmid = {37339556}, issn = {1096-0023}, abstract = {Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is an important Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming pathogen that provokes life-threatening gas gangrene and acute enterotoxaemia, although it colonizes as a component of the symbiotic bacteria in humans and animals. However, the mechanisms by which C. perfringens is cleared from the host remains poorly understood, thereby impeding the development of novel strategies for control this infection. Here, we uncover a beneficial effect of extracellular traps (ETs) formation on bacterial killing and clearance by phagocytes. C. perfringens strain ATCC13124, and wild-type isolates CP1 and CP3 markedly trigger ETs formation in macrophages and neutrophils. As expected, visualization of DNA decorated with histone, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophils elastase (NE) in C. perfringens-triggered classical ETs structures. Notably, the bacteria-induced ETs formation is an ERK1/2-, P38 MAPK-, store-operated calcium entry (SOCE)-, NADPH oxidase-, histone-, NE-, and MPO-dependent process, and is independent of LDH activity. Meanwhile, the defect of bactericidal activity is mediated by impairing ETs formation in phagocytes. Moreover, In vivo studies indicated that degradation of ETs by DNase I administration leads to a defect in the protection against experimental gas gangrene, with higher mortality rates, exacerbated tissue damage, and more bacterial colonization. Together, these results suggest that phagocyte ETs formation is essential for the host defense against C. perfringens infection.}, } @article {pmid37338753, year = {2023}, author = {Ganina, KK and Petrova, NV and Tarasov, SA and Epstein, OI}, title = {Combined Drug with Antibacterial Effect Supports the Normal Intestinal Microflora.}, journal = {Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37338753}, issn = {1573-8221}, abstract = {Widespread use of antibiotics leads to an imbalance of normal intestinal microflora and to the development of multidrug resistance. The problem can be solved by administration of the antibiotics in combination with the drugs that have an immunotropic effect. We studied the effect of the drug containing technologically processed affinity purified antibodies to IFNγ, CD4 receptor, β2-microglobulin of MHC class I, and β2-domain of MHC II combined with antibiotics on the composition of intestinal microflora of pigs and the total number of microbiome resistance genes. Using the methods of NGS sequencing and quantitative PCR, we found that the drug contributes to the maintenance of normal microflora and, consequently, to the symbiotic relationship of the host with microflora, and prevents the reproduction of pathogenic bacterial species. Analysis for the presence of the resistance genes of gastrointestinal microorganisms showed that the drug does not affect the qualitative and quantitative composition of these genes of the intestinal microbiome.}, } @article {pmid37338582, year = {2023}, author = {Roy, C and Sen, P and Vurimindi, H}, title = {Kinetic modeling and experiments on removal of COD/nutrients from dairy effluent using chlorella and co-culture.}, journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37338582}, issn = {1615-7605}, abstract = {A sustainable and cost-effective approach of waste water management is biological treatment for reducing organic carbon, nitrate, and phosphate content. Co-culturing of algae with bacteria in wastewater leads to higher biomass yield and improvement in COD/nutrients removal compared to the single strain counterparts. In this study, a mathematical modeling framework is proposed to predict the dynamic behavior of microbial co-culture in dairy waste water. Initially, the model has been developed to predict the biomass growth and COD/nutrients removal with discrete cultures (algae and bacteria). As an extension of the single strain kinetic model, Lotka-Volterra model was formulated to explore the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria in a co-culture and the impact of the interactions on the COD/nutrients removal efficiency and growth dynamics. Supporting experiments were carried out in 6 parallel sets (3 sets with triplicates) with standalone algae (Chlorella vulgaris, CV), bacteria (activated sludge), and co-culture in real-time dairy liquid effluent in lab flasks and predicted values from modeling were validated against experimental findings. Statistical analysis confirms reasonably good agreement between the model predictions and experimental findings indicating a positive synergistic effect of the algae-bacterial co-culture on COD removal.}, } @article {pmid37338413, year = {2023}, author = {Bittleston, LS and Wolock, CJ and Maeda, J and Infante, V and Ané, JM and Pierce, NE and Pringle, A}, title = {Carnivorous Nepenthes Pitchers with Less Acidic Fluid House Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0081223}, doi = {10.1128/aem.00812-23}, pmid = {37338413}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Carnivorous pitcher plants are uniquely adapted to nitrogen limitation, using pitfall traps to acquire nutrients from insect prey. Pitcher plants in the genus Sarracenia may also use nitrogen fixed by bacteria inhabiting the aquatic microcosms of their pitchers. Here, we investigated whether species of a convergently evolved pitcher plant genus, Nepenthes, might also use bacterial nitrogen fixation as an alternative strategy for nitrogen capture. First, we constructed predicted metagenomes of pitcher organisms from three species of Singaporean Nepenthes using 16S rRNA sequence data and correlated predicted nifH abundances with metadata. Second, we used gene-specific primers to amplify and quantify the presence or absence of nifH directly from 102 environmental samples and identified potential diazotrophs with significant differential abundance in samples that also had positive nifH PCR tests. Third, we analyzed nifH in eight shotgun metagenomes from four additional Bornean Nepenthes species. Finally, we conducted an acetylene reduction assay using greenhouse-grown Nepenthes pitcher fluids to confirm nitrogen fixation is indeed possible within the pitcher habitat. Results show active acetylene reduction can occur in Nepenthes pitcher fluid. Variation in nifH from wild samples correlates with Nepenthes host species identity and pitcher fluid acidity. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are associated with more neutral fluid pH, while endogenous Nepenthes digestive enzymes are most active at low fluid pH. We hypothesize Nepenthes species experience a trade-off in nitrogen acquisition; when fluids are acidic, nitrogen is primarily acquired via plant enzymatic degradation of insects, but when fluids are neutral, Nepenthes plants take up more nitrogen via bacterial nitrogen fixation. IMPORTANCE Plants use different strategies to obtain the nutrients that they need to grow. Some plants access their nitrogen directly from the soil, while others rely on microbes to access the nitrogen for them. Carnivorous pitcher plants generally trap and digest insect prey, using plant-derived enzymes to break down insect proteins and generate a large portion of the nitrogen that they subsequently absorb. In this study, we present results suggesting that bacteria living in the fluids formed by Nepenthes pitcher plants can fix nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, providing an alternative pathway for plants to access nitrogen. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria are only likely to be present when pitcher plant fluids are not strongly acidic. Interestingly, the plant's enzymes are known to be more active under strongly acidic conditions. We propose a potential trade-off where pitcher plants sometimes access nitrogen using their own enzymes to digest prey and at other times take advantage of bacterial nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37337514, year = {2023}, author = {Feng, S and Zhang, C and Chen, S and He, R and Chao, G and Zhang, S}, title = {TLR5 Signaling in the Regulation of Intestinal Mucosal Immunity.}, journal = {Journal of inflammation research}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {2491-2501}, pmid = {37337514}, issn = {1178-7031}, abstract = {Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) is a pattern recognition receptor that specifically recognizes flagellin and consequently plays a crucial role in the control of intestinal homeostasis by activating innate and adaptive immune responses. TLR5 overexpression, on the other hand, might disrupt the intestinal mucosal barrier, which serves as the first line of defense against harmful microbes. The intestine symbiotic bacteria, mucous layer, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), adherens junctions (such as tight junctions and peripheral membrane proteins), the intestinal mucosal immune system, and cytokines make up the intestinal mucosal barrier. Impaired barrier function has been linked to intestinal illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a persistent non-specific inflammatory illness of the digestive system with an unknown cause. It is now thought to be linked to infection, environment, genes, immune system, and the gut microbiota. The significance of immunological dysfunction in IBD has received more attention in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to explore TLR5's position in the intestinal mucosal barrier and its relevance to IBD.}, } @article {pmid37337252, year = {2023}, author = {Santini, S and Schenkelaars, Q and Jourda, C and Duchesne, M and Belahbib, H and Rocher, C and Selva, M and Riesgo, A and Vervoort, M and Leys, SP and Kodjabachian, L and Le Bivic, A and Borchiellini, C and Claverie, JM and Renard, E}, title = {The compact genome of the sponge Oopsacas minuta (Hexactinellida) is lacking key metazoan core genes.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {139}, pmid = {37337252}, issn = {1741-7007}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Explaining the emergence of the hallmarks of bilaterians is a central focus of evolutionary developmental biology-evodevo-and evolutionary genomics. For this purpose, we must both expand and also refine our knowledge of non-bilaterian genomes, especially by studying early branching animals, in particular those in the metazoan phylum Porifera.

RESULTS: We present a comprehensive analysis of the first whole genome of a glass sponge, Oopsacas minuta, a member of the Hexactinellida. Studying this class of sponge is evolutionary relevant because it differs from the three other Porifera classes in terms of development, tissue organization, ecology, and physiology. Although O. minuta does not exhibit drastic body simplifications, its genome is among the smallest of animal genomes sequenced so far, and surprisingly lacks several metazoan core genes (including Wnt and several key transcription factors). Our study also provides the complete genome of a symbiotic Archaea dominating the associated microbial community: a new Thaumarchaeota species.

CONCLUSIONS: The genome of the glass sponge O. minuta differs from all other available sponge genomes by its compactness and smaller number of encoded proteins. The unexpected loss of numerous genes previously considered ancestral and pivotal for metazoan morphogenetic processes most likely reflects the peculiar syncytial tissue organization in this group. Our work further documents the importance of convergence during animal evolution, with multiple convergent evolution of septate-like junctions, electrical-signaling and multiciliated cells in metazoans.}, } @article {pmid37336876, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Y and Shmidov, Y and Harris, EA and Theus, MH and Bitton, R and Matson, JB}, title = {Activating hidden signals by mimicking cryptic sites in a synthetic extracellular matrix.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {3635}, pmid = {37336876}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Cryptic sites are short signaling peptides buried within the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Enzymatic cleavage of an ECM protein reveals these hidden peptide sequences, which interact with surface receptors to control cell behavior. Materials that mimic this dynamic interplay between cells and their surroundings via cryptic sites could enable application of this endogenous signaling phenomenon in synthetic ECM hydrogels. We demonstrate that depsipeptides ("switch peptides") can undergo enzyme-triggered changes in their primary sequence, with proof-of-principle studies showing how trypsin-triggered primary sequence rearrangement forms the bioadhesive pentapeptide YIGSR. We then engineered cryptic site-mimetic synthetic ECM hydrogels that experienced a cell-initiated gain of bioactivity. Responding to the endothelial cell surface enzyme aminopeptidase N, the inert matrix transformed into an adhesive synthetic ECM capable of supporting endothelial cell growth. This modular system enables dynamic reciprocity in synthetic ECMs, reproducing the natural symbiosis between cells and their matrix through inclusion of tunable hidden signals.}, } @article {pmid37336449, year = {2023}, author = {Duan, Y and Awasthi, MK and Yang, J and Tian, Y and Li, H and Cao, S and Syed, A and Verma, M and Ravindran, B}, title = {Bacterial community dynamics and co-occurrence network patterns during different stages of biochar-driven composting.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129358}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129358}, pmid = {37336449}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Bacterial communities were dynamically tracked at four stages of biochar-driven sheep manure pile composting, and the co-occurrence networks with keystone taxa were established. The succession of bacterial community obvious varied during the composting process, Proteobacteria predominant in initial stage (39%) then shifted into Firmicutes in thermophilic (41%) and mesophilic (27%) stages, finally the maturation stage dominant by Bacteroidota (26%). Visualizations of bacterial co-occurrence networks demonstrate more cooperative mutualism and complex interactions in the thermophilic and mesophilic phases. Noticeably, the 7.5 and 10% biochar amended composts shown highest connections (736 and 663 total links) and positive cooperation (97.37 and 97.13% positive link) as well as higher closeness centrality and betweenness centrality of keystone taxa. Overall, appropriate biochar addition alters bacterial community succession and strengthens connection between keystone taxa and other bacteria, with 7.5 and 10% biochar amended composts has intense mutualistic symbiosis among bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid37333850, year = {2023}, author = {Cong, L and Chen, C and Mao, S and Han, Z and Zhu, Z and Li, Y}, title = {Intestinal bacteria-a powerful weapon for fungal infections treatment.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1187831}, pmid = {37333850}, issn = {2235-2988}, abstract = {The morbidity and mortality of invasive fungal infections are rising gradually. In recent years, fungi have quietly evolved stronger defense capabilities and increased resistance to antibiotics, posing huge challenges to maintaining physical health. Therefore, developing new drugs and strategies to combat these invasive fungi is crucial. There are a large number of microorganisms in the intestinal tract of mammals, collectively referred to as intestinal microbiota. At the same time, these native microorganisms co-evolve with their hosts in symbiotic relationship. Recent researches have shown that some probiotics and intestinal symbiotic bacteria can inhibit the invasion and colonization of fungi. In this paper, we review the mechanism of some intestinal bacteria affecting the growth and invasion of fungi by targeting the virulence factors, quorum sensing system, secreting active metabolites or regulating the host anti-fungal immune response, so as to provide new strategies for resisting invasive fungal infection.}, } @article {pmid37333762, year = {2024}, author = {Mannaa, M and Mansour, A and Park, I and Lee, DW and Seo, YS}, title = {Insect-based agri-food waste valorization: Agricultural applications and roles of insect gut microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental science and ecotechnology}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {100287}, pmid = {37333762}, issn = {2666-4984}, abstract = {Meeting the demands of the growing population requires increased food and feed production, leading to higher levels of agri-food waste. As this type of waste seriously threatens public health and the environment, novel approaches to waste management should be developed. Insects have been proposed as efficient agents for biorefining waste, producing biomass that can be used for commercial products. However, challenges in achieving optimal outcomes and maximizing beneficial results remain. Microbial symbionts associated with insects are known to have a critical role in the development, fitness, and versatility of insects, and as such, they can be utilized as targets for the optimization of agri-food waste insect-based biorefinery systems. This review discusses insect-based biorefineries, focusing on the agricultural applications of edible insects, mainly as animal feed and organic fertilizers. We also describe the interplay between agri-food waste-utilizing insects and associated microbiota and the microbial contribution in enhancing insect growth, development, and involvement in organic waste bioconversion processes. The potential contribution of insect gut microbiota in eliminating pathogens, toxins, and pollutants and microbe-mediated approaches for enhancing insect growth and the bioconversion of organic waste are also discussed. The present review outlines the benefits of using insects in agri-food and organic waste biorefinery systems, describes the roles of insect-associated microbial symbionts in waste bioconversion processes, and highlights the potential of such biorefinery systems in addressing the current agri-food waste-related challenges.}, } @article {pmid37333056, year = {2023}, author = {Mwenda, GM and Hill, YJ and O'Hara, GW and Reeve, WG and Howieson, JG and Terpolilli, JJ}, title = {Competition in the Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium symbiosis and the role of resident soil rhizobia in determining the outcomes of inoculation.}, journal = {Plant and soil}, volume = {487}, number = {1-2}, pages = {61-77}, pmid = {37333056}, issn = {0032-079X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inoculation of legumes with effective N2-fixing rhizobia is a common practice to improve farming profitability and sustainability. To succeed, inoculant rhizobia must overcome competition for nodulation by resident soil rhizobia that fix N2 ineffectively. In Kenya, where Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) is inoculated with highly effective Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 from Colombia, response to inoculation is low, possibly due to competition from ineffective resident soil rhizobia. Here, we evaluate the competitiveness of CIAT899 against diverse rhizobia isolated from cultivated Kenyan P. vulgaris.

METHODS: The ability of 28 Kenyan P. vulgaris strains to nodulate this host when co-inoculated with CIAT899 was assessed. Rhizosphere competence of a subset of strains and the ability of seed inoculated CIAT899 to nodulate P. vulgaris when sown into soil with pre-existing populations of rhizobia was analyzed.

RESULTS: Competitiveness varied widely, with only 27% of the test strains more competitive than CIAT899 at nodulating P. vulgaris. While competitiveness did not correlate with symbiotic effectiveness, five strains were competitive against CIAT899 and symbiotically effective. In contrast, rhizosphere competence strongly correlated with competitiveness. Soil rhizobia had a position-dependent numerical advantage, outcompeting seed-inoculated CIAT899 for nodulation of P. vulgaris, unless the resident strain was poorly competitive.

CONCLUSION: Suboptimally effective rhizobia can outcompete CIAT899 for nodulation of P. vulgaris. If these strains are widespread in Kenyan soils, they may largely explain the poor response to inoculation. The five competitive and effective strains characterized here are candidates for inoculant development and may prove better adapted to Kenyan conditions than CIAT899.}, } @article {pmid37332728, year = {2023}, author = {Paponov, M and Flate, J and Ziegler, J and Lillo, C and Paponov, IA}, title = {Heterogeneous nutrient supply modulates root exudation and accumulation of medicinally valuable compounds in Artemisia annua and Hypericum perforatum.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1174151}, pmid = {37332728}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants have evolved complex mechanisms to adapt to nutrient-deficient environments, including stimulating lateral root proliferation into local soil patches with high nutrient content in response to heterogeneous nutrient distribution. Despite the widespread occurrence of this phenomenon in soil, the effect of heterogeneous nutrient distribution on the accumulation of secondary compounds in plant biomass and their exudation by roots remains largely unknown. This study aims to fill this critical knowledge gap by investigating how deficiency and unequal distributions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and iron (Fe) affect plant growth and accumulation of the antimalarial drug artemisinin (AN) in leaves and roots of Artemisia annua, as well as AN exudation by roots. Heterogeneous N and P supplies strongly increased root exudation of AN in half of a split-root system exposed to nutrient deficiency. By contrast, exposure to a homogeneous nitrate and phosphate deficiency did not modulate root exudation of AN. This indicates that a combination of local and systemic signals, reflecting low and high nutritional statuses, respectively, were required to enhance AN exudation. This exudation response was independent of the regulation of root hair formation, which was predominantly modulated by the local signal. In contrast to the heterogeneous supply of N and P, heterogeneous Fe supply did not modulate AN root exudation but increased AN accumulation in locally Fe-deficient roots. No modulation of nutrient supply significantly changed the accumulation of AN in A. annua leaves. The impact of a heterogeneous nitrate supply on growth and phytochemical composition was also investigated in Hypericum perforatum plants. Unlike in A. annue, the uneven N supply did not significantly influence the exudation of secondary compounds in the roots of H. perforatum. However, it did enhance the accumulation of several biologically active compounds, such as hypericin, catechin, and rutin isomers, in the leaves of H. perforatum. We propose that the capacity of plants to induce the accumulation and/or differential exudation of secondary compounds under heterogeneous nutrient supply is both species- and compound-specific. The ability to differentially exude AN may contribute to A. annua's adaptation to nutrient disturbances and modulate allelopathic and symbiotic interactions in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid37332725, year = {2023}, author = {Bulasag, AS and Camagna, M and Kuroyanagi, T and Ashida, A and Ito, K and Tanaka, A and Sato, I and Chiba, S and Ojika, M and Takemoto, D}, title = {Botrytis cinerea tolerates phytoalexins produced by Solanaceae and Fabaceae plants through an efflux transporter BcatrB and metabolizing enzymes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1177060}, pmid = {37332725}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Botrytis cinerea, a plant pathogenic fungus with a wide host range, has reduced sensitivity to fungicides as well as phytoalexins, threatening cultivation of economically important fruits and vegetable crops worldwide. B. cinerea tolerates a wide array of phytoalexins, through efflux and/or enzymatic detoxification. Previously, we provided evidence that a distinctive set of genes were induced in B. cinerea when treated with different phytoalexins such as rishitin (produced by tomato and potato), capsidiol (tobacco and bell pepper) and resveratrol (grape and blueberry). In this study, we focused on the functional analyses of B. cinerea genes implicated in rishitin tolerance. LC/MS profiling revealed that B. cinerea can metabolize/detoxify rishitin into at least 4 oxidized forms. Heterologous expression of Bcin08g04910 and Bcin16g01490, two B. cinerea oxidoreductases upregulated by rishitin, in a plant symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae revealed that these rishitin-induced enzymes are involved in the oxidation of rishitin. Expression of BcatrB, encoding an exporter of structurally unrelated phytoalexins and fungicides, was significantly upregulated by rishitin but not by capsidiol and was thus expected to be involved in the rishitin tolerance. Conidia of BcatrB KO (ΔbcatrB) showed enhanced sensitivity to rishitin, but not to capsidiol, despite their structural similarity. ΔbcatrB showed reduced virulence on tomato, but maintained full virulence on bell pepper, indicating that B. cinerea activates BcatrB by recognizing appropriate phytoalexins to utilize it in tolerance. Surveying 26 plant species across 13 families revealed that the BcatrB promoter is mainly activated during the infection of B. cinerea in plants belonging to the Solanaceae, Fabaceae and Brassicaceae. The BcatrB promoter was also activated by in vitro treatments of phytoalexins produced by members of these plant families, namely rishitin (Solanaceae), medicarpin and glyceollin (Fabaceae), as well as camalexin and brassinin (Brassicaceae). Consistently, ΔbcatrB showed reduced virulence on red clover, which produces medicarpin. These results suggest that B. cinerea distinguishes phytoalexins and induces differential expression of appropriate genes during the infection. Likewise, BcatrB plays a critical role in the strategy employed by B. cinerea to bypass the plant innate immune responses in a wide variety of important crops belonging to the Solanaceae, Brassicaceae and Fabaceae.}, } @article {pmid37330626, year = {2023}, author = {Aguilar-Trigueros, CA and Krah, FS and Cornwell, WK and Zanne, AE and Abrego, N and Anderson, IC and Andrew, CJ and Baldrian, P and Bässler, C and Bissett, A and Chaudhary, VB and Chen, B and Chen, Y and Delgado-Baquerizo, M and Deveautour, C and Egidi, E and Flores-Moreno, H and Golan, J and Heilmann-Clausen, J and Hempel, S and Hu, Y and Kauserud, H and Kivlin, SN and Kohout, P and Lammel, DR and Maestre, FT and Pringle, A and Purhonen, J and Singh, BK and Veresoglou, SD and Větrovský, T and Zhang, H and Rillig, MC and Powell, JR}, title = {Symbiotic status alters fungal eco-evolutionary offspring trajectories.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14271}, pmid = {37330626}, issn = {1461-0248}, abstract = {Despite host-fungal symbiotic interactions being ubiquitous in all ecosystems, understanding how symbiosis has shaped the ecology and evolution of fungal spores that are involved in dispersal and colonization of their hosts has been ignored in life-history studies. We assembled a spore morphology database covering over 26,000 species of free-living to symbiotic fungi of plants, insects and humans and found more than eight orders of variation in spore size. Evolutionary transitions in symbiotic status correlated with shifts in spore size, but the strength of this effect varied widely among phyla. Symbiotic status explained more variation than climatic variables in the current distribution of spore sizes of plant-associated fungi at a global scale while the dispersal potential of their spores is more restricted compared to free-living fungi. Our work advances life-history theory by highlighting how the interaction between symbiosis and offspring morphology shapes the reproductive and dispersal strategies among living forms.}, } @article {pmid37334145, year = {2022}, author = {Buckingham, MC and D'Angelo, C and Chalk, TB and Foster, GL and Johnson, KG and Connelly, Z and Olla, C and Saeed, M and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Impact of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment and skewed N:P stoichiometry on the skeletal formation and microstructure of symbiotic reef corals.}, journal = {Coral reefs (Online)}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {1147-1159}, pmid = {37334145}, issn = {1432-0975}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Reported divergent responses of coral growth and skeletal microstructure to the nutrient environment complicate knowledge-based management of water quality in coral reefs. By re-evaluating published results considering the taxonomy of the studied corals and the N:P stoichiometry of their nutrient environment, we could resolve some of the major apparent contradictions. Our analysis suggests that Acroporids behave differently to several other common genera and show distinct responses to specific nutrient treatments. We hypothesised that both the concentrations of dissolved inorganic N and P in the water and their stoichiometry shape skeletal growth and microstructure. We tested this hypothesis by exposing Acropora polystoma fragments to four nutrient treatments for > 10 weeks: high nitrate/high phosphate (HNHP), high nitrate/low phosphate (HNLP), low nitrate/high phosphate (LNHP) and low nitrate/low phosphate (LNLP). HNHP corals retained high zooxanthellae densities and their linear extension and calcification rates were up to ten times higher than in the other treatments. HNLP and LNLP corals bleached through loss of symbionts. The photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of residual symbionts in HNLP corals was significantly reduced, indicating P-starvation. Micro-computed tomography (µCT) of the skeletal microstructure revealed that reduced linear extension in nutrient limited or nutrient starved conditions (HNLP, LNHP, LNLP) was associated with significant thickening of skeletal elements and reduced porosity. These changes can be explained by the strongly reduced linear extension rate in combination with a smaller reduction in the calcification rate. Studies using increased skeletal density as a proxy for past thermal bleaching events should consider that such an increase in density may also be associated with temperature-independent response to the nutrient environment. Furthermore, the taxonomy of corals and seawater N:P stoichiometry should be considered when analysing and managing the impacts of nutrient pollution.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00338-022-02223-0.}, } @article {pmid37329247, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Wang, L and Rubio, MC and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Zhou, Y and Qi, Y and Tian, T and Zhang, W and Fan, Q and Becana, M and Duanmu, D}, title = {Heme catabolism mediated by heme oxygenase in uninfected interstitial cells enables efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19074}, pmid = {37329247}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Legume nodules produce large quantities of heme required for the synthesis of leghemoglobin (Lb) and other hemoproteins. Despite the crucial function of Lb in nitrogen fixation and the toxicity of free heme, the mechanisms of heme homeostasis remain elusive. Biochemical, cellular, and genetic approaches were used to study the role of heme oxygenases (HOs) in heme degradation in the model legume Lotus japonicus. Heme and biliverdin were quantified and localized, HOs were characterized, and knockout LORE1 and CRISPR/Cas9 mutants for LjHO1 were generated and phenotyped. We show that LjHO1, but not the LjHO2 isoform, is responsible for heme catabolism in nodules and identify biliverdin as the in vivo product of the enzyme in senescing green nodules. Spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that LjHO1 expression and biliverdin production are restricted to the plastids of uninfected interstitial cells. The nodules of ho1 mutants showed decreased nitrogen fixation, and the development of brown, rather than green, nodules during senescence. Increased superoxide production was observed in ho1 nodules, underscoring the importance of LjHO1 in antioxidant defense. We conclude that LjHO1 plays an essential role in degradation of Lb heme, uncovering a novel function of nodule plastids and uninfected interstitial cells in nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37326894, year = {2023}, author = {Chang, OC and Lin, WY}, title = {Variation of growth and transcriptome responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in different foxtail millet lines.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {37326894}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been applied to promote the growth of different crop species, but knowledge about the impacts of symbiosis on foxtail millet at the physiological and molecular levels have remained limited. In this study, we compared the mycorrhization phenotypes of one cultivar and three different landraces and performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis to assess the effects of genetic variation on the responses to symbiosis.

RESULTS: Our results showed that colonization by AMF did not enhance biomass accumulation but significantly increased grain production only in three lines. More than 2,000 genes were affected by AMF colonization in all lines. Most AM symbiosis-conserved genes were induced, but the induction levels varied between lines. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that Biological Function terms related to nitrogen transport and assimilation were only enriched in TT8. Similarly, two of phosphate starvation-induced phosphate transporters were only simultaneously downregulated in TT8. In the other two lines, the enrichment of GO terms associated with cell wall reorganization and lignification was observed, though the effects were different.

CONCLUSION: This study reveals the impacts of genetic variation of millet lines on the responses to AM symbiosis and provides information regarding AMF application for millet production.}, } @article {pmid37325857, year = {2023}, author = {Cui, M and Yu, P and Liu, TC and Liu, J and Li, K and Zhou, P and Liu, X}, title = {Dose-dependent effects of xylooligosaccharides on glycemic regulation with L. rhamnosus CCFM1060 in diabetic mice.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3fo00162h}, pmid = {37325857}, issn = {2042-650X}, abstract = {Dietary intervention with the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus CCFM1060 has been proved to be effective on glycemic regulation in diabetic mice. Therefore characterization of the potential symbiotic effect of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) with L. rhamnosus CCFM1060 would be desirable. In this study, we evaluated any dose-dependent relationship between XOS and L. rhamnosus CCFM1060, and the potential impact on glycemic regulation. Diabetic mice were randomly assigned to receive 5 × 10[9] CFU mL[-1]L. rhamnosus CCFM1060, 5 × 10[9] CFU mL[-1]L. rhamnosus CCFM1060 with 250 mg kg[-1] XOS (L-LXOS), or 5 × 10[9] CFU mL[-1]L. rhamnosus CCFM1060 with 500 mg kg[-1] XOS (L-HXOS) for 7 weeks. In addition to characterization of the host metabolism, the intestinal microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that L. rhamnosus alone and L-LXOS intervention significantly alleviated diabetes symptoms and increased the populations of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. The intake of L-HXOS had an adverse effect on glucose metabolism, causing increased insulin resistance and inflammation. Although a significant increase in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was observed in the L-HXOS group, the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Romboutsia and Clostrudium sensu stricto 1, decreased. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the adverse effects of L-HXOS intervention might be attributed to the metabolic pathways involved in amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism. This study revealed that L. rhamnosus CCFM1060 combined with different doses of XOS exerted dose-dependent effects on glucose metabolism. Therefore, the type and dose of prebiotics should be carefully evaluated when developing individualized symbiotic formula.}, } @article {pmid37324546, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, ZY and Feng, Y and Tong, SQ and Ding, CY and Tao, G and Han, YF}, title = {Morphological and phylogenetic characterisation of two new soil-borne fungal taxa belonging to Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota).}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {113-132}, pmid = {37324546}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {The fungal taxa belonging to the Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) are widely distributed and include diverse saprophytic, symbiotic and pathogenic species that are associated with soils, insects, plants, fungi and invertebrates. In this study, we identified two new fungal taxa belonging to the family Clavicipitaceae that were isolated from soils collected in China. Morphological characterisation and phylogenetic analyses showed that the two species belong to Pochonia (Pochoniasinensissp. nov.) and a new genus for which we propose Paraneoaraneomycesgen. nov. in Clavicipitaceae.}, } @article {pmid37324020, year = {2023}, author = {Izquierdo-Garcia, JL and Scumaci, D}, title = {Editorial: Rising stars in cancer metabolism 2022.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1223630}, pmid = {37324020}, issn = {2234-943X}, } @article {pmid37323909, year = {2023}, author = {Reva, O and Messina, E and La Cono, V and Crisafi, F and Smedile, F and La Spada, G and Marturano, L and Selivanova, EA and Rohde, M and Krupovic, M and Yakimov, MM}, title = {Functional diversity of nanohaloarchaea within xylan-degrading consortia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1182464}, pmid = {37323909}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Extremely halophilic representatives of the phylum Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeota (members of the DPANN superphyla) are obligately associated with extremely halophilic archaea of the phylum Halobacteriota (according to the GTDB taxonomy). Using culture-independent molecular techniques, their presence in various hypersaline ecosystems around the world has been confirmed over the past decade. However, the vast majority of nanohaloarchaea remain uncultivated, and thus their metabolic capabilities and ecophysiology are currently poorly understood. Using the (meta)genomic, transcriptomic, and DNA methylome platforms, the metabolism and functional prediction of the ecophysiology of two novel extremely halophilic symbiotic nanohaloarchaea (Ca. Nanohalococcus occultus and Ca. Nanohalovita haloferacivicina) stably cultivated in the laboratory as members of a xylose-degrading binary culture with a haloarchaeal host, Haloferax lucentense, was determined. Like all known DPANN superphylum nanoorganisms, these new sugar-fermenting nanohaloarchaea lack many fundamental biosynthetic repertoires, making them exclusively dependent on their respective host for survival. In addition, given the cultivability of the new nanohaloarchaea, we managed to discover many unique features in these new organisms that have never been observed in nano-sized archaea both within the phylum Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota and the entire superphylum DPANN. This includes the analysis of the expression of organism-specific non-coding regulatory (nc)RNAs (with an elucidation of their 2D-secondary structures) as well as profiling of DNA methylation. While some ncRNA molecules have been predicted with high confidence as RNAs of an archaeal signal recognition particle involved in delaying protein translation, others resemble the structure of ribosome-associated ncRNAs, although none belong to any known family. Moreover, the new nanohaloarchaea have very complex cellular defense mechanisms. In addition to the defense mechanism provided by the type II restriction-modification system, consisting of Dcm-like DNA methyltransferase and Mrr restriction endonuclease, Ca. Nanohalococcus encodes an active type I-D CRISPR/Cas system, containing 77 spacers divided into two loci. Despite their diminutive genomes and as part of their host interaction mechanism, the genomes of new nanohaloarchaea do encode giant surface proteins, and one of them (9,409 amino acids long) is the largest protein of any sequenced nanohaloarchaea and the largest protein ever discovered in cultivated archaea.}, } @article {pmid37323901, year = {2023}, author = {Hyams, Y and Rubin-Blum, M and Rosner, A and Brodsky, L and Rinkevich, Y and Rinkevich, B}, title = {Physiological changes during torpor favor association with Endozoicomonas endosymbionts in the urochordate Botrylloides leachii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1072053}, pmid = {37323901}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Environmental perturbations evoke down-regulation of metabolism in some multicellular organisms, leading to dormancy, or torpor. Colonies of the urochordate Botrylloides leachii enter torpor in response to changes in seawater temperature and may survive for months as small vasculature remnants that lack feeding and reproductive organs but possess torpor-specific microbiota. Upon returning to milder conditions, the colonies rapidly restore their original morphology, cytology and functionality while harboring re-occurring microbiota, a phenomenon that has not been described in detail to date. Here we investigated the stability of B. leachii microbiome and its functionality in active and dormant colonies, using microscopy, qPCR, in situ hybridization, genomics and transcriptomics. A novel lineage of Endozoicomonas, proposed here as Candidatus Endozoicomonas endoleachii, was dominant in torpor animals (53-79% read abundance), and potentially occupied specific hemocytes found only in torpid animals. Functional analysis of the metagenome-assembled genome and genome-targeted transcriptomics revealed that Endozoicomonas can use various cellular substrates, like amino acids and sugars, potentially producing biotin and thiamine, but also expressing various features involved in autocatalytic symbiosis. Our study suggests that the microbiome can be linked to the metabolic and physiological states of the host, B. leachii, introducing a model organism for the study of symbioses during drastic physiological changes, such as torpor.}, } @article {pmid37323478, year = {2023}, author = {Bai, L and Hao, Z and Wang, S and Zhou, J and Yao, S and Pei, N and Zhu, H and Zhang, K and Reis, RL and Miguel Oliveira, J and He, J and Li, D and Mao, X and Wang, L}, title = {Biomimetic three-dimensional glioma model printed in vitro for the studies of glioma cells and neurons interactions.}, journal = {International journal of bioprinting}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {715}, pmid = {37323478}, issn = {2424-8002}, abstract = {1The interactions between glioma cells and neurons are important for glioma progression but are rarely mimicked and recapitulated in in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models, which may affect the success rate of relevant drug research and development. In this study, an in vitro bioprinted 3D glioma model consisting of an outer hemispherical shell with neurons and an inner hemisphere with glioma cells is proposed to simulate the natural glioma. This model was produced by extrusion-based 3D bioprinting technology. The cells survival rate, morphology, and intercellular Ca[2+] concentration studies were carried out up to 5 days of culturing. It was found that neurons could promote the proliferation of glioma cells around them, associate the morphological changes of glioma cells to be neuron-like, and increase the expression of intracellular Ca[2+] of glioma cells. Conversely, the presence of glioma cells could maintain the neuronal survival rate and promote the neurite outgrowth. The results indicated that glioma cells and neurons facilitated each other implying a symbiotic pattern established between two types of cells during the early stage of glioma development, which were seldom found in the present artificial glioma models. The proposed bioprinted glioma model can mimic the natural microenvironment of glioma tissue, provide an in-depth understanding of cell-cell interactions, and enable pathological and pharmacological studies of glioma.}, } @article {pmid37323469, year = {2023}, author = {Rao, W and Wan, L and Wang, E}, title = {Plant immunity in soybean: progress, strategies, and perspectives.}, journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {52}, pmid = {37323469}, issn = {1572-9788}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important commercial crops worldwide. Soybean hosts diverse microbes, including pathogens that may cause diseases and symbionts that contribute to nitrogen fixation. Study on soybean-microbe interactions to understand pathogenesis, immunity, and symbiosis represents an important research direction toward plant protection in soybean. In terms of immune mechanisms, current research in soybean lags far behind that in the model plants Arabidopsis and rice. In this review, we summarized the shared and unique mechanisms involved in the two-tiered plant immunity and the virulence function of pathogen effectors between soybean and Arabidopsis, providing a molecular roadmap for future research on soybean immunity. We also discussed disease resistance engineering and future perspectives in soybean.}, } @article {pmid37322400, year = {2023}, author = {Oliveira, CYB and de Cássia S Brandão, B and de S Jannuzzi, LG and Oliveira, DWS and Yogui, GT and Müller, MN and Gálvez, AO}, title = {New insights on the role of nitrogen in the resistance to environmental stress in an endosymbiotic dinoflagellate.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37322400}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Endosymbiotic dinoflagellates provide the nutritional basis for marine invertebrates, especially reef-building corals. These dinoflagellates are sensitive to environmental changes, and understanding the factors that can increase the resistance of the symbionts is crucial for the elucidation of the mechanisms involved with coral bleaching. Here, we demonstrate how the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Durusdinium glynnii is affected by concentration (1760 vs 440 µM) and source (sodium nitrate vs urea) of nitrogen after light and thermal stress exposure. The effectiveness in the use of the two nitrogen forms was proven by the nitrogen isotopic signature. Overall, high nitrogen concentrations, regardless of source, increased D. glynnii growth, chlorophyll-a, and peridinin levels. During the pre-stress period, the use of urea accelerated the growth of D. glynnii compared to cells grown using sodium nitrate. During the luminous stress, high nitrate conditions increased cell growth, but no changes in pigments composition was observed. On the other hand, during thermal stress, a steep and steady decline in cell densities over time was observed, except for high urea condition, where there is cellular division and peridinin accumulation 72 h after the thermal shock. Our findings suggest peridinin has a protective role during the thermal stress, and the uptake of urea by D. glynnii can alleviate thermal stress responses, eventually mitigating coral bleaching events.}, } @article {pmid37321541, year = {2023}, author = {Campbell, K and Suarez Arbelaez, MC and Ghomeshi, A and Ibrahim, E and Roy, S and Singh, P and Khodamoradi, K and Miller, A and Lundy, SD and Ramasamy, R}, title = {Next Generation Sequencing Analysis of Semen Microbiome Taxonomy in Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia vs Fertile Controls: a Pilot Study.}, journal = {F&S science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.xfss.2023.06.001}, pmid = {37321541}, issn = {2666-335X}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To study the semen microbiome profile in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) would differ from that of fertile controls (FC).

DESIGN: Using quantitative PCR and 16s rRNA, we sequenced semen samples from men with NOA (FSH > 10 IU/mL, testis volume < 10cc) and fertile controls and performed comprehensive taxonomic microbiome analysis.

SETTING: All patients were identified during evaluation at the outpatient Male Andrology clinic at the University of Miami.

PATIENTS: 33 adult men including 14 diagnosed with NOA and 19 with proven paternity undergoing vasectomy were enrolled.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bacterial species of the semen microbiome were identified.

RESULTS: Alpha diversity was similar between the groups suggesting similar diversity within samples, whereas Beta diversity was different suggesting differences in taxa between samples. In the NOA men, the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were underrepresented and Actinobacteriota was overrepresented compared to fertile controls. At the genus level, Enterococcus was the most common amplicon sequence variant (ASV) in both groups, while 5 genera differed significantly between the groups including Escherichia/Shigella, Sneathia, and Raoutella.

CONCLUSION: Our study showed significant differences in seminal microbiome between men with NOA and Fertile men. These results suggest a loss of functional symbiosis may be associated with NOA. Further research into the characterization and clinical utility of the semen microbiome and its causal role in male infertility is necessary.}, } @article {pmid37322127, year = {2023}, author = {Libourel, C and Keller, J and Brichet, L and Cazalé, AC and Carrère, S and Vernié, T and Couzigou, JM and Callot, C and Dufau, I and Cauet, S and Marande, W and Bulach, T and Suin, A and Masson-Boivin, C and Remigi, P and Delaux, PM and Capela, D}, title = {Comparative phylotranscriptomics reveals ancestral and derived root nodule symbiosis programmes.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37322127}, issn = {2055-0278}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions such as the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS) have structured ecosystems during the evolution of life. Here we aimed at reconstructing ancestral and intermediate steps that shaped RNS observed in extant flowering plants. We compared the symbiotic transcriptomic responses of nine host plants, including the mimosoid legume Mimosa pudica for which we assembled a chromosome-level genome. We reconstructed the ancestral RNS transcriptome composed of most known symbiotic genes together with hundreds of novel candidates. Cross-referencing with transcriptomic data in response to experimentally evolved bacterial strains with gradual symbiotic proficiencies, we found the response to bacterial signals, nodule infection, nodule organogenesis and nitrogen fixation to be ancestral. By contrast, the release of symbiosomes was associated with recently evolved genes encoding small proteins in each lineage. We demonstrate that the symbiotic response was mostly in place in the most recent common ancestor of the RNS-forming species more than 90 million years ago.}, } @article {pmid37322126, year = {2023}, author = {James, EK}, title = {Intimacy stabilizes symbiotic nodulation.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37322126}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid37319019, year = {2023}, author = {Huizinga, S and Bouwmeester, HJ}, title = {Role of Strigolactones in the Host-Specificity of Broomrapes and Witchweeds.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad058}, pmid = {37319019}, issn = {1471-9053}, abstract = {Root parasitic plants of the Orobanchaceae, broomrapes and witchweeds, pose a severe problem to agriculture in Europe, Asia, and especially Africa. These parasites are totally dependent on their host for survival, and therefore their germination is tightly regulated by host presence. Indeed, their seeds remain dormant in the soil until a host root is detected through compounds called germination stimulants. Strigolactones (SLs) are the most important class of germination stimulants. They play an important role in planta as a phytohormone, and, upon exudation from the root, function in the recruitment of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plants exude mixtures of various different SLs, possibly to evade detection by these parasites and still recruit symbionts. Vice versa, parasitic plants must only respond to the SL composition that is exuded by their host, or else risk germination in the presence of non-hosts. Therefore, parasitic plants have evolved an entire clade of SL-receptors, called HTL/KAI2s, to perceive the SL cues. It has been demonstrated that these receptors each have a distinct sensitivity and specificity to the different known SLs, which possibly allows them to recognize the SL-blend characteristic of their host. In this review we will discuss the molecular basis of SL sensitivity and specificity in these parasitic plants through HTL/KAI2s, and review the evidence that these receptors contribute to host specificity of parasitic plants.}, } @article {pmid37317487, year = {2023}, author = {Fulda, FC}, title = {Agential autonomy and biological individuality.}, journal = {Evolution & development}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ede.12450}, pmid = {37317487}, issn = {1525-142X}, abstract = {What is a biological individual? How are biological individuals individuated? How can we tell how many individuals there are in a given assemblage of biological entities? The individuation and differentiation of biological individuals are central to the scientific understanding of living beings. I propose a novel criterion of biological individuality according to which biological individuals are autonomous agents. First, I articulate an ecological-dynamical account of natural agency according to which, agency is the gross dynamical capacity of a goal-directed system to bias its repertoire to respond to its conditions as affordances. Then, I argue that agents or agential dynamical systems can be agentially dependent on, or agentially autonomous from, other agents and that this agential dependence/autonomy can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, strong or weak. Biological individuals, I propose, are all and only those agential dynamical systems that are strongly agentially autonomous. So, to determine how many individuals there are in a given multiagent aggregate, such as multicellular organism, a colony, symbiosis, or a swarm, we first have to identify how many agential dynamical systems there are, and then what their relations of agential dependence/autonomy are. I argue that this criterion is adequate to the extent that it vindicates the paradigmatic cases, and explains why the paradigmatic cases are paradigmatic, and why the problematic cases are problematic. Finally, I argue for the importance of distinguishing between agential and causal dependence and show the relevance of agential autonomy for understanding the explanatory structure of evolutionary developmental biology.}, } @article {pmid37317276, year = {2023}, author = {Nicoletti, R and Andolfi, A and Becchimanzi, A and Salvatore, MM}, title = {Anti-Insect Properties of Penicillium Secondary Metabolites.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11051302}, pmid = {37317276}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {In connection with their widespread occurrence in diverse environments and ecosystems, fungi in the genus Penicillium are commonly found in association with insects. In addition to some cases possibly implying a mutualistic relationship, this symbiotic interaction has mainly been investigated to verify the entomopathogenic potential in light of its possible exploitation in ecofriendly strategies for pest control. This perspective relies on the assumption that entomopathogenicity is often mediated by fungal products and that Penicillium species are renowned producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. Indeed, a remarkable number of new compounds have been identified and characterized from these fungi in past decades, the properties and possible applications of which in insect pest management are reviewed in this paper.}, } @article {pmid37317218, year = {2023}, author = {Pulido-Suárez, L and Notario Del Pino, J and Díaz-Peña, FJ and Perdomo-González, A and González-Rodríguez, ÁM and León-Barrios, M}, title = {High Diversity of Bradyrhizobial Species Fix Nitrogen with Woody Legume Spartocytisus supranubius in a High Mountain Ecosystem.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11051244}, pmid = {37317218}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes is of pivotal importance in nitrogen-poor ecosystems. Furthermore, as it is a specific process (most legumes only establish a symbiosis with certain rhizobia), it is of great interest to know which rhizobia are able to nodulate key legumes in a specific habitat. This study describes the diversity of the rhizobia that are able to nodulate the shrub legume Spartocytisus supranubius in the harsh environmental conditions of the high mountain ecosystem of Teide National Park (Tenerife). The diversity of microsymbionts nodulating S. supranubius was estimated from a phylogenetic analysis of root nodule bacteria isolated from soils at three selected locations in the park. The results showed that a high diversity of species of Bradyrhizobium and two symbiovars can nodulate this legume. Phylogenies of ribosomal and housekeeping genes showed these strains distributed into three main clusters and a few isolates on separate branches. These clusters consist of strains representing three new phylogenetic lineages of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Two of these lineages belong to the B. japonicum superclade, which we refer to as B. canariense-like and B. hipponense-like, as the type strains of these species are the closest species to our isolates. The third main group was clustered within the B. elkanii superclade and is referred to as B. algeriense-like as B. algeriense is its closest species. This is the first time that bradyrhizobia of the B. elkanii superclade have been reported for the canarian genista. Furthermore, our results suggest that these three main groups might belong to potential new species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Analysis of the soil physicochemical properties of the three study sites showed some significant differences in several parameters, which, however, did not have a major influence on the distribution of bradyrhizobial genotypes at the different locations. The B. algeriense-like group had a more restrictive distribution pattern, while the other two lineages were detected in all of the soils. This suggests that the microsymbionts are well adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of Teide National Park.}, } @article {pmid37317205, year = {2023}, author = {Maatouk, M and Rolain, JM and Bittar, F}, title = {Using Genomics to Decipher the Enigmatic Properties and Survival Adaptation of Candidate Phyla Radiation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11051231}, pmid = {37317205}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Microbial ecology is a critical field for understanding the composition, diversity, and functions of microorganisms in various environmental and health-related processes. The discovery of Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) through culture-independent methods has introduced a new division of microbes characterized by a symbiotic/parasitic lifestyle, small cell size, and small genome. Despite being poorly understood, CPRs have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their widespread detection in a variety of environmental and clinical samples. These microorganisms have been found to exhibit a high degree of genetic diversity compared to other microbes. Several studies have shed light on their potential importance in global biogeochemical cycles and their impact on various human activities. In this review, we provide a systematic overview of the discovery of CPRs. We then focus on describing how the genomic characteristics of CPRs have helped them interact with and adapt to other microbes in different ecological niches. Future works should focus on discovering the metabolic capacities of CPRs and, if possible, isolating them to obtain a better understanding of these microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid37317180, year = {2023}, author = {Safronova, V and Sazanova, A and Belimov, A and Guro, P and Kuznetsova, I and Karlov, D and Chirak, E and Yuzikhin, O and Verkhozina, A and Afonin, A and Tikhonovich, I}, title = {Synergy between Rhizobial Co-Microsymbionts Leads to an Increase in the Efficiency of Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11051206}, pmid = {37317180}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Combined inoculation of legumes with rhizobia and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria or endophytes is a known technique for increasing the efficiency of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis and plant productivity. The aim of this work was to expand knowledge about the synergistic effects between commercial rhizobia of pasture legumes and root nodule bacteria of relict legume species. Pot experiments were performed on common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) co-inoculated with the participation of the corresponding commercial rhizobial strains (R. leguminosarum bv. viciae RCAM0626 and R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii RCAM1365) and seven strains isolated from nodules of relict legumes inhabiting the Baikal Lake region and the Altai Republic: Oxytropis popoviana, Astragalus chorinensis, O. tragacanthoides and Vicia costata. The inoculation of plants with combinations of strains (commercial strain plus the isolate from relict legume) had a different effect on symbiosis depending on the plant species: the increase in the number of nodules was mainly observed on vetch, whereas increased acetylene reduction activity was evident on clover. It was shown that the relict isolates differ significantly in the set of genes related to different genetic systems that affect plant-microbe interactions. At the same time, they had additional genes that are involved in the formation of symbiosis and determine its effectiveness, but are absent in the used commercial strains: symbiotic genes fix, nif, nod, noe and nol, as well as genes associated with the hormonal status of the plant and the processes of symbiogenesis (acdRS, genes for gibberellins and auxins biosynthesis, genes of T3SS, T4SS and T6SS secretion systems). It can be expected that the accumulation of knowledge about microbial synergy on the example of the joint use of commercial and relict rhizobia will allow in the future the development of methods for the targeted selection of co-microsymbionts to increase the efficiency of agricultural legume-rhizobia systems.}, } @article {pmid37316801, year = {2023}, author = {Jeon, YJ and Gil, CH and Won, J and Jo, A and Kim, HJ}, title = {Correction: Symbiotic microbiome Staphylococcus epidermidis restricts IL-33 production in allergic nasal epithelium via limiting the cellular necroptosis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {167}, pmid = {37316801}, issn = {1471-2180}, } @article {pmid37315361, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Diao, F and Hao, B and Xu, L and Jia, B and Hou, Y and Ding, S and Guo, W}, title = {Multiomics reveals Claroideoglomus etunicatum regulates plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis and La compartmentalization in maize to promote growth under La stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {262}, number = {}, pages = {115128}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115128}, pmid = {37315361}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Rare earth elements (REEs) have been widely used in traditional and high-tech fields, and high doses of REEs are considered a risk to the ecosystem. Although the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in promoting host resistance to heavy metal (HM) stress has been well documented, the molecular mechanism by which AMF symbiosis enhances plant tolerance to REEs is still unclear. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanism by which the AMF Claroideoglomus etunicatum promotes maize (Zea mays) seedling tolerance to lanthanum (La) stress (100 mg·kg[-1] La). C. etunicatum symbiosis significantly improved maize seedling growth, P and La uptake and photosynthesis. Transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses performed alone and together revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to auxin /indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA) and the DEGs and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (Nramp6), vacuoles and vesicles were upregulated. In contrast, photosynthesis-related DEGs and DEPs were downregulated, and 1-phosphatidyl-1D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) was more abundant under C. etunicatum symbiosis. C. etunicatum symbiosis can promote plant growth by increasing P uptake, regulating plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways and enhancing La transport and compartmentalization in vacuoles and vesicles. The results provide new insights into the promotion of plant REE tolerance by AMF symbiosis and the possibility of utilizing AMF-maize interactions in REE phytoremediation and recycling.}, } @article {pmid37316634, year = {2023}, author = {Torres, AJF and Duryea, J and McDonald, OG}, title = {Pancreatic cancer epigenetics: adaptive metabolism reprograms starving primary tumors for widespread metastatic outgrowth.}, journal = {Cancer metastasis reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37316634}, issn = {1573-7233}, support = {R01 CA222594/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic cancer is a paradigm for adaptation to extreme stress. That is because genetic drivers are selected during tissue injury with epigenetic imprints encoding wound healing responses. Ironically, epigenetic memories of trauma that facilitate neoplasia can also recreate past stresses to restrain malignant progression through symbiotic tumor:stroma crosstalk. This is best exemplified by positive feedback between neoplastic chromatin outputs and fibroinflammatory stromal cues that encase malignant glands within a nutrient-deprived desmoplastic stroma. Because epigenetic imprints are chemically encoded by nutrient-derived metabolites bonded to chromatin, primary tumor metabolism adapts to preserve malignant epigenetic fidelity during starvation. Despite these adaptations, stromal stresses inevitably awaken primordial drives to seek more hospitable climates. The invasive migrations that ensue facilitate entry into the metastatic cascade. Metastatic routes present nutrient-replete reservoirs that accelerate malignant progression through adaptive metaboloepigenetics. This is best exemplified by positive feedback between biosynthetic enzymes and nutrient transporters that saturate malignant chromatin with pro-metastatic metabolite byproducts. Here we present a contemporary view of pancreatic cancer epigenetics: selection of neoplastic chromatin under fibroinflammatory pressures, preservation of malignant chromatin during starvation stresses, and saturation of metastatic chromatin by nutritional excesses that fuel lethal metastasis.}, } @article {pmid37316582, year = {2023}, author = {Hsu, CL and Schnabl, B}, title = {The gut-liver axis and gut microbiota in health and liver disease.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37316582}, issn = {1740-1534}, abstract = {The trillions of microorganisms in the human intestine are important regulators of health, and disruptions in the gut microbial communities can cause disease. The gut, liver and immune system have a symbiotic relationship with these microorganisms. Environmental factors, such as high-fat diets and alcohol consumption, can disrupt and alter microbial communities. This dysbiosis can lead to dysfunction of the intestinal barrier, translocation of microbial components to the liver and development or progression of liver disease. Changes in metabolites produced by gut microorganisms can also contribute to liver disease. In this Review, we discuss the importance of the gut microbiota in maintenance of health and the alterations in microbial mediators that contribute to liver disease. We present strategies for modulation of the intestinal microbiota and/or their metabolites as potential treatments for liver disease.}, } @article {pmid37314086, year = {2023}, author = {Slack-Smith, L and Ng, T and Macdonald, ME and Durey, A}, title = {Rethinking Oral Health in Aging: Ecosocial Theory and Intersectionality.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {220345231175061}, doi = {10.1177/00220345231175061}, pmid = {37314086}, issn = {1544-0591}, abstract = {Poor oral health affects the health and well-being of older adults in many ways. Despite years of international research investigating poor oral health among older adults, it has remained a largely unresolved problem. The aim of this article is to explore the combination of 2 key frameworks, ecosocial theory and intersectionality, to guide our exploration and understanding of oral health and aging and help inform research, education, policy, and services. Proposed by Krieger, ecosocial theory is concerned with the symbiotic relationship among embodied biological processes and social, historical, and political contexts. Building on the work of Crenshaw, intersectionality explores how social identities such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and age interconnect in ways that can enhance privilege or compound discrimination and social disadvantage. Intersectionality offers a layered understanding of how power relations reflected in systems of privilege or oppression influence an individual's multiple intersecting social identities. Understanding this complexity and the symbiotic relationships offers an opportunity to reconsider how inequities in oral health for older adults can be addressed in research, education, and practice and increase the focus on equity, prevention, interdisciplinary care, and use of innovative technology.}, } @article {pmid37314060, year = {2023}, author = {Hallett, C and Barrett, T and Brown, H and Lacny, A and Williams, J}, title = {The role of mental health nurses in planetary health.}, journal = {International journal of mental health nursing}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/inm.13183}, pmid = {37314060}, issn = {1447-0349}, abstract = {This article will critically explore the concept of planetary health and locate the role and identity of the mental health nurse (MHN) within it. Like humans, our planet thrives in optimum conditions, finding the delicate balance between health and ill-health. Human activity is now negatively impacting the homeostasis of the planet and this imbalance creates external stressors that adversely impact upon human physical and mental health at the cellular level. The value and understanding of this intrinsic relationship between human health and the planet is in danger of being lost within a society that views itself as being separate and superior to nature. The Period of Enlightenment witnessed some human groups viewing the natural world and its resources as something to exploit. White colonialism and industrialization destroyed the innate symbiotic relationship between humans and the planet beyond recognition and in particular, overlooking the essential therapeutic role nature and the land facilitated within the well-being of individuals and communities. This prolonged loss of respect for the natural world continues to breed human disconnection on a global scale. The healing properties of nature have effectively been abandoned within healthcare planning and infrastructure, which continue to be driven principally by the medical model. Under the theory of holism, mental health nursing values the restorative capabilities of connection and belonging, employing skills to support the healing of suffering, trauma and distress, through relationships and education. This suggests MHNs are well situated to provide the advocacy the planet requires, through the active promotion of connecting communities to the natural world around them, both healing the other.}, } @article {pmid37313260, year = {2023}, author = {Valkov, VT and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {Editorial: Nutrient dependent signaling pathways controlling the symbiotic nitrogen fixation process, Volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1210114}, pmid = {37313260}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37313258, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, HQ and Zhao, ZL and Li, HJ and Yu, SJ and Cong, L and Ding, LL and Ran, C and Wang, XF}, title = {Accurate prediction of huanglongbing occurrence in citrus plants by machine learning-based analysis of symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1129508}, pmid = {37313258}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Huanglongbing (HLB), the most prevalent citrus disease worldwide, is responsible for substantial yield and economic losses. Phytobiomes, which have critical effects on plant health, are associated with HLB outcomes. The development of a refined model for predicting HLB outbreaks based on phytobiome markers may facilitate early disease detection, thus enabling growers to minimize damages. Although some investigations have focused on differences in the phytobiomes of HLB-infected citrus plants and healthy ones, individual studies are inappropriate for generating common biomarkers useful for detecting HLB on a global scale. In this study, we therefore obtained bacterial information from several independent datasets representing hundreds of citrus samples from six continents and used these data to construct HLB prediction models based on 10 machine learning algorithms. We detected clear differences in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere microbiomes of HLB-infected and healthy citrus samples. Moreover, phytobiome alpha diversity indices were consistently higher for healthy samples. Furthermore, the contribution of stochastic processes to citrus rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbiome assemblies decreased in response to HLB. Comparison of all constructed models indicated that a random forest model based on 28 bacterial genera in the rhizosphere and a bagging model based on 17 bacterial species in the phyllosphere predicted the health status of citrus plants with almost 100% accuracy. Our results thus demonstrate that machine learning models and phytobiome biomarkers may be applied to evaluate the health status of citrus plants.}, } @article {pmid37313254, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Pislariu, CI and Liu, CW and Tsyganov, VE and DasGupta, M}, title = {Editorial: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1208904}, pmid = {37313254}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37312882, year = {2023}, author = {Bueren, EK and Weinheimer, AR and Aylward, FO and Hsu, BB and Haak, DC and Belden, LK}, title = {Characterization of prophages in bacterial genomes from the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiome.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15383}, pmid = {37312882}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The gut of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) possesses a relatively simple bacterial community, but little is known about its community of prophages (temperate bacteriophages integrated into the bacterial genome). Although prophages may eventually begin replicating and kill their bacterial hosts, they can also sometimes be beneficial for their hosts by conferring protection from other phage infections or encoding genes in metabolic pathways and for toxins. In this study, we explored prophages in 17 species of core bacteria in the honey bee gut and two honey bee pathogens. Out of the 181 genomes examined, 431 putative prophage regions were predicted. Among core gut bacteria, the number of prophages per genome ranged from zero to seven and prophage composition (the compositional percentage of each bacterial genome attributable to prophages) ranged from 0 to 7%. Snodgrassella alvi and Gilliamella apicola had the highest median prophages per genome (3.0 ± 1.46; 3.0 ± 1.59), as well as the highest prophage composition (2.58% ± 1.4; 3.0% ± 1.59). The pathogen Paenibacillus larvae had a higher median number of prophages (8.0 ± 5.33) and prophage composition (6.40% ± 3.08) than the pathogen Melissococcus plutonius or any of the core bacteria. Prophage populations were highly specific to their bacterial host species, suggesting most prophages were acquired recently relative to the divergence of these bacterial groups. Furthermore, functional annotation of the predicted genes encoded within the prophage regions indicates that some prophages in the honey bee gut encode additional benefits to their bacterial hosts, such as genes in carbohydrate metabolism. Collectively, this survey suggests that prophages within the honey bee gut may contribute to the maintenance and stability of the honey bee gut microbiome and potentially modulate specific members of the bacterial community, particularly S. alvi and G. apicola.}, } @article {pmid37312881, year = {2023}, author = {Amiri, N and M Keady, M and Lim, HC}, title = {Honey bees and bumble bees occupying the same landscape have distinct gut microbiomes and amplicon sequence variant-level responses to infections.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15501}, pmid = {37312881}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The gut microbiome of bees is vital for the health of their hosts. Given the ecosystem functions performed by bees, and the declines faced by many species, it is important to improve our understanding of the amount of natural variation in the gut microbiome, the level of sharing of bacteria among co-occurring species (including between native and non-native species), and how gut communities respond to infections. We conducted 16S rRNA metabarcoding to discern the level of microbiome similarity between honey bees (Apis mellifera, N = 49) and bumble bees (Bombus spp., N = 66) in a suburban-rural landscape. We identified a total of 233 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and found simple gut microbiomes dominated by bacterial taxa belonging to Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, and Lactobacillus. The average number of ASVs per species ranged from 4.00-15.00 (8.79 ± 3.84, mean ± SD). Amplicon sequence variant of one bacterial species, G. apicola (ASV 1), was widely shared across honey bees and bumble bees. However, we detected another ASV of G. apicola that was either exclusive to honey bees, or represented an intra-genomic 16S rRNA haplotype variant in honey bees. Other than ASV 1, honey bees and bumble bees rarely share gut bacteria, even ones likely derived from outside environments (e.g., Rhizobium spp., Fructobacillus spp.). Honey bee bacterial microbiomes exhibited higher alpha diversity but lower beta and gamma diversities than those of bumble bees, likely a result of the former possessing larger, perennial hives. Finally, we identified pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria (G. apicola, Acinetobacter sp. and Pluralibacter sp.) that associate with Trypanosome and/or Vairimorpha infections in bees. Such insights help to determine bees' susceptibility to infections should gut microbiomes become disrupted by chemical pollutants and contribute to our understanding of what constitutes a state of dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37312748, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, X and Zhou, S and Wang, J and Lin, W and Yao, X and Su, J and Li, H and Fang, C and Kong, F and Guan, Y}, title = {Genome-wide association study for biomass accumulation traits in soybean.}, journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {33}, pmid = {37312748}, issn = {1572-9788}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Soybean is one of the most versatile crops for oil production, human diets, and feedstocks. The vegetative biomass of soybean is an important determinant of seed yield and is crucial for the forage usages. However, the genetic control of soybean biomass is not well explained. In this work, we used a soybean germplasm population, including 231 improved cultivars, 207 landraces, and 121 wild soybeans, to investigate the genetic basis of biomass accumulation of soybean plants at the V6 stage. We found that biomass-related traits, including NDW (nodule dry weight), RDW (root dry weight), SDW (shoot dry weight), and TDW (total dry weight), were domesticated during soybean evolution. In total, 10 loci, encompassing 47 putative candidate genes, were detected for all biomass-related traits by a genome-wide association study. Among these loci, seven domestication sweeps and six improvement sweeps were identified. Glyma.05G047900, a purple acid phosphatase, was a strong candidate gene to improve biomass for future soybean breeding. This study provided new insights into the genetic basis of biomass accumulation during soybean evolution.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01380-6.}, } @article {pmid37312139, year = {2023}, author = {Džunková, M and La Clair, JJ and Tyml, T and Doud, D and Schulz, F and Piquer-Esteban, S and Porcel Sanchis, D and Osborn, A and Robinson, D and Louie, KB and Bowen, BP and Bowers, RM and Lee, J and Arnau, V and Díaz-Villanueva, W and Stepanauskas, R and Gosliner, T and Date, SV and Northen, TR and Cheng, JF and Burkart, MD and Woyke, T}, title = {Synthase-selected sorting approach identifies a beta-lactone synthase in a nudibranch symbiotic bacterium.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {130}, pmid = {37312139}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {1R01AI168993/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI168993/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI168993/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI168993/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nudibranchs comprise a group of > 6000 marine soft-bodied mollusk species known to use secondary metabolites (natural products) for chemical defense. The full diversity of these metabolites and whether symbiotic microbes are responsible for their synthesis remains unexplored. Another issue in searching for undiscovered natural products is that computational analysis of genomes of uncultured microbes can result in detection of novel biosynthetic gene clusters; however, their in vivo functionality is not guaranteed which limits further exploration of their pharmaceutical or industrial potential. To overcome these challenges, we used a fluorescent pantetheine probe, which produces a fluorescent CoA-analog employed in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, to label and capture bacterial symbionts actively producing these compounds in the mantle of the nudibranch Doriopsilla fulva.

RESULTS: We recovered the genome of Candidatus Doriopsillibacter californiensis from the Ca. Tethybacterales order, an uncultured lineage of sponge symbionts not found in nudibranchs previously. It forms part of the core skin microbiome of D. fulva and is nearly absent in its internal organs. We showed that crude extracts of D. fulva contained secondary metabolites that were consistent with the presence of a beta-lactone encoded in Ca. D. californiensis genome. Beta-lactones represent an underexplored group of secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical potential that have not been reported in nudibranchs previously.

CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, this study shows how probe-based, targeted sorting approaches can capture bacterial symbionts producing secondary metabolites in vivo. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37311801, year = {2023}, author = {Botté, ES and Bennett, H and Engelberts, JP and Thomas, T and Bell, JJ and Webster, NS and Luter, HM}, title = {Future ocean conditions induce necrosis, microbial dysbiosis and nutrient cycling imbalance in the reef sponge Stylissa flabelliformis.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {53}, pmid = {37311801}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Oceans are rapidly warming and acidifying in the context of climate change, threatening sensitive marine biota including coral reef sponges. Ocean warming (OW) and ocean acidification (OA) can impact host health and associated microbiome, but few studies have investigated these effects, which are generally studied in isolation, on a specific component of the holobiont. Here we present a comprehensive view of the consequences of simultaneous OW and OA for the tropical sponge Stylissa flabelliformis. We found no interactive effect on the host health or microbiome. Furthermore, OA (pH 7.6 versus pH 8.0) had no impact, while OW (31.5 °C versus 28.5 °C) caused tissue necrosis, as well as dysbiosis and shifts in microbial functions in healthy tissue of necrotic sponges. Major taxonomic shifts included a complete loss of archaea, reduced proportions of Gammaproteobacteria and elevated relative abundances of Alphaproteobacteria. OW weakened sponge-microbe interactions, with a reduced capacity for nutrient exchange and phagocytosis evasion, indicating lower representations of stable symbionts. The potential for microbially-driven nitrogen and sulphur cycling was reduced, as was amino acid metabolism. Crucially, the dysbiosis annihilated the potential for ammonia detoxification, possibly leading to accumulation of toxic ammonia, nutrient imbalance, and host tissue necrosis. Putative defence against reactive oxygen species was greater at 31.5 °C, perhaps as microorganisms capable of resisting temperature-driven oxidative stress were favoured. We conclude that healthy symbiosis in S. flabelliformis is unlikely to be disrupted by future OA but will be deeply impacted by temperatures predicted for 2100 under a "business-as-usual" carbon emission scenario.}, } @article {pmid37311282, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, M and Chu, J and Feng, S and Guo, C and Xue, B and He, K and Li, L}, title = {Immunological mechanisms of inflammatory diseases caused by gut microbiota dysbiosis: A review.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {164}, number = {}, pages = {114985}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114985}, pmid = {37311282}, issn = {1950-6007}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is indispensable for maintaining host health by enhancing the host's digestive capacity, safeguarding the intestinal epithelial barrier, and preventing pathogen invasion. Additionally, the gut microbiota exhibits a bidirectional interaction with the host immune system and promotes the immune system of the host to mature. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, primarily caused by factors such as host genetic susceptibility, age, BMI, diet, and drug abuse, is a significant contributor to inflammatory diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying inflammatory diseases resulting from gut microbiota dysbiosis lack systematic categorization. In this study, we summarize the normal physiological functions of symbiotic microbiota in a healthy state and demonstrate that when dysbiosis occurs due to various external factors, the normal physiological functions of the gut microbiota are lost, leading to pathological damage to the intestinal lining, metabolic disorders, and intestinal barrier damage. This, in turn, triggers immune system disorders and eventually causes inflammatory diseases in various systems. These discoveries provide fresh perspectives on how to diagnose and treat inflammatory diseases. However, the unrecognized variables that might affect the link between inflammatory illnesses and gut microbiota, need further studies and extensive basic and clinical research will still be required to investigate this relationship in the future.}, } @article {pmid37309313, year = {2021}, author = {Yassue, RM and Carvalho, HF and Gevartosky, R and Sabadin, F and Souza, PH and Bonatelli, ML and Azevedo, JL and Quecine, MC and Fritsche-Neto, R}, title = {On the genetic architecture in a public tropical maize panel of the symbiosis between corn and plant growth-promoting bacteria aiming to improve plant resilience.}, journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement}, volume = {41}, number = {10}, pages = {63}, pmid = {37309313}, issn = {1572-9788}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Exploring the symbiosis between plants and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is a new challenge for sustainable agriculture. Even though many works have reported the beneficial effects of PGPB in increasing plant resilience for several stresses, its potential is not yet widely explored. One of the many reasons is the differential symbiosis performance depending on the host genotype. This opens doors to plant breeding programs to explore the genetic variability and develop new cultivars with higher responses to PGPB interaction and, therefore, have higher resilience to stress. Hence, we aimed to study the genetic architecture of the symbiosis between PGPB and tropical maize germplasm, using a public association panel and its impact on plant resilience. Our findings reveal that the synthetic PGPB population can modulate and impact root architecture traits and improve resilience to nitrogen stress, and 37 regions were significant for controlling the symbiosis between PGPB and tropical maize. In addition, we found two overlapping SNPs in the GWAS analysis indicating strong candidates for further investigations. Furthermore, genomic prediction analysis with genomic relationship matrix computed using only significant SNPs obtained from GWAS analysis substantially increased the predictive ability for several traits endorsing the importance of these genomic regions for the response of PGPB. Finally, the public tropical panel reveals a significant genetic variability to the symbiosis with the PGPB and can be a source of alleles to improve plant resilience.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-021-01257-6.}, } @article {pmid37306594, year = {2023}, author = {Dial, CN and Fung, BL and Visick, KL}, title = {Genetic Analysis Reveals a Requirement for the Hybrid Sensor Kinase RscS in para-Aminobenzoic Acid/Calcium-Induced Biofilm Formation by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0007523}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00075-23}, pmid = {37306594}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri initiates symbiotic colonization of its squid host, Euprymna scolopes, by forming and dispersing from a biofilm dependent on the symbiosis polysaccharide locus (syp). Historically, genetic manipulation of V. fischeri was needed to visualize syp-dependent biofilm formation in vitro, but recently, we discovered that the combination of two small molecules, para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) and calcium, was sufficient to induce wild-type strain ES114 to form biofilms. Here, we determined that these syp-dependent biofilms were reliant on the positive syp regulator RscS, since the loss of this sensor kinase abrogated biofilm formation and syp transcription. These results were of particular note because loss of RscS, a key colonization factor, exerts little to no effect on biofilm formation under other genetic and medium conditions. The biofilm defect could be complemented by wild-type RscS and by an RscS chimera that contains the N-terminal domains of RscS fused to the C-terminal HPT domain of SypF, the downstream sensor kinase. It could not be complemented by derivatives that lacked the periplasmic sensory domain or contained a mutation in the conserved site of phosphorylation, H412, suggesting that these cues promote signaling through RscS. Lastly, pABA and/or calcium was able to induce biofilm formation when rscS was introduced into a heterologous system. Taken together, these data suggest that RscS is responsible for recognizing pABA and calcium, or downstream consequences of those cues, to induce biofilm formation. This study thus provides insight into signals and regulators that promote biofilm formation by V. fischeri. IMPORTANCE Bacterial biofilms are common in a variety of environments. Infectious biofilms formed in the human body are notoriously hard to treat due to a biofilm's intrinsic resistance to antibiotics. Bacteria must integrate signals from the environment to build and sustain a biofilm and often use sensor kinases that sense an external signal, which triggers a signaling cascade to elicit a response. However, identifying the signals that kinases sense remains a challenging area of investigation. Here, we determine that a hybrid sensor kinase, RscS, is crucial for Vibrio fischeri to recognize para-aminobenzoic acid and calcium as cues to induce biofilm formation. This study thus advances our understanding of the signal transduction pathways leading to biofilm formation.}, } @article {pmid37306562, year = {2023}, author = {Kalem, MS and Kurt, AÖ and Göktepeli, G and Önen, V and Ahmetli, G and Yel, E}, title = {The role of physicochemical marble processing wastewater treatment sludge in the production of new generation pyrolysis char from waste polypropylene.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-32}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2023.2224927}, pmid = {37306562}, issn = {1479-487X}, abstract = {AbstractThe effects of marble processing wastewater physicochemical treatment sludge (K1) on polypropylene (PP) waste pyrolysis were investigated by lab-scale batch pyrolysis system. PP-K1 proportions and pyrolysis temperature were studied as variables and both were found to have influences onto pyrolysis char, oil/tar, gas fractions distribution, as well as pyrolysis char characteristics (determined via SEM, EDX, FTIR, TGA and XRD analyses). The influence of K1 could be related to its high mineral composition (CaCO3, CaMg(CO3)2 and (Mg0.03Ca0.97)(CO3)) which also detected in the char products. K1 acts as catalyst and remained unchanged in thermochemical reactions below 700°C. The main thermal degradation of PP occurs around 400-470°C, although it starts at about 300-350°C, whereas, K1 resulted in more thermal degradation at 300°C pyrolysis. As K1 dose increased, pyrolysis chars became more thermally stable and their tendency to decompose decreased with the pyrolysis temperature. Diverse types of chars in terms of porosity, thermal strength and chemical structure were produced with PP + K1 as compared to the PP chars. For example, with 10-20% K1 doses, the chars are in aromatic structure while chars become aliphatic when K1 dosage increased to 30% or above. The structural diversity made these chars new products that can be used as raw material for subsequent purposes. This study provided a basis for the chars' physical and chemical properties which are needed for further research to develop new generation evaluation areas for them. Therefore, a new symbiotic upcycling approach has been presented for PP wastes and marble processing wastewater treatment sludge.}, } @article {pmid37305143, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, Y and Dong, H and Zhang, N and Zhao, P and Qi, Y and Yang, X and Wang, L}, title = {Empyema caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a case report and literature review.}, journal = {Frontiers in medicine}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1099040}, pmid = {37305143}, issn = {2296-858X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common oral symbiotic flora that can cause respiratory tract, oral nervous system, obstetric and skin infections. Fusobacterium nucleatum infections are mostly caused by aspiration. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary infections with Fusobacterium nucleatum can include simple pneumonia, lung abscesses, empyema, etc.

CASE PRESENTATION: We described the case of a 49-year-old man with a 1-year history of intermittent cough and sputum production who had worsened over the last 4 days with fever and right chest pain. After thoracentesis and catheter drainage were performed, Fusobacterium nucleatum was detected in the pleural effusion by using next-generation sequencing. Meanwhile, a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung was made by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The patient's condition improved significantly after percutaneous drainage and long-term intravenous antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case reported of empyema due to Fusobacterium nucleatum infection in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma.}, } @article {pmid37305030, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Salonen, A and Jian, C}, title = {Can prebiotics help tackle the childhood obesity epidemic?.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1178155}, pmid = {37305030}, issn = {1664-2392}, abstract = {Globally, excess weight during childhood and adolescence has become a public health crisis with limited treatment options. Emerging evidence suggesting the involvement of gut microbial dysbiosis in obesity instills hope that targeting the gut microbiota could help prevent or treat obesity. In pre-clinical models and adults, prebiotic consumption has been shown to reduce adiposity partially via restoring symbiosis. However, there is a dearth of clinical research into its potential metabolic benefits in the pediatric population. Here, we provide a succinct overview of the common characteristics of the gut microbiota in childhood obesity and mechanisms of action of prebiotics conferring metabolic benefits. We then summarize available clinical trials in children with overweight or obesity investigating the effects of prebiotics on weight management. This review highlights several controversial aspects in the microbiota-dependent mechanisms by which prebiotics are thought to affect host metabolism that warrant future investigation in order to design efficacious interventions for pediatric obesity.}, } @article {pmid37304722, year = {2023}, author = {Peng, Y and Guan, CY and Samuel, AZ}, title = {Editorial: Exploring complex biosphere molecular signaling networks: plant-microbes symbiosis at microscopic to macroscopic levels.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1199162}, pmid = {37304722}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37304720, year = {2023}, author = {Kumar, R and Ngangkham, U and Abdullah, SNA}, title = {Editorial: Phosphorus starvation in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1211439}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1211439}, pmid = {37304720}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid37304568, year = {2023}, author = {Tougeron, K and Iltis, C and Rampnoux, E and Goerlinger, A and Dhondt, L and Hance, T}, title = {Still standing: The heat protection delivered by a facultative symbiont to its aphid host is resilient to repeated thermal stress.}, journal = {Current research in insect science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {100061}, pmid = {37304568}, issn = {2666-5158}, abstract = {Insects have evolved diverse strategies to resist extreme high temperatures (EHT). The adaptive value of such strategies has to be evaluated when organisms experience multiple EHT events during their lifetime, as predicted in a changing climate. This is particularly the case for associations with facultative microbial partners involved in insect heat tolerance, the resilience of which to repeated heat stress has never been studied. We compared two artificial lines of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) differing by the absence or presence of the heat-protective facultative bacterium Serratia symbiotica. We exposed insect nymphs to a varying number of EHT events (between 0 and 3), and recorded fitness parameters. Except survival traits, fitness estimates were affected by the interaction between aphid infection status (absence/presence of S. symbiotica) and thermal treatment (number of heat shocks applied). Costs of bacterial infection were detected in the absence of thermal stress: symbiont-hosting aphids incurred longer development, decreased fecundity and body size. However, symbiotic infection turned neutral, and even beneficial for some traits (development and body size), as the number of heat shocks increased, and compared to the aposymbiotic strain. Conversely, symbiotic infection mediated aphid response to heat shock(s): fitness decreased only in the uninfected group. These findings suggest that (i) the facultative symbiont may alternatively act as a pathogen, commensal or mutualist depending on thermal environment, and (ii) the heat protection it delivered to its host persists under frequent EHT. We discuss eco-evolutionary implications and the role of potentially confounding factors (stage-specific effects, genetic polymorphism displayed by the obligate symbiont).}, } @article {pmid37303656, year = {2023}, author = {Gan, Y and Ruan, D and Zeng, Q and Zhu, Y and Hu, Y and Wu, R and Lin, X and Wu, J and Meng, X and Luo, J and Gao, M and Chen, X}, title = {Difference in oral microbiota composition between patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis and healthy controls.}, journal = {American journal of translational research}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {3342-3354}, pmid = {37303656}, issn = {1943-8141}, abstract = {Owing to the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and the human body, the microbiome is considered a "second human genome". Microorganisms are inextricably associated with human diseases and can affect the host phenotype. In the present study, 25 female patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD5) undergoing hemodialysis in our hospital and 25 healthy subjects were recruited. The structure of the oral microbiota of the study participants was analyzed using the MiSeq PE300 sequencing platform and high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing. The microbiota was compared between the groups using QIIME and the stats package in R. In total, 1,336 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained, and the relative frequencies of 450 OTUs differed significantly between the two groups (P < 0.05), indicating that the samples were rich in OTUs. A comparison of β-diversity indicated a significant difference in the microbial community structure between the two groups (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the biological diversity of the oral microbiota was highly correlated with CKD5. In this experiment, 189 genera, with significant differences in abundance between the groups (P < 0.05), were found. Furthermore, differences in the structure of the oral microbiota were observed between the groups at the phylum, class, order, family, and genus levels. Collectively, an imbalance in the oral microbiota may accelerate the progression of CKD and cause additional complications.}, } @article {pmid37303272, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, NN and Suo, BY and Yao, LL and Ding, YX and Zhang, JH and Wei, GH and Shangguan, ZP and Chen, J}, title = {H2 S works synergistically with rhizobia to modify photosynthetic carbon assimilation and metabolism in nitrogen-deficient soybeans.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14643}, pmid = {37303272}, issn = {1365-3040}, abstract = {Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) performs a crucial role in plant development and abiotic stress responses by interacting with other signalling molecules. However, the synergistic involvement of H2 S and rhizobia in photosynthetic carbon (C) metabolism in soybean (Glycine max) under nitrogen (N) deficiency has been largely overlooked. Therefore, we scrutinised how H2 S drives photosynthetic C fixation, utilisation, and accumulation in soybean-rhizobia symbiotic systems. When soybeans encountered N deficiency, organ growth, grain output, and nodule N-fixation performance were considerably improved owing to H2 S and rhizobia. Furthermore, H2 S collaborated with rhizobia to actively govern assimilation product generation and transport, modulating C allocation, utilisation, and accumulation. Additionally, H2 S and rhizobia profoundly affected critical enzyme activities and coding gene expressions implicated in C fixation, transport, and metabolism. Furthermore, we observed substantial effects of H2 S and rhizobia on primary metabolism and C-N coupled metabolic networks in essential organs via C metabolic regulation. Consequently, H2 S synergy with rhizobia inspired complex primary metabolism and C-N coupled metabolic pathways by directing the expression of key enzymes and related coding genes involved in C metabolism, stimulating effective C fixation, transport, and distribution, and ultimately improving N fixation, growth, and grain yield in soybeans.}, } @article {pmid37301969, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Wang, S and Zhang, K and Yin, Y and Zhang, X and Zhang, Q and Kong, X and Tang, L and Zhang, R and Zhang, Z}, title = {Serratia marcescens in the intestine of housefly larvae inhibits host growth by interfering with gut microbiota.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {196}, pmid = {37301969}, issn = {1756-3305}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The structure of gut microbiota is highly complex. Insects have ubiquitous associations with intestinal symbiotic bacteria, which play essential roles. Thus, understanding how changes in the abundance of a single bacterium interfere with bacterial interactions in the insect's gut is important.

METHODS: Here, we analyzed the effects of Serratia marcescens on the growth and development of housefly larvae using phage technology. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to explore dynamic diversity and variation in gut bacterial communities and performed plate confrontation assays to study the interaction between S. marcescens and intestinal microorganisms. Furthermore, we performed phenoloxidase activity assay, crawling assay, and trypan blue staining to explore the negative effects of S. marcescens on housefly larvae's humoral immunity, motility, and intestinal organization.

RESULTS: The growth and development of housefly larvae were inhibited after feeding on S. marcescens, and their intestinal bacterial composition changed with increasing abundance of Providencia and decreasing abundance of Enterobacter and Klebsiella. Meanwhile, the depletion of S. marcescens by phages promoted the reproduction of beneficial bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, using phage as a tool to regulate the abundance of S. marcescens, we highlighted the mechanism by which S. marcescens inhibits the growth and development of housefly larvae and illustrated the importance of intestinal flora for larval development. Furthermore, by studying the dynamic diversity and variation in gut bacterial communities, we improved our understanding of the possible relationship between the gut microbiome and housefly larvae when houseflies are invaded by exogenous pathogenic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37301202, year = {2023}, author = {Richter, I and Wein, P and Uzum, Z and Stanley, CE and Krabbe, J and Molloy, EM and Moebius, N and Ferling, I and Hillmann, F and Hertweck, C}, title = {Transcription activator-like effector protects bacterial endosymbionts from entrapment within fungal hyphae.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.028}, pmid = {37301202}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {As an endosymbiont of the ecologically and medically relevant fungus Rhizopus microsporus, the toxin-producing bacterium Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica faces myriad challenges, such as evading the host's defense mechanisms. However, the bacterial effector(s) that facilitate the remarkable ability of M. rhizoxinica to freely migrate within fungal hyphae have thus far remained unknown. Here, we show that a transcription activator-like (TAL) effector released by endobacteria is an essential symbiosis factor. By combining microfluidics with fluorescence microscopy, we observed enrichment of TAL-deficient M. rhizoxinica in side hyphae. High-resolution live imaging showed the formation of septa at the base of infected hyphae, leading to the entrapment of endobacteria. Using a LIVE/DEAD stain, we demonstrate that the intracellular survival of trapped TAL-deficient bacteria is significantly reduced compared with wild-type M. rhizoxinica, indicative of a protective host response in the absence of TAL proteins. Subversion of host defense in TAL-competent endobacteria represents an unprecedented function of TAL effectors. Our data illustrate an unusual survival strategy of endosymbionts in the host and provide deeper insights into the dynamic interactions between bacteria and eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid37301200, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Wang, C and Zheng, L and Ma, W and Li, M and Guo, Z and Zhao, Q and Zhang, K and Liu, R and Liu, Y and Tian, Z and Bai, Y and Zhong, Y and Liao, H}, title = {Natural variation of GmRj2/Rfg1 determines symbiont differentiation in soybean.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.037}, pmid = {37301200}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) provides much of the N utilized by leguminous plants throughout growth and development. Legumes may simultaneously establish symbiosis with different taxa of microbial symbionts. Yet, the mechanisms used to steer associations toward symbionts that are most propitious across variations in soil types remain mysterious. Here, we demonstrate that GmRj2/Rfg1 is responsible for regulating symbiosis with multiple taxa of soybean symbionts. In our experiments, the GmRj2/Rfg1[SC] haplotype favored association with Bradyrhizobia, which is mostly distributed in acid soils, whereas the GmRj2/Rfg1[HH] haplotype and knockout mutants of GmRj2/Rfg1[SC] associated equally with Bradyrhizobia and Sinorhizobium. Association between GmRj2/Rfg1 and NopP, furthermore, appeared to be involved in symbiont selection. Furthermore, geographic distribution analysis of 1,821 soybean accessions showed that GmRj2/Rfg1[SC] haplotypes were enriched in acidic soils where Bradyrhizobia were the dominant symbionts, whereas GmRj2/Rfg1[HH] haplotypes were most prevalent in alkaline soils dominated by Sinorhizobium, and neutral soils harbored no apparent predilections toward either haplotype. Taken together, our results suggest that GmRj2/Rfg1 regulates symbiosis with different symbionts and is a strong determinant of soybean adaptability across soil regions. As a consequence, the manipulation of the GmRj2/Rfg1 genotype or application of suitable symbionts according to the haplotype at the GmRj2/Rfg1 locus might be suitable strategies to explore for increasing soybean yield through the management of SNF.}, } @article {pmid37301096, year = {2023}, author = {Hernández-Aceituno, J and Méndez-Pérez, JA and González-Cava, JM and Reboso-Morales, JA}, title = {Towards intelligent supervision of operating rooms using stencil-based character recognition.}, journal = {Computers in biology and medicine}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {107071}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107071}, pmid = {37301096}, issn = {1879-0534}, abstract = {The development of intelligent operating rooms is an example of a cyber-physical system resulting from the symbiosis of Industry 4.0 and medicine. A problem with this type of systems is that it requires demanding solutions that allow the real time acquisition of heterogeneous data in an efficient way. The aim of the presented work is the development of a data acquisition system, based on a real-time artificial vision algorithm which can capture information from different clinical monitors. The system was designed for the registration, pre-processing, and communication of clinical data recorded in an operating room. The methods for this proposal are based on a mobile device running a Unity application, which extracts information from clinical monitors and transmits the data to a supervision system through a wireless Bluetooth connection. The software implements a character detection algorithm and allows online correction of identified outliers. The results validate the system with real data obtained during surgical interventions, where only 0.42% values were missed and 0.89% were misread. The outlier detection algorithm was able to correct all the reading errors. In conclusion, the development of a low-cost compact solution to supervise operating rooms in real-time, collecting visual information non-intrusively and communicating data wirelessly, can be a very useful tool to overcome the lack of expensive data recording and processing technology in many clinical situations. The acquisition and pre-processing method presented in this article constitutes a key element towards the development of a cyber-physical system for the development of intelligent operating rooms.}, } @article {pmid37301026, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Zhang, P and Wang, R and Liu, Y and Lu, S}, title = {Identifying the coupling coordination relationship between urbanization and forest ecological security and its impact mechanism: Case study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {342}, number = {}, pages = {118327}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118327}, pmid = {37301026}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Boosting the coordination and symbiosis of urbanization and forest ecological security is notably critical for promoting regional green and sustainable development and achieving emission peak and carbon neutrality goals. However, there was still a lack of in-depth analysis of the coupling coordination relationship between urbanization and forest ecological security and its impact mechanism. On the basis of the data from 844 counties in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, this paper explored the spatial differences and influencing factors of the coupling coordination degree of urbanization and forest ecological security. The results manifested that: i) There were apparent spatial disparities in the urbanization index, forest ecological security index, comprehensive index, coupling degree and coupling coordination degree of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Among them, the spatial pattern of coupling coordination degree had a strong consistency with urbanization index, that is, areas with higher urbanization index also had higher coupling coordination degree. ii) Based on coupling feature identification, it was found that 249 'problem areas' were mainly located in Yunnan Province, southeastern Guizhou Province, central Anhui Province, and central and eastern Jiangsu Province. The main factor for the formation was due to the lag of urbanization in coordinated development. iii) Among the socioeconomic indicators, population structure (0.136), per capita year-end financial institutions loan balance (0.409) and per capita fixed asset investment (0.202) all had a positive impact on coupling coordination degree, while location conditions (-0.126) had a negative impact. Among the natural indicators, soil organic matter (-0.212) and temperature (-0.094) had a negative impact on coupling coordination degree. iv) During the process of coordinated development, it was necessary to increase financial investment and financial support, actively formulate policies to attract talents, enhance the education and publicity of ecological civilization, and develop a green circular economy. The above measures can promote the harmonious development of urbanization and forest ecological security in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.}, } @article {pmid37300965, year = {2023}, author = {Kong, L and Zheng, R and Feng, Y and Du, W and Xie, C and Gu, Y and Liu, S}, title = {Anammox bacteria adapt to long-term light irradiation in photogranules.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {241}, number = {}, pages = {120144}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.120144}, pmid = {37300965}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Photogranules composed of algae, nitrifiers, and anammox bacteria are promising for nitrogen removal from wastewater with reduced aeration and carbon emissions. However, it is difficult to be achieved as the potential inhibition of anammox bacteria by light. In this study, a syntrophic algal-partial nitrification/anammox granular sludge process was developed, with a nitrogen removal rate of 294.5 mg N/(L·d). We found the symbiosis in the community promoted the adaptation of anammox bacteria under light, and cross-feeding played an important role. Microalgae in the outer layers of photogranules sheltered most of the light and supplied cofactors and amino acids to promote nitrogen removal. In particular, Myxococcota MYX1 degraded the extracellular proteins produced by microalgae, providing amino acids to the entire bacterial community, which helped anammox bacteria save metabolic energy and adapt to light. Notably, the anammox bacteria Candidatus Brocadia exhibited unique light-sensing potential and adaptations to light irradiation compared with Candidatus Jettenia, including diverse DNA repair, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, cell movement. The phytochrome-like proteins encoded by Candidatus Brocadia further facilitated their spatial positioning and niche partitioning in photogranules. This study provides insights into the response of anammox bacteria in the algae-bacteria symbiosis system and suggests its potential application for carbon-negative nitrogen removal.}, } @article {pmid37300552, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, J and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Harnessing the potential of symbiotic associations of plants in phosphate-deficient soil for sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad059}, pmid = {37300552}, issn = {1471-9053}, abstract = {Many plants associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi for nutrient acquisition, while most legumes also associate with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria for nitrogen acquisition. The association of plants with AM fungi and rhizobia depends on the perception of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) produced by these micro-symbionts. Recent studies reveal that cereals can perceive LCOs better in soil deprived of phosphate and nitrogen to activate symbiosis signaling and form efficient AM symbiosis. Nevertheless, the phosphate deficiency in the soil hinders the symbiotic association of legumes with rhizobia, ultimately reducing nitrogen fixation. Here, we discuss a mechanistic overview of the factors regulating root nodule symbiosis under phosphate-deficient conditions and further emphasize the possible ways to overcome this hurdle. Ignoring the low-phosphate problem can compromise not only the functionality of the nitrogen cycle by nitrogen fixation through legumes but can also put food security at risk globally. This review aims to bring the scientific community's attention toward the detrimental response of legumes toward phosphate-deficient soil for the formation of root nodule symbiosis and hence reduced nitrogen fixation. In this review, we have highlighted the recent studies that have advanced our understanding of these critical areas and discussed some future directions. Further, this review highlights the importance of communicating science with farmers and the agriculture community to fully harness the potential of the symbiotic association of plants in nutrient-deficient soil for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid37299072, year = {2023}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Lisek, A and Sumorok, B and Derkowska, E and Szymańska, M and Sas-Paszt, L}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as an Important Factor Enabling the Adaptation of Anthyllis vulneraria L. to Zn-Pb-Polluted Tailings.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12112092}, pmid = {37299072}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The old Zn-Pb-contaminated (calamine) tailings in southern Poland are spontaneously colonized by metal-tolerant Anthyllis vulneraria L. (Fabaceae), which can form simultaneously symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and phosphorus-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). So far, fungal colonization and the AMF diversity of calamine-inhabiting legumes have been poorly studied. Thus, we determined AMF spore density in the substratum and the mycorrhizal status of nodulated A. vulneraria plants occurring on calamine tailings (M) and on a reference non-metallicolous (NM) site. The results indicate the presence of the Arum-type of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the roots of both Anthyllis ecotypes. Despite the presence of AM fungi in M plant roots, the dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungi (hyphae and microsclerotia) were occasionally also detected. Metal ions were accumulated mainly in the nodules and intraradical fungal structures rather than thick plant cell walls. Mycorrhization parameters (frequency of mycorrhization and intensity of root cortex colonization) for M plants were markedly higher and differed in a statistically significant manner from the parameters for NM plants. Heavy metal excess had no negative effect on the number of AMF spores, the amounts of glomalin-related soil proteins and AMF species composition. Molecular identification of AMF using PCR-DGGE analysis based on the 18S rDNA ribosomal gene by nested-PCR with primers AM1/NS31 and NS31-GC/Glo1 revealed similar genera/species of AMF in the roots of both Anthyllis ecotypes: Rhizophagus sp., R. fasciculatus, and R. iranicus. The results of this work indicate the presence of unique fungal symbionts, which may enhance A. vulneraria tolerance to heavy metal stress and plant adaptation to extreme conditions on calamine tailings.}, } @article {pmid37299071, year = {2023}, author = {Faria, JMS and Barrulas, P and Pinto, AP and Brito, I and Teixeira, DM}, title = {Mycorrhizal Colonization of Wheat by Intact Extraradical Mycelium of Mn-Tolerant Native Plants Induces Different Biochemical Mechanisms of Protection.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12112091}, pmid = {37299071}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Soil with excess Mn induces toxicity and impairs crop growth. However, with the development in the soil of an intact extraradical mycelia (ERM) from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiotic to native Mn-tolerant plants, wheat growth is promoted due to a stronger AMF colonization and subsequent increased protection against Mn toxicity. To determine the biochemical mechanisms of protection induced by this native ERM under Mn toxicity, wheat grown in soil from previously developed Lolium rigidum (LOL) or Ornithopus compressus (ORN), both strongly mycotrophic plants, was compared to wheat grown in soil from previously developed Silene gallica (SIL), a non-mycotrophic plant. Wheat grown after LOL or ORN had 60% higher dry weight, ca. two-fold lower Mn levels and almost double P contents. Mn in the shoots was preferentially translocated to the apoplast along with Mg and P. The activity of catalase increased; however, guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed lower activities. Wheat grown after ORN differed from that grown after LOL by displaying slightly higher Mn levels, higher root Mg and Ca levels and higher GPX and Mn-SOD activities. The AMF consortia established from these native plants can promote distinct biochemical mechanisms for protecting wheat against Mn toxicity.}, } @article {pmid37298643, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, P and Rensing, C and Wang, D}, title = {Symbiotic Bacteria Modulate Lymantria dispar Immunity by Altering Community Proportions after Infection with LdMNPV.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24119694}, pmid = {37298643}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {The symbiotic bacteria-insect interaction is considered to be associated with immunity and drug resistance. However, the wide variety of insect species and habitats is thought to have a significant impact on the symbiotic community, leading to disparate results. Here, we demonstrated that symbiotic bacteria regulated the immune response by changing the proportion of the Gram-positive and the Gram-negative bacterial community in Lymantria dispar (L. dispar) after infection with its viral pathogen, L. dispar Nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV). After oral infection, the immune deficiency pathway was activated immediately, and the expression of Relish was up-regulated to promote the secretion of antimicrobial peptides. Meanwhile, the abundance of the Gram-negative bacterial community increased at the same time. Moreover, the Toll pathway was not regulated in the same way as the Imd pathway was after infection. However, the change in the Toll pathway's expression remained positively correlated to the abundance of Gram-positive bacteria. This finding implied that the ratio of Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria in the LdMNPV infected larvae had an effect on the immune response. Our findings revealed that the immune regulation of L. dispar was regulated by the relative abundance of its symbiotic bacteria at different infection times with LdMNPV, which provides a new way to understand symbiotic bacteria-insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid37298563, year = {2023}, author = {Fiutek, N and Couger, MB and Pirro, S and Roy, SW and de la Torre, JR and Connor, EF}, title = {Genomic Assessment of the Contribution of the Wolbachia Endosymbiont of Eurosta solidaginis to Gall Induction.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24119613}, pmid = {37298563}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {IRGEN_RG_2021-1345/IRGEN/IRGEN/United States ; }, abstract = {We explored the genome of the Wolbachia strain, wEsol, symbiotic with the plant-gall-inducing fly Eurosta solidaginis with the goal of determining if wEsol contributes to gall induction by its insect host. Gall induction by insects has been hypothesized to involve the secretion of the phytohormones cytokinin and auxin and/or proteinaceous effectors to stimulate cell division and growth in the host plant. We sequenced the metagenome of E. solidaginis and wEsol and assembled and annotated the genome of wEsol. The wEsol genome has an assembled length of 1.66 Mbp and contains 1878 protein-coding genes. The wEsol genome is replete with proteins encoded by mobile genetic elements and shows evidence of seven different prophages. We also detected evidence of multiple small insertions of wEsol genes into the genome of the host insect. Our characterization of the genome of wEsol indicates that it is compromised in the synthesis of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) and S-adenosyl L-methionine (SAM), which are precursors required for the synthesis of cytokinins and methylthiolated cytokinins. wEsol is also incapable of synthesizing tryptophan, and its genome contains no enzymes in any of the known pathways for the synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from tryptophan. wEsol must steal DMAPP and L-methionine from its host and therefore is unlikely to provide cytokinin and auxin to its insect host for use in gall induction. Furthermore, in spite of its large repertoire of predicted Type IV secreted effector proteins, these effectors are more likely to contribute to the acquisition of nutrients and the manipulation of the host's cellular environment to contribute to growth and reproduction of wEsol than to aid E. solidaginis in manipulating its host plant. Combined with earlier work that shows that wEsol is absent from the salivary glands of E. solidaginis, our results suggest that wEsol does not contribute to gall induction by its host.}, } @article {pmid37298462, year = {2023}, author = {Wekesa, C and Kiprotich, K and Okoth, P and Asudi, GO and Muoma, JO and Furch, ACU and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Molecular Characterization of Indigenous Rhizobia from Kenyan Soils Nodulating with Common Beans.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24119509}, pmid = {37298462}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Kenya is the seventh most prominent producer of common beans globally and the second leading producer in East Africa. However, the annual national productivity is low due to insufficient quantities of vital nutrients and nitrogen in the soils. Rhizobia are symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen through their interaction with leguminous plants. Nevertheless, inoculating beans with commercial rhizobia inoculants results in sparse nodulation and low nitrogen supply to the host plants because these strains are poorly adapted to the local soils. Several studies describe native rhizobia with much better symbiotic capabilities than commercial strains, but only a few have conducted field studies. This study aimed to test the competence of new rhizobia strains that we isolated from Western Kenya soils and for which the symbiotic efficiency was successfully determined in greenhouse experiments. Furthermore, we present and analyze the whole-genome sequence for a promising candidate for agricultural application, which has high nitrogen fixation features and promotes common bean yields in field studies. Plants inoculated with the rhizobial isolate S3 or with a consortium of local isolates (COMB), including S3, produced a significantly higher number of seeds and seed dry weight when compared to uninoculated control plants at two study sites. The performance of plants inoculated with commercial isolate CIAT899 was not significantly different from uninoculated plants (p > 0.05), indicating tight competition from native rhizobia for nodule occupancy. Pangenome analysis and the overall genome-related indices showed that S3 is a member of R. phaseoli. However, synteny analysis revealed significant differences in the gene order, orientation, and copy numbers between S3 and the reference R. phaseoli. Isolate S3 is phylogenomically similar to R. phaseoli. However, it has undergone significant genome rearrangements (global mutagenesis) to adapt to harsh conditions in Kenyan soils. Its high nitrogen fixation ability shows optimal adaptation to Kenyan soils, and the strain can potentially replace nitrogenous fertilizer application. We recommend that extensive fieldwork in other parts of the country over a period of five years be performed on S3 to check on how the yield changes with varying whether conditions.}, } @article {pmid37298114, year = {2023}, author = {Pujic, P and Carro, L and Fournier, P and Armengaud, J and Miotello, G and Dumont, N and Bourgeois, C and Saupin, X and Jame, P and Selak, GV and Alloisio, N and Normand, P}, title = {Frankia alni Carbonic Anhydrase Regulates Cytoplasmic pH of Nitrogen-Fixing Vesicles.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24119162}, pmid = {37298114}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {A phyloprofile of Frankia genomes was carried out to identify those genes present in symbiotic strains of clusters 1, 1c, 2 and 3 and absent in non-infective strains of cluster 4. At a threshold of 50% AA identity, 108 genes were retrieved. Among these were known symbiosis-associated genes such as nif (nitrogenase), and genes which are not know as symbiosis-associated genes such as can (carbonic anhydrase, CAN). The role of CAN, which supplies carbonate ions necessary for carboxylases and acidifies the cytoplasm, was thus analyzed by staining cells with pH-responsive dyes; assaying for CO2 levels in N-fixing propionate-fed cells (that require a propionate-CoA carboxylase to yield succinate-CoA), fumarate-fed cells and N-replete propionate-fed cells; conducting proteomics on N-fixing fumarate and propionate-fed cells and direct measurement of organic acids in nodules and in roots. The interiors of both in vitro and nodular vesicles were found to be at a lower pH than that of hyphae. CO2 levels in N2-fixing propionate-fed cultures were lower than in N-replete ones. Proteomics of propionate-fed cells showed carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (CPS) as the most overabundant enzyme relative to fumarate-fed cells. CPS combines carbonate and ammonium in the first step of the citrulline pathway, something which would help manage acidity and NH4[+]. Nodules were found to have sizeable amounts of pyruvate and acetate in addition to TCA intermediates. This points to CAN reducing the vesicles' pH to prevent the escape of NH3 and to control ammonium assimilation by GS and GOGAT, two enzymes that work in different ways in vesicles and hyphae. Genes with related functions (carboxylases, biotin operon and citrulline-aspartate ligase) appear to have undergone decay in non-symbiotic lineages.}, } @article {pmid37297187, year = {2023}, author = {Biava, G and Zacco, A and Zanoletti, A and Sorrentino, GP and Capone, C and Princigallo, A and Depero, LE and Bontempi, E}, title = {Accelerated Direct Carbonation of Steel Slag and Cement Kiln Dust: An Industrial Symbiosis Strategy Applied in the Bergamo-Brescia Area.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ma16114055}, pmid = {37297187}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {The carbonation of alkaline industrial wastes is a pressing issue that is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions while promoting a circular economy. In this study, we explored the direct aqueous carbonation of steel slag and cement kiln dust in a newly developed pressurized reactor that operated at 15 bar. The goal was to identify the optimal reaction conditions and the most promising by-products that can be reused in their carbonated form, particularly in the construction industry. We proposed a novel, synergistic strategy for managing industrial waste and reducing the use of virgin raw materials among industries located in Lombardy, Italy, specifically Bergamo-Brescia. Our initial findings are highly promising, with argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag and black slag (sample 3) producing the best results (70 g CO2/kg slag and 76 g CO2/kg slag, respectively) compared with the other samples. Cement kiln dust (CKD) yielded 48 g CO2/kg CKD. We showed that the high concentration of CaO in the waste facilitated carbonation, while the presence of Fe compounds in large amounts caused the material to be less soluble in water, affecting the homogeneity of the slurry.}, } @article {pmid37296318, year = {2023}, author = {Rahmat, Z and Sohail, MN and Perrine-Walker, F and Kaiser, BN}, title = {Balancing nitrate acquisition strategies in symbiotic legumes.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {258}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {37296318}, issn = {1432-2048}, abstract = {Legumes manage both symbiotic (indirect) and non-symbiotic (direct) nitrogen acquisition pathways. Understanding and optimising the direct pathway for nitrate uptake will support greater legume growth and seed yields. Legumes have multiple pathways to acquire reduced nitrogen to grow and set seed. Apart from the symbiotic N2-fixation pathway involving soil-borne rhizobia bacteria, the acquisition of nitrate and ammonia from the soil can also be an important secondary nitrogen source to meet plant N demand. The balance in N delivery between symbiotic N (indirect) and inorganic N uptake (direct) remains less clear over the growing cycle and with the type of legume under cultivation. In fertile, pH balanced agricultural soils, NO3[-] is often the predominant form of reduced N available to crop plants and will be a major contributor to whole plant N supply if provided at sufficient levels. The transport processes for NO3[-] uptake into legume root cells and its transport between root and shoot tissues involves both high and low-affinity transport systems called HATS and LATS, respectively. These proteins are regulated by external NO3[-] availability and by the N status of the cell. Other proteins also play a role in NO3[-] transport, including the voltage dependent chloride/nitrate channel family (CLC) and the S-type anion channels of the SLAC/SLAH family. CLC's are linked to NO3[-] transport across the tonoplast of vacuoles and the SLAC/SLAH's with NO3[-] efflux across the plasma membrane and out of the cell. An important step in managing the N requirements of a plant are the mechanisms involved in root N uptake and the subsequent cellular distribution within the plant. In this review, we will present the current knowledge of these proteins and what is understood on how they function in key model legumes (Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula and Glycine sp.). The review will examine their regulation and role in N signalling, discuss how post-translational modification affects NO3[-] transport in roots and aerial tissues and its translocation to vegetative tissues and storage/remobilization in reproductive tissues. Lastly, we will present how NO3[-]influences the autoregulation of nodulation and nitrogen fixation and its role in mitigating salt and other abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid37296195, year = {2023}, author = {Gaitanis, D and Lukac, M and Tibbett, M}, title = {Fragment size and diversity of mulches affect their decomposition, nutrient dynamics, and mycorrhizal root colonisation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {9383}, pmid = {37296195}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Plant-based mulch has been proposed as a sustainable way of maintaining soil fertility. However, the role of mulch diversity, quality, and size in decomposition dynamics, and their effect on crop yield, has not been fully explored. We investigated how mulch quality, proxied by the constituent plant species diversity, and residue size drive mulch decomposition, nutrient release, crop nutrition, and yield. A rhizotron experiment was set up with barley as a model crop, with the addition of mulch of two particle sizes (1.5 and 30 cm) and four different plant residue mixes of differing biodiversity (17, 12, 6, and 1 species) in a fully factorial design. Soil nutrient dynamics were measured at advanced decomposition stages, together with residue quality, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonisation, and crop yield. Residue mass loss was significantly affected by its chemical composition. Initial NDF content was more restricted factor in C and N mineralisation than C:N or lignin. Long residues retained significantly higher C and N content, than short residues. Crop yield was not affected by residue type or size. Residue size significantly affected barley growth rate, influencing seed protein content. Soil available K was significantly increased by residues with a higher initial C:N ratio. Short residues resulted in higher soil Zn. Residues of higher diversity resulted inhigher AMF root colonisationof the barley plants. Generally, long residue mulches maintain higher fertilisation capacity at advanced stage of decomposition than short ones, without a deleterious effect on crop yield. Further investigation should evaluate the effect of continuous application of long residue mulches on soil fertility and microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37296164, year = {2023}, author = {Adamatzky, A and Tarabella, G and Phillips, N and Chiolerio, A and D'Angelo, P and Nikolaidou, A and Sirakoulis, GC}, title = {Kombucha electronics: electronic circuits on kombucha mats.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {9367}, pmid = {37296164}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {A kombucha is a tea and sugar fermented by over sixty kinds of yeasts and bacteria. This symbiotic community produces kombucha mats, which are cellulose-based hydrogels. The kombucha mats can be used as an alternative to animal leather in industry and fashion once they have been dried and cured. Prior to this study, we demonstrated that living kombucha mats display dynamic electrical activity and distinct stimulating responses. For use in organic textiles, cured mats of kombucha are inert. To make kombucha wearables functional, it is necessary to incorporate electrical circuits. We demonstrate that creating electrical conductors on kombucha mats is possible. After repeated bending and stretching, the circuits maintain their functionality. In addition, the abilities and electronic properties of the proposed kombucha, such as being lighter, less expensive, and more flexible than conventional electronic systems, pave the way for their use in a diverse range of applications.}, } @article {pmid37294006, year = {2023}, author = {Grenier, T and Consuegra, J and Ferrarini, MG and Akherraz, H and Bai, L and Dusabyinema, Y and Rahioui, I and Da Silva, P and Gillet, B and Hughes, S and Ramos, CI and Matos, RC and Leulier, F}, title = {Intestinal GCN2 controls Drosophila systemic growth in response to Lactiplantibacillus plantarum symbiotic cues encoded by r/tRNA operons.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.76584}, pmid = {37294006}, issn = {2050-084X}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria interact with their host through symbiotic cues. Here, we took advantage of the mutualism between Drosophila and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp) to investigate a novel mechanism of host-symbiont interaction. Using chemically-defined diets, we found that association with Lp improves the growth of larvae fed amino acid-imbalanced diets, even though Lp cannot produce the limiting amino acid. We show that in this context Lp supports its host's growth through a molecular dialog that requires functional operons encoding ribosomal and transfer RNAs (r/tRNAs) in Lp and the GCN2 kinase in Drosophila's enterocytes. Our data indicate Lp's r/tRNAs are packaged in extracellular vesicles and activate GCN2 in a subset of larval enterocytes, a mechanism necessary to remodel the intestinal transcriptome and ultimately to support anabolic growth. Based on our findings, we propose a novel beneficial molecular dialog between host and microbes, which relies on a non-canonical role of GCN2 as a mediator of non-nutritional symbiotic cues encoded by r/tRNA operons.}, } @article {pmid37293443, year = {2023}, author = {Kryukov, AA and Gorbunova, AO and Kudriashova, TR and Ivanchenko, OB and Shishova, MF and Yurkov, AP}, title = {SWEET transporters of Medicago lupulina in the arbuscular-mycorrhizal system in the presence of medium level of available phosphorus.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {189-196}, doi = {10.18699/VJGB-23-25}, pmid = {37293443}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi receive photosynthetic products and sugars from plants in exchange for contributing to the uptake of minerals, especially phosphorus, from the soil. The identification of genes controlling AM symbiotic efficiency may have practical application in the creation of highly productive plant-microbe systems. The aim of our work was to evaluate the expression levels of SWEET sugar transporter genes, the only family in which sugar transporters specific to AM symbiosis can be detected. We have selected a unique "host plant-AM fungus" model system with high response to mycorrhization under medium phosphorus level. This includes a plant line which is highly responsive to inoculation by AM fungi, an ecologically obligate mycotrophic line MlS-1 from black medick (Medicago lupulina) and the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis strain RCAM00320, which has a high efficiency in a number of plant species. Using the selected model system, differences in the expression levels of 11 genes encoding SWEET transporters in the roots of the host plant were evaluated during the development of or in the absence of symbiosis of M. lupulina with R. irregularis at various stages of the host plant development in the presence of medium level of phosphorus available for plant nutrition in the substrate. At most stages of host plant development, mycorrhizal plants had higher expression levels of MlSWEET1b, MlSWEET3c, MlSWEET12 and MlSWEET13 compared to AM-less controls. Also, increased expression relative to control during mycorrhization was observed for MlSWEET11 at 2nd and 3rd leaf development stages, for MlSWEET15c at stemming (stooling) stage, for MlSWEET1a at 2nd leaf development, stemming and lateral branching stages. The MlSWEET1b gene can be confidently considered a good marker with specific expression for effective development of AM symbiosis between M. lupulina and R. irregularis in the presence of medium level of phosphorus available to plants in the substrate.}, } @article {pmid37293360, year = {2023}, author = {Chiu, CI and Ou, JH and Kuan, KC and Chen, CY and Huang, YT and Sripontan, Y and Li, HF}, title = {Body size of fungus-growing termites infers on the volume and density of their fungal cultivar.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {230126}, pmid = {37293360}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The body size of an animal plays a crucial role in determining its trophic level and position within the food web, as well as its interactions with other species. In the symbiosis between Termitomyces and fungus-growing termites, termites rely on nutrition of fungal nodules produced by Termitomyces. To understand whether the size of termites and fungal nodules are related to their partner specificity, we quantified the size of termite farmer caste, and the size and density of nodules in termite nests of four genera of fungus-growing termites, and identified their cultivated Termitomyces fungus species based on internal transcribed spacer regions and partial large subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences. The results showed that the size and density of fungal nodules were different among Termitomyces clades and revealed a constant trade-off between size and density among clades. The nodule size of each clade has low variation and fits normal distribution, indicating that size is a stabilized trait. Moreover, we found larger termite genera cultivated Termitomyces with larger but less numerous nodules. Based on these results, we concluded that there is a size specificity between Termitomyces and fungus-growing termites, which may lead to diversification of Termitomyces as adaptations to different termite genera.}, } @article {pmid37293262, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, F and Li, Y and Gao, M and Xia, Q and Wang, Q and Tang, M and Zhou, X and Guo, H and Xiao, Q and Sun, L}, title = {Comparative expression profiles of carboxylesterase orthologous CXE14 in two closely related tea geometrid species, Ectropis obliqua Prout and Ectropis grisescens Warren.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1194997}, pmid = {37293262}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Insect carboxylesterases (CXEs) can be expressed in multiple tissues and play crucial roles in detoxifying xenobiotic insecticides and degrading olfactory cues. Therefore, they have been considered as an important target for development of eco-friendly insect pest management strategies. Despite extensive investigation in most insect species, limited information on CXEs in sibling moth species is currently available. The Ectropis obliqua Prout and Ectropis grisescens Warren are two closely related tea geometrid species, which share the same host of tea plant but differ in geographical distribution, sex pheromone composition, and symbiotic bacteria abundance, providing an excellent mode species for studies of functional diversity of orthologous CXEs. In this study, we focused on EoblCXE14 due to its previously reported non-chemosensory organs-biased expression. First, the EoblCXE14 orthologous gene EgriCXE14 was cloned and sequence characteristics analysis showed that they share a conserved motif and phylogenetic relationship. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was then used to compare the expression profiles between two Ectropis spp. The results showed that EoblCXE14 was predominately expressed in E. obliqua larvae, whereas EgriCXE14 was abundant in E. grisescens at multiple developmental stages. Interestingly, both orthologous CXEs were highly expressed in larval midgut, but the expression level of EoblCXE14 in E. obliqua midgut was significantly higher than that of EgriCXE14 in E. grisescens midgut. In addition, the potential effect of symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia on the CXE14 was examined. This study is the first to provide comparative expression profiles of orthologous CXE genes in two sibling geometrid moth species and the results will help further elucidate CXEs functions and identify a potential target for tea geometrid pest control.}, } @article {pmid37293230, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, HE and Lee, JH and Park, SM and Kim, DG}, title = {Symbiotic relationship between filamentous algae (Halomicronema sp.) and extracellular polymeric substance-producing algae (Chlamydomonas sp.) through biomimetic simulation of natural algal mats.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1176069}, pmid = {37293230}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {To lower the cost of biomass harvesting, the growth of natural biofilm is considered to be an optimal alternative to microalgae aggregation. This study investigated algal mats that naturally agglomerate into a lump and float on water surfaces. Halomicronema sp., a filamentous cyanobacterium with high cell aggregation and adhesion to substrates, and Chlamydomonas sp., which grows rapidly and produces high extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in certain environments, are the main microalgae that make up selected mats through next-generation sequencing analysis. These two species play a major role in the formation of solid mats, and showed a symbiotic relationship as the medium and nutritional source, particularly owing to the large amount of EPS formed by the reaction between EPS and calcium ions through zeta potential and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. This led to the formation of an ecological biomimetic algal mat (BAM) that mimics the natural algal mat system, and this is a way to reduce costs in the biomass production process as there is no separate treatment process for harvesting.}, } @article {pmid37293019, year = {2023}, author = {Yoo, JS and Goh, B and Heo, K and Jung, DJ and Zheng, W and Lee, CC and Geva-Zatorsky, N and Wu, M and Park, SB and Kasper, DL and Oh, SF}, title = {Functional and metagenomic level diversities of human gut symbiont-derived glycolipids.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.05.23.541633}, pmid = {37293019}, abstract = {Bioactive metabolites produced by symbiotic microbiota causally impact host health and disease, nonetheless, incomplete functional annotation of genes as well as complexities and dynamic nature of microbiota make understanding species-level contribution in production and actions difficult. Alpha-galactosylceramides produced by Bacteroides fragilis (BfaGC) are one of the first modulators of colonic immune development, but biosynthetic pathways and the significance of the single species in the symbiont community still remained elusive. To address these questions at the microbiota level, we have investigated the lipidomic profiles of prominent gut symbionts and the metagenome-level landscape of responsible gene signatures in the human gut. We first elucidated the chemical diversity of sphingolipid biosynthesis pathways of major bacterial species. In addition to commonly shared ceramide backbone synthases showing two distinct intermediates, alpha-galactosyltransferase (agcT), the necessary and sufficient component for BfaGC production and host colonic type I natural killer T (NKT) cell regulation by B. fragilis, was characterized by forward-genetics based targeted metabolomic screenings. Phylogenetic analysis of agcT in human gut symbionts revealed that only a few ceramide producers have agcT and hence can produce aGCs, on the other hand, structurally conserved homologues of agcT are widely distributed among species lacking ceramides. Among them, alpha-glucosyl-diacylglycerol(aGlcDAG)-producing glycosyltransferases with conserved GT4-GT1 domains are one of the most prominent homologs in gut microbiota, represented by Enterococcus bgsB . Of interest, aGlcDAGs produced by bgsB can antagonize BfaGC-mediated activation of NKT cells, showing the opposite, lipid structure-specific actions to regulate host immune responses. Further metagenomic analysis of multiple human cohorts uncovered that the agcT gene signature is almost exclusively contributed by B. fragilis , regardless of age, geographical and health status, where the bgsB signature is contributed by >100 species, of which abundance of individual microbes is highly variable. Our results collectively showcase the diversities of gut microbiota producing biologically relevant metabolites in multiple layers-biosynthetic pathways, host immunomodulatory functions and microbiome-level landscapes in the host.}, } @article {pmid37292878, year = {2023}, author = {Ramanan, D and Chowdhary, K and Candéias, SM and Sassone-Corsi, M and Mathis, D and Benoist, C}, title = {Homeostatic, repertoire and transcriptional relationships between colon T regulatory cell subsets.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.05.17.541199}, pmid = {37292878}, abstract = {Foxp3 [+] regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the colon are key to promoting peaceful co-existence with symbiotic microbes. Differentiated in either thymic or peripheral locations, and modulated by microbes and other cellular influencers, colonic Treg subsets have been identified through key transcription factors (TF; Helios, Rorg, Gata3, cMaf), but their inter-relationships are unclear. Applying a multimodal array of immunologic, genomic, and microbiological assays, we find more overlap than expected between populations. The key TFs play different roles, some essential for subset identity, others driving functional gene signatures. Functional divergence was clearest under challenge. Single-cell genomics revealed a spectrum of phenotypes between the Helios+ and Rorγ+ poles, different Treg-inducing bacteria inducing the same Treg phenotypes to varying degrees, not distinct populations. TCR clonotypes in monocolonized mice revealed that Helios+ and Rorγ+ Tregs are related, and cannot be uniquely equated to tTreg and pTreg. We propose that rather than the origin of their differentiation, tissue-specific cues dictate the spectrum of colonic Treg phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid37292851, year = {2023}, author = {Gerrick, ER and DeSchepper, LB and Mechler, CM and Joubert, LM and Dunker, F and Colston, TJ and Howitt, MR}, title = {Commensal protists in reptiles display flexible host range and adaptation to ectothermic hosts.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.05.25.542353}, pmid = {37292851}, abstract = {Parabasalid protists recently emerged as keystone members of the mammalian microbiota with important effects on their host's health. However, the prevalence and diversity of parabasalids in wild reptiles and the consequences of captivity and other environmental factors on these symbiotic protists are unknown. Reptiles are ectothermic, and their microbiomes are subject to temperature fluctuations, such as those driven by climate change. Thus, conservation efforts for threatened reptile species may benefit from understanding how shifts in temperature and captive breeding influence the microbiota, including parabasalids, to impact host fitness and disease susceptibility. Here, we surveyed intestinal parabasalids in a cohort of wild reptiles across three continents and compared these to captive animals. Reptiles harbor surprisingly few species of parabasalids compared to mammals, but these protists exhibited a flexible host-range, suggesting specific adaptations to reptilian social structures and microbiota transmission. Furthermore, reptile-associated parabasalids are adapted to wide temperature ranges, although colder temperatures significantly altered the protist transcriptomes, with increased expression of genes associated with detrimental interactions with the host. Our findings establish that parabasalids are widely distributed in the microbiota of wild and captive reptiles and highlight how these protists respond to temperature swings encountered in their ectothermic hosts.}, } @article {pmid37292019, year = {2023}, author = {Sato, H}, title = {The evolution of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in the Late Cretaceous is a key driver of explosive diversification in Agaricomycetes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.19055}, pmid = {37292019}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) symbiosis, a ubiquitous plant-fungus interaction in forests, evolved in parallel in fungi. Why the evolution of EcM fungi did not necessarily increase ecological opportunities for explosive diversification remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal the driving mechanism of the evolutionary diversification in the fungal class Agaricomycetes, specifically by testing whether the evolution of EcM symbiosis in the Late Cretaceous increased ecological opportunities. The historical character transitions of trophic state and fruitbody form were estimated based on phylogenies inferred from fragments of 89 single-copy genes. Moreover, five analyses were used to estimate the net diversification rates (speciation rate minus extinction rate). The results indicate that the unidirectional evolution of EcM symbiosis occurred 27 times, ranging in date from the Early Triassic to the Early Paleogene. The increased diversification rates appeared to occur intensively at the stem of EcM fungal clades diverging in the Late Cretaceous, coinciding with the rapid diversification of EcM angiosperms. By contrast, the evolution of fruitbody form was not strongly linked with the increased diversification rates. These findings suggest that the evolution of EcM symbiosis in the Late Cretaceous, supposedly with coevolving EcM angiosperms, was the key drive of the explosive diversification in Agaricomycetes.}, } @article {pmid37291807, year = {2023}, author = {Romo-Araiza, A and Picazo-Aguilar, RI and Griego, E and Márquez, LA and Galván, EJ and Cruz, Y and Fernández-Presas, AM and Chávez-Guerra, A and Rodríguez-Barrera, R and Azpiri-Cardós, AP and Rosas-Quintero, C and Jasso-Chávez, R and Borlongan, CV and Ibarra, A}, title = {Symbiotic Supplementation (E. faecium and Agave Inulin) Improves Spatial Memory and Increases Plasticity in the Hippocampus of Obese Rats: A Proof-of-Concept Study.}, journal = {Cell transplantation}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {9636897231177357}, doi = {10.1177/09636897231177357}, pmid = {37291807}, issn = {1555-3892}, abstract = {Obesity has been linked to cognitive impairment through systemic low-grade inflammation. High fat and sugar diets (HFSDs) also induce systemic inflammation, either by induced Toll-like receptor 4 response, or by causing dysbiosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of symbiotics supplementation on spatial and working memory, butyrate concentration, neurogenesis, and electrophysiological recovery of HFSD-fed rats. In a first experiment, Sprague-Dawley male rats were given HFSD for 10 weeks, after which they were randomized into 2 groups (n = 10 per group): water (control), or Enterococcus faecium + inulin (symbiotic) administration, for 5 weeks. In the fifth week, spatial and working memory was analyzed through the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Eight-Arm Radial Maze (RAM) tests, respectively, with 1 week apart between tests. At the end of the study, butyrate levels from feces and neurogenesis at hippocampus were determined. In a second experiment with similar characteristics, the hippocampus was extracted to perform electrophysiological studies. Symbiotic-supplemented rats showed a significantly better memory, butyrate concentrations, and neurogenesis. This group also presented an increased firing frequency in hippocampal neurons [and a larger N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)/α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) current ratio] suggesting an increase in NMDA receptors, which in turn is associated with an enhancement in long-term potentiation and synaptic plasticity. Therefore, our results suggest that symbiotics could restore obesity-related memory impairment and promote synaptic plasticity.}, } @article {pmid37291797, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, L and Taerum, SJ and Jasso-Selles, DE and Slamovits, CH and Silberman, JD and Gile, GH}, title = {True molecular phylogenetic position of the cockroach gut commensal Lophomonas blattarum (Lophomonadida, Parabasalia).}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e12988}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12988}, pmid = {37291797}, issn = {1550-7408}, } @article {pmid37291644, year = {2023}, author = {Lamb, CE and Watts, JEM}, title = {Microbiome species diversity and seasonal stability of two temperate marine sponges Hymeniacidon perlevis and Suberites massa.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {52}, pmid = {37291644}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine sponges are diverse and functionally important members of marine benthic systems, well known to harbour complex and abundant symbiotic microorganisms as part of their species-specific microbiome. Changes in the sponge microbiome have previously been observed in relation to natural environmental changes, including nutrient availability, temperature and light. With global climate change altering seasonal temperatures, this study aims to better understand the potential effects of natural seasonal fluctuations on the composition and functions of the sponge microbiome.

RESULTS: Metataxonomic sequencing of two marine sponge species native to the U.K. (Hymeniacidon perlevis and Suberites massa) was performed at two different seasonal temperatures from the same estuary. A host-specific microbiome was observed in each species between both seasons. Detected diversity within S. massa was dominated by one family, Terasakiellaceae, with remaining dominant families also being detected in the associated seawater. H. perlevis demonstrated sponge specific bacterial families including aforementioned Terasakiellaceae as well as Sphingomonadaceae and Leptospiraceae with further sponge enriched families present.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, these results describe for the first time the microbial diversity of the temperate marine sponge species H. perlevis and S. massa using next generation sequencing. This analysis detected the presence of core sponge taxa identified in each sponge species was not changed by seasonal temperature alterations, however, there were shifts observed in overall community composition due to fluctuations in less abundant taxa, demonstrating that microbiome stability across seasons is likely to be host species specific.}, } @article {pmid37290441, year = {2023}, author = {Durant, E and Hoysted, GA and Howard, N and Sait, SM and Childs, DZ and Johnson, D and Field, KJ}, title = {Herbivore-driven disruption of arbuscular mycorrhizal carbon-for-nutrient exchange is ameliorated by neighboring plants.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.033}, pmid = {37290441}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonize the roots of most plants, forming a near-ubiquitous symbiosis[1] that is typically characterized by the bi-directional exchange of fungal-acquired nutrients for plant-fixed carbon.[2] Mycorrhizal fungi can form below-ground networks[3][,][4][,][5][,][6] with potential to facilitate the movement of carbon, nutrients, and defense signals across plant communities.[7][,][8][,][9] The importance of neighbors in mediating carbon-for-nutrient exchange between mycorrhizal fungi and their plant hosts remains equivocal, particularly when other competing pressures for plant resources are present. We manipulated carbon source and sink strengths of neighboring pairs of host plants through exposure to aphids and tracked the movement of carbon and nutrients through mycorrhizal fungal networks with isotope tracers. When carbon sink strengths of both neighboring plants were increased by aphid herbivory, plant carbon supply to extraradical mycorrhizal fungal hyphae was reduced, but mycorrhizal phosphorus supply to both plants was maintained, albeit variably, across treatments. However, when the sink strength of only one plant in a pair was increased, carbon supply to mycorrhizal fungi was restored. Our results show that loss of carbon inputs into mycorrhizal fungal hyphae from one plant may be ameliorated through inputs of a neighbor, demonstrating the responsiveness and resilience of mycorrhizal plant communities to biological stressors. Furthermore, our results indicate that mycorrhizal nutrient exchange dynamics are better understood as community-wide interactions between multiple players rather than as strict exchanges between individual plants and their symbionts, suggesting that mycorrhizal C-for-nutrient exchange is likely based more on unequal terms of trade than the "fair trade" model for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37289817, year = {2023}, author = {Li, YL and Gao, L and Yao, YS and Li, XZ and Wu, ZM and Tan, NZ and Luo, ZQ and Xie, WD and Wu, JY and Zhu, JS}, title = {Altered GC- and AT-biased genotypes of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the stromal fertile portions and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {e0286865}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0286865}, pmid = {37289817}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To examine multiple genotypes of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in a semi-quantitative manner in the stromal fertile portion (SFP) densely covered with numerous ascocarps and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis and to outline the dynamic alterations of the coexisting O. sinensis genotypes in different developmental phases.

METHODS: Mature Cordyceps sinensis specimens were harvested and continuously cultivated in our laboratory (altitude 2,254 m). The SFPs (with ascocarps) and fully and semi-ejected ascospores were collected for histological and molecular examinations. Biochip-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) was used to genotype multiple O. sinensis mutants in the SFPs and ascospores.

RESULTS: Microscopic analysis revealed distinct morphologies of the SFPs (with ascocarps) before and after ascospore ejection and SFP of developmental failure, which, along with the fully and semi-ejected ascospores, were subjected to SNP MS genotyping analysis. Mass spectra showed the coexistence of GC- and AT-biased genotypes of O. sinensis that were genetically and phylogenetically distinct in the SFPs before and after ejection and of developmental failure and in fully and semi-ejected ascospores. The intensity ratios of MS peaks were dynamically altered in the SFPs and the fully and semi-ejected ascospores. Mass spectra also showed transversion mutation alleles of unknown upstream and downstream sequences with altered intensities in the SFPs and ascospores. Genotype #5 of AT-biased Cluster-A maintained a high intensity in all SFPs and ascospores. An MS peak with a high intensity containing AT-biased Genotypes #6 and #15 in pre-ejection SFPs was significantly attenuated after ascospore ejection. The abundance of Genotypes #5‒6 and #16 of AT-biased Cluster-A was differentially altered in the fully and semi-ejected ascospores that were collected from the same Cordyceps sinensis specimens.

CONCLUSION: Multiple O. sinensis genotypes coexisted in different combinations with altered abundances in the SFPs prior to and after ejection, the SFP of developmental failure, and the two types of ascospores of Cordyceps sinensis, demonstrating their genomic independence. Metagenomic fungal members present in different combinations and with dynamic alterations play symbiotic roles in different compartments of natural Cordyceps sinensis.}, } @article {pmid37289406, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, N and Ye, S and Wang, X and Wang, K and Zhong, F and Yao, F and Liu, J and Huang, B and Xu, F and Wang, X}, title = {Hepatic Symbiotic Bacterium L. reuteri FLRE5K1 Inhibits the Development and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Activating the IFN-γ/CXCL10/CXCR3 Pathway.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37289406}, issn = {1867-1314}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria participate in the formation of the structure and function of the tissues and organs in which they live, and play an essential role in maintaining the balance between health and disease. Lactobacillus reuteri FLRE5K1 was isolated from the liver of healthy mice and proved to be a probiotic with anti-melanoma activity in previous studies. The relationship between hepatic symbiotic probiotics and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported yet. In the present study, L. reuteri FLRE5K1 was initially confirmed to successfully enter the liver after being administered by gavage, and the efficacy of probiotic feeding on HCC and its potential mechanism of inhibiting tumor progression were investigated by an orthotopic liver cancer model established. The results showed that L. reuteri FLRE5K1 significantly reduced the tumor formation rate and inhibited tumor growth in mice. From the perspective of mechanism, activation of the IFN-γ/CXCL10/CXCR3 pathway, as well as its positive feedback on the secretion of IFN-γ, induced the polarization of Th0 cell to Th1 cells and inhibited the differentiation of Tregs, which played a key role in the inhibitory effect of L. reuteri FLRE5K1 on the development and progression of HCC.}, } @article {pmid37289079, year = {2023}, author = {Tarabai, H and Floriano, AM and Zima, J and Filová, N and Brown, JJ and Roachell, W and Smith, RL and Beatty, NL and Vogel, KJ and Nováková, E}, title = {Microbiomes of Blood-Feeding Triatomines in the Context of Their Predatory Relatives and the Environment.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0168123}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01681-23}, pmid = {37289079}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {The importance of gut microbiomes has become generally recognized in vector biology. This study addresses microbiome signatures in North American Triatoma species of public health significance (vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi) linked to their blood-feeding strategy and the natural habitat. To place the Triatoma-associated microbiomes within a complex evolutionary and ecological context, we sampled sympatric Triatoma populations, related predatory reduviids, unrelated ticks, and environmental material from vertebrate nests where these arthropods reside. Along with five Triatoma species, we have characterized microbiomes of five reduviids (Stenolemoides arizonensis, Ploiaria hirticornis, Zelus longipes, and two Reduvius species), a single soft tick species, Ornithodoros turicata, and environmental microbiomes from selected sites in Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. The microbiomes of predatory reduviids lack a shared core microbiota. As in triatomines, microbiome dissimilarities among species correlate with dominance of a single bacterial taxon. These include Rickettsia, Lactobacillus, "Candidatus Midichloria," and Zymobacter, which are often accompanied by known symbiotic genera, i.e., Wolbachia, "Candidatus Lariskella," Asaia, Gilliamella, and Burkholderia. We have further identified a compositional convergence of the analyzed microbiomes in regard to the host phylogenetic distance in both blood-feeding and predatory reduviids. While the microbiomes of the two reduviid species from the Emesinae family reflect their close relationship, the microbiomes of all Triatoma species repeatedly form a distinct monophyletic cluster highlighting their phylosymbiosis. Furthermore, based on environmental microbiome profiles and blood meal analysis, we propose three epidemiologically relevant and mutually interrelated bacterial sources for Triatoma microbiomes, i.e., host abiotic environment, host skin microbiome, and pathogens circulating in host blood. IMPORTANCE This study places microbiomes of blood-feeding North American Triatoma vectors (Reduviidae) into a broader evolutionary and ecological context provided by related predatory assassin bugs (Reduviidae), another unrelated vector species (soft tick Ornithodoros turicata), and the environment these arthropods coinhabit. For both vectors, microbiome analyses suggest three interrelated sources of bacteria, i.e., the microbiome of vertebrate nests as their natural habitat, the vertebrate skin microbiome, and the pathobiome circulating in vertebrate blood. Despite an apparent influx of environment-associated bacteria into the arthropod microbiomes, Triatoma microbiomes retain their specificity, forming a distinct cluster that significantly differs from both predatory relatives and ecologically comparable ticks. Similarly, within the related predatory Reduviidae, we found the host phylogenetic distance to underlie microbiome similarities.}, } @article {pmid37288516, year = {2023}, author = {Vargas, S and Leiva, L and Eitel, M and Curdt, F and Rohde, S and Arnold, C and Nickel, M and Schupp, P and Orsi, WD and Adamska, M and Wörheide, G}, title = {Body-plan reorganization in a sponge correlates with microbiome change.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msad138}, pmid = {37288516}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {Mounting evidence suggests that animals and their associated bacteria interact via intricate molecular mechanisms, and it is hypothesized that disturbances to the microbiome influence animal development. Here, we show that the loss of a key photosymbiont (i.e., bleaching) correlates with a stark body-plan reorganization in the common aquarium cyanosponge Lendenfeldia chondrodes. The morphological changes observed in shaded sponges include the development of a thread-like morphology that contrasts with the flattened, foliose morphology of control specimens. The microanatomy of shaded sponges markedly differed from that of control sponges, with shaded specimens lacking a well-developed cortex and choanosome. Also, the palisade of polyvacuolar gland-cells typical in control specimens was absent in shaded sponges. The morphological changes observed in shaded species are coupled with broad transcriptomic changes and include the modulation of signaling pathways involved in animal morphogenesis and immune response, such as the Wnt, TFG-β, and TLR-ILR pathways. This study provides a genetic, physiological, and morphological assessment of the effect of microbiome changes on sponge post-embryonic development and homeostasis. The correlated response of the sponge host to the collapse of the population of symbiotic cyanobacteria provides evidence for a coupling between the sponge transcriptomic state and the state of its microbiome. This coupling suggests that the ability of animals to interact with their microbiomes and respond to microbiome perturbations has deep evolutionary origins in this group.}, } @article {pmid37287215, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, J and Liu, Y and Xu, S and Wang, J and Zhang, Z and Wang, MQ and Turlings, TCJ and Zhang, P and Zhou, A}, title = {Mealybug salivary microbes inhibit induced plant defenses.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7600}, pmid = {37287215}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phenacoccus solenopsis is a polyphagous invasive mealybug that caused serious damage to crops worldwide. Phloem-sucking hemipterans are known to carry symbiotic microbes in their saliva. However, the role of salivary bacteria of P. solenopsis in modulating plant defenses remains limited. Exploring the impact of salivary bacteria on plant defense responses will contribute to develop new targets for efficient control of invasive mealybugs.

RESULTS: Salivary bacteria of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis, can suppress herbivore-induced plant defenses and thus enhance mealybug fitness. Mealybugs treated with an antibiotic showed decreased weight gain, fecundity and survival. Untreated mealybugs suppressed jasmonic acid (JA)-regulated defenses but activated salicylic acid (SA)-regulated defenses in cotton plants. In contrast, antibiotic-treated mealybugs triggered JA responsive gene expression and JA accumulation and showed shortened phloem ingestion. Reinoculating antibiotic-treated mealybugs with Enterobacteriaceae or Stenotrophomonas cultivated from mealybug saliva promoted phloem ingestion, fecundity and restored the ability of mealybugs to suppress plant defenses. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) visualization revealed that Enterobacteriaceae and Stenotrophomonas colonize salivary gland and are secreted into the mesophyll cells and phloem vessels. Exogenous application of the bacterial isolates to plant leaves inhibited JA-responsive gene expression and activated SA-responsive gene expression.

CONCLUSION: Our findings imply that symbiotic bacteria in the saliva of the mealybug play an important role in manipulating herbivore-induced plant defenses, enabling this important pest to evade induced plant defenses and promoting its performance and destructive effects on crops. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid37285679, year = {2023}, author = {Li, H and Zhang, L and Wu, B and Li, Y and Wang, H and Teng, H and Wei, D and Yuan, Z and Yuan, Z}, title = {Physiological and proteomic analyses reveal the important role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on enhancing photosynthesis in wheat under cadmium stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {115105}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115105}, pmid = {37285679}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important in the phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd). Improving photosynthesis under Cd stress helps to increase crop yields. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of AMF on photosynthetic processes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) under Cd stress remain unclear. This study utilized physiological and proteomic analyses to reveal the key processes and related genes of AMF that regulate photosynthesis under Cd stress. The results showed that AMF promoted the accumulation of Cd in the roots of wheat but significantly reduced the content of Cd in the shoots and grains. The photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, transpiration rates, chlorophyll content, and accumulation of carbohydrates under Cd stress were increased by AMF symbiosis. Proteomic analysis showed that AMF significantly induced the expression of two enzymes involved in the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway (coproporphyrinogen oxidase and Mg-protoporphyrin IX chelatase), improved the expression of two proteins related to CO2 assimilation (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and malic enzyme), and increased the expression of S-adenosylmethionine synthase, which positively regulates abiotic stress. Therefore, AMF may regulate photosynthesis under Cd stress by promoting chlorophyll biosynthesis, carbon assimilation, and S-adenosylmethionine metabolism.}, } @article {pmid37285358, year = {2023}, author = {Mohammed, S and Sha'aban, YA and Umoh, IJ and Salawudeen, AT and Ibn Shamsah, SM}, title = {A hybrid smell agent symbiosis organism search algorithm for optimal control of microgrid operations.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {e0286695}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0286695}, pmid = {37285358}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {This paper presents a hybrid Smell Agent Symbiosis Organism Search Algorithm (SASOS) for optimal control of autonomous microgrids. In microgrid operation, a single optimization algorithm often lacks the required balance between accuracy and speed to control power system parameters such as frequency and voltage effectively. The hybrid algorithm reduces the imbalance between exploitation and exploration and increases the effectiveness of control optimization in microgrids. To achieve this, various energy resource models were coordinated into a single model for optimal energy generation and distribution to loads. The optimization problem was formulated based on the network power flow and the discrete-time sampling of the constrained control parameters. The development of SASOS comprises components of Symbiotic Organism Search (SOS) and Smell Agent Optimization (SAO) codified in an optimization loop. Twenty-four standard test function benchmarks were used to evaluate the performance of the algorithm developed. The experimental analysis revealed that SASOS obtained 58.82% of the Desired Convergence Goal (DCG) in 17 of the benchmark functions. SASOS was implemented in the Microgrid Central Controller (MCC) and benchmarked alongside standard SOS and SAO optimization control strategies. The MATLAB/Simulink simulation results of the microgrid load disturbance rejection showed the viability of SASOS with an improved reduction in Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of 19.76%, compared to the SOS, SAO, and MCC methods that have a THD reduction of 15.60%, 12.74%, and 6.04%, respectively, over the THD benchmark. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that SASOS demonstrates superior performance compared to other methods. This finding suggests that SASOS is a promising solution for enhancing the control system of autonomous microgrids. It was also shown to apply to other sectors of engineering optimization.}, } @article {pmid37283923, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, H and Wang, J and Wang, Q and He, W and Liao, S and Huang, J and Hu, W and Tang, M and Chen, H}, title = {Role of melatonin in enhancing arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and mitigating cold stress in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1123632}, pmid = {37283923}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Melatonin is a biomolecule that affects plant development and is involved in protecting plants from environmental stress. However, the mechanisms of melatonin's impact on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and cold tolerance in plants are still unclear. In this research, AM fungi inoculation and exogenous melatonin (MT) were applied to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seedlings alone or in combination to investigate their effect on cold tolerance. The study was conducted in two parts. The initial trial examined two variables, AM inoculation, and cold stress, to investigate the involvement of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis in endogenous melatonin accumulation and the transcriptional levels of its synthesis genes in the root system of perennial ryegrass under cold stress. The subsequent trial was designed as a three-factor analysis, encompassing AM inoculation, cold stress, and melatonin application, to explore the effects of exogenous melatonin application on plant growth, AM symbiosis, antioxidant activity, and protective molecules in perennial ryegrass subjected to cold stress. The results of the study showed that compared to non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants, cold stress promoted an increase in the accumulation of melatonin in the AM-colonized counterparts. Acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT) catalyzed the final enzymatic reaction in melatonin production. Melatonin accumulation was associated with the level of expression of the genes, LpASMT1 and LpASMT3. Treatment with melatonin can improve the colonization of AM fungi in plants. Simultaneous utilization of AM inoculation and melatonin treatment enhanced the growth, antioxidant activity, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, while simultaneously reducing polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and altering osmotic regulation in the roots. These effects are expected to aid in the mitigation of cold stress in Lolium perenne. Overall, melatonin treatment would help Lolium perenne to improve growth by promoting AM symbiosis, improving the accumulation of protective molecules, and triggering in antioxidant activity under cold stress.}, } @article {pmid37283386, year = {2023}, author = {De Lorenzi-Tognon, M and Genton, L and Schrenzel, J}, title = {[Summary of the 8[th] Symposium "Feeding the microbiota": prebiotics and probiotics].}, journal = {Revue medicale suisse}, volume = {19}, number = {830}, pages = {1149-1153}, doi = {10.53738/REVMED.2023.19.830.1149}, pmid = {37283386}, issn = {1660-9379}, abstract = {The microbiota represents all the microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, that have a symbiotic relationship with their host and that are present in a particular system (or niche) of the human body such as the skin, the respiratory tract, the urogenital tract or the digestive tract. This paper is a narrative review of all talks given at the 8th edition of the « Feeding the Microbiota » symposium organized at the Geneva University Hospitals. The symposium gathered 346 participants, both onsite and online, from 23 countries all-around the world. The main thematic of this edition focused on the composition of the gut microbiota as affected by prebiotics and postbiotics and their effects on various diseases.}, } @article {pmid37282959, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, JD and Jiang, W and Song, MQ and Zhou, YJ and Li, YP and Duan, XJ and Tao, ZM}, title = {[Identification and expression of uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase(UGT) gene family from Dendrobium officinale].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {48}, number = {7}, pages = {1840-1850}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20230114.103}, pmid = {37282959}, issn = {1001-5302}, abstract = {Uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase(UGT) is a highly conserved protein in plants, which usually functions in secondary metabolic pathways. This study used the Hidden Markov Model(HMM) to screen out members of UGT gene family in the whole genome of Dendrobium officinale, and 44 UGT genes were identified. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the structure, phylogeny, and promoter region components of D. officinale genes. The results showed that UGT gene family could be divided into four subfamilies, and UGT gene structure was relatively conserved in each subfamily, with nine conserved domains. The upstream promoter region of UGT gene contained a variety of cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and environmental factors, indicating that UGT gene expression may be induced by plant hormones and external environmental factors. UGT gene expression in different tissues of D. officinale was compared, and UGT gene expression was found in all parts of D. officinale. It was speculated that UGT gene played an important role in many tissues of D. officinale. Through transcriptome analysis of D. officinale mycorrhizal symbiosis environment, low temperature stress, and phosphorus deficiency stress, this study found that only one gene was up-regulated in all three conditions. The results of this study can help understand the functions of UGT gene family in Orchidaceae plants and provide a basis for further study on the molecular regulation mechanism of polysaccharide metabolism pathway in D. officinale.}, } @article {pmid37282536, year = {2023}, author = {Strano, F and Micaroni, V and Thomas, T and Woods, L and Davy, SK and Bell, JJ}, title = {Marine heatwave conditions drive carryover effects in a temperate sponge microbiome and developmental performance.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {2000}, pages = {20222539}, doi = {10.1098/rspb.2022.2539}, pmid = {37282536}, issn = {1471-2954}, abstract = {Marine heatwaves are increasingly subjecting organisms to unprecedented stressful conditions, but the biological consequences of these events are still poorly understood. Here we experimentally tested the presence of carryover effects of heatwave conditions on the larval microbiome, settlers growth rate and metamorphosis duration of the temperate sponge Crella incrustans. The microbial community of adult sponges changed significantly after ten days at 21°C. There was a relative decrease in symbiotic bacteria, and an increase in stress-associated bacteria. Sponge larvae derived from control sponges were mainly characterised by a few bacterial taxa also abundant in adults, confirming the occurrence of vertical transmission. The microbial community of sponge larvae derived from heatwave-exposed sponges showed significant increase in the endosymbiotic bacteria Rubritalea marina. Settlers derived from heatwave-exposed sponges had a greater growth rate under prolonged heatwave conditions (20 days at 21°C) compared to settlers derived from control sponges exposed to the same conditions. Moreover, settler metamorphosis was significantly delayed at 21°C. These results show, for the first time, the occurrence of heatwave-induced carryover effects across life-stages in sponges and highlight the potential role of selective vertical transmission of microbes in sponge resilience to extreme thermal events.}, } @article {pmid37284513, year = {2021}, author = {Mauger, S and Ricono, C and Mony, C and Chable, V and Serpolay, E and Biget, M and Vandenkoornhuyse, P}, title = {Differentiation of endospheric microbiota in ancient and modern wheat cultivar roots.}, journal = {Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {235-248}, pmid = {37284513}, issn = {2575-6265}, abstract = {Modern plant breeding and agrosystems artificialization could have altered plants' ability to filter and recruit beneficial microorganisms in its microbiota. Thus, compared to modern cultivars, we hypothesized that root-endosphere microbiota in modern wheat cultivars are less resistant to colonization by fungi and bacteria and thus more susceptible to also recruit more pathogens. We used an in-field experimental design including six wheat varieties (three ancient vs. three modern) grown in monoculture and in mixture (three replicates each). Endospheric microbiota of wheat roots were analyzed on four individuals sampled randomly in each plot. Composition-based clustering of sequences was then characterized from amplicon mass-sequencing. We show that the bacterial and fungal microbiota composition in wheat roots differed between ancient and modern wheat cultivar categories. However, the responses observed varied with the group considered. Modern cultivars harbored higher richness of bacterial and fungal pathogens than ancient cultivars. Both cultivar types displayed specific indicator species. A synergistic effect was identified in mixtures of modern cultivars with a higher root endospheric mycobiota richness than expected from a null model. The present study shows the effect of plant breeding on the microbiota associated plant roots. The results call for making a diagnosis of the cultivar's endospheric-microbiota composition. These new results also suggest the importance of a holobiont-vision while considering plant selection in crops and call for better integration of symbiosis in the development of next-generation agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid37283729, year = {2020}, author = {Singer, SD and Chatterton, S and Soolanayakanahally, RY and Subedi, U and Chen, G and Acharya, SN}, title = {Potential effects of a high CO2 future on leguminous species.}, journal = {Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {67-94}, pmid = {37283729}, issn = {2575-6265}, abstract = {Legumes provide an important source of food and feed due to their high protein levels and many health benefits, and also impart environmental and agronomic advantages as a consequence of their ability to fix nitrogen through their symbiotic relationship with rhizobia. As a result of our growing population, the demand for products derived from legumes will likely expand considerably in coming years. Since there is little scope for increasing production area, improving the productivity of such crops in the face of climate change will be essential. While a growing number of studies have assessed the effects of climate change on legume yield, there is a paucity of information regarding the direct impact of elevated CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) itself, which is a main driver of climate change and has a substantial physiological effect on plants. In this review, we discuss current knowledge regarding the influence of e[CO2] on the photosynthetic process, as well as biomass production, seed yield, quality, and stress tolerance in legumes, and examine how these responses differ from those observed in non-nodulating plants. Although these relationships are proving to be extremely complex, mounting evidence suggests that under limiting conditions, overall declines in many of these parameters could ensue. While further research will be required to unravel precise mechanisms underlying e[CO2] responses of legumes, it is clear that integrating such knowledge into legume breeding programs will be indispensable for achieving yield gains by harnessing the potential positive effects, and minimizing the detrimental impacts, of CO2 in the future.}, } @article {pmid37279806, year = {2023}, author = {Iyobosa, E and Wang, R and Zhao, J}, title = {Antibiotic removal by microalgae-bacteria consortium: Metabolic pathways and microbial responses.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164489}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164489}, pmid = {37279806}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The proliferation of antibiotic-resistance genes is a result of the rise in the discharge of residual antibiotics into waterbodies from a variety of sources. Antibiotic removal by microalgae-bacteria consortium has been shown to be effective, therefore, there is a need to understand the involved microbial processes. This review summarizes the microbiological removal mechanisms of antibiotics by the microalgae-bacteria consortium, such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation. Factors that influence antibiotic removal are discussed. Co-metabolism of nutrients and antibiotics in the microalgae-bacteria consortium and the metabolic pathways revealed by omics technologies are also highlighted. Furthermore, the responses of microalgae and bacteria to antibiotic stress are elaborated, including reactive oxidizing species (ROS) generation and its effects on photosynthesis machinery, antibiotic stress tolerance, microbial community shift, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Finally, we offer a perspective on the optimization and applications of microalgae-bacteria symbiotic systems for antibiotic removal.}, } @article {pmid37279689, year = {2023}, author = {Hawkins, HJ and Cargill, RIM and Van Nuland, ME and Hagen, SC and Field, KJ and Sheldrake, M and Soudzilovskaia, NA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Mycorrhizal mycelium as a global carbon pool.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {R560-R573}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.027}, pmid = {37279689}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {For more than 400 million years, mycorrhizal fungi and plants have formed partnerships that are crucial to the emergence and functioning of global ecosystems. The importance of these symbiotic fungi for plant nutrition is well established. However, the role of mycorrhizal fungi in transporting carbon into soil systems on a global scale remains under-explored. This is surprising given that ∼75% of terrestrial carbon is stored belowground and mycorrhizal fungi are stationed at a key entry point of carbon into soil food webs. Here, we analyze nearly 200 datasets to provide the first global quantitative estimates of carbon allocation from plants to the mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi. We estimate that global plant communities allocate 3.93 Gt CO2e per year to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, 9.07 Gt CO2e per year to ectomycorrhizal fungi, and 0.12 Gt CO2e per year to ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. Based on this estimate, 13.12 Gt of CO2e fixed by terrestrial plants is, at least temporarily, allocated to the underground mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi per year, equating to ∼36% of current annual CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. We explore the mechanisms by which mycorrhizal fungi affect soil carbon pools and identify approaches to increase our understanding of global carbon fluxes via plant-fungal pathways. Our estimates, although based on the best available evidence, are imperfect and should be interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, our estimations are conservative, and we argue that this work confirms the significant contribution made by mycorrhizal associations to global carbon dynamics. Our findings should motivate their inclusion both within global climate and carbon cycling models, and within conservation policy and practice.}, } @article {pmid37279688, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, P and Wang, E}, title = {Diversity and regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in plants.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {R543-R559}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.053}, pmid = {37279688}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Plants associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to secure nitrogen, which is generally the most limiting nutrient for plant growth. Endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing associations are widespread among diverse plant lineages, ranging from microalgae to angiosperms, and are primarily one of three types: cyanobacterial, actinorhizal or rhizobial. The large overlap in the signaling pathways and infection components of arbuscular mycorrhizal, actinorhizal and rhizobial symbioses reflects their evolutionary relatedness. These beneficial associations are influenced by environmental factors and other microorganisms in the rhizosphere. In this review, we summarize the diversity of nitrogen-fixing symbioses, key signal transduction pathways and colonization mechanisms relevant to such interactions, and compare and contrast these interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal associations from an evolutionary standpoint. Additionally, we highlight recent studies on environmental factors regulating nitrogen-fixing symbioses to provide insights into the adaptation of symbiotic plants to complex environments.}, } @article {pmid37279685, year = {2023}, author = {Scharnagl, K and Tagirdzhanova, G and Talbot, NJ}, title = {The coming golden age for lichen biology.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {R512-R518}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.054}, pmid = {37279685}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Lichens are a diverse group of organisms. They are both commonly observed but also mysterious. It has long been known that lichens are composite symbiotic associations of at least one fungus and an algal or cyanobacterial partner, but recent evidence suggests that they may be much more complex. We now know that there can be many constituent microorganisms in a lichen, organized into reproducible patterns that suggest a sophisticated communication and interplay between symbionts. We feel the time is right for a more concerted effort to understand lichen biology. Rapid advances in comparative genomics and metatranscriptomic approaches, coupled with recent breakthroughs in gene functional studies, suggest that lichens may now be more tractable to detailed analysis. Here we set out some of the big questions in lichen biology, and we speculate about the types of gene functions that may be critical to their development, as well as the molecular events that may lead to initial lichen formation. We define both the challenges and opportunities in lichen biology and offer a call to arms to study this remarkable group of organisms.}, } @article {pmid37279679, year = {2023}, author = {Xavier, CAD and Whitfield, AE}, title = {Plant virology.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {R478-R484}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.038}, pmid = {37279679}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {The first infectious agent to bear the name 'virus' was described in 1898: a plant pathogen called tobacco mosaic virus that infects a wide range of plants and results in a yellow mosaic of the leaves. Since then, the study of plant viruses has facilitated new discoveries in both virology and plant biology. Traditionally, research has focused on viruses that cause severe disease in plants used for human and animal food or recreation. However, closer inspection of the plant-associated virome is now revealing interactions that range from pathogenic to symbiotic. Although they are often studied in isolation, plant viruses are usually found as part of a broader community that includes other plant-associated microbes and pests. For example, biological vectors of plant viruses (arthropods, nematodes, fungi, and protists) can facilitate the transmission of viruses between plants in an intricate interaction. To enhance transmission, viruses can induce the plant to 'lure' the vector by modulating plant chemistry and defenses. Once delivered to a new host, viruses are dependent on specific proteins that modify the structural components of the cell to enable transport of viral proteins and genomic material. Links between antiviral plant defenses and key steps in virus movement and transmission are being revealed. Upon infection, a suite of antiviral responses is triggered, including the expression of resistance genes - a favored strategy to control plant viruses. In this primer, we discuss these features and more, highlighting the exciting world of plant-virus interactions.}, } @article {pmid37278360, year = {2023}, author = {Zayed, N and Ghesquière, J and Kamarudin, NHN and Bernaerts, K and Boon, N and Braem, A and Van Holm, W and Teughels, W}, title = {Oral Biofilm Cryotherapy as a Novel Ecological Modulation Approach.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {220345231172688}, doi = {10.1177/00220345231172688}, pmid = {37278360}, issn = {1544-0591}, abstract = {Oral cryotherapy is used in dentistry as a safe, simple, and low-cost treatment for a variety of oral lesions. It is well known for its ability to aid in the healing process. However, its effect on oral biofilms is unknown. As a result, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of cryotherapy on in vitro oral biofilms. In vitro multispecies oral biofilms were grown on the surface of hydroxyapatite discs in symbiotic or dysbiotic states. CryoPen X+ was used to treat the biofilms, whereas untreated biofilms served as control. One set of biofilms was collected for study immediately after cryotherapy, whereas another group was reincubated for 24 h to permit biofilm recovery. Changes in biofilm structure were analyzed with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), while biofilm ecology and community compositional changes were analyzed with viability DNA extraction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (v-qPCR) analysis. One cryo-cycle immediately reduced biofilm load by 0.2 to 0.4 log10 Geq/mL, which increased with additional treatment cycles. Although the bacterial load of the treated biofilms recovered to the same level as the control biofilms within 24 h, the CLSM detected structural alterations. Compositional alterations were also detected by SEM, corroborating the v-qPCR findings that showed ≈≤10% incidence of pathogenic species compared to nontreated biofilms that encompassed ≈45% and 13% pathogenic species in dysbiotic and symbiotic biofilms, respectively. Spray cryotherapy showed promising results in a novel conceptual approach to the control of oral biofilms. Acting selectively by targeting oral pathobionts and retaining commensals, spray cryotherapy could modify the ecology of in vitro oral biofilms to become more symbiotic and prevent the evolution of dysbiosis without the use of antiseptics/antimicrobials.}, } @article {pmid37277042, year = {2023}, author = {Warnasuriya, SD and Udayanga, D and Manamgoda, DS and Biles, C}, title = {Fungi as environmental bioindicators.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164583}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164583}, pmid = {37277042}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Environmental bioindicators are species or communities of animals, plants, bacteria, fungi, algae, lichens, and planktons whose existence, quantity, and nature can be used to make inferences on the quality of the environment. Bioindicators can be used to detect environmental contaminants by on-site visual inspections or through laboratory analysis. Fungi are one of the most important groups of environmental bioindicators due to their ubiquitous distribution, diverse ecological roles, remarkable biological diversity, and high sensitivity to environmental changes. This review provide a comprehensive reappraisal of using various groups of fungi, fungal communities, symbiotic associations with fungal component, biomarkers of fungi as "mycoindicators" to assess the quality of air, water and soil. Fungi are exploited by researchers as double-edged tools for both biomonitoring and mycoremediation simultaneously. The applications of bioindicators have advanced through the integration of genetic engineering, high-throughput DNA sequencing, and gene editing techniques. Therefore mycoindicators are significant as an emerging tool for more accurate and affordable early detection of environmental contaminants toward the mitigation efforts of pollution in both natural and man-made environment.}, } @article {pmid37275175, year = {2023}, author = {Timmusk, S and Pall, T and Raz, S and Fetsiukh, A and Nevo, E}, title = {The potential for plant growth-promoting bacteria to impact crop productivity in future agricultural systems is linked to understanding the principles of microbial ecology.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1141862}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1141862}, pmid = {37275175}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Global climate change poses challenges to land use worldwide, and we need to reconsider agricultural practices. While it is generally accepted that biodiversity can be used as a biomarker for healthy agroecosystems, we must specify what specifically composes a healthy microbiome. Therefore, understanding how holobionts function in native, harsh, and wild habitats and how rhizobacteria mediate plant and ecosystem biodiversity in the systems enables us to identify key factors for plant fitness. A systems approach to engineering microbial communities by connecting host phenotype adaptive traits would help us understand the increased fitness of holobionts supported by genetic diversity. Identification of genetic loci controlling the interaction of beneficial microbiomes will allow the integration of genomic design into crop breeding programs. Bacteria beneficial to plants have traditionally been conceived as "promoting and regulating plant growth". The future perspective for agroecosystems should be that microbiomes, via multiple cascades, define plant phenotypes and provide genetic variability for agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37275173, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Y and Wang, Y and Zhang, S and Li, J and Li, X and Ying, Y and Yuan, J and Chen, K and Deng, S and Wang, Q}, title = {Association of polymicrobial interactions with dental caries development and prevention.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1162380}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1162380}, pmid = {37275173}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Dental caries is a common oral disease. In many cases, disruption of the ecological balance of the oral cavity can result in the occurrence of dental caries. There are many cariogenic microbiota and factors, and their identification allows us to take corresponding prevention and control measures. With the development of microbiology, the caries-causing bacteria have evolved from the traditional single Streptococcus mutans to the discovery of oral symbiotic bacteria. Thus it is necessary to systematically organized the association of polymicrobial interactions with dental caries development. In terms of ecology, caries occurs due to an ecological imbalance of the microbiota, caused by the growth and reproduction of cariogenic microbiota due to external factors or the disruption of homeostasis by one's own factors. To reduce the occurrence of dental caries effectively, and considering the latest scientific viewpoints, caries may be viewed from the perspective of ecology, and preventive measures can be taken; hence, this article systematically summarizes the prevention and treatment of dental caries from the aspects of ecological perspectives, in particular the ecological biofilm formation, bacterial quorum sensing, the main cariogenic microbiota, and preventive measures.}, } @article {pmid37275139, year = {2023}, author = {Sandhu, AK and Brown, MR and Subramanian, S and Brözel, VS}, title = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 displays plasticity in the attachment phenotype when grown in different soybean root exudate compounds.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1190396}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1190396}, pmid = {37275139}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, a symbiotic nitrogen fixer for soybean, forms nodules after developing a symbiotic association with the root. For this association, bacteria need to move toward and attach to the root. These steps are mediated by the surface and phenotypic cell properties of bacteria and secreted root exudate compounds. Immense work has been carried out on nodule formation and nitrogen fixation, but little is known about the phenotype of these microorganisms under the influence of different root exudate chemical compounds (RECCs) or how this phenotype impacts the root attachment ability.

METHODS: To address this knowledge gap, we studied the impact of 12 different RECCs, one commonly used carbon source, and soil-extracted solubilized organic matter (SESOM) on attachment and attachment-related properties of B. diazoefficiens USDA110. We measured motility-related properties (swimming, swarming, chemotaxis, and flagellar expression), attachment-related properties (surface hydrophobicity, biofilm formation, and attachment to cellulose and soybean roots), and surface polysaccharide properties (colony morphology, exopolysaccharide quantification, lectin binding profile, and lipopolysaccharide profiling).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We found that USDA 110 displays a high degree of surface phenotypic plasticity when grown on the various individual RECCs. Some of the RECCs played specific roles in modulating the motility and root attachment processes. Serine increased cell surface hydrophobicity and root and cellulose attachment, with no EPS formed. Gluconate and lactate increased EPS production and biofilm formation, while decreasing hydrophobicity and root attachment, and raffinose and gentisate promoted motility and chemotaxis. The results also indicated that the biofilm formation trait on hydrophilic surfaces (polystyrene) cannot be related to the attachment ability of Bradyrhizobium to the soybean root. Among the tested phenotypic properties, bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity was the one with a significant impact on root attachment ability. We conclude that USDA 110 displays surface plasticity properties and attachment phenotype determined by individual RECCs from the soybean. Conclusions made based on its behavior in standard carbon sources, such as arabinose or mannitol, do not hold for its behavior in soil.}, } @article {pmid37274910, year = {2022}, author = {Hassanzadeh, P and Nouri Gharajalar, S and Mohammadzadeh, S}, title = {Antimicrobial Effects of Different Synbiotic Compounds against Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Beef, Mutton, and Chicken.}, journal = {Archives of Razi Institute}, volume = {77}, number = {6}, pages = {2105-2113}, doi = {10.22092/ARI.2022.357834.2107}, pmid = {37274910}, issn = {2008-9872}, abstract = {Today, there has been a growing interest in synbiotic usage in the food industry to solve the problems related to food contaminations. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of nine symbiotic compounds on bacteria isolated from different meat types. Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 60 different meat samples. Then, the antibacterial effects of nine synbiotic components were assessed against isolated bacteria using well diffusion and radial streak methods. In addition, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of each synbiotic formulation were determined. The highest antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus was for synbiotic compounds consisting of Streptococcus salivarius, raffinose, inulin, and trehalose, respectively. Furthermore, the highest antibacterial efficacies against Escherichia coli and Salmonella were for synbiotic formulations consisting of Bacillus cereus and inulin, raffinose, and trehalose, respectively. In conclusion, synbiotic formulations containing S. salivarius and B. cereus may be an alternative approach to preventing food-borne pathogens.}, } @article {pmid37272924, year = {2023}, author = {Agrawal, S and Broderick, NA}, title = {Inside help from the microbiome.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.88873}, pmid = {37272924}, issn = {2050-084X}, abstract = {Elucidating the role of one of the proteins produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum reveals a new molecule that allows this gut bacterium to support the development of fruit fly larvae.}, } @article {pmid37272786, year = {2023}, author = {Williams, DA and Flood, MH}, title = {Haematoloechus sp. attachment shifts endothelium in vivo from pro- to anti-inflammatory profile in Rana pipiens: evidence from systemic and capillary physiology.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1152/ajpregu.00041.2023}, pmid = {37272786}, issn = {1522-1490}, abstract = {This prospective, descriptive study focused on lung flukes (Haematoloechus sp., H) and their impact on systemic and individual capillary variables measured in pithed Rana pipiens, a long-standing model for studies of capillary physiology. Three groups were identified based on H attachment: no Haematoloechus (No H), Haematoloechus not attached (H Not Att), and Haematoloechus attached (H Att). Among 38 descriptive, cardiovascular, and immunological variables, 18 changed significantly with H. Symptoms of H included weight loss, elevated immune cells, heart rate variability, faster coagulation, lower hematocrit, and fluid accumulation. Important capillary function discoveries included median baselines for hydraulic conductivity (Lp) of 7.0 (No H), 12.4 (H Not Att), and 4.2 (H Att) x 10[-7] cm[.]s[-1.]cm H2O[-1](P<0.0001) plus seasonal adaptation of sigma delta pi (s(pc - pi), P=0.03). Pro- and anti-inflammatory phases were revealed for Lp and plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration ([NOx]) in H Not Att and H Att and capillary wall tensile strength increased in H Att. H attachment was advantageous for the host due to lower edema and for the parasite via a sustained food source illustrating an excellent example of natural symbiosis. However, H attachment also resulted in host weight loss: in time, a conundrum for the highly dependent parasite. The study increases overall knowledge of Rana pipiens by revealing intriguing effects of H and previously unknown, naturally occurring seasonal changes in many variables. The data improve Rana pipiens as a general scientific and capillary physiology model. Diseases of inflammation and stroke are among the clinical applications.}, } @article {pmid37272178, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, XJ and Shao, ZY and Zhu, MR and You, MY and Zhang, YH and Chen, XQ}, title = {[Intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota in early neonates: an analysis based on high-throughput sequencing].}, journal = {Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {508-515}, pmid = {37272178}, issn = {1008-8830}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution characteristics and correlation of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota in early neonates.

METHODS: Full-term healthy neonates who were born in Shanghai Pudong New Area Maternal and Child Health Hospital from September 2021 to January 2022 and were given mixed feeding were enrolled. The 16S rRNA sequencing technique was used to analyze the stool and pharyngeal swab samples collected on the day of birth and days 5-7 after birth, and the composition and function of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS: The diversity analysis showed that the diversity of pharyngeal microbiota was higher than that of intestinal microbiota in early neonates, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). On the day of birth, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the intestine was significantly higher than that in the pharynx (P<0.05). On days 5-7 after birth, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in the intestine was significantly higher than that in the pharynx (P<0.05), and the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the intestine was significantly lower than that in the pharynx (P<0.05). At the genus level, there was no significant difference in the composition of dominant bacteria between the intestine and the pharynx on the day of birth (P>0.05), while on days 5-7 after birth, there were significant differences in the symbiotic bacteria of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Rothia, Bifidobacterium, and Escherichia-Shigella between the intestine and the pharynx (P<0.05). The analysis based on the database of Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins showed that pharyngeal microbiota was more concentrated on chromatin structure and dynamics and cytoskeleton, while intestinal microbiota was more abundant in RNA processing and modification, energy production and conversion, amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, coenzyme transport and metabolism, and others (P<0.05). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that compared with pharyngeal microbiota, intestinal microbiota was more predictive of cell motility, cellular processes and signal transduction, endocrine system, excretory system, immune system, metabolic diseases, nervous system, and transcription parameters (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The composition and diversity of intestinal and pharyngeal microbiota of neonates are not significantly different at birth. The microbiota of these two ecological niches begin to differentiate and gradually exhibit distinct functions over time.}, } @article {pmid37270375, year = {2023}, author = {Chaisiri, K and Linsuwanon, P and Makepeace, BL}, title = {The chigger microbiome: big questions in a tiny world.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2023.05.002}, pmid = {37270375}, issn = {1471-5007}, abstract = {'Chiggers' (trombiculid mite larvae) are best known as vectors of rickettsial pathogens, Orientia spp., which cause a zoonosis, scrub typhus. However, several other pathogens (e.g., Hantaan orthohantavirus, Dabie bandavirus, Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., and Rickettsia spp.) and bacterial symbionts (e.g., Cardinium, Rickettsiella, and Wolbachia) are being reported from chiggers with increasing frequency. Here, we explore the surprisingly diverse chigger microbiota and potential interactions within this microcosm. Key conclusions include a possible role for chiggers as vectors of viral diseases; the dominance in some chigger populations of unidentified symbionts in several bacterial families; and increasing evidence for vertical transmission of potential pathogens and symbiotic bacteria in chiggers, suggesting intimate interactions and not simply incidental acquisition of bacteria from the environment or host.}, } @article {pmid37270071, year = {2023}, author = {Fardi, F and Bahari Khasraghi, L and Shahbakhti, N and Salami Naseriyan, A and Najafi, S and Sanaaee, S and Alipourfard, I and Zamany, M and Karamipour, S and Jahani, M and Majidpoor, J and Kalhor, K and Talebi, M and Mohsen Aghaei-Zarch, S}, title = {An interplay between non-coding RNAs and gut microbiota in human health.}, journal = {Diabetes research and clinical practice}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {110739}, doi = {10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110739}, pmid = {37270071}, issn = {1872-8227}, abstract = {Humans have a complicated symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiome, which is postulated to impact host health and disease broadly. Epigenetic alterations allow host cells to regulate gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. The gut microbiome, offering environmental hints, can influence responses to stimuli by host cells with modifications on their epigenome and gene expression. Recent increasing data suggest that regulatory non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long lncRNA) may affect host-microbe interactions. These RNAs have been suggested as potential host response biomarkers in microbiome-associated disorders, including diabetes and cancer. This article reviews the current understanding of the interplay between gut microbiota and non-coding RNA, including lncRNA, miRNA, and circular RNA. This can lead to a profound understanding of human disease and influence therapy. Furthermore, microbiome engineering as a mainstream strategy for improving human health has been discussed and confirms the hypothesis about a direct cross-talk between microbiome composition and non-coding RNA.}, } @article {pmid37269952, year = {2023}, author = {Nakamura, S and Kurata, R and Tonozuka, T and Funane, K and Park, EY and Miyazaki, T}, title = {Bacteroidota polysaccharide utilization system for branched dextran exopolysaccharides from lactic acid bacteria.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104885}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104885}, pmid = {37269952}, issn = {1083-351X}, abstract = {Dextran is an α-(1→6)-glucan that is synthesized by some lactic acid bacteria, and branched dextran with α-(1→2)-, α-(1→3)-, and α-(1→4)-linkages are often produced. Although many dextranases are known to act on the α-(1→6)-linkage of dextran, few studies have functionally analyzed the proteins involved in degrading branched dextran. The mechanism by which bacteria utilize branched dextran is unknown. Earlier, we identified dextranase (FjDex31A) and kojibiose hydrolase (FjGH65A) in the dextran utilization locus (FjDexUL) of a soil Bacteroidota Flavobacterium johnsoniae and hypothesized that FjDexUL is involved in the degradation of α-(1→2)-branched dextran. In this study, we demonstrate that FjDexUL proteins recognize and degrade α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-branched dextrans produced by Leuconostoc citreum S-32 (S-32 α-glucan). The FjDexUL gene was significantly upregulated when S-32 α-glucan was the carbon source compared with α-glucooligosaccharides and α-glucans, such as linear dextran and branched α-glucan from L. citreum S-64. FjDexUL GHs synergistically degraded S-32 α-glucan. The crystal structure of FjGH66 shows that some sugar-binding subsites can accommodate α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-branches. The structure of FjGH65A in complex with isomaltose supports that FjGH65A acts on α-(1→2)-glucosyl isomaltooligosaccharides. Furthermore, two cell surface sugar-binding proteins (FjDusD and FjDusE) were characterized, and FjDusD showed affinity for isomaltooligosaccharides and FjDusE for dextran, including linear and branched dextrans. Collectively, FjDexUL proteins are suggested to be involved in the degradation of α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-branched dextrans. Our results will be helpful in understanding the bacterial nutrient requirements and symbiotic relationships between bacteria at the molecular level.}, } @article {pmid37269821, year = {2023}, author = {Pacheco, R and Quinto, C}, title = {Corrigendum to "Phospholipase Ds in plants: Their role in pathogenic and symbiotic interactions" [Plant Physiol. Biochem. 173 (2022) 76-86].}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {107789}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107789}, pmid = {37269821}, issn = {1873-2690}, } @article {pmid37269424, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, Z and Wang, L and Kelley, K and Jones, JB and Tillman, B and Wang, J}, title = {GFP labeling of a Bradyrhizobium strain and an attempt to track the crack entry process during symbiosis with peanuts.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {219}, pmid = {37269424}, issn = {1573-0972}, abstract = {Compared to the well-studied model legumes, where symbiosis is established via root hair entry, the peanut is infected by Bradyrhizobium through the crack entry, which is less common and not fully understood. Crack entry is, however, considered a primitive symbiotic infection pathway, which could be potentially utilized for engineering non-legume species with nitrogen fixation ability. We utilized a fluorescence-labeled Bradyrhizobium strain to help in understanding the crack entry process at the cellular level. A modified plasmid pRJPaph-bjGFP, harboring the codon-optimized GFP gene and tetracycline resistance gene, was created and conjugated into Bradyrhizobium strain Lb8, an isolate from peanut nodules, through tri-parental mating. Microscopic observation and peanut inoculation assays confirmed the successful GFP tagging of Lb8, which is capable of generating root nodules. A marking system for peanut root potential infection sites and an optimized sample preparation protocol for cryostat sectioning was developed. The feasibility of using the GFP-tagged Lb8 for observing crack entry was examined. GFP signal was detected at the nodule primordial stage and the following nodule developmental stages with robust GFP signals observed in infected cells in the mature nodules. Spherical bacteroids in the root tissue were visualized at the nodules' inner cortex under higher magnification, reflecting the trace along the rhizobial infection path. The GFP labeled Lb8 can serve as an essential tool for plant-microbe studies between the cultivated peanut and Bradyrhizobium, which could facilitate further study of the crack entry process during the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37268692, year = {2023}, author = {de Souza, MR and Caruso, C and Ruiz-Jones, L and Drury, C and Gates, RD and Toonen, RJ}, title = {Importance of depth and temperature variability as drivers of coral symbiont composition despite a mass bleaching event.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {8957}, pmid = {37268692}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Coral reefs are iconic examples of climate change impacts because climate-induced heat stress causes the breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis leading to a spectacular loss of color, termed 'coral bleaching'. To examine the fine-scale dynamics of this process, we re-sampled 600 individually marked Montipora capitata colonies from across Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i and compared the algal symbiont composition before and after the 2019 bleaching event. The relative proportion of the heat-tolerant symbiont Durusdinium in corals increased in most parts of the bay following the bleaching event. Despite this widespread increase in abundance of Durusdinium, the overall algal symbiont community composition was largely unchanged, and hydrodynamically defined regions of the bay retained their distinct pre-bleaching compositions. We explain ~ 21% of the total variation, of which depth and temperature variability were the most significant environmental drivers of Symbiodiniaceae community composition by site regardless of bleaching intensity or change in relative proportion of Durusdinium. We hypothesize that the plasticity of symbiont composition in corals may be constrained to adaptively match the long-term environmental conditions surrounding the holobiont, despite an individual coral's stress and bleaching response.}, } @article {pmid37267765, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, G and Hou, R and Li, T and Fu, Q and Wang, J and Zhou, W and Su, Z and Shen, W and Wang, Y}, title = {Effects of biochar and freeze‒thaw cycles on the bacterial community and multifunctionality in a cold black soil area.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {342}, number = {}, pages = {118302}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118302}, pmid = {37267765}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Global climate change has altered soil freeze‒thaw cycle events, and little is known about soil microbe response to and multifunctionality regarding freeze‒thaw cycles. Therefore, in this study, biochar was used as a material to place under seasonal freeze-thaw cycling conditions. The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of biochar to regulate the function of freeze-thaw soil cycles to ensure spring sowing and food production. The results showed that biochar significantly increased the richness and diversity of soil bacteria before and after freezing-thawing. In the freezing period, the B50 treatment had the greatest improvement effect (2.6% and 5.5%, respectively), while in the thawing period, the B75 treatment had the best improvement effect. Biochar changed the composition and distribution characteristics of the bacterial structure and enhanced the multifunctionality of freeze-thaw soil and the stability of the bacterial symbiotic network. Compared with the CK treatment, the topological characteristics of the bacterial ecological network of the B50 treatment increased the most. They were 0.89 (Avg.degree), 9.79 (Modularity), 9 (Nodes), and 255 (Links). The freeze-thaw cycle decreased the richness and diversity of the bacterial community and changed the composition and distribution of the bacterial community, and the total bacterial population decreased by 658 (CK), 394 (B25), 644 (B50) and 86 (B75) during the thawing period compared with the freezing period. The soil multifunctionality in the freezing period was higher than that during the thawing period, indicating that the freeze-thaw cycle reduced soil ecological function. From the perspective of abiotic analysis, the decrease in soil multifunctionality was due to the decrease in soil nutrients, enzyme activities, soil basic respiration and other singular functions. From the perspective of bacteria, the decrease in soil multifunctionality was mainly due to the change in the Actinobacteriota group. This work expands the understanding of biochar ecology in cold black soil. These results are conducive to the sustainable development of soil ecological function in cold regions and ultimately ensure crop growth and food productivity.}, } @article {pmid37266781, year = {2023}, author = {Yazıcı, E and Alakaş, HM and Eren, T}, title = {Prioritizing of sectors for establishing a sustainable industrial symbiosis network with Pythagorean fuzzy AHP- Pythagorean fuzzy TOPSIS method: a case of industrial park in Ankara.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37266781}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Difficulty in accessing resources and increasing environmental concerns encourage industrial manufacturing enterprises to establish a symbiosis network. The identification of symbiotic relationships contributes to the more sustainable development of industrial activities. However, businesses operating in industrial parks are diversified by sector. In order to establish a sustainable symbiosis network in industrial parks, the symbiotic relations of each sector in industrial parks should be evaluated separately. Thus, the installation process of the symbiosis network will be easier and more sustainable. In this context, this study aims to prioritize the sector in which a symbiosis network will be established by presenting an innovative approach for the evaluation of symbiosis potentials. For this purpose, criteria for the implementation process affecting the establishment of the symbiosis network were determined. Multi-criteria decision-making methods were used to solve the problem. Considering the uncertainties in the process, fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making methods were used. As a result, a decision-making model has been proposed to determine the priority sector in order to establish a symbiosis network in industrial parks. According to the results obtained with the multi-criteria decision-making methods, the number of enterprises that will evaluate the waste, that is, the number of customers with waste, has been determined as the criterion with the highest level of importance. While evaluating the alternatives, the casting sector was chosen as a priority. This sector is followed by the petro and chemical sector as the second alternative.}, } @article {pmid37266040, year = {2023}, author = {Rodrigues, J and Lefoulon, E and Gavotte, L and Perillat-Sanguinet, M and Makepeace, B and Martin, C and D'Haese, CA}, title = {Wolbachia springs eternal: symbiosis in Collembola is associated with host ecology.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {230288}, doi = {10.1098/rsos.230288}, pmid = {37266040}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Wolbachia are endosymbiotic alpha-proteobacteria infecting a wide range of arthropods and nematode hosts with diverse interactions, from reproductive parasites to obligate mutualists. Their taxonomy is defined by lineages called supergroups (labelled by letters of the alphabet), while their evolutionary history is complex, with multiple horizontal transfers and secondary losses. One of the least recently derived, supergroup E, infects springtails (Collembola), widely distributed hexapods, with sexual and/or parthenogenetic populations depending on species. To better characterize the diversity of Wolbachia infecting springtails, the presence of Wolbachia was screened in 58 species. Eleven (20%) species were found to be positive, with three Wolbachia genotypes identified for the first time in supergroup A. The novel genotypes infect springtails ecologically and biologically different from those infected by supergroup E. To root the Wolbachia phylogeny, rather than distant other Rickettsiales, supergroup L infecting plant-parasitic nematodes was used here. We hypothesize that the ancestor of Wolbachia was consumed by soil-dwelling nematodes, and was transferred horizontally via plants into aphids, which then infected edaphic arthropods (e.g. springtails and oribatid mites) before expanding into most clades of terrestrial arthropods and filarial nematodes.}, } @article {pmid37266039, year = {2023}, author = {Smith, MJ and Geach, JE}, title = {Astronomia ex machina: a history, primer and outlook on neural networks in astronomy.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {221454}, doi = {10.1098/rsos.221454}, pmid = {37266039}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {In this review, we explore the historical development and future prospects of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning in astronomy. We trace the evolution of connectionism in astronomy through its three waves, from the early use of multilayer perceptrons, to the rise of convolutional and recurrent neural networks, and finally to the current era of unsupervised and generative deep learning methods. With the exponential growth of astronomical data, deep learning techniques offer an unprecedented opportunity to uncover valuable insights and tackle previously intractable problems. As we enter the anticipated fourth wave of astronomical connectionism, we argue for the adoption of GPT-like foundation models fine-tuned for astronomical applications. Such models could harness the wealth of high-quality, multimodal astronomical data to serve state-of-the-art downstream tasks. To keep pace with advancements driven by Big Tech, we propose a collaborative, open-source approach within the astronomy community to develop and maintain these foundation models, fostering a symbiotic relationship between AI and astronomy that capitalizes on the unique strengths of both fields.}, } @article {pmid37266019, year = {2023}, author = {Gu, Y and Han, W and Wang, Y and Liang, D and Gao, J and Zhong, Y and Zhao, S and Wang, S}, title = {Xylocopa caerulea and Xylocopa auripennis harbor a homologous gut microbiome related to that of eusocial bees.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1124964}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124964}, pmid = {37266019}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Eusocial bees, such as bumblebees and honey bees, harbor host-specific gut microbiota through their social behaviors. Conversely, the gut microbiota of solitary bees is erratic owing to their lack of eusocial activities. Carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa) are long-lived bees that do not exhibit advanced eusociality like honey bees. However, they often compete for nests to reproduce. Xylocopa caerulea and Xylocopa auripennis are important pollinators of wild plants on Hainan Island. Whether they have host-specific bacteria in their guts similar to eusocial bees remains unknown.

METHODS: We targeted the bacterial 16S rRNA V3-V4 region to investigate the diversity of bacterial symbionts in the fore-midgut and hindgut of two carpenter bees, X. caerulea and X. auripennis.

RESULTS: A maximum of 4,429 unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected from all samples, belonging to 10 different phyla. X. caerulea and X. auripennis shared similar bacterial community profiles, with Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and Orbaceae being dominant in their entire guts. X. caerulea and X. auripennis harbor a highly conserved core set of bacteria, including the genera Candidatus Schmidhempelia and Bombiscardovia. These two bacterial taxa from carpenter bees are closely related to those isolated from bumblebees. The LEfSe analysis showed that Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and the genus Bombilactobacillus were significantly enriched in the hindguts of both carpenter bees. Functional prediction suggested that the most enriched pathways were involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed the structure of the gut microbiota in two carpenter bees and confirmed the presence of some core bacterial taxa that were previously only found in the guts of social bees.}, } @article {pmid37265684, year = {2023}, author = {N M Furtado, A and Leonardi, M and Comandini, O and Neves, MA and C Rinaldi, A}, title = {Restinga ectomycorrhizae: a work in progress.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {317}, doi = {10.12688/f1000research.131558.1}, pmid = {37265684}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {Background: The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse terrestrial ecoregions of the world. Among its constituents, restinga vegetation makes a particular case, acting as a buffer zone between the oceans and the forest. Covering some 80% of Brazilian coastline (over 7,300 km in length), restinga is a harsh environment where plants and fungi interact in complex ways that just now are beginning to be unveiled. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, in particular, plays a so far ungauged and likely underestimated role. We recently described the morpho-anatomical and molecular features of the ectomycorrhizae formed by several basidiomycetous mycobionts on the host plant Guapira opposita, but the mycorrhizal biology of restinga is still largely unexplored. Here, we report new data on the ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of G. opposita, based on the collection of sporomata and ectomycorrhizal root tips in restinga stands occurring in southern Brazil. Methods: To obtain a broader view of restinga mycorrhizal and ecological potential, we compiled a comprehensive and up-to-date checklist of fungal species reported or supposed to establish ectomycorrhizae on restinga-inhabiting host plants, mainly on the basis of field observations. Results: Our list comprises some 726 records, 74 of which correspond to putative ectomycorrhizal taxa specifically associated with restinga. These include several members of Boletaceae, Amanita, Tomentella/ Thelephora, Russula/ Lactifluus, and Clavulina, as well as hypogeous fungi, like the recently described Longistriata flava. Conclusions: Our survey reveals a significant diversity of the restinga ectomycorrhizal mycobiota, indicating the importance of this symbiosis for the ecological functioning of a unique yet poorly known and threatened ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid37264534, year = {2023}, author = {Windsor, FM}, title = {Expanding network ecology in freshwater ecosystems.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13947}, pmid = {37264534}, issn = {1365-2656}, abstract = {Research in freshwater ecosystems has always had a strong focus on ecological interactions. The vast majority of studies, however, have investigated trophic interactions and food webs, overlooking a wider suite of non-trophic interactions (e.g. facilitation, competition, symbiosis and parasitism) and the ecological networks they form. Without a complete understanding of all potential interactions, ranging from mutualistic through to antagonistic, we may be missing important ecological processes with consequences for ecosystem assembly, structure and function. Ecological networks can be constructed at different scales, from genes to ecosystems, but also local to global, and as such there is significant opportunity to put them to work in freshwater research. To expand beyond food webs, we need to leverage technological and methodological advances and look to recent research in marine and terrestrial systems-which are far more advanced in terms of detecting, measuring and contextualising ecological interactions. Future studies should look to emerging technologies to aid in merging the wide range of ecological interactions in freshwater ecosystems into networks to advance our understanding and ultimately increase the efficacy of conservation, management, restoration and other applications.}, } @article {pmid37263270, year = {2023}, author = {Yee, DP and Samo, TJ and Abbriano, RM and Shimasaki, B and Vernet, M and Mayali, X and Weber, PK and Mitchell, BG and Hildebrand, M and Decelle, J and Tresguerres, M}, title = {The V-type ATPase enhances photosynthesis in marine phytoplankton and further links phagocytosis to symbiogenesis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.020}, pmid = {37263270}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophores are dominant groups of marine eukaryotic phytoplankton that are collectively responsible for the majority of primary production in the ocean.[1] These phytoplankton contain additional intracellular membranes around their chloroplasts, which are derived from ancestral engulfment of red microalgae by unicellular heterotrophic eukaryotes that led to secondary and tertiary endosymbiosis.[2] However, the selectable evolutionary advantage of these membranes and the physiological significance for extant phytoplankton remain poorly understood. Since intracellular digestive vacuoles are ubiquitously acidified by V-type H[+]-ATPase (VHA),[3] proton pumps were proposed to acidify the microenvironment around secondary chloroplasts to promote the dehydration of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) into CO2, thus enhancing photosynthesis.[4][,][5] We report that VHA is localized around the chloroplasts of centric diatoms and that VHA significantly contributes to their photosynthesis across a wide range of oceanic irradiances. Similar results in a pennate diatom, dinoflagellate, and coccolithophore, but not green or red microalgae, imply the co-option of phagocytic VHA activity into a carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) is common to secondary endosymbiotic phytoplankton. Furthermore, analogous mechanisms in extant photosymbiotic marine invertebrates[6][,][7][,][8] provide functional evidence for an adaptive advantage throughout the transition from endosymbiosis to symbiogenesis. Based on the contribution of diatoms to ocean biogeochemical cycles, VHA-mediated enhancement of photosynthesis contributes at least 3.5 Gtons of fixed carbon per year (or 7% of primary production in the ocean), providing an example of a symbiosis-derived evolutionary innovation with global environmental implications.}, } @article {pmid37264474, year = {2023}, author = {Wicaksono, WA and Semler, B and Pöltl, M and Berg, C and Berg, G and Cernava, T}, title = {The microbiome of Riccia liverworts is an important reservoir for microbial diversity in temporary agricultural crusts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {37264474}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbiota of liverworts provides an interesting model for plant symbioses; however, their microbiome assembly is not yet understood. Here, we assessed specific factors that shape microbial communities associated with Riccia temporary agricultural crusts in harvested fields by investigating bacterial, fungal and archaeal communities in thalli and adhering soil from different field sites in Styria and Burgenland, Austria combining qPCR analyses, amplicon sequencing and advanced microscopy.

RESULTS: Riccia spec. div. was colonized by a very high abundance of bacteria (10[10] 16S rRNA gene copies per g of thallus) as well as archaea and fungi (10[8] ITS copies per g of thallus). Each Riccia thallus contain approx. 1000 prokaryotic and fungal ASVs. The field type was the main driver for the enrichment of fungal taxa, likely due to an imprint on soil microbiomes by the cultivated crop plants. This was shown by a higher fungal richness and different fungal community compositions comparing liverwort samples collected from pumpkin fields, with those from corn fields. In contrast, bacterial communities linked to liverworts are highly specialized and the soil attached to them is not a significant source of these bacteria. Specifically, enriched Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Methylobacteria suggest a symbiotic interaction. Intriguingly, compared to the surrounding soil, the thallus samples were shown to enrich several well-known bacterial and fungal phytopathogens indicating an undescribed role of liverworts as potential reservoirs of crop pathogens.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that a stable bacterial community but varying fungal communities are colonizing liverwort thalli. Post-harvest, temporary agricultural biocrusts are important reservoirs for microbial biodiversity but they have to be considered as potential reservoirs for pathogens as well.}, } @article {pmid37264469, year = {2023}, author = {Sen, A and Tanguy, G and Galand, PE and Andersen, AC and Hourdez, S}, title = {Bacterial symbiont diversity in Arctic seep Oligobrachia siboglinids.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {37264469}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: High latitude seeps are dominated by Oligobrachia siboglinid worms. Since these worms are often the sole chemosymbiotrophic taxon present (they host chemosynthetic bacteria within the trophosome organ in their trunk region), a key question in the study of high latitude seep ecology has been whether they harbor methanotrophic symbionts. This debate has manifested due to the mismatch between stable carbon isotope signatures of the worms (lower than -50‰ and usually indicative of methanotrophic symbioses) and the lack of molecular or microscopic evidence for methanotrophic symbionts. Two hypotheses have circulated to explain this paradox: (1) the uptake of sediment carbon compounds with depleted δC[13] values from the seep environment, and (2) a small, but significant and difficult to detect population of methanotrophic symbionts. We conducted 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 regions on two species of northern seep Oligobrachia (Oligobrachia webbi and Oligobrachia sp. CPL-clade), from four different high latitude sites, to investigate the latter hypothesis. We also visually checked the worms' symbiotic bacteria within the symbiont-hosting organ, the trophosome, through transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS: The vast majority of the obtained reads corresponded to sulfide-oxidizers and only a very small proportion of the reads pertained to methane-oxidizers, which suggests a lack of methanotrophic symbionts. A number of sulfur oxidizing bacterial strains were recovered from the different worms, however, host individuals tended to possess a single strain, or sometimes two closely-related strains. However, strains did not correspond specifically with either of the two Oligobrachia species we investigated. Water depth could play a role in determining local sediment bacterial communities that were opportunistically taken up by the worms. Bacteria were abundant in non-trophosome (and thereby symbiont-free) tissue and are likely epibiotic or tube bacterial communities.

CONCLUSIONS: The absence of methanotrophic bacterial sequences in the trophosome of Arctic and north Atlantic seep Oligobrachia likely indicates a lack of methanotrophic symbionts in these worms, which suggests that nutrition is sulfur-based. This is turn implies that sediment carbon uptake is responsible for the low δ[13]C values of these animals. Furthermore, endosymbiotic partners could be locally determined, and possibly only represent a fraction of all bacterial sequences obtained from tissues of these (and other) species of frenulates.}, } @article {pmid37264421, year = {2023}, author = {Noel, B and Denoeud, F and Rouan, A and Buitrago-López, C and Capasso, L and Poulain, J and Boissin, E and Pousse, M and Da Silva, C and Couloux, A and Armstrong, E and Carradec, Q and Cruaud, C and Labadie, K and Lê-Hoang, J and Tambutté, S and Barbe, V and Moulin, C and Bourdin, G and Iwankow, G and Romac, S and Agostini, S and Banaigs, B and Boss, E and Bowler, C and de Vargas, C and Douville, E and Flores, JM and Forcioli, D and Furla, P and Galand, PE and Lombard, F and Pesant, S and Reynaud, S and Sullivan, MB and Sunagawa, S and Thomas, OP and Troublé, R and Thurber, RV and Allemand, D and Planes, S and Gilson, E and Zoccola, D and Wincker, P and Voolstra, CR and Aury, JM}, title = {Pervasive tandem duplications and convergent evolution shape coral genomes.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {123}, pmid = {37264421}, issn = {1474-760X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Over the last decade, several coral genomes have been sequenced allowing a better understanding of these symbiotic organisms threatened by climate change. Scleractinian corals are reef builders and are central to coral reef ecosystems, providing habitat to a great diversity of species.

RESULTS: In the frame of the Tara Pacific expedition, we assemble two coral genomes, Porites lobata and Pocillopora cf. effusa, with vastly improved contiguity that allows us to study the functional organization of these genomes. We annotate their gene catalog and report a relatively higher gene number than that found in other public coral genome sequences, 43,000 and 32,000 genes, respectively. This finding is explained by a high number of tandemly duplicated genes, accounting for almost a third of the predicted genes. We show that these duplicated genes originate from multiple and distinct duplication events throughout the coral lineage. They contribute to the amplification of gene families, mostly related to the immune system and disease resistance, which we suggest to be functionally linked to coral host resilience.

CONCLUSIONS: At large, we show the importance of duplicated genes to inform the biology of reef-building corals and provide novel avenues to understand and screen for differences in stress resilience.}, } @article {pmid37264063, year = {2023}, author = {Veglia, AJ and Bistolas, KSI and Voolstra, CR and Hume, BCC and Ruscheweyh, HJ and Planes, S and Allemand, D and Boissin, E and Wincker, P and Poulain, J and Moulin, C and Bourdin, G and Iwankow, G and Romac, S and Agostini, S and Banaigs, B and Boss, E and Bowler, C and de Vargas, C and Douville, E and Flores, M and Forcioli, D and Furla, P and Galand, PE and Gilson, E and Lombard, F and Pesant, S and Reynaud, S and Sunagawa, S and Thomas, OP and Troublé, R and Zoccola, D and Correa, AMS and Vega Thurber, RL}, title = {Endogenous viral elements reveal associations between a non-retroviral RNA virus and symbiotic dinoflagellate genomes.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {566}, pmid = {37264063}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) offer insight into the evolutionary histories and hosts of contemporary viruses. This study leveraged DNA metagenomics and genomics to detect and infer the host of a non-retroviral dinoflagellate-infecting +ssRNA virus (dinoRNAV) common in coral reefs. As part of the Tara Pacific Expedition, this study surveyed 269 newly sequenced cnidarians and their resident symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae), associated metabarcodes, and publicly available metagenomes, revealing 178 dinoRNAV EVEs, predominantly among hydrocoral-dinoflagellate metagenomes. Putative associations between Symbiodiniaceae and dinoRNAV EVEs were corroborated by the characterization of dinoRNAV-like sequences in 17 of 18 scaffold-scale and one chromosome-scale dinoflagellate genome assembly, flanked by characteristically cellular sequences and in proximity to retroelements, suggesting potential mechanisms of integration. EVEs were not detected in dinoflagellate-free (aposymbiotic) cnidarian genome assemblies, including stony corals, hydrocorals, jellyfish, or seawater. The pervasive nature of dinoRNAV EVEs within dinoflagellate genomes (especially Symbiodinium), as well as their inconsistent within-genome distribution and fragmented nature, suggest ancestral or recurrent integration of this virus with variable conservation. Broadly, these findings illustrate how +ssRNA viruses may obscure their genomes as members of nested symbioses, with implications for host evolution, exaptation, and immunity in the context of reef health and disease.}, } @article {pmid37264047, year = {2023}, author = {Belser, C and Poulain, J and Labadie, K and Gavory, F and Alberti, A and Guy, J and Carradec, Q and Cruaud, C and Da Silva, C and Engelen, S and Mielle, P and Perdereau, A and Samson, G and Gas, S and , and Voolstra, CR and Galand, PE and Flores, JM and Hume, BCC and Perna, G and Ziegler, M and Ruscheweyh, HJ and Boissin, E and Romac, S and Bourdin, G and Iwankow, G and Moulin, C and Paz García, DA and Agostini, S and Banaigs, B and Boss, E and Bowler, C and de Vargas, C and Douville, E and Forcioli, D and Furla, P and Gilson, E and Lombard, F and Pesant, S and Reynaud, S and Sunagawa, S and Thomas, OP and Troublé, R and Thurber, RV and Zoccola, D and Scarpelli, C and Jacoby, EK and Oliveira, PH and Aury, JM and Allemand, D and Planes, S and Wincker, P}, title = {Integrative omics framework for characterization of coral reef ecosystems from the Tara Pacific expedition.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {326}, pmid = {37264047}, issn = {2052-4463}, abstract = {Coral reef science is a fast-growing field propelled by the need to better understand coral health and resilience to devise strategies to slow reef loss resulting from environmental stresses. Key to coral resilience are the symbiotic interactions established within a complex holobiont, i.e. the multipartite assemblages comprising the coral host organism, endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. Tara Pacific is an ambitious project built upon the experience of previous Tara Oceans expeditions, and leveraging state-of-the-art sequencing technologies and analyses to dissect the biodiversity and biocomplexity of the coral holobiont screened across most archipelagos spread throughout the entire Pacific Ocean. Here we detail the Tara Pacific workflow for multi-omics data generation, from sample handling to nucleotide sequence data generation and deposition. This unique multidimensional framework also includes a large amount of concomitant metadata collected side-by-side that provide new assessments of coral reef biodiversity including micro-biodiversity and shape future investigations of coral reef dynamics and their fate in the Anthropocene.}, } @article {pmid37261548, year = {2023}, author = {Hong, H and Wang, L and Qi, Y}, title = {Characteristics of the oropharyngeal microbiota among infants with pneumonia and their effects on immune response and subsequent respiratory morbidity.}, journal = {European journal of pediatrics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37261548}, issn = {1432-1076}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Changes in airway microbiota among infants with pneumonia and their impact on subsequent respiratory health are largely unknown. The present study aimed to analyze the oropharyngeal microbiota of infants with pneumonia and to explore the impact of disturbances of the microbiota on disease severity and long-term respiratory morbidities. The oropharyngeal microbiome was characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA-based sequencing, while serum immune mediators were assessed using cytometric bead array, and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells were detected using flow cytometry in infants with pneumonia < 6 months of age. Patients were followed up to 3 years of age, and clinical and respiratory morbidity data were collected. A total of 106 infants with pneumonia were enrolled in this study. Diversity of the respiratory microbiota was inversely correlated with the severity of pneumonia and length of hospitalization. Patients who experienced wheezing during pneumonia exhibited lower percentages of total iNKT cells, CD8-positive (+), and CD4-CD8- subsets, and higher CD4 + subsets than those without. The relative abundances of Prevotella and Veillonella species were lower in patients with severe pneumonia. The abundance of Veillonella was higher in patients who experienced wheezing during pneumonia and in those with subsequent recurrent wheezing than in those without wheezing. The relative abundance and total counts of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Neisseria were higher in patients who did not experience subsequent recurrent wheezing.

CONCLUSIONS: Diversity of the respiratory microbiota was inversely associated with pneumonia severity, and the percentage of iNKT cells was associated with wheezing during pneumonia. Several species may be associated with subsequent respiratory morbidities and warrant further investigation.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • Early life airway microbiota symbiosis affects the severity of respiratory infection and the risk for the development of asthma. • Changes in airway microbiota among infants with pneumonia and their impact on subsequent respiratory health are largely unknown.

WHAT IS NEW: • The diversity of the airway microbiome was inversely associated with the severity of pneumonia and length of hospitalization. • The abundance of Veillonella was higher in patients who experienced wheezing during pneumonia and in those with subsequent recurrent wheezing.}, } @article {pmid37260705, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, Y and Lin, Y and Li, M and He, J}, title = {Roles of Streptococcus mutans-Candida albicans interaction in early childhood caries: a literature review.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1151532}, pmid = {37260705}, issn = {2235-2988}, abstract = {As one of the most common oral diseases in kids, early childhood caries affects the health of children throughout the world. Clinical investigations show the copresence of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans in ECC lesions, and mechanistic studies reveal co-existence of C. albicans and S. mutans affects both of their cariogenicity. Clearly a comprehensive understanding of the interkingdom interaction between these two microorganisms has important implications for ECC treatment and prevention. To this end, this review summarizes advances in our understanding of the virulence of both C. albicans and S. mutans. More importantly, the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between these two microbes are discussed.}, } @article {pmid37260681, year = {2023}, author = {Ballesteros-Gutiérrez, M and Albareda, M and Barbas, C and López-Gonzálvez, Á and Dunn, MF and Palacios, JM}, title = {A host-specific diaminobutyrate aminotransferase contributes to symbiotic performance, homoserine metabolism, and competitiveness in the Rhizobium leguminosarum/Pisum sativum system.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1182563}, pmid = {37260681}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae (Rlv) UPM791 effectively nodulates pea and lentil, but bacteroids contain a number of proteins differentially expressed depending on the host. One of these host-dependent proteins (C189) is similar to a diaminobutyrate-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (DABA-AT). DABA-AT activity was demonstrated with cell extracts and with purified protein, so C189 was renamed as Dat. The dat gene was strongly induced in the central, active area of pea nodules, but not in lentil. Mutants defective in dat were impaired in symbiotic performance with pea plants, exhibiting reduced shoot dry weight, smaller nodules, and a lower competitiveness for nodulation. In contrast, there were no significant differences between mutant and wild-type in symbiosis with lentil plants. A comparative metabolomic approach using cell-free extracts from bacteroids induced in pea and lentil showed significant differences among the strains in pea bacteroids whereas no significant differences were found in lentil. Targeted metabolomic analysis revealed that the dat mutation abolished the presence of 2,4-diaminobutyrate (DABA) in pea nodules, indicating that DABA-AT reaction is oriented toward the production of DABA from L-aspartate semialdehyde. This analysis also showed the presence of L-homoserine, a likely source of aspartate semialdehyde, in pea bacteroids but not in those induced in lentil. The dat mutant showed impaired growth when cells were grown with L-homoserine as nitrogen source. Inclusion of DABA or L-homoserine as N source suppressed pantothenate auxotropy in Rlv UPM791, suggesting DABA as source of the pantothenate precursor β-alanine. These data indicate that Rlv UPM791 Dat enzyme is part of an adaptation mechanism of this bacterium to a homoserine-rich environment such as pea nodule and rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid37258653, year = {2023}, author = {Garritano, AN and Majzoub, ME and Ribeiro, B and Damasceno, T and Modolon, F and Messias, C and Vilela, C and Duarte, G and Hill, L and Peixoto, R and Thomas, T}, title = {Species-specific relationships between deep sea sponges and their symbiotic Nitrosopumilaceae.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37258653}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Sponges thrive in the deep, dark and nutrient-depleted ocean and may rely on microbial symbionts for carbon acquisition and energy generation. However, these symbiotic relationships remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyze the microbiome of deep-sea sponges and show that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) of the family Nitrosopumilaceae make up at least 75% of the microbial communities of the sponges Aphrocallistes sp., Farrea sp. and Paratimea sp.. Given the known autotrophic metabolism of AOAs, this implies that these sponge holobionts can have the capacity for primary production in the deep-sea. We also show that specific AOA lineages are highly specific towards their hosts, hinting towards an unprecedent vertical transmission of these symbionts in deep-sea sponges. Our results show that the ecology and evolution of symbiotic relationships in deep-sea sponge is distinct from that of their shallow-water counterparts.}, } @article {pmid37257494, year = {2023}, author = {Teulet, A and Quan, C and Evangelisti, E and Wanke, A and Yang, W and Schornack, S}, title = {A pathogen effector FOLD diversified in symbiotic fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18996}, pmid = {37257494}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Pathogenic fungi use secreted effector proteins to suppress immunity and support their infection, but effectors have also been reported from fungi that engage in nutritional symbioses with plants. Sequence-based effector comparisons between pathogens and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are hampered by the huge diversity of effector sequences even within closely related microbes. To find sequence-divergent but structurally similar effectors shared between symbiotic and pathogenic fungi, we compared secreted protein structure models of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis to known pathogen effectors. We identified proteins with structural similarity to known Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici dual domain (FOLD) effectors, which occur in low numbers in several fungal pathogens. Contrastingly, FOLD genes from AM fungi (MycFOLDs) are found in enlarged and diversified gene families with higher levels of positive selection in their C-terminal domains. Our structure model comparison suggests that MycFOLDs are similar to carbohydrate-binding motifs. Different MycFOLD genes are expressed during colonisation of different hosts and MycFOLD-17 transcripts accumulate in plant intracellular arbuscules. The exclusive presence of MycFOLDs across unrelated plant-colonising fungi, their inducible expression, lineage-specific sequence diversification and transcripts in arbuscules suggest that FOLD proteins act as effectors during plant colonisation of symbiotic and pathogenic fungi.}, } @article {pmid37257100, year = {2023}, author = {Costa-Conceicao, K and Villamar Ayala, CA and Dávila, T and Gallardo, MC}, title = {Performance of hybrid biofilter based on rice husks/sawdust treating grey wastewater.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {87}, number = {10}, pages = {2416-2431}, doi = {10.2166/wst.2023.132}, pmid = {37257100}, issn = {0273-1223}, abstract = {An innovative nature-based technology for wastewater treatment is the hybrid biofiltration, which combines complex symbiotic relationships between plants, earthworms and microorganisms with adequate support components. This latter could be optimized using organic supports. The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance of hybrid biofilters based on rice husks/sawdust treating grey wastewater from mining camps. Four biofilters using an active layer (rice husks/sawdust: 50/50%, v/v) at 60(B60) and 45(B45) cm height and operating for 64 days at a hydraulic loading rate between 1 and 5 m[3]/m[2]d were monitored. Eisenia foetida Savigny and Cyperus papyrus L. were used as a biotic component. COD, N-NH4[+], NO3[-], NO2[-], PO4[3-] and fecal coliforms were weekly monitored. Results showed that the most efficient HB was using 60 cm as an active layer and operating at 3 m[3]/m[2]d, which reported average removal efficiencies for COD, NH4[+], NO3[-], PO4[3-] and fecal coliforms up to 85, 89, 47, 49 and 99.9%, respectively. Organic support improved the rate growth for Cyperus papirus L. and E. foetida Savigny up to 50%. Hybrid biofiltration using organic residues is low-cost, providing all-encompassing operational and performance features, improving the wastewater reclamation opportunities.}, } @article {pmid37256571, year = {2023}, author = {Mihirogi, Y and Kaneda, M and Yamagishi, D and Ishii, Y and Maruyama, S and Nakamura, S and Shimoyama, N and Oohori, C and Hatta, M}, title = {Establishment of a New Model Sea Anemone for Comparative Studies on Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {235-245}, doi = {10.2108/zs220099}, pmid = {37256571}, issn = {0289-0003}, abstract = {Frequent coral bleaching has drawn attention to the mechanisms of coral dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. Owing to the difficulty of rearing corals in the laboratory, model symbiosis systems are desired. The sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, hosting clade B1 of the genus Breviolum, has long been studied as a model system; however, a single species is insufficient for comparative studies and thus provides only limited resources for symbiosis research, especially regarding the specificity of host-symbiont associations. We established a clonal strain of the sea anemone Anthopleura atodai, whose symbiont was identified as a novel subclade of Symbiodinium (clade A) using a novel feeding method. We also developed a method to efficiently bleach various sea anemone species using a quinoclamine-based herbicide. Bleached A. atodai polyps were vital and able to reproduce asexually, exhibiting no signs of harmful effects of the drug treatment. Pilot studies have suggested that host-symbiont specificity is influenced by multiple steps differently in A. atodai and E. diaphana. RNAseq analyses of A. atodai showed that multiple NPC2 genes were expressed in the symbiotic state, which have been suggested to function in the transport of sterols from symbionts to host cells. These results reveal the usefulness of A. atodai in comparative studies of cnidarian-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37256570, year = {2023}, author = {Kobayashi, G and Itoh, H and Nakajima, N}, title = {Molecular Phylogeny of Thoracotreme Crabs Including Nine Newly Determined Mitochondrial Genomes.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {224-234}, doi = {10.2108/zs220063}, pmid = {37256570}, issn = {0289-0003}, abstract = {Mitochondrial genomes are used widely for the molecular phylogenetic analysis of animals. Although phylogenetic analyses based on the mitogenomes of brachyurans often yield well-resolved phylogenies, most interfamilial phylogenetic relationships in Thoracotremata remain unclear. We determined nine new mitogenomes of Thoracotremata, including mitogenomes of Camptandriidae (Deiratonotus japonicus), Dotillidae (Ilyoplax integra, Ilyoplax pusilla, and Tmethypocoelis choreutes), Macrophthalmidae (Ilyograpsus nodulosus), Pinnotheridae (Arcotheres sp. and Indopinnixa haematosticta), Plagusiidae (Guinusia dentipes), and Percnidae (Percnon planissimum). Interestingly, Percnon planissimum (Percnidae) was found to possess ≥ 19 repeated sequences in the control region. The gene orders of Il. nodulosus, Arcotheres sp., and In. haematosticta were revealed to be unique among thoracotreme crabs. Although the results of Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analyses of three datasets were incongruent, highly supported clades (PP ≥ 0.99 or BS ≥ 99%) were not contradictory among the analyses. All analyses suggested the paraphyly of Grapsoidea and Ocypodoidea, corroborating the findings of previous studies based on molecular phylogenies of thoracotreme crabs. The phylogenetic positions of symbiotic thoracotreme crabs, Pinnotheridae and Cryptochiridae, were highly supported (Pinnotheridae + Ocypodidae and Cryptochiridae + Grapsidae, respectively) for the Bayesian analyses but not for the ML analyses. Analyses of more thoracotreme species' mitogenome sequences in additional studies will further strengthen the framework for thoracotreme evolution.}, } @article {pmid37255460, year = {2023}, author = {Kaur, S and Espinosa-Sáiz, D and Velázquez, E and Menéndez, E and diCenzo, GC}, title = {Complete Genome Sequences of the Species Type Strains Sinorhizobium garamanticum LMG 24692 and Sinorhizobium numidicum LMG 27395 and CIP 109850.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0025123}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00251-23}, pmid = {37255460}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {The genus Sinorhizobium comprises rhizobia that fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes. To support taxonomic studies of this genus and of rhizobia more broadly, we report complete genome sequences and annotations for the species type strains Sinorhizobium garamanticum LMG 24692 and Sinorhizobium numidicum LMG 27395 and CIP 109850.}, } @article {pmid37255432, year = {2023}, author = {Wangthaisong, P and Piromyou, P and Songwattana, P and Wongdee, J and Teamtaisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N}, title = {The Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) Mediates Symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 and Legumes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0004023}, doi = {10.1128/aem.00040-23}, pmid = {37255432}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {There has been little study of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) of bradyrhizobia and its role in legume symbiosis. Therefore, broad host range Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 was selected for study. The chromosome of Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 contains two copies of the T4SS gene, homologous with the tra/trb operons. A phylogenetic tree of the T4SS gene traG was constructed, which exemplified its horizontal transfer among Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium genera. They also showed similar gene arrangements for the tra/trb operons. However, the virD2 gene was not observed in Mesorhizobium, except M. oppotunistum WSM2075. Interestingly, the orientation of copG, traG, and virD2 cluster was unique to the Bradyrhizobium genus. The phylogenetic tree of copG, traG, and virD2 demonstrated that copies 1 and 2 of these genes were grouped in different clades. In addition, the derived mutant and complementation strains of T4SS were investigated in representative legumes Genistoids, Dalbergioids, and Millettiods. When T4SS copy 1 (T4SS1) was deleted, the nodule number and nitrogenase activity decreased. This supports a positive effect of T4SS1 on symbiosis. In addition, delayed nodulation was observed 7 dpi, which was restored by the complementation of T4SS1. Therefore, T4SS plays an important role in the symbiotic interaction between Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 and its leguminous hosts. IMPORTANCE SUTN9-2 is a broad host range strain capable of symbiosis with several legumes. Two copies of T4SS clusters belonging to the tra/trb operon are observed on chromosomes with different gene arrangements. We use phylogenetic tree and gene annotation analysis to predict the evolution of the tra/trb operon of rhizobia. Our finding suggests that the gene encoding the T4SS gene among Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium may have coevolution. In addition, Bradyrhizobium has a uniquely arranged copG, traG, and virD2 gene cluster. The results of T4SS1 gene deletion and complementation revealed its positive effect on nodulation. Therefore, T4SS seems to be another determinant for symbiosis. This is the first report on the role of T4SS in Bradyrhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37254793, year = {2023}, author = {Rich, M}, title = {Phylogenomics reveal that plants colonized land together with their fungal symbiotic partners.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {346}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.5802/crbiol.105}, pmid = {37254793}, issn = {1768-3238}, abstract = {Most extant land plants establish a mutually beneficial relationship with soil fungi called mycorrhizal symbiosis. From their partners, plants get access to mineral nutrient and water resources transported via a fungal network that acts like an extension of their root systems. Using genetic and molecular tools, we showed that distant plant species use similar molecular mechanisms during the symbiosis. This similarity suggests that those mechanisms were inherited from their last common ancestor, a lineage that emerged from an aquatic environment 450 million years ago. Thus, this plant fungal interaction could have helped the first land plants without structures adapted to soil exploration to survive and colonize this new environment.}, } @article {pmid37254790, year = {2023}, author = {López-García, P and Moreira, D}, title = {The symbiotic origin of the eukaryotic cell.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {346}, number = {}, pages = {55-73}, doi = {10.5802/crbiol.118}, pmid = {37254790}, issn = {1768-3238}, abstract = {Eukaryogenesis represented a major evolutionary transition that led to the emergence of complex cells from simpler ancestors. For several decades, the most accepted scenario involved the evolution of an independent lineage of proto-eukaryotes endowed with an endomembrane system, including a nuclear compartment, a developed cytoskeleton and phagocytosis, which engulfed the alphaproteobacterial ancestor of mitochondria. However, the recent discovery by metagenomic and cultural approaches of Asgard archaea, which harbour many genes in common with eukaryotes and are their closest relatives in phylogenomic trees, rather supports scenarios based on the symbiosis of one Asgard-like archaeon and one or more bacteria at the origin of the eukaryotic cell. Here, we review the recent discoveries that led to this conceptual shift, briefly evoking current models of eukaryogenesis and the challenges ahead to discriminate between them and to establish a detailed, plausible scenario that accounts for the evolution of eukaryotic traits from those of their prokaryotic ancestors.}, } @article {pmid37252681, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, JY and Yi, MH and Kim, M and Choi, JH and Lee, S and Yong, TS}, title = {Production of Dermatophagoides farinae Having Low Bacterial Content Using Ampicillin.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2023}, number = {}, pages = {9024595}, pmid = {37252681}, issn = {2314-7156}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria in house dust mites pose a risk of immunological side effects in the clinical use of immunotherapeutic agents. In this study, we investigated the duration for which the bacterial concentration in Dermatophagoides farinae could be kept low with antibiotic treatment, and whether the allergenic properties of the mite changed under ampicillin treatment.

METHODS: D. farinae was cultivated in the presence of ampicillin powder in an autoclaved medium for 6 weeks. After subsequent subcultures without ampicillin, the mites were harvested, and the extract was prepared. The amounts of bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and two major allergens (Der f 1 and Der f 2) were measured. Human bronchial epithelial cells and mice were treated with the D. farinae extract to assess the allergic airway inflammation.

RESULTS: The number of bacteria and level of LPS were reduced by 150-fold and 33-fold, respectively, at least 18 weeks after ampicillin treatment. The concentration of Der f 1 and Der f 2 remained unchanged by ampicillin treatment. The secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 from the human airway epithelial cells decreased when treated with the extract of ampicillin-treated D. farinae compared with that of ampicillin-untreated D. farinae. A mouse asthma model was developed using ampicillin-treated D. farinae. We observed that the level of lung function, airway inflammation, and serum-specific immunoglobulin were not different for the mouse asthma model developed using ampicillin-treated D. farinae than the model developed using ampicillin-untreated D. farinae.

CONCLUSIONS: We showed that bacterial content in D. farinae was reduced by ampicillin treatment, which was sufficient to induce allergic sensitization and an immune response. This method will be used to develop more controlled allergy immunotherapeutic agents.}, } @article {pmid37251515, year = {2023}, author = {Cossart, P and Kolter, R and Lemaitre, B and Typas, A}, title = {The New Microbiology: an international lecture course on the island of Spetses.}, journal = {microLife}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {uqac026}, pmid = {37251515}, issn = {2633-6693}, abstract = {In September 2022, an international summer course entitled 'The new microbiology' took place in Greece, on the island of Spetses. The organizers aimed to highlight the spectacular advances and the renaissance occurring in Microbiology, driven by developments in genomics, proteomics, imaging techniques, and bioinformatics. Combinations of these advances allow for single cell analyses, rapid and relatively inexpensive metagenomic and transcriptomic data analyses and comparisons, visualization of previously unsuspected mechanisms, and large-scale studies. A 'New Microbiology' is emerging which allows studies that address the critical roles of microbes in health and disease, in humans, animals, and the environment. The concept of one health is now transforming microbiology. The goal of the course was to discuss all these topics with members of the new generation of microbiologists all of whom were highly motivated and fully receptive.}, } @article {pmid37249591, year = {2023}, author = {Wu-Chuang, A and Hartmann, D and Maitre, A and Mateos-Hernández, L and Frantová, H and Urbanová, V and Obregon, D and Cabezas-Cruz, A and Perner, J}, title = {Variation of bacterial community assembly over developmental stages and midgut of Dermanyssus gallinae.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37249591}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Bacterial microbiota play an important role in the fitness of arthropods, but the bacterial microflora in the parasitic mite Dermanyssus gallinae is only partially explored; there are gaps in our understanding of the microbiota localization and in our knowledge of microbial community assembly. In this work, we have visualized, quantified the abundance, and determined the diversity of bacterial occupancy, not only across developmental stages of D. gallinae, but also in the midgut of micro-dissected female D. gallinae mites. We explored community assembly and the presence of keystone taxa, as well as predicted metabolic functions in the microbiome of the mite. The diversity of the microbiota and the complexity of co-occurrence networks decreased with the progression of the life cycle. However, several bacterial taxa were present in all samples examined, indicating a core symbiotic consortium of bacteria. The relatively higher bacterial abundance in adult females, specifically in their midguts, implicates a function linked to the biology of D. gallinae mites. If such an association proves to be important, the bacterial microflora qualifies itself as an acaricidal or vaccine target against this troublesome pest.}, } @article {pmid37248617, year = {2023}, author = {Fields, B and Moeskjaer, S and Deakin, WJ and Moffat, EK and Roulund, N and Andersen, SU and Young, JPW and Friman, VP}, title = {Rhizobium nodule diversity and composition are influenced by clover host selection and local growth conditions.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17028}, pmid = {37248617}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {While shaping of plant microbiome composition through 'host filtering' is well documented in legume-rhizobium symbioses, it is less clear to what extent different varieties and genotypes of the same plant species differentially influence symbiont community diversity and composition. Here, we compared how clover host varieties and genotypes affect the structure of Rhizobium populations in root nodules under conventional field and controlled greenhouse conditions. We first grew four Trifolium repens (white clover) F2 crosses and one variety in a conventional field trial and compared differences in root nodule Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii (Rlt) genotype diversity using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of chromosomal housekeeping (rpoB and recA) genes and auxiliary plasmid-borne symbiosis genes (nodA and nodD). We found that Rlt nodule diversities significantly differed between clover crosses, potentially due to host filtering. However, variance in Rlt diversity largely overlapped between crosses and was also explained by the spatial distribution of plants in the field, indicative of the role of local environmental conditions for nodule diversity. To test the effect of host filtering, we conducted a controlled greenhouse trial with a diverse Rlt inoculum and several host genotypes. We found that different clover varieties and genotypes of the same variety selected for significantly different Rlt nodule communities and that the strength of host filtering (deviation from the initial Rhizobium inoculant composition) was positively correlated with the efficiency of symbiosis (rate of plant greenness colouration). Together, our results suggest that selection by host genotype and local growth conditions jointly influence white clover Rlt nodule diversity and community composition.}, } @article {pmid37247737, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, J and Wang, W and Wang, F and Lei, S and Shao, S and Wang, C and Li, G and An, T}, title = {Efficient inactivation of harmful algae K. mikimotoi by a novel algicidal bacterium via a rare direct contact pathway: Performances and mechanisms.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164401}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164401}, pmid = {37247737}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by Karenia mikimotoi have posed great threats to marine ecosystems, and algal inactivation by symbiotic bacteria has been recognized as environmental benign methods for controlling HABs. However, the identified algicidal bacteria for K. mikimotoi is limited and exclusively based on indirect algicidal pathways, which may cause secondary pollution due to releasing toxic algicidal agents. In this study, a novel strain of algicidal bacteria Tenacibaculum sp. GD3 was isolated from the phycosphere of K. mikimotoi. The bacterial strain GD3 could achieve 92.6 % of inactivation efficiency against K. mikimotoi within 8 h of co-culturing period, which outperformed those in existing literatures reported so far. The algicidal mechanisms were revealed to be a rare direct cell-to-cell contact pathway, and the GD3 could grow by utilizing metabolites from K. mikimotoi, exhibiting excellent bacterial adaptability in the phycosphere. Cell morphology changes were monitored by live cell imaging system combined with SEM and TEM observations, which showed that the GD3 was first attached to the algal cell membrane, followed by lipid peroxidation and lysis of membrane protein. Oxidative stress responses were induced as reveled by up-regulation of intracellular ROSs and antioxidant enzyme activity. Photosynthetic parameters including rETRmax, Fv/Fm, YII and NPQ were reduced, and expression of functional genes involved in decomposition of chlorophyll and cell wall was significantly suppressed. Moreover, the intracellular release profile and acute toxicity assessment indicated that the GD3 could also detoxify the K. mikimotoi cultures and the released biomolecules would not cause adverse effect to marine environment. This study not only provides a novel algicidal bacterium against K. mikimotoi via a rare direct mode, but also helps to better understand the algicidal mechanisms at physiological and genetic level, thus moving forward the areas of HABs control by microbiological strategies.}, } @article {pmid37248429, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Shu, X and Chen, L and Zhang, H and Feng, H and Sun, X and Xiong, Q and Li, G and Xun, W and Xu, Z and Zhang, N and Pieterse, CMJ and Shen, Q and Zhang, R}, title = {Plant commensal type VII secretion system causes iron leakage from roots to promote colonization.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37248429}, issn = {2058-5276}, abstract = {Competition for iron is an important factor for microbial niche establishment in the rhizosphere. Pathogenic and beneficial symbiotic bacteria use various secretion systems to interact with their hosts and acquire limited resources from the environment. Bacillus spp. are important plant commensals that encode a type VII secretion system (T7SS). However, the function of this secretion system in rhizobacteria-plant interactions is unclear. Here we use the beneficial rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9 to show that the T7SS and the major secreted protein YukE are critical for root colonization. In planta experiments and liposome-based experiments demonstrate that secreted YukE inserts into the plant plasma membrane and causes root iron leakage in the early stage of inoculation. The increased availability of iron promotes root colonization by SQR9. Overall, our work reveals a previously undescribed role of the T7SS in a beneficial rhizobacterium to promote colonization and thus plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid37248312, year = {2023}, author = {Peters, EE and Cahn, JKB and Lotti, A and Gavriilidou, A and Steffens, UAE and Loureiro, C and Schorn, MA and Cárdenas, P and Vickneswaran, N and Crews, P and Sipkema, D and Piel, J}, title = {Distribution and diversity of 'Tectomicrobia', a deep-branching uncultivated bacterial lineage harboring rich producers of bioactive metabolites.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {37248312}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Genomic and functional analyses of bacterial sponge symbionts belonging to the uncultivated candidate genus 'Entotheonella' has revealed them as the prolific producers of bioactive compounds previously identified from their invertebrate hosts. These studies also suggested 'Entotheonella' as the first members of a new candidate phylum, 'Tectomicrobia'. Here we analyzed the phylogenetic structure and environmental distribution of this as-yet sparsely populated phylum-like lineage. The data show that 'Entotheonella' and other 'Tectomicrobia' are not restricted to marine habitats but widely distributed among terrestrial locations. The inferred phylogenetic trees suggest several intra-phylum lineages with diverse lifestyles. Of these, the previously described 'Entotheonella' lineage can be more accurately divided into at least three different candidate genera with the terrestrial 'Candidatus Prasianella', the largely terrestrial 'Candidatus Allonella', the 'Candidatus Thalassonella' comprising sponge-associated members, and the more widely distributed 'Candidatus Entotheonella'. Genomic characterization of 'Thalassonella' members from a range of sponge hosts did not suggest a role as providers of natural products, despite high genomic similarity to 'Entotheonella' regarding primary metabolism and implied lifestyle. In contrast, the analysis revealed a correlation between the revised 'Entotheonella' 16S rRNA gene phylogeny and a specific association with sponges and their natural products. This feature might serve as a discovery method to accelerate the identification of new chemically rich 'Entotheonella' variants, and led to the identification of the first 'Entotheonella' symbiont in a non-tetractinellid sponge, Psammocinia sp., indicating a wide host distribution of 'Entotheonella'-based chemical symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37245312, year = {2023}, author = {Gong, X and Ge, Z and Ma, Z and Li, Y and Huang, D and Zhang, J}, title = {Effect of different size microplastic particles on the construction of algal-bacterial biofilms and microbial communities.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {343}, number = {}, pages = {118246}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118246}, pmid = {37245312}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Algal-bacterial symbiotic system is a biological purification system that combines sewage treatment with resource utilization and has the dual effects of carbon sequestration and pollution reduction. In this study, an immobilized algal-bacterial biofilm system was constructed for the treatment of natural sewage. Effects of exposure to microplastics (MPs) with different particle diameters (0.065 μm, 0.5 μm and 5 μm) were determined in terms of algal biomass recovery efficiency, the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and morphologic characteristics. The impacts of MPs on the bacterial diversity and community structure of biofilms were also examined. The metagenomic analysis of key microorganisms and related metabolism pathways involved in system was further investigated. Results showed that following exposure to 5 μm MP, a maximum algal recovery efficiency of 80% was achieved, with a minimum PSII primary light energy conversion efficiency (Fv/Fm ratio) of 0.513. Furthermore, 5 μm MP caused the highest level of damage to the algal-bacterial biofilm, enhancing the secretion of protein-rich EPS. The biofilm morphology became rough and loose following exposure to 0.5 μm and 5 μm MP. Community diversity and richness were significantly high in biofilms exposed to 5 μm MP. Proteobacteria (15.3-24.1%), Firmicutes (5.0-7.8%) and Actinobacteria (4.2-4.9%) were dominant in all groups, with exposure to 5 μm MP resulting in the highest relative abundance for these species. The addition of MPs promoted the related metabolic functions while inhibited the degradation of harmful substances by algal-bacterial biofilms. The findings have environmental significance for the practical application of algal-bacterial biofilms for sewage treatment, providing novel insights into the potential effects of MPs on immobilized algal-bacterial biofilm systems.}, } @article {pmid37240723, year = {2023}, author = {Abdi, N and Van Biljon, A and Steyn, C and Labuschagne, M}, title = {Zn Fertilizer and Mycorrhizal Inoculation Effect on Bread Wheat Cultivar Grown under Water Deficit.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/life13051078}, pmid = {37240723}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {During drought stress, many enzymes are inactivated in plants due to Zn deficiency. Zn application and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF)-wheat symbiosis reportedly improve the tolerance of plants to drought stress. This study was done to investigate the effect of Zn and AMF on plant growth, yield attributes, relative water content (RWC), harvest index (HI), photosynthetic activity, solute accumulation, glycine betaine (GB) accumulation, antioxidant activities [(catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)], and ionic attributes in a bread wheat cultivar (SST806) under drought-stress in plants grown under greenhouse conditions. Zn application and AMF inoculation, separately and combined, enhanced all plant growth parameters and yield. Root dry weight (RDW) was increased by 25, 30, and 46% for these three treatments, respectively, under drought conditions compared to the control treatment. Overall, Zn application, AMF inoculation, and their combination increased protein content, RWC, and harvest index (HI) under drought stress. However, AMF inoculation improved proline content more than Zn application under the same conditions. Regarding GB accumulation, AMF, Zn, and the combination of Zn and AMF increased GB under drought compared to well-watered conditions by 31.71, 10.36, and 70.70%, respectively. For the antioxidant defense, AMF inoculation and Zn application improved SOD and CAT activity by 58 and 56%, respectively. This study showed that Zn and/or AMF increased antioxidant levels and ionic attributes under abiotic stress.}, } @article {pmid37240323, year = {2023}, author = {Zuccaro, V and Ponziani, FR and Bruno, R}, title = {Editorial of Special Issues "Gut Microbiota-Host Interactions: From Symbiosis to Dysbiosis 2.0".}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24108977}, pmid = {37240323}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is where external agents meet the internal environment [...].}, } @article {pmid37240187, year = {2023}, author = {Jia, Y and Li, Y}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis of RALF Gene Family in Legume and Non-Legume Species.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24108842}, pmid = {37240187}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) are small secreted peptide hormones that can induce rapid alkalinization in a medium. They act as signaling molecules in plants, playing a critical role in plant development and growth, especially in plant immunity. Although the function of RALF peptides has been comprehensively analyzed, the evolutionary mechanism of RALFs in symbiosis has not been studied. In this study, 41, 24, 17 and 12 RALFs were identified in Arabidopsis, soybean, Lotus and Medicago, respectively. A comparative analysis including the molecular characteristics and conserved motifs suggested that the RALF pre-peptides in soybean represented a higher value of isoelectric point and more conservative motifs/residues composition than other species. All 94 RALFs were divided into two clades according to the phylogenetic analysis. Chromosome distribution and synteny analysis suggested that the expansion of the RALF gene family in Arabidopsis mainly depended on tandem duplication, while segment duplication played a dominant role in legume species. The expression levels of most RALFs in soybean were significantly affected by the treatment of rhizobia. Seven GmRALFs are potentially involved in the release of rhizobia in the cortex cells. Overall, our research provides novel insights into the understanding of the role of the RALF gene family in nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37240058, year = {2023}, author = {Mohammad Aslam, S and Vass, I and Szabó, M}, title = {Characterization of the Flash-Induced Fluorescence Wave Phenomenon in the Coral Endosymbiont Algae, Symbiodiniaceae.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24108712}, pmid = {37240058}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {The dinoflagellate algae, Symbiodiniaceae, are significant symbiotic partners of corals due to their photosynthetic capacity. The photosynthetic processes of the microalgae consist of linear electron transport, which provides the energetic balance of ATP and NADPH production for CO2 fixation, and alternative electron transport pathways, including cyclic electron flow, which ensures the elevated ATP requirements under stress conditions. Flash-induced chlorophyll fluorescence relaxation is a non-invasive tool to assess the various electron transport pathways. A special case of fluorescence relaxation, the so-called wave phenomenon, was found to be associated with the activity of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) in microalgae. We showed previously that the wave phenomenon existed in Symbiodiniaceae under acute heat stress and microaerobic conditions, however, the electron transport processes related to the wave phenomenon remained unknown. In this work, using various inhibitors, we show that (i) the linear electron transport has a crucial role in the formation of the wave, (ii) the inhibition of the donor side of Photosystem II did not induce the wave, whereas inhibition of the Calvin-Benson cycle accelerated it, (iii) the wave phenomenon was related to the operation of type II NDH (NDH-2). We therefore propose that the wave phenomenon is an important marker of the regulation of electron transport in Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid37240010, year = {2023}, author = {Gorshkov, AP and Kusakin, PG and Borisov, YG and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Effect of Triazole Fungicides Titul Duo and Vintage on the Development of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Symbiotic Nodules.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24108646}, pmid = {37240010}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Triazole fungicides are widely used in agricultural production for plant protection, including pea (Pisum sativum L.). The use of fungicides can negatively affect the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. In this study, the effects of triazole fungicides Vintage and Titul Duo on nodule formation and, in particular, on nodule morphology, were studied. Both fungicides at the highest concentration decreased the nodule number and dry weight of the roots 20 days after inoculation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the following ultrastructural changes in nodules: modifications in the cell walls (their clearing and thinning), thickening of the infection thread walls with the formation of outgrowths, accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrates in bacteroids, expansion of the peribacteroid space, and fusion of symbiosomes. Fungicides Vintage and Titul Duo negatively affect the composition of cell walls, leading to a decrease in the activity of synthesis of cellulose microfibrils and an increase in the number of matrix polysaccharides of cell walls. The results obtained coincide well with the data of transcriptomic analysis, which revealed an increase in the expression levels of genes that control cell wall modification and defense reactions. The data obtained indicate the need for further research on the effects of pesticides on the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis in order to optimize their use.}, } @article {pmid37239894, year = {2023}, author = {Koshida, K and Ito, M and Yakabe, K and Takahashi, Y and Tai, Y and Akasako, R and Kimizuka, T and Takano, S and Sakamoto, N and Haniuda, K and Ogawa, S and Kimura, S and Kim, YG and Hase, K and Harada, Y}, title = {Dysfunction of Foxp3[+] Regulatory T Cells Induces Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota via Aberrant Binding of Immunoglobulins to Microbes in the Intestinal Lumen.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24108549}, pmid = {37239894}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Foxp3[+] regulatory T (Treg) cells prevent excessive immune responses against dietary antigens and commensal bacteria in the intestine. Moreover, Treg cells contribute to the establishment of a symbiotic relationship between the host and gut microbes, partly through immunoglobulin A. However, the mechanism by which Treg cell dysfunction disturbs the balanced intestinal microbiota remains unclear. In this study, we used Foxp3 conditional knockout mice to conditionally ablate the Foxp3 gene in adult mice and examine the relationship between Treg cells and intestinal bacterial communities. Deletion of Foxp3 reduced the relative abundance of Clostridia, suggesting that Treg cells have a role in maintaining Treg-inducing microbes. Additionally, the knockout increased the levels of fecal immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin-coated bacteria. This increase was due to immunoglobulin leakage into the gut lumen as a result of loss of mucosal integrity, which is dependent on the gut microbiota. Our findings suggest that Treg cell dysfunction leads to gut dysbiosis via aberrant antibody binding to the intestinal microbes.}, } @article {pmid37239443, year = {2023}, author = {Bopape, FL and Chiulele, RM and Shonhai, A and Gwata, ET}, title = {The Genome of a Pigeonpea Compatible Rhizobial Strain '10ap3' Appears to Lack Common Nodulation Genes.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes14051084}, pmid = {37239443}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N) in root nodules of tropical legumes such as pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is a complex process, which is regulated by multiple genetic factors at the host plant genotype microsymbiont interface. The process involves multiple genes with various modes of action and is accomplished only when both organisms are compatible. Therefore, it is necessary to develop tools for the genetic manipulation of the host or bacterium towards improving N fixation. In this study, we sequenced the genome of a robust rhizobial strain, Rhizobium tropici '10ap3' that was compatible with pigeonpea, and we determined its genome size. The genome consisted of a large circular chromosome (6,297,373 bp) and contained 6013 genes of which 99.13% were coding sequences. However only 5833 of the genes were associated with proteins that could be assigned to specific functions. The genes for nitrogen, phosphorus and iron metabolism, stress response and the adenosine monophosphate nucleoside for purine conversion were present in the genome. However, the genome contained no common nod genes, suggesting that an alternative pathway involving a purine derivative was involved in the symbiotic association with pigeonpea.}, } @article {pmid37239380, year = {2023}, author = {Beck, A and Casanova-Katny, A and Gerasimova, J}, title = {Metabarcoding of Antarctic Lichens from Areas with Different Deglaciation Times Reveals a High Diversity of Lichen-Associated Communities.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes14051019}, pmid = {37239380}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Lichens have developed numerous adaptations to optimise their survival under harsh abiotic stress, colonise different substrates, and reach substantial population sizes and high coverage in ice-free Antarctic areas, benefiting from a symbiotic lifestyle. As lichen thalli represent consortia with an unknown number of participants, it is important to know about the accessory organisms and their relationships with various environmental conditions. To this end, we analysed lichen-associated communities from Himantormia lugubris, Placopsis antarctica, P. contortuplicata, and Ramalina terebrata, collected from soils with differing deglaciation times, using a metabarcoding approach. In general, many more Ascomycete taxa are associated with the investigated lichens compared to Basidiomycota. Given our sampling, a consistently higher number of lichen-associated eukaryotes are estimated to be present in areas with deglaciation times of longer than 5000 years compared to more recently deglaciated areas. Thus far, members of Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes, and Arthoniomycetes have been restricted to the Placopsis specimens from areas with deglaciation times longer than 5000 years. Striking differences between the associated organisms of R. terebrata and H. lugubris have also been discovered. Thus, a species-specific basidiomycete, Tremella, was revealed for R. terebrata, as was a member of Capnodiales for H. lugubris. Our study provides further understanding of the complex terricolous lichen-associated mycobiome using the metabarcoding approach. It also illustrates the necessity to extend our knowledge of complex lichen symbiosis and further improve the coverage of microbial eukaryotes in DNA barcode libraries, including more extended sampling.}, } @article {pmid37239009, year = {2023}, author = {Duncan, SH and Conti, E and Ricci, L and Walker, AW}, title = {Links between Diet, Intestinal Anaerobes, Microbial Metabolites and Health.}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biomedicines11051338}, pmid = {37239009}, issn = {2227-9059}, abstract = {A dense microbial community resides in the human colon, with considerable inter-individual variability in composition, although some species are relatively dominant and widespread in healthy individuals. In disease conditions, there is often a reduction in microbial diversity and perturbations in the composition of the microbiota. Dietary complex carbohydrates that reach the large intestine are important modulators of the composition of the microbiota and their primary metabolic outputs. Specialist gut bacteria may also transform plant phenolics to form a spectrum of products possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Consumption of diets high in animal protein and fat may lead to the formation of potentially deleterious microbial products, including nitroso compounds, hydrogen sulphide, and trimethylamine. Gut anaerobes also form a range of secondary metabolites, including polyketides that may possess antimicrobial activity and thus contribute to microbe-microbe interactions within the colon. The overall metabolic outputs of colonic microbes are derived from an intricate network of microbial metabolic pathways and interactions; however, much still needs to be learnt about the subtleties of these complex networks. In this review we consider the multi-faceted relationships between inter-individual microbiota variation, diet, and health.}, } @article {pmid37238811, year = {2023}, author = {Ribeiro, LEGGT and Batista, LDSP and Assis, CF and Damasceno, KSFSC and Sousa Júnior, FC}, title = {Potentially Synbiotic Yellow Mombin Beverages: Stability during Refrigerated Storage, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Sensory Properties.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12101994}, pmid = {37238811}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {This study aimed to develop potentially synbiotic yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) beverages added with fructooligosaccharides and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NRRL B-4496. Six formulations of yellow mombin beverages were prepared to measure the influence of fermentation and pH, which was adjustment to 4.5 for stability and quality parameters. Formulations were evaluated for probiotic survival, pH, titratable acidity, total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antioxidant activity for 28 days at 4 °C. Additionally, the proximate composition, color, sensory aspects, and survival to simulated gastrointestinal conditions were studied. At 21 days of storage, the viability of L. plantarum was 9 CFU/mL for the fermented symbiotic (SYNf) and non-fermented symbiotic with adjusted pH (SYNa) formulations. In addition, the fermented synbiotic with an adjusted pH beverage (SYNfA) showed a count of 8.2 log CFU/mL at 28 days. The formulations showed a high TPC (234-431 mg GAE/L), antioxidant activity (48-75 µM trolox), and a potential use as low-calorie beverages. The SYNf formulation showed an acceptability index higher than 70% and a high purchase intent. The SYNf and SYNa formulations maintained suitable probiotic counts after exposure to the simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Therefore, it was possible to develop a new potentially synbiotic yellow mombin beverage with a high sensory acceptance, supplying the market with a new functional food alternative.}, } @article {pmid37238757, year = {2023}, author = {van Wyk, N and Binder, J and Ludszuweit, M and Köhler, S and Brezina, S and Semmler, H and Pretorius, IS and Rauhut, D and Senz, M and von Wallbrunn, C}, title = {The Influence of Pichia kluyveri Addition on the Aroma Profile of a Kombucha Tea Fermentation.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12101938}, pmid = {37238757}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Traditional kombucha is a functional tea-based drink that has gained attention as a low or non-alcoholic beverage. The fermentation is conducted by a community of different microorganisms, collectively called SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) and typically consists of different acetic acid bacteria and fermenting yeast, and in some cases lactic acid bacteria that would convert the sugars into organic acids-mostly acetic acid. In this study, the effect of including a Pichia kluyveri starter culture in a kombucha fermentation was investigated. P. kluyveri additions led to a quicker accumulation of acetic acid along with the production of several acetate esters including isoamyl acetate and 2-phenethyl acetate. A subsequent tasting also noted a significant increase in the fruitiness of the kombucha. The significant contribution to the aroma content shows the promise of this yeast in future microbial formulations for kombucha fermentations.}, } @article {pmid37237492, year = {2023}, author = {De Sousa, BFS and Domingo-Serrano, L and Salinero-Lanzarote, A and Palacios, JM and Rey, L}, title = {The T6SS-Dependent Effector Re78 of Rhizobium etli Mim1 Benefits Bacterial Competition.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12050678}, pmid = {37237492}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The genes of the type VI secretion system (T6SS) from Rhizobium etli Mim1 (ReMim1) that contain possible effectors can be divided into three modules. The mutants in them indicated that they are not required for effective nodulation with beans. To analyze T6SS expression, a putative promoter region between the tssA and tssH genes was fused in both orientations to a reporter gene. Both fusions are expressed more in free living than in symbiosis. When the module-specific genes were studied using RT-qPCR, a low expression was observed in free living and in symbiosis, which was clearly lower than the structural genes. The secretion of Re78 protein from the T6SS gene cluster was dependent on the presence of an active T6SS. Furthermore, the expression of Re78 and Re79 proteins in E. coli without the ReMim1 nanosyringe revealed that these proteins behave as a toxic effector/immunity protein pair (E/I). The harmful action of Re78, whose mechanism is still unknown, would take place in the periplasmic space of the target cell. The deletion of this ReMim1 E/I pair resulted in reduced competitiveness for bean nodule occupancy and in lower survival in the presence of the wild-type strain.}, } @article {pmid37237476, year = {2023}, author = {Pezzino, S and Sofia, M and Mazzone, C and Castorina, S and Puleo, S and Barchitta, M and Agodi, A and Gallo, L and La Greca, G and Latteri, S}, title = {Gut Microbiome in the Progression of NAFLD, NASH and Cirrhosis, and Its Connection with Biotics: A Bibliometric Study Using Dimensions Scientific Research Database.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12050662}, pmid = {37237476}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {There is growing evidence that gut microbiota dysbiosis is linked to the etiopathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), from the initial stage of disease until the progressive stage of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and the final stage of cirrhosis. Conversely, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have shown promise in restoring dysbiosis and lowering clinical indicators of disease in a number of both preclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, postbiotics and parabiotics have recently garnered some attention. The purpose of this bibliometric analysis is to assess recent publishing trends concerning the role of the gut microbiome in the progression of NAFLD, NASH and cirrhosis and its connection with biotics. The free access version of the Dimensions scientific research database was used to find publications in this field from 2002 to 2022. VOSviewer and Dimensions' integrated tools were used to analyze current research trends. Research into the following topics is expected to emerge in this field: (1) evaluation of risk factors which are correlated with the progression of NAFLD, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome; (2) pathogenic mechanisms, such as liver inflammation through toll-like receptors activation, or alteration of short-chain fatty acids metabolisms, which contribute to NAFLD development and its progression in more severe forms, such as cirrhosis; (3) therapy for cirrhosis through dysbiosis reduction, and research on hepatic encephalopathy a common consequence of cirrhosis; (4) evaluation of diversity, and composition of gut microbiome under NAFLD, and as it varies under NASH and cirrhosis by rRNA gene sequencing, a tool which can also be used for the development of new probiotics and explore into the impact of biotics on the gut microbiome; (5) treatments to reduce dysbiosis with new probiotics, such as Akkermansia, or with fecal microbiome transplantation.}, } @article {pmid37237381, year = {2023}, author = {Jeon, YJ and Gil, CH and Won, J and Jo, A and Kim, HJ}, title = {Symbiotic microbiome Staphylococcus epidermidis restricts IL-33 production in allergic nasal epithelium via limiting the cellular necroptosis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {154}, pmid = {37237381}, issn = {1471-2180}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by airway inflammation in nasal mucosa from inhaled allergens and interleukin (IL)-33 is the potent inducer of Th2 inflammation in allergic nasal epithelium. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most abundant colonizers of the healthy human nasal mucosa and might impact the allergen-induced inflammatory responses in the nasal epithelium. Thus, we sought to characterize the mechanism of S. epidermidis regulating Th2 inflammation and IL-33 production in AR nasal mucosa.

RESULTS: The AR symptoms were alleviated and eosinophilic infiltration, serum IgE levels, and Th2 cytokines were significantly decreased in OVA-sensitized AR mice in response to human nasal commensal S. epidermidis. The inoculation of S. epidermidis to normal human nasal epithelial cells reduced IL-33 and GATA3 transcriptions and also reduced IL-33 and GATA3 expression in AR nasal epithelial (ARNE) cells and the nasal mucosa of AR mice. Our data exhibited that the cellular necroptosis of ARNE cells might be involved in IL-33 production and inoculation of S. epidermidis decreased the phosphorylation of necroptosis enzymes in ARNE cells, which was related to the reduction of IL-33 production.

CONCLUSIONS: We present that human nasal commensal S. epidermidis reduces allergic inflammation by suppressing IL-33 production in nasal epithelium. Our findings indicate that S. epidermidis serves a role in blocking allergen-induced cellular necroptosis in allergic nasal epithelium which might be a key mechanism of reduction of IL-33 and Th2 inflammation.}, } @article {pmid37236940, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, YP and Li, SK and An, B and Zhu, Y and Zou, HL and Cui, SX and Fu, HY and Mao, R and Zhang, Y}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizae and extraradical mycelium of subtropical tree species on soil nitrogen mineralization and enzyme activities.}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {1235-1243}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202305.016}, pmid = {37236940}, issn = {1001-9332}, abstract = {Through symbiosis with plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi effectively improve the availability of soil nitrogen (N). However, the mechanism through which AM and associated extraradical mycelium affect soil N mineralization remains unknow. We carried out an in situ soil culture experiment by using in-growth cores in plantations of three subtropical tree species, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Schima superba, and Liquidambar formosana. We measured soil physical and chemical properties, net N mineralization rate, and the activities of four kinds of hydrolase (leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), β-1,4-glucosidase (βG), cellobiohydrolase (CB)) and two kinds of oxidases (polyphenol oxidase (POX) and peroxidase (PER)) involved in soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization in treatments of mycorrhiza (with absorbing roots and hyphae), hyphae (hyphae only), and control (mycorrhiza-free). The results showed that mycorrhizal treatments significantly affected soil total carbon and pH but did not affect N mineralization rates and all enzymatic activities. Tree species significantly affected net ammonification rate, net N mineralization rate and activities of NAG, βG, CB, POX and PER. The net N mineralization rate and enzyme activities in the C. lanceolata stand were significantly higher than that in monoculture broad-leaved stands of either S. superba or L. formosana. There was no interactive effect of mycorrhizal treatment and tree species on any of soil properties, nor on enzymatic activities or net N mineralization rates. Soil pH was negatively and significantly correlated with five kinds of enzymatic activities except for LAP, while net N mineralization rate significantly correlated with ammonium nitrogen content, available phosphorus content, and the activity level of βG, CB, POX, and PER. In conclusion, there was no difference in enzymatic activities and N mineralization rates between rhizosphere and hyphosphere soils of three subtropical tree species in the whole growing season. The activity of particular carbon cycle-related enzymes was closely related to soil N mineralization rate. It is suggested that differences in litter quality and root functional traits among different tree species affect soil enzyme activities and N mineralization rates through organic matter inputs and shaping soil condition.}, } @article {pmid37234793, year = {2023}, author = {Kise, H and Nishijima, M and Iguchi, A and Minatoya, J and Yokooka, H and Ise, Y and Suzuki, A}, title = {A new hexactinellid-sponge-associated zoantharian (Porifera, Hexasterophora) from the northwestern Pacific Ocean.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1156}, number = {}, pages = {71-85}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.1156.96698}, pmid = {37234793}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between zoantharians and sponges can be divided into two groups: those that associate with Demospongiae and those that associate with Hexactinellida. Parachurabanashinseimaruae Kise, gen. nov. et sp. nov., a new genus and a new species of Hexactinellida-associated zoantharian from Japanese waters, is described. It is characterized by a combination of the following: i) its host hexactinellid sponge, ii) very flat polyps, iii) cteniform endodermal marginal muscles, and iv) characteristic mutations in three mitochondrial regions (including a unique 26-bp deletion in 16S ribosomal DNA) and three nuclear regions. Parachurabanashinseimaruae Kise, gen. nov. et sp. nov. is the third genus in the family Parazoanthidae that is reported to be associated with Hexasterophora sponges. Although specimens have so far only been collected on Takuyo-Daigo Seamount off Minami-Torishima Island in Japan, unidentified zoantharians of similar description have been reported from the waters around Australia, indicating that the species might be widespread across the Pacific.}, } @article {pmid37234192, year = {2023}, author = {LaPolla, JS and Schneider, SA}, title = {Trophobiosis between a new species of Acropyga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and new Neochavesia (Hemiptera, Xenococcidae) from Peru, and establishment of the Acropygasmithii species-group.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1154}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.1154.97578}, pmid = {37234192}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {We describe a new pair of trophobiotic partners from the ant genus Acropyga and the root mealybug genus Neochavesia. A recent field study on Acropyga ants and associated root mealybugs, conducted in the Peruvian Amazon, led to the discovery of Acropygamanuense LaPolla & Schneider, sp. nov. and its root mealybug symbiont Neochavesiapodexuta Schneider & LaPolla, sp. nov. The new root mealybug belongs to the family Xenococcidae, whose members are all obligate associates of Acropyga ants. Providing joint descriptions of new mutualist partners in the same article is a novel approach for this system, and it offers benefits to the ongoing study of mutualism and patterns of association among these symbiotic ants and scales. Here, we also begin to revise the species-group composition of Acropyga by establishing the smithii species-group, and we provide updated information to aid in identifying the new ant species and root mealybug species.}, } @article {pmid37233900, year = {2023}, author = {Ueno, Y and Akimoto, S}, title = {Long-term light adaptation of light-harvesting and energy-transfer processes in the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa under different light conditions.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37233900}, issn = {1573-5079}, abstract = {In response to fluctuation in light intensity and quality, oxygenic photosynthetic organisms modify their light-harvesting and excitation energy-transfer processes to maintain optimal photosynthetic activity. Glaucophytes, which are a group of primary symbiotic algae, possess light-harvesting antennas called phycobilisomes (PBSs) consistent with cyanobacteria and red algae. However, compared with cyanobacteria and red algae, glaucophytes are poorly studied and there are few reports on the regulation of photosynthesis in the group. In this study, we examined the long-term light adaptation of light-harvesting functions in a glaucophyte, Cyanophora paradoxa, grown under different light conditions. Compared with cells grown under white light, the relative number of PBSs to photosystems (PSs) increased in blue-light-grown cells and decreased in green-, yellow-, and red-light-grown cells. Moreover, the PBS number increased with increment in the monochromatic light intensity. More energy was transferred from PBSs to PSII than to PSI under blue light, whereas energy transfer from PBSs to PSII was reduced under green and yellow lights, and energy transfer from the PBSs to both PSs decreased under red light. Decoupling of PBSs was induced by intense green, yellow, and red lights. Energy transfer from PSII to PSI (spillover) was observed, but the contribution of the spillover did not distinctly change depending on the culture light intensity and quality. These results suggest that the glaucophyte C. paradoxa modifies the light-harvesting abilities of both PSs and excitation energy-transfer processes between the light-harvesting antennas and both PSs during long-term light adaption.}, } @article {pmid37233731, year = {2023}, author = {D'Agostino, PM}, title = {Highlights of biosynthetic enzymes and natural products from symbiotic cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3np00011g}, pmid = {37233731}, issn = {1460-4752}, abstract = {Covering: up to 2023Cyanobacteria have long been known for their intriguing repertoire of natural product scaffolds, which are often distinct from other phyla. Cyanobacteria are ecologically significant organisms that form a myriad of different symbioses including with sponges and ascidians in the marine environment or with plants and fungi, in the form of lichens, in terrestrial environments. Whilst there have been several high-profile discoveries of symbiotic cyanobacterial natural products, genomic data is scarce and discovery efforts have remained limited. However, the rise of (meta-)genomic sequencing has improved these efforts, emphasized by a steep increase in publications in recent years. This highlight focuses on selected examples of symbiotic cyanobacterial-derived natural products and their biosyntheses to link chemistry with corresponding biosynthetic logic. Further highlighted are remaining gaps in knowledge for the formation of characteristic structural motifs. It is anticipated that the continued rise of (meta-)genomic next-generation sequencing of symbiontic cyanobacterial systems will lead to many exciting discoveries in the future.}, } @article {pmid37233504, year = {2023}, author = {Lauritano, C and Galasso, C}, title = {Microbial Interactions between Marine Microalgae and Fungi: From Chemical Ecology to Biotechnological Possible Applications.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md21050310}, pmid = {37233504}, issn = {1660-3397}, abstract = {Chemical interactions have been shown to regulate several marine life processes, including selection of food sources, defense, behavior, predation, and mate recognition. These chemical communication signals have effects not only at the individual scale, but also at population and community levels. This review focuses on chemical interactions between marine fungi and microalgae, summarizing studies on compounds synthetized when they are cultured together. In the current study, we also highlight possible biotechnological outcomes of the synthetized metabolites, mainly for human health applications. In addition, we discuss applications for bio-flocculation and bioremediation. Finally, we point out the necessity of further investigating microalgae-fungi chemical interactions because it is a field still less explored compared to microalga-bacteria communication and, considering the promising results obtained until now, it is worthy of further research for scientific advancement in both ecology and biotechnology fields.}, } @article {pmid37233257, year = {2023}, author = {Ahmad, N and Ritz, M and Calchera, A and Otte, J and Schmitt, I and Brueck, T and Mehlmer, N}, title = {Biosynthetic Potential of Hypogymnia Holobionts: Insights into Secondary Metabolite Pathways.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9050546}, pmid = {37233257}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus). They are known to produce a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here we provide a comprehensive view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of all organisms comprising a lichen thallus: fungi, green algae, and bacteria. We present two high-quality PacBio metagenomes, in which we identified a total of 460 biosynthetic gene clusters. Lichen mycobionts yielded 73-114 clusters, other lichen associated ascomycetes 8-40, green algae of the genus Trebouxia 14-19, and lichen-associated bacteria 101-105 clusters. The mycobionts contained mainly T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs, and terpenes; Trebouxia reads harbored mainly clusters linked to terpenes, followed by NRPSs and T3PKSs. Other lichen-associated ascomycetes and bacteria contained a mix of diverse biosynthetic gene clusters. In this study, we identified for the first time the biosynthetic gene clusters of entire lichen holobionts. The yet untapped biosynthetic potential of two species of the genus Hypogymnia is made accessible for further research.}, } @article {pmid37233251, year = {2023}, author = {Bento, RA and de Novais, CB and Saggin-Júnior, OJ and de Oliveira, LA and Sampaio, PTB}, title = {Pioneer Tree Bellucia imperialis (Melastomataceae) from Central Amazon with Seedlings Highly Dependent on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9050540}, pmid = {37233251}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Bellucia imperialis is one of the most abundant pioneer tree species in anthropized areas of the Central Amazon, and has ecological importance for the environmental resilience of phosphorus (P)-depleted areas. Thus, we investigated whether B. imperialis depends on symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to grow and establish under the edaphic stresses of low nutrient content and low surface moisture retention capacity of the substrate. We tried three AMF inoculation treatments: (1) CON-no mycorrhizae; (2) MIX-with AMF from pure collection cultures, and (3) NAT-with native AMF, combined with five doses of P via a nutrient solution. All CON treatment seedlings died without AMF, showing the high mycorrhizal dependence of B. imperialis. Increasing P doses significantly decreased the leaf area and shoot and root biomass growth for both the NAT and MIX treatments. Increasing P doses did not affect spore number or mycorrhizal colonization, but decreased the diversity of AMF communities. Some species of the AMF community showed plasticity, enabling them to withstand shortages of and excess P. B. imperialis was shown to be sensitive to excess P, promiscuous, dependent on AMF, and tolerant of scarce nutritional resources, highlighting the need to inoculate seedlings to reforest impacted areas.}, } @article {pmid37233090, year = {2023}, author = {Oberemok, VV and Gal'chinsky, NV and Useinov, RZ and Novikov, IA and Puzanova, YV and Filatov, RI and Kouakou, NJ and Kouame, KF and Kra, KD and Laikova, KV}, title = {Four Most Pathogenic Superfamilies of Insect Pests of Suborder Sternorrhyncha: Invisible Superplunderers of Plant Vitality.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14050462}, pmid = {37233090}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Sternorrhyncha representatives are serious pests of agriculture and forestry all over the world, primarily causing damage to woody plants. Sternorrhyncha members are vectors for the transfer of a large number of viral diseases, and subsequently, the host plant weakens. Additionally, many are inherent in the release of honeydew, on which fungal diseases develop. Today, an innovative approach is needed to create new and effective ways to control the number of these insects based on environmentally friendly insecticides. Of particular relevance to such developments is the need to take into account the large number of organisms living together with insect pests in this group, including beneficial insects. Practically without changing their location on their host plant, they adopted to be more invisible and protected due to their small size, symbiosis with ants, the ability to camouflage with a leaf, and moderately deplete plants and others, rarely leading them to death but still causing substantial economic loss in the subtropics and tropics. Due to the lack of presence in the literature, this review fills in this pesky spot by examining (on the example of distinct species from four superfamilies) the characteristic adaptations for this suborder and the chemical methods of combating these insects that allow them to survive in various environmental conditions, suggesting new and highly promising ways of using olinscides for plant protection against Sternorrhyncha members.}, } @article {pmid37233065, year = {2023}, author = {Chou, PA and Bain, A and Chantarasuwan, B and Tzeng, HY}, title = {Parasitism Features of a Fig Wasp of Genus Apocrypta (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) Associated with a Host Belonging to Ficus Subgenus Ficus.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14050437}, pmid = {37233065}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs), particularly long-ovipositored Sycoryctina wasps, exhibit a high species specificity and exert complex ecological effects on the obligate mutualism between the plant genus Ficus and pollinating fig wasps. Apocrypta is a genus of NPFWs that mostly interacts with the Ficus species under the subgenus Sycomorus, and the symbiosis case between Apocrypta and F. pedunculosa var. mearnsii, a Ficus species under subgenus Ficus, is unique. As fig's internal environments and the wasp communities are distinct between the two subgenera, we addressed the following two questions: (1) Are the parasitism features of the Apocrypta wasp associated with F. pedunculosa var. mearnsii different from those of other congeneric species? (2) Is this Apocrypta species an efficient wasp that lives in its unique host? Our observation revealed that this wasp is an endoparasitic idiobiont parasitoid, as most congeneric species are, but developed a relatively long ovipositor. Furthermore, the relationships of the parasitism rate versus the pollinator number, the fig wall, and the sex ratio of the pollinator, respectively, showed that it possessed a higher parasitism ability than that of other congeners. However, its parasitism rate was low, and thus it was not an efficient wasp in its habitat. This difference between parasitism ability and parasitism rate might be a consequence of its oviposition strategy and the severe habitat conditions. These findings may also provide insights into the mechanism to maintain the interaction between the fig tree and the fig wasp community.}, } @article {pmid37233059, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, Q and Feng, Y and Shan, HW and Chen, JP and Wu, W}, title = {A Novel Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium Raoultella electrica Isolated from the Midgut of the Leafhopper Recilia dorsalis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14050431}, pmid = {37233059}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Nitrogen is a crucial element for the growth and development of insects, but herbivorous insects often suffer from nitrogen nutrition deficiencies in their diets. Some symbiotic microorganisms can provide insect hosts with nitrogen nutrition through nitrogen fixation. Extensive research has clearly demonstrated the process of nitrogen fixation by symbiotic microorganisms in termites, while evidence supporting the occurrence and significance of nitrogen fixation in the diets of the Hemiptera is less conclusive. In this study, we isolated a strain of R. electrica from the digestive tract of a leafhopper, R. dorsalis, and found that it had nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Fluorescence in situ hybridization results showed that it was located in the gut of the leafhopper. Genome sequencing revealed that R. electrica possessed all the genes required for nitrogen fixation. We further evaluated the growth rate of R. electrica in nitrogen-containing and nitrogen-free media and measured its nitrogenase activity through an acetylene reduction assay. The findings of these studies could shed light on how gut microbes contribute to our understanding of nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid37233055, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, Y and Su, Y and Han, X and Guo, W and Zhu, Y and Yao, Y}, title = {Evaluation of Transgenerational Effects of Sublethal Imidacloprid and Diversity of Symbiotic Bacteria on Acyrthosiphon gossypii.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14050427}, pmid = {37233055}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria and hormesis in aphids are the driving forces for pesticide resistance. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the effects of imidacloprid on the population growth parameters and symbiotic bacterial communities of three successive generations of Acyrthosiphon gossypii were investigated. The bioassay results showed that imidacloprid had high toxicity to A. gossypii with an LC50 of 1.46 mg·L[-1]. The fecundity and longevity of the G0 generation of A. gossypii decreased when exposed to the LC15 of imidacloprid. The net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), and total reproductive rate (GRR) of G1 and G2 offspring were significantly increased, but those of the control and G3 offspring were not. In addition, sequencing data showed that the symbiotic bacteria of A. gossypii mainly belonged to Proteobacteria, with a relative abundance of 98.68%. The dominant genera of the symbiotic bacterial community were Buchnera and Arsenophonus. After treatment with the LC15 of imidacloprid, the diversity and species number of bacterial communities of A. gossypii decreased for G1-G3 and the abundance of Candidatus-Hamiltonella decreased, but Buchnera increased. These results provide insight into the resistance mechanism of insecticides and the stress adaptation between symbiotic bacteria and aphids.}, } @article {pmid37231769, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y and Bi, M and Sun, S and Li, G and Wang, Q and Ying, M and Li, L and Yang, X}, title = {Comparative metabolomic profiling reveals molecular mechanisms underlying growth promotion and disease resistance in wheat conferred by Piriformospora indica in the field.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {2213934}, doi = {10.1080/15592324.2023.2213934}, pmid = {37231769}, issn = {1559-2324}, abstract = {Piriformospora indica, a plant root-colonizing basidiomycete fungus, exhibits strong growth-promoting activity in symbiosis with a broad range of plants. Here, we report the potential of P. indica to improve growth, yield, and disease resistance in wheat in the field. In the present study, P. indica successfully colonized wheat through chlamydospores and formed dense mycelial networks that covered roots. Plants subjected to the seed soaking (SS) treatment with P. indica chlamydospore suspensions enhanced tillering 2.28-fold compared to the non-inoculated wheat in the tillering stage. In addition, P. indica colonization promoted vegetative growth significantly during the three-leaf, tillering, and jointing stages. Moreover, the P. indica-SS-treatment enhanced wheat yield by 16.37 ± 1.63%, by increasing grains per ear and panicle weight and decreased damage to wheat shoot and root architecture markedly, with high field control effects against Fusarium pseudograminearum (81.59 ± 1.32%), Bipolaris sorokiniana (82.19 ± 1.59%), and Rhizoctonia cerealis (75.98 ± 1.36%). Most of the primary metabolites, such as amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids, involved in vegetative reproduction were increased in P. indica-SS-treatment plants, whereas secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids, polyketides, and alkaloids, decreased following P. indica inoculation. The up-regulated processes of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism indicated that P. indica colonization increased growth, yield, and disease resistance via the acceleration of plant primary metabolism. In conclusion, P. indica improved morphological, physiological, and metabolic substance levels, and further promoted its growth, yield, and disease resistance in wheat.}, } @article {pmid37230354, year = {2023}, author = {Mandal, M and Das, S and Roy, A and Rakwal, R and Jones, OAH and Popek, R and Agrawal, GK and Sarkar, A}, title = {Interactive relations between plants, phyllosphere microbial community, and particulate matter pollution.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164352}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164352}, pmid = {37230354}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Particulate matter (PM) pollution poses a significant risk to many ecosystems; as sessile organisms, plants are at particular risk from PM pollution since they cannot move away from it. Microorganisms are essential components of ecosystems that can help macro-organisms to cope with pollutants (such as PM). In the phyllosphere (the aerial/above-ground parts of plants colonized by microbial communities), plant-microbe associations have been found to promote plant development while also increasing host resilience to biotic and abiotic stressors. This review discusses how plant-microbe symbiosis in the phyllosphere potentially affects host survivability and efficiency in the face of pollution and factors such as climate change. Evidence is presented that plant-microbe associations can be beneficial, such as by degrading pollutants, yet also bring disadvantages, such as causing the loss of symbiotic organisms and/or inducing disease. It is suggested that plant genetics is a fundamental driver of the phyllosphere microbiome assembly, connecting phyllosphere microbiota to plant health management in adverse conditions. Finally, potential ways that essential community ecological processes might influence plant-microbe partnerships in the face of Anthropocene-linked changes and what this might mean for environmental management are discussed.}, } @article {pmid37230947, year = {2023}, author = {John, SA and Ray, JG}, title = {Optimization of environmental and the other variables in the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as an ecotechnological tool for sustainable paddy cultivation: A critical review.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxad111}, pmid = {37230947}, issn = {1365-2672}, abstract = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are effective natural alternatives to assist plants in improving crop productivity and immunity against pests and diseases. However, a comprehensive idea of the variables under which they show optimum activity, especially concerning particular soil, climate, geography, and crop characteristics, has yet to be adequately standardized. Since paddy is the staple food for half of the world's population, such standardization is highly significant globally. Research concerning determinants affecting AMF functioning in rice is limited. However, the identified variables include external variables such as abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors and internal variables such as plant and AMF characteristics. Among the abiotic factors, edaphic factors like soil pH, phosphorus availability, and soil moisture significantly affect AMF functioning in rice. In addition, anthropogenic influences such as land use patterns, flooding, and fertilizer regimes also affect AMF communities in rice agroecosystems. The principal objective of the review was to analyse the existing literature on AMF concerning such variables generally and to assess the specific research requirements on variables affecting AMF in rice. The ultimate goal is to identify research gaps for applying AMF as a natural alternative in the sustainable agriculture of paddy with optimum AMF symbiosis enhancing rice productivity.}, } @article {pmid37228982, year = {2023}, author = {Mohan, A and Godugu, S and Joshi, SS and Shah, KB and Vanka, SC and Shakil, H and P, D and Veliginti, S and Sure, PS and Goranti, J}, title = {Gut-brain axis: altered microbiome and depression - review.}, journal = {Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)}, volume = {85}, number = {5}, pages = {1784-1789}, doi = {10.1097/MS9.0000000000000573}, pmid = {37228982}, issn = {2049-0801}, abstract = {The concept of a 'gut-brain axis' was recently developed when the complex communications between the brain and the gut became evident. The interaction may affect emotions, motivation, mood, and higher cognitive functions as well as gut homeostasis. Human microbe symbiosis's merits are now acknowledged to transcend human mental health. Research has recently indicated that the gut-brain axis plays a vital role in brain health maintenance. The term 'gut-brain axis' can only partially capture the intricacy of these interactions. Dysbiosis of the gut commensals has been seen in patients with psychiatric diseases, such as depression. Major depressive disorder is caused by complicated interactions between the individual gene and the environment. In a forced swimming test, P. Zheng et al. discovered that germ-free mice with no gut microbiota had a shorter immobility duration than healthy mice. More radical effects were expressed on the use of probiotics rather than prebiotics and postbiotics in reducing the symptoms of depression in patients with major depressive disorder. One of prime importance can be given to exploring more microbiota to investigate the better therapeutic effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics.}, } @article {pmid37227303, year = {2023}, author = {Suo, Z and Cummings, DA and Puri, AW and Schaefer, AL and Greenberg, EP}, title = {A Mesorhizobium japonicum quorum sensing circuit that involves three linked genes and an unusual acyl-homoserine lactone signal.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0101023}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.01010-23}, pmid = {37227303}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Members of the genus Mesorhizobium, which are core components of the rhizosphere and specific symbionts of legume plants, possess genes for acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing (QS). Here we show Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF 303099 (formerly M. loti) synthesizes and responds to N-[(2E, 4E)-2,4-dodecadienoyl] homoserine lactone (2E, 4E-C12:2-HSL). We show that the 2E, 4E-C12:2-HSL QS circuit involves one of four luxR-luxI-type genes found in the sequenced genome of MAFF 303099. We refer to this circuit, which appears to be conserved among Mesorhizobium species, as R1-I1. We show that two other Mesorhizobium strains also produce 2E, 4E-C12:2-HSL. The 2E, 4E-C12:2-HSL is unique among known AHLs in its arrangement of two trans double bonds. The R1 response to 2E, 4E-C12:2-HSL is extremely selective in comparison with other LuxR homologs, and the trans double bonds appear critical for R1 signal recognition. Most well-studied LuxI-like proteins use S-adenosylmethionine and an acyl-acyl carrier protein as substrates for synthesis of AHLs. Others that form a subgroup of LuxI-type proteins use acyl-coenzyme A substrates rather than acyl-acyl carrier proteins. I1 clusters with the acyl-coenzyme A-type AHL synthases. We show that a gene linked to the I1 AHL synthase is involved in the production of the QS signal. The discovery of the unique I1 product enforces the view that further study of acyl-coenzyme A-dependent LuxI homologs will expand our knowledge of AHL diversity. The involvement of an additional enzyme in AHL generation leads us to consider this system a three-component QS circuit.IMPORTANCEWe report a Mesorhizobium japonicum quorum sensing (QS) system involving a novel acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal. This system is known to be involved in root nodule symbiosis with host plants. The chemistry of the newly described QS signal indicated that there may be a dedicated cellular enzyme involved in its synthesis in addition to the types known for production of other AHLs. Indeed, we report that an additional gene is required for synthesis of the unique signal, and we propose that this is a three-component QS circuit as opposed to the canonical two-component AHL QS circuits. The signaling system is exquisitely selective. The selectivity may be important when this species resides in the complex microbial communities around host plants and may make this system useful in various synthetic biology applications of QS circuits.}, } @article {pmid37226596, year = {2023}, author = {Medina, JM and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE and Garcia, JR}, title = {The social amoeba dictyostelium discoideum rescues paraburkholderia hayleyella, but not P. agricolaris, from interspecific competition.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad055}, pmid = {37226596}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts can provide benefits for their eukaryotic hosts, but it is often unclear if endosymbionts benefit from these relationships. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum associates with three species of Paraburkholderia endosymbionts, including P. agricolaris and P. hayleyella. These endosymbionts can be costly to host but are beneficial in certain contexts because they allow D. discoideum to carry prey bacteria through the dispersal stage. In experiments where no other species are present, P. hayleyella benefits from D. discoideum while P. agricolaris does not. However, the presence of other species may influence this symbiosis. We tested if P. agricolaris and P. hayleyella benefit from D. discoideum in the context of resource competition with Klebsiella pneumoniae, the typical laboratory prey of D. discoideum. Without D. discoideum, K. pneumoniae depressed the growth of both Paraburkholderia symbionts, consistent with competition. P. hayleyella was more harmed by interspecific competition than P. agricolaris. We found that P. hayleyella was rescued from competition by D. discoideum while P. agricolaris was not. This may be because P. hayleyella is more specialized as an endosymbiont; it has a highly reduced genome compared to P. agricolaris and may have lost genes relevant for resource competition outside of its host.}, } @article {pmid37225675, year = {2023}, author = {Ji, Y and Huang, L and Wang, Z and Xu, J and Wei, J and Zhao, Y}, title = {Performance of cocultivation of Chlorella vulgaris and four different fungi in biogas slurry purification and biogas upgrading by induction of strigolactone (GR24) and endophytic bacteria.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e10896}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10896}, pmid = {37225675}, issn = {1554-7531}, abstract = {This study aimed to determine the best fungi to form the algal-bacterial-fungal symbionts and identify the optimal conditions for the synchronous processing of biogas slurry and biogas. Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and endophytic bacteria (S395-2) isolated from it and four different fungi (Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus geesteranus, and Pleurotus corucopiae) were used to form different symbiotic systems. Four different concentrations of GR24 were added to systems to examine the growth characteristics, the content of chlorophyll a (CHL-a), the activity of carbonic anhydrase (CA), the photosynthetic performance, the removal of nutrients, and the biogas purification performance. The results suggested that the growth rate, CA, CHL-a content, and photosynthetic performance of the C. vulgaris-endophytic bacteria-Ganoderma lucidum symbionts were higher than the other three symbiotic systems when 10[-9] M GR24 was added. The highest nutrients/CO2 removal efficiency 78.36 ± 6.98% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 81.63 ± 7.35% for total nitrogen (TN), 84.05 ± 7.16% for total phosphorus (TP) and 65.18 ± 6.12% for CO2 was obtained under the above optimal conditions. This approach will provide a theoretical basis for the selection and optimization of the algal-bacterial-fungal symbionts for biogas slurry and biogas purification.}, } @article {pmid37225561, year = {2023}, author = {McFadden, CL}, title = {Social media for health advocacy.}, journal = {Surgery}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.surg.2023.04.039}, pmid = {37225561}, issn = {1532-7361}, abstract = {Twenty-five percent of US adults do not have a primary care doctor. With inherent physical obstacles often found in health care systems, there is a disparity in the ability to navigate through health care. Social media has helped patients navigate the muddy waters and helped remove traditional medicine's roadblocks, which tend to limit access to health care resources. Through social media, patients access areas to promote health, network and build their communities, and become better advocates to make more informed health care decisions. However, limitations exist for health advocacy through social media, including widespread medical misinformation, disregard of evidence-based practices, and challenges to ensure user privacy. Regardless of the limitations, the medical community must accept and work with medical professional societies to stay at the forefront of shared material and become interwoven in social media. This engagement could help empower the public with knowledge to advocate for themselves and know where to go for definitive medical care when warranted. Medical professionals must embrace the public's research and self-advocacy as the foundation of a new symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid37223810, year = {2023}, author = {Pu, Z and Zhang, R and Wang, H and Li, Q and Zhang, J and Wang, XX}, title = {Root morphological and physiological traits and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi shape phosphorus-acquisition strategies of 12 vegetable species.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1150832}, pmid = {37223810}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Trait plasticity and integration mediate vegetable adaptive strategies. However, it is unclear how patterns of vegetables in root traits influence vegetable adaptation to different phosphorus (P) levels. Nine root traits and six shoot traits were investigated in 12 vegetable species cultivated in a greenhouse with low and high P supplies to identify distinct adaptive mechanisms in relation to P acquisition (40 and 200 P mg kg[-1] as KH2PO4). At the low P level, a series of negative correlations among root morphology, exudates and mycorrhizal colonization, and different types of root functional properties (root morphology, exudates and mycorrhizal colonization) respond differently to soil P levels among vegetable species. non-mycorrhizal plants showed relatively stable root traits as compared to solanaceae plants that showed more altered root morphologies and structural traits. At the low P level, the correlation between root traits of vegetable crops was enhanced. It was also found in vegetables that low P supply enhances the correlation of morphological structure while high P supply enhances the root exudation and the correlation between mycorrhizal colonization and root traits. Root exudation combined with root morphology and mycorrhizal symbiosis to observe P acquisition strategies in different root functions. Vegetables respond highly under different P conditions by enhancing the correlation of root traits. Low P supply could significantly improve the direct and indirect ways of mycorrhizal vegetable crops' root traits axis on shoot biomass, and enhance the direct way of non-mycorrhizal vegetable crops' root traits axis and reduce the indirect way of root exudates.}, } @article {pmid37223062, year = {2023}, author = {Wilkes, TI}, title = {Ergosterol extraction: a comparison of methodologies.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {37223062}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Ergosterol is a component of the cell membrane of mycorrhizal fungi and is frequently used to quantify their biomass. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi establish a symbiotic relationship with a respective host plant. Several methods are currently employed for quantification of ergosterol; however, these utilise a series of potentially hazardous chemicals with varying exposure times to the user. The present comparative study aims to ascertain the most reliable method to extract ergosterol whilst limiting hazard exposure to the user. Chloroform, cyclohexane, methanol and methanol hydroxide extraction protocols were applied to a total of 300 samples of root samples and a further 300 growth substrate samples across all protocols. Extracts were analysed via HPLC methodologies. Chromagraphic analysis showed chloroform-based extraction procedures produced a consistently higher concentration of ergosterol in both root and growth substrate samples. Methanol hydroxide, without the addition of cyclohexane, produced a very low concentration of ergosterol, with a reduction of quantified ergosterol of between 80 and 92 % compared to chloroform extractions. Hazard exposure was greatly reduced following the chloroform extraction protocol when compared with other extraction procedures.}, } @article {pmid37222909, year = {2023}, author = {Schmiedová, L and Černá, K and Li, T and Těšický, M and Kreisinger, J and Vinkler, M}, title = {Bacterial communities along parrot digestive and respiratory tracts: the effects of sample type, species and time.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37222909}, issn = {1618-1905}, abstract = {Digestive and respiratory tracts are inhabited by rich bacterial communities that can vary between their different segments. In comparison with other bird taxa with developed caeca, parrots that lack caeca have relatively lower variability in intestinal morphology. Here, based on 16S rRNA metabarcoding, we describe variation in microbiota across different parts of parrot digestive and respiratory tracts both at interspecies and intraspecies levels. In domesticated budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), we describe the bacterial variation across eight selected sections of respiratory and digestive tracts, and three non-destructively collected sample types (faeces, and cloacal and oral swabs). Our results show important microbiota divergence between the upper and lower digestive tract, but similarities between respiratory tract and crop, and also between different intestinal segments. Faecal samples appear to provide a better proxy for intestinal microbiota composition than the cloacal swabs. Oral swabs had a similar bacterial composition as the crop and trachea. For a subset of tissues, we confirmed the same pattern also in six different parrot species. Finally, using the faeces and oral swabs in budgerigars, we revealed high oral, but low faecal microbiota stability during a 3-week period mimicking pre-experiment acclimation. Our findings provide a basis essential for microbiota-related experimental planning and result generalisation in non-poultry birds.}, } @article {pmid37222791, year = {2023}, author = {Kaboosi, E and Ghabooli, M and Karimi, R}, title = {Combined Effect of Trehalose and Serendipita indica Inoculation Might Participate in Solanum lycopersicum Induced Cold Tolerance.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {7}, pages = {224}, pmid = {37222791}, issn = {1432-0991}, abstract = {The exploitation of symbiotic interactions between fungi and plants, coupled with the application of osmoprotectants such as trehalose (Tre), presents a promising strategy for mitigating environmental stress. To determine the mechanism of Serendipita indica and Tre-mediated cold stress tolerance, a comparative experiment was designed to study the impact of S. indica, Tre and their combination on tomato plants grown under cold stress. The results showed that cold stress significantly decreased biomass, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments and elements concomitantly with increasing antioxidant activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide and proline content. Meanwhile, S. indica and Tre treatments promoted biomass and enhanced carbohydrate, protein, proline, potassium, phosphorous, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic pigments content under cold stress. Furthermore, single or dual application of endophyte and Tre mitigated physiological disorders induced by cold stress and increased the integrity of cell membranes by decreasing hydrogen peroxide, MDA, and electrolyte leakage (EL). Our findings suggest that S. indica and Tre combination could significantly promote cold stress tolerance compared with single treatment. This study is novel in showing the cold adaptation of tomato plants by combination use of S. indica and Tre, which can be a promising strategy for improving cold tolerance. The underlying molecular mechanisms of sugar-fungus interaction must be further investigated.}, } @article {pmid37222598, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, D and Yu, X and Chen, J and Liu, H and Zheng, Y and Qu, H and Bao, Y}, title = {Microbial Assemblages Associated with the Soil-Root Continuum of an Endangered Plant, Helianthemum songaricum Schrenk.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0338922}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03389-22}, pmid = {37222598}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {The microbial network of the soil-root continuum plays a key role in plant growth. To date, limited information is available about the microbial assemblages in the rhizosphere and endosphere of endangered plants. We suspect that unknown microorganisms in roots and soil play an important role in the survival strategies of endangered plants. To address this research gap, we investigated the diversity and composition of the microbial communities of the soil-root continuum of the endangered shrub Helianthemum songaricum and observed that the microbial communities and structures of the rhizosphere and endosphere samples were distinguishable. The dominant rhizosphere bacteria were Actinobacteria (36.98%) and Acidobacteria (18.15%), whereas most endophytes were Alphaproteobacteria (23.17%) as well as Actinobacteria (29.94%). The relative abundance of rhizosphere bacteria was higher than that in endosphere samples. Fungal rhizosphere and endophyte samples had approximately equal abundances of the Sordariomycetes (23%), while the Pezizomycetes were more abundant in the soil (31.95%) than in the roots (5.70%). The phylogenetic relationships of the abundances of microbes in root and soil samples also showed that the most abundant bacterial and fungal reads tended to be dominant in either the soil or root samples but not both. Additionally, Pearson correlation heatmap analysis showed that the diversity and composition of soil bacteria and fungi were closely related to pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter, of which pH and organic matter were the main drivers. These results clarify the different patterns of microbial communities of the soil-root continuum, in support of the better conservation and utilization of endangered desert plants in Inner Mongolia. IMPORTANCE Microbial assemblages play significant roles in plant survival, health, and ecological services. The symbiosis between soil microorganisms and these plants and their interactions with soil factors are important features of the adaptation of desert plants to an arid and barren environment. Therefore, the profound study of the microbial diversity of rare desert plants can provide important data to support the protection and utilization of rare desert plants. Accordingly, in this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to study the microbial diversity in plant roots and rhizosphere soils. We expect that research on the relationship between soil and root microbial diversity and the environment will improve the survival of endangered plants in this environment. In summary, this study is the first to study the microbial diversity and community structure of Helianthemum songaricum Schrenk and compare the diversity and composition of the root and soil microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid37221042, year = {2023}, author = {Chaudhary, S and Wu, Y and Strongman, D and Wang, Y}, title = {CIGAF-a database and interactive platform for insect-associated trichomycete fungi.}, journal = {Database : the journal of biological databases and curation}, volume = {2023}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/database/baad038}, pmid = {37221042}, issn = {1758-0463}, abstract = {Trichomycete fungi are gut symbionts of arthropods living in aquatic habitats. The lack of a central platform with accessible collection records and associated ecological metadata has limited ecological investigations of trichomycetes. We present CIGAF (short for Collections of Insect Gut-Associated Fungi), a trichomycetes-focused digital database with interactive visualization functions enabled by the R Shiny web application. CIGAF curated 3120 collection records of trichomycetes across the globe, spanning from 1929 to 2022. CIGAF allows the exploration of nearly 100 years of field collection data through the web interface, including primary published data such as insect host information, collection site coordinates, descriptions and date of collection. When possible, specimen records are supplemented with climatic measures at collection sites. As a central platform of field collection records, multiple interactive tools allow users to analyze and plot data at various levels. CIGAF provides a comprehensive resource hub to the research community for further studies in mycology, entomology, symbiosis and biogeography.}, } @article {pmid37221014, year = {2023}, author = {Carr, EC and Barton, Q and Grambo, S and Sullivan, M and Renfro, CM and Kuo, A and Pangilinan, J and Lipzen, A and Keymanesh, K and Savage, E and Barry, K and Grigoriev, IV and Riekhof, WR and Harris, SD}, title = {Characterization of a novel polyextremotolerant fungus, Exophiala viscosa, with insights into its melanin regulation and ecological niche.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkad110}, pmid = {37221014}, issn = {2160-1836}, abstract = {Black yeasts are polyextremotolerant fungi that contain high amounts of melanin in their cell wall and maintain a primarily yeast form. These fungi grow in xeric, nutrient deplete environments which implies that they require highly flexible metabolisms and have been suggested to contain the ability to form lichen-like mutualisms with nearby algae and bacteria. However, the exact ecological niche and interactions between these fungi and their surrounding community is not well understood. We have isolated two novel black yeasts from the genus Exophiala that were recovered from dryland biological soil crusts. Despite notable differences in colony and cellular morphology, both fungi appear to be members of the same species, which has been named Exophiala viscosa (i.e., E. viscosa JF 03-3 Goopy and E. viscosa JF 03-4F Slimy). A combination of whole genome sequencing, phenotypic experiments, and melanin regulation experiments have been performed on these isolates to fully characterize these fungi and help decipher their fundamental niche within the biological soil crust consortium. Our results reveal that E. viscosa is capable of utilizing a wide variety of carbon and nitrogen sources potentially derived from symbiotic microbes, can withstand many forms of abiotic stresses, and excretes melanin that can potentially provide UV resistance to the biological soil crust community. Besides the identification of a novel species within the genus Exophiala, our study also provides new insight into the regulation of melanin production in polyextremotolerant fungi.}, } @article {pmid37220165, year = {2023}, author = {Haruma, T and Doyama, K and Lu, X and Noji, K and Masuya, H and Arima, T and Tomiyama, S and Yamaji, K}, title = {Miscanthus sinensis contributes to the survival of Pinus densiflora seedlings at a mining site via providing a possible functional endophyte and maintaining symbiotic relationship between P. densiflora and endophytes from high soil temperature stress.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0286203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0286203}, pmid = {37220165}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {At a sedimentary site in an old mine site, Miscanthus sinensis formed patches, where Pinus densiflora seedlings could grow better compared with those outside the patches, indicating that M. sinensis would improve P. densiflora seedling establishment. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms by which M. sinensis facilitates the survival of P. densiflora seedlings by considering the soil properties, heavy metal tolerance, and root endophytes in P. densiflora seedlings at the sedimentary site. The sedimentary site, which is a bare ground, contained high concentrations of Fe, indicating that plants should be exposed to Fe and high soil temperature stresses. Measurement of soil temperature revealed that M. sinensis suppressed sharp increases and alternation of soil temperature, resulting in reducing high soil temperature stress in P. densiflora seedlings. To adapt to the Fe stress environment, P. densiflora outside and inside the patches produced Fe detoxicants, including catechin, condensed tannin, and malic acid. Ceratobasidium bicorne and Aquapteridospora sp. were commonly isolated from P. densiflora seedlings outside and inside the patches as root endophytes, which might enhance Fe tolerance in the seedlings. Aquapteridospora sp., which is considered as a dark-septate endophyte (DSE), was also isolated from the roots of M. sinensis, suggesting that M. sinensis might play a source of a root endophyte to P. densiflora seedlings. Ceratobasidium bicorne could be classified into root endophytes showing symbiosis and weak pathogenicity to host plants. Therefore, high soil temperature stress would weaken P. densiflora seedlings, causing root endophytic C. bicorne to appear pathogenic. We suggested that P. densiflora could adapt to the Fe stress environment via producing Fe detoxicants, and M. sinensis would facilitate the establishment of P. densiflora seedlings in the sedimentary site by providing a DSE, Aquapteridospora sp., and maintaining symbiosis of C. bicorne from high soil temperature stress.}, } @article {pmid37217849, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, J and Muhammad, I and Chen, B and Xu, P and Li, Y and Xu, H and Li, K}, title = {Whole genome sequencing and analysis of Armillaria gallica Jzi34 symbiotic with Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {275}, pmid = {37217849}, issn = {1471-2164}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Armillaria species are plant pathogens, but a few Armillaria species can establish a symbiotic relationship with Gastrodia elata, a rootless and leafless orchid, that is used as a Chinese herbal medicine. Armillaria is a nutrient source for the growth of G. elata. However, there are few reports on the molecular mechanism of symbiosis between Armillaria species and G. elata. The genome sequencing and analysis of Armillaria symbiotic with G. elata would provide genomic information for further studying the molecular mechanism of symbiosis.

RESULTS: The de novo genome assembly was performed with the PacBio Sequel platform and Illumina NovaSeq PE150 for the A. gallica Jzi34 strain, which was symbiotic with G. elata. Its genome assembly contained ~ 79.9 Mbp and consisted of 60 contigs with an N50 of 2,535,910 bp. There were only 4.1% repetitive sequences in the genome assembly. Functional annotation analysis revealed a total of 16,280 protein coding genes. Compared with the other five genomes of Armillaria, the carbohydrate enzyme gene family of the genome was significantly contracted, while it had the largest set of glycosyl transferase (GT) genes. It also had an expansion of auxiliary activity enzymes AA3-2 gene subfamily and cytochrome P450 genes. The synteny analysis result of P450 genes reveals that the evolutionary relationship of P450 proteins between A. gallica Jzi34 and other four Armillaria was complex.

CONCLUSIONS: These characteristics may be beneficial for establishing a symbiotic relationship with G. elata. These results explore the characteristics of A. gallica Jzi34 from a genomic perspective and provide an important genomic resource for further detailed study of Armillaria. This will help to further study the symbiotic mechanism between A. gallica and G. elata.}, } @article {pmid37217793, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Gao, L and Aksoy, S}, title = {Microbiota in disease-transmitting vectors.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37217793}, issn = {1740-1534}, abstract = {Haematophagous arthropods, including mosquitoes, ticks, flies, triatomine bugs and lice (here referred to as vectors), are involved in the transmission of various pathogens to mammals on whom they blood feed. The diseases caused by these pathogens, collectively known as vector-borne diseases (VBDs), threaten the health of humans and animals. Although the vector arthropods differ in life histories, feeding behaviour as well as reproductive strategies, they all harbour symbiotic microorganisms, known as microbiota, on which they depend for completing essential aspects of their biology, such as development and reproduction. In this Review, we summarize the shared and unique key features of the symbiotic associations that have been characterized in the major vector taxa. We discuss the crosstalks between microbiota and their arthropod hosts that influence vector metabolism and immune responses relevant for pathogen transmission success, known as vector competence. Finally, we highlight how current knowledge on symbiotic associations is being explored to develop non-chemical-based alternative control methods that aim to reduce vector populations, or reduce vector competence. We conclude by highlighting the remaining knowledge gaps that stand to advance basic and translational aspects of vector-microbiota interactions.}, } @article {pmid37217722, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z and Yang, M and Zhou, X and Li, Z and Li, H and Zhai, F and Zhang, Y and Zhang, Y}, title = {Research on the spatial correlation and formation mechanism between traditional villages and rural tourism.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {8210}, pmid = {37217722}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {In recent years, the survival and development of traditional villages in China have been serious challenges. Rural tourism is regarded as an important way to solve rural problems, and the combination of rural culture and tourism has become a new power point for rural development. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the spatial distribution structure between traditional villages and rural tourism. In this paper, rural tourism was represented by the rural tourism characteristic village (RTCV), and Henan Province, China, was taken as a study area to analyze the distribution pattern and spatial correlation of rural tourism and traditional village (TV) and discuss the relationship between the spatial correlation and regional natural environment and socioeconomic factors. The results show that the coupling of the spatial correlation between RTCVs and TVs in Henan was clear. They could be divided into 5 regions based on geographical factors. In addition, the research summarized 4 typical spatial structures between TVs and RTCVs in Henan based on the regional symbiosis theory, and the spatial pattern formation mechanism of TVs and RTCVs was discussed based on three driving mechanisms. The spatial structure of the two can provide reference value for other developing countries and regions to achieve sustainable rural development.}, } @article {pmid37215145, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, XF and Shao, JH and Liao, YT and Wang, LN and Jia, Y and Dong, PJ and Liu, ZZ and He, DD and Li, C and Zhang, X}, title = {Regulation of short-chain fatty acids in the immune system.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1186892}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2023.1186892}, pmid = {37215145}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {A growing body of research suggests that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites produced by intestinal symbiotic bacteria that ferment dietary fibers (DFs), play a crucial role in the health status of symbiotes. SCFAs act on a variety of cell types to regulate important biological processes, including host metabolism, intestinal function, and immune function. SCFAs also affect the function and fate of immune cells. This finding provides a new concept in immune metabolism and a better understanding of the regulatory role of SCFAs in the immune system, which impacts the prevention and treatment of disease. The mechanism by which SCFAs induce or regulate the immune response is becoming increasingly clear. This review summarizes the different mechanisms through which SCFAs act in cells. According to the latest research, the regulatory role of SCFAs in the innate immune system, including in NLRP3 inflammasomes, receptors of TLR family members, neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells, eosinophils, basophils and innate lymphocyte subsets, is emphasized. The regulatory role of SCFAs in the adaptive immune system, including in T-cell subsets, B cells, and plasma cells, is also highlighted. In addition, we discuss the role that SCFAs play in regulating allergic airway inflammation, colitis, and osteoporosis by influencing the immune system. These findings provide evidence for determining treatment options based on metabolic regulation.}, } @article {pmid37214959, year = {2023}, author = {Moldovan, OT and Carrell, AA and Bulzu, PA and Levei, E and Bucur, R and Sitar, C and Faur, L and Mirea, IC and Enilă, M and Cadar, O and Podar, M}, title = {The gut microbiome mediates adaptation to scarce food in Coleoptera.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.05.12.540564}, pmid = {37214959}, abstract = {Beetles are ubiquitous cave invertebrates worldwide that adapted to scarce subterranean resources when they colonized caves. Here, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the adaptation of beetles to caves from different climatic regions of the Carpathians. The beetles' microbiota was host-specific, reflecting phylogenetic and nutritional adaptation. The microbial community structure further resolved conspecific beetles by caves suggesting microbiota-host coevolution and influences by local environmental factors. The detritivore species hosted a variety of bacteria known to decompose and ferment organic matter, suggesting turnover and host cooperative digestion of the sedimentary microbiota and allochthonous-derived nutrients. The cave Carabidae, with strong mandibulae adapted to predation and scavenging of animal and plant remains, had distinct microbiota dominated by symbiotic lineages Spiroplasma or Wolbachia . All beetles had relatively high levels of fermentative Carnobacterium and Vagococcus involved in lipid accumulation and a reduction of metabolic activity, and both features characterize adaptation to caves.}, } @article {pmid37214831, year = {2023}, author = {Mfopit, YM and Weber, JS and Chechet, GD and Ibrahim, MAM and Signaboubo, D and Achukwi, DM and Mamman, M and Balogun, EO and Shuaibu, MN and Kabir, J and Kelm, S}, title = {Molecular detection of Sodalis glossinidius, Spiroplasma and Wolbachia endosymbionts in wild population of tsetse flies collected in Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.}, journal = {Research square}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-2902767/v1}, pmid = {37214831}, abstract = {Background Tsetse flies are cyclical vectors of African trypanosomiasis. They have established symbiotic associations with different bacteria, which influence certain aspects of their physiology. The vector competence of tsetse flies for different trypanosome species is highly variable and is suggested to be affected by various factors, amongst which are bacterial endosymbionts. Symbiotic interactions may provide an avenue for the disease control. The current study provided the prevalence of 3 tsetse symbionts in Glossina species from Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria. Results Tsetse flies were collected from five different locations and dissected. DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction PCR was used to detect the presence of Sodalis glossinidius , Spiroplasma sp and Wolbachia using specific primers. A total of 848 tsetse samples were analysed: Glossina morsitans submorsitans (47.52%), Glossina palpalis palpalis (37.26%), Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (9.08%) and Glossina tachinoides (6.13%). Only 95 (11.20%) were infected with at least one of the 3 symbionts. Among the infected, 6 (6.31%) were carrying mixed infection (Wolbachia and Spiroplasma). The overall symbiont prevalence was 0.88%, 3.66% and 11.00% respectively, for Sodalis , Spiroplasma and Wolbachia . Prevalence varied between countries and tsetse species. No Spiroplasma was detected in samples from Cameroon and no Sodalis was found in samples from Nigeria. Conclusion The present study revealed for the first time, the presence of infection by Spiroplasma in tsetse in Chad and Nigeria. These findings provide useful information to the repertoire of bacterial flora of tsetse flies and incite to more investigations to understand their implication in the vector competence of tsetse flies.}, } @article {pmid37214603, year = {2023}, author = {Williamson, OM and Mustard, AT and Bright, AJ and Williams, DE and Ladd, MC and Baker, AC}, title = {Opportunistic consumption of coral spawn by the ruby brittle star (Ophioderma rubicundum).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e10096}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.10096}, pmid = {37214603}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Many reef invertebrates reproduce through simultaneous broadcast spawning, with an apparent advantage of overwhelming potential predators and maximizing propagule survival. Although reef fish have been observed to consume coral gamete bundles during spawning events, there are few records of such predation by benthic invertebrates. Here, we document several instances of the ruby brittle star, Ophioderma rubicundum, capturing and consuming egg-sperm bundles of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, and the symmetrical brain coral, Pseudodiploria strigosa, during spawning events in the Cayman Islands in 2012 and the Florida Keys in 2022. These observations are widely separated in space and time (>600 km, 10 years), suggesting that this behavior may be prevalent on western Atlantic reefs. Since O. rubicundum spawns on the same or subsequent nights as these coral species, we hypothesize that this opportunistic feeding behavior takes advantage of lipid-rich coral gamete bundles to recover energy reserves expended by the brittle star during gametogenesis. The consumption of coral gametes by adult brittle stars suggests an underexplored trophic link between reef invertebrates and also provides evidence that ophiuroid-coral symbioses may oscillate between commensalism and parasitism depending on the ontogeny and reproductive status of both animals. Our observations provide insights into the nuanced, dynamic associations between coral reef invertebrates and may have implications for coral reproductive success and resilience.}, } @article {pmid37214241, year = {2023}, author = {Ubuka, T and Bu, G and Tobari, Y}, title = {Editorial: Stress and reproduction in animal models.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1202275}, doi = {10.3389/fendo.2023.1202275}, pmid = {37214241}, issn = {1664-2392}, } @article {pmid37214218, year = {2023}, author = {Chin, T and Shi, Y and Del Giudice, M and Meng, J and Xing, Z}, title = {Working from anywhere: yin-yang cognition paradoxes of knowledge sharing and hiding for developing careers in China.}, journal = {Humanities & social sciences communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {239}, doi = {10.1057/s41599-023-01744-5}, pmid = {37214218}, issn = {2662-9992}, abstract = {Digital technology coupled with the quarantines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made working from anywhere (WFA)-a modern form of remote working-a widespread phenomenon. Given that WFA brings new career challenges to and engenders paradoxes of knowledge exchange among employees, this research aims to examine how the interactions of remote work time (RWT), knowledge sharing (KS), and knowledge hiding (KH) affect career development (CD) from a culturally grounded paradoxical framing of yin-yang harmonizing. The data were collected from Chinese manufacturing employees, and a moderated hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the hypotheses. The results show an inverted U-shaped relationship between RWT and CD. The interaction of KS and KH is significantly related to CD, and the inverted U-shaped RWT-CD relationship is moderated by the interaction term, in which RWT exerts the most substantial positive impact on CD when KS is high and KH is low. This study offers valuable implications for coping with perplexing employment relationships and increasing career challenges in volatile work environments. The primary originality is to adopt a novel cognitive frame of yin-yang harmonizing to examine the nonlinear effect of remote working and the symbiotic impact of KS and KH on CD, which not only enriches the understanding of flexible work arrangements in the digital economy but also provides novel insights into the interconnectedness of KS and KH and their interacting effects on HRM-related outcomes.}, } @article {pmid37213445, year = {2023}, author = {Babaie, E and Hassanpour, K and Aldaghi, M and Sahebkar, M}, title = {Comparison of the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid and multistrain synbiotic on indirect hyperbilirubinemia among neonates treated with phototherapy: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial study.}, journal = {Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {40}, pmid = {37213445}, issn = {1735-1995}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and multistrain synbiotic on indirect hyperbilirubinemia among neonates treated with phototherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 120 subjects presenting with indirect hyperbilirubinemia in 2019. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups of synbiotic, UDCA, and control. The synbiotic group received five drops/day of synbiotic in addition to phototherapy. UDCA group received 10 mg/kg/day of Ursobil divided every 12 h in addition to phototherapy. The Control group received a placebo (water) in addition to phototherapy. Phototherapy was discontinued when the bilirubin levels reached <10 mg/dL. Total bilirubin levels were measured using the diazo method at 12, 24, and 36 h after hospitalization. This study used repeated measure analysis of variance and post hoc tests.

RESULTS: The mean total of bilirubin was substantially decreased in both synbiotic and UDCA groups as compared to the control group at 24 h after hospitalization (P < 0.001). Moreover, the Bonferroni post hoc test showed significant differences regarding the mean total of bilirubin between the three groups (P < 0.05) except for the association between UDCA and synbiotic at 24 h after hospitalization (P > 0.99).

CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that UDCA and synbiotic administration alongside phototherapy are more effective in reducing bilirubin levels as compared to phototherapy alone.}, } @article {pmid37213073, year = {2023}, author = {Salar, S and Ball, NE and Baaziz, H and Nix, JC and Sobe, RC and Compton, KK and Zhulin, IB and Brown, AM and Scharf, BE and Schubot, FD}, title = {The structural analysis of the periplasmic domain of Sinorhizobium meliloti chemoreceptor McpZ reveals a novel fold and suggests a complex mechanism of transmembrane signaling.}, journal = {Proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/prot.26510}, pmid = {37213073}, issn = {1097-0134}, abstract = {Chemotaxis is a fundamental process whereby bacteria seek out nutrient sources and avoid harmful chemicals. For the symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the chemotaxis system also plays an essential role in the interaction with its legume host. The chemotactic signaling cascade is initiated through interactions of an attractant or repellent compound with chemoreceptors or methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). S. meliloti possesses eight chemoreceptors to mediate chemotaxis. Six of these receptors are transmembrane proteins with periplasmic ligand-binding domains (LBDs). The specific functions of McpW and McpZ are still unknown. Here, we report the crystal structure of the periplasmic domain of McpZ (McpZPD) at 2.7 Å resolution. McpZPD assumes a novel fold consisting of three concatenated four-helix bundle modules. Through phylogenetic analyses, we discovered that this helical tri-modular domain fold arose within the Rhizobiaceae family and is still evolving rapidly. The structure, offering a rare view of a ligand-free dimeric MCP-LBD, reveals a novel dimerization interface. Molecular dynamics calculations suggest ligand binding will induce conformational changes that result in large horizontal helix movements within the membrane-proximal domains of the McpZPD dimer that are accompanied by a 5 Å vertical shift of the terminal helix toward the inner cell membrane. These results suggest a mechanism of transmembrane signaling for this family of MCPs that entails both piston-type and scissoring movements. The predicted movements terminate in a conformation that closely mirrors those observed in related ligand-bound MCP-LBDs.}, } @article {pmid37212592, year = {2023}, author = {Sisti, LS and Pena-Passos, M and Lishcka Sampaio Mayer, J}, title = {Isolation, Characterization, and Total DNA Extraction to Identify Endophytic Fungi in Mycoheterotrophic Plants.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {195}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/65135}, pmid = {37212592}, issn = {1940-087X}, abstract = {Mycoheterotrophic plants present one of the most extreme forms of mycorrhizal dependency, having totally lost their autotrophic capacity. As essential as any other vital resource, the fungi with which these plants intimately associate are essential for them. Hence, some of the most relevant techniques in studying mycoheterotrophic species are the ones that enable the investigation of associated fungi, especially those inhabiting roots and subterranean organs. In this context, techniques for identifying culture-dependent and culture-independent endophytic fungi are commonly applied. Isolating fungal endophytes provides a means for morphologically identifying them, analyzing their diversity, and maintaining inocula for applications in the symbiotic germination of orchid seeds. However, it is known that there is a large variety of non-culturable fungi inhabiting plant tissues. Thus, culture-independent molecular identification techniques offer a broader cover of species diversity and abundance. This article aims to provide the methodological support necessary for starting two investigation procedures: a culture-dependent and an independent one. Regarding the culture-dependent protocol, the processes of collecting and maintaining plant samples from collection sites to laboratory facilities are detailed, along with isolating filamentous fungi from subterranean and aerial organs of mycoheterotrophic plants, keeping a collection of isolates, morphologically characterizing hyphae by slide culture methodology, and molecular identification of fungi by total DNA extraction. Encompassing culture-independent methodologies, the detailed procedures include collecting plant samples for metagenomic analyses and total DNA extraction from achlorophyllous plant organs using a commercial kit. Finally, continuity protocols (e.g., polymerase chain reaction [PCR], sequencing) are also suggested for analyses, and techniques are presented here.}, } @article {pmid37212589, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, J and Wi, D and Ly, M and Jahan, MA and Pullano, S and Martirosyan, I and Kovinich, N}, title = {Soybean Hairy Root Transformation for the Analysis of Gene Function.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {195}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/65485}, pmid = {37212589}, issn = {1940-087X}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is a valuable crop in agriculture that has thousands of industrial uses. Soybean roots are the primary site of interaction with soil-borne microbes that form symbiosis to fix nitrogen and pathogens, which makes research involving soybean root genetics of prime importance to improve its agricultural production. The genetic transformation of soybean hairy roots (HRs) is mediated by the Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain NCPPB2659 (K599) and is an efficient tool for studying gene function in soybean roots, taking only 2 months from start to finish. Here, we provide a detailed protocol that outlines the method for overexpressing and silencing a gene of interest in soybean HRs. This methodology includes soybean seed sterilization, infection of cotyledons with K599, and the selection and harvesting of genetically transformed HRs for RNA isolation and, if warranted, metabolite analyses. The throughput of the approach is sufficient to simultaneously study several genes or networks and could determine the optimal engineering strategies prior to committing to long-term stable transformation approaches.}, } @article {pmid37211987, year = {2023}, author = {Robbins, C and Cruz Corella, J and Aletti, C and Seiler, R and Mateus, ID and Lee, SJ and Masclaux, FG and Sanders, IR}, title = {Generation of disproportionate nuclear genotype proportions in Rhizophagus irregularis progeny causes allelic imbalance in gene transcription.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18936}, pmid = {37211987}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid37210974, year = {2023}, author = {Hnini, M and El Attar, I and Taha, K and Aurag, J}, title = {Genetic diversity, symbiotic efficiency, stress tolerance, and plant growth promotion traits of rhizobia nodulating Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana growing in dryland soils in southern Morocco.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {126434}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126434}, pmid = {37210974}, issn = {1618-0984}, abstract = {In the present study, we analyzed the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, stress tolerance, phytobeneficial traits, and symbiotic characteristics of rhizobial strains isolated from root nodules of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana grown in soils collected in the extreme Southwest of the Anti-Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Subsequent to Rep-PCR fingerprinting, 16S rDNA gene sequencing of 15 representative strains showed that all of them belong to the genus Ensifer. Phylogenetic analysis and concatenation of the housekeeping genes gyrB, rpoB, recA, and dnaK revealed that the entire collection (except strain LMR678) shared 99.08 % to 99.92% similarity with Ensifer sp. USDA 257 and 96.92% to 98.79% with Sinorhizobium BJ1. Phylogenetic analysis of nodC and nodA sequences showed that all strains but one (LMR678) formed a phylogenetic group with the type strain "E. aridi" LMR001[T] (similarity over 98%). Moreover, it was relevant that most strains belong to the symbiovar vachelliae. In vitro tests revealed that five strains produced IAA, four solubilized inorganic phosphate, and one produced siderophores. All strains showed tolerance to NaCl concentrations ranging from 2 to 12% and grew at up to 10% of PEG6000. A greenhouse plant inoculation test conducted during five months demonstrated that most rhizobial strains were infective and efficient. Strains LMR688, LMR692, and LMR687 exhibited high relative symbiotic efficiency values (respectively 231.6 %, 171.96 %, and 140.84 %). These strains could be considered as the most suitable candidates for inoculation of V. t. subsp. raddiana, to be used as a pioneer plant for restoring arid soils threatened with desertification.}, } @article {pmid37210527, year = {2023}, author = {Lang, H and Wang, H and Wang, H and Zhong, Z and Xie, X and Zhang, W and Guo, J and Meng, L and Hu, X and Zhang, X and Zheng, H}, title = {Engineered symbiotic bacteria interfering Nosema redox system inhibit microsporidia parasitism in honeybees.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2778}, pmid = {37210527}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Nosema ceranae is an intracellular parasite invading the midgut of honeybees, which causes serious nosemosis implicated in honeybee colony losses worldwide. The core gut microbiota is involved in protecting against parasitism, and the genetically engineering of the native gut symbionts provides a novel and efficient way to fight pathogens. Here, using laboratory-generated bees mono-associated with gut members, we find that Snodgrassella alvi inhibit microsporidia proliferation, potentially via the stimulation of host oxidant-mediated immune response. Accordingly, N. ceranae employs the thioredoxin and glutathione systems to defend against oxidative stress and maintain a balanced redox equilibrium, which is essential for the infection process. We knock down the gene expression using nanoparticle-mediated RNA interference, which targets the γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase and thioredoxin reductase genes of microsporidia. It significantly reduces the spore load, confirming the importance of the antioxidant mechanism for the intracellular invasion of the N. ceranae parasite. Finally, we genetically modify the symbiotic S. alvi to deliver dsRNA corresponding to the genes involved in the redox system of the microsporidia. The engineered S. alvi induces RNA interference and represses parasite gene expression, thereby inhibits the parasitism significantly. Specifically, N. ceranae is most suppressed by the recombinant strain corresponding to the glutathione synthetase or by a mixture of bacteria expressing variable dsRNA. Our findings extend our previous understanding of the protection of gut symbionts against N. ceranae and provide a symbiont-mediated RNAi system for inhibiting microsporidia infection in honeybees.}, } @article {pmid37209734, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, H and Xie, Z and Yang, X and Yang, B and Liao, B and Yin, J and Xiao, B}, title = {New insights into microbial and metabolite signatures of coral bleaching.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {164258}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164258}, pmid = {37209734}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Coral bleaching and coral reef degradation have been severely increased due to anthropogenic impacts, especially global warming. Studies have indicated the key role of host-microbiome symbiotic relationships for the coral holobiont health and development, although not all of the mechanisms of interaction have been fully explored. Here, we explore bacterial and metabolic shifts within coral holobionts under thermal stress, and its correlation with bleaching. Our results showed obvious signs of coral bleaching after 13 days of heating treatment, and a more-complex co-occurrence network was observed in the coral-associated bacterial community of the heating group. The bacterial community and metabolites changed significantly under thermal stress, and genera Flavobacterium, Shewanella and Psychrobacter increased from <0.1 % to 43.58 %, 6.95 % and 6.35 %, respectively. Bacteria potentially associated with stress tolerance, biofilm formation and mobile elements decreased from 80.93 %, 62.15 % and 49.27 % to 56.28 %, 28.41 % and 18.76 %, respectively. The differentially expressed metabolites of corals after heating treatment, such as Cer(d18:0/17:0), 1-Methyladenosine, Trp-P-1 and Marasmal, were associated with cell cycle regulation and antioxidant properties. Our results can contribute to our current understanding on the correlations between coral-symbiotic bacteria, metabolites and the coral physiological response to thermal stress. These new insights into the metabolomics of heat-stressed coral holobionts may expand our knowledge on the mechanisms underlying bleaching.}, } @article {pmid37208896, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, X and Hu, X and Wang, H and Liu, J and Peng, Y and He, C and He, M and Wang, X}, title = {GmBES1-1 dampens the activity of GmNSP1/2 to mediate brassinosteroid inhibition of nodulation in soybean.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {100627}, doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100627}, pmid = {37208896}, issn = {2590-3462}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) forms root nodule to house rhizobial bacteria for biological nitrogen fixation. The development of root nodules is intricately regulated by endogenous and exogenous cues. The phytohormone Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been shown to negatively regulate nodulation in soybean, but the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we performed transcriptomic analyses and revealed that BR signaling negatively regulates nodulation factor (NF) signaling. We found that BR signaling inhibits nodulation through its signaling component GmBES1-1, by dampening NF signaling and nodule formation. In addition, GmBES1-1 could directly interact with both GmNSP1 and GmNSP2 to inhibit their interaction and the DNA-binding activity of GmNSP1. Furthermore, BR-induced the nuclear accumulation of GmBES1-1 is essential for inhibiting nodulation. Taken together, the regulation of the subcellular localization of GmBES1-1 by BRs plays a key role in legume-rhizobium symbiosis and plant development, which reports a crosstalk mechanism between phytohormonal and symbiotic signaling pathways.}, } @article {pmid37208580, year = {2023}, author = {Karaseva, NP and Rimskaya-Korsakova, NN and Kokarev, VN and Simakov, MI and Smirnov, RV and Gantsevich, MM and Malakhov, VV}, title = {Distribution of Siboglinids (Annelida, Siboglinidae) in the Laptev Sea and Adjacent Areas of the Arctic Basin.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {509}, number = {1}, pages = {124-127}, pmid = {37208580}, issn = {1608-3105}, abstract = {Biodiversity in the Laptev Sea was assessed for gutless marine worms of the family Siboglinidae (Annelida), whose metabolism is provided by symbiotic bacteria that oxidize hydrogen sulfide and methane. Seven siboglinid species were found within the geographical boundaries of the Laptev Sea, and another species was found in an adjacent sector of the Arctic Basin. The largest number of finds and the greatest biological diversity of siboglinids were observed in the eastern part of the Laptev Sea in a field of numerous methane flares. One find was made in the estuary area of the Lena River at a depth of 25 m. A possible association of siboglinids with methane seepage areas is discussed.}, } @article {pmid37208578, year = {2023}, author = {Karaseva, NP and Rimskaya-Korsakova, NN and Kokarev, VN and Simakov, MI and Smirnov, RV and Gantsevich, MM and Malakhov, VV}, title = {Finds of Siboglinids (Annelida, Siboglinidae) in the Estuaries of the Largest Arctic Rivers Are Associated with Permafrost Gas Hydrates.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {509}, number = {1}, pages = {116-118}, pmid = {37208578}, issn = {1608-3105}, abstract = {Gutless marine worms of the family Siboglinidae have been found in the estuaries of the largest Arctic rivers Yenisei, Lena, and Mackenzie. Siboglinid metabolism is provided by symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria. Strong salinity stratification is characteristic of the estuaries of the largest Arctic rivers and ensures a high salinity at depths of 25-36 m, where siboglinids were found. High methane concentrations, which are necessary for siboglinid metabolism, result from dissociation of permafrost gas hydrates under the influence of river runoff in the conditions of Arctic warming.}, } @article {pmid37207476, year = {2023}, author = {Hernández-Oaxaca, D and Claro, K and Rogel, MA and Rosenblueth, M and Martinez-Romero, J and Martinez-Romero, E}, title = {Novel symbiovars ingae, lysilomae and lysilomaefficiens in bradyrhizobia from tree-legume nodules.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {126433}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126433}, pmid = {37207476}, issn = {1618-0984}, abstract = {Inga vera and Lysiloma tree legumes form nodules with Bradyrhizobium spp. from the japonicum group that represent novel genomospecies, for which we describe here using genome data, symbiovars lysilomae, lysilomaefficiens and ingae. Genes encoding Type three secretion system (TTSS) that could affect host specificity were found in ingae but not in lysilomae nor in lysilomaefficiens symbiovars and uptake hydrogenase hup genes (that affect nitrogen fixation) were observed in bradyrhizobia from the symbiovars ingae and lysilomaefficiens. nolA gene was found in the symbiovar lysilomaefficiens but not in strains from lysilomae. We discuss that multiple genes may dictate symbiosis specificity. Besides, toxin-antitoxin genes were found in the symbiosis islands in bradyrhizobia from symbiovars ingae and lysilomaefficiens. A limit (95%) to define symbiovars with nifH gene sequences was proposed here.}, } @article {pmid37206972, year = {2023}, author = {Stefani, F and Beguin, J and Paré, D and Morency, MJ and Martineau, C and Fortin, JA and Thiffault, N and Séguin, A}, title = {Does wood mulch trigger microbially mediated positive plant-soil feedback in degraded boreal forest sites? A post hoc study.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1122445}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1122445}, pmid = {37206972}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Reforestation of degraded lands in the boreal forest is challenging and depends on the direction and strength of the plant-soil feedback (PSF).

METHODS: Using a gradient in tree productivity (null, low and high) from a long-term, spatially replicated reforestation experiment of borrow pits in the boreal forest, we investigated the interplay between microbial communities and soil and tree nutrient stocks and concentrations in relation to a positive PSF induced by wood mulch amendment.

RESULTS: Three levels of mulch amendment underlie the observed gradient in tree productivity, and plots that had been amended with a continuous layer of mulch 17 years earlier showed a positive PSF with trees up to 6 m tall, a closed canopy, and a developing humus layer. The average taxonomic and functional composition of the bacterial and fungal communities differed markedly betweenlow- and high-productivity plots. Trees in high-productivity plots recruited a specialized soil microbiome that was more efficient at nutrient mobilization and acquisition. These plots showed increases in carbon (C), calcium (Ca), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) stocks and as well as bacterial and fungal biomass. The soil microbiome was dominated by taxa from the fungal genus Cortinarius and the bacterial family Chitinophagaceae, and a complex microbial network with higher connectivity and more keystone species supported tree productivity in reforested plots compared to unproductive plots.

DISCUSSION: Therefore, mulching of plots resulted in a microbially mediated PSF that enhances mineral weathering and non-symbiotic N fixation, and in turn helps transform unproductive plots into productive plots to ensure rapid restoration of the forest ecosystem in a harsh boreal environment.}, } @article {pmid37205695, year = {2023}, author = {Inchauregui, RA and Tallapragada, K and Parker, BJ}, title = {Aphid facultative symbionts confer no protection against the fungal entomopathogen Batkoa apiculata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0286095}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0286095}, pmid = {37205695}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae are prevalent pathogens of aphids. Facultative symbiotic bacteria harbored by aphids, including Spiroplasma sp. and Regiella insecticola, have been shown to make their hosts more resistant to infection with the fungal pathogen Pandora neoaphidis. How far this protection extends against other species of fungi in the family Entomophthoraceae is unknown. Here we isolated a strain of the fungal pathogen Batkoa apiculata infecting a natural population of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and confirmed its identity by sequencing the 28S rRNA gene. We then infected a panel of aphids each harboring a different species or strain of endosymbiotic bacteria to test whether aphid symbionts protect against B. apiculata. We found no evidence of symbiont-mediated protection against this pathogen, and our data suggest that some symbionts make aphids more susceptible to infection. This finding is relevant to our understanding of this important model of host-microbe interactions, and we discuss our results in the context of aphid-microbe ecological and evolutionary dynamics.}, } @article {pmid37203166, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Wei, M and Li, Y and Tang, M and Zhang, H}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve growth and tolerance of Platycladus orientalis under lead stress.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-12}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2023.2212792}, pmid = {37203166}, issn = {1549-7879}, abstract = {Platycladus orientalis is a significant woody plant for phytoremediation in heavy metals contaminated soils. The growth and tolerance of host plants under the lead (Pb) stress were enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). To evaluate the adjustment by AMF on growth and activity of antioxidant system of P. orientalis under Pb stress. The two-factor pot experiment was conducted with three AM fungal treatments (noninoculated, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Funneliformis mosseae) and four Pb levels (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg kg[-1]). AMF increased dry weight, phosphorus uptake, root vitality, and total chlorophyll content of P. orientalis in spite of Pb stress. Compared with nonmycorrhizal treatments, mycorrhizal P. orientalis had lower H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents under Pb stress. AMF increased Pb uptake in roots and decreased the Pb translating to the shoots yet under Pb stress. Total glutathione and ascorbate in roots of P. orientalis were decreased by AMF inoculation. Mycorrhizal P. orientalis had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in shoots and roots than nonmycorrhizal counterparts. Mycorrhizal P. orientalis under Pb stress showed higher expression of PoGST1 and PoGST2 in roots than that in CK treatments. Future studies will explore the function of induced tolerance genes by AMF of P. orientalis under Pb stress.}, } @article {pmid37202120, year = {2023}, author = {Chan, WY and Rudd, D and van Oppen, MJ}, title = {Spatial metabolomics for symbiotic marine invertebrates.}, journal = {Life science alliance}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.26508/lsa.202301900}, pmid = {37202120}, issn = {2575-1077}, abstract = {Microbial symbionts frequently localize within specific body structures or cell types of their multicellular hosts. This spatiotemporal niche is critical to host health, nutrient exchange, and fitness. Measuring host-microbe metabolite exchange has conventionally relied on tissue homogenates, eliminating dimensionality and dampening analytical sensitivity. We have developed a mass spectrometry imaging workflow for a soft- and hard-bodied cnidarian animal capable of revealing the host and symbiont metabolome in situ, without the need for a priori isotopic labelling or skeleton decalcification. The mass spectrometry imaging method provides critical functional insights that cannot be gleaned from bulk tissue analyses or other presently available spatial methods. We show that cnidarian hosts may regulate microalgal symbiont acquisition and rejection through specific ceramides distributed throughout the tissue lining the gastrovascular cavity. The distribution pattern of betaine lipids showed that once resident, symbionts primarily reside in light-exposed tentacles to generate photosynthate. Spatial patterns of these metabolites also revealed that symbiont identity can drive host metabolism.}, } @article {pmid37202501, year = {2023}, author = {Cornwallis, CK and van 't Padje, A and Ellers, J and Klein, M and Jackson, R and Kiers, ET and West, SA and Henry, LM}, title = {Symbioses shape feeding niches and diversification across insects.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37202501}, issn = {2397-334X}, abstract = {For over 300 million years, insects have relied on symbiotic microbes for nutrition and defence. However, it is unclear whether specific ecological conditions have repeatedly favoured the evolution of symbioses, and how this has influenced insect diversification. Here, using data on 1,850 microbe-insect symbioses across 402 insect families, we found that symbionts have allowed insects to specialize on a range of nutrient-imbalanced diets, including phloem, blood and wood. Across diets, the only limiting nutrient consistently associated with the evolution of obligate symbiosis was B vitamins. The shift to new diets, facilitated by symbionts, had mixed consequences for insect diversification. In some cases, such as herbivory, it resulted in spectacular species proliferation. In other niches, such as strict blood feeding, diversification has been severely constrained. Symbioses therefore appear to solve widespread nutrient deficiencies for insects, but the consequences for insect diversification depend on the feeding niche that is invaded.}, } @article {pmid37201177, year = {2023}, author = {Guercio, AM and Palayam, M and Shabek, N}, title = {Strigolactones: diversity, perception, and hydrolysis.}, journal = {Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {339-360}, doi = {10.1007/s11101-023-09853-4}, pmid = {37201177}, issn = {1568-7767}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a unique and novel class of phytohormones that regulate numerous processes of growth and development in plants. Besides their endogenous functions as hormones, SLs are exuded by plant roots to stimulate critical interactions with symbiotic fungi but can also be exploited by parasitic plants to trigger their seed germination. In the past decade, since their discovery as phytohormones, rapid progress has been made in understanding the SL biosynthesis and signaling pathway. Of particular interest are the diversification of natural SLs and their exact mode of perception, selectivity, and hydrolysis by their dedicated receptors in plants. Here we provide an overview of the emerging field of SL perception with a focus on the diversity of canonical, non-canonical, and synthetic SL probes. Moreover, this review offers useful structural insights into SL perception, the precise molecular adaptations that define receptor-ligand specificities, and the mechanisms of SL hydrolysis and its attenuation by downstream signaling components.}, } @article {pmid37201169, year = {2023}, author = {Hantjidis, P}, title = {Patient education: A symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Canadian pharmacists journal : CPJ = Revue des pharmaciens du Canada : RPC}, volume = {156}, number = {3}, pages = {115-116}, doi = {10.1177/17151635231165293}, pmid = {37201169}, issn = {1715-1635}, } @article {pmid37200394, year = {2023}, author = {Kelly, S and Hansen, SB and Rübsam, H and Saake, P and Pedersen, EB and Gysel, K and Madland, E and Wu, S and Wawra, S and Reid, D and Sullivan, JT and Blahovska, Z and Vinther, M and Muszynski, A and Azadi, P and Thygesen, MB and Aachmann, FL and Ronson, CW and Zuccaro, A and Andersen, KR and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {A glycan receptor kinase facilitates intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhiza and symbiotic rhizobia in the legume Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {e3002127}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3002127}, pmid = {37200394}, issn = {1545-7885}, abstract = {Receptors that distinguish the multitude of microbes surrounding plants in the environment enable dynamic responses to the biotic and abiotic conditions encountered. In this study, we identify and characterise a glycan receptor kinase, EPR3a, closely related to the exopolysaccharide receptor EPR3. Epr3a is up-regulated in roots colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and is able to bind glucans with a branching pattern characteristic of surface-exposed fungal glucans. Expression studies with cellular resolution show localised activation of the Epr3a promoter in cortical root cells containing arbuscules. Fungal infection and intracellular arbuscule formation are reduced in epr3a mutants. In vitro, the EPR3a ectodomain binds cell wall glucans in affinity gel electrophoresis assays. In microscale thermophoresis (MST) assays, rhizobial exopolysaccharide binding is detected with affinities comparable to those observed for EPR3, and both EPR3a and EPR3 bind a well-defined β-1,3/β-1,6 decasaccharide derived from exopolysaccharides of endophytic and pathogenic fungi. Both EPR3a and EPR3 function in the intracellular accommodation of microbes. However, contrasting expression patterns and divergent ligand affinities result in distinct functions in AM colonisation and rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus. The presence of Epr3a and Epr3 genes in both eudicot and monocot plant genomes suggest a conserved function of these receptor kinases in glycan perception.}, } @article {pmid37200389, year = {2023}, author = {Luchetti, A and Castellani, LG and Toscani, AM and Lagares, A and Del Papa, MF and Torres Tejerizo, G and Pistorio, M}, title = {Characterization of an accessory plasmid of Sinorhizobium meliloti and its two replication-modules.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0285505}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0285505}, pmid = {37200389}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria known for their ability to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with leguminous plants. Current evidence shows that rhizobia carry in most cases a variable number of plasmids, containing genes necessary for symbiosis or free-living, a common feature being the presence of several plasmid replicons within the same strain. For many years, we have been studying the mobilization properties of pSmeLPU88b from the strain Sinorhizobium meliloti LPU88, an isolate from Argentina. To advance in the characterization of pSmeLPU88b plasmid, the full sequence was obtained. pSmeLPU88b is 35.9 kb in size, had an average GC % of 58.6 and 31 CDS. Two replication modules were identified in silico: one belonging to the repABC type, and the other to the repC. The replication modules presented high DNA identity to the replication modules from plasmid pMBA9a present in an S. meliloti isolate from Canada. In addition, three CDS presenting identity with recombinases and with toxin-antitoxin systems were found downstream of the repABC system. It is noteworthy that these CDS present the same genetic structure in pSmeLPU88b and in other rhizobial plasmids. Moreover, in all cases they are found downstream of the repABC operon. By cloning each replication system in suicide plasmids, we demonstrated that each of them can support plasmid replication in the S. meliloti genetic background, but with different stability behavior. Interestingly, while incompatibility analysis of the cloned rep systems results in the loss of the parental module, both obtained plasmids can coexist together.}, } @article {pmid37199986, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, Z and Shi, J and He, Y and Chen, Y and Wang, Y and Yang, X and Wang, T and Wu, L and Xu, J}, title = {Enhanced soil function and health by soybean root microbial communities during in situ remediation of Cd-contaminated soil with the application of soil amendments.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0104922}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.01049-22}, pmid = {37199986}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The interactions between soil microbiomes at various trophic levels are essential for restoring soil functions. Legumes are considered as "pioneer crops" in degraded or contaminated soils because they can fix nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with rhizobacteria, which promotes soil fertility. However, little is known about the abilities of legumes to contribute to the health of soil contaminated with Cadmium (Cd). In this research, we applied a soil amendment (commercial Mg-Ca-Si Conditioner, CMC) at two rates (1,500 and 3,000 kg ha[-1]) in a Cd-contaminated soybean field. Bulk and rhizosphere soil samples were collected to assess the amendment-induced effects on four microbial lineages (bacteria, fungi, AMF, and nematodes) and their soil functions including cadmium stabilization, nutrient cycling, and pathogen control. Compared with the control, both CMC application rates increased the pH and reduced labile Cd fraction in the bulk and rhizosphere soils. Although the total Cd concentrations in the soil were similar, the Cd accumulation in the grains was significantly reduced in treatments of soil amendments. It was observed that application of CMC can significantly reduce the AMF diversity, but increase the diversity of other three communities. Moreover, the biodiversity within keystone modules (identified by co-occurrence network analysis) played key roles in driving soil multifunctionality. Specifically, key beneficial groups in module 2 such as Aggregicoccus (Bacteria), Sordariomycetes (Fungi), Glomus (AMF), and Bursaphelenchus (Nematode) were strongly associated with soil multifunctionality. By co-culturing bacterial suspensions with the soybean root rot pathogen Fusarium solani in the in vitro assays, we experimentally validated that application of CMC promoted the suppression of soil bacterial community on pathogens by inhibiting the mycelium growth and spore germination. Also, the bacterial community was more resistant to Cd stress in soils receiving CMC amendment. Our findings provide valuable theoretical references for enhancing soil functions and health via applying a soil amendment (CMC) during Cd-contaminated soil remediation.IMPORTANCERestoration of microbiome-driven soil functions and health is of great importance during Cd-contaminated soil remediation via soil amendment. Soybean and its symbiotic mutualism can provide abundant nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to relieve nutrient deficiency of Cd-contaminated soil. This study provides a novel perspective on the potential role of applying a soil amendment (CMC) in enhancing the functions and health of Cd-contaminated soils. Our results showed the distinct differences in soil microbial community responding to amendment-induced changes in edaphic properties. The biodiversity within keystone modules had major contributions to the maintenance of the soil multifunctionality and health. Additionally, higher CMC application rate showed more beneficial effects. Collectively, our results enhance our understanding about the effects of applying CMC, together with soybean rotation, to enhance and maintain soil functions and health during the field Cd stabilization process.}, } @article {pmid37199919, year = {2023}, author = {Arzuyan, A and Lara, R and Fu, M}, title = {Introduction to the special section: Supervision in publicly funded settings: Best practices.}, journal = {Psychological services}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {203-205}, doi = {10.1037/ser0000750}, pmid = {37199919}, issn = {1939-148X}, abstract = {Supervision of trainee and early career psychologists is the epitome of clinical skill cultivation and mentorship of knowledge passed from an experienced professional supervisor to supervisee. However, supervision is not only a "one-way street" as it has been traditionally regarded. Rather, the supervisor-supervisee dynamic is variable, ranging from didactic, to symbiotic, to everything in between. Our collection of articles explores the various forms of clinical supervision in publicly funded settings. They include integrating three low burden multicomponent supervision approaches, a Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model (Ogbeide et al., 2023), metacognitive reflection and insight therapy, use of an Adlerian-informed supervision method that integrates the Respectfully Curious Inquiry/Therapeutic Encouragement (RCI/TE) framework, and Heron's Six Category Intervention Framework (Hamm et al., 2023; McCarty et al., 2023; McMahon et al., 2023; Schriger et al., 2023). Furthermore, this special section applies to various demographics of supervisees, clients, and supervisee-client dyads including the military culture setting, youth with publicly funded insurance, clients with psychosis, trainees with disabilities, and frontline staff at nonprofit organizations (Dawson & Chunga, 2023; Hamm et al., 2023; Reddy et al., 2023; Schriger et al., 2023; Wilbur et al., 2023). Barriers tackled include administrative and fiscal challenges, reduced availability of supervisors, and burnout in highly traumatized environments (Dawson & Chunga, 2023; McCarty et al., 2023; Schriger et al., 2023). Finally, these diverse clinical frameworks of distinct supervisor-supervisee-client pairings foster increasing feelings of connection, clinical competence, disability-affirmative training environments, supervisee self-awareness and self-efficacy, and increased antiracism in supervision (McCarty et al., 2023; McDonald et al., 2023; Wilbur et al., 2023). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).}, } @article {pmid37199577, year = {2023}, author = {Zeng, SY and Liu, YF and Liu, JH and Zeng, ZL and Xie, H and Liu, JH}, title = {Potential Effects of Akkermansia Muciniphila in Aging and Aging-Related Diseases: Current Evidence and Perspectives.}, journal = {Aging and disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.14336/AD.2023.0325}, pmid = {37199577}, issn = {2152-5250}, abstract = {Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) is an anaerobic bacterium that widely colonizes the mucus layer of the human and animal gut. The role of this symbiotic bacterium in host metabolism, inflammation, and cancer immunotherapy has been extensively investigated over the past 20 years. Recently, a growing number of studies have revealed a link between A. muciniphila, and aging and aging-related diseases (ARDs). Research in this area is gradually shifting from correlation analysis to exploration of causal relationships. Here, we systematically reviewed the association of A. muciniphila with aging and ARDs (including vascular degeneration, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoporosis, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes). Furthermore, we summarize the potential mechanisms of action of A. muciniphila and offer perspectives for future studies.}, } @article {pmid37196568, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, Y and Teng, Y and Wang, X and Ren, W and Zhao, L and Luo, Y and Christie, P and Greening, C}, title = {Endogenous biohydrogen from a rhizobium-legume association drives microbial biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyl in contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environment international}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {107962}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2023.107962}, pmid = {37196568}, issn = {1873-6750}, abstract = {Endogenous hydrogen (H2) is produced through rhizobium-legume associations in terrestrial ecosystems worldwide through dinitrogen fixation. In turn, this gas may alter rhizosphere microbial community structure and modulate biogeochemical cycles. However, very little is understood about the role that this H2 leaking to the rhizosphere plays in shaping the persistent organic pollutants degrading microbes in contaminated soils. Here, we combined DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) with metagenomics to explore how endogenous H2 from the symbiotic rhizobium-alfalfa association drives the microbial biodegradation of tetrachlorobiphenyl PCB 77 in a contaminated soil. The results showed that PCB77 biodegradation efficiency increased significantly in soils treated with endogenous H2. Based on metagenomes of [13]C-enriched DNA fractions, endogenous H2 selected bacteria harboring PCB degradation genes. Functional gene annotation allowed the reconstruction of several complete pathways for PCB catabolism, with different taxa conducting successive metabolic steps of PCB metabolism. The enrichment through endogenous H2 of hydrogenotrophic Pseudomonas and Magnetospirillum encoding biphenyl oxidation genes drove PCB biodegradation. This study proves that endogenous H2 is a significant energy source for active PCB-degrading communities and suggests that elevated H2 can influence the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of the legume rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid37198421, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, X and Teng, C and Lyu, K and Li, Q and Peng, W and Fan, L and Lyu, S and Fan, Y}, title = {Application of AtMYB75 as a reporter gene in the study of symbiosis between tomato and Funneliformis mosseae.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37198421}, issn = {1432-1890}, abstract = {Composite plants containing transgenic hairy roots produced with Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation have become an important method to study the interaction between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Not all hairy roots induced by A. rhizogenes are transgenic, however, which leads to requirement of a binary vector to carry a reporter gene to distinguish transgenic roots from non-transformed hairy roots. The beta-glucuronidase gene (GUS) and fluorescent protein gene often are used as reporter markers in the process of hairy root transformation, but they require expensive chemical reagents or imaging equipment. Alternatively, AtMYB75, an R2R3 MYB transcription factor from Arabidopsis thaliana, recently has been used as a reporter gene in hairy root transformation in some leguminous plants and can cause anthocyanin accumulation in transgenic hairy roots. Whether AtMYB75 can be used as a reporter gene in the hairy roots of tomato and if the anthocyanins accumulating in the roots will affect AMF colonization, however, are still unknown. In this study, the one-step cutting method was used for tomato hairy root transformation by A.rhizogenes. It is faster and has a higher transformation efficiency than the conventional method. AtMYB75 was used as a reporter gene in tomato hairy root transformation. The results showed that the overexpression of AtMYB75 caused anthocyanin accumulation in the transformed hairy roots. Anthocyanin accumulation in the transgenic hairy roots did not affect their colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Funneliformis mosseae strain BGC NM04A, and there was no difference in the expression of the AMF colonization marker gene SlPT4 in AtMYB75 transgenic roots and wild-type roots. Hence, AtMYB75 can be used as a reporter gene in tomato hairy root transformation and in the study of symbiosis between tomato and AMF.}, } @article {pmid37198188, year = {2023}, author = {Moggioli, G and Panossian, B and Sun, Y and Thiel, D and Martín-Zamora, FM and Tran, M and Clifford, AM and Goffredi, SK and Rimskaya-Korsakova, N and Jékely, G and Tresguerres, M and Qian, PY and Qiu, JW and Rouse, GW and Henry, LM and Martín-Durán, JM}, title = {Distinct genomic routes underlie transitions to specialised symbiotic lifestyles in deep-sea annelid worms.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2814}, pmid = {37198188}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Bacterial symbioses allow annelids to colonise extreme ecological niches, such as hydrothermal vents and whale falls. Yet, the genetic principles sustaining these symbioses remain unclear. Here, we show that different genomic adaptations underpin the symbioses of phylogenetically related annelids with distinct nutritional strategies. Genome compaction and extensive gene losses distinguish the heterotrophic symbiosis of the bone-eating worm Osedax frankpressi from the chemoautotrophic symbiosis of deep-sea Vestimentifera. Osedax's endosymbionts complement many of the host's metabolic deficiencies, including the loss of pathways to recycle nitrogen and synthesise some amino acids. Osedax's endosymbionts possess the glyoxylate cycle, which could allow more efficient catabolism of bone-derived nutrients and the production of carbohydrates from fatty acids. Unlike in most Vestimentifera, innate immunity genes are reduced in O. frankpressi, which, however, has an expansion of matrix metalloproteases to digest collagen. Our study supports that distinct nutritional interactions influence host genome evolution differently in highly specialised symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37198147, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Yu, X and Fan, B and Hao, D}, title = {A gut-isolated Enterococcus strain (HcM7) triggers the expression of antimicrobial peptides that aid resistance to nucleopolyhedrovirus infection of Hyphantria cunea larvae.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7533}, pmid = {37198147}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Commensal microorganisms are widely distributed in insect gut tissues and play important roles in to host nutrition, metabolism, reproductive regulation and, especially the immune functioning and tolerance to pathogens. Consequently, gut microbiota represent a promising resource for the development of microbial-based products for pest control and management. However, the interactions among host immunity, entomopathogen infections, and gut microbiota remain poorly understood for many arthropod pests.

RESULTS: We previously isolated an Enterococcus strain (HcM7) from Hyphantria cunea larvae guts that increased the survival rates of larvae challenged with nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV). Here, we further investigated whether this Enterococcus strain stimulates a protective immune response against NPV proliferation. Infection bioassays demonstrated that the re-introduction of the HcM7 strain to germ-free larvae pre-activated the expression of several antimicrobial peptides (particularly H. cunea gloverin 1, HcGlv1), resulting in the significant repression of virus replication in host guts and hemolymph, and consequently improved host survivorship after NPV infection. Furthermore, silencing of the HcGlv1 gene by RNA interference markedly enhanced the deleterious effects of NPV infection, revealing a role of this gut symbiont-induced gene in host defenses against pathogenic infections.

CONCLUSION: These results show that some gut microorganisms can stimulate host immune systems, thereby contributing to resistance to entomopathogens. Furthermore, HcM7, as a functional symbiotic bacteria of H. cunea larvae, may be a potential target for increasing the effectiveness of biocontrol agents against this devastating pest.}, } @article {pmid37196102, year = {2023}, author = {Montes-Luz, B and Conrado, AC and Ellingsen, JK and Monteiro, RA and de Souza, EM and Stacey, G}, title = {Acetylene Reduction Assay: A Measure of Nitrogenase Activity in Plants and Bacteria.}, journal = {Current protocols}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {e766}, doi = {10.1002/cpz1.766}, pmid = {37196102}, issn = {2691-1299}, abstract = {Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the biosphere, but its gaseous form is not biologically available to many organisms, including plants and animals. Diazotrophic microorganisms can convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form that can be absorbed by plants in a process called biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). BNF is catalyzed by the enzyme nitrogenase, which not only reduces N2 to NH3 , but also reduces other substrates such as acetylene. The acetylene reduction assay (ARA) can be used to measure nitrogenase activity in diazotrophic organisms, either in symbiotic associations or in their free-living state. The technique uses gas chromatography to measure the reduction of acetylene to ethylene by nitrogenase in a simple, quick, and inexpensive manner. Here, we demonstrate how to: prepare nodulated soybean plants and culture free-living Azospirillum brasilense for the ARA, use the gas chromatograph to detect the ethylene formed, and calculate the nitrogenase activity based on the peaks generated by the chromatograph. The methods shown here using example organisms can be easily adapted to other nodulating plants and diazotrophic bacteria. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Acetylene reduction assay in root nodules Basic Protocol 2: Acetylene reduction assay using diazotrophic bacteria Basic Protocol 3: Calculation of nitrogenase activity Support Protocol 1: Production of acetylene from calcium carbide Support Protocol 2: Calibration of the gas chromatograph Support Protocol 3: Total protein quantification.}, } @article {pmid37194794, year = {2023}, author = {Volobueva, OG and Trukhachev, V and Belopukhov, S and Seregina, I}, title = {Comparative study of symbiotic activity of legumes when using Risotorphin and Epin-extra.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {83}, number = {}, pages = {e264218}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.264218}, pmid = {37194794}, issn = {1678-4375}, abstract = {In a vegetation experiment with soybean plants of the Svapa and Mageva varieties and in a field experiment with bean plants of the Geliada and Shokoladnitsa varieties, we studied the effect of pre-sowing treatment of the seeds of these plants with Rizotorfin and Epin-extra on the nitrogenase activity of the nodules of these plants and their ultrastructure. Analysis of the ultrastructure of the nodule tissue of beans and soybeans was carried out in the flowering phase. It was found that the highest indices of the mass and number of nodules and the activity of nitrogenase in them were found in bean plants of the Heliada cultivar when the seeds were treated with Epin-extra against the background of inoculation with Rizotorfin, where the largest area of symbiosomes, volutin and their number was noted in the nodules. Beans of the Shokoladnitsa variety showed the protective effect of Rizotorfin. In the nodules of soybean plants of the Svapa variety, the seeds of which were treated with Epin-extra against the background of inoculation with Rizotorfin, the presence of a large number of symbiosomes, bacteroids, volutin inclusions with a larger area and a minimum number of inclusions of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) was noted, and the highest indicators of symbiotic activity. Soybean plants of the Mageva variety showed the protective effect of Rizotorfin. The efficiency of the symbiotic system was determined by the number and weight of nodules and the activity of the nitrogenase enzyme.}, } @article {pmid37191552, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, M and Cheng, K and Xiao, B and Tong, M and Cai, Z and Jong, MC and Chen, G and Zhou, J}, title = {Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0491022}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.04910-22}, pmid = {37191552}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Bleaching is one of the most relevant factors implicated in the integrity of coral reef ecosystems, with the increasing frequency and intensity of damaging events representing a serious threat to reef biodiversity. Here, we analyzed changes in coral-associated bacteria from three types of non-bleached and bleached scleractinian corals (Acropora digitifera, Galaxea fascicularis, and Porites pukoensis) in Hainan Luhuitou peninsula coastal areas. The community structure of symbiotic bacteria differed significantly among the three apparently healthy corals. The bleached corals had higher bacterial alpha diversity and some specific bacteria genera, including Ruegeria, Methyloceanibacter, Filomicrobium, Halioglobus, Rubripirellula, Rhodopirellula, Silicimonas, Blastopirellula, Sva0996 marine group, Woeseia, and unclassified_c_Gammaproteobacteria, were consistently increased in bleached groups. Network analysis revealed significantly different degrees of modularity between bleached and non-bleached groups at the bacterial genus level, and a higher proportion of links was dominated by positive co-occurrences. Functional prediction analysis illustrated that coral-associated bacteria remained relatively consistent in the bleached and non-bleached groups. Structure equation modeling revealed that the bacterial community diversity and function were directly influenced by host and environment factors. These findings suggested that coral-associated bacterial responses to bleaching occur in a host-dependent manner, informing novel strategies for restoring coral and aiding adaption to bleaching stress. IMPORTANCE Accumulating evidence indicates that coral-associated bacteria play an important role in the health of holobionts. However, the variability of the symbiotic bacterial community structure among coral species with different coral health statuses remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated three apparent non-bleached (healthy) and bleached coral species (sampled in situ), involving related symbiotic bacterial profiles, including composition, alpha diversity, network relationship, and potential function. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to analyze the relationship between coral status and abiotic and biotic factors. The bacterial community structure of different groups was shown to exhibit host-specific traits. Both host and environmental impacts had primary effects on coral-associated microbial communities. Future studies are needed to identify the mechanisms that mediate divergent microbial consortia.}, } @article {pmid37191444, year = {2023}, author = {Wan, T and Wang, Y and He, K and Zhu, S}, title = {Microbial sensing in the intestine.}, journal = {Protein & cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/procel/pwad028}, pmid = {37191444}, issn = {1674-8018}, abstract = {The gut microbiota plays a key role in host health and disease, particularly through their interactions with the immune system. Intestinal homeostasis is dependent on the symbiotic relationships between the host and the diverse gut microbiota, which is influenced by the highly co-evolved immune-microbiota interactions. The first step of the interaction between the host and the gut microbiota is the sensing of the gut microbes by the host immune system. In this review, we describe the cells of the host immune system and the proteins that sense the components and metabolites of the gut microbes. We further highlight the essential roles of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), the G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and the nuclear receptors expressed in the intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the intestine-resident immune cells. We also discuss the mechanisms by which the disruption of microbial sensing because of genetic or environmental factors causes human diseases such as the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).}, } @article {pmid37190943, year = {2023}, author = {Joseph, R and Bansal, K and Keyhani, NO}, title = {Host switching by an ambrosia beetle fungal mutualist: Mycangial colonization of indigenous beetles by the invasive laurel wilt fungal pathogen.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16401}, pmid = {37190943}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles require their fungal symbiotic partner as their cultivated (farmed) food source in tree galleries. While most fungal-beetle partners do not kill the host trees they inhabit, since their introduction (invasion) into the United states around ~2002, the invasive beetle Xyleborus glabratus has vectored its mutualist partner (but plant pathogenic) fungus, Harringtonia lauricola, resulting in the deaths of over 300 million trees. Concerningly, indigenous beetles have been caught bearing H. lauricola. Here, we show colonization of the mycangia of the indigenous X. affinis ambrosia beetle by H. lauricola. Mycangial colonization occurred within 1 h of feeding, with similar levels seen for H. lauricola as found for the native X. affinis-R. arxii fungal partner. Fungal mycangial occupancy was stable over time and after removal of the fungal source, but showed rapid turnover when additional fungal cells were available. Microscopic visualization revealed two pre-oral mycangial pouches of ~100-200 × 25-50 μm/each, with narrow entry channels of 25-50 × 3-10 μm. Fungi within the mycangia underwent a dimorphic transition from filamentous/blastospore growth to yeast-like budding with alterations to membrane structures. These data identify the characteristics of ambrosia beetle mycangial colonization, implicating turnover as a mechanism for host switching of H. lauricola to other ambrosia beetle species.}, } @article {pmid37190800, year = {2023}, author = {Hossain, I and Akash, SR and Faruk, O and Mimi, SI and Chowdhury, IH and Islam, S and Alam, M and Ali, S}, title = {Evaluating Gut Microbiota Modification as a Next-Generation Therapy for Obesity and Diabetes.}, journal = {Current diabetes reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/1573399820666230515115307}, pmid = {37190800}, issn = {1875-6417}, abstract = {The human body is a complex ecosystem that thrives on symbiosis. It is estimated that around 1014 commensal microorganisms inhabit the human body, with the gut microbiota being one of the most diverse and complex populations of bacteria. This community is thought to comprise over a thousand different species that play a crucial role in the development of critical human diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental depression, hypertension, and others. The gut microbiota has been identified as one of the most recent contributors to these metabolic disorders. With the emergence of inexpensive and high-performance sequence technology, our understanding of the function of the intestinal microbiome in host metabolism regulation and the development of (cardio) metabolic diseases has increased significantly. The symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the host is essential for properly developing the human metabolic system. However, if this balance is disrupted by various factors such as infection, diet, exercise, sleep patterns, or exposure to antibiotics, it can lead to the development of various diseases in the body, including obesity and diabetes type 1 and 2. While many approaches and medications have been developed globally to treat these diseases, none have proven to be entirely effective, and many show side effects. Therefore, scientists believe that treating the gut microbiota using tried-and-true methods is the best option for combating obesity and diabetes. In this study, we aim to identify several feasible ways and prospects for gut microbiota therapy that can shape a new format for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.}, } @article {pmid37189818, year = {2023}, author = {Atagozli, T and Elliott, DE and Ince, MN}, title = {Helminth Lessons in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD).}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biomedicines11041200}, pmid = {37189818}, issn = {2227-9059}, abstract = {Helminths are multicellular invertebrates that colonize the gut of many vertebrate animals including humans. This colonization can result in pathology, which requires treatment. It can also lead to a commensal and possibly even a symbiotic relationship where the helminth and the host benefit from each other's presence. Epidemiological data have linked helminth exposure to protection from immune disorders that include a wide range of diseases, such as allergies, autoimmune illnesses, and idiopathic inflammatory disorders of the gut, which are grouped as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Treatment of moderate to severe IBD involves the use of immune modulators and biologics, which can cause life-threatening complications. In this setting, their safety profile makes helminths or helminth products attractive as novel therapeutic approaches to treat IBD or other immune disorders. Helminths stimulate T helper-2 (Th2) and immune regulatory pathways, which are targeted in IBD treatment. Epidemiological explorations, basic science studies, and clinical research on helminths can lead to the development of safe, potent, and novel therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat IBD in addition to other immune disorders.}, } @article {pmid37187967, year = {2023}, author = {Vaziri, GJ and Jones, MM and Carr, HA and Nuñez, CMV}, title = {Out of the stable: Social disruption and concurrent shifts in the feral mare (Equus caballus) fecal microbiota.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e10079}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.10079}, pmid = {37187967}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The disruption of animals' symbiotic bacterial communities (their microbiota) has been associated with myriad factors including changes to the diet, hormone levels, and various stressors. The maintenance of healthy bacterial communities may be especially challenging for social species as their microbiotas are also affected by group membership, social relationships, microbial transfer between individuals, and social stressors such as increased competition and rank maintenance. We investigated the effects of increased social instability, as determined by the number of group changes made by females, on the microbiota in free-living, feral horses (Equus caballus) on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island off the North Carolina coast. Females leaving their groups to join new ones had fecal microbial communities that were similarly diverse but compositionally different than those of females that did not change groups. Changing groups was also associated with the increased abundance of a several bacterial genera and families. These changes may be significant as horses are heavily dependent upon their microbial communities for nutrient absorption. Though we cannot identify the particular mechanism(s) driving these changes, to the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study to demonstrate an association between acute social perturbations and the microbiota in a free-ranging mammal.}, } @article {pmid37187383, year = {2023}, author = {Quan, L and Shi, L and Zhang, S and Yao, Q and Yang, Q and Zhu, Y and Liu, Y and Lian, C and Chen, Y and Shen, Z and Duan, K and Xia, Y}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi, two species of Laccaria, differentially block the migration and accumulation of cadmium and copper in Pinus densiflora.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {138857}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138857}, pmid = {37187383}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {The root tips of host plant species can establish ectomycorrhizae with their fungal partners, thereby altering the responses of the host plants to heavy metal (HM) toxicity. Here, two species of Laccaria, L. bicolor and L. japonica, were investigated in symbiosis with Pinus densiflora to study their potential for promotion of phytoremediation of HM-contaminated soils in pot experiments. The results showed that L. japonica had significantly higher dry biomass than L. bicolor in mycelia grown on modified Melin-Norkrans medium containing elevated levels of cadmium (Cd) or copper (Cu). Meanwhile, the accumulations of Cd or Cu in L. bicolor mycelia were much higher than that in L. japonica at the same level of Cd or Cu. Therefore, L. japonica displayed a stronger tolerance to HM toxicity than L. bicolor in situ. Compared with non-mycorrhizal P. densiflora seedlings, inoculation with two Laccaria species significantly increased the growth of P. densiflora seedlings in absence or presence of HM. The mantle of host roots blocked the uptake and migration of HM, which led to the decrease of Cd and Cu accumulation in the P. densiflora shoots and roots, except for the root Cd accumulation of L. bicolor-mycorrhizal plants when 25 mg kg[-1] Cd exposure. Furthermore, HM distribution in mycelia showed Cd and Cu are mainly retained in the cell walls of mycelia. These results provide strong evidence that the two species of Laccaria in this system may have different strategies to assist host tree against HM toxicity.}, } @article {pmid37189129, year = {2023}, author = {Hauer, MA and Breusing, C and Trembath-Reichert, E and Huber, JA and Beinart, RA}, title = {Geography, not lifestyle, explains the population structure of free-living and host-associated deep-sea hydrothermal vent snail symbionts.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {106}, pmid = {37189129}, issn = {2049-2618}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine symbioses are predominantly established through horizontal acquisition of microbial symbionts from the environment. However, genetic and functional comparisons of free-living populations of symbionts to their host-associated counterparts are sparse. Here, we assembled the first genomes of the chemoautotrophic gammaproteobacterial symbionts affiliated with the deep-sea snail Alviniconcha hessleri from two separate hydrothermal vent fields of the Mariana Back-Arc Basin. We used phylogenomic and population genomic methods to assess sequence and gene content variation between free-living and host-associated symbionts.

RESULTS: Our phylogenomic analyses show that the free-living and host-associated symbionts of A. hessleri from both vent fields are populations of monophyletic strains from a single species. Furthermore, genetic structure and gene content analyses indicate that these symbiont populations are differentiated by vent field rather than by lifestyle.

CONCLUSION: Together, this work suggests that, despite the potential influence of host-mediated acquisition and release processes on horizontally transmitted symbionts, geographic isolation and/or adaptation to local habitat conditions are important determinants of symbiont population structure and intra-host composition. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37188915, year = {2023}, author = {Moeller, FU and Herbold, CW and Schintlmeister, A and Mooshammer, M and Motti, C and Glasl, B and Kitzinger, K and Behnam, F and Watzka, M and Schweder, T and Albertsen, M and Richter, A and Webster, NS and Wagner, M}, title = {Taurine as a key intermediate for host-symbiont interaction in the tropical sponge Ianthella basta.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37188915}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Marine sponges are critical components of marine benthic fauna assemblages, where their filter-feeding and reef-building capabilities provide bentho-pelagic coupling and crucial habitat. As potentially the oldest representation of a metazoan-microbe symbiosis, they also harbor dense, diverse, and species-specific communities of microbes, which are increasingly recognized for their contributions to dissolved organic matter (DOM) processing. Recent omics-based studies of marine sponge microbiomes have proposed numerous pathways of dissolved metabolite exchange between the host and symbionts within the context of the surrounding environment, but few studies have sought to experimentally interrogate these pathways. By using a combination of metaproteogenomics and laboratory incubations coupled with isotope-based functional assays, we showed that the dominant gammaproteobacterial symbiont, 'Candidatus Taurinisymbion ianthellae', residing in the marine sponge, Ianthella basta, expresses a pathway for the import and dissimilation of taurine, a ubiquitously occurring sulfonate metabolite in marine sponges. 'Candidatus Taurinisymbion ianthellae' incorporates taurine-derived carbon and nitrogen while, at the same time, oxidizing the dissimilated sulfite into sulfate for export. Furthermore, we found that taurine-derived ammonia is exported by the symbiont for immediate oxidation by the dominant ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeal symbiont, 'Candidatus Nitrosospongia ianthellae'. Metaproteogenomic analyses also suggest that 'Candidatus Taurinisymbion ianthellae' imports DMSP and possesses both pathways for DMSP demethylation and cleavage, enabling it to use this compound as a carbon and sulfur source for biomass, as well as for energy conservation. These results highlight the important role of biogenic sulfur compounds in the interplay between Ianthella basta and its microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid37188725, year = {2023}, author = {Phung, LT and Kitwetcharoen, H and Chamnipa, N and Boonchot, N and Thanonkeo, S and Tippayawat, P and Klanrit, P and Yamada, M and Thanonkeo, P}, title = {Changes in the chemical compositions and biological properties of kombucha beverages made from black teas and pineapple peels and cores.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {7859}, pmid = {37188725}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Several raw materials have been used as partial supplements or entire replacements for the main ingredients of kombucha to improve the biological properties of the resulting kombucha beverage. This study used pineapple peels and cores (PPC), byproducts of pineapple processing, as alternative raw materials instead of sugar for kombucha production. Kombuchas were produced from fusions of black tea and PPC at different ratios, and their chemical profiles and biological properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, were determined and compared with the control kombucha without PPC supplementation. The results showed that PPC contained high amounts of beneficial substances, including sugars, polyphenols, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals. An analysis of the microbial community in a kombucha SCOBY (Symbiotic Cultures of Bacteria and Yeasts) using next-generation sequencing revealed that Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter were the most predominant acetic acid bacteria. Furthermore, Dekkera and Bacillus were also the prominent yeast and bacteria in the kombucha SCOBY. A comparative analysis was performed for kombucha products fermented using black tea and a fusion of black tea and PPC, and the results revealed that the kombucha made from the black tea and PPC infusion exhibited a higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than the control kombucha. The antimicrobial properties of the kombucha products made from black tea and the PPC infusion were also greater than those of the control. Several volatile compounds that contributed to the flavor, aroma, and beneficial health properties, such as esters, carboxylic acids, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones, were detected in kombucha products made from a fusion of black tea and PPC. This study shows that PPC exhibits high potential as a supplement to the raw material infusion used with black tea for functional kombucha production.}, } @article {pmid37188639, year = {2023}, author = {Jaeger, ACH and Hartmann, M and Six, J and Solly, EF}, title = {Contrasting sensitivity of soil bacterial and fungal community composition to one year of water limitation in Scots pine mesocosms.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad051}, pmid = {37188639}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {The soil microbiome is crucial for regulating biogeochemical processes and can thus strongly influence tree health, especially under stress conditions. However, little is known about the effect of prolonged water deficit on soil microbial communities during the development of saplings. We assessed the response of prokaryotic and fungal communities to different levels of experimental water limitation in mesocosms with Scots pine saplings. We combined analyses of physicochemical soil properties and tree growth with DNA metabarcoding of soil microbial communities throughout four seasons. Seasonal changes in soil temperature and soil water content and a decreasing soil pH strongly influenced the composition of microbial communities but not their total abundance. Contrasting levels of soil water contents gradually altered the soil microbial community structure over the four seasons. Results indicated that prokaryotic communities were less resistant to water limitation than fungal communities. Water limitation promoted the proliferation of desiccation-tolerant, oligotrophic taxa. Moreover, water limitation and an associated increase in soil C/N ratio induced a shift in the potential lifestyle of taxa from symbiotic to saprotrophic. Overall, water limitation appeared to alter soil microbial communities involved in nutrient cycling, pointing to potential consequences for forest health affected by prolonged episodes of drought.}, } @article {pmid37186593, year = {2023}, author = {Martoni, F and Bulman, SR and Piper, AM and Pitman, A and Taylor, GS and Armstrong, KF}, title = {Insect phylogeny structures the bacterial communities in the microbiome of psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) in Aotearoa New Zealand.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0285587}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0285587}, pmid = {37186593}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {The bacterial microbiome of psyllids has been studied for decades, with a strong focus on the primary and secondary endosymbionts capable of providing essential amino acids for the insects' diet and therefore playing a key role in the insects' ability to radiate on novel plant hosts. Here, we combine metabarcoding analysis of the bacterial communities hosted by psyllids with a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the insect hosts to determine what factors influence the bacterial diversity of the psyllids' microbiomes, especially in the context of the dispersal and evolutionary radiation of these insects in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using multi-gene phylogenetics with COI, 18S and EF-1α sequences from 102 psyllid species, we confirmed for the first time monophyly for all the six genera of native/endemic Aotearoa New Zealand psyllids, with indications that they derive from at least six dispersal events to the country. This also revealed that, after its ancestral arrival, the genus Powellia has radiated onto a larger and more diverse range of plants than either Psylla or Ctenarytaina, which is uncommon amongst monophyletic psyllids globally. DNA metabarcoding of the bacterial 16S gene here represents the largest dataset analysed to date from psyllids, including 246 individuals from 73 species. This provides novel evidence that bacterial diversity across psyllid species is strongly associated with psyllid phylogenetic structure, and to a lesser degree to their host plant association and geographic distribution. Furthermore, while the strongest co-phylogenetic signals were derived from the primary and secondary symbionts, a signal of phylosymbiosis was still retained among the remaining taxa of the bacterial microbiome, suggesting potential vertical transmission of bacterial lineages previously unknown to have symbiotic roles.}, } @article {pmid37186547, year = {2023}, author = {Doin de Moura, GG and Mouffok, S and Gaudu, N and Cazalé, AC and Milhes, M and Bulach, T and Valière, S and Roche, D and Ferdy, JB and Masson-Boivin, C and Capela, D and Remigi, P}, title = {A selective bottleneck during host entry drives the evolution of new legume symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msad116}, pmid = {37186547}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {During the emergence of new host-microbe symbioses, microbial fitness results from the ability to complete the different steps of symbiotic life-cycles, where each step imposes specific selective pressures. However, the relative contribution of these different selective pressures to the adaptive trajectories of microbial symbionts are still poorly known. Here we characterised the dynamics of phenotypic adaptation to a simplified symbiotic life-cycle during the experimental evolution of a plant pathogenic bacterium into a legume symbiont. We observed that fast adaptation was predominantly explained by improved competitiveness for host entry, which outweighed adaptation to within-host proliferation. Whole-population sequencing of bacteria at regular time intervals along this evolution experiment revealed the continuous accumulation of new mutations (fuelled by a transient hypermutagenesis phase occurring at each cycle before host entry, a phenomenon described in previous work) and sequential sweeps of cohorts of mutations with similar temporal trajectories. The identification of adaptive mutations within the fixed mutational cohorts showed that several adaptive mutations can co-occur in the same cohort. Moreover, all adaptive mutations improved competitiveness for host entry, while only a subset of those also improved within host proliferation. Computer simulations predict that this effect emerges from the presence of a strong selective bottleneck at host entry occurring before within-host proliferation and just after the hypermutagenesis phase in the rhizosphere. Together, these results show how selective bottlenecks can alter the relative influence of selective pressures acting during bacterial adaptation to multistep infection processes.}, } @article {pmid37186167, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, H and Yu, X and Cheng, G}, title = {Impact of the microbiome on mosquito-borne diseases.}, journal = {Protein & cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/procel/pwad021}, pmid = {37186167}, issn = {1674-8018}, abstract = {Mosquito-borne diseases present a significant threat to human health, with the possibility of outbreaks of new mosquito-borne diseases always looming. Unfortunately, current measures to combat these diseases such as vaccines and drugs are often either unavailable or ineffective. However, recent studies on microbiomes may reveal promising strategies to fight these diseases. In this review, we examine recent advances in our understanding of the effects of both the mosquito and vertebrate microbiomes on mosquito-borne diseases. We argue that the mosquito microbiome can have direct and indirect impacts on the transmission of these diseases, with mosquito symbiotic microorganisms, particularly Wolbachia bacteria, showing potential for controlling mosquito-borne diseases. Moreover, the skin microbiome of vertebrates plays a significant role in mosquito preferences, while the gut microbiome has an impact on the progression of mosquito-borne diseases in humans. As researchers continue to explore the role of microbiomes in mosquito-borne diseases, we highlight some promising future directions for this field. Ultimately, a better understanding of the interplay between mosquitoes, their hosts, pathogens, and the microbiomes of mosquitoes and hosts may hold the key to preventing and controlling mosquito-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid37186052, year = {2023}, author = {Rimskaya-Korsakova, NN and Karaseva, NP and Osadchiev, AA and Semiletov, IP and Gantsevich, MM and Yurikova, DA and Malakhov, VV}, title = {The Finding of Pogonophorans (Annelida, Siboglinidae) in the St. Anna Trough (Kara Sea) in an Area of Gas Hydrate Dissociation.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {508}, number = {1}, pages = {81-84}, pmid = {37186052}, issn = {1608-3105}, abstract = {Representatives of pogonophorans (Annelida, Siboglinidae), whose vital activity is provided by symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria that oxidize methane and hydrogen sulfide, were found in the St. Anna Trough at depths of 539 and 437 m. The finding of pogonophorans suggests high concentrations of methane, which might result from dissociation of bottom gas hydrates under the influence of the influx of warm Atlantic water into the Kara Sea along the St. Anna Trough.}, } @article {pmid37186050, year = {2023}, author = {Vorobyeva, OA and Ekimova, IA and Malakhov, VV}, title = {Morphological Organization of Cerata in the Nudibranch Pteraeolidia semperi (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia).}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {508}, number = {1}, pages = {72-75}, pmid = {37186050}, issn = {1608-3105}, abstract = {The morphology of cerata and cnidosacs were studied in the nudibranch mollusk Pteraeolidia semperi (Bergh, 1870). Fine tubules arise from the gastrodermal channel of the digestive gland and contain cells with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae). The cnidosac stores large kleptocnides. Thus, P. semperi provides a unique example of symbiotrophic feeding specialization. Morphological organization of its cerata and the digestive gland demonstrates several adaptations for housing zooxanthellae and providing them with proper conditions for active photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid37184242, year = {2023}, author = {Quigley, K and Carey, N and Alvarez Roa, C}, title = {Physiological Characterization of the Coral Holobiont Using a New Micro-Respirometry Tool.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {194}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/64812}, pmid = {37184242}, issn = {1940-087X}, abstract = {Metabolic activity, defined as the sum of organismal processes that involve energy, is of critical importance in understanding the function and evolution of life on earth. Measuring organismal metabolic rates is, therefore, at the center of explaining the physiological states of organisms, their ecological roles, and the impact of environmental change on species within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. On coral reefs, measures of metabolism have been used to quantify symbiosis functioning between corals and their obligate algal symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae), as well as assess how environmental stressors, including climate change, will impact coral health. Despite this significance, there is a lack of methods, and therefore data, relating to metabolic rate measurements in coral offspring, likely due to their small size. To address this gap, this study aimed to develop a custom setup for measuring the respiration of small (millimeter size range) marine animal ecologies. This low cost and easy setup should allow for the improved measurement of metabolic rate. This will be essential for applied ecological research utilizing the sexual production of corals for reef restoration.}, } @article {pmid37182790, year = {2023}, author = {Refisch, A and Sen, ZD and Klassert, TE and Busch, A and Besteher, B and Danyeli, LV and Helbing, D and Schulze-Späte, U and Stallmach, A and Bauer, M and Panagiotou, G and Jacobsen, ID and Slevogt, H and Opel, N and Walter, M}, title = {Microbiome and immuno-metabolic dysregulation in patients with major depressive disorder with atypical clinical presentation.}, journal = {Neuropharmacology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {109568}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109568}, pmid = {37182790}, issn = {1873-7064}, abstract = {Depression is highly prevalent (6% 1-year prevalence) and is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Available treatment options for depression are far from optimal, with response rates only around 50%. This is most likely related to a heterogeneous clinical presentation of major depression disorder (MDD), suggesting different manifestations of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Poorer treatment outcomes to first-line antidepressants were reported in MDD patients endorsing an "atypical" symptom profile that is characterized by preserved reactivity in mood, increased appetite, hypersomnia, a heavy sensation in the limbs, and interpersonal rejection sensitivity. In recent years, evidence has emerged that immunometabolic biological dysregulation is an important underlying pathophysiological mechanism in depression, which maps more consistently to atypical features. In the last few years human microbial residents have emerged as a key influencing variable associated with immunometabolic dysregulations in depression. The microbiome plays a critical role in the training and development of key components of the host's innate and adaptive immune systems, while the immune system orchestrates the maintenance of key features of the host-microbe symbiosis. Moreover, by being a metabolically active ecosystem commensal microbes may have a huge impact on signaling pathways, involved in underlying mechanisms leading to atypical depressive symptoms. In this review, we discuss the interplay between the microbiome and immunometabolic imbalance in the context of atypical depressive symptoms. Although research in this field is in its infancy, targeting biological determinants in more homogeneous clinical presentations of MDD may offer new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treatment-resistant depression.}, } @article {pmid37181209, year = {2023}, author = {Bähr, S and van der Meij, SET and Terraneo, TI and Xu, T and Benzoni, F}, title = {Interspecific coral competition does not affect the symbiosis of gall crabs (Decapoda: Cryptochiridae) and their scleractinian hosts.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e10051}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.10051}, pmid = {37181209}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Coral reefs accommodate a myriad of species, many of which live in association with a host organism. Decapod crustaceans make up a large part of this associated fauna on coral reefs. Among these, cryptochirid crabs are obligately associated with scleractinian corals, in which they create dwellings where they permanently reside. These gall crabs show various levels of host specificity, with the majority of cryptochirids inhabiting a specific coral genus or species. Here, we report the first records of gall crabs living in association with two different Porites species in the Red Sea. Crescent-shaped dwellings were observed in Porites rus and a Porites sp. in situ, and colonies with crabs were collected for further study in the laboratory. Using a combination of morphology and DNA barcoding, the crabs were identified as belonging to Opecarcinus, a genus only known to inhabit Agariciidae corals. The coral skeleton was bleached and studied under a stereo microscope, which revealed that the Porites corals overgrew adjoining agariciid Pavona colonies. We hypothesize that the gall crab originally settled on Pavona, its primary host of choice. Due to coral interspecific competition the Porites colony overgrew the adjacent Pavona colonies, resulting in a secondary and never before reported association of Opecarcinus with Porites. These findings suggest that cryptochirid crabs can adapt to the new microenvironment provided by a different coral host and survive competition for space on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid37179970, year = {2023}, author = {Alani, OS and Cao, M and Goodrich-Blair, H and Heppert, JK}, title = {Conjugation and transposon mutagenesis of Xenorhabdus griffiniae HGB2511, the bacterial symbiont of the nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum (India).}, journal = {microPublication biology}, volume = {2023}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.17912/micropub.biology.000772}, pmid = {37179970}, issn = {2578-9430}, abstract = {Symbiosis, the beneficial interactions between two organisms, is a ubiquitous feature of all life on Earth, including associations between animals and bacteria. However, the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms which underlie the diverse partnerships formed between animals and bacteria are still being explored. Entomopathogenic nematodes transport bacteria between insect hosts, together they kill the insect, and the bacteria consume the insect and serve as food source for the nematodes. These nematodes, including those in the Steinernema genus, are effective laboratory models for studying the molecular mechanisms of symbiosis because of the natural partnership they form with Xenorhabdus bacteria and their straightforward husbandry. Steinernema hermaphroditum nematodes and their Xenorhabdus griffiniae symbiotic bacteria are being developed as a genetic model pair for studying symbiosis. Our goal in this project was to begin to identify bacterial genes that may be important for symbiotic interactions with the nematode host. Towards this end, we adapted and optimized a protocol for delivery and insertion of a lacZ- promoter-probe transposon for use in the S. hermaphroditum symbiont, X. griffiniae HGB2511 (Cao et al., 2022). We assessed the frequencies at which we obtained exconjugants, metabolic auxotrophic mutants, and active promoter- lacZ fusions. Our data indicate that the Tn 10 transposon inserted relatively randomly based on the finding that 4.7% of the mutants exhibited an auxotrophic phenotype. Promoter-fusions with the transposon-encoded lacZ , which resulted in expression of β-galactosidase activity, occurred in 47% of the strains. To our knowledge, this is the first mutagenesis protocol generated for this bacterial species, and will facilitate the implementation of large scale screens for symbiosis and other phenotypes of interest in X. griffiniae .}, } @article {pmid37179577, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, Y and Chen, X and Chen, P and Chen, X and Pan, L and Han, L and Zhu, T}, title = {Alteration of the Gut Microbiota in Missed Abortion.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {106-119}, doi = {10.1007/s12088-023-01063-y}, pmid = {37179577}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {There is a symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and human beings. Imbalance of the gut microbiota will cause pathological damages to humans. Although many risk factors are associated with missed abortion (MA), the pathological mechanism of it is still unclear. Here, we analyzed gut flora of the patients with MA by S16 high-throughput sequencing. The possible pathogenic mechanisms of the MA were explored. Fecal samples from 14 healthy controls and 16 MA patients were collected to do 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing analysis. The abundance of the Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Escherichia, Streptococcus_ Salivarius, and Lactobacillus was significantly reduced in the MA group, while, the abundance of the Klebsiella was significantly increased in the MA patients. The Ruminococcaceae and [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group were found only in the specimens of the MA patients. The Fabrotax function prediction analysis showed that four photosynthesis function bacteria (cyanobateria, oxygenic_photoautotrophy, photoautotrophy, and phototrophy) only existed in the MA group. In the analysis of the BugBase microbiome function prediction, the Escherichia of the MA group is significantly reduced compared to that of the healthy controls in the items of that Contains_Mobile_Elements, Facultatively_Anaerobic, Forms_Biofilms, Potentially_Pathogenic.png, Gram_Nagative, and Stress_Tolerant_relabundance. These alterations may affect the stability of the host's immune, neural, metabolic and other systems by interfering with the balance of the gut microbiota or by the metabolites of those bacteria, causing the MA. This study explored the possible pathogenic factors of the gut microbiota of the MA. The results provide evidence to figure out the pathogenesis of the MA.}, } @article {pmid37178742, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, F and Su, M and Li, T and Zhang, Y and Dietrich, CH and Webb, MD and Wei, C}, title = {Functional and evolutionary implications of protein and metal content of leafhopper brochosomes.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {103962}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.103962}, pmid = {37178742}, issn = {1879-0240}, abstract = {Brochosomes derived from the specialized glandular segments of the Malpighian tubules (MTs) form superhydrophobic coatings for insects of Membracoidea, and have multiple hypothetical functions. However, the constituents, biosynthesis and evolutionary origin of brochosomes remain poorly understood. We investigated general chemical and physical characteristics of the integumental brochosomes (IBs) of the leafhopper Psammotettix striatus, determined the constituents of IBs, identified the unigenes involved in brochosomal protein synthesis, and investigated the potential associations among brochosomal protein synthesis, amino acid composition of food source, and the possible roles of endosymbionts in brochosome production. The results show that IBs are mainly composed of glycine- and tyrosine-rich proteins and some metal elements, which contain both essential and non-essential amino acids (EAAs and NEAAs) for insects, including EAAs deficient in the sole food source. All 12 unigenes involved in synthesizing the 12 brochosomal proteins (BPs) with high confidence are exclusively highly expressed in the glandular segment of MTs, confirming that brochosomes are synthesized by this segment. The synthesis of BPs is one of the key synapomorphies of Membracoidea but may be lost secondarily in a few lineages. The synthesis of BPs might be related to the symbiosis of leafhoppers/treehoppers with endosymbionts that provide these insects with EAAs, including those are deficient in the sole diet (i.e., plant sap) and could only be made available by the symbionts. We hypothesize that the functional modification of MTs have combined with the application of BPs enabling Membracoidea to colonize and adapt to novel ecological niches, and evolve to the dramatic diversification of this hemipteran group (in particular the family Cicadellidae). This study highlights the importance of evolutionary plasticity and multiple functions of MTs in driving the adaptations and evolution of sap-sucking insects of Hemiptera.}, } @article {pmid37178561, year = {2023}, author = {Chang, Q and Xie, Z and Shi, B and Wu, H}, title = {Symbiotic strategy of Cu on CuFe2O4 realizing high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption.}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {645}, number = {}, pages = {841-849}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.141}, pmid = {37178561}, issn = {1095-7103}, abstract = {Low complex permittivity and easy magnetic agglomeration prevent ferrites from achieving high-efficiency electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption owing to the resultant narrow absorption bandwidth. Existing composition- and morphology-controlled strategies have made limited progress in fundamentally improving the intrinsic complex permittivity and absorption performance of pure ferrite. In this study, Cu/CuFe2O4 composites were synthesized using a facile and low-energy sol-gel self-propagating combustion, and the metallic Cu content was adjusted by changing the ratio of the reductant (citric acid) to the oxidant (ferric nitrate). The symbiosis and coexistence of metallic Cu with ferritic CuFe2O4 increases the intrinsic complex permittivity of CuFe2O4, which can be regulated by changing the metallic Cu content. Moreover, the unique ant-nest-like microstructure overcomes the issue of magnetic agglomeration. Because of the favorable impedance matching and strong dielectric loss (interfacial polarization and conduction loss) provided by the moderate metallic Cu content, S0.5 concurrently displays broadband absorption with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.32 GHz at an ultrathin thickness of 1.7 mm and strong absorption relying on minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -48.81 dB at 4.08 GHz and 4.0 mm. This study provides a new perspective for improving the EMW absorption performance of ferrites.}, } @article {pmid37177994, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, H and Xiao, A and Wu, J and Li, H and Duan, Y and Chen, Q and Zhu, H and Cao, Y}, title = {GmNAC039 and GmNAC018 activate the expression of cysteine protease genes to promote soybean nodule senescence.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plcell/koad129}, pmid = {37177994}, issn = {1532-298X}, abstract = {Root nodules are major sources of nitrogen for soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) growth, development, production, and seed quality. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is time-limited, as the root nodule senesces during the reproductive stage of plant development, specifically during seed development. Nodule senescence is characterized by the induction of senescence-related genes, such as papain-like cysteine proteases (CYPs), which ultimately leads to the degradation of both bacteroids and plant cells. However, how nodule senescence-related genes are activated in soybean is unknown. Here, we identified two paralogous NAC transcription factors, GmNAC039 and GmNAC018, as master regulators of nodule senescence. Overexpression of either gene induced soybean nodule senescence with increased cell death as detected using a TUNEL assay, whereas their knockout delayed senescence and increased nitrogenase activity. Transcriptome analysis and nCUT&Tag-qPCR assays revealed that GmNAC039 directly binds to the core motif CAC(A)A and activates the expression of four GmCYP genes (GmCYP35, GmCYP37, GmCYP39 and GmCYP45). Similar to GmNAC039 and GmNAC018, overexpression or knockout of GmCYP genes in nodules resulted in precocious or delayed senescence, respectively. These data provide essential insights into the regulatory mechanisms of nodule senescence, in which GmNAC039 and GmNAC018 directly activate the expression of GmCYP genes to promote nodule senescence.}, } @article {pmid37177968, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, ZR and Wu, HM and Ma, C and Li, SY and Li, Q and Yuan, KN and Meng, XY and Liu, S and Fang, XF}, title = {[Nitrogen Metabolism and Flora Characteristics of Bacteria Algae Complex System].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {2965-2973}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202206265}, pmid = {37177968}, issn = {0250-3301}, abstract = {In order to denitrify the urban tail water deeply and control the eutrophication of surface water, the molecular biology methods were used to study the nitrogen metabolism performance of the denitrification complex flora and the algal-bacteria symbiotic system. The results showed that the nitrogen metabolism complex flora was high ammonification and denitrification performance. The removal effect of ammonia nitrogen of group JZ was very well in urban tailwater, and the degradation rate was as high as 95%. The removal effect of total nitrogen of group JZ was better than that of group J in the experimental water distribution. High-throughput sequencing showed that the main dominant flora and proportion of group J were Firmicutes 44.53%, Proteobacteria 43.41%, Actinobacteria 5.37%, Bacteroidetes 3.04%, and Chloroflexi 1.35%. The main dominant bacterial groups in the group JZ were 33.89% Cyanobacteria, 25.34% Chloroflexi, 19.38% Proteobacteria, 10.02% Firmicutes, and 4.20% Acidobacteria. The dominant species in group J were compared with those in group JZ; the proportions were 82% and 18% in Firmicutes, 69% and 31% in Proteobacteria, 1% and 99% in Cyanobacteria, 5.1% and 95% in Chloroflexi, 73% and 27% in Actinobacteria. It was concluded that the removal effect of ammonia nitrogen of group JZ was high in the urban tailwater. With the addition and growth of Micrococcus in group J, the nitrogen metabolism flora in group JZ changed accordingly, so as to adapt to the environment in which the dominant algae formed. It forms a new nitrogen metabolism system of bacteria and algae with Micrococcus. This research provides a theoretical and data basis for the application of algal-bacterial co-metabolism systems.}, } @article {pmid37177359, year = {2023}, author = {Gismatulina, YA}, title = {Promising Energetic Polymers from Nanostructured Bacterial Cellulose.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/polym15092213}, pmid = {37177359}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {This study investigated the nitration of nanostructured bacterial cellulose (NBC). The NBC, obtained using symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 as the microbial producer and then freeze-dried, was nitrated herein by two methods, the first using mixed sulphuric-nitric acids (MA) and the second using concentrated nitric acid in the presence of methylene chloride (NA+MC). The synthesized samples of NBC nitrates (NBCNs) exhibited 11.77-12.27% nitrogen content, a viscosity of 1086 mPa·s or higher, 0.7-14.5% solubility in an alcohol-ester mixture, and 0.002% ash. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the nitration compacted the NBC structure, with the original reticulate pattern of the structure being preserved in full. Infrared spectroscopy for the presence of functional nitro groups at 1658-1659, 1280, 838-840, 749-751 and 693-694 cm[-1] confirmed the synthesis of cellulose nitrates in particular. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses showed the resultant NBCNs to have a high purity and high specific heats of decomposition of 6.94-7.08 kJ/g. The NBCN samples differ conceptually from plant-based cellulose nitrates by having a viscosity above 1086 mPa·s and a unique 3D reticulate structure that is retained during the nitration. The findings suggest that the NBCNs can be considered for use in novel high-tech materials and science-driven fields distinct from the application fields of plant-based cellulose nitrates. The NBCN sample obtained with NA+MC has the ability to generate an organogel when it is dissolved in acetone. Because of the said property, this NBCN sample can find use as a classical adhesive scaffold and an energetic gel matrix for creating promising energetic polymers.}, } @article {pmid37176956, year = {2023}, author = {Setubal, IS and Andrade Júnior, AS and Silva, SPD and Rodrigues, AC and Bonifácio, A and Silva, EHFMD and Vieira, PFMJ and Miranda, RS and Cafaro La Menza, N and Souza, HA}, title = {Macro and Micro-Nutrient Accumulation and Partitioning in Soybean Affected by Water and Nitrogen Supply.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091898}, pmid = {37176956}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {This study aimed to investigate the influence of water availability and nitrogen fertilization on plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and variables related to soybean crop yield. Trials were performed in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, using randomized blocks in a split-split plot arrangement. The plots corresponded to water regimes (full and deficient), the split plots to N fertilization (0 and 1000 kg ha[-1] N-urea), and the split-split plots to harvest times of soybean plants (16, 23, 30, 37, 44, 58, 65, 79 and 86 days after emergence), with three replicates. In general, the accumulation and partitioning of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) were decreased in plants subjected to water deficit and without N fertilization. Although nitrogen fertilization promoted elevated N accumulation in tissues, it did not result in any significant yield gain, and the highest seed yields were found in plants under full irrigation, regardless of N supplementation. However, deficient irrigation decreased the seed oil content of N-fertilized plants. In conclusion, N fertilization is critical for nutrient homeostasis, and water availability impairs biomass and nutrient accumulation, thereby limiting soybean yield performance.}, } @article {pmid37176886, year = {2023}, author = {Bellido, E and de la Haba, P and Agüera, E}, title = {Responses in Nodulated Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Plants Grown at Elevated Atmospheric CO2.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12091828}, pmid = {37176886}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is currently causing metabolomic and physiological changes in living beings and especially in plants. Future climate change may affect crop productivity by limiting the uptake of soil resources such as nitrogen (N) and water. The contribution of legume-rhizobia symbioses to N2 fixation increases the available biological N reserve. Elevated CO2 (eCO2) has been shown to enhance the amount of fixed N2 primarily by increasing biomass. Greater leaf biomass under eCO2 levels increases N demand, which can stimulate and increase N2 fixation. For this reason, bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were used in this work to investigate how, in a CO2-enriched atmosphere, inoculation with rhizobia (Rhizobium leguminosarum) affects different growth parameters and metabolites of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, as well as enzymatic activities of nitrogen metabolism and the oxidative state of the plant, with a view to future scenarios, where the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will increase. The results showed that bean symbiosis with R. leguminosarum improved N2 fixation, while also decreasing the plant's oxidative stress, and provided the plant with a greater defense system against eCO2 conditions. In conclusion, the nodulation with rhizobia potentially replaced the chemical fertilization of bean plants (P. vulgaris L.), resulting in more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. However, further optimization of symbiotic activities is needed to improve the efficiency and to also develop strategies to improve the response of legume yields to eCO2, particularly due to the climate change scenario in which there is predicted to be a large increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration.}, } @article {pmid37175456, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, Y and Wang, J and Ma, C and Jong, C and Jin, M and Cha, J and Wang, J and Peng, Y and Ni, H and Li, H and Yang, M and Chen, Q and Xin, D}, title = {GmTCP and GmNLP Underlying Nodulation Character in Soybean Depending on Nitrogen.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24097750}, pmid = {37175456}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Soybean is a cereal crop with high protein and oil content which serves as the main source of plant-based protein and oil for human consumption. The symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia contributes significantly to soybean yield and quality, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood, hindering efforts to improve soybean productivity. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome analysis and identified 22 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from nodule-related quantitative trait loci (QTL) located in chromosomes 12 and 19. Subsequently, we performed functional characterisation and haplotype analysis to identify key candidate genes among the 22 DEGs that are responsive to nitrate. Our findings identified GmTCP (TEOSINTE-BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF) and GmNLP (NIN-LIKE PROTEIN) as the key candidate genes that regulate the soybean nodule phenotype in response to nitrogen concentration. We conducted homologous gene mutant analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana, which revealed that the homologous genes of GmTCP and GmNLP play a vital role in regulating root development in response to nitrogen concentration. We further performed overexpression and gene knockout of GmTCP and GmNLP through hairy root transformation in soybeans and analysed the effects of GmTCP and GmNLP on nodulation under different nitrogen concentrations using transgenic lines. Overexpressing GmTCP and GmNLP resulted in significant differences in soybean hairy root nodulation phenotypes, such as nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW), under varying nitrate conditions. Our results demonstrate that GmTCP and GmNLP are involved in regulating soybean nodulation in response to nitrogen concentration, providing new insights into the mechanism of soybean symbiosis establishment underlying different nitrogen concentrations.}, } @article {pmid37174729, year = {2023}, author = {Waddell, J and Khatoon, R and Kristian, T}, title = {Cellular and Mitochondrial NAD Homeostasis in Health and Disease.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/cells12091329}, pmid = {37174729}, issn = {2073-4409}, support = {R01NS119275/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01NS12277/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The mitochondrion has a unique position among other cellular organelles due to its dynamic properties and symbiotic nature, which is reflected in an active exchange of metabolites and cofactors between the rest of the intracellular compartments. The mitochondrial energy metabolism is greatly dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as a cofactor that is essential for both the activity of respiratory and TCA cycle enzymes. The NAD level is determined by the rate of NAD synthesis, the activity of NAD-consuming enzymes, and the exchange rate between the individual subcellular compartments. In this review, we discuss the NAD synthesis pathways, the NAD degradation enzymes, and NAD subcellular localization, as well as NAD transport mechanisms with a focus on mitochondria. Finally, the effect of the pathologic depletion of mitochondrial NAD pools on mitochondrial proteins' post-translational modifications and its role in neurodegeneration will be reviewed. Understanding the physiological constraints and mechanisms of NAD maintenance and the exchange between subcellular compartments is critical given NAD's broad effects and roles in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid37174444, year = {2023}, author = {Sales, AL and Iriondo-DeHond, A and DePaula, J and Ribeiro, M and Ferreira, IMPLVO and Miguel, MAL and Del Castillo, MD and Farah, A}, title = {Intracellular Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Bioactive Profiles of Coffee Cascara and Black Tea Kombucha Beverages.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12091905}, pmid = {37174444}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha is a functional beverage obtained through fermentation of sweetened Camellia sinensis infusion by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts that exerts many beneficial biological effects, mostly related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Alternative raw materials have been used to create new kombucha or kombucha-like products. Coffee is the most important food commodity worldwide and generates large amounts of by-products during harvest and post-harvest processing. The main coffee by-product is the dried fruit skin and pulp, popularly known as cascara. To date, no studies have evaluated the potential bioactivity of coffee cascara kombucha. In this study, we aimed to measure and compare the effects of infusions and kombuchas made with arabica coffee cascaras (n = 2) and black tea leaves (n = 1), fermented for 0, 3, 6, and 9 days on the intracellular production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Nitric Oxide (NO) in model cells. Oxidative stress was induced in HK-2 cells with indoxyl sulfate (IS) and high glucose (G). Inflammation was induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophage. The contents of phenolic compounds, caffeine, and other physicochemical parameters were evaluated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study providing information on the bioactive profile and on the potential biological effects of coffee cascara kombucha. Fermentation caused the release of bound phenolic compounds from the infusions, especially total chlorogenic acids, with an average increase from 5.4 to 10.7 mg/100 mL (98%) and 2.6-3.4 mg/100 mL (30%) in coffee cascara and black tea kombucha, respectively, up to day 9. All evaluated beverages reduced (p < 0.0001) similarly the intracellular ROS (41% reduction, on average) and uric acid (10-55%) concentrations in HK-2 model cells, reversing the induced oxidative stress. All beverages also reduced (p < 0.0001, 81-90%) NO formation in LPS-induced macrophages, exhibiting an anti-inflammatory effect. These potential health benefits may be mostly attributed to polyphenols and caffeine, whose contents were comparable in all beverages. Coffee cascara showed similar potential to C. sinensis to produce healthy beverages and support sustainable coffee production.}, } @article {pmid37174355, year = {2023}, author = {Anantachoke, N and Duangrat, R and Sutthiphatkul, T and Ochaikul, D and Mangmool, S}, title = {Kombucha Beverages Produced from Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants: A Review on Their Pharmacological Activities and Health Benefits.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods12091818}, pmid = {37174355}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional health beverage produced by fermenting sweetened tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. Consumption of kombucha beverages has been growing and there is kombucha commercially available worldwide as one of the most famous low-alcohol beverages. Kombucha beverages have been claimed to have beneficial effects on human health because they contain a variety of bioactive compounds that possess various functional properties. At present, several kinds of raw material (e.g., milk, fruit, vegetables, and herbs) have been fermented with kombucha consortium and consumed as kombucha beverages. Although several studies have been written regarding the biological activities of kombucha and raw materials, there is however little information available on the characterization of their components as well as the biological activities of fermented kombucha from many raw material mixtures. Several pharmacological activities were reviewed in the scientific literature, describing their potential implications for human health. In addition, the adverse effects and toxicity of kombucha consumption were also reviewed. In this study, we focused on the main and latest studies of the pharmacological effects of kombucha beverages produced from various kinds of raw materials, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antihyperlipidemic effects in in vitro and in vivo studies.}, } @article {pmid37173818, year = {2023}, author = {Mosaddad, SA and Mahootchi, P and Safari, S and Rahimi, H and Aghili, SS}, title = {Interactions between systemic diseases and oral microbiota shifts in the aging community: A narrative review.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202300141}, pmid = {37173818}, issn = {1521-4028}, abstract = {As a gateway to general health and a diverse microbial habitat, the oral cavity is colonized by numerous microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea. Oral microbiota plays an essential role in preserving oral health. Besides, the oral cavity also significantly contributes to systemic health. Physiological aging influences all body systems, including the oral microbial inhabitants. The cited effect can cause diseases by forming dysbiotic communities. Since it has been demonstrated that microbial dysbiosis could disturb the symbiosis state between the host and the resident microorganism, shifting the condition toward a more pathogenic one, this study investigated how the oral microbial shifts in aging could associate with the development or progression of systemic diseases in older adults. The current study focused on the interactions between variations in the oral microbiome and prevalent diseases in older adults, including diabetes mellitus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, oral candidiasis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and glaucoma. Underlying diseases can dynamically modify the oral ecology and the composition of its resident oral microbiome. Clinical, experimental, and epidemiological research suggests the associations of systemic disorders with bacteremia and inflammation after oral microbial changes in older adults.}, } @article {pmid37173650, year = {2023}, author = {Rasouli, F and Hassanpouraghdam, MB and Pirsarandib, Y and Aazami, MA and Asadi, M and Ercisli, S and Mehrabani, LV and Puglisi, I and Baglieri, A}, title = {Improvements in the biochemical responses and Pb and Ni phytoremediation of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) plants through Funneliformis mosseae inoculation.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {252}, pmid = {37173650}, issn = {1471-2229}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Heavy metals (HMs) phytoremediation is a well-recognized protocol to remove toxic elements from the soil. As known, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance the plants' growth responses. The idea of the present study was to assay the response of lavender plants to HMs stress under AMF inoculation. We hypothesized that mycorrhiza will enhance the phytoremediation and simultaneously reduce the harmful effects of heavy HMs. So, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) plants were inoculated with AMF (0 and 5 g Kg[-1] soil) under Pb [150 and 225 mg kg[-1] soil from Pb (NO3)2] and Ni [220 and 330 mg kg[-1] soil from Ni (NO3)2] pollution, in the greenhouse conditions. The control treatment was plants not treated with AMF and HMs. Doing this, the root colonization, HMs uptake, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants pool, MDA, proline, total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), anthocyanins, and essential oil (EO) components were evaluated.

RESULTS: According to the findings, the AMF inoculation enhanced shoot and root Pb and Ni content, antioxidant enzymes activity, the total antioxidant activity by DPPH and FRAP methods, TPC, TFC, anthocyanins, and H2O2 content in the lavender plants subjected to Pb and Ni stress. Moreover, the highest (28.91%) and the least (15.81%) percentages of borneol were identified in the lavender plants subjected to AMF under 150 mg kg[-1] of Pb and the control plants without AMF application, respectively. Furthermore, the top 1,8-cineole (12.75%) content was recorded in AMF-inoculated plants.

CONCLUSIONS: The overall results verify that AMF inoculation can be a reliable methodology to enhance the phytoremediation of Pb and Ni by lavender plants while maintaining reliable growth potential. The treatments improved the main EO constituents content, especially under moderate HMs stress conditions. With more detailed studies, the results will be advisable for the extension section for the phytoremediation of polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid37173253, year = {2023}, author = {Honerlagen, H and Reyer, H and Abou-Soliman, I and Segelke, D and Ponsuksili, S and Trakooljul, N and Reinsch, N and Kuhla, B and Wimmers, K}, title = {Microbial signature inferred from genomic breeding selection on milk urea concentration and its relation to proxies of nitrogen-utilization efficiency in Holsteins.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2022-22935}, pmid = {37173253}, issn = {1525-3198}, abstract = {Increasing the nitrogen-utilization efficiency (NUE) of dairy cows by breeding selection would offer advantages from nutritional, environmental, and economic perspectives. Because data collection of NUE phenotypes is not feasible in large cow cohorts, the cow individual milk urea concentration (MU) has been suggested as an indicator trait. Considering the symbiotic interplay between dairy cows and their rumen microbiome, individual MU was thought to be influenced by host genetics and by the rumen microbiome, the latter in turn being partly attributed to host genetics. To enhance our knowledge of MU as an indicator trait for NUE, we aimed to identify differential abundant rumen microbial genera between Holstein cows with divergent genomic breeding values for MU (GBVMU; GBVHMU vs. GBVLMU, where H and L indicate high and low MU phenotypes, respectively). The microbial genera identified were further investigated for their correlations with MU and 7 additional NUE-associated traits in urine, milk, and feces in 358 lactating Holsteins. Statistical analysis of microbial 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data revealed significantly higher abundances of the ureolytic genus Succinivibrionaceae UCG-002 in GBVLMU cows, whereas GBVHMU animals hosted higher abundances of Clostridia unclassified and Desulfovibrio. The entire discriminating ruminal signature of 24 microbial taxa included a further 3 genera of the Lachnospiraceae family that revealed significant correlations to MU values and were therefore proposed as considerable players in the GBVMU-microbiome-MU axis. The significant correlations of Prevotellaceae UCG-003, Anaerovibrio, Blautia, and Butyrivibrio abundances with MU measurements, milk nitrogen, and N content in feces suggested their contribution to genetically determined N-utilization in Holstein cows. The microbial genera identified might be considered for future breeding programs to enhance NUE in dairy herds.}, } @article {pmid37170660, year = {2023}, author = {Kumar, P and Nalli, Y and Dhimmar, A and Singh, S and Ghadge, VA and Sahastrabudhe, H and Gajjar, A and Shinde, PB}, title = {Bacillinaphthin A: A New Naphthohydroquinone from the Endophyte Bacillus subtilis NPROOT3.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202300106}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202300106}, pmid = {37170660}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {The present study explores the endophyte associated with the halophyte Salicornia brachiata for uncovering new biologically important compounds. Thus, HPLC-PDA guided chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of the Bacillus subtilis NPROOT3 led to the isolation of a new compound named bacillinaphthin A (1) along with previously known rubinaphthin A (2). The structure of 2 was determined by a comparison of HR-ESI-MS, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR) with those of reported data, whereas the structure of new compound 1 was elucidated by interpretation of 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS data. Bacillinaphthin (1) and rubinaphthin (2) feature 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid derivatives which have been isolated herein for the first time from the genus Bacillus. Bacillinaphthin (1) is a new congener of 2 with an additional succinic acid side chain attached to the sugar moiety. Production of succinoglycan compounds was reported to regulate symbiosis, hence the isolation of 1 exhibits an example of chemical ecology between the halophyte and its endophyte. In silico tools were used to assess the bioactive potential of both isolated molecules.}, } @article {pmid37170476, year = {2023}, author = {Delaney, C and Alapati, S and Alshehri, M and Kubalova, D and Veena, CLR and Abusrewil, S and Short, B and Bradshaw, D and Brown, JL}, title = {Investigating the role of Candida albicans as a universal substrate for oral bacteria using a transcriptomic approach: implications for interkingdom biofilm control?.}, journal = {APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/apm.13327}, pmid = {37170476}, issn = {1600-0463}, abstract = {Candida albicans is frequently identified as a colonizer of the oral cavity in health and has recently been termed a "keystone" commensal due to its role on the bacterial communities. However, the role that C. albicans plays in such interactions is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship between C. albicans and bacteria associated with oral symbiosis and dysbiosis. To do this, we evaluated the ability of C. albicans to support the growth of the aerobic commensal Streptococcus gordonii and the anaerobic pathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis in the biofilm environment. RNA-Sequencing with the Illumina platform was then utilized to identify C. albicans gene expression and functional pathways involved during such interactions in dual-species and a 4-species biofilm model. Results indicated that C. albicans was capable of supporting growth of all three bacteria, with a significant increase in colony counts of each bacteria in the dual-species biofilm (p < 0.05). We identified specific functional enrichment of pathways in our 4-species community as well as transcriptional profiles unique to the F. nucleatum and S. gordonii dual-species biofilms, indicating a species-specific effect on C. albicans. Candida-related hemin acquisition and heat shock protein mediated processes were unique to the organism following co-culture with anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, respectively, suggestive that such pathways may be feasible options for therapeutic targeting to interfere with these fungal-bacterial interactions. Targeted antifungal therapy may be considered as an option for biofilm destabilization and treatment of complex communities. Moving forward, we propose that further studies must continue to investigate the role of this fungal organism in the context of the interkingdom nature of oral diseases.}, } @article {pmid37168810, year = {2023}, author = {Suzaki, T}, title = {Root nodule organogenesis: a unique lateral organogenesis in legumes.}, journal = {Breeding science}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {70-75}, doi = {10.1270/jsbbs.22067}, pmid = {37168810}, issn = {1344-7610}, abstract = {During the course of plant evolution, leguminous and a few plants species have established root nodule symbiosis (RNS), one of the nitrogen nutrient acquisition strategies based on mutual interaction between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In addition to its useful agronomic trait, RNS comprises a unique form of plant lateral organogenesis; dedifferentiation and activation of cortical cells in the root are induced upon bacterial infection during nodule development. In the past few years, the elucidations of the significance of NODULE INCEPTION transcription factor as a potentially key innovative factor of RNS, the details of its function, and the successive discoveries of its target genes have advanced our understanding underlying molecular mechanisms of nodule organogenesis. In addition, a recent elucidation of the role of legume SHORTROOT-SCARECROW module has provided the insights into the unique properties of legume cortical cells. Here, I summarize such latest findings on the neofunctionalized key players of nodule organogenesis, which may provide clue to understand an evolutionary basis of RNS.}, } @article {pmid37168564, year = {2023}, author = {Mazuecos, L and Alberdi, P and Hernández-Jarguín, A and Contreras, M and Villar, M and Cabezas-Cruz, A and Simo, L and González-García, A and Díaz-Sánchez, S and Neelakanta, G and Bonnet, SI and Fikrig, E and de la Fuente, J}, title = {Frankenbacteriosis targeting interactions between pathogen and symbiont to control infection in the tick vector.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {106697}, doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2023.106697}, pmid = {37168564}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Tick microbiota can be targeted for the control of tick-borne diseases such as human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) caused by model pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Frankenbacteriosis is inspired by Frankenstein and defined here as paratransgenesis of tick symbiotic/commensal bacteria to mimic and compete with tick-borne pathogens. Interactions between A. phagocytophilum and symbiotic Sphingomonas identified by metaproteomics analysis in Ixodes scapularis midgut showed competition between both bacteria. Consequently, Sphingomonas was selected for frankenbacteriosis for the control of A. phagocytophilum infection and transmission. The results showed that Franken Sphingomonas producing A. phagocytophilum major surface protein 4 (MSP4) mimic pathogen and reduce infection in ticks by competition and interaction with cell receptor components of infection. Franken Sphingomonas-MSP4 transovarial and trans-stadial transmission suggests that tick larvae with genetically modified Franken Sphingomonas-MSP4 could be produced in the laboratory and released in the field to compete and replace the wildtype populations with associated reduction in pathogen infection/transmission and HGA disease risks.}, } @article {pmid37169870, year = {2023}, author = {Treerat, P and Anderson, D and Giacaman, RA and Merritt, J and Kreth, J}, title = {Glycerol metabolism supports oral commensal interactions.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37169870}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {During oral biofilm development, interspecies interactions drive species distribution and biofilm architecture. To understand what molecular mechanisms determine these interactions, we used information gained from recent biogeographical investigations demonstrating an association of corynebacteria with streptococci. We previously reported that Streptococcus sanguinis and Corynebacterium durum have a close relationship through the production of membrane vesicle and fatty acids leading to S. sanguinis chain elongation and overall increased fitness supporting their commensal state. Here we present the molecular mechanisms of this interspecies interaction. Coculture experiments for transcriptomic analysis identified several differentially expressed genes in S. sanguinis. Due to its connection to fatty acid synthesis, we focused on the glycerol-operon. We further explored the differentially expressed type IV pili genes due to their connection to motility and biofilm adhesion. Gene inactivation of the glycerol kinase glpK had a profound impact on the ability of S. sanguinis to metabolize C. durum secreted glycerol and impaired chain elongation important for their interaction. Investigations on the effect of type IV pili revealed a reduction of S. sanguinis twitching motility in the presence of C. durum, which was caused by a decrease in type IV pili abundance on the surface of S. sanguinis as determined by SEM. In conclusion, we identified that the ability to metabolize C. durum produced glycerol is crucial for the interaction of C. durum and S. sanguinis. Reduced twitching motility could lead to a closer interaction of both species, supporting niche development in the oral cavity and potentially shaping symbiotic health-associated biofilm communities.}, } @article {pmid37167003, year = {2023}, author = {Chialva, M and Patono, DL and de Souza, LP and Novero, M and Vercellino, S and Maghrebi, M and Morgante, M and Lovisolo, C and Vigani, G and Fernie, A and Fiorilli, V and Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {The mycorrhizal root-shoot axis elicits Coffea arabica growth under low phosphate conditions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18946}, pmid = {37167003}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Coffee is one of the most traded commodities world-wide. As with 70% of land plants, coffee is associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but the molecular bases of this interaction are unknown. We studied the mycorrhizal phenotype of two commercially important Coffea arabica cultivars ('Typica National' and 'Catimor Amarillo'), upon Funnelliformis mosseae colonisation grown under phosphorus limitation, using an integrated functional approach based on multi-omics, physiology and biochemistry. The two cultivars revealed a strong biomass increase upon mycorrhization, even at low level of fungal colonisation, improving photosynthetic efficiency and plant nutrition. The more important iconic markers of AM symbiosis were activated: We detected two gene copies of AM-inducible phosphate (Pt4), ammonium (AM2) and nitrate (NPF4.5) transporters, which were identified as belonging to the C. arabica parental species (C. canephora and C. eugenioides) with both copies being upregulated. Transcriptomics data were confirmed by ions and metabolomics analyses, which highlighted an increased amount of glucose, fructose and flavonoid glycosides. In conclusion, both coffee cultivars revealed a high responsiveness to the AM fungus along their root-shoot axis, showing a clear-cut re-organisation of the major metabolic pathways, which involve nutrient acquisition, carbon fixation, and primary and secondary metabolism.}, } @article {pmid37166985, year = {2023}, author = {Fonouni-Farde, C and Frugier, F}, title = {NODULE INCEPTION: a direct regulator of gibberellin biosynthesis during symbiotic nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18948}, pmid = {37166985}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid37166527, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Xie, Y and Zhang, G and Pan, L}, title = {Microbial community structure and diversity in fish-flower (mint) symbiosis.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {37166527}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {The fish-flower symbiosis model is an eco-friendly sustainable farming technology combining plants, fish and microorganisms in a recirculating aquaculture system. However, there are few studies on the structure and diversity of microbial communities in fish intestines, culture water and plant roots during fish-flower symbiosis. Here, we cultured carp (Cyprinus carpio), crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) with mint (Mentha spicala L.) and extracted total genomic DNA from intestinal microorganisms, culture-water microorganisms and root microorganisms for each fish species for high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Analysis of microbial community structure and diversity revealed changes in abundance of microbial genera in the intestines and culture water of each fish species, including changes in the dominant taxa. Pirellula, Truepera, Aquincola, Cetobacterium and Luteolibacter were widespread in the fish intestine, culture water and mint root system. This study revealed the effects of mint feeding on the structure and diversity of microbial communities of fish, water bodies and the mint root system during fish-flower symbiosis, providing a theoretical reference for the promotion and application of fish-flower (mint) symbiosis technology and healthy fish culture technology.}, } @article {pmid37166359, year = {2023}, author = {Becklin, KM and Viele, BM and Coleman, HD}, title = {Nutrient conditions mediate mycorrhizal effects on biomass production and cell wall chemistry in poplar.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpad064}, pmid = {37166359}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Large scale biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstock is limited by the financial and environmental costs associated with growing and processing lignocellulosic material and the resilience of these plants to environmental stress. Symbiotic associations with arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi represent a potential strategy for expanding feedstock production while reducing nutrient inputs. Comparing AM and EM effects on wood production and chemical composition is a necessary step in developing biofuel feedstocks. Here, we assessed the productivity, biomass allocation, and secondary cell wall composition of greenhouse grown Populus tremuloides inoculated with either AM or EM fungi. Given the long-term goal of reducing nutrient inputs for biofuel production, we further tested the effects of nutrient availability and nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry on mycorrhizal responses. Associations with both AM and EM fungi increased plant biomass by 14% to 74% depending on the nutrient conditions but had minimal effects on secondary cell wall composition. Mycorrhizal plants, especially those inoculated with EM fungi, also allocated a greater portion of their biomass to roots, which could be beneficial in the field where plants are likely to experience both water and nutrient stress. Leaf nutrient content was weakly, but positively correlated with wood production in mycorrhizal plants. Surprisingly, phosphorus played a larger role in EM plants compared to AM plants. Relative nitrogen and phosphorus availability was correlated with shifts in secondary cell wall composition. For AM associations the benefit of increased wood biomass may be partially offset by increased lignin content, a trait that affects downstream processing of lignocellulosic tissue for biofuels. By comparing AM and EM effects on the productivity and chemical composition of lignocellulosic tissue, this work links broad functional diversity in mycorrhizal associations to key biofuels traits and highlights the importance of considering both biotic and abiotic factors when developing strategies for sustainable biofuel production.}, } @article {pmid37161348, year = {2023}, author = {Wollmuth, EM and Angert, ER}, title = {Microbial circadian clocks: host-microbe interplay in diel cycles.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {124}, pmid = {37161348}, issn = {1471-2180}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms, observed across all domains of life, enable organisms to anticipate and prepare for diel changes in environmental conditions. In bacteria, a circadian clock mechanism has only been characterized in cyanobacteria to date. These clocks regulate cyclical patterns of gene expression and metabolism which contribute to the success of cyanobacteria in their natural environments. The potential impact of self-generated circadian rhythms in other bacterial and microbial populations has motivated extensive research to identify novel circadian clocks.

MAIN TEXT: Daily oscillations in microbial community composition and function have been observed in ocean ecosystems and in symbioses. These oscillations are influenced by abiotic factors such as light and the availability of nutrients. In the ocean ecosystems and in some marine symbioses, oscillations are largely controlled by light-dark cycles. In gut systems, the influx of nutrients after host feeding drastically alters the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Conversely, the gut microbiota can influence the host circadian rhythm by a variety of mechanisms including through interacting with the host immune system. The intricate and complex relationship between the microbiota and their host makes it challenging to disentangle host behaviors from bacterial circadian rhythms and clock mechanisms that might govern the daily oscillations observed in these microbial populations.

CONCLUSIONS: While the ability to anticipate the cyclical behaviors of their host would likely be enhanced by a self-sustained circadian rhythm, more evidence and further studies are needed to confirm whether host-associated heterotrophic bacteria possess such systems. In addition, the mechanisms by which heterotrophic bacteria might respond to diel cycles in environmental conditions has yet to be uncovered.}, } @article {pmid37161294, year = {2023}, author = {Ganesan, R and Janke, RS and Kaltenpoth, M and Flórez, LV}, title = {Colonization dynamics of a defensive insect ectosymbiont.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {20230100}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2023.0100}, pmid = {37161294}, issn = {1744-957X}, abstract = {Beneficial symbionts are horizontally or vertically transmitted to offspring, relying on host- or microbe-mediated mechanisms for colonization. While multiple studies on symbionts transmitted internally or by feeding highlight host adaptations and dynamics of symbiont colonization, less is known for beneficial microbes colonizing host external surfaces, such as the insect cuticle. Here, we investigate the colonization dynamics of a bacterial symbiont that protects eggs and larvae of Lagria villosa beetles against pathogens. After maternal application to the egg surface, symbionts colonize specialized cuticular invaginations on the dorsal surface of larvae. We assessed the colonization time point and investigated the involvement of the host during this process. Symbionts remain on the egg surface before hatching, providing protection. Immediately after hatching, cells from the egg surface colonize the larvae and horizontal acquisition can occur, yet efficiency decreases with increasing larval age. Additionally, passive or host-aided translocation likely supports colonization of the larval symbiotic organs. This may be especially important for the dominant non-motile symbiont strain, while motility of additional strains in the symbiont community might also play a role. Our findings provide insights into the colonization dynamics of cuticle-associated defensive symbionts and suggest alternate or complementary strategies used by different strains for colonization.}, } @article {pmid37160764, year = {2023}, author = {Gimmi, E and Wallisch, J and Vorburger, C}, title = {Defensive symbiosis in the wild: Seasonal dynamics of parasitism risk and symbiont-conferred resistance.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16976}, pmid = {37160764}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Parasite-mediated selection can rapidly drive up resistance levels in host populations, but fixation of resistance traits may be prevented by costs of resistance. Black bean aphids (Aphis fabae) benefit from increased resistance to parasitoids when carrying the defensive bacterial endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa. However, due to fitness costs that come with symbiont infection, symbiont-conferred resistance may result in either a net benefit or a net cost to the aphid host, depending on parasitoid presence as well as on the general ecological context. Balancing selection may therefore explain why in natural aphid populations, H. defensa is often found at intermediate frequencies. Here we present a 2-year field study where we set out to look for signatures of balancing selection in natural aphid populations. We collected temporally well-resolved data on the prevalence of H. defensa in A. f. fabae and estimated the risk imposed by parasitoids using sentinel hosts. Despite a marked and consistent early-summer peak in parasitism risk, and significant changes in symbiont prevalence over time, we found just a weak correlation between parasitism risk and H. defensa frequency dynamics. H. defensa prevalence in the populations under study was, in fact, better explained by the number of heat days that previous aphid generations were exposed to. Our study grants an unprecedentedly well-resolved insight into the dynamics of endosymbiont and parasitoid communities of A. f. fabae populations, and it adds to a growing body of empirical evidence suggesting that not only parasitism risk, but rather multifarious selection is shaping H. defensa prevalence in the wild.}, } @article {pmid37159836, year = {2023}, author = {Sarmiento-López, LG and López-Espinoza, MY and Juárez-Verdayes, MA and López-Meyer, M}, title = {Genome-wide characterization of the xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase gene family in Solanum lycopersicum L. and gene expression analysis in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15257}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.15257}, pmid = {37159836}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) are a glycoside hydrolase protein family involved in the biosynthesis of xyloglucans, with essential roles in the regulation of plant cell wall extensibility. By taking advantage of the whole genome sequence in Solanum lycopersicum, 37 SlXTHs were identified in the present work. SlXTHs were classified into four subfamilies (ancestral, I/II, III-A, III-B) when aligned to XTHs of other plant species. Gene structure and conserved motifs showed similar compositions in each subfamily. Segmental duplication was the primary mechanism accounting for the expansion of SlXTH genes. In silico expression analysis showed that SlXTH genes exhibited differential expression in several tissues. GO analysis and 3D protein structure indicated that all 37 SlXTHs participate in cell wall biogenesis and xyloglucan metabolism. Promoter analysis revealed that some SlXTHs have MeJA- and stress-responsive elements. qRT-PCR expression analysis of nine SlXTHs in leaves and roots of mycorrhizal colonized vs. non-colonized plants showed that eight of these genes were differentially expressed in leaves and four in roots, suggesting that SlXTHs might play roles in plant defense induced by arbuscular mycorrhiza. Our results provide valuable insight into the function of XTHs in S. lycopersicum, in addition to the response of plants to mycorrhizal colonization.}, } @article {pmid37156498, year = {2023}, author = {Gkimprixi, E and Lagos, S and Nikolaou, CN and Karpouzas, DG and Tsikou, D}, title = {Veterinary drug albendazole inhibits root colonization and symbiotic function of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad048}, pmid = {37156498}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant symbionts that have a pivotal role in maintaining soil fertility and nutrient cycling. However, these microsymbionts may be exposed to organic pollutants like pesticides or veterinary drugs known to occur in agricultural soils. Anthelminthics are veterinary drugs that reach soils through the application of contaminated manures in agricultural settings. Their presence might threaten the function of AMF, considered as sensitive indicators of the toxicity of agrochemicals to the soil microbiota. We determined the impact of the anthelminthic compounds albendazole and ivermectin on the establishment and functionality of the symbiosis between the model-legume Lotus japonicus and the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis. Our analyses revealed negative effects of albendazole on the development and functionality of arbuscules, the symbiotic organelle of AMF, at a concentration of 0.75 μg g-1. The impairment of the symbiotic function was verified by the reduced expression of genes SbtM1, PT4 and AMT2;2 involved in arbuscules formation, P and N uptake, and the lower phosphorus shoot content detected in the albendazole-treated plants. Our results provide first evidence for the toxicity of albendazole on the colonization capacity and function of R. irregularis at concentrations that may occur in agricultural soils systematically amended with drug-containing manures.}, } @article {pmid37156379, year = {2023}, author = {Chang, G and Xue, H and Ji, J and Wang, L and Zhu, X and Zhang, K and Li, D and Gao, X and Niu, L and Gao, M and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Risk assessment of predatory lady beetle Propylea japonica's multi-generational exposure to three non-insecticidal agrochemicals.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163931}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163931}, pmid = {37156379}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The effects of non-insecticidal agrochemicals on pest natural predators remain largely unexplored except bees and silkworm. The herbicide quizalofop-p-ethyl (QpE), fungicide thiophanate-methyl (TM), and plant growth regulator mepiquat chloride (MC) have been extensively applied as non-insecticidal agrochemicals. Here, we systematically evaluated multiple effects of these 3 non-insecticidal agrochemicals on three generations of Propylea japonica, an important agroforestry predatory beetle, including the effects on its development, reproduction, enterobacteria, and transcriptomic response. The results showed that QpE exhibited a hormetic effect on P. japonica, thus significantly increasing the survival rate of generation 2 (F2) females, generation 3 (F3) females, and F3 males and body weight of F3 males. However, three successive generations exposed to TM and MC had no significant effect on longevity, body weight, survival rate, pre-oviposition period, and fecundity of P. japonica. Additionally, we investigated the effects of MC, TM, and QpE exposure on gene expression and gut bacterial community of F3 P. japonica. Under MC, TM, and QpE exposure, the overwhelming genes of P. japonica (99.90 %, 99.45 %, and 99.7 %) remained unaffected, respectively. Under TM and MC exposure, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were not significantly enriched in any KEGG pathway, indicating TM and MC did not significantly affect functions of P. japonica, but under QpE exposure, the expression levels of drug metabolism-related genes were down-regulated. Although QpE treatment did not affect gut dominant bacterial community composition, it significantly increased relative abundances of detoxification metabolism-related bacteria such as Wolbachia, Pseudomonas and Burkholderia in P. japonica. However, TM and MC had no significant effect on the gut bacterial community composition and relative abundance in P. japonica. This study revealed for the first time the mechanism by which P. japonica might compensate for gene downregulation-induced detoxification metabolism decline through altering symbiotic bacteria under QpE exposure. Our findings provide reference for the rational application of non-insecticidal agrochemicals.}, } @article {pmid37155652, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, GYS and Wertman, DL and Carroll, AL and Hamelin, RC}, title = {Filamentous fungal associates of the alder bark beetle, Alniphagus aspericollis, including an undescribed species of Neonectria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0284393}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0284393}, pmid = {37155652}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae) are tree-infesting insects that consume subcortical tissues and fungi. Species capable of killing their host trees are most commonly associated with conifers, as very few bark beetle species infest and kill hardwood hosts directly. The alder bark beetle, Alniphagus aspericollis, is a hardwood-killing bark beetle that colonizes and kills red alder, Alnus rubra. Conifer-killing bark beetles have well-known associations with symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi that facilitate their life histories, but it is unknown whether A. aspericollis has any fungal associates. This study was conducted to identify any consistent filamentous fungal associates of A. aspericollis and characterize the consistency of observed beetle-fungus relationships. Beetles and gallery phloem samples were collected from seven sites throughout the Greater Vancouver region in British Columbia, Canada. Filamentous fungi were isolated from these samples and identified by DNA barcoding using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and other barcode regions for resolution to the species-level for the most dominant isolates. The most common fungal associate was a previously undescribed Neonectria major-like fungus, Neonectria sp. nov., which was isolated from ~67% of adult beetles, ~59% of phloem samples, and ~94% of the beetle-infested trees. Ophiostoma quercus was isolated from ~28% of adult beetles, ~9% of phloem samples, and ~56% of infested trees and deemed a casual associate of A. aspericollis, while a putatively novel species of Ophiostoma was more infrequently isolated from A. aspericollis and its galleries. Cadophora spadicis, a new record for red alder, was rarely isolated and is probably coincidentally carried by A. aspericollis. Overall, A. aspericollis was only loosely associated with ophiostomatoid fungi, suggesting that these fungi have little ecological significance in the beetle-tree interaction, while Neonectria sp. nov. may be a symbiote of A. aspericollis that is vectored by the beetle.}, } @article {pmid37154737, year = {2023}, author = {Brown, JJ and Jandová, A and Jeffs, CT and Higgie, M and Nováková, E and Lewis, OT and Hrček, J}, title = {Microbiome Structure of a Wild Drosophila Community along Tropical Elevational Gradients and Comparison to Laboratory Lines.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0009923}, doi = {10.1128/aem.00099-23}, pmid = {37154737}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Variation along environmental gradients in host-associated microbial communities is not well understood compared to free-living microbial communities. Because elevational gradients may serve as natural proxies for climate change, understanding patterns along these gradients can inform our understanding of the threats hosts and their symbiotic microbes face in a warming world. In this study, we analyzed bacterial microbiomes from pupae and adults of four Drosophila species native to Australian tropical rainforests. We sampled wild individuals at high and low elevations along two mountain gradients to determine natural diversity patterns. Further, we sampled laboratory-reared individuals from isofemale lines established from the same localities to see if any natural patterns are retained in the lab. In both environments, we controlled for diet to help elucidate other deterministic patterns of microbiome composition. We found small but significant differences in Drosophila bacterial community composition across elevation, with some notable taxonomic differences between different Drosophila species and sites. Further, we found that field-collected fly pupae had significantly richer microbiomes than laboratory-reared pupae. We also found similar microbiome composition in both types of provided diet, suggesting that the significant differences found among Drosophila microbiomes are the products of surrounding environments with different bacterial species pools, possibly bound to elevational differences in temperature. Our results suggest that comparative studies between lab and field specimens help reveal the true variability in microbiome communities that can exist within a single species. IMPORTANCE Bacteria form microbial communities inside most higher-level organisms, but we know little about how the microbiome varies along environmental gradients and between natural host populations and laboratory colonies. To explore such effects on insect-associated microbiomes, we studied the gut microbiome in four Drosophila species over two mountain gradients in tropical Australia. We also compared these data to individuals kept in the laboratory to understand how different settings changed microbiome communities. We found that field-sampled individuals had significantly higher microbiome diversity than those from the lab. In wild Drosophila populations, elevation explains a small but significant amount of the variation in their microbial communities. Our study highlights the importance of environmental bacterial sources for Drosophila microbiome composition across elevational gradients and shows how comparative studies help reveal the true flexibility in microbiome communities that can exist within a species.}, } @article {pmid37154102, year = {2023}, author = {Sinha, A and Li, Z and Poole, CB and Ettwiller, L and Lima, NF and Ferreira, MU and Fombad, FF and Wanji, S and Carlow, CKS}, title = {Multiple lineages of nematode-Wolbachia symbiosis in supergroup F and convergent loss of bacterioferritin in filarial Wolbachia.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evad073}, pmid = {37154102}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {The intracellular endosymbiotic proteobacteria Wolbachia have evolved across the phyla nematoda and arthropoda. In Wolbachia phylogeny, supergroup F is the only clade known so far with members from both arthropod and filarial nematode hosts and therefore can provide unique insights into their evolution and biology. In this study, 4 new supergroup F Wolbachia genomes have been assembled using a metagenomic assembly and binning approach, wMoz and wMpe from the human filarial parasites Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella perstans, and wOcae and wMoviF from the blue mason bee Osmia caerulescens and the sheep ked Melophagus ovinus respectively. A comprehensive phylogenomic analysis revealed two distinct lineages of filarial Wolbachia in supergroup F, indicating multiple horizontal transfer events between arthropod and nematode hosts. The analysis also reveals that the evolution of Wolbachia-filaria symbioses is accompanied by a convergent pseudogenization and loss of the bacterioferritin gene, a phenomenon found to be shared by all filarial Wolbachia, even those outside supergroup F. These observations indicate that differences in heme metabolism might be a key feature distinguishing filarial and arthropod Wolbachia. The new genomes provide a valuable resource for further studies on symbiosis, evolution, and the discovery of new antibiotics to treat mansonellosis.}, } @article {pmid37153630, year = {2023}, author = {Arellano, AA and Sommer, AJ and Coon, KL}, title = {Beyond canonical models: why a broader understanding of Diptera-microbiota interactions is essential for vector-borne disease control.}, journal = {Evolutionary ecology}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {165-188}, pmid = {37153630}, issn = {0269-7653}, abstract = {Vector-borne diseases constitute a major global public health threat. The most significant arthropod disease vectors are predominantly comprised of members of the insect order Diptera (true flies), which have long been the focus of research into host-pathogen dynamics. Recent studies have revealed the underappreciated diversity and function of dipteran-associated gut microbial communities, with important implications for dipteran physiology, ecology, and pathogen transmission. However, the effective parameterization of these aspects into epidemiological models will require a comprehensive study of microbe-dipteran interactions across vectors and related species. Here, we synthesize recent research into microbial communities associated with major families of dipteran vectors and highlight the importance of development and expansion of experimentally tractable models across Diptera towards understanding the functional roles of the gut microbiota in modulating disease transmission. We then posit why further study of these and other dipteran insects is not only essential to a comprehensive understanding of how to integrate vector-microbiota interactions into existing epidemiological frameworks, but our understanding of the ecology and evolution of animal-microbe symbiosis more broadly.}, } @article {pmid37152749, year = {2023}, author = {Jia, M and Gong, X and Fan, M and Liu, H and Zhou, H and Gu, S and Liu, Y and Dong, J}, title = {Identification and analysis of the secretome of plant pathogenic fungi reveals lifestyle adaptation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1171618}, pmid = {37152749}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The secretory proteome plays an important role in the pathogenesis of phytopathogenic fungi. However, the relationship between the large-scale secretome of phytopathogenic fungi and their lifestyle is not fully understood. In the present study, the secretomes of 150 plant pathogenic fungi were predicted and the characteristics associated with different lifestyles were investigated. In total, 94,974 secreted proteins (SPs) were predicted from these fungi. The number of the SPs ranged from 64 to 1,662. Among these fungi, hemibiotrophic fungi had the highest number (average of 970) and proportion (7.1%) of SPs. Functional annotation showed that hemibiotrophic and necrotroph fungi, differ from biotrophic and symbiotic fungi, contained much more carbohydrate enzymes, especially polysaccharide lyases and carbohydrate esterases. Furthermore, the core and lifestyle-specific SPs orthogroups were identified. Twenty-seven core orthogroups contained 16% of the total SPs and their motif function annotation was represented by serine carboxypeptidase, carboxylesterase and asparaginase. In contrast, 97 lifestyle-specific orthogroups contained only 1% of the total SPs, with diverse functions such as PAN_AP in hemibiotroph-specific and flavin monooxygenases in necrotroph-specific. Moreover, obligate biotrophic fungi had the largest number of effectors (average of 150), followed by hemibiotrophic fungi (average of 120). Among these effectors, 4,155 had known functional annotation and pectin lyase had the highest proportion in the functionally annotated effectors. In addition, 32 sets of RNA-Seq data on pathogen-host interactions were collected and the expression levels of SPs were higher than that of non-SPs, and the expression level of effector genes was higher in biotrophic and hemibiotrophic fungi than in necrotrophic fungi, while secretase genes were highly expressed in necrotrophic fungi. Finally, the secretory activity of five predicted SPs from Setosphearia turcica was experimentally verified. In conclusion, our results provide a foundation for the study of pathogen-host interaction and help us to understand the fungal lifestyle adaptation.}, } @article {pmid37152720, year = {2023}, author = {Diehl, JMC and Keller, A and Biedermann, PHW}, title = {Comparing the succession of microbial communities throughout development in field and laboratory nests of the ambrosia beetle Xyleborinus saxesenii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1151208}, pmid = {37152720}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Some fungus-farming ambrosia beetles rely on multiple nutritional cultivars (Ascomycota: Ophiostomatales and/or yeasts) that seem to change in relative abundance over time. The succession of these fungi could benefit beetle hosts by optimal consumption of the substrate and extended longevity of the nest. However, abundances of fungal cultivars and other symbionts are poorly known and their culture-independent quantification over development has been studied in only a single species. Here, for the first time, we compared the diversity and succession of both fungal and bacterial communities of fungus gardens in the fruit-tree pinhole borer, Xyleborinus saxesenii, from field and laboratory nests over time. By amplicon sequencing of probed fungus gardens of both nest types at three development phases we showed an extreme reduction of diversity in both bacterial and fungal symbionts in laboratory nests. Furthermore, we observed a general transition from nutritional to non-beneficial fungal symbionts during beetle development. While one known nutritional mutualist, Raffaelea canadensis, was occurring more or less stable over time, the second mutualist R. sulphurea was dominating young nests and decreased in abundance at the expense of other secondary fungi. The quicker the succession proceeded, the slower offspring beetles developed, suggesting a negative role of these secondary symbionts. Finally, we found signs of transgenerational costs of late dispersal for daughters, possibly as early dispersers transmitted and started their own nests with less of the non-beneficial taxa. Future studies should focus on the functional roles of the few bacterial taxa that were present in both field and laboratory nests.}, } @article {pmid37151508, year = {2023}, author = {Reid, AJ and Erickson, KM and Hazel, JM and Lukose, V and Troutman, JM}, title = {Chemoenzymatic Preparation of a Campylobacter jejuni Lipid-Linked Heptasaccharide on an Azide-Linked Polyisoprenoid.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {17}, pages = {15790-15798}, pmid = {37151508}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Complex poly- and oligosaccharides on the surface of bacteria provide a unique fingerprint to different strains of pathogenic and symbiotic microbes that could be exploited for therapeutics or sensors selective for specific glycans. To discover reagents that can selectively interact with specific bacterial glycans, a system for both the chemoenzymatic preparation and immobilization of these materials would be ideal. Bacterial glycans are typically synthesized in nature on the C55 polyisoprenoid bactoprenyl (or undecaprenyl) phosphate. However, this long-chain isoprenoid can be difficult to work with in vitro. Here, we describe the addition of a chemically functional benzylazide tag to polyisoprenoids. We have found that both the organic-soluble and water-soluble benzylazide isoprenoid can serve as a substrate for the well-characterized system responsible for Campylobacter jejuni N-linked heptasaccharide assembly. Using the organic-soluble analogue, we demonstrate the use of an N-acetyl-glucosamine epimerase that can be used to lower the cost of glycan assembly, and using the water-soluble analogue, we demonstrate the immobilization of the C. jejuni heptasaccharide on magnetic beads. These conjugated beads are then shown to interact with soybean agglutinin, a lectin known to interact with N-acetyl-galactosamine in the C. jejuni heptasaccharide. The methods provided could be used for a wide variety of applications including the discovery of new glycan-interacting partners.}, } @article {pmid37151292, year = {2023}, author = {Davies, SW and Gamache, MH and Howe-Kerr, LI and Kriefall, NG and Baker, AC and Banaszak, AT and Bay, LK and Bellantuono, AJ and Bhattacharya, D and Chan, CX and Claar, DC and Coffroth, MA and Cunning, R and Davy, SK and Del Campo, J and Díaz-Almeyda, EM and Frommlet, JC and Fuess, LE and González-Pech, RA and Goulet, TL and Hoadley, KD and Howells, EJ and Hume, BCC and Kemp, DW and Kenkel, CD and Kitchen, SA and LaJeunesse, TC and Lin, S and McIlroy, SE and McMinds, R and Nitschke, MR and Oakley, CA and Peixoto, RS and Prada, C and Putnam, HM and Quigley, K and Reich, HG and Reimer, JD and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M and Rosales, SM and Saad, OS and Sampayo, EM and Santos, SR and Shoguchi, E and Smith, EG and Stat, M and Stephens, TG and Strader, ME and Suggett, DJ and Swain, TD and Tran, C and Traylor-Knowles, N and Voolstra, CR and Warner, ME and Weis, VM and Wright, RM and Xiang, T and Yamashita, H and Ziegler, M and Correa, AMS and Parkinson, JE}, title = {Building consensus around the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae diversity.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15023}, pmid = {37151292}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history and ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels of organization. In the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates (e.g., sponges, molluscs, flatworms), and protists (e.g., foraminifera), molecular data have been used extensively over the past three decades to describe phenotypes and to make evolutionary and ecological inferences. Despite advances in Symbiodiniaceae genomics, a lack of consensus among researchers with respect to interpreting genetic data has slowed progress in the field and acted as a barrier to reconciling observations. Here, we identify key challenges regarding the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity across three levels: species, populations, and communities. We summarize areas of agreement and highlight techniques and approaches that are broadly accepted. In areas where debate remains, we identify unresolved issues and discuss technologies and approaches that can help to fill knowledge gaps related to genetic and phenotypic diversity. We also discuss ways to stimulate progress, in particular by fostering a more inclusive and collaborative research community. We hope that this perspective will inspire and accelerate coral reef science by serving as a resource to those designing experiments, publishing research, and applying for funding related to Symbiodiniaceae and their symbiotic partnerships.}, } @article {pmid37149889, year = {2023}, author = {Henriksson, N and Marshall, J and Högberg, MN and Högberg, P and Polle, A and Franklin, O and Näsholm, T}, title = {Re-examining the evidence for the mother tree hypothesis - resource sharing among trees via ectomycorrhizal networks.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18935}, pmid = {37149889}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Seminal scientific papers positing that mycorrhizal fungal networks can distribute carbon (C) among plants have stimulated a popular narrative that overstory trees, or 'mother trees', support the growth of seedlings in this way. This narrative has far-reaching implications for our understanding of forest ecology and has been controversial in the scientific community. We review the current understanding of ectomycorrhizal C metabolism and observations on forest regeneration that make the mother tree narrative debatable. We then re-examine data and conclusions from publications that underlie the mother tree hypothesis. Isotopic labeling methods are uniquely suited for studying element fluxes through ecosystems, but the complexity of mycorrhizal symbiosis, low detection limits, and small carbon discrimination in biological processes can cause researchers to make important inferences based on miniscule shifts in isotopic abundance, which can be misleading. We conclude that evidence of a significant net C transfer via common mycorrhizal networks that benefits the recipients is still lacking. Furthermore, a role for fungi as a C pipeline between trees is difficult to reconcile with any adaptive advantages for the fungi. Finally, the hypothesis is neither supported by boreal forest regeneration patterns nor consistent with the understanding of physiological mechanisms controlling mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37149730, year = {2023}, author = {Llewellyn, T and Mian, S and Hill, R and Leitch, IJ and Gaya, E}, title = {First Whole Genome Sequence and Flow Cytometry Genome Size Data for the Lichen-Forming Fungus Ramalina farinacea (Ascomycota).}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evad074}, pmid = {37149730}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {Lichen-forming fungi are a diverse and ecologically important group of obligate mutualistic symbionts. Due to difficulties with maintaining them in culture and their extremely slow growth, lichenologists are increasingly opting for metagenomic sequencing followed by symbiont genome separation using bioinformatic pipelines. However, without knowing the true genome size of the lichen-forming fungus, we cannot quantify the completeness of the genome assembly and the efficacy of the bioinformatic filtering. To address this issue, we report here the first whole-genome assembly for the lichen-forming fungus Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach. sequenced with Oxford Nanopore long-read technology alongside direct measurements of its genome size using flow cytometry. The assembly showed high contiguity (N50 = 1.55 Mbp) and gene set completeness (BUSCO = 95.8%). The highly robust genome size obtained of 33.61 Mbp/1C (CV% = 2.98) showed our assembly covered 97% of the entire genome. Our results demonstrate that accurate genome size measurements can be obtained directly from lichen thalli and used to provide a benchmark for assessing true cytometric completeness of metagenome-derived assemblies.}, } @article {pmid37149184, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, L and Xiong, K and Liu, Z and Li, Y and Fan, B}, title = {Seasonal variations of plant water use in the karst desertification control.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163778}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163778}, pmid = {37149184}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Understanding the water use characteristics of plants is crucial for the sustainability of forest water management and vegetation restoration. The vegetation restoration program in the karst desertification areas of southwest China has been implemented for more than two decades, and remarkable achievements have been made in ecological restoration. However, the water use characteristics of revegetation are still poorly understood. We investigated the water uptake patterns and water use efficiency of four woody plants (Juglans regia, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Eriobotrya japonica, and Lonicera japonica) using stable isotopes (δ[2]H, δ[18]O, and δ[13]C) in combination with the MixSIAR model. The results showed that plants responded to seasonal changes in soil moisture with flexible water uptake patterns. Differences in water use sources among the four plant species during the growing season indicated the occurrence of hydrological niche separation, which is the key to vegetation symbiosis. Throughout the study period, groundwater made the lowest contribution to plants (9.39 %~16.25 %), and fissure soil water made the highest contribution (39.74 %~64.71 %). Among them, shrubs and vines were more dependent on fissure soil water compared to trees (50.52 %~64.71 %). Furthermore, plant foliar 13C was higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. Evergreen shrubs (-27.94 ‰) exhibited higher water use efficiency compared to other tree species (-30.48 ‰~-29.04 ‰). The water use efficiency of four plants showed seasonal variation and was influenced by the water availability caused by soil moisture. Our study demonstrates that fissure soil water is an important water source for karst desertification revegetation and that seasonal changes in water use characteristics are influenced by species-level water uptake patterns and water use strategies. This study provides a reference for vegetation restoration and water resource management in karst areas.}, } @article {pmid37148405, year = {2023}, author = {Gunawardana, D and Wanigatunge, RP and Wewalwela, JJ and Vithanage, M and Wijeyaratne, C}, title = {Sulfur is in the Air: Cyanolichen Marriages and Pollution.}, journal = {Acta biotheoretica}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {14}, pmid = {37148405}, issn = {1572-8358}, abstract = {Cyanolichens are symbiotic organisms involving cyanobacteria and fungi (bipartite) or with the addition of an algal partner (tripartite). Cyanolichens are known for their heightened susceptibility to environmental pollution. We focus here on the impacts on cyanolichens due to rising air pollution; we are especially interested in the role of sulfur dioxide on cyanolichen biology. Cyanolichens due to air pollution including sulfur dioxide exposure, show symptomatic changes including degradation of chlorophyll, lipid membrane peroxidation, decrease in ATP production, changes in respiration rate, and alteration of endogenous auxins and ethylene production, although symptoms are known to vary with species and genotype. Sulfur dioxide has been shown to be damaging to photosynthesis but is relatively benign on nitrogen fixation which proposes as a hypothesis that the algal partner may be more in harm's way than the cyanobiont. In fact, the Nostoc cyanobiont of sulfur dioxide-susceptible Lobaria pulmonaria carries a magnified set of sulfur (alkane sulfonate) metabolism genes capable of alkane sulfonate transport and assimilation, which were only unraveled by genome sequencing, a technology unavailable in the 1950-2000 epoch, where most physiology- based studies were performed. There is worldwide a growing corpus of evidence that sulfur has an important role to play in biological symbioses including rhizobia-legumes, mycorrhizae-roots and cyanobacteria-host plants. Furthermore, the fungal and algal partners of L. pulmonaria appear not to have the sulfonate transporter genes again providing the roles of ambient-sulfur (alkanesulfonate metabolism etc.) mediated functions primarily to the cyanobacterial partner. In conclusion, we have addressed here the role of the atmospheric pollutant sulfur dioxide to tripartite cyanolichen viability and suggest that the weaker link is likely to be the photosynthetic algal (chlorophyte) partner and not the nitrogen-fixing cyanobiont.}, } @article {pmid37148310, year = {2023}, author = {Burgess, WL and Bishop, CD}, title = {Bacterial Diversity in Egg Capsular Fluid of the Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum Decreases with Embryonic Development.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37148310}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Egg capsules within egg masses of the spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum host a symbiosis with the unicellular green alga Oophila amblystomatis. However, this alga is not the only microbe to inhabit those capsules, and the significance of these additional taxa for the symbiosis is unknown. Spatial and temporal patterns of bacterial diversity in egg capsules of A. maculatum have recently begun to be characterized, but patterns of bacterial diversity as a function of embryonic development are unknown. We sampled fluid from individual capsules in egg masses over a large range of host embryonic development in 2019 and 2020. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to examine how diversity and relative abundance of bacteria changed with embryonic development. In general, bacterial diversity decreased as embryos developed; significant differences were observed (depending on the metric) by embryonic development, pond, and year, and there were interaction effects. The function of bacteria in what is thought of as a bipartite symbiosis calls for further research.}, } @article {pmid37146969, year = {2023}, author = {Takada, H and Katoh, T and Sakanaka, M and Odamaki, T and Katayama, T}, title = {GH20 and GH84 β-N-acetylglucosaminidases with different linkage specificities underpin mucin O-glycan breakdown capability of Bifidobacterium bifidum.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104781}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104781}, pmid = {37146969}, issn = {1083-351X}, abstract = {Intestinal mucus layers mediate symbiosis and dysbiosis of host-microbe interactions. These interactions are influenced by the mucin O-glycan degrading ability of several gut microbes. The identities and prevalence of many glycoside hydrolyses (GHs) involved in microbial mucin O-glycan breakdown have been previously reported; however, the exact mechanisms and extent to which these GHs are dedicated to mucin O-glycan degradation pathways warrant further research. Here, using Bifidobacterium bifidum as a model mucinolytic bacterium, we revealed that two β-N-acetylglucosaminidases belonging to the GH20 (BbhI) and GH84 (BbhIV) families play important roles in mucin O-glycan degradation. Using substrate specificity analysis of natural oligosaccharides and O-glycomic analysis of porcine gastric mucin (PGM) incubated with purified enzymes or B. bifidum carrying bbhI and/or bbhIV mutations, we showed that BbhI and BbhIV are highly specific for β-(1→3)- and β-(1→6)-GlcNAc linkages of mucin core structures, respectively. Interestingly, we found that efficient hydrolysis of the β-(1→3)-linkage by BbhI of the mucin core 4 structure [GlcNAcβ1-3(GlcNAcβ1-6)GalNAcα-O-Thr] required prior removal of the β-(1→6)-GlcNAc linkage by BbhIV. Consistent with this, inactivation of bbhIV markedly decreased the ability of B. bifidum to release GlcNAc from PGM. When combined with a bbhI mutation, we observed that the growth of the strain on PGM was reduced. Finally, phylogenetic analysis suggests that GH84 members may have gained diversified functions through microbe-microbe and host-microbe horizontal gene transfer events. Taken together, these data strongly suggest GH84 family members in host glycan breakdown.}, } @article {pmid37146488, year = {2023}, author = {Nagabalaji, V and Maharaja, P and Nishanthi, R and Sathish, G and Suthanthararajan, R and Srinivasan, SV}, title = {Effect of co-culturing bacteria and microalgae and influence of inoculum ratio during the biological treatment of tannery wastewater.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {341}, number = {}, pages = {118008}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118008}, pmid = {37146488}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {This present investigation is carried out to study the effect of algal and bacterial inoculum concentrations on the removal of organic pollutants and nutrients from the tannery effluent by the combined symbiotic treatment process. The bacterial and microalgal consortia was developed in laboratory setup and mixed together to perform this study. The Influence of algae and bacteria inoculum concentrations on the removal of pollutants such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) were studied using statistical optimization through Response surface methodology. For the design of experimental set up and optimization, full factorial Central composite design was used. The profiles of pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and nitrate were also monitored and studied. The inoculum concentrations of microalgae and bacteria showed significant effect on Co-culturing on COD, TKN and nitrate removals as major response. The linear effect of bacterial inoculum has positive dominant influence on COD and TKN removal efficiencies. Nitrate utilization by microalgae increases with the increase in microalgal inoculum concentration. The maximum removal efficiencies of COD and TKN with 89.9% and 80.9% were obtained at optimum bacterial and algal inoculum concentrations of 6.7 g/L and 8.0 g/L respectively. These outcomes of this study are immensely favorable for maximizing the COD and nitrogen (nutrients) removal capabilities of microalgae-bacterial consortia in tannery effluent.}, } @article {pmid37145847, year = {2023}, author = {Paries, M and Gutjahr, C}, title = {The good, the bad, and the phosphate: regulation of beneficial and detrimental plant-microbe interactions by the plant phosphate status.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18933}, pmid = {37145847}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Phosphate (Pi) is indispensable for life on this planet. However, for sessile land plants it is poorly accessible. Therefore, plants have developed a variety of strategies for enhanced acquisition and recycling of Pi . The mechanisms to cope with Pi limitation as well as direct uptake of Pi from the substrate via the root epidermis are regulated by a conserved Pi starvation response (PSR) system based on a family of key transcription factors (TFs) and their inhibitors. Furthermore, plants obtain Pi indirectly through symbiosis with mycorrhiza fungi, which employ their extensive hyphal network to drastically increase the soil volume that can be explored by plants for Pi . Besides mycorrhizal symbiosis, there is also a variety of other interactions with epiphytic, endophytic, and rhizospheric microbes that can indirectly or directly influence plant Pi uptake. It was recently discovered that the PSR pathway is involved in the regulation of genes that promote formation and maintenance of AM symbiosis. Furthermore, the PSR system influences plant immunity and can also be a target of microbial manipulation. It is known for decades that the nutritional status of plants influences the outcome of plant-microbe interactions. The first molecular explanations for these observations are now emerging.}, } @article {pmid37145113, year = {2023}, author = {Surrett, ED and Guckes, KR and Cousins, S and Ruskoski, TB and Cecere, AG and Ludvik, DA and Okafor, CD and Mandel, MJ and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {Two enhancer binding proteins activate σ[54]-dependent transcription of a quorum regulatory RNA in a bacterial symbiont.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.78544}, pmid = {37145113}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM148385/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AI147543/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {To colonize a host, bacteria depend on an ensemble of signaling systems to convert information about the various environments encountered within the host into specific cellular activities. How these signaling systems coordinate transitions between cellular states in vivo remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated how the bacterial symbiont Vibrio fischeri initially colonizes the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes. Previous work has shown that the small RNA Qrr1, which is a regulatory component of the quorum-sensing system in V. fischeri, promotes host colonization. Here, we report that transcriptional activation of Qrr1 is inhibited by the sensor kinase BinK, which suppresses cellular aggregation by V. fischeri prior to light organ entry. We show that Qrr1 expression depends on the alternative sigma factor σ[54] and the transcription factors LuxO and SypG, which function similar to an OR logic gate, thereby ensuring Qrr1 is expressed during colonization. Finally, we provide evidence that this regulatory mechanism is widespread throughout the Vibrionaceae family. Together, our work reveals how coordination between the signaling pathways underlying aggregation and quorum-sensing promotes host colonization, which provides insight into how integration among signaling systems facilitates complex processes in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37143882, year = {2023}, author = {Lim, SL and Subramaniam, S and Baset Mia, MA and Rahmah, ARS and Ghazali, AHA}, title = {Biotization of in vitro oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and its plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1150309}, pmid = {37143882}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Continuous discovery of novel in vitro plant culture practices is always essential to promote better plant growth in the shortest possible cultivation period. An alternative approach to conventional micropropagation practice could be achieved through biotization by inoculating selected Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) into the plant tissue culture materials (e.g., callus, embryogenic callus, and plantlets). Such biotization process often allows the selected PGPR to form a sustaining population with various stages of in vitro plant tissues. During the biotization process, plant tissue culture material imposes developmental and metabolic changes and enhances its tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, thereby reducing mortality in the acclimatization and pre-nursery stages. Understanding the mechanisms is, therefore crucial for gaining insights into in vitro plant-microbe interactions. Studies of biochemical activities and compound identifications are always essential to evaluate in vitro plant-microbe interactions. Given the importance of biotization in promoting in vitro plant material growth, this review aims to provide a brief overview of the in vitro oil palm plant-microbe symbiosis system.}, } @article {pmid37143547, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, Z and Dong, H and Zhang, S and Jiang, J and Zhu, H and Yang, H and Li, L}, title = {Isolation and identification of mycorrhizal helper bacteria of Vaccinium uliginosum and their interaction with mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1180319}, pmid = {37143547}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) can promote mycorrhizal fungal colonization and form mycorrhizal symbiosis structures. To investigate the effect of interactions between mycorrhizal beneficial microorganisms on the growth of blueberry, 45 strains of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Vaccinium uliginosum were screened for potential MHB strains using the dry-plate confrontation assay and the bacterial extracellular metabolite promotion method. The results showed that the growth rate of mycelium of Oidiodendron maius 143, an ericoid mycorrhizal fungal strain, was increased by 33.33 and 77.77% for bacterial strains L6 and LM3, respectively, compared with the control in the dry-plate confrontation assay. In addition, the extracellular metabolites of L6 and LM3 significantly promoted the growth of O. maius 143 mycelium with an average growth rate of 40.9 and 57.1%, respectively, the cell wall-degrading enzyme activities and genes of O. maius 143 was significantly increased. Therefore, L6 and LM3 were preliminarily identified as potential MHB strains. In addition, the co-inoculated treatments significantly increased blueberry growth; increased the nitrate reductase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase activities in the leaves; and promoted nutrient uptake in blueberry. Based on the physiological, and 16S rDNA gene molecular analyses, we initially identified strain L6 as Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans and LM3 as Bacillus circulans. Metabolomic analysis revealed that mycelial exudates contain large amounts of sugars, organic acids and amino acids, which can be used as substrates to stimulate the growth of MHB. In conclusion, L6 and LM3 and O. maius 143 promote each other's growth, while co-inoculation of L6 and LM3 with O. maius 143 can promote the growth of blueberry seedlings, providing a theoretical basis for further studies on the mechanism of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi-MHB-blueberry interactions. It laid the technical foundation for the exploitation of biocontrol strain resources and the development of biological fertilizer.}, } @article {pmid37141831, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, VH and Wemheuer, B and Song, W and Bennett, H and Webster, N and Thomas, T}, title = {Identification, classification, and functional characterization of novel sponge-associated acidimicrobiial species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {126426}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126426}, pmid = {37141831}, issn = {1618-0984}, abstract = {Sponges are known to harbour an exceptional diversity of uncultured microorganisms, including members of the phylum Actinobacteriota. While members of the actinobacteriotal class Actinomycetia have been studied intensively due to their potential for secondary metabolite production, the sister class of Acidimicrobiia is often more abundant in sponges. However, the taxonomy, functions, and ecological roles of sponge-associated Acidimicrobiia are largely unknown. Here, we reconstructed and characterized 22 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Acidimicrobiia from three sponge species. These MAGs represented six novel species, belonging to five genera, four families, and two orders, which are all uncharacterized (except the order Acidimicrobiales) and for which we propose nomenclature. These six uncultured species have either only been found in sponges and/or corals and have varying degrees of specificity to their host species. Functional gene profiling indicated that these six species shared a similar potential to non-symbiotic Acidimicrobiia with respect to amino acid biosynthesis and utilization of sulfur compounds. However, sponge-associated Acidimicrobiia differed from their non-symbiotic counterparts by relying predominantly on organic rather than inorganic sources of energy, and their predicted capacity to synthesise bioactive compounds or their precursors implicated in host defence. Additionally, the species possess the genetic capacity to degrade aromatic compounds that are frequently found in sponges. The novel Acidimicrobiia may also potentially mediate host development by modulating Hedgehog signalling and by the production of serotonin, which can affect host body contractions and digestion. These results highlight unique genomic and metabolic features of six new acidimicrobiial species that potentially support a sponge-associated lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid37141746, year = {2023}, author = {Niu, Y and Zhang, C and Sun, Y and Dong, L and Si, Y and Yang, J and Zhu, P and Yang, F}, title = {Symbiotic relationship between Prevotella denticola and Streptococcus mutans enhances virulence of plaque biofilms.}, journal = {Archives of oral biology}, volume = {151}, number = {}, pages = {105714}, doi = {10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105714}, pmid = {37141746}, issn = {1879-1506}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore that whether interactions between Prevotella denticola and Streptococcus mutans could promote the establishment of hypervirulent biofilms on teeth surface and eventually influence the occurrence and development of caries.

DESIGN: Based on single-species biofilms of either P. denticola or S. mutans, and dual-species biofilms of both bacteria, we compared the virulence properties associated with cariogenicity in vitro, including carbohydrate metabolism and acid productivity, synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides, biomass and architecture of biofilms, level of enamel demineralization and expression of virulence genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism and adhesion in S. mutans.

RESULTS: The data demonstrated that, compared to single-species of above two taxa, dual-species produced lactate by metabolizing carbohydrates at a higher level during the observation period. Moreover, dual-species biofilms accrued more biomass and exhibited more dense microcolonies and abundant extracellular matrix. And it's noticeable that the level of enamel demineralization in dual-species biofilms was more augmented than that of single-species. In addition, the presence of P. denticola induced the expression of virulence genes gtfs and gbpB in S. mutans.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotic relationship between P. denticola and S. mutans enhances caries-associated virulence of plaque biofilms, which might provide new strategies for effective prevention and treatment of caries.}, } @article {pmid37142716, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, D and Yuan, MM and Chen, J and Zheng, X and Wong, D and Alvarez, PJJ and Yu, P}, title = {The association of prokaryotic antiviral systems and symbiotic phage communities in drinking water microbiomes.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {37142716}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Prokaryotic antiviral systems are important mediators for prokaryote-phage interactions, which have significant implications for the survival of prokaryotic community. However, the prokaryotic antiviral systems under environmental stress are poorly understood, limiting the understanding of microbial adaptability. Here, we systematically investigated the profile of the prokaryotic antiviral systems at the community level and prokaryote-phage interactions in the drinking water microbiome. Chlorine disinfectant was revealed as the main ecological driver for the difference in prokaryotic antiviral systems and prokaryote-phage interactions. Specifically, the prokaryotic antiviral systems in the microbiome exhibited a higher abundance, broader antiviral spectrum, and lower metabolic burden under disinfectant stress. Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between phage lysogenicity and enrichment of antiviral systems (e.g., Type IIG and IV restriction-modification (RM) systems, and Type II CRISPR-Cas system) in the presence of disinfection, indicating these antiviral systems might be more compatible with lysogenic phages and prophages. Accordingly, there was a stronger prokaryote-phage symbiosis in disinfected microbiome, and the symbiotic phages carried more auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) related to prokaryotic adaptability as well as antiviral systems, which might further enhance prokaryote survival in drinking water distribution systems. Overall, this study demonstrates that the prokaryotic antiviral systems had a close association with their symbiotic phages, which provides novel insights into prokaryote-phage interactions and microbial environmental adaptation.}, } @article {pmid37140754, year = {2023}, author = {Ejaz, U and Saleem, F and Rashid, R and Hasan, KA and Syed, MN and Sohail, M}, title = {Unveiling the genomic potential of a novel thermostable glycoside hydrolases producing Neobacillus sedimentimangrovi UE25.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37140754}, issn = {1572-9699}, abstract = {Genetic and enzymatic potential of Neobacillus sedimentimangrovi has not been assembled to date. Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly of thermophilic bacterium Neobacillus sedimentimangrovi UE25 using Illumina Hi-seq 2500. The strain was isolated from a crocodile pond Manghopir, Karachi, Pakistan. QUAST quality parameters showed 37.75% GC content and exhibited the genome into 110 contigs, with a total size of 3,230,777 bases. Genome of N. sedimentimangrovi UE25 harbors phage mediated DNA through horizontal gene exchange from the phages, symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. Most of the phage genome encodes for hypothetical proteins, protease, and phage assembly proteins. Gene clusters encoding the intrinsic resistance to glycopeptides, isoniazid, rifamycin, elfamycin, macrolide, aminoglycosides, tetracycline and fluoroquinolone were identified into the genome. Since, the strain has been reported for the production of many industrially important thermostable enzymes, therefore, the genomic data of thermostable enzymes might be helpful to employ this species in commercial sectors. Probing genes of multiple thermostable glycoside hydrolase enzymes especially xylanases of N. sedimentimangrovi UE25 showed genetic diversity among the genes and confer the industrial importance of this microorganism. Furthermore, the genome of N. sedimentimangrovi will greatly improve our understanding of its genetics and evolution.}, } @article {pmid37138636, year = {2023}, author = {Salas, K and Cabello, AM and Turk-Kubo, KA and Zehr, JP and Cornejo-Castillo, FM}, title = {Primer design for the amplification of the ammonium transporter genes from the uncultured haptophyte algal species symbiotic with the marine nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A1.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1130695}, pmid = {37138636}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The multiple symbiotic partnerships between closely related species of the haptophyte algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii and the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (UCYN-A) contribute importantly to the nitrogen and carbon cycles in vast areas of the ocean. The diversity of the eukaryotic 18S rDNA phylogenetic gene marker has helped to identify some of these symbiotic haptophyte species, yet we still lack a genetic marker to assess its diversity at a finer scale. One of such genes is the ammonium transporter (amt) gene, which encodes the protein that might be involved in the uptake of ammonium from UCYN-A in these symbiotic haptophytes. Here, we designed three specific PCR primer sets targeting the amt gene of the haptophyte species (A1-Host) symbiotic with the open ocean UCYN-A1 sublineage, and tested them in samples collected from open ocean and near-shore environments. Regardless of the primer pair used at Station ALOHA, which is where UCYN-A1 is the pre-dominant UCYN-A sublineage, the most abundant amt amplicon sequence variant (ASV) was taxonomically classified as A1-Host. In addition, two out of the three PCR primer sets revealed the existence of closely-related divergent haptophyte amt ASVs (>95% nucleotide identity). These divergent amt ASVs had higher relative abundances than the haptophyte typically associated with UCYN-A1 in the Bering Sea, or co-occurred with the previously identified A1-Host in the Coral Sea, suggesting the presence of new diversity of closely-related A1-Hosts in polar and temperate waters. Therefore, our study reveals an overlooked diversity of haptophytes species with distinct biogeographic distributions partnering with UCYN-A, and provides new primers that will help to gain new knowledge of the UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37138629, year = {2023}, author = {Tan, Y and Gong, B and Zhang, Q and Li, C and Weng, J and Zhou, X and Jin, L}, title = {Diversity of endosymbionts in camellia spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus camelliae (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), estimated by 16S rRNA analysis and their biological implications.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1124386}, pmid = {37138629}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Camellia spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus camelliae (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major pest in tea, which poses a serious threat to tea production. Similar to many insects, various bacterial symbioses inside A. camelliae may participate in the reproduction, metabolism, and detoxification of the host. However, few reports included research on the microbial composition and influence on A. camelliae growth. We first applied high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region in the 16S rRNA of symbiotic bacteria to study its component and effect on the biological trait of A. camelliae by comparing it with the antibiotic treatment group. The population parameters, survival rate, and fecundity rate of A. camelliae were also analyzed using the age-stage two-sex life table. Our results demonstrated that phylum Proteobacteria (higher than 96.15%) dominated the whole life cycle of A. camelliae. It unveiled the presence of Candidatus Portiera (primary endosymbiont) (67.15-73.33%), Arsenophonus (5.58-22.89%), Wolbachia (4.53-11.58%), Rickettsia (0.75-2.59%), and Pseudomonas (0.99-1.88%) genus. Antibiotic treatment caused a significant decrease in the endosymbiont, which negatively affected the host's biological properties and life process. For example, 1.5% rifampicin treatment caused a longer preadult stage in the offspring generation (55.92 d) compared to the control (49.75d) and a lower survival rate (0.36) than the control (0.60). The decreased intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R 0), and prolonged mean generation time (T) were signs of all disadvantageous effects associated with symbiotic reduction. Our findings confirmed the composition and richness of symbiotic bacteria in larva and adult of A. camelliae by an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 analysis and their influence on the development of the host by demographic research. Together, the results suggested that symbiotic bacteria play an important role in manipulating the biological development of their hosts, which might help us for developing new pest control agents and technologies for better management of A. camelliae.}, } @article {pmid37138600, year = {2023}, author = {Deja-Sikora, E and Werner, K and Hrynkiewicz, K}, title = {AMF species do matter: Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae affect healthy and PVY-infected Solanum tuberosum L. in a different way.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1127278}, pmid = {37138600}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were documented to positively influence plant growth and yield, which is extremely important for the production of many crops including potato. However, the nature of the interaction between arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant virus that share the same host is not well characterized. In this study, we examined the effect of different AMF, Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae, on healthy and potato virus Y (PVY)-infected Solanum tuberosum L. The analyses conducted included the measurement of potato growth parameters, oxidative stress indicators, and photosynthetic capacity. Additionally, we evaluated both the development of AMF in plant roots and the virus level in mycorrhizal plants. We found that two AMF species colonized plant roots to varying degrees (ca. 38% for R. irregularis vs. 20% for F. mosseae). Rhizophagus irregularis had a more positive effect on potato growth parameters, causing a significant increase in the total fresh and dry weight of tubers, along with virus-challenged plants. Furthermore, this species lowered hydrogen peroxide levels in PVY-infected leaves and positively modulated the levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants, i.e., ascorbate and glutathione in leaves and roots. Finally, both fungal species contributed to reduced lipid peroxidation and alleviation of virus-induced oxidative damage in plant organs. We also confirmed an indirect interaction between AMF and PVY inhabiting the same host. The two AMF species seemed to have different abilities to colonize the roots of virus-infected hosts, as R. irregularis showed a stronger drop in mycorrhizal development in the presence of PVY. At the same time, arbuscular mycorrhiza exerted an effect on virus multiplication, causing increased PVY accumulation in plant leaves and a decreased concentration of virus in roots. In conclusion, the effect of AMF-plant interactions may differ depending on the genotypes of both symbiotic partners. Additionally, indirect AMF-PVY interactions occur in host plants, diminishing the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza while changing the distribution of viral particles in plants.}, } @article {pmid37137447, year = {2023}, author = {Li, L and Bian, D and Wang, Q and Xue, C and Zhang, Q and Zhang, SM}, title = {Performance of anammox enchanced by pulsed electric fields under added organic carbon sources using integrated network and metagenomics analyses.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129116}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129116}, pmid = {37137447}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {This paper aims to investigate the function of a pulsed electric field (PEF) in the anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) process after adding certain chemical oxygen demand (COD) through integrated network and metagenomics analyses. The findings showed that the presence of COD was detrimental to anammox, but PEF could significantly reduce the adverse effect. The total nitrogen removal in the reactor for applying PEF was 16.99% higher on average than the reactor for only dosing COD. Additionally, PEF upgraded the abundance of anammox bacteria subordinate to the phylum Planctomycetes by 9.64%. The analysis of molecular ecological networks promulgated that PEF resulted in an increase in network scale and topology complexity, thereby boosting the potential collaboration of the communities. Metagenomics analyses demonstrated that PEF dramatically promoted anammox central metabolism in the presence of COD, specifically enhancing pivotal N functional genes (hzs, hdh, amo, hao, nas, nor and nos).}, } @article {pmid37137387, year = {2023}, author = {Gilbert, F and Ienca, M and Cook, M}, title = {How I became myself after merging with a computer: Does human-machine symbiosis raise human rights issues?.}, journal = {Brain stimulation}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.brs.2023.04.016}, pmid = {37137387}, issn = {1876-4754}, abstract = {Novel usages of brain stimulation combined with artificially intelligent (AI) systems promise to address a large range of diseases. These new conjoined technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces (BCI), are increasingly used in experimental and clinical settings to predict and alleviate symptoms of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Due to their reliance on AI algorithms for feature extraction and classification, these BCI systems enable a novel, unprecedented, and direct connection between human cognition and artificial information processing. In this paper, we present the results of a study that investigates the phenomenology of human-machine symbiosis during a first-in-human experimental Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) trial designed to predict epileptic seizures. We employed qualitative semi-structured interviews to collect user experience data from participants. We report on a clinical case where a specific embodied phenomenology emerged: namely, after BCI implantation, the patient reported experiences of increased agential capacity and continuity; and after device explantation, the patient reported persistent traumatic harms linked to agential discontinuity. To our knowledge, this is the first reported clinical case of a patient experiencing persistent agential discontinuity due to BCI explantation and potential evidence of an infringement on patient right, where the implanted person was robbed of her de novo agential capacities when the device was removed.}, } @article {pmid37138224, year = {2023}, author = {Tang, XF and Huang, YH and Sun, YF and Zhang, PF and Huo, LZ and Li, HS and Pang, H}, title = {The transcriptome of Icerya aegyptiaca (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) and comparison with neococcoids reveal genetic clues of evolution in the scale insects.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {231}, pmid = {37138224}, issn = {1471-2164}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Scale insects are worldwide sap-sucking parasites, which can be distinguished into neococcoids and non-neococcoids. Neococcoids are monophyletic with a peculiar reproductive system, paternal genome elimination (PGE). Different with neococcoids, Iceryini, a tribe in non-neococcoids including several damaging pests, has abdominal spiracles, compound eyes in males, relatively abundant wax, unique hermaphrodite system, and specific symbionts. However, the current studies on the gene resources and genomic mechanism of scale insects are mainly limited in the neococcoids, and lacked of comparison in an evolution frame.

RESULT: We sequenced and de novo assembled a transcriptome of Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas), a worldwide pest of Iceryini, and used it as representative of non-neococcoids to compare with the genomes or transcriptomes of other six species from different families of neococcoids. We found that the genes under positive selection or negative selection intensification (simplified as "selected genes" below) in I. aegyptiaca included those related to neurogenesis and development, especially eye development. Some genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis were unique in its transcriptome with relatively high expression and not detected in neococcoids. These results may indicate a potential link to the unique structures and abundant wax of I. aegyptiaca compared with neococcoids. Meanwhile, genes related to DNA repair, mitosis, spindle, cytokinesis and oogenesis, were included in the selected genes in I. aegyptiaca, which is possibly associated with cell division and germ cell formation of the hermaphrodite system. Chromatin-related process were enriched from selected genes in neococcoids, along with some mitosis-related genes also detected, which may be related to their unique PGE system. Moreover, in neococcoid species, male-biased genes tend to undergo negative selection relaxation under the PGE system. We also found that the candidate horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) in the scale insects mainly derived from bacteria and fungi. bioD and bioB, the two biotin-synthesizing HTGs were exclusively found in the scale insects and neococcoids, respectively, which possibly show potential demand changes in the symbiotic relationships.

CONCLUSION: Our study reports the first I. aegyptiaca transcriptome and provides preliminary insights for the genetic change of structures, reproductive systems and symbiont relationships at an evolutionary aspect. This will provide a basis for further research and control of scale insects.}, } @article {pmid37133904, year = {2023}, author = {Han, K and Li, Y and Zhang, Z and Sun, L and Wang, ET and Li, Y}, title = {Comparative genome analysis of Sesbania cannabina-nodulating Rhizobium spp. revealing the symbiotic and transferrable characteristics of symbiosis plasmids.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001004}, pmid = {37133904}, issn = {2057-5858}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation between legumes and rhizobia makes a great contribution to the terrestrial ecosystem. The successful symbiosis between the partners mainly depends on the nod and nif genes in rhizobia, while the specific symbiosis is mainly determined by the structure of Nod factors and the corresponding secretion systems (type III secretion system; T3SS), etc. These symbiosis genes are usually located on symbiotic plasmids or a chromosomal symbiotic island, both could be transferred interspecies. In our previous studies, Sesbania cannabina-nodulating rhizobia across the world were classified into 16 species of four genera and all the strains, especially those of Rhizobium spp., harboured extraordinarily highly conserved symbiosis genes, suggesting that horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes might have happened among them. In order to learn the genomic basis of diversification of rhizobia under the selection of host specificity, we performed this study to compare the complete genome sequences of four Rhizobium strains associated with S. cannabina, YTUBH007, YTUZZ027, YTUHZ044 and YTUHZ045. Their complete genomes were sequenced and assembled at the replicon level. Each strain represents a different species according to the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values calculated using the whole-genome sequences; furthermore, except for YTUBH007, which was classified as Rhizobium binae, the remaining three strains were identified as new candidate species. A single symbiotic plasmid sized 345-402 kb containing complete nod, nif, fix, T3SS and conjugal transfer genes was detected in each strain. The high ANI and amino acid identity (AAI) values, as well as the close phylogenetic relationships among the entire symbiotic plasmid sequences, indicate that they have the same origin and the entire plasmid has been transferred among different Rhizobium species. These results indicate that S. cannabina stringently selects a certain symbiosis gene background of the rhizobia for nodulation, which might have forced the symbiosis genes to transfer from some introduced rhizobia to the related native or local-condition-adapted bacteria. The existence of almost complete conjugal transfer related elements, but not the gene virD, indicated that the self-transfer of the symbiotic plasmid in these rhizobial strains may be realized via a virD-independent pathway or through another unidentified gene. This study provides insight for the better understanding of high-frequency symbiotic plasmid transfer, host-specific nodulation and the host shift for rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid37133783, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, J and Lv, S and Zhao, L and Gao, T and Yu, C and Hu, J and Ma, F}, title = {Advances in the study of the function and mechanism of the action of flavonoids in plants under environmental stresses.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {6}, pages = {108}, pmid = {37133783}, issn = {1432-2048}, abstract = {This review summarizes the anti-stress effects of flavonoids in plants and highlights its role in the regulation of polar auxin transport and free radical scavenging mechanism. As secondary metabolites widely present in plants, flavonoids play a vital function in plant growth, but also in resistance to stresses. This review introduces the classification, structure and synthetic pathways of flavonoids. The effects of flavonoids in plant stress resistance were enumerated, and the mechanism of flavonoids in plant stress resistance was discussed in detail. It is clarified that plants under stress accumulate flavonoids by regulating the expression of flavonoid synthase genes. It was also determined that the synthesized flavonoids are transported in plants through three pathways: membrane transport proteins, vesicles, and bound to glutathione S-transferase (GST). At the same time, the paper explores that flavonoids regulate polar auxin transport (PAT) by acting on the auxin export carrier PIN-FORMED (PIN) in the form of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B/P-glycoprotein (ABCB/PGP) transporter, which can help plants to respond in a more dominant form to stress. We have demonstrated that the number and location of hydroxyl groups in the structure of flavonoids can determine their free radical scavenging ability and also elucidated the mechanism by which flavonoids exert free radical removal in cells. We also identified flavonoids as signaling molecules to promote rhizobial nodulation and colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance plant-microbial symbiosis in defense to stresses. Given all this knowledge, we can foresee that the in-depth study of flavonoids will be an essential way to reveal plant tolerance and enhance plant stress resistance.}, } @article {pmid37133359, year = {2023}, author = {Kang, MJ and Bae, EK and Park, EJ and Ka, KH and Son, MR and Kim, KT and Lee, JW}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence for the Symbiotic Pine Mushroom Tricholoma matsutake.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0127122}, doi = {10.1128/mra.01271-22}, pmid = {37133359}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report the high-quality genome sequence of Tricholoma matsutake strain 2001, which was isolated from a mushroom fruiting body in South Korea. The genome has 80 contigs, a size of 162.6 Mb, and an N50 value of 5,103,859 bp and will provide insight into the symbiotic association between T. matsutake and Pinus densiflora.}, } @article {pmid37130101, year = {2023}, author = {Muñoz-Marín, MDC and Magasin, JD and Zehr, JP}, title = {Open ocean and coastal strains of the N2-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A have distinct transcriptomes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e0272674}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0272674}, pmid = {37130101}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Decades of research on marine N2 fixation focused on Trichodesmium, which are generally free-living cyanobacteria, but in recent years the endosymbiotic cyanobacterium Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (UCYN-A) has received increasing attention. However, few studies have shed light on the influence of the host versus the habitat on UCYN-A N2 fixation and overall metabolism. Here we compared transcriptomes from natural populations of UCYN-A from oligotrophic open-ocean versus nutrient-rich coastal waters, using a microarray that targets the full genomes of UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 and known genes for UCYN-A3. We found that UCYN-A2, usually regarded as adapted to coastal environments, was transcriptionally very active in the open ocean and appeared to be less impacted by habitat change than UCYN-A1. Moreover, for genes with 24 h periodic expression we observed strong but inverse correlations among UCYN-A1, A2, and A3 to oxygen and chlorophyll, which suggests distinct host-symbiont relationships. Across habitats and sublineages, genes for N2 fixation and energy production had high transcript levels, and, intriguingly, were among the minority of genes that kept the same schedule of diel expression. This might indicate different regulatory mechanisms for genes that are critical to the symbiosis for the exchange of nitrogen for carbon from the host. Our results underscore the importance of N2 fixation in UCYN-A symbioses across habitats, with consequences for community interactions and global biogeochemical cycles.}, } @article {pmid37129370, year = {2023}, author = {Munsch, MA and Chen, SR and Dalton, J and Tisherman, R and Shaw, JD and Lee, JY}, title = {Association Between Industry Sponsorship of Spine-Related Clinical Trials, Publication Status, and Research Outcomes.}, journal = {Global spine journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {21925682231166379}, doi = {10.1177/21925682231166379}, pmid = {37129370}, issn = {2192-5682}, abstract = {STUDY DESIGN: Observational Database Study.

OBJECTIVES: Prospective clinical trials in spinal surgery are expensive to conduct, especially when randomized, appropriately powered, and/or multicentered. Industry collaborations generate symbiotic relationships promoting technological advancement; however, they also allow for bias. To the authors' knowledge, there is no known analysis of correlations between industry sponsorship and publication rates of spine-related clinical trials. This observational work evaluates such potential associations.

METHODS: The ClinicalTrials.gov database was queried with terms spine, spinal, spondylosis, spondylolysis, cervical, lumbar, and compression fracture over an 11-year period. Design characteristics and outcomes were recorded from 822 spine surgery-related trials. Trials were stratified based on funding source and intervention class. Groups were compared via two-tailed chi-square test of independence or Fisher's exact test (α = .05), based on completion status and publication rates of positive vs negative results.

RESULTS: Industry-sponsored spine-related clinical trials were more likely to be terminated than their non-industry-sponsored counterparts (P < .001). Of the trials achieving publication, industry-sponsored trials reported positive results at a higher rate than did trials without industry funding (P = .037). Clinical trials examining devices were more likely to be terminated than those studying other intervention classes (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS: High termination rates and positive result publication rates among industry-sponsored clinical trials in spinal surgery likely reflect industry's influence on the research community. Such partnership alleviates financial burden and provides accessibility to cutting-edge innovation. It is essential that all parties remain mindful of the significant bias that funding source may impart on study outcome.}, } @article {pmid37127295, year = {2023}, author = {Ważny, R and Jędrzejczyk, RJ and Domka, A and Pliszko, A and Kosowicz, W and Githae, D and Rozpądek, P}, title = {How does metal soil pollution change the plant mycobiome?.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16392}, pmid = {37127295}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {Microorganisms play a key role in plant adaptation to the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of toxic metals present in the soil on the biodiversity of plant-related, endophytic mycobiota. The mycobiome of plants and soil from a Zn-Pb heap and a metal-free ruderal area were compared via Illumina sequencing of the ITS1 rDNA. The biodiversity of plants and fungi inhabiting mine dump substrate was lower than that of the metal free site. In the endosphere of Arabidopsis arenosa from the mine dump the number of endophytic fungal taxa was comparable to that in the reference population, but the community structure significantly differed. Agaricomycetes was the most notably limited class of fungi. The results of plant mycobiota evaluation from the field study were verified in terms of the role of toxic metals in plant endophytic fungi community assembly in a reconstruction experiment. The results presented in this study indicate that metal toxicity affects the structure of the plant mycobiota not by changing the pool of microorganisms available in the soil from which the fungal symbionts are recruited but most likely by altering plant and fungi behaviour and the organisms' preferences towards associating in symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid37127597, year = {2023}, author = {Mosquera, KD and Nilsson, LKJ and de Oliveira, MR and Rocha, EM and Marinotti, O and Håkansson, S and Tadei, WP and de Souza, AQL and Terenius, O}, title = {Comparative assessment of the bacterial communities associated with Anopheles darlingi immature stages and their breeding sites in the Brazilian Amazon.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {156}, pmid = {37127597}, issn = {1756-3305}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The neotropical anopheline mosquito Anopheles darlingi is a major malaria vector in the Americas. Studies on mosquito-associated microbiota have shown that symbiotic bacteria play a major role in host biology. Mosquitoes acquire and transmit microorganisms over their life cycle. Specifically, the microbiota of immature forms is largely acquired from their aquatic environment. Therefore, our study aimed to describe the microbial communities associated with An. darlingi immature forms and their breeding sites in the Coari municipality, Brazilian Amazon.

METHODS: Larvae, pupae, and breeding water were collected in two different geographical locations. Samples were submitted for DNA extraction and high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted. Microbial ecology analyses were performed to explore and compare the bacterial profiles of An. darlingi and their aquatic habitats.

RESULTS: We found lower richness and diversity in An. darlingi microbiota than in water samples, which suggests that larvae are colonized by a subset of the bacterial community present in their breeding sites. Moreover, the bacterial community composition of the immature mosquitoes and their breeding water differed according to their collection sites, i.e., the microbiota associated with An. darlingi reflected that in the aquatic habitats where they developed. The three most abundant bacterial classes across the An. darlingi samples were Betaproteobacteria, Clostridia, and Gammaproteobacteria, while across the water samples they were Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, and Alphaproteobacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reinforce the current evidence that the environment strongly shapes the composition and diversity of mosquito microbiota. A better understanding of mosquito-microbe interactions will contribute to identifying microbial candidates impacting host fitness and disease transmission.}, } @article {pmid37125205, year = {2023}, author = {Gugliuzzo, A and Kreuzwieser, J and Ranger, CM and Tropea Garzia, G and Biondi, A and Biedermann, PHW}, title = {Volatiles of fungal cultivars act as cues for host-selection in the fungus-farming ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1151078}, pmid = {37125205}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many wood-boring insects use aggregation pheromones during mass colonization of host trees. Bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are a model system, but much less is known about the role of semiochemicals during host selection by ambrosia beetles. As an ecological clade within the bark beetles, ambrosia beetles are obligately dependent on fungal mutualists for their sole source of nutrition. Mass colonization of trees growing in horticultural settings by exotic ambrosia beetles can occur, but aggregation cues have remained enigmatic. To elucidate this mechanism, we first characterized the fungal associates of the exotic, mass-aggregating ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus in Southern Germany. Still-air olfactometer bioassays documented the attraction of X. germanus to its primary nutritional mutualist Ambrosiella grosmanniae and to a lesser extent another common fungal isolate (Acremonium sp.). During two-choice bioassays, X. germanus was preferentially attracted to branch sections (i.e., bolts) that were either pre-colonized by conspecifics or pre-inoculated with A. grosmanniae. Subsequent analyses identified microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) that could potentially function as aggregation pheromones for X. germanus. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence for fungal volatiles as attractive cues during host selection by X. germanus. Adaptive benefits of responding to fungal cues associated with an infestation of conspecifics could be a function of locating a suitable substrate for cultivating fungal symbionts and/or increasing the likelihood of mating opportunities with the flightless males. However, this requires solutions for evolutionary conflict arising due to potential mixing of vertically transmitted and horizontally acquired symbiont strains, which are discussed.}, } @article {pmid37124465, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, SC and Liu, CB and Yao, XQ and Hu, JY and Yin, TT and Lim, BK and Chen, W and Wang, GD and Zhang, CL and Irwin, DM and Zhang, ZG and Zhang, YP and Yu, L}, title = {Hologenomic insights into mammalian adaptations to myrmecophagy.}, journal = {National science review}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {nwac174}, pmid = {37124465}, issn = {2053-714X}, abstract = {Highly specialized myrmecophagy (ant- and termite-eating) has independently evolved multiple times in species of various mammalian orders and represents a textbook example of phenotypic evolutionary convergence. We explored the mechanisms involved in this unique dietary adaptation and convergence through multi-omic analyses, including analyses of host genomes and transcriptomes, as well as gut metagenomes, in combination with validating assays of key enzymes' activities, in the species of three mammalian orders (anteaters, echidnas and pangolins of the orders Xenarthra, Monotremata and Pholidota, respectively) and their relatives. We demonstrate the complex and diverse interactions between hosts and their symbiotic microbiota that have provided adaptive solutions for nutritional and detoxification challenges associated with high levels of protein and lipid metabolisms, trehalose degradation, and toxic substance detoxification. Interestingly, we also reveal their spatially complementary cooperation involved in degradation of ants' and termites' chitin exoskeletons. This study contributes new insights into the dietary evolution of mammals and the mechanisms involved in the coordination of physiological functions by animal hosts and their gut commensals.}, } @article {pmid37123830, year = {2023}, author = {Mashabela, MD and Tugizimana, F and Steenkamp, PA and Piater, LA and Dubery, IA and Terefe, T and Mhlongo, MI}, title = {Metabolomic evaluation of PGPR defence priming in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars infected with Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (stripe rust).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1103413}, pmid = {37123830}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions are a phenomenal display of symbiotic/parasitic relationships between living organisms. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are some of the most widely investigated plant-beneficial microbes due to their capabilities in stimulating plant growth and development and conferring protection to plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. As such, PGPR-mediated plant priming/induced systemic resistance (ISR) has become a hot topic among researchers, particularly with prospects of applications in sustainable agriculture. The current study applies untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-definition mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HDMS) to investigate PGPR-based metabolic reconfigurations in the metabolome of primed wheat plants against Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tricti (Pst). A seed bio-priming approach was adopted, where seeds were coated with two PGPR strains namely Bacillus subtilis and Paenibacillus alvei (T22) and grown under controlled conditions in a glasshouse. The plants were infected with Pst one-week post-germination, followed by weekly harvesting of leaf material. Subsequent metabolite extraction was carried out for analysis on a UHPLC-HDMS system for data acquisition. The data was chemometrically processed to reveal the underlying trends and data structures as well as potential signatory biomarkers for priming against Pst. Results showed notable metabolic reprogramming in primary and secondary metabolism, where the amino acid and organic acid content of primed-control, primed-challenged and non-primed-challenged plants were differentially reprogrammed. Similar trends were observed from the secondary metabolism, in which primed plants (particularly primed-challenged) showed an up-regulation of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids-HCAs- and HCA amides) compared to the non-primed plants. The metabolomics-based semi-quantitative and qualitative assessment of the plant metabolomes revealed a time-dependent metabolic reprogramming in primed-challenged and primed-unchallenged plants, indicating the metabolic adaptations of the plants to stripe rust infection over time.}, } @article {pmid37123123, year = {2022}, author = {Qaysar Musa, S and Mohammed AliJassim, M and Mohammed Mahmood, M}, title = {Tracing Some Salivary Immune Elements in Iraqi SARS-2 Patients.}, journal = {Archives of Razi Institute}, volume = {77}, number = {5}, pages = {1587-1591}, pmid = {37123123}, issn = {2008-9872}, abstract = {Saliva is one of the most significant components in maintaining oral homeostasis and symbiosis. It contains antimicrobial proteins and peptides, such as mucins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, Catherine, statins, and antibodies (secretory immunoglobin A [sIgA]). Early defenses against respiratory infections rely heavily on mucosal immunity, especially secretory sIgA, which has several features and functions that make it suitable for mucosal defense. Salivary testing has been utilized to define mucosal immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Lysozyme has muramidase, with antimicrobial activity, and high concentrations in body fluids, such as saliva and tear. This research aimed to offer an update on how saliva components suppress viral infection and sustain health. A total of 50 individuals, including 30 SARS-2 patients and 20 non-infected subjects, in the age range of 32-54 years were enrolled in this study. Saliva specimens were obtained from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and non-infected participants. To collect saliva, the subjects were advised to swirl water over their lips three times, and 5.0 ml of saliva was collected. Samples were centrifuged at 800 x g for 10 min. Saliva was diluted at 1:2,000 with 1 × Diluent N. The immunoglobulin A (IgA) titer in saliva was detected. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the solution's change in absorbance at 550 nm. Measurements (salivary IgA and lysozyme) were made after 7, 30, and 60 days of confirmatory PCR COVID-19 test. The mean scores of salivary IgA levels were obtained at 17.85, 15.26, and 10.73 mg/dl in patients and 9.53, 10.33, and 9.21 mg/dl in healthy individuals after 7, 30, and 60 days, respectively. The salivary lysozyme activity levels in SARS-2 patients compared to controls were 9.7, 7.3, and 4.2 mg/dl versus 2.9, 3.4, and 3.77 mg/dl, respectively. The salivary IgA level was significantly higher in patients of a confirmatory test for COVID-19 compared to healthy individuals.}, } @article {pmid37123002, year = {2023}, author = {Morejón-Arrojo, RD and Rodriguez-Viera, L}, title = {Characterization of the populations of upside-down jellyfish in Jardines de la Reina National Park, Cuba.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e15254}, pmid = {37123002}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Upside-down jellyfish are a group of benthic scyphozoans belonging to the genus Cassiopea, whose members are in symbiosis with dinoflagellates and inhabit tropical and subtropical waters. Although there are some studies of the genus in the Caribbean, these are limited. In Cuba, the group's studies are restricted to reports on taxonomic lists and, as far as we know, no one has performed any analyzes of the densities of these jellyfish in seagrass or mangrove ecosystems in Cuba. In this work, the populations of Cassiopea spp. in Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) were characterized, for the first time for this Marine Protected Area and Cuba. One hundred 1m[2] square frames were placed at 14 JRNP sites. For each site, the species, density, size of the individuals and abiotic factors were determined. Density and diameter comparisons were made between sites, zones and regions within the JRNP. The percentage of the benthic cover was determined and a correlation was made between density and diameter. A total of 10,803 individuals were recorded, of which 7,618 belong to Cassiopea xamachana and 3,185 belong to Cassiopea frondosa. Both species share a niche and no evident segregation was detected according to abiotic variables. Significant differences were detected in comparisons of density and size across sites and zones. Density and size in the JRNP were negatively correlated, and higher aggregations of the species were observed at lower sizes. Density mean values ranged from 2.18 to 14.52 ind. /m[2] with maximum values of 79 ind. /m[2]. Cayo Alcatraz was the site found to have the highest density while Cachiboca was the site with the lowest density. The average bell diameter size of the individuals ranged from 9.34 to 15.31 cm for the sampled sites, with minimum and maximum values of 2.5 cm and 32.6 cm. The smallest size was recorded at Cayo Alcatraz while the largest size was reported for Boca de las Anclitas. The environmental factors evaluated showed no significant relationship with the density or diameter of Cassiopea, while the Thalassia testudinum cover was negatively correlated with Cassiopea density at all fourteen sites in the JRNP. The percentage of Cassiopea coverage was higher than those reported in the literature, with four sites exceeding 20% coverage. In general, the populations of Cassiopea spp. in the JRNP did not differ greatly, although a higher density was observed towards the eastern region of the park. It was shown for the first time for the species that density and size have a negative correlation. Future studies are required to quantify the impact of Cassiopea on coastal marine ecosystem processes, and to further determine how anthropogenic changes may be altering the function of these tropical ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37122680, year = {2023}, author = {Tharavecharak, S and D'Alessandro-Gabazza, CN and Toda, M and Yasuma, T and Tsuyama, T and Kamei, I and Gabazza, EC}, title = {Culture Conditions for Mycelial Growth and Anti-Cancer Properties of Termitomyces.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {51}, number = {2}, pages = {94-108}, pmid = {37122680}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Termitomyces sp. that grow in symbiosis with fungus-farming Termites have medicinal properties. However, they are rare in nature, and their artificial culture is challenging. The expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint molecules favor the growth of cancer cells. The study evaluated the optimal conditions for the artificial culture of Termitomyces and their inhibitory activity on AXL and immune checkpoint molecules in lung adenocarcinoma and melanoma cell lines. The culture of 45 strains of Termitomyces was compared. Five strains with marked growth rates were selected. Four of the selected strains form a single cluster by sequence analysis. The mycelium of 4 selected strains produces more fungal mass in potato dextrose broth than in a mixed media. The bark was the most appropriate solid substrate for Termitomyces mycelia culture. The mycelium of all five selected strains showed a higher growth rate under normal CO2 conditions. The culture broth, methanol, and ethyl acetate of one selected strain (T-120) inhibited the mRNA relative expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint molecules in cancer cell lines. Overall, these results suggest the potential usefulness of Termitomyces extracts as a co-adjuvant therapy in malignant diseases.}, } @article {pmid37122591, year = {2023}, author = {Bergman, JL and Ricci, F and Leggat, W and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {Characteristics of The Bleached Microbiome of The Generalist Coral Pocillopora damicornis from Two Distinct Reef Habitats.}, journal = {Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {obad012}, pmid = {37122591}, issn = {2517-4843}, abstract = {Generalist coral species may play an important role in predicting, managing, and responding to the growing coral reef crisis as sea surface temperatures are rising and reef wide bleaching events are becoming more common. Pocilloporids are amongst the most widely distributed and studied of generalist corals, characterized by a broad geographic distribution, phenotypic plasticity, and tolerance of sub-optimal conditions for coral recruitment and survival. Emerging research indicates that microbial communities associated with Pocilloporid corals may be contributing to their persistence on coral reefs impacted by thermal stress; however, we lack detailed information on shifts in the coral-bacterial symbiosis during bleaching events across many of the reef habitats these corals are found. Here, we characterized the bacterial communities of healthy and bleached Pocillopora damicornis corals during the bleaching events that occurred during the austral summer of 2020 on Heron Island, on the southern Great Barrier Reef, and the austral summer of 2019 on Lord Howe Island, the most southerly coral reef in Australia. Regardless of reef location, significant differences in α and β diversities, core bacterial community, and inferred functional profile of the bleached microbiome of P. damicornis were not detected. Consistent with previous reports, patterns in the Pocilloporid coral microbiome, including no increase in pathogenic taxa or evidence of dysbiosis, are conserved during bleaching responses. We hypothesize that the resilience of holobiont interactions may aid the Pocilloporids to survive Symbiodiniaceae loss and contribute to the success of Pocilloporids.}, } @article {pmid37120114, year = {2023}, author = {Oury, N and Noël, C and Mona, S and Aurelle, D and Magalon, H}, title = {From genomics to integrative species delimitation? The case study of the Indo-Pacific Pocillopora corals.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107803}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107803}, pmid = {37120114}, issn = {1095-9513}, abstract = {With the advent of genomics, sequencing thousands of loci from hundreds of individuals now appears feasible at reasonable costs, allowing complex phylogenies to be resolved. This is particularly relevant for cnidarians, for which insufficient data is available due to the small number of currently available markers and obscures species boundaries. Difficulties in inferring gene trees and morphological incongruences further blur the study and conservation of these organisms. Yet, can genomics alone be used to delimit species? Here, focusing on the coral genus Pocillopora, whose colonies play key roles in Indo-Pacific reef ecosystems but have challenged taxonomists for decades, we explored and discussed the usefulness of multiple criteria (genetics, morphology, biogeography and symbiosis ecology) to delimit species of this genus. Phylogenetic inferences, clustering approaches and species delimitation methods based on genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were first used to resolve Pocillopora phylogeny and propose genomic species hypotheses from 356 colonies sampled across the Indo-Pacific (western Indian Ocean, tropical southwestern Pacific and south-east Polynesia). These species hypotheses were then compared to other lines of evidence based on genetic, morphology, biogeography and symbiont associations. Out of 21 species hypotheses delimited by genomics, 13 were strongly supported by all approaches, while six could represent either undescribed species or nominal species that have been synonymised incorrectly. Altogether, our results support (1) the obsolescence of macromorphology (i.e., overall colony and branches shape) but the relevance of micromorphology (i.e., corallite structures) to refine Pocillopora species boundaries, (2) the relevance of the mtORF (coupled with other markers in some cases) as a diagnostic marker of most species, (3) the requirement of molecular identification when species identity of colonies is absolutely necessary to interpret results, as morphology can blur species identification in the field, and (4) the need for a taxonomic revision of the genus Pocillopora. These results give new insights into the usefulness of multiple criteria for resolving Pocillopora, and more widely, scleractinian species boundaries, and will ultimately contribute to the taxonomic revision of this genus and the conservation of its species.}, } @article {pmid37116483, year = {2023}, author = {George, EE and Barcytė, D and Lax, G and Livingston, S and Tashyreva, D and Husnik, F and Lukeš, J and Eliáš, M and Keeling, PJ}, title = {A single cryptomonad cell harbors a complex community of organelles, bacteria, a phage, and selfish elements.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.010}, pmid = {37116483}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Symbiosis between prokaryotes and microbial eukaryotes (protists) has broadly impacted both evolution and ecology. Endosymbiosis led to mitochondria and plastids, the latter spreading across the tree of eukaryotes by subsequent rounds of endosymbiosis. Present-day endosymbionts in protists remain both common and diverse, although what function they serve is often unknown. Here, we describe a highly complex community of endosymbionts and a bacteriophage (phage) within a single cryptomonad cell. Cryptomonads are a model for organelle evolution because their secondary plastid retains a relict endosymbiont nucleus, but only one previously unidentified Cryptomonas strain (SAG 25.80) is known to harbor bacterial endosymbionts. We carried out electron microscopy and FISH imaging as well as genomic sequencing on Cryptomonas SAG 25.80, which revealed a stable, complex community even after over 50 years in continuous cultivation. We identified the host strain as Cryptomonas gyropyrenoidosa, and sequenced genomes from its mitochondria, plastid, and nucleomorph (and partially its nucleus), as well as two symbionts, Megaira polyxenophila and Grellia numerosa, and one phage (MAnkyphage) infecting M. polyxenophila. Comparing closely related endosymbionts from other hosts revealed similar metabolic and genomic features, with the exception of abundant transposons and genome plasticity in M. polyxenophila from Cryptomonas. We found an abundance of eukaryote-interacting genes as well as many toxin-antitoxin systems, including in the MAnkyphage genome that also encodes several eukaryotic-like proteins. Overall, the Cryptomonas cell is an endosymbiotic conglomeration with seven distinct evolving genomes that all show evidence of inter-lineage conflict but nevertheless remain stable, even after more than 4,000 generations in culture.}, } @article {pmid37115262, year = {2023}, author = {Camargo, TS and Nickele, MA and Filho, WR and do Rocio Chiarello Penteado, S and de Queiroz, EC and Auer, CG}, title = {Fungal Community Associated with the Leaf-Cutting Ant Acromyrmex crassispinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Colonies: a Search for Potential Biocontrol Agents.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37115262}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {The leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex crassispinus is considered an important pest in forest plantations in southern Brazil. This work aimed to study the fungal community associated with A. crassispinus colonies, subjected to treatments with subdoses of granulated baits (sulfluramid), which might reduce the ability of the ants to care for their symbiotic fungus and other fungi (maybe biocontrol fungi) would take over, to prospect for potential biological control agents. Samplings of fungus gardens and dead ants allowed the identification of 195 fungal isolates, distributed in 29 families, 36 genera, and 53 species. The most frequent genera were Trichoderma (49.2%), Penicillium (13.8%), Chaetomium (6.2%), and Fusarium (3.6%). This is the first study that conducted a survey of antagonistic and entomopathogenic fungi to A. crassispinus and its symbiotic fungus, reporting for the first time the occurrence of potential biological control agents. Escovopsis weberi, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizomucor variabilis, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningiopsis, and Trichoderma spirale are considered some of the potential biocontrol organisms.}, } @article {pmid37113220, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, MH and Hu, G and Rio, RVM}, title = {Symbiosis preservation: Putative regulation of fatty acyl-CoA reductase by miR-31a within the symbiont harboring bacteriome through tsetse evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1151319}, pmid = {37113220}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Tsetse flies are the sole vectors of African trypanosomes. In addition to trypanosomes, tsetse harbor obligate Wigglesworthia glossinidia bacteria that are essential to tsetse biology. The absence of Wigglesworthia results in fly sterility, thus offering promise for population control strategies. Here, microRNA (miRNAs) and mRNA expression are characterized and compared between the exclusive Wigglesworthia-containing bacteriome and adjacent aposymbiotic tissue in females of two evolutionarily distant tsetse species (Glossina brevipalpis and G. morsitans). A total of 193 miRNAs were expressed in either species, with 188 of these expressed in both species, 166 of these were novel to Glossinidae, and 41 miRNAs exhibited comparable expression levels between species. Within bacteriomes, 83 homologous mRNAs demonstrated differential expression between G. morsitans aposymbiotic and bacteriome tissues, with 21 of these having conserved interspecific expression. A large proportion of these differentially expressed genes are involved in amino acid metabolism and transport, symbolizing the essential nutritional role of the symbiosis. Further bioinformatic analyses identified a sole conserved miRNA::mRNA interaction (miR-31a::fatty acyl-CoA reductase) within bacteriomes likely catalyzing the reduction of fatty acids to alcohols which comprise components of esters and lipids involved in structural maintenance. The Glossina fatty acyl-CoA reductase gene family is characterized here through phylogenetic analyses to further understand its evolutionary diversification and the functional roles of members. Further research to characterize the nature of the miR-31a::fatty acyl-CoA reductase interaction may find novel contributions to the symbiosis to be exploited for vector control.}, } @article {pmid37111947, year = {2023}, author = {Lastochkina, O and Yakupova, A and Avtushenko, I and Lastochkin, A and Yuldashev, R}, title = {Effect of Seed Priming with Endophytic Bacillus subtilis on Some Physio-Biochemical Parameters of Two Wheat Varieties Exposed to Drought after Selective Herbicide Application.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12081724}, pmid = {37111947}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Wheat plants are frequently exposed to combined herbicide and drought stress (HDS) which induces complex responses negatively, affects productivity, and is becoming more exacerbated with current climate change. In this work, we studied the influence of seed priming with endophytic bacteria Bacillus subtilis (strains 104 and 26D) on growth and tolerance of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties (E70-drought tolerant; SY-drought susceptible) exposed to soil drought after application of selective herbicide Sekator[®] Turbo in pot experiments under controlled conditions; 17-day-old plants sprayed with herbicide and after 3 days were subjected to soil drought by stopping irrigating the plants for 7 days with subsequent resumption of normal irrigation (recovery). Additionally, the growth of tested strains (104, 26D) in the presence of different concentrations of herbicide Sekator[®] Turbo and drought (PEG-6000) were evaluated. It was established that both strains are herbicide and drought tolerant and capable to improve seed germination and early seedlings' growth under different herbicide and drought stress degrees. The results of pot experiments showed that HDS exposure declined growth (plant length, biomass), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b), leaf area, and increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and proline accumulation in plants, demonstrating higher damaging effects for SY variety. Strains 104 and 26D mitigated (in different levels) such negative impacts of HDS on growth of both varieties by increasing length of roots and shoots, biomass, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b), and leaf area, reducing stress-caused LPO (i.e., malondialdehyde), and regulating proline biosynthesis, as well as contributing to a faster recovery of growth, photosynthetic pigments, and redox-status of plants in post-stress period in comparison with non-primed plants. These ultimately manifested in forming a better grain yield of both varieties primed with 104, 26D, and exposed to HDS. Thus, both strains 104 and 26D (which are herbicide and drought tolerant) may be used as seed priming agents to improve wheat HDS tolerance and grain yield; however, strain 104 more effectively protected plants of E70, while strain 26D-plants of SY. Further research should be focused on understanding the mechanisms that determine the strain and variety-specificity of endophytic symbiosis and the role of bacteria in the modulation of physiological states of primed plants under stress conditions, including HDS.}, } @article {pmid37111911, year = {2023}, author = {Lavado, RS and Chiocchio, VM}, title = {Symbiosis of Plants with Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12081688}, pmid = {37111911}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {It has long been known that plants and microorganisms coexist [...].}, } @article {pmid37111831, year = {2023}, author = {Paniagua-López, M and Jiménez-Pelayo, C and Gómez-Fernández, GO and Herrera-Cervera, JA and López-Gómez, M}, title = {Reduction in the Use of Some Herbicides Favors Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency in Phaseolus vulgaris and Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/plants12081608}, pmid = {37111831}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In recent decades, the quality of agricultural soils has been seriously affected by the excessive application of pesticides, with herbicides being one of the most abundant. Continuous use of herbicides alters the soil microbial community and beneficial interactions between plants and bacteria such as legume-rhizobia spp. symbiosis, causing a decrease in the biological nitrogen fixation, which is essential for soil fertility. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the effect of two commonly used herbicides (pendimethalin and clethodim) on the legume-rhizobia spp. symbiosis to improve the effectiveness of this process. Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown in pots with a mixture of soil:perlite (3:1 v/v), showed a 44% inhibition of nitrogen fixation rate with pendimethalin. However, clethodim, specifically used against monocots, did not induce significant differences. Additionally, we analyzed the effect of herbicides on root exudate composition, detecting alterations that might be interfering with the symbiosis establishment. In order to assess the effect of the herbicides at the early nodulation steps, nodulation kinetics in Medicago sativa plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti were performed. Clethodim caused a 30% reduction in nodulation while pendimethalin totally inhibited nodulation, producing a reduction in bacterial growth and motility as well. In conclusion, pendimethalin and clethodim application reduced the capacity of Phaseolus vulgaris and Medicago sativa to fix nitrogen by inhibiting root growth and modifying root exudate composition as well as bacterial fitness. Thus, a reduction in the use of these herbicides in these crops should be addressed to favor a state of natural fertilization of the soil through greater efficiency of leguminous crops.}, } @article {pmid37111503, year = {2023}, author = {Ngo-Mback, MNL and Zeuko'o Menkem, E and Marco, HG}, title = {Antifungal Compounds from Microbial Symbionts Associated with Aquatic Animals and Cellular Targets: A Review.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12040617}, pmid = {37111503}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Fungal infections continue to be a serious public health problem, leading to an estimated 1.6 million deaths annually. It remains a major cause of mortality for people with a weak or affected immune system, such as those suffering from cancer under aggressive chemotherapies. On the other hand, pathogenic fungi are counted among the most destructive factors affecting crops, causing a third of all food crop losses annually and critically affecting the worldwide economy and food security. However, the limited number currently available and the cytotoxicity of the conventional antifungal drugs, which are not yet properly diversified in terms of mode of action, in addition to resistance phenomena, make the search for new antifungals imperative to improve both human health and food protection. Symbiosis has been a crucial alternative for drug discovery, through which many antimicrobials have been discovered. This review highlights some antifungal models of a defensive symbiosis of microbial symbiont natural products derived from interacting with aquatic animals as one of the best opportunities. Some recorded compounds with supposed novel cell targets such as apoptosis could lead to the development of a multitherapy involving the mutual treatment of fungal infections and other metabolic diseases involving apoptosis in their pathogenesis pathways.}, } @article {pmid37111392, year = {2023}, author = {Sanda, NB and Hou, Y}, title = {The Symbiotic Bacteria-Xenorhabdus nematophila All and Photorhabdus luminescens H06 Strongly Affected the Phenoloxidase Activation of Nipa Palm Hispid, Octodonta nipae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Larvae.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12040506}, pmid = {37111392}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria form a mutualistic relationship with nematodes and are pathogenic to many insect pests. They kill insects using various strategies to evade or suppress their humoral and cellular immunity. Here we evaluate the toxic effects of these bacteria and their secondary metabolites on the survival and phenoloxidase (PO) activation of Octodonta nipae larvae using biochemical and molecular methods. The results show P. luminescens H06 and X. nematophila All treatments caused significant reductions in the number of O. nipae larvae in a dose-dependent manner. Secondly, the O. nipae immune system recognizes symbiotic bacteria at early and late stages of infection via the induction of C-type lectin. Live symbiotic bacteria significantly inhibit PO activity in O. nipae whereas heat-treated bacteria strongly increase PO activity. Additionally, expression levels of four O. nipae proPhenoloxidase genes following treatment with P. luminescens H06 and X. nematophila All were compared. We found that the expression levels of all proPhenoloxidase genes were significantly down-regulated at all-time points. Similarly, treatments of O. nipae larvae with metabolites benzylideneacetone and oxindole significantly down-regulated the expression of the PPO gene and inhibited PO activity. However, the addition of arachidonic acid to metabolite-treated larvae restored the expression level of the PPO gene and increased PO activity. Our results provide new insight into the roles of symbiotic bacteria in countering the insect phenoloxidase activation system.}, } @article {pmid37111207, year = {2023}, author = {Kwon, C and Ediriweera, MK and Kim Cho, S}, title = {Interplay between Phytochemicals and the Colonic Microbiota.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/nu15081989}, pmid = {37111207}, issn = {2072-6643}, abstract = {Phytochemicals are natural compounds found in food ingredients with a variety of health-promoting properties. Phytochemicals improve host health through their direct systematic absorption into the circulation and modulation of the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota increases the bioactivity of phytochemicals and is a symbiotic partner whose composition and/or diversity is altered by phytochemicals and affects host health. In this review, the interactions of phytochemicals with the gut microbiota and their impact on human diseases are reviewed. We describe the role of intestinal microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, and vitamins, from a therapeutic perspective. Next, phytochemical metabolites produced by the gut microbiota and the therapeutic effect of some selected metabolites are reviewed. Many phytochemicals are degraded by enzymes unique to the gut microbiota and act as signaling molecules in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and metabolic pathways. Phytochemicals can ameliorate diseases by altering the composition and/or diversity of the gut microbiota, and they increase the abundance of some gut microbiota that produce beneficial substances. We also discuss the importance of investigating the interactions between phytochemicals and gut microbiota in controlled human studies.}, } @article {pmid37110512, year = {2023}, author = {Ferreira, AM and da Silva Sena, I and Curti, J and de Souza, AA and Dos Santos Lima, PC and Rodrigues, ABL and da Silva Ramos, R and de Souza Pinheiro, WB and Ferreira, IM and Carvalho, JCT}, title = {Trichoderma asperellum Extract Isolated from Brazil Nuts (Bertholletia excelsa BONPL): In Vivo and In Silico Studies on Melanogenesis in Zebrafish.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11041089}, pmid = {37110512}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are those that present part of their life cycle in healthy tissues of different plant hosts in symbiosis without causing harm. At the same time, fungus-plant symbiosis makes it possible for microorganisms to synthesize their own bioactive secondary metabolites while in the stationary stage. To accomplish this, the endophytic fungus Trichoderma asperellum was isolated from Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut) almonds. The fungus was cultivated and extracted with ethyl acetate, obtaining AM07Ac. Then, using HPTLC (High-performance thin-layer chromatography) and nuclear magnetic resonance ([1]H NMR), β-amyrin, kaempferol, and brucine were identified as major compounds. Further in vivo assays in zebrafish demonstrated the activity of AM07Ac on melanogenesis by producing a concentration-response inhibitory effect, which, through an in silico study, proved to be related to the noted major compounds known to inhibit tyrosinase activity. The inhibition of tyrosinase prevents melanin accumulation in skin. Therefore, these results imply the importance of investigating microorganisms and their pharmacological activities, in particular the endophytic fungus Trichoderma asperellum as a generator of active metabolites for melanogenesis modulation.}, } @article {pmid37110402, year = {2023}, author = {Pan, X and Yue, Z and She, Z and He, X and Wang, S and Chuai, X and Wang, J}, title = {Eukaryotic Community Structure and Interspecific Interactions in a Stratified Acidic Pit Lake Water in Anhui Province.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11040979}, pmid = {37110402}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The stratified acidic pit lake formed by the confluence of acid mine drainage has a unique ecological niche and is a model system for extreme microbial studies. Eukaryotes are a component of the AMD community, with the main members including microalgae, fungi, and a small number of protozoa. In this study, we analyzed the structural traits and interactions of eukaryotes (primarily fungi and microalgae) in acidic pit lakes subjected to environmental gradients. Based on the findings, microalgae and fungi were found to dominate different water layers. Specifically, Chlorophyta showed dominance in the well-lit aerobic surface layer, whereas Basidiomycota was more abundant in the dark anoxic lower layer. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that reciprocal relationships between fungi and microalgae were prevalent in extremely acidic environments. Highly connected taxa within this network were Chlamydomonadaceae, Sporidiobolaceae, Filobasidiaceae, and unclassified Eukaryotes. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and random forest models revealed that Chlorophyta and Basidiomycota responded strongly to environmental gradients. Further analysis indicated that eukaryotic community structure was mainly determined by nutrient and metal concentrations. This study investigates the potential symbiosis between fungi and microalgae in the acidic pit lake, providing valuable insights for future eukaryotic biodiversity studies on AMD remediation.}, } @article {pmid37110356, year = {2023}, author = {Hoxha, I and Lesiak-Markowicz, I and Walochnik, J and Stary, A and Fürnkranz, U}, title = {The Prevalence of Genital Mycoplasmas and Coinfection with Trichomonas vaginalis in Female Patients in Vienna, Austria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms11040933}, pmid = {37110356}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, the most recurrent sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Genital mycoplasmas, not considered STI agents, are frequently isolated from the female genital tract. A symbiosis between Mycoplasma species and T. vaginalis has been described. The aim of this study was to conduct molecular-based analyses of vaginal specimens, thus assessing the prevalence of non-STI Mycoplasma infections. In total, 582 samples from female patients and an additional 20 T. vaginalis isolates were analyzed by PCR using Mycoplasma specific 16S rRNA primers, and the obtained PCR products were sequenced. Mycoplasma species were detected in 28.2% of the collected vaginal samples. Mycoplasma hominis was found in 21.5% of the specimens, Ureaplasma species were found in 7.5% of the samples. The molecular data of the newly described species, CandidatusMycoplasma girerdii, were obtained for the first time in Austria, in a sample also positive for T. vaginalis. Analyses of the cultivated T. vaginalis strains confirmed the presence of M. hominis in two out of 20 samples. A comparably high prevalence of genital mycoplasmas was revealed through advanced diagnostic assays, with M. hominis and U. parvum being the most prevalent species. The previously described symbiotic relationship between M. hominis and T. vaginalis was confirmed.}, } @article {pmid37110191, year = {2023}, author = {Clergeaud, F and Giraudo, M and Rodrigues, AMS and Thorel, E and Lebaron, P and Stien, D}, title = {On the Fate of Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone) in Coral Tissue and Its Effect on Coral Metabolome.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/metabo13040533}, pmid = {37110191}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {The intensive use of sunscreen products has raised concerns regarding their environmental toxicity and the adverse impacts of ultraviolet (UV) filters on ecologically important coral communities. Prior metabolomic analyses on symbiotic coral Pocillopora damicornis exposed to the UV filter butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BM, avobenzone) revealed unidentified ions in the holobiont metabolome. In the present study, follow-up differential metabolomic analyses in BM-exposed P. damicornis detected 57 ions with significantly different relative concentrations in exposed corals. The results showed an accumulation of 17 BM derivatives produced through BM reduction and esterification. The major derivative identified C16:0-dihydroBM, which was synthesized and used as a standard to quantify BM derivatives in coral extracts. The results indicated that relative amounts of BM derivatives made up to 95% of the total BM (w/w) absorbed in coral tissue after 7 days of exposure. Among the remaining metabolites annotated, seven compounds significantly affected by BM exposure could be attributed to the coral dinoflagellate symbiont, indicating that BM exposure might impair the photosynthetic capacity of the holobiont. The present results suggest that the potential role of BM in coral bleaching in anthropogenic areas should be investigated and that BM derivatives should be considered in future assessments on the fate and effects of BM in the environment.}, } @article {pmid37108927, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, NH and Nguyen, PT and Otake, H and Nagata, A and Hirano, N and Imanishi-Shimizu, Y and Shimizu, K}, title = {Biodiversity of Basidiomycetous Yeasts Associated with Cladonia rei Lichen in Japan, with a Description of Microsporomyces cladoniophilus sp. nov.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9040473}, pmid = {37108927}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {For more than a century, lichens have been used as an example of dual-partner symbiosis. Recently, this has been challenged by the discovery of various basidiomycetous yeasts that coexist in multiple lichen species, among which Cladonia lichens from Europe and the United States were discovered to be highly specifically associated with the basidiomycetous yeast of the family Microsporomycetaceae. To verify this highly specific relationship, we investigated the diversity of basidiomycetous yeasts associated with Cladonia rei, a widely distributed lichen in Japan, by applying two approaches: yeast isolation from the lichen thalli and meta-barcoding analysis. We obtained 42 cultures of Cystobasidiomycetous yeast which were grouped into six lineages within the family Microsporomycetaceae. Unexpectedly, although the cystobasidiomycetes-specific primer was used, not only the cystobasidiomycetous yeasts but species from other classes were also detected via the meta-barcoding dataset; in particular, pucciniomycetous yeasts were found at a high frequency in some samples. Further, Halobasidium xiangyangense, which was detected in every sample with high abundance, is highly likely a generalist epiphytic fungus that has the ability to associate with C. rei. In the pucciniomycetous group, most of the detected species belong to the scale insect-associated yeast Septobasidium genus. In conclusion, even though Microsporomyces species are not the only yeast group associated with Cladonia lichen, our study demonstrated that the thalli of Cladonia rei lichen could be a suitable habit for them.}, } @article {pmid37108902, year = {2023}, author = {Bastías, DA and Ueno, AC and Gundel, PE}, title = {Global Change Factors Influence Plant-Epichloë Associations.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9040446}, pmid = {37108902}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {There is an increasing interest in determining the influence of global change on plant-microorganism interactions. We review the results of experiments that evaluated the effects of the global change factors carbon dioxide, ozone, temperature, drought, flooding, and salinity on plant symbioses with beneficial Epichloë endophytes. The factors affected the performance of both plants and endophytes as well as the frequency of plants symbiotic with the fungus. Elevated carbon dioxide levels and low temperatures differentially influenced the growth of plants and endophytes, which could compromise the symbioses. Furthermore, we summarise the plant stage in which the effects of the factors were quantified (vegetative, reproductive, or progeny). The factors ozone and drought were studied at all plant stages, but flooding and carbon dioxide were studied in just a few of them. While only studied in response to ozone and drought, evidence showed that the effects of these factors on symbiotic plants persisted trans-generationally. We also identified the putative mechanisms that would explain the effects of the factors on plant-endophyte associations. These mechanisms included the increased contents of reactive oxygen species and defence-related phytohormones, reduced photosynthesis, and altered levels of plant primary metabolites. Finally, we describe the counteracting mechanisms by which endophytes would mitigate the detrimental effects of the factors on plants. In presence of the factors, endophytes increased the contents of antioxidants, reduced the levels of defence-related phytohormones, and enhanced the plant uptake of nutrients and photosynthesis levels. Knowledge gaps regarding the effects of global change on plant-endophyte associations were identified and discussed.}, } @article {pmid37108895, year = {2023}, author = {Sáenz-Hidalgo, HK and Jacobo-Cuellar, JL and Zúñiga-Rodríguez, E and Avila-Quezada, GD and Olalde-Portugal, V and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF}, title = {Soil Structure and Ectomycorrhizal Root Colonization of Pecan Orchards in Northern Mexico.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9040440}, pmid = {37108895}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Pecan trees form a symbiotic relationship with ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM), which actively provide nutrition to the roots and protect them from phytopathogens. Although these trees originated in the southern United States and northern Mexico, information on their root colonization by ECM is insufficient in terms of a representative number of samples, both in these regions and worldwide. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the percentage of ectomycorrhizal colonization (ECM) of pecan trees of different ages in conventional and organic agronomic orchards and to identify ectomycorrhizal sporocarps, both morphologically and molecularly. The rhizospheric soil properties and the ECM percentages were analyzed for 14 Western variety pecan tree orchards between 3 and 48 years of age and grouped according to the agronomic management method. DNA extraction, internal transcribed spacer amplification, and sequencing were conducted on the fungal macroforms. The ECM colonization percentage fluctuated between 31.44 and 59.89%. Soils with low phosphorus content showed higher ECM colonization. The ECM concentrations were relatively homogeneous in relation to the ages of the trees, and organic matter content did not affect the percentage of ECM colonization. The highest ECM percentages occurred with the sandy clay crumb texture soil, with an average of 55% ECM, followed by sandy clay loam soils with 49.5%. The Pisolithus arenarius and Pisolithus tinctorius fungi were molecularly identified from sporocarps associated with pecan trees. This is the first study that reports Pisolithus arenarius as being associated with this tree.}, } @article {pmid37108878, year = {2023}, author = {Si, H and Wang, Y and Liu, Y and Li, S and Bose, T and Chang, R}, title = {Fungal Diversity Associated with Thirty-Eight Lichen Species Revealed a New Genus of Endolichenic Fungi, Intumescentia gen. nov. (Teratosphaeriaceae).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof9040423}, pmid = {37108878}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungi from the Teratosphaeriaceae (Mycosphaerellales; Dothideomycetes; Ascomycota) have a wide range of lifestyles. Among these are a few species that are endolichenic fungi. However, the known diversity of endolichenic fungi from Teratosphaeriaceae is far less understood compared to other lineages of Ascomycota. We conducted five surveys from 2020 to 2021 in Yunnan Province of China, to explore the biodiversity of endolichenic fungi. During these surveys, we collected multiple samples of 38 lichen species. We recovered a total of 205 fungal isolates representing 127 species from the medullary tissues of these lichens. Most of these isolates were from Ascomycota (118 species), and the remaining were from Basidiomycota (8 species) and Mucoromycota (1 species). These endolichenic fungi represented a wide variety of guilds, including saprophytes, plant pathogens, human pathogens, as well as entomopathogenic, endolichenic, and symbiotic fungi. Morphological and molecular data indicated that 16 of the 206 fungal isolates belonged to the family Teratosphaeriaceae. Among these were six isolates that had a low sequence similarity with any of the previously described species of Teratosphaeriaceae. For these six isolates, we amplified additional gene regions and conducted phylogenetic analyses. In both single gene and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses using ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB2, TEF1, ACT, and CAL data, these six isolates emerged as a monophyletic lineage within the family Teratosphaeriaceae and sister to a clade that included fungi from the genera Acidiella and Xenopenidiella. The analyses also indicated that these six isolates represented four species. Therefore, we established a new genus, Intumescentia gen. nov., to describe these species as Intumescentia ceratinae, I. tinctorum, I. pseudolivetorum, and I. vitii. These four species are the first endolichenic fungi representing Teratosphaeriaceae from China.}, } @article {pmid37108411, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Sun, Z and Liu, H and Yue, L and Wang, F and Liu, S and Su, B and Liu, B and Kong, F and Fang, C}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Soybean Snf2 Gene Family and Expression Response to Rhizobia.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms24087250}, pmid = {37108411}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Sucrose nonfermenting 2 (Snf2) family proteins are the core component of chromatin remodeling complexes that can alter chromatin structure and nucleosome position by utilizing the energy of ATP, playing a vital role in transcription regulation, DNA replication, and DNA damage repair. Snf2 family proteins have been characterized in various species including plants, and they have been found to regulate development and stress responses in Arabidopsis. Soybean (Glycine max) is an important food and economic crop worldwide, unlike other non-leguminous crops, soybeans can form a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation. However, little is known about Snf2 family proteins in soybean. In this study, we identified 66 Snf2 family genes in soybean that could be classified into six groups like Arabidopsis, unevenly distributed on 20 soybean chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis revealed that these 66 Snf2 family genes could be divided into 18 subfamilies. Collinear analysis showed that segmental duplication was the main mechanism for expansion of Snf2 genes rather than tandem repeats. Further evolutionary analysis indicated that the duplicated gene pairs had undergone purifying selection. All Snf2 proteins contained seven domains, and each Snf2 protein had at least one SNF2_N domain and one Helicase_C domain. Promoter analysis revealed that most Snf2 genes had cis-elements associated with jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and nodule specificity in their promoter regions. Microarray data and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that the expression profiles of most Snf2 family genes were detected in both root and nodule tissues, and some of them were found to be significantly downregulated after rhizobial infection. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the soybean Snf2 family genes and demonstrated their responsiveness to Rhizobia infection. This provides insight into the potential roles of Snf2 family genes in soybean symbiotic nodulation.}, } @article {pmid37107555, year = {2023}, author = {Nzepang, DT and Gully, D and Nguepjop, JR and Zaiya Zazou, A and Tossim, HA and Sambou, A and Rami, JF and Hocher, V and Fall, S and Svistoonoff, S and Fonceka, D}, title = {Mapping of QTLs Associated with Biological Nitrogen Fixation Traits in Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) Using an Interspecific Population Derived from the Cross between the Cultivated Species and Its Wild Ancestors.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/genes14040797}, pmid = {37107555}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are an allotetraploid grain legume mainly cultivated by poor farmers in Africa, in degraded soil and with low input systems. Further understanding nodulation genetic mechanisms could be a relevant option to facilitate the improvement of yield and lift up soil without synthetic fertilizers. We used a subset of 83 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from the cross between a wild synthetic tetraploid AiAd (Arachis ipaensis × Arachis duranensis)[4×] and the cultivated variety Fleur11, and evaluated them for traits related to BNF under shade-house conditions. Three treatments were tested: without nitrogen; with nitrogen; and without nitrogen, but with added0 Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ISRA400. The leaf chlorophyll content and total biomass were used as surrogate traits for BNF. We found significant variations for both traits specially linked to BNF, and four QTLs (quantitative trait loci) were consistently mapped. At all QTLs, the wild alleles decreased the value of the trait, indicating a negative effect on BNF. A detailed characterization of the lines carrying those QTLs in controlled conditions showed that the QTLs affected the nitrogen fixation efficiency, nodule colonization, and development. Our results provide new insights into peanut nodulation mechanisms and could be used to target BNF traits in peanut breeding programs.}, } @article {pmid37107093, year = {2023}, author = {Moore-Machacek, A and Gloe, A and O'Leary, N and Reen, FJ}, title = {Efflux, Signaling and Warfare in a Polymicrobial World.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antibiotics12040731}, pmid = {37107093}, issn = {2079-6382}, support = {SSPC-3,12/RC/2275_2/SFI_/Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; HRB-ILP-POR-2019-004/HRBI_/Health Research Board/Ireland ; }, abstract = {The discovery void of antimicrobial development has occurred at a time when the world has seen a rapid emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, the 'perfect storm' as it has often been described. While the discovery and development of new antibiotics has continued in the research sphere, the pipeline to clinic has largely been fed by derivatives of existing classes of antibiotics, each prone to pre-existing resistance mechanisms. A novel approach to infection management has come from the ecological perspective whereby microbial networks and evolved communities already possess small molecular capabilities for pathogen control. The spatiotemporal nature of microbial interactions is such that mutualism and parasitism are often two ends of the same stick. Small molecule efflux inhibitors can directly target antibiotic efflux, a primary resistance mechanism adopted by many species of bacteria and fungi. However, a much broader anti-infective capability resides within the action of these inhibitors, borne from the role of efflux in key physiological and virulence processes, including biofilm formation, toxin efflux, and stress management. Understanding how these behaviors manifest within complex polymicrobial communities is key to unlocking the full potential of the advanced repertoires of efflux inhibitors.}, } @article {pmid37106828, year = {2023}, author = {Barou, V and Rincón, A and Calvet, C and Camprubí, A and Parladé, J}, title = {Aromatic Plants and Their Associated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Outcompete Tuber melanosporum in Compatibility Assays with Truffle-Oaks.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology12040628}, pmid = {37106828}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The high value of black truffle recompenses the slow growth of the fungus when established in the field. Adding a secondary crop, such as medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), could further enhance the sustainability of truffle production agro-forest systems. The dual cultures of ectomycorrhizal truffle-oak seedlings and MAPs (lavender, thyme, and sage) previously inoculated and non-inoculated with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), were established to evaluate plant-fungi relationships. After 12 months in a shadehouse, plants' growth, mycorrhizal colonization, and extraradical soil mycelium (both of Tuber melanosporum and AMF) were measured. Overall, truffle-oaks' growth was negatively affected by the presence of MAPs, especially when inoculated with AMF. In turn, the presence of truffle-oaks barely affected the co-cultured MAPs, and only lavenders showed a significant growth reduction. All AMF-inoculated MAPs showed higher shoot and root biomass than non-inoculated ones. Compared to truffle-oaks growing alone, the presence of co-cultured MAPs, especially when they were AMF-inoculated, significantly decreased both the ectomycorrhizas and soil mycelium of T. melanosporum. These results reveal the strong competition between AMF and T. melanosporum and warn about the need for the protection of intercropping plants and their associated symbiotic fungi to avoid reciprocal counterproductive effects in mixed truffle-oak-AMF-MAP plantations.}, } @article {pmid37103218, year = {2023}, author = {Xie, R and Dong, C and Wang, S and Danso, B and Dar, MA and Pandit, RS and Pawar, KD and Geng, A and Zhu, D and Li, X and Xu, Q and Sun, J}, title = {Host-Specific Diversity of Culturable Bacteria in the Gut Systems of Fungus-Growing Termites and Their Potential Functions towards Lignocellulose Bioconversion.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040403}, pmid = {37103218}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites are eusocial insects that represent one of the most efficient and unique systems for lignocellulose bioconversion, evolved from a sophisticated symbiosis with lignocellulolytic fungi and gut bacterial communities. Despite a plethora of information generated during the last century, some essential information on gut bacterial profiles and their unique contributions to wood digestion in some fungus-growing termites is still inadequate. Hence, using the culture-dependent approach, the present study aims to assess and compare the diversity of lignocellulose-degrading bacterial symbionts within the gut systems of three fungus-growing termites: Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, Odontotermes longignathus, and Macrotermes sp. A total of 32 bacterial species, belonging to 18 genera and 10 different families, were successfully isolated and identified from three fungus-growing termites using Avicel or xylan as the sole source of carbon. Enterobacteriaceae was the most dominant family represented by 68.1% of the total bacteria, followed by Yersiniaceae (10.6%) and Moraxellaceae (9%). Interestingly, five bacterial genera such as Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Trabulsiella, and Kluyvera were common among the tested termites, while the other bacteria demonstrated a termite-specific distribution. Further, the lignocellulolytic potential of selected bacterial strains was tested on agricultural waste to evaluate their capability for lignocellulose bioconversion. The highest substrate degradation was achieved with E. chengduensis MA11 which degraded 45.52% of rice straw. All of the potential strains showed endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and xylanase activities depicting a symbiotic role towards the lignocellulose digestion within the termite gut. The above results indicated that fungus-growing termites harbor a diverse array of bacterial symbionts that differ from species to species, which may play an inevitable role to enhance the degradation efficacy in lignocellulose decomposition. The present study further elaborates our knowledge about the termite-bacteria symbiosis for lignocellulose bioconversion which could be helpful to design a future biorefinery.}, } @article {pmid37103216, year = {2023}, author = {Lv, N and Peng, J and He, ZQ and Wen, Q and Su, ZQ and Ali, S and Liu, CZ and Qiu, BL}, title = {The Dynamic Distribution of Wolbachia and Rickettsia in AsiaII1 Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040401}, pmid = {37103216}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Wolbachia and Rickettsia are bacterial endosymbionts that can induce a number of reproductive abnormalities in their arthropod hosts. We screened and established the co-infection of Wolbachia and Rickettsia in Bemisia tabaci and compared the spatial and temporal distribution of Wolbachia and Rickettsia in eggs (3-120 h after spawning), nymphs, and adults of B. tabaci by qPCR quantification and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The results show that the titer of Wolbachia and Rickettsia in the 3-120 h old eggs showed a "w" patterned fluctuation, while the titers of Wolbachia and Rickettsia had a "descending-ascending descending-ascending" change process. The titers of Rickettsia and Wolbachia nymphal and the adult life stages of Asia II1 B. tabaci generally increased with the development of whiteflies. However, the location of Wolbachia and Rickettsia in the egg changed from egg stalk to egg base, and then from egg base to egg posterior, and finally back to the middle of the egg. These results will provide basic information on the quantity and localization of Wolbachia and Rickettsia within different life stages of B. tabaci. These findings help to understand the dynamics of the vertical transmission of symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid37103129, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and An, Z and Luo, J and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Niu, L and Gao, X and Cui, J}, title = {Parasitization of Aphis gossypii Glover by Binodoxys communis Gahan Causes Shifts in the Ovarian Bacterial Microbiota.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/insects14040314}, pmid = {37103129}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aphis gossypii Glover is an important agricultural pest distributed worldwide. Binodoxys communis Gahan is the main parasitoid wasp of A. gossypii. Previous studies have shown that parasitization causes reduced egg production in A. gossypii, but the effects of parasitism on the symbiotic bacteria in the host ovaries are unknown.

RESULTS: In this study, we analyzed the microbial communities in the ovaries of A. gossypii without and after parasitization. Whether parasitized or not, Buchnera was the dominant genus of symbiotic bacteria in the ovaries, followed by facultative symbionts including Arsenophonus, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. The relative abundance of Buchnera in the aphid ovary increased after parasitization for 1 d in both third-instar nymph and adult stages, but decreased after parasitization for 3 d. The shifts in the relative abundance of Arsenophonus in both stages were the same as those observed for Buchnera. In addition, the relative abundance of Serratia remarkably decreased after parasitization for 1 d and increased after parasitization for 3 d. A functional predictive analysis of the control and parasitized ovary microbiomes revealed that pathways primarily enriched in parasitization were "amino acid transport and metabolism" and "energy production and conversion." Finally, RT-qPCR analysis was performed on Buchnera, Arsenophonus, and Serratia. The results of RT-qPCR were the same as the results of 16S rDNA sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide a framework for investigating shifts in the microbial communities in host ovaries, which may be responsible for reduced egg production in aphids. These findings also broaden our understanding of the interactions among aphids, parasitoid wasps, and endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid37100368, year = {2023}, author = {Tariq, A and Ullah, I and Sardans, J and Graciano, C and Mussarat, S and Ullah, A and Zeng, F and Wang, W and Al-Bakre, DA and Ahmed, Z and Ali, S and Zhang, Z and Yaseen, A and Peñuelas, J}, title = {Strigolactones can be a potential tool to fight environmental stresses in arid lands.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {115966}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.115966}, pmid = {37100368}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Environmental stresses pose a significant threat to plant growth and ecosystem productivity, particularly in arid lands that are more susceptible to climate change. Strigolactones (SLs), carotenoid-derived plant hormones, have emerged as a potential tool for mitigating environmental stresses.

METHODS: This review aimed to gather information on SLs' role in enhancing plant tolerance to ecological stresses and their possible use in improving the resistance mechanisms of arid land plant species to intense aridity in the face of climate change.

RESULTS: Roots exude SLs under different environmental stresses, including macronutrient deficiency, especially phosphorus (P), which facilitates a symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF). SLs, in association with AMF, improve root system architecture, nutrient acquisition, water uptake, stomatal conductance, antioxidant mechanisms, morphological traits, and overall stress tolerance in plants. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SL-mediated acclimatization to abiotic stresses involves multiple hormonal pathways, including abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins (CK), gibberellic acid (GA), and auxin. However, most of the experiments have been conducted on crops, and little attention has been paid to the dominant vegetation in arid lands that plays a crucial role in reducing soil erosion, desertification, and land degradation. All the environmental gradients (nutrient starvation, drought, salinity, and temperature) that trigger SL biosynthesis/exudation prevail in arid regions. The above-mentioned functions of SLs can potentially be used to improve vegetation restoration and sustainable agriculture.

CONCLUSIONS: Present review concluded that knowledge on SL-mediated tolerance in plants is developed, but still in-depth research is needed on downstream signaling components in plants, SL molecular mechanisms and physiological interactions, efficient methods of synthetic SLs production, and their effective application in field conditions. This review also invites researchers to explore the possible application of SLs in improving the survival rate of indigenous vegetation in arid lands, which can potentially help combat land degradation problems.}, } @article {pmid37100299, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, H and Liu, X and Wang, Z and Zhao, P and Dang, Y and Sun, D}, title = {Enhancement of carbon sequestration via MIL-100(Fe)@PUS in bacterial-algal symbiosis treating municipal wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {129083}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129083}, pmid = {37100299}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Bacterial-algal symbiosis (BAS) is a promising carbon neutrality technology to treat municipal wastewater. However, there are still non-trivial CO2 emissions in BAS due to the slow diffusion and biosorption of CO2. Aiming to reduce CO2 emissions, the inoculation ratio of aerobic sludge to algae was further optimized at 4:1 on the base of favorable carbon conversion. MIL-100(Fe) served as CO2 adsorbents was immobilized on polyurethane sponge (PUS) to increase the interaction with microbes. When MIL-100(Fe)@PUS was added to BAS in the treatment of municipal wastewater, zero CO2 emission was achieved and the carbon sequestration efficiency was increased from 79.9% to 89.0%. Most genes related to metabolic function were derived from Proteobacteria and Chlorophyta. The mechanism of enhanced carbon sequestration in BAS could be attributed to both enrichment of algae (Chlorella and Micractinium) and increased abundance of functional genes related to PS I, PS II and Calvin cycle in photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid37099288, year = {2023}, author = {Kubodera, Y and Xu, Y and Yamaguchi, Y and Matsuo, M and Fujii, M and Kageyama, M and Steinbock, O and Nakata, S}, title = {Characteristic growth of chemical gardens from mixtures of two salts.}, journal = {Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d3cp01097j}, pmid = {37099288}, issn = {1463-9084}, abstract = {Chemical gardens formed from two metal salts (MCl2 or MSO4) have been investigated to understand the effects of mixing on the growth of precipitate tubes. The growth of tubes can be classified into three types, i.e., collaborative, inhibited, and individual growth, depending on the combination of the two metal salts. Characteristic features of tube growth are discussed in relation to the flow near the tip of the tube controlled by osmotic pressure and the solubility product, Ksp, for M(OH)2. The present study can be interpreted as an inanimate model system of symbiosis among different species, such as mixed cropping systems and survival among different kinds of microbial cells.}, } @article {pmid37098937, year = {2023}, author = {Arai, H and Takamatsu, T and Lin, SR and Mizutani, T and Omatsu, T and Katayama, Y and Nakai, M and Kunimi, Y and Inoue, MN}, title = {Diverse Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Microbe-Inducing Male Killing in the Moth Homona magnanima.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0209522}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02095-22}, pmid = {37098937}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Male killing (MK) is a type of reproductive manipulation induced by microbes, where sons of infected mothers are killed during development. MK is a strategy that enhances the fitness of the microbes, and the underlying mechanisms and the process of their evolution have attracted substantial attention. Homona magnanima, a moth, harbors two embryonic MK bacteria, namely, Wolbachia (Alphaproteobacteria) and Spiroplasma (Mollicutes), and a larval MK virus, Osugoroshi virus (OGV; Partitiviridae). However, whether the three distantly related male killers employ similar or different mechanisms to accomplish MK remains unknown. Here, we clarified the differential effects of the three male killers on the sex-determination cascades and development of H. magnanima males. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, but not OGVs, disrupted the sex-determination cascade of males by inducing female-type splice variants of doublesex (dsx), a downstream regulator of the sex-determining gene cascade. We also found that MK microbes altered host transcriptomes in different manners; Wolbachia impaired the host dosage compensation system, whereas Spiroplasma and OGVs did not. Moreover, Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, but not OGVs, triggered abnormal apoptosis in male embryos. These findings suggest that distantly related microbes employ distinct machineries to kill males of the identical host species, which would be the outcome of the convergent evolution. IMPORTANCE Many microbes induce male killing (MK) in various insect species. However, it is not well understood whether microbes adopt similar or different MK mechanisms. This gap in our knowledge is partly because different insect models have been examined for each MK microbe. Here, we compared three taxonomically distinct male killers (i.e., Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and a partiti-like virus) that infect the same host. We provided evidence that microbes can cause MK through distinct mechanisms that differ in the expression of genes involved in sex determination, dosage compensation, and apoptosis. These results imply independent evolutionary scenarios for the acquisition of their MK ability.}, } @article {pmid37098213, year = {2023}, author = {Cullimore, J and Fliegmann, J and Gasciolli, V and Gibelin-Viala, C and Carles, N and Luu, TB and Girardin, A and Cumener, M and Maillet, F and Pradeau, S and Fort, S and Bono, JJ and Gough, C and Lefebvre, B}, title = {Evolution of lipochitooligosaccharide binding to a LysM-RLK for nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad033}, pmid = {37098213}, issn = {1471-9053}, abstract = {Lysin motif receptor like kinases (LysM-RLKs) are involved in the perception of chitooligosaccharides (COs) and related lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) in plants. Expansion and divergence of the gene family during evolution have led to various roles in symbiosis and defence. By studying proteins of the LYR-IA subclass of LysM-RLKs of the Poaceae, we show here that they are high affinity LCO binding proteins with a lower affinity for COs, consistent with a role in LCO perception to establish arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). In Papilionoid legumes whole genome duplication has resulted in two LYR-IA paralogs, MtLYR1 and MtNFP in Medicago truncatula, with MtNFP playing an essential role in the root nodule symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. We show that MtLYR1 has retained the ancestral LCO binding characteristic and is dispensable for AM. Domain swapping between the three Lysin motifs (LysMs) of MtNFP and MtLYR1 and mutagenesis in MtLYR1 suggest that the MtLYR1 LCO binding site is on the second LysM, and that divergence in MtNFP led to better nodulation, but surprisingly with decreased LCO binding. These results suggest that divergence of the LCO binding site has been important for the evolution of a role of MtNFP in nodulation with rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid37097195, year = {2023}, author = {Zimmermann, SD and Gaillard, I}, title = {Epigenetic control is involved in molecular dialogue in plant-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18916}, pmid = {37097195}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid37096792, year = {2023}, author = {Shoaib, M and Ali, Y and Shen, Y and Ni, J}, title = {Identification of potential natural products derived from fungus growing termite, inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing protein LasR using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approach.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-19}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2023.2198607}, pmid = {37096792}, issn = {1538-0254}, abstract = {Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most common opportunistic pathogen, is becoming antibiotic-resistant worldwide. The fate of P. aeruginosa, a multidrug-resistant strain, can be determined by multidrug efflux pumps, enzyme synthesis, outer membrane protein depletion, and target alterations. Microbial niches have long used quorum sensing (QS) to synchronize virulence gene expression. Computational methods can aid in the development of novel P. aeruginosa drug-resistant treatments. The tripartite symbiosis in termites that grow fungus may help special microbes find new antimicrobial drugs. To find anti-quorum sensing natural products that could be used as alternative therapies, a library of 376 fungal-growing termite-associated natural products (NPs) was screened for their physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness. Using GOLD, the top 74 NPs were docked to the QS transcriptional regulator LasR protein. The five lead NPs with the highest gold score and drug-like properties were chosen for a 200-ns molecular dynamics simulation to test the competitive activity of different compounds against negative catechin. Fridamycin and Daidzein had stable conformations, with mean RMSDs of 2.48 and 3.67 Å, respectively, which were similar to Catechin's 3.22 Å. Fridamycin and Daidzein had absolute binding energies of -71.186 and -52.013 kcal/mol, respectively, which were higher than the control's -42.75 kcal/mol. All the compounds within the active site of the LasR protein were kept intact by Trp54, Arg55, Asp67, and Ser123. These findings indicate that termite gut and fungus-associated NPs, specifically Fridamycin and Daidzein, are potent QS antagonists that can be used to treat P. aeruginosa's multidrug resistance.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.}, } @article {pmid37096317, year = {2023}, author = {Nwaefuna, AE and Boekhout, T and Garcia-Aloy, M and Vrhovsek, U and Zhou, N}, title = {Diversity of dung beetle-associated yeasts from pristine environments of Botswana.}, journal = {Yeast (Chichester, England)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/yea.3852}, pmid = {37096317}, issn = {1097-0061}, abstract = {Yeast-insect interactions are increasingly becoming an attractive source of discovery for previously unknown, unique, diverse, and industrially relevant yeast species. Despite a wealth of studies that have recently focused on yeasts in symbiotic association with Hymenopteran insects, yeasts associated with Coleopteran insects, such as lignocellulosic-rich dung-dependent beetles, remain poorly studied. Trends in yeast discovery suggest that species richness and diversity can be attributed to the ecological niche of the insect. Here, we considered the potential of dung beetles inhabiting the extreme environments of Botswana, characterized by desert-like conditions (semi-arid to arid and hot) as well as protected pristine environments, as possible attribute niches that can shape the extremophilic and diverse life history strategies of yeasts. We obtained a total of 97 phylogenetically diverse yeast isolates from six species of dung beetles from Botswana's unexplored environments, representing 19 species belonging to 11 genera. The findings suggest that the guts of dung beetles are a rich niche for non-Saccharomyces yeast species. Meyerozyma and Pichia were the most dominant genera associated with dung beetles, representing 55% (53 out of 97) of the yeast isolates in our study. Trichosporon and Cutaneotrichosporon genera represented 32% (31 out of 97) of the isolates. The remaining isolates belonged to Apiotrichum, Candida, Diutina, Naganishia, Rhodotorula, and Wickerhamiella genera (12 out of 97). We found out that about 62% (60 out of 97) of the isolates were potentially new species because of their low internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence similarity when compared to the most recent optimal species delineation threshold. A single isolate was unidentifiable using the ITS sequences. Using an in silico polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism approach, we revealed that there was genetic diversity within isolates of the same species. Our results contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the diversity of dung beetle-associated yeasts.}, } @article {pmid37094805, year = {2023}, author = {Goldstein, EB and de Anda Acosta, Y and Henry, LM and Parker, BJ}, title = {Variation in density, immune gene suppression, and co-infection outcomes among strains of the aphid endosymbiont Regiella insecticola.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpad071}, pmid = {37094805}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Many insects harbor heritable microbes that influence host phenotypes. Symbiont strains establish at different densities within hosts. This variation is important evolutionarily because within-host density has been linked to the costs and benefits of the symbiosis for both partners. Studying the factors shaping within-host density is important to our broader understanding of host-microbe coevolution. Here we focused on different strains of Regiella insecticola, a facultative symbiont of aphids. We first showed that strains of Regiella establish in pea aphids at drastically different densities. We then found that variation in density is correlated with the expression levels of two key insect immune system genes (phenoloxidase and hemocytin), with the suppression of immune gene expression correlating with higher Regiella density. We then performed an experiment where we established co-infections of a higher- and a lower-density Regiella strain, and we showed that the higher-density strain is better able to persist in co-infections than the lower-density strain. Together, our results point to a potential mechanism that contributes to strain-level variation in symbiont density in this system, and our data suggest that symbiont fitness may be increased by establishing at higher density within hosts. Our work highlights the importance of within-host dynamics shaping symbiont evolution.}, } @article {pmid37094687, year = {2023}, author = {Li, C and Jia, Z and Zhang, S and Li, T and Ma, S and Cheng, X and Chen, M and Nie, H and Zhai, L and Zhang, B and Liu, X and Zhang, J and Müller, C}, title = {The positive effects of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculants on asymbiotic nitrogen fixation of abandoned mine soils are driven by keystone phylotype.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163663}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163663}, pmid = {37094687}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Toward the restoration of the increasing numbers of abandoned mines across China, external-soil spray seeding technologies have become more extensively utilized. However, considerable challenges remain that seriously hamper the effectiveness of these technologies, such as inadequate nutrient availability for plants. Previous studies have shown that mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculants can increase the nodules of legumes. However, their effects on symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF), and diazotrophic communities remain unknown. Further, research into the application of functional microorganisms for the restoration of abandoned mines has been conducted either in greenhouses, or their application in the field has been too brief. Thus, we established a four-year field experiment in an abandoned mine and quantified the SNF, ANF, and diazotrophic communities. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the long-term application of specific functional microorganisms for the remediation of abandoned mine sites in the field. We revealed that mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculants significantly increased the soil ANF rate and SNF content. There was no significant correlation between the diazotrophic alpha diversity and soil ANF rate; however, there were strong positive associations between the relative abundance and biodiversity of keystone phylotype (module #5) within ecological clusters and the ANF rate. Molecular ecological networks indicated that microbial inoculants increased network complexity and stability. Moreover, the inoculants significantly enhanced the deterministic ratio of diazotrophic communities. Furthermore, homogeneous selection predominantly mediated the assembly of soil diazotrophic communities. It was concluded that mineral-solubilizing microorganisms played a critical role in maintaining and enhancing nitrogen, which offers a new solution with great potential for the restoration of ecosystems at abandoned mine sites.}, } @article {pmid37095601, year = {2023}, author = {Haskey, N and Estaki, M and Ye, J and Shim, RK and Singh, S and Dieleman, LA and Jacobson, K and Gibson, DL}, title = {A Mediterranean Diet Pattern improves intestinal inflammation concomitant with reshaping of the bacteriome in ulcerative colitis: A randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {Journal of Crohn's & colitis}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad073}, pmid = {37095601}, issn = {1876-4479}, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dietary patterns are important in managing ulcerative colitis (UC), given their influence on gut microbiome-host symbiosis and inflammation. We investigated whether the Mediterranean Diet Pattern (MDP) vs the Canadian Habitual Diet Pattern (CHD) would impact disease activity, inflammation and the gut microbiome in patients with quiescent UC.

METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized control trial in adults (65% female; median age 47 y) with quiescent UC in an outpatient setting from 2017 to 2021. Participants were randomized to a MDP (n=15) or CHD (n=13) for 12 weeks. Disease activity (Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index) and fecal calprotectin (FC) were measured at baseline and week 12. Stool samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

RESULTS: The diet was well-tolerated by the MDP group. At week 12, 75% (9/12) of participants in the CHD had a FC >100 μg/g, versus 20% (3/15) of participants in the MDP group. The MDP group had higher levels of total fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (p=0.01), acetic acid (p=0.03) and butyric acid (p=0.03) compared to the CHD. Furthermore, the MDP-induced alterations in microbial species associated with a protective role in colitis (Alistipes finegoldii and Flavonifractor plautii), as well as the production of SCFAs (Ruminococcus bromii).

CONCLUSIONS: A MDP induces gut microbiome alterations associated with the maintenance of clinical remission and reduced FCin patients with quiescent UC. The data supports that a MDP is a sustainable diet pattern that could be recommended as a maintenance diet and adjunctive therapy for UC patients in clinical remission. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT0305371.}, } @article {pmid37095327, year = {2023}, author = {Kreuzenbeck, NB and Dhiman, S and Roman, D and Burkhardt, I and Conlon, BH and Fricke, J and Guo, H and Blume, J and Görls, H and Poulsen, M and Dickschat, JS and Köllner, TG and Arndt, HD and Beemelmanns, C}, title = {Isolation, (bio)synthetic studies and evaluation of antimicrobial properties of drimenol-type sesquiterpenes of Termitomyces fungi.}, journal = {Communications chemistry}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {79}, pmid = {37095327}, issn = {2399-3669}, abstract = {Macrotermitinae termites have farmed fungi in the genus Termitomyces as a food source for millions of years. However, the biochemical mechanisms orchestrating this mutualistic relationship are largely unknown. To deduce fungal signals and ecological patterns that relate to the stability of this symbiosis, we explored the volatile organic compound (VOC) repertoire of Termitomyces from Macrotermes natalensis colonies. Results show that mushrooms emit a VOC pattern that differs from mycelium grown in fungal gardens and laboratory cultures. The abundance of sesquiterpenoids from mushrooms allowed targeted isolation of five drimane sesquiterpenes from plate cultivations. The total synthesis of one of these, drimenol, and related drimanes assisted in structural and comparative analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and antimicrobial activity testing. Enzyme candidates putatively involved in terpene biosynthesis were heterologously expressed and while these were not involved in the biosynthesis of the complete drimane skeleton, they catalyzed the formation of two structurally related monocyclic sesquiterpenes named nectrianolins.}, } @article {pmid37093231, year = {2023}, author = {Ichige, R and Urabe, J}, title = {Divergence of the Host-Associated Microbiota with the Genetic Distance of Host Individuals Within a Parthenogenetic Daphnia Species.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37093231}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {The taxonomic composition of the microbiota in the gut and epidermis of animals is known to vary among genetically and physiologically different host individuals within the same species. However, it is not clear whether the taxonomic composition diverges with increasing genetic distance of the host individuals. To unveil this uncertainty, we compared the host-associated microbiota among the genotypes within and between genetically distant lineages of parthenogenetic Daphnia cf. pulex across different physiological states, namely, well-fed, starved, and dead. Metagenomic analysis with 16S rRNA showed that, regardless of the host genotypes, diversity of the host-associated microbiota was high when the host individuals were fed food and gradually decreased when they were starved until they died. However, the difference in the host-associated microbiota, that is, β-diversity, was significant among the genotypes within and between the host lineages when they were fed. Although some bacteria in the microbiota, such as Limnohabitans, Rhodococcus, and Aeromicrobium, were found abundantly and commonly in all host genotypes; others, such as those of Holosoporacea, were found only in the genotypes of a specific lineage. Accordingly, the β-diversity tended to increase with increasing genetic distance of the host individuals. These results support an idea that the host-associated microbiota diverged with genetic divergence in the host species and that at least some bacteria are highly dependent on the genetically specific metabolites produced by the host individuals.}, } @article {pmid37089632, year = {2022}, author = {Kitahara, M and Nagamune, K and Kinoshita, A and Yugeta, C and Ohara, N and Shimazaki, A and Yamashita, Y and Yukawa, T and Endo, N and Ogura-Tsujita, Y}, title = {In-vitro symbiotic germination of seeds of five mycoheterotrophic Gastrodia orchids with Mycena and Marasmiaceae fungi.}, journal = {Mycoscience}, volume = {63}, number = {3}, pages = {88-95}, pmid = {37089632}, issn = {1340-3540}, abstract = {We performed in-vitro germination tests on seeds from five Gastrodia orchids (G. confusa, G. elata var. elata, G. elata var. pallens, G. nipponica, and G. pubilabiata) using one Marasmiaceae and two Mycena isolates. Mycena sp. 1 promoted germination of all five Gastrodia orchids, with root and/or tuber formation observed in G. confusa, G. nipponica, and G. pubilabiata. No additional growth was observed in the other two orchids. Mycena sp. 2 induced G. confusa, G. elata var. elata, and G. nipponica germination, whereas Marasmiaceae sp. 1 induced G. nipponica and G. pubilabiata germination. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the two Mycena isolates represent distinct lineages within the Mycenaceae. Mycena sp. 1 and Marasmiaceae sp. 1 are closely related to Mycena abramsii and Marasmiellus rhizomorphogenus, respectively. Our results imply that Mycena and marasmioid fungi play important roles in early development in Gastrodia species, and that Mycena fungi in particular may be common mycobionts of Gastrodia species. Root and/or tuber development was observed with four plant-fungus combinations, implying that these associations persist throughout the life cycle, whereas G. elata var. elata may require different associates over time. Our findings will contribute to elucidating the mycorrhizal associations of mycoheterotrophic orchids throughout their life cycle.}, } @article {pmid37089560, year = {2023}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Kueneman, J and Argueta-Guzmán, M and McFrederick, QS and Grant, L and Wcislo, W and Buchmann, S and Danforth, BN}, title = {Bee breweries: The unusually fermentative, lactobacilli-dominated brood cell microbiomes of cellophane bees.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1114849}, pmid = {37089560}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Pathogens and parasites of solitary bees have been studied for decades, but the microbiome as a whole is poorly understood for most taxa. Comparative analyses of microbiome features such as composition, abundance, and specificity, can shed light on bee ecology and the evolution of host-microbe interactions. Here we study microbiomes of ground-nesting cellophane bees (Colletidae: Diphaglossinae). From a microbial point of view, the diphaglossine genus Ptiloglossa is particularly remarkable: their larval provisions are liquid and smell consistently of fermentation. We sampled larval provisions and various life stages from wild nests of Ptiloglossa arizonensis and two species of closely related genera: Caupolicana yarrowi and Crawfordapis luctuosa. We also sampled nectar collected by P. arizonensis. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we find that larval provisions of all three bee species are near-monocultures of lactobacilli. Nectar communities are more diverse, suggesting ecological filtering. Shotgun metagenomic and phylogenetic data indicate that Ptiloglossa culture multiple species and strains of Apilactobacillus, which circulate among bees and flowers. Larval lactobacilli disappear before pupation, and hence are likely not vertically transmitted, but rather reacquired from flowers as adults. Thus, brood cell microbiomes are qualitatively similar between diphaglossine bees and other solitary bees: lactobacilli-dominated, environmentally acquired, and non-species-specific. However, shotgun metagenomes provide evidence of a shift in bacterial abundance. As compared with several other bee species, Ptiloglossa have much higher ratios of bacterial to plant biomass in larval provisions, matching the unusually fermentative smell of their brood cells. Overall, Ptiloglossa illustrate a path by which hosts can evolve quantitatively novel symbioses: not by acquiring or domesticating novel symbionts, but by altering the microenvironment to favor growth of already widespread and generalist microbes.}, } @article {pmid37089523, year = {2022}, author = {Yamada, A}, title = {Cultivation studies of edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms: successful establishment of ectomycorrhizal associations in vitro and efficient production of fruiting bodies.}, journal = {Mycoscience}, volume = {63}, number = {6}, pages = {235-246}, pmid = {37089523}, issn = {1340-3540}, abstract = {Most edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms are harvested in forests or controlled tree plantations; examples include truffles, chanterelles, porcinis, saffron milk caps, and matsutake. This study explored recent advances in in vitro ectomycorrhizal cultivation of chanterelles and matsutakes for successful ectomycorrhizal seedling establishment and the subsequent manipulation of these seedlings for efficient fruiting body production. Chanterelle cultivation studies have been limited due to the difficulty of establishing pure cultures. However, once pure cultures were established in the Japanese yellow chanterelle (Cantharellus anzutake), its ectomycorrhizal manipulation produced fruiting bodies under controlled laboratory conditions. As C. anzutake strains have fruited repeatedly under ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with pine and oak seedlings, mating tests for the cross breeding are ongoing issues. As one of the established strains C-23 has full-genome sequence, its application for various type of ectomycorrhizal studies is also expected. By contrast, Tricholoma matsutake fruiting bodies have not yet been produced under controlled conditions, despite successful establishment of ectomycorrhizal seedlings. At present, the shiro structure of ≈1L in volume can be provided in two y incubation with pine hosts under controlled environmental conditions. Therefore, further studies that provides larger shiro on the host root system are desired for the outplantation trial and fruiting.}, } @article {pmid37092010, year = {2022}, author = {Furtado, ANM and Comandini, O and Leonardi, M and Rinaldi, AC and Neves, MA}, title = {Morpho-anatomical and molecular characterization of a native mycorrhizal Amanita species associated with Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae) in the brazilian Atlantic Forest.}, journal = {Mycoscience}, volume = {63}, number = {2}, pages = {73-78}, pmid = {37092010}, issn = {1340-3540}, abstract = {In this work, we characterize naturally occurring mycorrhizae formed by Amanita viscidolutea on Guapira opposita in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. We sequenced the rDNA ITS region from the mycorrhizae and basidiomata to identify both symbionts. Amanita viscidolutea mycorrhizae were up to 43 mm long, mostly simple, and unbranched to irregularly pinnate. The fungal mantle surface was velvety to slightly cottony and white to yellowish with silver patches. Hyphal strands were infrequently present. Although the fungal mantle consisted of clampless hyphae, emanating hyphae and hyphal strands had sparsely distributed clamp connections. A unique character of the mycorrhizae was the absence of a Hartig net.}, } @article {pmid37091219, year = {2022}, author = {Kobayashi, Y and Katsuren, M and Hojo, M and Wada, S and Terashima, Y and Kawaguchi, M and Tokuda, G and Kinjo, K and Shigenobu, S}, title = {Taxonomic revision of Termitomyces species found in Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, based on phylogenetic analyses with three loci.}, journal = {Mycoscience}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {33-38}, pmid = {37091219}, issn = {1340-3540}, abstract = {Fungi in the genus Termitomyces are external symbionts of fungus-growing termites. The three rhizogenic Termitomyces species T. eurrhizus, T. clypeatus, and T. intermedius, and one species similar to T. microcarpus that lacks pseudorrhiza, have been reported from Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. In contrast, only two genetic groups (types A and B) of Termitomyces vegetative mycelia have been detected in nests of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus. In this study, we investigated the relationships between the mycelial genetic groups and the basidiomata of Termitomyces samples from the Ryukyu Archipelago. We found that all the basidioma specimens and the type B mycelia formed one clade that we identified as T. intermedius. Another clade consisted of the type A mycelia, which showed similarity to T. microcarpus, was identified as T. fragilis. Our results indicate that the Japanese T. eurrhizus and T. clypeatus specimens should re-named as T. intermedius.}, } @article {pmid37090175, year = {2021}, author = {Itagaki, H and Hosoya, T}, title = {Lifecycle of Pyrenopeziza protrusa (Helotiales, Dermateaceae sensu lato) in Magnolia obovata revealed by field observation and molecular quantification.}, journal = {Mycoscience}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {373-381}, pmid = {37090175}, issn = {1340-3540}, abstract = {Fungi exhibit saprophytic, parasitic, and symbiotic lifestyles, and flexibly switching between them by the environmental changes and host conditions. However, only a few studies have elucidated the detailed changes in fungal DNA or morphology, including the formation of reproductive structures along with lifestyle switching. We hypothesized that Pyrenopeziza protrusa, which occurs abundantly and specifically on Magnolia obovata as a saprophyte, is also associated with living hosts and switches its lifestyles as part of its lifecycle. To elucidate this hypothesis, we periodically sampled the fresh/fallen leaves of M. obovata to observe the seasonal occurrence of reproductive structures for the isolation and detection/quantification of P. protrusa DNA with newly developed species-specific primers. The isolation frequency and amount of P. protrusa DNA drastically increased in the fresh leaves just before defoliation in autumn, but remained high in fallen leaves from autumn to spring. Abundant production of conidiomata and apothecia was also observed in the fallen leaves with increasing DNA content. These results clarified a large part of the lifecycle of P. protrusa, suggesting that the lifestyle is switched from symbiotic to saprophytic stage by significantly increasing the amount of DNA in response to host conditions according to the seasonal variations.}, } @article {pmid37088849, year = {2023}, author = {Mills, TJT and Nelson, TM and Pearson, LA and Neilan, BA}, title = {Hive Transplantation Has Minimal Impact on the Core Gut Microbiome of the Australian Stingless Bee, Tetragonula carbonaria.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37088849}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Bacteria residing in the guts of pollinating insects play a key role in nutrient acquisition, digestion, and resistance to pests and diseases. Imbalances in microbial flora in response to environmental change and stress can therefore impact insect health and resilience. This study is aimed at defining the core gut microbiome of the Australian native stingless bee, Tetragonula carbonaria, and exploring the impact of colony transplantation on gut health. The gut microbiomes of nine forager bees from natural (log) and manufactured (box) hives were examined via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Some differences were observed at the ASV level between the microbiomes of log and box hive bees. However, a core microbiome, dominated by Lactobacillus spp., unclassified Acetobacteraceae spp., and Bombella spp., was maintained. Further, the inferred functional potential of the microbiomes was consistent across all individuals. This study highlights that although hive transplantation has an impact on the overall diversity of stingless bee gut microbiomes, it is unlikely to have a significant negative impact on the overall health and resilience of the colony.}, } @article {pmid37087003, year = {2023}, author = {Figueira-Galán, D and Heupel, S and Duelli, G and Morgano, MT and Stapf, D and Requena, N}, title = {Exploring the synergistic effects of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on phosphorus acquisition in tomato plants by using gene expression analyses.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {163506}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163506}, pmid = {37087003}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are symbiotic organisms that contribute significantly to plant mineral nutrition, mainly phosphate. However, their benefits are constricted by the availability of phosphate in the soil, and thus they are recalcitrant as amendment in highly fertilized soils. Biochars are by-products of the pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen. They can improve soil properties and act as a source of nutrients for plants. However, depending on their origin, the final composition of biochars is extremely variable and thus, their efficiency unpredictable. In order to gain mechanistic insights into how the combined application of biochars and AM fungi contribute to plant phosphate nutrition and growth, we used gene expression analyses of key symbiotic marker genes. We compared for this analysis two biochars originated from very different feedstocks (chicken manure and wheat straw) on tomato plants with or without the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Our results show that the synergy between AM fungi and biochars as P biofertilizers is greatly governed by the origin of the biochar that determines the speed at which phosphate is released to the soil and absorbed by the plant. Thus, chicken manure biochar quickly impacted on plant growth by readily releasing P, but it turned out detrimental for symbiosis formation, decreasing colonization levels and expression of key symbiotic plant marker genes such as SlPT4 or SlFatM. In contrast, wheat straw biochar was inferior at improving plant growth but stimulated the establishment of the symbiosis, producing plants with the same concentration of phosphate as those with the chicken manure. Taken together, slow P releasing biochars from plant residues appears to be a more promising amendment for long terms experiments in which biofertilizers such as AM fungi are considered. Furthermore, our results indicate that implementing plant transcriptomic analyses might help to mechanistically dissect and better understand the effects of biochars on plant growth in different scenarios.}, } @article {pmid37086198, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, Y and Yan, L and Chi, Y and Liu, Y and Zhao, Y}, title = {Protocell self-assembly driven by sodium trimetaphosphate.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202300512}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202300512}, pmid = {37086198}, issn = {1521-3765}, abstract = {The co-evolution of peptide formation and membrane self-assembly is considered an essential step in the origin of life. In this study, we systematically investigated the sodium trimetaphosphate (P3m)-activated peptide formation reaction of Phe in an alkaline decanoic acid-decanol vesicle system. The experimental results showed that the peptide formation could competitively occur with N-acyl amino acid (NAA) formation. NAA formation did not follow the traditional P3m-activated peptide formation reaction involving the intermediate cyclic acylphosphoramidate (CAPA), but a phosphoric acid- decanoic acid mixed anhydride intermediate. NAA can form vesicles independently and reduce the critical vesicle concentration of the fatty-acid vesicles. 11 other representative amino acids, namely Ala, Asp, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Pro, Ser, Thr, Val, and Arg, were selected for investigation. All of them reacted with decanoic acid to form NAA via the activation effect of P3m. Our experimental results indicate that the P3m activation effect can provide diversified raw membrane materials to form and stabilize protocell membranes; moreover, the small peptides, such as Phe-Leu, formed in the same reaction system can induce the amplification of primitive cells. This implies that synergistic symbiosis between membrane and peptide can be realized via the P3m activation effect.}, } @article {pmid37085551, year = {2023}, author = {Kiefer, JST and Bauer, E and Okude, G and Fukatsu, T and Kaltenpoth, M and Engl, T}, title = {Cuticle supplementation and nitrogen recycling by a dual bacterial symbiosis in a family of xylophagous beetles.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37085551}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Many insects engage in stable nutritional symbioses with bacteria that supplement limiting essential nutrients to their host. While several plant sap-feeding Hemipteran lineages are known to be simultaneously associated with two or more endosymbionts with complementary biosynthetic pathways to synthesize amino acids or vitamins, such co-obligate symbioses have not been functionally characterized in other insect orders. Here, we report on the characterization of a dual co-obligate, bacteriome-localized symbiosis in a family of xylophagous beetles using comparative genomics, fluorescence microscopy, and phylogenetic analyses. Across the beetle family Bostrichidae, most investigated species harbored the Bacteroidota symbiont Shikimatogenerans bostrichidophilus that encodes the shikimate pathway to produce tyrosine precursors in its severely reduced genome, likely supplementing the beetles' cuticle biosynthesis, sclerotisation, and melanisation. One clade of Bostrichid beetles additionally housed the co-obligate symbiont Bostrichicola ureolyticus that is inferred to complement the function of Shikimatogenerans by recycling urea and provisioning the essential amino acid lysine, thereby providing additional benefits on nitrogen-poor diets. Both symbionts represent ancient associations within the Bostrichidae that have subsequently experienced genome erosion and co-speciation with their hosts. While Bostrichicola was repeatedly lost, Shikimatogenerans has been retained throughout the family and exhibits a perfect pattern of co-speciation. Our results reveal that co-obligate symbioses with complementary metabolic capabilities occur beyond the well-known sap-feeding Hemiptera and highlight the importance of symbiont-mediated cuticle supplementation and nitrogen recycling for herbivorous beetles.}, } @article {pmid37085193, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, JN and Kim, D}, title = {Biofilm ecology associated with dental caries: understanding of microbial interactions in oral communities leads to development of therapeutic strategies targeting cariogenic biofilms.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {122}, number = {}, pages = {27-75}, doi = {10.1016/bs.aambs.2023.02.001}, pmid = {37085193}, issn = {0065-2164}, abstract = {A biofilm is a sessile community characterized by cells attached to the surface and organized into a complex structural arrangement. Dental caries is a biofilm-dependent oral disease caused by infection with cariogenic pathogens, such as Streptococcus mutans, and associated with frequent exposure to a sugar-rich diet and poor oral hygiene. The virulence of cariogenic biofilms is often associated with the spatial organization of S. mutans enmeshed with exopolysaccharides on tooth surfaces. However, in the oral cavity, S. mutans does not act alone, and several other microbes contribute to cariogenic biofilm formation. Microbial communities in cariogenic biofilms are spatially organized into complex structural arrangements of various microbes and extracellular matrices. The balance of microbiota diversity with reduced diversity and a high proportion of acidogenic-aciduric microbiota within the biofilm is closely related to the disease state. Understanding the characteristics of polymicrobial biofilms and the association of microbial interactions within the biofilm (e.g., symbiosis, cooperation, and competition) in terms of their potential role in the pathogenesis of oral disease would help develop new strategies for interventions in virulent biofilm formation.}, } @article {pmid37084823, year = {2023}, author = {Xuan, G and Wang, Y and Wang, Y and Lin, H and Wang, C and Wang, J}, title = {Characterization of the newly isolated phage Y3Z against multi-drug resistant Cutibacterium acnes.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {106111}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106111}, pmid = {37084823}, issn = {1096-1208}, abstract = {Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a symbiotic bacterium that plays an important role in the formation of acn e inflammatory lesions. As a common component of the acne microbiome, C. acnes phages have the potential to make a significant contribution to treating antibiotic-resistant strains of C. acnes. However, little is known about their genetic composition and diversity. In this study, a new lytic phage, Y3Z, infecting C. acne, was isolated and characterized. Electron microscopy analysis revealed this phage is a siphovirus. Phage Y3Z is composed of 29,160 bp with a GC content of 56.32%. The genome contains 40 open reading frames, 17 of which had assigned functions, while no virulence-related genes, antibiotic resistance genes or tRNA were identified. The one-step growth curve showed the burst size was 30 PFU (plaque-forming unit)/cell. And it exhibited tolerance over a broad range of pH and temperature ranges. Phage Y3Z could infect and lyse all C. acnes isolates tested, though the host range of PA6 was restricted to C. acnes. Based on the phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses, Y3Z may represent a new siphovirus infecting C. acnes. Characterization of Y3Z will enrich our knowledge about the diversity of C. acnes phages and provide a potential arsenal for thetreatment of acne infection.}, } @article {pmid37087357, year = {2023}, author = {Johnson, D and Liu, X and Burslem, DFRP}, title = {Symbiotic control of canopy dominance in subtropical and tropical forests.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.027}, pmid = {37087357}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Subtropical and tropical forests in Asia often comprise canopy dominant trees that form symbioses with ectomycorrhizal fungi, and species-rich understorey trees that form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We propose a virtuous phosphorus acquisition hypothesis to explain this distinct structure. The hypothesis is based on (i) seedlings being rapidly colonised by ectomycorrhizal fungi from established mycelial networks that generates positive feedback and resistance to pathogens, (ii) ectomycorrhizal fungi having evolved a suite of morphological, physiological, and molecular traits to enable them to capture phosphorus from a diversity of chemical forms, including organic forms, and (iii) allocation of photosynthate carbon from adult host plants to provide the energy needed to undertake these processes.}, } @article {pmid37079598, year = {2023}, author = {Choubdar, N and Karimian, F and Koosha, M and Nejati, J and Shabani Kordshouli, R and Azarm, A and Oshaghi, MA}, title = {Wolbachia infection in native populations of Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {e0284704}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0284704}, pmid = {37079598}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Cockroaches are significant pests worldwide, being important in medical, veterinary, and public health fields. Control of cockroaches is difficult because they have robust reproductive ability and high adaptability and are resistant to many insecticides. Wolbachia is an endosymbiont bacterium that infects the reproductive organs of approximately 70% of insect species and has become a promising biological agent for controlling insect pests. However, limited data on the presence or strain typing of Wolbachia in cockroaches are available. PCR amplification and sequencing of the wsp and gltA genes were used to study the presence, prevalence and molecular typing of Wolbachia in two main cockroach species, Blattella germanica (German cockroach) and Periplaneta americana (American cockroach), from different geographical locations of Iran. The Wolbachia endosymbiont was found only in 20.6% of German cockroaches while it was absent in American cockroach samples. Blast search and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Wolbachia strain found in the German cockroach belongs to Wolbachia supergroup F. Further studies should investigate the symbiotic role of Wolbachia in cockroaches and determine whether lack of Wolbachia infection may increase this insect's ability to tolerate or acquire various pathogens. Results of our study provide a foundation for continued work on interactions between cockroaches, bacterial endosymbionts, and pathogens.}, } @article {pmid37078780, year = {2023}, author = {Gelvez-Pardo, I and Lobo-Berbesi, L and Santos-Díaz, A}, title = {Biological Efficacy of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi: Assessments in Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions.}, journal = {Current protocols}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {e732}, doi = {10.1002/cpz1.732}, pmid = {37078780}, issn = {2691-1299}, abstract = {Utilizing the interactions of microorganisms with plants offers a favorable path to increase crop production and replace the use of synthetic fertilizers. Different bacteria and fungi have been used as biofertilizers to improve agricultural production, yield, and sustainability. Beneficial microorganisms can act as free-living organisms, symbiotes, and endophytes. Soil bacteria called plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) stimulate the growth and health of plants by direct and indirect mechanisms including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, phytohormone production, enzyme production, antibiotic synthesis, and induced systemic resistance. To use these microorganisms as a biofertilizer, it is necessary to assess their efficacy under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Few reports detail the methods used to develop a test under different environmental conditions, and without these details it is difficult to develop suitable methodologies to evaluate microorganism-plant relationships. We describe four protocols that go from sample preparation to testing in vitro the efficacy of different biofertilizers. Each protocol can be used to test a different biofertilizer microorganism, focusing on bacteria such as Rhizobium sp., Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Bacillus sp. as well as AMF such as Glomus sp. These protocols can be used in several stages of biofertilizer development, including microorganism selection, microorganism characterization, and in vitro evaluation of efficacy for the registration process. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on PGPB under laboratory conditions Basic Protocol 2: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on PGPB under greenhouse conditions Basic Protocol 3: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria Basic Protocol 4: Evaluating the biological effect of biofertilizer based on AMF.}, } @article {pmid37078433, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, HY and Bissett, A and Aguilar-Trigueros, CA and Liu, HW and Powell, JR}, title = {Fungal genome size and composition reflect ecological strategies along soil fertility gradients.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14224}, pmid = {37078433}, issn = {1461-0248}, abstract = {Genomic traits reflect the evolutionary processes that have led to ecological variation among extant organisms, including variation in how they acquire and use resources. Soil fungi have diverse nutritional strategies and exhibit extensive variation in fitness along resource gradients. We tested for trade-offs in genomic traits with mycelial nutritional traits and hypothesize that such trade-offs differ among fungal guilds as they reflect contrasting resource exploitation and habitat preferences. We found species with large genomes exhibited nutrient-poor mycelium and low GC content. These patterns were observed across fungal guilds but with varying explanatory power. We then matched trait data to fungal species observed in 463 Australian grassland, woodland and forest soil samples. Fungi with large genomes and lower GC content dominated in nutrient-poor soils, associated with shifts in guild composition and with species turnover within guilds. These findings highlight fundamental mechanisms that underpin successful ecological strategies for soil fungi.}, } @article {pmid37078331, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, H and Zhu, C and Lin, HL and Ma, HL and Yin, YF and Gao, R}, title = {Denitrification process of Casuarina root nodule endophyte Frankia.}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {1109-1116}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202304.005}, pmid = {37078331}, issn = {1001-9332}, abstract = {To examine the characteristic of denitrification in Frankia, a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microbe associated with non-leguminous plants, and its role as a N2O source or sink, Casuarina root nodule endophyte Frankia was isolated using sectioning method, which was then purely cultured to investigate the denitrification process under NO3[-] addition. The results showed that after addition of NO3[-] to the medium under anaerobic condition, the concentration of NO3[-] decreased with time, while the concentrations of NO2[-] and N2O initially increased and then decreased over time. Key denitrification genes and nitrogenase gene were detected at 26 h, 54 h and 98 h during incubation. Abundances of these genes significantly differed among each other, and their dynamics were asynchronous. Redundancy analysis of the effect of NO3[-], NO2[-], N2O concentrations on abundances of denitrification genes and nitrogenase gene indicated that 81.9% of the total variation in gene abundances could be explained by the first two axes. Frankia had a denitrifying activity under anaerobic condition, with denitrification genes, including nitrous oxide reductase gene (nosZ), being identified. Our results suggested that Frankia possessed a complete denitrification pathway and the ability of N2O reduction under anaerobic condition.}, } @article {pmid37077989, year = {2022}, author = {de Vries, S and de Vries, J}, title = {Evolutionary genomic insights into cyanobacterial symbioses in plants.}, journal = {Quantitative plant biology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e16}, pmid = {37077989}, issn = {2632-8828}, abstract = {Photosynthesis, the ability to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide, was acquired by eukaryotes through symbiosis: the plastids of plants and algae resulted from a cyanobacterial symbiosis that commenced more than 1.5 billion years ago and has chartered a unique evolutionary path. This resulted in the evolutionary origin of plants and algae. Some extant land plants have recruited additional biochemical aid from symbiotic cyanobacteria; these plants associate with filamentous cyanobacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Examples of such interactions can be found in select species from across all major lineages of land plants. The recent rise in genomic and transcriptomic data has provided new insights into the molecular foundation of these interactions. Furthermore, the hornwort Anthoceros has emerged as a model system for the molecular biology of cyanobacteria-plant interactions. Here, we review these developments driven by high-throughput data and pinpoint their power to yield general patterns across these diverse symbioses.}, } @article {pmid37077248, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, T and Veselská, T and Křížková, B and Švec, K and Havlíček, V and Stadler, M and Kolařík, M}, title = {Insight into the genomes of dominant yeast symbionts of European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1108975}, pmid = {37077248}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Spruce bark beetle Ips typographus can trigger outbreaks on spruce that results in significant losses in the forest industry. It has been suggested that symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting the gut of bark beetles facilitate the colonization of plant tissues as they play a role in the detoxification of plant secondary metabolites, degrade plant cell wall and ameliorate beetle's nutrition. In this study, we sequenced and functionally annotated the genomes of five yeasts Kuraishia molischiana, Cryptococcus sp., Nakazawaea ambrosiae, Ogataea ramenticola, and Wickerhamomyces bisporus isolated from the gut of Ips typographus. Genome analysis identified 5314, 7050, 5722, 5502, and 5784 protein coding genes from K. molischiana, Cryptococcus sp., N. ambrosiae, O. ramenticola, and W. bisporus, respectively. Protein-coding sequences were classified into biological processes, cellular and molecular function based on gene ontology terms enrichment. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation was used to predict gene functions. All analyzed yeast genomes contain full pathways for the synthesis of essential amino acids and vitamin B6, which have nutritional importance to beetle. Furthermore, their genomes contain diverse gene families related to the detoxification processes. The prevalent superfamilies are aldo-keto reductase, ATP-binding cassette and the major facilitator transporters. The phylogenetic relationships of detoxification-related enzymes aldo-keto reductase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, and ATP-binding cassette are presented. Genome annotations also revealed presence of genes active in lignocellulose degradation. In vitro analyses did not confirm enzymatic endolytic degradation of lignocellulose; however, all species can utilize and pectin and produce a large spectrum of exolytic enzymes attacking cellulose, chitin, and lipids.}, } @article {pmid37080436, year = {2023}, author = {Prosdocimi, F and de Farias, ST}, title = {Origin of life: Drawing the big picture.}, journal = {Progress in biophysics and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.04.005}, pmid = {37080436}, issn = {1873-1732}, abstract = {Trying to provide a broad overview about the origin of life in Earth, the most significant transitions of life before cells are listed and discussed. The current approach emphasizes the symbiotic relationships that emerged with life. We propose a rational, stepwise scenario for the origin of life that starts with the origin of the first biomolecules and steps forward until the origins of the first cells. Along this path, we aim to provide a brief, though comprehensive theoretical model that will consider the following steps: (i) how nucleotides and other biomolecules could be made prebiotically in specific prebiotic refuges; (ii) how the first molecules of RNAs were formed; (iii) how the proto-peptidyl transferase center was built by the concatenation of proto-tRNAs; (iv) how the ribosome and the genetic code could be structured; (v) how progenotes could live and reproduce as "naked" ribonucleoprotein molecules; (vi) how peptides started to bind molecules in the prebiotic soup allowing biochemical pathways to evolve from those bindings; (vii) how genomes got bigger by the symbiotic relationship of progenotes and lateral transference of genetic material; (viii) how the progenote LUCA has been formed by assembling most biochemical routes; (ix) how the first virion capsids probably emerged and evolved; (x) how phospholipid membranes emerged probably twice by the evolution of lipid-binding proteins; (xi) how DNA synthesis have been formed in parallel in Bacteria and Archaea; and, finally, (xii) how DNA-based cells of Bacteria and Archaeabacteria have been constituted. The picture provided is conjectural and present epistemological gaps. Future research will help to advance into the elucidation of gaps and confirmation/refutation of current statements.}, } @article {pmid37077329, year = {2020}, author = {Kimata, Y and Higaki, T and Kurihara, D and Ando, N and Matsumoto, H and Higashiyama, T and Ueda, M}, title = {Mitochondrial dynamics and segregation during the asymmetric division of Arabidopsis zygotes.}, journal = {Quantitative plant biology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {e3}, pmid = {37077329}, issn = {2632-8828}, abstract = {The zygote is the first cell of a multicellular organism. In most angiosperms, the zygote divides asymmetrically to produce an embryo-precursor apical cell and a supporting basal cell. Zygotic division should properly segregate symbiotic organelles, because they cannot be synthesized de novo. In this study, we revealed the real-time dynamics of the principle source of ATP biogenesis, mitochondria, in Arabidopsis thaliana zygotes using live-cell observations and image quantifications. In the zygote, the mitochondria formed the extended structure associated with the longitudinal array of actin filaments (F-actins) and were polarly distributed along the apical-basal axis. The mitochondria were then temporally fragmented during zygotic division, and the resulting apical cells inherited mitochondria at higher concentration compared to the basal cells. Further observation of postembryonic organs showed that these mitochondrial behaviours are characteristic of the zygote. Overall, our results showed that the zygote has spatiotemporal regulation that unequally distributes the mitochondria.}, } @article {pmid37074192, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, D and Ali, A and Zuck, C and Uy, L and Morris, JG and Wong, AC}, title = {Vibrio cholerae Invasion Dynamics of the Chironomid Host Are Strongly Influenced by Aquatic Cell Density and Can Vary by Strain.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0265222}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02652-22}, pmid = {37074192}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Cholera has been a human scourge since the early 1800s and remains a global public health challenge, caused by the toxigenic strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. In its aquatic reservoirs, V. cholerae has been shown to live in association with various arthropod hosts, including the chironomids, a diverse insect family commonly found in wet and semiwet habitats. The association between V. cholerae and chironomids may shield the bacterium from environmental stressors and amplify its dissemination. However, the interaction dynamics between V. cholerae and chironomids remain largely unknown. In this study, we developed freshwater microcosms with chironomid larvae to test the effects of cell density and strain on V. cholerae-chironomid interactions. Our results show that chironomid larvae can be exposed to V. cholerae up to a high inoculation dose (10[9] cells/mL) without observable detrimental effects. Meanwhile, interstrain variability in host invasion, including prevalence, bacterial load, and effects on host survival, was highly cell density-dependent. Microbiome analysis of the chironomid samples by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed a general effect of V. cholerae exposure on microbiome species evenness. Taken together, our results provide novel insights into V. cholerae invasion dynamics of the chironomid larvae with respect to various doses and strains. The findings suggest that aquatic cell density is a crucial driver of V. cholerae invasion success in chironomid larvae and pave the way for future work examining the effects of a broader dose range and environmental variables (e.g., temperature) on V. cholerae-chironomid interactions. IMPORTANCE Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, a significant diarrheal disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that the environmental facets of the V. cholerae life cycle involve symbiotic associations with aquatic arthropods, which may facilitate its environmental persistence and dissemination. However, the dynamics of interactions between V. cholerae and aquatic arthropods remain unexplored. This study capitalized on using freshwater microcosms with chironomid larvae to investigate the effects of bacterial cell density and strain on V. cholerae-chironomid interactions. Our results suggest that aquatic cell density is the primary determinant of V. cholerae invasion success in chironomid larvae, while interstrain variability in invasion outcomes can be observed under specific cell density conditions. We also determined that V. cholerae exposure generally reduces species evenness of the chironomid-associated microbiome. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into V. cholerae-arthropod interactions using a newly developed experimental host system.}, } @article {pmid37074159, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, N and Kou, L and Li, S and Dai, X and Meng, S and Jiang, L and Xue, Y and Zheng, J and Fu, X and Wang, H}, title = {Plant-soil feedback regulates the trade-off between phosphorus acquisition pathways in Pinus elliottii.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpad044}, pmid = {37074159}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Plant-soil feedback (PSF) is conventionally characterized by plant biomass growth, yet it remains unclear how PSF affects plant nutrient acquisition strategies (e.g., nutrient absorption and nutrient resorption) associated with plant growth, particularly under changing soil environments. A greenhouse experiment was performed with seedlings of Pinus elliottii and conditioned soils of monoculture plantations (P. elliottii and Cunninghamia lanceolata). Soil sterilization was designed to test plant phosphorus (P) acquisition strategy with and without native soil fungal communities. Soils from P. elliottii and C. lanceolata plantations were used to explore the specific soil legacy effects on two different P acquisition pathways (absorption and resorption). Phosphorus addition was also applied to examine the separate and combined effects of soil abiotic factors and soil fungal factors on P acquisition pathways. Due to diminished mycorrhizal symbiosis, PSF prompted plants to increasingly rely on P resorption under soil sterilization. In contrast, P absorption was employed preferentially in the heterospecific soil where species-specific pathogenic fungi could not affect P absorption. Higher soil P availability diluted the effects of soil fungal factors on the trade-off between two P acquisition pathways in terms of the absolute PSF. Moreover, P addition plays a limited role in terms of the relative PSF and does not affect the direction and strength of relative PSF. Our results reveal the role of PSF in regulating plant P acquisition pathways and highlight the interaction between mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi as the underlying mechanism of PSF.}, } @article {pmid37073956, year = {2023}, author = {Shield, S and Muramatsu, N and Da Silva, Z and Patel, A}, title = {Chasing the cheetah: how field biomechanics has evolved to keep up with the fastest land animal.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {226}, number = {Suppl_1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.245122}, pmid = {37073956}, issn = {1477-9145}, abstract = {Studying the motion of cheetahs - especially in the wild - is a technically challenging endeavour that pushes the limits of field biomechanics methodology. Consequently, it provides an interesting example of the scientific symbiosis that exists between experimental biology and the technological disciplines that support it. This article uses cheetah motion research as a basis to review the past, present and likely future of field biomechanics. Although the focus is on a specific animal, the methods and challenges discussed are broadly relevant to the study of terrestrial locomotion. We also highlight the external factors contributing to the evolution of this technology, including recent advancements in machine learning, and the influx of interest in cheetah biomechanics from the legged robotics community.}, } @article {pmid37073224, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Y and Zhu, Y and Liu, H and Wei, J and Yu, H and Dong, B}, title = {Cultivation of gut microorganisms of the marine ascidian Halocynthia roretzi reveals their potential roles in the environmental adaptation of their host.}, journal = {Marine life science & technology}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {201-207}, pmid = {37073224}, issn = {2662-1746}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: It has long been known that abundant symbiotic bacteria exist in the tunic and gut of marine ascidians, and that these play crucial roles in host development, physiological metabolism, and environmental adaptation. However, the identity, roles and functions of these symbiotic bacteria are known for only a few strains. In this study, we isolated and cultivated 263 strains of microorganisms from the intestine of the marine ascidian Halocynthia roretzi through a combination of aerobic and anaerobic culture approaches. Most cultivated species, both aerobic and anaerobic, from ascidian stool samples belonged to the genus Bacillus based on 16S rDNA sequencing identification and phylogenetic assays. The distribution of cultured bacteria varied with seasonal changes in environmental conditions. To explore the functions of cultured bacteria, we screened out a strain of Serratia sp. whose extracts showed high antibacterial activity against aquatic pathogens. These findings revealed the potential roles of gut microorganisms in ascidian defense and environmental adaptation, thus providing insights into the interaction and co-evolution between gut bacteria and their hosts.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-022-00131-4.}, } @article {pmid37072683, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, J and Zhang, F}, title = {Influence of Companion Planting on Microbial Compositions and Their Symbiotic Network in Pepper Continuous Cropping Soil.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.2211.11032}, pmid = {37072683}, issn = {1738-8872}, abstract = {Continuous cropping obstacles have become a serious factor restricting sustainable development in modern agriculture, while companion planting is one of the most common and effective methods for solving this problem. Here, we monitored the effects of companion planting on soil fertility and the microbial community distribution pattern in pepper monoculture and companion plantings. Soil microbial communities were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. Companion plants included garlic (T1), oat (T2), cabbage (T3), celery (T4), and white clover (T5). The results showed that compared with the monoculture system, companion planting significantly increased the activities of soil urease (except for T5) and sucrase, but decreased catalase activity. In addition, T2 significantly improved microbial diversity (Shannon index), while T1 resulted in a decrease of bacterial OTUs and an increase of fungal OTUs. Companion planting also significantly changed soil microbial community structures and compositions. Correlation analysis showed that soil enzyme activities were closely correlated with bacterial and fungal community structures. Moreover, the companion system weakened the complexity of microbial networks. These findings indicated that companion plants can provide nutrition to microbes and weaken the competition among them, which offers a theoretical basis and data for further research into methods for reducing continuous cropping obstacles in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid37072482, year = {2023}, author = {Ogiso, S and Watanabe, K and Maruyama, Y and Miyake, H and Hatano, K and Hirayama, J and Hattori, A and Watabe, Y and Sekiguchi, T and Kitani, Y and Furusawa, Y and Tabuchi, Y and Matsubara, H and Nakagiri, M and Toyota, K and Sasayama, Y and Suzuki, N}, title = {Adaptation to the shallow sea floor environment of a species of marine worms, Oligobrachia mashikoi, generally inhabiting deep-sea water.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6299}, pmid = {37072482}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Beard worms from the family Siboglinidae, are peculiar animals and are known for their symbiotic relationships with sulfur bacteria. Most Siboglinids inhabit the deep-sea floor, thus making difficult to make any observations in situ. One species, Oligobrachia mashikoi, occurs in the shallow depths (24.5 m) of the Sea of Japan. Taking advantage of its shallow-water habitat, the first ecological survey of O. mashikoi was performed over a course of 7 years, which revealed that its tentacle-expanding behavior was dependent on the temperature and illuminance of the sea water. Furthermore, there were significantly more O. mashikoi with expanding tentacles during the nighttime than during the daytime, and the prevention of light eliminated these differences in the number of expending tentacles. These results confirmed that the tentacle-expanding behavior is controlled by environmental light signals. Consistent with this, we identified a gene encoding a photoreceptor molecule, neuropsin, in O. mashikoi, and the expression thereof is dependent on the time of day. We assume that the described behavioral response of O. mashikoi to light signals represent an adaptation to a shallow-water environment within the predominantly deep-sea taxon.}, } @article {pmid37069732, year = {2023}, author = {Jung, DJ and Gebremedhin, L and Goh, B and Yoo, JS and Gazzaniga, F and Kasper, DL and Oh, SF}, title = {Kinetic and mechanistic diversity of intestinal immune homeostasis characterized by rapid removal of gut bacteria.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2201154}, doi = {10.1080/19490976.2023.2201154}, pmid = {37069732}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Colon ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota critically contribute to host immune homeostasis in effector cell-specific manner. For exclusion of microbial component, germ-free animals have been the gold standard method. However, total removal of the entire gut microbiota of an animal from birth significantly skews physiological development. On the other hand, removal of gut microbiota from conventional mice using oral antibiotics has its own limitations, especially lack of consistency and the requirement for long-term treatment period. Here, we introduce an improved regimen to quickly remove gut microbiota and to maintain sterility, that is well received by animals without refusal. Rapid and consistent exclusion of resident bacteria in the gut lumen revealed kinetic differences among colonic lymphocyte subsets, which cannot be observed with typical germ-free animal models. Furthermore, the proposed method distinguished the mechanism of microbiota contribution as a direct stimulus to capable effector cells and a homeostatic cue to maintain such cell types.}, } @article {pmid37069589, year = {2023}, author = {Lv, N and Li, R and Cheng, S and Zhang, L and Liang, P and Gao, X}, title = {The gut symbiont Sphingomonas mediates imidacloprid resistance in the important agricultural insect pest Aphis gossypii Glover.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {86}, pmid = {37069589}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sphingomonas ; *Aphids/genetics/metabolism ; Neonicotinoids/metabolism ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Neonicotinoid insecticides are applied worldwide for the control of agricultural insect pests. The evolution of neonicotinoid resistance has led to the failure of pest control in the field. The enhanced detoxifying enzyme activity and target mutations play important roles in the resistance of insects to neonicotinoid resistance. Emerging evidence indicates a central role of the gut symbiont in insect pest resistance to pesticides. Existing reports suggest that symbiotic microorganisms could mediate pesticide resistance by degrading pesticides in insect pests.

RESULTS: The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that the richness and diversity of the gut community between the imidacloprid-resistant (IMI-R) and imidacloprid-susceptible (IMI-S) strains of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii showed no significant difference, while the abundance of the gut symbiont Sphingomonas was significantly higher in the IMI-R strain. Antibiotic treatment deprived Sphingomonas of the gut, followed by an increase in susceptibility to imidacloprid in the IMI-R strain. The susceptibility of the IMI-S strain to imidacloprid was significantly decreased as expected after supplementation with Sphingomonas. In addition, the imidacloprid susceptibility in nine field populations, which were all infected with Sphingomonas, increased to different degrees after treatment with antibiotics. Then, we demonstrated that Sphingomonas isolated from the gut of the IMI-R strain could subsist only with imidacloprid as a carbon source. The metabolic efficiency of imidacloprid by Sphingomonas reached 56% by HPLC detection. This further proved that Sphingomonas could mediate A. gossypii resistance to imidacloprid by hydroxylation and nitroreduction.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the gut symbiont Sphingomonas, with detoxification properties, could offer an opportunity for insect pests to metabolize imidacloprid. These findings enriched our knowledge of mechanisms of insecticide resistance and provided new symbiont-based strategies for control of insecticide-resistant insect pests with high Sphingomonas abundance.}, } @article {pmid37068225, year = {2023}, author = {Peñalver, E and Peris, D and Álvarez-Parra, S and Grimaldi, DA and Arillo, A and Chiappe, L and Delclòs, X and Alcalá, L and Sanz, JL and Solórzano-Kraemer, MM and Pérez-de la Fuente, R}, title = {Symbiosis between Cretaceous dinosaurs and feather-feeding beetles.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {17}, pages = {e2217872120}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2217872120}, pmid = {37068225}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinosaurs/anatomy & histology ; Feathers/anatomy & histology ; *Coleoptera ; Symbiosis ; Amber ; Ecosystem ; Fossils ; Birds/anatomy & histology ; Biological Evolution ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Extant terrestrial vertebrates, including birds, have a panoply of symbiotic relationships with many insects and arachnids, such as parasitism or mutualism. Yet, identifying arthropod-vertebrate symbioses in the fossil record has been based largely on indirect evidence; findings of direct association between arthropod guests and dinosaur host remains are exceedingly scarce. Here, we present direct and indirect evidence demonstrating that beetle larvae fed on feathers from an undetermined theropod host (avian or nonavian) 105 million y ago. An exceptional amber assemblage is reported of larval molts (exuviae) intimately associated with plumulaceous feather and other remains, as well as three additional amber pieces preserving isolated conspecific exuviae. Samples were found in the roughly coeval Spanish amber deposits of El Soplao, San Just, and Peñacerrada I. Integration of the morphological, systematic, and taphonomic data shows that the beetle larval exuviae, belonging to three developmental stages, are most consistent with skin/hide beetles (family Dermestidae), an ecologically important group with extant keratophagous species that commonly inhabit bird and mammal nests. These findings show that a symbiotic relationship involving keratophagy comparable to that of beetles and birds in current ecosystems existed between their Early Cretaceous relatives.}, } @article {pmid37067628, year = {2023}, author = {Lei, H and Jin, C and Xiao, Z and Chen, J and Leghari, SJ and Pan, H}, title = {Relationship between pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) root morphology, inter-root soil bacterial community structure and diversity under water-air intercropping conditions.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {5}, pages = {98}, pmid = {37067628}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Soil/chemistry ; Ecosystem ; *Capsicum ; Water ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Actinobacteria ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The combination of water and gas at an aeration rate of 15 mg/L and irrigation amount of 0.8 Ep significantly promoted the root morphology, inter-root soil bacterial community structure and diversity of pepper, enhanced the structure of molecular symbiotic network, and stimulated the potential ecosystem function. Poor aeration adversely affects the root morphology of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and bacterial community. It is critical to understand the effects of water-air interactions on root morphology and bacterial community structure and diversity. A randomized block experiment was conducted under the two aeration rates of dissolved oxygen mass concentrations, including A: 15 mg/L, O: 40 mg/L, and C: non-aeration as control treatment, and two irrigation rates of W1 and W2 (0.8 Ep and 1.0 Ep). The results showed that aerated irrigation had a significant effect on the root morphology of pepper. Compared with treatment CW1, treatment AW1 increased root dry weight, root length, root volume, and root surface area by 13.63%, 11.09%, 59.47%, and 61.67%, respectively (P < 0.05). Aerated irrigation significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Alphaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonas, Sphingomonas, and KD4-96 aerobic beneficial bacteria. It decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Monomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Corynebacterium, Gammaproteobacteria, Anaerolineae, Subgroup_6, MND1, Haliangium, and Thiobacillus. The Pielou_e, Shannon and Simpson indexes of treatment AW1 were significantly higher than treatments OW1 and CW1. The results of the β-diversity of bacterial communities showed that the structure of soil bacterial communities differed significantly among treatments. Actinobacteria was a key phylum affecting root morphology, and AW1 treatment was highly correlated with Actinobacteria. Molecular ecological network analysis showed a relatively high number of bacterial network nodes and more complex relationships among species under the aeration of level 15 mg/L and 0.8 Ep, as well as the emergence of new phylum-level beneficial species: Dependentiae, BRC1, Cyanobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetes. Therefore, the aeration of 15 mg/L and 0.8 times crop-evaporation coefficient can increase root morphology, inter-root soil bacterial community diversity and bacterial network structure, and enhance potential ecosystem functions in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid37065533, year = {2022}, author = {Channappa, TS and Shivakumar, HB and Jayaram, M and Yatish, R and Bharadwaj, V}, title = {Koch's Tuberculosis of the Sternoclavicular Joint.}, journal = {Journal of orthopaedic case reports}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {62-65}, pmid = {37065533}, issn = {2250-0685}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis bacilli have lived in symbiosis with mankind since time memorial. Rigveda and Atharvaveda (3500-188 B.C), Samhita of charka and Sushruta (1000 and 600 B.C) have mentioned the disease by the name of "Yakshma" in all forms. Lesions have been found in Egyptian mummies also. In western world, the clinical features and communicability of the disease were known before 1000 B.C. Tuberculosis is still a challenging health problem in developing countries, affecting almost all organs. Osteo articular tuberculosis is uncommon. Tuberculosis involving the sternoclavicular joint is extremely rare and often is misdiagnosed because of its rarity and unusual location. Literature has very less number of cases reported so far.

CASE PRESENTATION: We are hereby reporting the case of a 70-year-old male, carpenter by profession who presented with right sternoclavicular joint swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging showed synovial thickening, articular, and subarticular erosions with diffuse sub chondral edema. Diagnosis was confirmed by ZN staining, FNAC, and diagnostic biopsy. Patient was managed conservatively by anti-tubercular treatment. Follow-up showed no relapse and improved clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Earlier detection and management of tuberculosis of such rare variants of joint infection help in preventing the destruction of osteo ligamentous structures, abscess formation, and joint instability. The report emphasizes on the appropriate diagnosis and management.}, } @article {pmid37063203, year = {2023}, author = {Del-Canto, A and Sanz-Saez, Á and Sillero-Martínez, A and Mintegi, E and Lacuesta, M}, title = {Selected indigenous drought tolerant rhizobium strains as promising biostimulants for common bean in Northern Spain.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1046397}, pmid = {37063203}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Drought is the most detrimental abiotic stress in agriculture, limiting crop growth and yield and, currently, its risk is increasing due to climate change. Thereby, ensuring food security will be one of the greatest challenges of the agriculture in the nearest future, accordingly it is essential to look for sustainable strategies to cope the negative impact of drought on crops. Inoculation of pulses with biostimulants such as rhizobium strains with high nitrogen fixation efficiency and drought-tolerance, has emerged as a promising and sustainable production strategy. However, some commercial inoculums are not effective under field conditions due to its lower effectiveness against indigenous rhizobium strains in the establishment of the symbiosis. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated the ability to improve drought tolerance in common bean plants of different indigenous rhizobia strains isolated from nearby crop fields in the Basque Country either affected by drought or salinity. The plants in this trial were grown in a climatic chamber under controlled conditions and exposed to values of 30% relative soil water content at the time of harvest, which is considered a severe drought. From the nine bacteria strains evaluated, three were found to be highly efficient under drought (namely 353, A12 and A13). These strains sustained high infectiveness (nodulation capacity) and effectiveness (shoot biomass production) under drought, even surpassing the plants inoculated with the CIAT899 reference strain, as well as the chemically N-fertilized plants. The tolerance mechanisms developed by plants inoculated with 353, A12 and A13 strains were a better adjustment of the cell wall elasticity that prevents mechanical damages in the plasma membrane, a higher WUE and an avoidance of the phenological delay caused by drought, developing a greater number of flowers. These results provide the basis for the development of efficient common bean inoculants able to increase the yield of this crop under drought conditions in the Northern Spain and, thus, to be used as biostimulants. In addition, the use of these efficient nitrogen fixation bacteria strains is a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilization, reducing cost and minimizing its negative impact on environment.}, } @article {pmid37062674, year = {2023}, author = {Stuer, N and Van Damme, P and Goormachtig, S and Van Dingenen, J}, title = {Seeking the interspecies crosswalk for filamentous microbe effectors.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.017}, pmid = {37062674}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Both pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms modulate the immune response and physiology of their host to establish a suitable niche. Key players in mediating colonization outcome are microbial effector proteins that act either inside (cytoplasmic) or outside (apoplastic) the plant cells and modify the abundance or activity of host macromolecules. We compile novel insights into the much-disputed processes of effector secretion and translocation of filamentous organisms, namely fungi and oomycetes. We report how recent studies that focus on unconventional secretion and effector structure challenge the long-standing image of effectors as conventionally secreted proteins that are translocated with the aid of primary amino acid sequence motifs. Furthermore, we emphasize the potential of diverse, unbiased, state-of-the-art proteomics approaches in the holistic characterization of fungal and oomycete effectomes.}, } @article {pmid37062174, year = {2023}, author = {Benech, N and Sokol, H}, title = {Targeting the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases: where are we?.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {}, pages = {102319}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2023.102319}, pmid = {37062174}, issn = {1879-0364}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is now recognized to be a key driver of mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Robust functional and compositional alterations of the gut microbiota have been described in IBD with a reduction in bacterial diversity, a reduction in some anti-inflammatory anaerobic bacteria, and an increase in bacteria with pro-inflammatory potential. However, despite 15 years of active research, therapeutical applications are still lacking. Recent studies have shed new light on how targeting the gut microbiota can be beneficial in IBD with fecal microbiota transplantation, next-generation probiotics, and phage therapy. Given the similarities in dysfunction and structure of the gut microbiota between IBD and other chronic conditions associated with intestinal inflammation, such as celiac disease, Familial Mediterranean Fever, or common variable immunodeficiency, common therapeutic strategies targeting the host-microbiota symbiosis may be applied in these different conditions.}, } @article {pmid37060322, year = {2023}, author = {Monahan, CF and Bogan, JE and LaDouceur, EEB}, title = {Histological Findings in Captive Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) and a Literature Review.}, journal = {Veterinary pathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {3009858231166659}, doi = {10.1177/03009858231166659}, pmid = {37060322}, issn = {1544-2217}, abstract = {Madagascar hissing cockroaches (MHC, Gromphadorhina portentosa) are members of the Blaberidae (giant cockroaches) family of the Insecta class. They are native to the African island of Madagascar where they live within leaf litter on the rainforest floor. Due to their large size, relative tameness, and general easy keeping, they have become popular in classrooms, zoological collections, museums, research laboratories, and as private exotic pets; however, descriptions of diseases of MHC in the literature are rare. The objective of this study is to describe and characterize postmortem histological findings in 18 captive MHC from a single zoological collection. In this retrospective study, 18 (4 females and 14 males) adult MHC necropsies were submitted to Northwest ZooPath between 2016 and 2020 for evaluation. The main organs with histological lesions were chitinous gut (foregut and/or hindgut; n = 17), tracheae (n = 15), fat body (n = 14), ventriculus (midgut) (n = 13), body wall (n = 12), Malpighian tubules (n = 12), and hemolymphatic sinuses (n = 12). All animals had inflammatory lesions affecting various organs. Inflammatory lesions typically consisted of aggregates of hemocytes with variable amounts of melanization and/or encapsulation. Bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections were common and variably associated with hemocytic inflammation. Many of these organisms may represent symbiotic organisms of the MHC that cause opportunistic infections. This study contributes to the current knowledge of pathological findings and disease response of MHC and reviews diseases reported in multiple cockroach species.}, } @article {pmid37058562, year = {2023}, author = {Weinhäuser, I and Pereira-Martins, DA and Almeida, LY and Hilberink, JR and Silveira, DRA and Quek, L and Ortiz, C and Araujo, CL and Bianco, TM and Lucena-Araujo, A and Mota, JM and Hogeling, SM and Sternadt, D and Visser, N and Diepstra, A and Ammatuna, E and Huls, G and Rego, EM and Schuringa, JJ}, title = {M2 macrophages drive leukemic transformation by imposing resistance to phagocytosis and improving mitochondrial metabolism.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {15}, pages = {eadf8522}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adf8522}, pmid = {37058562}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Humans ; *Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology ; Macrophages/pathology ; Phagocytosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {It is increasingly becoming clear that cancers are a symbiosis of diverse cell types and tumor clones. Combined single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry studies of the innate immune compartment in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) reveal a shift toward a tumor-supportive M2-polarized macrophage landscape with an altered transcriptional program, with enhanced fatty acid oxidation and NAD[+] generation. Functionally, these AML-associated macrophages display decreased phagocytic activity and intra-bone marrow coinjection of M2 macrophages together with leukemic blasts strongly enhances in vivo transformation potential. A 2-day in vitro exposure to M2 macrophages results in the accumulation of CALR[low] leukemic blast cells, which are now protected against phagocytosis. Moreover, M2-exposed "trained" leukemic blasts display increased mitochondrial metabolism, in part mediated via mitochondrial transfer. Our study provides insight into the mechanisms by which the immune landscape contributes to aggressive leukemia development and provides alternatives for targeting strategies aimed at the tumor microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid37056748, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, Y and Yang, L and Chen, Z and Gao, Y and Kong, J and He, Q and Su, Y and Li, J and Qiu, Q}, title = {Seasonal variations of soil bacterial and fungal communities in a subtropical Eucalyptus plantation and their responses to throughfall reduction.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1113616}, pmid = {37056748}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Climatic change causes obvious seasonal meteorological drought in southern China, yet there is a lack of comprehensive in situ studies on the effects of drought in Eucalyptus plantations. Here, a 50% throughfall reduction (TR) experiment was conducted to investigate the seasonal variations of soil bacterial and fungal communities and functions in a subtropical Eucalyptus plantation and their responses to TR treatment. Soil samples were collected from control (CK) and TR plots in the dry and rainy seasons and were subjected to high-throughput sequencing analysis. Results showed that TR treatment significantly reduced soil water content (SWC) in the rainy season. In CK and TR treatments, fungal alpha-diversity decreased in the rainy season while bacterial alpha-diversity did not change significantly between dry and rainy seasons. Moreover, bacterial networks were more affected by seasonal variations compared with fungal networks. Redundancy analysis showed that alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen and SWC contributed the most to the bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Functional prediction indicated that the expression of soil bacterial metabolic functions and symbiotic fungi decreased in the rainy season. In conclusion, seasonal variations have a stronger effect on soil microbial community composition, diversity, and function compared with TR treatment. These findings could be used to develop management practices for subtropical Eucalyptus plantations and help maintain soil microbial diversity to sustain long-term ecosystem function and services in response to future changes in precipitation patterns.}, } @article {pmid37056224, year = {2023}, author = {Ribeiro, AA and Paster, BJ}, title = {Dental caries and their microbiomes in children: what do we do now?.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2198433}, pmid = {37056224}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {The oral cavity is an unique ecosystem formed by different structures, tissues, and a complex microbial community formed by hundreds of different species of bacteria, fungi, viruses, phages, and the candidate phyla radiation (CPR) group, all living in symbiosis with healthy individuals. In an opposite state, dental caries is a biofilm-mediated dysbiosis that involves changes in the core microbiome composition and function, which leads to the demineralization of tooth tissues due to the fermentation of dietary carbohydrates, producing acid by select oral bacteria. The cariogenic biofilm is typically characterized by bacterial species with the ability of adhering to the saliva-coated tooth surface, production of exopolysaccharides-rich matrix (which will limit the diffusion of acidic products of carbohydrate fermentation), and the ability of surviving in this acidic environment. Besides years of research and dental treatment, dental caries remains the most common chronic disease in children worldwide. This article aims to bring an insightful discussion about important questions that remain unanswered in the Cariology and Oral Microbiology fields, to move Science forward, characterize the interrelationships of these communities, and understand mechanistic functions between microorganisms and the host, therefore leading to translatable knowledge that benefits the provision of care to our pediatric patients.}, } @article {pmid37056155, year = {2023}, author = {Carscadden, KA and Batstone, RT and Hauser, FE}, title = {Origins and evolution of biological novelty.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12963}, pmid = {37056155}, issn = {1469-185X}, abstract = {Understanding the origins and impacts of novel traits has been a perennial interest in many realms of ecology and evolutionary biology. Here, we build on previous evolutionary and philosophical treatments of this subject to encompass novelties across biological scales and eco-evolutionary perspectives. By defining novelties as new features at one biological scale that have emergent effects at other biological scales, we incorporate many forms of novelty that have previously been treated in isolation (such as novelty from genetic mutations, new developmental pathways, new morphological features, and new species). Our perspective is based on the fundamental idea that the emergence of a novelty, at any biological scale, depends on its environmental and genetic context. Through this lens, we outline a broad array of generative mechanisms underlying novelty and highlight how genomic tools are transforming our understanding of the origins of novelty. Lastly, we present several case studies to illustrate how novelties across biological scales and systems can be understood based on common mechanisms of change and their environmental and genetic contexts. Specifically, we highlight how gene duplication contributes to the evolution of new complex structures in visual systems; how genetic exchange in symbiosis alters functions of both host and symbiont, resulting in a novel organism; and how hybridisation between species can generate new species with new niches.}, } @article {pmid37055953, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, J and Tian, Q and Cui, L and Cheng, J and Zhou, H and Zhang, Y and Peng, A and Shen, L}, title = {Bioimmobilization and transformation of chromium and cadmium in the fungi-microalgae symbiotic system.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {445}, number = {}, pages = {130507}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130507}, pmid = {37055953}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Cadmium/analysis ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; Chromium/chemistry ; *Metals, Heavy/chemistry ; Adsorption ; Fungi ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Microalgae and fungi in the fungi-microalgae symbiotic system(FMSS) can solve the problems of deep purification of heavy metals in wastewater and harvesting of microalgae cell by synergistic interaction. Therefore, it is of great significance to use the FMSS for remediation of heavy metal pollution. However, at present, the immobilization and transformation mechanism of heavy metals in the FMSS is not clear, which limits the development and industrial application of the FMSS with high adsorption performance, high selectivity, and high tolerance. In this study, the FMSS constructed using Aspergillus funigatus and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, was used as the research object to explore heavy metal adsorption performance. Under optimal conditions, the adsorption efficiencies of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) were as high as 90.02% and 80.03%, respectively. The adsorption process was controlled by both internal and external diffusion. Extracellular absorption was dominant, and intracellular absorption was secondary. XRD, XPS, SEM-EDX and TEM-EDX results revealed that ionic crystals and precipitates (Cd(OH)2, CdCO3, calcium oxalate crystals, Cr(OH)3, Cr2O3, and CrCl3) were formed after adsorption. The adsorption of Cr(VI) involved the reduction of Cr(VI). Functional groups, such as amino, carboxyl, aldehyde, and ether groups, on the cell surface also interact with heavy metal ions. To summarize, by constructing the FMSS, optimizing the symbiosis conditions, exploring the adsorption and accumulation rules of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) inside and outside the cells in the system, and revealing the molecular response mechanism, we were able to establish a theoretical basis for further understanding the interaction between the FMSS and heavy metals.}, } @article {pmid37055855, year = {2023}, author = {Haq, SM and Waheed, M and Khoja, AA and Amjad, MS and Bussmann, RW and Ali, K}, title = {A cross-cultural study of high-altitude botanical resources among diverse ethnic groups in Kashmir Himalaya, India.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {37055855}, issn = {1746-4269}, mesh = {Humans ; *Plants, Medicinal ; Ethnicity ; Ethnobotany ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Altitude ; India ; Phytotherapy ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the Himalayas, traditional knowledge and biodiversity are strongly linked due to the symbiotic interaction between plant and cultural diversity, as well as the support provided by cultural memories, ecological awareness, and social norms. Our study was focused on documenting the vanishing knowledge in the Kashmir Himalaya with the following main objectives: 1) to document the ethnomedical and cultural knowledge of the local flora, 2) to evaluate the cross-cultural use of the flora in the region, and, finally, 3) to identify the key indicator species utilized by each ethnic group using multivariate statistical analysis.

METHODS: We used semi-structured questionnaires to conduct interviews with people of different ethnicity, gender, age, and occupational categories. The intercultural relationships of species utilization among ethnic groups were examined using a Venn diagram. The overall trends between the indicator values and the plant species used by diverse ethnic groups were illustrated using the linear regression model.

RESULTS: We recorded 46 species belonging to 25 different families used by the local people of the Kashmir Valley belonging to four ethnic groups (Gujjar, Bakarwal, Pahari, and Kashmiri). The dominant families recorded were Asteraceae and Ranunculaceae followed by Caprifoliaceae. Rhizomes were the most utilized plant part, followed by leaves. A total of 33 ailments were treated with plants, and gastrointestinal disorders were treated with most species followed by musculoskeletal diseases and dermatological problems. Across cultural relationships, the Gujjar and Pahari showed greater similarity (17%). This may be due to the fact that both ethnic groups share a common geographical landscape and are exogamous to each other. We identified key indicator species used by different ethnic groups with significant (p ≤ 0.05) values. For instance, in the Gujjar ethnic group, Aconitum heterophyllum and Phytolacca acinosa had significant indicator value, which was due to the fact that these plants were easily accessible and also had a wide range of uses. In contrast, the Bakarwal ethnic group showed different indicator species, with Rheum spiciforme and Rhododendron campanulatum being highly significant (p ≤ 0.05), because this ethnic group spends the majority of their time in high-altitude pastures, using a particularly wide variety of plant species for medicine, food, and fuelwood. While indicator values and plant usage were positively correlated for the Gujjar, Kashmiri, and Pahari ethnic groups, they were negatively correlated for the Bakarwal. The positive correlation indicates cultural preferences for certain plant use and underlines the cultural significance of each species. The current study reported new uses for the following species: raw roots of Jurinea dolomiaea used for tooth cleaning, seeds of Verbascum thapsus applied for respiratory diseases, and flowers of Saussurea simpsoniana given to anyone as a good luck wish.

CONCLUSION: The current study highlights historical ethnic group stratifications and cultural standing while comparing reported taxa across cultures. Each ethnic group made extensive ethnomedical use of plants, and knowledge, originally transmitted verbally, is now available in writing for reference. This could pave the way for providing incentives to local communities to showcase their talents, celebrate them, and gain from potential development initiatives.}, } @article {pmid37055554, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Z and Kong, X and Long, Y and Liu, S and Zhang, H and Jia, J and Cui, W and Zhang, Z and Song, X and Qiu, L and Zhai, J and Yan, Z}, title = {Integrated single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomics captures transitional states in soybean nodule maturation.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37055554}, issn = {2055-0278}, abstract = {Legumes form symbiosis with rhizobium leading to the development of nitrogen-fixing nodules. By integrating single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomics, we established a cell atlas of soybean nodules and roots. In central infected zones of nodules, we found that uninfected cells specialize into functionally distinct subgroups during nodule development, and revealed a transitional subtype of infected cells with enriched nodulation-related genes. Overall, our results provide a single-cell perspective for understanding rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37055487, year = {2023}, author = {Azuma, Y and Tsuru, S and Habuchi, M and Takami, R and Takano, S and Yamamoto, K and Hosoda, K}, title = {Synthetic symbiosis between a cyanobacterium and a ciliate toward novel chloroplast-like endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6104}, pmid = {37055487}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; Chloroplasts ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Ciliophora ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Chloroplasts are thought to have co-evolved through endosymbiosis, after a cyanobacterial-like prokaryote was engulfed by a eukaryotic cell; however, it is impossible to observe the process toward chloroplasts. In this study, we constructed an experimental symbiosis model to observe the initial stage in the process from independent organisms to a chloroplast-like organelle. Our system of synthetic symbiosis is capable of long-term coculture of two model organisms: a cyanobacterium (Synechocystis sp. PCC6803) as a symbiont and a ciliate (Tetrahymena thermophila) as a host with endocytic ability. The experimental system was clearly defined, because we used a synthetic medium and the cultures were shaken to avoid spatial complexity. We determined the experimental conditions for sustainable coculture, by analyzing population dynamics using a mathematical model. We experimentally demonstrated that the coculture was sustainable for at least 100 generations, through serial transfers. Moreover, we found that cells isolated after the serial transfer improved the probability of coexistence of both species without extinction in re-coculture. The constructed system will be useful for understanding the initial stage of primary endosymbiosis from cyanobacteria to chloroplasts, i.e., the origin of algae and plants.}, } @article {pmid37055465, year = {2023}, author = {Sylwia, S and Katarzyna, M and Lidia, B}, title = {Constellation of the endophytic mycobiome in spring and winter wheat cultivars grown under various conditions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6089}, pmid = {37055465}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Mycobiome ; Triticum/microbiology ; Seasons ; Fungi/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics ; }, abstract = {The mycobiome is an integral component of every living organism. Among other fungi associated with plants, endophytes are an interesting and favorable group of microorganisms, but information regarding them is still largely unknown. Wheat is the most economically significant and essential crop for global food security, which is exposed to a range of abiotic and biotic stresses. Profiling plants' mycobiomes can help in sustainable, chemical-reducing wheat production. The main objective of this work is to understand the structure of endogenous fungal communities in winter and spring wheat cultivars growing under different growth conditions. Further, the study attempted to investigate the effect of host genotype, host organs and plant growth conditions on the composition and distribution of fungi in wheat plant tissues. Comprehensive, high throughput analyzes of the diversity and community structure of the wheat mycobiome were performed, complemented by the simultaneous isolation of endophytic fungi, resulting in candidate strains for future research. The findings of the study revealed that the type of plant organs and growth conditions influence the wheat mycobiome. It was also assessed that fungi representing the genera Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Sarocladium form the core mycobiome of Polish spring and winter wheat cultivars. The coexistence of both symbiotic and pathogenic species in the internal tissues of wheat was also observed. Those commonly considered beneficial for plants can be used in further research as a valuable source of potential biological control factors and/or biostimulators of wheat plant growth.}, } @article {pmid37054867, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Q and Lv, Y and Liu, J and Chang, L and Chen, Q and Zhu, L and Wang, B and Jiang, J and Zhu, W}, title = {Size matters either way: Differently-sized microplastics affect amphibian host and symbiotic microbiota discriminately.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {121634}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121634}, pmid = {37054867}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Concerns about the implications of microplastics (MPs) on aqueous animals have gained widespread attention. It has been postulated that the magnitude of MPs can influence its toxicity. However, little is known about how MPs toxicity changes with particle size. Amphibians are reliable bioindicators of ecosystem health due to their complex life cycles. In this study, we compared the influences of two sizes nonfunctionalized polystyrene microspheres (1 and 10 μm) on the metamorphosis of Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans). Acute exposure to MPs at high concentrations led to bioaccumulation in the digestive track and internal organs (i.e., liver and heart) of tadpoles. Long-term exposure to either size, at environmentally-related concentrations (1 and 4550 p/mL), led to growth and development delay in pro-metamorphic tadpoles. Remarkably, developmental plasticity mitigated these deleterious effects prior to the onset of metamorphic climax without compromising survival rate in later stages. MPs with a diameter of 10 μm dramatically altered the gut microbiota (e.g., abundance of Catabacter and Desulfovibrio) of pro-metamorphic tadpoles, whereas MPs with a diameter of 1 μm induced much more intensive transcriptional responses in the host tissues (e.g., upregulation of protein synthesis and mitochondrial energy metabolism, and downregulation of neural function and cellular responses). Given that the two MPs sizes induced similar toxic outcomes, this suggests that their principal toxicity mechanisms are distinct. Small-sized MPs can travel easily across the intestinal mucosa and cause direct toxicity, while large-sized MPs accumulate in gut and affect the host by changing the homeostasis of digestive track. In conclusion, our findings indicate that MPs can affect the growth and development of amphibian larvae, but their developmental plasticity determines the ultimate detrimental effects. Multiple pathways of toxicity may contribute to the size-dependent toxicity of MPs. We anticipate that these findings will increase our understanding of the ecological effects of MPs.}, } @article {pmid37054838, year = {2023}, author = {Tong, CY and Honda, K and Derek, CJC}, title = {A review on microalgal-bacterial Co-culture: The multifaceted role of beneficial bacteria towards enhancement of microalgal metabolite production.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {115872}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.115872}, pmid = {37054838}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Mass microalgal-bacterial co-cultures have come to the fore of applied physiological research, in particularly for the optimization of high-value metabolite from microalgae. These co-cultures rely on the existence of a phycosphere which harbors unique cross-kingdom associations that are a prerequisite for the cooperative interactions. However, detailed mechanisms underpinning the beneficial bacterial effects onto microalgal growth and metabolic production are rather limited at the moment. Hence, the main purpose of this review is to shed light on how bacteria fuels microalgal metabolism or vice versa during mutualistic interactions, building upon the phycosphere which is a hotspot for chemical exchange. Nutrients exchange and signal transduction between two not only increase the algal productivity, but also facilitates in the degradation of bio-products and elevating the host defense ability. Main chemical mediators such as photosynthetic oxygen, N-acyl-homoserine lactone, siderophore and vitamin B12 were identified to elucidate beneficial cascading effects from the bacteria towards microalgal metabolites. In terms of applications, the enhancement of soluble microalgal metabolites is often associated with bacteria-mediated cell autolysis while bacterial bio-flocculants can aid in microalgal biomass harvesting. In addition, this review goes in depth into the discussion on enzyme-based communication via metabolic engineering such as gene modification, cellular metabolic pathway fine-tuning, over expression of target enzymes, and diversion of flux toward key metabolites. Furthermore, possible challenges and recommendations aimed at stimulating microalgal metabolite production are outlined. As more evidence emerges regarding the multifaceted role of beneficial bacteria, it will be crucial to incorporate these findings into the development of algal biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid37054672, year = {2023}, author = {Oliveira, RA and Cabral, V and Torcato, I and Xavier, KB}, title = {Deciphering the quorum-sensing lexicon of the gut microbiota.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {500-512}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.015}, pmid = {37054672}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; *Quorum Sensing ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lactones ; Bacteria ; Homoserine ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {The enduring coexistence between the gut microbiota and the host has led to a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. In this complex, multispecies environment, bacteria can communicate through chemical molecules to sense and respond to the chemical, physical, and ecological properties of the surrounding environment. One of the best-studied cell-to-cell communication mechanisms is quorum sensing. Chemical signaling through quorum sensing is involved in regulating the bacterial group behaviors, often required for host colonization. However, most microbial-host interactions regulated by quorum sensing are studied in pathogens. Here, we will focus on the latest reports on the emerging studies of quorum sensing in the gut microbiota symbionts and on group behaviors adopted by these bacteria to colonize the mammalian gut. Moreover, we address the challenges and approaches to uncover molecule-mediated communication mechanisms, which will allow us to unravel the processes that drive the establishment of gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid37054670, year = {2023}, author = {Oliveira, RA and Pamer, EG}, title = {Assembling symbiotic bacterial species into live therapeutic consortia that reconstitute microbiome functions.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {472-484}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2023.03.002}, pmid = {37054670}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {*Metabolome ; Proteomics ; *Microbiota ; Feces/microbiology ; Metabolomics ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Increasing experimental evidence suggests that administering live commensal bacterial species can optimize microbiome composition and lead to reduced disease severity and enhanced health. Our understanding of the intestinal microbiome and its functions has increased over the past two decades largely due to deep sequence analyses of fecal nucleic acids, metabolomic and proteomic assays to measure nutrient use and metabolite production, and extensive studies on the metabolism and ecological interactions of a wide range of commensal bacterial species inhabiting the intestine. Herein, we review new and important findings that have emerged from this work and provide thoughts and considerations on approaches to re-establish and optimize microbiome functions by assembling and administering commensal bacterial consortia.}, } @article {pmid37054610, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, X and Ji, B and Li, A}, title = {Enhancing biolipid production and self-flocculation of Chlorella vulgaris by extracellular polymeric substances from granular sludge with CO2 addition: Microscopic mechanism of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {236}, number = {}, pages = {119960}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.119960}, pmid = {37054610}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Microalgae-bacteria symbiotic systems were known to have great potential for simultaneous water purification and resource recovery, among them, microalgae-bacteria biofilm/granules have attracted much attention due to its excellent effluent quality and convenient biomass recovery. However, the effect of bacteria with attached-growth mode on microalgae, which has more significance for bioresource utilization, has been historically ignored. Thus, this study attempted to explore the responses of C. vulgaris to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from aerobic granular sludge (AGS), for enhancing the understanding of microscopic mechanism of attached microalgae-bacteria symbiosis. Results showed that the performance of C. vulgaris was effectively boosted with AGS-EPS treatment at 12-16 mg TOC/L, highest biomass production (0.32±0.01 g/L), lipid accumulation (44.33±5.69%) and flocculation ability (20.83±0.21%) were achieved. These phenotypes were promoted associated with bioactive microbial metabolites in AGS-EPS (N-acyl-homoserine lactones, humic acid and tryptophan). Furthermore, the addition of CO2 triggered carbon flow into the storage of lipids in C. vulgaris, and the synergistic effect of AGS-EPS and CO2 for improving microalgal flocculation ability was disclosed. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed up-regulation of synthesis pathways for fatty acid and triacylglycerol that was triggered by AGS-EPS. And within the context of CO2 addition, AGS-EPS substantially upregulated the expression of aromatic protein encoding genes, which further enhanced the self-flocculation of C. vulgaris. These findings provide novel insights into the microscopic mechanism of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis, and bring new enlightenment to wastewater valorization and carbon-neutral operation of wastewater treatment plants based on the symbiotic biofilm/biogranules system.}, } @article {pmid37054579, year = {2023}, author = {Mahmoud, E and Hanora, A and Abdalla, S and Abdelrahman Ahmed, AA and Zakeer, S}, title = {Shotgun metagenomic analysis of bacterial symbionts associated with "Chromodoris quadricolor" mantle.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {101030}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2023.101030}, pmid = {37054579}, issn = {1876-7478}, abstract = {Nudibranchs are colorful marine invertebrates having a diverse group of understudied animals. Recently, some nudibranch members have acquired some attention while others still have not. Chromodoris quadricolor is a member of the Red Sea nudibranch, which did not have the chance to get significant attention. Unlike various invertebrates, it lacks a shell suggesting that it must defend itself in other ways. Therefore, in the present study, we were concerned about the mantle-associated bacterial communities. Being essential partners of this dorid nudibranch system, we investigated their taxonomic and functional profiles. We performed a whole metagenomic shotgun approach for the mantle bacterial cells after a differential pelleting procedure. In this procedure, we separated most of the prokaryotic cells from the eukaryotic host cells. Our findings showed that the mantle-body part holds a diverse group of bacterial species relating mainly to Proteobacteria and Tenericutes phyla. There were novel findings regarding the bacterial members associated with the nudibranch mollusks group. Various species were not previously recorded as bacterial symbionts with nudibranchs. Those members were Bathymodiolus brooksi thiotrophic gill symbiont (23.2%), Mycoplasma marinum (7.4%), Mycoplasma todarodis (5%), and Solemya velum gill symbiont (2.6%). The presence of these bacterial species assumed a nutritional role to the host. However, some of these species were present in a high abundance, suggesting their important symbiosis with Chromodoris quadricolor. In addition, exploring the bacterial ability to produce valuable products resulted in the prediction of 2088 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). We identified different gene cluster classes. Polyketide BGC class was the most represented. Others were related to fatty acid BGCs, RiPP, saccharide, terpene, and NRP BGC classes. Prediction of the activity of these gene clusters resulted in, mainly, an antibacterial activity. In addition, different antimicrobial secondary metabolites were also detected. These secondary metabolites are considered key components regulating the bacterial species interactions in their ecosystem. This suggested the significant contribution of these bacterial symbionts to protect the nudibranch host against predators and pathogens. Globally, it is the first detailed study concerned with both the taxonomic diversity and functional potentials of the bacterial symbionts associated with Chromodoris quadricolor mantle.}, } @article {pmid37053274, year = {2023}, author = {Glorieux, G and Nigam, SK and Vanholder, R and Verbeke, F}, title = {Role of the Microbiome in Gut-Heart-Kidney Cross Talk.}, journal = {Circulation research}, volume = {132}, number = {8}, pages = {1064-1083}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.321763}, pmid = {37053274}, issn = {1524-4571}, mesh = {Humans ; Uremic Toxins ; Dysbiosis/metabolism ; Quality of Life ; Kidney/metabolism ; *Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Homeostasis is a prerequisite for health. When homeostasis becomes disrupted, dysfunction occurs. This is especially the case for the gut microbiota, which under normal conditions lives in symbiosis with the host. As there are as many microbial cells in and on our body as human cells, it is unlikely they would not contribute to health or disease. The gut bacterial metabolism generates numerous beneficial metabolites but also uremic toxins and their precursors, which are transported into the circulation. Barrier function in the intestine, the heart, and the kidneys regulates metabolite transport and concentration and plays a role in inter-organ and inter-organism communication via small molecules. This communication is analyzed from the perspective of the remote sensing and signaling theory, which emphasizes the role of a large network of multispecific, oligospecific, and monospecific transporters and enzymes in regulating small-molecule homeostasis. The theory provides a systems biology framework for understanding organ cross talk and microbe-host communication involving metabolites, signaling molecules, nutrients, antioxidants, and uremic toxins. This remote small-molecule communication is critical for maintenance of homeostasis along the gut-heart-kidney axis and for responding to homeostatic perturbations. Chronic kidney disease is characterized by gut dysbiosis and accumulation of toxic metabolites. This slowly impacts the body, affecting the cardiovascular system and contributing to the progression of kidney dysfunction, which in its turn influences the gut microbiota. Preserving gut homeostasis and barrier functions or restoring gut dysbiosis and dysfunction could be a minimally invasive way to improve patient outcomes and quality of life in many diseases, including cardiovascular and kidney disease.}, } @article {pmid37052191, year = {2023}, author = {Kaur, J and Harder, CB and Sharma, J}, title = {Congeneric temperate orchids recruit similar yet differentially abundant endophytic bacterial communities that are uncoupled from soil, but linked to host phenology and population size.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16168}, pmid = {37052191}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Besides the beneficial plant-fungus symbiosis in mycorrhizal plants, bacteria also enhance plant fitness via tripartite interactions. While bacterial associations are presumably just as important for the obligate mycorrhizal family Orchidaceae, little is known about orchid associating bacteria (OAB).

METHODS: We examined the OAB communities of two congeneric terrestrial orchids, Platanthera cooperi and Platanthera praeclara, that represent widely disparate North American ecosystems. We tested whether they recruit distinct OAB communities, and whether variability in OAB communities can be linked to phenology, population size, or habitat soil. Genomic DNAs from roots of seedling, vegetative, and reproductive plants and from soil were subjected to Illumina sequencing of V4 and V5 regions of the 16S rRNA gene.

KEY RESULTS: We obtained 809 OAB Zero-radius Operational Taxonomic Units (ZOTUs). Despite an overlap of 209 ZOTUs that accounted for >75% relative abundances of their respective OAB communities, the overall community structures of the two orchids were distinct. Within each orchid, distinctions were detected in the OAB communities of large and small populations and the three phenological stages. The OAB ZOTUs were either absent or present with low abundances in soil associated with both orchids.

CONCLUSIONS: The two orchids exhibited preferential recruitment of known growth-promoting OAB communities from soil. Their OAB communities also showed considerable overlap despite the large environmental and geographical separation of the two host taxa. Our results lend further support to the emerging evidence that not only the fungi, but root-associated bacteria also have functional importance for plant ecology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid37051075, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Z and Sun, J and Li, T and Shao, P and Ma, J and Dong, K}, title = {Plants changed the response of bacterial community to the nitrogen and phosphorus addition ratio.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1168111}, pmid = {37051075}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Human activities have increased the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply ratio of the natural ecosystem, which affects the growth of plants and the circulation of soil nutrients. However, the effect of the N and P supply ratio and the effect of plant on the soil microbial community are still unclear.

METHODS: In this study, 16s rRNA sequencing was used to characterize the response of bacterial communities in Phragmites communis (P.communis) rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil to N and P addition ratio.

RESULTS: The results showed that the a-diversity of the P.communis rhizosphere soil bacterial community increased with increasing N and P addition ratio, which was caused by the increased salt and microbially available C content by the N and P ratio. N and P addition ratio decreased the pH of non-rhizosphere soil, which consequently decreased the a-diversity of the bacterial community. With increasing N and P addition ratio, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased, while that of Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria decreased, which reflected the trophic strategy of the bacterial community. The bacterial community composition of the non-rhizosphere soil was significantly affected by salt, pH and total carbon (TC) content. Salt limited the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, and increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. The symbiotic network of the rhizosphere soil bacterial community had lower robustness. This is attributed to the greater selective effect of plants on the bacterial community influenced by nutrient addition.

DISCUSSION: Plants played a regulatory role in the process of N and P addition affecting the bacterial community, and nutrient uptake by the root system reduced the negative impact of N and P addition on the bacterial community. The variations in the rhizosphere soil bacterial community were mainly caused by the response of the plant to the N and P addition ratio.}, } @article {pmid37050363, year = {2023}, author = {Kistaubayeva, A and Abdulzhanova, M and Zhantlessova, S and Savitskaya, I and Karpenyuk, T and Goncharova, A and Sinyavskiy, Y}, title = {The Effect of Encapsulating a Prebiotic-Based Biopolymer Delivery System for Enhanced Probiotic Survival.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37050363}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {Orally delivered probiotics must survive transit through harsh environments during gastrointestinal (GI) digestion and be delivered and released into the target site. The aim of this work was to evaluate the survivability and delivery of gel-encapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) to the colon. New hybrid symbiotic beads alginate/prebiotic pullulan/probiotic LGG were obtained by the extrusion method. The average size of the developed beads was 3401 µm (wet), 921 µm (dry) and the bacterial titer was 10[9] CFU/g. The morphology of the beads was studied by a scanning electron microscope, demonstrating the structure of the bacterial cellulose shell and loading with probiotics. For the first time, we propose adding an enzymatic extract of feces to an artificial colon fluid, which mimics the total hydrolytic activity of the intestinal microbiota. The beads can be digested by fecalase with cellulase activity, indicating intestinal release. The encapsulation of LGG significantly enhanced their viability under simulated GI conditions. However, the beads, in combination with the prebiotic, provided greater protection of bacteria, enhancing their survival and even increasing cell numbers in the capsules. These data suggest the promising prospects of coencapsulation as an innovative delivery method based on the inclusion of probiotic bacteria in a symbiotic matrix.}, } @article {pmid37050315, year = {2023}, author = {Cubas, ALV and Provin, AP and Dutra, ARA and Mouro, C and Gouveia, IC}, title = {Advances in the Production of Biomaterials through Kombucha Using Food Waste: Concepts, Challenges, and Potential.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37050315}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {In recent years, several researchers have focused their studies on the development of sustainable biomaterials using renewable sources, including the incorporation of living biological systems. One of the best biomaterials is bacterial cellulose (BC). There are several ways to produce BC, from using a pure strain to producing the fermented drink kombucha, which has a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). Studies have shown that the use of agricultural waste can be a low-cost and sustainable way to create BC. This article conducts a literature review to analyze issues related to the creation of BC through kombucha production. The databases used were ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and SpringerLink. A total of 42 articles, dated from 2018 to 2022, were referenced to write this review. The findings contributed to the discussion of three topics: (1) The production of BC through food waste (including patents in addition to the scientific literature); (2) Areas of research, sectors, and products that use BC (including research that did not use the kombucha drink, but used food waste as a source of carbon and nitrogen); and (3) Production, sustainability, and circular economy: perspectives, challenges, and trends in the use of BC (including some advantages and disadvantages of BC production through the kombucha drink).}, } @article {pmid37050009, year = {2023}, author = {Stelmasiewicz, M and Świątek, Ł and Gibbons, S and Ludwiczuk, A}, title = {Bioactive Compounds Produced by Endophytic Microorganisms Associated with Bryophytes-The "Bryendophytes".}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37050009}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Fungi/metabolism ; *Bryophyta ; Symbiosis ; Endophytes/metabolism ; *Hepatophyta ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic coexistence between the host and endophyte is diverse and complex, including host growth regulation, the exchange of substances like nutrients or biostimulants, and protection from microbial or herbivore attack. The latter is commonly associated with the production by endophytes of bioactive natural products, which also possess multiple activities, including antibacterial, insecticidal, antioxidant, antitumor, and antidiabetic properties, making them interesting and valuable model substances for future development into drugs. The endophytes of higher plants have been extensively studied, but there is a dearth of information on the biodiversity of endophytic microorganisms associated with bryophytes and, more importantly, their bioactive metabolites. For the first time, we name bryophyte endophytes "bryendophytes" to elaborate on this important and productive source of biota. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the diversity of compounds produced by endophytes, emphasizing bioactive molecules from bryendophytes. Moreover, the isolation methods and biodiversity of bryendophytes from mosses, liverworts, and hornworts are described.}, } @article {pmid37048354, year = {2023}, author = {Chetrariu, A and Dabija, A}, title = {Spent Grain: A Functional Ingredient for Food Applications.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37048354}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Spent grain is the solid fraction remaining after wort removal. It is nutritionally rich, composed of fibers-mainly hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin-proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals, and must be managed properly. Spent grain is a by-product with high moisture, high protein and high fiber content and is susceptible to microbial contamination; thus, a suitable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly valorization method of processing it is required. This by-product is used as a raw material in the production of many other food products-bakery products, pasta, cookies, muffins, wafers, snacks, yogurt or plant-based yogurt alternatives, Frankfurter sausages or fruit beverages-due to its nutritional values. The circular economy is built on waste reduction and the reuse of by-products, which find opportunities in the regeneration and recycling of waste materials and energy that become inputs in other processes and food products. Waste disposal in the food industry has become a major issue in recent years when attempting to maintain hygiene standards and avoid soil, air and water contamination. Fortifying food products with spent grain follows the precepts of the circular bio-economy and industrial symbiosis of strengthening sustainable development. The purpose of this review is to update information on the addition of spent grain to various foods and the influence of spent grain on these foods.}, } @article {pmid37048154, year = {2023}, author = {Shrestha, H and Yao, T and Qiao, Z and Muchero, W and Hettich, RL and Chen, JG and Abraham, PE}, title = {Lectin Receptor-like Kinase Signaling during Engineered Ectomycorrhiza Colonization.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37048154}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Lectins/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic association can improve a plant's health and productivity. G-type lectin receptor-like kinase (PtLecRLK1) is a susceptibility factor in Populus trichocarpa that permits root colonization by a beneficial fungus, Laccaria bicolor. Engineering PtLecRLK1 also permits L. bicolor root colonization in non-host plants similar to Populus trichocarpa. The intracellular signaling reprogramed by PtLecRLK1 upon recognition of L. bicolor to allow for the development and maintenance of symbiosis is yet to be determined. In this study, phosphoproteomics was utilized to identify phosphorylation-based relevant signaling pathways associated with PtLecRLK1 recognition of L. bicolor in transgenic switchgrass roots. Our finding shows that PtLecRLK1 in transgenic plants modifies the chitin-triggered plant defense and MAPK signaling along with a significant adjustment in phytohormone signaling, ROS balance, endocytosis, cytoskeleton movement, and proteasomal degradation in order to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of L. bicolor colonization. Moreover, protein-protein interaction data implicate a cGMP-dependent protein kinase as a potential substrate of PtLecRLK1.}, } @article {pmid37047888, year = {2023}, author = {Hoy-Gerlach, J and Townsend, L}, title = {Reimagining Healthcare: Human-Animal Bond Support as a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Public Health Intervention.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37047888}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Public Health ; *Health Promotion ; Human-Animal Bond ; Delivery of Health Care ; }, abstract = {The emergence of human-animal support services (HASS)-services provided to help keep people and their companion animals together-in the United States has been driven by two global public health crises. Despite such impetuses and an increasing recognition of One Health approaches, HASS are generally not recognized as public health interventions. The Ottawa Charter, defining health as well-being and resources for living and calling for cross-sector action to advance such, provides a clear rationale for locating HASS within a public health framework. Drawing from Ottawa Charter tenets and using the United States as a case study, we: (1) recognize and explicate HASS as public health resources for human and animal well-being and (2) delineate examples of HASS within the three-tiered public health intervention framework. HASS examples situated in the three-tier framework reveal a public health continuum for symbiotic well-being and health. Humans and their respective companion animals may need different levels of intervention to optimize mutual well-being. Tenets of the Ottawa Charter provide a clear rationale for recognizing and promoting HASS as One Health public health interventions; doing so enables cross-sector leveraging of resources and offers a symbiotic strategy for human and animal well-being.}, } @article {pmid37047476, year = {2023}, author = {Msaddak, A and Mars, M and Quiñones, MA and Lucas, MM and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {Lupin, a Unique Legume That Is Nodulated by Multiple Microsymbionts: The Role of Horizontal Gene Transfer.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {37047476}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; *Lupinus/genetics/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Health Promotion ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Vegetables/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lupin is a high-protein legume crop that grows in a wide range of edaphoclimatic conditions where other crops are not viable. Its unique seed nutrient profile can promote health benefits, and it has been proposed as a phytoremediation plant. Most rhizobia nodulating Lupinus species belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium, comprising strains that are phylogenetically related to B. cytisi, B. hipponenese, B. rifense, B. iriomotense/B. stylosanthis, B. diazoefficiens, B. japonicum, B. canariense/B. lupini, and B. retamae/B. valentinum. Lupins are also nodulated by fast-growing bacteria within the genera Microvirga, Ochrobactrum, Devosia, Phyllobacterium, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, and Neorhizobium. Phylogenetic analyses of the nod and nif genes, involved in microbial colonization and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, respectively, suggest that fast-growing lupin-nodulating bacteria have acquired their symbiotic genes from rhizobial genera other than Bradyrhizobium. Horizontal transfer represents a key mechanism allowing lupin to form symbioses with bacteria that were previously considered as non-symbiotic or unable to nodulate lupin, which might favor lupin's adaptation to specific habitats. The characterization of yet-unstudied Lupinus species, including microsymbiont whole genome analyses, will most likely expand and modify the current lupin microsymbiont taxonomy, and provide additional knowledge that might help to further increase lupin's adaptability to marginal soils and climates.}, } @article {pmid37046168, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, D and Feng, Q and Zhang, Y}, title = {Enrichment and response of iron-metabolizing microorganisms and metabolic genes in the contaminated area of stratified stacking coal gangue dumps, Northern China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-023-26775-y}, pmid = {37046168}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {In the Xishan coalfield of northern China, the stratified stacking of soil and gangue was applied to limit the acid pollution from high-sulfur coal gangue. In this study, we found that stratified stacking can effectively neutralize the acidity, with the pH value of gangue-leaching water being 6.02-8.13. In contrast to the acidic contaminated area, most of the microorganisms in the study area sediment were neutrophilic, with the main genera being Arthrobacter, Pseudorhodobacter, Pseudomonas, and Rhodoferax. A variety of iron- and sulfur-metabolizing bacteria was discovered in the gangue-leaching sediment, with the total relative abundance ranging from 4.20 to 23.75%, of which the iron-reducing bacteria (FeRB) accounted for the highest percentage. The distributions of these functional microorganisms in the samples were significantly influenced by Fe and S. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the iron- and sulfur-metabolizing bacteria in the sediment (93.75%), indicating a strong reciprocal symbiotic relationship between these bacteria. The iron and sulfur metabolism genes in the sediment were predicted and compared based on the Tax4Fun functional prediction method. Results showed that functional genes related to iron metabolism were highly expressed in the gangue-leaching sediment. This study enhances the understanding of iron and sulfur metabolism in gangue-leaching contaminated areas.}, } @article {pmid37043929, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, K and Wu, Z and Liu, Z and Tang, J and Cai, W and An, M and Zhou, Z}, title = {Acute hypoxia induces reduction of algal symbiont density and suppression of energy metabolism in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {114897}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114897}, pmid = {37043929}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Loss of oxygen in the ocean is accelerating and threatening the coral reef ecosystem. In this study, the impacts of hypoxia on the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis were explored. The algal symbiont density, chlorophyll a + c2 content, energy consumption of corals, as well as energy available and consumption of their symbionts, decreased significantly post hypoxia stress. Meanwhile, the malondialdehyde contents in corals and symbionts, together with the caspase-3 activation level in corals, increased significantly in response to hypoxia stress. Furthermore, it was revealed that activities such as coral cell division and calcification were inhibited under hypoxia. These results collectively suggest that acute hypoxia stress reduces symbiont density and chlorophyll a + c2 content in the coral P. damicornis by elevating intracellular oxidative pressure and apoptotic level, which further suppresses energy metabolism in the symbiotic association and negatively affects a series of activities such as coral cell division and calcification.}, } @article {pmid37042660, year = {2023}, author = {Nikolopoulos, N and Matos, R and Ravaud, S and Courtin, P and Akherraz, H and Palussiere, S and Gueguen-Chaignon, V and Salomon-Mallet, M and Guillot, A and Guerardel, Y and Chapot-Chartier, MP and Grangeasse, C and Leulier, F}, title = {Structure-function analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DltE& reveals D-alanylated lipoteichoic acids as direct cues supporting Drosophila juvenile growth.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.84669}, pmid = {37042660}, issn = {2050-084X}, abstract = {Metazoans establish mutually beneficial interactions with their resident microorganisms. However, our understanding of the microbial cues contributing to host physiology remains elusive. Previously, we identified a bacterial machinery encoded by the dlt operon involved in Drosophila melanogaster's juvenile growth promotion by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Here, using crystallography combined with biochemical and cellular approaches, we investigate the physiological role of an uncharacterized protein (DltE) encoded by this operon. We show that lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) but not wall teichoic acids are D-alanylated in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum[NC8] cell envelope and demonstrate that DltE is a D-Ala carboxyesterase removing D-Ala from LTA. Using the mutualistic association of L. plantarum[NC8] and Drosophila melanogaster as a symbiosis model, we establish that D-alanylated LTAs (D-Ala-LTAs) are direct cues supporting intestinal peptidase expression and juvenile growth in Drosophila. Our results pave the way to probing the contribution of D-Ala-LTAs to host physiology in other symbiotic models.}, } @article {pmid37041332, year = {2023}, author = {Yamashita, MS and Melo, EO}, title = {Animal Transgenesis and Cloning: Combined Development and Future Perspectives.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2647}, number = {}, pages = {121-149}, pmid = {37041332}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; *Genetic Engineering ; *Gene Editing ; Cloning, Organism ; Cloning, Molecular ; }, abstract = {The revolution in animal transgenesis began in 1981 and continues to become more efficient, cheaper, and faster to perform. New genome editing technologies, especially CRISPR-Cas9, are leading to a new era of genetically modified or edited organisms. Some researchers advocate this new era as the time of synthetic biology or re-engineering. Nonetheless, we are witnessing advances in high-throughput sequencing, artificial DNA synthesis, and design of artificial genomes at a fast pace. These advances in symbiosis with animal cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) allow the development of improved livestock, animal models of human disease, and heterologous production of bioproducts for medical applications. In the context of genetic engineering, SCNT remains a useful technology to generate animals from genetically modified cells. This chapter addresses these fast-developing technologies driving this biotechnological revolution and their association with animal cloning technology.}, } @article {pmid37040962, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, M and Che, WX and Zeng, YX and Bian, WJ and Lü, SG and Mu, J}, title = {[Effects of Microplastic Exposure on the Community Structure and Function of Symbiotic Bacteria in Sinularia microclavata].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {2122-2135}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202203081}, pmid = {37040962}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Animals ; Microplastics/analysis ; Plastics ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria ; *Microbiota ; Proteobacteria ; }, abstract = {Microplastics are widely distributed in the marine environment and are harmful to the health of marine organisms (including corals). However, studies on the impact of microplastics on coral have been very limited, and the specific mechanism of their impact is not clear. Therefore, in this study, microplastic PA, which is common in the marine environment, was selected to conduct a 7-day microplastic exposure experiment on Sinularia microclavata. The effects of microplastic exposure at different times on the diversity, community structure, and function of the symbiotic bacterial community of coral were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. The α-diversity of the symbiotic bacterial community of coral first decreased and then increased with the exposure time of microplastics. The analysis of β-diversity and microbial community composition showed that microplastic exposure caused significant changes in the symbiotic bacterial community of coral, and the bacterial community composition also changed with the exposure time. A total of 49 phyla, 152 classes, 363 orders, 634 families, and 1390 genera were detected. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the dominant taxa in all samples, but the relative abundance varied among samples. Microplastic exposure increased the abundance of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Acidobacteriota. At the genus level, Ralstonia, Acinetobacter, and Delftia were the dominant taxa of symbiotic bacteria of coral after microplastic exposure. PICRUSt functional prediction indicated that functions of the coral symbiotic bacterial community, including signal transduction, cellular community prokaryotes, xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, and cell motility, decreased after microplastic exposure on coral. BugBase phenotype predictions indicated that microplastic exposure altered three phenotypes (pathogenic, anaerobic, and oxidative stress-tolerant) of the coral symbiotic bacterial community. FAPROTAX functional predictions indicated that microplastic exposure caused significant changes in functions such as the symbiotic relationship between coral symbiotic bacteria and the host, carbon and nitrogen cycling, and photosynthesis. This study provided basic data on the mechanism of microplastic impacts on corals and microplastics ecotoxicology.}, } @article {pmid37040790, year = {2023}, author = {Greenwich, JL and Heckel, BC and Alakavuklar, MA and Fuqua, C}, title = {The ChvG-ChvI Regulatory Network: A Conserved Global Regulatory Circuit Among the Alphaproteobacteria with Pervasive Impacts on Host Interactions and Diverse Cellular Processes.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-120822-102714}, pmid = {37040790}, issn = {1545-3251}, abstract = {The ChvG-ChvI two-component system is conserved among multiple Alphaproteobacteria. ChvG is a canonical two-component system sensor kinase with a single large periplasmic loop. Active ChvG directs phosphotransfer to its cognate response regulator ChvI, which controls transcription of target genes. In many alphaproteobacteria, ChvG is regulated by a third component, a periplasmic protein called ExoR, that maintains ChvG in an inactive state through direct interaction. Acidic pH stimulates proteolysis of ExoR, unfettering ChvG-ChvI to control its regulatory targets. Activated ChvI among different alphaproteobacteria controls a broad range of cellular processes, including symbiosis and virulence, exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, motility, type VI secretion, cellular metabolism, envelope composition, and growth. Low pH is a virulence signal in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, but in other systems, conditions that cause envelope stress may also generally activate ChvG-ChvI. There is mounting evidence that these regulators influence diverse aspects of bacterial physiology, including but not limited to host interactions. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 77 is September 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, } @article {pmid37039918, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, G and Sun, J and Xie, P and Guo, C and Li, M and Tian, K}, title = {Mechanism of bacterial communities regulating litter decomposition under climate warming in temperate wetlands.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37039918}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Plant litter decomposition plays a crucial role in the flow of nutrients and energy in ecosystems. However, the mechanism of bacterial communities regulating litter decomposition under climate warming in temperate wetlands remains largely unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the influences of temperature on decomposition and the bacterial regulatory mechanism under climate warming in temperate wetlands. In this study, we conducted a 1.5-year litter decomposition warming experiment using dominant plant species in the temperate lake wetlands of the North China Plain. Our results showed that the decomposition rate (K) had a significant positive correlation with temperature, and the non-additive effects of litter decomposition could be clearly observed in the mixtures of Phragmites australis and Typha angustata, especially under warming conditions. Among the three types of litter, Phragmites australis had the highest temperature sensitivity (2.75), which meant that it would be most affected by climate change in the future. The concentrations of C and N showed a significant positive correlation with the decomposition rate and were mainly driven by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, while the concentration of lignin and the lignin:N ratio had a highly significant negative correlation with the decomposition rate and were mainly driven by Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota. Furthermore, the bacterial cooccurrence network revealed that the abundance of Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota increased significantly, and positive edges accounted for 67.81% ~ 71.14% under warming conditions. The bacterial networks of litter decomposition were mainly composed of symbiotic relationships, and warming was helpful for improving the positive correlations and symbiotic relationships of bacterial flora and sped up the litter decomposition process. These results will be helpful to further understand the mechanism of bacterial communities regulating litter decomposition under climate warming in temperate wetland ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37038309, year = {2023}, author = {Nadolski, EM and Moczek, AP}, title = {Promises and limits of an agency perspective in evolutionary developmental biology.}, journal = {Evolution & development}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ede.12432}, pmid = {37038309}, issn = {1525-142X}, abstract = {An agent-based perspective in the study of complex systems is well established in diverse disciplines, yet is only beginning to be applied to evolutionary developmental biology. In this essay, we begin by defining agency and associated terminology formally. We then explore the assumptions and predictions of an agency perspective, apply these to select processes and key concept areas relevant to practitioners of evolutionary developmental biology, and consider the potential epistemic roles that an agency perspective might play in evo devo. Throughout, we discuss evidence supportive of agential dynamics in biological systems relevant to evo devo and explore where agency thinking may enrich the explanatory reach of research efforts in evolutionary developmental biology.}, } @article {pmid37038205, year = {2023}, author = {Beldowska, A and Barszcz, M and Dunislawska, A}, title = {State of the art in research on the gut-liver and gut-brain axis in poultry.}, journal = {Journal of animal science and biotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {37}, pmid = {37038205}, issn = {1674-9782}, abstract = {The relationship between the intestines and their microbiota, the liver, and the neuronal system is called the gut-liver-brain axis. This relationship has been studied and observed for a relatively short time but is considered in the development of research focused on, e.g., liver diseases and intestinal dysbiosis. The role of the gut microbiota in this relationship is crucial, as it acts on poultry's performance and feed utilization, affecting meat and egg quality. The correct composition of the intestinal microbiota makes it possible to determine the essential metabolic pathways and biological processes of the individual components of the microbiota, allowing further speculation of the role of microbial populations on internal organs such as the liver and brain in the organism. The gut microbiota forms a complex, dense axis with the autonomic and enteric nervous systems. The symbiotic relationship between the liver and gut microbiota is based on immune, metabolic and neuroendocrine regulation, and stabilization. On the other hand, the gut-brain axis is a bidirectional interaction and information transfer system between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. The following paper will discuss the current state of knowledge of the gut-liver-brain axis of poultry, including factors that may affect this complex relationship.}, } @article {pmid37037266, year = {2023}, author = {Yazdandoust, E and Hajifathali, A and Roshandel, E and Zarif, MN and Pourfathollah, AA and Parkhideh, S and Mehdizadeh, M and Amini-Kafiabad, S}, title = {Gut microbiota intervention by pre and probiotics can induce regulatory T cells and reduce the risk of severe acute GVHD following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.}, journal = {Transplant immunology}, volume = {78}, number = {}, pages = {101836}, doi = {10.1016/j.trim.2023.101836}, pmid = {37037266}, issn = {1878-5492}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is one of the leading causes of limitation and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Numerous studies have shown that changes in the gut microbiome diversity increased post-transplant problems, including the occurrence of aGVHD. Probiotics and prebiotics can reconstitute the gut microbiota and thus increase bacterial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that have immunomodulatory effects preventing aGVHD in recipients of allo-HSCTs.

METHODS/STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a pilot randomized clinical trial to investigate whether oral synbiotics are associated with the prevention or reduction in occurrence/severity and mitigate complications of aGVHD following allo-HSCT. A commercially available synbiotic mixture containing high levels of 7 safe bacterial strains plus fructo-oligosaccharides as a prebiotic was administered to allo-HSCT recipients. Out of 40 allo-HSCT patients, 20 received daily a synbiotic 21 days prior to transplantation (days -21 to day 0). In contrast, in the control group 20 recipients of allo-HSCT did not receive a symbiotic therapy.

RESULTS: Within first 100 days of observation, the incidence of severe (grade III/IV) aGVHD in the a synbiotic-therapy group was 0% (0 out of 20 patients), whereas it was 25% (5 out of 20 patients) in the control group (P = 0.047). The median percentage of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) among CD4+ lymphocytes on day 28 after HSCT in the synbiotic group was higher (2.54%) than in control group (1.73%; P = 0.01). There was no difference in Treg cells on day 7 after HSCT between two groups. However, the median percentage and the absolute count of Tregs in patients who experience aGVHD was significantly lower on days 7 and 28 after HSCT (both P < 0.05). The overall 12-month survival (OS) rate was higher (90%) in the symbiotic-treated patients than in the control group (75%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.234).

CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings suggest that synbiotic intake before and during the conditioning regimen of allo-HSCT patients may lead to a reduction in the incidence and severity of aGVHD through the induction of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, thus contributing to the improvement of transplant outcomes. Much larger studies are needed to confirm our observations.}, } @article {pmid37036547, year = {2023}, author = {Bharti, A and Maheshwari, HS and Garg, S and Anwar, K and Pareek, A and Satpute, G and Prakash, A and Sharma, MP}, title = {Exploring potential soybean bradyrhizobia from high trehalose-accumulating soybean genotypes for improved symbiotic effectiveness in soybean.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37036547}, issn = {1618-1905}, abstract = {Drought is the most important factor limiting the activity of rhizobia during N-fixation and plant growth. In the present study, we isolated Bradyrhizobium spp. from root nodules of higher trehalose-accumulating soybean genotypes and examined for moisture stress tolerance on a gradient of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) amended in yeast extract mannitol (YEM) broth. In addition, the bradyrhizobial strains were also evaluated for symbiotic effectiveness on soybean. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequences, four bradyrhizobial species were recovered from high trehalose-accumulating genotypes, i.e., two Bradyrhizobium liaoningense strains (accession number KX230053, KX230054) from EC 538828 and PK-472, respectively, one Bradyrhizobium daqingense (accession number KX230052) from PK-472, and one Bradyrhizobium kavangense (accession number MN197775) from Valder genotype having low trehalose. These strains, along with two native strains, viz., Bradyrhizobium japonicum (JF792425), Bradyrhizobium liaoningense (JF792426), and one commercial rhizobium, were studied for nodulation, leghaemoglobin, and N-fixation abilities on soybean under sterilized sand microcosm conditions in a completely randomized design. Among all the strains, D-4A (B. daqingense) followed by D-4B (B. liaoningense) was found to have significantly higher nodulation traits and acetylene reduction assay (ARA) activity when compared to other strains and commercial rhizobia. The bradyrhizobia isolates showed plant growth promotion traits such as indole acetic acid (IAA), exopolysaccharide (EPS), and siderophore production, phosphate-solubilizing potential, and proline accumulation. The novel species B. daqingense was reported for the first time from Indian soil and observed to be a potential candidate strain and should be evaluated for conferring drought tolerance in soybean under simulated stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid37035680, year = {2023}, author = {Ferrarini, MG and Vallier, A and Dell'Aglio, E and Balmand, S and Vincent-Monégat, C and Debbache, M and Maire, J and Parisot, N and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A and Rebollo, R}, title = {Endosymbiont-containing germarium transcriptional survey in a cereal weevil depicts downregulation of immune effectors at the onset of sexual maturity.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1142513}, pmid = {37035680}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Insects often establish long-term relationships with intracellular symbiotic bacteria, i.e., endosymbionts, that provide them with essential nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins. Endosymbionts are typically confined within specialized host cells called bacteriocytes that may form an organ, the bacteriome. Compartmentalization within host cells is paramount for protecting the endosymbionts and also avoiding chronic activation of the host immune system. In the cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae, bacteriomes are present as a single organ at the larval foregut-midgut junction, and in adults, at the apex of midgut mesenteric caeca and at the apex of the four ovarioles. While the adult midgut endosymbionts experience a drastic proliferation during early adulthood followed by complete elimination through apoptosis and autophagy, ovarian endosymbionts are maintained throughout the weevil lifetime by unknown mechanisms. Bacteria present in ovarian bacteriomes are thought to be involved in the maternal transmission of endosymbionts through infection of the female germline, but the exact mode of transmission is not fully understood. Here, we show that endosymbionts are able to colonize the germarium in one-week-old females, pinpointing a potential infection route of oocytes. To identify potential immune regulators of ovarian endosymbionts, we have analyzed the transcriptomes of the ovarian bacteriomes through young adult development, from one-day-old adults to sexually mature ones. In contrast with midgut bacteriomes, immune effectors are downregulated in ovarian bacteriomes at the onset of sexual maturation. We hypothesize that relaxation of endosymbiont control by antimicrobial peptides might allow bacterial migration and potential oocyte infection, ensuring endosymbiont transmission.}, } @article {pmid37035661, year = {2023}, author = {Michalik, A and Franco, DC and Deng, J and Szklarzewicz, T and Stroiński, A and Kobiałka, M and Łukasik, P}, title = {Variable organization of symbiont-containing tissue across planthoppers hosting different heritable endosymbionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1135346}, pmid = {37035661}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Sap-feeding hemipteran insects live in associations with diverse heritable symbiotic microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that provide essential nutrients deficient in their hosts' diets. These symbionts typically reside in highly specialized organs called bacteriomes (with bacterial symbionts) or mycetomes (with fungal symbionts). The organization of these organs varies between insect clades that are ancestrally associated with different microbes. As these symbioses evolve and additional microorganisms complement or replace the ancient associates, the organization of the symbiont-containing tissue becomes even more variable. Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) are ancestrally associated with bacterial symbionts Sulcia and Vidania, but in many of the planthopper lineages, these symbionts are now accompanied or have been replaced by other heritable bacteria (e.g., Sodalis, Arsenophonus, Purcelliella) or fungi. We know the identity of many of these microbes, but the symbiont distribution within the host tissues and the bacteriome organization have not been systematically studied using modern microscopy techniques. Here, we combine light, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy with phylogenomic data to compare symbiont tissue distributions and the bacteriome organization across planthoppers representing 15 families. We identify and describe seven primary types of symbiont localization and seven types of the organization of the bacteriome. We show that Sulcia and Vidania, when present, usually occupy distinct bacteriomes distributed within the body cavity. The more recently acquired gammaproteobacterial and fungal symbionts generally occupy separate groups of cells organized into distinct bacteriomes or mycetomes, distinct from those with Sulcia and Vidania. They can also be localized in the cytoplasm of fat body cells. Alphaproteobacterial symbionts colonize a wider range of host body habitats: Asaia-like symbionts often colonize the host gut lumen, whereas Wolbachia and Rickettsia are usually scattered across insect tissues and cell types, including cells containing other symbionts, bacteriome sheath, fat body cells, gut epithelium, as well as hemolymph. However, there are exceptions, including Gammaproteobacteria that share bacteriome with Vidania, or Alphaproteobacteria that colonize Sulcia cells. We discuss how planthopper symbiont localization correlates with their acquisition and replacement patterns and the symbionts' likely functions. We also discuss the evolutionary consequences, constraints, and significance of these findings.}, } @article {pmid37035252, year = {2023}, author = {Casarin, M and da Silveira, TM and Bezerra, B and Pirih, FQ and Pola, NM}, title = {Association between different dietary patterns and eating disorders and periodontal diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in oral health}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1152031}, pmid = {37035252}, issn = {2673-4842}, abstract = {Periodontal diseases is a highly prevalent chronic condition regulated by the host immune response to pathogenic bacterial colonization on the teeth surfaces. Nutrition is a critical component in the modulation of the immune system, hence the importance of a balanced diet. With the understanding of how dietary intake composition affects various health outcomes, nutrient diversity has been reported as a modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease. Eating disorders and different dietary patterns can be associated with periodontal diseases. In this sense, balanced and healthy nutrition plays a major role in maintaining the symbiosis between oral microbiota and periodontal health. Therefore, this review seeks to report the associations found in the literature between high- or low-fat/sodium/sugar, eating disorders and periodontal diseases. It was found that some dietary patterns such as high carbohydrate/sugar, high fat, and low fiber intake may be associated with periodontal disease. In addition, the presence of eating disorders can negatively impact patients' oral health and it is related to the development of several complications, including periodontal diseases. In both situations, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies can aggravate the periodontal condition. However, the relationship between periodontal disease, dietary patterns, and eating disorders still needs more scientific support to be well established, mainly in the sense of pointing out a protective relationship between both.}, } @article {pmid37034828, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, BY and Fang, WH and Zhu, R and Wang, N and Yao, Q and Liu, HJ and Wan, JW and Chen, YK and Wang, QJ and Zhang, DM}, title = {Comparative Study on Growth Index and Nutritional Quality of Female Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis Selected at Different Growth Periods in Rice-Crab Culture Systems.}, journal = {Aquaculture nutrition}, volume = {2023}, number = {}, pages = {4805919}, pmid = {37034828}, issn = {1365-2095}, abstract = {Research was conducted on the growth performance and nutritional quality of Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) during a 62-day growing period in a symbiotic coculture comprising rice and crab. Culture experiments were conducted in three rice fields of equal size (996 m[2]). On days 0 (July 15, D0), 15 (July 30, D15), 31 (August 15, D31), 46 (August 30, D46), and 62 (September 2, D62), tissue samples of 50 female E. sinensis were collected randomly from each rice field. The results showed that the serum growth hormone (GH) content and muscle ecdysone receptor (EcR) mRNA expression levels were higher in the D31 and D46 groups; the content of serum 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) and the mRNA expression levels of retinoid X receptor (RXR), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), and chitinase (CHI) reached the maximum in the D31 group. Muscle crude protein content gradually increased; hepatopancreas crude protein and crude lipid content began to decrease after reaching the maximum value in the D0 and D15 groups, respectively; the contents of crude protein and crude lipid in the ovary significantly increased in the D46 and D62 groups (P < 0.05). The content of muscle essential amino acids (EAA) reached the maximum in the D46 group; the hepatopancreas EAA content began to decrease significantly in the D31 group (P < 0.05); and the EAA content of the ovary decreased significantly after reaching the maximum value in the D46 group (P < 0.05). The muscle contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA) and the ratio of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3/n6) decreased significantly in the D31 group (P < 0.05); the hepatopancreas contents of EPA, PUFA, n-3PUFA, and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6PUFA) and the ratio of n3/n6 began to decrease after reaching the maximum value in the D31 group, ethyl behenate (21:0), tetracosanoic acid (24:0), DPA, and DHA contents were detected for the first time in the D31 group; the ovary PUFA, n-3PUFA contents, and n3/n6 ratio of the D46 and D62 groups were significantly lower than those of the D31 group (P < 0.05). During the experimental conditions described here, female E. sinensis raised in rice fields reached rapid growth from August 15 to August 30. Additionally, the nutritional quality of the female E. sinensis edible tissues (muscle, hepatopancreas, and ovary) began to decline after August 15, when sufficient nutrients such as protein, lipid, EAA, and PUFA should be provided to the female E. sinensis.}, } @article {pmid37034584, year = {2023}, author = {Jackson, C and Cherry, C and Bom, S and Dykema, AG and Thompson, E and Zheng, M and Ji, Z and Hou, W and Li, R and Zhang, H and Choi, J and Rodriguez, F and Weingart, J and Yegnasubramanian, S and Lim, M and Bettegowda, C and Powell, J and Eliesseff, J and Ji, H and Pardoll, D}, title = {Distinct Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell Populations Promote Tumor Aggression in Glioblastoma.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.03.26.534192}, pmid = {37034584}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The diversity of genetic programs and cellular plasticity of glioma-associated myeloid cells, and thus their contribution to tumor growth and immune evasion, is poorly understood. We performed single cell RNA-sequencing of immune and tumor cells from 33 glioma patients of varying tumor grades. We identified two populations characteristic of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), unique to glioblastoma (GBM) and absent in grades II and III tumors: i) an early progenitor population (E-MDSC) characterized by strong upregulation of multiple catabolic, anabolic, oxidative stress, and hypoxia pathways typically observed within tumor cells themselves, and ii) a monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) population. The E-MDSCs geographically co-localize with a subset of highly metabolic glioma stem-like tumor cells with a mesenchymal program in the pseudopalisading region, a pathognomonic feature of GBMs associated with poor prognosis. Ligand-receptor interaction analysis revealed symbiotic cross-talk between the stemlike tumor cells and E-MDSCs in GBM, whereby glioma stem cells produce chemokines attracting E-MDSCs, which in turn produce growth and survival factors for the tumor cells. Our large-scale single-cell analysis elucidated unique MDSC populations as key facilitators of GBM progression and mediators of tumor immunosuppression, suggesting that targeting these specific myeloid compartments, including their metabolic programs, may be a promising therapeutic intervention in this deadly cancer.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: Aggressive glioblastoma harbors two unique myeloid populations capable of promoting stem-like properties of tumor cells and suppressing T cell function in the tumor microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid37033800, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, W and Wang, J and Song, J and Sun, Q and Zhu, B and Qin, L}, title = {Exogenous and Endophytic Fungal Communities of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. across Different Habitats and Their Enhancement of Host Plants' Dendrobine Content and Biomass Accumulation.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {8}, number = {13}, pages = {12489-12500}, pmid = {37033800}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Both the biosynthesis and array of bioactive and medicinal compounds in plants can be influenced by interactions with endophytic and exogenous fungi. However, the composition of endophytic and exogenous fungal communities associated with many medicinal plants is unknown, and the mechanism by which these fungi stimulate the secondary metabolism of host plants is unclear. In this study, we conducted a correlative analysis between endophytic and exogenous fungi and dendrobine and biomass accumulation in Dendrobium nobile across five Chinese habitats: wild Danxia rock, greenhouse-associated large Danxia stone, broken Danxia stone, broken coarse sandstone, and wood spile. Across habitats, fungal communities exhibited significant differences. The abundances of Phyllosticta, Trichoderma, and Hydropus were higher in wild habitats than in greenhouse habitats. Wild habitats were host to a higher diversity and richness of exogenous fungi than were greenhouse habitats. However, there was no significant difference in endophytic fungal diversity between habitats. The differences between the fungal communities' effects on the dendrobine content and biomass of D. nobile were attributable to the composition of endophytic and exogenous fungi. Exogenous fungi had a greater impact than endophytic fungi on the accumulation of fresh weight (FW) and dendrobine in D. nobile. Furthermore, D. nobile samples with higher exogenous fungal richness and diversity exhibited higher dendrobine content and FW. Phyllosticta was the only genus to be significantly positively correlated with both FW and dendrobine content. A total of 86 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots, stems, and leaves of D. nobile, of which 8 strains were found to be symbiotic with D. nobile tissue-cultured seedlings. The strain DN14 (Phyllosticta fallopiae) was found to promote not only biomass accumulation (11.44%) but also dendrobine content (33.80%) in D. nobile tissue-cultured seedlings. The results of this study will aid in the development of strategies to increase the production of dendrobine in D. nobile. This work could also facilitate the screening of beneficial endophytic and exogenous fungal probiotics for use as biofertilizers in D. nobile.}, } @article {pmid37032902, year = {2023}, author = {Wangwiwatsin, A and Kulwong, S and Phetcharaburanin, J and Namwat, N and Klanrit, P and Loilome, W and Maleewong, W and Reid, AJ}, title = {Toward novel treatment against filariasis: Insight into genome-wide co-evolutionary analysis of filarial nematodes and Wolbachia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1052352}, pmid = {37032902}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Infectious diseases caused by filarial nematodes are major health problems for humans and animals globally. Current treatment using anti-helminthic drugs requires a long treatment period and is only effective against the microfilarial stage. Most species of filarial nematodes harbor a specific strain of Wolbachia bacteria, which are essential for the survival, development, and reproduction of the nematodes. This parasite-bacteria obligate symbiosis offers a new angle for the cure of filariasis. In this study, we utilized publicly available genome data and putative protein sequences from seven filarial nematode species and their symbiotic Wolbachia to screen for protein-protein interactions that could be a novel target against multiple filarial nematode species. Genome-wide in silico screening was performed to predict molecular interactions based on co-evolutionary signals. We identified over 8,000 pairs of gene families that show evidence of co-evolution based on high correlation score and low false discovery rate (FDR) between gene families and obtained a candidate list that may be keys in filarial nematode-Wolbachia interactions. Functional analysis was conducted on these top-scoring pairs, revealing biological processes related to various signaling processes, adult lifespan, developmental control, lipid and nucleotide metabolism, and RNA modification. Furthermore, network analysis of the top-scoring genes with multiple co-evolving pairs suggests candidate genes in both Wolbachia and the nematode that may play crucial roles at the center of multi-gene networks. A number of the top-scoring genes matched well to known drug targets, suggesting a promising drug-repurposing strategy that could be applicable against multiple filarial nematode species.}, } @article {pmid37032873, year = {2023}, author = {He, C and Zhou, B and Wang, H and Wei, Y and Huang, J}, title = {A first-year maize/cassava relay intercropping system improves soil nutrients and changes the soil microbial community in the symbiotic period.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1087202}, pmid = {37032873}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The maize/cassava relay intercropping system can be a specific and efficient cropping pattern in a tropical/subtropical field. Relay intercropping systems contribute to the optimization of land use, fostering sustainable and efficient agriculture. This study entails a first-year comparative intercropping experiment using maize (Zea mays L.) and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). We determined the soil nutrient contents and physicochemical properties as well as the microbial communities by high-throughput sequencing. We found that the relay intercropping system changed the bacterial community structure, especially the rhizosphere microorganisms. The bacterial community was characterized by a higher abundance of the phyla Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria and of the genus AD3, which are related to nutrient cycling and decreased bioavailability of Cd. At the same time, the relay intercropping system reduces the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria and biomarkers of organic pollution. The relay intercropping systems significantly boosted soil pH and available K levels in addition to the monocropping yield. The results of this study suggest that maize/cassava relay intercropping, starting from the first year, not only provides a stable supply of food and income due to the diversified cropping systems but is also beneficial for the improvement of soil quality and the soil microbial community.}, } @article {pmid37032854, year = {2023}, author = {Merges, D and Dal Grande, F and Valim, H and Singh, G and Schmitt, I}, title = {Gene abundance linked to climate zone: Parallel evolution of gene content along elevation gradients in lichenized fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1097787}, pmid = {37032854}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Intraspecific genomic variability affects a species' adaptive potential toward climatic conditions. Variation in gene content across populations and environments may point at genomic adaptations to specific environments. The lichen symbiosis, a stable association of fungal and photobiont partners, offers an excellent system to study environmentally driven gene content variation. Many of these species have remarkable environmental tolerances, and often form populations across different climate zones. Here, we combine comparative and population genomics to assess the presence and absence of genes in high and low elevation genomes of two lichenized fungi of the genus Umbilicaria.

METHODS: The two species have non-overlapping ranges, but occupy similar climatic niches in North America (U. phaea) and Europe (U. pustulata): high elevation populations are located in the cold temperate zone and low elevation populations in the Mediterranean zone. We assessed gene content variation along replicated elevation gradients in each of the two species, based on a total of 2050 individuals across 26 populations. Specifically, we assessed shared orthologs across species within the same climate zone, and tracked, which genes increase or decrease in abundance within populations along elevation.

RESULTS: In total, we found 16 orthogroups with shared orthologous genes in genomes at low elevation and 13 at high elevation. Coverage analysis revealed one ortholog that is exclusive to genomes at low elevation. Conserved domain search revealed domains common to the protein kinase superfamily. We traced the discovered ortholog in populations along five replicated elevation gradients on both continents and found that the number of this protein kinase gene linearly declined in abundance with increasing elevation, and was absent in the highest populations.

DISCUSSION: We consider the parallel loss of an ortholog in two species and in two geographic settings a rare find, and a step forward in understanding the genomic underpinnings of climatic tolerances in lichenized fungi. In addition, the tracking of gene content variation provides a widely applicable framework for retrieving biogeographical determinants of gene presence/absence patterns. Our work provides insights into gene content variation of lichenized fungi in relation to climatic gradients, suggesting a new research direction with implications for understanding evolutionary trajectories of complex symbioses in relation to climatic change.}, } @article {pmid37031849, year = {2023}, author = {Ahammed, GJ and Shamsy, R and Liu, A and Chen, S}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-induced tolerance to chromium stress in plants.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {327}, number = {}, pages = {121597}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121597}, pmid = {37031849}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Chromium (Cr) is one of the toxic elements that harms all forms of life, including plants. Industrial discharges and mining largely contribute to Cr release into the soil environment. Excessive Cr pollution in arable land significantly reduces the yield and quality of important agricultural crops. Therefore, remediation of polluted soil is imperative not only for agricultural sustainability but also for food safety. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread soil-borne endophytic fungi that form mutualistic relationships with the vast majority of land plants. In mycorrhizal symbiosis, AMF are largely dependent on the host plant-supplied carbohydrates and lipids, in return, AMF aid the host plants in acquiring water and mineral nutrients, especially phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur from distant soils, and this distinguishing feature of the two-way exchange of resources is a functional requirement for such mutualism and ecosystem services. In addition to supplying nutrients and water to plants, the AMF symbiosis enhances plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses including Cr stress. Studies have revealed vital physiological and molecular mechanisms by which AMF alleviate Cr phytotoxicity and aid plants in nutrient acquisition under Cr stress. Notably, plant Cr tolerance is enhanced by both the direct effects of AMF on Cr stabilization and transformation, and the indirect effects of AMF symbiosis on plant nutrient uptake and physiological regulation. In this article, we summarized the research progress on AMF and associated mechanisms of Cr tolerance in plants. In addition, we reviewed the present understanding of AMF-assisted Cr remediation. Since AMF symbiosis can enhance plant resilience to Cr pollution, AMF may have promising prospects in agricultural production, bioremediation, and ecological restoration in Cr-polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid37029842, year = {2023}, author = {Edulamudi, P and Antony Masilamani, AJ and Vanga, UR and Divi Venkata Ramana, SG and Konada, VM}, title = {Biosorption and Symbiotic Potential of Horse Gram Rhizobia in Soils Contaminated with Cobalt.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {5}, pages = {174}, pmid = {37029842}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Cobalt ; *Rhizobium ; Soil/chemistry ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {The current study aims evaluation of biosorption and symbiotic potential of horse gram plants associated with rhizobia inspite of Cobalt (Co) metal stress, and these rhizobia strains play a pivotal role in the phytoremediation of Co heavy metal-contaminated soils. Horse gram rhizobial isolates HGR-4, HGR-6, HGR-13 and HGR-25 were able to tolerate 1000 µg g[-1] Co supplemented in culture media and also 100 µg g[-1] in Co supplemented soil. The plants nodulated with the isolates from the study have shown higher nodulation, nitrogen and leghaemoglobin content in the potted experiment on par with the control plants. Atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis of Co content in horse gram plants inoculated with these four isolates showed maximum biosorption of Co among the bacterial root nodules. Application of these strains can be potentially aid the phytoextraction of Co from contaminated soils on association with horse gram plants.}, } @article {pmid37027941, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, W and Nasir, M and Yan, M and Zhu, X and Iqbal, MS and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Gao, X and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Response of the Pardosa astrigera bacterial community to Cry1B protein.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {114855}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114855}, pmid = {37027941}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {While genetically modified (GM) crops bring economic benefits to human beings, their impact on non-target organisms has become an important part of environmental safety assessments. Symbiotic bacteria play an important role in eukaryotic biological functions and can adjust host communities to adapt to new environments. Therefore, this study examined the effects of Cry1B protein on the growth and development of non-target natural enemies of Pardosa astrigera (L. Koch) from the perspective of symbiotic bacteria. Cry1B protein had no significant effect on the health indicators of P. astrigera (adults and 2nd instar spiderlings). 16S rRNA sequencing results revealed that Cry1B protein did not change the symbiotic bacteria species composition of P. astrigera, but did reduce the number of OTU and species diversity. In 2nd instar spiderlings, neither the dominant phylum (Proteobacteria) nor the dominant genus (Acinetobacter) changed, but the relative abundance of Corynebacterium-1 decreased significantly; in adult spiders, the dominant bacteria genera of females and males were different. The dominant bacterial genera were Brevibacterium in females and Corynebacterium-1 in males, but Corynebacterium-1 was the dominant bacteria in both females and males feeding on Cry1B. The relative abundance of Wolbachia also increased significantly. In addition, bacteria in other genera varied significantly by sex. KEGG results showed that Cry1B protein only altered the significant enrichment of metabolic pathways in female spiders. In conclusion, the effects of Cry1B protein on symbiotic bacteria vary by growth and development stage and sex.}, } @article {pmid37025616, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, W and Liu, W and Li, J and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Li, D and Zhang, K and Ji, J and Gao, X and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Buchnera breaks the specialization of the cotton-specialized aphid (Aphis gossypii) by providing nutrition through zucchini.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1128272}, pmid = {37025616}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is a species of polyphagous aphid with many biotypes, and its host transfer has always been the focus of research on the control of cotton aphid. An important factor affecting aphid specialization is the nutritional association with microbial symbionts that provide the host with nutrients lacking in the diet. We analyzed the microbial composition and biodiversity of reared on zucchini for 10 generations (T1-T10) and cotton as a control (CK), by high-throughput Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes. The findings showed that the change in plant hosts decreased the richness and variety of microbial species. Regardless of whether the plant host is altered or not, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the predominate phyla in cotton-specialized aphid. Additionally, cotton-specialized aphids that live in zucchini had considerably lower relative abundances of non-dominant phyla (Bacteroidetes) than cotton hosts. At the genus level the dominant communities were Buchnera, Acinetobacter, and Arsenophonus. The relative abundance of Buchnera was significantly higher in aphids reared on zucchini than those on cotton, whereas the opposite was observed for Acinetobacter, as well as for some non-dominant communities (Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomons, Flavobacterium, Novosphingobium). Collectively, this study clarifies the dynamic changes of symbiotic bacteria in cotton-specialized aphids reared on zucchini for multiple generations. Among them, Buchnera is crucial for the cotton-specialized aphid to get nutrients during the transfer of the host and has a favorable impact on the colonization of cotton-specialized aphid populations on zucchini hosts. It not only enriches our understanding of the relationship between the bacterial microbiota of aphids and their adaptability to new hosts, zucchini, but also expands the current body of research on the mechanisms underlying the host shifting ability of cotton-specialized aphids.}, } @article {pmid37025407, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, XJ and Dai, SX and Lou, JD and Ma, XX and Hu, XJ and Tu, LP and Cui, J and Lu, H and Jiang, T and Xu, JT}, title = {Distribution characteristics of oral microbiota and its relationship with intestinal microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1119201}, pmid = {37025407}, issn = {1664-2392}, mesh = {Humans ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Actinobacteria/genetics ; Clostridiales/genetics ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a high incidence rate globally, increasing the burden of death, disability, and the economy worldwide. Previous studies have found that the compositions of oral and intestinal microbiota changed respectively in T2DM; whether the changes were associated or interacted between the two sites and whether there were some associations between T2DM and the ectopic colonization of oral microbiota in the gut still need to be identified.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional observational study; 183 diabetes and 74 controls were enrolled. We used high-throughput sequencing technology to detect the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA in oral and stool samples. The Source Tracker method was used to identify the proportion of the intestinal microbiota that ectopic colonized from the oral cavity.

RESULTS: The oral marker bacteria of T2DM were found, such as Actinobacteria, Streptococcus, Rothia, and the intestinal marker bacteria were Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Blautia at the genus level. Among them, Actinobacteria and Blautia played a vital role in different symbiotic relationships of oral and intestinal microbiota. The commonly distributed bacteria, such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, were found in both oral and intestine. Moreover, the relative abundance and composition of bacteria were different between the two sites. The glycine betaine degradation I pathway was the significantly up-regulated pathway in the oral and intestinal flora of T2DM. The main serum indexes related to oral and intestinal flora were inflammatory. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the intestine and the Spirochete in oral was positively correlated, and the correlation coefficient was the highest, was 0.240 (P<0.01). The proportion of ectopic colonization of oral flora in the gut of T2DM was 2.36%.

CONCLUSION: The dysbacteriosis exited in the oral and intestine simultaneously, and there were differences and connections in the flora composition at the two sites in T2DM. Ectopic colonization of oral flora in the intestine might relate to T2DM. Further, clarifying the oral-gut-transmitting bacteria can provide an essential reference for diagnosing and treating T2DM in the future.}, } @article {pmid37025387, year = {2023}, author = {Abdulkareem, AA and Al-Taweel, FB and Al-Sharqi, AJB and Gul, SS and Sha, A and Chapple, ILC}, title = {Current concepts in the pathogenesis of periodontitis: from symbiosis to dysbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2197779}, pmid = {37025387}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {The primary etiological agent for the initiation and progression of periodontal disease is the dental plaque biofilm which is an organized aggregation of microorganisms residing within a complex intercellular matrix. The non-specific plaque hypothesis was the first attempt to explain the role of the dental biofilm in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. However, the introduction of sophisticated diagnostic and laboratory assays has led to the realisation that the development of periodontitis requires more than a mere increase in the biomass of dental plaque. Indeed, multispecies biofilms exhibit complex interactions between the bacteria and the host. In addition, not all resident microorganisms within the biofilm are pathogenic, since beneficial bacteria exist that serve to maintain a symbiotic relationship between the plaque microbiome and the host's immune-inflammatory response, preventing the emergence of pathogenic microorganisms and the development of dysbiosis. This review aims to highlight the development and structure of the dental plaque biofilm and to explore current literature on the transition from a healthy (symbiotic) to a diseased (dysbiotic) biofilm in periodontitis and the associated immune-inflammatory responses that drive periodontal tissue destruction and form mechanistic pathways that impact other systemic non-communicable diseases.}, } @article {pmid37024674, year = {2023}, author = {Dhole, AM and Shelat, HN and Patel, HK and Jhala, YK}, title = {Evaluation of the Co-inoculation Effect of Rhizobium and Plant Growth Promoting Non-rhizobial Endophytes on Vigna radiata.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {5}, pages = {167}, pmid = {37024674}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics ; *Vigna ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A unique feature of leguminous plants is the establishment of symbiotic bacterial genera inside root or stem nodules that is being recently re-evaluated for investigating the micro-flora discrete to nitrogen fixation. The present research was carried out to evaluate non-rhizobial endophytes and Rhizobium from root nodules of Vigna radiata and ascertain their co-inoculation effect in pot and field conditions. Each strain displayed one or more plant growth-promoting behaviors in varying degrees. The ability to fix nitrogen was observed in all strains; however, a noticeable enhancement in nitrogen fixation was observed when all three strains were co-inoculated. All three strains were found to possess the nifH gene, which plays a key role in the nitrogen fixation process. However, only Rhizobium sp. AAU B3 also had the nodD gene present. Furthermore, combinations of all three strains produced the highest levels of phosphate solubilization, potash mobilisation, Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), and the stress-relieving enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase. Interestingly, the succession of the root nodule formation within root hairs seedlings was observed under a fluorescence microscope and two NRE were found to be located inside the root nodules, indicating that they are endophytic. Additionally, a pot and field investigation revealed that the combination of chosen Rhizobium and NRE strains had a favorable impact on the growth and yield characteristics of a green gram. Selected bio-inoculants can reduce the utilization of synthetic fertilizers by 75%, which might lead to the restoration of the soil's health. Therefore, these bio-inoculants might be explored commercially for sustainable agriculture production.}, } @article {pmid37023649, year = {2023}, author = {Sehar, S and Adil, MF and Ma, Z and Karim, MF and Faizan, M and Zaidi, SSA and Siddiqui, MH and Alamri, S and Zhou, F and Shamsi, IH}, title = {Phosphorus and Serendipita indica synergism augments arsenic stress tolerance in rice by regulating secondary metabolism related enzymatic activity and root metabolic patterns.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {114866}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114866}, pmid = {37023649}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {The multifarious problems created by arsenic (As), for collective environment and human health, serve a cogent case for searching integrative agricultural approaches to attain food security. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) acts as a sponge for heavy metal(loid)s accretion, specifically As, due to anaerobic flooded growth conditions facilitating its uptake. Acclaimed for their positive impact on plant growth, development and phosphorus (P) nutrition, 'mycorrhizas' are able to promote stress tolerance. Albeit, the metabolic alterations underlying Serendipita indica (S. indica; S.i) symbiosis-mediated amelioration of As stress along with nutritional management of P are still understudied. By using biochemical, RT-qPCR and LC-MS/MS based untargeted metabolomics approach, rice roots of ZZY-1 and GD-6 colonized by S. indica, which were later treated with As (10 µM) and P (50 µM), were compared with non-colonized roots under the same treatments with a set of control plants. The responses of secondary metabolism related enzymes, especially polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities in the foliage of ZZY-1 and GD-6 were enhanced 8.5 and 12-fold, respectively, compared to their respective control counterparts. The current study identified 360 cationic and 287 anionic metabolites in rice roots, and the commonly enriched pathway annotated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis was biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan, which validated the results of biochemical and gene expression analyses associated with secondary metabolic enzymes. Particularly under As+S.i+P comparison, both genotypes exhibited an upregulation of key detoxification and defense related metabolites, including fumaric acid, L-malic acid, choline, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, to name a few. The results of this study provided the novel insights into the promising role of exogenous P and S. indica in alleviating As stress.}, } @article {pmid37023040, year = {2023}, author = {Lindmark, M and Ganji, S and Wallin, EA and Schlyter, F and Unelius, CR}, title = {Semiochemicals produced by fungal bark beetle symbiont Endoconidiophora rufipennis and the discovery of an anti-attractant for Ips typographus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {e0283906}, pmid = {37023040}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; Pheromones/metabolism ; Plant Bark/metabolism ; *Weevils/microbiology ; *Ascomycota/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles vector symbiotic fungal species into their host trees during mass attacks. The symbiotic relationship with blue stain fungi of the Ascomycetes, including genera of Endoconidiophora (syn. = Ceratocystis), promotes successful establishment whereby the microbes help to overcome the host trees' defence and degrade toxic resins. This is the first study to evaluate both the volatile emissions from an insect-associated blue stain fungus over time and the insect response in a field trapping experiment. Volatile emissions from isolates of Endoconidiophora rufipennis (ER) were collected by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) over a period of 30 days. This virulent North American fungus is closely related to E. polonica, a symbiotic fungus known from Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus.Nine volatiles were emitted by ER in substantial amounts: isoamyl acetate, sulcatone, 2-phenethyl acetate, geranyl acetone, geranyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, (R)- and (S)-sulcatol, and (R)-sulcatol acetate. A late peaking compound was geranyl acetone. In the field trapping experiment, three of the fungal volatiles (geranyl acetone, 2-phenethyl acetate and sulcatone) were tested in combination with a synthetic aggregation pheromone for I. typographus. Traps with geranyl acetone attracted lower numbers of I. typographus compared to traps with 2-phenethyl acetate, sulcatone or the pheromone alone as a control. The results showed that geranyl acetone acts as an anti-attractant and may act naturally on I. typographus as a cue from an associated fungus to signal an overexploited host.}, } @article {pmid37022672, year = {2023}, author = {Rennick, B and Benucci, GMN and Du, ZY and Healy, R and Bonito, G}, title = {Tuber rugosum, a new species from northeastern North America: Slug mycophagy aides in electron microscopy of ascospores.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-17}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2023.2184983}, pmid = {37022672}, issn = {1557-2536}, abstract = {Species in the genus Tuber are ascomycetous fungi that produce hypogeous fruiting bodies commonly called truffles. These fungi are ecologically relevant owing to the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis they establish with plants. One of the most speciose lineages within Tuber is the Rufum clade, which is widely distributed throughout Asia, Europe, and North America and is estimated to include more than 43 species. Most species in this clade have spiny spores, and many still have not been formally described. Here, we describe T. rugosum based on multigene phylogenetic analysis and its unique morphological characters. Tuber rugosum (previously designated in literature as Tuber sp. 69) has been collected throughout the Midwest, USA, and Quebec, Canada, and is an ectomycorrhizal symbiont of Quercus trees, as confirmed through morphological and molecular analyses of root tips presented here. We also present a novel method for preparing Tuber ascospores for scanning electron microscope imaging that includes feeding, digestion, and spore excretion by the slug Arion subfuscus. Following this method, spores become free from ascus and other mycelial debris that could obscure morphological traits during their passage through the snail gut while maintaining ornamentation. Finally, we report the fatty acid analysis, a fungicolous species association, and we provide an updated taxonomic key of the Rufum clade.}, } @article {pmid37022646, year = {2023}, author = {Li, V and Lee, C and Lee, Y and Kim, H}, title = {Molecular dynamics simulation of pyruvate kinase to investigate improved thermostability of artificially selected strain in Enterococcus faecium.}, journal = {Genes & genomics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37022646}, issn = {2092-9293}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) is a member of symbiotic lactic acid bacteria in gastrointestinal tract and it was successfully used to treat diarrhea cases in humans. For a lactobacteria to survive during the pasteurization process, resistance of proteins to denaturation at high temperatures is crucial. Pyruvate kinase (PYK) is one of the proteins possessing such property. It plays a major role during glycolysis by producing pyruvate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the acquired thermostability of PYK of ALE strain using in silico methods.

METHODS: First, we predicted and assessed tertiary structures of our proteins using SWISS-MODEL homology modelling server. Second, we then applied molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to simulate and assess multiple properties of molecules. Therefore, we implemented comparative MD to evaluate thermostability of PYK of recently developed high temperature resistant strain of E. faecium using Adaptive Laboratory Evolution (ALE) method. After 20ns of simulation at different temperatures, we observed that ALE enhanced strain demonstrated slightly better stability at 300, 340 and 350 K compared to that of the wild type (WT) strain.

RESULTS: We collected the results of MD simulation at four temperature points: 300, 340, 350 and 400 K. Our results showed that the protein demonstrated increased stability at 340 and 350 K.

CONCLUSION: Results of these study suggest that PYK of ALE enhanced strain of E. faecium demonstrates overall better stability at elevated temperatures compared to that of WT strain.}, } @article {pmid37021676, year = {2023}, author = {Abarca, C and Simon, MR and Esquisabel, E and Velazquez, MS}, title = {Effect of spontaneous arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in bread wheat varieties on the incidence of foliar diseases and grain yield.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {48}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {37021676}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Triticum ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Fungicides, Industrial ; Incidence ; Bread ; Symbiosis ; Soil ; Edible Grain ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to determine the ability of different wheat genotypes to form a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in the field and the effect of such a symbiosis on disease severity and grain yield. A bioassay was performed during an agricultural cycle under field conditions in a randomized block factorial design. The factors used were application of fungicide (two levels: with and without fungicide) and wheat genotypes (six levels). Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, green leaf area index, and severity of foliar diseases were evaluated in the tillering and early dough stages. At maturity, the number of spikes per square metre the number of grains per spike, and the thousand-kernel weight were determined to estimate grain yield. In addition, the spores of Glomeromycota present in the soil were identified by morphological techniques. Spores belonging to 12 fungal species were recovered. Genotypic variability was found for arbuscular mycorrhization, with the cultivars Klein Liebre and Opata exhibiting the highest colonization values. The results obtained show a beneficial effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis on foliar disease resistance and grain yield in the controls, but the results varied in the case of fungicide treatment. A greater understanding of the ecological role of these microorganisms in agricultural systems can lead to more sustainable agronomic practices.}, } @article {pmid37020304, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, H and Ruan, L and Chen, Z and Liao, Y and Wu, W and Liu, L and Xu, X}, title = {Sulfur, sterol and trehalose metabolism in the deep-sea hydrocarbon seep tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {175}, pmid = {37020304}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Trehalose ; Sterols ; Cysteine ; *Polychaeta ; Hydrocarbons ; Sulfur ; Sulfides/metabolism ; Sulfates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lamellibrachia luymesi dominates cold sulfide-hydrocarbon seeps and is known for its ability to consume bacteria for energy. The symbiotic relationship between tubeworms and bacteria with particular adaptations to chemosynthetic environments has received attention. However, metabolic studies have primarily focused on the mechanisms and pathways of the bacterial symbionts, while studies on the animal hosts are limited.

RESULTS: Here, we sequenced the transcriptome of L. luymesi and generated a transcriptomic database containing 79,464 transcript sequences. Based on GO and KEGG annotations, we identified transcripts related to sulfur metabolism, sterol biosynthesis, trehalose synthesis, and hydrolysis. Our in-depth analysis identified sulfation pathways in L. luymesi, and sulfate activation might be an important detoxification pathway for promoting sulfur cycling, reducing byproducts of sulfide metabolism, and converting sulfur compounds to sulfur-containing organics, which are essential for symbiotic survival. Moreover, sulfide can serve directly as a sulfur source for cysteine synthesis in L. luymesi. The existence of two pathways for cysteine synthesis might ensure its participation in the formation of proteins, heavy metal detoxification, and the sulfide-binding function of haemoglobin. Furthermore, our data suggested that cold-seep tubeworm is capable of de novo sterol biosynthesis, as well as incorporation and transformation of cycloartenol and lanosterol into unconventional sterols, and the critical enzyme involved in this process might have properties similar to those in the enzymes from plants or fungi. Finally, trehalose synthesis in L. luymesi occurs via the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) pathways. The TPP gene has not been identified, whereas the TPS gene encodes a protein harbouring conserved TPS/OtsA and TPP/OtsB domains. The presence of multiple trehalases that catalyse trehalose hydrolysis could indicate the different roles of trehalase in cold-seep tubeworms.

CONCLUSIONS: We elucidated several molecular pathways of sulfate activation, cysteine and cholesterol synthesis, and trehalose metabolism. Contrary to the previous analysis, two pathways for cysteine synthesis and the cycloartenol-C-24-methyltransferase gene were identified in animals for the first time. The present study provides new insights into particular adaptations to chemosynthetic environments in L. luymesi and can serve as the basis for future molecular studies on host-symbiont interactions and biological evolution.}, } @article {pmid37019822, year = {2023}, author = {Mouad, L and Zohra, C and Omar, B and Soufiane, A and Kaoutar, K and Meryeme, B and Hanane, L and Mnasri, B and Sylvain, B and Domenico, M and Hanaa, A and Bedmar, EJ and El Idrissi, MM}, title = {Different species of Bradyrhizobium from symbiovars genistearum and retamae nodulate the endemic Retama dasycarpa in the High Atlas Mountains.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad038}, pmid = {37019822}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Retama dasycarpa is an endemic Retama species native to the cold semi-arid bioclimates of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. In this work, we analyzed the diversity of the microsymbionts nodulating this plant and their different phenotypic and symbiotic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the tested isolates clustered in the Bradyrhizobium genus. Multilocus sequence analyses of four housekeeping genes (recA, gyrB, glnII, and atpD) for 12 selected strains grouped them into four clusters close to B. lupini USDA 3051T, B. frederickii CNPSo 3446T, B. valentinum LmjM3T, and B. retamae Ro19T. The individual phylogenies of these core genes and the symbiotic genes nodC, nodA, and nifH were congruent. These isolates showed a broad host range, being able to nodulate different legume hosts, such as R. sphaerocarpa, R. monosperma, Lupinus luteus, Cytisus grandiflorus, Chamaecytisus albidus, but not Phaseolus vulgaris, or Glycine max. They all had a similar metabolic capacity, using the majority of the carbohydrates and amino acids tested as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. Furthermore, out of the 12 selected strains, some displayed plant growth-promoting features, with 6 of them solubilising phosphate and 3 of them producing siderophores. The present work provides, for the first time, a detailed description about the microsymbionts associated with the endemic legume R. dasycarpa.}, } @article {pmid37019339, year = {2023}, author = {Luu, TB and Carles, N and Bouzou, L and Gibelin-Viala, C and Remblière, C and Gasciolli, V and Bono, JJ and Lefebvre, B and Pauly, N and Cullimore, J}, title = {Analysis of the structure and function of the LYK cluster of Medicago truncatula A17 and R108.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {332}, number = {}, pages = {111696}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111696}, pmid = {37019339}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {The establishment of the Legume-Rhizobia symbiosis is generally dependent on the production of rhizobial lipochitooligosaccharidic Nod factors (NFs) and their perception by plant Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinases (LysM-RLKs). In this study, we characterized a cluster of LysM-RLK genes implicated in strain-specific recognition in two highly divergent and widely-studied Medicago truncatula genotypes, A17 and R108. We then used reverse genetic approaches and biochemical analyses to study the function of selected genes in the clusters and the ability of their encoded proteins to bind NFs. Our study has revealed that the LYK cluster exhibits a high degree of variability among M. truncatula genotypes, which in A17 and R108 includes recent recombination events within the cluster and a transposon insertion in A17. The essential role of LYK3 in nodulation in A17 is not conserved in R108 despite similar sequences and good nodulation expression profiles. Although, LYK2, LYK5 and LYK5bis are not essential for nodulation of the two genotypes, some evidence points to accessory roles in nodulation, but not through high-affinity NF binding. This work shows that recent evolution in the LYK cluster provides a source of variation for nodulation, and potential robustness of signaling through genetic redundancy.}, } @article {pmid37017542, year = {2023}, author = {Joglekar, P and Ferrell, BD and Jarvis, T and Haramoto, K and Place, N and Dums, JT and Polson, SW and Wommack, KE and Fuhrmann, JJ}, title = {Spontaneously Produced Lysogenic Phages Are an Important Component of the Soybean Bradyrhizobium Mobilome.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0029523}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.00295-23}, pmid = {37017542}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {The ability of Bradyrhizobium spp. to nodulate and fix atmospheric nitrogen in soybean root nodules is critical to meeting humanity's nutritional needs. The intricacies of soybean bradyrhizobia-plant interactions have been studied extensively; however, bradyrhizobial ecology as influenced by phages has received somewhat less attention, even though these interactions may significantly impact soybean yield. In batch culture, four soybean bradyrhizobia strains, Bradyrhizobium japonicum S06B (S06B-Bj), B. japonicum S10J (S10J-Bj), Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 122 (USDA 122-Bd), and Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76[T] (USDA 76-Be), spontaneously (without apparent exogenous chemical or physical induction) produced tailed phages throughout the growth cycle; for three strains, phage concentrations exceeded cell numbers by ~3-fold after 48 h of incubation. Phage terminase large-subunit protein phylogeny revealed possible differences in phage packaging and replication mechanisms. Bioinformatic analyses predicted multiple prophage regions within each soybean bradyrhizobia genome, preventing accurate identification of spontaneously produced prophage (SPP) genomes. A DNA sequencing and mapping approach accurately delineated the boundaries of four SPP genomes within three of the soybean bradyrhizobia chromosomes and suggested that the SPPs were capable of transduction. In addition to the phages, S06B-Bj and USDA 76-Be contained three to four times more insertion sequences (IS) and large, conjugable, broad host range plasmids, both of which are known drivers of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in soybean bradyrhizobia. These factors indicate that SPP along with IS and plasmids participate in HGT, drive bradyrhizobia evolution, and play an outsized role in bradyrhizobia ecology. IMPORTANCE Previous studies have shown that IS and plasmids mediate HGT of symbiotic nodulation (nod) genes in soybean bradyrhizobia; however, these events require close cell-to-cell contact, which could be limited in soil environments. Bacteriophage-assisted gene transduction through spontaneously produced prophages provides a stable means of HGT not limited by the constraints of proximal cell-to-cell contact. These phage-mediated HGT events may shape soybean bradyrhizobia population ecology, with concomitant impacts on soybean agriculture.}, } @article {pmid37017526, year = {2023}, author = {Werel, L and Farmani, N and Krol, E and Serrania, J and Essen, LO and Becker, A}, title = {Structural Basis of Dual Specificity of Sinorhizobium meliloti Clr, a cAMP and cGMP Receptor Protein.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0302822}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03028-22}, pmid = {37017526}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {In bacteria, the most prevalent receptor proteins of 3',5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP) and 3',5'-cyclic GMP (cGMP) are found among transcription factors of the Crp-Fnr superfamily. The prototypic Escherichia coli catabolite activator protein (CAP) represents the main Crp cluster of this superfamily and is known to bind cAMP and cGMP but to mediate transcription activation only in its cAMP-bound state. In contrast, both cyclic nucleotides mediate transcription activation by Sinorhizobium meliloti Clr, mapping to cluster G of Crp-like proteins. We present crystal structures of Clr-cAMP and Clr-cGMP bound to the core motif of the palindromic Clr DNA binding site (CBS). We show that both cyclic nucleotides shift ternary Clr-cNMP-CBS-DNA complexes (where cNMP is cyclic nucleotide monophosphate) to almost identical active conformations, unlike the situation known for the E. coli CAP-cNMP complex. Isothermal titration calorimetry measured similar affinities of cAMP and cGMP binding to Clr in the presence of CBS core motif DNA (equilibrium dissociation constant for cNMP (KD[cNMP]], ~7 to 11 μM). However, different affinities were determined in the absence of this DNA (KD[cGMP], ~24 μM; KD[cAMP], ~6 μM). Sequencing of Clr-coimmunoprecipitated DNA as well as electrophoretic mobility shift and promoter-probe assays expanded the list of experimentally proven Clr-regulated promoters and CBS. This comprehensive set of CBS features conserved nucleobases that are consistent with the sequence readout through interactions of Clr amino acid residues with these nucleobases, as revealed by the Clr-cNMP-CBS-DNA crystal structures. IMPORTANCE Cyclic 3',5'-AMP (cAMP) and cyclic 3',5'-GMP (cGMP) are both long known as important nucleotide secondary messengers in eukaryotes. This is also the case for cAMP in prokaryotes, whereas a signaling role for cGMP in this domain of life has been recognized only recently. Catabolite repressor proteins (CRPs) are the most ubiquitous bacterial cAMP receptor proteins. Escherichia coli CAP, the prototypic transcription regulator of the main Crp cluster, binds both cyclic mononucleotides, but only the CAP-cAMP complex promotes transcription activation. In contrast, Crp cluster G proteins studied so far are activated by cGMP or by both cAMP and cGMP. Here, we report a structural analysis of the cAMP- and cGMP-activatable cluster G member Clr from Sinorhizobium meliloti, how binding of cAMP and cGMP shifts Clr to its active conformation, and the structural basis of its DNA binding site specificity.}, } @article {pmid37017516, year = {2023}, author = {Oishi, S and Harumoto, T and Okamoto-Furuta, K and Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Mechanisms Underpinning Morphogenesis of a Symbiotic Organ Specialized for Hosting an Indispensable Microbial Symbiont in Stinkbugs.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0052223}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.00522-23}, pmid = {37017516}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Microbial mutualists are pivotal for insect adaptation, which often entails the evolution of elaborate organs for symbiosis. Addressing what mechanisms underpin the development of such organs is of evolutionary interest. Here, we investigated the stinkbug Plautia stali, whose posterior midgut is transformed into a specialized symbiotic organ. Despite being a simple tube in newborns, it developed numerous crypts in four rows, whose inner cavity hosts a specific bacterial symbiont, during the 1st to 2nd nymphal instar stages. Visualization of dividing cells revealed that active cell proliferation was coincident with the crypt formation, although spatial patterns of the proliferating cells did not reflect the crypt arrangement. Visualization of visceral muscles in the midgut, consisting of circular muscles and longitudinal muscles, uncovered that, strikingly, circular muscles exhibited a characteristic arrangement running between the crypts specifically in the symbiotic organ. Even in the early 1st instar stage, when no crypts were seen, two rows of epithelial areas delineated by bifurcated circular muscles were identified. In the 2nd instar stage, crossing muscle fibers appeared and connected the adjacent circular muscles, whereby the midgut epithelium was divided into four rows of crypt-to-be areas. The crypt formation proceeded even in aposymbiotic nymphs, revealing the autonomous nature of the crypt development. We propose a mechanistic model of crypt formation wherein the spatial arrangement of muscle fibers and the proliferation of epithelial cells underpin the formation of crypts as midgut evaginations. IMPORTANCE Diverse organisms are associated with microbial mutualists, in which specialized host organs often develop for retaining the microbial partners. In light of the origin of evolutionary novelties, it is important to understand what mechanisms underpin the elaborate morphogenesis of such symbiotic organs, which must have been shaped through interactions with the microbial symbionts. Using the stinkbug Plautia stali as a model, we demonstrated that visceral muscular patterning and proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells during the early nymphal stages are involved in the formation of numerous symbiont-harboring crypts arranged in four rows in the posterior midgut to constitute the symbiotic organ. Strikingly, the crypt formation occurred normally even in symbiont-free nymphs, revealing that the crypt development proceeds autonomously. These findings suggest that the crypt formation is deeply implemented into the normal development of P. stali, which must reflect the considerably ancient evolutionary origin of the midgut symbiotic organ in stinkbugs.}, } @article {pmid37016078, year = {2023}, author = {Nielsen, DA and Petrou, K}, title = {Lipid stores reveal the state of the coral-algae symbiosis at the single-cell level.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {29}, pmid = {37016078}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by environmental stress. The observable decline in coral cover, is principally due to the intensifying breakdown of the coral symbiosis, a process known as 'bleaching'. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered a key driver of coral bleaching, where environmental stress leads to increased ROS expression. To explore the link between ROS damage and symbiont status, we measured lipid peroxidation (LPO), a ubiquitous form of ROS damage, in the lipid stores of individual endo- and ex-symbiotic algal cells of three coral species, using confocal microscopy and a lipid hydroperoxide sensitive fluorescent dye. We found LPO was higher in endosymbionts, while lipid volume was greater in ex-symbiotic cells. Cluster analysis revealed three metabolic profiles differentiating endosymbiotic (#1: high LPO, low lipid) and ex-symbiotic cells (#3: low LPO, high lipid), with the intermediate group (#2) containing both cell types. Heat stress caused endosymbionts of Pocillopora acuta to shift away from cluster #1, suggesting this cluster represents cells in healthy/stable symbiosis. Our study delivers a new means to assess the coral symbiosis, demonstrating that symbiont LPO ratio combined with lipid store volume is a robust metabolic marker for the state of the symbiosis at the cellular level.}, } @article {pmid37014864, year = {2023}, author = {Gonda, Y and Matsuda, A and Adachi, K and Ishii, C and Suzuki, M and Osaki, A and Mita, M and Nishizaki, N and Ohtomo, Y and Shimizu, T and Yasui, M and Hamase, K and Sasabe, J}, title = {Mammals sustain amino acid homochirality against chiral conversion by symbiotic microbes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {15}, pages = {e2300817120}, pmid = {37014864}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; *Amino Acids/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Serine ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Stereoisomerism ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Mammals exhibit systemic homochirality of amino acids in L-configurations. While ribosomal protein synthesis requires rigorous chiral selection for L-amino acids, both endogenous and microbial enzymes convert diverse L-amino acids to D-configurations in mammals. However, it is not clear how mammals manage such diverse D-enantiomers. Here, we show that mammals sustain systemic stereo dominance of L-amino acids through both enzymatic degradation and excretion of D-amino acids. Multidimensional high performance liquidchromatography analyses revealed that in blood, humans and mice maintain D-amino acids at less than several percent of the corresponding L-enantiomers, while D-amino acids comprise ten to fifty percent of the L-enantiomers in urine and feces. Germ-free experiments showed that vast majority of D-amino acids, except for D-serine, detected in mice are of microbial origin. Experiments involving mice that lack enzymatic activity to catabolize D-amino acids showed that catabolism is central to the elimination of diverse microbial D-amino acids, whereas excretion into urine is of minor importance under physiological conditions. Such active regulation of amino acid homochirality depends on maternal catabolism during the prenatal period, which switches developmentally to juvenile catabolism along with the growth of symbiotic microbes after birth. Thus, microbial symbiosis largely disturbs homochirality of amino acids in mice, whereas active host catabolism of microbial D-amino acids maintains systemic predominance of L-amino acids. Our findings provide fundamental insight into how the chiral balance of amino acids is governed in mammals and further expand the understanding of interdomain molecular homeostasis in host-microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37014475, year = {2023}, author = {Pradhan, S and Dash, S and Parida, S and Sahoo, B and Rath, B}, title = {Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and GC/MS-based phytochemical analysis of two traditional Lichen species Trypethellium virens and Phaeographis dendritica.}, journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {41}, pmid = {37014475}, issn = {2090-5920}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are complex plants living in symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae. They are used for human and animal nutrition and are used in folk medicine in many countries over a considerable period of time. In the present study, various solvent extracts of Trypethelslium virens and Phaeographis dendritica were tested for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

RESULTS: The phytochemical analysis by GC/MS revealed phenolics (1.273%), terpene (0.963%), hydrocarbons (2.081%), benzofurans (2.081%), quinone (1.273%), alkanes (0.963%), and aliphatic aldehydes (0.963%) as the predominant compounds in Trypethellium virens SPTV02, whereas secondary alcohol (1.184%), alkaloids (1.184%), and fatty acids (4.466) were the major constituents in Phaeographis dendritica. The antioxidant property of methanolic extract of T. virens and P. dendritica revealed the presence of total phenolic and terpenoids. The methanolic extracts of both the lichens exhibited encouraging DPPH antiradical activity, with the IC50 of 62.4 ± 0.76 µg/ml for T. virens and 68.48 ± 0.45 µg/ml for P. dendritica. Similarly, ferric reducing power assay result exhibited higher reducing activity. Further, the lichen extracts (methanolic) indicated promising antimicrobial activities against pathogens showing MIC from 62.5 to 500 µg/ml.

CONCLUSION: The study results concludes that both the lichens could be used as new natural source of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents which can be exploited for pharmaceutical applications.}, } @article {pmid37013938, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, Y and Ren, Z and Li, C and Cai, T and Yu, C and Zeng, Q and He, S and Li, J and Wan, H}, title = {The insecticidal activity and mechanism of tebuconazole on Nilaparvata lugens (Stål).}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7493}, pmid = {37013938}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that fungicides have insecticidal activity that can potentially be used as an insecticide resistance management strategy in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). However, the mechanism that induces mortality of N. lugens remains elusive.

RESULTS: In the present study, the insecticidal activities of 14 fungicides against N. lugens were determined, of which tebuconazole had the highest insecticidal activity compared with the other fungicides. Furthermore, tebuconazole significantly inhibited the expression of the chitin synthase gene NlCHS1; the chitinase genes NlCht1, NlCht5, NlCht7, NlCht9, and NlCht10; and the β-N-acetylhexosaminidase genes NlHex3, NlHex4, NlHex5 and NlHex6; it significantly suppressed the expression of ecdysteroid biosynthetic genes as well, including SDR, CYP307A2, CYP307B1, CYP306A2, CYP302A1, CYP315A1 and CYP314A1 of N. lugens. Additionally, tebuconazole affected the diversity, structure, composition, and function of the symbiotic fungi of N. lugens, as well as the relative abundance of saprophytes and pathogens, suggesting that tebuconazole reshapes the diversity and function of symbiotic fungi of N. lugens.

CONCLUSION: Our findings illustrate the insecticidal mechanism of tebuconazole, possibly by inhibiting normal molting or disrupting microbial homeostasis in N. lugens, and provide an important rationale for developing novel insect management strategies to delay escalating insecticide resistance. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid37012268, year = {2023}, author = {Jaunet-Lahary, T and Shimamura, T and Hayashi, M and Nomura, N and Hirasawa, K and Shimizu, T and Yamashita, M and Tsutsumi, N and Suehiro, Y and Kojima, K and Sudo, Y and Tamura, T and Iwanari, H and Hamakubo, T and Iwata, S and Okazaki, KI and Hirai, T and Yamashita, A}, title = {Structure and mechanism of oxalate transporter OxlT in an oxalate-degrading bacterium in the gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1730}, pmid = {37012268}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *Oxalates/chemistry ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Bacteria/metabolism ; }, abstract = {An oxalate-degrading bacterium in the gut microbiota absorbs food-derived oxalate to use this as a carbon and energy source, thereby reducing the risk of kidney stone formation in host animals. The bacterial oxalate transporter OxlT selectively uptakes oxalate from the gut to bacterial cells with a strict discrimination from other nutrient carboxylates. Here, we present crystal structures of oxalate-bound and ligand-free OxlT in two distinct conformations, occluded and outward-facing states. The ligand-binding pocket contains basic residues that form salt bridges with oxalate while preventing the conformational switch to the occluded state without an acidic substrate. The occluded pocket can accommodate oxalate but not larger dicarboxylates, such as metabolic intermediates. The permeation pathways from the pocket are completely blocked by extensive interdomain interactions, which can be opened solely by a flip of a single side chain neighbouring the substrate. This study shows the structural basis underlying metabolic interactions enabling favourable symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37012227, year = {2023}, author = {Brown, MO and Olagunju, BO and Giner, JL and Welander, PV}, title = {Sterol methyltransferases in uncultured bacteria complicate eukaryotic biomarker interpretations.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1859}, pmid = {37012227}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sterols ; *Eukaryota ; Methyltransferases/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biomarkers ; }, abstract = {Sterane molecular fossils are broadly interpreted as eukaryotic biomarkers, although diverse bacteria also produce sterols. Steranes with side-chain methylations can act as more specific biomarkers if their sterol precursors are limited to particular eukaryotes and are absent in bacteria. One such sterane, 24-isopropylcholestane, has been attributed to demosponges and potentially represents the earliest evidence for animals on Earth, but enzymes that methylate sterols to give the 24-isopropyl side-chain remain undiscovered. Here, we show that sterol methyltransferases from both sponges and yet-uncultured bacteria function in vitro and identify three methyltransferases from symbiotic bacteria each capable of sequential methylations resulting in the 24-isopropyl sterol side-chain. We demonstrate that bacteria have the genomic capacity to synthesize side-chain alkylated sterols, and that bacterial symbionts may contribute to 24-isopropyl sterol biosynthesis in demosponges. Together, our results suggest bacteria should not be dismissed as potential contributing sources of side-chain alkylated sterane biomarkers in the rock record.}, } @article {pmid37011849, year = {2023}, author = {Chao, Z and Jingru, X and Ahmad, M and Khan, BZ and Yongyong, H and Hongrui, M and Mahmood, Z}, title = {Facile approach for nanoconfinement of multilayer graphene oxide with polyether polyurethane sponge as biological carrier for the establishment of microalgal-bacterial bioreactor.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {378}, number = {}, pages = {128997}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128997}, pmid = {37011849}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Polyurethanes/chemistry ; *Wastewater ; Sewage/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Physically precise and mechanically robust biocarrier is basic and urgent requirement of algal-bacterial wastewater treatment plants for homogenously biofilm growth. Herein, a highly efficient graphene oxide (GO) coordinated polyether polyurethane (PP) sponge was synthesized through GO incorporation into PP sponge to improve the GO coating, followed by UV-light treatment for industrial application. The resulted sponge showed remarkable physiochemical characteristics, excellent thermal (>0.02 Wm[-1] K[-1]) and mechanical (>363.3 KPa) stability. To test the potential of sponge in real world scenarios, the activated sludge from real wastewater treatment plant was utilized. Interestingly, the GO-PP sponge enhanced the electron transfer between microorganisms and promoted the standardized microorganism's growth and biofilm formation (22.7 mg/d per gram sponge, 172.1 mg/g), providing the feasibility to accomplish a symbiotic system within specifically design upgraded algal-bacterial reactor. Furthermore, the continuous flow process by utilizing GO-PP sponge in algal-bacterial reactor demonstrated the effectiveness in treating low concentration antibiotic wastewater, presenting 86.7 % removal rate and >85 % after 20 cycles. Overall, this work illustrates an applicable strategy to develop a sophisticated modified pathway for the next-generation biological-based applications.}, } @article {pmid37011510, year = {2023}, author = {Ma, X and Qu, H and Liu, X and Zhang, Y and Chao, L and Liu, H and Bao, Y}, title = {Changes of root AMF community structure and colonization levels under distribution pattern of geographical substitute for four Stipa species in arid steppe.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {271}, number = {}, pages = {127371}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127371}, pmid = {37011510}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Poaceae ; Soil/chemistry ; Phosphorus ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbiotic relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and roots is a mutually beneficial process and plays an important role in plant succession in ecosystems. However, there is less understanding of information about the AMF community in roots under vegetation succession on a large regional scale, especially the spatial variation in the AMF community and its potential ecological functions. Here, we elucidated the spatial variations in root AMF community structure and root colonization along a distribution pattern of four zonal Stipa species in arid and semiarid grassland systems and explored key factors regulating AMF structure and mycorrhizal symbiotic interactions. Four Stipa species established a symbiosis with AMF, and annual mean temperature (MAT) and soil fertility were the main positive and negative driving factors of AM colonization, respectively. The Chao richness and Shannon diversity of AMF community in the root system of Stipa species tended to increase firstly from S. baicalensis to S. grandis and then decreased from S. grandis to S. breviflora. While evenness of root AMF and root colonization showed a trend of increasing from S. baicalensis to S. breviflora, and biodiversity was principally affected by soil total phosphorus (TP), organic phosphorus (Po) and MAT. It is emphasized that Stipa species have certain dependence on AMF, especially in a warming environment, and the root AMF community structure among the four Stipa taxa was different. Additionally, the composition and spatial distribution of root AMF in host plants varied with MAT, annual mean precipitation (MAP), TP and host plant species. These results will broaden our understanding of the relationship between plant and AMF communities and their ecological role, and provide basic information for the application of AMF in the conservation and rehabilitation of forage plants in degraded semiarid grasslands.}, } @article {pmid37011447, year = {2023}, author = {You, Y and Wang, L and Ju, C and Wang, X and Wang, Y}, title = {How does phosphorus influence Cd tolerance strategy in arbuscular mycorrhizal - Phragmites australis symbiotic system?.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {452}, number = {}, pages = {131318}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131318}, pmid = {37011447}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {To clarify how phosphorus (P) influences arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) interactions with host plants, we measured the effects of variation in environmental P levels and AMF colonization on photosynthesis, element absorption, ultrastructure, antioxidant capacity, and transcription mechanisms in Phragmites australis (P. australis) under cadmium (Cd) stress. AMF maintained photosynthetic stability, element balance, subcellular integrity and enhanced antioxidant capacity by upregulating antioxidant gene expression. Specifically, AMF overcame Cd-induced stomatal limitation, and mycorrhizal dependence peaked in the high Cd-moderate P treatment (156.08%). Antioxidants and compatible solutes responded to P-level changes: the primary driving forces of removing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintaining osmotic balance were superoxide dismutase, catalase, and sugars at limited P levels and total polyphenol, flavonoid, peroxidase, and proline at abundant P levels, we refer to this phenomenon as "functional link." AMF and phosphorus enhanced Cd tolerance in P. australis, but the regulation of AMF was P-dependent. Phosphorus prevented increases in total glutathione content and AMF-induced GSH/GSSG ratio (reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio) by inhibiting the expression of assimilatory sulfate reduction and glutathione reductase genes. The AMF-induced flavonoid synthesis pathway was regulated by P, and AMF activated Cd-tolerance mechanisms by inducing P-dependent signaling.}, } @article {pmid37010313, year = {2023}, author = {Dix, MF and Liu, P and Cui, G and Della Valle, F and Orlando, V and Aranda, M}, title = {Chromatin Immunoprecipitation in the Cnidarian Model System Exaiptasia diaphana.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {193}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/64817}, pmid = {37010313}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Chromatin/genetics ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation/methods ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing/methods ; DNA ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; }, abstract = {Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) and other epigenetic modifications regulate the chromatin accessibility of genes to the transcriptional machinery, thus affecting an organism's capacity to respond to environmental stimuli. Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) has been widely utilized to identify and map protein-DNA interactions in the fields of epigenetics and gene regulation. However, the field of cnidarian epigenetics is hampered by a lack of applicable protocols, partly due to the unique features of model organisms such as the symbiotic sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, whose high water content and mucus amounts obstruct molecular methods. Here, a specialized ChIP procedure is presented, which facilitates the investigation of protein-DNA interactions in E. diaphana gene regulation. The cross-linking and chromatin extraction steps were optimized for efficient immunoprecipitation and then validated by performing ChIP using an antibody against the histone mark H3K4me3. Subsequently, the specificity and effectiveness of the ChIP assay were confirmed by measuring the relative occupancy of H3K4me3 around several constitutively activated gene loci using quantitative PCR and by next-generation sequencing for genome-wide scale analysis. This optimized ChIP protocol for the symbiotic sea anemone E. diaphana facilitates the investigation of the protein-DNA interactions involved in organismal responses to environmental changes that affect symbiotic cnidarians, such as corals.}, } @article {pmid37010016, year = {2023}, author = {Yadav, A and Batra, D and Kaushik, P and Mohanta, TK}, title = {Abundance and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with oil-yielding plants.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202300012}, pmid = {37010016}, issn = {1521-4028}, abstract = {Due to their role in nutrient transmission, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread plant root symbionts. They may improve plant production by altering plant community structure and function. Therefore, a study was conducted in the state of Haryana to analyze the distribution pattern, diversity, and association of different AMF species with oil-yielding plants. The results of the study revealed the percentage of root colonization, sporulation, and diversity of fungal species associated with the selected 30 oil-yielding plants. The percentage root colonization ranged from 0% to 100%, the highest in Helianthus annuus (100.00 ± 0.00) and Zea mays (100.00 ± 0.00) and the least in Citrus aurantium (11.87 ± 1.43). At the same time, there was no root colonization in the Brassicaceae family. The number of AMF spores present in 50 g of soil samples varied from 17.41 ± 5.28 to 497.2 ± 8.38, with maximum spore population in Glycine max (497.2 ± 8.38) and minimum in Brassica napus (17.41 ± 5.28). Besides, the presence of several species of different genera of AMF was reported in all the studied oil-yielding plants, that is, 60 AMF belonging to six genera viz. Acaulospora, Entrophospora, Glomus, Gigaspora, Sclerocystis, and Scutellospora were observed. Overall, this study will promote AMF usage in oil-yielding plants.}, } @article {pmid37009785, year = {2023}, author = {Howe-Kerr, LI and Grupstra, CGB and Rabbitt, KM and Conetta, D and Coy, SR and Klinges, JG and Maher, RL and McConnell, KM and Meiling, SS and Messyasz, A and Schmeltzer, ER and Seabrook, S and Sims, JA and Veglia, AJ and Thurber, AR and Thurber, RLV and Correa, AMS}, title = {Viruses of a key coral symbiont exhibit temperature-driven productivity across a reefscape.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {27}, pmid = {37009785}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Viruses can affect coral health by infecting their symbiotic dinoflagellate partners (Symbiodiniaceae). Yet, viral dynamics in coral colonies exposed to environmental stress have not been studied at the reef scale, particularly within individual viral lineages. We sequenced the viral major capsid protein (mcp) gene of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses known to infect symbiotic dinoflagellates ('dinoRNAVs') to analyze their dynamics in the reef-building coral, Porites lobata. We repeatedly sampled 54 colonies harboring Cladocopium C15 dinoflagellates, across three environmentally distinct reef zones (fringing reef, back reef, and forereef) around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia over a 3-year period and spanning a reef-wide thermal stress event. By the end of the sampling period, 28% (5/18) of corals in the fringing reef experienced partial mortality versus 78% (14/18) of corals in the forereef. Over 90% (50/54) of colonies had detectable dinoRNAV infections. Reef zone influenced the composition and richness of viral mcp amino acid types ('aminotypes'), with the fringing reef containing the highest aminotype richness. The reef-wide thermal stress event significantly increased aminotype dispersion, and this pattern was strongest in the colonies that experienced partial mortality. These findings demonstrate that dinoRNAV infections respond to environmental fluctuations experienced in situ on reefs. Further, viral productivity will likely increase as ocean temperatures continue to rise, potentially impacting the foundational symbiosis underpinning coral reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid37009740, year = {2023}, author = {Iadecola, C and Smith, EE and Anrather, J and Gu, C and Mishra, A and Misra, S and Perez-Pinzon, MA and Shih, AY and Sorond, FA and van Veluw, SJ and Wellington, CL and , }, title = {The Neurovasculome: Key Roles in Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1161/STR.0000000000000431}, pmid = {37009740}, issn = {1524-4628}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Preservation of brain health has emerged as a leading public health priority for the aging world population. Advances in neurovascular biology have revealed an intricate relationship among brain cells, meninges, and the hematic and lymphatic vasculature (the neurovasculome) that is highly relevant to the maintenance of cognitive function. In this scientific statement, a multidisciplinary team of experts examines these advances, assesses their relevance to brain health and disease, identifies knowledge gaps, and provides future directions.

METHODS: Authors with relevant expertise were selected in accordance with the American Heart Association conflict-of-interest management policy. They were assigned topics pertaining to their areas of expertise, reviewed the literature, and summarized the available data.

RESULTS: The neurovasculome, composed of extracranial, intracranial, and meningeal vessels, as well as lymphatics and associated cells, subserves critical homeostatic functions vital for brain health. These include delivering O2 and nutrients through blood flow and regulating immune trafficking, as well as clearing pathogenic proteins through perivascular spaces and dural lymphatics. Single-cell omics technologies have unveiled an unprecedented molecular heterogeneity in the cellular components of the neurovasculome and have identified novel reciprocal interactions with brain cells. The evidence suggests a previously unappreciated diversity of the pathogenic mechanisms by which disruption of the neurovasculome contributes to cognitive dysfunction in neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, providing new opportunities for the prevention, recognition, and treatment of these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: These advances shed new light on the symbiotic relationship between the brain and its vessels and promise to provide new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for brain disorders associated with cognitive dysfunction.}, } @article {pmid37009009, year = {2023}, author = {Masoudi Khorasani, F and Ganjeali, A and Asili, J and Cheniany, M}, title = {Beneficial effects of endophytic fungi inoculation on tanshinones and phenolic compounds of Salvia abrotanoides.}, journal = {Iranian journal of basic medical sciences}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {408-413}, pmid = {37009009}, issn = {2008-3866}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Salvia abrotanoides is considered as a new source of tanshinone-producing plants in Iran. Symbiosis of endophytic fungi with their host plants is an effective tool to promote the growth and secondary metabolism of medicinal herbs. Therefore, using endophytic fungi as a biotic elicitor is a proper solution to increase the yield of plant products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, some endophytic fungi were first isolated from the root of S. abrotanoides, then two of them (Penicillium canescens and Talaromyces sp.) were co-cultivated with the sterile seedling of S. abrotanoides in pot culture. After proving the colonization of these fungi in the root tissues by microscopic studies, their effects on the production of critical medicinal compounds such as tanshinones and phenolic acids were investigated in the vegetation stage (120 days).

RESULTS: Our results showed that the content of cryptotanshinone (Cry) and tanshinone IIA (T-IIA) in plants inoculated with P. canescens increased by 77.00% and 19.64%, respectively, compared with non-inoculated plants (control). The contents of mentioned compounds in plants inoculated with Talaromyces sp. increased by 50.00% and 23.00%, respectively. In this case, in plants inoculated with P. canescens, it was found that the level of caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and its PAL enzyme activity increased by 64.00%, 69.00%, and 50.00%, respectively, compared with the control.

CONCLUSION: Endophytic fungi have specific modes of action and the ability to provide multiple benefits. Each of the two strains is a highly considerable microbial resource for the growth and accumulation of active compounds of S. abrotanoides.}, } @article {pmid37008477, year = {2023}, author = {Rong, ZY and Lei, AQ and Wu, QS and Srivastava, AK and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Kuča, K and Yang, T}, title = {Serendipita indica promotes P acquisition and growth in tea seedlings under P deficit conditions by increasing cytokinins and indoleacetic acid and phosphate transporter gene expression.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1146182}, pmid = {37008477}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The culturable endophytic fungus Serendipita indica has many beneficial effects on plants, but whether and how it affects physiological activities and phosphorus (P) acquisition of tea seedlings at low P levels is unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of inoculation with S. indica on growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, auxins, cytokinins, P levels, and expressions of two phosphate transporter (PT) genes in leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis L. cv. Fudingdabaicha) seedlings grown at 0.5 μM (P0.5) and 50 μM (P50) P levels. Sixteen weeks after the inoculation, S. indica colonized roots of tea seedlings, with root fungal colonization rates reaching 62.18% and 81.34% at P0.5 and P50 levels, respectively. Although plant growth behavior, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll values, nitrogen balance index, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of tea seedlings were suppressed at P0.5 versus P50 levels, inoculation of S. indica mitigated the negative effects to some extent, along with more prominent promotion at P0.5 levels. S. indica inoculation significantly increased leaf P and indoleacetic acid concentrations at P0.5 and P50 levels and leaf isopentenyladenine, dihydrozeatin, and transzeatin concentrations at P0.5 levels, coupled with the reduction of indolebutyric acid at P50 levels. Inoculation of S. indica up-regulated the relative expression of leaf CsPT1 at P0.5 and P50 levels and CsPT4 at P0.5 levels. It is concluded that S. indica promoted P acquisition and growth in tea seedlings under P deficit conditions by increasing cytokinins and indoleacetic acid and CsPT1 and CsPT4 expression.}, } @article {pmid37007515, year = {2023}, author = {Zong, J and Zhang, Z and Huang, P and Yang, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviates salt stress in Xanthoceras sorbifolium through improved osmotic tolerance, antioxidant activity, and photosynthesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1138771}, pmid = {37007515}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal inoculation was widely reported to alleviate the damage resulting from NaCl by various physiological ways. However, the symbiotic benefit under distant NaCl concentrations and the relationship among different responsive physiological processes were elusive. In this study, saline resistant plant Xanthoceras sorbifolium was selected as the experimental material and five concentrations of NaCl in the presence or absence of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) were conducted, in order to understand the differences and similarities on the photosynthesis, antioxidant activity, and osmotic adjustment between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants and non-arbuscular mycorrhizal (NM) plants. Under low salt stress, X. sorbifolium can adapt to salinity by accumulating osmotic adjustment substances, such as soluble protein and proline, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activity, and glutathione (GSH). However, under high concentrations of NaCl [240 and 320 mM (mmol·L[-1])], the resistant ability of the plants significantly decreased, as evidenced by the significant downregulation of photosynthetic capacity and biomass compared with the control plants in both AM and NM groups. This demonstrates that the regulatory capacity of X. sorbifolium was limiting, and it played a crucial role mainly under the conditions of 0-160 mM NaCl. After inoculation of AMF, the concentration of Na[+] in roots was apparently lower than that of NM plants, while Gs (Stomatal conductance) and Ci (Intercellular CO2 concentration) increased, leading to increases in Pn (Net photosynthetic rate) as well. Moreover, under high salt stress, proline, soluble protein, GSH, and reduced ascorbic acid (ASA) in AM plants are higher in comparison with NM plants, revealing that mycorrhizal symbiotic benefits are more crucial against severe salinity toxicity. Meanwhile, X. sorbifolium itself has relatively high tolerance to salinity, and AMF inoculation can significantly increase the resistant ability against NaCl, whose function was more important under high concentrations.}, } @article {pmid37007003, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, E and Ji, X and Ouyang, F and Lei, Y and Deng, S and Rong, H and Deng, X and Shen, H}, title = {A minireview of the medicinal and edible insects from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1125600}, pmid = {37007003}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Entomoceuticals define a subset of pharmaceuticals derived from insects. The therapeutic effect of insect-derived drugs has been empirically validated by the direct use of various folk medicines originating from three sources in particular: the glandular secretions of insects (e.g., silk, honey, venom), the body parts of the insect or the whole used live or by various processing (e.g., cooked, toasted, ground), and active ingredients extracted from insects or insect-microbe symbiosis. Insects have been widely exploited in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) relative to other ethnomedicines, especially in the prospect of insect species for medicinal uses. It is noticeable that most of these entomoceuticals are also exploited as health food for improving immune function. In addition, some edible insects are rich in animal protein and have high nutritional value, which are used in the food field, such as insect wine, health supplements and so on. In this review, we focused on 12 insect species that have been widely used in traditional Chinese herbal formulae but have remained less investigated for their biological properties in previous studies. We also combined the entomoceutical knowledge with recent advances in insect omics. This review specifies the underexplored medicinal insects from ethnomedicine and shows their specific medicinal and nutritional roles in traditional medicine.}, } @article {pmid37005434, year = {2023}, author = {Argandona, JA and Kim, D and Hansen, AK}, title = {Comparative transcriptomics of aphid species that diverged > 22 MYA reveals genes that are important for the maintenance of their symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {5341}, pmid = {37005434}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {S10 OD010786/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Aspartic Acid/metabolism ; Asparaginase/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; *Buchnera/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Most plant-sap feeding insects have obligate relationships with maternally transmitted bacteria. Aphids require their nutritional endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, for the production of essential amino acids. Such endosymbionts are harbored inside of specialized insect cells called bacteriocytes. Here, we use comparative transcriptomics of bacteriocytes between two recently diverged aphid species, Myzus persicae and Acyrthosiphon pisum, to identify key genes that are important for the maintenance of their nutritional mutualism. The majority of genes with conserved expression profiles in M. persicae and A. pisum are for orthologs previously identified in A. pisum to be important for the symbiosis. However, asparaginase which produces aspartate from asparagine was significantly up-regulated only in A. pisum bacteriocytes, potentially because Buchnera of M. persicae encodes its own asparaginase enzyme unlike Buchnera of A. pisum resulting in Buchnera of A. pisum to be dependent on its aphid host for aspartate. One-to-one orthologs that explained the most amount of variation for bacteriocyte specific mRNA expression for both species includes a collaborative gene for methionine biosynthesis, multiple transporters, a horizontally transmitted gene, and secreted proteins. Finally, we highlight species-specific gene clusters which may contribute to host adaptations and/or accommodations in gene regulation to changes in the symbiont or the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid37005360, year = {2023}, author = {Davis, KM and Zeinert, L and Byrne, A and Davis, J and Roemer, C and Wright, M and Parfrey, LW}, title = {Successional dynamics of the cultivated kelp microbiome.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13329}, pmid = {37005360}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Kelp are important primary producers that are colonized by diverse microbes that can have both positive and negative effects on their hosts. The kelp microbiome could support the burgeoning kelp cultivation sector by improving host growth, stress tolerance, and resistance to disease. Fundamental questions about the cultivated kelp microbiome still need to be addressed before microbiome-based approaches can be developed. A critical knowledge gap is how cultivated kelp microbiomes change as hosts grow, particularly following outplanting to sites that vary in abiotic conditions and microbial source pools. In this study we assessed if microbes that colonize kelp in the nursery stage persist after outplanting. We characterized microbiome succession over time on two species of kelp, Alaria marginata and Saccharina latissima, outplanted to open ocean cultivation sites in multiple geographic locations. We tested for host-species specificity of the microbiome and the effect of different abiotic conditions and microbial source pools on kelp microbiome stability during the cultivation process. We found the microbiome of kelp in the nursery is distinct from that of outplanted kelp. Few bacteria persisted on kelp following outplanting. Instead, we identified significant microbiome differences correlated with host species and microbial source pools at each cultivation site. Microbiome variation related to sampling month also indicates that seasonality in host and/or abiotic factors may influence temporal succession and microbiome turnover in cultivated kelps. This study provides a baseline understanding of microbiome dynamics during kelp cultivation and highlights research needs for applying microbiome manipulation to kelp cultivation.}, } @article {pmid37004925, year = {2023}, author = {Carneiro, A and Santana, L and Matos, MJ}, title = {Oxidation-labile linkers for controlled drug delivery.}, journal = {Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters}, volume = {87}, number = {}, pages = {129264}, doi = {10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129264}, pmid = {37004925}, issn = {1464-3405}, abstract = {The continuous symbiosis throughout chemical biology and drug discovery has led to the design of innovative bifunctional molecules for targeted and controlled drug delivery. Among the different tools, protein-drug and peptide-drug conjugates are trend approaches to achieve targeted delivery, selectivity and efficacy. To meet the main goals of these bioconjugates, the selection of the appropriate payloads and linkers is crucial, as they must provide in vivo stability, while they may also help to achieve the therapeutic target and action. In neurodegenerative diseases or some cancer types, where oxidative stress plays an important role, linkers sensitive to oxidative conditions may be able to release the drug once the conjugate achieves the target. Considering specially this specific application, this mini-review covers the most relevant publications on oxidation-labile linkers.}, } @article {pmid37004736, year = {2023}, author = {Sarabeev, V and Balbuena, JA and Jarosiewicz, A and Voronova, N and Sueiro, RA and Leiro, JM and Ovcharenko, M}, title = {Disentangling the determinants of symbiotic species richness in native and invasive gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda) of the Baltic region.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.02.006}, pmid = {37004736}, issn = {1879-0135}, abstract = {Dispersal of alien species is a global problem threatening native biodiversity. Co-introduction of non-native parasites and pathogens adds to the severity of this threat, but this indirect impact has received less attention. To shed light on the key factors determining the richness of microorganisms in native and invasive host species, we compared symbiotic (parasitic and epibiotic) communities of gammarids across different habitats and localities along the Baltic coast of Poland. Seven gammarid species, two native and five invasive, were sampled from 16 freshwater and brackish localities. Sixty symbiotic species of microorganisms of nine phyla were identified. This taxonomically diverse species assemblage of symbionts allowed us to assess the effect of host translocation and regional ecological determinants driving assembly richness in the gammarid hosts. Our results revealed that (i) the current assemblages of symbionts of gammarid hosts in the Baltic region are formed by native and co-introduced species; (ii) species richness of the symbiotic community was higher in the native Gammarus pulex than in the invasive hosts, probably reflecting a process of species loss by invasive gammarids in the new area and the distinct habitat conditions occupied by G. pulex and invasive hosts; (iii) both host species and locality were key drivers shaping assembly composition of symbionts, whereas habitat condition (freshwater versus brackish) was a stronger determinant of communities than geographic distance; (iv) the dispersion patterns of the individual species richness of symbiotic communities were best described by Poisson distributions; in the case of an invasive host, the dispersion of the rich species diversity may switch to a right-skewed negative binomial distribution, suggesting a host-mediated regulation process. We believe this is the first analysis of the symbiotic species richness in native and invasive gammarid hosts in European waters based on original field data and a broad range of taxonomic groups including Microsporidia, Choanozoa, Ciliophora, Apicomplexa, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Nematomorha, Acanthocephala and Rotifera, to document the patterns of species composition and distribution.}, } @article {pmid37004104, year = {2023}, author = {Essock-Burns, T and Lawhorn, S and Wu, L and McClosky, S and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Maturation state of colonization sites promotes symbiotic resiliency in the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri partnership.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {68}, pmid = {37004104}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {R37 AI50661/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Vibrio ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; Embryonic Development ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many animals and plants acquire their coevolved symbiotic partners shortly post-embryonic development. Thus, during embryogenesis, cellular features must be developed that will promote both symbiont colonization of the appropriate tissues, as well as persistence at those sites. While variation in the degree of maturation occurs in newborn tissues, little is unknown about how this variation influences the establishment and persistence of host-microbe associations.

RESULTS: The binary symbiosis model, the squid-vibrio (Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri) system, offers a way to study how an environmental gram-negative bacterium establishes a beneficial, persistent, extracellular colonization of an animal host. Here, we show that bacterial symbionts occupy six different colonization sites in the light-emitting organ of the host that have both distinct morphologies and responses to antibiotic treatment. Vibrio fischeri was most resilient to antibiotic disturbance when contained within the smallest and least mature colonization sites. We show that this variability in crypt development at the time of hatching allows the immature sites to act as a symbiont reservoir that has the potential to reseed the more mature sites in the host organ when they have been cleared by antibiotic treatment. This strategy may produce an ecologically significant resiliency to the association.

CONCLUSIONS: The data presented here provide evidence that the evolution of the squid-vibrio association has been selected for a nascent organ with a range of host tissue maturity at the onset of symbiosis. The resulting variation in physical and chemical environments results in a spectrum of host-symbiont interactions, notably, variation in susceptibility to environmental disturbance. This "insurance policy" provides resiliency to the symbiosis during the critical period of its early development. While differences in tissue maturity at birth have been documented in other animals, such as along the infant gut tract of mammals, the impact of this variation on host-microbiome interactions has not been studied. Because a wide variety of symbiosis characters are highly conserved over animal evolution, studies of the squid-vibrio association have the promise of providing insights into basic strategies that ensure successful bacterial passage between hosts in horizontally transmitted symbioses. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid37002370, year = {2023}, author = {Stuart, EK and Singan, V and Amirebrahimi, M and Na, H and Ng, V and Grigoriev, I and Martin, F and Anderson, IC and Plett, JM and Plett, KL}, title = {Acquisition of host-derived carbon in biomass of ectomycorrhizal fungus pisolithus microcarpus is correlated to fungal carbon demand and plant defences.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad037}, pmid = {37002370}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are key players in forest carbon (C) sequestration, receiving a substantial proportion of photosynthetic C from their forest tree hosts in exchange for plant growth-limiting soil nutrients. However, it remains unknown whether the fungus or plant controls the quantum of C in this exchange, nor what mechanisms are involved. Here, we aimed to identify physiological and genetic properties of both partners that influence ECM C transfer. Using a microcosm system, stable isotope tracing, and transcriptomics, we quantified plant-to-fungus C transfer between the host plant Eucalyptus grandis and nine isolates of the ECM fungus Pisolithus microcarpus that range in their mycorrhization potential and investigated fungal growth characteristics and plant and fungal genes that correlated with C acquisition. We found that C acquisition by P. microcarpus correlated positively with both fungal biomass production and the expression of a subset of fungal C metabolism genes. In the plant, C transfer was not positively correlated to the number of colonised root tips, but rather to the expression of defence- and stress-related genes. These findings suggest that C acquisition by ECM fungi involves individual fungal demand for C and defence responses of the host against C drain.}, } @article {pmid37002002, year = {2023}, author = {Hu, B and Flemetakis, E and Liu, Z and Hänsch, R and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Significance of nitrogen-fixing actinorhizal symbioses for restoration of depleted, degraded, and contaminated soil.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.005}, pmid = {37002002}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Atmospheric nitrogen (N2)-fixing legume trees are frequently used for the restoration of depleted, degraded, and contaminated soils. However, biological N2 fixation (BNF) can also be performed by so-called actinorhizal plants. Actinorhizal plants include a high diversity of woody species and therefore can be applied in a broad spectrum of environments. In contrast to N2-fixing legumes, the potential of actinorhizal plants for soil restoration remains largely unexplored. In this Opinion, we propose related basic research requirements for the characterization of environmental stress responses that determine the restoration potential of actinorhizal plants for depleted, degraded, and contaminated soils. We identify advantages and unexplored processes of actinorhizal plants and describe a mainly uncharted avenue of future research for this important group of plant species.}, } @article {pmid37001790, year = {2023}, author = {Utschig, LM and Zaluzec, NJ and Malavath, T and Ponomarenko, NS and Tiede, DM}, title = {Solar water splitting Pt-nanoparticle photosystem I thylakoid systems: Catalyst identification, location and oligomeric structure.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Bioenergetics}, volume = {1864}, number = {3}, pages = {148974}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2023.148974}, pmid = {37001790}, issn = {1879-2650}, abstract = {Photosynthetic conversion of light energy into chemical energy occurs in sheet-like membrane-bound compartments called thylakoids and is mediated by large integral membrane protein-pigment complexes called reaction centers (RCs). Oxygenic photosynthesis of higher plants, cyanobacteria and algae requires the symbiotic linking of two RCs, photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI), to split water and assimilate carbon dioxide. Worldwide there is a large research investment in developing RC-based hybrids that utilize the highly evolved solar energy conversion capabilities of RCs to power catalytic reactions for solar fuel generation. Of particular interest is the solar-powered production of H2, a clean and renewable energy source that can replace carbon-based fossil fuels and help provide for ever-increasing global energy demands. Recently, we developed thylakoid membrane hybrids with abiotic catalysts and demonstrated that photosynthetic Z-scheme electron flow from the light-driven water oxidation at PSII can drive H2 production from PSI. One of these hybrid systems was created by self-assembling Pt-nanoparticles (PtNPs) with the stromal subunits of PSI that extend beyond the membrane plane in both spinach and cyanobacterial thylakoids. Using PtNPs as site-specific probe molecules, we report the electron microscopic (EM) imaging of oligomeric structure, location and organization of PSI in thylakoid membranes and provide the first direct visualization of photosynthetic Z-scheme solar water-splitting biohybrids for clean H2 production.}, } @article {pmid37001710, year = {2023}, author = {Woodhams, DC and McCartney, J and Walke, JB and Whetstone, R}, title = {The adaptive microbiome hypothesis and immune interactions in amphibian mucus.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104690}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2023.104690}, pmid = {37001710}, issn = {1879-0089}, abstract = {The microbiome is known to provide benefits to hosts, including extension of immune function. Amphibians are a powerful immunological model for examining mucosal defenses because of an accessible epithelial mucosome throughout their developmental trajectory, their responsiveness to experimental treatments, and direct interactions with emerging infectious pathogens. We review amphibian skin mucus components and describe the adaptive microbiome as a novel process of disease resilience where competitive microbial interactions couple with host immune responses to select for functions beneficial to the host. We demonstrate microbiome diversity, specificity of function, and mechanisms for memory characteristic of an adaptive immune response. At a time when industrialization has been linked to losses in microbiota important for host health, applications of microbial therapies such as probiotics may contribute to immunotherapeutics and to conservation efforts for species currently threatened by emerging diseases.}, } @article {pmid36999556, year = {2023}, author = {Manley, BF and Lotharukpong, JS and Barrera-Redondo, J and Llewellyn, T and Yildirir, G and Sperschneider, J and Corradi, N and Paszkowski, U and Miska, EA and Dallaire, A}, title = {A highly contiguous genome assembly reveals sources of genomic novelty in the symbiotic fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkad077}, pmid = {36999556}, issn = {2160-1836}, abstract = {The root systems of most plant species are aided by the soil foraging capacities of symbiotic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of the Glomeromycotina subphylum. Despite recent advances in our knowledge of the ecology and molecular biology of this mutualistic symbiosis, our understanding of the AM fungi genome biology is just emerging. Presented here is a close to T2T genome assembly of the model AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198, achieved through Nanopore long-read DNA sequencing and Hi-C data. This haploid genome assembly of Rhizophagus irregularis, alongside short- and long-read RNA-Sequencing data, was used to produce a comprehensive annotation catalogue of gene models, repetitive elements, small RNA loci, and DNA cytosine methylome. A phylostratigraphic gene age inference framework revealed that the birth of genes associated with nutrient transporter activity and transmembrane ion transport systems predates the emergence of Glomeromycotina. While nutrient cycling in AM fungi relies on genes that existed in ancestor lineages, a burst of Glomeromycotina-restricted genetic innovation is also detected. Analysis of the chromosomal distribution of genetic and epigenetic features highlights evolutionarily young genomic regions that produce abundant small RNAs, suggesting active RNA-based monitoring of genetic sequences surrounding recently evolved genes. This chromosome-scale view of the genome of an AM fungus genome reveals previously unexplored sources of genomic novelty in an organism evolving under an obligate symbiotic life cycle.}, } @article {pmid36999009, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, F and Yang, J and Guo, Y and Su, D and Sheng, Y and Wu, Y}, title = {Integrating bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data reveals the relationship between intratumor microbiome signature and host metabolic heterogeneity in breast cancer.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1140995}, pmid = {36999009}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Breast Neoplasms/genetics ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, it has been recognized that gut microbiome can indirectly modulate cancer susceptibility or progression. However, whether intratumor microbes are parasitic, symbiotic, or merely bystanders in breast cancer is not fully understood. Microbial metabolite plays a pivotal role in the interaction of host and microbe via regulating mitochondrial and other metabolic pathways. And the relationship between tumor-resident microbiota and cancer metabolism remains an open question.

METHODS: 1085 breast cancer patients with normalized intratumor microbial abundance data and 32 single-cell RNA sequencing samples were retrieved from public datasets. We used the gene set variation analysis to evaluate the various metabolic activities of breast cancer samples. Furthermore, we applied Scissor method to identify microbe-associated cell subpopulations from single-cell data. Then, we conducted comprehensive bioinformatic analyses to explore the association between host and microbe in breast cancer.

RESULTS: Here, we found that the metabolic status of breast cancer cells was highly plastic, and some microbial genera were significantly correlated with cancer metabolic activity. We identified two distinct clusters based on microbial abundance and tumor metabolism data. And dysregulation of the metabolic pathway was observed among different cell types. Metabolism-related microbial scores were calculated to predict overall survival in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, the microbial abundance of the specific genus was associated with gene mutation due to possible microbe-mediated mutagenesis. The infiltrating immune cell compositions, including regulatory T cells and activated NK cells, were significantly associated with the metabolism-related intratumor microbes, as indicated in the Mantel test analysis. Moreover, the mammary metabolism-related microbes were related to T cell exclusion and response to immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the exploratory study shed light on the potential role of the metabolism-related microbiome in breast cancer patients. And the novel treatment will be realized by further investigating the metabolic disturbance in host and intratumor microbial cells.}, } @article {pmid36997637, year = {2023}, author = {Cosme, M}, title = {Mycorrhizas drive the evolution of plant adaptation to drought.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {346}, pmid = {36997637}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Droughts ; Symbiosis ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Plants/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant adaptation to drought facilitates major ecological transitions, and will likely play a vital role under looming climate change. Mycorrhizas, i.e. strategic associations between plant roots and soil-borne symbiotic fungi, can exert strong influence on the tolerance to drought of extant plants. Here, I show how mycorrhizal strategy and drought adaptation have been shaping one another throughout the course of plant evolution. To characterize the evolutions of both plant characters, I applied a phylogenetic comparative method using data of 1,638 extant species globally distributed. The detected correlated evolution unveiled gains and losses of drought tolerance occurring at faster rates in lineages with ecto- or ericoid mycorrhizas, which were on average about 15 and 300 times faster than in lineages with the arbuscular mycorrhizal and naked root (non-mycorrhizal alone or with facultatively arbuscular mycorrhizal) strategy, respectively. My study suggests that mycorrhizas can play a key facilitator role in the evolutionary processes of plant adaptation to critical changes in water availability across global climates.}, } @article {pmid36996412, year = {2023}, author = {Chevalier, RL}, title = {Bioenergetics: The Evolutionary Basis of Progressive Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Physiological reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1152/physrev.00029.2022}, pmid = {36996412}, issn = {1522-1210}, abstract = {Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 10% of the world population with increasing prevalence in middle age. The risk for CKD is dependent on the number of functioning nephrons through the life cycle and 50% of nephrons are lost through normal aging, revealing their vulnerability to internal and external stressors. Factors responsible for CKD remain poorly understood with limited availability of biomarkers or effective therapy to slow progression. This review draws on the disciplines of evolutionary medicine and bioenergetics to account for the heterogeneous nephron injury that characterizes progressive CKD following acute kidney injury with incomplete recovery. The evolution of symbiosis in eukaryotes led to the efficiencies of oxidative phosphorylation and the rise of metazoa. Adaptations to ancestral environments are the products of natural selection that have shaped the mammalian nephron with its vulnerabilities to ischemic, hypoxic, and toxic injury. Reproductive fitness rather than longevity has served as the driver of evolution, constrained by available energy and its allocation to homeostatic responses through the life cycle. Metabolic plasticity has evolved in parallel with robustness necessary to preserve complex developmental programs, and adaptations that optimize survival through reproductive years can become maladaptive with aging, reflecting antagonistic pleiotropy. Consequently, environmental stresses promote tradeoffs and mismatches that result in cell fate decisions that ultimately lead to nephron loss. Elucidation of the bioenergetic adaptations by the nephron to ancestral and contemporary environments may lead to the development of new biomarkers of kidney disease and new therapies to reduce the global burden of progressive CKD.}, } @article {pmid36996101, year = {2023}, author = {Babajanyan, SG and Wolf, YI and Khachatryan, A and Allahverdyan, A and Lopez-Garcia, P and Koonin, EV}, title = {Coevolution of reproducers and replicators at the origin of life and the conditions for the origin of genomes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {14}, pages = {e2301522120}, pmid = {36996101}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Biochemical Phenomena ; Genome/genetics ; Origin of Life ; }, abstract = {There are two fundamentally distinct but inextricably linked types of biological evolutionary units, reproducers and replicators. Reproducers are cells and organelles that reproduce via various forms of division and maintain the physical continuity of compartments and their content. Replicators are genetic elements (GE), including genomes of cellular organisms and various autonomous elements, that both cooperate with reproducers and rely on the latter for replication. All known cells and organisms comprise a union between replicators and reproducers. We explore a model in which cells emerged via symbiosis between primordial "metabolic" reproducers (protocells) which evolved, on short time scales, via a primitive form of selection and random drift, and mutualist replicators. Mathematical modeling identifies the conditions, under which GE-carrying protocells can outcompete GE-less ones, taking into account that, from the earliest stages of evolution, replicators split into mutualists and parasites. Analysis of the model shows that, for the GE-containing protocells to win the competition and to be fixed in evolution, it is essential that the birth-death process of the GE is coordinated with the rate of protocell division. At the early stages of evolution, random, high-variance cell division is advantageous compared with symmetrical division because the former provides for the emergence of protocells containing only mutualists, preventing takeover by parasites. These findings illuminate the likely order of key events on the evolutionary route from protocells to cells that involved the origin of genomes, symmetrical cell division, and antiparasite defense systems.}, } @article {pmid36996034, year = {2023}, author = {Choi, O and Lee, Y and Kang, B and Cho, SK and Kang, Y and Kang, DW and Lee, SB and Bae, SM and Kim, J}, title = {Identification and characterization of gut-associated lactic acid bacteria isolated from the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0281121}, pmid = {36996034}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Lactobacillales ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Heteroptera/microbiology ; *Fabaceae ; Soybeans ; }, abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial bacteria for humans and animals. However, the characteristics and functions of LAB in insects remain unclear. Here, we isolated LAB from the gut of Riptortus pedestris, a pest that is a significant problem in soybean cultivation in Korea, and identified two Lactococcus lactis and one Enterococcus faecalis using matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization-time of flight and 16S rRNA analyses. All three LAB strains survived at pH 8, and L. lactis B103 and E. faecalis B105 survived at pH 9 for 24 h. In addition, these strains survived well in simulated gastric juice of humans containing pepsin and exhibited high resistance to bile salts. Two strains of L. lactis and one of E. faecalis maintained constant density (> 104 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) at pH 2.5, but viability at pH 2.2 was strain-dependent. The three LAB were reinoculated into second-instar nymphs of R. pedestris and colonized well, reaching a constant density (> 105 CFU/gut) in the adult insect gut. Interestingly, feeding of these LAB increased the survival rate of insects compared to the negative control, with the largest increase seen for L. lactis B103. However, the LAB did not increase the weight or length of adult insects. These results indicate that insect-derived LAB possess the traits required for survival under gastrointestinal conditions and have beneficial effects on insect hosts. The LAB infection frequency of the wild bean bug populations was 89% (n = 18) in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. These LAB can be utilized as a novel probiotic in the cultivation of beneficial insects. This study provides fundamental information about the symbiosis between insects and LAB, and a novel concept for pest control.}, } @article {pmid36995232, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, F and Liu, Z and Zhou, J and Guo, X and Chen, Y}, title = {Microbial Species-Area Relationships on the Skins of Amphibian Hosts.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0177122}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01771-22}, pmid = {36995232}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Unlike species-area relationships (SARs) that have been widely reported for plants and animals on Earth, there is no clear understanding of the SARs for microorganisms. In this study, 358 specimens of 10 amphibian host species collected from the rural Chengdu region of southwest China were selected as island models for evaluating SAR curve shapes and assessing the skin microbiota from different amphibian species. The results showed that skin microbial diversity, measured using Hill's number, presented significant differences between hosts, but the difference was insignificant between habitat-specific classifications of hosts. As for microbial SARs, other than the classical power-law (PL) model describing an expected steady increase in microbial diversity as sampled skin area increases, two additional trends were observed: (i) microbial diversity first rises and gradually decreases after reaching a maximum accrual diversity (MaxAD) and (ii) microbial diversity decreases and starts to rise after reaching the minimum accrual diversity (MinAD). Among the four SAR statistical models compared, it was consistently found that the models that can describe MaxAD were favorably selected in the highest frequency. Models that can describe MinAD and PL model also performed reasonably well. However, PL had the poorest fitting power, implying the necessity of introducing biologically meaningful complex SAR models in microbial diversity research. In conclusion, through multihost analyses, our study provided compelling evidence that microbial SARs are complex and nonlinear. A variety of ecological mechanisms may be used for explaining these, including, but not limited to, community saturation, small-island effects, or sampling heterogeneity. IMPORTANCE In this study, we investigate species-area relationships (SARs) for skin-borne symbiotic microbes of wildlife hosts. Unlike the traditional SARs for plants and animals, symbiotic microbial SARs were complex. We found that both U-shaped and inverted U-shaped SAR models were widely favored for microbial taxa than the well-known power-law model in different host species. These favored models presented interesting statistical features, including minimal or maximal accrual diversity or inflection point. We provide intuitive derivations of these statistical properties. We showed that different habitat-specific amphibian hosts did not present distinct microbial diversity and skin-related SAR patterns. We predicted that approximately 600 to 1,400 cm[2] (in two-dimensional [2D] measurement) or approximately 1,200 to 3 500 cm[2] (in 3D measurement) are the skin area threshold range that can allow the emergence of minimal or maximal accrual microbial diversity with high chances. Finally, we list a variety of ecological mechanisms that may be used for explaining the observed nonlinear SAR trends.}, } @article {pmid36994621, year = {2023}, author = {Jin, G and Kim, Y}, title = {Pantoea Bacteria Isolated from Three Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis, Frankliniella intonsa, and Thrips tabaci) in Korea and Their Symbiotic Roles in Host Insect Development.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.2301.01018}, pmid = {36994621}, issn = {1738-8872}, abstract = {Gut symbionts play crucial roles in host development by producing nutrients and defending against pathogens. Phloem-feeding insects in particular lack essential nutrients in their diets, and thus, gut symbionts are required for their development. Gram-negative Pantoea spp. are known to be symbiotic to the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). However, their bacterial characteristics have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we isolated three different bacteria (BFoK1, BFiK1, and BTtK1) from F. occidentalis, F. intonsa, and T. tabaci. The bacterial isolates of all three species contained Pantoea spp. Their 16S rRNA sequences indicated that BFoK1 and BTtK1 were similar to P. agglomerans, while BFiK1 was similar to P. dispersa. These predictions were supported by the biochemical characteristics assessed by fatty acid composition and organic carbon utilization. In the bacterial morphological analysis, BFoK1 and BTtK1 were distinct from BFiK1. All these bacteria were relatively resistant to tetracycline compared to ampicillin and kanamycin, in which BFoK1 and BTtK1 were different from BFiK1. Feeding ampicillin (100,000 ppm) reduced the bacterial density in thrips and retarded the development of F. occidentalis. The addition of BFoK1 bacteria, however, rescued the retarded development. These findings indicate that Pantoea bacteria are symbionts to different species of thrips.}, } @article {pmid36992933, year = {2023}, author = {Rupawate, PS and Roylawar, P and Khandagale, K and Gawande, S and Ade, AB and Jaiswal, DK and Borgave, S}, title = {Role of gut symbionts of insect pests: A novel target for insect-pest control.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1146390}, pmid = {36992933}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insects possess beneficial and nuisance values in the context of the agricultural sector and human life around them. An ensemble of gut symbionts assists insects to adapt to diverse and extreme environments and to occupy every available niche on earth. Microbial symbiosis helps host insects by supplementing necessary diet elements, providing protection from predators and parasitoids through camouflage, modulation of signaling pathway to attain homeostasis and to trigger immunity against pathogens, hijacking plant pathways to circumvent plant defence, acquiring the capability to degrade chemical pesticides, and degradation of harmful pesticides. Therefore, a microbial protection strategy can lead to overpopulation of insect pests, which can drastically reduce crop yield. Some studies have demonstrated increased insect mortality via the destruction of insect gut symbionts; through the use of antibiotics. The review summarizes various roles played by the gut microbiota of insect pests and some studies that have been conducted on pest control by targeting the symbionts. Manipulation or exploitation of the gut symbionts alters the growth and population of the host insects and is consequently a potential target for the development of better pest control strategies. Methods such as modulation of gut symbionts via CRISPR/Cas9, RNAi and the combining of IIT and SIT to increase the insect mortality are further discussed. In the ongoing insect pest management scenario, gut symbionts are proving to be the reliable, eco-friendly and novel approach in the integrated pest management.}, } @article {pmid36992178, year = {2023}, author = {Al Hakeem, WG and Acevedo Villanueva, KY and Selvaraj, RK}, title = {The Development of Gut Microbiota and Its Changes Following C. jejuni Infection in Broilers.}, journal = {Vaccines}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36992178}, issn = {2076-393X}, abstract = {The gut is home to more than millions of bacterial species. The gut bacteria coexist with the host in a symbiotic relationship that can influence the host's metabolism, nutrition, and physiology and even module various immune functions. The commensal gut microbiota plays a crucial role in shaping the immune response and provides a continuous stimulus to maintain an activated immune system. The recent advancements in high throughput omics technologies have improved our understanding of the role of commensal bacteria in developing the immune system in chickens. Chicken meat continues to be one of the most consumed sources of protein worldwide, with the demand expected to increase significantly by the year 2050. Yet, chickens are a significant reservoir for human foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni. Understanding the interaction between the commensal bacteria and C. jejuni is essential in developing novel technologies to decrease C. jejuni load in broilers. This review aims to provide current knowledge of gut microbiota development and its interaction with the immune system in broilers. Additionally, the effect of C. jejuni infection on the gut microbiota is addressed.}, } @article {pmid36991491, year = {2023}, author = {Hénaff, E and Najjar, D and Perez, M and Flores, R and Woebken, C and Mason, CE and Slavin, K}, title = {Holobiont Urbanism: sampling urban beehives reveals cities' metagenomes.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {36991491}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {1R01MH117406/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Over half of the world's population lives in urban areas with, according to the United Nations, nearly 70% expected to live in cities by 2050. Our cities are built by and for humans, but are also complex, adaptive biological systems involving a diversity of other living species. The majority of these species are invisible and constitute the city's microbiome. Our design decisions for the built environment shape these invisible populations, and as inhabitants we interact with them on a constant basis. A growing body of evidence shows us that human health and well-being are dependent on these interactions. Indeed, multicellular organisms owe meaningful aspects of their development and phenotype to interactions with the microorganisms-bacteria or fungi-with which they live in continual exchange and symbiosis. Therefore, it is meaningful to establish microbial maps of the cities we inhabit. While the processing and sequencing of environmental microbiome samples can be high-throughput, gathering samples is still labor and time intensive, and can require mobilizing large numbers of volunteers to get a snapshot of the microbial landscape of a city.

RESULTS: Here we postulate that honeybees may be effective collaborators in gathering samples of urban microbiota, as they forage daily within a 2-mile radius of their hive. We describe the results of a pilot study conducted with three rooftop beehives in Brooklyn, NY, where we evaluated the potential of various hive materials (honey, debris, hive swabs, bee bodies) to reveal information as to the surrounding metagenomic landscape, and where we conclude that the bee debris are the richest substrate. Based on these results, we profiled 4 additional cities through collected hive debris: Sydney, Melbourne, Venice and Tokyo. We show that each city displays a unique metagenomic profile as seen by honeybees. These profiles yield information relevant to hive health such as known bee symbionts and pathogens. Additionally, we show that this method can be used for human pathogen surveillance, with a proof-of-concept example in which we recover the majority of virulence factor genes for Rickettsia felis, a pathogen known to be responsible for "cat scratch fever".

CONCLUSIONS: We show that this method yields information relevant to hive health and human health, providing a strategy to monitor environmental microbiomes on a city scale. Here we present the results of this study, and discuss them in terms of architectural implications, as well as the potential of this method for epidemic surveillance.}, } @article {pmid36991328, year = {2023}, author = {Fang, L and Wang, M and Chen, X and Zhao, J and Wang, J and Liu, J}, title = {Analysis of the AMT gene family in chili pepper and the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on the expression patterns of CaAMT2 genes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {158}, pmid = {36991328}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Capsicum/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Ammonium Compounds ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ammonium (NH4[+]) is a key nitrogen source supporting plant growth and development. Proteins in the ammonium transporter (AMT) family mediate the movement of NH4[+] across the cell membrane. Although several studies have examined AMT genes in various plant species, few studies of the AMT gene family have been conducted in chili pepper.

RESULTS: Here, a total of eight AMT genes were identified in chili pepper, and their exon/intron structures, phylogenetic relationships, and expression patterns in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization were explored. Synteny analyses among chili pepper, tomato, eggplant, soybean, and Medicago revealed that the CaAMT2;1, CaAMT2.4, and CaAMT3;1 have undergone an expansion prior to the divergence of Solanaceae and Leguminosae. The expression of six AMT2 genes was either up-regulated or down-regulated in response to AM colonization. The expression of CaAMT2;1/2;2/2;3 and SlAMT2;1/2;2/2;3 was significantly up-regulated in AM fungi-inoculated roots. A 1,112-bp CaAMT2;1 promoter fragment and a 1,400-bp CaAMT2;2 promoter fragment drove the expression of the β-glucuronidase gene in the cortex of AM roots. Evaluation of AM colonization under different NH4[+] concentrations revealed that a sufficient, but not excessive, supply of NH4[+] promotes the growth of chili pepper and the colonization of AM. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CaAMT2;2 overexpression could mediate NH4[+] uptake in tomato plants.

CONCLUSION: In sum, our results provide new insights into the evolutionary relationships and functional divergence of chili pepper AMT genes. We also identified putative AMT genes expressed in AM symbiotic roots.}, } @article {pmid36988071, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, ZX and Zhu, XM and Yin, H and Li, B and Chen, XJ and Fan, XL and Li, NQ and Selosse, MA and Gao, JY and Han, JJ}, title = {Symbiosis between Dendrobium catenatum protocorms and Serendipita indica involves the plant hypoxia response pathway.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad198}, pmid = {36988071}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Mycorrhizae are ubiquitous symbioses established between fungi and plant roots. Orchids, in particular, require compatible mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination and protocorm development. Unlike arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which have wide host ranges, orchid mycorrhizal fungi are often highly specific to their host orchids. However, the molecular mechanism of orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis is largely unknown compared to that of arbuscular mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbiosis. Here, we report that an endophytic Sebacinales fungus, Serendipita indica, promotes seed germination and the development of protocorms into plantlets in several epiphytic Epidendroideae orchid species (six species in two genera), including Dendrobium catenatum, a critically endangered orchid with high medicinal value. Although plant-pathogen interaction and high meristematic activity can induce the hypoxic response in plants, it has been unclear whether interactions with beneficial fungi, especially mycorrhizal ones, also involve the hypoxic response. By studying the symbiotic relationship between D. catenatum and S. indica, we determined that hypoxia-responsive genes, such as those encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), are highly induced in symbiotic D. catenatum protocorms. In situ hybridization assay indicated that the ADH gene is predominantly expressed in the basal mycorrhizal region of symbiotic protocorms. Additionally, the ADH inhibitors puerarin and 4-methylpyrazole both decreased S. indica colonization in D. catenatum protocorms. Thus, our study reveals that S. indica is widely compatible with orchids and that ADH and its related hypoxia-responsive pathway are involved in establishing successful symbiotic relationships in germinating orchids.}, } @article {pmid36986997, year = {2023}, author = {Reyero-Saavedra, R and Fuentes, SI and Leija, A and Jiménez-Nopala, G and Peláez, P and Ramírez, M and Girard, L and Porch, TG and Hernández, G}, title = {Identification and Characterization of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Non-Nodulating Mutants Altered in Rhizobial Infection.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {36986997}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The symbiotic N2-fixation process in the legume-rhizobia interaction is relevant for sustainable agriculture. The characterization of symbiotic mutants, mainly in model legumes, has been instrumental for the discovery of symbiotic genes, but similar studies in crop legumes are scant. To isolate and characterize common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) symbiotic mutants, an ethyl methanesulphonate-induced mutant population from the BAT 93 genotype was analyzed. Our initial screening of Rhizobium etli CE3-inoculated mutant plants revealed different alterations in nodulation. We proceeded with the characterization of three non-nodulating (nnod), apparently monogenic/recessive mutants: nnod(1895), nnod(2353) and nnod(2114). Their reduced growth in a symbiotic condition was restored when the nitrate was added. A similar nnod phenotype was observed upon inoculation with other efficient rhizobia species. A microscopic analysis revealed a different impairment for each mutant in an early symbiotic step. nnod(1895) formed decreased root hair curling but had increased non-effective root hair deformation and no rhizobia infection. nnod(2353) produced normal root hair curling and rhizobia entrapment to form infection chambers, but the development of the latter was blocked. nnod(2114) formed infection threads that did not elongate and thus did not reach the root cortex level; it occasionally formed non-infected pseudo-nodules. The current research is aimed at mapping the responsible mutated gene for a better understanding of SNF in this critical food crop.}, } @article {pmid36985370, year = {2023}, author = {Remmal, I and Bel Mokhtar, N and Maurady, A and Reda Britel, M and El Fakhouri, K and Asimakis, E and Tsiamis, G and Stathopoulou, P}, title = {Characterization of the Bacterial Microbiome in Natural Populations of Barley Stem Gall Midge, Mayetiola hordei, in Morocco.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36985370}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Mayetiola hordei (Kieffer), known as barley stem gall midge, is one of the most destructive barley pests in many areas around the world, inflicting significant qualitative and quantitative damage to crop production. In this study, we investigate the presence of reproductive symbionts, the effect of geographical origin on the bacterial microbiome's structure, and the diversity associated with natural populations of M. hordei located in four barley-producing areas in Morocco. Wolbachia infection was discovered in 9% of the natural populations using a precise 16S rDNA PCR assay. High-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene indicated that the native environments of samples had a substantial environmental impact on the microbiota taxonomic assortment. Briefly, 5 phyla, 7 classes, and 42 genera were identified across all the samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the bacterial composition of M. hordei natural populations. The presence of Wolbachia infection may assist in the diagnosis of ideal natural populations, providing a new insight into the employment of Wolbachia in the control of barley midge populations, in the context of the sterile insect technique or other biological control methods.}, } @article {pmid36985309, year = {2023}, author = {Maftei, NM and Iancu, AV and Goroftei Bogdan, RE and Gurau, TV and Ramos-Villarroel, A and Pelin, AM}, title = {A Novel Symbiotic Beverage Based on Sea Buckthorn, Soy Milk and Inulin: Production, Characterization, Probiotic Viability, and Sensory Acceptance.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36985309}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Nowadays, vegan consumers demand that food products have more and more properties that contribute to the prevention of some diseases, such as lower fat content, increased mineral content (calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus), pleasant flavor, and low calorie values. Therefore, the beverage industry has tried to offer consumers products that include probiotics, prebiotics, or symbiotics with improved flavor and appearance and beneficial effects on health. The possibility of producing beverages based on soy milk with sea buckthorn syrup or sea buckthorn powder supplemented with inulin and fermented with the Lactobacillus casei ssp. paracasei strain was examined. The aim of this study was to obtain a novel symbiotic product that exploits the bioactive potential of sea buckthorn fruits. Tests were carried out in the laboratory phase by fermenting soy milk, to which was added sea buckthorn syrup (20%) or sea buckthorn powder (3%) and inulin in proportions of 1% and 3%, with temperature variation of fermentation (30 and 37 °C). During the fermentation period, the survivability of prebiotic bacteria, pH, and titratable acidity were measured. The storage time of beverages at 4 °C ± 1 °C was 14 days, and the probiotic viability, pH, titratable acidity, and water holding capacity were determined. Novel symbiotic beverages based on sea buckthorn syrup or powder, inulin, and soy milk were successfully obtained using the Lactobacillus casei ssp. paracasei strain as a starter culture. Moreover, the inulin added to the novel symbiotic beverage offered microbiological safety and excellent sensory attributes as well.}, } @article {pmid36985213, year = {2023}, author = {Bickford, WA and Snow, DS and Smith, MKH and Kingsley, KL and White, JF and Kowalski, KP}, title = {Experimentally Induced Dieback Conditions Limit Phragmites australis Growth.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36985213}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan grass species common in wetland ecosystems across the world. In much of North America, the non-native subspecies of Phragmites threatens wetland biodiversity, hinders recreation, and is a persistent problem for natural resource managers. In other parts of the world, populations are in decline, as Reed Die-Back Syndrome (RDBS) plagues some Phragmites stands in its native range. RDBS is defined by a clumped growth form, stunted root and shoot growth, premature senescence, and shoot death. RDBS has been associated with a build-up of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and altered bacterial and oomycete communities in soils, but the exact causes are unknown. To control invasive Phragmites populations, we sought to develop treatments that mimic the conditions of RDBS. We applied various SCFA treatments at various concentrations to mesocosm soils growing either Phragmites or native wetland plants. We found that the high-concentration SCFA treatments applied weekly induced strong significant declines in above- and belowground biomass of Phragmites. Declines were significant but slightly weaker in native species. In addition, soil bacterial abundance increased, diversity decreased, and bacterial community composition significantly differed following treatments, such that treated pots maintained a higher relative abundance of Pseudomonadaceae and fewer Acidobacteriaceae than untreated pots. Our results suggest that application of SCFAs to Phragmites can lead to stunted plants and altered soil bacterial communities similar to populations affected by RDBS. However, the lack of species-specificity and intensive application rate may not make this treatment ideal as a widespread management tool.}, } @article {pmid36985118, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, J and Zhang, Q and Zhang, T and Wang, S and Hao, J and Wu, Z and Li, A}, title = {Comparative Analysis of the Symbiotic Microbiota in the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis): Microbial Structure, Co-Occurrence Patterns, and Predictive Functions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36985118}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms in the digestive and circulatory systems are found in various crustaceans, and their essential roles in crustacean health, nutrition, and disease have attracted considerable interest. Although the intestinal microbiota of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) has been extensively studied, information on the symbiotic microbiota at various sites of this aquatic economic species, particularly the hepatopancreas and hemolymph, is lacking. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and intestinal microbiota of Chinese mitten crab through the high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Results showed no significant difference in microbial diversity between the hemolymph and hepatopancreas (Welch t-test; p > 0.05), but their microbial diversity was significantly higher than that in the intestine (p < 0.05). Distinct differences were found in the structure, composition, and predicted function of the symbiotic microbiota at these sites. At the phylum level, the hemolymph and hepatopancreas microbiota were dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteriota, followed by Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota, whereas the gut microbiota was mainly composed of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota. At the genus level, Candidatus Hepatoplasma, Shewanella, and Aeromonas were dominant in the hepatopancreas; Candidatus Bacilloplasma, Roseimarinus, and Vibrio were dominant in the intestine; Enterobacter, norank_Vicinamibacterales, and Pseudomonas were relatively high-abundance genera in the hemolymph. The composition and abundance of symbiotic microbiota in the hemolymph and hepatopancreas were extremely similar (p > 0.05), and no significant difference in functional prediction was found (p > 0.05). Comparing the hemolymph in the intestine and hepatopancreas, the hemolymph had lower variation in bacterial composition among individuals, having a more uniform abundance of major bacterial taxa, a smaller coefficient of variation, and the highest proportion of shared genera. Network complexity varied greatly among the three sites. The hepatopancreas microbiota was the most complex, followed by the hemolymph microbiota, and the intestinal microbiota had the simplest network. This study revealed the taxonomic and functional characteristics of the hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and gut microbiota in Chinese mitten crab. The results expanded our understanding of the symbiotic microbiota in crustaceans, providing potential indicators for assessing the health status of Chinese mitten crab.}, } @article {pmid36983489, year = {2023}, author = {Xiao, X and Liao, X and Yan, Q and Xie, Y and Chen, J and Liang, G and Chen, M and Xiao, S and Chen, Y and Liu, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve the Growth, Water Status, and Nutrient Uptake of Cinnamomum migao and the Soil Nutrient Stoichiometry under Drought Stress and Recovery.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36983489}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Drought greatly influences the growth and ecological stoichiometry of plants in arid and semi-arid regions such as karst areas, where Cinnamomum migao (C. migao) is an endemic tree species that is used as a bioenergy resource. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in nutrient uptake in the soil-plant continuum, increasing plant tolerance to drought. However, few studies have examined the contribution of AMF in improving the growth of C. migao seedlings and the soil nutrient stoichiometry under drought-stress conditions. A pot experiment was conducted under natural light in a plastic greenhouse to investigate the effects of individual inoculation and Co-inoculation of AMF [Funneliformis mosseae (F. mosseae) and Claroideoglomus etunicatum (C. etunicatum)] on the growth, water status, and nutrient uptake of C. migao as well as the soil nutrient stoichiometry under well-watered (WW) and drought-stress (DS) conditions. The results showed that compared with non-AMF control (CK), AM symbiosis significantly stimulated plant growth and had higher dry mass. Mycorrhizal plants had better water status than corresponding CK plants. AMF colonization notably increased the total nitrogen and phosphorus content of C. migao seedlings compared with CK. Mycorrhizal plants had higher leaf and stem total carbon concentrations than CK. The results indicated that AM symbiosis protects C. migao seedlings against drought stress by improving growth, water status, and nutrient uptake. In general, the C. migao seedlings that formed with C. etunicatum showed the most beneficial effect on plant growth, water status, and nutrient uptake among all treatments. In the future, we should study more about the biological characteristics of each AMF in the field study to understand more ecological responses of AMF under drought stress, which can better provide meaningful guidance for afforestation projects in karst regions.}, } @article {pmid36982921, year = {2023}, author = {Brito-Santana, P and Duque-Pedraza, JJ and Bernabéu-Roda, LM and Carvia-Hermoso, C and Cuéllar, V and Fuentes-Romero, F and Acosta-Jurado, S and Vinardell, JM and Soto, MJ}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti DnaJ Is Required for Surface Motility, Stress Tolerance, and for Efficient Nodulation and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {36982921}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Medicago sativa/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacterial surface motility is a complex microbial trait that contributes to host colonization. However, the knowledge about regulatory mechanisms that control surface translocation in rhizobia and their role in the establishment of symbiosis with legumes is still limited. Recently, 2-tridecanone (2-TDC) was identified as an infochemical in bacteria that hampers microbial colonization of plants. In the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, 2-TDC promotes a mode of surface motility that is mostly independent of flagella. To understand the mechanism of action of 2-TDC in S. meliloti and unveil genes putatively involved in plant colonization, Tn5 transposants derived from a flagellaless strain that were impaired in 2-TDC-induced surface spreading were isolated and genetically characterized. In one of the mutants, the gene coding for the chaperone DnaJ was inactivated. Characterization of this transposant and newly obtained flagella-minus and flagella-plus dnaJ deletion mutants revealed that DnaJ is essential for surface translocation, while it plays a minor role in swimming motility. DnaJ loss-of-function reduces salt and oxidative stress tolerance in S. meliloti and hinders the establishment of efficient symbiosis by affecting nodule formation efficiency, cellular infection, and nitrogen fixation. Intriguingly, the lack of DnaJ causes more severe defects in a flagellaless background. This work highlights the role of DnaJ in the free-living and symbiotic lifestyles of S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid36982799, year = {2023}, author = {Jovandaric, MZ and Dugalic, S and Babic, S and Babovic, IR and Milicevic, S and Mihajlovic, D and Culjic, M and Zivanovic, T and Trklja, A and Markovic, B and Plesinac, V and Jestrovic, Z and Medjo, B and Raus, M and Dugalic, MG}, title = {Programming Factors of Neonatal Intestinal Dysbiosis as a Cause of Disease.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {36982799}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adult ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; Immune System/metabolism ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that achieve a perfect symbiosis with the host. They perform immunological, metabolic, and endocrine functions in the body. The microbiota is formed intrauterine. Dysbiosis is a microbiome disorder characterized by an imbalance in the composition of the microbiota, as well as changes in their functional and metabolic activities. The causes of dysbiosis include improper nutrition in pregnant women, hormone therapy, the use of drugs, especially antibiotics, and a lack of exposure to the mother's vaginal microbiota during natural birth. Changes in the intestinal microbiota are increasingly being identified in various diseases, starting in the early neonatal period into the adult period. Conclusions: In recent years, it has become more and more obvious that the components of the intestinal microbiota are crucial for the proper development of the immune system, and its disruption leads to disease.}, } @article {pmid36982224, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, J and Liu, L and Tian, L and Xu, S and Wu, G and Jiang, H and Chen, Y}, title = {Overexpression of LjPLT3 Enhances Salt Tolerance in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {36982224}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Salt Tolerance/genetics ; *Lotus/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology/metabolism ; Plant Breeding ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Intracellular polyols are used as osmoprotectants by many plants under environmental stress. However, few studies have shown the role of polyol transporters in the tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses. Here, we describe the expression characteristics and potential functions of Lotus japonicus polyol transporter LjPLT3 under salt stress. Using LjPLT3 promoter-reporter gene plants showed that LjPLT3 was expressed in the vascular tissue of L. japonicus leaf, stem, root, and nodule. The expression was also induced by NaCl treatment. Overexpression of LjPLT3 in L. japonicus modified the growth rate and saline tolerance of the transgenic plants. The OELjPLT3 seedlings displayed reduced plant height under both nitrogen-sufficient and symbiotic nitrogen fixation conditions when 4 weeks old. The nodule number of OELjPLT3 plants was reduced by 6.7-27.4% when 4 weeks old. After exposure to a NaCl treatment in Petri dishes for 10 days, OELjPLT3 seedlings had a higher chlorophyll concentration, fresh weight, and survival rate than those in the wild type. For symbiotic nitrogen fixation conditions, the decrease in nitrogenase activity of OELjPLT3 plants was slower than that of the wild type after salt treatment. Compared to the wild type, both the accumulation of small organic molecules and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were higher under salt stress. Considering the concentration of lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) in transgenic lines, we speculate that overexpression of LjPLT3 in L. japonicus might improve the ROS scavenging system to alleviate the oxidative damage caused by salt stress, thereby increasing plant salinity tolerance. Our results will direct the breeding of forage legumes in saline land and also provide an opportunity for the improvement of poor and saline soils.}, } @article {pmid36982072, year = {2023}, author = {Kowalski, Z and Kulczycka, J and Makara, A and Mondello, G and Salomone, R}, title = {Industrial Symbiosis for Sustainable Management of Meat Waste: The Case of Śmiłowo Eco-Industrial Park, Poland.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {36982072}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Animals ; Swine ; Poland ; *Biofuels ; Symbiosis ; Plant Breeding ; *Waste Management ; Poultry ; Industrial Waste ; }, abstract = {This study presents the developing process of the Śmiłowo Eco-Park, located in the Noteć valley region (Poland), is a part of the biggest Polish agri-food consortium, from its initial small waste management company to its final structure as an eco-industrial park using industrial symbiosis methods. The industrial symbiosis applied in the Eco-park promotes a business model which covers the whole life cycle of the products starting from the plant growing by animal feed preparation, livestock breeding, meat preparations, meat-bone meal production from animal waste, and the use of pig slurry as a fertilizer. The Eco-park model is presented in the form of a system of connected stream flows of materials and energy covering the full lifecycle of products, from cereal cultivation, through the production of industrial feed, and poultry and pig breeding for the production of meat products. The solutions used include the prevention of environmental pollution through the modernization of existing processes, implementation of new technologies, reduction of waste and its reuse, recycling, and recovery of materials and energy, the substitution of raw materials with waste, and thermal treatment of waste and its use as biofuel. This case study allows for analyses of the organizational and technical key strategic activities which enable waste, including hazardous waste, to be transformed into valuable materials and energy. These activities have modified the system of material and energy flows through the value chain to realize the goal of allowing profitable management of waste according to circular economy methods and also indicates methods of supporting modifications of supply chains in terms of implementation of the industrial symbiosis business model according to its relationship with sustainable development, cleaner production, and circular economy models. EIP Śmiłowo annually utilizes 300,000 t meat waste, produces 110,000 t meat bone meal biofuel, uses 120,000 t of pig manure as fertilizers, produces 460,000 GJ bioenergy, eliminates 92,000 t CO2 emissions.}, } @article {pmid36981029, year = {2023}, author = {Černý, V and Priehodová, E and Fortes-Lima, C}, title = {A Population Genetic Perspective on Subsistence Systems in the Sahel/Savannah Belt of Africa and the Historical Role of Pastoralism.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36981029}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Cattle ; Africa ; *Genetics, Population ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Agriculture ; Archaeology ; }, abstract = {This review focuses on the Sahel/Savannah belt, a large region of Africa where two alternative subsistence systems (pastoralism and agriculture), nowadays, interact. It is a long-standing question whether the pastoralists became isolated here from other populations after cattle began to spread into Africa (~8 thousand years ago, kya) or, rather, began to merge with other populations, such as agropastoralists, after the domestication of sorghum and pearl millet (~5 kya) and with the subsequent spread of agriculture. If we look at lactase persistence, a trait closely associated with pastoral lifestyle, we see that its variants in current pastoralists distinguish them from their farmer neighbours. Most other (mostly neutral) genetic polymorphisms do not, however, indicate such clear differentiation between these groups; they suggest a common origin and/or an extensive gene flow. Genetic affinity and ecological symbiosis between the two subsistence systems can help us better understand the population history of this African region. In this review, we show that genomic datasets of modern Sahel/Savannah belt populations properly collected in local populations can complement the still insufficient archaeological research of this region, especially when dealing with the prehistory of mobile populations with perishable material culture and therefore precarious archaeological visibility.}, } @article {pmid36979806, year = {2023}, author = {Athanasopoulou, K and Adamopoulos, PG and Scorilas, A}, title = {Unveiling the Human Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiome: The Past, Present, and Future of Metagenomics.}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36979806}, issn = {2227-9059}, abstract = {Over 10[14] symbiotic microorganisms are present in a healthy human body and are responsible for the synthesis of vital vitamins and amino acids, mediating cellular pathways and supporting immunity. However, the deregulation of microbial dynamics can provoke diverse human diseases such as diabetes, human cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The human gastrointestinal tract constitutes a hospitable environment in which a plethora of microbes, including diverse species of archaea, bacteria, fungi, and microeukaryotes as well as viruses, inhabit. In particular, the gut microbiome is the largest microbiome community in the human body and has drawn for decades the attention of scientists for its significance in medical microbiology. Revolutions in sequencing techniques, including 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing and whole genome sequencing, facilitate the detection of microbiomes and have opened new vistas in the study of human microbiota. Especially, the flourishing fields of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics aim to detect all genomes and transcriptomes that are retrieved from environmental and human samples. The present review highlights the complexity of the gastrointestinal tract microbiome and deciphers its implication not only in cellular homeostasis but also in human diseases. Finally, a thorough description of the widely used microbiome detection methods is discussed.}, } @article {pmid36978107, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, S and Wang, D and Dong, D and Xu, L and Xie, M and Wang, Y and Ni, T and Jiang, W and Zhu, X and Ning, N and Sun, Q and Zhao, S and Li, M and Chen, P and Yu, M and Li, J and Chen, E and Zhao, B and Peng, Y and Mao, E}, title = {Altered intestinal microbiome and metabolome correspond to the clinical outcome of sepsis.}, journal = {Critical care (London, England)}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {127}, pmid = {36978107}, issn = {1466-609X}, mesh = {Animals ; Rats ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; *Microbiota ; *Sepsis/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in the progression of sepsis. However, the specific mechanism of gut microbiota and its metabolites involved in the process of sepsis remains elusive, which limits its translational application.

METHOD: In this study, we used a combination of the microbiome and untargeted metabolomics to analyze stool samples from patients with sepsis enrolled at admission, then microbiota, metabolites, and potential signaling pathways that might play important roles in disease outcome were screened out. Finally, the above results were validated by the microbiome and transcriptomics analysis in an animal model of sepsis.

RESULTS: Patients with sepsis showed destruction of symbiotic flora and elevated abundance of Enterococcus, which were validated in animal experiments. Additionally, patients with a high burden of Bacteroides, especially B. vulgatus, had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and longer stays in the intensive care unit. The intestinal transcriptome in CLP rats illustrated that Enterococcus and Bacteroides had divergent profiles of correlation with differentially expressed genes, indicating distinctly different roles for these bacteria in sepsis. Furthermore, patients with sepsis exhibited disturbances in gut amino acid metabolism compared with healthy controls; namely, tryptophan metabolism was tightly related to an altered microbiota and the severity of sepsis.

CONCLUSION: Alterations in microbial and metabolic features in the gut corresponded with the progression of sepsis. Our findings may help to predict the clinical outcome of patients in the early stage of sepsis and provide a translational basis for exploring new therapies.}, } @article {pmid36977766, year = {2023}, author = {Chowaniec, K and Latkowska, E and Skubała, K}, title = {Effect of thallus melanisation on the sensitivity of lichens to heat stress.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {5083}, pmid = {36977766}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Lichens/physiology ; Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; Heat-Shock Response ; }, abstract = {Extreme climatic phenomena such as heat waves, heavy rainfall and prolonged droughts are one of the main problems associated with ongoing climate change. The global increase in extreme rainfalls associated with summer heatwaves are projected to increase in amplitude and frequency in the near future. However, the consequences of such extreme events on lichens are largely unknown. The aim was to determine the effect of heat stress on the physiology of lichen Cetraria aculeata in a metabolically active state and to verify whether strongly melanised thalli are more resistant than poorly melanised thalli. In the present study, melanin was extracted from C. aculeata for the first time. Our study showed that the critical temperature for metabolism is around 35 °C. Both symbiotic partners responded to heat stress, manifested by the decreased maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, high level of cell membrane damage, increased membrane lipid peroxidation and decreased dehydrogenase activity. Highly melanised thalli were more sensitive to heat stress, which excludes the role of melanins as compounds protecting against heat stress. Therefore, mycobiont melanisation imposes a trade-off between protection against UV and avoidance of damage caused by high temperature. It can be concluded that heavy rainfall during high temperatures may significantly deteriorate the physiological condition of melanised thalli. However, the level of membrane lipid peroxidation in melanised thalli decreased over time after exposure, suggesting greater efficiency of antioxidant defence mechanisms. Given the ongoing climate changes, many lichen species may require a great deal of plasticity to maintain their physiological state at a level that ensures their survival.}, } @article {pmid36977124, year = {2023}, author = {Nugumanova, G and Ponomarev, ED and Askarova, S and Fasler-Kan, E and Barteneva, NS}, title = {Freshwater Cyanobacterial Toxins, Cyanopeptides and Neurodegenerative Diseases.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36977124}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; *Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Ecosystem ; *Amino Acids, Diamino/metabolism ; Fresh Water/microbiology ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; *Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of structurally diverse cyanotoxins and bioactive cyanopeptides in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. The health significance of these metabolites, which include genotoxic- and neurotoxic agents, is confirmed by continued associations between the occurrence of animal and human acute toxic events and, in the long term, by associations between cyanobacteria and neurodegenerative diseases. Major mechanisms related to the neurotoxicity of cyanobacteria compounds include (1) blocking of key proteins and channels; (2) inhibition of essential enzymes in mammalian cells such as protein phosphatases and phosphoprotein phosphatases as well as new molecular targets such as toll-like receptors 4 and 8. One of the widely discussed implicated mechanisms includes a misincorporation of cyanobacterial non-proteogenic amino acids. Recent research provides evidence that non-proteinogenic amino acid BMAA produced by cyanobacteria have multiple effects on translation process and bypasses the proof-reading ability of the aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase. Aberrant proteins generated by non-canonical translation may be a factor in neuronal death and neurodegeneration. We hypothesize that the production of cyanopeptides and non-canonical amino acids is a more general mechanism, leading to mistranslation, affecting protein homeostasis, and targeting mitochondria in eukaryotic cells. It can be evolutionarily ancient and initially developed to control phytoplankton communities during algal blooms. Outcompeting gut symbiotic microorganisms may lead to dysbiosis, increased gut permeability, a shift in blood-brain-barrier functionality, and eventually, mitochondrial dysfunction in high-energy demanding neurons. A better understanding of the interaction between cyanopeptides metabolism and the nervous system will be crucial to target or to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.}, } @article {pmid36976581, year = {2023}, author = {López-Angulo, J and Matesanz, S and Illuminati, A and Pescador, DS and Sánchez, AM and Pías, B and Chacón-Labella, J and de la Cruz, M and Escudero, A}, title = {Ecological drivers of fine-scale distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a semiarid Mediterranean scrubland.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mcad050}, pmid = {36976581}, issn = {1095-8290}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi enhance the uptake of water and minerals to the plant hosts, alleviating plant stress. Therefore, AM fungal-plant interactions are particularly important in drylands and other stressful ecosystems. We aimed to determine the combined and independent effects of above- and belowground plant community attributes (i.e. diversity and composition), soil heterogeneity and spatial covariates on the spatial structure of the AM fungal communities in a semiarid Mediterranean scrubland. Furthermore, we evaluated how the phylogenetic relatedness of both plants and AM fungi shapes these symbiotic relationships.

METHODS: We taxonomically and phylogenetically characterised the composition and diversity of AM fungal and plant communities in a dry Mediterranean scrubland, using DNA metabarcoding and spatially-explicit sampling design at the plant neighbourhood scale.

KEY RESULTS: The above- and belowground plant community attributes, soil physicochemical properties and spatial variables explained unique fractions of AM fungal diversity and composition. Mainly, variations in plant composition affected the AM fungal composition and diversity. Our results also showed that particular AM fungal taxa tended to be associated with closely related plant species, suggesting the existence of phylogenetic signal. Although soil texture, fertility and pH affected AM fungal community assembly, spatial factors had a greater influence on AM fungal community composition and diversity than soil physicochemical properties.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that the more easily accessible aboveground vegetation is a reliable indicator of the linkages between plant roots and AM fungi. We also emphasize the importance of soil physicochemical properties as well as belowground plant information, while accounting for the phylogenetic relationships of both plants and fungi since these factors improve our ability to predict the relationships between AM fungal and plant communities.}, } @article {pmid36976205, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Lin, L and Zheng, H and He, YL and Li, Y and Zhou, C and Hong, P and Sun, S and Zhang, Y and Qian, ZJ}, title = {Mechanisms of Antitumor Invasion and Metastasis of the Marine Fungal Derivative Epi-Aszonalenin A in HT1080 Cells.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36976205}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {*Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; *Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; }, abstract = {Epi-aszonalenin A (EAA) is an alkaloid that is isolated and purified from the secondary metabolites of coral symbiotic fungi and has been shown to have good atherosclerotic intervention activity and anti-angiogenic activity in our previous studies. In the present study, antiangiogenic activity was used as a basis of an intensive study of its mechanism of action against tumor metastasis and invasion. Invasive metastatic pairs are a hallmark of malignancy, and the dissemination of tumor cells is the most dangerous process in the development of tumors. The results of cell wound healing and the Transwell chamber assay showed that EAA interfered well with PMA-induced migration and invasion of HT1080 cells. Western blot and the ELISA assay showed that EAA decreased MMPs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activity and inhibited the expression of N-cadherin and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) by regulating the phosphorylation of downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), PI3K/AKT, and NF-κB pathways. Simultaneous molecular docking results revealed that the mimic coupling between the EAA and MMP-2/-9 molecules formed a stable interaction. The results of this study provide a research basis for the inhibition of tumor metastasis by EAA, and together with previous studies, confirm the potential pharmacology and drug potential for this class of compound for application in angiogenesis-related diseases and further improve the availability of coral symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid36976011, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, J and Jeong, B and Bae, HR and Jang, HA and Kim, JK}, title = {Trehalose Biosynthesis Gene otsA Protects against Stress in the Initial Infection Stage of Burkholderia-Bean Bug Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0351022}, pmid = {36976011}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide, functions as a stress protectant in many organisms, including bacteria. In symbioses involving bacteria, the bacteria have to overcome various stressors to associate with their hosts; thus, trehalose biosynthesis may be important for symbiotic bacteria. Here, we investigated the role of trehalose biosynthesis in the Burkholderia-bean bug symbiosis. Expression levels of two trehalose biosynthesis genes, otsA and treS, were elevated in symbiotic Burkholderia insecticola cells, and hence mutant ΔotsA and ΔtreS strains were generated to examine the functions of these genes in symbiosis. An in vivo competition assay with the wild-type strain revealed that fewer ΔotsA cells, but not ΔtreS cells, colonized the host symbiotic organ, the M4 midgut, than wild-type cells. The ΔotsA strain was susceptible to osmotic pressure generated by high salt or high sucrose concentrations, suggesting that the reduced symbiotic competitiveness of the ΔotsA strain was due to the loss of stress resistance. We further demonstrated that fewer ΔotsA cells infected the M4 midgut initially but that fifth-instar nymphs exhibited similar symbiont population size as the wild-type strain. Together, these results demonstrated that the stress resistance role of otsA is important for B. insecticola to overcome the stresses it encounters during passage through the midgut regions to M4 in the initial infection stage but plays no role in resistance to stresses inside the M4 midgut in the persistent stage. IMPORTANCE Symbiotic bacteria have to overcome stressful conditions present in association with the host. In the Burkholderia-bean bug symbiosis, we speculated that a stress-resistant function of Burkholderia is important and that trehalose, known as a stress protectant, plays a role in the symbiotic association. Using otsA, the trehalose biosynthesis gene, and a mutant strain, we demonstrated that otsA confers Burkholderia with competitiveness when establishing a symbiotic association with bean bugs, especially playing a role in initial infection stage. In vitro assays revealed that otsA provides the resistance against osmotic stresses. Hemipteran insects, including bean bugs, feed on plant phloem sap, which may lead to high osmotic pressures in the midguts of hemipterans. Our results indicated that the stress-resistant role of otsA is important for Burkholderia to overcome the osmotic stresses present during the passage through midgut regions to reach the symbiotic organ.}, } @article {pmid36975949, year = {2023}, author = {Han, S and Zhou, Y and Wang, D and Qin, Q and Song, P and He, Y}, title = {Effect of Different Host Plants on the Diversity of Gut Bacterial Communities of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36975949}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Intestinal symbiotic bacteria have formed an interdependent symbiotic relationship with many insect species after long-term coevolution, which plays a critical role in host growth and adaptation. Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a worldwide significant migratory invasive pest. As a polyphagous pest, S. frugiperda can harm more than 350 plants and poses a severe threat to food security and agricultural production. In this study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the diversity and structure of the gut bacteria of this pest feeding on six diets (maize, wheat, rice, honeysuckle flowers, honeysuckle leaves, and Chinese yam). The results showed that the S. frugiperda fed on rice had the highest bacterial richness and diversity, whereas the larvae fed on honeysuckle flowers had the lowest abundance and diversity of gut bacterial communities. Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria were the most dominant bacterial phyla. PICRUSt2 analysis indicated that most of the functional prediction categories were concentrated in metabolic bacteria. Our results confirmed that the gut bacterial diversity and community composition of S. frugiperda were affected significantly by host diets. This study provided a theoretical basis for clarifying the host adaptation mechanism of S. frugiperda, which also provided a new direction to improve polyphagous pest management strategies.}, } @article {pmid36971966, year = {2023}, author = {Stramazzo, I and Capriello, S and Filardo, S and Centanni, M and Virili, C}, title = {Microbiota and Thyroid Disease: An Updated Systematic Review.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36971966}, issn = {0065-2598}, abstract = {Studies analyzing the relationship between microbiota composition and the thyroid have been increasing rapidly in recent years, and evidence has recently come to light about the involvement of the gut microbiota in various aspects of thyroid pathology. Recently, besides studies analyzing the microbiota composition of different biological niches (salivary microbiota or thyroid tumor microenvironment) in patients with thyroid disorders, some studies have been carried out in peculiar subcategories of patients (pregnant women or obese). Other studies added a metabolomic insight into the characterization of fecal microflora in an attempt to enlighten specific metabolic pathways that could be involved in thyroid disorder pathogenesis. Lastly, some studies described the use of probiotics or symbiotic supplementation aimed at modulating gut microbiota composition for therapeutic purposes. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the last advancements in the relationship between gut microbiota composition and thyroid autoimmunity, extending the analysis also to nonautoimmune thyroid disorders as well as to the characterization of the microbiota belonging to different biological niches in these patients. The overall results of the present review article strengthen the existence of a bidirectional relationship between the intestine, with its microbial set, and thyroid homeostasis, thus supporting the newly recognized entity known as the gut-thyroid axis.}, } @article {pmid36970079, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, H and Shin, J and Kim, S and Lee, D}, title = {Helical fluxionality: numerical frustration drives concerted low-barrier screw motions of a tricopper cluster.}, journal = {Chemical science}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {3265-3269}, pmid = {36970079}, issn = {2041-6520}, abstract = {Uneven allocation of resources creates frustration, tension, and conflicts. Confronted with an apparent mismatch between the number of donor atoms and the number of metal atoms to be supported, helically twisted ligands cleverly come up with a sustainable symbiotic solution. As an example, we present a tricopper metallohelicate exhibiting screw motions for intramolecular site exchange. A combination of X-ray crystallographic and solution NMR spectroscopic studies revealed thermo-neutral site exchange of three metal centres hopping back and forth inside the helical cavity lined by a spiral staircase-like arrangement of ligand donor atoms. This hitherto unknown helical fluxionality is a superimposition of translational and rotational movements of molecular actuation, taking the shortest path with an extraordinarily low energy barrier without compromising the overall structural integrity of the metal-ligand assembly.}, } @article {pmid36969566, year = {2023}, author = {Sevgili, A and Can, C and Ceyhan, DI and Erkmen, O}, title = {Molecular identification of LAB and yeasts from traditional sourdoughs and their impacts on the sourdough bread quality characteristics.}, journal = {Current research in food science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {100479}, pmid = {36969566}, issn = {2665-9271}, abstract = {In this research, the LAB and yeast isolations and identifications of homemade traditional sourdoughs were investigated. Both LAB and yeasts were identified by the PCR method and used in the production of sourdough bread (SDB). Twelve types of SDB were produced from combinations of isolated LAB and yeasts. Eleven LAB and yests were identified from 36 sourdoughs. The most frequently isolated LAB species were Lactobacillus brevis (45.0%), Pediococcus acidilactici (20.0%) and Lactobacillus plantarum (18.3%) while other LAB species were isolated by only 1.7-3.5%. On the other hand, 27.5% of the isolates were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which was followed by Pichia kudriavzevii (25.0%) and Kluyveromyces marxianus (12.5%). The total titratable acidity and pH of the sourdough ranged from 3.10 to 34.45% and from 4.05 to 4.80 respectively. High acceptable loaf height (7.2 cm), moisture (30.05%), dry matter (69.95%), volume (1370 cm[3]), specific volume (4.35 cm[3] g [-1]) and sensory value (62 scores) were determined for SDB12. Isolated LAB is mainly composed of heterofermentative species (75%). Among the bread produced with the combination of LAB and yeasts, the SDB12 was the most preferred SDB in terms of sensory analysis and other quality characteristics. The use of homofermentative and heterofermentative LAB and yeast combinations provided high-quality SDB. This would be due to the symbiotic growth of these microorganisms. The use of L. plantarum by L. brevis and by other species resulted in high-quality SDB.}, } @article {pmid36969154, year = {2023}, author = {Mizobuchi, H}, title = {Oral route lipopolysaccharide as a potential dementia preventive agent inducing neuroprotective microglia.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1110583}, pmid = {36969154}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; *Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Microglia ; Endotoxins/pharmacology ; Administration, Oral ; *Dementia/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {In today's aging society, dementia is an urgent problem to be solved because no treatment or preventive methods have been established. This review focuses on oral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an outer membrane component of Gram-negative bacteria, as a novel preventive drug for dementia. LPS is also called endotoxin and is well known to induce inflammation when administered systemically. On the other hand, although we humans routinely ingest LPS derived from symbiotic bacteria of edible plants, the effect of oral administration of LPS has hardly been studied. Recently, oral administration of LPS was reported to prevent dementia by inducing neuroprotective microglia. Furthermore, it has been suggested that colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) is involved in the dementia prevention mechanism by oral administration of LPS. Thus, in this review, we summarized the previous studies of oral administration of LPS and discussed the predicted dementia prevention mechanism. In addition, we showed the potential of oral LPS administration as a preventive drug for dementia by highlighting research gaps and future issues for clinical application development.}, } @article {pmid36968370, year = {2023}, author = {Frangedakis, E and Marron, AO and Waller, M and Neubauer, A and Tse, SW and Yue, Y and Ruaud, S and Waser, L and Sakakibara, K and Szövényi, P}, title = {What can hornworts teach us?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1108027}, pmid = {36968370}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The hornworts are a small group of land plants, consisting of only 11 families and approximately 220 species. Despite their small size as a group, their phylogenetic position and unique biology are of great importance. Hornworts, together with mosses and liverworts, form the monophyletic group of bryophytes that is sister to all other land plants (Tracheophytes). It is only recently that hornworts became amenable to experimental investigation with the establishment of Anthoceros agrestis as a model system. In this perspective, we summarize the recent advances in the development of A. agrestis as an experimental system and compare it with other plant model systems. We also discuss how A. agrestis can help to further research in comparative developmental studies across land plants and to solve key questions of plant biology associated with the colonization of the terrestrial environment. Finally, we explore the significance of A. agrestis in crop improvement and synthetic biology applications in general.}, } @article {pmid36968361, year = {2023}, author = {Lepetit, M and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Control of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis by the plant nitrogen demand is tightly integrated at the whole plant level and requires inter-organ systemic signaling.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1114840}, pmid = {36968361}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nodules formed on legume roots with rhizobia fix atmospheric N2. Bacteria reduce N2 to NH4 [+] that is assimilated into amino acids by the plant. In return, the plant provides photosynthates to fuel the symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Symbiosis is tightly adjusted to the whole plant nutritional demand and to the plant photosynthetic capacities, but regulatory circuits behind this control remain poorly understood. The use of split-root systems combined with biochemical, physiological, metabolomic, transcriptomic, and genetic approaches revealed that multiple pathways are acting in parallel. Systemic signaling mechanisms of the plant N demand are required for the control of nodule organogenesis, mature nodule functioning, and nodule senescence. N-satiety/N-deficit systemic signaling correlates with rapid variations of the nodules' sugar levels, tuning symbiosis by C resources allocation. These mechanisms are responsible for the adjustment of plant symbiotic capacities to the mineral N resources. On the one hand, if mineral N can satisfy the plant N demand, nodule formation is inhibited, and nodule senescence is activated. On the other hand, local conditions (abiotic stresses) may impair symbiotic activity resulting in plant N limitation. In these conditions, systemic signaling may compensate the N deficit by stimulating symbiotic root N foraging. In the past decade, several molecular components of the systemic signaling pathways controlling nodule formation have been identified, but a major challenge remains, that is, to understand their specificity as compared to the mechanisms of non-symbiotic plants that control root development and how they contribute to the whole plant phenotypes. Less is known about the control of mature nodule development and functioning by N and C nutritional status of the plant, but a hypothetical model involving the sucrose allocation to the nodule as a systemic signaling process, the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, and the redox status as potential effectors of this signaling is emerging. This work highlights the importance of organism integration in plant biology.}, } @article {pmid36968353, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, H and Li, NQ and Gao, JY}, title = {A novel method to produce massive seedlings via symbiotic seed germination in orchids.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1114105}, pmid = {36968353}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Orchids produce large numbers of dust-like seeds that rely heavily on orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMFs) for germination. Using OMFs to facilitate orchid proliferation is considered an effective method for orchid conservation but still presents challenges in practice. In this study, orchid seed-fungus complexes, in which orchid seeds and fungal mycelia were embedded together to form granules, were developed as platforms to facilitate seed germination and seedling production. Overall, seedlings were produced by seed-fungus complexes for five orchid species with large variations in the percentages of seedlings produced among species/treatments. For the different fungal treatments in Dendrobium officinale, Sebacinales LQ performed much better than the other fungal strains. At 90 days after sowing, 75.8±2.6% seedlings were produced in the LQ treatment, which was significantly higher than in the Tulasnella sp. JM (22.0±3.0%) and Tulasnella sp. TPYD-2 (5.3±1.0%) treatments, as well as in the LQ and TPYD-2 cocultured treatment (40.4±3.2%), while no seedlings were formed in the Tulasnella sp. SSCDO-5 or control treatments. For the other four orchid species, only one compatible fungus for each species was used, and the percentages of seedlings in epiphytic Dendrobium devonianum (67.2±2.9%) and D. nobile (38.9±2.8%) were much higher than those in terrestrial Paphiopedilum spicerianum (2.9±1.1%) and Arundina graminifolia (6.7±2.1%) at 90 days after sowing. Adding 1% polymer water-absorbent resin to the seed-fungus complexes of D. officinale seeds with fungal strain Sebacinales LQ significantly increased seedling formation, while other additional substances showed negative effects on seedling formation. For the storage of seed-fungus complexes, it is recommended to store the seed-fungus complexes in valve bags at room temperature for a short time and at a low temperature of 4°C for no more than 30 days. As a platform for symbiotic seed germination, the seed-fungus complex can facilitate seed germination, produce seedlings and support subsequent seedling growth, and its seedling productivity depends on seed germination characteristics, seed viability, and the efficiency of fungi. Seed-fungus complexes have great potential to be used as propagules in orchid conservation.}, } @article {pmid36966434, year = {2023}, author = {Hixson, KK and Fajardo, DA and Devitt, NP and Sena, JA and Costa, MA and Meng, Q and Boschiero, C and Zhao, PX and Baack, E and Paurus, VL and Davin, LB and Lewis, NG and Bell, CJ}, title = {Annotated genome sequence of a fast-growing diploid clone of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.).}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkad060}, pmid = {36966434}, issn = {2160-1836}, abstract = {Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is an ecologically significant and important, fast-growing commercial tree species native to western coastal and riparian regions of North America, having highly desirable wood, pigment and medicinal properties. We have sequenced the genome of a rapidly growing clone. The assembly is nearly complete, containing the full complement of expected genes. This supports our objectives of identifying and studying genes and pathways involved in nitrogen fixing symbiosis, and those related to secondary metabolites that underlie red alder's many interesting defense, pigmentation and wood quality traits. We established that this clone is most likely diploid, and identified a set of SNPs that will have utility in future breeding and selection endeavors, as well as in ongoing population studies. We have added a well-characterized genome to others from the order Fagales. In particular, it improves significantly upon the only other published alder genome sequence, that of Alnus glutinosa. Our work initiated a detailed comparative analysis of members of the order Fagales, and established some similarities with previous reports in this clade suggesting biased retention of certain gene functions in the vestiges of an ancient genome duplication as compared to more recent tandem duplications.}, } @article {pmid36966160, year = {2023}, author = {Ruzzier, E and Ortis, G and Vallotto, D and Faccoli, M and Martinez-Sañudo, I and Marchioro, M}, title = {The first full host plant dataset of Curculionidae Scolytinae of the world: tribe Xyleborini LeConte, 1876.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {166}, pmid = {36966160}, issn = {2052-4463}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi ; Introduced Species ; *Plants ; Trees ; *Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Xyleborini is the largest tribe of Scolytinae accounting for about 1300 species worldwide; all species are primarily xylomycetophagous, developing on symbiotic fungi farmed in plant woody tissues. Xyleborini wood-boring action, associated with the inoculum of symbiotic fungi, can lead, sometimes, to the emergence of host plant dieback, wood damage and death; for this reason, multiple Xyleborini are major pests on both cultivated, forest and ornamental trees. Many Xyleborini are invasive worldwide and great effort is expended to manage their biological invasions or prevent new arrivals. Imports of host plants often have a primary role as a pathway for introduction and are frequently responsible for the establishment of species in non-native environments. In this context, data availability on Xyleborini host plants is a major limiting factor in the development of effective detection and monitoring strategies as well as a fundamental variable to consider in risk assessment of plant pests and invasive species. This contribution provides updated host records and the hosts economic categorization for the 1293 Xyleborini known worldwide to date.}, } @article {pmid36966114, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, H and Wang, E}, title = {Dynamic regulation of symbiotic signal perception in legumes.}, journal = {Science bulletin}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.scib.2023.03.028}, pmid = {36966114}, issn = {2095-9281}, } @article {pmid36962337, year = {2022}, author = {Gulzar, S and Saeed, S and Taufiq Kirmani, S and Karmaliani, R}, title = {Enhancing the knowledge of parents on child health using eLearning in a government school in the semi-rural community of Karachi, Pakistan.}, journal = {PLOS global public health}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {e0000500}, pmid = {36962337}, issn = {2767-3375}, abstract = {Education is one of the vital social determinants of health. Health and education share a symbiotic relationship for all cadre including children and adolescents to ensure that they are well equipped to combat the health risk in the environment. The current literature globally found some initiatives to create health awareness among school children. However, there is a dearth of studies available addressing parental health awareness through school platforms. Therefore, the current study aims to fill this gap, and the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery initiated the School Health Program (SHP) in one of the remote communities in Sindh, Pakistan. The overall goal of the study was to improve children's health by enhancing the health awareness of the parents through school platforms utilizing online modalities. Another objective of this study was to identify the effect of using eLearning on parental knowledge and perceptions. The study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed-method design. Twelve health awareness sessions relevant to children's health using eLearning were conducted over one year. Parents' knowledge was assessed through a pre-posttest, which was administered after each teaching session. Subsequently, focused group discussions were carried out with parents, community leaders, and schoolteachers to gain insights regarding the effectiveness of the health education program. The pre-and post-test results showed again in knowledge in nine out of twelve sessions. The findings from qualitative content analysis yielded three key themes: Perceived usefulness of eLearning, Barriers affecting usability, and Way forward for eLearning through school platforms. The study showed parental satisfaction with the online health education awareness program. They exhibited enthusiasm and desire for further similar sessions in the future. The results demonstrated an enhancement in parental awareness about common health conditions among school children. This study may be replicated on a larger scale in the schools of Pakistan.}, } @article {pmid36961605, year = {2023}, author = {Basiru, S and Ait Si Mhand, K and Hijri, M}, title = {Disentangling arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria at the soil-root interface.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36961605}, issn = {1432-1890}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential components of the plant root mycobiome and are found in approximately 80% of land plants. As obligate plant symbionts, AMF harbor their own microbiota, both inside and outside the plant root system. AMF-associated bacteria (AAB) possess various functional traits, including nitrogen fixation, organic and inorganic phosphate mobilization, growth hormone production, biofilm production, enzymatic capabilities, and biocontrol against pathogen attacks, which not only contribute to the health of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis but also promote plant growth. Because of this, there is increasing interest in the diversity, functioning, and mechanisms that underlie the complex interactions between AMF, AAB, and plant hosts. This review critically examines AMF-associated bacteria, focusing on AAB diversity, the factors driving richness and community composition of these bacteria across various ecosystems, along with the physical, chemical, and biological connections that enable AMF to select and recruit beneficial bacterial symbionts on and within their structures and hyphospheres. Additionally, potential applications of these bacteria in agriculture are discussed, emphasizing the potential importance of AMF fungal highways in engineering plant rhizosphere and endophyte bacteria communities, and the importance of a functional core of AAB taxa as a promising tool to improve plant and soil productivity. Thus, AMF and their highly diverse bacterial taxa represent important tools that could be efficiently explored in sustainable agriculture, carbon sequestration, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions related to nitrogen fertilizer applications. Nevertheless, future studies adopting integrated multidisciplinary approaches are crucial to better understand AAB functional diversity and the mechanisms that govern these tripartite relationships.}, } @article {pmid36960591, year = {2023}, author = {Matthews, AE and Wijeratne, AJ and Sweet, AD and Hernandes, FA and Toews, DPL and Boves, TJ}, title = {Dispersal-limited Symbionts Exhibit Unexpectedly Wide Variation in Host Specificity.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syad014}, pmid = {36960591}, issn = {1076-836X}, abstract = {A fundamental aspect of symbiotic relationships is host specificity, ranging from extreme specialists associated with only a single host species to generalists associated with many different species. Although symbionts with limited dispersal capabilities are expected to be host specialists, some are able to associate with multiple hosts. Understanding the micro- and macroevolutionary causes of variations in host specificity is often hindered by sampling biases and the limited power of traditional evolutionary markers. Here, we studied feather mites to address the barriers associated with estimates of host specificity for dispersal-limited symbionts. We sampled feather mites (Proctophyllodidae) from a nearly comprehensive set of North American breeding warblers (Parulidae) to study mite phylogenetic relationships and host-symbiont codiversification. We used pooled-sequencing (Pool-Seq) and short-read Illumina technology to interpret results derived from a traditional barcoding gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) versus 11 protein-coding mitochondrial genes using concatenated and multispecies coalescent approaches. Despite the statistically significant congruence between mite and host phylogenies, mite-host specificity varies widely, and host switching is common regardless of the genetic marker resolution (i.e., barcode versus multilocus). However, the multilocus approach was more effective than the single barcode in detecting the presence of a heterogeneous Pool-Seq sample. These results suggest that presumed symbiont dispersal capabilities are not always strong indicators of host specificity or of historical host-symbiont coevolutionary events. Comprehensive sampling at fine phylogenetic scales may help to better elucidate the microevolutionary filters that impact macroevolutionary processes regulating symbioses, particularly for dispersal-limited symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36960561, year = {2023}, author = {Feng, J and Song, Y and Zhu, B}, title = {Ecosystem-dependent responses of soil carbon storage to phosphorus enrichment.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18907}, pmid = {36960561}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Phosphorus deposition can stimulate both plant carbon inputs and microbial carbon outputs. However, how P enrichment affects soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of 642 SOC observations from 213 field P addition experiments world-wide and explored the regulations of plant inputs, microbial outputs, plant characteristics, and environmental and experimental factors on SOC responses. We found that, globally, P addition stimulated SOC by 4.0% (95% CI: 2.0-6.0%), but the stimulation only occurred in forest and cropland rather than in grassland. Across sites, the response of SOC correlated with that of plant aboveground rather than belowground biomass, suggesting that the change in plant inputs from aboveground was more important than that from belowground in regulating SOC changes due to P addition. Among multiple factors, plant N fixation status and mean annual temperature were the best predictors for SOC responses to P addition, with SOC stimulation being higher in ecosystems dominated by symbiotic nitrogen fixers and ecosystems in high-temperature regions like tropical forests. Our findings highlight the differential and ecosystem-dependent responses of SOC to P enrichment and can contribute to accurate predictions of soil carbon dynamics in a P-enriched world.}, } @article {pmid36960277, year = {2023}, author = {Himi, E and Miyoshi-Akiyama, T and Matsushima, Y and Shiono, I and Aragane, S and Hirano, Y and Ikeda, G and Kitaura, Y and Kobayashi, K and Konno, D and Morohashi, A and Noguchi, Y and Ominato, Y and Shinbo, S and Suzuki, N and Takatsuka, K and Tashiro, H and Yamada, Y and Yamashita, K and Yoshino, N and Kitashima, M and Kotani, S and Inoue, K and Hino, A and Hosoya, H}, title = {Establishment of an unfed strain of Paramecium bursaria and analysis of associated bacterial communities controlling its proliferation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1036372}, pmid = {36960277}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The ciliate Paramecium bursaria harbors several hundred symbiotic algae in its cell and is widely used as an experimental model for studying symbiosis between eukaryotic cells. Currently, various types of bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms are used as food for culturing P. bursaria; thus, the cultivation conditions are not uniform among researchers. To unify cultivation conditions, we established cloned, unfed strains that can be cultured using only sterile medium without exogenous food. The proliferation of these unfed strains was suppressed in the presence of antibiotics, suggesting that bacteria are required for the proliferation of the unfed strains. Indeed, several kinds of bacteria, such as Burkholderiales, Rhizobiales, Rhodospirillales, and Sphingomonadales, which are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and/or degrade chemical pollutants, were detected in the unfed strains. The genetic background of the individually cloned, unfed strains were the same, but the proliferation curves of the individual P. bursaria strains were very diverse. Therefore, we selected multiple actively and poorly proliferating individual strains and compared the bacterial composition among the individual strains using 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that the bacterial composition among actively proliferating P. bursaria strains was highly homologous but different to poorly proliferating strains. Using unfed strains, the cultivation conditions applied in different laboratories can be unified, and symbiosis research on P. bursaria will make great progress.}, } @article {pmid36959933, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, Y and Huang, S and Wang, Y and Lin, H and Pan, Z and Zhang, S and Zhang, J and Wang, W and Cheng, S and Chen, Y}, title = {Analysis of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in the symbiotic relationship between Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and Manihot esculenta Crantz.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1130924}, pmid = {36959933}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mutualistic interactions are essential for sustainable agriculture production. Although it is shown that AMF inoculation improves cassava physiological performances and yield traits, the molecular mechanisms involved in AM symbiosis remain largely unknown. Herein, we integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses of symbiotic (Ri) and asymbiotic (CK) cassava roots and explored AM-induced biochemical and transcriptional changes.

RESULTS: Three weeks (3w) after AMF inoculations, proliferating fungal hyphae were observable, and plant height and root length were significantly increased. In total, we identified 1,016 metabolites, of which 25 were differentially accumulated (DAMs) at 3w. The most highly induced metabolites were 5-aminolevulinic acid, L-glutamic acid, and lysoPC 18:2. Transcriptome analysis identified 693 and 6,481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the comparison between CK (3w) against Ri at 3w and 6w, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses of DAMs and DEGs unveiled transport, amino acids and sugar metabolisms, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interactions as the most differentially regulated pathways. Potential candidate genes, including nitrogen and phosphate transporters, transcription factors, phytohormone, sugar metabolism-related, and SYM (symbiosis) signaling pathway-related, were identified for future functional studies.

DISCUSSION: Our results provide molecular insights into AM symbiosis and valuable resources for improving cassava production.}, } @article {pmid36959041, year = {2023}, author = {Ait-Zenati, F and Djoudi, F and Mehelleb, D and Madaoui, M}, title = {Involvement of the human microbiome in frequent cancers, current knowledge and carcinogenesis mechanisms.}, journal = {Bulletin du cancer}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.bulcan.2023.01.022}, pmid = {36959041}, issn = {1769-6917}, abstract = {The human body is home to a complex microbial community, living in symbiosis. However, when an imbalance occurs, known as dysbiosis, it can lead to organic diseases such as cancers. Helicobacter pylori is commonly recognized as the causative agent of gastric cancer. Numerous studies have explored the potential role of other microorganisms in cancers. For example, the role of intestinal microbiota in the hepatocellular carcinoma formation and progression, the microbiota in breast cancer and the interaction between the microbiome and TP53 in human lung carcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the latest findings on the microbiome involved in the most common cancers and the suggested mechanisms of carcinogenesis.}, } @article {pmid36958768, year = {2023}, author = {Gobbo, F and Corriale, MJ and Gázquez, A and Bordenave, CD and Bilenca, D and Menéndez, A}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae reduce the response of important plant functional traits to drought and salinity. A meta-analysis study.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1071/FP22242}, pmid = {36958768}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {We aimed at exploring the plant functional traits whose responses to drought or salinity are altered by the presence of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). We performed a meta-analysis across 114 articles spanning 110 plant species or cultivars. We quantified the size effect of AM symbiosis on the stress response of several functional traits, using linear mixed model analysis (LMM). Correlation analysis between functional traits and total biomass responses to stresses were also performed through LMM. The literature search and further selection yielded seven functional traits, extracted from 114 laboratory studies, including 888 observations and 110 plant species/cultivars. Evidence for significant effects of predictor variables (type of stress, AM symbiosis and/or their interaction) on functional trait response were found for leaf area ratio (LAR), root mass fraction (RMF) and root-shoot (R:S) ratio. Our results provided evidence to accept the hypothesis that AM fungal inoculation may reduce the stress response of these plant functional traits by decreasing its magnitude. We also found a weak correlation between stress responses of these traits and total biomass variation. Although our literature search and data collection were intensive and our results robust, the scope of our conclusions is limited by the agronomical bias of plant species targeted by the meta-analysis. Further knowledge on non-cultivable plant species and better understanding of the mechanisms ruling resources allocation in plants would allow more generalised conclusions.}, } @article {pmid36958678, year = {2023}, author = {Zhen, G and Pan, Y and Han, Y and Gao, Y and Ibrahim Gadow, S and Zhu, X and Yang, L and Lu, X}, title = {Enhanced co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste using novel electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor (EC-AnMBR).}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {377}, number = {}, pages = {128939}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128939}, pmid = {36958678}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Sewage/chemistry ; Food ; Anaerobiosis ; *Refuse Disposal ; Methane/chemistry ; Bioreactors ; Membranes, Artificial ; Digestion ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {Membrane fouling remains a big challenge hindering the wide-application of anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology. In this study, an electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor (EC-AnMBR) was developed by coupling electrochemical regulation to enhance co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste and mitigate membrane fouling. The highest methane production (0.12 ± 0.02 L/Lreactor/day) and net energy recovery (31.82 kJ/day) were achieved under the optimum conditions of 0.8 V, hydraulic retention time of 10 days and solids retention time of 50 days. Electrochemical regulation accelerated the mineralization of high-molecular-weight organics and reinforced the membrane antifouling ability by inducing electrostatic repulsive force and electrochemical oxidation. Besides, symbiotic relationships among functional microorganisms (Spirochaetes, Methanolinea, etc.) were enhanced, improving the hydrolysis and methanogenesis processes of complex organics and the long-term stability. This study confirms the technical feasibility of EC-AnMBR in treating high-solid biowastes, and provides the fundamental data to support its application in real-world scenarios.}, } @article {pmid36958642, year = {2023}, author = {Detcharoen, M and Jiggins, FM and Schlick-Steiner, BC and Steiner, FM}, title = {Wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria alter the gut microbiome in the fly Drosophila nigrosparsa.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {107915}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2023.107915}, pmid = {36958642}, issn = {1096-0805}, abstract = {Wolbachia are known to cause reproductive manipulations and in some arthropod species, Wolbachia were reported to cause changes in gut microbiome. However, the effects of Wolbachia bacteria on the microbiomes of their hosts, including Drosophila flies, have not been fully accessed. Here, we checked the bacterial microbiome in guts of Wolbachia-uninfected and of Wolbachia-infected Drosophila nigrosparsa, both separated into a bleach-only (embryos bleached) and a gnotobiotic (embryos bleached and inoculated with bacteria) treatment. We observed a clear separation between the Wolbachia-infected and the Wolbachia-uninfected samples, and the infected samples had higher variation in alpha diversity than the uninfected ones. There were reductions in the abundances of Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadota), especially Acetobacter, in the infected samples of both treatments. These findings highlight that Wolbachia change the gut microbiome in D. nigrosparsa as well as that the interactions between Wolbachia and bacteria like Acetobacter need to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid36951479, year = {2023}, author = {Hlaváčková, K and Šamajová, O and Hrbáčková, M and Šamaj, J and Ovečka, M}, title = {Advanced microscopy resolves dynamic localization patterns of stress-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase SIMK during alfalfa root hair interactions with Ensifer meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad111}, pmid = {36951479}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Leguminous plants have established a mutualistic endosymbiotic interaction with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to secure nitrogen sources in new specialised organs called root nodules. Before nodule formation, the development of early symbiotic structures is essential for rhizobia docking, internalization, targeted delivery and intracellular accommodation. We have recently reported that overexpression of stress-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (SIMK) in alfalfa affects root hair, nodule and shoot formation, which raised the questions how SIMK may modulate these processes. In particular, detailed subcellular spatial distribution, activation and developmental relocation of SIMK during the early stages of alfalfa nodulation remain unclear. Here, we qualitatively and quantitatively characterised SIMK distribution patterns in Ensifer meliloti-infected root hairs using live-cell imaging and immunolocalization, employing alfalfa stable transgenic lines with genetically manipulated SIMK abundance and kinase activity. In the SIMKK-RNAi line, showing downregulation of SIMKK and SIMK, we found considerably decreased accumulation of phosphorylated SIMK around infection pockets and infection threads. However, this was strongly increased in the GFP-SIMK line, constitutively overexpressing GFP-tagged SIMK. Thus, genetically manipulated SIMK modulates root hair capacity to form infection pockets and infection threads. Employment of advanced light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) on intact plants allowed gentle and non-invasive imaging of spatiotemporal interactions between root hairs and symbiotic Ensifer meliloti, while immunofluorescence detection confirmed that SIMK was activated in these locations. Our results shed new light on SIMK spatiotemporal participation in early interactions between alfalfa and Ensifer meliloti, and its internalization into root hairs, showing that local accumulation of active SIMK indeed modulates early nodulation in alfalfa.}, } @article {pmid36948308, year = {2023}, author = {Zheng, M and Xu, M and Li, D and Deng, Q and Mo, J}, title = {Negative responses of terrestrial nitrogen fixation to nitrogen addition weaken across increased soil organic carbon levels.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {877}, number = {}, pages = {162965}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162965}, pmid = {36948308}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The traditional view holds that biological nitrogen (N) fixation is energetically expensive and thus, facultative N fixers reduce N fixation rates while obligate N fixers are excluded by non-N fixers as soil N becomes rich. This view, however, contradicts the phenomenon that N fixation does not decline in many terrestrial ecosystems under N enrichment. To address this paradoxical phenomenon, we conducted a meta-analysis of N fixation and diazotroph (N-fixing microorganism) community structure in response to N addition across terrestrial ecosystems. N addition inhibited N fixation, but the inhibitory effect weakened across increased soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations. The response ratios of N fixation (including free-living, plant-associated, and symbiotic types) to N addition were lower in the ecosystems with low SOC concentrations (<10 mg/g) than in those with medium or high SOC concentrations (10-20 and > 20 mg/g, respectively). The negative N-addition effects on diazotroph abundance and diversity also weakened across increased SOC levels. Among the climatic and soil factors, SOC was the most important predictor regarding the responses of N fixation and diazotroph community structure to N addition. Overall, our study reveals the role of SOC in affecting the responses of N fixation to N addition, which helps understand the relationships of biological N fixation and N enrichment as well as the mechanisms of terrestrial C and N coupling.}, } @article {pmid36947723, year = {2023}, author = {Czymmek, KJ and Duncan, KE and Berg, H}, title = {Realizing the Full Potential of Advanced Microscopy Approaches for Interrogating Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {245-255}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-22-0208-FI}, pmid = {36947723}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {Microscopy has served as a fundamental tool for insight and discovery in plant-microbe interactions for centuries. From classical light and electron microscopy to corresponding specialized methods for sample preparation and cellular contrasting agents, these approaches have become routine components in the toolkit of plant and microbiology scientists alike to visualize, probe and understand the nature of host-microbe relationships. Over the last three decades, three-dimensional perspectives led by the development of electron tomography, and especially, confocal techniques continue to provide remarkable clarity and spatial detail of tissue and cellular phenomena. Confocal and electron microscopy provide novel revelations that are now commonplace in medium and large institutions. However, many other cutting-edge technologies and sample preparation workflows are relatively unexploited yet offer tremendous potential for unprecedented advancement in our understanding of the inner workings of pathogenic, beneficial, and symbiotic plant-microbe interactions. Here, we highlight key applications, benefits, and challenges of contemporary advanced imaging platforms for plant-microbe systems with special emphasis on several recently developed approaches, such as light-sheet, single molecule, super-resolution, and adaptive optics microscopy, as well as ambient and cryo-volume electron microscopy, X-ray microscopy, and cryo-electron tomography. Furthermore, the potential for complementary sample preparation methodologies, such as optical clearing, expansion microscopy, and multiplex imaging, will be reviewed. Our ultimate goal is to stimulate awareness of these powerful cutting-edge technologies and facilitate their appropriate application and adoption to solve important and unresolved biological questions in the field. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid36947508, year = {2023}, author = {Kishigami, M and Matsuoka, F and Maeno, A and Yamagishi, S and Abe, H and Toki, W}, title = {Yeast associated with flower longicorn beetle Leptura ochraceofasciata (Cerambycidae: Lepturinae), with implication for its function in symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0282351}, pmid = {36947508}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Female ; Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts/physiology ; Larva ; Flowers ; }, abstract = {Wood is difficult for most animals to digest due to large amounts of indigestible polymers, but some wood-feeding insects are considered to be able to utilize it as food with the aid of microbial symbionts. Most members of flower longicorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lepturinae) feed on nectar and pollen of flowers as adults and wood as larvae. In some lepturines, associations with yeasts are known: female adults possess fungus-storing organs (termed mycetangia) at ovipositors, and larvae also possess such organs (termed mycetomes) in their midguts to carry the associated yeasts. Despite the high diversity of Lepturinae in the world, lepturine-yeast associations, such as the consistency of associated yeasts among the beetle's developmental stages and ecological function of yeast symbionts, have been poorly documented. Here, we investigated the yeast symbiont of the Japanese common lepturine Leptura ochraceofasciata. X-ray computed microtomography revealed that a pair of tube-like, S-shaped mycetangia was located at the basal part of the ovipositor and that a muscle bundle joined the apex of the mycetangium to spiculum ventrale of sternum VIII. All female adults harbored only one yeast species, Scheffersomyces insectosa, in the mycetangia. All larvae harbored S. insectosa exclusively in the mycetomes. Scheffersomyces insectosa was also recovered from surfaces of eggs. Scheffersomyces insectosa assimilated wood-associated sugars including xylose, cellobiose, and xylan in culture. These results suggest the intimate association between L. ochraceofasciata and S. insectosa: S. insectosa is transmitted from the mother to offspring during oviposition and may be related to larval growth in wood.}, } @article {pmid36947359, year = {2023}, author = {Solanki, AC and Gurjar, NS and Sharma, S}, title = {Co-Inoculation of Non-Symbiotic Bacteria Bacillus and Paraburkholderia Can Improve the Soybean Yield, Nutrient Uptake, and Soil Parameters.}, journal = {Molecular biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36947359}, issn = {1559-0305}, abstract = {Due to its nutritional value and oil, soybean (Glycine max L.) became an economic crop in India and worldwide. The current study investigated the effect of forest-associated plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soybean yield and grain nutrient content. Five potential bacteria were used in this study based on their PGPR traits. The pot assay result with two crops (soybean and chickpea) confirmed the growth promotion activity of the two strains (Bacillus subtilis MpS15 and Paraburkholderia sabiae NvS21). The result showed significant (p < 0.05) enhancement in plant length and biomass with the seed treatment with strains (MpS15 and NvS21) compared to the control. Later both biocompatible potential strains were used in field experiments as individuals and consortia. Seed treatment of consortia significantly improves the nodulation and photosynthetic content more than individual treatments and control. Compared to the control, the co-inoculation of MpS15 and NvS21 increased soybean grain, straw yield, and grain NPK contents. Interestingly, soil parameters (organic carbon, available NPK) showed a strong correlation (p < 0.05) with plant parameters and nutrient uptake. Overall, our study provides strong relationships between soil parameters, microbial inoculum as consortia, and soybean performance, and these strains may be utilized as bioinoculant in future.}, } @article {pmid36946891, year = {2023}, author = {Jones, JE and Hurst, GDD}, title = {History matters: Thermal environment before but not during wasp attack determines the efficiency of symbiont-mediated protection.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16935}, pmid = {36946891}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {The outcome of natural enemy attack in insects is commonly impacted by the presence of defensive microbial symbionts residing within the host. The thermal environment is a factor known to affect symbiont-mediated traits in insects. Lower temperatures, for instance, have been shown to reduce Spiroplasma-mediated protection in Drosophila. Our understanding of protective symbiosis requires a deeper understanding of environment-symbiont-protection links. Here, we dissect the effect of the thermal environment on Spiroplasma-mediated protection against Leptopilina boulardi in Drosophila melanogaster by examining the effect of temperature before, during and after wasp attack on fly survival and wasp success. We observed that the developmental temperature of the mothers of attacked larvae, but not the temperature of the attacked larvae themselves during or after wasp attack, strongly determines the protective influence of Spiroplasma. Cooler maternal environments were associated with weaker Spiroplasma protection of their progeny. The effect of developmental temperature on Spiroplasma-mediated protection is probably mediated by a reduction in Spiroplasma titre. These results indicate that historical thermal environment is a stronger determinant of protection than current environment. Furthermore, protection is a character with transgenerational nongenetic variation probably to produce complex short-term responses to selection. In addition, the cool sensitivity of the Spiroplasma-Drosophila symbioses contrasts with the more common failure of symbioses at elevated temperatures, indicating a need to understand the mechanistic basis of low temperature sensitivity on this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36946676, year = {2023}, author = {Oliveira, HC and Seabra, AB and Kondak, S and Adedokun, OP and Kolbert, Z}, title = {Multilevel approach of plant-nanomaterial relationship: from cells to living ecosystems.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad107}, pmid = {36946676}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Due to their unique properties, nanomaterials (NMs) behave peculiarly in biosystems. Regarding plants, the interactions of NMs can be interpreted on a spatial scale: from local interactions in cells to systemic effects on whole plants and on ecosystems. Interpreted on a time scale, the effects of NMs on plants may be immediate or subsequent. At the cellular level, the composition and structure of the cell wall and membranes are modified by NMs, promoting internalization. The effects of NMs on germination and seedling physiology and on the primary and secondary metabolisms in the shoot are realized at organ and organism levels. Nanomaterials interact with the beneficial ecological partners of plants. The effects of NMs on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and legume-rhizobia symbiosis can be stimulating or inhibitory, depending on the concentration and type of NM. Nanomaterials exert a negative effect on arbuscular mycorrhiza, and vice versa. Pollinators are exposed to NMs, which may affect plant reproduction. The substances released by the roots influence the availability of NMs in the rhizosphere and components of plant cells trigger internalization, translocation, and transformation of NMs. Understanding of the multilevel and bidirectional relationship between plants and NMs is of great relevance in practice.}, } @article {pmid36946592, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, YH and Ma, X and Zhao, JC and Wang, XQ and Gao, CQ}, title = {Succinate metabolism and its regulation of host-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2190300}, pmid = {36946592}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Succinic Acid ; Succinates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Succinate is a circulating metabolite, and the relationship between abnormal changes in the physiological concentration of succinate and inflammatory diseases caused by the overreaction of certain immune cells has become a research focus. Recent investigations have shown that succinate produced by the gut microbiota has the potential to regulate host homeostasis and treat diseases such as inflammation. Gut microbes are important for maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Microbial metabolites serve as nutrients in energy metabolism, and act as signal molecules that stimulate host cell and organ function and affect the structural balance between symbiotic gut microorganisms. This review focuses on succinate as a metabolite of both host cells and gut microbes and its involvement in regulating the gut - immune tissue axis by activating intestinal mucosal cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. We also examined its role as the mediator of microbiota - host crosstalk and its potential function in regulating intestinal microbiota homeostasis. This review explores feasible ways to moderate succinate levels and provides new insights into succinate as a potential target for microbial therapeutics for humans.}, } @article {pmid36945893, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Tian, T and Liang, J and Li, R and Xin, X and Qi, Y and Zhou, Y and Fan, Q and Ning, G and Becana, M and Duanmu, D}, title = {A transcription factor of the NAC family regulates nitrate-induced legume nodule senescence.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18896}, pmid = {36945893}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Legumes establish symbioses with rhizobia by forming nitrogen-fixing nodules. Nitrate is a major environmental factor that affects symbiotic functioning. However, the molecular mechanism of nitrate-induced nodule senescence is poorly understood. Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals an NAC-type transcription factor in Lotus japonicus, LjNAC094, that acts as a positive regulator in nitrate-induced nodule senescence. Stable overexpression and mutant lines of NAC094 were constructed and used for phenotypic characterization. DNA-affinity purification sequencing was performed to identify NAC094 targeting genes and results were confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift and transactivation assays. Overexpression of NAC094 induces premature nodule senescence. Knocking out NAC094 partially relieves nitrate-induced degradation of leghemoglobins and abolishes nodule expression of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) that contain a conserved binding motif for NAC094. Nitrate-triggered metabolic changes in wild-type nodules are largely affected in nac094 mutant nodules. Induction of NAC094 and its targeting SAGs was almost blocked in the nitrate-insensitive nlp1, nlp4, and nlp1 nlp4 mutants. We conclude that NAC094 functions downstream of NLP1 and NLP4 by regulating nitrate-induced expression of SAGs. Our study fills in a key gap between nitrate and the execution of nodule senescence, and provides a potential strategy to improve nitrogen fixation and stress tolerance of legumes.}, } @article {pmid36945518, year = {2023}, author = {Hornstein, ED and Charles, M and Franklin, M and Edwards, B and Vintila, S and Kleiner, M and Sederoff, H}, title = {Re-engineering a lost trait: IPD3 , a master regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, affects genes for immunity and metabolism of non-host Arabidopsis when restored long after its evolutionary loss.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36945518}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AM) is a beneficial trait originating with the first land plants, which has subsequently been lost by species scattered throughout the radiation of plant diversity to the present day, including the model Arabidopsis thaliana . To explore why an apparently beneficial trait would be repeatedly lost, we generated Arabidopsis plants expressing a constitutively active form of Interacting Protein of DMI3 , a key transcription factor that enables AM within the Common Symbiosis Pathway, which was lost from Arabidopsis along with the AM host trait. We characterize the transcriptomic effect of expressing IPD3 in Arabidopsis with and without exposure to the AM fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis , and compare these results to the AM model Lotus japonicus and its ipd3 knockout mutant cyclops-4 . Despite its long history as a non-AM species, restoring IPD3 in the form of its constitutively active DNA-binding domain to Arabidopsis altered expression of specific gene networks. Surprisingly, the effect of expressing IPD3 in Arabidopsis and knocking it out in Lotus was strongest in plants not exposed to AMF, which is revealed to be due to changes in IPD3 genotype causing a transcriptional state which partially mimics AMF exposure in non-inoculated plants. Our results indicate that despite the long interval since loss of AM and IPD3 in Arabidopsis , molecular connections to symbiosis machinery remain in place in this nonAM species, with implications for both basic science and the prospect of engineering this trait for agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36944617, year = {2023}, author = {Dodge, R and Jones, EW and Zhu, H and Obadia, B and Martinez, DJ and Wang, C and Aranda-Díaz, A and Aumiller, K and Liu, Z and Voltolini, M and Brodie, EL and Huang, KC and Carlson, JM and Sivak, DA and Spradling, AC and Ludington, WB}, title = {A symbiotic physical niche in Drosophila melanogaster regulates stable association of a multi-species gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1557}, pmid = {36944617}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {T32 GM007231/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK128454/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DP5 OD017851/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; Drosophila ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {The gut is continuously invaded by diverse bacteria from the diet and the environment, yet microbiome composition is relatively stable over time for host species ranging from mammals to insects, suggesting host-specific factors may selectively maintain key species of bacteria. To investigate host specificity, we used gnotobiotic Drosophila, microbial pulse-chase protocols, and microscopy to investigate the stability of different strains of bacteria in the fly gut. We show that a host-constructed physical niche in the foregut selectively binds bacteria with strain-level specificity, stabilizing their colonization. Primary colonizers saturate the niche and exclude secondary colonizers of the same strain, but initial colonization by Lactobacillus species physically remodels the niche through production of a glycan-rich secretion to favor secondary colonization by unrelated commensals in the Acetobacter genus. Our results provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the establishment and stability of a multi-species intestinal microbiome.}, } @article {pmid36943854, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Roger, LM and Kumar, L and Lewinski, NA and Klein-Seetharaman, J and Putnam, HM and Yang, J}, title = {High-frequency imagery to capture coral tissue (Montipora capricornis) response to environmental stress, a pilot study.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0283042}, pmid = {36943854}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Pilot Projects ; Coral Reefs ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Environment stress is a major threat to the existence of coral reefs and has generated a lot of interest in the coral research community. Under the environmental stress, corals can experience tissue loss and/or the breakdown of symbiosis between the cnidarian host and its symbiotic algae causing the coral tissue to appear white as the skeleton can be seen by transparency. Image analysis is a common method used to assess tissue response under the environmental stress. However, the traditional approach is limited by the dynamic nature of the coral-algae symbiosis. Here, we observed coral tissue response in the scleractinian coral, Montipora capricornis, using high frequency image analysis throughout the experiment, as opposed to the typical start/end point assessment method. Color analysis reveals that the process can be divided into five stages with two critical stages according to coral tissue morphology and color ratio. We further explore changes to the morphology of individual polyps by means of the Pearson correlation coefficient and recurrence plots, where the quasi-periodic and nonstationary dynamics can be identified. The recurrence quantification analysis also allows the comparison between the different polyps. Our research provides a detailed visual and mathematical analysis of coral tissue response to environmental stress, which potentially shows universal applicability. Moreover, our approach provides a robust quantitative advancement for improving our insight into a suite of biotic responses in the perspective of coral health evaluation and fate prediction.}, } @article {pmid36943052, year = {2023}, author = {Fukaya, S and Masuda, L and Takemura, M}, title = {Analysis of Morphological Changes in the Nucleus and Vacuoles of Acanthamoeba castellanii following Giant Virus Infection.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0418222}, pmid = {36943052}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Acanthamoeba castellanii medusavirus is a member of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota, also known as giant viruses, and has a unique strategy of infecting Acanthamoeba castellanii and replicating viral genes in the host nucleus. Here, we show time series changes in the intracellular morphology, including the nucleus, of host cells infected with four types of giant viruses, including medusavirus, using time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy and image analysis. We updated our phase-contrast-based kinetic analysis algorithm for amoebae (PKA3) to use multiple microscopic images with different focus positions to allow a more detailed analysis of their intracellular structures. Image analysis using PKA3 revealed that as medusavirus infection progressed, the host nucleus increased in size and the number of vacuoles decreased. In addition, infected host cells are known to become smaller and rounder at later stages of infection, but here they were found to be larger than uninfected cells at earlier stages. These results suggested that the propagation mechanism of medusavirus includes the formation of empty virus particles in the host cytoplasm, packaging of the viral genome replicated in the host nucleus, and then the release of viral particles. IMPORTANCE In this study, we quantitatively revealed how long the increase in host cell size or the increase in host nucleus size occurs after infection with giant viruses, especially medusavirus. To understand the underlying mechanism, we performed image analysis and determined that the host cell size increased at approximately 6 h postinfection (hpi) and the host nucleus enlarged at approximately 22 hpi, pointing to the importance of biochemical experiments. In addition, we showed that the intracellular structures could be quantitatively analyzed using multiple phase-contrast microscopy images with different focus positions at the same time point. Hence, morphological analyses of intracellular structures using phase-contrast microscopy, which have wide applications in live-cell observations, may be useful in studying various organisms that infect or are symbiotic with A. castellanii.}, } @article {pmid36942522, year = {2023}, author = {Ran, Z and Chen, X and Li, R and Duan, W and Zhang, Y and Fang, L and Guo, L and Zhou, J}, title = {Transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal the changes induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Panax quinquefolius L.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.12563}, pmid = {36942522}, issn = {1097-0010}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Panax quinquefolius L. is one of the most important foods and herbs because of its high nutritional value and medicinal potential. In our previous study we found that the ginsenoside content in P. quinquefolius was improved by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs). However, little research has been conducted on the molecular mechanisms in P. quinquefolius roots induced by AMFs colonization. To identify the metabolomic and transcriptomic mechanisms of P. quinquefolius induced by AMFs, non-mycorrhized (control) and mycorrhized (AMF) P. quinquefolius were used as experimental materials for comparative analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome.

RESULTS: Compared with the control, 182 metabolites and 545 genes were significantly changed at the metabolic and transcriptional levels in AMFs treatment. The metabolic pattern of AMFs was changed, and the contents of ginsenosides (Rb1, Rg2), threonine, and glutaric acid were significantly increased. There were significant differences in the expression of genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction, glutathione metabolism, and the plant-pathogen interaction pathway. In addition, several transcription factors from the NAC, WRKY, and basic helix-loop-helix families were identified in AMFs versus the control. Furthermore, the combined analysis of 'transcriptomics-metabolomics' analysis showed that 'Plant hormone signal transduction', 'Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism' and 'Glutathione metabolism' pathways were the important enriched pathways in response to AMFs colonization.

CONCLUSION: Overall, these results provide new insights into P. quinquefolius response to AMFs, which improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of P. quinquefolius induced by AMFs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36941448, year = {2023}, author = {Garces, KR and Bell-Dereske, L and Rudgers, JA and Emery, SM}, title = {Nitrogen addition and fungal symbiosis alter early dune plant succession.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {201}, number = {4}, pages = {1067-1077}, pmid = {36941448}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) enrichment can have complex effects on plant communities. In low-nutrient, primary successional systems such as sand dunes, N enrichment may alter the trajectory of plant community assembly or the dominance of foundational, ecosystem-engineering plants. Predicting the consequences of N enrichment may be complicated by plant interactions with microbial symbionts because increases in a limiting resource, such as N, could alter the costs and benefits of symbiosis. To evaluate the direct and interactive effects of microbial symbiosis and N addition on plant succession, we established a long-term field experiment in Michigan, USA, manipulating the presence of the symbiotic fungal endophyte Epichloë amarillans in Ammophila breviligulata, a dominant ecosystem-engineering dune grass species. From 2016 to 2020, we implemented N fertilization treatments (control, low, high) in a subset of the long-term experiment. N addition suppressed the accumulation of plant diversity over time mainly by reducing species richness of colonizing plants. However, this suppression occurred only when the endophyte was present in Ammophila. Although Epichloë enhanced Ammophila tiller density over time, N addition did not strongly interact with Epichloë symbiosis to influence vegetative growth of Ammophila. Instead, N addition directly altered plant community composition by increasing the abundance of efficient colonizers, especially C4 grasses. In conclusion, hidden microbial symbionts can alter the consequences of N enrichment on plant primary succession.}, } @article {pmid36941408, year = {2023}, author = {Baldrian, P and López-Mondéjar, R and Kohout, P}, title = {Forest microbiome and global change.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36941408}, issn = {1740-1534}, abstract = {Forests influence climate and mitigate global change through the storage of carbon in soils. In turn, these complex ecosystems face important challenges, including increases in carbon dioxide, warming, drought and fire, pest outbreaks and nitrogen deposition. The response of forests to these changes is largely mediated by microorganisms, especially fungi and bacteria. The effects of global change differ among boreal, temperate and tropical forests. The future of forests depends mostly on the performance and balance of fungal symbiotic guilds, saprotrophic fungi and bacteria, and fungal plant pathogens. Drought severely weakens forest resilience, as it triggers adverse processes such as pathogen outbreaks and fires that impact the microbial and forest performance for carbon storage and nutrient turnover. Nitrogen deposition also substantially affects forest microbial processes, with a pronounced effect in the temperate zone. Considering plant-microorganism interactions would help predict the future of forests and identify management strategies to increase ecosystem stability and alleviate climate change effects. In this Review, we describe the impact of global change on the forest ecosystem and its microbiome across different climatic zones. We propose potential approaches to control the adverse effects of global change on forest stability, and present future research directions to understand the changes ahead.}, } @article {pmid36939635, year = {2023}, author = {Zhong, S and Yang, J and Huang, H}, title = {The role of single and mixed biofilms in Clostridioides difficile infection and strategies for prevention and inhibition.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-15}, doi = {10.1080/1040841X.2023.2189950}, pmid = {36939635}, issn = {1549-7828}, abstract = {Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a serious disease with a high recurrence rate. The single and mixed biofilms formed by C. difficile in the gut contribute to the formation of recurrent CDI (rCDI). In parallel, other gut microbes influence the formation and development of C. difficile biofilms, also known as symbiotic biofilms. Interactions between members within the symbiotic biofilm are associated with the worsening or alleviation of CDI. These interactions include effects on C. difficile adhesion and chemotaxis, modulation of LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing (QS) system activity, promotion of cross-feeding by microbial metabolites, and regulation of intestinal bile acid and pyruvate levels. In the process of C. difficile biofilms control, inhibition of C. difficile initial biofilm formation and killing of C. difficile vegetative cells and spores are the main targets of action. The role of symbiotic biofilms in CDI suggested that targeting interventions of C. difficile-promoting gut microbes could indirectly inhibit the formation of C. difficile mixed biofilms and improved the ultimate therapeutic effect. In summary, this review outlines the mechanisms of C. difficile biofilm formation and summarises the treatment strategies for such single and mixed biofilms, aiming to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of CDI.}, } @article {pmid36939321, year = {2023}, author = {Sarton-Lohéac, G and Nunes da Silva, CG and Mazel, F and Baud, G and de Bakker, V and Das, S and El Chazli, Y and Ellegaard, K and Garcia-Garcera, M and Glover, N and Liberti, J and Nacif Marçal, L and Prasad, A and Somerville, V and , and Bonilla-Rosso, G and Engel, P}, title = {Deep Divergence and Genomic Diversification of Gut Symbionts of Neotropical Stingless Bees.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0353822}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03538-22}, pmid = {36939321}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Social bees harbor conserved gut microbiotas that may have been acquired in a common ancestor of social bees and subsequently codiversified with their hosts. However, most of this knowledge is based on studies on the gut microbiotas of honey bees and bumblebees. Much less is known about the gut microbiotas of the third and most diverse group of social bees, the stingless bees. Specifically, the absence of genomic data from their microbiotas presents an important knowledge gap in understanding the evolution and functional diversity of the social bee microbiota. Here, we combined community profiling with culturing and genome sequencing of gut bacteria from six neotropical stingless bee species from Brazil. Phylogenomic analyses show that most stingless bee gut isolates form deep-branching sister clades of core members of the honey bee and bumblebee gut microbiota with conserved functional capabilities, confirming the common ancestry and ecology of their microbiota. However, our bacterial phylogenies were not congruent with those of the host, indicating that the evolution of the social bee gut microbiota was not driven by strict codiversification but included host switches and independent symbiont gain and losses. Finally, as reported for the honey bee and bumblebee microbiotas, we found substantial genomic divergence among strains of stingless bee gut bacteria, suggesting adaptation to different host species and glycan niches. Our study offers first insights into the genomic diversity of the stingless bee microbiota and highlights the need for broader samplings to understand the evolution of the social bee gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE Stingless bees are the most diverse group of the corbiculate bees and represent important pollinator species throughout the tropics and subtropics. They harbor specialized microbial communities in their gut that are related to those found in honey bees and bumblebees and that are likely important for bee health. Few bacteria have been cultured from the gut of stingless bees, which has prevented characterization of their genomic diversity and functional potential. Here, we established cultures of major members of the gut microbiotas of six stingless bee species and sequenced their genomes. We found that most stingless bee isolates belong to novel bacterial species distantly related to those found in honey bees and bumblebees and encoding similar functional capabilities. Our study offers a new perspective on the evolution of the social bee gut microbiota and presents a basis for characterizing the symbiotic relationships between gut bacteria and stingless bees.}, } @article {pmid36938541, year = {2023}, author = {Xiang, N and Meyer, A and Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Voolstra, CR and Wild, C and Gärdes, A}, title = {Excess labile carbon promotes diazotroph abundance in heat-stressed octocorals.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {221268}, pmid = {36938541}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Nitrogen limitation is the foundation of stable coral-algal symbioses. Diazotrophs, prokaryotes capable of fixing N2 into ammonia, support the productivity of corals in oligotrophic waters, but could contribute to the destabilization of holobiont functioning when overstimulated. Recent studies on reef-building corals have shown that labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) enrichment or heat stress increases diazotroph abundance and activity, thereby increasing nitrogen availability and destabilizing the coral-algal symbiosis. However, the (a)biotic drivers of diazotrophs in octocorals are still poorly understood. We investigated diazotroph abundance (via relative quantification of nifH gene copy numbers) in two symbiotic octocorals, the more mixotrophic soft coral Xenia umbellata and the more autotrophic gorgonian Pinnigorgia flava, under (i) labile DOC enrichment for 21 days, followed by (ii) combined labile DOC enrichment and heat stress for 24 days. Without heat stress, relative diazotroph abundances in X. umbellata and P. flava were unaffected by DOC enrichment. During heat stress, DOC enrichment (20 and 40 mg glucose l[-1]) increased the relative abundances of diazotrophs by sixfold in X. umbellata and fourfold in P. flava, compared with their counterparts without excess DOC. Our data suggest that labile DOC enrichment and concomitant heat stress could disrupt the nitrogen limitation in octocorals by stimulating diazotroph proliferation. Ultimately, the disruption of nitrogen cycling may further compromise octocoral fitness by destabilizing symbiotic nutrient cycling. Therefore, improving local wastewater facilities to reduce labile DOC input into vulnerable coastal ecosystems may help octocorals cope with ocean warming.}, } @article {pmid36938131, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, K and Shen, Z and Yang, W and Guo, J and Yan, Z and Li, J and Lin, J and Cao, X and Tang, J and Liu, Z and Zhou, Z and Lin, S}, title = {Unraveling the metabolic effects of benzophenone-3 on the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Cladocopium goreaui.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1116975}, pmid = {36938131}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {As a well-known pseudo-persistent environmental pollutant, oxybenzone (BP-3) and its related organic ultraviolet (UV) filters have been verified to directly contribute to the increasing mortality rate of coral reefs. Previous studies have revealed the potential role of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae in protecting corals from the toxic effects of UV filters. However, the detailed protection mechanism(s) have not been explained. Here, the impacts of BP-3 on the symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae Cladocopium goreaui were explored. C. goreaui cells exhibited distinct cell growth at different BP-3 doses, with increasing growth at the lower concentration (2 mg L[-1]) and rapid death at a higher concentration (20 mg L[-1]). Furthermore, C. goreaui cells showed a significant BP-3 uptake at the lower BP-3 concentration. BP-3 absorbing cells exhibited elevated photosynthetic efficiency, and decreased cellular carbon and nitrogen contents. Besides, the derivatives of BP-3 and aromatic amino acid metabolism highly responded to BP-3 absorption and biodegradation. Our physiological and metabolic results reveal that the symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae could resist the toxicity of a range of BP-3 through promoting cell division, photosynthesis, and reprogramming amino acid metabolism. This study provides novel insights into the influences of organic UV filters to coral reef ecosystems, which urgently needs increasing attention and management.}, } @article {pmid36938042, year = {2023}, author = {Muthuraja, R and Muthukumar, T and Natthapol, C}, title = {Drought tolerance of Aspergillus violaceofuscus and Bacillus licheniformis and their influence on tomato growth and potassium uptake in mica amended tropical soils under water-limiting conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1114288}, pmid = {36938042}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Drought is a significant abiotic stress that alters plant physiology and ultimately affects crop productivity. Among essential plant nutrients, potassium (K) is known to mitigate the deleterious effect of drought on plant growth. If so, K addition or inoculation of potassium solubilizing microorganisms (KSMs) that are tolerant to drought should promote plant growth during water stress. Therefore, in this study, K solubilizing Aspergillus violaceofuscus and Bacillus licheniformis, isolated from saxicolous environments, were tested for their capacity to tolerate drought using different molecular weights (~4000, 6000, and 8000 Da), and concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 1250 mg/L) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) under in vitro conditions. The results showed that high concentrations (750 and 1000 mg/L) of PEG with different molecular weight considerably improved bacterial cell numbers/fungal biomass and catalase (CAT) and proline activities. Moreover, the ability of KSMs alone or in combination to impart drought tolerance and promote plant growth in the presence and absence of mica (9.3% K2O) supplementation was tested in Alfisol and Vertisol soil types under greenhouse conditions. The results revealed that the tomato plants inoculated with KSMs individually or dually with/without mica improved the physiological and morphological traits of the tomato plants under drought. Generally, tomato plants co-inoculated with KSMs and supplemented with mica were taller (2.62 and 3.38-fold) and had more leaf area (2.03 and 1.98-fold), total root length (3.26 and 8.86-fold), shoot biomass (3.87 and 3.93-fold), root biomass (9.00 and 7.24-fold), shoot K content (3.08 and 3.62-fold), root K content (3.39 and 2.03-fold), relative water content (1.51 and 1.27-fold), CAT activity (2.11 and 2.14-fold), proline content (3.41 and 3.28-fold), and total chlorophyll content (1.81 and 1.90-fold), in unsterilized Alfisol and Vertisol soil types, respectively, than uninoculated ones. Dual inoculation of the KSMs along with mica amendment, also improved the endorrhizal symbiosis of tomato plants more than their individual inoculation or application in both soil types. These findings imply that the A. violaceofuscus and B. licheniformis isolates are promising as novel bioinoculants for improving crop growth in water-stressed and rainfed areas of the tropics in the future.}, } @article {pmid36938021, year = {2023}, author = {Hashemipetroudi, SH and Arab, M and Heidari, P and Kuhlmann, M}, title = {Genome-wide analysis of the laccase (LAC) gene family in Aeluropus littoralis: A focus on identification, evolution and expression patterns in response to abiotic stresses and ABA treatment.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1112354}, pmid = {36938021}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Laccases are plant enzymes with essential functions during growth and development. These monophenoloxidases are involved in lignin polymerization, and their expression respond to environmental stress. However, studies of laccases in some plants and fungi have highlighted that many structural and functional aspects of these genes are still unknown. Here, the laccase gene family in Aeluropus littoralis (AlLAC) is described based on sequence structure and expression patterns under abiotic stresses and ABA treatment. Fifteen non-redundant AlLACs were identified from the A. littoralis genome, which showed differences in physicochemical characteristics and gene structure. Based on phylogenetic analysis, AlLACs and their orthologues were classified into five groups. A close evolutionary relationship was observed between LAC gene family members in rice and A. littoralis. According to the interaction network, AlLACs interact more with proteins involved in biological processes such as iron incorporation into the metallo-sulfur cluster, lignin catabolism, regulation of the symbiotic process and plant-type primary cell wall biogenesis. Gene expression analysis of selected AlLACs using real-time RT (reverse transcription)-PCR revealed that AlLACs are induced in response to abiotic stresses such as cold, salt, and osmotic stress, as well as ABA treatment. Moreover, AlLACs showed differential expression patterns in shoot and root tissues. Our findings indicate that AlLACs are preferentially involved in the late response of A. littoralis to abiotic stress.}, } @article {pmid36937301, year = {2023}, author = {Agyekum, DVA and Kobayashi, T and Dastogeer, KMG and Yasuda, M and Sarkodee-Addo, E and Ratu, STN and Xu, Q and Miki, T and Matsuura, E and Okazaki, S}, title = {Diversity and function of soybean rhizosphere microbiome under nature farming.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1130969}, pmid = {36937301}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Nature farming is a farming system that entails cultivating crops without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The present study investigated the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of soybean grown in conventional and nature farming soils using wild-type and non-nodulating mutant soybean. The effect of soil fumigant was also analyzed to reveal its perturbation of microbial communities and subsequent effects on the growth of soybean. Overall, the wild-type soybean exhibited a better growth index compared to mutant soybean and especially in nature farming. Nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi colonization were higher in plants under nature farming than in conventionally managed soil; however, fumigation drastically affected these symbioses with greater impacts on plants in nature farming soil. The rhizosphere microbiome diversity in nature farming was higher than that in conventional farming for both cultivars. However, the diversity was significantly decreased after fumigation treatment with a greater impact on nature farming. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that nature farming and conventional farming soil harbored distinct microbial communities and that soil fumigation significantly altered the communities in nature farming soils but not in conventional farming soils. Intriguingly, some beneficial microbial taxa related to plant growth and health, including Rhizobium, Streptomyces, and Burkholderia, were found as distinct microbes in the nature farming soil but were selectively bleached by fumigant treatment. Network analysis revealed a highly complex microbial network with high taxa connectivity observed under nature farming soil than in conventional soil; however, fumigation strongly broke it. Overall, the results highlighted that nature farming embraced higher microbial diversity and the abundance of beneficial soil microbes with a complex and interconnected network structure, and also demonstrated the underlying resilience of the microbial community to environmental perturbations, which is critical under nature farming where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not applied.}, } @article {pmid36937297, year = {2023}, author = {Menocal, O and Cruz, LF and Kendra, PE and Berto, M and Carrillo, D}, title = {Flexibility in the ambrosia symbiosis of Xyleborus bispinatus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1110474}, pmid = {36937297}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Ambrosia beetles maintain strict associations with specific lineages of fungi. However, anthropogenic introductions of ambrosia beetles into new ecosystems can result in the lateral transfer of their symbionts to other ambrosia beetles. The ability of a Florida endemic ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus bispinatus, to feed and establish persistent associations with two of its known symbionts (Raffaelea subfusca and Raffaelea arxii) and two other fungi (Harringtonia lauricola and Fusarium sp. nov.), which are primary symbionts of invasive ambrosia beetles, was investigated.

METHODS: The stability of these mutualisms and their effect on the beetle's fitness were monitored over five consecutive generations. Surface-disinfested pupae with non-developed mycangia were reared separately on one of the four fungal symbionts. Non-treated beetles (i.e., lab colony) with previously colonized mycangia were used as a control group.

RESULTS: Xyleborus bispinatus could exchange its fungal symbionts, survive, and reproduce on different fungal diets, including known fungal associates and phylogenetically distant fungi, which are plant pathogens and primary symbionts of other invasive ambrosia beetles. These changes in fungal diets resulted in persistent mutualisms, and some symbionts even increased the beetle's reproduction. Females that developed on Fusarium sp. nov. had a significantly greater number of female offspring than non-treated beetles. Females that fed solely on Harringtonia or Raffaelea symbionts produced fewer female offspring.

DISCUSSION: Even though some ambrosia beetles like X. bispinatus can partner with different ambrosia fungi, their symbiosis under natural conditions is modulated by their mycangium and possibly other environmental factors. However, exposure to symbionts of invasive beetles can result in stable partnerships with these fungi and affect the population dynamics of ambrosia beetles and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36937276, year = {2023}, author = {Hossain, MS and DeLaune, PB and Gentry, TJ}, title = {Microbiome analysis revealed distinct microbial communities occupying different sized nodules in field-grown peanut.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1075575}, pmid = {36937276}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Legume nodulation is the powerhouse of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) where host-specific rhizobia dominate the nodule microbiome. However, other rhizobial or non-rhizobial inhabitants can also colonize legume nodules, and it is unclear how these bacteria interact, compete, or combinedly function in the nodule microbiome. Under such context, to test this hypothesis, we conducted 16S-rRNA based nodule microbiome sequencing to characterize microbial communities in two distinct sized nodules from field-grown peanuts inoculated with a commercial inoculum. We found that microbial communities diverged drastically in the two types of peanut nodules (big and small). Core microbial analysis revealed that the big nodules were inhabited by Bradyrhizobium, which dominated composition (>99%) throughout the plant life cycle. Surprisingly, we observed that in addition to Bradyrhizobium, the small nodules harbored a diverse set of bacteria (~31%) that were not present in big nodules. Notably, these initially less dominant bacteria gradually dominated in small nodules during the later plant growth phases, which suggested that native microbial communities competed with the commercial inoculum in the small nodules only. Conversely, negligible or no competition was observed in the big nodules. Based on the prediction of KEGG pathway analysis for N and P cycling genes and the presence of diverse genera in the small nodules, we foresee great potential of future studies of these microbial communities which may be crucial for peanut growth and development and/or protecting host plants from various biotic and abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid36937064, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Z and Huang, W and Mai, Y and Tian, Y and Wu, B and Wang, C and Yan, Q and He, Z and Shu, L}, title = {Environmental stress promotes the persistence of facultative bacterial symbionts in amoebae.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {e9899}, pmid = {36937064}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Amoebae are one major group of protists that are widely found in natural and engineered environments. They are a significant threat to human health not only because many of them are pathogenic but also due to their unique role as an environmental shelter for pathogens. However, one unsolved issue in the amoeba-bacteria relationship is why so many bacteria live within amoeba hosts while they can also live independently in the environments. By using a facultative amoeba- Paraburkholderia bacteria system, this study shows that facultative bacteria have higher survival rates within amoebae under various environmental stressors. In addition, bacteria survive longer within the amoeba spore than in free living. This study demonstrates that environmental stress can promote the persistence of facultative bacterial symbionts in amoebae. Furthermore, environmental stress may potentially select and produce more amoeba-resisting bacteria, which may increase the biosafety risk related to amoebae and their intracellular bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36936124, year = {2023}, author = {de Fátima Ferreira da Silva, L and Rodrigues, KF and Gennari, A and Ethur, EM and Hoehne, L and de Souza, CFV and de Freitas, EM}, title = {Milk fermentation with prebiotic flour of Vasconcellea quercifolia A.St.-Hil.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {1303-1312}, pmid = {36936124}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {Non-conventional food plants have bioactive compounds and a high nutritional value. Among these, Vasconcellea quercifolia has nutritional benefits, but it is also easy to cultivate and has a low production cost. In this study, the flour from the unripe fruit of V. quercifolia was evaluated in terms of its potential as a prebiotic for the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. To do so, fermented milk samples were prepared with 2%, 3%, and 6% of flour and 8.25 log CFU/mL of each microorganism. Samples were analyzed in terms of the number of viable cells of L. acidophilus and B. lactis, as well as pH level, total solids, titratable acidity, and texture in the course of 21 days of storage at 4ºC. The obtained microbial viability revealed the in vitro symbiotic effect of flour from V. quercifolia on the probiotic strains of L. acidophilus and B. lactis, which reached 10.20 and 11.19 log CFU/mL, respectively, after 21 days of storage, showing a significant difference in cell growth of 1.7 and 2.5 log CFU/mL compared with the control. The pH level decreased from 4.8 to 4.5 after storage time, so it did not alter the conditions for the growth of bacteria. The physical and chemical parameters analyzed did not reveal significant differences (p > 0.05), which indicates product stability. Therefore, flour from the unripe fruit of V. quercifolia has a prebiotic property and can be used as a nutritional supplement for L. acidophilus and B. lactis.}, } @article {pmid36933454, year = {2023}, author = {Zellner, AA and Hischebeth, GT and Molitor, E and Wirtz, DC and Randau, TM}, title = {Periprosthetic joint infection caused by kytococcus schroeteri: The first reported case and a review of the literature.}, journal = {Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease}, volume = {106}, number = {1}, pages = {115922}, doi = {10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2023.115922}, pmid = {36933454}, issn = {1879-0070}, abstract = {Oftentimes, Gram-positive cocci are the cause for periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). Most of these infections include bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis or other coagulase-negative staphylococci. We here present the first case of a PJI caused by Kytococcus schroeteri. While being a Gram-positive coccus, it is very rarely the cause for infections in the human body. K. schroeteri is part of the micrococcus branch and often encountered as a symbiotic bacterium living on the skin. Regarding its pathogenic potential, not a lot is known since less than a few dozen human infections have been reported worldwide. Furthermore, many of the cases reported are either associated with implanted material, especially heart valves, or associated with patients whose immune response is deficient. Only 3 reports of osteoarticular infections are described so far.}, } @article {pmid36933165, year = {2023}, author = {Peng, Y and Chen, Y and Wang, Y and Wang, W and Qiao, S and Lan, J and Wang, M}, title = {Dysbiosis and primary B-cell immunodeficiencies: current knowledge and future perspective.}, journal = {Immunologic research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36933165}, issn = {1559-0755}, abstract = {According to Elie Metchnikoff, an originator of modern immunology, several pivotal functions for disease and health are provided by indigenous microbiota. Nonetheless, important mechanistic insights have been elucidated more recently, owing to the growing availability of DNA sequencing technology. There are 10 to 100 trillion symbiotic microbes (such as viruses, bacteria, and yeast) in each human gut microbiota. Both locally and systemically, the gut microbiota has been demonstrated to impact immune homeostasis. Primary B-cell immunodeficiencies (PBIDs) are a group of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) referring to the dysregulated antibody production due to either intrinsic genetic defects or failures in functions of B cells. Recent studies have found that PBIDs cause disruptions in the gut's typical homeostatic systems, resulting in inadequate immune surveillance in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is linked to increased dysbiosis, which is characterized by a disruption in the microbial homeostasis. This study aimed to review the published articles in this field to provide a comprehensive view of the existing knowledge about the crosstalk between the gut microbiome and PBID, the factors shaping the gut microbiota in PBID, as well as the potential clinical approaches for restoring a normal microbial community.}, } @article {pmid36931374, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, F and Wang, S and Huang, Z and Liu, Y and He, L and Qian, F}, title = {Microbial ecological responses of partial nitritation/anammox granular sludge to real water matrices and its potential application.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {226}, number = {}, pages = {115701}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2023.115701}, pmid = {36931374}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {*Sewage/microbiology ; Wastewater ; Water ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Ammonium Compounds/chemistry/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Granular sludges are commonly microbial aggregates used to apply partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) processes during efficient biological nitrogen removal from ammonium-rich wastewater. Considering keystone taxa of anammox bacteria (AnAOB) in granules and their sensitivity to unfavorable environments, it is essential to investigate microbial responses of autotrophic PN/A granules to real water matrices containing organic and inorganic pollutants. In this study, tap water, surface water, and biotreated wastewater effluents were fed into a series of continuous PN/A granular reactors, respectively, and the differentiation in functional activity, sludge morphology, microbial community structure, and nitrogen metabolic pathways was analyzed by integrating kinetic batch testing, size characterization, and metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that feeding of biotreated wastewater effluents causes significant decreases in nitrogen removal activity and washout of AnAOB (dominated by Candidatus Kuenenia) from autotrophic PN/A granules due to the accumulation of heavy metals and formation of cavities. Microbial co-occurrence networks and nitrogen cycle-related genes provided evidence for the high dependence of symbiotic heterotrophs (such as Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes) on anammox metabolism. The enhancement of Nitrosomonas nitritation in the granules would be considered as an important contributor to greenhouse gas (N2O) emissions from real water matrices. In a novel view on the application of microbial responses, we suggest a bioassay of PN/A granules by size characterization of red-color cores in ecological risk assessment of water environments.}, } @article {pmid36931088, year = {2023}, author = {Li, X and Zhou, M and Shi, F and Meng, B and Liu, J and Mi, Y and Dong, C and Su, H and Liu, X and Wang, F and Wei, Y}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on mercury accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.): From enriched isotope tracing perspective.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {255}, number = {}, pages = {114776}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114776}, pmid = {36931088}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Oryza/microbiology ; *Mercury ; Plant Roots ; Soil/chemistry ; Antioxidants ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {The microorganisms that co-exist between soil and rice systems in heavy metal-contaminated soil environments play important roles in the heavy metal pollution states of rice, as well as in the growth of the rice itself. In this study, in order to further examine the effects of soil microorganisms on the mercury (Hg) uptake of rice plants and determine potential soil phytoremediation agents, an enriched [199]Hg isotope was spiked in a series of pot experiments to trace the absorption and migration of Hg and rice growth in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). It was observed that the AMF inoculations significantly reduced the Hg concentration in the rice. The Hg concentration in rice in the AMF inoculation group was between 52.82% and 96.42% lower than that in the AMF non-inoculation group. It was also interesting to note that the presence of AMF tended to cause Hg (especially methyl-Hg (Me[199]Hg)) to migrate and accumulate in the non-edible parts of the rice, such as the stems and leaves. Under the experimental conditions selected in this study, the proportion of Me[199]Hg in rice grains decreased from 9.91% to 27.88%. For example, when the exogenous Hg concentration was 0.1 mg/kg, the accumulated methyl-Hg content in the grains of the rice in the AMF inoculation group accounted for only 20.19% of the Me[199]Hg content in the rice plants, which was significantly lower than that observed in the AMF non-inoculated group (48.07%). AMF also inhibited the absorption of Hg by rice plants, and the decrease in the Hg concentration levels in rice resulted in significant improvements in growth indices, including biomass and micro-indexes, such as antioxidant enzyme activities. The improvements occurred mainly because the AMF formed symbiotic structures with the roots of rice plants, which fixed Hg in the soil. AMF also reduce the bioavailability of Hg by secreting a series of substances and changing the physicochemical properties of the rhizosphere soil. These findings suggest the possibility of using typical co-existing microorganisms for the remediation of soil heavy metal contamination and provide valuable insights into reducing human Hg exposure through rice consumption.}, } @article {pmid36930056, year = {2023}, author = {Njunge, JM and Walson, JL}, title = {Microbiota and growth among infants and children in low-income and middle-income settings.}, journal = {Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {245-252}, doi = {10.1097/MCO.0000000000000927}, pmid = {36930056}, issn = {1473-6519}, support = {222967/B/21/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant ; Child ; Humans ; *Probiotics ; *Microbiota ; Prebiotics ; Breast Feeding ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Adequate nutrition is essential but insufficient for optimal childhood growth and development. Increasingly, it is clear that the gut microbiota modulates childhood growth and may be particularly important in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC), where growth faltering, undernutrition, environmental contamination and enteric pathogens are more common. We summarize recent evidence demonstrating the role of the gut microbiota in impacting childhood growth and interventions targeting the gut microbiota to impact growth in children in LMIC settings.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies show that maturation of the infant microbiota is linked with the development of the immune system, which is key to host-microbe symbiosis. Infants lacking Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis , which predominates breastfed microbiome, display immune activation while supplementation is linked to increased immune tolerance and among undernourished children, promotes growth. Microbiome-directed complimentary foods (MDCF) containing local ingredients is a novel strategy to promote gut microbiota development, especially among undernourished children and improve growth. Dietary patterns during pregnancy may drive selection of gut microbial species that impact infant health and growth.

SUMMARY: Growth patterns among children in LMIC settings are closely associated with the diversity and maturity of the infant microbiome. Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics targeting microbiota dysbiosis may impact birth outcomes, infant immune development and infections, and childhood growth in LMIC settings.}, } @article {pmid36928487, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z}, title = {Operating characteristics of the factor flow networks in rural areas: A case study of a typical industrial town in China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0283232}, pmid = {36928487}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Humans ; Demography ; China ; Population Dynamics ; *Rural Population ; *Industry ; }, abstract = {The networks of factor flows in rural areas are the main support for rural revitalization, which has become one of the research trends in rural geography. Taking a typical industrial town in China as an example, the study explored the operating characteristics of rural factor flow networks and the relations of multi-factor flows based on the social survey method and fine-grained flows data. Results showed that population flows, capital flows and policy flows increased significantly in rural areas. Thereinto, population flows, especially labor flows, mainly ran into the townships and industrial cluster villages, so did capital inflows and outflows, while policy flows ran around the township. The villages with dense population and capital flows formed the "central villages", which had exceeded the township in the two flow networks. Policy flows and capital flows played a guiding role in population flows, so did the policy flows on the capital flows. Meanwhile, the population flows and the capital flows could reinforce each other. In conclusion, a multi-center structure network with the separation of economic center and administrative center had been formed in rural areas. And there was a close interaction between these factor flows. Furthermore, the theoretical model of town-village symbiotic network was constructed.}, } @article {pmid36928335, year = {2023}, author = {Dávila-Delgado, R and Flores-Canúl, K and Juárez-Verdayes, MA and Sánchez-López, R}, title = {Rhizobia induce SYMRK endocytosis in Phaseolus vulgaris root hair cells.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {4}, pages = {83}, pmid = {36928335}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Phaseolus/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism ; Endocytosis ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {PvSYMRK-EGFP undergoes constitutive and rhizobia-induced endocytosis, which rely on the phosphorylation status of T589, the endocytic YXXØ motif and the kinase activity of the receptor. Legume-rhizobia nodulation is a complex developmental process. It initiates when the rhizobia-produced Nod factors are perceived by specific LysM receptors present in the root hair apical membrane. Consequently, SYMRK (Symbiosis Receptor-like Kinase) becomes active in the root hair and triggers an extensive signaling network essential for the infection process and nodule organogenesis. Despite its relevant functions, the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in SYMRK signaling activity remain poorly characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that PvSYMRK-EGFP undergoes constitutive and rhizobia-induced endocytosis. We found that in uninoculated roots, PvSYMRK-EGFP is mainly associated with the plasma membrane, although intracellular puncta labelled with PvSymRK-EGFP were also observed in root hair and nonhair-epidermal cells. Inoculation with Rhizobium etli producing Nod factors induces in the root hair a redistribution of PvSYMRK-EGFP from the plasma membrane to intracellular puncta. In accordance, deletion of the endocytic motif YXXØ (YKTL) and treatment with the endocytosis inhibitors ikarugamycin (IKA) and tyrphostin A23 (TyrA23), as well as brefeldin A (BFA), drastically reduced the density of intracellular PvSYMRK-EGFP puncta. A similar effect was observed in the phosphorylation-deficient (T589A) and kinase-dead (K618E) mutants of PvSYMRK-EGFP, implying these structural features are positive regulators of PvSYMRK-EGFP endocytosis. Our findings lead us to postulate that rhizobia-induced endocytosis of SYMRK modulates the duration and amplitude of the SYMRK-dependent signaling pathway.}, } @article {pmid36927388, year = {2023}, author = {Vreeburg, SME and Auxier, B and Jacobs, B and Bourke, PM and van den Heuvel, J and Zwaan, BJ and Aanen, DK}, title = {A genetic linkage map and improved genome assembly of the termite symbiont Termitomyces cryptogamus.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {123}, pmid = {36927388}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera/genetics/microbiology ; *Termitomyces/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Genomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genetic Linkage ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The termite-fungus symbiosis is an ancient stable mutualism of two partners that reproduce and disperse independently. With the founding of each termite colony the symbiotic association must be re-established with a new fungus partner. Complementarity in the ability to break down plant substrate may help to stabilize this symbiosis despite horizontal symbiont transmission. An alternative, non-exclusive, hypothesis is that a reduced rate of evolution may contribute to stabilize the symbiosis, the so-called Red King Effect.

METHODS: To explore this concept, we produced the first linkage map of a species of Termitomyces, using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) of 88 homokaryotic offspring. We constructed a highly contiguous genome assembly using PacBio data and a de-novo evidence-based annotation. This improved genome assembly and linkage map allowed for examination of the recombination landscape and its potential effect on the mutualistic lifestyle.

RESULTS: Our linkage map resulted in a genome-wide recombination rate of 22 cM/Mb, lower than that of other related fungi. However, the total map length of 1370 cM was similar to that of other related fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: The apparently decreased rate of recombination is primarily due to genome expansion of islands of gene-poor repetitive sequences. This study highlights the importance of inclusion of genomic context in cross-species comparisons of recombination rate.}, } @article {pmid36927000, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, S and Ren, Y and Han, L and Nie, Y and Zhang, S and Xie, X and Hu, W and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Insights on the Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis on Eucalyptus grandis Tolerance to Drought Stress.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0438122}, pmid = {36927000}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Drought stress has a negative impact on plant growth and production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which establish symbioses with most terrestrial vascular plant species, play important roles in improving host plant mineral nutrient acquisition and resistance to drought. However, the physiological and molecular regulation mechanisms occurring in mycorrhizal Eucalyptus grandis coping with drought stress remain unclear. Here, we studied the physiological changes and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade gene expression profiles of E. grandis associated with AM fungi under drought stress. The results showed that colonization by AM fungi significantly enhanced plant growth, with higher plant biomass, shoot height, root length, and relative water content (RWC) under drought conditions. Mycorrhizal plants had lower levels of accumulation of proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, and O2[·-] than seedlings not colonized with AM fungi. In addition, mycorrhizal E. grandis also had higher peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities under drought conditions, improving the antioxidant system response. Eighteen MAPK cascade genes were isolated from E. grandis, and the expression levels of the MAPK cascade genes were positively induced by symbiosis with AM fungi, which was correlated with changes in the proline, MDA, H2O2, and O2[·-] contents and POD, SOD, and CAT activities. In summary, our results showed that AM symbiosis enhances E. grandis drought tolerance by regulating plant antioxidation abilities and MAPK cascade gene expression. IMPORTANCE Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in improving plant growth and development under drought stress. The MAPK cascade may regulate many physiological and biochemical processes in plants in response to drought stress. Previous studies have shown that there is a complex regulatory network between the plant MAPK cascade and drought stress. However, the relationship between the E. grandis MAPK cascade and AM symbiosis in coping with drought remains to be investigated. Our results suggest that AM fungi could improve plant drought tolerance mainly by improving the antioxidant ability to protect plants from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alleviate oxidative stress damage. The expression of the MAPK cascade genes was induced in mycorrhizal E. grandis seedlings under drought stress. This study revealed that MAPK cascade regulation is of special significance for improving the drought tolerance of E. grandis. This study provides a reference for improving mycorrhizal seedling cultivation under stress.}, } @article {pmid36925474, year = {2023}, author = {Klonowska, A and Ardley, J and Moulin, L and Zandberg, J and Patrel, D and Gollagher, M and Marinova, D and Reddy, TBK and Varghese, N and Huntemann, M and Woyke, T and Seshadri, R and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Discovery of a novel filamentous prophage in the genome of the Mimosa pudica microsymbiont Cupriavidus taiwanensis STM 6018.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1082107}, pmid = {36925474}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Integrated virus genomes (prophages) are commonly found in sequenced bacterial genomes but have rarely been described in detail for rhizobial genomes. Cupriavidus taiwanensis STM 6018 is a rhizobial Betaproteobacteria strain that was isolated in 2006 from a root nodule of a Mimosa pudica host in French Guiana, South America. Here we describe features of the genome of STM 6018, focusing on the characterization of two different types of prophages that have been identified in its genome. The draft genome of STM 6018 is 6,553,639 bp, and consists of 80 scaffolds, containing 5,864 protein-coding genes and 61 RNA genes. STM 6018 contains all the nodulation and nitrogen fixation gene clusters common to symbiotic Cupriavidus species; sharing >99.97% bp identity homology to the nod/nif/noeM gene clusters from C. taiwanensis LMG19424[T] and "Cupriavidus neocalidonicus" STM 6070. The STM 6018 genome contains the genomes of two prophages: one complete Mu-like capsular phage and one filamentous phage, which integrates into a putative dif site. This is the first characterization of a filamentous phage found within the genome of a rhizobial strain. Further examination of sequenced rhizobial genomes identified filamentous prophage sequences in several Beta-rhizobial strains but not in any Alphaproteobacterial rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid36923003, year = {2023}, author = {Cimolato, A and Ciotti, F and Kljajić, J and Valle, G and Raspopovic, S}, title = {Symbiotic electroneural and musculoskeletal framework to encode proprioception via neurostimulation: ProprioStim.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {106248}, pmid = {36923003}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Peripheral nerve stimulation in amputees achieved the restoration of touch, but not proprioception, which is critical in locomotion. A plausible reason is the lack of means to artificially replicate the complex activity of proprioceptors. To uncover this, we coupled neuromuscular models from ten subjects and nerve histologies from two implanted amputees to develop ProprioStim: a framework to encode proprioception by electrical evoking neural activity in close agreement with natural proprioceptive activity. We demonstrated its feasibility through non-invasive stimulation on seven healthy subjects comparing it with standard linear charge encoding. Results showed that ProprioStim multichannel stimulation was felt more natural, and hold promises for increasing accuracy in knee angle tracking, especially in future implantable solutions. Additionally, we quantified the importance of realistic 3D-nerve models against extruded models previously adopted for further design and validation of novel neurostimulation encoding strategies. ProprioStim provides clear guidelines for the development of neurostimulation policies restoring natural proprioception.}, } @article {pmid36922209, year = {2023}, author = {Ding, N and Yang, YY and Wan, NX and Xu, AL and Ge, JH and Song, ZW}, title = {[Seasonal Variation and Influencing Factors of Bacterial Communities in Storage Reservoirs].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {1484-1496}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202204059}, pmid = {36922209}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Seasons ; *Cyanobacteria ; Water Quality ; Rivers ; }, abstract = {In order to explore the seasonal variation and influencing factors of bacterial community structure in storage reservoirs, the impact of environmental factors must first be examined. In this study, the seasonal variation in bacterial community structure and its response to water quality factors were explored by monitoring the water quality of Qingdao Jihongtan Reservoir, the only reservoir of the Yellow River diversion project, using high-throughput sequencing technology and symbiotic network analysis. The results showed that the diversity and richness of bacterial communities were highest in summer and lowest in winter, and those in the inlet were higher than those in the outlet. The structure of the bacterial community was similar in spring and winter and in summer to autumn. The dominant bacteria phyla were:Actinobacteriota (6.63%-57.38%), Proteobacteria (11.32%-48.60%), Bacteroidota (5.05%-25.74%), and Cyanobacteria (0.65%-24.74%). Additionally, the abundances of Chloroflexi, Dependentiae, Fusobacteriota, and Margulisbacteria were the highest in autumn and the lowest in winter. The dominant bacterial genera were:hgcI_clade (3.72%-34.66%), CL500_29_marine_group (0.31%-20.13%), and Limnohabitans (0.16%-10.37%). Further, the abundances of Flavobacterium, Polaromonas, and Rhodoferax were the highest in winter and the lowest in summer; the trend of Domibacillus and Limnobacter was the opposite. The abundance of Proteobacteria and Campilobacteria in the inlet was significantly higher than that in the outlet, and the Planctomycetota showed the opposite. The abundances of Dinghuibacter, Arenimonas, and Rhodobacter in the inlet were significantly higher than those in the outlet. Competition and antagonism dominated the interaction relationship of bacterial communities in spring, whereas mutualism dominated in winter. There were significant differences among key species in the symbiotic network at different seasons and sampling sites. Water temperature, DO, water storage capacity, and water storage sources had a great influence on bacterial community structure in the Jihongtan Reservoir.}, } @article {pmid36921661, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, Z and Yu, X and Liu, G and Li, W and Lu, L and Li, P and Xu, X and Jiang, J and Wang, B and Qiao, W}, title = {Sustained detoxification of 1,2-dichloroethane to ethylene by a symbiotic consortium containing Dehalococcoides species.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {325}, number = {}, pages = {121443}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121443}, pmid = {36921661}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Humans ; *Dehalococcoides/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ethylenes ; *Chloroflexi/genetics ; }, abstract = {1,2-Dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) is a ubiquitous volatile halogenated organic pollutant in groundwater and soil, which poses a serious threat to the ecosystem and human health. Microbial reductive dechlorination has been recognized as an environmentally-friendly strategy for the remediation of sites contaminated with 1,2-DCA. In this study, we obtained an anaerobic microbiota derived from 1,2-DCA contaminated groundwater, which was able to sustainably convert 1,2-DCA into non-toxic ethylene with an average dechlorination rate of 30.70 ± 11.06 μM d[-1] (N = 6). The microbial community profile demonstrated that the relative abundance of Dehalococcoides species increased from 0.53 ± 0.08% to 44.68 ± 3.61% in parallel with the dechlorination of 1,2-DCA. Quantitative PCR results showed that the Dehalococcoides species 16S rRNA gene increased from 2.40 ± 1.71 × 10[8] copies∙mL[-1] culture to 4.07 ± 2.45 × 10[8] copies∙mL[-1] culture after dechlorinating 110.69 ± 30.61 μmol of 1,2-DCA with a growth yield of 1.55 ± 0.93 × 10[8] cells per μmol Cl[-] released (N = 6), suggesting that Dehalococcoides species used 1,2-DCA for organohalide respiration to maintain cell growth. Notably, the relative abundances of Methanobacterium sp. (p = 0.0618) and Desulfovibrio sp. (p = 0.0001995) also increased significantly during the dechlorination of 1,2-DCA and were clustered in the same module with Dehalococcoides species in the co-occurrence network. These results hinted that Dehalococcoides species, the obligate organohalide-respiring bacterium, exhibited potential symbiotic relationships with Methanobacterium and Desulfovibrio species. This study illustrates the importance of microbial interactions within functional microbiota and provides a promising microbial resource for in situ bioremediation in sites contaminated with 1,2-DCA.}, } @article {pmid36921053, year = {2023}, author = {Cui, G and Konciute, MK and Ling, L and Esau, L and Raina, JB and Han, B and Salazar, OR and Presnell, JS and Rädecker, N and Zhong, H and Menzies, J and Cleves, PA and Liew, YJ and Krediet, CJ and Sawiccy, V and Cziesielski, MJ and Guagliardo, P and Bougoure, J and Pernice, M and Hirt, H and Voolstra, CR and Weis, VM and Pringle, JR and Aranda, M}, title = {Molecular insights into the Darwin paradox of coral reefs from the sea anemone Aiptasia.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {eadf7108}, pmid = {36921053}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic cnidarians such as corals and anemones form highly productive and biodiverse coral reef ecosystems in nutrient-poor ocean environments, a phenomenon known as Darwin's paradox. Resolving this paradox requires elucidating the molecular bases of efficient nutrient distribution and recycling in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Using the sea anemone Aiptasia, we show that during symbiosis, the increased availability of glucose and the presence of the algae jointly induce the coordinated up-regulation and relocalization of glucose and ammonium transporters. These molecular responses are critical to support symbiont functioning and organism-wide nitrogen assimilation through glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase-mediated amino acid biosynthesis. Our results reveal crucial aspects of the molecular mechanisms underlying nitrogen conservation and recycling in these organisms that allow them to thrive in the nitrogen-poor ocean environments.}, } @article {pmid36921030, year = {2023}, author = {Rivera, HE and Tramonte, CA and Samaroo, J and Dickerson, H and Davies, SW}, title = {Heat challenge elicits stronger physiological and gene expression responses than starvation in symbiotic Oculina arbuscula.}, journal = {The Journal of heredity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jhered/esac068}, pmid = {36921030}, issn = {1465-7333}, abstract = {Heterotrophy has been shown to mitigate coral-algal dysbiosis (coral bleaching) under heat challenge, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely unexplored. Here, we quantified coral physiology and gene expression of fragments from 13 genotypes of symbiotic Oculina arbuscula after a 28-d feeding experiment under (1) fed, ambient (24 °C); (2) unfed, ambient; (3) fed, heated (ramp to 33 °C); and (4) unfed, heated treatments. We monitored algal photosynthetic efficiency throughout the experiment, and after 28 d, profiled coral and algal carbohydrate and protein reserves, coral gene expression, algal cell densities, and chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-c2 pigments. Contrary to previous findings, heterotrophy did little to mitigate the impacts of temperature, and we observed few significant differences in physiology between fed and unfed corals under heat challenge. Our results suggest the duration and intensity of starvation and thermal challenge play meaningful roles in coral energetics and stress response; future work exploring these thresholds and how they may impact coral responses under changing climate is urgently needed. Gene expression patterns under heat challenge in fed and unfed corals showed gene ontology enrichment patterns consistent with classic signatures of the environmental stress response. While gene expression differences between fed and unfed corals under heat challenge were subtle: Unfed, heated corals uniquely upregulated genes associated with cell cycle functions, an indication that starvation may induce the previously described, milder "type B" coral stress response. Future studies interested in disentangling the influence of heterotrophy on coral bleaching would benefit from leveraging the facultative species studied here, but using the coral in its symbiotic and aposymbiotic states.}, } @article {pmid36920172, year = {2023}, author = {Fuchs, B and Saikkonen, K and Damerau, A and Yang, B and Helander, M}, title = {Herbicide residues in soil decrease microbe-mediated plant protection.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13517}, pmid = {36920172}, issn = {1438-8677}, abstract = {The residues of glyphosate are found to remain in soils longer than previously reported, affecting rhizosphere microbes. This may adversely affect crop and other non-target plants because the plant's resilience and resistance largely rely on plant-associated microbes. Ubiquitous glyphosate residues in soil and how they impact mutualistic microbes inhabiting the aboveground plant parts are largely unexplored. We studied the effects of herbicide residues in soil on Epichloë sp., which are common endophytic symbionts inhabiting aerial parts of cool-season grasses. In this symbiosis, the obligate symbiont subsists entirely on its host plant, and in exchange, it provides alkaloids conferring resistance to herbivores for the host grass that invests little in its own chemical defence. We first show decreased growth of Epichloë endophytes in vitro when directly exposed to two concentrations of glyphosate or glyphosate-based herbicides. Second, we provide evidence for a reduction of Epichloë-derived, insect-toxic loline alkaloids in endophyte-symbiotic meadow fescue (F. pratensis) plants growing in soil with a glyphosate history. Plants were grown for 2 years in an open field site, and natural herbivore infestation was correlated with the glyphosate-mediated reduction of loline alkaloid concentrations. Our findings indicate that herbicides residing in soil not only affect rhizosphere microbiota but also aerial plant endophyte functionality, which emphasizes the destructive effects of glyphosate on plant symbiotic microbes, here with cascading effects on plant-pest insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid36918653, year = {2023}, author = {Yamamoto, D and Toki, W}, title = {Presence of non-symbiotic yeasts in a symbiont-transferring organ of a stag beetle that lacks yeast symbionts found in other stag beetles.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3726}, pmid = {36918653}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Yeasts/genetics ; Larva/microbiology ; *Saccharomycetales ; Insecta ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dispersal from wood to wood is essential for wood-inhabiting fungi and wood-inhabiting insects play an important role in the dispersal success of such fungi. However, it is poorly understood whether wood-inhabiting insects which change the habitats from wood to non-wood environments can contribute to the fungal dispersal. Larvae of most stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) are wood feeders, while adults are sap feeders. Female adults of lulcanids possess specialized organs (mycetangia) for transportation of fungal symbionts and harbor specific yeasts (e.g., Scheffersomyces spp.) within. Here, we report that the lucanid Aegus subnitidus harbors non-specific yeasts facultatively in mycetangia. We conducted yeast isolation from mycetangia and hindguts of female adults, in a larval gallery in wood-associated materials, and in female-visiting fermented tree sap using culture-dependent methods. Less than half of the females carried a total of 20 yeast species with small amounts using mycetangia and a female harbored up to five species, suggesting the absence of an intimate association with specific yeasts that are found in other lucanids. Yeast species compositions markedly differed between the larval gallery and sap. Most yeasts from the larval galley exhibited xylose-assimilation abilities, while few yeasts from sap did. Mycetangial yeasts comprised a combination from both sources. In hindguts, most yeasts were found in sap (> 70%) with no yeasts in the larval gallery. Sap-associated yeasts in each female mycetangium were also obtained from the female-visiting sap patch, while mycetangial, larval gallery-associated yeasts were absent from the patch, suggesting the survival success of larval gallery-associated yeasts in mycetangia through sap patches. Therefore, wood-inhabiting insects that possess mycetangia can potentially act as vectors of non-symbiotic wood-inhabiting yeasts dispersing from wood to wood via other environments.}, } @article {pmid36917608, year = {2023}, author = {Su, Y and Lin, HC and Dale, C}, title = {Protocol to establish a genetically tractable synthetic symbiosis between Sodalis praecaptivus and grain weevils by insect egg microinjection.}, journal = {STAR protocols}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {102156}, pmid = {36917608}, issn = {2666-1667}, abstract = {We present a protocol to establish a synthetic symbiosis between the mCherry-expressing Sodalis praecaptivus and the grain weevil host, Sitophilus zeamais. We describe steps to isolate grain weevil eggs, followed by microinjecting the bacterial symbiont into insect eggs using a modified Drosophila injection protocol, which leads to localization of bacteria in female insect ovaries. We then detail larval transplantation and visualization of bacteria in live insects using a fluorescence dissection microscope to assess the transgenerational transmission to offspring in weevils. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Su et al. (2022).[1].}, } @article {pmid36917569, year = {2023}, author = {Jhu, MY and Oldroyd, GED}, title = {Dancing to a different tune, can we switch from chemical to biological nitrogen fixation for sustainable food security?.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {e3001982}, pmid = {36917569}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Fabaceae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Crops, Agricultural ; }, abstract = {Our current food production systems are unsustainable, driven in part through the application of chemically fixed nitrogen. We need alternatives to empower farmers to maximise their productivity sustainably. Therefore, we explore the potential for transferring the root nodule symbiosis from legumes to other crops. Studies over the last decades have shown that preexisting developmental and signal transduction processes were recruited during the evolution of legume nodulation. This allows us to utilise these preexisting processes to engineer nitrogen fixation in target crops. Here, we highlight our understanding of legume nodulation and future research directions that might help to overcome the barrier of achieving self-fertilising crops.}, } @article {pmid36917283, year = {2023}, author = {Anand, U and Pal, T and Yadav, N and Singh, VK and Tripathi, V and Choudhary, KK and Shukla, AK and Sunita, K and Kumar, A and Bontempi, E and Ma, Y and Kolton, M and Singh, AK}, title = {Current Scenario and Future Prospects of Endophytic Microbes: Promising Candidates for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36917283}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Globally, substantial research into endophytic microbes is being conducted to increase agricultural and environmental sustainability. Endophytic microbes such as bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi inhabit ubiquitously within the tissues of all plant species without causing any harm or disease. Endophytes form symbiotic relationships with diverse plant species and can regulate numerous host functions, including resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, growth and development, and stimulating immune systems. Moreover, plant endophytes play a dominant role in nutrient cycling, biodegradation, and bioremediation, and are widely used in many industries. Endophytes have a stronger predisposition for enhancing mineral and metal solubility by cells through the secretion of organic acids with low molecular weight and metal-specific ligands (such as siderophores) that alter soil pH and boost binding activity. Finally, endophytes synthesize various bioactive compounds with high competence that are promising candidates for new drugs, antibiotics, and medicines. Bioprospecting of endophytic novel secondary metabolites has given momentum to sustainable agriculture for combating environmental stresses. Biotechnological interventions with the aid of endophytes played a pivotal role in crop improvement to mitigate biotic and abiotic stress conditions like drought, salinity, xenobiotic compounds, and heavy metals. Identification of putative genes from endophytes conferring resistance and tolerance to crop diseases, apart from those involved in the accumulation and degradation of contaminants, could open new avenues in agricultural research and development. Furthermore, a detailed molecular and biochemical understanding of endophyte entry and colonization strategy in the host would better help in manipulating crop productivity under changing climatic conditions. Therefore, the present review highlights current research trends based on the SCOPUS database, potential biotechnological interventions of endophytic microorganisms in combating environmental stresses influencing crop productivity, future opportunities of endophytes in improving plant stress tolerance, and their contribution to sustainable remediation of hazardous environmental contaminants.}, } @article {pmid36916950, year = {2023}, author = {Wen, Z and Yang, M and Han, H and Fazal, A and Liao, Y and Ren, R and Yin, T and Qi, J and Sun, S and Lu, G and Hu, S and Yang, Y}, title = {Mycorrhizae Enhance Soybean Plant Growth and Aluminum Stress Tolerance by Shaping the Microbiome Assembly in an Acidic Soil.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0331022}, pmid = {36916950}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Strongly acidic soils are characterized by high aluminum (Al) toxicity and low phosphorus (P) availability, which suppress legume plant growth and nodule development. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) stimulate rhizobia and enhance plant P uptake. However, it is unclear how this symbiotic soybean-AMF-rhizobial trio promotes soybean growth in acidic soils. We examined the effects of AMF and rhizobium addition on the growth of two soybean genotypes, namely, Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive soybeans as well as their associated bacterial and fungal communities in an acidic soil. With and without rhizobial addition, AMF significantly increased the fresh shoot and root biomass of Al-tolerant soybean by 47%/87% and 37%/24%, respectively. This increase in plant biomass corresponded to the enrichment of four plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the rhizospheric soil, namely, Chitinophagaceae bacterium 4GSH07, Paraburkholderia soli, Sinomonas atrocyanea, and Aquincola tertiaricarbonis. For Al-sensitive soybean, AMF addition increased the fresh shoot and root biomass by 112%/64% and 30%/217%, respectively, with/without rhizobial addition. Interestingly, this significant increase coincided with a decrease in the pathogenic fungus Nigrospora oryzae as well as an increase in S. atrocyanea, A. tertiaricarbonis, and Talaromyces verruculosus (a P-solubilizing fungus) in the rhizospheric soil. Lastly, the compartment niche along the soil-plant continuum shaped microbiome assembly, with pathogenic/saprotrophic microbes accumulating in the rhizospheric soil and PGPR related to nitrogen fixation or stress resistance (e.g., Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sphingomonas azotifigens) accumulating in the endospheric layer. IMPORTANCE Taken together, this study examined the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobial combinations on the growth of Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive soybeans as well as their associated microbial communities in acidic soils and concluded that AMF enhances soybean growth and Al stress tolerance by recruiting PGPR and altering the root-associated microbiome assembly in a host-dependent manner. In the future, these findings will help us better understand the impacts of AMF on rhizosphere microbiome assembly and will contribute to the development of soybean breeding techniques for the comprehensive use of PGPR in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36915165, year = {2023}, author = {Li, OY and Wang, X and Yang, K and Liu, D and Shi, H}, title = {The approaching pilot for One Health governance index.}, journal = {Infectious diseases of poverty}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {36915165}, issn = {2049-9957}, mesh = {Humans ; *One Health ; Developing Countries ; Europe ; Asia, Eastern ; North America ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: One Health approach advocates realizing the best health and harmonious symbiosis of human, animal and natural environment through cross-border, multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation. The good governance model is the leading factor for the performance of One Health governance. In order to tackle the complex problems in the One Health governance at the global level, the variation of One Health governance in different countries was analyzed by a set of indicators within the One Health system.

METHOD: The capacity of One Health governance was assessed after establishment of a set of indicators for the One Health governance index (OHGI) following the methodology of the global One Health index. The data to calculate OHGI was collected from various database sources, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, and official health-related institutions of various countries. Eight indicators (including 19 sub-indicators) were employed in the OHGI system to comprehensively evaluate the capacity of One Health governance in 146 countries of the world.

RESULTS: Among the 146 countries scored in the OHGI system, the average score was 34.11, with a median score of 31.49, ranged from 8.50 to 70.28. Most countries with higher OHGI scores come from Europe and Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific and North America, while countries with the lower OHGI scores are almost from sub-Saharan Africa. Six countries scored more than 65 points, including Australia, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, the United States of America and Finland, indicating that these countries are relatively mature in most aspects of One Health governance. However, there were some developing countries with OHGI scored lower than 15. Therefore, the gap between countries with higher OHGI scores and those with lower OHGI scores is more than 60.

CONCLUSIONS: Good governance on One Health is an important indicator to measure One Health's governance capacity. The political stability, the level of rule of law and economic conditions in different regions are significantly correlated with the One Health governance capacity. Actions need to be taken urgently to close the gap of One Health governance between different regions.}, } @article {pmid36915124, year = {2023}, author = {Mei, K and Kou, R and Bi, Y and Liu, Y and Huang, J and Li, W}, title = {A study of primary health care service efficiency and its spatial correlation in China.}, journal = {BMC health services research}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {247}, pmid = {36915124}, issn = {1472-6963}, mesh = {Humans ; China/epidemiology ; *Efficiency ; Cities ; *Delivery of Health Care ; Primary Health Care ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: China's primary health care system has undergone major changes since the new round of medical reform in 2009, but the current status of primary health care institution service efficiency is still unsatisfactory. The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate the China's primary health care institution service efficiency and provide a reference for improving the efficiency and promoting the development of primary health care institution.

METHODS: Based on panel data of 31 provinces (municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions) in mainland China from 2011 to 2020, using the super efficiency slack-based measure-data envelopment analysis model, to analyze the data from a static perspective, and the changes in the efficiency of primary health care services were analyzed from a dynamic perspective by using the Malmquist index method. Spatial autocorrelation analysis method was used to verify the spatial correlation of primary health care service efficiency among various regions.

RESULTS: The number of Primary health care institutions increased from 918,000 in 2011 to 970,000 in 2020. The average primary health care institution service efficiency in the northeastern region including Jilin (0.324), Heilongjiang (0.460), Liaoning (0.453) and northern regions such as Shaanxi (0.344) and Neimenggu (0.403) was at a low level, while the eastern coastal regions such as Guangdong (1.116), Zhejiang (1.211), Shanghai (1.402) have higher average service efficiency levels. The global Moran's I showed the existence of spatial autocorrelation, and the local Moran's I index suggested that the problem of uneven regional development was prominent, showing a contiguous regional distribution pattern. Among them, H-H (high-efficiency regions) were mainly concentrated in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shanghai, and L-L regions (low-efficiency regions) were mostly in northern and northeastern China.

CONCLUSION: The service efficiency of primary health care institution in China showed a rising trend in general, but the overall average efficiency was still at a low level, and there were significant geographical differences, which showed a spatial distribution of "high in the east and low in the west, high in the south and low in the north". The northwestern region, after receiving relevant support, has seen a rapid development of primary health care, and its efficiency was steadily improving and gradually reaching a high level. The average primary health care institution service efficiency in the northeastern region including the northern region of China was at a low level, while the average efficiency in the eastern coastal region and some economically developed regions was high, which also verifies the dependence and high symbiosis of primary health care institution service efficiency on regional economy.}, } @article {pmid36914655, year = {2023}, author = {Kageyama, D and Harumoto, T and Nagamine, K and Fujiwara, A and Sugimoto, TN and Jouraku, A and Tamura, M and Katoh, TK and Watada, M}, title = {A male-killing gene encoded by a symbiotic virus of Drosophila.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1357}, pmid = {36914655}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Drosophila melanogaster/embryology/virology ; *Insect Viruses/genetics ; *Genes, Viral/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Male ; Animals ; Embryonic Development ; RNA, Viral/physiology ; RNA, Double-Stranded/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; *Sex Ratio ; Sex Characteristics ; Female ; }, abstract = {In most eukaryotes, biparentally inherited nuclear genomes and maternally inherited cytoplasmic genomes have different evolutionary interests. Strongly female-biased sex ratios that are repeatedly observed in various arthropods often result from the male-specific lethality (male-killing) induced by maternally inherited symbiotic bacteria such as Spiroplasma and Wolbachia. However, despite some plausible case reports wherein viruses are raised as male-killers, it is not well understood how viruses, having much smaller genomes than bacteria, are capable of inducing male-killing. Here we show that a maternally inherited double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus belonging to the family Partitiviridae (designated DbMKPV1) induces male-killing in Drosophila. DbMKPV1 localizes in the cytoplasm and possesses only four genes, i.e., one gene in each of the four genomic segments (dsRNA1-dsRNA4), in contrast to ca. 1000 or more genes possessed by Spiroplasma or Wolbachia. We also show that a protein (designated PVMKp1; 330 amino acids in size), encoded by a gene on the dsRNA4 segment, is necessary and sufficient for inducing male-killing. Our results imply that male-killing genes can be easily acquired by symbiotic viruses through reassortment and that symbiotic viruses are hidden players in arthropod evolution. We anticipate that host-manipulating genes possessed by symbiotic viruses can be utilized for controlling arthropods.}, } @article {pmid36913786, year = {2023}, author = {Silva, AMM and Jones, DL and Chadwick, DR and Qi, X and Cotta, SR and Araújo, VLVP and Matteoli, FP and Lacerda-Júnior, GV and Pereira, APA and Fernandes-Júnior, PI and Cardoso, EJBN}, title = {Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria facilitate [33]P uptake in maize plants under water stress?.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {271}, number = {}, pages = {127350}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2023.127350}, pmid = {36913786}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Zea mays/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Plants ; Soil ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are able to provide key ecosystem services, protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we hypothesized that a combination of AMF (Rhizophagus clarus) and PGPR (Bacillus sp.) could enhance [33]P uptake in maize plants under soil water stress. A microcosm experiment using mesh exclusion and a radiolabeled phosphorus tracer ([33]P) was installed using three types of inoculation: i) only AMF, ii) only PGPR, and iii) a consortium of AMF and PGPR, alongside a control treatment without inoculation. For all treatments, a gradient of three water-holding capacities (WHC) was considered i) 30% (severe drought), ii) 50% (moderate drought), and iii) 80% (optimal condition, no water stress). In severe drought conditions, AMF root colonization of dual-inoculated plants was significantly lower compared to individual inoculation of the AMF, whilst [33]P uptake by dual-inoculated plants or plants inoculated with bacteria was 2.4-fold greater than the uninoculated treatment. Under moderate drought conditions the use of AMF promoted the highest [33]P uptake by plants, increasing it by 2.1-fold, when compared to the uninoculated treatment. Without drought stress, AMF showed the lowest [33]P uptake and, overall, plant P acquisition was lower for all inoculation types when compared to the severe and moderate drought treatments. The total shoot P content was modulated by the water-holding capacity and inoculation type, with the lowest values observed under severe drought and the highest values under moderate drought. The highest soil electrical conductivity (EC) values were found under severe drought in AMF-inoculated plants and the lowest EC for no drought in single or dual-inoculated plants. Furthermore, water-holding capacity influenced the total soil bacterial and mycorrhizal abundance over time, with the highest abundances being found under severe and moderate drought. This study demonstrates that the positive influence of microbial inoculation on [33]P uptake by plants varied with soil water gradient. Furthermore, under severe stress conditions, AMF invested more in the production of hyphae, vesicles and spore production, indicating a significant carbon drain from the host plant as evidenced by the lack of translation of increased [33]P uptake into biomass. Therefore, under severe drought the use of bacteria or dual-inoculation seems to be more effective than individual AMF inoculation in terms of [33]P uptake by plants, while under moderate drought, the use of AMF stood out.}, } @article {pmid36912242, year = {2023}, author = {Tabassum, Z and Mohan, A and Mamidi, N and Khosla, A and Kumar, A and Solanki, PR and Malik, T and Girdhar, M}, title = {Recent trends in nanocomposite packaging films utilising waste generated biopolymers: Industrial symbiosis and its implication in sustainability.}, journal = {IET nanobiotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1049/nbt2.12122}, pmid = {36912242}, issn = {1751-875X}, abstract = {Uncontrolled waste generation and management difficulties are causing chaos in the ecosystem. Although it is vital to ease environmental pressures, right now there is no such practical strategy available for the treatment or utilisation of waste material. Because the Earth's resources are limited, a long-term, sustainable, and sensible solution is necessary. Currently waste material has drawn a lot of attention as a renewable resource. Utilisation of residual biomass leftovers appears as a green and sustainable approach to lessen the waste burden on Earth while meeting the demand for bio-based goods. Several biopolymers are available from renewable waste sources that have the potential to be used in a variety of industries for a wide range of applications. Natural and synthetic biopolymers have significant advantages over petroleum-based polymers in terms of cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and user-friendliness. Using waste as a raw material through industrial symbiosis should be taken into account as one of the strategies to achieve more economic and environmental value through inter-firm collaboration on the path to a near-zero waste society. This review extensively explores the different biopolymers which can be extracted from several waste material sources and that further have potential applications in food packaging industries to enhance the shelf life of perishables. This review-based study also provides key insights into the different strategies and techniques that have been developed recently to extract biopolymers from different waste byproducts and their feasibility in practical applications for the food packaging business.}, } @article {pmid36911683, year = {2023}, author = {Jabeen, MF and Hinks, TSC}, title = {MAIT cells and the microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1127588}, pmid = {36911683}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {104553/Z/14/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 211050/Z/18/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; /MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; Dysbiosis ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Riboflavin ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T lymphocytes, strikingly enriched at mucosal surfaces and characterized by a semi-invariant αβ T cell receptor (TCR) recognizing microbial derived intermediates of riboflavin synthesis presented by the MHC-Ib molecule MR1. At barrier sites MAIT cells occupy a prime position for interaction with commensal microorganisms, comprising the microbiota. The microbiota is a rich source of riboflavin derived antigens required in early life to promote intra-thymic MAIT cell development and sustain a life-long population of tissue resident cells. A symbiotic relationship is thought to be maintained in health whereby microbes promote maturation and homeostasis, and in turn MAIT cells can engage a TCR-dependent "tissue repair" program in the presence of commensal organisms conducive to sustaining barrier function and integrity of the microbial community. MAIT cell activation can be induced in a MR1-TCR dependent manner or through MR1-TCR independent mechanisms via pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-12/-15/-18 and type I interferon. MAIT cells provide immunity against bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. However, MAIT cells may have deleterious effects through insufficient or exacerbated effector activity and have been implicated in autoimmune, inflammatory and allergic conditions in which microbial dysbiosis is a shared feature. In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the role of the microbiota in the development and maintenance of circulating and tissue resident MAIT cells. We also explore how microbial dysbiosis, alongside changes in intestinal permeability and imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory components of the immune response are together involved in the potential pathogenicity of MAIT cells. Whilst there have been significant improvements in our understanding of how the microbiota shapes MAIT cell function, human data are relatively lacking, and it remains unknown if MAIT cells can conversely influence the composition of the microbiota. We speculate whether, in a human population, differences in microbiomes might account for the heterogeneity observed in MAIT cell frequency across mucosal sites or between individuals, and response to therapies targeting T cells. Moreover, we speculate whether manipulation of the microbiota, or harnessing MAIT cell ligands within the gut or disease-specific sites could offer novel therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid36910211, year = {2023}, author = {Bregman, G and Lalzar, M and Livne, L and Bigal, E and Zemah-Shamir, Z and Morick, D and Tchernov, D and Scheinin, A and Meron, D}, title = {Preliminary study of shark microbiota at a unique mix-species shark aggregation site, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1027804}, pmid = {36910211}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sharks, as apex predators, play an essential ecological role in shaping the marine food web and maintaining healthy and balanced marine ecosystems. Sharks are sensitive to environmental changes and anthropogenic pressure and demonstrate a clear and rapid response. This designates them a "keystone" or "sentinel" group that may describe the structure and function of the ecosystem. As a meta-organism, sharks offer selective niches (organs) for microorganisms that can provide benefits for their hosts. However, changes in the microbiota (due to physiological or environmental changes) can turn the symbiosis into a dysbiosis and may affect the physiology, immunity and ecology of the host. Although the importance of sharks within the ecosystem is well known, relatively few studies have focused on the microbiome aspect, especially with long-term sampling. Our study was conducted at a site of coastal development in Israel where a mixed-species shark aggregation (November-May) is observed. The aggregation includes two shark species, the dusky (Carcharhinus obscurus) and sandbar (Carcharhinus plumbeus) which segregate by sex (females and males, respectively). In order to characterize the bacterial profile and examine the physiological and ecological aspects, microbiome samples were collected from different organs (gills, skin, and cloaca) from both shark species over 3 years (sampling seasons: 2019, 2020, and 2021). The bacterial composition was significantly different between the shark individuals and the surrounding seawater and between the shark species. Additionally, differences were apparent between all the organs and the seawater, and between the skin and gills. The most dominant groups for both shark species were Flavobacteriaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae. However, specific microbial biomarkers were also identified for each shark. An unexpected difference in the microbiome profile and diversity between the 2019-2020 and 2021 sampling seasons, revealed an increase in the potential pathogen Streptococcus. The fluctuations in the relative abundance of Streptococcus between the months of the third sampling season were also reflected in the seawater. Our study provides initial information on shark microbiome in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. In addition, we demonstrated that these methods were also able to describe environmental episodes and the microbiome is a robust measure for long-term ecological research.}, } @article {pmid36909844, year = {2022}, author = {Dally, M and Izraeli, Y and Belausov, E and Mozes-Daube, N and Coll, M and Zchori-Fein, E}, title = {Rickettsia association with two Macrolophus (Heteroptera: Miridae) species: A comparative study of phylogenies and within-host localization patterns.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1107153}, pmid = {36909844}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many arthropods host bacterial symbionts, some of which are known to influence host nutrition and diet breadth. Omnivorous bugs of the genus Macrolophus (Heteroptera: Miridae) are mainly predatory, but may also feed on plants. The species M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma (=M. caliginosus) are key natural enemies of various economically important agricultural pests, and are known to harbor two Rickettsia species, R. bellii and R. limoniae. To test for possible involvement of symbiotic bacteria in the nutritional ecology of these biocontrol agents, the abundance, phylogeny, and distribution patterns of the two Rickettsia species in M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma were studied. Both of the Rickettsia species were found in 100 and 84% of all tested individuals of M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that a co-evolutionary process between Macrolophus species and their Rickettsia is infrequent. Localization of R. bellii and R. limoniae has been detected in both female and male of M. pygmaeus and M. melanotoma. FISH analysis of female gonads revealed the presence of both Rickettsia species in the germarium of both bug species. Each of the two Rickettsia species displayed a unique distribution pattern along the digestive system of the bugs, mostly occupying separate epithelial cells, unknown caeca-like organs, the Malpighian tubules and the salivary glands. This pattern differed between the two Macrolophus species: in M. pygmaeus, R. limoniae was distributed more broadly along the host digestive system and R. bellii was located primarily in the foregut and midgut. In contrast, in M. melanotoma, R. bellii was more broadly distributed along the digestive system than the clustered R. limoniae. Taken together, these results suggest that Rickettsia may have a role in the nutritional ecology of their plant-and prey-consuming hosts.}, } @article {pmid36909635, year = {2023}, author = {Ding, Y and Fern Ndez-Montero, A and Mani, A and Casadei, E and Shibasaki, Y and Takizawa, F and Miyazawa, R and Salinas, I and Sunyer, JO}, title = {Secretory IgM (sIgM) is an ancient master regulator of microbiota homeostasis and metabolism.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.02.26.530119}, pmid = {36909635}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The co-evolution between secretory immunoglobulins (sIgs) and microbiota began with the emergence of IgM over half a billion years ago. Yet, IgM function in vertebrates is mostly associated with systemic immunity against pathogens. sIgA and sIgT are the only sIgs known to be required in the control of microbiota homeostasis in warm- and cold-blooded vertebrates respectively. Recent studies have shown that sIgM coats a large proportion of the gut microbiota of humans and teleost fish, thus suggesting an ancient and conserved relationship between sIgM and microbiota early in vertebrate evolution. To test this hypothesis, we temporarily and selectively depleted IgM from rainbow trout, an old bony fish species. IgM depletion resulted in a drastic reduction in microbiota IgM coating levels and losses in gutassociated bacteria. These were accompanied by bacterial translocation, severe gut tissue damage, inflammation and dysbiosis predictive of metabolic shifts. Furthermore, depletion of IgM resulted in body weight loss and lethality in an experimental colitis model. Recovery of sIgM to physiological levels restores tissue barrier integrity, while microbiome homeostasis and their predictive metabolic capabilities are not fully restituted. Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized role of sIgM as an ancient master regulator of microbiota homeostasis and metabolism and challenge the current paradigm that sIgA and sIgT are the key vertebrate sIgs regulating microbiome homeostasis.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: IgM, the most ancient and conserved immunoglobulin in jawed vertebrates, is required for successful symbiosis with the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36908810, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, S and Gao, J and Wang, S and Li, W and Wang, A}, title = {Community differentiation of rhizosphere microorganisms and their responses to environmental factors at different development stages of medicinal plant Glehnia littoralis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14988}, pmid = {36908810}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Plants, Medicinal ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Bacteria ; *Microbiota/physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizosphere microorganisms play a key role in affecting plant quality and productivity through its interaction with plant root system. To figure out the bottleneck of the decline of yield and quality in the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs Glehnia littoralis they now encounter, it is important to study the dynamics of rhizosphere microbiota during the cultivation of G. littoralis. In the present study, the composition, diversity and function of rhizosphere microbes at different development stages of G. littoralis, as well as the correlation between rhizosphere microbes and environmental factors were systematically studied by high-throughput sequencing. There were significant differences between the rhizosphere microbes at early and middle-late development stages. More beneficial bacteria, such as Proteobacteria, and more symbiotic and saprophytic fungi were observed at the middle-late development stage of G. littoralis, while beneficial bacteria such as Actinobacteria and polytrophic transitional fungi were abundant at all development stages. The results of redundancy analysis show that eight environmental factors drive the changes of microflora at different development stages. pH, soil organic matter (SOM) and available phosphorus (AP) had important positive effects on the bacterial and fungal communities at the early development stage; saccharase (SC) and nitrate nitrogen (NN) showed significant positive effects on the bacterial and fungal communities at the middle and late stages; while urease (UE), available potassium (AK), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) have different effects on bacterial and fungal communities at different development stages. Random forest analysis identified 47 bacterial markers and 22 fungal markers that could be used to distinguish G. littoralis at different development stages. Network analysis showed that the rhizosphere microbes formed a complex mutualistic symbiosis network, which is beneficial to the growth and development of G. littoralis. These results suggest that host development stage and environmental factors have profound influence on the composition, diversity, community structure and function of plant rhizosphere microorganisms. This study provides a reference for optimizing the cultivation of G. littoralis.}, } @article {pmid36908758, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, G and Miao, F and Tang, Z and Zhou, Y and Luo, Q}, title = {Kohonen neural network and symbiotic-organism search algorithm for intrusion detection of network viruses.}, journal = {Frontiers in computational neuroscience}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {1079483}, pmid = {36908758}, issn = {1662-5188}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The development of the Internet has made life much more convenient, but forms of network intrusion have become increasingly diversified and the threats to network security are becoming much more serious. Therefore, research into intrusion detection has become very important for network security.

METHODS: In this paper, a clustering algorithm based on the symbiotic-organism search (SOS) algorithm and a Kohonen neural network is proposed.

RESULTS: The clustering accuracy of the Kohonen neural network is improved by using the SOS algorithm to optimize the weights in the Kohonen neural network.

DISCUSSION: Our approach was verified with the KDDCUP99 network intrusion data. The experimental results show that SOS-Kohonen can effectively detect intrusion. The detection rate was higher, and the false alarm rate was lower.}, } @article {pmid36907868, year = {2023}, author = {Li, F and Li, X and Cheng, CC and Bujdoš, D and Tollenaar, S and Simpson, DJ and Tasseva, G and Perez-Muñoz, ME and Frese, S and Gänzle, MG and Walter, J and Zheng, J}, title = {A phylogenomic analysis of Limosilactobacillus reuteri reveals ancient and stable evolutionary relationships with rodents and birds and zoonotic transmission to humans.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {53}, pmid = {36907868}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Swine ; Mice ; Phylogeny ; *Limosilactobacillus reuteri ; Rodentia ; Chickens ; Biological Evolution ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gut microbes play crucial roles in the development and health of their animal hosts. However, the evolutionary relationships of gut microbes with vertebrate hosts, and the consequences that arise for the ecology and lifestyle of the microbes are still insufficiently understood. Specifically, the mechanisms by which strain-level diversity evolved, the degree by which lineages remain stably associated with hosts, and how their evolutionary history influences their ecological performance remain a critical gap in our understanding of vertebrate-microbe symbiosis.

RESULTS: This study presents the characterization of an extended collection of strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri and closely related species from a wide variety of hosts by phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses combined with colonization experiments in mice to gain insight into the long-term evolutionary relationship of a bacterial symbiont with vertebrates. The phylogenetic analysis of L. reuteri revealed early-branching lineages that primarily consist of isolates from rodents (four lineages) and birds (one lineage), while lineages dominated by strains from herbivores, humans, pigs, and primates arose more recently and were less host specific. Strains from rodent lineages, despite their phylogenetic divergence, showed tight clustering in gene-content-based analyses. These L. reuteri strains but not those ones from non-rodent lineages efficiently colonize the forestomach epithelium of germ-free mice. The findings support a long-term evolutionary relationships of L. reuteri lineages with rodents and a stable host switch to birds. Associations of L. reuteri with other host species are likely more dynamic and transient. Interestingly, human isolates of L. reuteri cluster phylogenetically closely with strains from domesticated animals, such as chickens and herbivores, suggesting zoonotic transmissions.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study demonstrates that the evolutionary relationship of a vertebrate gut symbiont can be stable in particular hosts over time scales that allow major adaptations and specialization, but also emphasizes the diversity of symbiont lifestyles even within a single bacterial species. For L. reuteri, symbiont lifestyles ranged from autochthonous, likely based on vertical transmission and stably aligned to rodents and birds over evolutionary time, to allochthonous possibly reliant on zoonotic transmission in humans. Such information contributes to our ability to use these microbes in microbial-based therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid36906503, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, J and Wang, Q and Wang, D and Wong, ACN and Wang, GH}, title = {Axenic and gnotobiotic insect technologies in research on host-microbiota interactions.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.02.007}, pmid = {36906503}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Insects are one of the most important animal life forms on earth. Symbiotic microbes are closely related to the growth and development of the host insects and can affect pathogen transmission. For decades, various axenic insect-rearing systems have been developed, allowing further manipulation of symbiotic microbiota composition. Here we review the historical development of axenic rearing systems and the latest progress in using axenic and gnotobiotic approaches to study insect-microbe interactions. We also discuss the challenges of these emerging technologies, possible solutions to address these challenges, and future research directions that can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of insect-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid36905690, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, J and Duan, Q and Ma, J and Hou, F}, title = {Nitrogen mineralization in grazed BSC subsoil is mediated by itself and vegetation in the Loess Plateau, China.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {336}, number = {}, pages = {117647}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117647}, pmid = {36905690}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Animals ; Sheep ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Nitrogen/analysis ; Seasons ; China ; Soil Microbiology ; Grassland ; }, abstract = {Biological soil crust (BSC) exists widely in many kinds of grassland, its effect on soil mineralization in grazing systems has well been studied, but the impacts and threshold of grazing intensity on BSC have rarely been reported. This study focused on the dynamics of nitrogen mineralization rate in biocrust subsoils affected by grazing intensity. We studied the changes in BSC subsoil physicochemical properties and nitrogen mineralization rates under four sheep grazing intensities (i.e., 0, 2.67, 5.33, and 8.67 sheep ha[-1]) in seasons of spring (May-early July), summer (July-early September), and autumn (September-November). Although this moderate grazing intensity contributes to the growth and recovery of BSCs, we found that moss was more vulnerable to trampling than lichen, which means the physicochemical properties of the moss subsoil are more intense. Changes in soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen mineralization rates were significantly higher under 2.67-5.33 sheep ha[-1] than other grazing intensities (Saturation phase). In addition, the structural equation model (SEM) showed that the main response path was grazing, which affected subsoil physicochemical properties through the joint mediation of BSC (25%) and vegetation (14%). Then, the further positive effect on nitrogen mineralization rate and the influence of seasonal fluctuations on the system was fully considered. We found that solar radiation and precipitation all had significant promoting effects on soil nitrogen mineralization rates, the overall seasonal fluctuation has a direct effect of 18% on the rate of nitrogen mineralization. This study revealed the effects of grazing on BSC and the results may enable a better statistical quantification of BSC functions and provide a theoretical basis to formulate grazing strategies in the grazing system of sheep in Loess Plateau even worldwide (BSC symbiosis).}, } @article {pmid36904712, year = {2023}, author = {Janjua, MB and Arslan, H}, title = {A Survey of Symbiotic Radio: Methodologies, Applications, and Future Directions.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36904712}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {The sixth generation (6G) wireless technology aims to achieve global connectivity with environmentally sustainable networks to improve the overall quality of life. The driving force behind these networks is the rapid evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT), which has led to a proliferation of wireless applications across various domains through the massive deployment of IoT devices. The major challenge is to support these devices with limited radio spectrum and energy-efficient communication. Symbiotic radio (SRad) technology is a promising solution that enables cooperative resource-sharing among radio systems through symbiotic relationships. By fostering mutualistic and competitive resource sharing, SRad technology enables the achievement of both common and individual objectives among the different systems. It is a cutting-edge approach that allows for the creation of new paradigms and efficient resource sharing and management. In this article, we present a detailed survey of SRad with the goal of offering valuable insights for future research and applications. To achieve this, we delve into the fundamental concepts of SRad technology, including radio symbiosis and its symbiotic relationships for coexistence and resource sharing among radio systems. We then review the state-of-the-art methodologies in-depth and introduce potential applications. Finally, we identify and discuss the open challenges and future research directions in this field.}, } @article {pmid36904044, year = {2023}, author = {Koziol, L and McKenna, TP and Bever, JD}, title = {Native Microbes Amplify Native Seedling Establishment and Diversity While Inhibiting a Non-Native Grass.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36904044}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Although several studies have shown increased native plant establishment with native microbe soil amendments, few studies have investigated how microbes can alter seedling recruitment and establishment in the presence of a non-native competitor. In this study, the effect of microbial communities on seedling biomass and diversity was assessed by seeding pots with both native prairie seeds and a non-native grass that commonly invades US grassland restorations, Setaria faberi. Soil in the pots was inoculated with whole soil collections from ex-arable land, late successional arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi isolated from a nearby tallgrass prairie, with both prairie AM fungi and ex-arable whole soil, or with a sterile soil (control). We hypothesized (1) late successional plants would benefit from native AM fungi, (2) that non-native plants would outcompete native plants in ex-arable soils, and (3) early successional plants would be unresponsive to microbes. Overall, native plant abundance, late successional plant abundance, and total diversity were greatest in the native AM fungi+ ex-arable soil treatment. These increases led to decreased abundance of the non-native grass S. faberi. These results highlight the importance of late successional native microbes on native seed establishment and demonstrate that microbes can be harnessed to improve both plant community diversity and resistance to invasion during the nascent stages of restoration.}, } @article {pmid36903894, year = {2023}, author = {Ndlovu, S and Suinyuy, TN and Pérez-Fernández, MA and Magadlela, A}, title = {Encephalartos natalensis, Their Nutrient-Cycling Microbes and Enzymes: A Story of Successful Trade-Offs.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36903894}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Encephalartos spp. establish symbioses with nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria that contribute to soil nutrition and improve plant growth. Despite the Encephalartos mutualistic symbioses with N-fixing bacteria, the identity of other bacteria and their contribution to soil fertility and ecosystem functioning is not well understood. Due to Encephalartos spp. being threatened in the wild, this limited information presents a challenge in developing comprehensive conservation and management strategies for these cycad species. Therefore, this study identified the nutrient-cycling bacteria in Encephalartos natalensis coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils. Additionally, the soil characteristics and soil enzyme activities of the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were assayed. The coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils of E. natalensis were collected from a population of >500 E. natalensis in a disturbed savanna woodland at Edendale in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) for nutrient analysis, bacterial identification, and enzyme activity assays. Nutrient-cycling bacteria such as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus; Paraburkholderia sabiae, and Novosphingobium barchaimii were identified in the coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils of E. natalensis. Phosphorus (P) cycling (alkaline and acid phosphatase) and N cycling (β-(D)-Glucosaminidase and nitrate reductase) enzyme activities showed a positive correlation with soil extractable P and total N concentrations in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of E. natalensis. The positive correlation between soil enzymes and soil nutrients demonstrates that the identified nutrient-cycling bacteria in E. natalensis coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils and associated enzymes assayed may contribute to soil nutrient bioavailability of E. natalensis plants growing in acidic and nutrient-poor savanna woodland ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36903877, year = {2023}, author = {Tosi, M and Ogilvie, CM and Spagnoletti, FN and Fournier, S and Martin, RC and Dunfield, KE}, title = {Cover Crops Modulate the Response of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Water Supply: A Field Study in Corn.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36903877}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Cover crops (CCs) were found to improve soil health by increasing plant diversity and ground cover. They may also improve water supply for cash crops by reducing evaporation and increasing soil water storage capacity. However, their influence on plant-associated microbial communities, including symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is less well understood. In a corn field trial, we studied the response of AMF to a four-species winter CC, relative to a no-CC control, as well as to two contrasting water supply levels (i.e., drought and irrigated). We measured AMF colonization of corn roots and used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to study the composition and diversity of soil AMF communities at two depths (i.e., 0-10 and 10-20 cm). In this trial, AMF colonization was high (61-97%), and soil AMF communities were represented by 249 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to 5 genera and 33 virtual taxa. Glomus, followed by Claroideoglomus and Diversispora (class Glomeromycetes), were the dominant genera. Our results showed interacting effects between CC treatments and water supply levels for most of the measured variables. The percentage of AMF colonization, arbuscules, and vesicles tended to be lower in irrigated than drought sites, with significant differences detected only under no-CC. Similarly, soil AMF phylogenetic composition was affected by water supply only in the no-CC treatment. Changes in the abundance of individual virtual taxa also showed strong interacting effects between CCs, irrigation, and sometimes soil depth, although CC effects were clearer than irrigation effects. An exception to these interactions was soil AMF evenness, which was higher in CC than no-CC, and higher under drought than irrigation. Soil AMF richness was not affected by the applied treatments. Our results suggest that CCs can affect the structure of soil AMF communities and modulate their response to water availability levels, although soil heterogeneity could influence the final outcome.}, } @article {pmid36903865, year = {2023}, author = {Liyanage, DK and Torkamaneh, D and Belzile, F and Balasubramanian, P and Hill, B and Thilakarathna, MS}, title = {The Genotypic Variability among Short-Season Soybean Cultivars for Nitrogen Fixation under Drought Stress.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36903865}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Soybean fixes atmospheric nitrogen through the symbiotic rhizobia bacteria that inhabit root nodules. Drought stress negatively affect symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in soybean. The main objective of this study was to identify allelic variations associated with SNF in short-season Canadian soybean varieties under drought stress. A diversity panel of 103 early-maturity Canadian soybean varieties was evaluated under greenhouse conditions to determine SNF-related traits under drought stress. Drought was imposed after three weeks of plant growth, where plants were maintained at 30% field capacity (FC) (drought) and 80% FC (well-watered) until seed maturity. Under drought stress, soybean plants had lower seed yield, yield components, seed nitrogen content, % nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa), and total seed nitrogen fixed compared to those under well-watered conditions. Significant genotypic variability among soybean varieties was found for yield, yield parameters, and nitrogen fixation traits. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using 2.16 M single nucleotide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for different yield and nitrogen fixation related parameters for 30% FC and their relative performance (30% FC/80% FC). In total, five quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions, including candidate genes, were detected as significantly associated with %Ndfa under drought stress and relative performance. These genes can potentially aid in future breeding efforts to develop drought-resistant soybean varieties.}, } @article {pmid36903843, year = {2023}, author = {Campos, C and Coito, JL and Cardoso, H and Marques da Silva, J and Pereira, HS and Viegas, W and Nogales, A}, title = {Dynamic Regulation of Grapevine's microRNAs in Response to Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and High Temperature.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36903843}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNAs that play crucial roles in plant development and stress responses and can regulate plant interactions with beneficial soil microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). To determine if root inoculation with distinct AMF species affected miRNA expression in grapevines subjected to high temperatures, RNA-seq was conducted in leaves of grapevines inoculated with either Rhizoglomus irregulare or Funneliformis mosseae and exposed to a high-temperature treatment (HTT) of 40 °C for 4 h per day for one week. Our results showed that mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in a better plant physiological response to HTT. Amongst the 195 identified miRNAs, 83 were considered isomiRs, suggesting that isomiRs can be biologically functional in plants. The number of differentially expressed miRNAs between temperatures was higher in mycorrhizal (28) than in non-inoculated plants (17). Several miR396 family members, which target homeobox-leucine zipper proteins, were only upregulated by HTT in mycorrhizal plants. Predicted targets of HTT-induced miRNAs in mycorrhizal plants queried to STRING DB formed networks for Cox complex, and growth and stress-related transcription factors such as SQUAMOSA promoter-binding-like-proteins, homeobox-leucine zipper proteins and auxin receptors. A further cluster related to DNA polymerase was found in R. irregulare inoculated plants. The results presented herein provide new insights into miRNA regulation in mycorrhizal grapevines under heat stress and can be the basis for functional studies of plant-AMF-stress interactions.}, } @article {pmid36902209, year = {2023}, author = {Kisiel, A and Miller, T}, title = {Oxidative Status of Medicago truncatula Seedlings after Inoculation with Rhizobacteria of the Genus Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus and Sinorhizobium.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36902209}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Sinorhizobium/metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Pseudomonas/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Oxidative Stress ; *Paenibacillus/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {An increasing number of scientists working to raise agricultural productivity see the potential in the roots and the soil adjacent to them, together with a wealth of micro-organisms. The first mechanisms activated in the plant during any abiotic or biotic stress concern changes in the oxidative status of the plant. With this in mind, for the first time, an attempt was made to check whether the inoculation of seedlings of the model plant Medicago truncatula with rhizobacteria belonging to the genus Pseudomonas (P. brassicacearum KK5, P. corrugata KK7), Paenibacillus borealis KK4 and a symbiotic strain Sinorhizobium meliloti KK13 would change the oxidative status in the days following inoculation. Initially, an increase in H2O2 synthesis was observed, which led to an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes responsible for regulating hydrogen peroxide levels. The main enzyme involved in the reduction of H2O2 content in the roots was catalase. The observed changes indicate the possibility of using the applied rhizobacteria to induce processes related to plant resistance and thus to ensure protection against environmental stress factors. In the next stages, it seems reasonable to check whether the initial changes in the oxidative state affect the activation of other pathways related to plant immunity.}, } @article {pmid36902077, year = {2023}, author = {Fedorova, EE}, title = {Rapid Changes to Endomembrane System of Infected Root Nodule Cells to Adapt to Unusual Lifestyle.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36902077}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Bacteria ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between leguminous plants and soil bacteria rhizobia is a refined type of plant-microbial interaction that has a great importance to the global balance of nitrogen. The reduction of atmospheric nitrogen takes place in infected cells of a root nodule that serves as a temporary shelter for thousands of living bacteria, which, per se, is an unusual state of a eukaryotic cell. One of the most striking features of an infected cell is the drastic changes in the endomembrane system that occur after the entrance of bacteria to the host cell symplast. Mechanisms for maintaining intracellular bacterial colony represent an important part of symbiosis that have still not been sufficiently clarified. This review focuses on the changes that occur in an endomembrane system of infected cells and on the putative mechanisms of infected cell adaptation to its unusual lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid36900208, year = {2023}, author = {Daverio, Z and Balcerczyk, A and Rautureau, GJP and Panthu, B}, title = {How Warburg-Associated Lactic Acidosis Rewires Cancer Cell Energy Metabolism to Resist Glucose Deprivation.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36900208}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Lactic acidosis, a hallmark of solid tumour microenvironment, originates from lactate hyperproduction and its co-secretion with protons by cancer cells displaying the Warburg effect. Long considered a side effect of cancer metabolism, lactic acidosis is now known to play a major role in tumour physiology, aggressiveness and treatment efficiency. Growing evidence shows that it promotes cancer cell resistance to glucose deprivation, a common feature of tumours. Here we review the current understanding of how extracellular lactate and acidosis, acting as a combination of enzymatic inhibitors, signal, and nutrient, switch cancer cell metabolism from the Warburg effect to an oxidative metabolic phenotype, which allows cancer cells to withstand glucose deprivation, and makes lactic acidosis a promising anticancer target. We also discuss how the evidence about lactic acidosis' effect could be integrated in the understanding of the whole-tumour metabolism and what perspectives it opens up for future research.}, } @article {pmid36900094, year = {2023}, author = {Jung, HD and Cho, S and Lee, JY}, title = {Update on the Effect of the Urinary Microbiome on Urolithiasis.}, journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {36900094}, issn = {2075-4418}, abstract = {Microbiota are ecological communities of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms. The microbiome could be involved in kidney stone formation through hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate supersaturation, biofilm formation and aggregation, and urothelial injury. Bacteria bind to calcium oxalate crystals, which causes pyelonephritis and leads to changes in nephrons to form Randall's plaque. The urinary tract microbiome, but not the gut microbiome, can be distinguished between cohorts with urinary stone disease (USD) and those without a history of the disease. In the urine microbiome, the role is known of urease-producing bacteria (Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Providencia stuartii, Serratia marcescens, and Morganella morganii) in stone formation. Calcium oxalate crystals were generated in the presence of two uropathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae). Non-uropathogenic bacteria (S. aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) exhibit calcium oxalate lithogenic effects. The taxa Lactobacilli and Enterobacteriaceae best distinguished the healthy cohort from the USD cohort, respectively. Standardization is needed in urine microbiome research for urolithiasis. Inadequate standardization and design of urinary microbiome research on urolithiasis have hampered the generalizability of results and diminished their impact on clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid36898438, year = {2023}, author = {Bojar, AV and Lécuyer, C and Maher, W and Bojar, HP and Fourel, F and Vasile, Ş}, title = {Multi-element stable isotope geochemistry and arsenic speciation of hydrothermal vent fauna (Alviniconcha sp., Ifremeria nautilei and Eochionelasmus ohtai manusensis), Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {324}, number = {}, pages = {138258}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138258}, pmid = {36898438}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arsenic ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; *Thoracica ; Papua New Guinea ; Snails ; Isotopes ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities, revealing patterns of niche partitioning, live in a limited area characterised by sharp physico-chemical gradients. In this study, we investigated carbon, sulfur, nitrogen stable isotopes as well as arsenic (As) speciations and concentrations for two snails (Alviniconcha sp. and Ifremeria nautilei) and a crustacean, (Eochionelasmus ohtai manusensis), occupying distinct niches in the hydrothermal vent field of the Vienna Woods, Manus Basin, Western Pacific. δ[13]C values of Alviniconcha sp. (foot), I. nautilei (foot and chitin) and E. o. manusensis (soft tissue) are similar, from -28 to -33‰ (V-PDB). The δ[15]N values of Alviniconcha sp. (foot and chitin), I. nautilei (foot and chitin) and E. o. manusensis (soft tissue) range from 8.4 to 10.6‰. The δ[34]S values of Alviniconcha sp. (foot and chitin), I. nautilei (foot) and E. o. manusensis (soft tissue) range from 5.9 to 11.1‰. Using stable isotopes, for the first time, we inferred a Calvin-Benson (RuBisCo) metabolic pathway for Alviniconcha sp. along with the presence of γ-Proteobacteria symbionts for the Vienna Woods communities. For I. nautilei, a feeding pattern is proposed with γ-Proteobacteria symbiosis and a Calvin-Benson-Bassham diet with mixotrophic feeding. E. ohtai manusensis is filtering bacteria with a CBB feeding strategy, with δ[15]N values indicating possible higher position in the trophic chain. Arsenic concentrations in the dry tissue of Alviniconcha (foot), I. nautilei (foot) and E. o. manusensis (soft tissue) are high, from 4134 to 8478 μg/g, with inorganic As concentrations of 607, 492 and 104 μg/g, respectively and dimethyl arsenic (DMA) concentrations of 11.12, 0.25 and 11.2 μg/g, respectively. Snails occurring in a vent proximal position have higher As concentration than barnacles, a pattern not observed for S concentrations. Arsenosugars were not put in evidence indicating that the available organic material for the vent organisms are not surface derived.}, } @article {pmid36897930, year = {2023}, author = {Davison, HR and Hurst, GDD and Siozios, S}, title = {'Candidatus Megaira' are diverse symbionts of algae and ciliates with the potential for defensive symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.000950}, pmid = {36897930}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Ciliophora ; Phylogeny ; }, } @article {pmid36897260, year = {2023}, author = {Reich, HG and Camp, EF and Roger, LM and Putnam, HM}, title = {The trace metal economy of the coral holobiont: supplies, demands and exchanges.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {623-642}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12922}, pmid = {36897260}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Coral Reefs ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Temperature ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The juxtaposition of highly productive coral reef ecosystems in oligotrophic waters has spurred substantial interest and progress in our understanding of macronutrient uptake, exchange, and recycling among coral holobiont partners (host coral, dinoflagellate endosymbiont, endolithic algae, fungi, viruses, bacterial communities). By contrast, the contribution of trace metals to the physiological performance of the coral holobiont and, in turn, the functional ecology of reef-building corals remains unclear. The coral holobiont's trace metal economy is a network of supply, demand, and exchanges upheld by cross-kingdom symbiotic partnerships. Each partner has unique trace metal requirements that are central to their biochemical functions and the metabolic stability of the holobiont. Organismal homeostasis and the exchanges among partners determine the ability of the coral holobiont to adjust to fluctuating trace metal supplies in heterogeneous reef environments. This review details the requirements for trace metals in core biological processes and describes how metal exchanges among holobiont partners are key to sustaining complex nutritional symbioses in oligotrophic environments. Specifically, we discuss how trace metals contribute to partner compatibility, ability to cope with stress, and thereby to organismal fitness and distribution. Beyond holobiont trace metal cycling, we outline how the dynamic nature of the availability of environmental trace metal supplies can be influenced by a variability of abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, light, pH, etc.). Climate change will have profound consequences on the availability of trace metals and further intensify the myriad stressors that influence coral survival. Lastly, we suggest future research directions necessary for understanding the impacts of trace metals on the coral holobiont symbioses spanning subcellular to organismal levels, which will inform nutrient cycling in coral ecosystems more broadly. Collectively, this cross-scale elucidation of the role of trace metals for the coral holobiont will allow us to improve forecasts of future coral reef function.}, } @article {pmid36895353, year = {2023}, author = {Lacotte, V and Dell'Aglio, E and Peignier, S and Benzaoui, F and Heddi, A and Rebollo, R and Da Silva, P}, title = {A comparative study revealed hyperspectral imaging as a potential standardized tool for the analysis of cuticle tanning over insect development.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e13962}, pmid = {36895353}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Cereal-feeding beetles are a major risk for cereal crop maintenance. Cereal weevils such as Sitophilus oryzae have symbiotic intracellular bacteria that provide essential aromatic amino acid to the host for the biosynthesis of their cuticle building blocks. Their cuticle is an important protective barrier against biotic and abiotic stresses, providing high resistance from insecticides. Quantitative optical methods specialized in insect cuticle analysis exist, but their scope of use and the repeatability of the results remain limited. Here, we investigated the potential of Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) as a standardized cuticle analysis tool. Based on HSI, we acquired time series of average reflectance profiles from 400 to 1000 nm from symbiotic (with bacteria) and aposymbiotic (without bacteria) cereal weevils S. oryzae exposed to different nutritional stresses. We assessed the phenotypic changes of weevils under different diets throughout their development and demonstrated the agreement of the results between the HSI method and the classically used Red-Green-Blue analysis. Then, we compared the use of both technologies in laboratory conditions and highlighted the assets of HSI to develop a simple, automated, and standardized analysis tool. This is the first study showing the reliability and feasibility of HSI for a standardized analysis of insect cuticle changes.}, } @article {pmid36894574, year = {2023}, author = {Wan, J and Liang, Q and Zhang, R and Cheng, Y and Wang, X and Wang, H and Zhang, J and Jia, D and Du, Y and Zheng, W and Tang, D and Wei, T and Chen, Q}, title = {Arboviruses and symbiotic viruses cooperatively hijack insect sperm-specific proteins for paternal transmission.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1289}, pmid = {36894574}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Arboviruses ; Sperm Proteins ; Capsid Proteins ; Semen ; Insecta ; *Hemiptera ; *Reoviridae/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arboviruses and symbiotic viruses can be paternally transmitted by male insects to their offspring for long-term viral persistence in nature, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we identify the sperm-specific serpin protein HongrES1 of leafhopper Recilia dorsalis as a mediator of paternal transmission of the reovirus Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) and a previously undescribed symbiotic virus of the Virgaviridae family, Recilia dorsalis filamentous virus (RdFV). We show that HongrES1 mediates the direct binding of virions to leafhopper sperm surfaces and subsequent paternal transmission via interaction with both viral capsid proteins. Direct interaction of viral capsid proteins mediates simultaneously invasion of two viruses into male reproductive organs. Moreover, arbovirus activates HongrES1 expression to suppress the conversion of prophenoloxidase to active phenoloxidase, potentially producing a mild antiviral melanization defense. Paternal virus transmission scarcely affects offspring fitness. These findings provide insights into how different viruses cooperatively hijack insect sperm-specific proteins for paternal transmission without disturbing sperm functions.}, } @article {pmid36893131, year = {2023}, author = {Li, YL and Li, XZ and Yao, YS and Wu, ZM and Gao, L and Tan, NZ and Luo, ZQ and Xie, WD and Wu, JY and Zhu, JS}, title = {Differential coexistence of multiple genotypes of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the stromata, ascocarps and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {e0270776}, pmid = {36893131}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Cordyceps/genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Genotype ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To examine the differential occurrence of Ophiocordyceps sinensis genotypes in the stroma, stromal fertile portion (SFP) densely covered with numerous ascocarps, and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis.

METHODS: Immature and mature C. sinensis specimens were harvested. Mature C. sinensis specimens were continuously cultivated in our laboratory (altitude 2,200 m). The SFPs (with ascocarps) and ascospores of C. sinensis were collected for microscopic and molecular analyses using species-/genotype-specific primers. Sequences of mutant genotypes of O. sinensis were aligned with that of Genotype #1 Hirsutella sinensis and compared phylogenetically using a Bayesian majority-rule method.

RESULTS: Fully and semiejected ascospores were collected from the same specimens. The semiejected ascospores tightly adhered to the surface of the asci as observed by the naked eye and under optical and confocal microscopies. The multicellular heterokaryotic ascospores showed uneven staining of nuclei. The immature and mature stromata, SFPs (with ascocarps) and ascospores were found to differentially contain several GC- and AT-biased genotypes of O. sinensis, Samsoniella hepiali, and an AB067719-type fungus. The genotypes within AT-biased Cluster-A in the Bayesian tree occurred in all compartments of C. sinensis, but those within AT-biased Cluster-B were present in immature and mature stromata and SPFs but absent in the ascospores. Genotype #13 of O. sinensis was present in semi-ejected ascospores and Genotype #14 in fully ejected ascospores. GC-biased Genotypes #13-14 featured large DNA segment substitutions and genetic material recombination between the genomes of the parental fungi (H. sinensis and the AB067719-type fungus). These ascosporic offspring genotypes combined with varying abundances of S. hepiali in the 2 types of ascospores participated in the control of the development, maturation and ejection of the ascospores.

CONCLUSION: Multiple genotypes of O. sinensis coexist differentially in the stromata, SFPs and 2 types of C. sinensis ascospores, along with S. hepiali and the AB067719-type fungus. The fungal components in different combinations and their dynamic alterations in the compartments of C. sinensis during maturation play symbiotic roles in the lifecycle of natural C. sinensis.}, } @article {pmid36891914, year = {2023}, author = {Li, L and Liu, Q and Ge, S and Tang, M and He, L and Zou, Y and Yu, J and Zhou, Y}, title = {SlIAA23-SlARF6 module controls arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by regulating strigolactone biosynthesis in tomato.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14580}, pmid = {36891914}, issn = {1365-3040}, abstract = {Auxins are a class of phytohormones with roles involved in the establishment and maintenance of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). Auxin response factors (ARFs) and Auxin/Indole-acetic acids (AUX/IAAs), as two transcription factors of the auxin signaling pathway, coregulate the transcription of auxin response genes. However, the interrelation and regulatory mechanism of ARFs and AUX/IAAs in regulating AMS are still unclear. In this study, we found that the content of auxin in tomato roots increased sharply and revealed the importance of the auxin signaling pathway in the early stage of AMS. Notably, SlARF6 was found to play a negative role in AMF colonization. Silencing SlARF6 significantly increased the expression of AM-marker genes, as well as AMF-induced phosphorus uptake. SlIAA23 could interact with SlARF6 in vivo and in vitro, and promoted the AMS and phosphorus uptake. Interestingly, SlARF6 and SlIAA23 played a contrary role in strigolactone (SL) synthesis and accumulation in AMF-colonized roots of tomato plants. SlARF6 could directly bind to the AuxRE motif of the SlCCD8 promoter and inhibited its transcription, however, this effect was attenuated by SlIAA23 through interaction with SlARF6. Our results suggest that SlIAA23-SlARF6 coregulated tomato-AMS via an SL-dependent pathway, thus affecting phosphorus uptake in tomato plants.}, } @article {pmid36890883, year = {2023}, author = {Tirichine, L and Piganeau, G}, title = {Editorial: Algal symbiotic relationships in freshwater and marine environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1155759}, pmid = {36890883}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36890066, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, D and Zhang, C and Liu, Y and Yao, J and Yang, X and Wu, S and Du, J and Yang, X}, title = {Beyond faecal microbiota transplantation, the non-negligible role of faecal virome or bacteriophage transplantation.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology, immunology, and infection = Wei mian yu gan ran za zhi}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jmii.2023.02.005}, pmid = {36890066}, issn = {1995-9133}, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota, which contains bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses including bacteriophages, is symbiotic and evolves together with humans. The balanced intestinal microbiota plays indispensable roles in maintaining and regulating host metabolism and health. Dysbiosis has been associated with not only intestinal diseases but other diseases such as neurology disorders and cancers. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or faecal virome or bacteriophage transplantation (FVT or FBT), transfers faecal bacteria or viruses, with a focus on bacteriophage, from one healthy individual to another individual (normally unhealthy condition), and aims to restore the balanced gut microbiota and assist in subduing diseases. In this review, we summarized the applications of FMT and FVT in clinical settings, discussed the advantages and challenges of FMT and FVT currently and proposed several considerations prospectively. We further provided our understanding of why FMT and FVT have their limitations and raised the possible future development strategy of FMT and FVT.}, } @article {pmid36889489, year = {2023}, author = {Jin, Y and Kim, T and Kang, H}, title = {Forced treadmill running modifies gut microbiota with alleviations of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease pathology in 3xTg-AD mice.}, journal = {Physiology & behavior}, volume = {264}, number = {}, pages = {114145}, doi = {10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114145}, pmid = {36889489}, issn = {1873-507X}, mesh = {Mice ; Animals ; *Alzheimer Disease/complications/therapy/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology/therapy ; Mice, Transgenic ; *Running ; Disease Models, Animal ; }, abstract = {Physical exercise has been recommended as a non-pharmacologic treatment for delaying the onset or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The therapeutic potential of exercise training-induced changes in symbiotic gut microbiota against AD neuropathology is not well understood, yet. This study investigated the effects of a 20-week forced treadmill exercise program on the makeup of the gut microbiota, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and the development of AD-like cognitive deficits and neuropathology in triple transgenic AD mice. Our findings show that forced treadmill running causes symbiotic changes in the gut microbiota, such as increased Akkermansia muciniphila and decreased Bacteroides species, as well as increased BBB-related protein expression and reduced AD-like cognitive impairments and neuropathology progression. The current findings of this animal study suggest that the interaction between the gut microbiota and the brain, possibly via the BBB, is responsible for exercise training-induced cognitive benefits and alleviation of AD pathology.}, } @article {pmid36883579, year = {2023}, author = {López, CM and Alseekh, S and Torralbo, F and Martínez Rivas, FJ and Fernie, AR and Amil-Ruiz, F and Alamillo, JM}, title = {Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals that symbiotic nitrogen fixation enhances drought resistance in common bean.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erad083}, pmid = {36883579}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), one of the most important legume crops, use atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with soil rhizobia reducing the nitrogen fertilization needs. However, this legume is particularly sensitive to drought conditions, prevalent in arid regions where this crop is cultured. Therefore, studying the response to drought is important to sustain crop productivity. We have used integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis to understand the molecular responses to water deficit in a marker-class common bean accession cultivated under N2-fixation or fertilized with nitrate (NO3-). RNA-seq revealed more transcriptional changes in the plants fertilized with NO3- than in the N2-fixing plants. However, changes in N2-fixing plants were more associated with drought tolerance than in the NO3- fertilized ones. N2-fixing plants accumulated more ureides in response to drought and GC/MS and LC/MS analysis of primary and secondary metabolites profiles revealed that N2-fixing plants also had higher levels of ABA, proline, raffinose, amino acids, sphingolipids and triacylglycerols than the NO3- fertilized ones. Moreover, plants grown under nitrogen fixation recovered from drought better than plants fertilized with NO3-. Altogether we show that common bean plants grown under symbiotic nitrogen fixation were more protected against drought than the plants fertilized with nitrate.}, } @article {pmid36883313, year = {2023}, author = {Santiago, MFM and King, KC and Drew, GC}, title = {Interactions between insect vectors and plant pathogens span the parasitism-mutualism continuum.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {20220453}, pmid = {36883313}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Insect Vectors ; Biological Evolution ; Phenotype ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Agricultural crops infected with vector-borne pathogens can suffer severe negative consequences, but the extent to which phytopathogens affect the fitness of their vector hosts remains unclear. Evolutionary theory predicts that selection on vector-borne pathogens will favour low virulence or mutualistic phenotypes in the vector, traits facilitating effective transmission between plant hosts. Here, we use a multivariate meta-analytic approach on 115 effect sizes across 34 unique plant-vector-pathogen systems to quantify the overall effect of phytopathogens on vector host fitness. In support of theoretical models, we report that phytopathogens overall have a neutral fitness effect on vector hosts. However, the range of fitness outcomes is diverse and span the parasitism-mutualism continuum. We found no evidence that various transmission strategies, or direct effects and indirect (plant-mediated) effects, of phytopathogens have divergent fitness outcomes for the vector. Our finding emphasizes diversity in tripartite interactions and the necessity for pathosystem-specific approaches to vector control.}, } @article {pmid36882945, year = {2023}, author = {Stahlhut, KN and Conway, M and Mason, CM and Bauer, JT}, title = {Intraspecific variation in mycorrhizal response is much larger than ecological literature suggests.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e4015}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.4015}, pmid = {36882945}, issn = {1939-9170}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal response is the most common metric for characterizing how much benefit a plant derives from mycorrhizal symbiosis. Traditionally, ecologists have used these metrics to generalize benefit from mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant species, ignoring the potential for plant intraspecific trait variation to alter the outcome of the mutualism. In order for mean trait values to be useful as a functional trait to describe a species, as has been attempted for mycorrhizal response traits, interspecific variation must be much larger than intraspecific variation. While the variation among species has been extensively studied with respect to mycorrhizal response traits, variation within species has rarely been examined. We conducted a systematic review and analyzed how much variation for mycorrhizal growth and nutrient response typically exists within a plant species. We assessed 28 publications that included 60 individual studies testing mycorrhizal response in at least five genotypes of a plant species, and we found that intraspecific trait variation for mycorrhizal response was generally very large and highly variable depending on study design. The difference between the highest and lowest growth response in a study ranged from 10% to 350% across studies, and 36 of the studies included species for which both positive and negative growth responses to mycorrhizae were observed across different genotypes. The intraspecific variation for mycorrhizal growth response in some of these studies was larger than the variation documented among species across the plant kingdom. Phosphorus concentration and content was measured in 17 studies and variation in phosphorus response was similar to variation in growth responses. We also found that plant genotype was just as important for predicting mycorrhizal response as the effects of fungal inoculant identity. Our analysis highlights not only the potential importance of intraspecific trait variation for mycorrhizal response, but also the lack of research that has been done on the scale of this variation in plant species. Including intraspecific variation into research on the interactions between plants and their symbionts can increase our understanding of plant coexistence and ecological stability.}, } @article {pmid36882766, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, Y and Meng, L and Wang, M and Zhong, Z and Li, D and Zhang, Y and Li, H and Zhang, H and Seim, I and Li, Y and Jiang, A and Ji, Q and Su, X and Chen, J and Fan, G and Li, C and Liu, S}, title = {Hologenome analysis reveals independent evolution to chemosymbiosis by deep-sea bivalves.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {51}, pmid = {36882766}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia/genetics ; Biological Transport ; Genome, Bacterial ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lipopolysaccharides ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bivalves have independently evolved a variety of symbiotic relationships with chemosynthetic bacteria. These relationships range from endo- to extracellular interactions, making them ideal for studies on symbiosis-related evolution. It is still unclear whether there are universal patterns to symbiosis across bivalves. Here, we investigate the hologenome of an extracellular symbiotic thyasirid clam that represents the early stages of symbiosis evolution.

RESULTS: We present a hologenome of Conchocele bisecta (Bivalvia: Thyasiridae) collected from deep-sea hydrothermal vents with extracellular symbionts, along with related ultrastructural evidence and expression data. Based on ultrastructural and sequencing evidence, only one dominant Thioglobaceae bacteria was densely aggregated in the large bacterial chambers of C. bisecta, and the bacterial genome shows nutritional complementarity and immune interactions with the host. Overall, gene family expansions may contribute to the symbiosis-related phenotypic variations in different bivalves. For instance, convergent expansions of gaseous substrate transport families in the endosymbiotic bivalves are absent in C. bisecta. Compared to endosymbiotic relatives, the thyasirid genome exhibits large-scale expansion in phagocytosis, which may facilitate symbiont digestion and account for extracellular symbiotic phenotypes. We also reveal that distinct immune system evolution, including expansion in lipopolysaccharide scavenging and contraction of IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis protein), may contribute to the different manners of bacterial virulence resistance in C. bisecta.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, bivalves employ different pathways to adapt to the long-term co-existence with their bacterial symbionts, further highlighting the contribution of stochastic evolution to the independent gain of a symbiotic lifestyle in the lineage.}, } @article {pmid36882224, year = {2023}, author = {Mohamed, AR and Ochsenkühn, MA and Kazlak, AM and Moustafa, A and Amin, SA}, title = {The coral microbiome: towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of coral-microbiota interactions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36882224}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals live in a complex, multipartite symbiosis with diverse microbes across kingdoms, some of which are implicated in vital functions, such as those related to resilience against climate change. However, knowledge gaps and technical challenges limit our understanding of the nature and functional significance of complex symbiotic relationships within corals. Here, we provide an overview of the complexity of the coral microbiome focusing on taxonomic diversity and functions of well-studied and cryptic microbes. Mining the coral literature indicate that while corals collectively harbour a third of all marine bacterial phyla, known bacterial symbionts and antagonists of corals represent a minute fraction of this diversity and that these taxa cluster into select genera, suggesting selective evolutionary mechanisms enabled these bacteria to gain a niche within the holobiont. Recent advances in coral microbiome research aimed at leveraging microbiome manipulation to increase coral's fitness to help mitigate heat stress-related mortality are discussed. Then, insights into the potential mechanisms through which microbiota can communicate with and modify host responses are examined by describing known recognition patterns, potential microbially derived coral epigenome effector proteins and coral gene regulation. Finally, the power of omics tools used to study corals are highlighted with emphasis on an integrated host-microbiota multiomics framework to understand the underlying mechanisms during symbiosis and climate change-driven dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36881679, year = {2023}, author = {Baig, F and Farnier, K and Ishtiaq, M and Cunningham, JP}, title = {Volatiles produced by symbiotic yeasts improve trap catches of Carpophilus davidsoni (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae): an important pest of stone fruits in Australia.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toad027}, pmid = {36881679}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {Carpophilus davidsoni (Dobson) is an important pest of Australian stone fruit. Current management practices for this beetle include the use of a trap that contains an attractant lure comprised of aggregation pheromones and a 'co-attractant' mixture of volatiles from fruit juice fermented using Baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Hansen). We explored whether volatiles from yeasts Pichia kluyveri (Bedford) and Hanseniaspora guilliermondii (Pijper), which are closely associated with C. davidsoni in nature, might improve the effectiveness of the co-attractant. Field trials using live yeast cultures revealed that P. kluyveri trapped higher numbers of C. davidsoni compared to H. guilliermondii, and comparative GC-MS of volatile emissions of the two yeasts led to the selection of isoamyl acetate and 2-phenylethyl acetate for further investigation. In subsequent field trials, trap catches of C. davidsoni were significantly increased when 2-phenylethyl acetate was added to the co-attractant, compared to when isoamyl acetate was added, or both isoamyl acetate and 2-phenylethyl acetate. We also tested different concentrations of ethyl acetate in the co-attractant (the only ester in the original lure) and found contrasting results in cage bioassays and field trails. Our study demonstrates how exploring volatile emissions from microbes that are ecologically associated with insect pests can result in more potent lures for use in integrated pest management strategies. Results from laboratory bioassays screening volatile compounds should be treated with caution when making inferences regarding attraction under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid36881677, year = {2023}, author = {Bristy, SA and Hossain, MA and Hasan, MI and Mahmud, SMH and Moni, MA and Rahman, MH}, title = {An integrated complete-genome sequencing and systems biology approach to predict antimicrobial resistance genes in the virulent bacterial strains of Moraxella catarrhalis.}, journal = {Briefings in functional genomics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/bfgp/elad005}, pmid = {36881677}, issn = {2041-2657}, abstract = {Moraxella catarrhalis is a symbiotic as well as mucosal infection-causing bacterium unique to humans. Currently, it is considered as one of the leading factors of acute middle ear infection in children. As M. catarrhalis is resistant to multiple drugs, the treatment is unsuccessful; therefore, innovative and forward-thinking approaches are required to combat the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To better comprehend the numerous processes that lead to antibiotic resistance in M. catarrhalis, we have adopted a computational method in this study. From the NCBI-Genome database, we investigated 12 strains of M. catarrhalis. We explored the interaction network comprising 74 antimicrobial-resistant genes found by analyzing M. catarrhalis bacterial strains. Moreover, to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the AMR system, clustering and the functional enrichment analysis were assessed employing AMR gene interactions networks. According to the findings of our assessment, the majority of the genes in the network were involved in antibiotic inactivation; antibiotic target replacement, alteration and antibiotic efflux pump processes. They exhibit resistance to several antibiotics, such as isoniazid, ethionamide, cycloserine, fosfomycin, triclosan, etc. Additionally, rpoB, atpA, fusA, groEL and rpoL have the highest frequency of relevant interactors in the interaction network and are therefore regarded as the hub nodes. These genes can be exploited to create novel medications by serving as possible therapeutic targets. Finally, we believe that our findings could be useful to advance knowledge of the AMR system present in M. catarrhalis.}, } @article {pmid36880763, year = {2023}, author = {Pirttilä, AM and Brusila, V and Koskimäki, JJ and Wäli, PR and Ruotsalainen, AL and Mutanen, M and Markkola, AM}, title = {Exchange of Microbiomes in Plant-Insect Herbivore Interactions.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0321022}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03210-22}, pmid = {36880763}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial symbiotic communities span through kingdoms. The vast microbial gene pool extends the host genome and supports adaptations to changing environmental conditions. Plants are versatile hosts for the symbionts, carrying microbes on the surface, inside tissues, and even within the cells. Insects are equally abundantly colonized by microbial symbionts on the exoskeleton, in the gut, in the hemocoel, and inside the cells. The insect gut is a prolific environment, but it is selective on the microbial species that enter with food. Plants and insects are often highly dependent on each other and frequently interact. Regardless of the accumulating evidence on the microbiomes of both organisms, it remains unclear how much they exchange and modify each other's microbiomes. In this review, we approach this question from the point of view of herbivores that feed on plants, with a special focus on the forest ecosystems. After a brief introduction to the subject, we concentrate on the plant microbiome, the overlap between plant and insect microbial communities, and how the exchange and modification of microbiomes affects the fitness of each host.}, } @article {pmid36880270, year = {2023}, author = {Mahood, EH and Bennett, AA and Komatsu, K and Kruse, LH and Lau, V and Rahmati Ishka, M and Jiang, Y and Bravo, A and Louie, K and Bowen, BP and Harrison, MJ and Provart, NJ and Vatamaniuk, OK and Moghe, GD}, title = {Information theory and machine learning illuminate large-scale metabolomic responses of Brachypodium distachyon to environmental change.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.16160}, pmid = {36880270}, issn = {1365-313X}, abstract = {Plant responses to environmental change are mediated via changes in cellular metabolomes. However, <5% of signals obtained from liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) can be identified, limiting our understanding of how metabolomes change under biotic/abiotic stress. To address this challenge, we performed untargeted LC-MS/MS of leaves, roots, and other organs of Brachypodium distachyon (Poaceae) under 17 organ-condition combinations, including copper deficiency, heat stress, low phosphate, and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. We found that both leaf and root metabolomes were significantly affected by the growth medium. Leaf metabolomes were more diverse than root metabolomes, but the latter were more specialized and more responsive to environmental change. We found that 1 week of copper deficiency shielded the root, but not the leaf metabolome, from perturbation due to heat stress. Machine learning (ML)-based analysis annotated approximately 81% of the fragmented peaks versus approximately 6% using spectral matches alone. We performed one of the most extensive validations of ML-based peak annotations in plants using thousands of authentic standards, and analyzed approximately 37% of the annotated peaks based on these assessments. Analyzing responsiveness of each predicted metabolite class to environmental change revealed significant perturbations of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and flavonoids. Co-accumulation analysis further identified condition-specific biomarkers. To make these results accessible, we developed a visualization platform on the Bio-Analytic Resource for Plant Biology website (https://bar.utoronto.ca/efp_brachypodium_metabolites/cgi-bin/efpWeb.cgi), where perturbed metabolite classes can be readily visualized. Overall, our study illustrates how emerging chemoinformatic methods can be applied to reveal novel insights into the dynamic plant metabolome and stress adaptation.}, } @article {pmid36880258, year = {2023}, author = {Pereira, AL and Carrapiço, F}, title = {A fluorescence method to detect cyanophycin in the symbiotic cyanobacterium, Anabaena azollae.}, journal = {Biotechnic & histochemistry : official publication of the Biological Stain Commission}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-5}, doi = {10.1080/10520295.2023.2182452}, pmid = {36880258}, issn = {1473-7760}, abstract = {The cyanophycin content of the heterocystous nitrogen-fixing symbiotic cyanobacterium, Anabaena azollae, which inhabits an ovoid cavity in the dorsal leaf lobes of the fern, Azolla filiculoides, is seldom analyzed. To study the cyanophycin content in vegetative cells and heterocysts of A. azollae, we used three fluorochromes: aluminum trichloride, lead citrate and Wilson citroboric solution and Coomassie brilliant blue. Blue and yellow fluorescence were emitted from the polar nodes and cytoplasm cyanophycin granules of the heterocysts when stained with the three fluorochromes. The cyanophycin observed without staining or with Coomassie brilliant blue staining did not alter the results obtained using the fluorochromes. We found that aluminum trichloride, lead acetate and Wilson citroboric solution could be used to detect cyanophycin.}, } @article {pmid36878178, year = {2023}, author = {Wadström, C and Södergren, K and Palm, J}, title = {Exploring total economic values in an emerging urban circular wastewater system.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {233}, number = {}, pages = {119806}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2023.119806}, pmid = {36878178}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Sweden ; *Wastewater/statistics & numerical data ; Water ; *Water Supply/statistics & numerical data ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; }, abstract = {Circular water management has the potential to close resource and material loops within and across value chains. In the water industry, circular municipal wastewater management through industrial urban symbiosis (IUS) is recognized as a solution to overcome water scarcity in urban environments. IUS involves collaboration between actors with different organizational backgrounds, which can lead to inherent risks of conflicting goals. This study explores how different values drive various organizations to participate in an emerging circular wastewater collaboration. The study comprises a literature review of 34 scientific articles and a case study of a potential circular wastewater system through IUS in Simrishamn, Sweden. It presents an interdisciplinary framework based on the total economic value concept and organizational archetypes for examining actor values in circular wastewater management. This framework provides a novel approach for assessing different values and how they may compete or align. It can also identify the absence of certain values, enabling the achievement of a minimum level of value coherence amongst different actors, and thereby increasing the sustainability and effectiveness of circular wastewater collaborations. Therefore, careful planning and stakeholder interaction, in accordance with economic value perspectives, can enhance the legitimacy and policy development of circular solutions.}, } @article {pmid36877257, year = {2023}, author = {Jager, EA and Quebbeman, AW and Wolf, AA and Perakis, SS and Funk, JL and Menge, DNL}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation does not stimulate soil phosphatase activity under temperate and tropical trees.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {201}, number = {3}, pages = {827-840}, pmid = {36877257}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Trees ; *Ecosystem ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing plants can enrich ecosystems with N, which can alter the cycling and demand for other nutrients. Researchers have hypothesized that fixed N could be used by plants and soil microbes to produce extracellular phosphatase enzymes, which release P from organic matter. Consistent with this speculation, the presence of N-fixing plants is often associated with high phosphatase activity, either in the soil or on root surfaces, although other studies have not found this association, and the connection between phosphatase and rates of N fixation-the mechanistic part of the argument-is tenuous. Here, we measured soil phosphatase activity under N-fixing trees and non-fixing trees transplanted and grown in tropical and temperate sites in the USA: two sites in Hawaii, and one each in New York and Oregon. This provides a rare example of phosphatase activity measured in a multi-site field experiment with rigorously quantified rates of N fixation. We found no difference in soil phosphatase activity under N-fixing vs. non-fixing trees nor across rates of N fixation, though we note that no sites were P limited and only one was N limited. Our results add to the literature showing no connection between N fixation rates and phosphatase activity.}, } @article {pmid36876631, year = {2023}, author = {Li, JX and Xu, QH and Shang, RY and Liu, Q and Luo, XC and Lin, HW and Jiao, WH}, title = {Aspergetherins A-D, New Chlorinated Biphenyls with anti-MRSA Activity from the Marine Sponge Symbiotic Fungus Aspergillus terreus 164018.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202300010}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202300010}, pmid = {36876631}, issn = {1612-1880}, abstract = {Aspergetherins A-D (1-4), four new chlorinated biphenyls, were isolated from the rice fermentation of a marine sponge symbiotic fungus Aspergillus terreus 164018, along with seven known biphenyl derivatives (5-11). The structures of four new compounds were determined by a comprehensive analysis of the spectroscopic data, including HR-ESI-MS and 2D NMR data. All 11 isolates were evaluated for their anti-bacterial activity against two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Among them, compounds 1, 3, 8 and 10 showed anti-MRSA activity with MIC values of 1.0-128 μg/mL. Preliminary structure-activity relationship analysis unveiled that both chlorinated substitution and esterification of 2-carboxylic acid could impact the antibacterial activity of biphenyls.}, } @article {pmid36876109, year = {2023}, author = {Wongdee, J and Piromyou, P and Songwattana, P and Greetatorn, T and Teaumroong, N and Boonkerd, N and Giraud, E and Nouwen, N and Tittabutr, P}, title = {Role of two RpoN in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain DOA9 in symbiosis and free-living growth.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1131860}, pmid = {36876109}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {RpoN is an alternative sigma factor (sigma 54) that recruits the core RNA polymerase to promoters of genes. In bacteria, RpoN has diverse physiological functions. In rhizobia, RpoN plays a key role in the transcription of nitrogen fixation (nif) genes. The Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 strain contains a chromosomal (c) and plasmid (p) encoded RpoN protein. We used single and double rpoN mutants and reporter strains to investigate the role of the two RpoN proteins under free-living and symbiotic conditions. We observed that the inactivation of rpoNc or rpoNp severely impacts the physiology of the bacteria under free-living conditions, such as the bacterial motility, carbon and nitrogen utilization profiles, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and biofilm formation. However, free-living nitrogen fixation appears to be under the primary control of RpoNc. Interestingly, drastic effects of rpoNc and rpoNp mutations were also observed during symbiosis with Aeschynomene americana. Indeed, inoculation with rpoNp, rpoNc, and double rpoN mutant strains resulted in decreases of 39, 64, and 82% in the number of nodules, respectively, as well as a reduction in nitrogen fixation efficiency and a loss of the bacterium's ability to survive intracellularly. Taken together, the results show that the chromosomal and plasmid encoded RpoN proteins in the DOA9 strain both play a pleiotropic role during free-living and symbiotic states.}, } @article {pmid36876069, year = {2023}, author = {Ge, W and Ren, Y and Dong, C and Shao, Q and Bai, Y and He, Z and Yao, T and Zhang, Y and Zhu, G and Deshmukh, SK and Han, Y}, title = {New perspective: Symbiotic pattern and assembly mechanism of Cantharellus cibarius-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1074468}, pmid = {36876069}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cantharellus cibarius, an ectomycorrhizal fungus belonging to the Basidiomycetes, has significant medicinal and edible value, economic importance, and ecological benefits. However, C. cibarius remains incapable of artificial cultivation, which is thought to be due to the presence of bacteria. Therefore, much research has focused on the relationship between C. cibarius and bacteria, but rare bacteria are frequently overlooked, and symbiotic pattern and assembly mechanism of the bacterial community associated with C. cibarius remain unknown. In this study, the assembly mechanism and driving factors of both abundant and rare bacterial communities of C. cibarius were revealed by the null model. The symbiotic pattern of the bacterial community was examined using a co-occurrence network. Metabolic functions and phenotypes of the abundant and rare bacteria were compared using METAGENassist2, and the impacts of abiotic variables on the diversity of abundant and rare bacteria were examined using partial least squares path modeling. In the fruiting body and mycosphere of C. cibarius, there was a higher proportion of specialist bacteria compared with generalist bacteria. Dispersal limitation dominated the assembly of abundant and rare bacterial communities in the fruiting body and mycosphere. However, pH, 1-octen-3-ol, and total phosphorus of the fruiting body were the main driving factors of bacterial community assembly in the fruiting body, while available nitrogen and total phosphorus of the soil affected the assembly process of the bacterial community in the mycosphere. Furthermore, bacterial co-occurrence patterns in the mycosphere may be more complex compared with those in the fruiting body. Unlike the specific potential functions of abundant bacteria, rare bacteria may provide supplementary or unique metabolic pathways (such as sulfite oxidizer and sulfur reducer) to enhance the ecological function of C. cibarius. Notably, while volatile organic compounds can reduce mycosphere bacterial diversity, they can increase fruiting body bacterial diversity. Findings from this study further, our understanding of C. cibarius-associated microbial ecology.}, } @article {pmid36875860, year = {2023}, author = {, and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Urocerus albicornis.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {e07845}, pmid = {36875860}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Urocerus albicornis (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), the black horntail sawfly, for the territory of the EU. U. albicornis is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. U. albicornis occurs throughout Canada and continental USA and has established in northern Spain, and probably in southern France (based on two specimens caught in two sites) and Japan (based on one individual caught in one site). It attacks mostly stumps or fallen or weakened trees of at least 20 species of Pinaceae (Abies spp., Larix spp., Picea spp., Pinus spp., Pseudotsuga menziesii, Tsuga spp.) and of Cupressaceae (Thuja plicata). In Spain, the females fly between May and September with a peak in August and September. The eggs are deposited into the sapwood, together with mucus containing a venom and a white-rot wood-decay basidiomycete, either Amylostereum chailletii or A. areolatum. Each fungus is symbiotic with the insect. The larvae feed on wood infected by the fungus. All immature stages live in the host sapwood. In British Columbia, the lifecycle of the pest lasts 2 years but has not been fully characterised elsewhere. The wood of the host trees is impacted by decay due to the fungus, and structurally impaired by the larval galleries. U. albicornis can be carried in conifer wood, solid wood packaging material (SWPM) or plants for planting. Wood from North America is regulated by 2019/2072 (Annex VII) while SWPM is managed according to ISPM 15. The pathway plants for planting is largely closed by prohibition, with the exception of Thuja spp. Climatic conditions in several EU member states are conducive for establishment and the main host plants are widespread in those areas. Further spread and introduction of U. albicornis is likely to decrease the quality of host wood and may influence forest diversity by selectively affecting conifers. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of additional entry and further spread, and there is a potential for biological control. Despite uncertainty regarding potential damage, U. albicornis satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, } @article {pmid36875732, year = {2023}, author = {Afshar, AS and Abbaspour, H}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviate salinity stress in pistachio plants by altering gene expression and antioxidant pathways.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {263-276}, pmid = {36875732}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: This study investigated how inoculation of salt-stressed Pistacia vera seedlings with Rhizophagus irregularis, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), affects their biomass, oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activity, and gene expression. Pistachio seedlings (N:36) were randomly assigned to AMF inoculation and non-inoculation groups in a pot experiment with 9 replications. Each group was further divided and randomly assigned to two salinity treatments (0 and 300 mM NaCl). At the end of week 4, three pistachio plantlets were randomly selected from each group for Rhizophagus irregularis colonization inspection, physiological and biochemical assays, and biomass measurements. Salinity activated enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems in the pistachio plants were studied. The negative effects of salinity included reduced biomass and relative water content (RWC), increased O2 [·-], H2O2, MDA, and electrolytic leakage. Generally, Rhizophagus irregularis was found to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity in pistachio seedlings. AMF inoculation resulted in even further increases in the activities of SODs, POD, CAT, and GR enzymes, upregulating Cu/Zn-SOD, Fe-SOD, Mn-SOD, and GR genes expression in plants under salinity stress. Moreover, AMF significantly increased AsA, α-tocopherol, and carotenoids under both control and salinity conditions. The study concludes with a call for future research into the mechanisms of mycorrhiza-induced tolerance in plants under salinity stress.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01279-8.}, } @article {pmid36875727, year = {2023}, author = {Asadollahi, M and Iranbakhsh, A and Ahmadvand, R and Ebadi, M and Mehregan, I}, title = {Synergetic effect of water deficit and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on the expression of aquaporins in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) roots: insights from NGS RNA-sequencing.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {195-208}, pmid = {36875727}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important crops in the world. This investigation was attempted to evaluate the transcriptional responses of aquaporins (AQPs) to the mycorrhizal inoculation and/or water deficit conditions in wheat to clarify how the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can contribute to the modulation of water homeostasis. The wheat seedlings were subjected to the water deficiency, and mycorrhizal inoculation using arbuscular fungus Funneliformis mosseae and Illumina RNA-Seq analyses confirmed that aquaporins expressed differentially in response to both the irrigation levels and mycorrhizal colonization. Results of this study showed that only 13% of the studied AQPs were responsive to water deficit with a tiny fraction (3%) being up-regulated. Mycorrhizal inoculation had a greater impact on the expression of AQPs with ca. 26% being responsive, ca. 4% of which were up-regulated. The samples with arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation yielded more root and stem biomass. Water deficit and mycorrhizal inoculation caused different AQPs to be up-regulated. The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on the expression of AQPs was intensified by applying water deficiency with 32% of studied AQPs being responsive, 6% of which up-regulated. We also found that the overexpression of three genes TaNIP1-10, TaNIP3-3, and TaNIP3-4 was chiefly triggered by mycorrhizal inoculation. Our results show that water deficit has a lower impact on the expression of aquaporins compared to what the arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation has; water deficit and arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation mainly cause the down-regulation of the aquaporins, and water deficit and the arbuscular inoculation have synergetic effects. These findings could improve our knowledge of how arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can contribute to the modulation of water homeostasis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01285-w.}, } @article {pmid36875617, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Xu, Q and Shan, H and Ni, Y and Xu, M and Xu, Y and Cheng, B and Li, X}, title = {Genome-wide analysis of 14-3-3 gene family in four gramineae and its response to mycorrhizal symbiosis in maize.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1117879}, pmid = {36875617}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {14-3-3 proteins (regulatory protein family) are phosphate serine-binding proteins. A number of transcription factors and signaling proteins have been shown to bind to the 14-3-3 protein in plants, which plays a role in regulating their growth (seed dormancy, cell elongation and division, vegetative and reproduction growth and stress response (salt stress, drought stress, cold stress). Therefore, the 14-3-3 genes are crucial in controlling how plants respond to stress and develop. However, little is known about the function of 14-3-3 gene families in gramineae. In this study, 49 14-3-3 genes were identified from four gramineae, including maize, rice, sorghum and brachypodium, and their phylogeny, structure, collinearity and expression patterns of these genes were systematically analyzed. Genome synchronization analysis showed large-scale replication events of 14-3-3 genes in these gramineae plants. Moreover, gene expression revealed that the 14-3-3 genes respond to biotic and abiotic stresses differently in different tissues. Upon arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, the expression level of 14-3-3 genes in maize significantly increased, suggesting the important role of 14-3-3 genes in maize-AM symbiosis. Our results provide a better understanding on the occurrence of 14-3-3 genes in Gramineae plants, and several important candidate genes were found for futher study on AMF symbiotic regulation in maize.}, } @article {pmid36875441, year = {2023}, author = {Selvaraj, S and Gurumurthy, K}, title = {An overview of probiotic health booster-kombucha tea.}, journal = {Chinese herbal medicines}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {27-32}, pmid = {36875441}, issn = {2589-3610}, abstract = {Traditional herbal medicine (THM) is a significant division of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that plays an important role in maintaining health and disease prevention. WHO has consistently highlighted the significance of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine in human healthcare. Most people in Eastern Asia will start their day with a cup of tea. The tea provides a nourishing effect, and it has become an inevitable part of life. There are several types of tea, like black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, and herbal tea. Besides the refreshments, it is important to consume beverages that benefit health. One such alternative is a healthy probiotic drink called kombucha, a fermented tea. Kombucha tea is aerobically fermented by infusing sweetened tea with a cellulose mat/ pellicle called SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Kombucha is a source of bioactive compounds that include organic acids and amino acids, vitamins, probiotics, sugars, polyphenols, and antioxidants. Currently, studies on kombucha tea and SCOBY are gaining attention for their remarkable properties and applications in the food and health industries. The review gives an overview of the production, fermentation, microbial diversity, and metabolic products of kombucha. The possible implications for human health are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid36875080, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, K and Wang, S and Yao, D and Zhang, X and Zhang, Q and Liu, W and Li, Y and Yin, Y and An, S and Zhang, R and Zhang, Z}, title = {Aerobic and facultative anaerobic Klebsiella pneumoniae strains establish mutual competition and jointly promote Musca domestica development.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1102065}, pmid = {36875080}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Anaerobiosis ; *Houseflies ; *Bacteriophages ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The gut microenvironment in housefly harbors a rich and diverse microbial community which plays a crucial role in larval development. However, little is known about the impact of specific symbiotic bacteria on larval development as well as the composition of the indigenous gut microbiota of housefly.

METHODS: In the present study, two novel strains were isolated from housefly larval gut, i.e., Klebsiella pneumoniae KX (aerobe) and K. pneumoniae KY (facultative anaerobe). Moreover, the bacteriophages KXP/KYP specific for strains KX and KY were used to analyse the effects of K. pneumoniae on larval development.

RESULTS: Our results showed that dietary supplementation with K. pneumoniae KX and KY individually promoted housefly larval growth. However, no significant synergistic effect was observed when the two bacterial strains were administered in combination. In addition, using high-throughput sequencing, it was demonstrated that the abundance of Klebsiella increased whereas that of Provincia, Serratia and Morganella decreased when housefly larvae received supplementation with K. pneumoniae KX, KY or the KX-KY mixture. Moreover, when used combined, K. pneumoniae KX/KY inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas and Providencia. When the abundance of both bacterial strains simultaneously increased, a balance in total bacterial abundance was reached.

DISCUSSION: Thus, it can be assumed that strains K. pneumoniae KX and KY maintain an equilibrium to facilitate their development in housefly gut, by establishing competition but also cooperation with each other to maintain the constant composition of gut bacteria in housefly larvae. Thus, our findings highlight the essential role of K. pneumoniae in regulating the composition of the gut microbiota in insects.}, } @article {pmid36873192, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, D and Zhang, J and Zhang, L and Wu, Q and Wang, Y and Zhang, W and Xiao, Y and Chen, J and Zhan, Q}, title = {PAFR/Stat3 axis maintains the symbiotic ecosystem between tumor and stroma to facilitate tumor malignancy.}, journal = {Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {694-708}, pmid = {36873192}, issn = {2211-3835}, abstract = {Stroma surrounding the tumor cells plays crucial roles for tumor progression. However, little is known about the factors that maintain the symbiosis between stroma and tumor cells. In this study, we found that the transcriptional regulator-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) was frequently activated in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which was a potent facilitator of tumor malignancy, and formed forward feedback loop with platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) both in CAFs and tumor cells. Importantly, PAFR/Stat3 axis connected intercellular signaling crosstalk between CAFs and cancer cells and drove mutual transcriptional programming of these two types of cells. Two central Stat3-related cytokine signaling molecules-interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-11 played the critical role in the process of PAFR/Stat3 axis-mediated communication between tumor and CAFs. Pharmacological inhibition of PAFR and Stat3 activities effectively reduced tumor progression using CAFs/tumor co-culture xenograft model. Our study reveals that PAFR/Stat3 axis enhances the interaction between tumor and its associated stroma and suggests that targeting this axis can be an effective therapeutic strategy against tumor malignancy.}, } @article {pmid36866283, year = {2021}, author = {Walsh, K and Delamare de la Villenaise de Chenevarin, G and McGurk, J and Maitland, K and Frost, G}, title = {Development of a legume-enriched feed for treatment of severe acute malnutrition.}, journal = {Wellcome open research}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {206}, pmid = {36866283}, issn = {2398-502X}, abstract = {Background: Outcomes in children hospitalised with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remain poor. The current milk-based formulations focus on restoring weight-gain but fail to address modification of the integrity of the gut barrier and may exacerbate malabsorption owing to functional lactase, maltase and sucrase deficiency. We hypothesise that nutritional feeds should be designed to promote bacterial diversity and restore gastrointestinal (GI) barrier function. Methods: Our major objective was to develop a lactose-free, fermentable carbohydrate-containing alternative to traditional F75 and F100 formulae for the inpatient treatment of SAM. New target nutritional characteristics were developed and relevant food and infant food specific legislation were reviewed. Suitable certified suppliers of ingredients were identified. Processing and manufacture steps were evaluated and optimised for safety (nutritional, chemical and microbiological), and efficacy at meeting target characteristics (lactose-free, containing resistant starch 0.4-0.5% final product weight). Results: A final validated production process was developed and implemented to produce a novel food product for the inpatient treatment of SAM in children in Africa designed to reduce risk of osmotic diarrhoea and support symbiotic gut microbial populations. The final product matched the macronutrient profile of double-concentrated F100, adhered to all relevant legislation regulating infant foods, was lactose free, and contained 0.6% resistant starch. Chickpeas were selected as the source of resistant starch, since they are widely grown and eaten throughout Africa. Micronutrient content could not be matched in this ready-to-use product, so this was replaced at the point of feeding, as was fluid lost through concentration. Conclusions: The processes and product described illustrate the development steps for a novel nutritional product. The new feed product was ready for evaluation for safety and efficacy in a phase II clinical trial in Ugandan children admitted to hospital with SAM (Modifying Intestinal MicroBiome with Legume-Based feed 2: MIMBLE feed 2 (ISRCTN10309022)).}, } @article {pmid36872055, year = {2023}, author = {Fieschi-Méric, L and van Leeuwen, P and Denoël, M and Lesbarrères, D}, title = {Encouraging news for in situ conservation: Translocation of salamander larvae has limited impacts on their skin microbiota.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16914}, pmid = {36872055}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {The key role of symbiotic skin bacteria communities in amphibian resistance to emerging pathogens is well recognized, but factors leading to their dysbiosis are not fully understood. In particular, the potential effects of population translocations on the composition and diversity of hosts' skin microbiota have received little attention, although such transfers are widely carried out as a strategy for amphibian conservation. To characterize the potential reorganization of the microbiota over such a sudden environmental change, we conducted a common-garden experiment simulating reciprocal translocations of yellow-spotted salamander larvae across three lakes. We sequenced skin microbiota samples collected before and 15 days after the transfer. Using a database of antifungal isolates, we identified symbionts with known function against the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a major driver of amphibian declines. Our results indicate an important reorganization of bacterial assemblages throughout ontogeny, with strong changes in composition, diversity and structure of the skin microbiota in both control and translocated individuals over the 15 days of monitoring. Unexpectedly, the diversity and community structure of the microbiota were not significantly affected by the translocation event, thus suggesting a strong resilience of skin bacterial communities to environmental change-at least across the time-window studied here. A few phylotypes were more abundant in the microbiota of translocated larvae, but no differences were found among pathogen-inhibiting symbionts. Taken together, our results support amphibian translocations as a promising strategy for this endangered animal class, with limited impact on their skin microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36869350, year = {2023}, author = {Cai, J and Veerappan, V and Arildsen, K and Sullivan, C and Piechowicz, M and Frugoli, J and Dickstein, R}, title = {A modified aeroponic system for growing small-seeded legumes and other plants to study root systems.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {21}, pmid = {36869350}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Various growth systems are available for studying plant root growth and plant-microbe interactions including hydroponics and aeroponics. Although some of these systems work well with Arabidopsis thaliana and smaller cereal model plants, they may not scale up as well for use with hundreds of plants at a time from a larger plant species. The aim of this study is to present step-by-step instructions for fabricating an aeroponic system, also called a "caisson," that has been in use in several legume research labs studying the development of symbiotic nitrogen fixing nodules, but for which detailed directions are not currently available. The aeroponic system is reusable and is adaptable for many other types of investigations besides root nodulation.

RESULTS: An aeroponic system that is affordable and reusable was adapted from a design invented by French engineer René Odorico. It consists of two main components: a modified trash can with a lid of holes and a commercially available industrial humidifier that is waterproofed with silicon sealant. The humidifier generates a mist in which plant roots grow, suspended from holes in trash can lid. Results from use of the aeroponic system have been available in the scientific community for decades; it has a record as a workhorse in the lab.

CONCLUSIONS: Aeroponic systems present a convenient way for researchers to grow plants for studying root systems and plant-microbe interactions in root systems. They are particularly attractive for phenotyping roots and following the progress of nodule development in legumes. Advantages include the ability to precisely control the growth medium in which the plants grow and easy observations of roots during growth. In this system, mechanical shear potentially killing microbes found in some other types of aeroponic devices is not an issue. Disadvantages of aeroponic systems include the likelihood of altered root physiology compared to root growth on soil and other solid substrates and the need to have separate aeroponic systems for comparing plant responses to different microbial strains.}, } @article {pmid36868897, year = {2023}, author = {Dauphin, B and Peter, M}, title = {Advancing research on ectomycorrhizal fungal adaptation with landscape genomics.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {439-443}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2023.02.002}, pmid = {36868897}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi serve key functions in forest ecosystems by supplying water and nutrients to tree hosts, yet mutualistic plant-fungi interactions are jeopardised by environmental alterations. Here, we discuss the great potential and current limitations of landscape genomics in investigating signatures of local adaptation in natural populations of ECM fungi.}, } @article {pmid36868049, year = {2023}, author = {Tehrani, N and Mitra, RM}, title = {Plant pathogens and symbionts target the plant nucleus.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {}, pages = {102284}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2023.102284}, pmid = {36868049}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Oomycetes/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; RNA Splicing ; Cell Nucleus ; }, abstract = {In plant-microbe interactions, symbionts and pathogens live within plants and attempt to avoid triggering plant defense responses. In order to do so, these microbes have evolved multiple mechanisms that target components of the plant cell nucleus. Rhizobia-induced symbiotic signaling requires the function of specific legume nucleoporins within the nuclear pore complex. Symbiont and pathogen effectors harbor nuclear localization sequences that facilitate movement across nuclear pores, allowing these proteins to target transcription factors that function in defense. Oomycete pathogens introduce proteins that interact with plant pre-mRNA splicing components in order to alter host splicing of defense-related transcripts. Together, these functions indicate that the nucleus is an active site of symbiotic and pathogenic functioning in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid36867731, year = {2023}, author = {Holland, S and Roth, R}, title = {Extracellular Vesicles in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {235-244}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-22-0189-FI}, pmid = {36867731}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an ancient and highly conserved mutualism between plant and fungal symbionts, in which a highly specialized membrane-delimited fungal arbuscule acts as the symbiotic interface for nutrient exchange and signaling. As a ubiquitous means of biomolecule transport and intercellular communication, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are likely to play a role in this intimate cross-kingdom symbiosis, yet, there is a lack of research investigating the importance of EVs in AM symbiosis despite known roles in microbial interactions in both animal and plant pathosystems. Clarifying the current understanding of EVs in this symbiosis in light of recent ultrastructural observations is paramount to guiding future investigations in the field, and, to this end, this review summarizes recent research investigating these areas. Namely, this review discusses the available knowledge regarding biogenesis pathways and marker proteins associated with the various plant EV subclasses, EV trafficking pathways during symbiosis, and the endocytic mechanisms implicated in the uptake of these EVs. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid36866362, year = {2023}, author = {Malusà, E and Vassilev, N and Neri, D and Xu, X}, title = {Editorial: Plant root interaction with associated microbiomes to improve plant resiliency and crop biodiversity, volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1143657}, pmid = {36866362}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36866059, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, LL and Zhang, PH and Yan, HH}, title = {Functional foods and dietary supplements in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1014010}, pmid = {36866059}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to clarify the overall effects of functional foods and dietary supplements in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Embase from January 1, 2000 to January 31, 2022 were systematically searched to assess the effects of functional foods and dietary supplements in patients with NAFLD. The primary outcomes were liver-related measures, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and hepatic fibrosis and steatosis, while the secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), triacylglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). These indexes were all continuous variables, so the mean difference (MD) was used for calculating the effect size. Random-effects or fixed-effects models were used to estimate the mean difference (MD). The risk of bias in all studies was assessed with guidance provided in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles investigating functional foods and dietary supplements [antioxidants (phytonutrients and coenzyme Q10) = 18, probiotics/symbiotic/prebiotic = 6, fatty acids = 3, vitamin D = 1, and whole grain = 1] met the eligibility criteria. Our results showed that antioxidants could significantly reduce WC (MD: -1.28 cm; 95% CI: -1.58, -0.99, P < 0.05), ALT (MD: -7.65 IU/L; 95% CI: -11.14, -4.16, P < 0.001), AST (MD: -4.26 IU/L; 95% CI: -5.76, -2.76, P < 0.001), and LDL-C (MD: -0.24 mg/dL; 95% CI: -0.46, -0.02, P < 0.05) increased in patients with NAFLD but had no effect on BMI, TG, and TC. Probiotic/symbiotic/prebiotic supplementation could decrease BMI (MD: -0.57 kg/m[2]; 95% CI: -0.72, -0.42, P < 0.05), ALT (MD: -3.96 IU/L; 95% CI: -5.24, -2.69, P < 0.001), and AST (MD: -2.76; 95% CI: -3.97, -1.56, P < 0.0001) levels but did not have beneficial effects on serum lipid levels compared to the control group. Moreover, the efficacy of fatty acids for treating NAFLD was full of discrepancies. Additionally, vitamin D had no significant effect on BMI, liver transaminase, and serum lipids, while whole grain could reduce ALT and AST but did not affect serum lipid levels.

CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that antioxidant and probiotic/symbiotic/prebiotic supplements may be a promising regimen for NAFLD patients. However, the usage of fatty acids, vitamin D, and whole grain in clinical treatment is uncertain. Further exploration of the efficacy ranks of functional foods and dietary supplements is needed to provide a reliable basis for clinical application.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier: CRD42022351763.}, } @article {pmid36864212, year = {2023}, author = {de Souza Buzo, F and Garé, LM and Garcia, NFS and de Andrade Silva, MSR and Martins, JT and da Silva, PHG and Meireles, FC and de Souza Sales, LZ and Nogales, A and Rigobelo, EC and Arf, O}, title = {Effect of mycorrhizae on phosphate fertilization efficiency and maize growth under field conditions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3527}, pmid = {36864212}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Phosphates ; Zea mays ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Fertilization ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a plant macronutrient that is indispensable for maize (Zea mays L.) production. However, P is difficult to manage in weathered soils, and its fertilization practice has low efficiency because it becomes unavailable for absorption by plant roots. Symbiosis of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increases plant growth and enhances P uptake from the soil that is not directly available to the roots. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine how inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices and phosphate fertilization interacts and influences the development and productivity of second-crop maize. The experiment was conducted in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in 2019 and 2020, both in a Typic Haplorthox. A randomized block design in subdivided plots was used for the phosphate application during crop sowing (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% concentrations of the recommended level), and the secondary treatments were the doses of mycorrhizal inoculant (0, 60, 120 and 180 g ha[-1]) applied to the seed using a dry powder inoculant containing 20,800 infectious propagules per gram of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus R. intraradices. Only in the first year of the experiment, inoculation and phosphate fertilization promoted benefits to the maize crop, indicating potential to increase yield.}, } @article {pmid36864192, year = {2023}, author = {Katoh, T and Yamada, C and Wallace, MD and Yoshida, A and Gotoh, A and Arai, M and Maeshibu, T and Kashima, T and Hagenbeek, A and Ojima, MN and Takada, H and Sakanaka, M and Shimizu, H and Nishiyama, K and Ashida, H and Hirose, J and Suarez-Diez, M and Nishiyama, M and Kimura, I and Stubbs, KA and Fushinobu, S and Katayama, T}, title = {A bacterial sulfoglycosidase highlights mucin O-glycan breakdown in the gut ecosystem.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36864192}, issn = {1552-4469}, abstract = {Mucinolytic bacteria modulate host-microbiota symbiosis and dysbiosis through their ability to degrade mucin O-glycans. However, how and to what extent bacterial enzymes are involved in the breakdown process remains poorly understood. Here we focus on a glycoside hydrolase family 20 sulfoglycosidase (BbhII) from Bifidobacterium bifidum, which releases N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfate from sulfated mucins. Glycomic analysis showed that, in addition to sulfatases, sulfoglycosidases are involved in mucin O-glycan breakdown in vivo and that the released N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfate potentially affects gut microbial metabolism, both of which were also supported by a metagenomic data mining analysis. Enzymatic and structural analysis of BbhII reveals the architecture underlying its specificity and the presence of a GlcNAc-6S-specific carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) 32 with a distinct sugar recognition mode that B. bifidum takes advantage of to degrade mucin O-glycans. Comparative analysis of the genomes of prominent mucinolytic bacteria also highlights a CBM-dependent O-glycan breakdown strategy used by B. bifidum.}, } @article {pmid36863207, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, Y and Lin, Y and Wang, S and Wen, H and Lim, MK and Tseng, ML}, title = {Resource saving and carbon footprint reduction potential of urban symbiosis strategy in express packaging waste recycling network.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {161}, number = {}, pages = {17-28}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2023.02.023}, pmid = {36863207}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {*Carbon Footprint ; Symbiosis ; Product Packaging ; Industry ; Recycling ; *Waste Management/methods ; }, abstract = {The booming express delivery industry corresponds to the environmental challenges caused by massive express packaging waste (EPW). An efficient logistics network is necessary link to support EPW recycling. This study, therefore, designed a circular symbiosis network for EPW recycling based on urban symbiosis strategy. The treatment of EPW in this network includes reuse, recycling and replacing. An optimization model with multi-depot collaboration combining material flow analysis and optimization methods was developed and a hybrid non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) was designed as technical support for designing the circular symbiosis network while quantitatively assessing the economic and environmental benefits of the network. The results show that the designed circular symbiosis option has better resource saving and carbon footprint reduction potential than both the business as usual option and circular symbiosis option without service collaboration. In practice, the proposed circular symbiosis network can save EPW recycling costs and reduce carbon footprint. This study provides a practical guideline for the application of urban symbiosis strategies to help urban green governance and the sustainable development of express companies.}, } @article {pmid36862121, year = {2023}, author = {Edwards, MM and McLeod, DS and Shen, M and Grebe, R and Sunness, JS and Bhutto, IA and McDonnell, E and Pado, AM and Gregori, G and Rosenfeld, PJ and Lutty, GA}, title = {Clinicopathologic Findings in Three Siblings With Geographic Atrophy.}, journal = {Investigative ophthalmology & visual science}, volume = {64}, number = {3}, pages = {2}, pmid = {36862121}, issn = {1552-5783}, support = {P30 EY001765/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY016151/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY031044/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Male ; Aged ; Humans ; *Geographic Atrophy/diagnosis ; Siblings ; *Macular Degeneration ; Retina/diagnostic imaging ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; *Choroidal Neovascularization ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly worldwide. Clinical imaging and histopathologic studies are crucial to understanding disease pathology. This study combined clinical observations of three brothers with geographic atrophy (GA), followed for 20 years, with histopathologic analysis.

METHODS: For two of the three brothers, clinical images were taken in 2016, 2 years prior to death. Immunohistochemistry, on both flat-mounts and cross sections, histology, and transmission electron microscopy were used to compare the choroid and retina in GA eyes to those of age-matched controls.

RESULTS: Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) lectin staining of the choroid demonstrated a significant reduction in the percent vascular area and vessel diameter. In one donor, histopathologic analysis demonstrated two separate areas with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Reevaluation of swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) images revealed CNV in two of the brothers. UEA lectin also revealed a significant reduction in retinal vasculature in the atrophic area. A subretinal glial membrane, composed of processes positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and/or vimentin, occupied areas identical to those of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroidal atrophy in all three AMD donors. SS-OCTA also demonstrated presumed calcific drusen in the two donors imaged in 2016. Immunohistochemical analysis and alizarin red S staining verified calcium within drusen, which was ensheathed by glial processes.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the importance of clinicohistopathologic correlation studies. It emphasizes the need to better understand how the symbiotic relationship between choriocapillaris and RPE, glial response, and calcified drusen impact GA progression.}, } @article {pmid36861461, year = {2023}, author = {Gómez-Contreras, A and Franco-Ávila, T and Miró, L and Juan, ME and Moretó, M and Planas, JM}, title = {Dietary intake of table olives exerts antihypertensive effects in association with changes in gut microbiota in spontaneously hypertensive rats.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {2793-2806}, doi = {10.1039/d2fo02928f}, pmid = {36861461}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {Rats ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; *Hypertension/drug therapy ; *Olea ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Blood Pressure ; Eating ; }, abstract = {Arbequina table olive (AO) consumption lowers blood pressure (BP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study evaluates whether dietary supplementation with AO induced changes in the gut microbiota that are consistent with the purported antihypertensive effects. Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY-c) and SHR-c received water, while SHR-o were supplemented by gavage with AO (3.85 g kg[-1]) for 7 weeks. Faecal microbiota was analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. SHR-c showed increased Firmicutes and decreased Bacteroidetes compared to WKY-c. AO supplementation in SHR-o decreased BP by approximately 19 mmHg, and reduced plasmatic concentrations of malondialdehyde and angiotensin II. Moreover, reshaped faecal microbiota associated with antihypertensive activity by lowering Peptoniphilus and increasing Akkermansia, Sutterella, Allobaculum, Ruminococcus, and Oscillospira. Also promoted the growth of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and modified the relationship of Lactobacillus with other microorganisms, from competitive to symbiotic. In SHR, AO promotes a microbiota profile compatible with the antihypertensive effects of this food.}, } @article {pmid36860900, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, QS and Silva, FSB and Hijri, M and Kapoor, R}, title = {Editorial: Arbuscular mycorrhiza-mediated augmentation of plant secondary metabolite production.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1150900}, pmid = {36860900}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36860037, year = {2023}, author = {Elsamahy, T and Sun, J and Elsilk, SE and Ali, SS}, title = {Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene plastic waste by a constructed tri-culture yeast consortium from wood-feeding termite: Degradation mechanism and pathway.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {448}, number = {}, pages = {130944}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130944}, pmid = {36860037}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Polyethylene ; *Isoptera ; Plastics ; Wood ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; }, abstract = {Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most common synthetic polymers, and PE waste pollution has been an environmental and health concern for decades. Biodegradation is the most eco-friendly and effective approach for plastic waste management. Recently, an emphasis has been placed on novel symbiotic yeasts isolated from termite guts as promising microbiomes for multiple biotechnological applications. This study might be the first to explore the potential of a constructed tri-culture yeast consortium, designated as DYC, isolated from termites for the degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The yeast consortium DYC stands for the molecularly identified species Sterigmatomyces halophilus, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, and Meyerozyma caribbica. The LDPE-DYC consortium showed a high growth rate on UV-sterilized LDPE as a sole carbon source, resulting in a reduction in tensile strength (TS) of 63.4% and a net LDPE mass reduction of 33.2% compared to the individual yeasts. All yeasts, individually and in consortium, showed a high production rate for LDPE-degrading enzymes. The hypothetical LDPE biodegradation pathway that was proposed revealed the formation of several metabolites, including alkanes, aldehydes, ethanol, and fatty acids. This study emphasizes a novel concept for using LDPE-degrading yeasts from wood-feeding termites for plastic waste biodegradation.}, } @article {pmid36858546, year = {2023}, author = {Kondo, T and Sibponkrung, S and Hironao, KY and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Ishikawa, S and Ashida, H and Teaumroong, N and Yoshida, KI}, title = {Bacillus velezensis S141, a soybean growth-promoting bacterium, hydrolyzes isoflavone glycosides into aglycones.}, journal = {The Journal of general and applied microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2323/jgam.2023.02.002}, pmid = {36858546}, issn = {1349-8037}, abstract = {Bacillus velezensis S141, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), was isolated from a soybean field in Thailand. Previous studies demonstrated that S141 enhanced soybean growth, stimulating nodulation for symbiotic nitrogen fixation with soybean root nodule bacteria, including Bradyrhizobium diazoefficience USDA110. Isoflavone glycosides are produced in soybean roots and hydrolyzed into their aglycones, triggering nodulation. This study revealed that S141 efficiently hydrolyzed two isoflavone glycosides in soybean roots (daidzin and genistin) to their aglycones (daidzein and genistein, respectively). However, S141, Bacillus subtilis 168, NCIB3610, and B. velezensis FZB42 hydrolyzed isoflavone glucosides into aglycones. A BLASTp search suggested that S141 and the other three strains shared four genes encoding β-glucosidases corresponding to bglA, bglC, bglH, and gmuD in B. subtilis 168. The gene inactivation analysis of B. subtilis 168 revealed that bglC encoded the major β-glucosidase, contributing about half of the total activity to hydrolyze isoflavone glycosides and that bglA, bglH, and gmuD, all barely committed to the hydrolysis of isoflavone glycosides. Thus, an unknown β-glucosidase exists, and our genetic knowledge of β-glucosidases was insufficient to evaluate the ability to hydrolyze isoflavone glycosides. Nevertheless, S141 could predominate in the soybean rhizosphere, releasing isoflavone aglycones to enhance soybean nodulation.}, } @article {pmid36858533, year = {2023}, author = {Kucho, KI and Asukai, K and Nguyen, TV}, title = {NAD[+] Synthetase is Required for Free-living and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in the Actinobacterium Frankia casuarinae.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36858533}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Frankia ; NAD ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Glutamine ; *Actinobacteria ; }, abstract = {Frankia spp. are multicellular actinobacteria that fix atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) not only in the free-living state, but also in root-nodule symbioses with more than 200 plant species, called actinorhizal plants. To identify novel Frankia genes involved in N2 fixation, we previously isolated mutants of Frankia casuarinae that cannot fix N2. One of these genes, mutant N3H4, did not induce nodulation when inoculated into the host plant Casuarina glauca. Cell lineages that regained the ability to fix N2 as free-living cells were isolated from the mutant cell population. These restored strains also regained the ability to stimulate nodulation. A comparative ana-lysis of the genomes of mutant N3H4 and restored strains revealed that the mutant carried a mutation (Thr584Ile) in the glutamine-dependent NAD[+] synthetase gene (Francci3_3146), while restored strains carried an additional suppressor mutation (Asp478Asn) in the same gene. Under nitrogen-depleted conditions, the concentration of NAD(H) was markedly lower in the mutant strain than in the wild type, whereas it was higher in restored strains. These results indicate that glutamine-dependent NAD[+] synthetase plays critical roles in both free-living and symbiotic N2 fixation in Frankia.}, } @article {pmid36858220, year = {2023}, author = {Klauberg-Filho, O and Lunardi, EODS and Oliveira Filho, LCI and Moreira, FMS and Siqueira, JO}, title = {An alternative risk assessment framework for tropical soil multi-metal contamination using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {874}, number = {}, pages = {162373}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162373}, pmid = {36858220}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Cadmium/pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Lead ; Retrospective Studies ; Fungi/physiology ; Risk Assessment ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a key group of soil organisms involved in several ecosystem services, but they had not been explored in retrospective ecological risk assessment (ERA) schemes, partially due to a lack of experimental protocols. We aimed to perform a site-specific test to assess the effects of multiple metal contaminated soil (Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) on several ecotypes of AMF and evaluate the conceptual fitness of the performed AMF test to include in the TRIAD approach of ERA schemes. The results demonstrated that increasing metal contaminated soil proportions that inhibited 50 % (IC50) of spore germination varied from 28 to >80. Ecotypes such as Claroideoglomus etunicatum (IC50 > 80) and Racocetra gregaria (IC50 > 80) experienced 50 % reduction in spore germination at metals concentrations of 10,776.3 for Zn, 1015.2 Cu, 65.5 Cd, 140.2 mg dm[-3] Pb, that are 3 times higher than those for Acaulospora mellea CMM101 (IC50 28 [16.2-39.8]) (3441.7 Zn, 333.9 Cu, 17.8 Cd, 56.5 mg dm[-3] Pb). In the evaluation of the suitability of the AMF ecotoxicological test to ERA, both spore germination and germinative tube growth were best evaluated and thus suitable in the following descending order: Tier III, Tier II, and Tier I. Variable effects of multiple-metal contamination on the ecotypes indicates how AMF community is affected in its pre-symbiotic structures. The ecotoxicological test allowed the selection of two species with the greatest sensitivity (Ambispora appendicula and Rhizophagus clarus CMM103) to the metal matrix, with the potential to best fit ERA objectives. The site-specific ecotoxicological test with AMF ex-situ proved adequate as an alternative test for Tiers II and III of TRIAD ERA schemes for metal contaminated areas. Data generated through test results, such as the inhibition concentrations (ICs), could be incorporated into ERAs risk indexes, increasing its ecological relevance, and reducing overall uncertainties.}, } @article {pmid36858117, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Liu, Z and Cui, D and Yang, L and Wang, H and Pavlostathis, SG and Geng, Y and Xiong, Z and Shao, P and Luo, X and Luo, S}, title = {Buffered loofah supported Microalgae-Bacteria symbiotic (MBS) system for enhanced nitrogen removal from rare earth element tailings (REEs) wastewater: Performance and functional gene analysis.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {323}, number = {}, pages = {138265}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138265}, pmid = {36858117}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Wastewater ; Denitrification ; *Microalgae/genetics ; *Luffa ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Bioreactors ; Bacteria/genetics ; Carbon ; }, abstract = {Rare earth element tailings (REEs) wastewater, which has the characteristics of high ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) and low COD. It can cause eutrophication and biotoxicity in water which is produced in high volumes, requiring treatment before final disposal. Microalgae-Bacteria symbiotic (MBS) system can be applied in REEs wastewater, but its low extent of nitrogen removal and instability limit its application. By adding biodegradable carrier as both carbon source and carrier, the system can be stabilized and the efficiency can be improved. In this work, the extent of NH4[+]-N removal reached 100% within 24 h in a MBS system after adding loofah under optimal conditions, and the removal rate reached 127.6 mg NH4[+]-N·L[-1]·d[-1]. In addition, the carbon release from loofah in 3 d reached 408.7 mg/L, which could be used as a carbon source to support denitrification. During 90 d of operation of the MBS system loaded with loofah, the effluent NH4[+]-N was less than 15 mg/L. At phylum level, Proteobacteria were dominant which accounted for 78.2%. Functional gene analysis showed that enhancement of microalgae assimilation was the main factor affecting NH4[+]-N removal. This work expands our understanding of the enhanced role of carbon-based carriers in the denitrification of REEs wastewater.}, } @article {pmid36858082, year = {2023}, author = {Mack, JM and Klinth, M and Martinsson, S and Lu, R and Stormer, H and Hanington, P and Proctor, HC and Erséus, C and Bely, AE}, title = {Cryptic carnivores: Intercontinental sampling reveals extensive novel diversity in a genus of freshwater annelids.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {107748}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107748}, pmid = {36858082}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Ecosystem ; *Oligochaeta/genetics ; Fresh Water ; Ecology ; }, abstract = {Freshwater annelids are globally widespread in aquatic ecosystems, but their diversity is severely underestimated. Obvious morphological features to define taxa are sparse, and molecular phylogenetic analyses regularly discover cryptic diversity within taxa. Despite considerable phylogenetic work on certain clades, many groups of freshwater annelids remain poorly understood. Included among these are water nymph worms of the genus Chaetogaster (Clitellata: Tubificida: Naididae: Naidinae). These worms have diverged from the detritivorous diet of most oligochaetes to become more predatory and exist as omnivores, generalist predators, parasites, or symbionts on other invertebrates. Despite their unusual trophic ecology, the true diversity of Chaetogaster and the phylogenetic relationships within the genus are uncertain. Only three species are commonly referenced in the literature (Chaetogaster diaphanus, Chaetogaster limnaei, and Chaetogaster diastrophus), but additional species have been described and prior molecular data suggests that there is cryptic diversity within named species. To clarify the phylogenetic diversity of Chaetogaster, we generated the first molecular phylogeny of the genus using mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data from 128 worms collected primarily across North America and Europe. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that the three commonly referenced species are a complex of 24 mostly cryptic species. In our dataset, Chaetogaster "diaphanus" is represented by two species, C. "limnaei" is represented by three species, and C. "diastrophus" is represented by 19 species. North American and European sequences are largely interspersed across the phylogeny, with four pairs of clades involving distinct North American and European sister groupings. Overall, our study demonstrates that the species diversity of Chaetogaster has been underestimated and that carnivory has evolved at least twice in the genus. Chaetogaster is being used as a model for symbiotic evolution and the loss of regenerative ability, and our study indicates that researchers must be careful to identify which species of Chaetogaster they are working with in future studies.}, } @article {pmid36858028, year = {2023}, author = {Martins, SJ and Pasche, JM and Silva, HA and Selten, GG and Savastano, N and Abreu, L and Bais, H and Garrett, KA and Kraisitudomsook, N and Pieterse, CMJ and Cernava, T}, title = {The Use of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) to Improve Plant Health.}, journal = {Phytopathology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/PHYTO-01-23-0016-IA}, pmid = {36858028}, issn = {0031-949X}, abstract = {Despite the numerous benefits plants receive from probiotics, maintaining consistent results across applications is still a challenge. Cultivation-independent methods associated with reduced sequencing costs have considerably improved the overall understanding of microbial ecology in the plant environment. As a result, now it is possible to engineer a consortium of microbes aiming for improved plant health. Such synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) contain carefully chosen microbial species to produce the desired microbiome function. Microbial biofilm formation, production of secondary metabolites and ability to induce plant resistance are some of the microbial traits to take into consideration when designing SynComs. Plant-associated microbial communities are not assembled randomly. Ecological theories suggest that these communities have a defined phylogenetic organization structured by general community assembly rules. Using machine learning, we can study these rules and target microbial functions that generate desired plant phenotypes. Well-structured assemblages are more likely to lead to a stable SynCom that thrives under environmental stressors, as compared to the classical selection of single microbial activities or taxonomy. However, ensuring microbial colonization and long-term plant phenotype stability are still some of the challenges to overcome with SynComs, as the synthetic community may change over time with microbial horizontal gene transfer and retained mutations. Here, we explored the advances made in SynCom research regarding plant health focusing on bacteria, as they are the most dominant microbial form compared with other members of the microbiome and the most commonly found in SynCom studies.}, } @article {pmid36856086, year = {2023}, author = {Lace, B and Su, C and Invernot Perez, D and Rodriguez-Franco, M and Vernié, T and Batzenschlager, M and Egli, S and Liu, CW and Ott, T}, title = {RPG acts as a central determinant for infectosome formation and cellular polarization during intracellular rhizobial infections.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36856086}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {OPP1172165/GATES/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/United States ; }, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Cell Nucleus ; Cell Wall ; }, abstract = {Host-controlled intracellular accommodation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria is essential for the establishment of a functional Root Nodule Symbiosis (RNS). In many host plants, this occurs via transcellular tubular structures (infection threads - ITs) that extend across cell layers via polar tip-growth. Comparative phylogenomic studies have identified RPG (RHIZOBIUM-DIRECTED POLAR GROWTH) among the critical genetic determinants for bacterial infection. In Medicago truncatula, RPG is required for effective IT progression within root hairs but the cellular and molecular function of the encoded protein remains elusive. Here, we show that RPG resides in the protein complex formed by the core endosymbiotic components VAPYRIN (VPY) and LUMPY INFECTION (LIN) required for IT polar growth, co-localizes with both VPY and LIN in IT tip- and perinuclear-associated puncta of M. truncatula root hairs undergoing infection and is necessary for VPY recruitment into these structures. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) of phosphoinositide species during bacterial infection revealed that functional RPG is required to sustain strong membrane polarization at the advancing tip of the IT. In addition, loss of RPG functionality alters the cytoskeleton-mediated connectivity between the IT tip and the nucleus and affects the polar secretion of the cell wall modifying enzyme NODULE PECTATE LYASE (NPL). Our results integrate RPG into a core host machinery required to support symbiont accommodation, suggesting that its occurrence in plant host genomes is essential to co-opt a multimeric protein module committed to endosymbiosis to sustain IT-mediated bacterial infection.}, } @article {pmid36855857, year = {2023}, author = {Goczał, J and Beutel, RG}, title = {Beetle elytra: evolution, modifications and biological functions.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {20220559}, pmid = {36855857}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Acoustics ; Body Temperature Regulation ; *Coleoptera ; *Diving ; Water ; }, abstract = {Conversion of forewings into hardened covers, elytra, was a ground-breaking morphological adaptation that has contributed to the extraordinary evolutionary success of beetles. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the functional aspects of these structures is still fragmentary and scattered across a large number of studies. Here, we have synthesized the presently available information on the evolution, development, modifications and biological functions of this crucial evolutionary novelty. The formation of elytra took place in the earliest evolution of Coleoptera, very likely already in the Carboniferous, and was achieved through the gradual process of progressive forewing sclerotization and the formation of inward directed epipleura and a secluded sub-elytral space. In many lineages of modern beetles, the elytra have been distinctly modified. This includes multiple surface modifications, a rigid connection or fusion of the elytra, or partial or complete reduction. Beetle elytra can be involved in a very broad spectrum of functions: mechanical protection of hind wings and body, anti-predator strategies, thermoregulation and water saving, water harvesting, flight, hind wing folding, diving and swimming, self-cleaning and burrow cleaning, phoresy of symbiotic organisms, mating and courtship, and acoustic communication. We postulate that the potential of the elytra to take over multiple tasks has enormously contributed to the unparalleled diversification of beetles.}, } @article {pmid36854876, year = {2023}, author = {Campolina, JP and Coelho, SG and Belli, AL and Neves, LFM and Machado, FS and Pereira, LGR and Tomich, TR and Carvalho, WA and Daibert, RMP and Reis, DRL and Costa, SF and Voorsluys, AL and Jacob, DV and Campos, MM}, title = {Potential benefits of a blend of essential oils on metabolism, digestibility, organ development and gene expression of dairy calves.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3378}, pmid = {36854876}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Male ; Antioxidants ; *Garlic ; Gene Expression ; *Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/genetics ; Spleen ; *Plant Oils/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to evaluate blood cells and metabolites, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), digestibility, internal organs weight and histology, gene expression, and spleen cell proliferation of pre-weaned bull calves supplemented with a blend of essential oils in milk replacer (MR). Sixteen newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy bull calves, with body weight at birth of 33.3 ± 3.7 kg, were housed in individual sand bedded pens, blocked by genetic composition, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a randomized complete block design: Control (CON, n = 8) and blend of essential oils supplementation (BEO, n = 8, 1 g/day/calf, Apex Calf, Adisseo, China). The commercial blend was composed by plant extracts derived from anise, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Animals were fed 5 L of MR/day reconstituted at 15% (dry matter basis), divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea, and glucose were evaluated weekly, IGF-1 was evaluated biweekly, and total blood cell count was performed every four weeks until the end of the trial at eight weeks of age. Feed samples were collected three times a week and polled for weekly analysis. Apparent total nutrient digestibility was determined from d 56 to 60 of age. On d 60 ± 1, animals were euthanized for organ weight, histology, spleen cell proliferation, and intestinal gene expression analysis. Data were analyzed independently using linear mixed models using the REML method in the nlme package in R for continuous outcomes. A non-parametric test was used for ordered categorical outcomes using the Artools package in R. There were no differences between groups for blood evaluations, digestibility, gene expression, and a spleen cell proliferation assay. However, BEO calves presented a heavier pancreas, heavier intestines, bigger ileum villi, and higher cecum butyrate levels (P < 0.05), demonstrating that the EO supplementation helped intestinal development and symbiotic bacteria. It was also observed in CON animals' heavier respiratory tract and a higher eosinophil count (P < 0.05). Therefore, the organs where eosinophils are more active had a better response for BEO animals. No differences were found in the intestinal gene expression in the immune context. These results demonstrate that supplementing essential oils in MR could contribute to gut development and immune function. However, more research is needed to understand its impact on body development and define the best dosage and route of administration.}, } @article {pmid36854763, year = {2023}, author = {Vondrák, J and Svoboda, S and Zíbarová, L and Štenclová, L and Mareš, J and Pouska, V and Košnar, J and Kubásek, J}, title = {Alcobiosis, an algal-fungal association on the threshold of lichenisation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {2957}, pmid = {36854763}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Eczema ; Alarmins ; Biological Transport ; Carbon ; Hyphae ; *Keratosis ; *Lichens ; }, abstract = {Alcobiosis, the symbiosis of algae and corticioid fungi, frequently occurs on bark and wood. Algae form a layer in or below fungal basidiomata reminiscent of the photobiont layer in lichens. Identities of algal and fungal partners were confirmed by DNA barcoding. Algal activity was examined using gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques. Carbon transfer from algae to fungi was detected as [13]C, assimilated by algae, transferred to the fungal polyol. Nine fungal partners scattered across Agaricomycetes are associated with three algae from Trebouxiophycae: Coccomyxa sp. with seven fungal species on damp wood, Desmococcus olivaceus and Tritostichococcus coniocybes, both with a single species on bark and rain-sheltered wood, respectively. The fungal partner does not cause any obvious harm to the algae. Algae enclosed in fungal tissue exhibited a substantial CO2 uptake, but carbon transfer to fungal tissues was only detected in the Lyomyces-Desmococcus alcobiosis where some algal cells are tightly enclosed by hyphae in goniocyst-like structures. Unlike lichen mycobionts, fungi in alcobioses are not nutritionally dependent on the algal partner as all of them can live without algae. We consider alcobioses to be symbioses in various stages of co-evolution, but still quite different from true lichens.}, } @article {pmid36854473, year = {2023}, author = {Shi, J and Wang, X and Wang, E}, title = {Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Plant Growth and Stress Adaptation: From Genes to Ecosystems.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-061722-090342}, pmid = {36854473}, issn = {1545-2123}, abstract = {Plant roots associate with diverse microbes (including bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses) collectively called the rhizosphere microbiome. Among them, mycorrhizal fungi colonize host roots and improve their access to nutrients, usually phosphorus and nitrogen. In exchange, plants deliver photosynthetic carbon to the colonizing fungi. This nutrient exchange affects key soil processes, the carbon cycle, and plant health and therefore has a strong influence on the plant and microbe ecosystems. The framework of nutrient exchange and regulation between host plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has recently been established. The local and systemic regulation of mycorrhizal symbiosis by plant nutrient status and the autoregulation of mycorrhizae are strategies by which plants maintain a stabilizing free-market symbiosis. A better understanding of the synergistic effects between mycorrhizal fungi and mycorrhizosphere microorganisms is an essential precondition for their use as biofertilizers and bioprotectors for sustainable agriculture and forestry management. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Plant Biology, Volume 74 is May 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.}, } @article {pmid36853066, year = {2023}, author = {Nunes Leite, L and Visnovsky, SB and Wright, PJ and Pitman, AR}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Three "Candidatus Symbiopectobacterium" Isolates Collected from Potato Tubers Grown in New Zealand.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0114822}, pmid = {36853066}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {The draft genome sequences of three "Candidatus Symbiopectobacterium" isolates that were collected from New Zealand-grown potato tubers represent the first report of this proposed taxon in the Southern Hemisphere. Their symbiosis with insects and nematodes and their presence on plants may lead to new strategies for pest control and crop management.}, } @article {pmid36849930, year = {2023}, author = {Zou, YN and Qin, QY and Ma, WY and Zhou, LJ and Wu, QS and Xu, YJ and Kuča, K and Hashem, A and Al-Arjani, AF and Almutairi, KF and Abd-Allah, EF}, title = {Metabolomics reveals arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-mediated tolerance of walnut to soil drought.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {118}, pmid = {36849930}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Juglans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Droughts ; Metabolomics ; Drought Resistance ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a positive effect on drought tolerance of plants after establishing reciprocal resymbiosis with roots, while the underlying mechanism is not deciphered. Metabolomics can explain the mechanism of plant response to environmental stress by analyzing the changes of all small molecular weight metabolites. The purpose of this study was to use Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography Q Exactive Mass Spectrometer to analyze changes in root metabolites of walnut (Juglans regia) after inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Diversispora spurca under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS).

RESULTS: Sixty days of soil drought significantly inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization rate, shoot and root biomass production, and leaf water potential in walnut, while AMF inoculation significantly increased biomass production and leaf water potential, accompanied by a higher increase magnitude under DS versus under WW. A total of 3278 metabolites were identified. Under WW, AMF inoculation up-regulated 172 metabolites and down-regulated 61 metabolites, along with no changes in 1104 metabolites. However, under DS, AMF inoculation up-regulated 49 metabolites and down-regulated 116 metabolites, coupled with no changes in 1172 metabolites. Among them, juglone (a quinone found in walnuts) as the first ranked differential metabolite was up-regulated by AMF under WW but not under DS; 2,3,5-trihydroxy-5-7-dimethoxyflavanone as the first ranked differential metabolite was increased by AMF under DS but not under WW. The KEGG annotation showed a large number of metabolic pathways triggered by AMF, accompanied by different metabolic pathways under WW and DS. Among them, oxidative phosphorylation and phenylalanine metabolism and biosynthesis were triggered by AMF in response to WW and DS, where N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine was induced by AMF to increase under DS, while decreasing under WW.

CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into the metabolic mechanisms of mycorrhiza-enhanced drought tolerance in walnuts.}, } @article {pmid36849099, year = {2023}, author = {Qiao, X and Fu, C and Chen, Y and Fang, F and Zhang, Y and Ding, L and Yang, K and Pan, B and Xu, N and Yu, K and Tao, H and Zhang, L}, title = {Molecular insights into enhanced nitrogen removal induced by trace fluoroquinolone antibiotics in an anammox system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {374}, number = {}, pages = {128784}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128784}, pmid = {36849099}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Denitrification ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Fluoroquinolones/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; }, abstract = {It has been widely reported that fluoroquinolones (FQs) can affect the anaerobic ammonium oxidization (anammox) microorganisms, which interferes with the performance of nitrogen removal from wastewater. However, the metabolic mechanism of anammox microorganisms responding to FQs has rarely been explored. In this study, it was found that 20 μg/L FQs promoted the nitrogen removal performance of anammox microorganisms in batch exposure assays, and 36-51% of FQs were removed simultaneously. Combined metabolomics and genome-resolved metagenomic analysis revealed up-regulated carbon fixation in anammox bacteria (AnAOB), while purine and pyrimidine metabolism, protein generation and transmembrane transport were enhanced in AnAOB and symbiotic bacteria by 20 μg/L FQs. Consequently, hydrazine dehydrogenation, nitrite reduction, and ammonium assimilation were bolstered, improving the nitrogen removal efficiency of the anammox system. These results revealed the potential roles of specific microorganisms in response to emerging FQs and provided further information for practical application of anammox technology in wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid36848712, year = {2023}, author = {Burghardt, LT and diCenzo, GC}, title = {The evolutionary ecology of rhizobia: multiple facets of competition before, during, and after symbiosis with legumes.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {}, pages = {102281}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2023.102281}, pmid = {36848712}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Biological Evolution ; Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial bacteria have complex lifestyles that involve growth and survival in bulk soil, plant rhizospheres and rhizoplanes, legume infection threads, and mature and senescing legume nodules. In nature, rhizobia coexist and compete with many other rhizobial strains and species to form host associations. We review recent work defining competitive interactions across these environments. We highlight the use of sophisticated measurement tools and sequencing technologies to examine competition mechanisms in planta, and highlight environments (e.g. soil and senescing nodules) where we still know exceedingly little. We argue that moving toward an explicitly ecological framework (types of competition, resources, and genetic differentiation) will clarify the evolutionary ecology of these foundational organisms and open doors for engineering sustainable, beneficial associations with hosts.}, } @article {pmid36848579, year = {2023}, author = {Chevrier, DM and Juhin, A and Menguy, N and Bolzoni, R and Soto-Rodriguez, PED and Kojadinovic-Sirinelli, M and Paterson, GA and Belkhou, R and Williams, W and Skouri-Panet, F and Kosta, A and Le Guenno, H and Pereiro, E and Faivre, D and Benzerara, K and Monteil, CL and Lefevre, CT}, title = {Collective magnetotaxis of microbial holobionts is optimized by the three-dimensional organization and magnetic properties of ectosymbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {10}, pages = {e2216975120}, pmid = {36848579}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Physical Phenomena ; *Biomineralization ; Biophysics ; *Electrons ; }, abstract = {Over the last few decades, symbiosis and the concept of holobiont-a host entity with a population of symbionts-have gained a central role in our understanding of life functioning and diversification. Regardless of the type of partner interactions, understanding how the biophysical properties of each individual symbiont and their assembly may generate collective behaviors at the holobiont scale remains a fundamental challenge. This is particularly intriguing in the case of the newly discovered magnetotactic holobionts (MHB) whose motility relies on a collective magnetotaxis (i.e., a magnetic field-assisted motility guided by a chemoaerotaxis system). This complex behavior raises many questions regarding how magnetic properties of symbionts determine holobiont magnetism and motility. Here, a suite of light-, electron- and X-ray-based microscopy techniques [including X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD)] reveals that symbionts optimize the motility, the ultrastructure, and the magnetic properties of MHBs from the microscale to the nanoscale. In the case of these magnetic symbionts, the magnetic moment transferred to the host cell is in excess (10[2] to 10[3] times stronger than free-living magnetotactic bacteria), well above the threshold for the host cell to gain a magnetotactic advantage. The surface organization of symbionts is explicitly presented herein, depicting bacterial membrane structures that ensure longitudinal alignment of cells. Magnetic dipole and nanocrystalline orientations of magnetosomes were also shown to be consistently oriented in the longitudinal direction, maximizing the magnetic moment of each symbiont. With an excessive magnetic moment given to the host cell, the benefit provided by magnetosome biomineralization beyond magnetotaxis can be questioned.}, } @article {pmid36848561, year = {2023}, author = {Di Lelio, I and Forni, G and Magoga, G and Brunetti, M and Bruno, D and Becchimanzi, A and De Luca, MG and Sinno, M and Barra, E and Bonelli, M and Frusciante, S and Diretto, G and Digilio, MC and Woo, SL and Tettamanti, G and Rao, R and Lorito, M and Casartelli, M and Montagna, M and Pennacchio, F}, title = {A soil fungus confers plant resistance against a phytophagous insect by disrupting the symbiotic role of its gut microbiota.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {120}, number = {10}, pages = {e2216922120}, pmid = {36848561}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Soil ; *Microbiota ; Insecta ; Agriculture ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; }, abstract = {Plants generate energy flows through natural food webs, driven by competition for resources among organisms, which are part of a complex network of multitrophic interactions. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between tomato plants and a phytophagous insect is driven by a hidden interplay between their respective microbiotas. Tomato plants colonized by the soil fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum, a beneficial microorganism widely used in agriculture as a biocontrol agent, negatively affects the development and survival of the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera littoralis by altering the larval gut microbiota and its nutritional support to the host. Indeed, experiments aimed to restore the functional microbial community in the gut allow a complete rescue. Our results shed light on a novel role played by a soil microorganism in the modulation of plant-insect interaction, setting the stage for a more comprehensive analysis of the impact that biocontrol agents may have on ecological sustainability of agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid36847544, year = {2023}, author = {Mitra, A and Caron, DA and Faure, E and Flynn, KJ and Leles, SG and Hansen, PJ and McManus, GB and Not, F and do Rosario Gomes, H and Santoferrara, LF and Stoecker, DK and Tillmann, U}, title = {The Mixoplankton Database (MDB): Diversity of photo-phago-trophic plankton in form, function, and distribution across the global ocean.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e12972}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12972}, pmid = {36847544}, issn = {1550-7408}, abstract = {Protist plankton are major members of open-water marine food webs. Traditionally divided between phototrophic phytoplankton and phagotrophic zooplankton, recent research shows many actually combine phototrophy and phagotrophy in the one cell; these protists are the "mixoplankton." Under the mixoplankton paradigm, "phytoplankton" are incapable of phagotrophy (diatoms being exemplars), while "zooplankton" are incapable of phototrophy. This revision restructures marine food webs, from regional to global levels. Here, we present the first comprehensive database of marine mixoplankton, bringing together extant knowledge of the identity, allometry, physiology, and trophic interactivity of these organisms. This mixoplankton database (MDB) will aid researchers that confront difficulties in characterizing life traits of protist plankton, and it will benefit modelers needing to better appreciate ecology of these organisms with their complex functional and allometric predator-prey interactions. The MDB also identifies knowledge gaps, including the need to better understand, for different mixoplankton functional types, sources of nutrition (use of nitrate, prey types, and nutritional states), and to obtain vital rates (e.g. growth, photosynthesis, ingestion, factors affecting photo' vs. phago' -trophy). It is now possible to revisit and re-classify protistan "phytoplankton" and "zooplankton" in extant databases of plankton life forms so as to clarify their roles in marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36847513, year = {2023}, author = {Nishiyama, K and Yong, CC and Moritoki, N and Kitazawa, H and Odamaki, T and Xiao, JZ and Mukai, T}, title = {Sharing of Moonlighting Proteins Mediates the Symbiotic Relationship among Intestinal Commensals.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {89}, number = {3}, pages = {e0219022}, pmid = {36847513}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Humans ; *Proteomics ; *Peptide Elongation Factor Tu/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Mucins/metabolism ; Bacteroides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of symbiotic bacteria that form a complex ecological community and influence human physiology. Symbiotic nutrient sharing and nutrient competition are the most studied relationships in gut commensals, whereas the interactions underlying homeostasis and community maintenance are not fully understood. Here, we provide insights into a new symbiotic relationship wherein the sharing of secreted cytoplasmic proteins, called "moonlighting proteins," between two heterologous bacterial strains (Bifidobacterium longum and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron) was observed to affect the adhesion of bacteria to mucins. B. longum and B. thetaiotaomicron were cocultured using a membrane-filter system, and in this system the cocultured B. thetaiotaomicron cells showed greater adhesion to mucins compared to that shown by monoculture cells. Proteomic analysis showed the presence of 13 B. longum-derived cytoplasmic proteins on the surface of B. thetaiotaomicron. Moreover, incubation of B. thetaiotaomicron with the recombinant proteins GroEL and elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu)-two well-known mucin-adhesive moonlighting proteins of B. longum-led to an increase in the adhesion of B. thetaiotaomicron to mucins, a result attributed to the localization of these proteins on the B. thetaiotaomicron cell surface. Furthermore, the recombinant EF-Tu and GroEL proteins were observed to bind to the cell surface of several other bacterial species; however, the binding was species dependent. The present findings indicate a symbiotic relationship mediated by the sharing of moonlighting proteins among specific strains of B. longum and B. thetaiotaomicron. IMPORTANCE The adhesion of intestinal bacteria to the mucus layer is an important colonization strategy in the gut environment. Generally, the bacterial adhesion process is a characteristic feature of the individual cell surface-associated adhesion factors secreted by a particular bacterium. In this study, coculture experiments between Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides show that the secreted moonlighting proteins adhere to the cell surface of coexisting bacteria and alter the adhesiveness of the bacteria to mucins. This finding indicates that the moonlighting proteins act as adhesion factors for not only homologous strains but also for coexisting heterologous strains. The presence of a coexisting bacterium in the environment can significantly alter the mucin-adhesive properties of another bacterium. The findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of the colonization properties of gut bacteria through the discovery of a new symbiotic relationship between them.}, } @article {pmid36846759, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, TS and Gao, ZM and Gong, L and Li, QM and Zhou, YL and Chen, HG and He, LS and Wang, Y}, title = {Genome-centric view of the microbiome in a new deep-sea glass sponge species Bathydorus sp.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1078171}, pmid = {36846759}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sponges are widely distributed in the global ocean and harbor diverse symbiotic microbes with mutualistic relationships. However, sponge symbionts in the deep sea remain poorly studied at the genome level. Here, we report a new glass sponge species of the genus Bathydorus and provide a genome-centric view of its microbiome. We obtained 14 high-quality prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) affiliated with the phyla Nitrososphaerota, Pseudomonadota, Nitrospirota, Bdellovibrionota, SAR324, Bacteroidota, and Patescibacteria. In total, 13 of these MAGs probably represent new species, suggesting the high novelty of the deep-sea glass sponge microbiome. An ammonia-oxidizing Nitrososphaerota MAG B01, which accounted for up to 70% of the metagenome reads, dominated the sponge microbiomes. The B01 genome had a highly complex CRISPR array, which likely represents an advantageous evolution toward a symbiotic lifestyle and forceful ability to defend against phages. A sulfur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria species was the second most dominant symbiont, and a nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospirota species could also be detected, but with lower relative abundance. Bdellovibrio species represented by two MAGs, B11 and B12, were first reported as potential predatory symbionts in deep-sea glass sponges and have undergone dramatic genome reduction. Comprehensive functional analysis indicated that most of the sponge symbionts encoded CRISPR-Cas systems and eukaryotic-like proteins for symbiotic interactions with the host. Metabolic reconstruction further illustrated their essential roles in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. In addition, diverse putative phages were identified from the sponge metagenomes. Our study expands the knowledge of microbial diversity, evolutionary adaption, and metabolic complementarity in deep-sea glass sponges.}, } @article {pmid36846628, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, X and Li, Y and Luo, T and Bi, W and Yu, J and Wang, Y}, title = {Genomic Analysis of the Xanthoria elegans and Polyketide Synthase Gene Mining Based on the Whole Genome.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {36-48}, pmid = {36846628}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Xanthoria elegans is a lichen symbiosis, that inhabits extreme environments and can absorb UV-B. We reported the de novo sequencing and assembly of X. elegans genome. The whole genome was approximately 44.63 Mb, with a GC content of 40.69%. Genome assembly generated 207 scaffolds with an N50 length of 563,100 bp, N90 length of 122,672 bp. The genome comprised 9,581 genes, some encoded enzymes involved in the secondary metabolism such as terpene, polyketides. To further understand the UV-B absorbing and adaptability to extreme environments mechanisms of X. elegans, we searched the secondary metabolites genes and gene-cluster from the genome using genome-mining and bioinformatics analysis. The results revealed that 7 NR-PKSs, 12 HR-PKSs and 2 hybrid PKS-PKSs from X. elegans were isolated, they belong to Type I PKS (T1PKS) according to the domain architecture; phylogenetic analysis and BGCs comparison linked the putative products to two NR-PKSs and three HR-PKSs, the putative products of two NR-PKSs were emodin xanthrone (most likely parietin) and mycophelonic acid, the putative products of three HR-PKSs were soppilines, (+)-asperlin and macrolactone brefeldin A, respectively. 5 PKSs from X. elegans build a correlation between the SMs carbon skeleton and PKS genes based on the domain architecture, phylogenetic and BGC comparison. Although the function of 16 PKSs remains unclear, the findings emphasize that the genes from X. elegans represent an unexploited source of novel polyketide and utilization of lichen gene resources.}, } @article {pmid36844712, year = {2023}, author = {Paine, H and Jones, F and Kinross, J}, title = {Preparing the Bowel (Microbiome) for Surgery: Surgical Bioresilience.}, journal = {Clinics in colon and rectal surgery}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {138-145}, pmid = {36844712}, issn = {1531-0043}, abstract = {The preparation of the bowel for radical surgery is a corner stone of elective colorectal practice. The evidence for this intervention is of variable quality and it is often contradictory, yet there is now a global move toward the adoption of oral antibiotic therapy for the reduction of perioperative infective complications, such as surgical site infections. The gut microbiome is a critical mediator of the systemic inflammatory response to surgical injury, wound healing, and perioperative gut function. The loss of critical microbial symbiotic functions caused by bowel preparation and surgery has an adverse impact on surgical outcomes, yet the mechanisms through which this occurs are poorly defined. In this review, the evidence for bowel preparation strategies is critically appraised in the context of the gut microbiome. The impact of antibiotic therapy on the surgical gut microbiome and the importance of the intestinal "resistome" to surgical recovery is described. Data to support the augmentation of the microbiome through diet, probiotic and symbiotic approaches, as well as fecal transplantation are also appraised. Finally, we propose a novel strategy of bowel preparation defined as " surgical bioresilience " and define areas or prioritization in this emerging field. This describes the optimization of surgical intestinal homeostasis and core surgical exposome-microbiome interactions that regulate the wound immune microenvironment, the systemic inflammatory response to surgical injury, and gut function across the perioperative time course.}, } @article {pmid36844706, year = {2023}, author = {van Praagh, JB and Havenga, K}, title = {What Is the Microbiome? A Description of a Social Network.}, journal = {Clinics in colon and rectal surgery}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {91-97}, pmid = {36844706}, issn = {1531-0043}, abstract = {The gut microbiome has coevolved with its hosts over the years, forming a complex and symbiotic relationship. It is formed by what we do, what we eat, where we live, and with whom we live. The microbiome is known to influence our health by training our immune system and providing nutrients for the human body. However, when the microbiome becomes out of balance and dysbiosis occurs, the microorganisms within can cause or contribute to diseases. This major influencer on our health is studied intensively, but it is unfortunately often overlooked by the surgeon and in surgical practice. Because of that, there is not much literature about the microbiome and its influence on surgical patients or procedures. However, there is evidence that it plays a major role, showing that it needs to be a topic of interest for the surgeon. This review is written to show the surgeon the importance of the microbiome and why it should be taken into consideration when preparing or treating patients.}, } @article {pmid36844083, year = {2023}, author = {Genre, A and Pawlowski, K and Zimmermann, SD and Saia, S}, title = {Editorial: Insights in plant symbiotic interactions: 2021.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1129738}, pmid = {36844083}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36843548, year = {2023}, author = {Larner, AJ}, title = {Medical biography: A symbiotic methodology?.}, journal = {Journal of medical biography}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {9677720231160279}, doi = {10.1177/09677720231160279}, pmid = {36843548}, issn = {1758-1087}, } @article {pmid36842589, year = {2023}, author = {Qin, Y and Wang, XW and Lian, J and Zhao, QF and Jiang, HB}, title = {Combination of non-sterilized wastewater purification and high-level CO2 bio-capture with substantial biomass yield of an indigenous Chlorella strain.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {873}, number = {}, pages = {162442}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162442}, pmid = {36842589}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; Carbon Dioxide ; Biomass ; *Water Purification ; Wastewater ; *Microalgae ; }, abstract = {The indigenous microalga Chlorella sorokiniana NBU-3 grown under air, 5 %, 15 %, and 25 % CO2 supply was evaluated to determine its potential for flue gas bio-capture, nutrient removal capacity and biomass yield using non-sterilized wastewater as growth medium. The results indicated that C. sorokiniana NBU-3 exhibited high nutrient removal efficiency (>95 % for NH4[+]-N, TN and TP) with either air or CO2 aeration. 5 %-15 % CO2 supplies promote biomass yield, nutrient utilization and CO2 biofixation of C. sorokiniana NBU-3. In particular, 15 % CO2 promotes C. sorokiniana NBU-3 growth in non-sterilized MW, but inhibits its growth in BG11 medium, indicating the importance of non-sterilized MW and high CO2 aeration concurrence for C. sorokiniana NBU-3 economically practical cultivation. Moreover, the highest values of lipid (27.84 ± 2.12 %) and protein (32.65 ± 4.11 %) contents were obtained in MW with 15 % CO2 aeration. Conceivably, microalgal-bacterial symbiosis may help C. sorokiniana NBU-3 tolerate high concentration of CO2 and promote microalga growth. The succession of the community diversity toward the specific functional bacterial species such as Methylobacillus and Methylophilus (Proteobacteria) which were predicted to possess the function of methylotroph, methanol oxidation and ureolysis would help facilitate the microalgal-bacterial symbiosis and promote the microalgae biomass accumulation with high dosage of CO2 aeration. Overall, these findings clearly highlight the potential of this indigenous microalga C. sorokiniana NBU-3 for industrial-emission level CO2 mitigation and commercial microalga biomass production in MW.}, } @article {pmid36842586, year = {2023}, author = {Pérez-Diz, M and Rodríguez-Addesso, B and Hussain, MI and Rodríguez, J and Novoa, A and González, L}, title = {Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of the invasive species Carpobrotus sp. pl. in different coastal habitats.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {873}, number = {}, pages = {162470}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162470}, pmid = {36842586}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Humans ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; *Nitrogen ; *Carbon ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Carbon Isotopes ; }, abstract = {The genus Carpobrotus N.E.Br. comprises several aggressive invasive species that threaten biodiversity in coastal areas worldwide. We studied the phenotypic plasticity of Carpobrotus sp. pl. invading four coastal habitats in the north-western Iberian Peninsula (coastal cliffs, disturbed areas, dunes and coastal forests). We measured morphological traits and carbon (δ[13]C) and nitrogen (δ[15]N) stable isotope compositions of Carpobrotus sp. pl. individuals collected in each habitat. Our results indicated that leaf carbon content (% C) and dry shoot weight were higher on cliffs and lower in mixed forests. In contrast, leaf hydration was higher in mixed forests and lower on cliffs. Leaf nitrogen content (% N) was higher in forests, which might be due to the presence of Acacia longifolia, an alien tree that accumulates N in the soil through symbiotic associations with N fixing bacteria. Differences in δ[15]N showed the use of different N sources in each habitat. Values were higher in disturbed areas with greater human activity and lower on cliffs and forests. δ[13]C was higher in cliffs and dunes, suggesting CAM activity where drought and salinity are more intense. Water use efficiency (iWUE) and δ[13]C were higher on cliffs and dunes, suggesting an adaptation and high tolerance of Carpobrotus sp. pl. to unfavourable conditions such as drought or salinity in the invaded areas.}, } @article {pmid36842576, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, J and Tan, J and Li, W and Singh, BP and Yang, X and Bolan, N and Chen, X and Xu, S and Bao, Y and Lv, D and Peng, A and Zhou, Y and Wang, H}, title = {An overview of the direct and indirect effects of acid rain on plants: Relationships among acid rain, soil, microorganisms, and plants.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {873}, number = {}, pages = {162388}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162388}, pmid = {36842576}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Soil/chemistry ; *Acid Rain/adverse effects ; Plants/metabolism ; *Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Acid rain (AR) causes numerous environmental problems and complex negative effects on plants globally. Many studies have previously reported on direct effects of AR or its depositional substances on plant injury and performance. However, few studies have addressed the indirect effects of AR on plants as mediated by soil microorganisms and the abiotic environment of the soil rhizosphere. The indirect effects (e.g., AR → soil microorganisms→plants) need greater attention, because acidic deposition not only affects the distribution, composition, abundance, function, and activity of plant-associated microorganisms, but also influences the dynamics of some substances in the soil in a way that may be harmful to plants. Therefore, this review not only focused on the direct effects of AR on plant performance, growth, and biomass allocations from a whole-plant perspective, but also addressed the pathway of AR-soil chemical characteristics-plants, which explains how soil solute leaching and acidification by AR will reduce the availability of essential nutrients and increase the availability of heavy metals for plants, affecting carbon and nitrogen cycles. Mainly, we evaluated the AR-soil microorganisms-plants pathway by: 1) synthesizing the potential roles of soil microbes in alleviating soil acidic stress on plants and the adverse effects of AR on plant-associated soil microorganisms; 2) exploring how plant mycorrhizal types affect the detection of AR effect on plants. The meta-analysis showed that the effects of AR-induced pH on leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, and plant root biomass were dependent on plant mycorrhizal types. Some possible reasons for different synergy between mycorrhizal symbiotic types and plants were discussed. Future research relating to the effects of AR on plants should focus on the combined direct and indirect effects to evaluate how AR affects plant performance comprehensively.}, } @article {pmid36842361, year = {2023}, author = {Fine, S and Chaudhri, A and Englebright, J and Dan Roberts, W}, title = {Nursing process, derived from the clinical care classification system components, as an earlier indicator of nursing care during a pandemic.}, journal = {International journal of medical informatics}, volume = {173}, number = {}, pages = {104954}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104954}, pmid = {36842361}, issn = {1872-8243}, mesh = {Humans ; Pandemics ; Retrospective Studies ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; *Nursing Process ; *Nursing Care ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: During COVID pandemic response, an early signal was desired beyond typical financial classifications or order sets. The foundational work of Virginia K Saba informed the essential, symbiotic relationship of nursing practice and resource utilization by means of the Clinical Care Classification System [CCC]. Scholars have confirmed the use of the CCC as the structure for data modeling, focusing on the concept of nursing cost [1]. Therefore, the purpose of this retrospective, descriptive study was to determine if analysis of CCC Care Component codes could provide a high granularity signal of early shifts in patient demographics and in nursing care interventions and to, then, determine if nursing care intervention shifts indicated changes in resource utilization.

METHODS: For a large multi-facility healthcare system in the USA, patients cared for in an acute care setting/hospital-based care unit were the population of interest. Through prior and ongoing efforts of ensuring Evidenced-Based Clinical Documentation [EBCD], a data model was utilized to determine changes in the patient's nursing diagnoses, nursing interventions, during care episodes, for patients with acute symptoms or diagnosed/confirmed COVID.

RESULTS: The structure of CCC revealed 22 billion individual instances of the CCC Care Component/Concept codes for the data sets for 2017 and during COVID, a considerably large data set suitable for pre- and post- event analyses. The component codes were included in a string data set for concept/diagnosis/intervention.

DISCUSSION: By our analysis, these CCC Information Model elements determined a clear ability to detect increasing demands of nursing and resources, prior to other data models, including supply chain data, provider documented diagnostic codes, or laboratory test codes. Therefore, we conclude CCC System structure and Nursing Intervention codes allow for earlier detection of pandemic care nursing resource demands, despite the perceived challenges of "timeliness of documentation" attributed to more constrained timelines of data models of nursing care.}, } @article {pmid36841903, year = {2023}, author = {Fricke, J and Schalk, F and Kreuzenbeck, NB and Seibel, E and Hoffmann, J and Dittmann, G and Conlon, BH and Guo, H and Wilhelm de Beer, Z and Vassão, DG and Gleixner, G and Poulsen, M and Beemelmanns, C}, title = {Adaptations of Pseudoxylaria towards a comb-associated lifestyle in fungus-farming termite colonies.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36841903}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Characterizing ancient clades of fungal symbionts is necessary for understanding the evolutionary process underlying symbiosis development. In this study, we investigated a distinct subgeneric taxon of Xylaria (Xylariaceae), named Pseudoxylaria, whose members have solely been isolated from the fungus garden of farming termites. Pseudoxylaria are inconspicuously present in active fungus gardens of termite colonies and only emerge in the form of vegetative stromata, when the fungus comb is no longer attended ("sit and wait" strategy). Insights into the genomic and metabolic consequences of their association, however, have remained sparse. Capitalizing on viable Pseudoxylaria cultures from different termite colonies, we obtained genomes of seven and transcriptomes of two Pseudoxylaria isolates. Using a whole-genome-based comparison with free-living members of the genus Xylaria, we document that the association has been accompanied by significant reductions in genome size, protein-coding gene content, and reduced functional capacities related to oxidative lignin degradation, oxidative stress responses and secondary metabolite production. Functional studies based on growth assays and fungus-fungus co-cultivations, coupled with isotope fractionation analysis, showed that Pseudoxylaria only moderately antagonizes growth of the termite food fungus Termitomyces, and instead extracts nutrients from the food fungus biomass for its own growth. We also uncovered that Pseudoxylaria is still capable of producing structurally unique metabolites, which was exemplified by the isolation of two novel metabolites, and that the natural product repertoire correlated with antimicrobial and insect antifeedant activity.}, } @article {pmid36841885, year = {2023}, author = {Duran-Nebreda, S and Valverde, S}, title = {Composition, structure and robustness of Lichen guilds.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3295}, pmid = {36841885}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Biological Evolution ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a major engine of evolutionary innovation underlying many extant complex organisms. Lichens are a paradigmatic example that offers a unique perspective on the role of symbiosis in ecological success and evolutionary diversification. Lichen studies have produced a wealth of information regarding the importance of symbiosis, but they frequently focus on a few species, limiting our understanding of large-scale phenomena such as guilds. Guilds are groupings of lichens that assist each other's proliferation and are intimately linked by a shared set of photobionts, constituting an extensive network of relationships. To characterize the network of lichen symbionts, we used a large data set ([Formula: see text] publications) of natural photobiont-mycobiont associations. The entire lichen network was found to be modular, but this organization does not directly match taxonomic information in the data set, prompting a reconsideration of lichen guild structure and composition. The multiscale nature of this network reveals that the major lichen guilds are better represented as clusters with several substructures rather than as monolithic communities. Heterogeneous guild structure fosters robustness, with keystone species functioning as bridges between guilds and whose extinction would endanger global stability.}, } @article {pmid36841454, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Li, X and Chen, J and Wang, F}, title = {Treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater with self-suspended algae-bacteria symbiotic particles: Removal performance and reciprocal mechanism.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {323}, number = {}, pages = {138240}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138240}, pmid = {36841454}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Wastewater ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; Bacteria ; Phosphorus ; Tetracycline ; Nitrogen ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; }, abstract = {Emerging contaminants such as antibiotics in wastewater have posed a challenge on conventional biological treatment processes. Algae-bacteria symbiotic mode could improve the performance of biological treatment processes. Self-suspended algae-bacteria symbiotic particles (ABSPs) were prepared with Chlorella vulgaris and Bacillus subtilis using the sol-gel method and hollow glass microspheres in this study. The removal effect of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as the feedback mechanism of ABSPs under tetracycline stress were investigated through three-cycles wastewater treatment experiments. The antioxidant enzyme activity and phycosphere extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content were identified as well. The results indicated that the removal rates of NH4[+]-N, TP, COD, and tetracycline in the ABSPs group finally reached 96.18%, 95.44%, 81.36%, and 74.20%, respectively, which were higher than the single algae group apparently. The phycosphere EPS content increased by 20.41% and algae cell structure maintained integrity in ABSPs group as compared with that in single algae group. This study demonstrates that the self-suspended ABSPs can improve contaminants removal performance and alleviate the antioxidant stress response of algae through algal-bacterial reciprocity mechanism.}, } @article {pmid36841391, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, J and Yan, X and Jia, X and Wang, Y and Xu, H and Yu, H and He, L and Zheng, B and Wu, X}, title = {A new strategy to improve Ganoderma polysaccharides production by symbiotic fungi elicitors through activating the biosynthetic pathway.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {235}, number = {}, pages = {123798}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123798}, pmid = {36841391}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Humans ; Male ; *Ganoderma ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Polysaccharides ; *Reishi ; Monosaccharides ; }, abstract = {Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) attract growing attention due to their remarkable bioactivities, but the low content in raw materials remains a bottleneck severely restricting their application. We previously found a higher polysaccharides accumulation in Ganoderma lucidum cultured in continuous cropping soil, and soil symbiotic fungi are presumed as the key among many factors. Herein, 33 symbiotic fungi were isolated from the soil, and fungal elicitors were prepared to investigate their biotic eliciting effect on GLP biosynthesis. Most elicitors were found to significantly improve GLP production, among which the NO.16 molecularly identified as Penicillium citrinum, exhibited the optimum eliciting effect with GLP yield increasing by 3.4 times. Differences in the biosynthetic pathway genes expressions and the monosaccharide components of GLP were further analyzed. The transcriptions of the main genes of GLP biosynthetic pathway were up-regulated under PCE treatments, suggesting it improves GLP production by activating transcriptions of the biosynthetic pathway genes. Moreover, PCE eliciting significantly altered the monosaccharide compositions of GLP with Gal, Man, GalA, GlcA, and Fuc increasing by 8.17 %, 5.68 %, 5.41 %, 2.66 %, and 1.51 % respectively, but Glc decreased by 23.43 %, which may result in the activity change. It can serve as a new strategy to improve GLP production.}, } @article {pmid36841386, year = {2023}, author = {Saleh, AM and Abu El-Soud, WM and Alotaibi, MO and Beemster, GTS and Mohammed, AE and AbdElgawad, H}, title = {Chitosan nanoparticles support the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi on growth and sugar metabolism of wheat crop.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {235}, number = {}, pages = {123806}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123806}, pmid = {36841386}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Triticum/physiology ; *Chitosan/pharmacology/metabolism ; Fungi ; Plant Roots ; Sucrose/metabolism ; Sugars/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) symbiosis is an indispensable approach in sustainable agriculture. AMF-plant association is likely to be enhanced by the nanoparticle's application. Herein, the impact of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) on the mycorrhizal colonization in wheat has been investigated. The provoked changes in wheat growth, physiology and metabolism were assessed. CSNPs treatment improved AMF colonization (52 %) by inducing the levels of auxins and strigolactones in roots by 32 and 21 %, respectively besides flavonoids exudation into the rhizosphere (9 %). Such supporting action of CSNPs was associated with improved plant biomass production (21 %) compared to AMF treatment. Both treatments synergistically enhanced the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and stomatal conductance, therefore the photosynthetic rate was increased. The combined application of CSNPs and AMF enhanced accumulation of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch (12, 22, 31 and 13 %, respectively), as well as the activities of sucrose-p-synthase, invertases and starch synthase compared to AMF treatment. The synchronous application of CSNPs and AMF promoted the levels of polyphenols, carotenoids, and tocopherols therefore, improved antioxidant capacity (33 %), in the roots. CSNPs can be applied as an efficient biofertilization strategies to enhance plant growth and fitness, beside improvement of health promoting compounds in wheat.}, } @article {pmid36840302, year = {2023}, author = {Xavier, GR and Jesus, EC and Dias, A and Coelho, MRR and Molina, YC and Rumjanek, NG}, title = {Contribution of Biofertilizers to Pulse Crops: From Single-Strain Inoculants to New Technologies Based on Microbiomes Strategies.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36840302}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Pulses provide distinct health benefits due to their low fat content and high protein and fiber contents. Their grain production reaches approximately 93,210 × 10[3] tons per year. Pulses benefit from the symbiosis with atmospheric N2-fixing bacteria, which increases productivity and reduces the need for N fertilizers, thus contributing to mitigation of environmental impact mitigation. Additionally, the root region harbors a rich microbial community with multiple traits related to plant growth promotion, such as nutrient increase and tolerance enhancement to abiotic or biotic stresses. We reviewed the eight most common pulses accounting for almost 90% of world production: common beans, chickpeas, peas, cowpeas, mung beans, lentils, broad beans, and pigeon peas. We focused on updated information considering both single-rhizobial inoculation and co-inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. We found approximately 80 microbial taxa with PGPR traits, mainly Bacillus sp., B. subtilis, Pseudomonas sp., P. fluorescens, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and that contributed to improve plant growth and yield under different conditions. In addition, new data on root, nodule, rhizosphere, and seed microbiomes point to strategies that can be used to design new generations of biofertilizers, highlighting the importance of microorganisms for productive pulse systems.}, } @article {pmid36839966, year = {2023}, author = {Firoozbahr, M and Kingshott, P and Palombo, EA and Zaferanloo, B}, title = {Recent Advances in Using Natural Antibacterial Additives in Bioactive Wound Dressings.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36839966}, issn = {1999-4923}, abstract = {Wound care is a global health issue with a financial burden of up to US $96.8 billion annually in the USA alone. Chronic non-healing wounds which show delayed and incomplete healing are especially problematic. Although there are more than 3000 dressing types in the wound management market, new developments in more efficient wound dressings will require innovative approaches such as embedding antibacterial additives into wound-dressing materials. The lack of novel antibacterial agents and the misuse of current antibiotics have caused an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is estimated to cause 10 million deaths by 2050 worldwide. These ongoing challenges clearly indicate an urgent need for developing new antibacterial additives in wound dressings targeting microbial pathogens. Natural products and their derivatives have long been a significant source of pharmaceuticals against AMR. Scrutinising the data of newly approved drugs has identified plants as one of the biggest and most important sources in the development of novel antibacterial drugs. Some of the plant-based antibacterial additives, such as essential oils and plant extracts, have been previously used in wound dressings; however, there is another source of plant-derived antibacterial additives, i.e., those produced by symbiotic endophytic fungi, that show great potential in wound dressing applications. Endophytes represent a novel, natural, and sustainable source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications, including as efficient antibacterial additives for chronic wound dressings. This review examines and appraises recent developments in bioactive wound dressings that incorporate natural products as antibacterial agents as well as advances in endophyte research that show great potential in treating chronic wounds.}, } @article {pmid36839602, year = {2023}, author = {Teodoro, TBP and Carolino, AT and Queiroz, RRS and Oliveira, PB and Moreira, DDO and Silva, GA and Samuels, RI}, title = {Production of Escovopsis weberi (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Mycelial Pellets and Their Effects on Leaf-Cutting Ant Fungal Gardens.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36839602}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {The maintenance of the symbiosis between leaf-cutting ants and their mutualistic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus Singer (Moller) is vital for the survival of both species. The specialist fungal parasite Escovopsis weberi Muchovej & Della Lucia is a threat to this symbiosis, causing severe damage to the fungal garden. Mycelial pellets are resistant fungal structures that can be produced under laboratory conditions. These structures were studied for use in biological pest control, but the production of mycelial pellets has not previously been documented in Escovopsis. One of the aims of this study was to induce Escovopsis weberi to produce mycelial pellets and investigate the potential of these pellets for the control of leaf-cutting ants. We compared the pathogenicity of Escovopsis weberi mycelial pellets and conidia against mini-colonies of Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus Forel when applied in the form of baits. Worker ants were able to distinguish mycelial pellets from conidia, as baits with mycelial pellets were more attractive to workers than those with conidia, causing a greater negative impact on colony health. All types of baits containing Escovopsis weberi influenced the foraging activity but only treatments with viable fungal propagules resulted in an increase in the quantity of waste material, with a significant negative impact on the fungal garden biomass. The results provided novel information regarding Escovopsis recognition by worker ants and differences between conidia and mycelial pellet dynamics in leaf-cutting ant colonies, with new perspectives for the biological control of these important pests.}, } @article {pmid36839314, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, XR and Chen, ZZ and Dong, XL and Zhao, QP and Cai, J}, title = {A Novel Symbiotic Formulation Reduces Obesity and Concomitant Metabolic Syndrome in Rats by Raising the Relative Abundance of Blautia.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36839314}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Rats ; Animals ; *Metabolic Syndrome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Obesity/metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat ; Bile Acids and Salts ; }, abstract = {Obesity is regarded as an abnormal or excessive buildup of fat that may be bad for health and is influenced by a combination of intestinal flora, genetic background, physical activity level and environment. Symbiotic supplementation may be a realistic and easy therapy for the reversal of obesity and associated metabolic problems. In this study, we chose two Bifidobacterium species, three Lactobacilli species and four prebiotics to make a new symbiotic formulation. High or low doses of the symbiotic were administered to rats, and biochemical indicators were recorded to assess the biological effects in a high-fat-diet-induced rat model. The underlying mechanisms were explored by integrating 16S rRNA sequencing with an extensively targeted metabolome. High-dose symbiotic supplementation was effective in reducing obesity and concomitant metabolic syndrome. The high-dose symbiotic also significantly increased the abundance of Blautia, which was negatively correlated with taurocholic acid and the main differential metabolites involved in amino acid and bile acid metabolism. While the low-dose symbiotic had some therapeutic effects, they were not as strong as those at the high dose, demonstrating that the effects were dose-dependent. Overall, our novel symbiotic combination improved plasma glucose and lipid levels, shrunk adipocyte size, restored liver function, increased the abundance of Blautia and adjusted bile acid and amino acid metabolism.}, } @article {pmid36838405, year = {2023}, author = {Picciotti, U and Araujo Dalbon, V and Ciancio, A and Colagiero, M and Cozzi, G and De Bellis, L and Finetti-Sialer, MM and Greco, D and Ippolito, A and Lahbib, N and Logrieco, AF and López-Llorca, LV and Lopez-Moya, F and Luvisi, A and Mincuzzi, A and Molina-Acevedo, JP and Pazzani, C and Scortichini, M and Scrascia, M and Valenzano, D and Garganese, F and Porcelli, F}, title = {"Ectomosphere": Insects and Microorganism Interactions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36838405}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {This study focuses on interacting with insects and their ectosymbiont (lato sensu) microorganisms for environmentally safe plant production and protection. Some cases help compare ectosymbiont microorganisms that are insect-borne, -driven, or -spread relevant to endosymbionts' behaviour. Ectosymbiotic bacteria can interact with insects by allowing them to improve the value of their pabula. In addition, some bacteria are essential for creating ecological niches that can host the development of pests. Insect-borne plant pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These pathogens interact with their vectors to enhance reciprocal fitness. Knowing vector-phoront interaction could considerably increase chances for outbreak management, notably when sustained by quarantine vector ectosymbiont pathogens, such as the actual Xylella fastidiosa Mediterranean invasion episode. Insect pathogenic viruses have a close evolutionary relationship with their hosts, also being highly specific and obligate parasites. Sixteen virus families have been reported to infect insects and may be involved in the biological control of specific pests, including some economic weevils. Insects and fungi are among the most widespread organisms in nature and interact with each other, establishing symbiotic relationships ranging from mutualism to antagonism. The associations can influence the extent to which interacting organisms can exert their effects on plants and the proper management practices. Sustainable pest management also relies on entomopathogenic fungi; research on these species starts from their isolation from insect carcasses, followed by identification using conventional light or electron microscopy techniques. Thanks to the development of omics sciences, it is possible to identify entomopathogenic fungi with evolutionary histories that are less-shared with the target insect and can be proposed as pest antagonists. Many interesting omics can help detect the presence of entomopathogens in different natural matrices, such as soil or plants. The same techniques will help localize ectosymbionts, localization of recesses, or specialized morphological adaptation, greatly supporting the robust interpretation of the symbiont role. The manipulation and modulation of ectosymbionts could be a more promising way to counteract pests and borne pathogens, mitigating the impact of formulates and reducing food insecurity due to the lesser impact of direct damage and diseases. The promise has a preventive intent for more manageable and broader implications for pests, comparing what we can obtain using simpler, less-specific techniques and a less comprehensive approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM).}, } @article {pmid36838401, year = {2023}, author = {Mileriene, J and Serniene, L and Kasparaviciene, B and Lauciene, L and Kasetiene, N and Zakariene, G and Kersiene, M and Leskauskaite, D and Viskelis, J and Kourkoutas, Y and Malakauskas, M}, title = {Exploring the Potential of Sustainable Acid Whey Cheese Supplemented with Apple Pomace and GABA-Producing Indigenous Lactococcus lactis Strain.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36838401}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {This study aimed to utilize two by-products, acid whey and apple pomace, as well as an indigenous Lactococcus lactis LL16 strain with the probiotic potential to produce a sustainable cheese with functional properties. Acid whey protein cheese was made by thermocoagulation of fresh acid whey and enhancing the final product by adding apple pomace, L. lactis LL16 strain, or a mixture of both. The sensory, the physicochemical, the proteolytic, and the microbiological parameters were evaluated during 14 days of refrigerated storage. The supplementation of the cheese with apple pomace affected (p ≤ 0.05) the cheese composition (moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber), the texture, the color (lightness, redness, and yellowness), and the overall sensory acceptability. The addition of the presumptive probiotic L. lactis LL16 strain decreased (p ≤ 0.05) the concentration of glutamic acid, thus increasing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) significantly in the acid whey cheese. The supplementation with apple pomace resulted in slightly (p < 0.05) higher counts of L. lactis LL16 on day seven, suggesting a positive effect of apple pomace components on strain survival. The symbiotic effect of apple pomace and LL16 was noted on proteolysis (pH 4.6-soluble nitrogen and free amino acids) in the cheese on day one, which may have positively influenced the overall sensory acceptance.}, } @article {pmid36838257, year = {2023}, author = {Mashini, AG and Oakley, CA and Beepat, SS and Peng, L and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {The Influence of Symbiosis on the Proteome of the Exaiptasia Endosymbiont Breviolum minutum.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36838257}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The cellular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of nutrient exchange, immune response, and symbiont population growth in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis are poorly resolved. Here, we employed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to elucidate proteomic changes associated with symbiosis in Breviolum minutum, a native symbiont of the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana ('Aiptasia'). We manipulated nutrients available to the algae in culture and to the holobiont in hospite (i.e., in symbiosis) and then monitored the impacts of our treatments on host-endosymbiont interactions. Both the symbiotic and nutritional states had significant impacts on the B. minutum proteome. B. minutum in hospite showed an increased abundance of proteins involved in phosphoinositol metabolism (e.g., glycerophosphoinositol permease 1 and phosphatidylinositol phosphatase) relative to the free-living alga, potentially reflecting inter-partner signalling that promotes the stability of the symbiosis. Proteins potentially involved in concentrating and fixing inorganic carbon (e.g., carbonic anhydrase, V-type ATPase) and in the assimilation of nitrogen (e.g., glutamine synthase) were more abundant in free-living B. minutum than in hospite, possibly due to host-facilitated access to inorganic carbon and nitrogen limitation by the host when in hospite. Photosystem proteins increased in abundance at high nutrient levels irrespective of the symbiotic state, as did proteins involved in antioxidant defences (e.g., superoxide dismutase, glutathione s-transferase). Proteins involved in iron metabolism were also affected by the nutritional state, with an increased iron demand and uptake under low nutrient treatments. These results detail the changes in symbiont physiology in response to the host microenvironment and nutrient availability and indicate potential symbiont-driven mechanisms that regulate the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36837858, year = {2023}, author = {Zaman, R and May, C and Ullah, A and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Bark Beetles Utilize Ophiostomatoid Fungi to Circumvent Host Tree Defenses.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36837858}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Bark beetles maintain symbiotic associations with a diversity of microbial organisms, including ophiostomatoid fungi. Studies have frequently reported the role of ophiostomatoid fungi in bark beetle biology, but how fungal symbionts interact with host chemical defenses over time is needed. We first investigated how inoculations by three fungal symbionts of mountain pine beetle affect the terpene chemistry of live lodgepole pine trees. We then conducted a complimentary laboratory experiment specifically measuring the host metabolite degradation by fungi and collected the fungal organic volatiles following inoculations with the same fungal species on lodgepole pine logs. In both experiments, we analyzed the infected tissues for their terpene chemistry. Additionally, we conducted an olfactometer assay to determine whether adult beetles respond to the volatile organic chemicals emitted from each of the three fungal species. We found that all fungi upregulated terpenes as early as two weeks after inoculations. Similarly, oxygenated monoterpene concentrations also increased by several folds (only in logs). A large majority of beetles tested showed a strong attraction to two fungal species, whereas the other fungus repelled the beetles. Together this study shows that fungal symbionts can alter host defense chemistry, assist beetles in overcoming metabolite toxicity, and provide possible chemical cues for bark beetle attraction.}, } @article {pmid36837801, year = {2023}, author = {Wanjari, UR and Mukherjee, AG and Gopalakrishnan, AV and Murali, R and Dey, A and Vellingiri, B and Ganesan, R}, title = {Role of Metabolism and Metabolic Pathways in Prostate Cancer.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36837801}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Prostate cancer (PCa) is the common cause of death in men. The pathophysiological factors contributing to PCa are not well known. PCa cells gain a protective mechanism via abnormal lipid signaling and metabolism. PCa cells modify their metabolism in response to an excessive intake of nutrients to facilitate advancement. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is inextricably linked to the carcinogenic progression of PCa, which heightens the severity of the disease. It is hypothesized that changes in the metabolism of the mitochondria contribute to the onset of PCa. The studies of particular alterations in the progress of PCa are best accomplished by examining the metabolome of prostate tissue. Due to the inconsistent findings written initially, additional epidemiological research is required to identify whether or not MetS is an aspect of PCa. There is a correlation between several risk factors and the progression of PCa, one of which is MetS. The metabolic symbiosis between PCa cells and the tumor milieu and how this type of crosstalk may aid in the development of PCa is portrayed in this work. This review focuses on in-depth analysis and evaluation of the metabolic changes that occur within PCa, and also aims to assess the effect of metabolic abnormalities on the aggressiveness status and metabolism of PCa.}, } @article {pmid36836374, year = {2023}, author = {Solanki, S and Lakshmi, GBVS and Dhiman, T and Gupta, S and Solanki, PR and Kapoor, R and Varma, A}, title = {Co-Application of Silver Nanoparticles and Symbiotic Fungus Piriformospora indica Improves Secondary Metabolite Production in Black Rice.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36836374}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {In the current research, unique Nano-Embedded Fungus (NEF), made by the synergic association of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and endophytic fungus (Piriformospora indica), is studied, and the impact of NEF on black rice secondary metabolites is reported. AgNPs were synthesized by chemical reduction process using the temperature-dependent method and characterized for morphological and structural features through UV visible absorption spectroscopy, zeta potential, XRD, SEM-EDX, and FTIR spectroscopy. The NEF, prepared by optimizing the AgNPs concentration (300 ppm) in agar and broth media, showed better fungal biomass, colony diameter, spore count, and spore size than the control P. indica. Treatment with AgNPs, P. indica, and NEF resulted in growth enhancement in black rice. NEF and AgNPs stimulated the production of secondary metabolites in its leaves. The concentrations of chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids were increased in plants inoculated with P. indica and AgNPs. The findings of the study highlight the synergistic effect of AgNPs and the fungal symbionts in augmenting the secondary metabolites in leaves of black rice.}, } @article {pmid36836255, year = {2023}, author = {Kuang, Y and Li, X and Wang, Z and Wang, X and Wei, H and Chen, H and Hu, W and Tang, M}, title = {Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth and Root Cell Ultrastructure of Eucalyptus grandis under Cadmium Stress.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36836255}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Eucalyptus grandis (E. grandis) has been reported to form a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which plays an important role in improving plant tolerance of heavy metal. However, the mechanism of how AMF intercept and transport cadmium (Cd) at the subcellular level in E. grandis still remains to be researched. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the growth performance of E. grandis under Cd stress and Cd absorption resistance of AMF and explored the Cd localization in the root by using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that AMF colonization could enhance plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency of E. grandis and reduce the translocation factor of Cd under Cd stress. After being treated with 50, 150, 300, and 500 μM Cd, the translocation factor of Cd in E. grandis with AMF colonization decreased by 56.41%, 62.89%, 66.67%, and 42.79%, respectively. However, the mycorrhizal efficiency was significant only at low Cd concentrations (50, 150, and 300 μM). Under 500 μM Cd concentration condition, the colonization of AMF in roots decreased, and the alleviating effect of AMF was not significant. Ultrastructural observations showed that Cd is abundant in regular lumps and strips in the cross-section of E. grandis root cell. AMF protected plant cells by retaining Cd in the fungal structure. Our results suggested that AMF alleviated Cd toxicity by regulating plant physiology and altering the distribution of Cd in different cell sites.}, } @article {pmid36835659, year = {2023}, author = {Żebracki, K and Horbowicz, A and Marczak, M and Turska-Szewczuk, A and Koper, P and Wójcik, K and Romańczuk, M and Wójcik, M and Mazur, A}, title = {Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii Requires a Complementary Function of Two Homologous Glycosyltransferases PssG and PssI.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36835659}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Glycosyltransferases/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Pss-I region of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 comprises more than 20 genes coding for glycosyltransferases, modifying enzymes, and polymerization/export proteins, altogether determining the biosynthesis of symbiotically relevant exopolysaccharides. In this study, the role of homologous PssG and PssI glycosyltransferases in exopolysaccharide subunit synthesis were analyzed. It was shown that the glycosyltransferase-encoding genes of the Pss-I region were part of a single large transcriptional unit with potential downstream promoters activated in specific conditions. The ΔpssG and ΔpssI mutants produced significantly lower amounts of the exopolysaccharide, while the double deletion mutant ΔpssIΔpssG produced no exopolysaccharide. Complementation of double mutation with individual genes restored exopolysaccharide synthesis, but only to the level similar to that observed for the single ΔpssI or ΔpssG mutants, indicating that PssG and PssI serve complementary functions in the process. PssG and PssI interacted with each other in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, PssI displayed an expanded in vivo interaction network comprising other GTs involved in subunit assembly and polymerization/export proteins. PssG and PssI proteins were shown to interact with the inner membrane through amphipathic helices at their C-termini, and PssG also required other proteins involved in exopolysaccharide synthesis to localize in the membrane protein fraction.}, } @article {pmid36835403, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, W and Dong, X and Yuan, Z and Zhang, Y and Li, X and Wang, Y}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Ammonium Transporter Family Genes in Soybean.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36835403}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Soybeans/genetics ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Ammonium transporters (AMTs) are responsible for ammonium absorption and utilization in plants. As a high-nitrogen-demand crop and a legume, soybean can also obtain ammonium from symbiotic root nodules in which nitrogen-fixing rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium. Although increasing evidence implicates vital roles of ammonium transport in soybean, no systematic analyses of AMTs in soybean (named GmAMTs) or functional analyses of GmAMTs are available. In this study, we aimed to identify all GmAMT family genes and gain a better understanding of the characteristics of GmAMT genes in soybean. Here, due to the improved genome assembly and annotation of soybean, we tried to generate a phylogenetic tree of 16 GmAMTs based on new information. Consistent with reported data, GmAMT family members can be divided into two subfamilies of GmAMT1 (6 genes) and GmAMT2 (10 genes). Interestingly, unlike Arabidopsis, which has only one AMT2, soybean has substantially increased the number of GmAMT2s, suggesting enhanced demand for ammonium transport. These genes were distributed on nine chromosomes, of which GmAMT1.3, GmAMT1.4, and GmAMT1.5 were three tandem repeat genes. The gene structures and conserved protein motifs of the GmAMT1 and GmAMT2 subfamilies were different. All the GmAMTs were membrane proteins with varying numbers of transmembrane domains ranging from 4 to 11. Promoter analysis found that these GmAMT genes have phytohormone-, circadian control-, and organ expression-related cis-elements in their promoters, and notably, there were nodulation-specific and nitrogen-responsive elements in the promoters of the GmAMT1 and GmAMT2 genes. Further expression data showed that these GmAMT family genes exhibited different spatiotemporal expression patterns across tissues and organs. In addition, GmAMT1.1, GmAMT1.2, GmAMT2.2, and GmAMT2.3 were responsive to nitrogen treatment, while GmAMT1.2, GmAMT1.3, GmAMT1.4, GmAMT1.5, GmAMT1.6, GmAMT2.1, GmAMT2.2, GmAMT2.3, GmAMT3.1, and GmAMT4.6 showed circadian rhythms in transcription. RT-qPCR validated the expression patterns of GmAMTs in response to different forms of nitrogen and exogenous ABA treatments. Gene expression analysis also confirmed that GmAMTs are regulated by key nodulation gene GmNINa, indicating a role of GmAMTs in symbiosis. Together, these data indicate that GmAMTs may differentially and/or redundantly regulate ammonium transport during plant development and in response to environmental factors. These findings provide a basis for future research on the functions of GmAMTs and the mechanisms through which GmAMTs regulate ammonium metabolism and nodulation in soybean.}, } @article {pmid36835385, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, JX and Dierckxsens, N and Bai, MZ and Guo, YY}, title = {Multichromosomal Mitochondrial Genome of Paphiopedilum micranthum: Compact and Fragmented Genome, and Rampant Intracellular Gene Transfer.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36835385}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Genome, Mitochondrial ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria/genetics ; *Magnoliopsida/genetics ; *Orchidaceae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of angiosperms. Considering the large number of species in this family and its symbiotic relationship with fungi, Orchidaceae provide an ideal model to study the evolution of plant mitogenomes. However, to date, there is only one draft mitochondrial genome of this family available. Here, we present a fully assembled and annotated sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Paphiopedilum micranthum, a species with high economic and ornamental value. The mitogenome of P. micranthum was 447,368 bp in length and comprised 26 circular subgenomes ranging in size from 5973 bp to 32,281 bp. The genome encoded for 39 mitochondrial-origin, protein-coding genes; 16 tRNAs (three of plastome origin); three rRNAs; and 16 ORFs, while rpl10 and sdh3 were lost from the mitogenome. Moreover, interorganellar DNA transfer was identified in 14 of the 26 chromosomes. These plastid-derived DNA fragments represented 28.32% (46,273 bp) of the P. micranthum plastome, including 12 intact plastome origin genes. Remarkably, the mitogenome of P. micranthum and Gastrodia elata shared 18% (about 81 kb) of their mitochondrial DNA sequences. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between repeat length and recombination frequency. The mitogenome of P. micranthum had more compact and fragmented chromosomes compared to other species with multichromosomal structures. We suggest that repeat-mediated homologous recombination enables the dynamic structure of mitochondrial genomes in Orchidaceae.}, } @article {pmid36835341, year = {2023}, author = {Brogna, C and Costanzo, V and Brogna, B and Bisaccia, DR and Brogna, G and Giuliano, M and Montano, L and Viduto, V and Cristoni, S and Fabrowski, M and Piscopo, M}, title = {Analysis of Bacteriophage Behavior of a Human RNA Virus, SARS-CoV-2, through the Integrated Approach of Immunofluorescence Microscopy, Proteomics and D-Amino Acid Quantification.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36835341}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Humans ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics ; *COVID-19 ; RNA ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Amino Acids ; Proteomics ; *Viruses/genetics ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; }, abstract = {SARS-CoV-2, one of the human RNA viruses, is widely studied around the world. Significant efforts have been made to understand its molecular mechanisms of action and how it interacts with epithelial cells and the human microbiome since it has also been observed in gut microbiome bacteria. Many studies emphasize the importance of surface immunity and also that the mucosal system is critical in the interaction of the pathogen with the cells of the oral, nasal, pharyngeal, and intestinal epithelium. Recent studies have shown how bacteria in the human gut microbiome produce toxins capable of altering the classical mechanisms of interaction of viruses with surface cells. This paper presents a simple approach to highlight the initial behavior of a novel pathogen, SARS-CoV-2, on the human microbiome. The immunofluorescence microscopy technique can be combined with spectral counting performed at mass spectrometry of viral peptides in bacterial cultures, along with identification of the presence of D-amino acids within viral peptides in bacterial cultures and in patients' blood. This approach makes it possible to establish the possible expression or increase of viral RNA viruses in general and SARS-CoV-2, as discussed in this study, and to determine whether or not the microbiome is involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the viruses. This novel combined approach can provide information more rapidly, avoiding the biases of virological diagnosis and identifying whether a virus can interact with, bind to, and infect bacteria and epithelial cells. Understanding whether some viruses have bacteriophagic behavior allows vaccine therapies to be focused either toward certain toxins produced by bacteria in the microbiome or toward finding inert or symbiotic viral mutations with the human microbiome. This new knowledge opens a scenario on a possible future vaccine: the probiotics vaccine, engineered with the right resistance to viruses that attach to both the epithelium human surface and gut microbiome bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36835283, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, S and Zhang, P and Miao, W and Xiong, J}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Ciliated Eukaryotes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36835283}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics ; Genome ; *Ciliophora/genetics ; }, abstract = {G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of transmembrane receptors and play important roles in many physiological processes. As a representative group of protozoa, ciliates represent the highest stage of eukaryotic cell differentiation and evolution in terms of their reproductive mode, two-state karyotype, and extremely diverse cytogenesis patterns. GPCRs have been poorly reported in ciliates. In this study, we identified 492 GPCRs in 24 ciliates. Using the existing classification system for animals, GPCRs in ciliates can be assigned to four families, including families A, B, E, and F. Most (377 members) belong to family A. The number of GPCRs is extremely different in different ciliates; the Heterotrichea ciliates usually have more GPCRs than other ciliates. Parasitic or symbiotic ciliates usually have only a few GPCRs. Gene/genome duplication events seem to play important roles in the expansion of the GPCR superfamily in ciliates. GPCRs in ciliates displayed seven typical domain organizations. GPCRs in an ortholog group are common and conserved in all ciliates. The gene expression analysis of the members in this conserved ortholog group in the model ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila, suggested that these GPCRs play important roles in the life cycle of ciliates. In summary, this study provides the first comprehensive genome-wide identification of GPCRs in ciliates, improving our understanding of the evolution and function of GPCR in ciliates.}, } @article {pmid36834619, year = {2023}, author = {Cruz-Rubio, JM and Riva, A and Cybulska, J and Zdunek, A and Berry, D and Loeppert, R and Viernstein, H and Praznik, W and Maghuly, F}, title = {Neutral and Pectic Heteropolysaccharides Isolated from Opuntia joconostle Mucilage: Composition, Molecular Dimensions and Prebiotic Potential.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36834619}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Opuntia/chemistry ; Prebiotics ; Plant Breeding ; Polysaccharides/chemistry ; Galactans ; }, abstract = {Opuntia joconostle is a semi-wild cactus cultivated for its fruit. However, the cladodes are often discarded, wasting the potentially useful mucilage in them. The mucilage is composed primarily of heteropolysaccharides, characterized by their molar mass distribution, monosaccharide composition, structural features (by vibrational spectroscopy, FT IR, and atomic force microscopy, AFM), and fermentability by known saccharolytic commensal members of the gut microbiota. After fractionation with ion exchange chromatography, four polysaccharides were found: one neutral (composed mainly of galactose, arabinose, and xylose) and three acidic, with a galacturonic acid content from 10 to 35%mol. Their average molar masses ranged from 1.8 × 10[5] to 2.8 × 10[5] g·mol[-1]. Distinct structural features such as galactan, arabinan, xylan, and galacturonan motifs were present in the FT IR spectra. The intra- and intermolecular interactions of the polysaccharides, and their effect on the aggregation behavior, were shown by AFM. The composition and structural features of these polysaccharides were reflected in their prebiotic potential. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria were not able to utilize them, whereas members of Bacteroidetes showed utilization capacity. The obtained data suggest a high economic potential for this Opuntia species, with potential uses such as animal feed in arid areas, precise prebiotic, and symbiotic formulations, or as the carbon skeleton source in a green refinery. Our methodology can be used to evaluate the saccharides as the phenotype of interest, helping to guide the breeding strategy.}, } @article {pmid36834550, year = {2023}, author = {Tan, S and Wei, H and Camara, I and Jia, H and Cao, K and Shi, W}, title = {Symbiotic Bacteria System of Locusta migratoria Showed Antifungal Capabilities against Beauveria bassiana.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36834550}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Beauveria ; *Locusta migratoria/physiology ; Antifungal Agents ; *Mycoses ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The stability of symbiotic flora is an important indicator of the health of an organism. Symbiotic bacteria have been proven to be closely involved in the immune process of organisms. The pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana was studied in relation to symbiotic bacteria on the surface and inside of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). The results showed that the surface disinfection of test locusts contributed to the pathogenicity of B. bassiana to locusts. Most of the surface bacteria of L. migratoria caused some inhibition of B. bassiana growth, and LM5-4 (Raoultella ornithinolytica), LM5-2 (Enterobacter aerogenes), and LM5-13 (Citrobacter freundii) showed the highest inhibitory effect on the growth of B. bassiana. The inoculation of locusts with additional surface symbiotic bacteria reduced the virulence of B. bassiana to L. migratoria. Infection by different strains of B. bassiana caused similar changes in the symbiotic flora of migratory locusts. The inoculation of locusts with additional intestinal symbiotic bacteria (Enterobacter sp.) reduced the virulence of B. bassiana to L. migratoria. These findings illustrate the effect of bacterial communities on fungal infections in L. migratoria when seen from the perspective of ecology in a microenvironment. The active antifungal substances of such bacteria and their mechanisms of action need further study.}, } @article {pmid36833457, year = {2023}, author = {Kim Tiam, S and Boubakri, H and Bethencourt, L and Abrouk, D and Fournier, P and Herrera-Belaroussi, A}, title = {Genomic Insights of Alnus-Infective Frankia Strains Reveal Unique Genetic Features and New Evidence on Their Host-Restricted Lifestyle.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36833457}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Symbiosis/genetics ; *Frankia/genetics ; *Alnus ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {The present study aimed to use comparative genomics to explore the relationships between Frankia and actinorhizal plants using a data set made of 33 Frankia genomes. The determinants of host specificity were first explored for "Alnus-infective strains" (i.e., Frankia strains belonging to Cluster Ia). Several genes were specifically found in these strains, including an agmatine deiminase which could possibly be involved in various functions as access to nitrogen sources, nodule organogenesis or plant defense. Within "Alnus-infective strains", Sp+ Frankia genomes were compared to Sp- genomes in order to elucidate the narrower host specificity of Sp+ strains (i.e., Sp+ strains being capable of in planta sporulation, unlike Sp- strains). A total of 88 protein families were lost in the Sp+ genomes. The lost genes were related to saprophytic life (transcriptional factors, transmembrane and secreted proteins), reinforcing the proposed status of Sp+ as obligatory symbiont. The Sp+ genomes were also characterized by a loss of genetic and functional paralogs, highlighting a reduction in functional redundancy (e.g., hup genes) or a possible loss of function related to a saprophytic lifestyle (e.g., genes involved in gas vesicle formation or recycling of nutrients).}, } @article {pmid36833201, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, S and Jiao, J and Tian, CF}, title = {Adaptive Evolution of Rhizobial Symbiosis beyond Horizontal Gene Transfer: From Genome Innovation to Regulation Reconstruction.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36833201}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; }, abstract = {There are ubiquitous variations in symbiotic performance of different rhizobial strains associated with the same legume host in agricultural practices. This is due to polymorphisms of symbiosis genes and/or largely unexplored variations in integration efficiency of symbiotic function. Here, we reviewed cumulative evidence on integration mechanisms of symbiosis genes. Experimental evolution, in concert with reverse genetic studies based on pangenomics, suggests that gain of the same circuit of key symbiosis genes through horizontal gene transfer is necessary but sometimes insufficient for bacteria to establish an effective symbiosis with legumes. An intact genomic background of the recipient may not support the proper expression or functioning of newly acquired key symbiosis genes. Further adaptive evolution, through genome innovation and reconstruction of regulation networks, may confer the recipient of nascent nodulation and nitrogen fixation ability. Other accessory genes, either co-transferred with key symbiosis genes or stochastically transferred, may provide the recipient with additional adaptability in ever-fluctuating host and soil niches. Successful integrations of these accessory genes with the rewired core network, regarding both symbiotic and edaphic fitness, can optimize symbiotic efficiency in various natural and agricultural ecosystems. This progress also sheds light on the development of elite rhizobial inoculants using synthetic biology procedures.}, } @article {pmid36831029, year = {2023}, author = {Vakadaris, G and Stefanis, C and Giorgi, E and Brouvalis, M and Voidarou, CC and Kourkoutas, Y and Tsigalou, C and Bezirtzoglou, E}, title = {The Role of Probiotics in Inducing and Maintaining Remission in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review of the Literature.}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36831029}, issn = {2227-9059}, abstract = {Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract affecting millions of patients worldwide. The gut microbiome partly determines the pathogenesis of both diseases. Even though probiotics have been widely used as a potential treatment, their efficacy in inducing and maintaining remission is still controversial. Our study aims to review the present-day literature about the possible role of probiotics in treating inflammatory bowel diseases in adults. This research was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included studies concerning adult patients who compared probiotics with placebo or non-probiotic intervention. We identified thirty-three studies, including 2713 patients from fourteen countries. The role of probiotics in Crohn's disease was examined in eleven studies. Only four studies presented statistically significant results in the remission of disease, primarily when used for three to six months. On the other hand, in twenty-one out of twenty-five studies, probiotics proved effective in achieving or maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis. Supplementation with Bifidobacterium sp. or a combination of probiotics is the most effective intervention, especially when compared with a placebo. There is strong evidence supporting the usage of probiotic supplementation in patients with ulcerative colitis, yet more research is needed to justify their efficacy in Crohn's disease.}, } @article {pmid36830518, year = {2023}, author = {Shang, Y and Zhong, H and Liu, G and Wang, X and Wu, X and Wei, Q and Shi, L and Zhang, H}, title = {Characteristics of Microbiota in Different Segments of the Digestive Tract of Lycodon rufozonatus.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36830518}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract of animals contains microbiota, forming a complex microecosystem. Gut microbes and their metabolites can regulate the development of host innate and adaptive immune systems. Animal immune systems maintain intestinal symbiotic microbiota homeostasis. However, relatively few studies have been published on reptiles, particularly snakes, and even fewer studies on different parts of the digestive tracts of these animals. Herein, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the microbial community composition and adaptability in the stomach and small and large intestines of Lycodon rufozonatus. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were most abundant in the stomach; Fusobacteria in the small intestine; and Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Firmicutes in the large intestine. No dominant genus could be identified in the stomach; however, dominant genera were evident in the small and large intestines. The microbial diversity index was significantly higher in the stomach than in the small and large intestines. Moreover, the influence of the microbial community structure on function was clarified through function prediction. Collectively, the gut microbes in the different segments of the digestive tract revealed the unique features of the L. rufozonatus gut microbiome. Our results provide insights into the co-evolutionary relationship between reptile gut microbiota and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid36829828, year = {2023}, author = {Khan, M and Ali, S and Al Azzawi, TNI and Saqib, S and Ullah, F and Ayaz, A and Zaman, W}, title = {The Key Roles of ROS and RNS as a Signaling Molecule in Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36829828}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a pivotal role in the dynamic cell signaling systems in plants, even under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Over the past two decades, various studies have endorsed the notion that these molecules can act as intracellular and intercellular signaling molecules at a very low concentration to control plant growth and development, symbiotic association, and defense mechanisms in response to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. However, the upsurge of ROS and RNS under stressful conditions can lead to cell damage, retarded growth, and delayed development of plants. As signaling molecules, ROS and RNS have gained great attention from plant scientists and have been studied under different developmental stages of plants. However, the role of RNS and RNS signaling in plant-microbe interactions is still unknown. Different organelles of plant cells contain the enzymes necessary for the formation of ROS and RNS as well as their scavengers, and the spatial and temporal positions of these enzymes determine the signaling pathways. In the present review, we aimed to report the production of ROS and RNS, their role as signaling molecules during plant-microbe interactions, and the antioxidant system as a balancing system in the synthesis and elimination of these species.}, } @article {pmid36829553, year = {2023}, author = {Quides, KW and Lee, Y and Hur, T and Atamian, HS}, title = {Evaluation of qPCR to Detect Shifts in Population Composition of the Rhizobial Symbiont Mesorhizobium japonicum during Serial in Planta Transfers.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36829553}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Microbial symbionts range from mutualistic to commensal to antagonistic. While these roles are distinct in their outcome, they are also fluid in a changing environment. Here, we used the Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium japonicum symbiosis to investigate short-term and long-term shifts in population abundance using an effective, fast, and low-cost tracking methodology for M. japonicum. We use quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to track previously generated signature-tagged M. japonicum mutants targeting the Tn5 transposon insertion and the flanking gene. We used a highly beneficial wild type and moderately beneficial and non-beneficial mutants of M. japonicum sp. nov. to demonstrate the specificity of these primers to estimate the relative abundance of each genotype within individual nodules and after serial transfers to new hosts. For the moderate and non-beneficial genotypes, qPCR allowed us to differentiate genotypes that are phenotypically indistinguishable and investigate host control with suboptimal symbionts. We consistently found the wild type increasing in the proportion of the population, but our data suggest a potential reproductive trade-off between the moderate and non-beneficial genotypes. The multi-generation framework we used, coupled with qPCR, can easily be scaled up to track dozens of M. japonicum mutants simultaneously. Moreover, these mutants can be used to explore M. japonicum genotype abundance in the presence of a complex soil community.}, } @article {pmid36829552, year = {2023}, author = {Gonçalves, VN and Lirio, JM and Coria, SH and Lopes, FAC and Convey, P and de Oliveira, FS and Carvalho-Silva, M and Câmara, PEAS and Rosa, LH}, title = {Soil Fungal Diversity and Ecology Assessed Using DNA Metabarcoding along a Deglaciated Chronosequence at Clearwater Mesa, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36829552}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {We studied the fungal diversity present in soils sampled along a deglaciated chronosequence from para- to periglacial conditions on James Ross Island, north-east Antarctic Peninsula, using DNA metabarcoding. A total of 88 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected, dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. The uncommon phyla Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Zoopagomycota and Basidiobolomycota were detected. Unknown fungi identified at higher hierarchical taxonomic levels (Fungal sp. 1, Fungal sp. 2, Spizellomycetales sp. and Rozellomycotina sp.) and taxa identified at generic and specific levels (Mortierella sp., Pseudogymnoascus sp., Mortierella alpina, M. turficola, Neoascochyta paspali, Penicillium sp. and Betamyces sp.) dominated the assemblages. In general, the assemblages displayed high diversity and richness, and moderate dominance. Only 12 of the fungal ASVs were detected in all chronosequence soils sampled. Sequences representing saprophytic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected. Based on the sequence diversity obtained, Clearwater Mesa soils contain a complex fungal community, including the presence of fungal groups generally considered rare in Antarctica, with dominant taxa recognized as cold-adapted cosmopolitan, endemic, saprotrophic and phytopathogenic fungi. Clearwater Mesa ecosystems are impacted by the effects of regional climatic changes, and may provide a natural observatory to understand climate change effects over time.}, } @article {pmid36829551, year = {2023}, author = {Gwokyalya, R and Weldon, CW and Herren, JK and Gichuhi, J and Makhulu, EE and Ndlela, S and Mohamed, SA}, title = {Friend or Foe: Symbiotic Bacteria in Bactrocera dorsalis-Parasitoid Associations.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36829551}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {109040/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 109040/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Parasitoids are promising biocontrol agents of the devastating fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. However, parasitoid performance is a function of several factors, including host-associated symbiotic bacteria. Providencia alcalifaciens, Citrobacter freundii, and Lactococcus lactis are among the symbiotic bacteria commonly associated with B. dorsalis, and they influence the eco-physiological functioning of this pest. However, whether these bacteria influence the interaction between this pest and its parasitoids is unknown. This study sought to elucidate the nature of the interaction of the parasitoids, Fopius arisanus, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, and Psyttlia cosyrae with B. dorsalis as mediated by symbiotic bacteria. Three types of fly lines were used: axenic, symbiotic, and bacteria-mono-associated (Lactococcus lactis, Providencia alcalifaciens, and Citrobacter freundii). The suitable stages of each fly line were exposed to the respective parasitoid species and reared until the emergence of adult flies/parasitoids. Thereafter, data on the emergence and parasitoid fitness traits were recorded. No wasps emerged from the fly lines exposed to P. cosyrae. The highest emergence of F. arisanus and D. longicaudata was recorded in the L. lactis fly lines. The parasitoid progeny from the L. lactis and P. alcalifaciens fly lines had the longest developmental time and the largest body size. Conversely, parasitoid fecundity was significantly lower in the L. lactis lines, whereas the P. alcalifaciens lines significantly improved fecundity. These results elucidate some effects of bacterial symbionts on host-parasitoid interactions and their potential in enhancing parasitoid-oriented management strategies against B. dorsalis.}, } @article {pmid36829520, year = {2023}, author = {Morel Revetria, MA and Berais-Rubio, A and Giménez, M and Sanjuán, J and Signorelli, S and Monza, J}, title = {Competitiveness and Phylogenetic Relationship of Rhizobial Strains with Different Symbiotic Efficiency in Trifolium repens: Conversion of Parasitic into Non-Parasitic Rhizobia by Natural Symbiotic Gene Transfer.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36829520}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {In Uruguayan soils, populations of native and naturalized rhizobia nodulate white clover. These populations include efficient rhizobia but also parasitic strains, which compete for nodule occupancy and hinder optimal nitrogen fixation by the grassland. Nodulation competitiveness assays using gusA-tagged strains proved a high nodule occupancy by the inoculant strain U204, but this was lower than the strains with intermediate efficiencies, U268 and U1116. Clover biomass production only decreased when the parasitic strain UP3 was in a 99:1 ratio with U204, but not when UP3 was at equal or lower numbers than U204. Based on phylogenetic analyses, strains with different efficiencies did not cluster together, and U1116 grouped with the parasitic strains. Our results suggest symbiotic gene transfer from an effective strain to U1116, thereby improving its symbiotic efficiency. Genome sequencing of U268 and U204 strains allowed us to assign them to species Rhizobium redzepovicii, the first report of this species nodulating clover, and Rhizobium leguminosarun, respectively. We also report the presence of hrrP- and sapA-like genes in the genomes of WSM597, U204, and U268 strains, which are related to symbiotic efficiency in rhizobia. Interestingly, we report here chromosomally located hrrP-like genes.}, } @article {pmid36829427, year = {2023}, author = {Fuentes-Romero, F and Moyano-Bravo, I and Ayala-García, P and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Pérez-Montaño, F and Acosta-Jurado, S and Ollero, FJ and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Non-Ionic Osmotic Stress Induces the Biosynthesis of Nodulation Factors and Affects Other Symbiotic Traits in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36829427}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {(1) Background: Some rhizobia, such as Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, activate nodulation genes when grown under osmotic stress. This work aims to determine whether this phenomenon also takes place in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103. (2) Methods: HH103 was grown with and without 400 mM mannitol. β-galactosidase assays, nodulation factor extraction, purification and identification by mass spectrometry, transcriptomics by RNA sequencing, motility assays, analysis of acyl-homoserine lactones, and indole acetic acid quantification were performed. (3) Results: Non-ionic osmotic stress induced the production of nodulation factors. Forty-two different factors were detected, compared to 14 found in the absence of mannitol. Transcriptomics indicated that hundreds of genes were either activated or repressed upon non-ionic osmotic stress. The presence of 400 mM mannitol induced the production of indole acetic acid and acyl homoserine lactones, abolished swimming, and promoted surface motility. (4) Conclusions: In this work, we show that non-ionic stress in S. fredii HH103, caused by growth in the presence of 400 mM mannitol, provokes notable changes not only in gene expression but also in various bacterial traits, including the production of nodulation factors and other symbiotic signals.}, } @article {pmid36829077, year = {2023}, author = {Dong, H and Liu, W and Zhang, H and Wang, Z and Feng, F and Zhou, L and Duan, H and Xu, T and Li, X and Ma, J}, title = {Enhanced biomass production and wastewater treatment in attached co-culture of Chlorella pyrenoidosa with nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter beijerinckii.}, journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {707-716}, pmid = {36829077}, issn = {1615-7605}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; Biomass ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Coculture Techniques ; *Microalgae ; *Water Purification ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Algae-bacteria symbiosis can promote the growth of microalgae and improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment. Attached culture is an efficient culture technique for microalgae, with benefits of high yield, low water consumption and easy harvesting. However, the promoting effects of bacteria on microalgae in attached culture are still unclear. In this study, different forms of a nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Azotobacter beijerinckii (including bacteria supernatant, live bacteria, and broken bacteria), were co-cultured with Chlorella pyrenoidosa in an attached culture system using wastewater as the culture medium. The results showed that the broken A. beijerinckii form had the best growth promotion effect on C. pyrenoidosa. Compared with the pure algae culture, the biomass of C. pyrenoidosa increased by 71.8% and the protein increased by 28.2%. The live bacteria form had the best effect on improving the efficiency of wastewater treatment by C. pyrenoidosa, with the COD, PO4[3-] and NH4[+]-N removal rates increased by 20.8%, 18.5% and 8.9%, respectively, in comparison with the pure algae culture. The attached co-culture mode promoted the growth of C. pyrenodisa better than the suspended co-culture mode. This research offers a new way for improving microalgae biomass and wastewater treatment by attached algae-bacteria symbiont.}, } @article {pmid36828222, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Han, Y and Guo, T and Guo, J and Hou, Y and Song, Y and Li, H and Zhang, X}, title = {Insights to Fe(II) on the fate of humic acid and humic acid Fe complex with biogeobattery effect in simultaneous partial nitritation, anammox and denitrification (SNAD) system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {374}, number = {}, pages = {128782}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128782}, pmid = {36828222}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Denitrification ; *Humic Substances ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Ferrous Compounds ; Sewage/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The role of Fe(II) on the humic acid (HA) transformation and the effects of humic acid Fe (HA-Fe) on simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox and denitrification (SNAD) system were investigated. After adding Fe(II), the HA content decreased and the HA inhibition on the SNAD system was released. Results showed that Fe(II) and HA formed the lower water-soluble HA-Fe, promoting the HA removal. HA-Fe with stronger electron transfer capacity constituted the interface with microorganisms to forming the biogeobattery effect. This accelerated the microbial electron transfer, as well as improved the key enzymes and ATP, indicating that HA-Fe stimulated the microbial activity of the SNAD system. Microbial community and quorum sensing analysis further demonstrated that HA-Fe enhanced the mutual symbiosis between electroactive and nitrogen removal bacteria, to ensure the stability of the SNAD system. The study provided references for efficient HA removal and revealed the biogeobattery effect of HA-Fe in the SNAD system.}, } @article {pmid36827180, year = {2023}, author = {Qu, YN and Rao, YZ and Qi, YL and Li, YX and Li, A and Palmer, M and Hedlund, BP and Shu, WS and Evans, PN and Nie, GX and Hua, ZS and Li, WJ}, title = {Panguiarchaeum symbiosum, a potential hyperthermophilic symbiont in the TACK superphylum.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {112158}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112158}, pmid = {36827180}, issn = {2211-1247}, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Hot Springs/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Anaerobiosis ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Coenzymes/metabolism ; Phylogeography ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Peptides/metabolism ; Proteolysis ; *Archaea/classification/cytology/genetics ; Cell Adhesion/genetics ; Genes, Archaeal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal ; Genome, Archaeal ; Metagenomics ; Metagenome ; }, abstract = {The biology of Korarchaeia remains elusive due to the lack of genome representatives. Here, we reconstruct 10 closely related metagenome-assembled genomes from hot spring habitats and place them into a single species, proposed herein as Panguiarchaeum symbiosum. Functional investigation suggests that Panguiarchaeum symbiosum is strictly anaerobic and grows exclusively in thermal habitats by fermenting peptides coupled with sulfide and hydrogen production to dispose of electrons. Due to its inability to biosynthesize archaeal membranes, amino acids, and purines, this species likely exists in a symbiotic lifestyle similar to DPANN archaea. Population metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analyses demonstrated that genes associated with amino acid/peptide uptake and cell attachment exhibited positive selection and were highly expressed, supporting the proposed proteolytic catabolism and symbiotic lifestyle. Our study sheds light on the metabolism, evolution, and potential symbiotic lifestyle of Panguiarchaeum symbiosum, which may be a unique host-dependent archaeon within the TACK superphylum.}, } @article {pmid36824889, year = {2023}, author = {Noh, S and Larson, ER and Covitz, RM and Chen, A and Mazumder, PR and Hamilton, MC and Dettmann, RA}, title = {Paraburkholderia bonniea symbiont strain identity impacts amoeba host fitness and rate of horizontal transmission.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36824889}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Whether coevolution determines distribution patterns of facultative symbionts among individuals of a host species is an open question. We used the Dictyostelium discoideum - Paraburkholderia system to investigate the role of host fitness and symbiont transmission in co-occurrence patterns of naturally occurring (native) host-symbiont strain pairs. P. bonniea is able to persistently infect D. discoideum in the lab, yet few wild D. discoideum isolates natively host this symbiont. If native host-symbiont combinations lead to higher fitness for host and symbiont compared to nonnative combinations, we assumed a stronger chance that coevolution had led to their co-occurrence. We approached the factors that influence the fitness consequences of host-symbiont interactions in terms of host defense mechanisms and symbiont virulence mechanisms. Given a specific combination of host and symbiont, variable host resistance and symbiont proliferation lead to variation in symbiont density, while variable host tolerance and symbiont benevolence lead to variation in host fitness relative to symbiont density. We used both vegetative and social stages of the host life cycle to approximate interactions between D. discoideum and P. bonniea , when hosts form social groups and symbiont horizontal transmission is facilitated by these social groups. We found no difference in host defense mechanisms between native and nonnative hosts of P. bonniea , but P. bonniea possesses variable phenotypes in proliferation and benevolence. More importantly, variation in symbiont benevolence led to increased horizontal transmission of benevolent strains compared to malevolent strains during the social stage of the host life cycle.

IMPORTANCE: Hosts and symbionts in a facultative symbiosis do not depend on each other for survival. Perhaps due to this labile relationship, we lack a solid understanding of why only some individual hosts carry facultative symbionts rather than all. We used the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and its bacterial symbiont Paraburkholderia bonniea to test whether naturally occurring (native) host-symbiont strain pairs are the result of coevolution. We find that native combinations of hosts and symbionts do not enjoy improved fitness compared to nonnative combinations. Instead, both host and symbiont fitness depend on symbiont identity, as P. bonniea strains varied in their ability to proliferate within groups of hosts and in the degree of fitness loss they caused given a similar infection prevalence. More importantly, variation in the latter property, known as benevolence, led to increased horizontal transmission of benevolent strains compared to malevolent strains during the social stage of the host life cycle.}, } @article {pmid36824463, year = {2023}, author = {Mes, W and Kersten, P and Maas, RM and Eding, EH and Jetten, MSM and Siepel, H and Lücker, S and Gorissen, M and Van Kessel, MAHJ}, title = {Effects of demand-feeding and dietary protein level on nitrogen metabolism and symbiont dinitrogen gas production of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1111404}, pmid = {36824463}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Ammonia accumulation is a major challenge in intensive aquaculture, where fish are fed protein-rich diets in large rations, resulting in increased ammonia production when amino acids are metabolized as energy source. Ammonia is primarily excreted via the gills, which have been found to harbor nitrogen-cycle bacteria that convert ammonia into dinitrogen gas (N2) and therefore present a potential in situ detoxifying mechanism. Here, we determined the impact of feeding strategies (demand-feeding and batch-feeding) with two dietary protein levels on growth, nitrogen excretion, and nitrogen metabolism in common carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.) in a 3-week feeding experiment. Demand-fed fish exhibited significantly higher growth rates, though with lower feed efficiency. When corrected for feed intake, nitrogen excretion was not impacted by feeding strategy or dietary protein, but demand-fed fish had significantly more nitrogen unaccounted for in the nitrogen balance and less retained nitrogen. N2 production of individual fish was measured in all experimental groups, and production rates were in the same order of magnitude as the amount of nitrogen unaccounted for, thus potentially explaining the missing nitrogen in the balance. N2 production by carp was also observed when groups of fish were kept in metabolic chambers. Demand feeding furthermore caused a significant increase in hepatic glutamate dehydrogenase activities, indicating elevated ammonia production. However, branchial ammonia transporter expression levels in these animals were stable or decreased. Together, our results suggest that feeding strategy impacts fish growth and nitrogen metabolism, and that conversion of ammonia to N2 by nitrogen cycle bacteria in the gills may explain the unaccounted nitrogen in the balance.}, } @article {pmid36822059, year = {2023}, author = {Wei, Z and Sixi, Z and Xiuqing, Y and Guodong, X and Baichun, W and Baojing, G}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter rhizosphere bacterial community characteristics to improve Cr tolerance of Acorus calamus.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {253}, number = {}, pages = {114652}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114652}, pmid = {36822059}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Acorus ; Ecosystem ; Rhizosphere ; Fungi ; Plants/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Soil/chemistry ; Carbon/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant tolerance to heavy metal stress in terrestrial ecosystems. However, in wetland ecosystems, AMF can improve the tolerance of wetland plants to heavy metals by changing the structure and composition of rhizosphere bacterial communities, which is still rarely studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of AMF on the structure and composition of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of plants under different chromium concentrations. The results showed that Cr(Ⅵ) concentration in Acorus calamus. rhizosphere soil decreased by 12.6 % (5.6-21.7 %) on average after AMF inoculation, At the same time, it promoted the uptake of nutrients by A. calamus and increased soil carbon input. In addition, Cr stress decreased the bacterial community diversity and abundance index by 9.8 % (1.6-18.1 %) and 24.5 % (17.3-27.6 %) on average. On the contrary, the rhizosphere soil bacterial diversity and abundance index increased by 7.3 % (2.2-19.1 %) and 13.9 % (6.0-20.9 %) on average after AMF inoculation. Moreover, compared with the non-inoculated AMF group, the bacterial community structure of A. calamus rhizosphere changed by 24.6 % under Cr stress, The common number of species increased by 6.4 %. In addition, after inoculation of AMF significantly promote the growth of a large number of bacteria related to organic degradation, plant growth, and oxidative stress, increased soil carbon input improved the soil microenvironment. Meanwhile, After AMF inoculation, the Number of edges, Number of Nodes, Average degree, and Average Path length in the symbiotic network of rhizosphere soil bacterial community increased by 34.6 %, 10 %, 44.3 %, and 26.4 %, respectively. Therefore, it offers a possibility that AMF can enhance the tolerance of wetland plants to soil Cr pollution by improving the structure and composition of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soils of wetland plants, which provide a basis for wetland plants to repair soil Cr pollution.}, } @article {pmid36821579, year = {2023}, author = {Alonzo-De la Rosa, CM and Miard, S and Taubert, S and Picard, F}, title = {Methods to extract and study the biological effects of murine gut microbiota using Caenorhabditis elegans as a screening host.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {e0281887}, pmid = {36821579}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; *Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Escherichia coli/physiology ; Longevity/physiology ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota has been established as a main regulator of health. However, how changes in gut microbiota are directly associated with physiological and cellular alterations has been difficult to tackle on a large-scale basis, notably because of the cost and labor-extensive resources required for rigorous experiments in mammals. In the present study, we used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to elucidate microbiota-host interactions. We developed a method to extract gut microbiota (MCB) from murine feces, and tested its potential as food source for and its impact on C. elegans biology compared to the standard bacterial diet Escherichia coli OP50. Although less preferred than OP50, MCB was not avoided but had a lower energy density (triglycerides and glucose). Consistently, MCB-fed worms exhibited smaller body length and size, lower fertility, and lower fat content than OP50-fed worms, but had a longer mean lifespan, which resembles the effects of calorie restriction in mammals. However, these outcomes were altered when bacteria were inactivated, suggesting an important role of symbiosis of MCB beyond nutrient source. Taken together, our findings support the effectiveness of gut MCB processing to test its effects in C. elegans. More work comparing MCB of differently treated mice or humans is required to further validate relevance to mammals before large-scale screening assays.}, } @article {pmid36819059, year = {2023}, author = {Nadal-Jimenez, P and Parratt, SR and Siozios, S and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Isolation, culture and characterization of Arsenophonus symbionts from two insect species reveal loss of infectious transmission and extended host range.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1089143}, pmid = {36819059}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Vertically transmitted "Heritable" microbial symbionts represent an important component of the biology and ecology of invertebrates. These symbioses evolved originally from ones where infection/acquisition processes occurred within the environment (horizontal transmission). However, the pattern of evolution that follows transition from horizontal to vertical transmission is commonly obscured by the distant relationship between microbes with differing transmission modes. In contrast, the genus Arsenophonus provides an opportunity to investigate these processes with clarity, as it includes members that are obligate vertically transmitted symbionts, facultative vertically transmitted symbionts, strains with mixed modes of transmission and ones that are purely horizontally transmitted. Significantly, some of the strains are culturable and amenable to genetic analysis. We first report the isolation of Arsenophonus nasoniae strain aPv into culture from the ectoparasitic wasp Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae and characterize the symbiosis. We demonstrate maternal vertical transmission and find no evidence for paternal inheritance, horizontal transmission or reproductive parasitism phenotypes. This leads us to conclude this strain, in contrast to related strains, is a facultative heritable symbiont which is likely to be beneficial. We then report the serendipitous discovery and onward culture of a strain of Arsenophonus (strain aPb) from the blue butterfly, Polyommatus bellargus. This association extends the range of host species carrying Arsenophonus nasoniae/Arsenophonus apicola symbionts beyond the Hymenoptera for the first time. We perform basic metabolic analysis of the isolated strains using Biolog plates. This analysis indicates all strains utilize a restricted range of carbon sources, but these restrictions are particularly pronounced in the A. nasoniae aPv strain that is solely vertically transmitted. Finally, we demonstrate the Arsenophonus sp. strain aPb from the blue butterfly can infect Galleria waxworms, providing a model system for investigating the functional genetics of Arsenophonus-insect interactions. These results are consistent with a model of reduced metabolic competence in strains evolving under vertical transmission only. The data also broadens the range of host species infected with nasoniae/apicola clade strains beyond the Hymenoptera, and indicate the potential utility of the Galleria model for investigation of symbiosis mechanism.}, } @article {pmid36819047, year = {2023}, author = {Li, B and Liu, X and Zhu, D and Su, H and Guo, K and Sun, G and Li, X and Sun, L}, title = {Crop diversity promotes the recovery of fungal communities in saline-alkali areas of the Western Songnen Plain.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1091117}, pmid = {36819047}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Phytoremediation is an effective strategy for saline land restoration. In the Western Songnen Plain, northeast China, soil fungal community recovery for saline phytoremediation has not been well documented among different cropping patterns. In this study, we tested how rotation, mixture, and monoculture cropping patterns impact fungal communities in saline-alkali soils to assess the variability between cropping patterns.

METHODS: The fungal communities of the soils of the different cropping types were determined using Illumina Miseq sequencing.

RESULTS: Mixture and rotation promoted an increase in operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness, and OTU richness in the mixture system decreased with increasing soil depth. A principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that cropping patterns and soil depths influenced the structure of fungal communities, which may be due to the impact of soil chemistry. This was reflected by soil total nitrogen (TN) and electrical conductivity (EC) being the key factors driving OTU richness, while soil available potassium (AK) and total phosphorus (TP) were significantly correlated with the relative abundance of fungal dominant genus. The relative abundance of Leptosphaerulina, Alternaria, Myrothecium, Gibberella, and Tetracladium varied significantly between cropping patterns, and Leptosphaerulina was significantly associated with soil chemistry. Soil depth caused significant differences in the relative abundance of Fusarium in rotation and mixture soils, with Fusarium more commonly active at 0-15 cm deep soil. Null-model analysis revealed that the fungal community assembly of the mixture soils in 0-15 cm deep soil was dominated by deterministic processes, unlike the other two cropping patterns. Furthermore, fungal symbiotic networks were more complex in rotation and mixture than in monoculture soils, reflected in more nodes, more module hubs, and connectors. The fungal networks in rotation and mixture soils were more stable than in monoculture soils, and mixture networks were obviously more connected than rotations. FUNGuild showed that the relative proportion of saprotroph in rotation and mixture was significantly higher than that in monocultures. The highest proportion of pathotroph and symbiotroph was exhibited in rotation and mixture soils, respectively.

DISCUSSION: Overall, mixture is superior to crop rotation and monocultures in restoring fungal communities of the saline-alkali soils of the Western Songnen Plain, northeast China.}, } @article {pmid36819038, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, X and Li, Y and Yang, Q and Zhang, H and Xu, N and Tang, Z and Wu, S and Jiang, Y and Mohamed, HF and Ou, D and Zheng, X}, title = {Identification of quorum sensing-regulated Vibrio fortis as potential pathogenic bacteria for coral bleaching and the effects on the microbial shift.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1116737}, pmid = {36819038}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Coastal pollution, global warming, ocean acidification, and other reasons lead to the imbalance of the coral reef ecosystem, resulting in the increasingly serious problem of coral degradation. Coral bleaching is often accompanied by structural abnormalities of coral symbiotic microbiota, among which Vibrio is highly concerned. In this study, Vibrio fortis S10-1 (MCCC 1H00104), isolated from sea cucumber, was used for the bacterial infection on coral Seriatopora guttatus and Pocillopora damicornis. The infection of S10-1 led to coral bleaching and a significant reduction of photosynthetic function in coral holobiont, and the pathogenicity of V. fortis was regulated by quorum sensing. Meanwhile, Vibrio infection also caused a shift of coral symbiotic microbial community, with significantly increased abundant Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria and significantly reduced abundant Firmicutes; on genus level, the abundance of Bacillus decreased significantly and the abundance of Rhodococcus, Ralstonia, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia increased significantly; S10-1 infection also significantly impacted the water quality in the micro-ecosystem. In contrast, S10-1 infection showed less effect on the microbial community of the live stone, which reflected that the microbes in the epiphytic environment of the live stone might have a stronger ability of self-regulation; the algal symbionts mainly consisted of Cladocopium sp. and showed no significant effect by the Vibrio infection. This study verified that V. fortis is the primary pathogenic bacterium causing coral bleaching, revealed changes in the microbial community caused by its infection, provided strong evidence for the "bacterial bleaching" hypothesis, and provided an experimental experience for the exploration of the interaction mechanism among microbial communities, especially coral-associated Vibrio in the coral ecosystem, and potential probiotic strategy or QS regulation on further coral disease control.}, } @article {pmid36818863, year = {2023}, author = {Matveeva, T and Аndronov, E and Chen, K}, title = {Editorial: Rhizobiaceae mediated HGT: Facts, mechanisms, and evolutionary consequences.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1149426}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2023.1149426}, pmid = {36818863}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36818856, year = {2023}, author = {Pereira, EC and Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Arellano, JB and Ugalde, U and Vázquez de Aldana, BR}, title = {Diaporthe atlantica enhances tomato drought tolerance by improving photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and enzymatic antioxidant response.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1118698}, pmid = {36818856}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Functional symbiosis with fungal endophytes can help plants adapt to environmental stress. Diaporthe atlantica is one of the most abundant fungal taxa associated with roots of Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa, a grass growing in sea cliffs. This study aimed to investigate the ability of a strain of this fungus to ameliorate the impact of drought stress on tomato plants. In a greenhouse experiment, tomato plants were inoculated with Diaporthe atlantica strain EB4 and exposed to two alternative water regimes: well-watered and drought stress. Several physiological and biochemical plant parameters were evaluated. Inoculation with Diaporthe promoted plant growth in both water treatments. A significant interactive effect of Diaporthe-inoculation and water-regime showed that symbiotic plants had higher photosynthetic capacity, water-use efficiency, nutrient uptake (N, P, K, Fe and Zn), and proline content under drought stress, but not under well-watered conditions. In addition, Diaporthe improved the enzymatic antioxidant response of plants under drought, through an induced mechanism, in which catalase activity was modulated and conferred protection against reactive oxygen species generation during stress. The results support that Diaporthe atlantica plays a positive role in the modulation of tomato plant responses to drought stress by combining various processes such as improving photosynthetic capacity, nutrient uptake, enzymatic antioxidant response and osmo-protectant accumulation. Thus, drought stress in tomato can be enhanced with symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid36818688, year = {2023}, author = {Incorvaia, L and Rinaldi, G and Badalamenti, G and Cucinella, A and Brando, C and Madonia, G and Fiorino, A and Pipitone, A and Perez, A and Li Pomi, F and Galvano, A and Gristina, V and Barraco, N and Bono, M and Bazan Russo, TD and Toia, F and Cordova, A and Fanale, D and Russo, A and Bazan, V}, title = {Prognostic role of soluble PD-1 and BTN2A1 in overweight melanoma patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab: finding the missing links in the symbiotic immune-metabolic interplay.}, journal = {Therapeutic advances in medical oncology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {17588359231151845}, pmid = {36818688}, issn = {1758-8340}, abstract = {Individual response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is currently unpredictable in patients with melanoma. Recent findings highlight a striking improvement in the clinical outcomes of overweight/obese patients treated with ICIs, which seems driven, at least in part, by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)-mediated T-cell dysfunction. A putative role of butyrophilins (BTNs) is under investigation as a novel mechanism of cancer immune evasion and obesity-associated inflammation. This study investigates the role of baseline plasma levels of soluble PD-1 (sPD-1), soluble programmed cell death ligand 1 (sPD-L1), BTN2A1 (sBTN2A1), BTN3A1 (sBTN3A1), along with body mass index (BMI), as predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy response in metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab as first-line treatment. In all, 41 patients were included in the study. The baseline plasma level of sPD-1 was significantly lower, and the sBTN2A1 was significantly higher, in long-responder patients to nivolumab or pembrolizumab (median sPD-1: 10.3 ng/ml versus 16.6 ng/ml, p = 0.001; median sBTN2A1: 4.4 ng/ml versus 3.77 ng/ml, p = 0.004). Lower levels of sPD-1 and higher levels of sBTN2A1 were also significantly associated with better overall response rate. Notably, when we further stratified the study cohort using BMI along with sPD-1, patients with BMI ⩾ 25 and sPD-1 < 11.24 ng/ml had longer time to treatment failure after PD-1 inhibitor than other subgroups of patients (p < 0.001). Circulating sPD-1 and sBTN2A1 detection, along with BMI, could give more insights into the immune-metabolic interactions underlying the benefit observed in overweight/obese patients, improving the use of dynamic, noninvasive, biomarkers for patient selection.}, } @article {pmid36817111, year = {2022}, author = {Mahmoodi, N and Movahedi, Z and Ghabooli, M}, title = {Impact of Piriformospora indica on various characteristics of tomatoes during nickel nitrate stress under aeroponic and greenhouse conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1091036}, pmid = {36817111}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {As an essential nutrient for plant growth, nickel's (Ni) requirement is very low, and its augmented level causes environmental pollution and toxicity. Being a root endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica (P. indica) can be beneficial to many plants under stress and non-stress conditions, particularly in terms of their improved growth performance. P. indica, as evidenced, enhances tolerance and resistance in most plants once they experience a range of stresses caused by biotic and abiotic factors, e.g., diseases and heavy metals. Against this background, the positive effects of P. indica on the tomato plants under Ni-induced stress (300, 600, and 900 mg L[-1]) were analyzed in three experiments at labs, at greenhouses, and via aeroponics in this study. The growth traits of the tomato plants, such as root length (RL) and root dry weight (RDW), were accordingly found to be positively boosted in the cases treated with P. indica compared to the non-treated ones. Treating with P. indica also thwarted the negative effects of Ni on some biochemical traits, including anthocyanin (Anth), proline (Pro), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while significantly minimizing the adverse impacts of this heavy metal at different levels on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Despite this, the Ni-stressed plants indicated much better traits in the presence of this fungus, compared with the non-treated ones, in most of the cases measured. Moreover, the photosynthetic pigments, i.e., chlorophyll a and b (Chl a & b) and carotenoid content (Carrot), were significantly higher in the tomato plants treated with P. indica under high Ni-induced stress as compared with the non-treated ones under non-Ni conditions, in which these pigments were low. The pro-production was further observed all through the P. indica inoculation, which could aid the treated plants in becoming Ni-stress-tolerant. Finally, the current study contributed to a better understanding of how to use the P. indica symbiosis to induce heavy metal tolerance in tomato plants, such as Ni, to meet the goals of sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36814755, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Wu, C and Liu, H and Lyu, X and Xiao, F and Zhao, S and Ma, C and Yan, C and Liu, Z and Li, H and Wang, X and Gong, Z}, title = {Systemic regulation of nodule structure and assimilated carbon distribution by nitrate in soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1101074}, pmid = {36814755}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The nitrate regulates soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation systemically, mainly in inhibiting nodule growth and reducing nodule nitrogenase activity, but the reason for its inhibition is still inconclusive.

METHODS: The systemic effect of nitrate on nodule structure, function, and carbon distribution in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was studied in a dual-root growth system, with both sides inoculated with rhizobia and only one side subjected to nitrate treatment for four days. The non-nodulating side was genetically devoid of the ability to form nodules. Nutrient solutions with nitrogen concentrations of 0, 100, and 200 mg L[-1] were applied as KNO3 to the non-nodulating side, while the nodulating side received a nitrogen-free nutrient solution. Carbon partitioning in roots and nodules was monitored using [13]C-labelled CO2. Other nodule responses were measured via the estimation of the nitrogenase activity and the microscopic observation of nodule ultrastructure.

RESULTS: Elevated concentrations of nitrate applied on the non-nodulating side caused a decrease in the number of bacteroids, fusion of symbiosomes, enlargement of the peribacteroid spaces, and onset of degradation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules, which is a form of carbon storage in bacteroids. These microscopic observations were associated with a strong decrease in the nitrogenase activity of nodules. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that the assimilated carbon is more likely to be allocated to the non-nodulating roots, as follows from the competition for carbon between the symbiotic and non-symbiotic sides of the dual-root system.

CONCLUSION: We propose that there is no carbon competition between roots and nodules when they are indirectly supplied with nitrate, and that the reduction of carbon fluxes to nodules and roots on the nodulating side is the mechanism by which the plant systemically suppresses nodulation under nitrogen-replete conditions.}, } @article {pmid36814690, year = {2023}, author = {Rose, BD and Frank, HER and Garcia, K}, title = {Development of split-root assays for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings to study ectomycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {MethodsX}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {102046}, pmid = {36814690}, issn = {2215-0161}, abstract = {Split-root techniques are valuable to investigate systemic vs. local plant responses to biotic and abiotic environmental factors, including interactions with soil microbes. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is an economically important tree species that associates with many ectomycorrhizal fungi. However, a protocol for the establishment of split-roots experiments with loblolly pine has not been described so far. This method successfully establishes a split-root system in eight weeks following germination of loblolly pine seedlings. Rapid lateral root elongation is promoted by cutting the primary root tip and growing the seedlings in a hydroponic medium. Lateral roots can then be divided into two separated compartments and inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi. The method was validated by growth of split roots with or without inoculation. Root dry biomass was not significantly different between separated non-inoculated roots. Ectomycorrhizal colonization was not detected on the non-inoculated side of roots that were inoculated only on one side, demonstrating the success of the technique as a valuable method for split-root experiments in P. taeda. In addition to ectomycorrhizal fungi, researchers can use this method with loblolly pine to study systemic and local responses to a variety of other biotic or abiotic factors in the root environment.•We describe a protocol to produce split-roots in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) in eight weeks.•This protocol uses hydroponics to promote the elongation of loblolly pine roots.•We validated this protocol by determining split-root biomass and inoculating the seedlings with the ectomycorrhizal fungi Paxillus ammoniavirescens or Hebeloma cylindrosporum.}, } @article {pmid36814565, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, W and Zhang, J and Li, MH and Qi, L}, title = {Soil fungal community characteristics vary with bamboo varieties and soil compartments.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1120679}, pmid = {36814565}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil fungi play an important role in nutrient cycling, mycorrhizal symbiosis, antagonism against pathogens, and organic matter decomposition. However, our knowledge about the community characteristics of soil fungi in relation to bamboo varieties is still limited. Here, we compared the fungal communities in different soil compartments (rhizosphere vs. bulk soil) of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) and its four varieties using ITS high-throughput sequencing technology. The fungal α diversity (Shannon index) in bulk soil was significantly higher than that in rhizosphere soil, but it was not affected by bamboo variety or interactions between the soil compartment and bamboo variety. Soil compartment and bamboo variety together explained 31.74% of the variation in fungal community diversity. Soil compartment and bamboo variety were the key factors affecting the relative abundance of the major fungal taxa at the phylum and genus levels. Soil compartment mainly affected the relative abundance of the dominant fungal phylum, while bamboo variety primarily influenced the dominant fungal genus. Network analysis showed that the fungal network in rhizosphere soil was more complex, stable, and connected than that in bulk soil. A FUNGuild database analysis indicated that both soil compartment and bamboo variety affect fungal functions. Our findings provide new insights into the roles of both soil compartments and plant species (including variety) in shaping soil fungal communities.}, } @article {pmid36813208, year = {2023}, author = {Du, Z and Su, J and Lin, S and Chen, T and Gao, W and Wang, M and Li, Y and Wei, D and Hu, Z and Gao, C and Li, Q}, title = {Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Is a Metabolic Immune Checkpoint for UTX-deficient Colorectal Cancer.}, journal = {Gastroenterology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1053/j.gastro.2023.02.010}, pmid = {36813208}, issn = {1528-0012}, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Aberrant epigenetic events mediated by histone methyltransferases and demethylases contribute to malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of the histone demethylase ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat on chromosome X (UTX) in CRC remains poorly understood.

METHODS: UTX conditional knockout mice and UTX-silenced MC38 cells were used to investigate UTX function in tumorigenesis and development of CRC. We performed time of flight mass cytometry to clarify the functional role of UTX in remodeling immune microenvironment of CRC. To investigate metabolic interaction between myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CRC, we analyzed metabolomics data to identify metabolites secreted by UTX-deficient cancer cells and taken up by MDSCs.

RESULTS: We unraveled a tyrosine-mediated metabolic symbiosis between MDSC and UTX-deficient CRC. Loss of UTX in CRC resulted in methylation of phenylalanine hydroxylase, preventing its degradation and subsequently increasing tyrosine synthesis and secretion. Tyrosine taken up by MDSCs was metabolized to homogentisic acid by hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. Homogentisic acid modified protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 via carbonylation of Cys 176, and relieved the inhibitory effect of protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 on signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 transcriptional activity. This in turn, promoted MDSC survival and accumulation, enabling CRC cells to acquire invasive and metastatic traits.

CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings highlight hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase as a metabolic checkpoint to restrict immunosuppressive MDSCs and to counteract malignant progression of UTX-deficient CRC.}, } @article {pmid36811946, year = {2023}, author = {Plett, JM and Miyauchi, S and Morin, E and Plett, K and Wong-Bajracharya, J and de Freitas Pereira, M and Kuo, A and Henrissat, B and Drula, E and Wojtalewicz, D and Riley, R and Pangilinan, J and Andreopoulos, W and LaButti, K and Daum, C and Yoshinaga, Y and Fauchery, L and Ng, V and Lipzen, A and Barry, K and Singan, V and Guo, J and Lebel, T and Costa, MD and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Anderson, IC and Kohler, A}, title = {Speciation Underpinned by Unexpected Molecular Diversity in the Mycorrhizal Fungal Genus Pisolithus.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36811946}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sugars ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal genus Pisolithus comprises 19 species defined to date which colonize the roots of >50 hosts worldwide suggesting that substantial genomic and functional evolution occurred during speciation. To better understand this intra-genus variation, we undertook a comparative multi-omic study of nine Pisolithus species sampled from North America, South America, Asia, and Australasia. We found that there was a small core set of genes common to all species (13%), and that these genes were more likely to be significantly regulated during symbiosis with a host than accessory or species-specific genes. Thus, the genetic "toolbox" foundational to the symbiotic lifestyle in this genus is small. Transposable elements were located significantly closer to gene classes including effector-like small secreted proteins (SSPs). Poorly conserved SSPs were more likely to be induced by symbiosis, suggesting that they may be a class of protein that tune host specificity. The Pisolithus gene repertoire is characterized by divergent CAZyme profiles when compared with other fungi, both symbiotic and saprotrophic. This was driven by differences in enzymes associated with symbiotic sugar processing, although metabolomic analysis suggest that neither copy number nor expression of these genes is sufficient to predict sugar capture from a host plant or its metabolism in fungal hyphae. Our results demonstrate that intra-genus genomic and functional diversity within ECM fungi is greater than previously thought, underlining the importance of continued comparative studies within the fungal tree of life to refine our focus on pathways and evolutionary processes foundational to this symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid36810869, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, HH and Zhao, S and Wang, RJ and Qin, DY and Chen, P and Zhang, AS and Zhuang, QY and Zhai, YF and Zhou, XH}, title = {Gut bacterium promotes host fitness in special ecological niche by affecting sugar metabolism in Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.13189}, pmid = {36810869}, issn = {1744-7917}, abstract = {As an important fruit pest of global significance, Drosophila suzukii occupies a special ecological niche with the characteristics of high sugar and low protein contents. This niche differs from those occupied by other fruit-damaging Drosophila species. Gut bacteria substantially impact the physiology and ecology of insects. However, the contribution of gut microbes to the fitness of D. suzukii in their special ecological niche still remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Klebsiella oxytoca on the development of D. suzukii was examined at physiological and molecular levels. The results showed that, after the removal of gut microbiota, the survival rate and longevity of axentic D. suzukii decreased significantly. Reintroduction of the D. suzukii midgut with K. oxytoca advanced the development level of D. suzukii. Differentially expressed genes and metabolites between axentic and K. oxytoca reintroducted D. suzukii were enriched in the pathways of carbohydrate metabolism. This advancement was achieved through an increased glycolysis rate and the regulation of the transcript level of key genes in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway. K. oxytoca likely plays an important role in increasing the host fitness in their high-sugar ecological niche by stimulating the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway. As a protein source, bacteria can also provide direct nutrition for D. suzukii, which depends on the quantity or biomass of K. oxytoca. This result may provide a new target for controlling D. suzukii to inhibit sugar metabolism in D. suzukii by eliminating the effect of K. oxytoca and thus disrupting the balance of gut microbial communities. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid36809081, year = {2023}, author = {Guckes, KR and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {The type-VI secretion system of the beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {169}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36809081}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {F32 AI147543/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aliivibrio fischeri ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; *Vibrio ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri is a powerful experimental system for determining how intercellular interactions impact animal-bacterial associations. In nature, this symbiosis features multiple strains of V. fischeri within each adult animal, which indicates that different strains initially colonize each squid. Various studies have demonstrated that certain strains of V. fischeri possess a type-VI secretion system (T6SS), which can inhibit other strains from establishing symbiosis within the same host habitat. The T6SS is a bacterial melee weapon that enables a cell to kill adjacent cells by translocating toxic effectors via a lancet-like apparatus. This review describes the progress that has been made in understanding the factors that govern the structure and expression of the T6SS in V. fischeri and its effect on the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36809032, year = {2023}, author = {Cui, X and Wang, Z and Guo, P and Li, F and Chang, S and Yan, T and Zheng, H and Hou, F}, title = {Shift of Feeding Strategies from Grazing to Different Forage Feeds Reshapes the Rumen Microbiota To Improve the Ability of Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries) To Adapt to the Cold Season.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0281622}, pmid = {36809032}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {The dynamics of ruminant-rumen microbiome symbiosis associated with feeding strategies in the cold season were examined. Twelve pure-grazing adult Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) (18 months old; body weight, 40 ± 0.23 kg) were transferred from natural pasture to two indoor feedlots and fed either a native-pasture diet (NPF group) or an oat hay diet (OHF group) (n = 6 per treatment), and then the flexibility of rumen microbiomes to adapt to these compositionally different feeding strategies was examined. Principal-coordinate analysis and similarity analysis indicated that the rumen bacterial composition correlated with altered feeding strategies. Microbial diversity was higher in the grazing group than in those fed with native pasture and an oat hay diet (P < 0.05). The dominant microbial phyla were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and the core bacterial taxa comprised mostly (42.49% of shared operational taxonomic units [OTUs]) Ruminococcaceae (408 taxa), Lachnospiraceae (333 taxa), and Prevotellaceae (195 taxa), which were relatively stable across different treatments. Greater relative abundances of Tenericutes at the phylum level, Pseudomonadales at the order level, Mollicutes at the class level, and Pseudomonas at the genus level were observed in a grazing period than in the other two treatments (NPF and OHF) (P < 0.05). In the OHF group, due to the high nutritional quality of the forage, Tibetan sheep can produce high concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and NH3-N by increasing the relative abundances of key bacteria in the rumen, such as Lentisphaerae, Negativicutes, Selenomonadales, Veillonellaceae, Ruminococcus 2, Quinella, Bacteroidales RF16 group, and Prevotella 1, to aid in nutrients degradation and energy utilization. The levels of beneficial bacteria were increased by the oat hay diet; these microbiotas are likely to help improve and maintain host health and metabolic ability in Tibetan sheep to adapt to cold environments. The rumen fermentation parameters were significantly influenced by feeding strategy in the cold season (P < 0.05). Overall, the results of this study demonstrate the strong effect of feeding strategies on the rumen microbiota of Tibetan sheep, which provided a new idea for the nutrition regulation of Tibetan sheep grazing in the cold season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. IMPORTANCE During the cold season, like other high-altitude mammals, Tibetan sheep have to adapt their physiological and nutritional strategies, as well as the structure and function of their rumen microbial community, to the seasonal variation of lower food availability and quality. This study focused on the changes and adaptability in the rumen microbiota of Tibetan sheep when they adapted from grazing to a high-efficiency feeding strategy during the cold season by analyzing the rumen microbiota of Tibetan sheep raised under the different management systems, and it shows the linkages among the rumen core and pan-bacteriomes, nutrient utilization, and rumen short-chain fatty acids. The findings from this study suggest that the feeding strategies potentially contribute to variations in the pan-rumen bacteriome, together with the core bacteriome. Fundamental knowledge on the rumen microbiomes and their roles in nutrient utilization furthers our understanding of how rumen microbial adaptation to harsh environments may function in hosts. The facts obtained from the present trial clarified the possible mechanisms of the positive effects of feeding strategy on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation in harsh environments.}, } @article {pmid36808622, year = {2023}, author = {Missiaen, R and Lesner, NP and Simon, MC}, title = {HIF: a master regulator of nutrient availability and metabolic cross-talk in the tumor microenvironment.}, journal = {The EMBO journal}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {e112067}, pmid = {36808622}, issn = {1460-2075}, support = {T32 CA009140/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA104838/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; Hypoxia/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Nutrients ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A role for hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in hypoxia-dependent regulation of tumor cell metabolism has been thoroughly investigated and covered in reviews. However, there is limited information available regarding HIF-dependent regulation of nutrient fates in tumor and stromal cells. Tumor and stromal cells may generate nutrients necessary for function (metabolic symbiosis) or deplete nutrients resulting in possible competition between tumor cells and immune cells, a result of altered nutrient fates. HIF and nutrients in the tumor microenvironment (TME) affect stromal and immune cell metabolism in addition to intrinsic tumor cell metabolism. HIF-dependent metabolic regulation will inevitably result in the accumulation or depletion of essential metabolites in the TME. In response, various cell types in the TME will respond to these hypoxia-dependent alterations by activating HIF-dependent transcription to alter nutrient import, export, and utilization. In recent years, the concept of metabolic competition has been proposed for critical substrates, including glucose, lactate, glutamine, arginine, and tryptophan. In this review, we discuss how HIF-mediated mechanisms control nutrient sensing and availability in the TME, the competition for nutrients, and the metabolic cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells.}, } @article {pmid36808553, year = {2023}, author = {Leng, J and Wei, X and Jin, X and Wang, L and Fan, K and Zou, K and Zheng, Z and Saridis, G and Zhao, N and Zhou, D and Duanmu, D and Wang, E and Cui, H and Bucher, M and Xue, L}, title = {ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA-INDUCED KINASES AMK8 and AMK24 associate with the receptor-like kinase KINASE3 to regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plcell/koad050}, pmid = {36808553}, issn = {1532-298X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a wide-spread, ancient mutualistic association between plants and fungi, and facilitates nutrient uptake into plants. Cell surface receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) play pivotal roles in transmembrane signaling, while few RLCKs are known to function in AM symbiosis. Here, we show that 27 out of 40 AM-induced kinases (AMKs) are transcriptionally upregulated by key AM transcription factors in Lotus japonicus. Nine AMKs are only conserved in AM-host lineages, among which the SPARK-RLK-encoding gene KINASE3 (KIN3) and the RLCK paralogues AMK8 and AMK24 are required for AM symbiosis. KIN3 expression is directly regulated by the AP2 transcription factor CTTC MOTIF-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1 (CBX1), which regulates the reciprocal exchange of nutrients in AM symbiosis, via the AW-box motif in the KIN3 promoter. Loss of function mutations in KIN3, AMK8 or AMK24 result in reduced mycorrhizal colonization in L. japonicus. AMK8 and AMK24 physically interact with KIN3. KIN3 and AMK24 are active kinases and AMK24 directly phosphorylates KIN3 in vitro. Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of OsRLCK171, the sole homolog of AMK8 and AMK24 in rice (Oryza sativa), leads to diminished mycorrhization with stunted arbuscules. Overall, our results reveal a crucial role of the CBX1-driven RLK/RLCK complex in the evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway enabling arbuscule formation.}, } @article {pmid36808304, year = {2023}, author = {Kubota, M and Matsushita, N and Nakamura, T and Fukuda, K}, title = {Nitrogen fixation and nifH gene diversity in cyanobacteria living on feather mosses in a subalpine forest of Mt. Fuji.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {201}, number = {3}, pages = {749-760}, pmid = {36808304}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Bryophyta ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; *Bryopsida/microbiology ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Acetylene ; }, abstract = {In the boreal forests, feather mosses such as Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi are colonized by cyanobacteria, which provide large amounts of nitrogen to forest ecosystems through nitrogen fixation. Although these feather mosses are also ubiquitous in subalpine forests of East Asia, little is known regarding their associated cyanobacteria and their ability to fix nitrogen. In this study, we investigated (1) whether cyanobacteria co-exist and fix nitrogen in the two species of feather mosses that cover the ground surface in a subalpine forest of Mt. Fuji, (2) whether cyanobacteria belonging to a common cluster with boreal forests are found in feather mosses in Mt. Fuji, and (3) whether moss-associated nitrogen fixation rates differed among moss growing substrates, canopy openness, and moss nitrogen concentrations in the same forest area. Our results showed that cyanobacteria colonized feather mosses in the subalpine forests of Mt. Fuji and acetylene reduction rates as an index of nitrogen fixation tended to be higher in H. splendens than in P. schreberi. Based on analysis of the nifH gene, 43 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, 28 of which represented cyanobacteria. Among the five clusters of cyanobacteria classified based on their nifH gene and identified in northern Europe, four (Nostoc cluster I, Nostoc cluster II, Stigonema cluster, and nifH2 cluster) were also found at Mt. Fuji. The acetylene reduction rate differed depending on the moss growing substrate and the total nitrogen concentration of moss shoots, and a strong negative correlation was observed with the total nitrogen concentration.}, } @article {pmid36807840, year = {2023}, author = {Feng, J and Luo, SH and Qian, L and Yan, S and Wang, Q and Ji, X and Zhang, Y and Liu, X and Hou, P and Teng, F}, title = {Properties of the "Z"-Phase in Mn-Rich P2-Na0.67 Ni0.1 Mn0.8 Fe0.1 O2 as Sodium-Ion-Battery Cathodes.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2208005}, doi = {10.1002/smll.202208005}, pmid = {36807840}, issn = {1613-6829}, abstract = {P2 layered oxides have attracted more and more attention as cathode materials of high-power sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). During the charging process, the release of sodium ions leads to layer slip, which leads to the transformation of P2 phase into O2 phase, resulting in a sharp decline in capacity. However, many cathode materials do not undergo P2 -O2 transition during charging and discharging, but form a "Z" phase. It is proved that the iron-containing compound Na0.67 Ni0.1 Mn0.8 Fe0.1 O2 formed the "Z" phase of the symbiotic structure of the P phase and O phase during high-voltage charging through ex-XRD and HAADF-STEM. During the charging process, the cathode material undergoes a structural change of P2 -OP4 -O2 . With the increase of charging voltage, the O-type superposition mode increases to form an ordered OP4 phase, and the P2 -type superposition mode disappears after further charging to form a pure O2 phase. [57] Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that no migration of Fe ions is detected. The O-Ni-O-Mn-Fe-O bond formed in the transition metal MO6 (M = Ni, Mn, Fe) octahedron can inhibit the elongation of the Mn-O bond and improve the electrochemical activity so that P2-Na0.67 Ni0.1 Mn0.8 Fe0.1 O2 has an excellent capacity of 172.4 mAh g[-1] and a coulombic efficiency close to 99% at 0.1C.}, } @article {pmid36807754, year = {2023}, author = {Lindner, M and Radke, DI and Elke, G}, title = {[Bacterial gut microbiota-key player in sepsis].}, journal = {Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin}, volume = {118}, number = {2}, pages = {107-113}, pmid = {36807754}, issn = {2193-6226}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Bacteria ; *Sepsis ; Dysbiosis/complications/microbiology ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is comprised of over 1200 different bacteria and forms a symbiotic community with the human organism, the holobiont. It plays an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis, e.g., of the immune system and essential metabolic processes. Disturbances in the balance of this reciprocal relationship are called dysbiosis and, in the field of sepsis, are associated with incidence of disease, extent of the systemic inflammatory response, severity of organ dysfunction, and mortality. In addition to providing guiding principles in the fascinating relationship between "human and microbe," this article summarizes recent findings regarding the role of the bacterial gut microbiota in sepsis, which is one a very relevant in intensive care medicine.}, } @article {pmid36805973, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, T and Vďačný, P}, title = {Re-discovery and novel contributions to morphology and multigene phylogeny of Protospirella mazurica (Raabe, 1968) Aescht, 2001 (Ciliophora: Pleuronematida), an obligate symbiont of the river nerite Theodoxus fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Mollusca: Gastropoda).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {88}, number = {}, pages = {125956}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2023.125956}, pmid = {36805973}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Gastropoda ; Rivers ; *Oligohymenophorea ; *Ciliophora/genetics ; Mollusca ; China ; }, abstract = {Although the river nerite Theodoxus fluviatilis (Gastropoda: Neritimorpha) has an exceptionally broad geographical and ecological distribution, it carries only four ciliate species: Hypocomella quatuor, Protospirella mazurica, Scyphidia sp., and Trichodina baltica. After more than a half-century gap, we re-discovered P. mazurica in a Danubian population of T. fluviatilis (haplotypes F31 and F34) and characterized it using an integrative morpho-molecular approach. Protospirella mazurica is distinguished by (i) a small, elongate-ellipsoidal to ovoidal body, (ii) a broadly ellipsoidal macronucleus accompanied by a single globular micronucleus, (iii) a subterminal contractile vacuole, (iv) about 24 somatic kineties, (v) thigmotactic ciliature composed of about 10 kineties shortened posteriorly to form a parenthetical system, and (vi) a long inverted J-shaped paroral membrane associated with three unequally long membranelles. According to the present phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial and three nuclear markers, P. mazurica robustly clusters within the order Pleuronematida (Oligohymenophorea: Scuticociliatia) along with other symbiotic members of the families Hemispeiridae and Thigmophryidae as well as free-living representatives of the paraphyletic family Cyclidiidae. In light of the present phylogenetic analyses, we consider the family Ancistridae to be a junior synonym of the family Hemispeiridae, which collates 14 genera in our classification framework.}, } @article {pmid36804483, year = {2023}, author = {Sampath, V and Martinez, M and Caplan, M and Underwood, MA and Cuna, A}, title = {Necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants-A defect in the brakes? Evidence from clinical and animal studies.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {208-220}, doi = {10.1016/j.mucimm.2023.02.002}, pmid = {36804483}, issn = {1935-3456}, mesh = {Infant ; Animals ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; *Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/etiology ; Infant, Premature ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Signal Transduction ; *Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; }, abstract = {A key aspect of postnatal intestinal adaptation is the establishment of symbiotic relationships with co-evolved gut microbiota. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most severe disease arising from failure in postnatal gut adaptation in premature infants. Although pathological activation of intestinal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is believed to underpin NEC pathogenesis, the mechanisms are incompletely understood. We postulate that unregulated aberrant TLR activation in NEC arises from a failure in intestinal-specific mechanisms that tamponade TLR signaling (the brakes). In this review, we discussed the human and animal studies that elucidate the developmental mechanisms inhibiting TLR signaling in the postnatal intestine (establishing the brakes). We then evaluate evidence from preclinical models and human studies that point to a defect in the inhibition of TLR signaling underlying NEC. Finally, we provided a framework for the assessment of NEC risk by screening for signatures of TLR signaling and for NEC prevention by TLR-targeted therapy in premature infants.}, } @article {pmid36803674, year = {2023}, author = {Bhat, NB and Das, S and Sridevi, BVS and H, RC and Nayaka, S and S, N and Birangal, SR and Shenoy, GG and Joseph, A}, title = {Molecular docking and dynamics supported investigation of antiviral activity of Lichen metabolites of Roccella montagnei: an in silico and in vitro study.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-14}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2023.2180666}, pmid = {36803674}, issn = {1538-0254}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that have been traditionally used for treating different kinds of ailments. As there are only a few reports on the antiviral activity of lichens, we thought of evaluating the anti-Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) activity of methanolic extract of Roccella montagnei and their isolated compounds. Fractionation of crude methanolic extract of Roccella montagnei by column chromatography isolated two pure compounds. Antiviral activity was assessed using a CPE inhibition assay at non-cytotoxic concentrations on Vero cells. Molecular docking and dynamics studies were carried out against Herpes simplex type-1 thymidine kinase to understand the binding interactions of the isolated compounds with reference to acyclovir. Isolated compounds were characterized as methyl orsellinate and montagnetol by spectral methods. Methanolic extract of Roccella montagnei exhibited an EC50 value of 56.51 µg/ml, while the compounds methyl orsellinate and montagnetol offered EC50 values of 13.50 µg/ml and 37.52 µg/ml, respectively, against HSV-1 viral infection on Vero cell lines. The selectively index (SI) of montagnetol (10.93) was found to be higher when compared to that of methyl orsellinate (5.55), indicating its better anti-HSV-1 activity. The docking and dynamics studies showed montagnetol was stable throughout the 100 ns, having better interactions and docking scores with HSV-1 thymidine kinase than methyl orsellinate, as well as the standard. To understand the mechanism of montagnetol's anti-HSV-1 activity, more research is required, and this could lead to the discovery of new and effective antiviral agents.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.}, } @article {pmid36802386, year = {2023}, author = {Kandasamy, D and Zaman, R and Nakamura, Y and Zhao, T and Hartmann, H and Andersson, MN and Hammerbacher, A and Gershenzon, J}, title = {Conifer-killing bark beetles locate fungal symbionts by detecting volatile fungal metabolites of host tree resin monoterpenes.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {e3001887}, pmid = {36802386}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Monoterpenes/analysis/metabolism ; Trees/microbiology ; Camphor/analysis/metabolism ; Plant Bark/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Breeding ; *Weevils ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; *Picea/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Pheromones/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Outbreaks of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) have decimated millions of hectares of conifer forests in Europe in recent years. The ability of these 4.0 to 5.5 mm long insects to kill mature trees over a short period has been sometimes ascribed to two main factors: (1) mass attacks on the host tree to overcome tree defenses and (2) the presence of fungal symbionts that support successful beetle development in the tree. While the role of pheromones in coordinating mass attacks has been well studied, the role of chemical communication in maintaining the fungal symbiosis is poorly understood. Previous evidence indicates that I. typographus can distinguish fungal symbionts of the genera Grosmannia, Endoconidiophora, and Ophiostoma by their de novo synthesized volatile compounds. Here, we hypothesize that the fungal symbionts of this bark beetle species metabolize spruce resin monoterpenes of the beetle's host tree, Norway spruce (Picea abies), and that the volatile products are used as cues by beetles for locating breeding sites with beneficial symbionts. We show that Grosmannia penicillata and other fungal symbionts alter the profile of spruce bark volatiles by converting the major monoterpenes into an attractive blend of oxygenated derivatives. Bornyl acetate was metabolized to camphor, and α- and β-pinene to trans-4-thujanol and other oxygenated products. Electrophysiological measurements showed that I. typographus possesses dedicated olfactory sensory neurons for oxygenated metabolites. Both camphor and trans-4-thujanol attracted beetles at specific doses in walking olfactometer experiments, and the presence of symbiotic fungi enhanced attraction of females to pheromones. Another co-occurring nonbeneficial fungus (Trichoderma sp.) also produced oxygenated monoterpenes, but these were not attractive to I. typographus. Finally, we show that colonization of fungal symbionts on spruce bark diet stimulated beetles to make tunnels into the diet. Collectively, our study suggests that the blends of oxygenated metabolites of conifer monoterpenes produced by fungal symbionts are used by walking bark beetles as attractive or repellent cues to locate breeding or feeding sites containing beneficial microbial symbionts. The oxygenated metabolites may aid beetles in assessing the presence of the fungus, the defense status of the host tree and the density of conspecifics at potential feeding and breeding sites.}, } @article {pmid36802323, year = {2023}, author = {Rani, V and Sengar, RS and Garg, SK and Mishra, P and Shukla, PK}, title = {Physiological and Molecular Role of Strigolactones as Plant Growth Regulators: A Review.}, journal = {Molecular biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36802323}, issn = {1559-0305}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that regulate a number of developmental and environmental processes among different species, including both mono- and dicotyledonous plants and are intensively studied during the last few years. Even though SLs were originally determined as negative regulators of the branching of the aboveground part of plants gradually it was revealed that these root-derived chemical signals are also involved in regulating symbiotic and parasitic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi microbes and root parasitic plants, respectively. There has been substantial advancement in the development of SL research since the invention of SLs hormonal function. Significant progress has been made in revealing the role of strigolactones in the adaptation to abiotic stresses, plant growth, the elongation of the mesocotyl and stem, secondary growth and shoot gravitropism in the last few years. The discovery of SLs hormonal function was extremely valuable because it resulted in the recognition of a new family of plant hormones including the promised SL biosynthetic and way to respond mutants. Subsequent reports on the numerous roles of strigolactones in plant growth and development, also in stress responses, mainly in response to nutrient stress, including phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) deficiency or crosstalk with other hormones, have indicated that there might still be some unveil functions of strigolactones in plants.With the use of various mutants from a variety of plant species, fundamental issues concerning SL biosynthesis and perception were investigated. Molecular analyses of these biologically identified factors have been carried out. Only the broad strokes of SL synthesis pathway and recognition have been revealed thus far. In addition, reverse genetic analyses have revealed new genes involved in SL transport. Current advancement in SLs study with an emphasis on biogenesis and insight is summarized in his review.}, } @article {pmid36802169, year = {2023}, author = {Jo, C and Bernstein, DB and Vaisman, N and Frydman, HM and Segrè, D}, title = {Construction and Modeling of a Coculture Microplate for Real-Time Measurement of Microbial Interactions.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0001721}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.00017-21}, pmid = {36802169}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The dynamic structures of microbial communities emerge from the complex network of interactions between their constituent microorganisms. Quantitative measurements of these interactions are important for understanding and engineering ecosystem structure. Here, we present the development and application of the BioMe plate, a redesigned microplate device in which pairs of wells are separated by porous membranes. BioMe facilitates the measurement of dynamic microbial interactions and integrates easily with standard laboratory equipment. We first applied BioMe to recapitulate recently characterized, natural symbiotic interactions between bacteria isolated from the Drosophila melanogaster gut microbiome. Specifically, the BioMe plate allowed us to observe the benefit provided by two Lactobacillus strains to an Acetobacter strain. We next explored the use of BioMe to gain quantitative insight into the engineered obligate syntrophic interaction between a pair of Escherichia coli amino acid auxotrophs. We integrated experimental observations with a mechanistic computational model to quantify key parameters associated with this syntrophic interaction, including metabolite secretion and diffusion rates. This model also allowed us to explain the slow growth observed for auxotrophs growing in adjacent wells by demonstrating that, under the relevant range of parameters, local exchange between auxotrophs is essential for efficient growth. The BioMe plate provides a scalable and flexible approach for the study of dynamic microbial interactions. IMPORTANCE Microbial communities participate in many essential processes from biogeochemical cycles to the maintenance of human health. The structure and functions of these communities are dynamic properties that depend on poorly understood interactions among different species. Unraveling these interactions is therefore a crucial step toward understanding natural microbiota and engineering artificial ones. Microbial interactions have been difficult to measure directly, largely due to limitations of existing methods to disentangle the contribution of different organisms in mixed cocultures. To overcome these limitations, we developed the BioMe plate, a custom microplate-based device that enables direct measurement of microbial interactions, by detecting the abundance of segregated populations of microbes that can exchange small molecules through a membrane. We demonstrated the possible application of the BioMe plate for studying both natural and artificial consortia. BioMe is a scalable and accessible platform that can be used to broadly characterize microbial interactions mediated by diffusible molecules.}, } @article {pmid36802165, year = {2023}, author = {Travin, DY and Jouan, R and Vigouroux, A and Inaba-Inoue, S and Lachat, J and Haq, F and Timchenko, T and Sutormin, D and Dubiley, S and Beis, K and Moréra, S and Severinov, K and Mergaert, P}, title = {Dual-Uptake Mode of the Antibiotic Phazolicin Prevents Resistance Acquisition by Gram-Negative Bacteria.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0021723}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.00217-23}, pmid = {36802165}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Phazolicin (PHZ) is a peptide antibiotic exhibiting narrow-spectrum activity against rhizobia closely related to its producer, Rhizobium sp. strain Pop5. Here, we show that the frequency of spontaneous PHZ-resistant mutants in Sinorhizobium meliloti is below the detection limit. We find that PHZ can enter S. meliloti cells through two distinct promiscuous peptide transporters, BacA and YejABEF, which belong to the SLiPT (SbmA-like peptide transporter) and ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter families, respectively. The dual-uptake mode explains the lack of observed resistance acquisition because the simultaneous inactivation of both transporters is necessary for resistance to PHZ. Since both BacA and YejABEF are essential for the development of functional symbiosis of S. meliloti with leguminous plants, the unlikely acquisition of PHZ resistance via the inactivation of these transporters is further disfavored. A whole-genome transposon sequencing screen did not reveal additional genes that can provide strong PHZ resistance when inactivated. However, it was found that the capsular polysaccharide KPS, the novel putative envelope polysaccharide PPP (PHZ-protecting polysaccharide), as well as the peptidoglycan layer jointly contribute to the sensitivity of S. meliloti to PHZ, most likely serving as barriers that reduce the amount of PHZ transported inside the cell. IMPORTANCE Many bacteria produce antimicrobial peptides to eliminate competitors and create an exclusive niche. These peptides act either by membrane disruption or by inhibiting essential intracellular processes. The Achilles' heel of the latter type of antimicrobials is their dependence on transporters to enter susceptible cells. Transporter inactivation results in resistance. Here, we show that a rhizobial ribosome-targeting peptide, phazolicin (PHZ), uses two different transporters, BacA and YejABEF, to enter the cells of a symbiotic bacterium, Sinorhizobium meliloti. This dual-entry mode dramatically reduces the probability of the appearance of PHZ-resistant mutants. Since these transporters are also crucial for S. meliloti symbiotic associations with host plants, their inactivation in natural settings is strongly disfavored, making PHZ an attractive lead for the development of biocontrol agents for agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36802019, year = {2023}, author = {Ortiz-Rivero, J and Garrido-Benavent, I and Heiðmarsson, S and de Los Ríos, A}, title = {Moss and Liverwort Covers Structure Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities Differently in the Icelandic Highlands.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36802019}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Cryptogamic covers extend over vast polar tundra regions and their main components, e.g., bryophytes and lichens, are frequently the first visible colonizers of deglaciated areas. To understand their role in polar soil development, we analyzed how cryptogamic covers dominated by different bryophyte lineages (mosses and liverworts) influence the diversity and composition of edaphic bacterial and fungal communities as well as the abiotic attributes of underlying soils in the southern part of the Highlands of Iceland. For comparison, the same traits were examined in soils devoid of bryophyte covers. We measured an increase in soil C, N, and organic matter contents coupled with a lower pH in association with bryophyte cover establishment. However, liverwort covers showed noticeably higher C and N contents than moss covers. Significant changes in diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities were revealed between (a) bare and bryophyte-covered soils, (b) bryophyte covers and the underlying soils, and (c) moss and liverworts covers. These differences were more obvious for fungi than bacteria, and involved different lineages of saprotrophic and symbiotic fungi, which suggests a certain specificity of microbial taxa to particular bryophyte groups. In addition, differences observed in the spatial structure of the two bryophyte covers may be also responsible for the detected differences in microbial community diversity and composition. Altogether, our findings indicate that soil microbial communities and abiotic attributes are ultimately affected by the composition of the most conspicuous elements of cryptogamic covers in polar regions, which is of great value to predict the biotic responses of these ecosystems to future climate change.}, } @article {pmid36801987, year = {2023}, author = {Mehri, M and Ghabooli, M and Movahedi, Z}, title = {Contribution of Serendipita indica on growth improvement, antioxidative capacity of Dracocephalum kotschyi, and its resistance against cadmium stress.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36801987}, issn = {1618-1905}, abstract = {Cadmium pollution is a severe issue worldwide which causes an elevated concern in agriculture. The utilization of plant-microbial interactions offers a promising approach for the remediation of cadmium-polluted soils. To elucidate the mechanism of Serendipita indica-mediated cadmium stress tolerance, a potting experiment was conducted to study the impact of S. indica on Dracocephalum kotschyi plants grown under different cadmium concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg). The effects of cadmium and S. indica on plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, and accumulation of cadmium were investigated. The results showed that cadmium stress significantly decreases biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and carbohydrate content concomitantly with increasing antioxidant activities, electrolyte leakage, and hydrogen peroxide, proline, and cadmium content. Inoculation with S. indica alleviated the adverse effect of cadmium stress by enhancing shoot and root dry weight, photosynthetic pigments, and carbohydrate, proline, and catalase activity. Unlike cadmium stress, the presence of fungus led to a reduction in electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide content as well as the content of cadmium in D. kotschyi leaf which mitigates cadmium-induced oxidative stress. Our findings demonstrated S. indica inoculation alleviates the adverse effects of cadmium stress in D. kotschyi plants which could prolong their survival under stressful conditions. Due to the importance of D. kotschyi and the effect of biomass increase on the amount of its medicinal substances, exploiting S. indica not only promotes plant growth, but also may be used as a potential eco-friendly method for relieving the phytotoxicity of Cd and remediating Cd-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid36801893, year = {2023}, author = {Gupta, A and Lee, J and Chawla, A and Rajagopalan, V and Kohler, M and Moelling, B and McFarlane, KH and Sheth, KR and Ratliff, JK and Hu, SS and Wall, JK and Shea, KG}, title = {A Stepwise Replicable Approach to Negotiating Value-driven Supply Chain Contracts for Orthobiologics.}, journal = {The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {470-476}, pmid = {36801893}, issn = {1940-5480}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Orthobiologics are increasingly used to augment healing of tissues. Despite growing demand for orthobiologic products, many health systems do not enjoy substantial savings expected with high-volume purchases. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate an institutional program designed to (1) prioritize high-value orthobiologics and (2) incentivize vendor participation in value-driven contractual programs.

METHODS: A three-step approach was used to reduce costs through optimization of orthobiologics supply chain. First, surgeons with orthobiologics expertise were engaged in key supply chain purchasing decisions. Second, eight orthobiologics formulary categories were defined. Capitated pricing expectations were established for each product category. Capitated pricing expectations were established for each product using institutional invoice data and market pricing data. In comparison with similar institutions, products offered by multiple vendors were priced at a lower benchmark (10th percentile of market price) than more rare products priced at the 25th percentile of the market price. Pricing expectations were transparent to vendors. Third, a competitive bidding process required vendors to submit pricing proposals for products. Clinicians and supply chain leaders jointly awarded contracts to vendors that met pricing expectations.

RESULTS: Compared with our projected estimate of $423,946 savings using capitated product prices, our actual annual savings was $542,216. Seventy-nine percent of savings came from allograft products. Although the number of total vendors decreased from 14 to 11, each of the nine returning vendors received a larger, three-year institutional contract. Average pricing decreased across seven of the eight formulary categories.

DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates a three-step replicable approach to increase institutional savings for orthobiologic products, engaging clinician experts, and strengthening relationships with select vendors. Vendor consolidation permits a symbiotic win-win relationship: Health systems achieve increased value by reducing unnecessary complexity of multiple contracts, and vendors obtain larger contracts with increased market share.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV study.}, } @article {pmid36800839, year = {2022}, author = {Aydi, S and Kouas, S and Sassi Aydi, S and Rahmani, R and Abdelly, C}, title = {The increase in O2 nodule-conductance under phosphorus deficiency varies among genotypes in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {182-190}, doi = {10.14715/cmb/2022.68.8.32}, pmid = {36800839}, issn = {1165-158X}, mesh = {*Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Phosphorus ; Genotype ; Oxygen ; }, abstract = {The effect of phosphorus deficiency on plant growth, nodulation, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation as well as, the nodulated-roots oxygen consumption, nodule permeability and conductance to the oxygen diffusion of Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis were studied. Three lines, namely TN6.18, originated from local populations, F83005.5 originated from Var (France) and Jemalong 6, a reference cultivar from Australia, were hydroponically grown in nutrient solution supplied with 5 µmol (P deficient) and 15 µmol (P sufficient: Control), under semi-controlled conditions in a glasshouse. A genotypic variation in tolerance to P deficiency was found: TN6.18 was the most tolerant line whereas F83005.5 was the most sensitive. The relative tolerance of TN6.18 was concomitant with the greater P requirement, the higher N2 fixation, the stimulation of nodule respiration and the less increases of conductance to the oxygen diffusion in nodules tissues. The higher P use efficiency for nodule growth and for symbiotic nitrogen fixation was detected in the tolerant line. Results suggest that the tolerance to P deficiency seems to depend on thehost plant ability to reallocate P from both leaves and roots to their nodules. P is needed in high energy demand conditions to maintain adequate nodule activity and prevent negative effects of the O2 excess on the nitrogenase.}, } @article {pmid36800397, year = {2023}, author = {Mills, MK and McCabe, LG and Rodrigue, EM and Lechtreck, KF and Starai, VJ}, title = {Wbm0076, a candidate effector protein of the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi, disrupts eukaryotic actin dynamics.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {e1010777}, pmid = {36800397}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Actins/metabolism ; *Brugia malayi/genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins ; }, abstract = {Brugia malayi, a parasitic roundworm of humans, is colonized by the obligate intracellular bacterium, Wolbachia pipientis. The symbiosis between this nematode and bacterium is essential for nematode reproduction and long-term survival in a human host. Therefore, identifying molecular mechanisms required by Wolbachia to persist in and colonize B. malayi tissues will provide new essential information regarding the basic biology of this endosymbiosis. Wolbachia utilize a Type IV secretion system to translocate so-called "effector" proteins into the cytosol of B. malayi cells to promote colonization of the eukaryotic host. However, the characterization of these Wolbachia secreted proteins has remained elusive due to the genetic intractability of both organisms. Strikingly, expression of the candidate Wolbachia Type IV-secreted effector protein, Wbm0076, in the surrogate eukaryotic cell model, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulted in the disruption of the yeast actin cytoskeleton and inhibition of endocytosis. Genetic analyses show that Wbm0076 is a member of the family of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome proteins (WAS [p]), a well-conserved eukaryotic protein family required for the organization of actin skeletal structures. Thus, Wbm0076 likely plays a central role in the active cell-to-cell movement of Wolbachia throughout B. malayi tissues during nematode development. As most Wolbachia isolates sequenced to date encode at least partial orthologs of wBm0076, we find it likely that the ability of Wolbachia to directly manipulate host actin dynamics is an essential requirement of all Wolbachia endosymbioses, independent of host cell species.}, } @article {pmid36800204, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Z and Tang, J and Cao, X and Wu, C and Cai, W and Lin, S}, title = {High Heterotrophic Plasticity of Massive Coral Porites pukoensis Contributes to Its Tolerance to Bioaccumulated Microplastics.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {57}, number = {8}, pages = {3391-3401}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c08188}, pmid = {36800204}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Microplastics ; Plastics ; Coral Reefs ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Carbon Isotopes ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals have been observed to be capable of accumulating microplastics from reef environments; however, the tolerant mechanism is poorly known. Here, we examined the response of Porites pukoensis to microplastic pollution by analyzing algal symbiont density, energetic metabolism, and caspase3 activities (representing the apoptosis level) in the coral-Symbiodiniaceae association. The environments of three fringing reef regions along the south coast of Sanya City, Hainan Province of China, were polluted by microplastics (for example, microplastic concentrations in the seawater ranged from 3.3 to 46.6 particles L[-1]), resulting in microplastic accumulation in P. pukoensis (0.4-2.4 particles cm[-2]). The accumulation of microplastics was negatively correlated to algal symbiont density in the corals but not to caspase3 activities in the two symbiotic partners, demonstrating that P. pukoensis could tolerate accumulated microplastics despite the decrease of algal symbiont density. Furthermore, results from the carbon stable isotope and cellular energy allocation assay indicated that P. pukoensis obtained energy availability (mainly as lipid reserves) using the switch between heterotrophy and autotrophy to maintain energy balance and cope with accumulated microplastics. Collectively, P. pukoensis achieved tolerance to microplastic pollution by maintaining energy availability, which was largely attributed to its high heterotrophic plasticity.}, } @article {pmid36797758, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, T and Ando, T and Kudo, A and Sato, M and Miyoshi, N and Mutoh, M and Ishikawa, H and Wakabayashi, K and Watanabe, K}, title = {Screening method toward ClbP-specific inhibitors.}, journal = {Genes and environment : the official journal of the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {8}, pmid = {36797758}, issn = {1880-7046}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Colibactin is a genotoxin produced by Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae that is believed to increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) of their symbiosis hosts, including human. A peptidase ClbP is the key enzyme for activation of colibactin. Inhibition of ClbP is considered to impede maturation of precolibactin into genotoxic colibactin. Therefore, ClbP-specific inhibitors could potentially prevent the onset of CRC, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. This study intends to establish an efficient screening system for identifying inhibitors that are specific to ClbP.

METHODS: Two types of assays were applied in the screening procedure: a probe assay and an LC-MS assay. For the probe assay, we employed the synthesized probe which we described in our previous report. This probe can be hydrolyzed efficiently by ClbP to release a fluorophore. Hence it was applied here for detection of inhibition of ClbP. For the LC-MS assay, formation of the byproduct of precolibactin maturation process, N-myristoyl-D-asparagine, was quantified using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique. The probe assay can be performed much faster, while the LC-MS assay is more accurate. Therefore, our method employed the two assays in sequence to screen a large number of compounds for inhibition of ClbP.

RESULTS: A library of 67,965 standard compounds was evaluated by the screening method established in the current study, and one compound was found to show a moderate inhibitory activity against ClbP.

CONCLUSION: A simple screening method for ClbP-specific inhibitors was established. It was proven to be reliable and is believed to be useful in developing potential prophylactic agents for CRC.}, } @article {pmid36796697, year = {2023}, author = {Tanunchai, B and Ji, L and Schröder, O and Gawol, SJ and Geissler, A and Wahdan, SFM and Buscot, F and Kalkhof, S and Schulze, ED and Noll, M and Purahong, W}, title = {Fate of a biodegradable plastic in forest soil: Dominant tree species and forest types drive changes in microbial community assembly, influence the composition of plastisphere, and affect poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) degradation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {873}, number = {}, pages = {162230}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162230}, pmid = {36796697}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Trees ; Soil ; *Biodegradable Plastics ; Forests ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Adipates/metabolism ; Succinates/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) degradation and its plastisphere microbiome in cropland soils have been studied; however, such knowledge is limited in the case of forest ecosystems. In this context, we investigated: i) the impact of forest types (conifer and broadleaved forests) on the plastisphere microbiome and its community assembly, ii) their link to PBSA degradation, and iii) the identities of potential microbial keystone taxa. We determined that forest type significantly affected microbial richness (F = 5.26-9.88, P = 0.034 to 0.006) and fungal community composition (R[2] = 0.38, P = 0.001) of the plastisphere microbiome, whereas its effects on microbial abundance and bacterial community composition were not significant. The bacterial community was governed by stochastic processes (mainly homogenizing dispersal), whereas the fungal community was driven by both stochastic and deterministic processes (drift and homogeneous selection). The highest molar mass loss was found for PBSA degraded under Pinus sylvestris (26.6 ± 2.6 to 33.9 ± 1.8 % (mean ± SE) at 200 and 400 days, respectively), and the lowest molar mass loss was found under Picea abies (12.0 ± 1.6 to 16.0 ± 0.5 % (mean ± SE) at 200 and 400 days, respectively). Important fungal PBSA decomposers (Tetracladium) and atmospheric dinitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteria (symbiotic: Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium and Methylobacterium and non-symbiotic: Mycobacterium) were identified as potential keystone taxa. The present study is among the first to determine the plastisphere microbiome and its community assembly processes associated with PBSA in forest ecosystems. We detected consistent biological patterns in the forest and cropland ecosystems, indicating a potential mechanistic interaction between N2-fixing bacteria and Tetracladium during PBSA biodegradation.}, } @article {pmid36796250, year = {2023}, author = {Alnagger, N and Cardone, P and Martial, C and Laureys, S and Annen, J and Gosseries, O}, title = {The current and future contribution of neuroimaging to the understanding of disorders of consciousness.}, journal = {Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983)}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {104163}, doi = {10.1016/j.lpm.2022.104163}, pmid = {36796250}, issn = {2213-0276}, abstract = {Patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent a group of severely brain-injured patients with varying capacities for consciousness in terms of both wakefulness and awareness. The current state-of-the-art for assessing these patients is through standardised behavioural examinations, but inaccuracies are commonplace. Neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques have revealed vast insights into the relationships between neural alterations, andcognitive and behavioural features of consciousness in patients with DoC. This has led to the establishment of neuroimaging paradigms for the clinical assessment of DoC patients. Here, we review selected neuroimaging findings on the DoC population, outlining key findings of the dysfunction underlying DoC and presenting the current clinical utility of neuroimaging tools. We discuss that whilst individual brain areas play instrumental roles in generating and supporting consciousness, activation of these areas alone is not sufficient for conscious experience. Instead, for consciousness to arise, we need preserved thalamo-cortical circuits, in addition to sufficient connectivity between distinctly differentiated brain networks, underlined by connectivity both within, and between such brain networks. Finally, we present recent advances and future perspectives in computational methodologies applied to DoC, supporting the notion that progress in the science of DoC will be driven by a symbiosis of these data-driven analyses, and theory-driven research. Both perspectives will work in tandem to provide mechanistic insights contextualised within theoretical frameworks which ultimately inform the practice of clinical neurology.}, } @article {pmid36795943, year = {2023}, author = {Stanton, DE and Ormond, A and Koch, NM and Colesie, C}, title = {Lichen ecophysiology in a changing climate.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {110}, number = {2}, pages = {e16131}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16131}, pmid = {36795943}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Lichens/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Ecology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are one of the most iconic and ubiquitous symbioses known, widely valued as indicators of environmental quality and, more recently, climate change. Our understanding of lichen responses to climate has greatly expanded in recent decades, but some biases and constraints have shaped our present knowledge. In this review we focus on lichen ecophysiology as a key to predicting responses to present and future climates, highlighting recent advances and remaining challenges. Lichen ecophysiology is best understood through complementary whole-thallus and within-thallus scales. Water content and form (vapor or liquid) are central to whole-thallus perspectives, making vapor pressure differential (VPD) a particularly informative environmental driver. Responses to water content are further modulated by photobiont physiology and whole-thallus phenotype, providing clear links to a functional trait framework. However, this thallus-level perspective is incomplete without also considering within-thallus dynamics, such as changing proportions or even identities of symbionts in response to climate, nutrients, and other stressors. These changes provide pathways for acclimation, but their understanding is currently limited by large gaps in our understanding of carbon allocation and symbiont turnover in lichens. Lastly, the study of lichen physiology has mainly prioritized larger lichens at high latitudes, producing valuable insights but underrepresenting the range of lichenized lineages and ecologies. Key areas for future work include improving geographic and phylogenetic coverage, greater emphasis on VPD as a climatic factor, advances in the study of carbon allocation and symbiont turnover, and the incorporation of physiological theory and functional traits in our predictive models.}, } @article {pmid36794220, year = {2023}, author = {Pistelli, L and Libik-Konieczny, M and Hasanuzzaman, M}, title = {Editorial: Plant-microbe interactions and their role in salinity tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1142563}, pmid = {36794220}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36794207, year = {2023}, author = {Dong, F and Wang, Y and Tao, J and Xu, T and Tang, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affect the expression of PxNHX gene family, improve photosynthesis and promote Populus simonii×P. nigra growth under saline-alkali stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1104095}, pmid = {36794207}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Saline-alkali stress seriously endangers the normal growth of Populus simonii×P. nigra. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance the saline-alkali tolerance of plants by establishing a symbiotic relationship with them.

METHODS: In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to simulate a saline-alkali environment where Populus simonii×P. nigra were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae to explore their effects on the saline-alkali tolerance of Populus simonii×P. nigra.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our results show that a total of 8 NHX gene family members are identified in Populus simonii×P. nigra. F. mosseae regulate the distribution of Na+ by inducing the expression of PxNHXs. The pH value of poplar rhizosphere soil is reduced, result in the promote absorption of Na[+] by poplar, that ultimately improved the soil environment. Under saline-alkali stress, F. mosseae improve the chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters of poplar, promote the absorption of water, K[+] and Ca[2+], thus increase the plant height and fresh weight of aboveground parts, and promote the growth of poplar. Our results provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the application of AM fungi to improve the saline-alkali tolerance of plants.}, } @article {pmid36792965, year = {2023}, author = {Warneke, CR and Yelenik, SG and Brudvig, LA}, title = {Fire modifies plant-soil feedbacks.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e3994}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3994}, pmid = {36792965}, issn = {1939-9170}, abstract = {Although plant-soil feedbacks (interactions between plants and soils, often mediated by soil microbes, abbreviated as PSFs) are widely known to influence patterns of plant diversity at local and landscape scales, these interactions are rarely examined in the context of important environmental factors. Resolving the roles of environmental factors is important because the environmental context may alter PSF patterns by modifying the strength or even direction of PSFs for certain species. One important environmental factor that is increasing in scale and frequency with climate change is fire, though the influence of fire on PSFs remains essentially unexamined. By changing microbial community composition, fire may alter the microbes available to colonize the roots of plants and thus seedling growth post-fire. This has potential to change the strength and/or direction of PSFs, depending on how such changes in microbial community composition occur and the plant species with which the microbes interact. We examined how a recent fire altered PSFs of two leguminous, nitrogen-fixing tree species in Hawai'i. For both species, growing in conspecific soil resulted in higher plant performance (as measured by biomass production) than growing in heterospecific soil. This pattern was mediated by nodule formation, an important process for growth for legume species. Fire weakened PSFs for these species and therefore pairwise PSFs, which were significant in unburned soils, but were nonsignificant in burned soils. Theory suggests that positive PSFs such as those found in unburned sites would reinforce the dominance of species where they are locally dominant. The change in pairwise PSFs with burn status shows PSF-mediated dominance might diminish after fire. Our results demonstrate that fire can modify PSFs by weakening the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, which may alter local competitive dynamics between two canopy dominant tree species. These findings illustrate the importance of considering environmental context when evaluating the role of PSFs for plants.}, } @article {pmid36791215, year = {2023}, author = {Beck, ON and Shepherd, MK and Rastogi, R and Martino, G and Ting, LH and Sawicki, GS}, title = {Exoskeletons need to react faster than physiological responses to improve standing balance.}, journal = {Science robotics}, volume = {8}, number = {75}, pages = {eadf1080}, doi = {10.1126/scirobotics.adf1080}, pmid = {36791215}, issn = {2470-9476}, support = {R01 AG058615/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD090642/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD046922/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AG063460/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Exoskeleton Device ; Electromyography ; *Robotics ; Ankle/physiology ; Ankle Joint/physiology ; }, abstract = {Maintaining balance throughout daily activities is challenging because of the unstable nature of the human body. For instance, a person's delayed reaction times limit their ability to restore balance after disturbances. Wearable exoskeletons have the potential to enhance user balance after a disturbance by reacting faster than physiologically possible. However, "artificially fast" balance-correcting exoskeleton torque may interfere with the user's ensuing physiological responses, consequently hindering the overall reactive balance response. Here, we show that exoskeletons need to react faster than physiological responses to improve standing balance after postural perturbations. Delivering ankle exoskeleton torque before the onset of physiological reactive joint moments improved standing balance by 9%, whereas delaying torque onset to coincide with that of physiological reactive ankle moments did not. In addition, artificially fast exoskeleton torque disrupted the ankle mechanics that generate initial local sensory feedback, but the initial reactive soleus muscle activity was only reduced by 18% versus baseline. More variance of the initial reactive soleus muscle activity was accounted for using delayed and scaled whole-body mechanics [specifically center of mass (CoM) velocity] versus local ankle-or soleus fascicle-mechanics, supporting the notion that reactive muscle activity is commanded to achieve task-level goals, such as maintaining balance. Together, to elicit symbiotic human-exoskeleton balance control, device torque may need to be informed by mechanical estimates of global sensory feedback, such as CoM kinematics, that precede physiological responses.}, } @article {pmid36790504, year = {2023}, author = {Pushpa, BT and Rajasekaran, S and Easwaran, M and Murugan, C and Algeri, R and Sri Vijay Anand, KS and Mugesh Kanna, R and Shetty, AP}, title = {ISSLS PRIZE in basic science 2023: Lactate in lumbar discs-metabolic waste or energy biofuel? Insights from in vivo MRS and T2r analysis following exercise and nimodipine in healthy volunteers.}, journal = {European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36790504}, issn = {1432-0932}, abstract = {PURPOSE: To quantitatively assess the dynamic changes of Lactate in lumbar discs under different physiological conditions using MRS and T2r.

METHODS: In step1, MRS and T2r sequences were standardized in 10 volunteers. Step2, analysed effects of high cellular demand. 66 discs of 20 volunteers with no back pain were evaluated pre-exercise (EX-0), immediately after targeted short-time low back exercises (EX-1) and 60 min after (EX-2). In Step 3, to study effects of high glucose and oxygen concentration, 50 lumbar discs in 10 volunteers were analysed before (D0) and after 10 days intake of the calcium channel blocker, nimodipine (D1).

RESULTS: Lactate showed a distinctly different response to exercise in that Grade 1 discs with a significant decrease in EX-1 and a trend for normalization in Ex-2. In contrast, Pfirrmann grade 2 and 3 and discs above 40 years showed a higher lactate relative to proteoglycan in EX-0, an increase in lactate EX-1 and mild dip in Ex-2. Similarly, following nimodipine, grade 1 discs showed an increase in lactate which was absent in grade 2 and 3 discs. In contrast, exercise and Nimodipine had no significant change in T2r values and MRS spectrum of proteoglycan, N-acetyl aspartate, carbohydrate, choline, creatine, and glutathione across age groups and Pfirrmann grades.

CONCLUSION: MRS documented changes in lactate response to cellular demand which suggested a 'Lactate Symbiotic metabolic Pathway'. The differences in lactate response preceded changes in Proteoglycan/hydration and thus could be a dynamic radiological biomarker of early degeneration.}, } @article {pmid36790127, year = {2023}, author = {Salloum, PM and Jorge, F and Dheilly, NM and Poulin, R}, title = {Eco-evolutionary implications of helminth microbiomes.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {e22}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X23000056}, pmid = {36790127}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {Animals ; *Helminths/genetics ; *Microbiota ; *Parasites ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolution of helminth parasites has long been seen as an interplay between host resistance to infection and the parasite's capacity to bypass such resistance. However, there has recently been an increasing appreciation of the role of symbiotic microbes in the interaction of helminth parasites and their hosts. It is now clear that helminths have a different microbiome from the organisms they parasitize, and sometimes amid large variability, components of the microbiome are shared among different life stages or among populations of the parasite. Helminths have been shown to acquire microbes from their parent generations (vertical transmission) and from their surroundings (horizontal transmission). In this latter case, natural selection has been strongly linked to the fact that helminth-associated microbiota is not simply a random assemblage of the pool of microbes available from their organismal hosts or environments. Indeed, some helminth parasites and specific microbial taxa have evolved complex ecological relationships, ranging from obligate mutualism to reproductive manipulation of the helminth by associated microbes. However, our understanding is still very elementary regarding the net effect of all microbiome components in the eco-evolution of helminths and their interaction with hosts. In this non-exhaustible review, we focus on the bacterial microbiome associated with helminths (as opposed to the microbiome of their hosts) and highlight relevant concepts and key findings in bacterial transmission, ecological associations, and taxonomic and functional diversity of the bacteriome. We integrate the microbiome dimension in a discussion of the evolution of helminth parasites and identify fundamental knowledge gaps, finally suggesting research avenues for understanding the eco-evolutionary impacts of the microbiome in host-parasite interactions in light of new technological developments.}, } @article {pmid36789083, year = {2023}, author = {Spahr, EJ and McLaughlin, SL and Tichinel, AM and Kasson, MT and Kijimoto, T}, title = {Staining and Scanning Protocol for Micro-Computed Tomography to Observe the Morphology of Soft Tissues in Ambrosia Beetles.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e4584}, pmid = {36789083}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Advances in imaging technology offer new opportunities in developmental biology. To observe the development of internal structures, microtome cross-sectioning followed by H&E staining on glass slides is a common procedure; however, this technique can be destructive, and artifacts can be introduced during the process. In this protocol, we describe a less invasive procedure with which we can stain insect samples and obtain reconstructed three-dimensional images using micro-computed tomography, or micro-CT (µCT). Specifically, we utilize the fungus-farming ambrosia beetle species Euwallacea validus to observe the morphology of mycangia, a critical internal organ with which beetles transport fungal symbionts. Not only this protocol is ideal to observe mycangia, our staining/scanning procedure can also be applied to observe other delicate tissues and small organs in arthropods. Graphical abstract.}, } @article {pmid36787453, year = {2023}, author = {Dottore, ED and Mazzolai, B}, title = {Perspectives on Computation in Plants.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-15}, doi = {10.1162/artl_a_00396}, pmid = {36787453}, issn = {1530-9185}, abstract = {Plants thrive in virtually all natural and human-adapted environments and are becoming popular models for developing robotics systems because of their strategies of morphological and behavioral adaptation. Such adaptation and high plasticity offer new approaches for designing, modeling, and controlling artificial systems acting in unstructured scenarios. At the same time, the development of artifacts based on their working principles reveals how plants promote innovative approaches for preservation and management plans and opens new applications for engineering-driven plant science. Environmentally mediated growth patterns (e.g., tropisms) are clear examples of adaptive behaviors displayed through morphological phenotyping. Plants also create networks with other plants through subterranean roots-fungi symbiosis and use these networks to exchange resources or warning signals. This article discusses the functional behaviors of plants and shows the close similarities with a perceptron-like model that could act as a behavior-based control model in plants. We begin by analyzing communication rules and growth behaviors of plants; we then show how we translated plant behaviors into algorithmic solutions for bioinspired robot controllers; and finally, we discuss how those solutions can be extended to embrace original approaches to networking and robotics control architectures.}, } @article {pmid36786388, year = {2023}, author = {Hallsworth, JE and Udaondo, Z and Pedrós-Alió, C and Höfer, J and Benison, KC and Lloyd, KG and Cordero, RJB and de Campos, CBL and Yakimov, MM and Amils, R}, title = {Scientific novelty beyond the experiment.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1751-7915.14222}, pmid = {36786388}, issn = {1751-7915}, abstract = {Practical experiments drive important scientific discoveries in biology, but theory-based research studies also contribute novel-sometimes paradigm-changing-findings. Here, we appraise the roles of theory-based approaches focusing on the experiment-dominated wet-biology research areas of microbial growth and survival, cell physiology, host-pathogen interactions, and competitive or symbiotic interactions. Additional examples relate to analyses of genome-sequence data, climate change and planetary health, habitability, and astrobiology. We assess the importance of thought at each step of the research process; the roles of natural philosophy, and inconsistencies in logic and language, as drivers of scientific progress; the value of thought experiments; the use and limitations of artificial intelligence technologies, including their potential for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research; and other instances when theory is the most-direct and most-scientifically robust route to scientific novelty including the development of techniques for practical experimentation or fieldwork. We highlight the intrinsic need for human engagement in scientific innovation, an issue pertinent to the ongoing controversy over papers authored using/authored by artificial intelligence (such as the large language model/chatbot ChatGPT). Other issues discussed are the way in which aspects of language can bias thinking towards the spatial rather than the temporal (and how this biased thinking can lead to skewed scientific terminology); receptivity to research that is non-mainstream; and the importance of theory-based science in education and epistemology. Whereas we briefly highlight classic works (those by Oakes Ames, Francis H.C. Crick and James D. Watson, Charles R. Darwin, Albert Einstein, James E. Lovelock, Lynn Margulis, Gilbert Ryle, Erwin R.J.A. Schrödinger, Alan M. Turing, and others), the focus is on microbiology studies that are more-recent, discussing these in the context of the scientific process and the types of scientific novelty that they represent. These include several studies carried out during the 2020 to 2022 lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic when access to research laboratories was disallowed (or limited). We interviewed the authors of some of the featured microbiology-related papers and-although we ourselves are involved in laboratory experiments and practical fieldwork-also drew from our own research experiences showing that such studies can not only produce new scientific findings but can also transcend barriers between disciplines, act counter to scientific reductionism, integrate biological data across different timescales and levels of complexity, and circumvent constraints imposed by practical techniques. In relation to urgent research needs, we believe that climate change and other global challenges may require approaches beyond the experiment.}, } @article {pmid36785786, year = {2023}, author = {Parker, W and Patel, E and Jirků-Pomajbíková, K and Laman, JD}, title = {COVID-19 morbidity in lower versus higher income populations underscores the need to restore lost biodiversity of eukaryotic symbionts.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {106167}, pmid = {36785786}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {The avoidance of infectious disease by widespread use of 'systems hygiene', defined by hygiene-enhancing technology such as sewage systems, water treatment facilities, and secure food storage containers, has led to a dramatic decrease in symbiotic helminths and protists in high-income human populations. Over a half-century of research has revealed that this 'biota alteration' leads to altered immune function and a propensity for chronic inflammatory diseases, including allergic, autoimmune and neuropsychiatric disorders. A recent Ethiopian study (EClinicalMedicine 39: 101054), validating predictions made by several laboratories, found that symbiotic helminths and protists were associated with a reduced risk of severe COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio = 0.35; p<0.0001). Thus, it is now apparent that 'biome reconstitution', defined as the artificial re-introduction of benign, symbiotic helminths or protists into the ecosystem of the human body, is important not only for alleviation of chronic immune disease, but likely also for pandemic preparedness.}, } @article {pmid36781031, year = {2023}, author = {Kise, H and Eduarda Alves Santos, M and Julie Loïs Fourreau, C and Iguchi, A and Goto, R and Davis Reimer, J}, title = {Evolutionary patterns of host switching, lifestyle mode, and the diversification history in symbiotic zoantharians.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {107732}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107732}, pmid = {36781031}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Cell Nucleus ; Biodiversity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbioses play important roles in forming the structural and distributional patterns of marine diversity. Understanding how interspecies interactions through symbioses contribute to biodiversity is an essential topic. Host switching has been considered as one of the main drivers of diversification in symbiotic systems. However, its process and patterns remain poorly investigated in the marine realm. Hexacoral species of the order Zoantharia (=zoantharians) are often epizoic on other marine invertebrates and generally use specific taxa as hosts. The present study investigates the patterns of host switching and the diversification history of zoantharians based on the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analyses to date, using sequences from three mitochondrial and three nuclear markers from representatives of 27 of 29 genera. Our results indicate that symbiotic zoantharians, in particular those within suborder Macrocnemina, diversified through repeated host switching. In addition, colonization of new host taxa appears to have driven morphological and ecological specialization in zoantharians. These findings have important implications for understanding the role of symbioses in the morphological and ecological evolution of marine invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid36780015, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, J and Verma, PK}, title = {Role of Nod factor receptors and its allies involved in nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {3}, pages = {54}, pmid = {36780015}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Leucine ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lysin motif (LysM)-receptor-like kinase (RLK) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-RLK mediated signaling play important roles in the development and regulation of root nodule symbiosis in legumes. The availability of water and nutrients in the soil is a major limiting factor affecting crop productivity. Plants of the Leguminosae family form a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing Gram-negative soil bacteria, rhizobia for nitrogen fixation. This symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia depends on the signal exchange between them. Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) containing lysin motif (LysM) and/or leucine-rich repeat (LRR) play an important role in the perception of chemical signals from rhizobia for initiation and establishment of root nodule symbiosis (RNS) that results in nitrogen fixation. This review highlights the diverse aspects of LysM-RLK and LRR receptors including their specificity, functions, interacting partners, regulation, and associated signaling in RNS. The activation of LysM-RLKs and LRR-RLKs is important for ensuring the successful interaction between legume roots and rhizobia. The intracellular regions of the receptors enable additional layers of signaling that help in the transduction of signals intracellularly. Additionally, symbiosis receptor-like kinase (SYMRK) containing the LRR motif acts as a co-receptor with Nod factors receptors (LysM-RLK). Cleavage of the malectin-like domain from the SYMRK ectodomain is a mechanism for controlling SYMRK stability. Overall, this review has discussed different aspects of legume receptors that are critical to the perception of signals from rhizobia and their subsequent role in creating the mutualistic relationship necessary for nitrogen fixation. Additionally, it has been discussed how crucial it is to extrapolate the knowledge gained from model legumes to crop legumes such as chickpea and common bean to better understand the mechanism underlying nodule formation in crop legumes. Future directions have also been proposed in this regard.}, } @article {pmid36779765, year = {2023}, author = {Dell'Aglio, E and Lacotte, V and Peignier, S and Rahioui, I and Benzaoui, F and Vallier, A and Da Silva, P and Desouhant, E and Heddi, A and Rebollo, R}, title = {Weevil Carbohydrate Intake Triggers Endosymbiont Proliferation: A Trade-Off between Host Benefit and Endosymbiont Burden.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0333322}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03333-22}, pmid = {36779765}, issn = {2150-7511}, abstract = {Nutritional symbioses between insects and intracellular bacteria (endosymbionts) are a major force of adaptation, allowing animals to colonize nutrient-poor ecological niches. Many beetles feeding on tyrosine-poor substrates rely on a surplus of aromatic amino acids produced by bacterial endosymbionts. This surplus of aromatic amino acids is crucial for the biosynthesis of a thick exoskeleton, the cuticle, which is made of a matrix of chitin with proteins and pigments built from tyrosine-derived molecules, providing an important defensive barrier against biotic and abiotic stress. Other endosymbiont-related advantages for beetles include faster development and improved fecundity. The association between Sitophilus oryzae and the Sodalis pierantonius endosymbiont represents a unique case study among beetles: endosymbionts undergo an exponential proliferation in young adults concomitant with the cuticle tanning, and then they are fully eliminated. While endosymbiont clearance, as well as total endosymbiont titer, are host-controlled processes, the mechanism triggering endosymbiont exponential proliferation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that endosymbiont exponential proliferation relies on host carbohydrate intake, unlike the total endosymbiont titer or the endosymbiont clearance, which are under host genetic control. Remarkably, insect fecundity was preserved, and the cuticle tanning was achieved, even when endosymbiont exponential proliferation was experimentally blocked, except in the context of a severely unbalanced diet. Moreover, a high endosymbiont titer coupled with nutrient shortage dramatically impacted host survival, revealing possible environment-dependent disadvantages for the host, likely due to the high energy cost of exponentially proliferating endosymbionts. IMPORTANCE Beetles thriving on tyrosine-poor diet sources often develop mutualistic associations with endosymbionts able to synthesize aromatic amino acids. This surplus of aromatic amino acids is used to reinforce the insect's protective cuticle. An exceptional feature of the Sitophilus oryzae/Sodalis pierantonius interaction is the exponential increase in endosymbiotic titer observed in young adult insects, in concomitance with cuticle biosynthesis. Here, we show that host carbohydrate intake triggers endosymbiont exponential proliferation, even in conditions that lead to the detriment of the host survival. In addition, when hosts thrive on a balanced diet, endosymbiont proliferation is dispensable for several host fitness traits. The endosymbiont exponential proliferation is therefore dependent on the nutritional status of the host, and its consequences on host cuticle biosynthesis and survival depend on food quality and availability.}, } @article {pmid36778840, year = {2023}, author = {Houadria, MYI and Barone, G and Fayle, TM and Schmitt, T and Konik, P and Feldhaar, H}, title = {An experimental, behavioral, and chemical analysis of food limitations in mutualistic Crematogaster ant symbionts inhabiting Macaranga host plants.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e9760}, pmid = {36778840}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Obligate mutualistic plant-ants are often constrained by their plant partner's capacity to provide resources. However, despite this limitation, some ant partners actively reject potential prey items and instead drop them from the plant rather than consuming them, leaving the ants entirely reliant on host plant-provided food, including that provided indirectly by the symbiotic scale insects that ants tend inside the plants. This dependency potentially increases the efficiency of these ants in defending their host. We hypothesize that if this ant behavior was beneficial to the symbiosis, prey rejection by ants would be observed across multiple plant host species. We also hypothesize that plant-provided food items and symbiotic scale insects from other ant plants should be rejected. We address these hypotheses in the Crematogaster ant-Macaranga plant system, in which plants provide living space and food, while ants protect plants from herbivory. We observed food acceptance and rejection behavior across five ant species and three plant host species. Ants were offered three types of food: termites as a surrogate herbivore, symbiotic scale insects, and nutritious food bodies (FB) produced by different host plant species. The unique ant species living in M. winkleri was the most likely to reject food items not provided by the plant species, followed by ants in M. glandibracteolata, while ants in M. pearsonii accepted most items offered to them. Using stable isotopes, chemical cues, and proteomic analyses, we demonstrate that this behavior was not related to differences between plant species in nutritional quality or composition of FB. Isotopic signatures revealed that certain species are primary consumers but other ant species can be secondary consumers even where surrogate herbivores are rejected, although these values varied depending on the ant developmental stage and plant species. Macaranga pearsonii and M. glandibracteolata, the two most closely related plant species, had most similar surface chemical cues of FB. However, M. glandibracteolata had strongest differences in food body nutritional content, isotopic signatures, and protein composition from either of the other two plant species studied. Taken together we believe our results point toward potential host coercion of symbiont ants by plants in the genus Macaranga Thouars (Euphorbiaceae).}, } @article {pmid36778709, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, M and Wang, Z and Guo, M and Qu, L and Biere, A}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth and herbivore infestation depend on availability of soil water and nutrients.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1101932}, pmid = {36778709}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Fitness of plants is affected by their symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and such effects are highly dependent on the environmental context.

METHODS: In the current study, we inoculated the nursery shrub species Artemisia ordosica with AMF species Funneliformis mosseae under contrasting levels of soil water and nutrients (diammonium phosphate fertilization), to assess their effects on plant growth, physiology and natural infestation by herbivores.

RESULTS: Overall, plant biomass was synergistically enhanced by increasing soil water and soil nutrient levels. However, plant height was surprisingly repressed by AMF inoculation, but only under low water conditions. Similarly, plant biomass was also reduced by AMF but only under low water and nutrient conditions. Furthermore, AMF significantly reduced leaf phosphorus levels, that were strongly enhanced under high nutrient conditions, but had only minor effects on leaf chlorophyll and proline levels. Under low water and nutrient conditions, specific root length was enhanced, but average root diameter was decreased by AMF inoculation. The negative effects of AMF on plant growth at low water and nutrient levels may indicate that under these conditions AMF inoculation does not strongly contribute to nutrient and water acquisition. On the contrary, the AMF might have suppressed the direct pathway of water and nutrient absorption by the plant roots themselves despite low levels of mycorrhizal colonization. AMF inoculation reduced the abundance of the foliar herbivore Chrysolina aeruginosa on plants that had been grown on the low nutrient soil, but not on high nutrient soil. Fertilization enhanced the abundance of this herbivore but only in plants that had received the high water treatment. The lower abundance of the herbivore on AMF plants could be related to their decreased leaf P content. In conclusion, our results indicate that AMF negatively affect the growth of Artemisia ordosica but makes them less attractive to a dominant herbivore.

DISCUSSION: Our study highlights that plant responses to AMF depend not only on the environmental context, but that the direction of the responses can differ for different components of plant performance (growth vs. defense).}, } @article {pmid36778381, year = {2023}, author = {Jang, KK and Heaney, T and London, M and Ding, Y and Yeung, F and Ercelen, D and Chen, YH and Axelrad, J and Gurunathan, S and Marijke Keestra-Gounder, A and Griffin, ME and Hang, HC and Cadwell, K}, title = {Antimicrobial overproduction sustains intestinal inflammation by inhibiting Enterococcus colonization.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2023.01.29.526128}, pmid = {36778381}, abstract = {Loss of antimicrobial proteins such as REG3 family members compromises the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Here, we demonstrate that overproduction of REG3 proteins can also be detrimental by reducing a protective species in the microbiota. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experiencing flares displayed heightened levels of secreted REG3 proteins that mediated depletion of Enterococcus faecium (Efm) from the gut microbiota. Efm inoculation of mice ameliorated intestinal inflammation through activation of the innate immune receptor NOD2, which was associated with the bacterial DL-endopeptidase SagA. Microbiota sensing by NOD2 in myeloid cells mediated IL-1β secretion and increased the proportion of IL-22-producing CD4 [+] T helper cells and innate lymphoid cells. Finally, Efm was unable to protect mice carrying a NOD2 gene variant commonly found in IBD patients. Our findings demonstrate that inflammation self-perpetuates by causing aberrant antimicrobial activity that disrupts symbiotic relationships with gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid36777026, year = {2022}, author = {Ashley, IA and Kitchen, SA and Gorman, LM and Grossman, AR and Oakley, CA and Suggett, DJ and Weis, VM and Rosset, SL and Davy, SK}, title = {Genomic conservation and putative downstream functionality of the phosphatidylinositol signalling pathway in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1094255}, pmid = {36777026}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The mutualistic cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis underpins the evolutionary success of stony corals and the persistence of coral reefs. However, a molecular understanding of the signalling events that lead to the successful establishment and maintenance of this symbiosis remains unresolved. For example, the phosphatidylinositol (PI) signalling pathway has been implicated during the establishment of multiple mutualistic and parasitic interactions across the kingdoms of life, yet its role within the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis remains unexplored. Here, we aimed to confirm the presence and assess the specific enzymatic composition of the PI signalling pathway across cnidaria and dinoflagellates by compiling 21 symbiotic anthozoan (corals and sea anemones) and 28 symbiotic dinoflagellate (Symbiodiniaceae) transcriptomic and genomic datasets and querying genes related to this pathway. Presence or absence of PI-kinase and PI-phosphatase orthologs were also compared between a broad sampling of taxonomically related symbiotic and non-symbiotic species. Across the symbiotic anthozoans analysed, there was a complete and highly conserved PI pathway, analogous to the pathway found in model eukaryotes. The Symbiodiniaceae pathway showed similarities to its sister taxon, the Apicomplexa, with the absence of PI 4-phosphatases. However, conversely to Apicomplexa, there was also an expansion of homologs present in the PI5-phosphatase and PI5-kinase groups, with unique Symbiodiniaceae proteins identified that are unknown from non-symbiotic unicellular organisms. Additionally, we aimed to unravel the putative functionalities of the PI signalling pathway in this symbiosis by analysing phosphoinositide (PIP)-binding proteins. Analysis of phosphoinositide (PIP)-binding proteins showed that, on average, 2.23 and 1.29% of the total assemblies of anthozoan and Symbiodiniaceae, respectively, have the potential to bind to PIPs. Enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with predicted PIP-binding proteins within each taxon revealed a broad range of functions, including compelling links to processes putatively involved in symbiosis regulation. This analysis establishes a baseline for current understanding of the PI pathway across anthozoans and Symbiodiniaceae, and thus a framework to target future research.}, } @article {pmid36776895, year = {2023}, author = {Sabatel, C and Bureau, F}, title = {The innate immune brakes of the lung.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1111298}, pmid = {36776895}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; *Lung ; *Asthma ; Mucous Membrane ; Antigens ; Immunity, Innate ; }, abstract = {Respiratory mucosal surfaces are continuously exposed to not only innocuous non-self antigens but also pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) originating from environmental or symbiotic microbes. According to either "self/non-self" or "danger" models, this should systematically result in homeostasis breakdown and the development of immune responses directed to inhaled harmless antigens, such as T helper type (Th)2-mediated asthmatic reactions, which is fortunately not the case in most people. This discrepancy implies the existence, in the lung, of regulatory mechanisms that tightly control immune homeostasis. Although such mechanisms have been poorly investigated in comparison to the ones that trigger immune responses, a better understanding of them could be useful in the development of new therapeutic strategies against lung diseases (e.g., asthma). Here, we review current knowledge on innate immune cells that prevent the development of aberrant immune responses in the lung, thereby contributing to mucosal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid36774720, year = {2023}, author = {Nguyen, VH and Wemheuer, B and Song, W and Bennett, H and Palladino, G and Burgsdorf, I and Sizikov, S and Steindler, L and Webster, NS and Thomas, T}, title = {Functional characterization and taxonomic classification of novel gammaproteobacterial diversity in sponges.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {126401}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126401}, pmid = {36774720}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; Sulfur Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbour exceptionally diverse microbial communities, whose members are largely uncultured. The class Gammaproteobacteria often dominates the microbial communities of various sponge species, but most of its diversity remains functional and taxonomically uncharacterised. Here we reconstructed and characterised 32 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) derived from three sponge species. These MAGs represent ten novel species and belong to seven orders, of which one is new. We propose nomenclature for all these taxa. These new species comprise sponge-specific bacteria with varying levels of host specificity. Functional gene profiling highlights significant differences in metabolic capabilities across the ten species, though each also often exhibited a large degree of metabolic diversity involving various nitrogen- and sulfur-based compounds. The genomic features of the ten species suggest they have evolved to form symbiotic interaction with their hosts or are well-adapted to survive within the sponge environment. These Gammaproteobacteria are proposed to scavenge substrates from the host environment, including metabolites or cellular components of the sponge. Their diverse metabolic capabilities may allow for efficient cycling of organic matter in the sponge environment, potentially to the benefit of the host and other symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36774548, year = {2023}, author = {Yao, YL and Ma, XY and Wang, TY and Yan, JY and Chen, NF and Hong, JS and Liu, BQ and Xu, ZQ and Zhang, N and Lv, C and Sun, X and Luan, JB}, title = {A bacteriocyte symbiont determines whitefly sex ratio by regulating mitochondrial function.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {112102}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112102}, pmid = {36774548}, issn = {2211-1247}, abstract = {Nutritional symbionts influence host reproduction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. We previously found that the bacteriocyte symbiont Hamiltonella impacts the sex ratio of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Hamiltonella synthesizes folate by cooperation with the whitefly. Folate deficiency by Hamiltonella elimination or whitefly gene silencing distorted whitefly sex ratio, and folate supplementation restored the sex ratio. Hamiltonella deficiency or gene silencing altered histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) level, which was restored by folate supplementation. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq analysis of H3K9me3 indicated mitochondrial dysfunction in symbiont-deficient whiteflies. Hamiltonella deficiency compromised mitochondrial quality of whitefly ovaries. Repressing ovary mitochondrial function led to distorted whitefly sex ratio. These findings indicate that the symbiont-derived folate regulates host histone methylation modifications, which thereby impacts ovary mitochondrial function, and finally determines host sex ratio. Our study suggests that a nutritional symbiont can regulate animal reproduction in a way that differs from reproductive manipulators.}, } @article {pmid36771771, year = {2023}, author = {Spinoso-Castillo, JL and Moreno-Hernández, MDR and Mancilla-Álvarez, E and Sánchez-Segura, L and Sánchez-Páez, R and Bello-Bello, JJ}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Improves Ex Vitro Acclimatization of Sugarcane Plantlets (Saccharum spp.) under Drought Stress Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771771}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The symbiotic associations between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants can induce drought stress tolerance. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Glomus intraradices, a mycorrhizal fungus, on the ex vitro development and survival of sugarcane plantlets subjected to drought stress during the acclimatization stage of micropropagation. In vitro obtained sugarcane plantlets (Saccharum spp. cv Mex 69-290) were inoculated with different doses of G. intraradices (0, 100, and 200 spores per plantlet) during greenhouse acclimatization. Sixty days after inoculation, plantlets were temporarily subjected to drought stress. We evaluated the survival rate, total chlorophyll, total protein, carotenoids, proline, betaine glycine, soluble phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity every 3 days for 12 days. Symbiotic interaction was characterized by microscopy. Our results showed that the survival rate of inoculated plants was higher in 45% than the treatment without mycorrhizae. Total chlorophyll, protein, proline, betaine glycine content, and antioxidant capacity were increased in AMF inoculated plants. The soluble phenolic content was higher in non-inoculated plants than the treatment with mycorrhizae during the drought stress period. Microscopy showed the symbiotic relationship between plant and AMF. The early inoculation of 100 spores of G. intraradices per sugarcane plantlet during the acclimatization stage could represent a preconditioning advantage before transplanting into the field and establishing basic seedbeds.}, } @article {pmid36771742, year = {2023}, author = {Kantsurova Rudaya, ES and Ivanova, AN and Kozyulina, PY and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Exogenously Applied Cytokinin Altered the Bacterial Release and Subsequent Stages of Nodule Development in Pea Ipd3/Cyclops Mutant.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771742}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Regulation of plant hormonal status is one of the major targets of symbiotic signaling during nodule formation in legume plants. However, the genetic and hormonal networks that regulate transition to differentiation of nodules are not well-characterized in legume plants. Analysis of plant mutants forming nodules impaired in rhizobial infection allowed us to identify some regulators involved in the control of the later stages of nodule development. In the current work, we extend our earlier studies on the influence of exogenously applied cytokinin on the later stages of nodule morphogenesis using pea sym33 (ipd3/cyclops) mutants impaired in the gene encoding IPD3/CYCLOPS transcription factor. One of the noticeable effects of the influence of exogenously applied cytokinin on nodules in the sym33-3 mutant was an increasing size of these structures. Cytokinin treatment was shown to stimulate bacterial release and increase the percentage of infected cells in nodules. To explore the role of possible regulators of nodule differentiation, we performed searching in pea transcriptome. The transcriptome study in pea P. sativum revealed the importance of the CCS52 regulator, EFD transcription factor, SYMREM regulator, RSD, the MADS-domain/AGL, and SHORT INTERNODE/STYLISH gene families encoding transcription factors in the control of nodule differentiation. Analysis of the expression patterns was verified by real-time PCR in response to exogenously applied cytokinin treatment.}, } @article {pmid36771725, year = {2023}, author = {Langill, T and Jorissen, LP and Oleńska, E and Wójcik, M and Vangronsveld, J and Thijs, S}, title = {Community Profiling of Seed Endophytes from the Pb-Zn Hyperaccumulator Noccaea caerulescens and Their Plant Growth Promotion Potential.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771725}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Endophytes within plants are known to be crucial for plant fitness, and while their presence and functions in many compartments have been studied in depth, the research on seed endophytes is still limited. This work aimed to characterize the seed endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial community of two Noccaea caerulescens Pb-Zn hyperaccumulator populations, growing on two heavy-metal-polluted sites in Belgium. Cultured representatives were evaluated for their potential to enhance seed germination and root length of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. The results indicated that the community structure within the seed is conserved between the two locations, comprising mainly of Proteobacteria (seeds), and Actinobacteria in the bulk soil. Root length of A. thaliana was significantly increased when inoculated with Sphingomonas vulcanisoli. The results of this paper offer insights into the importance of the selection of the core seed endophytic microbiome and highlight the precarious symbiotic relationship they have with the plant and seed.}, } @article {pmid36771720, year = {2023}, author = {Ogbe, AA and Gupta, S and Stirk, WA and Finnie, JF and Van Staden, J}, title = {Growth-Promoting Characteristics of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from a Drought-Tolerant Mint Species Endostemon obtusifolius (E. Mey. ex Benth.) N. E. Br.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771720}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Endophytes are primarily endosymbiotic bacteria and fungi that colonize the interior tissues of their host plant. They enhance the host plant's growth and attenuate adverse effects of biological stress. Endophytic species of many indigenous plants are an untapped resource of plant growth-promoting microorganisms that can mitigate abiotic stress effects. Thus, this study aimed to isolate endophytes from the roots and leaves of the medicinal plant Endostemon obtusifolius to evaluate their in vitro growth-promoting capacities and drought tolerance and to characterize the most promising species. Twenty-six endophytes (fourteen bacteria and twelve fungi) were isolated and cultured from the roots and leaves of E. obtusifolius. All 26 endophytes produced flavonoids, and 14 strains produced phenolic compounds. Of the 11 strains that displayed good free radical scavenging capability (low IC50) in the 1-1-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical scavenging assay, only three strains could not survive the highest drought stress treatment (40% polyethylene glycol). These 11 strains were all positive for ammonia and siderophore production and only one strain failed to produce hydrogen cyanide and solubilize phosphate. Seven isolates showed aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity and differentially synthesized indole-3-acetic acid. Using molecular tools, two promising symbiotic, drought stress tolerant, and plant growth-enhancing endophytic species (EORB-2 and EOLF-5) were identified as Paenibacillus polymyxa and Fusarium oxysporum. The results of this study demonstrate that P. polymyxa and F. oxysporum should be further investigated for their drought stress mitigation and plant growth enhancement effects as they have the potential to be developed for use in sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid36771601, year = {2023}, author = {Kurepa, J and Shull, TE and Smalle, JA}, title = {Friends in Arms: Flavonoids and the Auxin/Cytokinin Balance in Terrestrialization.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771601}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {1/CX/CSRD VA/United States ; }, abstract = {Land plants survive the challenges of new environments by evolving mechanisms that protect them from excess irradiation, nutrient deficiency, and temperature and water availability fluctuations. One such evolved mechanism is the regulation of the shoot/root growth ratio in response to water and nutrient availability by balancing the actions of the hormones auxin and cytokinin. Plant terrestrialization co-occurred with a dramatic expansion in secondary metabolism, particularly with the evolution and establishment of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Flavonoid biosynthesis is responsive to a wide range of stresses, and the numerous synthesized flavonoid species offer two main evolutionary advantages to land plants. First, flavonoids are antioxidants and thus defend plants against those adverse conditions that lead to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Second, flavonoids aid in protecting plants against water and nutrient deficiency by modulating root development and establishing symbiotic relations with beneficial soil fungi and bacteria. Here, we review different aspects of the relationships between the auxin/cytokinin module and flavonoids. The current body of knowledge suggests that whereas both auxin and cytokinin regulate flavonoid biosynthesis, flavonoids act to fine-tune only auxin, which in turn regulates cytokinin action. This conclusion agrees with the established master regulatory function of auxin in controlling the shoot/root growth ratio.}, } @article {pmid36771529, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, RY and Massey, B and Mathesius, U and Clarke, VC}, title = {Photosynthetic Gains in Super-Nodulating Mutants of Medicago truncatula under Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771529}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Legumes are generally considered to be more responsive to elevated CO2 (eCO2) conditions due to the benefits provided by symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In response to high carbohydrate demand from nodules, legumes display autoregulation of nodulation (AON) to restrict nodules to the minimum number necessary to sustain nitrogen supply under current photosynthetic levels. AON mutants super-nodulate and typically grow smaller than wild-type plants under ambient CO2. Here, we show that AON super-nodulating mutants have substantially higher biomass under eCO2 conditions, which is sustained through increased photosynthetic investment. We examined photosynthetic and physiological traits across super-nodulating rdn1-1 (Root Determined Nodulation) and sunn4 (Super Numeric Nodules) and non-nodulating nfp1 (Nod Factor Perception) Medicago truncatula mutants. Under eCO2 conditions, super-nodulating plants exhibited increased rates of carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (J) relative to wild-type and non-nodulating counterparts. The substantially higher rate of CO2 assimilation in eCO2-grown sunn4 super-nodulating plants was sustained through increased production of key photosynthetic enzymes, including Rieske FeS. We hypothesize that AON mutants are carbon-limited and can perform better at eCO2 through improved photosynthesis. Nodulating legumes, especially those with higher nitrogen fixation capability, are likely to out-perform non-nodulating plants under future CO2 conditions and will be important tools for understanding carbon and nitrogen partitioning under eCO2 conditions and future crop improvements.}, } @article {pmid36771138, year = {2023}, author = {Preetha, JSY and Arun, M and Vidya, N and Kowsalya, K and Halka, J and Ondrasek, G}, title = {Biotechnology Advances in Bioremediation of Arsenic: A Review.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36771138}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Humans ; *Arsenic/analysis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Plants/genetics ; Biotechnology ; *Metalloids ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Arsenic is a highly toxic metalloid widespread in the Earth's crust, and its contamination due to different anthropogenic activities (application of agrochemicals, mining, waste management) represents an emerging environmental issue. Therefore, different sustainable and effective remediation methods and approaches are needed to prevent and protect humans and other organisms from detrimental arsenic exposure. Among numerous arsenic remediation methods, those supported by using microbes as sorbents (microbial remediation), and/or plants as green factories (phytoremediation) are considered as cost-effective and environmentally-friendly bioremediation. In addition, recent advances in genetic modifications and biotechnology have been used to develop (i) more efficient transgenic microbes and plants that can (hyper)accumulate or detoxify arsenic, and (ii) novel organo-mineral materials for more efficient arsenic remediation. In this review, the most recent insights from arsenic bio-/phytoremediation are presented, and the most relevant physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in arsenic biological routes, which can be useful starting points in the creation of more arsenic-tolerant microbes and plants, as well as their symbiotic associations are discussed.}, } @article {pmid36769110, year = {2023}, author = {Grundy, EB and Gresshoff, PM and Su, H and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Legumes Regulate Symbiosis with Rhizobia via Their Innate Immune System.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36769110}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Vegetables ; Plant Roots ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Plant roots are constantly exposed to a diverse microbiota of pathogens and mutualistic partners. The host's immune system is an essential component for its survival, enabling it to monitor nearby microbes for potential threats and respond with a defence response when required. Current research suggests that the plant immune system has also been employed in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis as a means of monitoring different rhizobia strains and that successful rhizobia have evolved to overcome this system to infect the roots and initiate nodulation. With clear implications for host-specificity, the immune system has the potential to be an important target for engineering versatile crops for effective nodulation in the field. However, current knowledge of the interacting components governing this pathway is limited, and further research is required to build on what is currently known to improve our understanding. This review provides a general overview of the plant immune system's role in nodulation. With a focus on the cycles of microbe-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity (MTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), we highlight key molecular players and recent findings while addressing the current knowledge gaps in this area.}, } @article {pmid36769017, year = {2023}, author = {Howan, DHO and Jenei, S and Szolomajer, J and Endre, G and Kondorosi, É and Tóth, GK}, title = {Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Substituted Derivatives of NCR169C Peptide.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36769017}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Tryptophan/pharmacology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Peptides/pharmacology ; Bacteria ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula in symbiosis with its rhizobial bacterium partner produces more than 700 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides with diverse physicochemical properties. Most of the cationic NCR peptides have antimicrobial activity and the potential to tackle antimicrobial resistance with their novel modes of action. This work focuses on the antibacterial activity of the NCR169 peptide derivatives as we previously demonstrated that the C-terminal sequence of NCR169 (NCR169C17-38) has antifungal activity, affecting the viability, morphology, and biofilm formation of various Candida species. Here, we show that NCR169C17-38 and its various substituted derivatives are also able to kill ESKAPE pathogens such as Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The replacement of the two cysteines with serines enhanced the antimicrobial activity against most of the tested bacteria, indicating that the formation of a disulfide bridge is not required. As tryptophan can play role in the interaction with bacterial membranes and thus in antibacterial activity, we replaced the tryptophans in the NCR169C17-38C12,17/S sequence with various modified tryptophans, namely 5-methyl tryptophan, 5-fluoro tryptophan, 6-fluoro tryptophan, 7-aza tryptophan, and 5-methoxy tryptophan, in the synthesis of NCR169C17-38C12,17/S analogs. The results demonstrate that the presence of modified fluorotryptophans can significantly enhance the antimicrobial activity without notable hemolytic effect, and this finding could be beneficial for the further development of new AMPs from the members of the NCR peptide family.}, } @article {pmid36768757, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, Z and Zhou, J and Zhang, Z and He, H and Wei, C}, title = {A Study on Symbiotic Systems of Cicadas Provides New Insights into Distribution of Microbial Symbionts and Improves Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Technique.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36768757}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Biological Evolution ; *Ascomycota ; }, abstract = {Nutritional symbionts of sap-sucking auchenorrhynchan insects of Hemiptera are usually confined to the bacteriomes and/or fat bodies. Knowledge is limited about the distribution of microbial symbionts in other organs. We investigated the distribution of obligate symbionts in the salivary glands, gut tissues, reproductive organs, bacteriomes, and fat bodies of two cicada species, Karenia caelatata and Tanna sp., using integrated methods, including a modified fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, which can greatly enhance the FISH signal intensity of related symbionts. We revealed that Candidatus Sulcia muelleri (Sulcia) and a yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) were harbored in the bacteriomes and fat bodies, respectively. Both of Sulcia and YLS can be transmitted to the offspring via ovaries, forming a "symbiont ball" in each egg. Neither Sulcia nor YLS were harbored in the salivary glands, gut tissues and testes. Phylogenetic trees of both Sulcia and cicadas confirm that K. caelatata is a member of the tribe Dundubiini, and the tribe Leptopsaltriini that comprises Ta. sp. is not monophyletic. YLS of K. caelatata is embedded inside the lineage of YLS of Dundubiini, whereas YLS of Ta. sp. is closely related to the clade comprising both cicada-parasitizing fungi Ophiocordyceps and YLS of Mogannia conica and Meimuna mongolica, suggesting an evolutionary replacement of YLS in Ta. sp. from an Ophiocordyceps fungus to another Ophiocordyceps fungus. Our results provide new insights into the symbiosis between Cicadidae and related symbionts. Modification through the addition of helpers and heat shock greatly enhanced the FISH signal intensity of YLS, which may provide guidelines for enhancement of the hybridization signal intensity of other symbiont(s) in the FISH experiments.}, } @article {pmid36767846, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, Y and Yang, S and Liu, F and Cao, Y and Jiang, M}, title = {The Security and Driving Factors of the Innovative Ecosystem: Evidence from the Yellow River Basin.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36767846}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Rivers ; Environmental Monitoring ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; }, abstract = {Ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin have always been seriously restricted by its unreasonable economic structure and low level of innovation. A two-dimensional indicator system was constructed to evaluate the security of the innovative ecosystem in the Yellow River Basin and identify its driving factors. The R clustering, the method of coefficient of variation, and the entropy method were used to screen and empower the indicators, and then the Lotka-Volterra symbiotic coupling model was introduced innovatively to calculate the security index and analyze its spatio-temporal evolution. Finally, the fixed-effect regression model and Granger causality test were used to identify the driving factors. It was found that (1) The security of the innovative ecosystem in the Yellow River Basin from 2012 to 2021 showed an overall upward tendency, but it was still at a low level, and the innovative landscape community lagged behind the innovative biome for a long time; (2) The security status of the innovative ecosystem showed a differential pattern of "high in the east and south, and lower in the west and north"; (3) Innovation transformation ability, innovation consumption capacity, education, and natural ecological environment are crucial driving factors for improving the security level of an innovative ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid36766312, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, JH and Ku, BH and Ko, GP and Kang, MJ and Son, KH and Bang, MA and Park, HY}, title = {Enzyme Feed Additive with Arazyme Improve Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Gut Microbiome of Pigs.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36766312}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The supplementation of pig diets with exogenous enzymes is widely used with the expectation that it will improve the efficiency of nutrient utilization, thereby, improving growth performance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a 0.1% (v/v) multi-enzyme (a mixture of arazyme (2,500,000 Unit/kg), xylanase (200,000 Unit/kg) and mannanase (200,000 Unit/kg)) supplementation derived from invertebrate symbiotic bacteria on pig performance. Here, 256 growing pigs were assigned to control and treatment groups, respectively. The treatment group exhibited a significantly reduced average slaughter age; the final body weight and average daily gain increased compared with that of the control group. In the treatment group, the longissimus muscle showed a remarkable decrease in cooking loss, shear force, and color values with increased essential and non-essential amino acid concentrations. Furthermore, the concentrations of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment group increased. Feed additive supplementation increased the family of Ruminococcaceae and genera Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Turicibacter, and Oscillibacter, which play a positive role in the host physiology and health. Predicted metabolic pathway analysis confirmed that operational taxonomic units and predicted amino acid biosynthesis pathways were strongly associated. The results suggest that applying exogenous enzymes derived from invertebrate symbiotic bacteria enhances animal performance.}, } @article {pmid36766221, year = {2023}, author = {Such, N and Mezőlaki, Á and Rawash, MA and Tewelde, KG and Pál, L and Wágner, L and Schermann, K and Poór, J and Dublecz, K}, title = {Diet Composition and Using Probiotics or Symbiotics Can Modify the Urinary and Faecal Nitrogen Ratio of Broiler Chicken's Excreta and Also the Dynamics of In Vitro Ammonia Emission.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36766221}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The objective of this research was to determine whether diet composition, or adding probiotic or symbiotic feed additives to broiler diets can modify the N composition of the excreta and the dynamics of ammonia volatilization from the manure. A total of 574 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were fed four different diets. The treatments included a corn and soybean meal-based control diets (C), wheat-based and wheat bran containing diets (W), a multi-strain probiotic treatment (Broilact[®]; Br), and a symbiotic additive containing Bacillus subtilis, inulin, and Saccharomices cerevisiae (Sy). Feeding the wheat-based diet significantly improved the weight gain and FCR of chickens. Treatment W also significantly increased the dry matter content of the excreta compared with the probiotic and symbiotic treatments. Both Br and Sy tended to decrease the amount of excreted uric acid, which is the main substrate of ammonia. Treatment Sy reduced the urinary N ratio of the excreta in comparison with treatment W. The symbiotic additive resulted in significantly higher ammonia emission in the first two hours. On the other hand, the dynamics of the emission was slow at the beginning and increased steeply after 15 h when the wheat-based diets were fed. Based on our results, the wheat-based diets, containing soluble arabinoxylans, and the symbiotic treatments of broiler diets have an impact on the urinary and faecal nitrogen composition of the excreta, and also on the dynamics of ammonia release from the manure.}, } @article {pmid36765697, year = {2023}, author = {Mortazavi, SMJ and Nowroozi, S and Haghani, M and Zarrini-Monfared, Z and Gheisari, F and Sihver, L}, title = {Probiotic Bacteria Cannot Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Radioactive Iodine-131 Treatment.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36765697}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Thyroid carcinoma is the most common cancer of the endocrine system, accounting for 12% of all cancer cases in adolescents in the United States. Radioiodine therapy plays a key role in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treatment. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was aimed at evaluating the effect of probiotics supplementation in reducing the acute side-effects of radioiodine therapy in PTC patients. Fifty-six patients were randomly divided into four groups: one placebo and three intervention groups. The probiotics product used in this study was LactoCare (ZistTakhmir Co., Tehran, Iran), a multi-strain commercially available symbiotic containing 12 strains of probiotic species including Lactobacillus strains, Bifidobacteria strains, and Streptococcus thermophilus, plus Fructo-oligosaccharides as the prebiotic. Group 0 was our placebo group (no probiotics), while the other three groups received probiotics capsules for 2/4 days, starting only 2 days prior to radioiodine therapy, only 4 days after radioiodine therapy or 2 days prior and 4 days after radioiodine therapy. Six patients were withdrawn during the study because of poor compliance or at their own request. The symptoms reported by patients including data about the incidence and duration of each complication were recorded. The probiotics' effectiveness was confirmed for dry mouth and taste loss or change when it was administered prior to the radioiodine treatment. The benefit was not confirmed for other radiation-induced complications such as pain and swelling in the neck, nausea and vomiting, salivary gland swelling, and diarrhea. Further large-scale clinical trials are warranted to improve our knowledge in this quickly evolving field.}, } @article {pmid36764925, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, B and Dai, Z}, title = {Engineering Photosynthetic Microbial Consortia for Carbon-Negative Biosynthesis.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {62}, number = {17}, pages = {e202217961}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202217961}, pmid = {36764925}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {*Microbial Consortia ; Carbon Dioxide ; Photosynthesis ; *Synechococcus/genetics ; Autotrophic Processes ; Biotechnology ; Metabolic Engineering ; }, abstract = {Microbial consortia consisting of phototrophs and heterotrophs have raised extensive attention due to their potential in sustainable biotechnology. The challenge remains in the selection of appropriate partners since most heterotrophic microorganisms cannot naturally use the intermediate carbohydrates secreted by autotrophic partners. In a recent study, the Ni Lab has developed a highly compatible autotrophic-heterotrophic symbiotic system comprising Synechococcus elongatus and Vibrio natriegens. V. natriegens (the sucrose utilization module) shows a high degree of nutritional complementarity and culturing compatibility with the engineered S. elongatus (the CO2 sequestration module). The combination of both species channels CO2 into various valuable chemicals, enabling carbon-negative biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid36764699, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, W and Zheng, Z and Kang, Q and Liu, H and Jia, H and Yu, F and Zhang, Y and Han, D and Zhang, X and Yan, X and Huo, M and Wang, J and Chen, Q and Zhao, Y and Xin, D}, title = {Detection of the Type III Effector induced Transcription Factors that Regulate Phytohormone Content during Symbiosis Establishment in Soybean.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e13872}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13872}, pmid = {36764699}, issn = {1399-3054}, abstract = {Soybean is a pivotal protein and oil crop that utilizes atmospheric nitrogen via symbiosis with rhizobium soil bacteria. Rhizobial type III effectors (T3Es) are essential regulators during symbiosis establishment. However, how the transcription factors involved in the interaction between phytohormone synthesis and type III effectors are connected is unclear. To detect the responses of phytohormone and transcription factor genes to rhizobial type III effector NopAA and the type III secretion system, the candidate genes underlying soybean symbiosis were identified using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and phytohormone content analysis of soybean roots infected with wild type Rhizobium and its derived T3E mutant. Via RNA-seq analysis the WRKY and ERF transcription factor families were identified as the most differentially expressed factors in the T3E mutant compared with the wild type. Next, qRT-PCR was used to confirm the candidate genes Glyma. 09g282900, Glyma. 08g018300, Glyma.18g238200, Glyma.03g116300, Glyma.07g246600, Glyma.16g172400 induced by S. fredii HH103, S. fredii HH103ΩNopAA, and S. fredii HH103ΩRhcN. Since the WRKY and ERF families may regulate abscisic acid (ABA) content and underlying nodule formation, we performed phytohormone content analysis at 0.5 and 24 hours post-inoculation (hpi). A significant change in ABA content was found between wild Rhizobium and the type III effector mutant. Our results support that NopAA can promote the establishment of symbiosis by affecting the abscisic acid signaling pathways by regulating WRKY and ERF which regulate the phytohormone signaling pathway. Specifically, our work provides insights into a signaling interaction of prokaryotic effector-induced phytohormone response involved in host signaling that regulates the establishment of symbiosis and increases nitrogen utilization efficiency in soybean plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.}, } @article {pmid36764263, year = {2023}, author = {Jiang, D and Li, Y and Wang, J and Lv, X and Jiang, Z and Cao, B and Qu, J and Ma, S and Zhang, Y}, title = {Exogenous application of Bradyrhizobium japonicum AC20 enhances soybean tolerance to atrazine via regulating rhizosphere soil microbial community and amino acid, carbohydrate metabolism related genes expression.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {472-483}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.02.007}, pmid = {36764263}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Soybeans ; *Atrazine/pharmacology ; Soil ; Amino Acids ; Rhizosphere ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Seedlings/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Nitrogen ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Atrazine is used to control broad-leaved weeds in farmland and has negative impacts on soybean growth. Legume-rhizobium symbiosis plays an important role in regulating abiotic stress tolerance of plants, however, the mechanisms of rhizobia regulate the tolerance of soybean to atrazine based on the biochemical responses of the plant-soil system are limited. In this experiment, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Dongnong 252, planted in 20 mg kg[-1] of atrazine-contaminated soil, was inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum AC20, and the plant growth, rhizosphere soil microbial diversity and the expression of the genes related to soybean carbon and nitrogen metabolism were assessed. The results indicated that strain AC20 inoculation alleviated atrazine-induced growth inhibition via increasing the contents of leghemoglobin and total nitrogen in soybean seedlings. The psbA gene expression level of the soybean seedlings that inoculated strain AC20 was 1.4 times than that of no rhizobium inoculating treatments. Moreover, the inoculated AC20 increased the abundance of Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria in soybean rhizosphere. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that strain AC20 regulated the genes expression of amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism of soybean seedlings. Correlation analysis between 16S rRNA and transcriptome showed that strain AC20 reduced Planctomycetes abundance so as to down-regulated the expression of genes Glyma. 13G087800, Glyma. 12G005100 and Glyma.12G098900 involved in starch synthesis pathway of soybean leaves. These results provide available information for the rhizobia application to enhance the atrazine tolerate in soybean seedlings.}, } @article {pmid36763787, year = {2023}, author = {Godara, H and Ramakrishna, W}, title = {Endophytes as nature's gift to plants to combat abiotic stresses.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/lambio/ovac067}, pmid = {36763787}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {*Endophytes/metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {In recent decades, scientists have recognized that plants' distinct and immensely dynamic microbial communities are more than just "passengers," but instead, play an important role in their development, and shielding against abiotic and biotic stresses. Endophytes comprise fungi and bacteria that live within plant tissues and support growth when plants are under stress. All plants in nature are considered to have symbiotic association with endophytes. A comprehensive review of the accessible data suggests that mobility, cell-wall degradation capacity, and reactive oxygen species scavenging are critical attributes for the successful colonization of endophytes. Plants encounter several abiotic stresses caused by climate change and global warming, which have an effect on their growth and production. Abiotic stress like high temperature, salinity, and high precipitation can severely affect plants compared to biotic stress. This review aims to highlight what role endophytes play to aid plant growth under abiotic stress conditions like heat, salinity, and drought. In the current review, we discuss how endophytic microbes can be efficiently used for the improvement and promotion of plant growth and crop production under abiotic stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid36763201, year = {2023}, author = {Angelim, AM and Leite, SCB and de Farias, MRS and Lourenço, CLCM and Evangelista, AB and Cordeiro, CN and de Abreu, CG and Freitas, ER and Silveira, RMF}, title = {Alternative additives associated in the feeding of laying hens: performance, biometrics, bone traits, and economic evaluation-an unsupervised machine learning approach.}, journal = {Tropical animal health and production}, volume = {55}, number = {2}, pages = {74}, pmid = {36763201}, issn = {1573-7438}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Biometry ; *Chickens/physiology ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements ; Eggs ; Ovum ; Poultry ; *Unsupervised Machine Learning ; }, abstract = {Given the current bans on the use of some growth promoting antibiotics in poultry nutrition, the need to use alternative additives which could replace traditional promoters in diets has arisen. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alternative additives, associated or not, in replacing the antibiotic growth promoter in the diets of laying hens on performance, egg quality, biometry, bone characteristics, and economic viability. A total of 378 birds at 97 weeks of age, weighing 1691 ± 80g with an average production of 79.96 ± 4.9%, were randomly distributed and submitted to different diets: negative control - NC (no additive); positive control - PC, conventional growth promoter (Enramycin); associated organic acids (OA); symbiotic (S); Essential oil (EO); OA + S; and S+EO. The diet did not influence (P > 0.05) performance, egg quality, biometry, and bone traits. However, the use of alternative additives and their associations with the exception of S+OA, provided better economic indices when compared to NC and CP. The first component showed a negative relationship between feed conversion per mass and dozen eggs with gut length, Seedor index, egg production, and egg mass; the second component showed a positive relationship between yolk, pancreas, proventriculus, and gizzard; and, finally, the third component showed that feed consumption has a negative relationship with bone strength and deformity. The first two canonical functions were significant and discriminated 100% of the differences between the diets. Moreover, 50% of the birds were correctly classified in their group of origin, in which the positive control group (83.3%) and OA+S presented the highest rates of correct responses (66.7%). Bone deformity and bowel length were the only two variables with discriminatory power. Natural growth promoters alone or in association do not harm performance, egg quality, digestive organs biometry or bird bone characteristics, in addition to promoting greater economic return. Thus, they can be considered possible substitutes for traditional antibiotics. Finally, unsupervised machine learning methods are useful statistical techniques to study the relationship of variables and point out the main biomarkers of poultry production.}, } @article {pmid36762879, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, Y and Chen, Z and Li, X and Tan, J and Liu, F and Wu, J}, title = {The mechanism of promoting rhizosphere nutrient turnover for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi attributes to recruited functional bacterial assembly.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16880}, pmid = {36762879}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi improves plant nutrient capture from the soil, yet there is limited knowledge about the diversity, structure, functioning, and assembly processes of AM fungi-related microbial communities. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic sequencing were used to detect bacteria in the rhizosphere of Lotus japonicus inoculated with and without AM fungi, and the L. japonicus mutant ljcbx (defective in symbiosis) inoculated with AM fungi in southern grassland soil. Our results show that AM symbiosis significantly increased bacterial diversity and promoted deterministic processes of bacterial community construction, suggesting that mycorrhizal symbiosis resulted in the directional enrichment of bacterial communities. AM fungi promoted the enrichment of nine bacteria, including Ohtaekwangia, Niastella, Gemmatimonas, Devosia, Sphingomonas, Novosphingobium, Opitutus, Lysobacter, Brevundimonas, which are positively correlated with NPK-related parameters. Through a functional identification experiment, we found that six of these genera, including Brevundimonas, Lysobacter, Ohtaekwangia, Sphingomonas, Devosia, and Gemmatimonas, demonstrated the ability to mineralize organophosphate and dissolve inorganic phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Our study revealed that AM fungi can regulate rhizosphere bacterial community assembly and attract specific rhizosphere bacteria to promote soil nutrient turnover in southern grasslands.}, } @article {pmid36762095, year = {2022}, author = {Carrell, AA and Hicks, BB and Sidelinger, E and Johnston, ER and Jawdy, SS and Clark, MM and Klingeman, DM and Cregger, MA}, title = {Nitrogen addition alters soil fungal communities, but root fungal communities are resistant to change.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1033631}, pmid = {36762095}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants are colonized by numerous microorganisms serving important symbiotic functions that are vital to plant growth and success. Understanding and harnessing these interactions will be useful in both managed and natural ecosystems faced with global change, but it is still unclear how variation in environmental conditions and soils influence the trajectory of these interactions. In this study, we examine how nitrogen addition alters plant-fungal interactions within two species of Populus - Populus deltoides and P. trichocarpa. In this experiment, we manipulated plant host, starting soil (native vs. away for each tree species), and nitrogen addition in a fully factorial replicated design. After ~10 weeks of growth, we destructively harvested the plants and characterized plant growth factors and the soil and root endosphere fungal communities using targeted amplicon sequencing of the ITS2 gene region. Overall, we found nitrogen addition altered plant growth factors, e.g., plant height, chlorophyll density, and plant N content. Interestingly, nitrogen addition resulted in a lower fungal alpha diversity in soils but not plant roots. Further, there was an interactive effect of tree species, soil origin, and nitrogen addition on soil fungal community composition. Starting soils collected from Oregon and West Virginia were dominated by the ectomycorrhizal fungi Inocybe (55.8% relative abundance), but interestingly when P. deltoides was grown in its native West Virginia soil, the roots selected for a high abundance of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Rhizophagus. These results highlight the importance of soil origin and plant species on establishing plant-fungal interactions.}, } @article {pmid36761981, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, L and Nair, L and Kumar, D and Arora, MK and Bajaj, S and Gadewar, M and Mishra, SS and Rath, SK and Dubey, AK and Kaithwas, G and Choudhary, M and Singh, M}, title = {Hypoxia induced lactate acidosis modulates tumor microenvironment and lipid reprogramming to sustain the cancer cell survival.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1034205}, pmid = {36761981}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {It is well known that solid hypoxic tumour cells oxidise glucose through glycolysis, and the end product of this pathway is fermented into lactate which accumulates in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Initially, it was proclaimed that cancer cells cannot use lactate; therefore, they dump it into the TME and subsequently augment the acidity of the tumour milieu. Furthermore, the TME acts as a lactate sink with stope variable amount of lactate in different pathophysiological condition. Regardless of the amount of lactate pumped out within TME, it disappears immediately which still remains an unresolved puzzle. Recent findings have paved pathway in exploring the main role of lactate acidosis in TME. Cancer cells utilise lactate in the de novo fatty acid synthesis pathway to initiate angiogenesis and invasiveness, and lactate also plays a crucial role in the suppression of immunity. Furthermore, lactate re-programme the lipid biosynthetic pathway to develop a metabolic symbiosis in normoxic, moderately hypoxic and severely hypoxic cancer cells. For instance: severely hypoxic cancer cells enable to synthesizing poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in oxygen scarcity secretes excess of lactate in TME. Lactate from TME is taken up by the normoxic cancer cells whereas it is converted back to PUFAs after a sequence of reactions and then liberated in the TME to be utilized in the severely hypoxic cancer cells. Although much is known about the role of lactate in these biological processes, the exact molecular pathways that are involved remain unclear. This review attempts to understand the molecular pathways exploited by lactate to initiate angiogenesis, invasiveness, suppression of immunity and cause re-programming of lipid synthesis. This review will help the researchers to develop proper understanding of lactate associated bimodal regulations of TME.}, } @article {pmid36761609, year = {2022}, author = {Xi, R and Gao, W and Wang, X and Xing, Y}, title = {Species diversity of coral reef fishes around the West Island of Sanya City, South China Sea, based on environmental DNA.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e89685}, pmid = {36761609}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: West Island is the second largest island in the Hainan Province, China and its surrounding sea area has a well-preserved coral reef ecosystem and high species diversity of coral reef fishes. Undoubtedly, coral reef fishes and coral reefs have complex symbiotic relationships and fish species diversity should reflect the healthy status of coral reef ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a useful and sensitive tool to detect fish species and causes less environmental damage than traditional fish survey methods. This paper investigated coral reef fish species of West Island, Hainan Province, China, based on eDNA and provided scientific data for understanding and protection of the coral reef ecosystem of the South China Sea.

NEW INFORMATION: The sea area surrounding West Island is the most important component of the coral reef ecosystem in the northern part of the South China Sea, which is also an essential part of the largest National Coral Reef Reserve in China. However, complete data of fish species distributed in this region have been a long-term gap. This study provides information on 41 fish species belonging to 28 genera, 16 families and three orders in this sea area and is the first complete record of coral reef fishes surrounding the West Island. In addition, the information of Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) for taxon identification were also provided and it could contribute to building specific eDNA taxonomy database of coral reef fishes of the South China Sea. The study includes three datasets, with aspects of fish taxon-occurrences, MOTUs sequences and information of environmental indicators surrounding West Island, Hainan Province, China. The "fish taxon occurrences" dataset presents records involving taxonomic, distribution, habitat condition, latitude and longitude of 41 coral reef fish species detected, based on eDNA, the "MOTUs sequences" dataset provides MOTUs sequences and their abundance of 31 species detected and the "information of environmental indicators" dataset presents records of transparency, temperature, water pressure, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, hydrogen and redox potential measured from five sampling localities.}, } @article {pmid36761605, year = {2022}, author = {Park, JH and De Grave, S and Park, T}, title = {First record of the symbiotic palaemonid shrimp Pontonidessibogae Bruce, 2005 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae) from Korea.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e85913}, pmid = {36761605}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A single specimen of Pontonidessibogae was collected from a dendrophylliid coral by trimix SCUBA diving at a depth of 75 m during fieldwork around Jejudo Island, Korea in 2020. The morphology of the specimen corresponds closely to the main diagnostic characters of the holotype, especially in the presence of a distinct tubercle on the eyestalk, as well as the second pereiopod with fusiform setae along the dorsal border of the ischium.

NEW INFORMATION: The genus Pontonides had previously not been reported from Korean waters. Herein, colour photographs are provided, as well as an illustrated description including previously unreported characteristics.}, } @article {pmid36761318, year = {2022}, author = {Zheng, G and You, M and Li, X and Zhou, Q and Wang, Z and Wang, H and Lu, Q}, title = {Diversity of fungi associated with Monochamusalternatus larval habitats in Bursaphelenchusxylophilus-infected Pinusmassoniana and identification of two new ophiostomatalean species (Ascomycota, Ophiostomatales).}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {1-25}, pmid = {36761318}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Bursaphelenchusxylophilus, a pathogenic pine wood nematode (PWN), is responsible for pine wilt disease (PWD), which has caused significant economic and ecological damage worldwide, particularly in East Asia. Multiple biological factors, such as the beetle vector Monochamus, symbiotic bacteria and associated fungi, are involved in the disease infection cycle. This study isolated and identified the fungal communities of Monochamusalternatus larval galleries and pupal chambers from different instars through field investigation, morphological observation and multi-locus DNA sequence analyses in Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 255 and 454 fungal strains were isolated from M.alternatus galleries and pupal chambers infected with PWN, from the 2[nd]-3[rd] and 4[th]-5[th] instar larvae, respectively. A total of 18 species of fungi were identified, 14 species were isolated from the 2[nd]-3[rd] instar larval galleries and six species from the galleries and pupal chambers of the 4[th]-5[th] instar larvae. Amongst them were six species belonging to four genera of ophiostomatalean fungi, including two novel species, Graphilbumxianjuensis sp. nov. and Ophiostomataizhouense sp. nov. and four known species, Ceratocystiopsisweihaiensis, Ophiostomaips, Sporothrixzhejiangensis and S.macroconidia. The findings revealed that the fungal diversity and abundance of the 2[nd]-3[rd] instar larvae differed markedly from those of the 4[th]-5[th] instar larvae. This difference could be the result of fungal succession. This study provides a thorough understanding of the fungi associated with PWD and lays the groundwork for future research.}, } @article {pmid36761243, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, J and Li, W and Ling, W}, title = {Community Construction and Development Path Analysis of Ecological Environment-Friendly Elderly Care Service.}, journal = {Journal of environmental and public health}, volume = {2023}, number = {}, pages = {1982767}, pmid = {36761243}, issn = {1687-9813}, mesh = {Humans ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Rural Population ; China ; Poverty ; Industry ; }, abstract = {As a new pension model, ecological pension is an important choice to relieve the pressure of population aging in China. This paper reviews the relevant literature on the integrated development of the ecological pension industry and rural revitalization in recent years and points out that the researchers have determined the model of the ecological pension industry, the path of rural revitalization, the comprehensive development of organic pension industry, and rural revitalization and the problems they face. Some results have been achieved. However, there is still a lot of research space for the integrated development of the ecological pension industry and rural revitalization, especially to establish a perfect index system of the ecological pension industry, the measurement standard of rural revitalization, and the theoretical basis and mechanism of integrated development. Regional cooperative symbiosis is based on industrial symbiosis. In terms of research methods, attention should be paid to the combination of theoretical analysis and empirical research, to the further development of this field, and to achieve remarkable results. In the process of social and economic development, the rural ecology can be built by solving the problems of the elderly, accurately reducing rural poverty, and protecting the environment. The healthy elderly care tourism destination has realized the integrated development of rural tourism, ecological health tourism, and elderly care tourism. Taking Chang'an District of Xi'an as an example, the advantages of the district in geographical location, climate, environment, tourism resource health, as well as the constraints in the system, talent, policy, and system are demonstrated, and the corresponding countermeasures are put forward.}, } @article {pmid36761071, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, J and Chang, CY and Kim, IH}, title = {Symbiotic copepods (Cyclopoida and Siphonostomatoida) collected by light trap from Korea.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1115}, number = {}, pages = {1-71}, pmid = {36761071}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Thirty-nine species of symbiotic copepods, comprising 24 species of poecilostome Cyclopoida and 15 species of Siphonostomatoida, are reported from Korean waters, which were collected using underwater light traps at 33 collection sites around the South Korean coast. Ten new species are described: Hemicyclopsrapax sp. nov. in the family Clausidiidae; Pontoclausiacochleata sp. nov. and P.pristina sp. nov. in the family Clausiidae; Heteranthessiusunisetatus sp. nov. in the family Lichomolgidae; Pusanomyicolasensitivus gen. nov., sp. nov. in the family Myicolidae; Polyankylisbogilensis sp. nov. in the family Polyankyliidae; Pseudanthessiuslinguifer sp. nov. in the Pseudanthessiidae; Eupolymniphilusfoliatus sp. nov. in the family Sabelliphilidae; and Acontiophorusestivalis sp. nov. and Thermocherespacificus sp. nov. in the family Asterocheridae. Supplementary descriptions or notes for other species are provided as appropriate.}, } @article {pmid36760634, year = {2023}, author = {Fan, K and Ferguson, BJ and Muñoz, NB and Li, MW and Lam, HM}, title = {Editorial: Metabolic adjustments and gene expression reprogramming for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume nodules, volume II.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1141269}, pmid = {36760634}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36760170, year = {2023}, author = {Noda, S and Kitade, O and Jasso-Selles, DE and Taerum, SJ and Takayanagi, M and Radek, R and Lo, N and Ohkuma, M and Gile, GH}, title = {Molecular phylogeny of Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia) with emphasis on Spironympha, Spirotrichonympha, and three new genera Pseudospironympha, Nanospironympha, and Brugerollina.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e12967}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12967}, pmid = {36760170}, issn = {1550-7408}, abstract = {Spirotrichonymphea, one of the six classes of phylum Parabasalia, are characterized by bearing many flagella in spiral rows, and they occur exclusively in the guts of termites. Phylogenetic relationships among the 13 described genera are not well understood due to complex morphological evolution and a paucity of molecular data. One such understudied genus is Spironympha. It has been variously considered a valid genus, a subgenus of Spirotrichonympha, or an "immature" life cycle stage of Spirotrichonympha. To clarify this, we sequenced the small subunit rRNA gene sequences of Spironympha and Spirotrichonympha cells isolated from the hindguts of Reticulitermes species and Hodotermopsis sjostedti and confirmed the molecular identity of H. sjostedti symbionts using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Spironympha as currently circumscribed is polyphyletic, with both H. sjostedti symbiont species branching separately from the "true" Spironympha from Reticulitermes. Similarly, the Spirotrichonympha symbiont of H. sjostedti branches separately from the "true" Spirotrichonympha found in Reticulitermes. Our data support Spironympha from Reticulitermes as a valid genus most closely related to Spirotrichonympha, though its monophyly and interspecific relationships are not resolved in our molecular phylogenetic analysis. We propose three new genera to accommodate the H. sjostedti symbionts and two new species of Spirotrichonympha from Reticulitermes.}, } @article {pmid36760042, year = {2023}, author = {Ji, C and Song, F and He, C and An, J and Huang, S and Yu, H and Lu, H and Xiao, S and Bucher, M and Pan, Z}, title = {Integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis reveals candidate miRNA family regulating arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of Poncirus trifoliata.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14564}, pmid = {36760042}, issn = {1365-3040}, abstract = {Over 70% land plants live in mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and maintenance of symbiosis requires transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. The former has been widely studied, whereas the latter mediated by symbiotic microRNAs (miRNAs) remains obscure, especially in woody plants. Here, we performed high-throughput sequencing of the perennial woody citrus plant Poncirus trifoliata and identified 3750 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 42 miRNAs (DEmiRs) upon AM fungal colonization. By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in the promoters of the DEGs, we predicted 329 key AM transcription factors (TFs). A miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was then constructed by integrating these data. Several candidate miRNA families of P. trifoliata were identified whose members target known symbiotic genes, such as miR167h-AMT2;3 and miR156e-EXO70I, or key TFs, such as miR164d-NAC and miR477a-GRAS, thus are involved in AM symbiotic processes of fungal colonization, arbuscule development, nutrient exchange and phytohormone signaling. Finally, analysis of selected miRNA family revealed that a miR159b conserved in mycorrhizal plant species and a Poncirus-specific miR477a regulate AM symbiosis. The role of miR477a was likely to target GRAS family gene RAD1 in citrus plants. Our results not only revealed that miRNA-mRNA network analysis, especially miRNA-TF analysis, is effective in identifying miRNA family regulating AM symbiosis, but also shed light on miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of AM symbiosis in woody citrus plants.}, } @article {pmid36753416, year = {2023}, author = {Birchenough, GMH and Schroeder, BO and Sharba, S and Arike, L and Recktenwald, CV and Puértolas-Balint, F and Subramani, MV and Hansson, KT and Yilmaz, B and Lindén, SK and Bäckhed, F and Hansson, GC}, title = {Muc2-dependent microbial colonization of the jejunal mucus layer is diet sensitive and confers local resistance to enteric pathogen infection.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {112084}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112084}, pmid = {36753416}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {U01 AI095542/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Intestinal mucus barriers normally prevent microbial infections but are sensitive to diet-dependent changes in the luminal environment. Here we demonstrate that mice fed a Western-style diet (WSD) suffer regiospecific failure of the mucus barrier in the small intestinal jejunum caused by diet-induced mucus aggregation. Mucus barrier disruption due to either WSD exposure or chromosomal Muc2 deletion results in collapse of the commensal jejunal microbiota, which in turn sensitizes mice to atypical jejunal colonization by the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. We illustrate the jejunal mucus layer as a microbial habitat, and link the regiospecific mucus dependency of the microbiota to distinctive properties of the jejunal niche. Together, our data demonstrate a symbiotic mucus-microbiota relationship that normally prevents jejunal pathogen colonization, but is highly sensitive to disruption by exposure to a WSD.}, } @article {pmid36750860, year = {2023}, author = {Mahmood, S and Nováková, E and Martinů, J and Sychra, O and Hypša, V}, title = {Supergroup F Wolbachia with extremely reduced genome: transition to obligate insect symbionts.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {36750860}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; *Nematoda ; Insecta ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wolbachia belong to highly abundant bacteria which are frequently found in invertebrate microbiomes and manifest by a broad spectrum of lifestyles from parasitism to mutualism. Wolbachia supergroup F is a particularly interesting clade as it gave rise to symbionts of both arthropods and nematodes, and some of its members are obligate mutualists. Investigations on evolutionary transitions among the different symbiotic stages have been hampered by a lack of the known diversity and genomic data for the supergroup F members.

RESULTS: Based on amplicon screening, short- and long-read WGS approaches, and laser confocal microscopy, we characterize five new supergroup F Wolbachia strains from four chewing lice species. These strains reached different evolutionary stages and represent two remarkably different types of symbiont genomes. Three of the genomes resemble other known members of Wolbachia F supergroup, while the other two show typical signs of ongoing gene inactivation and removal (genome size, coding density, low number of pseudogenes). Particularly, wMeur1, a symbiont fixed in microbiomes of Menacanthus eurysternus across four continents, possesses a highly reduced genome of 733,850 bp. The horizontally acquired capacity for pantothenate synthesis and localization in specialized bacteriocytes suggest its obligate nutritional role.

CONCLUSIONS: The genome of wMeur1 strain, from the M. eurysternus microbiome, represents the smallest currently known Wolbachia genome and the first example of Wolbachia which has completed genomic streamlining as known from the typical obligate symbionts. This points out that despite the large amount and great diversity of the known Wolbachia strains, evolutionary potential of these bacteria still remains underexplored. The diversity of the four chewing lice microbiomes indicates that this vast parasitic group may provide suitable models for further investigations. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36750406, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, ZZ and Zhuang, Z and Cai, R and Lin, GQ and She, Z and Zhao, Q and He, QL}, title = {Hydroxylation with Unusual Stereoinversion Catalyzed by an Fe[II] /2-OG Dependent Oxidase and 3,6-Diene-2,5-diketopiperazine Formation in the Biosynthesis of Brevianamide K.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {62}, number = {14}, pages = {e202216989}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202216989}, pmid = {36750406}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Hydroxylation ; *Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism ; Catalysis ; *Ferrous Compounds ; }, abstract = {Natural products with the 3,6-diene-2,5-diketopiperazine core are widely distributed in nature; however, the biosynthetic mechanism of 3,6-diene-2,5-diketopiperazine in fungi remains to be further elucidated. Through heterologous expression and biochemical investigation of an Fe[II] /2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxidase (AspE) and a heme-dependent P450 enzyme (AspF), we report that AspE, AspF and subsequent dehydration account for the formation of the 3,6-diene-2,5-diketopiperazine substructure of brevianamide K from Aspergillus sp. SK-28, a symbiotic fungus of mangrove plant Kandelia candel. More interestingly, in-depth investigation of the enzymatic mechanism showed that AspE promotes hydroxylation of brevianamide Q with unprecedented stereoinversion through hydrogen atom abstraction and water nucleophilic attack from the opposite face of the resultant iminium cation intermediate.}, } @article {pmid36750192, year = {2023}, author = {Haydon, TD and Matthews, JL and Seymour, JR and Raina, JB and Seymour, JE and Chartrand, K and Camp, EF and Suggett, DJ}, title = {Metabolomic signatures of corals thriving across extreme reef habitats reveal strategies of heat stress tolerance.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1992}, pages = {20221877}, pmid = {36750192}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; *Thermotolerance ; Coral Reefs ; Symbiosis ; Heat-Shock Response ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic stressors continue to escalate worldwide, driving unprecedented declines in reef environmental conditions and coral health. One approach to better understand how corals can function in the future is to examine coral populations that thrive within present day naturally extreme habitats. We applied untargeted metabolomics (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)) to contrast metabolite profiles of Pocillopora acuta colonies from hot, acidic and deoxygenated mangrove environments versus those from adjacent reefs. Under ambient temperatures, P. acuta predominantly associated with endosymbionts of the genera Cladocopium (reef) or Durusdinium (mangrove), exhibiting elevated metabolism in mangrove through energy-generating and biosynthesis pathways compared to reef populations. Under transient heat stress, P. acuta endosymbiont associations were unchanged. Reef corals bleached and exhibited extensive shifts in symbiont metabolic profiles (whereas host metabolite profiles were unchanged). By contrast, mangrove populations did not bleach and solely the host metabolite profiles were altered, including cellular responses in inter-partner signalling, antioxidant capacity and energy storage. Thus mangrove P. acuta populations resist periodically high-temperature exposure via association with thermally tolerant endosymbionts coupled with host metabolic plasticity. Our findings highlight specific metabolites that may be biomarkers of heat tolerance, providing novel insight into adaptive coral resilience to elevated temperatures.}, } @article {pmid36749749, year = {2023}, author = {Glick, HB and Umunay, PM and Makana, JR and Tomlin, CD and Reuning-Scherer, JD and Gregoire, TG}, title = {The spatial propagation and increasing dominance of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (Fabaceae) in the eastern Congo basin.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {e0275519}, pmid = {36749749}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Congo ; *Trees/physiology ; *Fabaceae ; Tropical Climate ; Forests ; }, abstract = {Though substantial research has been conducted on possible historical, physiological, and symbiotic mechanisms that permit monodominance to occur within tropical lowland rainforests, less is known about the successional rates at which monodominance exerts itself on surrounding forest structures. Here we extend efforts to evaluate the longitudinal dynamics of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei-dominated forest in Central Africa by considering this species' spatial dynamics. Using three 10-ha censused field plots measured across three time periods, we present the first quantitative estimates of the spatial propagation of Gilbertiodendron into adjacent mixed species forest. Using three analytical strategies, we demonstrate that Gilbertiodendron is increasing in dominance and that monodominant forest patches are expanding into the surrounding forest at a statistically significant rate. The rates of successional advance vary by patch and direction, but average 0.31 m year-1, with speeds greatest in the direction of the prevailing winds. We show that the advancement of Gilbertiodendron is significantly slower than documented rates from other forest ecotones across Central Africa. When paired with stress tolerance traits and ectomycorrhizal associations, these findings help to clarify the means by which Gilbertiodendron dewevrei gains dominance in otherwise species-diverse regions.}, } @article {pmid36748607, year = {2022}, author = {Giannotti, D and Boscaro, V and Husnik, F and Vannini, C and Keeling, PJ}, title = {At the threshold of symbiosis: the genome of obligately endosymbiotic 'Candidatus Nebulobacter yamunensis' is almost indistinguishable from that of a cultivable strain.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36748607}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {Comparing obligate endosymbionts with their free-living relatives is a powerful approach to investigate the evolution of symbioses, and it has led to the identification of several genomic traits consistently associated with the establishment of symbiosis. 'Candidatus Nebulobacter yamunensis' is an obligate bacterial endosymbiont of the ciliate Euplotes that seemingly depends on its host for survival. A subsequently characterized bacterial strain with an identical 16S rRNA gene sequence, named Fastidiosibacter lacustris, can instead be maintained in pure culture. We analysed the genomes of 'Candidatus Nebulobacter' and Fastidiosibacter seeking to identify key differences between their functional traits and genomic structure that might shed light on a recent transition to obligate endosymbiosis. Surprisingly, we found almost no such differences: the two genomes share a high level of sequence identity, the same overall structure, and largely overlapping sets of genes. The similarities between the genomes of the two strains are at odds with their different ecological niches, confirmed here with a parallel growth experiment. Although other pairs of closely related symbiotic/free-living bacteria have been compared in the past, 'Candidatus Nebulobacter' and Fastidiosibacter represent an extreme example proving that a small number of (unknown) factors might play a pivotal role in the earliest stages of obligate endosymbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid36748564, year = {2023}, author = {Colombi, E and Hill, Y and Lines, R and Sullivan, JT and Kohlmeier, MG and Christophersen, CT and Ronson, CW and Terpolilli, JJ and Ramsay, JP}, title = {Population genomics of Australian indigenous Mesorhizobium reveals diverse nonsymbiotic genospecies capable of nitrogen-fixing symbioses following horizontal gene transfer.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36748564}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Nitrogen ; Australia ; *Lotus/microbiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobia are soil bacteria that establish nitrogen-fixing symbioses with various legumes. Novel symbiotic mesorhizobia frequently evolve following horizontal transfer of symbiosis-gene-carrying integrative and conjugative elements (ICESyms) to indigenous mesorhizobia in soils. Evolved symbionts exhibit a wide range in symbiotic effectiveness, with some fixing nitrogen poorly or not at all. Little is known about the genetic diversity and symbiotic potential of indigenous soil mesorhizobia prior to ICESym acquisition. Here we sequenced genomes of 144 Mesorhizobium spp. strains cultured directly from cultivated and uncultivated Australian soils. Of these, 126 lacked symbiosis genes. The only isolated symbiotic strains were either exotic strains used previously as legume inoculants, or indigenous mesorhizobia that had acquired exotic ICESyms. No native symbiotic strains were identified. Indigenous nonsymbiotic strains formed 22 genospecies with phylogenomic diversity overlapping the diversity of internationally isolated symbiotic Mesorhizobium spp. The genomes of indigenous mesorhizobia exhibited no evidence of prior involvement in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, yet their core genomes were similar to symbiotic strains and they generally lacked genes for synthesis of biotin, nicotinate and thiamine. Genomes of nonsymbiotic mesorhizobia harboured similar mobile elements to those of symbiotic mesorhizobia, including ICESym-like elements carrying aforementioned vitamin-synthesis genes but lacking symbiosis genes. Diverse indigenous isolates receiving ICESyms through horizontal gene transfer formed effective symbioses with Lotus and Biserrula legumes, indicating most nonsymbiotic mesorhizobia have an innate capacity for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis following ICESym acquisition. Non-fixing ICESym-harbouring strains were isolated sporadically within species alongside effective symbionts, indicating chromosomal lineage does not predict symbiotic potential. Our observations suggest previously observed genomic diversity amongst symbiotic Mesorhizobium spp. represents a fraction of the extant diversity of nonsymbiotic strains. The overlapping phylogeny of symbiotic and nonsymbiotic clades suggests major clades of Mesorhizobium diverged prior to introduction of symbiosis genes and therefore chromosomal genes involved in symbiosis have evolved largely independent of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36748550, year = {2022}, author = {Griffin, JS and Gerth, M and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Rapid divergence in independent aspects of the compatibility phenotype in a Spiroplasma-Drosophila interaction.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001281}, pmid = {36748550}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; *Spiroplasma/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbionts represent important components of the biology, ecology and evolution of their arthropod hosts. Particular microbial taxa have become common across arthropods as a consequence of their ability to establish in new host species. For a host shift to occur, the symbiont must be exposed to a novel host and then be compatible: it must not cause excess pathology, must have good vertical transmission and must possess a drive phenotype that enables spread. Here we investigate the lability of compatibility to symbiosis with Spiroplasma. We used transinfection to establish the protective Spiroplasma symbiont from Drosophila hydei in two closely related novel hosts, Drosophila simulans and Drosophila melanogaster. The Spiroplasma had contrasting compatibility in the two species, exhibiting pathology and low vertical transmission but delivering protection from wasp attack in D. melanogaster but being asymptomatic and transmitted with high efficiency but with lower protection in D. simulans. Further work indicated that pathological interactions occurred in two other members of the melanogaster species group, such that D. simulans was unusual in being able to carry the symbiont without damage. The differing compatibility of the symbiont with these closely related host species emphasizes the rapidity with which host-symbiont compatibility evolves, despite compatibility itself not being subject to direct selection. Further, the requirement to fit three independent components of compatibility (pathology, transmission, protection) is probably to be a major feature limiting the rate of host shifts that will likely impact on the utility of Spiroplasma in pest and vector control. Moving forward, the variation between sibling species pairs provides an opportunity to identify the mechanisms behind variable compatibility, which will drive hypotheses as to the evolutionary drivers of compatibility variation.}, } @article {pmid36748481, year = {2023}, author = {Nouioui, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Jando, M and Klenk, HP and Gtari, M}, title = {Frankia colletiae sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from Colletia cruciata.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005656}, pmid = {36748481}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/chemistry ; *Frankia ; Phospholipids ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; *Rubiaceae/genetics ; }, abstract = {A nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium strain (Cc1.17[T]) isolated from a root nodule of Colletia cruciata was subjected to polyphasic taxonomic studies. The strain was characterized by the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid in its peptidoglycan, galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose and xylose as cell-wall sugars, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycophospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol, glycophospholipid and uncharacterized lipids as its polar lipids, and C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω9 and C18 : 1 ω9 as major fatty acids (>10 %). Strain Cc1.17[T] showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.4-99.8 % to validly named Frankia species. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences placed strain Cc1.17[T] in a new lineage within the genus Frankia. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain Cc1.17[T] and its closest phylogenomic neighbours were well below the thresholds recommended for prokaryotic species delineation. Therefore, strain Cc1.17[T] (=DSM 43829[T]=CECT 9313[T]) merits recognition as the type strain of a new species for which the name Frankia colletiae sp. nov. is proposed.}, } @article {pmid36748430, year = {2022}, author = {Izraeli, Y and Lepetit, D and Atias, S and Mozes-Daube, N and Wodowski, G and Lachman, O and Luria, N and Steinberg, S and Varaldi, J and Zchori-Fein, E and Chiel, E}, title = {Genomic characterization of viruses associated with the parasitoid Anagyrus vladimiri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).}, journal = {The Journal of general virology}, volume = {103}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/jgv.0.001810}, pmid = {36748430}, issn = {1465-2099}, mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Wasps ; *Viruses ; Genomics ; *Reoviridae/genetics ; }, abstract = {Knowledge on symbiotic microorganisms of insects has increased dramatically in recent years, yet relatively little data are available regarding non-pathogenic viruses. Here we studied the virome of the parasitoid wasp Anagyrus vladimiri Triapitsyn (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a biocontrol agent of mealybugs. By high-throughput sequencing of viral nucleic acids, we revealed three novel viruses, belonging to the families Reoviridae [provisionally termed AnvRV (Anagyrus vladimiri reovirus)], Iflaviridae (AnvIFV) and Dicistroviridae (AnvDV). Phylogenetic analysis further classified AnvRV in the genus Idnoreovirus, and AnvDV in the genus Triatovirus. The genome of AnvRV comprises 10 distinct genomic segments ranging in length from 1.5 to 4.2 kb, but only two out of the 10 ORFs have a known function. AnvIFV and AnvDV each have one polypeptide ORF, which is typical of iflaviruses but very un-common among dicistroviruses. Five conserved domains were found along both the ORFs of those two viruses. AnvRV was found to be fixed in an A. vladimiri population that was obtained from a mass rearing facility, whereas its prevalence in field-collected A. vladimiri was ~15 %. Similarly, the prevalence of AnvIFV and AnvDV was much higher in the mass rearing population than in the field population. The presence of AnvDV was positively correlated with the presence of Wolbachia in the same individuals. Transmission electron micrographs of females' ovaries revealed clusters and viroplasms of reovirus-like particles in follicle cells, suggesting that AnvRV is vertically transmitted from mother to offspring. AnvRV was not detected in the mealybugs, supporting the assumption that this virus is truly associated with the wasps. The possible effects of these viruses on A. vladimiri's biology, and on biocontrol agents in general, are discussed. Our findings identify RNA viruses as potentially involved in the multitrophic system of mealybugs, their parasitoids and other members of the holobiont.}, } @article {pmid36745650, year = {2023}, author = {Ramezani, M and Reisian, M and Sajadi Hezaveh, Z}, title = {The effect of synbiotic supplementation on hypothyroidism: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {e0277213}, pmid = {36745650}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adult ; Humans ; *Synbiotics ; Iran ; Quality of Life ; *Hypothyroidism/drug therapy ; Thyrotropin ; Double-Blind Method ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that synbiotic supplementation could modulate the intestinal microbiota and subsequently, improve the condition of hypothyroid patients.

METHODS: Fifty-six adult hypothyroid patients were recruited to this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. The intervention was 10 weeks of synbiotic (500 mg of 109 CFU/g probiotics plus fructo-oligosaccharide, n = 28) compared to placebo (lactose, magnesium stearate, talc, and silicon dioxide, n = 28). Randomization and allocation to trial groups were carried out using random number sequences drawn from https://sealedenvelope.com/. Primary outcomes were serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4), and secondary outcomes were depression, quality of life, and blood pressure (BP). P-values< 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Analysis on 51 patients who completed the trial showed that TSH and depression (p> 0.05) did not change significantly, while serum FT4 significantly increased in both groups (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02 in symbiotic and placebo respectively). A significant decrease in systolic BP occurred only in the synbiotic group (p = 0.05). Significant improvements occurred regarding different domains and areas of quality of life in the crude and adjusted analysis, including perceived mental health (p = 0.02), bodily pain (p = 0.02), general health perception (p = 0.002), and wellbeing (p = 0.002), which were significantly higher in the synbiotic group.

CONCLUSIONS: Ten-week supplementation with synbiotic had no favorable effect on depression and TSH, but it improved blood pressure and quality of life in patients with hypothyroidism. More trials are needed to support or reject these findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20210926052583N1, Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), registered October 1st, 2021.}, } @article {pmid36745166, year = {2023}, author = {Pasternak, JJ}, title = {A Symbiosis in Perioperative Neuroscience.}, journal = {Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {2-3}, pmid = {36745166}, issn = {1537-1921}, mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis ; *Neurosciences ; }, } @article {pmid36745046, year = {2023}, author = {Kooshki, A and Akbarzadeh, R and Amin, B and Tofighiyan, T and Foroumandi, E}, title = {Synbiotic supplement for treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in haemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.)}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {234-239}, doi = {10.1111/nep.14149}, pmid = {36745046}, issn = {1440-1797}, mesh = {Humans ; *Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; *Synbiotics ; Iron ; Ferritins ; *Anemia/drug therapy ; Hemoglobins/metabolism ; Renal Dialysis/adverse effects ; Transferrins ; Double-Blind Method ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: There is evidence that probiotics can increase the availability of iron. The aim of current study was to determine the effects of synbiotic supplementation on the haematological parameters and anaemia in haemodialysis patients.

METHODS: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fifty patients were randomly selected from the haemodialysis section of Vaseii Hospital, Sabzevar, Iran. Subjects in the symbiotic and control groups received 2 capsules of synbiotic supplement or placebo, respectively, once a day for 8 weeks. Blood samples were divided into two test tubes in equal volumes. Blood haemoglobin, haematocrit, transferrin saturation, red blood cells (RBCs), and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were measured with auto-analyser. Ferritin was determined using Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Twenty tree patients in each group completed the study. Significant results were recorded in synbiotic groups regarding the concentration of blood haemoglobin, haematocrit, transferrin saturation, the number of RBCs, and serum ferritin compare to placebo group (P < .05). At the end of week 8, TIBC significantly decreased in synbiotic than placebo group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: Synbiotic supplementation could be a safe and promising candidate in improving anaemia in CKD patients.}, } @article {pmid36745019, year = {2023}, author = {Carlson, C and Akçay, E and Morsky, B}, title = {The evolution of partner specificity in mutualisms.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {77}, number = {3}, pages = {881-892}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpac056}, pmid = {36745019}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic species vary in their level of partner specificity, which has important evolutionary, ecological, and management implications. Yet, the evolutionary mechanisms which underpin partner specificity are not fully understood. Most work on specialization focuses on the trade-off between generalism and specialism, where specialists receive more benefits from preferred partners at the expense of benefits from non-preferred partners, while generalists receive similar benefits from all partners. Because all mutualisms involve some degree of both cooperation and conflict between partners, we highlight that specialization to a mutualistic partner can be cooperative, increasing benefit to a focal species and a partner, or antagonistic, increasing resource extraction by a focal species from a partner. We devise an evolutionary game theoretic model to assess the evolutionary dynamics of cooperative specialization, antagonistic specialization, and generalism. Our model shows that cooperative specialization leads to bistability: stable equilibria with a specialist host and its preferred partner excluding all others. We also show that under cooperative specialization with spatial effects, generalists can thrive at the boundaries between differing specialist patches. Under antagonistic specialization, generalism is evolutionarily stable. We provide predictions for how a cooperation-antagonism continuum may determine the patterns of partner specificity that develop within mutualistic relationships.}, } @article {pmid36744534, year = {2023}, author = {Liyun, C}, title = {Influence of inoculation ratio on the performance and microbial community of bacterial-algal symbiotic system for rural wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {95}, number = {2}, pages = {e10838}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10838}, pmid = {36744534}, issn = {1554-7531}, mesh = {Sewage/chemistry ; Nitrites ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; *Water Purification/methods ; Biomass ; *Microalgae ; }, abstract = {In this study, co-culture of microalgae and activated sludge in photobioreactors (PBRs) was investigated at different inoculation ratios (0:1, 0.3:1, 0.7:1, and 1.3:1 sludge wt./algae wt.) for rural domestic wastewater treatment under direct solar radiation. Effluent qualities (such as pH, NO2 [-] , PO4 [3-] , and NH4 [+] -N concentrations) were assessed; bacterial and microalgal communities in co-culture system were compared. The microalgal and bacterial biomass fraction played a significant role in the performance and microbial community structure of the treatment system. In reactors with inoculation ratio of 0.3:1 and 0.7:1, the pH exceeded 9 or 10 under solar radiation, which led to some functional bacteria being missing. In the reactor with inoculation ratio of 1.3:1, activated sludge effectively prevented excessive increase in pH in the reactor. Similar observations were made for reactors with inoculation ratios below 1.3:1 by adding sludge halfway through the process. The results show that activated sludge can inhibit excessive increase in pH caused by algal photosynthesis, maintain the activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in PBR, and reduce algae loss with the effluent. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Appropriate fraction of activated sludge can effectively inhibit the excessive increase in pH caused by algal photosynthesis in PBR. Adding activated sludge could maintain the activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in PBR, and reduce microalgae loss with the effluent. Considering the stability of operation and biodiversity in PBR, a 1.3:1 inoculation ratio of activated sludge and microalgae is preferred.}, } @article {pmid36744096, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, Y and Fang, L and Chen, H and Sun, X and He, Y and Duan, B and Li, R and Cao, C and Chen, J}, title = {Sex-specific competition differently regulates the response of the rhizosphere fungal community of Hippophae rhamnoides-A dioecious plant, under Mn stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1102904}, pmid = {36744096}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In this study, we investigated the soil physicochemical parameters and responses of rhizospheric fungal communities of Hippophae rhamnoides to Mn stress under different sexual competition patterns. The results showed that competition significantly affects soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and rhizosphere-associated fungal community structures. Under Mn stress, soils with intersexual competition had higher levels of N supply than those with the intrasexual competition. Moreover, fungal communities under intersexual interaction were more positive to Mn stress than intrasexual interaction. Under intrasexual competition, female plants had higher total phosphorus content, neutral phosphatase activity, and relative abundance of symbiotic fungi in soils to obtain phosphorus nutrients to alleviate Mn stress. In contrast, male plants had relatively stable fungal communities in soils. In the intersexual competition, rhizosphere fungal diversity and relative abundance of saprophytic fungi in male plants were significantly higher than in female plants under Mn stress. In addition, female plants showed greater plasticity in the response of rhizosphere microorganisms to their neighbors of different sexes. The microbial composition in soils of female plants varied more than male plants between intrasexual and intersexual competition. These results indicated that sex-specific competition and neighbor effects regulate the microbial community structure and function of dioecious plants under heavy metal stress, which might affect nutrient cycling and phytoremediation potential in heavy metal-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid36743387, year = {2023}, author = {Heddi, A and Selosse, MA and Richardson, D}, title = {Introduction to the proceedings of the 10[th] International Symbiosis Congress (Lyon, France).}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {89}, number = {2}, pages = {149-155}, pmid = {36743387}, issn = {0334-5114}, } @article {pmid36741887, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, S and Nie, Y and Fan, X and Wei, W and Chen, H and Xie, X and Tang, M}, title = {A transcriptional activator from Rhizophagus irregularis regulates phosphate uptake and homeostasis in AM symbiosis during phosphorous starvation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1114089}, pmid = {36741887}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important nutrient elements for plant growth and development. Under P starvation, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can promote phosphate (Pi) uptake and homeostasis within host plants. However, the underlying mechanisms by which AM fungal symbiont regulates the AM symbiotic Pi acquisition from soil under P starvation are largely unknown. Here, we identify a HLH domain containing transcription factor RiPho4 from Rhizophagus irregularis.

METHODS: To investigate the biological functions of the RiPho4, we combined the subcellular localization and Yeast One-Hybrid (Y1H) experiments in yeasts with gene expression and virus-induced gene silencing approach during AM symbiosis.

RESULTS: The approach during AM symbiosis. The results indicated that RiPho4 encodes a conserved transcription factor among different fungi and is induced during the in planta phase. The transcription of RiPho4 is significantly up-regulated by P starvation. The subcellular localization analysis revealed that RiPho4 is located in the nuclei of yeast cells during P starvation. Moreover, knock-down of RiPho4 inhibits the arbuscule development and mycorrhizal Pi uptake under low Pi conditions. Importantly, RiPho4 can positively regulate the downstream components of the phosphate (PHO) pathway in R. irregularis.

DISCUSSION: In summary, these new findings reveal that RiPho4 acts as a transcriptional activator in AM fungus to maintain arbuscule development and regulate Pi uptake and homeostasis in the AM symbiosis during Pi starvation.}, } @article {pmid36740909, year = {2023}, author = {Brown, BRP and Goheen, JR and Newsome, SD and Pringle, RM and Palmer, TM and Khasoha, LM and Kartzinel, TR}, title = {Host phylogeny and functional traits differentiate gut microbiomes in a diverse natural community of small mammals.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16874}, pmid = {36740909}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Differences in the bacterial communities inhabiting mammalian gut microbiomes tend to reflect the phylogenetic relatedness of their hosts, a pattern dubbed phylosymbiosis. Although most research on this pattern has compared the gut microbiomes of host species across biomes, understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that generate phylosymbiosis requires comparisons across phylogenetic scales and under similar ecological conditions. We analysed the gut microbiomes of 14 sympatric small mammal species in a semi-arid African savanna, hypothesizing that there would be a strong phylosymbiotic pattern associated with differences in their body sizes and diets. Consistent with phylosymbiosis, microbiome dissimilarity increased with phylogenetic distance among hosts, ranging from congeneric sets of mice and hares that did not differ significantly in microbiome composition to species from different taxonomic orders that had almost no gut bacteria in common. While phylosymbiosis was detected among just the 11 species of rodents, it was substantially weaker at this scale than in comparisons involving all 14 species together. In contrast, microbiome diversity and composition were generally more strongly correlated with body size, dietary breadth, and dietary overlap in comparisons restricted to rodents than in those including all lineages. The starkest divides in microbiome composition thus reflected the broad evolutionary divergence of hosts, regardless of body size or diet, while subtler microbiome differences reflected variation in ecologically important traits of closely related hosts. Strong phylosymbiotic patterns arose deep in the phylogeny, and ecological filters that promote functional differentiation of cooccurring host species may disrupt or obscure this pattern near the tips.}, } @article {pmid36740846, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Z and Cai, J and Hou, W and Xu, K and Wu, X and Song, Y and Bai, C and Mo, YY and Zhang, Z}, title = {Microbiome and spatially resolved metabolomics analysis reveal the anticancer role of gut Akkermansia muciniphila by crosstalk with intratumoral microbiota and reprogramming tumoral metabolism in mice.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2166700}, pmid = {36740846}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; Verrucomicrobia/physiology ; Metabolomics/methods ; *Lung Neoplasms ; Carcinogenesis ; }, abstract = {Although gut microbiota has been linked to cancer, little is known about the crosstalk between gut- and intratumoral-microbiomes. The goal of this study was to determine whether gut Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) is involved in the regulation of intratumoral microbiome and metabolic contexture, leading to an anticancer effect on lung cancer. We evaluated the effects of gut endogenous or gavaged exogenous Akk on the tumorigenesis using the Lewis lung cancer mouse model. Feces, blood, and tumor tissue samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing. We then conducted spatially resolved metabolomics profiling to discover cancer metabolites in situ directly and to characterize the overall Akk-regulated metabolic features, followed by the correlation analysis of intratumoral bacteria with metabolic network. Our results showed that both endogenous and exogenous gavaged Akk significantly inhibited tumorigenesis. Moreover, we detected increased Akk abundance in blood circulation or tumor tissue by 16S rDNA sequencing in the Akk gavaged mice, compared with the control mice. Of great interest, gavaged Akk may migrate into tumor tissue and influence the composition of intratumoral microbiome. Spatially resolved metabolomics analysis revealed that the gut-derived Akk was able to regulate tumor metabolic pathways, from metabolites to enzymes. Finally, our study identified a significant correlation between the gut Akk-regulated intratumoral bacteria and metabolic network. Together, gut-derived Akk may migrate into blood circulation, and subsequently colonize into lung cancer tissue, which contributes to the suppression of tumorigenesis by influencing tumoral symbiotic microbiome and reprogramming tumoral metabolism, although more studies are needed.}, } @article {pmid36739554, year = {2023}, author = {Hoysted, GA and Field, KJ and Sinanaj, B and Bell, CA and Bidartondo, MI and Pressel, S}, title = {Direct nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon exchanges between Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophyte' fungi and a flowering plant in novel monoxenic cultures.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {238}, number = {1}, pages = {70-79}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18630}, pmid = {36739554}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 865225/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Endophytes ; Ecosystem ; Carbon ; Phosphorus ; *Magnoliopsida ; Nitrogen ; Fungi ; Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most plants form mycorrhizal associations with mutualistic soil fungi. Through these partnerships, resources are exchanged including photosynthetically fixed carbon for fungal-acquired nutrients. Recently, it was shown that the diversity of associated fungi is greater than previously assumed, extending to Mucoromycotina fungi. These Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophytes' (MFRE) are widespread and generally co-colonise plant roots together with Glomeromycotina 'coarse' arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Until now, this co-occurrence has hindered the determination of the direct function of MFRE symbiosis. To overcome this major barrier, we developed new techniques for fungal isolation and culture and established the first monoxenic in vitro cultures of MFRE colonising a flowering plant, clover. Using radio- and stable-isotope tracers in these in vitro systems, we measured the transfer of [33] P, [15] N and [14] C between MFRE hyphae and the host plant. Our results provide the first unequivocal evidence that MFRE fungi are nutritional mutualists with a flowering plant by showing that clover gained both [15] N and [33] P tracers directly from fungus in exchange for plant-fixed C in the absence of other micro-organisms. Our findings and methods pave the way for a new era in mycorrhizal research, firmly establishing MFRE as both mycorrhizal and functionally important in terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36739313, year = {2023}, author = {Kruasuwan, W and Lohmaneeratana, K and Munnoch, JT and Vongsangnak, W and Jantrasuriyarat, C and Hoskisson, PA and Thamchaipenet, A}, title = {Transcriptome Landscapes of Salt-Susceptible Rice Cultivar IR29 Associated with a Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Streptomyces.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {36739313}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting endophytic (PGPE) actinomycetes have been known to enhance plant growth and mitigate plant from abiotic stresses via their PGP-traits. In this study, PGPE Streptomyces sp. GKU 895 promoted growth and alleviated salt tolerance of salt-susceptible rice cultivar IR29 by augmentation of plant weight and declined ROS after irrigation with 150 mM NaCl in a pot experiment. Transcriptome analysis of IR29 exposed to the combination of strain GKU 895 and salinity demonstrated up and downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) classified by gene ontology and plant reactome. Streptomyces sp. GKU 895 induced changes in expression of rice genes including transcription factors under salt treatment which involved in growth and development, photosynthesis, plant hormones, ROS scavenging, ion transport and homeostasis, and plant-microbe interactions regarding pathogenesis- and symbiosis-related proteins. Taken together, these data demonstrate that PGPE Streptomyces sp. GKU 895 colonized and enhanced growth of rice IR29 and triggered salt tolerance phenotype. Our findings suggest that utilisation of beneficial endophytes in the saline fields could allow for the use of such marginal soils for growing rice and possibly other crops.}, } @article {pmid36738602, year = {2023}, author = {Elsaeed, E and Enany, S and Solyman, S and Shohayeb, M and Hanora, A}, title = {Mining Chromodoris quadricolor symbionts for biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {101017}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2023.101017}, pmid = {36738602}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Animals ; *Proteomics ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Products ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; }, abstract = {Many secondary metabolites with medicinal potential are produced by various animals, plants, and microorganisms. Because marine creatures have a greater proportion of unexplored biodiversity than their terrestrial counterparts, they have emerged as a key research focus for the discovery of natural product drugs. Several studies have revealed that bacteria isolated from Chromodoris quadricolor (C. quadricolor) have antibiotic and anticancer properties. In this study, meta-transcriptomics and meta-proteimic analysis were combined to identify biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in the symbiotic bacteria of the C. quadricolor mantle. Symbiotic bacteria were separated from the host by differential pelleting, and then total RNA was extracted, purified, and sequenced. Meta-transcriptomic analysis was done using different natural product mining tools to identify biosynthetic transcript clusters (BTCs). Furthermore, proteins were extracted from the same cells and then analyzed by LC-MS. A meta-proteomic analysis was performed to find proteins that are translated from BCGs. Finally, only 227 proteins have been translated from 40,742 BTCs. The majority of these clusters were polyketide synthases (PKSs) with antibacterial activity. Ten novel potential metabolic clusters with the ability to produce antibiotics have been identified in Novosphingobium and Microbacteriaceae, including members of the ribosomal synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), polyketide synthases, and others. We realized that using a meta-proteomic approach to identify BGCs that have already been translated makes it easier to concentrate on BGCs that are utilized by bacteria. The symbiotic bacteria associated with C. quadricolor could be a source of novel antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid36737831, year = {2023}, author = {Nocelli, N and Cossovich, S and Primo, E and Sorroche, F and Nievas, F and Giordano, W and Bogino, P}, title = {Coaggregative interactions between rhizobacteria are promoted by exopolysaccharides from Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202200552}, pmid = {36737831}, issn = {1521-4028}, abstract = {Bacterial surface components and extracellular compounds such as exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are crucial for interactions between cells, tolerance to different types of stress, and host colonization. Sinorhizobium meliloti produces two EPSs: Succinoglycan (EPS I), which is involved in the establishment of symbiosis with Medicago sativa, and galactoglucan (EPS II), associated with biofilm formation and the promotion of aggregation. Here, we aimed to assess their role in aggregative interactions between cells of the same strain of a given species (auto-aggregation), and between genetically different strains of the same or different species (intra- or intergeneric coaggregation). To do this, we used S. meliloti mutants which are defective in the production of EPS I, EPS II, or both. Macroscopic and microscopic coaggregation tests were performed with combinations or pairs of different bacterial strains. The EPS II-producing strains were more capable of coaggregation than those that cannot produce EPS II. This was true both for coaggregations between different S. meliloti strains, and between S. meliloti and other common rhizobacteria of agricultural relevance, such as Pseudomonas fluorescens and Azospirillum brasilense. The exogenous addition of EPS II strongly promoted coaggregation, thus confirming the polymer's importance for this phenotype. EPS II may therefore be a key factor in events of physiological significance for environmental survival, such as aggregative interactions and biofilm development. Furthermore, it might be a connecting molecule with relevant properties at an ecological, biotechnological, and agricultural level.}, } @article {pmid36737826, year = {2023}, author = {Forgie, AJ and Pepin, DM and Ju, T and Tollenaar, S and Sergi, CM and Gruenheid, S and Willing, BP}, title = {Over supplementation with vitamin B12 alters microbe-host interactions in the gut leading to accelerated Citrobacter rodentium colonization and pathogenesis in mice.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {21}, pmid = {36737826}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; *Vitamin B 12/pharmacology ; *Citrobacter rodentium ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Colon ; Dietary Supplements ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12 supplements typically contain doses that far exceed the recommended daily amount, and high exposures are generally considered safe. Competitive and syntrophic interactions for B12 exist between microbes in the gut. Yet, to what extent excessive levels contribute to the activities of the gut microbiota remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of B12 on microbial ecology using a B12 supplemented mouse model with Citrobacter rodentium, a mouse-specific pathogen. Mice were fed a standard chow diet and received either water or water supplemented with B12 (cyanocobalamin: ~120 μg/day), which equates to approximately 25 mg in humans. Infection severity was determined by body weight, pathogen load, and histopathologic scoring. Host biomarkers of inflammation were assessed in the colon before and after the pathogen challenge.

RESULTS: Cyanocobalamin supplementation enhanced pathogen colonization at day 1 (P < 0.05) and day 3 (P < 0.01) postinfection. The impact of B12 on gut microbial communities, although minor, was distinct and attributed to the changes in the Lachnospiraceae populations and reduced alpha diversity. Cyanocobalamin treatment disrupted the activity of the low-abundance community members of the gut microbiota. It enhanced the amount of interleukin-12 p40 subunit protein (IL12/23p40; P < 0.001) and interleukin-17a (IL-17A; P < 0.05) in the colon of naïve mice. This immune phenotype was microbe dependent, and the response varied based on the baseline microbiota. The cecal metatranscriptome revealed that excessive cyanocobalamin decreased the expression of glucose utilizing genes by C. rodentium, a metabolic attribute previously associated with pathogen virulence.

CONCLUSIONS: Oral vitamin B12 supplementation promoted C. rodentium colonization in mice by altering the activities of the Lachnospiraceae populations in the gut. A lower abundance of select Lachnospiraceae species correlated to higher p40 subunit levels, while the detection of Parasutterella exacerbated inflammatory markers in the colon of naïve mice. The B12-induced change in gut ecology enhanced the ability of C. rodentium colonization by impacting key microbe-host interactions that help with pathogen exclusion. This research provides insight into how B12 impacts the gut microbiota and highlights potential consequences of disrupting microbial B12 competition/sharing through over-supplementation. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36736568, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, B and Wu, L and Guo, Y and Lens, PNL and Shi, W}, title = {Rapid establishment of algal-bacterial granular sludge system by applying mycelial pellets in a lab-scale photo-reactor under low aeration conditions: Performance and mechanism analysis.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {322}, number = {}, pages = {121183}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121183}, pmid = {36736568}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Sewage/microbiology ; *Bioreactors/microbiology ; Wastewater ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {Light-driven algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) is an innovative low-carbon technology with significant merits in treating municipal wastewater, but how to shorten the photogranulation process, especially under low aeration conditions, is largely unknown. Herein, two strategies were proposed to accelerate the start-up of the ABGS system in photo-sequencing batch reactors (PSBRs) with a low superficial gas velocity of 0.5 cm/s. Compared to directly dosing mycelial pellets (MPs), applying MPs to flocculate algae and using the formed algal-mycelial pellets (AMPs) as carriers enhanced the establishment of the algal-bacterial symbiosis. The ABGS system developed rapidly within 20 days, with a large particle diameter (mean diameter of 321 μm) and excellent settleability (SVI30 of 55.4 mL/g). More importantly, this system could be stably operated for at least 100 days, mainly attributed to the reinforced secretion of protein with unique secondary structure and elevated hydrophobic functional groups. As for the reactor performance, the average removal efficiencies of the ABGS system were 97.8% for organic matter, 80.0% for total nitrogen, and 84.4% for phosphorus. The enrichment of functional bacteria and algae, and the up-regulation of functional genes and enzymes involved in electron production and transport processes likely drove the transformation of the pollutants, underlining the inherent mechanism for the excellent nutrient removal performance. This study provides a promising approach to solve the problem of a long ABGS start-up period and unstable granular structure under low aeration conditions, which is significant for achieving effective wastewater treatment without energy intensive aeration.}, } @article {pmid36735729, year = {2023}, author = {Li, X and Liu, M and Cai, M and Chiasson, D and Groth, M and Heckmann, AB and Wang, TL and Parniske, M and Downie, JA and Xie, F}, title = {RPG interacts with E3-ligase CERBERUS to mediate rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {e1010621}, pmid = {36735729}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/genetics ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between rhizobia and legumes result in the formation of root nodules, which fix nitrogen that can be used for plant growth. Rhizobia usually invade legume roots through a plant-made tunnel-like structure called an infection thread (IT). RPG (Rhizobium-directed polar growth) encodes a coiled-coil protein that has been identified in Medicago truncatula as required for root nodule infection, but the function of RPG remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified and characterized RPG in Lotus japonicus and determined that it is required for IT formation. RPG was induced by Mesorhizobium loti or purified Nodulation factor and displayed an infection-specific expression pattern. Nodule inception (NIN) bound to the RPG promoter and induced its expression. We showed that RPG displayed punctate subcellular localization in L. japonicus root protoplasts and in root hairs infected by M. loti. The N-terminal predicted C2 lipid-binding domain of RPG was not required for this subcellular localization or for function. CERBERUS, a U-box E3 ligase which is also required for rhizobial infection, was found to be localized similarly in puncta. RPG co-localized and directly interacted with CERBERUS in the early endosome (TGN/EE) compartment and near the nuclei in root hairs after rhizobial inoculation. Our study sheds light on an RPG-CERBERUS protein complex that is involved in an exocytotic pathway mediating IT elongation.}, } @article {pmid36734377, year = {2023}, author = {Berasategui, A and Salem, H}, title = {Synergy in symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36734377}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Bees ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Nectar ; Pollen ; }, abstract = {Honeybees rely on their microbial gut symbionts to overcome a potent toxin found in pollen and nectar.}, } @article {pmid36733772, year = {2022}, author = {Zheng, H and Zhang, P and Qin, J and Guo, J and Deng, J}, title = {High-throughput sequencing-based analysis of the composition and diversity of endophytic bacteria community in tubers of Gastrodia elata f.glauca.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1092552}, pmid = {36733772}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Gastrodia elata f.glauca (G. elata) is a commonly used Chinese Medicinal Materials with great medicinal value. The medicinal plant and its endophytic bacteria are a symbiotic whole, and the endophytic bacteria are rich in species, and their metabolites are a treasure trove of natural compounds. However, there is a relative lack of analysis on the diversity, flora composition and network interactions of the endophytic bacteria of G. elata. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology based on the Illumina Miseq platform was used to reveal the core microbiota by examining the diversity and community structures of tuber endophytic bacteria in G. elata grown under different regions and exploring the effect of region on its endophytic bacteria. Here, 1,265 endophytic ASVs were found to coexist with G. elata tuber in Guizhou and Hubei. At the phylum level, the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acdobacteriota. At the family level, the dominant family were Comamonadaceae, Nocardicaece, Xanthobacteraceae, and Burkholderiaceae. At the genus level, Delftia and Rhodococcus were represented the core microbiota in G. elata tuber, which served as the dominant genera that coexisted in all samples tested. Moreover, we found that the beta diversity of endophytic bacteria in G. elata tuber was higher level in the Guizhou region than Hubei region. Overall, this study results to provide a reference for screening active strains and interaction between plants and endophytic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36733592, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, M and Kameoka, H and Oda, A and Maeda, T and Goto, T and Yano, K and Soyano, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {The effects of ERN1 on gene expression during early rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {995589}, pmid = {36733592}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes develop root nodules in association with compatible rhizobia to overcome nitrogen deficiency. Rhizobia enter the host legume, mainly through infection threads, and induce nodule primordium formation in the root cortex. Multiple transcription factors have been identified to be involved in the regulation of the establishment of root nodule symbiosis, including ERF Required for Nodulation1 (ERN1). ERN1 is involved in a transcription network with CYCLOPS and NODULE INCEPTION (NIN). Mutation of ERN1 often results in misshapen root hair tips, deficient infection thread formation, and immature root nodules. ERN1 directly activates the expression of ENOD11 in Medicago truncatula to assist cell wall remodeling and Epr3 in Lotus japonicus to distinguish rhizobial exopolysaccharide signals. However, aside from these two genes, it remains unclear which genes are regulated by LjERN1 or what role LjERN1 plays during root nodule symbiosis. Thus, we conducted RNA sequencing to compare the gene expression profiles of wild-type L. japonicus and Ljern1-6 mutants. In total, 234 differentially expressed genes were identified as candidate LjERN1 target genes. These genes were found to be associated with cell wall remodeling, signal transduction, phytohormone metabolism, and transcription regulation, suggesting that LjERN1 is involved in multiple processes during the early stages of the establishment of root nodule symbiosis. Many of these candidate genes including RINRK1 showed decreased expression levels in Ljnin-2 mutants based on a search of a public database, suggesting that LjERN1 and LjNIN coordinately regulate gene expression. Our data extend the current understanding of the pleiotropic role of LjERN1 in root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36733588, year = {2022}, author = {Han, S and Wang, X and Cheng, Y and Wu, G and Dong, X and He, X and Zhao, G}, title = {Multidimensional analysis reveals environmental factors that affect community dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in poplar roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1068527}, pmid = {36733588}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Poplar is a tree species with important production and application value. The symbiotic relationship between poplar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has a key role in ecosystem functioning. However, there remain questions concerning the seasonal dynamics of the AMF community in poplar roots, the relationship between AMF and the soil environment, and its ecological function.

METHOD: Poplar roots and rhizosphere soil were sampled at the end of April and the end of October. The responses of AMF communities to season, host age, and host species were investigated; the soil environmental factors driving community changes were analyzed.

RESULTS: The diversity and species composition of the AMF community were higher in autumn than in spring. Season, host age, host species, and soil environmental factors affected the formation of the symbiotic mycorrhizal system and the AMF community. Differences in the communities could be explained by soil pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available potassium, and glomalin content.

DISCUSSION: The AMF community was sensitive to changes in soil physicochemical properties caused by seasonal dynamics, particularly total potassium. The change in the mycorrhizal symbiotic system was closely related to the growth and development of poplar trees.}, } @article {pmid36727668, year = {2023}, author = {Bartl, A and Ipsmiller, W}, title = {Fast fashion and the Circular Economy: Symbiosis or antibiosis?.}, journal = {Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {497-498}, doi = {10.1177/0734242X221149639}, pmid = {36727668}, issn = {1096-3669}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Antibiosis ; }, } @article {pmid36727281, year = {2023}, author = {Quach, QN and Clay, K and Lee, ST and Gardner, DR and Cook, D}, title = {Phylogenetic patterns of bioactive secondary metabolites produced by fungal endosymbionts in morning glories (Ipomoeeae, Convolvulaceae).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {238}, number = {4}, pages = {1351-1361}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18785}, pmid = {36727281}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; *Convolvulaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Swainsonine/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Ipomoea/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Ergot Alkaloids/metabolism ; *Alkaloids/metabolism ; Diterpene Alkaloids ; }, abstract = {Heritable fungal endosymbiosis is underinvestigated in plant biology and documented in only three plant families (Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae). An estimated 40% of morning glory species in the tribe Ipomoeeae (Convolvulaceae) have associations with one of two distinct heritable, endosymbiotic fungi (Periglandula and Chaetothyriales) that produce the bioactive metabolites ergot alkaloids, indole diterpene alkaloids, and swainsonine, which have been of interest for their toxic effects on animals and potential medical applications. Here, we report the occurrence of ergot alkaloids, indole diterpene alkaloids, and swainsonine in the Convolvulaceae; and the fungi that produce them based on synthesis of previous studies and new indole diterpene alkaloid data from 27 additional species in a phylogenetic, geographic, and life-history context. We find that individual morning glory species host no more than one metabolite-producing fungal endosymbiont (with one possible exception), possibly due to costs to the host and overlapping functions of the alkaloids. The symbiotic morning glory lineages occur in distinct phylogenetic clades, and host species have significantly larger seed size than nonsymbiotic species. The distinct and widely distributed endosymbiotic relationships in the morning glory family and their alkaloids provide an accessible study system for understanding heritable plant-fungal symbiosis evolution and their potential functions for host plants.}, } @article {pmid36726985, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, M and Zhang, L and Chang, W and Zhang, Y}, title = {The crosstalk between the gut microbiota and tumor immunity: Implications for cancer progression and treatment outcomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1096551}, pmid = {36726985}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Immune System ; *Neoplasms/immunology ; Treatment Outcome ; *Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of commensal microorganisms that constitute the gut microbiota. As a main metabolic organ, the gut microbiota has co-evolved in a symbiotic relationship with its host, contributing to physiological homeostasis. Recent advances have provided mechanistic insights into the dual role of the gut microbiota in cancer pathogenesis. Particularly, compelling evidence indicates that the gut microbiota exerts regulatory effects on the host immune system to fight against cancer development. Some microbiota-derived metabolites have been suggested as potential activators of antitumor immunity. On the contrary, the disequilibrium of intestinal microbial communities, a condition termed dysbiosis, can induce cancer development. The altered gut microbiota reprograms the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), thus allowing cancer cells to avoid immunosurvelliance. Furthermore, the gut microbiota has been associated with the effects and complications of cancer therapy given its prominent immunoregulatory properties. Therapeutic measures that aim to manipulate the interplay between the gut microbiota and tumor immunity may bring new breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Herein, we provide a comprehensive update on the evidence for the implication of the gut microbiota in immune-oncology and discuss the fundamental mechanisms underlying the influence of intestinal microbial communities on systemic cancer therapy, in order to provide important clues toward improving treatment outcomes in cancer patients.}, } @article {pmid36726674, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, W and Ye, T and Sun, Q and Niu, T and Zhang, J}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus alleviates anthracnose disease in tea seedlings.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1058092}, pmid = {36726674}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Tea has been gaining increasing popularity all over the world in recent years, and its yield and quality depend on the growth and development of tea plants [Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze] in various environments. Nowadays, biotic stress and extreme weather, such as high temperature, drought, waterlogging, pests, and diseases, bring about much pressure on the production of tea with high quality. Wherein anthracnose, which is the most common and serious disease of tea plants, has earned more and more attention, as its control mainly relies on chemical pesticides. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), forming symbiosis with most terrestrial plants, participate in plant resistance against the anthracnose disease, which was found by previous studies in a few herbaceous plants. However, there are a few studies about arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal regulation of the resistance to the anthracnose pathogen in woody plants so far. In this paper, we investigated the effect of AMF on the development of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum camelliae and tried to decipher the pertinent mechanism through transcriptome analysis. Results showed that inoculating AMF significantly reduced the damage of anthracnose on tea seedlings by reducing the lesion area by 35.29% compared to that of the control. The content of superoxide anion and activities of catalase and peroxidase significantly increased (P < 0.05) in mycorrhizal treatment in response to the pathogen with 1.23, 2.00, and 1.39 times higher, respectively, than those in the control. Pathways of plant hormone signal transduction, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis might play roles in this regulation according to the transcriptomic results. Further redundancy analysis (RDA) and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis found that plant hormones, such as auxin and ethylene, and the antioxidant system (especially peroxidase) were of great importance in the AM fungal alleviation of anthracnose. Our results preliminarily indicated the mechanisms of enhanced resistance in mycorrhizal tea seedlings to the anthracnose pathogen and provided a theoretical foundation for the application of AMF as one of the biological control methods in tea plantations.}, } @article {pmid36726570, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Feng, S and Zhu, L and Li, M and Xiang, X}, title = {Population dynamics of Brachionus calyciflorus driven by the associated natural bacterioplankton.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1076620}, pmid = {36726570}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Zooplankton provides bacteria with a complex microhabitat richen in organic and inorganic nutrients, and the bacteria community also changes the physiochemical conditions for zooplankton, where the symbiotic relationship between them plays an important role in the nutrient cycle. However, there are few studies on the effect of associated bacteria on the population dynamics of rotifers. In order to make clear their relationships, we reconstructed the associated bacterial community in Brachionus calyciflorus culture, and examined the life history and population growth parameters, and analyzed the diversity and community composition of the associated bacteria at different growth stages of B. calyciflorus. The results showed that the addition of bacteria from natural water can promote the population growth and asexual reproduction of B. calyciflorus, but has no significant effect on sexual reproduction, exhibited by the improvement of its life expectancy at hatching, net reproduction rates and intrinsic growth rate, no significant effects on the generation time and mixis ratio of offspring. It was found that the B. calyciflorus-associated bacterial community was mainly composed of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. Through correlation network analysis, the members of Burkholderiales, Pseudomonadales, Micrococcales, Caulobacterales and Bifidobacteriales were the keystone taxa of B. calyciflorus-associated bacteria. In addition, the relative abundance of some specific bacteria strains increased as the population density of B. calyciflorus increased, such as Hydrogenophaga, Acidovorax, Flavobacterium, Rheinheimera, Novosphingobium and Limnobacter, and their relative abundance increased obviously during the slow and exponential phases of population growth. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of adverse taxa (such as Elizabethkingia and Rickettsiales) decreased significantly with the increase in rotifer population density. In conclusion, the closely associated bacteria are not sufficient for the best growth of B. calyciflorus, and external bacterioplankton is necessary. Furthermore, the function of keystone and rare taxa is necessary for further exploration. The investigation of the symbiotic relationship between zooplankton-associated bacterial and bacterioplankton communities will contribute to monitoring their roles in freshwater ecosystems, and regulate the population dynamics of the micro-food web.}, } @article {pmid36726189, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, Z and Zhang, Q and Yang, J and Zhang, J and Fu, J and Dang, C and Liu, M and Wang, S and Lin, Y and Hao, J and Weng, M and Xie, D and Li, A}, title = {Correction: Significant alterations of intestinal symbiotic microbiota induced by intraperitoneal vaccination mediate changes in intestinal metabolism of NEW Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (NEW GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus).}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {20}, pmid = {36726189}, issn = {2049-2618}, } @article {pmid36725821, year = {2023}, author = {Vitiello, A and Ferrara, F and Zovi, A}, title = {The direct correlation between microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease.}, journal = {Inflammopharmacology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, pmid = {36725821}, issn = {1568-5608}, abstract = {The human microbiota is the good part of the human organism and is a collection of symbiotic microorganisms which aid in human physiological functions. Diseases that can be generated by an altered microbiota are continuously being studied, but it is quite evident how a damaged microbiota is involved in chronic inflammatory diseases, psychiatric diseases, and some bacterial or viral infections. However, the role of the microbiota in the host immune response to bacterial and viral infections is still not entirely understood. Metabolites or components which are produced by the microbiota are useful in mediating microbiota-host interactions, thus influencing the host's immune capacity. Recent evidence shows that the microbiota is evidently altered in patients with viral infections such as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). In this review, the associations between microbiota and COVID-19 infection are highlighted in terms of biological and clinical significance by emphasizing the mechanisms through which metabolites produced by the microbiota modulate immune responses to COVID-19 infection.}, } @article {pmid36725749, year = {2023}, author = {Sullivan, TJ and Roberts, H and Bultman, TL}, title = {Genetic Covariation Between the Vertically Transmitted Endophyte Epichloë canadensis and Its Host Canada Wildrye.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36725749}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Symbiotic mutualisms are thought to be stabilized by correlations between the interacting genotypes which may be strengthened via vertical transmission and/or reduced genetic variability within each species. Vertical transmission, however, may weaken interactions over time as the endosymbionts would acquire mutations that could not be purged. Additionally, temporal variation in a conditional mutualism could create genetic variation and increased variation in the interaction outcome. In this study, we assessed genetic variation in both members of a symbiosis, the endosymbiotic fungal endophyte Epichloë canadensis and its grass host Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis). Both species exhibited comparable levels of diversity, mostly within populations rather than between. There were significant differences between populations, although not in the same pattern for the two species, and the differences were not correlated with geographic distance for either species. Interindividual genetic distance matrices for the two species were significantly correlated, although all combinations of discriminant analysis of principle components (DAPC) defined multilocus genotype groups were found suggesting that strict genotype matching is not necessary. Variation in interaction outcome is common in grass/endophyte interactions, and our results suggest that the accumulation of mutations overtime combined with temporal variation in selection pressures increasing genetic variation in the symbiosis may be the cause.}, } @article {pmid36722409, year = {2023}, author = {Weng, BB and Yuan, HD and Chen, LG and Chu, C and Hsieh, CW}, title = {Soy yoghurts produced with efficient GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ameliorate hyperglycaemia and re-establish gut microbiota in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {1699-1709}, doi = {10.1039/d2fo02708a}, pmid = {36722409}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Streptozocin ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Yogurt ; *Hyperglycemia/therapy ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/therapy ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Mice, Obese ; *Isoflavones ; *Insulins ; *Probiotics ; Fermentation ; }, abstract = {Soy yogurt has been gaining popularity as a vegan food produced simply by soymilk fermentation with proper microbial manipulation. It is well known that soy containing rich isoflavones is beneficial for ameliorating hyperglycaemic disorders. Soy fermentation can improve the bioavailability of these precious nutrients. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is one of the most abundant and frequently isolated species in soymilk manufacturing. Soy yogurts produced with efficient GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-producing L. plantarum and the deglycosylating activity of L. plantarum were functionally assessed in a STZ-induced hyperglycaemic mouse model. Hyperglycaemic mice were assigned into groups and treated with daily gavage of either dH2O, soymilk, soy yoghurts produced with high GABA-producing L. plantarum GA30 (LPGA30), low GABA-producing L. plantarum PV30 (LPPV30) or the soy yoghurts fortified with additional 30 mg g[-1] GABA counterparts (GA + GABA and PV + GABA groups). Except the dH2O group, all soy yoghurt groups retained body weight with improved glucose homeostasis, glucose tolerance test results and renal tissue integrity, while the soymilk group shows partial benefits. Plasma GABA concentrations in the daily soy yoghurt-supplemented groups (LPGA30 and LPPV30) plateaued at 5 times higher than the average 0.5 μM in dH2O and soymilk groups, and their GABA-fortified soy yoghurt counterparts (GA + GABA and PV + GABA) groups were accountable for the restored plasma insulin levels. Gut microbiome analysis revealed dysbiosis in STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice of the dH2O group with breached out facultative anaerobic Proteobacteria over the normal phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Restored gut microbiota with transitionally populated Actinobacteria was demonstrated in the LPGA30 group but not in the LPPV30 group. Soy yoghurts produced with efficient GABA-producing L. plantarum GA30 showed exceptional benefits in modulating gut microbiota with dominant genera of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and the presence of some minor beneficial microbial communities including Akkermansia muciniphila, Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum, Corynebacterium spp. and Adlercreutzia spp. Efficient GABA-producing L. plantarum GA30 fermented soymilk to produce soy yoghurts that exhibit profound synergistic protections over rich soy isoflavones to restore pancreatic β-cell functions for insulin production in STZ-induced hyperglycaemic mice. Additionally, the probiotic role of GABA-producing L. plantarum in re-establishing healthy gut microbiota in hyperglycaemic mice implies a possible symbiotic relationship, awaiting further exploration.}, } @article {pmid36722175, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, T and Gasciolli, V and Gaston, M and Medioni, L and Cumener, M and Buendia, L and Yang, B and Bono, JJ and He, G and Lefebvre, B}, title = {LysM receptor-like kinases involved in immunity perceive lipo-chitooligosaccharides in mycotrophic plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiad059}, pmid = {36722175}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) produce both conserved microbial molecules that activate plant defense and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) that modulate plant defense. Beside a well-established role of LCOs in activation of a signaling pathway required for AMF penetration in roots, LCO perception and defense modulation during arbuscular mycorrhiza is not well understood. Here we show that members of the LYRIIIA phylogenetic group from the multigenic Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinase family have a conserved role in dicotyledons as modulators of plant defense and regulate AMF colonization in the Solanaceae species Nicotiana benthamiana. Interestingly, these proteins have high-affinity for LCOs in plant species able to form a symbiosis with AMF but have lost this property in species that have lost this ability. Our data support the hypothesis that LYRIIIA proteins modulate plant defense upon LCO perception to facilitate AMF colonization in mycotrophic plant species and that only their role in plant defense, but not their ability to be regulated by LCOs, has been conserved in non-mycotrophic plants.}, } @article {pmid36722159, year = {2023}, author = {Molla, F and Kundu, A and DasGupta, M}, title = {Sucrose-induced auxin conjugate hydrolase restores symbiosis in a Medicago cytokinin perception mutant.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {191}, number = {4}, pages = {2447-2460}, pmid = {36722159}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Cytokinins/pharmacology/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Sucrose/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Perception ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia-legume interactions recruit cytokinin for the induction of nodule primordia in the cortex. Cytokinin signaling regulates auxin transport and biosynthesis, causing local auxin accumulation, which triggers cortical cell division. Since sugar signaling can trigger auxin responses, we explored whether sugar treatments could rescue symbiosis in the Medicago truncatula cytokinin response 1 (cre1) mutant. Herein, we demonstrate that sucrose and its nonmetabolizable isomer turanose can trigger auxin response and recover functional symbiosis in cre1, indicating sucrose signaling to be necessary for the restoration of symbiosis. In both M. truncatula A17 (wild type) and cre1, sucrose signaling significantly upregulated IAA-Ala Resistant 3 (IAR33), encoding an auxin conjugate hydrolase, in rhizobia-infected as well as in uninfected roots. Knockdown of IAR33 (IAR33-KD) significantly reduced nodulation in A17, highlighting the importance of deconjugation-mediated auxin accumulation during nodule inception. In cre1, IAR33-KD restricted the sucrose-mediated restoration of functional symbiosis, suggesting that deconjugation-mediated auxin accumulation plays a key role in the absence of CRE1-mediated auxin biosynthesis and transport control. Overexpression of IAR33 also restored functional symbiosis in cre1, further suggesting that IAR33 mediates auxin accumulation in response to sucrose signaling. Since all the observed sucrose-mediated responses were common to A17 and cre1, deconjugation-mediated auxin response appeared to be independent of CRE1, which normally governs local auxin accumulation in the presence of rhizobia. We propose that sucrose-dependent restoration of symbiosis in cre1 occurs by the activation of IAR33-mediated auxin deconjugation.}, } @article {pmid36721785, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, JE and Eom, AH}, title = {Diversity and community structure of ectomycorrhizal mycorrhizal fungi in roots and rhizosphere soil of Abies koreana and Taxus cuspidata in Mt. Halla.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {50}, number = {6}, pages = {448-456}, pmid = {36721785}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {In this study, the roots and rhizosphere soil of Abies koreana and Taxus cuspidata were collected from sites at two different altitudes on Mt. Halla. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) were identified by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The proportion of EMF from the roots was 89% in A. koreana and 69% in T. cuspidata. Among EMF in rhizosphere soils, the genus Russula was the most abundant in roots of A. koreana (p < 0.05). The altitude did not affect the biodiversity of EMF communities but influenced fungal community composition. However, the host plants had the most significant effect on EMF communities. The result of the EMF community analysis showed that even if the EMF were isolated from the same altitudes, the EMF communities differed according to the host plant. The community similarity index of EMF in the roots of A. koreana was higher than that of T. cuspidata (p < 0.05). The results show that both altitude and host plants influenced the structure of EMF communities. Conifers inhabiting harsh sub-alpine environments rely strongly on symbiotic relationships with EMF. A. koreana is an endangered species with a higher host specificity of EMF and climate change vulnerability than T. cuspidata. This study provides insights into the EMF communities, which are symbionts of A. koreana, and our critical findings may be used to restore A. koreana.}, } @article {pmid36719456, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, Z and Zheng, X and Chen, J}, title = {Deciphering pH-dependent microbial taxa and functional gene co-occurrence in the coral Galaxea fascicularis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-023-02183-0}, pmid = {36719456}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {How the coral microbiome responds to oceanic pH changes due to anthropogenic climate change, including ocean acidification and deliberate artificial alkalization, remains an open question. Here, we applied a 16S profile and GeoChip approach to microbial taxonomic and gene functional landscapes in the coral Galaxea fascicularis under three pH levels (7.85, 8.15, and 8.45) and tested the influence of pH changes on the cell growth of several coral-associated strains and bacterial populations. Statistical analysis of GeoChip-based data suggested that both ocean acidification and alkalization destabilized functional cores related to aromatic degradation, carbon degradation, carbon fixation, stress response, and antibiotic biosynthesis in the microbiome, which are related to holobiont carbon cycling and health. The taxonomic analysis revealed that bacterial species richness was not significantly different among the three pH treatments, but the community compositions were significantly distinct. Acute seawater alkalization leads to an increase in pathogens as well as a stronger taxonomic shift than acidification, which is worth considering when using artificial ocean alkalization to protect coral ecosystems from ocean acidification. In addition, our co-occurrence network analysis reflected microbial community and functional shifts in response to pH change cues, which will further help to understand the functional ecological role of the microbiome in coral resilience.}, } @article {pmid36719273, year = {2023}, author = {Lobo-da-Cunha, A and Alves, Â and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Gill histology and ultrastructure in Aplysia depilans (Mollusca, Euopisthobranchia).}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {284}, number = {3}, pages = {e21562}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.21562}, pmid = {36719273}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aplysia/ultrastructure ; Gills/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mollusca ; *Gastropoda ; Epithelium/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {The gill of Aplysia depilans consists of several wedge-shaped pinnules with a highly folded structure, differing from the typical ctenidial gills of mollusks. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate this organ in juveniles and adults. In this species, the gill epithelium comprised ciliated, unciliated, and secretory cells. The ultrastructural analysis suggests other functions for the gill besides respiration. The deep cell membrane invaginations associated with mitochondria in the basal region of epithelium point to a role in ion regulation. Endocytosis and intracellular digestion were other activities detected in epithelial cells. In juveniles, an intranuclear crystalline structure was seen in some ciliated cells. The presence of an intranuclear crystalline structure was frequently associated with chromatin decondensation, swelling of the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, and abundance of Golgi stacks. As these intranuclear inclusions were not found in the gill of the adult specimens, their occurrence in the two juveniles seems likely to be an anomalous condition whose cause cannot be established at the moment. Mucous cells were the most abundant secretory cells in the epithelium, but a few epithelial serous cells were also found. In addition, large protein-secreting subepithelial cells had the main cell body inserted in the connective tissue and a long thin neck crossing the epithelium. Mucous cells can be considered responsible for the production of the mucus layer that protects the epithelium, but the specific functions of the epithelial and subepithelial protein-secreting cells remain elusive. Below the epithelium, a layer of connective tissue with muscle cells lined the narrow hemolymph space. The connective tissue included cells with a large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Bacteria were found on the surface of the gill, and the most abundant had a thin stalk for attachment to the epithelial cells.}, } @article {pmid36718526, year = {2023}, author = {Matsuda, H and Yamazaki, Y and Moriyoshi, E and Nakayasu, M and Yamazaki, S and Aoki, Y and Takase, H and Okazaki, S and Nagano, AJ and Kaga, A and Yazaki, K and Sugiyama, A}, title = {Apoplast-localized β-Glucosidase Elevates Isoflavone Accumulation in the Soybean Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad012}, pmid = {36718526}, issn = {1471-9053}, abstract = {Plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) are often stored as glycosides within cells and released from the roots with some chemical modifications. While isoflavones are known to function as symbiotic signals with rhizobia and to modulate the soybean rhizosphere microbiome, the underlying mechanisms of root-to-soil delivery are poorly understood. In addition to transporter-mediated secretion, the hydrolysis of isoflavone glycosides in the apoplast by an isoflavone conjugate-hydrolyzing β-glucosidase (ICHG) has been proposed but not yet verified. To clarify the role of ICHG in isoflavone supply to the rhizosphere, we have isolated two independent mutants defective in ICHG activity from a soybean high-density mutant library. In the root apoplastic fraction of ichg mutants, the isoflavone glycosides contents were significantly increased while isoflavone aglycone contents were decreased, indicating that ICHG hydrolyzes isoflavone glycosides into aglycones in the root apoplast. When grown in a field, the lack of ICHG activity considerably reduced isoflavone aglycone contents in roots and the rhizosphere soil, although the transcriptomes showed no distinct differences between the ichg mutants and WTs. Despite the change in isoflavone contents and composition of the root and rhizosphere of the mutants, root and rhizosphere bacterial communities were not distinctive from those of the WTs. Root bacterial communities and nodulation capacities of the ichg mutants did not differ from the WTs under nitrogen-deficient conditions, either. Taken together, these results indicate that ICHG elevates the accumulation of isoflavones in the soybean rhizosphere but is not essential in isoflavone-mediated plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid36717758, year = {2023}, author = {Mohd-Radzman, NA and Drapek, C}, title = {Compartmentalisation: A strategy for optimising symbiosis and tradeoff management.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14553}, pmid = {36717758}, issn = {1365-3040}, abstract = {Plant root architecture is developmentally plastic in response to fluctuating nutrient levels in the soil. Part of this developmental plasticity is the formation of dedicated root cells and organs to host mutualistic symbionts. Structures like nitrogen-fixing nodules serve as alternative nutrient acquisition strategies during starvation conditions. Some root systems can also form myconodules-globular root structures that can host mycorrhizal fungi. The myconodule association is different from the wide-spread arbuscular mycorrhization. This range of symbiotic associations provides different degrees of compartmentalisation, from the cellular to organ scale, which allows the plant host to regulate the entry and extent of symbiotic interactions. In this review, we discuss the degrees of symbiont compartmentalisation by the plant host as a developmental strategy and speculate how spatial confinement mitigates risks associated with root symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36717442, year = {2022}, author = {Zorov, DB and Andrianova, NV and Babenko, VA and Zorova, LD and Zorov, SD and Pevzner, IB and Sukhikh, GT and Silachev, DN}, title = {Isn't It Time for Establishing Mitochondrial Nomenclature Breaking Mitochondrial Paradigm?.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {87}, number = {12}, pages = {1487-1497}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297922120069}, pmid = {36717442}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mitochondria/metabolism ; *Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this work, we decided to initiate a discussion concerning heterogeneity of mitochondria, suggesting that it is time to build classification of mitochondria, like the one that exists for their progenitors, α-proteobacteria, proposing possible separation of mitochondrial strains and maybe species. We continue to adhere to the general line that mitochondria are friends and foes: on the one hand, they provide the cell and organism with the necessary energy and signaling molecules, and, on the other hand, participate in destruction of the cell and the organism. Current understanding that the activity of mitochondria is not only limited to energy production, but also that these alternative non-energetic functions are unique and irreplaceable in the cell, allowed us to speak about the strong subordination of the entire cellular metabolism to characteristic functional manifestations of mitochondria. Mitochondria are capable of producing not only ATP, but also iron-sulfur clusters, steroid hormones, heme, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, participate in thermogenesis, regulate cell death, proliferation and differentiation, participate in detoxification, etc. They are a mandatory attribute of eukaryotic cells, and, so far, no eukaryotic cells performing a non-parasitic or non-symbiotic life style have been found that lack mitochondria. We believe that the structural-functional intracellular, intercellular, inter-organ, and interspecific diversity of mitochondria is large enough to provide grounds for creating a mitochondrial nomenclature. The arguments for this are given in this analytical work.}, } @article {pmid36716543, year = {2023}, author = {Ge, H and Peng, Z and Fang, Y and Liu, X and Li, H}, title = {Revealing the key species for pyrene degradation in Vallisneria natans rhizosphere sediment via triple chamber rhizome-box experiments.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {332}, number = {}, pages = {117340}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117340}, pmid = {36716543}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Rhizome/metabolism ; Pyrenes/metabolism ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; *Microbiota ; *Hydrocharitaceae/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; }, abstract = {To identify key species associated with pyrene degradation in Vallisneria natans (V.natans) rhizosphere sediment, this work investigated the temporal and spatial changes in the rhizosphere microbial community and the relationship between the changes and the pyrene degradation process through a three-compartment rhizome-box experiment under pyrene stress. The degradation kinetics of pyrene showed that the order of degradation rate was rhizosphere > near-rhizosphere > non-rhizosphere. The difference in the pyrene degradation behavior in the sediments corresponded to the change in the proportions of dominant phyla (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) and genera (g_Massilia f_Comamonadaceae, g_Sphingomonas). The symbiosis networks and hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that the more important phyla related to the pyrene degradation in the rhizosphere was Proteobacteria, while g_Sphigomonas, f_Comamonadaceae, and especially g_Massilia were the core genera. Among them, f_Comamonadaceae was the genus most affected by rhizosphere effects. These findings strengthened our understanding of the PAHs-degradation microorganisms in V.natans rhizosphere and are of great significance for enhancing phytoremediation on PAHs-contaminated sediment.}, } @article {pmid36715806, year = {2023}, author = {Shan, H and Guo, Q and Wei, J}, title = {The impact of disclosure of risk information on risk propagation in the industrial symbiosis network.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {16}, pages = {45986-46003}, pmid = {36715806}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Disclosure ; *Symbiosis ; Industry ; Markov Chains ; Computer Simulation ; China ; }, abstract = {The interdependent symbiotic relationship between enterprises may bring potential risks to the stability of the industrial symbiosis network (ISN). In order to reduce the damage caused by further risk propagation to the system, this paper establishes the multiplex network to study the impact of disclosure of risk information on risk propagation. In the multiplex network, we use a small-world network to simulate a social network and propose an evolutionary model with scale-free characteristics to simulate the symbiotic relationships between enterprises. Then we establish a risk propagation model by defining transition rules among various states. Through theoretical analysis using the Microscopic Markov Chain Approach (MMCA), we find that the proportion of disclosed enterprises, the network structure of the ISN, the recovery rate of enterprises, and the degree of symbiotic dependence affect the risk propagation threshold of the ISN. Numerical simulation results show that increasing the disclosure probability of risk information can reduce the scope of risk propagation. Moreover, once the disclosure probability of risk information reaches a certain value, the risk propagation threshold can be increased. Finally, relevant suggestions are put forward: (i) strengthening the information communication between symbiotic enterprises may reduce risks caused by information asymmetry. (ii) In addition to the authenticity and integrity of risk information, it is necessary to prevent risk information from being over-interpreted or exaggerated. (iii) Enterprises should strengthen the ability to recover from risks, appropriately reduce the degree of symbiotic dependence, and enhance risk awareness to reduce the possibility of risk occurrence.}, } @article {pmid36714835, year = {2022}, author = {Niehs, SP and Scherlach, K and Dose, B and Uzum, Z and Stinear, TP and Pidot, SJ and Hertweck, C}, title = {A highly conserved gene locus in endofungal bacteria codes for the biosynthesis of symbiosis-specific cyclopeptides.}, journal = {PNAS nexus}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {pgac152}, pmid = {36714835}, issn = {2752-6542}, abstract = {The tight association of the pathogenic fungus Rhizopus microsporus and its toxin-producing, bacterial endosymbionts (Mycetohabitans spp.) is distributed worldwide and has significance for agriculture, food production, and human health. Intriguingly, the endofungal bacteria are essential for the propagation of the fungal host. Yet, little is known about chemical mediators fostering the symbiosis, and universal metabolites that support the mutualistic relationship have remained elusive. Here, we describe the discovery of a complex of specialized metabolites produced by endofungal bacteria under symbiotic conditions. Through full genome sequencing and comparative genomics of eight endofungal symbiont strains from geographically distant regions, we discovered a conserved gene locus (hab) for a nonribosomal peptide synthetase as a unifying trait. Bioinformatics analyses, targeted gene deletions, and chemical profiling uncovered unprecedented depsipeptides (habitasporins) whose structures were fully elucidated. Computational network analysis and labeling experiments granted insight into the biosynthesis of their nonproteinogenic building blocks (pipecolic acid and β-phenylalanine). Deletion of the hab gene locus was shown to impair the ability of the bacteria to enter their fungal host. Our study unveils a common principle of the endosymbiotic lifestyle of Mycetohabitans species and expands the repertoire of characterized chemical mediators of a globally occurring mutualistic association.}, } @article {pmid36714746, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, H and Lin, R and Liu, Q and Lu, J and Qiao, G and Huang, X}, title = {Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses provide insights into host adaptation of a bamboo-feeding aphid.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1098751}, pmid = {36714746}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Salivary glands and their secreted proteins play an important role in the feeding process of sap-sucking aphids. The determination of saliva composition is an important step in understanding host plant adaptation of aphids. Pseudoregma bambucicola is a severe bamboo pest in subtropical areas and the only aphid species that can exclusively feed on hard stalks of bamboos. How this species can penetrate and degrade hard bamboo cell walls and utilize a very specialized niche are important unanswered questions.

METHODS: In this study, comprehensive analyses based on transcriptome sequencing, RT-qPCR, liquid chromatography-tandem spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and bioinformatics were conducted on dissected salivary glands and secreted saliva of P. bambucicola to characterize the overall gene expression and salivary protein composition, and to identify putative effector proteins important for aphid-plant interactions.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Some secretory proteins homologous to known aphid effectors important for aphid-plant interactions, such as digestive enzymes, detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes and some effectors modulating plant defenses, are also detected in salivary gland transcriptome and salivary gland and/or saliva secretomes in P. bambucicola. This indicates that these effectors are probably be essential for enabling P. bambucicola feeding on bamboo host. Although several plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) can be identified from transcriptome, most of the enzymes identified in salivary glands showed low expression levels and they only represent a small fraction of the complete set of enzymes for degrading cellulose and hemicellulose. In addition, our data show that P. bambucicola has no its own ability to produce pectinases. Overall, our analyses indicate that P. bambucicola may lose its own ability to express and secrete key PCWDEs, and its adaptation to unique feeding habit may depend on its symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36714549, year = {2023}, author = {Chot, E and Suravajhala, P and Medicherla, KM and Reddy, MS}, title = {Characterization and genome-wide sequence analysis of an ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus, a potential source for reclamation of degraded lands.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {58}, pmid = {36714549}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Pisolithus albus is a ubiquitous ectomycorrhizal fungus that establishes symbiosis with a wide range of woody plants around the globe. The symbiotic association of this fungus plays a crucial role in the nutrient cycling of their host plants and enables them to thrive in adverse environmental conditions. Based on its ecological importance and lack of genomic studies, whole-genome sequencing was carried out to analyze P. albus sequences through an Illumina HiSeq X system. The functional annotations were performed against various databases to explore genomic patterns and traits possibly attributing to its specialization. Comparative genomics of P. albus with phylogenetically related Pisolithus microcarpus and Pisolithus tinctorius (only available genomes of Pisolithus at NCBI till now) led to the identification of their unique and shared basic functional and stress adaptation capabilities. The de novo assembled genome of 56.15 Mb with 91.8% BUSCO completeness is predicted to encode 23,035 genes. The study is aimed to generate solid genomic data resources for P. albus, forming the theoretical basis for future transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic studies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03483-5.}, } @article {pmid36714504, year = {2022}, author = {Jaman, S and Islam, MZ and Sojib, MSI and Hasan, MS and Khandakar, MMH and Bari, MS and Sarker, MAH and Habib, R and Siddiki, MSR and Islam, MA and Harun-Ur-Rashid, M}, title = {Physicochemical characteristics, sensory profile, probiotic, and starter culture viability of synbiotic yogurt.}, journal = {Journal of advanced veterinary and animal research}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {694-701}, pmid = {36714504}, issn = {2311-7710}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to envisage the effectiveness of adding three particular prebiotics (inulin, β-glucan, and Hi-maize) to synbiotic yogurt's physicochemical properties, sensory characteristics, and survivability of the probiotic and starter cultures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The yogurt's gross composition, syneresis, water-holding capacity (WHC), viscosity, sensorial properties, and probiotic and starter cell stability were analyzed. The Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus M240-5 and Streptococcus thermophilus M140-2 were employed as yogurt starter bacteria, and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 as probiotic culture. The synbiotic yogurt was formulated with 5% sucrose and 0.7% artificial vanilla flavor.

RESULTS: The findings showed that when prebiotic ingredients were added to synbiotic yogurt, it had a significant impact on its sensory qualities, WHC, syneresis, and viscosity when compared to plain yogurt samples. The prebiotics did not affect the pH and titratable acidity of the yogurt samples. Additionally, the prebiotic supplementation did not influence the protein and fat content of synbiotic yogurt (p < 0.05). Prebiotics had an impact on the probiotic cell viability and total viable count (p < 0.05) compared to the plain sample, the 2.5% β-glucan, 1.5% and 2.5% Hi-maize samples had the highest mean viability (8.95 Log CFU/ml). The starter culture ratio remained stable in response to the prebiotic levels.

CONCLUSION: In summary, the production of synbiotic yogurts supplemented with Hi-maize and β-glucan at 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, is highly advised because these supplementations provide yogurt with acceptable syneresis, viscosity, WHC, and sensory attributes.}, } @article {pmid36714306, year = {2022}, author = {Barman, M and Samanta, S and Ahmed, B and Dey, S and Chakraborty, S and Deeksha, MG and Dutta, S and Samanta, A and Tarafdar, J and Roy, D}, title = {Transcription dynamics of heat-shock proteins (Hsps) and endosymbiont titres in response to thermal stress in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Asia-I).}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1097459}, pmid = {36714306}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is one of the several species complexes of whitefly that are currently significant agricultural pests. Bemisia tabaci infests more than 600 plant species and thrives under a wide range of temperature conditions. In addition to the direct damage caused by sucking plant sap, it vectors several plant viruses. Heat-shock proteins play a pivotal role in enabling the insect to extend its geographical location, survival, and reproduction under different stress conditions. B. tabaci harbours several endosymbionts under the genera Portiera, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Cardinium, and Fritschea that directly or indirectly affect its fitness. By accelerating cuticle biosynthesis and sclerotisation, symbiotic microbes can reduce or enhance tolerance to extreme temperatures and detoxify heavy metals. Thus, symbionts or microbial communities can expand or constrain the abiotic niche space of their host and affect its ability to adapt to changing conditions. The present study delineates the effect of thermal stress on the expression of heat-shock genes and endosymbionts in B. tabaci. Studies of the expression level of heat-shock proteins with the help of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that heat- and cold-shock treatment fuels the increased expression of heat-shock proteins (Hsp40 and Hsp70). However, Hsp90 was not induced by a heat- and cold-shock treatment. A significant decrease in the relative titre of secondary endosymbionts, such as Rickettsia, Arsenophonus, and Wolbachia, were recorded in B. tabaci upon heat treatment. However, the titre of the primary symbiont, C. Portiera, was relatively unaffected by both cold and heat treatments. These results are indicative of the fact that Hsp genes and endosymbionts in B. tabaci are modulated in response to thermal stress, and this might be responsible for the adaptation of whitefly under changing climatic scenario.}, } @article {pmid36714060, year = {2023}, author = {Xia, Y and He, C and Yan, S and Liu, J and Huang, H and Li, X and Su, Q and Jiang, W and Pang, Y}, title = {New dual functional CYP450 gene involves in isoflavone biosynthesis in Glycine max L.}, journal = {Synthetic and systems biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {157-167}, pmid = {36714060}, issn = {2405-805X}, abstract = {Glycine max L. accumulates a large amount of isoflavonoid compounds, which is beneficial for plant defense, plant-microbe symbiotic interactions, and human health. Several CYP450 subfamily genes are involved in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in plants. In the present study, we found 24 CYP82 subfamily genes were differentially expressed in various tissues of soybean, in Phytophthora sojae-infected soybean varieties and in soybean hairy roots treated with cell wall glucan elicitor. Six of them (GmCYP82A2, GmCYP82A3, GmCYP82A4, GmCYP82A23, GmCYP82C20 and GmCYP82D26) were co-expressed with other known isoflavonoid pathway genes in soybean. Their enzymatic activity in yeast feeding assays showed that only GmCYP82D26 was able to convert naringenin to daidzein with both aryl migration and dehydration function. When GmCYP82D26 was over-expressed in soybean hairy roots, the contents of the two major isoflavonoid aglycones in soybean (daidzein and genistein) were reduced, but total flavonoids were not affected. When GmCYP82D26 was suppressed by RNAi in the hairy roots, daidzein content was decreased but genistein content was increased, with unchanged total flavonoid content. GmCYP82D26 was found to be localized in the endoplasmic reticulum at subcellular level when transiently expressed in tobacco leaf epidermis. GmCYP82D26 gene was preferentially expressed in roots, with low expression level in other tissues in soybean. Homology modeling and molecular docking showed that GmCYP82D26 could form hydrogen bond with both HEM and naringenin at C5-OH and C4 carbonyl. All these results indicated that GmCYP82D26 possesses new and dual enzymatic activity, which bridges the two branches (daidzein and genistein branch) of isoflavonoid pathway in soybean.}, } @article {pmid36713225, year = {2022}, author = {Xiao, Y and Yan, F and Cui, Y and Du, J and Hu, G and Zhai, W and Liu, R and Zhang, Z and Fang, J and Chen, L and Yu, X}, title = {A symbiotic bacterium of Antarctic fish reveals environmental adaptability mechanisms and biosynthetic potential towards antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1085063}, pmid = {36713225}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Antarctic microbes are important agents for evolutionary adaptation and natural resource of bioactive compounds, harboring the particular metabolic pathways to biosynthesize natural products. However, not much is known on symbiotic microbiomes of fish in the Antarctic zone. In the present study, the culture method and whole-genome sequencing were performed. Natural product analyses were carried out to determine the biosynthetic potential. We report the isolation and identification of a symbiotic bacterium Serratia myotis L7-1, that is highly adaptive and resides within Antarctic fish, Trematomus bernacchii. As revealed by genomic analyses, Antarctic strain S. myotis L7-1 possesses carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), stress response genes, antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), and a complete type IV secretion system which could facilitate competition and colonization in the extreme Antarctic environment. The identification of microbiome gene clusters indicates the biosynthetic potential of bioactive compounds. Based on bioactivity-guided fractionation, serranticin was purified and identified as the bioactive compound, showing significant antibacterial and antitumor activity. The serranticin gene cluster was identified and located on the chrome. Furthermore, the multidrug resistance and strong bacterial antagonism contribute competitive advantages in ecological niches. Our results highlight the existence of a symbiotic bacterium in Antarctic fish largely represented by bioactive natural products and the adaptability to survive in the fish living in Antarctic oceans.}, } @article {pmid36713209, year = {2022}, author = {Solanki, MK and Mandal, A and Medeiros, FHV and Awasthi, MK}, title = {Editorial: Emerging frontiers of microbial functions in sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1128267}, pmid = {36713209}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid36713208, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, R and Luo, J and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Gao, X and Niu, L and Huangfu, N and Ma, X and Ji, J and Cui, J}, title = {Dynamic changes in species richness and community diversity of symbiotic bacteria in five reproductive morphs of cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1086728}, pmid = {36713208}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Reproductive polymorphism and symbiotic bacteria are commonly observed in aphids, but their interaction remains largely unclear. In polymorphic aphid species (Aphis gossypii), offspring of parthenogenetic females (PFs) develops into sexuparae which produces gynoparae and males successively. Gynoparae further produces sexual females (SFs), and these sexual females mate with males to produce offspring.

METHODS: In this study, we investigated the dynamic changes of symbiotic bacteria during the above-mentioned five reproductive morph switch in A. gossypii via 16S rRNA sequencing technology.

RESULTS: The results showed that species richness and community diversity of symbiotic bacteria in males were the highest. Proteobacteria was absolutely dominant bacterial phylum (with relative abundance of more than 90%) in the five reproductive morphs of A. gossypii, and Buchnera was absolutely dominant genus (with relative abundance of >90%), followed by Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea. Male-killing symbiont Arsenophonus presented the highest relative abundance in gynoparae, a specific morph whose offsprings were exclusively sexual females. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis showed trans-generation similarity in microbial community structure between sexuparae and sexual females, between PFs and gynoparae. PICRUSt 2 analysis showed that symbiotic bacteria in the five reproductive morphs were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways.

DISCUSSION: Reproductive morph switch induced by environmental changes might be associated with bacterial community variation and sexual polymorphism of aphids. This study provides a new perspective for further deciphering the interactions between microbes and reproductive polymorphism in host aphids.}, } @article {pmid36713196, year = {2022}, author = {Goffredi, SK and Appy, RG and Hildreth, R and deRogatis, J}, title = {Marine vampires: Persistent, internal associations between bacteria and blood-feeding marine annelids and crustaceans.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1113237}, pmid = {36713196}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Persistent bacterial presence is believed to play an important role in host adaptation to specific niches that would otherwise be unavailable, including the exclusive consumption of blood by invertebrate parasites. Nearly all blood-feeding animals examined so far host internal bacterial symbionts that aid in some essential aspect of their nutrition. Obligate blood-feeding (OBF) invertebrates exist in the oceans, yet symbiotic associations between them and beneficial bacteria have not yet been explored. This study describes the microbiome of 6 phylogenetically-diverse species of marine obligate blood-feeders, including leeches (both fish and elasmobranch specialists; e.g., Pterobdella, Ostreobdella, and Branchellion), isopods (e.g., Elthusa and Nerocila), and a copepod (e.g., Lernanthropus). Amplicon sequencing analysis revealed the blood-feeding invertebrate microbiomes to be low in diversity, compared to host fish skin surfaces, seawater, and non-blood-feeding relatives, and dominated by only a few bacterial genera, including Vibrio (100% prevalence and comprising 39%-81% of the average total recovered 16S rRNA gene sequences per OBF taxa). Vibrio cells were localized to the digestive lumen in and among the blood meal for all taxa examined via fluorescence microscopy. For Elthusa and Branchellion, Vibrio cells also appeared intracellularly within possible hemocytes, suggesting an interaction with the immune system. Additionally, Vibrio cultivated from four of the obligate blood-feeding marine taxa matched the dominant amplicons recovered, and all but one was able to effectively lyse vertebrate blood cells. Bacteria from 2 additional phyla and 3 families were also regularly recovered, albeit in much lower abundances, including members of the Oceanospirillaceae, Flavobacteriacea, Porticoccaceae, and unidentified members of the gamma-and betaproteobacteria, depending on the invertebrate host. For the leech Pterobdella, the Oceanospirillaceae were also detected in the esophageal diverticula. For two crustacean taxa, Elthusa and Lernanthropus, the microbial communities associated with brooded eggs were very similar to the adults, indicating possible direct transmission. Virtually nothing is known about the influence of internal bacteria on the success of marine blood-feeders, but this evidence suggests their regular presence in marine parasites from several prominent groups.}, } @article {pmid36713161, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, J and Liao, Z and Liu, Z and Guo, X and Zhang, W and Chen, Y}, title = {Urbanization increases stochasticity and reduces the ecological stability of microbial communities in amphibian hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1108662}, pmid = {36713161}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Urbanization not only profoundly alters landscape profiles, ecosystems and vertebrate faunal diversity but also disturbs microbial communities by increasing stochasticity, vulnerability, biotic homogenization, etc. However, because of the buffering effect of host species, microbial communities are expected to be influenced by both host species and urbanization stresses. Therefore, the impacts of urbanization on animals' microbial symbionts could be more complex and uncertain. In this study, we quantified the urbanization degree of sampling sites and surveyed the gut and skin microbes of three amphibian host species in different sites in urban parks and nearby villages of Chengdu, Southwest China. Furthermore, a co-occurrence network analysis, the phylogenetic normalized stochasticity ratio and Sloan neutral community models were applied to infer the impact of urbanization on symbiotic microbial communities. For the three host species, urbanization increased the diversity of symbiotic microbes and the number of keystone microbial taxa. However, the negative effects of such increased diversification were evident, as the community stochasticity and co-occurrence network structure vulnerability also increased, while the network structure complexity and stability were reduced. Finally, the community stochasticity had positive associations with the network vulnerability, implying that the existence of many transient symbiotic rare microbial taxa in urban parks makes the symbiotic microbial community structure more fragile. Conclusively, urbanization increased the symbiotic microbial diversity at the cost of community stability; the results provide a new perspective for better understanding the complex triangulated environment-host-microbe relationship.}, } @article {pmid36712793, year = {2022}, author = {Kogawa, M and Miyaoka, R and Hemmerling, F and Ando, M and Yura, K and Ide, K and Nishikawa, Y and Hosokawa, M and Ise, Y and Cahn, JKB and Takada, K and Matsunaga, S and Mori, T and Piel, J and Takeyama, H}, title = {Single-cell metabolite detection and genomics reveals uncultivated talented producer.}, journal = {PNAS nexus}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {pgab007}, pmid = {36712793}, issn = {2752-6542}, abstract = {The production of bioactive metabolites is increasingly recognized as an important function of host-associated bacteria. An example is defensive symbiosis that might account for much of the chemical richness of marine invertebrates including sponges (Porifera), 1 of the oldest metazoans. However, most bacterial members of sponge microbiomes have not been cultivated or sequenced, and therefore, remain unrecognized. Unequivocally linking metabolic functions to a cellular source in sponge microbiomes is, therefore, a challenge. Here, we report an analysis pipeline of microfluidic encapsulation, Raman microscopy, and integrated digital genomics (MERMAID) for an efficient identification of uncultivated producers. We applied this method to the chemically rich bacteriosponge (sponge that hosts a rich bacterial community) Theonella swinhoei, previously shown to contain 'Entotheonella' symbionts that produce most of the bioactive substances isolated from the sponge. As an exception, the antifungal aurantosides had remained unassigned to a source. Raman-guided single-bacterial analysis and sequencing revealed a cryptic, distinct multiproducer, 'Candidatus Poriflexus aureus' from a new Chloroflexi lineage as the aurantoside producer. Its exceptionally large genome contains numerous biosynthetic loci and suggested an even higher chemical richness of this sponge than previously appreciated. This study highlights the importance of complementary technologies to uncover microbiome functions, reveals remarkable parallels between distantly related symbionts of the same host, and adds functional support for diverse chemically prolific lineages being present in microbial dark matter.}, } @article {pmid36712386, year = {2023}, author = {Madva, A and Kelly, D and Brownstein, M}, title = {Change the People or Change the Policy? On the Moral Education of Antiracists.}, journal = {Ethical theory and moral practice : an international forum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-20}, pmid = {36712386}, issn = {1386-2820}, abstract = {While those who take a "structuralist" approach to racial justice issues are right to call attention to the importance of social practices, laws, etc., they sometimes go too far by suggesting that antiracist efforts ought to focus on changing unjust social systems rather than changing individuals' minds. We argue that while the "either/or" thinking implied by this framing is intuitive and pervasive, it is misleading and self-undermining. We instead advocate a "both/and" approach to antiracist moral education that explicitly teaches how social structures influence ideas about race and how ideas about race shape, sustain, and transform social structures. Ideally, antiracist moral education will help people see how social change and moral progress depend on the symbiotic relations between individuals and structures. We articulate a conception of "structure-facing virtue" that exemplifies this hybrid approach to illuminate the pivotal role moral education plays in the fight for racial justice.}, } @article {pmid36712336, year = {2022}, author = {Kuroyanagi, T and Bulasag, AS and Fukushima, K and Ashida, A and Suzuki, T and Tanaka, A and Camagna, M and Sato, I and Chiba, S and Ojika, M and Takemoto, D}, title = {Botrytis cinerea identifies host plants via the recognition of antifungal capsidiol to induce expression of a specific detoxification gene.}, journal = {PNAS nexus}, volume = {1}, number = {5}, pages = {pgac274}, pmid = {36712336}, issn = {2752-6542}, abstract = {The gray mold pathogen Botrytis cinerea has a broad host range, causing disease in >400 plant species, but it is not known how this pathogen evolved this polyxenous nature. Botrytis cinerea can metabolize a wide range of phytoalexins, including the stilbenoid resveratrol in grape, and the sesquiterpenoids capsidiol in tobacco and rishitin in potato and tomato. In this study, we analyzed the metabolism of sesquiterpenoid phytoalexins by B. cinerea. Capsidiol was dehydrogenated to capsenone, which was then further oxidized, while rishitin was directly oxidized to epoxy- or hydroxyrishitins, indicating that B. cinerea has separate mechanisms to detoxify structurally similar sesquiterpenoid phytoalexins. RNA-seq analysis revealed that a distinct set of genes were induced in B. cinerea when treated with capsidiol or rishitin, suggesting that B. cinerea can distinguish structurally similar phytoalexins to activate appropriate detoxification mechanisms. The gene most highly upregulated by capsidiol treatment encoded a dehydrogenase, designated Bccpdh. Heterologous expression of Bccpdh in a capsidiol-sensitive plant symbiotic fungus, Epichloë festucae, resulted in an acquired tolerance of capsidiol and the ability to metabolize capsidiol to capsenone, while B. cinerea Δbccpdh mutants became relatively sensitive to capsidiol. The Δbccpdh mutant showed reduced virulence on the capsidiol producing Nicotiana and Capsicum species but remained fully pathogenic on potato and tomato. Homologs of Bccpdh are found in taxonomically distant Ascomycota fungi but not in related Leotiomycetes species, suggesting that B. cinerea acquired the ancestral Bccpdh by horizontal gene transfer, thereby extending the pathogenic host range of this polyxenous pathogen to capsidiol-producing plant species.}, } @article {pmid36710517, year = {2023}, author = {Pichler, G and Muggia, L and Carniel, FC and Grube, M and Kranner, I}, title = {How to build a lichen: from metabolite release to symbiotic interplay.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {238}, number = {4}, pages = {1362-1378}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18780}, pmid = {36710517}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Lichens/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Exposing their vegetative bodies to the light, lichens are outstanding amongst other fungal symbioses. Not requiring a pre-established host, 'lichenized fungi' build an entirely new structure together with microbial photosynthetic partners that neither can form alone. The signals involved in the transition of a fungus and a compatible photosynthetic partner from a free-living to a symbiotic state culminating in thallus formation, termed 'lichenization', and in the maintenance of the symbiosis, are poorly understood. Here, we synthesise the puzzle pieces of the scarce knowledge available into an updated concept of signalling involved in lichenization, comprising five main stages: (1) the 'pre-contact stage', (2) the 'contact stage', (3) 'envelopment' of algal cells by the fungus, (4) their 'incorporation' into a pre-thallus and (5) 'differentiation' into a complex thallus. Considering the involvement of extracellularly released metabolites in each phase, we propose that compounds such as fungal lectins and algal cyclic peptides elicit early contact between the symbionts-to-be, whereas phytohormone signalling, antioxidant protection and carbon exchange through sugars and sugar alcohols are of continued importance throughout all stages. In the fully formed lichen thallus, secondary lichen metabolites and mineral nutrition are suggested to stabilize the functionalities of the thallus, including the associated microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36709382, year = {2023}, author = {Maor-Landaw, K and Eisenhut, M and Tortorelli, G and van de Meene, A and Kurz, S and Segal, G and van Oppen, MJH and Weber, APM and McFadden, GI}, title = {A candidate transporter allowing symbiotic dinoflagellates to feed their coral hosts.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {36709382}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {The symbiotic partnership between corals and dinoflagellate algae is crucial to coral reefs. Corals provide their algal symbionts with shelter, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In exchange, the symbiotic algae supply their animal hosts with fixed carbon in the form of glucose. But how glucose is transferred from the algal symbiont to the animal host is unknown. We reasoned that a transporter resident in the dinoflagellate cell membrane would facilitate outward transfer of glucose to the surrounding host animal tissue. We identified a candidate transporter in the cnidarian symbiont dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum that belongs to the ubiquitous family of facilitative sugar uniporters known as SWEETs (sugars will eventually be exported transporters). Previous gene expression analyses had shown that BmSWEET1 is upregulated when the algae are living symbiotically in a cnidarian host by comparison to the free-living state [1, 2]. We used immunofluorescence microscopy to localise BmSWEET1 in the dinoflagellate cell membrane. Substrate preference assays in a yeast surrogate transport system showed that BmSWEET1 transports glucose. Quantitative microscopy showed that symbiotic B. minutum cells have significantly more BmSWEET1 protein than free-living cells of the same strain, consistent with export during symbiosis but not during the free-living, planktonic phase. Thus, BmSWEET1 is in the right place, at the right time, and has the right substrate to be the transporter with which symbiotic dinoflagellate algae feed their animal hosts to power coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid36709299, year = {2023}, author = {Yun, Z and Xianghong, L and Qianhua, G and Qin, D}, title = {Copper ions inhibit Streptococcus mutans-Veillonella parvula dual biofilm by activating Streptococcus mutans reactive nitrogen species.}, journal = {BMC oral health}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {48}, pmid = {36709299}, issn = {1472-6831}, mesh = {Humans ; *Streptococcus mutans ; Copper/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Trace Elements/metabolism/pharmacology ; Magnesium/metabolism/pharmacology ; Zinc ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: To investigate the inhibition mechanism of copper ions on Streptococcus mutans-Veillonella parvula dual biofilm.

METHODS: S. mutans-V. parvula dual biofilm was constructed and copper ions were added at different concentrations. After the biofilm was collected, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR were then performed to get gene information.

RESULTS: The coculture of S. mutans and V. parvula formed a significantly better dual biofilm of larger biomass than S. mutans mono biofilm. And copper ions showed a more significant inhibitory effect on S. mutans-V. parvula dual biofilm than on S. mutans mono biofilm when copper ions concentration reached 100 µM, and copper ions showed a decreased inhibitory effect on S. gordonii-V. parvula dual biofilm and S. sanguis-V.parvula dual biofilm than on the two mono biofilms as the concentration of copper ions increased. And common trace elements such as iron, magnesium, and zinc showed no inhibitory effect difference on S. mutans-V. parvula dual biofilm. The RNA-seq results showed a significant difference in the expression of a new ABC transporter SMU_651c, SMU_652c, SMU_653c, and S. mutans copper chaperone copYAZ. SMU_651c, SMU_652c, and SMU_653c were predicted to function as nitrite/nitrate transporter-related proteins, which suggested the specific inhibition of copper ions on S. mutans-V. parvula dual biofilm may be caused by the activation of S. mutans reactive nitrogen species.

CONCLUSIONS: Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella parvula are symbiotic, forming a dual biofilm of larger biomass to better resist the external antibacterial substances, which may increase the virulence of S. mutans. While common trace elements such as iron, magnesium, and zinc showed no specific inhibitory effect on S. mutans-V. parvula dual biofilm, copper ion had a unique inhibitory effect on S. mutans-V. parvula dual biofilm which may be caused by activating S. mutans RNS when copper ions concentration reached 250 µM.}, } @article {pmid36709253, year = {2023}, author = {van Creij, J and Auxier, B and An, J and Wijfjes, RY and Bergin, C and Rosling, A and Bisseling, T and Pan, Z and Limpens, E}, title = {Stochastic nuclear organization and host-dependent allele contribution in Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {53}, pmid = {36709253}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {ERC 678792/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Alleles ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Plants/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Glomeromycota ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are arguably the most important symbionts of plants, offering a range of benefits to their hosts. However, the provisioning of these benefits does not appear to be uniform among AM fungal individuals, with genetic variation between fungal symbionts having a substantial impact on plant performance. Interestingly, genetic variation has also been reported within fungal individuals, which contain millions of haploid nuclei sharing a common cytoplasm. In the model AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, several isolates have been reported to be dikaryotes, containing two genetically distinct types of nuclei recognized based on their mating-type (MAT) locus identity. However, their extremely coenocytic nature and lack of a known single nucleus stage has raised questions on the origin, distribution and dynamics of this genetic variation.

RESULTS: Here we performed DNA and RNA sequencing at the mycelial individual, single spore and single nucleus levels to gain insight into the dynamic genetic make-up of the dikaryote-like R. irregularis C3 isolate and the effect of different host plants on its genetic variation. Our analyses reveal that parallel spore and root culture batches can have widely variable ratios of two main genotypes in C3. Additionally, numerous polymorphisms were found with frequencies that deviated significantly from the general genotype ratio, indicating a diverse population of slightly different nucleotypes. Changing host plants did not show consistent host effects on nucleotype ratio's after multiple rounds of subculturing. Instead, we found a major effect of host plant-identity on allele-specific expression in C3.

CONCLUSION: Our analyses indicate a highly dynamic/variable genetic organization in different isolates of R. irregularis. Seemingly random fluctuations in nucleotype ratio's upon spore formation, recombination events, high variability of non-tandemly repeated rDNA sequences and host-dependent allele expression all add levels of variation that may contribute to the evolutionary success of these widespread symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36708672, year = {2023}, author = {Ferreira de Miranda, J and Martins Pereira Belo, G and Silva de Lima, L and Alencar Silva, K and Matsue Uekane, T and Gonçalves Martins Gonzalez, A and Naciuk Castelo Branco, V and Souza Pitangui, N and Freitas Fernandes, F and Ribeiro Lima, A}, title = {Arabic coffee infusion based kombucha: Characterization and biological activity during fermentation, and in vivo toxicity.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {412}, number = {}, pages = {135556}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135556}, pmid = {36708672}, issn = {1873-7072}, mesh = {*Coffee/metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Beverages/analysis ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study, arabic coffee infusion was used to produce a fermented beverage known as kombucha. The physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as well as in vivo toxicity were evaluate throughout 21 days of fermentation. Reduction in pH and sugar levels were observed throughout the fermentation period. There was no significant difference in the content of total phenolic compounds between the unfermented and fermented beverage, nor between the fermentation times, as well as in the antioxidant activity. The 5-caffeoylquinic acid was identified at all fermentation times evaluated, and no significant difference was observed regarding its concentration. It showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against all strains tested. No toxic effect of the beverages was observed in the in vivo model (Galleria mellonella) studied. These results demonstrated that coffee infusion is a possible alternative for kombucha production since the physicochemical changes prove the metabolic activity of Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast.}, } @article {pmid36708392, year = {2023}, author = {Figueiredo, MA and da Silva, TH and Pinto, OHB and Leite, MGP and de Oliveira, FS and Messias, MCTB and Rosa, LH and Câmara, PEAS and Lopes, FAC and Kozovits, AR}, title = {Metabarcoding of Soil Fungal Communities in Rupestrian Grassland Areas Preserved and Degraded by Mining: Implications for Restoration.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36708392}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Rupestrian grasslands are vegetation complexes of the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna), exhibiting simultaneously great biodiversity and important open-pit mining areas. There is a strong demand for the conservation of remaining areas and restoration of degraded. This study evaluated, using next-generation sequencing, the diversity and ecological aspects of soil fungal communities in ferruginous rupestrian grassland areas preserved and degraded by bauxite mining in Brazil. In the preserved and degraded area, respectively, 565 and 478 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota comprised nearly 72% of the DNA, but Ascomycota showed greater abundance than Basidiomycota in the degraded area (64% and 10%, respectively). In the preserved area, taxa of different hierarchical levels (Agaromycetes, Agaricales, Mortierelaceae, and Mortierella) associated with symbiosis and decomposition were predominant. However, taxa that colonize environments under extreme conditions and pathogens (Dothideomycetes, Pleoporales, Pleosporaceae, and Curvularia) prevailed in the degraded area. The degradation reduced the diversity, and modified the composition of taxa and predominant ecological functions in the community. The lack of fungi that facilitate plant establishment and development in the degraded area suggests the importance of seeking the restoration of this community to ensure the success of the ecological restoration of the environment. The topsoil of preserved area can be a source of inocula of several groups of fungi important for the restoration process but which occur in low abundance or are absent in the degraded area.}, } @article {pmid36705037, year = {2023}, author = {Chiu, CY and Chang, KC and Chang, LC and Wang, CJ and Chung, WH and Hsieh, WP and Su, SC}, title = {Phenotype-specific signatures of systems-level gut microbiome associated with childhood airway allergies.}, journal = {Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {e13905}, doi = {10.1111/pai.13905}, pmid = {36705037}, issn = {1399-3038}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Rhinitis ; *Rhinitis, Allergic ; *Asthma ; Immunoglobulin E/metabolism ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Perturbation of gut symbiosis has been linked to childhood allergic diseases. However, the underlying host-microbe interaction connected with specific phenotypes is poorly understood.

METHODS: To address this, integrative analyses of stool metagenomic and metabolomic profiles associated with IgE reactions in 56 children with mite-sensitized airway allergies (25 with rhinitis and 31 with asthma) and 28 nonallergic healthy controls were conducted.

RESULTS: We noted a decrease in the number and abundance of gut microbiome-encoded carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes, accompanied with a reduction in species richness, in the asthmatic gut microflora but not in that from allergic rhinitis. Such loss of CAZymes was consistent with the observation that a CAZyme-linked decrease in fecal butyrate was found in asthmatics and negatively correlated with mite-specific IgE responses. Different from the CAZymes, we demonstrated an increase in α diversity at the virulome levels in asthmatic gut microbiota and identified phenotype-specific variations of gut virulome. Moreover, use of fecal metagenomic and metabolomic signatures resulted in distinct effects on differentiating rhinitis and asthma from nonallergic healthy controls.

CONCLUSION: Overall, our integrative analyses reveal several signatures of systems-level gut microbiome in robust associations with fecal metabolites and disease phenotypes, which may be of etiological and diagnostic implications in childhood airway allergies.}, } @article {pmid36704166, year = {2022}, author = {Chang, W and Zhang, Y and Ping, Y and Li, K and Qi, DD and Song, FQ}, title = {Label-free quantitative proteomics of arbuscular mycorrhizal Elaeagnus angustifolia seedlings provides insights into salt-stress tolerance mechanisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1098260}, pmid = {36704166}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Soil salinization has become one of the most serious environmental issues globally. Excessive accumulation of soluble salts will adversely affect the survival, growth, and reproduction of plants. Elaeagnus angustifolia L., commonly known as oleaster or Russian olive, has the characteristics of tolerance to drought and salt. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are considered to be bio-ameliorator of saline soils that can enhance the salt tolerance of the host plants. However, there is little information on the root proteomics of AM plants under salt stress.

METHODS: In this study, a label-free quantitative proteomics method was employed to identify the differentially abundant proteins in AM E. angustifolia seedlings under salt stress.

RESULTS: The results showed that a total of 170 proteins were significantly differentially regulated in E.angustifolia seedlings after AMF inoculation under salt stress. Mycorrhizal symbiosis helps the host plant E. angustifolia to respond positively to salt stress and enhances its salt tolerance by regulating the activities of some key proteins related to amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism in root tissues.

CONCLUSION: Aspartate aminotransferase, dehydratase-enolase-phosphatase 1 (DEP1), phospholipases D, diacylglycerol kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferases, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidases may play important roles in mitigating the detrimental effect of salt stress on mycorrhizal E. angustifolia . In conclusion, these findings provide new insights into the salt-stress tolerance mechanisms of AM E. angustifolia seedlings and also clarify the role of AM fungi in the molecular regulation network of E. angustifolia under salt stress.}, } @article {pmid36702408, year = {2023}, author = {Zheng, L and Ren, M and Liu, T and Ding, A and Xie, E}, title = {Base type determines the effects of nucleoside monophosphates on microalgae-bacteria symbiotic systems.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {317}, number = {}, pages = {137943}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137943}, pmid = {36702408}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Microalgae/metabolism ; Nucleosides/pharmacology ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Bacteria/genetics ; Lipids ; Biomass ; }, abstract = {Microalgae are promising sources of clean energy. Bioflocculation by cocultured bacteria is an effective way to harvest microalgae. As a key foundation for microorganisms, phosphorus is theoretically effective in shaping microalgae production and flocculation. In this study, the impacts of 23 nucleoside monophosphates on Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa growth, lipid synthesis, and self-settlement and on the symbiotic bacterial system were investigated. Adenosine monophosphate was the most effective in enhancing microalgae development (2.14-3.16 × 10[8] cells/mL) and lipid production (average 10.48%) and resulted in a low settling velocity. Samples were divided into two groups, purine and pyrimidine feeding, according to a random forest analysis (OOB = 0%, p < 0.001). Purine feeding resulted in the highest soluble extracellular protein and polysaccharide secretion (p < 0.01). KEGG ortholog count prediction of functional genes related to biofilm formation was conducted using PICRUSt2, and significant upregulation (FC ≥ 1.77, p < 0.05) of the extracellular polymeric substance formation functional group was observed in the adenosine and guanosine treatments. The symbiotic bacterial community structure differed substantially between purine- and pyrimidine-feeding systems. In summary, these results indicated that the effect of nucleoside monophosphates on the microalgae-bacteria system is determined by the base type (purine or pyrimidine) rather than the molecular structure (cyclic or noncyclic).}, } @article {pmid36700963, year = {2023}, author = {Vohník, M and Réblová, M}, title = {Fungi in hair roots of Vaccinium spp. (Ericaceae) growing on decomposing wood: colonization patterns, identity, and in vitro symbiotic potential.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {33}, number = {1-2}, pages = {69-86}, pmid = {36700963}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Ericaceae/microbiology ; *Vaccinium/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Wood ; Ecosystem ; *Basidiomycota ; *Agaricales ; }, abstract = {Most of our knowledge on the ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) symbiosis comes from temperate heathlands characterized by acidic peaty soils and many experiments with a few ascomycetous fungi. However, ericaceous plants thrive in many other ecosystems and in temperate coniferous forests, their seedlings often prosper on decomposing wood. While wood is typically exploited by basidiomycetous ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and saprobic fungi, the role of ErM fungi (ErMF) is much less clear. We explored the cultivable mycobiota of surface sterilized hair roots of Vaccinium spp. growing on decomposing wood in two coniferous forests in Mid-Norway (Scandinavia) and Northern Bohemia (Central Europe). Obtained isolates were identified using molecular tools and their symbiotic potential was tested in vitro. While the detected community lacked the archetypal ErMF Hyaloscypha hepaticicola and the incidence of dark septate endophytes and EcM fungi was negligible, it comprised other frequent asexual ascomycetous ErMF, namely H. variabilis and Oidiodendron maius, together with several isolates displaying affinities to sexual saprobic H. daedaleae and H. fuckelii. Ascomycete-suppressing media revealed representatives of the saprobic basidiomycetous genera Coprinellus, Gymnopilus, Mycena (Agaricales), and Hypochnicium (Polyporales). In the resyntheses, the tested basidiomycetes occasionally penetrated the rhizodermal cells of their hosts but never formed ericoid mycorrhizae and in many cases overgrew and killed the inoculated seedlings. In contrast, a representative of the H. daedaleae/H. fuckelii-related isolates repeatedly formed what morphologically appears as the ErM symbiosis and supported host's growth. In conclusion, while basidiomycetous saprobic fungi have a potential to colonize healthy-looking ericaceous hair roots, the mode(-s) of their functioning remain obscure. For the first time, a lineage in Hyaloscypha s. str. (corresponding to the former Hymenoscyphus ericae aggregate) where sexual saprobes are intermingled with root symbionts has been revealed, shedding new light on the ecology and evolution of these prominent ascomycetous ErMF.}, } @article {pmid36700628, year = {2023}, author = {Kim, JH and Scherer, G and Lumpkin, DS and Rao, K and Puentes Flores, CD and Van Arnam, EB}, title = {Amycolatopsis from Desert Specialist Fungus-Growing Ants Suppresses Contaminant Fungi Using the Antibiotic ECO-0501.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {89}, number = {2}, pages = {e0183822}, pmid = {36700628}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Ants/microbiology ; Amycolatopsis ; *Actinobacteria ; Symbiosis ; *Hypocreales ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic Actinobacteria help fungus-growing ants suppress fungal pathogens through the production of antifungal compounds. Trachymyrmex ants of the southwest desert of the United States inhabit a unique niche far from the tropical rainforests in which most fungus-growing ant species are found. These ants may not encounter the specialist fungal pathogen Escovopsis known to threaten colonies of other fungus-growing ants. It is unknown whether Actinobacteria associated with these ants antagonize contaminant fungi and, if so, what the chemical basis of such antagonism is. We find that Pseudonocardia and Amycolatopsis strains isolated from three desert specialist Trachymyrmex species do antagonize diverse contaminant fungi isolated from field-collected ant colonies. We did not isolate the specialist fungal pathogen Escovopsis in our sampling. We trace strong antifungal activity from Amycolatopsis isolates to the molecule ECO-0501, an antibiotic that was previously under preclinical development as an antibacterial agent. In addition to suppression of contaminant fungi, we find that this molecule has strong activity against ant-associated Actinobacteria and may also play a role in bacterial competition in this niche. By studying interspecies interactions in a previously unexplored niche, we have uncovered novel bioactivity for a structurally unique antibiotic. IMPORTANCE Animal hosts often benefit from chemical defenses provided by microbes. These molecular defenses are a potential source of novel antibiotics and offer opportunities for understanding how antibiotics are used in ecological contexts with defined interspecies interactions. Here, we recover contaminant fungi from nests of Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ants of the southwest desert of the United States and find that they are suppressed by Actinobacteria isolated from these ants. The antibiotic ECO-0501 is an antifungal agent used by some of these Amycolatopsis bacterial isolates. This antibiotic was previously investigated in preclinical studies and known only for antibacterial activity.}, } @article {pmid36699720, year = {2022}, author = {Guizzo, MG and Hatalová, T and Frantová, H and Zurek, L and Kopáček, P and Perner, J}, title = {Ixodes ricinus ticks have a functional association with Midichloria mitochondrii.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1081666}, pmid = {36699720}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Ixodes/microbiology ; Tetracycline ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Mitochondria ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In addition to being vectors of pathogenic bacteria, ticks also harbor intracellular bacteria that associate with ticks over generations, aka symbionts. The biological significance of such bacterial symbiosis has been described in several tick species but its function in Ixodes ricinus is not understood. We have previously shown that I. ricinus ticks are primarily inhabited by a single species of symbiont, Midichloria mitochondrii, an intracellular bacterium that resides and reproduces mainly in the mitochondria of ovaries of fully engorged I. ricinus females. To study the functional integration of M. mitochondrii into the biology of I. ricinus, an M. mitochondrii-depleted model of I. ricinus ticks was sought. Various techniques have been described in the literature to achieve dysbiosed or apo-symbiotic ticks with various degrees of success. To address the lack of a standardized experimental procedure for the production of apo-symbiotic ticks, we present here an approach utilizing the ex vivo membrane blood feeding system. In order to deplete M. mitochondrii from ovaries, we supplemented dietary blood with tetracycline. We noted, however, that the use of tetracycline caused immediate toxicity in ticks, caused by impairment of mitochondrial proteosynthesis. To overcome the tetracycline-mediated off-target effect, we established a protocol that leads to the production of an apo-symbiotic strain of I. ricinus, which can be sustained in subsequent generations. In two generations following tetracycline administration and tetracycline-mediated symbiont reduction, M. mitochondrii was gradually eliminated from the lineage. Larvae hatched from eggs laid by such M. mitochondrii-free females repeatedly performed poorly during blood-feeding, while the nymphs and adults performed similarly to controls. These data indicate that M. mitochondrii represents an integral component of tick ovarian tissue, and when absent, results in the formation of substandard larvae with reduced capacity to blood-feed.}, } @article {pmid36699610, year = {2022}, author = {Pu, J and Li, Z and Tang, H and Zhou, G and Wei, C and Dong, W and Jin, Z and He, T}, title = {Response of soil microbial communities and rice yield to nitrogen reduction with green manure application in karst paddy areas.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1070876}, pmid = {36699610}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fertilizer application practices are one of the major challenges facing agroecology. The agrobenefits of combined application of green manure and chemical fertilizers, and the potential of green manure to replace chemical fertilizers are now well documented. However, little is known about the impact of fertilization practices on microbial communities and tice yield. In this study, the diversity of bacterial and fungal communities, symbiotic networks and their relationship with soil function were analyzed in five fertilization treatments (N: 100% nitrogen fertilizer alone; M: green manure alone; MN60: green manure couple with 60% nitrogen fertilizer, MN80: green manure couple with 80% nitrogen fertilizer; and MN100: green manure couple with 100% nitrogen fertilizer). First, early rice yield was significantly higher by 12.6% in MN100 treatment in 2021 compared with N. Secondly, soil bacterial diversity showed an increasing trend with increasing N fertilizer application after green manure input, however, the opposite was true for fungal diversity. Microbial interaction analysis showed that different fertilizer applications changed soil microbial network complexity and fertilizer-induced changes in soil microbial interactions were closely related to soil environmental changes. Random forest models further predicted the importance of soil environment, microorganisms and rice yield. Overall, nitrogen fertilizer green manure altered rice yield due to its effects on soil environment and microbial communities. In the case of combined green manure and N fertilizer application, bacteria and fungi showed different responses to fertilization method, and the full amount of N fertilizer in combination with green manure reduced the complexity of soil microbial network. In contrast, for more ecologically sensitive karst areas, we recommend fertilization practices with reduced N by 20-40% for rice production. Graphical Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36698910, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, PY and Chen, CW and Su, YJ}, title = {Gangrenous cellulitis caused by coagulase‑negative Staphylococcus infection: A case report.}, journal = {Medicine international}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {31}, pmid = {36698910}, issn = {2754-1304}, abstract = {A 40-year-old male with a history of alcohol and drug addiction presented with fever for 1 day in the emergency room. He reported the abuse of drugs via intravenous injection and consumed alcohol excessively. Upon arrival to the emergency room, his body temperature was 39.4˚C. Upon a physical examination, generalized skin gangrene over the trunk and four limbs were found. Laboratory tests revealed thrombocytopenia (platelets, 67,000/µl) and elevated C-reactive protein (30.4 mg/dl), creatine kinase (>20,000 IU/l), D-Dimer (>10,000 ng/ml) levels. The urinary drug screen test was positive for ketamine and benzodiazepine. The blood culture on day 4 of admission yielded coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS). The patient was diagnosed with CoNS induced by the venous injection of ketamine. He was admitted and received treatment with parenteral antibiotics with serial debridement due to the progressive necrosis of the skin gangrene. He was discharged 2 months later with clinical improvement. CoNS generally has a symbiotic association with the hosts in the cutaneous ecosystem, which frequently contaminates blood culture and occasionally causes diseases. CoNS should be thus considered opportunistic pathogens rather than contaminants. These organisms can cause occasional infection if the cutaneous organ system has been damaged by trauma, the direct implantation of foreign bodies or inoculation by needles. Predisposing factors for CoNS infections include an older age, immunosuppression and the implantation of medical devices, which may serve as a nidus for CoNS growth. Long-term alcoholism, drug addiction and malnutrition may have caused a decline in the immunity of the patient described herein. To date, at least to the best of our knowledge, there has been no report describing local skin necrosis induced by CoNS infection. In the case in the present study, treatment with parenteral antibiotics and serial debridement was successful. In summary, physicians need to be aware of the potential pathogenicity of CoNS in the skin and soft tissue infections.}, } @article {pmid36696762, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Zhang, Q and Zhang, G and Wang, D and Liu, C}, title = {Can industrial symbiosis policies be effective? Evidence from the nationwide industrial symbiosis system in China.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {331}, number = {}, pages = {117346}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117346}, pmid = {36696762}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Coal Ash ; Iron ; Industry ; Steel ; China ; Industrial Waste ; }, abstract = {Policies directly or indirectly influence the development of industrial symbiosis (IS). Quantitatively analyzing the effects of policies on IS at a national level is necessary, but current research has lagged. Focusing on the symbiotic system that includes the thermal power industry, cement industry, iron and steel industry, and social sector in China, this paper assesses the efficacy of policies on this nationwide IS system between 2015 and 2022. A policy influence framework is proposed, combining a cost-benefit analysis, agent-based model, and comparative analysis. Results show: (1) the symbiosis probability of the nationwide IS system experiences a fluctuating increase. The maximum increments of the symbiosis probability are 5%, and the resulting environmental benefits are equivalent to an emission reduction of 6.99 Mt from blast furnace slag, 20.97 Mt from iron mine tailing, 36.02 Mt from household waste, 25.01 Mt from steel slag, and 22.95 Mt from fly ash. However, the stimulation effects of policies vary across different subsystems. (2) Thermal power-chemical subsystems, thermal power-environmental protection subsystems, iron and steel-environmental protection subsystems, and social sector-cement subsystems need policy support in the future. (3) Approximately 50% of fields in this nationwide IS system is insensitive to current policies; policy approaches should shift from economic stimulation to symbiotic guidance. This paper fills the research gap by quantitatively studying the IS policy efficacy from a national level. The findings can contribute to the improvement of the Chinese IS policy system.}, } @article {pmid36696455, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, B and Chandran Sandaran, S and Feng, J}, title = {The ecological discourse analysis of news discourse based on deep learning from the perspective of ecological philosophy.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {e0280190}, pmid = {36696455}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Deep Learning ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Language ; Emotions ; Philosophy ; }, abstract = {Recently, ecological damage and environmental pollution have become increasingly serious. Experts in various fields have started to study related issues from diverse points of view. To prevent the accelerated deterioration of the ecological environment, ecolinguistics emerged. Eco-critical discourse analysis is one of the important parts of ecolinguistics research, that is, it is a critical discourse analysis of the use of language from the perspective of the language's ecological environment. Firstly, an ecological tone and modality system are constructed from an ecological perspective. Under the guidance of the ecological philosophy of "equality, harmony, and symbiosis", this study conducts an ecological discourse analysis on the Sino-US trade friction reports, aiming to present the similarities and differences between the two newspapers' trade friction discourses and to reveal the ecological significance of international ecological factors in the discourse. Secondly, this method establishes a vector expression of abstract words based on emotion dictionary resources and introduces emotion polarity and part-of-speech features of words. Then the word vector is formed into the text feature matrix, which is used as the input of the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model, and the Back Propagation algorithm is adopted to train the model. Finally, in the light of the trained CNN model, the unlabeled news is predicted, and the experimental results are analyzed. The results reveal that during the training process of Chinese and English datasets, the accuracy of the training set can reach nearly 100%, and the loss rate can be reduced to 0. On the test set, the classification accuracy of Chinese text can reach 83%, while that of English text can reach 90%, and the experimental results are ideal. This study provides an explanatory approach for ecological discourse analysis on the news reports of Sino-US trade frictions and has certain guiding significance for the comparative research on political news reports under different ideologies between China and the United States.}, } @article {pmid36694719, year = {2022}, author = {Afonnikova, SD and Komissarov, AS and Kuchur, PD}, title = {Unique or not unique? Comparative genetic analysis of bacterial O-antigens from the Oxalobacteraceae family.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {810-818}, doi = {10.18699/VJGB-22-98}, pmid = {36694719}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Many plants and animals have symbiotic relationships with microorganisms, including bacteria. The interactions between bacteria and their hosts result in different outcomes for the host organism. The outcome can be neutral, harmful or have beneficial effects for participants. Remarkably, these relationships are not static, as they change throughout an organism's lifetime and on an evolutionary scale. One of the structures responsible for relationships in bacteria is O-antigen. Depending on the characteristics of its components, the bacteria can avoid the host's immune response or establish a mutualistic relationship with it. O-antigen is a key component in Gram-negative bacteria's outer membrane. This component facilitates interaction between the bacteria and host immune system or phages. The variability of the physical structure is caused by the genomic variability of genes encoding O-antigen synthesis components. The genes and pathways of O-polysaccharide (OPS) synthesis were intensively investigated mostly for Enterobacteriaceae species. Considering high genetic and molecular diversity of this structure even between strains, these findings may not have caught the entire variety possibly presented in non-model species. The current study presents a comparative analysis of genes associated with O-antigen synthesis in bacteria of the Oxalobacteraceae family. In contrast to existing studies based on PCR methods, we use a bioinformatics approach and compare O- antigens at the level of clusters rather than individual genes. We found that the O-antigen genes of these bacteria are represented by several clusters located at a distance from each other. The greatest similarity of the clusters is observed within individual bacterial genera, which is explained by the high variability of O-antigens. The study describes similarities of OPS genes inherent to the family as a whole and also considers individual unique cases of O-antigen genetic variability inherent to individual bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36694551, year = {2023}, author = {de Gier, W}, title = {Phylomorphometrics reveal ecomorphological convergence in pea crab carapace shapes (Brachyura, Pinnotheridae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e9744}, pmid = {36694551}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Most members of the speciose pea crab family (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) are characterized by their symbioses with marine invertebrates in various host phyla. The ecology of pea crabs is, however, understudied, and the degree of host dependency of most species is still unclear. With the exception of one lineage of ectosymbiotic echinoid-associated crabs, species within the subfamily Pinnotherinae are endosymbionts, living within the body cavities of mollusks, ascidians, echinoderms, and brachiopods. By contrast, most members of the two other subfamilies are considered to have an ectosymbiotic lifestyle, sharing burrows and tubes with various types of worms and burrowing crustaceans (inquilism). The body shapes within the family are extremely variable, mainly in the width and length of the carapace. The variation of carapace shapes in the family, focusing on pinnotherines, is mapped using landmark-based morphometrics. Mean carapace shapes of species groups (based on their host preference) are statistically compared. In addition, a phylomorphometric approach is used to study three different convergence events (across subfamilies; between three genera; and within one genus), and link these events with the associated hosts.}, } @article {pmid36692332, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, X and Liu, BQ and Chen, ZB and Li, CQ and Li, XY and Hong, JS and Luan, JB}, title = {Vitellogenin Facilitates Associations between the Whitefly and a Bacteriocyte Symbiont.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e0299022}, pmid = {36692332}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Vitellogenins/genetics/metabolism ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Integration between animal reproduction and symbiont inheritance is fundamental in symbiosis biology, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Vitellogenin (Vg) is critical for oogenesis, and it is also a pathogen pattern recognition molecule in some animals. Previous studies have shown that Vg is involved in the regulation of symbiont abundance and transmission. However, the mechanisms by which an insect and its symbiont contribute to the function of Vg and how Vg impacts the persistence of insect-microbe symbiosis remain largely unclear. Symbionts are transovarially transmitted via maternal inheritance of the bacteriocytes in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Surprisingly, Vg is localized in bacteriocytes of whiteflies. Vg could be synthesized in whitefly bacteriocytes by the gene Vg expressed in these cells or exported into bacteriocytes from hemolymph via the Vg receptor. We further found that the juvenile hormone and "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" (here termed Portiera) control the level and localization of Vg in whiteflies. Immunocapture PCR revealed interactions between Vg and Portiera. Suppressing Vg expression reduced Portiera abundance as well as whitefly oogenesis and fecundity. Thus, we reveal that Vg facilitated the persistence of whitefly-bacteriocyte symbiont associations. This study will provide insight into the key role of Vg in the coevolution of insect reproduction and symbiont inheritance. IMPORTANCE Intracellular heritable symbionts have been incorporated into insect reproductive and developmental biology by various mechanisms. All Bemisia tabaci species harbor the obligate symbiont Portiera in specialized insect cells called bacteriocytes. We report that the whitefly juvenile hormone and Portiera determined vitellogenin (Vg) localization in bacteriocytes of whiteflies. In turn, Vg affected whitefly fecundity as well as fitness and transmission of the symbiont. Our findings show that Vg, a multifunctional protein, is indispensable for symbiont integration into the reproduction and development of insects. This reflects the outcome of long-term coevolution of the insect-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36690340, year = {2023}, author = {Loudon, AH and Park, J and Parfrey, LW}, title = {Identifying the core microbiome of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus in the context of sea star wasting disease.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad005}, pmid = {36690340}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Starfish/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Wasting Syndrome ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Sea stars are keystone species and their mass die-offs due to sea star wasting disease (SSWD) impact marine communities and have fueled recent interest in the microbiome of sea stars. We assessed the host specificity of the microbiome associated with three body regions of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus using 16S rRNA gene amplicon surveys of the bacterial communities living on and in Pisaster, their environment, and sympatric marine hosts across three populations in British Columbia, Canada. Overall, the bacterial communities on Pisaster are distinct from their environment and differ by both body region and geography. We identified core bacteria specifically associated with Pisaster across populations and nearly absent in other hosts and the environment. We then investigated the distribution of these core bacteria on SSWD-affected Pisaster from one BC site and by reanalyzing a study of SSWD on Pisaster from California. We find no differences in the distribution of core bacteria in early disease at either site and two core taxa differ in relative abundance in advanced disease in California. Using phylogenetic analyses, we find that most core bacteria have close relatives on other sea stars and marine animals, suggesting these clades have evolutionary adaptions to an animal-associated lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid36688656, year = {2023}, author = {Rosado, PM and Cardoso, PM and Rosado, JG and Schultz, J and Nunes da Rocha, U and Keller-Costa, T and Peixoto, RS}, title = {Exploring the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions between a Probiotic Consortium and Its Coral Host.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e0092122}, pmid = {36688656}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; Coral Bleaching ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs) have been demonstrated to be effective probiotics to alleviate bleaching and mitigate coral mortality in vivo. The selection of putative BMCs is traditionally performed manually, using an array of biochemical and molecular tests for putative BMC traits. We present a comprehensive genetic survey of BMC traits using a genome-based framework for the identification of alternative mechanisms that can be used for future in silico selection of BMC strains. We identify exclusive BMC traits associated with specific strains and propose new BMC mechanisms, such as the synthesis of glycine betaine and ectoines. Our roadmap facilitates the selection of BMC strains while increasing the array of genetic targets that can be included in the selection of putative BMC strains to be tested as coral probiotics. IMPORTANCE Probiotics are currently the main hope as a potential medicine for corals, organisms that are considered the marine "canaries of the coal mine" and that are threatened with extinction. Our experiments have proved the concept that probiotics mitigate coral bleaching and can also prevent coral mortality. Here, we present a comprehensive genetic survey of probiotic traits using a genome-based framework. The main outcomes are a roadmap that facilitates the selection of coral probiotic strains while increasing the array of mechanisms that can be included in the selection of coral probiotics.}, } @article {pmid36688592, year = {2023}, author = {Miyata, K and Hosotani, M and Akamatsu, A and Takeda, N and Jiang, W and Sugiyama, T and Takaoka, R and Matsumoto, K and Abe, S and Shibuya, N and Kaku, H}, title = {OsSYMRK Plays an Essential Role in AM Symbiosis in Rice (Oryza sativa).}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {378-391}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcad006}, pmid = {36688592}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Symbiosis/genetics ; *Oryza/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphotransferases/genetics ; Chitin ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish mutualistic symbiosis with a wide range of terrestrial plants, including rice. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of AM symbiosis are yet to be elucidated, particularly in nonleguminous plants. We previously demonstrated that chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 (OsCERK1), a lysin motif receptor-like kinase essential for chitin-triggered immunity, also plays a key role in AM symbiosis in rice. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of switching between immunity and symbiosis by OsCERK1 are yet to be fully elucidated. SYMBIOSIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SYMRK)/DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 2 (DMI2) is a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase associated with both root nodule symbiosis and AM symbiosis in legumes. The homolog of SYMRK in rice, OsSYMRK, has a shorter form than that in legumes because OsSYMRK lacks a malectin-like domain (MLD). The MLD reportedly contributes to symbiosis in Lotus japonicus; however, the contribution of OsSYMRK to AM symbiosis in rice remains unclear. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the MLD of SYMRK/DMI2 is widely conserved even in mosses and ferns but absent in commelinids, including rice. To understand the function of OsSYMRK, we produced an Ossymrk knockout mutant using genome editing technology. AM colonization was mostly abolished in Ossymrk with a more severe phenotype than Oscerk1. Ca2+ spiking against chitin tetramer was also diminished in Ossymrk. In contrast, comparable defense responses against chitin heptamer to the wild type were observed in Ossymrk. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation studies demonstrating an interaction between OsSYMRK and OsCERK1 indicate that OsSYMRK may play an important role in switching from immunity to symbiosis through the interaction with OsCERK1 in rice.}, } @article {pmid36688400, year = {2023}, author = {Rainey, PB}, title = {Major evolutionary transitions in individuality between humans and AI.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {378}, number = {1872}, pages = {20210408}, pmid = {36688400}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Biological Evolution ; Reproduction ; Algorithms ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {That humans might undergo future evolutionary transitions in individuality (ETIs) seems fanciful. However, drawing upon recent thinking concerning the origins of properties that underpin ETIs, I argue that certain ETIs are imminently realizable. Central to my argument is recognition that heritable variance in fitness at higher levels of organization can be externally imposed (scaffolded) by specific ecological structures and cultural practices. While ETIs to eusociality seem highly improbable, ETIs involving symbioses between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) can be readily envisaged. A necessary requirement is that fitness-affecting interactions between humans and AI devices are inherited by offspring. The Mendelian nature of human reproduction ensures that offspring resemble parents. Reproduction of AI devices requires nothing more than transference of algorithms from parental AI devices to devices that are assigned to offspring. This simple copying, combined with societal structures that require humans to carry AI devices, ensures heritable variance in fitness at the level of both interacting partners. Selection at the collective level will drive alignment of replicative fates and increase co-dependency, thus alleviating need for continual imposition of externally imposed scaffolds. I conclude by drawing attention to the immediacy of such transitions and express concern over possibilities for malevolent manipulation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Human socio-cultural evolution in light of evolutionary transitions'.}, } @article {pmid36687730, year = {2022}, author = {Guo, Y and Song, L and Huang, Y and Li, X and Xiao, Y and Wang, Z and Ren, Z}, title = {Latilactobacillus sakei Furu2019 and stachyose as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics alleviate constipation in mice.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1039403}, pmid = {36687730}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Slow transit constipation (STC) is a common disorder in the digestive system. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of stachyose (ST) and Latilactobacillus sakei Furu 2019 (L. sakei) alone or combined on diphenoxylate-induced constipation and explore the underlying mechanisms using a mouse model.

METHODS: ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups. The normal and constipation model groups were intragastrically administrated with PBS. The ST, L. sakei, and synbiotic groups were intragastrically administrated with ST (1.5 g/kg body weight), alive L. sakei (3 × 10[9] CFU/mouse), or ST + L. sakei (1.5 g/kg plus 3 × 10[9] CFU/mouse), respectively. After 21 days of intervention, all mice except the normal mice were intragastrically administrated with diphenoxylate (10 mg/kg body weight). Defecation indexes, constipation-related intestinal factors, serum neurotransmitters, hormone levels, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and intestinal microbiota were measured.

RESULTS: Our results showed that three interventions with ST, L. sakei, and synbiotic combination (ST + L. sakei) all alleviated constipation, and synbiotic intervention was superior to ST or L. sakei alone in some defecation indicators. The RT-PCR and immunohistochemical experiment showed that all three interventions relieved constipation by affecting aquaporins (AQP4 and AQP8), interstitial cells of Cajal (SCF and c-Kit), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS). The three interventions exhibited a different ability to increase the serum excitatory neurotransmitters and hormones (5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, motilin), and reduce the serum inhibitory neurotransmitters (vasoactive intestinal peptide, endothelin). The result of 16S rDNA sequencing of feces showed that synbiotic intervention significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia, and regulated the gut microbes of STC mice. In conclusion, oral administration of ST or L. sakei alone or combined are all effective to relieve constipation and the symbiotic use may have a promising preventive effect on STC.}, } @article {pmid36687653, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, M and Liu, L and Liu, F and Liu, L and Liu, Z and Gao, Y and Cao, J}, title = {Traditional Chinese medicine improves myasthenia gravis by regulating the symbiotic homeostasis of the intestinal microbiota and host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1082565}, pmid = {36687653}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodies that is dependent on T-cell immunity and complement participation and mainly involves neuromuscular junctions. In this study, 30 patients with myasthenia gravis were selected and divided into pretreatment (Case group) and posttreatment (Treatment group) and 30 healthy volunteers (CON group) were included. Among them, the treatment group was treated with Modified Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (MBZYQD), and the levels of antibodies such as AChR, Musk and Titin in blood and intestinal microbiota were compared before treatment (Case group), after treatment (Treatment group) and in healthy volunteers (CON group). The results showed that after treatment with MBZYQD, the antibody levels of AChR, MuSK, and Titin and the inflammatory factor level of IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-22 in MG patients decreased significantly and nearly returned to a healthy level. In addition, after treatment with MBZYQD, the diversity, structure and function of intestinal microorganisms in MG patients also recovered to a healthy level. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the Case group increased significantly, accompanied by a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Bacteroides compared with that in the CON group, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroides in the Treatment group was similar to that in the CON group. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Shigella in the Case group was significantly increased, accompanied by a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Prevotella, and the relative abundance of Shigella and Prevotella in Treatment group was similar to that in the CON group. Moreover, the fluorobenzoate degradation pathway (KO00364) was significantly increased in the Case group, while this pathway was significantly decreased in the Treatment group. In conclusion, MBZYQD can improve the immune function of the host by regulating the diversity, structure and function of the intestinal microbiota to treat myasthenia gravis.}, } @article {pmid36687603, year = {2022}, author = {Tang, M and Wang, H and Qi, X and He, T and Zhang, B and Wang, E and Yu, M and Wang, B and Wang, F and Liu, Z and Liu, X}, title = {Diversification of Sinorhizobium populations associated with Medicago polymorpha and Medicago lupulina in purple soil of China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1055694}, pmid = {36687603}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The double selection of environment adaptation and host specificity forced the diversification of rhizobia in nature. In the tropical region of China, Medicago polymorpha and Medicago lupulina are widely distributed, particularly in purple soil. However, the local distribution and diversity of rhizobia associated with these legumes has not been systematically investigated. To this end, root nodules of M. polymorpha and M. lupulina grown in purple soil at seven locations in Yunnan Province of China were collected for rhizobial isolation. The obtained rhizobia were characterized by RFLP of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer, BOXAIR fingerprinting, and phylogeny of housekeeping and symbiosis genes. As result, a total of 91 rhizobial strains were classified into species Sinorhizobium medicae and S. meliloti, while three nodC gene types were identified among them. S. medicae containing nodC of type I was dominant in farmlands associated with M. polymorpha; while S. meliloti harboring nodC of type III was dominant in wild land nodulated by M. lupulina. For both rhizobial species, greater genetic diversity was detected in the populations isolated from their preferred host plant. A high level of genetic differentiation was observed between the two Sinorhizobium species, and gene flow was evident within the populations of the same species derived from different soil types, indicating that rhizobial evolution is likely associated with the soil features. To examine the effects of environmental features on rhizobial distribution, soil physicochemical traits and rhizobial genotypes were applied for constrained analysis of principle coordinates, which demonstrated that soil features like pH, nitrogen and sodium were the principle factors governing the rhizobial geographical distribution. Altogether, both S. medicae and S. meliloti strains could naturally nodulate with M. polymorpha and M. lupulina, but the rhizobium-legume symbiosis compatibility determined by both the host species and soil factors was also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid36686690, year = {2022}, author = {Büttiker, P and Weissenberger, S and Esch, T and Anders, M and Raboch, J and Ptacek, R and Kream, RM and Stefano, GB}, title = {Dysfunctional mitochondrial processes contribute to energy perturbations in the brain and neuropsychiatric symptoms.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1095923}, pmid = {36686690}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Mitochondria are complex endosymbionts that evolved from primordial purple nonsulfur bacteria. The incorporation of bacteria-derived mitochondria facilitates a more efficient and effective production of energy than what could be achieved based on previous processes alone. In this case, endosymbiosis has resulted in the seamless coupling of cytochrome c oxidase and F-ATPase to maximize energy production. However, this mechanism also results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a phenomenon that can have both positive and negative ramifications on the host. Recent studies have revealed that neuropsychiatric disorders have a pro-inflammatory component in which ROS is capable of initiating damage and cognitive malfunction. Our current understanding of cognition suggests that it is the product of a neuronal network that consumes a substantial amount of energy. Thus, alterations or perturbations of mitochondrial function may alter not only brain energy supply and metabolite generation, but also thought processes and behavior. Mitochondrial abnormalities and oxidative stress have been implicated in several well-known psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). As cognition is highly energy-dependent, we propose that the neuronal pathways underlying maladaptive cognitive processing and psychiatric symptoms are most likely dependent on mitochondrial function, and thus involve brain energy translocation and the accumulation of the byproducts of oxidative stress. We also hypothesize that neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., disrupted emotional processing) may represent the vestiges of an ancient masked evolutionary response that can be used by both hosts and pathogens to promote self-repair and proliferation via parasitic and/or symbiotic pathways.}, } @article {pmid36685945, year = {2022}, author = {Mogilicherla, K and Roy, A}, title = {Epigenetic regulations as drivers of insecticide resistance and resilience to climate change in arthropod pests.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1044980}, pmid = {36685945}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Arthropod pests are remarkably capable of rapidly adapting to novel forms of environmental stress, including insecticides and climate change. The dynamic interplay between epigenetics and genetics explains the largely unexplored reality underlying rapid climatic adaptation and the development of insecticide resistance in insects. Epigenetic regulation modulates gene expression by methylating DNA and acetylating histones that play an essential role in governing insecticide resistance and adaptation to climate change. This review summarises and discusses the significance of recent advances in epigenetic regulation that facilitate phenotypic plasticity in insects and their symbiotic microbes to cope with selection pressure implied by extensive insecticide applications and climate change. We also discuss how epigenetic changes are passed on to multiple generations through sexual recombination, which remains enigmatic. Finally, we explain how these epigenetic signatures can be utilized to manage insecticide resistance and pest resilience to climate change in Anthropocene.}, } @article {pmid36685208, year = {2022}, author = {Jang, S and Matsuura, Y and Ishigami, K and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Symbiont coordinates stem cell proliferation, apoptosis, and morphogenesis of gut symbiotic organ in the stinkbug-Caballeronia symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1071987}, pmid = {36685208}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The bean bug Riptortus pedestris obtains a specific bacterial symbiont, Caballeronia insecticola (Burkholderia insecticola), from the environmental soil and harbors it in the posterior midgut region that is composed of hundreds of crypts. While newly hatched aposymbiotic insects possess primordial midgut crypts with little or no lumen, colonization of C. insecticola triggers swift development of the symbiotic organ, forming enlarged and opened crypts, and the symbiont subsequently fills the luminal cavities of those mature crypts. The cellular processes of crypt development triggered by C. insecticola colonization are poorly understood. Here we identified a fundamental mechanism of the symbiont-mediated midgut development by investigating cell cycles of intestinal epithelial cells. Intestinal stem cells of the bean bug are located and proliferate at the crypt base. Differentiated enterocytes migrate upward along the epithelial cell layer of the crypt as the midgut develops, induction of apoptosis in enterocytes primarily occurred on the tip side of the crypts, and apoptotic cells then eventually were shed from the crypts into the hemolymph. The proliferation rate of the stem cells at the base of the crypts was low while a high apoptotic rate was observed at the crypt tip in aposymbiotic insects, resulting in undeveloped short crypts. On the contrary, the gut-colonizing C. insecticola promoted the proliferation of the stem cells at the base of crypts and simultaneously inhibited apoptosis at the tip of crypts, resulting in a net growth of the crypts and the generation of a crypt lumen that becomes colonized by the bacterial symbiont. These results demonstrated that the Caballeronia symbiont colonization induces the development of the midgut crypts via finely regulating the enterocyte cell cycles, enabling it to stably and abundantly colonize the generated spacious crypts of the bean bug host.}, } @article {pmid36684723, year = {2022}, author = {Lidoy, J and Berrio, E and García, M and España-Luque, L and Pozo, MJ and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Flavonoids promote Rhizophagus irregularis spore germination and tomato root colonization: A target for sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1094194}, pmid = {36684723}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has great potential, being used as biostimulants, biofertilizers and bioprotection agents in agricultural and natural ecosystems. However, the application of AM fungal inoculants is still challenging due to the variability of results when applied in production systems. This variability is partly due to differences in symbiosis establishment. Reducing such variability and promoting symbiosis establishment is essential to improve the efficiency of the inoculants. In addition to strigolactones, flavonoids have been proposed to participate in the pre-symbiotic plant-AM fungus communication in the rhizosphere, although their role is still unclear. Here, we studied the specific function of flavonoids as signaling molecules in AM symbiosis. For that, both in vitro and in planta approaches were used to test the stimulatory effect of an array of different subclasses of flavonoids on Rhizophagus irregularis spore germination and symbiosis establishment, using physiological doses of the compounds. We show that the flavone chrysin and the flavonols quercetin and rutin were able to promote spore germination and root colonization at low doses, confirming their role as pre-symbiotic signaling molecules in AM symbiosis. The results pave the way to use these flavonoids in the formulation of AM fungal-based products to promote the symbiosis. This can improve the efficiency of commercial inoculants, and therefore, help to implement their use in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36684181, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Deng, S and Meng, F and Zhang, L and Min, Z and Li, J and Wang, J}, title = {Comprehensive analysis of global research on overactive bladder: A scientometric approach.}, journal = {Frontiers in surgery}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1078052}, pmid = {36684181}, issn = {2296-875X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Overactive bladder, a syndrome marked by an urgent need to urinate, is a globally prevalent ailment. Human health and quality of life are seriously affected. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the current progress and trends in this field.

OBJECTIVE: No bibliometric analysis of overactive bladder has been conducted. Through the use of bibliometrics and visualization, this study intends to examine the current progress and development trend of this field.

METHODS: Global publications on overactive bladder between January 2004 and August 2022 were extracted from the Web of Science core collection database. A bibliometric and visual analysis was carried out using VOSviewer software and CiteSpace.

RESULTS: Over the last 20 years, publications have grown rapidly, but after 2019, they started to fall. According to the collaboration network, the United States, Univ Pittsburgh AND NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS are the most active countries, institutes AND journals in the field, respectively. All keywords were categorized by the symbiosis analysis into four categories: experimental study, symptoms, clinical use, and quality of life. The most prevalent keyword across all clusters is "overactive bladder."

CONCLUSION: Year after year, there have been more publications in the field of overactive bladder research in many countries, and there has been a deeper level of cooperation and exchange. Researchers will still be interested in overactive bladder in the future. Currently, the clinical application of the disease and the safety and effectiveness of medications are being investigated. However, radical innovation in relevant experimental technologies is a significant obstacle in this field.}, } @article {pmid36683391, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, JP and Liang, W and Jiang, S and Yan, Z and Zhou, C and Wang, E and Murray, JD}, title = {NODULE INCEPTION activates gibberellin biosynthesis genes during rhizobial infection.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18759}, pmid = {36683391}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid36682940, year = {2023}, author = {Stefanovska, T and Luckhart, S and Ripa, L and Stevens, G and Lewis, E}, title = {Steinernema carpocapsae.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {400-401}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2023.01.002}, pmid = {36682940}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Rhabditida ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; }, } @article {pmid36681711, year = {2023}, author = {Pesenti, M and Invernizzi, G and Mazzella, J and Bocciolone, M and Pedrocchi, A and Gandolla, M}, title = {IMU-based human activity recognition and payload classification for low-back exoskeletons.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1184}, pmid = {36681711}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Exoskeleton Device ; Algorithms ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; *Low Back Pain ; Industry ; }, abstract = {Nowadays, work-related musculoskeletal disorders have a drastic impact on a large part of the world population. In particular, low-back pain counts as the leading cause of absence from work in the industrial sector. Robotic exoskeletons have great potential to improve industrial workers' health and life quality. Nonetheless, current solutions are often limited by sub-optimal control systems. Due to the dynamic environment in which they are used, failure to adapt to the wearer and the task may be limiting exoskeleton adoption in occupational scenarios. In this scope, we present a deep-learning-based approach exploiting inertial sensors to provide industrial exoskeletons with human activity recognition and adaptive payload compensation. Inertial measurement units are easily wearable or embeddable in any industrial exoskeleton. We exploited Long-Short Term Memory networks both to perform human activity recognition and to classify the weight of lifted objects up to 15 kg. We found a median F1 score of [Formula: see text] (activity recognition) and [Formula: see text] (payload estimation) with subject-specific models trained and tested on 12 (6M-6F) young healthy volunteers. We also succeeded in evaluating the applicability of this approach with an in-lab real-time test in a simulated target scenario. These high-level algorithms may be useful to fully exploit the potential of powered exoskeletons to achieve symbiotic human-robot interaction.}, } @article {pmid36681696, year = {2023}, author = {Aalipour, H and Nikbakht, A and Sabzalian, MR}, title = {Essential oil composition and total phenolic content in Cupressus arizonica G. in response to microbial inoculation under water stress conditions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1209}, pmid = {36681696}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Cupressus/metabolism ; Dehydration ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Oils, Volatile/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Seedlings ; Droughts ; }, abstract = {Arizona Cypress is one of the drought-resistant, aromatic, and aesthetically pleasing trees having several pharmacological uses. Certain microorganisms contribute to the secondary metabolism and synthesis of bioactive compounds in aromatic and medicinal plants. This study aimed to determine the photosynthetic pigments, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and essential oil composition of Arizona cypress under two irrigation regimes and microbial inoculations. We established a factorial experiment with three mycorrhizae inoculations (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, and a mixture of R. irregularis and F. mosseae), a rhizobacterium inoculation (Pseudomonas fluorescens), and two irrigation regimes (well-watered and water stress). Under the water stress regime, seedlings inoculated with F. mosseae (0.46%) and non-inoculated control plants (0.29%) had the highest and lowest essential oil contents, respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed that limonen, a-pinene, terpinen-4-ol, and umbellulone were the most abundant compounds in the seedlings and treatments under study. The water stress regime had a significant and dominant effect on essential oil and antioxidant capacity, whereas seedling growth and photosynthetic pigments tended to decrease under stress conditions. However, co-inoculation of seedlings with mycorrhizae and the bacterium resulted in an increase in phenolic compounds and carotenoids. Under conditions of water stress and mycorrhizal symbiosis, the results of the current study may help increase the level of valuable compounds in Arizona cypress for further pharmaceutical applications.}, } @article {pmid36681082, year = {2023}, author = {Cervantes-Pérez, SA and Thibivilliers, S and Laffont, C and Farmer, AD and Frugier, F and Libault, M}, title = {Cell-specific pathways recruited for symbiotic nodulation in the Medicago truncatula legume.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {481-483}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2023.01.002}, pmid = {36681082}, issn = {1752-9867}, } @article {pmid36680640, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, J and Varshney, V and Mishra, V}, title = {AUR1 and its pals: orchestration of intracellular rhizobia infection in legume for nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {649-653}, pmid = {36680640}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Vegetables ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We highlight the newly emerged regulatory role of a mitotic kinase AUR1, its activator, and its microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in infection thread formation for root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36679113, year = {2023}, author = {Chiaranunt, P and White, JF}, title = {Plant Beneficial Bacteria and Their Potential Applications in Vertical Farming Systems.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36679113}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In this literature review, we discuss the various functions of beneficial plant bacteria in improving plant nutrition, the defense against biotic and abiotic stress, and hormonal regulation. We also review the recent research on rhizophagy, a nutrient scavenging mechanism in which bacteria enter and exit root cells on a cyclical basis. These concepts are covered in the contexts of soil agriculture and controlled environment agriculture, and they are also used in vertical farming systems. Vertical farming-its advantages and disadvantages over soil agriculture, and the various climatic factors in controlled environment agriculture-is also discussed in relation to plant-bacterial relationships. The different factors under grower control, such as choice of substrate, oxygenation rates, temperature, light, and CO2 supplementation, may influence plant-bacterial interactions in unintended ways. Understanding the specific effects of these environmental factors may inform the best cultural practices and further elucidate the mechanisms by which beneficial bacteria promote plant growth.}, } @article {pmid36679027, year = {2023}, author = {Xie, X and Huang, Z and Lv, W and Zhu, H and Hui, G and Li, R and Lei, X and Li, Z}, title = {Influence of Nitrogen Application Rate on the Importance of NO3[-]-N and NH4[+]-N Transfer via Extramycelia of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza to Tomato with Expression of LeNRT2.3 and LeAMT1.1.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36679027}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualistic symbiotic relationships with many land plants and play a key role in nitrogen (N) acquisition. NO3[-]-N and NH4[+]-N are the main sources of soil mineral N, but how extraradical mycelial transfer affects the different N forms and levels available to tomato plants is not clear. In the present study, we set up hyphal compartments (HCs) to study the efficiency of N transfer from the extramycelium to tomato plants treated with different N forms and levels of fertilization. Labeled [15]NO3[-]-N or [15]NH4[+]-N was placed in hyphal compartments under high and low N application levels. [15]N accumulation in shoots and the expression of LeNRT2.3, LeAMT1.1, and LeAMT1.2 in the roots of tomato were measured. According to our results, both [15]NO3[-]-N and [15]NH4[+]-N were transported via extraradical mycelia to the shoots of plants. [15]N accumulation in shoots was similar, regardless of the N form, while a higher [15]N concentration was found in shoots with low N application. Compared with the control, inoculation with AMF significantly increased the expression of LeAMT1.1 under high N and LeNRT2.3 under low N. The expression of LeAMT1.1 under high N was significantly increased when NO3[-]N was added, while the expression of LeNRT2.3 was significantly increased when NH4[+]-N was added under low N. Taken together, our results suggest that the N transfer by extraradical mycelia is crucial for the acquisition of both NO3[-]-N and NH4[+]-N by the tomato plant; however, partial N accumulation in plant tissue is more important with N deficiency compared with a higher N supply. The expression of N transporters was influenced by both the form and level of N supply.}, } @article {pmid36678989, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, B and Liu, K and Chen, X and Xiao, D and Wang, T and Yang, Y and Shuai, H and Wu, S and Yuan, L and Chen, L}, title = {Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Interaction of Sugar and Hormone Metabolism Involved in the Root Hair Morphogenesis of the Endangered Fir Abies beshanzuensis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36678989}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Abies beshanzuensis, an extremely rare and critically endangered plant with only three wild adult trees globally, is strongly mycorrhizal-dependent, leading to difficulties in protection and artificial breeding without symbiosis. Root hair morphogenesis plays an important role in the survival of mycorrhizal symbionts. Due to the lack of an effective genome and transcriptome of A. beshanzuensis, the molecular signals involved in the root hair development remain unknown, which hinders its endangered mechanism analysis and protection. Herein, transcriptomes of radicles with root hair (RH1) and without root hair (RH0) from A. beshanzuensis in vitro plantlets were primarily established. Functional annotation and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis showed that the two phenotypes have highly differentially expressed gene clusters. Transcriptome divergence identified hormone and sugar signaling primarily involved in root hair morphogenesis of A. beshanzuensis. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) coupled with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) found that two hormone-sucrose-root hair modules were linked by IAA17, and SUS was positioned in the center of the regulation network, co-expressed with SRK2E in hormone transduction and key genes related to root hair morphogenesis. Our results contribute to better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of root hair development and offer new insights into deciphering the survival mechanism of A. beshanzuensis and other endangered species, utilizing root hair as a compensatory strategy instead of poor mycorrhizal growth.}, } @article {pmid36678361, year = {2022}, author = {Doty, SL and Joubert, PM and Firrincieli, A and Sher, AW and Tournay, R and Kill, C and Parikh, SS and Okubara, P}, title = {Potential Biocontrol Activities of Populus Endophytes against Several Plant Pathogens Using Different Inhibitory Mechanisms.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36678361}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {The plant microbiome can be used to bolster plant defense against abiotic and biotic stresses. Some strains of endophytes, the microorganisms within plants, can directly inhibit the growth of plant fungal pathogens. A previously isolated endophyte from wild Populus (poplar), WPB of the species Burkholderia vietnamiensis, had robust in vitro antifungal activity against pathogen strains that are highly virulent and of concern to Pacific Northwest agriculture: Rhizoctonia solani AG-8, Fusarium culmorum 70110023, and Gaemannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) ARS-A1, as well as activity against the oomycete, Pythium ultimum 217. A direct screening method was developed for isolation of additional anti-fungal endophytes from wild poplar extracts. By challenging pathogens directly with dilute extracts, eleven isolates were found to be inhibitory to at least two plant pathogen strains and were therefore chosen for further characterization. Genomic analysis was conducted to determine if these endophyte strains harbored genes known to be involved in antimicrobial activities. The newly isolated Bacillus strains had gene clusters for production of bacillomycin, fengicyn, and bacillibactin, while the gene cluster for the synthesis of sessilin, viscosin and tolaasin were found in the Pseudomonas strains. The biosynthesis gene cluster for occidiofungin (ocf) was present in the Burkholderia vietnamiensis WPB genome, and an ocf deletion mutant lost inhibitory activity against 3 of the 4 pathogens. The new isolates lacked the gene cluster for occidiofungin implying they employ different modes of action. Other symbiotic traits including nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and the production of auxins and siderophores were investigated. Although it will be necessary to conduct in vivo tests of the candidates with pathogen-infected agricultural crops, the wild poplar tree microbiome may be a rich source of beneficial endophyte strains with potential for biocontrol applications against a variety of pathogens and utilizing varying modes of action.}, } @article {pmid36677548, year = {2023}, author = {Aziz, T and Naveed, M and Makhdoom, SI and Ali, U and Mughal, MS and Sarwar, A and Khan, AA and Zhennai, Y and Sameeh, MY and Dablool, AS and Alharbi, AA and Shahzad, M and Alamri, AS and Alhomrani, M}, title = {Genome Investigation and Functional Annotation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YW11 Revealing Streptin and Ruminococcin-A as Potent Nutritive Bacteriocins against Gut Symbiotic Pathogens.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677548}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; *Bacteriocins/genetics/pharmacology/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; *Lactobacillus plantarum/metabolism ; }, abstract = {All nutrient-rich feed and food environments, as well as animal and human mucosae, include lactic acid bacteria known as Lactobacillus plantarum. This study reveals an advanced analysis to study the interaction of probiotics with the gastrointestinal environment, irritable bowel disease, and immune responses along with the analysis of the secondary metabolites’ characteristics of Lp YW11. Whole genome sequencing of Lp YW11 revealed 2297 genes and 1078 functional categories of which 223 relate to carbohydrate metabolism, 21 against stress response, and the remaining 834 are involved in different cellular and metabolic pathways. Moreover, it was found that Lp YW11 consists of carbohydrate-active enzymes, which mainly contribute to 37 glycoside hydrolase and 28 glycosyltransferase enzyme coding genes. The probiotics obtained from the BACTIBASE database (streptin and Ruminococcin-A bacteriocins) were docked with virulent proteins (cdt, spvB, stxB, and ymt) of Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia, respectively. These bacteria are the main pathogenic gut microbes that play a key role in causing various gastrointestinal diseases. The molecular docking, dynamics, and immune simulation analysis in this study predicted streptin and Ruminococcin-A as potent nutritive bacteriocins against gut symbiotic pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36677491, year = {2023}, author = {Mazoyon, C and Hirel, B and Pecourt, A and Catterou, M and Gutierrez, L and Sarazin, V and Dubois, F and Duclercq, J}, title = {Sphingomonas sediminicola Is an Endosymbiotic Bacterium Able to Induce the Formation of Root Nodules in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and to Enhance Plant Biomass Production.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677491}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The application of bacterial bio-inputs is a very attractive alternative to the use of mineral fertilisers. In ploughed soils including a crop rotation pea, we observed an enrichment of bacterial communities with Sphingomonas (S.) sediminicola. Inoculation experiments, cytological studies, and de novo sequencing were used to investigate the beneficial role of S. sediminicola in pea. S. sediminicola is able to colonise pea plants and establish a symbiotic association that promotes plant biomass production. Sequencing of the S. sediminicola genome revealed the existence of genes involved in secretion systems, Nod factor synthesis, and nitrogenase activity. Light and electron microscopic observations allowed us to refine the different steps involved in the establishment of the symbiotic association, including the formation of infection threads, the entry of the bacteria into the root cells, and the development of differentiated bacteroids in root nodules. These results, together with phylogenetic analysis, demonstrated that S. sediminicola is a non-rhizobia that has the potential to develop a beneficial symbiotic association with a legume. Such a symbiotic association could be a promising alternative for the development of more sustainable agricultural practices, especially under reduced N fertilisation conditions.}, } @article {pmid36677447, year = {2023}, author = {Fujishima, M and Kawano, H and Miyakawa, I}, title = {A 63-kDa Periplasmic Protein of the Endonuclear Symbiotic Bacterium Holospora obtusa Secreted to the Outside of the Bacterium during the Early Infection Process Binds Weakly to the Macronuclear DNA of the Host Paramecium caudatum.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677447}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The Gram-negative bacterium Holospora obtusa is a macronucleus-specific symbiont of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum. It is known that an infection of this bacterium induces high level expressions of the host hsp60 and hsp70 genes, and the host cell acquires both heat-shock and high salt resistances. In addition, an infectious form of H. obtusa-specific 63-kDa periplasmic protein with a DNA-binding domain in its amino acid sequence is secreted into the host macronucleus after invasion into the macronucleus and remain within the nucleus. These facts suggest that binding of the 63-kDa protein to the host macronuclear DNA causes changes in the host gene expressions and enhances an environmental adaptability of the host cells. This 63-kDa protein was renamed as periplasmic region protein 1 (PRP1) to distinguish it from other proteins with similar molecular weights. To confirm whether PRP1 indeed binds to the host DNA, SDS-DNA PAGE and DNA affinity chromatography with calf thymus DNA and P. caudatum DNA were conducted and confirmed that PRP1 binds weakly to the P. caudatum DNA with a monoclonal antibody raised for the 63-kDa protein.}, } @article {pmid36677361, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and He, G and He, T and Saleem, M}, title = {Signaling and Detoxification Strategies in Plant-Microbes Symbiosis under Heavy Metal Stress: A Mechanistic Understanding.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677361}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plants typically interact with a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and other organisms, in their above- and below-ground parts. In the biosphere, the interactions of plants with diverse microbes enable them to acquire a wide range of symbiotic advantages, resulting in enhanced plant growth and development and stress tolerance to toxic metals (TMs). Recent studies have shown that certain microorganisms can reduce the accumulation of TMs in plants through various mechanisms and can reduce the bioavailability of TMs in soil. However, relevant progress is lacking in summarization. This review mechanistically summarizes the common mediating pathways, detoxification strategies, and homeostatic mechanisms based on the research progress of the joint prevention and control of TMs by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-plant and Rhizobium-plant interactions. Given the importance of tripartite mutualism in the plant-microbe system, it is necessary to further explore key signaling molecules to understand the role of plant-microbe mutualism in improving plant tolerance under heavy metal stress in the contaminated soil environments. It is hoped that our findings will be useful in studying plant stress tolerance under a broad range of environmental conditions and will help in developing new technologies for ensuring crop health and performance in future.}, } @article {pmid36677351, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Lin, Y and Guan, N and Song, Y and Li, Y and Xie, X}, title = {A Lipopolysaccharide Synthesis Gene rfaD from Mesorhizobium huakuii Is Involved in Nodule Development and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677351}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Rhizobium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an important component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and serves as a signal molecule on the surface of rhizobia, participating in the symbiosis during rhizobia-legume interaction. In this study, we constructed a deletion mutant of ADP-L-glycerol-D-mannoheptosyl-6-exoisomerase (rfaD) of Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R and a functional complementary strain. The results showed that the deletion of rfaD did not affect the free-living growth rate of 7653R, but that it did affect the LPS synthesis and that it increased sensitivity to abiotic stresses. The rfaD promoter-GUS reporter assay showed that the gene was mainly expressed in the infection zone of the mature nodules. The root nodules formation of the rfaD mutant was delayed during symbiosis with the host plant of Astragalus sinicus. The symbiotic phenotype analyses showed that the nodules of A. sinicus lost symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability, when inoculated with the rfaD mutant strain. In conclusion, our results reveal that the 7653R rfaD gene plays a crucial role in the LPS synthesis involved in the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and A. sinicus. This study also provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which the rhizobia regulate their own gene expression and cell wall components enabling nodulation in legumes.}, } @article {pmid36677342, year = {2022}, author = {Prado-Tarango, DE and Mata-Gonzalez, R and Hovland, M}, title = {Drought and Competition Mediate Mycorrhizal Colonization, Growth Rate, and Nutrient Uptake in Three Artemisia Species.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677342}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The genus Artemisia includes several keystone shrub species that dominate the North American sagebrush steppe. Their growth, survival, and establishment are negatively affected by exotic invasive grasses such as Taeniatherum caput-medusae. While the outcomes of symbiotic relationships between Artemisia spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ambiguous, the benefits of ameliorated nutrient and drought stress may be cryptic and better revealed under competition. We evaluated the effects of a commercial AMF inoculum on ameliorating biotic (competition with T. caput-medusae) and abiotic (drought) stress of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia arbuscula, and Artemisia nova when grown in sterile and microbially active field soil. Stress amelioration was measured as an increase in biomass production and nutrient acquisition. Mycorrhizal colonization of roots was lower in Artemisia plants grown in competition, while T. caput-medusae colonization was higher in plants with greater moisture. Both types of stress negatively affected plant biomass. Commercial AMF inoculation did not increase biomass. Colonization from field soil increased average phosphorous concentration under drought for A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis by 36% and A. nova by 125%. While commercial inoculum and live soil led to AMF colonization of T. caput-medusae, only the commercial inoculum increased average phosphorus uptake by 71%.}, } @article {pmid36677293, year = {2022}, author = {Betancur-Murillo, CL and Aguilar-Marín, SB and Jovel, J}, title = {Prevotella: A Key Player in Ruminal Metabolism.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36677293}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Ruminants are foregut fermenters that have the remarkable ability of converting plant polymers that are indigestible to humans into assimilable comestibles like meat and milk, which are cornerstones of human nutrition. Ruminants establish a symbiotic relationship with their microbiome, and the latter is the workhorse of carbohydrate fermentation. On the other hand, during carbohydrate fermentation, synthesis of propionate sequesters H, thus reducing its availability for the ultimate production of methane (CH4) by methanogenic archaea. Biochemically, methane is the simplest alkane and represents a downturn in energetic efficiency in ruminants; environmentally, it constitutes a potent greenhouse gas that negatively affects climate change. Prevotella is a very versatile microbe capable of processing a wide range of proteins and polysaccharides, and one of its fermentation products is propionate, a trait that appears conspicuous in P. ruminicola strain 23. Since propionate, but not acetate or butyrate, constitutes an H sink, propionate-producing microbes have the potential to reduce methane production. Accordingly, numerous studies suggest that members of the genus Prevotella have the ability to divert the hydrogen flow in glycolysis away from methanogenesis and in favor of propionic acid production. Intended for a broad audience in microbiology, our review summarizes the biochemistry of carbohydrate fermentation and subsequently discusses the evidence supporting the essential role of Prevotella in lignocellulose processing and its association with reduced methane emissions. We hope this article will serve as an introduction to novice Prevotella researchers and as an update to others more conversant with the topic.}, } @article {pmid36675931, year = {2023}, author = {de Menezes, TA and Aburjaile, FF and Quintanilha-Peixoto, G and Tomé, LMR and Fonseca, PLC and Mendes-Pereira, T and Araújo, DS and Melo, TS and Kato, RB and Delabie, JHC and Ribeiro, SP and Brenig, B and Azevedo, V and Drechsler-Santos, ER and Andrade, BS and Góes-Neto, A}, title = {Unraveling the Secrets of a Double-Life Fungus by Genomics: Ophiocordyceps australis CCMB661 Displays Molecular Machinery for Both Parasitic and Endophytic Lifestyles.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675931}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Ophiocordyceps australis (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) is a classic entomopathogenic fungus that parasitizes ants (Hymenoptera, Ponerinae, Ponerini). Nonetheless, according to our results, this fungal species also exhibits a complete set of genes coding for plant cell wall degrading Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), enabling a full endophytic stage and, consequently, its dual ability to both parasitize insects and live inside plant tissue. The main objective of our study was the sequencing and full characterization of the genome of the fungal strain of O. australis (CCMB661) and its predicted secretome. The assembled genome had a total length of 30.31 Mb, N50 of 92.624 bp, GC content of 46.36%, and 8,043 protein-coding genes, 175 of which encoded CAZymes. In addition, the primary genes encoding proteins and critical enzymes during the infection process and those responsible for the host-pathogen interaction have been identified, including proteases (Pr1, Pr4), aminopeptidases, chitinases (Cht2), adhesins, lectins, lipases, and behavioral manipulators, such as enterotoxins, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs), and Glycoside Hydrolases (GHs). Our findings indicate that the presence of genes coding for Mad2 and GHs in O. australis may facilitate the infection process in plants, suggesting interkingdom colonization. Furthermore, our study elucidated the pathogenicity mechanisms for this Ophiocordyceps species, which still is scarcely studied.}, } @article {pmid36675920, year = {2023}, author = {Otero, A and Barcenas-Peña, A and Lumbsch, HT and Grewe, F}, title = {Reference-Based RADseq Unravels the Evolutionary History of Polar Species in 'the Crux Lichenologorum' Genus Usnea (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675920}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Nearly 90% of fungal diversity, one of the most speciose branches in the tree of life, remains undescribed. Lichenized fungi as symbiotic associations are still a challenge for species delimitation, and current species diversity is vastly underestimated. The ongoing democratization of Next-Generation Sequencing is turning the tables. Particularly, reference-based RADseq allows for metagenomic filtering of the symbiont sequence and yields robust phylogenomic trees of closely related species. We implemented reference-based RADseq to disentangle the evolution of neuropogonoid lichens, which inhabit harsh environments and belong to Usnea (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota), one of the most taxonomically intriguing genera within lichenized fungi. Full taxon coverage of neuropogonoid lichens was sampled for the first time, coupled with phenotype characterizations. More than 20,000 loci of 126 specimens were analyzed through concatenated and coalescent-based methods, including time calibrations. Our analysis addressed the major taxonomic discussions over recent decades. Subsequently, two species are newly described, namely U. aymondiana and U. fibriloides, and three species names are resurrected. The late Miocene and Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary is inferred as the timeframe for neuropogonoid lichen diversification. Ultimately, this study helped fill the gap of fungal diversity by setting a solid backbone phylogeny which raises new questions about which factors may trigger complex evolutionary scenarios.}, } @article {pmid36675911, year = {2023}, author = {Mathew, SA and Helander, M and Saikkonen, K and Vankova, R and Dobrev, PI and Dirihan, S and Fuchs, B}, title = {Epichloë Endophytes Shape the Foliar Endophytic Fungal Microbiome and Alter the Auxin and Salicylic Acid Phytohormone Levels in Two Meadow Fescue Cultivars.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675911}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Plants harbor a large diversity of endophytic microbes. Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) is a cool-season grass known for its symbiotic relationship with the systemic and vertically-via seeds-transmitted fungal endophyte Epichloë uncinata, yet its effects on plant hormones and the microbial community is largely unexplored. Here, we sequenced the endophytic bacterial and fungal communities in the leaves and roots, analyzing phytohormone concentrations and plant performance parameters in Epichloë-symbiotic (E+) and Epichloë-free (E-) individuals of two meadow fescue cultivars. The endophytic microbial community differed between leaf and root tissues independent of Epichloë symbiosis, while the fungal community was different in the leaves of Epichloë-symbiotic and Epichloë-free plants in both cultivars. At the same time, Epichloë symbiosis decreased salicylic acid and increased auxin concentrations in leaves. Epichloë-symbiotic plants showed higher biomass and higher seed mass at the end of the season. Our results demonstrate that Epichloë symbiosis alters the leaf fungal microbiota, which coincides with changes in phytohormone concentrations, indicating that Epichloë endophytes affect both plant immune responses and other fungal endophytes. Whether the effect of Epichloë endophytes on other fungal endophytes is connected to changes in phytohormone concentrations remains to be elucidated.}, } @article {pmid36675907, year = {2023}, author = {Novotná, A and Mennicken, S and de Paula, CCP and Vogt-Schilb, H and Kotilínek, M and Těšitelová, T and Šmilauer, P and Jersáková, J}, title = {Variability in Nutrient Use by Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi in Two Medium Types.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675907}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) from the rhizoctonia aggregate are generally considered to be soil saprotrophs, but their ability to utilize various nutrient sources has been studied in a limited number of isolates cultivated predominantly in liquid media, although rhizoctonia typically grow on the surface of solid substrates. Nine isolates representing the key OMF families (Ceratobasidiaceae, Tulasnellaceae and Serendipitaceae), sampled in Southern France and the Czech Republic, were tested for their ability to utilize carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) sources in vitro in both liquid and solid media. The isolates showed significant inter- and intra-familiar variability in nutrient utilization, most notably in N sources. Isolates produced generally larger amounts of dry biomass on solid medium than in liquid one, but some isolates showed no or limited biomass production on solid medium with particular nutrient sources. The largest amount of biomass was produced by isolates from the family Ceratobasidiaceae on most sources in both medium types. The biomass production of Tulasnellaceae isolates was affected by their phylogenetic relatedness on all sources and medium types. The ability of isolates to utilize particular nutrients in a liquid medium but not a solid one should be considered when optimizing solid media for symbiotic orchid seed germination and in understanding of OMF functional traits under in situ conditions.}, } @article {pmid36675877, year = {2022}, author = {Silva-Castro, GA and Cano, C and Moreno-Morillas, S and Bago, A and García-Romera, I}, title = {Inoculation of Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Strategy for the Recovery of Long-Term Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils in a Mine-Spill Area.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675877}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) offer an effective indirect mechanism to reduce heavy metal (HM) stress; however, it is still not clear which AMF species are more efficient as bioremediating agents. We selected different species of AMF: Rhizoglomus custos (Custos); Rhizoglomus sp. (Aznalcollar); and Rhizophagus irregularis (Intraradices), in order to study their inoculation in wheat grown in two soils contaminated with two levels of HMs; we tested the phytoprotection potential of the different AMF symbioses, as well as the physiological responses of the plants to HM stress. Plants inoculated with indigenous Aznalcollar fungus exhibited higher levels of accumulation, mainly in the shoots of most of the HM analyzed in heavily contaminated soil. However, the plants inoculated with the non-indigenous Custos and Intraradices showed depletion of some of the HM. In the less-contaminated soil, the Custos and Intraradices fungi exhibited the greatest bioaccumulation capacity. Interestingly, soil enzymatic activity and the enzymatic antioxidant systems of the plant increased in all AMF treatments tested in the soils with both degrees of contamination. Our results highlight the different AMF strategies with similar effectiveness, whereby Aznalcollar improves phytoremediation, while both Custos and Intraradices enhance the bioprotection of wheat in HM-contaminated environments.}, } @article {pmid36675845, year = {2022}, author = {Li, L and Guo, N and Zhang, Y and Yuan, Z and Lu, A and Li, S and Wang, Z}, title = {Reprogramming of Fundamental miRNA and Gene Expression during the Barley-Piriformospora indica Interaction.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675845}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The interactions between plants and microorganisms, which are widely present in the microbial-dominated rhizosphere, have been studied. This association is highly beneficial to the organisms involved, as plants benefit soil microorganisms by providing them with metabolites, while microorganisms promote plant growth and development by promoting nutrient uptake and/or protecting the plant from biotic and abiotic stresses. Piriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, colonizes the roots of a wide range of host plants and establishes various benefits for the plants. In this work, an interaction between barley and the P. indica was established to elucidate microRNA (miRNA)-based regulatory changes in miRNA profiles and gene expression that occurred during the symbiosis. Growth promotion and vigorous root development were confirmed in barley colonized by P. indica. The genome-wide expression profile analysis of miRNAs in barley root showed that 7,798,928, 6,418,039 and 7,136,192 clean reads were obtained from the libraries of mock, 3 dai and 7 dai roots, respectively. Sequencing of the barley genome yielded in 81 novel miRNA and 450 differently expressed genes (DEGs). Additionally, 11, 24, 6 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) in barley were found in the three comparison groups, including 3 dai vs. mock, 7 dai vs. mock and 7 dai vs. 3 dai, respectively. The predicted target genes of these miRNAs are mainly involved in transcription, cell division, auxin signal perception and transduction, photosynthesis and hormone stimulus. Transcriptome analysis of P. indica identified 667 and 594 differentially expressed genes (DEG) at 3 dai and 7 dai. Annotation and GO (Gene Ontology) analysis indicated that the DEGs with the greatest changes were concentrated in oxidoreductase activity, ion transmembrane transporter activity. It implies that reprogramming of fundamental miRNA and gene expression occurs both in barley and P. indica. Analysis of global changes in miRNA profiles of barley colonized with P. indica revealed that several putative endogenous barley miRNAs expressed upon colonization belonging to known micro RNA families involved in growth and developmental regulation.}, } @article {pmid36675835, year = {2022}, author = {Kalske, A and Saikkonen, K and Helander, M}, title = {Endophytic Fungus Negatively Affects Salt Tolerance of Tall Fescue.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36675835}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Vertically transmitted endophytic fungi can mitigate the negative effects of salinity encountered by their host grass and alter the competitive interactions between plant individuals. To experimentally study the interactive effects of the fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala on salt tolerance and intraspecific competition of its host plant, tall fescue Festuca arundinacea, we subjected 15 maternal lines of each Epichloë associated (E+) and Epichloë free (E-) tall fescue to salt treatment and competition in the greenhouse and common garden. Then, to explore variation in endophyte incidence in natural populations of tall fescue, we surveyed 23 natural populations occurring on or near the Baltic Sea coast in Aland islands in southwestern Finland for endophyte incidence, distance to shore, and competitive environment. Under salinity in the greenhouse, E- plants grew larger than E+ plants, but there was no size difference in the control treatment. E- plants grew taller and were more likely to flower than E+ plants when grown in benign conditions in the common garden but not with salinity or competition. The frequency of Epichloë incidence was high (90%) in natural populations, and it decreased towards the shore and risk of salt exposure. These results demonstrate a negative effect of Epichloë endophyte on the salt tolerance of its host. The high incidence of Epichloë in natural populations of tall fescue in the northern part of the species distribution range is likely due to factors other than salinity.}, } @article {pmid36674741, year = {2023}, author = {Li, M and Wang, Y and Zhang, P and Bai, C and Cao, L and Li, L and Jiang, J and Ding, X and Xiao, J}, title = {The Role of GmSnRK1-GmNodH Module in Regulating Soybean Nodulation Capacity.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36674741}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Soybeans/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {SnRK1 protein kinase plays hub roles in plant carbon and nitrogen metabolism. However, the function of SnRK1 in legume nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation is still elusive. In this study, we identified GmNodH, a putative sulfotransferase, as an interacting protein of GmSnRK1 by yeast two-hybrid screen. The qRT-PCR assays indicate that GmNodH gene is highly expressed in soybean roots and could be induced by rhizobial infection and nitrate stress. Fluorescence microscopic analyses showed that GmNodH was colocalized with GsSnRK1 on plasma membrane. The physical interaction between GmNodH and GmSnRK1 was further verified by using split-luciferase complementary assay and pull-down approaches. In vitro phosphorylation assay showed that GmSnRK1 could phosphorylate GmNodH at Ser193. To dissect the function and genetic relationship of GmSnRK1 and GmNodH in soybean, we co-expressed the wild-type and mutated GmSnRK1 and GmNodH genes in soybean hairy roots and found that co-expression of GmSnRK1/GmNodH genes significantly promoted soybean nodulation rates and the expression levels of nodulation-related GmNF5α and GmNSP1 genes. Taken together, this study provides the first biological evidence that GmSnRK1 may interact with and phosphorylate GmNodH to synergistically regulate soybean nodulation.}, } @article {pmid36674632, year = {2023}, author = {Kalapchieva, S and Tringovska, I and Bozhinova, R and Kosev, V and Hristeva, T}, title = {Population Response of Rhizosphere Microbiota of Garden Pea Genotypes to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36674632}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Peas ; Rhizosphere ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Fungi ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Genotype ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study of a legume's rhizosphere in tripartite symbiosis focused on the relationships between the symbionts and less on the overall rhizosphere microbiome. We used an experimental model with different garden pea genotypes inoculated with AM fungi (Rhizophagus irregularis and with a mix of AM species) to study their influence on the population levels of main trophic groups of soil microorganisms as well as their structure and functional relationships in the rhizosphere microbial community. The experiments were carried out at two phenological cycles of the plants. Analyzes were performed according to classical methods: microbial population density defined as CUF/g a.d.s. and root colonization rate with AMF (%). We found a proven dominant effect of AMF on the densities of micromycetes and actinomycetes in the direction of reduction, suggesting antagonism, and on ammonifying, phosphate-solubilizing and free-living diazotrophic Azotobacter bacteria in the direction of stimulation, an indicator of mutualistic relationships. We determined that the genotype was decisive for the formation of populations of bacteria immobilizing mineral NH4[+]-N and bacteria Rhizobium. We reported significant two-way relationships between trophic groups related associated with soil nitrogen and phosphorus ions availability. The preserved proportions between trophic groups in the microbial communities were indicative of structural and functional stability.}, } @article {pmid36674600, year = {2023}, author = {Di Stefano, M and Santonocito, S and Polizzi, A and Mauceri, R and Troiano, G and Lo Giudice, A and Romano, A and Mascitti, M and Isola, G}, title = {A Reciprocal Link between Oral, Gut Microbiota during Periodontitis: The Potential Role of Probiotics in Reducing Dysbiosis-Induced Inflammation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36674600}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Dysbiosis ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontitis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Inflammation ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Human body is colonized by a florid microbial community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, helminths, and viruses, known as microbiota, which co-evolves with the host and influences its health through all stages of its life. It is well known that oral microorganisms form highly structurally and functionally organized multi-species biofilms and establish a network of complex mutual inter-species interactions having a primary function in synergy, signaling, or antagonism. This ecological model allows the microorganisms to increase their resistance to antimicrobial agents and settle a balanced microbes-host symbiotic relationship that ensures oral and global health status in humans. The host-associated microbiome is an important factor in human health and disease. Therefore, to develop novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies, microbiome's functions and the reciprocal interactions every microbiome entertains with other microbial communities in the human body are being investigated. This review provides an analysis of the literature about the close connection between the two largest microbial communities in humans: the oral and the gut microbiomes. Furthermore, it focuses on how the alteration of their microbial and functional characteristics can lead to and reciprocally influence the onset of both oral and intestinal microbiome-associated illness, along with the potential role of probiotics in ameliorating inflammation and microbial dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36674551, year = {2023}, author = {Marczak, M and Żebracki, K and Koper, P and Horbowicz, A and Wójcik, M and Mazur, A}, title = {A New Face of the Old Gene: Deletion of the PssA, Encoding Monotopic Inner Membrane Phosphoglycosyl Transferase in Rhizobium leguminosarum, Leads to Diverse Phenotypes That Could Be Attributable to Downstream Effects of the Lack of Exopolysaccharide.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36674551}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Transferases/metabolism ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/metabolism ; Glycosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Glucose/metabolism ; Uridine Diphosphate/metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The biosynthesis of subunits of rhizobial exopolysaccharides is dependent on glycosyltransferases, which are usually encoded by large gene clusters. PssA is a member of a large family of phosphoglycosyl transferases catalyzing the transfer of a phosphosugar moiety to polyprenol phosphate; thus, it can be considered as priming glycosyltransferase commencing synthesis of the EPS repeating units in Rhizobium leguminosarum. The comprehensive analysis of PssA protein features performed in this work confirmed its specificity for UDP-glucose and provided evidence that PssA is a monotopic inner membrane protein with a reentrant membrane helix rather than a transmembrane segment. The bacterial two-hybrid system screening revealed interactions of PssA with some GTs involved in the EPS octasaccharide synthesis. The distribution of differentially expressed genes in the transcriptome of the ΔpssA mutant into various functional categories indicated complexity of cell response to the deletion, which can mostly be attributed to the lack of exopolysaccharide and downstream effects caused by such deficiency. The block in the EPS biosynthesis at the pssA step, potentially leading to an increased pool of UDP-glucose, is likely to be filtered through to other pathways, and thus the absence of EPS may indirectly affect the expression of proteins involved in these pathways.}, } @article {pmid36673475, year = {2023}, author = {Krastanov, A and Georgiev, M and Slavchev, A and Blazheva, D and Goranov, B and Ibrahim, SA}, title = {Design and Volatile Compound Profiling of Starter Cultures for Yogurt Preparation.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36673475}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Stable symbiotic starter cultures were created using selected strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus with antimicrobial activity against pathogens and necessary antibiotic sensitivity, growth kinetic parameters, and metabolic profiles. The volatile compound profiles of the obtained starter cultures were determined and their specificity was proven depending on the ratio of monocultures in each combination. The influence of the freeze-drying process on the starter cultures in relation to the production of aromatic components was investigated and it was demonstrated that this process had a significant effect on the content of the aroma-forming substances in the fermented milk. However, the influence of the pre-cooling process and crude fat content from 1.5 to 3.0% did not notably affect the levels of volatile compounds synthesized by the selected starter cultures. Comprehensive data for all volatile aromatic metabolites in the fermented milk were also obtained. These designed symbiotic starter cultures can be used to produce traditional Bulgarian yogurt with increased functional and probiotic properties.}, } @article {pmid36673281, year = {2023}, author = {Kumar, N and Jensen, HJ and Viegas, E}, title = {Economic Trading Susceptibility: Constructing Networks of Mutual Influence through the Fitness of Countries.}, journal = {Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36673281}, issn = {1099-4300}, abstract = {The emergence of economic blocks and the level of influence countries exert on each other are fundamental features of the 21st century globally interconnected economy. However, limited quantitative research exists measuring the level of influence among countries and quantitatively determining economic blocks. This research develops a method to quantify the mutual influence of countries by making use of relatively standard procedures for complex networks in order to assemble non-trivial networks of influences and to identify symbiotic relationships. The methods are of significant help to an enhanced understanding of the global politics of trading and associations. Moreover, we develop the Mutual Influence Robustness (MIR) metric to work together with the Economic Fitness metric to provide some level of predictive modeling for the trends and future paths of countries. Our key results show the existence of a mutually influencing network around East and Southeast Asia, developed North America, and the northern and Iberian countries. Moreover, we find that it is possible to do some level of path predictability for the fitness and mutual influence of countries.}, } @article {pmid36671720, year = {2022}, author = {Awad, M and Ben Gharsa, H and ElKraly, OA and Leclerque, A and Elnagdy, SM}, title = {COI Haplotyping and Comparative Microbiomics of the Peach Fruit Fly, an Emerging Pest of Egyptian Olive Orchards.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36671720}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Tephritidae), is economically relevant as a highly polyphagous pest infesting over 50 host plants including commercial fruit and horticultural crops. As an invasive species, B. zonata was firmly established in Egypt and holds potential to spread further across the Mediterranean basin. The present study demonstrated that the peach fruit fly was found multiplying in olive orchards at two distant locations in Egypt. This is the first report of B. zonata developing in olives. COI barcoding has revealed evidence for high diversity across these peach fruit fly populations. These data are consistent with multiple rather than a single event leading to both peach fruit fly invasion to Egypt and its adaptation to olive. Comparative microbiomics data for B. zonata developing on different host plants were indicative for microbiome dynamics being involved in the adaptation to olive as a new niche with a potential adaptive role for Erwinia or Providencia bacteria. The possibility of symbiont transfer from the olive fruit fly to the peach fruit fly is discussed. Potentially host switch relevant bacterial symbionts might be preferred targets of symbiosis disruption strategies for integrated pest management or biological control of B. zonata.}, } @article {pmid36669540, year = {2023}, author = {He, Z and Xu, Y and Zhu, Y and Feng, J and Zhang, D and Pan, X}, title = {Long-term effects of soluble and insoluble ferric irons on anaerobic oxidation of methane in paddy soil.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {317}, number = {}, pages = {137901}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137901}, pmid = {36669540}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Ferric Compounds ; *Soil ; Methane ; Anaerobiosis ; Edetic Acid ; Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Iron ; }, abstract = {Iron-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (Fe-AOM) is an important process to reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere. It is well known that iron bioavailability largely influences microbial iron reduction, but the long-term effects of different ferric irons on soil Fe-AOM remain unknown. In this work, paddy soil in the ferruginous zone was collected and inoculated with insoluble ferrihydrite and soluble EDTA-Fe(III) for 420 days. Stable isotope experiments, activity inhibition tests, and molecular biological techniques were performed to reveal the activity, microbial community, and possible mechanism of paddy soil Fe-AOM. The results showed that ferrihydrite was a better electron acceptor for long-term Fe-AOM cultivation. Although EDTA-Fe(III) is highly bioavailable and could stimulate Fe-AOM activity for a short time, it restricted the activity increase in the long term. The abundances of archaea, iron-reducing bacteria (IRB), and gene mcrA largely increased after cultivation, indicating the important roles of mcrA-carrying archaea and IRB. Remarkably, archaeal communities were similar, but bacteria were totally different with different ferric irons. The results of the microbial community and activity inhibition suggested that Fe-AOM was performed likely by the cooperation between archaea (Methanomassiliicoccaceae or pGrfC26) and IRB in the cultures.}, } @article {pmid36669364, year = {2023}, author = {Lebedeva, MA and Dobychkina, DA and Yashenkova, YS and Romanyuk, DA and Lutova, LA}, title = {Local and systemic targets of the MtCLE35-SUNN pathway in the roots of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {281}, number = {}, pages = {153922}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2023.153922}, pmid = {36669364}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Peptides/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {CLE (CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION-related) peptides are systemic regulators of legume-rhizobium symbiosis that negatively control the number of nitrogen-fixing nodules. CLE peptides are produced in the root in response to rhizobia inoculation and/or nitrate treatment and are transported to the shoot where they are recognized by the CLV1-like (CLAVATA1-like) receptor kinase. As a result, a shoot-derived signaling pathway is activated that inhibits subsequent nodule development in the root. In Medicago truncatula, MtCLE35 is activated in response to rhizobia and nitrate treatment and the overexpression of this gene systemically inhibits nodulation. The inhibitory effect of MtCLE35 overexpression is dependent on the CLV1-like receptor kinase MtSUNN (SUPER NUMERIC NODULES), suggesting that MtSUNN could be involved in the reception of the MtCLE35 peptide. Yet little is known about the downstream genes regulated by a MtCLE35-activated response in the root. In order to identify genes whose expression levels could be regulated by the MtCLE35-MtSUNN pathway, we performed a MACE-Seq (Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends) transcriptomic analysis of MtCLE35-overexpressing roots. Among upregulated genes, the gene MtSUNN that encodes a putative receptor of MtCLE35 was detected. Moreover, we found that MtSUNN, as well as several other differentially expressed genes, were upregulated locally in MtCLE35-overexpressing roots whereas the MtTML1 and MtTML2 genes were upregulated systemically. Our data suggest that MtCLE35 has both local and systemic effects on target genes in the root.}, } @article {pmid36669206, year = {2023}, author = {Hinkelman, K and Yang, Y and Zuo, W}, title = {Design methodologies and engineering applications for ecosystem biomimicry: an interdisciplinary review spanning cyber, physical, and cyber-physical systems.}, journal = {Bioinspiration & biomimetics}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1088/1748-3190/acb520}, pmid = {36669206}, issn = {1748-3190}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Engineering ; Biomimetics/methods ; Algorithms ; }, abstract = {Ecosystem biomimicry is a promising pathway for sustainable development. However, while typical form- and process-level biomimicry is prevalent, system-level ecosystem biomimicry remains a nascent practice in numerous engineering fields. This critical review takes an interdisciplinary approach to synthesize trends across case studies, evaluate design methodologies, and identify future opportunities when applying ecosystem biomimicry to engineering practices, including cyber systems (CS), physical systems (PS), and cyber-physical systems (CPS). After systematically sourcing publications from major databases, the papers were first analyzed at a meta level for their bibliographic context and for statistical correlations among categorical variables. Then, we investigated deeper into the engineering applications and design methodologies. Results indicate that CPS most frequently mimic organisms and ecosystems, while CS and PS frequently mimic populations-communities and molecules-tissues-organ systems, respectively (statistically highly significant). An indirect approach is most often used for mimicry at organizational levels from populations to ecosystems, while a direct approach frequently suits levels from molecules to organisms (highly significant). Dominant themes across engineering applications include symbiotic organism search algorithms for CS and ecological network analysis for CPS, while PS are highly diverse. For design methodologies, this work summarizes and details ten well-documented biomimetic process models among literature, which addresses an outdated concern for a lack of systematic methods for ecosystem biomimicry. In addition to the Biomimetics Standard ISO 18458, these methods include the Natural Step and Techno-Ecological Synergy framework, among others. Further, the analyses revealed future opportunities from less utilized design methods (e.g. interdisciplinary teams tackling indirect, ecosystem-level projects) to well-established engineering concepts ready for technological advancement (e.g. implementing membrane computing for physical applications). For future studies, this review provides a comprehensive reference for ecosystem biomimetic design practices and application opportunities across multiple engineering domains.}, } @article {pmid36662226, year = {2023}, author = {Deutsch, JM and Green, MO and Akavaram, P and Davis, AC and Diskalkar, SS and Du Plessis, IA and Fallon, HA and Grason, EM and Kauf, EG and Kim, ZM and Miller, JR and Neal, AL and Riera, T and Stroeva, SE and Tran, J and Tran, V and Coronado, AV and Coronado, VV and Wall, BT and Yang, CM and Mohanty, I and Abrahamse, NH and Freeman, CJ and Easson, CG and Fiore, CL and Onstine, AE and Djeddar, N and Biliya, S and Bryksin, AV and Garg, N and Agarwal, V}, title = {Limited Metabolomic Overlap between Commensal Bacteria and Marine Sponge Holobionts Revealed by Large Scale Culturing and Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics: An Undergraduate Laboratory Pedagogical Effort at Georgia Tech.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36662226}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Georgia ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Metabolomics ; Students ; *Biological Products/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Sponges are the richest source of bioactive organic small molecules, referred to as natural products, in the marine environment. It is well established that laboratory culturing-resistant symbiotic bacteria residing within the eukaryotic sponge host matrix often synthesize the natural products that are detected in the sponge tissue extracts. However, the contributions of the culturing-amenable commensal bacteria that are also associated with the sponge host to the overall metabolome of the sponge holobiont are not well defined. In this study, we cultured a large library of bacteria from three marine sponges commonly found in the Florida Keys. Metabolomes of isolated bacterial strains and that of the sponge holobiont were compared using mass spectrometry to reveal minimal metabolomic overlap between commensal bacteria and the sponge hosts. We also find that the phylogenetic overlap between cultured commensal bacteria and that of the sponge microbiome is minimal. Despite these observations, the commensal bacteria were found to be a rich resource for novel natural product discovery. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics provided structural insights into these cryptic natural products. Pedagogic innovation in the form of laboratory curricula development is described which provided undergraduate students with hands-on instruction in microbiology and natural product discovery using metabolomic data mining strategies.}, } @article {pmid36662017, year = {2023}, author = {Morgan-Richards, M and Marshall, CJ and Biggs, PJ and Trewick, SA}, title = {Insect Freeze-Tolerance Downunder: The Microbial Connection.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36662017}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Insects that are freeze-tolerant start freezing at high sub-zero temperatures and produce small ice crystals. They do this using ice-nucleating agents that facilitate intercellular ice growth and prevent formation of large crystals where they can damage tissues. In Aotearoa/New Zealand the majority of cold adapted invertebrates studied survive freezing at any time of year, with ice formation beginning in the rich microbiome of the gut. Some freeze-tolerant insects are known to host symbiotic bacteria and/or fungi that produce ice-nucleating agents and we speculate that gut microbes of many New Zealand insects may provide ice-nucleating active compounds that moderate freezing. We consider too the possibility that evolutionary disparate freeze-tolerant insect species share gut microbes that are a source of ice-nucleating agents and so we describe potential transmission pathways of shared gut fauna. Despite more than 30 years of research into the freeze-tolerant mechanisms of Southern Hemisphere insects, the role of exogenous ice-nucleating agents has been neglected. Key traits of three New Zealand freeze-tolerant lineages are considered in light of the supercooling point (temperature of ice crystal formation) of microbial ice-nucleating particles, the initiation site of freezing, and the implications for invertebrate parasites. We outline approaches that could be used to investigate potential sources of ice-nucleating agents in freeze-tolerant insects and the tools employed to study insect microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid36661973, year = {2023}, author = {Cassar, T and Lapeva-Gjonova, A and Mifsud, D}, title = {The Intranidal Myrmecophiles of the Maltese Islands with Notes on Messor Nests as Repositories of Biodiversity.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36661973}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The intranidal myrmecophilous arthropod fauna of the Maltese Islands is reviewed. Thirty species from nine orders are found to be obligate myrmecophiles, of which four species are recorded from the Maltese archipelago for the first time: Phrurolithus sp. (Araneae: Phrurolithidae), Pogonolaelaps canestrinii (Berlese, 1904), Gymnolaelaps messor Joharchi, Halliday, Saboori & Kamali, 2011 and G. myrmecophilus (Berlese, 1892) (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae). Phrurolithus also represents the first record of the family Phrurolithidae in Malta. Notes on the biology and local distribution of each species are provided, including ant-myrmecophile associations, of which two appear to be previously unknown: the occurrence of Smynthurodes betae Westwood, 1849 (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the nest of Plagiolepis pygmaea (Latreille, 1798) and Phrurolithus in the nest of Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849). Fourteen additional species are found to be either only occasionally myrmecophilic, accidental ant-guests or potentially myrmecophilous, the latter remaining ambiguous due to a lack of knowledge of their biology. Of these, the family Caeculidae (Arachnida: Trombidiformes) represents a new record for the Maltese Islands, on the basis of Microcaeculus sp. occurring in a nest of Camponotus barbaricus Emery, 1905. Preliminary results indicate that Messor nests may be repositories of considerable myrmecophile diversity, with the most unique symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36661948, year = {2022}, author = {Zeni, V and Grassi, A and Santin, M and Ricciardi, R and Pieracci, Y and Flamini, G and Di Giovanni, F and Marmugi, M and Agnolucci, M and Avio, L and Turrini, A and Giovannetti, M and Castiglione, MR and Ranieri, A and Canale, A and Lucchi, A and Agathokleous, E and Benelli, G}, title = {Leaf UV-B Irradiation and Mycorrhizal Symbionts Affect Lettuce VOC Emissions and Defence Mechanisms, but Not Aphid Feeding Preferences.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36661948}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) play important roles in plant-insect interactions by altering plant physiology and histology. We hypothesized that UV-B-induced oxidative stress was mitigated by AMF symbiosis. In this study, we conducted a multifactorial experiment to explore lettuce plant response to AMF inoculation and UV-B exposure (0.4 W m[-2]; 16 h d[-1]; 2 weeks), either together or individually, as well as the interaction with the polyphagous insect pest Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Lettuce plants subjected to UV-B radiation showed an increase in callose and oxidative stress indicators, as well as a decrease in stomatal density. Mycorrhizal colonization cancelled out the effect of UV-B on stomatal density, while the symbiosis was not affected by UV-B treatment. The plant volatile emission was significantly altered by UV-B treatment. Specifically, the non-terpene 1-undecene abundance (+M/+UVB: 48.0 ± 7.78%; -M/+UVB: 56.6 ± 14.90%) was increased, whereas the content of the non-terpene aldehydes decanal (+M/+UVB: 8.50 ± 3.90%; -M/+UVB: 8.0 ± 4.87%) and undecanal (+M/+UVB: 2.1 ± 0.65%; -M/+UVB: 1.20 ± 1.18%) and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (+M/+UVB: 18.0 ± 9.62 %; -M/+UVB: 19.2 ± 5.90%) was decreased. Mycorrhization, on the other hand, had no significant effect on the plant volatilome, regardless of UV-B treatment. Aphid population was unaffected by any of the treatments, implying a neutral plant response. Overall, this study provides new insights about the interactions among plants, UV-B, and AMF, outlining their limited impact on a polyphagous insect pest.}, } @article {pmid36660921, year = {2023}, author = {Esatbeyoglu, T and Sarikaya Aydin, S and Gültekin Subasi, B and Erskine, E and Gök, R and Ibrahim, SA and Yilmaz, B and Özogul, F and Capanoglu, E}, title = {Additional advances related to the health benefits associated with kombucha consumption.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-18}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2022.2163373}, pmid = {36660921}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented, acidic beverage that dates back thousands of years as a remedy for various health problems in East Asia. Due to its health benefits, kombucha has gained popularity and attracted the attention of both consumers and researchers. The health benefits of kombucha are predominantly attributed to its bioactive compounds that have antioxidant, antimicrobial, probiotic, and other positive effects owing to fermentation. Many factors such as the type of the substrate used, the symbiotic culture of the bacterial yeast composition, and fermentation conditions influence the extent of these properties. This review focuses on recent developments regarding the bioactive constituents of kombucha and its potential health benefits (antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective effects) as well as its impact on multiple sclerosis, nephrotoxicity, gastric ulceration and gut microbiota. Additionally, the composition of kombucha, alternative uses of its biofilm, and potential toxicity are also discussed. Kombucha is a healthy and safe beverage with multiple health benefits that are primarily related to the presence of bacteria, yeasts, and other bioactive constituents. Moreover, kombucha has been suggested as a potential source of probiotics and eco-friendly materials (kombucha-derived bacterial cellulose) for several industries including food and textile.}, } @article {pmid36658193, year = {2023}, author = {Su, C and Rodriguez-Franco, M and Lace, B and Nebel, N and Hernandez-Reyes, C and Liang, P and Schulze, E and Mymrikov, EV and Gross, NM and Knerr, J and Wang, H and Siukstaite, L and Keller, J and Libourel, C and Fischer, AAM and Gabor, KE and Mark, E and Popp, C and Hunte, C and Weber, W and Wendler, P and Stanislas, T and Delaux, PM and Einsle, O and Grosse, R and Römer, W and Ott, T}, title = {Stabilization of membrane topologies by proteinaceous remorin scaffolds.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {323}, pmid = {36658193}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Carrier Proteins/metabolism ; *Phosphoproteins/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In plants, the topological organization of membranes has mainly been attributed to the cell wall and the cytoskeleton. Additionally, few proteins, such as plant-specific remorins have been shown to function as protein and lipid organizers. Root nodule symbiosis requires continuous membrane re-arrangements, with bacteria being finally released from infection threads into membrane-confined symbiosomes. We found that mutations in the symbiosis-specific SYMREM1 gene result in highly disorganized perimicrobial membranes. AlphaFold modelling and biochemical analyses reveal that SYMREM1 oligomerizes into antiparallel dimers and may form a higher-order membrane scaffolding structure. This was experimentally confirmed when expressing this and other remorins in wall-less protoplasts is sufficient where they significantly alter and stabilize de novo membrane topologies ranging from membrane blebs to long membrane tubes with a central actin filament. Reciprocally, mechanically induced membrane indentations were equally stabilized by SYMREM1. Taken together we describe a plant-specific mechanism that allows the stabilization of large-scale membrane conformations independent of the cell wall.}, } @article {pmid36658032, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, L and Guan, C and Zheng, J and Li, H and Li, S and Li, S and Lai, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {Rational design of intergrowth P2/O3 biphasic layered structure with reversible anionic redox chemistry and structural evolution for Na-ions batteries.}, journal = {Science bulletin}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {180-191}, doi = {10.1016/j.scib.2023.01.010}, pmid = {36658032}, issn = {2095-9281}, abstract = {Layered oxides have attracted unprecedented attention for their outstanding performance in sodium-ion battery cathodes. Among them, the two typical candidates P2 and O3 type materials generally demonstrate large diversities in specific capacity and cycling endurance with their advantages. Thus, composite materials that contain both P2 and O3 have been widely designed and constructed. Nevertheless, the anionic/cationic ions' behavior and structural evolution in such complex structures remain unclear. In this study, a deep analysis of an advanced Na0.732Ni0.273Mg0.096Mn0.63O2 material that contains 78.39 wt% P2 phase and 21.61 wt% O3 phase is performed based on two typical cathodes P2 Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 and O3 NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 that have the same elemental constitution but different crystal structures. Structural analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the composite is preferred to form a symbiotic structure at the atomic level, and the complex lattice texture of the biphase structure can block unfavorable ion and oxygen migration in the electrode process. Consequently, the biphase structure has significantly improved the electrochemical performance and kept preferable anionic oxygen redox reversibility. Furthermore, the hetero-epitaxy-like structure of the intergrowth of P2 and O3 structures share multi-phase boundaries, where the inconsistency in electrochemical behavior between P2 and O3 phases leads to an interlocking effect to prevent severe structural collapse and relieves the lattice strain from Na[+] de/intercalation. Hence, the symbiotic P2/O3 composite materials exhibited a preferable capacity and cyclability (∼130 mAh g[-1] at 0.1 C, 73.1% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1 C), as well as reversible structural evolution. These findings confirmed the advantages of using the bi/multi-phase cathode for high-energy Na-ion batteries.}, } @article {pmid36657449, year = {2023}, author = {Su, C and Zhang, G and Rodriguez-Franco, M and Hinnenberg, R and Wietschorke, J and Liang, P and Yang, W and Uhler, L and Li, X and Ott, T}, title = {Transcellular progression of infection threads in Medicago truncatula roots is associated with locally confined cell wall modifications.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {533-542.e5}, pmid = {36657449}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Pectins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; }, abstract = {The root nodule symbiosis with its global impact on nitrogen fertilization of soils is characterized by an intracellular colonization of legume roots by rhizobia. Although the symbionts are initially taken up by morphologically adapted root hairs, rhizobia persistently progress within a membrane-confined infection thread through several root cortical and later nodular cell layers. Throughout this transcellular passaging, rhizobia have to repeatedly pass host plasma membranes and cell walls. Here, we investigated this essential process and describe the concerted action of one of the symbiosis-specific pectin methyl esterases (SyPME1) and the nodulation pectate lyase (NPL) at the infection thread and transcellular passage sites. Their coordinated function mediates spatially confined pectin alterations in the cell-cell interface that result in the establishment of an apoplastic compartment where bacteria are temporarily released into and taken up from the subjacent cell. This process allows successful intracellular progression of infection threads through the entire root cortical tissue.}, } @article {pmid36656954, year = {2023}, author = {Rübsam, H and Krönauer, C and Abel, NB and Ji, H and Lironi, D and Hansen, SB and Nadzieja, M and Kolte, MV and Abel, D and de Jong, N and Madsen, LH and Liu, H and Stougaard, J and Radutoiu, S and Andersen, KR}, title = {Nanobody-driven signaling reveals the core receptor complex in root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {379}, number = {6629}, pages = {272-277}, doi = {10.1126/science.ade9204}, pmid = {36656954}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Single-Domain Antibodies ; Medicago truncatula ; *Lotus ; *Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Understanding the composition and activation of multicomponent receptor complexes is a challenge in biology. To address this, we developed a synthetic approach based on nanobodies to drive assembly and activation of cell surface receptors and apply the concept by manipulating receptors that govern plant symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. We show that the Lotus japonicus Nod factor receptors NFR1 and NFR5 constitute the core receptor complex initiating the cortical root nodule organogenesis program as well as the epidermal program controlling infection. We find that organogenesis signaling is mediated by the intracellular kinase domains whereas infection requires functional ectodomains. Finally, we identify evolutionarily distant barley receptors that activate root nodule organogenesis, which could enable engineering of biological nitrogen-fixation into cereals.}, } @article {pmid36656023, year = {2023}, author = {McAnulty, SJ and Kerwin, AH and Koch, E and Nuttall, B and Suria, AM and Collins, AJ and Schleicher, TR and Rader, BA and Nyholm, SV}, title = {"Failure To Launch": Development of a Reproductive Organ Linked to Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e0213122}, pmid = {36656023}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aliivibrio fischeri ; Genitalia ; Symbiosis ; Animals, Wild ; *Microbiota ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Developmental processes in animals are influenced by colonization and/or signaling from microbial symbionts. Here, we show that bacteria from the environment are linked to development of a symbiotic organ that houses a bacterial consortium in female Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. In addition to the well-characterized light organ association with the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, female E. scolopes house a simple bacterial community in a reproductive organ, the accessory nidamental gland (ANG). In order to understand the influences of bacteria on ANG development, squid were raised in the laboratory under conditions where exposure to environmental microorganisms was experimentally manipulated. Under conditions where hosts were exposed to depleted environmental bacteria, ANGs were completely absent or stunted, a result independent of the presence of the light organ symbiont V. fischeri. When squid were raised in the laboratory with substrate from the host's natural environment containing the native microbiota, normal ANG development was observed, and the bacterial communities were similar to wild-caught animals. Analysis of the bacterial communities from ANGs and substrates of wild-caught and laboratory-raised animals suggests that certain bacterial groups, namely, the Verrucomicrobia, are linked to ANG development. The ANG community composition was also experimentally manipulated. Squid raised with natural substrate supplemented with a specific ANG bacterial strain, Leisingera sp. JC1, had high proportions of this strain in the ANG, suggesting that once ANG development is initiated, specific strains can be introduced and subsequently colonize the organ. Overall, these data suggest that environmental bacteria are required for development of the ANG in E. scolopes. IMPORTANCE Microbiota have profound effects on animal and plant development. Hosts raised axenically or without symbionts often suffer negative outcomes resulting in developmental defects or reduced organ function. Using defined experimental conditions, we demonstrate that environmental bacteria are required for the formation of a female-specific symbiotic organ in the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Although nascent tissues from this organ that are involved with bacterial recruitment formed initially, the mature organ failed to develop and was absent or severely reduced in sexually mature animals that were not exposed to microbiota from the host's natural environment. This is the first example of complete organ development relying on exposure to symbiotic bacteria in an animal host. This study broadens the use of E. scolopes as a model organism for studying the influence of beneficial bacteria on animal development.}, } @article {pmid36656008, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, WF and Meng, XF and Jiao, YS and Tian, CF and Sui, XH and Jiao, J and Wang, ET and Ma, SJ}, title = {Bacteroid Development, Transcriptome, and Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Comparison of Bradyrhizobium arachidis in Nodules of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and Medicinal Legume Sophora flavescens.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0107922}, pmid = {36656008}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/microbiology ; Arachis ; Transcriptome ; Sophora flavescens ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Peptidoglycan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium arachidis strain CCBAU 051107 could differentiate into swollen and nonswollen bacteroids in determinate root nodules of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and indeterminate nodules of Sophora flavescens, respectively, with different N2 fixation efficiencies. To reveal the mechanism of bacteroid differentiation and symbiosis efficiency in association with different hosts, morphologies, transcriptomes, and nitrogen fixation efficiencies of the root nodules induced by strain CCBAU 051107 on these two plants were compared. Our results indicated that the nitrogenase activity of peanut nodules was 3 times higher than that of S. flavescens nodules, demonstrating the effects of rhizobium-host interaction on symbiotic effectiveness. With transcriptome comparisons, genes involved in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and energy metabolism were upregulated, while those involved in DNA replication, bacterial chemotaxis, and flagellar assembly were significantly downregulated in both types of bacteroids compared with those in free-living cells. However, expression levels of genes involved in BNF, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the pentose phosphate pathway, hydrogenase synthesis, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) degradation, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis were significantly greater in the swollen bacteroids of peanut than those in the nonswollen bacteroids of S. flavescens, while contrasting situations were found in expression of genes involved in urea degradation, PHB synthesis, and nitrogen assimilation. Especially higher expression of ureABEF and aspB genes in bacteroids of S. flavescens might imply that the BNF product and nitrogen transport pathway were different from those in peanut. Our study revealed the first differences in bacteroid differentiation and metabolism of these two hosts and will be helpful for us to explore higher-efficiency symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes. IMPORTANCE Rhizobial differentiation into bacteroids in leguminous nodules attracts scientists to investigate its different aspects. The development of bacteroids in the nodule of the important oil crop peanut was first investigated and compared to the status in the nodule of the extremely promiscuous medicinal legume Sophora flavescens by using just a single rhizobial strain of Bradyrhizobium arachidis, CCBAU 051107. This strain differentiates into swollen bacteroids in peanut nodules and nonswollen bacteroids in S. flavescens nodules. The N2-fixing efficiency of the peanut nodules is three times higher than that of S. flavescens. By comparing the transcriptomes of their bacteroids, we found that they have similar gene expression spectra, such as nitrogen fixation and motivity, but different spectra in terms of urease activity and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Those altered levels of gene expression might be related to their functions and differentiation in respective nodules. Our studies provided novel insight into the rhizobial differentiation and metabolic alteration in different hosts.}, } @article {pmid36655756, year = {2023}, author = {Sharma, A and Sinharoy, S and Bisht, NC}, title = {The mysterious non-arbuscular mycorrhizal status of Brassicaceae species.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16339}, pmid = {36655756}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {The Brassicaceae family is unique in not fostering functional symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). The family is also special in possessing glucosinolates, a class of secondary metabolites predominantly functioning for plant defence. We have reviewed what effect the glucosinolates of this non-symbiotic host have on AM or vice versa. Isothiocyanates, the toxic degradation product of the glucosinolates, particularly the indolic and benzenic glucosinolates, are known to be involved in the inhibition of AM. Interestingly, AM colonization enhances glucosinolate production in two AM-host in the Brassicales family- Moringa oleifera and Tropaeolum spp. PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 1 (PHR1), a central transcription factor that controls phosphate starvation response also activates the glucosinolate biosynthesis in AM non-host Arabidopsis thaliana. Recently, the advances in whole-genome sequencing, enabling extensive ecological microbiome studies have helped unravel the Brassicaceae microbiome, identifying new mutualists that compensate for the loss of AM symbiosis, and reporting cues for some influence of glucosinolates on the microbiome structure. We advocate that glucosinolate is an important candidate in determining the mycorrhizal status of Brassicaceae and has played a major role in its symbiosis-defence trade-off. We also identify key open questions in this area that remain to be addressed in the future.}, } @article {pmid36653630, year = {2023}, author = {Mayfield, AB}, title = {Multi-macromolecular Extraction from Endosymbiotic Anthozoans.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2625}, number = {}, pages = {17-56}, pmid = {36653630}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; *Anthozoa ; *Sea Anemones ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Obligately symbiotic associations between reef-building corals (anthozoan cnidarians) and photosynthetically active dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae comprise the functional basis of all coral reef ecosystems. Given the existential threats of global climate change toward these thermo-sensitive entities, there is an urgent need to better understand the physiological implications of changes in the abiotic milieu of scleractinian corals and their mutualistic algal endosymbionts. Although initially slow to leverage the immense breakthroughs in molecular biotechnology that have benefited humankind, coral biologists are making up for lost time in exploiting an array of ever-advancing molecular tools for answering key questions pertaining to the survival of corals in an ever-changing world. In order to comprehensively characterize the multi-omic landscape of the coral holobiont-the cnidarian host, its intracellular dinoflagellates, and a plethora of other microbial constituents-I introduce a series of protocols herein that yield large quantities of high-quality RNA, DNA, protein, lipids, and polar metabolites from a diverse array of reef corals and endosymbiotic sea anemones. Although numerous published articles in the invertebrate zoology field feature protocols that lead to sufficiently high yield of intact host coral macromolecules, through using the approach outlined herein one may simultaneously acquire a rich, multi-compartmental biochemical pool that truly reflects the complex and dynamic nature of these animal-plant chimeras.}, } @article {pmid36652522, year = {2023}, author = {Deng, M and Hu, S and Guo, L and Jiang, L and Huang, Y and Schmid, B and Liu, C and Chang, P and Li, S and Liu, X and Ma, K and Liu, L}, title = {Tree mycorrhizal association types control biodiversity-productivity relationship in a subtropical forest.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {eadd4468}, pmid = {36652522}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between terrestrial plants and fungi in which fungi obtain nutrients in exchange for plant photosynthates. However, it remains unclear how different types of mycorrhizae affect their host interactions and productivity. Using a long-term experiment with a diversity gradient of arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree species, we show that the type of mycorrhizae critically controls the effect of diversity on productivity. With increasing diversity, the net primary production of AM trees increased, but EcM trees decreased, largely because AM trees are more effective in acquiring nitrogen and phosphorus. Specifically, with diversity increase, AM trees enhance both nutrient resorption and litter decomposition, while there was a trade-off between litter decomposability and nutrient resorption in EcM trees. These results provide a mechanistic understanding of why AM trees using a different nutrient acquisition strategy from EcM trees can dominate in subtropical forests and at the same time their diversity enhances productivity.}, } @article {pmid36651985, year = {2023}, author = {Fernández, M and Kaur, J and Sharma, J}, title = {Co-occurring epiphytic orchids have specialized mycorrhizal fungal niches that are also linked to ontogeny.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {33}, number = {1-2}, pages = {87-105}, pmid = {36651985}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis has been related to the coexistence and community assembly of coexisting orchids in few studies despite their obligate dependence on mycorrhizal partners to establish and survive. In hyper-diverse environments like tropical rain forests, coexistence of epiphytic orchids may be facilitated through mycorrhizal fungal specialization (i.e., sets of unique and dominant mycorrhizal fungi associated with a particular host species). However, information on the role of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) in niche differentiation and coexistence of epiphytic orchids is still scarce. In this study, we sought to identify the variation in fungal preferences of four co-occurring epiphytic orchids in a tropical rainforest in Costa Rica by addressing the identity and composition of their endophytic fungal and OMF communities across species and life stages. We show that the endophytic fungal communities are formed mainly of previously recognized OMF taxa, and that the four coexisting orchid species have both a set of shared mycorrhizal fungi and a group of fungi unique to an orchid species. We also found that adult plants keep the OMF of the juvenile stage while adding new mycobionts over time. This study provides evidence for the utilization of specific OMF that may be involved in niche segregation, and for an aggregation mechanism where adult orchids keep initial fungal mycobionts of the juvenile stage while adding others.}, } @article {pmid36651852, year = {2023}, author = {Takagi, T and Aoyama, K and Motone, K and Aburaya, S and Yamashiro, H and Miura, N and Inoue, K}, title = {Mutualistic Interactions between Dinoflagellates and Pigmented Bacteria Mitigate Environmental Stress.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0246422}, pmid = {36651852}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Anthozoa/genetics/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Symbiosis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals form symbiotic relationships with a variety of microorganisms, including endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, and with bacteria, which are collectively termed coral holobionts. Interactions between hosts and their symbionts are critical to the physiological status of corals. Coral-microorganism interactions have been studied extensively, but dinoflagellate-bacterial interactions remain largely unexplored. Here, we developed a microbiome manipulation method employing KAS-antibiotic treatment (kanamycin, ampicillin, and streptomycin) to favor pigmented bacteria residing on cultured Cladocopium and Durusdinium, major endosymbionts of corals, and isolated several carotenoid-producing bacteria from cell surfaces of the microalgae. Following KAS-antibiotic treatment of Cladocopium sp. strain NIES-4077, pigmented bacteria increased 8-fold based on colony-forming assays from the parental strain, and 100% of bacterial sequences retrieved through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were affiliated with the genus Maribacter. Microbiome manipulation enabled host microalgae to maintain higher maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (variable fluorescence divided by maximum fluorescence [Fv/Fm]) under light-stress conditions, compared to the parental strain. Furthermore, by combining culture-dependent and -independent techniques, we demonstrated that species of the family Symbiodiniaceae and pigmented bacteria form strong interactions. Dinoflagellates protected bacteria from antibiotics, while pigmented bacteria protected microalgal cells from light stress via carotenoid production. Here, we describe for the first time a symbiotic relationship in which dinoflagellates and bacteria mutually reduce environmental stress. Investigations of microalgal-bacterial interactions further document bacterial contributions to coral holobionts and may facilitate development of novel techniques for microbiome-mediated coral reef conservation. IMPORTANCE Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the ocean floor, but about 25% of all marine species depend on coral reefs at some point in their life cycles. However, rising ocean temperatures associated with global climate change are a serious threat to coral reefs, causing dysfunction of the photosynthetic apparatus of endosymbiotic microalgae of corals, and overproducing reactive oxygen species harmful to corals. We manipulated the microbiome using an antibiotic treatment to favor pigmented bacteria, enabling their symbiotic microalgal partners to maintain higher photosynthetic function under insolation stress. Furthermore, we investigated mechanisms underlying microalgal-bacterial interactions, describing for the first time a symbiotic relationship in which the two symbionts mutually reduce environmental stress. Our findings extend current insights about microalgal-bacterial interactions, enabling better understanding of bacterial contributions to coral holobionts under stressful conditions and offering hope of reducing the adverse impacts of global warming on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid36650296, year = {2023}, author = {Küster, D and Schultz, T}, title = {[Artificial intelligence and ethics in healthcare-balancing act or symbiosis?].}, journal = {Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz}, volume = {66}, number = {2}, pages = {176-183}, pmid = {36650296}, issn = {1437-1588}, mesh = {Humans ; Aged ; *Artificial Intelligence ; Symbiosis ; Germany ; Delivery of Health Care ; *Dementia ; }, abstract = {Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in healthcare. This development triggers serious concerns that can be summarized by six major "worst-case scenarios". From AI spreading disinformation and propaganda, to a potential new arms race between major powers, to a possible rule of algorithms ("algocracy") based on biased gatekeeper intelligence, the real dangers of an uncontrolled development of AI are by no means to be underestimated, especially in the health sector. However, fear of AI could cause humanity to miss the opportunity to positively shape the development of our society together with an AI that is friendly to us.Use cases in healthcare play a primary role in this discussion, as both the risks and the opportunities of new AI-based systems become particularly clear here. For example, would older people with dementia (PWD) be allowed to entrust aspects of their autonomy to AI-based assistance systems so that they may continue to independently manage other aspects of their daily lives? In this paper, we argue that the classic balancing act between the dangers and opportunities of AI in healthcare can be at least partially overcome by taking a long-term ethical approach toward a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI. We exemplify this approach by showcasing our I‑CARE system, an AI-based recommendation system for tertiary prevention of dementia. This system has been in development since 2015 as the I‑CARE Project at the University of Bremen, where it is still being researched today.}, } @article {pmid36650293, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, J and Zhang, Q and Zhang, G and Shang, G}, title = {Recombineering-Mediated Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 Gene Deletion.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {2}, pages = {76}, pmid = {36650293}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 (S. meliloti Rm1021) is a Gram-negative, soil-dwelling α-proteobacterium which serves as a model microorganism for the studies of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The S. meliloti Rm1021 genome consists of one chromosome and two megaplasmids, pSymA and pSymB. Gene deletion is an essential tool for the elucidation of gene function and generation of mutants with improved properties. However, only two gene deletion methods, counterselectable marker sacB-based and FLP/FRT, Cre/loxP site-specific recombination, have been reported for S. meliloti Rm1021 gene deletion. Both methods require time-consuming and tedious gene cloning and conjugation steps. Herein, a λ Red recombineering-mediated gene deletion strategy is reported. The mutant was obtained via electroporating overlap-extension PCR-generated linear targeting DNA into Red-proficient cells. One gene each from the S. meliloti Rm1021 chromosome, megaplasmid SymA and pSymB was deleted, with deletion efficiency up to 100%. The straightforward and highly efficient recombineering procedure holds the promise to be a general gene manipulation method for S. meliloti Rm1021.}, } @article {pmid36649095, year = {2022}, author = {Peerakietkhajorn, S and Sinso, T}, title = {Bacterial communities in Branchinella thailandensis and Streptocephalus sirindhornae.}, journal = {Polish journal of veterinary sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {493-500}, doi = {10.24425/pjvs.2022.140857}, pmid = {36649095}, issn = {2300-2557}, mesh = {Animals ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria ; *Anostraca/genetics/microbiology ; Thailand ; Phylogeny ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; }, abstract = {The fairy shrimp is a freshwater crustacean found in both temporary and permanent freshwaters. In Thailand, fairy shrimp are farmed as live food for ornamental fish. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial compositions in two fairy shrimp species, Branchinella thailandensis and Streptocephalus sirindhornae. Both species were cultured, and total DNA was extracted. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using Illumina Miseq. All data were analyzed by Illumina 16S Metagenomics (version 1.0.1) workflow in Base Space- Illumina. Each read was blasted against the Illumina-curated version of the Greengenes database to determine the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) corresponding to the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The results showed that the Shanon-Weiner diversity index of bacterial compositions in B. thailandensis and S. sirindhornae were 2.135 and 3.122, respectively. The evenness and genus-level richness of the bacterial composition in B. thailandensis were 0.364 and 354 genera, respectively. The dominant bacterium found in B. thailandensis was Nevskia. In S. sirindhornae, the evenness and genus-level richness of the bacterial composition were 0.521 and 400 genera, respectively. Azohydromonas was the dominant bacterium. Our results showed that the compositions and proportions of bacterial communities were specific to each species of fairy shrimp. This study will be useful for further experiments in aquaculture and ecological studies related to symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid36648218, year = {2023}, author = {Salmeron-Santiago, IA and Martínez-Trujillo, M and Valdez-Alarcón, JJ and Pedraza-Santos, ME and Santoyo, G and López, PA and Larsen, J and Pozo, MJ and Chávez-Bárcenas, AT}, title = {Carbohydrate and lipid balances in the positive plant phenotypic response to arbuscular mycorrhiza: increase in sink strength.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {175}, number = {1}, pages = {e13857}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13857}, pmid = {36648218}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Plants ; Carbohydrates ; Lipids ; }, abstract = {The exchange of phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a major determinant of their mutualistic symbiosis. We explored the C dynamics in tomato (Solanum lycorpersicum) inoculated or not with Rhizophagus irregularis to study their growth response under different NaH2 PO4 concentrations (Null P, 0 mM; Low P, 0.065 mM; High P, 1.3 mM). The percentage of AMF colonization was similar in plants under Null and Low P, but severely reduced under High P. However, the AMF mass biomarker 16:1ω5 revealed higher fungal accumulation in inoculated roots under Low P, while more AMF spores were produced in the Null P. Under High P, AMF biomass and spores were strongly reduced. Plant growth response to mycorrhiza was negative under Null P, showing reduction in height, biovolume index, and source leaf (SL) area. Under Low P, inoculated plants showed a positive response (e.g., increased SL area), while inoculated plants under High P were similar to non-inoculated plants. AMF promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars in the SL under all fertilization levels, whereas the soluble sugar level decreased in roots under Low P in inoculated plants. Transcriptional upregulation of SlLIN6 and SlSUS1, genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, was observed in inoculated roots under Null P and Low P, respectively. We conclude that P-limiting conditions that increase AMF colonization stimulate plant growth due to an increase in the source and sink strength. Our results suggest that C partitioning and allocation to different catabolic pathways in the host are influenced by AMF performance.}, } @article {pmid36647940, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Liang, J and He, M and Xie, Q and Wu, Q and Shen, G and Zhu, B and Yu, J and Yu, L and Tan, X and Wei, L and Ren, J and Lv, Y and Deng, L and Yin, Q and Zhou, H and Wu, W and Zhang, M and Yang, W and Qiao, M and Shu, R and Xia, Z and Li, Z and Huang, Z and Hu, W and Wang, L and Liu, Z and Pi, G and Ren, H and Ji, Y and Liu, Z and Qi, X and Chen, P and Shao, L and Chen, F and Xu, X and Chen, W and Wang, Q and Guo, Z and , }, title = {Chinese expert consensus on intestinal microecology and management of digestive tract complications related to tumor treatment (version 2022).}, journal = {Journal of cancer research and therapeutics}, volume = {18}, number = {7}, pages = {1835-1844}, doi = {10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_1444_22}, pmid = {36647940}, issn = {1998-4138}, mesh = {Aged ; Humans ; Bacteria ; Consensus ; *COVID-19 ; Escherichia coli ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; *Microbiota ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; China ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota represents a complex ecosystem that is composed of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea. It affects many physiological functions including metabolism, inflammation, and the immune response. The gut microbiota also plays a role in preventing infection. Chemotherapy disrupts an organism's microbiome, increasing the risk of microbial invasive infection; therefore, restoring the gut microbiota composition is one potential strategy to reduce this risk. The gut microbiome can develop colonization resistance, in which pathogenic bacteria and other competing microorganisms are destroyed through attacks on bacterial cell walls by bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides, and other proteins produced by symbiotic bacteria. There is also a direct way. For example, Escherichia coli colonized in the human body competes with pathogenic Escherichia coli 0157 for proline, which shows that symbiotic bacteria compete with pathogens for resources and niches, thus improving the host's ability to resist pathogenic bacteria. Increased attention has been given to the impact of microecological changes in the digestive tract on tumor treatment. After 2019, the global pandemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the development of novel tumor-targeting drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and the increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistance have posed serious challenges and threats to public health. Currently, it is becoming increasingly important to manage the adverse effects and complications after chemotherapy. Gastrointestinal reactions are a common clinical presentation in patients with solid and hematologic tumors after chemotherapy, which increases the treatment risks of patients and affects treatment efficacy and prognosis. Gastrointestinal symptoms after chemotherapy range from nausea, vomiting, and anorexia to severe oral and intestinal mucositis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, which are often closely associated with the dose and toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. It is particularly important to profile the gastrointestinal microecological flora and monitor the impact of antibiotics in older patients, low immune function, neutropenia, and bone marrow suppression, especially in complex clinical situations involving special pathogenic microbial infections (such as clostridioides difficile, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, carbapenem-resistant bacteria, and norovirus).}, } @article {pmid36647205, year = {2023}, author = {Yi, R and Liu, Q and Yang, F and Dai, X and Meng, S and Fu, X and Li, S and Kou, L and Wang, H}, title = {Complementary belowground strategies underlie species coexistence in an early successional forest.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {238}, number = {2}, pages = {612-623}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18736}, pmid = {36647205}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Trees/physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Nitrates ; Forests ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Unravelling belowground strategies is critical for understanding species coexistence and successional dynamics; yet, our knowledge of nutrient acquisition strategies of forest species at different successional stages remains limited. We measured morphological (diameter, specific root length, and root tissue density), architectural (branching ratio), physiological (ammonium, nitrate, and glycine uptake rates) root traits, and mycorrhizal colonisation rates of eight coexisting woody species in an early successional plantation forest in subtropical China. By incorporating physiological uptake efficiency, we revealed a bi-dimensional root economics space comprising of an 'amount-efficiency' dimension represented by morphological and physiological traits, and a 'self-symbiosis' dimension dominated by architectural and mycorrhizal traits. The early pioneer species relied on root-fungal symbiosis, developing densely branched roots with high mycorrhizal colonisation rates for foraging mobile soil nitrate. The late pioneer species invested in roots themselves and allocated effort towards improving uptake efficiency of less-mobile ammonium. Within the root economics space, the covariation of axes with soil phosphorus availability also distinguished the strategy preference of the two successional groups. These results demonstrate the importance of incorporating physiological uptake efficiency into root economics space, and reveal a trade-off between expanding soil physical space exploration and improving physiological uptake efficiency for successional species coexistence in forests.}, } @article {pmid36645602, year = {2023}, author = {Xue, X and Wang, S and Chun, T and Xin, H and Xue, R and Tian, X and Zhang, R}, title = {An integrated framework for industrial symbiosis performance evaluation in an energy-intensive industrial park in China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {14}, pages = {42056-42074}, pmid = {36645602}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Industry ; China ; Models, Theoretical ; Carbon ; }, abstract = {Industrial symbiosis (IS) is an important tool to achieve green development for industrial parks. It is necessary to evaluate the IS performance for monitoring and managing the development of IS system. This study proposed an integrated framework to assess the IS performance based on the energy-intensive industrial park. Firstly, we established a Conceptual model of symbiotic coupling of three industries (iron and steel, thermal power, and cement). Then, the conceptual model was applied to extend the existing IS system in the energy-intensive industrial park. Finally, the IS performance of the extended IS system was evaluated. We verified this framework in Red flag cannel park (RFCP). The IS performance assessment in RFCP found that the existing IS activities produced significant multiple benefits and environmental impact reduction. For example, the existing IS activities produced 970.20 kt of low-carbon benefits, which accounted for 19% of the CO2 emissions in RFCP. However, after extending the existing symbiotic system combined with the conceptual model proposed in this study, we found that there still was a large amount of symbiotic potential (the reuse of waste heat, BF slag, gypsum) waiting to be developed in RFCP. In addition, we also found that the resilience of existing IS network in RFCP was weak and need to be further perfected. In general, in the further development and perfection of IS system in RFCP, the manager should not only focus on the development of IS activities among energy-intensive enterprises but also strive to foster more influential enterprises to enhance the anti-risk ability of IS network. The result indicates the integrated framework can provide support for the development and perfection of IS system in energy-intensive industrial parks.}, } @article {pmid36642100, year = {2023}, author = {Vitiello, A and Zovi, A and Ferrara, F}, title = {Association between microbiota and immune response to Sars-CoV-2 infection.}, journal = {Infectious diseases now}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {104646}, pmid = {36642100}, issn = {2666-9919}, abstract = {In recent times, the key role of the human microbiota in the body's response to infectious diseases has been increasingly demonstrated. The human microbiota is the set of symbiotic microorganisms which coexist with the human organism without harming it. However, diseases related to the microbiota occur and are being studied, and numerous publications suggest that altered microbiota composition is implicated in psychiatric diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and some viral infections. On the other hand, the role of the human microbiota in the host immune response to viral infections is not entirely clear. Metabolites or components produced by the microbiota are the main mediators of microbiota-host interactions that influence host immunity. It has been shown that in patients with COVID-19 and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), the microbiota is significantly altered. In this brief review, we examine the associations between the role of the microbiota in response to COVID-19 infection in terms of molecular biology and clinical relevance. We finally discuss the mechanisms by which metabolites produced by the microbiota modulate host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.}, } @article {pmid36639537, year = {2023}, author = {Osvatic, JT and Yuen, B and Kunert, M and Wilkins, L and Hausmann, B and Girguis, P and Lundin, K and Taylor, J and Jospin, G and Petersen, JM}, title = {Gene loss and symbiont switching during adaptation to the deep sea in a globally distributed symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {453-466}, pmid = {36639537}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Biological Evolution ; Bacteria/genetics ; Water ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; }, abstract = {Chemosynthetic symbioses between bacteria and invertebrates occur worldwide from coastal sediments to the deep sea. Most host groups are restricted to either shallow or deep waters. In contrast, Lucinidae, the most species-rich family of chemosymbiotic invertebrates, has both shallow- and deep-sea representatives. Multiple lucinid species have independently colonized the deep sea, which provides a unique framework for understanding the role microbial symbionts play in evolutionary transitions between shallow and deep waters. Lucinids acquire their symbionts from their surroundings during early development, which may allow them to flexibly acquire symbionts that are adapted to local environments. Via metagenomic analyses of museum and other samples collected over decades, we investigated the biodiversity and metabolic capabilities of the symbionts of 22 mostly deep-water lucinid species. We aimed to test the theory that the symbiont played a role in adaptation to life in deep-sea habitats. We identified 16 symbiont species, mostly within the previously described genus Ca. Thiodiazotropha. Most genomic functions were shared by both shallow-water and deep-sea Ca. Thiodiazotropha, though nitrogen fixation was exclusive to shallow-water species. We discovered multiple cases of symbiont switching near deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, where distantly related hosts convergently acquired novel symbionts from a different bacterial order. Finally, analyses of selection revealed consistently stronger purifying selection on symbiont genomes in two extreme habitats - hydrothermal vents and an oxygen-minimum zone. Our findings reveal that shifts in symbiont metabolic capability and, in some cases, acquisition of a novel symbiont accompanied adaptation of lucinids to challenging deep-sea habitats.}, } @article {pmid36639531, year = {2023}, author = {Gong, Y and Huang, X and Wang, M and Liang, X}, title = {Intratumor microbiota: a novel tumor component.}, journal = {Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36639531}, issn = {1432-1335}, abstract = {Bacteria have been found in tumors for over 100 years, but the irreproducibility of experiments on bacteria, the limitations of science and technology, and the contamination of the host environment have severely hampered most research into the role of bacteria in carcinogenesis and cancer treatment. With the development of molecular tools and techniques (e.g., macrogenomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and macrotranscriptomics), the complex relationships between hosts and different microorganisms are gradually being deciphered. In the past, attention has been focused on the impact of the gut microbiota, the site where the body's microbes gather most, on tumors. However, little is known about the role of microbes from other sites, particularly the intratumor microbiota, in cancer. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have identified the presence of symbiotic microbiota within a large number of tumors, bringing the intratumor microbiota into the limelight. In this review, we aim to provide a better understanding of the role of the intratumor microbiota in cancer, to provide direction for future experimental and translational research, and to offer new approaches to the treatment of cancer and the improvement of patient prognosis.}, } @article {pmid36638166, year = {2023}, author = {Yun, J and Wang, C and Zhang, F and Chen, L and Sun, Z and Cai, Y and Luo, Y and Liao, J and Wang, Y and Cha, Y and Zhang, X and Ren, Y and Wu, J and Hasegawa, PM and Tian, C and Su, H and Ferguson, BJ and Gresshoff, PM and Hou, W and Han, T and Li, X}, title = {A nitrogen fixing symbiosis-specific pathway required for legume flowering.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {eade1150}, pmid = {36638166}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; MicroRNAs ; RNA, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation boosts legume growth and production in nitrogen-poor soils. It has long been assumed that fixed nitrogen increases reproductive success, but until now, the regulatory mechanism was unknown. Here, we report a symbiotic flowering pathway that couples symbiotic and nutrient signals to the flowering induction pathway in legumes. We show that the symbiotic microRNA-microRNA172c (miR172c) and fixed nitrogen systemically and synergistically convey symbiotic and nutritional cues from roots to leaves to promote soybean (Glycine max) flowering. The combinations of symbiotic miR172c and local miR172c elicited by fixed nitrogen and development in leaves activate florigen-encoding FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) homologs (GmFT2a/5a) by repressing TARGET OF EAT1-like 4a (GmTOE4a). Thus, FTs trigger reproductive development, which allows legumes to survive and reproduce under low-nitrogen conditions.}, } @article {pmid36637524, year = {2023}, author = {Ottinger, SL and Miniat, CF and Wurzburger, N}, title = {Nitrogen and light regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation by a temperate forest tree.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {201}, number = {2}, pages = {565-574}, pmid = {36637524}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Trees/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Forests ; Seedlings ; *Robinia/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a critical mechanism of ecosystem recovery, and in forests of the eastern United States, the most common tree species that supports SNF is black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Despite its prevalence, black locust's fixation strategy-whether it maintains fixation at a constant rate (obligate fixation) or reduces its fixation rate (facultative fixation)-is unknown. Here, we examined how nitrogen and light control SNF by black locust, by growing seedlings under two nitrogen levels and across four levels of light. Seedlings were harvested after 12 weeks to determine biomass changes, nodule activity, and photosynthetic rates. Black locust seedlings increased biomass growth with increasing light, but only in the absence of nitrogen addition, while seedling root:shoot (biomass) modestly declined with increasing light regardless of nitrogen level. We found that black locust behaved like a facultative fixer, and regulated fixation by excising or maintaining nodules, and by controlling nodule biomass and activity. Specifically, nitrogen addition reduced seedling investment in nodule biomass (g g[-1]) by 63%, and reduced seedling allocation to nitrogen fixation (µmol C2H4 g[-1] h[-1]) by 66%. In contrast, light affected nitrogen fixation through two indirect pathways. First, light increased plant growth, and hence nitrogen demands, which caused an increase in nitrogen fixation proportional to biomass. Second, light increasd photosynthetic activity, which was positively associated with nodule activity, but only in the absence of nitrogen addition. Our findings for how black locust regulates SNF can improve predictions of ecosystem SNF under the changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid36635838, year = {2023}, author = {Zhao, PS and Guo, MS and Gao, GL and Ding, GD and Zhang, Y and Ren, Y}, title = {[Temporal and Spatial Variations in Root-associated Fungi Associated with Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in the Semi-arid and Dry Sub-humid Desertified Regions of Northern China].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {502-511}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202204053}, pmid = {36635838}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {*Pinus sylvestris ; China ; Soil/chemistry ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/analysis ; *Pinus ; }, abstract = {To illuminate the ecological functions of root-associated fungi (RAF) and their interactions with host plants, we revealed the root-associated fungal diversity and community compositions of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica involving natural forests and plantations (half-mature, nearly mature, and mature forests) in the Hulunbuir Desert, Horqin Desert, and Mu Us Desert and investigated the environmental driving factors (climatic condition and soil property). The results indicated that: 1 the diversity of RAF in the natural forests was significantly lower than that in plantations (P<0.05), and the values were highest in the Mu Us Desert. There was a distinct geographical distribution in the RAF community, but the influence of stand age was not significant (P>0.05). 2 The relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi (50.49%) in natural forests was higher than that in plantations, such as Acephala, Mycena, and Suillus. The indicator genera were diverse involving the natural forests (Acephala) and plantations in the Hulunbuir Desert (Sarcodon), Horqin Desert (Russula and Calostoma), and Mu Us Desert (Geopora, Mallocybe, and Tomentella). 3 The indicator genera were mainly affected by available nitrogen content, available phosphorus content, and stand age, and few indicator genera were related to soil water content, pH, and total nitrogen content. A total of 43.25% of the variation in the RAF community was accounted for by both geographic location and environmental factors. Overall, geographic location and environmental factors shaped the spatial variation in the RAF structure and function of P. sylvestris natural forests and plantations in the semi-arid and dry sub-humid desertified regions; there were no significant temporal variations in RAF across stand ages, but the nonuniformity in fungal distribution with stand ageing cannot be ignored. The large population of symbiotic fungi in natural forests was conducive to the healthy growth of hosts; the ratio of symbiotic, saprophytic, and pathotrophic fungi varied in different plantations, and the increase in the proportion of saprophytic and pathotrophic fungi may have negative effects on the growth and health of plantations. This improved information will provide a theoretical basis for the management of P. sylvestris plantations.}, } @article {pmid36635402, year = {2023}, author = {Jayashree, P and Matějka, V and Leonardi, M and Straffelini, G}, title = {A novel path towards limiting non-exhaust particulate matter emissions of a commercial friction material through the addition of metallurgical slag.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {666}, pmid = {36635402}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Keeping recycling and the circular economy in mind, this study explores the reduction in emission of a highly optimized, commercially employed friction material formulation through the addition of metallurgical slags from a basic oxygen furnace in varying quantities from 6 to 38 wt%. The various compositions were paired with a pearlitic grey cast iron counterface and tested on a pin on disc tribometer. The friction coefficient and pin wear increased with the slag addition but were still within the permissible limit when compared to the original formulation. Specimens with higher slag content observed extremely compacted and extended secondary contact plateaus, which also recorded significant slag presence. The extended plateaus detached in the form of chunks from the mating surfaces, which settled on the equipment hardware and restricted the production of airborne particles. From an industrial symbiosis perspective, the addition of metallurgical slags proved to be a promising way of obtaining green friction materials with reduced emissions.}, } @article {pmid36633436, year = {2023}, author = {Zeng, X and Li, D and Lv, Y and Lu, Y and Mei, L and Zhou, D and Chen, D and Xie, F and Lin, H and Li, Y}, title = {A Germin-Like Protein GLP1 of Legumes Mediates Symbiotic Nodulation by Interacting with an Outer Membrane Protein of Rhizobia.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0335022}, pmid = {36633436}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia can infect legumes and induce the coordinated expression of symbiosis and defense genes for the establishment of mutualistic symbiosis. Numerous studies have elucidated the molecular interactions between rhizobia and host plants, which are associated with Nod factor, exopolysaccharide, and T3SS effector proteins. However, there have been relatively few reports about how the host plant recognizes the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of rhizobia to mediate symbiotic nodulation. In our previous work, a gene (Mhopa22) encoding an OMP was identified in Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R, whose homologous genes are widely distributed in Rhizobiales. In this study, a germin-like protein GLP1 interacting with Mhopa22 was identified in Astragalus sinicus. RNA interference of AsGLP1 resulted in a decrease in nodule number, whereas overexpression of AsGLP1 increased the number of nodules in the hairy roots of A. sinicus. Consistent symbiotic phenotypes were identified in Medicago truncatula with MtGLPx (refer to medtr7g111240.1, the isogeny of AsGLP1) overexpression or Tnt1 mutant (glpx-1) in symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. The glpx-1 mutant displayed hyperinfection and the formation of more infection threads but a decrease in root nodules. RNA sequencing analysis showed that many differentially expressed genes were involved in hormone signaling and symbiosis. Taken together, AsGLP1 and its homology play an essential role in mediating the early symbiotic process through interacting with the OMPs of rhizobia. IMPORTANCE This study is the first report to characterize a legume host plant protein to sense and interact with an outer membrane protein (OMP) of rhizobia. It can be speculated that GLP1 plays an essential role to mediate early symbiotic process through interacting with OMPs of rhizobia. The results provide deeper understanding and novel insights into the molecular interactive mechanism of a legume symbiosis signaling pathway in recognition with rhizobial OMPs. Our findings may also provide a new perspective to improve the symbiotic compatibility and nodulation of legume.}, } @article {pmid36631498, year = {2023}, author = {Filho, WL and Caughman, L and Dinis, MAP and Frankenberger, F and Azul, AM and Salvia, AL}, title = {Author Correction: Towards symbiotic approaches between universities, sustainable development, and cities.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {552}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-27833-8}, pmid = {36631498}, issn = {2045-2322}, } @article {pmid36631110, year = {2023}, author = {Nishida, H and Suzaki, T}, title = {Lotus japonicus NLP1 and NLP4 transcription factors have different roles in the regulation of nitrate transporter family gene expression.}, journal = {Genes & genetic systems}, volume = {97}, number = {5}, pages = {257-260}, doi = {10.1266/ggs.22-00104}, pmid = {36631110}, issn = {1880-5779}, mesh = {*Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Nitrate Transporters ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis is promoted in nitrogen-deficient environments, whereas host plants cease the symbiosis if they can obtain enough nitrogen from their surrounding soil. In Lotus japonicus, recent reports indicate that two NODULE INCEPTION (NIN)-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) transcription factors, LjNLP1 and LjNLP4, play important roles in the regulation of gene expression and nodulation in response to nitrate. To characterize the redundant and unique roles of LjNLP1 and LjNLP4 in more detail, we reanalyzed our previous transcriptome data using Ljnlp1 and Ljnlp4 mutants. Although downstream genes of LjNLP1 and LjNLP4 mostly overlapped, we found that nitrate-induced expression of NITRATE TRANSPORTER 2 (LjNRT2) family genes was specifically regulated by LjNLP1. In contrast, LjNRT1 gene family expression was regulated by both LjNLP1 and LjNLP4. Therefore, it is likely that the two NLPs play distinct roles in the regulation of nitrate transport.}, } @article {pmid36630168, year = {2023}, author = {Newman, KE and Tindall, SN and Mader, SL and Khalid, S and Thomas, GH and Van Der Woude, MW}, title = {A novel fold for acyltransferase-3 (AT3) proteins provides a framework for transmembrane acyl-group transfer.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36630168}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {PG/16/5/31912/BHF_/British Heart Foundation/United Kingdom ; BB/M011151/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Acetyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Acylation ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; }, abstract = {Acylation of diverse carbohydrates occurs across all domains of life and can be catalysed by proteins with a membrane bound acyltransferase-3 (AT3) domain (PF01757). In bacteria, these proteins are essential in processes including symbiosis, resistance to viruses and antimicrobials, and biosynthesis of antibiotics, yet their structure and mechanism are largely unknown. In this study, evolutionary co-variance analysis was used to build a computational model of the structure of a bacterial O-antigen modifying acetyltransferase, OafB. The resulting structure exhibited a novel fold for the AT3 domain, which molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated is stable in the membrane. The AT3 domain contains 10 transmembrane helices arranged to form a large cytoplasmic cavity lined by residues known to be essential for function. Further molecular dynamics simulations support a model where the acyl-coA donor spans the membrane through accessing a pore created by movement of an important loop capping the inner cavity, enabling OafB to present the acetyl group close to the likely catalytic resides on the extracytoplasmic surface. Limited but important interactions with the fused SGNH domain in OafB are identified, and modelling suggests this domain is mobile and can both accept acyl-groups from the AT3 and then reach beyond the membrane to reach acceptor substrates. Together this new general model of AT3 function provides a framework for the development of inhibitors that could abrogate critical functions of bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36630002, year = {2023}, author = {Dang, X and Choi, SY and Choi, YJ and Lee, JH and Castex, M and Chevaux, E and Saornil, D and de Laguna, FB and Jimenez, G and Kim, IH}, title = {Probiotic, Paraprobiotic, and Hydrolyzed Yeast Mixture Supplementation Has Comparable Effects to Zinc Oxide in Improving Growth Performance and Ameliorating Post-weaning Diarrhea in Weaned Piglets.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36630002}, issn = {1867-1314}, abstract = {A total of 150 21-day-old weaned piglets [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] were randomly assigned to 3 groups (CON, TRT1, TRT2) to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic, paraprobiotic, and hydrolyzed yeast mixture (PPY) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal bacterial counts, fecal calprotectin contents, and diarrhea rate in a 42-day experiment (phase 1: days 1-14; phase 2: days 15-42). There were 10 replicate pens per treatment with 5 pigs per pen (three gilts and two barrows). Pigs in CON were only provided with a basal diet. Pigs in TRT1 were provided with a basal diet + 3000 mg/kg zinc oxide during phase 1 and a basal diet during phase 2. Pigs in TRT2 were provided with a basal diet + 200 mg/kg probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii) + 800 mg/kg paraprobiotic (inactivated yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cyberlindnera jadinii) + 10 g/kg hydrolyzed yeast mixture during phase 1, and a basal diet + 100 mg/kg probiotic + 400 mg/kg paraprobiotic mixture during phase 2. Pigs in TRT1 and TRT2 were significantly heavier at day 14 and 42 than CON pigs. Growth rate during days 1-14, 15-42, and 1-42 and feed efficiency during days 1-14 were similarly affected by treatment while feed efficiency was significantly higher for TRT2 pigs between 15-42 and 1-42 days. Moreover, nitrogen and energy digestibility in both TRT1 and TRT2 were higher than that in CON. During experimental periods, diarrhea rate in TRT1 and TRT2 was lower than that in CON. Therefore, we demonstrated that PPY supplementation had comparable effects as ZnO in improving growth performance and nutrient digestibility as well as ameliorating post-weaning diarrhea in weaned piglets.}, } @article {pmid36629118, year = {2023}, author = {Chou, PH and Hu, MY and Guh, YJ and Wu, GC and Yang, SH and Tandon, K and Shao, YT and Lin, LY and Chen, C and Tseng, KY and Wang, MC and Zhang, CM and Han, BC and Lin, CC and Tang, SL and Jeng, MS and Chang, CF and Tseng, YC}, title = {Cellular mechanisms underlying extraordinary sulfide tolerance in a crustacean holobiont from hydrothermal vents.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1990}, pages = {20221973}, pmid = {36629118}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Thiosulfates ; Sulfides/toxicity ; *Brachyura/physiology ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The shallow-water hydrothermal vent system of Kueishan Island has been described as one of the world's most acidic and sulfide-rich marine habitats. The only recorded metazoan species living in the direct vicinity of the vents is Xenograpsus testudinatus, a brachyuran crab endemic to marine sulfide-rich vent systems. Despite the toxicity of hydrogen sulfide, X. testudinatus occupies an ecological niche in a sulfide-rich habitat, with the underlying detoxification mechanism remaining unknown. Using laboratory and field-based experiments, we characterized the gills of X. testudinatus that are the major site of sulfide detoxification. Here sulfide is oxidized to thiosulfate or bound to hypotaurine to generate the less toxic thiotaurine. Biochemical and molecular analyses demonstrated that the accumulation of thiosulfate and hypotaurine is mediated by the sodium-independent sulfate anion transporter (SLC26A11) and taurine transporter (Taut), which are expressed in gill epithelia. Histological and metagenomic analyses of gill tissues demonstrated a distinct bacterial signature dominated by Epsilonproteobacteria. Our results suggest that thiotaurine synthesized in gills is used by sulfide-oxidizing endo-symbiotic bacteria, creating an effective sulfide-buffering system. This work identified physiological mechanisms involving host-microbe interactions that support life of a metazoan in one of the most extreme environments on our planet.}, } @article {pmid36628918, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, BH and Huang, SC and Hou, CY and Chen, YZ and Chen, YH and Hakkim Hazeena, S and Hsu, WH}, title = {Effect of polysaccharide derived from dehulled adlay on regulating gut microbiota and inhibiting Clostridioides difficile in an in vitro colonic fermentation model.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {410}, number = {}, pages = {135410}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135410}, pmid = {36628918}, issn = {1873-7072}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Clostridioides difficile ; Clostridioides ; Fermentation ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Human body can digest only a few sugars with a low degree of polymerization. The rest of the carbohydrates become food for gastrointestinal symbiotic bacteria, affecting gut microbiota composition and human health. Adlay is a medicinal and food homologous crop. The study aims to determine whether dehulled adlay-derived polysaccharide regulates gut microbiota and barrier function to against Clostridioides difficile infection. Major molecular weight of adlay polysaccharide is 27 kDa. The growth of next-generation probiotics were promoted by adlay polysaccharides. In colonic fermentation model, the ratio of C. difficile was decreased when adding the condition medium of adlay polysaccharides-treated fecal microbiota. In addition, adlay polysaccharide promoted the expression of tight junction proteins and mucin in intestinal cells. This study shows that adlay polysaccharide can be used as prebiotics to regulate microbiota and maintain barrier function, which has the potential to be developed as novel functional food ingredients to protect intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid36626737, year = {2023}, author = {Tsikou, D and Nikolaou, CN and Tsiknia, M and Papadopoulou, KK and Ehaliotis, C}, title = {Interplay between rhizobial nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization in Lotus japonicus roots.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {134}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxac010}, pmid = {36626737}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Lotus/microbiology ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Microbial Interactions ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: This study aims to identify main factors that influence the tripartite association of legumes with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Concurrent inoculations with Mesorhizobium loti and four AMF strains were performed on the model legume Lotus japonicus. Nodulation was significantly enhanced by all AMF strains, under normal conditions, and by specific AMF strains under heat-stress conditions. The impact of rhizobia on mycorrhizal colonization was AMF strain dependent. Co-inoculation trials, where either AMF or rhizobia were restricted outside the root, showed that the symbiotic phenotypes are not influenced by microbial interactions at the pre-symbiotic stage. External application of nutrients showed that P enhances nodulation, while N application does not enhance mycorrhizal colonization.

CONCLUSIONS: Nodulation and mycorhization affect one another during advanced stages of the symbiosis. AMF strains may enhance nodulation under both normal and high environmental temperatures. Rhizobium-AMF compatibility is critical, as rhizobium may positively affect specific AMF strains, an effect that does not derive from increased N uptake.}, } @article {pmid36626727, year = {2023}, author = {da Silva, TR and Rodrigues, RT and Jovino, RS and Carvalho, JRS and Leite, J and Hoffman, A and Fischer, D and Ribeiro, PRA and Rouws, LFM and Radl, V and Fernandes-Júnior, PI}, title = {Not just passengers, but co-pilots! Non-rhizobial nodule-associated bacteria promote cowpea growth and symbiosis with (brady)rhizobia.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {134}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxac013}, pmid = {36626727}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Humans ; *Vigna/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Pilots ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To isolate and characterize non-rhizobial nodule-associated bacteria (NAB) from cowpea root-nodules regarding their performance of plant-growth-promoting mechanisms and their ability to enhance cowpea growth and symbiosis when co-inoculated with bradyrhizobia.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen NAB were isolated, identified, and in vitro evaluated for plant growth promotion traits. The ability to promote cowpea growth was analyzed when co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi BR 3262 in sterile and non-sterile substrates. The 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis revealed that NAB belonged to the genera Chryseobacterium (4), Bacillus (3), Microbacterium (3), Agrobacterium (1), Escherichia (1), Delftia (1), Pelomonas (1), Sphingomonas (1), and Staphylococcus (1). All strains produced different amounts of auxin siderophores and formed biofilms. Twelve out of the 16 strains carried the nifH, a gene associated with nitrogen fixation. Co-inoculation of NAB (ESA 424 and ESA 29) with Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi BR 3262 significantly promoted cowpea growth, especially after simultaneous inoculation with the three strains.

CONCLUSIONS: NAB are efficient cowpea growth promoters and can improve the efficiency of the symbiosis between cowpea and the N2-fixing microsymbiont B. pachyrhizi BR 3262, mainly under a specific triple microbial association.}, } @article {pmid36626572, year = {2023}, author = {González-Granda, S and Albarrán-Velo, J and Lavandera, I and Gotor-Fernández, V}, title = {Expanding the Synthetic Toolbox through Metal-Enzyme Cascade Reactions.}, journal = {Chemical reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00454}, pmid = {36626572}, issn = {1520-6890}, abstract = {The combination of metal-, photo-, enzyme-, and/or organocatalysis provides multiple synthetic solutions, especially when the creation of chiral centers is involved. Historically, enzymes and transition metal species have been exploited simultaneously through dynamic kinetic resolutions of racemates. However, more recently, linear cascades have appeared as elegant solutions for the preparation of valuable organic molecules combining multiple bioprocesses and metal-catalyzed transformations. Many advantages are derived from this symbiosis, although there are still bottlenecks to be addressed including the successful coexistence of both catalyst types, the need for compatible reaction media and mild conditions, or the minimization of cross-reactivities. Therefore, solutions are here also provided by means of catalyst coimmobilization, compartmentalization strategies, flow chemistry, etc. A comprehensive review is presented focusing on the period 2015 to early 2022, which has been divided into two main sections that comprise first the use of metals and enzymes as independent catalysts but working in an orchestral or sequential manner, and later their application as bionanohybrid materials through their coimmobilization in adequate supports. Each part has been classified into different subheadings, the first part based on the reaction catalyzed by the metal catalyst, while the development of nonasymmetric or stereoselective processes was considered for the bionanohybrid section.}, } @article {pmid36626199, year = {2023}, author = {Moore, B and Herrera, M and Gairin, E and Li, C and Miura, S and Jolly, J and Mercader, M and Izumiyama, M and Kawai, E and Ravasi, T and Laudet, V and Ryu, T}, title = {The chromosome-scale genome assembly of the yellowtail clownfish Amphiprion clarkii provides insights into the melanic pigmentation of anemonefish.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36626199}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; *Perciformes/genetics ; Fishes/genetics ; Chromosomes/genetics ; Genome ; Pigmentation ; }, abstract = {Anemonefish are an emerging group of model organisms for studying genetic, ecological, evolutionary, and developmental traits of coral reef fish. The yellowtail clownfish Amphiprion clarkii possesses species-specific characteristics such as inter-species co-habitation, high intra-species color variation, no anemone specificity, and a broad geographic distribution, that can increase our understanding of anemonefish evolutionary history, behavioral strategies, fish-anemone symbiosis, and color pattern evolution. Despite its position as an emerging model species, the genome of A. clarkii is yet to be published. Using PacBio long-read sequencing and Hi-C chromatin capture technology, we generated a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly initially comprised of 1,840 contigs with an N50 of 1,203,211 bp. These contigs were successfully anchored into 24 chromosomes of 843,582,782 bp and annotated with 25,050 protein-coding genes encompassing 97.0% of conserved actinopterygian genes, making the quality and completeness of this genome the highest among all published anemonefish genomes to date. Transcriptomic analysis identified tissue-specific gene expression patterns, with the brain and optic lobe having the largest number of expressed genes. Further analyses revealed higher copy numbers of erbb3b (a gene involved in melanocyte development) in A. clarkii compared with other anemonefish, thus suggesting a possible link between erbb3b and the natural melanism polymorphism observed in A. clarkii. The publication of this high-quality genome, along with A. clarkii's many unique traits, position this species as an ideal model organism for addressing scientific questions across a range of disciplines.}, } @article {pmid36624259, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, S and Wang, T and Lima, RM and Pettkó-Szandtner, A and Kereszt, A and Downie, JA and Kondorosi, E}, title = {Widely conserved AHL transcription factors are essential for NCR gene expression and nodule development in Medicago.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {280-288}, pmid = {36624259}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Peptides/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Soybeans/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium bacteria in the cells of legume root nodules alleviates the need for nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen fixation requires the endosymbionts to differentiate into bacteroids which can be reversible or terminal. The latter is controlled by the plant, it is more beneficial and has evolved in multiple clades of the Leguminosae family. The plant effectors of terminal differentiation in inverted repeat-lacking clade legumes (IRLC) are nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, which are absent in legumes such as soybean where there is no terminal differentiation of rhizobia. It was assumed that NCRs co-evolved with specific transcription factors, but our work demonstrates that expression of NCR genes does not require NCR-specific transcription factors. Introduction of the Medicago truncatula NCR169 gene under its own promoter into soybean roots resulted in its nodule-specific expression, leading to bacteroid changes associated with terminal differentiation. We identified two AT-Hook Motif Nuclear Localized (AHL) transcription factors from both M. truncatula and soybean nodules that bound to AT-rich sequences in the NCR169 promoter inducing its expression. Whereas mutation of NCR169 arrested bacteroid development at a late stage, the absence of MtAHL1 or MtAHL2 completely blocked bacteroid differentiation indicating that they also regulate other NCR genes required for the development of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Regulation of NCRs by orthologous transcription factors in non-IRLC legumes opens up the possibility of increasing the efficiency of nitrogen fixation in legumes lacking NCRs.}, } @article {pmid36623603, year = {2023}, author = {Rola, K and Majewska, E and Chowaniec, K}, title = {Interaction effect of fungicide and chitosan on non-target lichenized fungi.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {316}, number = {}, pages = {137772}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137772}, pmid = {36623603}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Fungicides, Industrial/metabolism ; *Chitosan/pharmacology ; Cell Membrane ; *Lichens/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Excessive use of plant growth stimulants and pesticides is currently a considerable problem, especially in agriculture, horticulture, and arboriculture. Understanding the impacts of these compounds and their combinations on non-target organisms is crucial to minimize unintended consequences, while maintaining their use in plant protection. The aim of this study was to test how long-term spraying with different solutions of natural biostimulator chitosan, synthetic fungicide Switch 62.5 WG, and their combinations affects the physiology of epiphytic lichen Xanthoria parietina naturally occurring in fruit orchards and farmlands. We showed that fungicides composed of fludioxionil and cypronidil, as well as the combined use of such fungicides together with chitosan, can cause the considerable impairment of lichen physiology, and these disturbances relate to both algal and fungal partners of the symbiotic association. This negative effect was especially visible in the loss of cell membrane integrity, the high level of membrane lipid peroxidation, and changes in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters on the last day of the experiment. The combined use of these agents also leads to clear disturbances in the functioning of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which was manifested by increased NADH dehydrogenase activity, while the use of these compounds separately led to a decrease in the activity of this enzyme. We concluded that the regular use of these agents in fruit tree cultivation may cause serious ecological consequences for epiphytic lichen communities as a result of the death of lichen thalli. This study suggests that the impact of some plant protection agents, both individually and in combinations, merits further attention in terms of their impact on non-target fungi.}, } @article {pmid36622711, year = {2023}, author = {Stoy, KS and Chavez, J and De Las Casas, V and Talla, V and Berasategui, A and Morran, LT and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Evaluating coevolution in a horizontally transmitted mutualism.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {166-185}, doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpac009}, pmid = {36622711}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Bacteria ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Acclimatization ; Insecta ; }, abstract = {Many interspecific interactions are shaped by coevolution. Transmission mode is thought to influence opportunities for coevolution within symbiotic interactions. Vertical transmission maintains partner fidelity, increasing opportunities for coevolution, but horizontal transmission may disrupt partner fidelity, potentially reducing opportunities for coevolution. Despite these predictions, the role of coevolution in the maintenance of horizontally transmitted symbioses is unclear. Leveraging a tractable insect-bacteria symbiosis, we tested for signatures of pairwise coevolution by assessing patterns of host-symbiont specialization. If pairwise coevolution defines the interaction, we expected to observe evidence of reciprocal specialization between hosts and their local symbionts. We found no evidence for local adaptation between sympatric lineages of Anasa tristis squash bugs and Caballeronia spp. symbionts across their native geographic range. We also found no evidence for specialization between three co-localized Anasa host species and their native Caballeronia symbionts. Our results demonstrate generalist dynamics underlie the interaction between Anasa insect hosts and their Caballeronia symbionts. We predict that selection from multiple host species may favor generalist symbiont traits through diffuse coevolution. Alternatively, selection for generalist traits may be a consequence of selection by hosts for fixed cooperative symbiont traits without coevolution.}, } @article {pmid36622503, year = {2023}, author = {Xue, R and Li, Q and Guo, R and Yan, H and Ju, X and Liao, L and Zeng, R and Song, Y and Wang, J}, title = {Rice Defense Responses Orchestrated by Oral Bacteria of the Rice Striped Stem Borer, Chilo suppressalis.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {36622503}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {Plant defenses in response to chewing insects are generally regulated by jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway, whereas salicylic acid (SA) signaling is mainly involved in plant defense against biotrophic pathogens and piercing-sucking insects. Previous studies showed that both JA- and SA-related defenses in rice plants were triggered by the infestation of the rice striped stem borer (SSB, Chilo suppressalis), a destructive pest causing severe damage to rice production. Herbivore-associated microbes play an important role in modulating plant-insect interaction, and thus we speculate that the SSB symbiotic microbes acting as a hidden player may cause this anomalous result. The antibiotics (AB) treatment significantly depressed the performance of field-collected SSB larvae on rice plants, and reduced the quantities of bacteria around the wounds of rice stems compared to non-AB treatment. In response to mechanical wounding and oral secretions (OS) collected from non-AB treated larvae, rice plants exhibited lower levels of JA-regulated defenses, but higher levels of SA-regulated defenses compared to the treatment of OS from AB-treated larvae determined by using a combination of biochemical and molecular methods. Among seven culturable bacteria isolated from the OS of SSB larvae, Enterobacter and Acinetobacter contributed to the suppression of JA signaling-related defenses in rice plants, and axenic larvae reinoculated with these two strains displayed better performance on rice plants. Our findings demonstrate that SSB larvae exploit oral secreted bacteria to interfere with plant anti-herbivore defense and avoid fully activating the JA-regulated antiherbivore defenses of rice plants.}, } @article {pmid36620751, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, J and Zhang, G and Li, Y and Lyu, M and Zhang, H and Zhang, N and Chen, R}, title = {Integrative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of a bud sport mutant 'Jinzao Wuhe' with the phenotype of large berries in grapevines.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e14617}, pmid = {36620751}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Fruit/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; *Vitis/genetics ; Plant Breeding ; Phenotype ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bud sport mutation occurs frequently in fruit plants and acts as an important approach for grapevine improvement and breeding. 'Jinzao Wuhe' is a bud sport of the elite cultivar 'Himord Seedless' with obviously enlarged organs and berries. To date, the molecular mechanisms underlying berry enlargement caused by bud sport in grapevines remain unclear.

METHODS: Whole genome resequencing (WGRS) was performed for two pairs of bud sports and their maternal plants with similar phenotype to identify SNPs, InDels and structural variations (SVs) as well as related genes. Furthermore, transcriptomic sequencing at different developmental stages and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) for 'Jinzao Wuhe' and its maternal plant 'Himord Seedless' were carried out to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were subsequently analyzed for Gene Ontology (GO) and function annotation.

RESULTS: In two pairs of enlarged berry bud sports, a total of 1,334 SNPs, 272 InDels and 74 SVs, corresponding to 1,022 target genes related to symbiotic microorganisms, cell death and other processes were identified. Meanwhile, 1,149 DEGs associated with cell wall modification, stress-response and cell killing might be responsible for the phenotypic variation were also determined. As a result, 42 DEGs between 'Himord Seedless' and 'Jinzao Wuhe' harboring genetic variations were further investigated, including pectin esterase, cellulase A, cytochromes P450 (CYP), UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT), zinc finger protein, auxin response factor (ARF), NAC transcription factor (TF), protein kinase, etc. These candidate genes offer important clues for a better understanding of developmental regulations of berry enlargement in grapevine.

CONCLUSION: Our results provide candidate genes and valuable information for dissecting the underlying mechanisms of berry development and contribute to future improvement of grapevine cultivars.}, } @article {pmid36620491, year = {2023}, author = {, and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Urocerus japonicus.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {e07738}, pmid = {36620491}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Urocerus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), the Japanese horntail, for the territory of the EU. U. japonicus is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 but was identified as an actionable pest in a commodity risk assessment of Pinus thunbergii artificially dwarfed plants from Japan. U. japonicus occurs across Japan and on the Korean Peninsula. It attacks fallen or weakened Japanese cedars, Cryptomeria japonica and Japanese cypresses, Chamaecyparis obtusa. It has also been observed attacking Pinus spp., Abies spp., Larix kaempferi and Picea jezoensis. The females oviposit into the sapwood. Eggs are deposited together with a symbiotic basidiomycete fungus, Amylostereum laevigatum. The larvae feed on wood infected by the fungus. All immature stages live in the hosts sapwood. The lifecycle of the pest lasts 1 year, sometimes 2 years. The wood of the host trees is discoloured by the fungus and therefore loses much of its economic value. U. japonicus can be carried in conifer wood, solid wood packaging material (SWPM) or plants for planting. Wood from Japan is regulated by 2019/2072 (Annexes VII and XI) whilst SWPM is managed by ISPM 15. The pathway plants for planting is largely closed by prohibition, with the exception of Cryptomeria spp. and specified bonsai plants for planting. Climatic conditions in several EU Member States are conducive for establishment, but the main host plants are not very common in those areas, being only amenity trees, although the other hosts mentioned in the literature, Pinus spp., Abies spp., Picea spp. and Larix spp., are widespread. The introduction of U. japonicus is likely to decrease the quality of host wood, as in Japan. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and further spread, and there is a potential for biological control. U. japonicus satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, } @article {pmid36620006, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Z and Yuan, L and Zhu, H and Jiang, J and Yang, H and Li, L}, title = {Small RNA profiling reveals the involvement of microRNA-mediated gene regulation in response to symbiosis in raspberry.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1082494}, pmid = {36620006}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) can form reciprocal symbioses with most terrestrial plants, providing them with mineral nutrients in exchange for photosynthetic products. Although the mechanism of plant-DSEs is well understood at the transcriptional level, little is known about their post-transcriptional regulation, and microRNAs (miRNAs) for the symbiotic process of DSE infestation of raspberry have not been identified. In this study, we comprehensively identified the miRNAs of DSE-infested raspberry symbiosis using Illumina sequencing. A total of 361 known miRNAs and 95 novel miRNAs were identified in the roots. Similar to other dicotyledons, most of the identified raspberry miRNAs were 21 nt in length. Thirty-seven miRNAs were differentially expressed during colonization after inoculation with Phialocephala fortinii F5, suggesting a possible role for these miRNAs in the symbiotic process. Notably, two miRNAs (miR171h and miR396) previously reported to be responsive to symbiotic processes in alfalfa also had altered expression during raspberry symbiosis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses suggests that miRNAs are mainly involved in regulatory mechanisms, such as biological processes, cellular metabolic processes, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant-pathogen interactions, and phytohormone signaling pathways. This study revealed the potential conservation of miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation in symbiotic processes among plants and provides some novel miRNAs for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of DSE-raspberry symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36619999, year = {2022}, author = {Li, M and Song, Z and Li, Z and Qiao, R and Zhang, P and Ding, C and Xie, J and Chen, Y and Guo, H}, title = {Populus root exudates are associated with rhizosphere microbial communities and symbiotic patterns.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1042944}, pmid = {36619999}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Microbial communities in the plant rhizosphere are critical for nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. However, how root exudates and soil physicochemical characteristics affect microbial community composition in Populus rhizosphere is not well understood.

METHODS: This study measured soil physiochemistry properties and root exudates in a representative forest consists of four Populus species. The composition of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities was determined by metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS: Luvangetin, salicylic acid, gentisic acid, oleuropein, strigol, chrysin, and linoleic acid were the differential root exudates extracted in the rhizosphere of four Populus species, which explained 48.40, 82.80, 48.73, and 59.64% of the variance for the dominant and key bacterial or fungal communities, respectively. Data showed that differential root exudates were the main drivers of the changes in the rhizosphere microbial communities. Nitrosospira, Microvirga, Trichoderma, Cortinarius, and Beauveria were the keystone taxa in the rhizosphere microbial communities, and are thus important for maintaining a stable Populus microbial rhizosphere. The differential root exudates had strong impact on key bacteria than dominant bacteria, key fungi, and dominant fungi. Moreover, strigol had positively effects with bacteria, whereas phenolic compounds and chrysin were negatively correlated with rhizosphere microorganisms. The assembly process of the community structure (keystone taxa and bacterial dominant taxa) was mostly determined by stochastic processes.

DISCUSSION: This study showed the association of rhizosphere microorganisms (dominant and keystone taxa) with differential root exudates in the rhizosphere of Populus plants, and revealed the assembly process of the dominant and keystone taxa. It provides a theoretical basis for the identification and utilization of beneficial microorganisms in Populus rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid36619882, year = {2023}, author = {Müller, T and Schick, S and Beck, J and Sprenger, G and Takors, R}, title = {Synthetic mutualism in engineered E. coli mutant strains as functional basis for microbial production consortia.}, journal = {Engineering in life sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {e2100158}, pmid = {36619882}, issn = {1618-0240}, abstract = {In nature, microorganisms often reside in symbiotic co-existence providing nutrition, stability, and protection for each partner by applying "division of labor." This principle may also be used for the overproduction of targeted compounds in bioprocesses. It requires the engineering of a synthetic co-culture with distributed tasks for each partner. Thereby, the competition on precursors, redox cofactors, and energy-which occurs in a single host-is prevented. Current applications often focus on unidirectional interactions, that is, the product of partner A is used for the completion of biosynthesis by partner B. Here, we present a synthetically engineered Escherichia coli co-culture of two engineered mutant strains marked by the essential interaction of the partners which is achieved by implemented auxotrophies. The tryptophan auxotrophic strain E. coli ANT-3, only requiring small amounts of the aromatic amino acid, provides the auxotrophic anthranilate for the tryptophan producer E. coli TRP-3. The latter produces a surplus of tryptophan which is used to showcase the suitability of the co-culture to access related products in future applications. Co-culture characterization revealed that the microbial consortium is remarkably functionally stable for a broad range of inoculation ratios. The range of robust and functional interaction may even be extended by proper glucose feeding which was shown in a two-compartment bioreactor setting with filtrate exchange. This system even enables the use of the co-culture in a parallel two-level temperature setting which opens the door to access temperature sensitive products via heterologous production in E. coli in a continuous manner.}, } @article {pmid36619307, year = {2022}, author = {Chauhan, S and Mahawar, S and Jain, D and Udpadhay, SK and Mohanty, SR and Singh, A and Maharjan, E}, title = {Boosting Sustainable Agriculture by Arbuscular Mycorrhiza under Stress Condition: Mechanism and Future Prospective.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {5275449}, pmid = {36619307}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Agriculture/methods ; Plant Development ; Plants/microbiology ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Global agriculture is frequently subjected to stresses from increased salt content, drought, heavy metals, and other factors, which limit plant growth and production, deteriorate soil health, and constitute a severe danger to global food security. Development of environmentally acceptable mitigation techniques against stresses and restrictions on the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural fields is essential. Therefore, eco-friendly practises must be kept to prevent the detrimental impacts of stress on agricultural regions. The advanced metabolic machinery needed to handle this issue is not now existent in plants to deal against the stresses. Research has shown that the key role and mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) to enhance plant nutrient uptake, immobilisation and translocation of heavy metals, and plant growth-promoting attributes may be suitable agents for plant growth under diversed stressed condition. The successful symbiosis and the functional relationship between the plant and AMF may build the protective regulatory mechansm against the key challenge in particular stress. AMF's compatibility with hyperaccumulator plants has also been supported by studies on gene regulation and theoretical arguments. In order to address this account, the present review included reducing the impacts of biotic and abiotic stress through AMF, the mechanisms of AMF to improve the host plant's capacity to endure stress, and the strategies employed by AM fungus to support plant survival in stressful conditions.}, } @article {pmid36618664, year = {2022}, author = {Rehman, B and Javed, J and Rauf, M and Khan, SA and Arif, M and Hamayun, M and Gul, H and Khilji, SA and Sajid, ZA and Kim, WC and Lee, IJ}, title = {ACC deaminase-producing endophytic fungal consortia promotes drought stress tolerance in M.oleifera by mitigating ethylene and H2O2.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {967672}, pmid = {36618664}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Drought has become more prevalent due to dramatic climate change worldwide. Consequently, the most compatible fungal communities collaborate to boost plant development and ecophysiological responses under environmental constraints. However, little is known about the specific interactions between non-host plants and endophytic fungal symbionts that produce growth-promoting and stress-alleviating hormones during water deficits.

METHODS: The current research was rationalized and aimed at exploring the influence of the newly isolated, drought-resistant, ACC deaminase enzyme-producing endophytic fungi Trichoderma gamsii (TP), Fusarium proliferatum (TR), and its consortium (TP+TR) from a xerophytic plant Carthamus oxycantha L. on Moringa oleifera L. grown under water deficit induced by PEG-8000 (8% osmoticum solution).

RESULTS: The current findings revealed that the co-inoculation promoted a significant enhancement in growth traits such as dry weight (217%), fresh weight (123%), root length (65%), shoot length (53%), carotenoids (87%), and chlorophyll content (76%) in comparison to control plants under water deficit. Total soluble sugars (0.56%), proteins (132%), lipids (43%), flavonoids (52%), phenols (34%), proline (55%), GA3 (86%), IAA (35%), AsA (170%), SA (87%), were also induced, while H2O2 (-45%), ABA (-60%) and ACC level (-77%) was decreased by co-inoculation of TP and TR in M. oleifera plants, compared with the non-inoculated plants under water deficit. The co-inoculum (TP+TR) also induced the antioxidant potential and enzyme activities POX (325%), CAT activity (166%), and AsA (21%), along with a lesser decrease (-2%) in water potential in M. oleifera plants with co-inoculation under water deficit compared with non-inoculated control. The molecular analysis for gene expression unraveled the reduced expression of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling-related genes up to an optimal level, with an induction of antioxidant enzymatic genes by endophytic co-inoculation in M. oleifera plants under water deficit, suggesting their role in drought stress tolerance as an essential regulatory function.

CONCLUSION: The finding may alert scientists to consider the impacts of optimal reduction of ethylene and induction of antioxidant potential on drought stress tolerance in M. oleifera. Hence, the present study supports the use of compatible endophytic fungi to build a bipartite mutualistic symbiosis in M. oleifera non-host plants to mitigate the negative impacts of water scarcity in arid regions throughout the world.}, } @article {pmid36618653, year = {2022}, author = {Morcillo, RJL and Baroja-Fernández, E and López-Serrano, L and Leal-López, J and Muñoz, FJ and Bahaji, A and Férez-Gómez, A and Pozueta-Romero, J}, title = {Cell-free microbial culture filtrates as candidate biostimulants to enhance plant growth and yield and activate soil- and plant-associated beneficial microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1040515}, pmid = {36618653}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In this work we compiled information on current and emerging microbial-based fertilization practices, especially the use of cell-free microbial culture filtrates (CFs), to promote plant growth, yield and stress tolerance, and their effects on plant-associated beneficial microbiota. In addition, we identified limitations to bring microbial CFs to the market as biostimulants. In nature, plants act as metaorganisms, hosting microorganisms that communicate with the plants by exchanging semiochemicals through the phytosphere. Such symbiotic interactions are of high importance not only for plant yield and quality, but also for functioning of the soil microbiota. One environmentally sustainable practice to increasing crop productivity and/or protecting plants from (a)biotic stresses while reducing the excessive and inappropriate application of agrochemicals is based on the use of inoculants of beneficial microorganisms. However, this technology has a number of limitations, including inconsistencies in the field, specific growth requirements and host compatibility. Beneficial microorganisms release diffusible substances that promote plant growth and enhance yield and stress tolerance. Recently, evidence has been provided that this capacity also extends to phytopathogens. Consistently, soil application of microbial cell-free culture filtrates (CFs) has been found to promote growth and enhance the yield of horticultural crops. Recent studies have shown that the response of plants to soil application of microbial CFs is associated with strong proliferation of the resident beneficial soil microbiota. Therefore, the use of microbial CFs to enhance both crop yield and stress tolerance, and to activate beneficial soil microbiota could be a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly approach to minimize shortfalls related to the technology of microbial inoculation. In this review, we compile information on microbial CFs and the main constituents (especially volatile compounds) that promote plant growth, yield and stress tolerance, and their effects on plant-associated beneficial microbiota. In addition, we identify challenges and limitations for their use as biostimulants to bring them to the market and we propose remedial actions and give suggestions for future work.}, } @article {pmid36618624, year = {2022}, author = {Lyu, D and Smith, DL}, title = {The root signals in rhizospheric inter-organismal communications.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1064058}, pmid = {36618624}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root exudates play a key role in mediating plant-plant and plant-rhizomicrobiome interactions, including regulating biochemical/physiological aspects of plant-associated microorganisms, to enhance host plant growth and resilience. Root exudates can act as signals to reduce the competition from neighboring plants and recruiting/choreographing a wide range of diverse rhizomicrobiome members to make the host plant a good fit with its immediate environment. Root exudate production is a dynamic and key process, but there is a limited understanding of the metabolites or metabolic pathways involved in the inter-organismal communications facilitated by them. Given the well-known symbiotic relationships between plants and associated rhizomicrobiome members, adding root exudates to microbial isolation media may allow some of the large segments of rhizomicrobiome members that are not currently culturable to be grown in vitro. This will provide new insights into how root signals orchestrate associated microbes, will benefit agricultural production in the face of challenges posed by climate change, and will help to sustainably provide food for a growing global human population.}, } @article {pmid36617272, year = {2023}, author = {Reynolds, NK and Stajich, JE and Benny, GL and Barry, K and Mondo, S and LaButti, K and Lipzen, A and Daum, C and Grigoriev, IV and Ho, HM and Crous, PW and Spatafora, JW and Smith, ME}, title = {Mycoparasites, Gut Dwellers, and Saprotrophs: Phylogenomic Reconstructions and Comparative Analyses of Kickxellomycotina Fungi.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36617272}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Fungi/genetics ; *Arthropods/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Genome ; }, abstract = {Improved sequencing technologies have profoundly altered global views of fungal diversity and evolution. High-throughput sequencing methods are critical for studying fungi due to the cryptic, symbiotic nature of many species, particularly those that are difficult to culture. However, the low coverage genome sequencing (LCGS) approach to phylogenomic inference has not been widely applied to fungi. Here we analyzed 171 Kickxellomycotina fungi using LCGS methods to obtain hundreds of marker genes for robust phylogenomic reconstruction. Additionally, we mined our LCGS data for a set of nine rDNA and protein coding genes to enable analyses across species for which no LCGS data were obtained. The main goals of this study were to: 1) evaluate the quality and utility of LCGS data for both phylogenetic reconstruction and functional annotation, 2) test relationships among clades of Kickxellomycotina, and 3) perform comparative functional analyses between clades to gain insight into putative trophic modes. In opposition to previous studies, our nine-gene analyses support two clades of arthropod gut dwelling species and suggest a possible single evolutionary event leading to this symbiotic lifestyle. Furthermore, we resolve the mycoparasitic Dimargaritales as the earliest diverging clade in the subphylum and find four major clades of Coemansia species. Finally, functional analyses illustrate clear variation in predicted carbohydrate active enzymes and secondary metabolites (SM) based on ecology, that is biotroph versus saprotroph. Saprotrophic Kickxellales broadly lack many known pectinase families compared with saprotrophic Mucoromycota and are depauperate for SM but have similar numbers of predicted chitinases as mycoparasitic.}, } @article {pmid36617065, year = {2023}, author = {Lehmann, J and Schorz, S and Rache, A and Häußermann, T and Rädle, M and Reichwald, J}, title = {Establishing Reliable Research Data Management by Integrating Measurement Devices Utilizing Intelligent Digital Twins.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36617065}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {*Data Management ; *Metadata ; Records ; Digital Technology ; Intelligence ; }, abstract = {One of the main topics within research activities is the management of research data. Large amounts of data acquired by heterogeneous scientific devices, sensor systems, measuring equipment, and experimental setups have to be processed and ideally be managed by Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data management approaches in order to preserve their intrinsic value to researchers throughout the entire data lifecycle. The symbiosis of heterogeneous measuring devices, FAIR principles, and digital twin technologies is considered to be ideally suited to realize the foundation of reliable, sustainable, and open research data management. This paper contributes a novel architectural approach for gathering and managing research data aligned with the FAIR principles. A reference implementation as well as a subsequent proof of concept is given, leveraging the utilization of digital twins to overcome common data management issues at equipment-intense research institutes. To facilitate implementation, a top-level knowledge graph has been developed to convey metadata from research devices along with the produced data. In addition, a reactive digital twin implementation of a specific measurement device was devised to facilitate reconfigurability and minimized design effort.}, } @article {pmid36616325, year = {2023}, author = {Hlongwane, MM and Mohammed, M and Mokgalaka, NS and Dakora, FD}, title = {The Potential of Rhizobacteria to Mitigate Abiotic Stress in Lessertia frutescens.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36616325}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Lessertia frutescens is a multipurpose medicinal plant indigenous to South Africa. The curative ability of the medicinal plant is attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, including amino acids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. A literature review of some of the phytochemical compounds, particularly amino acids, in L. frutescens shows a steady decrease in concentration over the years. The reduction of the phytochemical compounds and diminishing biological activities may be attributed to drought and salt stress, which South Africa has been grappling with over the years. Canavanine, a phytochemical which is associated with the anticancer activity of L. frutescens, reduced slightly when the plant was subjected to salt stress. Like other legumes, L. frutescens forms a symbiotic relationship with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which facilitate plant growth and development. Studies employing commercial plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria to enhance growth and biological activities in L. frutescens have been successfully carried out. Furthermore, alleviation of drought and salt stress in medicinal plants through inoculation with plant growth-promoting-rhizobacteria is well documented and effective. Therefore, this review seeks to highlight the potential of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria to alleviate the effect of salt and drought in Lessertia frutescens.}, } @article {pmid36616316, year = {2023}, author = {Valmas, MI and Sexauer, M and Markmann, K and Tsikou, D}, title = {Plants Recruit Peptides and Micro RNAs to Regulate Nutrient Acquisition from Soil and Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36616316}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plants engage in symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms to overcome nutrient limitations in their environment. Among the best studied endosymbiotic interactions in plants are those with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and N-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. The mechanisms regulating plant nutrient homeostasis and acquisition involve small mobile molecules such as peptides and micro RNAs (miRNAs). A large number of CLE (CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED) and CEP (C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE) peptide hormones as well as certain miRNAs have been reported to differentially respond to the availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Interestingly, a partially overlapping pool of these molecules is involved in plant responses to root colonization by rhizobia and AM fungi, as well as mineral nutrition. The crosstalk between root endosymbiosis and nutrient availability has been subject of intense investigations, and new insights in locally or systemically mobile molecules in nutrient- as well as symbiosis-related signaling continue to arise. Focusing on the key roles of peptides and miRNAs, we review the mechanisms that shape plant responses to nutrient limitation and regulate the establishment of symbiotic associations with beneficial soil microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid36616139, year = {2022}, author = {Sebastiana, M and Serrazina, S and Monteiro, F and Wipf, D and Fromentin, J and Teixeira, R and Malhó, R and Courty, PE}, title = {Nitrogen Acquisition and Transport in the Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis-Insights from the Interaction between an Oak Tree and Pisolithus tinctorius.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36616139}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In temperate forests, the roots of various tree species are colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungi, which have a key role in the nitrogen nutrition of their hosts. However, not much is known about the molecular mechanisms related to nitrogen metabolism in ectomycorrhizal plants. This study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen metabolic response of oak plants when inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius. The expression of candidate genes encoding proteins involved in nitrogen uptake and assimilation was investigated in ectomycorrhizal roots. We found that three oak ammonium transporters were over-expressed in root tissues after inoculation, while the expression of amino acid transporters was not modified, suggesting that inorganic nitrogen is the main form of nitrogen transferred by the symbiotic fungus into the roots of the host plant. Analysis by heterologous complementation of a yeast mutant defective in ammonium uptake and GFP subcellular protein localization clearly confirmed that two of these genes encode functional ammonium transporters. Structural similarities between the proteins encoded by these ectomycorrhizal upregulated ammonium transporters, and a well-characterized ammonium transporter from E. coli, suggest a similar transport mechanism, involving deprotonation of NH4+, followed by diffusion of uncharged NH3 into the cytosol. This view is supported by the lack of induction of NH4+ detoxifying mechanisms, such as the GS/GOGAT pathway, in the oak mycorrhizal roots.}, } @article {pmid36613437, year = {2023}, author = {Moiseenko, KV and Begunova, AV and Savinova, OS and Glazunova, OA and Rozhkova, IV and Fedorova, TV}, title = {Biochemical and Genomic Characterization of Two New Strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Isolated from the Traditional Corn-Based Beverage of South Africa, Mahewu, and Their Comparison with Strains Isolated from Kefir Grains.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36613437}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (formerly Lactobacillus paracasei) is a nomadic lactic acid bacterium (LAB) that inhabits a wide variety of ecological niches, from fermented foodstuffs to host-associated microenvironments. Many of the isolated L. paracasei strains have been used as single-strain probiotics or as part of a symbiotic consortium within formulations. The present study contributes to the exploration of different strains of L. paracasei derived from non-conventional isolation sources-the South African traditional fermented drink mahewu (strains MA2 and MA3) and kefir grains (strains KF1 and ABK). The performed microbiological, biochemical and genomic comparative analyses of the studied strains demonstrated correlation between properties of the strains and their isolation source, which suggests the presence of at least partial strain adaptation to the isolation environments. Additionally, for the studied strains, antagonistic activities against common pathogens and against each other were observed, and the ability to release bioactive peptides with antioxidant and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACE-I) properties during milk fermentation was investigated. The obtained results may be useful for a deeper understanding of the nomadic lifestyle of L. paracasei and for the development of new starter cultures and probiotic preparations based on this LAB in the future.}, } @article {pmid36613399, year = {2023}, author = {Vachkova, E and Petrova, V and Grigorova, N and Ivanova, Z and Beev, G}, title = {Evaluation of the Anticancer and Probiotic Potential of Autochthonous (Wild) Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strains from New Ecological Niches as a Possible Additive for Functional Dairy Foods.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36613399}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Probiotics such as Lactobacillus spp. could modulate the intestinal microbiota composition, supporting gastrointestinal tract barrier function and benefiting human health. To evaluate the anticancer and probiotic properties of potentially active autochthonous Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains on proliferating and differentiated enterocytes, human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 was used as a model. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from new ecological niches—mountain anthills populated by redwood ants (Formica rufa L.). Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29, ATCC, HTB-38™) were treated for twenty-four hours with supernatants (SNs) derived from four strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei: P4, C8, C15 and M2.1. An MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase activity, IAP, Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were evaluated. The MTT assay revealed that the observed effects varied among groups. However, 10% neutralized supernatants from P4, C8, C15 and M2.1 strains did not show cytotoxic effects. In contrast to non-differentiated cells, a significant (p < 0.001) rise in ALP activity in all treatments, with an average of 18%, was established in differentiated cells. The IAP expression was remarkably downregulated in the differentiated M2.1 group (p < 0.05) and upregulated in the non-differentiated P4 (p < 0.05) and M2.1 (p < 0.05) groups. The Bax/Bcl-2 quantity expression ratio in P4 was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in proliferating cancer cells, but in P4- and M2.1-differentiated cells these values were downregulated (p < 0.05). The obtained results indicate that the isolated L. paracasei strains possess anticancer and probiotic properties and could be used as additives for functional dairy foods and thus benefit human health.}, } @article {pmid36612694, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Z and Zhuang, Q and Ma, Y and Li, P}, title = {A Study on the Path of Narrative Renewal of Traditional Villages: A Case of Shawan Ancient Town, Guangdong, China.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36612694}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Cities ; China ; *Urbanization ; *Culture ; Thinking ; }, abstract = {Traditional villages are a valuable for their historical and cultural heritage, and have long been the focus of academic research regarding their protection and renewal methods in the face of increasing urbanization. In the village renewal model, the continuation and regeneration of cultural context is the core issue. This paper aims to construct the updated narrative text of Shawan Ancient Town on the basis of narrative rules and methods, while also exploring how to generate the conservation and renewal strategies based on the narrative text. Drawing on the concepts and methods of narratology and based on the cultural background and current conditions of Shawan Ancient Town's architectural heritage, this paper takes "narrative in terms of theme, clue, path, and material" as the basic framework to construct the narrative text in the context of traditional village renewal. Then four aspects, such as "base combing, interface integration, patch symbiosis, and debris collection", are used to update the methods of the spatial situation of individual places. Additionally, multiple construction forms are explained, generating a historic, interesting, and experiential strategy for the protection and renewal of ancient towns. This study demonstrates logical thinking from the construction of narrative text to the generation of renewal strategies from a narrative perspective while deepening the typical research on the traditional village narrative renewal mode. It is advantageous to build a protection mechanism for historical and cultural villages, and explore a path to protect, inherit, and promote the cultural heritage of villages based on China's current situation.}, } @article {pmid36612563, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, Z and Tian, H and Xu, D and Chen, J and Hu, Y and Wang, X and Zhou, S}, title = {Influencing Factors and Symbiotic Mechanism of the Integration of Medical Care and Disease Prevention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Public Hospital Employees.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36612563}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Symbiosis ; Pandemics/prevention & control ; Hospitals, Public ; }, abstract = {Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has accelerated the huge difference between medical care and disease prevention in Chinese medical institutions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the symbiotic units, environments, models, and effects of the integration of medical care and disease prevention. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 762 employees of public hospitals in 11 cities in Zhejiang Province by random stratified sampling. We analyzed the influence paths of elements in the mechanism of integration of medical care and disease prevention and the mediating effect of symbiotic models among symbiotic units, symbiotic environments, and effects on this integration. Results: The path coefficient of the symbiotic unit on the symbiosis model was 0.46 (p < 0.001), the path coefficient of the symbiotic environment on the symbiosis model was 0.52 (p < 0.001). The path coefficient of the symbiotic unit and the environment was 0.91 (p < 0.001). The symbiotic models exhibited a partial mediation effect between symbiotic units and the effect of this integration. Sobel test = 3.27, β = 0.152, and the mediating effect accounted for 34.6%. Conclusions: It is suggested that health policymakers and public hospital managers should provide sufficient symbiotic units, establish collaborative symbiotic models, and improve the effects of integration of medical care and disease prevention in public hospitals.}, } @article {pmid36611035, year = {2023}, author = {Bogdanov, EA and Vishnyakov, AE and Kotenko, ON and Grischenko, AV and Letarov, AV and Ostrovsky, AN}, title = {Seasonal dynamics of a complex cheilostome bryozoan symbiosis: vertical transfer challenged.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {375}, pmid = {36611035}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bryozoa/ultrastructure ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations are dynamic systems influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here we describe for the first time the developmental and seasonal changes of the funicular bodies in the bryozoan Dendrobeania fruticosa, which are unique temporary organs of cheilostome bryozoans containing prokaryotic symbionts. Histological and ultrastructural studies showed that these organs undergo strong seasonal modification in the White Sea during the ice-free period. Initially (in June) they play a trophic function and support the development of a large population of bacteria. From June to September, both funicular bodies and bacteria show signs of degradation accompanied by development of presumed virus-like particles (VLPs); these self-organize to hollow spheres inside bacteria and are also detected outside of them. Although the destruction of bacteria coincides with the development of VLPs and spheres, the general picture differs considerably from the known instances of bacteriophagy in bryozoans. We broadly discuss potential routes of bacterial infection in Bryozoa and question the hypothesis of vertical transfer, which, although widely accepted in the literature, is contradicted by molecular, morphological and ecological evidence.}, } @article {pmid36610734, year = {2023}, author = {Mathur, V and Salomaki, ED and Wakeman, KC and Na, I and Kwong, WK and Kolisko, M and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Reconstruction of Plastid Proteomes of Apicomplexans and Close Relatives Reveals the Major Evolutionary Outcomes of Cryptic Plastids.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36610734}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; *Proteome/genetics ; *Plastids/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; }, abstract = {Apicomplexans and related lineages comprise many obligate symbionts of animals; some of which cause notorious diseases such as malaria. They evolved from photosynthetic ancestors and transitioned into a symbiotic lifestyle several times, giving rise to species with diverse non-photosynthetic plastids. Here, we sought to reconstruct the evolution of the cryptic plastids in the apicomplexans, chrompodellids, and squirmids (ACS clade) by generating five new single-cell transcriptomes from understudied gregarine lineages, constructing a robust phylogenomic tree incorporating all ACS clade sequencing datasets available, and using these to examine in detail, the evolutionary distribution of all 162 proteins recently shown to be in the apicoplast by spatial proteomics in Toxoplasma. This expanded homology-based reconstruction of plastid proteins found in the ACS clade confirms earlier work showing convergence in the overall metabolic pathways retained once photosynthesis is lost, but also reveals differences in the degrees of plastid reduction in specific lineages. We show that the loss of the plastid genome is common and unexpectedly find many lineage- and species-specific plastid proteins, suggesting the presence of evolutionary innovations and neofunctionalizations that may confer new functional and metabolic capabilities that are yet to be discovered in these enigmatic organelles.}, } @article {pmid36609693, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, S and Xie, X and Che, X and Lai, W and Ren, Y and Fan, X and Hu, W and Tang, M and Chen, H}, title = {Host- and virus-induced gene silencing of HOG1-MAPK cascade genes in Rhizophagus irregularis inhibit arbuscule development and reduce resistance of plants to drought stress.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {21}, number = {4}, pages = {866-883}, pmid = {36609693}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {*Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form beneficial associations with the most terrestrial vascular plant species. AM fungi not only facilitate plant nutrient acquisition but also enhance plant tolerance to various environmental stresses such as drought stress. However, the molecular mechanisms by which AM fungal mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades mediate the host adaptation to drought stimulus remains to be investigated. Recently, many studies have shown that virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) strategies are used for functional studies of AM fungi. Here, we identify the three HOG1 (High Osmolarity Glycerol 1)-MAPK cascade genes RiSte11, RiPbs2 and RiHog1 from Rhizophagus irregularis. The expression levels of the three HOG1-MAPK genes are significantly increased in mycorrhizal roots of the plant Astragalus sinicus under severe drought stress. RiHog1 protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus of yeast in response to 1 M sorbitol treatment, and RiPbs2 interacts with RiSte11 or RiHog1 directly by pull-down assay. Importantly, VIGS or HIGS of RiSte11, RiPbs2 or RiHog1 hampers arbuscule development and decreases relative water content in plants during AM symbiosis. Moreover, silencing of HOG1-MAPK cascade genes led to the decreased expression of drought-resistant genes (RiAQPs, RiTPSs, RiNTH1 and Ri14-3-3) in the AM fungal symbiont in response to drought stress. Taken together, this study demonstrates that VIGS or HIGS of AM fungal HOG1-MAPK cascade inhibits arbuscule development and expression of AM fungal drought-resistant genes under drought stress.}, } @article {pmid36609683, year = {2023}, author = {Choi, JK and Naffouje, SA and Goto, M and Wang, J and Christov, K and Rademacher, DJ and Green, A and Stecenko, AA and Chakrabarty, AM and Das Gupta, TK and Yamada, T}, title = {Cross-talk between cancer and Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediates tumor suppression.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {36609683}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {R01 EB023924/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA252370/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Mice ; Animals ; Humans ; *Azurin/genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism ; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase ; *Neoplasms/genetics ; Cell Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms living at many sites in the human body compose a complex and dynamic community. Accumulating evidence suggests a significant role for microorganisms in cancer, and therapies that incorporate bacteria have been tried in various types of cancer. We previously demonstrated that cupredoxin azurin secreted by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enters human cancer cells and induces apoptotic death[1-4]. However, the physiological interactions between P. aeruginosa and humans and their role in tumor homeostasis are largely unknown. Here, we show that P. aeruginosa upregulated azurin secretion in response to increasing numbers of and proximity to cancer cells. Conversely, cancer cells upregulated aldolase A secretion in response to increasing proximity to P. aeruginosa, which also correlated with enhanced P. aeruginosa adherence to cancer cells. Additionally, we show that cancer patients had detectable P. aeruginosa and azurin in their tumors and exhibited increased overall survival when they did, and that azurin administration reduced tumor growth in transgenic mice. Our results suggest host-bacterial symbiotic mutualism acting as a diverse adjunct to the host defense system via inter-kingdom communication mediated by the evolutionarily conserved proteins azurin and human aldolase A. This improved understanding of the symbiotic relationship of bacteria with humans indicates the potential contribution to tumor homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid36605113, year = {2022}, author = {Jarrahi, MH and Davoudi, V and Haeri, M}, title = {The key to an effective AI-powered digital pathology: Establishing a symbiotic workflow between pathologists and machine.}, journal = {Journal of pathology informatics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {100156}, pmid = {36605113}, issn = {2229-5089}, abstract = {Pathology is a fundamental element of modern medicine that determines the final diagnosis of medical conditions, leads medical decisions, and portrays the prognosis. Due to continuous improvements in AI capabilities (e.g., object recognition and image processing), intelligent systems are bound to play a key role in augmenting pathology research and clinical practices. Despite the pervasive deployment of computational approaches in similar fields such as radiology, there has been less success in integrating AI in clinical practices and histopathological diagnosis. This is partly due to the opacity of end-to-end AI systems, which raises issues of interoperability and accountability of medical practices. In this article, we draw on interactive machine learning to take advantage of AI in digital pathology to open the black box of AI and generate a more effective partnership between pathologists and AI systems based on the metaphors of parameterization and implicitization.}, } @article {pmid36604881, year = {2022}, author = {Luo, YZ and Pu, CJ and Liu, S and Lu, ZY and Wang, ZH and Chen, ML}, title = {[Effects of interaction between ubiquitin/26S proteasome inhibitor MG132 and mycorrhiza on growth and effective components of Salvia miltiorrhiza].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {47}, number = {23}, pages = {6365-6372}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20220714.101}, pmid = {36604881}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Proteasome Inhibitors/metabolism ; Ubiquitin/metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ubiquitin/26 S proteasome system(UPS) is one of the main ways to regulate the degradation of proteins in plants, and plays an important role in physiological processes such as secondary metabolism and plant hormone signal transduction. As indicated recently, UPS is involved in plant-microbe interactions, and presumably regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to affect its effects. This study investigated the effects of interaction between Cbz-leu-leu-leucinal(MG132) and the mycorrhiza on the growth and effective components of Salvia miltiorrhiza by inoculation with Glomus intraradices and spraying MG132 solution. The results showed that the inoculation with G. intraradices could promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza, increase the accumulation of effective components in the aerial and underground parts, and decrease the relative expression level of JMT. Additionally, MG132 could strengthen the growth-promoting effect of G. intraradices. As compared with the control group, the inoculation with G. intraradices could significantly increase aerial and underground fresh weights by 267% and 95%, respectively, under the treatment with MG132 spraying, while under the MG132 spraying-free condition, the increase was 195% and 32%, respectively. Meanwhile, MG132 spraying could enhance the promotion of mycorrhizal fungi on the accumulation of active components of S. miltiorrhiza. On the other hand, regardless of inoculation with G. intraradices or not, MG132 treatment could promote the root division of S. miltiorrhiza, reduce the content of effective components in the aerial parts, and increase the content in the underground part. The inoculation with G. intraradices could alleviate the inhibitory effect of MG132 on the accumulation of effective components in the aerial part of S. miltiorrhiza. The results show that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) can promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza and the accumulation of effective components, and MG132 treatment can strengthen such promotion effect, which lays a foundation for the application of MG132 in the mycorrhizal cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza in the future.}, } @article {pmid36604748, year = {2023}, author = {Thirion, F and Sellebjerg, F and Fan, Y and Lyu, L and Hansen, TH and Pons, N and Levenez, F and Quinquis, B and Stankevic, E and Søndergaard, HB and Dantoft, TM and Poulsen, CS and Forslund, SK and Vestergaard, H and Hansen, T and Brix, S and Oturai, A and Sørensen, PS and Ehrlich, SD and Pedersen, O}, title = {The gut microbiota in multiple sclerosis varies with disease activity.}, journal = {Genome medicine}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {36604748}, issn = {1756-994X}, mesh = {Young Adult ; Humans ; *Multiple Sclerosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Inflammation ; *Microbiota ; Feces/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Cytokines ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the brain and spinal cord resulting in physical and cognitive impairment in young adults. It is hypothesized that a disrupted bacterial and viral gut microbiota is a part of the pathogenesis mediating disease impact through an altered gut microbiota-brain axis. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of gut microbiota in multiple sclerosis and to associate it with disease variables, as the etiology of the disease remains only partially known.

METHODS: Here, in a case-control setting involving 148 Danish cases with multiple sclerosis and 148 matched healthy control subjects, we performed shotgun sequencing of fecal microbial DNA and associated bacterial and viral microbiota findings with plasma cytokines, blood cell gene expression profiles, and disease activity.

RESULTS: We found 61 bacterial species that were differentially abundant when comparing all multiple sclerosis cases with healthy controls, among which 31 species were enriched in cases. A cluster of inflammation markers composed of blood leukocytes, CRP, and blood cell gene expression of IL17A and IL6 was positively associated with a cluster of multiple sclerosis-related species. Bacterial species that were more abundant in cases with disease-active treatment-naïve multiple sclerosis were positively linked to a group of plasma cytokines including IL-22, IL-17A, IFN-β, IL-33, and TNF-α. The bacterial species richness of treatment-naïve multiple sclerosis cases was associated with number of relapses over a follow-up period of 2 years. However, in non-disease-active cases, we identified two bacterial species, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens, whose absolute abundance was enriched. These bacteria are known to produce anti-inflammatory metabolites including butyrate and urolithin. In addition, cases with multiple sclerosis had a higher viral species diversity and a higher abundance of Caudovirales bacteriophages.

CONCLUSIONS: Considerable aberrations are present in the gut microbiota of patients with multiple sclerosis that are directly associated with blood biomarkers of inflammation, and in treatment-naïve cases bacterial richness is positively associated with disease activity. Yet, the finding of two symbiotic bacterial species in non-disease-active cases that produce favorable immune-modulating compounds provides a rationale for testing these bacteria as adjunct therapeutics in future clinical trials.}, } @article {pmid36603749, year = {2023}, author = {Qv, M and Dai, D and Liu, D and Wu, Q and Tang, C and Li, S and Zhu, L}, title = {Towards advanced nutrient removal by microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system for wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {370}, number = {}, pages = {128574}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128574}, pmid = {36603749}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Sewage ; *Chlorella ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Nutrients ; Bacteria ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Water Purification/methods ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Biomass ; }, abstract = {In this study, the microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (ABS) system by co-culturing Chlorella sorokiniana with activated sludge was constructed for pollutants removal, and the according interaction mechanism was investigated. The results showed that the ABS system could almost completely remove ammonia nitrogen, and the removal efficiency of total nitrogen and total phosphorus could accordingly reach up to 65.3 % and 42.6 %. Brevundimonas greatly promoted microalgal biomass growth (maximum chlorophyll-a concentration of 9.4 mg/L), and microalgae contributed to the increase in the abundance of Dokdonella and Thermomonas in ABS system, thus facilitating nitrogen removal. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory indicated a repulsive potential barrier of 561.7 KT, while tryptophan-like proteins and tyrosine-like proteins were key extracellular polymeric substances for the formation of flocs by microalgae and activated sludge. These findings provide an in-depth understanding of interaction mechanism between microalgae and activated sludge for the removal of contaminants from wastewater.}, } @article {pmid36603450, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhang, N and Wu, A and Lv, Z and Jia Wei, and Li, Y}, title = {Effect of benomyl-mediated mycorrhizal association on the salinity tolerance of male and monoecious mulberry clones.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {195}, number = {}, pages = {67-76}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.12.027}, pmid = {36603450}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Salt Tolerance ; Benomyl ; *Morus ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Sodium ; Plants ; Salinity ; }, abstract = {Mulberry is an economically important crop for sericulture in China. Mulberry plantations are shifting inland, where they face high salinity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) reportedly enhance mulberry's tolerance to salinity. Here, we assessed if additional adaptive advantages against salinity are provided by sex differences beyond those provided by mycorrhizal symbiosis. In a pot experiment, male and monoecious plants were exposed to three salinity regimes (0, 50, and 200 mM NaCl) and two mycorrhiza-suppressed conditions (with or without benomyl application) for more than 16 months. We noticed that salinity alone significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate, salinity tolerance, K[+] concentrations, and the ionic ratios of all plants. Mycorrhizal association mildly ameliorated the salt-induced detrimental effects, especially for monoecious plants, and sex-specific responses were observed. Meanwhile, both sexes had adopted different strategies to enhance their salinity resistance. Briefly, mycorrhizal monoecious plants exhibited a higher net photosynthetic rate and lower translocation of Na[+] from root to shoot compared with mycorrhizal males under saline conditions. Their salt tolerance was probably due to the Ca[2+]/Na[+] in roots. In comparison, male plants exhibited lower Na[+] acquisition, more Na[+] translocated from root to shoot, higher root biomass allocation, and higher N concentrations under harsh saline conditions, and their salt tolerance was mainly related to the K[+]/Na[+] in their shoots. In conclusion, our results highlight that AMF could be a promising candidate for improving plant performance under highest salinity, especially for monoecious plants. Cultivators must be mindful of applying fungicides, such as benomyl, in saline areas.}, } @article {pmid36603344, year = {2023}, author = {Godefroid, M and Dubois, P and , and Hédouin, L}, title = {Thermal performance with depth: Comparison of a mesophotic scleractinian and an antipatharian species subjected to internal waves in Mo'orea, French Polynesia.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {184}, number = {}, pages = {105851}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105851}, pmid = {36603344}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Coral Reefs ; *Anthozoa ; Photosynthesis ; Polynesia ; }, abstract = {Local thermal environment has a strong influence on the physiology of marine ectotherms. This is particularly relevant for tropical organisms living close to their thermal optimum, well exemplified by the increasing frequency of bleaching occurrence in shallow-water corals. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) were suggested as potential oases, especially when they are submitted to internal waves inducing short-term cooling events. Indeed, probability of bleaching occurrence in scleractinians was reported to decrease with depth in Mo'orea as temperature variability increases. However, ecophysiological data are currently lacking to understand the cause of lower susceptibility/increased plasticity of deeper corals. A growing interest has been devoted the last decade to MCEs, but our understanding of the physiological performance of benthic organisms living in this environment remains relatively unexplored. To tackle that question, we first compared the metabolic responses (dark respiration, net photosynthesis and photosynthetic efficiency) of the depth-generalist scleractinian Pachyseris speciosa from two heterogeneous thermal environment (25 and 85 m depths) to acute heat stress to determine if the local thermal environment could predict coral response to warming. Then, we tested the thermal performance of two sympatric species (the scleractinian P. speciosa and the antipatharian Stichopathes sp.) to determine if there are inter-species differences in performances in species experiencing identical levels of temperature variability, at mesophotic depths (85 m). Results revealed broader thermal performances in the mesophotic P. speciosa compared to mid-depth ones, and constrained performances in the mesophotic antipatharian compared to the scleractinian species. We hypothesize that the high fluctuations in temperature due to internal waves in deeper areas contribute to the broader thermal performances of mesophotic P. speciosa. However, the constrained performances of the mesophotic antipatharian compared to P. speciosa suggests that other processes than the symbiosis with zooxanthellae also influence thermal performances of these mesophotic organisms. Our results supported that Stichopathes sp. lives close to its thermal optimum, suggesting a (relatively) cold thermal specialist strategy. In this context, composition of MCEs in the future is unlikely to shift to antipatharian-dominated landscape and will remain coral-dominated landscape.}, } @article {pmid36603257, year = {2023}, author = {Yao, C and Liu, G and Hao, X and Liu, Y}, title = {Symbiotic integration of waste disposal capability within a city cluster: The case of the Yangtze River Delta.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {330}, number = {}, pages = {117166}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117166}, pmid = {36603257}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Cities ; Rivers ; Symbiosis ; *Refuse Disposal/methods ; *Waste Management/methods ; China ; }, abstract = {With the ongoing urbanization in developing regions, integrating regional waste disposal capability is challenging due to unbalanced economic development and rising environmental issues. This research proposed a multi-dimensional symbiotic integration of waste disposal capability. Applying data from the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in China, we first explore the waste flows and interactions between cities to identify the possibility of inter-municipal collaboration based on the augmented gravity model. We then employ social network analysis to categorize the cities in the collaborative network of waste disposal into subgroups by functionalities. Finally, we proposed the top-down framework of symbiotic networks for waste disposal. Our findings indicate that YRD cities can be classified into four types according to their waste density and disposal efficiency: High-High, Low-High, Low-Low, and High-Low. We also identify three types of inter-municipal collaborative relationships: between high-density and high-efficiency cities, between high-density cities, and between high-efficiency cities. The city subgroups can be categorized into "high-efficiency clusters," "high-density clusters," and "hub clusters," which pave the way for a shared or complementary urban symbiosis in the waste recycling industry. The division of roles among subgroups enables symbiotic activities within the city cluster. This paper extends the spatial scope of industrial symbiosis literature and has practical implications for transitioning to a circular economy in waste management of developing countries.}, } @article {pmid36602726, year = {2023}, author = {Xiao, B and Li, D and Liao, B and Zheng, H and Yang, X and Xie, Y and Xie, Z and Li, C}, title = {Effects of microplastic combined with Cr(III) on apoptosis and energy pathway of coral endosymbiont.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {14}, pages = {39750-39763}, pmid = {36602726}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Microplastics ; Plastics/metabolism ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; NAD/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A/metabolism ; Polyethylene/metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {The combined effect of polyethylene (PE) microplastics and chromium (Cr(III)) on the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa (A. pruinosa) was investigated. The endpoints analysed in this study included the endosymbiont density, the chlorophyll a + c content, and the activity of enzymes involved in apoptosis (caspase-1, caspase-3), glycolysis (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH), the pentose phosphate pathway (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PDH) and electron transfer coenzyme (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD[+]/NADH). During the 7-day exposure to PE and Cr(III) stress, the endosymbiont density and chlorophyll content decreased gradually. The caspase-1 and caspase-3 activities increased in the high-concentration Cr(III) exposure group. Furthermore, the LDH and G6PDH activities decreased significantly, and the NAD[+]/NADH was decreased significantly. In summary, the results showed that PE and Cr(III) stress inhibited the endosymbiont energy metabolism enzymes and further led to endosymbiont apoptosis in coral. In addition, under exposure to the combination of stressors, when the concentration of Cr(III) remained at 1 × 10[-2] mg/L, the toxic effects of heavy metals on the endosymbiont were temporarily relieved with elevated PE concentrations. In contrast, when coral polyps were exposed to 5 mg/L PE and increasing Cr(III) concentrations, their metabolic activities were seriously disturbed, which increased the burden of energy consumption. In the short term, the toxic effect of Cr(III) was more obvious than that of PE because Cr(III) exposure leads to endosymbiont apoptosis and irreversible damage. This is the first study to provide insights into the combined effect of microplastic and Cr(III) stress on the apoptosis and energy pathways of coral endosymbionts. This study suggested that microplastics combined with Cr(III) are an important factor affecting the apoptosis and energy metabolism of endosymbionts, accelerating the collapse of the balance between the coral host and symbiotic endosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid36602316, year = {2023}, author = {Xiao, Q and Wang, L and Chen, SQ and Zheng, CY and Lu, YY and Xu, YJ}, title = {Gut Microbiome Composition of the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta: an Integrated Analysis of Host Genotype and Geographical Distribution.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0358522}, pmid = {36602316}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Ants/genetics/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; Genotype ; }, abstract = {Gut symbiotic bacteria are known to be closely related to insect development, nutrient metabolism, and disease resistance traits, but the most important factors leading to changes in these communities have not been well clarified. To address this, we examined the associations between the gut symbiotic bacteria and the host genotype and geographical distribution of Solenopsis invicta in China, where it is invasive and has spread primarily by human-mediated dispersal. Thirty-two phyla were detected in the gut symbiotic bacteria of S. invicta. Proteobacteria were the most dominant group among the gut symbiotic bacteria. Furthermore, the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices of the gut symbiotic bacteria were significantly positively correlated with the geographical distance between the host ant colonies, but this relationship was affected by the social form. The distance between monogyne colonies had a significant effect on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices of gut symbiotic bacteria, but the distance between polygyne colonies did not. Moreover, the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrices were positively correlated with Nei's genetic distance of the host but were not correlated with the COI-based genetic distance. This study provides a scientific basis for further understanding the ecological adaptability of red imported fire ants during invasion and dispersal. IMPORTANCE We demonstrated that gut microbiota composition and diversity varied among populations. These among-population differences were associated with host genotype and geographical distribution. Our results suggested that population-level differences in S. invicta gut microbiota may depend more on environmental factors than on host genotype.}, } @article {pmid36601835, year = {2022}, author = {Guo, W and Hao, H and Zhang, WH and Hu, ZH and Leng, PS}, title = {[Ectomycorrhizal fungi enhance salt tolerance of Quercus mongolica by regulating ion balance].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {3303-3311}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202212.003}, pmid = {36601835}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Salt Tolerance ; *Quercus/physiology ; Seedlings/physiology ; Ions ; Sodium ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We explored the effects of salt stress on the growth of Quercus mongolica and the effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) on the ion balance of Q. mongolica. After inoculating four kinds of ECMFs (Gomphidius visci-dus, Suillus leteus, Suillus grevillea, Boletus edulis) on Q. mongolica seedlings, we treated the annual non-mycorrhizated and mycorrhizated seedlings with NaCl stress (0, 100, 200, 300 mmol·L[-1]) for 36 days, and then analyzed the mycorrhizal characteristics, growth, leaf injury symptoms, leaf electrolyte permeability, water content, and ion contents in roots, stems, and leaves. The results showed that the four ECMFs could establish a symbiotic system with Q. mongolica, and that root system of mycorrhizal seedlings was stronger than that of non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Under salt stress, the growth of Q. mongolica seedlings was inhibited, with the symptoms of scorched leaves. The damage to leaf plasma membrane and the degree of water loss were aggravated with the increases of salt stress. Under low salt stress (100 mmol·L[-1]), Q. mongolica preferentially accumulated Na[+] in roots and stems. Under medium-high salt stress (200-300 mmol·L[-1]), roots became the primary organ for accumulating Na[+]. ECMF regulated ion balance in plant by increasing the Na[+] level in roots and reducing the Na[+] accumulation in stems and leaves, enhancing the absorption of K[+] and Ca[2+] to increase the K[+]/Na[+] and Ca[2+]/Na[+]. The four ECMFs had different mitigation effects on salt poisoning of Q. mongolica. G. viscidus had the strongest effect, followed by S. leteus, while S. grevillei and B. edulis had relatively little effect.}, } @article {pmid36600925, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, T and Yang, S and Chen, Z and Tan, Y and Bol, R and Duan, H and He, J}, title = {Global transcriptomic analysis reveals candidate genes associated with different phosphorus acquisition strategies among soybean varieties.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1080014}, pmid = {36600925}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Soybean adapts to phosphorus-deficient soils through three important phosphorus acquisition strategies, namely altered root conformation, exudation of carboxylic acids, and symbiosis with clumping mycorrhizal fungi. However, the trade-offs and regulatory mechanisms of these three phosphorus acquisition strategies in soybean have not been researched.

METHODS: In this study, we investigated the responses of ten different soybean varieties to low soil phosphorus availability by determining biomass, phosphorus accumulation, root morphology, exudation, and mycorrhizal colonization rate. Furthermore, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying root phosphorus acquisition strategies were examined among varieties with different low-phosphorus tolerance using transcriptome sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results showed that two types of phosphorus acquisition strategies-"outsourcing" and "do-it-yourself"-were employed by soybean varieties under low phosphorus availability. The "do-it-yourself" varieties, represented by QD11, Zh30, and Sd, obtained sufficient phosphorus by increasing their root surface area and secreting carboxylic acids. In contrast, the "outsourcing" varieties, represented by Zh301, Zh13, and Hc6, used increased symbiosis with mycorrhizae to obtain phosphorus owing to their large root diameters. Transcriptome analysis showed that the direction of acetyl-CoA metabolism could be the dividing line between the two strategies of soybean selection. ERF1 and WRKY1 may be involved in the regulation of phosphorus acquisition strategies for soybeans grown under low P environments. These findings will enhance our understanding of phosphorus acquisition strategies in soybeans. In addition, they will facilitate the development of breeding strategies that are more flexible to accommodate a variety of production scenarios in agriculture under low phosphorus environments.

BACKGROUND: Association of gastric atrophy or cancer with levels of serum pepsinogens, gastrin-17 and anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody have been extensively studied. However, the association of serum pepsinogen and gastrin-17 with H. pylori infection has not been studied in a large population.}, } @article {pmid36600910, year = {2022}, author = {Hsieh, C and Chen, YH and Chang, KC and Yang, SY}, title = {Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanisms for mycorrhiza-enhanced salt tolerance in rice.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1072171}, pmid = {36600910}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {More than half of the global population relies on rice as a staple food, but salinization of soil presents a great threat to rice cultivation. Although previous studies have addressed the possible benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis for rice under salinity stress, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we found that mycorrhizal rice had better shoot and reproductive growth and a significantly higher K[+]/Na[+] ratio in the shoot. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity in rice shoots was also improved by AM symbiosis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms required for AM-improved salt tolerance, transcriptome analysis revealing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the response to AM symbiosis, salinity or specific tissue was performed. Thirteen percent of DEGs showed tissue-preferred responses to both AM symbiosis and salt stress and might be the key genes contributing to AM-enhanced salt tolerance. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis identified GO terms specifically appearing in this category, including cell wall, oxidoreductase activity, reproduction and ester-related terms. Interestingly, GO terms related to phosphate (Pi) homeostasis were also found, suggesting the possible role of the Pi-related signaling pathway involved in AM-enhanced salt tolerance. Intriguingly, under nonsaline conditions, AM symbiosis influenced the expression of these genes in a similar way as salinity, especially in the shoots. Overall, our results indicate that AM symbiosis may possibly use a multipronged approach to influence gene expression in a way similar to salinity, and this modification could help plants be prepared for salt stress.}, } @article {pmid36600909, year = {2022}, author = {Dejana, L and Ramírez-Serrano, B and Rivero, J and Gamir, J and López-Ráez, JA and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Phosphorus availability drives mycorrhiza induced resistance in tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1060926}, pmid = {36600909}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can provide multiple benefits to the host plant, including improved nutrition and protection against biotic stress. Mycorrhiza induced resistance (MIR) against pathogens and insect herbivores has been reported in different plant systems, but nutrient availability may influence the outcome of the interaction. Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient for plants and insects, but also a regulatory factor for AM establishment and functioning. However, little is known about how AM symbiosis and P interact to regulate plant resistance to pests. Here, using the tomato-Funneliformis mosseae mycorrhizal system, we analyzed the effect of moderate differences in P fertilization on plant and pest performance, and on MIR against biotic stressors including the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea and the insect herbivore Spodoperta exigua. P fertilization impacted plant nutritional value, plant defenses, disease development and caterpillar survival, but these effects were modulated by the mycorrhizal status of the plant. Enhanced resistance of F. mosseae-inoculated plants against B. cinerea and S. exigua depended on P availability, as no protection was observed under the most P-limiting conditions. MIR was not directly explained by changes in the plant nutritional status nor to basal differences in defense-related phytohormones. Analysis of early plant defense responses to the damage associated molecules oligogalacturonides showed primed transcriptional activation of plant defenses occurring at intermediate P levels, but not under severe P limitation. The results show that P influences mycorrhizal priming of plant defenses and the resulting induced-resistance is dependent on P availability, and suggest that mycorrhiza fine-tunes the plant growth vs defense prioritization depending on P availability. Our results highlight how MIR is context dependent, thus unravel molecular mechanism based on plant defence in will contribute to improve the efficacy of mycorrhizal inoculants in crop protection.}, } @article {pmid36598050, year = {2023}, author = {Becker, CG and Greenspan, SE and Martins, RA and Lyra, ML and Prist, P and Metzger, JP and São Pedro, V and Haddad, CFB and Le Sage, EH and Woodhams, DC and Savage, AE}, title = {Habitat split as a driver of disease in amphibians.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12927}, pmid = {36598050}, issn = {1469-185X}, abstract = {Anthropogenic habitat disturbance is fundamentally altering patterns of disease transmission and immunity across the vertebrate tree of life. Most studies linking anthropogenic habitat change and disease focus on habitat loss and fragmentation, but these processes often lead to a third process that is equally important: habitat split. Defined as spatial separation between the multiple classes of natural habitat that many vertebrate species require to complete their life cycles, habitat split has been linked to population declines in vertebrates, e.g. amphibians breeding in lowland aquatic habitats and overwintering in fragments of upland terrestrial vegetation. Here, we link habitat split to enhanced disease risk in amphibians (i) by reviewing the biotic and abiotic forces shaping elements of immunity and (ii) through a spatially oriented field study focused on tropical frogs. We propose a framework to investigate mechanisms by which habitat split influences disease risk in amphibians, focusing on three broad host factors linked to immunity: (i) composition of symbiotic microbial communities, (ii) immunogenetic variation, and (iii) stress hormone levels. Our review highlights the potential for habitat split to contribute to host-associated microbiome dysbiosis, reductions in immunogenetic repertoire, and chronic stress, that often facilitate pathogenic infections and disease in amphibians and other classes of vertebrates. We highlight that targeted habitat-restoration strategies aiming to connect multiple classes of natural habitats (e.g. terrestrial-freshwater, terrestrial-marine, marine-freshwater) could enhance priming of the vertebrate immune system through repeated low-load exposure to enzootic pathogens and reduced stress-induced immunosuppression.}, } @article {pmid36598018, year = {2023}, author = {Montoya, AP and Wendlandt, CE and Benedict, AB and Roberts, M and Piovia-Scott, J and Griffitts, JS and Porter, SS}, title = {Hosts winnow symbionts with multiple layers of absolute and conditional discrimination mechanisms.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {290}, number = {1990}, pages = {20222153}, pmid = {36598018}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Genotype ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {In mutualism, hosts select symbionts via partner choice and preferentially direct more resources to symbionts that provide greater benefits via sanctions. At the initiation of symbiosis, prior to resource exchange, it is not known how the presence of multiple symbiont options (i.e. the symbiont social environment) impacts partner choice outcomes. Furthermore, little research addresses whether hosts primarily discriminate among symbionts via sanctions, partner choice or a combination. We inoculated the legume, Acmispon wrangelianus, with 28 pairs of fluorescently labelled Mesorhizobium strains that vary continuously in quality as nitrogen-fixing symbionts. We find that hosts exert robust partner choice, which enhances their fitness. This partner choice is conditional such that a strain's success in initiating nodules is impacted by other strains in the social environment. This social genetic effect is as important as a strain's own genotype in determining nodulation and has both transitive (consistent) and intransitive (idiosyncratic) effects on the probability that a symbiont will form a nodule. Furthermore, both absolute and conditional partner choice act in concert with sanctions, among and within nodules. Thus, multiple forms of host discrimination act as a series of sieves that optimize host benefits and select for costly symbiont cooperation in mixed symbiont populations.}, } @article {pmid36597782, year = {2023}, author = {Mahdhi, A and Mars, M and Rejili, M}, title = {Members of Ensifer and Rhizobium genera are new bacterial endosymbionts nodulating Pisum sativum (L.).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiad001}, pmid = {36597782}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/genetics ; Peas/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Rhizobiaceae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A total of 84 Pisum sativum legume nodulating bacteria (LNB) were isolated from seven geographical sites from southern Tunisia. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA gene and the housekeeping genes glnII, and recA grouped strains into six clusters, four of which belonged to the genus Rhizobium and two to the Ensifer genus. Among Rhizobium clusters, 41 strains were affiliated to Rhizobium leguminosarum, two strains to R. pisi, two strains to R. etli, and interestingly two strains belonged to previously undescribed Rhizobium species. The remaining two strains were closely related to Ensifer medicae (two strains) and Ensifer meliloti (two strains). A symbiotic nodC gene-based phylogeny and host specificity test showed that all Rhizobium strains nodulating pea belonged to the symbiovar viciae, whereas the Ensifer strains were associated with the symbiovar meliloti never described to date. All strains under investigation differed in the number of induced root nodules and the effectiveness of atmospheric nitrogen fixation. The R. leguminosarum PsZA23, R. leguminosarum PsGBL42, and E. medicae PsTA22a, forming the most effective symbiosis with the plant host, are potential candidates for inoculation programs.}, } @article {pmid36597141, year = {2023}, author = {Ramalho, MO and Moreau, CS}, title = {Untangling the complex interactions between turtle ants and their microbial partners.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {36597141}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: To understand the patterns of biodiversity it is important to consider symbiotic interactions as they can shape animal evolution. In several ant genera symbiotic interactions with microbial communities have been shown to have profound impacts for the host. For example, we know that for Camponotini the gut community can upgrade the host's diet and is shaped by development and colony interactions. However, what is true for one ant group may not be true for another. For the microbial communities that have been examined across ants we see variation in the diversity, host factors that structure these communities, and the function these microbes provide for the host. In the herbivorous turtle ants (Cephalotes) their stable symbiotic interactions with gut bacteria have persisted for 50 million years with the gut bacteria synthesizing essential amino acids that are used by the host. Although we know the function for some of these turtle ant-associated bacteria there are still many open questions.

RESULTS: In the present study we examined microbial community diversity (16S rRNA and 18S rRNA amplicons) of more than 75 species of turtle ants across different geographic locations and in the context of the host's phylogenetic history. Our results show (1) that belonging to a certain species and biogeographic regions are relevant to structuring the microbial community of turtle ants; (2) both bacterial and eukaryotic communities demonstrated correlations and cooccurrence within the ant host; (3) within the core bacterial community, Burkholderiaceae bacterial lineage were the only group that showed strong patterns of codiversification with the host, which is remarkable since the core bacterial community is stable and persistent.

CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that for the turtle ants there is a diverse and evolutionarily stable core bacterial community, which leads to interesting questions about what microbial or host factors influence when these partner histories become evolutionarily intertwined.}, } @article {pmid36596823, year = {2023}, author = {Puccio, G and Ingraffia, R and Mercati, F and Amato, G and Giambalvo, D and Martinelli, F and Sunseri, F and Frenda, AS}, title = {Transcriptome changes induced by Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in leaves of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) promote higher salt tolerance.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {116}, pmid = {36596823}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Transcriptome ; Triticum/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Salt Tolerance/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; }, abstract = {The salinity of soil is a relevant environmental problem around the world, with climate change raising its relevance, particularly in arid and semiarid areas. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) positively affect plant growth and health by mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses, including salt stress. The mechanisms through which these benefits manifest are, however, still unclear. This work aimed to identify key genes involved in the response to salt stress induced by AMF using RNA-Seq analysis on durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum Desf. Husn.). Five hundred sixty-three differentially expressed genes (DEGs), many of which involved in pathways related to plant stress responses, were identified. The expression of genes involved in trehalose metabolism, RNA processing, vesicle trafficking, cell wall organization, and signal transduction was significantly enhanced by the AMF symbiosis. A downregulation of genes involved in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidative stress responses as well as amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates metabolisms was also detected, suggesting a lower oxidative stress condition in the AMF inoculated plants. Interestingly, many transcription factor families, including WRKY, NAC, and MYB, already known for their key role in plant abiotic stress response, were found differentially expressed between treatments. This study provides valuable insights on AMF-induced gene expression modulation and the beneficial effects of plant-AMF interaction in durum wheat under salt stress.}, } @article {pmid36596505, year = {2023}, author = {Wakimoto, T}, title = {Biosynthesis of Bioactive Natural Products Derived from Theonellidae Family Marine Sponges.}, journal = {Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1248/cpb.c22-00715}, pmid = {36596505}, issn = {1347-5223}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Products/chemistry ; *Porifera/chemistry ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Peptides/metabolism ; *Polyketides/pharmacology ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are among the most primitive animals and often contain unique, biologically active compounds. Several of these compounds have played an important roles as pharmaceutical leads for anti-cancer drugs, such as halichondrin B, which led to the development of an anti-breast cancer drug. Some compounds with remarkable biological activities are accumulated in significantly high concentrations in the sponge. How and why the marine sponges produce and accumulate bioactive natural products are long-standing questions with both biochemical and ecological implications, since in sponges, the animal-microbe symbioses are presumed to be responsible for the biosynthetic machinery, consisting of efficient enzymes and regulatory systems for the specific biological activities of medicinally relevant natural products. In this review, I focus on the chemically rich Theonellidae family sponges and discuss the biosynthesis of bioactive peptides and polyketides. In particular, the biosynthetic pathway of calyculin A suggests that crosstalk between the sponge host and bacterial symbiont confers a chemical defense system on the immobile animal-microbe holobiont.}, } @article {pmid36596436, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, Y and Xu, Y and Huang, Z and Luo, Y and Gao, R and Xue, J and Lin, C and Pawlowski, K and Zhou, Z and Wei, X}, title = {3-Pentanol glycosides from root nodules of the actinorhizal plant Alnus cremastogyne.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {113582}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113582}, pmid = {36596436}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {*Alnus ; Pentanols/metabolism ; Glycosides/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; *Frankia/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Plants ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant ; }, abstract = {Alnus cremastogyne Burkill (Betulaceae), an actinorhizal plant, can enter a mutualistic symbiosis with Frankia species that leads to the formation of nitrogen fixing root nodules. Some primary metabolites (carbohydrates, dicarboxylic acids, amino acids, citrulline and amides) involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism in actinorhizal nodules have been identified, while specialized metabolites in A. cremastogyne root nodules are yet to be characterized. In this study, we isolated and identified three undescribed 3-pentanol glycosides, i.e., 3-pentyl α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1''→6')-β-d-glucopyranoside, 3-pentyl α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1''→6')-β-d-glucopyranoside, and 3-pentyl 6'-(3-hydroxy3-methylglutaryl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, as well as seventeen known compounds from A. cremastogyne root nodules. 3-Pentanol glycosides are abundantly distributed in root nodules, while they are distributed in stems, roots, leaves and fruits at low/zero levels. A. cremastogyne plants treated by root nodule suspension emit 3-pentanol. This study enriches the knowledge about specialized metabolites in the actinorhizal host, and provides preliminarily information on the signal exchange in the actinorhizal symbiosis between A. cremastogyne and Frankia.}, } @article {pmid36595962, year = {2022}, author = {Kirk, AL and Xiang, T}, title = {Single-cell dissociation of the model cnidarian sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana.}, journal = {STAR protocols}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {101897}, pmid = {36595962}, issn = {2666-1667}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida ; }, abstract = {The sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia) is a versatile model in studying cellular mechanisms that govern cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Here, we provide a protocol to efficiently dissociate adult Aiptasia tissue into a single-cell suspension using enzymatic digestion. We detail steps including washing animals, dissociating tissue with pronase digestion, and evaluating dissociated single cells using fluorescence imaging. This procedure can be applied to other cnidarians, including coral polyps. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Jinkerson et al. (2022).[1].}, } @article {pmid36595499, year = {2023}, author = {Hsu, HM and Yang, YY and Huang, YH and Chu, CH and Tu, TJ and Wu, YT and Chiang, CJ and Yang, SB and Hsu, DK and Liu, FT and Tai, JH}, title = {Distinct features of the host-parasite interactions between nonadherent and adherent Trichomonas vaginalis isolates.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e0011016}, pmid = {36595499}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; *Trichomonas vaginalis ; Galectin 1 ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Cell Adhesion ; Epithelial Cells/parasitology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; }, abstract = {Cytoadherence of Trichomonas vaginalis to human vaginal epithelial cells (hVECs) was previously shown to involve surface lipoglycans and several reputed adhesins on the parasite. Herein, we report some new observations on the host-parasite interactions of adherent versus nonadherent T. vaginalis isolates to hVECs. The binding of the TH17 adherent isolate to hVECs exhibited an initial discrete phase followed by an aggregation phase inhibited by lactose. T. vaginalis infection immediately induced surface expression of galectin-1 and -3, with extracellular amounts in the spent medium initially decreasing and then increasing thereafter over the next 60 min. Extracellular galectin-1 and -3 were detected on the parasite surface but only the TH17 adherent isolate could uptake galectin-3 via the lysosomes. Only the adherent isolate could morphologically transform from the round-up flagellate with numerous transient protrusions into a flat amoeboid form on contact with the solid surface. Cytochalasin D challenge revealed that actin organization was essential to parasite morphogenesis and cytoadherence. Real-time microscopy showed that parasite exploring and anchoring on hVECs via the axostyle may be required for initial cytoadherence. Together, the parasite cytoskeleton behaviors may collaborate with cell surface adhesion molecules for cytoadherence. The nonadherent isolate migrated faster than the adherent isolate, with motility transiently increasing in the presence of hVECs. Meanwhile, differential histone acetylation was detected between the two isolates. Also, TH17 without Mycoplasma symbiosis suggests that symbiont might not determine TH17 innate cytoadherence. Our findings regarding distinctive host-parasite interactions of the isolates may provide novel insights into T. vaginalis infection.}, } @article {pmid36595061, year = {2023}, author = {Horsch, CCA and Antunes, PM and Kallenbach, CM}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities with contrasting life-history traits influence host nutrient acquisition.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {33}, number = {1-2}, pages = {1-14}, pmid = {36595061}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome ; Biomass ; Plants/microbiology ; *Glomeromycota ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Life-history traits differ substantially among arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal families, potentially affecting hyphal nutrient acquisition efficiency, host nutrition, and thereby plant health and ecosystem function. Despite these implications, AM fungal community life-history strategies and community trait diversity effects on host nutrient acquisition are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we grew sudangrass with AM fungal communities representing contrasting life-history traits and diversity: either (1) five species in the AM family Gigasporaceae, representing competitor traits, (2) five Glomerales species, representing ruderal traits, or (3) a mixed-trait community combining all ten AM fungal species. After 12 weeks, we measured above and belowground plant biomass and aboveground nutrient uptake and concentration. Overall, AM fungal colonization increased host nutrition, biomass, and foliar δ[5]nitrogen enrichment compared to the uncolonized control. Between the single-trait communities, the Glomeraceae community generally outperformed the Gigasporaceae community in host nutrition and plant growth, increasing plant phosphorus (P) uptake 1.5 times more than the Gigasporaceae community. We saw weak evidence for a synergistic effect of the mixed community, which was only higher for plant P concentration (1.26 times higher) and root colonization (1.26 times higher) compared to the single-trait communities. However, this higher P concentration did not translate to more P uptake or the highest plant biomass for the mixed community. These findings demonstrate that the AM symbiosis is affected by community differences at high taxonomic levels and provide insight into how different AM fungal communities and their associated traits affect host nutrition for fast-growing plant species.}, } @article {pmid36594039, year = {2023}, author = {Normand, P and Pujic, P and Abrouk, D and Vemulapally, S and Guerra, T and Carlos-Shanley, C and Hahn, D}, title = {Draft Genomes of Frankia strains AiPa1 and AiPs1 Retrieved from Soil with Monocultures of Picea abies or Pinus sylvestris using Alnus incana as Capture Plant.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, pmid = {36594039}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {The genomes of two nitrogen-fixing Frankia strains, AiPa1 and AiPs1, are described as representatives of two novel candidate species. Both strains were isolated from root nodules of Alnus incana, used as capture plants in bioassays on soils from a reforested site at Karttula, Finland, that was devoid of actinorhizal plants but contained 25 year-old monocultures of spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) or pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), respectively. ANI analyses indicate that each strain represents a novel Frankia species, with genome sizes of 6.98 and 7.35 Mb for AiPa1 and AiPs1, respectively. Both genomes harbored genes typical for many other symbiotic frankiae, including genes essential for nitrogen-fixation, for synthesis of hopanoid lipids and iron-sulfur clusters, as well as clusters of orthologous genes, secondary metabolite determinants and transcriptional regulators. Genomes of AiPa1 and AiPs1 had lost 475 and 112 genes, respectively, compared to those of other cultivated Alnus-infective strains with large genomes. Lost genes included one hup cluster in AiPa1 and the gvp cluster in AiPs1, suggesting that some genome erosion has started to occur in a different manner in the two strains.}, } @article {pmid36592988, year = {2023}, author = {Qin, X and Xu, J and An, X and Yang, J and Wang, Y and Dou, M and Wang, M and Huang, J and Fu, Y}, title = {Insight of endophytic fungi promoting the growth and development of woody plants.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-22}, doi = {10.1080/07388551.2022.2129579}, pmid = {36592988}, issn = {1549-7801}, abstract = {Microorganisms play an important role in plant growth and development. In particular, endophytic fungi is one of the important kinds of microorganisms and has a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with host plants. Endophytic fungi have many substantial benefits to host plants, especially for woody plants, such as accelerating plant growth, enhancing stress resistance, promoting nutrient absorption, resisting pathogens and etc. However, the effects of endophytic fungi on the growth and development of woody plants have not been systematically summarized. In this review, the functions of endophytic fungi for the growth and development of woody plants have been mainly reviewed, including regulating plant growth (e.g., flowering, root elongation, etc.) by producing nutrients and plant hormones, and improving plant disease, insect resistance and heavy metal resistance by producing secondary metabolites. In addition, the diversity of endophytic fungi could improve the ability of woody plants to adapt to adverse environment. The components produced by endophytic fungi have excellent potential for the growth and development of woody plants. This review has systematically discussed the potential regulation mechanism of endophytic fungi regulating the growth and development of woody plants, it would be of great significance for the development and utilization of endophytic fungi resource from woody plants for the protection of forest resources.}, } @article {pmid36592915, year = {2023}, author = {Duan, H and Wang, H and Li, S and Shen, W and Zhuang, Y and Zhang, F and Li, X and Zhai, L and Liu, H and Zhang, L}, title = {Potential to mitigate nitrogen emissions from paddy runoff: A microbiological perspective.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {865}, number = {}, pages = {161306}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161306}, pmid = {36592915}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Soil ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Ecosystem ; Nitrous Oxide/analysis ; Agriculture/methods ; *Oryza ; China ; Triticum ; Methane/analysis ; Fertilizers/analysis ; }, abstract = {Ditches and ponds are the basic units of agroecosystems that serve irrigation and drainage and also perform the natural ecological function of reducing nitrogen (N) emissions. To better enhance the design and advance management strategies in the paddy field ecosystem to minimize N emission, the N cycling microorganism in the paddy field ecosystem including interconnected fields with rice-wheat rotation, ditches, and ponds in central China was investigated by metagenomic techniques. Our results showed that ditches and ponds may be N removal hotspots by microorganisms in the rice and wheat seasons respectively. Given seasonal variation, the abundance of N-related microorganisms was high during the rice season. However, the Shannon and Simpson indices were lower and the microbial co-occurrence network was destabilized, which could make microbes in the rice season fragile and sensitive. Phytoplankton as key environmental factors affecting the N cycling microbial could promote more stable microbial communities through maintaining a good mutualistic symbiosis. While high algae concentration significantly promotes the abundance of norB than nosZ (P < 0.05), which may result in more N2O production. To trade off N removal and N2O emission, the algae concentration needs to be controlled. Our findings provide a systematic profile of N-related microorganisms in the paddy field ecosystem, and it would benefit in developing effective strategies for limiting N pollution in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36591378, year = {2023}, author = {Matthews, AE and Boves, TJ and Percy, KL and Wijeratne, AJ}, title = {Draft genome sequencing data of a feather mite, Amerodectes protonotaria Hernandes 2018 (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae).}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {108835}, pmid = {36591378}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Feather mites are ubiquitous, permanent, obligate ectosymbionts of avian hosts and are a valuable natural system for studying host-symbiont evolutionary and ecological dynamics at multiple levels of biological organization. However, a lack of a sequenced genome impedes molecular studies using this system. Therefore, we present the first draft genome of a symbiotic feather mite, Amerodectes protonotaria Hernandes 2018. The genome sequence data presented here were derived from an individual female mite that was collected in the field from Protonotaria citrea, its only known host species. Short read sequence data were obtained using an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. From these data, we assembled a 59,665,063 bp draft genome consisting of 2,399 contigs. Raw short reads and the assembled genome sequence are available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)'s Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under BioProject PRJNA884722. The data presented here are beneficial for future research on the biology and evolution of closely related mites and the genomics of host-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid36590747, year = {2023}, author = {Ghaly, FM and Hussein, SHM and Awad, SM and El-Makhzangy, AA}, title = {Growth promoter, immune response, and histopathological change of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic bacteria on Nile tilapia.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {103539}, pmid = {36590747}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {This study aimed at determining the influence of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplemented diets on Oreochromis niloticus. Fish with initial body weight (25.8 ± 1.2) g and length range from (13.5 ± 1.5) cm were collected and randomized to four dietary treatments for 60 days. Furthermore, fish were divided into three groups in triplicate; A0 control (-ve), A1 control (+ve) infected with V.anguillarium, and a third non-treated group. Moreover, the third group further separated into two groups, A and B. Group (A) was treated with prebiotic, probiotic, and symbiotic (A2, A3, and A4), while group (B) was infected with V.anguillarium then treated with prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic (A5, A6, and A7). The results revealed that all treatments supplemented with synbiotics represented highly significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in (SGR), BWG percentage, relative growth rate (%), lysozyme activity, IMG, SOD, and CAT. At the same time, they exhibited a significant decrease in MAD and FCR. Besides, fish that feed dietary supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics revealed a significant increase in RBCs, WBCs, and Hb. In contrast, they showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, albumin, total protein, globulin, creatinine, and urea compared with control. Additionally, high survival rates were recorded in groups that received a diet supplemented with probiotics, followed by prebiotics and synbiotics.}, } @article {pmid36589136, year = {2022}, author = {Faghihinia, M and Jansa, J}, title = {Mycorrhiza governs plant-plant interactions through preferential allocation of shared nutritional resources: A triple ([13]C, [15]N and [33]P) labeling study.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1047270}, pmid = {36589136}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant-plant interactions and coexistence can be directly mediated by symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi through asymmetric resource exchange between the plant and fungal partners. However, little is known about the effects of AM fungal presence on resource allocation in mixed plant stands. Here, we examined how phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) resources were distributed between coexisting con- and heterospecific plant individuals in the presence or absence of AM fungus, using radio- and stable isotopes. Congeneric plant species, Panicum bisulcatum and P. maximum, inoculated or not with Rhizophagus irregularis, were grown in two different culture systems, mono- and mixed-species stands. Pots were subjected to different shading regimes to manipulate C sink-source strengths. In monocultures, P. maximum gained more mycorrhizal phosphorus uptake benefits than P.bisulcatum. However, in the mixed culture, the AM fungus appeared to preferentially transfer nutrients ([33]P and [15]N) to P.bisulcatum compared to P. maximum. Further, we observed higher [13]C allocation to mycorrhiza by P.bisulcatum in mixed- compared to the mono-systems, which likely contributed to improved competitiveness in the mixed cultures of P.bisulcatum vs. P. maximum regardless of the shading regime. Our results suggest that the presence of mycorrhiza influenced competitiveness of the two Panicum species in mixed stands in favor of those with high quality partner, P. bisulcatum, which provided more C to the mycorrhizal networks. However, in mono-species systems where the AM fungus had no partner choice, even the lower quality partner (i.e., P.maximum) could also have benefitted from the symbiosis. Future research should separate the various contributors (roots vs. common mycorrhizal network) and mechanisms of resource exchange in such a multifaceted interaction.}, } @article {pmid36589118, year = {2022}, author = {Athul, PP and Patra, RK and Sethi, D and Panda, N and Mukhi, SK and Padhan, K and Sahoo, SK and Sahoo, TR and Mangaraj, S and Pradhan, SR and Pattanayak, SK}, title = {Efficient native strains of rhizobia improved nodulation and productivity of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under rainfed condition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1048696}, pmid = {36589118}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation is the most important eco-friendly approach to nitrogenous fertilizer management in the rhizosphere. Rhizobium is considered the most important symbiotic N-fixing microorganism. Native strains of Rhizobium perform better than the non-native strains by getting ambient conditions for growth and proliferation. Native strains enhance the soil fertility and productivity of pulses. The study was carried out in three phases, i.e., pot experiment, field experiment, and farmers' field demonstrations. In a pot experiment, two isolated rhizobia were inoculated to seeds of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and applied with and without lime to evaluate crop growth, photosynthetic activity, and nodule characteristics of the target crop. In the field, strains were inoculated to seeds of French bean, which received different combinations of inputs- inorganic fertilizers, lime, and boron- to study the influence of native stains on crop productivity and agronomic efficiency. In comparison to non-limed packaging, the amounts of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and chlorophyll a:b were, respectively, 13% to 30%, 1% to 15%, 10% to 27%, and 1% to 20% greater in limed packages. In limed packages compared to non-limed packages, the root length, biomass, density, and growth rate were increased by 16% to 17%, 36% to 52%, 38% to 49%, and 36% to 52%, respectively. In contrast to non-limed packages, limed packages had nodule attributes like the number of nodules per plant and nodular weight, which were 28% to 41% and 33% to 37% greater, respectively. Inoculation of native rhizobia strains with liming to acid soil increased 46% to 72% of leaf nitrogen content over non-limed rhizobia inoculated packages. In a field experiment, the adoption of soil test-based fertilizer application had an advantage of 25% in pod yield over farmers' practice. Acid soil amelioration with lime improved pod yield from 14% to 39% over non-limed packages. Farmers' field demonstration recorded the highest pod yield in the package where seeds were inoculated with S2 (RBHR-21) strain added with soil test-based fertilizers (STD) followed by STD + S1 (RBHR-15) with 98% and 84% increase over farmers' practice. However, experimental evidence favored using both strains for bio-inoculation of the French bean crop.}, } @article {pmid36589078, year = {2022}, author = {Paluch-Lubawa, E and Prosicka, B and Polcyn, W}, title = {Expression patterns of maize PIP aquaporins in middle or upper leaves correlate with their different physiological responses to drought and mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1056992}, pmid = {36589078}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Here we report the effect of Rhizophagus irregularis on maize leaf expression of six plasma membrane aquaporin isoforms from PIP1 and PIP2 subfamilies under severe drought development and recovery. The novelty of our study is the finding that leaf-specific mycorrhizal regulation of aquaporins is dependent on the position of the leaf on the shoot and changes in parallel with the rate of photosynthesis and the stomatal response to drought. The transcripts were isolated from the upper third (L3) or ear (L5) leaf, which differed greatly in physiological response to stress within each symbiotic variant. Aquaporins expression in upper L3 leaves appeared to be largely not sensitive to drought, regardless of symbiotic status. In contrast, L5 leaf of non-mycorrhizal plants, showed strong down-regulation of all PIPs. Mycorrhiza, however, protected L5 leaf from such limitation, which under maximal stress was manifested by 6-fold and circa 4-fold higher transcripts level for PIP1s and PIP2s, respectively. Distinct expression patterns of L3 and L5 leaves corresponded to differences in key parameters of leaf homeostasis - stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rates, and accumulation of ABA and SA as phytohormonal indicators of drought stress. In result symbiotic plants showed faster restoration of photosynthetic capability, regardless of leaf position, which we recognize as the hallmark of better stress tolerance. In summary, arbuscular mycorrhiza alleviates short-term drought effects on maize by preventing the down-regulation of plasma membrane aquaporins within middle leaves, thereby affecting stomatal conductance.}, } @article {pmid36588485, year = {2022}, author = {Mitruţ, I and Scorei, IR and Manolea, HO and Biţă, A and Mogoantă, L and Neamţu, J and Bejenaru, LE and Ciocîlteu, MV and Bejenaru, C and Rău, G and Mogoşanu, GD}, title = {Boron-containing compounds in Dentistry: a narrative review.}, journal = {Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie}, volume = {63}, number = {3}, pages = {477-483}, pmid = {36588485}, issn = {2066-8279}, mesh = {Humans ; *Boron/pharmacology ; Boron Compounds ; Biocompatible Materials ; *Tooth ; Dentistry ; }, abstract = {Research on the use of boron (B) in the field of oral health has gained momentum in recent years, with various studies on the possibilities of using various B-containing compounds (BCCs). A multitude of applications have been discovered, from cariostatic activity to anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity, paving the way for other new research directions. B is a microelement that is commonly found in the human diet, and present throughout the body, with the highest concentration in the structure of bones, teeth, and gastrointestinal mucus gel layer. Multiple studies have demonstrated that B plays some important roles, especially in bone development and recently has been proposed to have an essential role in the healthy symbiosis. In addition, B has also attracted the interest of researchers, as various studies used BCCs in conventional or modern biomaterials. In this review, we have brought together the information we have found about B updates in the dental field and analyzing its future perspectives and potential for further studies.}, } @article {pmid36588344, year = {2023}, author = {Frank, M and Reid, D}, title = {Dissecting symbiosis cell by cell.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {308-309}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2022.12.023}, pmid = {36588344}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Plant Roots ; }, } @article {pmid36587770, year = {2023}, author = {Hu, H and Wu, DD and Yu, L and Hu, Y and Meng, FL and Wei, D}, title = {Pollutants removal, microbial community shift and oleic acid production in symbiotic microalgae-bacteria system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {370}, number = {}, pages = {128535}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128535}, pmid = {36587770}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Humans ; Sewage/microbiology ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Oleic Acid/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; *Microbiota/genetics ; }, abstract = {The functional interaction between microorganisms is key in symbiotic microalga-bacteria systems; however, evaluations of fungi and pathogenic microorganisms are not clear. In this study, the roles of three groups (i.e., microalgae-activated sludge (MAS), Microalgae, and activated sludge) in pollutant removal and biomass recovery were comparatively studied. The data implied that microalgal assimilation and bacterial heterotrophic degradation were the major approaches for degradation of nutrients and organic matter, respectively. According to 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer sequencing, the relative abundance of Rhodotorula increased remarkably, favoring nutrient exchange between the microalgae and bacteria. The abundances of two types of pathogenic genes (human pathogens and animal parasites) were reduced in the MAS system. The oleic acid content in the MAS system (51.2 mg/g) was 1.7 times higher than that in the Microalgae system. The results can provide a basis for practical application and resource utilization of symbiotic microalgae-bacteria systems.}, } @article {pmid36587069, year = {2023}, author = {Shimoyama, A and Fukase, K}, title = {Chemical Synthesis and Immunomodulatory Functions of Bacterial Lipid As.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2613}, number = {}, pages = {33-53}, pmid = {36587069}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; *Lipid A/pharmacology/chemistry ; Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology/chemistry ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Immunity ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell surface component of Gram-negative bacteria, and its active principle, lipid A, have immunostimulatory properties and thus potential to act as adjuvants. However, canonical LPS acts as an endotoxin by hyperstimulating the immune response. Therefore, it is necessary to structurally modify LPS and lipid A to minimize toxicity while maintaining adjuvant effects for use as vaccine adjuvants. Various studies have focused on the chemical synthetic method of lipid As and their structure-activity relationship, which are reviewed in this chapter.}, } @article {pmid36586691, year = {2023}, author = {Hazraty-Kari, S and Morita, M and Tavakoli-Kolour, P and Nakamura, T and Harii, S}, title = {Reactions of juvenile coral to three years of consecutive thermal stress.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {863}, number = {}, pages = {161227}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161227}, pmid = {36586691}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Heat-Shock Response ; Temperature ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As global temperatures continue to rise, corals are being exposed to increasing heat stress throughout their early life stages; however, the impact of this phenomenon is poorly understood. We exposed the reef-building coral Acropora tenuis juveniles to ∼26-28 °C (control) and ∼ 31 °C (heat stress) for one week per year over three consecutive years. In the first year of heat stress, >96 % of juveniles survived despite symbiotic algal densities in juvenile corals declining. In comparison, survival rates in the third year of heat stress declined to 50 %. Survival rates under natural conditions after stress also gradually decreased in the stressed groups. The rate in the reduction of survivorship was prominent in the consecutive thermally stressed groups (juveniles stressed twice in two years). Symbiotic algal density and photosynthetic activity (Fv/Fm) also declined in stressed juvenile groups. However, heat stress did not significantly affect the growth of juveniles. In the third year of heat stress, temperature negatively affected the physiology of juveniles in terms of survivorship, brightness (an indicator of bleaching), symbiotic algal density, and photosynthetic efficiency. Stress across consecutive years appeared to cause the survivorship of juvenile corals to decline, with three years of stress contributing to the severe decline of a reef. In conclusion, A. tenuis juveniles are not able to acclimatize to heat stress, with successive heat waves of <7 days in the summer potentially negatively affecting resilience.}, } @article {pmid36586201, year = {2023}, author = {Kaur, H and Tashima, and Singh, S and Kumar, P}, title = {Reconditioning of plant metabolism by arbuscular mycorrhizal networks in cadmium contaminated soils: Recent perspectives.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {268}, number = {}, pages = {127293}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127293}, pmid = {36586201}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Plants/metabolism ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most perilous nonessential heavy metal for plants, owing to its high water solubility and obstruction with various physiological and biochemical processes. It enters food chain via plant uptake from contaminated soil, posing a grave menace to ecosystem and mankind. Green remediation comprises approaches intended at prudent use of natural resources for increasing profits to humans and environment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are considered a promising green technological tool for remedial of Cd-polluted soils. They are naturally associated with root system of plants in Cd-contaminated soils, evidencing their tolerance to Cd. AM can decrease Cd uptake by plants broadly through two strategies: (1) extracellular mechanisms involving Cd chelation by root exudates, binding to fungal cell wall/structures or to the glycoprotein glomalin; (2) intracellular means involving transfer via hyphal network, detoxification and vacuolar sequestration mediated by complexation of Cd with glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs), metallothioneins (MTs) and polyphosphate granules. Additionally, mycorrhizal symbiosis facilitates reconditioning of plants' metabolism primarily through dilution effect, increased water and mineral uptake. Recently, AM-induced remodelling of root cell wall synthesis has been reported to improve plant vigor and survival under Cd stressed environments. The present article highlights Cd impacts on AM growth, its diversity in Cd contaminated soils, and variations among diverse AM fungal species for imparting plant Cd tolerance. The most recent perspectives on AM-mediated Cd tolerance mechanisms in plants, including cellular and molecular studies have also been reviewed for successful utilization of these beneficial microbes in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36585918, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, Q and Liu, Z and Houlton, BZ and Gao, D and Chang, Q and Li, H and Fan, X and Liu, B and Bai, E}, title = {Isotopic evidence for increased carbon and nitrogen exchanges between peatland plants and their symbiotic microbes with rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations since 15,000 cal. year BP.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {29}, number = {7}, pages = {1939-1950}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16578}, pmid = {36585918}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Nitrogen/analysis ; *Ecosystem ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/physiology ; Plants/metabolism ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Whether nitrogen (N) availability will limit plant growth and removal of atmospheric CO2 by the terrestrial biosphere this century is controversial. Studies have suggested that N could progressively limit plant growth, as trees and soils accumulate N in slowly cycling biomass pools in response to increases in carbon sequestration. However, a question remains over whether longer-term (decadal to century) feedbacks between climate, CO2 and plant N uptake could emerge to reduce ecosystem-level N limitations. The symbioses between plants and microbes can help plants to acquire N from the soil or from the atmosphere via biological N2 fixation-the pathway through which N can be rapidly brought into ecosystems and thereby partially or completely alleviate N limitation on plant productivity. Here we present measurements of plant N isotope composition (δ[15] N) in a peat core that dates to 15,000 cal. year BP to ascertain ecosystem-level N cycling responses to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We find that pre-industrial increases in global atmospheric CO2 concentrations corresponded with a decrease in the δ[15] N of both Sphagnum moss and Ericaceae when constrained for climatic factors. A modern experiment demonstrates that the δ[15] N of Sphagnum decreases with increasing N2 -fixation rates. These findings suggest that plant-microbe symbioses that facilitate N acquisition are, over the long term, enhanced under rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, highlighting an ecosystem-level feedback mechanism whereby N constraints on terrestrial carbon storage can be overcome.}, } @article {pmid36585598, year = {2023}, author = {Unelius, CR and Ganji, S and Krokene, P}, title = {Linoleic Acid Promotes Emission of Bark Beetle Semiochemicals by Fungal Symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {49}, number = {1-2}, pages = {59-66}, pmid = {36585598}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Linoleic Acid ; Pheromones ; Plant Bark ; *Weevils ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Tree-killing bark beetles in conifer forests vector symbiotic fungi that are thought to help the beetles kill trees. Fungal symbionts emit diverse volatile blends that include bark beetle semiochemicals involved in mating and host localization. In this study, all 12 tested fungal isolates emitted beetle semiochemicals when growing in medium amended with linoleic acid. These semiochemicals included the spiroacetals chalcogran, trans-conophthorin and exo-brevicomin, as well as 2-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, the main aggregation pheromone component of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. The emission of these compounds was affected by the type of fatty acid present (linoleic vs. oleic acid). Accumulating evidence shows that the fatty acid composition in conifer bark can facilitate colonization by bark beetles and symbiotic fungi, whereas the fatty acid composition of non-host trees can be detrimental for beetle larvae or fungi. We hypothesize that beetles probe the fatty acid composition of potential host trees to test their suitability for beetle development and release of semiochemicals by symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid36581798, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, E and Gao, Y and Li, Y and Zang, P and Zhao, Y and He, Z}, title = {An exploration of mechanism of high quality and yield of Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca by the isolation, identification and evaluation of Armillaria.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {621}, pmid = {36581798}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Armillaria/physiology ; *Gastrodia/microbiology ; Fungi ; Plant Tubers ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca, a perennial herb of G.elata Bl. in Orchidaceae, is one of the most valuable traditional Chinese medicines. G. elata Bl. is a chlorophyll-free myco-heterotrophic plant, which must rely on the symbiotic growth of Armillaria, but not all Armillaria strains can play the symbiotic role. Additionally, Armillaria is easy to degenerate after multiple generations, and the compatibility between the strains from other areas and G. elata Bl. f. glauca in Changbai Mountain is unstable. Therefore, it is incredibly significant to isolate, identify and screen the symbiotic Armillaria suitable for the growth of G. elata Bl. f. glauca in Changbai Mountain, and to explore the mechanism by which Armillaria improves the production performance of G. elata Bl. f. glauca.

RESULTS: Firstly, G. elata Bl. f. glauca tubers, and rhizomorphs and fruiting bodies of Armillaria were used for the isolation and identification of Armillaria. Five Armillaria isolates were obtained in our laboratory and named: JMG, JMA, JMB, JMC and JMD. Secondly, Armillaria was selected based on the yield and the effective component content of G. elata Bl. f. glauca. It was concluded that the yield and quality of G. elata Bl. f. glauca co-planted with JMG is the highest. Finally, the mechanism of its high quality and yield was explored by investigating the effects of different Armillaria strains on the soil, its nutrition element contents and the soil microbial diversity around G. elata Bl. f. glauca in Changbai Mountain.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with commercial strains, JMG significantly increased the content of Na, Al, Si, Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb and the absorption of C, Na, Mg, Ca, Cr, Cu, Zn and Rb in G. elata Bl. f. glauca; it improved the composition, diversity and metabolic functions of soil microbial communities around G. elata Bl. f. glauca at phylum, class and genus levels; it markedly increased the relative abundance of bacteria such as Chthoniobacter and Armillaria in the dominant populations, and enhanced such functions as Cell motility, amino acid metabolism and Lipid metabolism; it dramatically decreased the relative abundance of Bryobacter and other fungi in the dominant populations, and reduced such functions as microbial energy metabolism, translation and carbohydrate metabolism. This is the main reason why excellent Armillaria strains promote the high quality and yield of G. elata Bl. f. glauca in Changbai Mountain.}, } @article {pmid36581277, year = {2023}, author = {Cheng, K and Tong, M and Cai, Z and Jong, MC and Zhou, J and Xiao, B}, title = {Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities associated with coral species have high host specificity in the South China Sea.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {867}, number = {}, pages = {161185}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161185}, pmid = {36581277}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Bacteria ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals are well known for their obligate association with Symbiodiniaceae, and an array of other microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and symbiotic algae (i.e., total microbiome), which together form the coral holobiont. The total microbiome plays an intricate part in maintaining the homeostasis of the coral holobiont and is closely associated with host health. However, the composition of the coral associated microbiome and interaction between its different members remains elusive because few analyses have bridged taxonomically disparate groups. This research gaps have prevented a holistic understanding of the total microbiome. Thus, to simultaneously characterize the bacterial, fungal and symbiotic algal communities associated with different coral species, and explore the relationship between these symbionts and coral health, healthy and bleached tissues from four coral species, Acropora muricata, Galaxea fascicularis, Platygyra daedalea, and Pavona explanulata, were collected from the Xisha Islands of the South China Sea. Using high throughput sequencing, a high degree of host-specificity was observed among bacterial, fungal, and algal groups across coral species. There were no obvious changes in the microbial community structure of apparently healthy and bleached corals, but host bleaching allowed colonization of the holobionts by diverse opportunistic microbes, resulting in a significant elevation in the α-diversity of microbial communities. In addition, co-occurrence analysis of the coral microbiota also identified more complex microbial interactions in bleached corals than in healthy ones. In summary, this study characterized the structure of coral-associated microbiomes across four coral species, and systematically studied microbiome differences between healthy and bleached corals. The findings improve our understanding of the heterogeneity of symbiotic microorganisms and the impact of coral's physiological status on its associated microbial communities composition.}, } @article {pmid36578511, year = {2022}, author = {Han, M and Wu, Y and Guo, X and Jiang, L and Wang, X and Gai, Z}, title = {Milk fermentation by monocultures or co-cultures of Streptococcus thermophilus strains.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1097013}, pmid = {36578511}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Direct vat-set starter cultures are the key ingredient for the production of fermented dairy products. The characteristics of the strains used for fermentation determine the fermentation time, texture and flavor of the fermented milk products. In this study, a large-scale analysis of the acid production rate, texture, carbon source utilization characteristics of Streptococcus thermophilus strains was conducted. All 100 S. thermophilus strains were divided into six groups according to the acid production rate and into two groups according to the consistency texture. A universal medium, basing on the carbon sources metabolic properties were optimized (0.5% lactose and 3.5% glucose), to culture all of the tested strains. Among them 40 strains were used to test pH-controlled conditions using this universal culture medium. After 5-7 h of fermentation, the optical density (OD) values of all fermented products exceeded 10, suggesting the potential for high-density cultivation of S. thermophilus. Although the OD could be further increased by adding more glucose, this may have hindered subsequent lyophilization because of high residual lactic acid in the fermented product. Next, the application of Streptococcus thermophilus strains in fermented milk was studied. Monocultures and co-cultures of strains were evaluated and compared. The results revealed the existence of symbiotic or competitive relationships between different S. thermophilus strains. Based on the findings, the mixing ratio of three symbiotic S. thermophilus strains was optimized. A co-culture of these three strains yielded fermented milk with high viscosity, low post-acidification, good sensory properties and processability.}, } @article {pmid36577298, year = {2023}, author = {Fan, X and Gu, C and Jin, Z and Cai, J and Bian, Y and Wang, F and Chen, H and Jiang, X}, title = {Major biotransformation of phthalic acid esters in Eisenia fetida: Mechanistic insights and association with catalytic enzymes and intestinal symbionts.}, journal = {Environment international}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {107712}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2022.107712}, pmid = {36577298}, issn = {1873-6750}, mesh = {Animals ; *Oligochaeta ; *Phthalic Acids/metabolism ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; Soil/chemistry ; Biotransformation ; Esters/chemistry ; China ; }, abstract = {Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are an important group of organic pollutants that are widely used as plasticizers in the environment. The PAEs in soil organisms are likely to be biotransformed into a variety of metabolites, and the combined toxicity of PAEs and their metabolites might be more serious than PAEs alone. However, there are only a few studies on PAE biotransformation by terrestrial animals, e.g. earthworms. Herein, the key biotransformation pathways of PAEs and their association with catalytic enzymes and intestinal symbionts in earthworms were studied using in vivo and in vitro incubation approaches. The widely distributed PAE in soil, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), was proven to be biotransformed rapidly together with apparent bioaccumulation in earthworms. The biotransformation of PAE congeners with medium or long side chains appeared to be faster compared with those with short side chains. DBP was biotransformed into butyl methyl phthalate (BMP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), and phthalic acid (PA) through esterolysis and transesterification. Besides, the generation of small quantities of low-molecular weight metabolites via β-oxidation, decarboxylation or ring-cleavage, was also observed, especially when the appropriate proportion of NADPH coenzyme was applied to transfer electrons for oxidases. Interestingly, the esterolysis of PAEs was mainly regulated by the cytoplasmic carboxylesterase (CarE) in earthworms, with a Michaelis constant (Km) of 0.416 mM in the catalysis of DBP. The stronger esterolysis in non-intestinal tissues indicated that the CarE was primarily secreted by non-intestinal tissues of earthworms. Additionally, the intestinal symbiotic bacteria of earthworms could respond to PAE stress, leading to the changes in their diversity and composition. The enrichment of some genera e.g. Bacillus and Paracoccus, and the enhancement of metabolism function, e.g. amino acids, energy, lipids biosynthesis and oxidase secretion, indicated their important role in the degradation of PAEs.}, } @article {pmid36576567, year = {2022}, author = {Hnini, M and Taha, K and Aurag, J}, title = {Molecular identification and characterization of phytobeneficial osmotolerant endophytic bacteria inhabiting root nodules of the Saharan tree Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {205}, number = {1}, pages = {45}, pmid = {36576567}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Trees ; Bacteria/genetics ; Plant Development ; *Bacillus/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Plants ; Vegetables ; Endophytes ; }, abstract = {Nodular endophytes of drought-tolerant legumes are understudied. For this reason, we have isolated and studied non-symbiotic endophytic bacteria from nodules of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana, a leguminous tree adapted to the harsh arid climate of Southern Morocco. Rep-PCR analysis followed by 16S rDNA sequencing revealed two main genera, Pseudomonas and Bacillus. Isolates responded variably to salt and water stresses, and mostly produced exopolysaccharides. Differences concerned also plant growth-promoting activities: phosphate, potassium, and zinc solubilization; biological nitrogen fixation; auxin, siderophore, ammonia, and HCN production; and ACC deaminase activity. Some strains exhibited antagonistic activities against phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea) and showed at least two enzymatic activities (cellulase, protease, chitinase). Four selected strains inoculated to vachellia plants under controlled conditions have shown significant positive impacts on plant growth parameters. These strains are promising bio-inoculants for vachellia plants to be used in reforestation programs in arid areas increasingly threatened by desertification.}, } @article {pmid36575413, year = {2022}, author = {Maritan, E and Gallo, M and Srutkova, D and Jelinkova, A and Benada, O and Kofronova, O and Silva-Soares, NF and Hudcovic, T and Gifford, I and Barrick, JE and Schwarzer, M and Martino, ME}, title = {Gut microbe Lactiplantibacillus plantarum undergoes different evolutionary trajectories between insects and mammals.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {290}, pmid = {36575413}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Drosophila ; *Microbiota ; Mammals ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Animals form complex symbiotic associations with their gut microbes, whose evolution is determined by an intricate network of host and environmental factors. In many insects, such as Drosophila melanogaster, the microbiome is flexible, environmentally determined, and less diverse than in mammals. In contrast, mammals maintain complex multispecies consortia that are able to colonize and persist in the gastrointestinal tract. Understanding the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of gut microbes in different hosts is challenging. This requires disentangling the ecological factors of selection, determining the timescales over which evolution occurs, and elucidating the architecture of such evolutionary patterns.

RESULTS: We employ experimental evolution to track the pace of the evolution of a common gut commensal, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, within invertebrate (Drosophila melanogaster) and vertebrate (Mus musculus) hosts and their respective diets. We show that in Drosophila, the nutritional environment dictates microbial evolution, while the host benefits L. plantarum growth only over short ecological timescales. By contrast, in a mammalian animal model, L. plantarum evolution results to be divergent between the host intestine and its diet, both phenotypically (i.e., host-evolved populations show higher adaptation to the host intestinal environment) and genomically. Here, both the emergence of hypermutators and the high persistence of mutated genes within the host's environment strongly differed from the low variation observed in the host's nutritional environment alone.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that L. plantarum evolution diverges between insects and mammals. While the symbiosis between Drosophila and L. plantarum is mainly determined by the host diet, in mammals, the host and its intrinsic factors play a critical role in selection and influence both the phenotypic and genomic evolution of its gut microbes, as well as the outcome of their symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36575246, year = {2022}, author = {Bornbusch, SL and Clarke, TA and Hobilalaina, S and Reseva, HS and LaFleur, M and Drea, CM}, title = {Microbial rewilding in the gut microbiomes of captive ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in Madagascar.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {22388}, pmid = {36575246}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Lemur ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Madagascar ; Diet ; Ecosystem ; *Strepsirhini ; }, abstract = {Microbial rewilding, whereby exposure to naturalistic environments can modulate or augment gut microbiomes and improve host-microbe symbiosis, is being harnessed as an innovative approach to human health, one that may also have significant value to animal care and conservation. To test for microbial rewilding in animal microbiomes, we used a unique population of wild-born ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) that were initially held as illegal pets in unnatural settings and, subsequently, relocated to a rescue center in Madagascar where they live in naturalistic environments. Using amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing of lemur and environmental microbiomes, we found multiple lines of evidence for microbial rewilding in lemurs that were transitioned from unnatural to naturalistic environments: A lemur's duration of exposure to naturalistic settings significantly correlated with (a) increased compositional similarly to the gut communities of wild lemurs, (b) decreased proportions of antibiotic resistance genes that were likely acquired via human contact during pethood, and (c) greater covariation with soil microbiomes from natural habitats. Beyond the inherent psychosocial value of naturalistic environments, we find that actions, such as providing appropriate diets, minimizing contact with humans, and increasing exposure to natural environmental consortia, may assist in maximizing host-microbe symbiosis in animals under human care.}, } @article {pmid36573793, year = {2023}, author = {Dalakouras, A and Katsaouni, A and Avramidou, M and Dadami, E and Tsiouri, O and Vasileiadis, S and Makris, A and Georgopoulou, ME and Papadopoulou, KK}, title = {A beneficial fungal root endophyte triggers systemic RNA silencing and DNA methylation of a host reporter gene.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {20-30}, pmid = {36573793}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {RNA Interference ; *Endophytes/genetics/metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; *RNA, Double-Stranded ; DNA Methylation ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A growing body of evidence suggests that RNA interference (RNAi) plays a pivotal role in the communication between plants and pathogenic fungi, where a bi-directional trans-kingdom RNAi is established to the advantage of either the host or the pathogen. Similar mechanisms acting during plant association with non-pathogenic symbiotic microorganisms have been elusive to this date. To determine whether root endophytes can induce systemic RNAi responses to their host plants, we designed an experimental reporter-based system consisting of the root-restricted, beneficial fungal endophyte, Fusarium solani strain K (FsK) and its host Nicotiana benthamiana. Since not all fungi encode the RNAi machinery, we first needed to validate that FsK does so, by identifying its core RNAi enzymes (2 Dicer-like genes, 2 Argonautes and 4 RNA-dependent RNA polymerases) and by showing its susceptibility to in vitro RNAi upon exogenous application of double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Upon establishing this, we transformed FsK with a hairpin RNA (hpRNA) construct designed to target a reporter gene in its host N. benthamiana. The hpRNA was processed by FsK RNAi machinery predominantly into 21-24-nt small RNAs that triggered RNA silencing but not DNA methylation in the fungal hyphae. Importantly, when the hpRNA-expressing FsK was used to inoculate N. benthamiana, systemic RNA silencing and DNA methylation of the host reporter gene was recorded. Our data suggest that RNAi signals can be translocated by root endophytes to their hosts and can modulate gene expression during mutualism, which may be translated to beneficial phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid36571480, year = {2023}, author = {Domingo, G and Vannini, C and Bracale, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {Proteomics as a tool to decipher plant responses in arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {e2200108}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.202200108}, pmid = {36571480}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; Plants ; }, abstract = {The beneficial symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi leads to a deep reprogramming of plant metabolism, involving the regulation of several molecular mechanisms, many of which are poorly characterized. In this regard, proteomics is a powerful tool to explore changes related to plant-microbe interactions. This study provides a comprehensive proteomic meta-analysis conducted on AM-modulated proteins at local (roots) and systemic (shoots/leaves) level. The analysis was implemented by an in-depth study of root membrane-associated proteins and by a comparison with a transcriptome meta-analysis. A total of 4262 differentially abundant proteins were retrieved and, to identify the most relevant AM-regulated processes, a range of bioinformatic studies were conducted, including functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analysis. In addition to several protein transporters which are present in higher amounts in AM plants, and which are expected due to the well-known enhancement of AM-induced mineral uptake, our analysis revealed some novel traits. We detected a massive systemic reprogramming of translation with a central role played by the ribosomal translational apparatus. On one hand, these new protein-synthesis efforts well support the root cellular re-organization required by the fungal penetration, and on the other they have a systemic impact on primary metabolism.}, } @article {pmid36569539, year = {2023}, author = {Chin, GJWL and Jani, J and Law, SV and Rodrigues, KF}, title = {Whole genome sequence data of a marine bacterium, Marinobacter adhaerens PBVC038, associated with toxic harmful algal bloom.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {108768}, pmid = {36569539}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Marinobacter adhaerens (PBVC038) was isolated from a harmful algal bloom event caused by the toxic dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum (P. bahamense) in Sepanggar Bay, Sabah, Malaysia, in December 2012. Blooms of P. bahamense are frequently linked to paralytic shellfish poisoning, resulting in morbidity and mortality. Prior experimental evidence has implicated the role of symbiotic bacteria in bloom dynamics and the synthesis of biotoxins. The draft genome sequence data of a harmful algal bloom-associated bacterium, Marinobacter adhaerens PBVC038 is presented here. The genome is made up of 21 contigs with an estimated 4,246,508 bases in genome size and a GC content of 57.19%. The raw data files can be retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under the Bioproject number PRJNA320140. The assessment of bacterial communities associated with harmful algal bloom should be studied more extensively as more data is needed to ascertain the functions of these associated bacteria during a bloom event.}, } @article {pmid36569075, year = {2022}, author = {Obert, T and Zhang, T and Rurik, I and Vďačný, P}, title = {First molecular evidence of hybridization in endosymbiotic ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1067315}, pmid = {36569075}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Hybridization is an important evolutionary process that can fuel diversification via formation of hybrid species or can lead to fusion of previously separated lineages by forming highly diverse species complexes. We provide here the first molecular evidence of hybridization in wild populations of ciliates, a highly diverse group of free-living and symbiotic eukaryotic microbes. The impact of hybridization was studied on the model of Plagiotoma, an obligate endosymbiont of the digestive tube of earthworms, using split decomposition analyses and species networks, 2D modeling of the nuclear rRNA molecules and compensatory base change analyses as well as multidimensional morphometrics. Gene flow slowed down and eventually hampered the diversification of Lumbricus-dwelling plagiotomids, which collapsed into a single highly variable biological entity, the P. lumbrici complex. Disruption of the species boundaries was suggested also by the continuum of morphological variability in the phenotypic space. On the other hand, hybridization conspicuously increased diversity in the nuclear rDNA cistron and somewhat weakened the host structural specificity of the P. lumbrici complex, whose members colonize a variety of phylogenetically closely related anecic and epigeic earthworms. By contrast, another recorded species, P. aporrectodeae sp. n., showed no signs of introgression, no variability in the rDNA cistron, and very high host specificity. These contrasting eco-evolutionary patterns indicate that hybridization might decrease the alpha-diversity by dissolving species boundaries, weaken the structural host specificity by broadening ecological amplitudes, and increase the nuclear rDNA variability by overcoming concerted evolution within the P. lumbrici species complex.}, } @article {pmid36567187, year = {2023}, author = {Houdinet, G and Guerrero-Galán, C and Rose, BD and Garcia, K and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {Secrets of the fungus-specific potassium channel TOK family.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {511-520}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2022.11.007}, pmid = {36567187}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {Several families of potassium (K[+]) channels are found in membranes of all eukaryotes, underlining the importance of K[+] uptake and redistribution within and between cells and organs. Among them, TOK (tandem-pore outward-rectifying K[+]) channels consist of eight transmembrane domains and two pore domains per subunit organized in dimers. These channels were originally studied in yeast, but recent identifications and characterizations in filamentous fungi shed new light on this fungus-specific K[+] channel family. Although their actual function in vivo is often puzzling, recent works indicate a role in cellular K[+] homeostasis and even suggest a role in plant-fungus symbioses. This review aims at synthesizing the current knowledge on fungal TOK channels and discussing their potential role in yeasts and filamentous fungi.}, } @article {pmid36565065, year = {2023}, author = {Li, ET and Wu, HJ and Wang, ZM and Li, KB and Zhang, S and Cao, YZ and Yin, J}, title = {PI3K/Akt/CncC signaling pathway mediates the response to EPN-Bt infection in Holotrichia parallela larvae.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {79}, number = {5}, pages = {1660-1673}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7337}, pmid = {36565065}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Larva/metabolism ; *Bacillus thuringiensis/genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; *Nematoda ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Combining the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Heterorhabditis beicherriana LF strain, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) HBF-18 strain is a practical strategy to manage the larvae of Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky (white grubs). However, the mechanisms underlying the larval defense response to this combined biocontrol strategy are unknown.

RESULTS: The activities of some antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and some detoxifying enzymes (AChE, P-450, CarE, GST) in grubs showed an activation-inhibition trend throughout the EPN-Bt exposure time course. Eight potentially key antioxidant and detoxifying enzyme genes in response to EPN-Bt infection were identified from the midgut of grubs through RNA sequencing. After silencing CAT, CarE18, and GSTs1, the enzyme activities were significantly decreased by 30.29%, 68.80%, and 34.63%, respectively. Meanwhile, the mortality of grubs was increased by 18.40%, 46.30%, and 42.59% after exposure to EPN-Bt for 1 day. Interestingly, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was significantly enriched in KEGG enrichment analysis, and the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), cap 'n' collar isoform-C (CncC), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and CarE18 were all up-regulated when exposed to EPN-Bt for 1 day. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated PI3K silencing showed a similar down-regulated trend between PI3K/Akt/CncC and CarE18. Moreover, silencing PI3K rendered grubs more susceptible to EPN-Bt and accelerated symbiotic bacteria multiplication in grubs.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the PI3K/Akt/CncC pathway mediates the expression of CarE18 and participates in the defense response of H. parallela larvae against EPN-Bt infection. Our data provide valuable insights into the design of appropriate management strategies for this well-known agricultural pest. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36565041, year = {2023}, author = {Su, C}, title = {Pectin modifications at the symbiotic interface.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {238}, number = {1}, pages = {25-32}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18705}, pmid = {36565041}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Pectins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants/microbiology ; *Rhizobium ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant cells are surrounded by a structured cell wall, which not only defines cell shape but also provides a structural barrier for protection against pathogen infection. However, the presence of this barrier does not impede the establishment of mutualistic symbioses between plants and several microbes (e.g. ectomycorrhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and rhizobia). To establish such beneficial associations, symbiotic microbes need to colonize the plant tissues via intercellular and/or intracellular infection, a process that requires cell wall modifications. Although cell wall composition and changes during this process have interested researchers for years, the functional characterization of the molecular players involved is still limited. In this viewpoint, based on several new studies, I discuss how the PME-PL/PG pathway mediates cell wall pectin modifications at the symbiotic interface and highlight further research directions which can broaden our understanding of how beneficial root symbioses are established.}, } @article {pmid36564991, year = {2023}, author = {Volpe, V and Chialva, M and Mazzarella, T and Crosino, A and Capitanio, S and Costamagna, L and Kohlen, W and Genre, A}, title = {Long-lasting impact of chitooligosaccharide application on strigolactone biosynthesis and fungal accommodation promotes arbuscular mycorrhiza in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {6}, pages = {2316-2331}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18697}, pmid = {36564991}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Chitosan/pharmacology/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Chitin/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {The establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) between plants and Glomeromycotina fungi is preceded by the exchange of chemical signals: fungal released Myc-factors, including chitooligosaccharides (CO) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO), activate plant symbiotic responses, while root-exuded strigolactones stimulate hyphal branching and boost CO release. Furthermore, fungal signaling reinforcement through CO application was shown to promote AM development in Medicago truncatula, but the cellular and molecular bases of this effect remained unclear. Here, we focused on long-term M. truncatula responses to CO treatment, demonstrating its impact on the transcriptome of both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots over several weeks and providing an insight into the mechanistic bases of the CO-dependent promotion of AM colonization. CO treatment caused the long-lasting regulation of strigolactone biosynthesis and fungal accommodation-related genes. This was mirrored by an increase in root didehydro-orobanchol content, and the promotion of accommodation responses to AM fungi in root epidermal cells. Lastly, an advanced downregulation of AM symbiosis marker genes was observed at the latest time point in CO-treated plants, in line with an increased number of senescent arbuscules. Overall, CO treatment triggered molecular, metabolic, and cellular responses underpinning a protracted acceleration of AM development.}, } @article {pmid36564432, year = {2022}, author = {Patra, AK and Perez, M and Jang, SJ and Won, YJ}, title = {A regulatory hydrogenase gene cluster observed in the thioautotrophic symbiont of Bathymodiolus mussel in the East Pacific Rise.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {22232}, pmid = {36564432}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; *Mytilidae/genetics ; Bacteria ; Methane/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gills/microbiology ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; }, abstract = {The mytilid mussel Bathymodiolus thermophilus lives in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent regions due to its relationship with chemosynthetic symbiotic bacteria. It is well established that symbionts reside in the gill bacteriocytes of the mussel and can utilize hydrogen sulfide, methane, and hydrogen from the surrounding environment. However, it is observed that some mussel symbionts either possess or lack genes for hydrogen metabolism within the single-ribotype population and host mussel species level. Here, we found a hydrogenase cluster consisting of additional H2-sensing hydrogenase subunits in a complete genome of B. thermophilus symbiont sampled from an individual mussel from the East Pacific Rise (EPR9N). Also, we found methylated regions sparsely distributed throughout the EPR9N genome, mainly in the transposase regions and densely present in the rRNA gene regions. CRISPR diversity analysis confirmed that this genome originated from a single symbiont strain. Furthermore, from the comparative analysis, we observed variation in genome size, gene content, and genome re-arrangements across individual hosts suggesting multiple symbiont strains can associate with B. thermophilus. The ability to acquire locally adaptive various symbiotic strains may serve as an effective mechanism for successfully colonizing different chemosynthetic environments across the global oceans by host mussels.}, } @article {pmid36563976, year = {2023}, author = {Miyamoto, H and Kawachi, N and Kurotani, A and Moriya, S and Suda, W and Suzuki, K and Matsuura, M and Tsuji, N and Nakaguma, T and Ishii, C and Tsuboi, A and Shindo, C and Kato, T and Udagawa, M and Satoh, T and Wada, S and Masuya, H and Miyamoto, H and Ohno, H and Kikuchi, J}, title = {Computational estimation of sediment symbiotic bacterial structures of seagrasses overgrowing downstream of onshore aquaculture.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {115130}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.115130}, pmid = {36563976}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Humans ; *Ecosystem ; Geologic Sediments/analysis ; Aquaculture ; Carbon/analysis ; *Zosteraceae ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Coastal seagrass meadows are essential in blue carbon and aquatic ecosystem services. However, this ecosystem has suffered severe eutrophication and destruction due to the expansion of aquaculture. Therefore, methods for the flourishing of seagrass are still being explored. Here, data from 49 public coastal surveys on the distribution of seagrass and seaweed around the onshore aquaculture facilities are revalidated, and an exceptional area where the seagrass Zostera marina thrives was found near the shore downstream of the onshore aquaculture facility. To evaluate the characteristics of the sediment for growing seagrass, physicochemical properties and bacterial ecological evaluations of the sediment were conducted. Evaluation of chemical properties in seagrass sediments confirmed a significant increase in total carbon and a decrease in zinc content. Association analysis and linear discriminant analysis refined bacterial candidates specified in seagrass overgrown- and nonovergrown-sediment. Energy landscape analysis indicated that the symbiotic bacterial groups of seagrass sediment were strongly affected by the distance close to the seagrass-growing aquaculture facility despite their bacterial population appearing to fluctuate seasonally. The bacterial population there showed an apparent decrease in the pathogen candidates belonging to the order Flavobacteriales. Moreover, structure equation modeling and a linear non-Gaussian acyclic model based on the machine learning data estimated an optimal sediment symbiotic bacterial group candidate for seagrass growth as follows: the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families as gut-inhabitant bacteria, Rhodobacteraceae as photosynthetic bacteria, and Desulfobulbaceae as cable bacteria modulating oxygen or nitrate reduction and oxidation of sulfide. These observations confer a novel perspective on the sediment symbiotic bacterial structures critical for blue carbon and low-pathogenic marine ecosystems in aquaculture.}, } @article {pmid36563862, year = {2023}, author = {Pushparaj, K and Meyyazhagan, A and Bhotla, HK and Arumugam, VA and Pappuswamy, M and Vadivalagan, C and Hakeem, KR and Balasubramanian, B and Liu, W and Mousavi Khaneghah, A}, title = {The crux of bioactive metabolites in endophytic and thermophilic fungi and their proximal prospects in biotechnological and industrial domains.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {223}, number = {}, pages = {107007}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.107007}, pmid = {36563862}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Biotechnology ; Endophytes/metabolism ; *Fungi/metabolism ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi are ubiquitous in distribution and are found in grasses to hot springs. Their mode of nutrition provides sustenance for living and propagation. Ironically, varied fungal species have developed customized strategies for protection and survival by producing diverse secondary metabolites. The review aimed to project the contrasting potential features of the endophytic and thermophilic fungi groups. The metabolites and the enzymes of endophytic and thermophilic fungi served as the backbone to thrive and adapt within-host and in extreme conditions like higher pH, heat, and salinity, respectively. Identification, knowledge of their biochemistry and pathway, exploration, production, and utilization of these bioactive molecules in various commercial, industrial, and pharmaceutical domains were briefly discussed. The uniqueness of endophytes includes stress management and improved biomass production of the host, green fuel production, omnipresence, selected triple-symbiosis with the virus, synthesis of polyketides, and other active metabolites are widely used in biomedical applications and agriculture management. This review attempted to limelight the specific applications of thermophilic fungal metabolites and the roles of thermo-stable enzymes in bioprospecting. Moreover, probing the metabolites of thermophiles rendered novel antibiotic compounds, which were proven effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria and harboured the potential to curtail infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid36563163, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, F and Ye, F and Cheng, C and Kang, Z and Kou, H and Sun, J}, title = {Symbiotic microbes aid host adaptation by metabolizing a deterrent host pine carbohydrate d-pinitol in a beetle-fungus invasive complex.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {51}, pages = {eadd5051}, pmid = {36563163}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {The red turpentine beetle (RTB) is one of the most destructive invasive pests in China and solely consumes pine phloem containing high amounts of d-pinitol. Previous studies reported that d-pinitol exhibits deterrent effects on insects. However, it remains unknown how insects overcome d-pinitol during their host plant adaptation. We found that d-pinitol had an antagonistic effect on RTB, which mainly relied on gallery microbes to degrade d-pinitol to enhance host adaptation with mutualistic Leptographium procerum and two symbiotic bacteria, Erwinia and Serratia, responsible for this degradation. Genomic, transcriptomic, and functional investigations revealed that all three microbes can metabolize d-pinitol via different branches of the inositol pathway. Our results collectively highlight the contributions of symbiotic microbes in RTB's adaptation to living on pine, thereby facilitating outbreaks of RTB in China. These findings further enrich our knowledge of symbiotic invasions and contribute to the further understanding of plant-insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid36562143, year = {2023}, author = {Gong, Y and Lebreton, A and Zhang, F and Martin, F}, title = {Role of carbohydrate-active enzymes in mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Essays in biochemistry}, volume = {67}, number = {3}, pages = {471-478}, doi = {10.1042/EBC20220127}, pmid = {36562143}, issn = {1744-1358}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plants/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Carbohydrates ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi form mutually beneficial interactions with a wide range of terrestrial plants. During this symbiosis, the associated fungus provides mineral nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, to its host plant in exchange of photosynthesis-derived carbohydrates. Genome sequencing of mycorrhizal fungi has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi have a restricted set of plant-cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDE) genes, while orchid and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi have an extended PCWDE repertoire similar to soil decomposers and wood-decay fungi. On the other hand, mycorrhizal fungi have retained a substantial set of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) acting on microbial polysaccharides. Functional analysis has shown that several of the remaining PCWDEs are involved in the fungal root colonization and establishment of the symbiotic interface. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on the evolution and function of PCWDEs in mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid36561630, year = {2023}, author = {Raudoniute, J and Bironaite, D and Bagdonas, E and Kulvinskiene, I and Jonaityte, B and Danila, E and Aldonyte, R}, title = {Human airway and lung microbiome at the crossroad of health and disease (Review).}, journal = {Experimental and therapeutic medicine}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {18}, pmid = {36561630}, issn = {1792-1015}, abstract = {The evolving field of the microbiome and microbiota has become a popular research topic. The human microbiome is defined as a new organ and is considered a living community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms within a certain body space. The term 'microbiome' is used to define the entire genome of the microbiota. Bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae and small protists are all members of the microbiota, followed by phages, viruses, plasmids and mobile genetic elements. The composition, heterogeneity and dynamics of microbiomes in time and space, their stability and resistance, essential characteristics and key participants, as well as interactions within the microbiome and with the host, are crucial lines of investigation for the development of successful future diagnostics and therapies. Standardization of microbiome studies and harmonized comparable methodologies are required for the transfer of knowledge from fundamental science into the clinic. Human health is dependent on microbiomes and achieved by nurturing beneficial resident microorganisms and their interplay with the host. The present study reviewed scientific knowledge on the major components of the human respiratory microbiome, i.e. bacteria, viruses and fungi, their symbiotic and parasitic roles, and, also, major diseases of the human respiratory tract and their microbial etiology. Bidirectional relationships regulate microbial ecosystems and host susceptibility. Moreover, environmental insults render host tissues and microbiota disease-prone. The human respiratory microbiome reflects the ambient air microbiome. By understanding the human respiratory microbiome, potential therapeutic strategies may be proposed.}, } @article {pmid36561464, year = {2022}, author = {Salem, MA and Wang, JY and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Metabolomics of plant root exudates: From sample preparation to data analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1062982}, pmid = {36561464}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants release a set of chemical compounds, called exudates, into the rhizosphere, under normal conditions and in response to environmental stimuli and surrounding soil organisms. Plant root exudates play indispensable roles in inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms, while also promoting the growth of beneficial microbes and attracting symbiotic partners. Root exudates contain a complex array of primary and specialized metabolites. Some of these chemicals are only found in certain plant species for shaping the microbial community in the rhizosphere. Comprehensive understanding of plant root exudates has numerous applications from basic sciences to enhancing crop yield, production of stress-tolerant crops, and phytoremediation. This review summarizes the metabolomics workflow for determining the composition of root exudates, from sample preparation to data acquisition and analysis. We also discuss recent advances in the existing analytical methods and future perspectives of metabolite analysis.}, } @article {pmid36561453, year = {2022}, author = {Duc, NH and Vo, HTN and van Doan, C and Hamow, KÁ and Le, KH and Posta, K}, title = {Volatile organic compounds shape belowground plant-fungi interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1046685}, pmid = {36561453}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a bouquet of chemical compounds released by all life forms, play essential roles in trophic interactions. VOCs can facilitate a large number of interactions with different organisms belowground. VOCs-regulated plant-plant or plant-insect interaction both below and aboveground has been reported extensively. Nevertheless, there is little information about the role of VOCs derived from soilborne pathogenic fungi and beneficial fungi, particularly mycorrhizae, in influencing plant performance. In this review, we show how plant VOCs regulate plant-soilborne pathogenic fungi and beneficial fungi (mycorrhizae) interactions. How fungal VOCs mediate plant-soilborne pathogenic and beneficial fungi interactions are presented and the most common methods to collect and analyze belowground volatiles are evaluated. Furthermore, we suggest a promising method for future research on belowground VOCs.}, } @article {pmid36559612, year = {2022}, author = {Soliman, S and Wang, Y and Han, Z and Pervaiz, T and El-Kereamy, A}, title = {Strigolactones in Plants and Their Interaction with the Ecological Microbiome in Response to Abiotic Stress.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36559612}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Phytohormones play an essential role in enhancing plant tolerance by responding to abiotic stresses, such as nutrient deficiency, drought, high temperature, and light stress. Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid derivatives that occur naturally in plants and are defined as novel phytohormones that regulate plant metabolism, growth, and development. Strigolactone assists plants in the acquisition of defensive characteristics against drought stress by initiating physiological responses and mediating the interaction with soil microorganisms. Nutrient deficiency is an important abiotic stress factor, hence, plants perform many strategies to survive against nutrient deficiency, such as enhancing the efficiency of nutrient uptake and forming beneficial relationships with microorganisms. Strigolactone attracts various microorganisms and provides the roots with essential elements, including nitrogen and phosphorus. Among these advantageous microorganisms are arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), which regulate plant metabolic activities through phosphorus providing in roots. Bacterial nodulations are also nitrogen-fixing microorganisms found in plant roots. This symbiotic relationship is maintained as the plant provides organic molecules, produced in the leaves, that the bacteria could otherwise not independently generate. Related stresses, such as light stress and high-temperature stress, could be affected directly or indirectly by strigolactone. However, the messengers of these processes are unknown. The most prominent connector messengers have been identified upon the discovery of SLs and the understanding of their hormonal effect. In addition to attracting microorganisms, these groups of phytohormones affect photosynthesis, bridge other phytohormones, induce metabolic compounds. In this article, we highlighted the brief information available on SLs as a phytohormone group regarding their common related effects. In addition, we reviewed the status and described the application of SLs and plant response to abiotic stresses. This allowed us to comprehend plants' communication with the ecological microbiome as well as the strategies plants use to survive under various stresses. Furthermore, we identify and classify the SLs that play a role in stress resistance since many ecological microbiomes are unexplained.}, } @article {pmid36559533, year = {2022}, author = {Saleem, S and Sekara, A and Pokluda, R}, title = {Serendipita indica-A Review from Agricultural Point of View.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36559533}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Fulfilling the food demand of a fast-growing population is a global concern, resulting in increased dependence of the agricultural sector on various chemical formulations for enhancing crop production. This leads to an overuse of chemicals, which is not only harmful to human and animal health, but also to the environment and the global economy. Environmental safety and sustainable production are major responsibilities of the agricultural sector, which is inherently linked to the conservation of the biodiversity, the economy, and human and animal health. Scientists, therefore, across the globe are seeking to develop eco-friendly and cost-effective strategies to mitigate these issues by putting more emphasis on the use of beneficial microorganisms. Here, we review the literature on Serendipita indica, a beneficial endophytic fungus, to bring to the fore its properties of cultivation, the ability to enhance plant growth, improve the quality of produced crops, mitigate various plant stresses, as well as protect the environment. The major points in this review are as follows: (1) Although various plant growth promoting microorganisms are available, the distinguishing character of S. indica being axenically cultivable with a wide range of hosts makes it more interesting for research. (2) S. indica has numerous functions, ranging from promoting plant growth and quality to alleviating abiotic and biotic stresses, suggesting the use of this fungus as a biofertiliser. It also improves the soil quality by limiting the movement of heavy metals in the soil, thus, protecting the environment. (3) S. indica's modes of action are due to interactions with phytohormones, metabolites, photosynthates, and gene regulation, in addition to enhancing nutrient and water absorption. (4) Combined application of S. indica and nanoparticles showed synergistic promotion in crop growth, but the beneficial effects of these interactions require further investigation. This review concluded that S. indica has a great potential to be used as a plant growth promoter or biofertiliser, ensuring sustainable crop production and a healthy environment.}, } @article {pmid36559141, year = {2022}, author = {Terada, C and Kawamoto, S and Yamayoshi, A and Yamamoto, T}, title = {Chemistry of Therapeutic Oligonucleotides That Drives Interactions with Biomolecules.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36559141}, issn = {1999-4923}, abstract = {Oligonucleotide therapeutics that can modulate gene expression have been gradually developed for clinical applications over several decades. However, rapid advances have been made in recent years. Artificial nucleic acid technology has overcome many challenges, such as (1) poor target affinity and selectivity, (2) low in vivo stability, and (3) classical side effects, such as immune responses; thus, its application in a wide range of disorders has been extensively examined. However, even highly optimized oligonucleotides exhibit side effects, which limits the general use of this class of agents. In this review, we discuss the physicochemical characteristics that aid interactions between drugs and molecules that belong to living organisms. By systematically organizing the related data, we hope to explore avenues for symbiotic engineering of oligonucleotide therapeutics that will result in more effective and safer drugs.}, } @article {pmid36558548, year = {2022}, author = {Sevillano-Jiménez, A and Romero-Saldaña, M and García-Rodríguez, M and Molina-Luque, R and Molina-Recio, G}, title = {Nutritional Impact and Eating Pattern Changes in Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders after Health Education Program on Symbiotic Dietary Modulation Offered by Specialised Psychiatric Nursing-Two-Arm Randomised Clinical Trial.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36558548}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Psychiatric Nursing ; Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Health Promotion ; *Schizophrenia/therapy ; }, abstract = {Background: The traditional therapeutic approach has perceived the role of nutrition as a minor intervention in psychiatry. The microbiota−gut−brain axis theory evidences the influence of dietary and nutritional patterns on mental health. Aims: To evidence the impact of dietary advice on increasing symbiotic intake on nutritional status and dietary habits in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Methods: Randomised clinical trial (two-arm, double-blind, balanced-block, six-month intervention) in 50 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The control group received conventional dietary advice on an individual basis. A personal nutritional education programme was established in the intervention group (IG) to increase prebiotic and probiotic intake through dietary advice (dairy and fermented foods, green leafy vegetables, high-fibre fruit, whole grains, etc.). Data on nutritional status and dietary habits were collected (baseline and six months). The degree of dietary adherence to the recommended patterns was recorded weekly. Anthropometric parameters were also analysed monthly. Results: Finally, 44 subjects completed the follow-up. All participants exceeded the dietary reference intakes. The overall and intra-group analysis showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in macro and micronutrient intakes with a closer approximation to the recommended dietary intakes, except for polyunsaturated fatty acids, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and dietary fibre. After six months of intervention, statistical differences (p < 0.001) were found in all variables of the anthropometric profile in the IG, as well as an increase in the consumption of foods with a high symbiotic content (at baseline and six months). Likewise, a reduction in eggs, meat, fish, sugars and ultra-processed foods was evident, leading to significant intra-group differences (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Implementing conventional nutritional education strategies and specific nutritional advice with a symbiotic effect improves the dietary-nutritional profile in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Furthermore, it highlights the nutritional impact on mental health, stating itself as adjuvant therapy for physical health and lifestyle improvement.}, } @article {pmid36558393, year = {2022}, author = {Costa, MAC and Dias Moreira, LP and Duarte, VDS and Cardoso, RR and São José, VPB and Silva, BPD and Grancieri, M and Corich, V and Giacomini, A and Bressan, J and Martino, HSD and Barros, FAR}, title = {Kombuchas from Green and Black Tea Modulate the Gut Microbiota and Improve the Intestinal Health of Wistar Rats Fed a High-Fat High-Fructose Diet.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36558393}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Rats ; Animals ; Tea/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Rats, Wistar ; Fructose/pharmacology ; Polyphenols/pharmacology ; *Camellia sinensis ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; }, abstract = {The Western diet can negatively affect the gut microbiota and is associated with metabolic disorders. Kombucha, a tea fermented by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), is known for its bioactive properties and has become popular in the last years. In this study, we evaluated the effects of regular kombucha consumption on the gut microbiota and on outcomes related to the intestinal health of Wistar rats fed a high-fat high-fructose diet. After eight weeks receiving a standard diet (AIN-93M) (n = 10) or a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHF) (n = 30) to induce metabolic disorders, the animals were subdivided into four groups: AIN-93M (n = 10); HFHF (n = 10); GTK (HFHF + green tea kombucha (n = 10); and BTK (HFHF + black tea kombucha; n = 10) for 10 weeks. Although body composition did not differ among the groups, the HFHF diet was associated with metabolic alterations, and stimulated the growth of gram-negative bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Bacteroides. Kombucha ingestion could somewhat modulate the gut microbiota, attenuating the effects of a Western diet by increasing propionate production and favoring the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Adlercreutzia in the GTK group. Our results suggest that regular kombucha consumption may be beneficial to intestinal health, which can be mostly attributed to its high content and diversity of phenolic compounds.}, } @article {pmid36557819, year = {2022}, author = {Fernández-Silva, A and Lledías, F and Rodríguez-López, J and Olivares, JE and French-Pacheco, L and Treviño, M and Amero, C and Díaz-Camino, C}, title = {The Common Bean Small Heat Shock Protein Nodulin 22 from Phaseolus vulgaris L. Assembles into Functional High-Molecular-Weight Oligomers.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36557819}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {*Heat-Shock Proteins, Small ; *Phaseolus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Molecular Chaperones ; }, abstract = {Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are present in all domains of life. These proteins are responsible for binding unfolded proteins to prevent their aggregation. sHsps form dynamic oligomers of different sizes and constitute transient reservoirs for folding competent proteins that are subsequently refolded by ATP-dependent chaperone systems. In plants, the sHsp family is rather diverse and has been associated with the ability of plants to survive diverse environmental stresses. Nodulin 22 (PvNod22) is an sHsp of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) located in the endoplasmic reticulum. This protein is expressed in response to stress (heat or oxidative) or in plant roots during mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbiosis. In this work, we study its oligomeric state using a combination of in silico and experimental approaches. We found that recombinant PvNod22 was able to protect a target protein from heat unfolding in vitro. We also demonstrated that PvNod22 assembles into high-molecular-weight oligomers with diameters of ~15 nm under stress-free conditions. These oligomers can cluster together to form high-weight polydisperse agglomerates with temperature-dependent interactions; in contrast, the oligomers are stable regarding temperature.}, } @article {pmid36557720, year = {2022}, author = {Wanjofu, EI and Venter, SN and Beukes, CW and Steenkamp, ET and Gwata, ET and Muema, EK}, title = {Nodulation and Growth Promotion of Chickpea by Mesorhizobium Isolates from Diverse Sources.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36557720}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The cultivation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in South Africa is dependent on the application of suitable Mesorhizobium inoculants. Therefore, we evaluated the symbiotic effectiveness of several Mesorhizobium strains with different chickpea genotypes under controlled conditions. The tested parameters included shoot dry weight (SDW), nodule fresh weight (NFW), plant height, relative symbiotic effectiveness (RSE) on the plant as well as indole acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilization on the rhizobia. Twenty-one Mesorhizobium strains and six desi chickpea genotypes were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates in a glasshouse pot experiment. The factors, chickpea genotype and Mesorhizobium strain, had significant effects on the measured parameters (p < 0.001) but lacked significant interactions based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The light variety desi genotype outperformed the other chickpea genotypes on all tested parameters. In general, inoculation with strains LMG15046, CC1192, XAP4, XAP10, and LMG14989 performed best for all the tested parameters. All the strains were able to produce IAA and solubilize phosphate except the South African field isolates, which could not solubilize phosphate. Taken together, inoculation with compatible Mesorhizobium promoted chickpea growth. This is the first study to report on chickpea-compatible Mesorhizobium strains isolated from uninoculated South African soils with no history of chickpea production; although, their plant growth promotion ability was poorer compared to some of the globally sourced strains. Since this study was conducted under controlled conditions, we recommend field studies to assess the performance of the five highlighted strains under environmental conditions in South Africa.}, } @article {pmid36557696, year = {2022}, author = {Bruñas Gómez, I and Casale, M and Barreno, E and Catalá, M}, title = {Near-Infrared Metabolomic Fingerprinting Study of Lichen Thalli and Phycobionts in Culture: Aquaphotomics of Trebouxia lynnae Dehydration.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36557696}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an accurate, fast and safe technique whose full potential remains to be exploited. Lichens are a paradigm of symbiotic association, with extraordinary properties, such as abiotic stress tolerance and adaptation to anhydrobiosis, but subjacent mechanisms await elucidation. Our aim is characterizing the metabolomic NIRS fingerprints of Ramalina farinacea and Lobarina scrobiculata thalli, and of the cultured phycobionts Trebouxia lynnae and Trebouxia jamesii. Thalli collected in an air-dry state and fresh cultivated phycobionts were directly used for spectra acquisition in reflectance mode. Thalli water peaks were associated to the solvation shell (1354 nm) and sugar-water interactions (1438 nm). While northern-southern orientation related with two hydrogen bonded (S2) water, the site was related to one hydrogen bonded (S1). Water, lipids (saturated and unsaturated), and polyols/glucides contributed to the profiles of lichen thalli and microalgae. R. farinacea, with higher desiccation tolerance, shows higher S2 water than L. scrobiculata. In contrast, fresh phycobionts are dominated by free water. Whereas T. jamesii shows higher solvation water content, T. lynnae possesses more unsaturated lipids. Aquaphotomics demonstrates the involvement of strongly hydrogen bonded water conformations, polyols/glucides, and unsaturated/saturated fatty acids in the dehydration process, and supports a "rubbery" state allowing enzymatic activity during anhydrobiosis.}, } @article {pmid36557612, year = {2022}, author = {Smutin, D and Lebedev, E and Selitskiy, M and Panyushev, N and Adonin, L}, title = {Micro"bee"ota: Honey Bee Normal Microbiota as a Part of Superorganism.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36557612}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Honey bees are model organisms for microbiota research. Gut microbiomes are very interesting for surveys due to their simple structure and relationship with hive production. Long-term studies reveal the gut microbiota patterns of various hive members, as well as the functions, sources, and interactions of the majority of its bacteria. But the fungal non-pathogenic part of gut microbiota is almost unexplored, likewise some other related microbiota. Honey bees, as superorganisms, interact with their own microorganisms, the microbial communities of food stores, hive surfaces, and other environments. Understanding microbiota diversity, its transition ways, and hive niche colonization control are necessary for understanding any separate microbiota niche because of their interplay. The long coevolution of bees with the microorganisms populating these niches makes these systems co-dependent, integrated, and stable. Interaction with the environment, hive, and other bees determines caste lifestyle as well as individual microbiota. In this article, we bring together studies on the microbiota of the western honey bee. We show a possible relationship between caste determination and microbiota composition. And what is primary: caste differentiation or microbiota composition?}, } @article {pmid36557583, year = {2022}, author = {González, R and Henríquez-Castillo, C and Lohrmann, KB and Romero, MS and Ramajo, L and Schmitt, P and Brokordt, K}, title = {The Gill Microbiota of Argopecten purpuratus Scallop Is Dominated by Symbiotic Campylobacterota and Upwelling Intensification Differentially Affects Their Abundance.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36557583}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Despite the great importance of gills for bivalve mollusks (respiration, feeding, immunity), the microbiota associated with this tissue has barely been characterized in scallops. The scallop Argopecten purpuratus is an important economic resource that is cultivated in areas where coastal upwelling is intensifying by climate change, potentially affecting host-microbiota interactions. Thus, we first characterized the bacterial community present in gills from cultivated scallops (by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) and assessed their stability and functional potential in animals under farm and laboratory conditions. Results showed that under both conditions the gill bacterial community is dominated by the phylum Campylobacterota (57%), which displays a chemoautotrophic potential that could contribute to scallop nutrition. Within this phylum, two phylotypes, namely symbionts A and B, were the most abundant; being, respectively, taxonomically affiliated to symbionts with nutritional functions in mussel gills, and to uncultured bacteria present in coral mucus. Additionally, in situ hybridization and scanning electron microscopy analyses allowed us to detect these symbionts in the gills of A. purpuratus. Given that shifts in upwelling phenology can cause disturbances to ecosystems, affecting bacteria that provide beneficial functions to the host, we further assessed the changes in the abundance of the two symbionts (via qPCR) in response to a simulated upwelling intensification. The exposure to combined decreasing values in the temperature, pH, and oxygen levels (upwelling conditions) favored the dominance of symbiont B over symbiont A; suggesting that symbiont abundances are modulated by these environmental changes. Overall, results showed that changes in the main Campylobacterota phylotypes in response to upwelling intensification could affect its symbiotic function in A. purpuratus under future climate change scenarios. These results provide the first insight into understanding how scallop gill-microbial systems adapt and respond to climate change stressors, which could be critical for managing health, nutrition, and scallop aquaculture productivity.}, } @article {pmid36557160, year = {2022}, author = {Antoshina, DV and Balandin, SV and Bogdanov, IV and Vershinina, MA and Sheremeteva, EV and Toropygin, IY and Finkina, EI and Ovchinnikova, TV}, title = {Antimicrobial Activity and Immunomodulatory Properties of Acidocin A, the Pediocin-like Bacteriocin with the Non-Canonical Structure.}, journal = {Membranes}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36557160}, issn = {2077-0375}, abstract = {Pediocin-like bacteriocins are among the natural antimicrobial agents attracting attention as scaffolds for the development of a new generation of antibiotics. Acidocin A has significant structural differences from most other members of this subclass. We studied its antibacterial and cytotoxic activity, as well as effects on the permeability of E. coli membranes in comparison with avicin A, the typical pediocin-like bacteriocin. Acidocin A had a more marked tendency to form an alpha-helical structure upon contact with detergent micelles, as was shown by CD spectroscopy, and demonstrated considerably less specific mode of action: it inhibited growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, which were unsusceptible to avicin A, and disrupted the integrity of outer and inner membranes of E. coli. However, the peptide retained a low toxicity towards normal and tumor human cells. The effect of mutations in the pediocin box of acidocin A (on average, a 2-4-fold decrease in activity) was less pronounced than is usually observed for such peptides. Using multiplex analysis, we showed that acidocin A and avicin A modulated the expression level of a number of cytokines and growth factors in primary human monocytes. Acidocin A induced the production of a number of inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNFα, MIG/CXCL9, MCP-1/CCL2, MCP-3/CCL7, and MIP-1β) and inhibited the production of some anti-inflammatory factors (IL-1RA, MDC/CCL22). We assumed that the activity of acidocin A and similar peptides produced by lactic acid bacteria might affect the functional state of the human intestinal tract, not only through direct inhibition of various groups of symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria, but also via immunomodulatory effects.}, } @article {pmid36556339, year = {2022}, author = {Vlk, D and Trněný, O and Řepková, J}, title = {Genes Associated with Biological Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency Identified Using RNA Sequencing in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.).}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36556339}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Commonly studied in the context of legume-rhizobia symbiosis, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a key component of the nitrogen cycle in nature. Despite its potential in plant breeding and many years of research, information is still lacking as to the regulation of hundreds of genes connected with plant-bacteria interaction, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation. Here, we compared root nodule transcriptomes of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) genotypes with contrasting nitrogen fixation efficiency, and we found 491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between plants with high and low BNF efficiency. The annotation of genes expressed in nodules revealed more than 800 genes not yet experimentally confirmed. Among genes mediating nodule development, four nod-ule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides were confirmed in the nodule transcriptome. Gene duplication analyses revealed that genes originating from tandem and dispersed duplication are significantly over-represented among DEGs. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) organized expression profiles of the transcripts into 16 modules linked to the analyzed traits, such as nitrogen fixation efficiency or sample-specific modules. Overall, the results obtained broaden our knowledge about transcriptomic landscapes of red clover's root nodules and shift the phenotypic description of BNF efficiency on the level of gene expression in situ.}, } @article {pmid36555644, year = {2022}, author = {Czyż, KB and Taylor, CM and Kawaliło, M and Koczyk, G}, title = {Gain or Loss? Evidence for Legume Predisposition to Symbiotic Interactions with Rhizobia via Loss of Pathogen-Resistance-Related Gene Families.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36555644}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Vegetables/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nodulation is a hallmark yet non-universal characteristic of legumes. It is unknown whether the mechanisms underlying nitrogen-fixing symbioses evolved within legumes and the broader nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC) repeatedly de novo or based on common ancestral pathways. Ten new transcriptomes representing members from the Cercidoideae and Caesalpinioideae subfamilies were supplemented with published omics data from 65 angiosperms, to investigate how gene content correlates with nodulation capacity within Fabaceae and the NFC. Orthogroup analysis categorized annotated genes into 64150 orthogroups, of which 19 were significantly differentially represented between nodulating versus non-nodulating NFC species and were most commonly absent in nodulating taxa. The distribution of six over-represented orthogroups within Viridiplantae representatives suggested that genomic evolution events causing gene family expansions, including whole-genome duplications (WGDs), were unlikely to have facilitated the development of stable symbioses within Fabaceae as a whole. Instead, an absence of representation of 13 orthogroups indicated that losses of genes involved in trichome development, defense and wounding responses were strongly associated with rhizobial symbiosis in legumes. This finding provides novel evidence of a lineage-specific predisposition for the evolution and/or stabilization of nodulation in Fabaceae, in which a loss of pathogen resistance genes may have allowed for stable mutualistic interactions with rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid36555178, year = {2022}, author = {Janczarek, M}, title = {The Ros/MucR Zinc-Finger Protein Family in Bacteria: Structure and Functions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {36555178}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; Amino Acid Sequence ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Zinc Fingers/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ros/MucR is a widespread family of bacterial zinc-finger-containing proteins that integrate multiple functions, such as symbiosis, virulence, transcription regulation, motility, production of surface components, and various other physiological processes in cells. This regulatory protein family is conserved in bacteria and is characterized by its zinc-finger motif, which has been proposed as the ancestral domain from which the eukaryotic C2H2 zinc-finger structure has evolved. The first prokaryotic zinc-finger domain found in the transcription regulator Ros was identified in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In the past decades, a large body of evidence revealed Ros/MucR as pleiotropic transcriptional regulators that mainly act as repressors through oligomerization and binding to AT-rich target promoters. The N-terminal domain and the zinc-finger-bearing C-terminal region of these regulatory proteins are engaged in oligomerization and DNA binding, respectively. These properties of the Ros/MucR proteins are similar to those of xenogeneic silencers, such as H-NS, MvaT, and Lsr2, which are mainly found in other lineages. In fact, a novel functional model recently proposed for this protein family suggests that they act as H-NS-'like' gene silencers. The prokaryotic zinc-finger domain exhibits interesting structural and functional features that are different from that of its eukaryotic counterpart (a βββα topology), as it folds in a significantly larger zinc-binding globular domain (a βββαα topology). Phylogenetic analysis of Ros/MucR homologs suggests an ancestral origin of this type of protein in α-Proteobacteria. Furthermore, multiple duplications and lateral gene transfer events contributing to the diversity and phyletic distribution of these regulatory proteins were found in bacterial genomes.}, } @article {pmid36555077, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, P and Niu, J and Zhu, Y and Li, Z and Ye, L and Cao, H and Shi, T and Yu, L}, title = {Apilactobacillus kunkeei Alleviated Toxicity of Acetamiprid in Honeybee.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36555077}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Nowadays, colony collapse disorder extensively affects honeybees. Insecticides, including acetamiprid, are considered as critical factors. As prevalent probiotics, we speculated that supplementation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could alleviate acetamiprid-induced health injuries in honeybees. Apilactobacillus kunkeei was isolated from beebread; it significantly increased the survival of honeybees under acetamiprid exportation (from 84% to 92%). Based on 16S rRNA pyrosequencing, information on the intestinal bacteria of honeybees was acquired. The results showed that supplementation with A. kunkeei significantly increased survival and decreased pollen consumption by honeybees under acetamiprid exportation. Under acetamiprid exportation, some opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria invaded the intestinal regions. Subsequently, the community richness and diversity of symbiotic microbiota were decreased. The community structure of intestinal bacteria was changed and differentiated. However, with the supplementation of A. kunkeei, the community richness and community diversity of symbiotic microbiota showed an upward trend, and the community structure was stabilized. Our results showed that A. kunkeei alleviated acetamiprid-induced symbiotic microbiota dysregulation and mortality in honeybees. This demonstrates the importance of symbiotic microbiota in honeybees and supports the application of Apilactobacillus kunkeei as probiotics in beekeeping.}, } @article {pmid36555004, year = {2022}, author = {Ai, S and Zhang, Y and Chen, Y and Zhang, T and Zhong, G and Yi, X}, title = {Insect-Microorganism Interaction Has Implicates on Insect Olfactory Systems.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36555004}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Olfaction plays an essential role in various insect behaviors, including habitat selection, access to food, avoidance of predators, inter-species communication, aggregation, and reproduction. The olfactory process involves integrating multiple signals from external conditions and internal physiological states, including living environments, age, physiological conditions, and circadian rhythms. As microorganisms and insects form tight interactions, the behaviors of insects are constantly challenged by versatile microorganisms via olfactory cues. To better understand the microbial influences on insect behaviors via olfactory cues, this paper summarizes three different ways in which microorganisms modulate insect behaviors. Here, we deciphered three interesting aspects of microorganisms-contributed olfaction: (1) How do volatiles emitted by microorganisms affect the behaviors of insects? (2) How do microorganisms reshape the behaviors of insects by inducing changes in the synthesis of host volatiles? (3) How do symbiotic microorganisms act on insects by modulating behaviors?}, } @article {pmid36554999, year = {2022}, author = {Kaszyca-Taszakowska, N and Depa, Ł}, title = {Microbiome of the Aphid Genus Dysaphis Börner (Hemiptera: Aphidinae) and Its Relation to Ant Attendance.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36554999}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Among mutualistic relationships of aphids with other organisms, there are two that seem to be of major importance: trophobiosis with ants and endosymbiosis of bacteria. While the former is well studied, the latter is the subject of an increasing amount of research constantly revealing new aspects of this symbiosis. Here, we studied the possible influence of ant attendance on the composition of aphid microbiota on primary and secondary hosts exploited by the aphid genus Dysaphis. The microbiome of 44 samples representing 12 aphid species was studied using an Illumina HiSeq 4000 with the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA. The results showed a higher abundance of common facultative symbionts (Serratia, Regiella, Fukatsuia) in aphid species unattended by ants, but also on secondary hosts. However, in colonies attended by ants, the general species composition of bacterial symbionts was more rich in genera than in unattended colonies (Wolbachia, Gilliamella, Spiroplasma, Sphingomonas, Pelomonas). The results indicate a huge variability of facultative symbionts without clear correlation with ant attendance or aphid species. The possibility of multiple routes of bacterial infection mediated by ant-made environmental conditions is discussed.}, } @article {pmid36554995, year = {2022}, author = {Gümüşsoy, A and Yüksel, E and Özer, G and İmren, M and Canhilal, R and Amer, M and Dababat, AA}, title = {Identification and Biocontrol Potential of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Endosymbiotic Bacteria in Apple Orchards against the Codling Moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36554995}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the major pests in pome fruit production worldwide. Heavy treatment of the larvae of C. pomonella with insecticides triggered the development of resistance to many groups of insecticides. In addition, the increasing concern about the adverse effects of synthetic insecticides on human health and the environment has led to the development of sustainable and eco-friendly control practices for C. pomonella. The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis spp.) and their endosymbionts (Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp.) represent a newly emerging approach to controlling a wide range of insect pests. In the present study, field surveys were conducted in apple orchards to isolate and identify EPNs and their endosymbionts and evaluate their insecticidal efficacy on the larvae of C. pomonella. EPNs were isolated from 12 of 100 soil samples (12%). Seven samples were identified as Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), whereas five samples were assigned to Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1976) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae). The pathogenicity of the EPN species/isolates was screened on the last instar larvae of G. mellonella. The two most pathogenic isolates from each EPN species were tested against fifth instar larvae of C. pomonella under controlled conditions. The maximum mortality (100%) was achieved by all EPN species/isolates at a concentration of 100 IJs/larva 96 h after treatment. The endosymbionts of selected H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae species were identified as Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. kayaii and Xenorhabdus bovienii, respectively. The mortality rates ranged between 25 and 62% when the fifth larval instar larvae of C. pomonella were exposed to the treatment of cell-free supernatants of symbiotic bacteria. In essence, the present survey indicated that EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria have good potential for biological control of C. pomonella.}, } @article {pmid36553546, year = {2022}, author = {Terrón-Camero, LC and Gordillo-González, F and Salas-Espejo, E and Andrés-León, E}, title = {Comparison of Metagenomics and Metatranscriptomics Tools: A Guide to Making the Right Choice.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36553546}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Bacteria/genetics ; Archaea/genetics ; Software ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The study of microorganisms is a field of great interest due to their environmental (e.g., soil contamination) and biomedical (e.g., parasitic diseases, autism) importance. The advent of revolutionary next-generation sequencing techniques, and their application to the hypervariable regions of the 16S, 18S or 23S ribosomal subunits, have allowed the research of a large variety of organisms more in-depth, including bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes and fungi. Additionally, together with the development of analysis software, the creation of specific databases (e.g., SILVA or RDP) has boosted the enormous growth of these studies. As the cost of sequencing per sample has continuously decreased, new protocols have also emerged, such as shotgun sequencing, which allows the profiling of all taxonomic domains in a sample. The sequencing of hypervariable regions and shotgun sequencing are technologies that enable the taxonomic classification of microorganisms from the DNA present in microbial communities. However, they are not capable of measuring what is actively expressed. Conversely, we advocate that metatranscriptomics is a "new" technology that makes the identification of the mRNAs of a microbial community possible, quantifying gene expression levels and active biological pathways. Furthermore, it can be also used to characterise symbiotic interactions between the host and its microbiome. In this manuscript, we examine the three technologies above, and discuss the implementation of different software and databases, which greatly impact the obtaining of reliable results. Finally, we have developed two easy-to-use pipelines leveraging Nextflow technology. These aim to provide everything required for an average user to perform a metagenomic analysis of marker genes with QIMME2 and a metatranscriptomic study using Kraken2/Bracken.}, } @article {pmid36552597, year = {2022}, author = {Li, H and Wang, H and Zhao, J and Zhang, L and Li, Y and Wang, H and Teng, H and Yuan, Z and Yuan, Z}, title = {Physio-Biochemical and Transcriptomic Features of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Relieving Cadmium Stress in Wheat.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36552597}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant cadmium (Cd) tolerance, but the tolerance mechanism in wheat is not fully understood. This study aimed to examine the physiological properties and transcriptome changes in wheat inoculated with or without Glomus mosseae (GM) under Cd stress (0, 5, and 10 mg·kg[-1] CdCl2) to understand its role in wheat Cd tolerance. The results showed that the Cd content in shoots decreased while the Cd accumulation in roots increased under AMF symbiosis compared to the non-inoculation group and that AMF significantly promoted the growth of wheat seedlings and reduced Cd-induced oxidative damage. This alleviative effect of AMF on wheat under Cd stress was mainly attributed to the fact that AMF accelerated the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle, promoted the production of GSH and metallothionein (MTs), improved the degradation of methylglyoxal (MG), and induced GRSP (glomalin-related soil protein) secretion. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of the symbiotic group and the non-symbiotic group revealed multiple differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the 'metal ion transport', 'glutathione metabolism', 'cysteine and methionine metabolism', and 'plant hormone signal transduction' terms. The expression changes of these DEGs were basically consistent with the changes in physio-biochemical characteristics. Overall, AMF alleviated Cd stress in wheat mainly by promoting immobilization and sequestration of Cd, reducing ROS production and accelerating their scavenging, in which the rapid metabolism of GSH may play an important role.}, } @article {pmid36552267, year = {2022}, author = {Afshari, M and Rahimmalek, M and Sabzalian, MR and Szumny, A and Matkowski, A and Jezierska-Domaradzka, A}, title = {Mycorrhizal Colonization Modulates the Essential Oil Profile and Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants to Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Water Deficit in Salvia subg. Perovskia.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36552267}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Among traditional Iranian herbs, Perovskia species (a subgenus of Salvia), while being valued ornamentals, are also studied for numerous potential pharmacological and therapeutic aspects. The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, separately and in combination, in terms of the essential oil content and compositions along with the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in Salvia abrotanoides and S. yangii in response to three levels of irrigation, including 100% FC as well-watered, 75% FC (moderate irrigation deficit), and 50% FC (severe irrigation deficit). In both species, essential oil content, enzyme antioxidant activities, total phenolics, and flavonoids were increased significantly with the severity of stress; this increase was more pronounced in mycorrhizal inoculated herbs. Furthermore, leaf phosphorus concentration, relative water content, chlorophylls a and b, and total carotenoids decreased in parallel with reducing soil moisture; albeit, AMF inoculation improved the stress symptoms under increasing severity of water restriction compared with their control conditions. In addition, the percentage of root colonization was positively correlated with the relative water content (RWC) and leaf phosphorus concentration. Taking into account the essential oil groups, AMF colonization elevated some essential oil components, such as oxygenated monoterpenes, 1,8-cineol, camphor, and borneol, whereas the main sesquiterpenes, including E-β-caryophyllene and α-humulene, remarkably decreased. Taken together, these findings highlighted the role of symbiosis with AMFs in increasing the tolerance of water deficit stress in S. abrotanoides and S. yangii and improving their essential oil composition.}, } @article {pmid36552252, year = {2022}, author = {Dubik, M and Pilecki, B and Moeller, JB}, title = {Commensal Intestinal Protozoa-Underestimated Members of the Gut Microbial Community.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36552252}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal microbiota contains a diverse consortium of microbes, including bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi. Through millennia of co-evolution, the host-microbiota interactions have shaped the immune system to both tolerate and maintain the symbiotic relationship with commensal microbiota, while exerting protective responses against invading pathogens. Microbiome research is dominated by studies describing the impact of prokaryotic bacteria on gut immunity with a limited understanding of their relationship with other integral microbiota constituents. However, converging evidence shows that eukaryotic organisms, such as commensal protozoa, can play an important role in modulating intestinal immune responses as well as influencing the overall health of the host. The presence of several protozoa species has recently been shown to be a common occurrence in healthy populations worldwide, suggesting that many of these are commensals rather than invading pathogens. This review aims to discuss the most recent, conflicting findings regarding the role of intestinal protozoa in gut homeostasis, interactions between intestinal protozoa and the bacterial microbiota, as well as potential immunological consequences of protozoa colonization.}, } @article {pmid36549660, year = {2022}, author = {Merritt, J and Kreth, J}, title = {Illuminating the Oral Microbiome and Its Host Interactions: Tools and Approaches for Molecular Microbiology Studies.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuac050}, pmid = {36549660}, issn = {1574-6976}, abstract = {Advancements in DNA sequencing technologies within the last decade have stimulated an unprecedented interest in the human microbiome, largely due the broad diversity of human diseases found to correlate with microbiome dysbiosis. As a direct consequence of these studies, a vast number of understudied and uncharacterized microbes have been identified as potential drivers of mucosal health and disease. The looming challenge in the field is to transition these observations into defined molecular mechanistic studies of symbiosis and dysbiosis. In order to meet this challenge, many of these newly identified microbes will need to be adapted for use in experimental models. Consequently, this review presents a comprehensive overview of the molecular microbiology tools and techniques that have played crucial roles in genetic studies of the bacteria found within the human oral microbiota. Here, we will use specific examples from the oral microbiome literature to illustrate the biology supporting these techniques, why they are needed in the field, and how such technologies have been implemented. It is hoped that this information can serve as a useful reference guide to help catalyze molecular microbiology studies of the many new understudied and uncharacterized species identified at different mucosal sites in the body.}, } @article {pmid36547911, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, M and Fu, T and Wang, Y and Zhang, A and Gao, P and Shang, Q and Yu, G}, title = {Polysaccharide from Edible Alga Enteromorpha clathrata Improves Ulcerative Colitis in Association with Increased Abundance of Parabacteroides spp. in the Gut Microbiota of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Fed Mice.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36547911}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; *Colitis/chemically induced/drug therapy/microbiology ; Dextran Sulfate/toxicity ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced/drug therapy ; Bacteria ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Colon/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Polysaccharide from the edible alga Enteromorpha clathrata has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects on human health. However, what effect it has on inflammatory bowel diseases has not been investigated. Here, using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis, we illustrate that Enteromorpha clathrata polysaccharide (ECP) could alleviate body weight loss, reduce incidences of colonic bleeding, improve stool consistency and ameliorate mucosal damage in diseased mice. 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis indicated that ECP significantly changed the structure of the gut microbiota and increased the abundance of Parabacteroides spp. in DSS-fed mice. In vitro fermentation studies further confirmed that ECP could promote the growth of Parabacteroides distasonis F1-28, a next-generation probiotic bacterium isolated from the human gut, and increase its production of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, Parabacteroides distasonis F1-28 was also found to have anti-ulcerative colitis effects in DSS-fed mice. Altogether, our study demonstrates for the first time a beneficial effect of ECP on ulcerative colitis and provides a possible basis for understanding its therapeutic mechanisms from the perspective of symbiotic gut bacteria Parabacteroides distasonis.}, } @article {pmid36547877, year = {2022}, author = {Delgado, A and Benedict, C and Macrander, J and Daly, M}, title = {Never, Ever Make an Enemy… Out of an Anemone: Transcriptomic Comparison of Clownfish Hosting Sea Anemone Venoms.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36547877}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cnidarian Venoms/genetics/chemistry ; Transcriptome ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sea anemones are predatory marine invertebrates and have diverse venom arsenals. Venom is integral to their biology, and is used in competition, defense, and feeding. Three lineages of sea anemones are known to have independently evolved symbiotic relationships with clownfish, however the evolutionary impact of this relationship on the venom composition of the host is still unknown. Here, we investigate the potential of this symbiotic relationship to shape the venom profiles of the sea anemones that host clownfish. We use transcriptomic data to identify differences and similarities in venom profiles of six sea anemone species, representing the three known clades of clownfish-hosting sea anemones. We recovered 1121 transcripts matching verified toxins across all species, and show that hemolytic and hemorrhagic toxins are consistently the most dominant and diverse toxins across all species examined. These results are consistent with the known biology of sea anemones, provide foundational data on venom diversity of these species, and allow for a review of existing hierarchical structures in venomic studies.}, } @article {pmid36547600, year = {2022}, author = {Schulz, M and Schmitt, I and Weber, D and Dal Grande, F}, title = {Fungal Host Affects Photosynthesis in a Lichen Holobiont.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36547600}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Corals and lichens are iconic examples of photosynthetic holobionts, i.e., ecological and evolutionary units resulting from the tightly integrated association of algae and prokaryotic microbiota with animal or fungal hosts, respectively. While the role of the coral host in modulating photosynthesis has been clarified to a large extent in coral holobionts, the role of the fungal host in this regard is far less understood. Here, we address this question by taking advantage of the recent discovery of highly specific fungal-algal pairings corresponding to climatically adapted ecotypes of the lichen-forming genus Umbilicaria. Specifically, we compared chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics among lichen thalli consisting of different fungal-algal combinations. We show that photosynthetic performance in these lichens is not only driven by algal genotype, but also by fungal host species identity and intra-host genotype. These findings shed new light on the closely intertwined physiological processes of fungal and algal partners in the lichen symbiosis. Indeed, the specific combinations of fungal and algal genotypes within a lichen individual-and the resulting combined functional phenotype-can be regarded as a response to the environment. Our findings suggest that characterizing the genetic composition of both eukaryotic partners is an important complimentary step to understand and predict the lichen holobiont's responses to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid36547585, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, XY and Wang, BT and Jin, L and Ruan, HH and Lee, HG and Jin, FJ}, title = {Impacts of Biogas Slurry Fertilization on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in the Rhizospheric Soil of Poplar Plantations.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36547585}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The majority of terrestrial plants are symbiotic with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Plants supply carbohydrates to microbes, whereas AMF provide plants with water and other necessary nutrients-most typically, phosphorus. Understanding the response of the AMF community structure to biogas slurry (BS) fertilization is of great significance for sustainable forest management. This study aimed to look into the effects of BS fertilization at different concentrations on AMF community structures in rhizospheric soil in poplar plantations. We found that different fertilization concentrations dramatically affected the diversity of AMF in the rhizospheric soil of the poplar plantations, and the treatment with a high BS concentration showed the highest Shannon diversity of AMF and OTU richness (Chao1). Further analyses revealed that Glomerales, as the predominant order, accounted for 36.2-42.7% of the AMF communities, and the relative abundance of Glomerales exhibited negligible changes with different BS fertilization concentrations, whereas the order Paraglomerales increased significantly in both the low- and high-concentration treatments in comparison with the control. Furthermore, the addition of BS drastically enhanced the relative abundance of the dominant genera, Glomus and Paraglomus. The application of BS could also distinguish the AMF community composition in the rhizospheric soil well. An RDA analysis indicated that the dominant genus Glomus was significantly positively correlated with nitrate reductase activity, while Paraglomus showed a significant positive correlation with available P. Overall, the findings suggest that adding BS fertilizer to poplar plantations can elevate the diversity of AMF communities in rhizospheric soil and the relative abundance of some critical genera that affect plant nutrient uptake.}, } @article {pmid36546855, year = {2023}, author = {Fujiwara, A and Meng, XY and Kamagata, Y and Tsuchida, T}, title = {Subcellular Niche Segregation of Co-Obligate Symbionts in Whiteflies.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0468422}, pmid = {36546855}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects contain endosymbiotic bacteria within their bodies. In multiple endosymbiotic systems comprising two or more symbionts, each of the symbionts is generally localized in a different host cell or tissue. Bemisia tabaci (Sweet potato whitefly) possesses a unique endosymbiotic system where co-obligate symbionts are localized in the same bacteriocytes. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found that endosymbionts in B. tabaci MEAM1 occupy distinct subcellular habitats, or niches, within a single bacteriocyte. Hamiltonella was located adjacent to the nucleus of the bacteriocyte, while Portiera was present in the cytoplasm surrounding Hamiltonella. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the endoplasmic reticulum separates the two symbionts. Habitat segregation was maintained for longer durations in female bacteriocytes. The same segregation was observed in three genetically distinct B. tabaci groups (MEAM1, MED Q1, and Asia II 6) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum, which shared a common ancestor with Bemisia over 80 million years ago, even though the coexisting symbionts and the size of bacteriocytes were different. These results suggest that the habitat segregation system existed in the common ancestor and was conserved in both lineages, despite different bacterial partners coexisting with Portiera. Our findings provide insights into the evolution and maintenance of complex endosymbiotic systems and highlight the importance of organelles for the construction of separate niches for endosymbionts. IMPORTANCE Co-obligate endosymbionts in B. tabaci are exceptionally localized within the same bacteriocyte (a specialized cell for endosymbiosis), but the underlying mechanism for their coexistence remains largely unknown. This study provides evidence for niche segregation at the subcellular level between the two symbionts. We showed that the endoplasmic reticulum is a physical barrier separating the two species. Despite differences in co-obligate partners, this subcellular niche segregation was conserved across various whitefly species. The physical proximity of symbionts may enable the efficient biosynthesis of essential nutrients via shared metabolic pathways. The expression "Good fences make good neighbors" appears to be true for insect endosymbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid36546163, year = {2022}, author = {Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {The need for phosphate: at the root of the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Science bulletin}, volume = {67}, number = {5}, pages = {459-460}, doi = {10.1016/j.scib.2021.11.018}, pmid = {36546163}, issn = {2095-9281}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; Phosphates ; Plant Roots ; Plant Proteins ; }, } @article {pmid36545297, year = {2022}, author = {Schneider, HM}, title = {Functional implications of multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma for soil resource capture and crop improvement.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {plac050}, pmid = {36545297}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Suboptimal nutrient and water availability are primary constraints to crop growth. Global agriculture requires crops with greater nutrient and water efficiency. Multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma (MCS), a root anatomical trait characterized by small cells with thick cell walls encrusted with lignin in the outer cortex, has been shown to be an important trait for adaptation in maize and wheat in mechanically impeded soils. However, MCS has the potential to improve edaphic stress tolerance in a number of different crop taxa and in a number of different environments. This review explores the functional implications of MCS as an adaptive trait for water and nutrient acquisition and discusses future research perspectives on this trait for incorporation into crop breeding programs. For example, MCS may influence water and nutrient uptake, resistance to pests, symbiotic interactions, microbial interactions in the rhizosphere and soil carbon deposition. Root anatomical phenotypes are underutilized; however, important breeding targets for the development of efficient, productive and resilient crops urgently needed in global agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36545195, year = {2022}, author = {Li, BZ and Wang, H and Li, XB and Zhang, QR and Huang, RG and Wu, H and Wang, YY and Li, KD and Chu, XJ and Cao, NW and Zhou, HY and Fang, XY and Leng, RX and Fan, YG and Tao, JH and Shuai, ZW and Ye, DQ}, title = {Altered gut fungi in systemic lupus erythematosus - A pilot study.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1031079}, pmid = {36545195}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Gut fungi, as symbiosis with the human gastrointestinal tract, may regulate physiology via multiple interactions with host cells. The plausible role of fungi in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is far from clear and need to be explored.

METHODS: A total of 64 subjects were recruited, including SLE, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTDs) patients and healthy controls (HCs). Fecal samples of subjects were collected. Gut fungi and bacteria were detected by ITS sequencing and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively. Alpha and beta diversities of microbiota were analyzed. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis was performed to identify abundance of microbiota in different groups. The correlation network between bacterial and fungal microbiota was analyzed based on Spearman correlation.

RESULTS: Gut fungal diversity and community composition exhibited significant shifts in SLE compared with UCTDs, RA and HCs. Compared with HCs, the alpha and beta diversities of fungal microbiota decreased in SLE patients. According to principal coordinates analysis results, the constitution of fungal microbiota from SLE, RA, UCTDs patients and HCs exhibited distinct differences with a clear separation between fungal microbiota. There was dysbiosis in the compositions of fungal and bacterial microbiota in the SLE patients, compared to HCs. Pezizales, Cantharellales and Pseudaleuria were enriched in SLE compared with HCs, RA and UCTDs. There was a complex relationship network between bacterial and fungal microbiota, especially Candida which was related to a variety of bacteria.

CONCLUSION: This study presents a pilot analysis of fungal microbiota with diversity and composition in SLE, and identifies several gut fungi with different abundance patterns taxa among SLE, RA, UCTDs and HCs. Furthermore, the gut bacterial-fungal association network in SLE patients was altered compared with HCs.}, } @article {pmid36544471, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Z and Yang, F and Chen, Y}, title = {Interspecific and intraspecific Taylor's laws for frog skin microbes.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {251-259}, pmid = {36544471}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Amphibians are known to have an abundance of microorganisms colonizing their skin, and these symbionts often protect the host from disease. There are now many comprehensive studies on amphibian skin microbes, but the interspecific and intraspecific abundance distributions (or abundance heterogeneity) of amphibian skin microbes remain unclear. Furthermore, we have a very limited understanding of how the abundance and heterogeneity of microbial communities relate to the body size (or more specifically, skin surface area) of amphibian hosts. In this study, we evaluated the interspecific and intraspecific abundance distribution patterns of amphibian skin microbes and evaluated whether the symbiotic skin microbes of different anuran species share a fundamental heterogeneity scaling parameter. If scaling invariance exists, we hypothesize that a fundamental heterogeneity scaling value also exists. A total of 358 specimens of 10 amphibian host species were collected, and we used Type-I and III Taylor's power law expansions (TPLE) to assess amphibian skin microbial heterogeneity at the community and mixed-species population levels, respectively. The obtained results showed that, at the community scale, a high aggregation of the microbial abundance distribution on the skin barely changed with host size. In a mixed-species population (i.e., a community context), the abundance distribution pattern of mixed microbial species populations also does not change with host size and always remains highly aggregated. These findings suggest that while amphibian skin microbiomes located in different hosts may have different environmental conditions, they share a fundamental heterogeneity scaling parameter, and thus, scale invariance exists. Finally, we found that microhabitat area provided by the host skin is vital to the stability of the symbiotic microbial community.}, } @article {pmid36543896, year = {2022}, author = {Tramice, A and Paris, D and Manca, A and Guevara Agudelo, FA and Petrosino, S and Siracusa, L and Carbone, M and Melck, D and Raymond, F and Piscitelli, F}, title = {Analysis of the oral microbiome during hormonal cycle and its alterations in menopausal women: the "AMICA" project.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {22086}, pmid = {36543896}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; *Luteinizing Hormone ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Menopause ; Menstrual Cycle ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The maintenance of human health is dependent on a symbiotic relationship between humans and associated bacteria. The diversity and abundance of each habitat's signature microbes vary widely among body areas and among them the oral microbiome plays a key role. Significant changes in the oral cavity, predominantly at salivary and periodontal level, have been associated with changes in estrogen levels. However, whether the oral microbiome is affected by hormonal level alterations is understudied. Hence the main objective pursued by AMICA project was to characterize the oral microbiome (saliva) in healthy women through: profiling studies using "omics" technologies (NMR-based metabolomics, targeted lipidomics by LC-MS, metagenomics by NGS); SinglePlex ELISA assays; glycosidase activity analyses and bioinformatic analysis. For this purpose, thirty-nine medically healthy women aged 26-77 years (19 with menstrual cycle and 20 in menopause) were recruited. Participants completed questionnaires assessing detailed medical and medication history and demographic characteristics. Plasmatic and salivary levels of sexual hormones were assessed (FSH, estradiol, LH and progesteron) at day 3 and 14 for women with menstrual cycle and only once for women in menopause. Salivary microbiome composition was assessed through meta-taxonomic 16S sequencing and overall, the salivary microbiome of most women remained relatively stable throughout the menstrual cycle and in menopause. Targeted lipidomics and untargeted metabolomics profiling were assessed through the use of LC-MS and NMR spectroscopy technologies, respectively and significant changes in terms of metabolites were identified in saliva of post-menopausal women in comparison to cycle. Moreover, glycosyl hydrolase activities were screened and showed that the β-D-hexosaminidase activity was the most present among those analyzed. Although this study has not identified significant alterations in the composition of the oral microbiome, multiomics analysis have revealed a strong correlation between 2-AG and α-mannosidase. In conclusion, the use of a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the oral microbiome of healthy women provided some indication about microbiome-derived predictive biomarkers that could be used in the future for developing new strategies to help to re-establish the correct hormonal balance in post-menopausal women.}, } @article {pmid36543862, year = {2022}, author = {Sheikh, S and Khan, FK and Bahram, M and Ryberg, M}, title = {Impact of model assumptions on the inference of the evolution of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in fungi.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {22043}, pmid = {36543862}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Fungi/genetics ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhiza (ECM) is a symbiotic relation between plant and fungi that is essential for nutrient uptake of many stand forming trees. There are two conflicting views about the evolution of ECM in fungi suggesting (1) relatively few transitions to ECM followed by reversals to non-ECM, or (2) many independent origins of ECM and no reversals. In this study, we compare these, and other, hypotheses and test the impact of different models on inference. We assembled a dataset of five marker gene sequences (nuc58, nucLSU, nucSSU, rpb1, and rpb2) and 2,174 fungal taxa covering the three subphyla: Agaricomycotina, Mucoromycotina and Pezizomycotina. The fit of different models, including models with variable rates in clades or through time, to the pattern of ECM fungal taxa was tested in a Bayesian framework, and using AIC and simulations. We find that models implementing variable rates are a better fit than models without rate shift, and that the conclusion about the relative rate between ECM and non-ECM depend largely on whether rate shifts are allowed or not. We conclude that standard constant-rate ancestral state reconstruction models are not adequate for the analysis of the evolution of ECM fungi, and may give contradictory results to more extensive analyses.}, } @article {pmid36543793, year = {2022}, author = {Kirkland, K and Van Lange, PAM and Van Doesum, NJ and Acevedo-Triana, C and Amiot, CE and Ausmees, L and Baguma, P and Barry, O and Becker, M and Bilewicz, M and Boonyasiriwat, W and Castelain, T and Costantini, G and Dimdins, G and Espinosa, A and Finchilescu, G and Fischer, R and Friese, M and Gómez, Á and González, R and Goto, N and Halama, P and Ilustrisimo, RD and Jiga-Boy, GM and Kuppens, P and Loughnan, S and Markovik, M and Mastor, KA and McLatchie, N and Novak, LM and Onyishi, IE and Peker, M and Rizwan, M and Schaller, M and Suh, EM and Swann, WB and Tong, EMW and Torres, A and Turner, RN and Vauclair, CM and Vinogradov, A and Wang, Z and Yeung, VWL and Bastian, B}, title = {Social mindfulness predicts concern for nature and immigrants across 36 nations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {22102}, pmid = {36543793}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mindfulness ; *Emigrants and Immigrants ; }, abstract = {People cooperate every day in ways that range from largescale contributions that mitigate climate change to simple actions such as leaving another individual with choice - known as social mindfulness. It is not yet clear whether and how these complex and more simple forms of cooperation relate. Prior work has found that countries with individuals who made more socially mindful choices were linked to a higher country environmental performance - a proxy for complex cooperation. Here we replicated this initial finding in 41 samples around the world, demonstrating the robustness of the association between social mindfulness and environmental performance, and substantially built on it to show this relationship extended to a wide range of complex cooperative indices, tied closely to many current societal issues. We found that greater social mindfulness expressed by an individual was related to living in countries with more social capital, more community participation and reduced prejudice towards immigrants. Our findings speak to the symbiotic relationship between simple and more complex forms of cooperation in societies.}, } @article {pmid36542495, year = {2023}, author = {Martinez, P and Ustyantsev, K and Biryukov, M and Mouton, S and Glasenburg, L and Sprecher, SG and Bailly, X and Berezikov, E}, title = {Genome assembly of the acoel flatworm Symsagittifera roscoffensis, a model for research on body plan evolution and photosymbiosis.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {36542495}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; *Platyhelminths/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Base Sequence ; Genome Size ; Transcriptome ; Chromosomes ; }, abstract = {Symsagittifera roscoffensis is a well-known member of the order Acoela that lives in symbiosis with the algae Tetraselmis convolutae during its adult stage. Its natural habitat is the eastern coast of the Atlantic, where at specific locations thousands of individuals can be found, mostly, lying in large pools on the surface of sand at low tide. As a member of the Acoela it has been thought as a proxy for ancestral bilaterian animals; however, its phylogenetic position remains still debated. In order to understand the basic structural characteristics of the acoel genome, we sequenced and assembled the genome of aposymbiotic species S. roscoffensis. The size of this genome was measured to be in the range of 910-940 Mb. Sequencing of the genome was performed using PacBio Hi-Fi technology. Hi-C and RNA-seq data were also generated to scaffold and annotate it. The resulting assembly is 1.1 Gb large (covering 118% of the estimated genome size) and highly continuous, with N50 scaffold size of 1.04 Mb. The repetitive fraction of the genome is 61%, of which 85% (half of the genome) are LTR retrotransposons. Genome-guided transcriptome assembly identified 34,493 genes, of which 29,351 are protein coding (BUSCO score 97.6%), and 30.2% of genes are spliced leader trans-spliced. The completeness of this genome suggests that it can be used extensively to characterize gene families and conduct accurate phylogenomic reconstructions.}, } @article {pmid36542127, year = {2022}, author = {Davis, TS and Stewart, JE and Clark, C and Van Buiten, C}, title = {Nutritional Profile and Ecological Interactions of Yeast Symbionts Associated with North American Spruce Beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36542127}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {To better understand functional ecology of bark beetle-microbial symbioses, we characterized yeast associates of North American spruce beetle (Dendroctous rufipennis Kirby) across populations. Seven yeast species were detected; Wickerhamomyces canadensis (Wickerham) Kurtzman et al. (Sachharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae) was the most common (74% of isolates) and found in all populations. Isolates of W. canadensis were subsequently tested for competitive interactions with symbiotic (Leptographium abietinum, = Grosmannia abietina) and pathogenic (Beauvaria bassiana) filamentous fungi, and isolates were nutritionally profiled (protein and P content). Exposure to yeast headspace emissions had isolate-dependent effects on colony growth of symbiotic and pathogenic fungi; most isolates of W. canadensis slightly inhibited growth rates of symbiotic (L. abietinum, mean effect: - 4%) and entomopathogenic (B. bassiana, mean effect: - 6%) fungi. However, overall variation was high (range: - 35.4 to + 88.6%) and some yeasts enhanced growth of filamentous fungi whereas others were consistently inhibitory. The volatile 2-phenylethanol was produced by W. canadensis and synthetic 2-phenylethanol reduced growth rates of both L. abietinum and B. bassiana by 36% on average. Mean protein and P content of Wickerhamomyces canadensis cultures were 0.8% and 7.2%, respectively, but isolates varied in nutritional content and protein content was similar to that of host tree phloem. We conclude that W. canadensis is a primary yeast symbiont of D. rufipennis in the Rocky Mountains and emits volatiles that can affect growth of associated microbes. Wickerhamomyces canadensis isolates vary substantially in limiting nutrients (protein and P), but concentrations are less than reported for the symbiotic filamentous fungus L. abietinum.}, } @article {pmid36541769, year = {2023}, author = {Bai, T and Pu, X and Guo, X and Liu, J and Zhao, L and Zhang, X and Zhang, S and Cheng, L}, title = {Effects of Dietary Nonfibrous Carbohydrate/Neutral Detergent Fiber Ratio on Methanogenic Archaea and Cellulose-Degrading Bacteria in the Rumen of Karakul Sheep: a 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing Study.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {89}, number = {1}, pages = {e0129122}, pmid = {36541769}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Archaea/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Diet/veterinary ; *Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; *Dietary Fiber/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; *Rumen/metabolism/microbiology ; Sheep, Domestic ; }, abstract = {The study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary nonfibrous carbohydrate (NFC)/neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratio on methanogenic archaea and cellulose-degrading bacteria in Karakul sheep by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Twelve Karakul sheep were randomly divided into four groups, each group with three replicates, and they were fed with four dietary NFC/NDF ratios at 0.54, 0.96, 1.37, and 1.90 as groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The experiment lasted for four periods: I (1 to 18 days), II (19 to 36 days), III (37 to 54 days), and IV (55 to 72 days); during each period, rumen contents were collected before morning feeding to investigate on methanogenic archaea and cellulose-degrading bacteria. The results showed that with an increase in dietary NFC/NDF ratio, the number of rumen archaea operational taxonomic units and the diversity of archaea decrease. The most dominant methanogens did not change with dietary NFC/NDF ratio and prolongation of experimental periods. Methanobrevibacter was the most dominant genus. At the species level, the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium first increased and then decreased when the NFC/NDF ratio increased. When the dietary NFC/NDF ratio was 0.96, the structure of archaea was largely changed, and the relative abundance of Fibrobacter sp. strain UWCM, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Ruminococcus albus were the highest. When the dietary NFC/NDF ratio was 1.37, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens was higher than for other groups. Based on all the data, we concluded that a dietary NFC/NDF ratio of ca. 0.96 to 1.37 was a suitable ratio to support optimal sheep production. IMPORTANCE CH4 produced by ruminants aggravates the greenhouse effect and cause wastage of feed energy, and CH4 emissions are related to methanogens. According to the current literature, there is a symbiotic relationship between methanogens and cellulolytic bacteria, so reducing methane will inevitably affect the degradation of fiber materials. This experiment used 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the balance relationship between methanogens and cellulolytic bacteria for the first time through a long-term feeding period. The findings provide fundamental data, supporting for the diet structures with potential to reduce CH4 emission.}, } @article {pmid36541095, year = {2022}, author = {Patel, M and West, S}, title = {Microbial warfare and the evolution of symbiosis.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {20220447}, pmid = {36541095}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Computer Simulation ; }, abstract = {Cooperative symbionts enable their hosts to exploit a diversity of environments. A low genetic diversity (high relatedness) between the symbionts within a host is thought to favour cooperation by reducing conflict within the host. However, hosts will not be favoured to transmit their symbionts (or commensals) in costly ways that increase relatedness, unless this also provides an immediate fitness benefit to the host. We suggest that conditionally expressed costly competitive traits, such as antimicrobial warfare with bacteriocins, could provide a relatively universal reason for why hosts would gain an immediate benefit from increasing the relatedness between symbionts. We theoretically test this hypothesis with a simple illustrative model that examines whether hosts should manipulate relatedness, and an individual-based simulation, where host control evolves in a structured population. We find that hosts can be favoured to manipulate relatedness, to reduce conflict between commensals via this immediate reduction in warfare. Furthermore, this manipulation evolves to extremes of high or low vertical transmission and only in a narrow range is partly vertical transmission stable.}, } @article {pmid36539611, year = {2022}, author = {Caballero-Flores, G and Pickard, JM and Núñez, G}, title = {Microbiota-mediated colonization resistance: mechanisms and regulation.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36539611}, issn = {1740-1534}, abstract = {A dense and diverse microbial community inhabits the gut and many epithelial surfaces. Referred to as the microbiota, it co-evolved with the host and is beneficial for many host physiological processes. A major function of these symbiotic microorganisms is protection against pathogen colonization and overgrowth of indigenous pathobionts. Dysbiosis of the normal microbial community increases the risk of pathogen infection and overgrowth of harmful pathobionts. The protective mechanisms conferred by the microbiota are complex and include competitive microbial-microbial interactions and induction of host immune responses. Pathogens, in turn, have evolved multiple strategies to subvert colonization resistance conferred by the microbiota. Understanding the mechanisms by which microbial symbionts limit pathogen colonization should guide the development of new therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat disease.}, } @article {pmid36538179, year = {2022}, author = {Hamed, DA and Maghrawy, HH and Abdel Kareem, H}, title = {Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose nanofibrils in black tea media by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast isolated from commercial kombucha beverage.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {48}, pmid = {36538179}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {*Tea ; *Cellulose/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Beverages ; Fermentation ; Yeasts/metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose has drawn the attention for its unique properties and applications including; medicine, pharmacy, food, agricultural, textile and electronics. The present study focused on the production of bacterial cellulose nanofibrils (BCNF) from black tea as cost effective alternative medium in addition to study the effect of gamma radiation on BCNF properties. A symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) were isolated from commercial Kombucha beverage and were identified as Acinetobacter lowffii and Candida krusei, respectively. The symbiotic culture was used for production of BCNF on Hestrin-Schramm (HS), black tea (BT) and modified BT media. BCNF was purified (0.5 N NaOH) and quantified by dry weight, yield and productivity determination. Characterization and effect of gamma radiation (5-25 kGy) on BCNF were studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The highest BCNF production was achieved using BT medium with 0.2% tea and 6.0% commercial sugar (with dry weight 4.77-4.61 g/l and productivity 68.14% and 65.85%, respectively). Supplementation of BT medium with 1% ethanol, 0.27% Na2HPO4 and 0.5% yeast extract individually, enhanced the BCNF production (7.85, 6.84 and 5.73 g/l), respectively. FTIR spectrum of BCNF from sugared water (SW), HS and BT showed similar structure with high purity. As a conclusion, gamma irradiation has no effect on the BCNF structure while showed different effects on its crystallinity index and size with the different doses. The changes in CrI were ranged between (17 and 23.5%), while the crystallinity size (Cs) was affected by gamma irradiation in a positive relationship where the crystalline size was decreased (33%) by exposure to 5 kGy then increased by increasing the dose of radiation reaching 25.7% at 25 kGy. SEM graphs showed the morphology of microbial culture and its symbiotic relationship in addition to the ultrafine structure of non-irradiated and irradiated BCNF.}, } @article {pmid36538089, year = {2022}, author = {Moukarzel, R and Ridgway, HJ and Waller, L and Guerin-Laguette, A and Cripps-Guazzone, N and Jones, EE}, title = {Soil Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities Differentially Affect Growth and Nutrient Uptake by Grapevine Rootstocks.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36538089}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) deliver potentially significant services in sustainable agricultural ecosystems, yet we still lack evidence showing how AMF abundance and/or community composition can benefit crops. In this study, we manipulated AMF communities in grapevine rootstock and measured plant growth and physiological responses. Glasshouse experiments were set up to determine the interaction between rootstock variety and different AMF communities, using AMF communities originating under their own (i.e., "home") soil and other rootstocks' (i.e., "away") soil. The results revealed that specific AMF communities had differential effects on grapevine rootstock growth and nutrient uptake. It was demonstrated that a rootstock generally performed better in the presence of its own AMF community. This study also showed that AMF spore diversity and the relative abundance of certain species is an important factor as, when present in equal abundance, competition between species was indicated to occur, resulting in a reduction in the positive growth outcomes. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the communities with some AMF communities increasing plant growth and nutrient uptake compared with others. The outcomes also demonstrated that some AMF communities indirectly influenced the chlorophyll content in grapevine leaves through the increase of specific nutrients such as K, Mn, and Zn. The findings also indicated that some AMF species may deliver particular benefits to grapevine plants. This work has provided an improved understanding of community level AMF-grapevine interaction and delivered an increased knowledge of the ecosystem services they provide which will benefit the wine growers and the viticulture industry.}, } @article {pmid36537799, year = {2023}, author = {Tyc, O and Kulkarni, P and Ossowicki, A and Tracanna, V and Medema, MH and van Baarlen, P and van IJcken, WFJ and Verhoeven, KJF and Garbeva, P}, title = {Exploring the Interspecific Interactions and the Metabolome of the Soil Isolate Hylemonella gracilis.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e0057422}, pmid = {36537799}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {*Soil ; Metabolome ; Symbiosis ; *Comamonadaceae ; }, abstract = {Microbial community analysis of aquatic environments showed that an important component of its microbial diversity consists of bacteria with cell sizes of ~0.1 μm. Such small bacteria can show genomic reductions and metabolic dependencies with other bacteria. However, so far, no study has investigated if such bacteria exist in terrestrial environments like soil. Here, we isolated soil bacteria that passed through a 0.1-μm filter. The complete genome of one of the isolates was sequenced and the bacterium was identified as Hylemonella gracilis. A set of coculture assays with phylogenetically distant soil bacteria with different cell and genome sizes was performed. The coculture assays revealed that H. gracilis grows better when interacting with other soil bacteria like Paenibacillus sp. AD87 and Serratia plymuthica. Transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that H. gracilis was able to change gene expression, behavior, and biochemistry of the interacting bacteria without direct cell-cell contact. Our study indicates that in soil there are bacteria that can pass through a 0.1-μm filter. These bacteria may have been overlooked in previous research on soil microbial communities. Such small bacteria, exemplified here by H. gracilis, can induce transcriptional and metabolomic changes in other bacteria upon their interactions in soil. In vitro, the studied interspecific interactions allowed utilization of growth substrates that could not be utilized by monocultures, suggesting that biochemical interactions between substantially different sized soil bacteria may contribute to the symbiosis of soil bacterial communities. IMPORTANCE Analysis of aquatic microbial communities revealed that parts of its diversity consist of bacteria with cell sizes of ~0.1 μm. Such bacteria can show genomic reductions and metabolic dependencies with other bacteria. So far, no study investigated if such bacteria exist in terrestrial environments such as soil. Here, we show that such bacteria also exist in soil. The isolated bacteria were identified as Hylemonella gracilis. Coculture assays with phylogenetically different soil bacteria revealed that H. gracilis grows better when cocultured with other soil bacteria. Transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that H. gracilis was able to change gene expression, behavior, and biochemistry of the interacting bacteria without direct contact. Our study revealed that bacteria are present in soil that can pass through 0.1-μm filters. Such bacteria may have been overlooked in previous research on soil microbial communities and may contribute to the symbiosis of soil bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid36535148, year = {2023}, author = {Jain, D and Jones, L and Roy, S}, title = {Gene editing to improve legume-rhizobia symbiosis in a changing climate.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {102324}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102324}, pmid = {36535148}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Gene Editing ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Climate Change ; }, abstract = {In the last three years, several gene editing techniques have been developed for both model and crop legumes. CRISPR-Cas9-based tools, in particular, are outpacing other comparable gene editing technologies used in legume hosts and their microbial symbionts to understand the molecular basis of symbiotic nitrogen-fixation. Gene editing has helped identify new gene functions, validate genetic screens, resolve gene redundancy, examine the role of tandemly duplicated genes, and investigate symbiotic signaling networks in non-model plants. In this review, we discuss the advances made in understanding the legume-rhizobia symbiosis through the use of gene editing and highlight studies conducted under varying environmental conditions. We reason that future climate-hardy legumes must be able to better integrate environmental signals with nitrogen fixation by fine-tuning long distance signaling, continuing to select efficient rhizobial partners, and adjusting their molecular circuitry to function optimally under variable light and nutrient availability and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide.}, } @article {pmid36534458, year = {2022}, author = {Fu, B and Xu, Z and Lei, Y and Dong, R and Wang, Y and Guo, X and Zhu, H and Cao, Y and Yan, Z}, title = {A novel secreted protein, NISP1, is phosphorylated by soybean Nodulation Receptor Kinase to promote nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13436}, pmid = {36534458}, issn = {1744-7909}, abstract = {Nodulation Receptor Kinase (NORK) functions as a co-receptor of Nod factor receptors to mediate rhizobial symbiosis in legumes, but its direct phosphorylation substrates that positively mediate root nodulation remain to be fully identified. Here, we identified a GmNORK-Interacting Small Protein (GmNISP1) that functions as a phosphorylation target of GmNORK to promote soybean nodulation. GmNORKα directly interacted with and phosphorylated GmNISP1. Transcription of GmNISP1 was strongly induced after rhizobial infection in soybean roots and nodules. GmNISP1 encodes a peptide containing 90 amino acids with a "DY" consensus motif at its N-terminus. GmNISP1 protein was detected to be present in the apoplastic space. Phosphorylation of GmNISP1 by GmNORKα could enhance its secretion into the apoplast. Pretreatment with either purified GmNISP1 or phosphorylation-mimic GmNISP1[12D] on the roots could significantly increase nodule numbers compared with the treatment with phosphorylation-inactive GmNISP1[12A] . The data suggested a model that soybean GmNORK phosphorylates GmNISP1 to promote its secretion into the apoplast, which might function as a potential peptide hormone to promote root nodulation.}, } @article {pmid36534288, year = {2023}, author = {Espino-Vázquez, AN and Córdova-López, G and Cabrera-Rangel, JF and Mendoza-Servín, JV and Partida-Martínez, LP}, title = {The Rhizopus Holobiont: A Model to Decipher Fungal-Bacterial-Viral Symbioses.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2610}, number = {}, pages = {137-147}, pmid = {36534288}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Humans ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Burkholderia/genetics/metabolism ; Reproduction ; Reproduction, Asexual ; Rhizopus/genetics ; *Bacteriophages ; }, abstract = {Rhizopus microsporus is an early-diverging fungal species that inhabits the soil, is used for the fermentation of diverse Asian and African foods, and can be a pathogen of plants, animals, and humans.Toxin-producing strains of R. microsporus live in symbiosis with Gram-negative betaproteobacteria from the genus Mycetohabitans (Burkholderia sensu lato). These bacterial endosymbionts increase the metabolic plasticity of the fungal holobiont by producing the "mycotoxins," control their asexual reproduction, and influence their sexual success. Recently, we identified two viruses of the genus Narnavirus in some R. microsporus strains that harbor Mycetohabitans. By eliminating bacteria and/or viruses from host R. microsporus strains, we have been able to study the role of these symbionts in fungal biology. Remarkably, the absence of these bacterial and viral symbionts decreases sexual reproduction. In this chapter, the method developed to eliminate and genotype the Narnavirus RmNV-20S and RmNV-23S in R. microsporus is described in detail.}, } @article {pmid36534172, year = {2022}, author = {Freitas Costa, P and Oliveira Silva, A and Azarias Guimarães, A and Resende de Assis, LL and Rufini, M and de Paiva Barbosa, L and Soares de Carvalho, T and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Diversity and Efficiency of Rhizobia from a Revegetated Area and Hotspot-Phytophysiognomies Affected by Iron Mining as Indicators of Rehabilitation and Biotechnological Potential.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {40}, pmid = {36534172}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Iron ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; *Vigna ; Symbiosis ; Mining ; Phylogeny ; *Bradyrhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to evaluate the resilience of phytophysiognomies under influence of iron mining by assessing the occurrence, diversity, and symbiotic efficiency of native communities of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that nodulate leguminous plants (rhizobia) in soils of an area revegetated with grass after iron mining activities and in the phytophysiognomies in adjacent areas (Canga, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Eucalyptus-planted forest). Experiments for capturing rhizobia through two species of promiscuous plants, siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), were conducted in a greenhouse. The rhizobial strains isolated were characterized phenotypically, genetically (16S rRNA sequencing and BOX-PCR fingerprinting), and regard symbiotic efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) compared to mineral nitrogen and reference strains. Cowpea captured a higher density of rhizobia than siratro did. However, most of the strains captured by siratro had greater symbiotic efficiency. The revegetated area proved to be the community most efficient in N2 fixation and was also the most diverse, whereas Canga was the least diverse. For the two trap species, the predominant genus captured in the revegetated area and in the phytophysiognomies was Bradyrhizobium. The greater symbiotic efficiency and the high genetic diversity of the rhizobial community in the revegetated area indicate the effectiveness of the soil rehabilitation process. The revegetated area and the phytophysiognomies proved to harbor strains with high biotechnological potential. Results indicate that the high functional redundancy of this group of bacteria contributes to the resilience of these phytophysiognomies and the revegetated area.}, } @article {pmid36532717, year = {2022}, author = {Marathe, SJ and Snider, MA and Flores-Torres, AS and Dubin, PJ and Samarasinghe, AE}, title = {Human matters in asthma: Considering the microbiome in pulmonary health.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1020133}, pmid = {36532717}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Microbial communities form an important symbiotic ecosystem within humans and have direct effects on health and well-being. Numerous exogenous factors including airborne triggers, diet, and drugs impact these established, but fragile communities across the human lifespan. Crosstalk between the mucosal microbiota and the immune system as well as the gut-lung axis have direct correlations to immune bias that may promote chronic diseases like asthma. Asthma initiation and pathogenesis are multifaceted and complex with input from genetic, epigenetic, and environmental components. In this review, we summarize and discuss the role of the airway microbiome in asthma, and how the environment, diet and therapeutics impact this low biomass community of microorganisms. We also focus this review on the pediatric and Black populations as high-risk groups requiring special attention, emphasizing that the whole patient must be considered during treatment. Although new culture-independent techniques have been developed and are more accessible to researchers, the exact contribution the airway microbiome makes in asthma pathogenesis is not well understood. Understanding how the airway microbiome, as a living entity in the respiratory tract, participates in lung immunity during the development and progression of asthma may lead to critical new treatments for asthma, including population-targeted interventions, or even more effective administration of currently available therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid36532478, year = {2022}, author = {Du, L and Xue, H and Hu, F and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Niu, L and Luo, J and Cui, J and Gao, X}, title = {Dynamics of symbiotic bacterial community in whole life stage of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1050329}, pmid = {36532478}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bacteria play critical roles in the reproduction, metabolism, physiology, and detoxification of their insect hosts. The ladybird beetle (Harmonia axyridis) harbors a myriad of endosymbiotic microbes. However, to date, little is known about how the microbial composition of H. axyridis varies throughout its life cycle.

METHODS: In this study, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR were employed to investigate the diversity and dynamics of bacterial symbionts across the egg, larval, pupae, and adults stages of H. axyridis.

RESULTS: Higher bacterial community richness and diversity were observed in eggs, followed by those in adults and pupae. The community richness index differed significantly between second-instar larvae and other developmental stages. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Glutamicibacter, and Acinetobacter were the dominant bacteria genera; however, their relative abundances fluctuated across host developmental stages. Interestingly, the larval stage harbored high proportions of Firmicutes, whereas the adult microbial community largely consisted of Proteobacteria.

DISCUSSION: This study is the first to determine the symbiotic bacterial composition across key life stages of H. axyridis. These outcomes can foster the development of environmental risk assessments and novel biological control strategies.}, } @article {pmid36532427, year = {2022}, author = {Feng, J and Zhu, W and Jiang, J and Zhao, C and Sun, Z and Jiang, W and Luo, Q and Zhao, T}, title = {Reintroduction modifies the intraspecific variations of symbiotic microbes in captive bred Chinese giant salamander.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1062604}, pmid = {36532427}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microorganisms play as fundamental contributors to maintain hosts' fitness, which can be shaped by external environment. Moreover, symbiotic microbiome also varied within species (e.g., between sexes and developmental stages). However, we still need more studies to quantify whether the intraspecific variation patterns of symbiotic microbes can be modified with the change of environment. The Chinese giant salamander (CGS; Andrias davidianus) is a Critically Endangered species. Despite quantitative captive bred individuals were released to rebuild wild populations, the effectiveness is limited. More importantly, no studies have revealed the adaptation of released CGSs to the complex field conditions. In the present study, we explored whether reintroduction can reshape the intraspecific variations of symbiotic microbiota in captive bred CGSs using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the16S rRNA gene. We found no significant difference of symbiotic microbiome in captive bred males and females, but released males and females differed significantly in skin microbiome. Juveniles had higher diversity of microbial symbiont than adults in hatchery, but lower diversity in field. Moreover, dominant bacterial taxa differed between juveniles and adults in both hatchery and field. Importantly, this symbiotic microbiome variations within species can be modified (alpha and beta diversity, and community composition) when captive bred individuals were released to the field. Overall, we observed a lower alpha diversity and higher relative abundance of Chryseobacterium, Plesiomonas, and Acinetobacter in the bacterial community of captive bred individuals. Instead, higher alpha diversity of symbiotic microbiota and higher relative abundance of S24-7 and Lactobacillus was detected in released individuals. These modifications may associate with the change of living environment, as well as the specific behavior within CGSs (e.g., movement patterns and foraging activities). Future studies can incorporate other approaches (e.g., blood physiology) to better evaluate the growth and health of reintroduced CGSs.}, } @article {pmid36532064, year = {2022}, author = {Elkjaer, ML and Simon, L and Frisch, T and Bente, LM and Kacprowski, T and Thomassen, M and Reynolds, R and Baumbach, J and Röttger, R and Illes, Z}, title = {Hypothesis of a potential BrainBiota and its relation to CNS autoimmune inflammation.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1043579}, pmid = {36532064}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Inflammation ; *Microbiota ; Autoimmunity ; *Multiple Sclerosis ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Infectious agents have been long considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases as part of the interaction between genetic susceptibility and the environment. The role of bacteria in CNS autoimmunity has also been highlighted by changes in the diversity of gut microbiota in patients with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis, emphasizing the role of the gut-brain axis. We discuss the hypothesis of a brain microbiota, the BrainBiota: bacteria living in symbiosis with brain cells. Existence of various bacteria in the human brain is suggested by morphological evidence, presence of bacterial proteins, metabolites, transcripts and mucosal-associated invariant T cells. Based on our data, we discuss the hypothesis that these bacteria are an integral part of brain development and immune tolerance as well as directly linked to the gut microbiome. We further suggest that changes of the BrainBiota during brain diseases may be the consequence or cause of the chronic inflammation similarly to the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36531805, year = {2022}, author = {Rouhizohrab, N and Mohammadipanah, F}, title = {Suppression of predominant interfering bacteria in the purification process of myxobacteria.}, journal = {Iranian journal of microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {721-729}, pmid = {36531805}, issn = {2008-3289}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Myxobacteria initially recognized by their complex life cycle and social behavior are progressively explored for their bioactive secondary metabolites. However, isolation of myxobacteria usually is accompanied by bacterial and fungal contaminations due to the direct cultivation of soil on isolation media, which results in severe challenges in the purification of myxobacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to improve their purification techniques from natural samples to the discovery of new biomolecules.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, six physichochemical methods were assessed for their efficacy in the purification of myxobacterial strains and specially from contaminants of Microvirga spp.

RESULTS: Among the evaluated treatments, purification of fruiting bodies using a combination of ultrasonication and heat treatment was identified as the effective protocol with 80% success rate in the purification of myxobacterial strains and reducing up to 90% of the contaminating bacteria.

CONCLUSION: Concerning the problematic contamination of myxobacterial isolates, the introduced approach can retrieve the myxobacterial strains which are often suppressed by the over growth of contaminations especially root symbiotic bacteria namely Microvirga spp.}, } @article {pmid36530409, year = {2022}, author = {Holt, JR and Malacrinò, A and Medina, RF}, title = {Quantifying the impacts of symbiotic interactions between two invasive species: the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) tending the sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e14448}, pmid = {36530409}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Aphids ; Introduced Species ; *Sorghum ; Edible Grain ; }, abstract = {The establishment of new symbiotic interactions between introduced species may facilitate invasion success. For instance, tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva Mayr) is known to be an opportunistic tender of honeydew producing insects and this ants' symbiotic interactions have exacerbated agricultural damage in some invaded regions of the world. The invasive sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi Theobald) was first reported as a pest in the continental United States-in Texas and Louisiana-as recent as 2013, and tawny crazy ant (TCA) was reported in Texas in the early 2000s. Although these introductions are relatively recent, TCA workers tend sorghum aphids in field and greenhouse settings. This study quantified the tending duration of TCA workers to sorghum aphids and the impact of TCA tending on aphid biomass. For this study aphids were collected from three different host plant species (i.e., sugarcane, Johnson grass, and sorghum) and clone colonies were established. Sorghum is the main economic crop in which these aphids occur, hence we focused our study on the potential impacts of interactions on sorghum. Quantification of invasive ant-aphid interactions, on either stems or leaves of sorghum plants, were conducted in greenhouse conditions. Our results show that although these two invasive insect species do not have a long coevolutionary history, TCA developed a tending interaction with sorghum aphid, and aphids were observed excreting honeydew after being antennated by TCA workers. Interestingly, this relatively recent symbiotic interaction significantly increased overall aphid biomass for aphids that were positioned on stems and collected from Johnson grass. It is recommended to continue monitoring the interaction between TCA and sorghum aphid in field conditions due to its potential to increase aphid populations and sorghum plant damage.}, } @article {pmid36529834, year = {2022}, author = {Kormas, K and Nikouli, E and Kousteni, V and Damalas, D}, title = {Midgut Bacterial Microbiota of 12 Fish Species from a Marine Protected Area in the Aegean Sea (Greece).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36529834}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Fish microbiome science is progressing fast, but it is biased toward farmed or laboratory fish species against natural fish populations, which remain considerably underinvestigated. We analyzed the midgut bacterial microbiota of 45 specimens of 12 fish species collected from the Gyaros Island marine protected area (Aegean Sea, Greece). The species belong to seven taxonomic families and are either herbivores or omnivores. Mucosa midgut bacterial diversity was assessed by amplicon metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 gene region. A total of 854 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified. In each fish species, between 2 and 18 OTUs dominated with cumulative relative abundance ≥ 70%. Most of the dominating bacterial taxa have been reported to occur both in wild and farmed fish populations. The midgut bacterial communities were different among the 12 fish species, except for Pagrus pagrus and Pagellus erythrinus, which belong to the Sparidae family. No differentiation of the midgut bacterial microbiota was found based on feeding habits, i.e., omnivorous vs. carnivorous. Comparing wild and farmed P. pagrus midgut bacterial microbiota revealed considerable variation between them. Our results expand the gut microbiota of wild fish and support the host species effect as the more likely factor shaping intestinal bacterial microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36529016, year = {2023}, author = {Chen, AL and Xu, FQ and Su, X and Zhang, FP and Tian, WC and Chen, SJ and Gou, F and Xing, ZL and Xiang, JX and Li, J and Zhao, TT}, title = {Water microecology is affected by seasons but not sediments: A spatiotemporal dynamics survey of bacterial community composition in Lake Changshou-The largest artificial lake in southwest China.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {114459}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114459}, pmid = {36529016}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {*Water ; Seasons ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Lakes/chemistry ; China ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between microecology of sediments and water as well as their spatial-temporal variations in Changshou Lake. The results demonstrated that microecology in the lake exhibits spatiotemporal heterogeneity, and microbial diversity of sediments was significantly higher than that of water body. Further, it was found that there was statistically insignificant positive correlation between microecology of sediments and that of water body. PCoA and community structure analysis revealed that the predominant phyla which exhibited significant spatial differences in sediments were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes. While, the distribution of dominant bacteria Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia in water body showed significant seasonal differences. Microbial networks analysis indicated that there was a cooperative symbiotic relationship between lake microbial communities. Notably, the same bacterial genus had no significant positive correlation in sediment and water, which suggested that bacteria transport between sediment-water interface does not influence the microecological functions of lake water.}, } @article {pmid36528949, year = {2023}, author = {Alaraby, M and Villacorta, A and Abass, D and Hernández, A and Marcos, R}, title = {The hazardous impact of true-to-life PET nanoplastics in Drosophila.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {863}, number = {}, pages = {160954}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160954}, pmid = {36528949}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Microplastics/toxicity/metabolism ; Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Plastics/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {Plastic pollution is a continuously growing problem that can threaten wildlife and human beings. Environmental plastic waste is degraded into small particles termed micro/ nanoplastics (MNPLs) that, due to their small size, can be easily internalized into the exposed organisms, increasing the risks associated with their exposure. To appropriately determine the associated health risk, it is essential to obtain/test representative MNPLs' environmental samples. To such end, we have obtained NPLs resulting from sanding commercial water polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. These true-to-life PETNPLs were extensively characterized, and their potential hazard impacts were explored using Drosophila melanogaster. To highlight the internalization through the digestive tract and the whole body, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal microscopy were used. In spite of the observed efficient uptake of PETNPLs into symbiotic bacteria, enterocytes, and hemocytes, the exposure failed to reduce flies' survival rates. Nevertheless, PETNPLs exposure disturbed the expression of stress, antioxidant, and DNA repair genes, as well as in those genes involved in the response to physical intestinal damage. Importantly, both oxidative stress and DNA damage induction were markedly increased as a consequence of the exposure to PETNPLs.}, } @article {pmid36528869, year = {2023}, author = {Jiang, L and Liu, CY and Cui, G and Huang, LT and Yu, XL and Sun, YF and Tong, HY and Zhou, GW and Yuan, XC and Hu, YS and Zhou, WL and Aranda, M and Qian, PY and Huang, H}, title = {Rapid shifts in thermal reaction norms and tolerance of brooded coral larvae following parental heat acclimation.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {1098-1116}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16826}, pmid = {36528869}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Larva ; *Thermotolerance/genetics ; Acclimatization ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Thermal priming of reef corals can enhance their heat tolerance; however, the legacy effects of heat stress during parental brooding on larval resilience remain understudied. This study investigated whether preconditioning adult coral Pocillopora damicornis to high temperatures (29°C and 32°C) could better prepare their larvae for heat stress. Results showed that heat-acclimated adults brooded larvae with reduced symbiont density and shifted thermal performance curves. Reciprocal transplant experiments demonstrated higher bleaching resistance and better photosynthetic and autotrophic performance in heat-exposed larvae from acclimated adults compared to unacclimated adults. RNA-seq revealed strong cellular stress responses in larvae from heat-acclimated adults that could have been effective in rescuing host cells from stress, as evidenced by the widespread upregulation of genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis. For symbionts, a molecular coordination between light harvesting, photoprotection and carbon fixation was detected in larvae from heat-acclimated adults, which may help optimize photosynthetic activity and yield under high temperature. Furthermore, heat acclimation led to opposing regulations of symbiont catabolic and anabolic pathways and favoured nutrient translocation to the host and thus a functional symbiosis. Notwithstanding, the improved heat tolerance was paralleled by reduced light-enhanced dark respiration, indicating metabolic depression for energy saving. Our findings suggest that adult heat acclimation can rapidly shift thermal tolerance of brooded coral larvae and provide integrated physiological and molecular evidence for this adaptive plasticity, which could increase climate resilience. However, the metabolic depression may be maladaptive for long-term organismal performance, highlighting the importance of curbing carbon emissions to better protect corals.}, } @article {pmid36528718, year = {2022}, author = {Zhong, X and Li, M and Zhang, M and Feng, Y and Zhang, H and Tian, H}, title = {Genome-wide analysis of the laccase gene family in wheat and relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {257}, number = {1}, pages = {15}, pmid = {36528718}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Triticum/genetics/microbiology ; Laccase/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We identified 156 laccase genes belonging to 11 subfamilies in the wheat genome, and the natural variation of laccase genes significantly affected the development of wheat-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Laccases (LACs) have a variety of functions in plant lignification, cell elongation and stress responses. This study aimed to reveal the phylogeny, chromosomal spatial distribution, coexpression and evolution of LAC genes in the wheat genome and to investigate the possible roles of LAC genes during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. The genomic characteristics of LAC genes were analyzed by using bioinformatics analysis methods, and the polymorphisms of LAC genes were analyzed by using a diverse wheat panel composed of 289 wheat cultivars. We identified 156 LAC genes belonging to 11 subfamilies in the wheat genome, and segmental duplication dominated the amplification of the LAC gene family in the wheat genome. LACs are dominantly located in the R2 region of wheat chromosomes. Some LACs are collinear with the characterized LACs in Arabidopsis thaliana or rice. A number of genes encoding transcription factors, kinases, and phosphatases were coexpressed with LAC genes in wheat. TaLACs may be potential targets for some miRNAs. Most TaLACs are mainly expressed in the roots and stems of plants. The expression of TaLACs could be regulated by the inoculation of Fusarium graminearum or AM fungi. The polymorphisms of TaLACs mainly accumulate by random drift instead of by selection. Through candidate gene association analysis, we found that the natural variations in TaLACs significantly affected root colonization by AM fungi. The present study provides useful information for further study of the biological functions of LAC genes in wheat, especially the roles of LAC genes during the development of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36527169, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Zhang, H and Xu, T and Zeng, L and Liu, F and Huang, X and Liu, Q}, title = {Interactions among microorganisms open up a new world for anti-infectious therapy.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/febs.16705}, pmid = {36527169}, issn = {1742-4658}, abstract = {The human microbiome, containing bacteria, fungi, and viruses, is a community that coexists peacefully with humans most of the time, but with the potential to cause disease under certain conditions. When the environment changes or certain stimuli are received, microbes may interact with each other, causing or increasing the severity of disease in a host. With the appropriate methods, we can make these microbiota work for us, creating new applications for human health. This review discusses the wide range of interactions between microorganisms that result in an increase in susceptibility to, severity of, and mortality of diseases, and also briefly introduces how microorganisms interact with each other directly or indirectly. The study of microbial interactions and their mechanisms has revealed a new world of treatments for infectious disease. The regulation of the balance between intestinal flora, the correct application of probiotics, and the development of effective drugs by symbiosis all demonstrate the great contributions of the microbiota to human health and its powerful potential value. Consequently, the study of interactions between microorganisms plays an essential role in identifying the causes of diseases and the development of treatments.}, } @article {pmid36527140, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, E and Zhou, Y and Liang, Y and Ling, F and Xue, X and He, X and Zhai, X and Xue, Y and Zhou, C and Tang, G and Wang, G}, title = {Rice flowering improves the muscle nutrient, intestinal microbiota diversity, and liver metabolism profiles of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in rice-fish symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {231}, pmid = {36527140}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Cichlids/microbiology ; *Tilapia/metabolism ; *Oryza ; Disease Resistance ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Nutrients ; Muscles ; Liver ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rice-fish symbiosis, as an ecological and green aquaculture model, is an effective measure to relieve the environmental stress from intensive aquaculture. Compared with traditional aquaculture, the altered rearing pattern and environment will make differences in muscle nutrient and quality, intestinal microbiota, body metabolism, and even disease resistance in fish.

RESULTS: To investigate this, we explored the differences between rice-tilapia (aRT and bRT) and tank-tilapia (aTT and bTT) models at the periods before and after rice flowering using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. The results showed that compared with tilapia reared in the tank model, the fish body length and weight, the muscle total umami amino acid, and monounsaturated fatty acid content were obviously higher in the rice-fish model, especially after rice flowering. Compared with other groups, the intestinal microbiota diversity of fish in the bRT group was significantly higher; the dominant microbiota was Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes at the phylum level, Bacteroides and Turicibacter at the genus level, and the relative abundances of Gram-negative, potentially pathogenic, and stress-tolerant bacteria were the highest, lowest, and highest, respectively. Besides, the differential metabolite analysis indicated that rice-fish symbiosis improved the metabolic profiles and modulated the metabolic pathways in tilapia. Moreover, the correlation analysis of 16S sequencing and metabolomics showed that Bacteroides showed a positive correlation with many metabolites related to amino acid, fatty acid, and lipid metabolism. Video Abstract CONCLUSIONS: In summary, rice flowering improves the tilapia muscle nutrient, intestinal microbiota diversity, and disease resistance and modulates the host metabolism to acclimatize the comprehensive environment in rice-fish symbiosis. Specifically, rice flowering alters the microbiota abundance involved in amino acid, fatty acid, and lipid metabolism, resulting in improving the muscle nutrient and quality through the crosstalk of gut microbial and host metabolism. Our study will provide not only new insight into the gut microbiota-metabolism-phenotype axis, but also strong support for the promotion and application of rice-fish symbiosis in aquaculture.}, } @article {pmid36526182, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, X and Ma, Y and Zhang, J and Bai, H and Shen, Y}, title = {How arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drives herbaceous plants' C: N: P stoichiometry? A meta-analysis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {862}, number = {}, pages = {160807}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160807}, pmid = {36526182}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Ecosystem ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Plant Shoots ; Soil/chemistry ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Plant element stoichiometry is fundamental for preserving growth-related terrestrial ecosystem structures and functions. However, effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on herbaceous plant element stoichiometry (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the potential effects of AMF on herbaceous plant C, N and P concentration and their C:N:P stoichiometry worldwide through a quantitative meta-analysis. We observed that AMF reduced C:P and N:P ratios in the shoot of plants by 35.83 % and 54.23 %, respectively, and in plant root organs by 36.24 % and 46.35 %, respectively. Conversely, C:N ratios increased in roots by 6.61 %. The negative effect of AMF on N:P and C:P ratios in plant shoots and root organs is mainly attributed to the plant benefits in P and N concentrations. AMF impact on plant C:N:P stoichiometry depends on fungal and plant functional group identities and soil nutrient availability. Our results suggest that plant functional group identity affects plant nutrient concentration, which, in turn, controls herbaceous plant C:N:P stoichiometry. Overall, we emphasize the importance of abiotic and biotic environmental factors in changing AMF effects on plant element stoichiometry. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between AMF and herbaceous plant C:N:P stoichiometry will improve our understanding of herbaceous plant stoichiometric variations in terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36523842, year = {2022}, author = {Fregulia, P and Campos, MM and Dias, RJP and Liu, J and Guo, W and Pereira, LGR and Machado, MA and Faza, DRLR and Guan, LL and Garnsworthy, PC and Neves, ALA}, title = {Taxonomic and predicted functional signatures reveal linkages between the rumen microbiota and feed efficiency in dairy cattle raised in tropical areas.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1025173}, pmid = {36523842}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ruminants digest plant biomass more efficiently than monogastric animals due to their symbiotic relationship with a complex microbiota residing in the rumen environment. What remains unclear is the relationship between the rumen microbial taxonomic and functional composition and feed efficiency (FE), especially in crossbred dairy cattle (Holstein x Gyr) raised under tropical conditions. In this study, we selected twenty-two F1 Holstein x Gyr heifers and grouped them according to their residual feed intake (RFI) ranking, high efficiency (HE) (n = 11) and low efficiency (LE) (n = 11), to investigate the effect of FE on the rumen microbial taxa and their functions. Rumen fluids were collected using a stomach tube apparatus and analyzed using amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S (bacteria and archaea) and 18S (protozoa) rRNA genes. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity analysis revealed no significant difference in the rumen microbiota between the HE and LE animals. Multivariate analysis (sPLS-DA) showed a clear separation of two clusters in bacterial taxonomic profiles related to each FE group, but in archaeal and protozoal profiles, the clusters overlapped. The sPLS-DA also revealed a clear separation in functional profiles for bacteria, archaea, and protozoa between the HE and LE animals. Microbial taxa were differently related to HE (e.g., Howardella and Shuttleworthia) and LE animals (e.g., Eremoplastron and Methanobrevibacter), and predicted functions were significatively different for each FE group (e.g., K03395-signaling and cellular process was strongly related to HE animals, and K13643-genetic information processing was related to LE animals). This study demonstrates that differences in the rumen microbiome relative to FE ranking are not directly observed from diversity indices (Faith's Phylogenetic Diversity, Pielou's Evenness, Shannon's diversity, weighted UniFrac distance, Jaccard index, and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity), but from targeted identification of specific taxa and microbial functions characterizing each FE group. These results shed light on the role of rumen microbial taxonomic and functional profiles in crossbred Holstein × Gyr dairy cattle raised in tropical conditions, creating the possibility of using the microbial signature of the HE group as a biological tool for the development of biomarkers that improve FE in ruminants.}, } @article {pmid36523633, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, WY and Qin, QY and Zou, YN and Kuča, K and Giri, B and Wu, QS and Hashem, A and Al-Arjani, AF and Almutairi, KF and Abd Allah, EF and Xu, YJ}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza induces low oxidative burst in drought-stressed walnut through activating antioxidant defense systems and heat shock transcription factor expression.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1089420}, pmid = {36523633}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have important roles in enhancing drought tolerance of host plants, but it is not clear whether and how AMF increase drought tolerance in walnut (Juglans regia). We hypothesized that AMF could activate antioxidant defense systems and heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) transcription levels to alleviate oxidative damage caused by drought. The walnut variety 'Liaohe No. 1' was inoculated with Diversispora spurca and exposed to well-watered (WW, 75% of the maximum soil water capacity) and drought stress (DS, 50% of the maximum soil water capacity) for 6 weeks. Plant growth, antioxidant defense systems, and expressions of five JrHsfs in leaves were studied. Such drought treatment inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization, while plant growth performance was still improved by AMF inoculation. Mycorrhizal fungal inoculation triggered the increase in soluble protein, glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (ASC), and total ASC contents and ascorbic peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, along with lower hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion radical (O2 [•-]), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, compared with non-inoculation under drought. Mycorrhizal plants also recorded higher peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities than non-mycorrhizal plants under drought. The expression of JrHsf03, JrHsf05, JrHsf20, JrHsf22, and JrHsf24 was up-regulated under WW by AMF, while the expression of JrHsf03, JrHsf22, and JrHsf24 were up-regulated only under drought by AMF. It is concluded that D. spurca induced low oxidative burst in drought-stressed walnut through activating antioxidant defense systems and part Hsfs expressions.}, } @article {pmid36523481, year = {2022}, author = {Özer Uyar, GE and Mısmıl, N}, title = {Symbiotic association of microalgae and plants in a deep water culture system.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e14536}, pmid = {36523481}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Wastewater ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Water ; *Microalgae ; Nutrients ; *Mentha ; }, abstract = {In this study, microalgae culture (Chlorella vulgaris) and mint seedlings (Mentha spp.) were combined in a hydroponic system to improve plant growth. Mint seedlings were grown both in microalgae-containing and in microalgae-free trial groups, and both groups were subjected to aerated and non-aerated conditions to show the effect of aeration and microalgae co-cultivation on the mint weight and height. The plant quality was also determined with color measurements of the mint leaves. The increase in the weight of the plants was the highest in microalgae-containing and aerated group (0.47 g) and the lowest in microalgae-free and non-aerated group (0.22 g). On the other hand, the variation in the plant height was not significant between the groups, the growth was lateral. The best quality mint leaves were also produced in microalgae-containing and aerated group. Our results have revealed the symbiotic life of the mint plant placed in the hydroponic system with microalgae and demonstrated improved mint growth and quality. This co-cultivation system is also potentially more environmentally friendly compared to growing microalgae and mint independently because of lower cost of aeration and mixing for microalgae cultivation, higher nutrient consumption efficiency, and reduced nutrient outflow.}, } @article {pmid36521845, year = {2022}, author = {Wiesmann, CL and Wang, NR and Zhang, Y and Liu, Z and Haney, CH}, title = {Origins of symbiosis: shared mechanisms underlying microbial pathogenesis, commensalism and mutualism of plants and animals.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuac048}, pmid = {36521845}, issn = {1574-6976}, abstract = {Regardless of the outcome of symbiosis, whether it is pathogenic, mutualistic or commensal, bacteria must first colonize their hosts. Intriguingly, closely-related bacteria that colonize diverse hosts with diverse outcomes of symbiosis have conserved host-association or virulence factors. This review describes commonalities in the process of becoming host associated amongst bacteria with diverse lifestyles. Whether a pathogen, commensal or mutualist, bacteria must sense the presence of and migrate towards a host, compete for space and nutrients with other microbes, evade the host immune system, and change their physiology to enable long-term host association. We primarily focus on well-studied taxa, such as Pseudomonas, that associate with diverse model plant and animal hosts, with far-ranging symbiotic outcomes. Given the importance of opportunistic pathogens and chronic infections in both human health and agriculture, understanding the mechanisms that facilitate symbiotic relationships between bacteria and their hosts will help inform the development of disease treatments for both humans, and the plants we eat.}, } @article {pmid36521437, year = {2022}, author = {Gazzaniga, FS}, title = {Sharing the load in NAD metabolism.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {1649-1650}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2022.11.011}, pmid = {36521437}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {*NAD/metabolism ; Niacinamide/metabolism ; *Niacin/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recently in Cell Metabolism, Challapa et al. used isotope labeling to track NAD metabolism in host tissues and the gut microbiota. They describe a symbiotic relationship in which the gut microbiota uses host-derived nicotinamide to generate NAD and in return, produces nicotinic acid for host NAD biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid36521311, year = {2023}, author = {Li, S and Guo, Y and Zhang, X and Feng, L and Yong, X and Xu, J and Liu, Y and Huang, X}, title = {Advanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal by the symbiosis of PAOs, DPAOs and DGAOs in a pilot-scale A[2]O/A+MBR process with a low C/N ratio of influent.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {229}, number = {}, pages = {119459}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.119459}, pmid = {36521311}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Phosphorus ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Denitrification ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis ; Sewage/chemistry ; Bioreactors ; }, abstract = {Cooperating in harmony to avoid competition with dominant functional microbial symbiosis is an efficient way in advanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment processes. In this study, a niche-based coordinating strategy was implemented to cooperate in harmony with phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs), denitrifying phosphorus-accumulating organisms (DPAOs) and denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms (DGAOs) to advance nitrogen and phosphorus removal based on an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic-anoxic-membrane bioreactor (A[2]O/A+MBR) under low C/N in municipal wastewater influent. The niche-based strategy was conducted based on the ORP change during the process as an indicator combined with the adjustment of recirculation and anoxic zone shifting. The results indicated that the strategy of the post-anoxic unit could enable significant enhancement of biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal (BNPR) by 9.9% and 16.3%, respectively, with low effluent concentrations of 7.0 ± 2.2 mg N/L and 0.36±0.32 mg P/L. The satisfactory performance was dominated along with the shift in the microbial community: the relative abundance of Tetrasphaera (PAO genus) increased from 0.14±0.08% to 0.32±0.12%, while the relative abundance of Decchloromonas (DGAO genus) and Candidatus Competibacter (DGAO genus) also increased. The advanced combination of anaerobic phosphorus release, anoxic denitrification, denitrifying phosphorus removal and endogenous denitrification was qualified by the modeling simulation of the biochemical kinetics mechanism of activated sludge in the A[2]O+MBR and A[2]O/A+MBR processes, which means that cooperation in the harmony of PAOs, DPAOs and DGAOs could be efficiently realized by a promising control strategy to enhance BNPR in an A[2]O+MBR with a post-anoxic unit. This study provides an efficient and simple novel control strategy to overcome the limitation of traditional nitrogen and phosphorus removal under an insufficient carbon source.}, } @article {pmid36520392, year = {2023}, author = {Danneels, B and Carlier, A}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequencing of Bacterial Endophytes From Fresh and Preserved Plant Specimens.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2605}, number = {}, pages = {133-155}, pmid = {36520392}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plants/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many plants harbor symbiotic bacteria in their leaves, sometimes within structures visible with the naked eye. These bacteria play critical roles for host development and defense, but are often not amenable to culture. Gaining insight into the functions of these obligate endophytic bacteria hinges on culture-independent omics approaches, which have seen tremendous development in recent years. We describe in this chapter a set of protocols for the extraction and bioinformatic analysis of bacterial genomic DNA from leaf samples of various origins, including fresh, silica-preserved, or herbarium specimens.}, } @article {pmid36519169, year = {2022}, author = {Arai, H and Inoue, MN and Kageyama, D}, title = {Male-killing mechanisms vary between Spiroplasma species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1075199}, pmid = {36519169}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Male-killing, a male-specific death of arthropod hosts during development, is induced by Spiroplasma (Mollicutes) endosymbionts of the Citri-Poulsonii and the Ixodetis groups, which are phylogenetically distant groups. Spiroplasma poulsonii induces male-killing in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera) using the Spaid toxin that harbors ankyrin repeats, whereas little is known about the origin and mechanisms of male-killing induced by Spiroplasma ixodetis. Here, we analyzed the genome and the biological characteristics of a male-killing S. ixodetis strain sHm in the moth Homona magnanima (Tortricidae, Lepidoptera). Strain sHm harbored a 2.1 Mb chromosome and two potential plasmids encoding Type IV effectors, putatively involved in virulence and host-symbiont interactions. Moreover, sHm did not harbor the spaid gene but harbored 10 ankyrin genes that were homologous to those in other S. ixodetis strains. In contrast to the predominant existence of S. poulsonii in hemolymph, our quantitative PCR assays revealed a systemic distribution of strain sHm in H. magnanima, with particularly high titers in Malpighian tubules but low titers in hemolymph. Furthermore, transinfection assays confirmed that strain sHm can infect cultured cells derived from distantly related insects, namely Aedes albopictus (Diptera) and Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera). These results suggest different origins and characteristics of S. ixodetis- and S. poulsonii-induced male-killing.}, } @article {pmid36518519, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, N and Li, Z and Wu, F and Zhen, L}, title = {Sex-specific photosynthetic capacity and Na[+] homeostasis in Populus euphratica exposed to NaCl stress and AMF inoculation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1066954}, pmid = {36518519}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soil salinity and associated land degradation are major ecological problems. Excess Na[+] ions in soil impede the plant photosynthetic process and Na[+] homeostasis status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate salt stress in host plants. Although a number of studies have demonstrated that Na[+] accumulation is decreased by mycorrhizae, the molecular mechanisms involved have received little attention from researchers. Populus euphratica is a typical natural woody tree with excellent salt tolerance. Due to its symbiosis forming capability with AMF, we explored the influence of Funneliformis mosseae on the growth, photosynthesis, and expression of three genes involved in Na[+] homeostasis within dioecious P. euphratica under salt stress. The results indicated that salt stress significantly increases Na[+] contents and inhibits growth status and photosynthetic capacity, especially in females. However, AMF had positive effects on the growth status, photosynthetic capacity and Na[+] homeostasis, especially in males. The expression levels of NHX1 in shoots and HKT1 and SOS1 in roots, all of which are involved in Na[+] homeostasis, were upregulated by F. mosseae under salt stress. For males, the beneficial effect of AMF centered on extruding, sequestering and long-distance transporting of Na[+] ions . For females, the beneficial effect of AMF centered on extruding excessive Na[+].}, } @article {pmid36517909, year = {2022}, author = {Vasco, K and Guevara, N and Mosquera, J and Zapata, S and Zhang, L}, title = {Characterization of the gut microbiome and resistome of Galapagos marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) from uninhabited islands.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {65}, pmid = {36517909}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the natural microbiome and resistome of wildlife from remote places is necessary to monitor the human footprint on the environment including antimicrobial use (AU). Marine iguanas are endemic species from the Galapagos Islands where they are highly affected by anthropogenic factors that can alter their microbiota as well as their abundance and diversity of antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs). Thus, this study aims to apply culture-independent approaches to characterize the marine iguana's gut metagenomic composition of samples collected from the uninhabited islands Rabida (n = 8) and Fernandina (Cabo Douglas, n = 30; Punta Espinoza, n = 30). Fresh feces from marine iguanas were analyzed through SmartChip RT-PCR, 16S rRNA, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to identify their microbiome, microbial-metabolic pathways, resistome, mobilome, and virulome.

RESULTS: The marine iguana's gut microbiome composition was highly conserved despite differences in ecological niches, where 86% of taxa were shared in the three locations. However, site-specific differences were mainly identified in resistome, mobilome, virulorome, and metabolic pathway composition, highlighting the existence of factors that induce microbial adaptations in each location. Functional gut microbiome analyses revealed its role in the biosynthesis and degradation of vitamins, cofactors, proteinogenic amino acids, carbohydrates, nucleosides and nucleotides, fatty acids, lipids, and other compounds necessary for the marine iguanas. The overall bacterial ARG abundance was relatively low (0.006%); nevertheless, the presence of genes encoding resistance to 22 drug classes was identified in the iguana's gut metagenome. ARG-carrying contig and co-occurrence network analyses revealed that commensal bacteria are the main hosts of ARGs. Taxa of public health interest such as Salmonella, Vibrio, and Klebsiella also carried multidrug-resistance genes associated with MGEs which can influence the dissemination of ARGs through horizontal gene transfer.

CONCLUSION: Marine iguanas depend on the gut microbiome for the biosynthesis and degradation of several compounds through a symbiotic relationship. Niche-specific adaptations were evidenced in the pool of microbial accessory genes (i.e., ARGs, MGEs, and virulence) and metabolic pathways, but not in the microbiome composition. Culture-independent approaches outlined the presence of a diverse resistome composition in the Galapagos marine iguanas from remote islands. The presence of AR pathogens in marine iguanas raises concerns about the dispersion of microbial-resistant threats in pristine areas, highlighting wildlife as sentinel species to identify the impact of AU.}, } @article {pmid36516408, year = {2023}, author = {Kasanke, CP and Zhao, Q and Alfaro, T and Walter, CA and Hobbie, SE and Cheeke, TE and Hofmockel, KS}, title = {Grassland ecosystem type drives AM fungal diversity and functional guild distribution in North American grasslands.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {1133-1148}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16823}, pmid = {36516408}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Ecosystem ; Grassland ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Plants/microbiology ; North America ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Fungi/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nutrient exchange forms the basis of the ancient symbiotic relationship that occurs between most land plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plants provide carbon (C) to AM fungi and fungi provide the plant with nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). Nutrient addition can alter this symbiotic coupling in key ways, such as reducing AM fungal root colonization and changing the AM fungal community composition. However, environmental parameters that differentiate ecosystems and drive plant distribution patterns (e.g., pH, moisture), are also known to impact AM fungal communities. Identifying the relative contribution of environmental factors impacting AM fungal distribution patterns is important for predicting biogeochemical cycling patterns and plant-microbe relationships across ecosystems. To evaluate the relative impacts of local environmental conditions and long-term nutrient addition on AM fungal abundance and composition across grasslands, we studied experimental plots amended for 10 years with N, P, or N and P fertilizer in different grassland ecosystem types, including tallgrass prairie, montane, shortgrass prairie, and desert grasslands. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found ecosystem type, not nutrient treatment, was the main driver of AM fungal root colonization, diversity, and community composition, even when accounting for site-specific nutrient limitations. We identified several important environmental drivers of grassland ecosystem AM fungal distribution patterns, including aridity, mean annual temperature, root moisture, and soil pH. This work provides empirical evidence for niche partitioning strategies of AM fungal functional guilds and emphasizes the importance of long-term, large scale research projects to provide ecologically relevant context to nutrient addition studies.}, } @article {pmid36515862, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, L and Cao, X}, title = {Nodule-specific energy sensors determine symbiotic nitrogen fixation by regulating phosphoenolpyruvate allocation.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {643-645}, pmid = {36515862}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phosphoenolpyruvate ; *Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Nitrogen ; }, } @article {pmid36515398, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, L and Yang, J and Tan, W and Guo, Y and Li, J and Duan, C and Wei, G and Chou, M}, title = {Macrophage migration inhibitory factor MtMIF3 prevents the premature aging of Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {46}, number = {3}, pages = {1004-1017}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14515}, pmid = {36515398}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/physiology ; *Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors/genetics/metabolism ; *Aging, Premature/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in immune response in animals. However, the role of MIFs in plants such as Medicago truncatula, particularly in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, remains unclear. An investigation of M. truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis revealed that MtMIF3 was mainly expressed in the nitrogen-fixing zone of the nodules. Silencing MtMIF3 using RNA interference (Ri) technology resulted in increased nodule numbers but higher levels of bacteroid degradation in the infected cells of the nitrogen-fixing zone, suggesting that premature aging was induced in MtMIF3-Ri nodules. In agreement with this conclusion, the activities of nitrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were lower than those in controls, but cysteine proteinase activity was increased in nodulated roots at 28 days postinoculation. In contrast, the overexpression of MtMIF3 inhibited nodule senescence. MtMIF3 is localized in the plasma membrane, nucleus, and cytoplasm, where it interacts with methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MsrB), which is also localized in the chloroplasts of tobacco leaf cells. Taken together, these results suggest that MtMIF3 prevents premature nodule aging and protects against oxidation by interacting with MtMsrB.}, } @article {pmid36514051, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, JJ and Zhu, S and Tang, YF and Gu, F and Liu, JX and Sun, HZ}, title = {Microbiota-host crosstalk in the newborn and adult rumen at single-cell resolution.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {280}, pmid = {36514051}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Cattle ; Animals ; *Rumen/metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Ruminants/genetics ; Pyridoxal/metabolism ; Animal Feed/analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The rumen is the hallmark organ of ruminants, playing a vital role in their nutrition and providing products for humans. In newborn suckling ruminants milk bypasses the rumen, while in adults this first chamber of the forestomach has developed to become the principal site of microbial fermentation of plant fibers. With the advent of single-cell transcriptomics, it is now possible to study the underlying cell composition of rumen tissues and investigate how this relates the development of mutualistic symbiosis between the rumen and its epithelium-attached microbes.

RESULTS: We constructed a comprehensive cell landscape of the rumen epithelium, based on single-cell RNA sequencing of 49,689 high-quality single cells from newborn and adult rumen tissues. Our single-cell analysis identified six immune cell subtypes and seventeen non-immune cell subtypes of the rumen. On performing cross-species analysis of orthologous genes expressed in epithelial cells of cattle rumen and the human stomach and skin, we observed that the species difference overrides any cross-species cell-type similarity. Comparing adult with newborn cattle samples, we found fewer epithelial cell subtypes and more abundant immune cells, dominated by T helper type 17 cells in the rumen tissue of adult cattle. In newborns, there were more fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, an IGFBP3[+] epithelial cell subtype not seen in adults, while dendritic cells were the most prevalent immune cell subtype. Metabolism-related functions and the oxidation-reduction process were significantly upregulated in adult rumen epithelial cells. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and absolute quantitative real-time PCR, we found that epithelial Desulfovibrio was significantly enriched in the adult cattle. Integrating the microbiome and metabolome analysis of rumen tissues revealed a high co-occurrence probability of Desulfovibrio with pyridoxal in the adult cattle compared with newborn ones while the scRNA-seq data indicated a stronger ability of pyroxidal binding in the adult rumen epithelial cell subtypes. These findings indicate that Desulfovibrio and pyridoxal likely play important roles in maintaining redox balance in the adult rumen.

CONCLUSIONS: Our integrated multi-omics analysis provides novel insights into rumen development and function and may facilitate the future precision improvement of rumen function and milk/meat production in cattle.}, } @article {pmid36513732, year = {2022}, author = {Laihonen, M and Rainio, K and Birge, T and Saikkonen, K and Helander, M and Fuchs, B}, title = {Root biomass and cumulative yield increase with mowing height in Festuca pratensis irrespective of Epichloë symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {21556}, pmid = {36513732}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Epichloe ; *Festuca ; Symbiosis ; Biomass ; *Lolium ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Poaceae ; Soil/chemistry ; Carbon/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Increasing agricultural soil carbon sequestration without compromising the productivity of the land is a key challenge in global climate change mitigation. The carbon mitigation potential of grass-based agriculture is particularly high because grasslands represent 70% of the world's agricultural area. The root systems of grasses transfer large amounts of carbon to below-ground storage, and the carbon allocation to the roots is dependent on the grasses' photosynthesizing shoot biomass. In a common-garden experiment, Festuca pratensis was used as a model species to study how mowing and weed control practices of perennial cool-season fodder grasses affect total yield and root biomass. Additionally, grass-associated Epichloë endophytes and soil residual glyphosate were tested for their effect on the total yield and root biomass alone or in interaction with mowing. The results demonstrate that elevating the cutting height increases both cumulative yield and root biomass in F. pratensis. Endophyte symbiosis increased the total yield, while glyphosate-based herbicide residues in the soil decreased the root biomass, which indicates a reduction of soil bound carbon sequestration. The findings demonstrate that carbon sequestration and yield quantities on farmed grasslands may significantly be improved by optimizing strategies for the use of plant protection products and adjustment of mowing intensity.}, } @article {pmid36513413, year = {2022}, author = {Sangiorgio, D and Cellini, A and Donati, I and Ferrari, E and Tanunchai, B and Fareed Mohamed Wahdan, S and Sadubsarn, D and Farneti, B and Checcucci, A and Buscot, F and Spinelli, F and Purahong, W}, title = {Taxonomical and functional composition of strawberry microbiome is genotype-dependent.}, journal = {Journal of advanced research}, volume = {42}, number = {}, pages = {189-204}, pmid = {36513413}, issn = {2090-1224}, mesh = {*Fragaria/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria/genetics ; Genotype ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Specific microbial communities are associated to host plants, influencing their phenotype and fitness.Despite the rising interest in plant microbiome, the role of microbial communities associated with perennial fruit plants remains overlooked.

OBJECTIVES: This work provides the first comprehensive descriptionof the taxonomical and functional bacterial and fungal microbiota of below- and above-ground organsof three commercially important strawberry genotypes under cultural conditions.

METHODS: Strawberry-associatedfungal and bacterial microbiomes were characterised by Next-Generation Sequencing and the potential functions expressed by the bacterial microbiome were analysed by both in silico and in vitro characterisation of plant growth-promoting abilities of native bacteria. Additionally, the association between the strawberry microbiome, plant disease tolerance, plant mineral nutrient content, and fruit quality was investigated.

RESULTS: Results showed that thestrawberry core microbiome included 24 bacteria and 15 fungal operational taxonomicunits (OTUs).However, plant organ and genotype had a significant role in determining the taxonomical and functional composition of microbial communities. Interestingly, the cultivar with the highesttolerance against powdery mildew and leaf spot and the highest fruit productivity was the only one able to ubiquitously recruit the beneficial bacterium, Pseudomonasfluorescens, and to establish a mutualistic symbiosis with the arbuscular mycorrhizaRhizophagus irregularis.

CONCLUSION: This work sheds light on the interaction of cultivated strawberry genotypes with a variety of microbes and highlights the importance of their applications to increase the sustainability of fruit crop production.}, } @article {pmid36513303, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, H and Wu, B and Jiang, N and Liu, J and Zhao, Y and Xu, J and Wang, H}, title = {The effects of influent chemical oxygen demand and strigolactone analog concentration on integral biogas upgrading and pollutants removal from piggery wastewater by different microalgae-based technologies.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {370}, number = {}, pages = {128483}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128483}, pmid = {36513303}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Wastewater ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Microalgae ; Biofuels/microbiology ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Carbon Dioxide ; Biomass ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Microalgae-based technologies are promising strategies for efficient wastewater treatment and biogas upgrading. In this study, three types of microalga-fungi/bacteria symbiotic systems stimulated with the strigolactone analog (GR24) were used to simultaneously remove nutrients from treated piggery wastewater and CO2 from biogas. The effects of initial concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and GR24 on nutrient removal and biogas upgrading were investigated. When the initial COD concentration was 1200 mg/L, the Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-endophytic bacteria co-cultivation systems achieved the best photosynthetic performance and microalgae growth. Moreover, under the appropriate COD concentration (1200 mg/L), the highest nutrient/CO2 removal efficiencies were obtained. In addition, 10[-9] M GR24 significantly accelerated nutrient/CO2 removal efficiencies. These findings provide a theoretical basis for scale-up experiments using microalgae-based technologies.}, } @article {pmid36511683, year = {2023}, author = {Serrato-Salas, J and Gendrin, M}, title = {Involvement of Microbiota in Insect Physiology: Focus on B Vitamins.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e0222522}, pmid = {36511683}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Vitamin B Complex ; *Microbiota ; Insecta ; Biological Evolution ; Amino Acids ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects are highly successful in colonizing a wide spectrum of ecological niches and in feeding on a wide diversity of diets. This is notably linked to their capacity to get from their microbiota any essential component lacking in the diet such as vitamins and amino acids. Over a century of research based on dietary analysis, antimicrobial treatment, gnotobiotic rearing, and culture-independent microbe detection progressively generated a wealth of information about the role of the microbiota in specific aspects of insect fitness. Thanks to the recent increase in sequencing capacities, whole-genome sequencing of a number of symbionts has facilitated tracing of biosynthesis pathways, validation of experimental data and evolutionary analyses. This field of research has generated a considerable set of data in a diversity of hosts harboring specific symbionts or nonspecific microbiota members. Here, we review the current knowledge on the involvement of the microbiota in insect and tick nutrition, with a particular focus on B vitamin provision. We specifically question if there is any specificity of B vitamin provision by symbionts compared to the redundant yet essential contribution of nonspecific microbes. We successively highlight the known aspects of microbial vitamin provision during three main life stages of invertebrates: postembryonic development, adulthood, and reproduction.}, } @article {pmid36511662, year = {2023}, author = {Jeong, B and Jang, HA and Lee, J and Bae, HR and Kim, JK}, title = {Proteolytic Activity of DegP Is Required for the Burkholderia Symbiont To Persist in Its Host Bean Bug.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0433022}, pmid = {36511662}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; *Heteroptera/metabolism/microbiology ; *Burkholderia ; Proteolysis ; Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae ; Peptide Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis requires the adaptation of symbiotic bacteria to the host environment. Symbiotic factors for bacterial adaptation have been studied in various experimental models, including the Burkholderia-bean bug symbiosis model. Previously identified symbiotic factors of Burkholderia symbionts of bean bugs provided insight into the host environment being stressful to the symbionts. Because DegP, which functions as both a protease and a chaperone, supports bacterial growth under various stressful conditions, we hypothesized that DegP might be a novel symbiotic factor of Burkholderia symbionts in the symbiotic association with bean bugs. The expression level of degP was highly elevated in symbiotic Burkholderia cells in comparison with cultured cells. When the degP-deficient strain competed for symbiotic association against the wild-type strain, the ΔdegP strain showed no symbiotic competitiveness. In vivo monoinfection with the ΔdegP strain revealed a lower symbiont titer in the symbiotic organ than that of the wild-type strain, indicating that the ΔdegP strain failed to persist in the host. In in vitro assays, the ΔdegP strain showed susceptibility to heat and high-salt stressors and a decreased level of biofilm formation. To further determine the role of the proteolytic activity of DegP in symbiosis, we generated missense mutant DegP[S248A] exhibiting a defect in protease activity only. The ΔdegP strain complemented with degP[S248A] showed in vitro characteristics similar to those of the ΔdegP strain and failed to persist in the symbiotic organ. Together, the results of our study demonstrated that the proteolytic activity of DegP, which is involved in the stress resistance and biofilm formation of the Burkholderia symbiont, plays an essential role in symbiotic persistence in the host bean bug. IMPORTANCE Bacterial DegP has dual functions as a protease and a chaperone and supports bacterial growth under stressful conditions. In symbioses involving bacteria, bacterial symbionts encounter various stressors and may need functional DegP for symbiotic association with the host. Using the Burkholderia-bean bug symbiosis model, which is a useful model for identifying bacterial symbiotic factors, we demonstrated that DegP is indeed a symbiotic factor of Burkholderia persistence in its host bean bug. In vitro experiments to understand the symbiotic mechanisms of degP revealed that degP confers resistance to heat and high-salt stresses. In addition, degP supports biofilm formation, which is a previously identified persistence factor of the Burkholderia symbiont. Furthermore, using a missense mutation in a protease catalytic site of degP, we specifically elucidated that the proteolytic activity of degP plays essential roles in stress resistance, biofilm formation, and, thus, symbiotic persistence in the host bean bug.}, } @article {pmid36511134, year = {2022}, author = {Antoniraj, MG and Devi, KP and Berindan-Neagoe, I and Nabavi, SF and Khayat Kashani, HR and Aghaabdollahian, S and Afkhami, F and Jeandet, P and Lorigooini, Z and Khayatkashani, M and Nabavi, SM}, title = {Oral microbiota in cancer: could the bad guy turn good with application of polyphenols?.}, journal = {Expert reviews in molecular medicine}, volume = {25}, number = {}, pages = {e1}, doi = {10.1017/erm.2022.39}, pmid = {36511134}, issn = {1462-3994}, mesh = {Humans ; Dysbiosis ; Polyphenols/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Dental Caries/prevention & control ; *Microbiota ; *Mouth Neoplasms ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The human oral cavity is comprised of dynamic and polynomial microbes which uniquely reside in the microenvironments of oral cavities. The cumulative functions of the symbiotic microbial communities maintain normal homeostasis; however, a shifted microbiota yields a dysbiosis state, which produces local and systemic diseases including dental caries, periodontitis, cancer, obesity and diabetes. Recent research reports claim that an association occurs between oral dysbiosis and the progression of different types of cancers including oral, gastric and pancreatic ones. Different mechanisms are proposed for the development of cancer, such as induction of inflammatory reactions, production of carcinogenic materials and alteration of the immune system. Medications are available to treat these associated diseases; however, the current strategies may further worsen the disease by unwanted side effects. Natural-derived polyphenol molecules significantly inhibit a wide range of systemic diseases with fewer side effects. In this review, we have displayed the functions of the oral microbes and we have extended the report regarding the role of polyphenols in oral microbiota to maintain healthy conditions and prevention of diseases with emphasis on the treatment of oral microbiota-associated cancer.}, } @article {pmid36511121, year = {2023}, author = {Du, H and Fang, C and Li, Y and Kong, F and Liu, B}, title = {Understandings and future challenges in soybean functional genomics and molecular breeding.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {468-495}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13433}, pmid = {36511121}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {*Soybeans/genetics ; *DNA Shuffling ; Plant Breeding ; Soil ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is a major source of plant protein and oil. Soybean breeding has benefited from advances in functional genomics. In particular, the release of soybean reference genomes has advanced our understanding of soybean adaptation to soil nutrient deficiencies, the molecular mechanism of symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and the roles of flowering time in regional adaptation, plant architecture, and seed yield and quality. Nevertheless, many challenges remain for soybean functional genomics and molecular breeding, mainly related to improving grain yield through high-density planting, maize-soybean intercropping, taking advantage of wild resources, utilization of heterosis, genomic prediction and selection breeding, and precise breeding through genome editing. This review summarizes the current progress in soybean functional genomics and directs future challenges for molecular breeding of soybean.}, } @article {pmid36510937, year = {2022}, author = {Mulkoju, RC and Rajuri, V and Leo, S and Kolan, RR}, title = {A tale of three in symbiosis: TB-COVID-19-Bordetella coinfection.}, journal = {International journal of mycobacteriology}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {463-465}, doi = {10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_166_22}, pmid = {36510937}, issn = {2212-554X}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Adult ; *Coinfection/diagnosis ; *Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/microbiology ; *Bordetella ; Delayed Diagnosis ; *COVID-19 ; *Tuberculosis/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics ; Sputum/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Coinfections/mixed infections are common in the respiratory tract. Many times existing organisms have similar risk factors and clinical features that make the diagnosis difficult. Coronavirus diagnosed in 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are two such diseases. Patients with TB have lower cellular immunity and impaired pulmonary function. In such environment, atypical organisms, can infect and make the outcome unfavorable. A 21-year-old malnourished (body mass index- 15 kg/m[2]) girl presented with fever and cough for 10 days. Sputum for Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test demonstrated Mycobacterium tuberculosis with no rifampin resistance. Fever persisted (100-101°F) and saturation was dropping even after 10 days of antitubercular treatment. A repeat reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was done and was positive. In view of persistent symptoms after 20 days, bronchoscopy was done, and cultures showed Bordetella bronchiseptica. Fever and symptoms resolved completely after initiation of the sensitive drug. Diagnostic delay in coinfections can lead to increased morbidity and mortality.}, } @article {pmid36510852, year = {2023}, author = {Biggs, E and Taylor, MW and Middleton, DMRL}, title = {Beyond the theory: From holobiont concept to microbiome engineering.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {832-835}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16308}, pmid = {36510852}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Microbiota/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Symbiosis ; Biotechnology ; }, abstract = {Holobiont research has increasingly moved from descriptive studies to sophisticated field- and laboratory-based manipulations; however, the extent to which changes in the holobiont persist remains largely unknown. In this Burning Question, we ask whether the underlying principles of the holobiont concept, whereby an externally applied evolutionary pressure can lead to a beneficial change in host-associated microbial community composition, could be used to facilitate microbiome engineering and thereby addition of a new ecosystem service that persists across generations. The answer to this question has potential implications for diverse fields including symbiosis, conservation and biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid36510260, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, Z and Zhang, Q and Yang, J and Zhang, J and Fu, J and Dang, C and Liu, M and Wang, S and Lin, Y and Hao, J and Weng, M and Xie, D and Li, A}, title = {Significant alterations of intestinal symbiotic microbiota induced by intraperitoneal vaccination mediate changes in intestinal metabolism of NEW Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (NEW GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus).}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {221}, pmid = {36510260}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Cichlids ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Tilapia ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; Animal Feed/analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: After millions of years of coevolution, symbiotic microbiota has become an integral part of the host and plays an important role in host immunity, metabolism, and health. Vaccination, as an effective means of preventing infectious diseases, has been playing a vital role in the prevention and control of human and animal diseases for decades. However, so far, minimal is known about the effect of vaccination on fish symbiotic microbiota, especially mucosal microbiota, and its correlation with intestinal metabolism remains unclear.

METHODS: Here we reported the effect of an inactivated bivalent Aeromonas hydrophila/Aeromonas veronii vaccine on the symbiotic microbiota and its correlation with the intestinal metabolism of farmed adult Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics.

RESULTS: Results showed that vaccination significantly changed the structure, composition, and predictive function of intestinal mucosal microbiota but did not significantly affect the symbiotic microbiota of other sites including gill mucosae, stomach contents, and stomach mucosae. Moreover, vaccination significantly reduced the relative abundance values of potential opportunistic pathogens such as Aeromonas, Escherichia-Shigella, and Acinetobacter in intestinal mucosae. Combined with the enhancement of immune function after vaccination, inactivated bivalent Aeromonas vaccination had a protective effect against the intestinal pathogen infection of tilapia. In addition, the metabolite differential analysis showed that vaccination significantly increased the concentrations of carbohydrate-related metabolites such as lactic acid, succinic acid, and gluconic acid but significantly decreased the concentrations of multiple lipid-related metabolites in tilapia intestines. Vaccination affected the intestinal metabolism of tilapia, which was further verified by the predictive function of intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, the correlation analyses showed that most of the intestinal differential microorganisms were significantly correlated with intestinal differential metabolites after vaccination, confirming that the effect of vaccination on intestinal metabolism was closely related to the intestinal microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this paper revealed the microbial and metabolic responses induced by inactivated vaccination, suggesting that intestinal microbiota might mediate the effect of vaccination on the intestinal metabolism of tilapia. It expanded the novel understanding of vaccine protective mechanisms from microbial and metabolic perspectives, providing important implications for the potential influence of vaccination on human intestinal microbiota and metabolism. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36510006, year = {2023}, author = {Elder, H and Million, WC and Bartels, E and Krediet, CJ and Muller, EM and Kenkel, CD}, title = {Long-term maintenance of a heterologous symbiont association in Acropora palmata on natural reefs.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {486-489}, pmid = {36510006}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Child ; Coral Reefs ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Acclimatization/physiology ; Genotype ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The sensitivity of reef-building coral to elevated temperature is a function of their symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae. Changes in the composition of the endosymbiont community in response to thermal stress can increase coral thermal tolerance. Consequently, this mechanism is being investigated as a human-assisted intervention for rapid acclimation of coral in the face of climate change. Successful establishment of novel symbioses that increase coral thermal tolerance have been demonstrated in laboratory conditions; however, it is unclear how long these heterologous relationships persist in nature. Here, we test the persistence of a novel symbiosis between Acropora palmata and Durusdinium spp. from Mote Marine Laboratory's ex situ nursery by outplanting clonal replicates (ramets) of five A. palmata host genotypes to natural reefs in the lower Florida Keys. Amplicon sequencing analysis of ITS2-type profiles revealed that the majority of surviving ramets remained dominated by Durusdinium spp. two years after transplantation. However, 15% of ramets, including representatives of all genotypes, exhibited some degree of symbiont shuffling or switching at six of eight sites, including complete takeover by site-specific strains of the native symbiont, Symbiodinium fitti. The predominant long-term stability of the novel symbiosis supports the potential effectiveness of symbiont modification as a management tool. Although, the finding that 6-7 year-old coral can alter symbiont community composition in the absence of bleaching indicates that Symbiodiniaceae communities are indeed capable of great flexibility under ambient conditions.}, } @article {pmid36509698, year = {2023}, author = {Magnoli, SM and Keller, KR and Lau, JA}, title = {Mutualisms in a warming world: How increased temperatures affect the outcomes of multi-mutualist interactions.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {104}, number = {3}, pages = {e3955}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3955}, pmid = {36509698}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In nature, plant species simultaneously interact with many different mutualistic partners. These mutualists may influence one another through direct interference or indirectly by competing for shared reward resources or through alteration of plant traits. Together, these mutualists also may combine to affect plant hosts in ways that may not be predictable based on pairwise interactions. Given that the outcome of mutualistic interactions often depends on environmental conditions, multi-mutualist effects on one another, and their plant hosts may be affected by global changes. Here, we grew focal plants under simulated global warming conditions and manipulated the presence of partner mutualists to test how warming affects the outcome of interactions between focal plants and their partners (nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, ant defenders, and pollinators) and interactions among these partner mutualists. We find that warming alters the fitness benefits plants receive from rhizobium resource mutualists but not ant mutualists and that warming altered plant investment in all mutualists. We also find that mutualist partners interact, often by altering the availability of plant-produced rewards that facilitate interactions with other partners. Our work illustrates that global changes may affect some but not all mutualisms, often asymmetrically (e.g., affecting investment in the mutualist partner but not plant host benefits) and also highlights the ubiquity of interactions between the multiple mutualists associating with a shared host.}, } @article {pmid36508678, year = {2022}, author = {Gotting, K and May, DS and Sosa-Calvo, J and Khadempour, L and Francoeur, CB and Berasategui, A and Thairu, MW and Sandstrom, S and Carlson, CM and Chevrette, MG and Pupo, MT and Bugni, TS and Schultz, TR and Johnston, JS and Gerardo, NM and Currie, CR}, title = {Genomic diversification of the specialized parasite of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {51}, pages = {e2213096119}, pmid = {36508678}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI142720/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Parasites ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Hypocreales/genetics ; }, abstract = {Fungi shape the diversity of life. Characterizing the evolution of fungi is critical to understanding symbiotic associations across kingdoms. In this study, we investigate the genomic and metabolomic diversity of the genus Escovopsis, a specialized parasite of fungus-growing ant gardens. Based on 25 high-quality draft genomes, we show that Escovopsis forms a monophyletic group arising from a mycoparasitic fungal ancestor 61.82 million years ago (Mya). Across the evolutionary history of fungus-growing ants, the dates of origin of most clades of Escovopsis correspond to the dates of origin of the fungus-growing ants whose gardens they parasitize. We reveal that genome reduction, determined by both genomic sequencing and flow cytometry, is a consistent feature across the genus Escovopsis, largely occurring in coding regions, specifically in the form of gene loss and reductions in copy numbers of genes. All functional gene categories have reduced copy numbers, but resistance and virulence genes maintain functional diversity. Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) contribute to phylogenetic differences among Escovopsis spp., and sister taxa in the Hypocreaceae. The phylogenetic patterns of co-diversification among BGCs are similarly exhibited across mass spectrometry analyses of the metabolomes of Escovopsis and their sister taxa. Taken together, our results indicate that Escovopsis spp. evolved unique genomic repertoires to specialize on the fungus-growing ant-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36508666, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, J and Wang, T and Qin, Q and Yu, X and Yang, S and Dinkins, RD and Kuczmog, A and Putnoky, P and Muszyński, A and Griffitts, JS and Kereszt, A and Zhu, H}, title = {Paired Medicago receptors mediate broad-spectrum resistance to nodulation by Sinorhizobium meliloti carrying a species-specific gene.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {51}, pages = {e2214703119}, pmid = {36508666}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Species Specificity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Plants have evolved the ability to distinguish between symbiotic and pathogenic microbial signals. However, potentially cooperative plant-microbe interactions often abort due to incompatible signaling. The Nodulation Specificity 1 (NS1) locus in the legume Medicago truncatula blocks tissue invasion and root nodule induction by many strains of the nitrogen-fixing symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. Controlling this strain-specific nodulation blockade are two genes at the NS1 locus, designated NS1a and NS1b, which encode malectin-like leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases. Expression of NS1a and NS1b is induced upon inoculation by both compatible and incompatible Sinorhizobium strains and is dependent on host perception of bacterial nodulation (Nod) factors. Both presence/absence and sequence polymorphisms of the paired receptors contribute to the evolution and functional diversification of the NS1 locus. A bacterial gene, designated rns1, is required for activation of NS1-mediated nodulation restriction. rns1 encodes a type I-secreted protein and is present in approximately 50% of the nearly 250 sequenced S. meliloti strains but not found in over 60 sequenced strains from the closely related species Sinorhizobium medicae. S. meliloti strains lacking functional rns1 are able to evade NS1-mediated nodulation blockade.}, } @article {pmid36504806, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Shen, Q and An, X and Xie, Y and Liu, X and Lian, B}, title = {Organomineral fertilizer application enhances Perilla frutescens nutritional quality and rhizosphere microbial community stability in karst mountain soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1058067}, pmid = {36504806}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Applications of organomineral fertilizer (OMF) are important measures for developing organic agriculture in karst mountain areas. However, the influence of OMF on the structure and function of soil microbial diversity and their relationship with crop yield and quality are still unclear.

METHODS: Based on soil science, crop science, and high-throughput sequencing methods, we investigated the changes of rhizosphere soil microbial communities of Perilla frutescens under different fertilization measures. Then, the relationship between P. frutescens yield and quality with soil quality was analyzed.

RESULTS: The results showed that the addition of OMF increased the amount of total carbon and total potassium in soil. OF, especially OMF, improved P. frutescens yield and quality (e.g., panicle number per plant, main panicle length, and unsaturated fatty acid contents). Both OF and OMF treatments significantly increased the enrichment of beneficial microorganism (e.g., Bacillus, Actinomadura, Candidatus_Solibacter, Iamia, Pseudallescheria, and Cladorrhinum). The symbiotic network analysis demonstrated that OMF strengthened the connection among the soil microbial communities, and the community composition became more stable. Redundancy analysis and structural equation modeling showed that the soil pH, available phosphorus, and available potassium were significantly correlated with soil microbial community diversity and P. frutescens yield and quality.

DISCUSSION: Our study confirmed that OMF could replace CF or common OF to improve soil fertility, crop yield and quality in karst mountain soils.}, } @article {pmid36504779, year = {2022}, author = {Liberman, R and Benayahu, Y and Huchon, D}, title = {Octocorals in the Gulf of Aqaba exhibit high photosymbiont fidelity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1005471}, pmid = {36504779}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations, widespread in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, are of considerable ecological importance. Many tropical coral species are holobionts, formed by the obligate association between a cnidarian host and endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae. The latter are abundant on coral reefs from very shallow water down to the upper mesophotic zone (30-70 m). The research on scleractinians has revealed that the photosymbiont lineages present in the cnidarian host play an important role in the coral's ability to thrive under different environmental conditions, such as light regime and temperature. However, little is known regarding octocoral photosymbionts, and in particular regarding those found deeper than 30 m. Here, we used ribosomal (ITS2) and chloroplast (23S) markers to uncover, for the first time, the dominant Symbiodiniaceae taxa present in 19 mesophotic octocoral species (30-70 m depth) from the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat (northern Red Sea). In addition, using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region we characterized both the dominant and the rare Symbiodiniaceae lineages found in several species across depth. The phylogenetic analyses of both markers were in agreement and revealed that most of the studied mesophotic octocorals host the genus Cladocopium. Litophyton spp. and Klyxum utinomii were exceptions, as they harbored Symbiodinium and Durusdinium photosymbionts, respectively. While the dominant algal lineage of each coral species did not vary across depth, the endosymbiont community structure significantly differed between host species, as well as between different depths for some host species. The findings from this study contribute to the growing global-catalogue of Cnidaria-Symbiodiniaceae associations. Unravelling the Symbiodiniaceae composition in octocoral holobionts across environmental gradients, depth in particular, may enable a better understanding of how specialized those associations are, and to what extent coral holobionts are able to modify their photosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid36504776, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Z and Liu, J and White, JF and Li, C}, title = {Epichloë bromicola from wild barley improves salt-tolerance of cultivated barley by altering physiological responses to salt stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1044735}, pmid = {36504776}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Epichloë bromicola is a cultivable fungal endophyte that lives in symbiosis with wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) to which it confers salt tolerance. This study tested the hypothesis that E. bromicola derived from wild barley has the potential to increase salt tolerance in cultivated barley under salt stress.

METHODS: To test this hypothesis, the growth response, physiological parameters, and metabolic profiles of barley plants inoculated with E. bromicola (E+) and those not inoculated with E. bromicola (E-) were compared under salt stress.

RESULTS: Compared with E- barley plants, E+ barley plants had significantly increased plant height, shoot biomass, total biomass, chlorophyll content, osmotic synthesis, and accumulation of stress adaptation metabolites. E. bromicola increased the salt stress tolerance of cultivated barley, and the positive effects correlated with different salt stress conditions.

DISCUSSION: These results suggest that E. bromicola has promising potential for enhancing the salt tolerance of barley. New insights into the mechanisms underlying this barley-fungal endophyte association are provided, and interesting questions regarding the role of E. bromicola in fungus-enhanced tolerance to salt stress in this symbiosis are raised.}, } @article {pmid36503863, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, G and Agrawal, H and Bednarek, P}, title = {Specialized metabolites as versatile tools in shaping plant-microbe associations.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {122-144}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2022.12.006}, pmid = {36503863}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {*Plants/metabolism ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Genomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Plants are rich repository of a large number of chemical compounds collectively referred to as specialized metabolites. These compounds are of importance for adaptive processes including responses against changing abiotic conditions and interactions with various co-existing organisms. One of the strikingly affirmed functions of these specialized metabolites is their involvement in plants' life-long interactions with complex multi-kingdom microbiomes including both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. Recent developments in genomic and molecular biology tools not only help to generate well-curated information about regulatory and structural components of biosynthetic pathways of plant specialized metabolites but also to create and screen mutant lines defective in their synthesis. In this review, we have comprehensively surveyed the function of these specialized metabolites and discussed recent research findings demonstrating the responses of various microbes on tested mutant lines having defective biosynthesis of particular metabolites. In addition, we attempt to provide key clues about the impact of these metabolites on the assembly of the plant microbiome by summarizing the major findings of recent comparative metagenomic analyses of available mutant lines under customized and natural microbial niches. Subsequently, we delineate benchmark initiatives that aim to engineer or manipulate the biosynthetic pathways to produce specialized metabolites in heterologous systems but also to diversify their immune function. While denoting the function of these metabolites, we also discuss the critical bottlenecks associated with understanding and exploiting their function in improving plant adaptation to the environment.}, } @article {pmid36503640, year = {2022}, author = {Martínez-Ugalde, E and Ávila-Akerberg, V and González Martínez, TM and Vázquez Trejo, M and Zavala Hernández, D and Anaya-Morales, SL and Rebollar, EA}, title = {The skin microbiota of the axolotl Ambystoma altamirani is highly influenced by metamorphosis and seasonality but not by pathogen infection.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {63}, pmid = {36503640}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbiomes have been increasingly recognized as major contributors to host health and survival. In amphibians, bacterial members of the skin microbiota protect their hosts by inhibiting the growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Even though several studies describe the influence of biotic and abiotic factors over the skin microbiota, it remains unclear how these symbiotic bacterial communities vary across time and development. This is particularly relevant for species that undergo metamorphosis as it has been shown that host physiology and ecology drastically influence diversity of the skin microbiome.

RESULTS: We found that the skin bacterial communities of the axolotl A. altamirani are largely influenced by the metamorphic status of the host and by seasonal variation of abiotic factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity. Despite high Bd prevalence in these samples, the bacterial diversity of the skin microbiota did not differ between infected and non-infected axolotls, although relative abundance of particular bacteria were correlated with Bd infection intensity.

CONCLUSIONS: Our work shows that metamorphosis is a crucial process that shapes skin bacterial communities and that axolotls under different developmental stages respond differently to environmental seasonal variations. Moreover, this study greatly contributes to a better understanding of the factors that shape amphibian skin microbiota, especially in a largely underexplored group like axolotls (Mexican Ambystoma species).}, } @article {pmid36503599, year = {2022}, author = {Ide, K and Nishikawa, Y and Maruyama, T and Tsukada, Y and Kogawa, M and Takeda, H and Ito, H and Wagatsuma, R and Miyaoka, R and Nakano, Y and Kinjo, K and Ito, M and Hosokawa, M and Yura, K and Suda, S and Takeyama, H}, title = {Targeted single-cell genomics reveals novel host adaptation strategies of the symbiotic bacteria Endozoicomonas in Acropora tenuis coral.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {220}, pmid = {36503599}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Host Adaptation ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Bacteria ; Genomics ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endozoicomonas bacteria symbiosis with various marine organisms is hypothesized as a potential indicator of health in corals. Although many amplicon analyses using 16S rRNA gene have suggested the diversity of Endozoicomonas species, genome analysis has been limited due to contamination of host-derived sequences and difficulties in culture and metagenomic analysis. Therefore, the evolutionary and functional potential of individual Endozoicomonas species symbiotic with the same coral species remains unresolved.

RESULTS: In this study, we applied a novel single-cell genomics technique using droplet microfluidics to obtain single-cell amplified genomes (SAGs) for uncultured coral-associated Endozoicomonas spp. We obtained seven novel Endozoicomonas genomes and quantitative bacterial composition from Acropora tenuis corals at four sites in Japan. Our quantitative 16S rRNA gene and comparative genomic analysis revealed that these Endozoicomonas spp. belong to different lineages (Clade A and Clade B), with widely varying abundance among individual corals. Furthermore, each Endozoicomonas species possessed various eukaryotic-like genes in clade-specific genes. It was suggested that these eukaryotic-like genes might have a potential ability of different functions in each clade, such as infection of the host coral or suppression of host immune pathways. These Endozoicomonas species may have adopted different host adaptation strategies despite living symbiotically on the same coral.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that coral-associated Endozoicomonas spp. on the same species of coral have different evolutional strategies and functional potentials in each species and emphasizes the need to analyze the genome of each uncultured strain in future coral-Endozoicomonas relationships studies. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36503335, year = {2022}, author = {Lu, S and Lin, J and Jin, J and Zhang, L and Guan, Y and Chen, H and Wu, Y and Zhang, W and Luan, X}, title = {Tachyplesin I and its derivatives: A pharmaco-chemical perspective on their antimicrobial and antitumor potential.}, journal = {Expert opinion on drug discovery}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {1407-1423}, doi = {10.1080/17460441.2023.2157402}, pmid = {36503335}, issn = {1746-045X}, mesh = {Humans ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology ; Peptides, Cyclic/pharmacology ; Bacteria ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence suggests that intratumor microbiota are an intrinsic component in the tumor microenvironment across multiple cancer types, and that there is a close relationship between microbiota and tumor progression. Therefore, how to address the interaction between bacteria and malignances has become a growing concern. Tachyplesin I (TPI), a peptide with dual antimicrobial and antitumor effects, holds great promise as a therapeutic alternative for the aforementioned diseases, with the advantage of broad-spectrum activities, quick killing efficacy, and a low tendency to induce resistance.

AREAS COVERED: This review comprehensively summarizes the pharmacological mechanisms of TPI with an emphasis on its antimicrobial and antitumor potential. Furthermore, it presents advances in TPI derivatives and gives a perspective on their future development. The article is based on literature searches using PubMed and SciFinder to retrieve the most up-to-date information of TPI.

EXPERT OPINION: Bacterial infections and cancer both pose a serious threat to health due to their symbiotic interactions and drug resistance. TPI is anticipated to be a novel agent to control pathogenic bacteria and various tumors through multiple mechanisms of action. Indeed, the continuous advancements in chemical modification and innovative applications of TPI give hope for future improvements in therapeutic efficacy.}, } @article {pmid36502979, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, W and Lv, Y and Zhang, QD and Chang, LM and Chen, QH and Wang, B and Jiang, JP}, title = {Cascading effects of Pb on the environmental and symbiotic microbiota and tadpoles' physiology based on field data and laboratory validation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {862}, number = {}, pages = {160817}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160817}, pmid = {36502979}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Larva ; Lead/toxicity/analysis ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis ; *Microbiota ; Water/analysis ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; }, abstract = {Heavy metal pollution poses a serious threat to ecosystems. Currently, there is a lack of field data that would enable us to gain a systematic understanding of the influences of heavy metals on aquatic ecosystems, especially the interactions between environments and animals. We studied the relationships between the variations in heavy metal concentrations (10 species including Pb in sediments and surface water), the community structure of environmental and symbiotic microbiota, and the gut traits of Bufo gargarizans tadpoles across 16 sampling sites on the Chengdu Plain through rigorous statistical analysis and laboratory validation. The results show that heavy metal concentrations, especially the Pb concentration of the sediment, are linked to the variations in sediment and tadpoles' gut microbiomes but not to water microbiota. For the sediment microbiota, Pb causes a trade-off between the proportions of Burkholderiales and Verrucomicrobiae and affects the methane, sulfide, and nitrate metabolisms. For tadpoles, a high sediment Pb content leads to a low abundance of gut aerobic bacteria and a large relative gut weight under both field and laboratory conditions. In addition, Pb promotes the growth of B. gargarizans tadpoles under laboratory conditions. These effects seem to be beneficial to tadpoles. However, a high Pb content leads to a low abundance of probiotic bacteria (e.g., Verrucomicrobiae, Eubacteriaceae, and Cetobacterium) and a high abundance of pathogenic bacteria in the gut and environment, suggesting potential health risks posed by Pb. Interestingly, there is a causal relationship between Pb-induced variations in sediment and symbiotic microbiotas, and the latter is further linked to the variation in relative gut weight of tadpoles. This suggests a cascading effect of Pb on the ecosystem. In conclusion, our results indicate that among the heavy metals, the Pb in sediment is a critical factor affecting the aquatic ecosystem through an environment-gut-physiology pathway mediated by microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36501718, year = {2022}, author = {Yargici Kovanci, C and Nofar, M and Ghanbari, A}, title = {Synergistic Enhancement of Flame Retardancy Behavior of Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polylactide Composites through Using Phosphorus-Based Flame Retardants and Chain Modifiers.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {14}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36501718}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {Flame retardancy properties of neat PLA can be improved with different phosphorus-based flame retardants (FRs), however, developing flame retardant PLA-based engineering composites with maintained mechanical performance is still a challenge. This study proposes symbiosis approaches to enhance the flame retardancy behavior of polylactide (PLA) composites with 20 wt% short glass fibers (GF). This was first implemented by exploring the effects of various phosphorus-based FRs up to 5 wt% in neat PLA samples. Among the used phosphorus-based FRs, the use of only 3 wt% of diphosphoric acid-based FR (P/N), melamine coated ammonium polyphosphate (APPcoated), and APP with melamine synergist (APP/Mel) resulted in achieving the V0 value in a vertical burning test in the neat PLA samples. In addition to their superior efficiency in improving the flame retardancy of neat PLA, P/N had the least negative effect on the final mechanical performance of PLA samples. When incorporated in PLA composites with 20 wt% GF, however, even with the use of 30 wt% P/N, the V0 value could not be obtained due to the candlewick effect. To resolve this issue, the synergistic effect of P/N and aromatic polycarbodiimide (PCDI) cross-linker or Joncryl epoxy-based chain-extender (CE) on the flame retardancy characteristics of composites was examined. Due to the further chain modification, which also enhances the melt strength of PLA, the dripping of composites in the vertical burning test terminated and the V0 value could be reached when using only 1 wt% PCDI or CE. According to the scanning electron microscopic analysis, the use of noted chain modifiers further homogenized the distribution and refined the particle size of P/N within the PLA matrix. Hence this could synergistically contribute to the enhancements of the fire resistance performance of the PLA composites. Such incorporation of P/N and chain modifiers further leads to the enhancement of the mechanical performance of PLA composites and hence the resultant product can be proposed as a promising durable bioplastic engineering product where fire risk exists.}, } @article {pmid36501279, year = {2022}, author = {Duret, M and Zhan, X and Belval, L and Le Jeune, C and Hussenet, R and Laloue, H and Bertsch, C and Chong, J and Deglène-Benbrahim, L and Valat, L}, title = {Use of a RT-qPCR Method to Estimate Mycorrhization Intensity and Symbiosis Vitality in Grapevine Plants Inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36501279}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Assessing the mycorrhization level in plant roots is essential to study the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant physiological responses. Common methods used to quantify the mycorrhization of roots are based on microscopic visualization of stained fungal structures within the cortical cells. While this method is readily accessible, it remains time-consuming and does not allow checking of the symbiosis vitality. The aim of this work is thus to develop an efficient method for assessing the intensity and vitality of mycorrhiza associated with grapevine through gene expression analyses by RT-qPCR. To this end, grapevine plants were inoculated with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri). The relationship between mycorrhization level, assessed by microscopy, and expression of several fungus and grapevine genes involved in the symbiosis was investigated. In AMF-inoculated plants, transcript amounts of fungal constitutively-expressed genes Ri18S, RiTEF1α and RiαTub were significantly correlated to mycorrhization intensity, particularly Ri18S. Grapevine (VvPht1.1 and VvPht1.2) and AMF (GintPT, Ri14-3-3 and RiCRN1) genes, known to be specifically expressed during the mycorrhizal process, were significantly correlated to arbuscular level in the whole root system determined by microscopy. The best correlations were obtained with GintPT on the fungal side and VvPht1.2 on the plant side. Despite some minor discrepancies between microscopic and molecular techniques, the monitoring of Ri18S, GintPT and VvPht1.2 gene expression could be a rapid, robust and reliable method to evaluate the level of mycorrhization and to assess the vitality of AMF. It appears particularly useful to identify AMF-inoculated plants with very low colonization level, or with non-active fungal structures. Moreover, it can be implemented simultaneously with the expression analysis of other genes of interest, saving time compared to microscopic analyses.}, } @article {pmid36499372, year = {2022}, author = {Bobek, J and Filipová, E and Bergman, N and Čihák, M and Petříček, M and Lara, AC and Kristufek, V and Megyes, M and Wurzer, T and Chroňáková, A and Petříčková, K}, title = {Polyenic Antibiotics and Other Antifungal Compounds Produced by Hemolytic Streptomyces Species.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36499372}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Humans ; *Streptomyces/chemistry ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/metabolism ; Polyenes/pharmacology/chemistry ; Hemolysis ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces are of great interest in the pharmaceutical industry as they produce a plethora of secondary metabolites that act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. They may thrive on their own in the soil, or associate with other organisms, such as plants or invertebrates. Some soil-derived strains exhibit hemolytic properties when cultivated on blood agar, raising the question of whether hemolysis could be a virulence factor of the bacteria. In this work we examined hemolytic compound production in 23 β-hemolytic Streptomyces isolates; of these 12 were soil-derived, 10 were arthropod-associated, and 1 was plant-associated. An additional human-associated S. sp. TR1341 served as a control. Mass spectrometry analysis suggested synthesis of polyene molecules responsible for the hemolysis: candicidins, filipins, strevertene A, tetrafungin, and tetrin A, as well as four novel polyene compounds (denoted here as polyene A, B, C, and D) in individual liquid cultures or paired co-cultures. The non-polyene antifungal compounds actiphenol and surugamide A were also identified. The findings indicate that the ability of Streptomyces to produce cytolytic compounds (here manifested by hemolysis on blood agar) is an intrinsic feature of the bacteria in the soil environment and could even serve as a virulence factor when colonizing available host organisms. Additionally, a literature review of polyenes and non-polyene hemolytic metabolites produced by Streptomyces is presented.}, } @article {pmid36499285, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, D and Wang, X and Zhang, Z and Li, C and Xing, Y and Luo, Y and Li, D and Ma, Z and Cai, H}, title = {Symbiotic System Establishment between Piriformospora indica and Glycine max and Its Effects on the Antioxidant Activity and Ion-Transporter-Related Gene Expression in Soybean under Salt Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36499285}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Soybeans ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Salt Tolerance/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {The utilization of symbiosis with beneficial microorganisms has considerable potential for increasing growth and resistance under abiotic stress. The endophytic root fungus Piriformospora indica has been shown to improve plant growth under salt and drought stress in diverse plant species, while there have been few reports of the interaction of P. indica with soybean under salt stress. In this study, the symbiotic system of P. indica and soybean (Glycine max L.) was established, and the effect of P. indica on soybean growth and salt tolerance was investigated. The colonized and non-colonized soybeans were subjected to salt stress (200 mmol/L NaCl), and the impairments in chlorophyll and increasing relative conductivity that can be caused by salt stress were alleviated in the P. indica-colonized plants. The accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide anion (O2−) were lower than that in non-colonized plants under salt treatment, whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased by P. indica colonization, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR). Importantly, without salt treatment, the Na+ concentration was lower, and the K+ concentration was higher in the roots compared with non-colonized plants. Differential expressions of ion transporter genes were found in soybean roots after P. indica colonization. The P. indica colonization positively regulated the transcription level of PM H+-ATPase, SOS1, and SOS2. The study shows that P. indica enhances the growth and salt tolerance of soybean, providing a strategy for the agricultural production of soybean plants in saline-alkali soils.}, } @article {pmid36499210, year = {2022}, author = {Lebedeva, MA and Gancheva, MS and Kulaeva, OA and Zorin, EA and Dobychkina, DA and Romanyuk, DA and Sulima, AS and Zhukov, VA and Lutova, LA}, title = {Identification and Expression Analysis of the C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE Family in Pisum sativum L.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36499210}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Peas/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Peptides/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {The C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE(CEP) peptides play crucial roles in plant growth and response to environmental factors. These peptides were characterized as positive regulators of symbiotic nodule development in legume plants. However, little is known about the CEP peptide family in pea. Here, we discovered in pea genome 21 CEP genes (PsCEPs), among which three genes contained additional conserved motifs corresponding to the PIP (PAMP-induced secreted peptides) consensus sequences. We characterized the expression patterns of pea PsCEP genes based on transcriptomic data, and for six PsCEP genes with high expression levels in the root and symbiotic nodules the detailed expression analysis at different stages of symbiosis and in response to nitrate treatment was performed. We suggest that at least three PsCEP genes, PsCEP1, PsCEP7 and PsCEP2, could play a role in symbiotic nodule development, whereas the PsCEP1 and PsCEP13 genes, downregulated by nitrate addition, could be involved in regulation of nitrate-dependent processes in pea. Further functional studies are required to elucidate the functions of these PsCEP genes.}, } @article {pmid36499019, year = {2022}, author = {Zhan, C and Chen, L and Guo, D and Sun, J and Duan, Y and Zhang, P and Li, P and Ma, L and Xu, M and Wang, Y and Bao, H and Gao, G and Liu, L and Zhang, K}, title = {An Intestinal Symbiotic Bacterial Strain of Oscheius chongmingensis Modulates Host Viability at Both Global and Post-Transcriptional Levels.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36499019}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; *Nematoda/physiology ; Intestines ; *MicroRNAs ; }, abstract = {A rhabditid entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Oscheius chongmingensis, has a stable symbiotic relationship with the bacterial strain Serratia nematodiphila S1 harbored in its intestines and drastically reduced viability when associated with a non-native strain (186) of the same bacterial species. This nematode is thus a good model for understanding the molecular mechanisms and interactions involved between a nematode host and a member of its intestinal microbiome. Transcriptome analysis and RNA-seq data indicated that expression levels of the majority (8797, 87.59%) of mRNAs in the non-native combination of O. chongmingensis and S. nematodiphila 186 were downregulated compared with the native combination, including strain S1. Accordingly, 88.84% of the total uniq-sRNAs mapped in the O. chongmingensis transcriptome were specific between the two combinations. Six DEGs, including two transcription factors (oc-daf-16 and oc-goa-1) and four kinases (oc-pdk-1, oc-akt-1, oc-rtk, and oc-fak), as well as an up-regulated micro-RNA, oc-miR-71, were found to demonstrate the regulatory mechanisms underlying diminished host viability induced by a non-native bacterial strain. Oc-rtk and oc-fak play key roles in the viability regulation of O. chongmingensis by positively mediating the expression of oc-daf-16 to indirectly impact its longevity and stress tolerances and by negatively regulating the expression of oc-goa-1 to affect the olfactory chemotaxis and fecundity. In response to the stress of invasion by the non-native strain, the expression of oc-miR-71 in the non-native combination was upregulated to downregulate the expression of its targeting oc-pdk-1, which might improve the localization and activation of the transcription factor DAF-16 in the nucleus to induce longevity extension and stress resistance enhancement to some extent. Our findings provide novel insight into comprehension of how nematodes deal with the stress of encountering novel potential bacterial symbionts at the physiological and molecular genetic levels and contribute to improved understanding of host-symbiont relationships generally.}, } @article {pmid36499003, year = {2022}, author = {Ziemlewska, A and Nizioł-Łukaszewska, Z and Zagórska-Dziok, M and Wójciak, M and Szczepanek, D and Sowa, I}, title = {Assessment of Cosmetic and Dermatological Properties and Safety of Use of Model Skin Tonics with Kombucha-Fermented Red Berry Extracts.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {36499003}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Tea/chemistry ; Fermentation ; *Yeasts/metabolism ; Beverages/analysis ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Caffeine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a health-promoting beverage that is produced by fermenting sweetened tea using symbiotic cultures of bacteria belonging to the genus Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, and yeast of the genus Saccharomyces. This study compared the cosmetic and dermatological properties of the extracts of the following redberries: R. rubrum, F. vesca, and R. idaeus, and their ferments, which were obtained by fermentation for 10 and 20 days using tea fungus. For this purpose, the fermented and non-fermented extracts were compared in terms of their chemical composition using the HPLC/ESI-MS chromatographic method, demonstrating the high content of biologically active compounds that were present in the ferments. The antioxidant activity of the tested samples was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS tests, as well as by evaluating the scavenging of the external and intracellular free radicals. The cytotoxicity of the extracts and the ferments, as well as the cosmetic formulations, were also determined by conducting Alamar Blue and Neutral Red tests assessing the cell viability and metabolism using skin cell lines: fibroblasts and keratinocytes. In addition, application tests were conducted showing the positive effects of the model cosmetic tonics on the TEWL, the skin hydration, and the skin pH. The results indicate that both the extracts and the ferments that were obtained from kombucha can be valuable ingredients in cosmetic products.}, } @article {pmid36496426, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, J and Wang, Z and Wang, L and Hu, Y and Yan, Q and Lu, J and Ren, Z and Hong, Y and Ji, H and Wang, H and Wu, X and Lin, Y and Su, C and Ott, T and Li, X}, title = {The B-type response regulator GmRR11d mediates systemic inhibition of symbiotic nodulation.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {7661}, pmid = {36496426}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Symbiosis/physiology ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Root Nodules, Plant/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Key to the success of legumes is the ability to form and maintain optimal symbiotic nodules that enable them to balance the trade-off between symbiosis and plant growth. Cytokinin is essential for homeostatic regulation of nodulation, but the mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that a B-type response regulator GmRR11d mediates systemic inhibition of nodulation. GmRR11d is induced by rhizobia and low level cytokinin, and GmRR11d can suppress the transcriptional activity of GmNSP1 on GmNIN1a to inhibit soybean nodulation. GmRR11d positively regulates cytokinin response and its binding on the GmNIN1a promoter is enhanced by cytokinin. Intriguingly, rhizobial induction of GmRR11d and its function are dependent upon GmNARK that is a CLV1-like receptor kinase and inhibits nodule number in shoots. Thus, GmRR11d governs a transcriptional program associated with nodulation attenuation and cytokinin response activation essential for systemic regulation of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid36496327, year = {2023}, author = {Zhu, Z and Liu, Y and Hu, H and Wang, GH}, title = {Nasonia-microbiome associations: a model for evolutionary hologenomics research.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {101-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.005}, pmid = {36496327}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Wasps/genetics ; Insecta/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In recent years, with the development of microbial research technologies, microbiota research has received widespread attention. The parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia is a good model organism for studying insect behavior, development, evolutionary genetics, speciation, and symbiosis. This review describes key advances and progress in the field of the Nasonia-microbiome interactions. We provide an overview of the advantages of Nasonia as a model organism for microbiome studies, list research methods to study the Nasonia microbiome, and discuss recent discoveries in Nasonia microbiome research. This summary of the complexities of Nasonia-microbiome relationships will help to contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between animals and their microbiomes and establish a clear research direction for Nasonia-microbiome interactions in the future.}, } @article {pmid36494604, year = {2022}, author = {Hutcheson, ES}, title = {A "Central Bureau of Feminine Algology:" Algae, Mutualism, and Gendered Ecological Perspectives, 1880-1910.}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {791-825}, pmid = {36494604}, issn = {1573-0387}, mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Female ; *Symbiosis ; *Gender Identity ; France ; Russia ; }, abstract = {While women's participation at research stations has been celebrated as a success story for women in science, their experiences were not quite equal to that of men scientists. This article shows how women interested in practicing marine science at research institutions experienced different living and research environments than their male peers; moreover, it illustrates how those gendered experiences reflected and informed the nature of their scientific practices and ideas. Set in Roscoff, France, this article excavates the work and social worlds of a Russian scientist, Natalie Karsakoff (1863-1941), and a British émigré in France, Anna Vickers (1853-1906), to show how a small group of single women who studied algae created a "central bureau of feminine algology." The social aspects of this bureau, and the physical space and support funded by Vickers, allowed these women scientists to both participate in male-dominated practices of science and lend evidentiary support to an ecological category that emphasized benign coexistence rather than struggle. This study adds an empirical case of single women scientists managing successful careers in science and contributing to science through publication and research.}, } @article {pmid36493827, year = {2023}, author = {Asaf, S and Jan, R and Khan, MA and Lubna, and Khan, AL and Asif, S and Bilal, S and Ahmad, W and Waqas, M and Kim, KM and Al-Harrasi, A and Lee, IJ}, title = {Unraveling the mutualistic interaction between endophytic Curvularia lunata CSL1 and tomato to mitigate cadmium (Cd) toxicity via transcriptomic insights.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {861}, number = {}, pages = {160542}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160542}, pmid = {36493827}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Transcriptome ; Cadmium/toxicity/metabolism ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Growth Regulators ; }, abstract = {In this study, endophytic fungus Curvularia lunata strain SL1 was used to explore its bioremediation potential and growth restoration of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under cadmium (Cd) stress. Our findings demonstrate that SL1 establishes a symbiotic relationship with tomato plants, which modulates the antioxidant system, secondary metabolites, and gene expression in tomato plants exposed to Cd stress. Under Cd stress, tomato seedling growth was significantly reduced by up to 42.8 %, although this reduction was mitigated by up to 25 % after SL1 inoculation. Similar to this, SLI inoculation inhibits Cd absorption and translocation to the upper parts of the plant. Additionally, during Cd stress, phytohormones related to stress, including jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), and ethylene (ET), were elevated; however, SL1 inoculation lowered their level. RNA-Seq data revealed that the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was detected in the comparison between control and 1 mM Cd, followed by 2 mM Cd stress. These DEGs were mostly related to oxidoreductase activity, catalytic activity, plant hormones transduction, and photosynthesis. The findings also suggested that SL1 could improve tomato tolerance to Cd stress by modulating Ca[2+] signaling, phytohormone biosynthesis, MAPK signaling pathway, and some transcription factors.}, } @article {pmid36483911, year = {2022}, author = {Paudel, KR and De Rubis, G and Panth, N and Singh, SK and Chellappan, DK and Hansbro, PM and Dua, K}, title = {Nanomedicine and medicinal plants: Emerging symbiosis in managing lung diseases and associated infections.}, journal = {EXCLI journal}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {1299-1303}, pmid = {36483911}, issn = {1611-2156}, } @article {pmid36483040, year = {2022}, author = {Ning, W and Marti, TM and Dorn, P and Peng, RW}, title = {Non-genetic adaptive resistance to KRAS[G12C] inhibition: EMT is not the only culprit.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1004669}, pmid = {36483040}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Adaptions to therapeutic pressures exerted on cancer cells enable malignant progression of the tumor, culminating in escape from programmed cell death and development of resistant diseases. A common form of cancer adaptation is non-genetic alterations that exploit mechanisms already present in cancer cells and do not require genetic modifications that can also lead to resistance mechanisms. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the most prevalent mechanisms of adaptive drug resistance and resulting cancer treatment failure, driven by epigenetic reprogramming and EMT-specific transcription factors. A recent breakthrough in cancer treatment is the development of KRAS[G12C] inhibitors, which herald a new era of therapy by knocking out a unique substitution of an oncogenic driver. However, these highly selective agents targeting KRAS[G12C], such as FDA-approved sotorasib (AMG510) and adagrasib (MRTX849), inevitably encounter multiple mechanisms of drug resistance. In addition to EMT, cancer cells can hijack or rewire the sophisticated signaling networks that physiologically control cell proliferation, growth, and differentiation to promote malignant cancer cell phenotypes, suggesting that inhibition of multiple interconnected signaling pathways may be required to block tumor progression on KRAS[G12C] inhibitor therapy. Furthermore, the tumor microenvironment (TME) of cancer cells, such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), contribute significantly to immune escape and tumor progression, suggesting a therapeutic approach that targets not only cancer cells but also the TME. Deciphering and targeting cancer adaptions promises mechanistic insights into tumor pathobiology and improved clinical management of KRAS[G12C]-mutant cancer. This review presents recent advances in non-genetic adaptations leading to resistance to KRAS[G12C] inhibitors, with a focus on oncogenic pathway rewiring, TME, and EMT.}, } @article {pmid36480164, year = {2023}, author = {Engelberts, JP and Robbins, SJ and Herbold, CW and Moeller, FU and Jehmlich, N and Laffy, PW and Wagner, M and Webster, NS}, title = {Metabolic reconstruction of the near complete microbiome of the model sponge Ianthella basta.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {646-660}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16302}, pmid = {36480164}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {294343/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Archaea/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many marine sponges host highly diverse microbiomes that contribute to various aspects of host health. Although the putative function of individual groups of sponge symbionts has been increasingly described, the extreme diversity has generally precluded in-depth characterization of entire microbiomes, including identification of syntrophic partnerships. The Indo-Pacific sponge Ianthella basta is emerging as a model organism for symbiosis research, hosting only three dominant symbionts: a Thaumarchaeotum, a Gammaproteobacterium, and an Alphaproteobacterium and a range of other low abundance or transitory taxa. Here, we retrieved metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) representing >90% of I. basta's microbial community, facilitating the metabolic reconstruction of the sponge's near complete microbiome. Through this analysis, we identified metabolic complementarity between microbes, including vitamin sharing, described the importance of low abundance symbionts, and characterized a novel microbe-host attachment mechanism in the Alphaproteobacterium. We further identified putative viral sequences, highlighting the role viruses can play in maintaining symbioses in I. basta through the horizontal transfer of eukaryotic-like proteins, and complemented this data with metaproteomics to identify active metabolic pathways in bacteria, archaea, and viruses. This data provide the framework to adopt I. basta as a model organism for studying host-microbe interactions and provide a basis for in-depth physiological experiments.}, } @article {pmid36480106, year = {2022}, author = {Shamseldin, A and Peix, A and Velázquez, E}, title = {Definition of the symbiovar viciae in the species Rhizobium azibense and biogeographic implications.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {205}, number = {1}, pages = {18}, pmid = {36480106}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Vicia faba L. (faba bean) is a legume cultivated worldwide which commonly establishes effective symbiosis with the symbiovar viciae of species from the Rhizobium leguminosarum phylogenetic group. However, on the basis of the rrs, recA, and atpD gene phylogenies, in this work we identified a strain named EFBRI 42 nodulating V. faba as Rhizobium azibense. This is the first report on the nodulation of Vicia by R. azibense which commonly nodulates P. vulgaris and to date encompasses strains harboring the nodC genes typical of the symbiovars gallicum and phaseoli. However, the strain EFBRI 42 carries a nodC gene typical of the symbiovar viciae for which we report here by the first time this symbiovar in R. azibense. This finding showed the existence of symbiotic genes horizontal transfer events during the coevolution of R. azibense with P. vulgaris and V. faba in their respective distribution centers of Mesoamerica and the Middle East.}, } @article {pmid36479882, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Cao, X and Wang, C and Chen, F and Feng, Y and Yue, L and Wang, Z and Xing, B}, title = {Fe-Based Nanomaterial-Induced Root Nodulation Is Modulated by Flavonoids to Improve Soybean (Glycine max) Growth and Quality.}, journal = {ACS nano}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {21047-21062}, doi = {10.1021/acsnano.2c08753}, pmid = {36479882}, issn = {1936-086X}, mesh = {*Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Leghemoglobin/metabolism ; Flavonoids/pharmacology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Innovative technology to increase efficient nitrogen (N) use while avoiding environmental damages is needed because of the increasing food demand of the rapidly growing global population. Soybean (Glycine max) has evolved a complex symbiosis with N-fixing bacteria that forms nodules to fix N. Herein, foliar application of 10 mg L[-1] Fe7(PO4)6 and Fe3O4 nanomaterials (NMs) (Fe-based NMs) promoted soybean growth and root nodulation, thus improving the yield and quality over that of the unexposed control, EDTA-control, and 1 and 5 mg L[-1] NMs. Mechanistically, flavonoids, key signaling molecules at the initial signaling steps in nodulation, were increased by more than 20% upon exposure to 10 mg L[-1] Fe-based NMs, due to enhanced key enzyme (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, PAL) activity and up-regulation of flavonoid biosynthetic genes (GmPAL, GmC4H, Gm4CL, and GmCHS). Accumulated flavonoids were secreted to the rhizosphere, recruiting rhizobia for colonization. Fe7(PO4)6 NMs increased Allorhizobium by 87.3%, and Fe3O4 NMs increased Allorhizobium and Mesorhizobium by 142.2% and 34.9%, leading to increased root nodules by 50.0% and 35.4% over the unexposed control, respectively. Leghemoglobin content was also noticeably improved by 8.2-46.5% upon Fe-based NMs. The higher levels of nodule number and leghemoglobin content resulted in enhanced N content by 15.5-181.2% during the whole growth period. Finally, the yield (pod number and grain biomass) and quality (flavonoids, soluble protein, and elemental nutrients) were significantly increased more than 14% by Fe-based NMs. Our study provides an effective nanoenabled strategy for inducing root nodules to increase N use efficiency, and then both yield and quality of soybean.}, } @article {pmid36479844, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, JH and Zheng, DW and Gu, HY and Yu, YJ and Zeng, JY and Chen, QW and Yu, AX and Zhang, XZ}, title = {In Situ Sprayed Biotherapeutic Gel Containing Stable Microbial Communities for Efficient Anti-Infection Treatment.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e2205480}, pmid = {36479844}, issn = {2198-3844}, mesh = {Humans ; *Anti-Infective Agents ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Bacteria ; Poloxalene/pharmacology ; *Bacterial Infections/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {Systematic administration of antibiotics to treat infections often leads to the rapid evolution and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Here, an in situ-formed biotherapeutic gel that controls multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and accelerates wound healing is reported. This biotherapeutic gel is constructed by incorporating stable microbial communities (kombucha) capable of producing antimicrobial substances and organic acids into thermosensitive Pluronic F127 (polyethylene-polypropylene glycol) solutions. Furthermore, it is found that the stable microbial communities-based biotherapeutic gel possesses a broad antimicrobial spectrum and strong antibacterial effects in diverse pathogenic bacteria-derived xenograft infection models, as well as in patient-derived multidrug-resistant bacterial xenograft infection models. The biotherapeutic gel system considerably outperforms the commercial broad-spectrum antibacterial gel (0.1% polyaminopropyl biguanide) in pathogen removal and infected wound healing. Collectively, this biotherapeutic strategy of exploiting stable symbiotic consortiums to repel pathogens provides a paradigm for developing efficient antibacterial biomaterials and overcomes the failure of antibiotics to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.}, } @article {pmid36479691, year = {2023}, author = {Rovere, M and Pucciariello, C and Castella, C and Berger, A and Forgia, M and Guyet, TA and Bosseno, M and Pacoud, M and Brouquisse, R and Perata, P and Boscari, A}, title = {Group VII ethylene response factors, MtERF74 and MtERF75, sustain nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula microoxic nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {607-620}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14505}, pmid = {36479691}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/physiology ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Hypoxia/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Group VII ethylene response factors (ERF-VII) are plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) known for their role in the activation of hypoxia-responsive genes under low oxygen stress but also in plant endogenous hypoxic niches. However, their function in the microaerophilic nitrogen-fixing nodules of legumes has not yet been investigated. We investigated regulation and the function of the two Medicago truncatula ERF-VII TFs (MtERF74 and MtERF75) in roots and nodules, MtERF74 and MtERF75 in response to hypoxia stress and during the nodulation process using an RNA interference strategy and targeted proteolysis of MtERF75. Knockdown of MtERF74 and MtERF75 partially blocked the induction of hypoxia-responsive genes in roots exposed to hypoxia stress. In addition, a significant reduction in nodulation capacity and nitrogen fixation activity was observed in mature nodules of double knockdown transgenic roots. Overall, the results indicate that MtERF74 and MtERF75 are involved in the induction of MtNR1 and Pgb1.1 expression for efficient Phytogb-nitric oxide respiration in the nodule.}, } @article {pmid36479591, year = {2023}, author = {Yamada, R and Yokota, M and Matsumoto, T and Hankamer, B and Ogino, H}, title = {Promoting cell growth and characterizing partial symbiotic relationships in the co-cultivation of green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Escherichia coli.}, journal = {Biotechnology journal}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {e2200099}, doi = {10.1002/biot.202200099}, pmid = {36479591}, issn = {1860-7314}, mesh = {*Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide ; Photosynthesis ; Starch/metabolism ; Carbon ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: By co-culturing selected microalgae and heterotrophic microorganisms, the growth rate of microalgae can be improved even under atmospheric conditions with a low CO2 concentration. However, the detailed mechanism of improvement of proliferative capacity by co-culture has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated changes in the proliferative capacity of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by co-culturing with Escherichia coli.

In the co-culture, the number of C. reinhardtii cells reached 2.22 × 10[10]  cell/L on day 14 of culture. This was about 1.9 times the number of cells (1.16 × 10[10]  cell/L) on day 14 compared to C. reinhardtii cells in monoculture. The starch content per cell in the co-culture of C. reinhardtii and E. coli on the 14th day (2.09 × 10[-11]  g/cell) was 1.3 times higher than that in the C. reinhardtii monoculture (1.59 × 10[-11]  g/cell), and the starch content per culture medium improved 2.5 times with co-cultivation. By analyzing the gene transcription profiles and key media components, we clarified that E. coli produced CO2 from the organic carbon in the medium and the organic carbon produced by photosynthesis of C. reinhardtii, and this CO2 likely enhanced the growth of C. reinhardtii.

CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, E. coli plays a key role in promoting the growth of C. reinhardtii as well as the accumulation of starch which is a valuable intermediate for the production of a range of useful chemicals from CO2 .}, } @article {pmid36479504, year = {2022}, author = {Ozsoy, S and Sultanoglu, N and Sanlidag, T}, title = {The role of Mediterranean diet and gut microbiota in type-2 diabetes mellitus associated with obesity (diabesity).}, journal = {Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene}, volume = {63}, number = {2 Suppl 3}, pages = {E87-E92}, pmid = {36479504}, issn = {2421-4248}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Diet, Mediterranean ; Obesity ; *Diabetes Mellitus ; Chronic Disease ; }, abstract = {The human body is made up of 10[14] human cells and 10[15] bacterial cells, forming a combined structure that is described as a "superorganism". Commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms in the human body, many of which are located inside the intestine, affect health conditions and diseases. An important factor contributing to the development of chronic diseases is dysbiosis, which occurs when the number of pathogenic microorganisms increases. Dysbiosis is associated with increased intestinal permeability, endotoxemia (increased LPS), pro-inflammatory cytokine release, energy harvest, and adiposity, thus being involved in the pathogenesis of disorders like diabetes and obesity. Nutritional habits are the most important environmental factor that affects intestinal microbial composition. A dietary pattern that was proven successful in regulating gut microbiota is the renowned Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by high plant-based foods consumption, moderate fish and dairy products consumption, and low red meat consumption. There is an inverse relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. In addition to the direct effects of the Mediterranean diet on the pathogenesis of these diseases, it can also be effective in preventing these diseases due to its effects on the intestinal microbiota. It is noted that the number of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides increases the longer one's eating habit adhere to the Mediterranean diet, and the number of Firmicutes decreases, accordingly, thus supporting the symbiotic distribution in the intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36479125, year = {2022}, author = {Jotereau, F and Alameddine, J and Teusan, R and Pédron, A and Jouand, N and Altare, F and Godefroy, E}, title = {Human gut microbiota-reactive DP8α regulatory T cells, signature and related emerging functions.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1026994}, pmid = {36479125}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; *T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; *Biological Assay ; Biological Transport ; }, abstract = {In mice, microbiota-induced Tregs both maintain intestinal homeostasis and provide resistance to immuno-pathologies in the adult. Identifying their human functional counterpart therefore represents an important goal. We discovered, in the human colonic lamina propria and blood, a FoxP3-negative IL-10-secreting Treg subset, which co-expresses CD4 and CD8α (hence named DP8α) and displays a TCR-reactivity against Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, indicating a role for this symbiotic bacterium in their induction. Moreover, supporting their role in intestinal homeostasis, we previously reported both their drastic decrease in IBD patients and their protective role in vivo against intestinal inflammation, in mice. Here, we aimed at identifying the genomic, phenotypic and functional signatures of these microbiota-induced Tregs, towards delineating their physiological role(s) and clinical potential. Human F. prausnitzii-reactive DP8α Treg clones were derived from both the colonic lamina propria and blood. RNA-sequencing, flow cytometry and functional assays were performed to characterize their response upon activation and compare them to donor- and tissue-matched FoxP3[+] Treg clones. DP8α Tregs exhibited a unique mixed Tr1-like/cytotoxic CD4[+] T cell-profile and shared the RORγt and MAF master genes with mouse gut microbiota-induced FoxP3[+] Tregs. We revealed their potent cytotoxic, chemotactic and IgA-promoting abilities, which were confirmed using in vitro assays. Therefore, besides their induction by a Clostridium bacterium, DP8α Tregs also partake master genes with mouse microbiota-induced Tregs. The present identification of their complete signature and novel functional properties, should be key in delineating the in vivo roles and therapeutic applications of these unique human microbiota-induced Tregs through their study in pathological contexts, particularly in inflammatory bowel diseases.}, } @article {pmid36478864, year = {2022}, author = {Martínez-Renau, E and Mazorra-Alonso, M and Ruiz-Castellano, C and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Martín-Platero, AM and Barón, MD and Soler, JJ}, title = {Microbial infection risk predicts antimicrobial potential of avian symbionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1010961}, pmid = {36478864}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria on animal hosts can prevent pathogenic bacterial infections by several mechanisms. Among them, symbiotic bacteria can indirectly enhance host's immune responses or, directly, produce antimicrobial substances against pathogens. Due to differences in life-style, different host species are under different risks of microbial infections. Consequently, if symbiotic bacteria are somewhat selected by genetically determined host characteristics, we would expect the antimicrobial properties of bacterial symbionts to vary among host species and to be distributed according to risk of infection. Here we have tested this hypothesis by measuring the antimicrobial ability of the bacterial strains isolated from the uropygial-gland skin of 19 bird species differing in nesting habits, and, therefore, in risk of microbial infection. In accordance with our predictions, intensity and range of antimicrobial effects against the indicator strains assayed varied among bird species, with hole-and open-nesters showing the highest and the lowest values, respectively. Since it is broadly accepted that hole-nesters have higher risks of microbial infection than open nesters, our results suggest that the risk of infection is a strong driver of natural selection to enhance immunocompetence of animals through selecting for antibiotic-producing symbionts. Future research should focus on characterizing symbiotic bacterial communities and detecting coevolutionary processes with particular antibiotic-producing bacteria within-host species.}, } @article {pmid36478478, year = {2023}, author = {Almer, J and Resl, P and Gudmundsson, H and Warshan, D and Andrésson, ÓS and Werth, S}, title = {Symbiont-specific responses to environmental cues in a threesome lichen symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {1045-1061}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16814}, pmid = {36478478}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Cues ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Photosymbiodemes are a special case of lichen symbiosis where one lichenized fungus engages in symbiosis with two different photosynthetic partners, a cyanobacterium and a green alga, to develop two distinctly looking photomorphs. We compared gene expression of thallus sectors of the photosymbiodeme-forming lichen Peltigera britannica containing cyanobacterial photobionts with thallus sectors with both green algal and cyanobacterial photobionts and investigated differential gene expression at different temperatures representing mild and putatively stressful conditions. First, we quantified photobiont-mediated differences in fungal gene expression. Second, because of known ecological differences between photomorphs, we investigated symbiont-specific responses in gene expression to temperature increases. Photobiont-mediated differences in fungal gene expression could be identified, with upregulation of distinct biological processes in the different morphs, showing that interaction with specific symbiosis partners profoundly impacts fungal gene expression. Furthermore, high temperatures expectedly led to an upregulation of genes involved in heat shock responses in all organisms in whole transcriptome data and to an increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis in both photobiont types at 15 and 25°C. The fungus and the cyanobacteria exhibited thermal stress responses already at 15°C, the green algae mainly at 25°C, demonstrating symbiont-specific responses to environmental cues and symbiont-specific ecological optima.}, } @article {pmid36478232, year = {2023}, author = {German, L and Yeshvekar, R and Benitez-Alfonso, Y}, title = {Callose metabolism and the regulation of cell walls and plasmodesmata during plant mutualistic and pathogenic interactions.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {391-404}, pmid = {36478232}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {MR/T04263X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Plasmodesmata ; Plants/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis/genetics ; Glucans/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cell walls are essential for plant growth and development, providing support and protection from external environments. Callose is a glucan that accumulates in specialized cell wall microdomains including around intercellular pores called plasmodesmata. Despite representing a small percentage of the cell wall (~0.3% in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana), callose accumulation regulates important biological processes such as phloem and pollen development, cell division, organ formation, responses to pathogenic invasion and to changes in nutrients and toxic metals in the soil. Callose accumulation modifies cell wall properties and restricts plasmodesmata aperture, affecting the transport of signaling proteins and RNA molecules that regulate plant developmental and environmental responses. Although the importance of callose, at and outside plasmodesmata cell walls, is widely recognized, the underlying mechanisms controlling changes in its synthesis and degradation are still unresolved. In this review, we explore the most recent literature addressing callose metabolism with a focus on the molecular factors affecting callose accumulation in response to mutualistic symbionts and pathogenic elicitors. We discuss commonalities in the signaling pathways, identify research gaps and highlight opportunities to target callose in the improvement of plant responses to beneficial versus pathogenic microbes.}, } @article {pmid36477532, year = {2022}, author = {Barker, W and Comita, LS and Wright, SJ and Phillips, OL and Sedio, BE and Batterman, SA}, title = {Widespread herbivory cost in tropical nitrogen-fixing tree species.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {612}, number = {7940}, pages = {483-487}, pmid = {36477532}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Sequestration ; *Forests ; *Herbivory ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Panama ; Plant Leaves ; Seedlings ; *Trees/classification/metabolism ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Recent observations suggest that the large carbon sink in mature and recovering forests may be strongly limited by nitrogen[1-3]. Nitrogen-fixing trees (fixers) in symbiosis with bacteria provide the main natural source of new nitrogen to tropical forests[3,4]. However, abundances of fixers are tightly constrained[5-7], highlighting the fundamental unanswered question of what limits new nitrogen entering tropical ecosystems. Here we examine whether herbivory by animals is responsible for limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation in tropical forests. We evaluate whether nitrogen-fixing trees experience more herbivory than other trees, whether herbivory carries a substantial carbon cost, and whether high herbivory is a result of herbivores targeting the nitrogen-rich leaves of fixers[8,9]. We analysed 1,626 leaves from 350 seedlings of 43 tropical tree species in Panama and found that: (1) although herbivory reduces the growth and survival of all seedlings, nitrogen-fixing trees undergo 26% more herbivory than non-fixers; (2) fixers have 34% higher carbon opportunity costs owing to herbivory than non-fixers, exceeding the metabolic cost of fixing nitrogen; and (3) the high herbivory of fixers is not driven by high leaf nitrogen. Our findings reveal that herbivory may be sufficient to limit tropical symbiotic nitrogen fixation and could constrain its role in alleviating nitrogen limitation on the tropical carbon sink.}, } @article {pmid36477425, year = {2022}, author = {Enders, L and Hansen, T and Brichler, K and Couture, J and French, E}, title = {Aphid species specializing on milkweed harbor taxonomically similar bacterial communities that differ in richness and relative abundance of core symbionts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {21127}, pmid = {36477425}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Host plant range is arguably one of the most important factors shaping microbial communities associated with insect herbivores. However, it is unclear whether host plant specialization limits microbial community diversity or to what extent herbivores sharing a common host plant evolve similar microbiomes. To investigate whether variation in host plant range influences the assembly of core herbivore symbiont populations we compared bacterial diversity across three milkweed aphid species (Aphis nerii, Aphis asclepiadis, Myzocallis asclepiadis) feeding on a common host plant (Asclepias syriaca) using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Overall, although there was significant overlap in taxa detected across all three aphid species (i.e. similar composition), some structural differences were identified within communities. Each aphid species harbored bacterial communities that varied in terms of richness and relative abundance of key symbionts. However, bacterial community diversity did not vary with degree of aphid host plant specialization. Interestingly, the narrow specialist A. asclepiadis harbored significantly higher relative abundances of the facultative symbiont Arsenophonus compared to the other two aphid species. Although many low abundance microbes were shared across all milkweed aphids, key differences in symbiotic partnerships were observed that could influence host physiology or additional ecological variation in traits that are microbially-mediated. Overall, this study suggests overlap in host plant range can select for taxonomically similar microbiomes across herbivore species, but variation in core aphid symbionts within these communities may still occur.}, } @article {pmid36475917, year = {2023}, author = {Shang, JY and Zhang, P and Jia, YW and Lu, YN and Wu, Y and Ji, S and Chen, L and Wang, ET and Chen, WX and Sui, XH}, title = {Scrutiny of NolA and NodD1 Regulatory Roles in Symbiotic Compatibility Unveils New Insights into Bradyrhizobium guangxiense CCBAU53363 Interacting with Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata).}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0209622}, pmid = {36475917}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Arachis/metabolism ; *Vigna ; Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium guangxiense CCBAU53363 efficiently nodulates peanut but exhibits incompatible interaction with mung bean. By comparing the common nod region with those of other peanut bradyrhizobia efficiently nodulating these two hosts, distinctive characteristics with a single nodD isoform (nodD1) and a truncated nolA were identified. However, the regulatory roles of NodD1 and NolA and their coordination in legume-bradyrhizobial interactions remain largely unknown in terms of explaining the contrasting symbiotic compatibility. Here, we report that nolA was important for CCBAU53363 symbiosis with peanut but restricted nodulation on mung bean, while nodD1 was dispensable for CCBAU53363 symbiosis with peanut but essential for nodulation on mung bean. Moreover, nolA exerted a cumulative contribution with nodD1 to efficient symbiosis with peanut. Additionally, mutants lacking nolA delayed nodulation on peanut, and both nolA and nodD1 were required for competitive nodule colonization. It is noteworth that most of the nodulation genes and type III secretion system (T3SS)-related genes were significantly downregulated in a strain 53ΔnodD1nolA mutant compared to wild-type strain CCBAU53363, and the downregulated nodulation genes also had a greater impact than T3SS-related genes on the symbiotic defect of 53ΔnodD1nolA on peanut, which was supported by a more severe symbiotic defect induced by 53ΔnodC than that with the 53ΔnodD1nopP, 53ΔnodD1rhcJ, and 53ΔnodD1ttsI mutants. NolA did not regulate nod gene expression but did regulate the T3SS effector gene nopP in an indirect way. Meanwhile, nolA, nodW, and some T3SS-related genes besides nopP were also demonstrated as new "repressors" that seriously impaired CCBAU53363 symbiosis with mung bean. Taken together, the roles and essentiality of nolA and nodD1 in modulating symbiotic compatibility are sophisticated and host dependent. IMPORTANCE The main findings of this study were that we clarified that the roles and essentiality of nodD1 and nolA are host dependent. Importantly, for the first time, NolA was found to positively regulate T3SS effector gene nopP to mediate incompatibility on mung bean. Additionally, NolA does not regulate nod genes, which are activated by NodD1. nolA exerts a cumulative effect with nodD1 on CCBAU53363 symbiosis with peanut. These findings shed new light on our understanding of coordinated regulation of NodD1 and NolA in peanut bradyrhizobia with different hosts.}, } @article {pmid36475838, year = {2023}, author = {Flynn, JK and Ortiz, AM and Herbert, R and Brenchley, JM}, title = {Host Genetics and Environment Shape the Composition of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome in Nonhuman Primates.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0213922}, pmid = {36475838}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Macaca mulatta ; Phylogeny ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Diet ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The bacterial component of the gastrointestinal tract microbiome is comprised of hundreds of species, the majority of which live in symbiosis with the host. The bacterial microbiome is influenced by host diet and disease history, and host genetics may additionally play a role. To understand the degree to which host genetics shapes the gastrointestinal tract microbiome, we studied fecal microbiomes in 4 species of nonhuman primates (NHPs) held in separate facilities but fed the same base diet. These animals include Chlorocebus pygerythrus, Chlorocebus sabaeus, Macaca mulatta, and Macaca nemestrina. We also followed gastrointestinal tract microbiome composition in 20 Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaques [RMs]) as they transitioned from an outdoor to indoor environment and compared 6 Chlorocebus pygerythrus monkeys that made the outdoor to indoor transition to their 9 captive-born offspring. We found that genetics can influence microbiome composition, with animals of different genera (Chlorocebus versus Macaca) having significantly different gastrointestinal (GI) microbiomes despite controlled diets. Animals within the same genera have more similar microbiomes, although still significantly different, and animals within the same species have even more similar compositions that are not significantly different. Significant differences were also not observed between wild-born and captive-born Chlorocebus pygerythrus, while there were significant changes in RMs as they transitioned into captivity. Together, these results suggest that the effects of captivity have a larger impact on the microbiome than other factors we examined within a single NHP species, although host genetics does significantly influence microbiome composition between NHP genera and species. IMPORTANCE Our data point to the degree to which host genetics can influence GI microbiome composition and suggest, within primate species, that individual host genetics is unlikely to significantly alter the microbiome. These data are important for the development of therapeutics aimed at altering the microbiome within populations of genetically disparate members of primate species.}, } @article {pmid36475796, year = {2022}, author = {Quigley, KM and Ramsby, B and Laffy, P and Harris, J and Mocellin, VJL and Bay, LK}, title = {Symbioses are restructured by repeated mass coral bleaching.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {49}, pages = {eabq8349}, pmid = {36475796}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Survival of symbiotic reef-building corals under global warming requires rapid acclimation or adaptation. The impact of accumulated heat stress was compared across 1643 symbiont communities before and after the 2016 mass bleaching in three coral species and free-living in the environment across ~900 kilometers of the Great Barrier Reef. Resilient reefs (less aerial bleaching than predicted from high satellite sea temperatures) showed low variation in symbioses. Before 2016, heat-tolerant environmental symbionts were common in ~98% of samples and moderately abundant (9 to 40% in samples). In corals, heat-tolerant symbionts were at low abundances (0 to 7.3%) but only in a minority (13 to 27%) of colonies. Following bleaching, environmental diversity doubled (including heat-tolerant symbionts) and increased in one coral species. Communities were dynamic (Acropora millepora) and conserved (Acropora hyacinthus and Acropora tenuis), including symbiont community turnover and redistribution. Symbiotic restructuring after bleaching occurs but is a taxon-specific ecological opportunity.}, } @article {pmid36475778, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Y and Liu, X and Dong, X and Yin, Z and Xie, Z and Luo, Y}, title = {Systematic Analysis of Lysine Acetylation Reveals Diverse Functions in Azorhizobium caulinodans Strain ORS571.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0353922}, pmid = {36475778}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {*Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics ; Lysine/metabolism ; Acetylation ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Protein acetylation can quickly modify the physiology of bacteria to respond to changes in environmental or nutritional conditions, but little information on these modifications is available in rhizobia. In this study, we report the lysine acetylome of Azorhizobium caulinodans strain ORS571, a model rhizobium isolated from stem nodules of the tropical legume Sesbania rostrata that is capable of fixing nitrogen in the free-living state and during symbiosis. Antibody enrichment and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis were used to characterize the acetylome. There are 2,302 acetylation sites from 982 proteins, accounting for 20.8% of the total proteins. Analysis of the acetylated motifs showed the preferences for the amino acid residues around acetylated lysines. The response regulator CheY1, previously characterized to be involved in chemotaxis in strain ORS571, was identified as an acetylated protein, and a mutation of the acetylated site of CheY1 significantly impaired the strain's motility. In addition, a Zn[+]-dependent deacetylase (AZC_0414) was characterized, and the construction of a deletion mutant strain showed that it played a role in chemotaxis. Our study provides the first global analysis of lysine acetylation in ORS571, suggesting that acetylation plays a role in various physiological processes. In addition, we demonstrate its involvement in the chemotaxis process. The acetylome of ORS571 provides insights to investigate the regulation mechanism of rhizobial physiology. IMPORTANCE Acetylation is an important modification that regulates protein function and has been found to regulate physiological processes in various bacteria. The physiology of rhizobium A. caulinodans ORS571 is regulated by multiple mechanisms both when free living and in symbiosis with the host; however, the regulatory role of acetylation is not yet known. Here, we took an acetylome-wide approach to identify acetylated proteins in A. caulinodans ORS571 and performed clustering analyses. Acetylation of chemotaxis proteins was preliminarily investigated, and the upstream acetylation-regulating enzyme involved in chemotaxis was characterized. These findings provide new insights to explore the physiological mechanisms of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid36474118, year = {2022}, author = {Roque-Romero, L and Guillén-Navarro, K and Zarza, E and Montoya, P and Liedo, P}, title = {Bacterial Diversity Associated with Anastrepha obliqua Males Change Under Mass-Rearing Conditions and with Irradiation.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {26}, pmid = {36474118}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Male ; Animals ; *Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent advances in understanding the symbiotic interactions between bacteria and fruit flies have shown that they are relevant for mass rearing and the sterile insect technique (SIT). SIT involves mass production and release of sterile insects that would copulate with their wild conspecifics and thus decrease the population growth rate. The irradiation process used to sterilize mass-reared flies can modify the diversity and structure of the midgut bacterial communities, which could affect sterile male survival, flight capacity, and sexual competitiveness. Our aim was to compare bacterial communities in the midgut of wild and mass-reared Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) males irradiated at 0, 60, and 80 Gy. After adult's emergence, their midguts were dissected, DNA was extracted, and high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene was performed. A total of 11 phyla, 17 classes, 47 families, and 52 genera of bacteria were identified. The most representative phylum was Proteobacteria and the predominant family was Enterobacteriaceae. We found that wild males had a different intestinal bacterial community from mass-reared males. In addition, irradiation at 60 and 80 Gy caused changes in the diversity and structure of the midgut microbiota of these sterile males, suggesting that mass rearing and irradiation cause artificial selection of the bacterial communities in the gut of A. obliqua males.}, } @article {pmid36473886, year = {2022}, author = {da Silva, MK and de Souza, LMD and Vieira, R and Neto, AA and Lopes, FAC and de Oliveira, FS and Convey, P and Carvalho-Silva, M and Duarte, AWF and Câmara, PEAS and Rosa, LH}, title = {Fungal and fungal-like diversity in marine sediments from the maritime Antarctic assessed using DNA metabarcoding.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {21044}, pmid = {36473886}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Antarctic Regions ; *Biotechnology ; Ecology ; DNA ; }, abstract = {We assessed the fungal and fungal-like sequence diversity present in marine sediments obtained in the vicinity of the South Shetland Islands (Southern Ocean) using DNA metabarcoding through high-throughput sequencing (HTS). A total of 193,436 DNA reads were detected in sediment obtained from three locations: Walker Bay (Livingston Island) at 52 m depth (48,112 reads), Whalers Bay (Deception Island) at 151 m (104,704) and English Strait at 404 m (40,620). The DNA sequence reads were assigned to 133 distinct fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) representing the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mucoromycota and Rozellomycota and the fungal-like Straminopila. Thelebolus balaustiformis, Pseudogymnoascus sp., Fungi sp. 1, Ciliophora sp., Agaricomycetes sp. and Chaetoceros sp. were the dominant assigned taxa. Thirty-eight fungal ASVs could only be assigned to higher taxonomic levels, and may represent taxa not currently included in the available databases or represent new taxa and/or new records for Antarctica. The total fungal community displayed high indices of diversity, richness and moderate to low dominance. However, diversity and taxa distribution varied across the three sampling sites. In Walker Bay, unidentified fungi were dominant in the sequence assemblage. Whalers Bay sediment was dominated by Antarctic endemic and cold-adapted taxa. Sediment from English Strait was dominated by Ciliophora sp. and Chaetoceros sp. These fungal assemblages were dominated by saprotrophic, plant and animal pathogenic and symbiotic taxa. The detection of an apparently rich and diverse fungal community in these marine sediments reinforces the need for further studies to characterize their richness, functional ecology and potential biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid36473704, year = {2022}, author = {Donkersley, P and Rice, A and Graham, RI and Wilson, K}, title = {Gut microbial community supplementation and reduction modulates African armyworm susceptibility to a baculovirus.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {36473704}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {BB/P023444/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Baculoviridae/genetics ; Spodoptera/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; African People ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota stimulates the immune system and inhibits pathogens, and thus, it is critical for disease prevention. Probiotics represent an effective alternative to antibiotics used for the therapy and prevention of bacterial diseases. Probiotic bacteria are commonly used in vertebrates, although their use in invertebrates is still rare. We manipulated the gut microbiome of the African Armyworm (Spodoptera exempta Walker) using antibiotics and field-collected frass, in an attempt to understand the interactions of the gut microbiome with the nucleopolyhedrovirus, SpexNPV. We found that S. exempta individuals with supplemented gut microbiome were significantly more resistant to SpexNPV, relative to those with a typical laboratory gut microbiome. Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed the bacterial phyla in the S. exempta gut belonged to 28 different classes. Individuals with an increased abundance of Lactobacillales had a higher probability of surviving viral infection. In contrast, there was an increased abundance of Enterobacteriales and Pseudomonadales in individuals dying from viral infection, corresponding with decreased abundance of these two Orders in surviving caterpillars, suggesting a potential role for them in modulating the interaction between the host and its pathogen. These results have important implications for laboratory studies testing biopesticides.}, } @article {pmid36473438, year = {2022}, author = {Arnold, AE}, title = {Mycology: Metagenomes illuminate evolutionary relationships and reframe symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {23}, pages = {R1304-R1306}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.041}, pmid = {36473438}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {An intriguing new study leverages newly generated metagenomes to remap the evolution of the most species-rich clade of fungi, highlighting how some of the most intriguing and visible manifestations of symbioses - lichens - may arise.}, } @article {pmid36472572, year = {2022}, author = {Pilgrim, J}, title = {The opportunities of research parasitism: A case study using the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD).}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36472572}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {*Biological Science Disciplines ; }, abstract = {The Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) is primarily used to identify biological specimens based on a mitochondrial gene sequence and has been an underpinning resource for life science researchers. Importantly, curators of BOLD archive DNA extracts where possible, and also record contaminant sequences that can be made available on request. This collegial offering of samples and data led to our work describing the serendipitous discovery of new interactions between a Torix Rickettsia bacterium and their arthropod hosts and resulted in winning the 2022 Junior Research Parasite Award. A case study of this work is presented, which discusses the opportunities provided by secondary data and how careful maintenance of such large-scale repositories plays a vital role in scientific research that goes beyond obvious lines of enquiry.}, } @article {pmid36471635, year = {2022}, author = {Patra, D and Mandal, S}, title = {Non-rhizobia are the alternative sustainable solution for growth and development of the nonlegume plants.}, journal = {Biotechnology & genetic engineering reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-30}, doi = {10.1080/02648725.2022.2152623}, pmid = {36471635}, issn = {2046-5556}, abstract = {The major research focus for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) has mostly been on typical rhizobia with legumes. But the newly identified non-rhizobial bacteria, both individually or in combination could also be an alternative for nitrogen supplementation in both legumes and nonlegume plants. Although about 90% of BNF is derived from a legume - rhizobia symbiosis, the non-legumes specially the cereals lack canonical nitrogen fixation system through root-nodule organogenesis. The non-rhizobia may colonize in the rhizosphere or present in endophytic/associative nature. The non-rhizobia are well known for facilitating plant growth through their potential to alleviate various stresses (salt, drought, and pathogens), acquisition of minerals (P, K, etc.), or by producing phytohormones. Bacterial symbiosis in non-legumes represents by the Gram-positive Frankia having a major contribution in overall fortification of usable nitrogenous material in soil where they are associated with their hosts. This review discusses the recent updates on the diversity and association of the non-rhizobial species and their impact on the growth and productivity of their host plants with particular emphasis on major economically important cereal plants. The future application possibilities of non-rhizobia for soil fertility and plant growth enhancement for sustainable agriculture have been discussed.}, } @article {pmid36469673, year = {2022}, author = {Fang, ST and Miao, FP and Yin, XL and Ji, NY}, title = {A new lanostane-type triterpenoid from the marine shellfish symbiotic fungus Ceriporia lacerata CD7-5.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2022.2154345}, pmid = {36469673}, issn = {1478-6427}, abstract = {One new lanostane-type triterpenoid, 3β-acetoxy-7,11-dioxolanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (1), together with six known analogues (2-7), were isolated from the cultures of a marine fungus Ceriporia lacerata CD7-5, which was derived from the shellfish Ostrea denselamellosa. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature reported. The biological activities of these lanostane triterpenoids against marine-derived microalgae, zooplankton, and pathogenic bacteria were also evaluated in this study.}, } @article {pmid36468447, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Y}, title = {Algal epigenetics: insights from DNA methylation in a symbiotic dinoflagellate.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {289-291}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13090}, pmid = {36468447}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Dinoflagellida/genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, } @article {pmid36467722, year = {2022}, author = {Hodosi, R and Kazimirova, M and Soltys, K}, title = {What do we know about the microbiome of I. ricinus?.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {990889}, pmid = {36467722}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ixodes ; *Microbiota ; Coxiella ; Symbiosis ; *Rickettsia ; *Francisella tularensis ; }, abstract = {I. ricinus is an obligate hematophagous parasitic arthropod that is responsible for the transmission of a wide range of zoonotic pathogens including spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, Rickettsia spp., C. burnetii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Francisella tularensis, which are part the tick´s microbiome. Most of the studies focus on "pathogens" and only very few elucidate the role of "non-pathogenic" symbiotic microorganisms in I. ricinus. While most of the members of the microbiome are leading an intracellular lifestyle, they are able to complement tick´s nutrition and stress response having a great impact on tick´s survival and transmission of pathogens. The composition of the tick´s microbiome is not consistent and can be tied to the environment, tick species, developmental stage, or specific organ or tissue. Ovarian tissue harbors a stable microbiome consisting mainly but not exclusively of endosymbiotic bacteria, while the microbiome of the digestive system is rather unstable, and together with salivary glands, is mostly comprised of pathogens. The most prevalent endosymbionts found in ticks are Rickettsia spp., Ricketsiella spp., Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, Spiroplasma spp. and Candidatus Midichloria spp. Since microorganisms can modify ticks' behavior, such as mobility, feeding or saliva production, which results in increased survival rates, we aimed to elucidate the potential, tight relationship, and interaction between bacteria of the I. ricinus microbiome. Here we show that endosymbionts including Coxiella-like spp., can provide I. ricinus with different types of vitamin B (B2, B6, B7, B9) essential for eukaryotic organisms. Furthermore, we hypothesize that survival of Wolbachia spp., or the bacterial pathogen A. phagocytophilum can be supported by the tick itself since coinfection with symbiotic Spiroplasma ixodetis provides I. ricinus with complete metabolic pathway of folate biosynthesis necessary for DNA synthesis and cell division. Manipulation of tick´s endosymbiotic microbiome could present a perspective way of I. ricinus control and regulation of spread of emerging bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36466680, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, L and Han, L and Zhao, Z and Li, Q and Wang, Y and Ding, G and Xing, X}, title = {Furanoids from the Gymnadenia conopsea (Orchidaceae) seed germination supporting fungus Ceratobasidium sp. (GS2).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1037292}, pmid = {36466680}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Five furanoids including a new analog (S)-1,4-di(furan-2-yl)-2-hydroxybutane-1,4-dione (1) together with four known ones, rhizosolaniol (2), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (3), 2-furoic acid (4) and (2-furyl) oxoacetamide (5), were isolated from the fungal strain Ceratobasidium sp. (GS2) inducing seed germination of the endangered medicinal plant Gymnadenia conopsea of Orchidaceae. The structure of new furanoid 1 was determined mainly based on HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectral data. Modified Mosher's reactions were used to establish the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group in 1, which was not stable in Mosher's reagents and transformed into four analogs 6-9. These degraded products (6-9) were elucidated based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis, and compound 8 was further isolated from the degraded mixture and its structure was characterized through NMR experiments. Therefore, the absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by electronic circular dichroism combined with quantum-chemical calculations adopting time-dependent density functional theory. Compounds (1-5), and 8 showed weak antioxidant activities, and compounds (2-4) displayed phytotoxicity on punctured detached green foxtail leaves. In addition, compounds 3 and 4 strongly showed inhibition activities on the seed germination of G. conopsea. This was the first chemical investigation of the symbiotic fungus of G. conopsea.}, } @article {pmid36466654, year = {2022}, author = {Nguyen, PN and Rehan, SM}, title = {The effects of urban land use gradients on wild bee microbiomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {992660}, pmid = {36466654}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bees and their microbes interact in complex networks in which bees form symbiotic relationships with their bacteria and fungi. Microbial composition and abundance affect bee health through nutrition, immunity, and fitness. In ever-expanding urban landscapes, land use development changes bee habitats and floral resource availability, thus altering the sources of microbes that wild bees need to establish their microbiome. Here, we implement metabarcoding of the bacterial 16S and fungal ITS regions to characterize the diversity and composition of the microbiome in 58 small carpenter bees, Ceratina calcarata, across urban land use gradients (study area 6,425 km[2]). By categorizing land use development, green space, precipitation, and temperature variables as indicators of habitat across the city, we found that land use variables can predict microbial diversity. Microbial composition was also found to vary across urban land use gradients, with certain microbes such as Acinetobacter and Apilactobacillus overrepresented in less urban locations and Penicillium more abundant in developed areas. Environmental features may also lead to differences in microbe interactions, as co-occurrences between bacteria and fungi varied across percent land use development, exemplified by the correlation between Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas being more prevalent in areas of higher urban development. Surrounding landscapes change the microbial landscape in wild bees and alter the relationships they have with their microbiome. As such, urban centres should consider the impact of growing cities on their pollinators' health and protect wild bees from the effects of anthropogenic activities.}, } @article {pmid36466630, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, R and Zheng, W and Guo, J and Hou, R and Huang, H and Xue, F and Zhou, Y and Wu, W and Huang, C and Gu, J and Feng, F and Yu, X and Liu, J and Li, Z and Zhang, L and Lan, G and Chen, C and Bi, W and Dai, Q and Owens, JR and Yang, H and Gu, X and Yan, QG and Qi, D}, title = {Symbiotic microbiota and odor ensure mating in time for giant pandas.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1015513}, pmid = {36466630}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {To achieve reproduction, male solitary mammals need to locate females using chemical communication with high levels of precision. In the case of giant pandas, the total estrus period of females was usually 15 days each year, however, successful mating activity is finished within 3 days from respective home range. The mating pattern of giant pandas, where multiple males compete for each female requires females employ efficient systems to communicate their estrus phases. To verifying whether the scent secretions of giant pandas changes by gender and estrus progression, the microbiota and compounds in 29 anogenital gland samples from 14 individuals during estrus were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and GC-MS. We show that the microbiota communities covary by gender with 4 particular compounds of scent secretions. Among 597 genera, 34 were identified as biomarkers that could be used to distinguish between different estrus phases. By bacterial-compounds co-analysis, 3 fatty ester acids and squalene compounds covaried with the development of estrus in the bacterial communities of female giant pandas. This study helps clarify how a large, solitary mammal expresses accurate information to improve the likelihood of successful reproduction by changing the composition of microbiota and odor compounds of anogenital glands during estrus.}, } @article {pmid36466284, year = {2022}, author = {Wei, X and Zhang, W and Zulfiqar, F and Zhang, C and Chen, J}, title = {Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi as biostimulants for improving propagation and production of ericaceous plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1027390}, pmid = {36466284}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The mutualistic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots is a widespread terrestrial symbiosis. The symbiosis enables plants to better adapt to adverse soil conditions, enhances plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and improves plant establishment and growth. Thus, mycorrhizal fungi are considered biostimulants. Among the four most common types of mycorrhizae, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and ectomycorrhiza (EcM) have been more intensively studied than ericoid mycorrhiza (ErM) and orchidaceous mycorrhiza (OrM). ErM fungi can form symbiotic relationships with plants in the family Ericaceae. Economically important plants in this family include blueberry, bilberry, cranberry, and rhododendron. ErM fungi are versatile as they are both saprotrophic and biotrophic. Increasing reports have shown that they can degrade soil organic matter, resulting in the bioavailability of nutrients for plants and microbes. ErM fungi can synthesize hormones to improve fungal establishment and plant root initiation and growth. ErM colonization enables plants to effective acquisition of mineral nutrients. Colonized plants are able to tolerate different abiotic stresses, including drought, heavy metals, and soil salinity as well as biotic stresses, such as pathogen infections. This article is intended to briefly introduce ErM fungi and document their beneficial effects on ericaceous plants. It is anticipated that the exploration of this special group of fungi will further improve our understanding of their value of symbiosis to ericaceous plants and ultimately result in the application of valuable species or strains for improving the establishment and growth of ericaceous plants.}, } @article {pmid36466271, year = {2022}, author = {Li, RJ and Zhang, CX and Fan, SY and Wang, YH and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {The Medicago truncatula hydrolase MtCHIT5b degrades Nod factors of Sinorhizobium meliloti and cooperates with MtNFH1 to regulate the nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1034230}, pmid = {36466271}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nod factors secreted by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are lipo-chitooligosaccharidic signals required for establishment of the nodule symbiosis with legumes. In Medicago truncatula, the Nod factor hydrolase 1 (MtNFH1) was found to cleave Nod factors of Sinorhizobium meliloti. Here, we report that the class V chitinase MtCHIT5b of M. truncatula expressed in Escherichia coli can release lipodisaccharides from Nod factors. Analysis of M. truncatula mutant plants indicated that MtCHIT5b, together with MtNFH1, degrades S. meliloti Nod factors in the rhizosphere. MtCHIT5b expression was induced by treatment of roots with purified Nod factors or inoculation with rhizobia. MtCHIT5b with a fluorescent tag was detected in the infection pocket of root hairs. Nodulation of a MtCHIT5b knockout mutant was not significantly altered whereas overexpression of MtCHIT5b resulted in fewer nodules. Reduced nodulation was observed when MtCHIT5b and MtNFH1 were simultaneously silenced in RNA interference experiments. Overall, this study shows that nodule formation of M. truncatula is regulated by a second Nod factor cleaving hydrolase in addition to MtNFH1.}, } @article {pmid36466252, year = {2022}, author = {Pop-Moldovan, V and Corcoz, L and Stoian, V and Moldovan, C and Pleșa, A and Vâtcă, S and Stoian, V and Vidican, R}, title = {Models of mycorrhizal colonization patterns and strategies induced by biostimulator treatments in Zea mays roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1052066}, pmid = {36466252}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Agronomic inputs and technologies, especially fertilizers, act on the evolution of the symbiotic partnership between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and cultivated plants. The use of the MycoPatt method for the assessment of mycorrhizas in maize roots leads to the extraction of large parameter databases with an increased resolution over the colonization mechanism. The application of a biostimulator treatment on plants acted toward a reduction of root permissiveness for mycorrhizas. The phenomenon was noticeable through an increased colonization variability that overlapped with plant nutritional needs. The annual characteristic of the plant was highlighted by the simultaneous presence of arbuscules and vesicles, with a high share of arbuscules in the advanced phenophases. Colonized root parts presented numerous arbuscule-dominated areas in all phenophases, which indicated a continuous formation of these structures and an intense nutrient transfer between partners. Mycorrhizal maps showed the slowing effect of the biostimulators on colonization, with one phenophase delay in the case of biostimulated plants compared to the ones without biostimulators. The forecast models presented gradual colonization in plants without biostimulators, with the expansion of new hyphal networks. The use of biostimulators on plants exhibited a lower permissiveness for new colonization areas, and the mechanism relies on hyphae developed in the former phenophases.}, } @article {pmid36466235, year = {2022}, author = {Sánchez-Correa, MDS and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Pozas-Rodríguez, EA and Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Morales-Salazar, A and Del Castillo, SML and Sanchez-Flores, A and Jiménez-Jacinto, V and Reyes, JL and Formey, D and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Argonaute5 and its associated small RNAs modulate the transcriptional response during the rhizobia-Phaseolus vulgaris symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1034419}, pmid = {36466235}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Both plant- and rhizobia-derived small RNAs play an essential role in regulating the root nodule symbiosis in legumes. Small RNAs, in association with Argonaute proteins, tune the expression of genes participating in nodule development and rhizobial infection. However, the role of Argonaute proteins in this symbiosis has been overlooked. In this study, we provide transcriptional evidence showing that Argonaute5 (AGO5) is a determinant genetic component in the root nodule symbiosis in Phaseolus vulgaris. A spatio-temporal transcriptional analysis revealed that the promoter of PvAGO5 is active in lateral root primordia, root hairs from rhizobia-inoculated roots, nodule primordia, and mature nodules. Transcriptional analysis by RNA sequencing revealed that gene silencing of PvAGO5 affected the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of the cell wall and phytohormones participating in the rhizobial infection process and nodule development. PvAGO5 immunoprecipitation coupled to small RNA sequencing revealed the small RNAs bound to PvAGO5 during the root nodule symbiosis. Identification of small RNAs associated to PvAGO5 revealed miRNAs previously known to participate in this symbiotic process, further supporting a role for AGO5 in this process. Overall, the data presented shed light on the roles that PvAGO5 plays during the root nodule symbiosis in P. vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid36464913, year = {2023}, author = {Gilliland, CA and Patel, V and McCormick, AC and Mackett, BM and Vogel, KJ}, title = {Using axenic and gnotobiotic insects to examine the role of different microbes on the development and reproduction of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {920-935}, pmid = {36464913}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Rhodnius/genetics/microbiology ; *Vitamin B Complex ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Kissing bugs (Hempitera: Reduviidae) are obligately and exclusively blood feeding insects. Vertebrate blood is thought to provide insufficient B vitamins to insects, which rely on symbiotic relationships with bacteria that provision these nutrients. Kissing bugs harbour environmentally acquired bacteria in their gut lumen, without which they are unable to develop to adulthood. Rhodococcus rhodnii was initially identified as the sole symbiont of Rhodnius prolixus, but modern studies of the kissing bug microbiome suggest that R. rhodnii is not always present or abundant in wild-caught individuals. We asked whether R. rhodnii or other bacteria alone could function as symbionts of R. prolixus. We produced insects with no bacteria (axenic) or with known microbiomes (gnotobiotic). Gnotobiotic insects harbouring R. rhodnii alone developed faster, had higher survival, and laid more eggs than those harbouring other bacterial monocultures, including other described symbionts of kissing bugs. R. rhodnii grew to high titre in the guts of R. prolixus while other tested species were found at much lower abundance. Rhodococcus species tested had nearly identical B vitamin biosynthesis genes, and dietary supplementation of B vitamins had a relatively minor effect on development and survival of gnotobiotic R. prolixus. Our results indicate that R. prolixus have a higher fitness when harbouring R. rhodnii than other bacteria tested, that this may be due to R. rhodnii existing at higher titres and providing more B vitamins to the host, and that symbiont B vitamin synthesis is probably a necessary but not sufficient function of gut bacteria in kissing bugs.}, } @article {pmid36464339, year = {2022}, author = {Kong, XX and Tang, R and Liao, CM and Wang, J and Dai, K and Tang, Z and Han, RC and Jin, YL and Cao, L}, title = {A novel volatile deterrent from symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes fortifies field performances of nematodes against fall armyworm larvae.}, journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {105286}, doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105286}, pmid = {36464339}, issn = {1095-9939}, mesh = {Animals ; Larva ; Spodoptera ; *Bacteria ; Zea mays ; *Nematoda ; }, abstract = {The core elements of entomopathogenic nematode toxicity towards the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda are associated with symbiotic bacteria. These microbes provide independent control effects and are reported to have repellency to insect pests. However, the ecological background of this nematode-bacteria-insect communication module is elusive. This work aims to identify key chemical cues which drive the trophic interactions through olfactory reception of S. frugiperda, and to inspire implementations with these isolated behavioral regulators in the corn field. A total of 657 volatiles were found within 13 symbiotic bacterial strains, and five of them induced significant electrophysiological responses of S. frugiperda larvae. 2-Hexynoic acid was demonstrated to exhibit a dominant role in deterring S. frugiperda larvae from feeding and localization. Field implementations with this novel volatile deterrent have resulted in fortified nematode applications. 2-Hexynoic acid acts as an excellent novel deterrent and presents remarkable application potential against fall armyworm larvae. Emissions from symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes are key players in chemical communication among insects, nematodes, and microbes. The olfactory perceptions and molecular targets for this volatile are worthy of future research.}, } @article {pmid36464288, year = {2022}, author = {Ezoe, S and Ueda, K and Matsuo, H and Nagaoka, H and Akakabe, Y}, title = {A New Approach to Prepare Chiral Aroma: Asymmetric Oxidation of Ionols with a Heme Acquisition System A Derived from Symbiotic Fluorescent Bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of oleo science}, volume = {71}, number = {12}, pages = {1769-1775}, doi = {10.5650/jos.ess22277}, pmid = {36464288}, issn = {1347-3352}, mesh = {*Odorants ; *Butylated Hydroxytoluene ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Bacteria ; Ethanol ; 2-Propanol ; Heme ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to propose an alternative route for preparing chiral β- and α-ionols by asymmetric oxidation with a heme acquisition system A (HasA) derived from symbiotic fluorescent bacteria as a biocatalyst. The HasA (6 g) in distilled water (300 mL) was stirred at 1150 rpm for 1 day at 40°C. Subsequently, a secondary alcohol (0.77 mmol) as a substrate in 2% 2-propanol was added to the catalyst solution. After verifying that the oxidation proceeded to ca 50% using gas chromatography (GC), the reaction mixture was filtered, extracted, washed, and dried over. The extract was concentrated in vacuo and purified using silica gel column chromatography to yield the oxidized product and recover the unreacted alcohol. β-Ionol was oxidized into β-ionone in a conversion of ca. 50% in the presence of the HasA for three days, and the remaining alcohol was recovered and analyzed using chiral GC after acetylation. The HasA selectively catalyzed the asymmetric oxidation of β-ionol with a preference for the (R)- form to recover (S)-β-ionol with 96.4 ±1.6% enantiomeric excess (ee). In addition, α-ionol was similarly oxidized into α-ionone in a conversion of ca. 50% for seven days, preferentially remaining (9S)-α-ionol with 97.9 ± 0.2% ee. The characteristic aroma of (S)-β-ionol obtained by the asymmetric oxidation with the HasA showed floral and fruity like, while the aroma of (9S)-α-ionol described as violet and sweet. In this study, we successfully developed a new approach to prepare enantiomerically pure (S)-β- and α-ionols by the asymmetric oxidation with the HasA.}, } @article {pmid36464263, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, YQ and Xia, A and Zhang, MH and Li, JL and Zhu, GD and Tang, JX}, title = {[Microbiota structure and diversity in Aedes albopictus at different developmental stages].}, journal = {Zhongguo xue xi chong bing fang zhi za zhi = Chinese journal of schistosomiasis control}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {475-483}, doi = {10.16250/j.32.1374.2022144}, pmid = {36464263}, issn = {1005-6661}, mesh = {Humans ; Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; *Aedes ; *Flavobacteriaceae Infections ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Larva ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diversity and composition of microflora in laboratory-reared Aedes albopictus at different developmental stages and larval habitat waters.

METHODS: The larval habitat waters and different developmental stages of laboratory-reared A. albopictus were collected, and the V3 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were sequenced using Illumina Miseq next-generation sequencing. The abundance and diversity of the microflora were examined using alpha diversity index in A. albopictus at different developmental stages, and the difference in the microflora compositions was compared in A. albopictus at different developmental stages using principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, the species composition and relative abundance of microflora in A. albopictus at different developmental stages were described using histograms and Venn diagrams.

RESULTS: A total of 16 phyla, 30 classes, 72 orders, 129 families and 224 genera of bacteria were detected in larval habitat waters and different developmental stages of A. albopictus. The highest bacterial diversity was seen in larval A. albopictus, with Chao index of 125.20 ± 30.48 and Shannon diversity index of 2.04 ± 0.39, which were comparable to those (Chao index of 118.52 ± 15.07 and Shannon diversity index of 2.15 ± 0.30) in larval habitat waters (t = 0.35 and -0.41, both P values > 0.05). The bacterial abundance and evenness were significantly greater in female adults than in male adults (Chao index: 42.50 ± 3.54 vs. 18.50 ± 2.13, t = 8.23, P < 0.05; Shannon diversity index: 1.25 ± 1.67 vs. 0.50 ± 0.05, t = 6.00, P < 0.05). Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota and Finnicutes were four common phyla of bacteria at each developmental stage of A. albopictus, with Proteobacteria dominated at the pupal stage (90.36%), Bacteroidota dominated at the adult stage (46.01% in female adults and 86.11% in male adults), and Actinobacteriota dominated at the larval stage (32.10%). Elizabethkingia and Rahnella 1 were common dominant genera of bacteria at each developmental stage of A. albopictus, with Rahnellal as the major component at the pupal stage (87.56%), Elizabethkingia as the main component at the adult stage (46.01% in female adults and 86.11% in male adults, respectively), and Microbacteria as the dominant bacterial genus at the larval stage (12.11%). In addition, Delftia, Elizabethkingia, Romboutsia, Serratia, Rahnella 1, Enterococcus and Microbacterium were common genera of bacteria at each developmental stage of A. albopictus, with Edaphobaculum dominated at the larval stage (17.54%) and Sphingobacterium dominated in larval habitat waters (13.93%).

CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in the composition of symbiotic bacteria at different developmental stages of A. albopictus; however, similar microflora diversity is maintained at the phylum level. The microflora diversity is comparable in larvae and larval habitat waters of A. albopictus.}, } @article {pmid36464145, year = {2023}, author = {Kalra, R and Conlan, XA and Goel, M}, title = {Recent advances in research for potential utilization of unexplored lichen metabolites.}, journal = {Biotechnology advances}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {108072}, doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108072}, pmid = {36464145}, issn = {1873-1899}, mesh = {*Lichens/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Biomass ; }, abstract = {Several research studies have shown that lichens are productive organisms for the synthesis of a broad range of secondary metabolites. Lichens are a self-sustainable stable microbial ecosystem comprising an exhabitant fungal partner (mycobiont) and at least one or more photosynthetic partners (photobiont). The successful symbiosis is responsible for their persistence throughout time and allows all the partners (holobionts) to thrive in many extreme habitats, where without the synergistic relationship they would be rare or non-existent. The ability to survive in harsh conditions can be directly correlated with the production of some unique metabolites. Despite the potential applications, these unique metabolites have been underutilised by pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries due to their slow growth, low biomass availability and technical challenges involved in their artificial cultivation. However, recent development of biotechnological tools such as molecular phylogenetics, modern tissue culture techniques, metabolomics and molecular engineering are opening up a new opportunity to exploit these compounds within the lichen holobiome for industrial applications. This review also highlights the recent advances in culturing the symbionts and the computational and molecular genetics approaches of lichen gene regulation recognized for the enhanced production of target metabolites. The recent development of multi-omics novel biodiscovery strategies aided by synthetic biology in order to study the heterologous expressed lichen-derived biosynthetic gene clusters in a cultivatable host offers a promising means for a sustainable supply of specialized metabolites.}, } @article {pmid36463678, year = {2023}, author = {Marques, JA and Gafni, A and Adler, O and Levy, O and Bar-Zeev, E}, title = {Antiscalants used in the desalination industry impact the physiology of the coral Montipora capricornis.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {229}, number = {}, pages = {119411}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.119411}, pmid = {36463678}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Antioxidants ; Coral Reefs ; Bacteria ; Equidae ; }, abstract = {Many coral reefs are found in arid and semi-arid regions that often face severe water scarcity and depend on seawater desalination for freshwater supply. Alongside freshwater production, desalination plants discharge brine waste into the sea. Brine includes various chemicals (e.g., antiscalants) that may harm the coastal environment. Although widely used, little is known about the ecotoxicological effects of antiscalants (AS) on hard corals. This study compared the impacts of polyphosphonate-based and polymer-based ASs on the coral Montipora capricornis. After two weeks of exposure, we determined the effects of AS on coral physiology, symbiotic microalgae, and associated bacteria, using various analytical approaches such as optical coherence tomography, pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry, and oxidative stress biomarkers. Both ASs reduced polyp activity (∼25%) and caused tissue damage (30% and 41% for polymer and polyphosphonate based AS, respectively). In addition, exposure to polyphosphonate-based AS decreased the abundance of endosymbiotic algae (39%) and upregulated the antioxidant capacity of the animal host (45%). The microalgal symbionts were under oxidative stress, with increased levels of antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage (a 2-fold increase compared to the control). Interestingly, exposure to AS enhanced the numbers of associated bacteria (∼40% compared to the control seawater) regardless of the AS type. Our results introduce new insights into the effects of brine on the physiology of hard corals, highlighting that choosing AS type must be examined according to the receiving ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid36462768, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, B and Zhang, N and He, A and Wang, C and Li, Z and Zhang, G and Xue, R}, title = {Carrier type affects anammox community assembly, species interactions and nitrogen conversion.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {369}, number = {}, pages = {128422}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128422}, pmid = {36462768}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Nitrogen ; *Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Bioreactors ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Metagenomics ; Anaerobiosis ; Denitrification ; }, abstract = {The impacts of carrier type on anammox community assembly, species interactions and nitrogen conversion were studied in this work. It was found that in addition to shared species with higher abundance, different carrier types recruited rare species by imposing selection pressure. Results from co-occurrence networks revealed that carrier type strongly influenced interactions between keystone species inhabiting within anammox biofilm through potentially inducing niche differences. Overall, elastic cubic sponges would lead to closer cooperation between different populations, whereas plastic hollow cylinders would trigger fiercer competition. Meanwhile, the results based on metagenomics sequencing showed carrier type significantly affected nitrogen conversion related genes abundances, and higher reads number was detected on the elastic cubic sponges. The information obtained in this work could provide some valuable information for the selection and optimization of carrier type in the anammox process.}, } @article {pmid36460717, year = {2022}, author = {López-Londoño, T and Gómez-Campo, K and Hernández-Pech, X and Enríquez, S and Iglesias-Prieto, R}, title = {Photosynthetic usable energy explains vertical patterns of biodiversity in zooxanthellate corals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {20821}, pmid = {36460717}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Ecosystem ; Biodiversity ; Coral Reefs ; Water ; }, abstract = {The biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems is distributed heterogeneously across spatial and temporal scales, being commonly influenced by biogeographic factors, habitat area and disturbance frequency. A potential association between gradients of usable energy and biodiversity patterns has received little empirical support in these ecosystems. Here, we analyzed the productivity and biodiversity variation over depth gradients in symbiotic coral communities, whose members rely on the energy translocated by photosynthetic algal symbionts (zooxanthellae). Using a mechanistic model we explored the association between the depth-dependent variation in photosynthetic usable energy to corals and gradients of species diversity, comparing reefs with contrasting water clarity and biodiversity patterns across global hotspots of marine biodiversity. The productivity-biodiversity model explained between 64 and 95% of the depth-related variation in coral species richness, indicating that much of the variation in species richness with depth is driven by changes in the fractional contribution of photosynthetically fixed energy by the zooxanthellae. These results suggest a fundamental role of solar energy availability and photosynthetic production in explaining global-scale patterns of coral biodiversity and community structure along depth gradients. Accordingly, the maintenance of water optical quality in coral reefs is fundamental to protect coral biodiversity and prevent reef degradation.}, } @article {pmid36459883, year = {2023}, author = {Roberts, M and Srivastava, P and Webster, G and Weightman, AJ and Sapsford, DJ}, title = {Biostimulation of jarosite and iron oxide-bearing mine waste enhances subsequent metal recovery.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {445}, number = {}, pages = {130498}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130498}, pmid = {36459883}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {*Glycerol ; Metals ; Iron ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis ; Industrial Waste ; }, abstract = {Novel resource recovery technologies are required for metals-bearing hazardous wastes in order to achieve circular economy outcomes and industrial symbiosis. Iron oxide and co-occurring hydroxysulphate-bearing wastes are globally abundant and often contain other elements of value. This work addresses the biostimulation of indigenous microbial communities within an iron oxide/ hydroxysulphate-bearing waste and its effect on the subsequent recoverability of metals by hydrochloric, sulphuric, citric acids, and EDTA. Laboratory-scale flow-through column reactors were used to examine the effect of using glycerol (10% w/w) to stimulate the in situ microbial community in an iron oxide/ hydroxysulphate-bearing mine waste. The effects on the evolution of leachate chemistry, changes in microbiological community, and subsequent hydrometallurgical extractability of metals were studied. Results demonstrated increased leachability and selectivity of Pb, Cu, and Zn relative to iron after biostimulation with a total of 0.027 kg of glycerol per kg of waste. Biostimulation, which can be readily applied in situ, potentially opens new routes to metal recovery from globally abundant waste streams that contain jarosite and iron oxides.}, } @article {pmid36458953, year = {2023}, author = {Li, X and Sun, Y and Tian, X and Wang, C and Li, Q and Li, Q and Zhu, S and Lan, C and Zhang, Y and Li, X and Ding, R and Zhu, X}, title = {Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont enhances the fitness and feeding behavior of the host grain aphid.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {1362-1371}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7308}, pmid = {36458953}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/physiology ; Bacteria ; Feeding Behavior ; China ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria affect physiology and ecology of insect hosts. The Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont (SMLS) is a recently discovered and widely distributed secondary symbiont in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi Takahashi in China.

RESULTS: In this study, SMLS-infected (SI) and SMLS-uninfected (SU) aphid strains were obtained from field population. The artificially SMLS-re-infected (SRI) strain was established by injecting SU aphids with the SI strain hemolymph containing SMLS. The SRI and SU strains had identical genetic backgrounds and similar microbial community structures. Compared with the SU strain, adult longevity, survival rate, and fecundity were significantly greater in the SRI strain (biological fitness of 1.48). Moreover, the SRI strain spent more time ingesting phloem than the SU strain. A comparative transcriptome analysis indicated that reproduction- and longevity-related genes were more highly expressed in the SRI strain than in the SU strain.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that the infection with SMLS enhanced the Sitobion miscanthi fitness and feeding behavior. The beneficial effect of the SMLS on hosts could explain why it frequently infects the field populations in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi Takahashi in China. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36458804, year = {2023}, author = {Fujisaka, S and Watanabe, Y and Tobe, K}, title = {The gut microbiome: a core regulator of metabolism.}, journal = {The Journal of endocrinology}, volume = {256}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {36458804}, issn = {1479-6805}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human body is inhabited by numerous bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and each part has a unique microbial community structure. The gastrointestinal tract harbors approximately 100 trillion strains comprising more than 1000 bacterial species that maintain symbiotic relationships with the host. The gut microbiota consists mainly of the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Of these, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes constitute 70-90% of the total abundance. Gut microbiota utilize nutrients ingested by the host, interact with other bacterial species, and help maintain healthy homeostasis in the host. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that a breakdown of the microbial structure and its functions, known as dysbiosis, is associated with the development of allergies, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and arteriosclerosis, among others. Metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, also have a causal relationship with dysbiosis. The present review provides a brief overview of the general roles of the gut microbiota and their relationship with metabolic disorders.}, } @article {pmid36458425, year = {2023}, author = {Higashi, CHV and Nichols, WL and Chevignon, G and Patel, V and Allison, SE and Kim, KL and Strand, MR and Oliver, KM}, title = {An aphid symbiont confers protection against a specialized RNA virus, another increases vulnerability to the same pathogen.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {936-950}, pmid = {36458425}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; *Wasps ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; *RNA Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {Insects often harbour heritable symbionts that provide defence against specialized natural enemies, yet little is known about symbiont protection when hosts face simultaneous threats. In pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), the facultative endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa confers protection against the parasitoid, Aphidius ervi, and Regiella insecticola protects against aphid-specific fungal pathogens, including Pandora neoaphidis. Here, we investigated whether these two common aphid symbionts protect against a specialized virus A. pisum virus (APV), and whether their antifungal and antiparasitoid services are impacted by APV infection. We found that APV imposed large fitness costs on symbiont-free aphids and these costs were elevated in aphids also housing H. defensa. In contrast, APV titres were significantly reduced and costs to APV infection were largely eliminated in aphids with R. insecticola. To our knowledge, R. insecticola is the first aphid symbiont shown to protect against a viral pathogen, and only the second arthropod symbiont reported to do so. In contrast, APV infection did not impact the protective services of either R. insecticola or H. defensa. To better understand APV biology, we produced five genomes and examined transmission routes. We found that moderate rates of vertical transmission, combined with horizontal transfer through food plants, were the major route of APV spread, although lateral transfer by parasitoids also occurred. Transmission was unaffected by facultative symbionts. In summary, the presence and species identity of facultative symbionts resulted in highly divergent outcomes for aphids infected with APV, while not impacting defensive services that target other enemies. These findings add to the diverse phenotypes conferred by aphid symbionts, and to the growing body of work highlighting extensive variation in symbiont-mediated interactions.}, } @article {pmid36457527, year = {2022}, author = {Fan, S and Jia, Y and Wang, R and Chen, X and Liu, W and Yu, H}, title = {Multi-omics analysis the differences of VOCs terpenoid synthesis pathway in maintaining obligate mutualism between Ficus hirta Vahl and its pollinators.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1006291}, pmid = {36457527}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {INRODUCTION: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the receptive syconia of Ficus species is a key trait to attract their obligate pollinating fig wasps. Ficus hirta Vahl is a dioecious shrub, which is pollinated by a highly specialized symbiotic pollinator in southern China. Terpenoids are the main components of VOCs in F. hirta and play ecological roles in pollinator attraction, allelopathy, and plant defense. However, it remains unclear that what molecular mechanism difference in terpenoid synthesis pathways between pre-receptive stage (A-phase) and receptive stage (B-phase) of F. hirta syconia.

METHODS: Transcriptome, proteome and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) were applied here to analyze these difference.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Compared to A-phase syconia, the genes (ACAT2, HMGR3, GGPS2, HDR, GPS2, TPS2, TPS4, TPS10-4, TPS14) related to the terpenoid synthesis pathway had higher expression level in receptive syconia (B-phase) according to transcriptome sequencing. Seven differentially expressed transcription factors were screened, namely bHLH7, MYB1R1, PRE6, AIL1, RF2b, ANT, VRN1. Specifically, bHLH7 was only specifically expressed in B-phase. 235 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were mainly located in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly enriched in the metabolic process. A total of 9 terpenoid synthesis proteins were identified in the proteome. Among them, 4 proteins in methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway were all down-regulated. Results suggested the synthesis of terpenoids precursors in B-phase bracts were mainly accomplished through the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway in cytoplasm. Correlation analysis between the transcriptome and proteome, we detected a total of 1082 transcripts/proteins, three of which are related to stress. From the VOCs analysis, the average percent of monoterpenoids emitted by A-phase and B-phase syconia were 8.29% and 37.08%, while those of sesquiterpenes were 88.43% and 55.02% respectively. Monoterpenes (camphene, myrcene, camphor, menthol) were only detected in VOCs of B-phase syconia. To attract pollinators, B-phase syconia of F. hirta need more monoterpenoids and less sesquiterpenes. We speculate that transcription factor bHLH7 may regulate the terpenoid synthesis pathway between A- and B-phase syconia. Our research provided the first global analysis of mechanism differences of terpenoid synthesis pathways between A and B phases in F. hirta syconia.}, } @article {pmid36457370, year = {2022}, author = {Machado, RAR and Bhat, AH and Abolafia, J and Shokoohi, E and Fallet, P and Turlings, TCJ and Tarasco, E and Půža, V and Kajuga, J and Yan, X and Toepfer, S}, title = {Steinernema Africanum n. Sp. (Rhabditida, Steinernematidae), a New Entomopathogenic Nematode Species Isolated in the Republic of Rwanda.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {20220049}, pmid = {36457370}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Alternatives to hazardous insecticides are urgently needed for an environmentally friendly and effective management of insect pests. One such option is the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). To increase the availability of EPN with potential for biocontrol, we surveyed agricultural soils in the Republic of Rwanda and collected two Steinernema isolates. Initial molecular characterization showed that they represent a new species, for which we propose the name S. africanum n. sp. To describe this new species, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships, calculated sequence similarity scores, characterized the nematodes at the morphological level, conducted crossing experiments, and isolated and characterized their symbiotic bacteria. At the molecular level, S. africanum n. sp. is closely related to S. litorale and S. weiseri. At the morphological level, S. africanum n. sp. differs from closely related species by the position of the nerve ring and also because the stoma and pharynx region is longer. The first-generation males have ventrally curved spicules with lanceolate manubrium and fusiform gubernaculum and the second-generation males have rounded manubrium and anteriorly hook-like gubernaculum. Steinernema africanum n. sp. does not mate or produce fertile progeny with any of the closely related species.}, } @article {pmid36457265, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, L and Liu, W and Duan, H and Dong, H and Li, J and Zhang, S and Zhang, J and Ding, S and Xu, T and Guo, B}, title = {Improved effects of combined application of nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter beijerinckii and microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa on wheat growth and saline-alkali soil quality.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {313}, number = {}, pages = {137409}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137409}, pmid = {36457265}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Soil/chemistry ; Triticum ; Alkalies ; *Chlorella ; *Microalgae ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Bacteria ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Soil salinization seriously affects crop yield and soil productivity. The application of bacteria and microalgae has been considered as a promising strategy to alleviate soil salinization. However, the effect of bacteria-microalgae symbiosis on saline-alkali land is still unclear. This study evaluated the effects of Azotobacter beijerinckii, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, and their combined application on the wheat growth and saline-alkali soil improvement. The results showed that, among all the treatments, A. beijerinckii + live C. pyrenoidosa combined inoculation group (BA) had the best effect on increasing wheat plant biomass, improving salt tolerance, and improving soil fertility. The dry weight of wheat plant in the BA group increased by 66.7%, 17.4%, and 35.0%, respectively, compared with the control group (CK), A. beijerinckii inoculation group (B), and live C. pyrenoidosa inoculation group (A). The total nitrogen content of wheat plant in the BA group increased by 69.5%, 76.7%, and 71.1%, compared with the CK, B, and A group. The proline content of wheat plant in the BA group was 100% higher than that in the CK group. The N/P ratio and K/Na ratio of wheat plant increased by 157% and 12.9% in the BA group compared with the CK group, respectively, which was more conducive to alleviating nitrogen limitation and salt stress. The A. beijerinckii + live C. pyrenoidosa inoculation treatment better reduced soil pH and improved the availability of phosphorus in soil. This study illustrated the comprehensive application prospects of bacteria-microalgae interactions on wheat growth promotion and soil improvement in saline-alkali land, and provided a new effective strategy for improving saline-alkali soil quality and increasing crop productivity.}, } @article {pmid36456984, year = {2022}, author = {Nawaz, K and Cziesielski, MJ and Mariappan, KG and Cui, G and Aranda, M}, title = {Histone modifications and DNA methylation act cooperatively in regulating symbiosis genes in the sea anemone Aiptasia.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {265}, pmid = {36456984}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Histone Code ; Symbiosis ; DNA Methylation ; Ecosystem ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic relationship between cnidarians and dinoflagellates is one of the most widespread endosymbiosis in our oceans and provides the ecological basis of coral reef ecosystems. Although many studies have been undertaken to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying these symbioses, we still know little about the epigenetic mechanisms that control the transcriptional responses to symbiosis.

RESULTS: Here, we used the model organism Exaiptasia diaphana to study the genome-wide patterns and putative functions of the histone modifications H3K27ac, H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K36me3, and H3K27me3 in symbiosis. While we find that their functions are generally conserved, we observed that colocalization of more than one modification and or DNA methylation correlated with significantly higher gene expression, suggesting a cooperative action of histone modifications and DNA methylation in promoting gene expression. Analysis of symbiosis genes revealed that activating histone modifications predominantly associated with symbiosis-induced genes involved in glucose metabolism, nitrogen transport, amino acid biosynthesis, and organism growth while symbiosis-suppressed genes were involved in catabolic processes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms of prominent histone modifications and their interaction with DNA methylation in regulating symbiosis in cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid36456905, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, M and Gao, D and Lin, L and Wang, S and Xing, S}, title = {Spatiotemporal dynamics and functional characteristics of the composition of the main fungal taxa in the root microhabitat of Calanthe sieboldii (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {556}, pmid = {36456905}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Orchidaceae ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; *Agaricales ; Climate ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endophytic fungi play a critical ecological role in the growth and development of orchids, but little is known about the spatial and temporal dynamics of fungal diversity or the ecological functions of fungi during orchid growth and reproduction. Calanthe sieboldii Decne. is listed in the Chinese National Key Protected Wild Plants as a class I protected wild plant. To understand the community characteristics of root and soil fungi of the orchid during its reproductive seasons, we investigated the community composition, spatial and temporal dynamics, and functional characteristics of the orchid microhabitat fungi by using diversity and ecological functional analyses.

RESULTS: We discovered that there were three, seven, and four dominant fungal families in the orchid's roots, rhizoplane soil, and rhizosphere soil, respectively. Tulasnellaceae, Aspergillaceae, and Tricholomataceae were the dominant fungi in this endangered orchid's microhabitats. The closer the fungal community was to the orchid, the more stable and the less likely the community composition to change significantly over time. The fungal communities of this orchid's roots and rhizoplane soil varied seasonally, while those of the rhizosphere soil varied interannually. Saprophytic fungi were the most abundant in the orchid's fungal community, and the closer the distance to the orchid, the more symbiotic fungi were present.

CONCLUSIONS: The fungi in different parts of the root microhabitat of C. sieboldii showed different spatiotemporal dynamic patterns. The fungal community near the orchid roots was relatively stable and displayed seasonal variation, while the community further away from the roots showed greater variation. In addition, compared with the soil fungi, the dominant endophytic fungi were more stable, and these may be key fungi influencing orchid growth and development. Our study on the spatiotemporal dynamics and functions of fungi provides a basis for the comprehensive understanding and utilization of orchid endophytic fungi.}, } @article {pmid36456673, year = {2023}, author = {Boersma, PJ and Lagugné-Labarthet, F and McDowell, T and Macfie, SM}, title = {Silver nanoparticles inhibit nitrogen fixation in soybean (Glycine max) root nodules.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {32014-32031}, pmid = {36456673}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation ; Soybeans ; Silver/pharmacology ; *Metal Nanoparticles ; *Bradyrhizobium ; Symbiosis ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are popular in consumer and industrial products, leading to increasing concentrations in the environment. We tested whether exposure to AgNPs could be detrimental to a microbe, its host plant, and their symbiotic relationship. When subjected to 10 µg/mL AgNPs, growth of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 was halted. Axenic nitrogen-fertilized Glycine max seedlings were unaffected by 2.5 µg/mL of 30 nm AgNPs, but growth was inhibited with the same dose of 16 nm AgNPs. With 2.5 µg/mL AgNPs, biomass of inoculated plants was 50% of the control. Bacteroids were not found in nodules on plants treated with 2.5 µg/mL AgNPs and plants given 0.5-2.5 µg/mL AgNPs had 40-65% decreased nitrogen fixation. In conclusion, AgNPs not only interfere with general plant and bacterial growth but also inhibit nodule development and bacterial nitrogen fixation. We should be mindful of not releasing AgNPs to the environment or to agricultural land.}, } @article {pmid36456609, year = {2022}, author = {Řezáčová, V and Řezáč, M and Wilson, GWT and Michalová, T}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza can be disadvantageous for weedy annuals in competition with paired perennial plants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {20703}, pmid = {36456609}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Weeds ; Soil ; *Senecio ; *Marijuana Abuse ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can support the establishment of mycotrophic plants in new environments. However, the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in interactions between perennial and weedy annual plants is not well understood. In our current study, we examine how widespread generalist AM fungi and soil disturbance, including disturbance of AM fungal networks (CMNs), affect the performance of two late-successional perennial plants of Central Europe, Senecio jacobaea and Crepis biennis, co-occurring with weedy annual forbs, Conyza canadensis and Erigeron annuus. Although presence of weedy annual E. annuus or C. canadensis did not affect the performance of the paired perennials, AM fungi supported perennial C. biennis in competition with weedy annual E. annuus. However, this AM-aided underpinning was independent of disturbance of CMNs. Conversely, although AM fungi benefited perennial S. jacobaea, this did not affect its competitive abilities when grown with weedy annual C. canadensis. Similarly, soil disturbance, independent of AM fungal presence, improved plant tissue P and biomass production of S. jacobaea, but not its competitive abilities. Our results show AM fungi may be advantageous for perennial plants growing in competition with weedy annual plants. Therefore, maintaining healthy soils containing an abundance of AM fungi, may encourage late successional perennial plants, potentially limiting establishment of weedy annual plant species.}, } @article {pmid36454840, year = {2022}, author = {Ke, X and Xiao, H and Peng, Y and Wang, J and Lv, Q and Wang, X}, title = {Phosphoenolpyruvate reallocation links nitrogen fixation rates to root nodule energy state.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {378}, number = {6623}, pages = {971-977}, doi = {10.1126/science.abq8591}, pmid = {36454840}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phosphoenolpyruvate/metabolism ; *Soybeans/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; Protein Domains ; *Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis in root nodules fixes nitrogen to satisfy the plant's nitrogen demands. The nodules' demand for energy is thought to determine nitrogen fixation rates. How this energy state is sensed to modulate nitrogen fixation is unknown. Here, we identified two soybean (Glycine max) cystathionine β-synthase domain-containing proteins, nodule AMP sensor 1 (GmNAS1) and NAS1-associated protein 1 (GmNAP1). In the high-nodule energy state, GmNAS1 and GmNAP1 form homodimers that interact with the nuclear factor-Y C (NF-YC) subunit (GmNFYC10a) on mitochondria and reduce its nuclear accumulation. Less nuclear GmNFYC10a leads to lower expression of glycolytic genes involved in pyruvate production, which modulates phosphoenolpyruvate allocation to favor nitrogen fixation. Insight into these pathways may help in the design of leguminous crops that have improved carbon use, nitrogen fixation, and growth.}, } @article {pmid36453934, year = {2022}, author = {Rush, TA and Tannous, J and Lane, MJ and Gopalakrishnan Meena, M and Carrell, AA and Golan, JJ and Drott, MT and Cottaz, S and Fort, S and Ané, JM and Keller, NP and Pelletier, DA and Jacobson, DA and Kainer, D and Abraham, PE and Giannone, RJ and Labbé, JL}, title = {Lipo-Chitooligosaccharides Induce Specialized Fungal Metabolite Profiles That Modulate Bacterial Growth.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e0105222}, pmid = {36453934}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Humans ; Chitin ; *Chitosan/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are historically known for their role as microbial-derived signaling molecules that shape plant symbiosis with beneficial rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi. Recent studies showing that LCOs are widespread across the fungal kingdom have raised questions about the ecological function of these compounds in organisms that do not form symbiotic relationships with plants. To elucidate the ecological function of these compounds, we investigate the metabolomic response of the ubiquitous human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to LCOs. Our metabolomics data revealed that exogenous application of various types of LCOs to A. fumigatus resulted in significant shifts in the fungal metabolic profile, with marked changes in the production of specialized metabolites known to mediate ecological interactions. Using network analyses, we identify specific types of LCOs with the most significant effect on the abundance of known metabolites. Extracts of several LCO-induced metabolic profiles significantly impact the growth rates of diverse bacterial species. These findings suggest that LCOs may play an important role in the competitive dynamics of non-plant-symbiotic fungi and bacteria. This study identifies specific metabolomic profiles induced by these ubiquitously produced chemicals and creates a foundation for future studies into the potential roles of LCOs as modulators of interkingdom competition. IMPORTANCE The activation of silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) for the identification and characterization of novel fungal secondary metabolites is a perpetual motion in natural product discoveries. Here, we demonstrated that one of the best-studied symbiosis signaling compounds, lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), play a role in activating some of these BGCs, resulting in the production of known, putative, and unknown metabolites with biological activities. This collection of metabolites induced by LCOs differentially modulate bacterial growth, while the LCO standards do not convey the same effect. These findings create a paradigm shift showing that LCOs have a more prominent role outside of host recognition of symbiotic microbes. Importantly, our work demonstrates that fungi use LCOs to produce a variety of metabolites with biological activity, which can be a potential source of bio-stimulants, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals.}, } @article {pmid36453912, year = {2022}, author = {Speare, L and Jackson, A and Septer, AN}, title = {Calcium Promotes T6SS-Mediated Killing and Aggregation between Competing Symbionts.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0139722}, pmid = {36453912}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Calcium ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Aliivibrio fischeri/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria use a variety of strategies to exclude competitors from accessing resources, including space within a host niche. Because these mechanisms are typically costly to deploy, they are often tightly regulated for use in environments where the benefits outweigh the energetic cost. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a competitive mechanism that allows inhibitors to kill competing microbes by physically puncturing and translocating cytotoxic effectors directly into neighboring competitor cells. Although T6SSs are encoded in both symbiotic and free-living taxa where they may be actively secreting into the extracellular milieu during growth in liquid culture, there is little evidence for bacteria engaging in T6SS-mediated, contact-dependent killing under low-viscosity liquid conditions. Here, we determined that calcium acts as a pH-dependent cue to activate the assembly of an antibacterial T6SS in a Vibrio fischeri light organ symbiont in a low-viscosity liquid medium. Moreover, competing V. fischeri isolates formed mixed-strain aggregates that promoted the contact necessary for T6SS-dependent elimination of a target population. Our findings expand our knowledge of V. fischeri T6SS ecology and identify a low-viscosity liquid condition where cells engage in contact-dependent killing. IMPORTANCE Microbes deploy competitive mechanisms to gain access to resources such as nutrients or space within an ecological niche. Identifying when and where these strategies are employed can be challenging given the complexity and variability of most natural systems; therefore, studies evaluating specific cues that conditionally regulate interbacterial competition can inform the ecological context for such competition. In this work, we identified a pH-dependent chemical cue in seawater, calcium, which promotes activation of a contact-dependent interbacterial weapon in the marine symbiont Vibrio fischeri. This finding underscores the importance of using ecologically relevant salts in growth media and the ability of bacterial cells to sense and integrate multiple environmental cues to assess the need for a weapon. Identification of these cues provides insight into the types of environments where employing a weapon is advantageous to the survival and propagation of a bacterial population.}, } @article {pmid36453026, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z and Li, W and Qin, W and Liu, J and He, Y}, title = {Ampicillin enhanced the resistance of Myzus persicae to imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {1388-1398}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7310}, pmid = {36453026}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; *Aphids ; Neonicotinoids/pharmacology ; Nitro Compounds/pharmacology ; Ampicillin/metabolism/pharmacology ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that symbionts are involved in regulating insecticide detoxification in insects. However, there are few studies on the relationship between the symbionts found in Myzus persicae and the mechanism underlying host detoxification of insecticides. In this study, antibiotic ampicillin treatment was used to investigate the possible relationship between symbiotic bacteria and the detoxification of insecticides in the host, M. persicae.

RESULTS: Bioassays showed that ampicillin significantly reduced the susceptibilities of M. persicae to imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole. Synergistic bioassays and RNAi assays showed that the susceptibilities of M. persicae to imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole were related to metabolic detoxification enzyme activities and the expression level of the cytochrome P450 gene, CYP6CY3. Also, treatment to a combination of ampicillin and enzyme inhibitors or dsCYP6CY3 showed that the negative effect of ampicillin on the susceptibility of M. persicae was effectively inhibited bydetoxification enzyme inhibitors and dsCYP6CY3. Additionally, ampicillin treatment resulted in significant increases in the activities of multifunctional oxidases and esterases, the expression level of CYP6CY3 and fitness of M. persicae. Further, ampicillin significantly reduced the total bacterial abundance and changed symbiont diversity in M. persicae. The abundance of Pseudomonadaceae decreased significantly, while the abundance of Rhodococcus and Buchnera increased significantly.

CONCLUSION: Our study showed that ampicillin enhanced the resistance levels to imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole of M. persicae, which might be related to the selective elimination of symbiotic bacteria, the upregulated activities of detoxification enzymes and the increased fitness. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36449479, year = {2022}, author = {Tseng, LC and Limviriyakul, P and Hwang, JS}, title = {Macrosymbionts of starfish Echinaster luzonicus (Gray, 1840) in the waters of a volcanic western Pacific island.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {11}, pages = {e0278288}, pmid = {36449479}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Starfish ; Pacific Islands ; Coral Reefs ; *Diving ; Seafood ; }, abstract = {During an investigation program of faunal diversity in the shallow reef zone of the active volcanic island off northeastern Taiwan in July and September 2020, numerous individuals of the starfish Echinaster luzonicus (Gray, 1840) were found, and some individuals were found with associated symbionts. Starfish sampling in the 150-m coral reef zone was undertaken at a depth of 8 m through scuba diving. For each type of potential macrosymbiont, both the dorsal and ventral sides were carefully examined. The prevalence of macrosymbionts on the starfish E. luzonicus was recorded. The most common symbiotic organism on E. luzonicus was the ectoparasitic snail Melanella martinii (A. Adams in Sowerby, 1854), followed by the pontoniine shrimp Zenopontonia soror (Nobili, 1904) and the rare polychaete scaleworm Asterophilia carlae Hanley, 1989. The prevalence ratio with host E. luzonicus was low and varied by 8.62% and 4.35%, 6.03% and 0%, and 0.86% and 0.72% in July and September 2020 for M. martinii, Z. soror, and A. carlae, respectively. The present study is the first to discover the scaleworm A. carlae as a macrosymbiont of the tropical starfish E. luzonicus, with a widespread distribution, off Taiwan's northeastern coast, an area influenced by the Kuroshio Current.}, } @article {pmid36448752, year = {2023}, author = {Hu, G and Liu, L and Miao, X and Zhao, Y and Peng, Y and Li, X}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria stabilize the intestinal environment by producing phenylpropanoids.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {88-98}, pmid = {36448752}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Chickens/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Salmonella enteritidis/genetics/metabolism ; China ; }, abstract = {Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) can colonize in the intestinal tract of chickens and transmit to humans. In order to decrypt the mechanism of avian resistance to S. Enteritidis, we utilized two China local chicken breeds to generate the reciprocal crosses (the Cross and the Reverse-cross). The two lines of hybrids were orally inoculated with S. Enteritidis at 2-day old and sampled at 3 days post-inoculation. Along the analysis direction of multi-omics, differential metabolites, functional pathways and correlated microbes, we found that 12 species of microbes thrived upon S. Enteritidis challenge and probably contributed to the intestinal stability in the Cross by enhancing the production of phenylpropanoids. Our findings can help to understand the symbiotic and resistant mechanisms derived from the intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36448663, year = {2023}, author = {Lee, J and Lee, DW}, title = {Burkholderia gut symbiont induces insect host fecundity by modulating Kr-h1 gene expression.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {e21987}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21987}, pmid = {36448663}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Female ; Animals ; Vitellogenins/genetics/metabolism ; *Burkholderia/genetics/metabolism ; Fertility ; Insecta/metabolism ; *Heteroptera/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression ; }, abstract = {Full-length cDNAs of the Broad-Complex (BR-C) from Riptortus pedestris were cloned. Moreover, Kr-h1 and BR-C expression levels in apo-symbiotic and symbiotic host insects were compared to verify whether they are modulated by Burkholderia gut symbionts. Interestingly, Kr-h1 expression level was significantly increased in symbiotic females. To determine how Kr-h1 affects fecundity in insects, the biosynthesis of two reproduction-associated proteins, hexamerin-α and vitellogenin, was investigated in R. pedestris females. Hexamerin-α and vitellogenin expression at the transcriptional and translational levels decreased in Kr-h1-suppressed symbiotic females, subsequently reduced egg production. These results suggest that Burkholderia gut symbiont modulates Kr-h1 expression to enhance ovarian development and egg production of R. pedestris by increasing the biosynthesis of the two proteins.}, } @article {pmid36447432, year = {2023}, author = {Guo, K and Yang, J and Yu, N and Luo, L and Wang, E}, title = {Biological nitrogen fixation in cereal crops: Progress, strategies, and perspectives.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {100499}, pmid = {36447432}, issn = {2590-3462}, mesh = {*Edible Grain ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Fertilizers ; Ecosystem ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere but is generally the most limiting nutrient for plants. The inability of many crop plants, such as cereals, to directly utilize freely available atmospheric nitrogen gas means that their growth and production often rely heavily on the application of chemical fertilizers, which leads to greenhouse gas emissions and the eutrophication of water. By contrast, legumes gain access to nitrogen through symbiotic association with rhizobia. These bacteria convert nitrogen gas into biologically available ammonia in nodules through a process termed symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation, which plays a decisive role in ecosystem functioning. Engineering cereal crops that can fix nitrogen like legumes or associate with nitrogen-fixing microbiomes could help to avoid the problems caused by the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. With the development of synthetic biology, various efforts have been undertaken with the aim of creating so-called "N-self-fertilizing" crops capable of performing autonomous nitrogen fixation to avoid the need for chemical fertilizers. In this review, we briefly summarize the history and current status of engineering N-self-fertilizing crops. We also propose several potential biotechnological approaches for incorporating biological nitrogen fixation capacity into non-legume plants.}, } @article {pmid36445167, year = {2023}, author = {Maggini, V and Bettini, PP and Fani, R and Firenzuoli, F and Bogani, P}, title = {Echinacea purpurea microbiota: bacterial-fungal interactions and the interplay with host and non-host plant species in vitro dual culture.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {246-256}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13495}, pmid = {36445167}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*Echinacea/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Tobacco ; Endophytes ; *Microbiota ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Important evidence is reported on the antimicrobial and antagonistic properties of bacterial endophytes in Echinacea purpurea and their role in the modulation of plant synthesis of bioactive compounds. Here, endophytic fungi were isolated from E. purpurea, and the dual culture approach was applied to deepen insights into the complex plant-microbiome interaction network. In vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate the species specificity of the interaction between host (E. purpurea) and non-host (E. angustifolia and Nicotiana tabacum) plant tissues and bacterial or fungal endophytes isolated from living E. purpurea plants to test interactions between fungal and bacterial endophytes. A higher tropism towards plant tissue and growth was observed for both fungal and bacterial isolates compared to controls without plant tissue. The growth of all fungi was significantly inhibited by several bacterial strains that, in turn, were scarcely affected by the presence of fungi. Finally, E. purpurea endophytic bacteria were able to inhibit mycelial growth of the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea. Bacteria and fungi living in symbiosis with wild Echinacea plants interact with each other and could represent a potential source of bioactive compounds and a biocontrol tool.}, } @article {pmid36445124, year = {2022}, author = {Kang, ZW and Zhang, M and Cao, HH and Guo, SS and Liu, FH and Liu, TX}, title = {Facultative Endosymbiont Serratia symbiotica Inhibits the Apterization of Pea Aphid To Enhance Its Spread.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0406622}, pmid = {36445124}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/physiology ; Peas ; Fertility ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids display wing polyphenism, and the mother can produce a wingless morph for reproduction and a winged morph for dispersal. It is believed that the wingless morph is an adaptive status under favorable conditions and is determined prenatally. In this study, we have found that winged nymphs of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, can change from winged to wingless during normal development. Our results showed that winged nymphs could become the wingless morph by apterization in response to changes from stressful to favorable conditions. The acquired wingless aphids had higher fecundity than the winged morph. However, this process of regression from winged to wingless morph was inhibited by Serratia symbiotica. The existence of the symbiont did not affect the body mass and fecundity of adult aphids, but it increased the body weight of nymphs and temporally increased the quantity of a primary symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Our results showed that despite temporal improvement of living conditions causing the induction of apterization of winged nymphs, the inhibition effect of S. symbiotica on this process was activated simultaneously. This finding, for the first time, reveals that the wingless morph can be changed postnatally, which explains a novel regulating mechanism of wing polyphenism driven by external abiotic stimuli and internal biotic regulation together in aphids. IMPORTANCE Wing polyphenism is an important adaptative response to environmental changes for aphids. Endosymbionts are widespread in aphids and also confer the ability to withstand unfavorable conditions. However, little is known about whether endosymbionts are involved in the wing polyphenism. In this study, we report a new finding that winged nymphs of the pea aphid could turn into adults without wings or wing-related structures through apterization when winged nymphs escaped from stressful to favorable environments. Further analysis revealed that the facultative symbiont S. symbiotica could prevent the temporal determination of the host in wing suppression by inhibiting apterization, to enhance its spread. Our findings provide a novel angle to understanding the wing polyphenism regulation of aphids.}, } @article {pmid36444889, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, T and Xu, LG and Duan, CG}, title = {The trans-kingdom communication of noncoding RNAs in plant-environment interactions.}, journal = {The plant genome}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e20289}, doi = {10.1002/tpg2.20289}, pmid = {36444889}, issn = {1940-3372}, abstract = {As conserved regulatory agents, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have an important impact on many aspects of plant life, including growth, development, and environmental response. Noncoding RNAs can travel through not only plasmodesma and phloem but also intercellular barriers to regulate distinct processes. Increasing evidence shows that the intercellular trans-kingdom transmission of ncRNAs is able to modulate many important interactions between plants and other organisms, such as plant response to pathogen attack, the symbiosis between legume plants and rhizobia and the interactions with parasitic plants. In these interactions, plant ncRNAs are believed to be sorted into extracellular vesicles (EVs) or other nonvesicular vehicles to pass through cell barriers and trigger trans-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) in recipient cells from different species. There is evidence that the features of extracellular RNAs and associated RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a role in defining the RNAs to retain in cell or secrete outside cells. Despite the few reports about RNA secretion pathway in plants, the export of extracellular ncRNAs is orchestrated by a series of pathways in plants. The identification and functional analysis of mobile small RNAs (sRNAs) are attracting increasing attention in recent years. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the function, sorting, transport, and regulation of plant extracellular ncRNAs.}, } @article {pmid36443558, year = {2022}, author = {Rangel-Torres, BE and García-Montoya, IA and Rodríguez-Tadeo, A and Jiménez-Vega, F}, title = {The Symbiosis Between Lactobacillus acidophilus and Inulin: Metabolic Benefits in an Obese Murine Model.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36443558}, issn = {1867-1314}, abstract = {Obesity is defined as having an excess of adipose tissue and is associated with the development of diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, which are the main causes of death worldwide. Research shows that probiotics and prebiotics reduce the metabolic alterations caused by high-fat diets. Therefore, this work evaluated the effect of the incorporation of Lactobacillus acidophilus (probiotic) and inulin (prebiotic) in the diet through obesity markers (biochemical, anthropometric, and molecular markers) in an obese murine model. Four treatments were administered: (1) hypocaloric diet (HD), (2) HD + L. acidophilus, (3) HD + inulin, and (4) DH supplemented with L. acidophilus + inulin for 8 weeks. After treatment, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C in plasma were determined. In addition, the total body weight and adipose tissue were taken to calculate the body mass index. Following RNA extraction from adipose tissue, the expression of PPAR gamma, PPAR alpha, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF1β) was evaluated by semiquantitative PCR. All treatments showed an improvement in biochemical markers compared to the values of the obese model (p < 0.05). Optimal values for blood glucose (133.2 ± 14.3 mg/dL), triglycerides (71 ± 4.6 mg/dL), total cholesterol (48.9 ± 6 mg/dL), HDL-C (40.9 ± 4.8 mg/dL), and LDL-C (8.4 ± 1.7 mg/dL) were obtained in the mixed treatment. Regarding fat mass index (FMI), prebiotic treatment caused the greatest reduction. On the other hand, mixed treatment increased the gene expression of PPARα and TGF1β in adipose tissue with DH with L. acidophilus and inulin treatment. This work demonstrates that the use of L. acidophilus and inulin as a complementary treatment is a viable alternative for prevention and action as a complementary treatment for obesity given the reduction in biochemical parameters and anthropometric indices; these reductions were greater than those found in the classic treatment of obesity due to the induction of the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to reducing the high levels of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol caused by obesity.}, } @article {pmid36443185, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, J and Valdés-López, O}, title = {A nodule peptide confiscates haem to promote iron uptake in rhizobia.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {125-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2022.11.005}, pmid = {36443185}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Humans ; *Rhizobium ; Iron ; Symbiosis ; Peptides/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides have a major role in the differentiation of endocytosed bacteria into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. A recent paper by Sankari et al. indicates that NCR247 is essential for the uptake of iron, a mineral nutrient required for nitrogenase activity. Furthermore, the special ability of NCR247 to sequester haem suggests potential applications for human health.}, } @article {pmid36442836, year = {2023}, author = {Thapa, M and Sadhukhan, R and Mukherjee, A and Biswas, PK}, title = {Effects of nZnS vs. nZnO and ZnCl2 on mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] plant and Bradyrhizobium symbiosis: A life cycle study.}, journal = {NanoImpact}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {100440}, doi = {10.1016/j.impact.2022.100440}, pmid = {36442836}, issn = {2452-0748}, mesh = {*Zinc Oxide ; *Vigna ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Fabaceae ; Zinc ; Soil ; Sulfides ; }, abstract = {Scarce of knowledge of using Zinc (Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) to augment plant growth, Zn availability to plants and its potential toxicity warrants more NPs-plant life cycle studies. The main objectives of this study were to compare nano zinc sulphide (nZnS) with nano zinc oxide (nZnO) and ionic Zn i.e., ZnCl2, as a source of Zn, as well as to establish physiological impact of NPs on growth, yield and symbiosis of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] plants at different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg kg[-1] of soil). In this study, mungbean plants were grown for 60 days (life cycle study) in natural soil infested with Bradyrhizobium. Effects of Zn compounds (nZnS, nZnO and ZnCl2) on plant height, dry biomass, number of nodules per plant, yield and fruit agronomical parameters along with micronutrient assessment were determined. Impact of Zn compounds on Bradyrhizobium-mungbean symbiosis was also unravelled. Results showed that both the NPs, (nZnS and nZnO) were more effective than ZnCl2 in promoting growth and yield up to a critical concentration and above which phytotoxic effects were observed. Both the NPs were more effective than ZnCl2 at increasing fruit Zn content also. Whereas, nZnS treatment was found to be better than nZnO in improving overall plant growth. Bradyrhizobium-mungbean symbiosis was not affected at lower NPs concentrations, while higher concentration revealed toxicity by damaging bacterial morphology and nodule formation. There was no nano specific toxicity found while, ZnCl2 showed relatively more toxicity than both the NPs. The present investigation demonstrated the concept of nano-micronutrient as well as NPs phytotoxicity by understanding NPs-plant interactions in the soil environment.}, } @article {pmid36442401, year = {2022}, author = {Xin, JY and Wang, J and Ding, QQ and Chen, W and Xu, XK and Wei, XT and Lv, YH and Wei, YP and Feng, Y and Zu, XP}, title = {Potential role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in radiation-induced intestinal damage.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {248}, number = {}, pages = {114341}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114341}, pmid = {36442401}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestines ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Radiation-induced intestinal damage (RIID) is a serious disease with limited effective treatment. Nuclear explosion, nuclear release, nuclear application and especially radiation therapy are all highly likely to cause radioactive intestinal damage. The intestinal microecology is an organic whole with a symbiotic relationship formed by the interaction between a relatively stable microbial community living in the intestinal tract and the host. Imbalance and disorders of intestinal microecology are related to the occurrence and development of multiple systemic diseases, especially intestinal diseases. Increasing evidence indicates that the gut microbiota and its metabolites play an important role in the pathogenesis and prevention of RIID. Radiation leads to gut microbiota imbalance, including a decrease in the number of beneficial bacteria and an increase in the number of harmful bacteria that cause RIID. In this review, we describe the pathological mechanisms of RIID, the changes in intestinal microbiota, the metabolites induced by radiation, and their mechanism in RIID. Finally, the mechanisms of various methods for regulating the microbiota in the treatment of RIID are summarized.}, } @article {pmid36440970, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, Z and Wang, J and Li, F and Lu, Y and Fang, Z and Fu, M and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Gong, J and Murray, JD and Xie, F}, title = {The small peptide CEP1 and the NIN-like protein NLP1 regulate NRT2.1 to mediate root nodule formation across nitrate concentrations.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {776-794}, pmid = {36440970}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {*Nitrates/pharmacology/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Peptides/genetics/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Legumes acquire fixed nitrogen (N) from the soil and through endosymbiotic association with diazotrophic bacteria. However, establishing and maintaining N2-fixing nodules are expensive for the host plant, relative to taking up N from the soil. Therefore, plants suppress symbiosis when N is plentiful and enhance symbiosis when N is sparse. Here, we show that the nitrate transporter MtNRT2.1 is required for optimal nodule establishment in Medicago truncatula under low-nitrate conditions and the repression of nodulation under high-nitrate conditions. The NIN-like protein (NLP) MtNLP1 is required for MtNRT2.1 expression and regulation of nitrate uptake/transport under low- and high-nitrate conditions. Under low nitrate, the gene encoding the C-terminally encoded peptide (CEP) MtCEP1 was more highly expressed, and the exogenous application of MtCEP1 systemically promoted MtNRT2.1 expression in a compact root architecture 2 (MtCRA2)-dependent manner. The enhancement of nodulation by MtCEP1 and nitrate uptake were both impaired in the Mtnrt2.1 mutant under low nitrate. Our study demonstrates that nitrate uptake by MtNRT2.1 differentially affects nodulation at low- and high-nitrate conditions through the actions of MtCEP1 and MtNLP1.}, } @article {pmid36439848, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, F and Zhao, Z}, title = {Metabonomics reveals that entomopathogenic nematodes mediate tryptophan metabolites that kill host insects.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1042145}, pmid = {36439848}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema feltiae, which carries the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii in its gut, is an important biocontrol agent. This EPN could produce a suite of complex metabolites and toxin proteins and lead to the death of host insects within 24-48 h. However, few studies have been performed on the key biomarkers released by EPNs to kill host insects. The objective of this study was to examine what substances produced by EPNs cause the death of host insects. We found that all densities of nematode suspensions exhibited insecticidal activities after hemocoelic injection into Galleria mellonella larvae. EPN infection 9 h later led to immunosuppression by activating insect esterase activity, but eventually, the host insect darkened and died. Before insect immunity was activated, we applied a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach to determine the hemolymph of the wax moth G. mellonella infected by EPNs. The results indicated that the tryptophan (Trp) pathway of G. mellonella was significantly activated, and the contents of kynurenine (Kyn) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA) were markedly increased. Additionally, 3-HAA was highly toxic to G. mellonella and resulted in corrected mortalities of 62.50%. Tryptophan metabolites produced by EPNs are a potential marker to kill insects, opening up a novel line of inquiry into exploring the infestation mechanism of EPNs.}, } @article {pmid36439809, year = {2022}, author = {Swanson, E and Sbissi, I and Ktari, A and Cherif-Silini, H and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Tisa, LS and Gtari, M}, title = {Decrypting phytomicrobiome of the neurotoxic actinorhizal species, Coriaria myrtifolia, and dispersal boundary of Frankia cluster 2 in soil outward compatible host rhizosphere.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1027317}, pmid = {36439809}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The actinorhizal plant, Coriaria myrtifolia, is a neurotoxic plant species endemic to the western Mediterranean area, which forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with members of Frankia cluster 2. Contrarily to other Frankia clusters, the occurrence and mode of dispersal for infective cluster 2 units outside of the host plant rhizosphere remains controversial. The present study was designed to investigate the structure of the microbiomes of C. myrtifolia phytosphere, rhizosphere, and soil samples extending outward linearly up to 1 km. Results showed that the epiphyte and endophyte communities were not significantly different from each other for most of the plant tissues. The communities associated with the below-ground tissues (nodule and root) were significantly different from those found on the above-ground tissues (fruit, leaves, and stems) and had a higher community richness. Coriaria myrtifolia phytomicrobiomes were dominated by Cyanobacteria for leaf, stem, and fruit while Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were dominant in the root and nodule organelles. The nodule, a special niche for nitrogen fixation, was mainly inhabited by Frankia but contained several non-Frankia bacteria. Beside Frankia cluster 2, the presence of clusters 1, 4, and large numbers of cluster 3 strains have been detected in nodules, roots, and rhizospheres of C. myrtifolia. Despite Frankia being found in all plots using plant trapping bioassays with C. myrtifolia seedlings, Frankia cluster 2 was not detected in soil metagenomes showing the limits of detection by this approach. This result also suggests that in the absence of appropriate host plant species, Frankia cluster 2 has a reduced number of infective units present in the soil outward from the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid36439244, year = {2022}, author = {Ribeiro Lopes, M and Gaget, K and Renoz, F and Duport, G and Balmand, S and Charles, H and Callaerts, P and Calevro, F}, title = {Bacteriocyte plasticity in pea aphids facing amino acid stress or starvation during development.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {982920}, pmid = {36439244}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {An important contributing factor to the evolutionary success of insects is nutritional association with microbial symbionts, which provide the host insects with nutrients lacking in their unbalanced diets. These symbionts are often compartmentalized in specialized cells of the host, the bacteriocytes. Even though bacteriocytes were first described more than a century ago, few studies have explored their dynamics throughout the insect life cycle and in response to environmental stressors. Here, we use the Buchnera aphidicola/pea aphid symbiotic system to study how bacteriocytes are regulated in response to nutritional stress throughout aphid development. Using artificial diets, we analyzed the effects of depletion or excess of phenylalanine or leucine, two amino acids essential for aphid growth and whose biosynthetic pathways are shared between the host and the symbiont. Bacteriocytes responded dynamically to those treatments, while other tissues showed no obvious morphological change. Amino acid depletion resulted in an increase in bacteriocyte numbers, with the extent of the increase depending on the amino acid, while excess either caused a decrease (for leucine) or an increase (for phenylalanine). Only a limited impact on survival and fecundity was observed, suggesting that the adjustment in bacteriocyte (and symbiont) numbers is sufficient to withstand these nutritional challenges. We also studied the impact of more extreme conditions by exposing aphids to a 24 h starvation period at the beginning of nymphal development. This led to a dramatic drop in aphid survival and fecundity and a significant developmental delay. Again, bacteriocytes responded dynamically, with a considerable decrease in number and size, correlated with a decrease in the number of symbionts, which were prematurely degraded by the lysosomal system. This study shows how bacteriocyte dynamics is integrated in the physiology of insects and highlights the high plasticity of these cells.}, } @article {pmid36438085, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Cheng, Q and Liao, C and Li, L and Gou, C and Chen, Z and Wang, Y and Liu, B and Kong, F and Chen, L}, title = {GmTOC1b inhibits nodulation by repressing GmNIN2a and GmENOD40-1 in soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1052017}, pmid = {36438085}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is an important factor affecting the yield and quality of leguminous crops. Nodulation is regulated by a complex network comprising several transcription factors. Here, we functionally characterized the role of a TOC1 family member, GmTOC1b, in soybean (Glycine max) nodulation. RT-qPCR assays showed that GmTOC1b is constitutively expressed in soybean. However, GmTOC1b was also highly expressed in nodules, and GmTOC1 localized to the cell nucleus, based on transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Homozygous Gmtoc1b mutant plants exhibited increased root hair curling and produced more infection threads, resulting in more nodules and greater nodule fresh weight. By contrast, GmTOC1b overexpression inhibited nodulation. Furthermore, we also showed that GmTOC1b represses the expression of nodulation-related genes including GmNIN2a and GmENOD40-1 by binding to their promoters. We conclude that GmTOC1b functions as a transcriptional repressor to inhibit nodulation by repressing the expression of key nodulation-related genes including GmNIN2a, GmNIN2b, and GmENOD40-1 in soybean.}, } @article {pmid36435957, year = {2023}, author = {de Souza, LMD and Teixeira, EAA and da Costa Coelho, L and Lopes, FAC and Convey, P and Carvalho-Silva, M and Câmara, PEAS and Rosa, LH}, title = {Cryptic fungal diversity revealed by DNA metabarcoding in historic wooden structures at Whalers Bay, Deception Island, maritime Antarctic.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {213-222}, pmid = {36435957}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Antarctic Regions ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Bays ; Fungi ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; DNA ; Deception ; DNA, Fungal ; }, abstract = {We provide the first assessment of fungal diversity associated with historic wooden structures at Whalers Bay (Heritage Monument 71), Deception Island, maritime Antarctic, using DNA metabarcoding. We detected a total of 177 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota. The assemblages were dominated by Helotiales sp. 1 and Herpotrichiellaceae sp. 1. Functional assignments indicated that the taxa detected were dominated by saprotrophic, plant and animal pathogenic, and symbiotic taxa. Metabarcoding revealed the presence of a rich and complex fungal community, which may be due to the wooden structures acting as baits attracting taxa to niches sheltered against extreme conditions, generating a hotspot for fungi in Antarctica. The sequences assigned included both cosmopolitan and endemic taxa, as well as potentially unreported diversity. The detection of DNA assigned to taxa of human and animal opportunistic pathogens raises a potential concern as Whalers Bay is one of the most popular visitor sites in Antarctica. The use of metabarcoding to detect DNA present in environmental samples does not confirm the presence of viable or metabolically active fungi and further studies using different culturing conditions and media, different growth temperatures and incubation periods, in combination with further molecular approaches such as shotgun sequencing are now required to clarify the functional ecology of these fungi.}, } @article {pmid36435261, year = {2023}, author = {Li, L and Liang, T and Qiu, S and Zhang, Y and Qu, J and Liu, T and Ma, F}, title = {A rapid and simplified method for evaluating the performance of fungi-algae pellets: A hierarchical analysis model.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {860}, number = {}, pages = {160442}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160442}, pmid = {36435261}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Adsorption ; *Fungi ; }, abstract = {Microbial pellets technology has undergone extensive research recently and has increasingly matured, showing significant promise. However, the performance of microbial pellets cannot be predicted quickly by the current evaluating methods because they are complicated to operate, take a long time, and pose a risk to the environment. In this study, a representative microbial pellet, fungi-algae pellet, was selected as the research object. Eight evaluation parameters and four evaluation indices were chosen to construct the performance evaluation system of the fungal-algal pellets using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and weighting method. Combining the correlation analysis and expert opinion, we found that among the eight parameters selected, the adsorption saturation rate of mycelial pellets on algae had the most significant influence weight on the performance of fungi-algae pellet, followed by algal culture time and fungal incubation time. This research proposes and validates the Performance Evaluation Value (PEV) of fungi-algae pellet and its calculation method. We also discuss the effectiveness of this new evaluation system in saving time, cost, and emission reductions. The results of this paper enable the rapid evaluation of fungi-algae pellets and promote the better development of fungi-algae pellets technology and even other multi-microbial symbiotic pellet technologies.}, } @article {pmid36435249, year = {2023}, author = {Travesso, M and Missionário, M and Cruz, S and Calado, R and Madeira, D}, title = {Combined effect of marine heatwaves and light intensity on the cellular stress response and photophysiology of the leather coral Sarcophyton cf. glaucum.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {861}, number = {}, pages = {160460}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160460}, pmid = {36435249}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Chlorophyll A ; Ecosystem ; Coral Reefs ; Light ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Antioxidants ; }, abstract = {Marine heatwaves (MHW) are threatening tropical coral reef ecosystems, leading to mass bleaching events worldwide. The combination of heat stress with high irradiance is known to shape the health and redox status of corals, but research is biased toward scleractinian corals, while much less is known on tropical symbiotic soft corals. Here, we evaluated the cellular stress response and the photophysiological performance of the soft coral Sarcophyton cf. glaucum, popularly termed as leather coral, under different global change scenarios. Corals were exposed to different light intensities (high light, low light, ∼662 and 253 μmol photons m[-2] s[-1]) for 30 days (time-point 1) and a subsequent MHW simulation was carried out for 10 days (control 26 vs 32 °C) (time-point 2). Subsequently, corals were returned to control temperature and allowed to recover for 30 days (time-point 3). Photophysiological performance (maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), a measure of photosynthetic activity; dark-level fluorescence (F0), as a proxy of chlorophyll a content (Chl a); and zooxanthellae density) and stress biomarkers (total protein, antioxidants, lipid peroxidation, ubiquitin, and heat shock protein 70) were assessed in corals at these three time-points. Corals were especially sensitive to the combination of heat and high light stress, experiencing a decrease in their photosynthetic efficiency under these conditions. Heat stress resulted in bleaching via zooxanthellae loss while high light stress led to pigment (Chl a) loss. This species' antioxidant defenses, and protein degradation were particularly enhanced under heat stress. A recovery was clear for molecular parameters after 30 days of recovery, whereby photophysiological performance required more time to return to basal levels. We conclude that soft corals distributed along intertidal areas, where the light intensity is high, could be especially vulnerable to marine heatwave events, highlighting the need to direct conservation efforts toward these organisms.}, } @article {pmid36434737, year = {2022}, author = {Nuccio, EE and Blazewicz, SJ and Lafler, M and Campbell, AN and Kakouridis, A and Kimbrel, JA and Wollard, J and Vyshenska, D and Riley, R and Tomatsu, A and Hestrin, R and Malmstrom, RR and Firestone, M and Pett-Ridge, J}, title = {HT-SIP: a semi-automated stable isotope probing pipeline identifies cross-kingdom interactions in the hyphosphere of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {199}, pmid = {36434737}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; Ammonia ; Reproducibility of Results ; Soil/chemistry ; Isotopes ; Plants/microbiology ; DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Linking the identity of wild microbes with their ecophysiological traits and environmental functions is a key ambition for microbial ecologists. Of many techniques that strive for this goal, Stable-isotope probing-SIP-remains among the most comprehensive for studying whole microbial communities in situ. In DNA-SIP, actively growing microorganisms that take up an isotopically heavy substrate build heavier DNA, which can be partitioned by density into multiple fractions and sequenced. However, SIP is relatively low throughput and requires significant hands-on labor. We designed and tested a semi-automated, high-throughput SIP (HT-SIP) pipeline to support well-replicated, temporally resolved amplicon and metagenomics experiments. We applied this pipeline to a soil microhabitat with significant ecological importance-the hyphosphere zone surrounding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) hyphae. AMF form symbiotic relationships with most plant species and play key roles in terrestrial nutrient and carbon cycling.

RESULTS: Our HT-SIP pipeline for fractionation, cleanup, and nucleic acid quantification of density gradients requires one-sixth of the hands-on labor compared to manual SIP and allows 16 samples to be processed simultaneously. Automated density fractionation increased the reproducibility of SIP gradients compared to manual fractionation, and we show adding a non-ionic detergent to the gradient buffer improved SIP DNA recovery. We applied HT-SIP to [13]C-AMF hyphosphere DNA from a [13]CO2 plant labeling study and created metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) using high-resolution SIP metagenomics (14 metagenomes per gradient). SIP confirmed the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices and associated MAGs were highly enriched (10-33 atom% [13]C), even though the soils' overall enrichment was low (1.8 atom% [13]C). We assembled 212 [13]C-hyphosphere MAGs; the hyphosphere taxa that assimilated the most AMF-derived [13]C were from the phyla Myxococcota, Fibrobacterota, Verrucomicrobiota, and the ammonia-oxidizing archaeon genus Nitrososphaera.

CONCLUSIONS: Our semi-automated HT-SIP approach decreases operator time and improves reproducibility by targeting the most labor-intensive steps of SIP-fraction collection and cleanup. We illustrate this approach in a unique and understudied soil microhabitat-generating MAGs of actively growing microbes living in the AMF hyphosphere (without plant roots). The MAGs' phylogenetic composition and gene content suggest predation, decomposition, and ammonia oxidation may be key processes in hyphosphere nutrient cycling. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36433882, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, M and Dong, X and Zhu, Y and Song, J and Wei, J and Wu, Z and Zhao, Y}, title = {Effect of different mixed light-emitting diode light wavelengths on CO2 absorption from biogas and nutrient removal from biogas slurry by microalgae and fungi induced using strigolactone and endophytic bacteria.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {94}, number = {11}, pages = {e10812}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10812}, pmid = {36433882}, issn = {1554-7531}, abstract = {In this study, biogas and biogas slurry were simultaneously treated using two symbiotic systems: Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-S395-2 (endophytic bacteria) and Scenedesmus obliquus-G. lucidum-S395-2. The influence of different mixed illumination (red and blue) intensity ratios on the algal symbionts' extracellular carbonic anhydrase activities was investigated, as well as the rates of microalgal growth and photosynthesis. The treatment performance was simultaneously assessed in terms of the efficiency of organic matter or nutrient removal and the level of CO2 absorption. The results indicated that red-blue light combinations with an intensity ratio of 5:5 were optimal. When comparing the performance of the two symbiotic systems, the C. vulgaris-G. lucidum-S395-2 symbiont co-culture system achieved significantly improved photosynthetic rates, biomass growth, and treatment effects. Under the optimal treatment conditions, the organic matter and nutrient removal rates were 81.06% ± 7.06% for chemical oxygen demand, 82.32% ± 7.18% for total nitrogen, and 82.98% ± 7.26% for total phosphorus. In addition, the rate of CO2 removal from biogas was 63.38% ± 5.35%. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The red and blue light intensity ratio of 5:5 showed the best removal performance. C. vulgaris-G. lucidum-S395-2 system obtained the best photosynthetic performance. The carbonic anhydrase activity had positive effects on CO2 removal performance.}, } @article {pmid36432883, year = {2022}, author = {Silva, PST and Cassiolato, AMR and Galindo, FS and Jalal, A and Nogueira, TAR and Oliveira, CEDS and Filho, MCMT}, title = {Azospirillum brasilense and Zinc Rates Effect on Fungal Root Colonization and Yield of Wheat-Maize in Tropical Savannah Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36432883}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {A successful microbial inoculant can increase root colonization and establish a positive interaction with native microorganisms to promote growth and productivity of cereal crops. Zinc (Zn) is an intensively reported deficient nutrient for maize and wheat production in Brazilian Cerrado. It can be sustainably managed by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria and their symbiotic association with other microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation and residual Zn rates on root colonization and grain yield of maize and wheat in succession under the tropical conditions of Brazil. These experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with four replications and arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of five Zn rates (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kg ha[-1]) applied from zinc sulfate in maize and residual on wheat and without and with seed inoculation of A. brasilense. The results indicated that root colonization by AMF and DSE in maize-wheat cropping system were significantly increased with interaction of Zn rates and inoculation treatments. Inoculation with A. brasilense at residual Zn rates of 4 kg ha[-1] increased root colonization by AMF under maize cultivation. Similarly, inoculation with A. brasilense at residual Zn rates of 2 and 4 kg ha[-1] reduced root colonization by DSE under wheat in succession. The leaf chlorophyll index and leaf Zn concentration were increased with inoculation of the A. brasilense and residual Zn rates. The inoculation did not influence AMF spore production and CO2-C in both crops. The grain yield and yield components of maize-wheat were increased with the inoculation of A. brasilense under residual Zn rates of 3 to 4 kg ha[-1] in tropical savannah conditions. Inoculation with A. brasilense under residual Zn rates up to 4 kg ha[-1] promoted root colonization by AMF and DSE in the maize cropping season. While the inoculation with A. brasilense under 2 and 4 kg ha[-1] residual Zn rates reduced root colonization by AMF and DSE in the wheat cropping season. Therefore, inoculation with A. brasilense in combination with Zn fertilization could consider a sustainable approach to increase the yield and performance of the maize-wheat cropping system in the tropical savannah conditions of Brazil.}, } @article {pmid36432802, year = {2022}, author = {Nasrollahi, V and Yuan, ZC and Kohalmi, SE and Hannoufa, A}, title = {SPL12 Regulates AGL6 and AGL21 to Modulate Nodulation and Root Regeneration under Osmotic Stress and Nitrate Sufficiency Conditions in Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36432802}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The highly conserved plant microRNA, miR156, affects root architecture, nodulation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and stress response. In Medicago sativa, transcripts of eleven SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE, SPLs, including SPL12, are targeted for cleavage by miR156. Our previous research revealed the role of SPL12 and its target gene, AGL6, in nodulation in alfalfa. Here, we investigated the involvement of SPL12, AGL6 and AGL21 in nodulation under osmotic stress and different nitrate availability conditions. Characterization of phenotypic and molecular parameters revealed that the SPL12/AGL6 module plays a negative role in maintaining nodulation under osmotic stress. While there was a decrease in the nodule numbers in WT plants under osmotic stress, the SPL12-RNAi and AGL6-RNAi genotypes maintained nodulation under osmotic stress. Moreover, the results showed that SPL12 regulates nodulation under a high concentration of nitrate by silencing AGL21. AGL21 transcript levels were increased under nitrate treatment in WT plants, but SPL12 was not affected throughout the treatment period. Given that AGL21 was significantly upregulated in SPL12-RNAi plants, we conclude that SPL12 may be involved in regulating nitrate inhibition of nodulation in alfalfa by targeting AGL21. Taken together, our results suggest that SPL12, AGL6, and AGL21 form a genetic module that regulates nodulation in alfalfa under osmotic stress and in response to nitrate.}, } @article {pmid36432779, year = {2022}, author = {Gahan, J and O'Sullivan, O and Cotter, PD and Schmalenberger, A}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Support Plant Sulfur Supply through Organosulfur Mobilizing Bacteria in the Hypho- and Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36432779}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {This study aimed to elucidate the role of bacteria colonising mycorrhizal hyphae in organically bound sulfur mobilisation, the dominant soil sulfur source that is not directly plant available. The effect of an intact mycorrhizal symbiosis with access to stable isotope organo-[34]S enriched soils encased in 35 µm mesh cores was tested in microcosms with Agrostis stolonifera and Plantago lanceolata. Hyphae and associated soil were sampled from static mesh cores with mycorrhizal ingrowth and rotating mesh cores that exclude mycorrhizal ingrowth as well as corresponding rhizosphere soil, while plant shoots were analysed for [34]S uptake. Static cores increased uptake of [34]S at early stages of plant growth when sulfur demand appeared to be high and harboured significantly larger populations of sulfonate mobilising bacteria. Bacterial and fungal communities were significantly different in the hyphospheres of static cores when compared to rotating cores, not associated with plant hosts. Shifts in bacterial and fungal communities occurred not only in rotated cores but also in the rhizosphere. Arylsulfatase activity was significantly higher in the rhizosphere when cores stayed static, while atsA and asfA gene diversity was distinct in the microcosms with static and rotating cores. This study demonstrated that AM symbioses can promote organo-S mobilization and plant uptake through interactions with hyphospheric bacteria, enabling AM fungal ingrowth into static cores creating a positive feedback-loop, detectable in the microbial rhizosphere communities.}, } @article {pmid36432515, year = {2022}, author = {Jakubczyk, K and Kupnicka, P and Melkis, K and Mielczarek, O and Walczyńska, J and Chlubek, D and Janda-Milczarek, K}, title = {Effects of Fermentation Time and Type of Tea on the Content of Micronutrients in Kombucha Fermented Tea.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36432515}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Humans ; *Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Micronutrients ; Tea/chemistry ; Zinc/analysis ; Chromium ; }, abstract = {The fermented tea beverage Kombucha is obtained through a series of biochemical and enzymatic reactions carried out by symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). It contains organic acids, vitamins, amino acids, and biologically active compounds, notably polyphenols, derived mainly from tea. Kombucha exhibits a range of health-promoting properties, including antioxidant or detoxifying effects. This fermented beverage is traditionally brewed with black tea, but other types of tea are used increasingly, which may have significant implications in terms of chemical composition and health-promoting effects. In this preliminary study, we investigated the content of micronutrients (manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn)) by the ICP-OES method in Kombucha prepared with black, red, green and white tea at different time points of fermentation (1, 7, 14 days). It should be noted that the composition of separate ingredients such as tea, leaven or sugar has not been studied. Kombucha had the highest content of zinc-0.36 mg/L to 2.08 mg/L, which accounts for between 3% and 26% of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for adults, and the smallest amounts of chromium (0.03 mg/L to 0.09 mg/L), which however represents as much as between 75% and 232% of the RDA. It has been demonstrated that the type of tea as well as the day of fermentation have a significant effect on the concentrations of selected minerals. Kombucha can therefore supplement micronutrients in the human diet.}, } @article {pmid36430737, year = {2022}, author = {Songtanin, B and Peterson, CJ and Molehin, AJ and Nugent, K}, title = {Biofilms and Benign Colonic Diseases.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36430737}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Humans ; *Biofilms ; Quorum Sensing ; *Colonic Diseases ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The colon has a very large surface area that is covered by a dense mucus layer. The biomass in the colon includes 500-1000 bacterial species at concentrations of ~10[12] colony-forming units per gram of feces. The intestinal epithelial cells and the commensal bacteria in the colon have a symbiotic relationship that results in nutritional support for the epithelial cells by the bacteria and maintenance of the optimal commensal bacterial population by colonic host defenses. Bacteria can form biofilms in the colon, but the exact frequency is uncertain because routine methods to undertake colonoscopy (i.e., bowel preparation) may dislodge these biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms represent a complex community that includes living and dead bacteria and an extracellular matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, DNA, and exogenous debris in the colon. The formation of biofilms occurs in benign colonic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The development of a biofilm might serve as a marker for ongoing colonic inflammation. Alternatively, the development of biofilms could contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders by providing sanctuaries for pathogenic bacteria and reducing the commensal bacterial population. Therapeutic approaches to patients with benign colonic diseases could include the elimination of biofilms and restoration of normal commensal bacteria populations. However, these studies will be extremely difficult unless investigators can develop noninvasive methods for measuring and identifying biofilms. These methods that might include the measurement of quorum sensing molecules, measurement of bile acids, and identification of bacteria uniquely associated with biofilms in the colon.}, } @article {pmid36430715, year = {2022}, author = {Jing, J and Yang, P and Wang, Y and Qu, Q and An, J and Fu, B and Hu, X and Zhou, Y and Hu, T and Cao, Y}, title = {Identification of Competing Endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) Network Associated with Drought Tolerance in Medicago truncatula with Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36430715}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Droughts ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; Seedlings/genetics ; }, abstract = {Drought, bringing the risks of agricultural production losses, is becoming a globally environmental stress. Previous results suggested that legumes with nodules exhibited superior drought tolerance compared with the non-nodule group. To investigate the molecular mechanism of rhizobium symbiosis impacting drought tolerance, transcriptome and sRNAome sequencing were performed to identify the potential mRNA-miRNA-ncRNA dynamic network. Our results revealed that seedlings with active nodules exhibited enhanced drought tolerance by reserving energy, synthesizing N-glycans, and medicating systemic acquired resistance due to the early effects of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) triggered in contrast to the drought susceptible with inactive nodules. The improved drought tolerance might be involved in the decreased expression levels of miRNA such as mtr_miR169l-5p, mtr_miR398b, and mtr_miR398c and its target genes in seedlings with active nodules. Based on the negative expression pattern between miRNA and its target genes, we constructed an mRNA-miR169l-ncRNA ceRNA network. During severe drought stress, the lncRNA alternative splicings TCONS_00049507 and TCONS_00049510 competitively interacted with mtr_miR169l-5p, which upregulated the expression of NUCLEAR FACTOR-Y (NF-Y) transcription factor subfamily NF-YA genes MtNF-YA2 and MtNF-YA3 to regulate their downstream drought-response genes. Our results emphasized the importance of SNF plants affecting drought tolerance. In conclusion, our work provides insight into ceRNA involvement in rhizobium symbiosis contributing to drought tolerance and provides molecular evidence for future study.}, } @article {pmid36430663, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Ni, H and Chen, L and Zou, J and Liu, C and Chen, Q and Ratet, P and Xin, D}, title = {Effector-Dependent and -Independent Molecular Mechanisms of Soybean-Microbe Interaction.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36430663}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Soybeans ; *Fabaceae ; Microbial Interactions ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean is a pivotal staple crop worldwide, supplying the main food and feed plant proteins in some countries. In addition to interacting with mutualistic microbes, soybean also needs to protect itself against pathogens. However, to grow inside plant tissues, plant defense mechanisms ranging from passive barriers to induced defense reactions have to be overcome. Pathogenic but also symbiotic micro-organisms effectors can be delivered into the host cell by secretion systems and can interfere with the immunity system and disrupt cellular processes. This review summarizes the latest advances in our understanding of the interaction between secreted effectors and soybean feedback mechanism and uncovers the conserved and special signaling pathway induced by pathogenic soybean cyst nematode, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas as well as by symbiotic rhizobium.}, } @article {pmid36430516, year = {2022}, author = {Zhan, M and Huang, Z and Cheng, G and Yu, Y and Su, J and Xu, Z}, title = {Alterations of the Mucosal Immune Response and Microbial Community of the Skin upon Viral Infection in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36430516}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Oncorhynchus mykiss ; Immunity, Mucosal ; *Rhabdoviridae Infections ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Dysbiosis ; *Fish Diseases ; *Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus/physiology ; *Microbiota ; *Virus Diseases ; Antiviral Agents ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {The skin is the largest organ on the surface of vertebrates, which not only acts as the first line of defense against pathogens but also harbors diverse symbiotic microorganisms. The complex interaction between skin immunity, pathogens, and commensal bacteria has been extensively studied in mammals. However, little is known regarding the effects of viral infection on the skin immune response and microbial composition in teleost fish. In this study, we exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) by immersion infection. Through pathogen load detection and pathological evaluation, we confirmed that IHNV successfully invaded the rainbow trout, causing severe damage to the epidermis of the skin. qPCR analyses revealed that IHNV invasion significantly upregulated antiviral genes and elicited strong innate immune responses. Transcriptome analyses indicated that IHNV challenge induced strong antiviral responses mediated by pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling pathways in the early stage of the infection (4 days post-infection (dpi)), and an extremely strong antibacterial immune response occurred at 14 dpi. Our 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that the skin microbial community of IHNV-infected fish was significantly richer and more diverse. Particularly, the infected fish exhibited a decrease in Proteobacteria accompanied by an increase in Actinobacteria. Furthermore, IHNV invasion favored the colonization of opportunistic pathogens such as Rhodococcus and Vibrio on the skin, especially in the later stage of infection, leading to dysbiosis. Our findings suggest that IHNV invasion is associated with skin microbiota dysbiosis and could thus lead to secondary bacterial infection.}, } @article {pmid36429056, year = {2022}, author = {Wekesa, C and Asudi, GO and Okoth, P and Reichelt, M and Muoma, JO and Furch, ACU and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Rhizobia Contribute to Salinity Tolerance in Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36429056}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {*Phaseolus ; *Rhizobium ; Salt Tolerance ; Kenya ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that induce nodule formation on leguminous plants. In the nodules, they reduce dinitrogen to ammonium that can be utilized by plants. Besides nitrogen fixation, rhizobia have other symbiotic functions in plants including phosphorus and iron mobilization and protection of the plants against various abiotic stresses including salinity. Worldwide, about 20% of cultivable and 33% of irrigation land is saline, and it is estimated that around 50% of the arable land will be saline by 2050. Salinity inhibits plant growth and development, results in senescence, and ultimately plant death. The purpose of this study was to investigate how rhizobia, isolated from Kenyan soils, relieve common beans from salinity stress. The yield loss of common bean plants, which were either not inoculated or inoculated with the commercial R. tropici rhizobia CIAT899 was reduced by 73% when the plants were exposed to 300 mM NaCl, while only 60% yield loss was observed after inoculation with a novel indigenous isolate from Kenyan soil, named S3. Expression profiles showed that genes involved in the transport of mineral ions (such as K[+], Ca[2+], Fe[3+], PO4[3-], and NO3[-]) to the host plant, and for the synthesis and transport of osmotolerance molecules (soluble carbohydrates, amino acids, and nucleotides) are highly expressed in S3 bacteroids during salt stress than in the controls. Furthermore, genes for the synthesis and transport of glutathione and γ-aminobutyric acid were upregulated in salt-stressed and S3-inocculated common bean plants. We conclude that microbial osmolytes, mineral ions, and antioxidant molecules from rhizobia enhance salt tolerance in common beans.}, } @article {pmid36428985, year = {2022}, author = {Zaidi, NE and Shazali, NAH and Leow, TC and Osman, MA and Ibrahim, K and Cheng, WH and Lai, KS and Nik Abd Rahman, NMA}, title = {CD36-Fatty Acid-Mediated Metastasis via the Bidirectional Interactions of Cancer Cells and Macrophages.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {36428985}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Humans ; *Fatty Acids/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; CD36 Antigens/metabolism ; Macrophages/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tumour heterogeneity refers to the complexity of cell subpopulations coexisting within the tumour microenvironment (TME), such as proliferating tumour cells, tumour stromal cells and infiltrating immune cells. The bidirectional interactions between cancer and the surrounding microenvironment mark the tumour survival and promotion functions, which allow the cancer cells to become invasive and initiate the metastatic cascade. Importantly, these interactions have been closely associated with metabolic reprogramming, which can modulate the differentiation and functions of immune cells and thus initiate the antitumour response. The purpose of this report is to review the CD36 receptor, a prominent cell receptor in metabolic activity specifically in fatty acid (FA) uptake, for the metabolic symbiosis of cancer-macrophage. In this review, we provide an update on metabolic communication between tumour cells and macrophages, as well as how the immunometabolism indirectly orchestrates the tumour metastasis.}, } @article {pmid36425567, year = {2022}, author = {Almas, T and Haider, R and Malik, J and Mehmood, A and Alvi, A and Naz, H and Satti, DI and Zaidi, SMJ and AlSubai, AK and AlNajdi, S and Alsufyani, R and Ramtohul, RK and Almesri, A and Alsufyani, M and H Al-Bunnia, A and Alghamdi, HAS and Sattar, Y and Alraies, MC and Raina, S}, title = {Nanotechnology in interventional cardiology: A state-of-the-art review.}, journal = {International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature}, volume = {43}, number = {}, pages = {101149}, pmid = {36425567}, issn = {2352-9067}, abstract = {Despite the contemporary techniques and devices available for invasive cardiology procedures, the current diagnostic, and interventional modalities have many shortcomings. As a contemporary cross-disciplinary technique, nanotechnology has demonstrated great potential in interventional cardiology practice. It has a pivotal role in detecting sensitive cardiac biomarkers, nanoparticle-enhanced gadolinium (Gd) contrast to enhance the detection of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and multimodal imaging like including optical coherence tomography (OCT)/infrared luminescence (IR) for coronary plaque characterization. Furthermore, in invasive cardiology, the potential benefit is in miniaturized cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including leadless pacemakers and piezoelectric nanogenerators to self-power symbiotic cardiac devices. Nanoparticles are ideal for therapeutic drug delivery systems for atherosclerotic plaque regression, regeneration of fibrotic cardiomyocytes, and disruption of bacterial biofilm to enhance and prolong the effects of antimicrobial agents in infective endocarditis (IE). In summary, nanotechnology-assisted therapies can overtake conventional invasive cardiology and expand the horizon of microtechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of CAD in the foreseeable future.}, } @article {pmid36425261, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Q and Luo, Y and Ke, X}, title = {Interaction between the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Motility.}, journal = {Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {3240573}, pmid = {36425261}, issn = {1741-427X}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is the largest symbiotic ecosystem with the host and has been proven to play an important role in maintaining the stability of the intestinal environment. The imbalance of the gut microbiota is caused by the imbalance between the symbiotic microbiota and the pathogenic microbiota. The commensal microbiome regulates intestinal motility, while the pathogenic microbiome causes intestinal motility disorder, resulting in disease development. Intestinal motility is a relatively general term, and its meaning may include intestinal muscle contraction, intestinal wall biomechanics, intestinal compliance, and transmission. The role of intestinal microecology and intestinal motility are interrelated, intestinal flora disorder mediates intestinal motility, and abnormal intestinal motility affects colonization of the intestinal flora. In this review, we briefly outlined the interaction between gut microbiota and intestinal motility and provided a reference for future studies.}, } @article {pmid36425043, year = {2022}, author = {Nishide, Y and Sugimoto, TN and Watanabe, K and Egami, H and Kageyama, D}, title = {Genetic variations and microbiome of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1031535}, pmid = {36425043}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae poses a significant threat to the health of hens and poultry production. A comprehensive understanding of D. gallinae is necessary to develop sustainable and efficacious control methods. Here we examined 144 D. gallinae collected from 18 poultry farms throughout the Japanese Archipelago for their genetic variations based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences, and microbiome variations based on amplicon sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. According to COI sequencing, the Japanese samples were categorized into three haplogroups, which did not reflect the geographical distribution. Microbiome analyses found that the major bacteria associated with D. gallinae were Bartonella, Cardinium, Wolbachia, and Tsukamurella, with Bartonella being most predominant. Among 144 individual mites, all possessed one of the two major types of Bartonella (Bartonella sp. A), while 140 mites possessed the other type (Bartonella sp. B). The presence of the two strains of Bartonella was also confirmed by a single copy gene, rpoB. The presence of Bartonella in laid eggs suggested transovarial vertical transmission. Given that obligate blood-feeding arthropods generally require a supply of B vitamins from symbiotic bacteria, Bartonella may play an important role in mite survival. Rickettsiella, a major symbiont in European D. gallinae populations, and suggested to be an important symbiont by genomic data, was rarely found in Japanese populations. Cardinium detected from D. gallinae fell into a major clade found widely in arthropods, whereas Wolbachia detected in Japanese D. gallinae appear to be a new lineage, located at the base of Wolbachia phylogeny. Of the mitochondrial phylogeny, infection patterns of Cardinium and Wolbachia were strongly correlated, possibly suggesting one or both of the symbionts induce reproductive manipulations and increase spread in the host populations.}, } @article {pmid36424853, year = {2023}, author = {Chang, J and Duong, TA and Schoeman, C and Ma, X and Roodt, D and Barker, N and Li, Z and Van de Peer, Y and Mizrachi, E}, title = {The genome of the king protea, Protea cynaroides.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {113}, number = {2}, pages = {262-276}, pmid = {36424853}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {*Proteaceae/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Genomics ; South Africa ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The king protea (Protea cynaroides), an early-diverging eudicot, is the most iconic species from the Megadiverse Cape Floristic Region, and the national flower of South Africa. Perhaps best known for its iconic flower head, Protea is a key genus for the South African horticulture industry and cut-flower market. Ecologically, the genus and the family Proteaceae are important models for radiation and adaptation, particularly to soils with limited phosphorus bio-availability. Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of the P. cynaroides genome as the first representative of the fynbos biome. We reveal an ancestral whole-genome duplication event that occurred in the Proteaceae around the late Cretaceous that preceded the divergence of all crown groups within the family and its extant diversity in all Southern continents. The relatively stable genome structure of P. cynaroides is invaluable for comparative studies and for unveiling paleopolyploidy in other groups, such as the distantly related sister group Ranunculales. Comparative genomics in sequenced genomes of the Proteales shows loss of key arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis genes likely ancestral to the family, and possibly the order. The P. cynaroides genome empowers new research in plant diversification, horticulture and adaptation, particularly to nutrient-poor soils.}, } @article {pmid36424763, year = {2023}, author = {Hicks Pries, CE and Lankau, R and Ingham, GA and Legge, E and Krol, O and Forrester, J and Fitch, A and Wurzburger, N}, title = {Differences in soil organic matter between EcM- and AM-dominated forests depend on tree and fungal identity.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {104}, number = {3}, pages = {e3929}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3929}, pmid = {36424763}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Humans ; *Trees/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Forests ; Ecosystem ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {As global change shifts the species composition of forests, we need to understand which species characteristics affect soil organic matter (SOM) cycling to predict future soil carbon (C) storage. Recently, whether a tree species forms a symbiosis with arbuscular (AM) versus ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi has been suggested as a strong predictor of soil C storage, but there is wide variability within EcM systems. In this study, we investigated how mycorrhizal associations and the species composition of canopy trees and mycorrhizal fungi related to the proportion of soil C and nitrogen (N) in mineral associations and soil C:N across four sites representing distinct climates and tree communities in the eastern US broadleaf forest biome. In two of our sites, we found the expected relationship of declining mineral-associated C and N and increasing soil C:N ratios as the basal area of EcM-associating trees increased. However, across all sites these soil properties strongly correlated with canopy tree and fungal species composition. Sites where the expected pattern with EcM basal area was observed were (1) dominated by trees with lower quality litter in the Pinaceae and Fagaceae families and (2) dominated by EcM fungi with medium-distance exploration type hyphae, melanized tissues, and the potential to produce peroxidases. This observational study demonstrates that differences in SOM between AM and EcM systems are dependent on the taxa of trees and EcM fungi involved. Important information is lost when the rich mycorrhizal symbiosis is reduced to two categories.}, } @article {pmid36424543, year = {2022}, author = {Shen, Z and Liu, X and Yang, J and Wang, Y and Yao, K and Huo, Q and Fu, Y and Wei, Y and Guo, B}, title = {The temporal and spatial endophytic fungal community of Huperzia serrata: diversity and relevance to huperzine A production by the host.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {281}, pmid = {36424543}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Humans ; *Huperzia/microbiology ; *Mycobiome ; Endophytes ; *Ascomycota ; *Basidiomycota ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants maintain the steady-state balance of the mutually beneficial symbiosis relationship with their endophytic fungi through secondary metabolites. Meanwhile endophytic fungi can serve as biological inducers to promote the biosynthesis and accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites in host plants through a variety of ways. The composition and structure of endophytic fungal community are affected by many factors, including tissues, seasons and so on. In this work, we studied the community diversity, temporal and spatial pattern of endophytic fungi detected from the roots, stems and leaves of Huperzia serrata in different seasons. The correlation between endophytic fungi and huperzine A (HupA) content in plants was analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 7005 operational taxonomic units were detected, and all strains were identified as 14 phyla, 54 classes, 140 orders, 351 families and 742 genera. Alpha diversity analysis showed that the diversity of endophytic fungi in stem and leaf was higher than that in root, and the diversity in summer (August) was lower than that in other months. NMDS analysis showed that the endophytic fungal communities of leaves, stems and roots were significantly different, and the root and leaf communities were also different between four seasons. Through correlation analysis, it was found that 33 genera of the endophytic fungi of H. serrata showed a significant positive correlation with the content of HupA (p < 0.05), of which 13 genera (Strelitziana, Devriesia, Articulospora, Derxomyces, Cyphellophora, Trechispora, Kurtzmanomyces, Capnobotryella, Erythrobasidium, Camptophora, Stagonospora, Lachnum, Golubevia) showed a highly significant positive correlation with the content of HupA (p < 0.01). These endophytic fungi may have the potential to promote the biosynthesis and accumulation of HupA in plant.

CONCLUSIONS: This report is the first time to analyze the diversity of endophytic fungi in tissues of H. serrata in different seasons, which proves that there is variability in different tissues and seasonal distribution patterns. These findings provide references to the study of endophytic fungi of H. serrata.}, } @article {pmid36424517, year = {2023}, author = {Wiesmann, CL and Zhang, Y and Alford, M and Hamilton, CD and Dosanjh, M and Thoms, D and Dostert, M and Wilson, A and Pletzer, D and Hancock, REW and Haney, CH}, title = {The ColR/S two-component system is a conserved determinant of host association across Pseudomonas species.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {286-296}, pmid = {36424517}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Pseudomonas/genetics ; *Pseudomonas fluorescens/genetics ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Members of the bacterial genus Pseudomonas form mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic associations with diverse hosts. The prevalence of host association across the genus suggests that symbiosis may be a conserved ancestral trait and that distinct symbiotic lifestyles may be more recently evolved. Here we show that the ColR/S two-component system, part of the Pseudomonas core genome, is functionally conserved between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Using plant rhizosphere colonization and virulence in a murine abscess model, we show that colR is required for commensalism with plants and virulence in animals. Comparative transcriptomics revealed that the ColR regulon has diverged between P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens and deleting components of the ColR regulon revealed strain-specific, but not host-specific, requirements for ColR-dependent genes. Collectively, our results suggest that ColR/S allows Pseudomonas to sense and respond to a host, but that the ColR-regulon has diverged between Pseudomonas strains with distinct lifestyles. This suggests that conservation of two-component systems, coupled with life-style dependent diversification of the regulon, may play a role in host association and lifestyle transitions.}, } @article {pmid36423639, year = {2022}, author = {Díaz-Escandón, D and Tagirdzhanova, G and Vanderpool, D and Allen, CCG and Aptroot, A and Češka, O and Hawksworth, DL and Huereca, A and Knudsen, K and Kocourková, J and Lücking, R and Resl, P and Spribille, T}, title = {Genome-level analyses resolve an ancient lineage of symbiotic ascomycetes.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {23}, pages = {5209-5218.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.014}, pmid = {36423639}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Ascomycota account for about two-thirds of named fungal species.[1] Over 98% of known Ascomycota belong to the Pezizomycotina, including many economically important species as well as diverse pathogens, decomposers, and mutualistic symbionts.[2] Our understanding of Pezizomycotina evolution has until now been based on sampling traditionally well-defined taxonomic classes.[3][,][4][,][5] However, considerable diversity exists in undersampled and uncultured, putatively early-diverging lineages, and the effect of these on evolutionary models has seldom been tested. We obtained genomes from 30 putative early-diverging lineages not included in recent phylogenomic analyses and analyzed these together with 451 genomes covering all available ascomycete genera. We show that 22 of these lineages, collectively representing over 600 species, trace back to a single origin that diverged from the common ancestor of Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes over 300 million years BP. The new clade, which we recognize as a more broadly defined Lichinomycetes, includes lichen and insect symbionts, endophytes, and putative mycorrhizae and encompasses a range of morphologies so disparate that they have recently been placed in six different taxonomic classes. To test for shared hidden features within this group, we analyzed genome content and compared gene repertoires to related groups in Ascomycota. Regardless of their lifestyle, Lichinomycetes have smaller genomes than most filamentous Ascomycota, with reduced arsenals of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and secondary metabolite gene clusters. Our expanded genome sample resolves the relationships of numerous "orphan" ascomycetes and establishes the independent evolutionary origins of multiple mutualistic lifestyles within a single, morphologically hyperdiverse clade of fungi.}, } @article {pmid36422377, year = {2022}, author = {Pujic, P and Alloisio, N and Miotello, G and Armengaud, J and Abrouk, D and Fournier, P and Normand, P}, title = {Correction: Pujic et al. The Proteogenome of Symbiotic Frankia alni in Alnus glutinosa Nodules. Microorganisms 2022, 10, 651.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422377}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...].}, } @article {pmid36422352, year = {2022}, author = {Mortuza, MF and Djedidi, S and Ito, T and Agake, SI and Sekimoto, H and Yokoyama, T and Okazaki, S and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N}, title = {Genetic and Physiological Characterization of Soybean-Nodule-Derived Isolates from Bangladeshi Soils Revealed Diverse Array of Bacteria with Potential Bradyrhizobia for Biofertilizers.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422352}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Genetic and physiological characterization of bacteria derived from nodules of leguminous plants in the exploration of biofertilizer is of paramount importance from agricultural and environmental perspectives. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of 84 isolates derived from Bangladeshi soils revealed an unpredictably diverse array of nodule-forming and endosymbiotic bacteria-mostly belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium. A sequence analysis of the symbiotic genes (nifH and nodD1) revealed similarities with the 16S rRNA gene tree, with few discrepancies. A phylogenetic analysis of the partial rrn operon (16S-ITS-23S) and multi-locus sequence analysis of atpD, glnII, and gyrB identified that the Bradyrhizobium isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense species. In the pot experiment, several isolates showed better activity than B. diazoefficiens USDA110, and the Bho-P2-B2-S1-51 isolate of B. liaoningense showed significantly higher acetylene reduction activity in both Glycine max cv. Enrei and Binasoybean-3 varieties and biomass production increased by 9% in the Binasoybean-3 variety. Tha-P2-B1-S1-68 isolate of B. diazoefficiens significantly enhanced shoot length and induced 10% biomass production in Binasoybean-3. These isolates grew at 1-4% NaCl concentration and pH 4.5-10 and survived at 45 °C, making the isolates potential candidates for eco-friendly soybean biofertilizers in salty and tropical regions.}, } @article {pmid36422350, year = {2022}, author = {Duval, C and Marie, B and Foucault, P and Duperron, S}, title = {Establishment of the Bacterial Microbiota in a Lab-Reared Model Teleost Fish, the Medaka Oryzias latipes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422350}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Oryzias latipes is an important model organism for physiology, genetics, and developmental studies, and has also emerged as a relevant vertebrate model for aquatic ecotoxicology. Knowledge regarding its associated microbiota on the other hand is still scarce and limited to adults, despite the relevance of the associated microbiome to the host's biology. This study provides the first insights into the establishment of bacterial microbiota during early developmental stages of laboratory-reared medaka using a 16S-rRNA-sequencing-based approach. Major shifts in community compositions are observed, from a Proteobacteria-dominated community in larvae and juveniles to a more phylum-diverse community towards adulthood, with no obvious difference between female and male specimens. Major bacterial taxa found in adults, including genera Cetobacterium and ZOR0006, establish progressively and are rare during early stages. Dominance shifts are comparable to those documented in another major model teleost, the zebrafish. Results from this study provide a basis for future work investigating the influence of medaka-associated bacteria during host development.}, } @article {pmid36422335, year = {2022}, author = {Vujanovic, S and Vujanovic, J and Vujanovic, V}, title = {Microbiome-Driven Proline Biogenesis in Plants under Stress: Perspectives for Balanced Diet to Minimize Depression Disorders in Humans.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422335}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the overall global burden of mental disorders. An increasing number of studies have revealed that among 20 different amino acids, high proline consumption is a dietary factor with the strongest impact on depression in humans and animals, including insects. Recent studies acknowledged that gut microbiota play a key role in proline-related pathophysiology of depression. In addition, the multi-omics approach has alleged that a high level of metabolite proline is directly linked to depression severity, while variations in levels of circulating proline are dependent on microbiome composition. The gut-brain axis proline analysis is a gut microbiome model of studying depression, highlighting the critical importance of diet, but nothing is known about the role of the plant microbiome-food axis in determining proline concentration in the diet and thus about preventing excessive proline intake through food consumption. In this paper, we discuss the protocooperative potential of a holistic study approach combining the microbiota-gut-brain axis with the microbiota-plant-food-diet axis, as both are involved in proline biogenesis and metabolism and thus on in its effect on mood and cognitive function. In preharvest agriculture, the main scientific focus must be directed towards plant symbiotic endophytes, as scavengers of abiotic stresses in plants and modulators of high proline concentration in crops/legumes/vegetables under climate change. It is also implied that postharvest agriculture-including industrial food processing-may be critical in designing a proline-balanced diet, especially if corroborated with microbiome-based preharvest agriculture, within a circular agrifood system. The microbiome is suggested as a target for selecting beneficial plant endophytes in aiming for a balanced dietary proline content, as it is involved in the physiology and energy metabolism of eukaryotic plant/human/animal/insect hosts, i.e., in core aspects of this amino acid network, while opening new venues for an efficient treatment of depression that can be adapted to vast groups of consumers and patients. In that regard, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and molecular biomarkers combined with rapid and non-destructive imaging technologies were also discussed in the scope of enhancing integrative science outcomes, agricultural efficiencies, and diagnostic medical precisions.}, } @article {pmid36422307, year = {2022}, author = {Adnane, M and Chapwanya, A}, title = {Role of Genital Tract Bacteria in Promoting Endometrial Health in Cattle.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422307}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Microbiota regulate endometrial health in cattle. It is important to know what a 'good' microbiome is, in order to understand pathogeneses of uterine disease. Given that microbial influx into the genital tract of cows at calving is unavoidable, exploring the involvement of genital tract bacteria in promoting endometrial health is warranted. The dysbiosis of endometrial microbiota is associated with benign and malign uterine diseases. The present review discusses current knowledge about the altered endometrial microbiome and the implications of this modulation on endometrial inflammation, ovarian activity, fecundation, pregnancy, and postpartum complications. Intravaginal administration of symbiotic microbes in cattle is a realistic alternative to antibiotic and hormone therapy to treat uterine disease. Genital microbial diversity can be modeled by nutrition, as the energy balance would improve the growth of specific microbial populations. It may be that probiotics that alter the endometrial microbiome could provide viable alternatives to existing therapies for uterine disease in cattle.}, } @article {pmid36422302, year = {2022}, author = {Ji, Y and Zhang, P and Zhou, S and Gao, P and Wang, B and Jiang, J}, title = {Widespread but Poorly Understood Bacteria: Candidate Phyla Radiation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422302}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria is a bacterial division composed mainly of candidate phyla bacteria with ultra-small cell sizes, streamlined genomes, and limited metabolic capacity, which are generally considered to survive in a parasitic or symbiotic manner. Despite their wide distribution and rich diversity, CPR bacteria have received little attention until recent years, and are therefore poorly understood. This review systematically summarizes the history of CPR research, the parasitic/symbiotic lifestyle, and the ecological distribution and unique metabolic features of CPR bacteria, hoping to provide guidance for future ecological and physiological research on CPR bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36422301, year = {2022}, author = {Coelho, C and Tiago, I and Veríssimo, A}, title = {Guts Bacterial Communities of Porcellio dilatatus: Symbionts Predominance, Functional Significance and Putative Biotechnological Potential.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422301}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Terrestrial isopods are effective herbivorous scavengers with an important ecological role in organic matter cycling. Their guts are considered to be a natural enrichment environment for lignocellulosic biomass (LCB)-degrading bacteria. The main goal of this work was to assess the structural diversity of Porcellio dilatatus gut bacterial communities using NGS technologies, and to predict their functional potential using PICRUSt2 software. Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Bacillota, Cyanobacteria, Mycoplasmatota, Bacteroidota, Candidatus Patescibacteria and Chloroflexota were the most abundant phyla found in P. dilatatus gut bacterial communities. At a family level, we identified the presence of eleven common bacterial families. Functionally, the P. dilatatus gut bacterial communities exhibited enrichment in KEGG pathways related to the functional module of metabolism. With the predicted functional profile of P. dilatatus metagenomes, it was possible to envision putative symbiotic relationships between P. dilatatus gut bacterial communities and their hosts. It was also possible to foresee the presence of a well-adapted bacterial community responsible for nutrient uptake for the host and for maintaining host homeostasis. Genes encoding LCB-degrading enzymes were also predicted in all samples. Therefore, the P. dilatatus digestive tract may be considered a potential source of LCB-degrading enzymes that is not to be neglected.}, } @article {pmid36422239, year = {2022}, author = {Antoszewski, M and Mierek-Adamska, A and Dąbrowska, GB}, title = {The Importance of Microorganisms for Sustainable Agriculture-A Review.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422239}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {In the face of climate change, progressive degradation of the environment, including agricultural land negatively affecting plant growth and development, endangers plant productivity. Seeking efficient and sustainable agricultural techniques to replace agricultural chemicals is one of the most important challenges nowadays. The use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms is among the most promising approaches; however, molecular mechanisms underneath plant-microbe interactions are still poorly understood. In this review, we summarized the knowledge on plant-microbe interactions, highlighting the role of microbial and plant proteins and metabolites in the formation of symbiotic relationships. This review covers rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbiomes, the role of root exudates in plant-microorganism interactions, the functioning of the plant's immune system during the plant-microorganism interactions. We also emphasized the possible role of the stringent response and the evolutionarily conserved mechanism during the established interaction between plants and microorganisms. As a case study, we discussed fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma. Our review aims to summarize the existing knowledge about plant-microorganism interactions and to highlight molecular pathways that need further investigation.}, } @article {pmid36422045, year = {2022}, author = {Ren, W and Zhang, H and Jin, X and Huang, H and Zhou, L and Xu, T and Tang, M}, title = {Pb Transfer Preference of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis in Morus alba under Different Light Intensities.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36422045}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve the lead (Pb) tolerance of host plants and accumulate intensive Pb in mycorrhizal roots. However, the detailed contribution of AM fungal extraradical hyphae to the plants' Pb uptake remains unknown. In this study, mulberry (Morus alba) colonized by the AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) with light treatments were linked by fungal extraradical hyphae using a three-compartment system (pot test), and their differences in responding to Pb application were compared. Shading inhibited mulberry photosynthesis and the growth of mulberry. In this study, Pb application did not affect the colonization of R. irregularis when symbiosis had already formed as the root was not exposed to Pb during the colonization and formation of the AM fungal hyphae network. The R. irregularis preferred to transfer more Pb to the unshaded mulberry than to the shaded mulberry, a condition capable of providing more C supply for fungal survival than to low-light mulberry. The Pb transferred through the mycorrhizal pathway to mulberry had low mobility and might be compartmented in the root by R. irregularis until exceeding a threshold. The relatively high expressions of MaABCG16 with high Pb concentrations in plants suggest that MaABCG16 might play an important role in Pb translocation.}, } @article {pmid36421945, year = {2022}, author = {Zakalyukina, YV and Pavlov, NA and Lukianov, DA and Marina, VI and Belozerova, OA and Tashlitsky, VN and Guglya, EB and Osterman, IA and Biryukov, MV}, title = {A New Albomycin-Producing Strain of Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus May Provide Protection for Ants Messor structor.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36421945}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {There are several well-studied examples of protective symbiosis between insect host and symbiotic actinobacteria, producing antimicrobial metabolites to inhibit host pathogens. These mutualistic relationships are best described for some wasps and leaf-cutting ants, while a huge variety of insect species still remain poorly explored. For the first time, we isolated actinobacteria from the harvester ant Messor structor and evaluated the isolates' potential as antimicrobial producers. All isolates could be divided into two morphotypes of single and mycelial cells. We found that the most common mycelial morphotype was observed among soldiers and least common among larvae in the studied laboratory colony. The representative of this morphotype was identified as Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus 4-3 by a polyphasic approach. It was established using a E. coli JW5503 pDualRep2 system that crude broths of mycelial isolates inhibited protein synthesis in reporter strains, but it did not disrupt the in vitro synthesis of proteins in cell-free extracts. An active compound was extracted, purified and identified as albomycin δ2. The pronounced ability of albomycin to inhibit the growth of entomopathogens suggests that Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus may be involved in defensive symbiosis with the Messor structor ant against infections.}, } @article {pmid36421782, year = {2022}, author = {Cervera-Torres, C and Arthikala, MK and Lara, M and Blanco, L and Nanjareddy, K}, title = {Comprehensive Analysis of Phaseolus vulgaris&nbsp;SnRK Gene Family and Their Expression during Rhizobial and Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36421782}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sucrose non-fermentation-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) a Ser/Thr protein kinase, is known to play a crucial role in plants during biotic and abiotic stress responses by activating protein phosphorylation pathways. SnRK1 and some members of the plant-specific SnRK2 and SnRK3 sub-families have been studied in different plant species. However, a comprehensive study of the SnRK gene family in Phaseolus vulgaris is not available. Symbiotic associations of P. vulgaris with Rhizobium and/or mycorrhizae are crucial for the growth and productivity of the crop. In the present study, we identified PvSnRK genes and analysed their expression in response to the presence of the symbiont. A total of 42 PvSnRK genes were identified in P. vulgaris and annotated by comparing their sequence homology to Arabidopsis SnRK genes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the three sub-families into individual clades, and PvSnRK3 was subdivided into two groups. Chromosome localization analysis showed an uneven distribution of PvSnRK genes on 10 of the 11 chromosomes. Gene structural analysis revealed great variation in intron number in the PvSnRK3 sub-family, and motif composition is specific and highly conserved in each sub-family of PvSnRKs. Analysis of cis-acting elements suggested that PvSnRK genes respond to hormones, symbiosis and other abiotic stresses. Furthermore, expression data from databases and transcriptomic analyses revealed differential expression patterns for PvSnRK genes under symbiotic conditions. Finally, an in situ gene interaction network of the PvSnRK gene family with symbiosis-related genes showed direct and indirect interactions. Taken together, the present study contributes fundamental information for a better understanding of the role of the PvSnRK gene family not only in symbiosis but also in other biotic and abiotic interactions in P. vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid36421372, year = {2022}, author = {Thanwisai, A and Muangpat, P and Meesil, W and Janthu, P and Dumidae, A and Subkrasae, C and Ardpairin, J and Tandhavanant, S and Yoshino, TP and Vitta, A}, title = {Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria from the National Parks of Thailand and Larvicidal Property of Symbiotic Bacteria against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36421372}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are insect parasitic nematodes of the genera Het-erorhabditis and Steinernema. These nematodes are symbiotically associated with the bacteria, Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, respectively. National parks in Thailand are a potentially rich resource for recovering native EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria. The objectives of this study are to isolate and identify EPNs and their bacterial flora from soil samples in four national parks in Thailand and to evaluate their efficacy for controlling mosquito larvae. Using a baiting method with a Galleria mellonella moth larvae and a White trap technique, 80 out of 840 soil samples (9.5%) from 168 field sites were positive for EPNs. Sequencing of an internal transcribed spacer resulted in the molecular identification of Heterorhabditis nematode isolates as H. indica, H. baujardi and Heterorhabditis SGmg3, while using 28S rDNA sequencing, Steinernema nematode species were identified as S. guang-dongense, S. surkhetense, S. minutum, S. longicaudum and one closely related to S. yirgalemense. For the symbiotic bacterial isolates, based on recA sequencing, the Photorhabdus spp. were identified as P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii, P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis and P. luminescens subsp. australis. Xenorhabdus isolates were identified as X. stockiae, X. indica, X. griffiniae, X. japonica and X. hominickii. Results of bioassays demonstrate that Photorhabdus isolates were effective on both Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Therefore, we conclude that soil from Thailand's national parks contain a high diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria. Photorhabdus bacteria are larvicidal against culicine mosquitoes and may serve as effective biocontrol agents.}, } @article {pmid36419880, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Xie, Q and Huo, X and Liu, Z and Da, M and Yuan, M and Zhao, Y and Shen, G}, title = {Impact of intestinal dysbiosis on breast cancer metastasis and progression.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1037831}, pmid = {36419880}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Breast cancer has a high mortality rate among malignant tumors, with metastases identified as the main cause of the high mortality. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has become a key factor in the development, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer. The many microorganisms that make up the gut flora have a symbiotic relationship with their host and, through the regulation of host immune responses and metabolic pathways, are involved in important physiologic activities in the human body, posing a significant risk to health. In this review, we build on the interactions between breast tissue (including tumor tissue, tissue adjacent to the tumor, and samples from healthy women) and the microbiota, then explore factors associated with metastatic breast cancer and dysbiosis of the gut flora from multiple perspectives, including enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, antibiotic use, changes in gut microbial metabolites, changes in the balance of the probiotic environment and diet. These factors highlight the existence of a complex relationship between host-breast cancer progression-gut flora. Suggesting that gut flora dysbiosis may be a host-intrinsic factor affecting breast cancer metastasis and progression not only informs our understanding of the role of microbiota dysbiosis in breast cancer development and metastasis, but also the importance of balancing gut flora dysbiosis and clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid36419378, year = {2023}, author = {Lin, YT and Xu, T and Ip, JC and Sun, Y and Fang, L and Luan, T and Zhang, Y and Qian, PY and Qiu, JW}, title = {Interactions among deep-sea mussels and their epibiotic and endosymbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria: Insights from multi-omics analysis.}, journal = {Zoological research}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {106-125}, pmid = {36419378}, issn = {2095-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Bivalvia/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Carbon/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis with Gammaproteobacteria is fundamental for the success of bathymodioline mussels in deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. However, the recent discovery of Campylobacteria on the gill surfaces of these mussels suggests that these host-bacterial relationships may be more complex than previously thought. Using the cold-seep mussel (Gigantidas haimaensis) as a model, we explored this host-bacterial system by assembling the host transcriptome and genomes of its epibiotic Campylobacteria and endosymbiotic Gammaproteobacteria and quantifying their gene and protein expression levels. We found that the epibiont applies a sulfur oxidizing (SOX) multienzyme complex with the acquisition of soxB from Gammaproteobacteria for energy production and switched from a reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle to a Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle for carbon assimilation. The host provides metabolic intermediates, inorganic carbon, and thiosulfate to satisfy the materials and energy requirements of the epibiont, but whether the epibiont benefits the host is unclear. The endosymbiont adopts methane oxidation and the ribulose monophosphate pathway (RuMP) for energy production, providing the major source of energy for itself and the host. The host obtains most of its nutrients, such as lysine, glutamine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine, and folate, from the endosymbiont. In addition, host pattern recognition receptors, including toll-like receptors, peptidoglycan recognition proteins, and C-type lectins, may participate in bacterial infection, maintenance, and population regulation. Overall, this study provides insights into the complex host-bacterial relationships that have enabled mussels and bacteria to thrive in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36419291, year = {2023}, author = {Yuxi, Z and Jingke, H and Wen, Q and Yang, C and Danfei, N}, title = {Managing water-land-food nexus towards resource efficiency improvement: A superedge-based analysis of China.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {325}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {116607}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116607}, pmid = {36419291}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Water ; *Water Resources ; Food ; Agriculture ; Water Supply ; }, abstract = {Challenges at the intersection of water conservation, land protection, food security, and economic growth cross industrial boundaries, and also involve synergies with multiple policy domains. Despite this, little is known about how system heterogeneity affects water, land, and food (WLF) consumption performance at a sectoral level. This study integrates superedge analysis with a flow interaction network, elasticity theory, and utility analysis to detect the WLF nexus with regard to resource efficiency gains. Three indicators (intra-sector recycling efficiency, trans-sector allocation efficiency, and symbiosis of system structure) are proposed as mechanisms by which to quantitatively explore intra-sector and trans-sector nexus, and formulate improvement strategies for sectoral WLF savings. The results show synergies between recycling efficiency and water/food productivity. Manufacturing servitization and agricultural industrialization can drive more efficient WLF allocation by minimizing resource misallocation, whilst positive industrial ecology enhances WLF circulation and facilitates reducing resource undue competition. In addition, the ability of industries to save resources under the nexus is examined. Approximately 93% of sectors suffer from resource waste, misallocation, and undue competition. Therefore, strategic paths enhance resource synergy and, through so doing, enable WLF efficiency gains.}, } @article {pmid36418361, year = {2022}, author = {Al-Kaff, MO and El-Metwally, HA and Elabbasy, EM}, title = {Qualitative analysis and phase of chaos control of the predator-prey model with Holling type-III.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {20111}, pmid = {36418361}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Population Dynamics ; *Models, Biological ; *Predatory Behavior/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Logistic Models ; }, abstract = {In this study, we investigate the dynamics of a discrete-time with predator-prey system with a Holling-III type functional response model. The center manifold theorem and bifurcation theory are used to create existence conditions for flip bifurcations and Neimark-Sacker bifurcations. Bifurcation diagrams, maximum Lyapunov exponents, and phase portraits are examples of numerical simulations that not only show the soundness of theoretical analysis but also show complicated dynamical behaviors and biological processes. From the point of view of biology, this implies that the tiny integral step size can steady the system into locally stable coexistence. Yet, the large integral step size may lead to instability in the system, producing more intricate and richer dynamics. This also means that when the intrinsic death rate of the predator is high, this leads to a chaotic growth rate of the prey. The model has bifurcation features that are similar to those seen in logistic models. In addition, there is a bidirectional Neimark-Sacker bifurcation for both prey and predator, and therefore we obtain a direct correlation in symbiosis. This means that the higher the growth rate of the prey, the greater the growth rate of the predator. Therefore, the operation of predation has increased. The opposite is also true. Finally, the OGY approach is used to control chaos in the predator and prey model. which led to a new concept which we call bifurcation phase of control chaos.}, } @article {pmid36417903, year = {2022}, author = {Bobrovskiy, I and Nagovitsyn, A and Hope, JM and Luzhnaya, E and Brocks, JJ}, title = {Guts, gut contents, and feeding strategies of Ediacaran animals.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {24}, pages = {5382-5389.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.051}, pmid = {36417903}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Invertebrates/physiology ; Fossils ; Phylogeny ; Biomarkers ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The oldest animals appear in the fossil record among Ediacara biota communities. They prelude animal-dominated ecosystems of the Phanerozoic and may hold clues to the appearance of modern animal phyla in the Cambrian explosion. However, little is known about the phylogeny of the Ediacaran organisms and even less about their diet and feeding behavior.[1][,][2][,][3] An exception is mollusc-like Kimberella, for which a fossilized gut, feeding traces, and even potential coprolites have been found.[4][,][5] By contrast, Ediacaran organic-walled tubes, such as Sabellidites and Calyptrina, are thought to belong to tube worms comparable with modern Siboglinidae that have no gut but gain their nutrition from symbiotic bacteria.[6][,][7] Here, we examine the gut contents of Ediacaran animals using biomarker molecules. We show that 558-million-year (Ma)-old tube worm-like Calyptrina and mollusc-like Kimberella possessed a gut and shared a diet of green algae and bacteria. Despite their ancient age, sterol metabolism within the gut of both organisms was already comparable to extant invertebrates.[8]Dickinsonia, one of the key Ediacaran animals, show no traces of dietary molecules, indicating a different feeding mode and possible external digestion analogous to modern Placozoa. Lipid biomarkers uncover a range of feeding strategies in Ediacaran communities, highlighting true eumetazoan physiology of some Ediacaran animals.}, } @article {pmid36417110, year = {2022}, author = {Ren, S and Gao, Y and Li, H and Ma, H and Han, X and Yang, Z and Chen, W}, title = {Research Status and Application Prospects of the Medicinal Mushroom Armillaria mellea.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36417110}, issn = {1559-0291}, abstract = {Armillaria is one of the most common diseases underlying chronic root rot in woody plants. Although there is no particularly effective way to prevent it, soil disinfection is a common effective protective measure. However, Armillaria itself has important medicinal value and is a symbiotic fungus in the cultivation of Gastrodia elata and Polyporus umbellatus. Therefore, researching Armillaria is of great practical significance. In this review, the biological characteristics, cultivation methods, chemical components, food and medicinal value and efficacy of Armillaria were all reviewed, and its development and utilization direction were analyzed and discussed.}, } @article {pmid36414126, year = {2022}, author = {Janpum, C and Pombubpa, N and Monshupanee, T and Incharoensakdi, A and In-Na, P}, title = {Advancement on mixed microalgal-bacterial cultivation systems for nitrogen and phosphorus recoveries from wastewater to promote sustainable bioeconomy.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {360}, number = {}, pages = {198-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.11.008}, pmid = {36414126}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Phosphorus ; Nitrogen ; *Microalgae ; Wastewater ; *Chlorella ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Biological wastewater treatment is a promising and environmentally friendly method that utilises living microorganisms to remediate water and enable recovery or conversion of contaminants into valuable products. For many decades, microalgae and cyanobacteria, photosynthetic living microorganisms, have been explored extensively for wastewater bioremediation. They can be used for recovering valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous from secondary effluents and capable of transforming those nutrients into marketable products such as biofuels, biofertilisers, nutraceutical, and pigments for promoting a Bio-Circular Green economy. In recent years, there has been a shift towards mixing compatible microalgae with bacteria, which is inspired by their natural symbiotic relationships to increase nitrogen and phosphorus recoveries. With this enhanced bioremediation, recovery of polluted wastes can be intensified and higher biomass quality (with high nutrient density) can be achieved. This review focuses on the state-of-the-art of mixed microalgal-bacterial cultivating systems. A comprehensive comparison of existing studies that used Chlorella species as microalgae in various mixed microalgal-bacterial cultivating systems (suspension, biofilm, and immobilisation) for nitrogen and phosphorus recoveries from wastewater is conducted. Key technical challenges such as balancing microalgae and bacteria species, pH regulation, light distribution, biomass harvesting, and biomass conversion are also discussed. From the data comparisons among different cultivation systems, it has been suggested that immobilisation appears to require less amount of operational light compared to the suspended and biofilm-based systems for similar nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies.}, } @article {pmid36412712, year = {2022}, author = {Stevens, LL and Whitehead, C and Singhal, A}, title = {Cultivating Cooperative Relationships: Identifying Learning Gaps When Teaching Students Systems Thinking Biomimicry.}, journal = {Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36412712}, issn = {2313-7673}, abstract = {The methodology of biomimicry design thinking is based on and builds upon the overarching patterns that all life abides by. "Cultivating cooperative relationships" within an ecosystem is one such pattern we as humans can learn from to nurture our own mutualistic and symbiotic relationships. While form and process translations from biology to design have proven accessible by students learning biomimicry, the realm of translating biological functions in a systematic approach has proven to be more difficult. This study examines how higher education students can approach the gap that many companies in transition are struggling with today; that of thinking within the closed loops of their own ecosystem, to do good without damaging the system itself. Design students should be able to assess and advise on product design choices within such systems after graduation. We know when tackling a design challenge, teams have difficulties sifting through the mass of information they encounter, and many obstacles are encountered by students and their professional clients when trying to implement systems thinking into their design process. While biomimicry offers guidelines and methodology, there is insufficient research on complex, systems-level problem solving that systems thinking biomimicry requires. This study looks at factors found in course exercises, through student surveys and interviews that helped (novice) professionals initiate systems thinking methods as part of their strategy. The steps found in this research show characteristics from student responses and matching educational steps which enabled them to develop their own approach to challenges in a systems thinking manner. Experiences from the 2022 cohort of the semester "Design with Nature" within the Industrial Design Engineering program at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands have shown that the mixing and matching of connected biological design strategies to understand integrating functions and relationships within a human system is a promising first step.}, } @article {pmid36412281, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Z and Chen, Y and Zheng, Y and Wang, L and Shen, S and Yang, G and Yang, Y and Wang, T}, title = {Quxie Capsule Alleviates Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer Through Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Suppressing A. fumigatus-induced Aerobic Glycolysis.}, journal = {Integrative cancer therapies}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {15347354221138534}, pmid = {36412281}, issn = {1552-695X}, mesh = {Mice ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Colitis-Associated Neoplasms/drug therapy ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; *Colitis/complications/drug therapy/chemically induced ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism ; *Colonic Neoplasms ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Glycolysis ; }, abstract = {AIM: Quxie capsule (QX), a compound of 21 kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs, has been used to treat patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and could suppress the growth of colon cancer. However, the mechanisms of QX inhibiting colorectal cancer remain unclear. In current study, we attempted to determine the anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) effects of QX and the mechanisms of QX in alleviating colorectal cancer.

METHODS: A colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) model was established by intraperitoneally injecting mice with AOM followed by 3 cycles of 2% DSS in water. During establishment of CAC model, we orally gavaged mice with QX. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess lesion of the colonic tumors. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in colonic tumors was measured by qPCR. The proportion of immune cells in colonic tumors was analyzed by flow cytometry. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to detect intestinal microbiota. The expression of glycolytic related enzymes, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were used to assess the level of aerobic glycolysis.

RESULTS: QX markedly inhibited intestinal tumorigenesis by decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and increasing the proportion of CD8[+] T cells in colon tumors. Fecal microbiota sequencing revealed that QX increased the relative abundances of intestinal symbiotic probiotics, such as, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium genera. What's more, opportunistic pathogens, Bacteroides genera and Aspergillus-Aspergillus fumigatus, exhibited remarkably reduced abundances in mice treated with QX compared with untreated CAC mice. Further experiments showed that QX significantly reduced glycolysis of colon tumor and suppressed A. fumigatus-induced glycolytic metabolism of colon cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS: QX alleviates the development of CRC at least in part through modulating intestinal microbiota and reducing A. fumigatus-induced aerobic glycolysis of colon cancer cells.}, } @article {pmid36411320, year = {2022}, author = {Halbrook, CJ and Thurston, G and Boyer, S and Anaraki, C and Jiménez, JA and McCarthy, A and Steele, NG and Kerk, SA and Hong, HS and Lin, L and Law, FV and Felton, C and Scipioni, L and Sajjakulnukit, P and Andren, A and Beutel, AK and Singh, R and Nelson, BS and Van Den Bergh, F and Krall, AS and Mullen, PJ and Zhang, L and Batra, S and Morton, JP and Stanger, BZ and Christofk, HR and Digman, MA and Beard, DA and Viale, A and Zhang, J and Crawford, HC and Pasca di Magliano, M and Jorgensen, C and Lyssiotis, CA}, title = {Differential integrated stress response and asparagine production drive symbiosis and therapy resistance of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells.}, journal = {Nature cancer}, volume = {3}, number = {11}, pages = {1386-1403}, pmid = {36411320}, issn = {2662-1347}, support = {R01 CA248160/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R37 CA237421/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; A19258/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; A25236/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; R01 CA244931/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; *Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Asparagine/metabolism ; *Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The pancreatic tumor microenvironment drives deregulated nutrient availability. Accordingly, pancreatic cancer cells require metabolic adaptations to survive and proliferate. Pancreatic cancer subtypes have been characterized by transcriptional and functional differences, with subtypes reported to exist within the same tumor. However, it remains unclear if this diversity extends to metabolic programming. Here, using metabolomic profiling and functional interrogation of metabolic dependencies, we identify two distinct metabolic subclasses among neoplastic populations within individual human and mouse tumors. Furthermore, these populations are poised for metabolic cross-talk, and in examining this, we find an unexpected role for asparagine supporting proliferation during limited respiration. Constitutive GCN2 activation permits ATF4 signaling in one subtype, driving excess asparagine production. Asparagine release provides resistance during impaired respiration, enabling symbiosis. Functionally, availability of exogenous asparagine during limited respiration indirectly supports maintenance of aspartate pools, a rate-limiting biosynthetic precursor. Conversely, depletion of extracellular asparagine with PEG-asparaginase sensitizes tumors to mitochondrial targeting with phenformin.}, } @article {pmid36411319, year = {2022}, author = {Ryan, DG and Frezza, C}, title = {Metabolic symbiosis in pancreatic cancer.}, journal = {Nature cancer}, volume = {3}, number = {11}, pages = {1277-1278}, pmid = {36411319}, issn = {2662-1347}, support = {MC_UU_12022/6/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Symbiosis ; *Biochemical Phenomena ; *Pancreatic Neoplasms ; }, } @article {pmid36410023, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, W and Venkatraman, A and Menden, HL and Martinez, M and Umar, S and Sampath, V}, title = {Short-chain fatty acids ameliorate necrotizing enterocolitis-like intestinal injury through enhancing Notch1-mediated single immunoglobulin interleukin-1-related receptor, toll-interacting protein, and A20 induction.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology}, volume = {324}, number = {1}, pages = {G24-G37}, pmid = {36410023}, issn = {1522-1547}, support = {R01 DK117296/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Infant, Newborn ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; *Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/drug therapy/prevention & control/genetics ; Receptors, Interleukin-1/genetics/metabolism ; Infant, Premature ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/pharmacology/metabolism ; Butyrates/metabolism ; Immunoglobulins/metabolism ; Interleukin-1/metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Single immunoglobulin interleukin-1-related receptor (SIGIRR), toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP), and A20 are major inhibitors of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling induced postnatally in the neonatal intestine. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), fermentation products of indigestible carbohydrates produced by symbiotic bacteria, inhibit intestinal inflammation. Herein, we investigated the mechanisms by which SCFAs regulate SIGIRR, A20, and TOLLIP expression and mitigate experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Butyrate induced NOTCH activation by repressing sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)-mediated deacetylation of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) in human intestinal epithelial cells (HIECs). Overexpression of NICD induced SIGIRR, A20, and TOLLIP expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that butyrate-induced NICD binds to the SIGIRR, A20, and TOLLIP gene promoters. Notch1-shRNA suppressed butyrate-induced SIGIRR/A20 upregulation in mouse enteroids and HIEC. Flagellin (TLR5 agonist)-induced inflammation in HIEC was inhibited by butyrate in a SIGIRR-dependent manner. Neonatal mice fed butyrate had increased NICD, A20, SIGIRR, and TOLLIP expression in the ileal epithelium. Butyrate inhibited experimental NEC-induced intestinal apoptosis, cytokine expression, and histological injury. Our data suggest that SCFAs can regulate the expression of the major negative regulators of TLR signaling in the neonatal intestine through Notch1 and ameliorate experimental NEC. Enteral SCFAs supplementation in preterm infants provides a promising bacteria-free, therapeutic option for NEC.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as propionate and butyrate, metabolites produced by symbiotic gut bacteria are known to be anti-inflammatory, but the mechanisms by which they protect against NEC are not fully understood. In this study, we reveal that SCFAs regulate intestinal inflammation by inducing the key TLR and IL1R inhibitors, SIGIRR and A20, through activation of the pluripotent transcriptional factor NOTCH1. Butyrate-mediated SIGIRR and A20 induction represses experimental NEC in the neonatal intestine.}, } @article {pmid36409681, year = {2022}, author = {Cai, J and Chen, B and Li, W and Xu, P and Di, Y and Xu, H and Li, K}, title = {Transcriptome analysis reveals the regulatory mode by which NAA promotes the growth of Armillaria gallica.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {11}, pages = {e0277701}, pmid = {36409681}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Armillaria/genetics ; Naphthaleneacetic Acids ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; *Gastrodia ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic relationship is observed between Armillaria and the Chinese herbal medicine Gastrodia elata (G. elata). Armillaria is a nutrient source for the growth of G. elata, and its nutrient metabolism efficiency affects the growth and development of G. elata. Auxin has been reported to stimulate Armillaria species, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. We found that naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) can also promote the growth of A. gallica. Moreover, we identified a total of 2071 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by analyzing the transcriptome sequencing data of A. gallica at 5 and 10 hour of NAA treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses showed that these unigenes were significantly enriched in the metabolism pathways of arginine, proline, propanoate, phenylalanine and tryptophan. The expression levels of the general amino acid permease (Gap), ammonium transporter (AMT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutamine synthetase (GS), Zn(II) 2Cys6 and C2H2 transcription factor genes were upregulated. Our transcriptome analysis showed that the amino acid and nitrogen metabolism pathways in Armillaria were rapidly induced within hours after NAA treatment. These results provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms by which NAA promotes the growth of Armillaria species.}, } @article {pmid36409137, year = {2022}, author = {Men, Y and Yang, ZW and Luo, JY and Chen, PP and Moreira, FFF and Liu, ZH and Yin, JD and Xie, BJ and Wang, YH and Xie, Q}, title = {Symbiotic Microorganisms and Their Different Association Types in Aquatic and Semiaquatic Bugs.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0279422}, pmid = {36409137}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Heteroptera/genetics/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Bacteria/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {True bugs (Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera) constitute the largest suborder of nonholometabolous insects and occupy a wide range of habitats various from terrestrial to semiaquatic to aquatic niches. The transition and occupation of these diverse habitats impose various challenges to true bugs, including access to oxygen for the aquatic species and plant defense for the terrestrial phytophagans. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that microorganisms can provide multiple benefits to terrestrial host insects, a systematic study with comprehensive higher taxa sampling that represents aquatic and semiaquatic habitats is still lacking. To explore the role of symbiotic microorganisms in true bug adaptations, 204 samples belonging to all seven infraorders of Heteroptera were investigated, representing approximately 85% of its superfamilies and almost all known habitats. The symbiotic microbial communities of these insects were analyzed based on the full-length amplicons of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS region. Bacterial communities varied among hosts inhabiting terrestrial, semiaquatic, and aquatic habitats, while fungal communities were more related to the geographical distribution of the hosts. Interestingly, co-occurrence networks showed that species inhabiting similar habitats shared symbiotic microorganism association types. Moreover, functional prediction analyses showed that the symbiotic bacterial community of aquatic species displayed richer amino acid and lipid metabolism pathways, while plant-feeding true bugs benefited more from the symbiont-provided xenobiotics biodegradation pathway. These results deepened the recognition that symbiotic microorganisms were likely to help heteropterans occupy diverse ecological habitats and provided a reference framework for further studies on how microorganisms affect host insects living in various habitats. IMPORTANCE Symbiotic bacteria and fungi generally colonize insects and provide various benefits for hosts. Although numerous studies have investigated symbionts in terrestrial plant-feeding insects, explorations of symbiotic bacterial and fungal communities in aquatic and semiaquatic insects are rare. In this study, the symbiotic microorganisms of 204 aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial true bugs were explored. This comprehensive taxon sampling covers ~85% of the superfamilies of true bugs and most insect habitats. Analyses of the diversity of symbionts demonstrated that the symbiotic microbial diversities of true bugs were mainly affected by host habitats. Co-occurrence networks showed that true bugs inhabiting similar habitats shared symbiotic microbial association types. These correlations between symbionts and hosts together with the functions of bacterial communities indicated that symbiotic microbial communities may help true bugs adapt to (semi)aquatic habitats.}, } @article {pmid36409115, year = {2022}, author = {Alibayov, B and Scasny, A and Khan, F and Creel, A and Smith, P and Vidal, AGJ and Fitisemanu, FM and Padilla-Benavides, T and Weiser, JN and Vidal, JE}, title = {Oxidative Reactions Catalyzed by Hydrogen Peroxide Produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Other Streptococci Cause the Release and Degradation of Heme from Hemoglobin.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {90}, number = {12}, pages = {e0047122}, pmid = {36409115}, issn = {1098-5522}, support = {R01 AI038446/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI038446/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI144571/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; *Heme/metabolism ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/genetics/metabolism ; Oxyhemoglobins/metabolism ; Hemoglobins/metabolism ; Streptococcus/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Catalysis ; }, abstract = {Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) strains cause pneumonia that kills millions every year worldwide. Spn produces Ply, a hemolysin that lyses erythrocytes releasing hemoglobin, and also produces the pro-oxidant hydrogen peroxide (Spn-H2O2) during growth. The hallmark of the pathophysiology of hemolytic diseases is the oxidation of hemoglobin, but oxidative reactions catalyzed by Spn-H2O2 have been poorly studied. We characterized the oxidation of hemoglobin by Spn-H2O2. We prepared a series of single-mutant (ΔspxB or ΔlctO), double-mutant (ΔspxB ΔlctO), and complemented strains in TIGR4, D39, and EF3030. We then utilized an in vitro model with oxyhemoglobin to demonstrate that oxyhemoglobin was oxidized rapidly, within 30 min of incubation, by Spn-H2O2 to methemoglobin and that the main source of Spn-H2O2 was pyruvate oxidase (SpxB). Moreover, extended incubation caused the release and the degradation of heme. We then assessed oxidation of hemoglobin and heme degradation by other bacterial inhabitants of the respiratory tract. All hydrogen peroxide-producing streptococci tested caused the oxidation of hemoglobin and heme degradation, whereas bacterial species that produce <1 μM H2O2 neither oxidized hemoglobin nor degraded heme. An ex vivo bacteremia model confirmed that oxidation of hemoglobin and heme degradation occurred concurrently with hemoglobin that was released from erythrocytes by Ply. Finally, gene expression studies demonstrated that heme, but not red blood cells or hemoglobin, induced upregulated transcription of the spxB gene. Oxidation of hemoglobin may be important for pathogenesis and for the symbiosis of hydrogen peroxide-producing bacteria with other species by providing nutrients such as iron.}, } @article {pmid36406434, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, J and Chen, Y and Wu, Y and Wang, Y and Zhu, K}, title = {Commensal bacteria contribute to the growth of multidrug-resistant Avibacterium paragallinarum in chickens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1010584}, pmid = {36406434}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Avibacterium paragallinarum-associated infectious coryza (IC) is an important threat in commercial poultry. Previous studies about the characteristics of A. paragallinarum are succeeded in revealing the course of IC disease, but whether and how resident microbes contribute to the infection remains unclear. To understand the role of commensal bacteria, we isolated 467 commensal bacteria, including 38 A. paragallinarum, from the respiratory tract of IC chicken. The predominant commensal isolates were Gram-positive bacteria belonging to Staphylococcus spp. [33.19%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 28.93-37.66%], Enterococcus spp. (16.49%, 95% CI: 13.23-20.17%), and Bacillus spp. (16.27%, 95% CI: 13.04-19.94%). These isolates were closely correlated with the survival of A. paragallinarum. We examined and found that commensal bacteria aggravate A. paragallinarum-associated infections because certain commensal species (28.57%, 95% CI: 15.72-44.58%) induced hemolysis and promoted the growth of A. paragallinarum in vitro. Notably, A. paragallinarum showed high resistance to routine antibiotics such as erythromycin (84.21%, 95% CI: 68.75-93.98%), tetracycline (73.68%, 95% CI: 56.90-86.60%) and carried diverse mobile resistance gene clusters. Overall, we found commensal bacteria especially Gram-positive bacteria facilitate the survival of multidrug-resistant A. paragallinarum to exacerbate infections, suggesting that novel strategies may diminish A. paragallinarum-associated infections by modulating the population dynamics of commensal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36406433, year = {2022}, author = {Du, Q and Ren, B and Zhou, X and Zhang, L and Xu, X}, title = {Cross-kingdom interaction between Candida albicans and oral bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {911623}, pmid = {36406433}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Candida albicans is a symbiotic fungus that commonly colonizes on oral mucosal surfaces and mainly affects immuno-compromised individuals. Polymicrobial interactions between C. albicans and oral microbes influence the cellular and biochemical composition of the biofilm, contributing to change clinically relevant outcomes of biofilm-related oral diseases, such as pathogenesis, virulence, and drug-resistance. Notably, the symbiotic relationships between C. albicans and oral bacteria have been well-documented in dental caries, oral mucositis, endodontic and periodontal diseases, implant-related infections, and oral cancer. C. albicans interacts with co-existing oral bacteria through physical attachment, extracellular signals, and metabolic cross-feeding. This review discusses the bacterial-fungal interactions between C. albicans and different oral bacteria, with a particular focus on the underlying mechanism and its relevance to the development and clinical management of oral diseases.}, } @article {pmid36406384, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Meng, H and Hu, X and Yuan, Z}, title = {Diversity and functional profile of gut symbiotic bacteria between Lysinibacillus sphaericus C3-41 susceptible and resistant Culex quinquefasciatus Say as revealed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {991105}, pmid = {36406384}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Previous studies have demonstrated that symbiotic gut bacteria in insects are involved in the development of insecticide resistance, but the relationship between the symbiotic gut bacteria and resistance to Lysinibacillus sphaericus C3-41 in Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus remains unclear. In this study, the abundance and diversity of gut symbionts of Cx. quinquefasciatus that were resistant (RLCql) or susceptible (SLCql) to L. sphaericus C3-41 were analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. The main phyla among the symbiotic gut bacterial communities of Cx. quinquefasciatus were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. However, the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and unidentified Bacteria in the gut of the resistant strain of Cx. quequinfasciatus (RLCql colony) was higher compared to the susceptible strain (SLCql colony). The NMDS (Non-Metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling) and unweighted unifrac PCoA analyses also revealed significant differences between the symbiotic gut bacterial communities from the resistant and susceptible strains, suggesting that bacterial insecticides can alter bacterial composition. Ultimately, the changes in the bacterial community likely occurred after the development of resistance to L. sphaericus C3-41. These results provide guidance for further research into the mechanisms of gut symbionts involved in resistance against L. sphaericus C3-41 in Cx. quinquefasciatus.}, } @article {pmid36405779, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, C and Liu, H and Yang, W and Li, Y and Wu, B and Chen, J and Yang, Z and Liao, C and Liu, L and Zhang, X}, title = {Distinct Gut Microbiota Structure and Function of Children with Idiopathic Central and Peripheral Precocious Puberty.}, journal = {International journal of endocrinology}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {7175250}, pmid = {36405779}, issn = {1687-8337}, abstract = {Precocious puberty (PP) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in children, and the pathogenesis is currently unknown. Recent studies on the gut-brain axis have shown that there is a correlation between childhood endocrine diseases and the gut microbiota (GM). To explore the GM characteristics of children with different types of PP, we recruited 27 idiopathic central precocious puberty children (ICPP group), 18 peripheral precocious puberty children (PPP group), and 23 healthy children of the same age (HC group). Their stool samples were subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing. In this study, we found that the OTUs numbers, the annotated genera, and α-diversity of GM of the ICPP and PPP group were all significantly higher than that in the HC group (P < 0.05). The abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria Prevotella, Lachnospiracea incertae sedis, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, and Alistipes was significantly higher in the ICPP group and the PPP group, and Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium showed significantly higher abundance in the HC group. The GM symbiosis network showed that both Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium were negatively correlated with these butyrate-producing bacteria. The abundances of most significantly changed genera were gradually increased from HC to PPP, and to the ICPP group, while only Bacteroides was gradually decreased. After the prediction of the metabolic pathways of the GM, the cell motility, signal transduction, and environmental adaptation were significantly enriched in the ICPP and the PPP groups (P < 0.05), while the carbohydrate metabolism pathway was significantly lower (P < 0.001). Overall, this study showed that the GM composition and predicted functional pattern of children with ICPP and PPP are different from healthy children, and PPP may be a transitional stage between ICPP and HC children, which provide a theoretical basis for clinical intervention based on GM in the treatment of PP.}, } @article {pmid36404929, year = {2022}, author = {Yorimoto, S and Hattori, M and Kondo, M and Shigenobu, S}, title = {Complex host/symbiont integration of a multi-partner symbiotic system in the eusocial aphid Ceratovacuna japonica.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {12}, pages = {105478}, pmid = {36404929}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Some hemipteran insects rely on multiple endosymbionts for essential nutrients. However, the evolution of multi-partner symbiotic systems is not well-established. Here, we report a co-obligate symbiosis in the eusocial aphid, Ceratovacuna japonica. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing unveiled co-infection with a novel Arsenophonus sp. symbiont and Buchnera aphidicola, a common obligate endosymbiont in aphids. Both symbionts were housed within distinct bacteriocytes and were maternally transmitted. The Buchnera and Arsenophonus symbionts had streamlined genomes of 432,286 bp and 853,149 bp, respectively, and exhibited metabolic complementarity in riboflavin and peptidoglycan synthesis pathways. These anatomical and genomic properties were similar to those of independently evolved multi-partner symbiotic systems, such as Buchnera-Serratia in Lachninae and Periphyllus aphids, representing remarkable parallelism. Furthermore, symbiont populations and bacteriome morphology differed between reproductive and soldier castes. Our study provides the first example of co-obligate symbiosis in Hormaphidinae and gives insight into the evolutionary genetics of this complex system.}, } @article {pmid36404895, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, LN and Zhou, GY and Shen, AR and Shen, BM and Tan, Y and Tan, ZM}, title = {Mycena subpiligera sp. nov., a Symbiotic Species from China Associated with the Seed Germination of Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {50}, number = {5}, pages = {294-301}, pmid = {36404895}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Mycena subpiligera, a new taxon in sect. Fragilipedes that can strongly enhance the germination efficiency of Gastrodia elata seeds, was discovered in subtropical areas of China. As revealed by a morphological comparison with related Mycena species as well as maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA, the new taxon can be distinguished from phenotypically similar and phylogenetically related species. Optimal cultural conditions for M. subpiligera basidiomata are reported, and the germination rate of the new species is compared with that of M. citrinomarginata.}, } @article {pmid36403770, year = {2023}, author = {Ramos Aguila, LC and Sánchez Moreano, JP and Akutse, KS and Bamisile, BS and Liu, J and Haider, FU and Ashraf, HJ and Wang, L}, title = {Comprehensive genome-wide identification and expression profiling of ADF gene family in Citrus sinensis, induced by endophytic colonization of Beauveria bassiana.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {225}, number = {}, pages = {886-898}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.153}, pmid = {36403770}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {*Beauveria/genetics ; *Citrus sinensis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants/genetics ; Seedlings/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; }, abstract = {Endophytic entomopathogenic species are known to systematically colonize host plants and form symbiotic associations that benefit the plants they live with. The actin-depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are a group of gene family that regulate growth, development, and defense-related functions in plants. Systematic studies of ADF family at the genome-wide level and their expression in response to endophytic colonization are essential to understand its functions but are currently lacking in this field. 14ADF genes were identified and characterized in the Citrus sinensis genome. The ADF genes of C. sinensis were classified into five groups according to the phylogenetic analysis of plant ADFs. Additionally, the cis-acting analysis revealed that these genes play essential role in plant growth/development, phytohormone, and biotic and abiotic responses; and the expression analysis showed that the symbiotic interactions generate a significant expression regulation level of ADF genes in leaves, stems and roots, compared to controls; thus enhancing seedlings' growth. Additionally, the 3D structures of the ADF domain were highly conserved during evolution. These results will be helpful for further functional validation of ADFs candidate genes and provide important insights into the vegetative growth, development and stress tolerance of C. sinensis in responses to endophytic colonization by B. bassiana.}, } @article {pmid36402137, year = {2022}, author = {Peng, L and Zhang, Y and Druzhinina, IS and Kubicek, CP and Wang, Y and Zhu, Z and Zhang, Y and Wang, K and Liu, Z and Zhang, X and Martin, F and Yuan, Z}, title = {A facultative ectomycorrhizal association is triggered by organic nitrogen.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {24}, pages = {5235-5249.e7}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.054}, pmid = {36402137}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Nitrates ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Increasing nitrogen (N) deposition often tends to negatively impact the functions of belowground ectomycorrhizal networks, although the exact molecular mechanisms underlying this trait are still unclear. Here, we assess how the root-associated fungus Clitopilus hobsonii establishes an ectomycorrhiza-like association with its host tree Populus tomentosa and how this interaction is favored by organic N over mineral N. The establishment of a functional symbiosis in the presence of organic N promotes plant growth and the transfer of [15]N from the fungus to above ground plant tissues. Genomic traits and in planta transcriptional signatures suggest that C. hobsonii may have a dual lifestyle with saprotrophic and mutualistic traits. For example, several genes involved in the digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose are highly expressed during the interaction, whereas the expression of multiple copies of pectin-digesting genes is tightly controlled. Conversely, the nutritional mutualism is dampened in the presence of ammonium (NH4[+]) or nitrate (NO3[-]). Increasing levels of NH4[+] led to a higher expression of pectin-digesting genes and a continuous increase in hydrogen peroxide production in roots, whereas the presence of NO3[-] resulted in toxin production. In summary, our results suggest that C. hobsonii is a facultative ectomycorrhizal fungus. Access to various forms of N acts as an on/off switch for mutualism caused by large-scale fungal physiological remodeling. Furthermore, the abundance of pectin-degrading enzymes with distinct expression patterns during functional divergence after exposure to NH4[+] or organic N is likely to be central to the transition from parasitism to mutualism.}, } @article {pmid36401792, year = {2023}, author = {Singh, J and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Discovering the genetic modules controlling root nodule symbiosis under abiotic stresses: salinity as a case study.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {4}, pages = {1082-1085}, pmid = {36401792}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Salinity ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Salt Stress/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes form a symbiotic association with rhizobia and fix atmospheric nitrogen in specialized root organs known as nodules. It is well known that salt stress inhibits root nodule symbiosis by decreasing rhizobial growth, rhizobial infection, nodule number, and nitrogenase activity in diverse legumes. Despite this knowledge, the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing salt stress's inhibition of nodulation and nitrogen fixation are still elusive. In this Viewpoint, we summarize the most recent knowledge of the genetic mechanisms that shape this symbiosis according to the salt levels in the soil. We emphasize the relevance of modulating the activity of the transcription factor Nodule Inception to properly shape the symbiosis with rhizobia accordingly. We also highlight the knowledge gaps that are critical for gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of the root nodule symbiosis to salt-stress conditions. We consider that filling these gaps can help to improve legume nodulation and harness its ecological benefits even under salt-stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid36401454, year = {2022}, author = {Kurtzman, GM and Horowitz, RA and Johnson, R and Prestiano, RA and Klein, BI}, title = {The systemic oral health connection: Biofilms.}, journal = {Medicine}, volume = {101}, number = {46}, pages = {e30517}, pmid = {36401454}, issn = {1536-5964}, mesh = {Humans ; Male ; *Oral Health ; *Quality of Life ; Biofilms ; Mouth/microbiology ; Immunotherapy ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Frequently, periodontal health and it's associated oral biofilm has not been addressed in those patients who have systemic health issues, especially those who are not responding to medical treatment via their physician. Oral biofilm may be present in the periodontal sulcus in the absence of clinical disease of periodontal disease (bleeding on probing, gingival inflammation) and periodontal reaction is dependent on the patient's immune response to the associated bacterial and their byproducts. Increasing evidence has been emerging the past decade connecting oral biofilm with systemic conditions, either initiating them or complicating those medical conditions. The patient's health needs to be thought of as a whole-body system with connections that may originate in the oral cavity and have distant affects throughout the body. To maximize total health, a coordination in healthcare needs to be a symbiosis between the physician and dentist to eliminate the oral biofilm and aid in prevention of systemic disease or minimize those effects to improve the patient's overall health and quality of life. Various areas of systemic health have been associated with the bacteria and their byproducts in the oral biofilm. Those include cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, pulmonary disease, prostate cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, pre-term pregnancy, erectile dysfunction Alzheimer's disease and Rheumatoid arthritis. This article will discuss oral biofilm, its affects systemically and review the medical conditions associated with the oral systemic connection with an extensive review of the literature.}, } @article {pmid36400975, year = {2022}, author = {Shaikevich, E and Romanov, D}, title = {Symbiotic Wolbachia bacteria in coccinellid parasitoids: genetic diversity, horizontal transfer, and recombination.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36400975}, issn = {1618-1905}, abstract = {Parasitoids, which constitute about 25% of all insects and attack arthropods of virtually all taxa, are considered the most suitable vectors for horizontal transmission of the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia among insects. The parasitoids studied in this article develop in the larvae and pupae of ladybirds. For the first time, Wolbachia was found in parasitic wasp species of the genus Homalotylus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and from the subfamily Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). To characterize the Wolbachia strains, six bacterial housekeeping genes were examined and compared with previously published Wolbachia gene sequences. The same bacterial strains were found in all individuals of each species of parasitic wasps collected in different places and at different times, which indicates the absence of contamination and testifies to the heritability of the symbionts in the studied chalcids. No evidence was found that the parasitic wasps were infected with Wolbachia, identical to the symbionts of their ladybirds hosts. We found one Wolbachia strain, wHom-2, which is a product of bacterial recombination from unrelated insects, including ladybirds. The lack of correspondence between the molecular phylogenies of Wolbachia strains and mitochondrial DNA of their hosts indicates horizontal transfers of Wolbachia among parasitic wasps of the genus Homalotylus and from the subfamily Tetrastichinae.}, } @article {pmid36400188, year = {2023}, author = {Mit Prohim, Y and Cayetano, RDA and Anburajan, P and Tang Thau, N and Kim, S and Oh, HS}, title = {Enhancement of biomethane recovery from batch anaerobic digestion by exogenously adding an N-acyl homoserine lactone cocktail.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {312}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {137188}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137188}, pmid = {36400188}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Acyl-Butyrolactones ; Anaerobiosis ; *Archaea ; Quorum Sensing ; Methane ; }, abstract = {Biomethane recovered through anaerobic digestion (AD) is a renewable, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative energy source that has the potential to help address rising energy demands. Efficient bioconversion during AD depends on the symbiotic relationship between hydrolytic bacteria and methanogenic archaea. Interactions between microorganisms occur in every biological system via a phenomenon known as quorum sensing (QS), in which signaling molecules are simultaneously transmitted and detected as a mode of cell-to-cell communication. However, there's still a lack of understanding on how QS works in the AD system, where diverse bacteria and archaea interact in a complex manner. In this study, different concentrations (0.5 and 5 μM) of signaling molecules in the form of an N-acyl homoserine lactone cocktail (C6-, C8-, C10-, and 3-oxo-C6-HSL) were prepared and introduced into anaerobic batch reactors to clearly assess how QS affects AD systems. It was observed that the methane yield increased with the addition of AHLs: a 5 μM AHL cocktail improved the methane yield (341.9 mL/g-COD) compared to the control without AHLs addition (285.9 mL/g-COD). Meanwhile, evidence of improved microbial growth and cell aggregation was noticed in AHLs-supplemented systems. Our findings also show that exogenously adding AHLs alters the microbial community structure by increasing the overall bacterial and archaeal population counts while favoring the growth of the methanogenic archaea group, which is essential in biomethane synthesis.}, } @article {pmid36399301, year = {2023}, author = {Chowaniec, K and Żukowska-Trebunia, A and Rola, K}, title = {Combined effect of acute salt and nitrogen stress on the physiology of lichen symbiotic partners.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {28192-28205}, pmid = {36399301}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Lichens ; *Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Environmental Pollutants/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen pollution and excessive salinity are commonly regarded as one of the major environmental concerns in recent decades in many urban environments. Although in urban areas lichens are exposed to both salt and nitrogen stress, no studies have been conducted to date on the simultaneous impact and interaction of these factors on lichen physiology. The aim was to determine the effect of various combinations of NaCl and NH4NO3 doses on the physiology of epigeic lichen Cladonia rei. We also aimed to compare the response of lichens collected from polluted and unpolluted sites to verify whether lichens exposed to different levels of environmental stress in their native environment will react differently. The combined salt-nitrogen treatment caused significant disturbances in the integrity of cell membranes and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The most detrimental effect concerned the loss of cell membrane integrity, which suggests that this parameter can serve as a relevant indicator of acute salt-nitrogen stress incidents. Salt stress decreased the photosynthetic efficiency 1 h after exposure, but after 72 h, the FV/FM returned to the level characteristic of healthy lichens in experimental groups without and with small doses of ammonium nitrate. In contrast, recovery was not possible in combination with high nitrogen doses. This indicates that exposure to short-term salt stress in a nitrogen-poor environment only causes a temporary reduction in photosynthetic efficiency, but in urban eutrophic environments may have more serious consequences. The weakened physiological condition of the mycobiont manifested by an increased level of cell membrane damage and a persistent decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency of the photobiont in lichens growing along the roads may indicate an excess of nitrogen in the environment, enhanced by the effect of salt. Lichens collected from a heavy-metal-polluted habitat responded more strongly than those from an unpolluted habitat suggesting that in lichens previously affected by certain harmful factors, exposure to another stress factor may lead to greater disturbances. This is of particular importance for lichens inhabiting the vicinity of roads, since they are also under the influence of other pollutants emitted by road traffic.}, } @article {pmid36396911, year = {2022}, author = {Dietrich, M and Montesinos-Navarro, A and Gabriel, R and Strasser, F and Meier, DV and Mayerhofer, W and Gorka, S and Wiesenbauer, J and Martin, V and Weidinger, M and Richter, A and Kaiser, C and Woebken, D}, title = {Both abundant and rare fungi colonizing Fagus sylvatica ectomycorrhizal root-tips shape associated bacterial communities.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {1261}, pmid = {36396911}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Fagus/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Soil ; Archaea/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi live in close association with their host plants and form complex interactions with bacterial/archaeal communities in soil. We investigated whether abundant or rare ectomycorrhizal fungi on root-tips of young beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) shape bacterial/archaeal communities. We sequenced 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer regions of individual root-tips and used ecological networks to detect the tendency of certain assemblies of fungal and bacterial/archaeal taxa to inhabit the same root-tip (i.e. modularity). Individual ectomycorrhizal root-tips hosted distinct fungal communities associated with unique bacterial/archaeal communities. The structure of the fungal-bacterial/archaeal association was determined by both, dominant and rare fungi. Integrating our data in a conceptual framework suggests that the effect of rare fungi on the bacterial/archaeal communities of ectomycorrhizal root-tips contributes to assemblages of bacteria/archaea on root-tips. This highlights the potential impact of complex fine-scale interactions between root-tip associated fungi and other soil microorganisms for the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36396354, year = {2022}, author = {Klock, MM and Urbina, HG and Barrett, LG and Thrall, PH and Harms, KE}, title = {Provenance of rhizobial symbionts is similar for invasive and noninvasive acacias introduced to California.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac138}, pmid = {36396354}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/genetics ; *Acacia ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Australia ; *Fabaceae ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; California ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Plant-soil interactions can be important drivers of biological invasions. In particular, the symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (i.e. rhizobia) may be influential in invasion success. Legumes, including Australian acacias, have been introduced into novel ranges around the world. Our goal was to examine the acacia-rhizobia symbiosis to determine whether cointroduction of non-native mutualists plays a role in invasiveness of introduced legumes. To determine whether acacias were introduced abroad concurrently with native symbionts, we selected four species introduced to California (two invasive and two noninvasive in the region) and identified rhizobial strains associating with each species in their native and novel ranges. We amplified three genes to examine phylogenetic placement (16S rRNA) and provenance (nifD and nodC) of rhizobia associating with acacias in California and Australia. We found that all Acacia species, regardless of invasive status, are associating with rhizobia of Australian origin in their introduced ranges, indicating that concurrent acacia-rhizobia introductions have occurred for all species tested. Our results suggest that cointroduction of rhizobial symbionts may be involved in the establishment of non-native acacias in their introduced ranges, but do not contribute to the differential invasiveness of Acacia species introduced abroad.}, } @article {pmid36388581, year = {2022}, author = {Provorov, NA and Andronov, EE and Kimeklis, AK and Onishchuk, OP and Igolkina, AA and Karasev, ES}, title = {Microevolution, speciation and macroevolution in rhizobia: Genomic mechanisms and selective patterns.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1026943}, pmid = {36388581}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nodule bacteria (rhizobia), N2-fixing symbionts of leguminous plants, represent an excellent model to study the fundamental issues of evolutionary biology, including the tradeoff between microevolution, speciation, and macroevolution, which remains poorly understood for free-living organisms. Taxonomically, rhizobia are extremely diverse: they are represented by nearly a dozen families of α-proteobacteria (Rhizobiales) and by some β-proteobacteria. Their genomes are composed of core parts, including house-keeping genes (hkg), and of accessory parts, including symbiotically specialized (sym) genes. In multipartite genomes of evolutionary advanced fast-growing species (Rhizobiaceae), sym genes are clustered on extra-chromosomal replicons (megaplasmids, chromids), facilitating gene transfer in plant-associated microbial communities. In this review, we demonstrate that in rhizobia, microevolution and speciation involve different genomic and ecological mechanisms: the first one is based on the diversification of sym genes occurring under the impacts of host-induced natural selection (including its disruptive, frequency-dependent and group forms); the second one-on the diversification of hkgs under the impacts of unknown factors. By contrast, macroevolution represents the polyphyletic origin of super-species taxa, which are dependent on the transfer of sym genes from rhizobia to various soil-borne bacteria. Since the expression of newly acquired sym genes on foreign genomic backgrounds is usually restricted, conversion of resulted recombinants into the novel rhizobia species involves post-transfer genetic changes. They are presumably supported by host-induced selective processes resulting in the sequential derepression of nod genes responsible for nodulation and of nif/fix genes responsible for symbiotic N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid36388578, year = {2022}, author = {Kosolapova, AO and Belousov, MV and Sulatsky, MI and Tsyganova, AV and Sulatskaya, AI and Bobylev, AG and Shtark, OY and Tsyganov, VE and Volkov, KV and Zhukov, VA and Tikhonovich, IA and Nizhnikov, AA}, title = {RopB protein of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae adopts amyloid state during symbiotic interactions with pea (Pisum sativum L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1014699}, pmid = {36388578}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Amyloids represent protein aggregates with highly ordered fibrillar structure associated with the development of various disorders in humans and animals and involved in implementation of different vital functions in all three domains of life. In prokaryotes, amyloids perform a wide repertoire of functions mostly attributed to their interactions with other organisms including interspecies interactions within bacterial communities and host-pathogen interactions. Recently, we demonstrated that free-living cells of Rhizobium leguminosarum, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of legumes, produce RopA and RopB which form amyloid fibrils at cell surface during the stationary growth phase thus connecting amyloid formation and host-symbiont interactions. Here we focused on a more detailed analysis of the RopB amyloid state in vitro and in vivo, during the symbiotic interaction between R. leguminosarum bv. viciae with its macrosymbiont, garden pea (Pisum sativum L.). We confirmed that RopB is the bona fide amyloid protein since its fibrils exhibit circular x-ray reflections indicating its cross-β structure specific for amyloids. We found that fibrils containing RopB and exhibiting amyloid properties are formed in vivo at the surface of bacteroids of R. leguminosarum extracted from pea nodules. Moreover, using pea sym31 mutant we demonstrated that formation of extracellular RopB amyloid state occurs at different stages of bacteroid development but is enhanced in juvenile symbiosomes. Proteomic screening of potentially amyloidogenic proteins in the nodules revealed the presence of detergent-resistant aggregates of different plant and bacterial proteins including pea amyloid vicilin. We demonstrated that preformed vicilin amyloids can cross-seed RopB amyloid formation suggesting for probable interaction between bacterial and plant amyloidogenic proteins in the nodules. Taken together, we demonstrate that R. leguminosarum bacteroids produce extracellular RopB amyloids in pea nodules in vivo and these nodules also contain aggregates of pea vicilin amyloid protein, which is able to cross-seed RopB fibrillogenesis in vitro. Thus, we hypothesize that plant nodules contain a complex amyloid network consisting of plant and bacterial amyloids and probably modulating host-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid36388565, year = {2022}, author = {Ciadamidaro, L and Pfendler, S and Girardclos, O and Zappelini, C and Binet, P and Bert, V and Khasa, D and Blaudez, D and Chalot, M}, title = {Mycorrhizal inoculation effects on growth and the mycobiome of poplar on two phytomanaged sites after 7-year-short rotation coppicing.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {993301}, pmid = {36388565}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {AIMS: Afforestation of trace-element contaminated soils, notably with fast growing trees, has been demonstrated to be an attractive option for bioremediation due to the lower costs and dispersion of contaminants than conventional cleanup methods. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with plants, contributing to their tolerance towards toxic elements and actively participating to the biorestoration processes. The aim of this study was to deepen our understanding on the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant development and fungal community at two trace-element contaminated sites (Pierrelaye and Fresnes-sur-Escaut, France) planted with poplar (Populus trichocarpa x Populus maximowiczii).

METHODS: The 2 sites were divided into 4 replicated field blocks with a final plant density of 2200 tree h[-1]. Half of the trees were inoculated with a commercial inoculum made of a mix of mycorrhizal species. The sites presented different physico-chemical characteristics (e.g., texture: sandy soil versus silty-loam soil and organic matter: 5.7% versus 3.4% for Pierrelaye and Fresnes-sur-Escaut, respectively) and various trace element contamination levels.

RESULTS: After 7 years of plantation, inoculation showed a significant positive effect on poplar biomass production at the two sites. Fungal composition study demonstrated a predominance of the phylum Ascomycota at both sites, with a dominance of Geopora Arenicola and Mortierella elongata, and a higher proportion of ectomycorrhizal and endophytic fungi (with the highest values observed in Fresnes-sur-Escaut: 45% and 28% for ECM and endophytic fungi, respectively), well known for their capacity to have positive effects on plant development in stressful conditions. Furthermore, Pierrelaye site showed higher frequency (%) of mycorrhizal tips for ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) and higher intensity (%) of mycorrhizal root cortex colonization for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) than Fresnes-sur-Escaut site, which translates in a higher level of diversity.

CONCLUSIONS: Finally, this study demonstrated that this biofertilization approach could be recommended as an appropriate phytomanagement strategy, due to its capacity to significantly improve poplar productivity without any perturbations in soil mycobiomes.}, } @article {pmid36388499, year = {2022}, author = {Jing, S and Li, Y and Zhu, L and Su, J and Yang, T and Liu, B and Ma, B and Ma, F and Li, M and Zhang, M}, title = {Transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and development of apple plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1052464}, pmid = {36388499}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants form a symbiotic relationship that promotes plant growth and development. However, the regulatory mechanisms through which AMF promote plant growth and development are largely unexplored. In this study, the apple rootstock M26 was assessed physiologically, transcriptionally and metabolically when grown with and without AMF inoculation. AMF significantly promoted the number of lateral root (LR) increase and shoot elongation. Root transcriptomic and metabolic data showed that AMF promoted lateral root development mainly by affecting glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and hormone metabolism. Shoot transcriptomic and metabolic data showed that AMF promoted shoot elongation mainly by affecting hormone metabolism and the expression of genes associated with cell morphogenesis. To investigate whether shoot elongation is caused by root development, we analyzed the root/shoot dry weight ratio. There was a correlation between shoot growth and root development, but analysis of root and shoot metabolites showed that the regulation of AMF on plant shoot metabolites is independent of root growth. Our study bridged the gap in the field of growth and development related to AMF.}, } @article {pmid36388272, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Wang, H and Peng, S and Kang, J and Xie, Z and Tang, R and Xing, Y and He, Y and Yuan, H and Xie, C and Liu, Y}, title = {Effect of microplastics on nasal and intestinal microbiota of the high-exposure population.}, journal = {Frontiers in public health}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1005535}, pmid = {36388272}, issn = {2296-2565}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microplastics ; Plastics/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Polyurethanes/pharmacology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microplastic has become a growing environmental problem. A balanced microbial environment is an important factor in human health. This study is the first observational cross-sectional study focusing on the effects of microplastics on the nasal and gut microbiota in a highly exposed population.

METHODS: We recruited 20 subjects from a Plastic Factory (microplastics high-exposure area) and the other 20 from Huanhuaxi Park (microplastics low-exposure area) in Chengdu, China. We performed the microplastic analysis of soil, air, and intestinal secretions by laser infrared imaging, and microbiological analysis of nasal and intestinal secretions by 16S rDNA sequencing.

RESULTS: The result shows that the detected points of microplastics in the environment of the high-exposure area were significantly more than in the low-exposure area. Polyurethane was the main microplastic component detected. The microplastic content of intestinal secretions in the high-exposure group was significantly higher than in the low-exposure group. Specifically, the contents of polyurethane, silicone resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyethylene in the high-exposure group were significantly higher than in the low-exposure group. Moreover, high exposure may increase the abundance of nasal microbiotas, which are positively associated with respiratory tract diseases, such as Klebsiella and Helicobacter, and reduce the abundance of those beneficial ones, such as Bacteroides. Simultaneously, it may increase the abundance of intestinal microbiotas, which are positively associated with digestive tract diseases, such as Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Sphingomonas, and reduce the abundance of intestinal microbiotas, which are beneficial for health, such as Ruminococcus Torquesgroup, Dorea, Fusobacterium, and Coprococcus. A combined analysis revealed that high exposure to microplastics may not only lead to alterations in dominant intestinal and nasal microbiotas but also change the symbiotic relationship between intestinal and nasal microbiotas.

CONCLUSION: The results innovatively revealed how microplastics can affect the intestinal and nasal microecosystems.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100049480 on August 2, 2021.}, } @article {pmid36386692, year = {2022}, author = {Wong Chin, JM and Puchooa, D and Bahorun, T and Neergheen, VS and Aullybux, AA and Beedessee, G and Nazurally, N and Alrefaei, AF and Jeewon, R}, title = {Metabarcoding assessment of fungal diversity in brown algae and sponges of Mauritius.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1003790}, pmid = {36386692}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Marine fungi are largely associated with second most inhabitants of the marine ecosystem such as sponges and algae. They are important colonizers and play vital ecological roles, such as nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and symbiosis with other organisms. High throughput sequencing methods have been used successfully to reveal unknown fungal communities associated with a number of hosts particularly in the marine environment. However, the diversity of marine fungi associated with sponges and brown algae in Mauritius remains largely unknown. Traditional methods based on culturing do not provide reliable estimate of fungal diversity as only those that are able to grow under laboratory conditions are dominant; in addition, a large proportion of fungi, cultured in vitro remain most of the time unidentifiable, given that there are no sporulating structures to be examined morphologically. To overcome these limitations, we employed Illumina sequencing to unravel fungi species present in the sponges, Iotrochota sp. and Biemna sp. and the brown algae Turbinaria conoides, Sargassum pfeifferae, and Sargassum obovatum, collected from the north of Mauritius. Diversity analyses revealed that Biemna sp. had the highest diversity from the sampled sponges with fungi from 24 orders being recovered while from brown algae; Turbinaria conoides had the highest diversity with recovery of fungal taxa of the orders Botryosphaeriales, Chaetothyriales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, and Mucorales with the latter four orders being common in both sampled algae and sponges. Beta diversity analyses revealed clustering only in the algae, Turbinaria conoides, and Sargassum pfeifferae and not in the co-occurring sponges, indicating that sampling location did not have much influence on fungal diversity. Our findings provide the first amplicon sequencing based insights of the fungal communities associated with macro-algae and sponges in Mauritius and supplements research on the fungal community existing in the oceans around the world.}, } @article {pmid36386219, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, R and Meng, X and Xue, Y and Mao, M and Liu, Y and Tian, X and Sui, B and Li, X and Zhang, P}, title = {Bile acids-gut microbiota crosstalk contributes to the improvement of type 2 diabetes mellitus.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1027212}, pmid = {36386219}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) occurs that cannot effectively use the insulin. Insulin Resistance (IR) is a significant characteristic of T2DM which is also an essential treatment target in blood glucose regulation to prevent T2DM and its complications. Bile acids (BAs) are one group of bioactive metabolites synthesized from cholesterol in liver. BAs play an important role in mutualistic symbiosis between host and gut microbiota. It is shown that T2DM is associated with altered bile acid metabolism which can be regulated by gut microbiota. Simultaneously, BAs also reshape gut microbiota and improve IR and T2DM in the bidirectional communications of the gut-liver axis. This article reviewed the findings on the interaction between BAs and gut microbiota in improving T2DM, which focused on gut microbiota and its debinding function and BAs regulated gut microbiota through FXR/TGR5. Meanwhile, BAs and their derivatives that are effective for improving T2DM and other treatments based on bile acid metabolism were also summarized. This review highlighted that BAs play a critical role in the glucose metabolism and may serve as therapeutic targets in T2DM, providing a reference for discovering and screening novel therapeutic drugs.}, } @article {pmid36384845, year = {2022}, author = {Hou, QC and Feng, YL and Zhou, YJ and Ao, YM and Chen, CX and Xing, YJ and Wang, QG and Yan, GY}, title = {[Main hypotheses on mechanisms underlying plant invasion: A review.].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {3105-3115}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202211.005}, pmid = {36384845}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant invasion is one of the most serious global problems, destroying ecosystem structure and function. With the severity of plant invasion, it is particularly important to understand the mechanisms of plant invasion in order to control and solve the problem. We summarized different mechanisms of plant invasion and the synergy among them, expounded the allelopathy, the plant-soil feedbacks, the reciprocal symbiosis, the effects of plant functional traits and phenotype plasticity in the process of plant invasion, and comprehensively analyzed the synergy of multiple mechanisms on plant invasion trajectory. According to the results, the invasion trajectory of alien plants in the invasive site was divided into four stages: introduction, colonization, establishment, and invasion. Integrating all kinds of obstacles and promoting factors encountered into it and putting forward the invasion curve of plants would contribute to the future research and management of invasive plants. We further highlighted the current research deficiencies and future research directions and objectives based on analyzing current research methods of plant invasion.}, } @article {pmid36384808, year = {2022}, author = {Park, J and Davis, K and Lajoie, G and Parfrey, LW}, title = {Alternative approaches to identify core bacteria in Fucus distichus microbiome and assess their distribution and host-specificity.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {55}, pmid = {36384808}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Identifying meaningful ecological associations between host and components of the microbiome is challenging. This is especially true for hosts such as marine macroalgae where the taxonomic composition of the microbiome is highly diverse and variable in space and time. Identifying core taxa is one way forward but there are many methods and thresholds in use. This study leverages a large dataset of microbial communities associated with the widespread brown macroalga, Fucus distichus, across sites and years on one island in British Columbia, Canada. We compare three different methodological approaches to identify core taxa at the amplicon sequence variant (ASV) level from this dataset: (1) frequency analysis of taxa on F. distichus performed over the whole dataset, (2) indicator species analysis (IndVal) over the whole dataset that identifies frequent taxa that are enriched on F. distichus in comparison to the local environment, and (3) a two-step IndVal method that identifies taxa that are consistently enriched on F. distichus across sites and time points. We then investigated a F. distichus time-series dataset to see if those core taxa are seasonally consistent on another remote island in British Columbia, Canada. We then evaluate host-specificity of the identified F. distichus core ASVs using comparative data from 32 other macroalgal species sampled at one of the sites.

RESULTS: We show that a handful of core ASVs are consistently identified by both frequency analysis and IndVal approaches with alternative definitions, although no ASVs were always present on F. distichus and IndVal identified a diverse array of F. distichus indicator taxa across sites on Calvert Island in multiple years. Frequency analysis captured a broader suit of taxa, while IndVal was better at identifying host-specific microbes. Finally, two-step IndVal identified hundreds of indicator ASVs for particular sites/timepoints but only 12 that were indicators in a majority (> 6 out of 11) of sites/timepoints. Ten of these ASVs were also indicators on Quadra Island, 250 km away. Many F. distichus-core ASVs are generally found on multiple macroalgal species, while a few ASVs are highly specific to F. distichus.

CONCLUSIONS: Different methodological approaches with variable set thresholds influence core identification, but a handful of core taxa are apparently identifiable as they are widespread and temporally associated with F. distichus and enriched in comparison to the environment. Moreover, we show that many of these core ASVs of F. distichus are found on multiple macroalgal hosts, indicating that most occupy a macroalgal generalist niche rather than forming highly specialized associations with F. distichus. Further studies should test whether macroalgal generalists or specialists are more likely to engage in biologically important exchanges with host.}, } @article {pmid36382375, year = {2022}, author = {Changsut, I and Womack, HR and Shickle, A and Sharp, KH and Fuess, LE}, title = {Variation in symbiont density is linked to changes in constitutive immunity in the facultatively symbiotic coral, Astrangia poculata.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {20220273}, pmid = {36382375}, issn = {1744-957X}, support = {P20 GM103430/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Melanins ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals are essential ecosystem engineers, forming the basis of coral reef ecosystems. However, these organisms are in decline globally, in part due to rising disease prevalence. Most corals are dependent on symbiotic interactions with single-celled algae from the family Symbiodiniaceae to meet their nutritional needs, however, suppression of host immunity may be essential to this relationship. To explore immunological consequences of algal symbioses in scleractinian corals, we investigated constitutive immune activity in the facultatively symbiotic coral, Astrangia poculata. We compared immune metrics (melanin synthesis, antioxidant production and antibacterial activity) between coral colonies of varying symbiont density. Symbiont density was positively correlated to both antioxidant activity and melanin concentration, likely as a result of the dual roles of these pathways in immunity and symbiosis regulation. Our results confirm the complex nature of relationships between algal symbiosis and host immunity and highlight the need for nuanced approaches when considering these relationships.}, } @article {pmid36381851, year = {2022}, author = {Naik, SS and Ramphall, S and Rijal, S and Prakash, V and Ekladios, H and Mulayamkuzhiyil Saju, J and Mandal, N and Kham, NI and Shahid, R and Venugopal, S}, title = {Association of Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Hypertension: A Systematic Review.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e29927}, pmid = {36381851}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most prevalent and dangerous cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Recently, its direct or indirect association with gut dysbiosis has been an interest of study for many. It also includes the metabolomic and functional gene changes in hypertensives compared with healthy individuals. This systematic review aims to study quantitative and qualitative interactions between the two and re-defining the heart-gut axis. We have strictly followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), 2020, guidelines. We conducted an in-depth search of databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), Medline, and ScienceDirect to find relevant studies for our topic of interest. After the final quality check, we included eight articles in the systematic review. A significant difference in richness and diversity in gut microbiota was observed in hypertensive patients compared with healthy controls. There was an increased abundance of many bacteria such as Catabacter, Robinsoleilla, Serratia, Enterobacteriaceae, Ruminococcus torques, Parasutterella, Escherichia, Shigella, and Klebsiella, while a decreased abundance of Sporobacter, Roseburia hominis, Romboutsia spp., and Roseburia. Alteration of the composition also varied based on diet, age, ethnicity, and severity of HTN. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria are found to be on the lower side in hypertensives owing to the protective property of SCFAs against inflammation, especially butyric acid. From the perspective of metabolomic changes, harmful metabolites for cardiovascular health such as intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), zonulin, sphingomyelins, acylcarnitines, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) were found to be increased in hypertensives. Changes in these biomarkers further establish the relation between gut epithelial health and high blood pressure (BP). Participants affected by diseases have an overall lower rate of acquiring new genes, which results in a low richness of genes in them compared with healthy individuals. There is increased expression of the choline utilization (cutC) gene and reduced expression of genes associated with biosynthesis and transport of amino acids in high-BP participants. The unique changes in the composition of the microbiota, functional changes in genes, and metabolome collectively help for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HTN and also suggest the gut as a promising new therapeutic target for HTN. To establish a further causal relationship between the two, more research is required.}, } @article {pmid36381231, year = {2022}, author = {Benites, LF and Stephens, TG and Bhattacharya, D}, title = {Multiple waves of viral invasions in Symbiodiniaceae algal genomes.}, journal = {Virus evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {veac101}, pmid = {36381231}, issn = {2057-1577}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae are phototrophic marine protists that engage in symbiosis with diverse hosts. Their large and distinct genomes are characterized by pervasive gene duplication and large-scale retroposition events. However, little is known about the role and scale of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the evolution of this algal family. In other dinoflagellates, high levels of HGTs have been observed, linked to major genomic transitions, such as the appearance of a viral-acquired nucleoprotein that originated via HGT from a large DNA algal virus. Previous work showed that Symbiodiniaceae from different hosts are actively infected by viral groups, such as giant DNA viruses and ssRNA viruses, that may play an important role in coral health. Latent viral infections may also occur, whereby viruses could persist in the cytoplasm or integrate into the host genome as a provirus. This hypothesis received experimental support; however, the cellular localization of putative latent viruses and their taxonomic affiliation are still unknown. In addition, despite the finding of viral sequences in some genomes of Symbiodiniaceae, viral origin, taxonomic breadth, and metabolic potential have not been explored. To address these questions, we searched for putative viral-derived proteins in thirteen Symbiodiniaceae genomes. We found fifty-nine candidate viral-derived HGTs that gave rise to twelve phylogenies across ten genomes. We also describe the taxonomic affiliation of these virus-related sequences, their structure, and their genomic context. These results lead us to propose a model to explain the origin and fate of Symbiodiniaceae viral acquisitions.}, } @article {pmid36377756, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, X and Wang, H and Su, X and Zhang, J and Bai, J and Zeng, J and Li, H}, title = {Dynamic changes of gut bacterial communities present in larvae of Anoplophora glabripennies collected at different developmental stages.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {e21978}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21978}, pmid = {36377756}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Larva ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Coleoptera ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The Asian long-horned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennies (Motschulsky), is a destructive wood-boring pest that is capable of killing healthy trees. Gut bacteria in the larvae of the wood-boring pest is essential for the fitness of hosts. However, little is known about the structure of the intestinal microbiome of A. glabripennies during larval development. Here, we used Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the larval intestinal bacterial communities of A. glabripennies at the stages of newly hatched larvae, 1st instar larvae and 4th instar larvae. Significant differences were found in larval gut microbial community structure at different larvae developmental stages. Different dominant genus was detected during larval development. Acinetobacter were dominant in the newly hatched larvae, Enterobacter and Raoultella in the 1st instar larvae, and Enterococcus and Gibbsiella in the 4th instar larvae. The microbial richness in the newly hatched larvae was higher than those in the 1st and 4th instar larvae. Many important functions of the intestinal microbiome were predicted, for example, fermentation and chemoheterotrophy functions that may play an important role in insect growth and development was detected in the bacteria at all tested stages. However, some specific functions are found to be associated with different development stages. Our study provides a theoretical basis for investigating the function of the intestinal symbiosis bacteria of A. glabripennies.}, } @article {pmid36377192, year = {2022}, author = {Ge, SX and Li, JX and Jiang, ZH and Zong, SX and Ren, LL}, title = {Cradle for the newborn Monochamus saltuarius: Microbial associates to ward off entomopathogens and disarm plant defense.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.13148}, pmid = {36377192}, issn = {1744-7917}, abstract = {The Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus saltuarius, as a beetle vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode), is an economically important forest pest in Eurasia. To feed on the phloem and xylem of conifers, M. saltuarius needs to overcome various stress factors, including coping with entomopathogenic bacteria and also various plant secondary compounds (PSCs). As an important adaptation strategy to colonize host trees, M. saltuarius deposit eggs in oviposition pits to shield their progeny. These pits harbor bacterial communities that are involved in the host adaptation of M. saltuarius to the conifers. However, the composition, origin, and functions of these oviposition pit bacteria are rarely understood. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community associated with M. saltuarius oviposition pits and their ability to degrade PSCs. Results showed that the bacterial community structure of M. saltuarius oviposition pits significantly differed from that of uninfected phloem. Also, the oviposition pit bacteria were predicted to be enriched in PSC degradation pathways. The microbial community also harbored a lethal strain of Serratia, which was significantly inhibited. Meanwhile, metatranscriptome analysis indicated that genes involved in PSCs degradation were expressed complementarily among the microbial communities of oviposition pits and secretions. In vitro degradation showed that bacteria cultured from oviposition pits degraded more monoterpenes and flavonoids than bacteria cultured from uninfected phloem isolates. Disinfection of oviposition pits increased the mortality of newly hatched larvae and resulted in a significant decrease in body weight in the early stages. Overall, our results reveal that M. saltuarius construct oviposition pits that harbor a diverse microbial community, with stronger PSCs degradation abilities and a low abundance of entomopathogenic bacteria, resulting in the increased fitness of newly hatched larvae.}, } @article {pmid36376912, year = {2022}, author = {Croatti, V and Parolin, C and Giordani, B and Foschi, C and Fedi, S and Vitali, B}, title = {Lactobacilli extracellular vesicles: potential postbiotics to support the vaginal microbiota homeostasis.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {237}, pmid = {36376912}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Lactobacillus/metabolism ; Vagina/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Extracellular Vesicles ; Escherichia coli ; Homeostasis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus species dominate the vaginal microflora performing a first-line defense against vaginal infections. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by lactobacilli are considered mediators of their beneficial effects affecting cellular communication, homeostasis, microbial balance, and host immune system pathways. Up to now, very little is known about the role played by Lactobacillus EVs in the vaginal microenvironment, and mechanisms of action remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: Here, we hypothesized that EVs can mediate lactobacilli beneficial effects to the host by modulating the vaginal microbiota colonization. We recovered and characterized EVs produced by two vaginal strains, namely Lactobacillus crispatus BC5 and Lactobacillus gasseri BC12. EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and physically characterized by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). EVs protein and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) content was also evaluated. We explored the role of EVs on bacterial adhesion and colonization, using a cervical cell line (HeLa) as an in vitro model. Specifically, we evaluated the effect of EVs on the adhesion of both vaginal beneficial lactobacilli and opportunistic pathogens (i.e., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Enterococcus faecalis). We demonstrated that EVs from L. crispatus BC5 and L. gasseri BC12 significantly enhanced the cellular adhesion of all tested lactobacilli, reaching the maximum stimulation effect on strains belonging to L. crispatus species (335% and 269% of average adhesion, respectively). At the same time, EVs reduced the adhesion of all tested pathogens, being EVs from L. gasseri BC12 the most efficient.

CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest for the first time that EVs released by symbiotic Lactobacillus strains favor healthy vaginal homeostasis by supporting the colonization of beneficial species and preventing pathogens attachment. This study reinforces the concept of EVs as valid postbiotics and opens the perspective of developing postbiotics from vaginal strains to maintain microbiota homeostasis and promote women's health.}, } @article {pmid36376329, year = {2022}, author = {Shibata, K and Motozono, C and Nagae, M and Shimizu, T and Ishikawa, E and Motooka, D and Okuzaki, D and Izumi, Y and Takahashi, M and Fujimori, N and Wing, JB and Hayano, T and Asai, Y and Bamba, T and Ogawa, Y and Furutani-Seiki, M and Shirai, M and Yamasaki, S}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria-dependent expansion of MR1-reactive T cells causes autoimmunity in the absence of Bcl11b.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6948}, pmid = {36376329}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Mice ; Animals ; *Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics/metabolism ; *Autoimmunity ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/genetics ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; Transcription Factors ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; Repressor Proteins ; }, abstract = {MHC class I-related protein 1 (MR1) is a metabolite-presenting molecule that restricts MR1-reactive T cells including mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. In contrast to MAIT cells, the function of other MR1-restricted T cell subsets is largely unknown. Here, we report that mice in which a T cell-specific transcription factor, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11B (Bcl11b), was ablated in immature thymocytes (Bcl11b[∆iThy] mice) develop chronic inflammation. Bcl11b[∆iThy] mice lack conventional T cells and MAIT cells, whereas CD4[+]IL-18R[+] αβ T cells expressing skewed Traj33 (Jα33)[+] T cell receptors (TCR) accumulate in the periphery, which are necessary and sufficient for the pathogenesis. The disorders observed in Bcl11b[∆iThy] mice are ameliorated by MR1-deficiency, transfer of conventional T cells, or germ-free conditions. We further show the crystal structure of the TCR expressed by Traj33[+] T cells expanded in Bcl11b[∆iThy] mice. Overall, we establish that MR1-reactive T cells have pathogenic potential.}, } @article {pmid36375718, year = {2023}, author = {Santos, RGD and Hurtado, R and Rodrigues, DLN and Lima, A and Dos Anjos, WF and Rifici, C and Attili, AR and Tiwari, S and Jaiswal, AK and Spier, SJ and Mazzullo, G and Morais-Rodrigues, F and Gomide, ACP and de Jesus, LCL and Aburjaile, FF and Brenig, B and Cuteri, V and Castro, TLP and Seyffert, N and Santos, A and Góes-Neto, A and de Jesus Sousa, T and Azevedo, V}, title = {Comparative genomic analysis of the Dietzia genus: an insight into genomic diversity, and adaptation.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {174}, number = {3}, pages = {103998}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2022.103998}, pmid = {36375718}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Phylogeny ; *Genomics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Base Sequence ; *Actinomycetales/genetics ; }, abstract = {Dietzia strains are widely distributed in the environment, presenting an opportunistic role, and some species have undetermined taxonomic characteristics. Here, we propose the existence of errors in the classification of species in this genus using comparative genomics. We performed ANI, dDDH, pangenome and genomic plasticity analyses better to elucidate the phylogenomic relationships between Dietzia strains. For this, we used 55 genomes of Dietzia downloaded from public databases that were combined with a newly sequenced. Sequence analysis of a phylogenetic tree based on genome similarity comparisons and dDDH, ANI analyses supported grouping different Dietzia species into four distinct groups. The pangenome analysis corroborated the classification of these groups, supporting the idea that some species of Dietzia could be reassigned in a possible classification into three distinct species, each containing less variability than that found within the global pangenome of all strains. Additionally, analysis of genomic plasticity based on groups containing Dietzia strains found differences in the presence and absence of symbiotic Islands and pathogenic islands related to their isolation site. We propose that the comparison of pangenome subsets together with phylogenomic approaches can be used as an alternative for the classification and differentiation of new species of the genus Dietzia.}, } @article {pmid36375074, year = {2022}, author = {Venado, RE and Wange, LE and Shen, D and Pinnau, F and Andersen, TG and Enard, W and Marín, M}, title = {Tissue-specific regulation of lipid polyester synthesis genes controlling oxygen permeation into Lotus japonicus nodules.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {47}, pages = {e2206291119}, pmid = {36375074}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Lotus/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Polyesters ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Lipids ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish endosymbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, which they host inside root nodules. Here, specific physiological and morphological adaptations, such as the production of oxygen-binding leghemoglobin proteins and the formation of an oxygen diffusion barrier in the nodule periphery, are essential to protect the oxygen-labile bacterial nitrogenase enzyme. The molecular basis of the latter process remains elusive as the identification of required genes is limited by the epistatic effect of nodule organogenesis over nodule infection and rhizobia accommodation. We overcame this by exploring the phenotypic diversity of Lotus japonicus accessions that uncouple nodule organogenesis from nodule infection when inoculated with a subcompatible Rhizobium strain. Using comparative transcriptomics, we identified genes with functions associated with oxygen homeostasis and deposition of lipid polyesters on cell walls to be specifically up-regulated in infected compared to noninfected nodules. As hydrophobic modification of cell walls is pivotal for creating diffusion barriers like the root endodermis, we focused on two Fatty acyl-CoA Reductase genes that were specifically activated in the root and/or in the nodule endodermis. Mutant lines in a Fatty acyl-CoA Reductase gene expressed exclusively in the nodule endodermis had decreased deposition of polyesters on this cell layer and increased nodule permeability compared to wild-type plants. Oxygen concentrations were significantly increased in the inner cortex of mutant nodules, which correlated with reduced nitrogenase activity, and impaired shoot growth. These results provide the first genetic evidence for the formation of the nodule oxygen diffusion barrier, a key adaptation enabling nitrogen fixation in legume nodules.}, } @article {pmid36375055, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, C and Tang, D and Dai, J and Tang, X and Bao, Y and Ning, J and Zhen, Q and Song, H and St Leger, RJ and Fang, W}, title = {Bioremediation of mercury-polluted soil and water by the plant symbiotic fungus Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {47}, pages = {e2214513119}, pmid = {36375055}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Water ; *Mercury/toxicity ; *Methylmercury Compounds ; Phylogeny ; Ecosystem ; *Metarhizium/genetics ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Fungi are central to every terrestrial and many aquatic ecosystems, but the mechanisms underlying fungal tolerance to mercury, a global pollutant, remain unknown. Here, we show that the plant symbiotic fungus Metarhizium robertsii degrades methylmercury and reduces divalent mercury, decreasing mercury accumulation in plants and greatly increasing their growth in contaminated soils. M. robertsii does this by demethylating methylmercury via a methylmercury demethylase (MMD) and using a mercury ion reductase (MIR) to reduce divalent mercury to volatile elemental mercury. M. robertsii can also remove methylmercury and divalent mercury from fresh and sea water even in the absence of added nutrients. Overexpression of MMD and MIR significantly improved the ability of M. robertsii to bioremediate soil and water contaminated with methylmercury and divalent mercury. MIR homologs, and thereby divalent mercury tolerance, are widespread in fungi. In contrast, MMD homologs were patchily distributed among the few plant associates and soil fungi that were also able to demethylate methylmercury. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that fungi could have acquired methylmercury demethylase genes from bacteria via two independent horizontal gene transfer events. Heterologous expression of MMD in fungi that lack MMD homologs enabled them to demethylate methylmercury. Our work reveals the mechanisms underlying mercury tolerance in fungi, and may provide a cheap and environmentally friendly means of cleaning up mercury pollution.}, } @article {pmid36374551, year = {2023}, author = {Rhee, MS and Alqam, ML and Jones, BC and Phadungpojna, S and Day, D and Hitchcock, TM}, title = {Characterization of a live Cutibacterium acnes subspecies defendens strain XYCM42 and clinical assessment as a topical regimen for general skin health and cosmesis.}, journal = {Journal of cosmetic dermatology}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {1031-1045}, doi = {10.1111/jocd.15510}, pmid = {36374551}, issn = {1473-2165}, mesh = {Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Pilot Projects ; Skin/microbiology ; *Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy ; Keratinocytes ; Propionibacterium acnes ; *Skin Diseases ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: When formulating topical products to treat skin diseases and addressing general skin health and cosmesis, most of the focus has traditionally been placed on how any given ingredient may impact the structure, function, and health of human skin elements. However, recent research is beginning to highlight the importance of the skin microbiome in relation to certain skin conditions and general cosmesis. Cutibacterium acnes is one of the most prolific skin-specific bacterial species. Research has shown that the species is divided into subspecies, some of which are thought to be beneficial to the skin. This paper aims to determine the efficacy of strainXYCM42, a C. acnes subspecies defendens derived strain designed to improve the health and appearance of the skin.

METHODS: In vitro studies were performed on human keratinocyte and fibroblast monolayers, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and skin explants to elucidate the effects of live XYCM42 cells and their ferment on human skin cells and tissues. Subsequently, clinical studies were performed using XYCM42-based topical regimens designed to deliver and support the engraftment of live XYCM42 cells onto subjects' skin. Two studies were performed, a 3-week pilot study (n = 10) and a 8-week pivotal study (n = 121). In the latter, 32 subjects were enrolled for an in-clinic portion for efficacy evaluation, with clinic visits occurring at Baseline, Week 1, Week 4, and Week 8.

RESULTS: In vitro data suggest that XYCM42 and its ferment filtrate have potential to provide benefits to the skin via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and select antimicrobial activities. Clinical observation demonstrated that a XYCM42-containing regimen supports a healthy skin environment, promotes increased skin hydration, decreases erythema, calms the skin, and regulates sebum production.

CONCLUSION: These studies provide further evidence that specific strains of C. acnes, such as XYCM42, have a more beneficial function regarding skin health and appearance than was previously thought. Appropriate use of formulations derived from symbiotic strains within the skin microbiome can support the development of novel, beneficial topicals.}, } @article {pmid36373631, year = {2023}, author = {Mencía, M}, title = {Acid digestion and symbiont: Proton sharing at the origin of mitochondriogenesis?: Proton production by a symbiotic bacterium may have been the origin of two hallmark eukaryotic features, acid digestion and mitochondria: Proton production by a symbiotic bacterium may have been the origin of two hallmark eukaryotic features, acid digestion and mitochondria.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {e2200136}, doi = {10.1002/bies.202200136}, pmid = {36373631}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {*Protons ; Phylogeny ; *Eukaryota ; Symbiosis ; Bacteria ; Mitochondria ; Digestion ; Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {The initial relationships between organisms leading to endosymbiosis and the first eukaryote are currently a topic of hot debate. Here, I present a theory that offers a gradual scenario in which the origins of phagocytosis and mitochondria are intertwined in such a way that the evolution of one would not be possible without the other. In this scenario, the premitochondrial bacterial symbiont became initially associated with a protophagocytic host on the basis of cooperation to kill prey with symbiont-produced toxins and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Subsequently, the cooperation was focused on the digestion stage, through the acidification of the protophagocytic cavities via exportation of protons produced by the aerobic respiration of the symbiont. The host gained an improved phagocytic capacity and the symbiont received organic compounds from prey. As the host gradually lost its membrane energetics to develop lysosomal digestion, respiration was centralized in the premitochondrial symbiont for energy production for the consortium.}, } @article {pmid36372829, year = {2023}, author = {Moura, RF and Del-Claro, K}, title = {Plants with extrafloral nectaries share indirect defenses and shape the local arboreal ant community.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {201}, number = {1}, pages = {73-82}, pmid = {36372829}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Ants ; Trees ; Plant Nectar ; Plants ; Flowers ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Associational resistance (AR) is a positive interaction in which a plant suffers less herbivore damage due to its association with a protective plant. Here, we evaluated whether plants with extra-floral nectaries (EFNs) can share indirect defenses with neighboring plants. We sampled 45 individuals of an EFN-bearing liana (Smilax polyantha) and recorded whether their support species had EFNs. In S. polyantha, we measured foliar herbivory and flower and fruit production. We examined the ant species composition and visitation of S. polyantha and whether they changed according to the supporting plant type (with or without EFNs). We experimentally determined whether S. polyantha supplemented with artificial nectaries could share indirect defenses with defenseless neighboring plants. Support plants with EFNs indirectly benefited S. polyantha by sharing mutualistic ant species. Smilax polyantha supported by plants with EFNs had a more specific ant species composition, a higher number of visiting ants and ant species richness, and exhibited nearly 3 times less foliar herbivory. However, we did not observe differences in fruit production between the two groups of S. polyantha. Finally, we observed that S. polyantha with artificial nectaries increased ant visitation on neighboring plants 2.5 times. We provide evidence that interspecific neighbors with EFNs can experience reciprocal benefits by sharing indirect defenses. Such local effects might escalate and affect the structure of plant communities.}, } @article {pmid36372818, year = {2022}, author = {Bubica Bustos, LM and Ueno, AC and Biganzoli, F and Card, SD and Mace, WJ and Martínez-Ghersa, MA and Gundel, PE}, title = {Can Aphid Herbivory Induce Intergenerational Effects of Endophyte-conferred Resistance in Grasses?.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {48}, number = {11-12}, pages = {867-881}, pmid = {36372818}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Endophytes ; Poaceae ; Herbivory ; *Aphids/physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; *Alkaloids/pharmacology ; *Epichloe ; }, abstract = {Plants have evolved mechanisms to survive herbivory. One such mechanism is the induction of defences upon attack that can operate intergenerationally. Cool-season grasses (sub-family Pooideae) obtain defences via symbiosis with vertically transmitted fungal endophytes (genus Epichloë) and can also show inducible responses. However, it is unknown whether these herbivore-induced responses can have intergenerational effects. We hypothesized that herbivory by aphids on maternal plants induces the intergenerational accumulation of endophyte-derived defensive alkaloids and resistance intensification in the progeny. We subjected mother plants symbiotic or not with Epichloë occultans, a species known for its production of anti-insect alkaloids known as lolines, to the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi. Then, we evaluated the progeny of these plants in terms of loline alkaloid concentration, resistance level (through herbivore performance), and shoot biomass. Herbivory on mother plants did not increase the concentration of lolines in seeds but it tended to affect loline concentration in progeny plants. There was an overall herbivore-induced intergenerational effect increasing the endophyte-conferred defence and resistance. Symbiotic plants were more resistant to aphids and had higher shoot biomass than their non-symbiotic counterparts. Since maternal herbivory did not affect the loline concentrations in seeds, the greater resistance of the progeny could have resulted from an inherited mechanism of epigenetic regulation. It would be interesting to elucidate the origin of this regulation since it could come from the host or the fungal symbiont. Thus, endophyte-driven differential fitness between symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants might be higher as generations pass on in presence of herbivores.}, } @article {pmid36372432, year = {2022}, author = {Kuroda, K and Kubota, K and Kagemasa, S and Nakai, R and Hirakata, Y and Yamamoto, K and Nobu, MK and Narihiro, T}, title = {Novel Cross-domain Symbiosis between Candidatus Patescibacteria and Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenic Archaea Methanospirillum Discovered in a Methanogenic Ecosystem.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {36372432}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Archaea/genetics ; Methanospirillum/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Phylogeny ; *Euryarchaeota ; Bacteria/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {To identify novel cross-domain symbiosis between Candidatus Patescibacteria and Archaea, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on enrichment cultures derived from methanogenic bioreactor sludge with the newly designed 32-520-1066 probe targeting the family-level uncultured clade 32-520/UBA5633 lineage in the class Ca. Paceibacteria. All FISH-detectable 32-520/UBA5633 cells were attached to Methanospirillum, indicating high host specificity. Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed 32-520/UBA5633-like cells that were specifically adherent to the plug structure of Methanospirillum-like rod-shaped cells. The metagenome-assembled genomes of 32-520/UBA5633 encoded unique gene clusters comprising pilin signal peptides and type IV pilins. These results provide novel insights into unseen symbiosis between Ca. Patescibacteria and Archaea.}, } @article {pmid36372339, year = {2023}, author = {Pei, Y and Chen, S and Diao, X and Wang, X and Zhou, H and Li, Y and Li, Z}, title = {Deciphering the disturbance mechanism of BaP on the symbiosis of Montipora digitata via 4D-Proteomics approach.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {312}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {137223}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137223}, pmid = {36372339}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Proteomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {The coral holobiont is mainly composed of coral polyps, zooxanthellae, and coral symbiotic microorganisms, which form the basis of coral reef ecosystems. In recent years, the severe degradation of coral reefs caused by climate warming and environmental pollution has aroused widespread concern. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a widely distributed pollutant in the environment. However, the underlying mechanisms of coral symbiosis destruction due to the stress of BaP are not well understood. In this study, diaPASEF proteomics and 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing technology were used to reveal the effects of 50 μg/L BaP on Montipora digitate. Data analysis was performed from the perspective of the main symbionts of M. digitata (coral polyps, zooxanthellae, and coral symbiotic microorganisms). The results showed that BaP impaired cellular antioxidant capacity by disrupting the GSH/GSSG cycle, and sustained stress causes severe impairment of energy metabolism and protein degradation in coral polyps. In zooxanthellae, BaP downregulated the protein expression of SOD2 and mtHSP70, which then resulted in oxidative free radical accumulation and apoptosis. For coral symbiotic microorganisms, BaP altered the community structure of microorganisms and decreased immunity. Coral symbiotic microorganisms adapted to the stress of BaP by adjusting energy metabolism and enhancing extracellular electron transfer. BaP adversely affected the three main symbionts of M. digitata via different mechanisms. Decreased antioxidant capacity is a common cause of damages to coral polyps and zooxanthellae, whereas coral symbiotic microorganisms are able to appropriately adapt to oxidative stress. This study assessed the effects of BaP on corals from a symbiotic perspective, which is more comprehensive and reliable. At the same time, data from the study supports new directions for coral research and coral reef protection.}, } @article {pmid36371206, year = {2022}, author = {Portner, COS and Rong, EG and Ramirez, JA and Wolf, YI and Bosse, AP and Koonin, EV and Rochman, ND}, title = {Host age structure reshapes parasite symbiosis: collaboration begets pathogens, competition begets virulent mutualists.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {36371206}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Parasites ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships are ubiquitous in the biosphere. Inter-species symbiosis is impacted by intra-specific distinctions, in particular, those defined by the age structure of a population. Older individuals compete with younger individuals for resources despite being less likely to reproduce, diminishing the fitness of the population. Conversely, however, older individuals can support the reproduction of younger individuals, increasing the population fitness. Parasitic relationships are commonly age structured, typically, more adversely affecting older hosts.

RESULTS: We employ mathematical modeling to explore the differential effects of collaborative or competitive host age structures on host-parasite relationships. A classical epidemiological compartment model is constructed with three disease states: susceptible, infected, and recovered. Each of these three states is partitioned into two compartments representing young, potentially reproductive, and old, post-reproductive, hosts, yielding 6 compartments in total. In order to describe competition and collaboration between old and young compartments, we model the reproductive success to depend on the fraction of young individuals in the population. Collaborative populations with relatively greater numbers of post-reproductive hosts enjoy greater reproductive success whereas in purely competitive populations, increasing the post-reproductive subpopulation reduces reproductive success.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that, in collaborative host populations, pathogens strictly impacting older, post-reproductive individuals can reduce population fitness even more than pathogens that directly impact younger, potentially reproductive individuals. In purely competitive populations, the reverse is observed, and we demonstrate that endemic, virulent pathogens can oxymoronically form a mutualistic relationship with the host, increasing the fitness of the host population. Applications to endangered species conservation and invasive species containment are discussed.}, } @article {pmid36371026, year = {2022}, author = {Sharma, D and Singh, M and Rani, R}, title = {Role of LDH in tumor glycolysis: Regulation of LDHA by small molecules for cancer therapeutics.}, journal = {Seminars in cancer biology}, volume = {87}, number = {}, pages = {184-195}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.11.007}, pmid = {36371026}, issn = {1096-3650}, mesh = {Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Glycolysis ; Isoenzymes/genetics/metabolism ; *L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Lactate Dehydrogenase 5 ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is one of the crucial enzymes in aerobic glycolysis, catalyzing the last step of glycolysis, i.e. the conversion of pyruvate to lactate. Most cancer cells are characterized by an enhanced rate of tumor glycolysis to ensure the energy demand of fast-growing cancer cells leading to increased lactate production. Excess lactate creates extracellular acidosis which facilitates invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis and affects the immune response. Lactate shuttle and lactate symbiosis is established in cancer cells, which may further increase the poor prognosis. Several genetic and phenotypic studies established the potential role of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) or LDH5, the one homo-tetramer of subunit A, in cancer development and metastasis. The LDHA is considered a viable target for drug design and discovery. Several small molecules have been discovered to date exhibiting significant LDHA inhibitory activities and anticancer activities, therefore the starvation of cancer cells by targeting tumor glycolysis through LDHA inhibition with improved selectivity can generate alternative anticancer therapeutics. This review provides an overview of the role of LDHA in metabolic reprogramming and its association with proto-oncogenes and oncogenes. This review also aims to deliver an update on significant LDHA inhibitors with anticancer properties and future direction in this area.}, } @article {pmid36370947, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Z and Cui, D and Liu, Y and Wang, H and Yang, L and Chen, H and Qiu, G and Xiong, Z and Shao, P and Luo, X}, title = {Enhanced ammonia nitrogen removal from actual rare earth element tailings (REEs) wastewater by microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system (MBS): Ratio optimization of microalgae to bacteria and mechanism analysis.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {367}, number = {}, pages = {128304}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128304}, pmid = {36370947}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Microalgae ; Wastewater/microbiology ; Ammonia ; Symbiosis ; Denitrification ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biomass ; }, abstract = {Microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system (MBS) appear to be a promising way for treating the rare earth elements (REEs) wastewater due to the natural symbiotic interactions between microalgae and bacteria. Herein, we investigated the effect of different inoculation ratios of microalgae and bacteria including 3:1 (MB_1), 1:1 (MB_2) and 1:3 (MB_3) on NH4[+]-N removal from REEs wastewater and analyzed the corresponding biological mechanism. The NH4[+]-N removal rate with MB_3 reached 17.69 ± 0.45 mg NH4[+]-N/L d[-1], which was 2.58 times higher than that in single microalgae system. The results were further verified in continuous feeding photobioreactors and kept stable for 100 days. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the abundance of genes related to microalgae assimilation increased by 14 %-50 % in answer to photosynthesis and NH4[+]-N absorption, while that related to nitrification apparently dropped, indicating that MBS was a sustainable method capable of enhancing NH4[+]-N removal from REEs wastewater.}, } @article {pmid36370451, year = {2022}, author = {D'Aloisio, LD and Shetty, V and Ballal, M and Gibson, DL}, title = {Following the Indian Immigrant: adoption of westernization results in a western gut microbiome and an increased risk of inflammatory bowel diseases.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac133}, pmid = {36370451}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Emigrants and Immigrants ; }, abstract = {Indians who migrate to westernized countries such as Canada, the USA, and the UK are at an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the underlying aetiology of IBD remains unclear, a gut microbiome, i.e. no longer symbiotic with its host, is a major player. Increasing IBD incidence in Indian immigrants may be due to the adoption of western practices that result in loss of tolerance of a symbiotic community in the gut and its underlying immune responses. However, little is known about the microbial changes in the Indian gut, including shifts in the microbiome when they migrate to westernized countries. In this Current Opinion, we discuss what is known about the Indian gut microbiome and how living in a westernized environment may be impeding what was once a symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiome and intestinal mucosae, which may be the driving factor in their increased risk of IBD.}, } @article {pmid36370236, year = {2022}, author = {Kerber-Diaz, JC and Leos-Ramírez, MA and Flores-Ceron, AA and Ponce-Mendoza, A and Estrada-de Los Santos, P and Ibarra, JA}, title = {Distribution of CRISPR-Cas systems in the Burkholderiaceae family and its biological implications.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {12}, pages = {703}, pmid = {36370236}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {CRISPR-Cas Systems ; *Burkholderiaceae/genetics ; Plasmids ; Computational Biology ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {CRISPR-Cas systems are composed of repeated sequences separated by non-repeated sequences that are near genes coding for Cas proteins, which are involved in the function of these systems. Their function has been mostly related to "genetic immunity" against foreign genetic material, among other roles. Interest in them increased after their use in genetic manipulation was uncovered and surveys to find and classify them have been done in several bacterial groups. To determine the presence of these genetic elements in the Burkholderiaceae family members, a bioinformatic approach was followed. Attention in this family comes as it is formed by a great diversity of microorganisms that include opportunistic and true pathogens, and symbiotic and saprophytic organisms, among others. Results show that, in contrast to other bacterial groups, only 8.4% of family members harbor complete CRISPR-Cas systems and the rest either do not have one or have remains or sections of one. Analyses of the spacer sequences indicated that most of them have identity to sections of the same genomes they were found, while a few had identities with either plasmids or phages. The genus with the higher proportion of self-directed spacers is Ralstonia, and their possible roles are discussed. Most of the systems (60%) belong to the class I subtype I-E and a few to subtypes I-C (13.3%), I-F (18.3%), II-C (5%), IV-A (1.7%) and V-C (1.7%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to uncover the CRISPR-Cas system for the whole Burkholderiaceae family.}, } @article {pmid36368483, year = {2023}, author = {Gao, Z and Bai, Y and Su, J and Ali, A and Li, K and Hu, R and Wang, Y}, title = {Manganese redox cycling in immobilized bioreactors for simultaneous removal of nitrate and 17β-estradiol: Performance, mechanisms and community assembly potential.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {367}, number = {}, pages = {128282}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128282}, pmid = {36368483}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Manganese ; *Nitrates ; Bioreactors ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Estradiol ; Nitrogen Oxides ; }, abstract = {The application of bio-manganese (Mn) redox cycling for continuous removal of contaminants provides promise for addressing coexisting contaminants in groundwater, however, the feasibility of constructing Mn redox cycling system (MCS) through community assembly remains to be elucidated. In this study, Mn-reducing strain MFG10 and Mn-oxidizing strain MFQ7 synergistically removed 94.67 % of 17β-estradiol (E2) within 12 h. Analysis of potential variations in Mn oxides suggested that MCS accelerated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Mn(III), which interacted to promote E2 removal. After continuous operation of the Mn ore-based immobilized bioreactor for 270 days, the experimental group (EG) achieved average removal efficiencies of 89.63 % and 97.57 % for NO3[-]-N and E2, respectively. High-throughput sequencing results revealed complex symbiotic relationships in EG. Community assembly significantly enhanced the metabolic and physiological activity of the bioreactor, which promoting the expression of core functions including nitrogen metabolism, Mn cycling and organic matter resistance.}, } @article {pmid36367542, year = {2022}, author = {Ratu, STN and Amelia, L and Okazaki, S}, title = {Type III effector provides a novel symbiotic pathway in legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {28-37}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbac178}, pmid = {36367542}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Vegetables ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia form nodules on the roots of legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, thus supplying it to host legumes. In return, plants supply photosynthetic products to maintain rhizobial activities. In most cases, rhizobial Nod factors (NFs) and their leguminous receptors (NFRs) are essential for the establishment of symbiosis. However, recent studies have discovered a novel symbiotic pathway in which rhizobia utilize the type III effectors (T3Es) similar to the pathogenic bacteria to induce nodulation. The T3Es of rhizobia are thought to be evolved from the pathogen, but they have a unique structure distinct from the pathogen, suggesting that it might be customized for symbiotic purposes. This review will focus on the recent findings from the study of rhizobial T3Es, discussing their features on a symbiont and pathogen, and the future perspectives on the role of rhizobial T3Es in symbiosis control technology.}, } @article {pmid36365339, year = {2022}, author = {Dinkins, RD and Hancock, JA and Bickhart, DM and Sullivan, ML and Zhu, H}, title = {Expression and Variation of the Genes Involved in Rhizobium Nodulation in Red Clover.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36365339}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important forage crop and serves as a major contributor of nitrogen input in pasture settings because of its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. During the legume-rhizobial symbiosis, the host plant undergoes a large number of gene expression changes, leading to development of root nodules that house the rhizobium bacteria as they are converted into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Many of the genes involved in symbiosis are conserved across legume species, while others are species-specific with little or no homology across species and likely regulate the specific plant genotype/symbiont strain interactions. Red clover has not been widely used for studying symbiotic nitrogen fixation, primarily due to its outcrossing nature, making genetic analysis rather complicated. With the addition of recent annotated genomic resources and use of RNA-seq tools, we annotated and characterized a number of genes that are expressed only in nodule forming roots. These genes include those encoding nodule-specific cysteine rich peptides (NCRs) and nodule-specific Polycystin-1, Lipoxygenase, Alpha toxic (PLAT) domain proteins (NPDs). Our results show that red clover encodes one of the highest number of NCRs and ATS3-like/NPDs, which are postulated to increase nitrogen fixation efficiency, in the Inverted-Repeat Lacking Clade (IRLC) of legumes. Knowledge of the variation and expression of these genes in red clover will provide more insights into the function of these genes in regulating legume-rhizobial symbiosis and aid in breeding of red clover genotypes with increased nitrogen fixation efficiency.}, } @article {pmid36365329, year = {2022}, author = {Loo, WT and Chua, KO and Mazumdar, P and Cheng, A and Osman, N and Harikrishna, JA}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: A Strategy for Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change on Tropical Legume Crops.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36365329}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Climate change is likely to have severe impacts on food security in the topics as these regions of the world have both the highest human populations and narrower climatic niches, which reduce the diversity of suitable crops. Legume crops are of particular importance to food security, supplying dietary protein for humans both directly and in their use for feed and forage. Other than the rhizobia associated with legumes, soil microbes, in particular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), can mitigate the effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, offering an important complementary measure to protect crop yields. This review presents current knowledge on AMF, highlights their beneficial role, and explores the potential for application of AMF in mitigating abiotic and biotic challenges for tropical legumes. Due to the relatively little study on tropical legume species compared to their temperate growing counterparts, much further research is needed to determine how similar AMF-plant interactions are in tropical legumes, which AMF species are optimal for agricultural deployment and especially to identify anaerobic AMF species that could be used to mitigate flood stress in tropical legume crop farming. These opportunities for research also require international cooperation and support, to realize the promise of tropical legume crops to contribute to future food security.}, } @article {pmid36364717, year = {2022}, author = {Kowalczyk, M and Znamirowska-Piotrowska, A and Buniowska-Olejnik, M and Pawlos, M}, title = {Sheep Milk Symbiotic Ice Cream: Effect of Inulin and Apple Fiber on the Survival of Five Probiotic Bacterial Strains during Simulated In Vitro Digestion Conditions.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36364717}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Sheep ; Animals ; *Ice Cream/microbiology ; Inulin/pharmacology ; *Malus ; Milk/microbiology ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; *Probiotics ; *Bifidobacterium animalis ; Dietary Fiber ; Digestion ; }, abstract = {We conducted a study to determine the survival of bacterial cells under in vitro digestion. For this purpose, ice cream mixes were prepared: control, with 4% inulin, 2.5% inulin and 1.5% apple fiber and 4% apple fiber. Each inoculum (pH = 4.60 ± 0.05), containing 9 log cfu g[-1] bacteria, at 5% (w/w) was added to the ice cream mixes (Lacticaseibacilluscasei 431, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L-26, Lacticaseibacillusrhamnosus, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12) and fermentation was carried out to pH 4.60 ± 0.05. The in vitro digestion method simulated the stages of digestion that occur in the mouth, stomach and small intestine under optimal controlled conditions (pH value, time and temperature). At each stage of digestion, the survival rate of probiotic bacteria was determined using the plate-deep method. As expected, in the oral stage, there was no significant reduction in the viability of the probiotic bacteria in any ice cream group compared to their content before digestion. In the stomach stage, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 strain had the highest viable counts (8.48 log cfu g[-1]) among the control samples. Furthermore, a 4% addition of inulin to ice cream with Bifidobacterium BB-12 increased gastric juice tolerance and limited strain reduction by only 16.7% compared to the number of bacterial cells before digestion. Regarding ice cream samples with Bifidobacterium BB-12, replacing part of the inulin with apple fiber resulted in increased survival at the stomach stage and a low reduction in the bacterial population of only 15.6% compared to samples before digestion. At the stomach stage, the positive effect of the addition of inulin and apple fiber was also demonstrated for ice cream samples with Lacticaseibacilluscasei 431 (9.47 log cfu g[-1]), Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 (8.06 log cfu g[-1]) and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei L-26 (5.79 log cfu g[-1]). This study showed the highest sensitivity to simulated gastric stress for ice cream samples with Lacticaseibacillusrhamnosus (4.54 log cfu g[-1]). Our study confirmed that the 4% addition of inulin to ice cream increases the survival rate of L. casei and Bifidobacterium BB-12 in simulated intestinal juice with bile by 0.87 and 2.26 log cfu g[-1], respectively. The highest viable count in the small intestine stage was observed in ice cream with L. acidophilus. The addition of inulin increased the survival of L. rhamnosus by 10.8% and Bifidobacterium BB-12 by about 22% under conditions of simulated in vitro digestion compared to their control samples. The survival rates of L. casei and L. paracasei were also highly affected by the 4% addition of apple fiber, where the increase under gastrointestinal passage conditions was determined to range from 7.86-11.26% compared to their control counterparts. In comparison, the lowest survival rate was found in the control ice cream with L. rhamnosus (47.40%). In our study at the intestinal stage, only five ice cream groups: a sample with 4% inulin and L. acidophilus, a control sample with Bifidobacterium BB12, a sample with 2.5% inulin and 1.5% apple fiber with Bifidobacterium BB12, a control sample with L. rhamnosus, a sample with 4% fiber and L. rhamnosus reported bacterial cell counts below 6 log cfu g[-1] but higher than 5 log cfu g[-1]. However, in the remaining ice cream groups, viable counts of bacterial cells ranged from 6.11 to 8.88 log cfu g[-1], ensuring a therapeutic effect. Studies have clearly indicated that sheep milk ice cream could provide a suitable matrix for the delivery of probiotics and prebiotics and contribute to intestinal homeostasis. The obtained results have an applicative character and may play an essential role in developing new functional sheep milk ice cream.}, } @article {pmid36363742, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, T and Lee, CS and Cho, JY and Bae, MJ and Kim, EJ}, title = {Comparison of Bacterial Assemblages Associated with Harmful Cyanobacteria under Different Light Conditions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36363742}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Harmful cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater ecosystems are closely associated with changes in the composition of symbiotic microbiomes, water quality, and environmental factors. In this work, the relationship between two representative harmful cyanobacterial species (Anabaena sp. and Microcystis sp.) and their associated bacterial assemblages were investigated using a 16S rRNA-based meta-amplicon sequencing analysis during a large-scale cultivation of cyanobacteria under different light conditions with limited wavelength ranges (natural light, blue-filtered light, green-filtered light, and dark conditions). During the cultivation periods, the growth pattern of cyanobacteria and bacterial composition of the phycosphere considerably varied in relation to light restrictions. Unlike other conditions, the cyanobacterial species exhibited significant growth during the cultivation period under both the natural and the blue light conditions. Analyses of the nitrogenous substances revealed that nitrogen assimilation by nitrate reductase for the growth of cyanobacteria occurred primarily under natural light conditions, whereas nitrogenase in symbiotic bacteria could also be activated under blue light conditions. Sphingobium sp., associated with nitrogen assimilation via nitrogenase, was particularly dominant when the cell density of Microcystis sp. increased under the blue light conditions. Thus, cyanobacteria could have symbiotic relationships with ammonium-assimilating bacteria under light-limited conditions, which aids the growth of cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid36363729, year = {2022}, author = {Xin, Y and Fan, Y and Babalola, OO and Zhang, X and Yang, W}, title = {Legacy Effects of Biochar and Compost Addition on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community and Co-Occurrence Network in Black Soil.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36363729}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Compost and biochar are beneficial soil amendments which derived from agricultural waste, and their application was proven to be effective practices for promoting soil fertility. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with most crop plant species, and are recognized as one group of the most important soil microorganisms to increase food security in sustainable agriculture. To understand the legacy effects of compost and biochar addition on AM fungal communities, a field study was conducted on the Songnen Plain, Northeast China. Two years after application, compost addition improved soil aggregate stability, but we did not detect a legacy effect of compost addition on AM fungal community. Our results indicated that AM fungal Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness indices were significantly increased by one-time biochar addition, but unaffected by compost addition after two year's application. PERMANOVA analysis also revealed a legacy effect of biochar addition on AM fungal community. Network analysis revealed a dramatically simplified AM fungal co-occurrence network and small network size in biochar added soils, demonstrated by their topological properties (e.g., low connectedness and betweenness). However, AM fungal community did not differ among aggregate fractions, as confirmed by the PERMANOVA analysis as well as the fact that only a small number of AM fungal OTUs were shared among aggregate fractions. Consequently, the current study highlights a stronger legacy effect of biochar than compost addition on AM fungi, and have implications for agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid36363703, year = {2022}, author = {He, Z and Naganuma, T}, title = {Chronicle of Research into Lichen-Associated Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36363703}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Lichens are mutually symbiotic systems consisting of fungal and algal symbionts. While diverse lichen-forming fungal species are known, limited species of algae form lichens. Plasticity in the combination of fungal and algal species with different eco-physiological properties may contribute to the worldwide distribution of lichens, even in extreme habitats. Lichens have been studied systematically for more than 200 years; however, plasticity in fungal-algal/cyanobacterial symbiotic combinations is still unclear. In addition, the association between non-cyanobacterial bacteria and lichens has attracted attention in recent years. The types, diversity, and functions of lichen-associated bacteria have been studied using both culture-based and culture-independent methods. This review summarizes the history of systematic research on lichens and lichen-associated bacteria and provides insights into the current status of research in this field.}, } @article {pmid36363690, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, R and Zhang, Q and Ju, M and Yan, S and Zhang, Q and Gu, P}, title = {The Endophytic Fungi Diversity, Community Structure, and Ecological Function Prediction of Sophora alopecuroides in Ningxia, China.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36363690}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Sophora alopecuroides L. has great medicinal and ecological value in northwestern China. The host and its microbiota are mutually symbiotic, collectively forming a holobiont, conferring beneficial effects to the plant. However, the analysis of diversity, mycobiota composition, and the ecological function of endophytic fungi in the holobiont of S. alopecuroides is relatively lacking. In this article, the fungal community profiling of roots, stems, leaves, and seeds of S. alopecuroides (at the fruit maturity stage) from Huamachi and Baofeng in Ningxia, China were investigated based on the ITS1 region, using high-throughput sequencing technology. As a result, a total of 751 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained and further classified into 9 phyla, 27 classes, 66 orders, 141 families, 245 genera, and 340 species. The roots had the highest fungal richness and diversity, while the stems had the highest evenness and pedigree diversity. There also was a significant difference in the richness of the endophytic fungal community between root and seed (p < 0.05). The organ was the main factor affecting the community structure of endophytic fungi in S. alopecuroides. The genera of unclassified Ascomycota, Tricholoma, Apiotrichum, Alternaria, and Aspergillus made up the vast majority of relative abundance, which were common in all four organs as well. The dominant and endemic genera and biomarkers of endophytic fungi in four organs of S. alopecuroides were different and exhibited organ specificity or tissue preference. The endophytic fungi of S. alopecuroides were mainly divided into 15 ecological function groups, among which saprotroph was absolutely dominant, followed by mixotrophic and pathotroph, and the symbiotroph was the least. With this study, we revealed the diversity and community structure and predicted the ecological function of the endophytic fungi of S. alopecuroides, which provided a theoretical reference for the further development and utilization of the endophytic fungi resources of S. alopecuroides.}, } @article {pmid36361857, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, HJ and Kim, M}, title = {Skin Barrier Function and the Microbiome.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36361857}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Dermatitis, Atopic ; Skin ; *Psoriasis/genetics ; Dysbiosis ; }, abstract = {Human skin is the largest organ and serves as the first line of defense against environmental factors. The human microbiota is defined as the total microbial community that coexists in the human body, while the microbiome refers to the collective genome of these microorganisms. Skin microbes do not simply reside on the skin but interact with the skin in a variety of ways, significantly affecting the skin barrier function. Here, we discuss recent insights into the symbiotic relationships between the microbiome and the skin barrier in physical, chemical, and innate/adaptive immunological ways. We discuss the gut-skin axis that affects skin barrier function. Finally, we examine the effects of microbiome dysbiosis on skin barrier function and the role of these effects in inflammatory skin diseases, such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Microbiome cosmetics can help restore skin barrier function and improve these diseases.}, } @article {pmid36361841, year = {2022}, author = {Chammakhi, C and Boscari, A and Pacoud, M and Aubert, G and Mhadhbi, H and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Nitric Oxide Metabolic Pathway in Drought-Stressed Nodules of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36361841}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Droughts ; Hypoxia/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plants/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Vicia faba/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Drought is an environmental stress that strongly impacts plants. It affects all stages of growth and induces profound disturbances that influence all cellular functions. Legumes can establish a symbiosis with Rhizobium-type bacteria, whose function is to fix atmospheric nitrogen in organs called nodules and to meet plant nitrogen needs. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is particularly sensitive to drought. We raised the hypothesis that, in drought-stressed nodules, SNF inhibition is partly correlated to hypoxia resulting from nodule structure compaction and an increased O2 diffusion barrier, and that the nodule energy regeneration involves phytoglobin-nitric oxide (Pgb-NO) respiration. To test this hypothesis, we subjected faba bean (Vicia faba L.) plants nodulated with a Rhizobium laguerreae strain to either drought or osmotic stress. We monitored the N2-fixation activity, the energy state (ATP/ADP ratio), the expression of hypoxia marker genes (alcohol dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase), and the functioning of the Pgb-NO respiration in the nodules. The collected data confirmed our hypothesis and showed that (1) drought-stressed nodules were subject to more intense hypoxia than control nodules and (2) NO production increased and contributed via Pgb-NO respiration to the maintenance of the energy state of drought-stressed nodules.}, } @article {pmid36361325, year = {2022}, author = {Nascimento, SVD and Herrera, H and Costa, PHO and Trindade, FC and da Costa, IRC and Caldeira, CF and Gastauer, M and Ramos, SJ and Oliveira, G and Valadares, RBDS}, title = {Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Mimosa acutistipula Success in Amazonian Rehabilitating Minelands.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {19}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36361325}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Mimosa ; Proteomics ; Biodiversity ; Plants ; Brazil ; }, abstract = {Mimosa acutistipula is endemic to Brazil and grows in ferruginous outcrops (canga) in Serra dos Carajás, eastern Amazon, where one of the largest iron ore deposits in the world is located. Plants that develop in these ecosystems are subject to severe environmental conditions and must have adaptive mechanisms to grow and thrive in cangas. Mimosa acutistipula is a native species used to restore biodiversity in post-mining areas in canga. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptation of M. acutistipula in canga is essential to deduce the ability of native species to adapt to possible stressors in rehabilitating minelands over time. In this study, the root proteomic profiles of M. acutistipula grown in a native canga ecosystem and rehabilitating minelands were compared to identify essential proteins involved in the adaptation of this species in its native environment and that should enable its establishment in rehabilitating minelands. The results showed differentially abundant proteins, where 436 proteins with significant values (p < 0.05) and fold change ≥ 2 were more abundant in canga and 145 in roots from the rehabilitating minelands. Among them, a representative amount and diversity of proteins were related to responses to water deficit, heat, and responses to metal ions. Other identified proteins are involved in biocontrol activity against phytopathogens and symbiosis. This research provides insights into proteins involved in M. acutistipula responses to environmental stimuli, suggesting critical mechanisms to support the establishment of native canga plants in rehabilitating minelands over time.}, } @article {pmid36360241, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhang, P and Li, L and Li, D and Liang, Z and Cao, Y and Hu, T and Yang, P}, title = {Proteomic Analysis of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Roots in Response to Rhizobium Nodulation and Salt Stress.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36360241}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Medicago sativa/genetics ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Salt Tolerance ; Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {(1) Background: Alfalfa is an important legume forage throughout the world. Although alfalfa is considered moderately tolerant to salinity, its production and nitrogen-fixing activity are greatly limited by salt stress. (2) Methods: We examined the physiological changes and proteomic profiles of alfalfa with active nodules (NA) and without nodules (NN) under NaCl treatment. (3) Results: Our data suggested that NA roots showed upregulation of the pathways of abiotic and biotic stress responses (e.g., heat shock proteins and pathogenesis-related proteins), antioxidant enzyme synthesis, protein synthesis and degradation, cell wall degradation and modification, acid phosphatases, and porin transport when compared with NN plants under salt stress conditions. NA roots also upregulated the processes or proteins of lipid metabolism, heat shock proteins, protein degradation and folding, and cell cytoskeleton, downregulated the DNA and protein synthesis process, and vacuolar H[+]-ATPase proteins under salt stress. Besides, NA roots displayed a net H[+] influx and low level of K[+] efflux under salt stress, which may enhance the salt tolerance of NA plants. (4) Conclusions: The rhizobium symbiosis conferred the host plant salt tolerance by regulating a series of physiological processes to enhance stress response, improve antioxidant ability and energy use efficiency, and maintain ion homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid36358940, year = {2022}, author = {Choi, SYC and Ribeiro, CF and Wang, Y and Loda, M and Plymate, SR and Uo, T}, title = {Druggable Metabolic Vulnerabilities Are Exposed and Masked during Progression to Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36358940}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {R21CA255830/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA097186/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50CA211024/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; PJT-180554//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Male ; *Receptors, Androgen/metabolism ; *Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy ; Prostate/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {There is an urgent need for exploring new actionable targets other than androgen receptor to improve outcome from lethal castration-resistant prostate cancer. Tumor metabolism has reemerged as a hallmark of cancer that drives and supports oncogenesis. In this regard, it is important to understand the relationship between distinctive metabolic features, androgen receptor signaling, genetic drivers in prostate cancer, and the tumor microenvironment (symbiotic and competitive metabolic interactions) to identify metabolic vulnerabilities. We explore the links between metabolism and gene regulation, and thus the unique metabolic signatures that define the malignant phenotypes at given stages of prostate tumor progression. We also provide an overview of current metabolism-based pharmacological strategies to be developed or repurposed for metabolism-based therapeutics for castration-resistant prostate cancer.}, } @article {pmid36358812, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, H and Hu, J and Wu, J and Ji, P and Shang, A and Li, D}, title = {The Function and Molecular Mechanism of Commensal Microbiome in Promoting Malignant Progression of Lung Cancer.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {14}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36358812}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {The human commensal microbiome existing in an internal environment is relatively consistent with that of the host. The presence of bacterial dysbiosis, on the other hand, promptly results in the termination of this symbiotic association. The altered microbial structure in the lung may be responsible for the development of lung cancer by controlling the host's inflammatory response and influencing a variety of immunological pathways. More and more studies have pointed to the fact that the commensal microbiota plays a vital role in both the development of tumors and the body's response to lung cancer treatment. Microbiome dysbiosis, genotoxicity, virulence effect, and epigenetic dysregulations are some of the potential mechanisms that may lie behind the process of tumorigenesis that is mediated by microbiome. Other potential mechanisms include regulating host immune activity through a variety of pathogenic factors, dysregulating host metabolism as a result of microbiome alterations, and microbiome dysbiosis. In this historical overview, we go through some of the more recent mechanistic discoveries into the biological processes that are involved in lung cancer that are caused by bacteria. Without a question, obtaining a greater knowledge of the dynamic link between the lung microbiome and lung cancer has the potential to inspire the development of innovative early detection and customized treatment methods for lung cancer.}, } @article {pmid36358736, year = {2022}, author = {He, Y and Huang, J and Li, Q and Xia, W and Zhang, C and Liu, Z and Xiao, J and Yi, Z and Deng, H and Xiao, Z and Hu, J and Li, H and Zu, X and Quan, C and Chen, J}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Tumor Immune Escape: A New Perspective for Improving Tumor Immunotherapy.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {14}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {36358736}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a large symbiotic community of anaerobic and facultative aerobic bacteria inhabiting the human intestinal tract, and its activities significantly affect human health. Increasing evidence has suggested that the gut microbiome plays an important role in tumor-related immune regulation. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), the gut microbiome and its metabolites affect the differentiation and function of immune cells regulating the immune evasion of tumors. The gut microbiome can indirectly influence individual responses to various classical tumor immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and adoptive immunotherapy. Microbial regulation through antibiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) optimize the composition of the gut microbiome, improving the efficacy of immunotherapy and bringing a new perspective and hope for tumor treatment.}, } @article {pmid36357769, year = {2023}, author = {de São José, JFB and Hernandes, MAS and Volpiano, CG and Lisboa, BB and Beneduzi, A and Bayer, C and Simon, AA and de Oliveira, J and Passaglia, LMP and Vargas, LK}, title = {Diversity of rhizobia, symbiotic effectiveness, and potential of inoculation in Acacia mearnsii seedling production.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {335-348}, pmid = {36357769}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {*Acacia ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Seedlings ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; }, abstract = {Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is a forest species of significant economic importance in southern Brazil; as a legume, it forms symbiotic associations with rhizobia, fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Nonetheless, little is known about native rhizobia in soils where the species is cultivated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the diversity and symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia nodulating A. mearnsii in commercial planting areas and validate the efficiency of a potential strain in promoting seedling development. To this end, nodules were collected from four A. mearnsii commercial plantations located in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. A total of 80 rhizobia isolates were obtained from black wattle nodules, and thirteen clusters were obtained by rep-PCR. Higher genetic diversity was found within the rhizobial populations from the Duas Figueiras (H' = 2.224) and Seival (H' = 2.112) plantations. Twelve isolates were evaluated belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium, especially to the species Bradyrhizobium guangdongense. The principal component analysis indicated an association between rhizobia diversity and the content of clay, Ca, Mg, and K. Isolates and reference strains (SEMIA 6163 and 6164) induced nodulation and fixed N via symbiosis with black wattle plants after 60 days of germination. The isolates DF2.4, DF2.3, DF3.3, SEMIA 6164, SEMIA 6163, CA4.3, OV3.4, and OV1.4 showed shoot nitrogen accumulation values similar to the N + control treatment. In the second experiment (under nursery conditions), inoculation with the reference strain SEMIA 6164 generally improved the growth of A. mearnsii seedlings, reinforcing its efficiency even under production conditions.}, } @article {pmid36357567, year = {2022}, author = {Delavaux, CS and Weigelt, P and Magnoli, SM and Kreft, H and Crowther, TW and Bever, JD}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria act as a global filter for plant establishment on islands.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {1209}, pmid = {36357567}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants/microbiology ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Island biogeography has classically focused on abiotic drivers of species distributions. However, recent work has highlighted the importance of mutualistic biotic interactions in structuring island floras. The limited occurrence of specialist pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi have been found to restrict plant colonization on oceanic islands. Another important mutualistic association occurs between nearly 15,000 plant species and nitrogen-fixing (N-fixing) bacteria. Here, we look for evidence that N-fixing bacteria limit establishment of plants that associate with them. Globally, we find that plants associating with N-fixing bacteria are disproportionately underrepresented on islands, with a 22% decline. Further, the probability of N-fixing plants occurring on islands decreases with island isolation and, where present, the proportion of N-fixing plant species decreases with distance for large, but not small islands. These findings suggest that N-fixing bacteria serve as a filter to plant establishment on islands, altering global plant biogeography, with implications for ecosystem development and introduction risks.}, } @article {pmid36356812, year = {2022}, author = {Kim, M and Cui, F}, title = {Identification of bacterial communities in conventional wastewater treatment sludge to inform inoculation of the anammox process.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {311}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {137167}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137167}, pmid = {36356812}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {This study uses 16 S rRNA gene pyrosequencing for the identification of a vast number of wastewater bacterial communities to investigate the evolution of bacterial communities in the Anammox process. Four lab-scale Anammox reactors inoculated with different conventional wastewater treatment sludge (activated sludge, livestock wastewater treatment sludge, denitrification sludge, and anaerobic digestion sludge) were operated under identical operating conditions for more than 400 days. The phylum Planctomycetes was present in all seeds of conventional sludge with a relative abundance of 1-3%. In particular, the known Anammox bacteria Candidatus Brocadia was found in the seed of the denitrification sludge. The reactor inoculated with denitrification sludge demonstrated the most effective nitrogen removal of ∼80% with successful cultivation of Anammox bacteria. This study found that the performance of the Anammox process is related to the presence of Nitrospira genus (nitrite-oxidizing bacteria) and that symbiotic association with other functional groups can lead to nitrogen removal. The outcomes of this study can provide vital insight into the study of microbial ecology for the cultivation of Anammox bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36354929, year = {2022}, author = {Feng, W and Sun, X and Ding, G}, title = {Morphological and Transcriptional Characteristics of the Symbiotic Interaction between Pinus massoniana and Suillus bovinus.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {36354929}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhiza (ECM) function has been well studied; however, there is little detailed information regarding the establishment of ECM symbioses. We investigated the morphological and transcriptional changes that occur during the establishment of the Pinus massoniana-Suillus bovinus ECM. S. bovinus promoted the growth of P. massoniana via the release of volatile organic compounds and exudates during the pre-symbiotic stage. Exudate-induced effects showed host plant specificity. At seven days post-inoculation (dpi), the mycelium started to penetrate P. massoniana roots. At 28 dpi, the Hartig net and mantle formed. At the pre-symbiotic stage, most differentially expressed genes in P. massoniana roots were mapped to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, signal transduction, and carbohydrate metabolism. At the symbiotic stage, S. bovinus colonization induced the reprogramming of pathways involved in genetic information processing in P. massoniana, particularly at the Hartig net and mantle formation stage. Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was present at all stages and was regulated via S. bovinus colonization. Enzyme inhibitor tests suggested that hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate/quinate transferase is involved in the development of the Hartig net. Our findings outline the mechanism involved in the P. massoniana-S. bovinus ECM. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in ECM formation.}, } @article {pmid36354345, year = {2022}, author = {Reyre, JL and Grisel, S and Haon, M and Navarro, D and Ropartz, D and Le Gall, S and Record, E and Sciara, G and Tranquet, O and Berrin, JG and Bissaro, B}, title = {The Maize Pathogen Ustilago maydis Secretes Glycoside Hydrolases and Carbohydrate Oxidases Directed toward Components of the Fungal Cell Wall.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {23}, pages = {e0158122}, pmid = {36354345}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism ; Zea mays/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; Glucans/metabolism ; *Ustilago ; }, abstract = {Filamentous fungi are keystone microorganisms in the regulation of many processes occurring on Earth, such as plant biomass decay and pathogenesis as well as symbiotic associations. In many of these processes, fungi secrete carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) to modify and/or degrade carbohydrates. Ten years ago, while evaluating the potential of a secretome from the maize pathogen Ustilago maydis to supplement lignocellulolytic cocktails, we noticed it contained many unknown or poorly characterized CAZymes. Here, and after reannotation of this data set and detailed phylogenetic analyses, we observed that several CAZymes (including glycoside hydrolases and carbohydrate oxidases) are predicted to act on the fungal cell wall (FCW), notably on β-1,3-glucans. We heterologously produced and biochemically characterized two new CAZymes, called UmGH16_1-A and UmAA3_2-A. We show that UmGH16_1-A displays β-1,3-glucanase activity, with a preference for β-1,3-glucans with short β-1,6 substitutions, and UmAA3_2-A is a dehydrogenase catalyzing the oxidation of β-1,3- and β-1,6-gluco-oligosaccharides into the corresponding aldonic acids. Working on model β-1,3-glucans, we show that the linear oligosaccharide products released by UmGH16_1-A are further oxidized by UmAA3_2-A, bringing to light a putative biocatalytic cascade. Interestingly, analysis of available transcriptomics data indicates that both UmGH16_1-A and UmAA3_2-A are coexpressed, only during early stages of U. maydis infection cycle. Altogether, our results suggest that both enzymes are connected and that additional accessory activities still need to be uncovered to fully understand the biocatalytic cascade at play and its physiological role. IMPORTANCE Filamentous fungi play a central regulatory role on Earth, notably in the global carbon cycle. Regardless of their lifestyle, filamentous fungi need to remodel their own cell wall (mostly composed of polysaccharides) to grow and proliferate. To do so, they must secrete a large arsenal of enzymes, most notably carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). However, research on fungal CAZymes over past decades has mainly focused on finding efficient plant biomass conversion processes while CAZymes directed at the fungus itself have remained little explored. In the present study, using the maize pathogen Ustilago maydis as model, we set off to evaluate the prevalence of CAZymes directed toward the fungal cell wall during growth of the fungus on plant biomass and characterized two new CAZymes active on fungal cell wall components. Our results suggest the existence of a biocatalytic cascade that remains to be fully understood.}, } @article {pmid36354103, year = {2022}, author = {Minamisawa, K}, title = {Mitigation of greenhouse gas emission by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {7-12}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbac177}, pmid = {36354103}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {*Greenhouse Gases ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Agriculture ; Nitrogen ; Nitrous Oxide/analysis ; *Oryza ; Methane ; Soybeans ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Chemical nitrogen fixation by the Haber-Bosch method permitted industrial-scale fertilizer production that supported global population growth, but simultaneously released reactive nitrogen into the environment. This minireview highlights the potential for bacterial nitrogen fixation and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soybean and rice fields. Nitrous oxide (N2O), a GHG, is mainly emitted from agricultural use of nitrogen fertilizer and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Some rhizobia have a denitrifying enzyme system that includes an N2O reductase and are able to mitigate N2O emission from the rhizosphere of leguminous plants. Type II methane (CH4)-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) are endophytes in paddy rice roots and fix N2 using CH4 (a GHG) as an energy source, mitigating the emission of CH4 and reducing nitrogen fertilizer usage. Thus, symbiotic nitrogen fixation shows potential for GHG mitigation in soybean and rice fields while simultaneously supporting sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36353717, year = {2022}, author = {Kumar, P}, title = {Measurement of Ascorbate Peroxidase Activity in Sorghum.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {12}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {36353717}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {The ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is a widely distributed antioxidant enzyme. It differs from catalase and other peroxidases in that it scavenges/reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) to water using reduced ascorbate as the electron donor. It is advantageous over other similar antioxidant enzymes in scavenging ROS since ascorbate may react with superoxide, singlet oxygen, and hydroxyl radical, in addition to reacting with H 2 O 2 . The estimation of its activity is helpful to analyze the level of oxidative stress in living systems under stressful conditions. The present protocol was performed to analyze the impact of heavy metal chromium (Cr) toxicity on sorghum plants in the form of APX enzyme activity under the application of glycine betaine (GB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as stress ameliorators. Plant defense strategies against heavy metals toxicity involve the utilization of APX and the instigation of AMF symbiotic system, as well as their possible collaboration with one another or with the plant antioxidant system; this has been examined and discussed in literature. In this protocol, an increased APX activity was observed on underlying functions and detoxification capabilities of GB and AMF that are typically used by plants to enhance tolerance to Cr toxicity. Graphical abstract: Flow chart of standardized or calibrated enzyme assay with leaf samples of sorghum.}, } @article {pmid36353457, year = {2022}, author = {Kakizawa, S and Hosokawa, T and Oguchi, K and Miyakoshi, K and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Spiroplasma as facultative bacterial symbionts of stinkbugs.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1044771}, pmid = {36353457}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many insects are associated with facultative symbiotic bacteria, and their infection prevalence provides an important clue to understand the biological impact of such microbial associates. Here we surveyed diverse stinkbugs representing 13 families, 69 genera, 97 species and 468 individuals for Spiroplasma infection. Diagnostic PCR detection revealed that 4 families (30.8%), 7 genera (10.1%), 11 species (11.3%) and 21 individuals (4.5%) were Spiroplasma positive. All the 21 stinkbug samples with Spiroplasma infection were subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of Spiroplasma's 16S rRNA gene. Molecular phylogenetic analysis uncovered that the stinkbug-associated Spiroplasma symbionts were placed in three distinct clades in the Spiroplasmataceae, highlighting multiple evolutionary origins of the stinkbug-Spiroplasma associations. The Spiroplasma phylogeny did not reflect the host stinkbug phylogeny, indicating the absence of host-symbiont co-speciation. On the other hand, the Spiroplasma symbionts associated with the same stinkbug family tended to be related to each other, suggesting the possibility of certain levels of host-symbiont specificity and/or ecological symbiont sharing. Amplicon sequencing analysis targeting bacterial 16S rRNA gene, FISH visualization of the symbiotic bacteria, and rearing experiments of the host stinkbugs uncovered that the Spiroplasma symbionts are generally much less abundant in comparison with the primary gut symbiotic bacteria, localized to various tissues and organs at relatively low densities, and vertically transmitted to the offspring. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the Spiroplasma symbionts are, in general, facultative bacterial associates of low infection prevalence that are not essential but rather commensalistic for the host stinkbugs, like the Spiroplasma symbionts of fruit flies and aphids, although their impact on the host phenotypes should be evaluated in future studies.}, } @article {pmid36352875, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, L and Wang, X and Chen, S and Liu, D and Song, C and Yi, S and Zhu, F and Wang, W and Wang, F and Wang, G and Song, X and Jia, B and Chen, C and Peng, H and Guo, L and Han, B}, title = {Fungal isolates influence the quality of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1011001}, pmid = {36352875}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between beneficial microorganisms and plants plays a vital role in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Although Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn is widely distributed, its development is greatly limited by early bolting. The reason for early bolting in P. praeruptorum remains poorly characterized. We focus on the plant related microorganisms, including endophytes and rhizosphere microorganisms, by combining the traditional isolation and culture method with metagenomic sequencing technology. We found that the OTUs of endophytes and rhizosphere microorganisms showed a positive correlation in the whole growth stage of P. praeruptorum. Meanwhile, the community diversity of endophytic and rhizosphere fungi showed an opposite change trend, and bacteria showed a similar change trend. Besides, the microbial communities differed during the pre- and post-bolting stages of P. praeruptorum. Beneficial bacterial taxa, such as Pseudomonas and Burkholderia, and fungal taxa, such as Didymella and Fusarium, were abundant in the roots in the pre-bolting stage. Further, a strain belonging to Didymella was obtained by traditional culture and was found to contain praeruptorin A, praeruptorin B, praeruptorin E. In addition, we showed that the fungus could affect its effective components when it was inoculated into P. praeruptorum. This work provided a research reference for the similar biological characteristics of perennial one-time flowering plants, such as Saposhnikovia divaricate, Angelica sinensis and Angelica dahurica.}, } @article {pmid36352404, year = {2022}, author = {Knaack, SA and Conde, D and Chakraborty, S and Balmant, KM and Irving, TB and Maia, LGS and Triozzi, PM and Dervinis, C and Pereira, WJ and Maeda, J and Schmidt, HW and Ané, JM and Kirst, M and Roy, S}, title = {Temporal change in chromatin accessibility predicts regulators of nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {252}, pmid = {36352404}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Chromatin/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic associations between bacteria and leguminous plants lead to the formation of root nodules that fix nitrogen needed for sustainable agricultural systems. Symbiosis triggers extensive genome and transcriptome remodeling in the plant, yet an integrated understanding of the extent of chromatin changes and transcriptional networks that functionally regulate gene expression associated with symbiosis remains poorly understood. In particular, analyses of early temporal events driving this symbiosis have only captured correlative relationships between regulators and targets at mRNA level. Here, we characterize changes in transcriptome and chromatin accessibility in the model legume Medicago truncatula, in response to rhizobial signals that trigger the formation of root nodules.

RESULTS: We profiled the temporal chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) and transcriptome (RNA-seq) dynamics of M. truncatula roots treated with bacterial small molecules called lipo-chitooligosaccharides that trigger host symbiotic pathways of nodule development. Using a novel approach, dynamic regulatory module networks, we integrated ATAC-seq and RNA-seq time courses to predict cis-regulatory elements and transcription factors that most significantly contribute to transcriptomic changes associated with symbiosis. Regulators involved in auxin (IAA4-5, SHY2), ethylene (EIN3, ERF1), and abscisic acid (ABI5) hormone response, as well as histone and DNA methylation (IBM1), emerged among those most predictive of transcriptome dynamics. RNAi-based knockdown of EIN3 and ERF1 reduced nodule number in M. truncatula validating the role of these predicted regulators in symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia.

CONCLUSIONS: Our transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility datasets provide a valuable resource to understand the gene regulatory programs controlling the early stages of the dynamic process of symbiosis. The regulators identified provide potential targets for future experimental validation, and the engineering of nodulation in species is unable to establish that symbiosis naturally.}, } @article {pmid36352207, year = {2023}, author = {Ueda, M and Arai, H and Masaike, K and Nakai, M and Inoue, MN}, title = {Distinct effects of three Wolbachia strains on fitness and immune traits in Homona magnanima.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {130}, number = {1}, pages = {22-29}, pmid = {36352207}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; *Moths/genetics ; Reproduction ; Phenotype ; Longevity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia occasionally increases host fitness or manipulates host reproductions to enhance vertical transmission. Multiple Wolbachia strains can coinfect the same host individual, which alters the density as well as phenotypes of the bacteria. However, the effects of Wolbachia coinfection on host fitness remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of three phylogenetically distinct Wolbachia strains, wHm-a, wHm-b, and wHm-c, on host fitness by comparing non-infected, singly infected, and triply infected Homona magnanima lines within a fixed genetic background. By examining the effects of Wolbachia on host longevity, survivorship, and reproduction, we demonstrated that single infection with either wHm-b or wHm-c reduced host reproduction, but the triple infection led to the highest intrinsic growth rate. Susceptibility to the natural pathogens such as viruses and fungi was not different among the lines regardless of Wolbachia infection status. Cellular and humoral immunities were not affected by Wolbachia in females, whereas phenoloxidase activity was suppressed in males of all Wolbachia-infected lines, implying that it was a result of the mother's curse hypothesis or a strategy of Wolbachia to increase their horizontal transmission efficiency. Although how the host's genetic diversity affects the Wolbachia fitness effects is yet unknown, our findings indicated that the effects of Wolbachia are deeply influenced by infection status and that Wolbachia could change symbiotic strategy depending on host sex and transmission route.}, } @article {pmid36939758, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Zhao, H and Fu, B and Jiang, S and Wang, J and Wan, Y}, title = {Mapping Cell Phenomics with Multiparametric Flow Cytometry Assays.}, journal = {Phenomics (Cham, Switzerland)}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {272-281}, pmid = {36939758}, issn = {2730-5848}, abstract = {Phenomics explores the complex interactions among genes, epigenetics, symbiotic microorganisms, diet, and environmental exposure based on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of individuals and groups. Increasingly efficient and comprehensive phenotyping techniques have been integrated into modern phenomics-related research. Multicolor flow cytometry technology provides more measurement parameters than conventional flow cytometry. Based on detailed descriptions of cell phenotypes, rare cell populations and cell subsets can be distinguished, new cell phenotypes can be discovered, and cell apoptosis characteristics can be detected, which will expand the potential of cell phenomics research. Based on the enhancements in multicolor flow cytometry hardware, software, reagents, and method design, the present review summarizes the recent advances and applications of multicolor flow cytometry in cell phenomics, illuminating the potential of applying phenomics in future studies.}, } @article {pmid36740625, year = {2021}, author = {Turk-Kubo, KA and Mills, MM and Arrigo, KR and van Dijken, G and Henke, BA and Stewart, B and Wilson, ST and Zehr, JP}, title = {UCYN-A/haptophyte symbioses dominate N2 fixation in the Southern California Current System.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {42}, pmid = {36740625}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {The availability of fixed nitrogen (N) is an important factor limiting biological productivity in the oceans. In coastal waters, high dissolved inorganic N concentrations were historically thought to inhibit dinitrogen (N2) fixation, however, recent N2 fixation measurements and the presence of the N2-fixing UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis in nearshore waters challenge this paradigm. We characterized the contribution of UCYN-A symbioses to nearshore N2 fixation in the Southern California Current System (SCCS) by measuring bulk community and single-cell N2 fixation rates, as well as diazotroph community composition and abundance. UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 symbioses dominated diazotroph communities throughout the region during upwelling and oceanic seasons. Bulk N2 fixation was detected in most surface samples, with rates up to 23.0 ± 3.8 nmol N l[-1] d[-1], and was often detected at the deep chlorophyll maximum in the presence of nitrate (>1 µM). UCYN-A2 symbiosis N2 fixation rates were higher (151.1 ± 112.7 fmol N cell[-1] d[-1]) than the UCYN-A1 symbiosis (6.6 ± 8.8 fmol N cell[-1] d[-1]). N2 fixation by the UCYN-A1 symbiosis accounted for a majority of the measured bulk rates at two offshore stations, while the UCYN-A2 symbiosis was an important contributor in three nearshore stations. This report of active UCYN-A symbioses and broad mesoscale distribution patterns establishes UCYN-A symbioses as the dominant diazotrophs in the SCCS, where heterocyst-forming and unicellular cyanobacteria are less prevalent, and provides evidence that the two dominant UCYN-A sublineages are separate ecotypes.}, } @article {pmid36443230, year = {2021}, author = {Belteki, D}, title = {At the ends of the line: How the Airy Transit Circle was gradually overshadowed by the Greenwich Prime Meridian.}, journal = {Science in context}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {249-264}, doi = {10.1017/S0269889722000187}, pmid = {36443230}, issn = {0269-8897}, mesh = {*Meridians ; Air ; Museums ; Astronomy ; Emotions ; }, abstract = {The Greenwich Prime Meridian is one of the iconic features of the Royal Museums Greenwich. Visitors to the Museum even queue up to pose with one leg on either side of the Line. Yet, the Airy Transit Circle, the instrument that defined the meridian, is almost always excluded from these photographs. This paper examines how the instrument has become hidden in plain sight within the stories of Greenwich Time and Greenwich Meridian, as well as within the public imagination, by providing an analysis of the instrument's transformation from a working astronomical instrument to a museum object. The paper highlights the gradual decoupling of the instrument from narratives of Time and Longitude, which resulted in the Line's popularity overshadowing the instrument that defined it. By doing so, the paper aims at showing the symbiotic relationship between the materiality of the instrument and the meridian line that it defined. Approaching the instrument through the lenses of object biographies, the paper raises the question of whether the life of the instrument came to an end once operations with it were terminated. The analysis of the Transit Circle's life reveals that it reached its end multiple times, which shifts the emphasis away from a single and ultimate end of scientific objects to a process of gradual downfall, during which they can "end" several times. In addition, through the object biography approach, the Transit Circle no longer appears as a dead object reaching an afterlife within a museum setting. Instead, the approach demonstrates that, though the instrument can still be restored to an operational order, doubts about its accuracy, and its relevancy to today's astronomical methods, have led the instrument to be considered obsolete, transforming it into a museum object on display.}, } @article {pmid36999089, year = {2021}, author = {Park, JM and Hong, JW and Lee, W and Lee, BH and You, YH}, title = {Geographical Isolation and Root-Associated Fungi in the Marine Terrains: A Step Toward Establishing a Strategy for Acquiring Unique Microbial Resources.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {235-248}, pmid = {36999089}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {This study aimed to understand whether the geo-ecological segregation of native plant species affects the root-associated fungal community. Rhizoplane (RP) and rhizosphere (RS) fungal microbiota of Sedum takesimense native to three geographically segregated coastal regions (volcanic ocean islands) were analyzed using culture-independent methods: 568,507 quality sequences, 1399 operational taxonomic units, five phyla, and 181 genera were obtained. Across all regions, significant differences in the phyla distribution and ratio were confirmed. The Chao's richness value was greater for RS than for RP, and this variance coincided with the number of genera. In contrast, the dominance of specific genera in the RS (Simpson value) was lower than the RP at all sites. The taxonomic identity of most fungal species (95%) closely interacting with the common host plant was different. Meanwhile, a considerable number of RP only residing fungal genera were thought to have close interdependency on their host halophyte. Among these, Metarhizium was the sole genus common to all sites. These suggest that the relationship between potential symbiotic fungi and their host halophyte species evolved with a regional dependency, in the same halophyte species, and of the same natural habitat (volcanic islands); further, the fungal community differenced in distinct geographical regions. Importantly, geographical segregation should be accounted for in national culture collections, based on taxonomical uniqueness.}, } @article {pmid36567826, year = {2021}, author = {Su, C and Urban, F}, title = {Circular economy for clean energy transitions: A new opportunity under the COVID-19 pandemic.}, journal = {Applied energy}, volume = {289}, number = {}, pages = {116666}, pmid = {36567826}, issn = {0306-2619}, abstract = {This paper models the energy and emissions scenarios for a circular economy based clean energy transitions in a 140,000-population town in China, taking into account the new situation encountered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The modelled scenarios propose new clean energy transition roadmaps towards a sustainable urban system through the implementation of circular economy strategies. This is represented by the cascading use of industrial excess heat to form symbiosis between factories and to cover the growing building heat demand, as well as by the electrification of the transport sector and reusing the batteries for a second life as energy storage devices. The results show that for a circular economy scenario, during 2020-2040, an accumulated saving of 7.1 Mtoe final energy use (34%), a decline in 14.5 Mt CO2 emissions (40%) and 592 t PM2.5 emissions (43%) could be achieved compared with the business-as-usual scenario. The outcomes of the circular economy strategies are at least 7% better than the new policy scenario which simply has energy efficiency improvements. The outbreak of the COVID-19 tremendously impacts the socio-economic activities in the town. If taking the pandemic as an opportunity to enhance the circular economy, by 2040, compared with the scenario without introducing circular economy measures, the extra avoided final energy use, CO2 emissions and PM2.5 emissions could be 1.6 Mtoe (8%), 3.8 Mt (11%) and 229 t (17%) respectively.}, } @article {pmid36659748, year = {2019}, author = {Hu, Y and Hua, W}, title = {Will the symbiotic pacemaker, a self-powered cardiac implanted electronic device, be the next evolution in pacemaker technology?.}, journal = {Science bulletin}, volume = {64}, number = {13}, pages = {877-878}, doi = {10.1016/j.scib.2019.05.010}, pmid = {36659748}, issn = {2095-9281}, } @article {pmid36658870, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, J and Tan, CH and Du, T and Morbidoni, M and Lin, CT and Xu, S and Durrant, JR and McLachlan, MA}, title = {ZnO-PCBM bilayers as electron transport layers in low-temperature processed perovskite solar cells.}, journal = {Science bulletin}, volume = {63}, number = {6}, pages = {343-348}, doi = {10.1016/j.scib.2018.02.004}, pmid = {36658870}, issn = {2095-9281}, abstract = {We investigate an electron transport bilayer fabricated at <110 °C to form all low-temperature processed, thermally stable, efficient perovskite solar cells with negligible hysteresis. The components of the bilayer create a symbiosis that results in improved devices compared with either of the components being used in isolation. A sol-gel derived ZnO layer facilitates improved energy level alignment and enhanced charge carrier extraction and a [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) layer to reduce hysteresis and enhance perovskite thermal stability. The creation of a bilayer structure allows materials that are inherently unsuitable to be in contact with the perovskite active layer to be used in efficient devices through simple surface modification strategies.}, } @article {pmid36352206, year = {2022}, author = {Ford, SA and Drew, GC and King, KC}, title = {Immune-mediated competition benefits protective microbes over pathogens in a novel host species.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {129}, number = {6}, pages = {327-335}, pmid = {36352206}, issn = {1365-2540}, support = {204826/Z/16/Z//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Staphylococcus aureus/genetics ; *Muramidase/genetics ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics ; Enterococcus faecalis/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbes that protect against infection inhabit hosts across the tree of life. It is unclear whether and how the host immune system may affect the formation of new protective symbioses. We investigated the transcriptomic response of Caenorhabditis elegans following novel interactions with a protective microbe (Enterococcus faecalis) able to defend against infection by pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus. We have previously shown that E. faecalis can directly limit pathogen growth within hosts. In this study, we show that colonisation by protective E. faecalis caused the differential expression of 1,557 genes in pathogen infected hosts, including the upregulation of immune genes such as lysozymes and C-type lectins. The most significantly upregulated host lysozyme gene, lys-7, impacted the competitive abilities of E. faecalis and S. aureus when knocked out. E. faecalis has an increased ability to resist lysozyme activity compared to S. aureus, suggesting that the protective microbe could gain a competitive advantage from this host response. Our finding that protective microbes can benefit from immune-mediated competition after introduction opens up new possibilities for biocontrol design and our understanding of symbiosis evolution. Crosstalk between the host immune response and microbe-mediated protection should favour the continued investment in host immunity and avoid the potentially risky evolution of host dependence.}, } @article {pmid36351498, year = {2023}, author = {Blanckaert, ACA and Grover, R and Marcus, MI and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Nutrient starvation and nitrate pollution impairs the assimilation of dissolved organic phosphorus in coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {858}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {159944}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159944}, pmid = {36351498}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Symbiosis ; Nitrates ; Dissolved Organic Matter ; *Dinoflagellida ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; *Ammonium Compounds ; Organic Chemicals ; Nutrients ; Nitrogen Oxides ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is an essential but limiting nutrient for coral growth due to low concentrations of dissolved inorganic concentrations (DIP) in reef waters. P limitation is often exacerbated when concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) increase in the reef. To increase their access to phosphorus, corals can use organic P dissolved in seawater (DOP). They possess phosphatase enzymes that transform DOP into DIP, which can then be taken up by coral symbionts. Although the concentration of DOP in reef waters is much higher than DIP, the dependence of corals on this P source is still poorly understood, especially with different concentrations of DIN in seawater. As efforts to predict the future of corals increase, improved knowledge of the P requirements of corals living under different DIN concentrations may be key to predicting coral health. In this study, we investigated P content and phosphatase activities (PAs) in Stylophora pistillata maintained under nutrient starvation, long-term nitrogen enrichment (nitrate or ammonium at 2 μM) and short-term (few hours) nitrogen pulses. Results show that under nutrient depletion and ammonium-enriched conditions, a significant increase in PAs was observed compared to control conditions, with no change in the N:P ratio of the coral tissue. On the contrary, under nitrate enrichment, there was no increase in PAs compared to control conditions, but an increase in the N:P ratio of the coral tissue. These results suggest that under nitrate enrichment, corals were unable to increase their ability to rely on DOP and replenish their cellular P content. An increase in cellular N:P ratio is detrimental to coral health as it increases the susceptibility of coral bleaching under thermal stress. These results provide an overall view of the P requirements of corals exposed to different nutrient conditions and improve our understanding of the effects of nitrogen enrichment on corals.}, } @article {pmid36350208, year = {2022}, author = {Altamia, MA and Distel, DL}, title = {Transport of symbiont-encoded cellulases from the gill to the gut of shipworms via the enigmatic ducts of Deshayes: a 174-year mystery solved.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1986}, pages = {20221478}, pmid = {36350208}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {R01 AI162943/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gills ; *Cellulases ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Bivalvia/microbiology ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Shipworms (Bivalvia, Teredinidae) are the principal consumers of wood in marine environments. Like most wood-eating organisms, they digest wood with the aid of cellulolytic enzymes supplied by symbiotic bacteria. However, in shipworms the symbiotic bacteria are not found in the digestive system. Instead, they are located intracellularly in the gland of Deshayes, a specialized tissue found within the gills. It has been independently demonstrated that symbiont-encoded cellulolytic enzymes are present in the digestive systems and gills of two shipworm species, Bankia setacea and Lyrodus pedicellatus, confirming that these enzymes are transported from the gills to the lumen of the gut. However, the mechanism of enzyme transport from gill to gut remains incompletely understood. Recently, a mechanism was proposed by which enzymes are transported within bacterial cells that are expelled from the gill and transported to the mouth by ciliary action of the branchial or food grooves. Here we use in situ immunohistochemical methods to provide evidence for a different mechanism in the shipworm B. setacea, in which cellulolytic enzymes are transported via the ducts of Deshayes, enigmatic structures first described 174 years ago, but whose function have remained unexplained.}, } @article {pmid36349836, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, ZA and Zhong, LQ and Du, HR and Feng, JN and Liu, XX and Yuan, HY and Guo, JH and Liu, P and Zhang, MH}, title = {Effects of vegetation type differences induced by human disturbance on the nutrition strategy and gut microbiota of Siberian roe deer.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16775}, pmid = {36349836}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is a widely distributed ungulate in northeast China. Due to a series of human disturbance activities such as large-scale forest cutting, deforestation and reclamation, road construction in the past, the appearance and internal structure of forest vegetation in the habitat of Siberian roe have changed significantly. At the same time, Siberian roe population had a series of ecological adaptation responses in the face of such habitat changes. Therefore, two typical vegetation types with differences were selected in the Muling Forest, China. We used nutritional ecology and microbial metagenomic analysis techniques to compare the nutritional selection strategy and the structure and functional characteristics of faecal microbiota of Siberian roe groups in two vegetation types. The results showed that the α diversity of dietary and gut microbes of deer in Natural Forest was higher than that in Plantation Forest. However, the gut microbes of the Plantation Forest group contained more unique enzymes in the functional pathways of carbon metabolism and biosynthesis of amino acids. This study suggests that habitat type is associated with plant community composition, and contributes to changes in the intake proportions of major macronutrients by altering the availability, quality, and composition of certain edible plants. Feeding behaviour may be an important regulatory factor of gut microbiota structure and function of deer. The metabolic function of gut microbiota to different nutrients may affect the microbial community structure. Therefore, our results suggest that the gut microbes of Siberian roe may have coevolved with their diets, and reflect the adaptability of deer populations to environmental changes (e.g., vegetation type). Our study provides new insights into how spatial heterogeneity affects nutrition and microecosystems by describing the interactions among the environment, diet, and symbiotic gut microbes in wild ungulates.}, } @article {pmid36348188, year = {2022}, author = {Rasmussen, N}, title = {René Dubos, the Autochthonous Flora, and the Discovery of the Microbiome.}, journal = {Journal of the history of biology}, volume = {55}, number = {3}, pages = {537-558}, pmid = {36348188}, issn = {1573-0387}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Anthozoa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Now characterised by high-throughput sequencing methods that enable the study of microbes without lab culture, the human "microbiome" (the microbial flora of the body) is said to have revolutionary implications for biology and medicine. According to many experts, we must now understand ourselves as "holobionts" like lichen or coral, multispecies superorganisms that consist of animal and symbiotic microbes in combination, because normal physiological function depends on them. Here I explore the 1960s research of biologist René Dubos, a forerunner figure mentioned in some historical accounts of the microbiome, and argue that he arrived at the superorganism concept 40 years before the Human Microbiome Project. This raises the question of why his contribution was not hailed as revolutionary at the time and why Dubos is not remembered for it.}, } @article {pmid36347161, year = {2022}, author = {Gonzalez-Visiedo, M and Kulis, MD and Markusic, DM}, title = {Manipulating the microbiome to enhance oral tolerance in food allergy.}, journal = {Cellular immunology}, volume = {382}, number = {}, pages = {104633}, doi = {10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104633}, pmid = {36347161}, issn = {1090-2163}, support = {R01 HL107904/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cattle ; Animals ; Female ; *Food Hypersensitivity/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Milk Hypersensitivity/microbiology ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Loss of oral tolerance (OT) to food antigens results in food allergies. One component of achieving OT is the symbiotic microorganisms living in the gut (microbiota). The composition of the microbiota can drive either pro-tolerogenic or pro-inflammatory responses against dietary antigens though interactions with the local immune cells within the gut. Products from bacterial fermentation, such as butyrate, are one of the main communication molecules involved in this interaction, however, this is released by a subset of bacterial species. Thus, strategies to specifically expand these bacteria with protolerogenic properties have been explored to complement oral immunotherapy in food allergy. These approaches either provide digestible biomolecules to induce beneficial bacteria species (prebiotics) or the direct administration of live bacteria species (probiotics). While this combined therapy has shown positive outcomes in clinical trials for cow's milk allergy, more research is needed to determine if this therapy can be extended to other food allergens.}, } @article {pmid36346669, year = {2022}, author = {Qin, J and Wu, J}, title = {Realizing the Potential of Computer-Assisted Surgery by Embedding Digital Twin Technology.}, journal = {JMIR medical informatics}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e35138}, pmid = {36346669}, issn = {2291-9694}, abstract = {The value of virtual world and digital phenotyping has been demonstrated in several fields, and their applications in the field of surgery are worthy of attention and exploration. This viewpoint describes the necessity and approach to understanding the deeper potential of computer-assisted surgery through interaction and symbiosis between virtual and real spaces. We propose to embed digital twin technology into all aspects of computer-assisted surgery rather than just the surgical object and further apply it to the whole process from patient treatment to recovery. A more personalized, precise, and predictable surgery is our vision.}, } @article {pmid36346615, year = {2023}, author = {Peterson, LS and Scheible, K}, title = {Leveraging Microbial Symbiosis to Modulate Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.}, journal = {American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology}, volume = {68}, number = {3}, pages = {235-236}, pmid = {36346615}, issn = {1535-4989}, mesh = {Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; *Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Symbiosis ; Infant, Premature ; *Pneumonia ; *Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; Lung ; }, } @article {pmid36346200, year = {2023}, author = {Horning, AL and Koury, SS and Meachum, M and Kuehn, KA and Hoeksema, JD}, title = {Dirt cheap: an experimental test of controls on resource exchange in an ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {3}, pages = {987-998}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18603}, pmid = {36346200}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Carbon ; Pinus taeda ; Plants ; *Pinus/microbiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {To distinguish among hypotheses on the importance of resource-exchange ratios in outcomes of mutualisms, we measured resource (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)) transfers and their ratios, between Pinus taeda seedlings and two ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal species, Rhizopogon roseolus and Pisolithus arhizus in a laboratory experiment. We evaluated how ambient light affected those resource fluxes and ratios over three time periods (10, 20, and 30 wk) and the consequences for plant and fungal biomass accrual, in environmental chambers. Our results suggest that light availability is an important factor driving absolute fluxes of N, P, and C, but not exchange ratios, although its effects vary among EM fungal species. Declines in N : C and P : C exchange ratios over time, as soil nutrient availability likely declined, were consistent with predictions of biological market models. Absolute transfer of P was an important predictor of both plant and fungal biomass, consistent with the excess resource-exchange hypothesis, and N transfer to plants was positively associated with fungal biomass. Altogether, light effects on resource fluxes indicated mixed support for various theoretical frameworks, while results on biomass accrual better supported the excess resource-exchange hypothesis, although among-species variability is in need of further characterization.}, } @article {pmid36344922, year = {2022}, author = {Bhat, CG and Budhwar, R and Godwin, J and Dillman, AR and Rao, U and Somvanshi, VS}, title = {RNA-Sequencing of Heterorhabditis nematodes to identify factors involved in symbiosis with Photorhabdus bacteria.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {741}, pmid = {36344922}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Photorhabdus/genetics ; *Rhabditoidea/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; RNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nematodes are a major group of soil inhabiting organisms. Heterorhabditis nematodes are insect-pathogenic nematodes and live in a close symbiotic association with Photorhabdus bacteria. Heterorhabditis-Photorhabdus pair offers a powerful and genetically tractable model to study animal-microbe symbiosis. It is possible to generate symbiont bacteria free (axenic) stages in Heterorhabditis. Here, we compared the transcriptome of symbiotic early-adult stage Heterorhabditis nematodes with axenic early-adult nematodes to determine the nematode genes and pathways involved in symbiosis with Photorhabdus bacteria.

RESULTS: A de-novo reference transcriptome assembly of 95.7 Mb was created for H. bacteriophora by using all the reads. The assembly contained 46,599 transcripts with N50 value of 2,681 bp and the average transcript length was 2,054 bp. The differentially expressed transcripts were identified by mapping reads from symbiotic and axenic nematodes to the reference assembly. A total of 754 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in symbiotic nematodes as compared to the axenic nematodes. The ribosomal pathway was identified as the most affected among the differentially expressed transcripts. Additionally, 12,151 transcripts were unique to symbiotic nematodes. Endocytosis, cAMP signalling and focal adhesion were the top three enriched pathways in symbiotic nematodes, while a large number of transcripts coding for various responses against bacteria, such as bacterial recognition, canonical immune signalling pathways, and antimicrobial effectors could also be identified.

CONCLUSIONS: The symbiotic Heterorhabditis nematodes respond to the presence of symbiotic bacteria by expressing various transcripts involved in a multi-layered immune response which might represent non-systemic and evolved localized responses to maintain mutualistic bacteria at non-threatening levels. Subject to further functional validation of the identified transcripts, our findings suggest that Heterorhabditis nematode immune system plays a critical role in maintenance of symbiosis with Photorhabdus bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36344828, year = {2022}, author = {Bringhurst, B and Allert, M and Greenwold, M and Kellner, K and Seal, JN}, title = {Environments and Hosts Structure the Bacterial Microbiomes of Fungus-Gardening Ants and their Symbiotic Fungus Gardens.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36344828}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {The fungus gardening-ant system is considered a complex, multi-tiered symbiosis, as it is composed of ants, their fungus, and microorganisms associated with either ants or fungus. We examine the bacterial microbiome of Trachymyrmex septentrionalis and Mycetomoellerius turrifex ants and their symbiotic fungus gardens, using 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing, over a region spanning approximately 350 km (east and central Texas). Typically, microorganisms can be acquired from a parent colony (vertical transmission) or from the environment (horizontal transmission). Because the symbiosis is characterized by co-dispersal of the ants and fungus, elements of both ant and fungus garden microbiome could be characterized by vertical transmission. The goals of this study were to explore how both the ant and fungus garden bacterial microbiome are acquired. The main findings were that different mechanisms appear to explain the structure the microbiomes of ants and their symbiotic fungus gardens. Ant associated microbiomes had a strong host ant signature, which could be indicative of vertical inheritance of the ant associated bacterial microbiome or an unknown mechanism of active uptake or screening. On the other hand, the bacterial microbiome of the fungus garden was more complex in that some bacterial taxa appear to be structured by the ant host species, whereas others by fungal lineage or the environment (geographic region). Thus bacteria in fungus gardens appear to be acquired both horizontally and vertically.}, } @article {pmid36343803, year = {2023}, author = {Wang, H and Gu, K and Sun, H and Xiao, H}, title = {Reconfirmation of the symbiosis on carbon emissions and air pollution: A spatial spillover perspective.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {858}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {159906}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159906}, pmid = {36343803}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Carbon ; Economic Development ; Industrial Development ; China ; *Air Pollution ; }, abstract = {Many studies have confirmed the co-emission characteristics of air pollution and carbon emissions. However, studies on the evolution and synergistic factors of the symbiosis of air pollution and carbon emissions over long time scales from a spatial spillover perspective are rare. Here, we identify the spatial evolution and agglomeration characteristics of carbon emissions and air pollution symbiosis by applying local autocorrelation analysis and geographical concentration and by using the dynamic spatial autoregressive model for multiple synergistic factors at city levels during 2006-2019 in China. The results are: (1) The spatial agglomeration and symbiosis of carbon emission and air pollution are similar and show strong spatial locking, as well as path-dependent properties. (2) The spatial imbalance of carbon emission agglomeration and pollution agglomeration gradually improved over time; the concentration centers are all located in Henan province, shifting northward. (3) The symbiosis between both carbon emission agglomeration and pollution agglomeration has significant "spatial and temporal scale effects", and the economic growth is nonlinear. Additionally, innovation vitality has a negative synergistic driving effect on this relationship. In addition to the results above, rapid industrialization and urbanization are taking place in China. Hence, serious actions against greenhouse gases and air pollutants are imminently needed.}, } @article {pmid36342653, year = {2023}, author = {Orenstein, R}, title = {The Role of Microbiome-Based Therapeutics in Clostridioides difficile Infection: Durable, Long-Term Results of RBX2660.}, journal = {Infectious diseases and therapy}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {1-7}, pmid = {36342653}, issn = {2193-8229}, abstract = {A recently published manuscript described findings from a phase 2 open label study of the microbiota-based live biotherapeutic product RBX2660 in patients with two or more previous recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) episodes, and described long-term safety and sustained treatment success through 24 months. As previous studies have typically focused on short-term clinical outcomes, these new data provide insight into the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of RBX2660 over the long term. When microbiota-based products were first evaluated, the long-term efficacy and safety were principal concerns of the United States Food and Drug Administration. Microbiota-based live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) represent an emerging approach to the management of CDI and perhaps other gastrointestinal and medical conditions whose pathogenesis is defined by microbial dysbiosis. RBX2660 is a human-derived, broad consortium microbiota-based LBP that consists of a population of microbes obtained from healthy stool donors and may reflect the symbiotic nature of a healthy colonic microbiome. RBX2660 is rectally administered and does not require sedation or special preparation of the recipient. Potential advantages of the rectal administration of RBX2660 include the ease of administration and lack of need for any bowel preparation, which may benefit those who are frail, have swallowing issues, or cannot take bowel laxative preparations. In this multicenter prospective trial of rCDI, patients who achieved treatment success 8 weeks after receiving RBX2660 continued to have a sustained clinical response over the course of long-term follow-up, with more than 90% of treatment responders remaining CDI-free at 6, 12, and 24 months. Following receipt of RBX2660, the gut microbiota of those with treatment success were restored from a dysbiotic state to become more diverse and similar to RBX2660 composition. The restoration of the microbiota occurred as early as 7 days after RBX2660 administration and remained stable through the 24-month analysis. No new adverse outcomes were observed during the prospective assessment, and the safety profile of RBX2660 was consistent with previous studies. Based on the clinical studies, RBX2660 will most likely benefit those with ≥ 1 rCDI episode or those who are at a high risk of subsequent rCDI, such as patients who have comorbid conditions including renal disease, heart disease, or inflammatory bowel disease, or who are immunosuppressed. The role of microbiome-based therapeutics in 47 Clostridioides difficile infection: Durable, long-term results of RBX2660 (MP4 511833 KB).}, } @article {pmid36342139, year = {2022}, author = {Fidopiastis, PM and Childs, C and Esin, JJ and Stellern, J and Darin, A and Lorenzo, A and Mariscal, VT and Lorenz, J and Gopan, V and McAnulty, S and Visick, KL}, title = {Vibrio fischeri Possesses Xds and Dns Nucleases That Differentially Influence Phosphate Scavenging, Aggregation, Competence, and Symbiotic Colonization of Squid.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {22}, pages = {e0163522}, pmid = {36342139}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics ; *Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Phosphates ; Biofilms ; }, abstract = {Cells of Vibrio fischeri colonize the light organ of Euprymna scolopes, providing the squid bioluminescence in exchange for nutrients and protection. The bacteria encounter DNA-rich mucus throughout their transition to a symbiotic lifestyle, leading us to hypothesize a role for nuclease activity in the colonization process. In support of this, we detected abundant extracellular nuclease activity in growing cells of V. fischeri. To discover the gene(s) responsible for this activity, we screened a V. fischeri transposon mutant library for nuclease-deficient strains. Interestingly, only one strain, whose transposon insertion mapped to nuclease gene VF_1451, showed complete loss of nuclease activity in our screens. A database search revealed that VF_1451 is homologous to the nuclease-encoding gene xds in Vibrio cholerae. However, V. fischeri strains lacking xds eventually revealed slight nuclease activity on plates after 72 h. This led us to hypothesize that a second secreted nuclease, identified through a database search as VF_0437, a homolog of V. cholerae dns, might be responsible for the residual nuclease activity. Here, we show that Xds and/or Dns are involved in essential aspects of V. fischeri biology, including natural transformation, aggregation, and phosphate scavenging. Furthermore, strains lacking either nuclease were outcompeted by the wild type for squid colonization. Understanding the specific role of nuclease activity in the squid colonization process represents an intriguing area of future research. IMPORTANCE From soil and water to host-associated secretions such as mucus, environments that bacteria inhabit are awash in DNA. Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is a nutritious resource that microbes dedicate significant energy to exploit. Calcium binds eDNA to promote cell-cell aggregation and horizontal gene transfer. eDNA hydrolysis impacts construction of and dispersal from biofilms. Strategies in which pathogens use nucleases to avoid phagocytosis or disseminate by degrading host secretions are well documented; significantly less is known about nucleases in mutualistic associations. This study describes the role of nucleases in the mutualism between V. fischeri and its squid host, Euprymna scolopes. We find that nuclease activity is an important determinant of colonization in V. fischeri, broadening our understanding of how microbes establish and maintain beneficial associations.}, } @article {pmid36340408, year = {2022}, author = {Soto, MJ and Staehelin, C and Gourion, B and Cárdenas, L and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Editorial: Early signaling in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1056830}, pmid = {36340408}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid36340354, year = {2022}, author = {Tan, B and Li, Y and Deng, D and Pan, H and Zeng, Y and Tan, X and Zhuang, W and Li, Z}, title = {Rhizosphere inoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana with Trichoderma harzianum TRA1-16 in controlled environment agriculture: Effects of varying light intensities on the mutualism-parasitism interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {989155}, pmid = {36340354}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Trichoderma spp., a genus of fast-growing and highly adaptable fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, rendering them ideal for practical use in controlled environment agriculture. Herein, this paper aims to understand how the Nicotiana benthamiana with inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum strain TRA1-16 responds to light intensity variation. Pot experiments were conducted under low and high light intensities (50 and 150 μmol·m[-2]·s[-1], respectively) and microbial treatments. Plant growth, physio-biochemical attributes, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and phytohormones regulation were investigated. The results showed that for non-inoculated plants, the reduction in light intensity inhibited plant growth, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake, chlorophyll a/b, and carotenoid content. Trichoderma inoculation resulted in 1.17 to 1.51 times higher concentrations of available N and P in the soil than the non-inoculated group, with higher concentrations at high light intensity. Plant height, dry weight, nutrient uptake, and antioxidant activity were significantly increased after inoculation (p<0.05). However, the growth-promoting effect was less effective under low light conditions, with lower plant height and P content in plants. We suggested that when the light was attenuated, the mutualism of the Trichoderma turned into parasitism, slowing the growth of the host plant. The application of fungal inoculation techniques for plant growth promotion required coordination with appropriate light complementation. The mechanisms of coordination and interaction were proposed to be incorporated into the biological market theory.}, } @article {pmid36340349, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, A and Lv, J and Wang, J and Shi, K}, title = {CO2 enrichment in greenhouse production: Towards a sustainable approach.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1029901}, pmid = {36340349}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {As the unique source of carbon in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO2) exerts a strong impact on crop yield and quality. However, CO2 deficiency in greenhouses during the daytime often limits crop productivity. Crucially, climate warming, caused by increased atmospheric CO2, urges global efforts to implement carbon reduction and neutrality, which also bring challenges to current CO2 enrichment systems applied in greenhouses. Thus, there is a timely need to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly CO2 enrichment technologies as a sustainable approach to promoting agricultural production and alleviating environmental burdens simultaneously. Here we review several common technologies of CO2 enrichment in greenhouse production, and their characteristics and limitations. Some control strategies of CO2 enrichment in distribution, period, and concentration are also discussed. We further introduce promising directions for future CO2 enrichment including 1) agro-industrial symbiosis system (AIS); 2) interdisciplinary application of carbon capture and utilization (CCU); and 3) optimization of CO2 assimilation in C3 crops via biotechnologies. This review aims to provide perspectives on efficient CO2 utilization in greenhouse production.}, } @article {pmid36340323, year = {2022}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Andryushchenko, SV and Perunova, NB and Ivanova, EV}, title = {Environmental Determination of Indigenous Bifidobacteria of the Human Intestine.}, journal = {Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences}, volume = {92}, number = {5}, pages = {629-635}, pmid = {36340323}, issn = {1555-6492}, abstract = {The environmental determination of indigenous (constantly present) bifidobacteria of the human large intestine is considered in this review. Environmental determination (from the Latin determinere, "I determine") is understood as a set of natural phenomena of a habitat (biotope) that determine the role of indigenous microorganisms in the microbiocenosis. Using the symbiotic approach, an attempt is made to identify the environmental conditions for the habitat of bifidobacteria and their physiological effects in the microsymbiocenosis. The features of indigenous bifidobacteria in terms of their nature have been established: evolutionary-genetic (phylogenetic remoteness, genome conservation, metabolic specialization), biochemical (lysozyme resistance, constitutive acetate production), and physiological (microbial "friend-foe" identification, immunoregulation), which are important in adaptation (persistence) and the provision of mutualistic effects and stability of the bifidoflora in the population.}, } @article {pmid36340026, year = {2022}, author = {Gundlach, KA and Nawroth, J and Kanso, E and Nasrin, F and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Ciliated epithelia are key elements in the recruitment of bacterial partners in the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {974213}, pmid = {36340026}, issn = {2296-634X}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL153622/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, harvests its luminous symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, from the surrounding seawater within hours of hatching. During embryogenesis, the host animal develops a nascent light organ with ciliated fields on each lateral surface. We hypothesized that these fields function to increase the efficiency of symbiont colonization of host tissues. Within minutes of hatching from the egg, the host's ciliated fields shed copious amounts of mucus in a non-specific response to bacterial surface molecules, specifically peptidoglycan (PGN), from the bacterioplankton in the surrounding seawater. Experimental manipulation of the system provided evidence that nitric oxide in the mucus drives an increase in ciliary beat frequency (CBF), and exposure to even small numbers of V. fischeri cells for short periods resulted in an additional increase in CBF. These results indicate that the light-organ ciliated fields respond specifically, sensitively, and rapidly, to the presence of nonspecific PGN as well as symbiont cells in the ambient seawater. Notably, the study provides the first evidence that this induction of an increase in CBF occurs as part of a thus far undiscovered initial phase in colonization of the squid host by its symbiont, i.e., host recognition of V. fischeri cues in the environment within minutes. Using a biophysics-based mathematical analysis, we showed that this rapid induction of increased CBF, while accelerating bacterial advection, is unlikely to be signaled by V. fischeri cells interacting directly with the organ surface. These overall changes in CBF were shown to significantly impact the efficiency of V. fischeri colonization of the host organ. Further, once V. fischeri has fully colonized the host tissues, i.e., about 12-24 h after initial host-symbiont interactions, the symbionts drove an attenuation of mucus shedding from the ciliated fields, concomitant with an attenuation of the CBF. Taken together, these findings offer a window into the very first interactions of ciliated surfaces with their coevolved microbial partners.}, } @article {pmid36339343, year = {2022}, author = {Li, B and Li, M and Luo, Y and Li, R and Li, W and Liu, Z}, title = {Engineered 5-HT producing gut probiotic improves gastrointestinal motility and behavior disorder.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1013952}, pmid = {36339343}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Constipation/chemically induced/therapy ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; *Mental Disorders ; *Probiotics ; Serotonin ; }, abstract = {Slow transit constipation is an intractable constipation with unknown aetiology and uncertain pathogenesis. The gut microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host and has an impact on host metabolism. Previous studies have reported that some gut microbes have the ability to produce 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), an important neurotransmitter. However, there are scarce data exploiting the effects of gut microbiota-derived 5-HT in constipation-related disease. We genetically engineered the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN-5-HT) for synthesizing 5-HT in situ. The ability of EcN-5-HT to secrete 5-HT in vitro and in vivo was confirmed. Then, we examined the effects of EcN-5-HT on intestinal motility in a loperamide-induced constipation mouse model. After two weeks of EcN-5-HT oral gavage, the constipation-related symptoms were relieved and gastrointestinal motility were enhanced. Meanwhile, administration of EcN-5-HT alleviated the constipation related depressive-like behaviors. We also observed improved microbiota composition during EcN-5-HT treatment. This work suggests that gut microbiota-derived 5-HT might promise a potential therapeutic strategy for constipation and related behavioral disorders.}, } @article {pmid36338572, year = {2022}, author = {Gonzalez, OA and Wallet, SM and Lamont, RJ}, title = {Editorial: The role of epithelial cell-microbe interactions in oral health and disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in oral health}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1044369}, doi = {10.3389/froh.2022.1044369}, pmid = {36338572}, issn = {2673-4842}, } @article {pmid36338098, year = {2022}, author = {Cui, Y and Rasul, F and Jiang, Y and Zhong, Y and Zhang, S and Boruta, T and Riaz, S and Daroch, M}, title = {Construction of an artificial consortium of Escherichia coli and cyanobacteria for clean indirect production of volatile platform hydrocarbons from CO2.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {965968}, pmid = {36338098}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ethylene and isoprene are essential platform chemicals necessary to produce polymers and materials. However, their current production methods based on fossil fuels are not very efficient and result in significant environmental pollution. For a successful transition more sustainable economic model, producing these key polymeric building blocks from renewable and sustainable resources such as biomass or CO2 is essential. Here, inspired by the symbiotic relationship of natural microbial communities, artificial consortia composed of E. coli strains producing volatile platform chemicals: ethylene and isoprene and two strains of cyanobacteria phototrophically synthesizing and exporting sucrose to feed these heterotrophs were developed. Disaccharide produced by transgenic cyanobacteria was used as a carbon and electron shuttle between the two community components. The E. coli cscB gene responsible for sucrose transport was inserted into two cyanobacterial strains, Thermosynechococcus elongatus PKUAC-SCTE542 and Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942, resulting in a maximal sucrose yield of 0.14 and 0.07 g/L, respectively. These organisms were co-cultured with E. coli BL21 expressing ethylene-forming enzyme or isoprene synthase and successfully synthesized volatile hydrocarbons. Productivity parameters of these co-cultures were higher than respective transgenic cultures of E. coli grown individually at similar sucrose concentrations, highlighting the positive impact of the artificial consortia on the production of these platform chemicals.}, } @article {pmid36338093, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Q and Dong, A and Zhao, J and Wang, C and Griffin, C and Gragnoli, C and Xue, F and Wu, R}, title = {Vaginal microbiota networks as a mechanistic predictor of aerobic vaginitis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {998813}, pmid = {36338093}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a complex vaginal dysbiosis that is thought to be caused by the micro-ecological change of the vaginal microbiota. While most studies have focused on how changes in the abundance of individual microbes are associated with the emergence of AV, we still do not have a complete mechanistic atlas of the microbe-AV link. Network modeling is central to understanding the structure and function of any microbial community assembly. By encapsulating the abundance of microbes as nodes and ecological interactions among microbes as edges, microbial networks can reveal how each microbe functions and how one microbe cooperate or compete with other microbes to mediate the dynamics of microbial communities. However, existing approaches can only estimate either the strength of microbe-microbe link or the direction of this link, failing to capture full topological characteristics of a network, especially from high-dimensional microbial data. We combine allometry scaling law and evolutionary game theory to derive a functional graph theory that can characterize bidirectional, signed, and weighted interaction networks from any data domain. We apply our theory to characterize the causal interdependence between microbial interactions and AV. From functional networks arising from different functional modules, we find that, as the only favorable genus from Firmicutes among all identified genera, the role of Lactobacillus in maintaining vaginal microbial symbiosis is enabled by upregulation from other microbes, rather than through any intrinsic capacity. Among Lactobacillus species, the proportion of L. crispatus to L. iners is positively associated with more healthy acid vaginal ecosystems. In a less healthy alkaline ecosystem, L. crispatus establishes a contradictory relationship with other microbes, leading to population decrease relative to L. iners. We identify topological changes of vaginal microbiota networks when the menstrual cycle of women changes from the follicular to luteal phases. Our network tool provides a mechanistic approach to disentangle the internal workings of the microbiota assembly and predict its causal relationships with human diseases including AV.}, } @article {pmid36338078, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, L and Niu, X and Li, X and Zheng, Y and Feng, H and Fu, Q and Zhou, Y}, title = {Effects of nitrogen addition and root fungal inoculation on the seedling growth and rhizosphere soil microbial community of Pinus tabulaeformis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1013023}, pmid = {36338078}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) availability is significant in different ecosystems, but the response of forest plant-microbial symbionts to global N deposition remains largely unexplored. In this study, the effects of different N concentration levels on four types of fungi, Suillus granulatus (Sg), Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt), Pleotrichocladium opacum (Po), and Pseudopyrenochaeta sp. (Ps), isolated from the roots of Pinus tabulaeformis were investigated in vitro. Then, the effects of the fungi on the growth performance, nutrient uptake, and rhizosphere soil microbial community structure of P. tabulaeformis under different N addition conditions (0, 40, and 80 kg hm[-2] year[-1]) were examined. The biomass and phytohormone contents of the Sg, Pt and Po strains increased with increasing N concentration, while those of the Ps strain first increased and then decreased. All four fungal strains could effectively colonize the plant roots and form a strain-dependent symbiosis with P. tabulaeformis. Although the effects depended on the fungal species, the growth and root development of inoculated seedlings were higher than those of uninoculated seedlings under N deficiency and normal N supply conditions. However, these positive effects disappeared and even became negative under high N supply conditions. The inoculation of the four fungal strains also showed significant positive effects on the shoot and root nutrient contents of P. tabulaeformis. Fungal inoculation significantly increased different microbial groups and the total soil microorganisms but decreased the microbial diversity under N deficiency stress. In summary, exogenous symbiotic fungal inoculations could increase the growth performance of P. tabulaeformis under N deficiency and normal N supply conditions, but the effects were negative under excessive N addition.}, } @article {pmid36338039, year = {2022}, author = {Meyer, KM and Deines, P and Wei, Z and Busby, PE and Lindow, SE and Bohannan, BJM}, title = {Editorial: The role of dispersal and transmission in structuring microbial communities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1054498}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2022.1054498}, pmid = {36338039}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid36337619, year = {2022}, author = {Akimbekov, NS and Digel, I and Yerezhepov, AY and Shardarbek, RS and Wu, X and Zha, J}, title = {Nutritional factors influencing microbiota-mediated colonization resistance of the oral cavity: A literature review.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1029324}, pmid = {36337619}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {The oral cavity is a key biocenosis for many distinct microbial communities that interact with both the external environment and internal body systems. The oral microbiota is a vital part of the human microbiome. It has been developed through mutual interactions among the environment, host physiological state, and microbial community composition. Indigenious microbiota of the oral cavity is one of the factors that prevent adhesion and invasion of pathogens on the mucous membrane, i.e., the development of the infectious process and thereby participating in the implementation of one of the mechanisms of local immunity-colonization resistance. The balance between bacterial symbiosis, microbial virulence, and host resistance ensures the integrity of the oral cavity. In this review we have tried to address how nutritional factors influence integrity of the oral indigenous microbiota and its involvement in colonization resistance.}, } @article {pmid36336686, year = {2022}, author = {McIlroy, SE and terHorst, CP and Teece, M and Coffroth, MA}, title = {Nutrient dynamics in coral symbiosis depend on both the relative and absolute abundance of Symbiodiniaceae species.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {192}, pmid = {36336686}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Nitrogen ; Carbon ; Nutrients ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbionts provide a variety of reproductive, nutritional, and defensive resources to their hosts, but those resources can vary depending on symbiont community composition. As genetic techniques open our eyes to the breadth of symbiont diversity within myriad microbiomes, symbiosis research has begun to consider what ecological mechanisms affect the identity and relative abundance of symbiont species and how this community structure impacts resource exchange among partners. Here, we manipulated the in hospite density and relative ratio of two species of coral endosymbionts (Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Breviolum minutum) and used stable isotope enrichment to trace nutrient exchange with the host, Briareum asbestinum.

RESULTS: The patterns of uptake and translocation of carbon and nitrogen varied with both density and ratio of symbionts. Once a density threshold was reached, carbon acquisition decreased with increasing proportions of S. microadriaticum. In hosts dominated by B. minutum, nitrogen uptake was density independent and intermediate. Conversely, for those corals dominated by S. microadriaticum, nitrogen uptake decreased as densities increased, and as a result, these hosts had the overall highest (at low density) and lowest (at high density) nitrogen enrichment.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the uptake and sharing of nutrients was strongly dependent on both the density of symbionts within the host, as well as which symbiont species was dominant. Together, these complex interactive effects suggest that host regulation and the repression of in hospite symbiont competition can ultimately lead to a more productive mutualism. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36334753, year = {2023}, author = {Yuan, M and Zhu, X and Sun, H and Song, J and Li, C and Shen, Y and Li, S}, title = {The addition of biochar and nitrogen alters the microbial community and their cooccurrence network by affecting soil properties.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {312}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {137101}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137101}, pmid = {36334753}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Soil/chemistry ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Soil Microbiology ; Charcoal/chemistry ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Biochar plays an important role in reducing the harmful environmental effects of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers on agroecosystems, but the the impact mechanisms of biochar combined with N fertilizers on soil microorganisms are not clear enough. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to study the influences of three N fertilizer levels (0 (N0), 90 (N90) and 120 (N120) kg ha[-1]) and two biochar levels (0 (B0) and 20 (B20) t ha[-1]) on the soil microbial community and symbiotic network among microbial taxa in wheat fields. Compared to the control (B0N0), N fertilizer alone or combined with biochar significantly increased soil total N, available N, and organic matter in topsoil (0-20 cm), and the same results were found only in B20N120 treatment in subsoil (20-40 cm). In addition, bacterial and fungal diversity in topsoil were significantly increased and decreased by all N and biochar treatments, respectively. Moreover, soil bacterial and fungal community compositions also were also changed by N and biochar. Furthermore, biochar weakened the competition and cooperation among microorganisms in topsoil and subsoil, and the keystone species of networks were also changed by biochar. Redundancy analysis showed that soil total N, available N, available P, available K and pH were the main environmental factors driving the changes in bacterial and fungal community structures. These data indicated that the addition of N fertilizer and biochar could improve soil fertility by maintaining the stability of microbial community structures, which can provide reasonable guidance for the sustainable development of agriculture, such as maintaining dryland production.}, } @article {pmid36334262, year = {2023}, author = {Ruman, H and Kawaharada, Y}, title = {A New Classification of Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinases in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {176-190}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcac156}, pmid = {36334262}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Lotus/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plants/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lysin motif receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) are a plant-specific receptor protein family that sense components from soil microorganisms, regulating innate immunity and symbiosis. Every plant species possesses multiple LysM-RLKs in order to interact with a variety of soil microorganisms; however, most receptors have not been characterized yet. Therefore, we tried to identify LysM-RLKs from diverse plant species and proposed a new classification to indicate their evolution and characteristics, as well as to predict new functions. In this study, we have attempted to explore and update LysM-RLKs in Lotus japonicus using the latest genome sequencing and divided 20 LysM-RLKs into 11 clades based on homolog identity and phylogenetic analysis. We further identified 193 LysM-RLKs from 16 Spermatophyta species including L. japonicus and divided these receptors into 14 clades and one out-group special receptor based on the classification of L. japonicus LysM-RLKs. All plant species not only have clade I receptors such as Nod factor or chitin receptors but also have clade III receptors where most of the receptors are uncharacterized. We also identified dicotyledon- and monocotyledon-specific clades and predicted evolutionary trends in LysM-RLKs. In addition, we found a strong correlation between plant species that did not possess clade II receptors and those that lost symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. A clade II receptor in L. japonicus Lys8 was predicted to express during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Our proposed new inventory classification suggests the evolutionary pattern of LysM-RLKs and might help in elucidating novel receptor functions in various plant species.}, } @article {pmid36333982, year = {2023}, author = {Waters, MT and Nelson, DC}, title = {Karrikin perception and signalling.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {5}, pages = {1525-1541}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18598}, pmid = {36333982}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Plant Growth Regulators ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Hydrolases ; *Arabidopsis/genetics ; Furans ; Pyrans ; Perception ; Lactones/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Karrikins (KARs) are a class of butenolide compounds found in smoke that were first identified as seed germination stimulants for fire-following species. Early studies of KARs classified the germination and postgermination responses of many plant species and investigated crosstalk with plant hormones that regulate germination. The discovery that Arabidopsis thaliana responds to KARs laid the foundation for identifying mutants with altered KAR responses. Genetic analysis of KAR signalling revealed an unexpected link to strigolactones (SLs), a class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones. Substantial progress has since been made towards understanding how KARs are perceived and regulate plant growth, in no small part due to advances in understanding SL perception. KAR and SL signalling systems are evolutionarily related and retain a high degree of similarity. There is strong evidence that KARs are natural analogues of an endogenous signal(s), KAI2 ligand (KL), which remains unknown. KAR/KL signalling regulates many developmental processes in plants including germination, seedling photomorphogenesis, and root and root hair growth. KAR/KL signalling also affects abiotic stress responses and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here, we summarise the current knowledge of KAR/KL signalling and discuss current controversies and unanswered questions in this field.}, } @article {pmid36333777, year = {2022}, author = {Aubé, J and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Velo-Suárez, L and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Lesongeur, F and Guéganton, M and Durand, L and Reveillaud, J}, title = {A novel and dual digestive symbiosis scales up the nutrition and immune system of the holobiont Rimicaris exoculata.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {189}, pmid = {36333777}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Symbiosis ; *Decapoda/genetics ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Gills ; Immune System ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In deep-sea hydrothermal vent areas, deprived of light, most animals rely on chemosynthetic symbionts for their nutrition. These symbionts may be located on their cuticle, inside modified organs, or in specialized cells. Nonetheless, many of these animals have an open and functional digestive tract. The vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata is fueled mainly by its gill chamber symbionts, but also has a complete digestive system with symbionts. These are found in the shrimp foregut and midgut, but their roles remain unknown. We used genome-resolved metagenomics on separate foregut and midgut samples, taken from specimens living at three contrasted sites along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (TAG, Rainbow, and Snake Pit) to reveal their genetic potential.

RESULTS: We reconstructed and studied 20 Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs), including novel lineages of Hepatoplasmataceae and Deferribacteres, abundant in the shrimp foregut and midgut, respectively. Although the former showed streamlined reduced genomes capable of using mostly broken-down complex molecules, Deferribacteres showed the ability to degrade complex polymers, synthesize vitamins, and encode numerous flagellar and chemotaxis genes for host-symbiont sensing. Both symbionts harbor a diverse set of immune system genes favoring holobiont defense. In addition, Deferribacteres were observed to particularly colonize the bacteria-free ectoperitrophic space, in direct contact with the host, elongating but not dividing despite possessing the complete genetic machinery necessary for this.

CONCLUSION: Overall, these data suggest that these digestive symbionts have key communication and defense roles, which contribute to the overall fitness of the Rimicaris holobiont. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36332711, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, Z and An, M and Geng, X and Wu, Z and Cai, W and Tang, J and Zhang, K and Zhou, Z}, title = {The scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis relies on neuroendocrine regulation to cope with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under heat stress.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {316}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {120565}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120565}, pmid = {36332711}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/toxicity/metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; Neurosecretory Systems ; Hormones ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic environmental pollutants and are threatening scleractinian corals. In this study, PAHs treatment did not induce significant physiological responses of the coral Pocillopora damicornis and its algal symbionts, but biological processes including response to toxin, drug metabolic, and oxidation reduction were triggered at the mRNA level. These results implied that PAHs could be a group of slow-acting environmental toxicants, whose effects were moderate but persistent. Besides, it was interesting to find that PAHs activated the neuroendocrine system in the coral by triggering the expression of monoaminergic and acetylcholinergic system related genes, indicating that PAHs might function as environmental hormones. Moreover, the combined treatments of PAHs and heat caused a much obvious effect on the coral and its algal symbionts by elevating antioxidant activity and suppressing photosynthesis in the symbionts. Results from the transcriptome data further indicated that corals might perform stress responses upon PAHs and heat challenges through the TNF and apoptosis pathways, which perhaps was modulated by the neuroendocrine system of corals. Collectively, our survey demonstrates that the PAHs can function as environmental hormones and activate the neuroendocrine regulation in scleractinian corals, which may contribute to the stress responses of symbiotic association by modulating photosynthesis, antioxidation, and apoptosis.}, } @article {pmid36332406, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Yu, H and Liu, L and Liu, Y and Huang, L and Tan, H}, title = {Transcriptomic and physiological analyses unravel the effect and mechanism of halosulfuron-methyl on the symbiosis between rhizobium and soybean.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {114248}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114248}, pmid = {36332406}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Plant Growth Regulators ; *Fabaceae ; Flavonoids ; }, abstract = {Halosulfuron-methyl (HSM) is a new and highly effective sulfonylurea herbicide widely used in weed control, but its residue in the environment poses a potential risk to soybean. Soybean-rhizobium symbiotic nitrogen fixation is crucial for sustainable agricultural development and ecological environment health. However, the impact of HSM on the symbiosis between soybean and rhizobium is unclear. In this study, the effects of HSM on the soybean-rhizobium symbiotic process and nitrogen fixation were investigated by means of transcriptomic and physiological analyses. Treatment with a concentration of HSM less than 0.5 mg L[-1] had no effect on rhizobium growth, but significantly reduced nodules number, the biomass of soybean nodules, and nitrogenase activity in root nodules (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in NH4[+] assimilation were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). In addition, the activities of NH4[+] assimilation enzymes were markedly reduced. This result was further confirmed by the accumulation of NH4[+] in root nodules, indicating that the inhibition of nitrogen fixation by HSM may be caused by excessive NH4[+] accumulation in root nodules. Furthermore, DEGs involved in flavonoid synthesis, phytohormone biosynthesis, and phytohormone signaling transduction were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the decrease in flavonoid and phytohormone contents determined in this study. These results suggested that HSM may inhibit soybean nodulation by inhibiting flavonoid synthesis in soybean roots, disrupting the balance of plant endogenous hormones in roots during symbiosis, and blocking the transmission of hormone signals during the symbiosis. Our findings provide new insights into the effects of HSM on the legume-rhizobium nodule symbiotic process.}, } @article {pmid36332404, year = {2022}, author = {Agwunobi, DO and Wang, M and Wang, Z and Bai, R and Wang, R and Hu, Q and Yu, Z and Liu, J}, title = {The toxicity of the monoterpenes from lemongrass is mitigated by the detoxifying symbiosis of bacteria and fungi in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {114261}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114261}, pmid = {36332404}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cymbopogon ; Symbiosis ; *Ticks ; Monoterpenes/pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Oils, Volatile/pharmacology ; Terpenes ; Fungi/genetics ; }, abstract = {The entry mode of terpenes into the atmosphere is via volatilization of hydrocarbons from foliage over heavily forested areas besides entering the environment through surface water runoff. Some monoterpenes in essential oils are phytotoxins, acting as plant chemical defenses against bacteria or fungi infections and plant-eating insects. For organisms to survive, their enzymatic systems are activated in response to an assault by potentially harmful compounds. Certain bacterial and fungal genera have developed special abilities to transform toxic terpenes into less toxic derivatives. Here, we investigated the response of the bacterial and fungal community in Haemaphysalis longicornis exposed to Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) essential oil (EO) and citronellal. Sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS1 regions on an Illumina NovaSeq PE250 sequencing platform was performed for H. longicornis tick samples treated with 15 and 20 mg/mL of lemongrass essential oil and citronellal. The diversity recorded in samples treated with C. citratus EO was higher in comparison to those treated with citronellal but significantly lower in the control samples as reflected by the Shannon diversity index. All major H. longicornis bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria (93.81 %), Firmicutes (2.58 %), and Bacteroidota (0.99 %) were detected. A switch of dominance from Coxiella to Pseudomonas, which has high biotransformation capacity, was observed in the bacterial community, whereas the phylum Ascomycota (Genera: Aspergillus, Archaeorhizomyces, Alternaria, and Candida) dominated in the fungal community indicating detoxifying symbiosis. Other significantly abundant bacterial genera include Ralstonia, Acinetobacter, Vibrio, and Pseudoalteromonas, while Ganoderma and Trichosporon (yeasts) spp. represented the fungi Basidiomycota. This study expanded the understanding of enzymatic modification of phytotoxic substances by microorganisms, which could provide deeper insights into the mitigation of harmful phytotoxins and the synthesis of eco-friendly derivatives for the control of ticks.}, } @article {pmid36332401, year = {2022}, author = {Ranjan, N and Singh, PK and Maurya, NS}, title = {Pharmaceuticals in water as emerging pollutants for river health: A critical review under Indian conditions.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {114220}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114220}, pmid = {36332401}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Caffeine ; Norfloxacin ; Rivers/chemistry ; *Drug Residues/analysis ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; *Environmental Monitoring ; India ; }, abstract = {The wastewaters from pharmaceutical manufacturing units, hospitals, and domestic sewage contaminated with excretal matters of medicine users are the prime sources of pharmaceutical pollutants (PPs) in natural water bodies. In the present study, PPs have been considered one of the emerging pollutants (EPs) and a cause of concern in river health assessment. Beyond the reported increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ABRB), PPs have been found adversely affecting the biotic diversity in such water environments. Considering Algae, Macroinvertebrates, and Fishes as three distinct trophic level indicators, the present study puts forward a framework for showing River Health Condition (RHC) based on the calculation of a River Health Index (RHI). The RHI is calculated using six Indicator Group Scores (IGS) which individually reflect river health in a defined category of water quality characteristics. While Dissolved Oxygen Related Parameters (DORP), Nutrients (NT), and PPs are taken as causative agents affecting RHCs, scores of Algal-Bacterial (AB) symbiosis, Macroinvertebrates (MI), and Fishes (F) are considered as an effect of such environmental conditions. Current wastewater treatment technologies are also not very effective in the removal of PPs. The objective of the present study is to review the harmful effects of PPs on the aquatic environment, particularly on the chemical and biotic indicators of river health. Based on predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) for algae, macroinvertebrates, and fishes in the aquatic environment and measured environmental concentration (MEC) in the river, the estimated risk quotient (RQ) for norfloxacin in the Isakavagu-Nakkavagu stream of river Godavari, Hyderabad is found 293 for algae, 39 for MI, and 335 for fish. Among PPs, in Indian rivers, the presence of caffeine is the most frequent, with algae at the highest level of risk (RQmax= 24.5). Broadly six PPs, including azithromycin, caffeine, diclofenac, naproxen, norfloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole are found above PNEC values in Indian rivers. The application of IGS and RHI in understanding and presenting the river health condition (RHC) through colored hexagons has been demonstrated for the river Ganga near Varanasi (India) as an example. Identification of critical indicator groups, based on IGS provides a scientific basis for planned intervention for river health restoration to achieve an acceptable category.}, } @article {pmid36331163, year = {2023}, author = {Uchiumi, Y and Sato, M and Sasaki, A}, title = {Evolutionary double suicide in symbiotic systems.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {87-98}, doi = {10.1111/ele.14136}, pmid = {36331163}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis ; *Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {Mutualism is thought to face a threat of coextinction cascade because the loss of a member species could lead to the extinction of the other member. Despite this common emphasis on the perils of such knock-on effect, hitherto, the evolutionary causes leading to extinction have been less emphasised. Here, we examine how extinction could be triggered in mutualism and whether an evolutionary response to partner loss could prevent collateral extinctions, by theoretically examining the coevolution of the host exploitation by symbionts and host dependence on symbiosis. Our model reveals that mutualism is more vulnerable to co-extinction through adaptive evolution (evolutionary double suicide) than parasitism. Additionally, it shows that the risk of evolutionary double suicide rarely promotes the backward evolution to an autonomous (non-symbiotic) state. Our results provide a new perspective on the evolutionary fragility of mutualism and the rarity of observed evolutionary transitions from mutualism to parasitism.}, } @article {pmid36330308, year = {2022}, author = {Beekman, MM and Donner, SH and Litjens, JJH and Dicke, M and Zwaan, BJ and Verhulst, EC and Pannebakker, BA}, title = {Do aphids in Dutch sweet pepper greenhouses carry heritable elements that protect them against biocontrol parasitoids?.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {1580-1593}, pmid = {36330308}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Biological control (biocontrol) of crop pests is a sustainable alternative to the use of biodiversity and organismal health-harming chemical pesticides. Aphids can be biologically controlled with parasitoid wasps; however, variable results of parasitoid-based aphid biocontrol in greenhouses are reported. Aphids may display genetically encoded (endogenous) defences that increase aphid resistance against parasitoids as under high parasitoid pressure there will be selection for parasitoid-resistant aphids, potentially affecting the success of parasitoid-based aphid biocontrol in greenhouses. Additionally, aphids may carry secondary bacterial endosymbionts that protect them against parasitoids. We studied whether there is variation in either of these heritable elements in aphids in greenhouses of sweet pepper, an agro-economically important crop in the Netherlands that is prone to aphid pests and where pest management heavily relies on biocontrol. We sampled aphid populations in organic (biocontrol only) and conventional (biocontrol and pesticides) sweet pepper greenhouses in the Netherlands during the 2019 crop growth season. We assessed the aphid microbiome through both diagnostic PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing and did not detect any secondary endosymbionts in the two most encountered aphid species, Myzus persicae and Aulacorthum solani. We also compared multiple aphid lines collected from different greenhouses for variation in levels of endogenous-based resistance against the parasitoids commonly used as biocontrol agents. We found no differences in the levels of endogenous-based resistance between different aphid lines. This study does not support the hypothesis that protective endosymbionts or the presence of endogenous resistant aphid lines affects the success of parasitoid-based biocontrol of aphids in Dutch greenhouses. Future investigations will need to address what is causing the variable successes of aphid biocontrol and what (biological and management-related) lessons can be learned for aphid control in other crops, and biocontrol in general.}, } @article {pmid36330301, year = {2022}, author = {Denison, RF and Muller, KE}, title = {An evolutionary perspective on increasing net benefits to crops from symbiotic microbes.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {1490-1504}, pmid = {36330301}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Plant-imposed, fitness-reducing sanctions against less-beneficial symbionts have been documented for rhizobia, mycorrhizal fungi, and fig wasps. Although most of our examples are for rhizobia, we argue that the evolutionary persistence of mutualism in any symbiosis would require such sanctions, if there are multiple symbiont genotypes per host plant. We therefore discuss methods that could be used to develop and assess crops with stricter sanctions. These include methods to screen strains for greater mutualism as resources to identify crop genotypes that impose stronger selection for mutualism. Single-strain experiments that measure costs as well as benefits have shown that diversion of resources by rhizobia can reduce nitrogen-fixation efficiency (N per C) and that some legumes can increase this efficiency by manipulating their symbionts. Plants in the field always host multiple strains with possible synergistic interactions, so benefits from different strains might best be compared by regressing plant growth or yield on each strain's abundance in a mixture. However, results from this approach have not yet been published. To measure legacy effects of stronger sanctions on future crops, single-genotype test crops could be planted in a field that recently had replicated plots with different genotypes of the sanction-imposing crop. Enhancing agricultural benefits from symbiosis may require accepting tradeoffs that constrained past natural selection, including tradeoffs between current and future benefits.}, } @article {pmid36330267, year = {2022}, author = {Yin, L and Wei, M and Wu, G and Ren, A}, title = {Epichloë endophytes improved Leymus chinensis tolerance to both neutral and alkali salt stresses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {968774}, pmid = {36330267}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships with microbes may influence how plants respond to environmental change. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that symbiosis with the endophytes promoted salt tolerance of the native grass. In the field pot experiment we compared the performance of endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-uninfected (E-) Leymus chinensis, a dominant species native to the Inner Mongolia steppe, under altered neutral and alkaline salt stresses. The results showed that under both neutral and alkaline salt stresses, endophyte infection significantly increased plant height, leaf length and fibrous root biomass. Under neutral salt stress, endophyte infection decreased Na[+] content and Na[+]/K[+] ratio (p=0.066) in the leaf sheath while increased Ca[2+] and Mg[2+] content in the rhizome. Under alkali salt stress, endophyte infection tended to increase K[+] content in the fibrous root, enhance Mg[2+] content in the fibrous root while reduce Na[+]/K[+] ratio in the leaf blade in the 100 mmol/L alkali salt treatment. Although endophyte-infected L. chinensis cannot accumulate Na[+] high enough to be halophytes, the observed growth promotion and stress tolerance give endophyte/plant associations the potential to be a model for endophyte-assisted phytoremediation of saline-alkaline soils.}, } @article {pmid36330261, year = {2022}, author = {Fan, K and Sze, CC and Li, MW and Lam, HM}, title = {Roles of non-coding RNAs in the hormonal and nutritional regulation in nodulation and nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {997037}, pmid = {36330261}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is an important component in the nitrogen cycle and is a potential solution for sustainable agriculture. It is the result of the interactions between the plant host, mostly restricted to legume species, and the rhizobial symbiont. From the first encounter between the host and the symbiont to eventual successful nitrogen fixation, there are delicate processes involved, such as nodule organogenesis, rhizobial infection thread progression, differentiation of the bacteroid, deregulation of the host defense systems, and reallocation of resources. All these processes are tightly regulated at different levels. Recent evidence revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), participate in these processes by controlling the transcription and translation of effector genes. In general, ncRNAs are functional transcripts without translation potential and are important gene regulators. MiRNAs, negative gene regulators, bind to the target mRNAs and repress protein production by causing the cleavage of mRNA and translational silencing. LncRNAs affect the formation of chromosomal loops, DNA methylation, histone modification, and alternative splicing to modulate gene expression. Both lncRNAs and circRNAs could serve as target mimics of miRNA to inhibit miRNA functions. In this review, we summarized and discussed the current understanding of the roles of ncRNAs in legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation in the root nodule, mainly focusing on their regulation of hormone signal transduction, the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway and nutrient homeostasis in nodules. Unraveling the mediation of legume nodulation by ncRNAs will give us new insights into designing higher-performance leguminous crops for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36330252, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, P and Luo, F and Gleason, C and Poovaiah, BW}, title = {Calcium/calmodulin-mediated microbial symbiotic interactions in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {984909}, pmid = {36330252}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cytoplasmic calcium (Ca[2+]) transients and nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations act as hubs during root nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. Plants perceive bacterial Nod factors or fungal signals to induce the Ca[2+] oscillation in the nucleus of root hair cells, and subsequently activate calmodulin (CaM) and Ca[2+]/CaM-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK). Ca[2+] and CaM-bound CCaMK phosphorylate transcription factors then initiate down-stream signaling events. In addition, distinct Ca[2+] signatures are activated at different symbiotic stages: microbial colonization and infection; nodule formation; and mycorrhizal development. Ca[2+] acts as a key signal that regulates a complex interplay of downstream responses in many biological processes. This short review focuses on advances in Ca[2+] signaling-regulated symbiotic events. It is meant to be an introduction to readers in and outside the field of bacterial and fungal symbioses. We summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying Ca[2+]/CaM-mediated signaling in fine-tuning both local and systemic symbiotic events.}, } @article {pmid36327815, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, ZZ and Bao, YY and Chen, Z and Sheng, LF and Zhou, SH and Huang, YP and Fan, J}, title = {Fibroblast-epithelial metabolic coupling in laryngeal cancer.}, journal = {Pathology, research and practice}, volume = {240}, number = {}, pages = {154177}, doi = {10.1016/j.prp.2022.154177}, pmid = {36327815}, issn = {1618-0631}, mesh = {Humans ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism ; *Laryngeal Neoplasms/pathology ; Muscle Proteins/metabolism ; Prognosis ; Fibroblasts/pathology ; *Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To explore the Fibroblast-epithelial metabolic coupling among laryngeal cancers and its prognostic roles METHODS: We reviewed the clinical information of patients with laryngeal cancer in our department. Paraffin-embedded tissues from included patients were immune-stained with antibodies towards MCT4 and TOMM20 and evaluated for stromal and epithelial expression. Survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were applied to investigate the prognostic factor of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. TCGA database was used to validate our result.

RESULTS: Stromal MCT4 and TOMM20 were both significantly associated with each other among laryngeal cancer tissues. High expression of both Stromal MCT4 and TOMM20 is related to poor prognosis in laryngeal cancer. Stromal MCT4 expression was an independent prognostic indicator for laryngeal cancer. Furthermore, cancer cell MCT4 expression has no relationship with the clinical characteristics of laryngeal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that the phenomenon of metabolic symbiosis was exist in the laryngeal cancer tissue. In addition, TOMM20 and stromal MCT4 could be used as new therapeutic targets for laryngeal cancer.}, } @article {pmid36326559, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, Y and Wang, M and Chen, H and Wang, H and Zhong, Z and Zhou, L and Fu, L and Li, C and Sun, S}, title = {Insights into symbiotic interactions from metatranscriptome analysis of deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons under long-term laboratory maintenance.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {444-459}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16765}, pmid = {36326559}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Mytilidae/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between invertebrates and chemosynthetic bacteria are of fundamental importance in deep-sea ecosystems, but the mechanisms that enable their symbiont associations are still largely undescribed, owing to the culturable difficulties of deep-sea lives. Bathymodiolinae mussels are remarkable in their ability to overcome decompression and can be maintained successfully for an extended period under atmospheric pressure, thus providing a model for investigating the molecular basis of symbiotic interactions. Herein, we conducted metatranscriptome sequencing and gene co-expression network analysis of Gigantidas platifrons under laboratory maintenance with gradual loss of symbionts. The results revealed that one-day short-term maintenance triggered global transcriptional perturbation in symbionts, but little gene expression changes in mussel hosts, which were mainly involved in responses to environmental changes. Long-term maintenance with depleted symbionts induced a metabolic shift in the mussel host. The most notable changes were the suppression of sterol biosynthesis and the complementary activation of terpenoid backbone synthesis in response to the reduction of bacteria-derived terpenoid sources. In addition, we detected the upregulation of host proteasomes responsible for amino acid deprivation caused by symbiont depletion. Additionally, a significant correlation between host microtubule motor activity and symbiont abundance was revealed, suggesting the possible function of microtubule-based intracellular trafficking in the nutritional interaction of symbiosis. Overall, by analyzing the dynamic transcriptomic changes during the loss of symbionts, our study highlights the nutritional importance of symbionts in supplementing terpenoid compounds and essential amino acids and provides insight into the molecular mechanisms and strategies underlying the symbiotic interactions in deep-sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36325974, year = {2022}, author = {Bolgeo, T and Gambalunga, F and Di Matteo, R and Gatti, D and Roberti, E and Dealberti, D and Fadda, B and Grassi, E and Gambarini, L and Iacorossi, L and Maconi, A}, title = {Becoming a mother during the COVID-19 pandemic: The lived experience as told by birthing mothers: A qualitative study.}, journal = {Journal of nursing management}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {4138-4144}, pmid = {36325974}, issn = {1365-2834}, mesh = {Pregnancy ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Adult ; *Mothers/psychology ; Pandemics ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Parturition/psychology ; Fear ; Qualitative Research ; }, abstract = {AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore the lived experience of women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Experiencing pregnancy during the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates the risk of the onset of psychological problems.

DESIGN: This is a descriptive, single-centre, qualitative study.

METHODS: The enrolment for data collection included childbearing mothers aged 18 years and over between November 2021 and April 2022. The researchers invited them to write about their personal experiences during the isolation period of the first pandemic wave. The descriptive phenomenological analysis of the data was carried out using the method described by Mortari.

RESULTS: A total of 50 mothers were recruited, of whom 28 were primiparous (56.0%) and 22 multiparous (44.0%). From the analysis of the interviews, five main themes emerged that enclose the experience of both primiparous and multiparous mothers: 'The negative feeling: between loneliness, sadness and fear'; 'The comfort of being cared for: between humanity and competence'; 'Family proximity: between comfort and stress'; 'Symbiotic intimacy: bonding; Managing physical pain and consciousness of being resilient women'.

CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the discomfort associated with the absence of family support in the phase of labour and childbirth was compensated by the professionalism of the health staff and allowed new mothers to experience moments of great intimacy with the child.

Such data could help create recommendations based on the assisted person's experiences to ensure that care is increasingly attentive and tailored to the needs of mothers and, thus, of children.}, } @article {pmid36325539, year = {2022}, author = {Du, E and Chen, Y and Li, Y and Zhang, F and Sun, Z and Hao, R and Gui, F}, title = {Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the responses of Ageratina adenophora to Aphis gossypii herbivory.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1015947}, pmid = {36325539}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The invasive weed Ageratina adenophora can form a positive symbiotic relationship with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to promote its invasion ability. However, the function of AMF during the feeding of Aphis gossypii in A. adenophora was poorly understand. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two dominant AMF (Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Septoglomus constrictum) on A. adenophora in response to the feeding of the generalist herbivore A. gossypii. The results showed that A. gossypii infestation could significantly reduce the biomass, nutrient and proline contents of A. adenophora, and increase the antioxidant enzyme activities, defense hormone and secondary metabolite contents of the weed. Compared with the A. gossypii infested A. adenophora, inoculation C. etunicatum and S. constrictum could significantly promote the growth ability and enhanced the resistance of A. adenophora to A. gossypii infestation, and the aboveground biomass of A. adenophora increased by 317.21% and 114.73%, the root biomass increased by 347.33% and 120.58%, the polyphenol oxidase activity heightened by 57.85% and 12.62%, the jasmonic acid content raised by 13.49% and 4.92%, the flavonoid content increased by 27.29% and 11.92%, respectively. The survival rate of A. gossypii and density of nymphs were significantly inhibited by AMF inoculation, and the effect of C. etunicatum was significantly greater than that of S. constrictum. This study provides clarified evidence that AMF in the rhizosphere of A. adenophora are effective in the development of tolerance and chemical defense under the feeding pressure of insect herbivory, and offer references for the management of the A. adenophora from the perspective of soil microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid36325108, year = {2022}, author = {Gueddou, A and Sbissi, I and Louati, M and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Cherif-Silini, H and Gtari, M}, title = {Root Nodule Microsymbionts of Native Coriaria myrtifolia in Algeria.}, journal = {Microbiology insights}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {11786361221133794}, pmid = {36325108}, issn = {1178-6361}, abstract = {Coriaria myrtifolia occurs as natural flora of warm temperate climates of northern Algeria which commonly found in hedges, forest and ravine edges. This actinorhizal species was known to establish a mutualistic symbiosis with members of phylogenetic cluster 2 (including strains associated to Coriaria spp., Ceanothus, Datiscaceae, and Dryadoideae) within the genus Frankia. Attempts to isolate C. myrtifolia microsymbionts from native plants growing in 4 locations in Algeria permitted to only recover asymbiotic Frankia strains (unable to reestablish nodulation and to fix nitrogen) from phylogenetic cluster 4 and several non-Frankia actinobacteria including members of Micrococcus, Micromonospora, Nocardia, Plantactinospora, and Streptomyces genera. The biodiversity of Frankia microsymbionts of C. myrtifolia root nodules was assessed using PCR-amplification followed by partial nucleotide sequencing of glnA1 (glutamine synthetase type 1) gene. On the 12 different glnA1 gene sequences obtained in this study, 9 were detected for the first time, and were mainly closelyrelated to Mediterranean genotypes previously described in the Grand Maghreb countries (Morocco and Tunisia) and in Europe (France) but without clear separations from other cluster 2 genotypes.}, } @article {pmid36324529, year = {2022}, author = {Gonçalves, GRL and Wolf, MR and Antunes, M and Amorim, FW and Negreiros-Fransozo, ML and Leão Castilho, A}, title = {Ontogenetic niche specialization of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae associated with the medusa Lychnorhiza lucerna.}, journal = {Current zoology}, volume = {68}, number = {5}, pages = {549-559}, pmid = {36324529}, issn = {1674-5507}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships in marine environments are not fixed and can change throughout the animal's life. This study investigated the ontogeny of symbiosis of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae with the host medusa Lychnorhiza lucerna. We described the type of relationship, the temporal correlation among species, and food habits. More than 50% of the sampled crabs were symbionts, most in early life stages. The highest number of crabs found in a single medusa was 11. Symbiosis was observed throughout most of the year but was more evident in warm periods. The crab has many benefits in this relationship with a medusa. One is the use of food resources captured by the medusa, primarily copepods. Because the crab steals the medusa's food, it is a kleptoparasitic relationship. There is a niche partition between symbiont and the free-living crabs as they occupy different habitats and use nonoverlapping food resources. Previous research reported that symbiosis first developed during the crab's last larval phase (megalopa) when crab and medusa are in the same habitat. Observation of the crab's behavior shows that symbiosis occurs when the crab can grab to the medusa when the host touches the sea bottom. The crab also took advantage of water currents, releasing itself from the substrate and then drifting toward the medusa. The symbiotic relationship that crabs have with the medusa provides then with a nursery, food resources, shelter, dispersion, and decreased competition with free-living adult crabs, all essential for the crab's survival.}, } @article {pmid36324147, year = {2023}, author = {Zhong, Y and Tian, J and Li, X and Liao, H}, title = {Cooperative interactions between nitrogen fixation and phosphorus nutrition in legumes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {3}, pages = {734-745}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18593}, pmid = {36324147}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Humans ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Lotus/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes such as soybean are considered important crops as they provide proteins and oils for humans and livestock around the world. Different from other crops, leguminous crops accumulate nitrogen (N) for plant growth through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in coordination with rhizobia. A number of studies have shown that efficient SNF requires the cooperation of other nutrients, especially phosphorus (P), a nutrient deficient in most soils. During the last decades, great progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between SNF and P nutrition, specifically through the identification of transporters involved in P transport to nodules and bacteroids, signal transduction, and regulation of P homeostasis in nodules. These studies revealed a distinct N-P interaction in leguminous crops, which is characterized by specific signaling cross talk between P and SNF. This review aimed to present an updated picture of the cross talk between N fixation and P nutrition in legumes, focusing on soybean as a model crop, and Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus as model plants. We also discuss the possibilities for enhancing SNF through improving P nutrition, which are important for high and sustainable production of leguminous crops.}, } @article {pmid36322663, year = {2022}, author = {Ito, S and Braguy, J and Wang, JY and Yoda, A and Fiorilli, V and Takahashi, I and Jamil, M and Felemban, A and Miyazaki, S and Mazzarella, T and Chen, GE and Shinozawa, A and Balakrishna, A and Berqdar, L and Rajan, C and Ali, S and Haider, I and Sasaki, Y and Yajima, S and Akiyama, K and Lanfranco, L and Zurbriggen, MD and Nomura, T and Asami, T and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Canonical strigolactones are not the major determinant of tillering but important rhizospheric signals in rice.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {44}, pages = {eadd1278}, pmid = {36322663}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a plant hormone inhibiting shoot branching/tillering and a rhizospheric, chemical signal that triggers seed germination of the noxious root parasitic plant Striga and mediates symbiosis with beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Identifying specific roles of canonical and noncanonical SLs, the two SL subfamilies, is important for developing Striga-resistant cereals and for engineering plant architecture. Here, we report that rice mutants lacking canonical SLs do not show the shoot phenotypes known for SL-deficient plants, exhibiting only a delay in establishing arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, but release exudates with a significantly decreased Striga seed-germinating activity. Blocking the biosynthesis of canonical SLs by TIS108, a specific enzyme inhibitor, significantly lowered Striga infestation without affecting rice growth. These results indicate that canonical SLs are not the determinant of shoot architecture and pave the way for increasing crop resistance by gene editing or chemical treatment.}, } @article {pmid36321493, year = {2022}, author = {Diehl, JMC and Kowallik, V and Keller, A and Biedermann, PHW}, title = {First experimental evidence for active farming in ambrosia beetles and strong heredity of garden microbiomes.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1986}, pages = {20221458}, pmid = {36321493}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/genetics ; *Weevils/microbiology ; Ambrosia ; *Heredity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gardens ; *Microbiota ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Fungal cultivation is a defining feature for advanced agriculture in fungus-farming ants and termites. In a third supposedly fungus-farming group, wood-colonizing ambrosia beetles, an experimental proof for the effectiveness of beetle activity for selective promotion of their food fungi over others is lacking and farming has only been assumed based on observations of social and hygienic behaviours. Here, we experimentally removed mothers and their offspring from young nests of the fruit-tree pinhole borer, Xyleborinus saxesenii. By amplicon sequencing of bacterial and fungal communities of nests with and without beetles we could show that beetles are indeed able to actively shift symbiont communities. Although being consumed, the Raffaelea food fungi were more abundant when beetles were present while a weed fungus (Chaetomium sp.) as well as overall bacterial diversity were reduced in comparison to nests without beetles. Core symbiont communities were generally of low diversity and there were strong signs for vertical transmission not only for the cultivars, but also for secondary symbionts. Our findings verify the existence of active farming, even though the exact mechanisms underlying the selective promotion and/or suppression of symbionts need further investigation.}, } @article {pmid36321199, year = {2022}, author = {Cervantes-Pérez, SA and Thibivilliers, S and Laffont, C and Farmer, AD and Frugier, F and Libault, M}, title = {Cell-specific pathways recruited for symbiotic nodulation in the Medicago truncatula legume.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {1868-1888}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2022.10.021}, pmid = {36321199}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is a model legume species that has been studied for decades to understand the symbiotic relationship between legumes and soil bacteria collectively named rhizobia. This symbiosis called nodulation is initiated in roots with the infection of root hair cells by the bacteria, as well as the initiation of nodule primordia from root cortical, endodermal, and pericycle cells, leading to the development of a new root organ, the nodule, where bacteria fix and assimilate the atmospheric dinitrogen for the benefit of the plant. Here, we report the isolation and use of the nuclei from mock and rhizobia-inoculated roots for the single nuclei RNA-seq (sNucRNA-seq) profiling to gain a deeper understanding of early responses to rhizobial infection in Medicago roots. A gene expression map of the Medicago root was generated, comprising 25 clusters, which were annotated as specific cell types using 119 Medicago marker genes and orthologs to Arabidopsis cell-type marker genes. A focus on root hair, cortex, endodermis, and pericycle cell types, showing the strongest differential regulation in response to a short-term (48 h) rhizobium inoculation, revealed not only known genes and functional pathways, validating the sNucRNA-seq approach, but also numerous novel genes and pathways, allowing a comprehensive analysis of early root symbiotic responses at a cell type-specific level.}, } @article {pmid36320615, year = {2022}, author = {Ortiz-Baez, AS and Holmes, EC and Charon, J and Pettersson, JH and Hesson, JC}, title = {Meta-transcriptomics reveals potential virus transfer between Aedes communis mosquitoes and their parasitic water mites.}, journal = {Virus evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {veac090}, pmid = {36320615}, issn = {2057-1577}, abstract = {Arthropods harbor a largely undocumented diversity of RNA viruses. Some arthropods, like mosquitoes, can transmit viruses to vertebrates but are themselves parasitized by other arthropod species, such as mites. Very little is known about the viruses of these ectoparasites and how they move through the host-parasite relationship. To address this, we determined the virome of both mosquitoes and the mites that feed on them. The mosquito Aedes communis is an abundant and widely distributed species in Sweden, in northern Europe. These dipterans are commonly parasitized by water mite larvae (Trombidiformes: Mideopsidae) that are hypothesized to impose negative selection pressures on the mosquito by reducing fitness. In turn, viruses are dual-host agents in the mosquito-mite interaction. We determined the RNA virus diversity of mite-free and mite-detached mosquitoes, as well as their parasitic mites, using meta-transcriptomic sequencing. Our results revealed an extensive RNA virus diversity in both mites and mosquitoes, including thirty-seven putative novel RNA viruses that cover a wide taxonomic range. Notably, a high proportion of viruses (20/37) were shared between mites and mosquitoes, while a limited number of viruses were present in a single host. Comparisons of virus composition and abundance suggest potential virus transfer between mosquitoes and mites during their symbiotic interaction. These findings shed light on virome diversity and ecology in the context of arthropod host-parasite-virus relationships.}, } @article {pmid36319737, year = {2022}, author = {Nilson, SM and Gandolfi, B and Grahn, RA and Kurushima, JD and Lipinski, MJ and Randi, E and Waly, NE and Driscoll, C and Murua Escobar, H and Schuster, RK and Maruyama, S and Labarthe, N and Chomel, BB and Ghosh, SK and Ozpinar, H and Rah, HC and Millán, J and Mendes-de-Almeida, F and Levy, JK and Heitz, E and Scherk, MA and Alves, PC and Decker, JE and Lyons, LA}, title = {Genetics of randomly bred cats support the cradle of cat domestication being in the Near East.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {129}, number = {6}, pages = {346-355}, pmid = {36319737}, issn = {1365-2540}, support = {R24 RR016094/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cats/genetics ; *Domestication ; Genotype ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle East ; }, abstract = {Cat domestication likely initiated as a symbiotic relationship between wildcats (Felis silvestris subspecies) and the peoples of developing agrarian societies in the Fertile Crescent. As humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to farmers ~12,000 years ago, bold wildcats likely capitalized on increased prey density (i.e., rodents). Humans benefited from the cats' predation on these vermin. To refine the site(s) of cat domestication, over 1000 random-bred cats of primarily Eurasian descent were genotyped for single-nucleotide variants and short tandem repeats. The overall cat population structure suggested a single worldwide population with significant isolation by the distance of peripheral subpopulations. The cat population heterozygosity decreased as genetic distance from the proposed cat progenitor's (F.s. lybica) natural habitat increased. Domestic cat origins are focused in the eastern Mediterranean Basin, spreading to nearby islands, and southernly via the Levantine coast into the Nile Valley. Cat population diversity supports the migration patterns of humans and other symbiotic species.}, } @article {pmid36319468, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, YM and Zhu, Y and Naseer, M and Wang, Q and Li, G and Tao, HY and Zhu, SG and Wang, BZ and Wang, W and Xiong, YC}, title = {Rhizosphere effect of nanoscale zero-valent iron on mycorrhiza-dependent maize assimilation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {251-267}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14478}, pmid = {36319468}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Zea mays ; Iron ; Water ; }, abstract = {Rhizosphere effect of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is crucial but little reported. Maize seeds were dressed with four nZVI concentrations (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2 g kg[-1]) and inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) (Funneliformis mosseae). The SEM images illuminated that excessive nZVI particles (2 g kg[-1]) were agglomerated on the surface of hyphae and spore, causing severe deformation and inactivation of AMF symbionts and thereafter inhibiting water uptake in maize seedlings. This restrained the scavenging effects of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) and non-enzymatic compounds (proline & malondialdehyde) on ROS, and leaf photoreduction activity and gas exchange ability (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the inoculation with AMF effectively alleviated above negative effects. In contrast, appropriate dose of nZVI, that is, ≤1.5 g kg[-1] , can be evenly distributed on the hyphae surface and form the ordered symbionts with AMF. This help massively to enhance hyphae growth and water and nutrient uptake. The enhanced mycorrhizal infection turned to promote rhizosphere symbiont activity and leaf Rubisco and Rubisco activase activity. Light compensation point was massively lowered, which increased photosynthetic carbon supply for AMF symbionts. Particularly, such priming effects were evidently enhanced by drought stress. Our findings provided a novel insight into functional role of nZVI in agriculture and AMF-led green production.}, } @article {pmid36316454, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Wang, Q and Wu, J and Qi, M and Zhang, C and Huang, Y and Wang, G and Wang, H and Tian, J and Yu, Y and Chen, D and Li, Y and Wang, D and Zhang, Y and Xue, Y and Kong, Z}, title = {A legume kinesin controls vacuole morphogenesis for rhizobia endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {1275-1288}, pmid = {36316454}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Kinesins/genetics ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Morphogenesis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between legumes and rhizobia require establishment of the plant-derived symbiosome membrane, which surrounds the rhizobia and accommodates the symbionts by providing an interface for nutrient and signal exchange. The host cytoskeleton and endomembrane trafficking systems play central roles in the formation of a functional symbiotic interface for rhizobia endosymbiosis; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that the nodulation-specific kinesin-like calmodulin-binding protein (nKCBP), a plant-specific microtubule-based kinesin motor, controls central vacuole morphogenesis in symbiotic cells in Medicago truncatula. Phylogenetic analysis further indicated that nKCBP duplication occurs solely in legumes of the clade that form symbiosomes. Knockout of nKCBP results in central vacuole deficiency, defective symbiosomes and abolished nitrogen fixation. nKCBP decorates linear particles along microtubules, and crosslinks microtubules with the actin cytoskeleton, to control central vacuole formation by modulating vacuolar vesicle fusion in symbiotic cells. Together, our findings reveal that rhizobia co-opted nKCBP to achieve symbiotic interface formation by regulating cytoskeletal assembly and central vacuole morphogenesis during nodule development.}, } @article {pmid36316429, year = {2022}, author = {Saxena, B and Sharma, K and Kapoor, R and Wu, QS and Giri, B}, title = {Insights into the molecular aspects of salt stress tolerance in mycorrhizal plants.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {12}, pages = {253}, pmid = {36316429}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Salt Tolerance ; Salt Stress ; Symbiosis ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/genetics ; }, abstract = {Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that severely affect plant growth and yield, and also affect the livelihood of people all around the world. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize majority of terrestrial plants, including halophytes, xerophytes and glycophytes, and facilitate their functioning by various physiological, biochemical and molecular processes. In the past two decades, significant progress has been made to understand the role of AMF in mitigating salt stress and improving plant growth and productivity under saline conditions. Several studies focusing on the biochemical and physiological mechanisms that mycorrhizal plants employ to combat salt stress have been carried out. This review reinforces such studies and gives further insights into the molecular aspects of tolerance to salt stress in the plants colonized by AMF. It emphasises on the role of AMF in sensing and signalling salt stress, expression of aquaporin-encoding genes, Na[+]/H[+] antiporters and transporters involved in Na[+] exclusion, CNGCs and late embryogenesis abundant proteins in relation to salt stress tolerance. Further, this paper also reviews the accrual of compatible osmolytes, phytohormones and nitric oxide for understanding the benefits of this symbiosis under saline environment, and provides a benchmark information to understand the contribution of mycorrhizal symbiosis at molecular level and will attract attention of researchers to develop and highlight the future research programs in this field.}, } @article {pmid36316352, year = {2022}, author = {Grieves, LA and Bottini, CLJ and Gloor, GB and MacDougall-Shackleton, EA}, title = {Uropygial gland microbiota differ between free-living and captive songbirds.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {18283}, pmid = {36316352}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Scent Glands ; *Songbirds ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; Sebaceous Glands ; *Passeriformes ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes can affect host behavior and fitness. Gut microbiota have received the most study, with less attention to other important microbial communities like those of scent-producing glands such as mammalian anal glands and the avian uropygial gland. However, mounting evidence suggests that microbes inhabiting scent-producing glands play an important role in animal behavior by contributing to variation in chemical signals. Free-living and captive conditions typically differ in social environment, food diversity and availability, disease exposure, and other factors-all of which can translate into differences in gut microbiota. However, whether extrinsic factors such as captivity alter microbial communities in scent glands remains an open question. We compared the uropygial gland microbiota of free-living and captive song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and tested for an effect of dietary manipulations on the gland microbiota of captive birds. As predicted, the uropygial gland microbiota was significantly different between free-living and captive birds. Surprisingly, microbial diversity was higher in captive than free-living birds, and we found no effect of dietary treatments on captive bird microbiota. Identifying the specific factors responsible for microbial differences among groups and determining whether changes in symbiotic microbiota alter behavior and fitness are important next steps in this field.}, } @article {pmid36316246, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, X and Hu, A and Wang, L}, title = {Effects of Hericium erinaceus Hedgehog mushroom on the endophytic microbial community of the host plant.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {92-103}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202200476}, pmid = {36316246}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Animals ; *Agaricales ; Hedgehogs ; Endophytes/genetics ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Ascomycota ; *Microbiota ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Hedgehog mushroom is a Hericium erinaceus associated with fagaceae and pinaceae trees in the northern hemisphere. It is still unknown whether this symbiotic relationship will affect the endophytic microbial community of the host plants. In this study, the endophytic microbial communities of different Quercus aliena tissues (root, stem, and leaf) with or without H. erinaceus partner were analyzed by bar-coded pyrosequencing. About 29,000 clean reads were obtained per sample representing 28 phyla of bacteria and 6 phyla of fungi. A total of 26,838 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of bacteria and 4323 OTUs of fungi were observed at a 97% similarity level. Three bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and fungal phylum Ascomycota were dominant in all tissues. The relative abundance of these dominant communities showed significantly differences between Q. aliena tissues with or without H. erinaceus. Bacterial genus Pseudomonas and fungal genus Cryptosporiopsis were species-rich in Q. aliena root infected by H. erinaceus hyphae. This study demonstrated that the endophytic microbial community structure and dominant species varied in Q. aliena mycorrhized with H. erinaceus.}, } @article {pmid36315059, year = {2023}, author = {Shantz, AA and Ladd, MC and Ezzat, L and Schmitt, RJ and Holbrook, SJ and Schmeltzer, E and Vega Thurber, R and Burkepile, DE}, title = {Positive interactions between corals and damselfish increase coral resistance to temperature stress.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {417-431}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16480}, pmid = {36315059}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Climate Change ; Fishes ; *Perciformes ; }, abstract = {By the century's end, many tropical seas will reach temperatures exceeding most coral species' thermal tolerance on an annual basis. The persistence of corals in these regions will, therefore, depend on their abilities to tolerate recurrent thermal stress. Although ecologists have long recognized that positive interspecific interactions can ameliorate environmental stress to expand the realized niche of plants and animals, coral bleaching studies have largely overlooked how interactions with community members outside of the coral holobiont shape the bleaching response. Here, we subjected a common coral, Pocillopora grandis, to 10 days of thermal stress in aquaria with and without the damselfish Dascyllus flavicaudus (yellowtail dascyllus), which commonly shelter within these corals, to examine how interactions with damselfish impacted coral thermal tolerance. Corals often benefit from nutrients excreted by animals they interact with and prior to thermal stress, corals grown with damselfish showed improved photophysiology (Fv /Fm) and developed larger endosymbiont populations. When exposed to thermal stress, corals with fish performed as well as control corals maintained at ambient temperatures without fish. In contrast, corals exposed to thermal stress without fish experienced photophysiological impairment, a more than 50% decline in endosymbiont density, and a 36% decrease in tissue protein content. At the end of the experiment, thermal stress caused average calcification rates to decrease by over 80% when damselfish were absent but increase nearly 25% when damselfish were present. Our study indicates that damselfish-derived nutrients can increase coral thermal tolerance and are consistent with the Stress Gradient Hypothesis, which predicts that positive interactions become increasingly important for structuring communities as environmental stress increases. Because warming of just a few degrees can exceed corals' temperature tolerance to trigger bleaching and mortality, positive interactions could play a critical role in maintaining some coral species in warming regions until climate change is aggressively addressed.}, } @article {pmid36314967, year = {2023}, author = {Zhou, Y and Staver, AC and Davies, AB}, title = {Species-level termite methane production rates.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {e3905}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3905}, pmid = {36314967}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Isoptera ; Wood ; Biomass ; Methane ; }, abstract = {Termites consume substantial amounts of plant material across tropical and subtropical ecosystems. During the process of lignocellulose digestion, the symbiotic methanogenesis within termites' guts produces the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4). Termites contribute an estimated 1%-5% of global CH4 emissions, with these estimates derived from the product of termite biomass and termite CH4 production rate per unit of termite biomass. However, termite CH4 production rates vary significantly across species, genus, family, and feeding group, yet our understanding of this variation remains poor. Here, we reviewed papers published from 1975 to 2021 to create a single consistently derived list of species-level termite CH4 production rates. We searched the Google Scholar using two key words: termite and methane. We only included studies that had measured termite CH4 production rates using the incubation method. For each eligible study, we extracted and tabulated termite CH4 production rates and other relevant variables (e.g., feeding groups). We used μg CH4 g[-1] (termite) h[-1] as the standardized unit, and if other units were presented, we converted them into this standardized unit. Overall, these data include 134 termite species from 65 genera and 5 families. Termite CH4 production rates ranged from 0 to 25.26 μg CH4 g[-1] (termite) h[-1] , with an average rate of 3.74 (standard deviation = 4.08, n = 251). Reported CH4 production rates were largely concentrated in the family Termitidae. Across feeding groups, soil feeders tended to have higher CH4 production rates than wood feeders. However, published data represent fewer than 5% of described termite species, and therefore we hope that our study will initiate a community-wide effort to fill data gaps and advance our understanding of the role of termites in critical biogeochemical cycles and other ecosystem processes. The data set is in the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license waiver.}, } @article {pmid36314838, year = {2022}, author = {Schmidt, EW and Lin, Z}, title = {Translating Marine Symbioses toward Drug Development.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {e0249922}, pmid = {36314838}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Drug Development ; Drug Discovery ; *Biological Products/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chemists have studied marine animals for the better part of a century because they contain a diverse array of bioactive compounds. Tens of thousands of compounds have been reported, many with elaborate structural motifs and biological mechanisms of action found nowhere else. The challenge holding back the field has long been that of supply. Compounds are sometimes obtained by cultivating marine animals or by wild harvest, but this often presents logistical and environmental challenges. Some of the most medically important marine animal compounds are supplied by synthesis, often through multistep procedures that delay drug development. A relatively small number of such agents have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, often after a heroic effort. In a recent mBio paper, Uppal and coworkers (https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01524-22) address key hurdles underlying the supply issue, discovering an uncultivated new bacterial genus from a marine sponge and reconstituting the biosynthetic pathway for expression.}, } @article {pmid36314763, year = {2023}, author = {Yan, LF and Zhang, J and Zhang, Z}, title = {Reactive arthritis and subacute infective endocarditis caused by Streptococcus gordonii infection: A case report.}, journal = {International journal of rheumatic diseases}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {376-378}, doi = {10.1111/1756-185X.14481}, pmid = {36314763}, issn = {1756-185X}, mesh = {Humans ; Streptococcus gordonii ; *Arthritis, Reactive ; *Endocarditis, Bacterial/diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; *Streptococcal Infections/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) belongs to the alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus group. It is a symbiotic bacterium found in the human oral mucosa which is present in large quantities on the surface of the teeth. It is generally considered nonpathogenic or weakly pathogenic and is known to cause subacute endocarditis; however, there are few reports of reactive arthritis (ReA) caused by S. gordonii. Herein, we report a case of ReA complicated by subacute infective endocarditis caused by S. gordonii and explore the possible pathogenic mechanism of ReA caused by S. gordonii.}, } @article {pmid36313820, year = {2022}, author = {Ryabinin, AS and Shishkina, OD and Ilinsky, YY and Bykov, RA}, title = {Rare Wolbachia genotypes in laboratory Drosophila melanogaster strains.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {553-559}, doi = {10.18699/VJGB-22-67}, pmid = {36313820}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are widespread in Drosophila melanogaster populations. Based on the polymorphism of the Wolbachia genome, the symbionts' diversity in D. melanogaster is presented by two groups: MEL (wMel, wMel2, wMel3 and wMel4) and CS (wMelCS and wMelCS2). The wMel genotype is predominant in natural D. melanogaster populations and is distributed all over the world. The CS genotypes, on the other hand, are of particular interest because it is unclear how they are maintained in the fruit f ly populations since they should have been eliminated from them due to their low frequency and genetic drift or been replaced by the wMel genotype. However, this is not what is really observed, which means these genotypes are supported by selection. It is known that the wMelPlus strain of the wMelCS genotype can increase the lifespan of infected f lies at high temperatures. The same genotype also increases the intensity of dopamine metabolism in Drosophila compared to the MEL-group genotypes. In the present study, we searched for the rare Wolbachia wMelCS and wMelCS2 genotypes, as well as for new genotypes in wild-type D. melanogaster strains and in several mutant laboratory strains. The symbiont was found in all populations, in 200 out of 385 wild-type strains and in 83 out of 170 mutant strains. Wolbachia diversity in D. melanogaster wild-type strains was represented by the wMel, wMelCS and wMelCS2 genotypes. More than 90 % of the infected strains carried wMel; 9 %, wMelCS2; and only two strains were found to carry wMelCS. No new Wolbachia genotypes were found. The northernmost point reported for the wMelCS2 genotype was Izhevsk city (Udmurtia, Russia). For the f irst time the wMelCS2 genotype was detected in D. melanogaster from the Sakhalin Island, and wMelCS, in the f lies from Nalchik (the North Caucasus). A comparison of Wolbachia genetic diversity between the wild-type laboratory strains and previously obtained data on mutant laboratory strains demonstrated differences in the frequencies of rare CS genotypes, which were more prevalent in mutant strains, apparently due to the breeding history of these Drosophila strains.}, } @article {pmid36312985, year = {2022}, author = {Khanna, K and Kohli, SK and Bhardwaj, R and Sharma, A}, title = {Editorial: Portraying the phytomicrobiome studies during abiotic stresses: Revisiting the past and exploring the future outcomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1015149}, pmid = {36312985}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid36312980, year = {2022}, author = {Astafyeva, Y and Gurschke, M and Streit, WR and Krohn, I}, title = {Interplay between the microalgae Micrasterias radians and its symbiont Dyadobacter sp. HH091.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1006609}, pmid = {36312980}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Based on previous research, related to detailed insight into mutualistic collaboration of microalga and its microbiome, we established an artificial plant-bacteria system of the microalga Micrasterias radians MZCH 672 and the bacterial isolate Dyadobacter sp. HH091. The bacteria, affiliated with the phylum Bacteroidota, strongly stimulated growth of the microalga when it was added to axenic algal cultures. For further advances, we studied the isolate HH091 and its interaction with the microalga M. radians using transcriptome and extensive genome analyses. The genome of HH091 contains predicted polysaccharide utilizing gene clusters co-working with the type IX secretion system (T9SS) and conceivably involved in the algae-bacteria liaison. Here, we focus on characterizing the mechanism of T9SS, implementing the attachment and invasion of microalga by Dyadobacter sp. HH091. Omics analysis exposed T9SS genes: gldK, gldL, gldM, gldN, sprA, sprE, sprF, sprT, porU and porV. Besides, gld genes not considered as the T9SS components but required for gliding motility and protein secretion (gldA, gldB, gldD, gldF, gldG, gldH, gldI, gldJ), were also identified at this analysis. A first model of T9SS apparatus of Dyadobacter was proposed in a course of this research. Using the combination of fluorescence labeling of Dyadobacter sp. HH091, we examined the bacterial colonisation and penetration into the cell wall of the algal host M. radians MZCH 672.}, } @article {pmid36312967, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Chen, P and Yu, X and Zhang, J}, title = {Algae-bacteria symbiotic constructed wetlands for antibiotic wastewater purification and biological response.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1044009}, pmid = {36312967}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In this work, the removal efficiency and mechanism of various constructed wetlands microcosm systems on antibiotic wastewater, as well as the biological community response of microalgae and microorganisms were explored. Overall, the algal-bacteria symbiosis in conjunction with the gravel matrix had the most comprehensive treatment efficiency for antibiotic wastewater. However, pollutants such as high-concentration antibiotics impaired the biological community and functions. In the systems fed with microorganisms, both abundance and diversity of them were significantly reduced comparing with the initial value. According to the correlation analysis revealed that the pollutants removal rate increased with the addition of the relative abundance of some bacterial genera, while decreased with the addition of relative abundance of other bacterial genera. The presence of gravel matrix could lessen the stressful effect of antibiotics and other pollutants on the growth of microalgae and microorganisms, as well as improved treatment efficiency of antibiotic wastewater. Based on the findings of the study, the combination of gravel matrix and algal-bacteria symbiosis can considerably increase the capacity of constructed wetlands to treat antibiotic wastewater and protect biological community, which is an environmentally friendly way.}, } @article {pmid36312954, year = {2022}, author = {Tiruvayipati, S and Hameed, DS and Ahmed, N}, title = {Play the plug: How bacteria modify recognition by host receptors?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {960326}, pmid = {36312954}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The diverse microbial community that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract has remarkable effects on the host immune system and physiology resulting in homeostasis or disease. In both scenarios, the gut microbiota interacts with their host through ligand-receptor binding whereby the downstream signaling processes determine the outcome of the interaction as disease or the counteractive immune responses of the host. Despite several studies on microbe-host interactions and the mechanisms by which this intricate process happens, a comprehensive and updated inventory of known ligand-receptor interactions and their roles in disease is paramount. The ligands which originate as a result of microbial responses to the host environment contribute to either symbiotic or parasitic relationships. On the other hand, the host receptors counteract the ligand actions by mounting a neutral or an innate response. The varying degrees of polymorphic changes in the host receptors contribute to specificity of interaction with the microbial ligands. Additionally, pathogenic microbes manipulate host receptors with endogenous enzymes belonging to the effector protein family. This review focuses on the diversity and similarity in the gut microbiome-host interactions both in health and disease conditions. It thus establishes an overview that can help identify potential therapeutic targets in response to critically soaring antimicrobial resistance as juxtaposed to tardy antibiotic development research.}, } @article {pmid36312930, year = {2022}, author = {Taboada-Castro, H and Gil, J and Gómez-Caudillo, L and Escorcia-Rodríguez, JM and Freyre-González, JA and Encarnación-Guevara, S}, title = {Rhizobium etli CFN42 proteomes showed isoenzymes in free-living and symbiosis with a different transcriptional regulation inferred from a transcriptional regulatory network.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {947678}, pmid = {36312930}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A comparative proteomic study at 6 h of growth in minimal medium (MM) and bacteroids at 18 days of symbiosis of Rhizobium etli CFN42 with the Phaseolus vulgaris leguminous plant was performed. A gene ontology classification of proteins in MM and bacteroid, showed 31 and 10 pathways with higher or equal than 30 and 20% of proteins with respect to genome content per pathway, respectively. These pathways were for energy and environmental compound metabolism, contributing to understand how Rhizobium is adapted to the different conditions. Metabolic maps based on orthology of the protein profiles, showed 101 and 74 functional homologous proteins in the MM and bacteroid profiles, respectively, which were grouped in 34 different isoenzymes showing a great impact in metabolism by covering 60 metabolic pathways in MM and symbiosis. Taking advantage of co-expression of transcriptional regulators (TF's) in the profiles, by selection of genes whose matrices were clustered with matrices of TF's, Transcriptional Regulatory networks (TRN´s) were deduced by the first time for these metabolic stages. In these clustered TF-MM and clustered TF-bacteroid networks, containing 654 and 246 proteins, including 93 and 46 TFs, respectively, showing valuable information of the TF's and their regulated genes with high stringency. Isoenzymes were specific for adaptation to the different conditions and a different transcriptional regulation for MM and bacteroid was deduced. The parameters of the TRNs of these expected biological networks and biological networks of E. coli and B. subtilis segregate from the random theoretical networks. These are useful data to design experiments on TF gene-target relationships for bases to construct a TRN.}, } @article {pmid36312570, year = {2022}, author = {Miyokawa, R and Hanada, M and Togawa, Y and Itoh, TQ and Kobayakawa, Y and Kusumi, J}, title = {Symbiont specificity differs among green hydra strains.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {220789}, pmid = {36312570}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The symbiotic hydra Hydra viridissima has a stable symbiotic relationship with the green alga Chlorella. This hydra appears to cospeciate with the symbiotic alga, and some strains are known to have strain-specific host/symbiont combinations. To investigate the mechanism of the specificity between host and symbiont, we explored the effect of the removal or exchange of symbionts in two distantly related H. viridissima strains (K10 and M9). In the K10 strain, severe morphological and behavioural changes were found in symbiont-removed and symbiont-exchanged polyps. Interestingly, both polyps showed a similar gene expression pattern. The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the removal or exchange of symbionts caused the downregulation of genes involved in the electron transport chain and the upregulation of genes involved in translation in the K10 strain. On the other hand, symbiont-removed and symbiont-exchanged M9 polyps showed modest changes in their morphology and behaviour compared with the K10 strain. Furthermore, the patterns of the gene expression changes in the M9 strain were quite different between the symbiont-removed and symbiont-exchanged polyps. Our results suggested that the regulation of energy balance is one of the crucial mechanisms for maintaining symbiotic relationships in green hydra, and this mechanism differs between the strains.}, } @article {pmid36312443, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, S and Peng, Y and Lv, Q and Liu, J and Wu, Z and Wang, H and Wang, X}, title = {Characterization of two constitutive promoters RPS28 and EIF1 for studying soybean growth, development, and symbiotic nodule development.}, journal = {aBIOTECH}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {99-109}, pmid = {36312443}, issn = {2662-1738}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Native promoters that can drive high and stable transgene expression are important tools for modifying plant traits. Although several such promoters have been reported in soybean (Glycine max), few of them function at multiple growth and development stages and during nodule development. Here, we report that the promoters of 40S RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN SMALL SUBUNIT S28 (RPS28) and EUKARYOTIC TRANSLATION INITIATION FACTOR 1 (EIF1) are ideal for high expression of transgene. Through bioinformatic analysis, we determined that RPS28 and EIF1 were highly expressed during soybean growth and development, nodule development, and various biotic and abiotic stresses. Fusion of both RPS28 and EIF1 promoters, with or without their first intron, with the reporter gene β-GLUCURONIDASE (uidA) in transgenic soybean, resulted in high GUS activity in seedlings, seeds, and nodules. Fluorimetric GUS assays showed that the RPS28 promoter and the EIF1 promoter yielded high expression, comparable to the soybean Ubiquitin (GmUbi) promoter. RPS28 and EIF1 promoters were also highly expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. Our results indicate the potential of RPS28 and EIF1 promoters to facilitate future genetic engineering and breeding to improve the quality and yield of soybean, as well as in a wide variety of other plant species.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-022-00073-6.}, } @article {pmid36310864, year = {2022}, author = {Lerer, V and Shlezinger, N}, title = {Inseparable companions: Fungal viruses as regulators of fungal fitness and host adaptation.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1020608}, pmid = {36310864}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Humans ; *Fungal Viruses ; Host Adaptation ; Friends ; Virulence ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; }, } @article {pmid36310641, year = {2022}, author = {Croce, N and Pitaro, M and Gallo, V and Antonini, G}, title = {Toxicity of Usnic Acid: A Narrative Review.}, journal = {Journal of toxicology}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {8244340}, pmid = {36310641}, issn = {1687-8191}, abstract = {Usnic acid (UA) is a dibenzofuran derivative naturally present in lichens, organisms resulting from the symbiosis between a fungus and a cyanobacterium, or an alga. UA shows antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory as well as UV-protective activities. Its use as pharmacological agent is widely described in traditional medicine, and in the past few years, the product has been marketed as a food supplement for the induction of weight loss. However, the development of severe hepatotoxicity in a limited number of subjects prompted the FDA to issue a warning letter, which led to the withdrawal of the product from the market in November 2001. Data published in literature on UA toxicology, genotoxicity, mutagenesis, and teratogenicity have been reviewed, as well as the case reports of subjects who developed hepatotoxicity following oral administration of UA as a slimming agent. Finally, we reviewed the most recent studies on the topical use of UA, as well as studies aimed at improving UA pharmacologic activity and reducing toxicity. Indeed, advancements in this field of research could open the possibility to reintroduce the use of UA as therapeutical agent.}, } @article {pmid36310358, year = {2022}, author = {Hwang, S and Yang, JH and Sim, HS and Choi, SH and Lee, B and Bang, WY and Moon, KH}, title = {Characterization of Pseudomonas sp. NIBR-H-19, an Antimicrobial Secondary Metabolite Producer Isolated from the Gut of Korean Native Sea Roach, Ligia exotica.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {1416-1426}, pmid = {36310358}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Pseudomonas/genetics/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Staphylococcus aureus ; *Staphylococcal Infections ; Republic of Korea ; }, abstract = {The need to discover new types of antimicrobial agents has grown since the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that threaten human health. The world's oceans, comprising complex niches of biodiversity, are a promising environment from which to extract new antibiotics-like compounds. In this study, we newly isolated Pseudomonas sp. NIBR-H-19 from the gut of the sea roach Ligia exotica and present both phenotypes and genomic information consisting of 6,184,379 bp in a single chromosome possessing a total of 5,644 protein-coding genes. Genomic analysis of the isolated species revealed that numerous genes involved in antimicrobial secondary metabolites are predicted throughout the whole genome. Moreover, our analysis showed that among twenty-five pathogenic bacteria, the growth of three pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hominis and Rhodococcus equi, was significantly inhibited by the culture of Pseudomonas sp. NIBR-H-19. The characterization of marine microorganisms with biochemical assays and genomics tools will help uncover the biosynthesis and action mechanism of antimicrobial metabolites for development as antagonistic probiotics against fish pathogens in an aquatic culture system.}, } @article {pmid36309962, year = {2023}, author = {Arifin, AR and Phillips, RD and Linde, CC}, title = {Strong phylogenetic congruence between Tulasnella fungi and their associated Drakaeinae orchids.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {221-237}, pmid = {36309962}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Biological Evolution ; *Orchidaceae/genetics ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; }, abstract = {The study of congruency between phylogenies of interacting species can provide a powerful approach for understanding the evolutionary history of symbiotic associations. Orchid mycorrhizal fungi can survive independently of orchids making cospeciation unlikely, leading us to predict that any congruence would arise from host-switches to closely related fungal species. The Australasian orchid subtribe Drakaeinae is an iconic group of sexually deceptive orchids that consists of approximately 66 species. In this study, we investigated the evolutionary relationships between representatives of all six Drakaeinae orchid genera (39 species) and their mycorrhizal fungi. We used an exome capture dataset to generate the first well-resolved phylogeny of the Drakaeinae genera. A total of 10 closely related Tulasnella Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and previously described species were associated with the Drakaeinae orchids. Three of them were shared among orchid genera, with each genus associating with 1-6 Tulasnella lineages. Cophylogenetic analyses show Drakaeinae orchids and their Tulasnella associates exhibit significant congruence (p < 0.001) in the topology of their phylogenetic trees. An event-based method also revealed significant congruence in Drakaeinae-Tulasnella relationships, with duplications (35), losses (25), and failure to diverge (9) the most frequent events, with minimal evidence for cospeciation (1) and host-switches (2). The high number of duplications suggests that the orchids speciate independently from the fungi, and the fungal species association of the ancestral orchid species is typically maintained in the daughter species. For the Drakaeinae-Tulasnella interaction, a pattern of phylogenetic niche conservatism rather than coevolution likely explains the observed phylogenetic congruency in orchid and fungal phylogenies. Given that many orchid genera are characterized by sharing of fungal species between closely related orchid species, we predict that these findings may apply to a wide range of orchid lineages.}, } @article {pmid36309896, year = {2023}, author = {Bastías, DA and Gundel, PE}, title = {Plant stress responses compromise mutualisms with Epichloë endophytes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {74}, number = {1}, pages = {19-23}, pmid = {36309896}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Endophytes ; Symbiosis ; *Epichloe ; Plants ; Poaceae ; }, } @article {pmid36307568, year = {2023}, author = {Fu, Y and Ren, Y and Pei, W}, title = {Evaluation of the symbiosis level of the water-energy-food complex system based on the improved cloud model: a case study in Heilongjiang Province.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {22963-22984}, pmid = {36307568}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Humans ; *Water ; *Symbiosis ; Water Resources ; Water Supply ; Agriculture ; }, abstract = {As the conflict between the supply and demand of resources intensifies, it is critical to deeply study the important relationships and symbiotic evolution mechanisms among water resource development and utilization, energy production, agriculture, and the socioeconomic system to promote multiresource synergy management. This study introduced symbiosis theory to build a regional water-energy-food complex system in which the water-energy-food nexus was the main body and the social-economic-natural system was the external environment. Then, a symbiosis evaluation index system was established from three dimensions, including the symbiotic unit, symbiotic relationship, and symbiotic environment. Using the improved cloud model, we judged the symbiosis level of the water-energy-food complex system in Heilongjiang Province from 2010 to 2019. The results indicated that (1) the symbiosis level of the provincial water-energy-food complex system, symbiotic unit, and symbiotic environment was on the rise from level II in 2010 to level IV in 2019, and the symbiosis level of the symbiotic unit fluctuated between level III and level IV. The system exhibited an overall strong symbiosis state. (2) The weights of the three criteria were ranked as symbiotic environment > symbiotic unit > symbiotic relationship. The state of the social-economic-natural system could be considered a "monitor" of the symbiosis level, the symbiotic unit was an important basis for the evolution of the complex system, and the symbiotic relationship was the shortcoming of the system symbiosis enhancement. (3) The trade-offs between food production and water savings constrained socioeconomic development in the province. The resource demands of the economic and social systems and the emissions to the natural system that occurred during the resource exploitation and utilization processes were important factors affecting the coordinated development of the studied system. Overall, the experimental results were consistent with the research subjects' actual situations, and the government should promote the regional three-way flow of social, natural, and economic resources to allow the targeted management of multiresource security.}, } @article {pmid36307431, year = {2022}, author = {Li, XR and Sun, J and Albinsky, D and Zarrabian, D and Hull, R and Lee, T and Jarratt-Barnham, E and Chiu, CH and Jacobsen, A and Soumpourou, E and Albanese, A and Kohlen, W and Luginbuehl, LH and Guillotin, B and Lawrensen, T and Lin, H and Murray, J and Wallington, E and Harwood, W and Choi, J and Paszkowski, U and Oldroyd, GED}, title = {Nutrient regulation of lipochitooligosaccharide recognition in plants via NSP1 and NSP2.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {6421}, pmid = {36307431}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/K003712/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J019356//BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Nutrients ; }, abstract = {Many plants associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient acquisition, while legumes also associate with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Both associations rely on symbiosis signaling and here we show that cereals can perceive lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) for activation of symbiosis signaling, surprisingly including Nod factors produced by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, legumes show stringent perception of specifically decorated LCOs, that is absent in cereals. LCO perception in plants is activated by nutrient starvation, through transcriptional regulation of Nodulation Signaling Pathway (NSP)1 and NSP2. These transcription factors induce expression of an LCO receptor and act through the control of strigolactone biosynthesis and the karrikin-like receptor DWARF14-LIKE. We conclude that LCO production and perception is coordinately regulated by nutrient starvation to promote engagement with mycorrhizal fungi. Our work has implications for the use of both mycorrhizal and rhizobial associations for sustainable productivity in cereals.}, } @article {pmid36306613, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, C and Guo, Q and Zeeshan, M and Milham, P and Qin, S and Ma, J and Yang, Y and Lai, H and Huang, J}, title = {Dual RNA and 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing reveal arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-mediated mitigation of selenate stress in Zea mays L. and reshaping of soil microbiota.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {114217}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114217}, pmid = {36306613}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Zea mays/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Selenic Acid/metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal ; RNA/metabolism ; Selenocysteine/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Plants ; *Selenium/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Excessively high concentrations of selenium (Se) in soil are toxic to crop plants, and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can reverse Se stress in maize (Zea mays L.). To investigate the underlying mechanisms, maize seedlings were treated with sodium selenate (5 mg Se[VI] kg[-1]) and/or AMF (Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum). Dual RNA sequencing in mycorrhiza and 16 S ribosomal DNA sequencing in soil were performed. The results showed that Se(VI) application alone decreased plant dry weight, but increased plant Se concentration, total Se content (mainly selenocysteine), and root superoxide content. Inoculation with either F. mosseae or C. etunicatum increased plant dry weight, decreased Se accumulation and selenocysteine proportion, enhanced root peroxidase activity, and alleviated oxidative stress in Se(VI)-treated plants. Inoculation also downregulated the expression of genes encoding Se transporters, assimilation enzymes, and cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases in Se(VI)-stressed plants, similar to plant-pathogen interaction and glutathione metabolism related genes. Conversely, genes encoding selenium-binding proteins and those related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were upregulated in inoculated plants under Se(VI) stress. Compared with Se(VI)-free plants, Se tolerance index, symbiotic feedback percentage on plant dry weight, and root colonization rate were all increased in inoculated plants under Se(VI) stress, corresponding to upregulated expression of 'key genes' in symbiosis. AMF inoculation increased bacterial diversity, decreased the relative abundances of selenobacteria related to plant Se absorption (e.g., Proteobacteria and Firmicutes), and improved bacterial network complexity in Se(VI)-stressed soils. We suggest that stress-mediated enhancement of mycorrhizal symbiosis contributed to plant Se(VI) tolerance, whereas AMF-mediated reshaping of soil bacterial community structure prevented excessive Se accumulation in maize.}, } @article {pmid36305683, year = {2023}, author = {Berrabah, F and Bernal, G and Elhosseyn, AS and El Kassis, C and L'Horset, R and Benaceur, F and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Garmier, M and Gourion, B and Ratet, P and Gruber, V}, title = {Insight into the control of nodule immunity and senescence during Medicago truncatula symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {191}, number = {1}, pages = {729-746}, pmid = {36305683}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Cysteine Proteases/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; }, abstract = {Medicago (Medicago truncatula) establishes a symbiosis with the rhizobia Sinorhizobium sp, resulting in the formation of nodules where the bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen. The loss of immunity repression or early senescence activation compromises symbiont survival and leads to the formation of nonfunctional nodules (fix-). Despite many studies exploring an overlap between immunity and senescence responses outside the nodule context, the relationship between these processes in the nodule remains poorly understood. To investigate this phenomenon, we selected and characterized three Medicago mutants developing fix- nodules and showing senescence responses. Analysis of specific defense (PATHOGENESIS-RELATED PROTEIN) or senescence (CYSTEINE PROTEASE) marker expression demonstrated that senescence and immunity seem to be antagonistic in fix- nodules. The growth of senescence mutants on non-sterile (sand/perlite) substrate instead of sterile in vitro conditions decreased nodule senescence and enhanced defense, indicating that environment can affect the immunity/senescence balance. The application of wounding stress on wild-type (WT) fix+ nodules led to the death of intracellular rhizobia and associated with co-stimulation of defense and senescence markers, indicating that in fix+ nodules the relationship between the two processes switches from opposite to synergistic to control symbiont survival during response to the stress. Our data show that the immune response in stressed WT nodules is linked to the repression of DEFECTIVE IN NITROGEN FIXATION 2 (DNF2), Symbiotic CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SymCRK), and REGULATOR OF SYMBIOSOME DIFFERENTIATION (RSD), key genes involved in symbiotic immunity suppression. This study provides insight to understand the links between senescence and immunity in Medicago nodules.}, } @article {pmid36305214, year = {2023}, author = {Parshuram, ZA and Harrison, TL and Simonsen, AK and Stinchcombe, JR and Frederickson, ME}, title = {Nonsymbiotic legumes are more invasive, but only if polyploid.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {3}, pages = {758-765}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18579}, pmid = {36305214}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Ecosystem ; Polyploidy ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Both mutualism and polyploidy are thought to influence invasion success in plants, but few studies have tested their joint effects. Mutualism can limit range expansion when plants cannot find a compatible partner in a novel habitat, or facilitate range expansion when mutualism increases a plant's niche breadth. Polyploids are also expected to have greater niche breadth because of greater self-compatibility and phenotypic plasticity, increasing invasion success. For 847 legume species, we compiled data from published sources to estimate ploidy, symbiotic status with rhizobia, specificity on rhizobia, and the number of introduced ranges. We found that diploid species have had limited spread around the globe regardless of whether they are symbiotic or how many rhizobia partners they can host. Polyploids, by contrast, have been successfully introduced to many new ranges, but interactions with rhizobia constrain their range expansion. In a hidden state model of trait evolution, we also found evidence of a high rate of re-diploidization in symbiotic legume lineages, suggesting that symbiosis and ploidy may interact at macroevolutionary scales. Overall, our results suggest that symbiosis with rhizobia limits range expansion when legumes are polyploid but not diploid.}, } @article {pmid36303351, year = {2023}, author = {Ban, Y and Tan, J and Xiong, Y and Mo, X and Jiang, Y and Xu, Z}, title = {Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms of Phragmites australis tolerance to CuO-nanoparticles and/or flood stress induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {442}, number = {}, pages = {130118}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130118}, pmid = {36303351}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Floods ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Poaceae/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plants ; *Nanoparticles/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The molecular mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) for the purification of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) contaminated wastewater remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome analysis was used to explore the effect of AMF inoculation on the gene expression profile of Phragmites australis roots under different concentrations of CuO-NPs and/or flood stress. 551, 429 and 2281 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were specially regulated by AMF under combined stresses of CuO-NPs and flood, single CuO-NPs stress and single flood stress, respectively. Based on the results of DEG function annotation and enrichment analyses, AMF inoculation under CuO-NPs and/or flood stress up-regulated the expression of a number of genes involved in antioxidant defense systems, cell wall biosynthesis and transporter protein, which may contribute to plant tolerance. The expression of 30 transcription factors (TFs) was up-regulated by AMF inoculation under combined stresses of CuO-NPs and flood, and 44 and 44 TFs were up-regulated under single CuO-NPs or flood condition, respectively, which may contribute to the alleviating effect of symbiosis on CuO-NPs and/or flood stress. These results provided a theoretical basis for enhancing the ecological restoration function of wetland plants for metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) by mycorrhizal technology in the future.}, } @article {pmid36302793, year = {2022}, author = {Spanner, C and Darienko, T and Filker, S and Sonntag, B and Pröschold, T}, title = {Morphological diversity and molecular phylogeny of five Paramecium bursaria (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) syngens and the identification of their green algal endosymbionts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {18089}, pmid = {36302793}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Paramecium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Oligohymenophorea ; *Alveolata ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Ciliophora ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Paramecium bursaria is a mixotrophic ciliate species, which is common in stagnant and slow-flowing, nutrient-rich waters. It is usually found living in symbiosis with zoochlorellae (green algae) of the genera Chlorella or Micractinium. We investigated P. bursaria isolates from around the world, some of which have already been extensively studied in various laboratories, but whose morphological and genetic identity has not yet been completely clarified. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU and ITS rDNA sequences revealed five highly supported lineages, which corresponded to the syngen and most likely to the biological species assignment. These syngens R1-R5 could also be distinguished by unique synapomorphies in the secondary structures of the SSU and the ITS. Considering these synapomorphies, we could clearly assign the existing GenBank entries of P. bursaria to specific syngens. In addition, we discovered synapomorphies at amino acids of the COI gene for the identification of the syngens. Using the metadata of these entries, most syngens showed a worldwide distribution, however, the syngens R1 and R5 were only found in Europe. From morphology, the syngens did not show any significant deviations. The investigated strains had either Chlorella variabilis, Chlorella vulgaris or Micractinium conductrix as endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid36302400, year = {2023}, author = {Sun, J and Liu, G and Yuan, X}, title = {Alternative stable state and its evaluation in wetland reconstruction based on landscape design.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {857}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {159642}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159642}, pmid = {36302400}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Wetlands ; *Ecosystem ; Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; Lakes ; China ; }, abstract = {An alternative stable state is closely related to the health and sustainable development of ecosystems; however, knowledge of the alternative stable state and its quantitative evaluation in wetland reconstruction remains incomplete. In this study, we used landscape design to reconstruct an optimized ecological polder wetland and a lake wetland in the Yunmeng Marsh area, China, and the alternative stable states of the two wetland ecosystems were assessed from an ecosystem perspective via emergy/eco-exergy and fractal dimensions. The emergy densities for the optimized ecological polder wetland and the lake wetland were 2.35E+13 sej yr[-1] m[-3] and 2.18E+13 sej m[-3], and the emergy sustainability index (ESI) values were 216.57 and 193.31, respectively, indicating that the reconstructed wetland ecosystems were dominated by renewable energy flows and were highly sustainable. The eco-exergy density and emergy/eco-exergy ratio results showed that natural selection self-organized the reconstructed wetland ecosystems to tolerate environmental stresses and changes. In addition, the fractal dimensions of the morphology and contour of the polder wetland, which reflect the space occupation capacity of geometric and physical constraints in the wetland, were 1.57 and 1.75, and those of the lake wetland were 1.03 and 1.47, respectively. The synthetic evaluation results showed that the alternative stable states of both the optimized ecological polder wetland ecosystem and the lake wetland ecosystem were ecofriendly modes of wetland reconstruction, which can be implemented together to create a "lake-polder" ecosystem. Our study on the alternative stable states of wetland ecosystems is helpful for exploring the synergistic symbiosis between traditional culture and the ecological environment in China and other wetland-rich regions and countries with severe disturbances.}, } @article {pmid36302153, year = {2022}, author = {Dong, Y and Yang, Q and Niu, R and Zhang, Z and Huang, Y and Bi, Y and Liu, G}, title = {Modulation of tumor-associated macrophages in colitis-associated colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Journal of cellular physiology}, volume = {237}, number = {12}, pages = {4443-4459}, doi = {10.1002/jcp.30906}, pmid = {36302153}, issn = {1097-4652}, mesh = {Humans ; Tumor-Associated Macrophages/pathology ; *Colitis-Associated Neoplasms ; *Colitis ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation/pathology ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Intestinal macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the small and large intestine, which maintain intestinal homeostasis by clearing invading bacteria and dead cells, secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines, and inducing tolerance to symbiotic bacteria and food particles. In addition, as antigen-presenting cells, they also participate in eliciting adaptive immune responses through bridging innate immune responses. After the intestinal homeostasis is disrupted, the damaged or apoptotic intestinal epithelial cells cannot be effectively cleared, and the infection of exogenous pathogens and leakage of endogenous antigens lead to persistent intestinal inflammation. Long-term chronic inflammation is one of the important causes of colitis-associated carcinogenesis (CAC). Tumor microenvironment (TME) is gradually formed around tumor cells, in which tumor associated macrophage (TAMs) is not only the builder, but also regulated by TME. This review just briefly summarized the role of intestinal macrophages under physiological and pathological inflammatory and cancerous conditions, and current therapeutic strategies for intestinal diseases targeting macrophages.}, } @article {pmid36301911, year = {2022}, author = {Yin, M and Tong, J and Meng, F and Liu, C and Liu, X and Fang, F and He, Z and Qin, X and Liu, C and Ni, D and Gao, Y and Liang, H and Zhang, X and Luo, L}, title = {Near-Infrared-II Activatable Symbiotic 2D Carbon-Clay Nanohybrids for Dual Imaging-Guided Combinational Cancer Therapy.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.2c11340}, pmid = {36301911}, issn = {1944-8252}, abstract = {Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials hold great potential for cancer theranostic applications, yet their clinical translation faces great challenges of high toxicity and limited therapeutic/diagnostic modality. Here, we have created a kind of symbiotic 2D carbon-2D clay nanohybrids, which are composed of a novel 2D carbon nanomaterial (carbon nanochips, or CNC), prepared by carbonizing a conjugated polymer polydiiodobutadiyne, and a 2D layered aluminosilicate clay mineral montmorillonite (MMT). Intriguingly, with the formation of the nanohybrids, MMT can help the dispersion of CNC, while CNC can significantly reduce the hemolysis and toxicity of MMT. The symbiotic combination of CNC and MMT also leads to a synergistic anti-cancer theranostic effect. CNC has a strong absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency in the second near-infrared region (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm), while MMT contains Fe[3+] that can facilitate the generation of reactive oxygen species from highly expressed H2O2 in tumor microenvironment. The nanohybrids not only enable a synergy of photothermal therapy and chemodynamic therapy to suppress the extremely rapid growth of RM1 tumors in mice but also allow for dual photoacoustic and magnetic imaging to guide the drug delivery and NIR-II irradiation execution, hence establishing a highly efficient and biosafe "all-in-one" theranostic platform for precision nanomedicine.}, } @article {pmid36301853, year = {2022}, author = {Istanbuli, T and Abu Assar, A and Tawkaz, S and Kumar, T and Alsamman, AM and Hamwieh, A}, title = {The interaction between drought stress and nodule formation under multiple environments in chickpea.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {e0276732}, pmid = {36301853}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Droughts ; *Cicer/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Edible Grain ; }, abstract = {Environmental stresses, particularly drought, limit symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, resulting in decreased yielding capacity. Drought is one of the most important constraints limiting yield potential in crops and it is the major abiotic stress that can cause more than 70% yield loss in chickpea. In this study, a total of two hundred four chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes were selected to study the interaction between drought stress and nodule formation. This interaction was assessed by using morphological, yield and yield components. The field experiments were laid out in two locations (Terbol and Kfardan stations, Bekaa valley, Lebanon) using Alpha lattice design with two replications and two watering treatments (irrigation and rainfed) during 2016 and 2017 seasons. Parameters that were measured include days to 50% flowering (DFL), day to maturity (DM), plant height (PLH), nodule biomass (NB), nodule fresh weight (NFW), nodule dry weight (NDW), grain yield (GY), Biological yield (BY), 100 seed weight (100SW) and drought tolerance stress (DTS). The results indicated a significant variation between genotypes, environments and other morphological, yield and yield components traits. Drought stress reduced significantly the yield and the nodule's characteristics, biological and grain yield. The genotypes with the highest levels of drought tolerance, such as IG70399, IG8256, IG71832, IG70270, and IG70272, showed a minimal decrease in yield and nodule biomass. Nodule observations significantly and positively correlated with GY (0.36-0.38) under drought stress treatment. The correlation values for nodule characteristics with DFL and DM were higher under drought stress compared to irrigated conditions. This is a comparative study between drought stress and nodule formation traits associated with morphological, yield and yield components traits.}, } @article {pmid36301418, year = {2022}, author = {Rimskaya-Korsakova, NN and Temereva, EN and Malakhov, VV}, title = {Apoptotic Processes Precede Infection with Symbionts in a Pogonophoran Lavrae (Siboglinidae, Annelida).}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {506}, number = {1}, pages = {128-131}, pmid = {36301418}, issn = {1608-3105}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; *Polychaeta/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Bacteria ; Apoptosis ; }, abstract = {The fine structure of the body wall and gut was for the first time studied in the competent larvae of the frenulate pogonophoran Siboglinum fiordicum. Mass apoptosis of cell nuclei was observed in the dermo-muscular body wall and coelomic epithelium. Apoptotic nuclei were found in both cell cytoplasm and outside of the larval body. In the latter case, each nucleus was surrounded by the plasmalemma, and the entire cluster was covered with the cuticle. Cells of the larval gut retained the usual structure with the cytoplasm filled with numerous yolky granules and the nucleus displaying usual morphology. Similar apoptotic processes have been described in vestimentiferans and found to be initiated by penetration of symbiotic bacteria through the integument into the dorsal mesentery. The process of apoptotic rearrangement of body wall cells and the formation of unique symbiosis with bacteria were assumed to be time-spaced in S. fiordicum, occurring sequentially rather than simultaneously, unlike in vestimentiferans.}, } @article {pmid36301103, year = {2022}, author = {Ganesan, R and Wierz, JC and Kaltenpoth, M and Flórez, LV}, title = {How It All Begins: Bacterial Factors Mediating the Colonization of Invertebrate Hosts by Beneficial Symbionts.}, journal = {Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR}, volume = {86}, number = {4}, pages = {e0012621}, pmid = {36301103}, issn = {1098-5557}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; *Invertebrates ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Beneficial associations with bacteria are widespread across animals, spanning a range of symbiont localizations, transmission routes, and functions. While some of these associations have evolved into obligate relationships with permanent symbiont localization within the host, the majority require colonization of every host generation from the environment or via maternal provisions. Across the broad diversity of host species and tissue types that beneficial bacteria can colonize, there are some highly specialized strategies for establishment yet also some common patterns in the molecular basis of colonization. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying the early stage of beneficial bacterium-invertebrate associations, from initial contact to the establishment of the symbionts in a specific location of the host's body. We first reflect on general selective pressures that can drive the transition from a free-living to a host-associated lifestyle in bacteria. We then cover bacterial molecular factors for colonization in symbioses from both model and nonmodel invertebrate systems where these have been studied, including terrestrial and aquatic host taxa. Finally, we discuss how interactions between multiple colonizing bacteria and priority effects can influence colonization. Taking the bacterial perspective, we emphasize the importance of developing new experimentally tractable systems to derive general insights into the ecological factors and molecular adaptations underlying the origin and establishment of beneficial symbioses in animals.}, } @article {pmid36300568, year = {2023}, author = {Shao, S and Wu, J and He, H and Moore, TR and Bubier, J and Larmola, T and Juutinen, S and Roulet, NT}, title = {Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi mediate the response of ombrotrophic peatlands to fertilization: a modeling study.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {238}, number = {1}, pages = {80-95}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18555}, pmid = {36300568}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Wetlands ; Fungi ; Plants/metabolism ; Biomass ; Fertilization ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Ericaceous shrubs adapt to the nutrient-poor conditions in ombrotrophic peatlands by forming symbiotic associations with ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi. Increased nutrient availability may diminish the role of ERM pathways in shrub nutrient uptake, consequently altering the biogeochemical cycling within bogs. To explore the significance of ERM fungi in ombrotrophic peatlands, we developed the model MWMmic (a peat cohort-based biogeochemical model) into MWMmic-NP by explicitly incorporating plant-soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling and ERM fungi processes. The new model was applied to simulate the biogeochemical cycles in the Mer Bleue (MB) bog in Ontario, Canada, and their responses to fertilization. MWMmic_NP reproduced the carbon(C)-N-P cycles and vegetation dynamics observed in the MB bog, and their responses to fertilization. Our simulations showed that fertilization increased shrub biomass by reducing the C allocation to ERM fungi, subsequently suppressing the growth of underlying Sphagnum mosses, and decreasing the peatland C sequestration. Our species removal simulation further demonstrated that ERM fungi were key to maintaining the shrub-moss coexistence and C sink function of bogs. Our results suggest that ERM fungi play a significant role in the biogeochemical cycles in ombrotrophic peatlands and should be considered in future modeling efforts.}, } @article {pmid36298830, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, CTH and Derbyshire, MC and Regmi, R and Li, H and Jones, MGK and Wylie, SJ}, title = {Small RNA Analyses of a Ceratobasidium Isolate Infected with Three Endornaviruses.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36298830}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {*Fungal Viruses ; *RNA Viruses ; *Orchidaceae/genetics/microbiology ; RNA ; DNA ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Isolates of three endornavirus species were identified co-infecting an unidentified species of Ceratobasidium, itself identified as a symbiont from within the roots of a wild plant of the terrestrial orchid Pterostylis vittata in Western Australia. Isogenic lines of the fungal isolate lacking all three mycoviruses were derived from the virus-infected isolate. To observe how presence of endornaviruses influenced gene expression in the fungal host, we sequenced fungus-derived small RNA species from the virus-infected and virus-free isogenic lines and compared them. The presence of mycoviruses influenced expression of small RNAs. Of the 3272 fungus-derived small RNA species identified, the expression of 9.1% (300 of 3272) of them were up-regulated, and 0.6% (18 of 3272) were down-regulated in the presence of the viruses. Fourteen novel micro-RNA-like RNAs (Cer-milRNAs) were predicted. Gene target prediction of the differentially expressed Cer-milRNAs was quite ambiguous; however, fungal genes involved in transcriptional regulation, catalysis, molecular binding, and metabolic activities such as gene expression, DNA metabolic processes and regulation activities were differentially expressed in the presence of the mycoviruses.}, } @article {pmid36298738, year = {2022}, author = {Dai, MW and Luo, KJ}, title = {Envelope-Fusion-Syncytium Formation in Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus Maturation.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36298738}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Polydnaviridae/genetics ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; Nucleocapsid ; *Wasps ; Giant Cells ; }, abstract = {The viral envelope is essential for virus maturation. Virus-mediated syncytium formations are induced by viral envelope proteins that cause membrane fusion of the infected cells. Polydnaviridae (Polydnavirus) are enveloped viruses with multiple nucleocapsids, and virions mature in symbiotic parasitoid wasp ovaries. However, the mechanism governing the envelope packaging of multiple nucleocapsids remains unclear. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy to examine the process whereby multiple nucleocapsids of Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus are packaged into an envelope and observed envelope-fusion-syncytium formation in symbiotic wasp calyx cells during virus maturation. The virus maturation process in calyx cells comprised four stages: pre-virogenic stroma, virogenic stroma, assembly, and fusion. Each virus contained a single envelope with one nucleocapsid in the assembly stage; multiple envelopes then fused to form a viral envelope with multiple nucleocapsids (i.e., the envelope-fusion-syncytium) around the envelope fusion core in the fusion stage. The envelope-fusion-syncytium then stabilized the virions that were released into the lumen of the ovary across the calyx epithelial layer. The phagocytic calyx epithelial cells on the border of the calyx and ovary lumen cleared the majority of non-enveloped nucleocapsids. In contrast, non-phagocytic calyx epithelial cells with microvilli and a cuticular line between the ovary wall and the lumen remained intact in the ovary lumen. These results indicate that envelope-fusion-syncytium formation is important for packaging multiple nucleocapsids in bracovirus maturation.}, } @article {pmid36296908, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, H and Chen, X and Zhang, S and Li, J}, title = {Gut Microbiota, the Potential Biological Medicine for Prevention, Intervention and Drug Sensitization to Fight Diseases.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {36296908}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Autism Spectrum Disorder/microbiology ; *Biological Products ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; }, abstract = {As the largest "immune organ" of human beings, the gut microbiota is symbiotic and mutually beneficial with the human host, playing multiple physiological functions. Studies have long shown that dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated with almost all human diseases, mainly including type II diabetes, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, autism spectrum disorder, and kidney diseases. As a novel and potential biological medicine for disease prevention, intervention and drug sensitization, the gut microbiota has attracted more and more attention recently. Although the gut microbiota is a comprehensive microbial community, several star bacteria have emerged as possible tools to fight against various diseases. This review aims to elucidate the relevance of gut microbiota dysbiosis with disease occurrence and progression, and mainly summarizes four well-known genera with therapeutic and sensitizing potential, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Parabacteroides, thoroughly elucidate their potential value as biological drugs to treat diverse disease.}, } @article {pmid36296327, year = {2022}, author = {Ihara, S and Wakai, S and Maehara, T and Okamoto, A}, title = {Electrochemical Enrichment and Isolation of Electrogenic Bacteria from 0.22 µm Filtrate.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36296327}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Ultramicrobacteria (UMB) that can pass through a 0.22 µm filter are attractive because of their novelty and diversity. However, isolating UMB has been difficult because of their symbiotic or parasitic lifestyles in the environment. Some UMB have extracellular electron transfer (EET)-related genes, suggesting that these symbionts may grow on an electrode surface independently. Here, we attempted to culture from soil samples bacteria that passed through a 0.22 µm filter poised with +0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl and isolated Cellulomonas sp. strain NTE-D12 from the electrochemical reactor. A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA showed 97.9% similarity to the closest related species, Cellulomonas algicola, indicating that the strain NTE-D12 is a novel species. Electrochemical and genomic analyses showed that the strain NTE-D12 generated the highest current density compared to that in the three related species, indicating the presence of a unique electron transfer system in the strain. Therefore, the present study provides a new isolation scheme for cultivating and isolating novel UMB potentially with a symbiotic relationship associated with interspecies electron transfer.}, } @article {pmid36296265, year = {2022}, author = {Caruso, DJ and Palombo, EA and Moulton, SE and Zaferanloo, B}, title = {Exploring the Promise of Endophytic Fungi: A Review of Novel Antimicrobial Compounds.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36296265}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Over the last few decades, many of the existing drugs used to treat infectious diseases have become increasingly ineffective due to the global emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As such, there is a constant demand to find new, effective compounds that could help to alleviate some of this pressure. Endophytic fungi have captured the attention of many researchers in this field, as they have displayed a vast ability to produce novel bioactive compounds, many of which possess wide-ranging antimicrobial activities. However, while highly promising, research in this area is still in its infancy. Endophytes inhabit the healthy tissues of plants asymptomatically, resulting in a mutualistic symbiosis in which the endophytes produce a plethora of bioactive compounds that support the fitness of the host plant. These compounds display great chemical diversity, representing structural groups, such as aliphatic compounds, alkaloids, peptides, phenolics, polyketides and terpenoids. In this review, the significant antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi is detailed, highlighting their ability to produce novel and diverse antimicrobial compounds active against human, plant and marine pathogens. In doing so, it also highlights the significant contributions that endophytic fungi can make in our battle against AMR, thus providing the motivation to increase efforts in the search for new and effective antimicrobial drugs.}, } @article {pmid36296224, year = {2022}, author = {Soto, W}, title = {Emerging Research Topics in the Vibrionaceae and the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36296224}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The Vibrionaceae encompasses a cosmopolitan group that is mostly aquatic and possesses tremendous metabolic and genetic diversity. Given the importance of this taxon, it deserves continued and deeper research in a multitude of areas. This review outlines emerging topics of interest within the Vibrionaceae. Moreover, previously understudied research areas are highlighted that merit further exploration, including affiliations with marine plants (seagrasses), microbial predators, intracellular niches, and resistance to heavy metal toxicity. Agarases, phototrophy, phage shock protein response, and microbial experimental evolution are also fields discussed. The squid-Vibrio symbiosis is a stellar model system, which can be a useful guiding light on deeper expeditions and voyages traversing these "seas of interest". Where appropriate, the squid-Vibrio mutualism is mentioned in how it has or could facilitate the illumination of these various subjects. Additional research is warranted on the topics specified herein, since they have critical relevance for biomedical science, pharmaceuticals, and health care. There are also practical applications in agriculture, zymology, food science, and culinary use. The tractability of microbial experimental evolution is explained. Examples are given of how microbial selection studies can be used to examine the roles of chance, contingency, and determinism (natural selection) in shaping Earth's natural history.}, } @article {pmid36296188, year = {2022}, author = {Jiang, ZR and Morita, T and Jikumaru, S and Kuroda, K and Masuya, H and Kajimura, H}, title = {The Role of Mycangial Fungi Associated with Ambrosia Beetles (Euwallacea interjectus) in Fig Wilt Disease: Dual Inoculation of Fusarium kuroshium and Ceratocystis ficicola Can Bring Fig Saplings to Early Symptom Development.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36296188}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea interjectus, is a wood-boring pest and a vector of Ceratocystis ficicola, a pathogenic fungus causing fig (Ficus carica) wilt disease (FWD) in Japan. The ambrosia fungi, Fusarium kuroshium and Neocosmospora metavorans, have been frequently isolated from heads (including mycangia) of wild and reared adult female E. interjectus, respectively. However, the exact mechanisms driving FWD as well as the interactions between F. kuroshium and C. ficicola in fig orchard remain unclear. To verify the role of the mycangial fungi in the FWD progression, fig saplings were subjected to inoculation treatments (T1, F. kuroshium; T2, N. metavorans, reference positive control; T3, C. ficicola; T4, F. kuroshium + C. ficicola, realistic on-site combination). T3 and T4 saplings began wilting approximately 12 days after inoculation, leading to eventual death. Median duration from inoculation to death of the T4 saplings was approximately four days significantly faster than that of the T3 saplings. Xylem sap-conduction test indicated that dysfunction and necrosis area were considerably wider in the T4 saplings than in T3 saplings. These results demonstrate that the synergistic action of F. kuroshium and C. ficicola contributed to accelerated wilting in the saplings. Based on these discoveries, we proposed a model for system changes in the symbiosis between E. interjectus and its associated fungi in FWD in Japan.}, } @article {pmid36296173, year = {2022}, author = {Basiru, S and Hijri, M}, title = {The Potential Applications of Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculants and Their Ecological Consequences.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36296173}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculants are sustainable biological materials that can provide several benefits to plants, especially in disturbed agroecosystems and in the context of phytomanagement interventions. However, it is difficult to predict the effectiveness of AMF inoculants and their impacts on indigenous AMF communities under field conditions. In this review, we examined the literature on the possible outcomes following the introduction of AMF-based inoculants in the field, including their establishment in soil and plant roots, persistence, and effects on the indigenous AMF community. Most studies indicate that introduced AMF can persist in the target field from a few months to several years but with declining abundance (60%) or complete exclusion (30%). Further analysis shows that AMF inoculation exerts both positive and negative impacts on native AMF species, including suppression (33%), stimulation (38%), exclusion (19%), and neutral impacts (10% of examined cases). The factors influencing the ecological fates of AMF inoculants, such as the inherent properties of the inoculum, dosage and frequency of inoculation, and soil physical and biological factors, are further discussed. While it is important to monitor the success and downstream impacts of commercial inoculants in the field, the sampling method and the molecular tools employed to resolve and quantify AMF taxa need to be improved and standardized to eliminate bias towards certain AMF strains and reduce discrepancies among studies. Lastly, inoculant producers must focus on selecting strains with a higher chance of success in the field, and having little or negligible downstream impacts.}, } @article {pmid36295430, year = {2022}, author = {Jastrzębska, A and Gralak, Z and Brzuzy, K and Kmieciak, A and Krzemiński, MP and Burdziński, R and Kurzawa, M and Szłyk, E}, title = {Simple and Effective Derivatization of Amino Acids with 1-Fluoro-2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene in a Microwave Reactor for Determination of Free Amino Acids in Kombucha Beverages.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {15}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {36295430}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermentation product of sweetened tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic acid and yeast bacteria, consumed worldwide for its health-promoting properties. Few reports can be found about free amino acids among the health-promoting compounds found and determined in kombucha. These compounds influence the sensory properties of kombucha, and they are precursors of bioactive compounds, which have a significant role as neurotransmitters and are involved in biological functions. The presented studies proposed a convenient, simple, and "more green" procedure of the synthesis of amino acid derivatives, assisted by microwave energy, followed by chromatographic determination. The structure of 1-Fluoro-2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene was used as a suitable reagent for the derivatization of free amino acids in fermented kombucha beverages prepared from selected dry fruit such as Crataegus L., Morus alba L., Sorbus aucuparia L., Berberis vulgaris L., Rosa canina L., and black tea. The obtained results were discussed regarding the tested beverages' application as a source of amino acids in one's daily diet. The obtained results point out that the proposed microwave-assisted derivatization procedure prior to HPLC analyses allows for a significant time reduction and the limitation of using organic reagents.}, } @article {pmid36294998, year = {2022}, author = {Zhan, X and Qian, Y and Mao, B}, title = {Identification of Two GDSL-Type Esterase/Lipase Genes Related to Tissue-Specific Lipolysis in Dendrobium catenatum by Multi-Omics Analysis.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36294998}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Dendrobium catenatum is an important herb and widely cultivated in China. GDSL-Type Esterase/Lipase proteins (GELPs) are widely distributed in plants and play crucial roles in stress responses, plant growth, and development. However, no identification or functional analysis of GELPs was reported in D. catenatum. This study identifies 52 GELPs in D. catenatum genome, which is classified into four groups by phylogenetic analysis. Four conservative blocks (Ser-Gly-Asn-His) are found in most GELP domains. Transcriptome analysis reveals the expression profiles of GELPs in different organs and flowering phases. Co-expression analysis of the transcriptome and lipidome identifies a GELP gene, Dca016600, that positively correlates with 23 lipids. The purified Dca016600 protein shows the optimum pH is active from 8.0 to 8.5, and the optimum temperature is active from 30 °C to 40 °C. The kinetic study provides Vmax (233.43 μmol·min[-1]·mg[-1]) and Km (1.49 mM) for substrate p-nitrophenyl palmitate (p-NPP). Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and proteome identifies a GELP gene, Dca005399, which is specially induced by freezing. Interestingly, Dca005399 shows high expression in symbiotic germination seeds and sepals. This study provides new insights into the function of D. catenatum GELPs in plant development and stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid36294663, year = {2022}, author = {Fardella, PA and Tian, Z and Clarke, BB and Belanger, FC}, title = {The Epichloë festucae Antifungal Protein Efe-AfpA Protects Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) from the Plant Pathogen Clarireedia jacksonii, the Causal Agent of Dollar Spot Disease.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36294663}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Dollar spot disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Clarireedia jacksonii, is a major problem in many turfgrass species, particularly creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). It is well-established that strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra) exhibits good dollar spot resistance when infected by the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae. This endophyte-mediated disease resistance is unique to the fine fescues and has not been observed in other grass species infected with other Epichloë spp. The mechanism underlying the unique endophyte-mediated disease resistance in strong creeping red fescue has not yet been established. We pursued the possibility that it may be due to the presence of an abundant secreted antifungal protein produced by E. festucae. Here, we compare the activity of the antifungal protein expressed in Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris, and Penicillium chrysogenum. Active protein was recovered from all systems, with the best activity being from Pe. chrysogenum. In greenhouse assays, topical application of the purified antifungal protein to creeping bentgrass and endophyte-free strong creeping red fescue protected the plants from developing severe symptoms caused by C. jacksonii. These results support the hypothesis that Efe-AfpA is a major contributor to the dollar spot resistance observed with E. festucae-infected strong creeping red fescue in the field, and that this protein could be developed as an alternative or complement to fungicides for the management of this disease on turfgrasses.}, } @article {pmid36294657, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, C and Huang, R and Wang, J and Jin, J and Malik, K and Niu, X and Tang, R and Hou, W and Cheng, C and Liu, Y and Liu, J}, title = {Comprehensive Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Elucidates the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Salt Resistance in Roots of Achnatherum inebrians Mediated by Epichloë gansuensis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36294657}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Salinization of soil is a major environmental risk factor to plant functions, leading to a reduction of productivity of crops and forage. Epichloë gansuensis, seed-borne endophytic fungi, establishes a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with Achnatherum inebrians and confers salt tolerance in the host plants. In this study, analysis of transcriptome and metabolome was used to explore the potential molecular mechanism underlying the salt-adaptation of A. inebrians roots mediated by E. gansuensis. We found that E. gansuensis played an important role in the gene expression of the host's roots and regulated multiple pathways involved in amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, TCA cycle, secondary metabolism, and lipid metabolism in the roots of A. inebrians. Importantly, E. gansuensis significantly induced the biological processes, including exocytosis, glycolytic process, fructose metabolic process, and potassium ion transport in roots of host plants at transcriptional levels, and altered the pathways, including inositol phosphate metabolism, galactose metabolism, starch, and sucrose metabolism at metabolite levels under NaCl stress. These findings provided insight into the molecular mechanism of salt resistance in roots of A. inebrians mediated by E. gansuensis and could drive progress in the cultivation of new salt-resistance breeds with endophytes.}, } @article {pmid36294628, year = {2022}, author = {Tenzin, UW and Noirungsee, N and Runsaeng, P and Noppradit, P and Klinnawee, L}, title = {Dry-Season Soil and Co-Cultivated Host Plants Enhanced Propagation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Spores from Sand Dune Vegetation in Trap Culture.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36294628}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as biofertilizer in agriculture is a sustainable approach to fertilization. The first step in the production of AMF biofertilizer is inoculation of mycotrophic plants with a composite of soil and native plant roots, containing potentially viable AMF spores from natural habitats, to a trap culture. A single host plant or a consortium of host plants can be used to propagate AMF spores. However, the difference in the comparative efficiency of mono- and co-cultivated host plants used for the production of AMF spores and the maintenance of original AMF community composition has not been well elucidated. Here, we prepared trap culture with nutrient-poor soil from coastal sand dune vegetation collected during the dry season when the AMF spore density and relative abundance of Glomeromycota ITS2 sequences were significantly higher (p = <0.05) than in the wet season. The AMF communities in the soil were mainly composed of Glomus spp. Maize (Zea mays L.) and/or Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.). Moench) were grown in trap cultures in the greenhouse. Our results demonstrated that co-cultivation of the host plants increased the production of AMF spores but, compared to mono-cultivation of host plants, did not better sustain the native AMF community compositions in the coastal sand dune soil. We propose that the co-cultivation of host plants in a trap culture broadens AMF-host plant compatibilities and thus sustains the symbiotic association of the natively diverse AMF. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that further research is needed to confirm whether the co-culturing of more than one host plant is as efficient a strategy as using a monoculture of a single host plant.}, } @article {pmid36294627, year = {2022}, author = {Satish, L and Barak, H and Keren, G and Yehezkel, G and Kushmaro, A and Ben-Dov, E and Kagan-Zur, V and Barak, Z and Sitrit, Y}, title = {The Microbiome Structure of the Symbiosis between the Desert Truffle Terfezia boudieri and Its Host Plant Helianthemum sessiliflorum.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36294627}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The desert truffle Terfezia boudieri is an ascomycete fungus that forms ect-endomycorrhiza in the roots of plants belonging to Cistaceae. The fungus forms hypogeous edible fruit bodies, appreciated as gourmet food. Truffles and host plants are colonized by various microbes, which may contribute to their development. However, the diversity and composition of the bacterial community under field conditions in the Negev desert are still unknown. The overall goal of this research was to identify the rhizosphere microbial community supporting the establishment of a symbiotic association between T. boudieri and Helianthemum sessiliflorum. The bacterial community was characterized by fruiting bodies, mycorrhized roots, and rhizosphere soil. Based on next-generation sequencing meta-analyses of the 16S rRNA gene, we discovered diverse bacterial communities of fruit bodies that differed from those found in the roots and rhizosphere. Families of Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Actinobacteria were present in all four samples. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that the rhizosphere and roots contain significantly higher bacterial species numbers compared to the fruit. Additionally, ANOSIM and PCoA provided a comparative analysis of the bacterial taxa associated with fruiting bodies, roots, and rhizosphere. The core microbiome described consists of groups whose biological role triggers important traits supporting plant growth and fruit body development.}, } @article {pmid36294577, year = {2022}, author = {Toure, S and Millot, M and Ory, L and Roullier, C and Khaldi, Z and Pichon, V and Girardot, M and Imbert, C and Mambu, L}, title = {Access to Anti-Biofilm Compounds from Endolichenic Fungi Using a Bioguided Networking Screening.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36294577}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Endolichenic microorganisms represent a new source of bioactive natural compounds. Lichens, resulting from a symbiotic association between algae or cyanobacteria and fungi, constitute an original ecological niche for these microorganisms. Endolichenic fungi inhabiting inside the lichen thallus have been isolated and characterized. By cultivation on three different culture media, endolichenic fungi gave rise to a wide diversity of bioactive metabolites. A total of 38 extracts were screened for their anti-maturation effect on Candida albicans biofilms. The 10 most active ones, inducing at least 50% inhibition, were tested against 24 h preformed biofilms of C. albicans, using a reference strain and clinical isolates. The global molecular network was associated to bioactivity data in order to identify and priorize active natural product families. The MS-targeted isolation led to the identification of new oxygenated fatty acid in Preussia persica endowed with an interesting anti-biofilm activity against C. albicans yeasts.}, } @article {pmid36293436, year = {2022}, author = {Berus, SM and Adamczyk-Popławska, M and Goździk, K and Przedpełska, G and Szymborski, TR and Stepanenko, Y and Kamińska, A}, title = {SERS-PLSR Analysis of Vaginal Microflora: Towards the Spectral Library of Microorganisms.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {36293436}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Gardnerella vaginalis ; Vagina/microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; Bifidobacterium ; *Vaginosis, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {The accurate identification of microorganisms belonging to vaginal microflora is crucial for establishing which microorganisms are responsible for microbial shifting from beneficial symbiotic to pathogenic bacteria and understanding pathogenesis leading to vaginosis and vaginal infections. In this study, we involved the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique to compile the spectral signatures of the most significant microorganisms being part of the natural vaginal microbiota and some vaginal pathogens. Obtained data will supply our still developing spectral SERS database of microorganisms. The SERS results were assisted by Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), which visually discloses some dependencies between spectral images and hence their biochemical compositions of the outer structure. In our work, we focused on the most common and typical of the reproductive system microorganisms (Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp.) and vaginal pathogens: bacteria (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella bivia, Atopobium vaginae), fungi (e.g., Candida albicans, Candida glabrata), and protozoa (Trichomonas vaginalis). The obtained results proved that each microorganism has its unique spectral fingerprint that differentiates it from the rest. Moreover, the discrimination was obtained at a high level of explained information by subsequent factors, e.g., in the inter-species distinction of Candida spp. the first three factors explain 98% of the variance in block Y with 95% of data within the X matrix, while in differentiation between Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. (natural flora) and pathogen (e.g., Candida glabrata) the information is explained at the level of 45% of the Y matrix with 94% of original data. PLSR gave us insight into discriminating variables based on which the marker bands representing specific compounds in the outer structure of microorganisms were found: for Lactobacillus spp. 1400 cm[-1], for fungi 905 and 1209 cm[-1], and for protozoa 805, 890, 1062, 1185, 1300, 1555, and 1610 cm[-1]. Then, they can be used as significant marker bands in the analysis of clinical subjects, e.g., vaginal swabs.}, } @article {pmid36293341, year = {2022}, author = {Loth, K and Parisot, N and Paquet, F and Terrasson, H and Sivignon, C and Rahioui, I and Ribeiro Lopes, M and Gaget, K and Duport, G and Delmas, AF and Aucagne, V and Heddi, A and Calevro, F and da Silva, P}, title = {Aphid BCR4 Structure and Activity Uncover a New Defensin Peptide Superfamily.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {36293341}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Insecticides/pharmacology/metabolism ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Biological Control Agents/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Peptides/pharmacology/metabolism ; Disulfides/metabolism ; Defensins/genetics/pharmacology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are among the most detrimental insects for agricultural plants, and their management is a great challenge in agronomical research. A new class of proteins, called Bacteriocyte-specific Cysteine-Rich (BCR) peptides, provides an alternative to chemical insecticides for pest control. BCRs were initially identified in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. They are small disulfide bond-rich proteins expressed exclusively in aphid bacteriocytes, the insect cells that host intracellular symbiotic bacteria. Here, we show that one of the A. pisum BCRs, BCR4, displays prominent insecticidal activity against the pea aphid, impairing insect survival and nymphal growth, providing evidence for its potential use as a new biopesticide. Our comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses indicate that BCRs are restricted to the aphid lineage. The 3D structure of BCR4 reveals that this peptide belongs to an as-yet-unknown structural class of peptides and defines a new superfamily of defensins.}, } @article {pmid36293238, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, R and Li, Z and Shen, X and Choi, J and Cao, Y}, title = {The Perspective of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Rice Domestication and Breeding.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {36293238}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Oryza/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Domestication ; Fertilizers ; Plant Breeding ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/microbiology ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In nature, symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contributes to sustainable acquisition of phosphorus and other elements in over 80% of plant species; improving interactions with AM symbionts may mitigate some of the environmental problems associated with fertilizer application in grain crops such as rice. Recent developments of high-throughput genome sequencing projects of thousands of rice cultivars and the discovery of the molecular mechanisms underlying AM symbiosis suggest that interactions with AM fungi might have been an overlooked critical trait in rice domestication and breeding. In this review, we discuss genetic variation in the ability of rice to form AM symbioses and how this might have affected rice domestication. Finally, we discuss potential applications of AM symbiosis in rice breeding for more sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36292780, year = {2022}, author = {Li, M and Chen, Q and Wu, C and Li, Y and Wang, S and Chen, X and Qiu, B and Li, Y and Mao, D and Lin, H and Yu, D and Cao, Y and Huang, Z and Cui, C and Zhong, Z}, title = {A Novel Module Promotes Horizontal Gene Transfer in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36292780}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Sesbania/microbiology ; Integrases/metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 contains an 87.6 kb integrative and conjugative element (ICE[Ac]) that conjugatively transfers symbiosis genes to other rhizobia. Many hypothetical redundant gene fragments (rgfs) are abundant in ICE[Ac], but their potential function in horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is unknown. Molecular biological methods were employed to delete hypothetical rgfs, expecting to acquire a minimal ICE[Ac] and consider non-functional rgfs as editable regions for inserting genes related to new symbiotic functions. We determined the significance of rgf4 in HGT and identified the physiological function of genes designated rihF1a (AZC_3879), rihF1b (AZC_RS26200), and rihR (AZC_3881). In-frame deletion and complementation assays revealed that rihF1a and rihF1b work as a unit (rihF1) that positively affects HGT frequency. The EMSA assay and lacZ-based reporter system showed that the XRE-family protein RihR is not a regulator of rihF1 but promotes the expression of the integrase (intC) that has been reported to be upregulated by the LysR-family protein, AhaR, through sensing host's flavonoid. Overall, a conservative module containing rihF1 and rihR was characterized, eliminating the size of ICE[Ac] by 18.5%. We propose the feasibility of constructing a minimal ICE[Ac] element to facilitate the exchange of new genetic components essential for symbiosis or other metabolic functions between soil bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36292725, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Zhang, S and Fang, J and Jin, X and Mamut, R and Li, P}, title = {The Chloroplast Genome of the Lichen Photobiont Trebouxiophyceae sp. DW1 and Its Phylogenetic Implications.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36292725}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Genome, Chloroplast/genetics ; *Lichens/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; Introns ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Codon ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations of algae and fungi. The genetic mechanism of the symbiosis of lichens and the influence of symbiosis on the size and composition of the genomes of symbiotic algae have always been intriguing scientific questions explored by lichenologists. However, there were limited data on lichen genomes. Therefore, we isolated and purified a lichen symbiotic alga to obtain a single strain (Trebouxiophyceae sp. DW1), and then obtained its chloroplast genome information by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The chloroplast genome is 129,447 bp in length, and the GC content is 35.2%. Repetitive sequences with the length of 30-35 bp account for 1.27% of the total chloroplast genome. The simple sequence repeats are all mononucleotide repeats. Codon usage analysis showed that the genome tended to use codon ending in A/U. By comparing the length of different regions of Trebouxiophyceae genomes, we found that the changes in the length of exons, introns, and intergenic sequences affect the size of genomes. Trebouxiophyceae had an unstable chloroplast genome structure, with IRs repeatedly losing during evolution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Trebouxiophyceae is paraphyletic, and Trebouxiophyceae sp. DW1 is sister to the clade of Koliella longiseta and Pabia signiensis.}, } @article {pmid36289988, year = {2022}, author = {Nausch, B and Bittner, CB and Höller, M and Abramov-Sommariva, D and Hiergeist, A and Gessner, A}, title = {Contribution of Symptomatic, Herbal Treatment Options to Antibiotic Stewardship and Microbiotic Health.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36289988}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Epithelial surfaces in humans are home to symbiotic microbes (i.e., microbiota) that influence the defensive function against pathogens, depending on the health of the microbiota. Healthy microbiota contribute to the well-being of their host, in general (e.g., via the gut-brain axis), and their respective anatomical site, in particular (e.g., oral, urogenital, skin, or respiratory microbiota). Despite efforts towards a more responsible use of antibiotics, they are often prescribed for uncomplicated, self-limiting infections and can have a substantial negative impact on the gut microbiota. Treatment alternatives, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may also influence the microbiota; thus, they can have lasting adverse effects. Herbal drugs offer a generally safe treatment option for uncomplicated infections of the urinary or respiratory tract. Additionally, their microbiota preserving properties allow for a more appropriate therapy of uncomplicated infections, without contributing to an increase in antibiotic resistance or disturbing the gut microbiota. Here, herbal treatments may be a more appropriate therapy, with a generally favorable safety profile.}, } @article {pmid36289064, year = {2022}, author = {Nzabarushimana, E and Tang, H}, title = {Functional profile of host microbiome indicates Clostridioides difficile infection.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2135963}, pmid = {36289064}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {R01 AI143254/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Clostridioides difficile/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Clostridium Infections/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/methods ; *Microbiota ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a gastro-intestinal (GI) infection that illustrates how perturbations in symbiotic host-microbiome interactions render the GI tract vulnerable to the opportunistic pathogens. CDI also serves as an example of how such perturbations could be reversed via gut microbiota modulation mechanisms, especially fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). However, microbiome-mediated diagnosis of CDI remains understudied. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic capabilities of the fecal microbiome on the prediction of CDI. We used the metagenomic sequencing data from ten previous studies, encompassing those acquired from CDI patients treated by FMT, CDI-negative patients presenting other intestinal health conditions, and healthy volunteers taking antibiotics. We designed a hybrid species/function profiling approach that determines the abundances of microbial species in the community contributing to its functional profile. These functionally informed taxonomic profiles were then used for classification of the microbial samples. We used logistic regression (LR) models using these features, which showed high prediction accuracy (with an average AUC0.91), substantiating that the species/function composition of the gut microbiome has a robust diagnostic prediction of CDI. We further assessed the confounding impact of antibiotic therapy on CDI prediction and found that it is distinguishable from the CDI impact. Finally, we devised a log-odds score computed from the output of the LR models to quantify the likelihood of CDI in a gut microbiome sample and applied it to evaluating the effectiveness of FMT based on post-FMT microbiome samples. The results showed that the gut microbiome of patients exhibited a gradual but steady improvement after receiving successful FMT, indicating the restoration of the normal microbiome functions.}, } @article {pmid36288604, year = {2023}, author = {Garneau, L and Beauregard, PB and Roy, S}, title = {Deciphering the role of non-Frankia nodular endophytes in alder through in vitro and genomic characterization.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {2}, pages = {72-87}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2022-0073}, pmid = {36288604}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics ; *Alnus/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Plants/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {Endophytic bacterial populations are well-positioned to provide benefits to their host plants such as nutrient acquisition and plant hormone level manipulation. Actinorhizal plants such as alders are well known for their microbial symbioses that allow them to colonize harsh environments whether natural or anthropized. Although the nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium Frankia sp. is the main endophyte found in alder root nodules, other bacterial genera, whose roles remain poorly defined, inhabit this niche. In this study, we isolated a diverse panel of non-Frankia nodular endophytes (NFNE). Some NFNE were isolated from alders grown from surface-sterilized seeds and maintained in sterile conditions, suggesting these may have been seed-borne. In vitro testing of 24 NFNE revealed some possessed putative plant growth promotion traits. Their genomes were also sequenced to identify genes related to plant growth promotion traits. This study highlights the complexity of the alder nodular microbial community. It paves the way for further understanding of the biology of nodules and could help improve land reclamation practices that involve alders.}, } @article {pmid36287967, year = {2022}, author = {Gu, M and Xue, Z and Lv, S and Cai, Y and Zhang, L and Gao, X}, title = {Corynebacterium sp. 2-TD Mediated Toxicity of 2-Tridecanone to Helicoverpa armigera.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36287967}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Moths ; Larva ; Corynebacterium/genetics ; Pheromones/metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Carbon/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) is a Lepidopteran noctuid pest with a global distribution. It has a wide range of host plants and can harm cotton, tomato, tobacco, and corn, as well as other crops. H. armigera larvae damage the flower buds, flowers, and fruits of tomato and cause serious losses to tomato production. Tomato uses the allelochemical 2-tridecanone to defend against this damage. So far, there have been no reports on whether the adaptation of H. armigera to 2-tridecanone is related to its symbiotic microorganisms. Our study found that Corynebacterium sp. 2-TD, symbiotic bacteria in H. armigera, mediates the toxicity of the 2-tridecanone to H. armigera. Corynebacterium sp. 2-TD, which was identified by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, was screened out using a basal salt medium containing a unique carbon source of 2-tridecanone. Then, Corynebacterium sp. 2-TD was confirmed to be distributed in the gut of H. armigera by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The survival rate of H. armigera increased by 38.3% under 2-tridecanone stress after inoculation with Corynebacterium sp. 2-TD. The degradation effect of Corynebacterium sp. 2-TD on 2-tridecanone was verified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Our study is the first to report the isolation of gut bacteria that degrade 2-tridecanone from the important agricultural pest H. armigera and to confirm bacterial involvement in host adaptation to 2-tridecanone, which provides new insights into the adaptive mechanism of agricultural pests to host plants.}, } @article {pmid36287917, year = {2022}, author = {Bhargava, S and Merckelbach, E and Noels, H and Vohra, A and Jankowski, J}, title = {Homeostasis in the Gut Microbiota in Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36287917}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Uremic Toxins ; *Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/metabolism ; Bacteria ; Homeostasis ; Endotoxins ; Phenols ; Indoles/therapeutic use ; Amines ; Water ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota consists of trillions of microorganisms, fulfilling important roles in metabolism, nutritional intake, physiology and maturation of the immune system, but also aiding and abetting the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The human gut microbiome consists of bacterial species from five major bacterial phyla, namely Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Alterations in the members of these phyla alter the total gut microbiota, with a decline in the number of symbiotic flora and an increase in the pathogenic bacteria, causing or aggravating CKD. In addition, CKD-associated alteration of this intestinal microbiome results in metabolic changes and the accumulation of amines, indoles and phenols, among other uremic metabolites, which have a feedforward adverse effect on CKD patients, inhibiting renal functions and increasing comorbidities such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A classification of uremic toxins according to the degree of known toxicity based on the experimental evidence of their toxicity (number of systems affected) and overall experimental and clinical evidence was selected to identify the representative uremic toxins from small water-soluble compounds, protein-bound compounds and middle molecules and their relation to the gut microbiota was summarized. Gut-derived uremic metabolites accumulating in CKD patients further exhibit cell-damaging properties, damage the intestinal epithelial cell wall, increase gut permeability and lead to the translocation of bacteria and endotoxins from the gut into the circulatory system. Elevated levels of endotoxins lead to endotoxemia and inflammation, further accelerating CKD progression. In recent years, the role of the gut microbiome in CKD pathophysiology has emerged as an important aspect of corrective treatment; however, the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota contributes to CKD progression are still not completely understood. Therefore, this review summarizes the current state of research regarding CKD and the gut microbiota, alterations in the microbiome, uremic toxin production, and gut epithelial barrier degradation.}, } @article {pmid36286996, year = {2022}, author = {Babalola, OO and Ajiboye, TT and Ayangbenro, AS}, title = {Microbiome of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Rhizosphere from Free State, South Africa.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {e0028822}, pmid = {36286996}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Soybean develop a symbiotic relationship with the rhizospheric microbial communities. These organisms are important in maintaining soybean growth and health. Soil samples for this study were collected from Free State, South Africa. We present the microbiome of the soybean rhizosphere and its functional categories at level 1 of the SEED subsystem.}, } @article {pmid36286519, year = {2022}, author = {Batstone, RT and Lindgren, H and Allsup, CM and Goralka, LA and Riley, AB and Grillo, MA and Marshall-Colon, A and Heath, KD}, title = {Genome-Wide Association Studies across Environmental and Genetic Contexts Reveal Complex Genetic Architecture of Symbiotic Extended Phenotypes.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {e0182322}, pmid = {36286519}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Genome-Wide Association Study ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Phenotype ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {A goal of modern biology is to develop the genotype-phenotype (G→P) map, a predictive understanding of how genomic information generates trait variation that forms the basis of both natural and managed communities. As microbiome research advances, however, it has become clear that many of these traits are symbiotic extended phenotypes, being governed by genetic variation encoded not only by the host's own genome, but also by the genomes of myriad cryptic symbionts. Building a reliable G→P map therefore requires accounting for the multitude of interacting genes and even genomes involved in symbiosis. Here, we use naturally occurring genetic variation in 191 strains of the model microbial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti paired with two genotypes of the host Medicago truncatula in four genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to determine the genomic architecture of a key symbiotic extended phenotype-partner quality, or the fitness benefit conferred to a host by a particular symbiont genotype, within and across environmental contexts and host genotypes. We define three novel categories of loci in rhizobium genomes that must be accounted for if we want to build a reliable G→P map of partner quality; namely, (i) loci whose identities depend on the environment, (ii) those that depend on the host genotype with which rhizobia interact, and (iii) universal loci that are likely important in all or most environments. IMPORTANCE Given the rapid rise of research on how microbiomes can be harnessed to improve host health, understanding the contribution of microbial genetic variation to host phenotypic variation is pressing, and will better enable us to predict the evolution of (and select more precisely for) symbiotic extended phenotypes that impact host health. We uncover extensive context-dependency in both the identity and functions of symbiont loci that control host growth, which makes predicting the genes and pathways important for determining symbiotic outcomes under different conditions more challenging. Despite this context-dependency, we also resolve a core set of universal loci that are likely important in all or most environments, and thus, serve as excellent targets both for genetic engineering and future coevolutionary studies of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36286440, year = {2022}, author = {Lo Giudice, A and Rizzo, C}, title = {Bacteria Associated with Benthic Invertebrates from Extreme Marine Environments: Promising but Underexplored Sources of Biotechnologically Relevant Molecules.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {36286440}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; *Invertebrates/chemistry ; Bacteria ; Extreme Environments ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Biological Products/pharmacology/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Microbe-invertebrate associations, commonly occurring in nature, play a fundamental role in the life of symbionts, even in hostile habitats, assuming a key importance for both ecological and evolutionary studies and relevance in biotechnology. Extreme environments have emerged as a new frontier in natural product chemistry in the search for novel chemotypes of microbial origin with significant biological activities. However, to date, the main focus has been microbes from sediment and seawater, whereas those associated with biota have received significantly less attention. This review has been therefore conceived to summarize the main information on invertebrate-bacteria associations that are established in extreme marine environments. After a brief overview of currently known extreme marine environments and their main characteristics, a report on the associations between extremophilic microorganisms and macrobenthic organisms in such hostile habitats is provided. The second part of the review deals with biotechnologically relevant bioactive molecules involved in establishing and maintaining symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid36286193, year = {2023}, author = {Domka, A and Jędrzejczyk, R and Ważny, R and Gustab, M and Kowalski, M and Nosek, M and Bizan, J and Puschenreiter, M and Vaculίk, M and Kováč, J and Rozpądek, P}, title = {Endophytic yeast protect plants against metal toxicity by inhibiting plant metal uptake through an ethylene-dependent mechanism.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {268-287}, pmid = {36286193}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; }, abstract = {Toxic metal pollution requires significant adjustments in plant metabolism. Here, we show that the plant microbiota plays an important role in this process. The endophytic Sporobolomyces ruberrimus isolated from a serpentine population of Arabidopsis arenosa protected plants against excess metals. Coculture with its native host and Arabidopsis thaliana inhibited Fe and Ni uptake. It had no effect on host Zn and Cd uptake. Fe uptake inhibition was confirmed in wheat and rape. Our investigations show that, for the metal inhibitory effect, the interference of microorganisms in plant ethylene homeostasis is necessary. Application of an ethylene synthesis inhibitor, as well as loss-of-function mutations in canonical ethylene signalling genes, prevented metal uptake inhibition by the fungus. Coculture with S. ruberrimus significantly changed the expression of Fe homeostasis genes: IRT1, OPT3, OPT6, bHLH38 and bHLH39 in wild-type (WT) A. thaliana. The expression pattern of these genes in WT plants and in the ethylene signalling defective mutants significantly differed and coincided with the plant accumulation phenotype. Most notably, down-regulation of the expression of IRT1 solely in WT was necessary for the inhibition of metal uptake in plants. This study shows that microorganisms optimize plant Fe and Ni uptake by fine-tuning plant metal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid36285493, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, T and Monnin, D and Lee, RAR and Henry, LM}, title = {Local adaptation to hosts and parasitoids shape Hamiltonella defensa genotypes across aphid species.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1985}, pages = {20221269}, pmid = {36285493}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; *Wasps ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Genotype ; }, abstract = {Facultative symbionts are common in insects and can provide their hosts with significant adaptations. Yet we still have a limited understanding of what shapes their distributions, such as why particular symbiont strains are common in some host species yet absent in others. To address this question, we genotyped the defensive symbiont Hamiltonella defensa in 26 aphid species that commonly carry this microbe. We found that Hamiltonella strains were strongly associated with specific aphid species and that strains found in one host species rarely occurred in others. To explain these associations, we reciprocally transferred the Hamiltonella strains of three aphid species, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Macrosiphoniella artemisiae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae, and assessed the impact of Hamiltonella strain on: the stability of the symbiosis, aphid fecundity and parasitoid resistance. We demonstrate that the Hamiltonella strains found in nature are locally adapted to specific aphid hosts, and their ecology: aphids tend to carry Hamiltonella strains that are efficiently transmitted to their offspring, non-lethal, and that provide strong protection against their dominant parasitoid species. Our results suggest that facultative symbiont distributions are shaped by selection from natural enemies, and the host itself, resulting in locally adapted symbioses that provide significant benefits against prevailing natural enemies.}, } @article {pmid36283522, year = {2023}, author = {Li, Z and Ye, W and Jiang, H and Song, H and Zheng, C}, title = {Impact of the eco-efficiency of food production on the water-land-food system coordination in China: A discussion of the moderation effect of environmental regulation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {857}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {159641}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159641}, pmid = {36283522}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Water ; *Environmental Policy ; Economic Development ; Efficiency ; Rivers ; China ; }, abstract = {The coordination of the water-land-food ("WLF") system is an essential guarantee for ecologically sustainable food production. Based on the perspective of symbiosis theory, we explore practical strategies for enhancing WLF system coordination in China. First, we applied the entropy TOPSIS method to measure WLF system coordination. Second, we used the global-Malmquist-Luenberger ("GML") index to calculate the eco-efficiency of food production. Third, we used the panel Tobit model to empirically explore the improvement path of WLF system coordination and test the moderating role of environmental regulation. Our research has led to the following five conclusions: (i) From 2003 to 2019, the coordination level of the WLF system in all regions of China showed a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend, with the highest in the Northeast (0.380). The eco-efficiency of food production showed an upward trend in general, with the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (2.101) and the northeastern region (1.888) at a higher level nationwide; (ii) The eco-efficiency of food production does effectively promote WLF system coordination, but with a specific time lag; (iii) The regression results of northern China and major grain-producing areas are consistent with the whole sample. However, the eco-efficiency of food production and its lagging term in southern regions and nonmajor grain-producing regions cannot effectively promote WLF system coordination; (iv) According to the quantile regression results, the promotion of eco-efficiency in food production is more pronounced in regions with higher WLF system coordination (at the 50 %-90 % quantile); and (v) Environmental regulation has a positive moderating effect on the ecological efficiency of food production on the coherence of the WLF system. Moreover, the regression results of grouping moderation show that environmental regulations can play a more vital, positive moderating role in the lower regions compared with higher WLF system coordination regions. Our research innovatively explores the influencing factors of WLF System Coordination. Our research also provides a reference for the formulation of food ecological planting strategies and government environmental regulation policies.}, } @article {pmid36283215, year = {2023}, author = {Cao, M and Wang, F and Zhou, B and Chen, H and Yuan, R and Ma, S and Geng, H and Li, J and Lv, W and Wang, Y and Xing, B}, title = {Nanoparticles and antibiotics stress proliferated antibiotic resistance genes in microalgae-bacteria symbiotic systems.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {443}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {130201}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130201}, pmid = {36283215}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/analysis ; *Microalgae/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Metal Nanoparticles ; Silver/toxicity ; Bacteria/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Tetracyclines ; }, abstract = {The comprehensive effect of exogenous pollutants on the dispersal and abundance of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in the phycosphere, bacterial community and algae-bacteria interaction remains poorly understood. We investigated community structure and abundance of ARGs in free-living (FL) and particle-attached (PA) bacteria in the phycosphere under nanoparticles (silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and hematite nanoparticles (HemNPs)) and antibiotics (tetracycline and sulfadiazine) stress using high-throughput sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR. Meanwhile, the intrinsic connection of algae-bacteria interaction was explored by transcriptome and metabolome. The results showed that the relative abundance of sulfonamide and tetracycline ARGs in PA and FL bacteria increased 103-129 % and 112-134 %, respectively, under combined stress of nanoparticles and antibiotics. Antibiotics have a greater effect on ARGs than nanoparticles at environmentally relevant concentrations. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, as the primary potential hosts of ARGs, were the dominant phyla. Lifestyle, i.e., PA and FL, significantly determined the abundance of ARGs and bacterial communities. Moreover, algae can provide bacteria with nutrients (carbohydrates and amino acids), and can also produce antibacterial substances (fatty acids). This algal-bacterial interaction may indirectly affect the distribution and abundance of ARGs. These findings provide new insights into the distribution and dispersal of ARGs in microalgae-bacteria symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid36281392, year = {2022}, author = {Hamsan, MH and Abdul Halim, N and Demon, SZN and Sa'aya, NSN and Kadir, MFZ and Abidin, ZHZ and Ahmad Poad, N and Abu Kasim, NF and Razali, NAM and Aziz, SB and Ahmad, KA and Miskon, A and Nor, NM}, title = {SCOBY-based bacterial cellulose as free standing electrodes for safer, greener and cleaner energy storage technology.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e11048}, pmid = {36281392}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Bacterial Cellulose (BC) derived from local market or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) was employed as the polymer matrix for hydroxyl multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-OH)-based electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLC). Chitosan (CS)-sodium iodide (NaI)-glycerol (Gly) electrolyte systems were used as the polymer electrolyte. CS-NaI-Gly electrolyte possesses conductivity, potential stability and ionic transference number of (1.20 ± 0.26) × 10[-3] S cm[-2], 2.5 V and 0.99, respectively. For the electrodes, MWCNT-OH was observed to be well dispersed in the matrix of BC which was obtained via FESEM analysis. The inclusion of MWCNT-OH reduced the crystallinity of the BC polymeric structure. From EIS measurement, it was verified that the presence of MWCNT-OH decreased the electron transfer resistance of BC-based electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the shape of the CV plots changed to a rectangular-like shape plot as more MWCNT were added, thus verifying the capacitive behavior. Various amount of MWCNT-OH was used in the fabrication of the EDLC where it was discovered that more MWCNT-OH leads to a better EDLC performance. The EDLC was tested for 5000 complete charge-discharge cycles. The optimum performance of this low voltage EDLC was obtained with 0.1 g MWCNT where the average specific capacitance was 8.80 F g[-1]. The maximum power and energy density of the fabricated EDLC were 300 W kg[-1] and 1.6 W h kg[-1], respectively.}, } @article {pmid36280355, year = {2022}, author = {Pandey, S and Harline, K and Choudhury, SR}, title = {Modification of G-protein biochemistry and its effect on plant/environment interaction.}, journal = {Methods in enzymology}, volume = {676}, number = {}, pages = {307-324}, doi = {10.1016/bs.mie.2022.06.006}, pmid = {36280355}, issn = {1557-7988}, mesh = {*Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; *Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Eukaryota/metabolism ; Phospholipases/genetics/metabolism ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Lipids ; }, abstract = {Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins comprised of Gα, Gβ and Gγ subunits are key regulators of a multitude of signaling pathways in eukaryotes. In plants, G-proteins are currently a focus of intense research due to their involvement in modulation of many agronomically important traits such as seed yield, organ size, abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent signaling and stress responses, plant defense responses, symbiosis and nitrogen use efficiency. The mechanistic details of G-protein biochemistry in modulating these processes in plants remain largely unknown. Although the core G-protein components and their activation/deactivation chemistries are broadly conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution, their regulation seems to have been rewired in plants to meet specific needs. Plant G-proteins may be spontaneously active and/or are regulated by phosphorylation-dependent changes, by the activity of lipid second messengers such as phospholipases, or may even have nucleotide-exchange independent regulation. Regardless of these deviations from the established norm, the biochemical properties of plant G-proteins are key to affecting plant phenotypes and responses. Detailed characterization of such activities, in vitro and in planta, will pave the way for precise manipulation of these proteins for future agricultural needs.}, } @article {pmid36280324, year = {2022}, author = {Gupta, A and Singh, V and Mani, I}, title = {Dysbiosis of human microbiome and infectious diseases.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {192}, number = {1}, pages = {33-51}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.016}, pmid = {36280324}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {Humans ; Dysbiosis ; Prebiotics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; Bacteria ; *Communicable Diseases ; }, abstract = {Since birth, the human body gets colonized by various communities of symbiotic or commensal microorganisms and they persist till the death of an individual. The human microbiome is comprised of the genomes of microorganisms such as viruses, archaea, eukaryotes, protozoa, and, most remarkably, bacteria. The development of "omics" technologies gave way to the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) which aimed at exploring the collection of microbial genes and genomes inhabiting the human body. Eubiosis, i.e., a healthy and balanced composition of such microbes contributes to the metabolic function, protection against pathogens and provides nutrients and energy to the host. Whereas, an imbalance in the diversity of microorganisms, termed dysbiosis, greatly influences the state of health and disease. This chapter summarizes the impact of gut bacteria on the well-being of humans and highlights the protective role played by the human microbiota during bacterial and viral infections. The condition of dysbiosis and how it plays a role in the establishment of various infections and metabolic disorders such as Clostridioides difficile infection (CFI), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer, periodontitis, and obesity are described in detail. Further, treatments such as fecal transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, phage therapy, and CRISPR/Cas system, which target gut microbiota during digestive diseases are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid36280207, year = {2023}, author = {Mosquera, KD and Khan, Z and Wondwosen, B and Alsanius, B and Hill, SR and Ignell, R and Lorenzo, MG}, title = {Odor-mediated response of gravid Aedes aegypti to mosquito-associated symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {237}, number = {}, pages = {106730}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106730}, pmid = {36280207}, issn = {1873-6254}, support = {MR/N017455/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Female ; Animals ; *Aedes/physiology ; Odorants ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oviposition ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Complex oviposition decisions allow gravid Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to select suitable sites for egg-laying to increase the probability that their progeny will thrive. The bacterial communities present in larval niches influence mosquito oviposition behavior, and gravid mosquitoes transmit key microbial associates to breeding sites during oviposition. Our study evaluated whether symbiotic Klebsiella sp., which are strongly associated with mosquitoes, emit volatiles that affect mosquito oviposition decisions. Dual-choice behavioral assays demonstrated that volatile organic compounds emitted by Klebsiella sp. induce a preference in oviposition decisions by Ae. aegypti. Bacterial headspace volatiles were sampled by solid-phase microextraction, and subsequent combined gas chromatography and electroantennogram detection analysis, revealed that the antennae of gravid females detect two compounds present in the Klebsiella sp. headspace. These compounds were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry as 2-ethyl hexanol and 2,4-di‑tert-butylphenol. The binary blend of these compounds elicited a dose-dependent egg-laying preference by gravid mosquitoes. We propose that bacterial symbionts, which are associated with gravid mosquitoes and may be transferred to aquatic habitats during egg-laying, together with their volatiles act as oviposition cues indicating the suitability of active breeding sites to conspecific females.}, } @article {pmid36278914, year = {2023}, author = {Kong, X and Lv, N and Liu, S and Xu, H and Huang, J and Xie, X and Tao, Q and Wang, B and Ji, R and Zhang, Q and Jiang, J}, title = {Phytoremediation of isoproturon-contaminated sites by transgenic soybean.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {342-353}, pmid = {36278914}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; *Soil ; Phenylurea Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The widespread application of isoproturon (IPU) can cause serious pollution to the environment and threaten ecological functions. In this study, the IPU bacterial N-demethylase gene pdmAB was transferred and expressed in the chloroplast of soybean (Glycine max L. 'Zhonghuang13'). The transgenic soybeans exhibited significant tolerance to IPU and demethylated IPU to a less phytotoxic metabolite 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1-methylurea (MDIPU) in vivo. The transgenic soybeans removed 98% and 84% IPU from water and soil within 5 and 14 days, respectively, while accumulating less IPU in plant tissues compared with the wild-type (WT). Under IPU stress, transgenic soybeans showed a higher symbiotic nitrogen fixation performance (with higher total nodule biomass and nitrogenase activity) and a more stable rhizosphere bacterial community than the WT. This study developed a transgenic (TS) soybean capable of efficiently removing IPU from its growing environment and recovering a high-symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity under IPU stress, and provides new insights into the interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms and TS legumes under herbicide stress.}, } @article {pmid36278433, year = {2022}, author = {Guyon, J and Fernandez-Moncada, I and Larrieu, CM and Bouchez, CL and Pagano Zottola, AC and Galvis, J and Chouleur, T and Burban, A and Joseph, K and Ravi, VM and Espedal, H and Røsland, GV and Daher, B and Barre, A and Dartigues, B and Karkar, S and Rudewicz, J and Romero-Garmendia, I and Klink, B and Grützmann, K and Derieppe, MA and Molinié, T and Obad, N and Léon, C and Seano, G and Miletic, H and Heiland, DH and Marsicano, G and Nikolski, M and Bjerkvig, R and Bikfalvi, A and Daubon, T}, title = {Lactate dehydrogenases promote glioblastoma growth and invasion via a metabolic symbiosis.}, journal = {EMBO molecular medicine}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {e15343}, pmid = {36278433}, issn = {1757-4684}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Lactate Dehydrogenases ; Lactic Acid ; Metabolomics ; *Glioblastoma/enzymology/pathology ; *Brain Neoplasms/enzymology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Lactate is a central metabolite in brain physiology but also contributes to tumor development. Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults, recognized by angiogenic and invasive growth, in addition to its altered metabolism. We show herein that lactate fuels GB anaplerosis by replenishing the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in absence of glucose. Lactate dehydrogenases (LDHA and LDHB), which we found spatially expressed in GB tissues, catalyze the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate. However, ablation of both LDH isoforms, but not only one, led to a reduction in tumor growth and an increase in mouse survival. Comparative transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed metabolic rewiring involving high oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the LDHA/B KO group which sensitized tumors to cranial irradiation, thus improving mouse survival. When mice were treated with the antiepileptic drug stiripentol, which targets LDH activity, tumor growth decreased. Our findings unveil the complex metabolic network in which both LDHA and LDHB are integrated and show that the combined inhibition of LDHA and LDHB strongly sensitizes GB to therapy.}, } @article {pmid36276463, year = {2022}, author = {Rajendran, K and Kumar, V and Raja, I and Kumariah, M and Tennyson, J}, title = {Identification of sigma factor 54-regulated small non-coding RNAs by employing genome-wide and transcriptome-based methods in rhizobium strains.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {328}, pmid = {36276463}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is considered as the major contributor of biological nitrogen fixation. Bacterial small non-coding RNAs are crucial regulators in several cellular adaptation processes that occur due to the changes in metabolism, physiology, or the external environment. Identifying and analysing the conditional specific/sigma factor-54 regulated sRNAs provides a better understanding of sRNA regulation/mechanism in symbiotic association. In the present study, we have identified sigma factor 54-regulated sRNAs from the genome of six rhizobium strains and from the RNA-seq data of free-living and symbiotic conditions of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 to identify the novel putative sRNAs that are over expressed during the regulation of nitrogen fixation. A total of 1351 sRNAs were predicted from the genome of six rhizobium strains and 1375 sRNAs were predicted from the transcriptome data of B. diazoefficiens USDA 110. Analysis of target mRNA for these novel sRNAs was inferred to target several nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes including nodC, nodJ, nodY, nodJ, nodM, nodW, nodZ, nifD, nifN, nifQ, fixK, fixL, fdx, nolB, and several cytochrome proteins. In addition, sRNAs of B. diazoefficiens USDA 110 which targeted the regulatory genes of nitrogen fixation were confirmed by wet-lab experiments with semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Predicted target mRNAs were functionally classified based on the COG analysis and GO annotations. The genome-wide and transcriptome-based integrated methods have led to the identification of several sRNAs involved in the nodulation and symbiosis. Further validation of the functional role of these sRNAs can help in exploring the role of sRNAs in nitrogen metabolism during free-living and symbiotic association with legumes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03394-x.}, } @article {pmid36275522, year = {2022}, author = {Liang, J and Zou, R and Huang, Y and Qin, H and Tang, J and Wei, X and Liang, Y and Chai, S}, title = {Structure and diversity of mycorrhizal fungi communities of different part of Bulbophyllum tianguii in three terrestrial environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {992184}, pmid = {36275522}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi plays important roles in the seed germination and subsequent growth of orchids. The research of fungi in orchid roots, especially dominant mycorrhizal fungi is critical for orchids protection. In this study, the fungal community and composition of mycorrhizal fungi in roots, rhizomes and rhizosphere soil of Bulbophyllum tianguii grown in three terrestrial environments were analyzed by the second generation sequencing technology. The results of OTU clustering and α and β diversity analysis showed that there were significant differences in fungal communities in roots, rhizomes and rhizosphere soil of B. tianguii. The total number of OTUs in rhizomes was much less than that in roots and rhizosphere soil. The number of OTUs in rhizosphere soil and the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi were the highest. Meanwhile, the species and abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in roots and rhizomes of B. tianguii were different from those in rhizosphere soil. For different elevations, compared with B. tianguii that grow in middle of Tiankeng and top of Tiankeng, the OTUs number of B. tianguii in orchid garden is richest, and the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in orchid garden was significantly higher than other locations. Among the three different habitats of B. tianguii, the number of OTUs in humus soil and stone habitats was notably higher than tree habitats, and the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in humus soil was the highest. The analysis of mycorrhizal fungi in different habitats and altitudes of B. tianguii showed that Sebacina and Exophiala were the dominant mycorrhizal fungi in B. tianguii. The results of species annotation, phylogenetic tree and co-occurrence network analysis showed the dominant mycorrhizal fungi of B. tianguii mainly included Sebacina, Cladosporium, Exophiala, Fusarium. This study reveals the symbiotic relationship between Sebacina, Exophiala, Cladosporium and the B. Tianguii. It will provide a theoretical basis for the protection and biological function study of B. Tianguii.}, } @article {pmid36274949, year = {2022}, author = {Müller, AT and Reichelt, M and Cosio, EG and Salinas, N and Nina, A and Wang, D and Moossen, H and Geilmann, H and Gershenzon, J and Köllner, TG and Mithöfer, A}, title = {Combined -omics framework reveals how ant symbionts benefit the Neotropical ant-plant Tococa quadrialata at different levels.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {10}, pages = {105261}, pmid = {36274949}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Ant-plant defensive mutualism is a widely studied phenomenon, where ants protect their host plants (myrmecophytes) against herbivores in return for the provision of nesting sites and food. However, few studies addressed the influence of ant colonization and herbivory on the plant's metabolism. We chose the Amazonian plant Tococa quadrialata, living in association with Azteca cf. tonduzi ants for an ant-exclusion study to reveal the chemistry behind this symbiosis. We found that colonized plants did not only benefit from protection but also from increased amino acid and nitrogen content, enabling better performance even in an herbivore-free environment. In contrast, ant-deprived T. quadrialata plants accumulated more ellagitannins, a major class of constitutive defense compounds. Moreover, herbivory-induced jasmonate-mediated defense responses, including the upregulation of signaling and defense genes and the emission of volatiles irrespective of colonization status. Altogether, we show how ant-colonization can influence the general and defense-related metabolism and performance of myrmecophytes.}, } @article {pmid36274905, year = {2022}, author = {Sampath, C and Harris, EP and Berthaud, V and Tabatabai, MA and Wilus, DM and Crayton, MA and Moss, K and Webster-Cyriaque, J and Southerland, JH and Koethe, JR and Gangula, PR}, title = {Periodontal Treatment Reduces Circulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine and Chemokine Levels in African American HIV+ Individuals with Virological Suppression.}, journal = {Journal of dental applications}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {477-487}, pmid = {36274905}, issn = {2381-9049}, support = {P30 AI110527/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 GM121282/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Periodontal Disease (PD), a chronic inflammatory disease, is highly prevalent among Persons Living With HIV (PLWH) and is characterized by microbial symbiosis and oxidative stress. Our hypothesis stipulates that periodontal therapy attenuates systemic inflammatory and bacterial burden while improving periodontal status in PLWH.

METHODS: Sixteen African Americans (AA) with suppressed HIV viremia on long-term Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) were recruited to this study. Participants were placed into two groups, based on their dental care status: group 1 (In-Care, IC) and group 2 (Out of Care, OC). Periodontal health was investigated at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Cytokine/chemokines, microbial phyla, and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA, a marker for endothelial cell dysfunction) levels were assessed in the serum. Statistical comparisons between groups and at different visits were performed using multiple comparison tests.

RESULTS: Across longitudinal visits, periodontal treatment significantly reduced the levels of several cytokines and chemokines. At baseline, the out of care group had significantly higher blood levels of ADMA and actinobacteria than the IC group. Periodontal treatment significantly altered the abundance of circulating genomic bacterial DNA for various phyla in out of care group.

CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal treatment interventions effectively attenuated circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and altered microbial translocation, both critical drivers of systemic inflammation in PLWH.}, } @article {pmid36274721, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, N and Hua, J and Zhang, J and Liu, D and Bhople, P and Li, X and Zhang, Y and Ruan, H and Xing, W and Mao, L}, title = {Soil nutrients and plant diversity affect ectomycorrhizal fungal community structure and functional traits across three subalpine coniferous forests.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1016610}, pmid = {36274721}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) and the roots of host plants is significantly important in regulating the health and stability of ecosystems, especially of those such as the climate warming affected subalpine forest ecosystems. Therefore, from the coniferous forest systems located in the Southern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, root tips from three forest tree species: Pinus wallichiana, Abies spectabilis and Picea spinulosa, were collected to look for the local causes of EMF community composition and diversity patterns. The EMF colonization rate, diversity and taxonomic community structure were determined by morphotyping and sanger sequencing of the fungal ITS gene from the root tip samples. Soil exploration types were identified based on the morphologies of the ectomycorrhizas, coupled with soil properties analysis and plant diversity survey. Contrasting patterns of EMF community and functional diversity were found across the studied three forests types dominated by different coniferous tree species. In terms of associations between soil and EMF properties, the total phosphorus (TP) and nitrate (NO3 [-]) contents in soil negatively correlated with the colonization rate and the Shannon diversity index of EMF in contrast to the positive relationship between TP and EMF richness. The soil total nitrogen (TN), ammonium (NH4 [+]) and plant diversity together caused 57.6% of the total variations in the EMF taxonomic community structure at the three investigated forest systems. Whereas based on the soil exploration types alone, NH4 [+] and TN explained 74.2% of variance in the EMF community structures. Overall, the findings of this study leverage our understanding of EMF dynamics and local influencing factors in coniferous forests dominated by different tree species within the subalpine climatic zone.}, } @article {pmid36274683, year = {2022}, author = {Yao, G and Zhang, H and Xiong, P and Jia, H and He, M}, title = {Corrigendum: Effects of scale worm parasitism on interactions between the symbiotic gill microbiome and gene regulation in deep sea mussel hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1048145}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2022.1048145}, pmid = {36274683}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.940766.].}, } @article {pmid36274333, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, X and Cui, J and Luan, Y}, title = {Characterization of lncRNAs in mycorrhizal tomato and elucidation of the role of lncRNA69908 in disease resistance.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {634}, number = {}, pages = {203-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.09.117}, pmid = {36274333}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; *RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted widespread attention because of their meaningful roles in various plant biological processes. However, the potential functions of lncRNAs in the plant-beneficial microorganism interactions have not been fully explored. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis is accompanied by the systemic induction of defense responses in the host leaves. In the present study, we globally profiled lncRNA expression and explored their potential regulatory roles in AM fungi-inoculated tomato leaves. Among 851 differentially expressed lncRNAs, a novel lncRNA (lncRNA69908) that was significantly downregulated in the leaves of AM fungi inoculated tomato, affected tomato resistance after pathogen infection. One of the competing endogenous RNA networks, lncRNA69908-sly-miR319c, was verified by using a coexpression system. Silencing of lncRNA69908 or overexpression of sly-miR319c enhanced tomato resistance to Phytophthora infestans, whereas overexpression of lncRNA69908 decreased the reactive oxygen species scavenging. As above, we speculated that lncRNA69908 may be involved in mycorrhiza-induced defense responses. Our findings can broaden the knowledge on the potential regulatory roles of ncRNAs in AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36274322, year = {2022}, author = {Lv, Y and Zhang, QD and Chang, LM and Yang, DL and Riaz, L and Li, C and Chen, XH and Jiang, JP and Zhu, W}, title = {Multi-omics provide mechanistic insight into the Pb-induced changes in tadpole fitness-related traits and environmental water quality.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {114207}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114207}, pmid = {36274322}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Larva ; Lead/toxicity ; Water Quality ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metabolome ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Water pollution from lead/Pb[2+] poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems, and its repercussions on aquatic animals have received considerable attention. Although Pb[2+] has been found to affect numerous aspects of animals, including individual fitness, metabolic status, and symbiotic microbiota, few studies have focused on the associations between Pb[2+]-induced variations in fitness, metabolome, symbiotic microbiome, and environmental parameters in the same system, limiting a comprehensive understanding of ecotoxicological mechanisms from a holistic perspective. Moreover, most ecotoxicological studies neglected the potential contributions of anions to the consequences generated by inorganic lead compounds. We investigated the effects of Pb(NO3)2 at environmentally relevant concentrations on the Rana omeimontis tadpoles and the water quality around them, using blank and NaNO3-treated groups as control. Results showed that Pb(NO3)2 not only induced a rise in water nitrite level, but exposure to this chemical also impaired tadpole fitness-related traits (e.g., growth and development). The impacts on tadpoles were most likely a combination of Pb[2+] and NO3[-]. Tissue metabolomics revealed that Pb(NO3)2 exposure influenced animal substrate (i.e., carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid) and prostaglandin metabolism. Pb(NO3)2 produced profound shifts in gut microbiota, with increased Proteobacteria impairing Firmicutes, resulting in higher aerobic and possibly pathogenic bacteria. NaNO3 also influenced tadpole metabolome and gut microbiome, in a manner different to that of Pb(NO3)2. The presence of NO3[-] seemed to counteract some changes caused by Pb[2+], particularly on the microbiota. Piecewise structural equation model and correlation analyses demonstrated connections between tissue metabolome and gut microbiome, and the variations in tadpole phenotypic traits and water quality were linked to changes in tissue metabolome and gut microbiome. These findings emphasized the important roles of gut microbiome in mediating the effects of toxin on aquatic ecosystem. Moreover, it is suggested to consider the influences of anions in the risk assessment of heavy metal pollutions.}, } @article {pmid36273816, year = {2022}, author = {Carriedo, A and Pinsky, I and Crosbie, E and Ruskin, G and Mialon, M}, title = {The corporate capture of the nutrition profession in the USA: the case of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.}, journal = {Public health nutrition}, volume = {25}, number = {12}, pages = {1-15}, pmid = {36273816}, issn = {1475-2727}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The involvement of unhealthy commodity corporations in health policy and research has been identified as an important commercial determinant contributing to the rise of non-communicable diseases. In the USA, health professional associations have been subject to corporate influence. This study explores the interactions between corporations and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), and their implications for the profession in the USA and globally.

DESIGN: We conducted an inductive analysis of documents (2014-2020) obtained through freedom of information requests, to assess key AND actors' dealings with food, pharmaceutical and agribusiness corporations. We also triangulated this information with publicly available data.

SETTING: The USA.

PARTICIPANTS: Not applicable.

RESULTS: The AND, AND Foundation (ANDF) and its key leaders have ongoing interactions with corporations. These include AND's leaders holding key positions in multinational food, pharmaceutical or agribusiness corporations, and AND accepting corporate financial contributions. We found the AND has invested funds in corporations such as Nestlé, PepsiCo and pharmaceutical companies, has discussed internal policies to fit industry needs and has had public positions favouring corporations.

CONCLUSION: The documents reveal a symbiotic relationship between the AND, its Foundation and corporations. Corporations assist the AND and ANDF with financial contributions. AND acts as a pro-industry voice in some policy venues, and with public positions that clash with AND's mission to improve health globally.}, } @article {pmid36273146, year = {2022}, author = {Sato, Y and Wippler, J and Wentrup, C and Ansorge, R and Sadowski, M and Gruber-Vodicka, H and Dubilier, N and Kleiner, M}, title = {Fidelity varies in the symbiosis between a gutless marine worm and its microbial consortium.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {178}, pmid = {36273146}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbial Consortia ; Phylogeny ; Sulfates ; Sulfur ; *Symbiosis ; *Annelida/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many animals live in intimate associations with a species-rich microbiome. A key factor in maintaining these beneficial associations is fidelity, defined as the stability of associations between hosts and their microbiota over multiple host generations. Fidelity has been well studied in terrestrial hosts, particularly insects, over longer macroevolutionary time. In contrast, little is known about fidelity in marine animals with species-rich microbiomes at short microevolutionary time scales, that is at the level of a single host population. Given that natural selection acts most directly on local populations, studies of microevolutionary partner fidelity are important for revealing the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive intimate beneficial associations within animal species.

RESULTS: In this study on the obligate symbiosis between the gutless marine annelid Olavius algarvensis and its consortium of seven co-occurring bacterial symbionts, we show that partner fidelity varies across symbiont species from strict to absent over short microevolutionary time. Using a low-coverage sequencing approach that has not yet been applied to microbial community analyses, we analysed the metagenomes of 80 O. algarvensis individuals from the Mediterranean and compared host mitochondrial and symbiont phylogenies based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms across genomes. Fidelity was highest for the two chemoautotrophic, sulphur-oxidizing symbionts that dominated the microbial consortium of all O. algarvensis individuals. In contrast, fidelity was only intermediate to absent in the sulphate-reducing and spirochaetal symbionts with lower abundance. These differences in fidelity are likely driven by both selective and stochastic forces acting on the consistency with which symbionts are vertically transmitted.

CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that variable degrees of fidelity are advantageous for O. algarvensis by allowing the faithful transmission of their nutritionally most important symbionts and flexibility in the acquisition of other symbionts that promote ecological plasticity in the acquisition of environmental resources. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36271658, year = {2023}, author = {Yu, W and Wang, HL and Zhang, J and Yin, C}, title = {The effects of epigenetic modifications on bone remodeling in age-related osteoporosis.}, journal = {Connective tissue research}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {105-116}, doi = {10.1080/03008207.2022.2120392}, pmid = {36271658}, issn = {1607-8438}, mesh = {Humans ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; *Osteoporosis/genetics ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; *Bone Diseases/genetics ; Bone Remodeling/genetics ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: As the population ages, there is an increased risk of fracture and morbidity diseases associated with aging, such as age-related osteoporosis and other bone diseases linked to aging skeletons.

RESULTS: Several bone-related cells, including multipotent bone mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts that form bone tissue, and osteoclasts that break it down, are in symbiotic relationships throughout life. Growing evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications of cells caused by aging contribute to compromised bone remodeling and lead to osteoporosis. A number of epigenetic mechanisms are at play, including DNA/RNA modifications, histone modifications, microRNAs (miRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), as well as chromatin remodeling.

CONCLUSION: In this review, we summarized the epigenetic modifications of different bone-related cells during the development and progression of osteoporosis associated with aging. Additionally, we described a compensatory recovery mechanism under epigenetic regulation that may lead to new strategies for regulating bone remodeling in age-related osteoporosis.}, } @article {pmid36271581, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, PJ and Wang, MM and Wang, Y}, title = {Gut microbiota: A new insight into lung diseases.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {155}, number = {}, pages = {113810}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113810}, pmid = {36271581}, issn = {1950-6007}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *COVID-19 ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Immune System ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem involved in the metabolism, immunity, and health of the host. The microbiome plays a key role in the development of the host's innate and adaptive immune system, while the immune system orchestrates the maintenance of host-microbe symbiosis. Lung diseases are usually accompanied by dysbiosis of the intestinal flora and an immune-inflammatory response. The intestinal flora and its metabolites are directly or indirectly involved in the immune regulation of the host in lung disease. However, the exact mechanism of action of the gut-lung axis crosstalk remains unclear. This review is aimed to summarize the latest advances in gut microbiota and their metabolites in typical lung diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension, COPD, and lung cancer. Especially COVID-19, a problem troubling the world, is also discussed in it. Moreover, it is concentrated on the action mechanisms between the identified gut microbiota or their metabolites and the specific lung diseases, and on the link among the gut microbiota, its metabolites, and immune regulation, which could be used as a breakthrough to find new mechanisms and targets for some diseases without specific therapeutic drugs in clinic. It is also discussed a new therapeutic tool "drug-bacterial interaction" and the potential of therapeutic applications in clinic. This review would provide a clear direction for future research on gut microbiota and lung diseases, and propose a new therapeutic strategy targeting "drug-bacterial interaction" in clinic.}, } @article {pmid36270683, year = {2022}, author = {Mahapatra, S and Mohanty, S and Mishra, R and Prasad, P}, title = {An overview of cancer and the human microbiome.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {191}, number = {1}, pages = {83-139}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.07.007}, pmid = {36270683}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Neoplasms ; }, abstract = {Mutual beneficial associations with the microbial consortia are an essential requisite of human life. Microbial communities have both a symbiotic and a pathogenic standpoint, which portrays a context-dependent scenario of the human microbiome. The symbiotic assemblage works to develop indispensable functions of the human body such as immune system, digestive system, defense against colonization by pathobionts and their toxins, etc. Furthermore, any deviation in the resource utilization by the symbionts due to host factors comprising lifestyle changes, diet, drugs, immunocompromised states, and co-morbidities could perturb beneficial microbes communities and promote the invasion by opportunistic pathogens thus, disrupting the homeostatic state. Microbial infestations have proved to be carcinogenic but this does not spontaneously establish a cancer hallmark, rather they initiate a cascade of events that disturbs the normal cellular activities finally these defective machineries invade distant sites of the body, submitting to a devastative transformed internal milieu. Significant technological and system biology advances have been made in elucidating a lucid but complex basis of such microbe-associated malignancies. This chapter discusses the recent advances, without compromising the concepts of the inception studies, including a brief version of the microbial status in cancer generation, mechanistic approaches adapted, therapeutic interventions, system biology approaches with special mention on the study design gaps, challenges in addressing the drawbacks and finally with a perspective of the future targeted studies, has been a focus of this piece of work.}, } @article {pmid36270680, year = {2022}, author = {Pant, A and Das, B}, title = {Microbiome-based therapeutics: Opportunity and challenges.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {191}, number = {1}, pages = {229-262}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.07.006}, pmid = {36270680}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The autochthonous microbial communities comprising symbionts, commensals, and opportunistic pathogens living throughout the human body profoundly contribute to health by reducing disease susceptibility and maturing host immunity. The community compositions and functional repertoires of microbiomes present in the different body habitats are dynamic. The structural and functional balance of the human microbiome could be modulated by environmental factors, lifestyle, and host genetics. Several functions of the microbial community directly or indirectly modulate host cellular signaling pathways that are associated with energy assimilation, sensing and responding to environmental signals through the neuroendocrine pathways, and resistance against colonization of allochthonous microbiota with disease-causing potential. Both culture-dependent and independent characterizations of microbial community compositions and their functional attributes help us to recognize the importance of microbial diversity in individual's health and identify the microbes and their metabolites associated with health and diseases. Such an in-depth understanding of the human microbiome created avenues of microbiome-based translation research, which led to the discovery and development of large numbers of medical therapies. In this chapter, we discuss the current success of microbiome-based therapies for infectious and metabolic diseases, and the major bottleneck and challenges of translational research with the community of symbiotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid36267945, year = {2022}, author = {Kohli, PS and Pazhamala, LT and Mani, B and Thakur, JK and Giri, J}, title = {Root hair-specific transcriptome reveals response to low phosphorus in Cicer arietinum.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {983969}, pmid = {36267945}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root hairs (RH) are a single-cell extension of root epidermal cells. In low phosphorus (LP) availability, RH length and density increase thus expanding the total root surface area for phosphate (Pi) acquisition. However, details on genes involved in RH development and response to LP are missing in an agronomically important leguminous crop, chickpea. To elucidate this response in chickpea, we performed tissue-specific RNA-sequencing and analyzed the transcriptome modulation for RH and root without RH (Root-RH) under LP. Root hair initiation and cellular differentiation genes like RSL TFs and ROPGEFs are upregulated in Root-RH, explaining denser, and ectopic RH in LP. In RH, genes involved in tip growth processes and phytohormonal biosynthesis like cell wall synthesis and loosening (cellulose synthase A catalytic subunit, CaEXPA2, CaGRP2, and CaXTH2), cytoskeleton/vesicle transport, and ethylene biosynthesis are upregulated. Besides RH development, genes involved in LP responses like lipid and/or pectin P remobilization and acid phosphatases are induced in these tissues summarizing a complete molecular response to LP. Further, RH displayed preferential enrichment of processes involved in symbiotic interactions, which provide an additional benefit during LP. In conclusion, RH shows a multi-faceted response that starts with molecular changes for epidermal cell differentiation and RH initiation in Root-RH and later induction of tip growth and various LP responses in elongated RH.}, } @article {pmid36264513, year = {2022}, author = {Dos Reis, JBA and Lorenzi, AS and do Vale, HMM}, title = {Methods used for the study of endophytic fungi: a review on methodologies and challenges, and associated tips.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {11}, pages = {675}, pmid = {36264513}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Endophytes ; *Fungi ; Plants/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that colonize the interior of plant tissues (e.g. leaves, seeds, stem, trunk, roots, fruits, flowers) in intracellular and/or extracellular spaces without causing symptoms of disease in host plants. These microorganisms have been isolated from plant species in a wide variety of habitats worldwide, and it is estimated that all terrestrial plants are colonized by one or more species of endophytic fungus. In addition, these microorganisms have been drawing the attention of researchers because of their ability to synthesize a wide range of bioactive molecules with potential for applications in agriculture, medicine and biotechnology. However, several obstacles come up when studying the diversity and chemical potential of endophytic fungi. For example, the usage of an inappropriate surface disinfection method for plant tissue may not eliminate the epiphytic microbiota or may end up interfering with the endophytic mycobiota, which consequently generates erroneous results. Moreover, the composition of the culture medium and the culture conditions can favor the growth of certain species and inhibit others, which generates underestimated results. Other inconsistencies can arise from the fungus misidentification and consequent exploration of its chemical potential. Based on the methodological biases that may occur at all stages of studies dealing with endophytic fungi, the objective of this review is to discuss the main methods employed in these studies as well as highlight the challenges derived from the different approaches. We also report associated tips to help future studies on endophytic fungi as a contribution.}, } @article {pmid36263900, year = {2023}, author = {Geng, J and Ji, S and Jin, M and Zhang, C and Xu, M and Wang, G and Liang, C and Zhang, H}, title = {Ambient Electrosynthesis of Urea with Nitrate and Carbon Dioxide over Iron-Based Dual-Sites.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {e202210958}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202210958}, pmid = {36263900}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {The development of efficient electrocatalysts to generate key *NH2 and *CO intermediates is crucial for ambient urea electrosynthesis with nitrate (NO3 [-]) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Here we report a liquid-phase laser irradiation method to fabricate symbiotic graphitic carbon encapsulated amorphous iron and iron oxide nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (Fe(a)@C-Fe3 O4 /CNTs). Fe(a)@C-Fe3 O4 /CNTs exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity toward urea synthesis using NO3 [-] and CO2 , affording a urea yield of 1341.3±112.6 μg h[-1] mgcat [-1] and a faradic efficiency of 16.5±6.1 % at ambient conditions. Both experimental and theoretical results indicate that the formed Fe(a)@C and Fe3 O4 on CNTs provide dual active sites for the adsorption and activation of NO3 [-] and CO2 , thus generating key *NH2 and *CO intermediates with lower energy barriers for urea formation. This work would be helpful for design and development of high-efficiency dual-site electrocatalysts for ambient urea synthesis.}, } @article {pmid36263033, year = {2022}, author = {Jou, E and Rodriguez-Rodriguez, N and McKenzie, ANJ}, title = {Emerging roles for IL-25 and IL-33 in colorectal cancer tumorigenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {981479}, pmid = {36263033}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {MC_U105178805/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MRF_MRF-104-0013-S-MCKEN-C0902/MRF/MRF/United Kingdom ; U105178805/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Interleukin-33 ; Interleukin-17/metabolism ; Immunity, Innate ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism ; Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Cytokines ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is largely refractory to current immunotherapeutic interventions. The lack of efficacy of existing cancer immunotherapies in CRC reflects the complex nature of the unique intestinal immune environment, which serves to maintain barrier integrity against pathogens and harmful environmental stimuli while sustaining host-microbe symbiosis during homeostasis. With their expression by barrier epithelial cells, the cytokines interleukin-25 (IL-25) and IL-33 play key roles in intestinal immune responses, and have been associated with inappropriate allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases and cancer pathology. Studies in the past decade have begun to uncover the important roles of IL-25 and IL-33 in shaping the CRC tumour immune microenvironment, where they may promote or inhibit tumorigenesis depending on the specific CRC subtype. Notably, both IL-25 and IL-33 have been shown to act on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), but can also stimulate an array of other innate and adaptive immune cell types. Though sometimes their functions can overlap they can also produce distinct phenotypes dependent on the differential distribution of their receptor expression. Furthermore, both IL-25 and IL-33 modulate pathways previously known to contribute to CRC tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis, tumour stemness, invasion and metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of IL-25 and IL-33 in CRC tumorigenesis, with specific focus on dissecting their individual function in the context of distinct subtypes of CRC, and the potential prospects for targeting these pathways in CRC immunotherapy.}, } @article {pmid36261509, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, L and Liu, X and Rensing, C and Yuan, Y and Zhou, S and Nealson, KH}, title = {Light-independent anaerobic microbial oxidation of manganese driven by an electrosyntrophic coculture.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {163-171}, pmid = {36261509}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Manganese/metabolism ; *Manganese Compounds/chemistry/metabolism ; Oxides/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Coculture Techniques ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic microbial manganese oxidation (AMMO) has been considered an ancient biological metabolism for Mn element cycling on Archaean Earth before the presence of oxygen. A light-dependent AMMO was recently observed under strictly anoxic conditions, providing a new proxy for the interpretation of the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. However, the feasibility of biotic Mn(II) oxidation in dark geological habitats that must have been abundant remains unknown. Therefore, we discovered that it would be possible to achieve AMMO in a light-independent electrosyntrophic coculture between Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Geobacter metallireducens. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed insoluble particle formation in the coculture with Mn(II) addition. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis verified that these particles were a mixture of MnO2 and Mn3O4. The absence of Mn oxides in either of the monocultures indicated that the Mn(II)-oxidizing activity was induced via electrosyntrophic interactions. Radical quenching and isotopic experiments demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) produced from H2O dissociation by R. palustris in the coculture contributed to Mn(II) oxidation. All these findings suggest a new, symbiosis-dependent and light-independent AMMO route, with potential importance to the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis and the biogeochemical cycling of manganese on Archaean and modern Earth.}, } @article {pmid36260997, year = {2022}, author = {Yao, Z and Cai, Z and Ma, Q and Bai, S and Wang, Y and Zhang, P and Guo, Q and Gu, J and Lemaitre, B and Zhang, H}, title = {Compartmentalized PGRP expression along the dipteran Bactrocera dorsalis gut forms a zone of protection for symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {111523}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111523}, pmid = {36260997}, issn = {2211-1247}, mesh = {Animals ; *Carrier Proteins/metabolism ; *Tephritidae/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Peptides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {All metazoan guts are subject to opposing pressures wherein the immune system must eliminate pathogens while tolerating the presence of symbiotic microbiota. The Imd pathway is an essential defense against invading pathogens in insect guts, but tolerance mechanisms are less understood. Here, we find PGRP-LB and PGRP-SB express mainly in the anterior and middle midgut in a similar pattern to symbiotic Enterobacteriaceae bacteria along the Bactrocera dorsalis gut. Knockdown of PGRP-LB and PGRP-SB enhances the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes and reduces Enterobacteriaceae numbers while increasing abundance of opportunistic pathogens. Microbiota numbers recover to normal levels after the RNAi effect subsided. In contrast, high expression of PGRP-LC in the foregut allows increased antibacterial peptide production to efficiently filter the entry of pathogens, protecting the symbiotic bacteria. Our study describes a mechanism by which regional expression of PGRPs construct a protective zone for symbiotic microbiota while maintaining the ability to fight pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36259773, year = {2022}, author = {Eliades, SJ and Colston, TJ and Siler, CD}, title = {Gut microbial ecology of Philippine gekkonids: ecoevolutionary effects on microbiome compositions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {36259773}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Philippines ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Given the rapidly changing landscapes of habitats across the globe, a sound understanding of host-associated microbial communities and the ecoevolutionary forces that shape them is needed to assess general organismal adaptability. Knowledge of the symbiotic endogenous microbiomes of most reptilian species worldwide remains limited. We sampled gut microbiomes of geckos spanning nine species and four genera in the Philippines to (i) provide baseline data on gut microbiota in these host species, (ii) test for significant associations between host phylogenetic relationships and observed microbial assemblages, potentially indicative of phylosymbiosis, and (iii) identify correlations between multiple ecoevolutionary factors (e.g. species identity, habitat tendencies, range extents, and maximum body sizes) and gut microbiomes in Philippine gekkonids. We recovered no significant association between interspecific host genetic distances and observed gut microbiomes, providing limited evidence for phylosymbiosis in this group. Philippine gekkonid microbiomes were associated most heavily with host species identity, though marked variation among conspecifics at distinct sampling sites indicates that host locality influences gut microbiomes as well. Interestingly, individuals grouped as widespread and microendemic regardless of host species identity displayed significant differences in alpha and beta diversity metrics examined, likely driven by differences in rare OTU presence between groups. These results provide much needed insight in host-associated microbiomes in wild reptiles and the ecoevolutionary forces that structure such communities.}, } @article {pmid36259734, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, D and Zhang, S and Kumar, S and Zhou, H and Xue, Q and Sun, W and Zhou, J and Xiang, H}, title = {Comparative Genomic Insights into the Evolution of Halobacteria-Associated "Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeota".}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e0066922}, pmid = {36259734}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {*Euryarchaeota ; Phylogeny ; Halobacterium ; Archaea ; Genomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Members of the phylum "Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeota," a representative lineage within the DPANN superphylum, are characterized by their nanosized cells and symbiotic lifestyle with Halobacteria. However, the development of the symbiosis remains unclear. Here, we propose two novel families, "Candidatus Nanoanaerosalinaceae" and "Candidatus Nanohalalkaliarchaeaceae" in "Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota," represented by five dereplicated metagenome-assembled genomes obtained from hypersaline sediments or related enrichment cultures of soda-saline lakes. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that the two novel families are placed at the root of the family "Candidatus Nanosalinaceae," including the cultivated taxa. The two novel families prefer hypersaline sediments, and the acid shift of predicted proteomes indicates a "salt-in" strategy for hypersaline adaptation. They contain a lower proportion of putative horizontal gene transfers from Halobacteria than "Ca. Nanosalinaceae," suggesting a weaker association with Halobacteria. Functional prediction and historical events reconstruction disclose that they exhibit divergent potentials in carbohydrate and organic acid metabolism and environmental responses. Globally, comparative genomic analyses based on the new families enrich the taxonomic and functional diversity of "Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota" and provide insights into the evolutionary process of "Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota" and their symbiotic relationship with Halobacteria. IMPORTANCE The DPANN superphylum is a group of archaea widely distributed in various habitats. They generally have small cells and have a symbiotic lifestyle with other archaea. The archaeal symbiotic interaction is vital to understanding microbial communities. However, the formation and evolution of the symbiosis between the DPANN lineages and other diverse archaea remain unclear. Based on phylogeny, habitat distribution, hypersaline adaptation, host prediction, functional potentials, and historical events of "Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota," a representative phylum within the DPANN superphylum, we report two novel families representing intermediate stages, and we infer the evolutionary process of "Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota" and their Halobacteria-associated symbiosis. Altogether, this research helps in understanding the evolution of symbiosis in "Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota" and provides a model for the evolution of other DPANN lineages.}, } @article {pmid36259539, year = {2022}, author = {Kafle, A and Garcia, K}, title = {Cesium could be used as a proxy for potassium in mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {2134676}, pmid = {36259539}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; *Mycorrhizae ; Potassium ; Rubidium ; Cesium ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi interact with the roots of most land plants and help them to acquire various mineral resources from the soil, including potassium (K[+]). However, tracking K[+] movement in AM symbiosis remains challenging. Recently, we reported that rubidium can be used as a proxy for K[+] in mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula. In the present work, we investigated the possibility of using cesium (Cs[+]) as another proxy for K[+] in AM symbiosis. Plants were placed in growing systems that include a separate compartment only accessible to the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis isolate 09 and in which various amounts of cesium chloride (0 mM, 0.5 mM, 1.5 mM, or 3.75 mM) were supplied. Plants were watered with sufficient K[+] or K[+]-free nutrient solutions, and shoot and root biomass, fungal colonization, and K[+] and Cs[+] concentrations were recorded seven weeks after inoculation. Our results indicate that Cs[+] accumulated in plant tissues only when K[+] was present in the nutrient solution and when the highest concentration of Cs[+] was used in the fungal compartment. Consequently, we conclude that Cs[+] could be used as a proxy for K[+] in AM symbiosis, but with serious limitations.}, } @article {pmid36257595, year = {2022}, author = {Iannone, LF and Gómez-Eguílaz, M and De Caro, C}, title = {Gut microbiota manipulation as an epilepsy treatment.}, journal = {Neurobiology of disease}, volume = {174}, number = {}, pages = {105897}, doi = {10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105897}, pmid = {36257595}, issn = {1095-953X}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Epilepsy/therapy ; }, abstract = {Many studies have documented the important role of the gut microbiota (GM) in the regulation of several central nervous system (CNS) processes through the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. This latter represents the connection between the CNS, the enteric nervous system, the gut and its microbiota through several ascending and descending pathways. The variation of the GM composition is associated with the pathogenesis and/or progression as well as severity of various neuropsychiatric/neurological diseases such as depression, autism spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases. Recently, changes in the bacterial composition of the GM have also been linked to epilepsy and seizures, with some studies exploring the potential role of GM in the regulation of neuronal hyperexcitability, seizure occurrence and epileptogenesis. Accordingly, there are potential novel treatments which are currently being investigated such as probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotic that may represent innovative therapeutic approaches. The aim of this review is to explore the effect of gut microbiota manipulation as a therapeutic strategy in epilepsy and the methodological challenges to design (translational) clinical trial investigating the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36257533, year = {2022}, author = {Patel, M and McAllister, M and Nagaraju, R and Badran, SSFA and Edwards, J and McBain, AJ and Barriuso, J and Aziz, O}, title = {The intestinal microbiota in colorectal cancer metastasis - Passive observer or key player?.}, journal = {Critical reviews in oncology/hematology}, volume = {180}, number = {}, pages = {103856}, doi = {10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103856}, pmid = {36257533}, issn = {1879-0461}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The association between colorectal cancer (CRC) and alterations in intestinal microbiota has been demonstrated by several studies, and there is increasing evidence that bacteria are an important component of the tumour microenvironment. Bacteria may contribute to the development of CRC metastasis by signalling through metabolites, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment and through the impairment of the gut-vascular barrier. Host immunity and intestinal microbiome symbiosis play a key role in determining innate and adaptive immune responses at the local and systemic level. How this gut-systemic axis might contribute to the development of CRC metastasis is however unclear. Several clinical trials are investigating the impact of microbiome-targeted interventions on the systemic inflammatory response, treatment-related complications, and side effects. This review examines pre-clinical and clinical studies which have examined the role of microbes in relation to CRC metastasis, the mechanisms which may contribute to tumour dissemination, and directions for future work.}, } @article {pmid36254271, year = {2022}, author = {Piemonti, A and Conforti, A and Cominoli, L and Luciano, A and Plizzari, G and Sorlini, S}, title = {Exploring the Potential for Steel Slags Valorisation in an Industrial Symbiosis Perspective at Meso-scale Level.}, journal = {Waste and biomass valorization}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-21}, pmid = {36254271}, issn = {1877-2641}, abstract = {A greater reuse of steel slags would bring considerable benefits both from an environmental and economic point of view. The development of tools and strategies to monitor at different scales resources and waste flows would allow for better resource planning and a more sustainable management on territory. The aim of this study is to investigate and analyse the supply chain that deals with the management of steel slags at meso-level, in order to investigate the state of implementation of industrial symbiosis (IS), its potential and its improvement. A Mass Flow Analysis (MFA) has been implemented, through big data analysis coming from the integration of regional and provincial databases with a careful data processing from questionnaires. This integrated methodology has proved to be a valid tool to monitor the recovery and reuse, the implementation of industrial symbiosis and to plan improvement actions. This paper reports a representation of the current situation regarding the production, recovery and reuse of these materials in production processes for which they are suitable, with a view to their full exploitation, following the principles of circular economy and an analysis of the mutual exchange that occur among steelmaking plants and other business partners in a network of industrial companies. The results showed that most of the steel slags managed at meso-level (Province of Brescia, Italy) is still unfortunately destined for landfill with low percentage of them classified as by-product highlighting as the IS is not adequately applied. Of the slag destined for treatments and recovery processes, almost all of them are Electric Arc Furnace slag, which are mainly reused for hydraulically bound base layers and road sub-bases (about 85% of the total recovered) and as aggregates for the production of cement and bituminous mixes (about 15% of the total recovered). Results shows as further effort should be made in term of policies and strategies to incentivize IS and to increase the recovery.}, } @article {pmid36254112, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, J and Zhao, B and Jin, R and Hou, L and Zhang, X and Dai, H and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {A phosphate starvation response-regulated receptor-like kinase, OsADK1, is required for mycorrhizal symbiosis and phosphate starvation responses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {236}, number = {6}, pages = {2282-2293}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18546}, pmid = {36254112}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Most land plants associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to secure mineral nutrient acquisition, especially that of phosphorus. A phosphate starvation response (PHR)-centered network regulates AM symbiosis. Here, we identified 520 direct target genes for the rice transcription factor OsPHR1/2/3 during AM symbiosis using transcriptome deep sequencing and DNA affinity purification sequencing. These genes were involved in strigolactone biosynthesis, transcriptional reprogramming, and bidirectional nutrient exchange. Moreover, we identified the receptor-like kinase, Arbuscule Development Kinase 1 (OsADK1), as a new target of OsPHR1/2/3. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and transactivation assays showed that OsPHR2 can bind directly to the P1BS elements within the OsADK1 promoter to activate its transcription. OsADK1 appeared to be required for mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscule development. In addition, hydroponic experiments suggested that OsADK1 may be involved in plant Pi starvation responses. Our findings validate a role for OsPHR1/2/3 as master regulators of mycorrhizal-related genes involved in various stages of symbiosis, and uncover a new RLK involved in AM symbiosis and plant Pi starvation responses.}, } @article {pmid36252835, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, M and Li, Q and Tan, L and Wang, L and Wu, F and Li, L and Zhang, G}, title = {Host-microbiota interactions play a crucial role in oyster adaptation to rising seawater temperature in summer.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {114585}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.114585}, pmid = {36252835}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Animals ; Temperature ; *Crassostrea/microbiology ; Seawater/chemistry ; Seasons ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Climate change, represented by rising and fluctuating temperature, induces systematic changes in marine organisms and in their bacterial symbionts. However, the role of host-microbiota interactions in the host's response to rising temperature and the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood in marine organisms. Here, the symbiotic intestinal microbiota and transcriptional responses between diploid and triploid oysters that displayed susceptible and resistant performance under the stress of rising temperature during a summer mortality event were compared to investigate the host-microbiota interactions. The rising and fluctuating temperatures triggered an earlier onset and higher mortality in susceptible oysters (46.7%) than in resistant oysters (17.3%). Correlation analysis between microbial properties and environmental factors showed temperature was strongly correlated with indices of α-diversity and the abundance of top 10 phyla, indicating that temperature significantly shaped the intestinal microbiota of oysters. The microbiota structure of resistant oysters exhibited more rapid changes in composition and diversity compared to susceptible oysters before peak mortality, indicating that resistant oysters possessed a stronger ability to regulate their symbiotic microbiota. Meanwhile, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe) analysis found that the probiotics Verrucomicrobiales and Clostridiales were highly enriched in resistant oysters, and that potential pathogens Betaproteobacteriales and Acidobacteriales were enriched in susceptible oysters. These results implied that the symbiotic microbiota played a significant role in the oysters' adaptation to rising temperature. Accompanying the decrease in unfavorable bacteria before peak mortality, genes related to phagocytosis and lysozymes were upregulated and the xenobiotics elimination pathway was exclusively expressed in resistant oysters, demonstrating the validity of these immunological functions in controlling proliferation of pathogens driven by rising temperature. Compromised immunological functions might lead to proliferation of pathogens in susceptible oysters. This study might uncover a conserved mechanism of adaptation to rising temperature in marine invertebrates from the perspective of interactions between host and symbiotic microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36252014, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, JP and Jiang, S and Su, Y and Xu, P and Wang, J and Liang, W and Liu, CW and Murray, JD}, title = {Intracellular infection by symbiotic bacteria requires the mitotic kinase AURORA1.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {43}, pages = {e2202606119}, pmid = {36252014}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Aurora Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The subcellular events occurring in cells of legume plants as they form transcellular symbiotic-infection structures have been compared with those occurring in premitotic cells. Here, we demonstrate that Aurora kinase 1 (AUR1), a highly conserved mitotic regulator, is required for intracellular infection by rhizobia in Medicago truncatula. AUR1 interacts with microtubule-associated proteins of the TPXL and MAP65 families, which, respectively, activate and are phosphorylated by AUR1, and localizes with them within preinfection structures. MYB3R1, a rhizobia-induced mitotic transcription factor, directly regulates AUR1 through two closely spaced, mitosis-specific activator cis elements. Our data are consistent with a model in which the MYB3R1-AUR1 regulatory module serves to properly orient preinfection structures to direct the transcellular deposition of cell wall material for the growing infection thread, analogous to its role in cell plate formation. Our findings indicate that the eukaryotically conserved MYB3R1-TPXL-AUR1-MAP65 mitotic module was conscripted to support endosymbiotic infection in legumes.}, } @article {pmid36252011, year = {2022}, author = {De la Concepcion, JC and Fujisaki, K and Bentham, AR and Cruz Mireles, N and Sanchez de Medina Hernandez, V and Shimizu, M and Lawson, DM and Kamoun, S and Terauchi, R and Banfield, MJ}, title = {A blast fungus zinc-finger fold effector binds to a hydrophobic pocket in host Exo70 proteins to modulate immune recognition in rice.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {43}, pages = {e2210559119}, pmid = {36252011}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BBS/E/J/000CA523/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Disease Resistance ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Magnaporthe/genetics ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry ; Plants/metabolism ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Exocytosis plays an important role in plant-microbe interactions, in both pathogenesis and symbiosis. Exo70 proteins are integral components of the exocyst, an octameric complex that mediates tethering of vesicles to membranes in eukaryotes. Although plant Exo70s are known to be targeted by pathogen effectors, the underpinning molecular mechanisms and the impact of this interaction on infection are poorly understood. Here, we show the molecular basis of the association between the effector AVR-Pii of the blast fungus Maganaporthe oryzae and rice Exo70 alleles OsExo70F2 and OsExo70F3, which is sensed by the immune receptor pair Pii via an integrated RIN4/NOI domain. The crystal structure of AVR-Pii in complex with OsExo70F2 reveals that the effector binds to a conserved hydrophobic pocket in Exo70, defining an effector/target binding interface. Structure-guided and random mutagenesis validates the importance of AVR-Pii residues at the Exo70 binding interface to sustain protein association and disease resistance in rice when challenged with fungal strains expressing effector mutants. Furthermore, the structure of AVR-Pii defines a zinc-finger effector fold (ZiF) distinct from the MAX (Magnaporthe Avrs and ToxB-like) fold previously described for a majority of characterized M. oryzae effectors. Our data suggest that blast fungus ZiF effectors bind a conserved Exo70 interface to manipulate plant exocytosis and that these effectors are also baited by plant immune receptors, pointing to new opportunities for engineering disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid36250983, year = {2022}, author = {Schmittmann, L and Rahn, T and Busch, K and Fraune, S and Pita, L and Hentschel, U}, title = {Stability of a dominant sponge-symbiont in spite of antibiotic-induced microbiome disturbance.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {6392-6410}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16249}, pmid = {36250983}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Dysbiosis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Rhodobacteraceae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are known for their complex and stable microbiomes. However, the lack of a gnotobiotic sponge-model and experimental methods to manipulate both the host and the microbial symbionts currently limit our mechanistic understanding of sponge-microbial symbioses. We have used the North Atlantic sponge species Halichondria panicea to evaluate the use of antibiotics to generate gnotobiotic sponges. We further asked whether the microbiome can be reestablished via recolonization with the natural microbiome. Experiments were performed in marine gnotobiotic facilities equipped with a custom-made, sterile, flow-through aquarium system. Bacterial abundance dynamics were monitored qualitatively and quantitatively by 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and qPCR, respectively. Antibiotics induced dysbiosis by favouring an increase of opportunistic, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resulting in more complex, but less specific bacteria-bacteria interactions than in untreated sponges. The abundance of the dominant symbiont, Candidatus Halichondribacter symbioticus, remained overall unchanged, reflecting its obligately symbiotic nature. Recolonization with the natural microbiome could not reverse antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. However, single bacterial taxa that were transferred, successfully recolonized the sponge and affected bacteria-bacteria interactions. By experimentally manipulating microbiome composition, we could show the stability of a sponge-symbiont clade despite microbiome dysbiosis. This study contributes to understanding both host-bacteria and bacteria-bacteria interactions in the sponge holobiont.}, } @article {pmid36250871, year = {2022}, author = {Ahmad, F and Yang, G and Zhu, Y and Poulsen, M and Li, W and Yu, T and Mo, J}, title = {Tripartite Symbiotic Digestion of Lignocellulose in the Digestive System of a Fungus-Growing Termite.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0123422}, pmid = {36250871}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; *Lignin/metabolism ; *Isoptera/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Sugars/metabolism ; Digestion ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites are efficient in degrading and digesting plant substrates, achieved through the engagement of symbiotic gut microbiota and lignocellulolytic Termitomyces fungi cultivated for protein-rich food. Insights into where specific plant biomass components are targeted during the decomposition process are sparse. In this study, we performed several analytical approaches on the fate of plant biomass components and did amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to investigate the lignocellulose digestion in the symbiotic system of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) and to compare bacterial communities across the different stages in the degradation process. We observed a gradual reduction of lignocellulose components throughout the process. Our findings support that the digestive tract of young workers initiates the degradation of lignocellulose but leaves most of the lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, which enters the fresh fungus comb, where decomposition primarily occurs. We found a high diversity and quantity of monomeric sugars in older parts of the fungus comb, indicating that the decomposition of lignocellulose enriches the old comb with sugars that can be utilized by Termitomyces and termite workers. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed clear differences in community composition associated with the different stages of plant biomass decomposition which could work synergistically with Termitomyces to shape the digestion process. IMPORTANCE Fungus-farming termites have a mutualist association with fungi of the genus Termitomyces and gut microbiota to support the nearly complete decomposition of lignocellulose to gain access to nutrients. This elaborate strategy of plant biomass digestion makes them ecologically successful dominant decomposers in (sub)tropical Old World ecosystems. We employed acid detergent fiber analysis, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), and amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to examine which lignocellulose components were digested and which bacteria were abundant throughout the decomposition process. Our findings suggest that although the first gut passage initiates lignocellulose digestion, the most prominent decomposition occurs within the fungus comb. Moreover, distinct bacterial communities were associated with different stages of decomposition, potentially contributing to the breakdown of particular plant components.}, } @article {pmid36247693, year = {2022}, author = {Brown, AL and Pfab, F and Baxter, EC and Detmer, AR and Moeller, HV and Nisbet, RM and Cunning, R}, title = {Analysis of a mechanistic model of corals in association with multiple symbionts: within-host competition and recovery from bleaching.}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {coac066}, pmid = {36247693}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Coral reefs are increasingly experiencing stressful conditions, such as high temperatures, that cause corals to undergo bleaching, a process where they lose their photosynthetic algal symbionts. Bleaching threatens both corals' survival and the health of the reef ecosystems they create. One possible mechanism for corals to resist bleaching is through association with stress-tolerant symbionts, which are resistant to bleaching but may be worse partners in mild conditions. Some corals have been found to associate with multiple symbiont species simultaneously, which potentially gives them access to the benefits of both stress-sensitive and -tolerant symbionts. However, within-host competition between symbionts may lead to competitive exclusion of one partner, and the consequences of associating with multiple partners simultaneously are not well understood. We modify a mechanistic model of coral-algal symbiosis to investigate the effect of environmental conditions on within-host competitive dynamics between stress-sensitive and -tolerant symbionts and the effect of access to a tolerant symbiont on the dynamics of recovery from bleaching. We found that the addition of a tolerant symbiont can increase host survival and recovery from bleaching in high-light conditions. Competitive exclusion of the tolerant symbiont occurred slowly at intermediate light levels. Interestingly, there were some cases of post-bleaching competitive exclusion after the tolerant symbiont had helped the host recover.}, } @article {pmid36247647, year = {2022}, author = {Deng, C and Li, CJ and Hsieh, CY and Liu, LD and Chen, YA and Lin, WY}, title = {MtNF-YC6 and MtNF-YC11 are involved in regulating the transcriptional program of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {976280}, pmid = {36247647}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are obligate symbionts that transfer mineral nutrients to host plants through arbuscules, a fungal structure specialized for exchange for photosynthetic products. MtNF-YC6 and MtNF-YC11, which encode the C subunits of nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) family in Medicago truncatula are induced specifically by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). A previous study showed that MtNF-YC6 and MtNF-YC11 are activated in cortical cells of mycorrhizal roots, but the gene functions were unknown. Herein, we identified both MtNF-YB17 and MtNF-YB12 as the interacting partners of MtNF-YC6 and MtNF-YC11 in yeast and plants. MtNF-YB17 was highly induced by AMS and activated in cortical cells only in mycorrhizal roots but MtNF-YB12 was not affected. The formation of B/C heterodimers led the protein complexes to transfer from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Silencing MtNF-YC6 and C11 by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in decreased colonization efficiency and arbuscule richness. Coincidently, genes associated with arbuscule development and degeneration in RNAi roots were also downregulated. In silico analysis showed CCAAT-binding motifs in the promoter regions of downregulated genes, further supporting the involvement of NF-Y complexes in transcriptional regulation of symbiosis. Taken together, this study identifies MtNF-YC6- or MtNF-YC11-containing protein complexes as novel transcriptional regulators of symbiotic program and provides a list of potential downstream target genes. These data will help to further dissect the AMS regulatory network.}, } @article {pmid36247538, year = {2022}, author = {Bellés-Sancho, P and Liu, Y and Heiniger, B and von Salis, E and Eberl, L and Ahrens, CH and Zamboni, N and Bailly, A and Pessi, G}, title = {A novel function of the key nitrogen-fixation activator NifA in beta-rhizobia: Repression of bacterial auxin synthesis during symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {991548}, pmid = {36247538}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Rhizobia fix nitrogen within root nodules of host plants where nitrogenase expression is strictly controlled by its key regulator NifA. We recently discovered that in nodules infected by the beta-rhizobial strain Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815, NifA controls expression of two bacterial auxin synthesis genes. Both the iaaM and iaaH transcripts, as well as the metabolites indole-acetamide (IAM) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) showed increased abundance in nodules occupied by a nifA mutant compared to wild-type nodules. Here, we document the structural changes that a P. phymatum nifA mutant induces in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nodules, eventually leading to hypernodulation. To investigate the role of the P. phymatum iaaMH genes during symbiosis, we monitored their expression in presence and absence of NifA over different stages of the symbiosis. The iaaMH genes were found to be under negative control of NifA in all symbiotic stages. While a P. phymatum iaaMH mutant produced the same number of nodules and nitrogenase activity as the wild-type strain, the nifA mutant produced more nodules than the wild-type that clustered into regularly-patterned root zones. Mutation of the iaaMH genes in a nifA mutant background reduced the presence of these nodule clusters on the root. We further show that the P. phymatum iaaMH genes are located in a region of the symbiotic plasmid with a significantly lower GC content and exhibit high similarity to two genes of the IAM pathway often used by bacterial phytopathogens to deploy IAA as a virulence factor. Overall, our data suggest that the increased abundance of rhizobial auxin in the non-fixing nifA mutant strain enables greater root infection rates and a role for bacterial auxin production in the control of early stage symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid36246214, year = {2022}, author = {Ochoa-Sánchez, M and Cerqueda-García, D and Moya, A and Ibarra-Laclette, E and Altúzar-Molina, A and Desgarennes, D and Aluja, M}, title = {Bitter friends are not always toxic: The loss of acetic acid bacteria and the absence of Komagataeibacter in the gut microbiota of the polyphagous fly Anastrepha ludens could inhibit its development in Psidium guajava in contrast to A. striata and A. fraterculus that flourish in this host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {979817}, pmid = {36246214}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is key for the homeostasis of many phytophagous insects, but there are few studies comparing its role on host use by stenophagous or polyphagous frugivores. Guava (Psidium guajava) is a fruit infested in nature by the tephritids Anastrepha striata and A. fraterculus. In contrast, the extremely polyphagous A. ludens infests guava only under artificial conditions, but unlike A. striata and the Mexican A. fraterculus, it infests bitter oranges (Citrus x aurantium). We used these models to analyze whether the gut microbiota could explain the differences in host use observed in these flies. We compared the gut microbiota of the larvae of the three species when they developed in guava and the microbiota of the fruit pulp larvae fed on. We also compared the gut microbiota of A. ludens developing in C. x aurantium with the pulp microbiota of this widely used host. The three flies modified the composition of the host pulp microbiota (i.e., pulp the larvae fed on). We observed a depletion of Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB) associated with a deleterious phenotype in A. ludens when infesting P. guajava. In contrast, the ability of A. striata and A. fraterculus to infest this fruit is likely associated to a symbiotic interaction with species of the Komagataeibacter genus, which are known to degrade a wide spectrum of tannins and polyphenols. The three flies establish genera specific symbiotic associations with AABs. In the case of A. ludens, the association is with Gluconobacter and Acetobacter, but importantly, it cannot be colonized by Komagataeibacter, a factor likely inhibiting its development in guava.}, } @article {pmid36246139, year = {2022}, author = {Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Host's demand for essential amino acids is compensated by an extracellular bacterial symbiont in a hemipteran insect model.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1028409}, pmid = {36246139}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Plant sap is a nutritionally unbalanced diet that constitutes a challenge for insects that feed exclusively on it. Sap-sucking hemipteran insects generally overcome this challenge by harboring beneficial microorganisms in their specialized symbiotic organ, either intracellularly or extracellularly. Genomic information of these bacterial symbionts suggests that their primary role is to supply essential amino acids, but empirical evidence has been virtually limited to the intracellular symbiosis between aphids and Buchnera. Here we investigated the amino acid complementation by the extracellular symbiotic bacterium Ishikawaella harbored in the midgut symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Megacopta punctatissima. We evaluated amino acid compositions of the phloem sap of plants on which the insect feeds, as well as those of its hemolymph, whole body hydrolysate, and excreta. The results highlighted that the essential amino acids in the diet are apparently insufficient for the stinkbug development. Experimental symbiont removal caused severe shortfalls of some essential amino acids, including branched-chain and aromatic amino acids. In vitro culturing of the isolated symbiotic organ demonstrated that hemolymph-circulating metabolites, glutamine and trehalose, efficiently fuel the production of essential amino acids. Branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids are the ones preferentially synthesized despite the symbiont's synthetic capability of all essential amino acids. These results indicate that the symbiont-mediated amino acid compensation is quantitatively optimized in the stinkbug-Ishikawaella gut symbiotic association as in the aphid-Buchnera intracellular symbiotic association. The convergence of symbiont functions across distinct nutritional symbiotic systems provides insight into how host-symbiont interactions have been shaped over evolutionary time.}, } @article {pmid36244506, year = {2022}, author = {Djoukzoumka, S and Mahamat Hassane, H and Khan Payne, V and Ibrahim, MAM and Tagueu Kanté, S and Mouliom Mfopit, Y and Berger, P and Kelm, S and Simo, G}, title = {Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia infections in wild population of Glossina morsitans submorsitans caught in the area of Lake Iro in the south of Chad.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {195}, number = {}, pages = {107835}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2022.107835}, pmid = {36244506}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; *Tsetse Flies/microbiology ; *Wolbachia ; Lakes ; Chad ; *Trypanosoma/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Investigations on the bacterial fauna and their association with trypanosome infections in tsetse fly have revealed contrasting results. This study aimed to detect Wolbachia and S. glossinidius in wild populations of G. m. submorsistans and subsequently, understand the influence that these bacteria may have on the vectorial competence of this tsetse species. Tsetse flies were captured in the area of Lake Iro in the south of Chad using biconical traps. After DNA extraction from each tsetse fly, Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia were detected using specific primers. Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia infection rates were compared and association studies involving trypanosome infections and S. glossinidius or Wolbachia were performed. From 345 G. m. submorsitans analyzed, 9.0% and 14.5% were respectively infected with S. glossinidius and Wolbachia. Only 2.31% of all tsetse flies were co-infected by the 2 bacteria. Of all trypanosome-infected flies, 7.1% and 9.8% harbored, respectively, S. glossinidius and Wolbachia. No association was observed between Wolbachia and trypanosome infections while a significant association (r = 4.992; P = 0.025) was found between S. glossinidius and the presence of trypanosomes. A significant association (r = 3.147; P = 0.043) was also observed between S. glossinidius and T. simiae; and none with T. congolense or T. godfreyi. This study revealed S. glossinidius and Wolbachia in G. m. submorsitans of the area of lake Iro. It showed that co-infections between Wolbachia and S. glossinidius are rare in wild populations of G. m. submorsitans and that the tripartite associations vary according to trypanosome species as well as symbiotic mricroorganisms.}, } @article {pmid36243836, year = {2022}, author = {Hebra, T and Pollet, N and Touboul, D and Eparvier, V}, title = {Combining OSMAC, metabolomic and genomic methods for the production and annotation of halogenated azaphilones and ilicicolins in termite symbiotic fungi.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {17310}, pmid = {36243836}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Benzopyrans ; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide ; Genomics ; *Isoptera/genetics/metabolism ; Pigments, Biological ; *Polyketides/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {We gathered a collection of termite mutualistic strains from French Guiana to explore the metabolites of symbiotic microorganisms. Molecular networks reconstructed from a metabolomic analysis using LC-ESI-MS/MS methodology led us to identify two families of chlorinated polyketides, i.e., azaphilones from Penicillium sclerotiorum and ilicicolins from Neonectria discophora. To define the biosynthetic pathways related to these two types of scaffolds, we used a whole genome sequencing approach followed by hybrid assembly from short and long reads. We found two biosynthetic gene clusters, including two FAD-dependent halogenases. To exploit the enzymatic promiscuity of the two identified FAD halogenases, we sought to biosynthesize novel halogenated metabolites. An OSMAC strategy was used and resulted in the production of brominated analogs of ilicicolins and azaphilones as well as iodinated analogs of azaphilones.}, } @article {pmid36243318, year = {2022}, author = {Lemecha, M and Chalise, JP and Takamuku, Y and Zhang, G and Yamakawa, T and Larson, G and Itakura, K}, title = {Lcn2 mediates adipocyte-muscle-tumor communication and hypothermia in pancreatic cancer cachexia.}, journal = {Molecular metabolism}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {101612}, pmid = {36243318}, issn = {2212-8778}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Adipocytes/metabolism ; Adipokines/metabolism ; Adipose Tissue, Brown/metabolism ; *Cachexia/etiology/metabolism ; *Hypothermia/complications/metabolism ; *Lipocalin-2/genetics/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism ; *Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Adipose tissue is the largest endocrine organ. When activated by cancer cells, adipocytes secrete adipocytokines and release fatty acids, which are then transferred to cancer cells and used for structural and biochemical support. How this metabolic symbiosis between cancer cells and adipocytes affects skeletal muscle and thermogenesis during cancer cachexia is unknown. Cancer cachexia is a multiorgan syndrome and how the communication between tissues is established has yet to be determined. We investigated adipose tissue secretory factors and explored their role in crosstalk of adipocytes, muscle, and tumor during pancreatic cancer cachexia.

METHODS: We used a pancreatic cancer cachexia mouse model generated by syngenic implantation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells (KPC) intraperitoneally into C57BL/6 mice and Lcn2-knockout mice. For in vitro studies, adipocytes (3T3-L1 and primary adipocytes), cachectic cancer cells (Panc0203), non-cachectic cancer cells (Du145 cells), and skeletal muscle cells (C2C12 myoblasts) were used.

RESULTS: To identify molecules involved in the crosstalk of adipose tissue with muscle and tumors, we treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with conditioned medium (CM) from cancer cells. Upon screening the secretomes from PDAC-induced adipocytes, several adipocytokines were identified, including lipocalin 2 (Lcn2). We investigated Lcn2 as a potential mediator of cachexia induced by adipocytes in response to PDAC. During tumor progression, mice exhibited a decline in body weight gain, which was accompanied by loss of adipose and muscle tissues. Tumor-harboring mice developed drastic hypothermia because of a dramatic loss of fat in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and suppression of the thermogenesis pathway. We inhibited Lcn2 with an anti-Lcn2 antibody neutralization or genomic ablation in mice. Lcn2 deficiency significantly improved body temperature in tumor-bearing mice, which was supported by the increased expression of Ucp1 and β3-adrenergic receptor in BAT. In addition, Lcn2 inhibition abrogated the loss of fat and muscle in tumor-bearing mice. In contrast to tumor-bearing WT mice, the corresponding Lcn2-knockout mice showed reduced ATGL expression in iWAT and decreased the expression of muscle atrophy molecular markers MuRF-1 and Fbx32.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Lcn2 is causally involved in the dysregulation of adipose tissue-muscle-tumor crosstalk during pancreatic cancer cachexia. Therapeutic targets that suppress Lcn2 may minimize the progression of cachexia.}, } @article {pmid36242623, year = {2022}, author = {Li, W and Li, X and Wang, W and Zhang, S and Cui, J and Peng, Y and Zhao, Y}, title = {Impact of Sulfoxaflor Exposure on Bacterial Community and Developmental Performance of the Predatory Ladybeetle Propylea japonica.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36242623}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Insects maintain a vast number of symbiotic bacteria, and these symbionts play key roles in the hosts' life processes. Propylea japonica (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an abundant and widespread ladybeetle in agricultural fields in Asia. Both larvae and adults of P. japonica are likely to be exposed to insecticide residue in the field during their predatory activity. Sulfoxaflor is a highly powerful insecticide that has strong efficacy in controlling sap-sucking pests. To date, there have been several studies on the acute and long-term toxicity of sulfoxaflor to insects, but few studies have reported the impact of sulfoxaflor on the predators' micro-ecosystems. This study was to determine the impact of sulfoxaflor on the symbiotic bacteria and developmental performance of P. japonica. In the present study, two concentrations (1 mg/L and 5 mg/L) and two exposure periods (1 day and 5 days) were set for P. japonica under sulfoxaflor exposure. The survival rate, developmental duration, pupation rate, emergence rate, and body weight of P. japonica were examined. Moreover, the bacterial community of P. japonica was investigated by high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Our results indicated that bacterial community of P. japonica was mainly composed of Staphylococcus, Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Rhodococcus, and Ralstonia at the genus level. The bacterial community of P. japonica in 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L sulfoxaflor groups was significantly altered on day 1, compared with that in control group. The results also showed that the larval duration was significantly prolonged but the pupal duration was significantly shortened in both sulfoxaflor groups. Meanwhile, the pupation and emergence rate was not significantly changed, but the body weights of adults were significantly decreased in both sulfoxaflor groups. Our study will provide a new perspective for evaluating the safety of pesticides to beneficial arthropods.}, } @article {pmid36242054, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, YG and Luo, ZH and Fang, BZ and Jiao, JY and Xie, QJ and Cao, XR and Qu, YN and Qi, YL and Rao, YZ and Li, YX and Liu, YH and Li, A and Seymour, C and Palmer, M and Hedlund, BP and Li, WJ and Hua, ZS}, title = {Functional differentiation determines the molecular basis of the symbiotic lifestyle of Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {172}, pmid = {36242054}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Acidic/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acids, Basic/genetics/metabolism ; *Archaea ; *Euryarchaeota/genetics ; Metagenome ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeota, an archaeal phylum within the DPANN superphylum, is characterized by limited metabolic capabilities and limited phylogenetic diversity and until recently has been considered to exclusively inhabit hypersaline environments due to an obligate association with Halobacteria. Aside from hypersaline environments, Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota can also have been discovered from deep-subsurface marine sediments.

RESULTS: Three metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing a new order within the Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota were reconstructed from a stratified salt crust and proposed to represent a novel order, Nucleotidisoterales. Genomic features reveal them to be anaerobes capable of catabolizing nucleotides by coupling nucleotide salvage pathways with lower glycolysis to yield free energy. Comparative genomics demonstrated that these and other Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota inhabiting saline habitats use a "salt-in" strategy to maintain osmotic pressure based on the high proportion of acidic amino acids. In contrast, previously described Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota MAGs from geothermal environments were enriched with basic amino acids to counter heat stress. Evolutionary history reconstruction revealed that functional differentiation of energy conservation strategies drove diversification within Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota, further leading to shifts in the catabolic strategy from nucleotide degradation within deeper lineages to polysaccharide degradation within shallow lineages.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides deeper insight into the ecological functions and evolution of the expanded phylum Ca. Nanohaloarchaeota and further advances our understanding on the functional and genetic associations between potential symbionts and hosts. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36240915, year = {2023}, author = {Yang, L and Yang, Q and Lin, L and Luan, T and Tam, NFY}, title = {Characterization of benthic biofilms in mangrove sediments and their variation in response to nutrients and contaminants.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {857}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {159391}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159391}, pmid = {36240915}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Diatoms/physiology ; Biofilms ; Bacteria ; Polysaccharides ; Nutrients ; }, abstract = {Diatom-dominated biofilms and associated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) may adapt to the stress of long-term exposure to nutrients and anthropogenic contaminants. However, such interactions in contaminated mangrove sediments have rarely been reported. Based on the in situ characterization of biofilm components and environmental factors, the present study aimed to explore the key factors involved in shaping sediment biofilms through correlational and multivariate analyses. The pennate diatom Navicula is the core taxon that plays a crucial role in balancing the abundance of Nitzschia and Cyclotella, and is the main producer of bound-polysaccharides. The taxa composition shifts in a high N/P matrix, with the populations of pennate diatoms increasing but that of centric diatoms decreasing. High nutrient concentrations yield more number of diatoms and elevated levels of EPS. Bacteria are the main consumers of EPS and tend to be more symbiotic with Nitzschia than the other two diatom taxa. Some bound-polysaccharides dominated by arabinose and glucose units are transformed into the colloidal fraction, whereas other conservative ones serve as structural materials in concert with the bound-proteins. The planktonic phase of Cyclotella breaks down the structural EPS secreted by pennate diatoms in a process that directly affects the dynamic renewal of benthic biofilms. Most heavy metals as well as bisphenol A inhibit the abundance of bacteria and diatoms but enhance most EPS fractions except bound-polysaccharides. The response of structural EPS to specific contaminants varies, exhibiting increases in Co and Ni levels but decreases in nonylphenol and methylparaben levels. The present study improves our understanding of the microbial carbon loop of benthic biofilms in mangrove ecosystems under stress by nutrients and mixed contaminants.}, } @article {pmid36240011, year = {2023}, author = {Çam, G and Akın, N and Konak Göktepe, Ç and Demirci, T}, title = {Pea (Pisum sativum L.) pod powder as a potential enhancer of probiotic Enterococcus faecium M74 in ice cream and its physicochemical, structural, and sensory effects.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {103}, number = {6}, pages = {3184-3193}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.12276}, pmid = {36240011}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Peas ; *Ice Cream/analysis ; *Enterococcus faecium ; Powders ; *Probiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In this study, pea (Pisum sativum L.) pod powder (PPP) was incorporated (1% and 3% w/w) into a probiotic ice cream formulation containing Enterococcus faecium M74 to investigate the potential effect of PPP on the probiotic survivability in the ice cream throughout 60 days of frozen storage. Moreover, the produced symbiotic ice creams were evaluated for their physiochemical properties, stability, and sensory acceptability.

RESULTS: Incorporation of PPP into ice cream caused significantly (P < 0.05) increased protein and ash content and lower pH values. Besides that, the addition of PPP resulted in ice creams with higher hardness and lower overrun. A significant diminishing was observed in the melting rates of the ice creams as the percentage of PPP increased and storage time progressed. Ice cream with PPP presented lower lightness and higher greenness and yellowness compared with control. All ice creams had viable counts of E. faecium M74 of ≥6 log cfu g[-1] during storage and provided the number of viable cells that the probiotic product should contain. On day 60, the viability of E. faecium M74 in ice cream containing 1% PPP (7.64 ± 0.02) was higher than the control (7.28 ± 0.00). Sensory analyses revealed that there was no statistical difference in ice cream with 1% PPP and the control without PPP in terms of general acceptability.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that pea pods, which is a waste product of the pea industry and obtained at zero cost, could be used as a potential prebiotic and an agent to improve technological properties of dairy products. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36237175, year = {2023}, author = {Brindisi, M and Frattaruolo, L and Fiorillo, M and Dolce, V and Sotgia, F and Lisanti, MP and Cappello, AR}, title = {New insights into cholesterol-mediated ERRα activation in breast cancer progression and pro-tumoral microenvironment orchestration.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {290}, number = {6}, pages = {1481-1501}, doi = {10.1111/febs.16651}, pmid = {36237175}, issn = {1742-4658}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; *Breast Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cholesterol/adverse effects ; *Hypercholesterolemia/complications/genetics/metabolism ; *Tumor Microenvironment/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Breast cancer remains the greatest cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Its aggressiveness and progression derive from intricate processes that occur simultaneously both within the tumour itself and in the neighbouring cells that make up its microenvironment. The aim of the present work was firstly to study how elevated cholesterol levels increase tumour aggressiveness. Herein, we demonstrate that cholesterol, by activating ERRα pathway, promotes epithelium-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) as well as the release of pro-inflammatory factors able to orchestrate the tumour microenvironment. A further objective of this work was to study the close symbiosis between tumour cells and the microenvironment. Our results allow us to highlight, for the first time, that breast cancer cells exposed to high cholesterol levels promote (a) greater macrophages infiltration with induction of an M2 phenotype, (b) angiogenesis and endothelial branching, as well as (c) a cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) phenotype. The effects observed could be due to direct activation of the ERRα pathway by high cholesterol levels, since the simultaneous inhibition of this pathway subverts such effects. Overall, these findings enable us to identify the cholesterol-ERRα synergy as an interesting target for breast cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid36233333, year = {2022}, author = {Bender, FR and Alves, LC and da Silva, JFM and Ribeiro, RA and Pauli, G and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Microbiome of Nodules and Roots of Soybean and Common Bean: Searching for Differences Associated with Contrasting Performances in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36233333}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fertilizers ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phaseolus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a key process for the N input in agriculture, with outstanding economic and environmental benefits from the replacement of chemical fertilizers. However, not all symbioses are equally effective in fixing N2, and a major example relies on the high contribution associated with the soybean (Glycine max), contrasting with the low rates reported with the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) crop worldwide. Understanding these differences represents a major challenge that can help to design strategies to increase the contribution of BNF, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses of the nodule and root microbiomes may bring new insights to explain differential symbiotic performances. In this study, three treatments evaluated in non-sterile soil conditions were investigated in both legumes: (i) non-inoculated control; (ii) inoculated with host-compatible rhizobia; and (iii) co-inoculated with host-compatible rhizobia and Azospirillum brasilense. In the more efficient and specific symbiosis with soybean, Bradyrhizobium presented a high abundance in nodules, with further increases with inoculation. Contrarily, the abundance of the main Rhizobium symbiont was lower in common bean nodules and did not increase with inoculation, which may explain the often-reported lack of response of this legume to inoculation with elite strains. Co-inoculation with Azospirillum decreased the abundance of the host-compatible rhizobia in nodules, probably because of competitiveness among the species at the rhizosphere, but increased in root microbiomes. The results showed that several other bacteria compose the nodule microbiomes of both legumes, including nitrogen-fixing, growth-promoters, and biocontrol agents, whose contribution to plant growth deserves further investigation. Several genera of bacteria were detected in root microbiomes, and this microbial community might contribute to plant growth through a variety of microbial processes. However, massive inoculation with elite strains should be better investigated, as it may affect the root microbiome, verified by both relative abundance and diversity indices, that might impact the contribution of microbial processes to plant growth.}, } @article {pmid36232842, year = {2022}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Rusaczonek, A and Kasowska, D and Gediga, K and Banasiewicz, J and Stępkowski, T and Bernacki, MJ}, title = {Potential of Rhizobia Nodulating Anthyllis vulneraria L. from Ultramafic Soil as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Alleviating Nickel Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana L.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36232842}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis ; Bacteria ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Lotus ; Nickel/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia, which enter into symbiosis with legumes, can also interact with non-legumes and promote plant growth. In this paper, we explored the effects of nickel (Ni, 200 µM) on Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) inoculated with plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizobia nodulating ultramafic Anthyllis vulneraria. The isolated PGP strains tolerant to Ni were identified as Rhizobium sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp. The isolates highly differed in their PGP abilities and Ni resistance. Without Ni-stress, the plants inoculated with most isolates grew better and had higher photosynthetic efficiency than non-inoculated controls. Nickel treatment increased Ni concentration in inoculated plants. Plant growth, leaf anatomy, chloroplast ultrastructure, efficiency of photosynthesis, and antioxidant defense system activity were significantly impaired by Ni, however, the majority of these effects were diminished in plants inoculated with the most effective PGP rhizobia. Real-time PCR revealed an increased expression level of genes involved in auxin and gibberellin biosynthesis in the inoculated, Ni-treated plants, and this may have improved shoot and root growth after inoculation with effective isolates. Our results also suggest a positive correlation between Ni-stress parameters and antioxidant defense system activity, and also between the effectiveness of photosynthesis and plant growth parameters. We showed that the selected rhizobia, naturally nodulating Anthyllis on Ni-rich ultramafic soils can promote Arabidopsis growth and increase plant tolerance to Ni by improving different physiological and biochemical mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid36232445, year = {2022}, author = {Han, T and Liao, X and Zhu, Y and Liu, Y and Lu, N and Li, Y and Guo, Z and Chen, JY and He, C and Lu, Z}, title = {Full-Length Transcriptome Maps of Reef-Building Coral Illuminate the Molecular Basis of Calcification, Symbiosis, and Circadian Genes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36232445}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Coral transcriptomic data largely rely on short-read sequencing, which severely limits the understanding of coral molecular mechanisms and leaves many important biological questions unresolved. Here, we sequence the full-length transcriptomes of four common and frequently dominant reef-building corals using the PacBio Sequel II platform. We obtain information on reported gene functions, structures, and expression profiles. Among them, a comparative analysis of biomineralization-related genes provides insights into the molecular basis of coral skeletal density. The gene expression profiles of the symbiont Symbiodiniaceae are also isolated and annotated from the holobiont sequence data. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis of key circadian clock genes among 40 evolutionarily representative species indicates that there are four key members in early metazoans, including cry genes; Clock or Npas2; cyc or Arntl; and tim, while per, as the fifth member, occurs in Bilateria. In summary, this work provides a foundation for further work on the manipulation of skeleton production or symbiosis to promote the survival of these important organisms.}, } @article {pmid36232385, year = {2022}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Medina, C and Vinardell, JM and Ollero, FJ and López-Baena, FJ}, title = {The Rhizobial Type 3 Secretion System: The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36232385}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism ; Vegetables/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that can establish a symbiotic association with legumes. As a result, plant nodules are formed on the roots of the host plants where rhizobia differentiate to bacteroids capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. This ammonia is transferred to the plant in exchange of a carbon source and an appropriate environment for bacterial survival. This process is subjected to a tight regulation with several checkpoints to allow the progression of the infection or its restriction. The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) is a secretory system that injects proteins, called effectors (T3E), directly into the cytoplasm of the host cell, altering host pathways or suppressing host defense responses. This secretion system is not present in all rhizobia but its role in symbiosis is crucial for some symbiotic associations, showing two possible faces as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: it can be completely necessary for the formation of nodules, or it can block nodulation in different legume species/cultivars. In this review, we compile all the information currently available about the effects of different rhizobial effectors on plant symbiotic phenotypes. These phenotypes are diverse and highlight the importance of the T3SS in certain rhizobium-legume symbioses.}, } @article {pmid36232323, year = {2022}, author = {Rui, W and Mao, Z and Li, Z}, title = {The Roles of Phosphorus and Nitrogen Nutrient Transporters in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36232323}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen ; Nutrients ; *Phosphorus ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {More than 80% of land plant species can form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and nutrient transfer to plants is largely mediated through this partnership. Over the last few years, great progress has been made in deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the AM-mediated modulation of nutrient uptake progress, and a growing number of fungal and plant genes responsible for the uptake of nutrients from soil or transfer across the fungal-root interface have been identified. In this review, we outline the current concepts of nutrient exchanges within this symbiosis (mechanisms and regulation) and focus on P and N transfer from the fungal partner to the host plant, with a highlight on a possible interplay between P and N nutrient exchanges. Transporters belonging to the plant or AM fungi can synergistically process the transmembrane transport of soil nutrients to the symbiotic interface for further plant acquisition. Although much progress has been made to elucidate the complex mechanism for the integrated roles of nutrient transfers in AM symbiosis, questions still remain to be answered; for example, P and N transporters are less studied in different species of AM fungi; the involvement of AM fungi in plant N uptake is not as clearly defined as that of P; coordinated utilization of N and P is unknown; transporters of cultivated plants inoculated with AM fungi and transcriptomic and metabolomic networks at both the soil-fungi interface and fungi-plant interface have been insufficiently studied. These findings open new perspectives for fundamental research and application of AM fungi in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36230966, year = {2022}, author = {Ali, H and Pei, M and Li, H and Fang, W and Mao, H and Khan, HA and Nadeem, T and Lu, G and Olsson, S}, title = {The Wheat Head Blight Pathogen Fusarium graminearum Can Recruit Collaborating Bacteria from Soil.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36230966}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Fusarium ; Gentamicins ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Soil ; *Triticum/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In nature, fungal endophytes often have facultative endohyphal bacteria (FEB). Can a model plant pathogenic fungus have them, and does it affect their phenotype? We constructed a growth system/microcosm to allow an F. graminearum isolate to grow through natural soil and then re-isolated it on a gentamicin-containing medium, allowing endohyphal growth of bacteria while killing other bacteria. F. graminearum PH-1 labelled with a His1mCherry gene staining the fungal nuclei fluorescent red was used to confirm the re-isolation of the fungus. Most new re-isolates contained about 10 16SrRNA genes per fungal mCherry gene determined by qPCR. The F. graminearum + FEB holobiont isolates containing the bacteria were sub-cultured several times, and their bacterial contents were stable. Sequencing the bacterial 16SrRNA gene from several Fg-FEB holobiont isolates revealed endophytic bacteria known to be capable of nitrogen fixation. We tested the pathogenicity of one common Fg-FEB holobiont association, F. graminearum + Stenatrophomonas maltophilia, and found increased pathogenicity. The 16SrRNA gene load per fungal His1mCherry gene inside the wheat stayed the same as previously found in vitro. Finally, strong evidence was found for Fg-S. maltophilia symbiotic nitrogen fixation benefitting the fungus.}, } @article {pmid36230424, year = {2022}, author = {Foti, M and Spena, MT and Fisichella, V and Mascetti, A and Colnaghi, M and Grasso, M and Piraino, C and Sciurba, F and Grasso, R}, title = {Cultivable Bacteria Associated with the Microbiota of Troglophile Bats.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {12}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36230424}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The study of bats is of significant interest from a systematic, zoogeographic, ecological, and physiological point of view. The aim of this study is to investigate the culturable aerobic enteric, conjunctival, and oral bacterial flora of bats to determine their physiological microbiome and to investigate the possible occurrence of pathogenic bacteria.

METHODS: Five hundred and sixty-seven samples were collected from 189 individuals of four species of troglophile bats (Myotis myotis, Myotis capaccinii, Miniopterus schreibersii, and Rhinolophus hipposideros) living in Sicilian and Calabrian territory (Italy). All samples were tested for Gram-negative bacteria; conjunctival and oral swabs were also submitted to bacteriological examination for Gram-positive bacteria.

RESULTS: Four hundred thirteen Gram-negative strains were isolated. Of these, 377 belonged to 17 different genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae and 30 to five other families. One hundred eighty-three Gram-positive strains were isolated. Of these, 73 belonged to the Staphylococcaceae family, 72 to the Bacillaceae family and 36 to four other families. Besides some potentially pathogenic strains, several bacterial species have been found that are common to all the bat species studied. These could perhaps play a physiological or nutritional role.

CONCLUSION: A great variety of bacterial species were identified in the cultivable microbiota of southern-Italian troglophile bats, including several potentially pathogenic strains and numerous putatively symbiotic species.}, } @article {pmid36230261, year = {2022}, author = {Carpio, AJ and García, M and Hillström, L and Lönn, M and Carvalho, J and Acevedo, P and Bueno, CG}, title = {Wild Boar Effects on Fungal Abundance and Guilds from Sporocarp Sampling in a Boreal Forest Ecosystem.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {12}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36230261}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Native wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are expanding across Europe. This is cause for concern in some areas where overabundant populations impact natural ecosystems and adjacent agronomic systems. To better manage the potential for impacts, managers require more information about how the species may affect other organisms. For example, information regarding the effect of wild boar on soil fungi for management application is lacking. Soil fungi play a fundamental role in ecosystems, driving essential ecological functions; acting as mycorrhizal symbionts, sustaining plant nutrition and providing defense; as saprotrophs, regulating the organic matter decomposition; or as plant pathogens, regulating plant fitness and survival. During autumn (Sep-Nov) 2018, we investigated the effects of wild boar (presence/absence and rooting intensity) on the abundance (number of individuals) of fungal sporocarps and their functional guilds (symbiotic, saprotrophic and pathogenic). We selected eleven forested sites (400-500 × 150-200 m) in central Sweden; six with and five without the presence of wild boar. Within each forest, we selected one transect (200 m long), and five plots (2 × 2 m each) for sites without wild boar, and ten plots for sites with boars (five within and five outside wild boar disturbances), to determine the relationship between the intensity of rooting and the abundance of sporocarps for three fungal guilds. We found that the presence of wild boar and rooting intensity were associated with the abundance of sporocarps. Interestingly, this relationship varied depending on the fungal guild analyzed, where wild boar rooting had a positive correlation with saprophytic sporocarps and a negative correlation with symbiotic sporocarps. Pathogenic fungi, in turn, were more abundant in undisturbed plots (no rooting) but located in areas with the presence of wild boar. Our results indicate that wild boar activities can potentially regulate the abundance of fungal sporocarps, with different impacts on fungal guilds. Therefore, wild boar can affect many essential ecosystem functions driven by soil fungi in boreal forests, such as positive effects on energy rotation and in creating mineral availability to plants, which could lead to increased diversity of plants in boreal forests.}, } @article {pmid36230202, year = {2022}, author = {Kaeder, E and Dorn-In, S and Gareis, M and Schwaiger, K}, title = {Symbiotic Husbandry of Chickens and Pigs Does Not Increase Pathogen Transmission Risk.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36230202}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {A symbiotic or mixed animal husbandry (e.g., pigs and chickens) is considered to have a positive effect for animal welfare and sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, a risk of infection and transmission of microorganisms, especially of zoonotic pathogens, between animal species may potentially occur and thus might increase the risk of foodborne illnesses for consumers. To prove these assumptions, two groups of animals and their environmental (soil) samples were investigated in this study. Animals were kept in a free-range system. In the first group, pigs and chickens were reared together (pasture 1), while the other group contained only pigs (pasture 2). During a one-year study, fecal swab samples of 240 pigs and 120 chickens, as well as 120 ground samples, were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and E. coli. Altogether, 438 E. coli and 201 Campylobacter spp. strains were isolated and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Salmonella spp. was not isolated from any of the sample types. The prevalences of Campylobacter coli and C. jejuni in pigs were 26.7% and 3.3% in pasture 1 and 30.0% and 6.7% in pasture 2, while the prevalences of C. coli and C. jejuni in chickens from pasture 1 were 9.2% and 78.3%, respectively. No correlation between the rearing type (mixed vs. pigs alone) and the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was observed. All swab samples were positive for E. coli, while the average prevalences in soil samples were 78.3% and 51.7% in pasture 1 and 2, respectively. Results of similarity analysis of the MALDI-TOF MS spectra (for C. coli, C. jejuni and E. coli) and FT-IR spectra (for E. coli) of the same bacterial species showed no recognizable correlations, no matter if strains were isolated from chickens, pig or soil samples or isolated at different sampling periods. The results of the study indicate that the symbiotic husbandry of pigs and chickens neither results in an increased risk of a transmission of Campylobacter spp. or E. coli, nor in a risk of bacterial alteration, as shown by MALDI-TOF MS and FT-IR spectra. In conclusion, the benefits of keeping pigs and chickens together are not diminished by the possible transmission of pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36230183, year = {2022}, author = {Pihurov, M and Păcularu-Burada, B and Cotârleț, M and Bahrim, GE}, title = {Tailoring the Optimized Fermentation Conditions of SCOBY-Based Membranes and Milk Kefir Grains to Promote Various Functional Properties.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {36230183}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha culture (named SCOBY-Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts) and milk kefir grains represent multiple consortia of wild microorganisms that include lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria and yeasts with valuable functional properties. Their fermentative potential provides a wide range of derivate metabiotics (prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and paraprobiotics) with valuable in vitro and in vivo benefits. This study targeted the evaluation of the functionality of a co-culture of SCOBY-based membranes and milk kefir grains, used as freeze-dried starter cultures, for the fermentation of a newly formulated medium based on black tea infusion, supplemented with bovine colostrum and sugar, in order to produce bioactive compounds with functional properties. The design and optimization of the biotechnological process were achieved by using the Plackett-Burman experimental design (six factorial points, three center points) and the response surface methodology and central composite design (three factorial points, six axial points and two center points in axial) tools. The statistical analysis and the mathematical modelling of the responses such as the pH, titratable acidity, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity (against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger) were investigated. Further, the composition of organic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids of the fermented product obtained under the optimized fermentation conditions was also analyzed. The fermentation of the medium containing 6.27% (w/v) bovine colostrum powder, 1.64% (w/v) black tea, 7.5% (w/w) sugar, pH 6.7, with an inoculum based of 0.36% (w/v) milk kefir grains powder and 0.5% (w/v) SCOBY-based membrane (both as freeze-dried culture), at 30 °C, for 5 days, in an aerobic stationary system, revealed an antifungal activity between 80 and 100% against Aspergillus niger, an antibacterial activity of 8-22 mm against Escherichia coli and Bacillus spp. And a titratable acidity of 445 °Th. The chemical composition of the obtained product had a positive impact on the functional properties of the fermented products in terms of the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.}, } @article {pmid36227093, year = {2022}, author = {Travin, DY and Sutormin, D and Mergaert, P and Severinov, K}, title = {Complete Genome Sequences of Two Rhizobium Strains Producing Azol(in)e-Modified Antibiotics.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {e0072222}, pmid = {36227093}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Rhizobia are known for their ability to establish symbiotic relationships with plants. The specialized metabolism of these bacteria remains understudied. Here, we report whole-genome sequences of two rhizobia producing narrow-spectrum antirhizobial azol(in)e-modified peptides: that of Rhizobium sp. Pop5, a phazolicin producer, and another of Rhizobium anhuiense T24, a trifolitoxin producer.}, } @article {pmid36227088, year = {2022}, author = {Che, X and Wang, S and Ren, Y and Xie, X and Hu, W and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {A Eucalyptus Pht1 Family Gene EgPT8 Is Essential for Arbuscule Elongation of Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0147022}, pmid = {36227088}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Eucalyptus ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The majority of vascular flowering plants can establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with AM fungi. These associations contribute to plant health and plant growth against various environmental stresses. In the mutualistic endosymbiosis, the AM fungi deliver phosphate (Pi) to the host root through highly branched hyphae called arbuscules. The molecular mechanisms of Pi transfer from AM fungi to the plant have been determined, which are dominated by AM-specific Pi transporters belonging to the PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER 1 (Pht1) family within the subfamily I. However, it is unknown whether Pht1 family proteins are involved in other regulations in AM symbiosis. Here, we report that the expression of EgPT8 is specifically activated by AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and is localized in root cortical cells containing arbuscules. Interestingly, knockdown of EgPT8 function does not affect the Eucalyptus grandis growth, total phosphorous (P) concentration, and arbuscule formation; however, the size of mature arbuscules was significantly suppressed in the RNAi-EgPT8 lines. Heterogeneous expression of EgPT4, EgPT5, and EgPT8 in the Medicago truncatula mutant mtpt4-2 indicates that EgPT4 and EgPT5 can fully complement the defects of mutant mtpt4-2 in mycorrhizal Pi uptake and arbuscule formation, while EgPT8 cannot complement the defective AM phenotype of the mtpt4-2 mutant. Based on our results, we propose that the AM fungi-specific subfamily I transporter EgPT8 has novel functions and is essential to arbuscule elongation. IMPORTANCE Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) formation in host root cortical cells is initiated by exchanges of diffusible molecules, among which Pi uptake is known as the important feature of AM fungi on symbiosis functioning. Over the last two decades, it has been repeatedly proven that most vascular plants harbor two or more AM-specific Pht1 proteins; however, there is no direct evidence regarding the potential link among these Pi transporters at the symbiotic interface. This work revealed a novel function of a structurally conserved protein involved in lateral arbuscule development. In total, we confirmed that three AM-specific Pht1 family proteins are nonredundant in Eucalyptus grandis and that EgPT8 is responsible for fungal arbuscule elongation of Rhizophagus irregularis.}, } @article {pmid36225386, year = {2022}, author = {Afzaal, M and Saeed, F and Shah, YA and Hussain, M and Rabail, R and Socol, CT and Hassoun, A and Pateiro, M and Lorenzo, JM and Rusu, AV and Aadil, RM}, title = {Human gut microbiota in health and disease: Unveiling the relationship.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {999001}, pmid = {36225386}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The human gut possesses millions of microbes that define a complex microbial community. The gut microbiota has been characterized as a vital organ forming its multidirectional connecting axis with other organs. This gut microbiota axis is responsible for host-microbe interactions and works by communicating with the neural, endocrinal, humoral, immunological, and metabolic pathways. The human gut microorganisms (mostly non-pathogenic) have symbiotic host relationships and are usually associated with the host's immunity to defend against pathogenic invasion. The dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is therefore linked to various human diseases, such as anxiety, depression, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. The mechanism leading to the disease development has a crucial correlation with gut microbiota, metabolic products, and host immune response in humans. The understanding of mechanisms over gut microbiota exerts its positive or harmful impacts remains largely undefined. However, many recent clinical studies conducted worldwide are demonstrating the relation of specific microbial species and eubiosis in health and disease. A comprehensive understanding of gut microbiota interactions, its role in health and disease, and recent updates on the subject are the striking topics of the current review. We have also addressed the daunting challenges that must be brought under control to maintain health and treat diseases.}, } @article {pmid36224161, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, L and Li, Y and Wei, JL and Li, ZS and Zhou, XL and Zheng, FL and Wu, XB and Wang, L and Liu, ZH and Tan, DS}, title = {[Effects of Long-term Straw Returning on Fungal Community, Enzyme Activity and Wheat Yield in Fluvo-aquic Soil].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, pages = {4755-4764}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202201210}, pmid = {36224161}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Alkalies ; Fertilizers/analysis ; *Mycobiome ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphates/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Potassium/chemistry ; *Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Triticum ; beta-Glucosidase ; }, abstract = {To illustrate the effects of long-term straw returning on the fungal community, soil enzyme activity, and crop yield in a fluvo-aquic soil area typical of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, a 10-year field experiment (established in 2010) located in Dezhou City, Shandong province, was performed, including three fertilization regimes (NF, no fertilization control; NPK, fertilization with chemical N, P, and K fertilizers; NPKS, straw returning combined with chemical N, P, and K fertilizers). This study aimed to explore the regulation mechanisms of fungal communities on soil fertility, enzyme activities, and crop yield by employing co-occurrence network and structural equation model analyses. Our results showed that long-term straw returning significantly improved soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and wheat yield. Compared with the NPK and NF treatments, soil organic matter (SOM) increased by 9.20% and 34.75%, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN) increased by 12.03% and 39.17%, dehydrogenase (DHA) increased by 37.21% and 50.91%, β-glucosidase (β-GC) increased by 17.29% and 73.48%, and wheat production increased by 16.22% and 125.53%, respectively. Different long-term fertilization regimes did not significantly change soil fungal α-diversity but resulted in significant differences in β-diversity. Available phosphorus (AP), SOM, and AN were the main driving factors of fungal community differentiation based on redundancy analysis and hierarchical partitioning analysis. Different abundance analyses revealed significantly different fungal community compositions among fertilization regimes. The long-term NF treatment resulted in a significant enrichment of phosphate/potassium-solubilizing species (i.e., Mortierella, Aspergillus, Ceriporia, and Acremonium) and symbiotic species (i.e., Leohumicola and Hyalodendriella). The relative abundance of pathogenic fungi, namely Sarocladium, Fusarium, and Fusicolla, increased significantly in the NPK treatment. Long-term straw returning in the NPKS treatment significantly stimulated the growth of plant growth-promoting species (i.e., Pseudogymnoascus and Schizothecium) and straw-degrading species (i.e., Trichocladium and Lobulomyces). Co-occurrence network analysis showed that the fungal network was composed of four main modules; the cumulative relative abundance of module 2 was significantly increased under the NPKS treatment and showed a positive linear correlation with DHA and β-GC. The structural equation model further indicated that the wheat yield was mainly regulated by SOM, whereas species of module 2 could indirectly affect SOM and wheat yield by positively regulating DHA and β-GC. Taken together, long-term straw returning to the fluvo-aquic soil area of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain could regulate fungal interspecific interactions, stimulate the growth of specific species groups, inhibit the activity of pathogens, increase the activity of soil enzymes, promote the accumulation of SOM, and achieve high crop yield.}, } @article {pmid36223180, year = {2022}, author = {Castaneda-Alvarez, C and Machado, RAR and Morales-Montero, P and Boss, A and Muller, A and Prodan, S and Zamorano, A and San-Blas, E and Půža, V and Aballay, E}, title = {Photorhabdus antumapuensis sp. nov., a novel symbiotic bacterial species associated with Heterorhabditis atacamensis entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005525}, pmid = {36223180}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; *Nematoda ; *Photorhabdus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhabditoidea/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Virulence Factors ; }, abstract = {One motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped symbiotic bacterium, strain UCH-936[T], was isolated from Heterorhabditis atacamensis nematodes. Results of biochemical, physiological, molecular and genomic analyses suggest that it represents a new species, which we propose to name Photorhabdus antumapuensis sp. nov. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization shows that strain UCH-936[T] is more closely related to Photorhabdus kleinii DSM 23513[T], but shares solely 50.5 % similarity, which is below the 70% cut-off value that delimits species boundaries in bacteria. Phylogenetic reconstructions using whole-genome sequences show that strain UCH-936[T] forms a unique clade, suggesting its novel and distinct taxonomic status again. Similarly, comparative genomic analyses shows that the virulence factor flagella-related gene fleR, the type IV pili-related gene pilL and the vibriobactin-related gene vibE are present in the genome of strain UCH-936[T] but absent in the genomes of its closest relatives. Biochemically and physiologically, UCH-936[T] differs also from all closely related Photorhabdus species. Therefore, Photorhabdus antumapuensis sp. nov. is proposed as a new species with the type strain UCH-936[T] (CCCT 21.06[T]=CCM 9188[T]=CCOS 1991[T]).}, } @article {pmid36222963, year = {2022}, author = {Henneken, J and Farnier, K and Cunningham, JP}, title = {A Synthetic Blend of Fruit and Live Yeast Odours Shows Promise for Trapping Mated Female Queensland Fruit Fly, Bactrocera tryoni, in the Field.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {48}, number = {11-12}, pages = {817-826}, pmid = {36222963}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Female ; Animals ; *Odorants ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; *Tephritidae/physiology ; Reproduction ; Fruit ; Insect Control ; Pheromones/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Tephritid fruit flies are major horticultural pests of fruit and vegetable crops. Developing an odour lure that can attract mated female flies under field conditions has presented a major challenge to chemical ecologists around the globe. We have designed a new lure to attract female Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, based on the knowledge that this pest tephritid is attracted not only to odours from ripening fruits, but also to odours of symbiotic (gut-associated) yeasts on which the larvae feed. Initial field trials screened four volatile mixtures, each containing a base mix of three, short-chain "fruit ripening" esters and differing in the addition of long-chain "fruity" esters and / or alcohols produced by live yeasts. Results demonstrated that the lure formulated from short-chain esters and live yeast alcohols attracted the most female flies, with significantly higher catches than an odourless control trap, and a protein-baited trap. As electrophysiological studies exploring peripheral responses in tephritids to alcohols associated with fermentation have not been extensively investigated, we conducted this work on both the antennae and maxillary palps, and discovered that three yeast alcohols were detected by both sensory organs. Performance trials conducted in pome fruit and stone fruit orchards evaluated the six-component blend of short-chain ester and live yeast alcohol lure against a commercially available synthetic fruit-odour lure and a protein-based lure. In the apple orchard, the new lure caught significantly more female flies, and in particular mated females, compared to the commercially available lures. In the stone fruit orchard, while the new lure again caught the most mated female flies compared to the other lures, differences were not significant. The visual stimulus (trap design) used had a significant effect on capture, with a Ladd trap (red sphere on a yellow panel) being considerably more effective than the other traps. We discuss the implications of this study, including why the degree of effectiveness of the new lure might have differed among the test orchards (citrus, apple, stonefruit), and why yeast odours might increase attractiveness to "ripening fruit" volatile blends under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid36222582, year = {2023}, author = {Ablazov, A and Votta, C and Fiorilli, V and Wang, JY and Aljedaani, F and Jamil, M and Balakrishna, A and Balestrini, R and Liew, KX and Rajan, C and Berqdar, L and Blilou, I and Lanfranco, L and Al-Babili, S}, title = {ZAXINONE SYNTHASE 2 regulates growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {191}, number = {1}, pages = {382-399}, pmid = {36222582}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; *Oryza/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Carotenoid cleavage, catalyzed by CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASEs (CCDs), provides signaling molecules and precursors of plant hormones. Recently, we showed that zaxinone, a apocarotenoid metabolite formed by the CCD ZAXINONE SYNTHASE (ZAS), is a growth regulator required for normal rice (Oryza sativa) growth and development. The rice genome encodes three OsZAS homologs, called here OsZAS1b, OsZAS1c, and OsZAS2, with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity, expression pattern, and subcellular localization of OsZAS2 and generated and characterized loss-of-function CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated protein 9)-Oszas2 mutants. We show that OsZAS2 formed zaxinone in vitro. OsZAS2 was predominantly localized in plastids and mainly expressed under phosphate starvation. Moreover, OsZAS2 expression increased during mycorrhization, specifically in arbuscule-containing cells. Oszas2 mutants contained lower zaxinone content in roots and exhibited reduced root and shoot biomass, fewer tillers, and higher strigolactone (SL) levels. Exogenous zaxinone application repressed SL biosynthesis and partially rescued the growth retardation of the Oszas2 mutant. Consistent with the OsZAS2 expression pattern, Oszas2 mutants displayed a lower frequency of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. In conclusion, OsZAS2 is a zaxinone-forming enzyme that, similar to the previously reported OsZAS, determines rice growth, architecture, and SL content, and is required for optimal mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid36221916, year = {2022}, author = {Mansour, A and Mannaa, M and Hewedy, O and Ali, MG and Jung, H and Seo, YS}, title = {Versatile Roles of Microbes and Small RNAs in Rice and Planthopper Interactions.}, journal = {The plant pathology journal}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {432-448}, pmid = {36221916}, issn = {1598-2254}, abstract = {Planthopper infestation in rice causes direct and indirect damage through feeding and viral transmission. Host microbes and small RNAs (sRNAs) play essential roles in regulating biological processes, such as metabolism, development, immunity, and stress responses in eukaryotic organisms, including plants and insects. Recently, advanced metagenomic approaches have facilitated investigations on microbial diversity and its function in insects and plants, highlighting the significance of microbiota in sustaining host life and regulating their interactions with the environment. Recent research has also suggested significant roles for sRNA-regulated genes during rice-planthopper interactions. The response and behavior of the rice plant to planthopper feeding are determined by changes in the host transcriptome, which might be regulated by sRNAs. In addition, the roles of microbial symbionts and sRNAs in the host response to viral infection are complex and involve defense-related changes in the host transcriptomic profile. This review reviews the structure and potential functions of microbes and sRNAs in rice and the associated planthopper species. In addition, the involvement of the microbiota and sRNAs in the rice-planthopper-virus interactions during planthopper infestation and viral infection are discussed.}, } @article {pmid36221227, year = {2022}, author = {Cassidy, ST and Markalanda, S and McFadden, CJ and Wood, CW}, title = {Herbivory modifies plant symbiont number and impact on host plant performance in the field.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {76}, number = {12}, pages = {2945-2958}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14641}, pmid = {36221227}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Herbivory ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Medicago ; }, abstract = {Species interactions are a unifying theme in ecology and evolution. Both fields are currently moving beyond their historical focus on isolated pairwise relationships to understand how ecological communities affect focal interactions. Additional species can modify both the number of interactions and the fitness consequences of each interaction (i.e., selection). Although only selection affects the evolution of the focal interaction, the two are often conflated, limiting our understanding of the evolution of multispecies interactions. We manipulated aboveground herbivory on the legume Medicago lupulina in the field and quantified its effect on number of symbionts and the per-symbiont impact on plant performance in two belowground symbioses: mutualistic rhizobia bacteria (Ensifer meliloti) and parasitic root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne hapla). We found that herbivores modified the number of rhizobia nodules, as well as the benefit per nodule. However, each effect was specific to a distinct herbivory regime: natural herbivory affected nodule number, whereas leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) weakened the per nodule benefit. We did not detect any effect of herbivory on nematode gall number or the cost of infection. Our data demonstrate that distinguishing between symbiont number from the fitness consequences of symbiosis is crucial to accurately infer how pairwise interactions will evolve in a community.}, } @article {pmid36221067, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, YQ and Deng, SF and Yang, YQ and Ying, ZY}, title = {Comparative analysis of the endophytic bacteria inhabiting the phyllosphere of aquatic fern Azolla species by high-throughput sequencing.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {246}, pmid = {36221067}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Ferns/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Nitrogen ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Azolla is a small floating fern living in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and provides a variety of important ecosystem benefits. Previous studies have presented that Azolla harbors diverse bacteria that may play a key role in host fitness and productivity. However, the characteristics of endophytic bacteria inhabiting the phyllosphere of different species of Azolla have not yet been fully understood.

RESULTS: In this study, the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) V5-V7 region of bacteria was determined by Illumina high-throughput sequencing platform to study the diversity and richness of endophytic bacterial communities in the phyllosphere of five Azolla species collected from different countries. A total of 1150 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected for the endophytic bacteria community. According to the α diversity indices, the diversity of bacteria was ordered as Azolla imbricata > A. pinnata > A. filiculoides > A. mexicana > A. caroliniana. The PCoA results displayed that the bacterial communities of A. mexicana and A. caroliniana shared the highest similarity, followed by the similarity between A. pinnata and A. imbricata, and they were significantly distinct from the community of A. filiculoides. The dominant bacteria of Azolla mainly belonged to the phylum of Proteobacteria, followed by Actinobacteria, Chlorobillobacteria, and Firmicutes. In detail, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in A. imbricata was 52.23%, whereas it was more than 80.00% in the other four species of Azolla. Notably, Herbaspirillum (45.91%, 44.08%) and Methylophilus (29.97%, 37.96%) were the main genera inhabiting A. mexicana and A. caroliniana respectively. Ferrovibrio (18.54%) and Rhizobium (16.68%) were the dominant genera inhabiting A. filiculoides. The group of unidentified genera (41.63%, 44.92%) consisted most of the bacteria in A. imbricata and A. pinnata respectively. Further analysis suggested that the significant different bacteria identified in LDA Effect Size analysis existed Azolla species-specific patterns.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, all results suggested that the diversity and composition of the endophytic bacterial communities were different in Azolla species.}, } @article {pmid36220578, year = {2022}, author = {Sheteiwy, MS and El-Sawah, AM and Korany, SM and Alsherif, EA and Mowafy, AM and Chen, J and Jośko, I and Selim, S and AbdElgawad, H}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus "Rhizophagus irregularis" impacts on physiological and biochemical responses of ryegrass and chickpea plants under beryllium stress.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {315}, number = {}, pages = {120356}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120356}, pmid = {36220578}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Lolium/metabolism ; *Cicer ; Beryllium/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals such as beryllium (Be) have been identified as toxic for plants with a negative impact on plant growth. Therefore, there is an urgent need for environmentally friendly techniques to reduce Be toxicity on plant growth and productivity. To this end, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely applied to induce plant growth and stress tolerance. However, how AMF-plant symbiosis can support plants under Be stress has not been studied. Accordingly, we investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of AMF inoculated ryegrass and chickpea plants to Be stress. The associated changes in Be uptake and accumulation, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, carbon and nitrogen metabolism were studied. Soil contamination with Be induced higher Be accumulation, particularly in ryegrass, which consequentially reduced plant growth and photosynthesis. However, photorespiration and oxidative damage (H2O2 accumulation, lipid oxidation, and LOX activity) were increased, mainly in ryegrass. In both plant species, AMF inoculation reduced Be accumulation and mitigated growth inhibition and oxidative damage, but to a more extent in ryegrass. This could be explained by improved photosynthesis as well as the upregulation of osmoprotectants i.e., sucrose and proline biosynthesis pathways. The increase in proline level was consistent with higher nitrogen (N) metabolism as reflected by N level and nitrate reductase. Species-specific responses were recorded and supported by principal component analysis. This study provided insight into the mechanism of AMF's impact on Be-stressed ryegrass and chickpea plants. Hence, the current research suggested that AMF inoculation could be used as a viable strategy to mitigate Be phytotoxicity in ryegrass and chickpea plants.}, } @article {pmid36220090, year = {2022}, author = {Hoang, KL and King, KC}, title = {Symbiosis: Partners in crime.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {19}, pages = {R1018-R1020}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.029}, pmid = {36220090}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Crime ; Fungi ; Predatory Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Defensive symbionts protect their hosts against imminent threats. A new study uncovers a symbiosis whereby a fungus safeguards its beetle host from predation, but also exploits the beetle as a vector to help it attack plants and cause disease.}, } @article {pmid36218372, year = {2022}, author = {Bai, J and Zhao, X and Zhang, M and Xia, X and Yang, A and Chen, H}, title = {Gut microbiota: A target for prebiotics and probiotics in the intervention and therapy of food allergy.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-15}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2022.2133079}, pmid = {36218372}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Food allergy has become a major public health problem all over the world. Evidence showed that allergic reactions induced by food proteins often lead to disturbances in the gut microbiota (symbiotic bacteria). Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the balance between intestinal immune tolerance and allergic reactions. Dietary intervention has gradually become an important method for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, and changing the composition of gut microbiota through oral intake of prebiotics and probiotics may serve as a new effective adjuvant treatment measure for allergic diseases. In this paper, the main mechanism of food allergy based on intestinal immunity was described firstly. Then, the clinical and experimental evidence showed that different prebiotics and probiotics affect food allergy by changing the structure and composition of gut microbiota was summarized. Moreover, the molecular mechanism in which the gut microbiota and their metabolites may directly or indirectly regulate the immune system or intestinal epithelial barrier function to affect food immune tolerance of host were also reviewed to help in the development of food allergy prevention and treatment strategies based on prebiotics and probiotics.}, } @article {pmid36217381, year = {2022}, author = {Schön, ME and Abarenkov, K and Garnica, S}, title = {Host generalists dominate fungal communities associated with alpine knotweed roots: a study of Sebacinales.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e14047}, pmid = {36217381}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Humans ; *Polygonum ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome ; *Basidiomycota ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Bistorta vivipara is a widespread herbaceous perennial plant with a discontinuous pattern of distribution in arctic, alpine, subalpine and boreal habitats across the northern Hemisphere. Studies of the fungi associated with the roots of B. vivipara have mainly been conducted in arctic and alpine ecosystems. This study examined the fungal diversity and specificity from root tips of B. vivipara in two local mountain ecosystems as well as on a global scale. Sequences were generated by Sanger sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region followed by an analysis of accurately annotated nuclear segments including ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences available from public databases. In total, 181 different UNITE species hypotheses (SHs) were detected to be fungi associated with B. vivipara, 73 of which occurred in the Bavarian Alps and nine in the Swabian Alps-with one SH shared among both mountains. In both sites as well as in additional public data, individuals of B. vivipara were found to contain phylogenetically diverse fungi, with the Basidiomycota, represented by the Thelephorales and Sebacinales, being the most dominant. A comparative analysis of the diversity of the Sebacinales associated with B. vivipara and other co-occurring plant genera showed that the highest number of sebacinoid SHs were associated with Quercus and Pinus, followed by Bistorta. A comparison of B. vivipara with plant families such as Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Orchidaceae, and Pinaceae showed a clear trend: Only a few species were specific to B. vivipara and a large number of SHs were shared with other co-occurring non-B. vivipara plant species. In Sebacinales, the majority of SHs associated with B. vivipara belonged to the ectomycorrhiza (ECM)-forming Sebacinaceae, with fewer SHs belonging to the Serendipitaceae encompassing diverse ericoid-orchid-ECM-endophytic associations. The large proportion of non-host-specific fungi able to form a symbiosis with other non-B. vivipara plants could suggest that the high fungal diversity in B. vivipara comes from an active recruitment of their associates from the co-occurring vegetation. The non-host-specificity suggests that this strategy may offer ecological advantages; specifically, linkages with generalist rather than specialist fungi. Proximity to co-occurring non-B. vivipara plants can maximise the fitness of B. vivipara, allowing more rapid and easy colonisation of the available habitats.}, } @article {pmid36215064, year = {2023}, author = {Dietrich, P and Ferlian, O and Huang, Y and Luo, S and Quosh, J and Eisenhauer, N}, title = {Tree diversity effects on productivity depend on mycorrhizae and life strategies in a temperate forest experiment.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {e3896}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3896}, pmid = {36215064}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {*Trees/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Biodiversity ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Tree species are known to predominantly interact either with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding whether these mycorrhizae differently influence biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships and whether a combination of both can increase community productivity. In 2015, we established a tree-diversity experiment by growing tree communities with varying species richness levels (one, two, or four species) and either with AM or EM tree species or a combination of both. We investigated basal area and annual basal area increment from 2015 to 2020 as proxies for community productivity. We found significant positive relationships between tree species richness and community productivity, which strengthened over time. Further, AM and EM tree species differently influenced productivity; however, there was no overyielding when AM and EM trees grew together. EM tree communities were characterized by low productivity in the beginning but an increase of increment over time and showed overall strong biodiversity effects. For AM tree communities the opposite was true. Although young trees did not benefit from the presence of the other mycorrhizal type, dissimilar mechanisms underlying BEF relationships in AM and EM trees indicate that maximizing tree and mycorrhizal diversity may increase ecosystem functioning in the long run.}, } @article {pmid36214678, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, X and Li, J and Ding, F and Zheng, Y and Chao, L and Liu, H and Liu, X and Qu, H and Bao, Y}, title = {Changes of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community and Glomalin in the Rhizosphere along the Distribution Gradient of Zonal Stipa Populations across the Arid and Semiarid Steppe.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0148922}, pmid = {36214678}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Rhizosphere ; *Mycobiome ; Ecosystem ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Poaceae ; Carbon/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been reported to have a wide distribution in terrestrial ecosystems and to play a vital role in ecosystem functioning and symbiosis with Stipa grasses. However, exactly how AMF communities in the rhizosphere change and are distributed along different Stipa population with substituted distribution and their relationships remain unclear. Here, the changes and distribution of the rhizosphere AMF communities and their associations between hosts and the dynamic differences in the glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) in the rhizosphere soil of seven Stipa species with spatial substitution distribution characteristics in arid and semiarid grasslands were investigated. Along with the substituted distribution of the Stipa populations, the community structures, taxa, species numbers, and alpha diversity index values of AMF in the rhizosphere changed. Some AMF taxa appeared only in certain Stipa species, but there was no obvious AMF taxon turnover. When the Stipa baicalensis population was replaced by the Stipa gobica population, the GRSP tended to decline, whereas the carbon contribution of the GRSP tended to increase. Stipa grandis and Stipa krylovii had a great degree of network modularity of the rhizosphere AMF community and exhibited a simple and unstable network structure, while the networks of Stipa breviflora were complex, compact, and highly stable. Furthermore, with the succession of zonal populations, the plant species, vegetation coverage, and climate gradient facilitated the differentiation of AMF community structures and quantities in the rhizospheres of different Stipa species. These findings present novel insights into ecosystem functioning and dynamics correlated with changing environments. IMPORTANCE This study fills a gap in our understanding of the soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community distribution, community composition changes, and diversity of Stipa species along different Stipa population substitution distributions and of their adaptive relationships; furthermore, the differences in the glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) contents in the rhizospheres of different Stipa species and GRSP's contribution to the grassland organic carbon pool were investigated. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the protection and utilization of regional biodiversity resources and sustainable ecosystem development.}, } @article {pmid36213217, year = {2022}, author = {Ke, X and Zhang, L and Tang, W}, title = {Evolutionary Trends in Integrated Care in 2000-2020 in China: A Scientometric Review Using CiteSpace.}, journal = {International journal of integrated care}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {22}, pmid = {36213217}, issn = {1568-4156}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Owing to an increasing demand for a continuous and coordinated health service, integrated care is being promoted worldwide. Chinese research on integrated care has rapidly increased over the last 20 years. However, popular topics, paths and trends of integrated care research in China have not been systematically summarised. The study aimed to examine the evolution of integrated care research in China and predict future research trends.

METHODS: We searched for integrated care research in China published 2000-2020 in Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and English (Web of Science). Research articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. CiteSpace 5.7.R3 was used to perform keyword clustering, timeline view and burst detection analyses.

RESULTS: We included 786 Chinese articles and 124 English articles. Chinese articles formed 10 clusters with 1814 keywords. English articles formed 5 clusters with 487 keywords. From 2000 to 2020, integrated care research in China comprised three stages: (1) In the start-up stage (2000-2007), keywords mainly focus on medical resource integration and two-way referral; (2) In the emergence stage (2008-2015), keywords primarily include integrated model, benefits of integration, paths to integration and incentive mechanisms; (3) In the maturation stage (2016-2020), the main keywords are patient preferences, shared management mechanisms, symbiosis theory, value-based care, payment methods and people-oriented care.

DISCUSSION: With increasing health care system reform, popular integrated care research topics in the next stage will likely focus on people-oriented integrated care, service value and payment method reform. Academic research on integrated care in China will help to shape and lead policymaking.

CONCLUSIONS: Integrated care research in China has gone through three stages over the last two decades. In the future, integrated care theory in China will be informed by concepts from other fields, such as value co-creation in public management, to address the current problem of lack of synthesis in integrated care in China.}, } @article {pmid36213172, year = {2022}, author = {Bandyopadhyay, A and Azzarri, C and Haile, B and Kim, C and Alvarez, C and Moltedo, A and Sattar, A and Bell, W and Rogers, BL}, title = {Exploring the association between agricultural production systems and household diets in Viet Nam.}, journal = {Food security}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1207-1226}, pmid = {36213172}, issn = {1876-4517}, abstract = {The government of Viet Nam promotes an integrated and diversified production system that focuses on the symbiotic relationship of livestock, aquaculture, and fruits and vegetables (F&V), locally known as Vuon Ao Chuong (VAC). The expectation is that this system can prevent soil degradation, while improving dietary quality and income. This study examines the correlation between VAC production systems and diets using cross-sectional data from the 2016 round of the Viet Nam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS). Using ordinary least squares, we model four continuous outcome variables related to quantity consumed of fruits and vegetables, fiber, animal protein, and dietary energy; while using logistical regression, we model three indicator variables related to whether diets are balanced in terms of intake of dietary energy derived from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. While individual components of VAC, such as aquaculture or F&V production, show a positive correlation with one or more dietary indicators, adoption of the full VAC system is found to be positively correlated only with dietary fiber consumption, making it challenging to establish a causal link between system adoption and improved dietary quality. However, we find that several socioeconomic variables, such as access to markets, household wealth, education of the household members, and household size are positively associated with one or more dietary indicators. Further research is needed to establish strong and causal relationships, or lack thereof, between VAC system and diets by exploiting the panel structure of VHLSS to examine the role of VAC in improving nutritional outcomes in Viet Nam.}, } @article {pmid36212884, year = {2022}, author = {Jackson, SA and Duan, M and Zhang, P and Ihua, MW and Stengel, DB and Duan, D and Dobson, ADW}, title = {Isolation, identification, and biochemical characterization of a novel bifunctional phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase from the metagenome of the brown alga Laminaria digitata.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1000634}, pmid = {36212884}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Macroalgae host diverse epiphytic bacterial communities with potential symbiotic roles including important roles influencing morphogenesis and growth of the host, nutrient exchange, and protection of the host from pathogens. Macroalgal cell wall structures, exudates, and intra-cellular environments possess numerous complex and valuable carbohydrates such as cellulose, hemi-cellulose, mannans, alginates, fucoidans, and laminarin. Bacterial colonizers of macroalgae are important carbon cyclers, acquiring nutrition from living macroalgae and also from decaying macroalgae. Seaweed epiphytic communities are a rich source of diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes which may have useful applications in industrial bioprocessing. With this in mind, we constructed a large insert fosmid clone library from the metagenome of Laminaria digitata (Ochrophyta) in which decay was induced. Subsequent sequencing of a fosmid clone insert revealed the presence of a gene encoding a bifunctional phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase (PMM/PGM) enzyme 10L6AlgC, closely related to a protein from the halophilic marine bacterium, Cobetia sp. 10L6AlgC was subsequently heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. The enzyme was found to possess both PMM and PGM activity, which had temperature and pH optima of 45°C and 8.0, respectively; for both activities. The PMM activity had a K m of 2.229 mM and V max of 29.35 mM min[-1] mg[-1], while the PGM activity had a K m of 0.5314 mM and a V max of 644.7 mM min[-1] mg[-1]. Overall characterization of the enzyme including the above parameters as well as the influence of various divalent cations on these activities revealed that 10L6AlgC has a unique biochemical profile when compared to previously characterized PMM/PGM bifunctional enzymes. Thus 10L6AlgC may find utility in enzyme-based production of biochemicals with different potential industrial applications, in which other bacterial PMM/PGMs have previously been used such as in the production of low-calorie sweeteners in the food industry.}, } @article {pmid36212340, year = {2022}, author = {Clúa, J and Rípodas, C and Roda, C and Battaglia, ME and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {NIPK, a protein pseudokinase that interacts with the C subunit of the transcription factor NF-Y, is involved in rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {992543}, pmid = {36212340}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Heterotrimeric Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factors are key regulators of the symbiotic program that controls rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. Using a yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified a putative protein kinase of Phaseolus vulgaris that interacts with the C subunit of the NF-Y complex. Physical interaction between NF-YC1 Interacting Protein Kinase (NIPK) and NF-YC1 occurs in the cytoplasm and the plasma membrane. Only one of the three canonical amino acids predicted to be required for catalytic activity is conserved in NIPK and its putative homologs from lycophytes to angiosperms, indicating that NIPK is an evolutionary conserved pseudokinase. Post-transcriptional silencing on NIPK affected infection and nodule organogenesis, suggesting NIPK is a positive regulator of the NF-Y transcriptional complex. In addition, NIPK is required for activation of cell cycle genes and early symbiotic genes in response to rhizobia, including NF-YA1 and NF-YC1. However, strain preference in co-inoculation experiments was not affected by NIPK silencing, suggesting that some functions of the NF-Y complex are independent of NIPK. Our work adds a new component associated with the NF-Y transcriptional regulators in the context of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36212301, year = {2022}, author = {Weith, SK and Jahufer, MZZ and Hofmann, RW and Anderson, CB and Luo, D and Ehoche, OG and Cousins, G and Jones, EE and Ballard, RA and Griffiths, AG}, title = {Quantitative genetic analysis reveals potential to breed for improved white clover growth in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {953400}, pmid = {36212301}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {White clover (Trifolium repens) is integral to mixed pastures in New Zealand and temperate agriculture globally. It provides quality feed and a sustainable source of plant-available nitrogen (N) via N-fixation through symbiosis with soil-dwelling Rhizobium bacteria. Improvement of N-fixation in white clover is a route to enhancing sustainability of temperate pasture production. Focussing on seedling growth critical for crop establishment and performance, a population of 120 half-sibling white clover families was assessed with either N-supplementation or N-fixation via inoculation with a commercial Rhizobium strain (TA1). Quantitative genetic analysis identified significant (p < 0.05) family additive genetic variance for Shoot and Root Dry Matter (DM) and Symbiotic Potential (SP), and Root to Shoot ratio. Estimated narrow-sense heritabilities for above-ground symbiotic traits were moderate (0.24-0.33), and the strong (r ≥ 0.97) genetic correlation between Shoot and Root DM indicated strong pleiotropy or close linkage. The moderate (r = 0.47) phenotypic correlation between Shoot DM under symbiosis vs. under N-supplementation suggested plant growth with mineral-N was not a strong predictor of symbiotic performance. At 5% among-family selection pressure, predicted genetic gains per selection cycle of 19 and 17% for symbiotic traits Shoot DM and Shoot SP, respectively, highlighted opportunities for improved early seedling establishment and growth under symbiosis. Single and multi-trait selection methods, including a Smith-Hazel index focussing on an ideotype of high Shoot DM and Shoot SP, showed commonality of top-ranked families among traits. This study provides a platform for proof-of-concept crosses to breed for enhanced seedling growth under Rhizobium symbiosis and is informative for other legume crops.}, } @article {pmid36209791, year = {2023}, author = {Geetha, N and Sunilkumar, CR and Bhavya, G and Nandini, B and Abhijith, P and Satapute, P and Shetty, HS and Govarthanan, M and Jogaiah, S}, title = {Warhorses in soil bioremediation: Seed biopriming with PGPF secretome to phytostimulate crop health under heavy metal stress.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {114498}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.114498}, pmid = {36209791}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {*Soil ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Secretome ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism ; Seeds/metabolism ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {The fungal symbiosis with the plant root system is importantly recognized as a plant growth promoting fungi (PGPFs), as well as elicitor of plant defence against different biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Thus PGPFs are playing as a key trouper in enhancing agricultural quality and increased crop production and paving a way towards a sustainable agriculture. Due to increased demand of food production, the over and unscientific usage of chemical fertilizers has led to the contamination of soil by organic and inorganic wastes impacting on soil quality, crops quality effecting on export business of agricultural products. The application of microbial based consortium like plant growth promoting fungi is gaining worldwide importance due to their multidimensional activity. These activities are through plant growth promotion, induction of systemic resistance, disease combating and detoxification of organic and inorganic toxic chemicals, a heavy metal tolerance ability. The master key behind these properties exhibited by PGPFs are attributed towards various secretory biomolecules (secondary metabolites or enzymes or metabolites) secreted by the fungi during interaction mechanism. The present review is focused on the multidimensional role PGPFs as elicitors of Induced systemic resistance against phytopathogens as well as heavy metal detoxifier through seed biopriming and biofortification methods. The in-sights on PGPFs and their probable mechanistic nature contributing towards plants to withstand heavy metal stress and stress alleviation by activating of various stress regulatory pathways leading to secretion of low molecular weight compounds like organic compounds, glomalin, hydrophobins, etc,. Thus projecting the importance of PGPFs and further requirement of research in developing PGPFs based molecules and combining with trending Nano technological approaches for enhanced heavy metal stress alleviations in plant and soil as well as establishing a sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36208910, year = {2022}, author = {Martinović, T and Kohout, P and López-Mondéjar, R and Algora Gallardo, C and Starke, R and Tomšovský, M and Baldrian, P}, title = {Bacterial community in soil and tree roots of Picea abies shows little response to clearcutting.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac118}, pmid = {36208910}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Soil ; *Picea/microbiology ; *Abies ; Soil Microbiology ; Fungi ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Pinus ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Clearcutting represents a standard management practice in temperate forests with dramatic consequences for the forest ecosystem. The removal of trees responsible for the bulk of primary production can result in a complex response of the soil microbiome. While studies have shown that tree root-symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi disappear from soil and decomposing fine roots of trees become a hotspot for fungal decomposition, the fate of the bacterial component of the soil microbiome following clearcutting is unclear. Here, we investigated the response of bacterial community composition for 2 years following clearcutting of a Picea abies stand in soil, rhizosphere and tree roots, by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. While in the first few months after clearcutting there was no significant response of bacterial community composition in the rhizosphere and soil, bacterial communities associated with tree roots underwent more profound changes over time. Acidobacteria were abundant in rhizosphere and soil, while Firmicutes were strongly represented in the roots. In addition, bacterial communities on decomposing roots were significantly different from those on pre-clearcut live roots. Compared with fungi, the response of bacterial communities to clearcutting was much less pronounced, indicating independent development of the two microbial domains.}, } @article {pmid36208879, year = {2022}, author = {Nitschke, MR and Rosset, SL and Oakley, CA and Gardner, SG and Camp, EF and Suggett, DJ and Davy, SK}, title = {The diversity and ecology of Symbiodiniaceae: A traits-based review.}, journal = {Advances in marine biology}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {55-127}, doi = {10.1016/bs.amb.2022.07.001}, pmid = {36208879}, issn = {2162-5875}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Among the most successful microeukaryotes to form mutualisms with animals are dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae. These photosynthetic symbioses drive significant primary production and are responsible for the formation of coral reef ecosystems but are particularly sensitive when environmental conditions become extreme. Annual episodes of widespread coral bleaching (disassociation of the mutualistic partnership) and mortality are forecasted from the year 2060 under current trends of ocean warming. However, host cnidarians and dinoflagellate symbionts display exceptional genetic and functional diversity, and meaningful predictions of the future that embrace this biological complexity are difficult to make. A recent move to trait-based biology (and an understanding of how traits are shaped by the environment) has been adopted to move past this problem. The aim of this review is to: (1) provide an overview of the major cnidarian lineages that are symbiotic with Symbiodiniaceae; (2) summarise the symbiodiniacean genera associated with cnidarians with reference to recent changes in taxonomy and systematics; (3) examine the knowledge gaps in Symbiodiniaceae life history from a trait-based perspective; (4) review Symbiodiniaceae trait variation along three abiotic gradients (light, nutrients, and temperature); and (5) provide recommendations for future research of Symbiodiniaceae traits. We anticipate that a detailed understanding of traits will further reveal basic knowledge of the evolution and functional diversity of these mutualisms, as well as enhance future efforts to model stability and change in ecosystems dependent on cnidarian-dinoflagellate organisms.}, } @article {pmid36208118, year = {2023}, author = {Lu, H and Wang, F and Wang, Y and Lin, R and Wang, Z and Mao, C}, title = {Molecular mechanisms and genetic improvement of low-phosphorus tolerance in rice.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {1104-1119}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14457}, pmid = {36208118}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Oryza/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Phosphates ; Phosphorus ; Crops, Agricultural ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient required for plant growth and reproduction. Orthophosphate (Pi), the preferred P form for plant uptake, is easily fixed in the soil, making it unavailable to plants. Limited phosphate rock resources, low phosphate fertilizer use efficiency and high demands for green agriculture production make it important to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to P deficiency and to improve plant phosphate efficiency in crops. Over the past 20 years, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of the plant P starvation response. Here, we systematically review current research on the mechanisms of Pi acquisition, transport and distribution from the rhizosphere to the shoot; Pi redistribution and reuse during reproductive growth; and the molecular mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Pi deficiency. Furthermore, we discuss several strategies for boosting P utilization efficiency and yield in rice.}, } @article {pmid36207526, year = {2022}, author = {Duley, G and Boselli, E}, title = {Mutual plant-fungi symbiosis compromised by fungicide use.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {1069}, pmid = {36207526}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil microbiota, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), are critical for plant nutrition in non-agricultural ecosystems. A new study by Edlinger et al. shows that agricultural soils are negatively impacted by fungicide use and generally have lower AMF diversity and abundance.}, } @article {pmid36206682, year = {2022}, author = {Ya, T and Liu, J and Zhang, M and Wang, Y and Huang, Y and Hai, R and Zhang, T and Wang, X}, title = {Metagenomic insights into the symbiotic relationship in anammox consortia at reduced temperature.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {225}, number = {}, pages = {119184}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.119184}, pmid = {36206682}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Sewage/microbiology ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Temperature ; Glyceraldehyde/metabolism ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acids ; Lactates/metabolism ; Glycosyltransferases/metabolism ; Folic Acid/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Anammox as a promising biological nitrogen removal technology has attracted much attention. However, cold temperature would limit its wide application and little is known about the microbial interactions between anammox bacteria (AnAOB) and heterotrophic bacteria at cold temperature. Here, we observed reduced temperature (25-15 °C) promoted the secretion of EPS and thus stimulated bigger size of granular sludge in a laboratory-scale anammox reactor. We further combined co-occurrence network analysis and genome-centered metagenomics to explore the potential interactions between AnAOB and heterotrophic bacteria. Network analysis suggested 22 out of 25 positively related species were reported as definite heterotrophic bacteria in subnetwork of AnAOB. Genome-centered metagenomics analysis yielded 23 metagenomic assembly genomes (MAGs), and we found that Acidobacteriota-affiliated bacteria could biosynthesize most polysaccharides (PS) precursors and contain the most glycosyltransferases and transporters to facilitate exopolysaccharides biosynthesis, together with partial PS precursors produced by AnAOB. AMX1 as the only anammox genome could synthesize most amino acids and cross feed with some heterotrophs to affect the extracellular protein function. Additionally, Bacteroidota, Planctomycetota, Chloroflexota, and Proteobacteria could contribute folate and molybdopterin cofactor for AMX1 to benefit their activity and growth. Superphylum Patescibacteria could survive by cross-feeding with AnAOB and heterotrophic organisms about organic compounds (Glyceraldehyde-3P and lactate). These cross-feedings maintained the stability of anammox reactor performance and emphasize the importance of heterotrophs in anammox system at reduced temperature.}, } @article {pmid36205197, year = {2023}, author = {Gontier, N and Sukhoverkhov, A}, title = {Reticulate evolution underlies synergistic trait formation in human communities.}, journal = {Evolutionary anthropology}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {26-38}, doi = {10.1002/evan.21962}, pmid = {36205197}, issn = {1520-6505}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Phenotype ; *Plants/genetics ; }, abstract = {This paper investigates how reticulate evolution contributes to a better understanding of human sociocultural evolution in general, and community formation in particular. Reticulate evolution is evolution as it occurs by means of symbiosis, symbiogenesis, lateral gene transfer, infective heredity, and hybridization. From these mechanisms and processes, we mainly zoom in on symbiosis and we investigate how it underlies the rise of (1) human, plant, animal, and machine interactions typical of agriculture, animal husbandry, farming, and industrialization; (2) diet-microbiome relationships; and (3) host-virome and other pathogen interactions that underlie human health and disease. We demonstrate that reticulate evolution necessitates an understanding of behavioral and cultural evolution at a community level, where reticulate causal processes underlie the rise of synergistic organizational traits.}, } @article {pmid36204621, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhou, P and Zhou, X and Fu, M and Wang, T and Liu, Z and Liu, X and Wang, Z and Liu, B}, title = {Effect of host genetics and gut microbiome on fat deposition traits in pigs.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {925200}, pmid = {36204621}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fat deposition affects meat quality, flavor, and production in pigs. Fat deposition is influenced by both genetics and environment. Symbiotic microbe with the host is an important environmental factor to influence fat deposition. In this study, the fat deposition traits were measured in 239 individuals obtained from Tongcheng pigs × Large White pigs resource population. The interactions between genetics and gut microbiome in fat deposition traits were investigated through whole-genome sequencing and cecum microbial 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. The results showed that the percentage of leaf fat (PL) and intramuscular fat content (IMF) were significantly influenced by host genetics-gut microbiome interaction. The effects of interactions between host genetics and gut microbiome on PL and IMF were 0.13 and 0.29, respectively. The heritability of PL and IMF was estimated as 0.71 and 0.89, respectively. The microbiability of PL and IMF was 0.20 and 0.26, respectively. Microbiome-wide association analysis (MWAS) revealed Anaeroplasma, Paraprevotella, Pasteurella, and Streptococcus were significantly associated with PL, and Sharpea and Helicobacter exhibited significant association with IMF (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Paraprevotella was also identified as a critical microbe affecting PL based on the divergent Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Overall, this study reveals the effect of host genetics and gut microbiome on pig fat deposition traits and provides a new perspective on the genetic improvement of pig fat deposition traits.}, } @article {pmid36204608, year = {2022}, author = {Jirošová, A and Modlinger, R and Hradecký, J and Ramakrishnan, R and Beránková, K and Kandasamy, D}, title = {Ophiostomatoid fungi synergize attraction of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus to its aggregation pheromone in field traps.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {980251}, pmid = {36204608}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus is a destructive pest of the Norway spruce (Picea abies). Recent outbreaks in Europe have been attributed to global warming and other anthropogenic impacts. Bark beetles are guided by multiple complex olfactory cues throughout their life cycle. Male-produced aggregation pheromones, comprising 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and cis-verbenol, have been identified as the most powerful attractants for dispersing conspecifics. In addition to host trees, bark beetles interact with multiple organisms, including symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi, which may promote beetle colonization success and offspring development. Previously, in a short-distance laboratory assay, we demonstrated that I. typographus adults are attracted to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by three symbiotic fungi: Grosmannia penicillata, Endoconidiophora polonica, and Leptographium europhioides. Furthermore, the abundant fusel alcohols and their acetates were found to be the most attractive odorants in the fungal VOC profile. In this study, using a long-distance field-trapping experiment, we analyzed the role of fungal VOCs as attractants for dispersing I. typographus. Two types of fungal lures were tested in combination with pheromones in traps: (1) live cultures of fungi grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and (2) dispensers containing synthetic fusel alcohols and their acetates in equal proportions. Subsequently, the composition of VOCs emitted from live fungal lures were analyzed. We found that the symbiotic fungi synergistically increased the attraction of beetles to pheromones in field traps and the attractiveness of live fungal lures depended on the fungal load. While one Petri dish with E. polonica, when combined with pheromones synergistically increased trapping efficiency, three Petri dishes with L. europhioides were required to achieve the same. The synthetic mix of fungal fusel alcohols and acetates improved the catch efficiency of pheromones only at a low tested dose. VOC analysis of fungal cultures revealed that all the three fungi produced fusel alcohols and acetates but in variable composition and amounts. Collectively, the results of this study show that, in addition to pheromones, bark beetles might also use volatile cues from their symbiotic fungi to improve tree colonization and reproductive success in their breeding and feeding sites.}, } @article {pmid36201377, year = {2022}, author = {Kiefer, JST and Schmidt, G and Krüsemer, R and Kaltenpoth, M and Engl, T}, title = {Wolbachia causes cytoplasmic incompatibility but not male-killing in a grain pest beetle.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {24}, pages = {6570-6587}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16717}, pmid = {36201377}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Male ; Female ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; *Coleoptera/genetics/microbiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Cytoplasm/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiotic Wolbachia is one of the most common intracellular bacteria known in arthropods and nematodes. Its ability for reproductive manipulation can cause unequal inheritance to male and female offspring, allowing the manipulator to spread, but potentially also impact the evolutionary dynamics of infected hosts. Estimated to be present in up to 66% of insect species, little is known about the phenotypic impact of Wolbachia within the order Coleoptera. Here, we describe the reproductive manipulation by the Wolbachia strain wSur harboured by the sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Coleoptera, Silvanidae), through a combination of genomics approaches and bioassays. The Wolbachia strain wSur belongs to supergroup B that contains well-described reproductive manipulators of insects and encodes a pair of cytoplasmic incompatibility factor (cif) genes, as well as multiple homologues of the WO-mediated killing (wmk) gene. A phylogenetic comparison with wmk homologues of wMel of Drosophila melanogaster identified 18 wmk copies in wSur, including one that is closely related to the wMel male-killing homologue. However, further analysis of this particular wmk gene revealed an eight-nucleotide deletion leading to a stop-codon and subsequent reading frame shift midsequence, probably rendering it nonfunctional. Concordantly, utilizing a Wolbachia-deprived O. surinamensis population and controlled mating pairs of wSur-infected and noninfected partners, we found no experimental evidence for male-killing. However, a significant ~50% reduction of hatching rates in hybrid crosses of uninfected females with infected males indicates that wSur is causing cytoplasmic incompatibility. Thus, Wolbachia also represents an important determinant of host fitness in Coleoptera.}, } @article {pmid36199213, year = {2023}, author = {Milligan, PD and Martin, TA and Pringle, EG and Prior, KM and Palmer, TM}, title = {Symbiotic ant traits produce differential host-plant carbon and water dynamics in a multi-species mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {e3880}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3880}, pmid = {36199213}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; *Acacia ; *Ants ; Herbivory ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cooperative interactions may frequently be reinforced by "partner fidelity feedback," in which high- or low-quality partners drive positive feedbacks with high or low benefits for the host, respectively. Benefits of plant-animal mutualisms for plants have been quantified almost universally in terms of growth or reproduction, but these are only two of many sinks to which a host-plant allocates its resources. By investigating how partners to host-plants impact two fundamental plant resources, carbon and water, we can better characterize plant-partner fidelity and understand how plant-partner mutualisms may be modulated by resource dynamics. In Laikipia, Kenya, four ant species compete for Acacia drepanolobium host-plants. These ants differ in multiple traits, from nectar consumption to host-plant protection. Using a 5-year ant removal experiment, we compared carbon fixation, leaf water status, and stem non-structural carbohydrate concentrations for adult ant-plants with and without ant partners. Removal treatments showed that the ants differentially mediate tree carbon and/or water resources. All three ant species known to be aggressive against herbivores were linked to benefits for host-plant resources, but only the two species that defend but do not prune the host, Crematogaster mimosae and Tetraponera penzigi, increased tree carbon fixation. Of these two species, only the nectivore C. mimosae increased tree simple sugars. Crematogaster nigriceps, which defends the tree but also castrates flowers and prunes meristems, was linked only to lower tree water stress approximated by pre-dawn leaf water potential. In contrast to those defensive ants, Crematogaster sjostedti, a poor defender that displaces other ants, was linked to lower tree carbon fixation. Comparing the effects of the four ant species across control trees suggests that differential ant occupancy drives substantial differences in carbon and water supply among host trees. Our results highlight that ant partners can positively or negatively impact carbon and/or water relations for their host-plant, and we discuss the likelihood that carbon- and water-related partner fidelity feedback loops occur across ant-plant mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid36199042, year = {2022}, author = {Johnson, AC and Pendergast, TH and Chaluvadi, S and Bennetzen, JL and Devos, KM}, title = {Identification of microRNAs responsive to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Panicum virgatum (switchgrass).}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {688}, pmid = {36199042}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Copper ; Lignin ; *MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Panicum/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Soil ; Superoxides ; Transcription Factors ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulators involved in the control of a range of processes, including symbiotic interactions in plants. MiRNA involvement in arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) symbiosis has been mainly studied in model species, and our study is the first to analyze global miRNA expression in the roots of AM colonized switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), an emerging biofuel feedstock. AM symbiosis helps plants gain mineral nutrition from the soil and may enhance switchgrass biomass production on marginal lands. Our goals were to identify miRNAs and their corresponding target genes that are controlling AM symbiosis in switchgrass.

RESULTS: Through genome-wide analysis of next-generation miRNA sequencing reads generated from switchgrass roots, we identified 122 mature miRNAs, including 28 novel miRNAs. By comparing miRNA expression profiles of AM-inoculated and control switchgrass roots, we identified 15 AM-responsive miRNAs across lowland accession "Alamo", upland accession "Dacotah", and two upland/lowland F1 hybrids. We used degradome sequencing to identify target genes of the AM-responsive miRNAs revealing targets of miRNAs residing on both K and N subgenomes. Notably, genes involved in copper ion binding were targeted by downregulated miRNAs, while upregulated miRNAs mainly targeted GRAS family transcription factors.

CONCLUSION: Through miRNA analysis and degradome sequencing, we revealed that both upland and lowland switchgrass genotypes as well as upland-lowland hybrids respond to AM by altering miRNA expression. We demonstrated complex GRAS transcription factor regulation by the miR171 family, with some miR171 family members being AM responsive while others remained static. Copper miRNA downregulation was common amongst the genotypes tested and we identified superoxide dismutases and laccases as targets, suggesting that these Cu-miRNAs are likely involved in ROS detoxification and lignin deposition, respectively. Other prominent targets of the Cu miRNAs were blue copper proteins. Overall, the potential effect of AM colonization on lignin deposition pathways in this biofuel crop highlights the importance of considering AM and miRNA in future biofuel crop development strategies.}, } @article {pmid36198208, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, D and Wang, Y and Liu, L and Chen, Y and Wang, C and Xu, X and Yang, Y and Wang, Y and Zhang, T}, title = {Niche differentiation and symbiotic association among ammonia/nitrite oxidizers in a full-scale rotating biological contactor.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {225}, number = {}, pages = {119137}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.119137}, pmid = {36198208}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Ammonia ; Nitrites ; Nitrification ; Archaea/genetics ; Nitrogen ; *Betaproteobacteria/genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Ammonium Compounds ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Although the distribution of ammonia/nitrite oxidizers had been profiled in different habitats, current understanding is still limited regarding their niche differentiation in the integrated biofilm reactors, the symbiotic associations of ammonia/nitrite oxidizers, as well as the parasitic interaction between viruses and those functional organisms involved in the nitrogen cycle. Here, the integrated metagenomics and metatranscriptomics are applied to profile the ammonia/nitrite oxidizers communities and transcriptional activities changes along the flowpath of a concatenated full-scale rotating biological contactor (RBC) (frontend Stage-A and backend Stage-B). 19 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of ammonia/nitrite oxidizers were recovered by using a hybrid assembly approach, including four ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), two ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), two complete ammonia oxidation bacteria (comammox), eight nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), and three anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria (anammox). Diverse AOB and anammox dominated Stage-A and collectively contributed to nitrogen conversion. With the decline of ammonia concentration along the flowpath, comammox and AOA appeared and increased in relative abundance in Stage-B, accounting for 8.8% of the entire community at the end of this reactor, and their dominating role in nitrogen turnover was indicated by the high transcription activity of their corresponding function genes. Moreover, the variation in the abundance of viruses infecting ammonia and nitrite oxidizers suggests that viruses likely act as a biotic factor mediating ammonia/nitrite oxidizer populations. This study demonstrates that complex factors shaped niche differentiation and symbiotic associations of ammonia/nitrite oxidizers in the RBC and highlights the importance of RBCs as model systems for the investigation of biotic and abiotic factors affecting the composition of microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid36197099, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, S and Magne, K and Zhou, J and Laude, J and Dalmais, M and Le Signor, C and Bendahmane, A and Thompson, R and Couzigou, JM and Ratet, P}, title = {The transcriptional co-regulators NBCL1 and NBCL2 redundantly coordinate aerial organ development and root nodule identity in legumes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {74}, number = {1}, pages = {194-213}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac389}, pmid = {36197099}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Peas/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Mutation ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula NODULE ROOT1 (MtNOOT1) and Pisum sativum COCHLEATA1 (PsCOCH1) are orthologous genes belonging to the NOOT-BOP-COCH-LIKE (NBCL) gene family which encodes key transcriptional co-regulators of plant development. In Mtnoot1 and Pscoch1 mutants, the development of stipules, flowers, and symbiotic nodules is altered. MtNOOT2 and PsCOCH2 represent the single paralogues of MtNOOT1 and PsCOCH1, respectively. In M. truncatula, MtNOOT1 and MtNOOT2 are both required for the establishment and maintenance of symbiotic nodule identity. In legumes, the role of NBCL2 in above-ground development is not known. To better understand the roles of NBCL genes in legumes, we used M. truncatula and P. sativum nbcl mutants, isolated a knockout mutant for the PsCOCH2 locus and generated Pscoch1coch2 double mutants in P. sativum. Our work shows that single Mtnoot2 and Pscoch2 mutants develop wild-type stipules, flowers, and symbiotic nodules. However, the number of flowers was increased and the pods and seeds were smaller compared to the wild type. Furthermore, in comparison to the corresponding nbcl1 single mutants, both the M. truncatula and P. sativum nbcl double mutants show a drastic alteration in stipule, inflorescence, flower, and nodule development. Remarkably, in both M. truncatula and P. sativum nbcl double mutants, stipules are transformed into a range of aberrant leaf-like structures.}, } @article {pmid36196541, year = {2022}, author = {Hayashi, K and Tachihara, K and Reimer, JD and Laudet, V}, title = {Colour patterns influence symbiosis and competition in the anemonefish-host anemone symbiosis system.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1984}, pages = {20221576}, pmid = {36196541}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Anemone ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Color ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Fishes ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Colour patterns in fish are often used as an important medium for communication. Anemonefish, characterized by specific patterns of white bars, inhabit host anemones and defend the area around an anemone as their territory. The host anemone is used not only by the anemonefish, but also by other fish species that use anemones as temporary shelters. Anemonefish may be able to identify potential competitors by their colour patterns. We first examined the colour patterns of fish using host anemones inhabited by Amphiprion ocellaris as shelter and compared them with the patterns of fish using surrounding scleractinian corals. There were no fish with bars sheltering in host anemones, although many fish with bars were found in surrounding corals. Next, two fish models, one with white bars and the other with white stripes on a black background, were presented to an A. ocellaris colony. The duration of aggressive behaviour towards the bar model was significantly longer than that towards the stripe model. We conclude that differences in aggressive behaviour by the anemonefish possibly select the colour patterns of cohabiting fish. This study indicates that colour patterns may influence not only intraspecific interactions but also interspecific interactions in coral reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36196393, year = {2022}, author = {Tibbett, M and Daws, MI and Ryan, MH}, title = {Phosphorus uptake and toxicity are delimited by mycorrhizal symbiosis in P-sensitive Eucalyptus marginata but not in P-tolerant Acacia celastrifolia.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {plac037}, pmid = {36196393}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Many plant species from regions with ancient, highly weathered nutrient-depleted soils have specialized adaptations for acquiring phosphorus (P) and are sensitive to excess P supply. Mycorrhizal associations may regulate P uptake at high external P concentrations, potentially reducing P toxicity. We predicted that excess P application will negatively impact species from the nutrient-depleted Jarrah forest of Western Australia and that mycorrhizal inoculation will reduce P toxicity by regulating P uptake. For seedlings of the N2-fixing legume Acacia celastrifolia and the tree species Eucalyptus marginata, we measured growth at P concentrations of 0-90 mg kg[-1] soil and in relation to inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis. Non-inoculated A. celastrifolia maintained leaf P concentrations at <2 mg g[-1] dry mass (DM) across the range of external P concentrations. However, for non-inoculated E. marginata, as external P concentrations increased, leaf P also increased, reaching >9 mg g[-1] DM at 30 mg P kg[-1] soil. Acacia celastrifolia DM increased with increasing external P concentrations, while E. marginata DM was maximal at 15 mg P kg[-1] soil, declining at higher external P concentrations. Neither DM nor leaf P of A. celastrifolia was affected by inoculation with AMF. For E. marginata, even at 90 mg P kg[-1] soil, inoculation with AMF resulted in leaf P remaining <1 mg g[-1] DM, and DM being maintained. These data strengthen the evidence base that AMF may not only facilitate P uptake at low external P concentrations, but are also important for moderating P uptake at elevated external P concentrations and maintaining plant P concentrations within a relatively narrow concentration range.}, } @article {pmid36193351, year = {2022}, author = {Ashwanandhini, G and Reshma, R and Preetha, R}, title = {Synbiotic microencapsulation of Enterococcus faecium Rp1: a potential probiotic isolated from ragi porridge with antiproliferative property against colon carcinoma cell line.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {59}, number = {10}, pages = {3888-3894}, pmid = {36193351}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Ragi porridge, commonly consumed in South India is made from finger millet and noiyee (broken rice), and it is one of the excellent sources for probiotic bacteria. In vitro assays provided the proof that the probiotic strains isolated from ragi porridge can survive during the intestinal passage. Also, it showed antioxidant activity and antagonistic activity against foodborne pathogens including Shigella flexineri, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhii and Escherichia coli. Enterococcus faecium Rp1 isolated from ragi porridge was susceptible to vancomycin and showed to cease the progression of HCT116 (colon carcinoma) cell line. Further, Enterococcus faecium was microencapsulated using sodium alginate and aloe vera gel as binding agents and onion extract as a source of prebiotic to perform symbiotic encapsulation. In short, this study concludes that the fermented Ragi porridge is a rich source of probiotics with anti-microbial, antioxidant and antiproliferative property hence can be suggested for improving gut microbiota.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05415-2.}, } @article {pmid36193050, year = {2022}, author = {Cometa, A and Falasconi, A and Biasizzo, M and Carpaneto, J and Horn, A and Mazzoni, A and Micera, S}, title = {Clinical neuroscience and neurotechnology: An amazing symbiosis.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {10}, pages = {105124}, pmid = {36193050}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {In the last decades, clinical neuroscience found a novel ally in neurotechnologies, devices able to record and stimulate electrical activity in the nervous system. These technologies improved the ability to diagnose and treat neural disorders. Neurotechnologies are concurrently enabling a deeper understanding of healthy and pathological dynamics of the nervous system through stimulation and recordings during brain implants. On the other hand, clinical neurosciences are not only driving neuroengineering toward the most relevant clinical issues, but are also shaping the neurotechnologies thanks to clinical advancements. For instance, understanding the etiology of a disease informs the location of a therapeutic stimulation, but also the way stimulation patterns should be designed to be more effective/naturalistic. Here, we describe cases of fruitful integration such as Deep Brain Stimulation and cortical interfaces to highlight how this symbiosis between clinical neuroscience and neurotechnology is closer to a novel integrated framework than to a simple interdisciplinary interaction.}, } @article {pmid36192976, year = {2022}, author = {Morales-Quintana, L and Miño, R and Mendez-Yañez, A and Gundel, PE and Ramos, P}, title = {Do fungal-endosymbionts improve crop nutritional quality and tolerance to stress by boosting flavonoid-mediated responses?.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {161}, number = {}, pages = {111850}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111850}, pmid = {36192976}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {*Antioxidants ; Endophytes/physiology ; *Flavonoids ; Humans ; Nutritive Value ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Climate change is threatening human activities, but the combination of water scarcity and heat waves are particularly challenging agriculture. Accumulating literature shows that beneficial fungal endophytes improve plant performance, a condition that seems to be magnified in presence of stress. Because evidence points out to an endophytic mediation of antioxidant activity in plants, we here focused on flavonoids for two main reasons: (i) they are involved in plant tolerance to abiotic stress, and (ii) they are known to be healthy for human consumption. With these two premises as guidance, we explored the literature trying to link mechanistically the relationship between endophytes and plant responses to stress as well as identifying patterns and knowledge gaps. Overall, fungal endophytes improve plant growth and tolerance to environmental stresses. However, evidence for endophytes boosting flavonoid mediated responses in plants is relatively scarce. Reports showing endophytes promoting flavonoid contents in grains and fresh fruits are rather limited which may be related to (long) length of the required experiments for testing it. The use of endophytes isolated from extreme environments (e.g., dry and cold deserts, acid lakes, etc.) is proposed to be better in conferring tolerance to plants under very stressful conditions. However, the real challenge is to test the capacity of these endophytes to established and maintain persistent and functional symbiosis under productive conditions. In summary, there is a clear potential for symbiotically modifying crop plants as a strategy to develop more tolerant varieties to face the stress and eventually increase the quality of the agricultural products.}, } @article {pmid36192685, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Liu, P and Nie, B and Liu, X and Zhang, Z and He, R and Dong, W and Ji, W}, title = {Effects of genotype and ecological environment on the community structure and function of symbiotic bacteria in rhizosphere of ginseng.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {235}, pmid = {36192685}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Genotype ; Nitrogen ; *Panax/microbiology ; Phosphorus ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ginseng, an important traditional Chinese medicine and a new resource food, has two production modes: farmland ginseng and forestland ginseng. Ginseng faces many problems such as high soil bulk density, easy hardening, low nutrient content, reduced porosity and increased soil acidification because of continuous cropping. Increasing studies indicate that plant rhizosphere symbiotic bacteria have an important effect on plant growth and development. We speculate that differences in microbial community may play an important role in promoting ginseng growth, development and health. To reveal the differences between farmland and forestland ginseng cultivation, and to address problems associated with continuous ginseng cropping, we investigated the effects of differences in plant rhizosphere symbiotic bacterial communities in promoting ginseng growth, development, and health.

RESULT: In the present study, the microbial communities in the rhizosphere of different genotypes and ecological environments were analyzed using the high-throughput sequencing platform Illumina, phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt), and other technologies. The organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus contents in forestland soil were significantly different from those in farmland. The bacterial communities of ginseng in forestland, farmland, and greenhouse environments have specific dominant groups at the phylum and genus levels. There were differences in the gene functions of ginseng root-related bacterial communities between forestland and farmland. There were significant differences in the abundance distribution of rhizosphere bacteria among the different genotypes at the phylum and genus levels.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a close relationship between the ecological environment and bacterial population structure, and the ecological environment of forestland is more conducive to the formation of rich rhizosphere bacterial populations; additionally, the genetic diversity is richer than that of farmland. The rhizosphere bacterial community structure of ginseng was influenced by genotype, and there was a correlation between the distance between ginseng genotypes and the stratified clustering of its rhizosphere bacterial community structure.}, } @article {pmid36190238, year = {2022}, author = {Dudáš, M and Pjevac, P and Kotianová, M and Gančarčíková, K and Rozmoš, M and Hršelová, H and Bukovská, P and Jansa, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Nitrification: Disentangling Processes and Players by Using Synthetic Nitrification Inhibitors.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {20}, pages = {e0136922}, pmid = {36190238}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Nitrification ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Dimethylphenylpiperazinium Iodide/metabolism/pharmacology ; Archaea/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Both plants and their associated arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi require nitrogen (N) for their metabolism and growth. This can result in both positive and negative effects of AM symbiosis on plant N nutrition. Either way, the demand for and efficiency of uptake of mineral N from the soil by mycorrhizal plants are often higher than those of nonmycorrhizal plants. In consequence, the symbiosis of plants with AM fungi exerts important feedbacks on soil processes in general and N cycling in particular. Here, we investigated the role of the AM symbiosis in N uptake by Andropogon gerardii from an organic source ([15]N-labeled plant litter) that was provided beyond the direct reach of roots. In addition, we tested if pathways of [15]N uptake from litter by mycorrhizal hyphae were affected by amendment with different synthetic nitrification inhibitors (dicyandiamide [DCD], nitrapyrin, or 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate [DMPP]). We observed efficient acquisition of [15]N by mycorrhizal plants through the mycorrhizal pathway, independent of nitrification inhibitors. These results were in stark contrast to [15]N uptake by nonmycorrhizal plants, which generally took up much less [15]N, and the uptake was further suppressed by nitrapyrin or DMPP amendments. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses showed that bacteria involved in the rate-limiting step of nitrification, ammonia oxidation, were suppressed similarly by the presence of AM fungi and by nitrapyrin or DMPP (but not DCD) amendments. On the other hand, abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea were not strongly affected by either the AM fungi or the nitrification inhibitors. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for all life on Earth. In soil, N is present in various chemical forms and is fiercely competed for by various microorganisms as well as plants. Here, we address competition for reduced N (ammonia) between ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These two functionally important groups of soil microorganisms, participating in nitrification and plant mineral nutrient acquisition, respectively, have often been studied in separation in the past. Here, we showed, using various biochemical and molecular approaches, that the fungi systematically suppress ammonia-oxidizing bacteria to an extent similar to that of some widely used synthetic nitrification inhibitors, whereas they have only a limited impact on abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Competition for free ammonium is a plausible explanation here, but it is also possible that the fungi produce some compounds acting as so-called biological nitrification inhibitors.}, } @article {pmid36188517, year = {2022}, author = {Coffroth, MA and Leigh, NJ and McIlroy, SE and Miller, MW and Sheets, HD}, title = {Genetic structure of dinoflagellate symbionts in coral recruits differs from that of parental or local adults.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e9312}, pmid = {36188517}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between dinoflagellate algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae and scleractinian corals forms the base of the tropical reef ecosystem. In scleractinian corals, recruits acquire symbionts either "vertically" from the maternal colony or initially lack symbionts and acquire them "horizontally" from the environment. Regardless of the mode of acquisition, coral species and individual colonies harbor only a subset of the highly diverse complex of species/taxa within the Symbiodiniaceae. This suggests a genetic basis for specificity, but local environmental conditions and/or symbiont availability may also play a role in determining which symbionts within the Symbiodiniaceae are initially taken up by the host. To address the relative importance of genetic and environmental drivers of symbiont uptake/establishment, we examined the acquisition of these dinoflagellate symbionts in one to three-month-old recruits of Orbicella faveolata to compare symbiont types present in recruits to those of parental populations versus co-occurring adults in their destination reef. Variation in chloroplast 23S ribosomal DNA and in three polymorphic microsatellite loci was examined. We found that, in general, symbiont communities within adult colonies differed between reefs, suggesting that endemism is common among symbiont populations of O. faveolata on a local scale. Among recruits, initial symbiont acquisition was selective. O. faveolata recruits only acquired a subset of locally available symbionts, and these generally did not reflect symbiont populations in adults at either the parental or the outplant reef. Instead, symbiont communities within new recruits at a given outplant site and region tended to be similar to each other, regardless of parental source population. These results suggest temporal variation in the local symbiont source pool, although other possible drivers behind the distinct difference between symbionts within O. faveolata adults and new generations of recruits may include different ontogenetic requirements and/or reduced host selectivity in early ontogeny.}, } @article {pmid36187993, year = {2022}, author = {Qian, Y and Ma, L and Zeng, M and Liu, Z}, title = {Amelioration of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by autoinducer-2-deficient Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is mediated by anti-inflammatory effects and alleviation of dysbiosis of the gut microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1013586}, pmid = {36187993}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) attenuate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice by restoring gut flora homeostasis and modulating the immune response. Because synchronous behavior can be controlled by autoinducer-2 (AI-2)/LuxS-mediated quorum sensing, the Caco-2 cell model and DSS-induced model in C57BL/6 mice were used to explore the unknown effects of these communications involving AI-2 among various intestinal symbiotic species. The results of the cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase leakage assays indicated that the tested strains (the wild-type strains and AI-2-deficient mutants) were characterized by equal cytoprotection from hydrogen peroxide-induced injury independently of AI-2. The results of the assays of multiple indicators and proinflammatory cytokines characteristic for the symptoms of colitis in mice showed that oral administration of AI-2-deficient mutants for 7 days was more effective in ameliorating inflammation than the treatment with the wild-type strains. The treatment with AI-2-deficient mutants enriched potential probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillaceae) and controlled the proliferation of potentially harmful bacteria (e.g., Helicobacteraceae) to achieve the transformation of intestinal flora. These mutants regulated short-chain fatty acids and the intestinal epithelial barrier, thereby promoting the maintenance of relatively favorable intestinal homeostasis. These results demonstrated that the AI-2-deficient mutants provided a more pronounced ameliorative effect on colitis in a mouse model, suggesting that the background of the LAB effect is associated with the alterations in colonic flora induced by AI-2.}, } @article {pmid36187976, year = {2022}, author = {Vazquez-Ortiz, K and Pineda-Mendoza, RM and González-Escobedo, R and Davis, TS and Salazar, KF and Rivera-Orduña, FN and Zúñiga, G}, title = {Metabarcoding of mycetangia from the Dendroctonus frontalis species complex (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) reveals diverse and functionally redundant fungal assemblages.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {969230}, pmid = {36187976}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Dendroctonus-bark beetles are associated with microbes that can detoxify terpenes, degrade complex molecules, supplement and recycle nutrients, fix nitrogen, produce semiochemicals, and regulate ecological interactions between microbes. Females of some Dendroctonus species harbor microbes in specialized organs called mycetangia; yet little is known about the microbial diversity contained in these structures. Here, we use metabarcoding to characterize mycetangial fungi from beetle species in the Dendroctonus frontalis complex, and analyze variation in biodiversity of microbial assemblages between beetle species. Overall fungal diversity was represented by 4 phyla, 13 classes, 25 orders, 39 families, and 48 genera, including 33 filamentous fungi, and 15 yeasts. The most abundant genera were Entomocorticium, Candida, Ophiostoma-Sporothrix, Ogataea, Nakazawaea, Yamadazyma, Ceratocystiopsis, Grosmannia-Leptographium, Absidia, and Cyberlindnera. Analysis of α-diversity indicated that fungal assemblages of D. vitei showed the highest richness and diversity, whereas those associated with D. brevicomis and D. barberi had the lowest richness and diversity, respectively. Analysis of β-diversity showed clear differentiation in the assemblages associated with D. adjunctus, D. barberi, and D. brevicomis, but not between closely related species, including D. frontalis and D. mesoamericanus and D. mexicanus and D. vitei. A core mycobiome was not statistically identified; however, the genus Ceratocystiopsis was shared among seven beetle species. Interpretation of a tanglegram suggests evolutionary congruence between fungal assemblages and species of the D. frontalis complex. The presence of different amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of the same genus in assemblages from species of the D. frontalis complex outlines the complexity of molecular networks, with the most complex assemblages identified from D. vitei, D. mesoamericanus, D. adjunctus, and D. frontalis. Analysis of functional variation of fungal assemblages indicated multiple trophic groupings, symbiotroph/saprotroph guilds represented with the highest frequency (∼31% of identified genera). These findings improve our knowledge about the diversity of mycetangial communities in species of the D. frontalis complex and suggest that minimal apparently specific assemblages are maintained and regulated within mycetangia.}, } @article {pmid36187973, year = {2022}, author = {Suria, AM and Smith, S and Speare, L and Chen, Y and Chien, I and Clark, EG and Krueger, M and Warwick, AM and Wilkins, H and Septer, AN}, title = {Prevalence and diversity of type VI secretion systems in a model beneficial symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {988044}, pmid = {36187973}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely distributed in diverse bacterial species and habitats where it is required for interbacterial competition and interactions with eukaryotic cells. Previous work described the role of a T6SS in the beneficial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, during colonization of the light organ of Euprymna scolopes squid. However, the prevalence and diversity of T6SSs found within the distinct symbiotic structures of this model host have not yet been determined. Here, we analyzed 73 genomes of isolates from squid light organs and accessory nidamental glands (ANGs) and 178 reference genomes. We found that the majority of these bacterial symbionts encode diverse T6SSs from four distinct classes, and most share homology with T6SSs from more distantly related species, including pathogens of animals and humans. These findings indicate that T6SSs with shared evolutionary histories can be integrated into the cellular systems of host-associated bacteria with different effects on host health. Furthermore, we found that one T6SS in V. fischeri is located within a genomic island with high genomic plasticity. Five distinct genomic island genotypes were identified, suggesting this region encodes diverse functional potential that natural selection can act on. Finally, analysis of newly described T6SSs in roseobacter clade ANG isolates revealed a novel predicted protein that appears to be a fusion of the TssB-TssC sheath components. This work underscores the importance of studying T6SSs in diverse organisms and natural habitats to better understand how T6SSs promote the propagation of bacterial populations and impact host health.}, } @article {pmid36187965, year = {2022}, author = {Jaffar, S and Ahmad, S and Lu, Y}, title = {Contribution of insect gut microbiota and their associated enzymes in insect physiology and biodegradation of pesticides.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {979383}, pmid = {36187965}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Synthetic pesticides are extensively and injudiciously applied to control agriculture and household pests worldwide. Due to their high use, their toxic residues have enormously increased in the agroecosystem in the past several years. They have caused many severe threats to non-target organisms, including humans. Therefore, the complete removal of toxic compounds is gaining wide attention to protect the ecosystem and the diversity of living organisms. Several methods, such as physical, chemical and biological, are applied to degrade compounds, but as compared to other methods, biological methods are considered more efficient, fast, eco-friendly and less expensive. In particular, employing microbial species and their purified enzymes makes the degradation of toxic pollutants more accessible and converts them into non-toxic products by several metabolic pathways. The digestive tract of insects is usually known as a superior organ that provides a nutrient-rich environment to hundreds of microbial species that perform a pivotal role in various physiological and ecological functions. There is a direct relationship between pesticides and insect pests: pesticides reduce the growth of insect species and alter the phyla located in the gut microbiome. In comparison, the insect gut microbiota tries to degrade toxic compounds by changing their toxicity, increasing the production and regulation of a diverse range of enzymes. These enzymes breakdown into their derivatives, and microbial species utilize them as a sole source of carbon, sulfur and energy. The resistance of pesticides (carbamates, pyrethroids, organophosphates, organochlorines, and neonicotinoids) in insect species is developed by metabolic mechanisms, regulation of enzymes and the expression of various microbial detoxifying genes in insect guts. This review summarizes the toxic effects of agrochemicals on humans, animals, birds and beneficial arthropods. It explores the preferential role of insect gut microbial species in the degradation process and the resistance mechanism of several pesticides in insect species. Additionally, various metabolic pathways have been systematically discussed to better understand the degradation of xenobiotics by insect gut microbial species.}, } @article {pmid36187553, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, J and Zhang, HY and Liu, MC and Han, MX and Kong, DL}, title = {Plant invasions facilitated by suppression of root nutrient acquisition rather than by disruption of mycorrhizal association in the native plant.}, journal = {Plant diversity}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {499-504}, pmid = {36187553}, issn = {2468-2659}, abstract = {Invasive species have profound negative impacts on native ranges. Unraveling the mechanisms employed by invasive plant species is crucial to controlling invasions. One important approach that invasive plants use to outcompete native plants is to disrupt mutualistic interactions between native roots and mycorrhizal fungi. However, it remains unclear how differences in the competitive ability of invasive plants affect native plant associations with mycorrhizae. Here, we examined how a native plant, Xanthium strumarium, responds to invasive plants that differed in competitive abilities (i.e., as represented by aboveground plant biomass) by measuring changes in root nitrogen concentration (root nutrient acquisition) and mycorrhizal colonization rate. We found that both root nitrogen concentration and mycorrhizal colonization rate in the native plant were reduced by invasive plants. The change in mycorrhizal colonization rate of the native plant was negatively correlated with both aboveground plant biomass of the invasive plants and the change in aboveground plant biomass of the native plant in monocultures relative to mixed plantings. In contrast, the change in root nitrogen concentration of the native plant was positively correlated with aboveground plant biomass of the invasive plants and the change in aboveground plant biomass of the native plant. When we compared the changes in mycorrhizal colonization rate and root nitrogen concentration in the native plant grown in monocultures with those of native plants grown with invasive plants, we observed a significant tradeoff. Our study shows that invasive plants can suppress native plants by reducing root nutrient acquisition rather than by disrupting symbiotic mycorrhizal associations, a novel finding likely attributable to a low dependence of the native plant on mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid36186072, year = {2022}, author = {Mukherjee, A}, title = {What do we know from the transcriptomic studies investigating the interactions between plants and plant growth-promoting bacteria?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {997308}, pmid = {36186072}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Major crops such as corn, wheat, and rice can benefit from interactions with various plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Naturally, several studies have investigated the primary mechanisms by which these PGPB promote plant growth. These mechanisms involve biological nitrogen fixation, phytohormone synthesis, protection against biotic and abiotic stresses, etc. Decades of genetic and biochemical studies in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis have identified a few key plant and microbial signals regulating these symbioses. Furthermore, genetic studies in legumes have identified the host genetic pathways controlling these symbioses. But, the same depth of information does not exist for the interactions between host plants and PGPB. For instance, our knowledge of the host genes and the pathways involved in these interactions is very poor. However, some transcriptomic studies have investigated the regulation of gene expression in host plants during these interactions in recent years. In this review, we discuss some of the major findings from these studies and discuss what lies ahead. Identifying the genetic pathway(s) regulating these plant-PGPB interactions will be important as we explore ways to improve crop production sustainably.}, } @article {pmid36186063, year = {2022}, author = {Zorin, EA and Kliukova, MS and Afonin, AM and Gribchenko, ES and Gordon, ML and Sulima, AS and Zhernakov, AI and Kulaeva, OA and Romanyuk, DA and Kusakin, PG and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {A variable gene family encoding nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides in pea (Pisum sativum L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {884726}, pmid = {36186063}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Various legume plants form root nodules in which symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) fix atmospheric nitrogen after differentiation into a symbiotic form named bacteroids. In some legume species, bacteroid differentiation is promoted by defensin-like nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides. NCR peptides have best been studied in the model legume Medicago truncatula Gaertn., while in many other legumes relevant information is still fragmentary. Here, we characterize the NCR gene family in pea (Pisum sativum L.) using genomic and transcriptomic data. We found 360 genes encoding NCR peptides that are expressed in nodules. The sequences of pea NCR genes and putative peptides are highly variable and differ significantly from NCR sequences of M. truncatula. Indeed, only one pair of orthologs (PsNCR47-MtNCR312) has been identified. The NCR genes in the pea genome are located in clusters, and the expression patterns of NCR genes from one cluster tend to be similar. These data support the idea of independent evolution of NCR genes by duplication and diversification in related legume species. We also described spatiotemporal expression profiles of NCRs and identified specific transcription factor (TF) binding sites in promoters of "early" and "late" NCR genes. Further, we studied the expression of NCR genes in nodules of Fix[-] mutants and predicted potential regulators of NCR gene expression, one among them being the TF ERN1 involved in the early steps of nodule organogenesis. In general, this study contributes to understanding the functions of NCRs in legume nodules and contributes to understanding the diversity and potential antibiotic properties of pea nodule-specific antimicrobial molecules.}, } @article {pmid36183257, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Sun, Z and Wang, S and Zhao, C and Xu, J and Gao, S and Yang, M and Sheng, F and Gao, S and Hou, Y}, title = {Biodegradable Ferrous Sulfide-Based Nanocomposites for Tumor Theranostics through Specific Intratumoral Acidosis-Induced Metabolic Symbiosis Disruption.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {144}, number = {43}, pages = {19884-19895}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.2c07669}, pmid = {36183257}, issn = {1520-5126}, mesh = {Humans ; Precision Medicine ; Symbiosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Nanocomposites ; *Acidosis ; }, abstract = {Abnormal metabolic symbiosis is a typical characteristic that differentiates the tumor regions from healthy tissues and meanwhile maintains tumor survival. It is of great potential to disrupt intratumoral metabolic symbiosis in tumor therapy. Herein, we report a specific tumor therapy strategy through inducing acidosis to disrupt intratumoral metabolic symbiosis for tumor elimination, which is based on carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI)-modified ferrous sulfide nanoparticles (FeS-PEG-CAI NPs). The FeS-PEG-CAI NPs show the acid-responsive degradation capacity to release functional components, including CAI, Fe[2+], and H2S, while remaining quite stable under normal physiological conditions. The generated CAI and H2S gas can not only disrupt the intracellular metabolic symbiosis to induce acidosis but also provide suitable circumstances for Fe[2+]-mediated Fenton reaction, producing abundant toxic hydroxyl radicals. Meanwhile, these NPs also show the dual-mode imaging capacity with photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging, which can dynamically monitor tumor location in the process of synergistic chemodynamic/photothermal/gas therapy. Overall, the developed FeS-PEG-CAI NPs exert their role of disrupting intratumoral metabolic symbiosis and other synergistic effects, which further enrich tumor treatment strategies.}, } @article {pmid36181931, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, S and Feng, Y and Huang, G and Zhao, X and Song, F}, title = {Rhizophagus irregularis enhances tolerance to cadmium stress by altering host plant hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) photosynthetic properties.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {314}, number = {}, pages = {120309}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120309}, pmid = {36181931}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Cadmium/toxicity ; *Cannabis ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Chlorophyll ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread and specialized soil symbiotic fungi, and the establishment of their symbiotic system is of great importance for adversity adaptation. To reveal the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of AMF-crop symbionts in response to heavy metal stress, this experiment investigated the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri) inoculation on the growth, photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) at a Cd concentration of 80 mg/kg. The results showed that (1) under Cd stress, the biomass of each plant structure in the Ri treatment was significantly higher than that in the noninoculation treatment (P < 0.05); (2) under Cd stress, the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, PSII efficiency, apparent electron transport rate and photochemical quenching coefficient of the Ri inoculation group reached a maximum, with increases ranging from 1% to 28%; (3) inoculation of Ri significantly reduced Cd enrichment in leaves, which in turn significantly increased the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, electron transfer rate, net photosynthetic rate and photosynthetic intensity, protecting PSII (P < 0.05); and (4) by measuring the light response curves of different treatments, the light saturation points of hemp inoculated with the Ri treatment reached 1448.4 μmol/m[2]/s, and the optical compensation point reached 24.0 μmol/m[2]/s under Cd stress. The Ri-hemp symbiont demonstrated high adaptability to weak light and high utilization efficiency of strong light under Cd stress. Our study showed that Ri-hemp symbiosis improves adaptation to Cd stress and promotes plant growth by regulating the photosynthetic gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of plants. The Ri-hemp symbiosis is a promising technology for improving the productivity of Cd-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid36181545, year = {2022}, author = {Horn, CJ and Visscher, DR and Luong, LT}, title = {Relative contributions of parasite consumptive and non-consumptive effects to host population suppression in simulated fly-mite populations.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {200}, number = {3-4}, pages = {339-347}, pmid = {36181545}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Mites ; *Parasites ; Predatory Behavior ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Drosophila/parasitology ; Food Chain ; }, abstract = {The "ecology of fear" framework was developed to describe the impacts predators have on potential prey and prey populations, outside of consumption/predation (i.e. non-consumptive effects, NCEs). This framework has recently been extended to symbiotic interactions such as host-parasite associations. Although the NCEs of predators and parasites on their individual victims can be measured experimentally, it is currently not known whether parasites can exert population-level effects on potential hosts through their NCEs. Modelling can be a useful tool for scaling individual-level NCEs to populations to determine impacts on host population growth. In this study, we used previously published data on the consumptive and non-consumptive effects of an ectoparasitic mite (Macrocheles subbadius) on a fruit fly (Drosophila nigrospiracula) to simulate populations experiencing fear (NCEs only), both fear and infection (consumption + NCEs) or neither. Population-level models indicate that NCEs alone were insufficient to reduce population growth. In fact, host populations experiencing NCEs but not infection had slightly larger final populations than unexposed populations (by ~ 550 flies). This result suggests there is compensation (i.e. increased daily reproduction that overcomes shorter lifespans) among exposed flies. By contrast, the consumptive effects of parasites suppressed the growth of simulated host populations, and this deleterious impact grew non-linearly with infection prevalence.}, } @article {pmid36180959, year = {2022}, author = {Holt, CC and Boscaro, V and Van Steenkiste, NWL and Herranz, M and Mathur, V and Irwin, NAT and Buckholtz, G and Leander, BS and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Microscopic marine invertebrates are reservoirs for cryptic and diverse protists and fungi.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {161}, pmid = {36180959}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Invertebrates/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbial symbioses in marine invertebrates are commonplace. However, characterizations of invertebrate microbiomes are vastly outnumbered by those of vertebrates. Protists and fungi run the gamut of symbiosis, yet eukaryotic microbiome sequencing is rarely undertaken, with much of the focus on bacteria. To explore the importance of microscopic marine invertebrates as potential symbiont reservoirs, we used a phylogenetic-focused approach to analyze the host-associated eukaryotic microbiomes of 220 animal specimens spanning nine different animal phyla.

RESULTS: Our data expanded the traditional host range of several microbial taxa and identified numerous undescribed lineages. A lack of comparable reference sequences resulted in several cryptic clades within the Apicomplexa and Ciliophora and emphasized the potential for microbial invertebrates to harbor novel protistan and fungal diversity.

CONCLUSIONS: Microscopic marine invertebrates, spanning a wide range of animal phyla, host various protist and fungal sequences and may therefore serve as a useful resource in the detection and characterization of undescribed symbioses. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36180931, year = {2022}, author = {Lange, L and Berg, G and Cernava, T and Champomier-Vergès, MC and Charles, T and Cocolin, L and Cotter, P and D'Hondt, K and Kostic, T and Maguin, E and Makhalanyane, T and Meisner, A and Ryan, M and Kiran, GS and de Souza, RS and Sanz, Y and Schloter, M and Smidt, H and Wakelin, S and Sessitsch, A}, title = {Microbiome ethics, guiding principles for microbiome research, use and knowledge management.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {36180931}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {The overarching biological impact of microbiomes on their hosts, and more generally their environment, reflects the co-evolution of a mutualistic symbiosis, generating fitness for both. Knowledge of microbiomes, their systemic role, interactions, and impact grows exponentially. When a research field of importance for planetary health evolves so rapidly, it is essential to consider it from an ethical holistic perspective. However, to date, the topic of microbiome ethics has received relatively little attention considering its importance. Here, ethical analysis of microbiome research, innovation, use, and potential impact is structured around the four cornerstone principles of ethics: Do Good; Don't Harm; Respect; Act Justly. This simple, but not simplistic approach allows ethical issues to be communicative and operational. The essence of the paper is captured in a set of eleven microbiome ethics recommendations, e.g., proposing gut microbiome status as common global heritage, similar to the internationally agreed status of major food crops.}, } @article {pmid36180625, year = {2023}, author = {Takeuchi, T and Ohno, H}, title = {Analysis of Peripherally Derived Treg in the Intestine.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2559}, number = {}, pages = {41-49}, pmid = {36180625}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Colon ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; Mice ; *T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; }, abstract = {Elucidation of the symbiotic relationship between the host and its gut microbiota is critically important for understanding host pathophysiology. Peripherally derived regulatory T cells (pTregs) are recognized as central to immune homeostasis in the intestine. Moreover, the gut microbiota nourishes the intestinal and systemic immune systems, including pTreg, via their metabolites and other components. Therefore, methods to detect pTreg as well as to analyze the interactions between the gut microbiota and pTreg are important for better understanding of the symbiotic relationship with these microorganisms. Here, we describe a protocol to isolate colonic lamina propria cells and analyze pTregs in mice.}, } @article {pmid36179916, year = {2022}, author = {Izadifar, Z and Sontheimer-Phelps, A and Lubamba, BA and Bai, H and Fadel, C and Stejskalova, A and Ozkan, A and Dasgupta, Q and Bein, A and Junaid, A and Gulati, A and Mahajan, G and Kim, S and LoGrande, NT and Naziripour, A and Ingber, DE}, title = {Modeling mucus physiology and pathophysiology in human organs-on-chips.}, journal = {Advanced drug delivery reviews}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {114542}, doi = {10.1016/j.addr.2022.114542}, pmid = {36179916}, issn = {1872-8294}, mesh = {Humans ; Colon ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Microbiota ; Microfluidics ; *Mucus/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {The surfaces of human internal organs are lined by a mucus layer that ensures symbiotic relationships with commensal microbiome while protecting against potentially injurious environmental chemicals, toxins, and pathogens, and disruption of this layer can contribute to disease development. Studying mucus biology has been challenging due to the lack of physiologically relevant human in vitro models. Here we review recent progress that has been made in the development of human organ-on-a-chip microfluidic culture models that reconstitute epithelial tissue barriers and physiologically relevant mucus layers with a focus on lung, colon, small intestine, cervix and vagina. These organ-on-a-chip models that incorporate dynamic fluid flow, air-liquid interfaces, and physiologically relevant mechanical cues can be used to study mucus composition, mechanics, and structure, as well as investigate its contributions to human health and disease with a level of biomimicry not possible in the past.}, } @article {pmid36179855, year = {2022}, author = {Ünal, M and Yüksel, E and Canhilal, R}, title = {Biocontrol potential of cell suspensions and cell-free superntants of different Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria against the different larval instars of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {Experimental parasitology}, volume = {242}, number = {}, pages = {108394}, doi = {10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108394}, pmid = {36179855}, issn = {1090-2449}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Larva/microbiology ; *Xenorhabdus ; *Photorhabdus ; *Insecticides ; *Moths ; Sugars ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; }, abstract = {The black cutworm (BCW), Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the destructive cutworm species. Black cutworm is a highly polyphagous pest that feeds on more than 30 plants, many of which are of economic importance such as maize, sugar beet, and potato. The control of BCW larvae relies heavily on the application of synthetic insecticides which have a detrimental impact on human health and the natural environment. In addition, increasing insecticide resistance in many insect species requires a novel and sustainable approach to controlling insect pests. The endosymbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (Xenorhabdus and Phorohabdus spp.) represent a newly emerging green approach to controlling a wide range of insect pests. In the current study, the oral and contact efficacy of cell suspension (4 × 10[7] cells ml[-1]) and cell-free supernatants of different symbiotic bacteria (X. nematophilai, X. bovienii, X. budapestensis, and P. luminescent subsp. kayaii) were evaluated against the mixed groups of 1st-2nd and 3rd-4th instars larvae of BCW under controlled conditions. The oral treatment of the cell suspension and cell-free supernatants resulted in higher mortality rates than contact treatments. In general, larval mortality was higher in the 1st-2nd instar larvae than in the 3rd-4th instar larvae. The highest (75%) mortality was obtained from the cell suspension of X. budapestensis. The results indicated that the oral formulations of the cell suspension and cell-free supernatants of bacterial strains may have a good control potential against the 1st-2nd larvae BCW. However, the efficacy of the cell suspension and cell-free supernatants of tested bacterial strains should be further evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions.}, } @article {pmid36178538, year = {2022}, author = {Ishigami, K and Jang, S and Itoh, H and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Obligate Gut Symbiotic Association with Caballeronia in the Mulberry Seed Bug Paradieuches dissimilis (Lygaeoidea: Rhyparochromidae).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36178538}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Many insects possess symbiotic bacteria in their bodies, and microbial symbionts play pivotal metabolic roles for their hosts. Members of the heteropteran superfamilies Coreoidea and Lygaeoidea stinkbugs harbor symbionts of the genus Caballeronia in their intestinal tracts. Compared with symbiotic associations in Coreoidea, those in Lygaeoidea insects are still less understood. Here, we investigated a symbiotic relationship involving the mulberry seed bug Paradieuches dissimilis (Lygaeoidea: Rhyparochromidae) using histological observations, cultivation of the symbiont, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and infection testing of cultured symbionts. Histological observations and cultivation revealed that P. dissimilis harbors Caballeronia symbionts in the crypts of its posterior midgut. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of field-collected P. dissimilis confirmed that the genus Caballeronia is dominant in the midgut of natural populations of P. dissimilis. In addition, PCR diagnostics showed that the eggs were free of symbiotic bacteria, and hatchlings horizontally acquired the symbionts from ambient soil. Infection and rearing experiments revealed that symbiont-free aposymbiotic individuals had abnormal body color, small body size, and, strikingly, a low survival rate, wherein no individuals reached adulthood, indicating an obligate cooperative mutualism between the mulberry seed bug and Caballeronia symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36177948, year = {2023}, author = {Ren, XM and Yang, YS and Guo, RX and Wang, HR and Qi, XW and Cao, S and Lai, YN and Zhang, GJ and Niu, C}, title = {Yeast mediates the interspecific interaction between introduced Bactrocera dorsalis and indigenous Bactrocera minax.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {428-436}, doi = {10.1002/ps.7211}, pmid = {36177948}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {*Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Host plant-microbe associations mediate interspecific interactions amongst herbivorous insects. However, this theory has rarely been ecologically verified in tephritid fruit flies. Research on this subject can not only help predict tephritid species invasion and occurrence patterns, but also develop potential novel lures for the control of the tephritid fruit fly pests. Recently, we observed mixed infestation of Bactrocera minax and Bactrocera dorsalis larvae in citrus orchards, which prompted us to explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS: Following oviposition by B. minax, the yeast Pichia kluyveri translocated to and proliferated inside the citrus fruit. The level of d-limonene released from citrus fruits containing P. kluyveri was 27 times higher than that released from healthy fruits. Mature B. dorsalis females were attracted to d-limonene and oviposited into fruits previously infested by B. minax. Furthermore, the interspecific interaction between B. dorsalis and B. minax within the same fruit significantly decreased the number of surviving larvae and pupal weight in B. dorsalis, but its effect on B. minax was weaker.

CONCLUSION: In the studied interspecific interaction, B. minax occupies the dominant position, implying ecological significance for this species in terms of consolidating its own niche and inhibiting the invasion of exotic species. To our best knowledge, this is the first report from both ecological and physiological perspectives on a symbiotic yeast mediating the interaction between B. minax and B. dorsalis through altering fruit volatiles. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36177468, year = {2022}, author = {Van Cauwenberghe, J and Santamaría, RI and Bustos, P and González, V}, title = {Novel lineages of single-stranded DNA phages that coevolved with the symbiotic bacteria Rhizobium.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {990394}, pmid = {36177468}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {This study describes novel single-stranded DNA phages isolated from common bean agriculture soils by infection of the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria Rhizobium etli and R. phaseoli. A total of 29 phages analyzed have 4.3-6 kb genomes in size and GC 59-60%. They belong to different clades unrelated to other Microviridae subfamilies. Three-dimensional models of the major capsid protein (MCP) showed a conserved β-barrel structural "jelly-roll" fold. A variable-length loop in the MCPs distinguished three Rhizobium microvirus groups. Microviridae subfamilies were consistent with viral clusters determined by the protein-sharing network. All viral clusters, except for Bullavirinae, included mostly microviruses identified in metagenomes from distinct ecosystems. Two Rhizobium microvirus clusters, chaparroviruses, and chicoviruses, were included within large viral unknown clusters with microvirus genomes identified in diverse metagenomes. A third Rhizobium microvirus cluster belonged to the subfamily Amoyvirinae. Phylogenetic analysis of the MCP confirms the divergence of the Rhizobium microviruses into separate clades. The phylogeny of the bacterial hosts matches the microvirus MCP phylogeny, suggesting a coevolutionary history between the phages and their bacterial host. This study provided essential biological information on cultivated microvirus for understanding the evolution and ecological diversification of the Microviridae family in diverse microbial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36177150, year = {2022}, author = {Olaso, CM and Viliunas, J and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {A peptidoglycan-recognition protein orchestrates the first steps of symbiont recruitment in the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {31-43}, pmid = {36177150}, issn = {0334-5114}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T34 GM141986/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In symbioses established through horizontal transmission, evolution has selected for mechanisms that promote the recruitment of symbionts from the environment. Using the binary association between the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and its symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, we explored the first step of symbiont enrichment around sites where V. fischeri cells will enter host tissues. Earlier studies of the system had shown that, within minutes of hatching in natural seawater, ciliated epithelia of the nascent symbiotic tissue secrete a layer of mucus in response to exposure to the cell-wall biomolecule peptidoglycan (PGN) from non-specific bacterioplankton. We hypothesized that a peptidoglycan recognition protein, EsPGRP4, is the receptor that mediates host mucus secretion by sensing the environmental PGN; earlier studies of this protein family had shown that this is the only member predicted to behave as a membrane receptor. Immunocytochemistry localized EsPGRP4 to the superficial ciliated fields of the juvenile organ. We found that production of EsPGRP4 increased over the first 48 h after hatching if the light organ remained uncolonized. When colonized by V. fischeri, the levels of the protein in light-organ tissue remained similar to that of hatchling organs. Pharmacologically curing the initially colonized light organ with antibiotics resulted in return of EsPGRP4 production to levels similar to light organs that had remained uncolonized since hatching. Furthermore, we found that preincubation of the tissues with an EsPGRP4 antibody decreased light organ mucus production and colonization. These findings provide evidence of an innate mechanism that underlies a crucial first step in the horizontal recruitment of bacterial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36177011, year = {2022}, author = {Suriano, F and Nyström, EEL and Sergi, D and Gustafsson, JK}, title = {Diet, microbiota, and the mucus layer: The guardians of our health.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {953196}, pmid = {36177011}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Fiber ; *Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mucus ; Sugars ; }, abstract = {The intestinal tract is an ecosystem in which the resident microbiota lives in symbiosis with its host. This symbiotic relationship is key to maintaining overall health, with dietary habits of the host representing one of the main external factors shaping the microbiome-host relationship. Diets high in fiber and low in fat and sugars, as opposed to Western and high-fat diets, have been shown to have a beneficial effect on intestinal health by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, improve mucus barrier function and immune tolerance, while inhibiting pro-inflammatory responses and their downstream effects. On the contrary, diets low in fiber and high in fat and sugars have been associated with alterations in microbiota composition/functionality and the subsequent development of chronic diseases such as food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic disease. In this review, we provided an updated overview of the current understanding of the connection between diet, microbiota, and health, with a special focus on the role of Western and high-fat diets in shaping intestinal homeostasis by modulating the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36174475, year = {2022}, author = {Degani, E and Prasad, MVR and Paradkar, A and Pena, R and Soltangheisi, A and Ullah, I and Warr, B and Tibbett, M}, title = {A critical review of Pongamia pinnata multiple applications: From land remediation and carbon sequestration to socioeconomic benefits.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {324}, number = {}, pages = {116297}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116297}, pmid = {36174475}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Millettia/metabolism ; Carbon Sequestration ; Biofuels ; Plant Breeding ; *Pongamia ; Trees/metabolism ; Socioeconomic Factors ; }, abstract = {Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Pongamia) is a tree native to Southeast Asia. Recently, interest in Pongamia focused on its potential as a biofuel source as its seeds contain around 40% oil. However, Pongamia has multiple applications beyond biofuel production. It is a legume, can form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi, has been shown to be tolerant to drought, salinity, and heavy metals in soil, and has potential to mitigate climate change. Additionally, Pongamia oil has medicinal properties, can be used as biopesticide, insect repellent, to produce soap, and as a source of edible grade vegetable oil. The seed cake can be used as a source of bioenergy, food and feed protein, and organic fertiliser, and the flowers are a good source of pollen and nectar. Pongamia can also bring socio-economic benefits as its ability to restore degraded and contaminated land provides opportunities for local communities through novel valorisation pathways. These multiple applications have potential to form part of a circular bioeconomy in line with sustainable development goals. Although research on the multiple applications of Pongamia has grown considerably, knowledge gaps remain and these need to be addressed so that the full potential of Pongamia can be achieved. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying its resilience to abiotic stresses, phytoremediation potential and biotic interactions should be a priority, and co-ordinated breeding efforts will be key. Here, we critically review the available literature on Pongamia and highlight gaps in knowledge in which future research should focus on to ensure that the full potential of this versatile tree can be achieved. We conclude that Pongamia can potentially form part of a circular bioeconomy and that harnessing the multiple applications of Pongamia in a holistic manner, with collaboration among key stakeholders, is crucial for the successful application of its benefits far beyond biofuel production.}, } @article {pmid36174465, year = {2022}, author = {García-Santibañez, T and Rosenblueth, M and Bolaños, LM and Martínez-Romero, J and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {The divergent genome of Scorpion Group 1 (SG1) intracellular bacterium from the venom glands of Vaejovis smithi (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {6}, pages = {126358}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126358}, pmid = {36174465}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; *Scorpions/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Metagenomics ; }, abstract = {Scorpions were among the first animals on land around 430 million years ago. Like many arachnids, scorpions have evolved complex venoms used to paralyze their prey and for self-defense. Here we sequenced and analyzed the metagenomic DNA from venom glands from Vaejovis smithi scorpions. A metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) of 624,025 bp was obtained corresponding to the previously reported Scorpion Group 1 (SG1). The SG1 genome from venom glands had a low GC content (25.8%) characteristic of reduced genomes, many hypothetical genes and genes from the reported minimal set of bacterial genes. Phylogenomic reconstructions placed the uncultured SG1 distant from other reported bacteria constituting a taxonomic novelty. By PCR we detected SG1 in all tested venom glands from 30 independent individuals. Microscopically, we observed SG1 inside epithelial cells from the venom glands using FISH and its presence in scorpion embryos suggested that SG1 is transferred from mother to offspring.}, } @article {pmid36173693, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, Z and Chen, J and Tan, Y and Shen, Y and Zhu, L and Yu, P}, title = {Phage Predation Promotes Filamentous Bacterium Piscinibacter Colonization and Improves Structural and Hydraulic Stability of Microbial Aggregates.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {22}, pages = {16230-16239}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c04745}, pmid = {36173693}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteriophages ; Predatory Behavior ; Quorum Sensing ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Although bacteria-phage interactions have broad environmental applications and ecological implications, the influence of phage predation on bacterial aggregation and structural stability remains largely unexplored. Herein, we demonstrate that inefficient lytic phage predation can promote host filamentous bacterium Piscinibacter colonization onto non-host Thauera aggregates, improving the structural and hydraulic stability of the dual-species aggregates. Specifically, phage predation at 10[3]-10[4] PFU/mL (i.e., multiplication of infection at 0.01-0.1) promoted initial Piscinibacter colonization by 10-15 folds and resulted in 29-31% higher abundance of Piscinibacter in the stabilized aggregates than that in the control aggregates without phage predation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulated genes related to quorum sensing (by 15-92 folds) and polysaccharide secretion (by 10-90 folds) within the treated aggregates, which was consistent with 120-172% higher content of polysaccharides for the treated dual-species aggregates. Confocal laser scanning microscopic images further confirmed the increase of filamentous bacteria and polysaccharides (both with wider distribution) within the dual-species aggregates. Accordlingly, the aggregates' structural strength (via atomic force microscopes) and shear resistance (via hydraulic stress tests) increased by 77 and 42%, respectively, relative to the control group. In the long-term experiments, the enhanced hydraulic stability of the treated aggregates could facilitate dwelling bacteria propagation in flow-through conditions. Overall, our study demonstrates that phage predation can promote bacterial aggregation and enhance aggregate structural stability, revealing the beneficial role of lytic phage predation on bacterial symbiosis and environmental adaptivity.}, } @article {pmid36173204, year = {2022}, author = {Kajikawa, A and Eguchi, N and Suzuki, S}, title = {Immunogenic Modification of Ligilactobacillus agilis by Specific Amino Acid Substitution of Flagellin.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {20}, pages = {e0127722}, pmid = {36173204}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Flagellin/genetics/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 5/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Amino Acids ; *Vaccines ; Mammals ; }, abstract = {Ligilactobacillus agilis is a flagellated motile commensal microbe that resides in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals and birds. Flagellin, the major subunit protein of flagellar filament, from pathogenic bacteria is generally a proinflammatory molecule that stimulates immune cells via Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Interestingly, the flagellins of L. agilis are known to be immunologically attenuated despite the fact that the structure of the proteins, including the TLR5 recognition site, is highly conserved among bacteria. The results of our previous study suggested that this is attributed to the differences in three specific amino acids within the conserved TLR5 recognition site; however, this hypothesis remains to be confirmed. In this study, a series of recombinant L. agilis flagellins, with amino acid substitutions at the TLR5 recognition site, were constructed, and their immunogenic activity was evaluated in vitro. Then, an L. agilis strain with an active immunogenic TLR5 recognition site was generated. In vitro and in vivo immunological studies revealed that the mutant L. agilis strain with the modified flagellin was more immunogenic than the wild-type strain. In conclusion, the specific amino acid residues in L. agilis flagellins likely contribute to the discrimination between pathogens and commensals by the host defense system. Additionally, the immunogenically potent L. agilis mutants may serve as a useful platform for oral vaccine delivery. IMPORTANCE The interactions between gut microbes and immune cells play an important role in the health and disease of hosts. Ligilactobacillus agilis is a flagellated commensal bacterium found in the gut of mammals and birds. However, the flagellin proteins of L. agilis are immunologically attenuated and barely induce TLR5-dependent inflammation, unlike the flagellins of several pathogenic bacteria. This study demonstrated that three specific amino acids in the flagellin protein are responsible for this low immunogenicity in L. agilis. The results obtained herein improve our understanding of the symbiosis between gut microbes and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid36173117, year = {2022}, author = {Harman, TE and Barshis, DJ and Hauff Salas, B and Hamsher, SE and Strychar, KB}, title = {Indications of symbiotic state influencing melanin-synthesis immune response in the facultative coral Astrangia poculata.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {151}, number = {}, pages = {63-74}, doi = {10.3354/dao03695}, pmid = {36173117}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Immunity ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Melanins ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Increased ocean warming is causing detrimental impacts to tropical corals worldwide. Compounding the effects of heat stress, incidences of tropical coral disease have risen concurrently. While tropical coral responses to these impacts are well studied, temperate coral responses remain largely unknown. The present study focused on the immune response of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata to increased temperature and disease. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. poculata were collected from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island (USA) in summer and winter seasons and exposed to control (18°C) versus elevated temperatures (26°C) in the presence of an immune stimulant (i.e. lipopolysaccharide) for a 12 h period. Prophenoloxidase (PPO) and melanin concentrations from the melanin-synthesis pathway were assessed via spectrophotometry to examine immune responses. While PPO measurements were higher on average in symbiotic corals compared with aposymbiotic corals, temperature and season did not significantly affect this metric. Melanin was significantly higher in symbiotic compared to aposymbiotic corals, implying that symbiotic state may be important for melanin-synthesis response. Conversely, melanin as an immune response may be of less importance in aposymbiotic A. poculata due to the potential capacity of other immune responses in this species. In addition, differences in resource allocation to immune investment as a result of symbiosis is plausible given melanin production observed within the present study. However, thermal stressors may reduce the overall influence of symbiosis on melanin production. Future studies should build upon these results to further understand the entirety of innate immunity responses in temperate coral species.}, } @article {pmid36172550, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, D and Yang, L and Gu, J and Tarkowska, D and Deng, X and Gan, Q and Zhou, W and Strnad, M and Lu, Y}, title = {A Functional Genomics View of Gibberellin Metabolism in the Cnidarian Symbiont Breviolum minutum.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {927200}, pmid = {36172550}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Dinoflagellate inhabitants of the reef-building corals exchange nutrients and signals with host cells, which often benefit the growth of both partners. Phytohormones serve as central hubs for signal integration between symbiotic microbes and their hosts, allowing appropriate modulation of plant growth and defense in response to various stresses. However, the presence and function of phytohormones in photosynthetic dinoflagellates and their function in the holobionts remain elusive. We hypothesized that endosymbiotic dinoflagellates may produce and employ phytohormones for stress responses. Using the endosymbiont of reef corals Breviolum minutum as model, this study aims to exam whether the alga employ analogous signaling systems by an integrated multiomics approach. We show that key gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic genes are widely present in the genomes of the selected dinoflagellate algae. The non-13-hydroxylation pathway is the predominant route for GA biosynthesis and the multifunctional GA dioxygenase in B. minutum has distinct substrate preference from high plants. GA biosynthesis is modulated by the investigated bleaching-stimulating stresses at both transcriptional and metabolic levels and the exogenously applied GAs improve the thermal tolerance of the dinoflagellate. Our results demonstrate the innate ability of a selected Symbiodiniaceae to produce the important phytohormone and the active involvement of GAs in the coordination and the integration of the stress response.}, } @article {pmid36172040, year = {2022}, author = {Cornelio, P and Haggard, P and Hornbaek, K and Georgiou, O and Bergström, J and Subramanian, S and Obrist, M}, title = {The sense of agency in emerging technologies for human-computer integration: A review.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {949138}, pmid = {36172040}, issn = {1662-4548}, abstract = {Human-computer integration is an emerging area in which the boundary between humans and technology is blurred as users and computers work collaboratively and share agency to execute tasks. The sense of agency (SoA) is an experience that arises by a combination of a voluntary motor action and sensory evidence whether the corresponding body movements have somehow influenced the course of external events. The SoA is not only a key part of our experiences in daily life but also in our interaction with technology as it gives us the feeling of "I did that" as opposed to "the system did that," thus supporting a feeling of being in control. This feeling becomes critical with human-computer integration, wherein emerging technology directly influences people's body, their actions, and the resulting outcomes. In this review, we analyse and classify current integration technologies based on what we currently know about agency in the literature, and propose a distinction between body augmentation, action augmentation, and outcome augmentation. For each category, we describe agency considerations and markers of differentiation that illustrate a relationship between assistance level (low, high), agency delegation (human, technology), and integration type (fusion, symbiosis). We conclude with a reflection on the opportunities and challenges of integrating humans with computers, and finalise with an expanded definition of human-computer integration including agency aspects which we consider to be particularly relevant. The aim this review is to provide researchers and practitioners with guidelines to situate their work within the integration research agenda and consider the implications of any technologies on SoA, and thus overall user experience when designing future technology.}, } @article {pmid36171774, year = {2022}, author = {Liao, W and Su, M and Zhang, D}, title = {A study on the effect of symbiotic fermented milk products on human gastrointestinal health: Double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {2947-2955}, pmid = {36171774}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {Several studies have claimed that the consumption of fermented dairy products can improve human gastrointestinal (GI) health. However, the numbers of systematic clinic trials are limited. In this study, a yogurt containing both probiotics and prebiotics was developed and a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of the product on human gastrointestinal health in three different aspects: (1) the effect on functional constipation (FC) and functional diarrhea (FD); (2) the effect on gastrointestinal (GI) tract immune system; and (3) the changes in GI tract microbiota. Participants who suffered FC or FD were randomized into three groups (n = 66 each group): the first group was treated with fermented milk with Lactobacillus plantarum ST-III (7 mg/kg) and inulin (1.5%), the second group was treated with L. plantarum ST-III (7 mg/kg) and inulin (1.0%), and the third group (control group) was treated without probiotics and prebiotics. Half of the participants stopped the treatment after 14 days and the rest of the group continued the trial to the full 28 days. The fecal samples of participants were analyzed regarding their short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and microbiota. A survey on GI tract health was conducted and the Bristol stool scale was recorded. The results showed that the consumption of the symbiotic yogurt for 14 days and 28 days can both improve the digestive system, with the continual consumption of product containing L. plantarum ST-III (7 mg/kg) and inulin (1.5%) for 28 days showing the most significance. The consumption of this product may be used as a potential functional food.}, } @article {pmid36171765, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Z and Zhu, X and Wen, A and Qin, L}, title = {Development of probiotics beverage using cereal enzymatic hydrolysate fermented with Limosilactobacillus reuteri.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {3143-3153}, pmid = {36171765}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {Although most probiotic products are milk based, lactose intolerance and vegetarianism inspired the idea of developing nondairy probiotic products. In this study, probiotic beverages were produced from four enzymatically hydrolyzed cereal substrates (coix seed, quinoa, millet, and brown rice) and fermented by Limosilactobacillus reuteri. Fermentation parameters, including pH, titratable acidity, viable count, organic acids, and volatile components were determined. Results showed that the pH values decreased and titratable acidity increased with the fermentation process (p < .05). Although the final pH in all samples was below 4.0, the growth of L. reuteri was not significantly inhibited by low pH. The number of viable bacteria (12.96 log CFU/ml) in coix seed substrate was significantly higher than that in other samples after the fermentation for 24 h (p < .05). Lactic acid and acetic acid were the main organic acids after fermentation and the highest in quinoa (lactic acid: 7.58 mg/ml; acetic acid: 2.23 mg/ml). The flavor analysis indicated that there were differences in the flavor components of different cereal beverages. Forty-nine volatile compounds were identified in four beverages, including acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters. The results of the electronic tongue showed that the umami taste of the fermented coix seed was better than that of other samples, displaying the more pleasant taste characteristics. In conclusion, it is feasible to prepare probiotic symbiotic cereal beverage with L. reuteri as starter culture. This study provides a reference for the development of nondairy probiotic products.}, } @article {pmid36171290, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, Y and Viswanatha, R and Sitsel, O and Roderer, D and Zhao, H and Ashwood, C and Voelcker, C and Tian, S and Raunser, S and Perrimon, N and Dong, M}, title = {CRISPR screens in Drosophila cells identify Vsg as a Tc toxin receptor.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {610}, number = {7931}, pages = {349-355}, pmid = {36171290}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {R01 NS080833/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; P41 GM132087/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS117626/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; R01 AI170835/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI139087/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 HD018655/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132387/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Toxins/metabolism ; Biological Control Agents ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Culicidae ; *Drosophila Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Drosophila melanogaster/cytology/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Fat Body/cytology ; *Gene Editing ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Hemocytes ; Humans ; Moths ; Mucins ; Pest Control, Biological ; Phagocytosis ; Photorhabdus/metabolism ; Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid ; Transgenes ; *Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes are widely used as biopesticides[1,2]. Their insecticidal activity depends on symbiotic bacteria such as Photorhabdus luminescens, which produces toxin complex (Tc) toxins as major virulence factors[3-6]. No protein receptors are known for any Tc toxins, which limits our understanding of their specificity and pathogenesis. Here we use genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout screening in Drosophila melanogaster S2R+ cells and identify Visgun (Vsg) as a receptor for an archetypal P. luminescens Tc toxin (pTc). The toxin recognizes the extracellular O-glycosylated mucin-like domain of Vsg that contains high-density repeats of proline, threonine and serine (HD-PTS). Vsg orthologues in mosquitoes and beetles contain HD-PTS and can function as pTc receptors, whereas orthologues without HD-PTS, such as moth and human versions, are not pTc receptors. Vsg is expressed in immune cells, including haemocytes and fat body cells. Haemocytes from Vsg knockout Drosophila are resistant to pTc and maintain phagocytosis in the presence of pTc, and their sensitivity to pTc is restored through the transgenic expression of mosquito Vsg. Last, Vsg knockout Drosophila show reduced bacterial loads and lethality from P. luminescens infection. Our findings identify a proteinaceous Tc toxin receptor, reveal how Tc toxins contribute to P. luminescens pathogenesis, and establish a genome-wide CRISPR screening approach for investigating insecticidal toxins and pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36170643, year = {2023}, author = {Seeman, OD and Walter, DE}, title = {Phoresy and Mites: More Than Just a Free Ride.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {69-88}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-120220-013329}, pmid = {36170643}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; *Mites ; Phylogeny ; Life Cycle Stages ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mites are masters at attaching to larger animals, often insects, in a temporary symbiosis called phoresy that allows these tiny animals to exploit patchy resources. In this article, we examine phoresy in the Acari, including those that feed on their carriers in transit, from a broad perspective. From a phylogenetic perspective, phoresy has evolved several times from free-living ancestors but also has been lost frequently. Rotting logs appear to be the first patchy resource exploited by phoretic mites, but the evolution of rapid life cycles later permitted exploitation of short-lived resources. As phoresy is a temporary symbiosis, most species have off-host interactions with their carrier. These relationships can be highly complex and context dependent but often are exploitative of the carrier's resources or progeny. Transitions from phoresy to parasitism seem widespread, but evidence for transitions from obligate phoretic parasitism to permanent parasitism is weak.}, } @article {pmid36170048, year = {2023}, author = {Finley, JR and Naaz, F}, title = {Strategic use of internal and external memory in everyday life: episodic, semantic, procedural, and prospective purposes.}, journal = {Memory (Hove, England)}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {108-126}, doi = {10.1080/09658211.2022.2126858}, pmid = {36170048}, issn = {1464-0686}, mesh = {Humans ; *Semantics ; Prospective Studies ; Brain ; *Memory, Episodic ; }, abstract = {Humans have access to both internal memory (information stored in the brain) and external memory (information stored in the environment). To what extent do we use each in everyday life? In two experiments, participants rated both internal and external memory for frequency of use, dependability, ease of use (Experiment 1), and likelihood of use (Experiment 2) across four purposes: episodic, semantic, procedural, and prospective. Experiment 1 showed that internal memory was favoured for episodic and procedural purposes, while external memory was favoured for semantic purposes. Experiment 2 further clarified that internal memory was favoured for episodic and common procedural purposes, while external memory was favoured for uncommon semantic, uncommon procedural, and far-term prospective purposes. This strategic division of labour plays to the strengths of both forms of memory. Participants also generally rated external memory as more dependable and easier to use. Results support the memory symbiosis framework.}, } @article {pmid36168983, year = {2022}, author = {Kitchen, SA and Jiang, D and Harii, S and Satoh, N and Weis, VM and Shinzato, C}, title = {Coral larvae suppress heat stress response during the onset of symbiosis decreasing their odds of survival.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {22}, pages = {5813-5830}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16708}, pmid = {36168983}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Larva/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Heat-Shock Response/genetics ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiosis between most corals and their photosynthetic dinoflagellate partners begins early in the host life history, when corals are larvae or juvenile polyps. The capacity of coral larvae to buffer climate-induced stress while in the process of symbiont acquisition could come with physiological trade-offs that alter behaviour, development, settlement and survivorship. Here we examined the joint effects of thermal stress and symbiosis onset on colonization dynamics, survival, metamorphosis and host gene expression of Acropora digitifera larvae. We found that thermal stress decreased symbiont colonization of hosts by 50% and symbiont density by 98.5% over 2 weeks. Temperature and colonization also influenced larval survival and metamorphosis in an additive manner, where colonized larvae fared worse or prematurely metamorphosed more often than noncolonized larvae under thermal stress. Transcriptomic responses to colonization and thermal stress treatments were largely independent, while the interaction of these treatments revealed contrasting expression profiles of genes that function in the stress response, immunity, inflammation and cell cycle regulation. The combined treatment either cancelled or lowered the magnitude of expression of heat-stress responsive genes in the presence of symbionts, revealing a physiological cost to acquiring symbionts at the larval stage with elevated temperatures. In addition, host immune suppression, a hallmark of symbiosis onset under ambient temperature, turned to immune activation under heat stress. Thus, by integrating the physical environment and biotic pressures that mediate presettlement event in corals, our results suggest that colonization may hinder larval survival and recruitment under projected climate scenarios.}, } @article {pmid36168763, year = {2022}, author = {Dudzic, JP and Curtis, CI and Gowen, BE and Perlman, SJ}, title = {A highly divergent Wolbachia with a tiny genome in an insect-parasitic tylenchid nematode.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1983}, pages = {20221518}, pmid = {36168763}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Heme ; Insecta ; *Nematoda/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia symbionts are the most successful host-associated microbes on the planet, infecting arthropods and nematodes. Their role in nematodes is particularly enigmatic, with filarial nematode species either 100% infected and dependent on symbionts for reproduction and development, or not at all infected. We have discovered a highly divergent strain of Wolbachia in an insect-parasitic tylenchid nematode, Howardula sp., in a nematode clade that has not previously been known to harbour Wolbachia. While this nematode is 100% infected with Wolbachia, we did not detect it in related species. We sequenced the Howardula symbiont (wHow) genome and found that it is highly reduced, comprising only 550 kilobase pairs of DNA, approximately 35% smaller than the smallest Wolbachia nematode symbiont genomes. The wHow genome is a subset of all other Wolbachia genomes and has not acquired any new genetic information. While it has lost many genes, including genes involved in cell wall synthesis and cell division, it has retained the entire haem biosynthesis pathway, suggesting that haem supplementation is critical. wHow provides key insights into our understanding of what are the lower limits of Wolbachia cells, as well as the role of Wolbachia symbionts in the biology and convergent evolution of diverse parasitic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid36168538, year = {2022}, author = {Daher-Nashif, S and Kane, T}, title = {A culturally competent approach to teaching humanities in an international medical school: potential frameworks and lessons learned.}, journal = {MedEdPublish (2016)}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {6}, pmid = {36168538}, issn = {2312-7996}, abstract = {Background: This paper describes the development of a culturally competent medical humanities course for second and third-year medical students at the ethnically diverse College of Medicine at Qatar University. First taught in 2016, the elective seminar "Medicine and the Arts" was restructured in 2017 to cultivate an appreciation of the symbiotic relationship between medicine, art, and humanities, and to foster cultural competence among the students. Methods: Results and tips are based on our experiences and past reports. Results: In designing a course for students immersed in an Arab-Muslim context, we encountered two challenges: the discipline's privileging of a predominantly Western canon of arts and humanities, and the largely Euro-American-centric and unilateral framing of concepts e.g., the doctor-patient relationship, patient-centered approach, patient experiences, and meanings of health and illness. To circumvent these challenges, we followed the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence, adopted the interdisciplinary approach, and employed an intersectionality framework to build and deliver a culturally competent course exploring the nexus of arts, humanities, and medicine. In addition to these tips on which frameworks to adopt and how to structure the course, we recommend a visual literacy workshop to help them develop the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through art. Furthermore, we recommend deep conversations about artistic portrayals of medicine from different cultural contexts as tools for developing cultural awareness. Lastly, we recommend that these discussions adopt a student-centered approach, where students inform about their experiences and their own health and illness determinants, in order to develop their knowledge and practice of holism and patient centered approach, and other issues related to humanities and social sciences. Conclusions: Adopting and implementing a culturally competent approach to medical education, alongside interdisciplinary and intersectionality concepts, are potential conceptual frameworks to structure a course that uses art to inform about medical humanities.}, } @article {pmid36167040, year = {2022}, author = {Vigneron, A and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Symbiosis: Creating a tractable intracellular insect-microbe association.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {18}, pages = {R943-R946}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.011}, pmid = {36167040}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Insecta ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbioses are widespread among insects and have far-reaching implications for their hosts' ecology and evolution. However, the molecular underpinnings of symbiosis remain largely obscure. In a new study, Su et al. successfully established a transmissible synthetic symbiosis, opening up exciting new opportunities to explore the initial dynamics of endosymbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid36167006, year = {2022}, author = {Pal, G and Saxena, S and Kumar, K and Verma, A and Sahu, PK and Pandey, A and White, JF and Verma, SK}, title = {Endophytic Burkholderia: Multifunctional roles in plant growth promotion and stress tolerance.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {265}, number = {}, pages = {127201}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127201}, pmid = {36167006}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Burkholderia/genetics ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Burkholderia has proven potential in improving plant performance. In recent decades, a huge diversity of Burkholderia spp. have been reported with diverse capabilities of plant symbiosis which could be harnessed to enhance plant growth and development. Colonization of endophytic Burkholderia spp. have been extensively studied through techniques like advanced microscopy, fluorescent labelling, PCR based assays, etc., and found to be systemically distributed in plants. Thus, use of these biostimulant microbes holds the promise of improving quality and quantity of crops. The endophytic Burkholderia spp. have been found to support plant functions along with boosting nutrient availability, especially under stress. Endophytic Burkholderia spp. improve plant survival against deadly pathogens via mechanisms like competition, induced systemic resistance, and antibiosis. At the same time, they are reported to extend plant tolerance towards multiple abiotic stresses especially drought, salinity, and cold. Several attempts have been made to decipher the potential of Burkholderia spp. by genome mining, and these bacteria have been found to harbour genes for plant symbiosis and for providing multiple benefits to host plants. Characteristics specific for host recognition and nutrient acquisition were confirmed in endophytic Burkholderia by genomics and proteomics-based studies. This could pave the way for harnessing Burkholderia spp. for biotechnological applications like biotransformation, phytoremediation, insecticidal activity, antimicrobials, etc. All these make Burkholderia spp. a promising microbial agent in improving plant performance under multiple adversities. Thus, the present review highlights critical roles of endophytic Burkholderia spp., their colonization, alleviation of biotic and abiotic stresses, biotechnological applications and genomic insights.}, } @article {pmid36166149, year = {2022}, author = {Kizhakkekalam, VK and Chakraborty, K and Krishnan, S}, title = {Antibacterial and wound healing potential of topical formulation of marine symbiotic Bacillus.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {10}, pages = {648}, pmid = {36166149}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; *Anti-Infective Agents ; *Bacillus ; Clindamycin/pharmacology ; Excipients ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Wound Healing ; }, abstract = {The inevitability to develop novel antimicrobial agents has considerably increased because of mounting alarms concerning multidrug-resistant microbial strains. The present study evaluated an antibacterial and wound healing topical formulation prepared with the ethyl acetate extract of marine symbiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716 as the basic ingredient and the grafted macroalgal polysaccharide as the gel base with an appropriate proportion of natural stabilizing agents. The formulation exhibited potent antibacterial activities against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm inhibition zone) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 mm) causing infection when compared with commercially available antimicrobial cream clindamycin. The in-vitro results indicated that the organic extract of B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716 at its MIC and the formulation sealed the wound by 78 and 94%, respectively, at 48 h in the scratch-induced L929 cells, compared to 84% exhibited by clindamycin. The topical formulation of marine symbiotic Bacillus induced greater than 80% viability of the normal fibroblasts compared to 78% exhibited by clindamycin, when administered at a dose of 25 μg mL[-1]. The studied antibacterial formulation could accelerate the wound healing by prompting the migration of fibroblasts towards the artificially created wound resulting in rapid wound closure, and at an even higher concentration of formulation, it displayed no cytotoxicity on L929 cells. The stability studies showed that the formulation maintained its physicochemical characteristics and minimal growth (<10 cfu g[-1]) of bacteria on the plates throughout the time period of 18 months at 30 °C and 65% relative humidity. This study has established the antibacterial and wound healing potential of a topical formulation of marine symbiotic B. amyloliquefaciens.}, } @article {pmid36165644, year = {2022}, author = {Rubin, IMC and Mollerup, S and Broholm, C and Baker, A and Holm, MKA and Pedersen, MS and Pinholt, M and Westh, H and Petersen, AM}, title = {Synbiotic Intervention with Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Inulin in Healthy Volunteers Increases the Abundance of Bifidobacteria but Does Not Alter Microbial Diversity.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {19}, pages = {e0108722}, pmid = {36165644}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Humans ; Bifidobacterium ; *Bifidobacterium animalis ; Feces/microbiology ; Healthy Volunteers ; Inulin ; Lactobacillus ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Synbiotics combine probiotics and prebiotics and are being investigated for potential health benefits. In this single-group-design trial, we analyzed changes in the gut microbiome, stool quality, and gastrointestinal well-being in 15 healthy volunteers after a synbiotic intervention comprising Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG), Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA-5), Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei (L. CASEI 431), and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 and 20 g of chicory-derived inulin powder consumed daily for 4 weeks. Fecal samples were collected at baseline and at completion of the intervention, and all participants completed a fecal diary based on the Bristol Stool Scale and recorded their gastrointestinal well-being. No adverse effects were observed after consumption of the synbiotic product, and stool consistency and frequency remained almost unchanged during the trial. Microbiome analysis of the fecal samples was achieved using shotgun sequencing followed by taxonomic profiling. No changes in alpha and beta diversity were seen after the intervention. Greater relative abundances of Bifidobacteriaceae were observed in 12 subjects, with indigenous bifidobacteria species constituting the main increase. All four probiotic organisms increased in abundance, and L. rhamnosus, B. animalis, and L. acidophilus were differentially abundant, compared to baseline. Comparison of the fecal strains to the B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 reference genome and the sequenced symbiotic product revealed only a few single-nucleotide polymorphisms differentiating the probiotic B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 from the fecal strains identified, indicating that this probiotic strain was detectable after the intervention. IMPORTANCE The effects of probiotics/synbiotics are seldom investigated in healthy volunteers; therefore, this study is important, especially considering the safety aspects of multiple probiotics together with prebiotic fiber in consumption by humans. The study explores at the potential of a synbiotic intervention with lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and inulin in healthy volunteers and tracks the ingested probiotic strain B. animalis subsp. lactis.}, } @article {pmid36164313, year = {2022}, author = {Dearing, MD and Kaltenpoth, M and Gershenzon, J}, title = {Demonstrating the role of symbionts in mediating detoxification in herbivores.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {59-66}, pmid = {36164313}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Plant toxins constitute an effective defense against herbivorous animals. However, many herbivores have evolved adaptations to cope with dietary toxins through detoxification, excretion, sequestration, target site insensitivity and/or via behavioral avoidance. While these adaptations are often directly encoded in herbivore genomes, evidence is accumulating that microbial symbionts can reduce the dose of plant toxins by metabolizing or sequestering them prior to absorption by the herbivore. Here, we describe a few well-studied examples to assess such symbiont-mediated detoxification and showcase different approaches that have been used for their analyses. These include: (i) a host phenotypic route in which the symbiotic association is manipulated to reveal host fitness costs upon toxin exposure in the presence/absence of detoxifying symbionts, including function restoration after symbiont re-infection, (ii) a molecular microbiological approach that focuses on the identification and characterization of microbial genes involved in plant toxin metabolism, and (iii) an analytical chemical route that aims to characterize the conversion of the toxin to less harmful metabolites in vivo and link conversion to the activities of a detoxifying symbiont. The advantages and challenges of each approach are discussed, and it is argued that a multi-pronged strategy combining phenotypic, molecular, and chemical evidence is needed to unambiguously demonstrate microbial contributions to plant toxin reduction and the importance of these processes for host fitness. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the topic, we aim to provide a guideline to researchers interested in symbiont-mediated detoxification and hope to encourage future studies that contribute to a more comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of detoxification in herbivores and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36163269, year = {2022}, author = {Ferrarini, MG and Dell'Aglio, E and Vallier, A and Balmand, S and Vincent-Monégat, C and Hughes, S and Gillet, B and Parisot, N and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Vieira, C and Heddi, A and Rebollo, R}, title = {Efficient compartmentalization in insect bacteriomes protects symbiotic bacteria from host immune system.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {156}, pmid = {36163269}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Immune System ; Insect Proteins ; *Peptidoglycan ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many insects house symbiotic intracellular bacteria (endosymbionts) that provide them with essential nutrients, thus promoting the usage of nutrient-poor habitats. Endosymbiont seclusion within host specialized cells, called bacteriocytes, often organized in a dedicated organ, the bacteriome, is crucial in protecting them from host immune defenses while avoiding chronic host immune activation. Previous evidence obtained in the cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae has shown that bacteriome immunity is activated against invading pathogens, suggesting endosymbionts might be targeted and impacted by immune effectors during an immune challenge. To pinpoint any molecular determinants associated with such challenges, we conducted a dual transcriptomic analysis of S. oryzae's bacteriome subjected to immunogenic peptidoglycan fragments.

RESULTS: We show that upon immune challenge, the bacteriome actively participates in the innate immune response via induction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Surprisingly, endosymbionts do not undergo any transcriptomic changes, indicating that this potential threat goes unnoticed. Immunohistochemistry showed that TCT-induced AMPs are located outside the bacteriome, excluding direct contact with the endosymbionts.

CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates that endosymbiont protection during an immune challenge is mainly achieved by efficient confinement within bacteriomes, which provides physical separation between host systemic response and endosymbionts. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36162562, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, JY and Gu, L and Hua, ZL and Wang, DW and Xu, RY and Ge, XY and Chu, KJ}, title = {Removal of Per-, Poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and multi-biosphere community dynamics in a bacteria-algae symbiotic aquatic ecosystem.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {314}, number = {}, pages = {120266}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120266}, pmid = {36162562}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Fluorocarbons/analysis ; Ecosystem ; Clay ; Sand ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity/analysis ; Plants ; Chlorophyll A ; Bacteria ; Carbon ; Water ; Carotenoids ; }, abstract = {The presence of Per-, Poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aquatic ecosystems has drawn broad concerns in the scientific community due to their biological toxicity. However, little has been explored regarding PFASs' removal in phytoplankton-dominated environments. This study aimed to create a simulated bacteria-algae symbiotic ecosystem to observe the potential transportation of PFASs. Mass distributions showed that sand (63-2000 μm), silt & clay (0-63 μm), the phycosphere (>3 μm plankton), and the free-living biosphere (0.22-3 μm plankton) contained 19.00, 7.78, 5.73 and 2.75% PFASs in their total mass, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between carbon chain lengths and removal rates (R[2] = 0.822, p < 10[-4]). Structural equation models revealed potential PFAS transportation pathways, such as water-phycosphere- free-living biosphere-sand-silt&clay, and water-sand-silt&clay (p < 0.05). The presence of PFASs decreased the bacterial density but increased algal density (p < 0.01) in the planktonic environment, and PFASs with longer carbon chain lengths showed a stronger enhancement in microbial community successions (p < 0.05). In algal metabolisms, chlorophyll-a and carotenoids were the key pigments that resisted reactive oxygen species caused by PFASs. PFBA (perfluorobutyric acid) (10.38-14.68%) and PFTeDA (perfluorotetradecanoic acid) (10.33-15.96%) affected bacterial metabolisms in phycosphere the most, while in the free-living biosphere was most effected by PFPeA (perfluorovaleric acid) (13.21-13.99%) and PFDoA (perfluorododecanoic acid) (10.04-10.50%). The results of this study provide new guidance measures for PFAS removal and management in aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid36162371, year = {2022}, author = {Bhattacharjee, R and Nandi, A and Sinha, A and Kumar, H and Mitra, D and Mojumdar, A and Patel, P and Jha, E and Mishra, S and Rout, PK and Panda, PK and Suar, M and Verma, SK}, title = {Phage-tail-like bacteriocins as a biomedical platform to counter anti-microbial resistant pathogens.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {155}, number = {}, pages = {113720}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113720}, pmid = {36162371}, issn = {1950-6007}, mesh = {*Bacteriocins/pharmacology ; *Bacteriophages ; Virion ; }, abstract = {Phage Tail Like bacteriocins (PTLBs) has been an area of interest in the last couple of years owing to their varied application against multi-drug resistant (MDR), anti-microbial resistant (AMR) pathogens and their evolutionary link with the dsDNA virus and bacteriophages. PTLBs are defective phages derived from Myoviridae and Siphoviridae phages, PTLBs are distinguished into R-type (Rigid type) characterized by a non-flexible contractile nanotube resembling Myoviridae phage contractile tails, and F-type (Flexible type) with a flexible non-contractile rod-like structure similar to Siphoviridae phages. In this review, we have discussed the structural association, mechanism, and characterization of PTLBs. Moreover, we have elucidated the symbiotic biological function and application of PTLBs against MDR and XDR pathogens and highlighted the evolutionary role of PTLBs. The difficulties that must be overcome to implement PTLBs clinically are also discussed. It is imperative that these issues be addressed by academics in future studies before being implemented in clinical settings. This article is novel in its way as it will not only provide us with a gateway that acts as a novel strategy for scholars to mitigate and control the uprising issue of AMR pathogens but also promote the development of clinical studies for PTLBs.}, } @article {pmid36161739, year = {2022}, author = {Riley, AB and Grillo, MA and Epstein, B and Tiffin, P and Heath, KD}, title = {Discordant population structure among rhizobium divided genomes and their legume hosts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16704}, pmid = {36161739}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Symbiosis often occurs between partners with distinct life history characteristics and dispersal mechanisms. Many bacterial symbionts have genomes comprising multiple replicons with distinct rates of evolution and horizontal transmission. Such differences might drive differences in population structure between hosts and symbionts and among the elements of the divided genomes of bacterial symbionts. These differences might, in turn, shape the evolution of symbiotic interactions and bacterial evolution. Here we use whole genome resequencing of a hierarchically structured sample of 191 strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti collected from 21 locations in southern Europe to characterize population structures of this bacterial symbiont, which forms a root nodule symbiosis with the host plant Medicago truncatula. S. meliloti genomes showed high local (within-site) variation and little isolation by distance. This was particularly true for the two symbiosis elements, pSymA and pSymB, which have population structures that are similar to each other, but distinct from both the bacterial chromosome and the host plant. Given limited recombination on the chromosome, compared to the symbiosis elements, distinct population structures may result from differences in effective gene flow. Alternatively, positive or purifying selection, with little recombination, may explain distinct geographical patterns at the chromosome. Discordant population structure between hosts and symbionts indicates that geographically and genetically distinct host populations in different parts of the range might interact with genetically similar symbionts, potentially minimizing local specialization.}, } @article {pmid36160992, year = {2022}, author = {Ali, I and Khan, A and Ali, A and Ullah, Z and Dai, DQ and Khan, N and Khan, A and Al-Tawaha, AR and Sher, H}, title = {Iron and zinc micronutrients and soil inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum enhance wheat grain quality and yield.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {960948}, pmid = {36160992}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Malnutrition is mainly caused by iron and zinc micronutrient deficiencies affecting about half of the world's population across the globe. Biofortification of staple crops is the right approach to overcome malnutrition and enhance nutrient contents in the daily food of humans. This study aimed to evaluate the role of foliar application of iron and zinc in Trichoderma harzianum treated soil on various growth characteristics, quality, and yield of wheat varieties. Plants were examined in the absence/presence of T. harzianum, and iron and zinc micronutrients in both optimal and high-stress conditions. Although the symbiotic association of T. harzianum and common wheat is utilized as an effective approach for wheat improvement because of the dynamic growth promoting the ability of the fungus, this association was found tremendously effective in the presence of foliar feeding of micronutrients for the enhancement of various growth parameters and quality of wheat. The utilization of this approach positively increased various growth parameters including spike length, grain mass, biomass, harvest index, and photosynthetic pigments. The beneficial role of T. harzianum in combination with zinc and iron in stimulating plant growth and its positive impact on the intensities of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) alleles make it an interesting approach for application in eco-friendly agricultural systems. Further, this study suggests a possible alternative way that does not merely enhances the wheat yield but also its quality through proper biofortification of iron and zinc to fulfill the daily needs of micronutrients in staple food.}, } @article {pmid36160950, year = {2022}, author = {Zuo, YL and Hu, QN and Qin, L and Liu, JQ and He, XL}, title = {Species identity and combinations differ in their overall benefits to Astragalus adsurgens plants inoculated with single or multiple endophytic fungi under drought conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {933738}, pmid = {36160950}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Although desert plants often establish multiple simultaneous symbiotic associations with various endophytic fungi in their roots, most studies focus on single fungus inoculation. Therefore, combined inoculation of multiple fungi should be applied to simulate natural habitats with the presence of a local microbiome. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to test the synergistic effects between three extremely arid habitat-adapted root endophytes (Alternaria chlamydospora, Sarocladium kiliense, and Monosporascus sp.). For that, we compared the effects of single fungus vs. combined fungi inoculation, on plant morphology and rhizospheric soil microhabitat of desert plant Astragalus adsurgens grown under drought and non-sterile soil conditions. The results indicated that fungal inoculation mainly influenced root biomass of A. adsurgens, but did not affect the shoot biomass. Both single fungus and combined inoculation decreased plant height (7-17%), but increased stem branching numbers (13-34%). However, fungal inoculation influenced the root length and surface area depending on their species and combinations, with the greatest benefits occurring on S. kiliense inoculation alone and its co-inoculation with Monosporascus sp. (109% and 61%; 54% and 42%). Although A. chlamydospora and co-inoculations with S. kiliense and Monosporascus sp. also appeared to promote root growth, these inoculations resulted in obvious soil acidification. Despite no observed root growth promotion, Monosporascus sp. associated with its combined inoculations maximally facilitated soil organic carbon accumulation. However, noticeably, combined inoculation of the three species had no significant effects on root length, surface area, and biomass, but promoted rhizospheric fungal diversity and abundance most, with Sordariomycetes being the dominant fungal group. This indicates the response of plant growth to fungal inoculation may be different from that of the rhizospheric fungal community. Structural equation modeling also demonstrated that fungal inoculation significantly influenced the interactions among the growth of A. adsurgens, soil factors, and rhizospheric fungal groups. Our findings suggest that, based on species-specific and combinatorial effects, endophytic fungi enhanced the plant root growth, altered soil nutrients, and facilitated rhizospheric fungal community, possibly contributing to desert plant performance and ecological adaptability. These results will provide the basis for evaluating the potential application of fungal inoculants for developing sustainable management for desert ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36160860, year = {2022}, author = {An, L and Bhowmick, B and Liang, D and Suo, P and Liao, C and Zhao, J and Han, Q}, title = {The microbiota changes of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus under starvation stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {932130}, pmid = {36160860}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, is the most widespread tick in the world and a predominant vector of multiple pathogens affecting wild and domestic animals. There is an increasing interest in understanding the role of tick microbiome in pathogen acquisition and transmission as well as in environment-vector interfaces. Several studies suggested that the tick microbial communities are under the influence of several factors including the tick species, dietary bloodmeal, and physiological stress. Compared with insects, very little of the microbial community is known to contribute to the nutrition of the host. Therefore, it is of significance to elucidate the regulation of the microbial community of Rh. Sanguineus under starvation stress. Starvation stress was induced in wild-type adults (1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months) and the microbial composition and diversity were analyzed before and after blood feeding. After the evaluation, it was found that the microbial community composition of Rh. sanguineus changed significantly with starvation stress. The dominant symbiotic bacteria Coxiella spp. of Rh. sanguineus gradually decreased with the prolongation of starvation stress. We also demonstrated that the starvation tolerance of Rh. sanguineus was as long as 6 months. Next, Coxiella-like endosymbionts were quantitatively analyzed by fluorescence quantitative PCR. We found a pronounced tissue tropism in the Malpighian tubule and female gonad, and less in the midgut and salivary gland organs. Finally, the blood-fed nymphs were injected with ofloxacin within 24 h. The nymphs were allowed to develop into adults. It was found that the adult blood-sucking rate, adult weight after blood meal, fecundity (egg hatching rate), and feeding period of the newly hatched larvae were all affected to varying degrees, indicating that the removal of most symbiotic bacteria had an irreversible effect on it.}, } @article {pmid36160269, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, H and Tang, H and Ni, X and Zhang, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Impact of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculum and exogenous methyl jasmonate on the performance of tall fescue under saline-alkali condition.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {902667}, pmid = {36160269}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Hormonal regulation and symbiotic relationships provide benefits for plants to overcome stress conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculum, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and saline-alkali effects on the growth and physiology of tall fescue (Festuca elata "Crossfire II"). Treatments included AMF-inoculation, and non-AMF inoculation, four MeJA application concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L), and two saline-alkali levels (0 and 200 mmol/L). The results showed that AMF inoculation significantly enhanced saline-alkali resistance of the plants, and the beneficial effects were increased by MeJA at a concentration of 50 mg/L (50 MeJA) and decreased by MeJA at a concentration both of 100 (100 MeJA) and 200 mg/L (200 MeJA). AMF inoculation plants when treated with 50 MeJA accumulated significantly more biomass, had greater proline and total phenolic concentration, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration than plants only treated either with AMF or 50 MeJA. However, no significant differences in growth or physiological characteristics were observed between AMF and non-AMF plants when treated either with 100 or 200 MeJA. All of these results suggest that the interaction between a certain concentration of MeJA and AMF can significantly increase saline-alkali resistance of the tall fescue by regulating the biomass, proline, total phenolic, and MDA. Our findings provide new information on the effect of biological and chemical priming treatments on plant performance under saline-alkali stress.}, } @article {pmid36160228, year = {2022}, author = {Becchimanzi, A and Nicoletti, R}, title = {Aspergillus-bees: A dynamic symbiotic association.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {968963}, pmid = {36160228}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Besides representing one of the most relevant threats of fungal origin to human and animal health, the genus Aspergillus includes opportunistic pathogens which may infect bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in all developmental stages. At least 30 different species of Aspergillus have been isolated from managed and wild bees. Some efficient behavioral responses (e.g., diseased brood removal) exerted by bees negatively affect the chance to diagnose the pathology, and may contribute to the underestimation of aspergillosis importance in beekeeping. On the other hand, bee immune responses may be affected by biotic and abiotic stresses and suffer from the loose co-evolutionary relationships with Aspergillus pathogenic strains. However, if not pathogenic, these hive mycobiota components can prove to be beneficial to bees, by affecting the interaction with other pathogens and parasites and by detoxifying xenobiotics. The pathogenic aptitude of Aspergillus spp. likely derives from the combined action of toxins and hydrolytic enzymes, whose effects on bees have been largely overlooked until recently. Variation in the production of these virulence factors has been observed among strains, even belonging to the same species. Toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains/species may co-exist in a homeostatic equilibrium which is susceptible to be perturbed by several external factors, leading to mutualistic/antagonistic switch in the relationships between Aspergillus and bees.}, } @article {pmid36160214, year = {2022}, author = {Jia, P and Li, F and Zhang, S and Wu, G and Wang, Y and Li, JT}, title = {Microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of Pteris vittata and its effects on arsenic phytoremediation under a natural arsenic contamination gradient.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {989272}, pmid = {36160214}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arsenic contamination causes numerous health problems for humans and wildlife via bioaccumulation in the food chain. Phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils with the model arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata provides a promising way to reduce the risk, in which the growth and arsenic absorption ability of plants and the biotransformation of soil arsenic may be greatly affected by rhizosphere microorganisms. However, the microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of P. vittata and its functional role in arsenic phytoremediation are still poorly understood. To bridge this knowledge gap, we carried out a field investigation and pot experiment to explore the composition and functional implications of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of four P. vittata populations with a natural arsenic contamination gradient. Arsenic pollution significantly reduced bacterial and fungal diversity in the rhizosphere of P. vittata (p < 0.05) and played an important role in shaping the microbial community structure. The suitability of soil microbes for the growth of P. vittata gradually decreased following increased soil arsenic levels, as indicated by the increased abundance of pathogenic fungi and parasitic bacteria and the decrease in symbiotic fungi. The analysis of arsenic-related functional gene abundance with AsChip revealed the gradual enrichment of the microbial genes involved in As(III) oxidation, As(V) reduction, and arsenic methylation and demethylation in the rhizosphere of P. vittata following increased arsenic levels (p < 0.05). The regulation of indigenous soil microbes through the field application of fungicide, but not bactericide, significantly reduced the remediation efficiency of P. vittata grown under an arsenic contamination gradient, indicating the important role of indigenous fungal groups in the remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. This study has important implications for the functional role and application prospects of soil microorganisms in the phytoremediation of arsenic-polluted soil.}, } @article {pmid36160210, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, R and Liu, C and Xu, YD and He, W and Liu, J and Chen, J and An, Y and Shi, S}, title = {Ratio of carbon and nitrogen in fertilizer treatment drives distinct rhizosphere microbial community composition and co-occurrence networks.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {968551}, pmid = {36160210}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fertilization is the main strategy to accelerate vegetation restoration and improve the rhizosphere microbial community in the northeast China. However, the responses of rhizosphere microbial community structure, specific microbial community and symbiotic pattern to manure fertilization in grassland (alfalfa only) are not well clear. In this study, the variation of bacterial community structures in R_Manure (extracted liquid of fermented cow manure), E_Manure (extracted residue of fermented cow manure), F_Manure (full fermented cow manure), and Control (without fermented cow manure) collected from the rhizosphere microbial community of alfalfa were analyzed by the application of an Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing technique. A total of 62,862 microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected and derived from 21 phyla of known bacteria. The dominant bacteria in the rhizosphere include Proteobacteria (70.20%), Acidobacteria (1.24%), Actinobacteria (2.11%), Bacteroidetes (6.15%), Firmicutes (4.21%), and Chlorofexi (2.13%) accounting for 86% of the dominant phyla in all treatments. At the genus level, the dominant genus include NB1-j, Lysobacter, Alphaproteobacteria, Subgroup_6, Actinomarinales, Saccharimonadales, Aneurinibacillus, MO-CFX2, SBR1031, Caldilineaceae, and so on with the average relative abundance (RA) of 1.76%, 1.52%, 1.30%, 1.24%, 1.61%, 2.39%, 1.36%, 1.42%, 1.27%, and 1.03%, respectively. Bacterial diversities and community structures were significantly differentiated by different treatments of fertilization. The results of community structure composition showed that R_Manure treatment significantly increased the population abundance of Firmicutes, Chlorofexi, and Patescibacteria by 34.32%, 6.85%, and 2.70%, and decreased the population abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria by 16.83% and 1.04%, respectively. In addition, it showed that all treatments significantly resulted in an increase or decrease at the genus level. R_Manure had the higher richness and diversity of the bacterial community, with the greatest topology attributes of the co-occurrence networks. Through the analysis of the molecular ecological network (MENA), the co-occurrence networks had a shorter average path distance and diameter in R_Manure than in others, implying more stability to environmental changes. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the ratio of carbon and nitrogen (C/N) was the main factor affecting rhizosphere microbial community composition while driving distinct rhizosphere bacterial community and its co-occurrence networks. The R_Manure associated with more C/N had relatively complex microbial co-occurrence network with a large number of nodes and edges, while the microbial network of others associated with less C/N had fewer taxa with loose mutual interactions. These results suggested that organic fertilizer with high C/N can regulate the rhizosphere microorganism, while high C/N can determine bacterial community structures, specific bacterial taxa, and their relationships with the nodule size of alfalfa. These significant changes can be used to evaluate soil fertility and fertilizer management in the artificial grassland system, while the potential biological indicators of the rhizosphere microbial community will play an important role in future eco-agriculture.}, } @article {pmid36159864, year = {2022}, author = {Qiu, Q and Deng, J and Deng, H and Yao, D and Yan, Y and Ye, S and Shang, X and Deng, Y and Han, L and Zheng, G and Roy, B and Chen, Y and Han, L and Huang, R and Fang, X and Lu, C}, title = {Association of the characteristics of the blood metabolome and gut microbiome with the outcome of methotrexate therapy in psoriasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {937539}, pmid = {36159864}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Fatty Acids ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Lipids ; Metabolome ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; *Psoriasis/drug therapy ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {Metabolic status and gut microecology are implicated in psoriasis. Methotrexate (MTX) is usually the first-line treatment for this disease. However, the relationship between MTX and host metabolic status and the gut microbiota is unclear. This study aimed to characterize the features of blood metabolome and gut microbiome in patients with psoriasis after treatment with MTX. Serum and stool samples were collected from 15 patients with psoriasis. Untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and metagenomics sequencing were applied to profile the blood metabolome and gut microbiome, respectively. We found that the response to MTX varied according to metabolomic and metagenomic features at baseline; for example, patients who had high levels of serum nutrient molecular and more enriched gut microbiota had a poor response. After 16 weeks of MTX, we observed a reduction in microbial activity pathways, and patients with a good response showed more microbial activity and less biosynthesis of serum fatty acid. We also found an association between the serum metabolome and the gut microbiome before intervention with MTX. Carbohydrate metabolism, transporter systems, and protein synthesis within microbes were associated with host metabolic clusters of lipids, benzenoids, and organic acids. These findings suggest that the metabolic status of the blood and the gut microbiome is involved in the effectiveness of MTX in psoriasis, and that inhibition of symbiotic intestinal microbiota may be one of the mechanisms of action of MTX. Prospective studies in larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.}, } @article {pmid36157249, year = {2023}, author = {Liu, X and Qin, Y and Dong, L and Han, Z and Liu, T and Tang, Y and Yu, Y and Ye, J and Tao, J and Zeng, X and Feng, J and Zhang, XZ}, title = {Living symbiotic bacteria-involved skin dressing to combat indigenous pathogens for microbiome-based biotherapy toward atopic dermatitis.}, journal = {Bioactive materials}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {253-266}, pmid = {36157249}, issn = {2452-199X}, abstract = {Many skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), are featured with the dysbiosis of skin microbiota. The clinically recommended options for AD treatments suffer from poor outcomes and high side-effects, leading to severe quality-of-life impairment. To deal with this long-term challenge, we develop a living bacterial formulation (Hy@Rm) that integrates skin symbiotic bacteria of Roseomonas mucosa with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(vinyl alcohol) and sodium alginate into a skin dressing by virtue of the Ca[2+]-mediated cross-linking and the freezing-thawing (F-T) cycle method. Hy@Rm dressing creates a favorable condition to not only serve as extrinsic culture harbors but also as nutrient suppliers to support R. mucosa survival in the harsh microenvironment of AD sites to defeat S. aureus, which predominantly colonizes AD skins as an indigenous pathogen, mainly through the secretion of sphingolipids metabolites by R. mucosa like a therapeutics bio-factory. Meanwhile, this elaborately designed skin dressing could accelerate wound healing, normalize aberrant skin characters, recover skin barrier functions, alleviate AD-associated immune/inflammation responses, functioning like a combinational therapy. This study offers a promising means for the topical bacteria transplant to realize effective microbe biotherapy toward the skin diseases feature with microbe milieu disorders, including but not limited to AD disease.}, } @article {pmid36157114, year = {2022}, author = {Quaglio, AEV and Grillo, TG and De Oliveira, ECS and Di Stasi, LC and Sassaki, LY}, title = {Gut microbiota, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {28}, number = {30}, pages = {4053-4060}, pmid = {36157114}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bacteroides fragilis ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/complications/microbiology ; Escherichia coli ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation/complications ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications/microbiology ; Quality of Life ; Sand ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tracts of humans, living in symbiosis with the host. Dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance between the beneficial and opportunistic gut microbiota, is associated with several gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; and colorectal cancer (CRC). Dysbiosis can disrupt the mucosal barrier, resulting in perpetuation of inflammation and carcinogenesis. The increase in some specific groups of harmful bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), has been associated with chronic tissue inflammation and the release of pro-inflammatory and carcinogenic mediators, increasing the chance of developing CRC, following the inflammation-dysplasia-cancer sequence in IBD patients. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to analyze the correlation between changes in the gut microbiota and the development and maintenance of IBD, CRC, and IBD-associated CRC. Patients with IBD and CRC have shown reduced bacterial diversity and abundance compared to healthy individuals, with enrichment of Firmicute sand Bacteroidetes. Specific bacteria are also associated with the onset and progression of CRC, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus gallolyticus, and ETBF. Future research can evaluate the advantages of modulating the gut microbiota as preventive measures in CRC high-risk patients, directly affecting the prognosis of the disease and the quality of life of patients.}, } @article {pmid36156840, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, L and Zhou, J and Zheng, P and Wan, X and Zhu, L and Huang, J and Jiang, J and Chen, Y and Song, Z}, title = {Seasonal variation significantly influenced the stochasticity of community assembly of amphibian symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {5734-5748}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16224}, pmid = {36156840}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Seasons ; Phylogeny ; *Bacteria/genetics ; *Amphibians ; Stochastic Processes ; }, abstract = {Seasonal variation has been shown to influence symbiotic bacterial community composition and structure in amphibians. It is still unknown how the symbiotic bacterial community assembly changes during different seasons, especially for amphibians who are particularly sensitive to environmental change. We found significant differences in the composition and diversity (alpha and beta diversity) of amphibian skin and gut bacteria. Co-occurrences network analysis showed that seasonal variation reduced the microbial network complexity of amphibians from summer to autumn. The normalized stochastic ratio (NST) and phylogenetic bin-based null model analysis (iCAMP) models showed that the same result that stochastic processes was the major factor regulating the symbiotic bacterial community assembly mechanisms of amphibians. From summer to autumn, the symbiotic bacterial community assembly mechanisms declined in the contribution of stochastic processes, while increasing in the contribution of deterministic processes. Dispersal limitation was the dominant microbial assembly mechanism, followed by homogeneous selection, and then heterogeneous selection in the symbiotic bacterial community communities of amphibians between summer and autumn. Furthermore, higher niche width of the symbiotic bacterial community of amphibians was found in summer than autumn. Overall, these results demonstrated that seasonal variation influenced amphibian symbiotic bacterial community between summer and autumn.}, } @article {pmid36156083, year = {2022}, author = {Wuerz, M and Lawson, CA and Ueland, M and Oakley, CA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Suggett, DJ and Davy, SK}, title = {Symbiosis induces unique volatile profiles in the model cnidarian Aiptasia.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {225}, number = {19}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.244600}, pmid = {36156083}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Alkanes ; Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {The establishment and maintenance of the symbiosis between a cnidarian host and its dinoflagellate symbionts is central to the success of coral reefs. To explore the metabolite production underlying this symbiosis, we focused on a group of low molecular weight secondary metabolites, biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). BVOCs are released from an organism or environment, and can be collected in the gas phase, allowing non-invasive analysis of an organism's metabolism (i.e. 'volatilomics'). We characterised volatile profiles of the sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia diaphana), a model system for cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We compared volatile profiles between: (1) symbiotic anemones containing their native symbiont, Breviolum minutum; (2) aposymbiotic anemones; and (3) cultured isolates of B. minutum. Overall, 152 BVOCs were detected, and classified into 14 groups based on their chemical structure, the most numerous groups being alkanes and aromatic compounds. A total of 53 BVOCs were differentially abundant between aposymbiotic anemones and B. minutum cultures; 13 between aposymbiotic and symbiotic anemones; and 60 between symbiotic anemones and cultures of B. minutum. More BVOCs were differentially abundant between cultured and symbiotic dinoflagellates than between aposymbiotic and symbiotic anemones, suggesting that symbiosis may modify symbiont physiology more than host physiology. This is the first volatilome analysis of the Aiptasia model system and provides a foundation from which to explore how BVOC production is perturbed under environmental stress, and ultimately the role they play in this important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36155807, year = {2022}, author = {Althuri, A and Venkata Mohan, S}, title = {Emerging innovations for sustainable production of bioethanol and other mercantile products from circular economy perspective.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {363}, number = {}, pages = {128013}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128013}, pmid = {36155807}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Ethanol ; Food ; *Refuse Disposal ; *Solid Waste ; }, abstract = {Biogenic municipal solid waste (BMSW) and food waste (FW) with high energy density are ready to tap renewable resources for industrial scale ethanol refinery foreseen for establishing bio-based society. Circular economy has occupied limelight in the domain of renewable energy and sustainable chemicals production. The present review highlights the importance of BMSW/FW as newer feed reserves that can cater as parent molecules for an array of high-visibility industrial products along with bioethanol upon implementing a judicious closed-cascade mass-flow mechanism enabling ultimate feed and waste stream valorisation. Though these organics are attractive resources their true potential for energy production has not been quantified yet owing to their heterogeneous composition and associated technical challenges thus pushing waste refinery and industrial symbiosis concepts to backseat. To accelerate this industrial vision, the novel bioprocessing strategies for enhanced and low-cost production of bioethanol from BMSW/FW along with other commercially imperative product portfolio have been discussed.}, } @article {pmid36155636, year = {2022}, author = {Davis, CV and Shaw, JO and D'haenens, S and Thomas, E and Hull, PM}, title = {Photosymbiont associations persisted in planktic foraminifera during early Eocene hyperthermals at Shatsky Rise (Pacific Ocean).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {e0267636}, pmid = {36155636}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carbon Isotopes ; *Foraminifera ; Global Warming ; Pacific Ocean ; }, abstract = {Understanding the sensitivity of species-level responses to long-term warming will become increasingly important as we look towards a warmer future. Here, we examine photosymbiont associations in planktic foraminifera at Shatsky Rise (ODP Site 1209, Pacific Ocean) across periods of global warming of differing magnitude and duration. We compare published data from the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; ~55.9 Ma) with data from the less intense Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2; ~54.0 Ma), and H2 events (~53.9 Ma). We use a positive relationship between test size and carbon isotope value (size-δ13C) in foraminifera shells as a proxy for photosymbiosis in Morozovella subbotinae and Acarinina soldadoensis, and find no change in photosymbiont associations during the less intense warming events, in contrast with PETM records indicating a shift in symbiosis in A. soldadoensis (but not M. subbotinae). Declines in abundance and differing preservation potential of the asymbiotic species Subbotina roesnaesensis along with sediment mixing likely account for diminished differences in δ13C between symbiotic and asymbiotic species from the PETM and ETM2. We therefore conclude that photosymbiont associations were maintained in both A. soldadoensis and M. subbotinae across ETM2 and H2. Our findings support one or both of the hypotheses that 1) changing symbiotic associations in response to warming during the PETM allowed A. soldadoensis and perhaps other acarininids to thrive through subsequent hyperthermals or 2) some critical environmental threshold value was not reached in these less intense hyperthermals.}, } @article {pmid36153133, year = {2022}, author = {Bagliani, G and Leonelli, FM and De Ponti, R}, title = {Atrial Flutter and Precision Electrocardiology: An Indissoluble Symbiosis.}, journal = {Cardiac electrophysiology clinics}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {xiii-xiv}, doi = {10.1016/j.ccep.2022.07.005}, pmid = {36153133}, issn = {1877-9190}, mesh = {*Atrial Fibrillation ; *Atrial Flutter ; *Catheter Ablation ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid36152611, year = {2022}, author = {Shang, JY and Zhang, P and Jia, YW and Lu, YN and Wu, Y and Ji, S and Chen, L and Wang, ET and Chen, WX and Sui, XH}, title = {Coordinated regulation of symbiotic adaptation by NodD proteins and NolA in the type I peanut bradyrhizobial strain Bradyrhizobium zhanjiangense CCBAU51778.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {265}, number = {}, pages = {127188}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127188}, pmid = {36152611}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Type I peanut bradyrhizobial strains can establish efficient symbiosis in contrast to symbiotic incompatibility induced by type II strains with mung bean. The notable distinction in the two kinds of key symbiosis-related regulators nolA and nodD close to the nodABCSUIJ operon region between these two types of peanut bradyrhizobia was found. Therefore, we determined whether NolA and NodD proteins regulate the symbiotic adaptations of type I strains to different hosts. We found that NodD1-NolA synergistically regulated the symbiosis between the type I strain Bradyrhizobium zhanjiangense CCBAU51778 and mung bean, and NodD1-NodD2 jointly regulated nodulation ability. In contrast, NodD1-NolA coordinately regulated nodulation ability in the CCBAU51778-peanut symbiosis. Meanwhile, NodD1 and NolA collectively contributes to competitive nodule colonization of CCBAU51778 on both hosts. The Fucosylated Nod factors and intact type 3 secretion system (T3SS), rather than extra nodD2 and full-length nolA, were critical for effective symbiosis with mung bean. Unexpectedly, T3SS-related genes were activated by NodD2 but not NodD1. Compared to NodD1 and NodD2, NolA predominantly inhibits exopolysaccharide production by promoting exoR expression. Importantly, this is the first report that NolA regulates rhizobial T3SS-related genes. The coordinated regulation and integration of different gene networks to fine-tune the expression of symbiosis-related genes and other accessory genes by NodD1-NolA might be required for CCBAU51778 to efficiently nodulate peanut. This study shed new light on our understanding of the regulatory roles of NolA and NodD proteins in symbiotic adaptation, highlighting the sophisticated gene networks dominated by NodD1-NolA.}, } @article {pmid36151948, year = {2023}, author = {Jardinaud, MF and Carrere, S and Gourion, B and Gamas, P}, title = {Symbiotic Nodule Development and Efficiency in the Medicago truncatula Mtefd-1 Mutant Is Highly Dependent on Sinorhizobium Strains.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {27-42}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcac134}, pmid = {36151948}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; *Sinorhizobium/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) can play a key role in agroecosystems to reduce the negative impact of nitrogen fertilizers. Its efficiency is strongly affected by the combination of bacterial and plant genotypes, but the mechanisms responsible for the differences in the efficiency of rhizobium strains are not well documented. In Medicago truncatula, SNF has been mostly studied using model systems, such as M. truncatula A17 in interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti Sm2011. Here we analyzed both the wild-type (wt) A17 and the Mtefd-1 mutant in interaction with five S. meliloti and two Sinorhizobium medicae strains. ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR REQUIRED FOR NODULE DIFFERENTIATION (MtEFD) encodes a transcription factor, which contributes to the control of nodule number and differentiation in M. truncatula. We found that, in contrast to Sm2011, four strains induce functional (Fix+) nodules in Mtefd-1, although less efficient for SNF than in wt A17. In contrast, the Mtefd-1 hypernodulation phenotype is not strain-dependent. We compared the plant nodule transcriptomes in response to SmBL225C, a highly efficient strain with A17, versus Sm2011, in wt and Mtefd-1 backgrounds. This revealed faster nodule development with SmBL225C and early nodule senescence with Sm2011. These RNA sequencing analyses allowed us to identify candidate plant factors that could drive the differential nodule phenotype. In conclusion, this work shows the value of having a set of rhizobium strains to fully evaluate the biological importance of a plant symbiotic gene.}, } @article {pmid36151874, year = {2022}, author = {Cook, J and Prinz, M}, title = {Regulation of microglial physiology by the microbiota.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2125739}, pmid = {36151874}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Mammals ; *Microbiota ; Microglia/metabolism ; *Nervous System Diseases ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gut contains a large, complex community of microorganisms collectively termed the microbiota. It is increasingly appreciated that gut microbes are closely integrated into mammalian physiology, participating in metabolic symbiosis, promoting immune function and signaling to a wide variety of distant cells, including the brain, via circulating metabolites. Recent advances indicate that microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, are influenced by microbial metabolites at all stages of life, under both physiological and pathological conditions. The pathways by which microbiota regulate microglial function are therefore of interest for investigating links between neurological disorders and gut microbiome changes. In this review, we discuss the effects and mechanisms of microbiota-microglia signaling in steady state, as well as evidence for the involvement of this signaling axis in CNS pathologies.}, } @article {pmid36151124, year = {2022}, author = {Valim, HF and Dal Grande, F and Otte, J and Singh, G and Merges, D and Schmitt, I}, title = {Identification and expression of functionally conserved circadian clock genes in lichen-forming fungi.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {15884}, pmid = {36151124}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Circadian Clocks/genetics ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; *Lichens/genetics/metabolism ; *Neurospora crassa/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lichen-forming fungi establish stable symbioses with green algae or cyanobacteria. Many species have broad distributions, both in geographic and ecological space, making them ideal subjects to study organism-environment interactions. However, little is known about the specific mechanisms that contribute to environmental adaptation in lichen-forming fungi. The circadian clock provides a well-described mechanism that contributes to regional adaptation across a variety of species, including fungi. Here, we identify the putative circadian clock components in phylogenetically divergent lichen-forming fungi. The core circadian genes (frq, wc-1, wc-2, frh) are present across the Fungi, including 31 lichen-forming species, and their evolutionary trajectories mirror overall fungal evolution. Comparative analyses of the clock genes indicate conserved domain architecture among lichen- and non-lichen-forming taxa. We used RT-qPCR to examine the core circadian loop of two unrelated lichen-forming fungi, Umbilicaria pustulata (Lecanoromycetes) and Dermatocarpon miniatum (Eurotiomycetes), to determine that the putative frq gene is activated in a light-dependent manner similar to the model fungus Neurospora crassa. Together, these results demonstrate that lichen-forming fungi retain functional light-responsive mechanisms, including a functioning circadian clock. Our findings provide a stepping stone into investigating the circadian clock in the lichen symbiosis, e.g. its role in adaptation, and in synchronizing the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid36149959, year = {2022}, author = {Salazar, OR and N Arun, P and Cui, G and Bay, LK and van Oppen, MJH and Webster, NS and Aranda, M}, title = {The coral Acropora loripes genome reveals an alternative pathway for cysteine biosynthesis in animals.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {38}, pages = {eabq0304}, pmid = {36149959}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase/genetics ; Cysteine/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Genome ; Mammals/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The metabolic capabilities of animals have been derived from well-studied model organisms and are generally considered to be well understood. In animals, cysteine is an important amino acid thought to be exclusively synthesized through the transsulfuration pathway. Corals of the genus Acropora have lost cystathionine β-synthase, a key enzyme of the transsulfuration pathway, and it was proposed that Acropora relies on the symbiosis with dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae for the acquisition of cysteine. Here, we identify the existence of an alternative pathway for cysteine biosynthesis in animals through the analysis of the genome of the coral Acropora loripes. We demonstrate that these coral proteins are functional and synthesize cysteine in vivo, exhibiting previously unrecognized metabolic capabilities of animals. This pathway is also present in most animals but absent in mammals, arthropods, and nematodes, precisely the groups where most of the animal model organisms belong to, highlighting the risks of generalizing findings from model organisms.}, } @article {pmid36147244, year = {2022}, author = {Sehar, S and Feng, Q and Adil, MF and Sahito, FS and Ibrahim, Z and Baloch, DM and Ullah, N and Ouyang, Y and Guo, Y and Shamsi, IH}, title = {Tandem application of endophytic fungus Serendipita indica and phosphorus synergistically recuperate arsenic induced stress in rice.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {982668}, pmid = {36147244}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the context of eco-sustainable acquisition of food security, arsenic (As) acts as a deterring factor, which easily infiltrates our food chain via plant uptake. Therefore, devising climate-smart strategies becomes exigent for minimizing the imposed risks. Pertinently, Serendipita indica (S. indica) is well reputed for its post-symbiotic stress alleviatory and phyto-promotive potential. Management of phosphorus (P) is acclaimed for mitigating arsenic toxicity in plants by inhibiting the uptake of As molecules due to the competitive cationic exchange in the rhizosphere. The current study was designed to investigate the tandem effects of S. indica and P in combating As toxicity employing two rice genotypes, i.e., Guodao-6 (GD-6; As-sensitive genotype) and Zhongzhe You-1 (ZZY-1; As-tolerant genotype). After successful fungal colonization, alone and combined arsenic (10 μ M L[-1]) and phosphorus (50 μ M L[-1]) treatments were applied. Results displayed that the recuperating effects of combined S. indica and P treatment were indeed much profound than their alone treatments; however, most of the beneficial influences were harnessed by ZZY-1 in comparison with GD-6. Distinct genotypic differences were observed for antioxidant enzyme activities, which were induced slightly higher in S. indica-colonized ZZY-1 plants, with or without additional P, as compared to GD-6. Ultrastructure images of root and shoot exhibited ravages of As in the form of chloroplasts-, nuclei-and cell wall-damage with enlarged vacuole area, mellowed mostly by the combined treatment of S. indica and P in both genotypes. Gene expression of PHTs family transporters was regulated at different levels in almost all treatments across genotypes. Conclusively, the results of this study validated the promising role of S. indica and additional P in mitigating As stress, albeit corroborated that the extent of relevant benefit exploitation is highly genotype-dependent. Verily, unlocking the potential of nature-friendly solutions will mend the anthropogenic damage already been done to our environment.}, } @article {pmid36145830, year = {2022}, author = {Jing, M and Shi, Z and Zhang, M and Zhang, M and Wang, X}, title = {Nitrogen and Phosphorus of Plants Associated with Arbuscular and Ectomycorrhizas Are Differentially Influenced by Drought.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36145830}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the most important functional traits in plants which affect biogeochemical cycles. As the most widely observed plant−fungus mutualistic symbiosis, mycorrhiza plays a vital role in regulating plant growth. There are different types of mycorrhiza with various ecological functions in nature. Drought, as a frequent environmental stress, has been paid more and more attention due to its influence on plant growth. Numerous studies have confirmed that drought affects the concentration of N and P in plants, but few studies involve different mycorrhizal types of plants. In this study, the differences of N and P between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) plants under different drought patterns, drought duration and cultivation conditions were explored based on a dataset by a meta-analysis. Drought stress (DS) showed negative effects on AM plant N (−7.15%) and AM plant P (−13.87%), and a positive effect on AM plant N:P ratio (+8.01%). Drought significantly increased N and the N:P ratio of ECM plants by 1.58% and 3.58%, respectively, and decreased P of ECM plants by −2.00%. Short-term drought (<30 d) reduces more N and P than long-term drought (<30 d) in AM plant species. The duration of drought did not change the N concentration of ECM plant N, while short-term drought reduced ECM plant P. The effects of N and P on DS also varied with different planting conditions and functional groups between AM and ECM plants. Therefore, mycorrhizal effects and stoichiometry of N and P play a key role in plant response to drought. So mycorrhizal effects should be considered when studying plant responses to drought stress.}, } @article {pmid36145816, year = {2022}, author = {Belimov, AA and Shaposhnikov, AI and Azarova, TS and Syrova, DS and Kitaeva, AB and Ulyanich, PS and Yuzikhin, OS and Sekste, EA and Safronova, VI and Vishnyakova, MA and Tsyganov, VE and Tikhonovich, II}, title = {Rhizobacteria Mitigate the Negative Effect of Aluminum on Pea Growth by Immobilizing the Toxicant and Modulating Root Exudation.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36145816}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {High soil acidity is one of the main unfavorable soil factors that inhibit the growth and mineral nutrition of plants. This is largely due to the toxicity of aluminum (Al), the mobility of which increases significantly in acidic soils. Symbiotic microorganisms have a wide range of beneficial properties for plants, protecting them against abiotic stress factors. This report describes the mechanisms of positive effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens SPB2137 on four pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes grown in hydroponics and treated with 80 µM AlCl3. In batch culture, the bacteria produced auxins, possessed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, alkalized the medium and immobilized Al, forming biofilm-like structures and insoluble phosphates. Inoculation with Ps. fluorescens SPB2137 increased root and/or shoot biomass of Al-treated plants. The bacteria alkalized the nutrient solution and transferred Al from the solution to the residue, which contained phosphorus that was exuded by roots. As a result, the Al concentration in roots decreased, while the amount of precipitated Al correlated negatively with its concentration in the solution, positively with the solution pH and negatively with Al concentration in roots and shoots. Treatment with Al induced root exudation of organic acids, amino acids and sugars. The bacteria modulated root exudation via utilization and/or stimulation processes. The effects of Al and bacteria on plants varied depending on pea genotype, but all the effects had a positive direction and the variability was mostly quantitative. Thus, Ps. fluorescens SPB2137 improved the Al tolerance of pea due to immobilization and exclusion of toxicants from the root zone.}, } @article {pmid36145739, year = {2022}, author = {Yurkov, AP and Puzanskiy, RK and Kryukov, AA and Gorbunova, AO and Kudriashova, TR and Jacobi, LM and Kozhemyakov, AP and Romanyuk, DA and Aronova, EB and Avdeeva, GS and Yemelyanov, VV and Shavarda, AL and Shishova, MF}, title = {The Role of Medicago lupulina Interaction with Rhizophagus irregularis in the Determination of Root Metabolome at Early Stages of AM Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36145739}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The nature of plant-fungi interaction at early stages of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development is still a puzzling problem. To investigate the processes behind this interaction, we used the Medicago lupulina MlS-1 line that forms high-efficient AM symbiosis with Rhizophagus irregularis. AM fungus actively colonizes the root system of the host plant and contributes to the formation of effective AM as characterized by a high mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) in the host plant. The present study is aimed at distinguishing the alterations in the M. lupulina root metabolic profile as an indicative marker of effective symbiosis. We examined the root metabolome at the 14th and 24th day after sowing and inoculation (DAS) with low substrate phosphorus levels. A GS-MS analysis detected 316 metabolites. Results indicated that profiles of M. lupulina root metabolites differed from those in leaves previously detected. The roots contained fewer sugars and organic acids. Hence, compounds supporting the growth of mycorrhizal fungus (especially amino acids, specific lipids, and carbohydrates) accumulated, and their presence coincided with intensive development of AM structures. Mycorrhization determined the root metabolite profile to a greater extent than host plant development. The obtained data highlight the importance of active plant-fungi metabolic interaction at early stages of host plant development for the determination of symbiotic efficiency.}, } @article {pmid36145184, year = {2022}, author = {Clemente-Suárez, VJ and Mielgo-Ayuso, J and Martín-Rodríguez, A and Ramos-Campo, DJ and Redondo-Flórez, L and Tornero-Aguilera, JF}, title = {The Burden of Carbohydrates in Health and Disease.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36145184}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Carbohydrates ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Glucose ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Sugars ; }, abstract = {Foods high in carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet, since they provide the body with glucose to support bodily functions and physical activity. However, the abusive consumption of refined, simple, and low-quality carbohydrates has a direct implication on the physical and mental pathophysiology. Then, carbohydrate consumption is postulated as a crucial factor in the development of the main Western diseases of the 21st century. We conducted this narrative critical review using MedLine (Pubmed), Cochrane (Wiley), Embase, and CinAhl databases with the MeSH-compliant keywords: carbohydrates and evolution, development, phylogenetic, GUT, microbiota, stress, metabolic health, consumption behaviors, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, mental disease, anxiety, depression, cancer, chronic kidney failure, allergies, and asthma in order to analyze the impact of carbohydrates on health. Evidence suggests that carbohydrates, especially fiber, are beneficial for the well-being and growth of gut microorganisms and consequently for the host in this symbiotic relationship, producing microbial alterations a negative effect on mental health and different organic systems. In addition, evidence suggests a negative impact of simple carbohydrates and refined carbohydrates on mood categories, including alertness and tiredness, reinforcing a vicious circle. Regarding physical health, sugar intake can affect the development and prognosis of metabolic disease, as an uncontrolled intake of refined carbohydrates puts individuals at risk of developing metabolic syndrome and subsequently developing metabolic disease.}, } @article {pmid36144443, year = {2022}, author = {Yao, N and Wang, T and Cao, X}, title = {Epidendrumradicans Fungal Community during Ex Situ Germination and Isolation of Germination-Enhancing Fungi.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36144443}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Orchids exhibit varying specificities to fungi in different microbial environments. This pilot study investigated the preference of fungal recruitment during symbiotic germination of Epidendrum radicans Pav. ex Lindl. Two different orchid substrates were used for ex situ seed baiting: pine bark and rotten oak leaf, with Basidiomycota and Ascomycota as the respective dominant groups. Both substrates promoted seed germination, with a higher protocorm formation rate on pine bark (65.75%). High-throughput sequencing characterized the fungal communities of germinated protocorms. Basidiomycota was the dominant group in protocorms that symbiotically germinated on both substrates. The family-level community structures of endophytic fungi in protocorms that symbiotically germinated on both substrates were close to those of protocorms that germinated in vitro on MS1 medium. For protocorms, the dominant fungal groups recruited from substrates differed at the genus level; from pine bark, they were genera belonging to unclassified Sebacinales (41.34%), Thanatephorus (14.48%) and Fusarium (7.35%), while, from rotten oak leaf, they were Rhizoctonia (49.46%), Clitopilus (34.61%), and Oliveonia (7.96%). Four fungal isolates were successfully obtained and identified as belonging to the family Tulasnellaceae, genera Ceratobasidium and Peniophora, which could promote seed germination to the seedling stage. The data indicate that endophytic fungi for E. radicans germination on two different substrates are affected at the genus level by the substrate, with a degree of specificity at the family level.}, } @article {pmid36144390, year = {2022}, author = {Louis, M and Tahrioui, A and Verdon, J and David, A and Rodrigues, S and Barreau, M and Manac'h, M and Thiroux, A and Luton, B and Dupont, C and Calvé, ML and Bazire, A and Crépin, A and Clabaut, M and Portier, E and Taupin, L and Defontaine, F and Clamens, T and Bouffartigues, E and Cornelis, P and Feuilloley, M and Caillon, J and Dufour, A and Berjeaud, JM and Lesouhaitier, O and Chevalier, S}, title = {Effect of Phthalates and Their Substitutes on the Physiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36144390}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Phthalates are used in a variety of applications-for example, as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride products to improve their flexibility-and can be easily released into the environment. In addition to being major persistent organic environmental pollutants, some phthalates are responsible for the carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and endocrine disruption that are notably affecting steroidogenesis in mammals. Numerous studies have thus focused on deciphering their effects on mammals and eukaryotic cells. While multicellular organisms such as humans are known to display various microbiota, including all of the microorganisms that may be commensal, symbiotic, or pathogenic, few studies have aimed at investigating the relationships between phthalates and bacteria, notably regarding their effects on opportunistic pathogens and the severity of the associated pathologies. Herein, the effects of phthalates and their substitutes were investigated on the human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in terms of physiology, virulence, susceptibility to antibiotics, and ability to form biofilms. We show in particular that most of these compounds increased biofilm formation, while some of them enhanced the bacterial membrane fluidity and altered the bacterial morphology.}, } @article {pmid36143415, year = {2022}, author = {Parks, D and Peterson, C and Chang, WS}, title = {Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for Expression Analysis in Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria under Environmental Stress.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36143415}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Reference genes, also referred to as housekeeping genes (HKGs), play an important role in gene expression analysis by serving as an internal control. These HKGs are usually involved in basic cellular functions and their expression should remain at relatively constant levels. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) has been used to measure gene expression. Since the normalization of gene expression data depends on baseline expression of HKGs, it is important to identify and verify true HKGs for the qRT-PCR analysis. The goal of this study is to identify and confirm HKGs in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, a nitrogen fixing bacterium which forms a symbiotic relationship with soybean. By revealing such HKGs, the normalization of gene expression would be more robust, reliable, and consistent. Here, we analyzed previous gene expression data for B. diazoefficiens under multiple environmental conditions. As a result, we identified seven constitutively expressed genes among 8453 genes across all conditions. Their fold-change values were within a range of −1.25-fold < x < 1.25-fold. We adopted GeNorm, NormFinder, and comparative ∆Ct methods to rank the seven candidate genes based on their expression stability. To validate these potential HKGs, we measured their expression in various experimental conditions, such as heat, pH, and heavy metal stress. The HKGs that were found in B. diazoefficiens were also applied in closely related species by identifying their homologs.}, } @article {pmid36142838, year = {2022}, author = {Jo, Y and Choi, H and Chu, H and Cho, WK}, title = {Unveiling Mycoviromes Using Fungal Transcriptomes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36142838}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Fungal Viruses/genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; RNA ; *RNA Viruses/genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Viruses infecting fungi are referred to as mycoviruses. Here, we carried out in silico mycovirome studies using public fungal transcriptomes mostly derived from mRNA libraries. We identified 468 virus-associated contigs assigned to 5 orders, 21 families, 26 genera, and 88 species. We assembled 120 viral genomes with diverse RNA and DNA genomes. The phylogenetic tree and genome organization unveiled the possible host origin of mycovirus species and diversity of their genome structures. Most identified mycoviruses originated from fungi; however, some mycoviruses had strong phylogenetic relationships with those from insects and plants. The viral abundance and mutation frequency of mycoviruses were very low; however, the compositions and populations of mycoviruses were very complex. Although coinfection of diverse mycoviruses in the fungi was common in our study, most mycoviromes had a dominant virus species. The compositions and populations of mycoviruses were more complex than we expected. Viromes of Monilinia species revealed that there were strong deviations in the composition of viruses and viral abundance among samples. Viromes of Gigaspora species showed that the chemical strigolactone might promote virus replication and mutations, while symbiosis with endobacteria might suppress virus replication and mutations. This study revealed the diversity and host distribution of mycoviruses.}, } @article {pmid36142539, year = {2022}, author = {Trifonova, NA and Kamyshinsky, R and Coba de la Peña, T and Koroleva, MI and Kulikova, O and Lara-Dampier, V and Pashkovskiy, P and Presniakov, M and Pueyo, JJ and Lucas, MM and Fedorova, EE}, title = {Sodium Accumulation in Infected Cells and Ion Transporters Mistargeting in Nodules of Medicago truncatula: Two Ugly Items That Hinder Coping with Salt Stress Effects.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36142539}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Salt Stress ; Sodium/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The maintenance of intracellular nitrogen-fixing bacteria causes changes in proteins' location and in gene expression that may be detrimental to the host cell fitness. We hypothesized that the nodule's high vulnerability toward salt stress might be due to alterations in mechanisms involved in the exclusion of Na[+] from the host cytoplasm. Confocal and electron microscopy immunolocalization analyses of Na[+]/K[+] exchangers in the root nodule showed the plasma membrane (MtNHX7) and endosome/tonoplast (MtNHX6) signal in non-infected cells; however, in mature infected cells the proteins were depleted from their target membranes and expelled to vacuoles. This mistargeting suggests partial loss of the exchanger's functionality in these cells. In the mature part of the nodule 7 of the 20 genes encoding ion transporters, channels, and Na[+]/K[+] exchangers were either not expressed or substantially downregulated. In nodules from plants subjected to salt treatments, low temperature-scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis revealed the accumulation of 5-6 times more Na[+] per infected cell versus non-infected one. Hence, the infected cells' inability to withstand the salt may be the integral result of preexisting defects in the localization of proteins involved in Na[+] exclusion and the reduced expression of key genes of ion homeostasis, resulting in premature senescence and termination of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36142339, year = {2022}, author = {Ji, L and Yang, X and Qi, F}, title = {Distinct Responses to Pathogenic and Symbionic Microorganisms: The Role of Plant Immunity.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36142339}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Immunity, Innate ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; Plant Diseases ; *Plant Immunity ; Plants/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants must balance both beneficial (symbiotic) and pathogenic challenges from microorganisms, the former benefitting the plant and agriculture and the latter causing disease and economic harm. Plant innate immunity describes a highly conserved set of defense mechanisms that play pivotal roles in sensing immunogenic signals associated with both symbiotic and pathogenic microbes and subsequent downstream activation of signaling effector networks that protect the plant. An intriguing question is how the innate immune system distinguishes "friends" from "foes". Here, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the role and spectrum of innate immunity in recognizing and responding to different microbes. In addition, we also review some of the strategies used by microbes to manipulate plant signaling pathways and thus evade immunity, with emphasis on the use of effector proteins and micro-RNAs (miRNAs). Furthermore, we discuss potential questions that need addressing to advance the field of plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid36142147, year = {2022}, author = {Vladu, AF and Ficai, D and Ene, AG and Ficai, A}, title = {Combination Therapy Using Polyphenols: An Efficient Way to Improve Antitumoral Activity and Reduce Resistance.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36142147}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Breast Neoplasms/metabolism ; *Catechin/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Curcumin/pharmacology ; *Cytostatic Agents/therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin/pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; Estrogens/therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Polyphenols/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Resveratrol/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; beta Catenin ; }, abstract = {Polyphenols represent a structural class of mainly natural organic chemicals that contain multiple phenol structural units. The beneficial properties of polyphenols have been extensively studied for their antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects, but nowadays, their medical applications are starting to be extended to many other applications due to their prebiotic role and their impact on the microbiota. This review focused on the use of polyphenols in cancer treatment. Their antineoplastic effects have been demonstrated in various studies when they were tested on numerous cancer lines and some in in vivo models. A431 and SCC13 human skin cancer cell lines treated with EGCG presented a reduced cell viability and enhanced cell death due to the inactivation of β-catenin signaling. Additionally, resveratrol showed a great potential against breast cancer mainly due to its ability to exert both anti-estrogenic and estrogenic effects (based on the concentration) and because it has a high affinity for estrogen receptors ERα and Erβ. Polyphenols can be combined with different classical cytostatic agents to enhance their therapeutic effects on cancer cells and to also protect healthy cells from the aggressiveness of antitumor drugs due to their anti-inflammatory properties. For instance, curcumin has been reported to reduce the gastrointestinal toxicity associated with chemotherapy. In the case of 5-FU-induced, it reduced the gastrointestinal toxicity by increasing the intestinal permeability and inhibiting mucosal damage. Co-administration of EGCG and doxorubicin induced the death of liver cancer cells. EGCG has the ability to inhibit autophagic activity and stop hepatoma Hep3B cell proliferation This symbiotic approach is well-known in medical practice including in multiple chemotherapy.}, } @article {pmid36139775, year = {2022}, author = {Bianchi, F and Cappella, A and Gagliano, N and Sfondrini, L and Stacchiotti, A}, title = {Polyphenols-Gut-Heart: An Impactful Relationship to Improve Cardiovascular Diseases.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36139775}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {A healthy gut provides the perfect habitat for trillions of bacteria, called the intestinal microbiota, which is greatly responsive to the long-term diet; it exists in a symbiotic relationship with the host and provides circulating metabolites, hormones, and cytokines necessary for human metabolism. The gut-heart axis is a novel emerging concept based on the accumulating evidence that a perturbed gut microbiota, called dysbiosis, plays a role as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Consequently, recovery of the gut microbiota composition and function could represent a potential new avenue for improving patient outcomes. Despite their low absorption, preclinical evidence indicates that polyphenols and their metabolites are transformed by intestinal bacteria and halt detrimental microbes' colonization in the host. Moreover, their metabolites are potentially effective in human health due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the causal role of gut dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure; to discuss the beneficial effects of polyphenols on the intestinal microbiota, and to hypothesize polyphenols or their derivatives as an opportunity to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases by shaping gut eubiosis.}, } @article {pmid36139743, year = {2022}, author = {Javed, J and Rauf, M and Arif, M and Hamayun, M and Gul, H and Ud-Din, A and Ud-Din, J and Sohail, M and Rahman, MM and Lee, IJ}, title = {Endophytic Fungal Consortia Enhance Basal Drought-Tolerance in Moringa oleifera by Upregulating the Antioxidant Enzyme (APX) through Heat Shock Factors.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36139743}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Global climate change has imposed harsh environmental conditions such as drought. Naturally, the most compatible fungal consortia operate synergistically to enhance plant growth and ecophysiological responses against abiotic strains. Yet, little is known about the interactions between phytohormone-producing endophytic fungal symbionts and plant growth under drought stress. The existing research was rationalized to recognize the role of newly isolated drought-resistant, antioxidant-rich endophytic fungal consortia hosting a xerophytic plant, Carthamus oxycantha L., inoculated to Moringa oleifera L. grown under drought stress of 8% PEG (polyethylene glycol-8000). Under drought stress, the combined inoculation of endophytic strain Microdochium majus (WA), Meyerozyma guilliermondi (TG), and Aspergillus aculeatus (TL3) exhibited a significant improvement in growth attributes such as shoot fresh weight (1.71-fold), shoot length (0.86-fold), root length (0.65-fold), dry weight (2.18-fold), total chlorophyll (0.46-fold), and carotenoids (0.87-fold) in comparison to control (8% PEG). Primary and secondary metabolites were also increased in M. oleifera inoculated with endophytic consortia, under drought stress, such as proteins (1.3-fold), sugars (0.58-fold), lipids (0.41-fold), phenols (0.36-fold), flavonoids (0.52-fold), proline (0.6-fold), indole acetic acid (IAA) (4.5-fold), gibberellic acid (GA) (0.7-fold), salicylic acid (SA) (0.8-fold), ascorbic acid (ASA) (1.85-fold), while abscisic acid (ABA) level was decreased (-0.61-fold) in comparison to the control (8% PEG). Under drought stress, combined inoculation (WA, TG, TL3) also promoted the antioxidant activities of enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (3.5-fold), catalase (CAT) activity (1.7-fold), and increased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (0.78-fold) with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 production (-0.4-fold), compared to control (8% PEG), and stomatal aperture was larger (3.5-fold) with a lesser decrease (-0.02-fold) in water potential. Moreover, combined inoculation (WA, TG, TL3) up regulated the expression of MolHSF3, MolHSF19, and MolAPX genes in M. oleifera under drought stress, compared to the control (8% PEG), is suggestive of an important regulatory role for drought stress tolerance governed by fungal endophytes. The current research supports the exploitation of the compatible endophytic fungi for establishing the tripartite mutualistic symbiosis in M. oleifera to alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress through strong antioxidant activities.}, } @article {pmid36139486, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, M and Armin, G and Inomura, K}, title = {Low-Ammonium Environment Increases the Nutrient Exchange between Diatom-Diazotroph Association Cells and Facilitates Photosynthesis and N2 Fixation-a Mechanistic Modeling Analysis.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36139486}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Carbon ; *Diatoms/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nutrients ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Diatom-diazotroph associations (DDAs) are one of the most important symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixing groups in the oligotrophic ocean. Despite their capability to fix N2, ammonium (NH4[+]) remains a key nitrogen (N) source for DDAs, and the effect of NH4[+] on their metabolism remains elusive. Here, we developed a coarse-grained, cellular model of the DDA with NH4[+] uptake and quantified how the level of extracellular NH4[+] influences metabolism and nutrient exchange within the symbiosis. The model shows that, under a fixed growth rate, an increased NH4[+] concentration may lower the required level of N2 fixation and photosynthesis, and decrease carbon (C) and N exchange. A low-NH4[+] environment leads to more C and N in nutrient exchange and more fixed N2 to support a higher growth rate. With higher growth rates, nutrient exchange and metabolism increased. Our study shows a strong effect of NH4[+] on metabolic processes within DDAs, and thus highlights the importance of in situ measurement of NH4[+] concentrations.}, } @article {pmid36139327, year = {2022}, author = {Yan, J and Wu, X and Wang, X and Shang, Y and Zhang, H}, title = {Uncovering the Fecal Bacterial Communities of Sympatric Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) and Wapiti (Cervus canadensis).}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {12}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {36139327}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Microbial symbiotic associations may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful to the host. Symbionts exploit the host space and nutrition or use hosts as carriers to spread to other environments. In order to investigate the fecal bacterial communities of wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) and wapiti (Cervus canadensis), this study aimed to sequence and explore the composition of, and similarity between, the fecal microbiota of sika deer and wapiti using high-throughput sequencing. The composition and relative abundance of fecal microbiota, alpha diversity, and differences in beta diversity between the two species were analyzed. We found that no pathogenic bacteria were present in large quantities in the hosts. The dominant bacterial phyla found in the two deer species were similar and included Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes. Moreover, the deer also shared similar dominant genera, including the Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, and Bacteroides. These results demonstrate that the sika deer and wapiti share a similar fecal microbiotal structure, probably due to their common diet and living environment, but there was some evidence of a difference at the species level. These analyses provide new insights into the health status of deer populations outside protected environments and offer a scientific framework for monitoring the health conditions of sika deer and wapiti.}, } @article {pmid36138843, year = {2022}, author = {Pérez-Mendoza, D and Romero-Jiménez, L and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Lorite, MJ and Muñoz, S and Olmedilla, A and Sanjuán, J}, title = {The Role of Two Linear β-Glucans Activated by c-di-GMP in Rhizobium etli CFN42.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36138843}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) have been implicated in a variety of functions that assist in bacterial survival, colonization, and host-microbe interactions. Among them, bacterial linear β-glucans are polysaccharides formed by D-glucose units linked by β-glycosidic bonds, which include curdlan, cellulose, and the new described Mixed Linkage β-Glucan (MLG). Bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a universal bacterial second messenger that usually promote EPS production. Here, we report Rhizobium etli as the first bacterium capable of producing cellulose and MLG. Significant amounts of these two β-glucans are not produced under free-living laboratory conditions, but their production is triggered upon elevation of intracellular c-di-GMP levels, both contributing to Congo red (CR[+]) and Calcofluor (CF[+]) phenotypes. Cellulose turned out to be more relevant for free-living phenotypes promoting flocculation and biofilm formation under high c-di-GMP conditions. None of these two EPS are essential for attachment to roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, neither for nodulation nor for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, both β-glucans separately contribute to the fitness of interaction between R. etli and its host. Overproduction of these β-glucans, particularly cellulose, appears detrimental for symbiosis. This indicates that their activation by c-di-GMP must be strictly regulated in time and space and should be controlled by different, yet unknown, regulatory pathways.}, } @article {pmid36138780, year = {2022}, author = {Chitayat Levi, L and Rippin, I and Ben Tulila, M and Galron, R and Tuller, T}, title = {Modulating Gene Expression within a Microbiome Based on Computational Models.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36138780}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Recent research in the field of bioinformatics and molecular biology has revealed the immense complexity and uniqueness of microbiomes, while also showcasing the impact of the symbiosis between a microbiome and its host or environment. A core property influencing this process is horizontal gene transfer between members of the bacterial community used to maintain genetic variation. The essential effect of this mechanism is the exposure of genetic information to a wide array of members of the community, creating an additional "layer" of information in the microbiome named the "plasmidome". From an engineering perspective, introduction of genetic information to an environment must be facilitated into chosen species which will be able to carry out the desired effect instead of competing and inhibiting it. Moreover, this process of information transfer imposes concerns for the biosafety of genetic engineering of microbiomes as exposure of genetic information into unwanted hosts can have unprecedented ecological impacts. Current technologies are usually experimentally developed for a specific host/environment, and only deal with the transformation process itself at best, ignoring the impact of horizontal gene transfer and gene-microbiome interactions that occur over larger periods of time in uncontrolled environments. The goal of this research was to design new microbiome-specific versions of engineered genetic information, providing an additional layer of compatibility to existing engineering techniques. The engineering framework is entirely computational and is agnostic to the selected microbiome or gene by reducing the problem into the following set up: microbiome species can be defined as wanted or unwanted hosts of the modification. Then, every element related to gene expression (e.g., promoters, coding regions, etc.) and regulation is individually examined and engineered by novel algorithms to provide the defined expression preferences. Additionally, the synergistic effect of the combination of engineered gene blocks facilitates robustness to random mutations that might occur over time. This method has been validated using both computational and experimental tools, stemming from the research done in the iGEM 2021 competition, by the TAU group.}, } @article {pmid36138466, year = {2022}, author = {Keller-Costa, T and Kozma, L and Silva, SG and Toscan, R and Gonçalves, J and Lago-Lestón, A and Kyrpides, NC and Nunes da Rocha, U and Costa, R}, title = {Metagenomics-resolved genomics provides novel insights into chitin turnover, metabolic specialization, and niche partitioning in the octocoral microbiome.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {151}, pmid = {36138466}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Ankyrins ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Chitin ; *Chitinases ; *Gammaproteobacteria ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Oxygen ; Phylogeny ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; *Rhodobacteraceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The role of bacterial symbionts that populate octocorals (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) is still poorly understood. To shed light on their metabolic capacities, we examined 66 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) spanning 30 prokaryotic species, retrieved from microbial metagenomes of three octocoral species and seawater.

RESULTS: Symbionts of healthy octocorals were affiliated with the taxa Endozoicomonadaceae, Candidatus Thioglobaceae, Metamycoplasmataceae, unclassified Pseudomonadales, Rhodobacteraceae, unclassified Alphaproteobacteria and Ca. Rhabdochlamydiaceae. Phylogenomics inference revealed that the Endozoicomonadaceae symbionts uncovered here represent two species of a novel genus unique to temperate octocorals, here denoted Ca. Gorgonimonas eunicellae and Ca. Gorgonimonas leptogorgiae. Their genomes revealed metabolic capacities to thrive under suboxic conditions and high gene copy numbers of serine-threonine protein kinases, type 3-secretion system, type-4 pili, and ankyrin-repeat proteins, suggesting excellent capabilities to colonize, aggregate, and persist inside their host. Contrarily, MAGs obtained from seawater frequently lacked symbiosis-related genes. All Endozoicomonadaceae symbionts harbored endo-chitinase and chitin-binging protein-encoding genes, indicating that they can hydrolyze the most abundant polysaccharide in the oceans. Other symbionts, including Metamycoplasmataceae and Ca. Thioglobaceae, may assimilate the smaller chitin oligosaccharides resulting from chitin breakdown and engage in chitin deacetylation, respectively, suggesting possibilities for substrate cross-feeding and a role for the coral microbiome in overall chitin turnover. We also observed sharp differences in secondary metabolite production potential between symbiotic lineages. Specific Proteobacteria taxa may specialize in chemical defense and guard other symbionts, including Endozoicomonadaceae, which lack such capacity.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to recover MAGs from dominant symbionts of octocorals, including those of so-far unculturable Endozoicomonadaceae, Ca. Thioglobaceae and Metamycoplasmataceae symbionts. We identify a thus-far unanticipated, global role for Endozoicomonadaceae symbionts of corals in the processing of chitin, the most abundant natural polysaccharide in the oceans and major component of the natural zoo- and phytoplankton feed of octocorals. We conclude that niche partitioning, metabolic specialization, and adaptation to low oxygen conditions among prokaryotic symbionts likely contribute to the plasticity and adaptability of the octocoral holobiont in changing marine environments. These findings bear implications not only for our understanding of symbiotic relationships in the marine realm but also for the functioning of benthic ecosystems at large. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36138209, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Q and Zhang, H and Huang, X}, title = {Strong Linkage Between Symbiotic Bacterial Community and Host Age and Morph in a Hemipteran Social Insect.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {36138209}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {The relationships between symbionts and insects are complex, and symbionts usually have diverse ecological and evolutionary effects on their hosts. The phloem sap-sucking aphids are good models to study the interactions between insects and symbiotic microorganisms. Although aphids usually exhibit remarkable life cycle complexity, most previous studies on symbiotic diversity sampled only apterous viviparous adult females or very few morphs. In this study, high-throughput 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing was used to assess the symbiotic bacterial communities of eleven morphs or developmental stages of the social aphid Pseudoregma bambucicola. We found there were significant differences in bacterial composition in response to different morphs and developmental stages, and for the first time, we revealed male aphids hosted very different symbiotic composition featured with low abundance of dominant symbionts but high diversity of total symbionts. The relative abundance of Pectobacterium showed relatively stable across different types of samples, while that of Wolbachia fluctuated greatly, indicating the former may have a consistent function in this species and the latter may provide specific function for certain morphs or developmental stages. Our study presents new evidence of complexity of symbiotic associations and indicates strong linkage between symbiotic bacterial community and host age and morph.}, } @article {pmid36137987, year = {2022}, author = {O'Reilly, GC and Holman, DB and Muscat, K and Muscatello, G and Parra, MC and Meale, SJ and Chaves, AV}, title = {Characterisation of the Faecal Microbiome of Foals from 0-5 Months of Age and Their Respective Mares across Five Geographic Locations.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition)}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {22}, doi = {10.31083/j.fbe1403022}, pmid = {36137987}, issn = {1945-0508}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Horses/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A foal undergoes considerable growth and development from birth to weaning, progressing from a milk-based diet to complete herbivory. The symbiotic relationships between bacteria, archaea and fungi substantiate this energy demand by colonising the hindgut and remaining flexible throughout the diet transitions.

METHODS: A total of 70 faecal samples were collected from 14 mares and their foals across five studs in NSW as they aged from 0 to 5 months old. DNA was extracted from faecal samples and underwent amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 hypervariable region of archaea and bacteria, and the fungal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) region. The fungal and bacterial community structure was assessed using Bray-Curtis dissimilarities, and the effect of age at sampling and location was determined using PERMANOVA.

RESULTS: Age at sampling had a substantial effect on the foal's archaeal and bacterial faecal microbiota (PERMANOVA: R2 = 0.16; p < 0.01), while the effect of geographical location was smaller but still significant (PERMANOVA: R2 = 0.07; p < 0.01). The overall abundance, diversity and richness of bacterial and archaeal populations increased (p < 0.01) as foals aged, most noticeably rising between foals 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 months of age. The 15 most relatively abundant fungal species were all environmental saprophytes, most strongly affected by geographical location (p < 0.01) rather than age at sampling. There was an effect of location on Preussia Africana (p = 0.02) and a location × age interaction for fungal species Preussia persica (p < 0.01), Acremonium furcatum (p = 0.04), and Podospora pseudocomata (p = 0.01). There was no effect of age, location, or location × age interaction on the relative abundance of the remaining fungal species.

CONCLUSIONS: The faecal microbiome appeared to stabilise for most bacterial and archaeal genera by 2 to 3 months of age, resembling an adult mare. Bacterial genera isolated from faecal samples belonged mainly to the Firmicutes phylum. Age at sampling more strongly affected the archaeal and bacterial faecal microbiota than the effect of the geographical location where the horse was sampled. The lack of effect of location on microbe populations suggests that although environmental factors may influence population structure, there are distinct differences at each stage of foal maturation.}, } @article {pmid36136953, year = {2022}, author = {Vorobyeva, VM and Vorobyeva, IS and Sarkisyan, VA and Frolova, YV and Kochetkova, AA}, title = {[Technological features of fermented beverages production using kombucha].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {91}, number = {4}, pages = {115-120}, doi = {10.33029/0042-8833-2022-91-4-115-120}, pmid = {36136953}, issn = {0042-8833}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/analysis ; Beverages/analysis/microbiology ; Ethanol/analysis ; Fermentation ; *Fermented Beverages ; Stainless Steel ; Sugars ; *Tea/microbiology ; Technology ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a beverage made by fermenting sweetened brewed tea (substrate) by symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. Numerous researches on optimization of fermentation process, determination of the influence of technological factors on physical and chemical properties, formation of taste and flavor profile of the beverages, prevention of industrial product risks are due to the growing popularity of kombucha in Europe and the USA. Technological features of kombucha production are to optimize conditions for the growth of symbiotic culture and substrate fermentation. The duration of the process depends on the composition of the substrate, the ratio of tea mushroom and substrate, temperature, size and shape of fermentation vessel. The aim of the work was to generalize the results of studying the technological features of the production of fermented kombucha type beverages and to identify the factors that affect the chemical composition and safety of the finished beverages. Material and methods. Analytical research was carried out on the main databases for the keyword "kombucha". The criteria for inclusion of articles in the analysis were research articles with open access and presenting detailed technology of kombucha. Results. The technology of kombucha production is based on fermentation of the substrate and obtaining the base of the beverage with high content of organic acids, mainly acetic acid. In order to ensure microbiological safety the acetic acid concentration in the beverage base must be at least 1.2%. The high organic acid content necessitates the use of only glass or stainless steel fermentation equipment approved for food contact. The fermentation temperature ranges from 18 to 32 °C. The fermentation process is monitored according to basic criteria: temperature, pH value, acidity, acetic acid content, ethyl alcohol content, and residual sugar content. Kombucha production process is connected with microbiological, chemical and physical risks which could appear in case of using low quality raw materials, equipment and consumer packaging made of materials which do not correspond to sanitary norms, violating technological regimes, storage conditions of raw materials and ready production. To prevent hazards affecting the quality and safety of the finished product, it is necessary to control the technological process at all stages of production. Conclusion. Following sanitary-hygienic norms and technological regimes allows producing kombucha with a balanced taste and aroma, which meets the safety requirements for fermented beverages.}, } @article {pmid36135659, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, Y and Gao, S and Bai, Y and Meng, W and Xu, L}, title = {Parametarhizium hingganense, a Novel Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Species, Promotes the Growth of Mung Beans and Enhances Resistance to Disease Induced by Rhizoctonia solani.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36135659}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The mutualistic interactions between mycorrhizae and plants first occurred along with the terrestrialization of plants. The majority of vascular plants are in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. Due to their importance to the economy and ecology, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi emerge as the most popular ones. However, the mechanism underlying the beneficial function of ECM fungi is not as clear as AM fungi. Here, the interaction between Parametarhizium hingganense, a novel fungal species isolated from forest litter, and mung bean (Vigna radiata) was studied. P. hingganense demonstrated P solubilization ability in vitro. Treatment of P. hingganense on the seeds resulted in promoted growth with enhanced P content. The hyphae of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged P. hingganense were found to surround the roots and develop between cells, suggesting the establishment of an ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Upon symbiosis with P. hingganense, the levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and gibberellin (GA1) and total phenolic and flavonoid content elevated. Meanwhile, damping off caused by Rhizoctonia solani in mycorrhizal plants was alleviated. Taken together, the above findings suggested that symbiosis with P. hingganense conferred growth promotion and priming of defense responses to host plants which should be associated with facilitated P uptake and increased JA and GA1 levels.}, } @article {pmid36135653, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, T and Chen, T and White, JF and Li, C}, title = {Identification of Three Epichloë Endophytes from Hordeum bogdanii Wilensky in China.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36135653}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Cool season grasses often form reciprocal symbiotic relationships with endophytic fungal species in genus Epichloë. In this study, we characterized three fungal endophytes isolated from the grass Hordeum bogdanii native to northwest China. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of tefA, tubB, and actG sequences, we identified them as Epichloë sp. HboTG-2 (H. bogdanii Taxonomic Group 2: E. bromicola × E. typhina). Alkaloid synthesis related genes analysis showed that Epichloë sp. HboTG-2 may have the ability only to produce peramine which is toxic to insects but not to animals. In the process of this study, we did not observe sexual structures or epiphyllous growth on leaves of infected plants.}, } @article {pmid36135510, year = {2022}, author = {Thube, SH and Pandian, RTP and Josephrajkumar, A and Bhavishya, A and Nirmal Kumar, BJ and Firake, DM and Shah, V and Madhu, TN and Ruzzier, E}, title = {Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) on Cocoa Pods (Theobroma cacao L.): Matter of Bugs and Fungi.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36135510}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Exudation of mucilage from pinhead-sized boreholes in cocoa pods was recorded in Karnataka, India, during 2021. Further investigations showed the association of scolytine beetles with infested pods. The identity of the pest, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, was confirmed through morphological characterization and sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene. We studied the predisposing factors for its infestation, visible and concealed damaging symptoms, and fungal symbionts. In addition to its well-known symbiotic fungus, Ambrosiella roeperi, a new association of yeast, Ambrosiozyma monospora, was discovered. We also traced the possible role of the mirid bug, Helopeltis theivora, in host selection by X. crassiusculus. Overall results indicated that a 'mirid bug-ambrosia beetle-pathogen complex' is responsible for the severe damage to cocoa pods in South India.}, } @article {pmid36135473, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, H and Lei, L and Chen, W and Chi, X and Han, K and Wang, Y and Ma, L and Liu, Z and Xu, B}, title = {The Comparison of Antioxidant Performance, Immune Performance, IIS Activity and Gut Microbiota Composition between Queen and Worker Bees Revealed the Mechanism of Different Lifespan of Female Casts in the Honeybee.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36135473}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Queen bees and worker bees both develop from fertilized eggs, whereas queens live longer than workers. The mechanism of this phenomenon is worth exploring. Antioxidant capacity, immune and IIS are the conserved mechanisms of aging. The importance of gut bacteria for health prompted us to connect with bee aging. Therefore, the differences of antioxidant, immune, IIS and gut microflora between queen and worker bees were compared to find potential mechanisms of queens' longevity. The results showed queens had stronger antioxidant capacity and lower immune pathway and IIS activity than workers. The higher expression level of catalase and SOD1/2 in queens resulted in the stronger ROS scavenging ability, which leads to the lower ROS level and the reduced accumulation of oxidative damage products in queens. The lower IMD expression and higher antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) expressions in queens suggested that queens maintain lower immune pathway activity and stronger immune capacity than workers. Gut bacteria composition analysis indicated that queens had supernal Acetobacteraceae (notably Commensalibacter and Bombella), Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium over workers. In conclusion, antioxidant, immune, IIS, and gut symbiotic bacteria all contribute to the longevity of queens. This study provides more insights into revealing the mechanisms of queens' longevity.}, } @article {pmid36135151, year = {2022}, author = {Zaura, E}, title = {A Commentary on the Potential Use of Oral Microbiome in Prediction, Diagnosis or Prognostics of a Distant Pathology.}, journal = {Dentistry journal}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36135151}, issn = {2304-6767}, abstract = {In health, the oral microbiome is in balance with its host. If this balance is lost, this symbiosis is replaced by dysbiotic microbial communities, which are thought to affect the rest of the body either directly or via metabolites or pro-inflammatory molecules. The association of oral microbiome with general health has led to attempts to use oral microbial biomarkers for the prediction, diagnosis or prognosis of distant pathologies such as colorectal carcinoma or pancreatic cancer. These attempts however have no chance to succeed if the complexity of the oral ecosystem and the interplay of environmental, behavioral and biological factors is not taken into account. Standardized, well-documented oral sample collection procedures together with detailed clinical oral examination and behavioral data are the prerequisites for the successful evaluation of the oral microbiome as a potential biomarker for distant pathologies.}, } @article {pmid36133177, year = {2022}, author = {Villegas-Plazas, M and Villamil, L and Martínez-Silva, MA and González-Jiménez, T and Salazar, M and Güiza, L and Mendoza, M and Junca, H}, title = {Microbiome composition and autochthonous probiotics from contrasting probiosis/dysbiosis states in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fish epitheliocystis.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {8}, pages = {acmi000405}, pmid = {36133177}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Microbiome components and bacterial isolates related to healthy and epitheliocystis states in aquaculture cycles of cobia fish were studied. We detected well-defined 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequence variants showing differential abundance in healthy or diseased cycles. Isolation trials were performed, and experimental tests were used to determine probiotic potential of the bacterial strains obtained from water, tissues or live food used in this aquaculture model. The taxonomic affiliation of these strains was cross-compared against microbiome components, finding that some of them had close or identical affiliation to the abundant types found in healthy cycles. Strains belonging to the groups already identified as predominant by culture-independent means were screened as potential probiotics based on desirable activities such as antagonism and antibiosis against marine pathogenic bacteria, quorum quenching, bile acid resistance, antibiotic sensitivity and enzymatic activities for improved nutrient digestion. We have also found that in the tracking of microbiome composition across different developmental stages of cobia, healthy cycles exhibited a consistent high relative abundance of a Mesobacillus sp., while in the diseased cycle the emergence of a Vibrio sp. was observed. Our study suggests that epithelocystis in cobia is associated with a displacement of a symbiotic microbiome community linked to the increase frequency of Vibrio species.}, } @article {pmid36131675, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, T and Cheng, KK and Cai, ZH and Zhou, J}, title = {[Research advances in communication interactions among the symbionts of "bacteria-zooxanthellae-coral"].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {33}, number = {9}, pages = {2572-2584}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202209.031}, pmid = {36131675}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bacteria ; Communication ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Lipids ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {"Bacteria-zooxanthellae-coral" is a pair of typical triangular relationships in the marine ecosystem. There are complex flows of material, information, and energy in this system. The balance and stability of the symbionts is an important guarantee for maintaining the health of coral reef ecosystems. Many studies have been conducted on the interaction of coral symbionts in the past 20 years, which help clarify the material metabolism and nutrient exchange between "bacteria-zooxanthellae-coral" and their interaction with the environment. Due to the complexity of this symbiotic system, the mechanisms of some phenomena are still not well understood, especially for the communication among the symbionts. The interaction mediated by signal molecules is the internal driving force for the homeostatic maintenance and efficient operation of coral symbionts. In this review, we tried to summarize the latest research progress by focusing on the chemical signaling molecules in coral symbiotic system, including the communications between the bacteria and bacteria, bacteria and corals, bacteria and zooxanthellae, and zooxanthellae and corals. The main signals molecules include quorum sensing (QS) molecules, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), glycans signals, lipid signals, and the noncoding RNAs. We focused on the functional mode and ecological significance of signal molecules in symbionts, and selectively exemplified microbial cooperation and competition mediated by QS signals, the interaction between bacteria and corals under the regulation of DMSP, and the response process of corals and zooxanthellae to noncoding RNAs under environmental stresses. We proposed the future research focus and possible directions, including the expansion of research dimensions, the application of new technologies and new methods, and the construction of ecological models. This work would help improve the understanding of interactions between "bacteria-zooxanthellae-coral". The exploration about the ways based on communication language would provide new ideas for the restoration and protection of coral reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36130465, year = {2022}, author = {Grassi, A and Cristani, C and Palla, M and Di Giorgi, R and Giovannetti, M and Agnolucci, M}, title = {Storage time and temperature affect microbial dynamics of yeasts and acetic acid bacteria in a kombucha beverage.}, journal = {International journal of food microbiology}, volume = {382}, number = {}, pages = {109934}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109934}, pmid = {36130465}, issn = {1879-3460}, mesh = {*Acetic Acid ; Beverages/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Tea/microbiology ; Temperature ; *Yeasts ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a mildly sweet, slightly acidic fermented beverage, commercially available worldwide, that has attracted increasing consumers' interest due to its potential health benefits. Kombucha is commonly prepared using sugared black or green tea, but also other plant substrates are frequently utilised. Kombucha is obtained by fermentation using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts, whose composition varies depending on inoculum origin, plant substrates and environmental conditions. After fermentation, kombucha drinks are usually refrigerated at 4 °C, in order to maintain their biological and functional properties. There are no reports on the fate of microbial communities of kombucha in relation to long-term storage time and temperature. Here, for the first time, we monitored the diversity and dynamics of the microbial communities of a kombucha beverage fermented with different herbs during storage at 4 °C and at room temperature, for a period of 90 days, utilising culture-dependent and independent approaches. Moreover, cultivable yeasts and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) were isolated from the beverage, inoculated in pure culture, identified by molecular methods, and yeasts assessed for their functional properties. Total yeast counts were not affected by storage temperature and time, although their community composition changed, as Saccharomyces species significantly decreased after 45 days of storage at room temperature, completely disappearing after 90 days. On the other hand, Dekkera anomala (Brettanomyces anomalus), representing 52 % of the yeast isolates, remained viable up to 90 days at both storage temperatures, and was able to produce high levels of organic acids and exopolysaccharides. Data from DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) band sequencing confirmed that it was the dominant yeast species in all samples across storage. Other yeast isolates were represented by Saccharomyces and Zygosaccharomyces species. Among AAB, Gluconobacter oxydans, Novacetimonas hansenii and Komagataeibacter saccharivorans represented 46, 36 and 18 % of the isolates, whose occurrence remained unchanged across storage at 4 °C and did not vary up to 20 days of storage at room temperature. This work showed that the combination of culture-dependent and independent approaches is important for obtaining a complete picture of the distinctive core microbial community in kombucha beverages during storage, elucidating its diversity and composition, and preliminary characterizing yeast strains with putative functional activities.}, } @article {pmid36130047, year = {2022}, author = {Torres-Sánchez, M and Longo, AV}, title = {Linking pathogen-microbiome-host interactions to explain amphibian population dynamics.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {22}, pages = {5784-5794}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16701}, pmid = {36130047}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chytridiomycota/genetics ; Antifungal Agents ; Amphibians/microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions can determine the evolutionary trajectories of host species, influencing genetic variation through selection and changes in demography. In the context of strong selective pressures such as those imposed by infectious diseases, symbionts providing defences could contribute to increase host fitness upon pathogen emergence. Here, we generated genome-wide data of an amphibian species to find evidence of evolutionary pressures driven by two skin symbionts: a batrachochytrid fungal pathogen and an antifungal bacterium. Using demographic modelling, we found evidence of decreased effective population size, probably due to pathogen infections. Additionally, we investigated host genetic associations with infection status, antifungal bacterium abundance and overall microbiome diversity using structural equation models. We uncovered relatively lower nucleotide diversity in infected frogs and potential heterozygote advantage to recruit the candidate beneficial symbiont and fight infections. Our models indicate that environmental conditions have indirect effects on symbiont abundance through both host body traits and microbiome diversity. Likewise, we uncovered a potential offsetting effect among host heterozygosity-fitness correlations, plausibly pointing to different ecological and evolutionary processes among the three species due to dynamic interactions. Our findings revealed that evolutionary pressures not only arise from the pathogen but also from the candidate beneficial symbiont, and both interactions shape the genetics of the host. Our results advance knowledge about multipartite symbiotic relationships and provide a framework to model ecological and evolutionary dynamics in wild populations. Finally, our study approach can be applied to inform conservation actions such as bioaugmentation strategies for other imperilled amphibians affected by infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid36129743, year = {2022}, author = {Weiss, BL and Rio, RVM and Aksoy, S}, title = {Microbe Profile: Wigglesworthia glossinidia: the tsetse fly's significant other.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001242}, pmid = {36129743}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases/metabolism ; Animals ; Antiparasitic Agents/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Tsetse Flies/parasitology/physiology ; Vitamins/metabolism ; *Wigglesworthia/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Wigglesworthia glossinidia is an obligate, maternally transmitted endosymbiont of tsetse flies. The ancient association between these two organisms accounts for many of their unique physiological adaptations. Similar to other obligate mutualists, Wigglesworthia's genome is dramatically reduced in size, yet it has retained the capacity to produce many B-vitamins that are found at inadequate quantities in the fly's vertebrate blood-specific diet. These Wigglesworthia-derived B-vitamins play essential nutritional roles to maintain tsetse's physiological homeostasis as well as that of other members of the fly's microbiota. In addition to its nutritional role, Wigglesworthia contributes towards the development of tsetse's immune system during the larval period. Tsetse produce amidases that degrade symbiotic peptidoglycans and prevent activation of antimicrobial responses that can damage Wigglesworthia. These amidases in turn exhibit antiparasitic activity and decrease tsetse's ability to be colonized with parasitic trypanosomes, which reduce host fitness. Thus, the Wigglesworthia symbiosis represents a fine-tuned association in which both partners actively contribute towards achieving optimal fitness outcomes.}, } @article {pmid36128658, year = {2022}, author = {Kumar, A and Lin, H and Li, Q and Ruan, Y and Cousins, D and Li, F and Gao, S and Jackson, K and Wen, J and Murray, JD and Xu, P}, title = {Anthocyanin pigmentation as a quantitative visual marker for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization of Medicago truncatula roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {236}, number = {5}, pages = {1988-1998}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18504}, pmid = {36128658}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Anthocyanins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Pigmentation ; }, abstract = {Visualization of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is the most elementary experiment in the field of mycorrhizal symbiosis. The most widely used approach for evaluating levels of AMF colonization is staining with trypan blue or ink, which is scored using the time-consuming grid intersection method. Here we demonstrate the use of an anthocyanin-based visual marker system for visualizing AMF colonization of Medicago truncatula roots. Expression of MtLAP1, a transcription factor which regulates the production of anthocyanins, from the AMF-induced Kunitz Protease Inhibitor 106 promoter, allowed the visualization of arbuscules in live plant tissues without microscopy or staining. This marker system allowed straightforward qualitative evaluation of the ram1, vpy and dmi3 AMF phenotypes using Agrobacterium rhizogenes hairy-root transformation. For the strigolactone biosynthesis mutant carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 8a and a novel mutant scooby, which show quantitative AMF symbiotic phenotypes, the amount of anthocyanins in the roots estimated by spectrophotometry correlated very well with colonization levels estimated by staining and scoring using the grid intersection method. The LAP1-based marker system therefore provides a highly efficient approach for mutant screening and monitoring of AMF colonization in live tissues by eye, or for quantitative assessment using a simple and quick photometric assay.}, } @article {pmid36127517, year = {2022}, author = {Du Toit, A}, title = {Cross-domain symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {11}, pages = {638}, pmid = {36127517}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid36125524, year = {2022}, author = {Lau, JA and Hammond, MD and Schmidt, JE and Weese, DJ and Yang, WH and Heath, KD}, title = {Contemporary evolution rivals the effects of rhizobium presence on community and ecosystem properties in experimental mesocosms.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {200}, number = {1-2}, pages = {133-143}, pmid = {36125524}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae/physiology ; Nitrogen ; Plants ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Because genotypes within a species commonly differ in traits that influence other species, whole communities, or even ecosystem functions, evolutionary change within one key species may affect the community and ecosystem processes. Here we use experimental mesocosms to test how the evolution of reduced cooperation in rhizobium mutualists in response to 20 years of nitrogen fertilization compares to the effects of rhizobium presence on soil nitrogen availability and plant community composition and diversity. The evolution of reduced rhizobium cooperation caused reductions in soil nitrogen, biological nitrogen fixation, and leaf nitrogen concentrations that were as strong as, or even stronger than, experimental rhizobium inoculation (presence/absence) treatments. Effects of both rhizobium evolution and rhizobium inoculation on legume dominance, plant community composition, and plant species diversity were often smaller in magnitude, but suggest that rhizobium evolution can alter the relative abundance of plant functional groups. Our findings indicate that the consequences of rapid microbial evolution for ecosystems and communities can rival the effects resulting from the presence or abundance of keystone mutualists.}, } @article {pmid36125280, year = {2022}, author = {Martinez, S and Grover, R and Baker, DM and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Symbiodiniaceae Are the First Site of Heterotrophic Nitrogen Assimilation in Reef-Building Corals.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0160122}, pmid = {36125280}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida ; Symbiosis ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs depend on the highly optimized mutualistic relationship between corals and Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates. Both partners exchange nutrients obtained through heterotrophy of the host and autotrophy of the symbionts. While heterotrophy helps corals withstand the harmful effects of seawater warming, the exchange of heterotrophic nutrients between the two partners is poorly understood. Here, we used compound-specific δ[15]N and δ[13]C of amino acids (δ[15]NAA and δ[13]CAA) and a [15]N pulse-chase experiment with Artemia salina nauplii in two coral-dinoflagellate associations to trace the assimilation and allocation of heterotrophic nutrients within the partners. We observed that changes in the trophic position (TPGlx-Phe), δ[15]NAA, and δ[13]CAA with heterotrophy were holobiont-dependent. Furthermore, while TPGlx-Phe and δ[15]N of all AAs significantly increased with heterotrophy in the symbionts and host of Stylophora pistillata, only the δ[15]NAA of the symbionts changed in Turbinaria reniformis. Together with the pulse-chase experiment, the results suggested a direct transfer of heterotrophically acquired AAs to the symbionts of S. pistillata and a transfer of ammonium to the symbionts of T. reniformis. Overall, we demonstrated that heterotrophy underpinned the nutrition of Symbiodinaceae and possibly influenced their stress tolerance under changing environmental conditions. IMPORTANCE Coral reefs rely upon the highly optimized nutritional symbiosis between corals and Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates. Heterotrophic feeding on plankton is key to the resistance of corals to environmental stress. Yet, a detailed understanding of heterotrophic nutrient assimilation and utilization within the symbiosis is lacking. Here, we used the advanced tools of compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids and [15]N-labeling of plankton to show that heterotrophy underpinned the nutrition of Symbiodinaceae. Symbionts received either heterotrophically acquired amino acids or recycled ammonium due to their association with the coral host. This study brought new insight into the nutrient exchanges in coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations and allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in coral resistance to environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid36125273, year = {2022}, author = {Uppal, S and Metz, JL and Xavier, RKM and Nepal, KK and Xu, D and Wang, G and Kwan, JC}, title = {Uncovering Lasonolide A Biosynthesis Using Genome-Resolved Metagenomics.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0152422}, pmid = {36125273}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R21 CA209189/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Acyl Carrier Protein/genetics ; Metagenomics ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Products/pharmacology ; *Antineoplastic Agents ; Acyltransferases/genetics ; }, abstract = {Invertebrates, particularly sponges, have been a dominant source of new marine natural products. For example, lasonolide A (LSA) is a potential anticancer molecule isolated from the marine sponge Forcepia sp., with nanomolar growth inhibitory activity and a unique cytotoxicity profile against the National Cancer Institute 60-cell-line screen. Here, we identified the putative biosynthetic pathway for LSA. Genomic binning of the Forcepia sponge metagenome revealed a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the phylum Verrucomicrobia as the candidate producer of LSA. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this bacterium, here named "Candidatus Thermopylae lasonolidus," only has 88.78% 16S rRNA identity with the closest relative, Pedosphaera parvula Ellin514, indicating that it represents a new genus. The lasonolide A (las) biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) was identified as a trans-acyltransferase (AT) polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway. Compared with its host genome, the las BGC exhibits a significantly different GC content and pentanucleotide frequency, suggesting a potential horizontal acquisition of the gene cluster. Furthermore, three copies of the putative las pathway were identified in the candidate producer genome. Differences between the three las repeats were observed, including the presence of three insertions, two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and the absence of a stand-alone acyl carrier protein in one of the repeats. Even though the verrucomicrobial producer shows signs of genome reduction, its genome size is still fairly large (about 5 Mbp), and, compared to its closest free-living relative, it contains most of the primary metabolic pathways, suggesting that it is in the early stages of reduction. IMPORTANCE While sponges are valuable sources of bioactive natural products, a majority of these compounds are produced in small quantities by uncultured symbionts, hampering the study and clinical development of these unique compounds. Lasonolide A (LSA), isolated from marine sponge Forcepia sp., is a cytotoxic molecule active at nanomolar concentrations, which causes premature chromosome condensation, blebbing, cell contraction, and loss of cell adhesion, indicating a novel mechanism of action and making it a potential anticancer drug lead. However, its limited supply hampers progression to clinical trials. We investigated the microbiome of Forcepia sp. using culture-independent DNA sequencing, identified genes likely responsible for LSA synthesis in an uncultured bacterium, and assembled the symbiont's genome. These insights provide future opportunities for heterologous expression and cultivation efforts that may minimize LSA's supply problem.}, } @article {pmid36124671, year = {2022}, author = {Brophy, M and Walker, KR and Adamson, JE and Ravenscraft, A}, title = {Tropical and Temperate Lineages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Host Different Strains of Coxiella-like Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Journal of medical entomology}, volume = {59}, number = {6}, pages = {2022-2029}, doi = {10.1093/jme/tjac132}, pmid = {36124671}, issn = {1938-2928}, mesh = {Dogs ; Animals ; *Rhipicephalus sanguineus/genetics ; Coxiella/genetics ; *Ixodidae/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Dog Diseases ; }, abstract = {Nonpathogenic bacteria likely play important roles in the biology and vector competence of ticks and other arthropods. Coxiella, a gram-negative gammaproteobacterium, is one of the most commonly reported maternally inherited endosymbionts in ticks and has been associated with over 40 tick species. Species-specific Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) have been reported in the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae), throughout the world, while recent research suggests low Coxiella diversity among tick species. We investigated CLE diversity among R. sanguineus s.l. ticks across Arizona. We detected 37 recurrent sequence variants (SVs) of the symbiont, indicating greater diversity in these symbiotic bacteria than previously reported. However, two SVs accounted for the vast majority of 16S rRNA amplicon reads. These two dominant CLEs were both closely related to Candidatus C. mudrowiae, an identified symbiont of Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks. One strain strongly associated with the tropical lineage of R. sanguineus s.l. while the other was found almost exclusively in the temperate lineage, supporting the conclusion that CLEs are primarily vertically transmitted. However, occasional mismatches between tick lineage and symbiont SV indicate that horizontal symbiont transfer may occur, perhaps via cofeeding of ticks from different lineages on the same dog. This study advances our understanding of CLE diversity in Rh. sanguineus s.l.}, } @article {pmid36124133, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, M and Liu, S and Chen, M and Chen, J and Cao, X and Xu, G and Xing, H and Li, F and Shi, Z}, title = {The below-ground carbon and nitrogen cycling patterns of different mycorrhizal forests on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e14028}, pmid = {36124133}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Carbon ; Tibet ; Forests ; Trees/microbiology ; Nitrogen ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi can form symbiotic associations with tree species, which not only play an important role in plant survival and growth, but also in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. However, the understanding of differences in soil C and N cycling patterns among forests with different mycorrhizal types is still incomplete. In order to determine the similarities and differences of soil C and N cycling patterns in different mycorrhizal forest types, three primary forests dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EcM), arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) trees respectively were studied on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Indicators associated with soil C and N cycling, including leaf litter quality, soil C and N contents, soil C and N fluxes, and soil microbial biomass C and N contents were measured in each mycorrhizal type forest. The results showed that leaf litter quality was significantly lower with high C:N ratio and lignin: N ratio in ErM forest than that in AM and EcM forests. Soil CO2 flux (508.25 ± 65.51 mg m[-2] h[-1]) in AM forest was significantly higher than that in EcM forest (387.18 ± 56.19 mg m[-2] h[-1]) and ErM forest (177.87 ± 58.40 mg m[-2] h[-1]). Furthermore, soil inorganic N content was higher in the AM forest than that in EcM and ErM forests. Soil net N mineralization rate (-0.02 ± 0.03 mg kg[-1] d[-1]) was lower in ErM forest than that in EcM and AM forests. We speculated that AM and EcM forests were relatively characterized by rapid soil C cycling comparing to ErM forest. The soil N cycling in EcM and ErM forests were lower, implying they were 'organic' N nutrition patterns, and the pattern in ErM forest was more obvious.}, } @article {pmid36121852, year = {2022}, author = {Martinez, J and Ant, TH and Murdochy, SM and Tong, L and da Silva Filipe, A and Sinkins, SP}, title = {Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Wolbachia strain wAlbA reveals Wolbachia-associated plasmids are common.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {e1010406}, pmid = {36121852}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {MC_UU_12014/8/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Aedes/genetics ; Animals ; Plasmids/genetics ; Prophages/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are widespread maternally-transmitted bacteria of arthropods that often spread by manipulating their host's reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Their invasive potential is currently being harnessed in field trials aiming to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia genomes commonly harbour prophage regions encoding the cif genes which confer their ability to induce CI. Recently, a plasmid-like element was discovered in wPip, a Wolbachia strain infecting Culex mosquitoes; however, it is unclear how common such extra-chromosomal elements are in Wolbachia. Here we sequenced the complete genome of wAlbA, a strain of the symbiont found in Aedes albopictus, after eliminating the co-infecting and higher density wAlbB strain that previously made sequencing of wAlbA challenging. We show that wAlbA is associated with two new plasmids and identified additional Wolbachia plasmids and related chromosomal islands in over 20% of publicly available Wolbachia genome datasets. These plasmids encode a variety of accessory genes, including several phage-like DNA packaging genes as well as genes potentially contributing to host-symbiont interactions. In particular, we recovered divergent homologues of the cif genes in both Wolbachia- and Rickettsia-associated plasmids. Our results indicate that plasmids are common in Wolbachia and raise fundamental questions around their role in symbiosis. In addition, our comparative analysis provides useful information for the future development of genetic tools to manipulate and study Wolbachia symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36121272, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, D and Ma, H and Zhao, L and Wang, X and Huang, Y and Wang, F and Yuan, Z and Xia, H}, title = {Mosquito-Associated Virus Isolation from Field-Collected Mosquitoes.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {186}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/63852}, pmid = {36121272}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Culicidae ; *Flavivirus ; Satellite Viruses ; Vertebrates ; *Viruses ; }, abstract = {With the broad application of sequencing technologies, many novel virus-like sequences have been discovered in arthropods, including mosquitoes. The two main categories of these new mosquito-associated viruses are "mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs)" and "mosquito-specific viruses (MSVs)". These novel viruses might be pathogenic to both vertebrates and mosquitoes, or they could just be symbiotic with mosquitoes. Entity viruses are essential to confirm the biological characters of these viruses. Thus, a detailed protocol has been described here for virus isolation and amplification from field-collected mosquitoes. First, the mosquito samples were prepared as supernatants of mosquito homogenates. After centrifugation twice, the supernatants were then inoculated into either mosquito cell line C6/36 or vertebrate cell line BHK-21 for virus amplification. After 7 days, the supernatants were collected as the P1 supernatants and stored at -80 °C. Next, P1 supernatants were passaged twice more in C6/36 or BHK-21 cells while the cell status was being checked daily. When cytopathogenic effect (CPE) on the cells was discovered, these supernatants were collected and used to identify viruses. This protocol serves as the foundation for future research on mosquito-associated viruses, including MBVs and MSVs.}, } @article {pmid36121227, year = {2022}, author = {Ramos-Tapia, I and Nuñez, R and Salinas, C and Salinas, P and Soto, J and Paneque, M}, title = {Study of Wetland Soils of the Salar de Atacama with Different Azonal Vegetative Formations Reveals Changes in the Microbiota Associated with Hygrophile Plant Type on the Soil Surface.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0053322}, pmid = {36121227}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Salar de Atacama is located approximately 55 km south of San Pedro de Atacama in the Antofagasta region, Chile. The high UV irradiation and salt concentration and extreme drought make Salar de Atacama an ideal site to search for novel soil microorganisms with unique properties. Here, we used a metataxonomic approach (16S rRNA V3-V4) to identify and characterize the soil microbiota associated with different surface azonal vegetation formations, including strict hygrophiles (Baccharis juncea, Juncus balticus, and Schoenoplectus americanus), transitional hygrophiles (Distichlis spicata, Lycium humile, and Tessaria absinthioides), and their various combinations. We detected compositional differences among the soil surface microbiota associated with each plant formation in the sampling area. There were changes in soil microbial phylogenetic diversity from the strict to the transitional hygrophiles. Moreover, we found alterations in the abundance of bacterial phyla and genera. Halobacteriota and Actinobacteriota might have facilitated water uptake by the transitional hygrophiles. Our findings helped to elucidate the microbiota of Salar de Atacama and associate them with the strict and transitional hygrophiles indigenous to the region. These findings could be highly relevant to future research on the symbiotic relationships between microbiota and salt-tolerant plants in the face of climate change-induced desertification. IMPORTANCE The study of the composition and diversity of the wetland soil microbiota associated with hygrophilous plants in a desert ecosystem of the high Puna in northern Chile makes it an ideal approach to search for novel extremophilic microorganisms with unique properties. These microorganisms are adapted to survive in ecological niches, such as those with high UV irradiation, extreme drought, and high salt concentration; they can be applied in various fields, such as biotechnology and astrobiology, and industries, including the pharmaceutical, food, agricultural, biofuel, cosmetic, and textile industries. These microorganisms can also be used for ecological conservation and restoration. Extreme ecosystems are a unique biological resource and biodiversity hot spots that play a crucial role in maintaining environmental sustainability. The findings could be highly relevant to future research on the symbiotic relationships between microbiota and extreme-environment-tolerant plants in the face of climate change-induced desertification.}, } @article {pmid36119618, year = {2022}, author = {Lucido, A and Basallo, O and Sorribas, A and Marin-Sanguino, A and Vilaprinyo, E and Alves, R}, title = {A mathematical model for strigolactone biosynthesis in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {979162}, pmid = {36119618}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Strigolactones mediate plant development, trigger symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, are abundant in 80% of the plant kingdom and help plants gain resistance to environmental stressors. They also induce germination of parasitic plant seeds that are endemic to various continents, such as Orobanche in Europe or Asia and Striga in Africa. The genes involved in the early stages of strigolactones biosynthesis are known in several plants. The regulatory structure and the latter parts of the pathway, where flux branching occurs to produce alternative strigolactones, are less well-understood. Here we present a computational study that collects the available experimental evidence and proposes alternative biosynthetic pathways that are consistent with that evidence. Then, we test the alternative pathways through in silico simulation experiments and compare those experiments to experimental information. Our results predict the differences in dynamic behavior between alternative pathway designs. Independent of design, the analysis suggests that feedback regulation is unlikely to exist in strigolactone biosynthesis. In addition, our experiments suggest that engineering the pathway to modulate the production of strigolactones could be most easily achieved by increasing the flux of β-carotenes going into the biosynthetic pathway. Finally, we find that changing the ratio of alternative strigolactones produced by the pathway can be done by changing the activity of the enzymes after the flux branching points.}, } @article {pmid36118798, year = {2022}, author = {Abdulla, M and Mohammed, N}, title = {A Review on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Recent Molecular Pathophysiology Advances.}, journal = {Biologics : targets & therapy}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {129-140}, pmid = {36118798}, issn = {1177-5475}, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel diseases are considered immune disorders with a complex genetic architecture involving constantly changing endogenous and exogenous factors. The rapid evolution of genomic technologies and the emergence of newly discovered molecular actors are compelling the research community to reevaluate the knowledge and molecular processes. The human intestinal tract contains intestinal human microbiota consisting of commensal, pathogenic, and symbiotic strains leading to immune responses that can contribute and lead to both systemic and intestinal disorders including IBD. In this review, we attempted to highlight some updates of the new IBD features related to genomics, microbiota, new emerging therapies and some major established IBD risk factors.}, } @article {pmid36118248, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, H and Liu, C and Yue, F and Yan, DH and Lu, Q}, title = {Identification of ophiostomatalean fungi associated with Tomicus pilifer infesting Pinus koraiensis in Northeastern China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {919302}, pmid = {36118248}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ophiostomatalean fungi usually facilitate bark beetles to infest tree hosts and seriously endanger the health of coniferous forests. Tomicus pilifer Spessivtsev is a common endemic bark beetle in Asia and primarily threatens Pinus koraiensis. Tomicus species have similar morphology; however, they can be differentiated by their genetic characteristics through phylogenetic analyses. To date, the 28S rDNA sequence of T. pilifer and the diversity of ophiostomatalean fungi associated with T. pilifer have not been reported. In this study, we aimed to clarify the taxonomic status of T. pilifer and identify ophiostomatalean fungi associated with T. pilifer infesting P. koraiensis in northeastern China. In total, 315 ophiostomatalean fungal strains were isolated from 62 adults of T. pilifer and 220 tissue samples from T. pilifer galleries in Jilin Province. Thirty-five representative strains were further identified by comparing their morphological and physiological characteristics and conducting the phylogenetic analysis of ITS, ITS2-LSU, TUB2, and TEF1-α. We identified nine species of ophiostomatalean fungi belonging to four genera, which included six novel species (Ceratocystiopsis changbaiensis sp. nov., Leptographium linjiangense sp. nov., Leptographium qieshaoense sp. nov., Ophiostoma piliferi sp. nov., Ophiostoma tonghuaense sp. nov., and Ophiostoma yaluense sp. nov.), two previously described species (Graphilbum interstitiale and Ophiostoma fuscum), and one undefined specie (Ceratocystiopsis sp. 1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of G. interstitiale and O. fuscum in China and the fungal diversity of ophiostomatalean in T. pilifer. The dominant species were O. piliferi and L. qieshaoense, representing 39.37% and 35.87% of the isolates, respectively. The results of this study provide valuable information on the symbiotic relationship between bark beetles and ophiostomatalean fungi.}, } @article {pmid36118227, year = {2022}, author = {Guan, Z and Lin, D and Chen, D and Guo, Y and Lu, Y and Han, Q and Li, N and Su, Y and Li, J and Wang, J and Ma, W and Qiu, Q and He, Q}, title = {Soil microbial communities response to different fertilization regimes in young Catalpa bungei plantation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {948875}, pmid = {36118227}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fertilization is a fundamental aspect of global forest management that enhances forest productivity and drastically affects soil microbial communities. However, few studies have investigated the differences and similarities in the responses of below-ground microbial communities to different fertilization schemes. The effects of fertilization regimes on the composition and diversity of soil fungal and bacterial communities were investigated in a young Catalpa bungei plantation in Shandong Province, Eastern China. Soil microbial communities were assessed undergoing three types of fertilization: (i) no fertilization (CK), (ii) hole fertilization (HF), and (iii) the integration of water and fertilizer (WF). We further analyzed the effects of soil depth (i.e., 0-20 and 20-40 cm) on the structure of soil microbial communities. Our results indicated that the diversity of bacteria (e.g., Chao1 and Shannon indices) reduced undergoing fertilization, and WF had a higher negative impact on bacterial diversity than HF. A lower bacterial diversity was observed in the subsoil compared to the topsoil. In contrast to bacterial diversity, fungal diversity had a slightly increasing trend in the fertilized environments. The primary bacterial function was metabolism, which was independent of fertilization or soil depth. Among fungal functional guilds, symbiotic soil fungi decreased obviously in the fertilized stand, whereas saprotrophic fungi increased slowly. According to the structural equation models (SEM), the diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities were jointly regulated by soil nutrients (including N and P contents) directly affected by fertilization and soil layer. These findings could be used to develop management practices in temperate forests and help sustain soil microbial diversity to maintain long-term ecosystem function and services.}, } @article {pmid36118195, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, W and Diao, L and Wang, Y and Yang, X and Zhang, H and Wang, J and Luo, Y and An, S and Cheng, X}, title = {Responses of soil fungal communities and functional guilds to ~160 years of natural revegetation in the Loess Plateau of China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {967565}, pmid = {36118195}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Natural revegetation has been widely confirmed to be an effective strategy for the restoration of degraded lands, particularly in terms of rehabilitating ecosystem productivity and soil nutrients. Yet the mechanisms of how natural revegetation influences the variabilities and drivers of soil residing fungal communities, and its downstream effects on ecosystem nutrient cycling are not well understood. For this study, we investigated changes in soil fungal communities along with ~160 years of natural revegetation in the Loess Plateau of China, employing Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencing analyses. Our results revealed that the soil fungal abundance was greatly enhanced during the later stages of revegetation. As revegetation progresses, soil fungal richness appeared first to rise and then decline at the climax Quercus liaotungensis forest stage. The fungal Shannon and Simpson diversity indexes were the lowest and highest at the climax forest stage among revegetation stages, respectively. Principal component analysis, Bray-Curtis similarity indices, and FUNGuild function prediction suggested that the composition, trophic modes, and functional groups for soil fungal communities gradually shifted along with natural revegetation. Specifically, the relative abundances of Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and ectomycorrhizal fungi progressively increased, while that of Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Tremellomycetes, saprotrophic, pathotrophic, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and endophyte fungi gradually decreased along with natural revegetation, respectively. The most enriched members of Basidiomycota (e.g., Agaricomycetes, Agaricales, Cortinariaceae, Cortinarius, Sebacinales, Sebacinaceae, Tricholomataceae, Tricholoma, Russulales, and Russulaceae) were found at the climax forest stage. As important carbon (C) sources, the most enriched symbiotic fungi (particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi containing more recalcitrant compounds) can promote organic C and nitrogen (N) accumulation in soils of climax forest. However, the most abundant of saprotrophic fungi in the early stages of revegetation decreased soil organic C and N accumulation by expediting the decomposition of soil organic matter. Our results suggest that natural revegetation can effectively restore soil fungal abundance, and modify soil fungal diversity, community composition, trophic modes, and functional groups by altering plant properties (e.g., plant species richness, diversity, evenness, litter quantity and quality), quantity and quality of soil nutrient substrates, soil moisture and pH. These changes in soil fungal communities, particularly their trophic modes and functional groups along with natural revegetation, impact the accumulation and decomposition of soil C and N and potentially affect ecosystem C and N cycling in the Loess Plateau of China.}, } @article {pmid36118190, year = {2022}, author = {Salvi, P and Mahawar, H and Agarrwal, R and Kajal, and Gautam, V and Deshmukh, R}, title = {Advancement in the molecular perspective of plant-endophytic interaction to mitigate drought stress in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {981355}, pmid = {36118190}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Change in global climate has started to show its effect in the form of extremes of temperatures and water scarcity which is bound to impact adversely the global food security in near future. In the current review we discuss the impact of drought on plants and highlight the ability of endophytes, microbes that inhabit the plants asymptomatically, to confer stress tolerance to their host. For this we first describe the symbiotic association between plant and the endophytes and then focus on the molecular and physiological strategies/mechanisms adopted by these endophytes to confer stress tolerance. These include root alteration, osmotic adjustment, ROS scavenging, detoxification, production of phytohormones, and promoting plant growth under adverse conditions. The review further elaborates on how omics-based techniques have advanced our understanding of molecular basis of endophyte mediated drought tolerance of host plant. Detailed analysis of whole genome sequences of endophytes followed by comparative genomics facilitates in identification of genes involved in endophyte-host interaction while functional genomics further unveils the microbial targets that can be exploited for enhancing the stress tolerance of the host. Thus, an amalgamation of endophytes with other sustainable agricultural practices seems to be an appeasing approach to produce climate-resilient crops.}, } @article {pmid36117869, year = {2022}, author = {de Souza, MR and Caruso, C and Ruiz-Jones, L and Drury, C and Gates, R and Toonen, RJ}, title = {Community composition of coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae differs across fine-scale environmental gradients in Kāne'ohe Bay.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {212042}, pmid = {36117869}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The survival of most reef-building corals is dependent upon a symbiosis between the coral and the community of Symbiodiniaceae. Montipora capitata, one of the main reef-building coral species in Hawai'i, is known to host a diversity of symbionts, but it remains unclear how they change spatially and whether environmental factors drive those changes. Here, we surveyed the Symbiodiniaceae community in 600 M. capitata colonies from 30 sites across Kāne'ohe Bay and tested for host specificity and environmental gradients driving spatial patterns of algal symbiont distribution. We found that the Symbiodiniaceae community differed markedly across sites, with M. capitata in the most open-ocean (northern) site hosting few or none of the genus Durusdinium, whereas individuals at other sites had a mix of Durusdinium and Cladocopium. Our study shows that the algal symbiont community composition responds to fine-scale differences in environmental gradients; depth and temperature variability were the most significant predictor of Symbiodiniaceae community, although environmental factors measured in the study explained only about 20% of observed variation. Identifying and mapping Symbiodiniaceae community distribution at multiple scales is an important step in advancing our understanding of algal symbiont diversity, distribution and evolution and the potential responses of corals to future environmental change.}, } @article {pmid36117539, year = {2022}, author = {Power, NR and Rugman-Jones, PF and Stouthamer, R and Ganjisaffar, F and Perring, TM}, title = {High temperature mortality of Wolbachia impacts the sex ratio of the parasitoid Ooencyrtus mirus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13912}, pmid = {36117539}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; Male ; Female ; Temperature ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; Sex Ratio ; *Wasps/microbiology ; Reproduction ; *Heteroptera ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wolbachia bacteria are estimated to occur in more than half of all insect species. In Hymenoptera, Wolbachia often manipulates its host's reproduction to its own advantage. Wolbachia is likely the reason that males are rare in the uniparental Ooencyrtus mirus Triapitsyn & Power (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). The likelihood of producing male offspring can be increased by giving mothers a continuous supply of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) host eggs to parasitize for 2-3 weeks, by feeding the parents antibiotics, or by rearing parent wasps at high temperatures; all variables that have been shown to correlate with depleting Wolbachia titers in other organisms. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether thelytoky in O. mirus is due to Wolbachia, and if so, at what time in development the sex change occurs. We also wished to determine if Wolbachia removal results in the production of intersexes, as in some other hymenopterans. Finally, mating behavior was observed to see if and where it breaks down as a result of the species becoming thelytokous.

METHODS: Females were collected from parental lines of O. mirus reared at 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 36 °C. The offspring of these females were reared at 26 °C, and their sex-ratio was determined. In a subsequent experiment, the parental generation was switched between 26 °C and 36 °C during development to narrow down the critical period at which changes occurred that subsequently affected the sex-ratio of their offspring.

RESULTS: The sex ratio was male biased in the offspring of O. mirus parents reared at 34 °C and 36 °C (high temperatures), even if the offspring themselves were reared at 26 °C. The constant temperature at which the percentage of males started to increase after two generations was 31 °C (10% males), rising to 39% males at 33 °C, and 100% males at 34 °C and 36 °C. Lasting more than 2 days, the critical period for the change toward a male biased sex ratio was during the second half of the parent's development. Molecular diagnostic assays confirmed that O. mirus females contain Wolbachia and males do not. Examination of preserved males and male-female pairs under a dissecting microscope showed no signs of intersex characters. Observation of the mating behavior of live O. mirus showed that males initiate courtship by drumming their antennae on a female's antennae, but after a few seconds, the females typically turn and walk away. However, a few instances of possible copulation were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized, the results indicated that thelytoky in O. mirus is likely mediated by Wolbachia bacteria. To maximize the population growth rate without generating males, the best temperature for mass rearing this species is 30 °C.}, } @article {pmid36117363, year = {2022}, author = {Gabrielle, PH}, title = {Lipid metabolism and retinal diseases.}, journal = {Acta ophthalmologica}, volume = {100 Suppl 269}, number = {}, pages = {3-43}, doi = {10.1111/aos.15226}, pmid = {36117363}, issn = {1755-3768}, mesh = {Carotenoids/metabolism ; Cholesterol ; Fatty Acids ; *Glaucoma/metabolism ; Gliosis ; Humans ; *Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Lipid Metabolism ; *Macular Degeneration/diagnosis ; *Retinal Drusen/diagnosis ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: The retina has enormous lipids demands and must meet those needs. Retinal lipid homeostasis appears to be based on the symbiosis between neurons, Müller glial cells (MGC), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, which can be impacted in several retinal diseases. The current research challenge is to better understand lipid-related mechanisms involved in retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma.

RESULTS: In a first axis, in vitro and focus on Müller glial cell, we aimed to characterize whether the 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24S-OHC), an overexpressed end-product of cholesterol elimination pathway in neural tissue and likely produced by suffering retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma, may modulate MGC membrane organization, such as lipid rafts, to trigger cellular signalling pathways related to retinal gliosis. We have found that lipid composition appears to be a key factor of membrane architecture, especially for lipid raft microdomain formation, in MGC. However, 24S-OHC did not appear to trigger retinal gliosis via the modulation of lipid or protein composition within lipid rafts microdomains. This study provided a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. On a second clinical ax, we focused on the lipid-related mechanisms involved in the dysfunction of aging RPE and the appearance of drusenoid deposits in AMD. Using the Montrachet population-based study, we intend to report the frequency of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and its ocular and systemic risk factors, particularly related to lipid metabolisms, such as plasma lipoprotein levels, carotenoids levels, and lipid-lowering drug intake. Our study showed that RPD was less common in subjects taking lipid-lowering drugs. Lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins, may reduce the risk of RPD through their effect on the production and function of lipoproteins. This observation highlights the potential role of retinal lipid trafficking via lipoproteins between photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells in RPD formation. Those findings have been complemented with preliminary results on the analysis of plasma fatty acid (FA) profile, a surrogate marker of short-term dietary lipid intake, according to the type of predominant drusenoid deposit, soft drusen or RPD, in age-related maculopathy.

CONCLUSION: Further research on lipid metabolism in retinal diseases is warranted to better understand the pathophysiology of retinal diseases and develop new promising diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools for our patients.}, } @article {pmid36116896, year = {2022}, author = {Gonçalves, VN and de Souza, LMD and Lirio, JM and Coria, SH and Lopes, FAC and Convey, P and Carvalho-Silva, M and de Oliveira, FS and Câmara, PEAS and Rosa, LH}, title = {Diversity and ecology of fungal assemblages present in lake sediments at Clearwater Mesa, James Ross Island, Antarctica, assessed using metabarcoding of environmental DNA.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {126}, number = {10}, pages = {640-647}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2022.08.002}, pmid = {36116896}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; *Chytridiomycota/genetics ; *DNA, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Lakes/microbiology ; }, abstract = {We detected the fungal assemblages present in lake sediments on James Ross Island, Antarctica, using DNA metabarcoding. A total of 132 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were assigned, dominated by taxa of the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota and Mucoromycota. The less common phyla Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Aphelidiomycota and the fungus-like Straminopila were also detected. Fungal sp. 1, Fungal sp. 2, Spizellomycetales sp. 1, Rozellomycotina sp. 1, Talaromyces rubicundus and Betamyces sp. dominated the assemblages. In general, the assemblages displayed high diversity and richness, and moderate dominance. Saprophytic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected. The metabarcoding data indicated that Antarctic lakes may represent a hotspot of fungal diversity in Antarctica. The sediments of these lakes may accumulate different fungal fragments and active fungal mycelia and their propagules, deposited over long periods of time. Lakes in the Antarctic Peninsula region are sensitive environments threatened by the effects of regional climatic changes. The abundance of sequences of little-known Rozellomycota and Chytridiomycota (Spizellomycetales) taxa in these ecosystems highlights the need for further studies to identify if they are metabolically active in the sediments and whether they have potentially pathogenic capabilities.}, } @article {pmid36116520, year = {2022}, author = {Yüksel, E and Özdemir, E and Albayrak Delialioğlu, R and Canhilal, R}, title = {Insecticidal activities of the local entomopathogenic nematodes and cell-free supernatants from their symbiotic bacteria against the larvae of fall webworm, Hyphantriacunea.}, journal = {Experimental parasitology}, volume = {242}, number = {}, pages = {108380}, doi = {10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108380}, pmid = {36116520}, issn = {1090-2449}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Larva/microbiology ; *Insecticides ; *Rhabditida ; *Photorhabdus ; *Moths ; Pest Control, Biological ; }, abstract = {The fall webworm (FWW), Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is an invasive and polyphagous insect pest of many economically important crops such as hazelnuts, apple, and mulberry. Recently, there have been an increasing number of reports about the damaging activities of FWW from hazelnut growing areas of Turkey indicating that currently existing control methods fail to satisfy the expectations of growers. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae (Nematoda: Rhabditida) families and the symbiotic bacteria they carry in their intestine have a great potential for the management of many agriculturally important pests. In this study, the symbiotic bacteria of local EPN species (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora AVB-15, Steinernema feltiae KCS-4S, and Steinernema bicornotum MGZ-4S) recovered from the central Anatolia region was characterized using recA gene region as Photorhabdus luminescens, Xenorhabdus bovienii and Xenorhabdus budapestensis. The contact (25, 50, 100, 200 IJs/Petri) and oral efficacies of the infective juveniles (IJs) (25, 50, 100, 200 IJs/leaf) of these EPN isolates determined on 3rd/4th instar larvae, and cell-free supernatants from the identified symbiotic bacteria were evaluated separately on the 3rd and 4th larval instars of FWW in Petri dish environment under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 60% of RH). In the Petri dish bioassays of EPN species, the most pathogenic isolate at the 1st DAT and 4th DAT was S. feltiae which caused 50% mortality at the highest concentration (200 IJs/Petri) and the highest mortality rate (97.5%) were achieved at 4th DAT by H. bacteriophora AVB-15 isolate. Surprisingly, the mortality rates were generally higher at the lowest concentrations and 82.5% mortality were reached 4th DAT by S. bicornotum at the lowest concentration (25 IJs/leaf) in the leaf bioassays. Mortality rates were higher in both Petri dish and filter paper efficacies of cell-free supernatants at the 2nd DAT and the highest mortality (87.5%) was reached in the contact efficacy studies when applied X. bovienii KCS-4S strain. The results suggest that the tested EPN species and CFSs have good potential for biological control of the larvae of FWW and can contribute to the IPM programs of FWW. However, the efficacy of both IJs of EPNs and CFSs of their symbiotic bacteria on larvae of FWW requires further studies to verify their efficiency in the field.}, } @article {pmid36115339, year = {2022}, author = {Chiu, CH and Roszak, P and Orvošová, M and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi induce lateral root development in angiosperms via a conserved set of MAMP receptors.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {20}, pages = {4428-4437.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.069}, pmid = {36115339}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Magnoliopsida ; Lactones/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Root systems regulate their branching patterns in response to environmental stimuli. Lateral root development in both monocotyledons and dicotyledons is enhanced in response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which has been interpreted as a developmental response to specific, symbiosis-activating chitinaceous signals. Here, we report that generic instead of symbiosis-specific, chitin-derived molecules trigger lateral root formation. We demonstrate that this developmental response requires the well-known microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) receptor, Chitin Elicitor Receptor Kinase 1 (CERK1), in rice, Medicago truncatula, and Lotus japonicus, as well as the non-host of AM fungi, Arabidopsis thaliana, lending further support for a broadly conserved signal transduction mechanism across angiosperms. Using rice mutants impaired in strigolactone biosynthesis and signaling, we show that strigolactone signaling is necessary to regulate this developmental response. Rice CERK1 operates together with either Chitin Elicitor Binding Protein (CEBiP) or Nod Factor Receptor 5 (NFR5) in immunity and symbiosis signaling, respectively; for the lateral root response, however, all three LysM receptors are required. Our work, therefore, reveals an overlooked but a conserved role of LysM receptors integrating MAMP perception with developmental responses in plants, an ability that might influence the interaction between roots and the rhizosphere biota.}, } @article {pmid36115246, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Tian, Q and Cui, L and Cheng, J and Zhou, H and Peng, A and Qiu, G and Shen, L}, title = {Effect of extracellular proteins on Cd(II) adsorption in fungus and algae symbiotic system.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {323}, number = {}, pages = {116173}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116173}, pmid = {36115246}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Cyanobacteria ; Fatty Acids ; Fungi/metabolism ; Glucose ; Glutathione/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Metals, Heavy ; Photosynthesis ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-algae symbiotic systems (FASS) are typically used to assist in the immobilization of algae and strengthen the adsorption of heavy metals. However, the adsorption behavior of the symbiotic system and the molecular regulation mechanism of extracellular proteins in the adsorption of heavy metals have not been reported in detail. In this study, a stable FCSS (fungus-cyanobacterium symbiotic system) was used to study Cd(II) adsorption behavior. The fixation efficiency of fungus to cyanobacterium reached more than 95% at pH7.0, 30 °C, 150 rpm, and a medium ratio of 100%. The biomass, chlorophyll content, and total fatty acid content of the symbiotic system were much higher than those of cyanobacterium and fungus alone. The photosynthetic fluorescence parameters showed that the presence of fungus enhanced the light tolerance of cyanobacterium. The original light energy conversion efficiency and potential activity of PSII were enhanced, indicating that symbiosis could promote the photosynthetic process of cyanobacterium. The Cd(II) adsorption efficiency can achieve 90%. The system maintained excellent adsorption after six adsorption cycles. Differential proteins were mainly enriched in areas such as metabolism, ABC transport system, and pressure response. Cd(II) stress promotes an increase in efflux proteins. Moreover, cadmium can be fixed as much as possible by secreting extracellular proteins, and the toxicity of cadmium to cells can be alleviated by regulating the metabolism of glutathione, reducing oxidative phosphorylation level, and reducing oxidative stress, thus improving the resistance to Cd(II). Meanwhile, the expression of enzymes involved in glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway was upregulated, while the expression of those in the TCA cycle was downregulated. The expression of substances related to PSI and PSII in the photosynthetic system and rubisco, a key enzyme in the Calvin cycle, was significantly upregulated, indicating that the glucose metabolism and photosynthetic pathways of the symbiotic system were involved in resistance to Cd toxicity. This revealed the response mechanism of the fungus-algal symbiotic system in the process of Cd adsorption, and also provided reference value for industrial application in water treatment.}, } @article {pmid36114944, year = {2022}, author = {Tanabe, R and Miyazawa, SI and Kitade, O and Oikawa, S}, title = {Effect of symbiotic N2 fixation on leaf protein contents, protein degradation and nitrogen resorption during leaf senescence in temperate deciduous woody species.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {200}, number = {1-2}, pages = {79-87}, pmid = {36114944}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Senescence ; Plants/metabolism ; Proteolysis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) resorption from senescing leaves enables plants to reuse N, making them less dependent on current N uptake from the environment, leading to higher fitness, particularly under low N supply. Species that form a symbiotic association with N2-fixing bacteria have not evolved proficient N resorption, i.e., they retain more N in the senesced leaves than non-N2-fixing species. However, the physiological mechanism underlying the difference is still unknown. Metabolic and structural protein contents in green and senesced leaves, as well as protein degradation during leaf senescence-a critical initial process for subsequent N resorption-were determined in four N2-fixing legumes and in four non-N2-fixers. The metabolic proteins were highly degraded in legumes and to a lesser extent in nonlegumes. Nonetheless, legumes retained more metabolic proteins in their senesced leaves than nonlegumes, because symbiotic N2 fixation improved the metabolic protein content in green leaves. Symbiotic N2 fixation did not change the structural protein content in green leaves. The structural proteins were moderately degraded in nonlegumes, and almost undegraded in legumes, and more structural proteins remained in the senesced leaves of legumes than in those of nonlegumes. The higher metabolic and structural protein contents in the senesced leaves of N2-fixing legumes properly explained the less proficient N resorption. This is an important step in unraveling molecular mechanisms of different N conservation strategies among plant functional types.}, } @article {pmid36114227, year = {2022}, author = {Zapalski, MK and Vinn, O and Toom, U and Ernst, A and Wilson, MA}, title = {Bryozoan-cnidarian mutualism triggered a new strategy for greater resource exploitation as early as the Late Silurian.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {15556}, pmid = {36114227}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Bryozoa ; Invertebrates ; Oceans and Seas ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bryozoans were common benthic invertebrates in the Silurian seas. The large biodiversity among Silurian benthic organisms prompted diversified interactions, and as a result bryozoans hosted many other organisms as symbionts. Here we analyse the cystoporate bryozoan Fistulipora przhidolensis and unidentified trepostomes intergrown with auloporid tabulate corals and putative hydrozoans. The material comes from the uppermost Přídolí Series (Late Silurian) of the Sõrve Peninsula, Saaremaa, Estonia. Our analysis shows that the interaction was beneficial for both organisms-cnidarians benefited from feeding currents created by the host bryozoan, while the latter benefited from the protection from predators by cnidae, it can thus be classified as mutualism. Such associations are common in modern seas. The analysed organisms are typically encrusting when the symbiosis is absent, when intergrown they display erect, branching morphologies, raised over the substratum, thus exploiting a higher suspension-feeding tier. While similar associations were known from the Devonian, we demonstrate that this novel ecological strategy for greater resource exploitation started as early as the latest Silurian.}, } @article {pmid36113351, year = {2023}, author = {Han, X and Wang, J and Zhang, Y and Kong, Y and Dong, H and Feng, X and Li, T and Zhou, C and Yu, J and Xin, D and Chen, Q and Qi, Z}, title = {Changes in the m6A RNA methylome accompany the promotion of soybean root growth by rhizobia under cadmium stress.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {441}, number = {}, pages = {129843}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129843}, pmid = {36113351}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {3' Untranslated Regions ; Brassinosteroids ; Cadmium/metabolism/toxicity ; *Environmental Pollutants/metabolism ; Epigenome ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Hormones/metabolism ; Humans ; Indoleacetic Acids ; *Metals, Heavy/metabolism/toxicity ; Polyamines/metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Soil ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is the most widely distributed heavy metal pollutant in soil and has significant negative effects on crop yields and human health. Rhizobia can enhance soybean growth in the presence of heavy metals, and the legume-rhizobia symbiosis has been used to promote heavy-metal phytoremediation, but much remains to be learned about the molecular networks that underlie these effects. Here, we demonstrated that soybean root growth was strongly suppressed after seven days of Cd exposure but that the presence of rhizobia largely eliminated this effect, even prior to nodule development. Moreover, rhizobia did not appear to promote root growth by limiting plant Cd uptake: seedlings with and without rhizobia had similar root Cd concentrations. Previous studies have demonstrated a role for m6A RNA methylation in the response of rice and barley to Cd stress. We therefore performed transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profiling to investigate changes in the soybean RNA methylome in response to Cd with and without rhizobia. Here, we provide some of the first data on transcriptome-wide m6a RNA methylation patterns in soybean; m6A modifications were concentrated at the 3' UTR of transcripts and showed a positive relationship with transcript abundance. Transcriptome-wide m6A RNA methylation peaks increased in the presence of Cd, and the integration of m6A methylome and transcriptome results enabled us to identify 154 genes whose transcripts were both differentially methylated and differentially expressed in response to Cd stress. Annotation results suggested that these genes were associated with Ca[2+] homeostasis, ROS pathways, polyamine metabolism, MAPK signaling, hormones, and biotic stress responses. There were 176 differentially methylated and expressed transcripts under Cd stress in the presence of rhizobia. In contrast to the Cd-only gene set, they were also enriched in genes related to auxin, jasmonic acid, and brassinosteroids, as well as abiotic stress tolerance. They contained fewer genes related to Ca[2+] homeostasis and also included candidates with known functions in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. These findings offer new insights into how rhizobia promote soybean root growth under Cd stress; they provide candidate genes for research on plant heavy metal responses and for the use of legumes in phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid36112690, year = {2022}, author = {Rinsky, M and Weizman, E and Ben-Asher, HW and Eyal, G and Zhu, B and Levy, O}, title = {Temporal gene expression patterns in the coral Euphyllia paradivisa reveal the complexity of biological clocks in the cnidarian-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {37}, pages = {eabo6467}, pmid = {36112690}, issn = {2375-2548}, support = {DP2 GM140924/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Studying chronobiology in reef-building corals is challenging due to the tightly coupled symbiosis with their photosynthetic algae, Symbiodiniaceae. Although symbiosis requires metabolic synchronization and coordination of cellular processes in the holobiont, the cross-talk between the host and symbiont's clocks is still puzzling. Here, we use the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa to examine temporal gene expression patterns in symbiotic and aposymbiotic morphs exposed to natural light/dark cycles and constant darkness. Our comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed circadian and circatidal cycles of gene expression with a predominant diel pattern in both coral morphs. We found a substantial number of transcripts consistently rhythmic under both light conditions, including genes likely involved in the cnidarians' circadian clock, thus indicating that an endogenous clock, which can oscillate independently from the Symbiodiniaceae clock, exists in E. paradivisa. The analysis further manifests the remarkable impacts of symbiosis on transcriptional rhythms and implies that the algae's presence influences the host's biorhythm.}, } @article {pmid36112244, year = {2022}, author = {Basso, MF and Lourenço-Tessutti, IT and Moreira-Pinto, CE and Mendes, RAG and Paes-de-Melo, B and das Neves, MR and Macedo, AF and Figueiredo, V and Grandis, A and Macedo, LLP and Arraes, FBM and do Carmo Costa, MM and Togawa, RC and Enrich-Prast, A and Marcelino-Guimaraes, FC and Gomes, ACMM and Silva, MCM and Floh, EIS and Buckeridge, MS and de Almeida Engler, J and Grossi-de-Sa, MF}, title = {Overexpression of a soybean Globin (GmGlb1-1) gene reduces plant susceptibility to Meloidogyne incognita.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {256}, number = {4}, pages = {83}, pmid = {36112244}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arabidopsis ; Globins/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; *Tylenchoidea/genetics ; }, abstract = {The overexpression of the GmGlb1-1 gene reduces plant susceptibility to Meloidogyne incognita. Non-symbiotic globin class #1 (Glb1) genes are expressed in different plant organs, have a high affinity for oxygen, and are related to nitric oxide (NO) turnover. Previous studies showed that soybean Glb1 genes are upregulated in soybean plants under flooding conditions. Herein, the GmGlb1-1 gene was identified in soybean as being upregulated in the nematode-resistant genotype PI595099 compared to the nematode-susceptible cultivar BRS133 during plant parasitism by Meloidogyne incognita. The Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum transgenic lines overexpressing the GmGlb1-1 gene showed reduced susceptibility to M. incognita. Consistently, gall morphology data indicated that pJ2 nematodes that infected the transgenic lines showed developmental alterations and delayed parasitism progress. Although no significant changes in biomass and seed yield were detected, the transgenic lines showed an elongated, etiolation-like growth under well-irrigation, and also developed more axillary roots under flooding conditions. In addition, transgenic lines showed upregulation of some important genes involved in plant defense response to oxidative stress. In agreement, higher hydrogen peroxide accumulation and reduced activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification enzymes were also observed in these transgenic lines. Thus, based on our data and previous studies, it was hypothesized that constitutive overexpression of the GmGlb1-1 gene can interfere in the dynamics of ROS production and NO scavenging, enhancing the acquired systemic acclimation to biotic and abiotic stresses, and improving the cellular homeostasis. Therefore, these collective data suggest that ectopic or nematode-induced overexpression, or enhanced expression of the GmGlb1-1 gene using CRISPR/dCas9 offers great potential for application in commercial soybean cultivars aiming to reduce plant susceptibility to M. incognita.}, } @article {pmid36111144, year = {2022}, author = {Janke, RS and Moog, S and Weiss, B and Kaltenpoth, M and Flórez, LV}, title = {Morphological adaptation for ectosymbiont maintenance and transmission during metamorphosis in Lagria beetles.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {979200}, pmid = {36111144}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The diversity and success of holometabolous insects is partly driven by metamorphosis, which allows for the exploitation of different niches and decouples growth and tissue differentiation from reproduction. Despite its benefits, metamorphosis comes with the cost of temporal vulnerability during pupation and challenges associated with tissue reorganizations. These rearrangements can also affect the presence, abundance, and localization of beneficial microbes in the host. However, how symbionts are maintained or translocated during metamorphosis and which adaptations are necessary from each partner during this process remains unknown for the vast majority of symbiotic systems. Here, we show that Lagria beetles circumvent the constraints of metamorphosis by maintaining defensive symbionts on the surface in specialized cuticular structures. The symbionts are present in both sexes throughout larval development and during the pupal phase, in line with a protective role during the beetle's immature stages. By comparing symbiont titer and morphology of the cuticular structures between sexes using qPCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and micro-computed tomography, we found that the organs likely play an important role as a symbiont reservoir for transmission to female adults, since symbiont titers and structures are reduced in male pupae. Using symbiont-sized fluorescent beads, we demonstrate transfer from the region of the dorsal symbiont-housing organs to the opening of the reproductive tract of adult females, suggesting that symbiont relocation on the outer surface is possible, even without specialized symbiont adaptations or motility. Our results illustrate a strategy for holometabolous insects to cope with the challenge of symbiont maintenance during metamorphosis via an external route, circumventing problems associated with internal tissue reorganization. Thereby, Lagria beetles keep a tight relationship with their beneficial partners during growth and metamorphosis.}, } @article {pmid36109937, year = {2022}, author = {Costa, GS and de Oliveira, MM and Ferreira, SC}, title = {Heterogeneous mean-field theory for two-species symbiotic processes on networks.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {106}, number = {2-1}, pages = {024302}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.106.024302}, pmid = {36109937}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {A simple model to study cooperation is the two-species symbiotic contact process (2SCP), in which two different species spread on a graph and interact by a reduced death rate if both occupy the same vertex, representing a symbiotic interaction. The 2SCP is known to exhibit a complex behavior with a rich phase diagram, including continuous and discontinuous transitions between the active phase and extinction. In this work, we advance the understanding of the phase transition of the 2SCP on uncorrelated networks by developing a heterogeneous mean-field (HMF) theory, in which the heterogeneity of contacts is explicitly reckoned. The HMF theory for networks with power-law degree distribution shows that the region of bistability (active and inactive phases) in the phase diagram shrinks as the heterogeneity level is increased by reducing the degree exponent. Finite-size analysis reveals a complex behavior where a pseudodiscontinuous transition at a finite size can be converted into a continuous one in the thermodynamic limit, depending on degree exponent and symbiotic coupling. The theoretical results are supported by extensive numerical simulations.}, } @article {pmid36109313, year = {2022}, author = {Rayamajhee, B and Willcox, MDP and Henriquez, FL and Petsoglou, C and Subedi, D and Carnt, N}, title = {Acanthamoeba, an environmental phagocyte enhancing survival and transmission of human pathogens.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {38}, number = {11}, pages = {975-990}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2022.08.007}, pmid = {36109313}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {*Acanthamoeba/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Fungi ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Phagocytes ; }, abstract = {The opportunistic protist Acanthamoeba, which interacts with other microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, shows significant similarity in cellular and functional aspects to human macrophages. Intracellular survival of microbes in this microbivorous amoebal host may be a crucial step for initiation of infection in higher eukaryotic cells. Therefore, Acanthamoeba-microbe adaptations are considered an evolutionary model of macrophage-pathogen interactions. This paper reviews Acanthamoeba as an emerging human pathogen and different ecological interactions between Acanthamoeba and microbes that may serve as environmental training grounds and a genetic melting pot for the evolution, persistence, and transmission of potential human pathogens.}, } @article {pmid36108089, year = {2022}, author = {Diallo, I and Ho, J and Lambert, M and Benmoussa, A and Husseini, Z and Lalaouna, D and Massé, E and Provost, P}, title = {A tRNA-derived fragment present in E. coli OMVs regulates host cell gene expression and proliferation.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {e1010827}, pmid = {36108089}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation ; *Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; *RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; }, abstract = {RNA-sequencing has led to a spectacular increase in the repertoire of bacterial sRNAs and improved our understanding of their biological functions. Bacterial sRNAs have also been found in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), raising questions about their potential involvement in bacteria-host relationship, but few studies have documented this issue. Recent RNA-Sequencing analyses of bacterial RNA unveiled the existence of abundant very small RNAs (vsRNAs) shorter than 16 nt. These especially include tRNA fragments (tRFs) that are selectively loaded in OMVs and are predicted to target host mRNAs. Here, in Escherichia coli (E. coli), we report the existence of an abundant vsRNA, Ile-tRF-5X, which is selectively modulated by environmental stress, while remaining unaffected by inhibition of transcription or translation. Ile-tRF-5X is released through OMVs and can be transferred to human HCT116 cells, where it promoted MAP3K4 expression. Our findings provide a novel perspective and paradigm on the existing symbiosis between bacteria and human cells.}, } @article {pmid36107197, year = {2022}, author = {Yamazaki, A and Battenberg, K and Shimoda, Y and Hayashi, M}, title = {NDR1/HIN1-Like Protein 13 Interacts with Symbiotic Receptor Kinases and Regulates Nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {9}, pages = {845-856}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-21-0263-R}, pmid = {36107197}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; *Lotus/physiology ; Phosphotransferases/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lysin-motif receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) are involved in the recognition of microbe-associated molecular patterns to initiate pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). LysM-RLKs are also required for recognition of microbe-derived symbiotic signal molecules upon establishing mutualistic interactions between plants and microsymbionts. A LysM-RLK CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE1 (CERK1) plays central roles both in chitin-mediated PTI and in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, suggesting the overlap between immunity and symbiosis, at least in the signal perception and the activation of downstream signal cascades. In this study, we screened for the interacting proteins of Nod factor Receptor1 (NFR1), a CERK1 homolog in the model legume Lotus japonicus, and obtained a protein orthologous to NONRACE-SPECIFIC DISEASE RESISTANCE1/HARPIN-INDUCED1-LIKE13 (NHL13), a protein involved in the activation of innate immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana, which we named LjNHL13a. LjNHL13a interacted with NFR1 and with the symbiosis receptor kinase SymRK. LjNHL13a also displayed positive effects in nodulation. Our results suggest that NHL13 plays a role both in plant immunity and symbiosis, possibly where they overlap. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid36107150, year = {2023}, author = {Wu, X and Wang, Y and Ni, Q and Li, H and Wu, X and Yuan, Z and Xiao, R and Ren, Z and Lu, J and Yun, J and Wang, Z and Li, X}, title = {GmYSL7 controls iron uptake, allocation, and cellular response of nodules in soybean.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {167-187}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13364}, pmid = {36107150}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {*Soybeans/metabolism ; *Iron/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Iron (Fe) is essential for DNA synthesis, photosynthesis and respiration of plants. The demand for Fe substantially increases during legumes-rhizobia symbiotic nitrogen fixation because of the synthesis of leghemoglobin in the host and Fe-containing proteins in bacteroids. However, the mechanism by which plant controls iron transport to nodules remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that GmYSL7 serves as a key regulator controlling Fe uptake from root to nodule and distribution in soybean nodules. GmYSL7 is Fe responsive and GmYSL7 transports iron across the membrane and into the infected cells of nodules. Alterations of GmYSL7 substantially affect iron distribution between root and nodule, resulting in defective growth of nodules and reduced nitrogenase activity. GmYSL7 knockout increases the expression of GmbHLH300, a transcription factor required for Fe response of nodules. Overexpression of GmbHLH300 decreases nodule number, nitrogenase activity and Fe content in nodules. Remarkably, GmbHLH300 directly binds to the promoters of ENOD93 and GmLbs, which regulate nodule number and nitrogenase activity, and represses their transcription. Our data reveal a new role of GmYSL7 in controlling Fe transport from host root to nodule and Fe distribution in nodule cells, and uncover a molecular mechanism by which Fe affects nodule number and nitrogenase activity.}, } @article {pmid36106689, year = {2022}, author = {Viladrich, N and Linares, C and Padilla-Gamiño, JL}, title = {Lethal and sublethal effects of thermal stress on octocorals early life-history stages.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {28}, number = {23}, pages = {7049-7062}, pmid = {36106689}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Life Cycle Stages ; Larva ; Coral Reefs ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The frequency and severity of marine heatwaves causing mass mortality events in tropical and temperate coral species increases every year, with serious consequences on the stability and resilience of coral populations. Although recovery and persistence of coral populations after stress events is closely related to adult fitness, as well as larval survival and settlement, much remains unknown about the effects of thermal stress on early life-history stages of temperate coral species. In the present study, the reproductive phenology and the effect of increased water temperature (+4°C and +6°C above ambient, 20°C) on larval survival and settlement was evaluated for two of the most representative Mediterranean octocoral species (Eunicella singularis and Corallium rubrum). Our study shows that reproductive behavior is more variable than previously reported and breeding period occurs over a longer period in both species. Thermal stress did not affect the survival of symbiotic E. singularis larvae but drastically reduced the survival of the non-symbiotic C. rubrum larvae. Results on larval biomass and caloric consumption suggest that higher mortality rates of C. rubrum exposed to increased temperature were not related to depletion of endogenous energy in larvae. The results also show that settlement rates of E. singularis did not change in response to elevated temperature after 20 days of exposure, but larvae may settle fast and close to their native population at 26°C (+6°C). Although previous experimental studies found that adult colonies of both octocoral species are mostly resistant to thermal stress, our results on early life-history stages suggest that the persistence and inter-connectivity of local populations may be severely compromised under continued trends in ocean warming.}, } @article {pmid36105265, year = {2022}, author = {Lockwood, MB and Fischer, MJ and Silva, K and Contreras, BN and Zamora, G and Goldstein, A and Meinel, M and Holden, C and Lash, J and Steffens, A and Doorenbos, A}, title = {Acceptability and feasibility of fecal microBIOME and serum metabolite sample collection in people with end-stage kidney disease and pain being treated with HemoDialysis: A pilot study (BIOME-HDp).}, journal = {Contemporary clinical trials communications}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {100995}, pmid = {36105265}, issn = {2451-8654}, abstract = {Pain is known to reduce hemodialysis treatment adherence, reduce quality of life, and increase mortality. The absence of effective strategies to treat pain without medications has contributed to poor health outcomes for people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on hemodialysis. It is now recognized that symbiotic microbiota in the gut play a critical role in health and disease, and new evidence sheds light on the role of the microbiome in chronic pain. The pilot study protocol presented here (BIOME-HDp) employs a longitudinal repeated measures design to interrogate the effects of a nonpharmacological pain intervention on the composition and function of the gut microbiome and circulating metabolites. This pilot study is an ancillary study of the HOPE Consortium Trial to reduce pain and opioid use in hemodialysis, which is part of the NIH's Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative. The BIOME-HDp pilot study will establish clinical microbiome research methods and determine the acceptability and feasibility of fecal microbiome and serum metabolite sample collection.}, } @article {pmid36104720, year = {2022}, author = {Ren, X and Cao, S and Akami, M and Mansour, A and Yang, Y and Jiang, N and Wang, H and Zhang, G and Qi, X and Xu, P and Guo, T and Niu, C}, title = {Gut symbiotic bacteria are involved in nitrogen recycling in the tephritid fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {201}, pmid = {36104720}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Drosophila/metabolism ; Larva/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Tephritidae/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is considered the most limiting nutrient element for herbivorous insects. To alleviate nitrogen limitation, insects have evolved various symbiotically mediated strategies that enable them to colonize nitrogen-poor habitats or exploit nitrogen-poor diets. In frugivorous tephritid larvae developing in fruit pulp under nitrogen stress, it remains largely unknown how nitrogen is obtained and larval development is completed.

RESULTS: In this study, we used metagenomics and metatranscriptomics sequencing technologies as well as in vitro verification tests to uncover the mechanism underlying the nitrogen exploitation in the larvae of Bactrocera dorsalis. Our results showed that nitrogenous waste recycling (NWR) could be successfully driven by symbiotic bacteria, including Enterobacterales, Lactobacillales, Orbales, Pseudomonadales, Flavobacteriales, and Bacteroidales. In this process, urea hydrolysis in the larval gut was mainly mediated by Morganella morganii and Klebsiella oxytoca. In addition, core bacteria mediated essential amino acid (arginine excluded) biosynthesis by ammonium assimilation and transamination.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotic bacteria contribute to nitrogen transformation in the larvae of B. dorsalis in fruit pulp. Our findings suggest that the pattern of NWR is more likely to be applied by B. dorsalis, and M. morganii, K. oxytoca, and other urease-positive strains play vital roles in hydrolysing nitrogenous waste and providing metabolizable nitrogen for B. dorsalis.}, } @article {pmid36104575, year = {2022}, author = {Palhares Farias, T and de Melo Castro, E and Marucci Pereira Tangerina, M and Quintino da Rocha, C and Brito Bezerra, CW and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Rhizobia exopolysaccharides: promising biopolymers for use in the formulation of plant inoculants.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {1843-1856}, pmid = {36104575}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; *Rhizobium tropici/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Biopolymers/metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Inoculants with beneficial microorganisms comprise both selected strains and carriers that ensure a favorable microenvironment for cell survival and stability. Formulations of inoculants using synthetic polymers as carriers are common. However, only a few studies are available in the literature regarding the formulation of inoculants using natural biomolecules as carriers. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are biomolecules produced by a vast array of microbial species, including symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, commonly known as rhizobia. EPS perform several functions, such as the protection against the deleterious effects of diverse environmental soil stresses. Two Rhizobium tropici strains and one Paraburkholderia strain were selected after semiquantitative analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of their EPS production in liquid YMA medium. Their EPS were characterized through a series of analytical techniques, aiming at their use in the formulation of plant inoculants. In addition, the effect of the carbon source on EPS yield was evaluated. Multi-stage fragmentation analysis showed the presence of xylose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid in EPS chemical composition, which was confirmed by FT-IR spectra and [13]C NMR spectroscopy. Thermal stability (thermogravimetric) was close to 270 °C and viscosity ranged from 120 to 1053.3 mPa.s. Surface morphology (SEM) was rough and irregular, with a cross-linked spongy matrix, which, together with the hydrophilic functional groups, confers water holding capacity. The present study showed that the three EPS have potential as microorganism carriers for formulation of microbial inoculants to be applied in plants.}, } @article {pmid36104261, year = {2023}, author = {Matthewman, C and Narin, A and Huston, H and Hopkins, CE}, title = {Systems to model the personalized aspects of microbiome health and gut dysbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular aspects of medicine}, volume = {91}, number = {}, pages = {101115}, doi = {10.1016/j.mam.2022.101115}, pmid = {36104261}, issn = {1872-9452}, mesh = {Humans ; Dysbiosis ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Bacteria/genetics ; Immune System ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiome is a complex and dynamic microbial entity that interacts with the environment and other parts of the body including the brain, heart, liver, and immune system. These multisystem interactions are highly conserved from invertebrates to humans, however the complexity and diversity of human microbiota compositions often yield a context that is unique to each individual. Yet commonalities remain across species, where a healthy gut microbiome will be rich in symbiotic commensal biota while an unhealthy gut microbiota will be experiencing abnormal blooms of pathobiont bacteria. In this review we discuss how omics technologies can be applied in a personalized approach to understand the microbial crosstalk and microbial-host interactions that affect the delicate balance between eubiosis and dysbiosis in an individual gut microbiome. We further highlight the strengths of model organisms in identifying and characterizing these conserved synergistic and/or pathogenic host-microbe interactions. And finally, we touch upon the growing area of personalized therapeutic interventions targeting gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid36102948, year = {2022}, author = {Gasser, M and Alloisio, N and Fournier, P and Balmand, S and Kharrat, O and Tulumello, J and Carro, L and Heddi, A and Da Silva, P and Normand, P and Pujic, P and Boubakri, H}, title = {A Nonspecific Lipid Transfer Protein with Potential Functions in Infection and Nodulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {12}, pages = {1096-1108}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-22-0131-R}, pmid = {36102948}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Plant Roots ; *Frankia/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {The response of Alnus glutinosa to Frankia alni ACN14a is driven by several sequential physiological events from calcium spiking and root-hair deformation to the development of the nodule. Early stages of actinorhizal symbiosis were monitored at the transcriptional level to observe plant host responses to Frankia alni. Forty-two genes were significantly upregulated in inoculated compared with noninoculated roots. Most of these genes encode proteins involved in biological processes induced during microbial infection, such as oxidative stress or response to stimuli, but a large number of them are not differentially modulated or downregulated later in the process of nodulation. In contrast, several of them remained upregulated in mature nodules, and this included the gene most upregulated, which encodes a nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP). Classified as an antimicrobial peptide, this nsLTP was immunolocalized on the deformed root-hair surfaces that are points of contact for Frankia spp. during infection. Later in nodules, it binds to the surface of F. alni ACN14a vesicles, which are the specialized cells for nitrogen fixation. This nsLTP, named AgLTP24, was biologically produced in a heterologous host and purified for assay on F. alni ACN14a to identify physiological effects. Thus, the activation of the plant immunity response occurs upon first contact, while the recognition of F. alni ACN14a genes switches off part of the defense system during nodulation. AgLTP24 constitutes a part of the defense system that is maintained all along the symbiosis, with potential functions such as the formation of infection threads or nodule primordia to the control of F. alni proliferation. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid36102934, year = {2022}, author = {Beilinson, Y and Rassabina, A and Lunev, I and Faizullin, D and Greenbaum, A and Salnikov, V and Zuev, Y and Minibayeva, F and Feldman, Y}, title = {The dielectric response of hydrated water as a structural signature of nanoconfined lichen melanins.}, journal = {Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP}, volume = {24}, number = {37}, pages = {22624-22633}, doi = {10.1039/d2cp01383e}, pmid = {36102934}, issn = {1463-9084}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; *Lichens/chemistry/microbiology ; Melanins ; Temperature ; Water ; }, abstract = {Lichens are unique symbiotic organisms from a mutually beneficial alliance of fungi and algae/cyanobacteria that successfully survive extreme temperatures and drought conditions. Most probably such extraordinary vitality of lichens is underlain by melanins, one of the main structural and chemical lichen components, and their mutual relationship with residual water. In this paper, we propose mechanisms, which allow lichens to store up the extra water in their structure. Melanins that are constituents of the cortical lichen layer and presumably contribute to unique water-lichen interactions are chosen for physical experiments in a wide temperature domain. Two melanin pigments extracted from different lichens are studied here - eumelanin from Lobaria pulmonaria and allomelanin from Cetraria islandica. To investigate the inner melanin structure and water-melanin interactions, FTIR and BDS techniques are applied. The BDS technique was used in a wide temperature region of 123-293 K for melanins with various hydration levels. The relaxation processes related to the confinement of supercooled water - in melanins are observed and discussed in details. At medium and high hydration levels, the relaxation process in two melanins of different chemical compositions and supramolecular structures exhibits a well-known crossover that was already observed in many types of confinements. The analysis of FTIR and BDS results helps to clarify the lichen-water interaction processes.}, } @article {pmid36102747, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, W and Xing, X and Dong, Q and Liu, X and Li, W}, title = {Isolation and identification of the alga-symbiotic bacterium Gordonia and characterisation of its exopolysaccharide.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2022.2123477}, pmid = {36102747}, issn = {1478-6427}, abstract = {An exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing bacterium TD18, isolated from the culture broth of green alga Scenedesmus obliquus, was identified as Gordonia terrae based on the 100% identity of 16S rRNA sequences and designated Gordonia terrae TD18. The results of compositional and structural analyses and physiochemical tests show that (1) the exopolysaccharide produced by G. terrae TD18 (TD18-EPS) is an acidic hetero-polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 23 kDa, consisting of glucose, mannose, galactose and glucuronic acid, and (2) TD18-EPS is of high thermal stability with a degradation temperature of 308 °C, the solution of which is non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid exhibiting good emulsifying properties over a wide range of temperatures, pH and NaCl concentrations. Hence, Gordonia terrae TD18 is the first alga-symbiotic Gordonia strain identified thus far, while TD18-EPS is unique in terms of composition and structure, different from the known Gordonia EPS, with excellent physiochemical properties and thus has potential applications in industry.}, } @article {pmid36101420, year = {2022}, author = {Li, G and Sun, J and Meng, Y and Yang, C and Chen, Z and Wu, Y and Tian, L and Song, F and Cai, W and Zhang, X and Li, H}, title = {The Impact of Environmental Habitats and Diets on the Gut Microbiota Diversity of True Bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera).}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {36101420}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Insects are generally associated with gut bacterial communities that benefit the hosts with respect to diet digestion, limiting resource supplementation, pathogen defense, and ecological niche expansion. Heteroptera (true bugs) represent one of the largest and most diverse insect lineages and comprise species consuming different diets and inhabiting various ecological niches, even including underwater. However, the bacterial symbiotic associations have been characterized for those basically restricted to herbivorous stink bugs of the infraorder Pentatomomorpha. The gut microbiota associated with the megadiverse heteropteran lineages and the implications of ecological and diet variance remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted a bacterial 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the gut microbiota across 30 species of true bugs representative of different ecological niches and diets. It was revealed that Proteobacteria and Firmicute were the predominant bacterial phyla. Environmental habitats and diets synergistically contributed to the diversity of the gut bacterial community of true bugs. True bugs living in aquatic environments harbored multiple bacterial taxa that were not present in their terrestrial counterparts. Carnivorous true bugs possessed distinct gut microbiota compared to phytophagous species. Particularly, assassin bugs of the family Reduviidae possessed a characterized gut microbiota predominantly composed of one Enterococcus with different Proteobacteria, implying a specific association between the gut bacteria and host. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of the comprehensive surveillance of gut microbiota association with true bugs for understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning insect-bacteria symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36099938, year = {2022}, author = {Muñoz, E and Carneiro, J}, title = {Plant-microbe symbiosis widens the habitability range of the Daisyworld.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {554}, number = {}, pages = {111275}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111275}, pmid = {36099938}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Development ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-microbe symbiosis is pervasive in the Earth's ecosystems and dates back to the early land colonisation by plants. Mutualistic partnership with rhizobia bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi promotes plant nutrition, growth and diversity, impacting important ecosystem functions. However, how the global behaviour and dynamical properties of an ecosystem are modified by plant-microbe symbiosis is still unclear. To tackle this theoretical question, we resorted to the Daisyworld as a toy model of the global ecosystem. We redesigned the original model to allow accounting for seed production, spreading, germination, and seedling development to mature seed-producing plants to describe how symbiotic and non-symbiotic daisy species differ in these key processes. Using the steady-state and bifurcation analysis of this model, we demonstrate that symbiosis with microbes broadens the habitability range of the Daisyworld by enhancing plant growth and/or facilitating plant access to otherwise uninhabitable nutrient-poor regions.}, } @article {pmid36099871, year = {2022}, author = {Bove, CB and Ingersoll, MV and Davies, SW}, title = {Help Me, Symbionts, You're My Only Hope: Approaches to Accelerate our Understanding of Coral Holobiont Interactions.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {1756-1769}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icac141}, pmid = {36099871}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {Tropical corals construct the three-dimensional framework for one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, providing habitat to a plethora of species across taxa. However, these ecosystem engineers are facing unprecedented challenges, such as increasing disease prevalence and marine heatwaves associated with anthropogenic global change. As a result, major declines in coral cover and health are being observed across the world's oceans, often due to the breakdown of coral-associated symbioses. Here, we review the interactions between the major symbiotic partners of the coral holobiont-the cnidarian host, algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae, and the microbiome-that influence trait variation, including the molecular mechanisms that underlie symbiosis and the resulting physiological benefits of different microbial partnerships. In doing so, we highlight the current framework for the formation and maintenance of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, and the role that immunity pathways play in this relationship. We emphasize that understanding these complex interactions is challenging when you consider the vast genetic variation of the cnidarian host and algal symbiont, as well as their highly diverse microbiome, which is also an important player in coral holobiont health. Given the complex interactions between and among symbiotic partners, we propose several research directions and approaches focused on symbiosis model systems and emerging technologies that will broaden our understanding of how these partner interactions may facilitate the prediction of coral holobiont phenotype, especially under rapid environmental change.}, } @article {pmid36099335, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, D and Zhang, X and Liao, D and Yan, S and Feng, H and Tang, Y and Cao, Y and Qiu, R and Ma, LQ}, title = {Novel Mycorrhiza-Specific P Transporter PvPht1;6 Contributes to As Accumulation at the Symbiotic Interface of As-Hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {19}, pages = {14178-14187}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c04367}, pmid = {36099335}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Arsenates ; *Arsenic/metabolism ; *Arsenites/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Pteris/metabolism ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) is toxic and ubiquitous in the environment, posing a growing threat to human health. As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata has been used for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soil. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhances As accumulation by P. vittata, which is different from As inhibition in typical plants. In this study, P. vittata seedlings inoculated with or without AMF were cultivated in As-contaminated soils for 2 months. AMF-root symbiosis enhanced plant growth, with 64.5% greater As contents in the fronds. After exposure to AsV for 2 h, the arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII) contents in AMF-roots increased by 1.8- and 3.6-fold, suggesting more efficient As uptake by P. vittata with AMF-roots. Plants take up and transport AsV via phosphate transporters (Phts). Here, for the first time, we identified a novel mycorrhiza-specific Pht transporter, PvPht1;6, from P. vittata. The transcripts of PvPht1;6 were strongly induced in AMF-roots, which were localized to the plasma membrane of arbuscule-containing cells. By complementing a yeast mutant lacking 5-Phts, we confirmed PvPht1;6's transport activity for both P and AsV. In contrast to typical AMF-inducible phosphate transporter LePT4 from tomato, PvPht1;6 showed greater AsV transport capacity. The results suggest that PvPht1;6 is probably critical for AsV transport at the periarbuscular membrane of P. vittata root cells, revealing the underlying mechanism of efficient As accumulation in P. vittata with AMF-roots.}, } @article {pmid36098671, year = {2022}, author = {Bhattacharjee, O and Raul, B and Ghosh, A and Bhardwaj, A and Bandyopadhyay, K and Sinharoy, S}, title = {Nodule INception-independent epidermal events lead to bacterial entry during nodule development in peanut (Arachis hypogaea).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {236}, number = {6}, pages = {2265-2281}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18483}, pmid = {36098671}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Fabaceae ; Epidermis/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes can host nitrogen-fixing rhizobia inside root nodules. In model legumes, rhizobia enter via infection threads (ITs) and develop nodules in which the infection zone contains a mixture of infected and uninfected cells. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) diversified from model legumes c. 50-55 million years ago. Rhizobia enter through 'cracks' to form nodules in peanut roots where cells of the infection zone are uniformly infected. Phylogenomic studies have indicated symbiosis as a labile trait in peanut. These atypical features prompted us to investigate the molecular mechanism of peanut nodule development. Combining cell biology, genetics and genomic tools, we visualized the status of hormonal signaling in peanut nodule primordia. Moreover, we dissected the signaling modules of Nodule INception (NIN), a master regulator of both epidermal infection and cortical organogenesis. Cytokinin signaling operates in a broad zone, from the epidermis to the pericycle inside nodule primordia, while auxin signaling is narrower and focused. Nodule INception is involved in nodule organogenesis, but not in crack entry. Nodulation Pectate Lyase, which remodels cell walls during IT formation, is not required. By contrast, Nodule enhanced Glycosyl Hydrolases (AhNGHs) are recruited for cell wall modification during crack entry. While hormonal regulation is conserved, the function of the NIN signaling modules is diversified in peanut.}, } @article {pmid36098507, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, C and Blum, SA}, title = {Silyl Radical Cascade Cyclization of 2-Isocyanothioanisole toward 2-Silylbenzothiazoles through Radical Initiator-Inhibitor Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {19}, pages = {13124-13137}, doi = {10.1021/acs.joc.2c01605}, pmid = {36098507}, issn = {1520-6904}, mesh = {Antiviral Agents/pharmacology ; Benzothiazoles ; Chlorides ; Cyclization ; *Fluorides ; Molecular Structure ; *Symbiosis ; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors ; }, abstract = {A demethylative silyl radical cascade cyclization of 2-isocyanothioanisoles toward 2-silylated benzothiazole building blocks has been developed. The development of a "radical initiator-inhibitor symbiosis" system solves the challenge of otherwise dominant methyl radical-triggered side reactions brought about by kinetically unfavored generation of reactive silyl radical species. The products accessed in this protocol are amendable to various downstream functionalization reactions, including the quick construction of a topoisomerase II inhibitor via a Hiyama cross-coupling reaction and of an antiviral agent via a fluoride-/hydroxide-free nucleophilic substitution to acyl chloride.}, } @article {pmid36098425, year = {2022}, author = {Noh, S and Capodanno, BJ and Xu, S and Hamilton, MC and Strassmann, JE and Queller, DC}, title = {Reduced and Nonreduced Genomes in Paraburkholderia Symbionts of Social Amoebas.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e0056222}, pmid = {36098425}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Amoeba/microbiology ; *Dictyostelium/genetics ; Eukaryota ; *Burkholderiaceae/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a predatory soil protist frequently used for studying host-pathogen interactions. A subset of D. discoideum strains isolated from soil persistently carry symbiotic Paraburkholderia, recently formally described as P. agricolaris, P. bonniea, and P. hayleyella. The three facultative symbiont species of D. discoideum present a unique opportunity to study a naturally occurring symbiosis in a laboratory model protist. There is a large difference in genome size between P. agricolaris (8.7 million base pairs [Mbp]) versus P. hayleyella and P. bonniea (4.1 Mbp). We took a comparative genomics approach and compared the three genomes of D. discoideum symbionts to 12 additional Paraburkholderia genomes to test for genome evolution patterns that frequently accompany host adaptation. Overall, P. agricolaris is difficult to distinguish from other Paraburkholderia based on its genome size and content, but the reduced genomes of P. bonniea and P. hayleyella display characteristics indicative of genome streamlining rather than deterioration during adaptation to their protist hosts. In addition, D. discoideum-symbiont genomes have increased secretion system and motility genes that may mediate interactions with their host. Specifically, adjacent BurBor-like type 3 and T6SS-5-like type 6 secretion system operons shared among all three D. discoideum-symbiont genomes may be important for host interaction. Horizontal transfer of these secretion system operons within the amoeba host environment may have contributed to the unique ability of these symbionts to establish and maintain a symbiotic relationship with D. discoideum. IMPORTANCE Protists are a diverse group of typically single cell eukaryotes. Bacteria and archaea that form long-term symbiotic relationships with protists may evolve in additional ways than those in relationships with multicellular eukaryotes such as plants, animals, or fungi. Social amoebas are a predatory soil protist sometimes found with symbiotic bacteria living inside their cells. They present a unique opportunity to explore a naturally occurring symbiosis in a protist frequently used for studying host-pathogen interactions. We show that one amoeba-symbiont species is similar to other related bacteria in genome size and content, while the two reduced-genome-symbiont species show characteristics of genome streamlining rather than deterioration during adaptation to their host. We also identify sets of genes present in all three amoeba-symbiont genomes that are potentially used for host-symbiont interactions. Because the amoeba symbionts are distantly related, the amoeba host environment may be where these genes were shared among symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36098165, year = {2022}, author = {Abd El-Raheem, AM and Abdelazeem Elmasry, AM and Elbrense, H and Vergara-Pineda, S}, title = {Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus as Symbiotic Bacteria for Bio-Control Housefly (Musca domestica L.).}, journal = {Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {586-601}, doi = {10.3923/pjbs.2022.586.601}, pmid = {36098165}, issn = {1812-5735}, mesh = {Animals ; *Houseflies ; Humans ; Larva ; *Nematoda ; *Photorhabdus ; Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {Background and Objective: The housefly poses a threat to the public health of humans and domestic animals since it can carry and transmit pathogens. Despite there are many attempts to control this insect, most of them depend on conventional pesticides. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of whole-cell suspension, cell-free supernatant and crude cells of the symbiotic bacteria Photorhabdus sp. and Xenorhabdus sp., as bio-control agents for housefly stages. Materials and Methods: The Photorhabdus sp. and Xenorhabdus sp., were isolated from the entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema feltiae, respectively. The phenotypic, as well as the enzymatic characterizations of both bacteria, were determined. In addition, histopathological changes of the alimentary canal of M. domestica adults treated with whole-cell suspensions (at 3×10[8 ]cells mL[][1]) of both bacteria were carefully examined using transmission electron microscopy. Results: The results showed that both symbiotic bacteria significantly suppressed larvae, pupae and adults of M. domestica, particularly when they were applied as whole-cell suspensions. For example, the highest concentration of whole-cell suspension, cell-free supernatant and crude cells of Photorhabdus sp., induced larval mortalities by 94.7, 64.0 and 45.3%, while those of Xenorhabdus sp., induced larval mortalities by 58.7, 46.7 and 30.7% at 96 hrs, respectively. The results also showed that whole-cell suspensions of both symbiotic bacteria caused severe histopathological changes in the ultrastructure of the treated adults' alimentary canal. Conclusion: Both symbiotic bacteria can be effectively used, particularly the whole-cell suspension, as bio-control agents against the housefly either in the larval or adult stage.}, } @article {pmid36096614, year = {2022}, author = {He, JG and Jiang, WX and He, ZY and Liu, XP and Wu, SH and Chu, ZR and Feng, J}, title = {[Analysis of Microbial Interaction Law of Mud Membrane in IFAS Process for Treating Low Carbon Source Sewage in South China].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {43}, number = {9}, pages = {4736-4747}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202111146}, pmid = {36096614}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bioreactors/microbiology ; Carbon ; Microbial Interactions ; Phosphorus ; *Sewage/microbiology ; Water ; }, abstract = {To assess the problem of sewage treatment under the condition of low carbon sources, we carried out a study of activated sludge and a biofilm symbiosis system (IFAS). The occurrence characteristics and interaction law of microorganisms in two phases of sludge membrane under low carbon source conditions were discussed, and their niche and influence on treatment efficiency were clarified. Through a pilot-scale experiment in actual water plants, the biofilm characteristics, sludge membrane activity, and succession law of flora were analyzed, and the microbial structure and interaction in sludge membrane in two phases under the control of different activated sludge ages were compared. The results showed that the sludge concentration in the reactor increased with the increase in SRT under variable SRT. Because the microbial concentration in SRT-H was much higher than that in SRT-L, the competition between mud films in SRT-H was more intense than that in SRT-L, and the pollutant removal efficiency in SRT-H was lower than that in SRT-L. Under the condition of low-carbon feed water, the sludge activity in the IFAS process decreased with the increase in SRT. Under the condition of low SRT(5 d), the nitrification, denitrification, phosphorus accumulation, and phosphorus absorption rate of activated sludge increased by 122%, 88%, 34%, and 44%, respectively, compared with that of high SRT (25 d). However, SRT had little effect on biofilm activity, and there was little difference in nitrification activity and denitrification activity between the two SRTs. Microbial sequencing analysis showed that the functional bacteria of the IFAS process were enriched and transferred with the change in SRT between the two phases of mud membrane. In SRT-L, the functional bacteria that were enriched and transferred between the two phases of mud film owing to the "seeding" effect were mainly unclassified_g__Enterobacteriaceae, whereas in SRT-H, Acinetobacter was mainly used. At the same time, by analyzing the distribution of dominant functional bacteria, it was found that there was some competition between denitrifying bacteria and phosphorus-accumulating bacteria in activated sludge. Under the condition of a lack of organic substrate in the influent, the relative abundance of denitrifying bacteria was obviously higher than that of phosphorus-accumulating bacteria, which indicated that denitrifying bacteria could better adapt to low-carbon source conditions. Thus, they could occupy a dominant competition position, which was mainly reflected in the increase in the relative abundance of aerobic denitrifying bacteria. In addition, the SRT change in the mud phase reacted in the membrane phase, making the residence time of biofilm change correspondingly, thus changing the flora structure, screening out different dominant bacteria genera, and further increasing the difference.}, } @article {pmid36095732, year = {2022}, author = {Tachibana, S}, title = {A new species, Cricotopus cataractaenostocicola, living in a cyanobacterial colony on vertical rocky substrates with trickling water film in Japan (Diptera: Chironomidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5178}, number = {3}, pages = {241-255}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5178.3.3}, pmid = {36095732}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chironomidae/anatomy & histology ; Japan ; Larva/anatomy & histology ; Male ; *Nostoc ; Water ; }, abstract = {Trickling water on nearly vertical rocky substrates is a common feature of mountainous regions of Japan. The thin water film is inhabited by discoid colonies of the cyanobacteria Nostoc. This species resembles the North American Nostoc parmelioides Ktzing, which forms ear-like colonies in stream beds and is inhabited by symbiotic chironomid larvae. The Nostoc colony in Japan was inhabited by a chironomid larva inside a ring-shaped burrow in the colony. Morphological analyses suggested that these individuals belong to a new species closely related to Cricotopus spp. symbiotic with Nostoc parmelioides. Here, we described the chironomid species Cricotopus cataractaenostocicola sp. nov. The species was distinguished from other congeneric species mainly by the morphology of male hypopygia. It has an anal point and long setae on the outside of the gonocoxite, and does not have setae near the apex of the inner lobe in the gonocoxite. Almost all the Nostoc colonies contained one large larva or pupa. The outer layer of the chironomid-symbiotic Nostoc colony had an elastic hardness. The 3D computer tomography (3DCT) scan showed a connected network of internal passages that are sufficiently wide to be traversed by the larvae, suggesting that cavities are present for the larvae to pass through. Future studies should investigate the formation of cavities and their purpose. As pioneers in the observation of living organisms using 3DCT, we provided the CT data to the Natural History Museum in Vienna.}, } @article {pmid36095560, year = {2022}, author = {Abe, H and Hoshino, O and Yamada, K and Ogino, T and Kawaida, S and Sato-Okoshi, W}, title = {A novel symbiotic relationship between ascidians and a new tunic-boring polychaete (Annelida: Spionidae: Polydora).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5159}, number = {1}, pages = {1-22}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5159.1.1}, pmid = {36095560}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; *Asteraceae ; Cellulose ; Phylogeny ; *Polychaeta ; *Urochordata ; }, abstract = {Polydora tunicola Abe, Hoshino Yamada, sp. nov., a new spionid species currently considered an obligate symbiont of styelid ascidians, is described based on materials collected from Polycarpa cf. cryptocarpa kroboja (Oka, 1906) and Cnemidocarpa sp. in Izu-Oshima Island and Polycarpa sp. in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Polychaeteascidian symbiotic relationships are known only in two syllid species: Myrianida pinnigera (Montagu, 1808) and Proceraea exoryxae Martin, Nygren Cruz-Rivera, 2017. The latter has been the only polychaete known to bore into the tunic of an ascidian. Polydora tunicola sp. nov. is the second known example of a tunic-boring polychaete, which constructs U-shaped burrows in the tunic of the host ascidians. Worms were often concentrated near the host siphons and assumed to use water currents created by the filter-feeding host for suspension feeding. Although the boring mechanism into ascidian tunica is unknown, the plate assay and zymography results consistently detected cellulase activities, suggesting that cellulose digestion may enable the worms to bore into the cellulose-rich ascidian tunics. Polydora tunicola sp. nov. is morphologically similar to P. aura Sato-Okoshi, 1998, P. cornuta Bosc, 1802, P. fusca Radashevsky Hsieh, 2000, P. glycymerica Radashevsky, 1993, P. latispinosa Blake Kudenov, 1978, P. lingulicola Abe Sato-Okoshi, 2020, P. nanomon Orensky Williams, 2009, P. robi Williams, 2000, and P. vulgaris Mohammad, 1972 in having a single median antenna on the caruncle and chaetiger 5 without dorsal superior capillaries but with ventral capillaries. The new species is unique in having a black-rimmed pygidium, distinguishing it from these species. The phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated 18S, 28S, and 16S sequences recovered P. tunicola sp. nov. as the sister species to P. aura within a well-supported clade also including P. lingulicola and P. cf. glycymerica. The bright yellow body color of P. tunicola sp. nov. in life is similar to that of P. aura, however, these two species are distinguished by the former not having modified posterior notochaetae. The symbiotic nature of the association between P. tunicola sp. nov. and styelid ascidians is discussed.}, } @article {pmid36095544, year = {2022}, author = {DE Oca, UG and Sarmiento-Ruiz, T and Cardenas-Callirgos, JM and Oceguera-Figueroa, A}, title = {A new species of Hystrignathus (Nematoda: Thelastomatoidea: Hystrignathidae) associated with the Bess Beetle Passalus Interruptus Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from The Peruvian Amazonia.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5159}, number = {3}, pages = {354-366}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5159.3.2}, pmid = {36095544}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Nematoda ; *Oxyurida ; Peru ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Bess beetles (Passalidae) are known to maintain biological interactions with a diverse gut symbiotic community, which is far from being well described since these communities from most of the species of Passalidae have not been studied. In order to improve our knowledge of these communities, we describe a new species of Nematoda of the genus Hystrignathus (Hystrignathidae) associated with Passalus interruptus, a bess beetle species of the tribe Passalini collected in Hunuco, Peru, in the Peruvian Amazonia. Hystrignathus nunashae n. sp. is characterized by the presence of cuticular spines beginning just after the end of the first cephalic annule, a posterior cephalic ring dilated and longer than the anterior ring, as well as ornamented eggs. The new species has a didelphic-amphidelphic reproductive system, lateral alae extending from the posterior end of procorpus almost reaching the anus, and a short subulate tail. The external and internal morphological traits of the new species are described, and additionally, based on nuclear ribosomal DNA, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of the new species.}, } @article {pmid36095193, year = {2022}, author = {Zarnowski, R and Sanchez, H and Jaromin, A and Zarnowska, UJ and Nett, JE and Mitchell, AP and Andes, D}, title = {A common vesicle proteome drives fungal biofilm development.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {38}, pages = {e2211424119}, pmid = {36095193}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI073289/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biofilms ; *Candida albicans/drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; *Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Extracellular vesicles mediate community interactions among cells ranging from unicellular microbes to complex vertebrates. Extracellular vesicles of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans are vital for biofilm communities to produce matrix, which confers environmental protection and modulates community dispersion. Infections are increasingly due to diverse Candida species, such as the emerging pathogen Candida auris, as well as mixed Candida communities. Here, we define the composition and function of biofilm-associated vesicles among five species across the Candida genus. We find similarities in vesicle size and release over the biofilm lifespan. Whereas overall cargo proteomes differ dramatically among species, a group of 36 common proteins is enriched for orthologs of C. albicans biofilm mediators. To understand the function of this set of proteins, we asked whether mutants in select components were important for key biofilm processes, including drug tolerance and dispersion. We found that the majority of these cargo components impact one or both biofilm processes across all five species. Exogenous delivery of wild-type vesicle cargo returned mutant phenotypes toward wild type. To assess the impact of vesicle cargo on interspecies interactions, we performed cross-species vesicle addition and observed functional complementation for both biofilm phenotypes. We explored the biologic relevance of this cross-species biofilm interaction in mixed species and mutant studies examining the drug-resistance phenotype. We found a majority of biofilm interactions among species restored the community's wild-type behavior. Our studies indicate that vesicles influence the development of protective monomicrobial and mixed microbial biofilm communities.}, } @article {pmid36094262, year = {2022}, author = {Stoian, V and Vidican, R and Corcoz, L and Pop-Moldovan, V}, title = {Mycorrhizal Maps as a Tool to Explore Colonization Patterns and Fungal Strategies in the Roots of Festuca rubra and Zea mays.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {186}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/63599}, pmid = {36094262}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Festuca ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are symbionts in the roots of plants. Their role is to sustain host development and maintain the nutritional equilibrium in the ecosystems. The colonization process is dependent on several factors like soil ecology, the genetic diversity of the fungi and host, and agronomic practices. Their synchronized action leads to the development of a complex hyphal network and leads to the secondary development of vesicles and arbuscules in the root cells. The aim of this research was to analyze the efficiency of the mycorrhizal patterns (MycoPatt) method for the positioning of fungal structures in the roots of Festuca rubra and Zea mays. Another objective was to explore the fungal colonization strategy as revealed by mycorrhizal maps of each species. The acquisition and assemblage of multiple microscopic images allow mycorrhizal colonization assessment in both corn and red fescue plants to provide information on the realistic position of the developed structures. The observed mycorrhizal patterns highlight the variable efficiency of each plant in terms of developing connections with soil symbiotic fungi, caused by applied treatments and growth stage. Mycorrhizal detailed maps obtained through the MycoPatt method are useful for the early detection of plant efficiency in symbiotic acquisition from the soil.}, } @article {pmid36094208, year = {2022}, author = {Kinjo, Y and Bourguignon, T and Hongoh, Y and Lo, N and Tokuda, G and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Coevolution of Metabolic Pathways in Blattodea and Their Blattabacterium Endosymbionts, and Comparisons with Other Insect-Bacteria Symbioses.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0277922}, pmid = {36094208}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cockroaches/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Insecta ; Bacteria/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Amino Acids ; Amino Acids, Essential/genetics ; Arginine/genetics ; Folic Acid ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {Many insects harbor bacterial endosymbionts that supply essential nutrients and enable their hosts to thrive on a nutritionally unbalanced diet. Comparisons of the genomes of endosymbionts and their insect hosts have revealed multiple cases of mutually-dependent metabolic pathways that require enzymes encoded in 2 genomes. Complementation of metabolic reactions at the pathway level has been described for hosts feeding on unbalanced diets, such as plant sap. However, the level of collaboration between symbionts and hosts that feed on more variable diets is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated amino acid and vitamin/cofactor biosynthetic pathways in Blattodea, which comprises cockroaches and termites, and their obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenoti (hereafter Blattabacterium). In contrast to other obligate symbiotic systems, we found no clear evidence of "collaborative pathways" for amino acid biosynthesis in the genomes of these taxa, with the exception of collaborative arginine biosynthesis in 2 taxa, Cryptocercus punctulatus and Mastotermes darwiniensis. Nevertheless, we found that several gaps specific to Blattabacterium in the folate biosynthetic pathway are likely to be complemented by their host. Comparisons with other insects revealed that, with the exception of the arginine biosynthetic pathway, collaborative pathways for essential amino acids are only observed in phloem-sap feeders. These results suggest that the host diet is an important driving factor of metabolic pathway evolution in obligate symbiotic systems. IMPORTANCE The long-term coevolution between insects and their obligate endosymbionts is accompanied by increasing levels of genome integration, sometimes to the point that metabolic pathways require enzymes encoded in two genomes, which we refer to as "collaborative pathways". To date, collaborative pathways have only been reported from sap-feeding insects. Here, we examined metabolic interactions between cockroaches, a group of detritivorous insects, and their obligate endosymbiont, Blattabacterium, and only found evidence of collaborative pathways for arginine biosynthesis. The rarity of collaborative pathways in cockroaches and Blattabacterium contrasts with their prevalence in insect hosts feeding on phloem-sap. Our results suggest that host diet is a factor affecting metabolic integration in obligate symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid36092137, year = {2022}, author = {Giacaman, RA and Fernández, CE and Muñoz-Sandoval, C and León, S and García-Manríquez, N and Echeverría, C and Valdés, S and Castro, RJ and Gambetta-Tessini, K}, title = {Understanding dental caries as a non-communicable and behavioral disease: Management implications.}, journal = {Frontiers in oral health}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {764479}, pmid = {36092137}, issn = {2673-4842}, abstract = {New paradigms in caries conceptualization have emerged during the last decades, leading to intense debate and discussion on how to approach the disease, both from a preventive and a therapeutic perspective. Among many new ideas, research discoveries and technologies, one major concept can be highlighted that created a deep frontier between the old and the new paradigm in caries conceptualization; the non-communicable nature of the disease, firmly associated with behaviors and lifestyles. This article synthetizes the conceptual construction of dental caries as a non-communicable disease (NCD) based on the current evidence and discusses the appropriate management of the disease in this context. Dental caries has shifted from being considered transmissible and infectious to an ecological and non-communicable disease. Environmental factors such as frequent sugars intake, disrupt the symbiosis of the dental biofilm leading to a dysbiosis, which favors caries lesion initiation and progression. As an NCD, dental caries shares characteristics with other NCDs such as cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, cancer and diabetes, including long duration and slow progression, not being transmissible from person-to-person, being strongly related to modifiable behavioral risk factors, and affecting preferentially disadvantaged populations with a strong inequality gradient. Given the high prevalence of dental caries, and its consequences on people's health and quality of life, a recognizable conceptual view of caries as a NCD is required to target an effective management. Current understanding of dental caries supports prevention through acting on the modifiable risk factors (behaviors) and involves management based on an interdisciplinary approach. Communicating these modern concepts among researchers, clinicians and policymakers is needed to decrease the global high burden of the disease.}, } @article {pmid36090118, year = {2022}, author = {Morales-Quintana, L and Moya, M and Santelices-Moya, R and Cabrera-Ariza, A and Rabert, C and Pollmann, S and Ramos, P}, title = {Improvement in the physiological and biochemical performance of strawberries under drought stress through symbiosis with Antarctic fungal endophytes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {939955}, pmid = {36090118}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Strawberry is one of the most widely consumed fruit, but this crop is highly susceptible to drought, a condition strongly associated with climate change, causing economic losses due to the lower product quality. In this context, plant root-associated fungi emerge as a new and novel strategy to improve crop performance under water-deficiency stress. This study aimed to investigate the supplementation of two Antarctic vascular plant-associated fungal endophytes, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium chrysogenum, in strawberry plants to develop an efficient, effective, and ecologically sustainable approach for the improvement of plant performance under drought stress. The symbiotic association of fungal endophytes with strawberry roots resulted in a greater shoot and root biomass production, higher fruit number, and an enhanced plant survival rate under water-limiting conditions. Inoculation with fungal endophytes provokes higher photosynthetic efficiency, lower lipid peroxidation, a modulation in antioxidant enzymatic activity, and increased proline content in strawberry plants under drought stress. In conclusion, promoting beneficial symbiosis between plants and endophytes can be an eco-friendly strategy to cope with drought and help to mitigate the impact of diverse negative effects of climate change on crop production.}, } @article {pmid36090097, year = {2022}, author = {Russell, KA and McFrederick, QS}, title = {Floral nectar microbial communities exhibit seasonal shifts associated with extreme heat: Potential implications for climate change and plant-pollinator interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {931291}, pmid = {36090097}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Floral nectar contains vital nutrients for pollinators, including sugars, amino acids, proteins, and secondary compounds. As pollinators forage, they inoculate nectar with bacteria and fungi. These microbes can colonize nectaries and alter nectar properties, including volume and chemistry. Abiotic factors, such as temperature, can influence microbial community structure and nectar traits. Considering current climate change conditions, studying the effects of increased temperature on ecosystem processes like pollination is ever more important. In a manipulative field experiment, we used a passive-heating technique to increase the ambient temperature of a California native plant, Penstemon heterophyllus, to test the hypothesis that temperatures elevated an average of 0.5°C will affect nectar properties and nectar-inhabiting microbial communities. We found that passive-heat treatment did not affect nectar properties or microbial communities. Penstemon heterophyllus fruit set also was not affected by passive-heat treatments, and neither was capsule mass, however plants subjected to heat treatments produced significantly more seeds than control. Although we conducted pollinator surveys, no pollinators were recorded for the duration of our experiment. A naturally occurring extreme temperature event did, however, have large effects on nectar sugars and nectar-inhabiting microbial communities. The initially dominant Lactobacillus sp. was replaced by Sediminibacterium, while Mesorhizobium, and Acinetobacter persisted suggesting that extreme temperatures can interrupt nectar microbiome community assembly. Our study indicates that the quality and attractiveness of nectar under climate change conditions could have implications on plant-pollinator interactions.}, } @article {pmid36090066, year = {2022}, author = {Hu, G and Liu, L and Miao, X and Zhao, Y and Peng, Y and Liu, L and Li, X}, title = {The response of cecal microbiota to inflammatory state induced by Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {963678}, pmid = {36090066}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {By combining the experiments of reciprocal crosses of chicken infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis), we focused on the common response of cecal microbiota to an inflammatory state in respect of transcriptome and microbiome. The inoculation of S. Enteritidis improved the microbial diversity and promoted the microbiota evolution in our infection model. Correlation analysis between bacteria and inflammation-related genes showed that some intestinal microorganisms were "inflammophile" and thrived in an inflamed environment. The global function of cecal microbiome was to maintain the homeostasis likely by the up-regulation of microbial metabolism pathway in bacitracin, putrescine, and flavonoids production, although the bacitracin may affect the symbiotic bacteria Enterococcus. The action of S. Enteritidis had close relationships with multiple inflammation-related genes, including the genes PTAFR, LY96, and ACOD1 which proteins are related to the binding and tolerance of LPS, and the genes IL-18, IL-18R1 and IL-18RAP which products can form a functional complex and transmit IL-18 pro-inflammatory signal. Additionally, the infection of S. Enteritidis aroused the transcription of EXFABP, which protein has a potential to sequestrate the siderophore and might cause the decline of Escherichia-Shigella and Enterococcus. S. Enteritidis can escape from the sequestrating through the salmochelin, another kind of siderophore which cannot be recognized by EXFABP. Probably by this way, S. Enteritidis competed with the symbiotic bacteria and edged out the niches. Our research can help to understand the interplay between host, pathogen, and symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36089820, year = {2023}, author = {Yun, HS and Sul, WJ and Chung, HS and Lee, JH and Kwon, C}, title = {Secretory membrane traffic in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {237}, number = {1}, pages = {53-59}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18470}, pmid = {36089820}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Exocytosis ; Protein Transport ; Biological Transport ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; *Secretory Vesicles/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; SNARE Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant defense responses include the extracellular release of defense-related molecules, such as pathogenesis-related proteins and secondary metabolites, as well as cell wall materials. This primarily depends on the trafficking of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane, where they discharge their contents into the apoplastic space via soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor-assisted exocytosis. However, some pathogenic and symbiotic microbes have developed strategies to manipulate host plant exocytic pathways. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which plant exocytic pathways function in immunity and how microbes have evolved to manipulate those pathways.}, } @article {pmid36089422, year = {2023}, author = {Li, J and Weinberger, F and de Nys, R and Thomas, T and Egan, S}, title = {A pathway to improve seaweed aquaculture through microbiota manipulation.}, journal = {Trends in biotechnology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {545-556}, doi = {10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.08.003}, pmid = {36089422}, issn = {1879-3096}, mesh = {Animals ; *Seaweed ; Aquaculture ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; Eukaryota ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic hosts are associated with microbial communities that are critical to their function. Microbiota manipulation using beneficial microorganisms, for example, in the form of animal probiotics or plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), can enhance host performance and health. Recently, seaweed beneficial microorganisms (SBMs) have been identified that promote the growth and development and/or improve disease resistance of seaweeds. This knowledge coincides with global initiatives seeking to expand and intensify seaweed aquaculture. Here, we provide a pathway with the potential to improve commercial cultivation of seaweeds through microbiota manipulation, highlighting that seaweed restoration practices can also benefit from further understanding SBMs and their modes of action. The challenges and opportunities of different approaches to identify and apply SBMs to seaweed aquaculture are discussed.}, } @article {pmid36089133, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Xia, A and Yao, D and Guo, X and Lam, SS and Huang, Y and Zhu, X and Zhu, X and Liao, Q}, title = {Removal of oxytetracycline and ofloxacin in wastewater by microalgae-bacteria symbiosis for bioenergy production.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {363}, number = {}, pages = {127891}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127891}, pmid = {36089133}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria ; Biomass ; Carbohydrates ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ofloxacin/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Oxytetracycline/metabolism/pharmacology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Swine ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The development of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis for treating wastewater is flourishing owing to its high biomass productivity and exceptional ability to purify contaminants. A nature-selected microalgae-bacteria symbiosis, mainly consisting of Dictyosphaerium and Pseudomonas, was used to treat oxytetracycline (OTC), ofloxacin (OFLX), and antibiotic-containing swine wastewater. Increased antibiotic concentration gradually reduced biomass productivity and intricately changed symbiosis composition, while 1 mg/L OTC accelerated the growth of symbiosis. The symbiosis biomass productivity reached 3.4-3.5 g/L (5.7-15.3 % protein, 18.4-39.3 % carbohydrate, and 2.1-3.9 % chlorophyll) when cultured in antibiotic-containing swine wastewater. The symbiosis displayed an excellent capacity to remove 76.3-83.4 % chemical oxygen demand, 53.5-62.4 % total ammonia nitrogen, 97.5-100.0 % total phosphorus, 96.3-100.0 % OTC, and 32.8-60.1 % OFLX in swine wastewater. The microbial community analysis revealed that the existence of OTC/OFLX increased the richness and evenness of microalgae but reduced bacteria species in microalgae-bacteria, and the toxicity of OFLX to bacteria was stronger than that of OTC.}, } @article {pmid36087719, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Su, K and Mou, Y and Liu, N and Lu, T and Yu, Z and Song, M}, title = {Enhancement of nutrients removal and biomass accumulation of algal-bacterial symbiosis system by optimizing the concentration and type of carbon source in the treatment of swine digestion effluent.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {308}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {136335}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136335}, pmid = {36087719}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Ammonia/analysis ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Carbon ; Digestion ; *Environmental Pollutants/analysis ; Lipids ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nutrients/analysis ; Phosphorus ; Sodium Acetate ; Swine ; Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Wastewater/analysis ; }, abstract = {The algae-bacteria symbiosis system (ABS) is used to effectively solve the problems of low carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, low biodegradability and high ammonia toxicity in swine digestion effluent. This study examined the effects of the concentration and type of carbon source on ABS in the pollutants removal especially ammonia. When C/N ratio was 30:1 and carbon source was sodium acetate, the ABS was most conducive to the removal of nitrogen, phosphorus and COD, and to the accumulation of biomass and lipids. To make the wastewater discharge meet the relevant standard, the ABS + mono-cultivation of algae reprocessing system (MAS), was applied to actual swine digestion effluent. Through adjusting the C/N ratio in ABS to 30:1, the biomass concentration was 2.06 times higher than that of raw wastewater, and the removal efficiencies of NH4[+]-N, TN, TP and COD increased by 1.43, 1.46, 1.95 and 1.28 times, respectively. The final concentrations of NH4[+]-N, TN, TP and COD after the treatment of ABS (C/N ratio of 30:1) + MAS, were 16.98 ± 1.07 mg L[-1], 18.72 ± 1.81 mg L[-1], 0.48 ± 0.01 mg L[-1] and 263.49 ± 11.89 mg L[-1], respectively, reached the Chinese discharge standards for livestock and poultry wastewater. Bacterial community analysis showed that the dominant species of the ABS (C/N ratio of 30:1) was Corynebacterium (genus level). This study revealed that adjusting the concentration and type of carbon source was helpful to the nutrient cycling and resource utilization of ABS, indicating a feasible technique for treating high ammonia nitrogen digestate.}, } @article {pmid36086890, year = {2022}, author = {Tiwari, PK and Yadav, J and Singh, AK and Srivastava, R and Srivastava, AK and Sahu, PK and Srivastava, AK and Saxena, AK}, title = {Architectural analysis of root system and phytohormone biosynthetic genes expression in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) inoculated with Penicillium oxalicum.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {6}, pages = {1596-1606}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13827}, pmid = {36086890}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {*Triticum ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; *Penicillium/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study, a fungal plant growth promoter Penicillium oxalicum T4 isolated from non-rhizosphere soil of Arunachal Pradesh, India, was screened for different plant growth promoting traits in a gnotobiotic study. Though inoculation improved the overall growth of the plants, critical differences were observed in root architecture. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, Scanning electron microscope and the stereo microscopic study showed that inoculated wheat plants could develop profuse root hairs as compared to control. Root scanning indicated improvement in cumulative root length, root area, root volume, number of forks, links, crossings, and other parameters. A confocal scanning laser microscope indicated signs of endophytic colonization in wheat roots. Gene expression studies revealed that inoculation of T4 modulated the genes affecting root hair development. Significant differences were marked in the expression levels of TaRSL4, TaEXPB1, TaEXPB23, PIN-FORMED protein, kaurene oxidase, lipoxygenase, ACC synthase, ACC oxidase, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, and ABA 8'-hydroxylase genes. These genes contribute to early plant development and ultimately to biomass accumulation and yield. The results suggested that P. oxalicum T4 has potential for growth promotion in wheat and perhaps also in other cereals.}, } @article {pmid36085198, year = {2022}, author = {Medina, GA and Flores-Martin, SN and Pereira, WA and Figueroa, EG and Guzmán, NH and Letelier, PJ and Andaur, MR and Leyán, PI and Boguen, RE and Hernández, AH and Fernández, H}, title = {Long-term survive of Aliarcobacter butzleri in two models symbiotic interaction with Acanthamoeba castellanii.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {10}, pages = {610}, pmid = {36085198}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Acanthamoeba castellanii/microbiology ; *Arcobacter ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aliarcobacter butzleri (formerly known as Arcobacter butzleri) is an emerging food-borne zoonotic pathogen that establishes in vitro endosymbiotic relationships with Acanthamoeba castellanii, a free-living amoeba. Previously, we described that this bacterium acts as an endocytobiont of A. castellanii, surviving for at least 10 days in absence of bacterial replication. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of A. butzleri to survive as a long-term endosymbiont of A. castellanii for 30 days in two models of symbiotic interaction with A. castellanii: (i) endosymbiotic culture followed by gentamicin protection assay and (ii) transwell co-culture assay. The results allow us to conclude that A. butzleri is capable of surviving as an endosymbiont of A. castellanii for at least 30 days, without multiplying, under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, in the absence of nutrients and as both microorganisms remain in the same culture, separated by semi-permeable membranes, A. castellanii does not promote the survival of A. butzleri, nor does it multiply. Our findings suggest that the greater survival capacity of A. butzleri is associated with their endosymbiont status inside A. castellanii, pointing out the complexity of this type of symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid36084754, year = {2023}, author = {Zheng, R and Cheng, L and Peng, J and Li, Q and Yang, F and Yang, D and Xia, Y and Tang, Q}, title = {Comparative analysis of gut microbiota and immune genes linked with the immune system of wild and captive Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {138}, number = {}, pages = {104530}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2022.104530}, pmid = {36084754}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Immune System ; Larva ; Spodoptera/genetics ; Zea mays/genetics ; }, abstract = {The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is one of the most highly polyphagous invasive pests causing serious damage to maize crops in China. However, little is known about the gut immune responses to the environment, particularly along the migration routes in Jianghuai, China, throughout the autumn and winter. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were employed to examine the variations in immune genes and gut microbiome communities between captive and wild fall armyworm populations. Results showed that the diversity and community of the gut's microbes were higher in wild populations, and the average weighted UniFrac distance between bacterial taxa varied. A wide variety of immune genes were more abundant in the wild populations than in others. Results indicated that diets and different survival conditions impacted the gut microbiota and immune system of S. frugiperda, which was crucial for environmental adaptation. These differences in gut microbiota and immune responses between wild and captive Fall armyworms are critical for comprehending the symbiotic relationship between microbes, immune genes, and hosts. They also highlight the need for increased focus on developing more effective and environmentally friendly pest control methods.}, } @article {pmid36083445, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, S and Luo, H}, title = {Estimating the Divergence Times of Alphaproteobacteria Based on Mitochondrial Endosymbiosis and Eukaryotic Fossils.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2569}, number = {}, pages = {95-116}, pmid = {36083445}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Alphaproteobacteria/genetics ; Eukaryota ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fossils ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Alphaproteobacteria is one of the most abundant bacterial lineages that successfully colonize diverse marine and terrestrial environments on Earth. In addition, many alphaproteobacterial lineages have established close association with eukaryotes. This makes Alphaproteobacteria a promising system to test the link between the emergence of ecologically important bacteria and related geological events and the co-evolution between symbiotic bacteria and their hosts. Understanding the timescale of evolution of Alphaproteobacteria is key to testing these hypotheses, which is limited by the scarcity of bacterial fossils, however. Based on the mitochondrial endosymbiosis which posits that the mitochondrion originated from an alphaproteobacterial lineage, we propose a new strategy to estimate the divergence times of lineages within the Alphaproteobacteria by leveraging the fossil records of eukaryotes. In this chapter, we describe the workflow of the mitochondria-based method to date Alphaproteobacteria evolution by detailing the software, methods, and commands used for each step. Visualization of data and results is also described. We also provide related notes with background information and alternative options. All codes used to build this protocol are made available to the public, and we strive to make this protocol user-friendly in particular to microbiologists with limited practical skills in bioinformatics.}, } @article {pmid36081264, year = {2022}, author = {Jain, S and Chin, HH and Bandyopadhyay, S and Klemeš, JJ}, title = {Clustering and optimising regional segregated resource allocation networks.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {322}, number = {}, pages = {116030}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116030}, pmid = {36081264}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Industry ; Resource Allocation ; Water ; }, abstract = {Policymakers and officials worldwide are making more stringent environmental norms and waste disposal policies to encourage industries to move towards cleaner production. One of the main challenges that industries face moving towards cleaner production is the adoption of different strategies for optimising their resource utilisation and waste reduction economically. This is particularly challenging for large-scale industries or a group of industrial plants located in an industrial region. This paper presents a novel approach to economic resource optimisation focussed mainly on large-scale industries, different industrial plants located in the vicinity of each other, or an industrial symbiosis network. In this work, a clustering algorithm is developed to segregate the given plants into different clusters based on the concept of load deficits and surpluses of each plant. The concept ideally allows only the plants with surpluses to send out their unused sources and plants with deficits to only receive external sources/resources. The clusters are formed based on the distances between plants, which in turn helps in saving transportation and communication costs. The clustered plants are then easy to optimise and manage for resource and cost optimality. The applicability of the proposed clustering algorithm is demonstrated using two case studies from the domain of water recycling networks containing multiple contaminants with detailed network design, highlighting the importance of clustering in an industrial symbiosis network. It is observed that directing the excess flows from one plant to other plants in the same cluster can save a considerable amount of fresh resources. It implies that in the broader aspect, the developed methodology can address the optimisation of economic resources and can aid in the better management of overall resources for a large-scale industrial symbiosis network.}, } @article {pmid36079657, year = {2022}, author = {Duell, EB and Cobb, AB and Wilson, GWT}, title = {Effects of Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculants on Plant Productivity and Intra-Radical Colonization in Native Grassland: Unintentional De-Coupling of a Symbiosis?.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36079657}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {There has been a surge in industries built on the production of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal-based inoculants in the past few decades. This is not surprising, given the positive effects of AM fungi on plant growth and nutritional status. However, there is growing concern regarding the quality and efficacy of commercial inoculants. To assess the potential benefits and negative consequences of commercial AM fungal inoculants in grasslands, we conducted a controlled growth chamber study assessing the productivity and AM fungal root colonization of nine grassland plant species grown in grassland soil with or without one of six commercial AM fungal products. Our research showed no evidence of benefit; commercial inoculants never increased native plant biomass, although several inoculants decreased the growth of native species and increased the growth of invasive plant species. In addition, two commercial products contained excessive levels of phosphorus or nitrogen and consistently reduced AM fungal root colonization, indicating an unintentional de-coupling of the symbiosis. As there is little knowledge of the ecological consequences of inoculation with commercial AM fungal products, it is critical for restoration practitioners, scientists, and native plant growers to assess the presence of local AM fungal communities before investing in unnecessary, or possibly detrimental, AM fungal products.}, } @article {pmid36079644, year = {2022}, author = {Shoaib, M and Banerjee, BP and Hayden, M and Kant, S}, title = {Roots' Drought Adaptive Traits in Crop Improvement.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36079644}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Drought is one of the biggest concerns in agriculture due to the projected reduction of global freshwater supply with a concurrent increase in global food demand. Roots can significantly contribute to improving drought adaptation and productivity. Plants increase water uptake by adjusting root architecture and cooperating with symbiotic soil microbes. Thus, emphasis has been given to root architectural responses and root-microbe relationships in drought-resilient crop development. However, root responses to drought adaptation are continuous and complex processes and involve additional root traits and interactions among themselves. This review comprehensively compiles and discusses several of these root traits such as structural, physiological, molecular, hydraulic, anatomical, and plasticity, which are important to consider together, with architectural changes, when developing drought resilient crop varieties. In addition, it describes the significance of root contribution in improving soil structure and water holding capacity and its implication on long-term resilience to drought. In addition, various drought adaptive root ideotypes of monocot and dicot crops are compared and proposed for given agroclimatic conditions. Overall, this review provides a broader perspective of understanding root structural, physiological, and molecular regulators, and describes the considerations for simultaneously integrating multiple traits for drought tolerance and crop improvement, under specific growing environments.}, } @article {pmid36079565, year = {2022}, author = {Amani Machiani, M and Javanmard, A and Habibi Machiani, R and Sadeghpour, A}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi and Changes in Primary and Secondary Metabolites.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36079565}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are able to synthesize a diverse group of secondary metabolites (SMs) such as terpenoids or terpenes, steroids, phenolics, and alkaloids with a broad range of therapeutic and pharmacological potentials. Extensive use of MAPs in various industries makes it important to re-evaluate their research, development, production, and use. In intensive agricultural systems, increasing plant productivity is highly dependent on the application of chemical inputs. Extreme use of chemical or synthetic fertilizers, especially higher doses of N fertilization, decrease the yield of bioactive compounds in MAPs. The plant-soil microbial interaction is an eco-friendly strategy to decrease the demand of chemical fertilizers. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), belongs to phylum Glomeromycota, can form mutualistic symbiotic associations with more than 80% of plant species. The AMF-plant symbiotic association, in addition to increasing nutrient and water uptake, reprograms the metabolic pathways of plants and changes the concentration of primary and secondary metabolites of medicinal and aromatic plants. The major findings reported that inoculation of AMF with MAPs enhanced secondary metabolites directly by increasing nutrient and water uptake and also improving photosynthesis capacity or indirectly by stimulating SMs' biosynthetic pathways through changes in phytohormonal concentrations and production of signaling molecules. Overall, the AMF-MAPs symbiotic association can be used as new eco-friendly technologies in sustainable agricultural systems for improving the quantity and quality of MAPs.}, } @article {pmid36079081, year = {2022}, author = {Capponi, M and Gori, A and De Castro, G and Ciprandi, G and Anania, C and Brindisi, G and Tosca, M and Cinicola, BL and Salvatori, A and Loffredo, L and Spalice, A and Zicari, AM}, title = {(R)Evolution in Allergic Rhinitis Add-On Therapy: From Probiotics to Postbiotics and Parabiotics.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36079081}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {Starting from the "Hygiene Hypothesis" to the "Microflora hypothesis" we provided an overview of the symbiotic and dynamic equilibrium between microbiota and the immune system, focusing on the role of dysbiosis in atopic march, particularly on allergic rhinitis. The advent of deep sequencing technologies and metabolomics allowed us to better characterize the microbiota diversity between individuals and body sites. Each body site, with its own specific environmental niches, shapes the microbiota conditioning colonization and its metabolic functionalities. The analysis of the metabolic pathways provides a mechanistic explanation of the remote mode of communication with systems, organs, and microflora of other body sites, including the ecosystem of the upper respiratory tract. This axis may have a role in the development of respiratory allergic disease. Notably, the microbiota is significant in the development and maintenance of barrier function; influences hematopoiesis and innate immunity; and shows its critical roles in Th1, Th2, and Treg production, which are necessary to maintain immunological balance and promote tolerance, taking part in every single step of the inflammatory cascade. These are microbial biotherapy foundations, starting from probiotics up to postbiotics and parabiotics, in a still-ongoing process. When considering the various determinants that can shape microbiota, there are several factors to consider: genetic factors, environment, mode of delivery, exposure to antibiotics, and other allergy-unrelated diseases. These factors hinder the engraftment of probiotic strains but may be upgradable with postbiotic and parabiotic administration directly on molecular targets. Supplementation with postbiotics and parabiotics could represent a very exciting perspective of treatment, bypassing probiotic limitations. At present, this avenue remains theoretical and to be explored, but it will certainly be a fascinating path to follow.}, } @article {pmid36078076, year = {2022}, author = {Toh, EC and Liu, KL and Tsai, S and Lin, C}, title = {Cryopreservation and Cryobanking of Cells from 100 Coral Species.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36078076}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Cryopreservation/methods ; Cryoprotective Agents/pharmacology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide/pharmacology ; Freezing ; }, abstract = {When coral species become extinct, their genetic resources cannot be recovered. Coral cryobanks can be employed to preserve coral samples and thereby maintain the availability of the samples and increase their potential to be restocked. In this study, we developed a procedure to determine coral species-specific requirements for cryobank freezing through determining suitable cryoprotective agents (CPAs), CPA concentrations, equilibration times, holding durations, viability rates, and cell amounts for banked coral cells, and we established the first ever coral cell cryobank. Coral cells, including supporting and gland cells, epidermal nematocysts, Symbiodiniaceae and symbiotic endoderm cells (SEC) were found from the extracted protocol. Approximately half of the corals from the experimental corals consisted of spindle and cluster cells. Gastrodermal nematocysts were the least common. The overall concentration of Symbiodiniaceae in the coral cells was 8.6%. Freezing using DMSO as a CPA was suitable for approximately half of the corals, and for the other half of species, successful cell cryopreservation was achieved using MeOH and EG. EG and DMSO had similar suitabilities for Acanthastrea, Euphyllia, Favites, Lobophyllia, Pavona, Seriatopora, and Turbinaria, as did EG and MeOH for Acropora, Echinopyllia, and Sinularia and MeOH and DMSO for Platygyra after freezing. At least 14 straws from each species of coral were cryobanked in this study, totaling more than 1884 straws (0.5 mL) with an average concentration of 6.4 × 10[6] per mL. The results of this study may serve as a framework for cryobanks worldwide and contribute to the long-term conservation of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid36077217, year = {2022}, author = {Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Quiroga, G and Erice, G and Pérez-Tienda, J and Zamarreño, ÁM and García-Mina, JM and Aroca, R}, title = {Using the Maize Nested Association Mapping (NAM) Population to Partition Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Effects on Drought Stress Tolerance into Hormonal and Hydraulic Components.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36077217}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Aquaporins/metabolism ; Droughts ; Hormones/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Water/metabolism ; Zea mays/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study, a first experiment was conducted with the objective of determining how drought stress alters the radial water flow and physiology in the whole maize nested association mapping (NAM) population and to find out which contrasting maize lines should be tested in a second experiment for their responses to drought in combination with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus. Emphasis was placed on determining the role of plant aquaporins and phytohormones in the responses of these contrasting maize lines to cope with drought stress. Results showed that both plant aquaporins and hormones are altered by the AM symbiosis and are highly involved in the physiological responses of maize plants to drought stress. The regulation by the AM symbiosis of aquaporins involved in water transport across cell membranes alters radial water transport in host plants. Hormones such as IAA, SA, ABA and jasmonates must be involved in this process either by regulating the own plant-AM fungus interaction and the activity of aquaporins, or by inducing posttranscriptional changes in these aquaporins, which in turns alter their water transport capacity. An intricate relationship between root hydraulic conductivity, aquaporins and phytohormones has been observed, revealing a complex network controlling water transport in maize roots.}, } @article {pmid36077108, year = {2022}, author = {Lau, NS and Heng, WL and Miswan, N and Azami, NA and Furusawa, G}, title = {Comparative Genomic Analyses of the Genus Photobacterium Illuminate Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Associated with Antagonism.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36077108}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genomics ; Multigene Family ; *Photobacterium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The genus Photobacterium is known for its ecophysiological versatility encompassing free-living, symbiotic, and pathogenic lifestyles. Photobacterium sp. CCB-ST2H9 was isolated from estuarine sediment collected at Matang Mangrove, Malaysia. In this study, the genome of CCB-ST2H9 was sequenced, and the pan-genome of 37 Photobacterium strains was analysed. Phylogeny based on core genes showed that CCB-ST2H9 clustered with P. galatheae, forming a distinct clade with P. halotolerans, P. salinisoli, and P. arenosum. The core genome of Photobacterium was conserved in housekeeping functions, while the flexible genome was well represented by environmental genes related to energy production and carbohydrate metabolism. Genomic metrics including 16S rRNA sequence similarity, average nucleotide identity, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were below the cut-off for species delineation, implying that CCB-ST2H9 potentially represents a new species. Genome mining revealed that biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) involved in producing antimicrobial compounds such as holomycin in CCB-ST2H9 could contribute to the antagonistic potential. Furthermore, the EtOAc extract from the culture broth of CCB-ST2H9 exhibited antagonistic activity against Vibrio spp. Intriguingly, clustering based on BGCs profiles grouped P. galatheae, P. halotolerans, P. salinisoli, P. arenosum, and CCB-ST2H9 together in the heatmap by the presence of a large number of BGCs. These BGCs-rich Photobacterium strains represent great potential for bioactive secondary metabolites production and sources for novel compounds.}, } @article {pmid36076919, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhou, W and Wu, J and Xie, K and Li, X}, title = {LjAMT2;2 Promotes Ammonium Nitrogen Transport during Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36076919}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Fungi ; *Lotus ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important symbiotic microorganisms in soil that engage in symbiotic relationships with legumes, resulting in mycorrhizal symbiosis. Establishment of strong symbiotic relationships between AMF and legumes promotes the absorption of nitrogen by plants. Ammonium nitrogen can be directly utilised by plants following ammonium transport, but there are few reports on ammonium transporters (AMTs) promoting ammonium nitrogen transport during AM symbiosis. Lotus japonicus is a typical legume model plant that hosts AMF. In this study, we analysed the characteristics of the Lotus japonicus ammonium transporter LjAMT2;2, and found that it is a typical ammonium transporter with mycorrhizal-induced and ammonium nitrogen transport-related cis-acting elements in its promoter region. LjAMT2;2 facilitated ammonium transfer in yeast mutant supplement experiments. In the presence of different nitrogen concentrations, the LjAMT2;2 gene was significantly upregulated following inoculation with AMF, and induced by low nitrogen. Overexpression of LjAMT2;2 increased the absorption of ammonium nitrogen, resulting in doubling of nitrogen content in leaves and roots, thus alleviating nitrogen stress and promoting plant growth.}, } @article {pmid36076760, year = {2022}, author = {Mutalub, YB and Abdulwahab, M and Mohammed, A and Yahkub, AM and Al-Mhanna, SB and Yusof, W and Tang, SP and Rasool, AHG and Mokhtar, SS}, title = {Gut Microbiota Modulation as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Cardiometabolic Diseases.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {36076760}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {The human gut harbors microbial ecology that is in a symbiotic relationship with its host and has a vital function in keeping host homeostasis. Inimical alterations in the composition of gut microbiota, known as gut dysbiosis, have been associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Studies have revealed the variation in gut microbiota composition in healthy individuals as compared to the composition of those with cardiometabolic diseases. Perturbation of host-microbial interaction attenuates physiological processes and may incite several cardiometabolic disease pathways. This imbalance contributes to cardiometabolic diseases via metabolism-independent and metabolite-dependent pathways. The aim of this review was to elucidate studies that have demonstrated the complex relationship between the intestinal microbiota as well as their metabolites and the development/progression of cardiometabolic diseases. Furthermore, we systematically itemized the potential therapeutic approaches for cardiometabolic diseases that target gut microbiota and/or their metabolites by following the pathophysiological pathways of disease development. These approaches include the use of diet, prebiotics, and probiotics. With the exposition of the link between gut microbiota and cardiometabolic diseases, the human gut microbiota therefore becomes a potential therapeutic target in the development of novel cardiometabolic agents.}, } @article {pmid36076058, year = {2022}, author = {Ravi, A and Troncoso-Rey, P and Ahn-Jarvis, J and Corbin, KR and Harris, S and Harris, H and Aydin, A and Kay, GL and Le Viet, T and Gilroy, R and Pallen, MJ and Page, AJ and O'Grady, J and Warren, FJ}, title = {Hybrid metagenome assemblies link carbohydrate structure with function in the human gut microbiome.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {932}, pmid = {36076058}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {BB/R012504/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/CCG1860/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/R012512/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10343/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BS/E/F/000PR10346/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10348/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10349/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10352/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Starch/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Complex carbohydrates that escape small intestinal digestion, are broken down in the large intestine by enzymes encoded by the gut microbiome. This is a symbiotic relationship between microbes and host, resulting in metabolic products that influence host health and are exploited by other microbes. However, the role of carbohydrate structure in directing microbiota community composition and the succession of carbohydrate-degrading microbes, is not fully understood. In this study we evaluate species-level compositional variation within a single microbiome in response to six structurally distinct carbohydrates in a controlled model gut using hybrid metagenome assemblies. We identified 509 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to ten bacterial classes and 28 bacterial families. Bacterial species identified as carrying genes encoding starch binding modules increased in abundance in response to starches. The use of hybrid metagenomics has allowed identification of several uncultured species with the functional potential to degrade starch substrates for future study.}, } @article {pmid36075944, year = {2022}, author = {Frolová, P and Horká, I and Ďuriš, Z}, title = {Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of marine palaemonid shrimps (Palaemonidae: Palaemonella-Cuapetes group).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {15237}, pmid = {36075944}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Decapoda/genetics ; *Palaemonidae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Palaemonidae is the most speciose shrimp family within the infraorder Caridea, composed predominately of freshwater species and marine symbiotic species. The subject of this study is a clade of mainly free-living marine taxa representing a basally separated lineage from most of the symbiotic marine palaemonid genera. Phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships were explored by analysing sequence data from two mitochondrial and four nuclear markers. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses, based on sequences from 52 species of 11 genera, provided similar tree topologies revealing the genera Palaemonella, Cuapetes and Eupontonia as non-monophyletic groups. Divergence time and S-DIVA analyses reveals that the focal clade originated during the Late Cretaceous in the Paleotethys region respective to the present Indo-West Pacific area, a minor part of which spread out to the eastern Pacific during the Paleocene, followed by further migration into the Atlantic (before the closure of the Panama Isthmus). The ancestral state reconstruction of host associations revealed eight independent symbiotic lineages originating from free-living ancestors, entering primary symbioses. The first associations with Cnidaria are estimated to have evolved in the Eocene. This study points to the need of taxonomic revisions of the non-monophyletic genera concerned.}, } @article {pmid36075807, year = {2023}, author = {Zysset-Burri, DC and Morandi, S and Herzog, EL and Berger, LE and Zinkernagel, MS}, title = {The role of the gut microbiome in eye diseases.}, journal = {Progress in retinal and eye research}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {101117}, doi = {10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101117}, pmid = {36075807}, issn = {1873-1635}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ; *Microbiota ; *Uveitis ; *Macular Degeneration ; *Retinal Artery Occlusion ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms and their genetic entities colonizing the gastrointestinal tract. When in balanced composition, the gut microbiome is in symbiotic interaction with its host and maintains intestinal homeostasis. It is involved in essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, inhibition of pathogens and regulation of immune function. Through translocation of microbes and their metabolites along the epithelial barrier, microbial dysbiosis induces systemic inflammation that may lead to tissue destruction and promote the onset of various diseases. Using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing, several studies have shown that the composition and associated functional capacities of the gut microbiome are associated with age-related macular degeneration, retinal artery occlusion, central serous chorioretinopathy and uveitis. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the gut microbiome in eye diseases, with a focus on interactions between the microbiome, specific microbial-derived metabolites and the immune system. We explain how these interactions may be involved in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration, retinal artery occlusion, central serous chorioretinopathy and uveitis and guide the development of new therapeutic approaches by microbiome-altering interventions for these diseases.}, } @article {pmid36075549, year = {2022}, author = {Deacon, TW}, title = {A degenerative process underlying hierarchic transitions in evolution.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {222}, number = {}, pages = {104770}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104770}, pmid = {36075549}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {*Selection, Genetic ; *Gene Duplication ; Evolution, Molecular ; Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {This paper describes an evolutionary process likely involved in hierarchic transitions in biological evolution at many levels, from genetics to social organization. It is related to the evolutionary process described as contingent neutral evolution (CNE). It involves a sequence of stages initiated by the spontaneous appearance of functional redundancy. This redundancy can be the result of gene duplication, symbiosis, cell-cell interactions, environmental supports, etc. The availability of redundant sources of biological functionality relaxes purifying selection and allows degenerative changes to accumulate in one or more of the duplicates, potentially degrading or otherwise fractionating its function. This degeneration will be effectively neutral so long as another maintains functional integrity. Sexual recombination can potentially sample different combinations of these sub functional alternatives, with the result that favorable synergistic interactions between independently degenerate duplicates will have a non-negligible probability of being uncovered. The expression of such a synergistic combinatorial effect will result in the irreversible degradation of any remaining autonomous functionality, thereby initiating selection to prevent breakup of co-dependency. This becomes relevant to the evolution of hierarchic transitions when two or more organisms reciprocally duplicate functions that each other requires. If the resulting relaxation of selection reliably persists for an extended evolutionary period it will tend to produce complementary degenerative effects in each organism, leading to their irreversible codependency and purifying selection to avoid loss of integrity of their higher order functional unity. This provides a partial inversion of Darwinian logic that explains how the potential costs of the loss of organism autonomy can be mitigated, enabling the incremental transition to a synergistic higher order unit of evolution.}, } @article {pmid36075156, year = {2022}, author = {van der Schoot, RJ and Hoeksema, BW}, title = {Abundance of coral-associated fauna in relation to depth and eutrophication along the leeward side of Curaçao, southern Caribbean.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {105738}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105738}, pmid = {36075156}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Coral-associated invertebrates contribute much to the biodiversity of Caribbean coral reefs. Although the nature of their symbiotic relation is usually not fully understood, they can cause damage to their hosts, especially when they occur in high densities. The abundance of seven groups of coral-associated invertebrates was investigated on reefs along the leeward side of Curaçao, southern Caribbean. In particular, coral barnacles (Pyrgomatidae), boring mussels (Mytilidae: Leiosolenus spp.), gall crabs (Cryptochiridae), and Christmas tree worms (Serpulidae: Spirobranchus spp.) were recorded together with their host corals by means of a photo survey at four depths (5, 10, 15, 20 m) and across seven sites with high and five sites with low eutrophication values (based on δ[15]N isotope data). Feather duster worms (Sabellidae: Anamobaea), coral blennies (Chaenopsidae: Acanthemblemaria), and worm snails (Vermetidae: Petaloconchus) were insufficiently abundant for thorough quantitative analyses. The results show a decrease in the number of barnacles and Christmas tree worms per host over depth, which could be related to the availability of their host corals. Sites with high δ[15]N values show a higher abundance of barnacles and Christmas tree worms per host than sites with low values. This indicates that eutrophication could be favourable for these filter feeding organisms but when their densities become too high, they tend to overgrow their hosts and may become a threat to them.}, } @article {pmid36074250, year = {2022}, author = {Amaral, MB and Dos Santos Lopes, T and Feder, CB and Ribeiro, TG and Pacheco, RS and Teixeira, TN and de Castro Monteiro, E and Ramalho, IO and de O Macedo, R and Boddey, RM and Zilli, JE and Alves, BJR}, title = {Bradyrhizobium occurrence in nodules of perennial horsegram.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {2065-2075}, pmid = {36074250}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; }, abstract = {The introduction of a forage legume into a tropical pasture should decrease the need for N fertilizer, provided biological N2 fixation (BNF) contributes enough to compensate for exported N. Macrotyloma axillare (perennial horsegram) is a suitable legume for composing mixed pastures, and our hypothesis is that the isolation of indigenous rhizobia from roots and rhizosphere is the way of achieving an efficient inoculant to maximize BNF to the legume. Nodules and rhizosphere soil taken from M. axillare grown in a mixed pasture with palisade grass were sampled and used in a trap host assay using Leonard jars containing a mixture of vermiculite and sand. A total of ten bacteria were initially isolated using this technique. The isolates were then used in two experiments to evaluate the inoculation responses on the perennial horsegram in greenhouse conditions to which nodulation, plant growth, and shoot N accumulation were measured. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and recA placed all strains within genus Bradyrhizobium, some of them not previously described. The best strain provided more than 120 nodules and more than 65 mg of nodules per plant. Strain BR14182 was considered the most promising given the high dry matter and N accumulation in plant shoots. This study provides the first analysis of Bradyrhizobium diversity nodulating M. axillare in Brazil and provided evidence of the role of inoculation in incrementing the plant-rhizobium symbiosis in a forage legume.}, } @article {pmid36074002, year = {2022}, author = {Cornwell, BH and Beraut, E and Fairbairn, C and Nguyen, O and Marimuthu, MPA and Escalona, M and Toffelmier, E}, title = {Reference genome assembly of the sunburst anemone, Anthopleura sola.}, journal = {The Journal of heredity}, volume = {113}, number = {6}, pages = {699-705}, pmid = {36074002}, issn = {1465-7333}, support = {1S10OD010786-01/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD018174/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anemone ; Mexico ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The sunburst anemone Anthopleura sola is an abundant species inhabiting the intertidal zone of coastal California. Historically, this species has extended from Baja California, Mexico to as far north as Monterey Bay, CA. However, recently the geographic range of this species has expanded to Bodega Bay, CA, possibly as far north as Salt Point, CA. This species also forms symbiotic partnerships with the dinoflagellate Breviolum muscatinei, a member of the family Symbiodiniaceae. These partnerships are analogous to those formed between tropical corals and dinoflagellate symbionts, making A. sola an excellent model system to explore how hosts will (co)evolve with novel symbiont populations they encounter as they expand northward. This assembly will serve as the foundation for identifying the population genomic patterns associated with range expansions, and will facilitate future work investigating how hosts and their symbiont partners will evolve to interact with one another as geographic ranges shift due to climate change.}, } @article {pmid36073816, year = {2022}, author = {Castellani, LG and Luchetti, A and Nilsson, JF and Pérez-Giménez, J and Struck, B and Schlüter, A and Pühler, A and Niehaus, K and Romero, D and Pistorio, M and Torres Tejerizo, G}, title = {RcgA and RcgR, Two Novel Proteins Involved in the Conjugative Transfer of Rhizobial Plasmids.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0194922}, pmid = {36073816}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {*Conjugation, Genetic ; Plasmids/genetics ; *Quorum Sensing ; Bacteria/genetics ; Nitrogen ; DNA ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria that are able to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with leguminous plants. Rhizobia genomes usually harbor several plasmids which can be transferred to other organisms by conjugation. Two main mechanisms of the regulation of rhizobial plasmid transfer have been described: quorum sensing (QS) and the rctA/rctB system. Nevertheless, new genes and molecules that modulate conjugative transfer have recently been described, demonstrating that new actors can tightly regulate the process. In this work, by means of bioinformatics tools and molecular biology approaches, two hypothetical genes are identified as playing key roles in conjugative transfer. These genes are located between conjugative genes of plasmid pRfaLPU83a from Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83, a plasmid that shows a conjugative transfer behavior depending on the genomic background. One of the two mentioned genes, rcgA, is essential for conjugation, while the other, rcgR, acts as an inhibitor of the process. In addition to introducing this new regulatory system, we show evidence of the functions of these genes in different genomic backgrounds and confirm that homologous proteins from non-closely related organisms have the same functions. These findings set up the basis for a new regulatory circuit of the conjugative transfer of plasmids. IMPORTANCE Extrachromosomal DNA elements, such as plasmids, allow for the adaptation of bacteria to new environments by conferring new determinants. Via conjugation, plasmids can be transferred between members of the same bacterial species, different species, or even to organisms belonging to a different kingdom. Knowledge about the regulatory systems of plasmid conjugative transfer is key in understanding the dynamics of their dissemination in the environment. As the increasing availability of genomes raises the number of predicted proteins with unknown functions, deeper experimental procedures help to elucidate the roles of these determinants. In this work, two uncharacterized proteins that constitute a new regulatory circuit with a key role in the conjugative transfer of rhizobial plasmids were discovered.}, } @article {pmid36073093, year = {2022}, author = {Abdullah, NS and Doni, F and Chua, KO and Mispan, MS and Saiman, MZ and Mohd Yusuf, Y and Mohd Suhaimi, NS}, title = {The diversity of rhizospheric bacterial communities associated with Trichoderma-treated rice fields.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {6}, pages = {1645-1650}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13832}, pmid = {36073093}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {*Trichoderma/genetics ; *Oryza ; Bacteria/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Microbial-based fertilizer has been widely used as a healthier and better alternative to agrochemical products. However, the effects of biofertilizers on the rhizospheric microbiota has rarely been investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of symbiotic fungus Trichoderma asperellum SL2-based inoculant on the soil bacterial population through next generation sequencing using a metabarcoding approach. The treatment plots were treated with T. asperellum SL2 spore suspension, while the control plots were treated with sterilized distilled water. The results showed similar bacterial microbiome profiles in the soil of control and T. asperellum SL2-treated plots. In conclusion, the application of the T. asperellum SL2 inoculant had not exerted a negative impact towards the bacterial population as similar observation was reflected in control plots. Nonetheless, future research should be conducted to investigate the effects of repeated application of T. asperellum SL2 over a longer period on the rice microbiota communities.}, } @article {pmid36072493, year = {2022}, author = {Ji, W and Qiu, X}, title = {Analysis of the Impact of the Development Level of Aerobics Movement on the Public Health of the Whole Population Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology.}, journal = {Journal of environmental and public health}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {6748684}, pmid = {36072493}, issn = {1687-9813}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Neural Networks, Computer ; *Public Health ; Technology ; }, abstract = {With the enhancement of China's comprehensive national power and the improvement of people's living standards, health has become the goal that people pursue. While people are thirsty for extensive knowledge and a healthy body, they also pay more attention to the cultivation of elegant temperament and the enjoyment of beauty, and aerobics has become a hot spot for national fitness with its advantages of coordinated and beautiful movements, bright and cheerful rhythm and obvious fitness effects. Aerobics is a new popular fitness sports, from the beginning of development by most fitness enthusiasts, especially it is a women's favorite. To this end, the characteristics, value, status, and role of aerobics in the public health of all people are discussed, and the problems of poor recognition effect in the existing aerobics difficulty aerobics action recognition methods are proposed to apply the graph convolutional neural network to the aerobics difficulty aerobics action recognition. The video of aerobics is divided into several images, and the background of the aerobics difficult aerobics action image is eliminated, and the gray scale co-generation matrix is set to estimate the local area blur kernel of the difficult action image to correct the visual error of the difficult action image. "change to" The aerobics action is divided into several difficult action images, and the gray-scale symbiosis matrix is set to estimate the local area fuzzy core of the difficult action image, and correct the visual error of the difficult action image. On this basis, the graph convolutional neural network is pre-trained to construct a human-directed spatial-temporal skeleton map, and the human-directed spatial-temporal map representation is modeled with temporal dynamic information to achieve aerobics difficult aerobics action recognition. The experimental results show that the recognition time of the difficult aerobics movements based on the graph convolutional neural network is shorter and the number of false recognitions is less in complex and simple backgrounds, which proves that the proposed method improves the recognition of difficult aerobics movements to achieve the goal of promoting the development level of aerobics and improving the public health of all people.}, } @article {pmid36072330, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Tang, Z}, title = {How do arbuscular mycorrhizas affect reproductive functional fitness of host plants?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {975488}, pmid = {36072330}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in soil may be directly or indirectly involved in the reproductive process of sexually reproducing plants (seed plants), and affect their reproductive fitness. However, it is not clear how underground AM symbiosis affects plant reproductive function. Here, we reviewed the studies on the effects of AM symbiosis on plant reproductive fitness including both male function (pollen) and female function (seed). AM symbiosis regulates the development and function of plant sexual organs by affecting the nutrient using strategy and participating in the formation of hormone networks and secondary compounds in host plants. The nutrient supply (especially phosphorus supply) of AM symbiosis may be the main factor affecting plant's reproductive function. Moreover, the changes in hormone levels and secondary metabolite content induced by AM symbiosis can also affect host plants reproductive fitness. These effects can occur in pollen formation and transport, pollen tube growth and seed production, and seedling performance. Finally, we discuss other possible effects of AM symbiosis on the male and female functional fitness, and suggest several additional factors that may be involved in the influence of AM symbiosis on the reproductive fitness of host plants. We believe that it is necessary to accurately identify and verify the mechanisms driving the changes of reproductive fitness of host plant in symbiotic networks in the future. A more thorough understanding of the mechanism of AM symbiosis on reproductive function will help to improve our understanding of AM fungus ecological roles and may provide references for improving the productivity of natural and agricultural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36071667, year = {2023}, author = {Zeng, Z and Liu, Y and Feng, XY and Li, SX and Jiang, XM and Chen, JQ and Shao, ZQ}, title = {The RNAome landscape of tomato during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis reveals an evolving RNA layer symbiotic regulatory network.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {100429}, pmid = {36071667}, issn = {2590-3462}, mesh = {Symbiosis/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Solanum lycopersicum/genetics ; RNA ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plants/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is an ancient plant-fungus relationship that is widely distributed in terrestrial plants. The formation of symbiotic structures and bidirectional nutrient exchange requires the regulation of numerous genes. However, the landscape of RNAome during plant AMS involving different types of regulatory RNA is poorly understood. In this study, a combinatorial strategy utilizing multiple sequencing approaches was used to decipher the landscape of RNAome in tomato, an emerging AMS model. The annotation of the tomato genome was improved by a multiple-platform sequencing strategy. A total of 3,174 protein-coding genes were upregulated during AMS, 42% of which were alternatively spliced. Comparative-transcriptome analysis revealed that genes from 24 orthogroups were consistently induced by AMS in eight phylogenetically distant angiosperms. Seven additional orthogroups were specifically induced by AMS in all surveyed dicot AMS host plants. However, these orthogroups were absent or not induced in monocots and/or non-AMS hosts, suggesting a continuously evolving AMS-responsive network in addition to a conserved core regulatory module. Additionally, we detected 587 lncRNAs, ten miRNAs, and 146 circRNAs that responded to AMS, which were incorporated to establish a tomato AMS-responsive, competing RNA-responsive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Finally, a tomato symbiotic transcriptome database (TSTD, https://efg.nju.edu.cn/TSTD) was constructed to serve as a resource for deep deciphering of the AMS regulatory network. These results help elucidate the reconfiguration of the tomato RNAome during AMS and suggest a sophisticated and evolving RNA layer responsive network during AMS processes.}, } @article {pmid36070061, year = {2022}, author = {Niedzwiedzki, DM and Magdaong, NCM and Su, X and Liu, H}, title = {Biochemical and spectroscopic characterizations of the oligomeric antenna of the coral symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae Fugacium kawagutii.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {154}, number = {2}, pages = {113-124}, pmid = {36070061}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A/metabolism ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Light-harvesting antennas in photosynthesis capture light energy and transfer it to the reaction centers (RCs) where photochemistry takes place. The sustainable growth of the reef-building corals relies on a constant supply of the photosynthates produced by the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate, belonging to the family of Symbiodiniaceae. The antenna system in this group consists of the water-soluble peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) and the intrinsic membrane chlorophyll a-chlorophyll c2-peridinin protein complex (acpPC). In this report, a nonameric acpPC is reported in a dinoflagellate, Fugasium kawagutii (formerly Symbiodinium kawagutii sp. CS-156). We found that extensive biochemical purification altered the oligomerization states of the initially isolated nonameric acpPC. The excitation energy transfer pathways in the acpPC nonamer and its variants were studied using time-resolved fluorescence and time-resolved absorption spectroscopic techniques at 77 K. Compared to the well-characterized trimeric acpPC, the nonameric acpPC contains an 11 nm red-shifted terminal energy emitter and substantially altered excited state lifetimes of Chl a. The observed energetic overlap of the fluorescence terminal energy emitters with the absorption of RCs is hypothesized to enable efficient downhill excitation energy transfer. Additionally, the shortened Chl a fluorescence decay lifetime in the oligomeric acpPC indicate a protective self-relaxation strategy. We propose that the highly-oligomerized acpPC nonamer represents an intact functional unit in the Symbiodiniaceae thylakoid membrane. They perform efficient excitation energy transfer (to RCs), and are under manageable regulations in favor of photoprotection.}, } @article {pmid36069554, year = {2022}, author = {Piatkowski, BT and Carper, DL and Carrell, AA and Chen, IA and Clum, A and Daum, C and Eloe-Fadrosh, EA and Gilbert, D and Granath, G and Huntemann, M and Jawdy, SS and Klarenberg, IJ and Kostka, JE and Kyrpides, NC and Lawrence, TJ and Mukherjee, S and Nilsson, MB and Palaniappan, K and Pelletier, DA and Pennacchio, C and Reddy, TBK and Roux, S and Shaw, AJ and Warshan, D and Živković, T and Weston, DJ}, title = {Draft Metagenome Sequences of the Sphagnum (Peat Moss) Microbiome from Ambient and Warmed Environments across Europe.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e0040022}, pmid = {36069554}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We present 49 metagenome assemblies of the microbiome associated with Sphagnum (peat moss) collected from ambient, artificially warmed, and geothermally warmed conditions across Europe. These data will enable further research regarding the impact of climate change on plant-microbe symbiosis, ecology, and ecosystem functioning of northern peatland ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid36069449, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, C and Beller, L and Wang, L and Rosales Rosas, A and De Coninck, L and Héry, L and Mousson, L and Pagès, N and Raes, J and Delang, L and Vega-Rúa, A and Failloux, AB and Matthijnssens, J}, title = {Bidirectional Interactions between Arboviruses and the Bacterial and Viral Microbiota in Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0102122}, pmid = {36069449}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; Female ; *Culex ; *Aedes ; *Arboviruses ; *Zika Virus ; *Zika Virus Infection ; Mosquito Vectors ; *West Nile virus ; *Viruses ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria ; Sucrose ; Water ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes are important vectors for many arboviruses. It is becoming increasingly clear that various symbiotic microorganisms (including bacteria and insect-specific viruses; ISVs) in mosquitoes have the potential to modulate the ability of mosquitoes to transmit arboviruses. In this study, we compared the bacteriome and virome (both eukaryotic viruses and bacteriophages) of female adult Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes fed with sucrose/water, blood, or blood spiked with Zika virus (ZIKV) or West Nile virus (WNV), respectively. Furthermore, we investigated associations between the microbiota and vector competence. We show that the influence of arboviruses on the mosquito microbiome-and vice versa-is distinct for each combination of arbovirus/mosquito species. The presence of ZIKV resulted in a temporarily increased Aedes ISV diversity. However, this effect was distinct for different ISVs: some ISVs decreased following the blood meal (Aedes aegypti totivirus), whereas other ISVs increased only when the blood contained ZIKV (Guadeloupe mosquito virus). Also, the diversity of the Aedes bacteriome depended on the diet and the presence of ZIKV, with a lower diversity observed for mosquitoes receiving blood without ZIKV. In Cx. quinquefasciatus, some ISVs increased in WNV-infected mosquitoes (Guadeloupe Culex tymo-like virus). Particularly, the presence of Wenzhou sobemo-like virus 3 (WSLV3) was associated with the absence of infectious WNV in mosquito heads, suggesting that WSLV3 might affect vector competence for WNV. Distinct profiles of bacteriophages were identified in Culex mosquitoes depending on diet, despite the lack of clear changes in the bacteriome. Overall, our data demonstrate a complex three-way interaction among arboviruses, resident microbiota, and the host, which is distinct for different arbovirus-mosquito combinations. A better understanding of these interactions may lead to the identification of microbiota able to suppress the ability of arbovirus transmission to humans, and hence improved arbovirus control measures. IMPORTANCE In this study, we first utilized the single mosquito microbiome analysis, demonstrating a complex three-way interaction among arboviruses, resident microbiota, and the host, which is distinct for different arbovirus-mosquito combinations. Some of the previously described "core virus" increased in the mosquitos receiving viral blood meal, like Guadeloupe mosquito virus and Guadeloupe Culex tymo-like virus, suggesting their potential roles in ZIKV and WNV infection. Notably, Wenzhou sobemo-like virus 3 was associated with the absence of infectious WNV in heads of Culex mosquitoes, which might affect vector competence for WNV. A better understanding of these interactions will lead to the identification of microbiota able to suppress the ability of arbovirus transmission to humans, and hence improved arbovirus control measures.}, } @article {pmid36068959, year = {2022}, author = {Yegin, Z and Sudagidan, M}, title = {A medical and molecular approach to kefir as a therapeutic agent of human microbiota.}, journal = {International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1024/0300-9831/a000765}, pmid = {36068959}, issn = {0300-9831}, abstract = {The imbalanced microbial composition called as dysbiosis constitutes a tendency related to different kind of human diseases. To overcome the disadvantages of dysbiosis, the consumption of probiotics is an emerging and promising topic of the last decade. Kefir is a probiotic fermented beverage produced from the fermentation of kefir grains with changing varieties of milk and displays a symbiotic association of bacteria and yeast. The discovery of the concept that fermented foods/beverages such as kefir could modify gut microbiota in humans has widened the borders of precision medicine and now microbiome therapeutics can be considered as a significant part of this field. Kefir seems to have potential to guide and manipulate future replacement/complementary therapies with a variety of beneficial biological/medical properties it has. The aim of this review was a comprehensive recapitulation of probiotic beverage kefir's significant properties mainly focusing of antioxidative, immunomodulatory, apoptotic, antitumor, neuroprotective. Apoptotic/antimetastatic effects are regulated at the molecular level by increases in TGF-β1, caspase-3, p53, Bax, Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, p21 and decreases in TGF-α, Bcl-2 and MMP polarization. Neuroprotective effects are revealed upon upregulation of SOD/catalase and anti-inflammatory Treg cells, decreases in repetitive behavior and modulation of apoptotic genes. Besides these significant features that may offer quite advantages in supplementary cancer therapies, the scope was also extended to recent emerging medical topics and also discussed and evaluated the concept of "psychobiotics". The therapeutic potential of psychobiotic effect is majorly attributed to the increased ratios of Clostridium butyricum, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.}, } @article {pmid36068216, year = {2022}, author = {Nishijima, S and Nagata, N and Kiguchi, Y and Kojima, Y and Miyoshi-Akiyama, T and Kimura, M and Ohsugi, M and Ueki, K and Oka, S and Mizokami, M and Itoi, T and Kawai, T and Uemura, N and Hattori, M}, title = {Extensive gut virome variation and its associations with host and environmental factors in a population-level cohort.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {5252}, pmid = {36068216}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Virome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Indigenous bacteriophage communities (virome) in the human gut have a huge impact on the structure and function of gut bacterial communities (bacteriome), but virome variation at a population scale is not fully investigated yet. Here, we analyse the gut dsDNA virome in the Japanese 4D cohort of 4198 deeply phenotyped individuals. By assembling metagenomic reads, we discover thousands of high-quality phage genomes including previously uncharacterised phage clades with different bacterial hosts than known major ones. The distribution of host bacteria is a strong determinant for the distribution of phages in the gut, and virome diversity is highly correlated with anti-viral defence mechanisms of the bacteriome, such as CRISPR-Cas and restriction-modification systems. We identify 97 various intrinsic/extrinsic factors that significantly affect the virome structure, including age, sex, lifestyle, and diet, most of which showed consistent associations with both phages and their predicted bacterial hosts. Among the metadata categories, disease and medication have the strongest effects on the virome structure. Overall, these results present a basis to understand the symbiotic communities of bacteria and their viruses in the human gut, which will facilitate the medical and industrial applications of indigenous viruses.}, } @article {pmid36067958, year = {2022}, author = {Missirlis, F and Oliveira, PL}, title = {Metal ions in the physiology of insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {100965}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2022.100965}, pmid = {36067958}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila melanogaster ; *Metals, Heavy ; Ions ; Iron ; Insecta ; }, abstract = {The 2022 Molecular Physiology volume of Current Opinion in Insect Science offers an overview of transition-metal ion (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) biology and nonessential heavy metal ion (cadmium, lead, and methylmercury) toxicology in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and in other insect species. An article on ticks serves as an informative evolutionary comparator for iron and heme physiology. The complex interface between environmental exposure to metals, symbiotic or pathogenic microbes, and insect behavior and reproduction is considered.}, } @article {pmid36066114, year = {2022}, author = {Newkirk, C and Vadlapudi, S and Sadula, M and Arbello, C and Xiang, T}, title = {Reproducible propagation technique for the symbiotic cnidarian model system Cassiopea xamachana.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36066114}, issn = {2046-6390}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylum Cnidaria is composed of corals, jellyfish, hydras, and sea anemones. Cnidarians are well-known for their regenerative capability, with many species maintaining the ability to regenerate complete structures. This regenerative capacity has been used casually for propagation purposes (via dissection) for some cnidarians used in laboratory research but has yet been documented in a manner meant to be reproducible. One such cnidarian model system is the scyphozoan jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana. C. xamachana has become an emerging model system for studying the cnidarian-algal symbiotic relationship, so determining a reliable and fast method for expansion of laboratory animals is crucial. Here we outline a reproducible propagation method for continued generation and growth of C. xamachana polyps. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.}, } @article {pmid36065212, year = {2022}, author = {Veres, K and Sinigla, M and Szabó, K and Varga, N and Farkas, E}, title = {The long-term effect of removing the UV-protectant usnic acid from the thalli of the lichen Cladonia foliacea.}, journal = {Mycological progress}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {83}, pmid = {36065212}, issn = {1617-416X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Terricolous lichens are abundant in semi-arid areas, where they are exposed to high irradiation. Photoprotection is essential for the algae as the photobiont provides the primer carbon source for both symbionts. The UV-protectant lichen metabolites and different quenching procedures of the alga ensure adequate photoprotection. Since the long-term effect of diminishing UV-protectant lichen metabolites is unknown, a major part of lichen secondary metabolites was removed from Cladonia foliacea thalli by acetone rinsing, and the lichens were then maintained under field conditions to investigate the effect on both symbionts for 3 years. Our aim was to determine if the decreased level of UV-protectant metabolites caused an elevated photoprotection in the algae and to reveal the dynamics of production of the metabolites. Photosynthetic activity and light protection were checked by chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics measurements every 6 months. The concentrations of fumarprotocetraric and usnic acids were monitored by chromatographic methods. Our results proved that seasonality had a more pronounced effect than that of acetone treatment on the function of lichens over a long-term scale. Even after 3 years, the acetone-treated thalli contained half as much usnic acid as the control thalli, and the level of photoprotection remained unchanged in the algae. However, the amount of available humidity was a more critical limiting environmental factor than the amount of incoming irradiation affecting usnic acid production. The lichenicolous fungus Didymocyrtis cladoniicola became relatively more abundant in the acetone-treated samples than in the control samples, indicating a slight change caused by the treatment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11557-022-01831-y.}, } @article {pmid36064777, year = {2022}, author = {Lindsay, PL and Ivanov, S and Pumplin, N and Zhang, X and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Distinct ankyrin repeat subdomains control VAPYRIN locations and intracellular accommodation functions during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {5228}, pmid = {36064777}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Ankyrin Repeat ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Over 70% of vascular flowering plants engage in endosymbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. VAPYRIN (VPY) is a plant protein that is required for intracellular accommodation of AM fungi but how it functions is still unclear. VPY has a large ankyrin repeat domain with potential for interactions with multiple proteins. Here we show that overexpression of the ankyrin repeat domain results in a vpy-like phenotype, consistent with the sequestration of interacting proteins. We identify distinct ankyrin repeats that are essential for intracellular accommodation of arbuscules and reveal that VPY functions in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. VPY interacts with two kinases, including DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS3 (DMI3), a nuclear-localized symbiosis signaling kinase. Overexpression of VPY in a symbiosis-attenuated genetic background results in a dmi3 -like phenotype suggesting that VPY negatively influences DMI3 function. Overall, the data indicate a requirement for VPY in the nucleus and cytoplasm where it may coordinate signaling and cellular accommodation processes.}, } @article {pmid36063008, year = {2022}, author = {Vengavasi, K and Raja, AK and Srinivasavedantham, V and K, H and T, A and G S, S and A, AD and K, C and M, N and D, P}, title = {Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {186}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/63596}, pmid = {36063008}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Edible Grain ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots ; Rhizosphere ; *Saccharum ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Roots are the primary conductors of water and nutrients and play a vital role in sustaining growth and yield under stressful environments. The study of plant roots poses methodological difficulties in in situ assessment and sampling, which is especially true for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Traditional methods during the 1920s documented the genotypic variation in sugarcane root systems, after which few studies were reported on sugarcane root traits per se until recently. In addition to morphology, rhizosphere characteristics, including allelopathic effects and/or affinity for microbial symbiosis, determine plant establishment and survival. Ultimately, root systems define the above-ground productivity of sugarcane. With the impetus for climate-resilient varieties, it is becoming more relevant to explore and utilize the variability in root system traits of sugarcane. This paper describes multipronged approaches for sugarcane root phenotyping, including field excavation by trench sampling, the use of a root core sampler, raised platforms for root sampling, and raising plants under hydroponic culture, employed by a team of scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI). Field excavation by trench sampling is imperative to assess the plant roots in their natural growing environment. The use of raised platforms simulating field conditions and a root core sampler are alternative approaches, with a considerable reduction in time, uniform sample size, and less loss of root material. Hydroponic plant culture allows the study of morphology, anatomical features, and rhizosphere biology, including the exudation of organic compounds and microbial interactions. Data generated from different experiments using diverse sampling methods add to the wealth of information on the root system traits of sugarcane.}, } @article {pmid36061072, year = {2022}, author = {Ivnitsky, JJ and Schäfer, TV and Rejniuk, VL and Vakunenkova, OA}, title = {Secondary Dysfunction of the Intestinal Barrier in the Pathogenesis of Complications of Acute Poisoning.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {1075-1098}, pmid = {36061072}, issn = {0022-0930}, abstract = {The last decade has been marked by an exponential increase in the number of publications on the physiological role of the normal human gut microbiota. The idea of a symbiotic relationship between the human organism and normal microbiota of its gastrointestinal tract has been firmly established as an integral part of the current biomedical paradigm. However, the type of this symbiosis varies from mutualism to parasitism and depends on the functional state of the host organism. Damage caused to the organism by external agents can lead to the emergence of conditionally pathogenic properties in the normal gut microbiota, mediated by humoral factors and affecting the outcome of exogenous exposure. Among the substances produced by symbiotic microbiota, there are an indefinite number of compounds with systemic toxicity. Some occur in the intestinal chyme in potentially lethal amounts in the case they enter the bloodstream quickly. The quick entry of potential toxicants is prevented by the intestinal barrier (IB), a set of structural elements separating the intestinal chyme from the blood. Hypothetically, severe damage to the IB caused by exogenous toxicants can trigger a leakage and subsequent systemic redistribution of toxic substances of bacterial origin. Until recently, the impact of such a redistribution on the outcome of acute exogenous poisoning remained outside the view of toxicology. The present review addresses causal relationships between the secondary dysfunction of the IB and complications of acute poisoning. We characterize acute systemic toxicity of such waste products of the normal gut microflora as ammonia and endotoxins, and demonstrate their involvement in the formation of such complications of acute poisoning as shock, sepsis, cerebral insufficiency and secondary lung injuries. The principles of assessing the functional state of the IB and the approaches to its protection in acute poisoning are briefly considered.}, } @article {pmid36060060, year = {2022}, author = {Rix, AJ and Abraham, CJ and Booysen, MJ}, title = {Why taxi tracking trumps tracking passengers with apps in planning for the electrification of Africa's paratransit.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {104943}, pmid = {36060060}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Decarbonisation of Africa's informal paratransit through electrification requires adequate data captured correctly. Field workers getting on-board as passengers with tracked phones are extensively used to measure flow rates and volumes of passengers and vehicles on sections of roads in transport planning applications. Although this method is acceptable for transport planning, it is inadequate for planning for electrification. Combustion engine vehicles have long ranges and refill fast. Drivers and fuel outlets have existed in a symbiotic relationship without the bondage of needing detailed mobility information and planning. With electrification, battery-powered vehicles have become inextricably coupled to roadside infrastructure through their mobility patterns. We compare the current state of public transport data with vehicle tracking data for forecasting the electrification of Africa's paratransit. Discrepancies between them highlight the problem with using incomplete and/or unreliable data to estimate a city's peak load, pointing to a need for vehicle-based data acquisition.}, } @article {pmid36058650, year = {2022}, author = {Venturin, B and Rodrigues, HC and Bonassa, G and Hollas, CE and Bolsan, AC and Antes, FG and De Prá, MC and Fongaro, G and Treichel, H and Kunz, A}, title = {Key enzymes involved in anammox-based processes for wastewater treatment: An applied overview.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {94}, number = {9}, pages = {e10780}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10780}, pmid = {36058650}, issn = {1554-7531}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process has attracted significant attention as an economic, robustness, and sustainable method for the treatment of nitrogen (N)-rich wastewater. Anammox bacteria (AnAOB) coexist with other microorganisms, and particularly with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and/or heterotrophic bacteria (HB), in symbiosis in favor of the substrate requirement (ammonium and nitrite) of the AnAOB being supplied by these other organisms. The dynamics of these microbial communities have a significant effect on the N-removal performance, but the corresponding metabolic pathways are still not fully understood. These processes involve many common metabolites that may act as key factors to control the symbiotic interactions between these organisms, to maximize N-removal efficiency from wastewater. Therefore, this work overviews the current state of knowledge about the metabolism of these microorganisms including key enzymes and intermediate metabolites and summarizes already reported experiences based on the employment of certain metabolites for the improvement of N-removal using anammox-based processes. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Approaches knowledge about the biochemistry and metabolic pathways involved in anammox-based processes. Some molecular tools can be used to determine enzymatic activity, serving as an optimization in nitrogen removal processes. Enzymatic evaluation allied to the physical-chemical and biomolecular analysis of the nitrogen removal processes expands the application in different effluents.}, } @article {pmid36058335, year = {2022}, author = {Pechsiri, JS and Thomas, JE and Bahraoui, NE and Fernandez, FGA and Chaouki, J and Chidami, S and Tinoco, RR and Martin, JP and Gomez, C and Combe, M and Gröndahl, F}, title = {Comparative life cycle assessment of conventional and novel microalgae production systems and environmental impact mitigation in urban-industrial symbiosis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {854}, number = {}, pages = {158445}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158445}, pmid = {36058335}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The versatility of microalgae biomass as candidates for various products and bioremediation needs motivates interests towards design and implementation of novel microalgae bioreactors. Conventional open-reactors are reliant on large quantities of sunlight and space while yields are constrained by outdoor environment conditions. Conversely, closed-reactor systems like bubble columns reduces these constrains on microalgae growth while occupying far less space at the expense of high energy demands, notably from lighting systems. A novel patented closed reactor design has recently been proposed that improves the bubble column concept with an efficient and effective lighting system. The present study uses Life Cycle Assessment approach to compare the environmental performance of conventional reactors and the proposed internally luminated novel closed reactor design, expressing impacts per kg biostimulant for the Scenedesmus almeriensis harvest from such units. All performance data was collected from a pilot facility in Almeria, Spain. Urban-industrial symbiosis scenarios are also portrayed in the study using wastewater and incinerator flue gas. Results show that under synthetic nutrient and carbon inputs in Spanish pilot operations, the cumulative energy demand for the novel photobioreactors is similar to conventional vertically-stacked horizon bioreactors but are substantially more demanding than conventional open reactors. However, when leveraging renewable energy sources and the photosynthesis process to consume wastestreams in urban-industrial symbiosis scenarios, the novel photobioreactor was able to achieve up to 80 % improvements in several impact categories e.g. eutrophication and climate change. Impact mitigation credits per kg dwt biomass across all energy scenarios in symbiosis amount to ≈1.8 kg CO2eq and ≈0.09 kg PO4 eq. This highlights that such closed and internally illuminated photobioreactors can be competitive with conventional reactors, and have potential to harness photosynthesis to reduce environmental burdens in an urban-industrial symbiosis setting. Possible economies of scale and the associated potential gains in efficiencies are further discussed.}, } @article {pmid36058096, year = {2022}, author = {Ren, ZQ and Yu, LQ and Wang, H and Li, GF and Zhang, LG and Du, XN and Huang, BC and Jin, RC}, title = {Inorganic quantum dots - anammox consortia hybrid for stable nitrogen elimination under high-intensity solar-simulated irradiation.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {223}, number = {}, pages = {119033}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.119033}, pmid = {36058096}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Hydroxyl Radical/metabolism ; Lipids ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Quantum Dots ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Selenium/metabolism ; Sewage/microbiology ; Superoxides ; }, abstract = {External stimulus such as light irradiation is able to deteriorate intracellular redox homeostasis and induce photooxidative damage to non-photogenic bacteria. Exploiting effective strategies to help bacteria resisting infaust stress is meaningful for achieving a stable operation of biological treatment system. In this work, selenium-doped carbon quantum dots (Se-CQDs) were blended into anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) bacteria and an inorganic nanoparticle-microbe hybrid was successfully fabricated to evaluate its nitrogen removal performance under solar-simulated irradiation. It was found that the specific anammox activity decreased by 29.7 ± 5.2% and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content increased by 134.8 ± 4.1% under 50,000 lux light. Sludge activity could be completely recovered under the optimum dosage of 0.42 mL·(g volatile suspended solid) [-1] Se-CQDs. Hydroxyl radical (·OH) and superoxide anion radical (·O2[-]) were identified as the leading ROS inducing lipid peroxidation and antioxidase function detriment. Also, the structure of ladderane lipids located on anammoxosome was destroyed by ROS and functional genes abundances declined accordingly. Although cell surface coated Se-CQDs could absorb ultraviolet light and partially mitigated the photoinhibition, the direct scavenging of ROS by intracellular Se-CQDs primarily contributed to the cellular redox homeostasis, antioxidase activity recovery and sludge activity improvement. The findings of this work provide in-depth understanding the metabolic response mechanism of anammox consortia to light irradiation and might be valuable for a more stable and sustainable nitrogen removal technology, i.e., algal-bacterial symbiotic system, development.}, } @article {pmid36057860, year = {2022}, author = {Ruiu, L and Marche, MG and Mura, ME and Tarasco, E}, title = {Involvement of a novel Pseudomonas protegens strain associated with entomopathogenic nematode infective juveniles in insect pathogenesis.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {78}, number = {12}, pages = {5437-5443}, pmid = {36057860}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Pest Control, Biological ; *Rhabditida ; *Moths/parasitology ; Insecta ; Larva/parasitology ; Soil/parasitology ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The bioinsecticidal action of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) typically relies on their symbiosis with core bacteria. However, recent studies highlighted the possible involvement of other noncore species. We have recently isolated a novel Pseudomonas protegens strain as a major agent of septicaemia in larvae of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella, infected with a soil-dwelling Steinernema feltiae strain. The actual role of this bacterium in entomopathogenesis was investigated.

RESULTS: The association of P. protegens with nematodes appeared to be robust, as supported by its direct and repeated isolation from both nematodes and insect larvae infected for several consecutive generations. The bacterium appeared to be well-adapted to the insect haemocoel, being able to proliferate rapidly after the injection of even a small amount of living cells [100 colony forming units (CFU)] to a larva, causing its fast death. The bacterium also was able to act by ingestion against G. mellonella larvae [median lethal concentration (LC50) = 4.0 × 10[7]  CFU mL[-1] ], albeit with a slower action, which supports the involvement of specific virulence factors (e.g. chitinases, Fit toxin) to overcome the intestinal barrier to the haemocoel. Varying levels of bacterial virulence were observed on diverse target Diptera and Lepidoptera.

CONCLUSION: The soil-dwelling bacterium P. protegens appears to have evolved its own potential as a stand-alone entomopathogen, yet the establishment of an opportunistic association with entomoparasitic nematodes would represent a special competitive advantage. This finding contributes to a deeper understanding of the nematode-bacteria biocontrol agent complex and the deriving paradigm of their use as biological control agents. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid36056462, year = {2022}, author = {Tedersoo, L and Mikryukov, V and Zizka, A and Bahram, M and Hagh-Doust, N and Anslan, S and Prylutskyi, O and Delgado-Baquerizo, M and Maestre, FT and Pärn, J and Öpik, M and Moora, M and Zobel, M and Espenberg, M and Mander, Ü and Khalid, AN and Corrales, A and Agan, A and Vasco-Palacios, AM and Saitta, A and Rinaldi, AC and Verbeken, A and Sulistyo, BP and Tamgnoue, B and Furneaux, B and Ritter, CD and Nyamukondiwa, C and Sharp, C and Marín, C and Gohar, D and Klavina, D and Sharmah, D and Dai, DQ and Nouhra, E and Biersma, EM and Rähn, E and Cameron, EK and De Crop, E and Otsing, E and Davydov, EA and Albornoz, FE and Brearley, FQ and Buegger, F and Zahn, G and Bonito, G and Hiiesalu, I and Barrio, IC and Heilmann-Clausen, J and Ankuda, J and Kupagme, JY and Maciá-Vicente, JG and Fovo, JD and Geml, J and Alatalo, JM and Alvarez-Manjarrez, J and Põldmaa, K and Runnel, K and Adamson, K and Bråthen, KA and Pritsch, K and Tchan, KI and Armolaitis, K and Hyde, KD and Newsham, KK and Panksep, K and Lateef, AA and Tiirmann, L and Hansson, L and Lamit, LJ and Saba, M and Tuomi, M and Gryzenhout, M and Bauters, M and Piepenbring, M and Wijayawardene, N and Yorou, NS and Kurina, O and Mortimer, PE and Meidl, P and Kohout, P and Nilsson, RH and Puusepp, R and Drenkhan, R and Garibay-Orijel, R and Godoy, R and Alkahtani, S and Rahimlou, S and Dudov, SV and Põlme, S and Ghosh, S and Mundra, S and Ahmed, T and Netherway, T and Henkel, TW and Roslin, T and Nteziryayo, V and Fedosov, VE and Onipchenko, VG and Yasanthika, WAE and Lim, YW and Soudzilovskaia, NA and Antonelli, A and Kõljalg, U and Abarenkov, K}, title = {Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {28}, number = {22}, pages = {6696-6710}, pmid = {36056462}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Fungi ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms.}, } @article {pmid36055522, year = {2022}, author = {Waheed, A and Haxim, Y and Islam, W and Kahar, G and Liu, X and Zhang, D}, title = {Role of pathogen's effectors in understanding host-pathogen interaction.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular cell research}, volume = {1869}, number = {12}, pages = {119347}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119347}, pmid = {36055522}, issn = {1879-2596}, mesh = {*Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Leucine ; Nucleotides ; *Plants ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Pathogens can pose challenges to plant growth and development at various stages of their life cycle. Two interconnected defense strategies prevent the growth of pathogens in plants, i.e., molecular patterns triggered immunity (PTI) and pathogenic effector-triggered immunity (ETI) that often provides resistance when PTI no longer functions as a result of pathogenic effectors. Plants may trigger an ETI defense response by directly or indirectly detecting pathogen effectors via their resistance proteins. A typical resistance protein is a nucleotide-binding receptor with leucine-rich sequences (NLRs) that undergo structural changes as they recognize their effectors and form associations with other NLRs. As a result of dimerization or oligomerization, downstream components activate "helper" NLRs, resulting in a response to ETI. It was thought that ETI is highly dependent on PTI. However, recent studies have found that ETI and PTI have symbiotic crosstalk, and both work together to create a robust system of plant defense. In this article, we have summarized the recent advances in understanding the plant's early immune response, its components, and how they cooperate in innate defense mechanisms. Moreover, we have provided the current perspective on engineering strategies for crop protection based on up-to-date knowledge.}, } @article {pmid36055239, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, HR and Peng, WT and Nie, MM and Bai, S and Chen, CQ and Liu, Q and Guo, ZL and Liao, H and Chen, ZC}, title = {Carbon-nitrogen trading in symbiotic nodules depends on magnesium import.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {20}, pages = {4337-4349.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.019}, pmid = {36055239}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Magnesium/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soybeans/genetics ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation provides large amounts of nitrogen for global agricultural systems with little environmental or economic costs. The basis of symbiosis is the nutrient exchange occurring between legumes and rhizobia, but key regulators controlling nutrient exchange are largely unknown. Here, we reveal that magnesium (Mg), an important nutrient factor that preferentially accumulates in inner cortical cells of soybean nodules, shows the most positive correlation with nodule carbon (C) import and nitrogen (N) export. We further identified a pair of Mg transporter genes, GmMGT4 and GmMGT5, that are specifically expressed in the nodule cortex, modulating both nodule Mg import and C-N transport processes. The GmMGT4&5-dependent Mg import activates the activity of a plasmodesmata-located β-1,3-glucanase GmBG2 and consequently keeps plasmodesmata permeable for C-N transport in nodule inner cortical cells. Our studies discovered an important regulating pathway for host plants fine-tuning nodule C-N trading to achieve optimal growth, which may be helpful for optimizing nutrient management for soybean production.}, } @article {pmid36054576, year = {2023}, author = {Mohamed, HF and Abd-Elgawad, A and Cai, R and Luo, Z and Xu, C}, title = {The bacterial signature offers vision into the machinery of coral fitness across high-latitude coral reef in the South China Sea.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {13-30}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.13119}, pmid = {36054576}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; China ; Water ; }, abstract = {Coral-bacterial interaction is a major driver in coral acclimatization to the stressful environment. 16S rRNA High-throughput sequencing was used to classify the role of different coral reef compartments; sediment, water, and tissue; in the South China Sea (SCS), as well as different locations in shaping the microbial community. The majority of OTUs significantly shifted at impacted sites and indicated distinction in the relative abundance of bacteria compartment/site-wise. Richness and diversity were higher, and more taxa were enriched in the sediment communities. Proteobacteria dominated sediment samples, while Cyanobacteria dominated water samples. Coral tissue showed a shift among different sites with Proteobacteria remaining the dominant Phylum. Moreover, we report a dominance of Chlorobium genus in the healthy coral tissue sample collected from the severely damaged Site B, suggesting a contribution to tolerance and adaptation to the disturbing environment. Thus, revealing the complex functionally diverse microbial patterns associated with biotic and abiotic disturbed coral reefs will deliver understanding of the symbiotic connections and competitive benefit inside the hosts niche and can reveal a measurable footprint of the environmental impacts on coral ecosystems. We hence, urge scientists to draw more attention towards using coral microbiome as a self-sustaining tool in coral restoration.}, } @article {pmid36054464, year = {2022}, author = {Tkacz, A and Ledermann, R and Martyn, A and Schornack, S and Oldroyd, GED and Poole, PS}, title = {Nodulation and nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula strongly alters the abundance of its root microbiota and subtly affects its structure.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {5524-5533}, pmid = {36054464}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BB/R017859/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The plant common symbiosis signalling (SYM) pathway has shared function between interactions with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the two most important symbiotic interactions between plants and microorganisms that are crucial in plant and agricultural yields. Here, we determine the role of the plant SYM pathway in the structure and abundance of the microbiota in the model legume Medicago truncatula and whether this is controlled by the nitrogen or phosphorus status of the plant. We show that SYM mutants (dmi3) differ substantially from the wild type (WT) in the absolute abundance of the root microbiota, especially under nitrogen limitation. Changes in the structure of the microbiota were less pronounced and depended on both plant genotype and nutrient status. Thus, the SYM pathway has a major impact on microbial abundance in M. truncatula and also subtly alters the composition of the microbiota.}, } @article {pmid36054126, year = {2022}, author = {Bove, CB and Davies, SW and Ries, JB and Umbanhowar, J and Thomasson, BC and Farquhar, EB and McCoppin, JA and Castillo, KD}, title = {Global change differentially modulates Caribbean coral physiology.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {e0273897}, pmid = {36054126}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Caribbean Region ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Global change driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions is altering ecosystems at unprecedented rates, especially coral reefs, whose symbiosis with algal symbionts is particularly vulnerable to increasing ocean temperatures and altered carbonate chemistry. Here, we assess the physiological responses of three Caribbean coral (animal host + algal symbiont) species from an inshore and offshore reef environment after exposure to simulated ocean warming (28, 31°C), acidification (300-3290 μatm), and the combination of stressors for 93 days. We used multidimensional analyses to assess how a variety of coral physiological parameters respond to ocean acidification and warming. Our results demonstrate reductions in coral health in Siderastrea siderea and Porites astreoides in response to projected ocean acidification, while future warming elicited severe declines in Pseudodiploria strigosa. Offshore S. siderea fragments exhibited higher physiological plasticity than inshore counterparts, suggesting that this offshore population was more susceptible to changing conditions. There were no plasticity differences in P. strigosa and P. astreoides between natal reef environments, however, temperature evoked stronger responses in both species. Interestingly, while each species exhibited unique physiological responses to ocean acidification and warming, when data from all three species are modelled together, convergent stress responses to these conditions are observed, highlighting the overall sensitivities of tropical corals to these stressors. Our results demonstrate that while ocean warming is a severe acute stressor that will have dire consequences for coral reefs globally, chronic exposure to acidification may also impact coral physiology to a greater extent in some species than previously assumed. Further, our study identifies S. siderea and P. astreoides as potential 'winners' on future Caribbean coral reefs due to their resilience under projected global change stressors, while P. strigosa will likely be a 'loser' due to their sensitivity to thermal stress events. Together, these species-specific responses to global change we observe will likely manifest in altered Caribbean reef assemblages in the future.}, } @article {pmid36052558, year = {2022}, author = {Servín-Casas, GA and Romo-Araiza, A and Gutierrez-Salmean, G and Martinez-Solis, E and Ibarra-García, AP and Cruz-Martinez, Y and Rodriguez-Barrera, R and García, E and Incontri-Abraham, D and Ibarra, A}, title = {Memory improvement in senile rats after prebiotic and probiotic supplementation is not induced by GLP-1.}, journal = {CNS neuroscience & therapeutics}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {1986-1992}, pmid = {36052558}, issn = {1755-5949}, mesh = {Rats ; Animals ; *Prebiotics ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; Inulin ; *Probiotics ; Dietary Supplements ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The mechanism underlying the memory improvement induced by prebiotic and probiotic supplementation remains unclear. Glucagon-like peptide type 1 (GLP-1) could play an important role since it is induced by prebiotics and enhances memory and learning.

AIMS: We correlated the levels of GLP-1 with spatial memory in senile animals to determine its role in memory improvement after prebiotic and probiotic supplementation.

METHODS: Senile rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) water (control); (2) Enterococcus faecium (probiotic); (3) agave inulin (prebiotic); and (4) E. faecium + agave inulin (symbiotic). Each supplement was administered by an orogastric cannula for 5 weeks. In the fifth week, spatial memory was assessed using the Morris Water Maze test (MWM). We extracted the hippocampus, intestine, and serum. GLP-1 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: A significant decrease in escape latency time in the MWM was observed in all groups treated with supplements. The symbiotic group achieved the highest reduction (15.13 s ± 6.40) (p < 0.01). We did not find a significant increase in GLP-1 levels nor a direct correlation of its levels with spatial memory improvement (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Prebiotic and probiotic supplementation improved spatial memory in senile animals. However, this beneficial effect did not correlate with GLP-1 levels.}, } @article {pmid36051901, year = {2022}, author = {Kan, J and Wu, F and Wang, F and Zheng, J and Cheng, J and Li, Y and Yang, Y and Du, J}, title = {Phytonutrients: Sources, bioavailability, interaction with gut microbiota, and their impacts on human health.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {960309}, pmid = {36051901}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Phytonutrients are natural bioactive components present in the daily diet that can exert a positive impact on human health. Studies have shown that phytonutrients may act as antioxidants and improve metabolism after being ingested, which help to regulate physiological processes and prevent metabolic disorders and diseases. However, their efficacy is limited by their low bioavailability. The gut microbiota is symbiotic with humans and its abundance and profile are related to most diseases. Interestingly, studies have shown that the gut microbiota is associated with the metabolism of phytonutrients by converting them into small molecules that can be absorbed by the body, thereby enhancing their bioavailability. Furthermore, phytonutrients can modulate the composition of the gut microbiota, and therefore improve the host's health. Here, we focus on uncovering the mechanisms by which phytonutrients and gut microbiota play roles in health, and the interrelationships between phytonutrients and gut microbiota were summarized. We also reviewed the studies that reported the efficacy of phytonutrients in human health and the future directions.}, } @article {pmid36048823, year = {2022}, author = {Grogan, C and Bennett, M and Lampe, DJ}, title = {An evaluation of fusion partner proteins for paratransgenesis in Asaia bogorensis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {e0273568}, pmid = {36048823}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R15 AI107735/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Acetobacteraceae/metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animals ; *Biological Control Agents/metabolism ; Defensins ; Malaria/prevention & control ; *Mosquito Vectors/parasitology ; *Plasmodium/microbiology/physiology ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes transmit many pathogens responsible for human diseases, such as malaria which is caused by parasites in the genus Plasmodium. Current strategies to control vector-transmitted diseases are increasingly undermined by mosquito and pathogen resistance, so additional methods of control are required. Paratransgenesis is a method whereby symbiotic bacteria are genetically modified to affect the mosquito's phenotype by engineering them to deliver effector molecules into the midgut to kill parasites. One paratransgenesis candidate is Asaia bogorensis, a Gram-negative bacterium colonizing the midgut, ovaries, and salivary glands of Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. Previously, engineered Asaia strains using native signals to drive the release of the antimicrobial peptide, scorpine, fused to alkaline phosphatase were successful in significantly suppressing the number of oocysts formed after a blood meal containing P. berghei. However, these strains saw high fitness costs associated with the production of the recombinant protein. Here, we report evaluation of five different partner proteins fused to scorpine that were evaluated for effects on the growth and fitness of the transgenic bacteria. Three of the new partner proteins resulted in significant levels of protein released from the Asaia bacterium while also significantly reducing the prevalence of mosquitoes infected with P. berghei. Two partners performed as well as the previously tested Asaia strain that used alkaline phosphatase in the fitness analyses, but neither exceeded it. It may be that there is a maximum level of fitness and parasite inhibition that can be achieved with scorpine being driven constitutively, and that use of a Plasmodium specific effector molecule in place of scorpine would help to mitigate the stress on the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid36046779, year = {2022}, author = {Permatasari, HK and Nurkolis, F and Gunawan, WB and Yusuf, VM and Yusuf, M and Kusuma, RJ and Sabrina, N and Muharram, FR and Taslim, NA and Mayulu, N and Batubara, SC and Samtiya, M and Hardinsyah, H and Tsopmo, A}, title = {Modulation of gut microbiota and markers of metabolic syndrome in mice on cholesterol and fat enriched diet by butterfly pea flower kombucha.}, journal = {Current research in food science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {1251-1265}, pmid = {36046779}, issn = {2665-9271}, abstract = {Clitoria ternatea, with an alternative name, Butterfly pea, is increasingly being explored for medical purposes and the development of a wide range of processed products. This study aimed to incorporate Butterfly pea into an innovative probiotic drink through a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) fermentation and to evaluate the biological activity. The benefits of the drink, referred to as butterfly pea flower kombucha (KBPF) was determined in vitro and in metabolically disorder mice that receive a diet rich in cholesterol and fat (CFED). Forty white male were categorized into four groups, i.e., A = Control/Normal Diet; B = CFED alone; C = CFED + KBPF 65 mg/kg BW (Body Weight); D = CFED + KBPF 130 mg/kg BW, and then sacrificed after 6 weeks of intervention. Seventy-nine secondary metabolite compounds were successfully identified in KBPF using LC-HRMS. In vitro studies showed the potential activity of KBPF in inhibiting not only ABTS, but also lipid (lipase) and carbohydrate (α-amylase, α-glucosidase) hydrolyzing enzymes to levels similar to acarbose control at 50-250 μg/mL. In the in vivo study, the administration of KBPF (130 mg/kg BW) significantly alleviated metabolic disorders caused by high-fat diet. Specifically, lipid profile (HDL, LDL, TC, TG), blood glucose, markers of oxidative stress (SOD liver), metabolic enzymes (lipase, amylase), and markers of inflammation (PGC-1α, TNF-α, and IL-10) were in most cases restored to normal values. Additionally, the gut microbiota community analysis showed that KBPF has a positive effect (p = 0.01) on both the Bacteroidetes phylum and the Firmicutes phylum. The new KBPF drink is a promising therapeutic functional food for preventing metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid36046740, year = {2022}, author = {Tan, J and Chen, M and Wang, Y and Tang, Y and Qin, W}, title = {Emerging trends and focus for the link between the gastrointestinal microbiome and kidney disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {946138}, pmid = {36046740}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bibliometrics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Kidney ; *Kidney Diseases ; *Probiotics ; United States ; }, abstract = {The clinical value of the relationship between gastrointestinal microbiome imbalance and its corresponding interventions with kidney disease is emerging. This study describes the hotspots and evolution of gastrointestinal microbiome and kidney disease research over the past three decades by scientific collaboration networks and finally predicts future trends in the field through bibliometric analysis and visualization studies. CiteSpace was used to explore the original articles from January 1990 to August 2021 to visualize the knowledge network of journals, countries, institutions, authors, references, and keywords in this field. Publications were extracted from Web of Science Core Collection database using the terms "gastrointestinal microbiome" and "kidney disease" (and their synonyms in MeSH). A total of 2145 publications with 93880 references in 102 journals were included in the analyses. The number of studies combining gastrointestinal microbiomes with kidney diseases has increased significantly over the past two decades. The United States is the leading country in the number of documents, and the leading institution is the Cleveland Clinic. The most landmark articles in the field are on chronic renal failure, L-Carnitin, and cardiovascular disease. The pathogenesis of uremia toxin is an emerging trend in gastrointestinal microbiomes and kidney diseases. In addition, probiotic or synbiotic supplements have strong clinical value in adjusting abnormal intestinal symbiotic environments. This study demonstrates a growing understanding of the interaction between gut microbiota and kidney disease over time. Using microbial supplements to improve the living conditions of kidney disease patients is a promising and hot research focus. Based on publications extracted from the database, this study may provide clinicians and researchers with valuable information to identify potential collaborators and partner institutions and better predict their dynamic progression.}, } @article {pmid36046585, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Liu, X and Dong, X and Yan, J and Xie, Z and Luo, Y}, title = {The effect of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 and γ-aminobutyric acid on salt tolerance of Sesbania rostrata.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {926850}, pmid = {36046585}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Salt stress seriously affects plant growth and crop yield, and has become an important factor that threatens the soil quality worldwide. In recent years, the cultivation of salt-tolerant plants such as Sesbania rostrata has a positive effect on improving coastal saline-alkali land. Microbial inoculation and GABA addition have been shown to enhance the plant tolerance in response to the abiotic stresses, but studies in green manure crops and the revelation of related mechanisms are not clear. In this study, the effects of inoculation with Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 and exogenous addition of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA; 200 mg·L[-1]) on the growth and development of S. rostrata under salt stress were investigated using potting experiments of vermiculite. The results showed that inoculation with ORS571 significantly increased the plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, proline content (PRO), catalase (CAT) activity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of S. rostrata and reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) level of leaves. The exogenous addition of GABA also increased the height, biomass, and CAT activity and reduced the MDA and PRO level of leaves. In addition, exogenous addition of GABA still had a certain improvement on the CAT activity and chlorophyll content of the ORS571-S. rostrata symbiotic system. In conclusion, ORS571 inoculation and GABA application have a positive effect on improving the salt stress tolerance in S. rostrata, which are closely associated with increasing chlorophyll synthesis and antioxidant enzyme activity and changing the amino acid content. Therefore, it can be used as a potential biological measure to improve the saline-alkali land.}, } @article {pmid36046021, year = {2022}, author = {Yao, G and Zhang, H and Xiong, P and Jia, H and He, M}, title = {Effects of scale worm parasitism on interactions between the symbiotic gill microbiome and gene regulation in deep sea mussel hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {940766}, pmid = {36046021}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Diverse adaptations to the challenging deep sea environment are expected to be found across all deep sea organisms. Scale worms Branchipolynoe pettiboneae are believed to adapt to the deep sea environment by parasitizing deep sea mussels; this biotic interaction is one of most known in the deep sea chemosynthetic ecosystem. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of scale worm parasitism on hosts are unclear. Previous studies have revealed that the microbiota plays an important role in host adaptability. Here, we compared gill-microbiota, gene expression and host-microorganism interactions in a group of deep sea mussels (Gigantidas haimaensis) parasitized by scale worm (PA group) and a no parasitic control group (NPA group). The symbiotic microorganism diversity of the PA group significantly decreased than NPA group, while the relative abundance of chemoautotrophic symbiotic bacteria that provide the host with organic carbon compounds significantly increased in PA. Interestingly, RNA-seq revealed that G. haimaensis hosts responded to B. pettiboneaei parasitism through significant upregulation of protein and lipid anabolism related genes, and that this parasitism may enhance host mussel nutrient anabolism but inhibit the host's ability to absorb nutrients, thus potentially helping the parasite obtain nutrients from the host. In an integrated analysis of the interactions between changes in the microbiota and host gene dysregulation, we found an agreement between the microbiota and transcriptomic responses to B. pettiboneaei parasitism. Together, our findings provide new insights into the effects of parasite scale worms on changes in symbiotic bacteria and gene expression in deep sea mussel hosts. We explored the potential role of host-microorganism interactions between scale worms and deep sea mussels, and revealed the mechanisms through which scale worm parasitism affects hosts in deep sea chemosynthetic ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid36045431, year = {2022}, author = {Meng, Y and Li, S and Zhang, C and Zheng, H}, title = {Strain-level profiling with picodroplet microfluidic cultivation reveals host-specific adaption of honeybee gut symbionts.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {140}, pmid = {36045431}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bees ; Bifidobacterium/genetics ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; *Microfluidics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic gut microbes have a rich genomic and metabolic pool and are closely related to hosts' health. Traditional sequencing profiling masks the genomic and phenotypic diversity among strains from the same species. Innovative droplet-based microfluidic cultivation may help to elucidate the inter-strain interactions. A limited number of bacterial phylotypes colonize the honeybee gut, while individual strains possess unique genomic potential and critical capabilities, which provides a particularly good model for strain-level analyses.

RESULTS: Here, we construct a droplet-based microfluidic platform and generated ~ 6 × 10[8] droplets encapsulated with individual bacterial cells from the honeybee gut and cultivate in different media. Shotgun metagenomic analysis reveals significant changes in community structure after droplet-based cultivation, with certain species showing higher strain-level diversity than in gut samples. We obtain metagenome-assembled genomes, and comparative analysis reveal a potential novel cluster from Bifidobacterium in the honeybee. Interestingly, Lactobacillus panisapium strains obtained via droplet cultivation from Apis mellifera contain a unique set of genes encoding L-arabinofuranosidase, which is likely important for the survival of bacteria in competitive environments.

CONCLUSIONS: By encapsulating single bacteria cells inside microfluidic droplets, we exclude potential interspecific competition for the enrichment of rare strains by shotgun sequencing at high resolution. The comparative genomic analysis reveals underlying mechanisms for host-specific adaptations, providing intriguing insights into microbe-microbe interactions. The current approach may facilitate the hunting for elusive bacteria and paves the way for large-scale studies of more complex animal microbial communities. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid36045101, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Peng, X and Zhang, C and Bai, X and Li, Y and Chen, G and Guo, H and He, W and Zhou, X and Gou, X}, title = {Bladder Cancer-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Promote Tumor Angiogenesis by Inducing HBP-Related Metabolic Reprogramming and SerRS O-GlcNAcylation in Endothelial Cells.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {9}, number = {30}, pages = {e2202993}, pmid = {36045101}, issn = {2198-3844}, mesh = {Mice ; Animals ; Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing)/genetics/metabolism ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism ; *Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism ; *Serine-tRNA Ligase/metabolism ; Hexosamines/metabolism ; Serine/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; *Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism ; Karyopherins ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {A malformed tumour vascular network provokes the nutrient-deprived tumour microenvironment (TME), which conversely activates endothelial cell (EC) functions and stimulates neovascularization. Emerging evidence suggests that the flexible metabolic adaptability of tumour cells helps to establish a metabolic symbiosis among various cell subpopulations in the fluctuating TME. In this study, the authors propose a novel metabolic link between bladder cancer (BCa) cells and ECs in the nutrient-scarce TME, in which BCa-secreted glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase 1 (GFAT1) via small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) reprograms glucose metabolism by increasing hexosamine biosynthesis pathway flux in ECs and thus enhances O-GlcNAcylation. Moreover, seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) O-GlcNAcylation at serine 101 in ECs promotes its degradation by ubiquitination and impeded importin α5-mediated nuclear translocation. Intranuclear SerRS attenuates vascular endothelial growth factor transcription by competitively binding to the GC-rich region of the proximal promotor. Additionally, GFAT1 knockout in tumour cells blocks SerRS O-GlcNAcylation in ECs and attenuates angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. However, administration of GFAT1-overexpressing BCa cells-derived sEVs increase the angiogenetic activity in the ECs of GFAT1-knockout mice. In summary, this study suggests that inhibiting sEV-mediated GFAT1 secretion from BCa cells and targeting SerRS O-GlcNAcylation in ECs may serve as novel strategies for BCa antiangiogenetic therapy.}, } @article {pmid36043858, year = {2022}, author = {DuBose, JG and Robeson, MS and Hoogshagen, M and Olsen, H and Haselkorn, TS}, title = {Complexities of Inferring Symbiont Function: Paraburkholderia Symbiont Dynamics in Social Amoeba Populations and Their Impacts on the Amoeba Microbiota.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {18}, pages = {e0128522}, pmid = {36043858}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {P20 GM103429/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Amoeba/microbiology ; Bacteria ; *Burkholderiaceae ; *Dictyostelium/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Spores ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The relationship between the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and its endosymbiotic bacteria Paraburkholderia provides a model system for studying the development of symbiotic relationships. Laboratory experiments have shown that any of three species of the Paraburkholderia symbiont allow D. discoideum food bacteria to persist through the amoeba life cycle and survive in amoeba spores rather than being fully digested. This phenomenon is termed "farming," as it potentially allows spores dispersed to food-poor locations to grow their own. The occurrence and impact of farming in natural populations, however, have been a challenge to measure. Here, we surveyed natural D. discoideum populations and found that only one of the three symbiont species, Paraburkholderia agricolaris, remained prevalent. We then explored the effect of Paraburkholderia on the amoeba microbiota, expecting that by facilitating bacterial food carriage, it would diversify the microbiota. Contrary to our expectations, Paraburkholderia tended to infectiously dominate the D. discoideum microbiota, in some cases decreasing diversity. Similarly, we found little evidence for Paraburkholderia facilitating the carriage of particular food bacteria. These findings highlight the complexities of inferring symbiont function in nature and suggest the possibility that Paraburkholderia could be playing multiple roles for its host. IMPORTANCE The functions of symbionts in natural populations can be difficult to completely discern. The three Paraburkholderia bacterial farming symbionts of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum have been shown in the laboratory environment to allow the amoebas to carry, rather than fully digest, food bacteria. This potentially provides a fitness benefit to the amoebas upon dispersal to food-poor environments, as they could grow their food. We expected that meaningful food carriage would manifest as a more diverse microbiota. Surprisingly, we found that Paraburkholderia tended to infectiously dominate the D. discoideum microbiota rather than diversifying it. We determined that only one of the three Paraburkholderia symbionts has increased in prevalence in natural populations in the past 20 years, suggesting that this symbiont may be beneficial, however. These findings suggest that Paraburkholderia may have an alternative function for its host, which drives its prevalence in natural populations.}, } @article {pmid36043790, year = {2022}, author = {Kuroda, K and Yamamoto, K and Nakai, R and Hirakata, Y and Kubota, K and Nobu, MK and Narihiro, T}, title = {Symbiosis between Candidatus Patescibacteria and Archaea Discovered in Wastewater-Treating Bioreactors.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0171122}, pmid = {36043790}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {*Archaea/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wastewater ; Phylogeny ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Sewage ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Euryarchaeota ; Bioreactors ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; }, abstract = {Each prokaryotic domain, Bacteria and Archaea, contains a large and diverse group of organisms characterized by their ultrasmall cell size and symbiotic lifestyles (potentially commensal, mutualistic, and parasitic relationships), namely, Candidatus Patescibacteria (also known as the Candidate Phyla Radiation/CPR superphylum) and DPANN archaea, respectively. Cultivation-based approaches have revealed that Ca. Patescibacteria and DPANN symbiotically interact with bacterial and archaeal partners and hosts, respectively, but that cross-domain symbiosis and parasitism have never been observed. By amending wastewater treatment sludge samples with methanogenic archaea, we observed increased abundances of Ca. Patescibacteria (Ca. Yanofskybacteria/UBA5738) and, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), discovered that nearly all of the Ca. Yanofskybacteria/UBA5738 cells were attached to Methanothrix (95.7 ± 2.1%) and that none of the cells were attached to other lineages, implying high host dependency and specificity. Methanothrix filaments (multicellular) with Ca. Yanofskybacteria/UBA5738 attached had significantly more cells with no or low detectable ribosomal activity (based on FISH fluorescence) and often showed deformations at the sites of attachment (based on transmission electron microscopy), suggesting that the interaction is parasitic. Metagenome-assisted metabolic reconstruction showed that Ca. Yanofskybacteria/UBA5738 lacks most of the biosynthetic pathways necessary for cell growth and universally conserves three unique gene arrays that contain multiple genes with signal peptides in the metagenome-assembled genomes of the Ca. Yanofskybacteria/UBA5738 lineage. The results shed light on a novel cross-domain symbiosis and inspire potential strategies for culturing CPR and DPANN. IMPORTANCE One highly diverse phylogenetic group of Bacteria, Ca. Patescibacteria, remains poorly understood, but, from the few cultured representatives and metagenomic investigations, they are thought to live symbiotically or parasitically with other bacteria or even with eukarya. We explored the possibility of symbiotic interactions with Archaea by amending wastewater treatment sludge samples that were rich in Ca. Patescibacteria and Archaea with an isolate archaeon that is closely related to a methanogen population abundant in situ (Methanothrix). This strategic cultivation successfully established enrichment cultures that were mainly comprised of Ca. Patescibacteria (family level lineage Ca. Yanofskybacteria/UBA5738) and Methanothrix, in which we found highly specific physical interactions between the two organisms. Microscopic observations based on transmission electron microscopy, target-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization, and metagenomic analyses showed evidence that the interaction is likely parasitic. The results show a novel cross-domain parasitism between Bacteria and Archaea and suggest that the amendment of host Archaea may be an effective approach in culturing novel Ca. Patescibacteria.}, } @article {pmid36042402, year = {2022}, author = {Twort, VG and Blande, D and Duplouy, A}, title = {One's trash is someone else's treasure: sequence read archives from Lepidoptera genomes provide material for genome reconstruction of their endosymbionts.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {209}, pmid = {36042402}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; *Lepidoptera ; Phylogeny ; *Spiroplasma/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Maternally inherited bacterial symbionts are extremely widespread in insects. They owe their success to their ability to promote their own transmission through various manipulations of their hosts' life-histories. Many symbionts however very often go undetected. Consequently, we have only a restricted idea of the true symbiont diversity in insects, which may hinder our understanding of even bigger questions in the field such as the evolution or establishment of symbiosis.

RESULTS: In this study, we screened publicly available Lepidoptera genomic material for two of the most common insect endosymbionts, namely Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, in 1904 entries, encompassing 106 distinct species. We compared the performance of two screening software, Kraken2 and MetaPhlAn2, to identify the bacterial infections and using a baiting approach we reconstruct endosymbiont genome assemblies. Of the 106 species screened, 20 (19%) and nine (8.5%) were found to be infected with either Wolbachia or Spiroplasma, respectively. Construction of partial symbiotic genomes and phylogenetic analyses suggested the Wolbachia strains from the supergroup B were the most prevalent type of symbionts, while Spiroplasma infections were scarce in the Lepidoptera species screened here.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that many of the host-symbiont associations remain largely unexplored, with the majority of associations we identify never being recorded before. This highlights the usefulness of public databases to explore the hidden diversity of symbiotic entities, allowing the development of hypotheses regarding host-symbiont associations. The ever-expanding genomic databases provide a diverse databank from which one can characterize and explore the true diversity of symbiotic entities.}, } @article {pmid36041174, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Qiu, Y and Gilliam, FS and Gillespie, CJ and Tu, C and Reberg-Horton, SC and Hu, S}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Shift Community Composition of N-Cycling Microbes and Suppress Soil N2O Emission.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {18}, pages = {13461-13472}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c03816}, pmid = {36041174}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Denitrification ; *Greenhouse Gases ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrous Oxide/analysis ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizae are ubiquitous symbiotic associations between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and terrestrial plants, in which AMF receive photosynthates from and acquire soil nutrients for their host plants. Plant uptake of soil nitrogen (N) reduces N substrate for microbial processes that generate nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. However, the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood, particularly in agroecosystems with high reactive N inputs. We examined how plant roots and AMF affect N2O emissions, N2O-producing (nirK and nirS) and N2O-consuming (nosZ) microbes under normal and high N inputs in conventional (CONV) and organically managed (OM) soils. Here, we show that high N input increased soil N2O emissions and the ratio of nirK to nirS microbes. Roots and AMF did not affect the (nirK + nirS)/nosZ ratio but significantly reduced N2O emissions and the nirK/nirS ratio. They reduced the nirK/nirS ratio by reducing nirK-Rhodobacterales but increasing nirS-Rhodocyclales in the CONV soil while decreasing nirK-Burkholderiales but increasing nirS-Rhizobiales in the OM soil. Our results indicate that plant roots and AMF reduced N2O emission directly by reducing soil N and indirectly through shifting the community composition of N2O-producing microbes in N-enriched agroecosystems, suggesting that harnessing the rhizosphere microbiome through agricultural management might offer additional potential for N2O emission mitigation.}, } @article {pmid36040842, year = {2022}, author = {Dhinakaran, AK and Dharmalingam, P and Ganesh, S and Venkatakrishnan, K and Das, S and Tan, B}, title = {Molecular Crosstalk between T Cells and Tumor Uncovers GBM-Specific T Cell Signatures in Blood: Noninvasive GBM Diagnosis Using Immunosensors.}, journal = {ACS nano}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {14134-14148}, doi = {10.1021/acsnano.2c04160}, pmid = {36040842}, issn = {1936-086X}, mesh = {Biomarkers ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; *Biosensing Techniques ; *Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology ; *Glioblastoma/diagnosis/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive stage IV brain cancer with a poor prognosis and survival rate. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) in GBM prevents the entry and exit of biomarkers, limiting its treatment options. Hence, GBM diagnosis is pivotal for timely clinical management. Currently, there exists no clinically validated biomarker for GBM diagnosis. T cells exhibit the potential to escape a leaky BBB in GBM patients. These T cells infiltrating the GBM interact with the heterogeneous population of tumor cells, display a symbiotic interaction resulting in intertwined molecular crosstalk, and display a GBM-associated signature while entering the peripheral circulation. Therefore, we hypothesize that studying these distinct molecular changes is critical to enable T cells to be a diagnostic marker for accurate detection of GBM from patient blood. We demonstrated this by utilizing the phenotypic and immunological landscape changes in T cells associated with glioblastoma tumors. GBM exhibits a high level of heterogeneity with diverse subtypes of cells within the tumor, enabling immune infiltration and different degrees of interactions with the tumor. To accurately detect these subtle molecular differences in T cells, we designed an immunosensor with a high detection sensitivity and repeatability. Hence in this study, we investigated the characteristic behavior of T cells to establish two preclinically validated biomarkers: GBM-associated T cells (GBMAT) and GBM stem cell-associated T cells (GSCAT). A comprehensive investigation was conducted by mimicking the tumor microenvironment in vitro by coculturing T cells with cancer cells and cancer stem cells to study the distinct variation in GBMAT and GSCAT. Preclinical investigation of T cells from GBM patient blood shows similar characteristics to our established biomarkers (GBMAT, GSCAT). Further evaluating the relative attributes of T cells in patient blood and tissue biopsy confirms the infiltrating ability of T cells across the BBB. A pilot validation using a SERS-based machine learning algorithm was accomplished by training the model with GBMAT and GSCAT as diagnostic markers. Using GBMAT as a biomarker, we achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 93.3% and 97.4%, respectively, whereas applying GSCAT yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 98.7%, respectively. We also validated this diagnostic methodology by using conventional biological assays to study the change in expression levels of T cell surface markers (CD4 and CD8) and cytokine levels in T cells (IL6, IL10, TNFα, INFγ) from GBM patients. This study introduces T cells as GBM-specific immune biomarkers to diagnose GBM using patient liquid biopsy. This preclinical validation study presents a better translatability into clinical reality that will enable rapid and noninvasive glioblastoma detection from patient blood.}, } @article {pmid36040813, year = {2023}, author = {Ramirez, AV and Espinoza, V and Ojeaga, M and Garza, A and Hensler, B and Honrubia, V}, title = {Home Away From Home: Mentorship and Research in Private Practices for Students Without Home Programs.}, journal = {Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {546-548}, doi = {10.1177/01945998221120231}, pmid = {36040813}, issn = {1097-6817}, mesh = {Humans ; Mentors ; *Internship and Residency ; *Students, Medical ; *Otolaryngology/education ; Hearing ; }, abstract = {As the competitiveness of matching to an otolaryngology residency continues to climb, students are encouraged to seek mentorship and research within their home institution. This notion, however, does not account for students without a home otolaryngology program or department. Here, we present a research model where medical students conduct clinical research and gain experience and mentorship within a local otolaryngology private practice. Over the span of 6 years, rotating students produced an average of 3 research projects per year. Fourth-year medical students within the practice had an average of 20.5 publications, exceeding the 2020 National Residency Match Program's metrics for matched otolaryngology applicants. Private practices may provide research and mentorship for students with limited resources. Similarly, physicians who oversee such students may gain added help to conduct research within their practice. This symbiotic relationship may serve in advancing evidence-based clinical practice while amplifying the diverse voices of students otherwise seldom heard.}, } @article {pmid36040570, year = {2022}, author = {Ghantasala, S and Roy Choudhury, S}, title = {Nod factor perception: an integrative view of molecular communication during legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {110}, number = {6}, pages = {485-509}, pmid = {36040570}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Communication ; Perception ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; }, abstract = {Compatible interaction between rhizobial Nod factors and host receptors enables initial recognition and signaling events during legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Molecular communication is a new paradigm of information relay, which uses chemical signals or molecules as dialogues for communication and has been witnessed in prokaryotes, plants as well as in animal kingdom. Understanding this fascinating relay of signals between plants and rhizobia during the establishment of a synergistic relationship for biological nitrogen fixation represents one of the hotspots in plant biology research. Predominantly, their interaction is initiated by flavonoids exuding from plant roots, which provokes changes in the expression profile of rhizobial genes. Compatible interactions promote the secretion of Nod factors (NFs) from rhizobia, which are recognised by cognate host receptors. Perception of NFs by host receptors initiates the symbiosis and ultimately leads to the accommodation of rhizobia within root nodules via a series of mutual exchange of signals. This review elucidates the bacterial and plant perspectives during the early stages of symbiosis, explicitly emphasizing the significance of NFs and their cognate NF receptors.}, } @article {pmid36040032, year = {2022}, author = {Sato, Y and Hisano, S and López-Herrera, CJ and Kondo, H and Suzuki, N}, title = {Three-Layered Complex Interactions among Capsidless (+)ssRNA Yadokariviruses, dsRNA Viruses, and a Fungus.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0168522}, pmid = {36040032}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Capsid ; Capsid Proteins/genetics ; *Double Stranded RNA Viruses/genetics ; Genome, Viral ; *RNA Viruses/genetics ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; *Ascomycota/virology ; *Fungal Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {We have previously discovered a virus neo-lifestyle exhibited by a capsidless positive-sense (+), single-stranded (ss) RNA virus YkV1 (family Yadokariviridae) and an unrelated double-stranded (ds) RNA virus YnV1 (proposed family "Yadonushiviridae") in a phytopathogenic ascomycete, Rosellinia necatrix. YkV1 has been proposed to replicate in the capsid provided by YnV1 as if it were a dsRNA virus and enhance YnV1 replication in return. Recently, viruses related to YkV1 (yadokariviruses) have been isolated from diverse ascomycetous fungi. However, it remains obscure whether such viruses generally show the YkV1-like lifestyle. Here, we identified partner viruses for three distinct yadokariviruses, YkV3, YkV4a, and YkV4b, isolated from R. necatrix that were coinfected with multiple dsRNA viruses phylogenetically distantly related to YnV1. We first established transformants of R. necatrix carrying single yadokarivirus cDNAs and fused them with infectants by single partner candidate dsRNA viruses. Consequently, YkV3 and YkV4s replicated only in the presence of RnMBV3 (family Megabirnaviridae) and RnMTV1 (proposed family "Megatotiviridae"), respectively. The partners were mutually interchangeable between the two YkV4 strains and three RnMTV1 strains but not between other combinations involving YkV1 or YkV3. In contrast to YkV1 enhancing YnV1 accumulation, YkV4s reduced RnMTV1 accumulation to different degrees according to strains. Interestingly, YkV4 rescued the host R. necatrix from impaired growth induced by RnMTV1. YkV3 exerted no apparent effect on its partner (RnMBV3) or host fungus. Overall, we revealed that while yadokariviruses generally require partner dsRNA viruses for replication, each yadokarivirus partners with a different dsRNA virus species in the three diverse families and shows a distinct symbiotic relation in a fungus. IMPORTANCE A capsidless (+)ssRNA virus YkV1 (family Yadokariviridae) highjacks the capsid of an unrelated dsRNA virus YnV1 (proposed family "Yadonushiviridae") in a phytopathogenic ascomycete, while YkV1 trans-enhances YnV1 replication. Herein, we identified the dsRNA virus partners of three yadokariviruses (YkV3, YkV4a, and YkV4b) with genome organization different from YkV1 as being different from YnV1 at the suborder level. Their partners were mutually interchangeable between the two YkV4 strains and three strains of the partner virus RnMTV1 (proposed family "Megatotiviridae") but not between other combinations involving YkV1 or YkV3. Unlike YkV1, YkV4s reduced RnMTV1 accumulation and rescued the host fungus from impaired growth induced by RnMTV1. YkV3 exerted no apparent effect on its partner (RnMBV3, family Megabirnaviridae) or host fungus. These revealed that while each yadokarivirus has a species-specific partnership with a dsRNA virus, yadokariviruses collectively partner extremely diverse dsRNA viruses and show three-layered complex mutualistic/antagonistic interactions in a fungus.}, } @article {pmid36040028, year = {2022}, author = {Acar, T and Moreau, S and Coen, O and De Meyer, F and Leroux, O and Beaumel, M and Wilkin, P and Carlier, A}, title = {Motility-Independent Vertical Transmission of Bacteria in Leaf Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0103322}, pmid = {36040028}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Alcaligenaceae ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Hereditary symbioses have the potential to drive transgenerational effects, yet the mechanisms responsible for transmission of heritable plant symbionts are still poorly understood. The leaf symbiosis between Dioscorea sansibarensis and the bacterium Orrella dioscoreae offers an appealing model system to study how heritable bacteria are transmitted to the next generation. Here, we demonstrate that inoculation of apical buds with a bacterial suspension is sufficient to colonize newly formed leaves and propagules, and to ensure transmission to the next plant generation. Flagellar motility is not required for movement inside the plant but is important for the colonization of new hosts. Further, tissue-specific regulation of putative symbiotic functions highlights the presence of two distinct subpopulations of bacteria in the leaf gland and at the shoot meristem. We propose that bacteria in the leaf gland dedicate resources to symbiotic functions, while dividing bacteria in the shoot tip ensure successful colonization of meristematic tissue, glands, and propagules. Compartmentalization of intrahost populations together with tissue-specific regulation may serve as a robust mechanism for the maintenance of mutualism in leaf symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Hereditary symbioses with bacteria are common in the animal kingdom, but relatively unexplored in plants. Several plant species form associations with bacteria in their leaves, which is called leaf symbiosis. These associations are highly specific, but the mechanisms responsible for symbiont transmission are poorly understood. Using the association between the yam species Dioscorea sansibarensis and Orrella dioscoreae as a model leaf symbiosis, we show that bacteria are distributed to specific leaf structures via association with shoot meristems. Flagellar motility is required for initial infection but does not contribute to spread within host tissue. We also provide evidence that bacterial subpopulations at the meristem or in the symbiotic leaf gland differentially express key symbiotic genes. We argue that this separation of functional symbiont populations, coupled with tight control over bacterial infection and transmission, explain the evolutionary robustness of leaf symbiosis. These findings may provide insights into how plants may recruit and maintain beneficial symbionts at the leaf surface.}, } @article {pmid36039634, year = {2022}, author = {Gonçalves, CG and Marques, RF and de Marchi, SR and Martins, D}, title = {Effect of different soil water managements on the selectivity of fomesafen in conventional and RR soybean.}, journal = {Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes}, volume = {57}, number = {10}, pages = {786-795}, doi = {10.1080/03601234.2022.2116237}, pmid = {36039634}, issn = {1532-4109}, mesh = {Benzamides ; *Herbicides/pharmacology ; Soil ; *Soybeans ; Water ; Water Supply ; }, abstract = {The study aimed to study the selectivity of the herbicide fomesafen, sprayed at different growth stages of the conventional and RR soybean cultivars, under different soil water managements. Two soybean cultivars were used: MG/BR 46 Conquista (conventional) and BRS Valiosa (RR), submitted to the spraying of fomesafen at two phenological stages (V2-first open trefoil; V4-third open trefoil), under three soil water conditions (-0.03, -0.07, and -0.5 MPa). Under water scarcity conditions, soybean plants have lower visual phytotoxicity when subjected to the spraying of the herbicide fomesafen. There were anatomical differences between the leaf blades of the conventional (MG/BR 46 Conquista) and transgenic (BRS Valiosa - RR) cultivars, and the water scarcity changed the anatomy of the soybean plants. The condition of moderate water shortage (-0.07 MPa) led the conventional cultivar to present a lower development than the transgenic cultivar. The transgenic cultivar had a greater ability to sustain the biological nitrogen fixation under moderate water shortage conditions (-0.07 MPa) than the conventional cultivar.}, } @article {pmid36037392, year = {2022}, author = {Bellinger, MR and Hartmann, U and Cadiou, H and Winklhofer, M and Banks, MA}, title = {Reply to Monteil et al.: Universal presence of core magnetite biomineralization genes points to ancient symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {39}, pages = {e2210188119}, pmid = {36037392}, issn = {1091-6490}, } @article {pmid36037367, year = {2022}, author = {Arthofer, P and Delafont, V and Willemsen, A and Panhölzl, F and Horn, M}, title = {Defensive symbiosis against giant viruses in amoebae.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {36}, pages = {e2205856119}, pmid = {36037367}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Amoeba/microbiology/virology ; Ecosystem ; *Giant Viruses/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Mimiviridae/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Protists are important regulators of microbial communities and key components in food webs with impact on nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning. In turn, their activity is shaped by diverse intracellular parasites, including bacterial symbionts and viruses. Yet, bacteria-virus interactions within protists are poorly understood. Here, we studied the role of bacterial symbionts of free-living amoebae in the establishment of infections with nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (Nucleocytoviricota). To investigate these interactions in a system that would also be relevant in nature, we first isolated and characterized a giant virus (Viennavirus, family Marseilleviridae) and a sympatric potential Acanthamoeba host infected with bacterial symbionts. Subsequently, coinfection experiments were carried out, using the fresh environmental isolates as well as additional amoeba laboratory strains. Employing fluorescence in situ hybridization and qPCR, we show that the bacterial symbiont, identified as Parachlamydia acanthamoebae, represses the replication of the sympatric Viennavirus in both recent environmental isolates as well as Acanthamoeba laboratory strains. In the presence of the symbiont, virions are still taken up, but viral factory maturation is inhibited, leading to survival of the amoeba host. The symbiont also suppressed the replication of the more complex Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus and Tupanvirus deep ocean (Mimiviridae). Our work provides an example of an intracellular bacterial symbiont protecting a protist host against virus infections. The impact of virus-symbiont interactions on microbial population dynamics and eventually ecosystem processes requires further attention.}, } @article {pmid36036591, year = {2022}, author = {Tannock, GW}, title = {Exploring Bacterial Attributes That Underpin Symbiont Life in the Monogastric Gut.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {18}, pages = {e0112822}, pmid = {36036591}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The large bowel of monogastric animals, such as that of humans, is home to a microbial community (microbiota) composed of a diversity of mostly bacterial species. Interrelationships between the microbiota as an entity and the host are complex and lifelong and are characteristic of a symbiosis. The relationships may be disrupted in association with disease, resulting in dysbiosis. Modifications to the microbiota to correct dysbiosis require knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms by which symbionts inhabit the gut. This review aims to summarize aspects of niche fitness of bacterial species that inhabit the monogastric gut, especially of humans, and to indicate the research path by which progress can be made in exploring bacterial attributes that underpin symbiont life in the gut.}, } @article {pmid36035728, year = {2022}, author = {Pengfei, S and Yafei, S and Lijun, W and Tian, C and Meng, Z and Wenfa, X and Ruimei, C}, title = {Photosynthetic product allocations of Pinus massoniana seedlings inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi along a nitrogen addition gradient.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {948676}, pmid = {36035728}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Quantifying the allocation of photosynthetic products among different carbon (C) pools is critical for understanding and predicting plant C turnover response to climate change. A field experiment with ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) and nitrogen (N) was established to investigate the effects on allocation of photosynthetic products in Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) seedlings given increased N deposition. Seedlings were subjected to N addition and symbiosis with EMF, and the short-term allocation of a [13]C photosynthetic pulse into leaves, branches, stems, roots, and soil was traced. Photosynthetic rate and root respiration were measured. It was found that N addition changed the allocation pattern of photosynthetic products in various organs of P. massoniana. Furthermore, N addition, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and interaction of N and EMF, all increased the amount of C produced by photosynthesis. N application less than 60 kg N hm[-1] a[-1] could promote the transfer and allocation of photosynthetic products in P. massoniana organs, which peaks at 60 kg N hm[-1] a[-1], and the highest N treatment began to decrease at 90 kg N hm[-1] a[-1]. EMF inoculation could expand the absorption area of plant roots to obtain more nutrients and synthesize more C and N compounds for promoting the growth of itself and the host plant, improving the net photosynthetic rate and the distribution of C produced by photosynthesis in various organs. This forms a benign C and N cycle, thereby reducing the effect of high N addition on plants. The optimal N addition concentration was 60 kg N hm[-1] a[-1], and the optimal EMF was Pt, which provides a theoretical basis for inoculating EMF during increasing N deposition in the future climate change scenario. This enables plants to distribute more photosynthetic products to their roots, thus affecting their own C distribution for promoting growth.}, } @article {pmid36035726, year = {2022}, author = {Ganugi, P and Fiorini, A and Rocchetti, G and Bonini, P and Tabaglio, V and Lucini, L}, title = {A response surface methodology approach to improve nitrogen use efficiency in maize by an optimal mycorrhiza-to-Bacillus co-inoculation rate.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {956391}, pmid = {36035726}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Co-inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and bacteria can synergically and potentially increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in plants, thus, reducing nitrogen (N) fertilizers use and their environmental impact. However, limited research is available on AMF-bacteria interaction, and the definition of synergisms or antagonistic effects is unexplored. In this study, we adopted a response surface methodology (RSM) to assess the optimal combination of AMF (Rhizoglomus irregulare and Funneliformis mosseae) and Bacillus megaterium (a PGPR-plant growth promoting rhizobacteria) formulations to maximize agronomical and chemical parameters linked to N utilization in maize (Zea mays L.). The fitted mathematical models, and also 3D response surface and contour plots, allowed us to determine the optimal AMF and bacterial doses, which are approximately accorded to 2.1 kg ha[-1] of both formulations. These levels provided the maximum values of SPAD, aspartate, and glutamate. On the contrary, agronomic parameters were not affected, except for the nitrogen harvest index (NHI), which was slightly affected (p-value of < 0.10) and indicated a higher N accumulation in grain following inoculation with 4.1 and 0.1 kg ha[-1] of AMF and B. megaterium, respectively. Nonetheless, the identification of the saddle points for asparagine and the tendency to differently allocate N when AMF or PGPR were used alone, pointed out the complexity of microorganism interaction and suggests the need for further investigations aimed at unraveling the mechanisms underlying this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36035684, year = {2022}, author = {Lyu, X and Sun, C and Lin, T and Wang, X and Li, S and Zhao, S and Gong, Z and Wei, Z and Yan, C and Ma, C}, title = {Systemic regulation of soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation by nitrogen via isoflavones.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {968496}, pmid = {36035684}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) inhibits soybean (Glycine max L.) nodulation and N2 fixation. Isoflavones secreted by soybean roots can stimulate signal transduction for symbiotic nodules, thus playing a key role in root nodule development and N2 fixation. The relationship between the inhibition of soybean nodulation, N2 fixation and isoflavones by N is still unclear. In this study, dual-root soybean plants were prepared by grafting, and N or isoflavones were supplied to unilateral roots. The number and dry weight of the soybean nodules, nitrogenase activity, isoflavone concentrations and relative changes in the level of expression of nodulation-related genes were measured to study the response relationship between the N systemic regulation the soybean nodule N2 fixation and changes in the concentrations of isoflavones in its roots. The results showed that N supply to one side of the dual-root soybeans systematically affected the N2 fixation of root nodules on both sides, and this effect began in the early stage of nodulation. Moreover, a unilateral supply of N systematically affected the concentrations of daidzein and genistein on both sides of the roots. The concentrations of isoflavones were consistent with the change trend of soybean root nodule and nodulation-related gene expression level. Treatment with unilateral N or isoflavones affected the soybean nodule N2 fixation and its nodulation-related genes, which had the same response to the changes in concentrations of root isoflavones. N regulates soybean nodulation and N2 fixation by systematically affecting the concentrations of isoflavones in the roots.}, } @article {pmid36034912, year = {2022}, author = {Sevillano-Jiménez, A and Molina-Recio, G and García-Mellado, JA and García-Rodríguez, M and Molina-Luque, R and Romero-Saldaña, M}, title = {Efficacy of nutrition education for the increase of symbiotic intake on nutritional and metabolic status in schizophrenic spectrum disorders: A two-arm protocol.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {912783}, pmid = {36034912}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The microbiota plays a vital role in the two-way communication between the gastrointestinal tract and numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Besides, the microbiota modulation through the use of psychobiotics (prebiotics and probiotics with nutraceutical action) is related to the improvement of the physical and psychopathological health. The objective to this study was to test the efficacy of prebiotic/probiotic dietary modulation in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, attending to the nutritional and cardio-metabolic impact.

METHODS: Two-arms, double-blind, randomized in balanced blocks clinical trial of 6 months of intervention, will be developed in a group of 50 individuals. The control group will receive conventional dietary advice individually from specialized mental health nurses. In the intervention group, an individual dietetic-nutritional education program with high prebiotic and probiotic content (dairy and fermented foods, green leafy vegetables, high-fiber fruit, whole grains, etc.) will be developed by these nurses. Data will be collected on the psychopathological state, and blood test (at the beginning, at 3 and 6 months). The estimation of intestinal microbiota and the usual nutritional pattern will also be assessed at the beginning and 6 months, using a stool test. To evaluate the degree of adherence, the intervention group will fill a specific weekly record of the main dishes/food consumed. Anthropometric parameters will also be analyzed monthly.

DISCUSSION: The study is anticipated to establish feasibility an adequate dietary modulation with a high simbiotic content, leads to a significant improvement in the nutritional status and cardio-metabolic. Furthermore, it is presumed to reach a degree of evidence that allows establishing nutritional management as an effective therapeutic intervention in the psychopathological treatment of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04366401].}, } @article {pmid36034697, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Z and Li, Y and Liao, W and Huang, J and Liu, Y and Li, Z and Tang, J}, title = {Gut microbiota remodeling: A promising therapeutic strategy to confront hyperuricemia and gout.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {935723}, pmid = {36034697}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Gout ; Humans ; *Hyperuricemia ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; Purines ; }, abstract = {The incidence of hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout continuously increases and has become a major public health problem. The gut microbiota, which colonizes the human intestine, has a mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship with the host and plays a vital role in the host's metabolism and immune regulation. Structural changes or imbalance in the gut microbiota could cause metabolic disorders and participate in the synthesis of purine-metabolizing enzymes and the release of inflammatory cytokines, which is closely related to the occurrence and development of the metabolic immune disease HUA and gout. The gut microbiota as an entry point to explore the pathogenesis of HUA and gout has become a new research hotspot. This review summarizes the characteristics of the gut microbiota in patients with HUA and gout. Meanwhile, the influence of different dietary structures on the gut microbiota, the effect of the gut microbiota on purine and uric acid metabolism, and the internal relationship between the gut microbiota and metabolic endotoxemia/inflammatory factors are explored. Moreover, the intervention effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbial transplantation on HUA and gout are also systematically reviewed to provide a gut flora solution for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.}, } @article {pmid36034206, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Q and Huang, KX and Pan, S and Su, C and Bi, J and Lu, X}, title = {Thymol Disrupts Cell Homeostasis and Inhibits the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus.}, journal = {Contrast media & molecular imaging}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {8743096}, pmid = {36034206}, issn = {1555-4317}, mesh = {Homeostasis ; Humans ; NADP ; *Staphylococcal Infections ; *Staphylococcus aureus ; Thymol ; }, abstract = {Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a typical kind of symbiotic bacteria, which can cause human pneumonia, food poisoning, and other health problems. Nowadays, the corresponding prevention and treatment have been a hot issue of general concern in related research areas. However, the mechanism of action against S. aureus is not well understood. In order to tackle such problem, we used broth microdilution to discuss the antibacterial effect of 5-methyl-2-isopropylphenol and determine inhibitory concentration. In addition, membrane potential and lipid peroxidation levels were also measured under experimental conditions. The experimental results suggested that 300 μg/mL thymol might cause cell membrane damage and decrease of NADPH concentration and increase of NADP[+] and lipid peroxidation level. In such condition, thymol has the potential to result in membrane rupture and disruption of cellular homeostasis. Furthermore, we also found that NOX2 is involved in maintaining the balance of NADPH/NADP[+] in cells. Finally, our work confirms that NOX2 is a potential downstream target for thymol in the cell. Such target can provide specific guidance and recommendations for its application in antifungal activity. Meanwhile, our study also provides a new inspiration for the molecular mechanism of thymol's bacteriostatic action.}, } @article {pmid36032028, year = {2022}, author = {Kleinekorte, J and Leitl, M and Zibunas, C and Bardow, A}, title = {What Shall We Do with Steel Mill Off-Gas: Polygeneration Systems Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {18}, pages = {13294-13304}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c02888}, pmid = {36032028}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {Both the global steel and chemical industries contribute largely to industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For both industries, GHG emissions are strongly related to the consumption of fossil resources. While the chemical industry often releases GHGs as direct process emissions, steel mills globally produce 1.78 Gt of off-gases each year, which are currently combusted for subsequent heat and electricity generation. However, these steel mill off-gases consist of high value compounds, which also can be utilized as feedstock for chemical production and thereby reduce fossil resource consumption and thus GHG emissions. In the present work, we determine climate-optimal utilization pathways for steel mill off-gases. We combine a nonlinear, disjunctive model of the steel mill off-gas separation system with a large-scale linear model of the chemical industry to perform environmental optimization. The results show that the climate-optimal utilization of steel mill off-gases depends on electricity's carbon footprint: For the current electricity grid mix, methane, hydrogen, and synthesis gas are recovered as feedstocks for conventional chemical production and enable a methanol-based chemical industry. For low electricity footprints in the future, the separation of steel mill off-gases supports CO2-based production processes in the chemical industry, supplying up to 30% of the required CO2. By coupling the global steel and chemical industry, industrial GHG emissions can be reduced by up to 79 Mt CO2-equivalents per year. These reductions provide up to 4.5% additional GHG savings compared to a stand-alone optimization of the two industries, showing a limited potential for this industrial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36030905, year = {2022}, author = {Ganugi, P and Pathan, SI and Zhang, L and Arfaioli, P and Benedettelli, S and Masoni, A and Pietramellara, G and Lucini, L}, title = {The pivotal role of cultivar affinity to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in determining mycorrhizal responsiveness to water deficit.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {203}, number = {}, pages = {113381}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113381}, pmid = {36030905}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Hormones/metabolism ; Lipids ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Triticum/metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have gained remarkable importance, having been proved to alleviate drought stress-induced damage in wheat due to their ability to ameliorate plant water use efficiency and antioxidant enzyme activity. However, despite the current relevance of the topic, the molecular and physiological processes at the base of this symbiosis never consider the single cultivar affinity to mycorrhization as an influencing factor for the metabolic response in the AMF-colonized plant. In the present study, the mycorrhizal affinity of two durum wheat species (T. turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.)) varieties, Iride and Ramirez, were investigated. Successively, an untargeted metabolomics approach has been used to study the fungal contribution to mitigating water deficit in both varieties. Iride and Ramirez exhibited a high and low level of mycorrhizal symbiosis, respectively; resulting in a more remarkable alteration of metabolic pathways in the most colonised variety under water deficit conditions. However, the analysis highlighted the contribution of AMF to mitigating water deficiency in both varieties, resulting in the up- and down-regulation of many amino acids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, lipids, and hormones.}, } @article {pmid36030882, year = {2022}, author = {Subkrasae, C and Ardpairin, J and Dumidae, A and Janthu, P and Muangpat, P and Polseela, R and Tandhavanant, S and Thanwisai, A and Vitta, A}, title = {Larvicidal activity of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus bacteria isolated from insect parasitic nematodes against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {235}, number = {}, pages = {106668}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106668}, pmid = {36030882}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {*Aedes/microbiology ; Animals ; Humans ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; Larva/microbiology ; Mosquito Vectors ; *Nematoda ; *Photorhabdus ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important vectors for several arboviruses such as the dengue virus. The chemical control of Aedes spp., which is usually implemented, affects both humans and the environment. The biological control of Aedes spp. with entomopathogenic bacteria such as Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus may be an alternative method that can overcome such issues. This study aimed to isolate and identify Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus bacteria from entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) collected in Thailand and evaluate their larvicidal properties in controlling A. aegypti and A. albopictus. Colony morphology and recA sequencing of the 118 symbiotic isolated bacteria indicated that most were P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii and X. stockiae with minor prevalence of P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis, P. asymbiotica subsp. australis, X. indica, X. griffiniae, X. japonica, X. thuongxuanensis, and X. eapokensis. The larvicidal bioassay with the third- and fourth-instar mosquito larvae suggested that a whole-cell suspension of X. griffiniae (bMSN3.3_TH) had the highest efficiency in eradicating A. aegypti and A. albopictus, with 90 ± 3.71% and 81 ± 2.13% mortality, respectively, after 96 h exposure. In contrast, 1% of ethyl acetate extracted from X. indica (bSNK8.5_TH) showed reduced mortality for A. aegypti of only 50 ± 3.66% after 96 h exposure. The results indicate that both X. griffiniae (bMSN3.3_TH) and X. indica (bSNK8.5_TH) could be used as biocontrol agents against Aedes larvae.}, } @article {pmid36030678, year = {2022}, author = {Jin, CZ and Wu, XW and Zhuo, Y and Yang, Y and Li, T and Jin, FJ and Lee, HG and Jin, L}, title = {Genomic insights into a free-living, nitrogen-fixing but non nodulating novel species of Bradyrhizobium sediminis from freshwater sediment: Three isolates with the smallest genome within the genus Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {5}, pages = {126353}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126353}, pmid = {36030678}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; *Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fresh Water ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nucleotides ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Water ; }, abstract = {Three bacterial strains isolated from a sediment sample collected at a water depth of 4 m from the Huaihe River in China were characterized. Phylogenetic investigation of the 16S rRNA gene and concatenated housekeeping gene sequences assigned the three novel strains in a highly supported lineage distinct from the published Bradyrhizobium species. The sequence similarities of the concatenated housekeeping genes of the three novel strains support their distinctiveness with the type strains of named species. Average nucleotide identity values of the genome sequences (79.9-82.5%) were below the threshold value of 95-96% for bacterial species circumscription. Close relatives to the novel strains are Bradyrhizobium erythrophlei, Bradyrhizobium jicamae, Bradyrhizobium lablabi, Bradyrhizobium mercantei, Bradyrhizobium elkanii and Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The complete genomes of strains S2-20-1[T], S2-11-2 and S2-11-4 consist of single chromosomes of size 5.55, 5.45 and 5.47 Mb, respectively. These strains lack a symbiosis island, key nodulation and photosystem genes. Based on the data presented here, the three strains represent a novel species for which the name Bradyrhizobium sediminis sp. nov. is proposed for S2-20-1[T] as the type strain. Those three strains are proposed as novel species in free-living Bradyrhizobium isolates with the smallest genomes so far within the genus Bradyrhizobium. A number of functional differences between the three isolates and other published genomes indicate that the genus Bradyrhizobium is extremely heterogeneous and has roles within the community including non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid36030544, year = {2022}, author = {Raphael, B and Nicolás, M and Martina, J and Daphnée, B and Daniel, W and Pierre-Emmanuel, C}, title = {The fine-tuning of mycorrhizal pathway in sorghum depends on both nitrogen-phosphorus availability and the identity of the fungal partner.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {11}, pages = {3354-3366}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14426}, pmid = {36030544}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Edible Grain/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil ; *Sorghum/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sorghum is an important worldwide source of food, feed and fibres. Like most plants, it forms mutualistic symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but the nutritional basis of mycorrhiza-responsiveness is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the transcriptional and physiological responses of sorghum to two different AMF species, Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae, under 16 different conditions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply. Our experiment reveals fine-scale differences between two AMF species in the nutritional interactions with sorghum plants. Physiological and gene expression patterns (ammonium transporters: AMT; phosphate transporters: PHT) indicate the existence of generalist or specialist mycorrhizal pathway. While R. irregularis switched on the mycorrhizal pathway independently of the plant nutritional status, F. mosseae influenced the mycorrhizal pathway depending on the N-to-P plant ratio and soil supply. The differences between both AMF species suggest some AMT and PHT as ideal candidates to develop markers for improving efficiency of nutrient acquisition in sorghum under P and N limitation, and for the selection of plant genotypes.}, } @article {pmid36029916, year = {2022}, author = {Kundu, P and Mondal, S and Ghosh, A}, title = {Bacterial species metabolic interaction network for deciphering the lignocellulolytic system in fungal cultivating termite gut microbiota.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {221}, number = {}, pages = {104763}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104763}, pmid = {36029916}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism ; *Isoptera/metabolism/microbiology ; *Termitomyces ; }, abstract = {Fungus-cultivating termite Odontotermes badius developed a mutualistic association with Termitomyces fungi for the plant material decomposition and providing a food source for the host survival. The mutualistic relationship sifted the microbiome composition of the termite gut and Termitomyces fungal comb. Symbiotic bacterial communities in the O. badius gut and fungal comb have been studied extensively to identify abundant bacteria and their lignocellulose degradation capabilities. Despite several metagenomic studies, the species-wide metabolic interaction patterns of bacterial communities in termite gut and fungal comb remains unclear. The bacterial species metabolic interaction network (BSMIN) has been constructed with 230 bacteria identified from the O. badius gut and fungal comb microbiota. The network portrayed the metabolic map of the entire microbiota and highlighted several inter-species biochemical interactions like cross-feeding, metabolic interdependency, and competition. Further, the reconstruction and analysis of the bacterial influence network (BIN) quantified the positive and negative pairwise influences in the termite gut and fungal comb microbial communities. Several key macromolecule degraders and fermentative microbial entities have been identified by analyzing the BIN. The mechanistic interplay between these influential microbial groups and the crucial glycoside hydrolases (GH) enzymes produced by the macromolecule degraders execute the community-wide functionality of lignocellulose degradation and subsequent fermentation. The metabolic interaction pattern between the nine influential microbial species has been determined by considering them growing in a synthetic microbial community. Competition (30%), parasitism (47%), and mutualism (17%) were predicted to be the major mode of metabolic interaction in this synthetic microbial community. Further, the antagonistic metabolic effect was found to be very high in the metabolic-deprived condition, which may disrupt the community functionality. Thus, metabolic interactions of the crucial bacterial species and their GH enzyme cocktail identified from the O. badius gut and fungal comb microbiota may provide essential knowledge for developing a synthetic microcosm with efficient lignocellulolytic machinery.}, } @article {pmid36027745, year = {2022}, author = {You, Y and Ju, C and Wang, L and Wang, X and Ma, F and Wang, G and Wang, Y}, title = {The mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal enhancing cadmium uptake in Phragmites australis depends on the phosphorus concentration.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {440}, number = {}, pages = {129800}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129800}, pmid = {36027745}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Cadmium/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Poaceae/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a vital strategy to enhance the phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd) pollution. However, the function of AMF was influenced by phosphorus (P) concentration. To reveal the effect of AMF on the Cd accumulation of host plants under different P concentrations and how the AMF and P interact, this study comparatively analyzed the regulatory effects of AMF on the Cd response, extraction, and transportation processes of Phragmites australis (P. australis) under different P levels, and explored its physiological, biochemical and molecular biological mechanisms. The study showed that AMF could induce different growth allocation strategies in response to Cd stress. Moreover, AMF promoted plant Cd tolerance and detoxification by enhancing P uptake, Cd passivation, Cd retention in the cell wall, and functional group modulation. Under P starvation treatments, AMF promoted Cd uptake by inducing Cd to enter the iron pathway, increased the transport coefficient by 493.39%, and retained Cd in stems. However, these effects disappeared following the addition of P. Additionally, AMF up-regulated the expression of ZIP, ZIP, and NRAMP genes to promote cadmium uptake at low, medium, and high phosphorus levels, respectively. Thus, the Cd response mechanism of the AMF-P. australis symbiotic system was P dose-dependent.}, } @article {pmid36026509, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Z and Li, Y and Xue, AZ and Dang, V and Holmes, VR and Johnston, JS and Barrick, JE and Moran, NA}, title = {The Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Novelties in a Leafhopper.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {39}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {36026509}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Genomics ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary innovations generate phenotypic and species diversity. Elucidating the genomic processes underlying such innovations is central to understanding biodiversity. In this study, we addressed the genomic basis of evolutionary novelties in the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis, GWSS), an agricultural pest. Prominent evolutionary innovations in leafhoppers include brochosomes, proteinaceous structures that are excreted and used to coat the body, and obligate symbiotic associations with two bacterial types that reside within cytoplasm of distinctive cell types. Using PacBio long-read sequencing and Dovetail Omni-C technology, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly for the GWSS and then validated the assembly using flow cytometry and karyotyping. Additional transcriptomic and proteomic data were used to identify novel genes that underlie brochosome production. We found that brochosome-associated genes include novel gene families that have diversified through tandem duplications. We also identified the locations of genes involved in interactions with bacterial symbionts. Ancestors of the GWSS acquired bacterial genes through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and these genes appear to contribute to symbiont support. Using a phylogenomics approach, we inferred HGT sources and timing. We found that some HGT events date to the common ancestor of the hemipteran suborder Auchenorrhyncha, representing some of the oldest known examples of HGT in animals. Overall, we show that evolutionary novelties in leafhoppers are generated by the combination of acquiring novel genes, produced both de novo and through tandem duplication, acquiring new symbiotic associations that enable use of novel diets and niches, and recruiting foreign genes to support symbionts and enhance herbivory.}, } @article {pmid36017243, year = {2022}, author = {Li, W}, title = {Analysis on the Influence of Western Ecological Aesthetics on Environmental Design of China's "Beautiful Countryside".}, journal = {Journal of environmental and public health}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {1271825}, pmid = {36017243}, issn = {1687-9813}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; China ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Male ; Rural Population ; }, abstract = {At this stage, the promotion of China's agricultural revitalization plan has provided new demands for the development of agricultural construction. In the process of urban and rural planning, more and more attention has been paid to the protection of rural traditional culture and aesthetic values, as well as the requirements of characteristic aesthetics. In recent years, as we pay more and more attention to the environmental protection ability and aesthetic ability of rural life, we also pay more attention to improving the rural environment, promoting rural rejuvenation, and paying attention to shaping the livable space quality of rural living environment to meet the needs of modern life and soul. "Beautiful countryside" is one of the modern development concepts explicitly put forward by China, which advocates the harmonious symbiosis aesthetic idea of "harmony between man and nature." Building a beautiful countryside is the key point of rejuvenating the countryside, and the exploration of rural aesthetics is also the important significance of realizing the great rejuvenation goal of China's rural areas. Environmental design in the construction of "beautiful countryside" is a major decision and historical task for building a new countryside in China, and building landscape design suitable for the needs of rural development is the current requirement of social development. The article firstly analyzes the challenges and opportunities of China's "beautiful countryside" environmental construction; secondly, by digging into the philosophical ideas of deep ecology, ecological aesthetics, and the relationship between man and land in the West, it analyzes the application strategies and practical methods of these practical philosophies. It provides corresponding theoretical and practical enlightenment for my country's "beautiful countryside" environmental design strategy.}, } @article {pmid36016786, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Li, X and Li, Y and Li, J and Zhu, S}, title = {Gut microbiomes of cyprinid fish exhibit host-species symbiosis along gut trait and diet.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {936601}, pmid = {36016786}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Teleost omnivorous fish that coexist partially sharing resources are likely to modify their gut traits and microbiome as a feedback mechanism between ecological processes and evolution. However, we do not understand how the core gut microbiome supports the metabolic capacity of the host and regulates digestive functions in specialized omnivorous fish gut traits. Therefore, we evaluated the gut microbiome of eight omnivorous fish from a single family (i.e., Cyprinidae) in the current study. We examined the correlation between host phylogeny, diet composition, and intestinal morphological traits related to the intestinal microbiome. The results indicated that cyprinid fish with similar relative gut lengths had considerable gut microbiome similarity. Notably, the SL (short relative gut length) group, as zoobenthos and zooplankton specialists, was abundant in Proteobacteria and was less abundant in Firmicutes than in the ML (medium relative gut length) and LL (long relative gut length) groups. These fish could extract nutrients from aquatic plants and algae. Additionally, we found the relative abundance of Clostridium and Romboutsia to be positively correlated with host relative gut length but negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Cetobacterium, Plesiomonas, Bacteroides, and Lactobacillus, and host-relative gut length. We also show a positive linear relationship between host gut microbiome carbohydrate metabolism and relative gut length, while the amino acid and lipid metabolism of the gut microbiome was negatively correlated with host-relative gut length. In addition, omnivorous species competing for resources improve their ecological adaptability through the specialization of gut length, which is closely related to variation in the synergy of the gut microbiome. Above all, specialized gut microbiota and associated gut morphologies enable fish to variably tolerate resource fluctuation and improve the utilization efficiency of nutrient extraction from challenging food resources.}, } @article {pmid36015464, year = {2022}, author = {Jócsák, I and Knolmajer, B and Szarvas, M and Rabnecz, G and Pál-Fám, F}, title = {Literature Review on the Effects of Heavy Metal Stress and Alleviating Possibilities through Exogenously Applied Agents in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {36015464}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Heavy metals (HMs) are among the most important toxic agents since they reach the soil through various routes and accumulate in the food chain. Therefore, HMs induce problems in soil integrity and in plant, animal, and human health. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a significant crop worldwide, utilized in animal production. Furthermore, because of its nitrogen-absorbing ability via symbiotic strains of bacteria, it increases soil productivity. However, there are relatively few studies investigating the effects of HMs and their alleviation possibilities on alfalfa plants. Therefore, the goal of this review is to clarify the current state of research into HM-induced alterations in alfalfa and to determine the extent to which externally applied microorganisms and chemical compounds can mitigate the negative effects. The aim is to indicate areas of development towards further understanding of HM detoxification in alfalfa and to identify future research directions.}, } @article {pmid36015430, year = {2022}, author = {Dumigan, CR and Deyholos, MK}, title = {Cannabis Seedlings Inherit Seed-Borne Bioactive and Anti-Fungal Endophytic Bacilli.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {36015430}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Throughout the hundreds of millions of years of co-evolution, plants and microorganisms have established intricate symbiotic and pathogenic relationships. Microbial communities associated with plants are in constant flux and can ultimately determine whether a plant will successfully reproduce or be destroyed by their environment. Inheritance of beneficial microorganisms is an adaptation plants can use to protect germinating seeds against biotic and abiotic stresses as seedlings develop. The interest in Cannabis as a modern crop requires research into effective biocontrol of common fungal pathogens, an area that has seen little research. This study examines the seed-borne endophytes present across 15 accessions of Cannabis grown to seed across Western Canada. Both hemp and marijuana seedlings inherited a closely related group of bioactive endophytic Bacilli. All Cannabis accessions possessed seed-inherited Paenibacillus mobilis with the capacity to solubilize mineral phosphate. Additionally, seeds were found to carry genera of fungal isolates known to be Cannabis pathogens and post-harvest molds: Alternaria, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, and Fusarium. Thirteen seed-borne endophytes showed antibiotic activity against Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. This study suggests both fungal pathogens and bacterial endophytes that antagonize them are vectored across generations in Cannabis as they compete over this shared niche.}, } @article {pmid36013944, year = {2022}, author = {Guryanova, SV}, title = {Regulation of Immune Homeostasis via Muramyl Peptides-Low Molecular Weight Bioregulators of Bacterial Origin.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36013944}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Metabolites and fragments of bacterial cells play an important role in the formation of immune homeostasis. Formed in the course of evolution, symbiotic relationships between microorganisms and a macroorganism are manifested, in particular, in the regulation of numerous physiological functions of the human body by the innate immunity receptors. Low molecular weight bioregulators of bacterial origin have recently attracted more and more attention as drugs in the prevention and composition of complex therapy for a wide range of diseases of bacterial and viral etiology. Signaling networks show cascades of causal relationships of deterministic phenomena that support the homeostasis of multicellular organisms at different levels. To create networks, data from numerous biomedical and clinical research databases were used to prepare expert systems for use in pharmacological and biomedical research with an emphasis on muramyl dipeptides. Muramyl peptides are the fragments of the cell wall of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Binding of muramyl peptides with intracellular NOD2 receptors is crucial for an immune response on pathogens. Depending on the microenvironment and duration of action, muramyl peptides possess positive or negative regulation of inflammation. Other factors, such as genetic, pollutions, method of application and stress also contribute and should be taken into account. A system biology approach should be used in order to systemize all experimental data for rigorous analysis, with the aim of understanding intrinsic pathways of homeostasis, in order to define precise medicine therapy and drug design.}, } @article {pmid36012811, year = {2022}, author = {Olaranont, Y and Stewart, AB and Songnuan, W and Traiperm, P}, title = {How and Where Periglandula Fungus Interacts with Different Parts of Ipomoea asarifolia.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36012811}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Periglandula is a fungal genus that is associated with plants in the family Convolvulaceae. They produce medicinally important constituents called ergot alkaloids, which are stored in their host plants. Previously, the fungi were reported to mainly interact with young leaves and seeds of Convolvulaceae species. However, knowledge about how ergot alkaloid-producing fungi interact with their host plants is still lacking. Therefore, we investigated the interaction of Periglandula fungus with different plant parts of Ipomoea asarifolia, using molecular, histochemical, anatomical and micromorphological techniques. Our findings confirm the presence of Periglandula ipomoeae on six out of the eight plant parts examined (young folded leaves, mature leaves, flower buds, mature flowers, young seeds and mature seeds). The fungus was mostly distributed along external plant surfaces, and particularly on areas that were relatively unexposed. Our results suggest that the density of fungal mycelium varies depending on glandular trichome density and the growth stage of the host plant. Detection of the fungus in the flowers of its host plant, for the first time, fills a missing link in understanding how vertical transmission of Periglandula species occurs.}, } @article {pmid36012795, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, J and Shi, Z and Liu, S and Zhang, M and Cao, X and Chen, M and Xu, G and Xing, H and Li, F and Feng, Q}, title = {Altitudinal Variation Influences Soil Fungal Community Composition and Diversity in Alpine-Gorge Region on the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36012795}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Soil fungi play an integral and essential role in maintaining soil ecosystem functions. The understanding of altitude variations and their drivers of soil fungal community composition and diversity remains relatively unclear. Mountains provide an open, natural platform for studying how the soil fungal community responds to climatic variability at a short altitude distance. Using the Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technique, we examined soil fungal community composition and diversity among seven vegetation types (dry valley shrub, valley-mountain ecotone broadleaved mixed forest, subalpine broadleaved mixed forest, subalpine coniferous-broadleaved mixed forest, subalpine coniferous forest, alpine shrub meadow, alpine meadow) along a 2582 m altitude gradient in the alpine-gorge region on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Ascomycota (47.72%), Basidiomycota (36.58%), and Mortierellomycota (12.14%) were the top three soil fungal dominant phyla in all samples. Soil fungal community composition differed significantly among the seven vegetation types along altitude gradients. The α-diversity of soil total fungi and symbiotic fungi had a distinct hollow pattern, while saprophytic fungi and pathogenic fungi showed no obvious pattern along altitude gradients. The β-diversity of soil total fungi, symbiotic fungi, saprophytic fungi, and pathogenic fungi was derived mainly from species turnover processes and exhibited a significant altitude distance-decay pattern. Soil properties explained 31.27-34.91% of variation in soil fungal (total and trophic modes) community composition along altitude gradients, and the effects of soil nutrients on fungal community composition varied by trophic modes. Soil pH was the main factor affecting α-diversity of soil fungi along altitude gradients. The β-diversity and turnover components of soil total fungi and saprophytic fungi were affected by soil properties and geographic distance, while those of symbiotic fungi and pathogenic fungi were affected only by soil properties. This study deepens our knowledge regarding altitude variations and their drivers of soil fungal community composition and diversity, and confirms that the effects of soil properties on soil fungal community composition and diversity vary by trophic modes along altitude gradients in the alpine-gorge region.}, } @article {pmid36012789, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, MA and Liu, RC and Xiao, ZY and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Alsayed, MF and Harsonowati, W and Wu, QS}, title = {Symbiotic Fungi Alter the Acquisition of Phosphorus in Camellia oleifera through Regulating Root Architecture, Plant Phosphate Transporter Gene Expressions and Soil Phosphatase Activities.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36012789}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Plant roots can be colonized by many symbiotic fungi, whereas it is unclear whether and how symbiotic fungi including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic fungi promote phosphorus (P) uptake in Camellia oleifera plants. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of inoculation with a culturable endophytic fungus (Piriformospora indica), three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Funneliformis mosseae, Diversispora versiformis, and Rhizophagus intraradices), and mixture of F. mosseae, D. versiformis and R. intraradices on plant growth, root architecture, soil Olsen-P, soil phosphatase activities, leaf and root P concentrations, and phosphate transporter gene expressions, in order to explore the potential and mechanism of these symbiotic fungi on P acquisition. All the symbiotic fungi colonized roots of C. oleifera after 16 weeks, with P. indica showing the best effect on fungal colonization. All the symbiotic fungi significantly increased acid, neutral, and total phosphatase activities in the soil, accompanied with an elevation of soil Olsen-P, of which P. indica presented the best effect. All symbiotic fungal treatments, except D. versiformis, significantly promoted plant growth, coupled with an increase in root total length, area, and volume. Symbiotic fungi almost up-regulated root CoPHO1-3 expressions as well as leaf CoPHO1-1, CoPHO1-3, and CoPHT1;4 expressions. Correlation analysis showed that P concentrations in leaves and roots were significantly positively correlated with root morphological variables (length, volume, and surface area) and soil acid, neutral and total phosphatase activities. It is concluded that symbiotic fungi, especially P. indica, played an important role in P uptake of C. oleifera plants through regulating root architecture, part plant phosphate transporter gene expressions and soil phosphatase activities.}, } @article {pmid36012784, year = {2022}, author = {Herrera, H and Sanhueza, T and da Silva Valadares, RB and Matus, F and Pereira, G and Atala, C and Mora, ML and Arriagada, C}, title = {Diversity of Root-Associated Fungi of the Terrestrial Orchids Gavilea lutea and Chloraea collicensis in a Temperate Forest Soil of South-Central Chile.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36012784}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The diversity of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) and other beneficial root-associated fungi in temperate forests has scarcely been examined. This study aimed to analyze the diversity of mycorrhizal and rhizosphere-associated fungal communities in the terrestrial orchids Gavilea lutea and Chloraea collicensis growing in high-orchid-population-density areas in the piedmont of the Andes Cordillera with native forest (Nothofagus-Araucaria) and Coastal Cordillera with an exotic plantation (Pinus-Eucalyptus) in south-central Chile. We focused on rhizosphere-inhabiting and peloton-associated OMF in a native forest (Andes Cordillera) and a mixed forest (Coastal Cordillera). The native terrestrial orchids G. lutea and C. collicensis were localized, mycorrhizal root segments were taken to isolate peloton-associated OMF, and rhizosphere soil was taken to perform the metabarcoding approach. The results revealed that Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were the main rhizosphere-inhabiting fungal phyla, showing significant differences in the composition of fungal communities in both sites. Sebacina was the most-abundant OMF genera in the rhizosphere of G. lutea growing in the native forest soil. In contrast, Thanatephorus was the most abundant mycorrhizal taxa growing in the rhizosphere of orchids from the Coastal Cordillera. Besides, other OMF genera such as Inocybe, Tomentella, and Mycena were detected. The diversity of OMF in pelotons differed, being mainly related to Ceratobasidium sp. and Tulasnella sp. These results provide evidence of differences in OMF from pelotons and the rhizosphere soil in G. lutea growing in the Andes Cordillera and a selection of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of C. collicensis in the Coastal Cordillera. This raises questions about the efficiency of propagation strategies based only on mycorrhizal fungi obtained by culture-dependent methods, especially in orchids that depend on non-culturable taxa for seed germination and plantlet development.}, } @article {pmid36012416, year = {2022}, author = {Biţă, A and Scorei, IR and Bălşeanu, TA and Ciocîlteu, MV and Bejenaru, C and Radu, A and Bejenaru, LE and Rău, G and Mogoşanu, GD and Neamţu, J and Benner, SA}, title = {New Insights into Boron Essentiality in Humans and Animals.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {36012416}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Boron/metabolism ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Plants ; Prebiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Boron (B) is considered a prebiotic chemical element with a role in both the origin and evolution of life, as well as an essential micronutrient for some bacteria, plants, fungi, and algae. B has beneficial effects on the biological functions of humans and animals, such as reproduction, growth, calcium metabolism, bone formation, energy metabolism, immunity, and brain function. Naturally organic B (NOB) species may become promising novel prebiotic candidates. NOB-containing compounds have been shown to be essential for the symbiosis between organisms from different kingdoms. New insights into the key role of NOB species in the symbiosis between human/animal hosts and their microbiota will influence the use of natural B-based colon-targeting nutraceuticals. The mechanism of action (MoA) of NOB species is related to the B signaling molecule (autoinducer-2-borate (AI-2B)) as well as the fortification of the colonic mucus gel layer with NOB species from B-rich prebiotic diets. Both the microbiota and the colonic mucus gel layer can become NOB targets. This paper reviews the evidence supporting the essentiality of the NOB species in the symbiosis between the microbiota and the human/animal hosts, with the stated aim of highlighting the MoA and targets of these species.}, } @article {pmid36012261, year = {2022}, author = {Abdul Hamid, NW and Nadarajah, K}, title = {Microbe Related Chemical Signalling and Its Application in Agriculture.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {36012261}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Bacteria ; *Fertilizers ; Humans ; Plants/microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The agriculture sector has been put under tremendous strain by the world's growing population. The use of fertilizers and pesticides in conventional farming has had a negative impact on the environment and human health. Sustainable agriculture attempts to maintain productivity, while protecting the environment and feeding the global population. The importance of soil-dwelling microbial populations in overcoming these issues cannot be overstated. Various processes such as rhizospheric competence, antibiosis, release of enzymes, and induction of systemic resistance in host plants are all used by microbes to influence plant-microbe interactions. These processes are largely founded on chemical signalling. Producing, releasing, detecting, and responding to chemicals are all part of chemical signalling. Different microbes released distinct sorts of chemical signal molecules which interacts with the environment and hosts. Microbial chemicals affect symbiosis, virulence, competence, conjugation, antibiotic production, motility, sporulation, and biofilm growth, to name a few. We present an in-depth overview of chemical signalling between bacteria-bacteria, bacteria-fungi, and plant-microbe and the diverse roles played by these compounds in plant microbe interactions. These compounds' current and potential uses and significance in agriculture have been highlighted.}, } @article {pmid36009823, year = {2022}, author = {Barreno, E and Muggia, L and Chiva, S and Molins, A and Bordenave, C and García-Breijo, F and Moya, P}, title = {Trebouxia lynnae sp. nov. (Former Trebouxia sp. TR9): Biology and Biogeography of an Epitome Lichen Symbiotic Microalga.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36009823}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Two microalgal species, Trebouxia jamesii and Trebouxia sp. TR9, were detected as the main photobionts coexisting in the thalli of the lichen Ramalina farinacea. Trebouxia sp. TR9 emerged as a new taxon in lichen symbioses and was successfully isolated and propagated in in vitro culture and thoroughly investigated. Several years of research have confirmed the taxon Trebouxia sp. TR9 to be a model/reference organism for studying mycobiont−photobiont association patterns in lichen symbioses. Trebouxia sp. TR9 is the first symbiotic, lichen-forming microalga for which an exhaustive characterization of cellular ultrastructure, physiological traits, genetic and genomic diversity is available. The cellular ultrastructure was studied by light, electron and confocal microscopy; physiological traits were studied as responses to different abiotic stresses. The genetic diversity was previously analyzed at both the nuclear and organelle levels by using chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear genome data, and a multiplicity of phylogenetic analyses were carried out to study its intraspecific diversity at a biogeographical level and its specificity association patterns with the mycobiont. Here, Trebouxia sp. TR9 is formally described by applying an integrative taxonomic approach and is presented to science as Trebouxia lynnae, in honor of Lynn Margulis, who was the primary modern proponent for the significance of symbiosis in evolution. The complete set of analyses that were carried out for its characterization is provided.}, } @article {pmid36009794, year = {2022}, author = {Suo, P and Wang, K and Yu, H and Fu, X and An, L and Bhowmick, B and Zhang, J and Han, Q}, title = {Seasonal Variation of Midgut Bacterial Diversity in Culexquinquefasciatus Populations in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36009794}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Culex quinquefasciatus, one of the most significant mosquito vectors in the world, is widespread in most parts of southern China. A variety of diseases including Bancroft's filariasis, West Nile disease, and St. Louis encephalitis could be transmitted by the vector. Mosquitoes have been shown to host diverse bacterial communities that vary depending on environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall. In this work, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the seasonal variation of midgut bacterial diversity of Cx. Quinquefasciatus in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum, accounting for 79.7% (autumn), 73% (winter), 80.4% (spring), and 84.5% (summer). The abundance of Bacteroidetes in autumn and winter was higher than in others. Interestingly, Epsilonbacteraeota, which only exists in autumn and winter, was discovered accidentally in the midgut. We speculated that this might participate in the nutritional supply of adult mosquitoes when temperatures drop. Wolbachia is the most abundant in autumn, accounting for 31.6% of bacteria. The content of Pantoea was highest in the summer group, which might be related to the enhancement of the ability of mosquitoes as temperatures increased. Pseudomonas is carried out as the highest level in winter. On the contrary, in spring and summer, the genus in highest abundance is Enterobacter. Acinetobacter enriches in the spring when it turns from cold to hot. By studying the diversity of midgut bacteria of Cx. quinquefasciatus, we can further understand the co-evolution of mosquitoes and their symbiotic microbes. This is necessary to discuss the seasonal variation of microorganisms and ultimately provide a new perspective for the control of Cx. quinquefasciatus to reduce the spread of the diseases which have notably vital practical significance for the effective prevention of Cx. quinquefasciatus.}, } @article {pmid36009341, year = {2022}, author = {Sainz, MM and Filippi, CV and Eastman, G and Sotelo-Silveira, J and Borsani, O and Sotelo-Silveira, M}, title = {Analysis of Thioredoxins and Glutaredoxins in Soybean: Evidence of Translational Regulation under Water Restriction.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36009341}, issn = {2076-3921}, support = {1/CX/CSRD VA/United States ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) establishes symbiosis with rhizobacteria, developing the symbiotic nodule, where the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) occurs. The redox control is key for guaranteeing the establishment and correct function of the BNF process. Plants have many antioxidative systems involved in ROS homeostasis and signaling, among them a network of thio- and glutaredoxins. Our group is particularly interested in studying the differential response of nodulated soybean plants to water-deficit stress. To shed light on this phenomenon, we set up an RNA-seq experiment (for total and polysome-associated mRNAs) with soybean roots comprising combined treatments including the hydric and the nodulation condition. Moreover, we performed the initial identification and description of the complete repertoire of thioredoxins (Trx) and glutaredoxins (Grx) in soybean. We found that water deficit altered the expression of a greater number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than the condition of plant nodulation. Among them, we identified 12 thioredoxin (Trx) and 12 glutaredoxin (Grx) DEGs, which represented a significant fraction of the detected GmTrx and GmGrx in our RNA-seq data. Moreover, we identified an enriched network in which a GmTrx and a GmGrx interacted with each other and associated through several types of interactions with nitrogen metabolism enzymes.}, } @article {pmid36009001, year = {2022}, author = {Lamb, DC and Goldstone, JV and Zhao, B and Lei, L and Mullins, JGL and Allen, MJ and Kelly, SL and Stegeman, JJ}, title = {Characterization of a Virally Encoded Flavodoxin That Can Drive Bacterial Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase Activity.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36009001}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {U41 HG003345/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 ES021923/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Flavodoxin/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Soil ; *Streptomyces coelicolor/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Flavodoxins are small electron transport proteins that are involved in a myriad of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic metabolic pathways in Bacteria (including cyanobacteria), Archaea and some algae. The sequenced genome of 0305φ8-36, a large bacteriophage that infects the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, was predicted to encode a putative flavodoxin redox protein. Here we confirm that 0305φ8-36 phage encodes a FMN-containing flavodoxin polypeptide and we report the expression, purification and enzymatic characterization of the recombinant protein. Purified 0305φ8-36 flavodoxin has near-identical spectral properties to control, purified Escherichia coli flavodoxin. Using in vitro assays we show that 0305φ8-36 flavodoxin can be reconstituted with E. coli flavodoxin reductase and support regio- and stereospecific cytochrome P450 CYP170A1 allyl-oxidation of epi-isozizaene to the sesquiterpene antibiotic product albaflavenone, found in the soil bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor. In vivo, 0305φ8-36 flavodoxin is predicted to mediate the 2-electron reduction of the β subunit of phage-encoded ribonucleotide reductase to catalyse the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides during viral replication. Our results demonstrate that this phage flavodoxin has the potential to manipulate and drive bacterial P450 cellular metabolism, which may affect both the host biological fitness and the communal microbiome. Such a scenario may also be applicable in other viral-host symbiotic/parasitic relationships.}, } @article {pmid36008913, year = {2022}, author = {Yue, JY and Yu, Y}, title = {Isolation and identification of endophytic fungi from Dendrobium huoshanense with their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.}, journal = {Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {1143-1151}, pmid = {36008913}, issn = {1011-601X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; Benzene ; *Dendrobium/microbiology ; *Endophytes/chemistry ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {To examine the symbiotic relationship between Dendrobium huoshanense and its endophytic fungi, a total of 168 endophytic fungi were isolated and classified into 18 genera and 36 species via using pure culture and techniques of molecular biology. Among them, Stagonosporopsis oculihominis, Alternaria eichhorniae, Phyllosticta aristolochiicola, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium lactis were the dominant genera. Further, the secondary metabolites produced by the dominant genera were screened for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The secondary metabolites of Stagonosporopsis oculihominis showed good inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the release of nitric oxide (NO). Three benzene ring derivatives were also identified using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, including (Z)-1- hydroxy-4-(2-nitroethenyl)-benzene (1), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (2) and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (3). These findings indicated that the endophytic fungi of Dendrobium huoshanense are diverse and their dominant genera exert similar anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects as those of the host plant, which provided a scientific basis for the subsequent investigation of the medicinal value of Dendrobium huoshanense.}, } @article {pmid36008774, year = {2022}, author = {Rodriguez Jimenez, A and Guiglielmoni, N and Goetghebuer, L and Dechamps, E and George, IF and Flot, JF}, title = {Comparative genome analysis of Vagococcus fluvialis reveals abundance of mobile genetic elements in sponge-isolated strains.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {618}, pmid = {36008774}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterococcaceae/genetics ; Interspersed Repetitive Sequences/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Vagococcus fluvialis is a species of lactic acid bacteria found both free-living in river and seawater and associated to hosts, such as marine sponges. This species has been greatly understudied, with no complete genome assembly available to date, which is essential for the characterisation of the mobilome.

RESULTS: We sequenced and assembled de novo the complete genome sequences of five V. fluvialis isolates recovered from marine sponges. Pangenome analysis of the V. fluvialis species (total of 17 genomes) showed a high intraspecific diversity, with 45.5% of orthologous genes found to be strain specific. Despite this diversity, analyses of gene functions clustered all V. fluvialis species together and separated them from other sequenced Vagococcus species. V. fluvialis strains from different habitats were highly similar in terms of functional diversity but the sponge-isolated strains were enriched in several functions related to the marine environment. Furthermore, sponge-isolated strains carried a significantly higher number of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) compared to previously sequenced V. fluvialis strains from other environments. Sponge-isolated strains carried up to 4 circular plasmids each, including a 48-kb conjugative plasmid. Three of the five strains carried an additional circular extrachromosomal sequence, assumed to be an excised prophage as it contained mainly viral genes and lacked plasmid replication genes. Insertion sequences (ISs) were up to five times more abundant in the genomes of sponge-isolated strains compared to the others, including several IS families found exclusively in these genomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the dynamics and plasticity of the V. fluvialis genome. The abundance of mobile genetic elements in the genomes of sponge-isolated V. fluvialis strains suggests that the mobilome might be key to understanding the genomic signatures of symbiosis in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36008736, year = {2022}, author = {Rajkumari, J and Katiyar, P and Dheeman, S and Pandey, P and Maheshwari, DK}, title = {The changing paradigm of rhizobial taxonomy and its systematic growth upto postgenomic technologies.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {11}, pages = {206}, pmid = {36008736}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a diazotrophic group of bacteria that are usually isolated form the nodules in roots, stem of leguminous plants and are able to form nodules in the host plant owing to the presence of symbiotic genes. The rhizobial community is highly diverse, and therefore, the taxonomy and genera-wise classification of rhizobia has been constantly changing since the last three decades. This is mainly due to technical advancements, and shifts in definitions, resulting in a changing paradigm of rhizobia taxonomy. Initially, the taxonomic definitions at the species and sub species level were based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequence, followed by polyphasic approach to have phenotypic, biochemical, and genetic analysis including multilocus sequence analysis. Rhizobia mainly belonging to α- and β-proteobacteria, and recently new additions from γ-proteobacteria had been classified. Nowadays rhizobial taxonomy has been replaced by genome-based taxonomy that allows gaining more insights of genomic characteristics. These omics-technologies provide genome specific information that considers nodulation and symbiotic genes, along with molecular markers as taxonomic traits. Taxonomy based on complete genome sequence (genotaxonomy), average nucleotide identity, is now being considered as primary approach, resulting in an ongoing paradigm shift in rhizobial taxonomy. Also, pairwise whole-genome comparisons, phylogenomic analyses offer correlations between DNA and DNA re-association values that have delineated biologically important species. This review elaborates the present classification and taxonomy of rhizobia, vis-a-vis development of technical advancements, parameters and controversies associated with it, and describe the updated information on evolutionary lineages of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid36008052, year = {2022}, author = {Song, X and Liang, H and Huang, R and Ke, C and Tao, B and Zhang, W}, title = {Mechanism underlying the response of fungi and their Fusarium symbiotic networks to the rotations of soybean and corn.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {126}, number = {9}, pages = {609-619}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2022.07.007}, pmid = {36008052}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Fungi/genetics ; *Fusarium ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani are the main soybean root rot pathogens in northern China. We investigated the distribution and driving factors of Fusarium under different cropping systems to evaluate and regulate soil health. The factors affecting Fusarium in soybean cropping systems were assessed using high-throughput sequencing of ITS1 to identify soil microbial population diversity, and then the soil physicochemical properties were assessed to determine the levels of various elements present in the environment. According to the results, the abundance of Fusarium was obviously reduced in the corn-soybean rotation and uncultivated soil systems. The relative abundance of Fusarium in the soil and the abundance and diversity of fungal communities were significantly positively associated with the abundance of Ascomycota. Additionally, the relative abundance of Fusarium was significantly positively correlated with the zinc (Zn) content. When the Zn content was high, the abundance of Fusarium increased, and the correlations with Chaetomium, Cryptococcus, Penicillium and Trichoderma significantly decreased. Soybean yield was significantly negatively correlated with fungal community abundance and diversity. Based on our results, the uncultivated soil and corn-soybean rotation cropping systems improved the organizational structure of the soil fungal community and were conducive to the health and production of soybean.}, } @article {pmid36008051, year = {2022}, author = {Cometto, A and Leavitt, SD and Millanes, AM and Wedin, M and Grube, M and Muggia, L}, title = {The yeast lichenosphere: high diversity of basidiomycetes from the lichens Tephromela atra and Rhizoplaca melanophthalma.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {126}, number = {9}, pages = {587-608}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2022.07.004}, pmid = {36008051}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Humans ; *Lichens/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are well-known examples of complex symbiotic associations between organisms from different Kingdoms. Microfungi in particular, establish diverse associations with the hosting lichen thallus, as species-specific parasites or transient co-inhabitants. The whole community of lichen-associated fungi constitute the 'lichen mycobiome' comprising both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, including filamentous and yeast taxa. Metabarcoding results and microscopy analyses show that in some thalli, basidiomycetes are frequent lichen-associated fungi but still only a few species could be axenically isolated and morphologically characterized. Within a broad project aiming at characterizing the mycobiome diversity by culture-dependent and independent approaches in two lichen species selected as reference models - Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and Tephromela atra, we succeed in isolating and culturing 76 new strains of basidiomycetous yeasts. The lichen thalli were collected in different mountain regions worldwide and at relatively high elevation. The yeast strains were isolated on different growth media and were studied for their morphological and genetic diversity. Nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and ribosomal large subunit (LSU) sequence analyses identified them to belong to ten families within the orders Agaricostilbomycetes, Cystobasidiomycetes, Microbotryomycetes, Tremellomycetes and Ustilaginomycetes. The yeasts here detected showed patterns of host-preference in a few cases and they are potentially related to the ecological conditions.}, } @article {pmid36007892, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, WT and Zhang, B and Li, ML and Liu, KH and Jiao, J and Tian, CF}, title = {The convergent xenogeneic silencer MucR predisposes α-proteobacteria to integrate AT-rich symbiosis genes.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {50}, number = {15}, pages = {8580-8598}, pmid = {36007892}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {*Alphaproteobacteria/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; DNA ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial adaptation is largely shaped by horizontal gene transfer, xenogeneic silencing mediated by lineage-specific DNA bridgers (H-NS, Lsr2, MvaT and Rok), and various anti-silencing mechanisms. No xenogeneic silencing DNA bridger is known for α-proteobacteria, from which mitochondria evolved. By investigating α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium fredii, a facultative legume microsymbiont, here we report the conserved zinc-finger bearing MucR as a novel xenogeneic silencing DNA bridger. Self-association mediated by its N-terminal domain (NTD) is required for DNA-MucR-DNA bridging complex formation, maximizing MucR stability, transcriptional silencing, and efficient symbiosis in legume nodules. Essential roles of NTD, CTD (C-terminal DNA-binding domain), or full-length MucR in symbiosis can be replaced by non-homologous NTD, CTD, or full-length protein of H-NS from γ-proteobacterium Escherichia coli, while NTD rather than CTD of Lsr2 from Gram-positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis can replace the corresponding domain of MucR in symbiosis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing reveals similar recruitment profiles of H-NS, MucR and various functional chimeric xenogeneic silencers across the multipartite genome of S. fredii, i.e. preferring AT-rich genomic islands and symbiosis plasmid with key symbiosis genes as shared targets. Collectively, the convergently evolved DNA bridger MucR predisposed α-proteobacteria to integrate AT-rich foreign DNA including symbiosis genes, horizontal transfer of which is strongly selected in nature.}, } @article {pmid36007806, year = {2022}, author = {Tsurugi-Sakurada, A and Kaneko, T and Takemoto, K and Yoneda, Y and Yamanaka, T and Kawai, S}, title = {Cyclic diarylheptanoids as potential signal compounds during actinorhizal symbiosis between Alnus sieboldiana and Frankia.}, journal = {Fitoterapia}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {105284}, doi = {10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105284}, pmid = {36007806}, issn = {1873-6971}, mesh = {*Alnus ; Diarylheptanoids/pharmacology ; *Frankia/metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Compounds/metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia coexists with actinorhizal plants via nodules and supplies nitrogen compounds to the plants. Although communication has been suggested to exist through chemical substances in this nodule symbiosis, the details underlying this mechanism remain elusive. The biphenyl-type diarylheptanoids (BP-CDHs), alnusonol, and alnusdione, previously isolated from the actinorhizal plant A. sieboldiana branch wood, are secondary metabolites that accumulate in a limited number of plant species. However, since relatively widely distributed in actinorhizal plants, we investigated whether adding A. sieboldiana root extracts and these BP-CDHs could affect plant seedlings inoculated with Frankia. The results showed that the addition of root extract or alnusonol significantly increased the number of nodules and lobes more than two times compared with that upon Frankia supplementation only. We also proved that the extracted components of this plant affected nodule symbiosis. Finally, we confirmed through LC-MS that the root extract component contained BP-CDH, alnusonol. The above-described results indicate that BP-CDHs, at leaset alnusonol, might function as signal compounds from the plant side of the actinorhizal symbiosis between A. sieboldiana and Frankia.}, } @article {pmid36007717, year = {2022}, author = {Adenubi, OT and Famuyide, IM and McGaw, LJ and Eloff, JN}, title = {Lichens: An update on their ethnopharmacological uses and potential as sources of drug leads.}, journal = {Journal of ethnopharmacology}, volume = {298}, number = {}, pages = {115657}, doi = {10.1016/j.jep.2022.115657}, pmid = {36007717}, issn = {1872-7573}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Antioxidants/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Ethnopharmacology ; *Lichens ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Lichens, a unique symbiotic association between an alga/cyanobacterium and a fungus, produce secondary metabolites that are a promising source of novel drug leads. The beauty and importance of lichens have not been adequately explored despite their manifold biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antiparasitic.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present review collates and discusses the available knowledge on secondary metabolites and biological activities of lichens (in vitro and in vivo).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using relevant keywords (lichens, secondary metabolites, bioactivity, pharmacological activities), five electronic databases, namely ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Recent Literature on Lichens, were searched for past and current scientific contributions up until May 2022. Literature focusing broadly on the bioactivity of lichens including their secondary metabolites were identified and summarized.

RESULTS: A total of 50 review articles and 189 research articles were searched. Information related to antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and insecticidal activities of 90 lichen species (from 13 families) and 12 isolated metabolites are reported. Over 90% of the studies comprised in vitro investigations, such as bioassays evaluating radical scavenging properties, lipid peroxidation inhibition and reducing power, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial bioassays of lichen species and constituents. In vivo studies were scarce and available only in fish and rats. Most of the studies were done by research groups in Brazil, France, Serbia, India and Turkey. There were relatively few reports from Asia and Africa despite the ubiquitous nature of lichens and the high occurrence in these continents.

CONCLUSION: Secondary metabolites from lichens are worthy of further investigation in terms of their potential therapeutic applicability, including better understanding of their mechanism(s) of action. This would be of great importance in the search for novel drugs.}, } @article {pmid36006535, year = {2022}, author = {Yazıcı, E and Alakaş, HM and Eren, T}, title = {Analysis of operations research methods for decision problems in the industrial symbiosis: a literature review.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {47}, pages = {70658-70673}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-022-22507-w}, pmid = {36006535}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Industry ; *Operations Research ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Industrial symbiosis (IS) is an approach that aims to use resources efficiently by cooperating between independent enterprises in raw materials, energy, and similar sectors. As a result of cooperation, businesses gain economic, environmental, and social benefits. Especially in recent years, IS applications have become widespread due to the problems experienced in the supply of resources. The presence of more than one enterprise in cooperation creates a complex network structure in IS applications. In this complex system, many decision problems are encountered in establishing and effectively maintaining the industrial symbiosis network. Operations research techniques are at the forefront of the methods used to solve decision problems. This study examined studies using operations research techniques in industrial symbiosis. Studies were divided into four classes according to the methods they used: exact methods, heuristic methods, multi-criteria decision-making, and simulation. In the literature review, the studies in the Web of Science (WOS) database are systematically presented by scanning with the determined keywords. As a result of the study, it was analyzed which method was preferred and where the methods could be applied in industrial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid36006460, year = {2022}, author = {Belkadi, N and Ezzakkioui, F and Saibari, I and Chahboune, R and Rfaki, A and Said, B}, title = {Genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from nodules of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) cultivated in Northwestern Morocco.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {9}, pages = {574}, pmid = {36006460}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Trigonella ; }, abstract = {The present work aimed to characterize rhizobia nodulating Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) cultivated in six different geographical locations in Northwestern Morocco. Forty-seven rhizobial isolates from nodules of Trigonella foenum-graecum were grouped into thirteen clusters using the Rep-PCR technique. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of 13 groups showed that all representative strains were closely related to members of the genus Ensifer (syn. Sinorhizobium) of the Alphaproteobacteria. All the representative strains shared 100% similarity with Ensifer medicae WSM419[T]. NodC and nifH gene analysis revealed a close phylogenetic relationship of the representative strains with those of the strains belonging to the symbiovar meliloti. Furthermore, nodulation ability of our rhizobial strains was efficient in their host plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).}, } @article {pmid36005754, year = {2022}, author = {Ashrafi, S and Kuzmanović, N and Patz, S and Lohwasser, U and Bunk, B and Spröer, C and Lorenz, M and Elhady, A and Frühling, A and Neumann-Schaal, M and Verbarg, S and Becker, M and Thünen, T}, title = {Two New Rhizobiales Species Isolated from Root Nodules of Common Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) Show Different Plant Colonization Strategies.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0109922}, pmid = {36005754}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Fertilizers ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Root nodules of legume plants are primarily inhabited by rhizobial nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Here, we propose two new Rhizobiales species isolated from root nodules of common sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), as shown by core-gene phylogeny, overall genome relatedness indices, and pan-genome analysis. Mesorhizobium onobrychidis sp. nov. actively induces nodules and achieves atmospheric nitrogen and carbon dioxide fixation. This species appears to be depleted in motility genes and is enriched in genes for direct effects on plant growth performance. Its genome reveals functional and plant growth-promoting signatures, like a large unique chromosomal genomic island with high density of symbiotic genetic traits. Onobrychidicola muellerharveyae gen. nov. sp. nov. is described as a type species of the new genus Onobrychidicola in Rhizobiaceae. This species comprises unique genetic features and plant growth-promoting traits (PGPTs), which strongly indicate its function in biotic stress reduction and motility. We applied a newly developed bioinformatics approach for in silico prediction of PGPTs (PGPT-Pred), which supports the different lifestyles of the two new species and the plant growth-promoting performance of M. onobrychidis in the greenhouse trial. IMPORTANCE The intensive use of chemical fertilizers has a variety of negative effects on the environment. Increased utilization of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is one way to mitigate those negative impacts. In order to optimize BNF, suitable candidates for different legume species are required. Despite intensive search for new rhizobial bacteria associated with legumes, no new rhizobia have recently been identified from sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia). Here, we report on the discovery of two new rhizobial species associated with sainfoin, which are of high importance for the host and may help to increase sustainability in agricultural practices. We employed the combination of in silico prediction and in planta experiments, which is an effective way to detect promising plant growth-promoting bacteria.}, } @article {pmid36005488, year = {2022}, author = {Sikorskaya, TV and Ermolenko, EV and Efimova, KV and Dang, LTP}, title = {Coral Holobionts Possess Distinct Lipid Profiles That May Be Shaped by Symbiodiniaceae Taxonomy.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36005488}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Complex Mixtures ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are very important for corals. Abiotic stressors cause the acclimatization of cell membranes in symbionts, which possess different membrane acclimatization strategies. Membrane stability is determined by a unique lipid composition and, thus, the profile of thylakoid lipids can depend on coral symbiont species. We have analyzed and compared thylakoid lipidomes (mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDG and DGDG), sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols (SQDG), and phosphatidylglycerols (PG)) of crude extracts from symbiotic reef-building coral Acropora sp., the hydrocoral Millepora platyphylla, and the octocoral Sinularia flexibilis. S. flexibilis crude extracts were characterized by a very high SQDG/PG ratio, a DGDG/MGDG ratio < 1, a lower degree of galactolipid unsaturation, a higher content of SQDG with polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a thinner thylakoid membrane which may be explained by the presence of thermosensitive dinoflagellates Cladocopium C3. In contrast, crude extracts of M. platyphylla and Acropora sp. exhibited the lipidome features of thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae. M. platyphylla and Acropora sp. colonies contained Cladocopium C3u and Cladocopium C71/C71a symbionts, respectively, and their lipidome profiles showed features that indicate thermotolerance. We suggest that an association with symbionts that exhibit the thermotolerant thylakoid lipidome features, combined with a high Symbiodiniaceae diversity, may facilitate further acclimatization/adaptation of M. platyphylla and Acropora sp. holobionts in the South China Sea.}, } @article {pmid36005392, year = {2022}, author = {Richter, I and Radosa, S and Cseresnyés, Z and Ferling, I and Büttner, H and Niehs, SP and Gerst, R and Scherlach, K and Figge, MT and Hillmann, F and Hertweck, C}, title = {Toxin-Producing Endosymbionts Shield Pathogenic Fungus against Micropredators.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0144022}, pmid = {36005392}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Burkholderia/metabolism ; *Antimitotic Agents/metabolism ; Macrolides ; Symbiosis ; *Oryza/microbiology ; *Toxins, Biological ; Seedlings ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The fungus Rhizopus microsporus harbors a bacterial endosymbiont (Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica) for the production of the antimitotic toxin rhizoxin. Although rhizoxin is the causative agent of rice seedling blight, the toxinogenic bacterial-fungal alliance is, not restricted to the plant disease. It has been detected in numerous environmental isolates from geographically distinct sites covering all five continents, thus raising questions regarding the ecological role of rhizoxin beyond rice seedling blight. Here, we show that rhizoxin serves the fungal host in fending off protozoan and metazoan predators. Fluorescence microscopy and coculture experiments with the fungivorous amoeba Protostelium aurantium revealed that ingestion of R. microsporus spores is toxic to P. aurantium. This amoebicidal effect is caused by the dominant bacterial rhizoxin congener rhizoxin S2, which is also lethal toward the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. By combining stereomicroscopy, automated image analysis, and quantification of nematode movement, we show that the fungivorous nematode Aphelenchus avenae actively feeds on R. microsporus that is lacking endosymbionts, whereas worms coincubated with symbiotic R. microsporus are significantly less lively. This study uncovers an unexpected ecological role of rhizoxin as shield against micropredators. This finding suggests that predators may function as an evolutionary driving force to maintain toxin-producing endosymbionts in nonpathogenic fungi. IMPORTANCE The soil community is a complex system characterized by predator-prey interactions. Fungi have developed effective strategies to defend themselves against predators. Understanding these strategies is of critical importance for ecology, medicine, and biotechnology. In this study, we shed light on the defense mechanisms of the phytopathogenic Rhizopus-Mycetohabitans symbiosis that has spread worldwide. We report an unexpected role of rhizoxin, a secondary metabolite produced by the bacterium M. rhizoxinica residing within the hyphae of R. microsporus. We show that this bacterial secondary metabolite is utilized by the fungal host to successfully fend off fungivorous protozoan and metazoan predators and thus identified a fundamentally new function of this infamous cytotoxic compound. This endosymbiont-dependent predator defense illustrates an unusual strategy employed by fungi that has broader implications, since it may serve as a model for understanding how animal predation acts as an evolutionary driving force to maintain endosymbionts in nonpathogenic fungi.}, } @article {pmid36005319, year = {2022}, author = {Meng, L and Xia, C and Jin, Z and Zhang, H}, title = {Investigation of Gut Bacterial Communities of Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri) Reared on Different Host Plants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36005319}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) can cause severe damage to citrus plants, as it transmits Candidatus Liberibacter spp., a causative agent of Huanglongbing disease. Symbiotic bacteria play vital roles in the ecology and biology of herbivore hosts, thereby affecting host growth and adaptation. In our research, the effects of Rutaceous plants (i.e., Citrus reticulata cv. Shatangju, Citrus poonensis cv. Ponkan, Murraya paniculata (orange jasmine), Citrus limon (lemon), and Citrus sinensis (navel orange)) on the gut microbiota (GM) and microbial diversity of D. citri adults were investigated by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. It was found that Proteobacteria dominated the GM communities. The gut microbe diversity was the highest in the ponkan-feeding population, and the lowest in the Shatangju-feeding population. The NMDS analysis revealed that there were obvious differences in the GM communities among the different hosts. PICRUSt function prediction indicated significant differences in host function, and those pathways were crucial for maintaining population reproduction, growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stress in D. citri. Our study sheds new light on the interactions between symbionts, herbivores, and host plants and expands our knowledge on host adaptation related to GM in D. citri.}, } @article {pmid36005316, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, Y and Liu, Y and Yu, J and Xu, Y and Chen, S}, title = {Observation of the Antimicrobial Activities of Two Actinomycetes in the Harvester Ant Messor orientalis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36005316}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Observations have shown that seeds collected by harvester ants are less likely to mold. Based on evolutionary analysis and other research, it was hypothesized that harvester ants could apply actinomycetes to protect seeds, similar to the protection of mutualistic fungi by leafcutter ants. Two actinomycetes were successfully isolated from the harvester ant Messor orientalis. The taxonomic status of the actinomycetes was determined by 16S rRNA sequence analysis and biochemical experimental observations. Their inhibitory effects on plant pathogens were measured. One of the bacteria was identified as Brachybacterium phenoliresistens and denoted as B. phenoliresistens MO. The other belonged to the genus Microbacterium. It was named Microbacterium sp. Growth rate determination and coculture experiments were performed to explore the inhibitory effect of actinomycetes on indicator plant pathogens. The inhibition rates of the actinomycetes toward Peronophythora litchii and Rhizoctonia solani were 100% in media containing 30% or more fermentation broth, and they also showed an inhibitory effect on Colletotrichum siamense. The coculture experiment supported this result by showing that the growth of P. litchii and R. solani was inhibited in the presence of actinomycetes. Therefore, the results of this study show the agricultural application potential of these bacteria and may provide a reference for research on the symbiosis of harvester ants with actinomycetes.}, } @article {pmid36005310, year = {2022}, author = {Eason, J and Mason, L}, title = {Characterization of Microbial Communities from the Alimentary Canal of Typhaea stercorea (L.) (Coleoptera: Mycetophagidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {36005310}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The gut microbiomes of symbiotic insects typically mediate essential functions lacking in their hosts. Here, we describe the composition of microbes residing in the alimentary canal of the hairy fungus beetle, Typhaea stercorea (L.), at various life stages. This beetle is a post-harvest pest of stored grains that feeds on fungi and serves as a vector of mycotoxigenic fungi. It has been reported that the bacterial communities found in most insects' alimentary canals contribute to nutrition, immune defenses, and protection from pathogens. Hence, bacterial symbionts may play a key role in the digestive system of T. stercorea. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we examined the microbiota of T. stercorea. We found no difference in bacterial species richness between larvae and adults, but there were compositional differences across life stages (PERMANOVA:pseudo-F(8,2) = 8.22; p = 0.026). The three most abundant bacteria found in the alimentary canal of the larvae and adults included Pseudomonas (47.67% and 0.21%, respectively), an unspecified genus of the Enterobacteriaceae family (46.60 % and 90.97%, respectively), and Enterobacter (3.89% and 5.75%, respectively). Furthermore, Pseudomonas spp. are the predominant bacteria in the larval stage. Our data indicated that field-collected T. stercorea tended to have lower species richness than laboratory-reared beetles (Shannon: H = 5.72; p = 0.057). Furthermore, the microbial communities of laboratory-reared insects resembled one another, whereas field-collected adults exhibited variability (PERMANOVA:pseudo-F(10,3) = 4.41; p = 0.006). We provide evidence that the environment and physiology can shift the microbial composition in the alimentary canal of T. stercorea.}, } @article {pmid36003934, year = {2022}, author = {Nishide, Y and Oguchi, K and Murakami, M and Moriyama, M and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Endosymbiotic bacteria of the boar louse Haematopinus apri (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Anoplura).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {962252}, pmid = {36003934}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insects exclusively feeding on vertebrate blood are usually dependent on symbiotic bacteria for provisioning of B vitamins. Among them, sucking lice are prominent in that their symbiotic bacteria as well as their symbiotic organs exhibit striking diversity. Here we investigated the bacterial diversity associated with the boar louse Haematopinus apri in comparison with the hog louse Haematopinus suis. Amplicon sequencing analysis identified the primary endosymbiont predominantly detected from all populations of H. apri with some minor secondary bacterial associates. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene confirmed that the endosymbionts of the boar louse H. apri, the hog louse H. suis and the cattle louse Haematopinus eurysternus form a distinct clade in the Gammaproteobacteria. The endosymbiont clade of Haematopinus spp. was phylogenetically distinct from the primary endosymbionts of other louse lineages. Fluorescence in situ hybridization visualized the endosymbiont localization within midgut epithelium, ovarial ampulla and posterior oocyte of H. apri, which were substantially the same as the endosymbiont localization previously described in H. suis and H. eurysternus. Mitochondrial haplotype analysis revealed that, although the domestic pig was derived from the wild boar over the past 8,000 years of human history, the populations of H. apri constituted a distinct sister clade to the populations of H. suis. Based on these results, we discussed possible evolutionary trajectories of the boar louse, the hog louse and their endosymbionts in the context of swine domestication. We proposed 'Candidatus Haematopinicola symbiotica' for the distinct clade of the endosymbionts of Haematopinus spp.}, } @article {pmid36003821, year = {2022}, author = {Becerril-Espinosa, A and Hernández-Herrera, RM and Meza-Canales, ID and Perez-Ramirez, R and Rodríguez-Zaragoza, FA and Méndez-Morán, L and Sánchez-Hernández, CV and Palmeros-Suárez, PA and Palacios, OA and Choix, FJ and Juárez-Carrillo, E and Lara-González, MA and Hurtado-Oliva, MÁ and Ocampo-Alvarez, H}, title = {Habitat-adapted heterologous symbiont Salinispora arenicola promotes growth and alleviates salt stress in tomato crop plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {920881}, pmid = {36003821}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {To ensure food security given the current scenario of climate change and the accompanying ecological repercussions, it is essential to search for new technologies and tools for agricultural production. Microorganism-based biostimulants are recognized as sustainable alternatives to traditional agrochemicals to enhance and protect agricultural production. Marine actinobacteria are a well-known source of novel compounds for biotechnological uses. In addition, former studies have suggested that coral symbiont actinobacteria may support co-symbiotic photosynthetic growth and tolerance and increase the probability of corals surviving abiotic stress. We have previously shown that this activity may also hold in terrestrial plants, at least for the actinobacteria Salinispora arenicola during induced heterologous symbiosis with a wild Solanaceae plant Nicotiana attenuata under in vitro conditions. Here, we further explore the heterologous symbiotic association, germination, growth promotion, and stress relieving activity of S. arenicola in tomato plants under agricultural conditions and dig into the possible associated mechanisms. Tomato plants were grown under normal and saline conditions, and germination, bacteria-root system interactions, plant growth, photosynthetic performance, and the expression of salt stress response genes were analyzed. We found an endophytic interaction between S. arenicola and tomato plants, which promotes germination and shoot and root growth under saline or non-saline conditions. Accordingly, photosynthetic and respective photoprotective performance was enhanced in line with the induced increase in photosynthetic pigments. This was further supported by the overexpression of thermal energy dissipation, which fine-tunes energy use efficiency and may prevent the formation of reactive oxygen species in the chloroplast. Furthermore, gene expression analyses suggested that a selective transport channel gene, SlHKT1,2, induced by S. arenicola may assist in relieving salt stress in tomato plants. The fine regulation of photosynthetic and photoprotective responses, as well as the inhibition of the formation of ROS molecules, seems to be related to the induced down-regulation of other salt stress response genes, such as SlDR1A-related genes or SlAOX1b. Our results demonstrate that the marine microbial symbiont S. arenicola establishes heterologous symbiosis in crop plants, promotes growth, and confers saline stress tolerance. Thus, these results open opportunities to further explore the vast array of marine microbes to enhance crop tolerance and food production under the current climate change scenario.}, } @article {pmid36002791, year = {2023}, author = {López-Legentil, S and Palanisamy, SK and Smith, KF and McCormack, G and Erwin, PM}, title = {Prokaryotic symbiont communities in three ascidian species introduced in both Ireland and New Zealand.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {6805-6817}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-022-22652-2}, pmid = {36002791}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; *Urochordata/microbiology ; Ireland ; New Zealand ; Bacteria/genetics ; Introduced Species ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Ascidians or sea squirts are among the marine taxa with the most introduced species worldwide. These animals have a suite of biological characteristics that contribute to their successful establishment, including long reproductive seasons, rapid growth rates, and resistance to pollution. Here, we sequenced a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene to characterize symbiont diversity and host-specificity in the solitary species Syela clava and Ascidiella aspersa, and the colonial species Didemnum vexillum. Samples were collected from introduced populations in several marinas and mussel facilities around Ireland, and a marina in New Zealand. Two additional colonial species Botrylloides violaceus and Didemnum sp. were collected in Ireland, and ambient seawater was sampled from both countries for comparison. Data revealed a strong effect of host species and location on prokaryote symbiont composition, consistent with recent ascidian microbiome literature. However, a location effect did not manifest in alpha diversity metrics (e.g., the same ascidian species at different locations exhibited similar diversity) but was evident in beta diversity metrics (greater intra-specific differences across locations than within locations). Location effects were stronger than species effects only for the solitary species (i.e., A. aspersa from New Zealand was more similar to S. clava from New Zealand than to A. aspersa from Ireland). D. vexillum and A. aspersa hosted a high abundance of prokaryotic symbionts that were previously found in other ascidian species, while S. clava symbiotic community was more closely related to bacteria common in the marine environment. Further studies should aim to unravel host-microbe coevolutionary patterns and the microbial role in facilitating host establishment in different habitats.}, } @article {pmid36002592, year = {2022}, author = {Kramer, N and Guan, J and Chen, S and Wangpraseurt, D and Loya, Y}, title = {Morpho-functional traits of the coral Stylophora pistillata enhance light capture for photosynthesis at mesophotic depths.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {861}, pmid = {36002592}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Ecosystem ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {The morphological architecture of photosynthetic corals modulates the light capture and functioning of the coral-algal symbiosis on shallow-water corals. Since corals can thrive on mesophotic reefs under extreme light-limited conditions, we hypothesized that microskeletal coral features enhance light capture under low-light environments. Utilizing micro-computed tomography scanning, we conducted a novel comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) assessment of the small-scale skeleton morphology of the depth-generalist coral Stylophora pistillata collected from shallow (4-5 m) and mesophotic (45-50 m) depths. We detected a high phenotypic diversity between depths, resulting in two distinct morphotypes, with calyx diameter, theca height, and corallite marginal spacing contributing to most of the variation between depths. To determine whether such depth-specific morphotypes affect coral light capture and photosynthesis on the corallite scale, we developed 3D simulations of light propagation and photosynthesis. We found that microstructural features of corallites from mesophotic corals provide a greater ability to use solar energy under light-limited conditions; while corals associated with shallow morphotypes avoided excess light through self-shading skeletal architectures. The results from our study suggest that skeleton morphology plays a key role in coral photoadaptation to light-limited environments.}, } @article {pmid36002470, year = {2022}, author = {Azam, A and Bardhan, A and Kaloop, MR and Samui, P and Alanazi, F and Alzara, M and Yosri, AM}, title = {Modeling resilient modulus of subgrade soils using LSSVM optimized with swarm intelligence algorithms.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {14454}, pmid = {36002470}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Intelligence ; Least-Squares Analysis ; *Soil ; *Support Vector Machine ; }, abstract = {Resilient modulus (Mr) of subgrade soils is one of the crucial inputs in pavement structural design methods. However, the spatial variability of soil properties and the nature of test protocols, the laboratory determination of Mr has become inexpedient. This paper aims to design an accurate soft computing technique for the prediction of Mr of subgrade soils using the hybrid least square support vector machine (LSSVM) approaches. Six swarm intelligence algorithms, namely particle swarm optimization (PSO), grey wolf optimizer (GWO), symbiotic organisms search (SOS), salp swarm algorithm (SSA), slime mould algorithm (SMA), and Harris hawks optimization (HHO) have been applied and compared to optimize the LSSVM parameters. For this purpose, a literature dataset (891 datasets) of different types of soils has been used to design and evaluate the proposed models. The input variables in all of the proposed models included confining stress, deviator stress, unconfined compressive strength, degree of soil saturation, soil moisture content, optimum moisture content, plasticity index, liquid limit, and percent of soil particles (P #200). The accuracy of the proposed models was assessed by comparing the predicted with the observed of Mr values with respect to different statistical analyses, i.e., root means square error (RMSE) and determination coefficient (R[2]). For modeling the Mr of subgrade soils, percent passing No. 200 sieve, optimum moisture content, and unconfined compressive strength were found to be the most significant variables. It is observed that the performance of LSSVM-GWO, LSSVM-SOS, and LSSVM-SSA outperforms other models in predicting accurate values of Mr. The (RMSE and R[2]) of the LSSVM-GWO, LSSVM-SSA, and LSSVM-SOS are (6.79 MPa and 0.940), (6.78 MPa and 0.940), and (6.72 MPa and 0.942), respectively, and hence, LSSVM-SOS can be used for high estimating accuracy of Mr of subgrade soils.}, } @article {pmid36002267, year = {2022}, author = {Chaudhary, S and Yadav, M and Mathpal, S and Chandra, S and Rathore, JS}, title = {Genomic assortment and interactive insights of the chromosomal encoded control of cell death (ccd) toxin-antitoxin (TA) module in Xenorhabdus nematophila.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2022.2114940}, pmid = {36002267}, issn = {1538-0254}, abstract = {In the present circumstances, toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules have a great consideration due to their elusive role in bacterial physiology. TA modules consist of a toxic part and a counteracting antitoxin part and these are abundant genetic loci harbored on bacterial plasmids and chromosomes. The control of cell death (ccd) TA locus was the first identified TA module and its unitary function (such as plasmid maintenance) has been described, however, the function of its chromosomal counterparts is still ambiguous. Here, we are exploring the genomic assortment, structural and functional association of chromosomally encoded ccdAB TA homolog (ccdAB[Xn][1]) in the genome of an entomopathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. This bacterium is a symbiotic model with the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae that infects and kills the host insect. By genomic assortment analysis, our observations suggested that CcdA antitoxin homologs are not more closely related than CcdB toxin homologs. Further results suggest that the ccdAB[Xn][1] TA homolog has sulphonamide (such as 4C6, for CcdA homolog) and peptide (such as gyrase, for CcdB homolog) ligand partners with a typical TA interaction network that may affect essential cellular metabolism of the X. nematophila. Collectively, our results improve the knowledge and conception of the metabolic interactive role of ccdAB TA homologs in X. nematophila physiology.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.}, } @article {pmid36002003, year = {2022}, author = {Pacherres, CO and Ahmerkamp, S and Koren, K and Richter, C and Holtappels, M}, title = {Ciliary flows in corals ventilate target areas of high photosynthetic oxygen production.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {19}, pages = {4150-4158.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.071}, pmid = {36002003}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Chlorophyll ; *Dinoflagellida ; Oxygen ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Most tropical corals live in symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae algae whose photosynthetic production of oxygen (O2) may lead to excess O2 in the diffusive boundary layer (DBL) above the coral surface. When flow is low, cilia-induced mixing of the coral DBL is vital to remove excess O2 and prevent oxidative stress that may lead to coral bleaching and mortality. Here, we combined particle image velocimetry using O2-sensitive nanoparticles (sensPIV) with chlorophyll (Chla)-sensitive hyperspectral imaging to visualize the microscale distribution and dynamics of ciliary flows and O2 in the coral DBL in relation to the distribution of Symbiodiniaceae Chla in the tissue of the reef building coral, Porites lutea. Curiously, we found an inverse relation between O2 in the DBL and Chla in the underlying tissue, with patches of high O2 in the DBL above low Chla in the underlying tissue surrounding the polyp mouth areas and pockets of low O2 concentrations in the DBL above high Chla in the coenosarc tissue connecting neighboring polyps. The spatial segregation of Chla and O2 is related to ciliary-induced flows, causing a lateral redistribution of O2 in the DBL. In a 2D transport-reaction model of the coral DBL, we show that the enhanced O2 transport allocates parts of the O2 surplus to areas containing less chla, which minimizes oxidative stress. Cilary flows thus confer a spatially complex mass transfer in the coral DBL, which may play an important role in mitigating oxidative stress and bleaching in corals.}, } @article {pmid36000856, year = {2022}, author = {Shaárani, S and Ahmad Sabri, NS and Riyadi, FA and Md Akhir, FN and Othman, N and Hara, H}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Three Nitrogen-Fixing Strains Isolated from Soil Cooled for Growing Temperate Root Crops in a Tropical Climate.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e0050122}, pmid = {36000856}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing bacteria can form a symbiotic relationship with several members of the major plant groups and with fungi. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of three nitrogen-fixing strains isolated from soil cooled for growing temperate root crops in a tropical climate.}, } @article {pmid35998886, year = {2022}, author = {Du, AQ and Ying, TT and Zhou, ZY and Yu, WC and Hu, GA and Luo, X and Ma, MJ and Yu, YL and Wang, H and Wei, B}, title = {Non-ribosomal peptide biosynthetic potential of the nematode symbiont Photorhabdus.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {917-925}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.13118}, pmid = {35998886}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; *Photorhabdus/genetics/metabolism ; *Nematoda/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Symbiosis ; Peptides/genetics ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus, the symbiotic bacteria of Heterorhabditis nematodes, has been reported to possess many non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs). To provide an in-depth assessment of the non-ribosomal peptide biosynthetic potential of Photorhabdus, we compared the distribution of BGCs in 81 Photorhabdus strains, confirming the predominant presence (44.80%) of NRPS BGCs in Photorhabdus. All 990 NRPS BGCs were clustered into 275 gene cluster families (GCFs) and only 13 GCFs could be annotated with known BGCs, suggesting their great diversity and novelty. These NRPS BGCs encoded 351 novel peptides containing more than four amino acids, and 173 of them showed high sequence similarity to known BGCs encoding bioactive peptides, implying the promising potential of Photorhabdus to produce valuable peptides. Sequence similarity networking of adenylation (A-) domains suggested that the substrate specificity of A-domains was not directly correlated with the sequence similarity. The molecular similarity network of predicted metabolite scaffolds of NRPS BGCs and reported peptides from Photorhabdus and a relevant database demonstrated that the non-ribosomal peptide biosynthetic potential of Photorhabdus was largely untapped and revealed the core peptides deserving intensive studies. Our present study provides valuable information for the targeted discovery of novel non-ribosomal peptides from Photorhabdus.}, } @article {pmid35998684, year = {2022}, author = {Miao, F and Tai, Z and Wang, Y and Zhu, Q and Fang, JK and Hu, M}, title = {Tachyplesin I Analogue Peptide as an Effective Antimicrobial Agent against Candida albicans-Staphylococcus aureus Poly-Biofilm Formation and Mixed Infection.}, journal = {ACS infectious diseases}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {1839-1850}, doi = {10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00080}, pmid = {35998684}, issn = {2373-8227}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology ; Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; *Coinfection/microbiology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Mice ; Peptides, Cyclic ; *Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy ; Staphylococcus aureus ; }, abstract = {Microbial biofilms are difficult to tackle in many infectious diseases. Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus are prevalent symbiotic strains in polymicrobial biofilms, which showed enhanced antimicrobial resistance and made identifying effective treatment techniques more difficult. The antibiofilm abilities of tachplesin I analogue peptide (TP11A) and tachplesin I were investigated quantitatively in this study. Both inhibited C. albicans monomicrobial, S. aureus monomicrobial, and C. albicans-S. aureus polymicrobial biofilms quite well. TP11A suppressed the biofilm- and virulence-related genes of C. albicans (hwp 1) and S. aureus (ica A, fnb B, agr A, hla, nor A, and sig B) in the mixed biofilm, according to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. We created an injectable thermosensitive in situ PLEL@TP11A gel system by simply adding TP11A into poly(d,l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d,l-lactide) (PLEL). Using C. albicans-S. aureus mixed infected wound models of mice, the in vivo therapeutic effect of TP11A and PLEL@TP11A in polymicrobial infections was investigated. The findings revealed that TP11A and PLEL@TP11A could efficiently reduce bacterial and fungal burden in wound infections, as well as accelerated wound healing. Based on above findings, TP11A might be an effective antimicrobial against C. albicans-S. aureus poly-biofilm formation and mixed infection.}, } @article {pmid35998598, year = {2022}, author = {Waters, M}, title = {Plant development: Sizing up the competition with strigolactones.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {16}, pages = {R884-R886}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.093}, pmid = {35998598}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; *Lactones ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots ; *Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are small molecules secreted by plants into the soil to attract symbiotic fungal partners. Two studies describe how plants can predict future competition from neighbours by sensing the levels of strigolactones in the root zone.}, } @article {pmid35997584, year = {2022}, author = {Breusing, C and Klobusnik, NH and Hauer, MA and Beinart, RA}, title = {Genome assembly of the chemosynthetic endosymbiont of the hydrothermal vent snail Alviniconcha adamantis from the Mariana Arc.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35997584}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Ammonia ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Snails ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Urea ; Waste Products ; }, abstract = {Chemosynthetic animal-microbe symbioses sustain hydrothermal vent communities in the global deep sea. In the Indo-Pacific Ocean, hydrothermal ecosystems are often dominated by gastropod species of the genus Alviniconcha, which live in association with chemosynthetic Gammaproteobacteria or Campylobacteria. While the symbiont genomes of most extant Alviniconcha species have been sequenced, no genome information is currently available for the gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont of Alviniconcha adamantis-a comparatively shallow living species that is thought to be the ancestor to all other present Alviniconcha lineages. Here, we report the first genome sequence for the symbiont of A. adamantis from the Chamorro Seamount at the Mariana Arc. Our phylogenomic analyses show that the A. adamantis symbiont is most closely related to Chromatiaceae endosymbionts of the hydrothermal vent snails Alviniconcha strummeri and Chrysomallon squamiferum, but represents a distinct bacterial species or possibly genus. Overall, the functional capacity of the A. adamantis symbiont appeared to be similar to other chemosynthetic Gammaproteobacteria, though several flagella and chemotaxis genes were detected, which are absent in other gammaproteobacterial Alviniconcha symbionts. These differences might suggest potential contrasts in symbiont transmission dynamics, host recognition, or nutrient transfer. Furthermore, an abundance of genes for ammonia transport and urea usage could indicate adaptations to the oligotrophic waters of the Mariana region, possibly via recycling of host- and environment-derived nitrogenous waste products. This genome assembly adds to the growing genomic resources for chemosynthetic bacteria from hydrothermal vents and will be valuable for future comparative genomic analyses assessing gene content evolution in relation to environment and symbiotic lifestyles.}, } @article {pmid35996663, year = {2022}, author = {Khrizi, A and Zitouni-Haouar, FE and Fortas, Z}, title = {Growth promotion and mycorrhizal colonization of Argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) inoculated with the edible desert truffle Tirmania nivea (Desf.) Trappe.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13769}, pmid = {35996663}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Ascomycota ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; *Sapotaceae ; }, abstract = {This study presents the first evidence of the mycorrhizal compatibility between the edible desert truffle Tirmania nivea and the valuable fruit tree Argania spinosa. Seed germination trials demonstrated that soaking pre-treatment of argan seeds in hydrogen peroxide (9%) for five days combined with the application of a fungicide treatment on an inert sowing material maximized the seed germination of this tree species. The mycorrhizal synthesis was conducted under greenhouse conditions by inoculating, in vivo, the host plant seedlings with spores of T. nivea. The growth and mycorrhizal status of A. spinosa was assessed 15.5 months after inoculation. The desert truffle mycorrhization significantly promoted all the investigated morphological parameters of growth and improved the physiological performances of the host plant through enhancing plant water status and chlorophyll concentration. The mycorrhizal symbiosis led to the formation of typical desert truffle endomycorrhizae with intracellular coils. The resistance of A. spinosa to the harsh environmental conditions of desert habitats makes it a potential candidate for cultivation of desert truffles.}, } @article {pmid35994144, year = {2022}, author = {Hidayah, EN and Cahyonugroho, OH and Sulistyo, EN and Karnaningroem, N}, title = {Using molecular weight-based fluorescent detector to characterize dissolved effluent organic matter in oxidation ditch with algae.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {44}, pages = {67418-67429}, pmid = {35994144}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Chlorella vulgaris ; Coloring Agents ; Dissolved Organic Matter ; Humic Substances/analysis ; Molecular Weight ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Implementation of microalgae has been considered for enhancing effluent wastewater quality. However, it can cause environmental issues due to the release of extracellular and algal organic matter in the biological process. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of dissolved effluent as algae- and bacteria-derived organic matter during the oxidation ditch process. Furthermore, experiments were conducted under three combinations filled by Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, and without microalgae. The results showed that dissolved effluent organic matter was more aromatic and hydrophobic than before treatment. Fluorescence spectroscopy identified two components-aromatic protein-like and soluble microbial product-like components-at excitation/emission of 230/345 nm and 320/345 nm after treatment, instead of fulvic acid-like at 230/420 nm and humic acid-like at 320/420 nm in raw wastewater. These components were fractionated based on the average of molecular weight cut-offs (MWCOs), and high (MWCOs > 50,000 Da), medium (MWCOs 50,000-1650 Da), and low molecular weights (MWCOs < 1650 Da) were reported. Biological oxidation ditch under symbiosis algal bacteria generated humic and fulvic acid with a higher MWCOs than the process without algal. The quality and quantity of dissolved effluent organic matter in an oxidation ditch reactor were significantly affected by algal-bacteria symbiotic.}, } @article {pmid35993221, year = {2022}, author = {Kato, S and Ogasawara, A and Itoh, T and Sakai, HD and Shimizu, M and Yuki, M and Kaneko, M and Takashina, T and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Nanobdella aerobiophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermoacidophilic, obligate ectosymbiotic archaeon, and proposal of Nanobdellaceae fam. nov., Nanobdellales ord. nov. and Nanobdellia class. nov.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005489}, pmid = {35993221}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {*Archaea ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {A co-culture of a novel thermoacidophilic, obligate symbiotic archaeon, designated as strain MJ1[T], with its specific host archaeon Metallosphaera sedula strain MJ1HA was obtained from a terrestrial hot spring in Japan. Strain MJ1[T] grew in the co-culture under aerobic conditions. Coccoid cells of strain MJ1[T] were 200-500 nm in diameter, and attached to the MJ1HA cells in the co-culture. The ranges and optima of the growth temperature and pH of strain MJ1[T] in the co-culture were 60-75 °C (optimum, 65-70 °C) and pH 1.0-4.0 (optimum, pH 2.5), respectively. Core lipids of dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGT)-3 and GDGT-4 were highly abundant in MJ1[T] cells concentrated from the co-culture. Strain MJ1[T] has a small genome (0.67 Mbp) lacking genes for biosynthesis of essential biomolecules, such as nucleotides, lipids and ATP. The genomic DNA G+C content was 24.9 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MJ1[T] was most closely related to that of the cultivated species, 'Nanopusillus acidilobi' strain N7A (85.8 % similarity). Based on phylogenetic and physiological characteristics, we propose the name Nanobdella aerobiophila gen. nov., sp. nov. to accommodate the strain MJ1[T] (=JCM 33616[T]=DSM 111728[T]). In addition, we propose the names Nanobdellaceae fam. nov., Nanobdellales ord. nov., and Nanobdellia class. nov. to accommodate the novel genus.}, } @article {pmid35992708, year = {2022}, author = {Stencel, A and Wloch-Salamon, D}, title = {A pluralistic view of holobionts in the context of process ontology.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {911577}, pmid = {35992708}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Developing precise definitions and fine categories is an important part of the scientific endeavour, enabling fidelity of transfers of knowledge and the progress of science. Currently, as a result of research on symbiotic microorganisms, science has been flooded with discoveries which appear to undermine many commonly accepted concepts and to introduce new ones that often require updated conceptualisations. One question currently being debated concerns whether or not a holobiont can be considered an organism. Based on which concept, physiology or evolutionary, of the organism is chosen, the verdict differs. We attempt here to show how a change in perspective, from that of substance ontology into that of process ontology, is capable of reconciling opposing positions within the existing discussion and enabling the implementation of conceptual pluralism.}, } @article {pmid35992695, year = {2022}, author = {Puce, L and Hampton-Marcell, J and Trabelsi, K and Ammar, A and Chtourou, H and Boulares, A and Marinelli, L and Mori, L and Cotellessa, F and Currà, A and Trompetto, C and Bragazzi, NL}, title = {Swimming and the human microbiome at the intersection of sports, clinical, and environmental sciences: A scoping review of the literature.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {984867}, pmid = {35992695}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The human microbiota is comprised of more than 10-100 trillion microbial taxa and symbiotic cells. Two major human sites that are host to microbial communities are the gut and the skin. Physical exercise has favorable effects on the structure of human microbiota and metabolite production in sedentary subjects. Recently, the concept of "athletic microbiome" has been introduced. To the best of our knowledge, there exists no review specifically addressing the potential role of microbiomics for swimmers, since each sports discipline requires a specific set of techniques, training protocols, and interactions with the athletic infrastructure/facility. Therefore, to fill in this gap, the present scoping review was undertaken. Four studies were included, three focusing on the gut microbiome, and one addressing the skin microbiome. It was found that several exercise-related variables, such as training volume/intensity, impact the athlete's microbiome, and specifically the non-core/peripheral microbiome, in terms of its architecture/composition, richness, and diversity. Swimming-related power-/sprint- and endurance-oriented activities, acute bouts and chronic exercise, anaerobic/aerobic energy systems have a differential impact on the athlete's microbiome. Therefore, their microbiome can be utilized for different purposes, including talent identification, monitoring the effects of training methodologies, and devising ad hoc conditioning protocols, including dietary supplementation. Microbiomics can be exploited also for clinical purposes, assessing the effects of exposure to swimming pools and developing potential pharmacological strategies to counteract the insurgence of skin infections/inflammation, including acne. In conclusion, microbiomics appears to be a promising tool, even though current research is still limited, warranting, as such, further studies.}, } @article {pmid35991403, year = {2022}, author = {Poveda, J and Díaz-González, S and Díaz-Urbano, M and Velasco, P and Sacristán, S}, title = {Fungal endophytes of Brassicaceae: Molecular interactions and crop benefits.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {932288}, pmid = {35991403}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Brassicaceae family includes an important group of plants of great scientific interest, e.g., the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and of economic interest, such as crops of the genus Brassica (Brassica oleracea, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa, etc.). This group of plants is characterized by the synthesis and accumulation in their tissues of secondary metabolites called glucosinolates (GSLs), sulfur-containing compounds mainly involved in plant defense against pathogens and pests. Brassicaceae plants are among the 30% of plant species that cannot establish optimal associations with mycorrhizal hosts (together with other plant families such as Proteaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Caryophyllaceae), and GSLs could be involved in this evolutionary process of non-interaction. However, this group of plants can establish beneficial interactions with endophytic fungi, which requires a reduction of defensive responses by the host plant and/or an evasion, tolerance, or suppression of plant defenses by the fungus. Although much remains to be known about the mechanisms involved in the Brassicaceae-endophyte fungal interaction, several cases have been described, in which the fungi need to interfere with the GSL synthesis and hydrolysis in the host plant, or even directly degrade GSLs before they are hydrolyzed to antifungal isothiocyanates. Once the Brassicaceae-endophyte fungus symbiosis is formed, the host plant can obtain important benefits from an agricultural point of view, such as plant growth promotion and increase in yield and quality, increased tolerance to abiotic stresses, and direct and indirect control of plant pests and diseases. This review compiles the studies on the interaction between endophytic fungi and Brassicaceae plants, discussing the mechanisms involved in the success of the symbiosis, together with the benefits obtained by these plants. Due to their unique characteristics, the family Brassicaceae can be seen as a fruitful source of novel beneficial endophytes with applications to crops, as well as to generate new models of study that allow us to better understand the interactions of these amazing fungi with plants.}, } @article {pmid35988883, year = {2022}, author = {Hussein, NA and Soliman, ZS and Edrees, MF}, title = {Oral microbiota associated with gingiva of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis cases.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {105724}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105724}, pmid = {35988883}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria ; Clove Oil/pharmacology ; Gingiva/microbiology ; *Gingivitis/microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontitis/microbiology ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Plant Oils ; Sugar Alcohols ; Toothpastes ; }, abstract = {Oral microbes coexist with each other in a symbiotic relationship or as commensals in healthy body. Teeth and oral cavity harbor diverse community of fungi and bacteria. This study focused on bacterial and fungal component of gingiva, where the last occupy little attention. In addition to study the antimicrobial activity of toothpastes, mouth washes and natural oils against microorganisms. Sixty swabs from outer surfaces of gingiva in healthy persons, as well as patients complaining of gingivitis and periodontitis were collected for fungal and bacterial analyses. Sensitivity of the isolated microorganisms to some pharmaceutical preparations and natural oils was also performed. Ten fungal and 9 bacterial species were identified. There is a highly significant variation in the frequency of Klebsiella pneumonia among healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis. Also, Candida tropicalis and cocci bacteria showed significant diversity among the three tested groups. Among pharmaceutical preparations (toothpastes and mouth washes) and natural oils, Paradontax, Hexitol and clove oil showed the best antimicrobial activity against tested fungal and bacterial strains. Although, minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of clove oil were high compared to Paradontax and Hexitol, nevertheless, it is highly recommended as both antifungal and antibacterial agent against oral pathogenic microorganisms, because it is a natural compound and nearly devoid of side effects.}, } @article {pmid35987963, year = {2022}, author = {Jones, K and Tafesh-Edwards, G and Kenney, E and Toubarro, D and Simões, N and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Excreted secreted products from the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae manipulate the Drosophila melanogaster immune response.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {14237}, pmid = {35987963}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Immunity ; Male ; *Nematode Infections ; *Rhabditida ; }, abstract = {Steinernema carpocapsae is an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) that rapidly infects and kills a wide range of insect hosts and has been linked to host immunosuppression during the initial stages of infection. The lethal nature of S. carpocapsae infections has previously been credited to its symbiotic bacteria; however, it has become evident that the nematodes are able to effectively kill their hosts independently through their excretion/secretion products (ESPs). Here we examined how the adult Drosophila melanogaster immune system is modulated in response to S. carpocapsae ESPs in an attempt to ascertain individual pathogenic contributions of the isolated compound. We found that the S. carpocapsae ESPs decrease the survival of D. melanogaster adult flies, they induce the expression of certain antimicrobial peptide-encoding genes, and they cause significant reduction in phenoloxidase enzyme activity and delay in the melanization response in males flies. We also report that S. carpocapsae ESPs affect hemocyte numbers in both male and female individuals. Our results indicate the manipulative role of EPN ESPs and reveal sex-specific differences in the host response against nematode infection factors. These findings are beneficial as they promote our understanding of the molecular basis of nematode pathogenicity and the parasite components that influence nematode-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid35987806, year = {2022}, author = {Tseng, YH and Bartram, S and Reichelt, M and Scholz, SS and Meents, AK and Ludwig, A and Mithöfer, A and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Tris(methylthio)methane produced by Mortierella hyalina affects sulfur homeostasis in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {14202}, pmid = {35987806}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Methane/metabolism ; Mortierella ; Sulfur/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial volatiles are important factors in symbiotic interactions with plants. Mortierella hyalina is a beneficial root-colonizing fungus with a garlic-like smell, and promotes growth of Arabidopsis seedlings. GC-MS analysis of the M. hyalina headspace and NMR analysis of the extracted essential oil identified the sulfur-containing volatile tris(methylthio)methane (TMTM) as the major compound. Incorporation of the sulfur from the fungal volatile into plant metabolism was shown by [34]S labeling experiments. Under sulfur deficiency, TMTM down-regulated sulfur deficiency-responsive genes, prevented glucosinolate (GSL) and glutathione (GSH) diminishment, and sustained plant growth. However, excess TMTM led to accumulation of GSH and GSL and reduced plant growth. Since TMTM is not directly incorporated into cysteine, we propose that the volatile from M. hyalina influences the plant sulfur metabolism by interfering with the GSH metabolism, and alleviates sulfur imbalances under sulfur stress.}, } @article {pmid35987210, year = {2022}, author = {Berasategui, A and Breitenbach, N and García-Lozano, M and Pons, I and Sailer, B and Lanz, C and Rodríguez, V and Hipp, K and Ziemert, N and Windsor, D and Salem, H}, title = {The leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans propagates a plant pathogen in exchange for pupal protection.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {19}, pages = {4114-4127.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.065}, pmid = {35987210}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ascomycota ; *Coleoptera ; Insecta ; *Mycotoxins ; Plants ; Pupa ; Virulence Factors ; }, abstract = {Many insects rely on microbial protection in the early stages of their development. However, in contrast to symbiont-mediated defense of eggs and young instars, the role of microbes in safeguarding pupae remains relatively unexplored, despite the susceptibility of the immobile stage to antagonistic challenges. Here, we outline the importance of symbiosis in ensuring pupal protection by describing a mutualistic partnership between the ascomycete Fusarium oxysporum and Chelymorpha alternans, a leaf beetle. The symbiont rapidly proliferates at the onset of pupation, extensively and conspicuously coating C. alternans during metamorphosis. The fungus confers defense against predation as symbiont elimination results in reduced pupal survivorship. In exchange, eclosing beetles vector F. oxysporum to their host plants, resulting in a systemic infection. By causing wilt disease, the fungus retained its phytopathogenic capacity in light of its symbiosis with C. alternans. Despite possessing a relatively reduced genome, F. oxysporum encodes metabolic pathways that reflect its dual lifestyle as a plant pathogen and a defensive insect symbiont. These include virulence factors underlying plant colonization, along with mycotoxins that may contribute to the defensive biochemistry of the insect host. Collectively, our findings shed light on a mutualism predicated on pupal protection of an herbivorous beetle in exchange for symbiont dissemination and propagation.}, } @article {pmid35987172, year = {2022}, author = {Silva, DFD and Moreira, JV and Sousa, LIS and Santana, MC and Mota, JCA and Queiroz, ADS and Nascimento, ÍVD and Silva, AMM and Araújo, ASF and Melo, VMM and Medeiros, ÉV and Cardoso, EJBN and Pereira, APA}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community in soils under desertification and restoration in the Brazilian semiarid.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {264}, number = {}, pages = {127161}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127161}, pmid = {35987172}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Brazil ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {Soil desertification has a significant social, economic, and environmental impact worldwide. Mycorrhizal diversity remains poorly understood in semiarid regions impacted by desertification, especially in Brazilian drylands. More importantly, positive impacts of grazing exclusion on mycorrhizal communities are still incipient. Here, we hypothesized that overgrazing changes the structure of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) community compared to native areas and, grazing exclusion is effective to restore the AMF community. Thus, we analyzed the status of AMF community in soils under desertification (overgrazing) and restoration (twenty-years of grazing exclusion) in the Brazilian semiarid. AMF-spores were extracted via humid decantation methodology, morphologically classified, and alpha diversity metrics were calculated. Soil samples were chemically, and physically characterized and multivariate statistical analyses were applied to verify the impact of soil degradation and restoration on AMF-community. Briefly, native, and restored areas presented higher contents of organic matter, phosphorus, microbial carbon, and β-glucosidase activity. However, degraded soil showed higher Al[3+], Na[+,] and bulk soil density values. The abundance of AMF spores was higher in restored soil, followed by degraded and native vegetation, and Shannon's diversity index was significantly higher in restored soils, followed by native vegetation. AMF-spores were classified into four families (Gigasporaceae > Acaulosporaceae > Glomeraceae > Ambisporaceae). Ambisporaceae was closed correlated with degraded soil, mainly with Al[3+], Na[+], and bulk soil density properties. On the other hand, Acaulosporaceae and Glomeraceae were positively correlated with native vegetation and restored soil, respectively, thereby improving Shannon index, richness, enzyme activity, and soil respiration. Thus, grazing exclusion, in long term, can be a good strategy to restore AMF-diversity in soils in the Brazilian semiarid.}, } @article {pmid35986253, year = {2022}, author = {Berckx, F and Nguyen, TV and Bandong, CM and Lin, HH and Yamanaka, T and Katayama, S and Wibberg, D and Blom, J and Kalinowski, J and Tateno, M and Simbahan, J and Liu, CT and Brachmann, A and Pawlowski, K}, title = {A tale of two lineages: how the strains of the earliest divergent symbiotic Frankia clade spread over the world.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {602}, pmid = {35986253}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Frankia/genetics ; *Magnoliopsida/genetics ; Metagenome ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plants/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {It is currently assumed that around 100 million years ago, the common ancestor to the Fabales, Fagales, Rosales and Cucurbitales in Gondwana, developed a root nodule symbiosis with a nitrogen-fixing bacterium. The symbiotic trait evolved first in Frankia cluster-2; thus, strains belonging to this cluster are the best extant representatives of this original symbiont. Most cluster-2 strains could not be cultured to date, except for Frankia coriariae, and therefore many aspects of the symbiosis are still elusive. Based on phylogenetics of cluster-2 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), it has been shown that the genomes of strains originating in Eurasia are highly conserved. These MAGs are more closely related to Frankia cluster-2 in North America than to the single genome available thus far from the southern hemisphere, i.e., from Papua New Guinea.To unravel more biodiversity within Frankia cluster-2 and predict routes of dispersal from Gondwana, we sequenced and analysed the MAGs of Frankia cluster-2 from Coriaria japonica and Coriaria intermedia growing in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Phylogenetic analyses indicate there is a clear split within Frankia cluster-2, separating a continental from an island lineage. Presumably, these lineages already diverged in Gondwana.Based on fossil data on the host plants, we propose that these two lineages dispersed via at least two routes. While the continental lineage reached Eurasia together with their host plants via the Indian subcontinent, the island lineage spread towards Japan with an unknown host plant.}, } @article {pmid35985173, year = {2022}, author = {Alves, LJ and Gross, E and Mangabeira, PAO and Santos, LN and da Silva Santos, I and Nunes, FC and Medrado, HHS}, title = {Uranium transfer in grasses grown on mining waste and natural soil.}, journal = {Journal of environmental radioactivity}, volume = {251-252}, number = {}, pages = {106973}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106973}, pmid = {35985173}, issn = {1879-1700}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Plants ; Poaceae ; *Radiation Monitoring ; Soil/chemistry ; *Uranium/analysis ; }, abstract = {The transfer of radionuclides from soil to the food chain often begins with uptake by plant root system. The roots of most angiosperms showed symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and to understand the transfer process of these toxic elements it is important to consider different physical, chemical and biological factors in soils. In the present study, three grass species (Poaceae), Zea mays, Chrysopogon zizanioides and Aristida setifolia were cultivated with and without organic fertilization in experimental blocks on natural soils, at Fazenda Vargem Formosa (VF) with low uranium (U) contents in the soil, and in the leached ore deposit at the Uranium Concentrate Unit Mine (URA) in Caetité (Uraniferous Province of Lagoa Real - Brazil). In the present study, the biomass production of plants, their rate of root colonization by AMF, the levels of U in soils, roots and leaves, as well as different physico-chemical parameters related to soil fertility were evaluated. The data analysis was performed using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), specifically Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs). The levels of available uranium in the soil ranges from 0.33 to 1.11 mg kg[-1] in VF and from 177.5 to 475.8 mg kg[-1] in URA. The results revealed high percentage of root AMF colonization, even in soils with high U contents. There was an inverse relationship between soil U content and its transfer to the plant organs, with U transfer rates being influenced by plant species and not by soil parameters. C. zizanioides had the lowest transfer factor to the shoot and the highest mass productivity under conditions of high U content in soil. The results indicate that C. zizanioides is an important species for use in the recovery of U mining areas.}, } @article {pmid35984078, year = {2022}, author = {Pérez-Alonso, MM and Guerrero-Galán, C and González Ortega-Villaizán, A and Ortiz-García, P and Scholz, SS and Ramos, P and Sakakibara, H and Kiba, T and Ludwig-Müller, J and Krapp, A and Oelmüller, R and Vicente-Carbajosa, J and Pollmann, S}, title = {The calcium sensor CBL7 is required for Serendipita indica-induced growth stimulation in Arabidopsis thaliana, controlling defense against the endophyte and K[+] homoeostasis in the symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {11}, pages = {3367-3382}, pmid = {35984078}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; *Basidiomycota/metabolism ; Calcineurin/genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; Calcium/metabolism ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Potassium/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Calcium is an important second messenger in plants. The activation of Ca[2+] signalling cascades is critical in the activation of adaptive processes in response to environmental stimuli. Root colonization by the growth promoting endophyte Serendipita indica involves the increase of cytosolic Ca[2+] levels in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we investigated transcriptional changes in Arabidopsis roots during symbiosis with S. indica. RNA-seq profiling disclosed the induction of Calcineurin B-like 7 (CBL7) during early and later phases of the interaction. Consistently, reverse genetic evidence highlighted the functional relevance of CBL7 and tested the involvement of a CBL7-CBL-interacting protein kinase 13 signalling pathway. The loss-of-function of CBL7 abolished the growth promoting effect and affected root colonization. The transcriptomics analysis of cbl7 revealed the involvement of this Ca[2+] sensor in activating plant defense responses. Furthermore, we report on the contribution of CBL7 to potassium transport in Arabidopsis. We analysed K[+] contents in wild-type and cbl7 plants and observed a significant increase of K[+] in roots of cbl7 plants, while shoot tissues demonstrated K[+] depletion. Taken together, our work associates CBL7 with an important role in the mutual interaction between Arabidopsis and S. indica and links CBL7 to K[+] transport.}, } @article {pmid35983973, year = {2022}, author = {Li, N and Zhang, L and Zheng, W and Shan, D and Wang, Y and Li, RJ and Yu, L and Staehelin, C and Luo, L}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti integration host factor (IHF) genes affect symbiotic performance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).}, journal = {Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica}, volume = {54}, number = {9}, pages = {1390-1393}, pmid = {35983973}, issn = {1745-7270}, mesh = {*Medicago sativa/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Integration Host Factors/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Phenotype ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; }, } @article {pmid35983246, year = {2022}, author = {Peng, W and Zhao, X and Li, X}, title = {Helicobacter bilis Contributes to the Occurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Inducing Host Immune Disorders.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {1837850}, pmid = {35983246}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {*Helicobacter/physiology ; *Helicobacter Infections/complications ; Humans ; *Immune System Diseases ; Inflammation/complications ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota coevolve with humans to achieve a symbiotic relationship, which ultimately leads to physiological homeostasis. A variety of diseases can occur once this balance is disrupted. Helicobacter bilis (H. bilis) is an opportunistic pathogen in humans, triggering multiple diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a chronic immunologically mediated inflammation of the human gastrointestinal tract, and its occurrence is closely related to the gut microbiota. Several studies have demonstrated that H. bilis colonization is associated with IBD, and its mechanism is related to host immunity. However, few studies have investigated these mechanisms of action. Therefore, this article is aimed at reviewing these studies and summarizing the mechanisms of H. bilis-induced IBD from two perspectives: adaptive immunity and innate immunity. Furthermore, this study provides a preliminary discussion on treating H. bilis-related IBD. In addition, we also demonstrated that H. bilis played an important role in promoting the carcinogenesis of IBD and discussed its mechanism.}, } @article {pmid35982608, year = {2022}, author = {Zeng, M and Hause, B and van Dam, NM and Uthe, H and Hoffmann, P and Krajinski, F and Martínez-Medina, A}, title = {The mycorrhizal symbiosis alters the plant defence strategy in a model legume plant.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {12}, pages = {3412-3428}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14421}, pmid = {35982608}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Herbivory ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis modulates plant-herbivore interactions. Still, how it shapes the overall plant defence strategy and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. We investigated how AM symbiosis simultaneously modulates plant resistance and tolerance to a shoot herbivore, and explored the underlying mechanisms. Bioassays with Medicago truncatula plants were used to study the effect of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on plant resistance and tolerance to Spodoptera exigua herbivory. By performing molecular and chemical analyses, we assessed the impact of AM symbiosis on herbivore-triggered phosphate (Pi)- and jasmonate (JA)-related responses. Upon herbivory, AM symbiosis led to an increased leaf Pi content by boosting the mycorrhizal Pi-uptake pathway. This enhanced both plant tolerance and herbivore performance. AM symbiosis counteracted the herbivore-triggered JA burst, reducing plant resistance. To disentangle the role of the mycorrhizal Pi-uptake pathway in the plant's response to herbivory, we used the mutant line ha1-2, impaired in the H[+] -ATPase gene HA1, which is essential for Pi-uptake via the mycorrhizal pathway. We found that mycorrhiza-triggered enhancement of herbivore performance was compromised in ha1-2 plants. AM symbiosis thus affects the defence pattern of M. truncatula by altering resistance and tolerance simultaneously. We propose that the mycorrhizal Pi-uptake pathway is involved in the modulation of the plant defence strategy.}, } @article {pmid35982491, year = {2022}, author = {Heringer, P and Kuhn, GCS}, title = {Multiple horizontal transfers of a Helitron transposon associated with a parasitoid wasp.}, journal = {Mobile DNA}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {20}, pmid = {35982491}, issn = {1759-8753}, abstract = {In a previous study we described a Helitron transposon that apparently became one of the segments in the symbiotic Cotesia vestalis bracovirus (CvBV) from the parasitoid wasp C. vestalis. We presented evidence that this Helitron, named Hel_c35, invaded the C. vestalis genome through a horizontal transfer (HT) event from a dipteran and was later transferred horizontally from C. vestalis to a lepidopteran species. Based on the phylogeny of Hel_c35, we suggested that both HTs occurred in East Asia. We have also anticipated that, as more sequenced genomes from new species become available, more HTs involving Hel_c35 would be detected. Although the inclusion of Hel_c35 as a CvBV segment turned out to be a methodological artifact, the fact that Hel_c35 copies are present in the genomes of C. vestalis and other arthropods still remains. Here, we investigated the evolution of Hel_c35 in arthropods using an updated data set to reassess our previous findings. Most species (95%) included in the present work had their genomes sequenced after our initial study was published, thus representing new descriptions of taxa harboring Hel_c35. Our results expand considerably the number of putative HTs involving Hel_c35, with up to dozens of previously undescribed events, and suggest that the most recent HTs associated with C. vestalis took place in Europe. Considering the phylogenetic distribution of Hel_c35, and the evidence that its DNA sequences are present in the calyx fluid of C. vestalis and tissues from its parasitized host, we argue that many HT events were favored by the behavior of this wasp.}, } @article {pmid35982413, year = {2022}, author = {Vroom, MM and Troncoso-Garcia, A and Duscher, AA and Foster, JS}, title = {Modeled microgravity alters apoptotic gene expression and caspase activity in the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {202}, pmid = {35982413}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics ; Animals ; Caspases/genetics ; Decapodiformes ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; *Vibrio ; *Weightlessness ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Spaceflight is a novel and profoundly stressful environment for life. One aspect of spaceflight, microgravity, has been shown to perturb animal physiology thereby posing numerous health risks, including dysregulation of normal developmental pathways. Microgravity can also negatively impact the interactions between animals and their microbiomes. However, the effects of microgravity on developmental processes influenced by beneficial microbes, such as apoptosis, remains poorly understood. Here, the binary mutualism between the bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the gram-negative bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, was studied under modeled microgravity conditions to elucidate how this unique stressor alters apoptotic cell death induced by beneficial microbes.

RESULTS: Analysis of the host genome and transcriptome revealed a complex network of apoptosis genes affiliated with extrinsic/receptor-mediated and intrinsic/stress-induced apoptosis. Expression of apoptosis genes under modeled microgravity conditions occurred earlier and at high levels compared to gravity controls, in particular the expression of genes encoding initiator and executioner caspases. Functional assays of these apoptotic proteases revealed heightened activity under modeled microgravity; however, these increases could be mitigated using caspase inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study indicated that modeled microgravity alters the expression of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis gene expression and that this process is mediated in part by caspases. Modeled microgravity-associated increases of caspase activity can be pharmacologically inhibited suggesting that perturbations to the normal apoptosis signaling cascade can be mitigated, which may have broader implications for maintaining animal-microbial homeostasis in spaceflight.}, } @article {pmid35982356, year = {2022}, author = {Runyon, JB and Bentz, BJ and Qubain, CA}, title = {Constitutive and Induced Defenses in Long-lived Pines Do Not Trade Off but Are Influenced by Climate.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {48}, number = {9-10}, pages = {746-760}, pmid = {35982356}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; *Pinus/microbiology ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Herbivory ; Phloem ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Plants resist herbivores and pathogens by using constitutive (baseline) and inducible (change in defense after an attack) defenses. Inducibility has long been predicted to trade off with constitutive defense, reflecting the economic use of resources. However, empirical evidence for such tradeoffs is variable, and we still lack understanding about when and where defense trade-offs occur. We tested for tradeoffs between constitutive and induced defenses in natural populations of three species of long-lived pines (Pinus balfouriana, P. flexilis, P. longaeva) that differ greatly in constitutive defense and resistance to mountain pine beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae). We also assessed how climate influenced constitutive and inducible defenses. At seven high-elevation sites in the western U.S., we simulated MPB attack to induce defenses and measured concentrations of terpene-based phloem defenses on days 0, 15, and 30. Constitutive and induced defenses did not trade off among or within species. Simulated MPB attack induced large increases in defense concentrations in all species independent of constitutive levels. MPB and its symbiotic fungi typically kill trees and thus could be selective forces maintaining strong inducibility within and among species. The contrasting constitutive concentrations in these species could be driven by the adaptation for specializing in harsh, high-elevation environments (e.g., P. balfouriana and P. longaeva) or by competition (e.g., P. flexilis), though these hypotheses have not been empirically examined. Climate influenced defenses, with the greatest concentrations of constitutive and induced defenses occurring at the coldest and driest sites. The interactions between climate and defenses have implications for these species under climate change.}, } @article {pmid35981662, year = {2022}, author = {Li, ZZ and Zhou, XW and Chen, LJ}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis of cadmium toxicity and molecular response in the spiderling of Pirata subpiraticus.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {109441}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109441}, pmid = {35981662}, issn = {1532-0456}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cadmium/toxicity ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glutathione ; Hedgehog Proteins/genetics/pharmacology ; *Spiders/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is a kind of toxic heavy metal widely distributed in the environment, posing life-threatening challenges to organisms. The paddy field spider is a natural enemy of pests and an essential component of rice biodiversity. Nonetheless, the effects of Cd stress on the postembryonic development of spiders and its detailed mechanism remain to be investigated. In the present study, we found that Cd stress posed adverse impacts on the growth indicators (e.g., carapace length, development duration, and survival rate) and increased the levels of three antioxidants (i.e., superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase) in the spiderlings of Pirata subpiraticus. An in-depth transcriptome analysis was employed in the study, and the results displayed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in postembryonic morphogenesis, development involved in symbiotic interaction, postembryonic development, and growth were distinctively altered under Cd stress. Further enrichment analysis showed that Cd exposure could activate the apoptosis pathway in the spider via the up-regulation of several key factors, including caspase-10, α-tubulin, actin, etc. In addition, we demonstrated that the increased level of glutathione-related enzymes in spiderlings was caused by the activation of glutathione metabolic pathway. The altered hedgehog signaling pathway might affect cell proliferation, tissue patterning, and development of spiderlings. Further protein interaction network displayed that Cd stress could affect multiple biological processes in spiderlings, particularly cellular response to stimulus and system development. To sum up, this study can provide multi-level perspectives to understand the toxicity of Cd on the growth and development of spiders.}, } @article {pmid35981577, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Ou, R and Liao, H and Ma, J and Sun, L and Jin, Q and He, D and Wang, Q}, title = {Natural lighting enhancing the algae proliferation and nitrogen removal in membrane-aerated bacterial-algal biofilm reactor.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {851}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {158063}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158063}, pmid = {35981577}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Chlorophyll ; Denitrification ; *Environmental Pollutants ; Lighting ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Membrane-aerated bacterial-algal biofilm reactor (MABAR) is an emerging and novel technology in recent years, which has been attracting increasing attention due to its cost-effectiveness and superior removal performance of pollutants by versatile removal pathways in symbiotic bacterial-algal biofilm. However, the wider application of MABAR is hindered by the dilemma of insufficient algae biomass. In this study, an MABAR under natural sunlight was developed and operated for 160 d to access the feasibility of enhancing algae proliferation by natural lighting. Results showed that the MABAR with natural sunlight (nMABAR) demonstrated better performance of pollutants removal. High removal efficiencies of organic matter and NH4-N in nMABAR were 90 % and 92 %, respectively. In particular, the removal efficiency of TN in nMABAR, under less aeration, was up to 80 %, which was 15 % higher than the control reactor. The Chlorophyll-a content indicated that natural sunlight facilitated to algae growth in MABAR, and algae assimilation might be the dominant contributor to NH4-N removal. Moreover, there were microbial shifts in bacterial-algal biofilm in a response to the natural lighting, the nMABAR uniquely possessed a bacterial phylotype termed Thiocapsa, which could play an important role in bacterial nitrification. Algal phylotype Chlorophyceae significantly contributed to pollutants removal and synergistic relationship with bacteria. In addition, the superb performance of nMABAR under less aeration condition suggested that abundant algae were capable of supplying enough O2 for the system. These results provided insight into the natural lighting on algae-bacteria synergistic growth and cost-effective operation strategy for MABAR.}, } @article {pmid35981332, year = {2022}, author = {Duan, YF and Grogan, P and Walker, VK and diCenzo, GC}, title = {Whole genome sequencing of mesorhizobia isolated from northern Canada.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {11}, pages = {661-673}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2022-0102}, pmid = {35981332}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Mesorhizobium ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil-dwelling bacteria that can form N2-fixing symbioses with legume plant species (Fabaceae). These bacteria are globally distributed; however, few studies have examined the genomics of rhizobia that live in cold environments. Here, we isolated and characterized three rhizobial strains from legume nodules collected at a pair of distant low Arctic tundra and boreal forest sites in northern Canada. Phylogenetic and average nucleotide identity measurements suggested that the three strains are members of the genus Mesorhizobium, and that each strain represents a novel genospecies. Intriguingly, whereas most mesorhizobia contain the classical determinants of nodulation and nitrogen fixation on their chromosome, whole genome sequencing revealed that all three strains carry these genes on large symbiotic megaplasmids of ∼750 to ∼1000 kb. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses of the common nodulation genes revealed highly conserved alleles amongst these northern mesorhizobia, leading us to propose that they belong to a novel symbiovar that we termed symbiovar oxytropis. Interestingly, these nod gene alleles are uncommon in mesorhizobia isolated from similar plant hosts in other climatic regions, suggesting potential functional adaptive differences.}, } @article {pmid35981049, year = {2022}, author = {Li, C and Sun, Y and Ping, W and Ge, J and Lin, Y}, title = {Screening of symbiotic Streptomyces spp. and optimization of microalgal growth in a microalgae-actinomycetes co-culture system.}, journal = {Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1080/10826068.2022.2111581}, pmid = {35981049}, issn = {1532-2297}, abstract = {Microalgal biodiesel as a substitute for fossil energy has attracted extensive attention. However, the high cost of microalgae cultivation limits the industrial production of microalgal biodiesel. The co-culture system may offer a means to increase microalgae's biomass production. In this study, Streptomyces strains were selected to construct and optimize co-culture systems with Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11 and the algal cell biomass, lipid content, phycocyanin content, starch content, and fatty acid composition were determined. The results showed that Streptomyces nojiriensis significantly promoted Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11 growth and a co-culture system were established. Orthogonal experiments showed that the Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11 biomass was further increased when the initial culture pH was 7.5, the inoculation time of Streptomyces strain supernatants was 36 h, the volume ratio of microalgal actinomycetes was 1:1, and no additional acetic acid was added. Under these conditions, compared with monocultured Monoraphidium sp. HDMA-11, the cell biomass and lipid productivity of the co-culture system increased by 525.8 and 155.1%, respectively. These results suggest that S. nojiriensis supernatant potentially enhances microalgae biomass and may represent a new method to improve microalgae growth.}, } @article {pmid35980975, year = {2022}, author = {Salgado, MG and Demina, IV and Maity, PJ and Nagchowdhury, A and Caputo, A and Krol, E and Loderer, C and Muth, G and Becker, A and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Legume NCRs and nodule-specific defensins of actinorhizal plants-Do they share a common origin?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {e0268683}, pmid = {35980975}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cysteine/metabolism ; Defensins/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plants/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The actinorhizal plant Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae, Cucurbitales) establishes a root nodule symbiosis with actinobacteria from the earliest branching symbiotic Frankia clade. A subfamily of a gene family encoding nodule-specific defensin-like cysteine-rich peptides is highly expressed in D. glomerata nodules. Phylogenetic analysis of the defensin domain showed that these defensin-like peptides share a common evolutionary origin with nodule-specific defensins from actinorhizal Fagales and with nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) from legumes. In this study, the family member with the highest expression levels, DgDef1, was characterized. Promoter-GUS studies on transgenic hairy roots showed expression in the early stage of differentiation of infected cells, and transient expression in the nodule apex. DgDef1 contains an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal acidic domain which are likely involved in subcellular targeting and do not affect peptide activity. In vitro studies with E. coli and Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 showed that the defensin domain of DgDef1 has a cytotoxic effect, leading to membrane disruption with 50% lethality for S. meliloti 1021 at 20.8 μM. Analysis of the S. meliloti 1021 transcriptome showed that, at sublethal concentrations, DgDef1 induced the expression of terminal quinol oxidases, which are associated with the oxidative stress response and are also expressed during symbiosis. Overall, the changes induced by DgDef1 are reminiscent of those of some legume NCRs, suggesting that nodule-specific defensin-like peptides were part of the original root nodule toolkit and were subsequently lost in most symbiotic legumes, while being maintained in the actinorhizal lineages.}, } @article {pmid35980475, year = {2022}, author = {Pang, F and Solanki, MK and Wang, Z}, title = {Streptomyces can be an excellent plant growth manager.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {11}, pages = {193}, pmid = {35980475}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Plant Development/physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Streptomyces ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces, the most abundant and arguably the most important genus of actinomycetes, is an important source of biologically active compounds such as antibiotics, and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Since Streptomyces can have a beneficial symbiotic relationship with plants they can contribute to nutrition, health and fitness of the latter. This review article summarizes recent research contributions on the ability of Streptomyces to promote plant growth and improve plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress responses, as well as on the consequences, on plant health, of the enrichment of rhizospheric soils in Streptomyces species. This review summarizes the most recent reports of the contribution of Streptomyces to plant growth, health and fitness and suggests future research directions to promote the use of these bacteria for the development of a cleaner agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35980473, year = {2022}, author = {Costa-Leonardo, AM and Janei, V and da Silva, IB}, title = {First Neotropical record of the association between brown sclerotium-forming fungi and termite eggs in a nest of Coptotermes gestroi (Blattaria, Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae).}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {109}, number = {5}, pages = {45}, pmid = {35980473}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Basidiomycota ; *Cockroaches ; Fungi ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects and fungi are abundant in many environments, in which facultative and/or obligate associations involving these groups have been established during evolution. In termites, mutualism with fungi is well reported for some termite lineages (e.g., Macrotermitinae). Within some subterranean termite species (Rhinotermitidae), egg-mimicking fungi, also referred to as "termite "balls", are often harbored inside the nest, mixed to the egg piles. Such interaction seems to be advantageous for both partners since the fungi are protected inside the nest while they may serve as an additional food source and also provide cellulases which may be incorporated into the termite digestive process. Although such mutualism has been reported for seven species of Reticulitermes and Coptotermes formosanus, all the samplings were restricted to temperate regions. Here, we provide the first Neotropical record of this termite-fungus association, and the first report for Coptotermes gestroi. The morphological characters of the "termite balls" observed in a C. gestroi nest resemble those already reported for Reticulitermes spp. and the congeneric species C. formosanus. They include a color ranging from light to dark brown, spherical shape, and a reduced diameter (0.23-0.34 mm). Our findings provide new insights into the geographical distribution of the association between termites and sclerotium-forming fungi. Future genetic analyses will be valuable aiming to identify the egg-mimicking fungi associated with C. gestroi and shed light on the evolution of this fascinating symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35979511, year = {2022}, author = {Normand, P and Pujic, P and Abrouk, D and Vemulapally, S and Guerra, T and Carlos-Shanley, C and Hahn, D}, title = {Draft Genomes of Symbiotic Frankia Strains AgB32 and AgKG'84/4 from Root Nodules of Alnus Glutinosa growing under Contrasted Environmental Conditions.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {61-68}, pmid = {35979511}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {The genomes of two nitrogen-fixing Frankia strains, AgB32 and AgKG'84/4, were isolated from spore-containing (spore+) and spore-free (spore-) root nodules of Alnus glutinosa, but they did not sporulate upon reinfection. The two strains are described as representatives of two novel candidate species. Phylogenomic and ANI analyses indicate that each strain represents a novel species within cluster 1, with genome sizes of 6.3 and 6.7 Mb smaller than or similar to those of other cultivated Alnus-infective cluster 1 strains. Genes essential for nitrogen-fixation, clusters of orthologous genes, secondary metabolite clusters and transcriptional regulators analyzed by comparative genomic analyses were typical of those from Alnus-infective cluster 1 cultivated strains in both genomes. Compared to other cultivated Alnus-infective strains with large genomes, those of AgB32 and AgKG'84/4 had lost 380 or 409 genes, among which one hup cluster, one shc gene and the gvp cluster, which indicates genome erosion is taking place in these two strains.}, } @article {pmid35979496, year = {2022}, author = {Říhová, J and Bell, KC and Nováková, E and Hypša, V}, title = {Lightella neohaematopini: A new lineage of highly reduced endosymbionts coevolving with chipmunk lice of the genus Neohaematopinus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {900312}, pmid = {35979496}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sucking lice (Anoplura) are known to have established symbiotic associations multiple times with different groups of bacteria as diverse as Enterobacteriales, Legionellales, and Neisseriales. This diversity, together with absence of a common coevolving symbiont (such as Buchnera, in aphids), indicates that sucking lice underwent a series of symbiont acquisitions, losses, and replacements. To better understand evolution and significance of louse symbionts, genomic and phylogenetic data are needed from a broader taxonomic diversity of lice and their symbiotic bacteria. In this study, we extend the known spectrum of the louse symbionts with a new lineage associated with Neohaematopinus pacificus, a louse species that commonly parasitizes North American chipmunks. The recent coevolutionary analysis showed that rather than a single species, these lice form a cluster of unique phylogenetic lineages specific to separate chipmunk species (or group of closely related species). Using metagenomic assemblies, we show that the lice harbor a bacterium which mirrors their phylogeny and displays traits typical for obligate mutualists. Phylogenetic analyses place this bacterium within Enterobacteriaceae on a long branch related to another louse symbiont, "Candidatus Puchtella pedicinophila." We propose for this symbiotic lineage the name "Candidatus Lightella neohaematopini." Based on the reconstruction of metabolic pathways, we suggest that like other louse symbionts, L. neohaematopini provides its host with at least some B vitamins. In addition, several samples harbored another symbiotic bacterium phylogenetically affiliated with the Neisseriales-related symbionts described previously from the lice Polyplax serrata and Hoplopleura acanthopus. Characterizing these bacteria further extend the known diversity of the symbiotic associations in lice and show unique complexity and dynamics of the system.}, } @article {pmid35976848, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Wong, L and You, ZH and Huang, DS and Su, XR and Zhao, BW}, title = {NSECDA: Natural Semantic Enhancement for CircRNA-Disease Association Prediction.}, journal = {IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {5075-5084}, doi = {10.1109/JBHI.2022.3199462}, pmid = {35976848}, issn = {2168-2208}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Computational Biology/methods ; Humans ; *RNA, Circular/genetics ; *Semantics ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence suggest that circRNA, as one of the most promising emerging biomarkers, has a very close relationship with diseases. Exploring the relationship between circRNA and diseases can provide novel perspective for diseases diagnosis and pathogenesis. The existing circRNA-disease association (CDA) prediction models, however, generally treat the data attributes equally, do not pay special attention to the attributes with more significant influence, and do not make full use of the correlation and symbiosis between attributes to dig into the latent semantic information of the data. Therefore, in response to the above problems, this paper proposes a natural semantic enhancement method NSECDA to predict CDA. In practical terms, we first recognize the circRNA sequence as a biological language, and analyze its natural semantic properties through the natural language understanding theory; then integrate it with disease attributes, circRNA and disease Gaussian Interaction Profile (GIP) kernel attributes, and use Graph Attention Network (GAT) to focus on the influential attributes, so as to mine the deeply hidden features; finally, the Rotation Forest (RoF) classifier was used to accurately determine CDA. In the gold standard data set CircR2Disease, NSECDA achieved 92.49% accuracy with 0.9225 AUC score. In comparison with the non-natural semantic enhancement model and other classifier models, NSECDA also shows competitive performance. Additionally, 25 of the CDA pairs with unknown associations in the top 30 prediction scores of NSECDA have been proven by newly reported studies. These achievements suggest that NSECDA is an effective model to predict CDA, which can provide credible candidate for subsequent wet experiments, thus significantly reducing the scope of investigations.}, } @article {pmid35976804, year = {2022}, author = {Li, R and Tang, Y and Che, Q and Huan, X and Ma, P and Luo, P and Mao, X}, title = {Study on the microstructure of the symbiosis of coal-based graphene and coal-based graphene quantum dots: preparation and characterization.}, journal = {Nanotechnology}, volume = {33}, number = {45}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1088/1361-6528/ac842e}, pmid = {35976804}, issn = {1361-6528}, abstract = {Coal-based graphene sheets (GS) and coal-based graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are usually prepared separately. In this paper, symbiosis of coal-based GS and coal-based GQDs was successfully prepared with our proposed preparation method by using three raw coals with different reflectance (collected from Qinshui coalfield, Shanxi Province) as carbon sources. The results showed that coal-based GS and coal-based GQDs can exist stably in the symbiosis and are distributed in different layers, and the GQDs are freely distributed between layers of GS. The average number of GS (Nave) in the three symbiosis is about 7 and the average interlayer spacing (d002) is about 0.3887 nm. The average diameter of GQDs in the three symbiosis is about 4.255 nm and the averaged002is about 0.230 nm. The averageNaveof the three symbiosis was about 3 and the averaged002is about 0.361 nm. The morphology and crystal parameters of symbiosis is more similar to that of graphene, the elements are only carbon and oxygen. In the prepared symbiosis, the higher the reflectance of raw coal, the smoother the lattice skeleton and the less vortex-layer structure of GS, and the larger the diameter and the denser the six membered ring of GQDs. The C and O functional groups of the prepared symbionts are similar. The higher the reflectance of coal, the higher the content of C-C/C=C. Under ultraviolet light, the prepared products all emit blue, and the higher the reflectance of coal, the higher the ultraviolet absorption, and the stronger the fluorescence intensity.}, } @article {pmid35975994, year = {2022}, author = {Hendrickson, EL and Bor, B and Kerns, KA and Lamont, EI and Chang, Y and Liu, J and Cen, L and Schulte, F and Hardt, M and Shi, W and He, X and McLean, JS}, title = {Transcriptome of Epibiont Saccharibacteria Nanosynbacter lyticus Strain TM7x During the Establishment of Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {204}, number = {9}, pages = {e0011222}, pmid = {35975994}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 AI087946/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132818/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T90 DE021984/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD023603/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; KL2 TR000421/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; K99 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arginine/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Peptidoglycan/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Saccharibacteria Nanosynbacter lyticus strain TM7x is a member of the broadly distributed candidate phylum radiation. These bacteria have ultrasmall cell sizes, have reduced genomes, and live as epibionts on the surfaces of other bacteria. The mechanisms by which they establish and maintain this relationship are not yet fully understood. The transcriptomes of the epibiont TM7x and its host bacteria Schaalia odontolytica strain XH001 were captured across the establishment of symbiosis during both the initial interaction and stable symbiosis. The results showed a dynamic interaction with large shifts in gene expression for both species between the initial encounter and stable symbiosis, notably in transporter genes. During stable symbiosis, the host XH001 showed higher gene expression for peptidoglycan biosynthesis, mannosylation, cell cycle and stress-related genes, whereas it showed lower expression of chromosomal partitioning genes. This was consistent with the elongated cell shape seen in XH001 infected with TM7x and our discovery that infection resulted in thickened cell walls. Within TM7x, increased pili, type IV effector genes, and arginine catabolism/biosynthesis gene expression during stable symbiosis implied a key role for these functions in the interaction. Consistent with its survival and persistence in the human microbiome as an obligate epibiont with reduced de novo biosynthetic capacities, TM7x also showed higher levels of energy production and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, but lower expression of stress-related genes, during stable symbiosis. These results imply that TM7x and its host bacteria keep a delicate balance in order to sustain an episymbiotic lifestyle. IMPORTANCE Nanosynbacter lyticus type strain TM7x is the first cultivated member of the Saccharibacteria and the candidate phyla radiation (CPR). It was discovered to be ultrasmall in cell size with a highly reduced genome that establishes an obligate epibiotic relationship with its host bacterium. The CPR is a large, monophyletic radiation of bacteria with reduced genomes that includes Saccharibacteria. The vast majority of the CPR have yet to be cultivated, and our insights into these unique organisms to date have been derived from only a few Saccharibacteria species. Being obligate parasites, it is unknown how these ultrasmall Saccharibacteria, which are missing many de novo biosynthetic pathways, are maintained at a high prevalence within the human microbiome as well as in the environment.}, } @article {pmid35975919, year = {2022}, author = {Armengaud, J}, title = {Unique Insights into How Plants and Soil Microbiomes Interact Are at Our Fingertips.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e0058922}, pmid = {35975919}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {*Soil ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Global warming endangers our world, with probably a drastic drop in food production as one of the first vital consequences for humanity. To maintain or improve quality and sustainable yields, the burning imperative for agriculture is to rapidly integrate the essential component for plant development and soil regeneration, namely, the soil microbiome. Although enormous progress has been made in identifying the components of this microbiome, the way in which they interact with each other and with plants remains poorly understood. Lidbury I, Raguideau S, Borsetto C, Murphy A, et al. (mSystems 7:e00025-22, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00025-22) illustrate how metaproteomics helps define key interactions between plants and microorganisms at the rhizospheric interface. The many extracellular proteins identified and quantified by this methodology uniquely explain the observed phenotype. This study shows that the adoption of metaproteomics is no longer an option that microbiologists should consider but a must!}, } @article {pmid35975700, year = {2022}, author = {Minguillón, S and Matamoros, MA and Duanmu, D and Becana, M}, title = {Signaling by reactive molecules and antioxidants in legume nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {236}, number = {3}, pages = {815-832}, pmid = {35975700}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legume nodules are symbiotic structures formed as a result of the interaction with rhizobia. Nodules fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia that is assimilated by the plant and this process requires strict metabolic regulation and signaling. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are involved as signal molecules at all stages of symbiosis, from rhizobial infection to nodule senescence. Also, reactive sulfur species (RSS) are emerging as important signals for an efficient symbiosis. Homeostasis of reactive molecules is mainly accomplished by antioxidant enzymes and metabolites and is essential to allow redox signaling while preventing oxidative damage. Here, we examine the metabolic pathways of reactive molecules and antioxidants with an emphasis on their functions in signaling and protection of symbiosis. In addition to providing an update of recent findings while paying tribute to original studies, we identify several key questions. These include the need of new methodologies to detect and quantify ROS, RNS, and RSS, avoiding potential artifacts due to their short lifetimes and tissue manipulation; the regulation of redox-active proteins by post-translational modification; the production and exchange of reactive molecules in plastids, peroxisomes, nuclei, and bacteroids; and the unknown but expected crosstalk between ROS, RNS, and RSS in nodules.}, } @article {pmid35975696, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, D and Yang, X and Wang, Y and Fan, Y and Ding, P and Song, X and Yuan, X and Yang, X}, title = {Stronger mutualistic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi help Asteraceae invaders outcompete the phylogenetically related natives.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {236}, number = {4}, pages = {1487-1496}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18435}, pmid = {35975696}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Asteraceae/metabolism ; Myristic Acid ; Symbiosis ; Fungi/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) greatly affect the outcome of plant-plant competition, especially for invasive plants competing against native plants. We examined the effects of AMF on the competition between invasive Asteraceae plants and the phylogenetically related native plants. We compared the performance of seven invasive Asteraceae plants from different genera with that of their phylogenetically related native counterparts in response to AMF in monocultures and mixed cultures. We investigated how interactions with AMF impact the competition between Asteraceae relatives. Total biomass increased with AMF colonization in both invasive and native plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved the competitiveness of invasive plants, but decreased that of native plants. Competition increased the shoot nitrogen, phosphorus and root myristic acid concentrations and relative expression of fatty acid transporter genes (RiFAT1 and RiFAT2) in AMF-colonized invasive plants, but decreased those in AMF-colonized native plants. Structural equation models indicated that the presence of AMF increased the uptake of phosphorus, but not nitrogen, by invasive plants, which probably provided more myristic acids to symbiotic AMF in return. These results suggest that invasive Asteraceae plants have greater mutualistic interactions with AMF than their phylogenetically related native counterparts, potentially contributing to invasion success.}, } @article {pmid35975446, year = {2022}, author = {Wessel, GM and Kiyomoto, M and Reitzel, AM and Carrier, TJ}, title = {Pigmentation biosynthesis influences the microbiome in sea urchins.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1981}, pages = {20221088}, pmid = {35975446}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Microbiota ; Pigmentation ; Polyketide Synthases ; *Sea Urchins ; }, abstract = {Organisms living on the seafloor are subject to encrustations by a wide variety of animals, plants and microbes. Sea urchins, however, thwart this covering. Despite having a sophisticated immune system, there is no clear molecular mechanism that allows sea urchins to remain free of epibiotic microorganisms. Here, we test the hypothesis that pigmentation biosynthesis in sea urchin spines influences their interactions with microbes in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9. We report three primary findings. First, the microbiome of sea urchin spines is species-specific and much of this community is lost in captivity. Second, different colour morphs associate with bacterial communities that are similar in taxonomic composition, diversity and evenness. Lastly, loss of the pigmentation biosynthesis genes polyketide synthase and flavin-dependent monooxygenase induces a shift in which bacterial taxa colonize sea urchin spines. Therefore, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that host pigmentation biosynthesis can, but may not always, influence the microbiome in sea urchin spines.}, } @article {pmid35973490, year = {2022}, author = {Qi, S and Al Naggar, Y and Li, J and Liu, Z and Xue, X and Wu, L and El-Seedi, HR and Wang, K}, title = {Acaricide flumethrin-induced sublethal risks in honeybees are associated with gut symbiotic bacterium Gilliamella apicola through microbe-host metabolic interactions.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {307}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {136030}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136030}, pmid = {35973490}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Acaricides/toxicity ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Bees ; Gammaproteobacteria ; Glycerophospholipids ; *Pesticides ; Pyrethrins ; }, abstract = {Flumethrin is one of the few acaricides that permit the control of Varroa disease or varroosis in bee colonies. However, flumethrin accumulates in hive products. We previously discovered that sublethal doses of flumethrin induce significant physiological stress in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.), however its potential impacts on the honeybee gut microenvironment remains unknown. To fill this gap, honeybees were exposed to a field-relevant concentration of flumethrin (10 μg/L) for 14 d and its potential impacts on gut system were evaluated. The results indicated that flumethrin triggered immune responses in the gut but had limited effects on survival and gut microbial composition. However, survival stress drastically increased in bees exposed to antibiotics, suggesting that the gut microbiota is closely related to flumethrin-induced dysbiosis in the bee gut. Based on a non-targeted metabolomics approach, flumethrin at 10 μg/L considerably altered the composition of intestinal metabolites, and we discovered that this metabolic stress was closely linked with a reduction of gut core bacterial endosymbiont Gilliamella spp. through a combination of microbiological and metabolomics investigations. Finally, an in vitro study showed that while flumethrin does not directly inhibit the growth of Gilliamella apicola isolates, it does have a significant impact on the glycerophospholipid metabolism in bacteria cells, which was also observed in host bees. These findings indicated that even though flumethrin administered at environmental relevant concentrations does not significantly induce death in honeybees, it still alters the metabolism balance between honeybees and the gut symbiotic bacterium, G. apicola. The considerable negative impact of flumethrin on the honeybee gut microenvironment emphasizes the importance of properly monitoring acaricide to avoid potential environmental concerns, and further studies are needed to illustrate the mode of action of bee health-gut microbiota-exogenous pesticides.}, } @article {pmid35972963, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, H and Lin, JS and Luo, Z and Sun, J and Huang, X and Yang, Y and Xu, J and Wang, YF and Zhang, P and Oldroyd, GED and Xie, F}, title = {Constitutive activation of a nuclear-localized calcium channel complex in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {34}, pages = {e2205920119}, pmid = {35972963}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; *Calcium Channels/genetics/metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling/physiology ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Gain of Function Mutation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; *Plant Roots/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations allow symbiosis signaling, facilitating plant recognition of beneficial microsymbionts, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, and nutrient-capturing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Two classes of channels, DMI1 and CNGC15, in a complex on the nuclear membrane, coordinate symbiotic Ca[2+] oscillations. However, the mechanism of Ca[2+] signature generation is unknown. Here, we demonstrate spontaneous activation of this channel complex, through gain-of-function mutations in DMI1, leading to spontaneous nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations and spontaneous nodulation, in a CNGC15-dependent manner. The mutations destabilize a hydrogen-bond or salt-bridge network between two RCK domains, with the resultant structural changes, alongside DMI1 cation permeability, activating the channel complex. This channel complex was reconstituted in human HEK293T cell lines, with the resultant calcium influx enhanced by autoactivated DMI1 and CNGC15s. Our results demonstrate the mode of activation of this nuclear channel complex, show that DMI1 and CNGC15 are sufficient to create oscillatory Ca[2+] signals, and provide insights into its native mode of induction.}, } @article {pmid35971430, year = {2022}, author = {Verma, SK and Chen, Q and White, JF}, title = {Evaluation of colonization and mutualistic endophytic symbiosis of Escherichia coli with tomato and Bermuda grass seedlings.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13879}, pmid = {35971430}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Seedlings ; Symbiosis ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; Cynodon ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Plant Roots ; Endophytes ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Escherichia coli is generally considered a bacterium associated with animal microbiomes. However, we present evidence that E. coli may also mutualistically colonize roots of plant species, even to the extent that it may become endophytic in plants. In this study we used GFP tagged E. coli to observe its colonization and effects on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) seedling development and growth. Inoculation with the bacterium significantly improved root development of both seedlings tested. Treatment also increased the photosynthetic pigments in Bermuda grass seedlings. However, effects on shoot length in both seedlings were not significant. This bacterium was found to produce indole acetic acid (IAA) up to 8.68 ± 0.43 µg ml[-1] in the broth medium amended with tryptophan. Effects on seedling root growth could, in part, be explained by IAA production. Bacteria successfully colonized the root surfaces and interiors of both seedlings. Tagged bacteria expressing the GFP were observed in the vascular tissues of Bermuda grass seedling roots. Seedlings with bacteria showed greater survival and were healthier than seedlings without bacteria, indicating that E. coli set up a successful mutualistic symbiosis with seedlings. E. coli is not commonly considered to be a plant endophyte but is more generally considered to be a crop contaminant. In this study we show that E. coli may also be an endophyte in plant tissues.}, } @article {pmid35969610, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Zhou, H and Cheng, L and Ma, N and Cui, B and Wang, W and Zhong, Y and Liao, H}, title = {Shoot-to-root translocated GmNN1/FT2a triggers nodulation and regulates soybean nitrogen nutrition.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {20}, number = {8}, pages = {e3001739}, pmid = {35969610}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) provides sufficient nitrogen (N) to meet most legume nutrition demands. In return, host plants feed symbionts carbohydrates produced in shoots. However, the molecular dialogue between shoots and symbionts remains largely mysterious. Here, we report the map-based cloning and characterization of a natural variation in GmNN1, the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT2a) that simultaneously triggers nodulation in soybean and modulates leaf N nutrition. A 43-bp insertion in the promoter region of GmNN1/FT2a significantly decreased its transcription level and yielded N deficiency phenotypes. Manipulating GmNN1/GmFT2a significantly enhanced soybean nodulation, plant growth, and N nutrition. The near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying low mRNA abundance alleles of GmNN1/FT2a, along with stable transgenic soybeans with CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts of GmNN1/FT2a, had yellower leaves, lower N concentrations, and fewer nodules than wild-type control plants. Grafting together with split-root experiments demonstrated that only shoot GmNN1/FT2a was responsible for regulating nodulation and thereby N nutrition through shoot-to-root translocation, and this process depends on rhizobial infection. After translocating into roots, shoot-derived GmNN1/FT2a was found to interact with GmNFYA-C (nuclear factor-Y subunit A-C) to activate symbiotic signaling through the previously reported GmNFYA-C-ENOD40 module. In short, the description of the critical soybean nodulation regulatory pathway outlined herein sheds novel insights into the shoot-to-root signaling required for communications between host plants and root nodulating symbionts.}, } @article {pmid35968950, year = {2022}, author = {Aquino, MF and Simoes-Barbosa, A}, title = {A Microbial Piñata: Bacterial Endosymbionts of Trichomonas vaginalis Come in Different Flavors.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0132322}, pmid = {35968950}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; *Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma hominis/genetics ; *Trichomonas vaginalis/genetics ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, a prevalent human urogenital infection with significant morbidity that is commonly associated with vaginal dysbiosis. Exacerbation of T. vaginalis pathogenicity has been related to endosymbionts, including mycoplasma, and thought for a while to be solely attributable to Mycoplasma hominis. In a recent publication, Margarita and colleagues (https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.00918-22) showed that endosymbiosis extends to a second species of mycoplasma known as "Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii." Those authors confirmed the strong association of T. vaginalis with both species of mycoplasma by reassessing clinical samples. Additionally, they showed that in vitro symbiosis of protozoa and bacteria resulted in the modulation of gene expression of T. vaginalis and enhancement of parasite cytoadhesion and hemolytic activity in culture assays. In this commentary, we portray T. vaginalis as a synergistically interacting multimicrobe organism-a "microbial piñata"-whose endosymbionts contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of this medically important protozoan parasite.}, } @article {pmid35968208, year = {2022}, author = {Khoshnevisasl, P and Sadeghzadeh, M and Kamali, K and Hasanlo, M}, title = {The effect of symbiotic in the treatment of infantile colic: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.}, journal = {Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences}, volume = {27}, number = {}, pages = {42}, pmid = {35968208}, issn = {1735-1995}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the effect of symbiotic (Pedilact) on the treatment of infantile colic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial in Zanjan, Iran, 76 infants with infantile colic were assigned to two groups of 38 cases using block randomization. The intervention group received 5 drops of Pedilact, a symbiotic containing Lactobacillus reuteri and simethicone (20 mg twice daily), and the control group received placebo in addition to simethicone for 4 weeks. Daily crying time, number of crying attacks per day, and sleep duration were recorded on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, and the results were compared.

RESULTS: Thirty-three infants in the intervention group and 35 infants in the control group were enrolled. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, gestational age, maternal age, type of delivery, type of feeding, and weight at the beginning and the end of the study (all P > 0.05). Daily crying time in the control and intervention groups decreased from 240 and 210 min/day, respectively, to 0 min/day in both the groups. Daily crying attacks decreased from 5 and 4/day in the control and intervention groups, respectively, to 0/day. Sleep duration in both the groups increased from 720 to 840 and 930 min/day in the control and intervention groups, respectively, but the changes were not significant (P = 0.56, P = 0.52, and P = 0.13, respectively).

CONCLUSION: We did not find a significant improvement in colic symptoms in infants receiving symbiotic compared to placebo.}, } @article {pmid35966664, year = {2022}, author = {Tellez, PH and Arnold, AE and Leo, AB and Kitajima, K and Van Bael, SA}, title = {Traits along the leaf economics spectrum are associated with communities of foliar endophytic symbionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {927780}, pmid = {35966664}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Leaf traits of plants worldwide are classified according to the Leaf Economics Spectrum (LES), which links leaf functional traits to evolutionary life history strategies. As a continuum ranging from thicker, tough leaves that are low in nitrogen (N) to thinner, softer, leaves that are high in N, the LES brings together physical, chemical, and ecological traits. Fungal endophytes are common foliar symbionts that occur in healthy, living leaves, especially in tropical forests. Their community composition often differs among co-occurring host species in ways that cannot be explained by environmental conditions or host phylogenetic relationships. Here, we tested the over-arching hypothesis that LES traits act as habitat filters that shape communities of endophytes both in terms of composition, and in terms of selecting for endophytes with particular suites of functional traits. We used culture-based and culture-free surveys to characterize foliar endophytes in mature leaves of 30 phylogenetically diverse plant species with divergent LES traits in lowland Panama, and then measured functional traits of dominant endophyte taxa in vitro. Endophytes were less abundant and less diverse in thick, tough, leaves compared to thin, softer, leaves in the same forest, even in closely related plants. Endophyte communities differed according to leaf traits, including leaf punch strength and carbon and nitrogen content. The most common endophyte taxa in leaves at different ends of the LES differ in their cellulase, protease, chitinase, and antipathogen activity. Our results extend the LES framework for the first time to diverse and ecologically important endophytes, opening new hypotheses regarding the degree to which foliar symbionts respond to, and extend, the functional traits of leaves they inhabit.}, } @article {pmid35966663, year = {2022}, author = {Goh, D and Martin, JGA and Banchini, C and MacLean, AM and Stefani, F}, title = {RocTest: A standardized method to assess the performance of root organ cultures in the propagation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {937912}, pmid = {35966663}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Over the past three decades, root organ cultures (ROCs) have been the gold standard method for studying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under in vitro conditions, and ROCs derived from various plant species have been used as hosts for AM monoxenic cultures. While there is compelling evidence that host identity can significantly modify AMF fitness, there is currently no standardized methodology to assess the performance of ROCs in the propagation of their fungal symbionts. We describe RocTest, a robust methodological approach that models the propagation of AMF in symbiosis with ROCs. The development of extraradical fungal structures and the pattern of sporulation are modeled using cumulative link mixed models and linear mixed models. We demonstrate functionality of RocTest by evaluating the performance of three species of ROCs (Daucus carota, Medicago truncatula, Nicotiana benthamiana) in the propagation of three species of AMF (Rhizophagus clarus, Rhizophagus irregularis, Glomus sp.). RocTest produces a simple graphical output to assess the performance of ROCs and shows that fungal propagation depends on the three-way interaction between ROC, AMF, and time. RocTest makes it possible to identify the best combination of host/AMF for fungal development and spore production, making it an important asset for germplasm collections and AMF research.}, } @article {pmid35965097, year = {2022}, author = {Ohbayashi, T and Cossard, R and Lextrait, G and Hosokawa, T and Lesieur, V and Takeshita, K and Tago, K and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Intercontinental Diversity of Caballeronia Gut Symbionts in the Conifer Pest Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35965097}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; *Burkholderia/genetics ; *Heteroptera ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Tracheophyta/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many stinkbugs in the superfamily Coreoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) develop crypts in the posterior midgut, harboring Caballeronia (Burkholderia) symbionts. These symbionts form a monophyletic group in Burkholderia sensu lato, called the "stinkbug-associated beneficial and environmental (SBE)" group, recently reclassified as the new genus Caballeronia. SBE symbionts are separated into the subclades SBE-α and SBE-β. Previous studies suggested a regional effect on the symbiont infection pattern; Japanese and American bug species are more likely to be associated with SBE-α, while European bug species are almost exclusively associated with SBE-β. However, since only a few insect species have been investigated, it remains unclear whether region-specific infection is general. We herein investigated Caballeronia gut symbionts in diverse Japanese, European, and North American populations of a cosmopolitan species, the Western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis (Coreoidea: Coreidae). A mole-cular phylogenetic ana-lysis of the 16S rRNA gene demonstrated that SBE-β was the most dominant in all populations. Notably, SBE-α was rarely detected in any region, while a third clade, the "Coreoidea clade" occupied one fourth of the tested populations. Although aposymbiotic bugs showed high mortality, SBE-α- and SBE-β-inoculated insects both showed high survival rates; however, a competition assay demonstrated that SBE-β outcompeted SBE-α in the midgut crypts of L. occidentalis. These results strongly suggest that symbiont specificity in the Leptoglossus-Caballeronia symbiotic association is influenced by the host rather than geography, while the geographic distribution of symbionts may be more important in other bugs.}, } @article {pmid35964645, year = {2022}, author = {Chekhun, V}, title = {SYMBIOSIS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN ONCOLOGY.}, journal = {Experimental oncology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {90-92}, doi = {10.32471/exp-oncology.2312-8852.vol-44-no-2.17951}, pmid = {35964645}, issn = {1812-9269}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Medical Oncology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35964144, year = {2022}, author = {Ofek, T and Lalzar, M and Izhaki, I and Halpern, M}, title = {Intestine and spleen microbiota composition in healthy and diseased tilapia.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {35964144}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria within the gut microbiome of various organisms, including fish, provide the host with several functions that improve the immune system. Although the spleen plays an important role in the modulation of immune responses, the role of spleen microbiota in shaping the immune system is unclear. Our study aimed at understanding the relationship between fish health and microbiota composition in the intestine and spleen. Our model organism was the hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis aureus × Oreochromis niloticus). We sampled intestine and spleen from healthy and diseased adult tilapia and determined their microbiota composition by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Significant differences were found between the intestine and the spleen microbiota composition of healthy compared to diseased fish as well as between intestines and spleens of fish with the same health condition. The microbiota diversity of healthy fish compared to diseased fish was significantly different as well. In the intestine of healthy fish, Cetobacterium was the most abundant genus while Mycoplasma was the most abundant genus in the spleen. Vibrio was the most abundant genus in the intestine and spleen of diseased fish. Moreover, it seems that there is a co-infection interaction between Vibrio and Aeromonas, which was reflected in the spleen of diseased fish. While Vibrio, Aeromonas and Streptococcus were the probable pathogens in the diseased fish, the role of Mycoplasma as a pathogen of cultured hybrid tilapia remains uncertain. We conclude that the intestine and spleen microbiota composition is strongly related to the health condition of the fish.}, } @article {pmid35963944, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, X and Hou, M and Ji, X and Huang, S and Song, L and Yu, Y and Ye, J and Xu, W}, title = {Mechanism of enhanced production of triterpenoids in algal-fungal consortium.}, journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering}, volume = {45}, number = {10}, pages = {1625-1633}, pmid = {35963944}, issn = {1615-7605}, mesh = {*Chlorella/metabolism ; Citrates/metabolism ; Hydroquinones/metabolism ; Lanosterol/metabolism ; Mevalonic Acid/metabolism ; *Reishi/metabolism ; *Triterpenes/metabolism ; Tyrosine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chlorella pyrenoidosa-Ganoderma lucidum symbiotic systems were constructed. The mechanism of enhanced production of triterpenoids in algal-fungal consortium by comparing the contents of triterpenoids in individual fungal systems and algal-fungal consortium systems was investigated. The production of triterpenoids in C. pyrenoidosa-G. lucidum consortium increased significantly (P < 0.05). The categories and relative abundances of metabolites in the individual systems and algal-fungal systems were measured and analyzed by metabonomic tests. There were 57 significant different metabolites (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05) including 12 downregulated metabolites and 45 upregulated metabolites were obtained. The significant enriched metabolic pathways (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05) of citrate cycle (TCA cycle), tyrosine metabolism, glycolysis, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis in algal-fungal consortium were obtained. The relative abundances of important precursors of triterpenoids including mevalonic acid, lanosterol, and hydroquinone were 1.4 times, 1.7 times, and 2 times, respectively, in algal-fungal consortium than that in the individual fungal systems. The presence of C. pyrenoidosa in algal-fungal consortium promoted the biosynthesis of triterpenoids in G. lucidum.}, } @article {pmid35963240, year = {2022}, author = {Su, Y and Lin, HC and Teh, LS and Chevance, F and James, I and Mayfield, C and Golic, KG and Gagnon, JA and Rog, O and Dale, C}, title = {Rational engineering of a synthetic insect-bacterial mutualism.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {18}, pages = {3925-3938.e6}, pmid = {35963240}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {R35 GM136389/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids, Aromatic ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Insecta/microbiology ; Phenylalanine ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Tyrosine ; *Weevils/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many insects maintain mutualistic associations with bacterial endosymbionts, but little is known about how they originate in nature. In this study, we describe the establishment and manipulation of a synthetic insect-bacterial symbiosis in a weevil host. Following egg injection, the nascent symbiont colonized many tissues, including prototypical somatic and germinal bacteriomes, yielding maternal transmission over many generations. We then engineered the nascent symbiont to overproduce the aromatic amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine, which facilitate weevil cuticle strengthening and accelerated larval development, replicating the function of mutualistic symbionts that are widely distributed among weevils and other beetles in nature. Our work provides empirical support for the notion that mutualistic symbioses can be initiated in insects by the acquisition of environmental bacteria. It also shows that certain bacterial genera, including the Sodalis spp. used in our study, are predisposed to develop these associations due to their ability to maintain benign infections and undergo vertical transmission in diverse insect hosts, facilitating the partner-fidelity feedback that is critical for the evolution of obligate mutualism. These experimental advances provide a new platform for laboratory studies focusing on the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary processes underlying insect-bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35963227, year = {2022}, author = {Ip, JC and Zhang, Y and Xie, JY and Yeung, YH and Qiu, JW}, title = {Comparative transcriptomics of two coral holobionts collected during the 2017 El Niño heat wave reveal differential stress response mechanisms.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {114017}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114017}, pmid = {35963227}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Chlorophyll A ; Coral Reefs ; El Nino-Southern Oscillation ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Although coral species exhibit differential susceptibility to stressors, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we compared scleractinian corals Montipora peltiformis and Platygyra carnosa collected during the 2017 El Niño heat wave. Zooxanthellae density and chlorophyll a content declined and increased substantially during and after heat stress event, respective. However, the magnitude of change was larger in M. peltiformis. Transcriptome analysis showed that heat-stressed corals corresponded to metabolic depression and catabolism of amino acids in both hosts which might promote their survival. However, only M. peltiformis has developed the bleached coral phenotype with corresponding strong stress- and immune-related responses in the host and symbiont, and strong suppression of photosynthesis-related genes in the symbiont. Overall, our study reveals differences among species in the homeostatic capacity to prevent the development of the bleached phenotype under environmental stressors, eventually determining their likelihood of survival in the warming ocean.}, } @article {pmid35962562, year = {2022}, author = {Fu, Q and Song, T and Ma, X and Cui, J}, title = {Research progress on the relationship between intestinal microecology and intestinal bowel disease.}, journal = {Animal models and experimental medicine}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {297-310}, pmid = {35962562}, issn = {2576-2095}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microecology is the main component of human microecology. Intestinal microecology consists of intestinal microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal mucosal immune system. These components are interdependent and establish a complex interaction network that restricts each other. According to the impact on the human body, there are three categories of symbiotic bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, and pathogenic bacteria. The intestinal microecology participates in digestion and absorption, and material metabolism, and inhibits the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. It also acts as the body's natural immune barrier, regulates the innate immunity of the intestine, controls the mucosal barrier function, and also participates in the intestinal epithelial cells' physiological activities such as hyperplasia or apoptosis. When the steady-state balance of the intestinal microecology is disturbed, the existing core intestinal microbiota network changes and leads to obesity, diabetes, and many other diseases, especially irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal malignancy. Intestinal diseases, including tumors, are particularly closely related to intestinal microecology. This article systematically discusses the research progress on the relationship between IBD and intestinal microecology from the pathogenesis, treatment methods of IBD, and the changes in intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35961916, year = {2022}, author = {Shao, TY and Haslam, DB and Bennett, RJ and Way, SS}, title = {Friendly fungi: symbiosis with commensal Candida albicans.}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {43}, number = {9}, pages = {706-717}, pmid = {35961916}, issn = {1471-4981}, support = {DP1 AI131080/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI081704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI141893/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 55108587/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Candida albicans ; Cell Wall ; Humans ; Immune Evasion ; Mammals ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mucosal tissues are constitutively colonized by a wide assortment of host-adapted microbes. This includes the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans which is a primary target of human adaptive responses. Immunogenicity is replicated after intestinal colonization in preclinical models with a surprising array of protective benefits for most hosts, but harmful consequences for a few. The interaction between fungus and host is complex, and traditionally, the masking of antigenic fungal ligands has been viewed as a tactic for fungal immune evasion during invasive infection. However, we propose that dynamic expression of cell wall moieties, host cell lysins, and other antigenic C. albicans determinants is necessary during the more ubiquitous context of intestinal colonization to prime immunogenicity and optimize mammalian host symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35960256, year = {2022}, author = {Johnston, EC and Cunning, R and Burgess, SC}, title = {Cophylogeny and specificity between cryptic coral species (Pocillopora spp.) at Mo'orea and their symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {20}, pages = {5368-5385}, pmid = {35960256}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The congruence between phylogenies of tightly associated groups of organisms (cophylogeny) reflects evolutionary links between ecologically important interactions. However, despite being a classic example of an obligate symbiosis, tests of cophylogeny between scleractinian corals and their photosynthetic algal symbionts have been hampered in the past because both corals and algae contain genetically unresolved and morphologically cryptic species. Here, we studied co-occurring, cryptic Pocillopora species from Mo'orea, French Polynesia, that differ in their relative abundance across depth. We constructed new phylogenies of the host Pocillopora (using complete mitochondrial genomes, genomic loci, and thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms) and their Symbiodiniaceae symbionts (using ITS2 and psbA[ncr] markers) and tested for cophylogeny. The analysis supported the presence of five Pocillopora species on the fore reef at Mo'orea that mostly hosted either Cladocopium latusorum or C. pacificum. Only Pocillopora species hosting C. latusorum also hosted taxa from Symbiodinium and Durusdinium. In general, the Cladocopium phylogeny mirrored the Pocillopora phylogeny. Within Cladocopium species, lineages also differed in their associations with Pocillopora haplotypes, except those showing evidence of nuclear introgression, and with depth in the two most common Pocillopora species. We also found evidence for a new Pocillopora species (haplotype 10), that has so far only been sampled from French Polynesia, that warrants formal identification. The linked phylogenies of these Pocillopora and Cladocopium species and lineages suggest that symbiont speciation is driven by niche diversification in the host, but there is still evidence for symbiont flexibility in some cases.}, } @article {pmid35960028, year = {2022}, author = {Kashimoto, R and Tanimoto, M and Miura, S and Satoh, N and Laudet, V and Khalturin, K}, title = {Transcriptomes of Giant Sea Anemones from Okinawa as a Tool for Understanding Their Phylogeny and Symbiotic Relationships with Anemonefish.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2108/zs210111}, pmid = {35960028}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Phylogeny ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The relationship between anemonefish and sea anemones is one of the most emblematic examples of mutualistic symbiosis in coral reefs. Although this is a textbook example, the major aspects of this symbiosis are still not fully understood in mechanistic terms. Moreover, since studies of this relationship have usually been focused on anemonefish, much less is known about giant sea anemones, their similarities, their phylogenetic relationships, and their differences at the molecular level. Since both partners of the symbiotic relationship are important, we decided to explore this well-known phenomenon from the perspective of giant sea anemones. Here, we report reference transcriptomes for all seven species of giant sea anemones that inhabit fringing reefs of Okinawa (Japan) and serve as hosts for six species of local anemonefish. Transcriptomes were used to investigate their phylogenetic relations, genetic differences and repertoires of nematocyte-specific proteins. Our data support the presence of three distinct groups corresponding to three genera: Entacmaea, Heteractis, and Stichodactyla. The basal position among the three groups belongs to Entacmaea, which was the first to diverge from a common ancestor. While the magnitude of genetic difference between the representatives of Entacmaea and Stichodactyla is large, intra-specific variation within Stichodactyla is much smaller and seems to result from recent speciation events. Our data reconfirms that Heteractis magnifica belongs to the genus Stichodactyla, despite an overall morphological similarity with representatives of the genus Heteractis. The availability of reference transcriptomes will facilitate further research into the fascinating relationship between sea anemones and anemonefish.}, } @article {pmid35956709, year = {2022}, author = {Hamsan, MH and Halim, NA and Demon, SZN and Sa'aya, NSN and Kadir, MFZ and Abidin, ZHZ and Poad, NA and Kasim, NFA and Razali, NAM and Aziz, SB and Ahmad, KA and Miskon, A and Nor, NM}, title = {Multifunction Web-like Polymeric Network Bacterial Cellulose Derived from SCOBY as Both Electrodes and Electrolytes for Pliable and Low-Cost Supercapacitor.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {14}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {35956709}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {In this work, bacterial cellulose (BC)-based polymer derived from a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) are optimized as both electrodes and electrolytes to fabricate a flexible and free-standing supercapacitor. BC is a multifunction and versatile polymer. Montmorillonite (MMT) and sodium bromide (NaBr) are used to improve mechanical strength and as the ionic source, respectively. From XRD analysis, it is found that the addition of MMT and NaBr has reduced the crystallinity of the electrolyte. Most interaction within the electrolyte happens in the region of the OH band, as verified using FTIR analysis. A maximum room temperature conductivity of (1.09 ± 0.02) × 10[-3] S/cm is achieved with 30 wt.% NaBr. The highest conducting SCOBY-based electrolytes have a decompose voltage and ionic transference number of 1.48 V and 0.97, respectively. The multiwalled carbon nanotube is employed as the active material held by the fibrous network of BC. Cyclic voltammetry shows a rectangular shape CV plot with the absence of a redox peak. The supercapacitor is charged and discharged in a zig-zag-shaped Perspex plate for 1000 cycles with a decent performance.}, } @article {pmid35956501, year = {2022}, author = {Säle, V and Sieverding, E and Oehl, F}, title = {Growth Responses of Three European Weeds on Different AMF Species during Early Development.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {35956501}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {130764/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have multiple functions in agroecosystems and affect many processes below- and aboveground, including plant productivity. Mycorrhizal symbiosis is not necessarily beneficial for the host plant and the growth response can be not only positive but also neutral or negative. Among other factors, the responsiveness of plants to AMF depends on the plant-fungus combination. To find out whether the AMF species or isolate is a decisive factor for growth responses of weeds, 44 AMF isolates were tested in a pot experiment for their effects on three agricultural weeds: Echinochloa crus-galli, Solanum nigrum and Papaver rhoeas. The 44 isolates cover 18 AMF species from 13 genera and all 5 orders of the Glomeromycota. The aboveground biomass of the weeds was determined after different times of growth of each weed. In most cases, the effects of AMF isolates on weed growth were negative or neutral. We conclude that some weed species do not benefit from AMF in terms of growth. AMF species can even cause negative growth responses, an effect that may be of practical interest for organic farming where the aim is to obtain a high diversity and concentration of native AMF for the benefit of the cultivated crops without increasing the labor for mechanical weeding.}, } @article {pmid35956443, year = {2022}, author = {Boeglin, L and Morère Le-Paven, MC and Clochard, T and Fustec, J and Limami, AM}, title = {Pisum sativum Response to Nitrate as Affected by Rhizobium leguminosarum-Derived Signals.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {35956443}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Legumes are suitable for the development of sustainable agroecosystems because of their ability to use atmospheric N2 through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). However, a basic NO3[-] input is necessary before SNF takes place to ensure successful seedling establishment. Since Rhizobia not only induce nodulation but also affect root branching by stimulating the development of lateral roots, and NO3[-] as a signal also modulates root system architecture, we investigated whether Rhizobium-derived signals interfere in nitrate signaling. Here, we bring evidence that (i) Rhizobium-altered NO3[-]-mediated processes in pea expressions of major players in NO3[-] transport, sensing, and signaling were affected, and (ii) the characteristic limitation of root foraging and branching in response to NO3[-] supply was abolished. The number of tertiary roots per secondary root was higher in infected compared to uninfected peas, thus indicating that the Rhizobium effect allows for favorable management of trade-offs between nodules growth for nitrogen capture and root foraging for water and other nutrient uptake in pea. The outcome of this basic research can be used to produce molecular tools for breeding pea genotypes able to develop deep-foraging and branched root systems, and more competitive architectures and molecular levels for soil NO3[-] absorption during seedling establishment without jeopardizing nodulation.}, } @article {pmid35955942, year = {2022}, author = {Carpi, RZ and Barbalho, SM and Sloan, KP and Laurindo, LF and Gonzaga, HF and Grippa, PC and Zutin, TLM and Girio, RJS and Repetti, CSF and Detregiachi, CRP and Bueno, PCS and Mazuqueli Pereira, ESB and Goulart, RA and Haber, JFDS}, title = {The Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics in Non-Alcoholic Fat Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): A Systematic Review.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {35955942}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Liver/metabolism ; *Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Modifications in the microbiota caused by environmental and genetic reasons can unbalance the intestinal homeostasis, deregulating the host's metabolism and immune system, intensifying the risk factors for the development and aggravation of non-alcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD). The use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics have been considered a potential and promising strategy to regulate the gut microbiota and produce beneficial effects in patients with liver conditions. For this reason, this review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics in patients with NAFLD and NASH. Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were consulted, and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines were followed. The clinical trials used in this study demonstrated that gut microbiota interventions could improve a wide range of markers of inflammation, glycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity, liver injury (decrease of hepatic enzymes and steatosis and fibrosis). Although microbiota modulators do not play a healing role, they can work as an important adjunct therapy in pathological processes involving NAFLD and its spectrums, either by improving the intestinal barrier or by preventing the formation of toxic metabolites for the liver or by acting on the immune system.}, } @article {pmid35955701, year = {2022}, author = {Hiengrach, P and Panpetch, W and Chindamporn, A and Leelahavanichkul, A}, title = {Helicobacter pylori, Protected from Antibiotics and Stresses Inside Candida albicans Vacuoles, Cause Gastritis in Mice.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {35955701}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amoxicillin ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; *Gastritis/drug therapy/microbiology ; *Helicobacter Infections/microbiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Mice ; Vacuoles ; }, abstract = {Due to (i) the simultaneous presence of Helicobacter pylori (ulcer-induced bacteria) and Candida albicans in the stomach and (ii) the possibility of prokaryotic-eukaryotic endosymbiosis (intravacuolar H. pylori in the yeast cells) under stresses, we tested this symbiosis in vitro and in vivo. To that end, intravacuolar H. pylori were induced by the co-incubation of C. albicans with H. pylori under several stresses (acidic pH, non-H. pylori-enrichment media, and aerobic environments); the results were detectable by direct microscopy (wet mount) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Indeed, intravacuolar H. pylori were predominant under all stresses, especially the lower pH level (pH 2-3). Interestingly, the H. pylori (an amoxicillin-sensitive strain) inside C. albicans were protected from the antibiotic (amoxicillin), while extracellular H. pylori were neutralizable, as indicated by the culture. In parallel, the oral administration of intravacuolar H. pylori in mice caused H. pylori colonization in the stomach resulting in gastritis, as indicated by gastric histopathology and tissue cytokines, similar to the administration of free H. pylori (extra-Candida bacteria). In conclusion, Candida protected H. pylori from stresses and antibiotics, and the intravacuolar H. pylori were able to be released from the yeast cells, causing gastric inflammation with neutrophil accumulations.}, } @article {pmid35955579, year = {2022}, author = {Zuber, L and Domínguez-Santos, R and García-Ferris, C and Silva, FJ}, title = {Identification of the Gene Repertoire of the IMD Pathway and Expression of Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Several Tissues and Hemolymph of the Cockroach Blattella germanica.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {35955579}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Antimicrobial Peptides ; *Blattellidae/genetics ; *Flavobacteriaceae ; Hemolymph ; }, abstract = {Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes, triggered by Toll and IMD pathways, are essential components of the innate immune system in the German cockroach Blattella germanica. Besides their role in killing pathogenic bacteria, AMPs could be involved in controlling its symbiotic systems (endosymbiont and microbiota). We found that the IMD pathway was active in the adult female transcriptomes of six tissues (salivary glands, foregut, midgut, hindgut, Malpighian tubules and fat body) and hemolymph. Total expression of AMP genes was high in hemolymph and salivary glands and much lower in the other sample types. The expression of specific AMP genes was very heterogeneous among sample types. Two genes, defensin_g10 and drosomycin_g5, displayed relevant expression in the seven sample types, although higher in hemolymph. Other genes only displayed high expression in one tissue. Almost no expression of attacin-like and blattellicin genes was observed in any sample type, although some of them were among the genes with the highest expression in adult female whole bodies. The expression of AMP genes in salivary glands could help control pathogens ingested with food and even determine gut microbiota composition. The low expression levels in midgut and hindgut are probably related to the presence of beneficial microbiota. Furthermore, a reduction in the expression of AMP genes in fat body could be the way to prevent damage to the population of the endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenoti within bacteriocytes.}, } @article {pmid35953657, year = {2022}, author = {Sankari, S and Babu, VMP and Bian, K and Alhhazmi, A and Andorfer, MC and Avalos, DM and Smith, TA and Yoon, K and Drennan, CL and Yaffe, MB and Lourido, S and Walker, GC}, title = {A haem-sequestering plant peptide promotes iron uptake in symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {1453-1465}, pmid = {35953657}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {F32 GM129882/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI158501/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM126982/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 ES028374/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES002109/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; UM1 HL120877/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008313/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; S10 OD016326/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; Cysteine ; Heme ; Humans ; Iron ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogenase ; Peptides ; *Rhizobium ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic partnerships with rhizobial bacteria enable legumes to grow without nitrogen fertilizer because rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia via nitrogenase. After Sinorhizobium meliloti penetrate the root nodules that they have elicited in Medicago truncatula, the plant produces a family of about 700 nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides that guide the differentiation of endocytosed bacteria into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The sequences of the NCR peptides are related to the defensin class of antimicrobial peptides, but have been adapted to play symbiotic roles. Using a variety of spectroscopic, biophysical and biochemical techniques, we show here that the most extensively characterized NCR peptide, 24 amino acid NCR247, binds haem with nanomolar affinity. Bound haem molecules and their iron are initially made biologically inaccessible through the formation of hexamers (6 haem/6 NCR247) and then higher-order complexes. We present evidence that NCR247 is crucial for effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. We propose that by sequestering haem and its bound iron, NCR247 creates a physiological state of haem deprivation. This in turn induces an iron-starvation response in rhizobia that results in iron import, which itself is required for nitrogenase activity. Using the same methods as for L-NCR247, we show that the D-enantiomer of NCR247 can bind and sequester haem in an equivalent manner. The special abilities of NCR247 and its D-enantiomer to sequester haem suggest a broad range of potential applications related to human health.}, } @article {pmid35952769, year = {2022}, author = {Santos, D and Frota, EG and Vargas, BK and Tonieto Gris, CC and Santos, LFD and Bertolin, TE}, title = {What is the role of phenolic compounds of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in gut microbiota?.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {203}, number = {}, pages = {113341}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113341}, pmid = {35952769}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Antioxidants ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Ilex paraguariensis ; Phenols/analysis/pharmacology ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Saponins/pharmacology ; *Triterpenes ; }, abstract = {Diet actively influences gut microbiota and body homeostasis. The predominance of beneficial species results in symbiosis, while dysbiosis is characterized by an imbalance between microbial communities. Food plays a key role in this dynamic and in promoting the health of individuals. Ilex paraguariensis, also known as yerba mate, is a traditional plant from Latin America that has a complex matrix of bioactive substances, including methylxanthines, triterpenes, saponins, and phenolics. The consumption of yerba mate is associated with antioxidant, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies on yerba mate as a modulating agent of intestinal microbiota. Phenolics are the major compounds in yerba mate and have been reported to act in modulating the microbiome. In this review, we explore the activity of yerba mate as a possible stimulant of gut microbiota and present its main phenolics and their biological effects. We also propose different mechanisms of action of these phenolics and possible doses for their effectiveness.}, } @article {pmid35952646, year = {2022}, author = {Lu, H and Xu, X and Fu, D and Gu, Y and Fan, R and Yi, H and He, X and Wang, C and Ouyang, B and Zhao, P and Wang, L and Xu, P and Cheng, S and Wang, Z and Zou, D and Han, L and Zhao, W}, title = {Butyrate-producing Eubacterium rectale suppresses lymphomagenesis by alleviating the TNF-induced TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {1139-1150.e7}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2022.07.003}, pmid = {35952646}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; Butyrates ; Eubacterium/metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation/drug therapy ; Mice ; *Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics/metabolism ; *NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbiota-induced tumorigenesis is well established in solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract but rarely explored in hematologic malignancies. To determine the role of gut microbiota in lymphoma progression, we performed metagenomic sequencing on human primary gastrointestinal B cell lymphomas. We identified a distinct microbiota profile of intestinal lymphoma, with significantly decreased symbiotic microbes, particularly the genus Eubacterium and notably butyrate-producing Eubacterium rectale. Transfer of E. rectale-deficit microbiota of intestinal lymphoma patients to mice caused inflammation and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. Conversely, E. rectale treatment reduced TNF levels and the incidence of lymphoma in sensitized Eμ-Myc mice. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide from the resident microbiota of lymphoma patients and mice synergizes with TNF signaling and reinforces the NF-κB pathway via the MyD88-dependent TLR4 signaling, amalgamating in enhanced intestinal B cell survival and proliferation. These findings reveal a mechanism of inflammation-associated lymphomagenesis and a potential clinical rationale for therapeutic targeting of gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35952452, year = {2022}, author = {Mathesius, U}, title = {Are legumes different? Origins and consequences of evolving nitrogen fixing symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {276}, number = {}, pages = {153765}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153765}, pmid = {35952452}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural ; *Fabaceae/physiology ; Humans ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Breeding ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixing symbioses between plants and bacteria are ancient and, while not numerous, are formed in diverse lineages of plants ranging from microalgae to angiosperms. One symbiosis stands out as the most widespread one is that between legumes and rhizobia, leading to the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. The legume family is one of the largest and most diverse group of plants and legumes have been used by humans since the beginning of agriculture, both as high nitrogen food, as well as pastures and rotation crops. One open question is whether their ability to form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis has contributed to legumes' success, and whether legumes have any unique characteristics that have made them more diverse and widespread than other groups of plants. This review examines the evolutionary journey that has led to the diversification of legumes, in particular its nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, and asks four questions to investigate which legume traits might have contributed to their success: 1. In what ways do legumes differ from other plant groups that have evolved nitrogen-fixing symbioses? In order to answer this question, the characteristics of the symbioses, and efficiencies of nitrogen fixation are compared between different groups of nitrogen fixing plants. 2. Could certain unique features of legumes be a reason for their success? This section examines the manifestations and possible benefits of a nitrogen-rich 'lifestyle' in legumes. 3. If nitrogen fixation was a reason for such a success, why have some species lost the symbiosis? Formation of symbioses has trade-offs, and while these are less well known for non-legumes, there are known energetic and ecological reasons for loss of symbiotic potential in legumes. 4. What can we learn from the unique traits of legumes for future crop improvements? While exploiting some of the physiological properties of legumes could be used to improve legume breeding, our increasing molecular understanding of the essential regulators of root nodule symbioses raise hope of creating new nitrogen fixing symbioses in other crop species.}, } @article {pmid35951672, year = {2022}, author = {Ikotun, AM and Ezugwu, AE}, title = {Boosting k-means clustering with symbiotic organisms search for automatic clustering problems.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {e0272861}, pmid = {35951672}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Cluster Analysis ; }, abstract = {Kmeans clustering algorithm is an iterative unsupervised learning algorithm that tries to partition the given dataset into k pre-defined distinct non-overlapping clusters where each data point belongs to only one group. However, its performance is affected by its sensitivity to the initial cluster centroids with the possibility of convergence into local optimum and specification of cluster number as the input parameter. Recently, the hybridization of metaheuristics algorithms with the K-Means algorithm has been explored to address these problems and effectively improve the algorithm's performance. Nonetheless, most metaheuristics algorithms require rigorous parameter tunning to achieve an optimum result. This paper proposes a hybrid clustering method that combines the well-known symbiotic organisms search algorithm with K-Means using the SOS as a global search metaheuristic for generating the optimum initial cluster centroids for the K-Means. The SOS algorithm is more of a parameter-free metaheuristic with excellent search quality that only requires initialising a single control parameter. The performance of the proposed algorithm is investigated by comparing it with the classical SOS, classical K-means and other existing hybrids clustering algorithms on eleven (11) UCI Machine Learning Repository datasets and one artificial dataset. The results from the extensive computational experimentation show improved performance of the hybrid SOSK-Means for solving automatic clustering compared to the standard K-Means, symbiotic organisms search clustering methods and other hybrid clustering approaches.}, } @article {pmid35950918, year = {2022}, author = {Ponomarova, O}, title = {Teaming up to make kombucha.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35950918}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {*Fermentation ; }, abstract = {Reducing the microbial diversity in a type of fermented tea reveals the core metabolic interactions responsible for the drink's signature taste and characteristics.}, } @article {pmid35950909, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, X and Xin, Y and Lu, T}, title = {A systematic, complexity-reduction approach to dissect the kombucha tea microbiome.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35950909}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Fermentation ; *Kombucha Tea ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {One defining goal of microbiome research is to uncover mechanistic causation that dictates the emergence of structural and functional traits of microbiomes. However, the extraordinary degree of ecosystem complexity has hampered the realization of the goal. Here, we developed a systematic, complexity-reducing strategy to mechanistically elucidate the compositional and metabolic characteristics of microbiome by using the kombucha tea microbiome as an example. The strategy centered around a two-species core that was abstracted from but recapitulated the native counterpart. The core was convergent in its composition, coordinated on temporal metabolic patterns, and capable for pellicle formation. Controlled fermentations uncovered the drivers of these characteristics, which were also demonstrated translatable to provide insights into the properties of communities with increased complexity and altered conditions. This work unravels the pattern and process underlying the kombucha tea microbiome, providing a potential conceptual framework for mechanistic investigation of microbiome behaviors.}, } @article {pmid35950850, year = {2022}, author = {Hu, X and Wei, Y and Zhang, T and Wang, X and Xu, Y and Zhang, W and Zheng, Y}, title = {Gastrointestinal Biogeography of Luminal Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {17}, pages = {e0049922}, pmid = {35950850}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Deer/microbiology ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Ruminants ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota of sika deer has been widely investigated, but the spatial distribution of symbiotic microbes among physical niches in the gastrointestinal tract remains to be established. While feces are the most commonly used biological samples in these studies, the accuracy of fecal matter as a proxy of the microbiome at other gastrointestinal sites is as yet unknown. In the present study, luminal contents obtained along the longitudinal axis of deer gastrointestinal tract (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, small intestine, cecum, colon, and rectum) were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing for profiling of the microbial composition, and samples from the rumen, small intestine, and cecum were subjected to metabolomic analysis to evaluate short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles. Prevotella bacteria were the dominant gastric core microbes, while Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was predominantly observed in the intestine. While the eight gastrointestinal sites displayed variations in microbial diversity, abundance, and function, they could be clustered into stomach, small intestine, and large intestine segments, and the results further highlighted a specific microbial niche of the small intestine. SCFA levels in the rumen, small intestine, and cecum were significantly different, with Bacteroidetes and Spirochaetes were shown to play a critical role in SCFA production. Finally, the rectal microbial composition was significantly correlated with colonic and cecum communities but not those of the small intestine and four gastric sites. Quantification of the compositions and biogeographic relationships between gut microbes and SCFAs in sika deer should provide valuable insights into the interactions contributing to microbial functions and metabolites. IMPORTANCE Feces or specific segments of the gastrointestinal tract (in particular, the rumen) were sampled to explore the gut microbiome. The gastrointestinal biogeography of the luminal microbiota in ruminants, which is critical to guide accurate sampling for different purposes, is poorly understood at present. The microbial community of the rectal sample (as a proxy of fecal sample) showed higher correlation with those of other large intestinal sites relative to the small intestine or stomach, suggesting that the microbial composition is specifically shaped by the unique physiological characteristics of different gastrointestinal niches. In addition, significant differences in microbiomes and SCFAs were observed among the different gastrointestinal sites.}, } @article {pmid35950572, year = {2023}, author = {Madrigal-Matute, J and Bañón-Escandell, S}, title = {Colorectal Cancer and Microbiota Modulation for Clinical Use. A Systematic Review.}, journal = {Nutrition and cancer}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, pages = {123-139}, doi = {10.1080/01635581.2022.2108468}, pmid = {35950572}, issn = {1532-7914}, mesh = {Humans ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy ; Prebiotics ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; }, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top contributors to the global burden of cancer incidence and mortality, with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to its etiology. Environmental factors may be the cause of up to 60% of the risk of developing CRC, with gut microbiota being a crucial modifiable risk factor. The microbial ecosystem plays a vital role in CRC prevention and antitumoral response through modulation of the immune system and production of short-chain fatty acids. Numerous approaches have been followed to modify the gut microbiota in order to reduce the risk of cancer development, improve treatment efficacy, and reduce side effects. This study aims to perform a systematic analysis of the published literature to elucidate whether microbiota modulation through pre-, pro-, and symbiotic treatment and/or nutritional intervention can be beneficial for patients diagnosed with CRC. Our analysis finds that some prebiotics, mainly in the form of oligo- and polysaccharides, probiotics such as lactic strain producers of short-chain fatty acids, and consumption of a Mediterranean plant-based diet may be beneficial for patients diagnosed with CRC. However, there is a need for clinical data which evaluate the modulation of gut microbiota in a safe and effective manner.}, } @article {pmid35949878, year = {2022}, author = {Ahmed, E and Hoe Chan, K and Veeraballi, S and Dacosta, T and Shaaban, H}, title = {Commensalism or symbiosis: The potential use of rituximab in steroid-refractory Evans syndrome in a patient with ulcerative colitis.}, journal = {Archives of rheumatology}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {156-157}, pmid = {35949878}, issn = {2618-6500}, } @article {pmid35949039, year = {2023}, author = {Boyce, CK and Ibarra, DE and Nelsen, MP and D'Antonio, MP}, title = {Nitrogen-based symbioses, phosphorus availability, and accounting for a modern world more productive than the Paleozoic.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {86-101}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12519}, pmid = {35949039}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {*Phosphorus ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen ; Carbon ; }, abstract = {Evolution of high-productivity angiosperms has been regarded as a driver of Mesozoic ecosystem restructuring. However, terrestrial productivity is limited by availability of rock-derived nutrients such as phosphorus for which permanent increases in weathering would violate mass balance requirements of the long-term carbon cycle. The potential reality of productivity increases sustained since the Mesozoic is supported here with documentation of a dramatic increase in the evolution of nitrogen-fixing or nitrogen-scavenging symbioses, including more than 100 lineages of ectomycorrhizal and lichen-forming fungi and plants with specialized microbial associations. Given this evidence of broadly increased nitrogen availability, we explore via carbon cycle modeling how enhanced phosphorus availability might be sustained without violating mass balance requirements. Volcanism is the dominant carbon input, dictating peaks in weathering outputs up to twice modern values. However, times of weathering rate suppression may be more important for setting system behavior, and the late Paleozoic was the only extended period over which rates are expected to have remained lower than modern. Modeling results are consistent with terrestrial organic matter deposition that accompanied Paleozoic vascular plant evolution having suppressed weathering fluxes by providing an alternative sink of atmospheric CO2 . Suppression would have then been progressively lifted as the crustal reservoir's holding capacity for terrestrial organic matter saturated back toward steady state with deposition of new organic matter balanced by erosion of older organic deposits. Although not an absolute increase, weathering fluxes returning to early Paleozoic conditions would represent a novel regime for the complex land biota that evolved in the interim. Volcanism-based peaks in Mesozoic weathering far surpass the modern rates that sustain a complex diversity of nitrogen-based symbioses; only in the late Paleozoic might these ecologies have been suppressed by significantly lower rates. Thus, angiosperms are posited to be another effect rather than proximal cause of Mesozoic upheaval.}, } @article {pmid35948026, year = {2022}, author = {Koizumi, J and Tanaka, K and Fukaya, K and Urabe, D}, title = {Stereocontrolled Synthesis of C20S-C26 and C20R-C26 Fragments of Amphidinolide L.}, journal = {The Journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {16}, pages = {11185-11195}, doi = {10.1021/acs.joc.2c01497}, pmid = {35948026}, issn = {1520-6904}, mesh = {Aldehydes/chemistry ; *Dinoflagellida/chemistry ; Imidazoles ; Lactones ; *Macrolides ; Molecular Structure ; Solvents ; Stereoisomerism ; Sulfonamides ; Thiophenes ; }, abstract = {Amphidinolide L is a cytotoxic macrolide isolated from marine symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Amphidinium. While its planar structure and the absolute stereochemistry of the C21-C26 part have been determined, six stereocenters have remained unassigned. Aiming at structure determination, we have developed a synthetic route to the C20S-C26 and C20R-C26 fragments via the Li-mediated stereocontrolled aldol reaction. Two aldehydes, 16 with the C22-hydroxy group and 19 with the C22-TES ether, were synthesized from lactone 4. The aldol reactions using the Li-enolate of 4-methyl-2-pentanone in THF provided the C20S-C26 fragment 20 from 16 and a 1:3.5 mixture of the C20-C26 fragment 22 favoring the C20R-isomer. Mechanistic studies based on an extensive search of transition states in explicit solvents indicated that the C20S-isomer would be generated via a tri-solvated transition state, while the C20R-isomer would be formed via a di-solvated transition state. The calculation emphasizes the importance of the coordination network as a higher-order complex composed of solvent molecules, aldehyde, enolate, and Li atoms in the reaction of 16 to minimize steric interactions but maximize the stabilizing effect by the coordination of solvents. The presence of the rotationally free aldehyde in the reaction of 19 results in moderate diastereoselectivity.}, } @article {pmid35947761, year = {2022}, author = {Chan, C}, title = {Establishing AM symbiosis: Letting friends stay only when you need their gifts.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {3507-3508}, pmid = {35947761}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Friends ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gift Giving ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35944866, year = {2022}, author = {Tang, CC and Wang, TY and Zhang, XY and Wang, R and He, ZW and Li, Z and Wang, XC}, title = {Role of types and dosages of cations with low valance states on microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system treating wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {361}, number = {}, pages = {127755}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127755}, pmid = {35944866}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biomass ; Cations ; *Chlorella ; *Environmental Pollutants ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the roles of cations with low valance states, including Mg[2+], K[+] and Li[+], on microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system treating wastewater. Results showed that Mg[2+] and K[+] improved pollutants removal at dosages of less than 1 mM, and a further increase led to poorer performances. Conversely, Li[+] inhibited pollutants removal. Mechanism study indicated Mg[2+] and K[+] with dosages of 10 mM and Li [+] inhibited the activities of MABS biomass (especially Chlorella), with bad absorption efficiencies of 20.64 %, 13.65 % and lower than 10 %, leading to more extracellular polymeric substances production. Larger ions' charge density resulted in larger attraction of water molecules, contributing to the decreased distance between microalgae cells and increased biomass aggregation. Both these two impacts led to the order of impact degree on MABS aggregates: Mg[2+] > Li[+] > K[+]. The findings can present some new perspectives on assessing effects of cations on MABS system.}, } @article {pmid35944865, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Du, R and Zhang, J and Wang, S and Peng, Y}, title = {Deciphering the spatial distribution along the upflow anammox reactor: Sludge characteristics and interspecies interactions.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {361}, number = {}, pages = {127748}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127748}, pmid = {35944865}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Denitrification ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Sewage/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Here, nitrogen conversion, granular characteristics and microbial dynamics were combined to reveal the longitudinal heterogeneity along anammox-UASB with nitrogen removal efficiency of 92.6%. The reactor was divided into Bottom-zone, Middle-zone, Upper-zone, and Top-zone with height increasing. Results indicated that particle size decreased from Bottom-zone to Upper-zone, while granular floatation caused an increase in Top-zone. Protein secondary structure in EPS was loose and hzsA transcription ratio was only 4.45% due to the limited mass-transfer and serious mineralization of ultra-large granules in Bottom-zone. Smaller granules in Middle-zone were more robust and active, with compact tryptophan- and aromatic-like protein in EPS and 23.71% hzsA transcription. Intriguingly, coexisting denitrification survived on EPS and/or microbial metabolites was observed. Transcription of narG was stimulated with height increasing, resulted in performance improvement through combining partial denitrification and anammox in Upper-zone. The findings deciphered stratification characteristics along the height-partitioned anammox-UASB, and reveal cross-feedings between denitrification and anammox bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35944619, year = {2022}, author = {Khalaf, EM and Hassan, HM and El-Baz, AM and Shata, A and Khodir, AE and Yousef, ME and Elgharabawy, RM and Nouh, NA and Saleh, S and Bin-Meferij, MM and El-Kott, AF and El-Sokkary, MMA and Eissa, H}, title = {A novel therapeutic combination of dapagliflozin, Lactobacillus and crocin attenuates diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats: Role of oxidative stress, gut microbiota, and PPARγ activation.}, journal = {European journal of pharmacology}, volume = {931}, number = {}, pages = {175172}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175172}, pmid = {35944619}, issn = {1879-0712}, mesh = {Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Carotenoids ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/complications/drug therapy/metabolism ; *Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/drug therapy/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glucosides ; Lactobacillus/metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; PPAR gamma/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is diagnosed by the development of abnormality in the structure and performance of myocardium in diabetic mellitus (DM) patients. Recent studies reported the association between altered gut microbiota and metabolic disorders like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the gut-heart axis in an experimental animal model where we developed a novel therapeutic combination of dapagliflozin, crocin prebiotic and Lactobacilli probiotic to correct induced diabetic cardiomyopathy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes mellitus was induced by Intraperitoneal (i.p) streptozotocin in male rats. The experimental design includes the administration of the tested drugs (Crocin, Dapagliflozin) solely and with Lactobacillus, or in combination therapy with and without Lactobacillus to the diabetic rats for six weeks. Clinical and microscopic evaluation scoring for cardiac tissues were determined. Biochemical markers including blood glucose level, adiponectin, resistin, cardiac injury markers, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes, pro and anti-inflammatory markers were assessed. In addition, quantitative relative expression of PPARγ and TXINP genes and capsase-3 levels were measured. The change in the microbiota abundance was investigated using real-time PCR.

KEY FINDINGS: This study demonstrated the synergistic effect of the triple combination; dapagliflozin, crocin prebiotic, and Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii probiotic in treating diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats. The triple combination significantly reduced the oxidative, inflammatory, apoptotic activities induced by streptozotocin STZ and helped in restoring the symbiotic gut microbiota.

SIGNIFICANCE: It is worthy to perform this study in clinical trials as a primary step to include crocin and Lactobacilli in the therapeutic protocols of diabetic cardiomyopathy.}, } @article {pmid35941408, year = {2022}, author = {Mukherjee, A and Bilecz, AJ and Lengyel, E}, title = {The adipocyte microenvironment and cancer.}, journal = {Cancer metastasis reviews}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {575-587}, pmid = {35941408}, issn = {1573-7233}, support = {R01 CA169604/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 CA264619/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Adipocytes/metabolism/pathology ; Adipose Tissue/metabolism/pathology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; *Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Many epithelial tumors grow in the vicinity of or metastasize to adipose tissue. As tumors develop, crosstalk between adipose tissue and cancer cells leads to changes in adipocyte function and paracrine signaling, promoting a microenvironment that supports tumor growth. Over the last decade, it became clear that tumor cells co-opt adipocytes in the tumor microenvironment, converting them into cancer-associated adipocytes (CAA). As adipocytes and cancer cells engage, a metabolic symbiosis ensues that is driven by bi-directional signaling. Many cancers (colon, breast, prostate, lung, ovarian cancer, and hematologic malignancies) stimulate lipolysis in adipocytes, followed by the uptake of fatty acids (FA) from the surrounding adipose tissue. The FA enters the cancer cell through specific fatty acid receptors and binding proteins (e.g., CD36, FATP1) and are used for membrane synthesis, energy metabolism (β-oxidation), or lipid-derived cell signaling molecules (derivatives of arachidonic and linolenic acid). Therefore, blocking adipocyte-derived lipid uptake or lipid-associated metabolic pathways in cancer cells, either with a single agent or in combination with standard of care chemotherapy, might prove to be an effective strategy against cancers that grow in lipid-rich tumor microenvironments.}, } @article {pmid35939569, year = {2022}, author = {Steel, RT}, title = {Medicalising the menace? The symbiotic convergence of medicine and law enforcement in the medicalisation of marijuana in Minnesota.}, journal = {Sociology of health & illness}, volume = {44}, number = {8}, pages = {1324-1343}, pmid = {35939569}, issn = {1467-9566}, mesh = {*Cannabis ; Humans ; Law Enforcement ; *Medical Marijuana/therapeutic use ; Medicalization ; Minnesota ; }, abstract = {The medicalisation of marijuana has occurred rapidly, albeit nonuniformly, across the US and around the world over the past 3 decades. This paper centres on the medicalisation of marijuana in Minnesota-which has one of the most restrictive programs in the country-as a case for evaluating the negotiation of institutional boundaries with the shift from criminalisation to medicalisation after nearly a century of criminal prohibition. Drawing upon Foucauldian discourse analyses of the medical and law enforcement associations' position statements and legislative hearings that shaped medical marijuana policy in Minnesota, this paper demonstrates a symbiotic convergence between medicine and law enforcement through the deployment of shared discursive strategies in their opposition to medical marijuana that reinforce marijuana's criminalised status by solidifying the boundaries between proper medicine and dangerous drugs. Criminal justice and medical institutions draw upon one another's definitions, logics, and practices in a mutually constitutive manner, while still maintaining distinct user subjects and institutional interventions for each based on the user's access to state-approved forms of marijuana. The consequences for the governing of marijuana in Minnesota are explored, as well as the broader implications for the sociological study of medicalisation and criminalisation with respect to the governance of drugs and health.}, } @article {pmid35938718, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, Z and Wang, M and Zhang, H and He, W and Cao, L and Lian, C and Zhong, Z and Wang, H and Fu, L and Zhang, X and Li, C}, title = {Metabolism Interactions Promote the Overall Functioning of the Episymbiotic Chemosynthetic Community of Shinkaia crosnieri of Cold Seeps.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e0032022}, pmid = {35938718}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Anomura/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; *Decapoda/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Remarkably diverse bacteria have been observed as biofilm aggregates on the surface of deep-sea invertebrates that support the growth of hosts through chemosynthetic carbon fixation. Growing evidence also indicates that community-wide interactions, and especially cooperation among symbionts, contribute to overall community productivity. Here, metagenome-guided metatranscriptomic and metabolic analyses were conducted to investigate the taxonomic composition, functions, and potential interactions of symbionts dwelling on the seta of Shinkaia crosnieri lobsters in a methane cold seep. Methylococcales and Thiotrichales dominated the community, followed by the Campylobacteriales, Nitrosococcales, Flavobacteriales, and Chitinophagales Metabolic interactions may be common among the episymbionts since many separate taxon genomes encoded complementary genes within metabolic pathways. Specifically, Thiotrichales could contribute to detoxification of hydroxylamine that is a metabolic by-product of Methylococcales. Further, Nitrosococcales may rely on methanol leaked from Methylococcales cells that efficiently oxidize methane. Elemental sulfur may also serve as a community good that enhances sulfur utilization that benefits the overall community, as evidenced by confocal Raman microscopy. Stable intermediates may connect symbiont metabolic activities in cyclical oxic-hypoxic fluctuating environments, which then enhance overall community functioning. This hypothesis was partially confirmed via in situ experiments. These results highlight the importance of microbe-microbe interactions in symbiosis and deep-sea adaptation. IMPORTANCE Symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and marine invertebrates are common in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems and are considered critical foundations for deep-sea colonization. Episymbiotic microorganisms tend to form condensed biofilms that may facilitate metabolite sharing among biofilm populations. However, the prevalence of metabolic interactions among deep-sea episymbionts and their contributions to deep-sea adaptations are not well understood due to sampling and cultivation difficulties associated with deep-sea environments. Here, we investigated metabolic interactions among the episymbionts of Shinkaia crosnieri, a dominant chemosynthetic ecosystem lobster species in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Meta-omics characterizations were conducted alongside in situ experiments to validate interaction hypotheses. Furthermore, imaging analysis was conducted, including electron microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and confocal Raman microscopy (CRM), to provide direct evidence of metabolic interactions. The results support the Black Queen Hypothesis, wherein leaked public goods are shared among cohabitating microorganisms to enhance the overall adaptability of the community via cooperation.}, } @article {pmid35938046, year = {2022}, author = {Sarkodie, SA and Owusu, PA}, title = {Global land-use intensity and anthropogenic emissions exhibit symbiotic and explosive behavior.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {104741}, pmid = {35938046}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {The intensification of land use is accelerating and remains a threat to achieving environmental sustainability. Although prior literature identifies unsustainable demand for resources as crucial to ecosystem vitality, we highlight explosive behavior and indicators associated with changing global land-use intensity and emissions. We assess emission footprints, forestry, and agricultural land-use intensity across income groups. We find that long-term income growth above US$1005/capita has mitigation effects on emissions, whereas emissions stimulate the global expansion of land use for agricultural and forestry activities. Urban expansion has diminishing effects on agricultural lands in developed countries, which may alter future agricultural production and food consumption. The heterogeneous effects across countries demonstrate the need for domestic context, including cultural and historical factors, in assessing forest decline, agricultural expansion, and land-use intensity. The co-benefits of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in developing economies are crucial to mitigating emissions while improving forest-dependent livelihoods.}, } @article {pmid35937885, year = {2022}, author = {Holguin, JA and Margetis, JL and Narayan, A and Yoneoka, GM and Irimia, A}, title = {Vascular Cognitive Impairment After Mild Stroke: Connectomic Insights, Neuroimaging, and Knowledge Translation.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {905979}, pmid = {35937885}, issn = {1662-4548}, abstract = {Contemporary stroke assessment protocols have a limited ability to detect vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), especially among those with subtle deficits. This lesser-involved categorization, termed mild stroke (MiS), can manifest compromised processing speed that negatively impacts cognition. From a neurorehabilitation perspective, research spanning neuroimaging, neuroinformatics, and cognitive neuroscience supports that processing speed is a valuable proxy for complex neurocognitive operations, insofar as inefficient neural network computation significantly affects daily task performance. This impact is particularly evident when high cognitive loads compromise network efficiency by challenging task speed, complexity, and duration. Screening for VCI using processing speed metrics can be more sensitive and specific. Further, they can inform rehabilitation approaches that enhance patient recovery, clarify the construct of MiS, support clinician-researcher symbiosis, and further clarify the occupational therapy role in targeting functional cognition. To this end, we review relationships between insult-derived connectome alterations and VCI, and discuss novel clinical approaches for identifying disruptions of neural networks and white matter connectivity. Furthermore, we will frame knowledge translation efforts to leverage insights from cutting-edge structural and functional connectomics research. Lastly, we highlight how occupational therapists can provide expertise as knowledge brokers acting within their established scope of practice to drive substantive clinical innovation.}, } @article {pmid35937539, year = {2022}, author = {Maki, Y and Soejima, H and Sugiyama, T and Watahiki, MK and Sato, T and Yamaguchi, J}, title = {3-Phenyllactic acid is converted to phenylacetic acid and induces auxin-responsive root growth in Arabidopsis plants.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {111-117}, pmid = {35937539}, issn = {1342-4580}, abstract = {Many microorganisms have been reported to produce compounds that promote plant growth and are thought to be involved in the establishment and maintenance of symbiotic relationships. 3-Phenyllactic acid (PLA) produced by lactic acid bacteria was previously shown to promote root growth in adzuki cuttings. However, the mode of action of PLA as a root-promoting substance had not been clarified. The present study therefore investigated the relationship between PLA and auxin. PLA was found to inhibit primary root elongation and to increase lateral root density in wild-type Arabidopsis, but not in an auxin signaling mutant. In addition, PLA induced IAA19 promoter fused β-glucuronidase gene expression, suggesting that PLA exhibits auxin-like activity. The inability of PLA to promote degradation of Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid protein in a yeast heterologous reconstitution system indicated that PLA may not a ligand of auxin receptor. Using of a synthetic PLA labeled with stable isotope showed that exogenously applied PLA was converted to phenylacetic acid (PAA), an endogenous auxin, in both adzuki and Arabidopsis. Taken together, these results suggest that exogenous PLA promotes auxin signaling by conversion to PAA, thereby regulating root growth in plants.}, } @article {pmid35937538, year = {2022}, author = {Miyata, K and Hasegawa, S and Nakajima, E and Nishizawa, Y and Kamiya, K and Yokogawa, H and Shirasaka, S and Maruyama, S and Shibuya, N and Kaku, H}, title = {OsCERK2/OsRLK10, a homolog of OsCERK1, has a potential role for chitin-triggered immunity and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {119-128}, pmid = {35937538}, issn = {1342-4580}, abstract = {In rice, the lysin motif (LysM) receptor-like kinase OsCERK1, originally identified as the essential molecule for chitin-triggered immunity, plays a key role in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. As we previously reported, although AM colonization was largely repressed at 2 weeks after inoculation (WAI), arbuscules were observed at 5 WAI in oscerk1 mutant. Conversely, most mutant plants that defect the common symbiosis signaling pathway exhibited no arbuscule formation. Concerning the reason for this characteristic phenotype of oscerk1, we speculated that OsRLK10, which is a putative paralog of OsCERK1, may have a redundant function in AM symbiosis. The protein sequences of these two genes are highly conserved and it is estimated that the gene duplication occurred 150 million years ago. Here we demonstrated that OsCERK2/OsRLK10 induced AM colonization and chitin-triggered reactive oxygen species production in oscerk1 knockout mutant as similar to OsCERK1. The oscerk2 mutant showed a slight but significant reduction of AM colonization at 5 WAI, indicating the contribution of OsCERK2 for AM symbiosis. However, the oscerk2;oscerk1 double-knockout mutant produced arbuscules at 5 WAI as similar to the oscerk1 mutant, indicating that the redundancy of OsCERK1 and OsCERK2 did not explain the mycorrhizal colonization in oscerk1 at 5 WAI. These results indicated that OsCERK2 has a potential to regulate both chitin-triggered immunity and AM symbiosis and at least partially contributes to AM symbiosis in rice though the contribution of OsCERK2 appears to be weaker than that of OsCERK1.}, } @article {pmid35934996, year = {2022}, author = {Montero, H and Paszkowski, U}, title = {A simple and versatile fluorochrome-based procedure for imaging of lipids in arbuscule-containing cells.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {294-301}, pmid = {35934996}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/metabolism ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipids ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Wheat Germ Agglutinins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is characterized by the reciprocal exchange of nutrients. AM fungi are oleaginous microorganisms that obtain essential fatty acids from host plants. A lipid biosynthesis and delivery pathway has been proposed to operate in inner root cortex cells hosting arbuscules, a cell type challenging to access microscopically. Despite the central role lipids play in the association, lipid distribution patterns during arbuscule development are currently unknown. We developed a simple co-staining method employing fluorophore-conjugated Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) and a lipophilic blue fluorochrome, Ac-201, for the simultaneous imaging of arbuscules and lipids distributed within arbuscule-containing cells in high resolution. We observed lipid distribution patterns in wild-type root infection zones in a variety of plant species. In addition, we applied this methodology to mutants of the Lotus japonicus GRAS transcription factor RAM1 and the Oryza sativa half-size ABC transporter STR1, both proposed to be impaired in the symbiotic lipid biosynthesis-delivery pathway. We found that lipids accumulated in cortical cells hosting stunted arbuscules in Ljram1 and Osstr1, and observed lipids in the arbuscule body of Osstr1, suggesting that in the corresponding plant species, RAM1 and STR1 may not be essential for symbiotic lipid biosynthesis and transfer from arbuscule-containing cells, respectively. The versatility of this methodology has the potential to help elucidate key questions on the complex lipid dynamics fostering AM symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35933557, year = {2022}, author = {Capasso, L and Aranda, M and Cui, G and Pousse, M and Tambutté, S and Zoccola, D}, title = {Investigating calcification-related candidates in a non-symbiotic scleractinian coral, Tubastraea spp.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {13515}, pmid = {35933557}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In hermatypic scleractinian corals, photosynthetic fixation of CO2 and the production of CaCO3 are intimately linked due to their symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates of the Symbiodiniaceae family. This makes it difficult to study ion transport mechanisms involved in the different pathways. In contrast, most ahermatypic scleractinian corals do not share this symbiotic relationship and thus offer an advantage when studying the ion transport mechanisms involved in the calcification process. Despite this advantage, non-symbiotic scleractinian corals have been systematically neglected in calcification studies, resulting in a lack of data especially at the molecular level. Here, we combined a tissue micro-dissection technique and RNA-sequencing to identify calcification-related ion transporters, and other candidates, in the ahermatypic non-symbiotic scleractinian coral Tubastraea spp. Our results show that Tubastraea spp. possesses several calcification-related candidates previously identified in symbiotic scleractinian corals (such as SLC4-γ, AMT-1like, CARP, etc.). Furthermore, we identify and describe a role in scleractinian calcification for several ion transporter candidates (such as SLC13, -16, -23, etc.) identified for the first time in this study. Taken together, our results provide not only insights about the molecular mechanisms underlying non-symbiotic scleractinian calcification, but also valuable tools for the development of biotechnological solutions to better control the extreme invasiveness of corals belonging to this particular genus.}, } @article {pmid35932943, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Tian, Q and Cui, L and Cheng, J and Zhou, H and Zhang, Y and Peng, A and Shen, L}, title = {Synergism and mutualistic interactions between microalgae and fungi in fungi-microalgae symbiotic system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {361}, number = {}, pages = {127728}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127728}, pmid = {35932943}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fungi ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Synechocystis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The method of collecting microalgae using fungal mycelium pellets has attracted widespread attention because of its high efficiency and simplicity. In this study, the interaction in FMSS was explored using Aspergillus fumigatus and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Under the conditions of 25-30 °C, pH of 5.0, 160 rpm, a light intensity of 1000 lx, light to darkness ratio of 6:18 h, and glucose concentration of 1.5 g/L, the FMSS had the highest biomass and recovery efficiency. SEM, TEM, and Zeta analysis showed that microalgae can be fixed on the surface of fungal mycelium pellets by the electrostatic attraction (amino, amide, phosphate, hydroxyl, and aldehyde groups) of EPS. The N cycling and CO2-O2 cycling promoted the synthesis of amino acids and provided a guarantee for gas exchange, and the intermediate metabolites (CO3[2-] and HCO3[-]/H2CO3) satisfied the metabolic activities. The microalgae and fungi worked in coordination each other, which was the mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35932865, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, FX and Chen, HM and Wang, XW and Mao, R}, title = {Alder encroachment alters subsoil organic carbon pool and chemical structure in a boreal peatland of Northeast China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {850}, number = {}, pages = {157849}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157849}, pmid = {35932865}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Alnus ; *Carbon/chemistry ; China ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Boreal peatlands have been experiencing increased abundances of symbiotic dinitrogen-fixing woody plants (mainly alder species). However, how alder encroachment alters soil organic carbon (C) pool and stability is unclear. To examine the effects of alder encroachment on soil organic C, we measured soil organic C pool, phenol oxidase (POX) activity, organic C mineralization rate, and organic C chemical structure (alkyl C, O-alkyl C, aromatic C, and carbonyl C) using solid-state [13]C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm depths in the Alnus sibirica islands and adjacent open peatlands in the north of Da'xingan Mountain, Northeast China. A. sibirica islands had 28 %, 25 %, and 30 % greater POX activity and 36 %, 31 %, and 100 % higher organic C mineralization than open peatlands in the 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm soil depths, respectively. Despite no significant changes in the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths, alder encroachment reduced soil organic C pool in the 20-40 cm depth. Soil organic C pool in the 0-40 cm depth was lower in A. sibirica islands (298 Mg ha[-1]) than in the open peatlands (315 Mg ha[-1]). Moreover, alder encroachment increased alkyl (7 %) and carbonyl (57 %) C fractions but reduced O-alkyl C fraction (16 %) in the 20-40 cm depth, resulting in increased aliphaticity and recalcitrance indices. These findings suggest that alder encroachment will reduce soil organic C accumulation by accelerating microbial decomposition, and highlight that increased biochemical stabilization would attenuate soil organic C loss after alder expansion in boreal peatlands. Our results will help assess and project future C budgets in boreal peatlands.}, } @article {pmid35932461, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, L and Wu, R and Mur, LAJ and Guo, C and Zhao, X and Meng, H and Yan, D and Zhang, X and Guan, H and Han, G and Guo, B and Yue, F and Wei, Y and Zhao, P and He, W}, title = {Assembly of high-quality genomes of the locoweed Oxytropis ochrocephala and its endophyte Alternaria oxytropis provides new evidence for their symbiotic relationship and swainsonine biosynthesis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {253-272}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13695}, pmid = {35932461}, issn = {1755-0998}, support = {BB/R02118X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Swainsonine/analysis/metabolism ; *Oxytropis/genetics/metabolism ; Endophytes/genetics/metabolism ; Alternaria/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Ascomycota/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Locoweeds are perennial forbs poisonous to livestock and cause extreme losses to animal husbandry. Locoweed toxicity is attributed to the symbiotic endophytes in Alternaria sect. Undifilum, which produce a mycotoxin swainsonine (SW). We performed a de novo whole genome sequencing of the most common locoweed in China, Oxytropis ochrocephala (2n = 16), and assembled a high-quality, chromosome-level reference genome. Its genome size is 958.83 Mb with 930.94 Mb (97.09%) anchored and oriented onto eight chromosomes, and 31,700 protein-coding genes were annotated. Phylogenetic and collinearity analysis showed it is closely related to Medicago truncatula with a pair of large interchromosomal rearrangements, and both species underwent a whole-genome duplication event. We also derived the genome of A. oxytropis at 74.48 Mb with a contig N50 of 8.87 Mb and 10,657 protein-coding genes, and refined the genes of SW biosynthesis. Multiple Alternaria species containing the swnK gene were grouped into a single clade, but in other genera, swnK's homologues are diverse. Resequencing of 41 A. oxytropis strains revealed one SNP in the SWN cluster causing changes in SW concentration. Comparing the transcriptomes of symbiotic and nonsymbiotic interactions identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to defence and secondary metabolism in the host. Within the endophyte DEGs were linked to cell wall degradation, fatty acids and nitrogen metabolism. Symbiosis induced the upregulation of most of the SW biosynthetic genes. These two genomes and relevant sequencing data should provide valuable genetic resources for the study of the evolution, interaction, and SW biosynthesis in the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid35930469, year = {2022}, author = {Nadal-Jimenez, P and Siozios, S and Frost, CL and Court, R and Chrostek, E and Drew, GC and Evans, JD and Hawthorne, DJ and Burritt, JB and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Arsenophonus apicola sp. nov., isolated from the honeybee Apis mellifera.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005469}, pmid = {35930469}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bees ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genus Arsenophonus has been traditionally considered to comprise heritable bacterial symbionts of arthropods. Recent work has reported a microbe related to the type species Arsenophonus nasoniae as infecting the honey bee, Apis mellifera. The association was unusual for members of the genus in that the microbe-host interaction arose through environmental and social exposure rather than vertical transmission. In this study, we describe the in vitro culture of ArsBeeUS[T], a strain of this microbe isolated from A. mellifera in the USA. The 16S rRNA sequence of the isolated strain indicates it falls within the genus Arsenophonus. Biolog analysis indicates the bacterium has a restricted range of nutrients that support growth. In vivo experiments demonstrate the strain proliferates rapidly on injection into A. mellifera hosts. We further report the closed genome sequence for the strain. The genome is 3.3 Mb and the G+C content is 37.6 mol%, which is smaller than A. nasoniae but larger than the genomes reported for non-culturable Arsenophonus symbionts. The genome is complex, with six extrachromosomal elements and 11 predicted intact phage elements, but notably less complex than A. nasoniae. Strain ArsBeeUS[T] is clearly distinct from the type species A. nasoniae on the basis of genome sequence, with 92 % average nucleotide identity. Based on our results, we propose Arsenophonus apicola sp. nov., with the type strain ArsBeeUS[T] (CECT 30499[T]=DSM113403[T]=LMG 32504[T]).}, } @article {pmid35929524, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Wang, Y and Zhang, J and Lu, G and You, Y and Wang, Y and Sun, H and Nan, B and Wang, Y}, title = {The effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus B10 on alcoholic liver injury and intestinal microbiota in alcohol-induced mice model.}, journal = {Journal of food biochemistry}, volume = {46}, number = {10}, pages = {e14372}, doi = {10.1111/jfbc.14372}, pmid = {35929524}, issn = {1745-4514}, mesh = {Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Cholesterol ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ethanol ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; *Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/etiology/pathology/therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Triglycerides ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lactobacillus rhamnosus B10 (L. rhamnosus B10) isolated from the baby feces was given to an alcohol mice model, aiming to investigate the effects of L. rhamnosus B10 on alcoholic liver injury by regulating intestinal microbiota. C57BL/6N mice were fed with liquid diet Lieber-DeCarli with or without 5% (v/v) ethanol for 8 weeks, and treated with L. rhamnosus B10 at the last 2 weeks. The results showed that L. rhamnosus B10 decreased the serum total cholesterol (1.48 mmol/L), triglycerides (0.97 mmol/L), alanine aminotransferase (26.4 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (14.2 U/L), lipopolysaccharide (0.23 EU/mL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (138 pg/mL). In addition, L. rhamnosus B10 also reduced the liver triglycerides (1.02 mmol/g prot), alanine aminotransferase (17.8 mmol/g prot) and aspartate aminotransferase (12.5 mmol/g prot) in alcohol mice, thereby ameliorating alcohol-induced liver injury. The changes of intestinal microbiota composition on class, family and genus level in cecum were analyzed. The intestinal symbiotic abundance of Firmicutes was elevated while gram-negative bacteria Proteobacteria and Deferribacteres was decreased in alcohol mice treated with L. rhamnosus B10 for 2 weeks. In summary, this study provided evidence for the therapeutic effects of probiotics on alcoholic liver injury by regulating intestinal flora.}, } @article {pmid35929506, year = {2022}, author = {Moulin, S}, title = {Get connected to the fungal network for improved transfer of nitrogen: the role of ZmAMT3;1 in ammonium transport in maize-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {3509-3511}, pmid = {35929506}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/genetics ; }, } @article {pmid35929094, year = {2022}, author = {Irving, TB and Chakraborty, S and Maia, LGS and Knaack, S and Conde, D and Schmidt, HW and Triozzi, PM and Simmons, CH and Roy, S and Kirst, M and Ané, JM}, title = {An LCO-responsive homolog of NODULE INCEPTION positively regulates lateral root formation in Populus sp.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {190}, number = {3}, pages = {1699-1714}, pmid = {35929094}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Populus/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Organogenesis, Plant ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; Chitin/metabolism ; Cytokinins ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) has been studied extensively for its multiple roles in root nodule symbiosis within plants of the nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC) that associate with soil bacteria, such as rhizobia and Frankia. However, NIN homologs are present in plants outside the NFC, suggesting a role in other developmental processes. Here, we show that the biofuel crop Populus sp., which is not part of the NFC, contains eight copies of NIN with diversified protein sequence and expression patterns. Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are produced by rhizobia and a wide range of fungi, including mycorrhizal ones, and act as symbiotic signals that promote lateral root formation. RNAseq analysis of Populus sp. treated with purified LCO showed induction of the PtNIN2 subfamily. Moreover, the expression of PtNIN2b correlated with the formation of lateral roots and was suppressed by cytokinin treatment. Constitutive expression of PtNIN2b overcame the inhibition of lateral root development by cytokinin under high nitrate conditions. Lateral root induction in response to LCOs likely represents an ancestral function of NIN retained and repurposed in nodulating plants, as we demonstrate that the role of NIN in LCO-induced root branching is conserved in both Populus sp. and legumes. We further established a visual marker of LCO perception in Populus sp. roots, the putative sulfotransferase PtSS1 that can be used to study symbiotic interactions with the bacterial and fungal symbionts of Populus sp.}, } @article {pmid35927757, year = {2022}, author = {Jamshidi, S and Masoumi, SJ and Abiri, B and Vafa, M}, title = {The effects of synbiotic and/or vitamin D supplementation on gut-muscle axis in overweight and obese women: a study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.}, journal = {Trials}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {631}, pmid = {35927757}, issn = {1745-6215}, mesh = {Body Composition ; Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Iran ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; *Obesity/therapy ; *Overweight/therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; *Sarcopenia/diagnosis ; *Synbiotics ; Vitamin D/therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia refers to an age-related loss of skeletal muscle content, strength, and function, leading to a decrease in mobility. Obesity may exacerbate age-related complications such as sarcopenia through inflammatory pathways. In addition, intestinal dysbiosis has been proposed as an emerging contributor to sarcopenia due to the stimulation of the immune system and elevated barrier permeability of the intestine. Targeting microbiome with synbiotic and vitamin D supplementation may modulate the microbiome followed by the enhancement of sarcopenia indices. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of synbiotic supplementation with or without vitamin D on the intestinal microbiome and its relationship with strength, muscle function, and body composition in middle-aged overweight and obese women.

METHODS: This multi-factorial, double-blind, randomized controlled trial will be conducted on 88 participants in eight weeks. The participants will be allocated into four groups receiving vitamin D placebo (weekly) and synbiotic placebo (daily), vitamin D and synbiotic placebo, vitamin D placebo and symbiotic, and vitamin D and synbiotic. Intestinal microbiome assessment will be done by DNA isolation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, anthropometric indices, body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance will be evaluated by standard methods. All measurements will be made at the beginning and end of the study.

DISCUSSION: The previous studies showed that probiotics were involved in reducing inflammation, insulin sensitivity, modulation of atrophy markers such as atherogen-1, and decreasing reactive oxygen indices. In addition, vitamin D was found to improve the intestinal microbiome and facilitate muscle anabolism. The present protocol is novel as it aims to investigate the impact of the co-supplementation of synbiotic and vitamin D on the gut microbiome and sarcopenia indices.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20090822002365N25, date of registration: March 2021).}, } @article {pmid35927448, year = {2022}, author = {Koga, R and Moriyama, M and Onodera-Tanifuji, N and Ishii, Y and Takai, H and Mizutani, M and Oguchi, K and Okura, R and Suzuki, S and Gotoh, Y and Hayashi, T and Seki, M and Suzuki, Y and Nishide, Y and Hosokawa, T and Wakamoto, Y and Furusawa, C and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Single mutation makes Escherichia coli an insect mutualist.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {1141-1150}, pmid = {35927448}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Heteroptera/microbiology ; Insecta ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms often live in symbiosis with their hosts, and some are considered mutualists, where all species involved benefit from the interaction. How free-living microorganisms have evolved to become mutualists is unclear. Here we report an experimental system in which non-symbiotic Escherichia coli evolves into an insect mutualist. The stinkbug Plautia stali is typically associated with its essential gut symbiont, Pantoea sp., which colonizes a specialized symbiotic organ. When sterilized newborn nymphs were infected with E. coli rather than Pantoea sp., only a few insects survived, in which E. coli exhibited specific localization to the symbiotic organ and vertical transmission to the offspring. Through transgenerational maintenance with P. stali, several hypermutating E. coli lines independently evolved to support the host's high adult emergence and improved body colour; these were called 'mutualistic' E. coli. These mutants exhibited slower bacterial growth, smaller size, loss of flagellar motility and lack of an extracellular matrix. Transcriptomic and genomic analyses of 'mutualistic' E. coli lines revealed independent mutations that disrupted the carbon catabolite repression global transcriptional regulator system. Each mutation reproduced the mutualistic phenotypes when introduced into wild-type E. coli, confirming that single carbon catabolite repression mutations can make E. coli an insect mutualist. These findings provide an experimental system for future work on host-microbe symbioses and may explain why microbial mutualisms are omnipresent in nature.}, } @article {pmid35926235, year = {2022}, author = {Dong, M and Wang, B and Tian, Y and Chen, L and Li, Y and Sun, H}, title = {Diversity of fungal assemblages in rhizosphere and endosphere of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) under field conditions revealed by culturing and culture-independent molecular methods.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {10}, pages = {622-632}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2022-0093}, pmid = {35926235}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Blueberry Plants/microbiology ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; *Vaccinium ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizae are important to plants in improving nutrient absorption and stress resistance. To study mycorrhizal fungal diversity in blueberry, we combined culture method and culture-independent molecular method to analyze the root endosphere and rhizosphere fungi in three different cultivars. We obtained 212 isolates with a culture method and classified them into 40 types according to their morphological characteristics. Then, we amplified the internal transcribed spacer sequence and found rich species diversity. With high-throughput sequencing, 561 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were annotated based on a 97% similarity level cutoff. The alpha diversity index revealed that the fungal abundance and diversity in the rhizosphere were higher than those in the endosphere. The dominant phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota and the dominant genus was Oidiodendron. We also constructed the plant-fungus symbiotic system by inoculating in vitro stock shoots, which lays a theoretical foundation for further research to develop and utilize the dominant mycorrhizal fungi of blueberry.}, } @article {pmid35926111, year = {2022}, author = {Ezhilarasan, D and Varghese, SS}, title = {Porphyromonas gingivalis and dental stem cells crosstalk amplify inflammation and bone loss in the periodontitis niche.}, journal = {Journal of cellular physiology}, volume = {237}, number = {10}, pages = {3768-3777}, doi = {10.1002/jcp.30848}, pmid = {35926111}, issn = {1097-4652}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Collagen Type I ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; Cytokines/metabolism ; *Dental Caries ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Osteopontin ; *Periodontal Diseases ; *Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/metabolism ; Stem Cells/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Periodontitis is the sixth most prevalent disease, and almost 3.5 billion people are affected globally by dental caries and periodontal diseases. The microbial shift from a symbiotic microbiota to a dysbiotic microbiota in the oral cavity generally initiates periodontal disease. Pathogens in the periodontal microenvironment interact with stem cells to modulate their regenerative potential. Therefore, this review focuses on the interaction between microbes and stem cells in periodontitis conditions. Microbes direct dental stem cells to secrete a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which increase the inflammatory burden in the damaged periodontal tissue, which further aggravates periodontitis. Microbial interaction also decreases the osteogenic differentiation potential of dental stem cells by downregulating alkaline phosphatase, runt-related transcription factor 2, type 1 collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and so on. Microbe and stem cell interaction amplifies pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling in the periodontitis niche, decreasing the osteogenic commitment of dental stem cells. A clear understanding of microbial stem cell interactions is crucial in designing regenerative therapies using stem cells in the management of periodontitis.}, } @article {pmid35925827, year = {2023}, author = {Kwak, Y and Argandona, JA and Degnan, PH and Hansen, AK}, title = {Chromosomal-level assembly of Bactericera cockerelli reveals rampant gene family expansions impacting genome structure, function and insect-microbe-plant-interactions.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {233-252}, pmid = {35925827}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genome ; Bacteria/genetics ; Chromosomes ; }, abstract = {Lineage specific expansions and gene duplications are some of the most important sources of evolutionary novelty in eukaryotes. Although not as prevalent in eukaryotes compared to bacteria, horizontal gene transfer events can also result in key adaptations for insects, especially for those involved in insect-microbe interactions. In this study we assemble the first chromosomal assembly of the psyllid Bactericera cockerelli and reveal that the B. cockerelli genome has experienced significantly more gene expansion events compared to other Hemipteran representatives with fully sequenced genomes. We also reveal that B. cockerelli's genome is the largest psyllid genome (567 Mb) sequenced to date and is ~15% larger than the other two psyllid species genomes sequenced (Pachypsylla venusta and Diaphorina citri). Structurally, B. cockerelli appears to have an additional chromosome compared to the distantly related psyllid species P. venusta due to a previous chromosomal fission or fusion event. The increase in genome size and dynamic nature of the B. cockerelli genome may largely be contributed to the widespread expansion of type I and II repeat elements that are rampant across all of B. cockerelli's. chromosomes. These repeat elements are distributed near equally in both euchromatic and heterochromatic regions. Furthermore, significant gene family expansions and gene duplications were uncovered for genes that are expected to be important in its adaptation to insect-plant and microbe interactions, which include transcription factors, proteases, odorant receptors, and horizontally transferred genes that are involved in the nutritional symbioses with their long-term nutritional endosymbiont Carsonella.}, } @article {pmid35924936, year = {2022}, author = {Zulmajdi, AA and Okazaki, T and Mori, T}, title = {Draft Genome of Kangiella sp. Strain TOML190, Isolated from the Surface of the Striped Shore Crab, Pachygrapsus crassipes.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e0043722}, pmid = {35924936}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Kangiella sp. strain TOML190 is a strain from the Kangiella genus that was isolated from the surface of a crustacean. Genetic background analysis of this strain shows that it harbors unique features possibly related to its symbiotic adaptation to its residing host.}, } @article {pmid35924173, year = {2022}, author = {Qin, H and Yuan, B and Huang, W and Wang, Y}, title = {Utilizing Gut Microbiota to Improve Hepatobiliary Tumor Treatments: Recent Advances.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {924696}, pmid = {35924173}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Hepatobiliary tumors, which include cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and gallbladder cancer, are common cancers that have high morbidity and mortality rates and poor survival outcomes. In humans, the microbiota is comprised of symbiotic microbial cells (10-100 trillion) that belong to the bacterial ecosystem mainly residing in the gut. The gut microbiota is a complicated group that can largely be found in the intestine and has a dual role in cancer occurrence and progression. Previous research has focused on the crucial functions of the intestinal microflora as the main pathophysiological mechanism in HCC development. Intestinal bacteria produce a broad range of metabolites that exhibit a variety of pro- and anticarcinogenic effects on HCC. Therefore, probiotic alteration of the gut microflora could promote gut flora balance and help prevent the occurrence of HCC. Recent evidence from clinical and translational studies suggests that fecal microbiota transplant is one of the most successful therapies to correct intestinal bacterial imbalance. We review the literature describing the effects and mechanisms of the microbiome in the gut in the context of HCC, including gut bacterial metabolites, probiotics, antibiotics, and the transplantation of fecal microbiota, and discuss the potential influence of the microbiome environment on cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer. Our findings are expected to reveal therapeutic targets for the prevention of hepatobiliary tumors, and the development of clinical treatment strategies, by emphasizing the function of the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35923894, year = {2022}, author = {Maruyama, S and Unsworth, JR and Sawiccy, V and , and Weis, VM}, title = {Algae from Aiptasia egesta are robust representations of Symbiodiniaceae in the free-living state.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13796}, pmid = {35923894}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Transcriptome ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many cnidarians rely on their dinoflagellate partners from the family Symbiodiniaceae for their ecological success. Symbiotic species of Symbiodiniaceae have two distinct life stages: inside the host, in hospite, and outside the host, ex hospite. Several aspects of cnidarian-algal symbiosis can be understood by comparing these two life stages. Most commonly, algae in culture are used in comparative studies to represent the ex hospite life stage, however, nutrition becomes a confounding variable for this comparison because algal culture media is nutrient rich, while algae in hospite are sampled from hosts maintained in oligotrophic seawater. In contrast to cultured algae, expelled algae may be a more robust representation of the ex hospite state, as the host and expelled algae are in the same seawater environment, removing differences in culture media as a confounding variable. Here, we studied the physiology of algae released from the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana (commonly called Aiptasia), a model system for the study of coral-algal symbiosis. In Aiptasia, algae are released in distinct pellets, referred to as egesta, and we explored its potential as an experimental system to represent Symbiodiniaceae in the ex hospite state. Observation under confocal and differential interference contrast microscopy revealed that egesta contained discharged nematocysts, host tissue, and were populated by a diversity of microbes, including protists and cyanobacteria. Further experiments revealed that egesta were released at night. In addition, algae in egesta had a higher mitotic index than algae in hospite, were photosynthetically viable for at least 48 hrs after expulsion, and could competently establish symbiosis with aposymbiotic Aiptasia. We then studied the gene expression of nutrient-related genes and studied their expression using qPCR. From the genes tested, we found that algae from egesta closely mirrored gene expression profiles of algae in hospite and were dissimilar to those of cultured algae, suggesting that algae from egesta are in a nutritional environment that is similar to their in hospite counterparts. Altogether, evidence is provided that algae from Aiptasia egesta are a robust representation of Symbiodiniaceae in the ex hospite state and their use in experiments can improve our understanding of cnidarian-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35923409, year = {2022}, author = {Hu, M and Zhang, X and Li, J and Chen, L and He, X and Sui, T}, title = {Fucosyltransferase 2: A Genetic Risk Factor for Intestinal Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {940196}, pmid = {35923409}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The fucosyltransferase 2 gene (FUT2) mediates the synthesis of histoblood group antigens (HBGA) that occur in vivo from multiple organs, particularly on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells and body fluids. To date, many studies have demonstrated that the interaction of HBGA with the host microbiota is the cause of pathogenesis of intestinal diseases, making FUT2 non-secretor a risk factor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to the lack of HBGA. As HBGA also acts as an attachment site for norovirus (NoV) and rotavirus (RV), the non-secretor becomes a protective factor for both viral infections. In addition, the interaction of norovirus and rotavirus with symbiotic bacteria has been found to play an important role in regulating enteroviral infection in IBD. Given the current incomplete understanding of the complex phenomenon and the underlying pathogenesis of intestinal diseases such as IBD, it has recently been hypothesized that the FUT2 gene regulates intestinal bacteria through attachment sites, may help to unravel the role of FUT2 and intestinal flora in the mechanism of intestinal diseases in the future, and provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases through more in-depth studies.}, } @article {pmid35922443, year = {2022}, author = {Strader, ME and Quigley, KM}, title = {The role of gene expression and symbiosis in reef-building coral acquired heat tolerance.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {4513}, pmid = {35922443}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Larva ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Thermotolerance/genetics ; }, abstract = {Predicting how reef-building corals will respond to accelerating ocean warming caused by climate change requires knowledge of how acclimation and symbiosis modulate heat tolerance in coral early life-history stages. We assayed transcriptional responses to heat in larvae and juveniles of 11 reproductive crosses of Acropora tenuis colonies along the Great Barrier Reef. Larvae produced from the warmest reef had the highest heat tolerance, although gene expression responses to heat were largely conserved by cross identity. Juvenile transcriptional responses were driven strongly by symbiosis - when in symbiosis with heat-evolved Symbiodiniaceae, hosts displayed intermediate expression between its progenitor Cladocopium and the more stress tolerant Durusdinium, indicating the acquisition of tolerance is a conserved evolutionary process in symbionts. Heat-evolved Symbiodiniaceae facilitated juvenile survival under heat stress, although host transcriptional responses to heat were positively correlated among those hosting different genera of Symbiodiniaceae. These findings reveal the relative contribution of parental environmental history as well as symbiosis establishment in coral molecular responses to heat in early life-history stages.}, } @article {pmid35921133, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Y and Perez Calleja, P and Liu, Y and Nerenberg, R and Chai, H}, title = {Assessing Intermediate Formation and Electron Competition during Thiosulfate-Driven Denitrification: An Experimental and Modeling Study.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {16}, pages = {11760-11770}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.2c03937}, pmid = {35921133}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; *Denitrification ; Electrons ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sulfur ; *Thiosulfates ; }, abstract = {There is increasing interest in thiosulfate-driven denitrification for low C/N wastewater treatment, but the denitrification performance varies with the thiosulfate oxidation pathways. Models have been developed to predict the products of denitrification, but few consider thiosulfate reduction to elemental sulfur (S[0]), an undesirable reaction that can intensify electron competition with denitrifying enzymes. In this study, the model using indirect coupling of electrons (ICE) was developed to predict S[0] formation and electron competition during thiosulfate-driven denitrification. Kinetic data were obtained from sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) dominated by the branched pathway and were used to calibrate and validate the model. Electron competition was investigated under different operating conditions. Modeling results reveal that electrons produced in the first step of thiosulfate oxidation typically prioritize thiosulfate reduction, then nitrate reduction, and finally nitrite reduction. However, the electron consumption rate for S[0] formation decreases sharply with the decline of thiosulfate concentration. Thus, a continuous feeding strategy was effective in alleviating the competition between thiosulfate reduction and denitrifying enzymes. Electron competition leads to nitrite accumulation, which could be a reliable substrate for anammox. The model was further evaluated with anammox integration. Results suggested that the branched pathway and continuous supply of thiosulfate are favorable to create a symbiotic relationship between SOB and anammox.}, } @article {pmid35920038, year = {2022}, author = {Bartoli, C and Boivin, S and Marchetti, M and Gris, C and Gasciolli, V and Gaston, M and Auriac, MC and Debellé, F and Cottret, L and Carlier, A and Masson-Boivin, C and Lepetit, M and Lefebvre, B}, title = {Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae strains are natural wheat endophytes that can stimulate root development.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {5509-5523}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16148}, pmid = {35920038}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics ; Triticum ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Bacteria/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Although rhizobia that establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes are also known to promote growth in non-legumes, studies on rhizobial associations with wheat roots are scarce. We searched for Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae (Rlv) strains naturally competent to endophytically colonize wheat roots. We isolated 20 strains from surface-sterilized wheat roots and found a low diversity of Rlv compared to that observed in the Rlv species complex. We tested the ability of a subset of these Rlv for wheat root colonization when co-inoculated with other Rlv. Only a few strains, including those isolated from wheat roots, and one strain isolated from pea nodules, were efficient in colonizing roots in co-inoculation conditions, while all the strains tested in single strain inoculation conditions were found to colonize the surface and interior of roots. Furthermore, Rlv strains isolated from wheat roots were able to stimulate root development and early arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization. These responses were strain and host genotype dependent. Our results suggest that wheat can be an alternative host for Rlv; nevertheless, there is a strong competition between Rlv strains for wheat root colonization. In addition, we showed that Rlv are endophytic wheat root bacteria with potential ability to modify wheat development.}, } @article {pmid35916509, year = {2022}, author = {Peterson, C and Niraula, S and Parks, D and Chang, WS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Two Desiccation-Tolerant Strains, Bradyrhizobium japonicum TXVA and TXEA, Isolated from the Root Nodules of Soybean Grown in Texas.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {e0046722}, pmid = {35916509}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains, TXVA and TXEA, were isolated for their desiccation tolerance and symbiotic performance with soybean as biofertilizers. Their genomes were sequenced and annotated using the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute annotation pipeline. Sequencing yielded chromosomes of 9,193,770 and 9,339,455 bp for TXVA and TXEA, respectively.}, } @article {pmid35916402, year = {2022}, author = {Isenberg, RY and Christensen, DG and Visick, KL and Mandel, MJ}, title = {High Levels of Cyclic Diguanylate Interfere with Beneficial Bacterial Colonization.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0167122}, pmid = {35916402}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Cellulose/metabolism ; *Cyclic GMP/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During colonization of the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes), Vibrio fischeri bacteria undergo a lifestyle transition from a planktonic motile state in the environment to a biofilm state in host mucus. Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a cytoplasmic signaling molecule that is important for regulating motility-biofilm transitions in many bacterial species. V. fischeri encodes 50 proteins predicted to synthesize and/or degrade c-di-GMP, but a role for c-di-GMP regulation during host colonization has not been investigated. We examined strains exhibiting either low or high levels of c-di-GMP during squid colonization and found that while a low-c-di-GMP strain had no colonization defect, a high c-di-GMP strain was severely impaired. Expression of a heterologous c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase restored colonization, demonstrating that the effect is due to high c-di-GMP levels. In the constitutive high-c-di-GMP state, colonizing V. fischeri exhibited reduced motility, altered biofilm aggregate morphology, and a regulatory interaction where transcription of one polysaccharide locus is inhibited by the presence of the other polysaccharide. Our results highlight the importance of proper c-di-GMP regulation during beneficial animal colonization, illustrate multiple pathways regulated by c-di-GMP in the host, and uncover an interplay of multiple exopolysaccharide systems in host-associated aggregates. IMPORTANCE There is substantial interest in studying cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) in pathogenic and environmental bacteria, which has led to an accepted paradigm in which high c-di-GMP levels promote biofilm formation and reduce motility. However, considerably less focus has been placed on understanding how this compound contributes to beneficial colonization. Using the Vibrio fischeri-Hawaiian bobtail squid study system, we took advantage of recent genetic advances in the bacterium to modulate c-di-GMP levels and measure colonization and track c-di-GMP phenotypes in a symbiotic interaction. Studies in the animal host revealed a c-di-GMP-dependent genetic interaction between two distinct biofilm polysaccharides, Syp and cellulose, that was not evident in culture-based studies: elevated c-di-GMP altered the composition and abundance of the in vivo biofilm by decreasing syp transcription due to increased cellulose synthesis. This study reveals important parallels between pathogenic and beneficial colonization and additionally identifies c-di-GMP-dependent regulation that occurs specifically in the squid host.}, } @article {pmid35916106, year = {2022}, author = {Quiroz-Carreño, S and Muñoz-Nuñez, E and Silva, FL and Devotto-Moreno, L and Seigler, DS and Pastene-Navarrete, E and Cespedes-Acuña, CL and Alarcon-Enos, J}, title = {Cyclopeptide Alkaloids from Discaria chacaye (Rhamnaceae) as Result of Symbiosis with Frankia (Actinomycetales).}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {e202200630}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202200630}, pmid = {35916106}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria ; *Actinomycetales ; *Alkaloids/pharmacology ; *Aporphines ; *Benzylisoquinolines ; *Frankia ; Isoquinolines ; Peptides, Cyclic/pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; Plants ; *Rhamnaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyclopeptide alkaloids with different biological activities are present in plants of the family Rhamnaceae. Plants of this family grow in a symbiotic relationship with aerobic Gram-positive actinomycetes belonging to the genus Frankia. This goal of this research was a study of the comparative profile of alkaloids present in Discaria chacaye and to establish a connection between the presence or absence of Frankia sp. and the alkaloids. In addition, insecticidal activities of the alkaloidal extract were examined. A total of 24 alkaloids were identified, of which 12 have a benzylisoquinoline skeleton, 9 were cyclopeptides, 2 isoquinolines, and 1 aporphine. The presence of cyclopeptide alkaloids is associated with Frankia nodules in the plant root. The alkaloid extracts showed insecticidal activity with mortality dose-dependence and LD50 values between 44 to 71 μg/mL.}, } @article {pmid35915127, year = {2022}, author = {Adly, E and Hegazy, AA and Kamal, M and Abu-Hussien, SH}, title = {Midguts of Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) as a potential source of raw milk contamination with pathogens.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {13183}, pmid = {35915127}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Culex/genetics ; *Culicidae ; Female ; Humans ; Larva/microbiology ; Milk ; Mosquito Vectors ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Despite their importance, only few studies focused on the mosquitoes borne microbial diseases, especially bacterial and fungal diseases, their vectorial capacity toward microorganisms, and their important role in raw milk contamination with pathogens in some unsanitary dairy farms. In Egypt, where Culex pipiens is the historical main vector of lymphatic filariasis, only few studies discussed the isolation of pathogens from the midguts of different stages of C. pipiens. This study aims to isolate and identify the pathogenic symbiotic microorganisms inside the midgut of adult female C. pipiens as well as investigate its ability to transmit their midgut pathogens to raw milk. A total of 750 field strain C. pipiens larvae of the second and third larval instars were collected from ponds water around the livestock farms in Mariotteya, Giza, Egypt, for microbial pathogen isolation and identification. All collected larval instars were transported to the laboratory at the Research and Training Center on Vectors of Diseases (RTC), Ain Shams University, where they were maintained for further studies. Six groups of C. pipiens were tested for the incidence of various pathogenic microorganisms in their midguts and their possibility to contaminate commercial sterilized milk. Traditional PCR assays and sequencing method detected and identified 16srRNA genes of the predominant hemolytic isolates from milk and midguts of female C. pipiens. The phylogenetic analyses of the obtained isolates were performed based on NCBI data. Three strains of Bacillus anthracis strain CPMESA 2021, Staphylococcus warneri strain CPSAME 2021, and Bacillus cereus strain CPSEMA 2021, which represent most food pathogens, were found in the midguts of C. pipiens and were submitted to the GenBank database with the accession numbers OK585071, OK576651, and OK585052, respectively. The isolation of these strains from mosquitoes raises contemporary issues concerning milk safety, such as bacterial isolates, the degree of the vectorial capacity of mosquitoes, milk production and processing conditions, and human pathogenicity. Such serious issues need further investigation.}, } @article {pmid35914646, year = {2022}, author = {Tsang, CTT and Schubart, CD and Chu, KH and Ng, PKL and Tsang, LM}, title = {Molecular phylogeny of Thoracotremata crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura): Toward adopting monophyletic superfamilies, invasion history into terrestrial habitats and multiple origins of symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {177}, number = {}, pages = {107596}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107596}, pmid = {35914646}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; *Brachyura/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Thoracotremata is a large and successful group of "true" crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura, Eubrachyura) with a great diversity of lifestyles and well-known intertidal representatives. The group represents the largest brachyuran radiation into terrestrial and semi-terrestrial environments and comprises multiple lineages of obligate symbiotic species. In consequence, they exhibit very diverse physiological and morphological adaptations. Our understanding of their evolution is, however, largely obscured by their confused classification. Here, we resolve interfamilial relationships of Thoracotremata, using 10 molecular markers and exemplars from all nominal families in order to reconstruct the pathways of lifestyle transition and to prepare a new taxonomy corresponding to phylogenetic relationships. The results confirm the polyphyly of three superfamilies as currently defined (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea and Pinnotheroidea). At the family level, Dotillidae, Macrophthalmidae, and Varunidae are not monophyletic. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses and divergent time estimations indicate that the common ancestor of thoracotremes already thrived in intertidal environments in the Late Cretaceous and terrestrialization became a major driver of thoracotreme diversification. Multiple semi-terrestrial and terrestrial lineages originated and radiated in the Early Eocene, coinciding with the global warming event at the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Secondary invasions into subtidal regions and colonizations of freshwater habitats occurred independently through multiple semi-terrestrial and terrestrial lineages. Obligate symbiosis between thoracotremes and other marine macro-invertebrates evolved at least twice. On the basis of the current molecular phylogenetic hypothesis, it will be necessary in the future to revise and recognize seven monophyletic superfamilies and revisit the morphological character states which define them.}, } @article {pmid35913594, year = {2022}, author = {Patra, AK and Kwon, YM and Yang, Y}, title = {Complete gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont genome assembly from a seep tubeworm Lamellibrachia satsuma.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {60}, number = {9}, pages = {916-927}, pmid = {35913594}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Polychaeta/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Siboglinid tubeworms thrive in hydrothermal vent and seep habitats via a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria. Difficulties in culturing tubeworms and their symbionts in a laboratory setting have hindered the study of host-microbe interactions. Therefore, released symbiont genomes are fragmented, thereby limiting the data available on the genome that affect subsequent analyses. Here, we present a complete genome of gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont from the tubeworm Lamellibrachia satsuma collected from a seep in Kagoshima Bay, assembled using a hybrid approach that combines sequences generated from the Illumina and Oxford Nano-pore platforms. The genome consists of a single circular chromosome with an assembly size of 4,323,754 bp and a GC content of 53.9% with 3,624 protein-coding genes. The genome is of high quality and contains no assembly gaps, while the completeness and contamination are 99.33% and 2.73%, respectively. Comparative genome analysis revealed a total of 1,724 gene clusters shared in the vent and seep tubeworm symbionts, while 294 genes were found exclusively in L. satsuma symbionts such as transposons, genes for defense mechanisms, and inorganic ion transportations. The addition of this complete endosymbiont genome assembly would be valuable for comparative studies particularly with tubeworm symbiont genomes as well as with other chemosynthetic microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid35911964, year = {2022}, author = {Martin, JE and Waters, LS}, title = {Regulation of Bacterial Manganese Homeostasis and Usage During Stress Responses and Pathogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {945724}, pmid = {35911964}, issn = {2296-889X}, support = {P20 GM103408/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Manganese (Mn) plays a multifaceted role in the survival of pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria in eukaryotic hosts, and it is also important for free-living bacteria to grow in stressful environments. Previous research has uncovered components of the bacterial Mn homeostasis systems that control intracellular Mn levels, many of which are important for virulence. Multiple studies have also identified proteins that use Mn once it is inside the cell, including Mn-specific enzymes and enzymes transiently loaded with Mn for protection during oxidative stress. Emerging evidence continues to reveal proteins involved in maintaining Mn homeostasis, as well as enzymes that can bind Mn. For some of these enzymes, Mn serves as an essential cofactor. For other enzymes, mismetallation with Mn can lead to inactivation or poor activity. Some enzymes may even potentially be regulated by differential metallation with Mn or zinc (Zn). This review focuses on new developments in regulatory mechanisms that affect Mn homeostasis and usage, additional players in Mn import that increase bacterial survival during pathogenesis, and the interplay between Mn and other metals during Mn-responsive physiological processes. Lastly, we highlight lessons learned from fundamental research that are now being applied to bacterial interactions within larger microbial communities or eukaryotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid35910618, year = {2022}, author = {Vad, J and Duran Suja, L and Summers, S and Henry, TB and Roberts, JM}, title = {Marine Sponges in a Snowstorm - Extreme Sensitivity of a Sponge Holobiont to Marine Oil Snow and Chemically Dispersed Oil Pollution.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {909853}, pmid = {35910618}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Holobionts formed by a host organism and associated symbionts are key biological units in marine ecosystems where they are responsible for fundamental ecosystem services. Therefore, understanding anthropogenic impacts on holobionts is essential. Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are ideal holobiont models. They host a complex microbial community and provide ecosystem services including nutrient cycling. At bathyal depths, sponges can accumulate forming dense sponge ground habitats supporting biodiverse associated communities. However, the impacts of spilled oil and dispersants on sponge grounds cannot be understood without considering exposures mediated through sponge filtration of marine snow particles. To examine this, we exposed the model sponge Halichondria panicea to oil, dispersant and "marine oil snow" contaminated seawater and elucidate the complex molecular response of the holobiont through metatranscriptomics. While the host response included detoxification and immune response pathways, the bacterial symbiotic response differed and was at least partially the result of a change in the host environment rather than a direct response to hydrocarbon exposure. As the sponge host reduced its pumping activity and internal tissue oxygen levels declined, the symbionts changed their metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic pathways possibly via quorum sensing. Furthermore, we found evidence of hydrocarbon degradation by sponge symbionts, but sponge mortality (even when exposed to low concentrations of hydrocarbons) implied this may not provide the holobiont with sufficient resilience against contaminants. Given the continued proposed expansion of hydrocarbon production into deep continental shelf and slope settings where sponge grounds form significant habitats it is important that dispersant use is minimised and that environmental impact assessments carefully consider the vulnerability of sponge holobionts.}, } @article {pmid35910445, year = {2022}, author = {Gritli, T and Boubakri, H and Essahibi, A and Hsouna, J and Ilahi, H and Didier, R and Mnasri, B}, title = {Salt stress mitigation in Lathyrus cicera by combining different microbial inocula.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {1191-1206}, pmid = {35910445}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Arid and semi-arid areas are considered vulnerable to various environmental constraints which are further fortified by climate change. Salinity is one of the most serious abiotic factors affecting crop yield and soil fertility. Till now, no information is available on the effect of salinity on development and symbiotic nitrogen (N2) fixation in the legume species Lathyrus cicera. Here, we evaluated the effect of different microbial inocula including nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium laguerreae, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis, a complex mixed inoculum of AMF isolated from rhizospheric soil in "Al Aitha", and various plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) including Bacillus subtilus, Bacillus simplex and Bacillus megaterium combined with Rhizobium, the AMF consortium, or R. irregularis on alleviating salt stress in this legume. A pot trial was conducted to evaluate the ability of different microbial inocula to mitigate adverse effects of salinity on L. cicera plants. The results showed that salinity (100 mM NaCl) significantly reduced L. cicera plant growth. However, inoculation with different inocula enhanced plant growth and markedly promoted various biochemical traits. Moreover, the combined use of PGPB and AMF was found to be the most effective treatment in mitigating deleterious effects of salinity stress on L. cicera. In addition, this co-inoculation upregulated the expression of two marker genes (LcHKT1 and LcNHX7) related to salinity tolerance. Our findings suggest that the AMF/PGPB formulation has a great potential to be used as a biofertilizer to improve L. cicera plant growth and productivity under saline conditions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01205-4.}, } @article {pmid35909789, year = {2022}, author = {Kapadia, C and Patel, N and Rana, A and Vaidya, H and Alfarraj, S and Ansari, MJ and Gafur, A and Poczai, P and Sayyed, RZ}, title = {Evaluation of Plant Growth-Promoting and Salinity Ameliorating Potential of Halophilic Bacteria Isolated From Saline Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {946217}, pmid = {35909789}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Among the biotic and abiotic stress affecting the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, salinity is a major threat that leads to the desertification of cultivable land throughout the world. The existence of diverse and versatile microbial populations inhabiting the nutrient-rich soil and varied soil conditions affects the soil dynamism. A normal soil constitutes 600 million bacteria belonging to about 20,000 species, which is reduced to 1 million with 5,000-8,000 species in stress conditions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are in symbiotic association with the plant system, which helps in combating the abiotic stress and increases the overall productivity and yield. These microorganisms are actively associated with varied cellular communication processes through quorum sensing and secondary metabolites such as the production of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), exopolysaccharide (EPS) siderophore, ammonia, ACC deaminase, and solubilization of phosphate. The present study focused on the isolation, identification, and characterization of the microorganisms isolated from the seacoast of Dandi, Navsari. Twelve isolates exhibited PGP traits at a high salt concentration of 15-20%. AD9 isolate identified as Bacillus halotolerans showed a higher ammonia production (88 ± 1.73 μg/mL) and phosphate solubilization (86 ± 3.06 μg/mL) at 15% salt concentration, while AD32[*] (Bacillus sp. clone ADCNO) gave 42.67 ±1.20 μg/mL IAA production at 20% salt concentration. AD2 (Streptomyces sp. clone ADCNB) and AD26 (Achromobacter sp. clone ADCNI) showed ACC deaminase activity of 0.61 ± 0.12 and 0.60 ± 0.04 nM α-ketobutyrate/mg protein/h, respectively. AD32 (Bacillus sp. clone ADCNL) gave a high siderophore activity of 65.40 ± 1.65%. These isolates produced salinity ameliorating traits, total antioxidant activities, and antioxidant enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione oxidase (GSH), and catalase (CAT). Inoculation of the multipotent isolate that produced PGP traits and salinity ameliorating metabolites promoted the plant growth and development in rice under salinity stress conditions. These results in 50% more root length, 25.00% more plant dry weight, and 41% more tillers compared to its control.}, } @article {pmid35909778, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Wu, J and Sun, P and Chen, C and Shen, J}, title = {Community Structure of Phyllosphere Bacteria in Different Cultivars of Fingered Citron (Citrus medica 'Fingered') and Their Correlations With Fragrance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {936252}, pmid = {35909778}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In recent years, plant metabolomics and microbiome studies have suggested that the synthesis and secretion of plant secondary metabolites are affected by microbial-host symbiotic interactions. In this study, six varieties of fingered citron (Citrus medica 'Fingered') are sampled to study their phyllosphere bacterial communities and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). High-throughput sequencing is used to sequence the V5-V7 region of the 16S rRNA of the fingered citron phyllosphere bacteria, and the results showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacterial phylum in the phyllosphere of fingered citron. There were significant differences in the phyllosphere bacteria community between XiuZhen and the remaining five varieties. The relative abundance of Actinomycetospora was highest in XiuZhen, and Halomonas, Methylobacterium, Nocardioides, and Pseudokineococcus were also dominant. Among the remaining varieties, Halomonas was the genus with the highest relative abundance, while the relative abundances of all the other genera were low. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze and identify the aroma compounds of six different fingered citron, and a total of 76 aroma compounds were detected in six varieties. Pinene, geraniol, and linalool were found to be the primary VOCs that affect the aroma of fingered citron based on relative odor activity value. The correlation analysis showed 55 positive and 60 negative correlations between the phyllosphere bacterial flora and aroma compounds of fingered citron. The top 10 genera in the relative abundance were all significantly associated with aroma compounds. This study provides deep insight into the relation between bacteria and VOCs of fingered citron, and this may better explain the complexity of the analysis of bacterial and metabolic interactions.}, } @article {pmid35909699, year = {2022}, author = {Trukhachev, VI and Buryakov, NP and Shapovalov, SO and Shvydkov, AN and Buryakova, MA and Khardik, IV and Fathala, MM and Komarova, OE and Aleshin, DE}, title = {Impact of Inclusion of Multicomponent Synbiotic Russian Holstein Dairy Cow's Rations on Milk Yield, Rumen Fermentation, and Some Blood Biochemical Parameters.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {884177}, pmid = {35909699}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to appraise the effect of the inclusion of multicomponent synbiotic "Kormomix® Rumin" in feeding lactating Holstein cows on milk productivity, indicators of rumen fermentation metabolism, and some hematological and biochemical parameters of the blood. For this study, 40 highly productive Russian Holstein cows were selected according to their productivity, physiological condition, live weight, and age. They were divided into four groups (10 heads/each). All animals received the basal total mixed ration (TMR), which was balanced and corresponded to the nutritional requirements for cows during the milking period with a milk yield of 36 kg/daily. The first group (control) fed basal (TMR) only while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th group fed the basal (TMR) supplemented with a multicomponent synbiotic "Kormomix® Rumin" in amounts 25, 50, and 75 g/head/day, respectively, which was administered manually and individually after morning feeding daily and mixing carefully together with the concentrates directly after calving until 120 DIM. Milk, ruminal fluid, and blood samples were collected for studying the studied parameters. The highest values in all studied milk parameters were recorded in the 2nd experimental group but the differences were not significant. The inclusion of "Kormomix® Rumin" increased significantly the synthesis of volatile fatty acids in the 2nd experimental group (9.38 vs. 7.04 mmol/100 ml) in the control group. The level of serum α-Amylase (total) decreased significantly in the 2nd experimental group compared with other groups. The urea level recorded the lowest value in the control group, while the urea/creatinine ratio recorded the lowest value in the 4th group and the differences were significant when compared with the 2nd group. Accordingly, the inclusion of synbiotic "Kormomix® Rumin" in the diets of lactating cows has no impact on milk production. Whereas, it improves the intensity of rumen fermentation, which contributes to more efficient utilization of feed without any harmful effects on blood traits. Moreover, the recommended dose for use in their diets is 25 g/head/day.}, } @article {pmid35909605, year = {2022}, author = {Singh, R and Dutta, A and Bose, T and Mande, SS}, title = {A compendium of predicted growths and derived symbiotic relationships between 803 gut microbes in 13 different diets.}, journal = {Current research in microbial sciences}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {100127}, pmid = {35909605}, issn = {2666-5174}, abstract = {Gut health is intimately linked to dietary habits and the microbial community (microbiota) that flourishes within. The delicate dependency of the latter on nutritional availability is also strongly influenced by interactions (such as, parasitic or mutualistic) between the resident microbes, often affecting their growth rate and ability to produce key metabolites. Since, cultivating the entire repertoire of gut microbes is a challenging task, metabolic models (genome-based metabolic reconstructions) could be employed to predict their growth patterns and interactions. Here, we have used 803 gut microbial metabolic models from the Virtual Metabolic Human repository, and subsequently optimized and simulated them to grow on 13 dietary compositions. The presented pairwise interaction data (https://osf.io/ay8bq/) and the associated bacterial growth rates are expected to be useful for (a) deducing microbial association patterns, (b) diet-based inference of personalised gut profiles, and (c) as a steppingstone for studying multi-species metabolic interactions.}, } @article {pmid35908064, year = {2022}, author = {Cecere, AG and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {Impact of transit time on the reproductive capacity of Euprymna scolopes as a laboratory animal.}, journal = {Laboratory animal research}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {25}, pmid = {35908064}, issn = {1738-6055}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes hosts various marine bacterial symbionts, and these symbioses have served as models for the animal-microbe relationships that are important for host health. Within a light organ, E. scolopes harbors populations of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which produce low levels of bioluminescence that the squid uses for camouflage. The symbiosis is initially established after a juvenile squid hatches from its egg and acquires bacterial symbionts from the ambient marine environment. The relative ease with which a cohort of wild-caught E. scolopes can be maintained in a mariculture facility has facilitated over 3 decades of research involving juvenile squid. However, because E. scolopes is native to the Hawaiian archipelago, their transport from Hawaii to research facilities often represents a stress that has the potential to impact their physiology.

RESULTS: Here, we describe animal survival and reproductive capacity associated with a cohort of squid assembled from two shipments with markedly different transit times. We found that the lower juvenile squid counts generated by animals with the longer transit time were not due to the discrepancy in shipment but instead to fewer female squid that produced egg clutches at an elevated rate, which we term hyper-reproductivity. We find that hyper-reproductive females were responsible for 58% of the egg clutches laid.

CONCLUSIONS: The significance of these findings for E. scolopes biology and husbandry is discussed, thereby providing a platform for future investigation and further development of this cephalopod as a valuable lab animal for microbiology research.}, } @article {pmid35907589, year = {2022}, author = {Stevenson, SJR and Lee, KC and Handley, KM and Angert, ER and White, WL and Clements, KD}, title = {Substrate degradation pathways, conserved functions and community composition of the hindgut microbiota in the herbivorous marine fish Kyphosus sydneyanus.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {272}, number = {}, pages = {111283}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111283}, pmid = {35907589}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Animals ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/pharmacology ; Fishes/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; *Perciformes/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic gut microbiota in the herbivorous marine fish Kyphosus sydneyanus play an important role in digestion by converting refractory algal carbohydrate into short-chain fatty acids. Here we characterised community composition using both 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun-metagenome sequencing. Sequencing was carried out on lumen and mucosa samples (radial sections) from three axial sections taken from the hindgut of wild-caught fish. Both lumen and mucosa communities displayed distinct distributions along the hindgut, likely an effect of the differing selection pressures within these hindgut locations, as well as considerable variation among individual fish. In contrast, metagenomic sequences displayed a high level of functional similarity between individual fish and gut sections in the relative abundance of genes (based on sequencing depth) that encoded enzymes involved in algal-derived substrate degradation. These results suggest that the host gut environment selects for functional capacity in symbionts rather than taxonomic identity. Functional annotation of the enzymes encoded by the gut microbiota was carried out to infer the metabolic pathways used by the gut microbiota for the degradation of important dietary substrates: mannitol, alginate, laminarin, fucoidan and galactan (e.g. agar and carrageenan). This work provides the first evidence of the genomic potential of K. sydneyanus hindgut microbiota to convert highly refractory algal carbohydrates into metabolically useful short-chain fatty acids.}, } @article {pmid35907164, year = {2022}, author = {Kawaka, F}, title = {Characterization of symbiotic and nitrogen fixing bacteria.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {99}, pmid = {35907164}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria comprise of diverse species associated with the root nodules of leguminous plants. Using an appropriate taxonomic method to confirm the identity of superior and elite strains to fix nitrogen in legume crops can improve sustainable global food and nutrition security. The current review describes taxonomic methods preferred and commonly used to characterize symbiotic bacteria in the rhizosphere. Peer reviewed, published and unpublished articles on techniques used for detection, classification and identification of symbiotic bacteria were evaluated by exploring their advantages and limitations. The findings showed that phenotypic and cultural techniques are still affordable and remain the primary basis of species classification despite their challenges. Development of new, robust and informative taxonomic techniques has really improved characterization and identification of symbiotic bacteria and discovery of novel and new species that are effective in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in diverse conditions and environments.}, } @article {pmid35907141, year = {2022}, author = {Mitra, PK and Adhikary, R and Mandal, P and Kundu, A and Mandal, V}, title = {Assessment of mycorrhizal association of a threatened medicinal plant Clerodendrum indicum (L.) O. Kuntze (Verbenaceae) in different ecological variations.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {2039-2050}, pmid = {35907141}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Clerodendrum ; *Plants, Medicinal ; *Verbenaceae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Phosphorus ; Soil ; Nitrogen ; Carbon ; Potassium ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizae association is reported to enhance the survivability of the host plant under adverse environmental conditions. The present study aims to explore the mycorrhizal association in the roots of different ecotypes of a threatened medicinal plant, Clerodendrum indicum (L.) O. Kuntze (Verbenaceae), collected from W.B., India, which correlates the degree of root colonization to the nutritional status of the native soil. Ten ecotypes of C. indicum having diverse morphological variations were collected. The mycorrhizae were characterized by both morphological and molecular methods. The nutritional status of the native soils was estimated. The study revealed that all the ecotypes have an association with mycorrhizal forms like hyphae, arbuscules, and vesicles. The molecular analysis showed Glomus intraradices and Rhizophagus irregularis as the associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A significant variation in arbuscule and vesicle formation was found growing in the varied nutritional statuses concerning soil parameters. The arbuscule was found negatively correlated with pH, conductivity, and potassium and positively correlated with organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The vesicle was found positively correlated with pH, organic carbon, and potassium and negatively correlated with conductivity, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The interaction between conductivity: nitrogen, conductivity: phosphorus, organic-carbon: nitrogen, and pH: conductivity was significant in influencing vesicle formation. However, none of the interactions between parameters was found significant in influencing arbuscule formation. Thus, the study concludes that G. intraradices and R. irregularis are the principle mycorrhizae forming the symbiotic association with the threatened medicinal plant, C. indicum. They form vesicles and arbuscules based on their soil nutritive factors. Therefore, a large-scale propagation through a selective AMF association would help in the conservation of this threatened species from extinction.}, } @article {pmid35906552, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, XG and Wu, YH and Li, NQ and Gao, JY}, title = {What role does the seed coat play during symbiotic seed germination in orchids: an experimental approach with Dendrobium officinale.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {375}, pmid = {35906552}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Dendrobium/microbiology ; Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Seedlings ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Orchids require specific mycorrhizal associations for seed germination. During symbiotic germination, the seed coat is the first point of fungal attachment, and whether the seed coat plays a role in the identification of compatible and incompatible fungi is unclear. Here, we compared the effects of compatible and incompatible fungi on seed germination, protocorm formation, seedling development, and colonization patterns in Dendrobium officinale; additionally, two experimental approaches, seeds pretreated with NaClO to change the permeability of the seed coat and fungi incubated with in vitro-produced protocorms, were used to assess the role of seed coat played during symbiotic seed germination.

RESULTS: The two compatible fungi, Tulasnella sp. TPYD-2 and Serendipita indica PI could quickly promote D. officinale seed germination to the seedling stage. Sixty-two days after incubation, 67.8 ± 5.23% of seeds developed into seedlings with two leaves in the PI treatment, which was significantly higher than that in the TPYD-2 treatment (37.1 ± 3.55%), and massive pelotons formed inside the basal cells of the protocorm or seedlings in both compatible fungi treatments. In contrast, the incompatible fungus Tulasnella sp. FDd1 did not promote seed germination up to seedlings at 62 days after incubation, and only a few pelotons were occasionally observed inside the protocorms. NaClO seed pretreatment improved seed germination under all three fungal treatments but did not improve seed colonization or promote seedling formation by incompatible fungi. Without the seed coat barrier, the colonization of in vitro-produced protocorms by TPYD-2 and PI was slowed, postponing protocorm development and seedling formation compared to those in intact seeds incubated with the same fungi. Moreover, the incompatible fungus FDd1 was still unable to colonize in vitro-produced protocorms and promote seedling formation.

CONCLUSIONS: Compatible fungi could quickly promote seed germination up to the seedling stage accompanied by hyphal colonization of seeds and formation of many pelotons inside cells, while incompatible fungi could not continuously colonize seeds and form enough protocorms to support D. officinale seedling development. The improvement of seed germination by seed pretreatment may result from improving the seed coat hydrophilicity and permeability, but seed pretreatment cannot change the compatibility of a fungus with an orchid. Without a seed coat, the incompatible fungus FDd1 still cannot colonize in vitro-produced protocorms or support seedling development. These results suggest that seed coats are not involved in symbiotic germination in D. officinale.}, } @article {pmid35906195, year = {2022}, author = {Zhukova, M and Sapountzis, P and Schiøtt, M and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Phylogenomic analysis and metabolic role reconstruction of mutualistic Rhizobiales hindgut symbionts of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac084}, pmid = {35906195}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Alphaproteobacteria ; Animals ; *Ants ; Arginine ; Fungi ; Nitrogen ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobiales are well-known plant-root nitrogen-fixing symbionts, but the functions of insect-associated Rhizobiales are poorly understood. We obtained genomes of three strains associated with Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants and show that, in spite of being extracellular gut symbionts, they lost all pathways for essential amino acid biosynthesis, making them fully dependent on their hosts. Comparison with 54 Rhizobiales genomes showed that all insect-associated Rhizobiales lost the ability to fix nitrogen and that the Acromyrmex symbionts had exceptionally also lost the urease genes. However, the Acromyrmex strains share biosynthesis pathways for riboflavin vitamin, queuosine and a wide range of antioxidant enzymes likely to be beneficial for the ant fungus-farming symbiosis. We infer that the Rhizobiales symbionts catabolize excess of fungus-garden-derived arginine to urea, supplementing complementary Mollicutes symbionts that turn arginine into ammonia and infer that these combined symbiont activities stabilize the fungus-farming mutualism. Similar to the Mollicutes symbionts, the Rhizobiales species have fully functional CRISPR/Cas and R-M phage defenses, suggesting that these symbionts are important enough for the ant hosts to have precluded the evolution of metabolically cheaper defenseless strains.}, } @article {pmid35904261, year = {2022}, author = {Avery, EG and Bartolomaeus, H and Rauch, A and Chen, CY and N'Diaye, G and Löber, U and Bartolomaeus, TUP and Fritsche-Guenther, R and Rodrigues, AF and Yarritu, A and Zhong, C and Fei, L and Tsvetkov, D and Todiras, M and Park, JK and Markó, L and Maifeld, A and Patzak, A and Bader, M and Kempa, S and Kirwan, JA and Forslund, SK and Müller, DN and Wilck, N}, title = {Quantifying the impact of gut microbiota on inflammation and hypertensive organ damage.}, journal = {Cardiovascular research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/cvr/cvac121}, pmid = {35904261}, issn = {1755-3245}, abstract = {AIMS: Hypertension (HTN) can lead to heart and kidney damage. The gut microbiota has been linked to HTN, although it is difficult to estimate its significance due to the variety of other features known to influence HTN. In the present study, we used germ-free (GF) and colonized (COL) littermate mice to quantify the impact of microbial colonization on organ damage in HTN.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Four-week-old male GF C57BL/6J littermates were randomized to remain GF or receive microbial colonization. HTN was induced by subcutaneous infusion with angiotensin (Ang) II (1.44 mg/kg/d) and 1% NaCl in the drinking water; sham-treated mice served as control. Renal damage was exacerbated in GF mice, whereas cardiac damage was more comparable between COL and GF, suggesting that the kidney is more sensitive to microbial influence. Multivariate analysis revealed a larger effect of HTN in GF mice. Serum metabolomics demonstrated that the colonization status influences circulating metabolites relevant to HTN. Importantly, GF mice were deficient in anti-inflammatory fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Flow cytometry showed that the microbiome has an impact on the induction of anti-hypertensive myeloid-derived suppressor cells and pro-inflammatory Th17 cells in HTN. In vitro inducibility of Th17 cells was significantly higher for cells isolated from GF than conventionally raised mice.

CONCLUSIONS: Microbial colonization status of mice had potent effects on their phenotypic response to a hypertensive stimulus, and the kidney is a highly microbiota-susceptible target organ in HTN. The magnitude of the pathogenic response in GF mice underscores the role of the microbiome in mediating inflammation in HTN.

TRANSLATION PERSPECTIVE: To assess the potential of microbiota-targeted interventions to prevent organ damage in hypertension, an accurate quantification of microbial influence is necessary. We provide evidence that the development of hypertensive organ damage is dependent on colonization status and suggest that a healthy microbiota provides anti-hypertensive immune and metabolic signals to the host. In the absence of normal symbiotic host-microbiome interactions, hypertensive damage to the kidney in particular is exacerbated. We suggest that hypertensive patients experiencing perturbations to the microbiota, which are common in CVD, may be at a greater risk for target-organ damage than those with a healthy microbiome.}, } @article {pmid35902906, year = {2022}, author = {Morrow, KM and Pankey, MS and Lesser, MP}, title = {Community structure of coral microbiomes is dependent on host morphology.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {113}, pmid = {35902906}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Nitrogen ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The importance of symbiosis has long been recognized on coral reefs, where the photosynthetic dinoflagellates of corals (Symbiodiniaceae) are the primary symbiont. Numerous studies have now shown that a diverse assemblage of prokaryotes also make-up part of the microbiome of corals. A subset of these prokaryotes is capable of fixing nitrogen, known as diazotrophs, and is also present in the microbiome of scleractinian corals where they have been shown to supplement the holobiont nitrogen budget. Here, an analysis of the microbiomes of 16 coral species collected from Australia, Curaçao, and Hawai'i using three different marker genes (16S rRNA, nifH, and ITS2) is presented. These data were used to examine the effects of biogeography, coral traits, and ecological life history characteristics on the composition and diversity of the microbiome in corals and their diazotrophic communities.

RESULTS: The prokaryotic microbiome community composition (i.e., beta diversity) based on the 16S rRNA gene varied between sites and ecological life history characteristics, but coral morphology was the most significant factor affecting the microbiome of the corals studied. For 15 of the corals studied, only two species Pocillopora acuta and Seriotopora hystrix, both brooders, showed a weak relationship between the 16S rRNA gene community structure and the diazotrophic members of the microbiome using the nifH marker gene, suggesting that many corals support a microbiome with diazotrophic capabilities. The order Rhizobiales, a taxon that contains primarily diazotrophs, are common members of the coral microbiome and were eight times greater in relative abundances in Hawai'i compared to corals from either Curacao or Australia. However, for the diazotrophic component of the coral microbiome, only host species significantly influenced the composition and diversity of the community.

CONCLUSIONS: The roles and interactions between members of the coral holobiont are still not well understood, especially critical functions provided by the coral microbiome (e.g., nitrogen fixation), and the variation of these functions across species. The findings presented here show the significant effect of morphology, a coral "super trait," on the overall community structure of the microbiome in corals and that there is a strong association of the diazotrophic community within the microbiome of corals. However, the underlying coral traits linking the effects of host species on diazotrophic communities remain unknown. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid35902758, year = {2022}, author = {Cziesielski, MJ and Liew, YJ and Cui, G and Aranda, M}, title = {Increased incompatibility of heterologous algal symbionts under thermal stress in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate model Aiptasia.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {760}, pmid = {35902758}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; *Sea Anemones/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rising ocean temperatures are increasing the rate and intensity of coral mass bleaching events, leading to the collapse of coral reef ecosystems. To better understand the dynamics of coral-algae symbioses, it is critical to decipher the role each partner plays in the holobiont's thermotolerance. Here, we investigated the role of the symbiont by comparing transcriptional heat stress responses of anemones from two thermally distinct locations, Florida (CC7) and Hawaii (H2) as well as a heterologous host-symbiont combination composed of CC7 host anemones inoculated with the symbiont Breviolum minutum (SSB01) from H2 anemones (CC7-B01). We find that oxidative stress and apoptosis responses are strongly influenced by symbiont type, as further confirmed by caspase-3 activation assays, but that the overall response to heat stress is dictated by the compatibility of both partners. Expression of genes essential to symbiosis revealed a shift from a nitrogen- to a carbon-limited state only in the heterologous combination CC7-B01, suggesting a bioenergetic disruption of symbiosis during stress. Our results indicate that symbiosis is highly fine-tuned towards particular partner combinations and that heterologous host-symbiont combinations are metabolically less compatible under stress. These results are essential for future strategies aiming at increasing coral resilience using heterologous thermotolerant symbionts.}, } @article {pmid35901904, year = {2022}, author = {Teo, JT and Johnstone, SJ and Römer, SS and Thomas, SJ}, title = {Psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the potential health benefits of human-dog interactions: A systematic literature review.}, journal = {International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology}, volume = {180}, number = {}, pages = {27-48}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.07.007}, pmid = {35901904}, issn = {1872-7697}, mesh = {Animals ; Dogs ; Humans ; *Psychophysiology ; }, abstract = {While the symbiotic nature of human-dog relationships and perceived benefits to human health have attracted much scientific interest, the mechanisms through which human-dog interactions may confer health benefits to humans are still poorly understood. The aim of this systematic literature review was to synthesize evidence of physiological changes associated with human-dog interactions with relevance to human health. Electronic databases were systematically searched (PubMed, MEDLINE with full text, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Web of Science Core Collection) for relevant studies. Of the 13,072 studies identified, 129 met the inclusion criteria, with approximately half being randomized trials (Level 2) based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine level system. Measures employed to study human physiological changes associated with human-dog interactions most commonly involved cardiac parameters and hormones, with negligible research of brain activity. The main positive findings were increases in heart rate variability and oxytocin, and decreases in cortisol with human-dog interactions. These physiological indicators are consistent with activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and oxytocinergic system (OTS), and down-regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. These results provide evidence of specific pathways through which human-dog contact may confer health benefits, likely through relaxation, bonding, and stress reduction. However, these findings should be interpreted contextually due to limitations and methodological differences. Previous research using other biological variables was limited in quantity and quality, thus impeding firm conclusions on other possible mechanisms. Further research is needed in some psychophysiological domains, particularly electroencephalography, to better understand central nervous system (CNS) effects. The findings of this review have implications for human-dog interactions to positively affect several stress-sensitive physiological pathways and thus confer health benefits. This supports their incorporation in various clinical, non-clinical, and research settings to develop evidence-based interventions and practices for cost-effective and efficacious ways to improve human health.}, } @article {pmid35901899, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, X and Li, X and Tang, S and Lin, K and Zhao, T and Chen, X}, title = {A review on algal-bacterial symbiosis system for aquaculture tail water treatment.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {847}, number = {}, pages = {157620}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157620}, pmid = {35901899}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Aquaculture ; Bacteria ; Carbon ; *Greenhouse Gases ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater/microbiology ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing fields of global food production industry in recent years. To maintain the ecological health of aquaculture water body and the sustainable development of aquaculture industry, the treatment of aquaculture tail water (ATW) is becoming an indispensable task. This paper discussed the demand of environmentally friendly and cost-effective technologies for ATW treatment and the potential of algal-bacterial symbiosis system (ABSS) in ATW treatment. The characteristics of ABSS based technology for ATW treatment were analyzed, such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission, environmental adaptability and the possibility of removal or recovery of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus as resource simultaneously. Based on the principle of ABSS, this paper introduced the key environmental factors that should be paid attention to in the establishment of ABSS, and then summarized the species of algae, bacteria and the proportion of algae and bacteria commonly used in the establishment of ABSS. Finally, the reactor technologies and the relevant research gaps in the establishment of ABSS were reviewed and discussed.}, } @article {pmid35901879, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, Y and Su, J and Ali, A and Zhang, S and Zheng, Z and Min, Y}, title = {Effect of fungal pellets on denitrifying bacteria at low carbon to nitrogen ratio: Nitrate removal, extracellular polymeric substances, and potential functions.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {847}, number = {}, pages = {157591}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157591}, pmid = {35901879}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Denitrification ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism ; Humic Substances ; Nitrates/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Organic Chemicals/metabolism ; }, abstract = {This research aims to elucidate the effect of fungal pellets (FP) on denitrifying bacteria regarding nitrate (NO3[-]-N) removal, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and potential functions at a low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio. A symbiotic system of FP and denitrifying bacteria GF2 was established. The symbiotic system showed 100% NO3[-]-N removal efficiency (4.07 mg L[-1] h[-1]) at 6 h and enhanced electron transfer capability at C/N = 1.5. The interactions between FP and denitrifying bacteria promoted the production of polysaccharides (PS) in EPS. Both the increased PS and the PS provided by FP as well as protein and humic acid-like substances in EPS could be consumed by denitrifying bacteria. FP acted as a protector and provided habitat and nutrients for denitrifying bacteria as well as improved the ability of carbohydrate metabolism, amino metabolism, and nitrogen metabolism of denitrifying bacteria. This study provides a new perspective on the relationship between FP and denitrifying bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35901852, year = {2022}, author = {Ayala-García, P and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Jacott, CN and López-Baena, FJ and Ollero, FJ and Del Cerro, P and Pérez-Montaño, F}, title = {The Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 NodD2 protein promotes symbiosis and extends rhizobial nodulation range by constitutive nodulation factor synthesis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {19}, pages = {6931-6941}, pmid = {35901852}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Rhizobium tropici/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Phaseolus/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the symbiotic associations between rhizobia and legumes, the NodD regulators orchestrate the transcription of the specific nodulation genes. This set of genes is involved in the synthesis of nodulation factors, which are responsible for initiating the nodulation process. Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is the most successful symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris and can nodulate a variety of legumes. Among the five NodD regulators present in this rhizobium, only NodD1 and NodD2 seem to have a role in the symbiotic process. However, the individual role of each NodD in the absence of the other proteins has remained elusive. In this work, we show that the CIAT 899 NodD2 does not require activation by inducers to promote the synthesis of nodulation factors. A CIAT 899 strain overexpressing nodD2, but lacking all additional nodD genes, can nodulate three different legumes as efficiently as the wild type. Interestingly, CIAT 899 NodD2-mediated gain of nodulation can be extended to another rhizobial species, since its overproduction in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 not only increases the number of nitrogen-fixing nodules in two host legumes but also results in nodule development in incompatible legumes. These findings potentially open exciting opportunities to develop rhizobial inoculants and increase legume crop production.}, } @article {pmid35901264, year = {2022}, author = {de Faria, SM and Ringelberg, JJ and Gross, E and Koenen, EJM and Cardoso, D and Ametsitsi, GKD and Akomatey, J and Maluk, M and Tak, N and Gehlot, HS and Wright, KM and Teaumroong, N and Songwattana, P and de Lima, HC and Prin, Y and Zartman, CE and Sprent, JI and Ardley, J and Hughes, CE and James, EK}, title = {The innovation of the symbiosome has enhanced the evolutionary stability of nitrogen fixation in legumes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {6}, pages = {2365-2377}, pmid = {35901264}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis is globally important in ecosystem functioning and agriculture, yet the evolutionary history of nodulation remains the focus of considerable debate. Recent evidence suggesting a single origin of nodulation followed by massive parallel evolutionary losses raises questions about why a few lineages in the N2 -fixing clade retained nodulation and diversified as stable nodulators, while most did not. Within legumes, nodulation is restricted to the two most diverse subfamilies, Papilionoideae and Caesalpinioideae, which show stable retention of nodulation across their core clades. We characterize two nodule anatomy types across 128 species in 56 of the 152 genera of the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae: fixation thread nodules (FTs), where nitrogen-fixing bacteroids are retained within the apoplast in modified infection threads, and symbiosomes, where rhizobia are symplastically internalized in the host cell cytoplasm within membrane-bound symbiosomes (SYMs). Using a robust phylogenomic tree based on 997 genes from 147 Caesalpinioideae genera, we show that losses of nodulation are more prevalent in lineages with FTs than those with SYMs. We propose that evolution of the symbiosome allows for a more intimate and enduring symbiosis through tighter compartmentalization of their rhizobial microsymbionts, resulting in greater evolutionary stability of nodulation across this species-rich pantropical legume clade.}, } @article {pmid35900916, year = {2022}, author = {Dhiman, S and Ulrich, JF and Wienecke, P and Wichard, T and Arndt, HD}, title = {Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Thallusin for Bioactivity Profiling.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {61}, number = {39}, pages = {e202206746}, pmid = {35900916}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Pyridines/chemistry ; *Seaweed/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Ulva/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Chemical mediators are key compounds for controlling symbiotic interactions in the environment. Here, we disclose a fully stereoselective total synthesis of the algae differentiation factor (-)-thallusin that utilizes sophisticated 6-endo-cyclization chemistry and effective late-stage sp[2] -sp[2] -couplings using non-toxic reagents. An EC50 of 4.8 pM was determined by quantitative phenotype profiling in the green seaweed Ulva mutabilis (Chlorophyte), underscoring this potent mediator's enormous, pan-species bioactivity produced by symbiotic bacteria. SAR investigations indicate that (-)-thallusin triggers at least two different pathways in Ulva that may be separated by chemical editing of the mediator compound structure.}, } @article {pmid35899682, year = {2022}, author = {Rismayuddin, NAR and Mohd Badri, PEA and Ismail, AF and Othman, N and Bandara, HMHN and Arzmi, MH}, title = {Synbiotic Musa acuminata skin extract and Streptococcus salivarius K12 inhibit candida species biofilm formation.}, journal = {Biofouling}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {614-627}, doi = {10.1080/08927014.2022.2105142}, pmid = {35899682}, issn = {1029-2454}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; *Musa ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Streptococcus salivarius ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to determine the effect of synbiotic Musa acuminata skin extract (MASE) and Streptococcus salivarius K12 (K12) on Candida species biofilm formation. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight (LC-Q-TOF-MS) was conducted to characterize MASE. To determine the effect of synbiotic on Candida biofilm, 200 µL of RPMI-1640 containing Candida, K12, and MASE were pipetted into the same well and incubated at 37 °C for 72 h. A similar protocol was repeated with K12 or MASE to determine the probiotic and prebiotic effects, respectively. Dimorphism, biofilm biomass, and Candida total cell count (TCC) were determined. A total of 60 compounds were detected in MASE. C. albicans (ALT5) and Candida lusitaniae exhibited the highest reduction in biofilm biomass when co-cultured with prebiotic (77.70 ± 7.67%) and synbiotic (97.73 ± 0.28%), respectively. All Candida spp. had decreased TCC and hyphae when co-cultured with synbiotic. In conclusion, MASE and K12 inhibit Candida biofilm formation.}, } @article {pmid35898919, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Z and Wen, W and Qin, M and He, Y and Xu, D and Li, L}, title = {Biosynthetic Mechanisms of Secondary Metabolites Promoted by the Interaction Between Endophytes and Plant Hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {928967}, pmid = {35898919}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytes is a kind of microorganism resource with great potential medicinal value. The interactions between endophytes and host not only promote the growth and development of each other but also drive the biosynthesis of many new medicinal active substances. In this review, we summarized recent reports related to the interactions between endophytes and hosts, mainly regarding the research progress of endophytes affecting the growth and development of host plants, physiological stress and the synthesis of new compounds. Then, we also discussed the positive effects of multiomics analysis on the interactions between endophytes and their hosts, as well as the application and development prospects of metabolites synthesized by symbiotic interactions. This review may provide a reference for the further development and utilization of endophytes and the study of their interactions with their hosts.}, } @article {pmid35898918, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, A and Shi, H and Cui, R and Cai, X and Xie, Z}, title = {Effects of Taurine on Primary Metabolism and Transcription in a Coral Symbiodinium sp.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {797688}, pmid = {35898918}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Coral reefs belong to the marine ecosystems and host the richest biodiversity of marine organisms. Coral reefs are formed as a result of the symbiotic relationship between the host coral animal and photosynthetic dinoflagellates, namely Symbiodinium sp. Coral animals induce the release of carbon fixation products of symbiotic Symbiodinium sp. through secreting host release factors (HRFs) such as taurine. To study the potential effect of taurine on photosynthesis and release of carbon fixation products of Symbiodinium sp., we compared the growth of Symbiodinium sp. under control and taurine-stimulated conditions. Photosynthesis parameters were detected to monitor the photosynthetic efficiency. Biomass and the contents of total soluble sugar, total insoluble sugar, total protein, total lipids, chlorophyll a were analyzed. Metabolome and transcriptome analyses were performed to analyze the potential effect of taurine on primary metabolism and mRNA transcription. The results revealed that taurine significantly increased the growth, photosynthesis efficiency, total soluble sugar, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b and free amino acid content of Symbiodinium sp. while decreased the content of total insoluble sugar. Results of metabolome and transcriptome analyses suggested that taurine might affect metabolic pathways in Symbiodinium sp. by altering the permeability of the algal cell membrane, diverting photosynthetically fixed carbon from storage compounds to translocated compounds, releasing a signal of low concentrations of nitrogen to initiate a series of response mechanisms, and controlling the density of Symbiodinium sp. through the quorum sensing effect. These results help to explore how corals control carbon metabolism in Symbiodinium sp. and to provide theoretical guidance for furthering our understanding of Symbiodinium sp. biology and coral-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35898916, year = {2022}, author = {Hazan, S}, title = {Microbiome-Based Hypothesis on Ivermectin's Mechanism in COVID-19: Ivermectin Feeds Bifidobacteria to Boost Immunity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {952321}, pmid = {35898916}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic agent that has gained attention as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic. It is a compound of the type Avermectin, which is a fermented by-product of Streptomyces avermitilis. Bifidobacterium is a member of the same phylum as Streptomyces spp., suggesting it may have a symbiotic relation with Streptomyces. Decreased Bifidobacterium levels are observed in COVID-19 susceptibility states, including old age, autoimmune disorder, and obesity. We hypothesize that Ivermectin, as a by-product of Streptomyces fermentation, is capable of feeding Bifidobacterium, thereby possibly preventing against COVID-19 susceptibilities. Moreover, Bifidobacterium may be capable of boosting natural immunity, offering more direct COVID-19 protection. These data concord with our study, as well as others, that show Ivermectin protects against COVID-19.}, } @article {pmid35896875, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, B and Zhao, Y and Zhao, C and Wei, J}, title = {Effect of different CO2 concentrations on biogas upgrading and nutrient removal by microalgae-fungi co-culture.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {60}, pages = {91345-91355}, pmid = {35896875}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Microalgae ; Biofuels ; Coculture Techniques ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; }, abstract = {Owing to the high carbon dioxide (CO2)-fixation efficiency, microalgae-based technology has been widely used for biogas purification. The present study explored the effect of CO2 concentration on biogas purification by an algal-fungal-bacterial symbiotic system. Two algal-fungal-bacterial symbiotic systems were cultivated to purify four simulated biogas samples with different CO2 concentrations. The results showed that GR24, a synthetic analog of strigolactone, stimulated the growth of the algal-fungal-bacterial symbiotic system. The optimal CO2 concentration for the purification of the simulated biogas was 45% (V/V), and the optimal symbiotic system was Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-endophytic bacteria-GR24. The maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD; 82.61 ± 7.73%), total nitrogen (TN; 81.36 ± 7.97%), total phosphorus (TP; 85.69 ± 8.19), and CO2 (69.23 ± 6.56%) removal efficiencies were detected with the addition of 10[-9] M GR24 to the C. vulgaris-G. lucidum-endophytic bacterial symbiotic system. These findings confirmed the effect of CO2 concentration on the purification of biogas by the algal-bacterial symbiotic system. The study provides a theoretical basis for further research on the treatment of wastewater and biogas.}, } @article {pmid35896777, year = {2022}, author = {Kaschuk, G and Auler, AC and Vieira, CE and Dakora, FD and Jaiswal, SK and da Cruz, SP}, title = {Coinoculation impact on plant growth promotion: a review and meta-analysis on coinoculation of rhizobia and plant growth-promoting bacilli in grain legumes.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {2027-2037}, pmid = {35896777}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {*Rhizobium ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Edible Grain ; Vegetables ; *Bacillus ; }, abstract = {Coinoculation of symbiotic N2-fixing rhizobia and plant growth-promoting Bacillus on legume seeds can increase crop productivity. We collected highly resolved data on coinoculation of rhizobia and bacilli on 11 grain legume crops: chickpea, common bean, cowpea, faba bean, groundnut, lentil, mung bean, pea, pigeon pea, soybean, and urad bean to verify the magnitude of additive effects of coinoculation in relation to single inoculation of rhizobia on plant growth and yield of grain legumes. Coinoculation of rhizobia and bacilli on legume seeds and/or soil during sowing significantly increased nodulation, nitrogenase activity, plant N and P contents, and shoot and root biomass, as well as the grain yield of most grain legumes studied. There were however a few instances where coinoculation decreased plant growth parameters. Therefore, coinoculation of rhizobia and Bacillus has the potential to increase the growth and productivity of grain legumes, and can be recommended as an environmental-friendly agricultural practice for increased crop yields.}, } @article {pmid35894614, year = {2022}, author = {Tanabe, N and Takasu, R and Hirose, Y and Kamei, Y and Kondo, M and Nakabachi, A}, title = {Diaphorin, a Polyketide Produced by a Bacterial Symbiont of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Inhibits the Growth and Cell Division of Bacillus subtilis but Promotes the Growth and Metabolic Activity of Escherichia coli.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0175722}, pmid = {35894614}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus subtilis/metabolism ; Cell Division ; *Citrus/metabolism/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; *Gammaproteobacteria/metabolism ; *Hemiptera/metabolism/microbiology ; *Polyketides/metabolism/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by "Candidatus Profftella armatura" (Gammaproteobacteria: Burkholderiales), an obligate symbiont of a notorious agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Diaphorin belongs to the pederin family of bioactive agents found in various host-symbiont systems, including beetles, lichens, and sponges, harboring phylogenetically diverse bacterial producers. Previous studies showed that diaphorin, which is present in D. citri at concentrations of 2 to 20 mM, has inhibitory effects on various eukaryotes, including the natural enemies of D. citri. However, little is known about its effects on prokaryotic organisms. To address this issue, the present study assessed the biological activities of diaphorin on two model prokaryotes, Escherichia coli (Gammaproteobacteria: Enterobacterales) and Bacillus subtilis (Firmicutes: Bacilli). Their growth and morphological features were analyzed using spectrophotometry, optical microscopy followed by image analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The metabolic activity of E. coli was further assessed using the β-galactosidase assay. The results revealed that physiological concentrations of diaphorin inhibit the growth and cell division of B. subtilis but promote the growth and metabolic activity of E. coli. This finding implies that diaphorin functions as a defensive agent of the holobiont (host plus symbionts) against some bacterial lineages but is metabolically beneficial for others, which potentially include obligate symbionts of D. citri. IMPORTANCE Certain secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, evolve to mediate interactions among organisms. These molecules have distinct spectra for microorganisms and are often more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative ones. However, it is rare that a single molecule has completely opposite activities on distinct bacterial lineages. The present study revealed that a secondary metabolite synthesized by an organelle-like bacterial symbiont of psyllids inhibits the growth of Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis but promotes the growth of Gram-negative Escherichia coli. This finding not only provides insights into the evolution of microbiomes in animal hosts but also may potentially be exploited to promote the effectiveness of industrial material production by microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid35894593, year = {2022}, author = {Kameoka, H and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Functions of Lipids in Development and Reproduction of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {63}, number = {10}, pages = {1356-1365}, pmid = {35894593}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Fungi ; Plants/microbiology ; Carbon ; Reproduction ; Lipids ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualistic associations with most land plants. The symbiosis is based on the exchange of nutrients: AMF receive photosynthetically fixed carbon from the plants and deliver mineral nutrients in return. Lipids are important players in the symbiosis. They act as components of the plant-derived membrane surrounding arbuscules, as carbon sources transferred from plants to AMF, as a major form of carbon storage in AMF and as triggers of developmental responses in AMF. In this review, we describe the role of lipids in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and AMF development.}, } @article {pmid35891960, year = {2022}, author = {Yusop, MSM and Mohamed-Hussein, ZA and Ramzi, AB and Bunawan, H}, title = {Cymbidium Mosaic Virus Infecting Orchids: What, How, and What Next?.}, journal = {Iranian journal of biotechnology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {e3020}, pmid = {35891960}, issn = {1728-3043}, abstract = {CONTEXT: Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) is one of the most devastating viruses causing losses in the orchid industry, affecting economies worth millions of US dollars. CymMV significantly affects the orchid population and could be controlled through an integrated management strategy consisting of virus detection, good sanitation care of gardeners and their tools, and maintaining virus-free explants.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This review was written based on research publications relevant to the CymMV infection in orchids. The literature cited were obtained from online literature databases such as web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The searched term used was "Cymbidium mosaic virus". Related publications to the initial search were also examined.

RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: This review describes the threat of CymMV to the orchid population by examining its history, genome organization, symptoms on individual orchids, detection, and management. Current research has been focusing on the prospect of transgenic orchids with viral resistance. This review also highlights the potential role of the symbiotic relationship between orchids and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi that could be useful to improve the protection of orchids against virus infection. Overall, this review provides information on how CymMV infection impacts the orchid population.}, } @article {pmid35890494, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, H and Renault, S and Markham, J}, title = {The Effect of Frankia and Hebeloma crustiliniforme on Alnus alnobetula subsp. Crispa Growing in Saline Soil.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35890494}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The mining of the oil sands region of Canada's boreal forest creates disturbed land with elevated levels of salts. Understanding how native plants respond to salt stress is critical in reclaiming these lands. The native species, Alnus alnobetula subsp. crispa forms nitrogen-fixing nodules with Frankia, and ectomycorrhizae with a number of fungal species. These relationships may make the plant particularly well suited for restoring disturbed land. We inoculated A. alnobetula subsp. crispa with Frankia and Hebeloma crustiliniforme and exposed the plants to 0, 50, or 100 mM NaCl for seven weeks. Frankia-inoculated plants had increased biomass regardless of salt exposure, even though salt exposure reduced nitrogen fixation and reduced the efficiency of nitrogen-fixing nodules. The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis also decreased leaf stress and increased root phosphatase levels. This suggests that N-fixing plants not only have increased nitrogen nutrition but also have increased access to soil phosphorus. Mycorrhizae did not affect plant growth but did reduce nodule numbers and nodule efficiency. These results suggest that the nitrogen-fixing trait is more critical than mycorrhizae. While salt stress inhibits nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, plants still benefit from nitrogen fixation when exposed to salt.}, } @article {pmid35890492, year = {2022}, author = {Prakash, J and Egamberdieva, D and Arora, NK}, title = {A Novel Bacillus safensis-Based Formulation along with Mycorrhiza Inoculation for Controlling Alternaria alternata and Simultaneously Improving Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Steviol Glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana under Field Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35890492}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The excess use of chemicals by farmers in the agroecosystems degrades soil quality, disturbs soil ecology, and increases soil salinity and health hazards in humans. Stevia rebaudiana is an important medicinal and aromatic crop whose leaves contain steviol glycosides (SGs). The Bacillus safensis NAIMCC-B-02323 strain STJP from the rhizosphere of S. rebaudiana producing salicylic acid (16.80 µg/mL), chitinase (75.58 U/mL), β-1,3-glucanase (220.36 U/mL), and cellulase (170 U/mL) was taken as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). The cell-free supernatant (CFS) from strain STJP showed significant biocontrol activity against Alternaria alternata (80%), suggesting the protective role of extracellular metabolite(s) against phytopathogens. Paneer whey-based bioformulation (P-WBF) was developed to exploit B. safensis STJP to enhance the growth, nutrient uptake, soil properties, stevioside content, and SGs biosynthesis in S. rebaudiana under an A. alternata-infested field. The combined treatment of P-WBF and mycorrhiza (Glomus fasciculatum ABTEC) significantly enhanced plant growth parameters after 90 days, in comparison with control. The symbiotic action (P-WBF and mycorrhiza) displayed much better results in terms of chlorophyll a and b (improved by 132.85% and 39.80%, respectively), protein (by 278.75%), flavonoid (by 86.99%), carbohydrate (by 103.84%), antioxidant (by 75.11%), and stevioside (by 120.62%) contents in plants as compared to the untreated set. Further, the augmentation of potassium (by 132.39%), phosphorous (by 94.22%), and zinc (by 111.11%) uptake in plant tissues and soil was also observed by the application of P-WBF and mycorrhiza. The expression of UGT74G1 and UGT85C2 genes related to SG biosynthesis was upregulated (2.7- and 3.2-fold, respectively) in plants treated with P-WBF and mycorrhiza as further confirmed by the accumulation of SGs. The results suggest that the application of P-WBF and mycorrhiza not only provides an ecofriendly and sustainable solution to improve stevioside content in S. rebaudiana by a nutrient-linked mechanism but also paves the way to enhanced production of stevioside.}, } @article {pmid35890454, year = {2022}, author = {Segneanu, AE and Marin, CN and Herea, DD and Stanusoiu, I and Muntean, C and Grozescu, I}, title = {Romanian Viscum album L.-Untargeted Low-Molecular Metabolomic Approach to Engineered Viscum-AuNPs Carrier Assembly.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35890454}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Viscum is one of the most famous and appreciated medicinal plants in Europe and beyond. The symbiotic relationship with the host tree and various endogenous and ecological aspects are the main factors on which the viscum metabolites' profiles depend. In addition, European traditional medicine mentions that only in two periods of the year (summer solstice and winter solstice) the therapeutic potential of the plant is at its maximum. Many studies have investigated the phytotherapeutic properties of viscum grown on different species of trees. However, studies on Romanian viscum are relatively few and refer mainly to the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of mistletoe grown on Acer campestre, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus nigra, Malus domestica, or Robinia pseudoacacia. This study reports the first complete low-molecular-weight metabolite profile of Romanian wild-grown European viscum. A total of 140 metabolites were identified under mass spectra (MS) positive mode from 15 secondary metabolite categories: flavonoids, amino acids and peptides, terpenoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, organic acids, nucleosides, alcohols and esters, amines, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans, steroids, aldehydes, and miscellaneous. In addition, the biological activity of each class of metabolite is discussed. The development of a simple and selective phyto-engineered AuNPs carrier assembly is reported and an evaluation of the nanocarrier system's morpho-structure is performed, to capitalize on the beneficial properties of viscum and AuNPs.}, } @article {pmid35890447, year = {2022}, author = {Elbagory, M and El-Nahrawy, S and Omara, AE}, title = {Synergistic Interaction between Symbiotic N2 Fixing Bacteria and Bacillus strains to Improve Growth, Physiological Parameters, Antioxidant Enzymes and Ni Accumulation in Faba Bean Plants (Vicia faba) under Nickel Stress.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35890447}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Several activities in the agriculture sector lead to the accumulation of Nickel (Ni) in soil. Therefore, effective and economical ways to reduce soil bioavailability of Ni must be identified. Five isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar Viceae (ICARDA 441, ICARDA 36, ICARDA 39, TAL−1148, and ARC−207) and three bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, B. circulance, and B. coagulans) were evaluated for tolerance and biosorption of different levels of Ni (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg L−1). Pot experiments were conducted during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons using four inoculation treatments (inoculation with the most tolerant Rhizobium (TAL−1148), inoculation with the most tolerant Rhizobium (TAL−1148) + B. subtilis, inoculation with the most tolerant Rhizobium (TAL−1148) + B. circulance, and inoculation with the most tolerant Rhizobium (TAL−1148) + B. coagulans) under different levels of Ni (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg kg−1), and their effects on growth, physiological characteristics, antioxidant enzymes, and Ni accumulation in faba bean plants (Vicia faba C.V. Nobaria 1) were determined. The results showed that Rhizobium (TAL−1148) and B. subtilis were the most tolerant of Ni. In pot trials, inoculation with the most tolerant Rhizobium TAL−1148 + B. subtilis treatment was shown to be more effective in terms of growth parameters (dry weight of plant, plant height, number of nodules, and N2 content), and this was reflected in physiological characteristics and antioxidant enzymes under 600 mg kg−1 Ni compared to the other treatments in the 2019/2020 season. In the second season, 2020/2021, a similar pattern was observed. Additionally, lower concentrations of Ni were found in faba bean plants (roots and shoots). Therefore, a combination of the most tolerant Rhizobium (TAL−1148) + B. subtilis treatment might be used to reduce Ni toxicity.}, } @article {pmid35890040, year = {2022}, author = {Dinan, K and Dinan, TG}, title = {Gut Microbes and Neuropathology: Is There a Causal Nexus?.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35890040}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a virtual organ which produces a myriad of molecules that the brain and other organs require. Humans and microbes are in a symbiotic relationship, we feed the microbes, and in turn, they provide us with essential molecules. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla account for around 80% of the total human gut microbiota, and approximately 1000 species of bacteria have been identified in the human gut. In adults, the main factors influencing microbiota structure are diet, exercise, stress, disease and medications. In this narrative review, we explore the involvement of the gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and autism, as these are such high-prevalence disorders. We focus on preclinical studies that increase the understanding of disease pathophysiology. We examine the potential for targeting the gut microbiota in the development of novel therapies and the limitations of the currently published clinical studies. We conclude that while the field shows enormous promise, further large-scale studies are required if a causal link between these disorders and gut microbes is to be definitively established.}, } @article {pmid35889095, year = {2022}, author = {Melo-Bolívar, JF and Ruiz Pardo, RY and Junca, H and Sidjabat, HE and Cano-Lozano, JA and Villamil Díaz, LM}, title = {Competitive Exclusion Bacterial Culture Derived from the Gut Microbiome of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as a Resource to Efficiently Recover Probiotic Strains: Taxonomic, Genomic, and Functional Proof of Concept.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35889095}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {This study aims to mine a previously developed continuous-flow competitive exclusion culture (CFCEC) originating from the Tilapia gut microbiome as a rational and efficient autochthonous probiotic strain recovery source. Three isolated strains were tested on their adaptability to host gastrointestinal conditions, their antibacterial activities against aquaculture bacterial pathogens, and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Their genomes were fully sequenced, assembled, annotated, and relevant functions inferred, such as those related to pinpointed probiotic activities and phylogenomic comparative analyses to the closer reported strains/species relatives. The strains are possible candidates of novel genus/species taxa inside Lactococcus spp. and Priestia spp. (previously known as Bacillus spp.) These results were consistent with reports on strains inside these phyla exhibiting probiotic features, and the strains we found are expanding their known diversity. Furthermore, their pangenomes showed that these bacteria have indeed a set of so far uncharacterized genes that may play a role in the antagonism to competing strains or specific symbiotic adaptations to the fish host. In conclusion, CFCEC proved to effectively allow the enrichment and further pure culture isolation of strains with probiotic potential.}, } @article {pmid35889091, year = {2022}, author = {Mendoza-Hoffmann, F and Zarco-Zavala, M and Ortega, R and Celis-Sandoval, H and Torres-Larios, A and García-Trejo, JJ}, title = {Evolution of the Inhibitory and Non-Inhibitory ε, ζ, and IF1 Subunits of the F1FO-ATPase as Related to the Endosymbiotic Origin of Mitochondria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35889091}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The F1FO-ATP synthase nanomotor synthesizes >90% of the cellular ATP of almost all living beings by rotating in the “forward” direction, but it can also consume the same ATP pools by rotating in “reverse.” To prevent futile F1FO-ATPase activity, several different inhibitory proteins or domains in bacteria (ε and ζ subunits), mitochondria (IF1), and chloroplasts (ε and γ disulfide) emerged to block the F1FO-ATPase activity selectively. In this study, we analyze how these F1FO-ATPase inhibitory proteins have evolved. The phylogeny of the α-proteobacterial ε showed that it diverged in its C-terminal side, thus losing both the inhibitory function and the ATP-binding/sensor motif that controls this inhibition. The losses of inhibitory function and the ATP-binding site correlate with an evolutionary divergence of non-inhibitory α-proteobacterial ε and mitochondrial δ subunits from inhibitory bacterial and chloroplastidic ε subunits. Here, we confirm the lack of inhibitory function of wild-type and C-terminal truncated ε subunits of P. denitrificans. Taken together, the data show that ζ evolved to replace ε as the primary inhibitor of the F1FO-ATPase of free-living α-proteobacteria. However, the ζ inhibitory function was also partially lost in some symbiotic α-proteobacteria and totally lost in some strictly parasitic α-proteobacteria such as the Rickettsiales order. Finally, we found that ζ and IF1 likely evolved independently via convergent evolution before and after the endosymbiotic origin mitochondria, respectively. This led us to propose the ε and ζ subunits as tracer genes of the pre-endosymbiont that evolved into the actual mitochondria.}, } @article {pmid35889078, year = {2022}, author = {Renoz, F and Ambroise, J and Bearzatto, B and Fakhour, S and Parisot, N and Ribeiro Lopes, M and Gala, JL and Calevro, F and Hance, T}, title = {The Di-Symbiotic Systems in the Aphids Sipha maydis and Periphyllus lyropictus Provide a Contrasting Picture of Recent Co-Obligate Nutritional Endosymbiosis in Aphids.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35889078}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Dependence on multiple nutritional bacterial symbionts forming a metabolic unit has repeatedly evolved in many insect species that feed on nutritionally unbalanced diets such as plant sap. This is the case for aphids of the subfamilies Lachninae and Chaitophorinae, which have evolved di-symbiotic systems in which the ancient obligate nutritional symbiont Buchnera aphidicola is metabolically complemented by an additional nutritional symbiont acquired more recently. Deciphering how different symbionts integrate both metabolically and anatomically in such systems is crucial to understanding how complex nutritional symbiotic systems function and evolve. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of the symbionts B. aphidicola and Serratia symbiotica associated with the Chaitophorinae aphids Sipha maydis and Periphyllus lyropictus. Our results show that, in these two species, B. aphidicola and S. symbiotica complement each other metabolically (and their hosts) for the biosynthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins, but with distinct metabolic reactions supported by each symbiont depending on the host species. Furthermore, the S. symbiotica symbiont associated with S. maydis appears to be strictly compartmentalized into the specialized host cells housing symbionts in aphids, the bacteriocytes, whereas the S. symbiotica symbiont associated with P. lyropictus exhibits a highly invasive phenotype, presumably because it is capable of expressing a larger set of virulence factors, including a complete flagellum for bacterial motility. Such contrasting levels of metabolic and anatomical integration for two S. symbiotica symbionts that were recently acquired as nutritional co-obligate partners reflect distinct coevolutionary processes specific to each association.}, } @article {pmid35889063, year = {2022}, author = {Mosaico, G and Artuso, G and Pinna, M and Denotti, G and Orrù, G and Casu, C}, title = {Host Microbiota Balance in Teenagers with Gum Hypertrophy Concomitant with Acne Vulgaris: Role of Oral Hygiene Associated with Topical Probiotics.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35889063}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Gum hypertrophy is a very frequent condition linked to orthodontic treatment, especially in teenagers, and the same time, about 80% of young adults are affected by acne vulgaris, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, typically treated with antibacterial therapy. The use of probiotics has gained popularity in the medical field, and many studies have demonstrated its effectiveness, such as the positive effects of some bacterial strains belonging to Lactobacillus species. The aim of this study is to document the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on facial skin that was randomly observed in two orthodontic patients. We present two case reports of a 14-year-old female patient and a 15-year-old male patient suffering from acne vulgaris who, during fixed orthodontic treatment, showed clinical signs of gingivitis with high values of Full Mouth Plaque Score (FMPS) and Bleeding on Probing (BOP). The patients were treated first with professional oral hygiene sessions and Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) procedures, and then with the administration of a formulate containing L. reuteri as a probiotic. The follow-up was made at four weeks. During the follow-up analysis, both patients showed a significant clinical remission for gum hypertrophy and skin acne vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid35888163, year = {2022}, author = {Alves, E and Gregório, J and Rijo, P and Rosado, C and Rodrigues, LM}, title = {The Impact of Kefir on Epidermal Water Homeostasis in Healthy Human Skin.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35888163}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Kefir, a symbiotic consortium of diverse bacteria and yeasts, is one of the most popular probiotic foods on the market. Its consumption has been referred to as beneficial in human skin health, namely in the reinforcement of skin's barrier function. This benefit likely results from the productive activity of lactic acid bacteria during kefir fermentation. Lactic acid is naturally present in the skin, and actively contributes to epidermal water dynamics and "barrier." Few studies have been conducted regarding the impact of probiotic consumption in human epidermal water homeostasis. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the impact of the regular consumption of kefir on the skin water dynamics in a group of participants with healthy skin. Participants (n = 27) were healthy female volunteers from whom twelve consumed 100 mL of kefir every day for eight weeks as part of their diet. The remaining (untreated) participants served as the control group. Epidermal water balance was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum (SC) hydration on three different occasions-at baseline (T0), after four weeks (T4) and after eight weeks (T8) of interventive kefir consumption. Our study revealed a significant reduction in TEWL (p = 0.043) in the kefir group after eight weeks of regular consumption. In the same period, no differences were found for TEWL in the control group (p = 0.997). Regarding hydration, skin dryness was progressive in the control group, with a significant reduction in SC hydration (p = 0.002) at T8 in comparison to T0. In the kefir group, SC hydration was preserved between T0 and T8 (p = 0.997), which we believe to be related to epidermal "barrier" reinforcement. Our study seems to confirm that the regular consumption of kefir does improve cutaneous water balance even in healthy skin.}, } @article {pmid35887615, year = {2022}, author = {Valentini, V and Silvestri, V and Bucalo, A and Marraffa, F and Risicato, M and Grassi, S and Pellacani, G and Ottini, L and Richetta, AG}, title = {A Possible Link between Gut Microbiome Composition and Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Psoriatic Patients.}, journal = {Journal of personalized medicine}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35887615}, issn = {2075-4426}, abstract = {Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common comorbidities that may affect psoriatic patients. Several exogenous and endogenous factors are involved in the etiology and progression of both psoriasis and CVD. A potential genetic link between the two diseases has emerged; however, some gaps remain in the understanding of the CVD prevalence in psoriatic patients. Recently, the role of the gut microbiome dysbiosis was documented in the development and maintenance of both diseases. To investigate whether gut microbiome dysbiosis might influence the occurrence of CVD in psoriatic patients, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to characterize the gut microbiome of 28 psoriatic patients, including 17 patients with and 11 without CVD. The comparison of the gut microbiome composition between patients with and without CVD showed a higher prevalence of Barnesiellaceae and Phascolarctobacterium in patients with CVD. Among patients with CVD, those undergoing biologic therapy had lower abundance levels of Barnesiellaceae, comparable to those found in patients without CVD. Overall, these findings suggest that the co-occurrence of psoriasis and CVD might be linked to gut microbiome dysbiosis and that therapeutic strategies could help to restore the intestinal symbiosis, potentially improving the clinical management of psoriasis and its associated comorbidities.}, } @article {pmid35887485, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Zhang, X and Xu, M and Ye, Q and Gao, H and He, X}, title = {Improved Tolerance of Artemisia ordosica to Drought Stress via Dark Septate Endophyte (DSE) Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35887485}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) usually colonize plant roots, especially in stress environments. However, their relationship with plants ranges from beneficial to harmful and has remained largely uncharacterized. In the present study, 14 DSE species grouped into 11 genera were isolated from the roots of a desert plant, Artemisia ordosica, which is widely distributed in northwest China. Three dominant DSE species-Paraphoma chrysanthemicola (Pc), Alternaria chartarum (Ac), and Acrocalymma vagum (Av)-were selected and tested for their resistance to drought in vitro. Furthermore, we characterized the responses of A. ordosica under drought conditions in relation to the presence of these DSEs following inoculation. The results showed that all three strains grew well under in vitro drought stress, and the biomass of Ac and Av was significantly higher than that of the unstressed control. The effects of DSE inoculation on the growth of A. ordosica under drought stress varied according to the different DSE species but were generally beneficial. Under drought stress, Av and Pc promoted plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, and root development of the hosts. The Ac strain conferred obvious positive effects on the antioxidant enzyme activity of the hosts. In general, Av and Pc demonstrated better application potential for improving the drought resistance of A. ordosica.}, } @article {pmid35887480, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, Z and Ju, Y and Kou, M and Tian, M and Christensen, MJ and Zhang, X and Nan, Z}, title = {Cuticular Wax Modification by Epichloë Endophyte in Achnatherum inebrians under Different Soil Moisture Availability.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35887480}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The cuticular wax serves as the outermost hydrophobic barrier of plants against nonstomatal water loss and various environmental stresses. An objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of the mutualistic fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis to leaf cuticular wax of Achnatherum inebrians under different soil moisture availability. Through a pot experiment and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, our results indicated that the hydrocarbons were the dominant components of leaf cuticular wax, and the proportion of alcohols, aldehydes, amines, and ethers varied with the presence or absence of E. gansuensis and different soil moisture availability. Amines and ethers are unique in endophyte-free (EF) A. inebrians plants and endophyte-infected (EI) A. inebrians plants, respectively. By transcriptome analysis, we found a total of 13 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to cuticular biosynthesis, including FabG, desB, SSI2, fadD, BiP, KCS, KAR, FAR, and ABCB1. A model is proposed which provides insights for understanding cuticular wax biosynthesis in the association of A. inebrians plants with E. gansuensis. These results may help guide the functional analyses of candidate genes important for improving the protective layer of cuticular wax of endophyte-symbiotic plants.}, } @article {pmid35887417, year = {2022}, author = {Chandrasekaran, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mediated Enhanced Biomass, Root Morphological Traits and Nutrient Uptake under Drought Stress: A Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35887417}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Drought stress remains the major constraint in affecting crop productivity in several arid and semi-arid areas highlighting climate change perspectives. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belong to a versatile class of plant−fungal symbiotic associations establishing drought stress alleviation. Nevertheless, the mechanistic mode of sustainable agriculture necessitates rigorous assessment for authentic and reproducible plant growth parameters. Understanding the plant growth promotion, root morphological changes, and nutrient uptake response in AMF-inoculated plants to drought is very important for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, conducted a meta-analysis of published research articles for determining the efficacy of AMF in alleviating drought stress. Overall analysis showed that AM inoculated plants had 49% higher plant growth promotion than the non-mycorrhizal plants under drought stress. Biomass analysis depicted the root dry weight increase by 49%, shoot dry weight increase by 54%, and total dry weight increase by 58% indicating plant biomass traits augmentation. Root morphological traits analysis corresponded to increased root length (37%), root surface (31%), and root volume (65%). Notably, nutrient uptake assessment showed variable increases in uptake patterns such as P uptake by 86%, N uptake by 35%, and K uptake by 46%. Furthermore, the prominent efficacy of AMF was significantly larger under drought for P uptake (p < 0.001) and root volume (p < 0.001) indicating the linear relationship between root length and P uptake. Thus, the present meta-analysis confirms that drought stress alleviation emancipated by AMF is mediated by root traits modification and phosphorous acquisition efficacy. Hence, meta-analyses along with experimental validations with field trial evaluations will certainly provide the AMF research for escalated applications for better plant productivity, stress alleviation, and sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35887072, year = {2022}, author = {Bullones-Bolaños, A and Bernal-Bayard, J and Ramos-Morales, F}, title = {The NEL Family of Bacterial E3 Ubiquitin Ligases.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35887072}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Type III Secretion Systems/genetics ; Ubiquitin/genetics/metabolism ; *Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Some pathogenic or symbiotic Gram-negative bacteria can manipulate the ubiquitination system of the eukaryotic host cell using a variety of strategies. Members of the genera Salmonella, Shigella, Sinorhizobium, and Ralstonia, among others, express E3 ubiquitin ligases that belong to the NEL family. These bacteria use type III secretion systems to translocate these proteins into host cells, where they will find their targets. In this review, we first introduce type III secretion systems and the ubiquitination process and consider the various ways bacteria use to alter the ubiquitin ligation machinery. We then focus on the members of the NEL family, their expression, translocation, and subcellular localization in the host cell, and we review what is known about the structure of these proteins, their function in virulence or symbiosis, and their specific targets.}, } @article {pmid35887044, year = {2022}, author = {Alías-Villegas, C and Fuentes-Romero, F and Cuéllar, V and Navarro-Gómez, P and Soto, MJ and Vinardell, JM and Acosta-Jurado, S}, title = {Surface Motility Regulation of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 by Plant Flavonoids and the NodD1, TtsI, NolR, and MucR1 Symbiotic Bacterial Regulators.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35887044}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Plants/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria can spread on surfaces to colonize new environments and access more resources. Rhizobia, a group of α- and β-Proteobacteria, establish nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes that rely on a complex signal interchange between the partners. Flavonoids exuded by plant roots and the bacterial transcriptional activator NodD control the transcription of different rhizobial genes (the so-called nod regulon) and, together with additional bacterial regulatory proteins (such as TtsI, MucR or NolR), influence the production of different rhizobial molecular signals. In Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, flavonoids and NodD have a negative effect on exopolysaccharide production and biofilm production. Since biofilm formation and motility are often inversely regulated, we have analysed whether flavonoids may influence the translocation of S. fredii HH103 on surfaces. We show that the presence of nod gene-inducing flavonoids does not affect swimming but promotes a mode of surface translocation, which involves both flagella-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This surface motility is regulated in a flavonoid-NodD1-TtsI-dependent manner, relies on the assembly of the symbiotic type 3 secretion system (T3SS), and involves the participation of additional modulators of the nod regulon (NolR and MucR1). To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating the participation of T3SS in surface motility in a plant-interacting bacterium. Interestingly, flavonoids acting as nod-gene inducers also participate in the inverse regulation of surface motility and biofilm formation, which could contribute to a more efficient plant colonisation.}, } @article {pmid35886759, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, M and Lin, X and Guo, X}, title = {The Role of Insect Symbiotic Bacteria in Metabolizing Phytochemicals and Agrochemicals.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35886759}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The diversity and high adaptability of insects are heavily associated with their symbiotic microbes, which include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and archaea. These microbes play important roles in many aspects of the biology and physiology of insects, such as helping the host insects with food digestion, nutrition absorption, strengthening immunity and confronting plant defenses. To maintain normal development and population reproduction, herbivorous insects have developed strategies to detoxify the substances to which they may be exposed in the living habitat, such as the detoxifying enzymes carboxylesterase, glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s). Additionally, insect symbiotic bacteria can act as an important factor to modulate the adaptability of insects to the exposed detrimental substances. This review summarizes the current research progress on the role of insect symbiotic bacteria in metabolizing phytochemicals and agrochemicals (insecticides and herbicides). Given the importance of insect microbiota, more functional symbiotic bacteria that modulate the adaptability of insects to the detrimental substances to which they are exposed should be identified, and the underlying mechanisms should also be further studied, facilitating the development of microbial-resource-based pest control approaches or protective methods for beneficial insects.}, } @article {pmid35886399, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, Y and Xu, G and Shen, N and Nie, Z and Li, H and Zhang, L and Gong, Y and He, Y and Ma, X and Zhang, H and Zhu, J and Duan, J and Xu, P}, title = {Valuation of Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development of Hani Terraces: A Rice-Fish-Duck Integrated Farming Model.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {19}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35886399}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ducks ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Oryza ; Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {As a complementary and symbiotic agro-ecological cycle system, a nature-based integrated rice-fish-duck farming ecosystem was developed in the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces. The main research objective was to evaluate the ecosystem services based on case studies of the Hani integrated rice-fish-duck terraced farming system and determine its potential and its importance as an ecological asset. We developed a valuation model to assess the value of the integrated farming system based on the three aspects of provisioning, regulation and maintenance, and cultural services; we selected eight groups and 10 indictors to evaluate the ecosystem services of the integrated ecosystem in Honghe Hani Rice Terraces was 3.316 billion CNY, of which the provisioning service value was 1.76 billion CNY, the regulation and maintenance service value was 1.32 billion CNY, and the cultural services value was 230.85 million CNY. The evaluation will be useful as a theoretical reference for poverty alleviation policy makers in similar poverty-stricken areas, enabling them to better protect and promote this mode of farming and further promote the protection of the natural environment and cultural heritage alongside the sustainable development of natural resources and human well-being.}, } @article {pmid35885345, year = {2022}, author = {Mustar, S and Ibrahim, N}, title = {A Sweeter Pill to Swallow: A Review of Honey Bees and Honey as a Source of Probiotic and Prebiotic Products.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {35885345}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Honey bees and honey, have been the subject of study for decades due to their importance in improving health. At times, some of the probiotics may be transferred to the honey stored in the honeycomb. Consumers may benefit from consuming live-probiotics honey, which can aid in suppressing the reproduction of pathogens in their digestive system. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are mainly carbohydrates that promote the growth of native microflora probiotics in the digestive tract to maintain a healthy environment and improve the gut performance of the host. Therefore, this narrative review aims to present and analyze ten years' worth of information on the probiotic and prebiotic potential of honey bees and honey since not many review articles were found discussing this topic. Results showed that not many studies have been performed on the probiotic and prebiotic aspects of honey bees and honey. If further research is conducted, isolated probiotics from the bee's gut combined with honey's prebiotic properties can be manipulated as potential sources of probiotics and prebiotics for human and animal benefits since they appear to be interrelated and function in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35884309, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, B and Wang, Y and Cui, H and Niu, H and Liu, Y and Li, Z and Chen, D}, title = {Full Soft Capacitive Omnidirectional Tactile Sensor Based on Micro-Spines Electrode and Hemispheric Dielectric Structure.}, journal = {Biosensors}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35884309}, issn = {2079-6374}, mesh = {Electrodes ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; *Robotics ; Touch ; *Wearable Electronic Devices ; }, abstract = {Flourishing in recent years, intelligent electronics is desirably pursued in many fields including bio-symbiotic, human physiology regulatory, robot operation, and human-computer interaction. To support this appealing vision, human-like tactile perception is urgently necessary for dexterous object manipulation. In particular, the real-time force perception with strength and orientation simultaneously is critical for intelligent electronic skin. However, it is still very challenging to achieve directional tactile sensing that has eminent properties, and at the same time, has the feasibility for scale expansion. Here, a fully soft capacitive omnidirectional tactile (ODT) sensor was developed based on the structure of MWCNTs coated stripe electrode and Ecoflex hemisphere array dielectric. The theoretical analysis of this structure was conducted for omnidirectional force detection by finite element simulation. Combined with the micro-spine and the hemispheric hills dielectric structure, this sensing structure could achieve omnidirectional detection with high sensitivity (0.306 ± 0.001 kPa[-1] under 10 kPa) and a wide response range (2.55 Pa to 160 kPa). Moreover, to overcome the inherent disunity in flexible sensor units due to nano-materials and polymer, machine learning approaches were introduced as a prospective technical routing to recognize various loading angles and finally performed more than 99% recognition accuracy. The practical validity of the design was demonstrated by the detection of human motion, physiological activities, and gripping of a cup, which was evident to have great potential for tactile e-skin for digital medical and soft robotics.}, } @article {pmid35879156, year = {2022}, author = {Van Hese, I and Goossens, K and Ampe, B and Haegeman, A and Opsomer, G}, title = {Exploring the microbial composition of Holstein Friesian and Belgian Blue colostrum in relation to the transfer of passive immunity.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {105}, number = {9}, pages = {7623-7641}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2022-21799}, pmid = {35879156}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Belgium ; Cattle ; *Colostrum ; Female ; Humans ; *Immunoglobulin G ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {For centuries, multicellular organisms have lived in symbiosis with microorganisms. The interaction with microorganisms has been shown to be very beneficial for humans and animals. During a natural birth, the initial inoculation with bacteria occurs when the neonate passes through the birth canal. Colostrum and milk intake are associated with the acquisition of a healthy gut flora. However, little is known about the microbial composition of bovine colostrum and the possible beneficial effects for the neonatal calf. In this prospective cohort study, the microbial composition of first-milking colostrum was analyzed in 62 Holstein Friesian (HF) and 46 Belgian Blue (BB) cows by performing amplicon sequencing of the bacterial V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Calves received, 3 times, 2 L of their dam's colostrum within 24 h after birth. Associations between colostral microbial composition and its IgG concentration, as well as each calf's serum IgG levels, were analyzed. Colostrum samples were dominated by the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. The 10 most abundant genera in the complete data set were Acinetobacter (16.2%), Pseudomonas (15.1%), a genus belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family (4.9%), Lactococcus (4.0%), Chryseobacterium (3.9%), Staphylococcus (3.6%), Proteus (1.9%), Streptococcus (1.8%), Enterococcus (1.7%), and Enhydrobacter (1.5%). The remaining genera (other than these top 10) accounted for 36.5% of the counts, and another 8.7% were unidentified. Bacterial diversity differed significantly between HF and BB samples. Within each breed, several genera were found to be differentially abundant between colostrum of different quality. Moreover, in HF, the bacterial composition of colostrum leading to low serum IgG levels in the calf differed from that of colostrum leading to high serum IgG levels. Results of the present study indicate that the microbes present in colostrum are associated with transfer of passive immunity in neonatal calves.}, } @article {pmid35878420, year = {2022}, author = {Abed, OA and Attlassy, Y and Xu, J and Han, K and Moon, JJ}, title = {Emerging Nanotechnologies and Microbiome Engineering for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.}, journal = {Molecular pharmaceutics}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {4393-4410}, pmid = {35878420}, issn = {1543-8392}, support = {R01 NS122536/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK125087/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE031951/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA271799/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE030691/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; U01 CA210152/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Inflammation/drug therapy ; Nanotechnology ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Chronic Disease ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and impacts almost 7 million people across the globe. Current therapeutics are effective in treating the symptoms, but they often do not address the root cause or selectively target areas of inflammation. Notably, self-assembled nanoparticles show great promise as drug delivery systems for the treatment of IBD. Nanoparticles can be designed to survive the harsh gastric conditions and reach inflamed areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Oral drug delivery with nanoparticles can localize drugs to the impacted inflamed region using active and/or passive targeting and promote a high rate of drug dispersion in local tissues, thus reducing potential off-target toxicities. Since a dysregulated gut microbiome is implicated in the development and progression of IBD, it is also important to develop nanoparticles and biomaterials that can restore symbiotic microbes while reducing the proliferation of harmful microbes. In this review, we highlight recent advances in self-assembled nanosystems designed for addressing inflammation and dysregulated gut microbiomes as potential treatments for IBD. Nanoparticles have a promising future in improving the delivery of current therapeutics, increasing patient compliance by providing an oral method of medication, and reducing side effects. However, remaining challenges include scale-up synthesis of nanoparticles, potential side effects, and financial obstacles of clinical trials. It would be in the patients' best interest to continue research on nanoparticles in the pursuit of more effective therapeutics for the treatment of IBD.}, } @article {pmid35877736, year = {2022}, author = {Fan, H and Shi, ZM and Lei, YH and Si-Tu, MX and Zhou, FG and Feng, C and Wei, X and Shao, XH and Chen, Y and Zhang, CX}, title = {Rare Carbon-Bridged Citrinin Dimers from the Starfish-Derived Symbiotic Fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35877736}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Citrinin/chemistry ; Fungi ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; *Penicillium/chemistry ; Starfish ; }, abstract = {Four novel, rare carbon-bridged citrinin dimers, namely dicitrinones G-J (1-4), and five known analogs (5-9) were isolated from the starfish-derived fungus Penicillium sp. GGF 16-1-2. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemical calculations. Compounds 1-9 exhibited strong antifungal activities against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with LD50 values from 0.61 μg/mL to 16.14 μg/mL. Meanwhile, all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 and PANC-1 cell lines; as a result, compound 1 showed more significant cytotoxicities than the positive control against both cell lines. In addition, based on the analyses of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Western blot, 1 could induce apoptosis by activating caspase 3 proteins (CASP3).}, } @article {pmid35877598, year = {2022}, author = {Votta, C and Fiorilli, V and Haider, I and Wang, JY and Balestrini, R and Petřík, I and Tarkowská, D and Novák, O and Serikbayeva, A and Bonfante, P and Al-Babili, S and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Zaxinone synthase controls arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization level in rice.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {1688-1700}, pmid = {35877598}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Carotenoids/metabolism ; *Dioxygenases/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The Oryza sativa (rice) carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase OsZAS was described to produce zaxinone, a plant growth-promoting apocarotenoid. A zas mutant line showed reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization, but the mechanisms underlying this behavior are unknown. Here, we investigated how OsZAS and exogenous zaxinone treatment regulate mycorrhization. Micromolar exogenous supply of zaxinone rescued root growth but not the mycorrhizal defects of the zas mutant, and even reduced mycorrhization in wild-type and zas genotypes. The zas line did not display the increase in the level of strigolactones (SLs) that was observed in wild-type plants at 7 days post-inoculation with AM fungus. Moreover, exogenous treatment with the synthetic SL analog GR24 rescued the zas mutant mycorrhizal phenotype, indicating that the lower AM colonization rate of zas is caused by a deficiency in SLs at the early stages of the interaction, and indicating that during this phase OsZAS activity is required to induce SL production, possibly mediated by the Dwarf14-Like (D14L) signaling pathway. OsZAS is expressed in arbuscule-containing cells, and OsPT11prom::OsZAS transgenic lines, where OsZAS expression is driven by the OsPT11 promoter active in arbusculated cells, exhibit increased mycorrhization compared with the wild type. Overall, our results show that the genetic manipulation of OsZAS activity in planta leads to a different effect on AM symbiosis from that of exogenous zaxinone treatment, and demonstrate that OsZAS influences the extent of AM colonization, acting as a component of a regulatory network that involves SLs.}, } @article {pmid35876558, year = {2022}, author = {Quilbé, J and Nouwen, N and Pervent, M and Guyonnet, R and Cullimore, J and Gressent, F and Araújo, NH and Gully, D and Klopp, C and Giraud, E and Arrighi, JF}, title = {A mutant-based analysis of the establishment of Nod-independent symbiosis in the legume Aeschynomene evenia.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {190}, number = {2}, pages = {1400-1417}, pmid = {35876558}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Calmodulin/metabolism ; Cysteine/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Intensive research on nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in two model legumes has uncovered the molecular mechanisms, whereby rhizobial Nod factors activate a plant symbiotic signaling pathway that controls infection and nodule organogenesis. In contrast, the so-called Nod-independent symbiosis found between Aeschynomene evenia and photosynthetic bradyrhizobia, which does not involve Nod factor recognition nor infection thread formation, is less well known. To gain knowledge on how Nod-independent symbiosis is established, we conducted a phenotypic and molecular characterization of A. evenia lines carrying mutations in different nodulation genes. Besides investigating the effect of the mutations on rhizobial symbiosis, we examined their consequences on mycorrhizal symbiosis and in nonsymbiotic conditions. Analyzing allelic mutant series for AePOLLUX, Ca2+/calmodulin dependent kinase, AeCYCLOPS, nodulation signaling pathway 2 (AeNSP2), and nodule inception demonstrated that these genes intervene at several stages of intercellular infection and during bacterial accommodation. We provide evidence that AeNSP2 has an additional nitrogen-dependent regulatory function in the formation of axillary root hairs at lateral root bases, which are rhizobia-colonized infection sites. Our investigation of the recently discovered symbiotic actor cysteine-rich receptor-like kinase specified that it is not involved in mycorrhization; however, it is essential for both symbiotic signaling and early infection during nodulation. These findings provide important insights on the modus operandi of Nod-independent symbiosis and contribute to the general understanding of how rhizobial-legume symbioses are established by complementing the information acquired in model legumes.}, } @article {pmid35876309, year = {2022}, author = {Schuler, H and Dittmer, J and Borruso, L and Galli, J and Fischnaller, S and Anfora, G and Rota-Stabelli, O and Weil, T and Janik, K}, title = {Investigating the microbial community of Cacopsylla spp. as potential factor in vector competence of phytoplasma.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {4771-4786}, pmid = {35876309}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology ; *Malus/microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Phytoplasma/genetics ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phytoplasmas are obligatory intracellular bacteria that colonize the phloem of many plant species and cause hundreds of plant diseases worldwide. In nature, phytoplasmas are primarily transmitted by hemipteran vectors. While all phloem-feeding insects could in principle transmit phytoplasmas, only a limited number of species have been confirmed as vectors. Knowledge about factors that might determine the vector capacity is currently scarce. Here, we characterized the microbiomes of vector and non-vector species of apple proliferation (AP) phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma mali' to investigate their potential role in the vector capacity of the host. We performed high-throughput 16S rRNA metabarcoding of the two principal AP-vectors Cacopsylla picta and Cacopsylla melanoneura and eight Cacopsylla species, which are not AP-vectors but co-occur in apple orchards. The microbiomes of all species are dominated by Carsonella, the primary endosymbiont of psyllids and a second uncharacterized Enterobacteriaceae endosymbiont. Each Cacopsylla species harboured a species-specific phylotype of both symbionts. Moreover, we investigated differences between the microbiomes of AP-vector versus non-vector species and identified the predominant endosymbionts but also Wolbachia and several minor taxa as potential indicator species. Our study highlights the importance of considering the microbiome in future investigations of potential factors influencing host vector competence. We investigated the potential role of symbiotic bacteria in the acquisition and transmission of phytoplasma. By comparing the two main psyillid vector species of Apple proliferation (AP) phytoplasma and eight co-occurring species, which are not able to vector AP-phytoplasma, we found differences in the microbial communities of AP-vector and non-vector species, which appear to be driven by the predominant symbionts in both vector species and Wolbachia and several minor taxa in the non-vector species. In contrast, infection with AP-phytoplasma did not affect microbiome composition in both vector species. Our study provides new insights into the endosymbiont diversity of Cacopsylla spp. and highlights the importance of considering the microbiome when investigating potential factors influencing host vector competence.}, } @article {pmid35875979, year = {2022}, author = {Landini, L and Dadson, P and Gallo, F and Honka, MJ and Cena, H}, title = {Microbiota in anorexia nervosa: potential for treatment.}, journal = {Nutrition research reviews}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-20}, doi = {10.1017/S0954422422000130}, pmid = {35875979}, issn = {1475-2700}, abstract = {Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterised by the restriction of energy intake in relation to energy needs and a significantly lowered body weight than normally expected, coupled with an intense fear of gaining weight. Treatment of AN is currently based on psychological and refeeding approaches, but their efficacy remains limited since 40% of patients after 10 years of medical care still present symptoms of AN. The intestine hosts a large community of microorganisms, called the "microbiota", which live in symbiosis with the human host. The gut microbiota of a healthy human is dominated by bacteria from two phyla: Firmicutes and, majorly, Bacteroidetes. However, the proportion in their representation differs on an individual basis and depends on many external factors including medical treatment, geographical location and hereditary, immunological and lifestyle factors. Drastic changes in dietary intake may profoundly impact the composition of the gut microbiota, and the resulting dysbiosis may play a part in the onset and/or maintenance of comorbidities associated with AN, such as gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety and depression, as well as appetite dysregulation. Furthermore, studies have reported the presence of atypical intestinal microbial composition in patients with AN compared with healthy normal-weight controls. This review addresses the current knowledge about the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of AN. The review also focuses on the bidirectional interaction between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system (microbiota-gut-brain axis), considering the potential use of the gut microbiota manipulation in the prevention and treatment of AN.}, } @article {pmid35875566, year = {2022}, author = {Andongma, AA and Whitten, MMA and Sol, RD and Hitchings, M and Dyson, PJ}, title = {Bacterial Competition Influences the Ability of Symbiotic Bacteria to Colonize Western Flower Thrips.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {883891}, pmid = {35875566}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiont mediated RNAi (SMR) is a promising method for precision control of pest insect species such as Western Flower Thrips (WFT). Two species of bacteria are known to be dominant symbiotic bacteria in WFT, namely BFo1 and BFo2 (Bacteria from Frankliniella occidentalis 1 and 2), as we here confirm by analysis of next-generation sequence data derived to obtain a reference WFT genome sequence. Our first demonstration of SMR in WFT used BFo2, related to Pantoea, isolated from a domesticated Dutch thrips population. However, for successful use of SMR as a thrips control measure, these bacteria need to successfully colonize different environmental thrips populations. Here, we describe a United Kingdom thrips population that does not harbour BFo2, but does contain BFo1, a species related to Erwinia. Attempts to introduce BFo2 indicate that this bacterium is unable to establish itself in the United Kingdom thrips, in contrast to successful colonization by a strain of BFo1 expressing green fluorescent protein. Fluorescence microscopy indicates that BFo1 occupies similar regions of the thrips posterior midgut and hindgut as BFo2. Bacterial competition assays revealed that a barrier to BFo2 establishing itself in thrips is the identity of the resident BFo1; BFo1 isolated from the United Kingdom thrips suppresses growth of BFo2 to a greater extent than BFo1 from the Dutch thrips that is permissive for BFo2 colonization. The ability of the latter strain of BFo1 to colonize the United Kingdom thrips is also likely attributable to its ability to out-compete the resident BFo1. Lastly, we observed that United Kingdom thrips pre-exposed to the Dutch BFo1 could then be successfully colonized by BFo2. These results indicate, for the first time, that microbial competition and strain differences can have a large influence on how symbiotic bacteria can colonize different populations of an insect species.}, } @article {pmid35875523, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, L and Liu, B and Zhang, X and Bu, Y and Shen, Z and Zou, J and Chen, Y}, title = {Cloning of Nitrate Reductase and Nitrite Reductase Genes and Their Functional Analysis in Regulating Cr(VI) Reduction in Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Pisolithus sp.1.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {926748}, pmid = {35875523}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Assimilatory-type nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) are the key enzymes that involve in nitrate assimilation and nitrogen cycling in microorganisms. NR and NiR with NADH or NADPH and FMN or FAD domains could be coupled to the reduction process of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in microorganisms. A new assimilatory-type NR gene (named niaD) and a new assimilatory-type NiR gene (named niiA) are cloned, identified, and functionally characterized by 5' and 3' RACE, alignment, annotation, phylogenetic tree, and yeast mutant complementation analyses from Pisolithus sp.1, a dominant symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) that can assist in phytoremediation. Assimilatory-type niaD and niiA were 2,754 bp and 3,468 bp and encode a polypeptide with 917 and 1,155 amino acid residues, respectively. The isoelectric points of NR (Pisolithus sp.1 NR) and NiR (Pisolithus sp.1 NiR) of Pisolithus sp.1 are 6.07 and 6.38, respectively. The calculated molecular mass of Pisolithus sp.1 NR and Pisolithus sp.1 NiR is 102.065 and 126.914 kDa, respectively. Yeast mutant complementation analysis, protein purification, and activities of NR and NiR under Cr treatment suggest that Pisolithus sp.1 NR is a functional NR that mediates Cr(VI) tolerance and reduction. The multiple alignment demonstrates that Pisolithus sp.1 NR is potentially a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent flavin mononucleotide reductase and also Class II chromate reductase. Our results suggest that Pisolithus sp.1 NR plays a key role in Cr(VI) reduction in the EMF Pisolithus sp.1.}, } @article {pmid35874394, year = {2022}, author = {Yin, S and Wang, Y and Xu, J}, title = {Developing a Conceptual Partner Matching Framework for Digital Green Innovation of Agricultural High-End Equipment Manufacturing System Toward Agriculture 5.0: A Novel Niche Field Model Combined With Fuzzy VIKOR.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {924109}, pmid = {35874394}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Digital green innovation (DGI) is the core factor that affects the digitalization and decarbonization strategy of agricultural high-end equipment manufacturing (AHEM) system. Although AHEM enterprises actively cooperate with academic research institutes to develop agricultural high-end equipment, there are many obstacles in the process of DGI. Moreover, the integration of digital technology and green innovation from the perspective of partner matching for the AHEM system has not been fully introduced in current literature. Hence, this study aimed to (i) establish a suitable framework system for the AHEM system in general, (ii) quantify the selection of DGI by academic research institutions based on niche theory, and (iii) propose an extended niche field model combined with fuzzy VIKOR model. First, a theoretical framework consisting of three core elements of technology superposition, mutual benefit, and mutual trust, and technological complementarity was constructed based on niche intensity and niche overlap degree. DGI ability superposition of technology, mutual trust, and technical complementarity are beneficial for transferring DGI knowledge from academic research institutes to the AHEM industry. Second, triangle fuzzy number and prospect theory combined with the VIKOR method were introduced into the field theory to construct the complementary field model of DGI resources. The niche field model has been successfully applied to practical cases to illustrate how the model can be implemented to solve the problem of DGI partner selection. Third, the results of a case study show that the criteria framework and the niche field model can be applied to real-world partner selection for AHEM enterprises. This study not only puts forward the standard framework of niche fitness evaluation based on niche theory but also establishes the niche domain model of innovation partner selection management based on niche theory. The standard framework and novel niche field model can help enterprises to carry out digital green innovation in the development of high-end agricultural equipment. The study has the following theoretical and practical implications: (i) constructing a criteria framework based on niche theory; (ii) developing a novel niche field model for DGI partner selection of AHEM enterprises; and (iii) assisting AHEM enterprises to perform DGI practice.}, } @article {pmid35873728, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, T and Liu, X and Tan, K and Zhang, D and Zhu, B and Ma, F and Li, C}, title = {Introducing melatonin to the horticultural industry: physiological roles, potential applications, and challenges.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {uhac094}, pmid = {35873728}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an emerging biomolecule that influences horticultural crop growth, flowering, fruit ripening, postharvest preservation, and stress protection. It functions as a plant growth regulator, preservative and antimicrobial agent to promote seed germination, regulate root system architecture, influence flowering and pollen germination, promote fruit production, ensure postharvest preservation, and increase resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we highlight the potential applications of melatonin in multiple aspects of horticulture, including molecular breeding, vegetative reproduction, production of virus-free plants, food safety, and horticultural crop processing. We also discuss its effects on parthenocarpy, autophagy, and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Together, these many features contribute to the promise of melatonin for improving horticultural crop production and food safety. Effective translation of melatonin to the horticultural industry requires an understanding of the challenges associated with its uses, including the development of economically viable sources.}, } @article {pmid35872858, year = {2022}, author = {Lim, EH and Mun, SK and Kim, JJ and Chang, DJ and Yee, ST}, title = {Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Phlebia sp. Extract in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {2717196}, pmid = {35872858}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; *Biological Products/pharmacology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Dinoprostone/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages/metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism ; *Polyporales/chemistry ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; *Transcription Factor AP-1/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are a life form in which algae and fungi have a symbiotic relationship and have various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. This is the first study to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of a Phlebia sp. fungal extract (PSE) isolated from Peltigera neopolydactyla in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage. PSE reduced the production of the proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β), chemokine (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), nitric oxide, and prostaglandin E2 in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Especially, PSE inhibits the phosphorylation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling (c-Fos and c-Jun) and their upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MKK/MAPKs: MKK4, MKK7, and JNK) and finally reduced the production of the inflammatory cytokines. The inhibitory effects mainly act via suppressing JNK-mediated AP-1 rather than the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, PSE inhibited the production of final inflammatory effector molecules involved in AP-1 signaling, including nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Here, we report that PSE has the potential to be developed as an anti-inflammatory agent.}, } @article {pmid35872442, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, LK and Leaw, CP and Lee, LC and Lim, ZF and Hii, KS and Chan, AA and Gu, H and Lim, PT}, title = {Molecular diversity and assemblages of coral symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) in diverse scleractinian coral species.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {105706}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105706}, pmid = {35872442}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; China ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The scleractinian coral-associated symbiotic algae Symbiodiniaceae plays an important role in bleaching tolerance and coral resilience. In this study, coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae communities of 14 reef sites of Perhentian and Redang Islands Marine Parks (Malaysia, South China Sea) were characterized using the high-throughput next-generation amplicon sequencing on the ITS2 rDNA marker to inventory the Symbiodiniaceae diversity from a healthy tropical reef system and to generate a baseline for future studies. A total of 64 coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations were characterized in 18 genera (10 families) of scleractinian corals using the SymPortal analytical framework. The results revealed the predominance of Symbiodiniaceae genera Cladocopium (average 82%) and Durusdinium (18%), while Symbiodinium, Breviolum, Fugacium, and Gerakladium were found as minor groups (<0.01%). Of the 39 Cladocopium and Durusdinium major ITS2 sequences, 14 were considered dominant/sub-dominant, with C3u as the predominant type (63.3%), followed by D1 (15%), C27 (10.1%), and C15 (6.9%). A total of 19 and 13 Cladocopium and Durusdinium ITS2-type profiles were detected across the coral species, respectively. Symbiodiniaceae diversity and richness recorded in this study were higher when compared to other reefs in the proximity. With the increasing coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations archived, the database would provide a baseline to assess the changes of Symbiodiniaceae communities in the coral hosts and to explore the potential adaptive roles of this coral-algal association.}, } @article {pmid35871840, year = {2022}, author = {Leroux, J and Truong, TT and Pogson, BJ and McQuinn, RP}, title = {Detection and analysis of novel and known plant volatile apocarotenoids.}, journal = {Methods in enzymology}, volume = {670}, number = {}, pages = {311-368}, doi = {10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.020}, pmid = {35871840}, issn = {1557-7988}, mesh = {Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; *Solid Phase Microextraction/methods ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {As the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable due to global warming, plants will encounter a greater challenge to adapt to their hostile environment (e.g., drought, heat, pollution). Volatile apocarotenoids (VAs) are an integral part of this necessary adaptation. VAs are involved in diverse plant life processes such as defense against biotic or abiotic stresses and regulate various aspects of plant development. The discovery of new VAs will help enhance abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, optimize biomass and crop yield, improve root development to better search for nutrients and promote symbiotic associations. This chapter describes an optimized method, HeadSpace Solid-Phase MicroExtraction (HS-SPME) coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), for the sensitive, reproducible, accurate, and high-throughput detection and quantification of novel and known VAs. Further optimization of this method can be performed by (1) adapting optimal growth conditions for your plants, (2) identifying the correct SPME fiber coating chemistry for the VAs of interest, (3) adapting optimal sample HS-SPME extraction temperature and time, and the desorption time in the GC inlet, (4) identifying the correct GC column and applying the optimal GC/MS parameters for good chromatographic baseline separation of the VAs, mass spectral matching and retention index (RI) validation, and (5) performing suitable quantification and statistical analyses. With this optimized and validated analytical technique, we detected and quantified 28 VAs; 20 of these were identified for the first time in Arabidopsis.}, } @article {pmid35869171, year = {2022}, author = {Lin, K and Xu, X and Qin, X and Liu, M and Zhao, L and Yang, Z and Liu, Q and Ye, Y and Chen, G and Kang, F and Li, B}, title = {Commercially Viable Hybrid Li-Ion/Metal Batteries with High Energy Density Realized by Symbiotic Anode and Prelithiated Cathode.}, journal = {Nano-micro letters}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {149}, pmid = {35869171}, issn = {2150-5551}, abstract = {The energy density of commercial lithium (Li) ion batteries with graphite anode is reaching the limit. It is believed that directly utilizing Li metal as anode without a host could enhance the battery's energy density to the maximum extent. However, the poor reversibility and infinite volume change of Li metal hinder the realistic implementation of Li metal in battery community. Herein, a commercially viable hybrid Li-ion/metal battery is realized by a coordinated strategy of symbiotic anode and prelithiated cathode. To be specific, a scalable template-removal method is developed to fabricate the porous graphite layer (PGL), which acts as a symbiotic host for Li ion intercalation and subsequent Li metal deposition due to the enhanced lithiophilicity and sufficient ion-conducting pathways. A continuous dissolution-deintercalation mechanism during delithiation process further ensures the elimination of dead Li. As a result, when the excess plating Li reaches 30%, the PGL could deliver an ultrahigh average Coulombic efficiency of 99.5% for 180 cycles with a capacity of 2.48 mAh cm[-2] in traditional carbonate electrolyte. Meanwhile, an air-stable recrystallized lithium oxalate with high specific capacity (514.3 mAh g[-1]) and moderate operating potential (4.7-5.0 V) is introduced as a sacrificial cathode to compensate the initial loss and provide Li source for subsequent cycles. Based on the prelithiated cathode and initial Li-free symbiotic anode, under a practical-level 3 mAh capacity, the assembled hybrid Li-ion/metal full cell with a P/N ratio (capacity ratio of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 to graphite) of 1.3 exhibits significantly improved capacity retention after 300 cycles, indicating its great potential for high-energy-density Li batteries.}, } @article {pmid35868838, year = {2022}, author = {Oh, SF and Jung, DJ and Choi, E}, title = {Gut Microbiota-Derived Unconventional T Cell Ligands: Contribution to Host Immune Modulation.}, journal = {ImmunoHorizons}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {476-487}, pmid = {35868838}, issn = {2573-7732}, support = {R01 AI165987/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT010268/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; Ligands ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Besides the prototypic innate and adaptive pathways, immune responses by innate-like lymphocytes have gained significant attention due to their unique roles. Among innate-like lymphocytes, unconventional T cells such as NKT cells and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells recognize small nonpeptide molecules of specific chemical classes. Endogenous or microbial ligands are loaded to MHC class I-like molecule CD1d or MR1, and inducing immediate effector T cell and ligand structure is one of the key determinants of NKT/MAIT cell functions. Unconventional T cells are in close, constant contact with symbiotic microbes at the mucosal layer, and CD1d/MR1 can accommodate diverse metabolites produced by gut microbiota. There is a strong interest to identify novel immunoactive molecules of endobiotic (symbiont-produced) origin as new NKT/MAIT cell ligands, as well as new cognate Ags for previously uncharacterized unconventional T cell subsets. Further studies will open an possibility to explore basic biology as well as therapeutic potential.}, } @article {pmid35868367, year = {2022}, author = {de Menezes, TA and de Freitas, MAM and Lima, MS and Soares, AC and Leal, C and Busch, MS and Tschoeke, DA and de O Vidal, L and Atella, GC and Kruger, RH and Setubal, J and Vasconcelos, AA and de Mahiques, MM and Siegle, E and Asp, NE and Cosenza, C and Hajdu, E and de Rezende, CE and Thompson, CC and Thompson, FL}, title = {Fluxes of the Amazon River plume nutrients and microbes into marine sponges.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {847}, number = {}, pages = {157474}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157474}, pmid = {35868367}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Nutrients ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rivers ; }, abstract = {Sponges have co-evolved with microbes for over 400 myr. Previous studies have demonstrated that sponges can be classified according to the abundance of microbes in their tissues as Low Microbial Abundance (LMA) and High Microbial Abundance (HMA). While LMA sponges rely mainly on water column microbes, HMA appear to rely much more on symbiotic fermentative and autotrophic microbes maintained in their tissues. However, it is unclear if this pattern holds when comparing different species of tropical sponges under extreme nutrient conditions and sediment loads in the water column, such as the Great Amazon Reef System (GARS), which covers an area of ~56,000 km[2] off the Amazon River mouth. Sponges are the major GARS benthic components. However, these sponges' microbiome across the GARS is still unknown. Here, we investigated water quality, isotopic values (δ[13]C and δ[15]N), metagenomic and lipidomic profiles of sponges obtained from different sectors throughout the GARS. >180 million shotgun metagenomic reads were annotated, covering 22 sponge species. Isotopic and lipidomic analyses suggested LMA sponges rely on the Amazon River Plume for nutrition. HMA sponges (N = 15) had higher Roseiflexus and Nitrospira abundance, whereas LMA sponges (N = 7) had higher Prochlorococcus and Pelagibacter abundance. Functional data revealed that the LMA sponge microbiomes had greater number of sequences related to phages and prophages as well as electron transport and photophosphorylation which may be related to photosynthetic processes associated with the Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus found in the LMA. The higher phages abundance in LMA sponges could be related to these holobionts' reduced defense towards phage infection. Meanwhile, HMA sponge microbiomes had higher Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR abundance, which may be involved in defense against phage infection. This study sheds light on the nutrient fluxes and microbes from the Amazon River plume into the sponge holobionts.}, } @article {pmid35867895, year = {2023}, author = {Guzmán-Cornejo, L and Pacheco, L and Camargo-Ricalde, SL and González-Chávez, MDC}, title = {Endorhizal fungal symbiosis in lycophytes and metal(loid)-accumulating ferns growing naturally in mine wastes in Mexico.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {538-549}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2022.2092060}, pmid = {35867895}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; *Ferns ; Plant Roots ; Mexico ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Endophytes ; Metals ; }, abstract = {Ferns and lycophytes are pioneer plants that can be useful for revegetation. Their natural distribution and interaction with soil fungal endophytes can increase plant fitness but have received little attention. This study aimed to identify these plant species in mine wastes, and determine colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE). The pseudo-total and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable rhizosphere concentrations of As, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn, bioavailability index (BI), and bioconcentration factor (BCF) were analyzed. Six ferns and one lycophyte were identified. Arsenic and metal concentrations were high, which were plant and site-dependent. All species showed hyperaccumulation of As in fronds, especially Argyrochosma formosa (2,883) and Notholaena affinis (2,160) had the highest concentrations (mg kg[-1]). All plants were colonized by AMF (3%-24%) and DSE (2%-33%). Astrolepis sinuata and Myriopteris notholaenoides had the maximum colonization by AMF and A. formosa by DSE. This study identifies for the first time five ferns and one lycophyte species on mine wastes, their As hyperaccumulation capacity and the simultaneous fungal colonization by AMF and DSE. These are relevant plant traits for phytoremediation. However, fungal identification and the role colonization by AMF and DSE requires full analysis.}, } @article {pmid35867138, year = {2022}, author = {Mathur, V and Ulanova, D}, title = {Microbial Metabolites Beneficial to Plant Hosts Across Ecosystems.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35867138}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Plants are intimately connected with their associated microorganisms. Chemical interactions via natural products between plants and their microbial symbionts form an important aspect in host health and development, both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. These interactions range from negative to beneficial for microbial symbionts as well as their hosts. Symbiotic microbes synchronize their metabolism with their hosts, thus suggesting a possible coevolution among them. Metabolites, synthesized from plants and microbes due to their association and coaction, supplement the already present metabolites, thus promoting plant growth, maintaining physiological status, and countering various biotic and abiotic stress factors. However, environmental changes, such as pollution and temperature variations, as well as anthropogenic-induced monoculture settings, have a significant influence on plant-associated microbial community and its interaction with the host. In this review, we put the prominent microbial metabolites participating in plant-microbe interactions in the natural terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in a single perspective and have discussed commonalities and differences in these interactions for adaptation to surrounding environment and how environmental changes can alter the same. We also present the status and further possibilities of employing chemical interactions for environment remediation. Our review thus underlines the importance of ecosystem-driven functional adaptations of plant-microbe interactions in natural and anthropogenically influenced ecosystems and their possible applications.}, } @article {pmid35866016, year = {2022}, author = {Goes, AC and Kooij, PW and Culot, L and Bueno, OC and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Distinct and enhanced hygienic responses of a leaf-cutting ant toward repeated fungi exposures.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {e9112}, pmid = {35866016}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants and their fungal crops are a textbook example of a long-term obligatory mutualism. Many microbes continuously enter their nest containing the fungal cultivars, destabilizing the symbiosis and, in some cases, outcompeting the mutualistic partners. Preferably, the ant workers should distinguish between different microorganisms to respond according to their threat level and recurrence in the colony. To address these assumptions, we investigated how workers of Atta sexdens sanitize their fungal crop toward five different fungi commonly isolated from the fungus gardens: Escovopsis sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma spirale, and Syncephalastrum sp. Also, to investigate the plasticity of these responses toward recurrences of these fungi, we exposed the colonies with each fungus three times fourteen days apart. As expected, intensities in sanitization differed according to the fungal species. Ants significantly groom their fungal crop more toward F. oxysporum, M. anisopliae, and Syncephalastrum sp. than toward Escovopsis sp. and T. spirale. Weeding, self-, and allogrooming were observed in less frequency than fungus grooming in all cases. Moreover, we detected a significant increase in the overall responses after repeated exposures for each fungus, except for Escovopsis sp. Our results indicate that A. sexdens workers are able to distinguish between different fungi and apply distinct responses to remove these from the fungus gardens. Our findings also suggest that successive exposures to the same antagonist increase hygiene, indicating plasticity of ant colonies' defenses to previously encountered pathogens.}, } @article {pmid35865673, year = {2022}, author = {Thirkell, TJ and Grimmer, M and James, L and Pastok, D and Allary, T and Elliott, A and Paveley, N and Daniell, T and Field, KJ}, title = {Variation in mycorrhizal growth response among a spring wheat mapping population shows potential to breed for symbiotic benefit.}, journal = {Food and energy security}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e370}, pmid = {35865673}, issn = {2048-3694}, abstract = {All cereal crops engage in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses which can have profound, but sometimes deleterious, effects on plant nutrient acquisition and growth. The mechanisms underlying variable mycorrhizal responsiveness in cereals are not well characterised or understood. Adapting crops to realise mycorrhizal benefits could reduce fertiliser requirements and improve crop nutrition where fertiliser is unavailable. We conducted a phenotype screen in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), using 99 lines of an Avalon × Cadenza doubled-haploid mapping population. Plants were grown with or without a mixed inoculum containing 5 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant growth, nutrition and mycorrhizal colonisation were quantified. Plant growth response to inoculation was remarkably varied among lines, ranging from more than 30% decrease to 80% increase in shoot biomass. Mycorrhizal plants did not suffer decreasing shoot phosphorus concentration with increasing biomass as observed in their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. The extent to which mycorrhizal inoculation was beneficial for individual lines was negatively correlated with shoot biomass in the non-mycorrhizal state but was not correlated with the extent of mycorrhizal colonisation of roots. Highly variable mycorrhizal responsiveness among closely related wheat lines and the identification of several QTL for these traits suggests the potential to breed for improved crop-mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35865232, year = {2022}, author = {Jensen, GG and Fiévet, R and Haerter, JO}, title = {The Diurnal Path to Persistent Convective Self-Aggregation.}, journal = {Journal of advances in modeling earth systems}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {e2021MS002923}, pmid = {35865232}, issn = {1942-2466}, abstract = {Clustering of tropical thunderstorms constitutes an important climate feedback because it influences the radiative balance. Convective self-aggregation (CSA) is a profound modeling paradigm for explaining the clustering of tropical oceanic thunderstorms. However, CSA is hampered in the realistic limit of fine model resolution when cold pools-dense air masses beneath thunderstorm clouds-are well-resolved. Studies on CSA usually assume the surface temperature to be constant, despite realistic surface temperatures varying significantly between night and day. Here we mimic the diurnal cycle in cloud-resolving numerical experiments by prescribing a surface temperature oscillation. Our simulations show that the diurnal cycle enables CSA at fine resolutions, and that the process is even accelerated by finer resolutions. We attribute these findings to vigorous combined cold pools emerging in symbiosis with mesoscale convective systems. Such cold pools suppress buoyancy in extended regions (∼100 km) and enable the formation of persistent dry patches. Our findings help clarify how the tropical cloud field forms sustained clusters under the diurnal forcing and may have implications for the origin of extreme thunderstorm rainfall and tropical cyclones.}, } @article {pmid35863053, year = {2022}, author = {Liao, D and Sun, C and Liang, H and Wang, Y and Bian, X and Dong, C and Niu, X and Yang, M and Xu, G and Chen, A and Wu, S}, title = {SlSPX1-SlPHR complexes mediate the suppression of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by phosphate repletion in tomato.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {4045-4065}, pmid = {35863053}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/metabolism ; Minerals/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Forming mutualistic symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AMs) improves the acquisition of mineral nutrients for most terrestrial plants. However, the formation of AM symbiosis usually occurs under phosphate (Pi)-deficient conditions. Here, we identify SlSPX1 (SYG1 (suppressor of yeast GPA1)/Pho81(phosphate 81)/XPR1 (xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1) as the major repressor of the AM symbiosis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under phosphate-replete conditions. Loss of SlSPX1 function promotes direct Pi uptake and enhances AM colonization under phosphate-replete conditions. We determine that SlSPX1 integrates Pi signaling and AM symbiosis by directly interacting with a set of arbuscule-induced SlPHR proteins (SlPHR1, SlPHR4, SlPHR10, SlPHR11, and SlPHR12). The association with SlSPX1 represses the ability of SlPHR proteins to activate AM marker genes required for the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. SlPHR proteins exhibit functional redundancy, and no defective AM symbiosis was detected in the single mutant of SlPHR proteins. However, silencing SlPHR4 in the Slphr1 mutant background led to reduced AM colonization. Therefore, our results support the conclusion that SlSPX1-SlPHRs form a Pi-sensing module to coordinate the AM symbiosis under different Pi-availability conditions.}, } @article {pmid35862823, year = {2022}, author = {Loureiro, C and Galani, A and Gavriilidou, A and Chaib de Mares, M and van der Oost, J and Medema, MH and Sipkema, D}, title = {Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Biosynthetic Diversity across Sponge Microbiomes Highlights Metabolic Novelty, Conservation, and Diversification.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e0035722}, pmid = {35862823}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/genetics ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Products/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges and their microbial symbiotic communities are rich sources of diverse natural products (NPs) that often display biological activity, yet little is known about the global distribution of NPs and the symbionts that produce them. Since the majority of sponge symbionts remain uncultured, it is a challenge to characterize their NP biosynthetic pathways, assess their prevalence within the holobiont, and measure the diversity of NP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) across sponge taxa and environments. Here, we explore the microbial biosynthetic landscapes of three high-microbial-abundance (HMA) sponges from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This data set reveals striking novelty, with <1% of the recovered gene cluster families (GCFs) showing similarity to any characterized BGC. When zooming in on the microbial communities of each sponge, we observed higher variability of specialized metabolic and taxonomic profiles between sponge species than within species. Nonetheless, we identified conservation of GCFs, with 20% of sponge GCFs being shared between at least two sponge species and a GCF core comprised of 6% of GCFs shared across all species. Within this functional core, we identified a set of widespread and diverse GCFs encoding nonribosomal peptide synthetases that are potentially involved in the production of diversified ether lipids, as well as GCFs putatively encoding the production of highly modified proteusins. The present work contributes to the small, yet growing body of data characterizing NP landscapes of marine sponge symbionts and to the cryptic biosynthetic potential contained in this environmental niche. IMPORTANCE Marine sponges and their microbial symbiotic communities are a rich source of diverse natural products (NPs). However, little is known about the sponge NP global distribution landscape and the symbionts that produce them. Here, we make use of recently developed tools to perform untargeted mining and comparative analysis of sponge microbiome metagenomes of three sponge species in the first study considering replicate metagenomes of multiple sponge species. We present an overview of the biosynthetic diversity across these sponge holobionts, which displays extreme biosynthetic novelty. We report not only the conservation of biosynthetic and taxonomic diversity but also a core of conserved specialized metabolic pathways. Finally, we highlight several novel GCFs with unknown ecological function, and observe particularly high biosynthetic potential in Acidobacteriota and Latescibacteria symbionts. This study paves the way toward a better understanding of the marine sponge holobionts' biosynthetic potential and the functional and ecological role of sponge microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid35862784, year = {2022}, author = {Voronin, D and Makepeace, BL}, title = {Symbionts on the Brain: How Wolbachia Is Strictly Corralled in Some Neotropical Drosophila spp.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0118222}, pmid = {35862784}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain ; Drosophila/microbiology ; Female ; *Nematoda ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a heritable alphaproteobacterial symbiont of arthropods and nematodes, famous for its repertoire of host manipulations, including cytoplasmic incompatibility. To be vertically transmitted, Wolbachia must efficiently colonize the female germ line, although somatic tissues outside the gonads are also infected. In Drosophila spp., Wolbachia is usually distributed systemically in multiple regions of the adult fly, but in some neotropical hosts, Wolbachia's only somatic niches are cerebral bacteriocyte-like structures and the ovarian follicle cells. In their recent article, Strunov and colleagues (A. Strunov, K. Schmidt, M. Kapun, and W. J. Miller. mBio 13:e03863-21, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03863-21) compared the development of Drosophila spp. with systemic or restricted infections and demonstrated that the restricted pattern is determined in early embryogenesis by an apparently novel autophagic process, involving intimate interactions of Wolbachia with the endoplasmic reticulum. This work has implications not only for the evolution of neotropical Drosophila spp. but also for our understanding of how Wolbachia infections are controlled in other native or artificial hosts.}, } @article {pmid35862772, year = {2022}, author = {Sukumaran, A and Ball, B and Krieger, JR and Geddes-McAlister, J}, title = {Cross-Kingdom Infection of Macrophages Reveals Pathogen- and Immune-Specific Global Reprogramming and Adaptation.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0168722}, pmid = {35862772}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {*Cross Infection ; *Cryptococcosis/microbiology ; *Cryptococcus neoformans ; Humans ; Macrophages/microbiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The interactions between a host and microbe drive the health and disease status of the host. Of importance is the cause of dysbiosis in the presence of a pathogen, and critically, the relationship between the host and pathogen may evolve over time through response and adaptation. For immunocompromised individuals, dual infections are prevalent and contribute to disease severity and treatment options. Here, we explore the global reprogramming of host cells in response to immediate and established microbial infections with the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans and the nosocomial bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. Using quantitative proteomics, we uncovered cross-kingdom protein-level changes associated with initial fungal infection, followed by a remarkable adaptation of the host and pathogen to a dormant state. This stabilization is disrupted over time upon bacterial infection, with the production of virulence-associated bacterial proteins and severely altered host response. We support our findings with the profiling of two major virulence determinants in C. neoformans, catalase and melanin, which demonstrate an interconnected regulation in response to both host defense and bacterial invasion. Overall, we report novel fungal and bacterial modulation of the host, including adaptation and stabilization, suggesting an opportunity to effectively treat dual infections by selectively targeting proteins critical to the host's infection stage. IMPORTANCE The relationship between the human microbiota and infectious disease outcome is a rapidly expanding area of study. Understanding how the host responds to changes in its symbiotic relationship with microbes provides new insight into how disruption can promote disease. In this study, we investigated the evolving relationship between innate immune cells of the host during immediate and established infections with fungal and bacterial pathogens, commonly observed within the lungs of immunocompromised individuals. We observed critical reprogramming of each biological system over time and in response to the changing environment, which influences microbial virulence. The goal of this important work is to improve our fundamental understanding of pathogenesis, as well as the regulatory relationships between hosts and microbes that drive disease outcome. We envision defining improved therapeutic treatment options for the host dependent on disease state to reduce the global impact and burden of infectious diseases, especially in the face of ever-increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance.}, } @article {pmid35861929, year = {2022}, author = {Yoo, S and Cho, Y and Park, KH and Lim, YW}, title = {Exploring fine-scale assembly of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities through phylogenetic and spatial distribution analyses.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {5-6}, pages = {439-449}, pmid = {35861929}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Forests ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Pinus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) form symbiotic relationship with the roots of host plants. EMF communities are composed of highly diverse species; however, how they are assembled has been a long-standing question. In this study, we investigated from a phylogenetic perspective how EMF communities assemble on Pinus densiflora seedlings at different spatial scales (i.e., seedling scale and root tip scale). P. densiflora seedlings were collected from different habitats (i.e., disturbed areas and mature forests), and their EMF communities were investigated by morphotype sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS). To infer assembly mechanisms, phylogenetic relatedness within the community (i.e., phylogenetic structure) was estimated and spatial distribution of EMF root tips was analyzed. The EMF communities on pine seedlings were largely different between the two habitats. Phylogenetically restricted lineages (Amphinema, /suillus-rhizopogon) were abundant in the disturbed areas, whereas species from diverse lineages were abundant in the mature forests (Russula, Sebacina, /tomentella-thelephora, etc.). In the disturbed areas, phylogenetically similar EMF species were aggregated at the seedling scale, suggesting that disturbance acts as a powerful abiotic filter. However, phylogenetically similar species were spatially segregated from each other at the root tip scale, indicating limiting similarity. In the mature forest seedlings, no distinct phylogenetic signals were detected at both seedling and root tip scale. Collectively, our results suggest that limiting similarity may be an important assembly mechanism at the root tip scale and that assembly mechanisms can vary across habitats and spatial scales.}, } @article {pmid35860838, year = {2022}, author = {Miral, A and Jargeat, P and Mambu, L and Rouaud, I and Tranchimand, S and Tomasi, S}, title = {Microbial community associated with the crustose lichen Rhizocarpon geographicum L. (DC.) living on oceanic seashore: A large source of diversity revealed by using multiple isolation methods.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {856-872}, pmid = {35860838}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {*Lichens/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Ascomycota ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recently, the study of the interactions within a microcosm between hosts and their associated microbial communities drew an unprecedented interest arising from the holobiont concept. Lichens, a symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga, are redefined as complex ecosystems considering the tremendous array of associated microorganisms that satisfy this concept. The present study focuses on the diversity of the microbiota associated with the seashore located lichen Rhizocarpon geographicum, recovered by different culture-dependent methods. Samples harvested from two sites allowed the isolation and the molecular identification of 68 fungal isolates distributed in 43 phylogenetic groups, 15 bacterial isolates distributed in five taxonomic groups and three microalgae belonging to two species. Moreover, for 12 fungal isolates belonging to 10 different taxa, the genus was not described in GenBank. These fungal species have never been sequenced or described and therefore non-studied. All these findings highlight the novel and high diversity of the microflora associated with R. geographicum. While many species disappear every day, this work suggests that coastal and wild environments still contain an unrevealed variety to offer and that lichens constitute a great reservoir of new microbial taxa which can be recovered by multiplying the culture-dependent techniques.}, } @article {pmid35860037, year = {2022}, author = {Fung, C and Maxwell, N and Powell, S and Benassai, M and Chunga, N and Corcoran, J and Barbosa, W and Lopez, M and Hanampa, B and Llaiqui-Condori, M and Delgado-Lazo, V and Mendoza, K and Astete, Y and Flor, M and Palacios, S and Valdovinos, B and Risco, J and Camargo, I and Jozefowicz, R and Lizárraga, KJ}, title = {Virtual Adaptation of an International Exchange Program in Medical Education.}, journal = {Annals of global health}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {52}, pmid = {35860037}, issn = {2214-9996}, support = {R13 NS127635/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*COVID-19/epidemiology ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical, Continuing ; Humans ; *Neurology/education ; Pandemics ; }, abstract = {Medical education has drastically transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures such as adopting telemedicine visits, minimizing the number of trainees on service, discontinuing external rotations, and converting in-person to online didactics have been broadly and swiftly implemented. While these innovations have promoted greater interconnectivity amongst institutions and made continuing medical education possible, international exchange programs in medical education are still largely disrupted. In response to the changing guidelines and restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors used Kern's six-step approach to design and implement a virtual curriculum to replace the in-person activities of the 2020-2021 Neurology Peru-Rochester exchange program (NeuroPro). Twenty-seven trainees participated in this virtual adaptation. The average daily attendance was ≥85% and the program was rated 9/10 on average in a feedback survey (63% response rate). The median percentage of correct answers during the pre-test was 64% and it increased to 79% during the post-test (P = 0.003). Virtual adaptation of international exchange programs in medical education is feasible to safely continue international collaborative efforts to promote symbiotic building of local expertise and cross-cultural exchange during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.}, } @article {pmid35859742, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Y and Luo, W and Xu, J and Guan, P and Chang, L and Wu, X and Wu, D}, title = {Fallow Land Enhances Carbon Sequestration in Glomalin and Soil Aggregates Through Regulating Diversity and Network Complexity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Under Climate Change in Relatively High-Latitude Regions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {930622}, pmid = {35859742}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil aggregation and aggregate-associated carbon (C) play an essential function in soil health and C sequestration. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered to be primary soil aggregators due to the combined effect of extraradical hyphae and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs). However, the effects of diversity and network complexity of AMF community on stability of soil aggregates and their associated C under long-term climate change (CC) and land-use conversion (LUC) in relatively high-latitude regions are largely unexplored. Therefore, an 8-year soil plot (with a 30-year cropping history) transplantation experiment was conducted to simulate CC and LUC from cropland to fallow land. The results showed that Glomus, Paraglomus, and Archaeospora were the most abundant genera. The diversity of AMF community in fallow land was higher than cropland and increased with increasing of mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). Fallow land enhanced the network complexity of AMF community. The abundance families (Glomeraceae and Paraglomeraceae) exhibited higher values of topological features and were more often located in central ecological positions. Long-term fallow land had a significantly higher hyphal length density, GRSP, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and C concentration of GRSP (C-GRSP) than the cropland. The soil aggregate associated soil organic carbon (SOC) was 16.8, 18.6, and 13.8% higher under fallow land compared to that under cropland at HLJ, JL, and LN study sites, respectively. The structural equation model and random forest regression revealed that AMF diversity, network complexity, and their secreted GRSP mediate the effects of CC and LUC on C-GRSP and aggregate-associated SOC. This study elucidates the climate sensitivity of C within GRSP and soil aggregates which response symmetry to LUC and highlights the potential importance of AMF in C sequestration and climate change mitigation.}, } @article {pmid35859738, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, P and Li, M and Dong, L and Zhang, C and Xie, W}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Thaumarchaeota From Deep-Sea Sponges Reveal Their Niche Adaptation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {869834}, pmid = {35859738}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Thaumarchaeota account for a large portion of microbial symbionts in deep-sea sponges and are even dominant in some cases. In this study, we investigated three new sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota from the deep West Pacific Ocean. Thaumarchaeota were found to be the most dominant phylum in this sponge by both prokaryotic 16S rRNA amplicons and metagenomic sequencing. Fifty-seven published Thaumarchaeota genomes from sponges and other habitats were included for genomic comparison. Similar to shallow sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota, those Thaumarchaeota in deep-sea sponges have extended genome sizes and lower coding density compared with their free-living lineages. Thaumarchaeota in deep-sea sponges were specifically enriched in genes related to stress adapting, symbiotic adhesion and stability, host-microbe interaction and protein transportation. The genes involved in defense mechanisms, such as the restriction-modification system, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas system, and toxin-antitoxin system were commonly enriched in both shallow and deep sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota. Our study demonstrates the significant effects of both depth and symbiosis on forming genomic characteristics of Thaumarchaeota, and provides novel insights into their niche adaptation in deep-sea sponges.}, } @article {pmid35859069, year = {2022}, author = {Alvarenga, DO and Elmdam, IV and Timm, AB and Rousk, K}, title = {Chemical Stimulation of Heterocyte Differentiation by the Feather Moss Hylocomium splendens: a Potential New Step in Plant-Cyanobacteria Symbioses.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35859069}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria associated with mosses play a key role in the nitrogen (N) cycle in unpolluted ecosystems. Mosses have been found to release molecules that induce morphophysiological changes in epiphytic cyanobionts. Nevertheless, the extent of moss influence on these microorganisms remains unknown. To evaluate how mosses or their metabolites influence N2 fixation rates by cyanobacteria, we assessed the nitrogenase activity, heterocyte frequency and biomass of a cyanobacterial strain isolated from the feather moss Hylocomium splendens and a non-symbiotic strain when they were either growing by themselves, together with H. splendens or exposed to H. splendens water, acetone, ethanol, or isopropanol extracts. The same cyanobacterial strains were added to another moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri) and a liverwort (Monosolenium tenerum) to assess if these bryophytes affect N2 fixation differently. Although no significant increases in nitrogenase activity by the cyanobacteria were observed when in contact with H. splendens shoots, both the symbiotic and non-symbiotic cyanobacteria increased nitrogenase activity as well as heterocyte frequency significantly upon exposure to H. splendens ethanol extracts. Contact with T. barbieri shoots, on the other hand, did lead to increases in nitrogenase activity, indicating low host-specificity to cyanobacterial activity. These findings suggest that H. splendens produces heterocyte-differentiating factors (HDFs) that are capable of stimulating cyanobacterial N2 fixation regardless of symbiotic competency. Based on previous knowledge about the chemical ecology and dynamics of moss-cyanobacteria interactions, we speculate that HDF expression by the host takes place in a hypothetical new step occurring after plant colonization and the repression of hormogonia.}, } @article {pmid35859013, year = {2022}, author = {Tang, YJ and Zhou, DY and Dai, J and Li, Y and Xing, YM and Guo, SX and Chen, J}, title = {Potential Specificity Between Mycorrhizal Fungi Isolated from Widespread Dendrobium spp. and Rare D. huoshanense Seeds.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {9}, pages = {264}, pmid = {35859013}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; *Dendrobium/microbiology ; Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Seedlings ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In nature, orchid seed germination and seedling development depend on compatible mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal generalist and specificity affect the orchid distribution and rarity. Here, we investigated the specificity toward fungi in the rare D. huoshanense by mycorrhizal fungal isolation and symbiotic germination in vitro. Twenty mycorrhizal fungal strains were isolated from the roots of adult Dendrobium spp. (six and 12 strains from rare D. huoshanense and widespread D. officinale, respectively, and two strains from D. nobile and D. moniliforme, respectively) and 13 strains belong to Tulasnellaceae and seven strains belong to Serendipitaceae. Germination trials in vitro revealed that all 20 tested fungal strains can stimulate seed germination of D. huoshanense, but only nine strains (~ 50%) can support it up to the seedling stage. This finding indicates that generalistic fungi are important for early germination, but only a few can maintain a symbiosis with host in seedling stage. Thus, a shift of the microbial community from seedling to mature stage probably narrows the D. huoshanense distribution range. In addition, to further understand the relationship between the fungal capability to promote seed germination and fungal enzyme activity, we screened the laccase and pectase activity. The results showed that the two enzymes activities of fungi cannot be directly correlated with their germination-promoting activities. Understanding the host specificity degree toward fungi can help to better interpret the limited geographic distribution of D. huoshanense and provides opportunities for in situ and ex situ conservation and reintroduction programs.}, } @article {pmid35858432, year = {2022}, author = {Masson, F and Rommelaere, S and Schüpfer, F and Boquete, JP and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Disproportionate investment in Spiralin B production limits in-host growth and favors the vertical transmission of Spiroplasma insect endosymbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {30}, pages = {e2208461119}, pmid = {35858432}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; *Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Spiroplasma/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects frequently harbor endosymbionts, which are bacteria housed within host tissues. These associations are stably maintained over evolutionary timescales through vertical transmission of endosymbionts from host mothers to their offspring. Some endosymbionts manipulate host reproduction to facilitate spread within natural populations. Consequently, such infections have major impacts on insect physiology and evolution. However, technical hurdles have limited our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying such insect-endosymbiont interactions. Here, we investigate the nutritional interactions between endosymbiotic partners using the tractable insect Drosophila melanogaster and its natural endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii. Using a combination of functional assays, metabolomics, and proteomics, we show that the abundance and amino acid composition of a single Spiroplasma membrane lectin, Spiralin B (SpiB), dictates the amino acid requirements of the endosymbiont and determines its proliferation within host tissues. Ectopically increasing SpiB levels in host tissues disrupts localization of endosymbionts in the fly egg chambers and decreases vertical transmission. We find that SpiB is likely to be required by the endosymbiont to enter host oocytes, which may explain the massive investment of S. poulsonii in SpiB synthesis. SpiB both permits vertical transmission of the symbiont and limits its growth in nutrient-limiting conditions for the host; therefore, a single protein plays a pivotal role in ensuring durability of the interaction in a variable environment.}, } @article {pmid35858113, year = {2022}, author = {Oppenheimer-Shaanan, Y and Jakoby, G and Starr, ML and Karliner, R and Eilon, G and Itkin, M and Malitsky, S and Klein, T}, title = {A dynamic rhizosphere interplay between tree roots and soil bacteria under drought stress.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35858113}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Droughts ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Root exudates are thought to play an important role in plant-microbial interactions. In return for nutrition, soil bacteria can increase the bioavailability of soil nutrients. However, root exudates typically decrease in situations such as drought, calling into question the efficacy of solvation and bacteria-dependent mineral uptake in such stress. Here, we tested the hypothesis of exudate-driven microbial priming on Cupressus saplings grown in forest soil in custom-made rhizotron boxes. A 1-month imposed drought and concomitant inoculations with a mix of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas stutzeri, bacteria species isolated from the forest soil, were applied using factorial design. Direct bacteria counts and visualization by confocal microscopy showed that both bacteria associated with Cupressus roots. Interestingly, root exudation rates increased 2.3-fold with bacteria under drought, as well as irrigation. Forty-four metabolites in exudates were significantly different in concentration between irrigated and drought trees, including phenolic acid compounds and quinate. When adding these metabolites as carbon and nitrogen sources to bacterial cultures of both bacterial species, eight of nine metabolites stimulated bacterial growth. Importantly, soil phosphorous bioavailability was maintained only in inoculated trees, mitigating drought-induced decrease in leaf phosphorus and iron. Our observations of increased root exudation rate when drought and inoculation regimes were combined support the idea of root recruitment of beneficial bacteria, especially under water stress.}, } @article {pmid35858063, year = {2022}, author = {Batstone, RT and Burghardt, LT and Heath, KD}, title = {Phenotypic and genomic signatures of interspecies cooperation and conflict in naturally occurring isolates of a model plant symbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1978}, pages = {20220477}, pmid = {35858063}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Genetic Variation ; Genomics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Given the need to predict the outcomes of (co)evolution in host-associated microbiomes, whether microbial and host fitnesses tend to trade-off, generating conflict, remains a pressing question. Examining the relationships between host and microbe fitness proxies at both the phenotypic and genomic levels can illuminate the mechanisms underlying interspecies cooperation and conflict. We examined naturally occurring genetic variation in 191 strains of the model microbial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, paired with each of two host Medicago truncatula genotypes in single- or multi-strain experiments to determine how multiple proxies of microbial and host fitness were related to one another and test key predictions about mutualism evolution at the genomic scale, while also addressing the challenge of measuring microbial fitness. We found little evidence for interspecies fitness conflict; loci tended to have concordant effects on both microbe and host fitnesses, even in environments with multiple co-occurring strains. Our results emphasize the importance of quantifying microbial relative fitness for understanding microbiome evolution and thus harnessing microbiomes to improve host fitness. Additionally, we find that mutualistic coevolution between hosts and microbes acts to maintain, rather than erode, genetic diversity, potentially explaining why variation in mutualism traits persists in nature.}, } @article {pmid35857445, year = {2022}, author = {Ni, X and Wu, W and Sun, X and Ma, J and Yu, Z and He, X and Cheng, J and Xu, P and Liu, H and Shang, T and Xi, S and Wang, J and Zhang, J and Chen, Z}, title = {Interrogating glioma-M2 macrophage interactions identifies Gal-9/Tim-3 as a viable target against PTEN-null glioblastoma.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {27}, pages = {eabl5165}, pmid = {35857445}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Galectins/genetics/metabolism ; *Glioblastoma/drug therapy/genetics/metabolism ; *Glioma/drug therapy/genetics/metabolism ; Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2/metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Genomic alteration can reshape tumor microenvironment to drive tumor malignancy. However, how PTEN deficiency influences microenvironment-mediated cell-cell interactions in glioblastoma (GBM) remains unclear. Here, we show that PTEN deficiency induces a symbiotic glioma-M2 macrophage interaction to support glioma progression. Mechanistically, PTEN-deficient GBM cells secrete high levels of galectin-9 (Gal-9) via the AKT-GSK3β-IRF1 pathway. The secreted Gal-9 drives macrophage M2 polarization by activating its receptor Tim-3 and downstream pathways in macrophages. These macrophages, in turn, secrete VEGFA to stimulate angiogenesis and support glioma growth. Furthermore, enhanced Gal-9/Tim-3 expression predicts poor outcome in glioma patients. In GBM models, blockade of Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling inhibits macrophage M2 polarization and suppresses tumor growth. Moreover, α-lactose attenuates glioma angiogenesis by down-regulating macrophage-derived VEGFA, providing a novel antivascularization strategy. Therefore, our study suggests that blockade of Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling is effective to impair glioma progression by inhibiting macrophage M2 polarization, specifically for PTEN-null GBM.}, } @article {pmid35855731, year = {2022}, author = {Zheng, Z and Zhu, Y and Qiu, F and Wang, L}, title = {Coupling Relationship Among Technological Innovation, Industrial Transformation and Environmental Efficiency: A Case Study of the Huaihai Economic Zone, China.}, journal = {Chinese geographical science}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {686-706}, pmid = {35855731}, issn = {1002-0063}, abstract = {The 14th Five-Year Plan period is a critical period for China to achieve high-quality development. Based on super-efficiency slacks-based measure (SBM) model, grey-related analysis (GRA) and other models, this paper studies the heterogeneity of the coupling relationship among technological innovation, industrial transformation and environmental efficiency in the Huaihai Economic Zone during the period of 2005-2019. In addition, it analyzes the coupling mechanism of single and binary systems to the ternary system, which is of great significance for the collaborative symbiosis among systems. The findings are as follows. 1) The technological innovation, industrial transformation and environmental efficiency (TIE) systems of the Huaihai Economic Zone had significant spatial-temporal heterogeneity. Although their evaluation value fluctuated, the development trends are all positive. Ultimately, technological innovation is characterized by being high in the northeast and low in the southwest around Xuzhou, while other systems are relatively staggered in space. 2) The coupling of TIE systems is in transition, lack of orderly integration and benign interaction. However, the developing trend of interaction is also upward, and a spatial pattern driven by Xuzhou and Linyi as the dual cores has gradually formed. Moreover, the coupling is mostly manifested as outdated technological innovation and industrial transformation. Except for the final coordination of regenerative cities, the other resource types are all in transition. Cities in all traffic locations are still in transition. The overall system interaction of cities on Longhai Line (Lanzhou-Lianyungang Railway) is relatively optimal, and cities on Xinshi Line (Xinxiang-Rizhao Railway) are accelerating toward synergy. 3) The coupling status of TIE systems depends on the development of the single system and the interaction of the binary (2E) system. The coupling is closely related to technological innovation and Technology-Industry system, and is hindered by the inefficient interaction of Technology-Environment system. Specifically, the synergy of regenerative cities is attributed to the advantage of a single system and the effective integration of 2E systems. Beneficial from the advantages of environmental efficiency, the cities on Xinshi Line promote the synergy of the 2E and TIE systems. Therefore, while the Huaihai Economic Zone stimulates the development potential of the single and 2E systems, it is necessary to amplify the superimposition effect of systems in accordance on the basis of resource and location.}, } @article {pmid35855672, year = {2022}, author = {Narvaez, P and Morais, RA and Vaughan, DB and Grutter, AS and Hutson, KS}, title = {Cleaner fish are potential super-spreaders.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {225}, number = {15}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.244469}, pmid = {35855672}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Feeding Behavior ; Fishes ; *Isopoda ; *Parasites ; *Perciformes ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cleaning symbiosis is critical for maintaining healthy biological communities in tropical marine ecosystems. However, potential negative impacts of mutualism, such as the transmission of pathogens and parasites during cleaning interactions, have rarely been evaluated. Here, we investigated whether the dedicated bluestreak cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, is susceptible to and can transmit generalist ectoparasites between client fish. In laboratory experiments, L. dimidiatus were exposed to infective stages of three generalist ectoparasite species with contrasting life histories. Labroides dimidiatus were susceptible to infection by the gnathiid isopod Gnathia aureamaculosa, but were significantly less susceptible to the ciliate protozoan Cryptocaryon irritans and the monogenean flatworm Neobenedenia girellae, compared with control host species (Coris batuensis or Lates calcarifer). The potential for parasite transmission from a client fish to the cleaner fish was simulated using experimentally transplanted mobile adult (i.e. egg-producing) monogenean flatworms on L. dimidiatus. Parasites remained attached to cleaners for an average of 2 days, during which parasite egg production continued, but was reduced compared with that on control fish. Over this timespan, a wild cleaner may engage in several thousand cleaning interactions, providing numerous opportunities for mobile parasites to exploit cleaners as vectors. Our study provides the first experimental evidence that L. dimidiatus exhibits resistance to infective stages of some parasites yet has the potential to temporarily transport adult parasites. We propose that some parasites that evade being eaten by cleaner fish could exploit cleaning interactions as a mechanism for transmission and spread.}, } @article {pmid35855475, year = {2022}, author = {Boubakri, H and Chihaoui, SA and Najjar, E and Barhoumi, F and Jebara, M}, title = {Comprehensive identification, evolutionary patterns and the divergent response of PRX genes in Phaseolus vulgaris under biotic and abiotic interactions.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {175}, pmid = {35855475}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are novel cysteine-based peroxidases which are involved in protecting cells from oxidative damage by catalyzing the reduction of different peroxides. The present study addressed, for the first time, genome-wide identification, evolutionary patterns and expression dynamics of Phaseolus vulgaris Prx gene family (PvPrx). Nine Prx proteins were identified in P. vulgaris based on homology searches. The phylogeny analysis of Prxs from seven plant species revealed that Prx proteins can be clustered into four groups (1C-Prx, 2C-Prxs, PrxQ and type II Prxs). Both tandem and segmental duplication contributed to PvPrx gene family expansion. Intragenic reorganizations including gain/loss of exon/intron and insertions/deletions have also contributed to PvPrx gene diversification. The collinearity analysis revealed the presence of some orthologous Prx gene pairs between A. thaliana and P. vulgaris genomes. The Ka/Ks ratio indicated that two of the three PvPrx duplicated gene pairs have undergone a purifying selection. Redundant stress-related cis-acting elements were also found in the promoters of most PvPrx genes. RT q-PCR analysis revealed an upregulation of key PvPrx members in response to symbiosis and different abiotic factors. The upregulation of targeted PvPrx members, particularly in leaves exposed to salinity or drought, was accompanied by an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). When exogenously applied, H2O2 modulated almost all PvPrx genes, suggesting a potential H2O2-scavenging role for these proteins. Collectively, our analysis provided valuable information for further functional analysis of key PvPrx members to improve common bean stress tolerance and/or its symbiotic performance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03246-8.}, } @article {pmid35853080, year = {2022}, author = {Karimian, F and Koosha, M and Choubdar, N and Oshaghi, MA}, title = {Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota of sand fly vectors of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) in Iran; host-environment interplay shapes diversity.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {e0010609}, pmid = {35853080}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Iran/epidemiology ; *Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology ; *Phlebotomus/parasitology ; *Psychodidae/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The development of Leishmania parasites within sand fly vectors occurs entirely in the insect gut lumen, in the presence of symbiotic and commensal bacteria. The impacts of host species and environment on the gut microbiome are currently poorly understood. We employed MiSeq sequencing of the V3-16S rRNA gene amplicons to characterize and compare the gut microbiota of field-collected populations of Phlebotomus kandelakii, P. perfiliewi, P. alexandri, and P. major, the primary or secondary vectors of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) in three distinct regions of Iran where ZVL is endemic. In total, 160,550 quality-filtered reads of the V3 region yielded a total of 72 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), belonging to 23 phyla, 47 classes, 91 orders, 131 families, and 335 genera. More than 50% of the bacteria identified were Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicutes (22%), Deinococcus-Thermus (9%), Actinobacteria (6%), and Bacteroidetes (5%). The core microbiome was dominated by eight genera: Acinetobacter, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Propionibacterium, Kocuria, and Corynebacterium. Wolbachia were found in P. alexandri and P. perfiliewi, while Asaia sp. was reported in P. perfiliewi. Substantial variations in the gut bacterial composition were found between geographically distinct populations of the same sand fly species, as well as between different species at the same location, suggesting that sand fly gut microbiota is shaped by both the host species and geographical location. Phlebotomus kandelakii and P. perfiliewi in the northwest, and P. alexandri in the south, the major ZVL vectors, harbor the highest bacterial diversity, suggesting a possible relationship between microbiome diversity and the capacity for parasite transmission. In addition, large numbers of gram-positive human or animal pathogens were found, suggesting that sand fly vectors of ZVL could pose a potential additional threat to livestock and humans in the region studied. The presence of Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter cloacae, and Asaia sp suggests that these bacteria could be promising candidates for a paratransgenesis approach to the fight against Leishmaniasis.}, } @article {pmid35852471, year = {2022}, author = {Zarrabian, M and Montiel, J and Sandal, N and Ferguson, S and Jin, H and Lin, YY and Klingl, V and Marín, M and James, EK and Parniske, M and Stougaard, J and Andersen, SU}, title = {A Promiscuity Locus Confers Lotus burttii Nodulation with Rhizobia from Five Different Genera.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {11}, pages = {1006-1017}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-22-0124-R}, pmid = {35852471}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {Legumes acquire access to atmospheric nitrogen through nitrogen fixation by rhizobia in root nodules. Rhizobia are soil-dwelling bacteria and there is a tremendous diversity of rhizobial species in different habitats. From the legume perspective, host range is a compromise between the ability to colonize new habitats, in which the preferred symbiotic partner may be absent, and guarding against infection by suboptimal nitrogen fixers. Here, we investigate natural variation in rhizobial host range across Lotus species. We find that Lotus burttii is considerably more promiscuous than Lotus japonicus, represented by the Gifu accession, in its interactions with rhizobia. This promiscuity allows Lotus burttii to form nodules with Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Allorhizobium species that represent five distinct genera. Using recombinant inbred lines, we have mapped the Gifu/burttii promiscuity quantitative trait loci (QTL) to the same genetic locus regardless of rhizobial genus, suggesting a general genetic mechanism for symbiont-range expansion. The Gifu/burttii QTL now provides an opportunity for genetic and mechanistic understanding of promiscuous legume-rhizobia interactions. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35852362, year = {2022}, author = {Burghardt, LT and Epstein, B and Hoge, M and Trujillo, DI and Tiffin, P}, title = {Host-Associated Rhizobial Fitness: Dependence on Nitrogen, Density, Community Complexity, and Legume Genotype.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {15}, pages = {e0052622}, pmid = {35852362}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Genotype ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Breeding ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The environmental context of the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between leguminous plants and rhizobial bacteria varies over space and time. Variation in resource availability, population density, and composition likely affect the ecology and evolution of rhizobia and their symbiotic interactions with hosts. We examined how host genotype, nitrogen addition, rhizobial density, and community complexity affected selection on 68 rhizobial strains in the Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago truncatula mutualism. As expected, host genotype had a substantial effect on the size, number, and strain composition of root nodules (the symbiotic organ). The understudied environmental variable of rhizobial density had a stronger effect on nodule strain frequency than the addition of low nitrogen levels. Higher inoculum density resulted in a nodule community that was less diverse and more beneficial but only in the context of the more selective host genotype. Higher density resulted in more diverse and less beneficial nodule communities with the less selective host. Density effects on strain composition deserve additional scrutiny as they can create feedback between ecological and evolutionary processes. Finally, we found that relative strain rankings were stable across increasing community complexity (2, 3, 8, or 68 strains). This unexpected result suggests that higher-order interactions between strains are rare in the context of nodule formation and development. Our work highlights the importance of examining mechanisms of density-dependent strain fitness and developing theoretical predictions that incorporate density dependence. Furthermore, our results have translational relevance for overcoming establishment barriers in bioinoculants and motivating breeding programs that maintain beneficial plant-microbe interactions across diverse agroecological contexts. IMPORTANCE Legume crops establish beneficial associations with rhizobial bacteria that perform biological nitrogen fixation, providing nitrogen to plants without the economic and greenhouse gas emission costs of chemical nitrogen inputs. Here, we examine the influence of three environmental factors that vary in agricultural fields on strain relative fitness in nodules. In addition to manipulating nitrogen, we also use two biotic variables that have rarely been examined: the rhizobial community's density and complexity. Taken together, our results suggest that (i) breeding legume varieties that select beneficial strains despite environmental variation is possible, (ii) changes in rhizobial population densities that occur routinely in agricultural fields could drive evolutionary changes in rhizobial populations, and (iii) the lack of higher-order interactions between strains will allow the high-throughput assessments of rhizobia winners and losers during plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid35850258, year = {2022}, author = {Ahmed, S and Tafim Hossain Hrithik, M and Chandra Roy, M and Bode, H and Kim, Y}, title = {Phurealipids, produced by the entomopathogenic bacteria, Photorhabdus, mimic juvenile hormone to suppress insect immunity and immature development.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {193}, number = {}, pages = {107799}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2022.107799}, pmid = {35850258}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Insect Proteins/metabolism ; Insecta ; *Juvenile Hormones ; Larva/microbiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; *Lipids/physiology ; *Photorhabdus/metabolism ; Pupa ; Urea/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phurealipids (Photorhabdus urea lipids) are synthesized from Photorhabdus bacteria that are symbiotic to entomopathogenic nematodes. Their chemical structures are similar to that of juvenile hormone (JH) and have been suspected to mimic JH signaling in immunity and the development of insects. This study investigated the physiological roles of phurealipids with respect to their contribution to bacterial pathogenicity using four natural (HB13, HB69, HB416, and HB421) and one derivative (HB27) compound. First, phurealipids like JH suppressed insect immune responses. Overall, phurealipids showed JH like immunosuppressive behavior in a lepidopteran insect Spodoptera exigua larvae. More specifically, phurealipids significantly suppressed the hemocyte spreading behavior which is a key immune response upon immune challenge. Interestingly, the methyl urea derivatives (HB13, HB27, and HB69) were more potent than the unmethylated forms (HB416 and HB421). The inhibitory activity of phurealipids prevented the cellular immune response measured by hemocytic nodule formation in response to the bacterial challenge. Phurealipids also suppressed the expression of cecropin and gallerimycin, which are two highly inducible antimicrobial peptides, in S. exigua upon immune challenge. The immunosuppressive activity of the phurealipids significantly enhanced the bacterial pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis against S. exigua. Second, phurealipids like JH prevented insect metamorphosis. Especially, the methylated urea derivatives of the phurealipids showed the JH-like function by inducing the expression of S. exigua Kr-h1, a transcriptional factor. At the pupal stage, exhibiting the lowest expression of Kr-h1, phurealipid treatments elevated the expression level of Kr-h1 and delayed the pupa-to-adult metamorphosis. These results suggest that phurealipids play crucial roles in Photorhabdus pathogenicity by suppressing host immune defenses and delaying host metamorphosis.}, } @article {pmid35849206, year = {2022}, author = {Mburu, SW and Koskey, G and Njeru, EM and Ombori, O and Maingi, J and Kimiti, JM}, title = {Genetic and phenotypic diversity of microsymbionts nodulating promiscuous soybeans from different agro-climatic conditions.}, journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {109}, pmid = {35849206}, issn = {2090-5920}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Global food supply is highly dependent on field crop production that is currently severely threatened by changing climate, poor soil quality, abiotic, and biotic stresses. For instance, one of the major challenges to sustainable crop production in most developing countries is limited nitrogen in the soil. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of legumes such as soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril) with rhizobia plays a crucial role in supplying nitrogen sufficient to maintain good crop productivity. Characterization of indigenous bradyrhizobia is a prerequisite in the selection and development of effective bioinoculants. In view of this, bradyrhizobia were isolated from soybean nodules in four agro-climatic zones of eastern Kenya (Embu Upper Midland Zone, Embu Lower Midland Zone, Tharaka Upper Midland Zone, and Tharaka Lower Midland Zone) using two soybean varieties (SB8 and SB126). The isolates were characterized using biochemical, morphological, and genotypic approaches. DNA fingerprinting was carried out using 16S rRNA gene and restricted by enzymes HaeIII, Msp1, and EcoRI. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (38) bradyrhizobia isolates obtained from the trapping experiments were placed into nine groups based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Most (77%) of the isolates had characteristics of fast-grower bradyrhizobia while 23% were slow-growers. Restriction digest revealed significant (p < 0.015) variation within populations and not among the agro-climatic zones based on analysis of molecular variance. Principal coordinate analysis demonstrated sympatric speciation of indigenous bradyrhizobia isolates. Embu Upper Midland Zone bradyrhizobia isolates had the highest polymorphic loci (80%) and highest genetic diversity estimates (H' = 0.419) compared to other agro-climatic zones.

CONCLUSION: The high diversity of bradyrhizobia isolates depicts a valuable genetic resource for selecting more effective and competitive strains to improve promiscuous soybean production at a low cost through biological nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid35849054, year = {2022}, author = {Duan, M and Li, L and Ding, G and Ma, Z}, title = {Leading nutrient foraging strategies shaping by root system characteristics along the elevations in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {12}, pages = {2468-2479}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpac081}, pmid = {35849054}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Hevea ; Trees/physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Rubber ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; }, abstract = {When it comes to root and mycorrhizal associations that define resource acquisition strategy, there is a need to identify the leading dimension across root physiology, morphology, architecture and whole plant biomass allocation to better predict the plant's responses to multiple environmental constraints. Here, we developed a new framework for understanding the variation in roots and symbiotic fungi by quantifying multiple-scale characteristics, ranging from anatomy to the whole plant. We chose the rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) grown at three elevations to test our framework and to identify the key dimensions for resource acquisition. Results showed that the quantities of absorptive roots and root system architecture, rather than single root traits, played the leading role in belowground resource acquisition. As the elevation increased from the low to high elevation, root length growth, productivity and root mass fraction (RMF) increased by 2.9-, 2.3- and 13.8-fold, respectively. The contribution of RMF to the changes in total root length was 3.6-fold that of specific root length (SRL). Root architecture exhibited higher plasticity than anatomy and morphology. Further, mycorrhizal colonization was highly sensitive to rising elevations with a non-monotonic pattern. By contrast, both leaf biomass and specific leaf area (traits) co-varied with increasing elevation. In summary, rubber trees changed root system architecture by allocating more biomass and lowering the reliance on mycorrhizal fungi rather than improving single root efficiency in adapting to high elevation. Our framework is instructive for traits-based ecology; accurate assessments of forest carbon cycling in response to resource gradient should account for the leading dimension of root system architecture.}, } @article {pmid35848824, year = {2022}, author = {Sainz, MM and Filippi, CV and Eastman, G and Sotelo-Silveira, M and Martinez, CM and Borsani, O and Sotelo-Silveira, J}, title = {Polysome Purification from Soybean Symbiotic Nodules.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {185}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/64269}, pmid = {35848824}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Polyribosomes/genetics/metabolism ; *Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA-Seq ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The aim of this protocol is to provide a strategy for studying the eukaryotic translatome of the soybean (Glycine max) symbiotic nodule. This paper describes methods optimized to isolate plant-derived polyribosomes and their associated mRNAs to be analyzed using RNA-sequencing. First, cytoplasmic lysates are obtained through homogenization in polysome- and RNA-preserving conditions from whole, frozen soybean nodules. Then, lysates are cleared by low-speed centrifugation, and 15% of the supernatant is used for total RNA (TOTAL) isolation. The remaining cleared lysate is used to isolate polysomes by ultracentrifugation through a two-layer sucrose cushion (12% and 33.5%). Polysome-associated mRNA (PAR) is purified from polysomal pellets after resuspension. Both TOTAL and PAR are evaluated by highly sensitive capillary electrophoresis to meet the quality standards of sequencing libraries for RNA-seq. As an example of a downstream application, after sequencing, standard pipelines for gene expression analysis can be used to obtain differentially expressed genes at the transcriptome and translatome levels. In summary, this method, in combination with RNA-seq, allows the study of the translational regulation of eukaryotic mRNAs in a complex tissue such as the symbiotic nodule.}, } @article {pmid35847376, year = {2022}, author = {Kim, MB and Hwangbo, S and Jang, S and Jo, YK}, title = {Bioengineered Co-culture of organoids to recapitulate host-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Materials today. Bio}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {100345}, pmid = {35847376}, issn = {2590-0064}, abstract = {The recent spike in the instances of complex physiological host-microbe interactions has raised the demand for developing in vitro models that recapitulate the microbial microenvironment in the human body. Organoids are steadily emerging as an in vitro culture system that closely mimics the structural, functional, and genetic features of complex human organs, particularly for better understanding host-microbe interactions. Recent advances in organoid culture technology have become new avenues for assessing the pathogenesis of symbiotic interactions, pathogen-induced infectious diseases, and various other diseases. The co-cultures of organoids with microbes have shown great promise in simulating host-microbe interactions with a high level of complexity for further advancement in related fields. In this review, we provide an overview of bioengineering approaches for microbe-co-cultured organoids. Latest developments in the applications of microbe-co-cultured organoids to study human physiology and pathophysiology are also highlighted. Further, an outlook on future research on bioengineered organoid co-cultures for various applications is presented.}, } @article {pmid35847106, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, H and Yang, L and Ding, J and Xu, K and Liu, J and Zhu, W and Zhu, J and He, C and Han, C and Qin, C and Luo, H and Chen, K and Zheng, Y and Honaker, CF and Zhang, Y and Siegel, PB and Meng, H}, title = {Dynamics of Small Non-coding RNA Profiles and the Intestinal Microbiome of High and Low Weight Chickens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {916280}, pmid = {35847106}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The host and its symbiotic bacteria form a biological entity, holobiont, in which they share a dynamic connection characterized by symbiosis, co-metabolism, and coevolution. However, how these collaborative relationships were maintained over evolutionary time remains unclear. In this research, the small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) profiles of cecum and their bacteria contents were measured from lines of chickens that have undergone long-term selection for high (HWS) or low (LWS) 56-day body weight. The results from these lines that originated from a common founder population and maintained under the same husbandry showed an association between host intestinal sncRNA expression profile (miRNA, lncRNA fragment, mRNA fragment, snoRNA, and snRNA) and intestinal microbiota. Correlation analyses suggested that some central miRNAs and mRNA fragments had interactions with the abundance of intestinal microbial species and microbiota functions. miR-6622-3p, a significantly differentially expressed (DE) miRNA was correlated with a body weight gain related bacterium, Alistipes putredinis. Our results showed that host sncRNAs may be mediators of interaction between the host and its intestinal microbiome. This provides additional clue for holobiont concepts.}, } @article {pmid35846163, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, W and Cha, SJ and Jacobs-Lorena, M}, title = {New weapons to fight malaria transmission: A historical view.}, journal = {Entomological research}, volume = {52}, number = {5}, pages = {235-240}, pmid = {35846163}, issn = {1738-2297}, support = {R01 AI031478/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The stagnation of our fight against malaria in recent years, mainly due to the development of mosquito insecticide resistance, argues for the urgent development of new weapons. The dramatic evolution of molecular tools in the last few decades led to a better understanding of parasite-mosquito interactions and coalesced in the development of novel tools namely, mosquito transgenesis and paratransgenesis. Here we provide a historical view of the development of these new tools and point to some remaining challenges for their implementation in the field.}, } @article {pmid35845655, year = {2022}, author = {Manresa-Grao, M and Pastor-Fernández, J and Sanchez-Bel, P and Jaques, JA and Pastor, V and Flors, V}, title = {Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Triggers Local Resistance in Citrus Plants Against Spider Mites.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {867778}, pmid = {35845655}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Citrus plants are a highly mycotrophic species with high levels of fungal colonization. Citrus aurantium rootstocks typically show abundant root colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis three weeks after inoculation. Mycorrhizal symbiosis protects plants against multiple biotic stressors, however, such protection against spider mites remains controversial. We examined mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) in citrus against the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. Mycorrhized C. aurantium displayed reduced levels of damage in leaves and lower mite oviposition rates, compared to non-mycorrhized controls. Mycorrhization did not affect host choice of mites in Y-tube assays; of note, C. aurantium has innate strong antixenotic resistance against this mite. Analysis of metabolism pathways in mycorrhized citrus plants showed upregulated expression of the oxylipin-related genes LOX-2 and PR-3 early after infestation. Accordingly, jasmonic acid (JA), 12-oxo phytodienoic acid (OPDA), and JA-Ile concentrations were increased by mycorrhization. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis revealed the amino acid, oxocarboxylic acid, and phenylpropanoid metabolism as the three major pathways with more hits at 24 h post infection (hpi) in mycorrhized plants. Interestingly, there was a transition to a priming profile of these pathways at 48 hpi following infestation. Three flavonoids (i.e., malic acid, coumaric acid, and diconiferyl alcohol) were among the priming compounds. A mixture containing all these compounds provided efficient protection against the mite. Unexpectedly, systemic resistance did not improve after 72 h of primary infestation, probably due to the innate strong systemic resistance of C. aurantium. This is the first study to show that MIR is functional against T. urticae in locally infested citrus leaves, which is mediated by a complex pool of secondary metabolites and is likely coordinated by priming of JA-dependent responses.}, } @article {pmid35845640, year = {2022}, author = {Authier, L and Violle, C and Richard, F}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal Networks in the Anthropocene: From Natural Ecosystems to Urban Planning.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {900231}, pmid = {35845640}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Trees acquire hydric and mineral soil resources through root mutualistic associations. In most boreal, temperate and Mediterranean forests, these functions are realized by a chimeric structure called ectomycorrhizae. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are highly diversified and vary widely in their specificity toward plant hosts. Reciprocally, association patterns of ECM plants range from highly specialist to generalist. As a consequence, ECM symbiosis creates interaction networks, which also mediate plant-plant nutrient interactions among different individuals and drive plant community dynamics. Our knowledge of ECM networks essentially relies on a corpus acquired in temperate ecosystems, whereas the below-ground facets of both anthropogenic ECM forests and inter-tropical forests remain poorly investigated. Here, we successively (1) review the current knowledge of ECM networks, (2) examine the content of early literature produced in ECM cultivated forests, (3) analyze the recent progress that has been made in understanding the place of ECM networks in urban soils, and (4) provide directions for future research based on the identification of knowledge gaps. From the examined corpus of knowledge, we reach three main conclusions. First, the emergence of metabarcoding tools has propelled a resurgence of interest in applying network theory to ECM symbiosis. These methods revealed an unexpected interconnection between mutualistic plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) herbaceous plants, embedding ECM mycelia through root-endophytic interactions. This affinity of ECM fungi to bind VA and ECM plants, raises questions on the nature of the associated functions. Second, despite the central place of ECM trees in cultivated forests, little attention has been paid to these man-made landscapes and in-depth research on this topic is lacking. Third, we report a lag in applying the ECM network theory to urban soils, despite management initiatives striving to interconnect motile organisms through ecological corridors, and the highly challenging task of interconnecting fixed organisms in urban greenspaces is discussed. In particular, we observe a pauperized nature of resident ECM inoculum and a spatial conflict between belowground human pipelines and ECM networks. Finally, we identify the main directions of future research to make the needed link between the current picture of plant functioning and the understanding of belowground ECM networks.}, } @article {pmid35845374, year = {2022}, author = {Yan, Q and Li, X and Xiao, X and Chen, J and Liu, J and Lin, C and Guan, R and Wang, D}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth and drought tolerance of Cinnamomum migao by enhancing physio-biochemical responses.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {e9091}, pmid = {35845374}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Drought is the main limiting factor for plant growth in karst areas with a fragile ecological environment. Cinnamomum migao H.W. Li is an endemic medicinal woody plant present in the karst areas of southwestern China, and it is endangered due to poor drought tolerance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to enhance the drought tolerance of plants. However, few studies have examined the contribution of AMF in improving the drought tolerance of C. migao seedlings. Therefore, we conducted a series of experiments to determine whether a single inoculation and coinoculation of AMF (Claroideoglomus lamellosum and Claroideoglomus etunicatum) enhanced the drought tolerance of C. migao. Furthermore, we compared the effects of single inoculation and coinoculation with different inoculum sizes (20, 40, 60, and 100 g; four replicates per treatment) on mycorrhizal colonization rate, plant growth, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and osmoregulatory substance contents. The results showed that compared with nonmycorrhizal plants, AMF colonization significantly improved plant growing status; net photosynthetic rate; superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities; and soluble sugar, soluble protein, and proline contents. Furthermore, AMF colonization increased relative water content and reduced MDA content in cells. These combined cumulative effects of AMF symbiosis ultimately enhanced the drought tolerance of seedlings and were closely related to the inoculum size. With an increase in inoculum size, the growth rate and drought tolerance of plants first increased and then decreased. The damage caused by drought stress could be reduced by inoculating 40-60 g of AMF, and the effect of coinoculation was significantly better than that of single inoculation at 60 g of AMF, while the effect was opposite at 40 g of AMF. Additionally, the interaction between AMF and inoculum sizes had a significant effect on drought tolerance. In conclusion, the inoculation of the AMF (Cl. lamellosum and Cl. etunicatum) improved photosynthesis, activated antioxidant enzymes, regulated cell osmotic state, and enhanced the drought tolerance of C. migao, enabling its growth in fragile ecological environments.}, } @article {pmid35844606, year = {2022}, author = {Choi, J and Kim, BR and Akuzum, B and Chang, L and Lee, JY and Kwon, HK}, title = {TREGking From Gut to Brain: The Control of Regulatory T Cells Along the Gut-Brain Axis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {916066}, pmid = {35844606}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Brain ; Brain-Gut Axis ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; *T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract has an enormous and diverse microbial community, termed microbiota, that is necessary for the development of the immune system and tissue homeostasis. In contrast, microbial dysbiosis is associated with various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as neurological disorders in humans by affecting not only the immune system in the gastrointestinal tract but also other distal organs. FOXP3[+] regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of CD4[+] helper T cell lineages that function as a gatekeeper for immune activation and are essential for peripheral autoimmunity prevention. Tregs are crucial to the maintenance of immunological homeostasis and tolerance at barrier regions. Tregs reside in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues, and tissue-resident Tregs have unique tissue-specific phenotype and distinct function. The gut microbiota has an impact on Tregs development, accumulation, and function in periphery. Tregs, in turn, modulate antigen-specific responses aimed towards gut microbes, which supports the host-microbiota symbiotic interaction in the gut. Recent studies have indicated that Tregs interact with a variety of resident cells in central nervous system (CNS) to limit the progression of neurological illnesses such as ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The gastrointestinal tract and CNS are functionally connected, and current findings provide insights that Tregs function along the gut-brain axis by interacting with immune, epithelial, and neuronal cells. The purpose of this study is to explain our current knowledge of the biological role of tissue-resident Tregs, as well as the interaction along the gut-brain axis.}, } @article {pmid35844369, year = {2022}, author = {Selvamani, S and Mehta, V and Ali El Enshasy, H and Thevarajoo, S and El Adawi, H and Zeini, I and Pham, K and Varzakas, T and Abomoelak, B}, title = {Efficacy of Probiotics-Based Interventions as Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Recent Update.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {3546-3567}, pmid = {35844369}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Probiotics such as Lactobacillus spp. play an important role in human health as they embark beneficial effect on the human gastrointestinal microflora composition and immune system. Dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal microbial composition has been identified as a major contributor to chronic inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Higher prevalence of IBD is often recorded in most of the developed Western countries, but recent data has shown an increase in previously regarded as lower risk regions, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and India. Although the IBD etiology remains a subject of speculation, the disease is likely to have developed because of interaction between extrinsic environmental elements; the host's immune system, and the gut microbial composition. Compared to conventional treatments, probiotics and probiotic-based interventions including the introduction of specific prebiotics, symbiotic and postbiotic products had been demonstrated as more promising therapeutic measures. The present review discusses the association between gut dysbiosis, the pathogenesis of IBD, and risk factors leading to gut dysbiosis. In addition, it discusses recent studies focused on the alteration of the gastrointestinal microbiome as an effective therapy for IBD. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other viral infections on IBD are also discussed in this review. Clinical and animal-based studies have shown that probiotic-based therapies can restore the gastrointestinal microbiota balance and reduce gut inflammations. Therefore, this review also assesses the status quo of these microbial-based therapies for the treatment of IBD. A better understanding of the mechanisms of their actions on modulating altered gut microbiota is required to enhance the effectiveness of the IBD therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid35844010, year = {2022}, author = {Pujasatria, GC and Nishiguchi, I and Miura, C and Yamato, M and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Orchid mycorrhizal fungi and ascomycetous fungi in epiphytic Vanda falcata roots occupy different niches during growth and development.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {5-6}, pages = {481-495}, pmid = {35844010}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; *Basidiomycota ; Growth and Development ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epiphytic orchids are commonly found in exposed environments, which plausibly lead to different root fungal community structures from terrestrial orchids. Until recently, few studies have been conducted to show the fungal community structure during the growth of a photosynthetic and epiphytic orchid in its natural growing site. In this study, the Vanda falcata (commonly known as Neofinetia falcata), one of Japan's ornamental orchids, was used to characterize the fungal community structure at different developmental stages. Amplicon sequencing analysis showed that all development stages contain a similar fungal community: Ascomycota dominate half of the community while one-third of the community belongs to Basidiomycota. Rhizoctonia-like fungi, a polyphyletic basidiomycetous fungal group forming mycorrhizas in many orchids, exist even in a smaller portion (around one-quarter) compared to other Basidiomycota members. While ascomycetous fungi exhibit pathogenicity, two Ceratobasidium strains isolated from young and adult plants could initiate seed germination in vitro. It was also found that the colonization of mycorrhizal fungi was concentrated in a part of the root where it directly attaches to the phorophyte bark, while ascomycetous fungi were distributed in the velamen but never colonized cortical cells. Additionally, the root parts attached to the bark have denser exodermal passage cells, and these cells were only colonized by mycorrhizal fungi that further penetrated into the cortical area. Therefore, we confirmed a process that physical regulation of fungal entry to partition the ascomycetes and mycorrhizal fungi results in the balanced mycorrhizal symbiosis in this orchid.}, } @article {pmid35842160, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, Y and Fang, S and Xiang, Z and Liu, S and Ouyang, G}, title = {In vivo environmental metabolomic profiling via a novel microextraction fiber unravels sublethal effects of environmental norfloxacin in gut bacteria.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {845}, number = {}, pages = {157335}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157335}, pmid = {35842160}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Norfloxacin/toxicity ; Solid Phase Microextraction/methods ; }, abstract = {Emerging contaminants (ECs), especially antibiotics, have significantly polluted the environment and threaten the living circumstance of organisms. Environmental metabolomic has emerged to investigate the sublethal effects of ECs. However, lacking noninvasive and real-time sample pretreatment techniques restricts its development in environmental toxicology. Hence, in this study, a real-time and in vivo untargeted analytical technique towards microbial endogenous metabolites was developed via a novel composite solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber of ZIF-67 and polystyrene to realize the high-coverage capture of living gut microbial metabolites. To reveal the exposure risks of typical antibiotic - norfloxacin (NFX) to gut bacteria, four representative bacteria were exposed to NFX at environmentally relevant levels. Using the proposed SPME fiber, 70 metabolites were identified to obtain an apparent metabolic separation feature between control and NFX-treated (10 ng/mL) microbial groups, which revealed that the low environmental relevant concentration of NFX would affect normal metabolism of gut bacteria. Additionally, NFX exhibited species-specific toxic effects on microbial growth, especially Escherichia coli displaying a distinct dose-dependent trend. Antioxidative enzymatic activities results demonstrated that beneficial bacteria maintained the state of oxidative stress while symbiotic bacteria suffered from oxidative stress injury under NFX contamination, further corroborating its impact on human intestinal health. This study highlights the suitability of in vivo SPME in the field of metabolite extraction and simultaneously possesses a brilliant application foreground in the environmental metabolomics.}, } @article {pmid35842049, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, Z and Dzakpasu, M and Zhang, D and Liu, G and Wang, Z and Qu, M and Chen, R and Wang, XC and Zheng, Y}, title = {Enantioselectivity and mechanisms of chiral herbicide biodegradation in hydroponic systems.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {307}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {135701}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135701}, pmid = {35842049}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Acetamides ; Antioxidants ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorophyll ; *Herbicides/chemistry ; Hydroponics ; Oxygen ; Plants/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; }, abstract = {This study demonstrates the enantioselective removal dynamics and mechanisms of the chiral herbicide metolachlor in a hydroponic system of Phragmites australis. It presents the first work to elucidate plant-microbial driven enantioselective degradation processes of chiral chemicals. The results showed a degradation efficiency of up to 95.07 ± 2.81% in the hydroponic system driven by a notably high degradation rate constant of 0.086 d[-1]. P. australis was demonstrated to rapidly increase the contribution of biodegradation pathways in the hydroponic system to 82.21 ± 4.81% within 4 d with an enantiomeric fraction (EF) drop to 0.26 ± 0.02 to favour the enantioselective degradation of S-Metolachlor (kS-Metolachlor = 0.568 d[-1] and kR-Metolachlor = 0.147 d[-1]). Comparatively, the biodegradation pathways in the control constituted less than 25%, with an EF value of circa 0.5. However, the enantioselective biodegradation pathways exhibited complete reversal after about 4 d to favour R-Metolachlor. Plants promoted the degradation of R-Metolachlor, evidenced by an increase in EF to 0.59 ± 0.03. Nonetheless, metolachlor showed an inhibitory effect on plants reflected by the reduction of plant growth rate, chlorophyll content, and electron transport rate to -7.85 ± 1.52%, 1.33 ± 0.43 mg g[-1], 4.03 ± 1.33 μmol (m[2] s)[-1], respectively. However, rhizosphere microorganisms aided plants to catalyze excessive reactive oxygen species production by the antioxidant enzymes to protect plants from oxidative damage and restore their physiological activities. High-throughput analysis of microbial communities demonstrated the enrichment of Massilia (40.63%) and Pseudomonas (8.16%) in the initial stage to promote the rapid degradation of S-Metolachlor. By contrast, the proliferation of Brevundimonas (32.29%) and Pseudarthrobacter (11.03%) in the terminal stage was closely associated with the degradation of R-Metolachlor. Moreover, as symbiotic bacteria of plants, these bacteria aided plants protection from reactive oxygen damages and promoted the recovery of plant metabolic functions and photosynthesis. Overall, these results demonstrate biodegradation mediated by plant-microbe mechanisms as the main driver for the enantioselective degradation of metolachlor in hydroponic systems.}, } @article {pmid35840731, year = {2022}, author = {Cárdenas, A and Raina, JB and Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Bougoure, J and Guagliardo, P and Pernice, M and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Greater functional diversity and redundancy of coral endolithic microbiomes align with lower coral bleaching susceptibility.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {2406-2420}, pmid = {35840731}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Bleaching ; Coral Reefs ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The skeleton of reef-building coral harbors diverse microbial communities that could compensate for metabolic deficiencies caused by the loss of algal endosymbionts, i.e., coral bleaching. However, it is unknown to what extent endolith taxonomic diversity and functional potential might contribute to thermal resilience. Here we exposed Goniastrea edwardsi and Porites lutea, two common reef-building corals from the central Red Sea to a 17-day long heat stress. Using hyperspectral imaging, marker gene/metagenomic sequencing, and NanoSIMS, we characterized their endolithic microbiomes together with [15]N and [13]C assimilation of two skeletal compartments: the endolithic band directly below the coral tissue and the deep skeleton. The bleaching-resistant G. edwardsi was associated with endolithic microbiomes of greater functional diversity and redundancy that exhibited lower N and C assimilation than endoliths in the bleaching-sensitive P. lutea. We propose that the lower endolithic primary productivity in G. edwardsi can be attributed to the dominance of chemolithotrophs. Lower primary production within the skeleton may prevent unbalanced nutrient fluxes to coral tissues under heat stress, thereby preserving nutrient-limiting conditions characteristic of a stable coral-algal symbiosis. Our findings link coral endolithic microbiome structure and function to bleaching susceptibility, providing new avenues for understanding and eventually mitigating reef loss.}, } @article {pmid35840683, year = {2022}, author = {Hubert, J and Nesvorna, M and Bostlova, M and Sopko, B and Green, SJ and Phillips, TW}, title = {The Effect of Residual Pesticide Application on Microbiomes of the Storage Mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35840683}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Arthropods can host well-developed microbial communities, and such microbes can degrade pesticides and confer tolerance to most types of pests. Two cultures of the stored-product mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae, one with a symbiotic microbiome containing Wolbachia and the other without Wolbachia, were compared on pesticide residue (organophosphate: pirimiphos-methyl and pyrethroid: deltamethrin, deltamethrin + piperonyl butoxide)-containing diets. The microbiomes from mite bodies, mite feces and debris from the spent mite diet were analyzed using barcode sequencing. Pesticide tolerance was different among mite cultures and organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides. The pesticide residues influenced the microbiome composition in both cultures but without any remarkable trend for mite cultures with and without Wolbachia. The most influenced bacterial taxa were Bartonella-like and Bacillus for both cultures and Wolbachia for the culture containing this symbiont. However, there was no direct evidence of any effect of Wolbachia on pesticide tolerance. The high pesticide concentration residues in diets reduced Wolbachia, Bartonella-like and Bacillus in mites of the symbiotic culture. This effect was low for Bartonella-like and Bacillus in the asymbiotic microbiome culture. The results showed that the microbiomes of mites are affected by pesticide residues in the diets, but the effect is not systemic. No actual detoxification effect by the microbiome was observed for the tested pesticides.}, } @article {pmid35840628, year = {2022}, author = {Kozieł, M and Kalita, M and Janczarek, M}, title = {Genetic diversity of microsymbionts nodulating Trifolium pratense in subpolar and temperate climate regions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {12144}, pmid = {35840628}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Trifolium/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil-borne bacteria forming symbiotic associations with legumes and fixing atmospheric dinitrogen. The nitrogen-fixation potential depends on the type of host plants and microsymbionts as well as environmental factors that affect the distribution of rhizobia. In this study, we compared genetic diversity of bacteria isolated from root nodules of Trifolium pratense grown in two geographical regions (Tromsø, Norway and Lublin, Poland) located in distinct climatic (subpolar and temperate) zones. To characterize these isolates genetically, three PCR-based techniques (ERIC, BOX, and RFLP of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer), 16S rRNA sequencing, and multi-locus sequence analysis of chromosomal house-keeping genes (atpD, recA, rpoB, gyrB, and glnII) were done. Our results indicate that a great majority of the isolates are T. pratense microsymbionts belonging to Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii. A high diversity among these strains was detected. However, a lower diversity within the population derived from the subpolar region in comparison to that of the temperate region was found. Multi-locus sequence analysis showed that a majority of the strains formed distinct clusters characteristic for the individual climatic regions. The subpolar strains belonged to two (A and B) and the temperate strains to three R. leguminosarum genospecies (B, E, and K), respectively.}, } @article {pmid35840482, year = {2022}, author = {Hasan, MM and Corpas, FJ and Fang, XW}, title = {Light: a crucial factor for rhizobium-induced root nodulation.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {10}, pages = {955-957}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2022.07.002}, pmid = {35840482}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Carbon ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Wang et al. recently showed that, in soybean (Glycine max), root nodule formation is induced by a light-triggered signal that moves from the upper part of the plant to the roots. This novel signaling process opens a new area of research aimed to optimize the carbon-nitrogen balance in plant-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35839761, year = {2022}, author = {Boscaro, V and Syberg-Olsen, MJ and Irwin, NAT and George, EE and Vannini, C and Husnik, F and Keeling, PJ}, title = {All essential endosymbionts of the ciliate Euplotes are cyclically replaced.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {15}, pages = {R826-R827}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.052}, pmid = {35839761}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; *Ciliophora ; *Euplotes/microbiology ; Insecta ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic systems vary in the degree to which the partners are bound to each other[1]. At one extreme, there are intracellular endosymbionts in mutually obligate relationships with their host, often interpreted as mutualistic. The symbiosis between the betaproteobacterium Polynucleobacter and the ciliate Euplotes (clade B) challenges this view[2]: although freshwater Euplotes species long ago became dependent on endosymbionts, the many extant Polynucleobacter lineages they harbour arose recently and in parallel from different free-living ancestors[2]. The host requires the endosymbionts for reproduction and survival[3], but each newly established symbiont is ultimately driven to extinction in a cycle of establishment, degeneration, and replacement. Similar replacement events have been observed in sap-feeding insects[4-6], a model for bacteria-eukaryote symbioses[7], but usually only affect a small subset of the host populations. Most insects retain an ancient coevolving symbiont, suggesting that long-term mutualism and permanent integration remain the rule and symbiont turnovers are mere evolutionary side-stories. Here we show that this is not the case for Euplotes. We examined all known essential Euplotes symbionts and found that none are ancient or coevolving; rather, all are recently established and continuously replaced over relatively short evolutionary time spans, making the symbiosis ancient for the host but not for any bacterial lineage.}, } @article {pmid35837848, year = {2022}, author = {Staubli, F and Imola, L and Dauphin, B and Molinier, V and Pfister, S and Piñuela, Y and Schürz, L and Sproll, L and Steidinger, BS and Stobbe, U and Tegel, W and Büntgen, U and Egli, S and Peter, M}, title = {Hidden fairy rings and males-Genetic patterns of natural Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) populations reveal new insights into its life cycle.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {6376-6391}, pmid = {35837848}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Animals ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Life Cycle Stages ; }, abstract = {Burgundy truffles are heterothallic ascomycetes that grow in symbiosis with trees. Despite their esteemed belowground fruitbodies, the species' complex lifecycle is still not fully understood. Here, we present the genetic patterns in three natural Burgundy truffle populations based on genotyped fruitbodies, ascospore extracts and ectomycorrhizal root tips using microsatellites and the mating-type locus. Distinct genetic structures with high relatedness in close vicinity were found for females (forming the fruitbodies) and males (fertilizing partner as inferred from ascospore extracts), with high genotypic diversity and annual turnover of males, suggesting that ephemeral male mating partners are germinating ascospores from decaying fruitbodies. The presence of hermaphrodites and the interannual persistence of a few males suggest that persistent mycelia may sporadically also act as males. Only female or hermaphroditic individuals were detected on root tips. At one site, fruitbodies grew in a fairy ring formed by a large female individual that showed an outward growth rate of 30 cm per year, with the mycelium decaying within the ring and being fertilized by over 50 male individuals. While fairy ring structures have never been shown for truffles, the genetics of Burgundy truffle populations support a similar reproductive biology as those of other highly prized truffles.}, } @article {pmid35836422, year = {2022}, author = {Li, T and Yang, Y and Li, H and Li, C}, title = {Mixed-Mode Bacterial Transmission via Eggshells in an Oviparous Reptile Without Parental Care.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {911416}, pmid = {35836422}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms play important roles in maintaining health and facilitating the adaptation of the host. We know little about the origin and transgenerational transmission of symbiotic bacteria, especially in egg-laying species without parental care. Here, we investigated the transmission of bacterial symbionts in the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle (Mauremys reevesii), a species with no post-oviposition parental care, by evaluating contributions from potential maternal and environmental sources to eggshell bacterial communities. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we established that the bacterial communities of eggshells were similar to those of the maternal cloaca, maternal skin, and nest soil, but distinct from those of surface soil around nest and pond water. Phylogenetic structure analysis and source-tracking models revealed the deterministic assembly process of eggshell microbiota and high contributions of the maternal cloaca, maternal skin, and nest soil microbiota to eggshell bacterial communities. Moreover, maternal cloaca showed divergent contribution to eggshell microbiota compared with two other main sources in phylogenesis and taxonomic composition. The results demonstrate a mixture of horizontal and vertical transmission of symbiotic bacteria across generations in an oviparous turtle without parental care and provide insight into the significance of the eggshell microbiome in embryo development.}, } @article {pmid35834932, year = {2022}, author = {Mohamad, R and Willems, A and Le Quéré, A and Pervent, M and Maynaud, G and Bonabaud, M and Dubois, E and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Brunel, B}, title = {Mesorhizobium ventifaucium sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium escarrei sp. nov., two novel root-nodulating species isolated from Anthyllis vulneraria.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {5}, pages = {126341}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126341}, pmid = {35834932}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Lotus ; *Mesorhizobium ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Ten mesorhizobial strains isolated from root-nodules of Anthyllis vulneraria by trapping using soils from southern France were studied to resolve their taxonomy. Their 16S rDNA sequences were identical and indicated that they are affiliated to the genus Mesorhizobium within the group M. prunaredense/M. delmotii/M. temperatum/M. mediterraneum/M. wenxiniae and M. robiniae as the closest defined species. Their evolutionary relationships with validated species were further characterized by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using 4 protein-coding housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnII and dnaK), that divides the strains in two groups, and suggest that they belong to two distinct species. These results were well-supported by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyses, wet-lab DNA-DNA hybridization (≤58%), and genome-based species delineation methods (ANI < 96%, in silico DDH < 70%), confirming their affiliation to two novel species. Based on these differences, Mesorhizobium ventifaucium (STM4922[T] = LMG 29643[T] = CFBP 8438[T]) and Mesorhizobium escarrei (type strain STM5069[T] = LMG 29642[T] = CFBP 8439[T]) are proposed as names for these two novel species. The phylogeny of nodulation genes nodC and nodA allocated the type strains into symbiovar anthyllidis as well as those of M. metallidurans STM2683[T], M. delmotii STM4623[T] and M. prunaredense STM4891[T], all recovered from the same legume species.}, } @article {pmid35834588, year = {2022}, author = {Kahoun, D and Fojtíková, P and Vácha, F and Čížková, M and Vodička, R and Nováková, E and Hypša, V}, title = {Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for determination of B vitamins and some its derivatives in whole blood.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {e0271444}, pmid = {35834588}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Folic Acid/analysis ; Humans ; Methanol ; Riboflavin/analysis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Thiamine/analysis ; *Vitamin B Complex ; Zinc Sulfate ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbiotic bacteria associated with the insects feeding exclusively on vertebrate blood are supposed to complement B vitamins presumably lacking in their diet. Recent genomic analyses revealed considerable differences in biosynthetic capacities across different symbionts, suggesting that levels of B vitamins may vary across different vertebrate hosts. However, a rigorous determination of B vitamins content in blood of various vertebrates has not yet been approached. A reliable analytical method focused on B vitamin complex in blood can provide valuable informative background and understanding of general principles of insect symbiosis. In this work, a chromatographic separation of eight B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, and cyanocobalamine), four B vitamin derivatives (niacinamide, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, 4-pyridoxic acid, and tetrahydrofolic acid), and 3 stable isotope labelled internal standards was developed. Detection was carried out using dual-pressure linear ion trap mass spectrometer in FullScan MS/MS and SIM mode. Except for vitamin B9 (tetrahydrofolic acid), the instrument quantitation limits of all analytes were ranging from 0.42 to 5.0 μg/L, correlation coefficients from 0.9997 to 1.0000, and QC coefficients from 0.53 to 3.2%. Optimization of whole blood sample preparation step was focused especially on evaluation of two types of protein-precipitation agents: trichloroacetic acid and zinc sulphate in methanol. The best results were obtained for zinc sulphate in methanol, but only nine analytes were successfully validated. Accuracy of the procedure using this protein-precipitating agent was ranging from 89 to 120%, precision from 0.5 to 13%, and process efficiency from 65 to 108%. The content of B vitamins in whole blood samples from human and various vertebrates is presented as an application example of this newly developed method.}, } @article {pmid35834138, year = {2022}, author = {Liang, SM and Zheng, FL and Wu, QS}, title = {Elucidating the dialogue between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and polyamines in plants.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {159}, pmid = {35834138}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Polyamines/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The most dominant arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiont can be established on roots of most terrestrial plants by beneficial AM fungi. A type of polycationic and aliphatic compounds, polyamines (PAs), are involved in plant physiological activities including stress responses. Interestingly, small amounts of PAs such as putrescine (Put) and spermidine (Spd) were found in AM fungal spores, and they are considered to be a component involved in mycorrhizal development, including mycorrhizal colonization, appressoria formation, spore germination and mycelial growth. Thus, PAs are regulatory factors in plant-AM symbiosis. Inoculation of AM fungi also affects the metabolism of endogenous PAs in host plants, including PAs synthesis and catabolism, thus, regulating various physiological events of the host. As a result, there seems to be a dialogue between PAs and AM fungi. Existing knowledge makes us understand that endogenous or exogenous PAs are an important regulator factor in the growth of AM fungi, as well as a key substance to colonize roots, which further enhances mycorrhizal benefits in plant growth responses and root architecture. The presence of AM symbiosis in roots alters the dynamic balance of endogenous PAs, triggering osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense systems, maintaining charge balance and acting as a stress signalling molecule, which affects various physiological activities, such as plant growth, nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance and improvement of root architecture. This review mainly elucidated (i) what is the role of fungal endogenous PAs in fungal growth and colonization of roots in host plants? (ii) how AM fungi and PAs interact with each other to alter the growth of fungi and plants and subsequent activities, providing the reference for the future combined use of AM fungi and PAs in agricultural production, although there are still many unknown events in the dialogue.}, } @article {pmid35832209, year = {2022}, author = {Shao, P and Yu, H and Xu, Z}, title = {Reading Game Sport from the Perspective of Sociology of Knowledge.}, journal = {Journal of environmental and public health}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {3711900}, pmid = {35832209}, issn = {1687-9813}, mesh = {Humans ; *Reading ; *Sociology ; }, abstract = {The evolution of media technology has not only changed readers' reading ways and reading habits but also tried to reshape their social behaviour. From the perspective of sociology of sustainable knowledge, this essay explores the impacts of technological change on reading through the framework of activity theory. It is found that digital reading is of increasing characteristics of "front stage" performance and reading anxiety in society, and sustainable knowledge anxiety began to spread. The research shows that the existing digital reading mode is actually the consumption of media, which is not conducive to the transmission and production of sustainable knowledge. Also, with the further development of technology, reading will open up a new chapter. The wisdom of human symbiosis will be infinitely stored and strive toward the era of global brain, which will help to better inherit sustainable knowledge and activate the vitality of sustainable knowledge production.}, } @article {pmid35831642, year = {2022}, author = {Kluting, K and Strid, Y and Six, D and Rosling, A}, title = {Forest Fire Influence on Tomicus piniperda-Associated Fungal Communities and Phloem Nutrient Availability of Colonized Pinus sylvestris.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35831642}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Forest fire is known to positively affect bark beetle populations by providing fire-damaged trees with impaired defenses for infestation. Tomicus piniperda, the common pine shoot beetle, breeds and lays eggs under the bark of stressed pine trees and is considered a serious forest pest within its native range. Wood-colonizing fungi have been hypothesized to improve substrate quality and detoxify tree defensive chemistry to indirectly facilitate tree colonization by beetles. While some bark beetle species form symbiotic associations with fungi and actively vector their partners when colonizing new trees, T. piniperda does not have mycangia or body hairs for specific vectoring of fungi. To explore the T. piniperda-associated fungal community for signs of specific association, we used ITS metabarcoding to separately characterize fungal communities associated with surface and gut of male and female beetles. We also characterized the temporal changes in fungal community and nutrient status of pine phloem with and without beetle galleries. Sampling was performed 2 years after a natural forest fire and included both burnt and unburnt sites. In our study system, we find that forest fire significantly impacts the fungal community composition associated with T. piniperda and that fire may also indirectly change nutrient availability in phloem to beetle galleries. We conclude that T. piniperda can vector fungi to newly colonized trees but the absence of positive effects on substrate quality and minimal effects of sex indicate that vectoring of associated fungal communities is not a strategy associated with the T. piniperda life cycle.}, } @article {pmid35830517, year = {2022}, author = {Coolen, S and Magda, RD and Welte, CU}, title = {The secret life of insect-associated microbes and how they shape insect-plant interactions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35830517}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Herbivory ; Insecta ; Plants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects are associated with a plethora of different microbes of which we are only starting to understand their role in shaping insect-plant interactions. Besides directly benefitting from symbiotic microbial metabolism, insects obtain and transmit microbes within their environment, making them ideal vectors and potential beneficiaries of plant diseases and microbes that alter plant defenses. To prevent damage, plants elicit stress-specific defenses to ward off insects and their microbiota. However, both insects and microbes harbor a wealth of adaptations that allow them to circumvent effective plant defense activation. In the past decades, it has become apparent that the enormous diversity and metabolic potential of insect-associated microbes may play a far more important role in shaping insect-plant interactions than previously anticipated. The latter may have implications for the development of sustainable pest control strategies. Therefore, this review sheds light on the current knowledge on multitrophic insect-microbe-plant interactions in a rapidly expanding field of research.}, } @article {pmid35830012, year = {2022}, author = {Teixeira, MFNP and Souza, CR and Morais, PB}, title = {Diversity and enzymatic capabilities of fungi associated with the digestive tract of larval stages of a shredder insect in Cerrado and Amazon Forest, Brazil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {e260039}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.260039}, pmid = {35830012}, issn = {1678-4375}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; Ecosystem ; *Forests ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; *Insecta ; Larva ; }, abstract = {Tropical biomes such as Brazilian Cerrado and Amazon Forest have a great diversity of fungi and insects. Interactions between these organisms can be beneficial to both partners. In streams, these interactions contribute to litter decomposition. Studying the digestive tract (DT) of shredder insects as a habitat for fungal microorganisms is an opportunity to obtain fungal strains with biotechnological potential, which may help to understand the symbiotic relationships between these organisms in tropical forests. This study investigated the fungal community in the DT of larvae of Triplectides (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) collected in low-order streams in the Cerrado and Amazon Forest biomes in Brazil. Forty-nine fungal isolates were obtained and identified among 32 species and 12 genera. The genus Roussoella was only found in the DT of insects in Amazon Forest streams, while 7 genera only occurred in the DT of insects in Cerrado streams. The genus Penicillium (40%) was the most frequent. In the Cerrado, 78% were producers of CMCase, more than two-fold that in the Amazon Forest (35%). And 62% were producers of xylanase, in the Cerrado and 71% in the Amazon Forest. In this context, the fungal community in the DT of Triplectides larvae may play an important role in the insect diet by breaking down lignocellulosic material.}, } @article {pmid35829902, year = {2022}, author = {Mukherjee, S and Bhattacharjee, S and Paul, S and Nath, S and Paul, S}, title = {Biofilm-a Syntrophic Consortia of Microbial Cells: Boon or Bane?.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35829902}, issn = {1559-0291}, abstract = {Biofilm is the conglomeration of microbial cells which is associated with a surface. In the recent times, the study of biofilm has gained popularity and vivid research is being done to know about the effects of biofilm and that it consists of many organisms which are symbiotic in nature, some of which are human pathogens. Here, in this study, we have discussed about biofilms, its formation, relevance of its presence in the biosphere, and the possible remediations to cope up with its negative effects. Since removal of biofilm is difficult, emphasis has been made to suggest ways to prevent biofilm formation and also to devise ways to utilize biofilm in an economically and environment-friendly method.}, } @article {pmid35822627, year = {2022}, author = {Toopaang, W and Bunnak, W and Srisuksam, C and Wattananukit, W and Tanticharoen, M and Yang, YL and Amnuaykanjanasin, A}, title = {Microbial polyketides and their roles in insect virulence: from genomics to biological functions.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {39}, number = {11}, pages = {2008-2029}, doi = {10.1039/d1np00058f}, pmid = {35822627}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Animals ; *Polyketides/metabolism ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Virulence/genetics ; Genomics ; Insecta/microbiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Covering: May 1966 up to January 2022Entomopathogenic microorganisms have potential for biological control of insect pests. Their main secondary metabolites include polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, and polyketide-nonribosomal peptide (PK-NRP) hybrids. Among these secondary metabolites, polyketides have mainly been studied for structural identification, pathway engineering, and for their contributions to medicine. However, little is known about the function of polyketides in insect virulence. This review focuses on the role of bacterial and fungal polyketides, as well as PK-NRP hybrids in insect infection and killing. We also discuss gene distribution and evolutional relationships among different microbial species. Further, the role of microbial polyketides and the hybrids in modulating insect-microbial symbiosis is also explored. Understanding the mechanisms of polyketides in insect pathogenesis, how compounds moderate the host-fungus interaction, and the distribution of PKS genes across different fungi and bacteria will facilitate the discovery and development of novel polyketide-derived bio-insecticides.}, } @article {pmid35821127, year = {2022}, author = {Roy, J and Reichel, R and Brüggemann, N and Rillig, MC}, title = {Functional, not Taxonomic, Composition of Soil Fungi Reestablishes to Pre-mining Initial State After 52 Years of Recultivation.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35821127}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Open-cast mining leads to the loss of naturally developed soils and their ecosystem functions and services. Soil restoration after mining aims to restore the agricultural productivity in which the functions of the fungal community play a crucial role. Whether fungi reach a comparable functional state as in the soil before mining within half a century of recultivation is still unanswered. Here, we characterised the soil fungal community using ITS amplicon Illumina sequencing across a 52-year chronosequence of agricultural recultivation after open-cast mining in northern Europe. Both taxonomic and functional community composition showed profound shifts over time, which could be attributed to the changes in nutrient status, especially phosphorus availability. However, taxonomic composition did not reach the pre-mining state, whereas functional composition did. Importantly, we identified a positive development of arbuscular mycorrhizal root fungal symbionts after the initial three years of alfalfa cultivation, followed by a decline after conversion to conventional farming, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi being replaced by soil saprobes. We conclude that appropriate agricultural management can steer the fungal community to its functional pre-mining state despite stochasticity in the reestablishment of soil fungal communities. Nonetheless, conventional agricultural management results in the loss of plant symbionts, favouring non-symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid35819348, year = {2022}, author = {Hung, SW and Chiu, MC and Huang, CC and Kuo, CH}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Curtobacterium sp. C1, a Beneficial Endophyte with the Potential for In-Plant Salinity Stress Alleviation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {731-735}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-22-0027-A}, pmid = {35819348}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics ; *Plants/genetics ; Salt Stress ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, } @article {pmid35818672, year = {2022}, author = {Plett, JM and Sabotič, J and Vogt, E and Snijders, F and Kohler, A and Nielsen, UN and Künzler, M and Martin, F and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {Mycorrhiza-induced mycocypins of Laccaria bicolor are potent protease inhibitors with nematotoxic and collembola antifeedant activity.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {4607-4622}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16115}, pmid = {35818672}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Laccaria ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Protease Inhibitors/metabolism/pharmacology ; Soil ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Fungivory of mycorrhizal hyphae has a significant impact on fungal fitness and, by extension, on nutrient transfer between fungi and host plants in natural ecosystems. Mycorrhizal fungi have therefore evolved an arsenal of chemical compounds that are hypothesized to protect the hyphal tissues from being eaten, such as the protease inhibitors mycocypins. The genome of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor has an unusually high number of mycocypin-encoding genes. We have characterized the evolution of this class of proteins, identified those induced by symbiosis with a host plant and characterized the biochemical properties of two upregulated L. bicolor mycocypins. More than half of L. bicolor mycocypin-encoding genes are differentially expressed during symbiosis or fruiting body formation. We show that two L. bicolor mycocypins that are strongly induced during symbiosis are cysteine protease inhibitors and exhibit similar but distinct localization in fungal tissues at different developmental stages and during interaction with a host plant. Moreover, we show that these L. bicolor mycocypins have toxic and feeding deterrent effect on nematodes and collembolans, respectively. Therefore, L. bicolor mycocypins may be part of a mechanism by which this species deters grazing by different members of the soil food web.}, } @article {pmid35818534, year = {2023}, author = {Rejeb, A and Rejeb, K and Zailani, S and Kayikci, Y and Keogh, JG}, title = {Examining Knowledge Diffusion in the Circular Economy Domain: a Main Path Analysis.}, journal = {Circular economy and sustainability}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {125-166}, pmid = {35818534}, issn = {2730-5988}, abstract = {The circular economy (CE) field has recently attracted significant interest from academics and practitioners. CE represents a departure from the linear economy, which is characterised by unsustainable resource production and consumption. The growing number of publications necessitates a comprehensive analysis of this field. This is the first systematic examination of the knowledge base and knowledge diffusion pathways in the CE domain. We analyse a Web of Science dataset containing 5431 articles published between 1970 and 2020. To create a comprehensive review of the CE domain, we conducted a keyword co-occurrence network analysis. We examined four distinct types of main paths using the main path analysis (MPA) technique: forward, backward, global, and key-route. According to the analyses, CE research focuses on six primary research themes: CE and sustainability, bioeconomy, CE practices, lifecycle assessment and industrial symbiosis, construction activities, and waste management. In addition, the MPA demonstrates that the CE literature has recently focused on Industry 4.0 technologies and their contribution to CE. This is the first attempt to depict the genealogy of CE research so that scholars can comprehend the domain's evolutionary structure, identify hot topics, and capture the history, development status, and potential future directions of CE research.}, } @article {pmid35817840, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, P and Dey, P}, title = {Co-dependencies in the tumor immune microenvironment.}, journal = {Oncogene}, volume = {41}, number = {31}, pages = {3821-3829}, pmid = {35817840}, issn = {1476-5594}, support = {R00 CA218891/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA262822/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA016056/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Carcinogenesis/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/pathology ; Oncogenes ; *Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; }, abstract = {Activated oncogenes and disrupted tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) not only endow aspiring cancer cells with new biological capabilities but also influence the composition and function of host cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). These non-cancer host cells can in turn provide cancer cells with growth support and protection from the anti-tumor immune response. In this ecosystem, geospatially heterogenous "subTME" adds to the complexity of the "global" TME which bestows tumors with increased tumorigenic ability and resistance to therapy. This review highlights how specific genetic alterations in cancer cells establish various symbiotic co-dependencies with surrounding host cells and details the cooperative role of the host cells in tumor biology. These essential interactions expand the repertoire of targets for the development of precision cancer treatments.}, } @article {pmid35817824, year = {2022}, author = {Pecrix, Y and Sallet, E and Moreau, S and Bouchez, O and Carrere, S and Gouzy, J and Jardinaud, MF and Gamas, P}, title = {DNA demethylation and hypermethylation are both required for late nodule development in Medicago.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {741-749}, pmid = {35817824}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {DNA Demethylation ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; RNA/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant epigenetic regulations are involved in transposable element silencing, developmental processes and responses to the environment[1-7]. They often involve modifications of DNA methylation, particularly through the DEMETER (DME) demethylase family and RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM)[8]. Root nodules host rhizobia that can fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant's benefit in nitrogen-poor soils. The development of indeterminate nodules, as in Medicago truncatula, involves successive waves of gene activation[9-12], control of which raises interesting questions. Using laser capture microdissection (LCM) coupled to RNA-sequencing (SYMbiMICS data[11]), we previously identified 4,309 genes (termed NDD) activated in the nodule differentiation and nitrogen fixation zones, 36% of which belong to co-regulated genomic regions dubbed symbiotic islands[13]. We found MtDME to be upregulated in the differentiation zone and required for nodule development, and we identified 474 differentially methylated regions hypomethylated in the nodule by analysing ~2% of the genome[4]. Here, we coupled LCM and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing for a comprehensive view of DNA methylation, integrated with gene expression at the tissue level. Furthermore, using CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis of MtDRM2, we showed the importance of RdDM for CHH hypermethylation and nodule development. We thus proposed a model of DNA methylation dynamics during nodule development.}, } @article {pmid35817411, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, YC and Wang, L and Zhu, L and Wang, ZL}, title = {Highly Sensitive Photoelectric Detection and Imaging Enhanced by the Pyro-Phototronic Effect Based on a Photoinduced Dynamic Schottky Effect in 4H-SiC.}, journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)}, volume = {34}, number = {35}, pages = {e2204363}, doi = {10.1002/adma.202204363}, pmid = {35817411}, issn = {1521-4095}, abstract = {Silicon carbide (SiC), one of the third-generation semiconductor materials with excellent electrical and optoelectronic properties, is ideal for high light-sensing performance. Here, a self-powered SiC ultraviolet (UV) photodetector (PD) is constructed with wider applicability and higher commercialization potential. The great performance of the PD is realized by a remarkable photoinduced dynamic Schottky effect derived from the symbiotic modulation of Schottky and Ohmic contact. Using the pyro-phototronic effect that exists in the N-doped 4H-SiC single crystal PDs, a fast pyroelectric response time of 0.27 s is achieved, which is almost ten times shorter than that obtained from the steady-state signal under UV illumination. The maximal transient photoresponsivity reaches 9.12 nA mW[-1] , which is ≈20% higher than the conventional photoelectric signal. Moreover, different regions of the 4H-SiC centimeter-scale chip output distinct signals under UV illumination, demonstrating efficient optical imaging and information transmission capabilities of this device. This work not only reveals the fundamental optoelectronic physics lying in this vital third-generation semiconductor, but also sheds light on its potential photosensing applications for large-scale commercialization.}, } @article {pmid35817103, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Ma, Y and Chen, M and Zhou, T and Ji, R and Guo, R and Chen, J}, title = {Trophic transfer and environmental safety of carbon dots from microalgae to Daphnia.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {844}, number = {}, pages = {157201}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157201}, pmid = {35817103}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon ; *Chlorella ; Daphnia ; Ecosystem ; *Microalgae ; Water ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The application of carbon dots (CDs), a novel carbon nanomaterial, is extensive, leading to inevitable CD pollution. However, studies on their environmental fate and related risks to aquatic ecosystems are limited. Here, the trophic transfer of CDs from Chlorella pyrenoidosa to Daphnia magna and their toxic effects on the two organisms were analyzed. [14]C-labelling was used to quantify and evaluate the fate of CDs. The results showed that the radioactivity of CDs in water was >80 % of the initial radioactivity, and that water extractable residues were dominant in organisms, with only 3 % or less recovered from the mineralization product [14]CO2. The distribution of radioactivity illustrated how the exposure routes changed the fate of CDs in aquatic environments. CD aggregates were found in algal cells and Daphnia intestinal tract, indicating the cellular uptake of CDs in these aquatic organisms. Wall-membrane detachment, cell collapse, and rupture were observed in the ultrastructural investigations of microalgae, whereas pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis was observed in the ultrastructural investigations of D. magna. CD exposure affected the growth and chlorophyll content of C. pyrenoidosa as well as the feeding behavior, oxidative stress system, digestive system, and symbiotic bacteria of D. magna. The toxicity of CDs is also affected by the route of exposure. These findings suggest that dietary exposure to CDs was more likely to cause environmental risk and adverse effects than aqueous exposure, and the environmental risks associated with CDs should not be underestimated.}, } @article {pmid35815756, year = {2022}, author = {Wan, C and Liu, ZB and Tan, H and Zhang, Z and Zhou, Q and Yao, LH and Meng, W and Wang, S}, title = {Effect of voluntary wheel running on gut microbiota composition in developing mice.}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {896-904}, doi = {10.20960/nh.03944}, pmid = {35815756}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Animals ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; Motor Activity ; *Physical Conditioning, Animal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Background: exercise can increase the species and quantity of beneficial gut microbiota, enrich the diversity of microflora, and promote the development of symbiotic bacteria, especially in the stage of ontogeny. However, there is little evidence of the short-term voluntary exercise effect on the gut microbiota in developing mice. Material and method: therefore, we used short-term voluntary wheel running model to study the gut microbiota of developing mice (1 month old), and detected the fecal samples by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: the results showed that after 4 weeks of voluntary wheel running, the body weight of the running group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Conclusion: there was a significant separation between the running group and the control group in beta diversity measures. At the family level, the clostridiales flora of the running group was higher than that of the control group. Compared with the control group, the abundance of parabacteroides flora and anaerovorax flora increased significantly, and the abundance of anaerotruncus flora and odoribacter flora decreased significantly in the running group. These results showed that gut microbiota be affected after short-term voluntary wheel running in developing mice.}, } @article {pmid35815122, year = {2022}, author = {Cai, W and Hu, P and Li, Z and Kang, Q and Chen, H and Zhang, J and Zhu, S}, title = {Effect of high ammonia on granular stability and phosphorus recovery of algal-bacterial granules in treatment of synthetic biogas slurry.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e09844}, pmid = {35815122}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The aim of the study was to investigate the application of algal-bacterial granules in treatment of high ammonia wastewater. Two identical cylindrical reactors, i.e., Rc and Rs was used to develop granular sludge system with synthetic biogas slurry. Rs was run under an artificial solar lamp controlled at 12 h power on and 12 h power off (∼10,000 lux); Rc was operated as control (no light). Results showed that algal-bacterial granules (ABGS) developed in Rs exhibited better structural stability in the face of high ammonia influent. Compared with aerobic granules (AGS), ABGS possessed high proteins (PN) content (145.3 mg/g-VSS) in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and better O2 mass transfer inner granules. Higher phosphorus (P) removal capacity was obtained in Rs even under 400 mg/L NH3-N which resulted in higher P content in ABGS biomass (56.4 mg/g-TSS). Bioavailable P in ABGS was 44 mg P/g-SS on day 160, approximately 1.53-times higher than that in AGS.}, } @article {pmid35814705, year = {2022}, author = {Santra, HK and Banerjee, D}, title = {Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Action of Cell-Free Culture Extracts and Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Endophytic Fungi Curvularia Eragrostidis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {920561}, pmid = {35814705}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytes are the mutualistic microorganisms that reside within the host plant and promote plant growth in adverse conditions. Plants and their endophytes are engaged in a symbiotic relationship that enables endophytes to access bioactive genes of the ethnomedicinal plants, and, as a result, endophytes are constantly addressed in the sector of pharmaceuticals and agriculture for their multidomain bio-utility. The gradual increase of antimicrobial resistance can be effectively countered by the endophytic metabolites. In these circumstances, in the present investigation, endophytic Curvularia eragrostidis HelS1 was isolated from an ethnomedicinally valuable plant Helecteris isora from East India's forests. The secondary volatile and non-volatile metabolites are extracted from HelS1 and are found to be effective broad-spectrum antimicrobials. A total of 26 secondary metabolites (9 volatiles and 17 non-volatiles) are extracted from the isolate, which exhibits effective antibacterial [against six Gram-positive and seven Gram-negative pathogens with a minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value ranging from 12.5 to 400 μg ml[-1]] and antifungal (against seven fungal plant pathogens) activity. The secondary metabolite production was optimised by one variable at a time technique coupled with the response surface methodology. The results revealed that there was a 34% increase in antibacterial activity in parameters with 6.87 g L[-1] of fructose (as a carbon source), 3.79 g L[-1] of peptone (as a nitrogen source), pH 6.75, and an inoculation period of 191.5 h for fermentation. The volatile metabolite production was also found to be optimum when the medium was supplemented with yeast extract and urea (0.2 g L[-1]) along with dextrose (40 g L[-1]). Amongst extracted volatile metabolites, 1-H-indene 1 methanol acetate, tetroquinone, N, N-diphenyl-2-nitro-thio benzamide, Trans 1, 2-diethyl-trans-2-decalinol, naphthalene, and azulene are found to be the most effective. Our investigation opens up opportunities in the sector of sustainable agriculture as well as the discovery of novel antimicrobials against dreadful phyto and human pathogens.}, } @article {pmid35814684, year = {2022}, author = {Barman, M and Samanta, S and Upadhyaya, G and Thakur, H and Chakraborty, S and Samanta, A and Tarafdar, J}, title = {Unraveling the Basis of Neonicotinoid Resistance in Whitefly Species Complex: Role of Endosymbiotic Bacteria and Insecticide Resistance Genes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {901793}, pmid = {35814684}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bemisia tabaci (whitefly) is one of the most detrimental agricultural insect pests and vectors of many plant viruses distributed worldwide. Knowledge of the distribution patterns and insecticide resistance of this cryptic species is crucial for its management. In this study, genetic variation of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (MtCoI) gene of B. tabaci was analyzed followed by a study of the infection profile of various endosymbionts in 26 whitefly populations collected from West Bengal, India. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Asia I as the major cryptic species (65.38%), followed by Asia II 5, China 3, and Asia II 7, which were diversified into 20 different haplotypes. In addition to the primary endosymbiont (C. poriera), each of the four whitefly species showed a variable population of three secondary endosymbionts, majorly Arsenophonus with the highest infection rate (73.07%), followed by Wolbachia and Rickettsia. Further phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of two subgroups of Arsenophonus, viz., A1 and A2, and one each in Wolbachia (W1) and Rickettsia (R3). Resistance to thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid insecticides was analyzed for a clear picture of pesticide resistance status. The highest susceptibility was noted toward thiamethoxam (LC50 = 5.36 mg/L), followed by imidacloprid and acetamiprid. The whitefly population from Purulia and Hooghly districts bearing Asia II 7 and Asia II 5 cryptic species, respectively, shows maximum resistance. The differences in mean relative titer of four symbiotic bacteria among field populations varied considerably; however, a significant positive linear correlation was observed between the resistance level and relative titer of Arsenophonus and Wolbachia in the case of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, while only Wolbachia was found in case of acetamiprid. Expression analysis demonstrated differential upregulation of insecticide resistance genes with Purulia and Hooghly populations showing maximally upregulated P450 genes. Moreover, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid resistance ratio (RR) showed a significant correlation with CYP6CM1, CYP6DZ7, and CYP4C64 genes, while acetamiprid RR correlated with CYP6CX1, CYP6DW2, CYP6DZ7, and CYP4C64 genes. Taken together, these findings suggested that P450 mono-oxygenase and symbiotic bacteria together affected whitefly resistance to neonicotinoids. Hence, a symbiont-oriented management programme could be a better alternative to control or delay resistance development in whitefly and can be used for pesticide clean-up in an agricultural field.}, } @article {pmid35814642, year = {2022}, author = {Redman, RS and Anderson, JA and Biaggi, TM and Malmberg, KEL and Rienstra, MN and Weaver, JL and Rodriguez, RJ}, title = {Symbiotic Modulation as a Driver of Niche Expansion of Coastal Plants in the San Juan Archipelago of Washington State.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {868081}, pmid = {35814642}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Modern evolutionary theory and population genetics posit that adaptation and habitat expansion of plants result from processes exclusive to their genomes. Here, we present studies showing that plants can grow across complex habitat gradients by modulating symbiotic associations with Class 2 fungal endophytes. Endophyte analysis of three native (Leymus mollis, Distichlis spicata, and Salicornia pacifica) and one invasive (Spartina anglica) plant growing across adjacent microhabitats in the San Juan Archipelago altered associations with Class 2 fungal endophytes in response to soil salinity levels. At the microhabitat interfaces where the gradation of salinity varied, the plants were colonized by endophytes from both microhabitats. A reciprocal transplant study along a salt gradient demonstrated that Leymus mollis (dunegrass) required endophytes indigenous to each microhabitat for optimal fitness and/or survival. In contrast, when dunegrass and Grindelia integrifolia (gumweed) were found growing in low salinity, but high drought habitats, these plant species had their own unique dominant endophyte association regardless of geographic proximity and conferred drought but not high salt stress tolerance. Modulation of endophyte abundance occurred in planta based on the ability of the symbiont to confer tolerance to the stress imposed on plants. The ability of an endophyte to confer appropriate stress tolerance resulted in a significant increase of in planta fungal abundance. Conversely, the inability of an endophyte to confer stress tolerance resulted in a decrease of in planta fungal abundance. Our studies indicate that Class 2 fungal endophytes can provide a symbiotic mechanism for niche expansion and phenotypic plasticity across environmental gradients.}, } @article {pmid35813926, year = {2022}, author = {Yap, FC and Høeg, JT and Chan, BKK}, title = {Living on fire: Deactivating fire coral polyps for larval settlement and symbiosis in the fire coral-associated barnacle Wanella milleporae (Thoracicalcarea: Wanellinae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {e9057}, pmid = {35813926}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Symbiosis is increasingly recognized as being an important component in marine systems, and many such relationships are initiated when free-swimming larvae of one partner settle and become sedentary on a host partner. Therefore, several crucial questions emerge such as the larva's mechanism of locating a host, selection of substratum and finally settlement on the surface of its future partner. Here, we investigated these mechanisms by studying how larvae of the fire coral-associated barnacle Wanella milleporae move, settle and establish symbiosis with their host, Millepora tenera. Cyprids of W. milleporae possess a pair of specialized antennules with bell-shaped attachment discs that enable them to explore and settle superficially on the hostile surface of the fire coral. Intriguingly, the stinging polyps of the fire coral remain in their respective pores when the cyprids explore the fire coral surface. Even when cyprids come into contact with the nematocysts on the extended stinging polyps during the exploratory phase, no immobilization effects against the cyprids were observed. The exploratory phase of Wanella cyprids can be divided into a sequence of wide searching (large step length and high walking speed), close searching (small step length and low speed) and inspection behavior, eventually resulting in permanent settlement and metamorphosis. After settlement, xenogeneic interactions occur between the fire coral and the newly metamorphosed juvenile barnacle. This involved tissue necrosis and regeneration in the fire coral host, leading to a callus ring structure around the juvenile barnacle, enhancing survival rate after settlement. The complex exploratory and settlement patterns and interactions documented here represent a breakthrough in coral reef symbiosis studies to show how invertebrates start symbiosis with fire corals.}, } @article {pmid35813907, year = {2022}, author = {Kubovčiak, J and Schmiedová, L and Albrecht, T and Těšický, M and Tomášek, O and Kauzálová, T and Kreisinger, J}, title = {Within-community variation of interspecific divergence patterns in passerine gut microbiota.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {e9071}, pmid = {35813907}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Gut microbiota (GM) often exhibit variation between different host species and co-divergence with hosts' phylogeny. Identifying these patterns is a key for understanding the mechanisms that shaped symbiosis between GM and its hosts. Therefore, both GM-host species specificity and GM-host co-divergence have been investigated by numerous studies. However, most of them neglected a possibility that different groups of bacteria within GM can vary in the tightness of their association with the host. Consequently, unlike most of these studies, we aimed to directly address how the strength of GM-host species specificity and GM-host co-divergence vary across different GM clades. We decomposed GM communities of 52 passerine species (394 individuals), characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequence variant (ASV) profiles, into monophyletic Binned Taxonomic units (BTUs). Subsequently, we analyzed strength of host species specificity and correlation with host phylogeny separately for resulting BTUs. We found that most BTUs exhibited significant host-species specificity in their composition. Notably, BTUs exhibiting high host-species specificity comprised bacterial taxa known to impact host's physiology and immune system. However, BTUs rarely displayed significant co-divergence with host phylogeny, suggesting that passerine GM evolution is not shaped primarily through a shared evolutionary history between the host and its gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid35812902, year = {2022}, author = {Quilbé, J and Montiel, J and Arrighi, JF and Stougaard, J}, title = {Molecular Mechanisms of Intercellular Rhizobial Infection: Novel Findings of an Ancient Process.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {922982}, pmid = {35812902}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {834221/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Establishment of the root-nodule symbiosis in legumes involves rhizobial infection of nodule primordia in the root cortex that is dependent on rhizobia crossing the root epidermal barrier. Two mechanisms have been described: either through root hair infection threads or through the intercellular passage of bacteria. Among the legume genera investigated, around 75% use root hair entry and around 25% the intercellular entry mode. Root-hair infection thread-mediated infection has been extensively studied in the model legumes Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus. In contrast, the molecular circuit recruited during intercellular infection, which is presumably an ancient and simpler pathway, remains poorly known. In recent years, important discoveries have been made to better understand the transcriptome response and the genetic components involved in legumes with obligate (Aeschynomene and Arachis spp.) and conditional (Lotus and Sesbania spp.) intercellular rhizobial infections. This review addresses these novel findings and briefly considers possible future research to shed light on the molecular players that orchestrate intercellular infection in legumes.}, } @article {pmid35812026, year = {2022}, author = {Selvakumar, D and Evans, D and Coyte, KZ and McLaughlin, J and Brass, A and Hancock, L and Cruickshank, S}, title = {Understanding the development and function of the gut microbiota in health and inflammation.}, journal = {Frontline gastroenterology}, volume = {13}, number = {e1}, pages = {e13-e21}, pmid = {35812026}, issn = {2041-4137}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is known to play an important role in maintaining gut health through a symbiotic relationship with the host. Altered gut microbiota is a common feature of several diseases of the gastrointestinal tract; however, the causal relationship between microbiota and disease pathogenesis is poorly understood. Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are both severe inflammatory diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Although they affect very different patient populations, with NEC primarily being a disease of prematurity and IBD predominantly affecting adults although children can be affected, they both demonstrate common features of gut microbial dysbiosis and a dysregulated host immune response. By comparing and contrasting the changes in gut microbiota, host immune response and function, we aim to highlight common features in diseases that may seem clinically unrelated. Key areas of interest are the role of pattern recognition receptors in altered recognition and responses to the gut microbiota by the host immune system and the associated dysfunctional gut epithelial barrier. The challenge of identifying causal relationships between microbiota and disease is ever-present; however, considering a disease-agnostic approach may help to identify mechanistic pathways shared across several clinical diseases.}, } @article {pmid35811563, year = {2022}, author = {Kundu, A and Vadassery, J}, title = {Molecular mechanisms of Piriformospora indica mediated growth promotion in plants.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {2096785}, pmid = {35811563}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Endophytes ; Plant Development ; *Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica is a root endophyte having a vast host range in plants. Plant growth promotion is a hallmark of the symbiotic interaction of P. indica with its hosts. As a plant growth-promoting microorganism, it is important to know the mechanisms involved in growth induction. Hitherto, multiple reports have demonstrated various molecular mechanisms of P. indica-mediated growth promotion, including protein kinase-mediated pathway, enhanced nutrient uptake and polyamine-mediated growth phytohormone elevation. Here, we briefly present a discussion on the state-of-the-art molecular mechanisms of P. indica-mediated growth promotion in host plants, in order to obtain a future prospect on utilization of this microorganism for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35811376, year = {2022}, author = {Villain, P and Catchpole, R and Forterre, P and Oberto, J and da Cunha, V and Basta, T}, title = {Expanded Dataset Reveals the Emergence and Evolution of DNA Gyrase in Archaea.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {35811376}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {*Archaea/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics ; *DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; }, abstract = {DNA gyrase is a type II topoisomerase with the unique capacity to introduce negative supercoiling in DNA. In bacteria, DNA gyrase has an essential role in the homeostatic regulation of supercoiling. While ubiquitous in bacteria, DNA gyrase was previously reported to have a patchy distribution in Archaea but its emergent function and evolutionary history in this domain of life remains elusive. In this study, we used phylogenomic approaches and an up-to date sequence dataset to establish global and archaea-specific phylogenies of DNA gyrases. The most parsimonious evolutionary scenario infers that DNA gyrase was introduced into the lineage leading to Euryarchaeal group II via a single horizontal gene transfer from a bacterial donor which we identified as an ancestor of Gracilicutes and/or Terrabacteria. The archaea-focused trees indicate that DNA gyrase spread from Euryarchaeal group II to some DPANN and Asgard lineages via rare horizontal gene transfers. The analysis of successful recent transfers suggests a requirement for syntropic or symbiotic/parasitic relationship between donor and recipient organisms. We further show that the ubiquitous archaeal Topoisomerase VI may have co-evolved with DNA gyrase to allow the division of labor in the management of topological constraints. Collectively, our study reveals the evolutionary history of DNA gyrase in Archaea and provides testable hypotheses to understand the prerequisites for successful establishment of DNA gyrase in a naive archaeon and the associated adaptations in the management of topological constraints.}, } @article {pmid35810967, year = {2022}, author = {Abidin, Z and Huang, HT and Hu, YF and Chang, JJ and Huang, CY and Wu, YS and Nan, FH}, title = {Effect of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera leaf extract and Lactobacillus acidophilus on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, immune response, and disease resistance in whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei).}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {876-890}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2022.07.007}, pmid = {35810967}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Disease Resistance ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Immunity, Innate ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism ; *Moringa oleifera ; *Penaeidae ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Superoxides ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the effect of the moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract and Lactobacillus acidophilus individually or combined on growth performance, enzyme activity, intestinal and hepatopancreatic histology, intestinal microbiota, immune response, and resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Six diets were formulated: three diets without L. acidophilus containining 0 (control, ME0), 2.5 (ME2.5), and 5.0 g/kg of moringa (ME5.0) and the same three diets containing L. acidophilus at 1 × 10[7] CFU/g of diet (ME0+P, ME2.5 + P, and ME5.0 + P, respectively). Growth performance was measured after 60 days of the rearing period. On the final day, the shrimp were sampled to assess enzyme activity, intestinal and hepatopancreatic histology, and gut microbiota. Shrimp hemocytes were examined on Days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 to measure the immune response in terms of the total hemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, phagocytosis, and superoxide anion production. Furthermore, the shrimp were challenged with V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus. The results revealed that ME2.5 + P significantly increased (P < 0.05) final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, enzyme activities, and villi height compared with ME2.5 and control. Wall thickness was increased in the shrimp fed diet supplemented with moringa and L. acidophilus compared with the control shrimp. Hepatopancreatic histology revealed that R cells were more abundant in the shrimp fed diet containing moringa and L. acidophilus compared with those fed diet containing moringa alone (P < 0.05) at the same concentration. High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated that the dietary supplementation with moringa and L. acidophilus affected the gut microbiota composition. All gene functions, members of KEGG level 2, related to metabolism were increased in diet supplemented with moringa with or without L. acidophilus compared with the control group. The immune assay revealed that the total hemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, phagocytic rate, superoxide anion production, and immune-related gene expression (including those of prophenoloxidase II, alpha-2-macroglobulin, penaeidin2, antilipopolysaccharide factor, crustin, lysozyme, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) were higher in the experimental groups than in the control group on several observed days; however, the increases were observed more often in the ME2.5 + P group than in the other treatment groups. Furthermore, the ME2.5 + P group exhibited a significantly higher survival rate (P < 0.05) in the challenge test against V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus. In conclusion, supplementation with dietary moringa and L. acidophilus at ME2.5 + P improved growth performance, immune system, and resistance against Vibrio in the shrimp.}, } @article {pmid35810320, year = {2022}, author = {Bastías, DA and Applegate, ER and Johnson, LJ and Card, SD}, title = {Factors controlling the effects of mutualistic bacteria on plants associated with fungi.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {1879-1888}, pmid = {35810320}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Fungi ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants interacting with mutualistic fungi (MF) or antagonistic fungi (AF) can form associations with bacteria. We assessed whether the performance gain conferred by mutualistic bacteria to fungal-associated plants is affected by the interaction between symbiont traits, type of bacterial-protective traits against AF and abiotic/biotic stresses. Results showed that (A) performance gain conferred by bacteria to MF-associated plants was greater when symbionts promoted distinct rather than similar plant functions, (B) bacterial-based alleviation of the AF's negative effect on plants was independent of the type of protective trait, (C) bacteria promoted a greater performance of symbiotic plants in presence of biotic, but not abiotic, stress compared to stress-free situations. The plant performance gain was not affected by any fungal-bacterial trait combination but optimised when bacteria conferred resistance traits in biotic stress situations. The effects of bacteria on fungal-associated plants were controlled by the interaction between the symbionts' functional traits and the relationship between bacterial traits and abiotic/biotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid35809743, year = {2022}, author = {Dong, H and Liu, W and Zhang, H and Zheng, X and Duan, H and Zhou, L and Xu, T and Ruan, R}, title = {Improvement of phosphate solubilizing bacteria Paenibacillus xylanexedens on the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and wastewater treatment in attached cultivation.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {306}, number = {}, pages = {135604}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135604}, pmid = {35809743}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Chlorella/metabolism ; Lipids ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Paenibacillus ; Phosphates/metabolism/pharmacology ; Wastewater/microbiology ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic system of algae-bacteria, and attached cultivation, are two ways to increase microalgae biomass, and beneficially effect wastewater treatment. However, the possible advantages of the algae-bacteria co-culture in attached cultivation, are still unclear. This paper investigates the effects of different morphologies of a phosphate solubilizing bacteria-Paenibacillus xylanexedens (bacteria supernatant, bacteria, broken bacteria), on the growth of microalgae-Chlorella pyrenoidosa and wastewater treatment in an attached co-culture system. The results show that the broken bacteria had the most significant effect, with the biomass and protein content of Chlorella pyrenoidosa increasing by 125.67% and 25.04%; and the removal rate of COD, NH4[+]-N and PO4[3-] in wastewater increasing by 23.57%, 146.15% and 9.96% respectively. This indicates that the intracellular material of the Paenibacillus xylanexedens was more effective in promoting the biomass growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and the removal rates of COD, NH4[+]-N and PO4[3-], compared to the algae growing without the bacteria. The algae-bacteria symbiotic attached mode was superior to the suspended mode, in terms of both Chlorella pyrenoidosa biomass enhancement and effective wastewater treatment. The addition of different morphologies of Paenibacillus xylanexedens significantly enlarged the difference between the two culture modes. This study provides a new method for coupled algae-bacteria co-cultures for wastewater treatment, based on the symbiotic effect.}, } @article {pmid35809734, year = {2022}, author = {Talapatra, N and Ghosh, UK}, title = {New concept of biodiesel production using food waste digestate powder: Co-culturing algae-activated sludge symbiotic system in low N and P paper mill wastewater.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {844}, number = {}, pages = {157207}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157207}, pmid = {35809734}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biofuels/analysis ; Biomass ; *Chlorophyta ; Fatty Acids ; Food ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus ; Powders ; *Refuse Disposal ; Sewage ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This paper aims to demonstrate an innovative process for the conversion of food waste digestate (FWD) powder into biofuel. The effects of different doses of FWD are investigated on microalgae-activated sludge (MAS) in treating pulp and paper mill wastewater (PPW) which generally contains insufficient nitrogen and phosphorus. FWD was added to adjust the initial N:P molar ratio in MAS at various levels (8:1 to 15:1). The highest Auxenochlorella protothecoides biomass achieved was 1.67 gL[-1] at a 13.45:1 N/P molar ratio of PPW. After 10 days of cultivation, Auxenochlorella protothecoides-activated sludge system removed 91.7 %, 74.6 %, and 91.5 % of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and sCOD respectively at D0.836 gL[-1] DD. The highest lipid productivity was reported as 41.27 ± 2.43 mg L[-1] day[-1]. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis showed the presence of an appreciable percentage of balanced saturated and unsaturated fatty acids i.e. palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid, rendering its potential as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Activated sludge induced flocculation of Auxenochlorella protothecoides was measured. The whole process establishes an effective means of circular economy, where the secondary source of recyclable nutrients i.e. FWD will be used as a source of N and P in PPW to obtain algal biodiesel from a negative value industrial wastewater.}, } @article {pmid35807915, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, F and Marungruang, N and Kostiuchenko, O and Kravchenko, N and Burleigh, S and Prykhodko, O and Hållenius, FF and Heyman-Lindén, L}, title = {Identification of Nordic Berries with Beneficial Effects on Cognitive Outcomes and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat-Fed Middle-Aged C57BL/6J Mice.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {35807915}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Akkermansia ; Animals ; Cecum/microbiology ; *Cognition ; *Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Dietary Supplements ; *Fruit/chemistry ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hippocampus ; Hippophae/chemistry ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurogenesis ; Ribes/chemistry ; Vaccinium/chemistry ; }, abstract = {High-fat diets are associated with neuronal and memory dysfunction. Berries may be useful in improving age-related memory deficits in humans, as well as in mice receiving high-fat diets. Emerging research has also demonstrated that brain health and cognitive function may be related to the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota. In this study, the impact of Nordic berries on the brain and the gut microbiota was investigated in middle-aged C57BL/6J mice. The mice were fed high-fat diets (60%E fat) supplemented with freeze-dried powder (6% dwb) of bilberry, lingonberry, cloudberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, and sea buckthorn for 4 months. The results suggest that supplementation with bilberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, lingonberry, and (to some extent) cloudberry has beneficial effects on spatial cognition, as seen by the enhanced performance following the T-maze alternation test, as well as a greater proportion of DCX-expressing cells with prolongation in hippocampus. Furthermore, the proportion of the mucosa-associated symbiotic bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila increased by 4-14 times in the cecal microbiota of mice fed diets supplemented with lingonberry, bilberry, sea buckthorn, and blueberry. These findings demonstrate the potential of Nordic berries to preserve memory and cognitive function, and to induce alterations of the gut microbiota composition.}, } @article {pmid35807732, year = {2022}, author = {Baltazar-Bernal, O and Spinoso-Castillo, JL and Mancilla-Álvarez, E and Bello-Bello, JJ}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Induce Tolerance to Salinity Stress in Taro Plantlets (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) during Acclimatization.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {35807732}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Soil salinity is a problem that affects soil fertility and threatens agri-food crop production worldwide. Biotechnology, through plant micropropagation and the use of biofertilizers such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is an alternative to increase productivity and induce tolerance to salinity stress in different crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of the fungus Glomus intraradices on the ex vitro development of taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott cv. Criolla) plantlets under salinity stress during the acclimatization stage. In vitro-obtained C. esculenta plantlets were inoculated at different doses (0, 100, and 200 spores per plantlet) of G. intraradices during acclimatization. At 60 d of acclimatization in the greenhouse, plantlets were exposed to 100 mM NaCl salinity stress for 10 d. After the stress period, plantlet development, colonization percentage, and biomass were evaluated. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, proteins, proline, glycine-betaine, soluble phenols, and antioxidant capacity were quantified. The results showed differences in the developmental, physiological, and biochemical variables evaluated; however, no changes in total protein content were observed. Spore colonization showed that the symbiotic association has positive effects on the development of plantlets with or without salinity stress. This symbiotic interaction contributes to salinity stress tolerance in C. esculenta plantlets. The early application of AMF in in vitro-obtained taro plantlets is an alternative to increase or maintain the productivity of this crop in saline soils.}, } @article {pmid35807693, year = {2022}, author = {Felföldi, Z and Vidican, R and Stoian, V and Roman, IA and Sestras, AF and Rusu, T and Sestras, RE}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Fertilization Influence Yield, Growth and Root Colonization of Different Tomato Genotype.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {35807693}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial for plant development and help absorb water and minerals from the soil. The symbiosis between these fungi and plant roots is extremely important and could limit crop dependence on fertilizers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of AMF on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.), based on important agronomic traits of vegetative biomass, production, and fruits. The experiment was conducted in high tunnels, using 12 tomato genotypes under three different treatments: T1, control, without fertilizer and mycorrhizae colonization; T2, fertigation, without mycorrhizae colonization; and T3, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), seedling roots being inoculated with specialized soil-borne fungi. Plant growth, yield and fruit parameters indicated better results under mycorrhizal treatment. Root colonization with fungi varied significantly depending on the treatment and genotype, with a variation of 6.0-80.3% for frequency and 2.6-24.6% for intensity. For a majority of characteristics, the mycorrhization (T3) induced significant differences compared with the T1 and T2 treatments. In addition, AMF treatment induced a different response among the genotypes. Among the elements analyzed in the soil, significant differences were observed in phosphorous levels between planting the seedlings and after tomato harvesting and clearing of the plants. The results suggest that reducing fertilizers and promoting the symbiotic relationships of plants with soil microorganisms may have beneficial consequences for tomato crops.}, } @article {pmid35806234, year = {2022}, author = {Rodríguez-Pastén, A and Pérez-Hernández, N and Añorve-Morga, J and Jiménez-Alvarado, R and Cariño-Cortés, R and Sosa-Lozada, T and Fernández-Martínez, E}, title = {The Activity of Prebiotics and Probiotics in Hepatogastrointestinal Disorders and Diseases Associated with Metabolic Syndrome.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {35806234}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/complications/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Metabolic Syndrome/complications/therapy ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hepatogastrointestinal diseases are widespread worldwide, since many factors associated with lifestyle and diet influence their development and correlation. Due to these growing health problems, it is necessary to search for effective alternatives for prevention or adjuvants in treating them. The positive impact of regulated microbiota on health is known; however, states of dysbiosis are closely related to the development of the conditions mentioned above. Therefore, the role of prebiotics, probiotics, or symbiotic complexes has been extensively evaluated; the results are favorable, showing that they play a crucial role in the regulation of the immune system, the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, and the biotransformation of bile acids, as well as the modulation of their central receptors FXR and TGR-5, which also have essential immunomodulatory and metabolic activities. It has also been observed that they can benefit the host by displacing pathogenic species, improving the dysbiosis state in MetS. Current studies have reported that paraprobiotics (dead or inactive probiotics) or postbiotics (metabolites generated by active probiotics) also benefit hepatogastrointestinal health.}, } @article {pmid35805555, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, D and Zhang, H and Zhu, W and Zhang, X and Yang, Q and Liu, M and Chen, Q}, title = {Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Haikou Bay and Adjacent Seas.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {19}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {35805555}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Animals ; Bays ; China ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; Fishes/metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/analysis/*chemistry ; Metals, Heavy/adverse effects/*analysis ; Oceans and Seas ; Risk Assessment ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/adverse effects/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Heavy metal contamination in coastal waters may pose a serious threat to aquatic products and human health. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the pollution-induced by heavy metals in Haikou Bay and adjacent seas and assessed the potential ecological risk. The spatial distributions of heavy metals including Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg, and As were analyzed in the surface and bottom water, surface sediment, and five species of fish collected from Haikou Bay and adjacent seas. For seawater, the results showed that the horizontal distribution of the seven heavy metal elements in the study area had no uniform pattern due to the influence of complex factors, such as land-based runoff, port shipping, and ocean current movement. In contrast, the vertical distribution of these heavy metal elements, except for Zn and Cd, showed high concentrations in the surface water and low concentrations in the bottom water. Due to the symbiotic relationship between Zn and Cd, the distributions of these two elements were similar in the study areas. Different from the complex distribution of heavy metals in water, the highest concentrations of these elements in surface sediment all occurred at station 11 except for Pb. Our study revealed that organic carbon and sulfide are important factors affecting the heavy metal concentrations in the surface sediments. Heavy metals in waters and surface sediment were lower than the quality standard of class I according to the China National Standard for Seawater Quality and the sediment quality, except for Zn in water, suggesting that the seawater and surface sediment in Haikou Bay and adjacent seas has not been polluted by heavy metals. Additionally, the heavy metal As was the main element affecting the quality of fish in this study area, and attention should be paid in the future. The target hazard quotient (THQ) values of seven heavy metal elements in fish were all lower than 1.0, indicating that eating fish in this area will not pose a risk to human health. These results provide valuable information for further understanding the status of heavy metal pollution in Haikou Bay and adjacent seas and the development of targeted conversation measures for the environment and fish consumers.}, } @article {pmid35804761, year = {2022}, author = {Goya-Jorge, E and Gonza, I and Bondue, P and Douny, C and Taminiau, B and Daube, G and Scippo, ML and Delcenserie, V}, title = {Human Adult Microbiota in a Static Colon Model: AhR Transcriptional Activity at the Crossroads of Host-Microbe Interaction.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {35804761}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Functional symbiotic intestinal microbiota regulates immune defense and the metabolic processing of xenobiotics in the host. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is one of the transcription factors mediating host-microbe interaction. An in vitro static simulation of the human colon was used in this work to analyze the evolution of bacterial populations, the microbial metabolic output, and the potential induction of AhR transcriptional activity in healthy gut ecosystems. Fifteen target taxa were explored by qPCR, and the metabolic content was chromatographically profiled using SPME-GC-MS and UPLC-FLD to quantify short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and biogenic amines, respectively. Over 72 h of fermentation, the microbiota and most produced metabolites remained stable. Fermentation supernatant induced AhR transcription in two of the three reporter gene cell lines (T47D, HepG2, HT29) evaluated. Mammary and intestinal cells were more sensitive to microbiota metabolic production, which showed greater AhR agonism than the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) used as a positive control. Some of the SCFA and biogenic amines identified could crucially contribute to the potent AhR induction of the fermentation products. As a fundamental pathway mediating human intestinal homeostasis and as a sensor for several microbial metabolites, AhR activation might be a useful endpoint to include in studies of the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35804465, year = {2022}, author = {Tsang, B and Gerlai, R}, title = {Researchers, animal support and regulatory staff: symbiosis or antagonism?.}, journal = {Laboratory animal research}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {19}, pmid = {35804465}, issn = {1738-6055}, abstract = {Animals are studied en masse by biologists around the world in a variety of biomedical and basic research studies. All this research benefits humankind and animals alike as it tackles a wide variety of problems ranging from those of conservation biology to medicine. Research with animal subjects is a complex endeavor that requires the cooperation and collaboration of a large number of experts, from the principal investigator through technicians and vivarium staff to regulatory experts. The research must be conducted in a humane manner that adheres to acceptable practices regulated by local, state and federal guidelines, rules and the law. In this short opinion article, we examine the current state of affairs regarding how researchers, animal support staff and regulatory experts work together. We pay particular attention to potential conflicts that may arise from the occasionally distinct roles played by those involved in animal research, and we provide some suggestions as short- and long-term remedies that have not been previously discussed in the literature.}, } @article {pmid35803942, year = {2022}, author = {Kodama, K and Rich, MK and Yoda, A and Shimazaki, S and Xie, X and Akiyama, K and Mizuno, Y and Komatsu, A and Luo, Y and Suzuki, H and Kameoka, H and Libourel, C and Keller, J and Sakakibara, K and Nishiyama, T and Nakagawa, T and Mashiguchi, K and Uchida, K and Yoneyama, K and Tanaka, Y and Yamaguchi, S and Shimamura, M and Delaux, PM and Nomura, T and Kyozuka, J}, title = {An ancestral function of strigolactones as symbiotic rhizosphere signals.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {3974}, pmid = {35803942}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Lactones/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In flowering plants, strigolactones (SLs) have dual functions as hormones that regulate growth and development, and as rhizosphere signaling molecules that induce symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Here, we report the identification of bryosymbiol (BSB), an SL from the bryophyte Marchantia paleacea. BSB is also found in vascular plants, indicating its origin in the common ancestor of land plants. BSB synthesis is enhanced at AM symbiosis permissive conditions and BSB deficient mutants are impaired in AM symbiosis. In contrast, the absence of BSB synthesis has little effect on the growth and gene expression. We show that the introduction of the SL receptor of Arabidopsis renders M. paleacea cells BSB-responsive. These results suggest that BSB is not perceived by M. paleacea cells due to the lack of cognate SL receptors. We propose that SLs originated as AM symbiosis-inducing rhizosphere signaling molecules and were later recruited as plant hormone.}, } @article {pmid35803843, year = {2022}, author = {Nerva, L and Sandrini, M and Moffa, L and Velasco, R and Balestrini, R and Chitarra, W}, title = {Breeding toward improved ecological plant-microbiome interactions.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {1134-1143}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2022.06.004}, pmid = {35803843}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; Domestication ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Plant Breeding ; }, abstract = {Domestication processes, amplified by breeding programs, have allowed the selection of more productive genotypes and more suitable crop lines capable of coping with the changing climate. Notwithstanding these advancements, the impact of plant breeding on the ecology of plant-microbiome interactions has not been adequately considered yet. This includes the possible exploitation of beneficial plant-microbe interactions to develop crops with improved performance and better adaptability to any environmental scenario. Here we discuss the exploitation of customized synthetic microbial communities in agricultural systems to develop more sustainable breeding strategies based on the implementation of multiple interactions between plants and their beneficial associated microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid35803427, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Z and Zheng, N and An, Q and Li, X and Sun, S and Zhang, W and Ji, Y and Wang, S and Li, P}, title = {Impact of environmental factors and bacterial interactions on dust mite allergens in different indoor dust.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {844}, number = {}, pages = {157177}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157177}, pmid = {35803427}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Allergens ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; Bacteria ; *Dust ; *Hypersensitivity ; Pyroglyphidae ; }, abstract = {Indoor dust is the main carrier of indoor pollutants, especially dust mite allergens and bacteria, they can trigger asthma, rhinitis, eczema and other allergic diseases. However, the interactions between dust mite allergens and bacterial communities in different types of indoor dust are not clear. The study focused on particulate and flocculent fibrous dust, explored the concentrations of Der p 1 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and Der f 1 (D. farinae) in 46 households in Changchun and their environmental influences, characterized the bacterial communities by high-throughput sequencing, and the interactions between Der p 1, Der f 1 and bacterial communities were explored. The results showed that Der p 1 and Der f 1 tended to accumulate more in flocculent fibrous dust, and Der p 1 predominated in the indoor dust samples. The floor height, years of housing occupancy and the living areas all affected the concentrations of dust mite allergens. In bacterial community, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were leading phyla in the two types of dust. Kocuria, Blastococcus and Massilia were dominating genera in particulate dust and Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium_1 were dominating genera in flocculent fibrous dust. The overall diversity and species richness of bacteria in particulate dust were significantly higher than those in flocculent dust (p < 0.001). The living area was an important environmental factor affecting the bacterial community in flocculent fibrous dust (p < 0.01). The interaction between the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and dust mite allergen concentrations significantly differed between the two dust types, indicating that bacteria could be used both as food and to establish symbiotic relationships with household dust mites (HDMs) hosts and provide nutrition.}, } @article {pmid35802173, year = {2022}, author = {Rocha, FP and Ronque, MUV and Lyra, ML and Bacci, M and Oliveira, PS}, title = {Habitat and Host Species Drive the Structure of Bacterial Communities of Two Neotropical Trap-Jaw Odontomachus Ants : Habitat and Host Species Drive the Structure of Bacterial Communities of Two Neotropical Trap-Jaw Odontomachus Ants.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35802173}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Ants have long been known for their associations with other taxa, including macroscopic fungi and symbiotic bacteria. Recently, many ant species have had the composition and function of their bacterial communities investigated. Due to its behavioral and ecological diversity, the subfamily Ponerinae deserves more attention regarding its associated microbiota. Here, we used the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial communities of Odontomachus chelifer (ground-nesting) and Odontomachus hastatus (arboreal), two ponerine trap-jaw species commonly found in the Brazilian savanna ("Cerrado") and Atlantic rainforest. We investigated habitat effects (O. chelifer in the Cerrado and the Atlantic rainforest) and species-specific effects (both species in the Atlantic rainforest) on the bacterial communities' structure (composition and abundance) in two different body parts: cuticle and gaster. Bacterial communities differed in all populations studied. Cuticular communities were more diverse, while gaster communities presented variants common to other ants, including Wolbachia and Candidatus Tokpelaia hoelldoblerii. Odontomachus chelifer populations presented different communities in both body parts, highlighting the influence of habitat type. In the Atlantic rainforest, the outcome depended on the body part targeted. Cuticular communities were similar between species, reinforcing the habitat effect on bacterial communities, which are mainly composed of environmentally acquired taxa. Gaster communities, however, differed between the two Odontomachus species, suggesting species-specific effects and selective filters. Unclassified Firmicutes and uncultured Rhizobiales variants are the main components accounting for the observed differences. Our study indicates that both host species and habitat act synergistically, but to different degrees, to shape the bacterial communities in these Odontomachus species.}, } @article {pmid35802132, year = {2022}, author = {Chatterjee, P and Schafran, P and Li, FW and Meeks, JC}, title = {Nostoc Talks Back: Temporal Patterns of Differential Gene Expression During Establishment of Anthoceros-Nostoc Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {10}, pages = {917-932}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-22-0101-R}, pmid = {35802132}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; *Anthocerotophyta/genetics ; Chlorophyll ; Gene Expression ; Nitrogen ; *Nostoc/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic associations between hornworts and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria form when the plant is limited for combined nitrogen (N). We generated RNA-seq data to examine temporal gene expression patterns during the culturing of N-starved Anthoceros punctatus in the absence and the presence of symbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme. In symbiont-free A. punctatus gametophytes, N starvation caused downregulation of chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics as well as transcription of photosynthesis-related genes. This downregulation was reversed in A. punctatus cocultured with N. punctiforme, corresponding to the provision by the symbiont of N2-derived NH4[+], which commenced within 5 days of coculture and reached a maximum by 14 days. We also observed transient increases in transcription of ammonium and nitrate transporters in a N. punctiforme-dependent manner as well as that of a SWEET transporter that was initially independent of N2-derived NH4[+]. The temporal patterns of differential gene expression indicated that N. punctiforme transmits signals that impact gene expression to A. punctatus both prior to and after its provision of fixed N. This study is the first illustrating the temporal patterns of gene expression during establishment of an endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing association in this monophyletic evolutionary lineage of land plants. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35801683, year = {2022}, author = {Bollati, E and Lyndby, NH and D'Angelo, C and Kühl, M and Wiedenmann, J and Wangpraseurt, D}, title = {Green fluorescent protein-like pigments optimise the internal light environment in symbiotic reef-building corals.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35801683}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Light ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pigments homologous to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) have been proposed to fine-tune the internal light microclimate of corals, facilitating photoacclimation of photosynthetic coral symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) to life in different reef habitats and environmental conditions. However, direct measurements of the in vivo light conditions inside the coral tissue supporting this conclusion are lacking. Here, we quantified the intra-tissue spectral light environment of corals expressing GFP-like proteins from widely different light regimes. We focus on: (1) photoconvertible red fluorescent proteins (pcRFPs), thought to enhance photosynthesis in mesophotic habitats via wavelength conversion, and (2) chromoproteins (CPs), which provide photoprotection to the symbionts in shallow water via light absorption. Optical microsensor measurements indicated that both pigment groups strongly alter the coral intra-tissue light environment. Estimates derived from light spectra measured in pcRFP-containing corals showed that fluorescence emission can contribute to >50% of orange-red light available to the photosynthetic symbionts at mesophotic depths. We further show that upregulation of pink CPs in shallow-water corals during bleaching leads to a reduction of orange light by 10-20% compared to low-CP tissue. Thus, screening by CPs has an important role in mitigating the light-enhancing effect of coral tissue scattering and skeletal reflection during bleaching. Our results provide the first experimental quantification of the importance of GFP-like proteins in fine-tuning the light microclimate of corals during photoacclimation.}, } @article {pmid35800960, year = {2022}, author = {Battenberg, K and Hayashi, M}, title = {Evolution of root nodule symbiosis: Focusing on the transcriptional regulation from the genomic point of view.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {79-83}, pmid = {35800960}, issn = {1342-4580}, abstract = {Since molecular phylogenetics recognized root nodule symbiosis (RNS) of all lineages as potentially homologous, scientists have tried to understand the "when" and the "how" of RNS evolution. Initial progress was made on understanding the timing of RNS evolution, facilitating our progress on understanding the underlying genomic changes leading to RNS. Here, we will first cover the different hypotheses on the timings of gains/losses of RNS and show how this has helped us understand how RNS has evolved. Finally, we will discuss how our improved understanding of the genetic changes that led to RNS is now helping us refine our understanding on when RNS has evolved.}, } @article {pmid35799855, year = {2022}, author = {Udanor, CN and Ossai, NI and Nweke, EO and Ogbuokiri, BO and Eneh, AH and Ugwuishiwu, CH and Aneke, SO and Ezuwgu, AO and Ugwoke, PO and Christiana, A}, title = {An internet of things labelled dataset for aquaponics fish pond water quality monitoring system.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {43}, number = {}, pages = {108400}, pmid = {35799855}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Aquaculture, which is the breeding of fishes in artificial ponds, seems to be gaining popularity among urban and sub-urban dwellers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Tenant aquaculture enables individuals irrespective of their profession to grow fishes locally in a little space. However, there are challenges facing aquaculture such as the availability of water, how to monitor and manage water quality, and more seriously, the problem of absence of dataset with which the farmer can use as a guide for fish breeding. Aquaponics is a system that combines conventional aquaculture with hydroponics (the method of growing plants in water i.e. soilless farming of crops). It uses these two technologies in a symbiotic combination in which the plant uses the waste from the fish as food while at the same time filtering the water for immediate re-use by the fish. This helps to solve the problem of frequent change of water. An Internet of Things (IoT) system consisting of an ESP-32 microcontroller which controls water quality sensors in aquaponics fish ponds was designed and developed for automatic data collection. The sensors include temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, ammonia and nitrate sensors. The IoT system reads water quality data and uploads the same to the cloud in real time. The dataset is visualized in the cloud and downloaded for the purposes of data analytics and decision-making. We present the dataset in this paper. The dataset will be very useful to the agriculture, aquaculture, data science and machine learning communities. The insights such dataset will provide when subjected to machine learning and data analytics will be very useful to fish farmers, informing them when to change the pond water, what stocking density to apply, provide knowledge about feed conversion ratios, and in predict the growth rate and patterns of their fishes.}, } @article {pmid35799468, year = {2022}, author = {Horas, EL and Metzger, SM and Platzer, B and Kelly, JB and Becks, L}, title = {Context-dependent costs and benefits of endosymbiotic interactions in a ciliate-algae system.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {5924-5935}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16112}, pmid = {35799468}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Symbiosis ; *Chlorella ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; *Paramecium ; *Ciliophora ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis, an interaction between two species where one lives within the other, has evolved multiple times independently, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Evolutionary theory suggests that for an endosymbiotic interaction to remain stable over time, births of both partners should be higher than their deaths in symbiosis and deaths of both partners should be higher than their births when living independently. However, experimentally measuring this can be difficult and conclusions tend to focus on the host. Using a ciliate-algal system (Paramecium bursaria host and Chlorella endosymbionts), we estimated the benefits and costs of endosymbiosis for both organisms using fitness measurements in different biotic environments to test under which environmental conditions the net effects of the interaction were positive for both partners. We found that the net effects of harbouring endosymbionts were positive for the ciliate hosts as it allowed them to survive in conditions of low-quality bacteria food. The algae benefitted by being endosymbiotic when predators such as the hosts were present, but the net effects were dependent on the total density of hosts, decreasing as hosts densities increased. Overall, we show that including context-dependency of endosymbiosis is essential in understanding how these interactions have evolved.}, } @article {pmid35796350, year = {2022}, author = {Klepa, MS and Helene, LCF and O Hara, G and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium cenepequi sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium semiaridum sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium hereditatis sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium australafricanum sp. nov., symbionts of different leguminous plants of Western Australia and South Africa and definition of three novel symbiovars.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005446}, pmid = {35796350}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; *Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; Vegetables ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium is a heterogeneous bacterial genus capable of establishing symbiotic associations with a broad range of legume hosts, including species of economic and environmental importance. This study was focused on the taxonomic and symbiovar definition of four strains - CNPSo 4026[T], WSM 1704[T], WSM 1738[T] and WSM 4400[T] - previously isolated from nodules of legumes in Western Australia and South Africa. The 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree allocated the strains to the Bradyrhizobium elkanii supergroup. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with partial sequences of six housekeeping genes - atpD, dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB - did not cluster the strains under study as conspecific to any described Bradyrhizobium species. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were calculated for the four strains of this study and the closest species according to the MLSA phylogeny with the highest values being 95.46 and 62.20 %, respectively; therefore, both being lower than the species delineation cut-off values. The nodC and nifH phylogenies included strains WSM 1738[T] and WSM 4400[T] in the symbiovars retamae and vignae respectively, and also allowed the definition of three new symbiovars, sv. cenepequi, sv. glycinis, and sv. cajani. Analysis of morphophysiological characterization reinforced the identification of four novel proposed Bradyrhizobium species that are accordingly named as follows: Bradyrhizobium cenepequi sp. nov. (CNPSo 4026[T]=WSM 4798[T]=LMG 31653[T]), isolated from Vigna unguiculata; Bradyrhizobium semiaridum sp. nov. (WSM 1704[T]=CNPSo 4028[T]=LMG 31654[T]), isolated from Tephrosia gardneri; Bradyrhizobium hereditatis sp. nov. (WSM 1738[T]=CNPSo 4025[T]=LMG 31652[T]), isolated from Indigofera sp.; and Bradyrhizobium australafricanum sp. nov. (WSM 4400[T]=CNPSo 4015[T]=LMG 31648[T]) isolated from Glycine sp.}, } @article {pmid35796107, year = {2022}, author = {Wilson, KP}, title = {Membership matters! A toolkit strategy.}, journal = {Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {869-871}, pmid = {35796107}, issn = {2327-6924}, mesh = {*COVID-19 ; Humans ; *Nurse Practitioners ; Policy ; }, abstract = {Professional organizations often have a symbiotic relationship with their members. Not only is there dependency on membership to thrive but also there is availability of professional resources for members, thus dually meeting the organization's goals and objectives. Since 2020 with the Covid -19 pandemic, some professional organizations may have experienced challenges affecting membership. Nurse Practitioner (NP) organization leaders, including Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), must be attentive to finding ways to create new member state and local councils that will increase overall membership across the tri-level tier of local, state, and national membership. Increasing NP membership enhances NP voices in those matters that most affect NP practice, policy, and legislation. A toolkit for initiating a new local professional organization is shared to support this effort.}, } @article {pmid35794357, year = {2022}, author = {Grünfeld, L and Skias, G and Rillig, MC and Veresoglou, SD}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonization depends on the spatial distribution of the host plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {5-6}, pages = {387-395}, pmid = {35794357}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite their ubiquity in terrestrial ecosystems, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) experience dispersion constraints and thus depend on the spatial distribution of the plant hosts. Our understanding of fungal-plant interactions with respect to their spatial distributions and implications for the functioning of the symbiosis remain limited. We here manipulated the location of habitat patches of Medicago lupulina in two experiments to explore the responses of AMF root colonization and extraradical hyphae. We tested the specific hypothesis that AMF-plant habitats high in connectance would stimulate root colonization and induce denser functional root colonization (colonization rate of arbuscules plus coils) because of higher propagule availability between nearby host plant patches (experiment 1). In experiment 2, we anticipated similar responses in mixed habitats of different soil fertility, namely phosphorus-fertilized or unfertilized soil, and anticipated a higher density of extraradical hyphae in the soil connecting the habitats with increased functional root colonization. In agreement with our hypothesis, we found the highest total and functional root colonization in unfragmented micro-landscapes, describing landscapes that occur within a spatial scale of a few centimeters with the AMF-plant habitats positioned adjacent to each other. In the second experiment, overdispersed micro-landscapes promoted functional root colonization. This study provides experimental evidence that the spatial distribution of habitats can determine AMF abundance at the microscale.}, } @article {pmid35794222, year = {2022}, author = {Leal Filho, W and Caughman, L and Pimenta Dinis, MA and Frankenberger, F and Azul, AM and Salvia, AL}, title = {Towards symbiotic approaches between universities, sustainable development, and cities.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {11433}, pmid = {35794222}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Cities ; Humans ; *Sustainable Development ; Universities ; }, abstract = {Universities are key actors and play a central role in the cities which host them, either as employers, consumers or simply as a magnet to young people and cultural activities. They can be also influencers and supporters of cities in the field of sustainable development. Through an exploratory method and aiming to explore the efforts deployed to foster closer links between universities, sustainable development, and cities and address a literature gap in this regard, this study considers the contribution of universities to sustainable development at the city level. Based on some of the ongoing initiatives worldwide and an international online survey documenting measures undertaken, this study translates the commitment to pursuing sustainable development within cities, with responses from a sample of 45 countries. This study lists some items which may help foster more symbiotic relations between cities and universities. The findings of this study may be used as baselines for strengthening the connections between universities and cities in addressing the sustainable development challenges, as demonstrated through the responses obtained. Accordingly, some suggested actions involving cooperation may include increased communication with city stakeholders and the undertaking of joint initiatives and projects, taking advantage of the ongoing sustainable development challenges worldwide.}, } @article {pmid35793390, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Li, S and Wang, N and Chen, W and Feng, X and Jia, B and Zhao, Y and Yang, T and Zong, X}, title = {The introduced strain Mesorhizobium ciceri USDA 3378 is more competitive than an indigenous strain in nodulation of chickpea in newly introduced areas of China.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {5}, pages = {1171-1181}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13785}, pmid = {35793390}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {United States ; *Cicer ; United States Department of Agriculture ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium ; Soil ; Chlorophyll ; }, abstract = {The present study aimed to compare the competitive advantage of two chickpea nodulating rhizobia strains (an indigenous strain Mesorhizobium muleiense CCBAU 83963[T] and an introduced strain Mesorhizobium ciceri USDA 3378) in different soils originated from new chickpea cultivation areas of China. The results showed that USDA 3378 had a significant competitive advantage in nodulation, with nodulation occupation rates ranging from 84·6% to 100% in all the sampled soils. According to the efficiency of symbiosis under single inoculation, chickpea plants inoculated with USDA 3378 showed better symbiotic performance based on the plant dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content and nodule numbers. The chickpea plants inoculated with USDA 3378 formed nodules about 2 days earlier than those inoculated with CCBAU 83963[T] . The higher growth in media and the stronger adsorption on chickpea roots of USDA 3378 when mixed with CCBAU 83963[T] may explain why USDA 3378 shows a competitive advantage. The results from this study will contribute towards the development of effective chickpea rhizobial inoculants for soil conditioning and more environmentally friendly production of chickpeas in China.}, } @article {pmid35793264, year = {2022}, author = {Epstein, B and Burghardt, LT and Heath, KD and Grillo, MA and Kostanecki, A and Hämälä, T and Young, ND and Tiffin, P}, title = {Combining GWAS and population genomic analyses to characterize coevolution in a legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16602}, pmid = {35793264}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {The mutualism between legumes and rhizobia is clearly the product of past coevolution. However, the nature of ongoing evolution between these partners is less clear. To characterize the nature of recent coevolution between legumes and rhizobia, we used population genomic analysis to characterize selection on functionally annotated symbiosis genes as well as on symbiosis gene candidates identified through a two-species association analysis. For the association analysis, we inoculated each of 202 accessions of the legume host Medicago truncatula with a community of 88 Sinorhizobia (Ensifer) meliloti strains. Multistrain inoculation, which better reflects the ecological reality of rhizobial selection in nature than single-strain inoculation, allows strains to compete for nodulation opportunities and host resources and for hosts to preferentially form nodules and provide resources to some strains. We found extensive host by symbiont, that is, genotype-by-genotype, effects on rhizobial fitness and some annotated rhizobial genes bear signatures of recent positive selection. However, neither genes responsible for this variation nor annotated host symbiosis genes are enriched for signatures of either positive or balancing selection. This result suggests that stabilizing selection dominates selection acting on symbiotic traits and that variation in these traits is under mutation-selection balance. Consistent with the lack of positive selection acting on host genes, we found that among-host variation in growth was similar whether plants were grown with rhizobia or N-fertilizer, suggesting that the symbiosis may not be a major driver of variation in plant growth in multistrain contexts.}, } @article {pmid35792757, year = {2022}, author = {Silva, ORE and Ribeiro, L and Jesus, VLT and McIntosh, D and Silenciato, LN and Ferreira, JE and Mello, MRB}, title = {Identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in preputial washes of bulls in Brazil.}, journal = {Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {e005322}, doi = {10.1590/S1984-29612022034}, pmid = {35792757}, issn = {1984-2961}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; Cattle ; *Cattle Diseases/diagnosis/parasitology ; *Dog Diseases ; Dogs ; Female ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Swine ; *Swine Diseases ; *Trichomonas/genetics ; *Tritrichomonas foetus/genetics ; }, abstract = {The parabasalid Pentatrichomonas hominis is generally considered to represent a symbiotic component of the gastrointestinal microbiota in a wide variety of vertebrate hosts including humans. Nevertheless, a limited number of studies have raised the possibility that it may act as a pathogen of humans, dogs, and pigs and that some human infections may have a zoonotic origin. Data from North America revealed an association between P. hominis and the bovine urogenital tract, principally in bulls and rarely in cows. The importance of this observation is linked to possible interference in the accurate diagnosis of the economically important venereal pathogen Tritrichomonas foetus. The current study employed culture-based and molecular methods to examine the preputial cavities of four breeding bulls, raised in open pasture in southeastern Brazil, for the presence of trichomonads. Motile protozoa were isolated from three of the bulls and were definitively identified as P. hominis based on nucleotide sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons derived from the ribosomal RNA operon (ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2) of the parasite. The potential implications of these findings for bovine and human health are discussed.}, } @article {pmid35792328, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, L and Gong, X and Chen, Z and Zhou, Y}, title = {Genome-centric metagenomics analysis revealed the metabolic function of abundant microbial communities in thermal hydrolysis-assisted thermophilic anaerobic digesters under propionate stress.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {360}, number = {}, pages = {127574}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127574}, pmid = {35792328}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Hydrolysis ; *Metagenomics ; Methane/metabolism ; Methanosarcina/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Propionates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The ecological roles of microbial communities and how they interact with each other in thermal hydrolysis process (THP) assisted thermophilic anaerobic digestion (THP-AD) reactors remain largely unknown, especially under propionate stress. Two thermophilic THP-AD reactors had methane yield of 240-248 mL/g VSadded, but accumulated approximately 2000 mg/L propionate. Genome-centric metagenomics analysis showed that 68 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered, 32 MAGs of which were substantially enriched. Firmicutes spp. dominated the enriched microbial community, including hydrolytic/fermentative bacteria and syntrophs. Methanogenic activities were mainly mediated by Methanosarcina sp. and Methanothermobacter spp. In addition to hydrogenotrophic methanogens, Thermodesulfovibrio sp. could also be a vital H2 scavenger, contributing to maintaining low H2 partial pressure in the bioreactors. The remarkable accumulation of propionate could be likely attributed to the weak syntrophic propionate-oxidizing activity or its absence. These findings advanced our knowledge about the mutualistic symbiosis of carbon metabolism in thermophilic THP-AD reactors.}, } @article {pmid35792223, year = {2022}, author = {Cai, J and Rimal, B and Jiang, C and Chiang, JYL and Patterson, AD}, title = {Bile acid metabolism and signaling, the microbiota, and metabolic disease.}, journal = {Pharmacology & therapeutics}, volume = {237}, number = {}, pages = {108238}, doi = {10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108238}, pmid = {35792223}, issn = {1879-016X}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; *Metabolic Diseases ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The diversity, composition, and function of the bacterial community inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract contributes to host health through its role in producing energy or signaling molecules that regulate metabolic and immunologic functions. Bile acids are potent metabolic and immune signaling molecules synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and then transported to the intestine where they can undergo metabolism by gut bacteria. The combination of host- and microbiota-derived enzymatic activities contribute to the composition of the bile acid pool and thus there can be great diversity in bile acid composition that depends in part on the differences in the gut bacteria species. Bile acids can profoundly impact host metabolic and immunological functions by activating different bile acid receptors to regulate signaling pathways that control a broad range of complex symbiotic metabolic networks, including glucose, lipid, steroid and xenobiotic metabolism, and modulation of energy homeostasis. Disruption of bile acid signaling due to perturbation of the gut microbiota or dysregulation of the gut microbiota-host interaction is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of metabolic disorders. The metabolic and immunological roles of bile acids in human health have led to novel therapeutic approaches to manipulate the bile acid pool size, composition, and function by targeting one or multiple components of the microbiota-bile acid-bile acid receptor axis.}, } @article {pmid35791006, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, B and Zhao, RY and Li, HH and Xu, XM and Cui, H and Deng, H and Chen, L and Wei, B}, title = {Oral administration of asparagine and 3-indolepropionic acid prolongs survival time of rats with traumatic colon injury.}, journal = {Military Medical Research}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {37}, pmid = {35791006}, issn = {2054-9369}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Animals ; *Asparagine ; Colon ; Indoles ; Propionates ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; *Thoracic Injuries ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Traumatic colon injury (TCI) is a common disease during wartime. Prolongation of posttraumatic survival time is an effective approach to patient outcome improvement. However, there is a lack of basic research in this field. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying TCI progression and to develop novel regimens to buy time for TCI patients on the battlefield.

METHODS: A total of 669 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Surgical colon incision was performed to generate the TCI rat model. The landscape of colon microbiota compositions was depicted using 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolites in the intestinal contents were detected by metabolomics profiling. The signaling transduction in the intestinal epithelium was investigated using antibody microarrays and Western blotting. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to measure the levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in intestines and plasma for the detection of inflammatory responses. Diamine oxidase, D-lactate and endotoxin in plasma and protein expression of zonula occludens 1 and occludin were selected as the indicators of intestinal barrier permeability. To investigate alterations of microbiota symbiosis, the relative abundances of specific bacterial genera were detected using quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS: As a type of lethal injury, TCI induced acute disruption of intestinal homeostasis, characterized by inflammatory responses, intestinal barrier hyperpermeability and microbiota dysbiosis (P < 0.05). Significant alterations in bacterial metabolic patterns were detected with decreases in many metabolites. After a series of screenings, we found that oral administration of asparagine (Asn) and 3-indolepropionic acid (IPA) effectively prolonged posttraumatic survival time [Asn plus IPA vs. Vehicle: hazard ratio (HR) = 0.105, 95% CI 0.031-0.356, P = 0.0003] and restored intestinal homeostasis in TCI rats (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, this combinational strategy protected the rats against TCI through synergistic activation of Akt signaling in the intestinal epithelium (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Abrupt dysregulation of intestinal homeostasis plays a critical role in the progression toward TCI-induced death. Oral administration of Asn plus IPA may serve as an effective regimen to restore intestinal functions and prolong the posttraumatic survival time.}, } @article {pmid35790132, year = {2022}, author = {Li, H and Greening, C}, title = {Termite-engineered microbial communities of termite nest structures: a new dimension to the extended phenotype.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {46}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35790132}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Soil ; Bacteria/genetics ; Methane ; }, abstract = {Termites are a prototypical example of the 'extended phenotype' given their ability to shape their environments by constructing complex nesting structures and cultivating fungus gardens. Such engineered structures provide termites with stable, protected habitats, and nutritious food sources, respectively. Recent studies have suggested that these termite-engineered structures harbour Actinobacteria-dominated microbial communities. In this review, we describe the composition, activities, and consequences of microbial communities associated with termite mounds, other nests, and fungus gardens. Culture-dependent and culture-independent studies indicate that these structures each harbour specialized microbial communities distinct from those in termite guts and surrounding soils. Termites select microbial communities in these structures through various means: opportunistic recruitment from surrounding soils; controlling physicochemical properties of nesting structures; excreting hydrogen, methane, and other gases as bacterial energy sources; and pretreating lignocellulose to facilitate fungal cultivation in gardens. These engineered communities potentially benefit termites by producing antimicrobial compounds, facilitating lignocellulose digestion, and enhancing energetic efficiency of the termite 'metaorganism'. Moreover, mound-associated communities have been shown to be globally significant in controlling emissions of methane and enhancing agricultural fertility. Altogether, these considerations suggest that the microbiomes selected by some animals extend much beyond their bodies, providing a new dimension to the 'extended phenotype'.}, } @article {pmid35789537, year = {2022}, author = {Mendili, M and Khadhri, A and Mediouni-Ben Jemâa, J and Andolfi, A and Tufano, I and Aschi-Smiti, S and DellaGreca, M}, title = {Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Compounds Isolated from Tunisian Lichens Species.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {e202200134}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202200134}, pmid = {35789537}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; *Lichens/chemistry ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The lichen's special symbiotic structure enables it to produce bioactive substances. They have historically been recognized for their aesthetic and medicinal benefits. Furthermore, in recent years, they have performed in various fields, including perfumery, dyeing, and pharmacology due to their rich secondary metabolites. From our study, four compounds were isolated from organic extracts of Parmotrema hypoleucinum, Roccella phycopsis, and Xanthoria parietina and identified by spectroscopic investigation as atranorin, (+)-iso-usnic acid, methyl orsellinate, and parietin, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effects of lichens extracts, and pure compounds were evaluated on RAW 264.7 macrophages cells at different concentrations. At 25 μg/mL all treated samples did not show any effect on cell viability. Atranorin and (+)-iso-usnic acid showed an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured using Griess reagent, atranorin and (+)-iso-usnic acid showed a high anti-inflammatory potential (75.99 % and 57.27 % at 25 μg/mL). On the other hand, methyl orsellinate and the organic extracts of three lichens showed good anti-inflammatory activity ranging from 29.16 % at 25 μg/mL to 86.91 % at 100 μg/mL.}, } @article {pmid35786465, year = {2022}, author = {Deng, H and Fan, X}, title = {[The role of intestinal microbiota in tumor occurrence, development and immunotherapy: a review].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {2105-2119}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.210711}, pmid = {35786465}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; *Neoplasms/therapy ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota is a complex micro-ecological system symbiotic with human body, which has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The intestinal microbiota plays important roles not only in maintaining normal physiological functions of the human body but also in the occurrence, development, diagnosis and treatment of tumors. This review summarized the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and tumor, highlighting the mechanisms by which intestinal microbiota modulates tumor occurrence, development and immunotherapy, particularly the immune checkpoint therapy. This review also summarized the currently available methods for enhancing the efficacy of tumor therapy through regulation of intestinal microbiota. Challenges in the field as well as future perspectives were also discussed.}, } @article {pmid35785258, year = {2022}, author = {Zhong, C and Lyons, T and Heussaff, O and Doyle, E and O'Hara, E and Waters, SM and Kenny, D and Stewart, GS}, title = {Localization of urea transporter B in the developing bovine rumen.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {216-222}, pmid = {35785258}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {Urea nitrogen secreted from blood to rumen is a crucial factor shaping the symbiotic relationship between host ruminants and their microbial populations. Passage of urea across rumen epithelia is facilitated by urea transporter B (UT-B), but the long-term regulation of these proteins remains unclear. As ruminal function develops over a period of months, the developing rumen is an excellent model with which to investigate this regulation. Using rumen epithelium samples of calves from birth to 96 d of age, this study performed immunolocalization studies to localize and semi-quantify UT-B protein development. As expected, preliminary experiments confirmed that ruminal monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) short chain fatty acid transporter protein abundance increased with age (P < 0.01, n = 4). Further investigation revealed that ruminal UT-B was present in the first few weeks of life and initially detected in the basolateral membrane of stratum basale cells. Over the next 2 months, UT-B staining spread to other epithelial layers and semi-quantification indicated that UT-B abundance significantly increased with age (P < 0.01, n = 4 or 6). These changes were in line with the development of rumen function after the advent of solid feed intake and weaning, exhibiting a similar pattern to both MCT1 transporters and papillae growth. This study therefore confirmed age-dependent changes of in situ ruminal UT-B protein, adding to our understanding of the long-term regulation of ruminal urea transporters.}, } @article {pmid35785028, year = {2022}, author = {Cavalcante, GG and Guimarães, AG and Queiroz-Glauss, CP and Gonçalves Pereira, MH and Dias, ASL and Horta, LS and de Oliveira, JS and Cangussú, SD and Magalhães, PP and Russo, RC and Santiago, HC}, title = {Treatment with Distinct Antibiotic Classes Causes Different Pulmonary Outcomes on Allergic Airway Inflammation Associated with Modulation of Symbiotic Microbiota.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {1466011}, pmid = {35785028}, issn = {2314-7156}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Asthma/drug therapy ; Humans ; *Hypersensitivity/drug therapy ; Inflammation/drug therapy ; Lung ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disease that affects about 300 million people worldwide. Previous studies have associated antimicrobial use with allergies, but the real impact of antibiotics on asthma is still elusive. We investigated the potential impact of amoxicillin (Amox), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), and metronidazole (Metro) in a murine model of OVA-induced allergic airway inflammation.

METHODS: BALB/c mice received three cycles of 7 days of antibiotics in drinking water followed by 7 days washout and were sensitized i.p. with OVA/Alum at days 0 and 14. After the end of the last antibiotic washout, the mice were challenged with aerosolized OVA. Pulmonary parameters were evaluated, and serum, BAL, and feces were collected for analysis.

RESULTS: Amox- and TMP/SMX-treated animals displayed more severe allergic airway inflammation parameters with increased airway hyperresponsiveness, reduced lung alveolar volume, and increased levels in BAL of IL-4 and IL-6. In contrast, Metro-treated mice showed preserved FEV-50, decreased lung inflammation, and higher levels of butyrate and propionate in their feces. Metro treatment was associated with increased OVA-specific IgA in serum. BAL microbiota was abundant in allergic groups but not in nonallergic controls with the Amox-treated group displaying the increased frequency of Proteobacteria, while Metro and TMP/SMX showed increased levels of Firmicutes. In the gut, we observed the enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila associated with reduced airway inflammation phenotype in the Metro group, even after the recovery period.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that different antibiotic treatments may impact the course of experimental allergic airway inflammation in diverse ways by several mechanisms, including modulation of short-chain fat acids production by intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35784451, year = {2022}, author = {Scott, TJ and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Context dependence in the symbiosis between Dictyostelium discoideum and Paraburkholderia.}, journal = {Evolution letters}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {245-254}, pmid = {35784451}, issn = {2056-3744}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions change with environmental context. Measuring these context-dependent effects in hosts and symbionts is critical to determining the nature of symbiotic interactions. We investigated context dependence in the symbiosis between social amoeba hosts and their inedible Paraburkholderia bacterial symbionts, where the context is the abundance of host food bacteria. Paraburkholderia have been shown to harm hosts dispersed to food-rich environments, but aid hosts dispersed to food-poor environments by allowing hosts to carry food bacteria. Through measuring symbiont density and host spore production, we show that this food context matters in three other ways. First, it matters for symbionts, who suffer a greater cost from competition with food bacteria in the food-rich context. Second, it matters for host-symbiont conflict, changing how symbiont density negatively impacts host spore production. Third, data-based simulations show that symbiosis often provides a long-term fitness advantage for hosts after rounds of growth and dispersal in variable food contexts, especially when conditions are harsh with little food. These results show how food context can have many consequences for the Dictyostelium-Paraburkholderia symbiosis and that both sides can frequently benefit.}, } @article {pmid35784077, year = {2022}, author = {terHorst, CP and Coffroth, MA}, title = {Individual variation in growth and physiology of symbionts in response to temperature.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e9000}, pmid = {35784077}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In many cases, understanding species' responses to climate change requires understanding variation among individuals in response to such change. For species with strong symbiotic relationships, such as many coral reef species, genetic variation in symbiont responses to temperature may affect the response to increased ocean temperatures. To assess variation among symbiont genotypes, we examined the population dynamics and physiological responses of genotypes of Breviolum antillogorgium in response to increased temperature. We found broad temperature tolerance across genotypes, with all genotypes showing positive growth at 26, 30, and 32°C. Genotypes differed in the magnitude of the response of growth rate and carrying capacity to increasing temperature, suggesting that natural selection could favor different genotypes at different temperatures. However, the historical temperature at which genotypes were reared (26 or 30°C) was not a good predictor of contemporary temperature response. We found increased photosynthetic rates and decreased respiration rates with increasing contemporary temperature, and differences in physiology among genotypes, but found no significant differences in the response of these traits to temperature among genotypes. In species with such broad thermal tolerance, selection experiments on symbionts outside of the host may not yield results sufficient for evolutionary rescue from climate change.}, } @article {pmid35784049, year = {2022}, author = {Dinges, ZM and Phillips, RK and Lively, CM and Bashey, F}, title = {Post-association barrier to host switching maintained despite strong selection in a novel mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e9011}, pmid = {35784049}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Following a host shift, repeated co-passaging of a mutualistic pair is expected to increase fitness over time in one or both species. Without adaptation, a novel association may be evolutionarily short-lived as it is likely to be outcompeted by native pairings. Here, we test whether experimental evolution can rescue a low-fitness novel pairing between two sympatric species of Steinernema nematodes and their symbiotic Xenorhabdus bacteria. Despite low mean fitness in the novel association, considerable variation in nematode reproduction was observed across replicate populations. We selected the most productive infections, co-passaging this novel mutualism nine times to determine whether selection could improve the fitness of either or both partners. We found that neither partner showed increased fitness over time. Our results suggest that the variation in association success was not heritable and that mutational input was insufficient to allow evolution to facilitate this host shift. Thus, post-association costs of host switching may represent a formidable barrier to novel partnerships among sympatric mutualists.}, } @article {pmid35783446, year = {2022}, author = {de Jonge, N and Carlsen, B and Christensen, MH and Pertoldi, C and Nielsen, JL}, title = {The Gut Microbiome of 54 Mammalian Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {886252}, pmid = {35783446}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gut microbiome plays a critical role in many aspects of host life, and the microbial community composition is heavily influenced by the prevailing conditions in the gut environment. Community composition has been suggested to have large implications for conservation efforts, and gut health has become of interest for optimizing animal care in captivity. In this study, we explore the gut microbiome of a wide range of animals in the context of conservation biology. The composition of the gut microbial community of 54 mammalian animal species was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The composition of the gut microbiota clearly reflects diet and the structure of the gastrointestinal system, and it is to a certain degree more similar between closely related animals. Specific clusters of taxa were observed across animals of the same species, diet, and gut morphology. The microbiota retained regardless of captivity status is hypothesized to cover important symbiotic relationships with the host, while the remaining part reflects the artificial living conditions and can therefore be used as a future tool for conservation biologists. For five animal species (giraffes, horses, baboons, elephants, and zebras), it was possible to compare the microbiota of wild and captive individuals. Differences were observed in the proportion of microbiota detected between wild and captive specimens of the same animal species. We propose that the gut microbiota harbours important species, which can potentially serve as indicators for the well-being of the animal and the effect of living in captivity.}, } @article {pmid35782871, year = {2022}, author = {Seira Curto, J and Surroca Lopez, A and Casals Sanchez, M and Tic, I and Fernandez Gallegos, MR and Sanchez de Groot, N}, title = {Microbiome Impact on Amyloidogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {926702}, pmid = {35782871}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Our life is closely linked to microorganisms, either through a parasitic or symbiotic relationship. The microbiome contains more than 1,000 different bacterial species and outnumbers human genes by 150 times. Worryingly, during the last 10 years, it has been observed a relationship between alterations in microbiota and neurodegeneration. Several publications support the hypothesis that amyloid structures formed by microorganisms may trigger host proteins aggregation. In this review, we collect pieces of evidence supporting that the crosstalk between human and microbiota amyloid proteins could be feasible and, probably, a more common event than expected before. The combination of their outnumbers, the long periods of time that stay in our bodies, and the widespread presence of amyloid proteins in the bacteria Domain outline a worrying scenario. However, the identification of the exact microorganisms and the mechanisms through with they can influence human disease also opens the door to developing a new and diverse set of therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid35782167, year = {2022}, author = {Ladha, JK and Peoples, MB and Reddy, PM and Biswas, JC and Bennett, A and Jat, ML and Krupnik, TJ}, title = {Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems.}, journal = {Field crops research}, volume = {283}, number = {}, pages = {108541}, pmid = {35782167}, issn = {0378-4290}, abstract = {The demand for nitrogen (N) for crop production increased rapidly from the middle of the twentieth century and is predicted to at least double by 2050 to satisfy the on-going improvements in productivity of major food crops such as wheat, rice and maize that underpin the staple diet of most of the world's population. The increased demand will need to be fulfilled by the two main sources of N supply - biological nitrogen (gas) (N2) fixation (BNF) and fertilizer N supplied through the Haber-Bosch processes. BNF provides many functional benefits for agroecosystems. It is a vital mechanism for replenishing the reservoirs of soil organic N and improving the availability of soil N to support crop growth while also assisting in efforts to lower negative environmental externalities than fertilizer N. In cereal-based cropping systems, legumes in symbiosis with rhizobia contribute the largest BNF input; however, diazotrophs involved in non-symbiotic associations with plants or present as free-living N2-fixers are ubiquitous and also provide an additional source of fixed N. This review presents the current knowledge of BNF by free-living, non-symbiotic and symbiotic diazotrophs in the global N cycle, examines global and regional estimates of contributions of BNF, and discusses possible strategies to enhance BNF for the prospective benefit of cereal N nutrition. We conclude by considering the challenges of introducing in planta BNF into cereals and reflect on the potential for BNF in both conventional and alternative crop management systems to encourage the ecological intensification of cereal and legume production.}, } @article {pmid35781677, year = {2022}, author = {Sauviac, L and Rémy, A and Huault, E and Dalmasso, M and Kazmierczak, T and Jardinaud, MF and Legrand, L and Moreau, C and Ruiz, B and Cazalé, AC and Valière, S and Gourion, B and Dupont, L and Gruber, V and Boncompagni, E and Meilhoc, E and Frendo, P and Frugier, F and Bruand, C}, title = {A dual legume-rhizobium transcriptome of symbiotic nodule senescence reveals coordinated plant and bacterial responses.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {10}, pages = {3100-3121}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14389}, pmid = {35781677}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; RNA, Plant/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Senescence determines plant organ lifespan depending on aging and environmental cues. During the endosymbiotic interaction with rhizobia, legume plants develop a specific organ, the root nodule, which houses nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria. Unlike earlier processes of the legume-rhizobium interaction (nodule formation, N fixation), mechanisms controlling nodule senescence remain poorly understood. To identify nodule senescence-associated genes, we performed a dual plant-bacteria RNA sequencing approach on Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti nodules having initiated senescence either naturally (aging) or following an environmental trigger (nitrate treatment or salt stress). The resulting data allowed the identification of hundreds of plant and bacterial genes differentially regulated during nodule senescence, thus providing an unprecedented comprehensive resource of new candidate genes associated with this process. Remarkably, several plant and bacterial genes related to the cell cycle and stress responses were regulated in senescent nodules, including the rhizobial RpoE2-dependent general stress response. Analysis of selected core nodule senescence plant genes allowed showing that MtNAC969 and MtS40, both homologous to leaf senescence-associated genes, negatively regulate the transition between N fixation and senescence. In contrast, overexpression of a gene involved in the biosynthesis of cytokinins, well-known negative regulators of leaf senescence, may promote the transition from N fixation to senescence in nodules.}, } @article {pmid35780174, year = {2022}, author = {Vaziriamjad, S and Solgi, M and Kamarehei, F and Nouri, F and Taheri, M}, title = {Evaluation of L-arginine supplement on the growth rate, biofilm formation, and antibiotic susceptibility in Streptococcus mutans.}, journal = {European journal of medical research}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {108}, pmid = {35780174}, issn = {2047-783X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Arginine/metabolism/pharmacology ; Biofilms ; *Dental Caries/prevention & control ; Humans ; *Streptococcus mutans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bacteria associated with dental caries have a high ability to produce organic acids from dietary carbohydrates during growth and metabolism under acidic conditions. In contrast, many symbiotic bacteria produce ammonia through the arginine deiminase (ADS) system, which modulates the pH of the oral cavity. L-Arginine metabolism by ADS is a significant inhibitor in the progression of tooth decay. This study aimed to investigate the effect of L-arginine on growth, biofilm formation, and antibiotic susceptibility in Streptococcus mutans.

METHODS: In this study, the effect of L-arginine in different concentrations on the growth rate, antibiotic susceptibility, and inhibition of biofilm formation in S. mutans was investigated.

RESULTS: The bacterial exponential growth rate was enhanced by 100 μM L-arginine (P > 0.05). The growth inhibition zone diameter of CAZ, CTR, AMP, and AMC-Clav antibiotics was reduced after 24 h of exposure in the presence of various concentrations of L-arginine specifically at 100 μM. L-Arginine also enhanced biofilm development at 5 and 10 μM concentrations, but reduced it at 50 and 100 μM concentrations.

CONCLUSION: According to the results of the present study, optimization of L-arginine concentration and its use as an adjunctive therapy or in combination with mouthwash or varnish is recommended to prevent oral caries.}, } @article {pmid35779747, year = {2022}, author = {Du, J and Yin, Q and Zhou, X and Guo, Q and Wu, G}, title = {Distribution of extracellular amino acids and their potential functions in microbial cross-feeding in anaerobic digestion systems.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {360}, number = {}, pages = {127535}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127535}, pmid = {35779747}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Amino Acids, Essential ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Euryarchaeota/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic digestion is a prevalent bioenergy production process relying on a complex network of symbiotic interactions, where the nutrient based cross-feeding is an essential microbial mechanism. Here, the cross-feeding function was assessed by analyzing extracellular polymeric substances-associated amino acids in microbial aggregates collected from 14 lab-scale anaerobic digesters, as well as deciphering their genetically biosynthetic potential by syntrophic bacteria and methanogens. The total concentration of essential amino acids ranged from 1.2 mg/g VSS to 174.0 mg/g VSS. The percentages of glutamic acid (8.5 ∼ 37.6%), lysine (2.7 ∼ 22.6%), alanine (5.6 ∼ 13.2%), and valine (3.0 ∼ 10.4%) to the total amount of detected amino acids were the highest in most samples. Through metagenomics analysis, several investigated syntrophs (i.e., Smithella, Syntrophobacter, Syntrophomonas, and Mesotoga) and methanogens (i.e., Methanothrix and Methanosarcina) were auxotrophies, but the genetic ability of syntrophs and methanogens to synthesize some essential amino acids could be complementary, implying potential cross-feeding partnership.}, } @article {pmid35779254, year = {2022}, author = {}, title = {Retracted: Tyler Larsen, Cara Jefferson, Anthony Bartley, Joan E. Strassmann, David C. Queller, Inference of symbiotic adaptations in nature using experimental evolution. Evolution 2021, 75(4), 945-955 (https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14193).}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {76}, number = {12}, pages = {3073}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14551}, pmid = {35779254}, issn = {1558-5646}, } @article {pmid35777655, year = {2022}, author = {Jimi, N and Tsuchida, S and Watanabe, HK and Ohara, Y and Yokooka, H and Woo, SP and Fujiwara, Y}, title = {Worm on worm: Two rare genera of Calamyzinae (Annelida, Chrysopetalidae), with a description of new species.}, journal = {Parasitology international}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {102619}, doi = {10.1016/j.parint.2022.102619}, pmid = {35777655}, issn = {1873-0329}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida/genetics ; *Bivalvia ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; *Polychaeta ; }, abstract = {Marine annelids in the subfamily Calamyzinae (family Chrysopetalidae) are either symbiotic or free-living forms that have been mainly reported from deep-sea chemosynthetic environments. Symbiotic calamyzines predominantly live in the mantle cavity of bivalves distributing at hydrothermal vents or methane seeps except for two species inhabiting the epidermis of polychaetes and octopuses. In this study, we describe a new species, Calamyzas crambon sp. nov., from Japan and report a new record of Nautiliniella calyptogenicola from the Mariana Trench. We also provide the phylogenetic position of the two species within Chrysopetalidae based on four gene markers (COI, 16S, 18S, and H3).}, } @article {pmid35776745, year = {2022}, author = {Mateus, ID and Auxier, B and Ndiaye, MMS and Cruz, J and Lee, SJ and Sanders, IR}, title = {Reciprocal recombination genomic signatures in the symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {e0270481}, pmid = {35776745}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Fungi ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plants/genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are part of the most widespread fungal-plant symbiosis. They colonize at least 80% of plant species, promote plant growth and plant diversity. These fungi are multinucleated and contain either one or two haploid nuclear genotypes (monokaryon and dikaryon) identified by the alleles at a putative mating-type locus. This taxon has been considered as an ancient asexual scandal because of the lack of observable sexual structures. Despite identification of a putative mating-type locus and functional activation of genes related to mating when two isolates co-exist, it remains unknown if the AMF life cycle involves a sexual or parasexual stage. We used publicly available genome sequences to test if Rhizophagus irregularis dikaryon genomes display signatures of sexual reproduction in the form of reciprocal recombination patterns, or if they display exclusively signatures of parasexual reproduction involving gene conversion. We used short-read and long-read sequence data to identify nucleus-specific alleles within dikaryons and then compared them to orthologous gene sequences from related monokaryon isolates displaying the same putative MAT-types as the dikaryon. We observed that the two nucleus-specific alleles of the dikaryon A5 are more related to the homolog sequences of monokaryon isolates displaying the same putative MAT-type than between each other. We also observed that these nucleus-specific alleles displayed reciprocal recombination signatures. These results confirm that dikaryon and monokaryon isolates displaying the same putative MAT-type are related in their life-cycle. These results suggest that a genetic exchange mechanism, involving reciprocal recombination in dikaryon genomes, allows AMF to generate genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid35775577, year = {2022}, author = {Carrier, TJ and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Symbiosis: the other cells in development.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {149}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/dev.200797}, pmid = {35775577}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Animals ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Animal development is an inherently complex process that is regulated by highly conserved genomic networks, and the resulting phenotype may remain plastic in response to environmental signals. Despite development having been studied in a more natural setting for the past few decades, this framework often precludes the role of microbial prokaryotes in these processes. Here, we address how microbial symbioses impact animal development from the onset of gametogenesis through adulthood. We then provide a first assessment of which developmental processes may or may not be influenced by microbial symbioses and, in doing so, provide a holistic view of the budding discipline of developmental symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35775576, year = {2022}, author = {Gilbert, SF and Hadfield, MG}, title = {Symbiosis of disciplines: how can developmental biologists join conservationists in sustaining and restoring earth's biodiversity?.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {149}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/dev.199960}, pmid = {35775576}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Genomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {What can developmental biology contribute toward mitigating the consequences of anthropogenic assaults on the environment and climate change? In this Spotlight article, we advocate a developmental biology that takes seriously Lynn Margulis' claim that 'the environment is part of the body'. We believe this to be a pre-condition for developmental biology playing important roles in conservation and environmental restoration. We need to forge a developmental biology of the holobiont - the multi-genomic physiologically integrated organism that is also a functional biome. To this end, we highlight how developmental biology needs to explore more deeply the interactions between developing organisms, and their chemical, physical and biotic environments.}, } @article {pmid35774624, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, R and Snedden, WA and diCenzo, GC}, title = {Reference nodule transcriptomes for Melilotus officinalis and Medicago sativa cv. Algonquin.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {e408}, pmid = {35774624}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {Host/symbiont compatibility is a hallmark of the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing interaction between rhizobia and legumes, mediated in part by plant-produced nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides and the bacterial BacA membrane protein that can act as a NCR peptide transporter. In addition, the genetic and metabolic properties supporting symbiotic nitrogen fixation often differ between compatible partners, including those sharing a common partner, highlighting the need for multiple study systems. Here, we report high-quality nodule transcriptome assemblies for Medicago sativa cv. Algonquin and Melilotus officinalis, two legumes able to form compatible symbioses with Sinorhizobium meliloti. The compressed M. sativa and M. officinalis assemblies consisted of 79,978 and 64,593 contigs, respectively, of which 33,341 and 28,278 were assigned putative annotations, respectively. As expected, the two transcriptomes showed broad similarity at a global level. We were particularly interested in the NCR peptide profiles of these plants, as these peptides drive bacterial differentiation during the symbiosis. A total of 412 and 308 NCR peptides were predicted from the M. sativa and M. officinalis transcriptomes, respectively, with approximately 9% of the transcriptome of both species consisting of NCR transcripts. Notably, transcripts encoding highly cationic NCR peptides (isoelectric point > 9.5), which are known to have antimicrobial properties, were ∼2-fold more abundant in M. sativa than in M. officinalis, and ∼27-fold more abundant when considering only NCR peptides in the six-cysteine class. We hypothesize that the difference in abundance of highly cationic NCR peptides explains our previous observation that some rhizobial bacA alleles which can support symbiosis with M. officinalis are unable to support symbiosis with M. sativa.}, } @article {pmid35773344, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, W and Tang, K and Wang, P and Zeng, Z and Xu, T and Zhan, W and Liu, T and Wang, Y and Wang, X}, title = {The coral pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus kills non-pathogenic holobiont competitors by triggering prophage induction.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {1132-1144}, pmid = {35773344}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Vibrio ; Virus Activation ; }, abstract = {The coral reef microbiome is central to reef health and resilience. Competitive interactions between opportunistic coral pathogens and other commensal microbes affect the health of coral. Despite great advances over the years in sequencing-based microbial profiling of healthy and diseased coral, the molecular mechanism underlying colonization competition has been much less explored. In this study, by examining the culturable bacteria inhabiting the gastric cavity of healthy Galaxea fascicularis, a scleractinian coral, we found that temperate phages played a major role in mediating colonization competition in the coral microbiota. Specifically, the non-toxigenic Vibrio sp. inhabiting the healthy coral had a much higher colonization capacity than the coral pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus, yet this advantage was diminished by the latter killing the former. Pathogen-encoded LodAB, which produces hydrogen peroxide, triggers the lytic cycle of prophage in the non-toxicogenic Vibrio sp. Importantly, V. coralliilyticus could outcompete other coral symbiotic bacteria (for example, Endozoicomonas sp.) through LodAB-dependent prophage induction. Overall, we reveal that LodAB can be used by pathogens as an important weapon to gain a competitive advantage over lysogenic competitors when colonizing corals.}, } @article {pmid35772753, year = {2022}, author = {Bishop, CV and Selvaraj, V and Townson, DH and Pate, JL and Wiltbank, MC}, title = {History, insights, and future perspectives on studies into luteal function in cattle.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {100}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35772753}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Corpus Luteum/physiology ; *Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Luteolysis ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone/metabolism ; Ruminants/physiology ; }, abstract = {The corpus luteum (CL) forms following ovulation from the remnant of the Graafian follicle. This transient tissue produces critical hormones to maintain pregnancy, including the steroid progesterone. In cattle and other ruminants, the presence of an embryo determines if the lifespan of the CL will be prolonged to ensure successful implantation and gestation, or if the tissue will undergo destruction in the process known as luteolysis. Infertility and subfertility in dairy and beef cattle results in substantial economic loss to producers each year. In addition, this has the potential to exacerbate climate change because more animals are needed to produce high-quality protein to feed the growing world population. Successful pregnancies require coordinated regulation of uterine and ovarian function by the developing embryo. These processes are often collectively termed "maternal recognition of pregnancy." Research into the formation, function, and destruction of the bovine CL by the Northeast Multistate Project, one of the oldest continuously funded Hatch projects by the USDA, has produced a large body of evidence increasing our knowledge of the contribution of ovarian processes to fertility in ruminants. This review presents some of the seminal research into the regulation of the ruminant CL, as well as identifying mechanisms that remain to be completely validated in the bovine CL. This review also contains a broad discussion of the roles of prostaglandins, immune cells, as well as mechanisms contributing to steroidogenesis in the ruminant CL. A triadic model of luteolysis is discussed wherein the interactions among immune cells, endothelial cells, and luteal cells dictate the ability of the ruminant CL to respond to a luteolytic stimulus, along with other novel hypotheses for future research.}, } @article {pmid35772406, year = {2022}, author = {Gast, L and Cabrera Serrenho, A and Allwood, JM}, title = {What Contribution Could Industrial Symbiosis Make to Mitigating Industrial Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in Bulk Material Production?.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {14}, pages = {10269-10278}, pmid = {35772406}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {In industrial symbiosis, byproducts and wastes are used to substitute other process inputs, with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of production. Potentially, such symbiosis could reduce greenhouse gas emissions; although there exists literature exploring this at specific industrial sites, there has not yet been a quantitative global assessment of the potential toward climate mitigation by industrial symbiosis in bulk material production of steel, cement, paper, and aluminum. A model based on physical production recipes is developed to estimate global mass flows for production of these materials with increasing levels of symbiosis. The results suggest that even with major changes to byproduct utilization in cement production, the emission reduction potential is low (7% of the total bulk material system emissions) and will decline as coal-fired electricity generation and blast furnace steel production are phased out. Introducing new technologies for heat recovery allows a greater potential reduction in emissions (up to 18%), but the required infrastructure and technologies have not yet been deployed at scale. Therefore, further industrial symbiosis is unlikely to make a significant contribution to GHG emission mitigation in bulk material production.}, } @article {pmid35771009, year = {2022}, author = {Jung, J and Baek, JH and Lee, Y and Jeong, SE and Jeon, CO}, title = {The Self-Bleaching Process of Microcystis aeruginosa is Delayed by a Symbiotic Bacterium Pseudomonas sp. MAE1-K and Promoted by Methionine Deficiency.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0181422}, pmid = {35771009}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Methionine/metabolism ; *Microcystis/metabolism ; Pseudomonas/genetics ; }, abstract = {Various interactions between marine cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria have been known, but the symbiotic relationships between Microcystis and heterotrophic bacteria remain unclear. An axenic M. aeruginosa culture (NIES-298) was quickly bleached after exponential growth, whereas a xenic M. aeruginosa culture (KW) showed a normal growth curve, suggesting that some symbiotic bacteria may delay this bleaching. The bleaching process of M. aeruginosa was distinguished from the phenomena of previously proposed chlorosis and programmed cell death in various characteristics. Bleached cultures of NIES-298 quickly bleached actively growing M. aeruginosa cultures, suggesting that M. aeruginosa itself produces bleach-causing compounds. Pseudomonas sp. MAE1-K delaying the bleaching of NIES-298 cultures was isolated from the KW culture. Bleached cultures of NIES-298 treated with strain MAE1-K lost their bleaching ability, suggesting that strain MAE1-K rescues M. aeruginosa from bleaching via inactivation of bleaching compounds. From Tn5 transposon mutant screening, a metZ mutant of strain MAE1-K (F-D3) unable to synthesize methionine, promoting the bleaching of NIES-298 cultures but capable of inactivating bleaching compounds, was obtained. The bleaching process of NIES-298 cultures was promoted with the coculture of mutant F-D3 and delayed by methionine supplementation, suggesting that the bleaching process of M. aeruginosa is promoted by methionine deficiency. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacterial blooms in freshwaters represent serious global concerns for the ecosystem and human health. In this study, we found that one of the major species in cyanobacterial blooms, Microcystis aeruginosa, was quickly collapsed after exponential growth by producing self-bleaching compounds and that a symbiotic bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. MAE1-K delayed the bleaching process via the inactivation of bleaching compounds. In addition, we found that a metZ mutant of strain MAE1-K (F-D3) causing methionine deficiency promoted the bleaching process of M. aeruginosa, suggesting that methionine deficiency may induce the production of bleaching compounds. These results will provide insights into the symbiotic relationships between M. aeruginosa and heterotrophic bacteria that will contribute to developing novel strategies to control cyanobacterial blooms.}, } @article {pmid35770173, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, W and Zhao, C and Feng, J and Chang, J and Zhu, W and Chang, L and Liu, J and Xie, F and Li, C and Jiang, J and Zhao, T}, title = {Effects of Habitat River Microbiome on the Symbiotic Microbiota and Multi-Organ Gene Expression of Captive-Bred Chinese Giant Salamander.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {884880}, pmid = {35770173}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The reintroduction of captive-bred individuals is a primary approach to rebuild the wild populations of the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), the largest extant amphibian species. However, the complexity of the wild habitat (e.g., diverse microorganisms and potential pathogens) potentially threatens the survival of reintroduced individuals. In this study, fresh (i.e., containing environmental microbiota) or sterilized river sediments (120°C sterilized treatment) were added to the artificial habitats to treat the larvae of the Chinese giant salamander (control group-Cnt: 20 individuals, treatment group 1 with fresh river sediments-T1: 20 individuals, and treatment group 2 with sterilized river sediments-T2: 20 individuals). The main objective of this study was to test whether this procedure could provoke their wild adaptability from the perspective of commensal microbiotas (skin, oral cavity, stomach, and gut) and larvae transcriptomes (skin, spleen, liver, and brain). Our results indicated that the presence of habitat sediments (whether fresh or sterilized) reshaped the oral bacterial community composition. Specifically, Firmicutes decreased dramatically from ~70% to ~20-25% (mainly contributed by Lactobacillaceae), while Proteobacteria increased from ~6% to ~31-36% (mainly contributed by Gammaproteobacteria). Consequently, the proportion of antifungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) increased, and the function of oral microbiota likely shifted from growth-promoting to pathogen defense. Interestingly, the skin microbiota, rather than the colonization of habitat microbiota, was the major source of the pre-treated oral microbiota. From the host perspective, the transcriptomes of all four organs were changed for treated individuals. Specifically, the proteolysis and apoptosis in the skin were promoted, and the transcription of immune genes was activated in the skin, spleen, and liver. Importantly, more robust immune activation was detected in individuals treated with sterilized sediments. These results suggested that the pathogen defense of captive-bred individuals was improved after being treated, which may benefit their survival in the wild. Taken together, our results suggested that the pre-exposure of captive-bred Chinese giant salamander individuals to habitat sediments could be considered and added into the reintroduction processes to help them better adapt to wild conditions.}, } @article {pmid35769565, year = {2022}, author = {Tzani-Tzanopoulou, P and Skliros, D and Megremis, S and Xepapadaki, P and Andreakos, E and Chanishvili, N and Flemetakis, E and Kaltsas, G and Taka, S and Lebessi, E and Doudoulakakis, A and Papadopoulos, NG}, title = {Corrigendum: Interactions of Bacteriophages and Bacteria at the Airway Mucosa: New Insights Into the Pathophysiology of Asthma.}, journal = {Frontiers in allergy}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {892908}, doi = {10.3389/falgy.2022.892908}, pmid = {35769565}, issn = {2673-6101}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2020.617240.].}, } @article {pmid35767643, year = {2022}, author = {Chin, WH and Kett, C and Cooper, O and Müseler, D and Zhang, Y and Bamert, RS and Patwa, R and Woods, LC and Devendran, C and Korneev, D and Tiralongo, J and Lithgow, T and McDonald, MJ and Neild, A and Barr, JJ}, title = {Bacteriophages evolve enhanced persistence to a mucosal surface.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {27}, pages = {e2116197119}, pmid = {35767643}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/virology ; *Bacteriophages/genetics/physiology ; Capsid Proteins/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/virology ; *Mucous Membrane/virology ; Mucus ; Mutation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The majority of viruses within the gut are obligate bacterial viruses known as bacteriophages (phages). Their bacteriotropism underscores the study of phage ecology in the gut, where they modulate and coevolve with gut bacterial communities. Traditionally, these ecological and evolutionary questions were investigated empirically via in vitro experimental evolution and, more recently, in vivo models were adopted to account for physiologically relevant conditions of the gut. Here, we probed beyond conventional phage-bacteria coevolution to investigate potential tripartite evolutionary interactions between phages, their bacterial hosts, and the mammalian gut mucosa. To capture the role of the mammalian gut, we recapitulated a life-like gut mucosal layer using in vitro lab-on-a-chip devices (to wit, the gut-on-a-chip) and showed that the mucosal environment supports stable phage-bacteria coexistence. Next, we experimentally coevolved lytic phage populations within the gut-on-a-chip devices alongside their bacterial hosts. We found that while phages adapt to the mucosal environment via de novo mutations, genetic recombination was the key evolutionary force in driving mutational fitness. A single mutation in the phage capsid protein Hoc-known to facilitate phage adherence to mucus-caused altered phage binding to fucosylated mucin glycans. We demonstrated that the altered glycan-binding phenotype provided the evolved mutant phage a competitive fitness advantage over its ancestral wild-type phage in the gut-on-a-chip mucosal environment. Collectively, our findings revealed that phages-in addition to their evolutionary relationship with bacteria-are able to evolve in response to a mammalian-derived mucosal environment.}, } @article {pmid35767223, year = {2022}, author = {Frattini, A and Martínez-Solís, M and Llopis-Giménez, Á and Pozo, MJ and Rivero, J and Crava, CM and Herrero, S}, title = {Compatibility of mycorrhiza-induced resistance with viral and bacterial entomopathogens in the control of Spodoptera exigua in tomato.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {78}, number = {10}, pages = {4388-4396}, pmid = {35767223}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacillus thuringiensis ; Insecta ; Larva ; *Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Spodoptera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil-borne microorganisms that establish mutualistic associations with roots of most terrestrial plants. This symbiosis results in nutritional and defensive benefits to the host plant, usually conferring protection against biotic stresses, but its indirect impact on third trophic levels is still unknown. In the present work, we explore whether the symbiosis of tomato plants with Funneliformis mosseae (and/or exposition to herbivory) influences the interaction of the generalist pest Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with bacterial (Bacillus thuringiensis) and viral (baculovirus, SeMNPV) natural entomopathogens.

RESULTS: Symbiosis with AMF and previous herbivory reduces the relative growth of S. exigua, increases its susceptibility to a sublethal dose of B. thuringiensis and has positive or neutral impact on the lethality of SeMNPV. Reduction of the phenoloxidase activity, a marker of the insect immune response, was associated with the larval feeding on plant material previously exposed to herbivory but not to the AMF. In addition, no changes in the insect gut microbiota could be associated with the observed changes in larval growth and susceptibility to the entomopathogens.

CONCLUSION: Our findings provide the first evidence of compatibility of AMF symbiosis in tomato with the use of bacterial and viral entomopathogens, contributing to the development of novel approaches to combine the beneficial effect of AMF and entomopathogens in biological pest control. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid35767213, year = {2022}, author = {Asmus, JJ and Toplis, B and Roets, F and Botha, A}, title = {Predicting interactions of the frass-associated yeast Hyphopichia heimii with Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata and twig-boring bark beetles.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {67}, number = {6}, pages = {899-911}, pmid = {35767213}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Animals ; *Olea ; Plant Bark/microbiology ; *Weevils ; *Coleoptera/microbiology/physiology ; Pheromones/metabolism ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles are destructive insect pests known to form symbioses with different fungal taxa, including yeasts. The aim of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of the rare yeast Hyphopichia heimii in bark beetle frass from wild olive trees in South Africa and to (2) predict the potential interaction of this yeast with trees and bark beetles. Twenty-eight culturable yeast species were isolated from frass in 35 bark beetle galleries, including representatives of H. heimii from nine samples. Physiological characterization of H. heimii isolates revealed that none was able to degrade complex polymers present in hemicellulose; however, all were able to assimilate sucrose and cellobiose, sugars associated with an arboreal habitat. All isolates were able to produce the auxin indole acetic acid, indicative of a potential symbiosis with the tree. Sterol analysis revealed that the isolates possessed ergosterol quantities ranging from 3.644 ± 0.119 to 13.920 ± 1.230 mg/g dry cell weight, which suggested that H. heimii could serve as a source of sterols in bark beetle diets, as is known for other bark beetle-associated fungi. In addition, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated that at least one of the isolates, Hyphopichia heimii CAB 1614, was able to convert the insect pheromone cis-verbenol to the anti-aggregation pheromone verbenone. This indicated that H. heimii could potentially influence beetle behaviour. These results support the contention of a tripartite symbiosis between H. heimii, olive trees, and bark beetles.}, } @article {pmid35765383, year = {2022}, author = {, and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Platypus apicalis.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {e07398}, pmid = {35765383}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Platypus apicalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae), an ambrosia beetle, also known as a pinhole borer, for the EU territory. P. apicalis is a polyphagous pest native to New Zealand. The majority of its life cycle is spent inside tree wood, but it does not directly feed on plant tissue, instead larvae and adults feed on a symbiotic fungus (Sporothrix nothofagi which is pathogenic to Nothofagus spp.) vectored by adults and introduced when they bore tunnels into the host. P. apicalis feeds within a wide range of live, often stressed trees, in dead or dying hardwood and softwood trees, and fallen or felled trees. Successful reproduction can occur inside a number of living tree species including Castanea sativa, Pinus spp. and Ulmus spp. P. apicalis is not known to have established outside of New Zealand although findings have been reported in Australia. Whilst there are no records of interceptions of this species in the EU, platypodines are intercepted with solid wood packing material (SWPM) and Platypus species, but not P. apicalis, have been intercepted with wooden logs in Japan. Host plants for planting also provide a potential pathway. Hosts are grown widely across the EU in areas with climates comparable to those in New Zealand where the pest occurs suggesting that conditions in the EU are suitable for its establishment. If introduced into the EU, adults could disperse naturally by flight, perhaps tens or hundreds of metres. The movement of infested wood and host plants for planting within the EU could facilitate spread. Economic impacts in forestry and timber industries would result from the galleries created by P. apicalis and from wood staining caused by the symbiotic fungus. Phytosanitary measures are available to inhibit the entry of P. apicalis. P. apicalis satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, } @article {pmid35765317, year = {2022}, author = {Al-Enazi, NM and AlTami, MS and Alhomaidi, E}, title = {Unraveling the potential of pesticide-tolerant Pseudomonas sp. augmenting biological and physiological attributes of Vigna radiata (L.) under pesticide stress.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {12}, number = {28}, pages = {17765-17783}, pmid = {35765317}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {In the agricultural domain, chemical pesticides are repetitively and harshly used to kill harmful pests, but they often pose a serious threat to microbial diversity, soil fertility and agricultural output. To deal with these problems, pesticide-tolerant plant growth promoting (PGP) rhizobacterial strains are often used to combat pesticidal toxicity. Here, Pseudomonas sp. PGR-11 (accession no. OM348534), recovered from a Vigna radiata (L.) rhizosphere, produced various growth regulating (GR) substances, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; 82.5 ± 9.2 μg mL[-1]), enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase (μM α-ketobutyrate mg[-1] protein h[-1]), siderophores and ammonia. Strain PGR-11 grew well when cultured in growth medium with added metalaxyl (MTXL; 1200 μg mL[-1]), carbendazim (CBZM; 800 μg mL[-1]) and tebuconazole (TBZL; 1600 μg mL[-1]). Pseudomonas sp. synthesized PGP substances even in the presence of increasing doses of pesticides. The phytotoxicity of the tested pesticides was assessed both in vitro and under pot-house conditions using a Vigna radiata (L.) crop. Increasing concentrations of chemical pesticides negatively impacted the growth, physiological and biochemical features. However, pesticide-tolerant Pseudomonas sp. relieved the toxicity and improved the biological attributes of the plant. Bio-inoculated plants showed significant enhancement in germination attributes, dry biomass, symbiotic features and yield features when compared to un-inoculated ones. Furthermore, with 100 μg metalaxyl kg[-1] soil, strain PGR-11 increased the chl-a, chl-b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, SPAD index, photosystem efficiency (Fv/Fm), PSII quantum yield (FPSII), photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (NpQ) content by 12, 19, 16, 27, 34, 41, 26, 29 and 33%, respectively, over un-inoculated but pesticide-treated plants. Additionally, inoculation of Pseudomonas sp. with 100 μg tebuconazole kg[-1] soil caused a significant (p ≤ 0.05) enhancement in transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g s), photosynthetic rate (P N), vapor pressure deficit (kPa) and internal CO2 concentration (C i) of 19, 26, 23, 28 and 34%, respectively. Conclusively, the power to tolerate abnormally high pesticide concentration, the capacity to produce/secrete PGP substances even in a pesticide-stressed medium and the potential for improving/increasing the growth and physiology of plants by pesticide detoxification makes Pseudomonas sp. PGR-11 a fascinating choice for augmenting the productivity of V. radiata (L.) even in pesticide-stressed soils. The current findings will be helpful for exploring pesticide-tolerant ACC-deaminase-positive microbial strains as gifted entities for the environmental bioremediation of pesticides.}, } @article {pmid35765190, year = {2022}, author = {Weiland, SO and Detcharoen, M and Schlick-Steiner, BC and Steiner, FM}, title = {Analyses of locomotion, wing morphology, and microbiome in Drosophila nigrosparsa after recovery from antibiotics.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e1291}, pmid = {35765190}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Drosophila ; Locomotion ; *Microbiota ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, have been frequently used to cure arthropods of Wolbachia endosymbionts. After the symbionts have been removed, the hosts must recover for some generations from the side effects of the antibiotics. However, most studies do not assess the direct and indirect longer-term effects of antibiotics used to remove Wolbachia, which may question the exact contribution of this endosymbiont to the effects observed. Here, we used the fly Drosophila nigrosparsa treated or not with tetracycline for three generations followed by two generations of recovery to investigate the effects of this antibiotic on the fly locomotion, wing morphology, and the gut microbiome. We found that antibiotic treatment did not affect fly locomotion two generations after being treated with the antibiotic. In addition, gut-microbiome restoration was tested as a more efficient solution to reduce the potential side effects of tetracycline on the microbiome. There was no significant difference in alpha diversity between gut restoration and other treatments, but the abundance of some bacterial taxa differed significantly between the gut-restoration treatment and the control. We conclude that in D. nigrosparsa the recovery period of two generations after being treated with the antibiotic is sufficient for locomotion, and suggest a general assessment of direct and indirect effects of antibiotics after a particular recovery time.}, } @article {pmid35765178, year = {2022}, author = {Pietsch, GM and Gazis, R and Klingeman, WE and Huff, ML and Staton, ME and Kolarik, M and Hadziabdic, D}, title = {Characterization and microsatellite marker development for a common bark and ambrosia beetle associate, Geosmithia obscura.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e1286}, pmid = {35765178}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; *Hypocreales/genetics ; *Juglans/microbiology ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Tennessee ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between Geosmithia fungi and wood-boring and bark beetles seldom result in disease induction within the plant host. Yet, exceptions exist such as Geosmithia morbida, the causal agent of Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of walnuts and wingnuts, and Geosmithia sp. 41, the causal agent of Foamy Bark Canker disease of oaks. Isolates of G. obscura were recovered from black walnut trees in eastern Tennessee and at least one isolate induced cankers following artificial inoculation. Due to the putative pathogenicity and lack of recovery of G. obscura from natural lesions, a molecular diagnostic screening tool was developed using microsatellite markers mined from the G. obscura genome. A total of 3256 candidate microsatellite markers were identified (2236, 789, 137 di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide motifs, respectively), with 2011, 703, 101 di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide motifs, respectively, containing markers with primers. From these, 75 microsatellite markers were randomly selected, screened, and optimized, resulting in 28 polymorphic markers that yielded single, consistently recovered bands, which were used in downstream analyses. Five of these microsatellite markers were found to be specific to G. obscura and did not cross-amplify into other, closely related species. Although the remaining tested markers could be useful, they cross-amplified within different Geosmithia species, making them not reliable for G. obscura detection. Five novel microsatellite markers (GOBS9, GOBS10, GOBS41, GOBS43, and GOBS50) were developed based on the G. obscura genome. These species-specific microsatellite markers are available as a tool for use in molecular diagnostics and can assist future surveillance studies.}, } @article {pmid35764953, year = {2022}, author = {Kato, S and Nagasawa, T and Uehara, O and Shimizu, S and Sugiyama, N and Hasegawa-Nakamura, K and Noguchi, K and Hatae, M and Kakinoki, H and Furuichi, Y}, title = {Increase in Bifidobacterium is a characteristic of the difference in the salivary microbiota of pregnant and non-pregnant women.}, journal = {BMC oral health}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {260}, pmid = {35764953}, issn = {1472-6831}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium ; Estradiol ; Female ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; *Progesterone ; Saliva ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The establishment of symbiotic microbiota in pregnant women is important for both the mother and her offspring. Little is known about the salivary symbiotic bacteria in pregnancy, and analysis of composition of microbiome (ANCOM) is useful to detect small differences in the number of bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the salivary bacteria between healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women using ANCOM.

METHODS: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 35 healthy pregnant women at 35 weeks gestation and 30 healthy non-pregnant women during menstruation. All participants underwent a periodontal examination. Estradiol and progesterone levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DNA extracted from the saliva was assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing and real-time PCR.

RESULTS: Salivary estradiol and progesterone levels were significantly increased in pregnant women. The alpha and beta diversities were higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. The largest effect size difference noted when the microbiota of the pregnant and non-pregnant women were analyzed was that for Bifidobacteriales. Levels of Bifidobacterium dentium, but not of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, were significantly increased in pregnant women, and the levels were significantly correlated with progesterone concentration.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Bifidobacterium and progesterone levels are elevated in the saliva of healthy pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women.}, } @article {pmid35764675, year = {2022}, author = {Mars Brisbin, M and Mitarai, S and Saito, MA and Alexander, H}, title = {Microbiomes of bloom-forming Phaeocystis algae are stable and consistently recruited, with both symbiotic and opportunistic modes.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {2255-2264}, pmid = {35764675}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Carbon ; *Haptophyta ; *Microbiota ; Phytoplankton ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {Phaeocystis is a cosmopolitan, bloom-forming phytoplankton genus that contributes significantly to global carbon and sulfur cycles. During blooms, Phaeocystis species produce large carbon-rich colonies, creating a unique interface for bacterial interactions. While bacteria are known to interact with phytoplankton-e.g., they promote growth by producing phytohormones and vitamins-such interactions have not been shown for Phaeocystis. Therefore, we investigated the composition and function of P. globosa microbiomes. Specifically, we tested whether microbiome compositions are consistent across individual colonies from four P. globosa strains, whether similar microbiomes are re-recruited after antibiotic treatment, and how microbiomes affect P. globosa growth under limiting conditions. Results illuminated a core colonial P. globosa microbiome-including bacteria from the orders Alteromonadales, Burkholderiales, and Rhizobiales-that was re-recruited after microbiome disruption. Consistent microbiome composition and recruitment is indicative that P. globosa microbiomes are stable-state systems undergoing deterministic community assembly and suggests there are specific, beneficial interactions between Phaeocystis and bacteria. Growth experiments with axenic and nonaxenic cultures demonstrated that microbiomes allowed continued growth when B-vitamins were withheld, but that microbiomes accelerated culture collapse when nitrogen was withheld. In sum, this study reveals symbiotic and opportunistic interactions between Phaeocystis colonies and microbiome bacteria that could influence large-scale phytoplankton bloom dynamics and biogeochemical cycles.}, } @article {pmid35763414, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Pan, T and Li, CX and Zheng, D and Sun, Y and Zhang, XZ}, title = {Double Bacteria Synergistic Catalytic Reduction System for Heavy Metal Detoxification Treatment.}, journal = {Nano letters}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {5575-5583}, doi = {10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01907}, pmid = {35763414}, issn = {1530-6992}, mesh = {Electron Transport ; Ions ; *Metals, Heavy ; *Shewanella ; }, abstract = {Synthetic biology has promoted the development of microbial therapy, but the scope of applicable microbial species is limited and transgenic microorganisms also display safety risks for in vivo applications. Interestingly, symbiotic microorganisms in nature can achieve functional updates by metabolic cooperation. Here, we report on a nongenetic method for engineering microorganisms to construct a heavy metal ion reduction system, which was prepared by linking Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (SO) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). SO could reduce metal ions but is limited by finite substrates in vivo. LGG could metabolize glucose to lactate as a substrate for SO, promoting extracellular electron transfer by SO and heavy metal ion reduction. Meanwhile, SO could generate electron donor cytochrome C to promote metabolism of LGG, forming metabolic synergy and circulation between these two bacteria. The SO-LGG system shows splendid ability to remove heavy metal ions and inflammatory modulation in acute or chronic heavy metal poisoning.}, } @article {pmid35763100, year = {2022}, author = {Liang, Z and Lin, X and Liao, Y and Tang, T}, title = {Characteristics and diversity of endophytic bacteria in Panax notoginseng under high temperature analysed using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {7}, pages = {435}, pmid = {35763100}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Endophytes ; Hot Temperature ; *Panax notoginseng/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Panax notoginseng is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with diverse properties that is cultivated in a narrow ecological range because of its sensitivity to high temperatures. Endophytic bacteria play a prominent role in plant response to climate warming. However, the endophytic bacterial structures in P. notoginseng at high temperatures are yet unclear. In the present study, the diversity and composition of the endophytic bacterial community, and their relationships with two P. notoginseng plants with different heat tolerance capacities were compared using the full-length 16S rRNA PacBio sequencing system. The results revealed that the diversity and richness of endophytic bacteria were negatively associated with the heat tolerance of P. notoginseng. Beneficial Cyanobacteria, Rhodanobacter and Sphingomonas may be recruited positively by heat-tolerant plants, while higher amounts of adverse Proteobacteria such as Cellvibrio fibrivorans derived from soil destructed the cellular protective barriers of heat-sensitive plants and caused influx of pathogenic bacteria Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Harmonious and conflicting bacterial community was observed in heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive P. notoginseng, respectively, based on the co-occurrence network. Using functional gene prediction of metabolism, endophytic bacteria have been proposed to be symbiotic with host plants; the bacteria improved primary metabolic pathways and secondary metabolite production of plants, incorporated beneficial endophytes, and combated adverse endophytes to prompt the adaptation of P. notoginseng to a warming environment. These findings provided a new perspective on the function of endophytes in P. notoginseng adaptation to high temperatures, and could pave the way for expanding the cultivable range of P. notoginseng.}, } @article {pmid35762680, year = {2022}, author = {Ruiz, B and Sauviac, L and Brouquisse, R and Bruand, C and Meilhoc, E}, title = {Role of Nitric Oxide of Bacterial Origin in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {10}, pages = {887-892}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-22-0118-SC}, pmid = {35762680}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Soil ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a small ubiquitous gaseous molecule that has been found in many host-pathogen interactions. NO has been shown to be part of the defense arsenal of animal cells and more recently of plant cells. To fight this molecular weapon, pathogens have evolved responses consisting of adaptation to NO or degradation of this toxic molecule. More recently, it was shown that NO could also be produced by the pathogen and contributes likewise to the success of the host cell infection. NO is also present during symbiotic interactions. Despite growing knowledge about the role of NO during friendly interactions, data on the specificity of action of NO produced by each partner are scarce, partly due to the multiplicity of NO production systems. In the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between the soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and the model legume Medicago truncatula, NO has been detected at all steps of the interaction, where it displays various roles. Both partners contribute to NO production inside the legume root nodules where nitrogen fixation occurs. The study focuses on the role of bacterial NO in this interaction. We used a genetic approach to identify bacterial NO sources in the symbiotic context and to test the phenotype in planta of bacterial mutants affected in NO production. Our results show that only denitrification is a source of bacterial NO in Medicago nodules, giving insight into the role of bacteria-derived NO at different steps of the symbiotic interaction. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35762679, year = {2022}, author = {Wei, F and Liu, Y and Zhou, D and Zhao, W and Chen, Z and Chen, D and Li, Y and Zhang, XX}, title = {Transcriptomic Identification of a Unique Set of Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides Expressed in the Nitrogen-Fixing Root Nodule of Astragalus sinicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {10}, pages = {893-905}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-22-0054-R}, pmid = {35762679}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Cysteine/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Peptides/metabolism ; RNA/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes in the inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) each produce a unique set of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, which act in concert to determine the terminal differentiation of nitrogen-fixing bacteroid. IRLC legumes differ greatly in their numbers of NCR and sequence diversity. This raises the significant question how bacteroid differentiation is collectively controlled by the specific NCR repertoire of an IRLC legume. Astragalus sinicus is an IRLC legume that forms indeterminate nodules with its microsymbiont Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R. Here, we performed transcriptome analysis of root and nodule samples at 3, 7, 14, 28 days postinoculation with M. huakuii 7653R and its isogenic ∆bacA mutant. BacA is a broad-specificity peptide transporter required for the host-derived NCRs to target rhizobial cells. A total of 167 NCRs were identified in the RNA transcripts. Comparative sequence and electrochemical analysis revealed that A. sinicus NCRs (AsNCRs) are dominated by a unique cationic group (termed subgroup C), whose mature portion is relatively long (>60 amino acids) and phylogenetically distinct and possessing six highly conserved cysteine residues. Subsequent functional characterization showed that a 7653R variant harboring AsNCR083 (a representative of subgroup C AsNCR) displayed significant growth inhibition in laboratory media and formed ineffective white nodules on A. sinicus with irregular symbiosomes. Finally, bacterial two-hybrid analysis led to the identification of GroEL1 and GroEL3 as the molecular targets of AsNCR067 and AsNCR076. Together, our data contribute to a systematic understanding of the NCR repertoire associated with the A. sinicus and M. huakuii symbiosis. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35761415, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Yang, M and Tang, L and Wang, F and Huang, S and Liu, S and Lei, Y and Wang, S and Xie, Z and Wang, W and Zhao, X and Tang, B and Yang, S}, title = {TLR4 regulates RORγt[+] regulatory T-cell responses and susceptibility to colon inflammation through interaction with Akkermansia muciniphila.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {98}, pmid = {35761415}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Akkermansia ; Animals ; *Colitis/immunology ; Colon ; Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; *T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; *Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Well-balanced interactions between gut microbiota and the immune system are essential to prevent chronic intestinal inflammation, as observed in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) functions as a sensor mediating the crosstalk between the intestinal commensal microbiome and host immunity, but the influence of TLR4 on the shaping of intestinal microbiota and immune responses during colon inflammation remains poorly characterized. We investigated whether the different susceptibilities to colitis between wild-type (WT) and TLR4[-/-] mice were gut microbiota-dependent and aimed to identify the potential immunity modulation mechanism.

METHODS: We performed antibiotic depletion of the microbiota, cohousing experiments, and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in WT and TLR4[-/-] mice to assess the influence of TLR4 on intestinal microbial ecology. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to dissect microbial discrepancies, and dysbiosis-associated immune perturbation was investigated by flow cytometry. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila)-mediated immune modulation was confirmed through the T-cell transfer colitis model and bone marrow chimaera construction.

RESULTS: TLR4[-/-] mice experienced enhanced susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis. 16S rRNA sequencing showed notable discrepancy in the gut microbiota between WT and TLR4[-/-] mice. In particular, A. muciniphila contributed most to distinguishing the two groups. The T-cell transfer colitis model and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) consistently demonstrated that A. muciniphila ameliorated colitis by upregulating RORγt[+] Treg cell-mediated immune responses. Mucosal biopsies from human manifested parallel outcomes with colon tissue from WT mice, as evidenced by the positive correlation between TLR4 expression and intestinal A. muciniphila colonization during homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a novel protective role of TLR4 against intestinal inflammation, wherein it can modulate A. muciniphila-associated immune responses. These findings provide a new perspective on host-commensal symbiosis, which may be beneficial for developing potential therapeutic strategies. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid35760157, year = {2022}, author = {Kafle, A and Cooney, DR and Shah, G and Garcia, K}, title = {Mycorrhiza-mediated potassium transport in Medicago truncatula can be evaluated by using rubidium as a proxy.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {322}, number = {}, pages = {111364}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111364}, pmid = {35760157}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Potassium/metabolism ; Rubidium/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi considerably improve plant nutrient acquisition, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. Despite the physiological importance of potassium (K[+]) in plants, there is increasing interest in the mycorrhizal contribution to plant K[+] nutrition. Yet, methods to track K[+] transport are often costly and limiting evaluation opportunities. Rubidium (Rb[+]) is known to be transported through same pathways as K[+]. As such our research efforts attempt to evaluate if Rb[+] could serve as a viable proxy for evaluating K[+] transport in AM symbiosis. Therefore, we examined the transport of K[+] in Medicago truncatula colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis isolate 09 having access to various concentrations of Rb[+] in custom-made two-compartment systems. Plant biomass, fungal root colonization, and shoot nutrient concentrations were recorded under sufficient and limited K[+] regimes. We report that AM plants displayed higher shoot Rb[+] and K[+] concentrations and a greater K[+]:Na[+] ratio relative to non-colonized plants in both sufficient and limited K[+] conditions. Consequently, our results indicate that Rb[+] can be used as a proxy to assess the movement of K[+] in AM symbiosis, and suggest the existence of a mycorrhizal uptake pathway for K[+] nutrition in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid35759954, year = {2022}, author = {Hsouna, J and Gritli, T and Ilahi, H and Ellouze, W and Mansouri, M and Chihaoui, SA and Bouhnik, O and Missbah El Idrissi, M and Abdelmoumen, H and Wipf, D and Courty, PE and Bekki, A and Tambong, JT and Mnasri, B}, title = {Genotypic and symbiotic diversity studies of rhizobia nodulating Acacia saligna in Tunisia reveal two novel symbiovars within the Rhizobium leguminosarum complex and Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {126343}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126343}, pmid = {35759954}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Acacia ; *Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Acacia saligna is an invasive alien species that has the ability to establish symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. In the present study, genotypic and symbiotic diversity of native rhizobia associated with A. saligna in Tunisia were studied. A total of 100 bacterial strains were selected and three different ribotypes were identified based on rrs PCR-RFLP analysis. Sequence analyses of rrs and four housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, gyrB and glnII) assigned 30 isolates to four putative new lineages and a single strain to Sinorhizobium meliloti. Thirteen slow-growing isolates representing the most dominant IGS (intergenic spacer) profile clustered distinctly from known rhizobia species within Bradyrhizobium with the closest related species being Bradyrhizobium shewense and Bradyrhizobium niftali, which had 95.17% and 95.1% sequence identity, respectively. Two slow-growing isolates, 1AS28L and 5AS6L, had B. frederekii as their closest species with a sequence identity of 95.2%, an indication that these strains could constitute a new lineage. Strains 1AS14I, 1AS12I and 6AS6 clustered distinctly from known rhizobia species but within the Rhizobium leguminosarum complex (Rlc) with the most closely related species being Rhizobium indicum with 96.3% sequence identity. Similarly, the remaining 11 strains showed 96.9 % and 97.2% similarity values with R. changzhiense and R. indicum, respectively. Based on nodC and nodA phylogenies and cross inoculation tests, these 14 strains of Rlc species clearly diverged from strains of Sinorhizobium and Rlc symbiovars, and formed a new symbiovar for which the name sv. "salignae" is proposed. Bacterial strains isolated in this study that were taxonomically assigned to Bradyrhizobium harbored different symbiotic genes and the data suggested a new symbiovar, for which sv. "cyanophyllae" is proposed. Isolates formed effective nodules on A. saligna.}, } @article {pmid35758749, year = {2022}, author = {Mason, CJ and Peiffer, M and Chen, B and Hoover, K and Felton, GW}, title = {Opposing Growth Responses of Lepidopteran Larvae to the Establishment of Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0194122}, pmid = {35758749}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva/microbiology ; Spodoptera/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota can have diverse impacts on hosts, the nature of which often depend on the circumstances. For insect gut microbes, the quality and nature of host diets can be a significant force in swinging the pendulum from inconsequential to functionally important. In our study, we addressed whether beneficial microbes in one species impart similar functions to related species under identical conditions. Using fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), and other noctuid hosts, we implemented an axenic rearing strategy and manipulated gut bacterial populations and dietary conditions. Our results revealed that some gut Enterococcus and Enterobacter isolates can facilitate utilization of a poor diet substrate by fall armyworm, but this was not the case for other more optimized diets. While Enterococcus provided benefits to fall armyworm, it was decidedly antagonistic to beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) under identical conditions. Unique isolates and bacterial introductions at early growth stages were critical to how both larval hosts performed. Our results provide robust evidence of the roles in which bacteria support lepidopteran larval growth, but also indicate that the directionality of these relationships can differ among congener hosts. IMPORTANCE Insects have intimate relationships with gut microbiota, where bacteria can contribute important functions to their invertebrate hosts. Lepidopterans are important insect pests, but how they engage with their gut bacteria and how that translates to impacts on the host are lacking. Here we demonstrate the facultative nature of gut microbiota in lepidopteran larvae and the importance of diet in driving mutualistic or antagonistic relationships. Using multiple lepidopteran species, we uncover that the same bacteria that can facilitate exploitation of a challenging diet in one host severely diminishes larval performance of another larval species. Additionally, we demonstrate the beneficial functions of gut microbiota on the hosts are not limited to one lineage, but rather multiple isolates can facilitate the exploitation of a suboptimal diet. Our results illuminate the context-dependent nature of the gut microbiomes in invertebrates, and how host-specific microbial engagement can produce dramatically different interactions.}, } @article {pmid35758673, year = {2022}, author = {Holley, JC and Jackson, MN and Pham, AT and Hatcher, SC and Moran, NA}, title = {Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa) Harbor a Distinctive Gut Microbiome Related to That of Honey Bees and Bumble Bees.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {13}, pages = {e0020322}, pmid = {35758673}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bees ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Pollen ; }, abstract = {Eusocial corbiculate bees, including bumble bees and honey bees, maintain a socially transmitted core gut microbiome that contributes to digestion and pathogen defense. In contrast, solitary bees, which have fewer opportunities for direct interhost transmission, typically have less consistent microbiomes dominated by bacteria associated with pollen and food reserves. Carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa) are long-lived bees that are not eusocial but that often live in shared nesting sites. We characterized gut microbiomes for Xylocopa micans, X. mexicanorum, X. tabaniformis parkinsoniae, and X. virginica and for five solitary bee species from other genera (Andrena, Habropoda, Megachile, and Svastra), sampled in the same localities in central Texas. Unexpectedly, all four Xylocopa species had microbiomes dominated by bacterial lineages previously known only from social bees or other insect groups. Microbiomes were similar across three Xylocopa species and included lineages in the families Bifidobacteriaceae, Orbaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae. In contrast, X. virginica had a distinct microbiome dominated by the genus Bombilactobacillus, a group abundant in guts of eusocial bees. Phylogenetic analyses support a past transfer of bacterial lineages into Xylocopa from bumble bees or honey bees. Gut microbiome compositions of Xylocopa species were distinct from those of other co-occurring solitary bees that had variable gut microbiomes dominated by bacteria from environmental sources. IMPORTANCE Gut microbiomes from social bees, such as honey bees and bumble bees, are conserved and consist of host-restricted bacteria that are transmitted among sterile female workers within a colony and that are important to the health of these key insect pollinators. In contrast, solitary bee species typically have more erratic, environmentally acquired microbiomes. Carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa) can be solitary as they lack a worker caste, and each female can excavate nests and raise offspring alone, although females are often social share nests at least in some species. This study showed that the gut microbiomes of four Xylocopa species have distinctive and consistent compositions and are dominated by bacterial lineages previously known from honey bees and bumble bees. Thus, eusociality is not required for bees to maintain a specialized, host-restricted gut microbiome. These findings suggest that gut bacteria are transmitted at shared nesting sites and that they play a role in host ecology.}, } @article {pmid35758609, year = {2022}, author = {Heath, KD and Batstone, RT and Cerón Romero, M and McMullen, JG}, title = {MGEs as the MVPs of Partner Quality Variation in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0088822}, pmid = {35758609}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {Despite decades of research, we are only just beginning to understand the forces maintaining variation in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between rhizobial bacteria and leguminous plants. In their recent work, Alexandra Weisberg and colleagues use genomics to document the breadth of mobile element diversity that carries the symbiosis genes of Bradyrhizobium in natural populations. Studying rhizobia from the perspective of their mobile genetic elements, which have their own transmission modes and fitness interests, reveals novel mechanisms for the generation and maintenance of diversity in natural populations of these ecologically and economically important mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid35756042, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, MH and Medina Munoz, M and Rio, RVM}, title = {The Tsetse Metabolic Gambit: Living on Blood by Relying on Symbionts Demands Synchronization.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {905826}, pmid = {35756042}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Tsetse flies have socioeconomic significance as the obligate vector of multiple Trypanosoma parasites, the causative agents of Human and Animal African Trypanosomiases. Like many animals subsisting on a limited diet, microbial symbiosis is key to supplementing nutrient deficiencies necessary for metabolic, reproductive, and immune functions. Extensive studies on the microbiota in parallel to tsetse biology have unraveled the many dependencies partners have for one another. But far less is known mechanistically on how products are swapped between partners and how these metabolic exchanges are regulated, especially to address changing physiological needs. More specifically, how do metabolites contributed by one partner get to the right place at the right time and in the right amounts to the other partner? Epigenetics is the study of molecules and mechanisms that regulate the inheritance, gene activity and expression of traits that are not due to DNA sequence alone. The roles that epigenetics provide as a mechanistic link between host phenotype, metabolism and microbiota (both in composition and activity) is relatively unknown and represents a frontier of exploration. Here, we take a closer look at blood feeding insects with emphasis on the tsetse fly, to specifically propose roles for microRNAs (miRNA) and DNA methylation, in maintaining insect-microbiota functional homeostasis. We provide empirical details to addressing these hypotheses and advancing these studies. Deciphering how microbiota and host activity are harmonized may foster multiple applications toward manipulating host health, including identifying novel targets for innovative vector control strategies to counter insidious pests such as tsetse.}, } @article {pmid35756026, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, J and Li, J and Yang, Y and Wang, Y and Zhang, Y and Wang, P}, title = {Effects of Conventional and Organic Agriculture on Soil Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community in Low-Quality Farmland.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {914627}, pmid = {35756026}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have promising applications in low-quality farmlands all over the world, but research on their responses to conventional and organic farming systems in low-quality soil is limited. We hypothesized that the colonization activity and community diversity of AM fungi in conventional farming systems may not be lower than in organic farming on low-quality farmlands where beneficial symbiosis is required. We collected soil and maize root samples from medium to low fertility farmlands with conventional or organic farming systems in western Jilin Province, China. The colonization percentage and intensity, taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, community composition of soil AM fungi, and soil factors were detected and compared between the two farming systems. The colonization intensity and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) taxonomic diversity on conventional farms were higher than on organic farms. Glomus was the most common genus on conventional farms, whereas Paraglomus and Glomus were the most common on organic farms. We also found a simpler AM fungal network structure with lower OTU phylogenetic diversity on conventional farms. Our findings suggested that though the conventional farming system resulted in different compositions and simpler structures of soil AM fungal community, there are potential diverse OTU resources currently present on conventional farms. This work has potential impacts on understanding the influence of different farming systems on soil AM fungi in low-quality farmlands and the development of efficient mycorrhizal inoculant production.}, } @article {pmid35755814, year = {2022}, author = {Lima, RM and Rathod, BB and Tiricz, H and Howan, DHO and Al Bouni, MA and Jenei, S and Tímár, E and Endre, G and Tóth, GK and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Legume Plant Peptides as Sources of Novel Antimicrobial Molecules Against Human Pathogens.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {870460}, pmid = {35755814}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Antimicrobial peptides are prominent components of the plant immune system acting against a wide variety of pathogens. Legume plants from the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) have evolved a unique gene family encoding nodule-specific cysteine-rich NCR peptides acting in the symbiotic cells of root nodules, where they convert their bacterial endosymbionts into non-cultivable, polyploid nitrogen-fixing cells. NCRs are usually 30-50 amino acids long peptides having a characteristic pattern of 4 or 6 cysteines and highly divergent amino acid composition. While the function of NCRs is largely unknown, antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated for a few cationic Medicago truncatula NCR peptides against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The advantages of these plant peptides are their broad antimicrobial spectrum, fast killing modes of actions, multiple bacterial targets, and low propensity to develop resistance to them and no or low cytotoxicity to human cells. In the IRLC legumes, the number of NCR genes varies from a few to several hundred and it is possible that altogether hundreds of thousands of different NCR peptides exist. Due to the need for new antimicrobial agents, we investigated the antimicrobial potential of 104 synthetic NCR peptides from M. truncatula, M. sativa, Pisum sativum, Galega orientalis and Cicer arietinum against eight human pathogens, including ESKAPE bacteria. 50 NCRs showed antimicrobial activity with differences in the antimicrobial spectrum and effectivity. The most active peptides eliminated bacteria at concentrations from 0.8 to 3.1 μM. High isoelectric point and positive net charge were important but not the only determinants of their antimicrobial activity. Testing the activity of shorter peptide derivatives against Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans led to identification of regions responsible for the antimicrobial activity and provided insight into their potential modes of action. This work provides highly potent lead molecules without hemolytic activity on human blood cells for novel antimicrobial drugs to fight against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid35755655, year = {2022}, author = {Fernández, N and Knoblochová, T and Kohout, P and Janoušková, M and Cajthaml, T and Frouz, J and Rydlová, J}, title = {Asymmetric Interaction Between Two Mycorrhizal Fungal Guilds and Consequences for the Establishment of Their Host Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {873204}, pmid = {35755655}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and ectomycorrhiza (EcM) are the most abundant and widespread types of mycorrhizal symbiosis, but there is little and sometimes conflicting information regarding the interaction between AM fungi (AMF) and EcM fungi (EcMF) in soils. Their competition for resources can be particularly relevant in successional ecosystems, which usually present a transition from AM-forming herbaceous vegetation to EcM-forming woody species. The aims of this study were to describe the interaction between mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with AM and EcM hosts naturally coexisting during primary succession on spoil banks and to evaluate how this interaction affects growth and mycorrhizal colonization of seedlings of both species. We conducted a greenhouse microcosm experiment with Betula pendula and Hieracium caespitosum as EcM and AM hosts, respectively. They were cultivated in three-compartment rhizoboxes. Two lateral compartments contained different combinations of both host plants as sources of fungal mycelia colonizing the middle compartment, where fungal biomass, diversity, and community composition as well as the growth of each host plant species' seedlings were analyzed. The study's main finding was an asymmetric outcome of the interaction between the two plant species: while H. caespitosum and associated AMF reduced the abundance of EcMF in soil, modified the composition of EcMF communities, and also tended to decrease growth and mycorrhizal colonization of B. pendula seedlings, the EcM host did not have such effects on AM plants and associated AMF. In the context of primary succession, these findings suggest that ruderal AM hosts could hinder the development of EcM tree seedlings, thus slowing the transition from AM-dominated to EcM-dominated vegetation in early successional stages.}, } @article {pmid35755649, year = {2022}, author = {Lou, H and Guo, C and Fan, B and Fu, R and Su, H and Zhang, J and Sun, L}, title = {Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) Interact With Lachnum pygmaeum to Mitigate Drought and Promote Growth.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {920338}, pmid = {35755649}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The application of Ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi is considered to be an important strategy for increasing plant yield and drought resistance. In this study, we isolated and identified two ErM fungi that can promote the growth of lingonberry. We tried to understand the potential of these two ErM fungi to promote the growth of lingonberry and the strategies to help plants cope with water shortage. The use value of ErM fungi was evaluated by inoculating Oidiodendron maius FC (OmFC) or Lachnum pygmaeum ZL6 (LpZL6), well-watered (WW) and severe drought stress (SDS). The results showed that the mycelium of LpZL6 was denser than that of OmFC, and both ErM fungi significantly increased the biomass of lingonberry stems and roots. They also significantly increased the chlorophyll content by 65.6 and 97.8%, respectively. In addition, inoculation with LpZL6 fungi can improve drought resistance, promote root growth and increase root wet weight by 1157.6%. Drought reduced the chlorophyll content and soluble sugar content of lingonberry but increased significantly after inoculation with LpZL6. Inoculation with LpZL6 decreased lingonberry's malondialdehyde (MDA) content but increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Overall, these results indicated that the successful coexistence of ErM fungi and lingonberry alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress through higher secondary metabolites and photosynthetic pigment synthesis.}, } @article {pmid35753299, year = {2022}, author = {Jiang, X and Dai, J and Zhang, X and Wu, H and Tong, J and Shi, J and Fang, W}, title = {Enhanced Cd efflux capacity and physiological stress resistance: The beneficial modulations of Metarhizium robertsii on plants under cadmium stress.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {437}, number = {}, pages = {129429}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129429}, pmid = {35753299}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Cadmium/metabolism/toxicity ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Metarhizium ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Due to the high migration capacity in agricultural soil-crop systems, cadmium (Cd) is accumulated in various crops and severely inhibits plant growth. In this study, we showed that, under Cd stress, the plant-symbiotic fungus Metarhizium robertsii reduced Cd accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana shoots and roots by 21.8 % and 23.8 %, respectively. This is achieved by M. robertsii colonization-induced elevation of Cd efflux capacity via upregulation of three PCR genes, which is confirmed by the fact that the extent to which M. robertsii reduced Cd accumulation in the WT plants was greater than the inactivating mutants of the PCR genes. M. robertsii also alleviated Cd-induced leaf etiolation in A. thaliana by increasing the chlorophyll amount and modified plant physiological status to increase Cd stress tolerance via increasing production of catalase, peroxidase and glutathione and upregulating multiple HIPP proteins involved in sequestration of Cd. Notably, consistent with that in A. thaliana, the colonization of M. robertsii also reduced the Cd accumulation in Oryza sativa seedlings by upregulating the PCR gene OsPCR1, and increased chlorophyll amount and alleviated oxidative stress. Therefore, M. robertsii colonization reduced Cd accumulation in plants, and promoted plant growth and health by elevating Cd efflux capacity and modifying physiological status.}, } @article {pmid35752802, year = {2022}, author = {Darcy, JL and Amend, AS and Swift, SOI and Sommers, PS and Lozupone, CA}, title = {specificity: an R package for analysis of feature specificity to environmental and higher dimensional variables, applied to microbiome species data.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {34}, pmid = {35752802}, issn = {2524-6372}, support = {5 T15 LM009451-12/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors that influence microbes' environmental distributions is important for determining drivers of microbial community composition. These include environmental variables like temperature and pH, and higher-dimensional variables like geographic distance and host species phylogeny. In microbial ecology, "specificity" is often described in the context of symbiotic or host parasitic interactions, but specificity can be more broadly used to describe the extent to which a species occupies a narrower range of an environmental variable than expected by chance. Using a standardization we describe here, Rao's (Theor Popul Biol, 1982. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-5809(82)90004-1, Sankhya A, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13171-010-0016-3) Quadratic Entropy can be conveniently applied to calculate specificity of a feature, such as a species, to many different environmental variables.

RESULTS: We present our R package specificity for performing the above analyses, and apply it to four real-life microbial data sets to demonstrate its application. We found that many fungi within the leaves of native Hawaiian plants had strong specificity to rainfall and elevation, even though these variables showed minimal importance in a previous analysis of fungal beta-diversity. In Antarctic cryoconite holes, our tool revealed that many bacteria have specificity to co-occurring algal community composition. Similarly, in the human gut microbiome, many bacteria showed specificity to the composition of bile acids. Finally, our analysis of the Earth Microbiome Project data set showed that most bacteria show strong ontological specificity to sample type. Our software performed as expected on synthetic data as well.

CONCLUSIONS: specificity is well-suited to analysis of microbiome data, both in synthetic test cases, and across multiple environment types and experimental designs. The analysis and software we present here can reveal patterns in microbial taxa that may not be evident from a community-level perspective. These insights can also be visualized and interactively shared among researchers using specificity's companion package, specificity.shiny.}, } @article {pmid35751548, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, X and Chen, K and Zhou, M and Gao, Y and Huang, H and Liu, C and Fan, Y and Fan, Z and Wang, Y and Li, X}, title = {GmNAC181 promotes symbiotic nodulation and salt tolerance of nodulation by directly regulating GmNINa expression in soybean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {236}, number = {2}, pages = {656-670}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18343}, pmid = {35751548}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Salt Tolerance/genetics ; *Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important crops world-wide. Under low nitrogen (N) condition, soybean can form a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia to acquire sufficient N for their growth and production. Nodulation signaling controls soybean symbiosis with rhizobia. The soybean Nodule Inception (GmNINa) gene is a central regulator of soybean nodulation. However, the transcriptional regulation of GmNINa remains largely unknown. Nodulation is sensitive to salt stress, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified an NAC transcription factor designated GmNAC181 (also known as GmNAC11) as the interacting protein of GmNSP1a. GmNAC181 overexpression or knockdown in soybean resulted in increased or decreased numbers of nodules, respectively. Accordingly, the expression of GmNINa was greatly up- and downregulated, respectively. Furthermore, we showed that GmNAC181 can directly bind to the GmNINa promoter to activate its gene expression. Intriguingly, GmNAC181 was highly induced by salt stress during nodulation and promoted symbiotic nodulation under salt stress. We identified a new transcriptional activator of GmNINa in the nodulation pathway and revealed a mechanism by which GmNAC181 acts as a network node orchestrating the expression of GmNINa and symbiotic nodulation under salt stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid35750715, year = {2022}, author = {Song, H and Kim, KT and Park, SY and Lee, GW and Choi, J and Jeon, J and Cheong, K and Choi, G and Hur, JS and Lee, YH}, title = {A comparative genomic analysis of lichen-forming fungi reveals new insights into fungal lifestyles.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {10724}, pmid = {35750715}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; *Chlorophyta/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/genetics ; Genomics ; *Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lichen-forming fungi are mutualistic symbionts of green algae or cyanobacteria. We report the comparative analysis of six genomes of lichen-forming fungi in classes Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes to identify genomic information related to their symbiotic lifestyle. The lichen-forming fungi exhibited genome reduction via the loss of dispensable genes encoding plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes, sugar transporters, and transcription factors. The loss of these genes reflects the symbiotic biology of lichens, such as the absence of pectin in the algal cell wall and obtaining specific sugars from photosynthetic partners. The lichens also gained many lineage- and species-specific genes, including those encoding small secreted proteins. These genes are primarily induced during the early stage of lichen symbiosis, indicating their significant roles in the establishment of lichen symbiosis.Our findings provide comprehensive genomic information for six lichen-forming fungi and novel insights into lichen biology and the evolution of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35750307, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, YM and Naseer, M and Zhu, Y and Zhu, SG and Wang, S and Wang, BZ and Wang, J and Zhu, H and Wang, W and Tao, HY and Xiong, YC}, title = {Dual effects of nZVI on maize growth and water use are positively mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi via rhizosphere interactions.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {308}, number = {}, pages = {119661}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119661}, pmid = {35750307}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Fungi ; Iron ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Water ; Zea mays/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) might generate positive and negative effects on plant growth, since it acts as either hazardous or growth-promotion role. It is still unclear whether such dual roles can be mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant-AMF symbiosis. We first identified that in 1.5 g kg[-1] nZVI (≤1.5 g kg[-1] positively), maize biomass was increased by 15.83%; yet in 2.0 g kg[-1] nZVI, it turned to be declined by 6.83%, relative to non-nZVI condition (CK, p < 0.05), showing a negative effect. Interestingly, the inoculation of AMF massively improved biomass by 45.18% in 1.5 g kg[-1] nZVI, and relieved the growth inhibition by 2.0 g kg[-1] nZVI. The event of water use efficiency followed similar trend as that of biomass. We found that proper concentration of nZVI can positively interact with rhizosphere AMF carrier, enabling more plant photosynthetic carbon to be remobilized to mycorrhiza. The scanning of transmission electron microscopy showed that excessive nZVI can infiltrate into root cortical cells and disrupt cellular homeostasis mechanism, significantly increasing iron content in roots by 76.01% (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, the images of scanning electron microscopy showed that nZVI were attached on root surface to form an insoluble iron ion (Fe[3+]) layer, hindering water absorption. However, they were efficiently immobilized and in situ intercepted by extraradical hyphae in mycorrhizal-nZVI symbiosis, lowering iron translocation efficiency by 6.07% (p < 0.05). Herein, the optimized structure remarkably diminished aperture blockage at root surface and improved root activities by 30.06% (p < 0.05). Particularly, next-generation sequencing demonstrated that appropriate amount of nZVI promoted the colonization and development of Funneliformis mosseae as dominant species in rhizosphere, confirming the positive interaction between AMF and nZVI, and its regulatory mechanism. Therefore, dual effects of nZVI can be actively mediated by AMF via rhizosphere interactions. The findings provided new insights into the safe and efficient application of nanomaterials in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35750231, year = {2022}, author = {Jiang, X and Fang, W and Tong, J and Liu, S and Wu, H and Shi, J}, title = {Metarhizium robertsii as a promising microbial agent for rice in situ cadmium reduction and plant growth promotion.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {305}, number = {}, pages = {135427}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135427}, pmid = {35750231}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Cadmium/analysis ; Metarhizium ; *Oryza/genetics ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Seedlings ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {The toxic chemical element cadmium (Cd) in paddy fields triggered increasing problems of growth inhibition and food security in rice consistently. In this study, we found Metarhizium robertsii, which is widely used as a bioinsecticide and biofertilizer in agriculture and recently found to be resistant to Cd, developed intraradical and extraradical symbiotic hyphae in rice seedlings, and successfully colonized in the rice rhizosphere soil to more than 10[3] CFUs g[-1] soil at harvesting. M. robertsii colonization significantly reduced Cd accumulations in both hydroponically cultured seedlings and the matured rice cultured in Cd contaminated potting soil (2 ppm). Notably, Cd accumulation reduction of the roots, stems, leaves, husks and grains of the matured rice induced by the fungus were 44.3%, 32.1%, 35.3%, 31.9% and 24.7%, respectively. It was caused by the M. robertsii-induced suppression of Cd intake transporter gene osNramp5 in the rice roots, and the chemical stabilizing of Cd to the residual fraction in the rhizosphere soil. In addition, the colonization of M. robertsii significantly promoted the growth characters and the photosynthesis of the rice plants. This is achieved by the increase of endogenous hormone levels of indole-3-acetic, gibberellin A3 and brassinolide induced by M. robertsii. Furthermore, the fungus enhanced the antioxidative capacities via increasing enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase and the production of glutathione, ascorbic acid, proline in the rice plants. Our work provides theoretical basis for expanding the use of M. robertsii as in situ Cd accumulation reduction and detoxification agents for rice in contaminated paddy fields.}, } @article {pmid35749000, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Zhu, Y and Yang, L and Wang, Z}, title = {Effect of gut microbiota in the colorectal cancer and potential target therapy.}, journal = {Discover. Oncology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {51}, pmid = {35749000}, issn = {2730-6011}, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between gut microbiota and the digestive tract is an important factor in maintaining the intestinal environment balance. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease involving the interaction between tumour cells and a large number of microorganisms. The microbiota is involved in the occurrence, development and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Several microbiota species have been studied, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis), Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. Studies about the interaction between microbiota and CRC were retrieved from Embase, PubMed, Ovid and Web of Science up to 21 Oct 2021. This review expounded on the effect of microbiota on CRC, especially the dysregulation of bacteria and carcinogenicity. The methods of gut microbiota modifications representing novel prognostic markers and innovative therapeutic strategies were also described.}, } @article {pmid35748742, year = {2022}, author = {Prescott, SL and Logan, AC and Bristow, J and Rozzi, R and Moodie, R and Redvers, N and Haahtela, T and Warber, S and Poland, B and Hancock, T and Berman, B}, title = {Exiting the Anthropocene: Achieving personal and planetary health in the 21st century.}, journal = {Allergy}, volume = {77}, number = {12}, pages = {3498-3512}, pmid = {35748742}, issn = {1398-9995}, mesh = {Humans ; *Ecosystem ; *Environment ; }, abstract = {Planetary health provides a perspective of ecological interdependence that connects the health and vitality of individuals, communities, and Earth's natural systems. It includes the social, political, and economic ecosystems that influence both individuals and whole societies. In an era of interconnected grand challenges threatening health of all systems at all scales, planetary health provides a framework for cross-sectoral collaboration and unified systems approaches to solutions. The field of allergy is at the forefront of these efforts. Allergic conditions are a sentinel measure of environmental impact on human health in early life-illuminating how ecological changes affect immune development and predispose to a wider range of inflammatory noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This shows how adverse macroscale ecology in the Anthropocene penetrates to the molecular level of personal and microscale ecology, including the microbial systems at the foundations of all ecosystems. It provides the basis for more integrated efforts to address widespread environmental degradation and adverse effects of maladaptive urbanization, food systems, lifestyle behaviors, and socioeconomic disadvantage. Nature-based solutions and efforts to improve nature-relatedness are crucial for restoring symbiosis, balance, and mutualism in every sense, recognizing that both personal lifestyle choices and collective structural actions are needed in tandem. Ultimately, meaningful ecological approaches will depend on placing greater emphasis on psychological and cultural dimensions such as mindfulness, values, and moral wisdom to ensure a sustainable and resilient future.}, } @article {pmid35748637, year = {2023}, author = {Poulin, R and Jorge, F and Salloum, PM}, title = {Inter-individual variation in parasite manipulation of host phenotype: A role for parasite microbiomes?.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {4}, pages = {807-812}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13764}, pmid = {35748637}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Parasites ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Ecology ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Alterations in host phenotype induced by metazoan parasites are widespread in nature, yet the underlying mechanisms and the sources of intraspecific variation in the extent of those alterations remain poorly understood. In light of the microbiome revolution sweeping through ecology and evolutionary biology, we hypothesise that the composition of symbiotic microbial communities living within individual parasites influences the nature and extent of their effect on host phenotype. The interests of both the parasite and its symbionts are aligned through the latter's vertical transmission, favouring joint contributions to the manipulation of host phenotype. Our hypothesis can explain the variation in the extent to which parasites alter host phenotype, as microbiome composition varies among individual parasites. We propose two non-exclusive approaches to test the hypothesis, furthering the integration of microbiomes into studies of host-parasite interactions.}, } @article {pmid35747246, year = {2022}, author = {Ndabankulu, K and Tsvuura, Z and Magadlela, A}, title = {Alien invasive Leucaena leucocephala successfully acquires nutrients by investing in below-ground biomass compared to native Vachellia nilotica in nutrient-amended soils in South Africa.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {plac026}, pmid = {35747246}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Soils in grasslands and savannas of southern Africa are acidic and nutrient-poor. Legume plants, such as Vachellia nilotica and alien invasive Leucaena leucocephala, are a major component of the vegetation there. Vachellia nilotica can establish in drought-prone environments, and is invasive in high rainfall areas. Leucaena leucocephala is an emerging invasive in South Africa and is ranked among the world's 100 most invasive alien species. Alien plants can invade native habitats through their adaptability to low-resource soils, and thus can out-compete and displace native vegetation. We investigated the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency and soil acidity on legume-microbe symbiosis, nitrogen (N) nutrition and carbon (C) growth costs of these two legumes in grassland soils. We used as inoculum and growth substrate soils collected from a long-term (>65 years) nutrient and lime-addition trial, the Veld Fertilizer Trial (VFT), located at Ukulinga Research Farm near Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. We used soils from three VFT treatments: soils fertilized with superphosphate (336 kg ha[-1]) applied once per year (+P), soils fertilized with superphosphate (336 kg ha[-1]) applied once per year with dolomitic lime (2250 kg ha[-1]) applied once every 5 years (P+L) and soils with no superphosphate and no dolomitic lime applications (Control). Seeds of V. nilotica and L. leucocephala were germinated and grown independently in these soils in green house conditions and harvested after 125 days for measurement of growth, legume-microbe symbiosis, N nutrition and C growth costs. Results showed that the two legumes had different growth adaptations. Vachellia nilotica grown in control soils and +P soils nodulated with various Burkholderia spp., while L. leucocephala did not nodulate in all soil treatments. Both legumes utilized for growth both atmospheric- and soil-derived N across all treatments thereby decreasing C growth costs. Vachellia nilotica grown in +P soils accumulated the most biomass and N nutrition. Leucaena leucocephala maximized specific N assimilation rates by investing in below-ground biomass accumulation in control soils. This shows that L. leucocephala possesses traits that are successful in acquiring nutrients by investing in below-ground biomass and relying on utilization of N from both the soil and the atmosphere.}, } @article {pmid35747061, year = {2022}, author = {Engelenburg, HJ and Lucassen, PJ and Sarafian, JT and Parker, W and Laman, JD}, title = {Multiple sclerosis and the microbiota: Progress in understanding the contribution of the gut microbiome to disease.}, journal = {Evolution, medicine, and public health}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {277-294}, pmid = {35747061}, issn = {2050-6201}, abstract = {Multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological autoimmune disorder, has recently been linked to neuro-inflammatory influences from the gut. In this review, we address the idea that evolutionary mismatches could affect the pathogenesis of MS via the gut microbiota. The evolution of symbiosis as well as the recent introduction of evolutionary mismatches is considered, and evidence regarding the impact of diet on the MS-associated microbiota is evaluated. Distinctive microbial community compositions associated with the gut microbiota of MS patients are difficult to identify, and substantial study-to-study variation and even larger variations between individual profiles of MS patients are observed. Furthermore, although some dietary changes impact the progression of MS, MS-associated features of microbiota were found to be not necessarily associated with diet per se. In addition, immune function in MS patients potentially drives changes in microbial composition directly, in at least some individuals. Finally, assessment of evolutionary histories of animals with their gut symbionts suggests that the impact of evolutionary mismatch on the microbiota is less concerning than mismatches affecting helminths and protists. These observations suggest that the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet for patients with MS may not be mediated by the microbiota per se. Furthermore, any alteration of the microbiota found in association with MS may be an effect rather than a cause. This conclusion is consistent with other studies indicating that a loss of complex eukaryotic symbionts, including helminths and protists, is a pivotal evolutionary mismatch that potentiates the increased prevalence of autoimmunity within a population.}, } @article {pmid35746365, year = {2022}, author = {Matsumaru, T}, title = {Methods of Generating Emotional Movements and Methods of Transmitting Behavioral Intentions: A Perspective on Human-Coexistence Robots.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {35746365}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {Emotions ; Humans ; Intention ; Motion ; Movement ; *Robotics/methods ; }, abstract = {The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss the following two functions that are considered to be important in human-coexistence robots and human-symbiotic robots: the method of generating emotional movements, and the method of transmitting behavioral intentions. The generation of emotional movements is to design the bodily movements of robots so that humans can feel specific emotions. Specifically, the application of Laban movement analysis, the development from the circumplex model of affect, and the imitation of human movements are discussed. However, a general technique has not yet been established to modify any robot movement so that it contains a specific emotion. The transmission of behavioral intentions is about allowing the surrounding humans to understand the behavioral intentions of robots. Specifically, informative motions in arm manipulation and the transmission of the movement intentions of robots are discussed. In the former, the target position in the reaching motion, the physical characteristics in the handover motion, and the landing distance in the throwing motion are examined, but there are still few research cases. In the latter, no groundbreaking method has been proposed that is fundamentally different from earlier studies. Further research and development are expected in the near future.}, } @article {pmid35745016, year = {2022}, author = {Lucena, MA and Ramos, IFDS and Geronço, MS and de Araújo, R and da Silva Filho, FL and da Silva, LMLR and de Sousa, RWR and Ferreira, PMP and Osajima, JA and Silva-Filho, EC and Rizzo, MDS and Ribeiro, AB and da Costa, MP}, title = {Biopolymer from Water Kefir as a Potential Clean-Label Ingredient for Health Applications: Evaluation of New Properties.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {35745016}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopolymers ; Escherichia coli ; *Kefir/microbiology ; *Probiotics ; Water ; }, abstract = {The present work aimed to characterize the exopolysaccharide obtained from water kefir grains (EPSwk), a symbiotic association of probiotic microorganisms. New findings of the technological, mechanical, and biological properties of the sample were studied. The EPSwk polymer presented an Mw of 6.35 × 10[5] Da. The biopolymer also showed microcrystalline structure and characteristic thermal stability with maximum thermal degradation at 250 °C. The analysis of the monosaccharides of the EPSwk by gas chromatography demonstrated that the material is composed of glucose units (98 mol%). Additionally, EPSwk exhibited excellent emulsifying properties, film-forming ability, a low photodegradation rate (3.8%), and good mucoadhesive properties (adhesion Fmax of 1.065 N). EPSwk presented cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of this study expand the potential application of the exopolysaccharide from water kefir as a potential clean-label raw material for pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetic applications.}, } @article {pmid35744766, year = {2022}, author = {Takahashi, T}, title = {Method for Stress Assessment of Endosymbiotic Algae in Paramecium bursaria as a Model System for Endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35744766}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Endosymbiosis between heterotrophic host and microalga often breaks down because of environmental conditions, such as temperature change and exposure to toxic substances. By the time of the apparent breakdown of endosymbiosis, it is often too late for the endosymbiotic system to recover. In this study, I developed a technique for the stress assessment of endosymbiotic algae using Paramecium bursaria as an endosymbiosis model, after treatment with the herbicide paraquat, an endosymbiotic collapse inducer. Microcapillary flow cytometry was employed to evaluate a large number of cells in an approach that is more rapid than microscopy evaluation. In the assay, red fluorescence of the chlorophyll reflected the number of endosymbionts within the host cell, while yellow fluorescence fluctuated in response to the deteriorating viability of the endosymbiont under stress. Hence, the yellow/red fluorescence intensity ratio can be used as an algal stress index independent of the algal number. An optical evaluation revealed that the viability of the endosymbiotic algae within the host cell decreased after treatment with paraquat and that the remaining endosymbionts were exposed to high stress. The devised assay is a potential environmental monitoring method, applicable not only to P. bursaria but also to multicellular symbiotic units, such as corals.}, } @article {pmid35744751, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Zhang, F and Lu, X}, title = {Diversity and Functional Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Lepidopteran Insects.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35744751}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Lepidopteran insects are one of the most widespread and speciose lineages on Earth, with many common pests and beneficial insect species. The evolutionary success of their diversification depends on the essential functions of gut microorganisms. This diverse gut microbiota of lepidopteran insects provides benefits in nutrition and reproductive regulation and plays an important role in the defence against pathogens, enhancing host immune homeostasis. In addition, gut symbionts have shown promising applications in the development of novel tools for biological control, biodegradation of waste, and blocking the transmission of insect-borne diseases. Even though most microbial symbionts are unculturable, the rapidly expanding catalogue of microbial genomes and the application of modern genetic techniques offer a viable alternative for studying these microbes. Here, we discuss the gut structure and microbial diversity of lepidopteran insects, as well as advances in the understanding of symbiotic relationships and interactions between hosts and symbionts. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the function of the gut microbiota, including in host nutrition and metabolism, immune defence, and potential mechanisms of detoxification. Due to the relevance of lepidopteran pests in agricultural production, it can be expected that the research on the interactions between lepidopteran insects and their gut microbiota will be used for biological pest control and protection of beneficial insects in the future.}, } @article {pmid35744714, year = {2022}, author = {Dabré, ÉE and Hijri, M and Favret, C}, title = {Influence on Soybean Aphid by the Tripartite Interaction between Soybean, a Rhizobium Bacterium, and an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35744714}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobia in legumes has been proven to increase plant growth and yield. To date, studies of the effects of these interactions on phytophagous insects have shown them to be context-dependent depending on the inoculant strain, the plant, and the insect species. Here, we document how a symbiosis involving an AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis; a rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum; and soybean, Glycine max, influences the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines. Soybean co-inoculated with the AM fungus-rhizobium pair increased the plant's biomass, nodulation, mycorrhizal colonization, nitrogen, and carbon concentrations, but decreased phosphorus concentration. Similar effects were observed with rhizobium alone, with the exception that root biomass was unaffected. With AM fungus alone, we only observed an increase in mycorrhizal colonization and phosphorus concentration. The aphids experienced an increased reproductive rate with the double inoculation, followed by rhizobium alone, whereas no effect was observed with the AM fungus. The size of individual aphids was not affected. Furthermore, we found positive correlation between nitrogen concentration and aphid population density. Our results confirm that co-inoculation of two symbionts can enhance both plant and phytophagous insect performance beyond what either symbiont can contribute alone.}, } @article {pmid35744676, year = {2022}, author = {Dabré, ÉE and Brodeur, J and Hijri, M and Favret, C}, title = {The Effects of an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus and Rhizobium Symbioses on Soybean Aphid Mostly Fail to Propagate to the Third Trophic Level.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35744676}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The cascading effects of microbe-plant symbioses on the second trophic level, such as phytophagous insects, have been most studied. However, few studies have examined the higher third trophic level, i.e., their natural enemies. We investigated the effects of the symbiotic associations between an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis (Glomerales: Glomeraceae), a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Rhizobiales: Bradyrhizobiaceae), and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabaceae) on two natural enemies of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the ladybird beetle Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and the parasitoid Aphelinus certus Yasnosh (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). We measured the growth and survival in the predator and parasitoid reared on aphids feeding on soybean inoculated seedlings. The rhizobium symbiosis alone was affected with a decreased rate of parasitoid emergence, presumably due to decreased host quality. However, number of mummies, sex-ratio, development time, and parasitoid size were all unaffected by inoculation. AM fungus alone or co-inoculated with the rhizobium was unaffected with any of the parameters of the parasitoid. For the predator, none of the measured parameters was affected with any inoculant. Here, it appears that whatever benefits the microbe-plant symbioses confer on the second trophic level are little transferred up to the third.}, } @article {pmid35741382, year = {2022}, author = {Benjamin, G and Pandharikar, G and Frendo, P}, title = {Salicylic Acid in Plant Symbioses: Beyond Plant Pathogen Interactions.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35741382}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Plants form beneficial symbioses with a wide variety of microorganisms. Among these, endophytes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are some of the most studied and well understood symbiotic interactions. These symbiotic microorganisms promote plant nutrition and growth. In exchange, they receive the carbon and metabolites necessary for their development and multiplication. In addition to their role in plant growth and development, these microorganisms enhance host plant tolerance to a wide range of environmental stress. Multiple studies have shown that these microorganisms modulate the phytohormone metabolism in the host plant. Among the phytohormones involved in the plant defense response against biotic environment, salicylic acid (SA) plays an important role in activating plant defense. However, in addition to being a major actor in plant defense signaling against pathogens, SA has also been shown to be involved in plant-microbe symbiotic interactions. In this review, we summarize the impact of SA on the symbiotic interactions. In addition, we give an overview of the impact of the endophytes, AMF, and rhizobacteria on SA-mediated defense response against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid35741375, year = {2022}, author = {Mendoza-Soto, AB and Rodríguez-Corral, AZ and Bojórquez-López, A and Cervantes-Rojo, M and Castro-Martínez, C and Lopez-Meyer, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Leads to Differential Regulation of Genes and miRNAs Associated with the Cell Wall in Tomato Leaves.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35741375}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is an association that provides nutritional benefits to plants. Importantly, it induces a physiological state allowing plants to respond to a subsequent pathogen attack in a more rapid and intense manner. Consequently, mycorrhiza-colonized plants become less susceptible to root and shoot pathogens. This study aimed to identify some of the molecular players and potential mechanisms related to the onset of defense priming by mycorrhiza colonization, as well as miRNAs that may act as regulators of priming genes. The upregulation of cellulose synthases, pectinesterase inhibitors, and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, as well as the downregulation of a pectinesterase, suggest that the modification and reinforcement of the cell wall may prime the leaves of mycorrhizal plants to react faster and stronger to subsequent pathogen attack. This was confirmed by the findings of miR164a-3p, miR164a-5p, miR171e-5p, and miR397, which target genes and are also related to the biosynthesis or modification of cell wall components. Our findings support the hypothesis that the reinforcement or remodeling of the cell wall and cuticle could participate in the priming mechanism triggered by mycorrhiza colonization, by strengthening the first physical barriers upstream of the pathogen encounter.}, } @article {pmid35740218, year = {2022}, author = {Margarita, V and Cao, LC and Bailey, NP and Ngoc, THT and Ngo, TMC and Nu, PAT and Diaz, N and Dessì, D and Hirt, RP and Fiori, PL and Rappelli, P}, title = {Effect of the Symbiosis with Mycoplasma hominis and Candidatus Mycoplasma Girerdii on Trichomonas vaginalis Metronidazole Susceptibility.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35740218}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide, is caused by the protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis. The 5- nitroimidazole drugs, of which metronidazole is the most prescribed, are the only effective drugs to treat trichomoniasis. Resistance against metronidazole is increasingly reported among T. vaginalis isolates. T. vaginalis can establish an endosymbiosis with two Mycoplasma species, Mycoplasma hominis and Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii, whose presence has been demonstrated to influence several aspects of the protozoan pathobiology. The role of M. hominis in T. vaginalis resistance to metronidazole is controversial, while the influence of Ca. M. girerdii has never been investigated. In this work, we investigate the possible correlation between the presence of Ca. M. girerdii and/or M. hominis and the in vitro drug susceptibility in a large group of T. vaginalis isolated in Italy and in Vietnam. We also evaluated, via RNA-seq analysis, the expression of protozoan genes involved in metronidazole resistance in a set of syngenic T. vaginalis strains, differing only for the presence/absence of the two Mycoplasmas. Our results show that the presence of M. hominis significantly increases the sensitivity to metronidazole in T. vaginalis and affects gene expression. On the contrary, the symbiosis with Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii seems to have no effect on metronidazole resistance in T. vaginalis.}, } @article {pmid35739215, year = {2022}, author = {Ngwenya, ZD and Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Phylogenetic relationships among Bradyrhizobium species nodulating groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) and soybean (Glycine max Merr.) in Eswatini.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {10629}, pmid = {35739215}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics ; *Bradyrhizobium ; Canavalia ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Eswatini ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {This study assessed the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of rhizobial isolates obtained from root nodules of groundnut, jack bean and soybean planted in different locations within Eswatini. Seventy-six rhizobial isolates were studied using ERIC-PCR (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) fingerprinting and PCR amplification of 16S rRNA, housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, glnll and rpoB) and symbiotic genes (nifH and nodC). The dendrogram generated from the ERIC-PCR banding patterns grouped the test rhizobial isolates into 16 major clusters (Cluster I-XVI), with three isolates, namely TUTAHeS60, TUTGMeS3 and TUTAHeS127, forming outgroups of Clusters IV, VI and IX, respectively. Furthermore, the 76 test isolates were grouped into 56 ERIC-PCR types at 70% similarity level. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequence analysis of four housekeeping (atpD, dnaK, glnII and rpoB) and two symbiotic (nifH and nodC) genes showed that all three legumes (groundnut, jack bean and soybean) were nodulated by bacterial symbionts belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium, with some isolates exhibiting high divergence from the known reference type strains. The results also showed that B. arachidis, B. iriomotense and B. canariense were the closest type strains to the groundnut isolates, while B. pachyrhizi and B. elkanii were the closest relatives to the bacterial symbionts associated with the nodulation of both jack bean and soybean. This study is the first report to describe of the bacterial symbionts nodulating jack bean in African soils.}, } @article {pmid35738420, year = {2022}, author = {Chuah, LF and Chew, KW and Bokhari, A and Mubashir, M and Show, PL}, title = {Biodegradation of crude oil in seawater by using a consortium of symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {213}, number = {}, pages = {113721}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.113721}, pmid = {35738420}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Hydrocarbons ; *Petroleum ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {This work presents the enhancement of oil biodegradation in seawater using a mixture of oil and microorganisms. Retardation of crude oil biodegradation in seawater is hypothetically due to the inhibiting of metabolites produced by the oil bacterium which inhibit its enzymes. For this purpose, the bacteria consortium consisting of an active oil-oxidizing bacterium (AR3-Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes) and two oil-resistant and active heterotrophic bacteria (OG1 and OG2-Erythrobacter citreus) were formed. The heterotrophic bacteria, OG1 and OG2 were able to remove metabolites produced during oil degradation. It was found that AR3 was retarded by metabolites, while OG1 and OG2 were able to grow in the metabolites. OG1 and OG2 were applied together to enhance growth and removal of the metabolites. About 59.9% of crude oil degradation was degraded by AR3 pure culture, while 68.6% was degraded by the bacteria consortium. About 31.4% of the crude oil was found to remain in seawater due to the presence of asphaltenes and resin hydrocarbons. The bacteria consortium was able to degrade 84.1% of total hydrocarbons while 67.0% was degraded by AR3. A total of 99.8% of the aliphatic content and 38.4% of the total aromatic hydrocarbons were degraded by the bacteria consortium, while a lower 79.4% of total aliphatic and 31.0% of total aromatic were degraded by AR3 under the same experimental conditions. The results which were obtained from this study support the hypothesis that the retardation of oil degradation by AR3 is due to the inhibition of metabolites on the growth.}, } @article {pmid35738252, year = {2022}, author = {George, EE and Tashyreva, D and Kwong, WK and Okamoto, N and Horák, A and Husnik, F and Lukeš, J and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Gene Transfer Agents in Bacterial Endosymbionts of Microbial Eukaryotes.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35738252}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Viruses ; }, abstract = {Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are virus-like structures that package and transfer prokaryotic DNA from donor to recipient prokaryotic cells. Here, we describe widespread GTA gene clusters in the highly reduced genomes of bacterial endosymbionts from microbial eukaryotes (protists). Homologs of the GTA capsid and portal complexes were initially found to be present in several highly reduced alphaproteobacterial endosymbionts of diplonemid protists (Rickettsiales and Rhodospirillales). Evidence of GTA expression was found in polyA-enriched metatranscriptomes of the diplonemid hosts and their endosymbionts, but due to biases in the polyA-enrichment methods, levels of GTA expression could not be determined. Examining the genomes of closely related bacteria revealed that the pattern of retained GTA head/capsid complexes with missing tail components was common across Rickettsiales and Holosporaceae (Rhodospirillales), all obligate symbionts with a wide variety of eukaryotic hosts. A dN/dS analysis of Rickettsiales and Holosporaceae symbionts revealed that purifying selection is likely the main driver of GTA evolution in symbionts, suggesting they remain functional, but the ecological function of GTAs in bacterial symbionts is unknown. In particular, it is unclear how increasing horizontal gene transfer in small, largely clonal endosymbiont populations can explain GTA retention, and, therefore, the structures may have been repurposed in endosymbionts for host interactions. Either way, their widespread retention and conservation in endosymbionts of diverse eukaryotes suggests an important role in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35738105, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, X and Shoaib, M and Cheng, X and Cui, Y and Hussain, S and Yan, J and Zhou, J and Chen, Q and Gu, Y and Zou, L and Zhang, X and Hao, S and Zhao, K and Ma, M and Xiang, Q and Li, S and Zou, T}, title = {Role of rhizobia in promoting non-enzymatic antioxidants to mitigate nitrogen-deficiency and nickel stresses in Pongamia pinnata.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {241}, number = {}, pages = {113789}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113789}, pmid = {35738105}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Millettia/metabolism ; Nickel/toxicity ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The contribution of rhizobia in the mitigation of non-enzymatic antioxidants against nitrogen deficiency and heavy metal toxicity for legume plant is not clear. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the inoculation of rhizobia could mitigate nitrogen deficiency and nickel (Ni) stresses in P. pinnata tissues by enhancing the formation of certain non-enzymatic antioxidants. The effect of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia on the mitigation of nitrogen-deficiency and Ni stresses in P. pinnata was evaluated by inoculating two different rhizobia, i.e., Rhizobium pisi PZHK2 and Ochrobacterium pseudogrignonense PZHK4, around the rhizosphere of P. pinnata grown in soil containing 40 mg kg[-1] Ni[2+] and without nitrogen addition. The inoculation with both rhizobial strains promoted the growth of P. pinnata under nickel stress or nitrogen-deficiency condition, increased nitrogen content in all plant tissues and nickel content in shoots and leaves, but reduced nickel accumulation in roots. The four non-enzymatic antioxidants including glutathione (GSH), proanthocyanidin (OPC), ascorbic acid (ASA) and flavonoids (FLA) distributed in roots, shoots and leaves were followed in descending order: GSH > OPC > ASA > FLA. The four non-enzymatic antioxidants showed different levels of change under the nitrogen-deficiency and nickel stresses and in the non-stress control. The inoculation of PZHK2 and PZHK4 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the four non-enzymatic antioxidants in P. pinnata tissues, especially in roots. Some non-enzymatic antioxidants showed correlations with nickel or nitrogen in P. pinnata tissues, and the four non-enzymatic antioxidants also had correlations among each other. Therefore, this research revealed an excellent role of rhizobia in promoting non-enzymatic antioxidants to mitigate nitrogen-deficiency or nickel stress for P. pinnata.}, } @article {pmid35737726, year = {2022}, author = {Bonfante, P}, title = {Microbe Profile: Gigaspora margarita, a multifaceted arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001202}, pmid = {35737726}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Fungi/genetics ; Genome, Fungal ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Gigaspora margarita is a cosmopolitan arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, which - as an obligate symbiont- requires being associated to a host plant to accomplish its life cycle. It is characterized by huge white spores, the development of extraradical auxiliary cells, and the lack of intraradical vesicles. Its genome is dominated by transposable elements and is one of the largest fungal genomes so far sequenced. G. margarita has the peculiar feature to host taxonomically different endobacteria in its cytoplasm. The development of a cured line has allowed us to demonstrate how the endobacteria have a positive impact on the fungal physiology and -with a cascade effect- on the mycorrhizal plant.}, } @article {pmid35737176, year = {2022}, author = {Gibu, K and Ikeuchi, E and Bell, T and Nakamura, T and Yoshioka, Y and Suzuki, A and Iguchi, A}, title = {Calcification rates of a massive and a branching coral species were unrelated to diversity of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {49}, number = {9}, pages = {9101-9106}, pmid = {35737176}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: To explore the possibility that endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) are associated with coral calcification rates, we investigated the diversity of symbiotic algae in coral colonies with different calcification rates within massive and branching corals (Porites australiensis and Acropora digitifera).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Genotyping symbiotic algae from colonies with different calcification rates revealed that all the colonies of both species harbored mainly Cladocopium (previously clade C of Symbiodinium). The Cladocopium symbionts in P. australiensis were mainly composed of C15 and C15bn, and those in A. digitifera of C50a and C50c. We did not detect clear relationships between symbiont compositions and calcification rates within the two coral species.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that different coral calcification rates within species may be attributed to genetic factors of coral hosts themselves and/or within symbiont genotypes.}, } @article {pmid35736705, year = {2022}, author = {Moreno-Camarena, M and Ortega-Larrocea, MP}, title = {Mesoamerican Cypripedium: Mycorrhizal Contributions to Promote Their Conservation as Critically Endangered Species.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {35736705}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In the valuable orchid genus Cypripedium, the section Irapeana consists of a distinctive group of Mesoamerican species that is formed by Cypripedium dickinsonianum Hágsater, C. irapeanum Lex., and C. molle Lindl. All lady slipper orchids exhibit different distributions and abundances. Data analysis that used herbarium accessions and field investigations indicated that the habitats of these three species have been dramatically reduced. Prospecting for suitable habitats based on climatic, vegetation, and soil parameters allows us to predict potential distributions. Conservation strategies, such as ex situ propagation by asymbiotic and symbiotic approaches, have indicated that the culture media used are a determining factor for seedling development. Mycorrhizal isolates play a main role in the compatibility and further development of germinated seeds. The fungi isolated from adult plants belong to two different families, which makes it possible that widely distributed C. irapeanum populations will be fungal-specific as well as restricted for C. molle. Root mycorrhization patterns occur high on the secondary roots. In contrast with other species of the genus, in situ germination can occur over a short period of two months, but we have documented periods as long as ten years. Cypripedium is a highly problematic genus for ex situ conservation because the germination requirements and cultures are poorly documented, and there is great urgency for in situ conservation to develop strategies for identifying hotspot habitats and actualize the protection status to avoid extinction of this genus.}, } @article {pmid35736108, year = {2022}, author = {Chavarria-Pizarro, T and Resl, P and Kuhl-Nagel, T and Janjic, A and Fernandez Mendoza, F and Werth, S}, title = {Antibiotic-Induced Treatments Reveal Stress-Responsive Gene Expression in the Endangered Lichen Lobaria pulmonaria.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35736108}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Antibiotics are primarily found in the environment due to human activity, which has been reported to influence the structure of biotic communities and the ecological functions of soil and water ecosystems. Nonetheless, their effects in other terrestrial ecosystems have not been well studied. As a result of oxidative stress in organisms exposed to high levels of antibiotics, genotoxicity can lead to DNA damage and, potentially, cell death. In addition, in symbiotic organisms, removal of the associated microbiome by antibiotic treatment has been observed to have a big impact on the host, e.g., corals. The lung lichen Lobaria pulmonaria has more than 800 associated bacterial species, a microbiome which has been hypothesized to increase the lichen's fitness. We artificially exposed samples of L. pulmonaria to antibiotics and a stepwise temperature increase to determine the relative effects of antibiotic treatments vs. temperature on the mycobiont and photobiont gene expression and the viability and on the community structure of the lichen-associated bacteria. We found that the mycobiont and photobiont highly reacted to different antibiotics, independently of temperature exposure. We did not find major differences in bacterial community composition or alpha diversity between antibiotic treatments and controls. For these reasons, the upregulation of stress-related genes in antibiotic-treated samples could be caused by genotoxicity in L. pulmonaria and its photobiont caused by exposure to antibiotics, and the observed stress responses are reactions of the symbiotic partners to reduce damage to their cells. Our study is of great interest for the community of researchers studying symbiotic organisms as it represents one of the first steps to understanding gene expression in an endangered lichen in response to exposure to toxic environments, along with dynamics in its associated bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid35736096, year = {2022}, author = {Araújo, JPM and Li, Y and Duong, TA and Smith, ME and Adams, S and Hulcr, J}, title = {Four New Species of Harringtonia: Unravelling the Laurel Wilt Fungal Genus.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35736096}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Symbiosis between beetles and fungi arose multiple times during the evolution of both organisms. Some of the most biologically diverse and economically important are mutualisms in which the beetles cultivate and feed on fungi. Among these are bark beetles and Harringtonia, a fungal genus that produces Raffaelea-like asexual morph and hosts the causal agent of laurel wilt, H. lauricola (formerly Raffaelea lauricola). In this study, we propose four new species of Harringtonia associated with beetles from Belize and Florida (USA). We hope to contribute towards a more robust and inclusive phylogenetic framework for future studies on these beetle-fungi relationships and their potential impact in crops and forests worldwide.}, } @article {pmid35736074, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, P and Xu, S and Tang, Y and Wang, H and Bai, X and Zhang, H}, title = {Genomic and AntiSMASH Analyses of Marine-Sponge-Derived Strain Aspergillus niger L14 Unveiling Its Vast Potential of Secondary Metabolites Biosynthesis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35736074}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Aspergillus niger is one of the most important sources of secondary metabolites (SMs), with a wide array of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects. However, the biosynthetic analysis of these bioactive components has been rarely reported owing to the lack of high-quality genome sequences and comprehensive analysis. In this study, the whole genome of one marine-sponge-derived strain A. niger L14 was sequenced and assembled as well as in-depth bioinformatic analysis. The results indicated that the sequence assembly of strain L14 generated one high-quality genome with a total size of 36.1 Mb, a G + C content of 45.3% and an N50 scaffold of 4.2 Mb. Gene annotation was extensively deployed using various BLAST databases, including non-redudant (Nr) protein sequence, nucleotide (Nt) sequence, Swiss-Prot, Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) as well as Pathogen Host Interactions (PHI) and Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) databases. AntiSMASH analysis revealed that this marine strain harbors a total of 69 SMs biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs), including 17 PKSs, 18 NRPSs, 21 NRPS-likes, 9 terpenes, 2 indoles, 1 betalactone and 1 siderophore, suggesting its biosynthetic potential to produce a wide variety of SMs. These findings will assist in future investigations on the genetic basis of strain L14 and provide insights into its new bioactive SMs for new drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid35736061, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, Z and Wang, Y and Zhuang, Y and Mao, C and Shi, Y and Sun, L}, title = {Fungus-Fungus Association of Boletus griseus and Hypomyces chrysospermus and Cadmium Resistance Characteristics of Symbiotic Fungus Hypomyces chrysospermus.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35736061}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungi bioaccumulation of heavy metals is a promising approach to remediate polluted soil and water. Boletus griseus could accumulate high amounts of Cd, even in a natural habitat with low Cd contents. This study found a symbiotic association of B. griseus with a fungus. The symbiotic fungus was isolated and identified as Hypomyces chrysospermus. The isolated strain had a strong ability to tolerate Cd. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Cd of fungal growth was 200 mg·L[-][1]. The Cd bioaccumulation capacity of the fungus reached 10.03 mg·g[-1]. The biomass production of the fungus was promoted by 20 mg·L[-1] Cd. However, high concentrations of Cd suppressed fungal growth and significantly altered the morphology and fine texture of fungal hyphae and chlamydospores. The immobilization effects of the cell wall and acid compounds and antioxidant enzymes were employed by the fungus to alleviate the toxic effects of Cd. The results not only demonstrate a new insight into the Cd bioconcentration mechanisms of B. griseus but also provide a potential bioremediation fungus for Cd contamination.}, } @article {pmid35735591, year = {2022}, author = {Ilgun, A and Schmickl, T}, title = {Mycelial Beehives of HIVEOPOLIS: Designing and Building Therapeutic Inner Nest Environments for Honeybees.}, journal = {Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35735591}, issn = {2313-7673}, abstract = {The perceptions and definitions of healthy indoor environments have changed significantly throughout architectural history. Today, molecular biology teaches us that microbes play important roles in human health, and that isolation from them puts not only us but also other inhabitants of urban landscapes, at risk. In order to provide an environment that makes honeybees more resilient to environmental changes, we aim for combining the thermal insulation functionality of mycelium materials with bioactive therapeutic properties within beehive constructions. By identifying mycelial fungi's interactions with nest-related materials, using digital methods to design a hive structure, and engaging in additive manufacturing, we were able to develop a set of methods for designing and fabricating a fully grown hive. We propose two digital methods for modelling 3D scaffolds for micro-super organism co-occupation scenarios: "variable-offset" and "iterative-subtraction", followed by two inoculation methods for the biofabrication of scaffolded fungal composites. The HIVEOPOLIS project aims to diversify and complexify urban ecological niches to make them more resilient to future game changers such as climate change. The combined functions of mycelium materials have the potential to provide a therapeutic environment for honeybees and, potentially, humans in the future.}, } @article {pmid35733965, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Liang, Z and Ding Kao, R and Han, J and Du, M and Ahmad, AA and Wang, S and Salekdeh, GH and Long, R and Yan, P and Ding, X}, title = {Maternal Fecal Microbes Contribute to Shaping the Early Life Assembly of the Intestinal Microbiota of Co-inhabiting Yak and Cattle Calves.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {916735}, pmid = {35733965}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau offers one of the most extreme environments for yaks (Bos grunniens). Although the genetic adaptability of yak and rumen metagenomes is increasingly understood, the relative contribution of host genetics and maternal symbiotic microbes throughout early intestinal microbial successions in yaks remains elusive. In this study, we assessed the intestinal microbiota succession of co-inhabiting yak and cattle (Bos taurus) calves at different weeks after birth as well as the modes of transmission of maternal symbiotic microbes (i.e., rumen fluid, feces, oral cavity, and breast skin) to their calves' intestinal microbiota colonization. We found that the fecal microbiota of yak and cattle calves after birth was dominated by members of the families Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Lachnospiraceae. The Source Tracker model revealed that maternal fecal microbes played an important role (the average contribution was about 80%) in the intestinal microbial colonization of yak and cattle calves at different weeks after birth. Unlike cattle calves, there was no significant difference in the fecal microbiota composition of yak calves between 5 and 9 weeks after birth (Wilcoxon test, P > 0.05), indicating that yak may adapt to its natural extreme environment to stabilize its intestinal microbiota composition. Additionally, our results also find that the intestinal microbial composition of yak and cattle calves, with age, gradually tend to become similar, and the differences between species gradually decrease. The findings of this study are vital for developing strategies to manipulate the intestinal microbiota in grazing yaks and cattle for better growth and performance on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.}, } @article {pmid35733963, year = {2022}, author = {Bathia, J and Schröder, K and Fraune, S and Lachnit, T and Rosenstiel, P and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Symbiotic Algae of Hydra viridissima Play a Key Role in Maintaining Homeostatic Bacterial Colonization.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {869666}, pmid = {35733963}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The freshwater polyp Hydra viridissima (H. viridissima) harbors endosymbiotic Chlorella algae in addition to a species-specific microbiome. The molecular basis of the symbiosis between Hydra and Chlorella has been characterized to be metabolic in nature. Here, we studied the interaction between the extracellularly located microbiota and the algal photobiont, which resides in Hydra's endodermal epithelium, with main focus on Legionella bacterium. We aimed at evaluating the influence of the symbiotic algae on microbial colonization and in shaping the host microbiome. We report that the microbiome composition of symbiotic and aposymbiotic (algae free) H. viridissima is significantly different and dominated by Legionella spp. Hvir in aposymbiotic animals. Co-cultivation of these animals resulted in horizontal transmission of Legionella spp. Hvir bacteria from aposymbiotic to symbiotic animals. Acquisition of this bacterium increased the release of algae into ambient water. From there, algae could subsequently be taken up again by the aposymbiotic animals. The presence of algal symbionts had negative impact on Legionella spp. Hvir and resulted in a decrease of the relative abundance of this bacterium. Prolonged co-cultivation ultimately resulted in the disappearance of the Legionella spp. Hvir bacterium from the Hydra tissue. Our observations suggest an important role of the photobiont in controlling an invasive species in a metacommunity and, thereby, shaping the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid35733285, year = {2022}, author = {Ran, Z and Ding, W and Cao, S and Fang, L and Zhou, J and Zhang, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Effects on secondary metabolite accumulation of traditional Chinese medicines.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {932-938}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13449}, pmid = {35733285}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {China ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Fungi ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Terpenes/metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played a pivotal role in maintaining the health of people, and the intrinsic quality of TCM is directly related to the clinical efficacy. The medicinal ingredients of TCM are derived from the secondary metabolites of plant metabolism and are also the result of the coordination of various physiological activities in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the most ubiquitous plant mutualists that enhance the growth and yield of plants by facilitating the uptake of nutrients and water. Symbiosis of AMF with higher plants promotes growth and helps in the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, there is still no systematic analysis and summation of their roles in the application of TCM, biosynthesis and accumulation of active substances of herbs, as well as the mechanisms. AMF directly or indirectly affect the accumulation of secondary metabolites of TCM, which is the focus of this review. First, in this review, the effects of AMF symbiosis on the content of different secondary metabolites in TCM, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids, are summarized. Moreover, the mechanism of AMF regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites was also considered, in combination with the establishment of mycorrhizal symbionts, response mechanisms of plant hormones, nutritional elements and expression of key enzyme their activities. Finally, combined with the current application prospects for AMF in TCM, future in-depth research is planned, thus providing a reference for improving the quality of TCM. In this manuscript, we review the research status of AMF in promoting the accumulation of secondary metabolites in TCM to provide new ideas and methods for improving the quality of TCM.}, } @article {pmid35731940, year = {2022}, author = {Romero Picazo, D and Werner, A and Dagan, T and Kupczok, A}, title = {Pangenome Evolution in Environmentally Transmitted Symbionts of Deep-Sea Mussels Is Governed by Vertical Inheritance.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35731940}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Methane ; *Mytilidae/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Sulfur ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbial pangenomes vary across species; their size and structure are determined by genetic diversity within the population and by gene loss and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Many bacteria are associated with eukaryotic hosts where the host colonization dynamics may impact bacterial genome evolution. Host-associated lifestyle has been recognized as a barrier to HGT in parentally transmitted bacteria. However, pangenome evolution of environmentally acquired symbionts remains understudied, often due to limitations in symbiont cultivation. Using high-resolution metagenomics, here we study pangenome evolution of two co-occurring endosymbionts inhabiting Bathymodiolus brooksi mussels from a single cold seep. The symbionts, sulfur-oxidizing (SOX) and methane-oxidizing (MOX) gamma-proteobacteria, are environmentally acquired at an early developmental stage and individual mussels may harbor multiple strains of each symbiont species. We found differences in the accessory gene content of both symbionts across individual mussels, which are reflected by differences in symbiont strain composition. Compared with core genes, accessory genes are enriched in genome plasticity functions. We found no evidence for recent HGT between both symbionts. A comparison between the symbiont pangenomes revealed that the MOX population is less diverged and contains fewer accessory genes, supporting that the MOX association with B. brooksi is more recent in comparison to that of SOX. Our results show that the pangenomes of both symbionts evolved mainly by vertical inheritance. We conclude that genome evolution of environmentally transmitted symbionts that associate with individual hosts over their lifetime is affected by a narrow symbiosis where the frequency of HGT is constrained.}, } @article {pmid35730958, year = {2022}, author = {Saini, A and Dalal, P and Sharma, D}, title = {Deciphering the interdependent labyrinth between gut microbiota and the immune system.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {5}, pages = {1122-1135}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13775}, pmid = {35730958}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Immune System ; Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; Homeostasis ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiome interacts with each other and the host, which has significant effects on health and disease development. Intestinal homeostasis and inflammation are maintained by the dynamic interactions between gut microbiota and the innate and adaptive immune systems. Numerous metabolic products produced by the gut microbiota play a role in mediating cross-talk between gut epithelial and immune cells. In the event of an imbalance between the immune system and microbiota, the body becomes susceptible to infections and homeostasis is compromised. This review mainly focuses on the interplay between microbes and the immune system, such as T-cell- and B-cell-mediated adaptive responses to microbiota and signalling pathways for effective communication between the two. We have also highlighted the role of microbes in the activation of the immune response, the development of memory cells and how the immune system determines the diversity of human gut microbiota. The review also explains the relationship of commensal microbiota and their relation to the production of immunoglobulins.}, } @article {pmid35730939, year = {2022}, author = {Jones, MW and Fricke, LC and Thorpe, CJ and Vander Esch, LO and Lindsey, ARI}, title = {Infection Dynamics of Cotransmitted Reproductive Symbionts Are Mediated by Sex, Tissue, and Development.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {13}, pages = {e0052922}, pmid = {35730939}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coinfection ; Drosophila/microbiology ; Insecta ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {One of the most prevalent intracellular infections on earth is with Wolbachia, a bacterium in the Rickettsiales that infects a range of insects, crustaceans, chelicerates, and nematodes. Wolbachia is maternally transmitted to offspring and has profound effects on the reproduction and physiology of its hosts, which can result in reproductive isolation, altered vectorial capacity, mitochondrial sweeps, and even host speciation. Some populations stably harbor multiple Wolbachia strains, which can further contribute to reproductive isolation and altered host physiology. However, almost nothing is known about the requirements for multiple intracellular microbes to be stably maintained across generations while they likely compete for space and resources. Here, we use a coinfection of two Wolbachia strains ("wHa" and "wNo") in Drosophila simulans to define the infection and transmission dynamics of an evolutionarily stable double infection. We find that a combination of sex, tissue, and host development contributes to the infection dynamics of the two microbes and that these infections exhibit a degree of niche partitioning across host tissues. wHa is present at a significantly higher titer than wNo in most tissues and developmental stages, but wNo is uniquely dominant in ovaries. Unexpectedly, the ratio of wHa to wNo in embryos does not reflect those observed in the ovaries, indicative of strain-specific transmission dynamics. Understanding how Wolbachia strains interact to establish and maintain stable infections has important implications for the development and effective implementation of Wolbachia-based vector biocontrol strategies, as well as more broadly defining how cooperation and conflict shape intracellular communities. IMPORTANCEWolbachia is a maternally transmitted intracellular bacterium that manipulates the reproduction and physiology of arthropods, resulting in drastic effects on the fitness, evolution, and even speciation of its hosts. Some hosts naturally harbor multiple strains of Wolbachia that are stably transmitted across generations, but almost nothing is known about the factors that limit or promote these coinfections, which can have profound effects on the host's biology and evolution and are under consideration as an insect-management tool. Here, we define the infection dynamics of a known stably transmitted double infection in Drosophila simulans with an eye toward understanding the patterns of infection that might facilitate compatibility between the two microbes. We find that a combination of sex, tissue, and development all contributes to infection dynamics of the coinfection.}, } @article {pmid35730098, year = {2022}, author = {Song, NP and Chen, XY and Wang, L and Pan, YQ and Yang, XG and Chen, J and Chen, L and Meng, C}, title = {[Village-level landscape succession and its driving mechanism in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Ningxia, China].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, pages = {1387-1394}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202205.019}, pmid = {35730098}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Agriculture ; China ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The relationship between human activities and landscape patterns and its regulation are one of the core fields in landscape ecology. The ecological conditions and local cultures of agro-pastoral ecotone are gradually wea-kening due to environmental fluctuations, land-use characteristics (suitable for both farming and grazing), and unstable policy. Therefore, protecting and restoring this semi-natural landscape and the resulting biological, ecolo-gical and cultural functions are becoming increasingly urgent. Here, by combing remote sensing data with interview survey and geographic investigation, we characterized the landscape changes (1964 to 2019) of Wanjigou Village in Yanchi County of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which lay within the agro-pastoral ecotone. We further explored the rules of landscape succession and the underlying natural and social mechanism, as well as the interactions between landscape types. Results showed that Wanjigou Village had been subjected to a succession from the landscape characterized by grassland, arable land and sandy land to that characterized by grassland, shrub land, sandy land and arable land. The change from the competition of landscape function separation to the preliminary integration had formed a definite succession path for grassland-arable land-sandy land-shrub land. The main driving factors were a synthesis of policy, human needs, and environment. Policy often promoted landscape change through large-scale and intensified human activities, while environment promoted landscape succession through internal driving force of ecosystem toward a mutual adaption between landscape and the innate conditions. The driving factors of landscape succession were soil moisture variations caused by the change of soil physical structure, and vegetation change in adapting to new environment. In agro-pastoral ecotone with low resource density, the separation of landscape functions was one of the main reasons for land desertification. The integration and coordination of landscape functions greatly alleviated the situation of ecological deterioration. The critical path to maintain sustainable development of agro-pastoral ecotone was to achieve complementation among landscape types and even integrating with external resources by transforming landscape separation competition into landscape symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35729906, year = {2022}, author = {Williams, SD and Klinges, JG and Zinman, S and Clark, AS and Bartels, E and Villoch Diaz Maurino, M and Muller, EM}, title = {Geographically driven differences in microbiomes of Acropora cervicornis originating from different regions of Florida's Coral Reef.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13574}, pmid = {35729906}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Florida ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Endangered Species ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Rickettsiales/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; }, abstract = {Effective coral restoration must include comprehensive investigations of the targeted coral community that consider all aspects of the coral holobiont-the coral host, symbiotic algae, and microbiome. For example, the richness and composition of microorganisms associated with corals may be indicative of the corals' health status and thus help guide restoration activities. Potential differences in microbiomes of restoration corals due to differences in host genetics, environmental condition, or geographic location, may then influence outplant success. The objective of the present study was to characterize and compare the microbiomes of apparently healthy Acropora cervicornis genotypes that were originally collected from environmentally distinct regions of Florida's Coral Reef and sampled after residing within Mote Marine Laboratory's in situ nursery near Looe Key, FL (USA) for multiple years. By using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, we described the microbial communities of 74 A. cervicornis genotypes originating from the Lower Florida Keys (n = 40 genotypes), the Middle Florida Keys (n = 15 genotypes), and the Upper Florida Keys (n = 19 genotypes). Our findings demonstrated that the bacterial communities of A. cervicornis originating from the Lower Keys were significantly different from the bacterial communities of those originating from the Upper and Middle Keys even after these corals were held within the same common garden nursery for an average of 3.4 years. However, the bacterial communities of corals originating in the Upper Keys were not significantly different from those in the Middle Keys. The majority of the genotypes, regardless of collection region, were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, namely an obligate intracellular parasite of the genus Ca. Aquarickettsia. Genotypes from the Upper and Middle Keys also had high relative abundances of Spirochaeta bacteria. Several genotypes originating from both the Lower and Upper Keys had lower abundances of Aquarickettsia, resulting in significantly higher species richness and diversity. Low abundance of Aquarickettsia has been previously identified as a signature of disease resistance. While the low-Aquarickettsia corals from both the Upper and Lower Keys had high abundances of an unclassified Proteobacteria, the genotypes in the Upper Keys were also dominated by Spirochaeta. The results of this study suggest that the abundance of Aquarickettsia and Spirochaeta may play an important role in distinguishing bacterial communities among A. cervicornis populations and compositional differences of these bacterial communities may be driven by regional processes that are influenced by both the environmental history and genetic relatedness of the host. Additionally, the high microbial diversity of low-Aquarickettsia genotypes may provide resilience to their hosts, and these genotypes may be a potential resource for restoration practices and management.}, } @article {pmid35729301, year = {2022}, author = {Shaha, CM and Dar, MA and Pandit, RS}, title = {Mining the diversity and functional profile of bacterial symbionts from the larvae of Chironomus circumdatus (bloodworms).}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {67}, number = {6}, pages = {861-872}, pmid = {35729301}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Chironomidae/microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; }, abstract = {Chironomids are the most abundant aquatic insects in freshwater habitats that can survive in extreme conditions. In this study, as the microbiome provides extended genotype to the host to perform various functions, we explored the microbiota of the Chironomus circumdatus larvae to find out the putative role played by the symbiotic bacteria for the host. The metabarcoding analyses of the larvae revealed that the insect harbors 1771 phylotypes. Out of the various microbial communities found, the majority corresponded to the phyla Proteobacteria (52.59%) and Actinobacteria (20.56%), respectively. The midges also harbored Klebsiella (2.57%), Enterobacter (1.32%), Bacillus (2.29%), and Acinetobacter (2.13%) genera that are involved in detoxification of xenobiotics present in the water. The presence of radiation-resistant genera like Deinococcus, including bacterial species like radiodurans, a highly radiation-resistant bacterium, indicates its potential to support the host's ability to sustain in adverse environments. The functional profiling of the bacteria showed the relative abundance of many enzyme groups, such as transferases (40.62%), oxidoreductases (23.49%), and hydrolases (3.77%). The results indicate that the larvae harbor a considerable variety of bacteria that help the host adapt and survive in the polluted waters. The present study provides thorough insights into the microbiome of the C. circumdatus larvae that can be exploited for the bioremediation of certain pollutants through biomimetic strategies. It also gives us a wake-up call to take a good look at the guts of these disease-carrying insects' inabilities to spread deadly human diseases.}, } @article {pmid35729273, year = {2022}, author = {Ważny, R and Jędrzejczyk, RJ and Rozpądek, P and Domka, A and Turnau, K}, title = {Biotization of highbush blueberry with ericoid mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi improves plant growth and vitality.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {106}, number = {12}, pages = {4775-4786}, pmid = {35729273}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {*Blueberry Plants/microbiology ; Endophytes ; Fungi/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological methods are becoming increasingly popular. One of these methods is plant biotization. In our paper, we focus on selection of Vaccinium corymbosum hairy root-inhabiting fungi for plant growth promotion in a single microorganism inoculation setup and then composed a multiorganismal inoculum enriched with a representative of another group of fungi, leaf endophytes. The hairy roots of V. corymbosum hosted 13 fungal taxa. In single inoculation of the plant with fungal strains, the most beneficial for plant growth were Oidiodendron maius and Phialocephala fortinii. Additional inoculation of the plants with three root symbiotic fungi (O. maius, Hymenoscyphus sp. and P. fortinii) and with the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. increased plant height in laboratory experiments. On a semi-industrial scale, inoculation improved plant biomass and vitality. Therefore, the amendment of root-associated fungal communities with a mixture of ericoid mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi may represent an alternative to conventional fertilization and pesticide application in large-scale blueberry production. KEY POINTS: • O. maius and P. fortinii significantly stimulated V. corymbosum growth in a single inoculation. • Multimicroorganismal inoculum increased plant biomass and vitality. • Blueberry biotization with ericoid and endophytic fungi is recommended.}, } @article {pmid35729151, year = {2022}, author = {Song, G and Wang, QC and Zheng, Y and He, JZ}, title = {[Responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and warming: A review].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {1709-1718}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202206.014}, pmid = {35729151}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plants ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Global changes have profound impacts on biodiversity and ecological functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plant species and play an important role in nutrient acquisition of host plants, promotion of plant growth, and maintenance of plant diversity. In this review, we primarily focused on the responses and feedbacks of AM fungal community and functioning to elevated atmospheric CO2(eCO2) and warming in forest and grassland ecosystems. eCO2 influenced AM fungi mainly through indirectly impacting host plants and soil carbon inputs. A majority of previous studies reported that eCO2 could enhance the abundance and activity of AM fungi, and influence their diversity and community composition. Warming could have direct and indirect (via plant and/or soil pathways) impacts on AM fungi. Warming significantly altered the community compositions of AM fungi in forest soils. But the results from grassland were not consistent. We identified some outstanding problems in current studies and proposed future research topics which deserve more attentions. Our aim was to elucidate the AM fungal responses and adaptation to eCO2 and warming and to improve our understanding of AM fungal functioning in soil ecological processes. This review could provide insights into the implications of AM fungi to mitigate global change and improve the resilience of soil functions, as well as climate change adaptation of ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid35728619, year = {2022}, author = {Alvarenga, DO and Rousk, K}, title = {Unraveling host-microbe interactions and ecosystem functions in moss-bacteria symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {13}, pages = {4473-4486}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac091}, pmid = {35728619}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Bryophyta ; Carbon ; *Cyanobacteria ; Ecosystem ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Mosses are non-vascular plants usually found in moist and shaded areas, with great ecological importance in several ecosystems. This is especially true in northern latitudes, where mosses are responsible for up to 100% of primary production in some ecosystems. Mosses establish symbiotic associations with unique bacteria that play key roles in the carbon and nitrogen cycles. For instance, in boreal environments, more than 35% of the nitrogen fixed by diazotrophic symbionts in peatlands is transferred to mosses, directly affecting carbon fixation by the hosts, while moss-associated methanotrophic bacteria contribute 10-30% of moss carbon. Further, half of ecosystem N input may derive from moss-cyanobacteria associations in pristine ecosystems. Moss-bacteria interactions have consequences on a global scale since northern environments sequester 20% of all the carbon generated by forests in the world and stock at least 32% of global terrestrial carbon. Different moss hosts influence bacteria in distinct ways, which suggests that threats to mosses also threaten unique microbial communities with important ecological and biogeochemical consequences. Since their origin ~500 Ma, mosses have interacted with bacteria, making these associations ideal models for understanding the evolution of plant-microbe associations and their contribution to biogeochemical cycles.}, } @article {pmid35728426, year = {2022}, author = {Lüders, A and Dinkelberg, A and Quayle, M}, title = {Becoming "us" in digital spaces: How online users creatively and strategically exploit social media affordances to build up social identity.}, journal = {Acta psychologica}, volume = {228}, number = {}, pages = {103643}, doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103643}, pmid = {35728426}, issn = {1873-6297}, mesh = {Data Collection ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Social Identification ; *Social Media ; Technology ; }, abstract = {Social media has become a major platform for information-exchange, discourse, and protest and has been linked to a wide range of pressing macro developments. Consequenlty, there is significant interest from scholars as well as from the wider publuc to understand how social media affordances interact with human behavior. In attempts to address these demands, the present article borrows from the social identity tradition to explain group formation processes in Web 2.0 and other online ecosystems. We propose that online users creatively and strategically exploit the affordances provided by platforms and technologies to construct and perform collective selfhood. We emphasize the relevance of community development, norm consensualization, and emotional alignment as recursive dynamic processes that - in symbiosis - provide a functional basis for social identities. We outline these proposed mechanisms based on a corpus of interdisciplinary literature and suggest avenues for future research.}, } @article {pmid35728418, year = {2022}, author = {Diez-Ozaeta, I and Astiazaran, OJ}, title = {Recent advances in Kombucha tea: Microbial consortium, chemical parameters, health implications and biocellulose production.}, journal = {International journal of food microbiology}, volume = {377}, number = {}, pages = {109783}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109783}, pmid = {35728418}, issn = {1879-3460}, mesh = {Fermentation ; Humans ; *Kombucha Tea/analysis ; Microbial Consortia ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Tea/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In the present review the latest research studies on Kombucha tea are summarized. Special attention has been paid on microbial population, chemical parameters, biocellulose production, and mainly, on the latest evidences of the biological activities of Kombucha tea. Kombucha tea is a fermented sweetened black or green tea which is obtained from a fermentative process driven by a symbiotic culture of yeast, acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria. In the last years, its consumption has increasingly grown due to its multiple and potential benefits on human health. This fact has motivated a significant increase in the number of research studies that are focused on the biological activities of this beverage. In this context, this review gathers the main studies that have analyzed the different properties of Kombucha tea (as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic, and probiotic activities). It is highlighted that nowadays few human-based evidences are available to prove the beneficial effect of Kombucha tea on humans' health. In conclusion, further work on Kombucha tea is needed since nowadays few information is available on both clinical studies and the characterization of bioactive compounds and their properties.}, } @article {pmid35727028, year = {2022}, author = {Baiome, BA and Ye, X and Yuan, Z and Gaafar, YZA and Melak, S and Cao, H}, title = {Identification of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Xenorhabdus indica Strain AB and Investigation of Their Antifungal Activities.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {13}, pages = {e0015522}, pmid = {35727028}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; *Fusarium/drug effects ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; *Volatile Organic Compounds/pharmacology ; *Xenorhabdus/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus spp. are symbiotic bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes to form a model complex that is used for the biological control of insect pests. These bacteria also produce secondary metabolites that have commercial potential in the pharmaceutical and agroforestry industries. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by the Xenorhabdus indica "strain AB" have been shown to have significant antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we identified 61 volatiles in the mixture of VOCs emitted by strain AB compared to a control strain, 6 of which were investigated for their antifungal activities. Of these, methyl anthranilate exhibited the highest mycelial growth suppression toward F. oxysporum, with a minimum inhibitory volume (MIV) of 50 μL/plate. Fluorescence assays, scanning electron microscopy, and measurements of the leakage of intracellular components revealed that the use of methyl anthranilate changed cell wall and cell membrane integrity as well as the permeability of the plasma membrane. Furthermore, methyl anthranilate treatment upregulated the transcription level of target genes related to redox reactions and the cell wall integrity pathway. The results suggest a novel mechanism used by Xenorhabdus spp. to overcome competitors during its life cycle and open up a new approach to using these bacteria in biological control. IMPORTANCE Fungal phytopathogens, particularly Fusarium oxysporum, are a major problem worldwide, especially in the postharvest of vital economic crops. Concerns about negative effects on the environment and human health have led to increasing restrictions on the use of chemical fungicides, and therefore, biological control agents are now being considered alternatives. It is in this context that we investigated the antifungal activity of VOCs produced by X. indica strain AB against F. oxysporum. We found that AB VOCs have a strong effect on the growth of the fungal phytopathogen. In addition, 85% of the identified volatile compounds were determined to be new compounds, opening up new lines of research to discover their properties, effects, and potential for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Antifungal assays proved that four of the six compounds with a high concentration in the GC-MS profile had a significant inhibitory effect on pathogen growth. Accordingly, this study opens up a new approach for the use of these bacteria in biocontrol.}, } @article {pmid35725887, year = {2022}, author = {Garcia, EV}, title = {Integrating artificial intelligence and natural language processing for computer-assisted reporting and report understanding in nuclear cardiology.}, journal = {Journal of nuclear cardiology : official publication of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35725887}, issn = {1532-6551}, abstract = {Natural language processing (NLP) offers many opportunities in Nuclear Cardiology. These opportunities include applications in converting nuclear cardiology imaging reports to digital searchable information that may be used as Big Data for machine learning and registries. Another major NLP application is, with the support of AI, in automatically translating MPI image features directly into nuclear cardiology reports. This review describes the symbiotic relationship between AI and NLP in that NLP is being used to facilitate AI applications and, AI techniques are being used to facilitate NLP. This article reviews the fundamentals of NLP and describes various conventional and AI techniques that have been applied in imaging. Key nuclear cardiology applications are reviewed such as conversion of MPI free-text reports to digital documents as well as direct conversion of MPI images into structured medical reports.}, } @article {pmid35725777, year = {2022}, author = {Heaver, SL and Le, HH and Tang, P and Baslé, A and Mirretta Barone, C and Vu, DL and Waters, JL and Marles-Wright, J and Johnson, EL and Campopiano, DJ and Ley, RE}, title = {Characterization of inositol lipid metabolism in gut-associated Bacteroidetes.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {986-1000}, pmid = {35725777}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {R24 GM137782/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; BB/V001620/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/V00168X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; *Inositol/metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Phosphatidylinositols/metabolism ; Sphingolipids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Inositol lipids are ubiquitous in eukaryotes and have finely tuned roles in cellular signalling and membrane homoeostasis. In Bacteria, however, inositol lipid production is relatively rare. Recently, the prominent human gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BT) was reported to produce inositol lipids and sphingolipids, but the pathways remain ambiguous and their prevalence unclear. Here, using genomic and biochemical approaches, we investigated the gene cluster for inositol lipid synthesis in BT using a previously undescribed strain with inducible control of sphingolipid synthesis. We characterized the biosynthetic pathway from myo-inositol-phosphate (MIP) synthesis to phosphoinositol dihydroceramide, determined the crystal structure of the recombinant BT MIP synthase enzyme and identified the phosphatase responsible for the conversion of bacterially-derived phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP-DAG) to phosphatidylinositol (PI-DAG). In vitro, loss of inositol lipid production altered BT capsule expression and antimicrobial peptide resistance. In vivo, loss of inositol lipids decreased bacterial fitness in a gnotobiotic mouse model. We identified a second putative, previously undescribed pathway for bacterial PI-DAG synthesis without a PIP-DAG intermediate, common in Prevotella. Our results indicate that inositol sphingolipid production is widespread in host-associated Bacteroidetes and has implications for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35723381, year = {2021}, author = {Louka, XP and Sklirou, AD and Le Goff, G and Lopes, P and Papanagnou, ED and Manola, MS and Benayahu, Y and Ouazzani, J and Trougakos, IP}, title = {Isolation of an Extract from the Soft Coral Symbiotic Microorganism Salinispora arenicola Exerting Cytoprotective and Anti-Aging Effects.}, journal = {Current issues in molecular biology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {14-30}, pmid = {35723381}, issn = {1467-3045}, abstract = {Cells have developed a highly integrated system responsible for proteome stability, namely the proteostasis network (PN). As loss of proteostasis is a hallmark of aging and age-related diseases, the activation of PN modules can likely extend healthspan. Here, we present data on the bioactivity of an extract (SA223-S2BM) purified from the strain Salinispora arenicola TM223-S2 that was isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya lewinsohni; this coral was collected at a depth of 65 m from the mesophotic Red Sea ecosystem EAPC (south Eilat, Israel). Treatment of human cells with SA223-S2BM activated proteostatic modules, decreased oxidative load, and conferred protection against oxidative and genotoxic stress. Furthermore, SA223-S2BM enhanced proteasome and lysosomal-cathepsins activities in Drosophila flies and exhibited skin protective effects as evidenced by effective inhibition of the skin aging-related enzymes, elastase and tyrosinase. We suggest that the SA223-S2BM extract constitutes a likely promising source for prioritizing molecules with anti-aging properties.}, } @article {pmid35722318, year = {2022}, author = {Morales, DP and Robinson, AJ and Pawlowski, AC and Ark, C and Kelliher, JM and Junier, P and Werner, JH and Chain, PSG}, title = {Advances and Challenges in Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Visualizing Fungal Endobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {892227}, pmid = {35722318}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Several bacteria have long been known to interact intimately with fungi, but molecular approaches have only recently uncovered how cosmopolitan these interactions are in nature. Currently, bacterial-fungal interactions (BFI) are inferred based on patterns of co-occurrence in amplicon sequencing investigations. However, determining the nature of these interactions, whether the bacteria are internally or externally associated, remains a grand challenge in BFI research. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a robust method that targets unique sequences of interest which can be employed for visualizing intra-hyphal targets, such as mitochondrial organelles or, as in this study, bacteria. We evaluate the challenges and employable strategies to resolve intra-hyphal BFI to address pertinent criteria in BFI research, such as culturing media, spatial distribution of bacteria, and abundance of bacterial 16S rRNA copies for fluorescent labeling. While these experimental factors influence labeling and detection of endobacteria, we demonstrate how to overcome these challenges thorough permeabilization, appropriate media choice, and targeted amplification using hybridization chain reaction FISH. Such microscopy imaging approaches can now be utilized by the broader research community to complement sequence-based investigations and provide more conclusive evidence on the nature of specific bacterial-fungal relationships.}, } @article {pmid35720831, year = {2022}, author = {Kakodkar, PV and Reddy, MG}, title = {Mu-can: A bacterial-fungal symbiosis that reduces dental caries.}, journal = {Journal of conservative dentistry : JCD}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {211-212}, pmid = {35720831}, issn = {0972-0707}, } @article {pmid35720585, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, W and Hodge, A and Hao, Z and Fu, W and Guo, L and Zhang, X and Chen, B}, title = {Increased Carbon Partitioning to Secondary Metabolites Under Phosphorus Deficiency in Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Is Modulated by Plant Growth Stage and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {876192}, pmid = {35720585}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is one of the macronutrients limiting plant growth. Plants regulate carbon (C) allocation and partitioning to cope with P deficiency, while such strategy could potentially be influenced by plant growth stage and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. In a greenhouse pot experiment using licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) as the host plant, we investigated C allocation belowground and partitioning in roots of P-limited plants in comparison with P-sufficient plants under different mycorrhization status in two plant growth stages. The experimental results indicated that increased C allocation belowground by P limitation was observed only in non-AM plants in the early growth stage. Although root C partitioning to secondary metabolites (SMs) in the non-AM plants was increased by P limitation as expected, trade-off patterns were different between the two growth stages, with C partitioning to SMs at the expense of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in the early growth stage but at the expense of root growth in the late growth stage. These changes, however, largely disappeared because of AM symbiosis, where more root C was partitioned to root growth and AM fungus without any changes in C allocation belowground and partitioning to SMs under P limitations. The results highlighted that besides assisting with plant P acquisition, AM symbiosis may alter plant C allocation and partitioning to improve plant tolerance to P deficiency.}, } @article {pmid35720577, year = {2022}, author = {He, C and Han, T and Tan, L and Li, X}, title = {Effects of Dark Septate Endophytes on the Performance and Soil Microbia of Lycium ruthenicum Under Drought Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {898378}, pmid = {35720577}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the current study, we explored the effects of dark septate endophytes (DSE) (Neocamarosporium phragmitis, Alternaria chlamydospore, and Microascus alveolaris) on the performance and rhizosphere soil microbial composition of Lycium ruthenicum Murr under drought stress. Differences in plant growth and physiological indexes, soil parameters, and microbial composition under different treatments were studied. Three DSE species could form good symbiotic relationships with L. ruthenicum plants, and the symbionts depended on DSE species and water availability. Inoculation of DSE had the greatest benefit on host plants under drought conditions. In particular, N. phragmitis and A. chlamydospore had a significant positive influence on the biomass, morphological and physiological indexes of host plants. Additionally, the content of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, gram-negative bacteria, and actinomycetes in the soil was significantly elevated after DSE inoculation in the absence of water. Based on a variance decomposition analysis, DSE was the most important factor affecting the growth and physiological parameters of host plants, and DSE inoculation combined with water conditions significantly affected the contents of soil microbial communities. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that the positive effects of DSE on L. ruthenicum varied with DSE species and plant parameters under different water conditions. These results are helpful to understand the ecological function of DSE and its potential application in the cultivation of L. ruthenicum plants in drylands.}, } @article {pmid35720434, year = {2022}, author = {Tsyganov, MS and Ezhkova, GO and Kharitonova, MA and Nikitina, EV}, title = {Cassava Starch as an Effective Texture Corrector of Fat-Free Dairy Products Based on Symbiotic Starter Culture.}, journal = {International journal of food science}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {1087043}, pmid = {35720434}, issn = {2314-5765}, abstract = {Cassava starch can be an effective texture corrector for dairy products; however, the presence of a starchy taste in such products is undesirable. A possible solution to this problem can be the use of partially hydrolyzed cassava starch; complex microbial amylase preparations, for instance, Amylosubtilin® or Bacillus licheniformis amylases, can be used as an enzyme. The use of these enzyme preparations in low concentration allows it to obtain cassava starches with increased solubility, which can be easily used in the technology of dairy products. Starch is partially hydrolyzed by amylase preparations and does not significantly affect the chemical composition of the protein part of the Symbilact dairy product. Positive dynamics of the rheological and antioxidant properties of the low-fat dairy product "Symbilact" from the enzyme-modified cassava starch during storage were revealed in the researches. AT starches are more able to correct the structure, especially AT-0.5 and AT-1, but to a less extent increase antioxidant properties. As matter of a fact, BT starches exhibit higher antioxidant potential, but less structure correction.}, } @article {pmid35720414, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, Z and Takeuchi, T and Nakanishi, Y and Kato, T and Beck, K and Nagata, R and Kageyama, T and Ito, A and Ohno, H and Satoh-Takayama, N}, title = {A Japanese Herbal Formula, Daikenchuto, Alleviates Experimental Colitis by Reshaping Microbial Profiles and Enhancing Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {903459}, pmid = {35720414}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; *Colitis/chemically induced/drug therapy/metabolism ; Immunity, Innate ; Japan ; Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Mice ; Panax ; Plant Extracts ; *Zanthoxylum ; *Zingiberaceae ; }, abstract = {Daikenchuto (DKT) is one of the most widely used Japanese herbal formulae for various gastrointestinal disorders. It consists of Zanthoxylum Fructus (Japanese pepper), Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma (processed ginger), Ginseng radix, and maltose powder. However, the use of DKT in clinical settings is still controversial due to the limited molecular evidence and largely unknown therapeutic effects. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory actions of DKT in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice. We observed that DKT remarkably attenuated the severity of experimental colitis while maintaining the members of the symbiotic microbiota such as family Lactobacillaceae and increasing levels of propionate, an immunomodulatory microbial metabolite, in the colon. DKT also protected colonic epithelial integrity by upregulating the fucosyltransferase gene Fut2 and the antimicrobial peptide gene Reg3g. More remarkably, DKT restored the reduced colonic group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), mainly RORγt[high]-ILC3s, in DSS-induced colitis. We further demonstrated that ILC3-deficient mice showed increased mortality during experimental colitis, suggesting that ILC3s play a protective function on colonic inflammation. These findings demonstrate that DKT possesses anti-inflammatory activity, partly via ILC3 function, to maintain the colonic microenvironment. Our study also provides insights into the molecular basis of herbal medicine effects, promotes more profound mechanistic studies towards herbal formulae and contributes to future drug development.}, } @article {pmid35718272, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Z and Liu, Y and Zhang, L}, title = {Role of the microbiome in oral cancer occurrence, progression and therapy.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {169}, number = {}, pages = {105638}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105638}, pmid = {35718272}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {*Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Mouth Neoplasms ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The oral cavity, like other digestive or mucosal sites, contains a site-specific microbiome that plays a significant role in maintaining health and homeostasis. Strictly speaking, the gastrointestinal tract starts from the oral cavity, with special attention paid to the specific flora of the oral cavity. In healthy people, the microbiome of the oral microenvironment is governed by beneficial bacteria, that benefit the host by symbiosis. When a microecological imbalance occurs, changes in immune and metabolic signals affect the characteristics of cancer, as well as chronic inflammation, disruption of the epithelial barrier, changes in cell proliferation and cell apoptosis, genomic instability, angiogenesis, and epithelial barrier destruction and metabolic regulation. These pathophysiological changes could result in oral cancer. Rising evidence suggests that oral dysbacteriosis and particular microbes may play a positive role in the evolution, development, progression, and metastasis of oral cancer, for instance, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) through direct or indirect action.}, } @article {pmid35717707, year = {2022}, author = {Han, SW and Yoshikuni, Y}, title = {Microbiome engineering for sustainable agriculture: using synthetic biology to enhance nitrogen metabolism in plant-associated microbes.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {102172}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2022.102172}, pmid = {35717707}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen ; Prospective Studies ; *Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Plants benefit from symbiotic relationships with their microbiomes. Modifying these microbiomes to further promote plant growth and improve stress tolerance in crops is a promising strategy. However, such efforts have had limited success, perhaps because the original microbiomes quickly re-establish. Since the complex biological networks involved are little understood, progress through conventional means is time-consuming. Synthetic biology, with its practical successes in multiple industries, could speed up this research considerably. Some fascinating candidates for production by synthetic microbiomes are organic nitrogen metabolites and related pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes, which have pivotal roles in microbe-microbe and plant-microbe interactions. This review summarizes recent studies of these metabolites and enzymes and discusses prospective synthetic biology platforms for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35717483, year = {2023}, author = {Moroishi, Y and Gui, J and Nadeau, KC and Morrison, HG and Madan, J and Karagas, MR}, title = {A prospective study of the infant gut microbiome in relation to vaccine response.}, journal = {Pediatric research}, volume = {93}, number = {3}, pages = {725-731}, doi = {10.1038/s41390-022-02154-0}, pmid = {35717483}, issn = {1530-0447}, support = {UH3 OD023275/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P42 ES007373/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 ES020936/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P01 ES022832/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; UG3 OD023275/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM104416/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Infant ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Prospective Studies ; Cohort Studies ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Tetanus ; Tetanus Toxoid ; Feces ; Immunoglobulin G ; Polysaccharides ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The establishment of the gut microbiome plays a key symbiotic role in the developing immune system; however, its influence on vaccine response is yet uncertain. We prospectively investigated the composition and diversity of the early-life gut microbiome in relation to infant antibody response to two routinely administered vaccines.

METHODS: Eighty-three infants enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study were included in the analysis. We collected blood samples at 12 months of age and assayed the isolated serum to quantify total IgG and measured antibody to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and tetanus toxoid. Stool samples were collected from infants at 6 weeks of age and sequenced using 16S rRNA, and a subset of 61 samples were sequenced using shotgun metagenomics sequencing.

RESULTS: We observed differences in beta diversity for 16S 6-week stool microbiota and pneumococcal and tetanus IgG antibody responses. Metagenomics analyses identified species and metabolic pathways in 6-week stool associated with tetanus antibody response, in particular, negative associations with the relative abundance of Aeriscardovia aeriphila species and positive associations with the relative abundance of species associated with CDP-diacylglycerol biosynthesis pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: The early gut microbiome composition may influence an infant's vaccine response.

IMPACT: Early intestinal microbiome acquisition plays a critical role in immune maturation and in both adaptive and innate immune response in infancy. We identified associations between early life microbiome composition and response to two routinely administered vaccines-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and tetanus toxoid-measured at approximately 1 year of age. Our findings highlight the potential impact of the gut microbiome on infant immune response that may open up opportunities for future interventions.}, } @article {pmid35715709, year = {2022}, author = {Lalitha, K and Nithya, K and Venkatesan, S and Shivakumar, MS}, title = {Biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles from symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila and testing its insecticidal efficacy on Spodoptera litura larvae.}, journal = {Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {795-812}, pmid = {35715709}, issn = {1572-8773}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; *Insecticides/chemistry/pharmacology ; Larva ; *Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Silver/chemistry/pharmacology ; Spodoptera ; Staphylococcus aureus ; *Xenorhabdus ; Zebrafish ; }, abstract = {Spodoptera litura, one of the polyphagous pests, causes huge economical lose and use of chemical pesticide causes impact to the environmental. The present study deals with the use of cell- free supernatant of bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila NP-1 strain for synthesizing silver nanoparticles and analyzing its larvicidal ability against Spodoptera litura. Color change from yellow to dark brown specifies the synthesis of AgNPs. UV-Vis spec indicates the presences of AgNPs at 440 nm λmax and functional groups; alcohols, carboxylic acids, aromatics, alkylhalides, ethers and phenols were confirmed by FTIR. SEM revealed the synthesized AgNPs is in spherical shape, EDaX confirms the elemental composition and the crystalline nature were observed using XRD. GC-MS analysis showed presence of Benzencepropanoic acid, 1, 3, 5 Trichloropent-2-ene, 1,1-Dichloro-2,3- dicmethycycloprone and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid bioactive compounds some of which may be responsible for insecticidal and antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis and K. pneumoniae showed maximum zone of inhibition at 100 µL/mL. Larvicidal activity of S. litura shows highest mortality at 48 h. In potted plant experiment, AgNPs treated plants showed less damage, with less leaf consumption by S. litura larvae. Further, the synthesis of AgNPs were targeted to zebrafish embryos (non- target organism) and it didn't exhibit any toxic effect even at higher concentration. Our experiment concludes that, AgNPs synthesized using NP-1 strain has highest antimicrobial and insecticidal activity, which can be used in biomedical and biopesticides.}, } @article {pmid35715692, year = {2022}, author = {Hickin, ML and Kakumanu, ML and Schal, C}, title = {Effects of Wolbachia elimination and B-vitamin supplementation on bed bug development and reproduction.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {10270}, pmid = {35715692}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bedbugs ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Nymph ; Reproduction ; *Vitamin B Complex/pharmacology ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Obligate blood feeders, such as Cimex lectularius (common bed bug), have symbiotic associations with nutritional endosymbionts that produce B-vitamins. To quantify the symbiont's contribution to host fitness in these obligate mutualisms, the symbiont must be eliminated and its absence rigorously confirmed. We developed and validated procedures for complete elimination of Wolbachia (Wb) in bed bugs and quantified development and reproduction in bed bugs with and without Wb and with and without B-vitamins supplementation. Aposymbiotic bed bugs had slower nymphal development, reduced adult survivorship, smaller adult size, fewer eggs per female, and lower hatch rate than bed bugs that harbored Wb. In aposymbiotic bed bugs that were fed B-vitamins-supplemented blood, nymph development time, adult survivorship and hatch rate recovered to control levels, but adult size and egg number only partially recovered. These results underscore the nutritional dependence of bed bugs on their Wb symbiont and suggest that Wb may provide additional nutritional benefits beyond the B-vitamin mix that we investigated.}, } @article {pmid35715186, year = {2022}, author = {Shearman, K and Masters, A and Nutt, D and Bowman, S and Draper, H}, title = {Acceptability of donor funding for clinical trials in the UK: a qualitative empirical ethics study using focus groups to elicit the views of research patient public involvement group members, research ethics committee chairs and clinical researchers.}, journal = {BMJ open}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e055208}, pmid = {35715186}, issn = {2044-6055}, mesh = {Clinical Trials as Topic ; *Ethical Review ; *Ethics Committees, Research ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The Plutocratic Proposal is a novel method of funding early phase clinical trials where a single donor funds the entire trial and in so doing secures a place on it. The aim of this study was to identify and explore concerns that may be raised by UK research ethics committees (RECs) when reviewing clinical trials funded in this way.

DESIGN: Empirical ethics combining ethical analysis and qualitative data from three focus groups held online using Frith's symbiotic approach. Data were analysed using inductive thematic approach informed by the study aims and ethical analysis.

PARTICIPANTS: 22 participants were recruited: 8 research patient public involvement group members, 7 REC chairs and 7 clinical researchers. All were based in the UK.

RESULTS: With one exception, participants thought the Plutocratic Proposal may be 'all things considered' acceptable, providing their concerns were met, primary of which was upholding scientific integrity. Other concerns discussed related to the acceptability of the donor securing a place on the trial including: whether this was an unfair distribution of benefits, disclosing the identity of the donor as the funder, protecting the donor from exploitation and funding a single study with multiple donors on the same terms. Some misgivings fell outside the usual REC purview: detrimental impact of donors of bad character, establishing the trustworthiness of the matching agency and its processes and optimising research funding and resources. Despite their concerns, participants recognised that because the donor funds the whole trial, others would also potentially benefit from participating.

CONCLUSIONS: We identified concerns about the Plutocratic Proposal. UK RECs may be open to approving studies if these can be addressed. Existing governance processes will do some of this work, but additional REC guidance, particularly in relation to donors securing a place on the trial, may be necessary to help RECs navigate ethical concerns consistently.}, } @article {pmid35712558, year = {2022}, author = {Sabbioni, G and Forlani, G}, title = {The Emerging Role of Proline in the Establishment and Functioning of Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {888769}, pmid = {35712558}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {High levels of some enzymes involved in proline synthesis and utilization were early found in soybean nodules, and rhizobial knockout mutants were shown to be defective in inducing nodulation and/or fixing nitrogen, leading to postulate that this amino acid may represent a main substrate for energy transfer from the plant to the symbiont. However, inconsistent results were reported in other species, and several studies suggested that proline metabolism may play an essential role in the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis only under stress. Different mechanisms have been hypothesized to explain the beneficial effects of proline on nodule formation and bacteroid differentiation, yet none of them has been conclusively proven. Here, we summarize these findings, with special emphasis on the occurrence of a legume-specific isoform of δ[1]-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase, the enzyme that catalyses the rate-limiting step in proline synthesis. Data are discussed in view of recent results connecting the regulation of both, the onset of nodulation and proline metabolism, to the redox status of the cell. Full comprehension of these aspects could open new perspectives to improve the adaptation of legumes to environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid35712553, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, W and Yu, L and Han, B and Liu, K and Shao, X}, title = {Mycorrhizal Inoculation Enhances Nutrient Absorption and Induces Insect-Resistant Defense of Elymus nutans.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {898969}, pmid = {35712553}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The majority of terrestrial plants can form symbiotic associations on their roots with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil to stimulate the growth and nutrient uptake of the host plant and to improve plant resistance to insects and disease. However, the use of AMF for insect control on gramineous forages requires further study. Here, we evaluated the effects of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) inoculation on the defense against Locusta migratoria attack in Elymus nutans. Inoculation assays showed that mycorrhizal plants had a higher resistance than non-inoculated plants, as evidenced by plants having more plant biomass, a higher nitrogen and phosphorus content, and greater lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. The results of insect damage showed that in addition to a decrease in the enzyme phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase, the activities of other plant defense-related enzymes (including polyphenol oxidase and β-1,3-glucanase) were increased. A key enzyme, LOX, belonging to the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway was notably increased in mycorrhizal treatment. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry and the results showed that several metabolites with insect-resistant properties, including D-Limonene, p-Xylene, 1,3-Diethylbenzene were detected in mycorrhizal plants. These findings suggest that mycorrhizal inoculation has potential applications in insect management on forage grasses and demonstrates that the JA signaling pathway is essential for insect resistance in Elymus nutans.}, } @article {pmid35711769, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, J and Lee, DW}, title = {Insecticidal Serralysin of Serratia marcescens Is Detoxified in M3 Midgut Region of Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {913113}, pmid = {35711769}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Riptortus pedestris insect indiscriminately acquires not only the symbiotic bacterium Burkholderia insecticola, but also entomopathogens that are abundant in the soil via feeding. However, it is unclear how the host insect survives oral infections of entomopathogens. A previous study suggested that serralysin, a potent virulence factor produced by Serratia marcescens, suppresses cellular immunity by degrading adhesion molecules, thereby contributing to bacterial pathogenesis. Here, we observed that S. marcescens orally administered to R. pedestris stably colonized the insect midgut, while not exhibiting insecticidal activity. Additionally, oral infection with S. marcescens did not affect the host growth or fitness. When co-incubated with the midgut lysates of R. pedestris, serralysin was remarkably degraded. The detoxification activity against serralysin was enhanced in the midgut extract of gut symbiont-colonizing insects. The mRNA expression levels of serralysin genes were negligible in M3-colonizing S. marcescens. M3-colonizing S. marcescens did not produce serralysin toxin. Immunoblot analyses revealed that serralysin was not detected in the M3 midgut region. The findings of our study suggest that orally infected S. marcescens lose entomopathogenicity through host-derived degrading factors and suppression of serralysin.}, } @article {pmid35711755, year = {2022}, author = {Pineda-Mendoza, RM and Zúñiga, G and López, MF and Hidalgo-Lara, ME and Santiago-Hernández, A and López-López, A and Orduña, FNR and Cano-Ramírez, C}, title = {Rahnella sp., a Dominant Symbiont of the Core Gut Bacteriome of Dendroctonus Species, Has Metabolic Capacity to Degrade Xylan by Bifunctional Xylanase-Ferulic Acid Esterase.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {911269}, pmid = {35711755}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 is a dominant member of the gut bacterial core of species of the genus Dendroctonus, which is one of the most destructive pine forest bark beetles. The objectives of this study were identified in Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 genome the glycosyl hydrolase families involved in carbohydrate metabolism and specifically, the genes that participate in xylan hydrolysis, to determine the functionality of a putative endo-1,4-β-D-xylanase, which results to be bifunctional xylanase-ferulic acid esterase called R13 Fae and characterize it biochemically. The carbohydrate-active enzyme prediction revealed 25 glycoside hydrolases, 20 glycosyl transferases, carbohydrate esterases, two auxiliary activities, one polysaccharide lyase, and one carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). The R13 Fae predicted showed high identity to the putative esterases and glycosyl hydrolases from Rahnella species and some members of the Yersiniaceae family. The r13 fae gene encodes 393 amino acids (43.5 kDa), containing a signal peptide, esterase catalytic domain, and CBM48. The R13 Fae modeling showed a higher binding affinity to ferulic acid, α-naphthyl acetate, and arabinoxylan, and a low affinity to starch. The R13 Fae recombinant protein showed activity on α-naphthyl acetate and xylan, but not on starch. This enzyme showed mesophilic characteristics, displaying its optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 25°C. The enzyme was stable at pH from 4.5 to 9.0, retaining nearly 66-71% of its original activity. The half-life of the enzyme was 23 days at 25°C. The enzyme was stable in the presence of metallic ions, except for Hg[2+]. The products of R13 Fae mediated hydrolysis of beechwood xylan were xylobiose and xylose, manifesting an exo-activity. The results suggest that Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 hydrolyze xylan and its products could be assimilated by its host and other gut microbes as a nutritional source, demonstrating their functional role in the bacterial-insect interaction contributing to their fitness, development, and survival.}, } @article {pmid35710828, year = {2022}, author = {Vo, VTA and Kim, S and Hua, TNM and Oh, J and Jeong, Y}, title = {Iron commensalism of mesenchymal glioblastoma promotes ferroptosis susceptibility upon dopamine treatment.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {593}, pmid = {35710828}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy/genetics/metabolism ; Dopamine/metabolism ; *Ferroptosis ; *Glioblastoma/drug therapy/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The heterogeneity of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) leads to poor patient prognosis. Here, we aim to investigate the mechanism through which GBM heterogeneity is coordinated to promote tumor progression. We find that proneural (PN)-GBM stem cells (GSCs) secreted dopamine (DA) and transferrin (TF), inducing the proliferation of mesenchymal (MES)-GSCs and enhancing their susceptibility toward ferroptosis. PN-GSC-derived TF stimulates MES-GSC proliferation in an iron-dependent manner. DA acts in an autocrine on PN-GSC growth in a DA receptor D1-dependent manner, while in a paracrine it induces TF receptor 1 expression in MES-GSCs to assist iron uptake and thus enhance ferroptotic vulnerability. Analysis of public datasets reveals worse prognosis of patients with heterogeneous GBM with high iron uptake than those with other GBM subtypes. Collectively, the findings here provide evidence of commensalism symbiosis that causes MES-GSCs to become iron-addicted, which in turn provides a rationale for targeting ferroptosis to treat resistant MES GBM.}, } @article {pmid35708141, year = {2022}, author = {Xiong, H and Liu, X and Xie, Z and Zhu, L and Lu, H and Wang, C and Yao, J}, title = {Metabolic Symbiosis-Blocking Nano-Combination for Tumor Vascular Normalization Treatment.}, journal = {Advanced healthcare materials}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {e2102724}, doi = {10.1002/adhm.202102724}, pmid = {35708141}, issn = {2192-2659}, mesh = {*Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy/pathology ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The clinical anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs and metronomic chemotherapy (MET) induced tumor vascular normalization treatment (TVNT) are easily antagonized by tumor microenvironment metabolic cross-talk between tumor cells and endothelial cells (ECs). To overcome this dilemma, nanodrug with the ability of ECs targeted glycolysis inhibition and nanodrug with the ability of tumor cell glycolysis inhibition, anti-VEGF, and MET are combined to prepare Nano-combination the pathways related to angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, and immunosuppression and breaking the negative sugar-lipid-protein metabolism balance in tumor microenvironment. Thus, stronger and more lasting normalized tumor vascular network and remarkable antitumor efficacy are obtained after treatment, constructing a positive feedback loop between TVNT and anti-tumor therapy. Above all, this study provides a new insight for solving the bottleneck of clinical TVNT.}, } @article {pmid35708057, year = {2022}, author = {Caputo, M and Pigni, S and Antoniotti, V and Agosti, E and Caramaschi, A and Antonioli, A and Aimaretti, G and Manfredi, M and Bona, E and Prodam, F}, title = {Targeting microbiota in dietary obesity management: a systematic review on randomized control trials in adults.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-33}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2022.2087593}, pmid = {35708057}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Obesity is an alarming public health problem. Tailored nutritional therapy is advisable since emerging evidence on complex cross-talks among multifactorial agents. In this picture, the gut microbiota is highly individualized and intricately dependent on dietary patterns, with implications for obesity management. Most of the papers on the topic are observational and often conflicting. This review aimed to systematically organize the body of evidence on microbiota deriving from dietary trials in adult obesity giving the most certain phylogenetic, and metabolomic signatures in relation to both the host metabolism and phenotype changes published until now. We retrieved 18 randomized control trials on 1385 subjects with obesity who underwent several dietary interventions, including standard diet and healthy dietary regimens. Some phyla and species were more related to diets rich in fibers and others to healthy diets. Weight loss, metabolism improvements, inflammatory markers decrease were specifically related to different microorganisms or functions. The Prevotella/Bacteroides ratio was one of the most reported predictors. People with the burden of obesity comorbidities had the most significant taxonomic changes in parallel with a general improvement. These data emphasize the possibility of using symbiotic approaches involving tailored diets, microbiota characteristics, and maybe drugs to treat obesity and metabolic disorders. We encourage Authors to search for specific phylogenetic associations beyond a too generally reported Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio.}, } @article {pmid35707611, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, L and Huang, T and Qi, X and Yu, J and Wu, T and Luo, Z and Zhou, L and Li, Y}, title = {Genome-Wide Analysis of Long Non-coding RNAs Involved in Nodule Senescence in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {917840}, pmid = {35707611}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely accepted to play crucial roles during diverse biological processes. In recent years, thousands of lncRNAs related to the establishment of symbiosis, root nodule organogenesis and nodule development have been identified in legumes. However, lncRNAs involved in nodule senescence have not been reported. In this study, senescence-related lncRNAs were investigated in Medicago truncatula nodules by high-throughput strand-specific RNA-seq. A total of 4576 lncRNAs and 126 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified. We found that more than 60% lncRNAs were associated with transposable elements, especially TIR/Mutator and Helitron DNA transposons families. In addition, 49 DElncRNAs were predicted to be the targets of micro RNAs. Functional analysis showed that the largest sub-set of differently expressed target genes of DElncRNAs were associated with the membrane component. Of these, nearly half genes were related to material transport, suggesting that an important function of DElncRNAs during nodule senescence is the regulation of substance transport across membranes. Our findings will be helpful for understanding the functions of lncRNAs in nodule senescence and provide candidate lncRNAs for further research.}, } @article {pmid35707396, year = {2022}, author = {Normand, P and Pujic, P and Abrouk, D and Vemulapally, S and Guerra, T and Carlos-Shanley, C and Hahn, D}, title = {Draft Genomes of Nitrogen-fixing Frankia Strains Ag45/Mut15 and AgPM24 Isolated from Root Nodules of Alnus Glutinosa.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {49-56}, pmid = {35707396}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {The genomes of two nitrogen-fixing Frankia strains, Ag45/Mut15 and AgPM24, isolated from root nodules of Alnus glutinosa are described as representatives of a novel candidate species. Phylogenomic and ANI analyses confirmed that both strains are related to cluster 1 frankiae, and that both strains belong to a novel species. At 6.4 - 6.7 Mb, their genomes were smaller than those of other cultivated Alnus-infective cluster 1 strains but larger than that of the non-cultivated Alnus-infective cluster 1 Sp+ strain AgTrS that was their closest neighbor as assessed by ANI. Comparative genomic analyses identified genes essential for nitrogen-fixation, gene composition as regards COGs, secondary metabolites clusters and transcriptional regulators typical of those from Alnus-infective cluster 1 cultivated strains in both genomes. There were 459 genes present in other cultivated Alnus-infective strains lost in the two genomes, spread over the whole of the genome, which indicates genome erosion is taking place in these two strains.}, } @article {pmid35706013, year = {2022}, author = {Pan, GC and Zheng, W and Liao, SC}, title = {Qualitative study of the learning and studying process of resident physicians in China.}, journal = {BMC medical education}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {460}, pmid = {35706013}, issn = {1472-6920}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Internship and Residency ; *Physicians ; Problem-Based Learning ; Qualitative Research ; Teaching ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Clinical medical education is essential in physician training. This study developed recommendations for medical residency course design on the basis of the perspectives of learners in China and how they interact with their environment. The central research topic was the professional development and learning process of residents, including the obstacles that hinder and factors that promote their learning, their views on existing teaching methods, interaction between teachers and medical teams, and suggestions for designing future residency training programs.

METHODS: This study had a qualitative research design. Interviews were conducted between July and October 2019 with 17 specialist residents and 12 assistant general practitioner residents from the department of education of the hospital. The participants were recruited from Qingyuan People's Hospital in Guangdong Province, China. The interview outlines focused on the following four themes: clinical learning experiences and reflections on learning, experience of interaction with patients, experience of working with other medical personnel, and future learning directions.

RESULTS: To overcome challenges in clinical learning, the residents mainly learned from their teachers and focused specifically on their own experiences. Regarding teaching methods and designs in clinical medicine, the residents preferred large-group, small-group, and bedside teaching and reported that bedside teaching enables the resolution of clinical problems, initiates self-learning, and improves diagnostic thinking. They disliked teachers with low teaching motivation or who were reluctant to interact with them and favored teachers who had strong teaching skills and respect for their students.

CONCLUSIONS: The residents suggested that clinical and active learning must be the main learning method for developing general medical competencies. Residency training must be conducted in an environment that facilitates residents' learning and meaningful learning activities. The interdependent symbiotic relationships in the education ecosystem can serve as a reference for designing residency courses.}, } @article {pmid35704174, year = {2022}, author = {Martini, MC and Vacca, C and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Draghi, WO and Pistorio, M and Lozano, MJ and Lagares, A and Del Papa, MF}, title = {ubiF is involved in acid stress tolerance and symbiotic competitiveness in Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, pages = {1633-1643}, pmid = {35704174}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Acids/pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The acidity of soils significantly reduces the productivity of legumes mainly because of the detrimental effects of hydrogen ions on the legume plants, leading to the establishment of an inefficient symbiosis and poor biological nitrogen fixation. We recently reported the analysis of the fully sequenced genome of Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83, an alfalfa-nodulating rhizobium with a remarkable ability to grow, nodulate and compete in acidic conditions. To gain more insight into the genetic mechanisms leading to acid tolerance in R. favelukesii LPU83, we constructed a transposon mutant library and screened for mutants displaying a more acid-sensitive phenotype than the parental strain. We identified mutant Tn833 carrying a single-transposon insertion within LPU83_2531, an uncharacterized short ORF located immediately upstream from ubiF homolog. This gene encodes a protein with an enzymatic activity involved in the biosynthesis of ubiquinone. As the transposon was inserted near the 3' end of LPU83_2531 and these genes are cotranscribed as a part of the same operon, we hypothesized that the phenotype in Tn833 is most likely due to a polar effect on ubiF transcription.We found that a mutant in ubiF was impaired to grow at low pH and other abiotic stresses including 5 mM ascorbate and 0.500 mM Zn[2+]. Although the ubiF mutant retained the ability to nodulate alfalfa and Phaseolus vulgaris, it was unable to compete with the R. favelukesii LPU83 wild-type strain for nodulation in Medicago sativa and P. vulgaris, suggesting that ubiF is important for competitiveness. Here, we report for the first time an ubiF homolog being essential for nodulation competitiveness and tolerance to specific stresses in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid35702801, year = {2022}, author = {Xavier, J and M, A and A S, F and Ravichandiran, V and Kumar, N}, title = {Intriguing role of Gut-Brain Axis on cognition with emphasis on interaction with Papez circuit.}, journal = {CNS & neurological disorders drug targets}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/1871527321666220614124145}, pmid = {35702801}, issn = {1996-3181}, abstract = {The gut microbiome is a complicated ecosystem of around a hundred billion symbiotic bacteria cells. Bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain is facilitated by the immune system, the enteric nervous system, the vagus nerve, and microbial compounds such as tryptophan metabolites and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The current study emphasises the relationship of the gut-brain axis with cognitive performance and elucidates the underlying biological components, with a focus on neurotransmitters such as serotonin, indole derivatives, and catecholamine. These biological components play important roles in both the digestive and brain systems. Recent research has linked the gut microbiome to a variety of cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's (AD). The review describes the intriguing role of the gut-brain axis in recognition memory depending on local network connections within the hippocampal as well as other additional hippocampal portions of the Papez circuit. The available data from various research papers show how the gut microbiota might alter brain function and hence psychotic and cognitive illnesses. The role of supplementary probiotics is emphasized for the reduction of brain-related dysfunction as a viable strategy in handling cognitive disorders. Further, the study elucidates the mode of action of probiotics with reported adverse effects.}, } @article {pmid35701539, year = {2022}, author = {Jackson, R and Monnin, D and Patapiou, PA and Golding, G and Helanterä, H and Oettler, J and Heinze, J and Wurm, Y and Economou, CK and Chapuisat, M and Henry, LM}, title = {Convergent evolution of a labile nutritional symbiosis in ants.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {2114-2122}, pmid = {35701539}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ants are among the most successful organisms on Earth. It has been suggested that forming symbioses with nutrient-supplementing microbes may have contributed to their success, by allowing ants to invade otherwise inaccessible niches. However, it is unclear whether ants have evolved symbioses repeatedly to overcome the same nutrient limitations. Here, we address this question by comparing the independently evolved symbioses in Camponotus, Plagiolepis, Formica and Cardiocondyla ants. Our analysis reveals the only metabolic function consistently retained in all of the symbiont genomes is the capacity to synthesise tyrosine. We also show that in certain multi-queen lineages that have co-diversified with their symbiont for millions of years, only a fraction of queens carry the symbiont, suggesting ants differ in their colony-level reliance on symbiont-derived resources. Our results imply that symbioses can arise to solve common problems, but hosts may differ in their dependence on symbionts, highlighting the evolutionary forces influencing the persistence of long-term endosymbiotic mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid35700898, year = {2022}, author = {Pekkoh, J and Chaichana, C and Thurakit, T and Phinyo, K and Lomakool, S and Ruangrit, K and Duangjan, K and Suwannarach, N and Kumla, J and Cheirsilp, B and Srinuanpan, S}, title = {Dual-bioaugmentation strategy to enhance the formation of algal-bacteria symbiosis biofloc in aquaculture wastewater supplemented with agricultural wastes as an alternative nutrient sources and biomass support materials.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {359}, number = {}, pages = {127469}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127469}, pmid = {35700898}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Aquaculture/methods ; Bacteria ; Biomass ; Dietary Supplements ; *Microalgae ; Nutrients ; Symbiosis ; *Wastewater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study performs an integrated evaluation of the formation and distribution of algal-bacterial bioflocs in aquaculture wastewater supplemented with agricultural waste, together with an assessment of their behavior in the microbial community and of the water quality of the system in which a new bioaugmentation strategy was applied. Results indicated that the dual bioaugmentation strategy via the consortium addition of bacteria and microalgae had the highest formation performance, providing the most compact biofloc structure (0.59 g/L), excellent settleability (71.91%), and a large particle diameter (4.25 mm). The fed-batch supplementation of molasses and rice bran, in terms of changes in the values of COD, NH4[+], NO3[-], and PO4[3-], stimulated the formation of biofloc through algal-bacterial bioflocs and microbe-rice bran complexes within a well-established microbial community. These findings provide new insight into the influence of bioaugmentation on the formation of an innovative algal-bacterial biofloc.}, } @article {pmid35699933, year = {2022}, author = {Kato, N and Chen, C and Watanabe, HK and Yamamoto, M and Shimomura, M}, title = {The First Bopyrid Isopod from Hydrothermal Vents: Pleurocryptella shinkai sp. nov. (Isopoda: Epicaridea) Parasitizing Shinkaia crosnieri (Decapoda: Anomura).}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {293}, doi = {10.2108/zs210117}, pmid = {35699933}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anomura ; *Decapoda/genetics ; Female ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; *Isopoda ; Male ; Phylogeny ; *Polychaeta ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are 'extreme' environments harboring diverse animal communities, powered by chemosynthesis. Though vent-endemic macrofauna have been a center of interest since their discovery in 1977, macroparasites have received little attention. Here, we report a bopyrid epicaridean isopod infesting the symbiotic munidopsid squat lobster Shinkaia crosnieri Baba and Williams, 1998 from three vent fields of Okinawa Trough, and describe it as Pleurocryptella shinkai sp. nov. Although morphologically close to the congeners Pleurocryptella formosa Bonnier, 1900, Pleurocryptella wolffi Bourdon, 1972, and Pleurocryptella altalis Williams, Boyko, and Marin, 2020, both females (via body proportion and characters of barbula, antennae, pleopods, and pleomeres) and males (via features of the head, pleomeres, and uropods) of the new species exhibit distinctive characters. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the 18S rRNA gene (850 bp) was insufficiently resolved to clarify the relationship of different epicaridean lineages or the exact position of P. shinkai sp. nov., but it recovered P. shinkai sp. nov. in a distant position from the type genus of Pseudioninae, indicating non-monophyly of this subfamily. Crustaceans are successful in vents but this is only the second vent epicaridean reported, after Thermaloniscus cotylophorus Bourdon, 1983 from the East Pacific Rise described from a single cryptoniscus larva. As such, this is the first report of a vent bopyrid isopod and the first vent epicaridean with a known host. Some epicaridean lineages have adapted to tolerating the conditions of hydrothermal vents, and future research will likely uncover more epicarideans and other interesting parasites from these extreme habitats.}, } @article {pmid35699341, year = {2022}, author = {Thompson, L and Swift, SOI and Egan, CP and Yogi, D and Chapin, T and Hynson, NA}, title = {Traits and tradeoffs among non-native ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts affect pine seedling establishment in a Hawaiian coinvasion landscape.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {15}, pages = {4176-4187}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16564}, pmid = {35699341}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Hawaii ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Pinus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Pine invasions lead to losses of native biodiversity and ecosystem function, but pine invasion success is often linked to coinvading non-native ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. How the community composition, traits, and distributions of these fungi vary over the landscape and how this affects pine success is understudied. A greenhouse bioassay experiment was performed to test the effects of changes in EM fungal community structure from a pine plantation, to an invasion front to currently pine-free areas on percent root colonization and seedling biomass. Soils were also analysed by qPCR to determine changes in inoculum and spore density over distance for a common coinvading EM fungus, Suillus pungens. Percent colonization increased with distance from the plantation, which corresponded with an increase in seedling biomass and stark changes in EM fungal community membership where Suillus spp. dominated currently pine-free areas. However, there was a negative relationship between S. pungens inoculum potential versus root colonization over distance. We conclude that the success of pine invasions is facilitated by specific traits of Suillus spp., but that the success of Suillus is contingent on a lack of competition with other ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid35698170, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, K and Gao, P and Geng, L and Liu, C and Zhang, J and Shu, C}, title = {Lignocellulose degradation in Protaetia brevitarsis larvae digestive tract: refining on a tightly designed microbial fermentation production line.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {90}, pmid = {35698170}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Larva ; *Lignin/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Scarabaeidae insect Protaetia brevitarsis (PB) has recently gained increasing research interest as a resource insect because its larvae can effectively convert decaying organic matter to plant growth-promoting frass with a high humic acid content and produce healthy, nutritional insect protein sources. Lignocellulose is the main component of PB larvae (PBL) feed, but PB genome annotation shows that PBL carbohydrate-active enzymes are not able to complete the lignocellulose degradation process. Thus, the mechanism by which PBL efficiently degrade lignocellulose is worthy of further study.

RESULTS: Herein, we used combined host genomic and gut metagenomic datasets to investigate the lignocellulose degradation activity of PBL, and a comprehensive reference catalog of gut microbial genes and host gut transcriptomic genes was first established. We characterized a gene repertoire comprising highly abundant and diversified lignocellulose-degrading enzymes and demonstrated that there was unique teamwork between PBL and their gut bacterial microbiota for efficient lignocellulose degradation. PBL selectively enriched lignocellulose-degrading microbial species, mainly from Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, which are capable of producing a broad array of cellulases and hemicellulases, thus playing a major role in lignocellulosic biomass degradation. In addition, most of the lignocellulose degradation-related module sequences in the PBL microbiome were novel. PBL provide organic functional complementarity for lignocellulose degradation via their evolved strong mouthparts, alkaline midgut, and mild stable hindgut microenvironment to facilitate lignocellulosic biomass grinding, dissolving, and symbiotic microbial fermentation, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This work shows that PBL are a promising model to study lignocellulose degradation, which can provide highly abundant novel enzymes and relevant lignocellulose-degrading bacterial strains for biotechnological biomass conversion industries. The unique teamwork between PBL and their gut symbiotic bacterial microbiota for efficient lignocellulose degradation will expand the knowledge of holobionts and open a new beginning in the theory of holobionts. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid35697953, year = {2023}, author = {El-Sherbeny, TMS and Mousa, AM and Zhran, MA}, title = {Response of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plant to bio-fertilizer and plant residues in sandy soil.}, journal = {Environmental geochemistry and health}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {253-265}, pmid = {35697953}, issn = {1573-2983}, mesh = {*Arachis/metabolism/microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Sand ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) fertilizer has been intensively used to improve peanut productivity. However, the high cost of N fertilizer, and the need for sustainable alternative fertilizer sources have increased the strategic importance of nitrogen fixation (NF). Thus, field experiments were conducted in an experimental farm with a drip irrigation system, at the Atomic Energy Authority, Inshas, Egypt, in order to measure the impact of efficiency symbiotic Bradyrhizobium sp. and asymbiotic Azotobacter sp. on NF, from air and soil, in the presence or absence of plant residues on the growth and yield of peanut plant. All treatments received nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 72 kg N per hectare. Nitrogen dose was applied using ammonium sulphate [15]N labeled of 10% atom excess from the peanut. Results indicated that the application of Bradyrhizobium sp. with plant residues significantly increased fresh and dry weight/m[2], pod and seed weight/plant[-1],100- seed weight, and biological yield kg ha[-1], where the highest mean values of seed yield (4648 and 4529 kg ha[-1]), oil % (52.29 and 52.21%), seed protein percentage (16.09 and 15.89%), as well as nitrogen derived from air (63.14 and 66.20%) in the first and second seasons were recorded under the application of Bradyrhizobium sp, respectively. Bradyrhizobium sp. inoculation showed nearly close portions of Ndfa to those recorded with Azotobacter sp., in both the presence and absence of plant residue application through the two seasons. The investigated yield signs and their properties were significantly enhanced by bacterial inoculation with plant residue application. The present study shows that both possibility of NF of peanut, and nitrogen uptake in the soil are enhanced by field inoculation with effective Bradyrhizobium sp. with plant residue application. In practice, inoculation is a great strategy to improve soil fertility for subsequent planting, since it helps boost the import of nitrogen from plant biomass into the soil.}, } @article {pmid35697901, year = {2022}, author = {Amorim, K and Loick-Wilde, N and Yuen, B and Osvatic, JT and Wäge-Recchioni, J and Hausmann, B and Petersen, JM and Fabian, J and Wodarg, D and Zettler, ML}, title = {Chemoautotrophy, symbiosis and sedimented diatoms support high biomass of benthic molluscs in the Namibian shelf.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {9731}, pmid = {35697901}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Animals ; Biomass ; *Bivalvia/genetics ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; *Diatoms/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The molluscs Lucinoma capensis, Lembulus bicuspidatus and Nassarius vinctus are highly abundant in Namibian oxygen minimum zone sediments. To understand which nutritional strategies allow them to reach such impressive abundances in this extreme habitat we investigated their trophic diversity, including a chemosymbiosis in L. capensis, focussing on nitrogen biochemical pathways of the symbionts. We combined results of bulk nitrogen and carbon (δ[13]C and δ[15]N) and of compound-specific isotope analyses of amino acid nitrogen (AAs-δ[15]NPhe and δ[15]NGlu), with 16S rRNA gene sequencing of L. capensis tissues and also with exploratory results of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite turnover. The trophic position (TP) of the bivalve L. capensis is placed between autotrophy and mixotrophy, consistent with its proposed symbiosis with sulfur-oxidizing Candidatus Thiodiazotropha sp. symbionts. The symbionts are here revealed to perform nitrate reduction and ammonium uptake, with clear indications of ammonium host-symbionts recycling, but surprisingly unable to fix nitrogen. The TP of the bivalve L. bicuspidatus is placed in between mixotrophy and herbivory. The TP of the gastropod N. vinctus reflected omnivory. Multiple lines of evidences in combination with current ecosystem knowledge point to sedimented diatoms as important components of L. bicuspidatus and N. vinctus' diet, likely supplemented at times with chemoautotrophic bacteria. This study highlights the importance of benthic-pelagic coupling that fosters the dietary base for macrozoobenthos in the OMZ. It further unveils that, in contrast to all shallow water lucinid symbionts, deeper water lucinid symbionts rely on ammonium assimilation rather than dinitrogen fixation to obtain nitrogen for growth.}, } @article {pmid35696059, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, X and Ding, S and Wang, M and Ma, X and Li, H and Zhang, Y and Song, W and Ding, J and Lu, J}, title = {Effects of light source and inter-species mixed culture on the growth of microalgae and bacteria for nutrient recycling and microalgae harvesting using black odorous water as the medium.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {52}, pages = {78542-78554}, pmid = {35696059}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Microalgae ; Ammonia ; Biomass ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Bacteria ; Nutrients/analysis ; }, abstract = {To achieve the sustainable and effective removal efficiency of nutrients in black odorous water, light source, inter-species microalgae mixed culture, and the harvesting effect were all explored. The results showed that under a LED light source, the addition of interspecific soluble algal products (SAP) promoted the growth of Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) M1, and its maximum specific growth rate was 1.76 times that of H. pluvialis cultivated alone. That was due to the hormesis effect between the two kinds of microalgae, the SAP produced by Scenedesmus could stimulate the growth of H. pluvialis. The algae and bacteria symbiotic system with black odorous water as the medium showed excellent performance to treat nutrients, where the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total phosphorus (TP) (0.84, 0.23 mg/L) met the requirements of landscape water. The microbial diversity analysis revealed that the introduction of microalgae changed the dominant species of the bacterial community from Bacteroidota to Proteobacteria. Furthermore, timely microalgae harvesting could prevent water quality from deteriorating and was conducive to microalgae growth and resource recycling. The higher harvest efficiency (98.1%) of H. pluvialis was obtained when an inoculation size of 20% and 0.16 g/L FeCl3 were provided.}, } @article {pmid35695864, year = {2022}, author = {Nadal-Jimenez, P and Siozios, S and Halliday, N and Cámara, M and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Symbiopectobacterium purcellii, gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the leafhopper Empoasca decipiens.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005440}, pmid = {35695864}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; *Hemiptera ; *Pectobacterium ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts are found in multiple arthropod species, where they play crucial roles as nutritional symbionts, defensive symbionts or reproductive parasites. Recent work has highlighted a new clade of heritable microbes within the gammaproteobacteria that enter into both obligate and facultative symbioses, with an obligately required unculturable symbiont recently given the name Candidatus Symbiopectobacterium. In this study, we describe a culturable rod shaped non-flagellated bacterial symbiont from this clade isolated from the leafhopper Empoasca decipiens. The symbiont is related to the transovarially transmitted 'BEV' bacterium that was first isolated from the leafhopper Euscelidius variegatus by Alexander Purcell, and we therefore name the symbiont Symbiopectobacterium purcellii sp. nov., gen. nov. We further report the closed genome sequence for S. purcellii. The genome is atypical for a heritable microbe, being large in size, without profound AT bias and with little evidence of pseudogenization. The genome is predicted to encode Type II, III and VI secretion systems and associated effectors and a non-ribosomal peptide synthase array likely to produce bioactive small molecules. The predicted metabolism is more complete than for other symbionts in the Symbiopectobacterium clade, and the microbe is predicted to synthesize a range of B vitamins. However, Biolog plate results indicate that the metabolism is depauperate compared to the sister clade, represented by Pectobacterium carotovorum. A quorum-sensing pathway related to that of Pectobacterium species (containing an overlapping expI-expR1 pair in opposite directions and a "solo" expR2) is evidenced, and LC-MS/MS analysis reveals the presence of 3-hydroxy-C10-HSL as the sole N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) in our strain. This AHL profile is profoundly divergent from that of other Erwinia and Pectobacterium species which produce mostly 3-oxo-C6- and 3-oxo-C8-HSL and could aid group identification. Thus, this microbe denotes one that has lost certain pathways associated with a saprophytic lifestyle but represents an important baseline against which to compare other members of the genus Symbiopectobacterium that show more profound integration into host biology. The type strain of Symbiopectobacterium purcellii gen. nov., sp. nov. is SyEd1[T] (LMG 32449[T]=CECT 30436[T]).}, } @article {pmid35695500, year = {2022}, author = {Newell, PD and Preciado, LM and Murphy, CG}, title = {A Functional Analysis of the Purine Salvage Pathway in Acetobacter fabarum.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {204}, number = {7}, pages = {e0004122}, pmid = {35695500}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {*Acetobacter/genetics ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; Humans ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Uric Acid/metabolism ; Waste Products ; }, abstract = {Acetobacter species are a major component of the gut microbiome of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model organism. While a range of studies have illuminated impacts of Acetobacter on their hosts, less is known about how association with the host impacts bacteria. A previous study identified that a purine salvage locus was commonly found in Acetobacter associated with Drosophila. In this study, we sought to verify the functions of predicted purine salvage genes in Acetobacter fabarum DsW_054 and to test the hypothesis that these bacteria can utilize host metabolites as a sole source of nitrogen. Targeted gene deletion and complementation experiments confirmed that genes encoding xanthine dehydrogenase (xdhB), urate hydroxylase (urhA), and allantoinase (puuE) were required for growth on their respective substrates as the sole source of nitrogen. Utilization of urate by Acetobacter is significant because this substrate is the major nitrogenous waste product of Drosophila, and its accumulation in the excretory system is detrimental to both flies and humans. The potential significance of our findings for host purine homeostasis and health are discussed, as are the implications for interactions among microbiota members, which differ in their capacity to utilize host metabolites for nitrogen. IMPORTANCEAcetobacter are commonly found in the gut microbiota of fruit flies, including Drosophila melanogaster. We evaluated the function of purine salvage genes in Acetobacter fabarum to test the hypothesis that this bacterium can utilize host metabolites as a source of nitrogen. Our results identify functions for three genes required for growth on urate, a major host waste product. The utilization of this and other Drosophila metabolites by gut bacteria may play a role in their survival in the host environment. Future research into how microbial metabolism impacts host purine homeostasis may lead to therapies because urate accumulation in the excretory system is detrimental to flies and humans.}, } @article {pmid35695425, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Zou, Y and Yang, J and Li, Q and Bourne, DG and Sweet, M and Liu, C and Guo, A and Zhang, S}, title = {Cultured Bacteria Provide Insight into the Functional Potential of the Coral-Associated Microbiome.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e0032722}, pmid = {35695425}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Quorum Sensing ; Genome ; }, abstract = {Improving the availability of representative isolates from the coral microbiome is essential for investigating symbiotic mechanisms and applying beneficial microorganisms to improve coral health. However, few studies have explored the diversity of bacteria which can be isolated from a single species. Here, we isolated a total of 395 bacterial strains affiliated with 49 families across nine classes from the coral Pocillopora damicornis. Identification results showed that most of the strains represent potential novel bacterial species or genera. We also sequenced and assembled the genomes of 118 of these isolates, and then the putative functions of these isolates were identified based on genetic signatures derived from the genomes and this information was combined with isolate-specific phenotypic data. Genomic information derived from the isolates identified putative functions including nitrification and denitrification, dimethylsulfoniopropionate transformation, and supply of fixed carbon, amino acids, and B vitamins which may support their eukaryotic partners. Furthermore, the isolates contained genes associated with chemotaxis, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, membrane transport, signal transduction, and eukaryote-like repeat-containing and cell-cell attachment proteins, all of which potentially help the bacterium establish association with the coral host. Our work expands on the existing culture collection of coral-associated bacteria and provides important information on the metabolic potential of these isolates which can be used to refine understanding of the role of bacteria in coral health and are now available to be applied to novel strategies aimed at improving coral resilience through microbiome manipulation. IMPORTANCE Microbes underpin the health of corals which are the building blocks of diverse and productive reef ecosystems. Studying the culturable fraction of coral-associated bacteria has received less attention in recent times than using culture-independent molecular methods. However, the genomic and phenotypic characterization of isolated strains allows assessment of their functional role in underpinning coral health and identification of beneficial microbes for microbiome manipulation. Here, we isolated 395 bacterial strains from tissues of Pocillopora damicornis with many representing potentially novel taxa and therefore providing a significant contribution to coral microbiology through greatly enlarging the existing cultured coral-associated bacterial bank. Through analysis of the genomes obtained in this study for the coral-associated bacteria and coral host, we elucidate putative metabolic linkages and symbiotic establishment. The results of this study will help to elucidate the role of specific isolates in coral health and provide beneficial microbes for efforts aimed at improving coral health.}, } @article {pmid35695265, year = {2022}, author = {Chai, R and Tai, Z and Zhu, Y and Chai, C and Chen, Z and Zhu, Q}, title = {Symbiotic microorganisms: prospects for treating atopic dermatitis.}, journal = {Expert opinion on biological therapy}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {911-927}, doi = {10.1080/14712598.2022.2089560}, pmid = {35695265}, issn = {1744-7682}, mesh = {*Dermatitis, Atopic/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Skin/pathology ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease. The pathogenesis is unclear but may be related to genetic, immune, and environmental factors and abnormal skin barrier function. Symbiotic microorganisms in the gut and on the skin are associated with AD occurrence.

AREAS COVERED: We discuss the metabolism and distribution of intestinal and skin flora and review their relationship with AD, summarizing the recent applications of intestinal and skin flora in AD treatment, and discussing the prospect of research on these two human microbiota systems and their influence on AD treatment. The PubMed database was searched to identify relevant publications from 1949 to 2020 for the bibliometric analysis of atopic dermatitis and symbiotic microorganisms.

EXPERT OPINION: Many studies have suggested a potential contribution of microbes in the intestine and on the skin to AD. Bacteria living on the skin can aggravate AD by secreting numerous virulence factors. Moreover, the metabolism of intestinal flora can influence AD occurrence and development via the circulatory system. Current evidence suggests that by regulating intestinal and skin flora, AD can be treated and prevented.}, } @article {pmid35694577, year = {2022}, author = {Cui, Y}, title = {Landscaping Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Production Park Using Lightweight Deep Reinforcement Learning under Circular Symbiosis Concept.}, journal = {Computational intelligence and neuroscience}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {8410996}, pmid = {35694577}, issn = {1687-5273}, mesh = {Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Crops, Agricultural ; *Oryza ; Reinforcement, Psychology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The paper intends to optimize the landscape of the agricultural and animal husbandry (AG and AH) production park using the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) model under circular symbiosis. Therefore, after reviewing the relevant literature, decision tree evolutionary algorithm, and ensemble learning criteria, this paper studies and constructs the circular symbiotic industrial chain. Then, an experiment of landscaping the park and optimizing the production is made with full consideration of practical institutions. Finally, the numerical results show that the yield of several crops has been significantly improved after the landscape optimization by the proposed DRL model. Remarkably, the increase in rice yield is the most prominent. The yield of rice and wheat was about 12 kg before optimization and 18 kg after DRL model optimization, which has increased by 6 kg. This research has important reference value for improving the output efficiency of AG and AH products.}, } @article {pmid35694215, year = {2022}, author = {Qin, H and Li, G and Xu, X and Zhang, C and Zhong, W and Xu, S and Yin, Y and Song, J}, title = {The role of oral microbiome in periodontitis under diabetes mellitus.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2078031}, pmid = {35694215}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {Periodontitis is among most common human inflammatory diseases and characterized by destruction of tooth-supporting tissues that will eventually lead to tooth loss. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycemia which results from defects in insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance. Numerous studies have provided evidence for the inter-relationship between DM and periodontitis that has been considered as the sixth most frequent complication of DM. However, the mechanisms are not fully understood yet. The impact of DM on periodontitis through hyperglycemia and inflammatory pathways is well described, but the effects of DM on oral microbiota remain controversial according to previous studies. Recent studies using next-generation sequencing technology indicate that DM can alter the biodiversity and composition of oral microbiome especially subgingival microbiome. This may be another mechanism by which DM risks or aggravates periodontitis. Thus, to understand the role of oral microbiome in periodontitis of diabetics and the mechanism of shifts of oral microbiome under DM would be valuable for making specific therapeutic regimens for treating periodontitis patients with DM or preventing diabetic patients from periodontitis. This article reviews the role of oral microbiome in periodontal health (symbiosis) and disease (dysbiosis), highlights the oral microbial shifts under DM and summarizes the mechanism of the shifts.}, } @article {pmid35693120, year = {2022}, author = {Bauer, FM and Lärm, L and Morandage, S and Lobet, G and Vanderborght, J and Vereecken, H and Schnepf, A}, title = {Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Based Automated Minirhizotron Image Analysis Pipeline.}, journal = {Plant phenomics (Washington, D.C.)}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {9758532}, pmid = {35693120}, issn = {2643-6515}, abstract = {Root systems of crops play a significant role in agroecosystems. The root system is essential for water and nutrient uptake, plant stability, symbiosis with microbes, and a good soil structure. Minirhizotrons have shown to be effective to noninvasively investigate the root system. Root traits, like root length, can therefore be obtained throughout the crop growing season. Analyzing datasets from minirhizotrons using common manual annotation methods, with conventional software tools, is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, an objective method for high-throughput image analysis that provides data for field root phenotyping is necessary. In this study, we developed a pipeline combining state-of-the-art software tools, using deep neural networks and automated feature extraction. This pipeline consists of two major components and was applied to large root image datasets from minirhizotrons. First, a segmentation by a neural network model, trained with a small image sample, is performed. Training and segmentation are done using "RootPainter." Then, an automated feature extraction from the segments is carried out by "RhizoVision Explorer." To validate the results of our automated analysis pipeline, a comparison of root length between manually annotated and automatically processed data was realized with more than 36,500 images. Mainly the results show a high correlation (r = 0.9) between manually and automatically determined root lengths. With respect to the processing time, our new pipeline outperforms manual annotation by 98.1-99.6%. Our pipeline, combining state-of-the-art software tools, significantly reduces the processing time for minirhizotron images. Thus, image analysis is no longer the bottle-neck in high-throughput phenotyping approaches.}, } @article {pmid35692823, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, J and Ma, C and Ma, S and Zheng, H and Feng, H and Wang, Y and Wang, J and Liu, C and Xin, D and Chen, Q and Yang, M}, title = {GmARP is Related to the Type III Effector NopAA to Promote Nodulation in Soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {889795}, pmid = {35692823}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Type III effectors secreted by rhizobia regulate nodulation in the host plant and are important modulators of symbiosis between rhizobia and soybean (Glycine max), although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we studied the type III effector NopAA in Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, confirming its secretion into the extracellular environment under the action of genistein. The enzyme activity of NopAA was investigated in vitro, using xyloglucan and β-glucan as substrates. NopAA functions were investigated by the generation of a NopAA mutant and the effects of NopAA deficiency on symbiosis were analyzed. Soybean genes associated with NopAA were identified in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and their functions were verified. NopAA was confirmed to be a type III effector with glycosyl hydrolase activity, and its mutant did not promote nodulation. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified 10 QTLs with one, Glyma.19g074200 (GmARP), found to be associated with NopAA and to positively regulate the establishment of symbiosis. All these results support the hypothesis that type III effectors interact with host proteins to regulate the establishment of symbiosis and suggest the possibility of manipulating the symbiotic soybean-rhizobia interaction to promote efficient nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid35691910, year = {2022}, author = {Mizutani, Y and Chiba, Y and Urayama, SI and Tomaru, Y and Hagiwara, D and Kimura, K}, title = {Detection and Characterization of RNA Viruses in Red Macroalgae (Bangiaceae) and Their Food Product (Nori Sheets).}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35691910}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Eukaryota/genetics ; Plants/genetics ; *Porphyra/genetics ; *RNA Viruses/genetics ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; *Seaweed ; }, abstract = {Persistent RNA viruses, which have been suggested to form symbiotic relationships with their hosts, have been reported to occur in eukaryotes, such as plants, fungi, and algae. Based on empirical findings, these viruses may also be present in commercially cultivated macroalgae. Accordingly, the present study aimed to screen red macroalgae (family Bangiaceae conchocelis and Neopyropia yezoensis thallus) and processed nori sheets (N. yezoensis) for persistent RNA viruses using fragmented and primer-ligated dsRNA sequencing (FLDS) and targeted reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). A Totiviridae-related virus was detected in the conchocelis of Neoporphyra haitanensis, which is widely cultivated in China, while two Mitoviridae-related viruses were found in several conchocelis samples and all N. yezoensis-derived samples (thallus and nori sheets). Mitoviridae-related viruses in N. yezoensis are widespread among cultivated species and not expected to inhibit host growth. Mitoviridae-related viruses were also detected in several phylogenetically distant species in the family Bangiaceae, which suggests that these viruses persisted and coexist in the family Bangiaceae over a long period of time. The present study is the first to report persistent RNA viruses in nori sheets and their raw materials.}, } @article {pmid35691257, year = {2022}, author = {Singh, B and Sahu, PM and Aloria, M and Reddy, SS and Prasad, J and Sharma, RA}, title = {Azotobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas putida enhance pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids accumulation in Adhatoda vasica hairy roots by biotization.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {353}, number = {}, pages = {51-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.05.011}, pmid = {35691257}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; *Alkaloids/metabolism/pharmacology ; Anthranilate Synthase/genetics/metabolism ; Azotobacter ; Diphosphates/metabolism ; *Justicia ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Pseudomonas putida/genetics ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Adhatoda vasica is used in the treatment of cold, cough, chronic bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, and dysentery. The biological activities of this species are attributed with the presence of alkaloids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of A. vasica, produces pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids, was achieved by infecting leaf discs with strain ATCC15834. The bacterial strain infected 82.7% leaf discs and 5-7 hairy root initials were developed from the cut edges of leaf discs. In this study, seven strains of Azotobacter chroococcum and five strains of Pseudomonas putida were used for the biotization of hairy roots. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) develops symbiotic association with roots of plants and increases the growth parameters of plants. PGPR (A. chroococcum and P. putida) increased the profiles of nitrogenase and acid phosphatase enzymes, biomass, dry matter contents, anthranilate synthase activity and accumulation of pyrroloquizoline alkaloids in the biotized hairy roots. Both enzymes (nitrogenase and acid phosphatase) maintain sufficient supply of nitrogen and dissolved phosphorus to the cells of hairy roots therefore, the levels of anthranilate synthase activity and pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids are increased. Total seven pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids (vasicine, vasicinone, vasicine acetate, 2-acetyl benzyl amine, vasicinolone, deoxyvasicine and vasicol) were identified from the biotized hairy roots of A. vasica. In our study, biotization increased the profiles of pyrroloquinazoline alkaloids therefore, this strategy may be used in increasing the production of medicinally important secondary metabolites in other plant species also. Our hypothetical model demonstrates that P. putida cell surface receptors receive root exudates by attaching on hairy roots. After attachment, the bacterial strain penetrates in the biotized hairy roots. This endophytic interaction stimulates acid phosphatase activity in the cells of biotized hairy roots. The P. putida plasmid gene (ppp1) expression led to the synthesis of acid phosphatase in cytosol. The enzyme enhances phosphorus availability as well as induces the formation of phosphoribosyl diphosphate. Later, phosphoribosyl diphosphate metabolizes to tryptophan and finally tryptophan converts to anthranilic acid. The synthesized anthranilic acid used in the synthesis of alkaloids in A. vasica.}, } @article {pmid35689949, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, L and Zhang, Z and Dong, X and Tang, Z and Ju, B and Du, Z and Wang, E and Xie, Z}, title = {Bradyrhizobium aeschynomenes sp. nov., a root and stem nodule microsymbiont of Aeschynomene indica.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {126337}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126337}, pmid = {35689949}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; *Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Fatty Acids ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Aeschynomene indica has a distinctive symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium in which nodulation is Nod factor-independent. In this study, we characterised three Gram-negative and rod-shaped strains (83002[T], 81013 and 83012) isolated from root nodules of Aeschynomene indica in Shandong Peninsula. The major cellular fatty acids of isolates were C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 ω7c 11-methyl, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), aminolipids (AL) and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA locus showed that they belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus, and shared the highest similarity to the type strains Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum S58[T] and Bradyrhizobium denitrificans LMG 8443[T]. As expected, analysis of concatenated sequences of six housekeeping genes (atpD, recA, glnII, dnaK, gyrB, and rpoB) and nifH gene proposed that these three strains formed a distinct clade within the genus Bradyrhizobium. The highest average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA hybridization values of the three strains in comparison to the closest Bradyrhizobium species were 87.5% and 65.3%, respectively, which are far below the threshold of species delineation, and thus confirmed the three strains as a new species. The genome size of strain 83002[T] is 7.52 Mbp, and the DNA G+C content is 65.42 mol%. Strain 83002[T] (=KCTC 82266[T]=MCCC 1K04775[T]) was chosen as the type strain of the new species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium aeschynomenes sp. nov. was proposed.}, } @article {pmid35688647, year = {2022}, author = {Tsurumaki, M and Saito, M and Tomita, M and Kanai, A}, title = {Features of smaller ribosomes in candidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria revealed with a molecular evolutionary analysis.}, journal = {RNA (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {1041-1057}, pmid = {35688647}, issn = {1469-9001}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Ribosomes/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The candidate phyla radiation (CPR) is a large bacterial group consisting mainly of uncultured lineages. They have small cells and small genomes, and they often lack ribosomal proteins uL1, bL9, and/or uL30, which are basically ubiquitous in non-CPR bacteria. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the genomic information on CPR bacteria and identified their unique properties. The distribution of protein lengths in CPR bacteria peaks at around 100-150 amino acids, whereas the position of the peak varies in the range of 100-300 amino acids in free-living non-CPR bacteria, and at around 100-200 amino acids in most symbiotic non-CPR bacteria. These results show that the proteins of CPR bacteria are smaller, on average, than those of free-living non-CPR bacteria, like those of symbiotic non-CPR bacteria. We found that ribosomal proteins bL28, uL29, bL32, and bL33 have been lost in CPR bacteria in a taxonomic lineage-specific manner. Moreover, the sequences of approximately half of all ribosomal proteins of CPR differ, in part, from those of non-CPR bacteria, with missing regions or specifically added regions. We also found that several regions in the 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNAs of CPR bacteria are lacking, which presumably caused the total predicted lengths of the three rRNAs of CPR bacteria to be smaller than those of non-CPR bacteria. The regions missing in the CPR ribosomal proteins and rRNAs are located near the surface of the ribosome, and some are close to one another. These observations suggest that ribosomes are smaller in CPR bacteria than those in free-living non-CPR bacteria, with simplified surface structures.}, } @article {pmid35688099, year = {2022}, author = {Singh, S and Sakshi, and Annapurna, K and Shrivastava, N and Varma, A}, title = {Symbiotic interplay of Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum augments crop productivity and biofortification of Zinc and Iron.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {262}, number = {}, pages = {127075}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127075}, pmid = {35688099}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Azotobacter/genetics/metabolism ; Basidiomycota ; *Biofortification ; Endophytes/genetics/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Triticum/microbiology ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the present study Piriformospora indica (Pi) a phyto-promotional fungus and Azotobacter chroococcumWR5 (AzWR5) a rhizobacterium, were symbiotically evaluated for their role in improving the nutritional quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Co-inoculation of Pi+AzWR5 modified root system architecture of host and along with increasing the proportion of finer roots by 88% and 92% in C306 and Hd2967 respectively. Furthermore, the synergistic impact of Pi+AzWR5 interplayed for enhanced accumulation of Zn and Fe in different plant parts including grains (3.12 and 1.33 fold respectively). Pi+AzWR5 increased the transfer factor of Zn (62%, 94%, 91% and 213%) and Fe (31%, 54%, 68% and 32%) in root, stem, leaves and grains, respectively, and translocation factor of Zn (20%, 18% and 63%) and Fe (18%, 29% and 29%) for root-stem, root-leaves and root-grains, respectively. In addition to these co-inoculation of endophytes led to several fold increase in expression of four ZIP transporter genes in roots and shoot. In addition to these symbiotic association of endophytes with host led to 3 fold increase in grain yield. We thereby conclude that co-inoculation of Pi+AzWR5 substantially improves mobilization of Zn and Fe from soil and increase its concentration in grains as well as improves crop yield.}, } @article {pmid35687087, year = {2022}, author = {Rousk, K}, title = {Biotic and abiotic controls of nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria-moss associations.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {4}, pages = {1330-1335}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18264}, pmid = {35687087}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Bryophyta ; *Cyanobacteria ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most mosses are colonized by nitrogen (N)-fixing cyanobacteria. This discovery is relatively recent, which can explain the large knowledge gaps the field is now tackling. For instance, while we have a good understanding of the abiotic controls (e.g. nutrient availability, increased temperature), we still do not know much about the biotic controls of N2 fixation in mosses. I propose here that we should endeavour to position moss-cyanobacteria associations along the mutualism-parasitism continuum under varying abiotic conditions (e.g. nutrient availability). This would finally unravel the nature of the relationship between the partners and will be a big leap in our understanding of the evolution of plant-bacteria interactions using moss-cyanobacteria associations as a model system.}, } @article {pmid35686658, year = {2022}, author = {Szklarzewicz, T and Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk, M and Michalik, A}, title = {Ovary structure and symbiotic associates of a ground mealybug, Rhizoecus albidus (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) and their phylogenetic implications.}, journal = {Journal of anatomy}, volume = {241}, number = {3}, pages = {860-872}, pmid = {35686658}, issn = {1469-7580}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Hemiptera/anatomy & histology/chemistry/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Ovary/anatomy & histology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ovary structure and the organization of its symbiotic system of the ground mealybug, Rhizoecus albidus (Rhizoecidae), were examined by means of microscopic and molecular methods. Each of the paired elongated ovaries of R. albidus is composed of circa one hundred short telotrophic-meroistic ovarioles, which are radially arranged along the distal part of the lateral oviduct. Analysis of serial sections revealed that each ovariole contains four germ cells: three trophocytes (nurse cells) occupying the tropharium and a single oocyte in the vitellarium. The ovaries are accompanied by giant cells termed bacteriocytes which are tightly packed with large pleomorphic bacteria. Their identity as Brownia rhizoecola (Bacteroidetes) was confirmed by means of amplicon sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first report on the morphology and ultrastructure of the Brownia rhizoecola bacterium. In the bacteriocyte cytoplasm bacteria Brownia co-reside with sporadic rod-shaped smaller bacteria, namely Wolbachia (Proteobacteria: Alphaproteobacteria). Both symbionts are transmitted to the next generation vertically (maternally), that is, via female germline cells. We documented that, at the time when ovarioles contain oocytes at the vitellogenic stage, these symbionts leave the bacteriocytes and move toward the neck region of ovarioles (i.e. the region between tropharium and vitellarium). Next, the bacteria enter the cytoplasm of follicular cells surrounding the basal part of the tropharium, leave them and enter the space between the follicular epithelium and surface of the nutritive cord connecting the tropharium and vitellarium. Finally, they gather in the deep depression of the oolemma at the anterior pole of the oocyte in the form of a 'symbiont ball'. Our results provide further arguments strongly supporting the validity of the recent changes in the classification of mealybugs, which involved excluding ground mealybugs from the Pseudococcidae family and raising them to the rank of their own family Rhizoecidae.}, } @article {pmid35686583, year = {2022}, author = {Pucetaite, M and Hitchcock, A and Obst, M and Persson, P and Hammer, EC}, title = {Nanoscale chemical mapping of exometabolites at fungal-mineral interfaces.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {650-666}, pmid = {35686583}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; *Ferric Compounds ; Minerals/chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; *Quartz ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Mineral-associated organic matter is an integral part of soil carbon pool. Biological processes contribute to the formation of such organo-mineral complexes when soil microbes, and in particular soil fungi, deposit a suite of extracellular metabolic compounds and their necromass on the mineral surfaces. While studied in bulk, micro- to nanoscale fungal-mineral interactions remain elusive. Of particular interest are the mutual effects at the interface between the fungal exometabolites and proximal mineral particles. In this work, we have grown saprotrophic and symbiotic fungi in contact with two soil minerals with contrasting properties: quartz and goethite, on top of X-ray transparent silicon nitride membrane windows and analyzed fungal hyphae by synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy in combination with near edge X-ray fine structure spectroscopy at C(K) and Fe(L) absorption edges. In the resultant chemical maps, we were able to visualize and differentiate organic compounds constituting the fungal cells, their extracellular metabolites, and the exometabolites adsorbing on the minerals. We found that the composition of the exometabolites differed between the fungal functional guilds, particularly, in their sugar to protein ratio and potassium concentration. In samples with quartz and goethite, we observed adsorption of the exometabolic compounds on the mineral surfaces with variations in their chemical composition around the particles. Although we did not observe clear alteration in the exometabolite chemistry upon mineral encounters, we show that fungal-mineral interaction result in reduction of Fe(III) in goethite. This process has been demonstrated for bulk systems, but, to our knowledge, this is the first observation on a single hypha scale offering insight into its underlying biological mechanisms. This demonstrates the link between processes initiated at the single-cell level to macroscale phenomena. Thus, spatially resolved chemical characterization of the microbial-mineral interfaces is crucial for an increased understanding of overall carbon cycling in soil.}, } @article {pmid35685924, year = {2022}, author = {Barcoto, MO and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Lessons From Insect Fungiculture: From Microbial Ecology to Plastics Degradation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {812143}, pmid = {35685924}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Anthropogenic activities have extensively transformed the biosphere by extracting and disposing of resources, crossing boundaries of planetary threat while causing a global crisis of waste overload. Despite fundamental differences regarding structure and recalcitrance, lignocellulose and plastic polymers share physical-chemical properties to some extent, that include carbon skeletons with similar chemical bonds, hydrophobic properties, amorphous and crystalline regions. Microbial strategies for metabolizing recalcitrant polymers have been selected and optimized through evolution, thus understanding natural processes for lignocellulose modification could aid the challenge of dealing with the recalcitrant human-made polymers spread worldwide. We propose to look for inspiration in the charismatic fungal-growing insects to understand multipartite degradation of plant polymers. Independently evolved in diverse insect lineages, fungiculture embraces passive or active fungal cultivation for food, protection, and structural purposes. We consider there is much to learn from these symbioses, in special from the community-level degradation of recalcitrant biomass and defensive metabolites. Microbial plant-degrading systems at the core of insect fungicultures could be promising candidates for degrading synthetic plastics. Here, we first compare the degradation of lignocellulose and plastic polymers, with emphasis in the overlapping microbial players and enzymatic activities between these processes. Second, we review the literature on diverse insect fungiculture systems, focusing on features that, while supporting insects' ecology and evolution, could also be applied in biotechnological processes. Third, taking lessons from these microbial communities, we suggest multidisciplinary strategies to identify microbial degraders, degrading enzymes and pathways, as well as microbial interactions and interdependencies. Spanning from multiomics to spectroscopy, microscopy, stable isotopes probing, enrichment microcosmos, and synthetic communities, these strategies would allow for a systemic understanding of the fungiculture ecology, driving to application possibilities. Detailing how the metabolic landscape is entangled to achieve ecological success could inspire sustainable efforts for mitigating the current environmental crisis.}, } @article {pmid35684467, year = {2022}, author = {González-Mendoza, ME and Martínez-Bustos, F and Castaño-Tostado, E and Amaya-Llano, SL}, title = {Effect of Microwave Irradiation on Acid Hydrolysis of Faba Bean Starch: Physicochemical Changes of the Starch Granules.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {35684467}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Amylose/chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Microwaves ; Resistant Starch ; *Starch/chemistry ; *Vicia faba ; Viscosity ; }, abstract = {Starch is the most abundant carbohydrate in legumes (22-45 g/100 g), with distinctive properties such as high amylose and resistant starch content, longer branch chains of amylopectin, and a C-type pattern arrangement in the granules. The present study concentrated on the investigation of hydrolyzed faba bean starch using acid, assisted by microwave energy, to obtain a possible food-grade coating material. For evaluation, the physicochemical, morphological, pasting, and structural properties were analyzed. Hydrolyzed starches developed by microwave energy in an acid medium had low viscosity, high solubility indexes, diverse amylose contents, resistant starch, and desirable thermal and structural properties to be used as a coating material. The severe conditions (moisture, 40%; pure hydrochloric acid, 4 mL/100 mL; time, 60 s; and power level, 6) of microwave-treated starches resulted in low viscosity values, high amylose content and high solubility, as well as high absorption indexes, and reducing sugars. These hydrolyzed starches have the potential to produce matrices with thermo-protectants to formulate prebiotic/probiotic (symbiotic) combinations and amylose-based inclusion complexes for functional compound delivery. This emergent technology, a dry hydrolysis route, uses much less energy consumption in a shorter reaction time and without effluents to the environment compared to conventional hydrolysis.}, } @article {pmid35684293, year = {2022}, author = {Muresu, R and Porceddu, A and Concheri, G and Stevanato, P and Squartini, A}, title = {Legumes of the Sardinia Island: Knowledge on Symbiotic and Endophytic Bacteria and Interactive Software Tool for Plant Species Determination.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {35684293}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {A meta-analysis was carried out on published literature covering the topic of interactive plant microbiology for botanical species of legumes occurring within the boundary of the Italian island Sardinia, lying between the Tyrrhenian and the western Mediterranean seas. Reports were screened for the description of three types of bacterial occurrences; namely, (a) the nitrogen-fixing symbionts dwelling in root nodules; (b) other bacteria co-hosted in nodules but having the ancillary nature of endophytes; (c) other endophytes isolated from different non-nodular portions of the legume plants. For 105 plant species or subspecies, over a total of 290 valid taxonomical descriptions of bacteria belonging to either one or more of these three categories were found, yielding 85 taxa of symbionts, 142 taxa of endophytes in nodules, and 33 in other plant parts. The most frequent cases were within the Medicago, Trifolium, Lotus, Phaseolus, and Vicia genera, the majority of symbionts belonged to the Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Sinorhizobium taxa. Both nodular and extra-nodular endophytes were highly represented by Gammaproteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Pantoea) and Firmicutes (Bacillus, Paenibacillus), along with a surprisingly high diversity of the Actinobacteria genus Micromonospora. The most plant-promiscuous bacteria were Sinorhizobium meliloti as symbiont and Bacillus megaterium as endophyte. In addition to the microbial analyses we introduce a practical user-friendly software tool for plant taxonomy determination working in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that we have purposely elaborated for the classification of legume species of Sardinia. Its principle is based on subtractive keys that progressively filter off the plants that do not comply with the observed features, eventually leaving only the name of the specimen under examination.}, } @article {pmid35684194, year = {2022}, author = {Gerrano, AS and Mbuma, NW and Mumm, RH}, title = {Expression of Nutritional Traits in Vegetable Cowpea Grown under Various South African Agro-Ecological Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {35684194}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), a traditional legume food crop indigenous to Africa, has potential as both a vegetable and grain crop in contributing to dietary diversity to support health and address malnutrition, especially for those relying heavily on wheat, maize, and rice. The expression of nutritional traits (protein content and concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn)) in cowpea leaves was evaluated over diverse agro-ecologies of South Africa and typical agronomic practices of smallholder farmers. The genotypes evaluated displayed genetic variation for all four traits. The mean values of Fe, Zn, Mn and protein content varied from 33.11 to 69.03 mg.100.g[-1]; 4.00 to 4.70 mg.100.g[-1]; and 14.40 to 19.63 mg.100.g[-1] and 27.98 to 31.98%, respectively. The correlation analysis revealed significant degree of positive association between protein and Zn (r = 0.20), while negative associations were observed between Mn and protein (-0.46) and between Mn and Fe (r = -0.27). Furthermore, the expression of these important nutrient traits was influenced by the climatic conditions represented by six environments (location by year combinations) as is typical of 'quality' traits. Additionally, genotype-by-environment interaction effects were detected, suggesting that local soil properties and soil health may play a role in nutritional content in plants, perhaps particularly for legume crops that rely on symbiotic relationships with soil bacterial populations to fix nitrogen, which is crucial to protein formation. Further studies are needed to understand how to coordinate and align agronomic and soil management practices in vegetable cowpea production, especially those workable for the smallholder farmer, to realize the full genetic potential and nutritional value of improved vegetable cowpea varieties.}, } @article {pmid35682734, year = {2022}, author = {Averina, OA and Laptev, IG and Emelianova, MA and Permyakov, OA and Mariasina, SS and Nikiforova, AI and Manskikh, VN and Grigorieva, OO and Bolikhova, AK and Kalabin, GA and Dontsova, OA and Sergiev, PV}, title = {Mitochondrial rRNA Methylation by Mettl15 Contributes to the Exercise and Learning Capability in Mice.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {35682734}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Methylation ; Methyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Mice ; *Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins/metabolism ; *Mitochondrial Ribosomes/metabolism ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; }, abstract = {Mitochondrial translation is a unique relic of the symbiotic origin of the organelle. Alterations of its components cause a number of severe human diseases. Hereby we report a study of mice devoid of Mettl15 mitochondrial 12S rRNA methyltransferase, responsible for the formation of m[4]C839 residue (human numbering). Homozygous Mettl15[-/-] mice appeared to be viable in contrast to other mitochondrial rRNA methyltransferase knockouts reported earlier. The phenotype of Mettl15[-/-] mice is much milder than that of other mutants of mitochondrial translation apparatus. In agreement with the results obtained earlier for cell cultures with an inactivated Mettl15 gene, we observed accumulation of the RbfA factor, normally associated with the precursor of the 28S subunit, in the 55S mitochondrial ribosome fraction of knockout mice. A lack of Mettl15 leads to a lower blood glucose level after physical exercise relative to that of the wild-type mice. Mettl15[-/-] mice demonstrated suboptimal muscle performance and lower levels of Cox3 protein synthesized by mitoribosomes in the oxidative soleus muscles. Additionally, we detected decreased learning capabilities in the Mettl15[-/-] knockout mice in the tests with both positive and negative reinforcement. Such properties make Mettl15[-/-] knockout mice a suitable model for mild mitochondriopathies.}, } @article {pmid35682640, year = {2022}, author = {Ho-Plágaro, T and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Molecular Regulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {35682640}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant-microorganism interactions at the rhizosphere level have a major impact on plant growth and plant tolerance and/or resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Of particular importance for forestry and agricultural systems is the cooperative and mutualistic interaction between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from the phylum Glomeromycotina, since about 80% of terrestrial plant species can form AM symbiosis. The interaction is tightly regulated by both partners at the cellular, molecular and genetic levels, and it is highly dependent on environmental and biological variables. Recent studies have shown how fungal signals and their corresponding host plant receptor-mediated signalling regulate AM symbiosis. Host-generated symbiotic responses have been characterized and the molecular mechanisms enabling the regulation of fungal colonization and symbiosis functionality have been investigated. This review summarizes these and other recent relevant findings focusing on the molecular players and the signalling that regulate AM symbiosis. Future progress and knowledge about the underlying mechanisms for AM symbiosis regulation will be useful to facilitate agro-biotechnological procedures to improve AM colonization and/or efficiency.}, } @article {pmid35681612, year = {2022}, author = {Mormino, A and Garofalo, S}, title = {Dialogue among Lymphocytes and Microglia in Glioblastoma Microenvironment.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {35681612}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Microglia and lymphocytes are fundamental constituents of the glioblastoma microenvironment. In this review, we summarize the current state-of-the-art knowledge of the microglial role played in promoting the development and aggressive hallmarks of this deadly brain tumor. Particularly, we report in vitro and in vivo studies related to glioblastoma models and human patients to outline the symbiotic bidirectional interaction between microglia, lymphocytes, and tumor cells that develops during tumor progression. Furthermore, we highlight the current experimental therapeutic approaches that aim to shape these interplays, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery and CAR-T and -NK cell infusion, and to modulate the tumor microenvironment in an anti-tumoral way, thus counteracting glioblastoma growth.}, } @article {pmid35681192, year = {2022}, author = {Nepel, M and Pfeifer, J and Oberhauser, FB and Richter, A and Woebken, D and Mayer, VE}, title = {Nitrogen fixation by diverse diazotrophic communities can support population growth of arboreal ants.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {135}, pmid = {35681192}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Cecropia Plant ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants ; Population Growth ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic ant-plant associations, in which ants live on plants, feed on plant-provided food, and protect host trees against threats, are ubiquitous across the tropics, with the Azteca-Cecropia associations being amongst the most widespread interactions in the Neotropics. Upon colonization of Cecropia's hollow internodes, Azteca queens form small patches with plant parenchyma, which are then used as waste piles when the colony grows. Patches-found in many ant-plant mutualisms-are present throughout the colony life cycle and may supplement larval food. Despite their initial nitrogen (N)-poor substrate, patches in Cecropia accommodate fungi, nematodes, and bacteria. In this study, we investigated the atmospheric N2 fixation as an N source in patches of early and established ant colonies.

RESULTS: Via [15]N2 tracer assays, N2 fixation was frequently detected in all investigated patch types formed by three Azteca ant species. Quantified fixation rates were similar in early and established ant colonies and higher than in various tropical habitats. Based on amplicon sequencing, the identified microbial functional guild-the diazotrophs-harboring and transcribing the dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene was highly diverse and heterogeneous across Azteca colonies. The community composition differed between early and established ant colonies and partly between the ant species.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that N2 fixation can result in reasonable amounts of N in ant colonies, which might not only enable bacterial, fungal, and nematode growth in the patch ecosystems but according to our calculations can even support the growth of ant populations. The diverse and heterogeneous diazotrophic community implies a functional redundancy, which could provide the ant-plant-patch system with a higher resilience towards changing environmental conditions. Hence, we propose that N2 fixation represents a previously unknown potential to overcome N limitations in arboreal ant colonies.}, } @article {pmid35680712, year = {2022}, author = {López-Bucio, J and Esparza-Reynoso, S and Pelagio-Flores, R}, title = {Nitrogen availability determines plant growth promotion and the induction of root branching by the probiotic fungus Trichoderma atroviride in Arabidopsis seedlings.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {7}, pages = {380}, pmid = {35680712}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Hypocreales/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/pharmacology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Probiotics ; Seedlings ; *Trichoderma/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting fungi are integral components of the root microbiome that help the host resist biotic and abiotic stress while improving nutrient acquisition. Trichoderma atroviride is a common inhabitant of the rhizosphere, which establishes a perdurable symbiosis with plants through the emission of volatiles, diffusible compounds, and robust colonization. Currently, little is known on how the environment influences the Trichoderma-plant interaction. In this report, we assessed plant growth and root architectural reconfiguration of Arabidopsis seedlings grown in physical contact with T. atroviride under contrasting nitrate and ammonium availability. The shoot and root biomass accumulation and lateral root formation triggered by the fungus required high nitrogen supplements and involved nitrate reduction via AtNIA1 and NIA2. Ammonium supplementation did not restore biomass production boosted by T. atroviride in nia1nia2 double mutant, but instead fungal inoculation increased nitric oxide accumulation in Arabidopsis primary root tips depending upon nitrate supplements. N deprived seedlings were largely resistant to the effects of nitric oxide donor SNP triggering lateral root formation. T. atroviride enhanced expression of CHL1:GUS in root tips, particularly under high N supplements and required an intact CHL1 nitrate transporter to promote lateral root formation in Arabidopsis seedlings. These data imply that the developmental programs strengthened by Trichoderma and the underlying growth promotion in plants are dependent upon adequate nitrate nutrition and may involve nitric oxide as a second messenger.}, } @article {pmid35679616, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Gallant, É and Park, JD and Seyedsayamdost, MR}, title = {The Small-Molecule Language of Dynamic Microbial Interactions.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {641-660}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-042722-091052}, pmid = {35679616}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {*Biological Products/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; *Microbial Interactions ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although microbes are routinely grown in monocultures in the laboratory, they are almost never encountered as single species in the wild. Our ability to detect and identify new microorganisms has advanced significantly in recent years, but our understanding of the mechanisms that mediate microbial interactions has lagged behind. What makes this task more challenging is that microbial alliances can be dynamic, consisting of multiple phases. The transitions between phases, and the interactions in general, are often mediated by a chemical language consisting of small molecules, also referred to as secondary metabolites or natural products. In this microbial lexicon, the molecules are like words and through their effects on recipient cells they convey meaning. The current review highlights three dynamic microbial interactions in which some of the words and their meanings have been characterized, especially those that mediate transitions in selected multiphasic associations. These systems provide insights into the principles that govern microbial symbioses and a playbook for interrogating similar associations in diverse ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid35678605, year = {2022}, author = {Mashini, AG and Oakley, CA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Immunolocalization of Metabolite Transporter Proteins in a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {12}, pages = {e0041222}, pmid = {35678605}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon ; *Dinoflagellida ; Nitrogen ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bidirectional nutrient flow between partners is integral to the cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. However, our current knowledge of the transporter proteins that regulate nutrient and metabolite trafficking is nascent. Four transmembrane transporters that likely play an important role in interpartner nitrogen and carbon exchange were investigated with immunocytochemistry in the model sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana ("Aiptasia"; strain NZ1): ammonium transporter 1 (AMT1), V-type proton ATPase (VHA), facilitated glucose transporter member 8 (GLUT8), and aquaporin-3 (AQP3). Anemones lacking symbionts were compared with those in symbiosis with either their typical, homologous dinoflagellate symbiont, Breviolum minutum, or the heterologous species, Durusdinium trenchii and Symbiodinium microadriaticum. AMT1 and VHA were only detected in symbiotic Aiptasia, irrespective of symbiont type. However, GLUT8 and AQP3 were detected in both symbiotic and aposymbiotic states. All transporters were localized to both the epidermis and gastrodermis, though localization patterns in host tissues were heavily influenced by symbiont identity, with S. microadriaticum-colonized anemones showing the most distinct patterns. These patterns suggested disruption of fixed carbon and inorganic nitrogen fluxes when in symbiosis with heterologous versus homologous symbionts. This study enhances our understanding of nutrient transport and host-symbiont integration, while providing a platform for further investigation of nutrient transporters and the host-symbiont interface in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Coral reefs are in serious decline, in particular due to the thermally induced dysfunction of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis that underlies their success. Yet our ability to react to this crisis is hindered by limited knowledge of how this symbiosis functions. Indeed, we still have much to learn about the cellular integration that determines whether a particular host-symbiont combination can persist, and hence whether corals might be able to adapt by acquiring new, more thermally resistant symbionts. Here, we employed immunocytochemistry to localize and quantify key nutrient transporters in tissues of the sea anemone Aiptasia, a globally adopted model system for this symbiosis, and compared the expression of these transporters when the host is colonized by native versus nonnative symbionts. We showed a clear link between transporter expression and symbiont identity, elucidating the cellular events that dictate symbiosis success, and we provide a methodological platform for further examination of cellular integration in this ecologically important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35678214, year = {2022}, author = {Sweeney, CJ and Bottoms, M and Ellis, S and Ernst, G and Kimmel, S and Loutseti, S and Schimera, A and Carniel, LSC and Sharples, A and Staab, F and Marx, MT}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and the Need for a Meaningful Regulatory Plant Protection Product Testing Strategy.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {41}, number = {8}, pages = {1808-1823}, pmid = {35678214}, issn = {1552-8618}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Magnoliopsida ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) perform key soil ecosystem services and, because of their symbiotic relationship with plant roots, may be exposed to the plant protection products (PPPs) applied to soils and crops. In 2017, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a scientific opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of PPPs for in-soil organisms, recommending the inclusion of AMF ecotoxicological testing in the PPP regulatory process. However, it is not clear how this can be implemented in a tiered, robust, and ecologically relevant manner. Through a critical review of current literature, we examine the recommendations made within the EFSA report and the methodologies available to integrate AMF into the PPP risk assessment and provide perspective and commentary on their agronomic and ecological relevance. We conclude that considerable research questions remain to be addressed prior to the inclusion of AMF into the in-soil organism risk assessment, many of which stem from the unique challenges associated with including an obligate symbiont within the PPP risk assessment. Finally, we highlight critical knowledge gaps and the further research required to enable development of relevant, reliable, and robust scientific tests alongside pragmatic and scientifically sound guidance to ensure that any future risk-assessment paradigm is adequately protective of the ecosystem services it aims to preserve. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1808-1823. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.}, } @article {pmid35677572, year = {2022}, author = {Hardy, E and Standley, CJ}, title = {Identifying intersectional feminist principles in the One Health framework.}, journal = {One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {100404}, pmid = {35677572}, issn = {2352-7714}, abstract = {•The relationship between Feminist theory and One Health is understudied, but is complementary and even symbiotic.•One Health successfully Queers the Enlightenment health binary that artificially divorces human and non-human health.•One Health investigates the points of interconnection and overlap much like the Feminist concept of intersectionality.}, } @article {pmid35677251, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Dong, S and Gao, Q and Fan, C and Fayiah, M and Ganjurjav, H and Hu, G and Wang, X and Yan, Y and Gao, X and Li, S}, title = {Grazing Changed Plant Community Composition and Reduced Stochasticity of Soil Microbial Community Assembly of Alpine Grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {864085}, pmid = {35677251}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Grazing is a substantial threat to the sustainability of grassland ecosystems, while it is uncertain about the variety of plant and soil microbial community and the linkages between them limit the comprehensive understanding of grazing ecology. We conducted an experiment on the effects of the grazing regimes rotational grazing (RG), continuous grazing (CG), and grazing exclusion (GE) on an alpine meadow in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The differences of plant community composition, soil microbial community assembly mechanism, and taxonomic and functional composition between grazing regimes were examined, and the relationship between plant species and the soil microbes was assessed by constructing a co-occurrence network. The results showed that the plant community composition varied with the grazing regimes, while the soil microbial community composition did not vary with the grazing regimes. The soil bacterial functional composition was similar under RG and CG, while the soil fungal functional composition was similar under GE and RG. The soil microbial community under all grazing regimes was assembled mainly according to stochastic rather than deterministic mechanisms, and RG and CG reduced the relative importance of the stochastic ratio. At the microbial phylum level, CG and GE increased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Armatimonadetes and CG and RG increased the relative abundance of Elusimicrobia. In the network of plant species and soil microbial classes, plants and bacteria themselves were mainly positively linked (symbiosis and promotion), while plants and soil microbes were mainly negatively linked (competition). There were five microbial generalists in the network, which connected with many microbes, and four showed no difference in their abundance among the grazing regimes. Overall, the stable key microbes in the network and the fact that many of the plants are unconnected with microbes weakened the impact of grazing-induced changes in the plant community on soil microbes, probably resulting in the stable soil microbial community composition. Moreover, there was still a dominant and tolerant plant species, Kobresia pygmaea, that connected the plant and microbial communities, implying that the dominant plant species not only played a crucial role in the plant community but also acted as a bridge between the plants and soil microbes; thus, its tolerance and dominance might stabilize the soil microbial community.}, } @article {pmid35676049, year = {2022}, author = {Wulandari, D and Tittabutr, P and Songwattana, P and Piromyou, P and Teamtisong, K and Boonkerd, N and Boonchuen, P and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Symbiosis Contribution of Non-nodulating Bradyrhizobium cosmicum S23321 after Transferal of the Symbiotic Plasmid pDOA9.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35676049}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic properties of rhizobial bacteria are driven by the horizontal gene transfer of symbiotic genes, which are located in symbiosis islands or on plasmids. The symbiotic megaplasmid pDOA9 of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9, carrying the nod, nif, fix, and type three secretion system (T3SS) genes, has been conjugatively transferred to different Bradyrhizobium strains. In the present study, non-nodulating B. cosmicum S23321, which shows a close phylogenetic relationship with Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9, but lacks symbiotic properties, was used to carry pDOA9 (annotated as chimeric S2:pDOA9). The results obtained showed that pDOA9 conferred symbiotic properties on S23321; however, nodulation phenotypes varied among the DOA9, chimeric ORS278:pDOA9, and S2:pDOA9 strains even though they all carried symbiotic pDOA9 plasmid. S23321 appeared to gain symbiotic nodulation from pDOA9 by processing nodulation genes and broadening the host range. The present results also showed the successful formation of active nodules in Arachis hypogaea (Dalbergoid) and Vigna radiata (Millitoid) by chimeric S2:pDOA9, while Crotalaria juncea (Genistoid) and Macroptilium atropurpureum (Millitoid) formed nodule-like structures. The formation of nodules and nodule-like structures occurred in a nod factor-dependent manner because the nod factor-lacking strain (S2:pDOA9ΩnodB) completely abolished nodulation in all legumes tested. Moreover, T3SS carried by S2:pDOA9 exerted negative effects on symbiosis with Crotalaria juncea, which was consistent with the results obtained on DOA9. T3SS exhibited symbiotic compatibility with V. radiata when nodulated by S23321. These outcomes implied that pDOA9 underwent changes during legume evolution that broadened host specificity and the compatibility of nodulation in a manner that was dependent on the chromosomal background of the recipient as well as legume host restrictions.}, } @article {pmid35675899, year = {2022}, author = {de Oliveira, JAGT and Neves, MD and Sampaio, GFS and Constantino, CJL and Nakagaki, WR}, title = {Analysis of the effects of curcumin and symbiotic consumption on bones of rats submitted to the use of dexamethasone.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {304}, number = {}, pages = {120690}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120690}, pmid = {35675899}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; *Curcumin/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Dexamethasone/adverse effects ; Female ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Glucocorticoids have adverse side effects that can compromise bone tissue. There is evidence to show that symbiotics and curcumin can prevent bone loss. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of curcumin and symbiotic to prevent and/or minimize a possible bone impairment in rats submitted to the use of dexamethasone.

METHODS: Fifty Wistar female rats were divided into five groups: control group (CT), dexamethasone control group (D), dexamethasone and symbiotic group (DS), dexamethasone and curcumin group (DC), and dexamethasone and symbiotic/curcumin group (DSC). Dexamethasone was applied three times a week, while the symbiotic and curcumin were administered daily. Alkaline phosphatase and calcium dosages, analysis of structural and material properties, and Raman analysis of femurs were performed.

KEY FINDINGS: Alkaline phosphatase was higher in the DC group. Maximum load and structural stiffness were higher in the CT group. Maximum stress was lower and similar between dexamethasone groups. The CT group had a lower percentage of strain, the D group had greater deformation compared to the DC group and the DS group presented more deformation than the DC group. The D, DS, and DSC groups had a lower elastic modulus compared to the CT group. The 960/1660 ratios of the D, DS, and DSC groups were different from the CT group. The 1070/1660 ratio was higher in the DC group.

SIGNIFICANCE: It was possible to verify that curcumin showed promising effects related to the increase in bone strength and mineralization, mitigating the deleterious effects caused by dexamethasone, when used simultaneously with this drug.}, } @article {pmid35674967, year = {2022}, author = {Chua, KO and Liew, YJM and See-Too, WS and Tan, JY and Yong, HS and Yin, WF and Chan, KG}, title = {Formicincola oecophyllae gen. nov. sp. nov., a novel member of the family Acetobacteraceae isolated from the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {115}, number = {8}, pages = {995-1007}, pmid = {35674967}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {*Acetobacteraceae/genetics ; Animals ; *Ants ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ubiquinone/chemistry ; }, abstract = {In this study, a novel bacterium designated F3b2[T] was isolated from the gut sample of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina and characterised. Strain F3b2[T] was a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, ovoid-shaped bacterium and grows optimally at 28-30 °C. Its major respiratory quinone is ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) and the major fatty acids are C18:1 ω7c, C19:0 cyclo ω8c and C16:0, representing 85% of the total fatty acids. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain F3b2[T] was highest in similarity to that of Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans DSM106907[T] and Swingsia samuieinsis NBRC 107927[T] at 94.35% and 91.96%, respectively. A 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis and a core genes-based phylogenomic analysis placed strain F3b2[T] in a distinct lineage in the family Acetobacteraceae. The phylogenetic placement was supported by lower than species delineation threshold average nucleotide identity (ANI) (≤ 70.2%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) (≤ 39.5%) and average amino acid identity (AAI) (≤ 63.5%) values between strain F3b2[T] and closest neighbours. These overall genome relatedness indices also supported the assignment of strain F3b2[T] to a novel genus within Acetobacteraceae. The genome of strain F3b2[T] was 1.96 Mb with 60.4% G + C DNA content. Based on these results, strain F3b2[T] represented a novel taxon of Acetobacteraceae, for which we proposed the name Formicincola oecophyllae gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain F3b2[T] (= LMG 30590[T] = DSM 106908[T] = NBRC 113640[T] = KCTC 62951[T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid35674596, year = {2022}, author = {Bogas, AC and Cruz, FPN and Lacava, PT and Sousa, CP}, title = {Endophytic fungi: an overview on biotechnological and agronomic potential.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {84}, number = {}, pages = {e258557}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.258557}, pmid = {35674596}, issn = {1678-4375}, mesh = {*Biological Products ; *Endophytes/metabolism ; Fungi ; Plants/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi colonize the inter- and/or intracellular regions of healthy plant tissues and have a close symbiotic relationship with their hosts. These microorganisms produce antibiotics, enzymes, and other bioactive compounds that enable them to survive in competitive habitats with other microorganisms. In addition, secondary metabolites confer protection to their host plant against other bacterial and fungal pathogens and/or can promote plant growth. Endophytic fungi are viewed as a promising source of bioactive natural products, which can be optimized through changes in growing conditions. The exploration of novel bioactive molecules produced by these microorganisms has been attracting attention from researchers. The chemical and functional diversity of natural products from endophytic fungi exhibits a broad spectrum of applications in medicine, agriculture, industry and the environment. Fungal endophytes can also enhance the photoprotective effects and photochemical efficiency in the host plants. Modern omic approaches have facilitated research investigating symbiotic plant-endophytic fungi interactions. Therefore, research on endophytic fungi can help discovery novel biomolecules for various biotechnological applications and develop a sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35673416, year = {2022}, author = {Dehghanbanadaki, H and Aazami, H and Ejtahed, HS and Sohrabi, A and Raftar, SKA and Tarashi, S and Tabatabaei-Malazy, O and Bahramali, G and Siadat, SD and Esfahani, EN and Razi, F}, title = {The global scientific publications on gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes; a bibliometric, Scientometric, and descriptive analysis.}, journal = {Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {13-32}, pmid = {35673416}, issn = {2251-6581}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Modifying gut dysbiosis has achieved great success in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and also T2DM affected the gut microbial composition.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the research trend of scientific publications on the relationship between gut microbiota and T2DM through a bibliometric and descriptive approach.

METHOD: We included originals and reviews related to both topics of gut microbiota and T2DM through searching in Scopus up to 31 December 2019 and then characterized their bibliometric profiles including the number of publications, citations, institutions, journals, countries, and the collaboration network of authors, countries, terms and keywords. Moreover, we performed a descriptive evaluation of the clinical trials based on their intervention type and its influence on gut dysbiosis.

RESULTS: We achieved 877 articles (436 originals and 441 reviews) according to our inclusion criteria. The annual publications were constantly increased over time and reached 220 publications in 2019. Out of 436 original articles, 231 animal studies and 174 human studies were found. The majority of human studies were clinical trials (n = 77) investigating the influence of drugs (n = 21), regimens (n = 21), pre/pro/symbiotic (n = 19), surgeries (n = 15), or both drug and regimen (n = 1) on gut dysbiosis. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and metformin were assessed the most in these trials. Obesity side by side T2DM has been assessed in this area of literature based on term and keyword analyses showing their possible similar pathways mediated by gut microbiota.

CONCLUSION: The exponentially growing documents on gut microbiota and T2DM had been published during the last decade and revealed gut microbiota alteration mediated antidiabetic effect of many interventions. Thus, we suggest other researchers to consider this pathway in efficacy assessment of therapeutic modalities and to find the optimal composition of gut microbiota that guarantees healthy insulin sensitivity.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-021-00920-1.}, } @article {pmid35671535, year = {2022}, author = {Dearing, MD and Weinstein, SB}, title = {Metabolic Enabling and Detoxification by Mammalian Gut Microbes.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {579-596}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-111121-085333}, pmid = {35671535}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Herbivory ; *Microbiota ; Ruminants ; }, abstract = {The longstanding interactions between mammals and their symbionts enable thousands of mammal species to consume herbivorous diets. The microbial communities in mammals degrade both plant fiber and toxins. Microbial toxin degradation has been repeatedly documented in domestic ruminants, but similar work in wild mammals is more limited due to constraints on sampling and manipulating the microbial communities in these species. In this review, we briefly describe the toxins commonly encountered in mammalian diets, major classes of biotransformation enzymes in microbes and mammals, and the gut chambers that house symbiotic microbes. We next examine evidence for microbial detoxification in domestic ruminants before providing case studies on microbial toxin degradation in both foregut- and hindgut-fermenting wild mammals. We end by discussing species that may be promising for future investigations, and the advantages and limitations of approaches currently available for studying degradation of toxins by mammalian gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid35671052, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, H and Moon, SJ and Yoo, YD and Jeong, EJ and Rho, JR}, title = {Voratins A-C: Pyridinium Alkaloids from the Marine Dinoflagellate Effrenium voratum with Inhibitory Effects on Biomarkers for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {85}, number = {6}, pages = {1495-1502}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01190}, pmid = {35671052}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {*Alkaloids/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; *Dinoflagellida ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; }, abstract = {Three voratin compounds (1-3) were isolated from the symbiotic marine dinoflagellate Effrenium voratum. The planar structures of 1-3 were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS, and the relative and absolute configurations were established using ROESY correlations, Mosher's method, and quantum calculations. All of the compounds are zwitterionic and contain a dihydroindolizinium ring and a spiroketal moiety. Compounds 1-3 were found to exhibit therapeutic effects against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as evaluated using testosterone propionate-treated LNCap and RWPE-1 human prostate cells. This excellent activity suggests that 1-3 are promising for the development of BPH treatments.}, } @article {pmid35669953, year = {2022}, author = {Chow, SW and Keshavmurthy, S and Reimer, JD and de Voogd, N and Huang, H and Wang, JT and Tang, SL and Schupp, PJ and Tan, CH and Liew, HC and Soong, K and Subhan, B and Madduppa, H and Chen, CA}, title = {Population genetics and demography of the coral-killing cyanobacteriosponge, Terpios hoshinota, in the Indo-West Pacific.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13451}, pmid = {35669953}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Coral Reefs ; *Porifera ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {The first occurrence of the cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota was reported from coral reefs in Guam in 1973, but was only formally described in 1993. Since then, the invasive behavior of this encrusting, coral-killing sponge has been observed in many coral reefs in the West Pacific. From 2015, its occurrence has expanded westward to the Indian Ocean. Although many studies have investigated the morphology, ecology, and symbiotic cyanobacteria of this sponge, little is known of its population genetics and demography. In this study, a mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) fragment and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) were sequenced to reveal the genetic variation of T. hoshinota collected from 11 marine ecoregions throughout the Indo-West Pacific. Both of the statistical parsimony networks based on the COI and nuclear ITS2 were dominated by a common haplotype. Pairwise F ST and Isolation-by-distance by Mantel test of ITS2 showed moderate gene flow existed among most populations in the marine ecoregions of West Pacific, Coral Triangle, and Eastern Indian Ocean, but with a restricted gene flow between these regions and Maldives in the Central Indian Ocean. Demographic analyses of most T. hoshinota populations were consistent with the mutation-drift equilibrium, except for the Sulawesi Sea and Maldives, which showed bottlenecks following recent expansion. Our results suggest that while long-range dispersal might explain the capability of T. hoshinota to spread in the IWP, stable population demography might account for the long-term persistence of T. hoshinota outbreaks on local reefs.}, } @article {pmid35669951, year = {2022}, author = {Jury, CP and Boeing, BM and Trapido-Rosenthal, H and Gates, RD and Toonen, RJ}, title = {Nitric oxide production rather than oxidative stress and cell death is associated with the onset of coral bleaching in Pocillopora acuta.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13321}, pmid = {35669951}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coral Reefs ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Coral Bleaching ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Cell Death ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Elevated seawater temperatures associated with climate change lead to coral bleaching. While the ultimate causes of bleaching are well understood, the proximate physiological mechanisms underlying the bleaching response are not as well defined. Here we measured nitric oxide synthase activity, oxidative stress, and cell death in algal symbionts (Symbiodinaceae) freshly isolated from the reef-building coral Pocillopora acuta collected in the field under natural non-bleaching conditions and from corals experimentally exposed to elevated temperatures. Nitric oxide synthase activity in the algal symbionts was >3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the host and increased dramatically with increasing temperature and time of exposure (up to 72 h), consistent with the onset of bleaching for these corals. Oxidative stress and cell death among the algal symbionts were highest in coral holobionts exposed to intermediate as opposed to maximal temperatures, suggesting that these mechanisms are not proximal triggers for bleaching in this species. Our results point to nitric oxide production by the algal symbionts, rather than symbiont dysfunction, as a more important driver of coral bleaching under acute thermal stress in this coral.}, } @article {pmid35668761, year = {2022}, author = {Djihinto, OY and Medjigbodo, AA and Gangbadja, ARA and Saizonou, HM and Lagnika, HO and Nanmede, D and Djossou, L and Bohounton, R and Sovegnon, PM and Fanou, MJ and Agonhossou, R and Akoton, R and Mousse, W and Djogbénou, LS}, title = {Malaria-Transmitting Vectors Microbiota: Overview and Interactions With Anopheles Mosquito Biology.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {891573}, pmid = {35668761}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Malaria remains a vector-borne infectious disease that is still a major public health concern worldwide, especially in tropical regions. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The control interventions targeting mosquito vectors have achieved significant success during the last two decades and rely mainly on the use of chemical insecticides through the insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Unfortunately, resistance to conventional insecticides currently being used in public health is spreading in the natural mosquito populations, hampering the long-term success of the current vector control strategies. Thus, to achieve the goal of malaria elimination, it appears necessary to improve vector control approaches through the development of novel environment-friendly tools. Mosquito microbiota has by now given rise to the expansion of innovative control tools, such as the use of endosymbionts to target insect vectors, known as "symbiotic control." In this review, we will present the viral, fungal and bacterial diversity of Anopheles mosquitoes, including the bacteriophages. This review discusses the likely interactions between the vector microbiota and its fitness and resistance to insecticides.}, } @article {pmid35667827, year = {2022}, author = {Dai, L and Xie, J and Liu, Y and Chen, H and Zheng, J}, title = {The cytochrome P450s of Leptographium qinlingensis: Gene characteristics, phylogeny, and expression in response to terpenoids.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {126}, number = {6-7}, pages = {395-406}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2022.05.003}, pmid = {35667827}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Coleoptera ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics ; Humans ; *Ophiostomatales/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Pinus/metabolism ; Terpenes/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Leptographium qinlingensis is one of the major fungal associates of the Chinese white pine beetle (Dendroctonus armandi) and is an active participant in the large-scale death of Pinus armandi. Beetles and associated fungi have evolved efficient systems for overcoming the toxicity of host defense chemicals, which consist of a multitude of monoterpenes and diterpenes. As fungal cytochromes (CYPs) can detoxify and degrade various xenobiotic compounds, we identified 11 CYPs from L. qinlingensis to analyze their potential function in detoxifying or degrading host chemical defense. These 11 CYPs of L. qinlingensis belong to 6 clans and cluster into 3 clades, clade 2, clade 8 and clade 10, based on their phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, we also analyzed the transcript levels of CYPs following treatment with terpenes or expression in mycelia grown on terpenoids as a carbon source. The results in this paper showed that several CYPs were upregulated after treatment with terpenes or growth on terpenoids as the only carbon source. Our research provides some insight into the function of CYPs from bark beetle symbiotic fungi in the detoxification of pine defense compounds or their relationships with the utilization of terpenoids.}, } @article {pmid35667534, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, XY and Hong, Y and Zhai, QY and Zhao, GP and Zhang, HK and Wang, Q}, title = {Performance and mechanism of Chlorella in swine wastewater treatment: Roles of nitrogen-phosphorus ratio adjustment and indigenous bacteria.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {358}, number = {}, pages = {127402}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127402}, pmid = {35667534}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Chlorella ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Swine ; Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The effects of adjusting the nitrogen-phosphorus (N/P) ratio of wastewater and indigenous bacteria on swine wastewater treatment by Chlorella sp. HL were investigated. The optimal N/P ratio of Chlorella in swine wastewater was 20 by adjusting the phosphorus concentration. The participation of indigenous bacteria increased total extracellular polymeric substances content, which was beneficial to maintain the stability of the algal-bacterial consortium, and improved the algal density and the removal rate of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand by 47.8%, 24.0%, 30.7%, and 326.7%, respectively. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum with the relative abundance of 71.58% in the algal-bacterial system at optimal N/P ratio, and Brevundimonas, Chryseobacterium, and Pseudomonas played positive roles in the establishment of symbiotic systems at the genus level. These results provide a theoretical basis for the construction of an efficient algal-bacterial symbiotic system in swine wastewater treatment and support for commercial scale-up.}, } @article {pmid35666732, year = {2022}, author = {Bordenstein, SR and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Widespread phages of endosymbionts: Phage WO genomics and the proposed taxonomic classification of Symbioviridae.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {e1010227}, pmid = {35666732}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI143725/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Eukaryota ; Genomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are the most common obligate, intracellular bacteria in animals. They exist worldwide in arthropod and nematode hosts in which they commonly act as reproductive parasites or mutualists, respectively. Bacteriophage WO, the largest of Wolbachia's mobile elements, includes reproductive parasitism genes, serves as a hotspot for genetic divergence and genomic rearrangement of the bacterial chromosome, and uniquely encodes a Eukaryotic Association Module with eukaryotic-like genes and an ensemble of putative host interaction genes. Despite WO's relevance to genome evolution, selfish genetics, and symbiotic applications, relatively little is known about its origin, host range, diversification, and taxonomic classification. Here we analyze the most comprehensive set of 150 Wolbachia and phage WO assemblies to provide a framework for discretely organizing and naming integrated phage WO genomes. We demonstrate that WO is principally in arthropod Wolbachia with relatives in diverse endosymbionts and metagenomes, organized into four variants related by gene synteny, often oriented opposite the putative origin of replication in the Wolbachia chromosome, and the large serine recombinase is an ideal typing tool to distinguish the four variants. We identify a novel, putative lytic cassette and WO's association with a conserved eleven gene island, termed Undecim Cluster, that is enriched with virulence-like genes. Finally, we evaluate WO-like Islands in the Wolbachia genome and discuss a new model in which Octomom, a notable WO-like Island, arose from a split with WO. Together, these findings establish the first comprehensive Linnaean taxonomic classification of endosymbiont phages, including non-Wolbachia phages from aquatic environments, that includes a new family and two new genera to capture the collective relatedness of these viruses.}, } @article {pmid35665222, year = {2022}, author = {Steinberg, RK and Ainsworth, TD and Moriarty, T and Bednarek, T and Dafforn, KA and Johnston, EL}, title = {Bleaching Susceptibility and Resistance of Octocorals and Anemones at the World's Southern-Most Coral Reef.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {804193}, pmid = {35665222}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Coral reefs are amongst the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth, and while stony corals create the foundational complexity of these ecosystems, octocorals and anemones contribute significantly to their biodiversity and function. Like stony corals, many octocorals contain Symbiodiniaceae endosymbionts and can bleach when temperatures exceed the species' upper thermal limit. Here, we report octocoral bleaching susceptibility and resistance within the subtropical Lord Howe Island coral reef ecosystem during and after marine heatwaves in 2019. Octocoral and anemone surveys were conducted at multiple reef locations within the Lord Howe Island lagoon during, immediately after, and 7 months after the heatwaves. One octocoral species, Cladiella sp. 1, experienced bleaching and mortality, with some bleached colonies detaching from the reef structure during the heatwave (presumed dead). Those that remained attached to the benthos survived the event and recovered endosymbionts within 7 months of bleaching. Cladiella sp. 1 Symbiodiniaceae density (in cells per µg protein), chlorophyll a and c 2 per µg protein, and photosynthetic efficiency were significantly lower in bleached colonies compared to unbleached colonies, while chlorophyll a and c 2 per symbiont were higher. Interestingly, no other symbiotic octocoral species of the Lord Howe Island lagoonal reef bleached. Unbleached Xenia cf crassa colonies had higher Symbiodiniaceae and chlorophyll densities during the marine heatwave compared to other monitoring intervals, while Cladiella sp. 2 densities did not change substantially through time. Previous work on octocoral bleaching has focused primarily on gorgonian octocorals, while this study provides insight into bleaching variability in other octocoral groups. The study also provides further evidence that octocorals may be generally more resistant to bleaching than stony corals in many, but not all, reef ecosystems. Responses to marine heating events vary and should be assessed on a species by species basis.}, } @article {pmid35665185, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, YN and Liu, CC and Guo, R and Tian, L and Cheng, JF and Wu, YN and Wang, D and Wang, B}, title = {The Rice Qa-SNAREs in SYP13 Subfamily Are Involved in Regulating Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Seed Fertility.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {898286}, pmid = {35665185}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Qa-SNARE gene SYP132 (isoform α) was previously reported to affect arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in the legume species Medicago truncatula. In non-legumes especially monocots, it remains unknown whether certain SNARE genes are also involved in AM symbiosis. In this work, we studied a rice orthologous gene OsSYP132, which showed induced expression in mycorrhizal roots and two paralogous genes OsSYP131a and OsSYP131b, which were not induced by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. After employing CRISPR/Cas9 technique to generate their mutants, the Ossyp131a homozygous mutant T0 plants exhibited a dwarf phenotype and produced no fertile seeds, indicating a required role of this gene in seed fertility. Unlike the case in legume, the Ossyp132 mutants exhibited normal mycorrhizal phenotype, so did the Ossyp131b mutants. In the Ossyp131b Ossyp132 double mutants, however, the colonization rate and arbuscule abundance level decreased markedly, indicating an impaired fungal proliferation ability in rice roots. Such a defect was further confirmed by the reduced expression levels of AM marker genes. Our results in rice therefore demonstrated that while SYP13II members showed evolutionary and induction patterns specific to symbiosis, AM symbiosis is in fact controlled by the combined action of both SYP13I and SYP13II clades, revealing a functional redundancy among SYNTAXIN genes in mutualism.}, } @article {pmid35665141, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, C and Wang, Z and Deane, DC and Luo, W and Chen, Y and Cao, Y and Lin, Y and Zhang, M}, title = {The Effects of Species Abundance, Spatial Distribution, and Phylogeny on a Plant-Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Network.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {784778}, pmid = {35665141}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant and root fungal interactions are among the most important belowground ecological interactions, however, the mechanisms underlying pairwise interactions and network patterns of rhizosphere fungi and host plants remain unknown. We tested whether neutral process or spatial constraints individually or jointly best explained quantitative plant-ectomycorrhizal fungal network assembly in a subtropical forest in southern China. Results showed that the observed plant-ectomycorrhizal fungal network had low connectivity, high interaction evenness, and an intermediate level of specialization, with nestedness and modularity both greater than random expectation. Incorporating information on the relative abundance and spatial overlap of plants and fungi well predicted network nestedness and connectance, but not necessarily explained other network metrics such as specificity. Spatial overlap better predicted pairwise species interactions of plants and ectomycorrhizal fungi than species abundance or a combination of species abundance and spatial overlap. There was a significant phylogenetic signal on species degree and interaction strength for ectomycorrhizal fungal but not for plant species. Our study suggests that neutral processes (species abundance matching) and niche/dispersal-related processes (implied by spatial overlap and phylogeny) jointly drive the shaping of a plant-ectomycorrhizal fungal network.}, } @article {pmid35664853, year = {2022}, author = {Pinnell, LJ and Reyes, AA and Wolfe, CA and Weinroth, MD and Metcalf, JL and Delmore, RJ and Belk, KE and Morley, PS and Engle, TE}, title = {Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes Drive Differing Microbial Diversity and Community Composition Among Micro-Environments in the Bovine Rumen.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {897996}, pmid = {35664853}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {Ruminants are a critical human food source and have been implicated as a potentially important source of global methane emissions. Because of their unique digestive physiology, ruminants rely upon a symbiotic relationship with the complex and rich community of microorganism in the foregut to allow digestion of complex carbohydrates. This study used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the composition of microbial communities from three rumen micro-environments of cattle fed identical diets: (1) free fluid, (2) the fibrous pack, and (3) the mucosa. Community composition analysis revealed that while a phylogenetic core including the most abundant and most common ruminal taxa (members of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes) existed across micro-environments, the abundances of these taxa differed significantly between fluid- and mucosa-associated communities, and specific lineages were discriminant of individual micro-environments. Members of Firmicutes, specifically Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, Mogibacteriaceae, Christenellaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae were significantly more abundant in fluid communities, while members of Bacteroidetes, namely Muribaculaceae and Prevotellaceae were more abundant in mucosa-associated communities. Additionally, Methanobacteriaceae, a family of methanogenic Archaea, was more abundant in fluid-associated communities. A set of four more diverse lineages were discriminant of pack-associated communities that included Succinivibrionaceae, RFP12 (Verruco-5), Fibrobacteraceae, and Spirochaetaceae. Our findings indicate that different ecological niches within each micro-environment have resulted in significant differences in the diversity and community structure of microbial communities from rumen fluid, pack, and mucosa without the influence of diet that will help contextualize the influence of other environmental factors.}, } @article {pmid35664157, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, JL and Chen, GH}, title = {Orchestrating Multi-Agent Knowledge Ecosystems: The Role of Makerspaces.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {898134}, pmid = {35664157}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {In the knowledge economy, the process of knowledge sharing and creation for value co-creation frequently emerge in a multi-agent and multi-level system. It's important to consider the roles, functions, and possible interactive knowledge-based activities of key actors for ecological development. Makerspace as an initial stage of incubated platform plays the central and crucial roles of resource orchestrators and platform supporter. Less literature analyses the knowledge ecosystem embedded by makerspaces and considers the interactive process of civil society and natural environment. This study constructs a multi-agent and multi-level knowledge ecosystem from macro, meso, and micro perspective based on Quintuple Helix theory and designs four evolutionary stages of knowledge orchestrating processes. This study finds that the symbiosis, co-evolution, interaction, and orchestration of multiple agents in the knowledge ecosystem should be merged with each other for value co-creation, which helps to take a systematic approach for policymakers, managers, and researchers.}, } @article {pmid35663891, year = {2022}, author = {James, EB and Pan, X and Schwartz, O and Wilson, ACC}, title = {SymbiQuant: A Machine Learning Object Detection Tool for Polyploid Independent Estimates of Endosymbiont Population Size.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {816608}, pmid = {35663891}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Quantifying the size of endosymbiont populations is challenging because endosymbionts are typically difficult or impossible to culture and commonly polyploid. Current approaches to estimating endosymbiont population sizes include quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting endosymbiont genomic DNA and flow-cytometry. While qPCR captures genome copy number data, it does not capture the number of bacterial cells in polyploid endosymbiont populations. In contrast, flow cytometry can capture accurate estimates of whole host-level endosymbiont population size, but it is not readily able to capture data at the level of endosymbiotic host cells. To complement these existing approaches for estimating endosymbiont population size, we designed and implemented an object detection/segmentation tool for counting the number of endosymbiont cells in micrographs of host tissues. The tool, called SymbiQuant, which makes use of recent advances in deep neural networks includes a graphic user interface that allows for human curation of tool output. We trained SymbiQuant for use in the model aphid/Buchnera endosymbiosis and studied Buchnera population dynamics and phenotype over aphid postembryonic development. We show that SymbiQuant returns accurate counts of endosymbionts, and readily captures Buchnera phenotype. By replacing our training data with data composed of annotated microscopy images from other models of endosymbiosis, SymbiQuant has the potential for broad application. Our tool, which is available on GitHub, adds to the repertoire of methods researchers can use to study endosymbiosis at the organismal, genome, and now endosymbiotic host tissue or cell levels.}, } @article {pmid35661771, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Z and Gao, X and Dong, W and Huang, B and Wang, Y and Zhu, M and Wang, C}, title = {Plant Cell Wall Breakdown by Hindgut Microorganisms: Can We Get Scientific Insights From Rumen Microorganisms?.}, journal = {Journal of equine veterinary science}, volume = {115}, number = {}, pages = {104027}, doi = {10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104027}, pmid = {35661771}, issn = {0737-0806}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Fermentation ; Horses ; Plants ; *Rumen/metabolism ; Ruminants ; }, abstract = {Equines and ruminants have evolved as grazing herbivores with specialized gastrointestinal tracts capable of utilizing a wide range of fibrous feeds. In China, agricultural by-products, including corn straw, wheat straw, peanut vine, wheat husk, rice husk, and grass hay, have been extensively included in both equine and ruminant diets. These plant materials, which are composed predominantly of cellulose, hemicellulose, noncellulosic polysaccharides, and lignin, are largely undegradable by equines and ruminants themselves. Their breakdown is accomplished by communities of resident microorganisms that live in symbiotic or mutualistic associations with the host. Information relating to microbial composition in the hindgut and rumen has become increasingly available. Rumen fermentation is unique in that plant cell wall breakdown relies on the cooperation between microorganisms that produce fibrolytic enzymes and that ruminant animals provide an anaerobic fermentation chamber. Similar to the rumen, the equine hindgut is also an immensely enlarged fermentative chamber that includes an extremely abundant and highly complex community of microorganisms. However, few studies have characterized the microbial functions and their utilization process of lignocellulosic feeds within the equine hindgut. The process of understanding and describing plant cell wall degradation mechanisms in the equine hindgut ecosystem is important for providing information for proper feeding practices to be implemented. In the present study, we gather existing information on the rumen and equine ecosystem and provide scientific insights for understanding the process of plant cell wall breakdown within the hindgut.}, } @article {pmid35661503, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, L and Zhao, B and Palomo, A and Sun, Y and Cheng, Z and Zhang, M and Xia, Y}, title = {Micron-scale biogeography reveals conservative intra anammox bacteria spatial co-associations.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {220}, number = {}, pages = {118640}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.118640}, pmid = {35661503}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Bioreactors/microbiology ; Metagenomics/methods ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; }, abstract = {Micron-scale resolution can help to reliably identify true taxon-taxon interactions in complex microbial communities. Despite widespread recognition of the critical role of metabolic interactions in anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) system performance, no studies have examined microbial interactions at the micron-scale in anammox consortia. To fill this gap, we extensively sampled (totally 242 samples) the consortia of a lab-scale anammox reactor at different length scales, including bulk-scale (∼cm), macro-scale (300-500 µm) and micron-scale (70-100 µm). We firstly observed evident micron-scale heterogeneity in anammox consortia, with the relative abundance of anammox bacteria fluctuated greatly across individual clusters (2.0%-79.3%), indicating that the biotic interactions play a significant role in the assembly of anammox communities under well-controlled and well-mixed condition. Importantly, by mapping the spatial associations in anammox consortia at micron-scale, we demonstrated that the conserved co-associations for anammox bacteria were restricted to three different Brocadia species over time, and their co-associations with heterotrophs were random, implying that there was no statistically significant symbiotic interaction between anammox bacteria and other heterotrophic populations. Further metagenomic binning revealed that the quorum sensing with secondary messenger c-di-GMP potentially holding on the conservative metabolic cooperation among Brocadia species. These results shed new light on the social behavior of the anammox community. Overall, delineating of biological structures at micron-scale opens a new way of monitoring the microbial spatial structure and interactions, paving the way for improved community engineering of biotreatment systems.}, } @article {pmid35660864, year = {2022}, author = {Béchade, B and Hu, Y and Sanders, JG and Cabuslay, CS and Łukasik, P and Williams, BR and Fiers, VJ and Lu, R and Wertz, JT and Russell, JA}, title = {Turtle ants harbor metabolically versatile microbiomes with conserved functions across development and phylogeny.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac068}, pmid = {35660864}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Bacteria/genetics ; Dietary Fiber ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Nitrogen ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gut bacterial symbionts can support animal nutrition by facilitating digestion and providing valuable metabolites. However, changes in symbiotic roles between immature and adult stages are not well documented, especially in ants. Here, we explored the metabolic capabilities of microbiomes sampled from herbivorous turtle ant (Cephalotes sp.) larvae and adult workers through (meta)genomic screening and in vitro metabolic assays. We reveal that larval guts harbor bacterial symbionts with impressive metabolic capabilities, including catabolism of plant and fungal recalcitrant dietary fibers and energy-generating fermentation. Additionally, several members of the specialized adult gut microbiome, sampled downstream of an anatomical barrier that dams large food particles, show a conserved potential to depolymerize many dietary fibers. Symbionts from both life stages have the genomic capacity to recycle nitrogen and synthesize amino acids and B-vitamins. With help of their gut symbionts, including several bacteria likely acquired from the environment, turtle ant larvae may aid colony digestion and contribute to colony-wide nitrogen, B-vitamin and energy budgets. In addition, the conserved nature of the digestive capacities among adult-associated symbionts suggests that nutritional ecology of turtle ant colonies has long been shaped by specialized, behaviorally-transferred gut bacteria with over 45 million years of residency.}, } @article {pmid35660736, year = {2022}, author = {Lamrabet, M and ElFaik, S and Laadraoui, C and Bouhnik, O and Lamin, H and Alami, S and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and El Idrissi, MM}, title = {Phylogenetic and symbiotic diversity of Lupinus albus and L. angustifolius microsymbionts in the Maamora forest, Morocco.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {126338}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126338}, pmid = {35660736}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; Carbon ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Forests ; *Lupinus/microbiology ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Out of 70 bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of Lupinus albus and L. angustifolius grown in the soils from the Maamora forest in Morocco, 56 isolates possessed the nodC symbiotic gene, as determined by nodC-PCR, and they were able to renodulate their original hosts. The phenotypic analysis showed that many strains had great potential for using different carbon compounds and amino acids as sole carbon and nitrogen sources. The majority of strains grew in media with pH values between 6 and 8. Only one strain isolated from L. angustifolius was able to grow at low pH values, whereas fourteen strains nodulating L. albus grew at pH 5. No strain developed at 40 °C, and eighteen strains grew at NaCl concentrations as high as 855 mM. A total of 17 strains solubilized phosphates, whereas 20 produced siderophores and seven produced IAA. Only three strains, Lalb41, Lang10 and Lang16, possessed all three plant growth promoting activities. The strains were grouped into eight genetic groups by rep-PCR. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences of eight strains representing the different groups showed that they were members of the genus Bradyrhizobium. The sequencing of the five housekeeping genes atpD, glnII, dnaK, gyrB and recA, from the eight representative strains, and the phylogenetic analysis of their concatenated sequences, showed that both plants were nodulated by different Bradyrhizobium species. Accordingly, two strains, Lalb41 and Lalb5.2, belonged to B. lupini, whereas two strains, Lalb2 and Lang17.2, were affiliated to B. cytisi, and one strain, Lang2, was close to B. canariense. The fourth group of strains, Lalb25, Lang14.3 and Lang8.3, which had similarity values of less than 96% with their closest named species, B. cytisi, may belong to two new genospecies in the genus Bradyrhizobium. All the strains nodulated Lupinus cosentinii, L. luteus, Retama sphaerocarpa, R. monosperma, Chamaecytisus albus, but not Vachellia gummifera, Phaseolus vulgaris or Glycine max. The nodA, nodC and nifH sequence analyses and their phylogeny confirmed that the strains isolated from the two lupines were members of the symbiovar genistearum.}, } @article {pmid35660719, year = {2022}, author = {Pena-Passos, M and Sisti, LS and Mayer, JLS}, title = {Microscopy Techniques for Interpreting Fungal Colonization in Mycoheterotrophic Plants Tissues and Symbiotic Germination of Seeds.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {183}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/63777}, pmid = {35660719}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Germination ; Microscopy ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Plants ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Structural botany is an indispensable perspective to fully understand the ecology, physiology, development, and evolution of plants. When researching mycoheterotrophic plants (i.e., plants that obtain carbon from fungi), remarkable aspects of their structural adaptations, the patterns of tissue colonization by fungi, and the morphoanatomy of subterranean organs can enlighten their developmental strategies and their relationships with hyphae, the source of nutrients. Another important role of symbiotic fungi is related to the germination of orchid seeds; all Orchidaceae species are mycoheterotrophic during germination and seedling stage (initial mycoheterotrophy), even the ones that photosynthesize in adult stages. Due to the lack of nutritional reserves in orchid seeds, fungal symbionts are essential to provide substrates and enable germination. Analyzing germination stages by structural perspectives can also answer important questions regarding the fungi interaction with the seeds. Different imaging techniques can be applied to unveil fungi endophytes in plant tissues, as are proposed in this article. Freehand and thin sections of plant organs can be stained and then observed using light microscopy. A fluorochrome conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin can be applied to the fungi and co-incubated with Calcofluor White to highlight plant cell walls in confocal microscopy. In addition, the methodologies of scanning and transmission electron microscopy are detailed for mycoheterotrophic orchids, and the possibilities of applying such protocols in related plants is explored. Symbiotic germination of orchid seeds (i.e., in the presence of mycorrhizal fungi) is described in the protocol in detail, along with possibilities of preparing the structures obtained from different stages of germination for analyses with light, confocal, and electron microscopy.}, } @article {pmid35657706, year = {2022}, author = {Tookmanian, E and Junghans, L and Kulkarni, G and Ledermann, R and Saenz, J and Newman, DK}, title = {Hopanoids Confer Robustness to Physicochemical Variability in the Niche of the Plant Symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {204}, number = {7}, pages = {e0044221}, pmid = {35657706}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Lipids ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a group of bacteria that increase soil nitrogen content through symbiosis with legume plants. The soil and symbiotic host are potentially stressful environments, and the soil will likely become even more stressful as the climate changes. Many rhizobia within the Bradyrhizobium clade, like Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, possess the genetic capacity to synthesize hopanoids, steroid-like lipids similar in structure and function to cholesterol. Hopanoids are known to protect against stresses relevant to the niche of B. diazoefficiens. Paradoxically, mutants unable to synthesize the extended class of hopanoids participate in symbioses with success similar to that of the wild type, despite being delayed in root nodule initiation. Here, we show that in B. diazoefficiens, the growth defects of extended-hopanoid-deficient mutants can be at least partially compensated for by the physicochemical environment, specifically, by optimal osmotic and divalent cation concentrations. Through biophysical measurements of lipid packing and membrane permeability, we show that extended hopanoids confer robustness to environmental variability. These results help explain the discrepancy between previous in-culture and in planta results and indicate that hopanoids may provide a greater fitness advantage to rhizobia in the variable soil environment than the more controlled environments within root nodules. To improve the legume-rhizobium symbiosis through either bioengineering or strain selection, it will be important to consider the full life cycle of rhizobia, from soil to symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Rhizobia, such as B. diazoefficiens, play an important role in the nitrogen cycle by making nitrogen gas bioavailable through symbiosis with legume plants. As climate change threatens soil health, this symbiosis has received increased attention as a more sustainable source of soil nitrogen than the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. Efforts to use rhizobia as biofertilizers have been effective; however, long-term integration of rhizobia into the soil community has been less successful. This work represents a small step toward improving the legume-rhizobium symbiosis by identifying a cellular component-hopanoid lipids-that confers robustness to environmental stresses rhizobia are likely to encounter in soil microenvironments as sporadic desiccation and flooding events become more common.}, } @article {pmid35657471, year = {2022}, author = {Naghavi, A and Niknam, G and Vazifeh, N}, title = {A new species of Xiphinema americanum group (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Iran, with additional data on three known species.}, journal = {Systematic parasitology}, volume = {99}, number = {5}, pages = {545-555}, pmid = {35657471}, issn = {1573-5192}, mesh = {Animals ; Iran ; Male ; *Nematoda ; Phylogeny ; Rhizosphere ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {One new and three known species of the genus Xiphinema from the rhizosphere of fruit trees and rose shrubs in East Azarbaijan province, Iran, are presented based on the morphological, morphometric and molecular characters. The new species is distinguished by its 2.0-2.1 mm long body, relatively flattened lip region with 8.7-10.0 µm width, set off from body contour by a deep constriction, odontostyle 82.5-88.0 µm long, V = 52-54, reproductive system didelphic-amphidelphic with symbiotic bacteria in the reflexed ovaries, tail conoid, dorsally convex with rounded to slightly subdigitate tip (42.0-43.5 µm long, c = 61-65, c' = 1.6-1.8), and males unknown. The new species, X. babaii sp. n., looks very close to X. californicum, and is regarded as its cryptic species, being separated from it using some morphological differences. Their separation was further corroborated using molecular data. Three known species belonging to the Xiphinema americanum group namely X. primum, X. pachtaicum and X. simile were also collected during present study, and new data were provided for them. Xiphinema simile is a new record for the Iran's nematode fauna. Molecular phylogenetic studies using partial sequences of 28S rRNA gene D2-D3 fragments were performed, and the phylogenetic relationships of the new species were discussed.}, } @article {pmid35655273, year = {2022}, author = {Kirk, P and Amsbury, S and German, L and Gaudioso-Pedraza, R and Benitez-Alfonso, Y}, title = {A comparative meta-proteomic pipeline for the identification of plasmodesmata proteins and regulatory conditions in diverse plant species.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {128}, pmid = {35655273}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {MR/T04263X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics ; Plants/metabolism ; *Plasmodesmata/metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A major route for cell-to-cell signalling in plants is mediated by cell wall-embedded pores termed plasmodesmata forming the symplasm. Plasmodesmata regulate the plant development and responses to the environment; however, our understanding of what factors or regulatory cues affect their structure and permeability is still limited. In this paper, a meta-analysis was carried out for the identification of conditions affecting plasmodesmata transport and for the in silico prediction of plasmodesmata proteins in species for which the plasmodesmata proteome has not been experimentally determined.

RESULTS: Using the information obtained from experimental proteomes, an analysis pipeline (named plasmodesmata in silico proteome 1 or PIP1) was developed to rapidly generate candidate plasmodesmata proteomes for 22 plant species. Using the in silico proteomes to interrogate published transcriptomes, gene interaction networks were identified pointing to conditions likely affecting plasmodesmata transport capacity. High salinity, drought and osmotic stress regulate the expression of clusters enriched in genes encoding plasmodesmata proteins, including those involved in the metabolism of the cell wall polysaccharide callose. Experimental determinations showed restriction in the intercellular transport of the symplasmic reporter GFP and enhanced callose deposition in Arabidopsis roots exposed to 75-mM NaCl and 3% PEG (polyethylene glycol). Using PIP1 and transcriptome meta-analyses, candidate plasmodesmata proteins for the legume Medicago truncatula were generated, leading to the identification of Medtr1g073320, a novel receptor-like protein that localises at plasmodesmata. Expression of Medtr1g073320 affects callose deposition and the root response to infection with the soil-borne bacteria rhizobia in the presence of nitrate.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that combining proteomic meta-analysis and transcriptomic data can be a valuable tool for the identification of new proteins and regulatory mechanisms affecting plasmodesmata function. We have created the freely accessible pipeline PIP1 as a resource for the screening of experimental proteomes and for the in silico prediction of PD proteins in diverse plant species.}, } @article {pmid35655088, year = {2022}, author = {de la Fuente Cantó, C and Diouf, MN and Ndour, PMS and Debieu, M and Grondin, A and Passot, S and Champion, A and Barrachina, C and Pratlong, M and Gantet, P and Assigbetsé, K and Kane, N and Cubry, P and Diedhiou, AG and Heulin, T and Achouak, W and Vigouroux, Y and Cournac, L and Laplaze, L}, title = {Genetic control of rhizosheath formation in pearl millet.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {9205}, pmid = {35655088}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Genome-Wide Association Study ; *Pennisetum/genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The rhizosheath, the layer of soil that adheres strongly to roots, influences water and nutrients acquisition. Pearl millet is a cereal crop that plays a major role for food security in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa and India. We previously showed that root-adhering soil mass is a heritable trait in pearl millet and that it correlates with changes in rhizosphere microbiota structure and functions. Here, we studied the correlation between root-adhering soil mass and root hair development, root architecture, and symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and we analysed the genetic control of this trait using genome wide association (GWAS) combined with bulk segregant analysis and gene expression studies. Root-adhering soil mass was weakly correlated only to root hairs traits in pearl millet. Twelve QTLs for rhizosheath formation were identified by GWAS. Bulk segregant analysis on a biparental population validated five of these QTLs. Combining genetics with a comparison of global gene expression in the root tip of contrasted inbred lines revealed candidate genes that might control rhizosheath formation in pearl millet. Our study indicates that rhizosheath formation is under complex genetic control in pearl millet and suggests that it is mainly regulated by root exudation.}, } @article {pmid35654830, year = {2022}, author = {Hudspith, M and de Goeij, JM and Streekstra, M and Kornder, NA and Bougoure, J and Guagliardo, P and Campana, S and van der Wel, NN and Muyzer, G and Rix, L}, title = {Harnessing solar power: photoautotrophy supplements the diet of a low-light dwelling sponge.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {2076-2086}, pmid = {35654830}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon ; Diet ; Ecosystem ; *Porifera ; *Solar Energy ; Water ; }, abstract = {The ability of organisms to combine autotrophy and heterotrophy gives rise to one of the most successful nutritional strategies on Earth: mixotrophy. Sponges are integral members of shallow-water ecosystems and many host photosynthetic symbionts, but studies on mixotrophic sponges have focused primarily on species residing in high-light environments. Here, we quantify the contribution of photoautotrophy to the respiratory demand and total carbon diet of the sponge Chondrilla caribensis, which hosts symbiotic cyanobacteria and lives in low-light environments. Although the sponge is net heterotrophic at 20 m water depth, photosynthetically fixed carbon potentially provides up to 52% of the holobiont's respiratory demand. When considering the total mixotrophic diet, photoautotrophy contributed an estimated 7% to total daily carbon uptake. Visualization of inorganic [13]C- and [15]N-incorporation using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) at the single-cell level confirmed that a portion of nutrients assimilated by the prokaryotic community was translocated to host cells. Photoautotrophy can thus provide an important supplemental source of carbon for sponges, even in low-light habitats. This trophic plasticity may represent a widespread strategy for net heterotrophic sponges hosting photosymbionts, enabling the host to buffer against periods of nutritional stress.}, } @article {pmid35654214, year = {2022}, author = {Shen, H and Aggarwal, N and Wun, KS and Lee, YS and Hwang, IY and Chang, MW}, title = {Engineered microbial systems for advanced drug delivery.}, journal = {Advanced drug delivery reviews}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {114364}, doi = {10.1016/j.addr.2022.114364}, pmid = {35654214}, issn = {1872-8294}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {The human body is a natural habitat for a multitude of microorganisms, with bacteria being the major constituent of the microbiota. These bacteria colonize discrete anatomical locations that provide suitable conditions for their survival. Many bacterial species, both symbiotic and pathogenic, interact with the host via biochemical signaling. Based on these attributes, commensal and attenuated pathogenic bacteria have been engineered to deliver therapeutic molecules to target specific diseases. Recent advances in synthetic biology have enabled us to perform complex genetic modifications in live bacteria and bacteria-derived particles, which simulate micron or submicron lipid-based vectors, for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. In this review, we highlight various examples of engineered bacteria or bacteria-derived particles that encapsulate, secrete, or surface-display therapeutic molecules for the treatment or prevention of various diseases. The review highlights recent studies on (i) the production of therapeutics by microbial cell factories, (ii) disease-triggered release of therapeutics by sense and respond systems, (iii) bacteria targeting tumor hypoxia, and (iv) bacteria-derived particles as chassis for drug delivery. In addition, we discuss the potential of such drug delivery systems to be translated into clinical therapies.}, } @article {pmid35651859, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, C and Cui, W}, title = {Supervision for the Public Health Services for Older Adults Under the Background of Government Purchasing: An Evolutionary Game Analysis Framework.}, journal = {Frontiers in public health}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {881330}, pmid = {35651859}, issn = {2296-2565}, mesh = {Aged ; *Game Theory ; Health Services ; Humans ; *Local Government ; }, abstract = {As an important measure to involve services for older adults, the government procurement practices have become a key link for public health services. However, the information asymmetry between public health service purchasers and public health service undertakers triggers a supervision dilemma. Based on this background, this study uses the evolutionary game theory to analyze the symbiotic evolution between local governments and public health service institutions under different reward and punishment mechanisms, explore game evolution, strategy adjustment, and influencing factors of different game subjects, and analyze the necessity and appropriate intensity of dynamic rewards and punishment mechanisms. The results show that: under the static condition, the penalty can change the strategies of local governments to a certain extent, but it is still difficult to achieve complete self-discipline management of public health service institutions. If local governments implement a dynamic reward or penalty mechanism in the supervision process of public health services for older adults, the equilibrium between them tends to be evolutionary stable. For three dynamic mechanisms, a dynamic reward mechanism is more conducive to adopting a self-discipline behavior of public health service institutions, which is helpful to realize the supervision of public health services for older adults. Also, there is a positive correlation between the proportion of public health service institutions who adopt a "self-discipline behavior" strategy and the maximum punishment intensity, and a negative correlation with the reward intensity. This study provides theoretical and decision-making references for governments to explore the promotion and implementation of public health services in older adults.}, } @article {pmid35651768, year = {2022}, author = {Veličković, D and Liao, YC and Thibert, S and Veličković, M and Anderton, C and Voglmeir, J and Stacey, G and Zhou, M}, title = {Spatial Mapping of Plant N-Glycosylation Cellular Heterogeneity Inside Soybean Root Nodules Provided Insights Into Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {869281}, pmid = {35651768}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Although ubiquitously present, information on the function of complex N-glycan posttranslational modification in plants is very limited and is often neglected. In this work, we adopted an enzyme-assisted matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging strategy to visualize the distribution and identity of N-glycans in soybean root nodules at a cellular resolution. We additionally performed proteomics analysis to probe the potential correlation to proteome changes during symbiotic rhizobia-legume interactions. Our ion images reveal that intense N-glycosylation occurs in the sclerenchyma layer, and inside the infected cells within the infection zone, while morphological structures such as the cortex, uninfected cells, and cells that form the attachment with the root are fewer N-glycosylated. Notably, we observed different N-glycan profiles between soybean root nodules infected with wild-type rhizobia and those infected with mutant rhizobia incapable of efficiently fixing atmospheric nitrogen. The majority of complex N-glycan structures, particularly those with characteristic Lewis-a epitopes, are more abundant in the mutant nodules. Our proteomic results revealed that these glycans likely originated from proteins that maintain the redox balance crucial for proper nitrogen fixation, but also from enzymes involved in N-glycan and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. These findings indicate the possible involvement of Lewis-a glycans in these critical pathways during legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35650720, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Yang, D and Chen, R and Ma, F and Wang, G}, title = {How a functional soil animal-earthworm affect arbuscular mycorrhizae-assisted phytoremediation in metals contaminated soil?.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {435}, number = {}, pages = {128991}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128991}, pmid = {35650720}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Metals, Heavy/metabolism/toxicity ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Oligochaeta/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phytoremediation is a promising and sustainable technology to remediate the risk of heavy metals (HMs) contaminated soils, however, this way is limited to some factors contributing to slow plant growth and low remediation efficiency. As soil beneficial microbe, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) assisted phytoremediation is an environment-friendly and high-efficiency bioremediation technology. However, AMF-symbiotic formation and their functional expression responsible for HMs-polluted remediation are significantly influenced by edaphic fauna. Earthworms as common soil fauna, may have various effects on formation of AMF symbiosis, and exhibit synergy with AMF for the combined remediation of HMs-contaminated soils. For now, AMF-assisted phytoremediation incorporating earthworm coexistence is scarcely reported. Therefore, the main focus of this review is to discuss the AMF effects under earthworm coexistence. Effects of AMF-symbiotic formation influenced by earthworms are fully reviewed. Moreover, underlying mechanisms and synergy of the two in HMs remediation, soil improvement, and plant growth were comprehensively elucidated. Phenomenon of "functional synergism" between earthworms and AMF may be a significant mechanism for HMs phytoremediation. Finally, this review analyses shortcomings and prescriptions in the practical application of the technology and provides new insights into AMF- earthworms synergistic remediation of HMs-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid35650254, year = {2022}, author = {Nozaki, T and Shigenobu, S}, title = {Ploidy dynamics in aphid host cells harboring bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {9111}, pmid = {35650254}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics/microbiology ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Female ; Male ; Ploidies ; Polyploidy ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids have evolved bacteriocytes or symbiotic host cells that harbor the obligate mutualistic bacterium Buchnera aphidicola. Because of the large cell size (approximately 100 μm in diameter) of bacteriocytes and their pivotal role in nutritional symbiosis, researchers have considered that these cells are highly polyploid and assumed that bacteriocyte polyploidy may be essential for the symbiotic relationship between the aphid and the bacterium. However, little is known about the ploidy levels and dynamics of aphid bacteriocytes. Here, we quantitatively analyzed the ploidy levels in the bacteriocytes of the pea-aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. Image-based fluorometry revealed the hyper polyploidy of the bacteriocytes ranging from 16- to 256-ploidy throughout the lifecycle. Bacteriocytes of adult parthenogenetic viviparous females were ranged between 64 and 128C DNA levels, while those of sexual morphs (oviparous females and males) were comprised of 64C, and 32-64C cells, respectively. During post-embryonic development of viviparous females, the ploidy level of bacteriocytes increased substantially, from 16 to 32C at birth to 128-256C in actively reproducing adults. These results suggest that the ploidy levels are dynamically regulated among phenotypes and during development. Our comprehensive and quantitative data provides a foundation for future studies to understand the functional roles and biological significance of the polyploidy of insect bacteriocytes.}, } @article {pmid35648372, year = {2022}, author = {Augustine, T and Kumar, M and Al Khodor, S and van Panhuys, N}, title = {Microbial Dysbiosis Tunes the Immune Response Towards Allergic Disease Outcomes.}, journal = {Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35648372}, issn = {1559-0267}, abstract = {The hygiene hypothesis has been popularized as an explanation for the rapid increase in allergic disease observed over the past 50 years. Subsequent epidemiological studies have described the protective effects that in utero and early life exposures to an environment high in microbial diversity have in conferring protective benefits against the development of allergic diseases. The rapid advancement in next generation sequencing technology has allowed for analysis of the diverse nature of microbial communities present in the barrier organs and a determination of their role in the induction of allergic disease. Here, we discuss the recent literature describing how colonization of barrier organs during early life by the microbiota influences the development of the adaptive immune system. In parallel, mechanistic studies have delivered insight into the pathogenesis of disease, by demonstrating the comparative effects of protective T regulatory (Treg) cells, with inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2) cells in the development of immune tolerance or induction of an allergic response. More recently, a significant advancement in our understanding into how interactions between the adaptive immune system and microbially derived factors play a central role in the development of allergic disease has emerged. Providing a deeper understanding of the symbiotic relationship between our microbiome and immune system, which explains key observations made by the hygiene hypothesis. By studying how perturbations that drive dysbiosis of the microbiome can cause allergic disease, we stand to benefit by delineating the protective versus pathogenic aspects of human interactions with our microbial companions, allowing us to better harness the use of microbial agents in the design of novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid35647657, year = {2022}, author = {Renoz, F and Lopes, MR and Gaget, K and Duport, G and Eloy, MC and Geelhand de Merxem, B and Hance, T and Calevro, F}, title = {Compartmentalized into Bacteriocytes but Highly Invasive: the Puzzling Case of the Co-Obligate Symbiont Serratia symbiotica in the Aphid Periphyllus lyropictus.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0045722}, pmid = {35647657}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics/microbiology ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dependence on multiple nutritional symbionts that form a metabolic unit has evolved many times in insects. Although it has been postulated that host dependence on these metabolically interconnected symbionts is sustained by their high degree of anatomical integration (these symbionts are often housed in distinct symbiotic cells, the bacteriocytes, assembled into a common symbiotic organ, the bacteriome), the developmental aspects of such multipartner systems have received little attention. Aphids of the subfamilies Chaitophorinae and Lachninae typically harbor disymbiotic systems in which the metabolic capabilities of the ancient obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola are complemented by those of a more recently acquired nutritional symbiont, often belonging to the species Serratia symbiotica. Here, we used microscopy approaches to finely characterize the tissue tropism and infection dynamics of the disymbiotic system formed by B. aphidicola and S. symbiotica in the Norway maple aphid Periphyllus lyropictus (Chaitophorinae). Our observations show that, in this aphid, the co-obligate symbiont S. symbiotica exhibits a dual lifestyle: intracellular by being housed in large syncytial bacteriocytes embedded between B. aphidicola-containing bacteriocytes in a well-organized compartmentalization pattern, and extracellular by massively invading the digestive tract and other tissues during embryogenesis. This is the first reported case of an obligate aphid symbiont that is internalized in bacteriocytes but simultaneously adopts an extracellular lifestyle. This unusual infection pattern for an obligate insect symbiont suggests that some bacteriocyte-associated obligate symbionts, despite their integration into a cooperative partnership, still exhibit invasive behavior and escape strict compartmentalization in bacteriocytes. IMPORTANCE Multipartner nutritional endosymbioses have evolved many times in insects. In Chaitophorinae aphids, the eroded metabolic capabilities of the ancient obligate symbiont B. aphidicola are complemented by those of more recently acquired symbionts. Here, we report the atypical case of the co-obligate S. symbiotica symbiont associated with P. lyropictus. This bacterium is compartmentalized into bacteriocytes nested into the ones harboring the more ancient symbiont B. aphidicola, reflecting metabolic convergences between the two symbionts. At the same time, S. symbiotica exhibits highly invasive behavior by colonizing various host tissues, including the digestive tract during embryogenesis. The discovery of this unusual phenotype for a co-obligate symbiont reveals a new face of multipartner nutritional endosymbiosis in insects. In particular, it shows that co-obligate symbionts can retain highly invasive traits and suggests that host dependence on these bacterial partners may evolve prior to their strict compartmentalization into specialized host structures.}, } @article {pmid35647430, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, C and Jiao, D and Zhang, M and Huang, G}, title = {Study on Multipoint and Zoning Coordinated Prevention of Gas and Coal Spontaneous Combustion in Highly Gassy and Spontaneous Combustion-Prone Coal Seam.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {7}, number = {20}, pages = {17305-17329}, pmid = {35647430}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Coal spontaneous combustion in gob often induces gas explosion accidents. To solve the frequent occurrence of gas and coal spontaneous combustion (GCSC) symbiotic disaster of highly gassy and spontaneous combustion-prone short-distance coal seams, the stope space of a complex working face formed by the old gob above and the coal seam mined below in Hengda Mine is divided into three zones, a completely connected zone, a partially connected zone, and an unconnected zone, according to the connectivity degree of fractures. A numerical model is established to study the relationship between gas drainage and coal spontaneous combustion. The effects of ventilation flux in the working face, gas drainage flow in the upper corner, gas drainage flow in the high-drainage roadway, fracture grout sealing, and nitrogen injection flow on the airflow field, gas concentration field, oxygen concentration field, and the temperature field in the completely connected and partially connected zones are analyzed. A multifactor interaction relationship under the conditions of ventilation, gas drainage, and nitrogen injection is revealed, and a multipoint and zoning coordinated prevention method for the GCSC symbiotic disaster is proposed. On the basis of the proposed method, the gas drainage flow in the high-drainage roadway and corner pipe of 5333(B) working face are determined to be 45.4 and 112.1 m[3]/min, respectively, and the total nitrogen injection flow in the upper gob and the lower gob are 350 and 640 m[3]/h, respectively. The upper corner gas concentration and the return roadway maximum gas concentration are lower than 0.8% during the stoping process, and there is no spontaneous combustion risk of the gob residual coal, thus reducing the greenhouse gas emission and realizing safety mining. This study is conducive to facilitate the realization of the goal of carbon neutrality and peak carbon dioxide emissions.}, } @article {pmid36101626, year = {2021}, author = {Wells, A and Allen-Brown, V and Alam, N and Skulski, C and Jackson, AL and Herzog, TJ}, title = {The importance of information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB): Healthcare provider perspectives on improving adherence to cervical cancer screening among at-risk women.}, journal = {Public health in practice (Oxford, England)}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {100079}, pmid = {36101626}, issn = {2666-5352}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To understand the theoretical framework of how information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB) independently and collectively affect cervical cancer screening and testing adherence.

STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative study.

METHODS: Data collected from three focus groups and seven individual interviews, with 33 healthcare providers, ranging from community health navigators, Ob-Gyn MD's, nurses, care coordinators, medical assistants, and outpatient managers, representing a grassroots community health agency, a large cancer center, and a public sector health clinic. We recruited providers over a five-month period in the summer to fall of 2019. Provider interviews and focus groups were structured with four to eleven participants per group and were audio-recorded. This study was rooted in grounded theory, analyzing data using the iterative process of Coding, Consensus, Co-occurrence, and Comparison to identify common themes.

RESULTS: Emerging qualitative findings include the relevance of information, the interaction between information and motivation, the role of behavioral skills, and the symbiotic relationship between information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB). Most notable is this interdependency between IMB components, with the core of this relationship being the critical link of coordinating adherence.

CONCLUSION: This knowledge will help advance and expand IMB intervention components to improve time to cervical cancer screening and follow-up adherence among at-risk communities. Particularly given COVID-19 barriers, which disproportionately affect at-risk women, this study has practice implications that inform the development of cervical cancer screening practice interventions and strategies to improve adherence, while ensuring safety for both patients and providers.}, } @article {pmid36098111, year = {2021}, author = {Fuentes, S and den Hartog, G and Nanlohy, NM and Wijnands, L and Ferreira, JA and Nicolaie, MA and Pennings, JLA and Jacobi, R and de Wit, J and van Beek, J and van Baarle, D}, title = {Associations of faecal microbiota with influenza-like illness in participants aged 60 years or older: an observational study.}, journal = {The lancet. Healthy longevity}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {e13-e23}, doi = {10.1016/S2666-7568(20)30034-9}, pmid = {36098111}, issn = {2666-7568}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: People aged 60 years or older are at high risk for respiratory infections, one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Vaccination is the main way to protect against these infections; however, vaccination is less effective in older adults than in younger adults due to ageing of the immune system, so innovative strategies that improve vaccine responses could provide a major public health benefit. The gut microbiota regulates host immune homoeostasis and response against pathogens, but human studies showing the effects of the gut microbiota on respiratory infections in older adults are sparse. We aimed to investigate the composition of the microbiota in relation to respiratory infections and local and systemic immune markers in older adults during an influenza season.

METHODS: In this observational study, participants were selected from an influenza-like illness (ILI) prospective surveillance cohort in which community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older in the Netherlands were recruited through their general practitioner or the Civil Registry. Inclusion criteria have been described elsewhere. Participants completed questionnaires and self-reported symptoms. To measure microbiota composition, faecal samples were collected from participants registering an ILI event, with a follow-up (recovery) sample collected 7-9 weeks after the ILI event, and from asymptomatic participants not reporting any event throughout the season. We tested associations between microbiota profiles and a set of health-related variables, patient characteristics, and local and systemic immune markers. We cultured identified bacterial biomarkers for ILI with CaCo-2 cells in an in vitro intestinal epithelial model and measured the induced immune response. This study is registered with http://www.trialregister.nl, NL4666.

FINDINGS: Between Oct 1, 2014, and April 30, 2015, 2425 older adults were recruited into the ILI surveillance cohort. From Oct 1, 2014, to June 15, 2015, faecal samples were collected from 397 participants, of whom 213 (54%) reported an ILI event once throughout the season and 184 (46%) did not. 192 ILI participants recovered and provided follow-up samples. Microbiota composition was altered during an ILI event. The Bacteroidetes (mean relative abundance 17·51% [SD 11·41] in the ILI group and 14·19% [10·02] in the control group; adjusted p=0·014) and the Proteobacteria (3·40% [8·10] in the ILI group and 1·57% [3·69] in the control group; adjusted p=0·015) were more abundant in the ILI group than in the control group. The abundance of Ruminococcus torques was positively associated with ILI and the abundance of Escherichia/Shigella, negatively correlated with alpha diversity, and negatively co-occurred with beneficial taxa, including butyrate producers. R torques was associated with pro-inflammatory profiles, both locally in faeces and systemically in blood. ILI-associated taxa (R torques and Escherichia coli) had symbiotic effects on the cellular immune response when cultured together in an in vitro model.

INTERPRETATION: The abundances of specific bacteria could be used as potential biomarkers for susceptibility to respiratory infections and as targets for intervention in the ageing population.

FUNDING: The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and the Strategic Program of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.}, } @article {pmid36133229, year = {2020}, author = {Sayed, F and Kotnana, G and Muscas, G and Locardi, F and Comite, A and Varvaro, G and Peddis, D and Barucca, G and Mathieu, R and Sarkar, T}, title = {Symbiotic, low-temperature, and scalable synthesis of bi-magnetic complex oxide nanocomposites.}, journal = {Nanoscale advances}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {851-859}, pmid = {36133229}, issn = {2516-0230}, abstract = {Functional oxide nanocomposites, where the individual components belong to the family of strongly correlated electron oxides, are an important class of materials, with potential applications in several areas such as spintronics and energy devices. For these materials to be technologically relevant, it is essential to design low-cost and scalable synthesis techniques. In this work, we report a low-temperature and scalable synthesis of prototypical bi-magnetic LaFeO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites using a unique sol-based synthesis route, where both the phases of the nanocomposite are formed during the same time. In this bottom-up approach, the heat of formation of one phase (CoFe2O4) allows the crystallization of the second phase (LaFeO3), and completely eliminates the need for conventional high-temperature annealing. A symbiotic effect is observed, as the second phase reduces grain growth of the first phase, thus yielding samples with lower particle sizes. Through thermogravimetric, structural, and morphological studies, we have confirmed the reaction mechanism. The magnetic properties of the bi-magnetic nanocomposites are studied, and reveal a distinct effect of the synthesis conditions on the coercivity of the particles. Our work presents a basic concept of significantly reducing the synthesis temperature of bi-phasic nanocomposites (and thus also the synthesis cost) by using one phase as nucleation sites for the second one, as well as using the heat of formation of one phase to crystallize the other.}, } @article {pmid35974481, year = {2001}, author = {Bueno, P and Soto, MJ and Rodríguez-Rosales, MP and Sanjuan, J and Olivares, J and Donaire, JP}, title = {Time-course of lipoxygenase, antioxidant enzyme activities and H2 O2 accumulation during the early stages of Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {152}, number = {1}, pages = {91-96}, pmid = {35974481}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The involvement of lipoxygenase and antioxidant enzyme activities as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2) accumulation are reported during early infection steps in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) roots inoculated either with a wild type Sinorhizobium meliloti or with a mutant defective in Nod-factor synthesis (Nod C[-]). • Compatibility between M. sativa and Rhizobium correlates, at least in part, with an increase in the activities of these enzymes, particularly catalase and lipoxygenase, during the preinfection period (up to 12 h). The mutant strain, defective in Nod-factor biosynthesis, showed a decrease in all enzyme activities assayed, and an increase in H2 O2 accumulation. • Enhancement of scavenging activities for several reactive oxygen species correlated with compatibility of the S. meliloti-alfalfa symbiosis, whereas the Nod C[-] strain triggered a defence response. Nod factors were essential to suppress this response. • Increase in lipoxygenase and lipid hydroperoxide decomposing activities, observed during the first hours after inoculation with a compatible strain, could be related to tissue differentiation and/or the production of signal molecules involved in autoregulation of nodulation by the plant.}, } @article {pmid35646024, year = {2022}, author = {Rafique, M and Ali, A and Naveed, M and Abbas, T and Al-Huqail, AA and Siddiqui, MH and Nawaz, A and Brtnicky, M and Holatko, J and Kintl, A and Kucerik, J and Mustafa, A}, title = {Deciphering the Potential Role of Symbiotic Plant Microbiome and Amino Acid Application on Growth Performance of Chickpea Under Field Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {852851}, pmid = {35646024}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The unprecedented rise in the human population has increased pressure on agriculture production. To enhance the production of crops, farmers mainly rely on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which have, undoubtedly, increased the production rate but at the cost of losing sustainability of the environment in the form of genetic erosion of indigenous varieties of crops and loss of fertile land. Therefore, farming practices need to upgrade toward the use of biological agents to maintain the sustainability of agriculture and the environment. In this context, using microbial inoculants and amino acids may present a more effective, safer, economical, and sustainable alternative means of realizing higher productivity of crops. Therefore, field experiments were performed on chickpea for two succeeding years using Rhizobium and L-methionine (at three levels, i.e., 5, 10, and 15 mg L[-1]) separately and in combinations. The results show that the application of Rhizobium and all the three levels of L-methionine increased the growth and yield of chickpea. There was a higher response to a lower dose of L-methionine, i.e., 5 mg L[-1]. It has been found that maximum grain yield (39.96 and 34.5% in the first and second years, respectively) of chickpea was obtained with the combined use of Rhizobium and L-methionine (5 mg L[-1]). This treatment was also the most effective in enhancing nodule number (91.6 and 58.19%), leghemoglobin (161.1 and 131.3%), and protein content (45.2 and 45%) of plants in both years. Likewise, photosynthetic pigments and seed chemical composition were significantly improved by Rhizobium inoculation. However, these effects were prominent when Rhizobium inoculation was accompanied by L-methionine. In conclusion, utilizing the potential of combined use of L-methionine and microbial inoculant could be a better approach for developing sustainable agriculture production.}, } @article {pmid35645085, year = {2021}, author = {Panchanadikar, N and Balasubramanian, S and Nirmal, L and Haridoss, S and Muthu, MS}, title = {Management of oral mucosal lesions in salicylate sensitive stevens-Johnson syndrome - A case report.}, journal = {Indian journal of dental research : official publication of Indian Society for Dental Research}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {537-540}, doi = {10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_322_20}, pmid = {35645085}, issn = {1998-3603}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Child ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Male ; Salicylates ; *Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/diagnosis/drug therapy/etiology ; }, abstract = {In the present era, the use of drugs is an important paradigm of health care. Reactions to drugs range from minor cutaneous reactions to potentially lethal conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome. A 13-year-old, male patient, known case of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome was referred from the pediatric ward for the management of oral mucosal lesions, post consumption of the antibiotic combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Failure of lesion regression led to the change in the treatment plan, speculating an allergic reaction to one of the components of the initial treatment medication (choline salicylate) as well. Identification and withdrawal of the offending medication and rendering supportive care along with treatment of the lesions with topical corticosteroids form the outline of management. This case report demonstrates the approach undertaken by the pediatric dentist to cure the oral mucosal lesions in symbiosis with pediatricians, ophthalmologists and nutritionists to cure this life-threatening condition.}, } @article {pmid35644466, year = {2022}, author = {Pirone, A and Magliaro, C and Cantile, C and Lenzi, C and Coli, A and Miragliotta, V}, title = {Comparative and quantitative morphology of the pig and wild boar cerebellum for identifying possible effects of domestication.}, journal = {Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft}, volume = {243}, number = {}, pages = {151957}, doi = {10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151957}, pmid = {35644466}, issn = {1618-0402}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cerebellum ; *Domestication ; Sus scrofa ; Swine ; }, abstract = {The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) stems from the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa): this offers an appealing window to study microanatomical changes related to the process of domestication, the symbiotic relationship between human and animal. In this light, we quantitatively demonstrated significant microanatomical differences between pig and wild boar cerebella. Calbindin D-28, a calcium binding protein, was employed as immunohistochemical marker of the Purkinje cells. Our results showed that: (i) the foliation index, expressing the rate of cerebellar cortical folding, and the number of granular cells were not significantly different between pigs and wild boars; (ii) area of the granular layer and the molecular layer, and area of white matter were lower in pigs; (iii) the fraction area, grey matter/white matter, was higher in pigs; (iv) the Purkinje cell linear density and their soma area were higher in wild boars. Despite the morphological data alone are not sufficient to draw any final conclusions, our findings on Purkinje cells may represent good indicators of a reduction of the pig cerebellum motor and cognitive functions during the process wild boar-to-pig domestication.}, } @article {pmid35643853, year = {2022}, author = {Song, X and Zhong, Z and Gao, L and Weiss, BL and Wang, J}, title = {Metabolic interactions between disease-transmitting vectors and their microbiota.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {38}, number = {8}, pages = {697-708}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2022.05.002}, pmid = {35643853}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Vectors/microbiology ; *Arthropods/microbiology ; Disease Vectors ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mosquito Vectors ; *Ticks ; }, abstract = {Disease-transmitting vectors are living organisms that pass infectious agents from one animal/human to another. The epidemiologically important vectors are usually hematophagous arthropods, including mosquitoes, ticks, triatome bugs, sand flies, and tsetse flies. All of them harbor an endogenous microbiota that functionally complements their host's biology. Different arthropod vectors are ecologically and behaviorally distinct, and as such, their relationships with symbiotic microbes vary. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries that reveal how bacterial metabolic activities influence development, nutrition, and pathogen defense in mosquitoes, ticks, triatome bugs, and sand flies. These studies provide a foundation for a systematic understanding of vector-microbiota interactions and for the development of integrated approaches to control vector-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid35643082, year = {2022}, author = {Paight, C and Hunter, ES and Lane, CE}, title = {Codependence of individuals in the Nephromyces species swarm requires heterospecific bacterial endosymbionts.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {13}, pages = {2948-2955.e4}, pmid = {35643082}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {R03 AI124092/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Apicomplexa ; Bacteria/genetics ; Codependency, Psychological ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Urochordata/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is one of the most important evolutionary processes shaping the biodiversity on Earth. Symbiotic associations often bring together organisms from different domains of life, which can provide an unparalleled route to evolutionary innovation.[1-4] The phylum Apicomplexa encompasses 6,000 ubiquitous animal parasites; however, species in the recently described apicomplexan family, Nephromycidae, are reportedly non-virulent.[5][,][6] The members of the genus Nephromyces live within a specialized organ of tunicates, called the renal sac, in which they use concentrated uric acid as a primary nitrogen source.[7][,][8] Here, we report genomic and transcriptomic data from the diverse genus Nephromyces, as well as the three bacterial symbionts that live within this species complex. We show that the diversity of Nephromyces is unexpectedly high within each renal sac, with as many as 20 different species inhabiting the renal sacs in wild populations. The many species of Nephromyces can host three different types of bacterial endosymbionts; however, FISH microscopy allowed us to demonstrate that each individual Nephromyces cell hosts only a single bacterial type. Through the reconstruction and analyses of the endosymbiont bacterial genomes, we infer that each bacterial type supplies its host with different metabolites. No individual species of Nephromyces, in combination with its endosymbiont, can produce a complete set of essential amino acids, and culture experiments demonstrate that individual Nephromyces species cannot form a viable infection. Therefore, we hypothesize that Nephromyces spp. depend on co-infection with congeners containing different bacterial symbionts in order to exchange metabolites to meet their needs.}, } @article {pmid35643062, year = {2022}, author = {Reinl, KL and Harris, TD and Elfferich, I and Coker, A and Zhan, Q and De Senerpont Domis, LN and Morales-Williams, AM and Bhattacharya, R and Grossart, HP and North, RL and Sweetman, JN}, title = {The role of organic nutrients in structuring freshwater phytoplankton communities in a rapidly changing world.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {118573}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.118573}, pmid = {35643062}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Eutrophication ; Fresh Water ; Lakes ; Nitrogen ; Nutrients ; Phosphorus ; *Phytoplankton/physiology ; }, abstract = {Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are critical macroelements in freshwater systems. Historically, researchers and managers have focused on inorganic forms, based on the premise that the organic pool was not available for direct uptake by phytoplankton. We now know that phytoplankton can tap the organic nutrient pool through a number of mechanisms including direct uptake, enzymatic hydrolysis, mixotrophy, and through symbiotic relationships with microbial communities. In this review, we explore these mechanisms considering current and projected future anthropogenically-driven changes to freshwater systems. In particular, we focus on how naturally- and anthropogenically- derived organic nutrients can influence phytoplankton community structure. We also synthesize knowledge gaps regarding phytoplankton physiology and the potential challenges of nutrient management in an organically dynamic and anthropogenically modified world. Our review provides a basis for exploring these topics and suggests several avenues for future work on the relation between organic nutrients and eutrophication and their ecological implications in freshwater systems.}, } @article {pmid35642902, year = {2022}, author = {Puginier, C and Keller, J and Delaux, PM}, title = {Plant-microbe interactions that have impacted plant terrestrializations.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {190}, number = {1}, pages = {72-84}, pmid = {35642902}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Embryophyta ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants display a tremendous diversity of developmental and physiological features, resulting from gains and losses of functional innovations across the plant phylogeny. Among those, the most impactful have been undoubtedly the ones that allowed plant terrestrializations, the transitions from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment. Although the embryophyte terrestrialization has been particularly scrutinized, others occurred across the plant phylogeny with the involvement of mutualistic symbioses as a common theme. Here, we review the current pieces of evidence supporting that the repeated colonization of land by plants has been facilitated by interactions with mutualistic symbionts. In that context, we detail two of these mutualistic symbioses: the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in embryophytes and the lichen symbiosis in chlorophyte algae. We suggest that associations with bacteria should be revisited in that context, and we propose that overlooked symbioses might have facilitated the emergence of other land plant clades.}, } @article {pmid35642316, year = {2022}, author = {Bremer, N and Tria, FDK and Skejo, J and Garg, SG and Martin, WF}, title = {Ancestral State Reconstructions Trace Mitochondria But Not Phagocytosis to the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35642316}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells/physiology ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Phagocytosis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Two main theories have been put forward to explain the origin of mitochondria in eukaryotes: phagotrophic engulfment (undigested food) and microbial symbiosis (physiological interactions). The two theories generate mutually exclusive predictions about the order in which mitochondria and phagocytosis arose. To discriminate the alternatives, we have employed ancestral state reconstructions (ASR) for phagocytosis as a trait, phagotrophy as a feeding habit, the presence of mitochondria, the presence of plastids, and the multinucleated organization across major eukaryotic lineages. To mitigate the bias introduced by assuming a particular eukaryotic phylogeny, we reconstructed the appearance of these traits across 1789 different rooted gene trees, each having species from opisthokonts, mycetozoa, hacrobia, excavate, archeplastida, and Stramenopiles, Alveolates and Rhizaria. The trees reflect conflicting relationships and different positions of the root. We employed a novel phylogenomic test that summarizes ASR across trees which reconstructs a last eukaryotic common ancestor that possessed mitochondria, was multinucleated, lacked plastids, and was non-phagotrophic as well as non-phagocytic. This indicates that both phagocytosis and phagotrophy arose subsequent to the origin of mitochondria, consistent with findings from comparative physiology. Furthermore, our ASRs uncovered multiple origins of phagocytosis and of phagotrophy across eukaryotes, indicating that, like wings in animals, these traits are useful but neither ancestral nor homologous across groups. The data indicate that mitochondria preceded the origin of phagocytosis, such that phagocytosis cannot have been the mechanism by which mitochondria were acquired.}, } @article {pmid35642120, year = {2022}, author = {Kumari, KMU and Yadav, NP and Luqman, S}, title = {Promising Essential Oils/Plant Extracts in the Prevention and Treatment of Dandruff Pathogenesis.}, journal = {Current topics in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {1104-1133}, doi = {10.2174/1568026622666220531120226}, pmid = {35642120}, issn = {1873-4294}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; *Dandruff/drug therapy/microbiology ; Humans ; *Malassezia ; *Oils, Volatile/pharmacology ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dandruff is a scalp disorder affecting the male populace predominantly. Topical agents and synthetic drugs used for dandruff treatment have specific side effects including burning at the application site, depression, dizziness, headache, itching or skin rash, nausea, stomach pain, vision change, vomiting, discoloration of hair, dryness or oiliness of the scalp and increased loss of hair. Thus, essential oils and extracts from plants could be valuable in the treatment and prevention of dandruff.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: This review aims to highlight current findings in dandruff occurrence, its etiology, promising plant essential oils/extracts, and novel treatment strategies. The main emphasis has been given on the anti-dandruff effect of essential oils and plant extracts to disrupt microbial growth. The proposed mechanism(s) of action, novel approaches used to perk up its biopharmaceutical properties, and topical application have been discussed.

RESULTS: The literature survey was done, and bibliographic sources and research papers were retrieved from different search engines and databases, including SciFinder, PubMed, NCBI, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The selection of papers was accomplished based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. The scalp of diverse populations revealed an association of dandruff with microbial symbiosis, including Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium, Malassezia, and Candida as the pathogens responsible for the cause of dandruff. Topical antifungals are considered the first line of treatment for dandruff including azoles, with clotrimazole (1%), ketoconazole (2%), and miconazole (2%). Other commonly used therapies integrate benzoyl peroxide, coal tar, glycerin, zinc pyrithione, lithium succinate/gluconate, salicylic acid, selenium disulfide/sulfide, sodium sulfacetamide, etc. However, these medicaments and chemicals are known to cause specific side effects. Alternative therapies, including tea tree oil, thyme, Aloe vera, Mentha have been reported to demonstrate anti-dandruff activity by disrupting the microbial growth associated with dandruff formation.

CONCLUSION: Overall, this review explains the occurrence of dandruff, its pathogenesis, and the potential applicability of promising plant essential oils/extracts and their novel treatment strategies. Further studies based on pre-clinical and clinical research are essential before making any conclusion about its efficacy in humans.}, } @article {pmid35641544, year = {2022}, author = {Oliveira, TC and Cabral, JSR and Santana, LR and Tavares, GG and Santos, LDS and Paim, TP and Müller, C and Silva, FG and Costa, AC and Souchie, EL and Mendes, GC}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus clarus improves physiological tolerance to drought stress in soybean plants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {9044}, pmid = {35641544}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Droughts ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Soybeans ; Water ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an economically important crop, and is cultivated worldwide, although increasingly long periods of drought have reduced the productivity of this plant. Research has shown that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provides a potential alternative strategy for the mitigation of drought stress. In the present study, we measured the physiological and morphological performance of two soybean cultivars in symbiosis with Rhizophagus clarus that were subjected to drought stress (DS). The soybean cultivars Anta82 and Desafio were grown in pots inoculated with R. clarus. Drought stress was imposed at the V3 development stage and maintained for 7 days. A control group, with well-irrigated plants and no AMF, was established simultaneously in the greenhouse. The mycorrhizal colonization rate, and the physiological, morphological, and nutritional traits of the plants were recorded at days 3 and 7 after drought stress conditions were implemented. The Anta82 cultivar presented the highest percentage of AMF colonization, and N and K in the leaves, whereas the DS group of the Desafio cultivar had the highest water potential and water use efficiency, and the DS + AMF group had thermal dissipation that permitted higher values of Fv/Fm, A, and plant height. The results of the principal components analysis demonstrated that both cultivars inoculated with AMF performed similarly under DS to the well-watered plants. These findings indicate that AMF permitted the plant to reduce the impairment of growth and physiological traits caused by drought conditions.}, } @article {pmid35640412, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, Q and Wang, H and Li, L and Guo, S and Liu, Z and Hu, Z and Tan, C and Chen, H and Wang, X}, title = {Characterization of a universal neutralizing monoclonal antibody against Glaesserella parasuis CdtB.}, journal = {Veterinary microbiology}, volume = {270}, number = {}, pages = {109446}, doi = {10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109446}, pmid = {35640412}, issn = {1873-2542}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; *Haemophilus Infections/veterinary ; *Haemophilus parasuis ; Swine ; *Swine Diseases/microbiology ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Glaesserella parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease. Although present as a symbiotic bacterium in the respiratory tract of healthy pigs, G. parasuis invades piglets under stress conditions and causes severe systemic infection characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis, and meningitis, which caused high mortality in weaned and nursery herds. Further, the lack of cross-protection against the various serotypes of G. parasuis is a serious concern for the swine industry. Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is essential for the pathogenicity of G. parasuis and is a conserved virulence factor. CdtB is the active subunit of CDT, causing DNA double-strand breaks in eukaryotic cells, leading to irreversible cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, the immunogenicity and immunogenic domain of G. parasuis CdtB have not been investigated. In this study, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against G. parasuis CdtB were screened. One mAb, 4F10, was characterized and found to specifically recognize G. parasuis strains of all serotypes, including non-typeable strains, without showing any reactivity with other swine bacterial pathogens. Additionally, 4F10 exhibited neutralizing activity that restrained the cytotoxicity caused by CdtB. Moreover, the core unit of the epitope [84]GVGFPIDEYVWNLGTRSRPN[103] recognized by 4F10 was identified. The mAb-4F10 characterized herein provides a candidate for the further investigation of the pathogenic and immunogenic functions of CdtB in G. parasuis and could facilitate future serological diagnosis, prevention, and control of this disease.}, } @article {pmid35639596, year = {2022}, author = {Weisberg, AJ and Sachs, JL and Chang, JH}, title = {Dynamic Interactions Between Mega Symbiosis ICEs and Bacterial Chromosomes Maintain Genome Architecture.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35639596}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Acquisition of mobile genetic elements can confer novel traits to bacteria. Some integrative and conjugative elements confer upon members of Bradyrhizobium the capacity to fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes. These so-called symbiosis integrative conjugative elements (symICEs) can be extremely large and vary as monopartite and polypartite configurations within chromosomes of related strains. These features are predicted to impose fitness costs and have defied explanation. Here, we show that chromosome architecture is largely conserved despite diversity in genome composition, variations in locations of attachment sites recognized by integrases of symICEs, and differences in large-scale chromosomal changes that occur upon integration. Conversely, many simulated nonnative chromosome-symICE combinations are predicted to result in lethal deletions or disruptions to architecture. Findings suggest that there is compatibility between chromosomes and symICEs. We hypothesize that the size and structural flexibility of symICEs are important for generating combinations that maintain chromosome architecture across a genus of nitrogen-fixing bacteria with diverse and dynamic genomes.}, } @article {pmid35639296, year = {2022}, author = {Ben Romdhane, S and De Lajudie, P and Fuhrmann, JJ and Mrabet, M}, title = {Potential role of rhizobia to enhance chickpea-growth and yield in low fertility-soils of Tunisia.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {115}, number = {7}, pages = {921-932}, pmid = {35639296}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Cicer/genetics/microbiology ; Fertility ; Phosphorus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Siderophores ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria are bacteria that improve plant growth and reduce plant pathogen damages. In this study, 100 nodule bacteria were isolated from chickpea, screened for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and then characterised by PCR-RFLP of 16 S rDNA. Results showed that most of the slow-growing isolates fixed nitrogen but those exhibiting fast-growth did not. Fourteen isolates solubilized inorganic phosphorus, 16 strains produced siderophores, and 17 strains produced indole acetic acid. Co-culture experiments identified three strains having an inhibitory effect against Fusarium oxysporum, the primary pathogenic fungus for chickpea in Tunisia. Rhizobia with PGP traits were assigned to Mesorhizobium ciceri, Mesorhizobium mediterraneum, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. We noted that PGP activities were differentially distributed between M. ciceri and M. mediterraneum. The region of Mateur in northern Tunisia, with clay-silty soil, was the origin of 53% of PGP isolates. Interestingly, we found that S. meliloti and A. tumefaciens strains did not behave as parasitic nodule-bacteria but as PGP rhizobacteria useful for chickpea nutrition and health. In fact, S. meliloti strains could solubilize phosphorus, produce siderophore and auxin. The A. tumefaciens strains could perform the previous PGP traits and inhibit pathogen growth also. Finally, one candidate strain of M. ciceri (LL10)-selected for its highest symbiotic nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization-was used for field experiment. The LL10 inoculation increased grain yield more than three-fold. These finding showed the potential role of rhizobia to be used as biofertilizers and biopesticides, representing low-cost and environment-friendly inputs for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35639004, year = {2022}, author = {Maruyama, S and Mandelare-Ruiz, PE and McCauley, M and Peng, W and Cho, BG and Wang, J and Mechref, Y and Loesgen, S and Weis, VM}, title = {Heat Stress of Algal Partner Hinders Colonization Success and Alters the Algal Cell Surface Glycome in a Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0156722}, pmid = {35639004}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R01 GM112490/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; Polysaccharides ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals owe their ecological success to their symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellate algae (family Symbiodiniaceae). While the negative effects of heat stress on this symbiosis are well studied, how heat stress affects the onset of symbiosis and symbiont specificity is less explored. In this work, we used the model sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana (commonly referred to as Aiptasia), and its native symbiont, Breviolum minutum, to study the effects of heat stress on the colonization of Aiptasia by algae and the algal cell-surface glycome. Heat stress caused a decrease in the colonization of Aiptasia by algae that were not due to confounding variables such as algal motility or oxidative stress. With mass spectrometric analysis and lectin staining, a thermally induced enrichment of glycans previously found to be associated with free-living strains of algae (high-mannoside glycans) and a concomitant reduction in glycans putatively associated with symbiotic strains of algae (galactosylated glycans) were identified. Differential enrichment of specific sialic acid glycans was also identified, although their role in this symbiosis remains unclear. We also discuss the methods used to analyze the cell-surface glycome of algae, evaluate current limitations, and provide suggestions for future work in algal-coral glycobiology. Overall, this study provided insight into how stress may affect the symbiosis between cnidarians and their algal symbionts by altering the glycome of the symbiodinian partner. IMPORTANCE Coral reefs are under threat from global climate change. Their decline is mainly caused by the fragility of their symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellate algae which they rely upon for their ecological success. To better understand coral biology, researchers used the sea anemone, Aiptasia, a model system for the study of coral-algal symbiosis, and characterized how heat stress can alter the algae's ability to communicate to the coral host. This study found that heat stress caused a decline in algal colonization success and impacted the cell surface molecules of the algae such that it became more like that of nonsymbiotic species of algae. This work adds to our understanding of the molecular signals involved in coral-algal symbiosis and how it breaks down during heat stress.}, } @article {pmid35638879, year = {2022}, author = {Chetri, SPK and Rahman, Z and Thomas, L and Lal, R and Gour, T and Agarwal, LK and Vashishtha, A and Kumar, S and Kumar, G and Kumar, R and Sharma, K}, title = {Paradigms of actinorhizal symbiosis under the regime of global climatic changes: New insights and perspectives.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {7}, pages = {764-778}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202200043}, pmid = {35638879}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Climate Change ; Ecosystem ; Fagales/microbiology ; *Frankia/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen occurs as inert and inaccessible dinitrogen gaseous form (N2) in the atmosphere. Biological nitrogen fixation is a chief process that makes this dinitrogen (N2) accessible and bioavailable in the form of ammonium (NH4 [+]) ions. The key organisms to fix nitrogen are certain prokaryotes, called diazotrophs either in the free-living form or establishing significant mutual relationships with a variety of plants. On such examples is ~95-100 MY old incomparable symbiosis between dicotyledonous trees and a unique actinobacterial diazotroph in diverse ecosystems. In this association, the root of the certain dicotyledonous tree (~25 genera and 225 species) belonging to three different taxonomic orders, Fagales, Cucurbitales, and Rosales (FaCuRo) known as actinorhizal trees can host a diazotroph, Frankia of order Frankiales. Frankia is gram-positive, branched, filamentous, sporulating, and free-living soil actinobacterium. It resides in the specialized, multilobed, and coralloid organs (lateral roots but without caps), the root nodules of actinorhizal tress. This review aims to provide systematic information on the distribution and the phylogenetic diversity of hosts from FaCuRo and their micro-endosymbionts (Frankia spp.), colonization mechanisms, and signaling pathways. We also aim to provide details on developmental and physiological imperatives for gene regulation and functional genomics of symbiosis, phenomenal restoration ecology, influences of contemporary global climatic changes, and anthropogenic impacts on plant-Frankia interactions for the functioning of ecosystems and the biosphere.}, } @article {pmid35638846, year = {2022}, author = {Barelli, L and Behie, SW and Hu, S and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Profiling Destruxin Synthesis by Specialist and Generalist Metarhizium Insect Pathogens during Coculture with Plants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {12}, pages = {e0247421}, pmid = {35638846}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Products/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Coculture Techniques ; Insecta/microbiology ; *Metarhizium/genetics ; *Phaseolus/microbiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Metarhizium is a genus of endophytic, insect-pathogenic fungi that is used as a biological control agent. The dual lifestyles of these fungi combine the parasitism of insect pests with the symbiotic association with plant roots. A major class of secreted metabolites by Metarhizium are cyclic depsipeptides called destruxins (DTXs). As prominent insecticidal compounds, their role during plant interactions is still largely unknown. Here, we examined the metabolomic profile of Metarhizium, with special emphasis on DTX production, using untargeted, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Four Metarhizium species, two insect generalists (M. robertsii and M. brunneum), and two insect specialists (M. flavoviride and M. acridum) were inoculated onto agar plate cultures containing either bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) or corn (Zea mays) and grown for four and seven days. After methanol extraction, feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) was used to obtain DTX identification as defined by the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS). A total of 25 DTX analogs were identified, with several DTX-like compounds in coculture that could not be identified. Metarhizium species differed in the amount and type of DTXs they produced, with the insect specialists producing far fewer amounts and types of DTXs than the insect generalists. The production of these metabolites varied between cultures of different ages and plant hosts. Conditions that influence the production of DTXs are discussed. As the genetic arsenal of natural products relates to the lifestyle of the organism, uncovering conditions with an ecological context may reveal strategies for producing novel compounds or precursors suitable for synthetic biology. IMPORTANCE The development of an intimate and beneficial association between fungi and plants requires an exchange of a complex mixture of chemical cues. These compounds are a means of communication, promoting or limiting the interaction, but can have numerous other biological and ecological functions. Determining how the metabolome, or a subset thereof, is linked to plant host preference and colonization has implications for future functional studies and may uncover novel therapeutic compounds whose production is elicited only under cocultivation. In this study, we performed an untargeted metabolomic analysis of plate cocultures with individual plant-fungal pairs. The identification of a major group of fungal metabolites, the destruxins, was examined for their role in plant specificity. The diversity of these metabolites and the production of numerous unidentified, structural analogs are evidence of the sensitivity of the methodology and the potential for future mining of this living data set.}, } @article {pmid35637770, year = {2022}, author = {Ferraz Helene, LC and Klepa, MS and Hungria, M}, title = {New Insights into the Taxonomy of Bacteria in the Genomic Era and a Case Study with Rhizobia.}, journal = {International journal of microbiology}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {4623713}, pmid = {35637770}, issn = {1687-918X}, abstract = {Since early studies, the history of prokaryotes taxonomy has dealt with many changes driven by the development of new and more robust technologies. As a result, the number of new taxa descriptions is exponentially increasing, while an increasing number of others has been subject of reclassification, demanding from the taxonomists more effort to maintain an organized hierarchical system. However, expectations are that the taxonomy of prokaryotes will acquire a more stable status with the genomic era. Other analyses may continue to be necessary to determine microbial features, but the use of genomic data might be sufficient to provide reliable taxa delineation, helping taxonomy to reach the goal of correct classification and identification. Here we describe the evolution of prokaryotes' taxonomy until the genomic era, emphasizing bacteria and taking as an example the history of rhizobia taxonomy. This example was chosen because of the importance of the symbiotic nitrogen fixation of legumes with rhizobia to the nitrogen input to both natural ecosystems and agricultural crops. This case study reports the technological advances and the methodologies used to classify and identify bacterial species and indicates the actual rules required for an accurate description of new taxa.}, } @article {pmid35637201, year = {2022}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Endosymbiotic Chlorella variabilis reduces mitochondrial number in the ciliate Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {8216}, pmid = {35637201}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism ; *Chlorella/metabolism ; Mitochondria ; *Paramecium/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Extant symbioses illustrate endosymbiosis is a driving force for evolution and diversification. In the ciliate Paramecium bursaria, the endosymbiotic alga Chlorella variabilis in perialgal vacuole localizes beneath the host cell cortex by adhesion between the perialgal vacuole membrane and host mitochondria. We investigated whether host mitochondria are also affected by algal endosymbiosis. Transmission electron microscopy of host cells showed fewer mitochondria beneath the algae-bearing host cell cortex than that of alga-free cells. To compare the density and distribution of host mitochondria with or without symbiotic algae, we developed a monoclonal antibody against Paramecium mitochondria. Immunofluorescence microscopy with the monoclonal antibody showed that the mitochondrial density of the algae-bearing P. bursaria was significantly lower than that of the alga-free cells. The total cell protein concentration of alga-free P. bursaria cells was approximately 1.8-fold higher than that of algae-bearing cells, and the protein content of mitochondria was significantly higher in alga-free cells than that in the algae-bearing cells. These results corresponded with those obtained by transmission electron and immunofluorescence microscopies. This paper shows that endosymbiotic algae affect reduced mitochondrial number in the host P. bursaria significantly.}, } @article {pmid35636654, year = {2022}, author = {Bryan, NS and Burleigh, MC and Easton, C}, title = {The oral microbiome, nitric oxide and exercise performance.}, journal = {Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry}, volume = {125-126}, number = {}, pages = {23-30}, doi = {10.1016/j.niox.2022.05.004}, pmid = {35636654}, issn = {1089-8611}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Exercise ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; *Nitrites/metabolism ; Nitrogen Oxides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome comprises ∼10[13]-10[14] microbial cells which form a symbiotic relationship with the host and play a critical role in the regulation of human metabolism. In the oral cavity, several species of bacteria are capable of reducing nitrate to nitrite; a key precursor of the signaling molecule nitric oxide. Nitric oxide has myriad physiological functions, which include the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis and the regulation of acute and chronic responses to exercise. This article provides a brief narrative review of the research that has explored how diversity and plasticity of the oral microbiome influences nitric oxide bioavailability and related physiological outcomes. There is unequivocal evidence that dysbiosis (e.g. through disease) or disruption (e.g. by use of antiseptic mouthwash or antibiotics) of the oral microbiota will suppress nitric oxide production via the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway and negatively impact blood pressure. Conversely, there is preliminary evidence to suggest that proliferation of nitrate-reducing bacteria via the diet or targeted probiotics can augment nitric oxide production and improve markers of oral health. Despite this, it is yet to be established whether purposefully altering the oral microbiome can have a meaningful impact on exercise performance. Future research should determine whether alterations to the composition and metabolic activity of bacteria in the mouth influence the acute responses to exercise and the physiological adaptations to exercise training.}, } @article {pmid35636549, year = {2022}, author = {Xue, Z and Zhang, T and Sun, Y and Yin, T and Cao, J and Fang, F and Feng, Q and Luo, J}, title = {Integrated moving bed biofilm reactor with partial denitrification-anammox for promoted nitrogen removal: Layered biofilm structure formation and symbiotic functional microbes.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {839}, number = {}, pages = {156339}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156339}, pmid = {35636549}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Biofilms ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Denitrification ; *Nitrogen/chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sewage/microbiology ; Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Partial denitrification/anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) (PD/A) is currently an advanced nitrogen removal process. This study developed a PD/A system in a moving bed biofilm reactor. Results showed that the nitrogen removal efficiency reached 76.60% with a COD/NO3-N of 2.0, and the contribution of anammox was 88.01%. Further analysis showed that the biocarriers could form layered pH and dissolved oxygen structures to promote the aggregation of different functional bacteria at various depths, thus stabilizing the coupled process. Microbial structure analysis showed that the abundance of Saccharimonadales, responsible for denitrification, increased from 0% to 36.27% between day 0 and day 120, while the abundance of Candidatus Jettenia, responsible for anammox, decreased from 10.41% to 2.20%. The synergistic effect of Saccharimonadales and Candidatus Jettenia enabled stable and efficient removal of nitrogen. This study proposed a novel configuration of the PD/A process and provided a theoretical basis for its promotion and application.}, } @article {pmid35635927, year = {2022}, author = {Zwart, H}, title = {"Love is a microbe too": Microbiome dialectics.}, journal = {Endeavour}, volume = {46}, number = {1-2}, pages = {100816}, doi = {10.1016/j.endeavour.2022.100816}, pmid = {35635927}, issn = {1873-1929}, mesh = {Human Genome Project ; Humans ; Language ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Whereas the Human Genome Project was an anthropocentric research endeavour, microbiome research entails a much more interactive and symbiotic view of human existence, seeing human beings as holobionts, a term coined by Lynn Margulis to emphasise the interconnectedness and multiplicity of organisms. In this paper, building on previous authors, a dialectical perspective on microbiome research will be adopted, striving to supersede the ontological divide between self and other, humans and microbes, and to incorporate the microbiome as a crucial dimension of human existence, not only corporally, but also in terms of mood and cognition. On the practical level, microbiome insights promise to offer opportunities for self-care and self-management, allowing us to consciously interact with our microbiome to foster wellness and health. How to distinguish realistic scenarios from hype? Here again, an interactive (dialectical) approach is adopted, arguing that practices of the self should result from mutual learning between laboratory research and life-world experience.}, } @article {pmid35634776, year = {2022}, author = {Bouchiba, Y and Esque, J and Cottret, L and Maréchaux, M and Gaston, M and Gasciolli, V and Keller, J and Nouwen, N and Gully, D and Arrighi, JF and Gough, C and Lefebvre, B and Barbe, S and Bono, JJ}, title = {An integrated approach reveals how lipo-chitooligosaccharides interact with the lysin motif receptor-like kinase MtLYR3.}, journal = {Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {e4327}, pmid = {35634776}, issn = {1469-896X}, mesh = {*Chitin/metabolism ; Chitosan ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Oligosaccharides ; Tyrosine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {N-acetylglucosamine containing compounds acting as pathogenic or symbiotic signals are perceived by plant-specific Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinases (LysM-RLKs). The molecular mechanisms of this perception are not fully understood, notably those of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) produced during root endosymbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In Medicago truncatula, we previously identified the LysM-RLK LYR3 (MtLYR3) as a specific LCO-binding protein. We also showed that the absence of LCO binding to LYR3 of the non-mycorrhizal Lupinus angustifolius, (LanLYR3), was related to LysM3, which differs from that of MtLYR3 by several amino acids and, particularly, by a critical tyrosine residue absent in LanLYR3. Here, we aimed to define the LCO binding site of MtLYR3 by using molecular modelling and simulation approaches, combined with site-directed mutagenesis and LCO binding experiments. 3D models of MtLYR3 and LanLYR3 ectodomains were built, and homology modelling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed. Molecular docking and MD simulation on the LysM3 identified potential key residues for LCO binding. We highlighted by steered MD simulations that in addition to the critical tyrosine, two other residues were important for LCO binding in MtLYR3. Substitution of these residues in LanLYR3-LysM3 by those of MtLYR3-LysM3 allowed the recovery of high-affinity LCO binding in experimental radioligand-binding assays. An analysis of selective constraints revealed that the critical tyrosine has experienced positive selection pressure and is absent in some LYR3 proteins. These findings now pave the way to uncover the functional significance of this specific evolutionary pattern.}, } @article {pmid35633686, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, LY and Yu, H and Fu, DY and Xu, J and Yang, S and Ye, H}, title = {Mating Leads to a Decline in the Diversity of Symbiotic Microbiomes and Promiscuity Increased Pathogen Abundance in a Moth.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {878856}, pmid = {35633686}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mating may promote microbial diversity through sexual transmission, while mating-induced immune responses may decrease it. Therefore, the study of mating-induced microbiomes changes under different mating systems is informative to unravel its biological relevance and evolutionary significance. Here, we studied the microbiomes in a community context within the abdomen of Spodoptera frugiperda females using 16S rDNA sequences by setting virgin females, and females mated once, twice, or thrice with the same or different males. Alpha and beta diversities revealed that mating significantly affected the composition of microbiomes in S. frugiperda females, wherein virgin females have the highest diversity, followed by one-time mated females and females mated with multiple males, while females mated repeatedly with the same male showed the lowest diversity. The low diversity in females mated repeatedly with the same male may be due to lower sexual transmission as only mated with one mate and higher immune response from repeated matings. Functional prediction by FAPROTAX and literature searching found 17 possible pathogens and 12 beneficial microbiomes. Multiple mating turned over the abundance of pathogens and beneficial microbes, for example, Enterococcus and Lactobacillus spp. (beneficial) showed higher abundance in virgin females while Morganella and Serratia spp. (pathogens) showed higher abundance in females mated with multiple males. These results suggest that mating causes a decline in the diversity of symbiotic microbiomes and promiscuity incurs a higher pathogen abundance in S. frugiperda females, which may be the result of sexual transmission of bacterial strains and immune responses targeting members of the microbiomes. To our knowledge, we demonstrate microbiomes changes in female insects under virgin and different mating regimes for the first time.}, } @article {pmid35633681, year = {2022}, author = {Rani, S and Kumar, P and Dahiya, P and Maheshwari, R and Dang, AS and Suneja, P}, title = {Endophytism: A Multidimensional Approach to Plant-Prokaryotic Microbe Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {861235}, pmid = {35633681}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant growth and development are positively regulated by the endophytic microbiome via both direct and indirect perspectives. Endophytes use phytohormone production to promote plant health along with other added benefits such as nutrient acquisition, nitrogen fixation, and survival under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. The ability of endophytes to penetrate the plant tissues, reside and interact with the host in multiple ways makes them unique. The common assumption that these endophytes interact with plants in a similar manner as the rhizospheric bacteria is a deterring factor to go deeper into their study, and more focus was on symbiotic associations and plant-pathogen reactions. The current focus has shifted on the complexity of relationships between host plants and their endophytic counterparts. It would be gripping to inspect how endophytes influence host gene expression and can be utilized to climb the ladder of "Sustainable agriculture." Advancements in various molecular techniques have provided an impetus to elucidate the complexity of endophytic microbiome. The present review is focused on canvassing different aspects concerned with the multidimensional interaction of endophytes with plants along with their application.}, } @article {pmid35633671, year = {2022}, author = {Lyu, T and Zhu, J and Yang, X and Yang, W and Zheng, Z}, title = {Responses of Gut Microbial Community Composition and Function of the Freshwater Gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa to Cyanobacterial Bloom.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {906278}, pmid = {35633671}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Freshwater gastropods are widely distributed and play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. Symbiotic microorganisms represented by gut microbes can affect the physiological and biochemical activities of their hosts. However, few studies have investigated the response of the gut microbial community of snails to environmental stress. In this study, the dynamics of the gut microbiota of the gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa were tracked to explore their responses in terms of their composition and function to cyanobacterial bloom. Differences in gut microbial community structures during periods of non-cyanobacterial bloom and cyanobacterial bloom were determined. Results showed that the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota exposed to cyanobacterial bloom was lower than that of the gut microbiota exposed to non-cyanobacterial bloom. The main genera differentiating the two periods were Faecalibacterium, Subdoligranulum, Ralstonia, and Pelomonas. Microcystins (MCs) and water temperature (WT) were the primary factors influencing the gut microbial community of B. aeruginosa; between them, the influence of MCs was greater than that of WT. Fourteen pathways (level 2) were notably different between the two periods. The pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, immune system, environmental adaptation, and xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism in these differential pathways exhibited a strong linear regression relationship with MCs and WT. Changes in the functions of the gut microbiota may help B. aeruginosa meet its immunity and energy needs during cyanobacterial bloom stress. These results provide key information for understanding the response pattern of freshwater snail intestinal flora to cyanobacterial blooms and reveal the underlying environmental adaptation mechanism of gastropods from the perspective of intestinal flora.}, } @article {pmid35633204, year = {2022}, author = {Rastetter, EB and Kwiatkowski, BL and Kicklighter, DW and Barker Plotkin, A and Genet, H and Nippert, JB and O'Keefe, K and Perakis, SS and Porder, S and Roley, SS and Ruess, RW and Thompson, JR and Wieder, WR and Wilcox, K and Yanai, RD}, title = {N and P constrain C in ecosystems under climate change: Role of nutrient redistribution, accumulation, and stoichiometry.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {32}, number = {8}, pages = {e2684}, pmid = {35633204}, issn = {1939-5582}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Climate Change ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; Soil ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nutrients ; }, abstract = {We use the Multiple Element Limitation (MEL) model to examine responses of 12 ecosystems to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2), warming, and 20% decreases or increases in precipitation. Ecosystems respond synergistically to elevated CO2 , warming, and decreased precipitation combined because higher water-use efficiency with elevated CO2 and higher fertility with warming compensate for responses to drought. Response to elevated CO2 , warming, and increased precipitation combined is additive. We analyze changes in ecosystem carbon (C) based on four nitrogen (N) and four phosphorus (P) attribution factors: (1) changes in total ecosystem N and P, (2) changes in N and P distribution between vegetation and soil, (3) changes in vegetation C:N and C:P ratios, and (4) changes in soil C:N and C:P ratios. In the combined CO2 and climate change simulations, all ecosystems gain C. The contributions of these four attribution factors to changes in ecosystem C storage varies among ecosystems because of differences in the initial distributions of N and P between vegetation and soil and the openness of the ecosystem N and P cycles. The net transfer of N and P from soil to vegetation dominates the C response of forests. For tundra and grasslands, the C gain is also associated with increased soil C:N and C:P. In ecosystems with symbiotic N fixation, C gains resulted from N accumulation. Because of differences in N versus P cycle openness and the distribution of organic matter between vegetation and soil, changes in the N and P attribution factors do not always parallel one another. Differences among ecosystems in C-nutrient interactions and the amount of woody biomass interact to shape ecosystem C sequestration under simulated global change. We suggest that future studies quantify the openness of the N and P cycles and changes in the distribution of C, N, and P among ecosystem components, which currently limit understanding of nutrient effects on C sequestration and responses to elevated CO2 and climate change.}, } @article {pmid35631700, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, H and Sun, G and Gou, L and Guo, Z}, title = {Rhizobia-Legume Symbiosis Increases Aluminum Resistance in Alfalfa.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35631700}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Alfalfa is the most important forage legume with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodule in roots, but it is sensitive to aluminum (Al), which limits its plantation in acidic soils. One rhizobia clone of Sinorhizobium meliloti with Al tolerance (AT1) was isolated from the nodule in AlCl3-treated alfalfa roots. AT1 showed a higher growth rate than the standard rhizobia strain Sm1021 under Al-stressed conditions. Alfalfa growth was improved by inoculation with AT1 under Al-stressed conditions, with increased length and fresh weight in shoots and roots. High nitrogenase activity and pink effective nodules were obtained in AT1-inoculated plant roots under Al stress, with increased total nitrogen compared with the non-inoculated control. The application of exogenous NH4[+]-nitrogen increased the Al resistance in alfalfa. It is suggested that rhizobia's increase of the Al resistance in alfalfa is associated with its improved nitrogen status. Inoculation with Al-tolerant rhizobia is worth testing in an acidic field for improved alfalfa productivity.}, } @article {pmid35631219, year = {2022}, author = {Park, J and Hosomi, K and Kawashima, H and Chen, YA and Mohsen, A and Ohno, H and Konishi, K and Tanisawa, K and Kifushi, M and Kogawa, M and Takeyama, H and Murakami, H and Kubota, T and Miyachi, M and Kunisawa, J and Mizuguchi, K}, title = {Dietary Vitamin B1 Intake Influences Gut Microbial Community and the Consequent Production of Short-Chain Fatty Acids.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35631219}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Diet ; Dietary Fiber ; *Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Mice ; Thiamine ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is closely related to good health; thus, there have been extensive efforts dedicated to improving health by controlling the gut microbial environment. Probiotics and prebiotics are being developed to support a healthier intestinal environment. However, much work remains to be performed to provide effective solutions to overcome individual differences in the gut microbial community. This study examined the importance of nutrients, other than dietary fiber, on the survival of gut bacteria in high-health-conscious populations. We found that vitamin B1, which is an essential nutrient for humans, had a significant effect on the survival and competition of bacteria in the symbiotic gut microbiota. In particular, sufficient dietary vitamin B1 intake affects the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae, and these bacteria have proven to require dietary vitamin B1 because they lack the de novo vitamin B1 synthetic pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that vitamin B1 is involved in the production of butyrate, along with the amount of acetate in the intestinal environment. We established the causality of possible associations and obtained mechanical insight, through in vivo murine experiments and in silico pathway analyses. These findings serve as a reference to support the development of methods to establish optimal intestinal environment conditions for healthy lifestyles.}, } @article {pmid35630898, year = {2022}, author = {Sreenivasalu, PKP and Dora, CP and Swami, R and Jasthi, VC and Shiroorkar, PN and Nagaraja, S and Asdaq, SMB and Anwer, MK}, title = {Nanomaterials in Dentistry: Current Applications and Future Scope.}, journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35630898}, issn = {2079-4991}, abstract = {Nanotechnology utilizes the mechanics to control the size and morphology of the particles in the required nano range for accomplishing the intended purposes. There was a time when it was predominantly applied only to the fields of matter physics or chemical engineering, but with time, biological scientists recognized its vast benefits and explored the advantages in their respective fields. This extension of nanotechnology in the field of dentistry is termed 'Nanodentistry.' It is revolutionizing every aspect of dentistry. It consists of therapeutic and diagnostic tools and supportive aids to maintain oral hygiene with the help of nanomaterials. Research in nanodentistry is evolving holistically but slowly with the advanced finding of symbiotic use of novel polymers, natural polymers, metals, minerals, and drugs. These materials, in association with nanotechnology, further assist in exploring the usage of nano dental adducts in prosthodontic, regeneration, orthodontic, etc. Moreover, drug release cargo abilities of the nano dental adduct provide an extra edge to dentistry over their conventional counterparts. Nano dentistry has expanded to every single branch of dentistry. In the present review, we will present a holistic view of the recent advances in the field of nanodentistry. The later part of the review compiled the ethical and regulatory challenges in the commercialization of the nanodentistry. This review tracks the advancement in nano dentistry in different but important domains of dentistry.}, } @article {pmid35630502, year = {2022}, author = {Härer, L and Hilgarth, M and Ehrmann, MA}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Acetic Acid Bacteria within the Genus Bombella in Light of Beehive Habitat Adaptation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35630502}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {It is known that the bacterial microbiota in beehives is essential for keeping bees healthy. Acetic acid bacteria of the genus Bombella colonize several niches in beehives and are associated with larvae protection against microbial pathogens. We have analyzed the genomes of 22 Bombella strains of different species isolated in eight different countries for taxonomic affiliation, central metabolism, prophages, bacteriocins and tetracycline resistance to further elucidate the symbiotic lifestyle and to identify typical traits of acetic acid bacteria. The genomes can be assigned to four different species. Three genomes show ANIb values and DDH values below species demarcation values to any validly described species, which identifies them as two potentially new species. All Bombella spp. lack genes in the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, indicating a focus of intracellular carbohydrate metabolism on the pentose phosphate pathway or the Entner-Doudoroff pathway for which all genes were identified within the genomes. Five membrane-bound dehydrogenases were identified that catalyze oxidative fermentation reactions in the periplasm, yielding oxidative energy. Several complete prophages, but no bacteriocins, were identified. Resistance to tetracycline, used to prevent bacterial infections in beehives, was only found in Bombella apis MRM1[T]. Bombella strains exhibit increased osmotolerance in high glucose concentrations compared to Gluconobacter oxydans, indicating adaption to high sugar environments such as beehives.}, } @article {pmid35630363, year = {2022}, author = {Semenzato, G and Alonso-Vásquez, T and Del Duca, S and Vassallo, A and Riccardi, C and Zaccaroni, M and Mucci, N and Padula, A and Emiliani, G and Palumbo Piccionello, A and Puglia, AM and Fani, R}, title = {Genomic Analysis of Endophytic Bacillus-Related Strains Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Origanum vulgare L. Revealed the Presence of Metabolic Pathways Involved in the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35630363}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Multidrug-resistant pathogens represent a serious threat to human health. The inefficacy of traditional antibiotic drugs could be surmounted through the exploitation of natural bioactive compounds of which medicinal plants are a great reservoir. The finding that bacteria living inside plant tissues, (i.e., the endophytic bacterial microbiome) can influence the synthesis of the aforementioned compounds leads to the necessity of unraveling the mechanisms involved in the determination of this symbiotic relationship. Here, we report the genome sequence of four endophytic bacterial strains isolated from the medicinal plant Origanum vulgare L. and able to antagonize the growth of opportunistic pathogens of cystic fibrosis patients. The in silico analysis revealed the presence of gene clusters involved in the production of antimicrobial compounds, such as paeninodin, paenilarvins, polymyxin, and paenicidin A. Endophytes' adaptation to the plant microenvironment was evaluated through the analysis of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the four genomes. The diesel fuel degrading potential was also tested. Strains grew in minimum media supplemented with diesel fuel, but no n-alkanes degradation genes were found in their genomes, suggesting that diesel fuel degradation might occur through other steps involving enzymes catalyzing the oxidation of aromatic compounds.}, } @article {pmid35630351, year = {2022}, author = {Alcobaça, OSA and Campanini, EB and Ciancaglini, I and Rocha, SV and Malavazi, I and Freire, CCM and Nunes, FMF and Fuentes, ASC and Cunha, AF}, title = {Identification of a New Endo-β-1,4-xylanase Prospected from the Microbiota of the Termite Heterotermes tenuis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35630351}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Xylanases are hemicellulases that break down xylan to soluble pentoses. They are used for industrial purposes, such as paper whitening, beverage clarification, and biofuel production. The second-generation bioethanol production is hindered by the enzymatic hydrolysis step of the lignocellulosic biomass, due to the complex arrangement established among its constituents. Xylanases can potentially increase the production yield by improving the action of the cellulolytic enzyme complex. We prospected endo-β-1,4-xylanases from meta-transcriptomes of the termite Heterotermes tenuis. In silico structural characterization and functional analysis of an endo-β-1,4-xylanase from a symbiotic protist of H. tenuis indicate two active sites and a substrate-binding groove needed for the catalytic activity. No N-glycosylation sites were found. This endo-β-1,4-xylanase was recombinantly expressed in Pichia pastoris and Escherichia coli cells, presenting a molecular mass of approximately 20 kDa. Enzymatic activity assay using recombinant endo-β-1,4-xylanase was also performed on 1% xylan agar stained with Congo red at 30 °C and 40 °C. The enzyme expressed in both systems was able to hydrolyze the substrate xylan, becoming a promising candidate for further analysis aiming to determine its potential for application in industrial xylan degradation processes.}, } @article {pmid35630345, year = {2022}, author = {Jamil, F and Mukhtar, H and Fouillaud, M and Dufossé, L}, title = {Rhizosphere Signaling: Insights into Plant-Rhizomicrobiome Interactions for Sustainable Agronomy.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35630345}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Rhizospheric plant-microbe interactions have dynamic importance in sustainable agriculture systems that have a reduced reliance on agrochemicals. Rhizosphere signaling focuses on the interactions between plants and the surrounding symbiotic microorganisms that facilitate the development of rhizobiome diversity, which is beneficial for plant productivity. Plant-microbe communication comprises intricate systems that modulate local and systemic defense mechanisms to mitigate environmental stresses. This review deciphers insights into how the exudation of plant secondary metabolites can shape the functions and diversity of the root microbiome. It also elaborates on how rhizosphere interactions influence plant growth, regulate plant immunity against phytopathogens, and prime the plant for protection against biotic and abiotic stresses, along with some recent well-reported examples. A holistic understanding of these interactions can help in the development of tailored microbial inoculants for enhanced plant growth and targeted disease suppression.}, } @article {pmid35629800, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, R and Jin, Y}, title = {Pilot Scale Application of a Ceramic Membrane Bioreactor for Treating High-Salinity Oil Production Wastewater.}, journal = {Membranes}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35629800}, issn = {2077-0375}, abstract = {The offshore oil extraction process generates copious amounts of high-salinity oil-bearing wastewater; at present, treating such wastewater in an efficient and low-consumption manner is a major challenge. In this study, a flat ceramic membrane bioreactor (C-MBR) process combining aerobic microbial treatment technology and ceramic membrane filtration technology was used to treat oil-bearing wastewater. The pilot test results demonstrated the remarkable performance of the combined sequential batch reactor (SBR) and C-MBR process, wherein the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) removal rates reached 93% and 98.9%, respectively. Microbial analysis indicated that the symbiosis between Marinobacterium, Marinobacter, and Nitrosomonas might have contributed to simultaneously removing NH4[+]-N and reducing COD, and the increased enrichment of Nitrosomonas significantly improved the nitrogen removal efficiency. Cleaning ceramic membranes with NaClO solution reduces membrane contamination and membrane cleaning frequency. The combined SBR and C-MBR process is an economical and feasible solution for treating high-salinity oil-bearing wastewater. Based on the pilot application study, the capital expenditure for operating the full-scale combined SBR and C-MBR process was estimated to be 251,717 USD/year, and the unit wastewater treatment cost was 0.21 USD/m[3], which saved 62.5% of the energy cost compared to the conventional MBR process.}, } @article {pmid35629064, year = {2022}, author = {Arjunan, P and Swaminathan, R}, title = {Do Oral Pathogens Inhabit the Eye and Play a Role in Ocular Diseases?.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35629064}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {Fascinatingly, the immune-privileged healthy eye has a small unique population of microbiota. The human microbiome project led to continuing interest in the ocular microbiome. Typically, ocular microflorae are commensals of low diversity that colonize the external and internal sites of the eye, without instigating any disorders. Ocular commensals modulate immunity and optimally regulate host defense against pathogenic invasion, both on the ocular surface and neuroretina. Yet, any alteration in this symbiotic relationship culminates in the perturbation of ocular homeostasis and shifts the equilibrium toward local or systemic inflammation and, in turn, impaired visual function. A compositional variation in the ocular microbiota is associated with surface disorders such as keratitis, blepharitis, and conjunctivitis. Nevertheless, innovative studies now implicate non-ocular microbial dysbiosis in glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), uveitis, and diabetic retinopathy. Accordingly, prompt identification of the extra-ocular etiology and a methodical understanding of the mechanisms of invasion and host-microbial interaction is of paramount importance for preventative and therapeutic interventions for vision-threatening conditions. This review article aims to explore the current literature evidence to better comprehend the role of oral pathogens in the etiopathogenesis of ocular diseases, specifically AMD.}, } @article {pmid35628768, year = {2022}, author = {Luo, J and Yan, Q and Yang, G and Wang, Y}, title = {Impact of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Funneliformis mosseae on the Physiological and Defence Responses of Canna indica to Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Stress.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35628768}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Copper oxide nanoparticles (nano-CuO) are recognized as an emerging pollutant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can mitigate the adverse impacts of various pollutants on host plants. However, AMF's mechanism for alleviating nano-CuO phytotoxicity remains unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate how AMF inoculations affect the physiological features of Canna indica seedlings exposed to nano-CuO stress. Compared with the non-AMF inoculated treatment, AMF inoculations noticeably improved plant biomass, mycorrhizal colonization, leaf chlorophyll contents, and the photosynthetic parameters of C. indica under nano-CuO treatments. Moreover, AMF inoculation was able to significantly mitigate nano-CuO stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and decreasing ROS levels in the leaves and roots of C. indica, thus increasing the expression of genes involved in the antioxidant response. In addition, AMF inoculation reduced the level of Cu in seedlings and was associated with an increased expression of Cu transport genes and metallothionein genes. Furthermore, AMF inoculations increased the expression levels of organic acid metabolism-associated genes while facilitating organic acid secretion, thus reducing the accumulation of Cu. The data demonstrate that AMF-plant symbiosis is a feasible biocontrol approach to remediate nano-CuO pollution.}, } @article {pmid35628767, year = {2022}, author = {Zhong, R and Bastías, DA and Zhang, X and Li, C and Nan, Z}, title = {Vertically Transmitted Epichloë Systemic Endophyte Enhances Drought Tolerance of Achnatherum inebrians Host Plants through Promoting Photosynthesis and Biomass Accumulation.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35628767}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Achnatherum inebrians (drunken horse grass, DHG) plants, a dominant grass species in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China, symbiotic with an Epichloë fungal endophyte, is well adapted to drought. However, little is known about how the presence of the foliar Epichloë endophyte enhances the tolerance of DHG to drought at the molecular level. This study explored the positive effects of the presence of the Epichloë endophyte on plant growth, biomass, and photosynthetic efficiency and processes of DHG under non-drought and two drought (moderate and severe) treatments, using RNA sequencing to compare transcriptomes. The transcriptome results showed that 32 selected unigenes involved in the photosynthesis processes within Epichloë symbiotic plants were differently expressed (DEGs) versus non-symbiotic plants. The majority of these selected DEGs were upregulated in Epichloë symbiotic plants versus non-symbiotic plants, such as upregulated unigenes (c51525.graph_c1, c47798.graph_c0 & c64087.graph_c0) under drought conditions. In line with the transcriptomes data, the presence of the Epichloë endophyte promoted the photosynthetic rate and biomass accumulation of DHG plants, and the relationship between the photosynthetic rate and biomass is linear and significant. The presence of the endophyte only increased the biomass per tiller of DHG plants under drought. This study provides further insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the enhanced plant growth and drought tolerance of Epichloë-symbiotic DHG plants.}, } @article {pmid35628746, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Clancy, J and Jensen, J and McMullin, RT and Wang, L and Leavitt, SD}, title = {Providing Scale to a Known Taxonomic Unknown-At Least a 70-Fold Increase in Species Diversity in a Cosmopolitan Nominal Taxon of Lichen-Forming Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35628746}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Robust species delimitations provide a foundation for investigating speciation, phylogeography, and conservation. Here we attempted to elucidate species boundaries in the cosmopolitan lichen-forming fungal taxon Lecanora polytropa. This nominal taxon is morphologically variable, with distinct populations occurring on all seven continents. To delimit candidate species, we compiled ITS sequence data from populations worldwide. For a subset of the samples, we also generated alignments for 1209 single-copy nuclear genes and an alignment spanning most of the mitochondrial genome to assess concordance among the ITS, nuclear, and mitochondrial inferences. Species partitions were empirically delimited from the ITS alignment using ASAP and bPTP. We also inferred a phylogeny for the L. polytropa clade using a four-marker dataset. ASAP species delimitations revealed up to 103 species in the L. polytropa clade, with 75 corresponding to the nominal taxon L. polytropa. Inferences from phylogenomic alignments generally supported that these represent evolutionarily independent lineages or species. Less than 10% of the candidate species were comprised of specimens from multiple continents. High levels of candidate species were recovered at local scales but generally with limited overlap across regions. Lecanora polytropa likely ranks as one of the largest species complexes of lichen-forming fungi known to date.}, } @article {pmid35628678, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, H and Hao, Z and Zhang, X and Xie, W and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Induced Plant Resistance against Fusarium Wilt in Jasmonate Biosynthesis Defective Mutant and Wild Type of Tomato.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35628678}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form mutual symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants and improve the resistance of host plants against pathogens. However, the bioprotection provided by AM fungi can depend on the host-fungus combinations. In this study, we unraveled the effects of pre-inoculation with AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on plant resistance against the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis mutant tomato, suppressor of prosystemin-mediated responses8 (spr8) and the wild type Castlemart (CM). Results showed that R. irregularis colonization in CM plants significantly decreased the disease index, which was not observed in spr8 plants, suggesting that the disease protection of AM fungi was a plant-genotype-specific trait. Inoculation with R. irregularis significantly increased the shoot dry weight of CM plants when infected with F. oxysporum, with increased plant P content and net photosynthetic rate. Induced expression of the JA synthesis genes, including allene oxide cyclase gene (AOC) and lipoxygenase D gene (LOXD), and increased activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were recorded in mycorrhizal CM plants infected with F. oxysporum, but not in spr8 plants. Thus, mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) to fungal pathogen in tomato was highly relevant to the JA signaling pathway.}, } @article {pmid35628566, year = {2022}, author = {Sobstyl, M and Brecht, P and Sobstyl, A and Mertowska, P and Grywalska, E}, title = {The Role of Microbiota in the Immunopathogenesis of Endometrial Cancer.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35628566}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; *Endometrial Neoplasms ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The female reproductive tract hosts a specific microbiome, which plays a crucial role in sustaining equilibrium and good health. In the majority of reproductive women, the microbiota (all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other single-celled organisms within the human body) of the vaginal and cervical microenvironment are dominated by Lactobacillus species, which benefit the host through symbiotic relationships, in comparison to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, which may contain a low-biomass microbiome with a diverse mixture of microorganisms. Although disruption to the balance of the microbiota develops, the altered immune and metabolic signaling may cause an impact on diseases such as cancer. These pathophysiological modifications in the gut-uterus axis may spark gynecological cancers. New information displays that gynecological and gastrointestinal tract dysbiosis (disruption of the microbiota homeostasis) can play an active role in the advancement and metastasis of gynecological neoplasms, such as cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Understanding the relationship between microbiota and endometrial cancer is critical for prognosis, diagnosis, prevention, and the development of innovative treatments. Identifying a specific microbiome may become an effective method for characterization of the specific microbiota involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to summarize the current state of knowledge that describes the correlation of microbiota with endometrial cancer with regard to the formation of immunological pathologies.}, } @article {pmid35628255, year = {2022}, author = {Maatouk, M and Ibrahim, A and Pinault, L and Armstrong, N and Azza, S and Rolain, JM and Bittar, F and Raoult, D}, title = {New Beta-lactamases in Candidate Phyla Radiation: Owning Pleiotropic Enzymes Is a Smart Paradigm for Microorganisms with a Reduced Genome.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35628255}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *beta-Lactamase Inhibitors ; *beta-Lactamases/genetics/metabolism ; beta-Lactams ; }, abstract = {The increased exploitation of microbial sequencing methods has shed light on the high diversity of new microorganisms named Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR). CPR are mainly detected via 16S rRNA/metabarcoding analyses or metagenomics and are found to be abundant in all environments and present in different human microbiomes. These microbes, characterized by their symbiotic/epiparasitic lifestyle with bacteria, are directly exposed to competition with other microorganisms sharing the same ecological niche. Recently, a rich repertoire of enzymes with antibiotic resistance activity has been found in CPR genomes by using an in silico adapted screening strategy. This reservoir has shown a high prevalence of putative beta-lactamase-encoding genes. We expressed and purified five putative beta-lactamase sequences having the essential domains and functional motifs from class A and class B beta-lactamase. Their enzymatic activities were tested against various beta-lactam substrates using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and showed some beta-lactamase activity even in the presence of a beta-lactamase inhibitor. In addition, ribonuclease activity was demonstrated against RNA that was not inhibited by sulbactam and EDTA. None of these proteins could degrade single- and double-stranded-DNA. This study is the first to express and test putative CPR beta-lactamase protein sequences in vitro. Our findings highlight that the reduced genomes of CPR members harbor sequences encoding for beta-lactamases known to be multifunction hydrolase enzymes.}, } @article {pmid35627093, year = {2022}, author = {Kluz, MI and Pietrzyk, K and Pastuszczak, M and Kacaniova, M and Kita, A and Kapusta, I and Zaguła, G and Zagrobelna, E and Struś, K and Marciniak-Lukasiak, K and Stanek-Tarkowska, J and Timar, AV and Puchalski, C}, title = {Microbiological and Physicochemical Composition of Various Types of Homemade Kombucha Beverages Using Alternative Kinds of Sugars.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35627093}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha is a beverage made by fermenting sweetened tea with a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. Literature data indicate that the kombucha beverage shows many health-promoting properties such as detoxification, chemo-preventive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and general strengthening. The research conducted focuses on the analysis of polyphenolic compounds formed in the fermentation process using ultra-efficient liquid chromatography, as well as on checking the antimicrobial properties of kombucha against pathogenic bacteria and yeasts found in food. Analysis of the composition of the tea mushroom (SCOBY) microflora using the MALDI TOF MS Biotyper mass spectrometer showed 8 species of bacteria and 7 species of yeasts. In vitro studies confirm the bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of fermented kombucha beverages, with white and green tea beverages showing the highest antibacterial activity. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and yeast Candida albicans were the most sensitive to the effects of kombucha tea beverages. UPLC chromatographic analysis confirmed the presence of 17 bioactive compounds in kombucha beverages that can affect human health. The analyses conducted were aimed at indicating the best recipe and conditions to prepare a kombucha beverage, which allowed the selection of the version with the best health-promoting properties. Fermented kombucha teas contain many elements such as aluminium, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and sulphur.}, } @article {pmid35625454, year = {2022}, author = {Marzal, A and Magallanes, S and Garcia-Longoria, L}, title = {Stimuli Followed by Avian Malaria Vectors in Host-Seeking Behaviour.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35625454}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Vector-borne infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever) result from a parasite transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding arthropods. They are major contributors to the global disease burden, as they account for nearly a fifth of all infectious diseases worldwide. The interaction between vectors and their hosts plays a key role driving vector-borne disease transmission. Therefore, identifying factors governing host selection by blood-feeding insects is essential to understand the transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases. Here, we review published information on the physical and chemical stimuli (acoustic, visual, olfactory, moisture and thermal cues) used by mosquitoes and other haemosporidian vectors to detect their vertebrate hosts. We mainly focus on studies on avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites since this animal model has historically provided important advances in our understanding on ecological and evolutionary process ruling vector-borne disease dynamics and transmission. We also present relevant studies analysing the capacity of feather and skin symbiotic bacteria in the production of volatile compounds with vector attractant properties. Furthermore, we review the role of uropygial secretions and symbiotic bacteria in bird-insect vector interactions. In addition, we present investigations examining the alterations induced by haemosporidian parasites on their arthropod vector and vertebrate host to enhance parasite transmission. Finally, we propose future lines of research for designing successful vector control strategies and for infectious disease management.}, } @article {pmid35625404, year = {2022}, author = {Jach, ME and Sajnaga, E and Ziaja, M}, title = {Utilization of Legume-Nodule Bacterial Symbiosis in Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35625404}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {With the increasing industrial activity of the growing human population, the accumulation of various contaminants in soil, including heavy metals, has increased rapidly. Heavy metals as non-biodegradable elements persist in the soil environment and may pollute crop plants, further accumulating in the human body causing serious conditions. Hence, phytoremediation of land contamination as an environmental restoration technology is desirable for both human health and broad-sense ecology. Legumes (Fabaceae), which play a special role in nitrogen cycling, are dominant plants in contaminated areas. Therefore, the use of legumes and associated nitrogen-fixing rhizobia to reduce the concentrations or toxic effects of contaminants in the soil is environmentally friendly and becomes a promising strategy for phytoremediation and phytostabilization. Rhizobia, which have such plant growth-promoting (PGP) features as phosphorus solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, siderophore release, production of beneficial compounds for plants, and most of all nitrogen fixation, may promote legume growth while diminishing metal toxicity. The aim of the present review is to provide a comprehensive description of the main effects of metal contaminants in nitrogen-fixing leguminous plants and the benefits of using the legume-rhizobium symbiosis with both wild-type and genetically modified plants and bacteria to enhance an efficient recovery of contaminated lands.}, } @article {pmid35625129, year = {2022}, author = {Curdt, F and Schupp, PJ and Rohde, S}, title = {Light Availability Affects the Symbiosis of Sponge Specific Cyanobacteria and the Common Blue Aquarium Sponge (Lendenfeldia chondrodes).}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35625129}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts in marine sponges play a decisive role in the biological and ecological functioning of their hosts. Although this topic has been the focus of numerous studies, data from experiments under controlled conditions are rare. To analyze the ongoing metabolic processes, we investigated the symbiosis of the sponge specific cyanobacterium Synechococcus spongiarum and its sponge host Lendenfeldia chondrodes under varying light conditions in a defined aquarium setting for 68 days. Sponge clonal pieces were kept at four different light intensities, ranging from no light to higher intensities that were assumed to trigger light stress. Growth as a measure of host performance and photosynthetic yield as a proxy of symbiont photosynthetic activity were measured throughout the experiment. The lack of light prevented sponge growth and induced the expulsion of all cyanobacteria and related pigments by the end of the experiment. Higher light conditions allowed rapid sponge growth and high cyanobacteria densities. In addition, photosynthetically active radiation above a certain level triggered an increase in cyanobacteria's lutein levels, a UV absorbing protein, thus protecting itself and the host's cells from UV radiation damage. Thus, L. chondrodes seems to benefit strongly from hosting the cyanbacterium S. spongiarum and the relationship should be considered obligatory mutualistic.}, } @article {pmid35624491, year = {2022}, author = {Arora, J and Kinjo, Y and Šobotník, J and Buček, A and Clitheroe, C and Stiblik, P and Roisin, Y and Žifčáková, L and Park, YC and Kim, KY and Sillam-Dussès, D and Hervé, V and Lo, N and Tokuda, G and Brune, A and Bourguignon, T}, title = {The functional evolution of termite gut microbiota.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {78}, pmid = {35624491}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Isoptera ; Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Soil ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Termites primarily feed on lignocellulose or soil in association with specific gut microbes. The functioning of the termite gut microbiota is partly understood in a handful of wood-feeding pest species but remains largely unknown in other taxa. We intend to fill this gap and provide a global understanding of the functional evolution of termite gut microbiota.

RESULTS: We sequenced the gut metagenomes of 145 samples representative of the termite diversity. We show that the prokaryotic fraction of the gut microbiota of all termites possesses similar genes for carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolisms, in proportions varying with termite phylogenetic position and diet. The presence of a conserved set of gut prokaryotic genes implies that essential nutritional functions were present in the ancestor of modern termites. Furthermore, the abundance of these genes largely correlated with the host phylogeny. Finally, we found that the adaptation to a diet of soil by some termite lineages was accompanied by a change in the stoichiometry of genes involved in important nutritional functions rather than by the acquisition of new genes and pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal that the composition and function of termite gut prokaryotic communities have been remarkably conserved since termites first appeared ~ 150 million years ago. Therefore, the "world's smallest bioreactor" has been operating as a multipartite symbiosis composed of termites, archaea, bacteria, and cellulolytic flagellates since its inception. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid35624412, year = {2022}, author = {Yoshioka, Y and Suzuki, G and Zayasu, Y and Yamashita, H and Shinzato, C}, title = {Comparative genomics highlight the importance of lineage-specific gene families in evolutionary divergence of the coral genus, Montipora.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {71}, pmid = {35624412}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; Genomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Scleractinian corals of the genus Montipora (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) possess some unusual biological traits, such as vertical transmission of algal symbionts; however, the genetic bases for those traits remain unknown. We performed extensive comparative genomic analyses among members of the family Acroporidae (Montipora, Acropora, and Astreopora) to explore genomic novelties that might explain unique biological traits of Montipora using improved genome assemblies and gene predictions for M. cactus, M. efflorescens and Astreopora myriophthalma.

RESULTS: We obtained genomic data for the three species of comparable high quality to other published coral genomes. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that the gene families restricted to Montipora are significantly more numerous than those of Acropora and Astreopora, but their functions are largely unknown. The number of gene families specifically expanded in Montipora was much lower than the number specifically expanded in Acropora. In addition, we found that evolutionary rates of the Montipora-specific gene families were significantly higher than other gene families shared with Acropora and/or Astreopora. Of 40 gene families under positive selection (Ka/Ks ratio > 1) in Montipora, 30 were specifically detected in Montipora-specific gene families. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of early life stages of Montipora, which possesses maternally inherited symbionts, and Acropora, which lacks them, revealed that most gene families continuously expressed in Montipora, but not expressed in Acropora do not have orthologs in Acropora. Among the 30 Montipora-specific gene families under positive selection, 27 are expressed in early life stages.

CONCLUSIONS: Lineage-specific gene families were important to establish the genus Montipora, particularly genes expressed throughout early life stages, which under positive selection, gave rise to biological traits unique to Montipora. Our findings highlight evolutionarily acquired genomic bases that may support symbiosis in these stony corals and provide novel insights into mechanisms of coral-algal symbiosis, the physiological foundation of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid35624002, year = {2022}, author = {Pang, L and Khan, F and Heimberger, AB and Chen, P}, title = {Mechanism and therapeutic potential of tumor-immune symbiosis in glioblastoma.}, journal = {Trends in cancer}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {839-854}, pmid = {35624002}, issn = {2405-8025}, support = {R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Brain Neoplasms/pathology ; *Glioblastoma/pathology ; Humans ; *Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain tumor in human adults. Myeloid-lineage cells, including macrophages, microglia, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and neutrophils, are the most frequent types of cell in the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) that contribute to tumor progression. Emerging experimental evidence indicates that symbiotic interactions between cancer cells and myeloid cells are critical for tumor growth and immunotherapy resistance in GBM. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms whereby cancer cells shape a myeloid cell-mediated immunosuppressive TME and, reciprocally, how such myeloid cells affect tumor progression and immunotherapy efficiency in GBM. Moreover, we highlight tumor-T cell symbiosis and summarize immunotherapeutic strategies intercepting this co-dependency in GBM.}, } @article {pmid35623663, year = {2022}, author = {Gilboa, A and Hope, R and Ben Simon, S and Polak, P and Koren, O and Yaari, G}, title = {Ontogeny of the B Cell Receptor Repertoire and Microbiome in Mice.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {208}, number = {12}, pages = {2713-2725}, doi = {10.4049/jimmunol.2100955}, pmid = {35623663}, issn = {1550-6606}, mesh = {Animals ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Immunoglobulin A/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Microbiota ; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/genetics ; }, abstract = {The immune system matures throughout childhood to achieve full functionality in protecting our bodies against threats. The immune system has a strong reciprocal symbiosis with the host bacterial population and the two systems co-develop, shaping each other. Despite their fundamental role in health physiology, the ontogeny of these systems is poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the development of the BCR repertoire by analyzing high-throughput sequencing of their receptors in several time points of young C57BL/6J mice. In parallel, we explored the development of the gut microbiome. We discovered that the gut IgA repertoires change from birth to adolescence, including an increase in CDR3 lengths and somatic hypermutation levels. This contrasts with the spleen IgM repertoires that remain stable and distinct from the IgA repertoires in the gut. We also discovered that large clones that germinate in the gut are initially confined to a specific gut compartment, then expand to nearby compartments and later on expand also to the spleen and remain there. Finally, we explored the associations between diversity indices of the B cell repertoires and the microbiome, as well as associations between bacterial and BCR clusters. Our results shed light on the ontogeny of the adaptive immune system and the microbiome, providing a baseline for future research.}, } @article {pmid35623566, year = {2022}, author = {Pei, Y and Chen, S and Zhang, Y and Olga, V and Li, Y and Diao, X and Zhou, H}, title = {Coral and it's symbionts responses to the typical global marine pollutant BaP by 4D-Proteomics approach.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {307}, number = {}, pages = {119440}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119440}, pmid = {35623566}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Environmental Pollutants ; *Microbiota ; Proteomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of corals, zooxanthellae, and microbes is the foundation of the coral reef ecosystem. In addition to global warming, marine pollutants are another important factor causing the breakdown of coral symbiosis. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a globally widespread marine environmental pollutant that poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems. However, responses of coral symbionts to global marine pollutant stress remain unclear. In this study, we selected Acropora formosa as the target coral to explore its response to 50 μg L[-1] BaP stress using diaPASEF proteomics and 16s rRNA microbiome analysis. The results showed that: 1) the coral symbionts were sensitive to BaP stress; 2) the photosynthetic system of zooxanthellae was crucial for the balance of symbiotic relationships; 3) the destruction of the photosynthetic system induced a zooxanthellae hypoxic stress response; 4) corals adapted to BaP stress by promoting non-essential protein degradation and changing energy metabolism strategies; 5) symbiotic bacteria showed strong adaptability to BaP. This study not only fills the gap in understanding the response mechanism of coral symbionts under BaP stress, but also provides fundamental data for coral reef protection strategies.}, } @article {pmid35622881, year = {2022}, author = {Rodriguez, M}, title = {The Feminine Body and the Culture of Care.}, journal = {The New bioethics : a multidisciplinary journal of biotechnology and the body}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {199-207}, doi = {10.1080/20502877.2022.2067626}, pmid = {35622881}, issn = {2050-2885}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; *Mothers ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {Can we speak of a feminine approach to caring for the body? If there is such an approach, how does culture influence or even construct it? Do we need a new culture of care in the medical field? What can a woman's contribution be to transform culture in this area? In this analysis, I take the human body and its way of being in the world as my starting point, so that we could speak, using Sartrean terminology, of a 'psychical body'. Then I consider the symbiosis that occurs during pregnancy, and I speak of it as a 'relational modality', that gives an 'existential orientation' to women, whether or not they are biological mothers. Finally, I show some implications of this relational modality for the culture of care.}, } @article {pmid35621817, year = {2022}, author = {Khadem-Safdarkhani, H and Hajiqanbar, H and Riegler, M and Seeman, O and Katlav, A}, title = {Two New Phoretic Species of Heterostigmatic Mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Neopygmephoridae and Scutacaridae) on Australian Hydrophilid Beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35621817}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Many heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata) display a wide range of symbiotic interactions, from phoresy to parasitism, with a variety of insects. Australia is expected to harbour a rich diversity of heterostigmatic mites; however, its phoretic fauna and its host associations remain mainly unexplored. We conducted a short exploration of Australian insect-associated phoretic mites in summer 2020 and found two new phoretic heterostigmatic species on a semiaquatic hydrophilid beetle species, Coelostoma fabricii (Montrouzier, 1860) (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Here, we describe these two new species, Allopygmephorus coelostomus sp. nov. (Neopygmephoridae) and Archidispus hydrophilus sp. nov. (Scutacaridae), which both belong to the superfamily Pygmephoroidea. Both species are distinct from their congeners, with a plesiomorphic character, bearing a median genital sclerite (mgs). Our study reports both genera for the first time from Australia.}, } @article {pmid35621808, year = {2022}, author = {Cappelli, A and Petrelli, D and Gasperi, G and Serrao, AGM and Ricci, I and Damiani, C and Favia, G}, title = {Bacterial Symbionts in Ceratitis capitata.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35621808}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) is responsible for extensive damage in agriculture with important economic losses. Several strategies have been proposed to control this insect pest including insecticides and the Sterile Insect Technique. Traditional control methods should be implemented by innovative tools, among which those based on insect symbionts seem very promising. Our study aimed to investigate, through the 16S Miseq analysis, the microbial communities associated with selected organs in three different medfly populations to identify possible candidates to develop symbiont-based control approaches. Our results confirm that Klebsiella and Providencia are the dominant bacteria in guts, while a more diversified microbial community has been detected in reproductive organs. Concertedly, we revealed for the first time the presence of Chroococcidiopsis and Propionibacterium as stable components of the medfly's microbiota. Additionally, in the reproductive organs, we detected Asaia, a bacterium already proposed as a tool in the Symbiotic Control of Vector-Borne Diseases. A strain of Asaia, genetically modified to produce a green fluorescent protein, was used to ascertain the ability of Asaia to colonize specific organs of C. capitata. Our study lays the foundation for the development of control methods for C. capitata based on the use of symbiont bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35621042, year = {2022}, author = {Rojas-Gätjens, D and Valverde-Madrigal, KS and Rojas-Jimenez, K and Pereira, R and Avey-Arroyo, J and Chavarría, M}, title = {Antibiotic-producing Micrococcales govern the microbiome that inhabits the fur of two- and three-toed sloths.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {3148-3163}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.16082}, pmid = {35621042}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Sloths ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sloths have a dense coat on which insects, algae and fungi coexist in a symbiotic relationship. This complex ecosystem requires different levels of controls; however, most of these mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the bacterial communities inhabiting the hair of two- (Choloepus Hoffmanni) and three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) sloths and evaluated their potential for producing antibiotic molecules capable of exerting control over the hair microbiota. The analysis of 16S rRNA amplicon sequence variants revealed that the communities in both host species are dominated by Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes. The most abundant genera were Brevibacterium, Kocuria/Rothia, Staphylococcus, Rubrobacter, Nesterenkonia and Janibacter. Furthermore, we isolated nine strains of Brevibacterium and Rothia capable of producing substances that inhibited the growth of common mammalian pathogens. The analysis of the biosynthetic gene clusters of these nine isolates suggests that the pathogen-inhibitory activity could be mediated by the presence of siderophores, terpenes, beta-lactones, Type III polyketide synthases, ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, non-alpha poly-amino acids like e-Polylysine, ectoine or non-ribosomal peptides. Our data suggest that Micrococcales that inhabit sloth hair could have a role in controlling microbial populations in that habitat, improving our understanding of this highly complex ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid35620320, year = {2022}, author = {Li, X and Wang, L and Ma, S and Lin, S and Wang, C and Wang, H}, title = {Combination of Oxalobacter Formigenes and Veillonella Parvula in Gastrointestinal Microbiota Related to Bile-Acid Metabolism as a Biomarker for Hypertensive Nephropathy.}, journal = {International journal of hypertension}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {5999530}, pmid = {35620320}, issn = {2090-0384}, abstract = {The human microbiome is a mixed group of microorganisms, which individually consists of 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells. The relationship between gastrointestinal microbiota and blood pressure has been verified and the intestinal microbiota of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the distribution of bacterial species is different from the flora of people with no CKD. The purpose of this research is to study the different intestinal microbiota of hypertensive patients with and without nephropathy and to find possible biomarkers of hypertensive nephropathy (H-CKD). The subjects of this research were divided into three groups, healthy control group, hypertension group, and hypertensive nephropathy group. Sequencing, bioinformatics, and statistical analysis were performed on the 16S rRNA gene of the subjects' stool samples. This research study showed the differences of intestinal flora as biomarkers in hypertension patients with and without nephropathy; it investigated the relationship of the differences in the intestinal microbiota with bile-acid metabolism; it also explored bile-acid metabolism mechanism of intestinal microbiota differences in hypertension with or without nephropathy. In summary, the difference in the combination of O. formigenes and V. parvula in the gastrointestinal microbiota is related to bile-acid metabolism in hypertensive patients and can be one of the factors causing CKD. It is the first time to report such a biomarker or pathogenic factor of H-CKD in the world.}, } @article {pmid35619999, year = {2022}, author = {Tame, A and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Phagocytosis of exogenous bacteria by gill epithelial cells in the deep-sea symbiotic mussel Bathymodiolus japonicus.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {211384}, pmid = {35619999}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Animals that live in nutrient-poor environments, such as the deep sea, often establish intracellular symbiosis with beneficial bacteria that provide the host with nutrients that are usually inaccessible to them. The deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus japonicus relies on nutrients from the methane-oxidizing bacteria harboured in epithelial gill cells called bacteriocytes. These symbionts are specific to the host and transmitted horizontally, being acquired from the environment by each generation. Morphological studies in mussels have reported that the host gill cells acquire the symbionts via phagocytosis, a process that facilitates the engulfment and digestion of exogenous microorganisms. However, gill cell phagocytosis has not been well studied, and whether mussels discriminate between the symbionts and other bacteria in the phagocytic process remains unknown. Herein, we aimed to investigate the phagocytic ability of gill cells involved in the acquisition of symbionts by exposing the mussel to several types of bacteria. The gill cells engulfed exogenous bacteria from the environment indiscriminately. These bacteria were preferentially eliminated through intracellular digestion using enzymes; however, most symbionts were retained in the bacteriocytes without digestion. Our findings suggest that regulation of the phagocytic process after engulfment is a key mechanism for the selection of symbionts for establishing intracellular symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35618717, year = {2022}, author = {Peng, M and Li, CY and Chen, XL and Williams, BT and Li, K and Gao, YN and Wang, P and Wang, N and Gao, C and Zhang, S and Schoelmerich, MC and Banfield, JF and Miller, JB and Le Brun, NE and Todd, JD and Zhang, YZ}, title = {Insights into methionine S-methylation in diverse organisms.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {2947}, pmid = {35618717}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/P006140/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; *Methionine/metabolism ; Methylation ; *Methyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is an important marine anti-stress compound, with key roles in global nutrient cycling, chemotaxis and, potentially, climate regulation. Recently, diverse marine Actinobacteria, α- and γ-proteobacteria were shown to initiate DMSP synthesis via the methionine (Met) S-methyltransferase enzyme (MmtN), generating S-methyl-Met (SMM). Here we characterize a roseobacterial MmtN, providing structural and mechanistic insights into this DMSP synthesis enzyme. We propose that MmtN uses the proximity and desolvation mechanism for Met S-methylation with two adjacent MmtN monomers comprising the Met binding site. We also identify diverse functional MmtN enzymes in potentially symbiotic archaeal Candidatus Woesearchaeota and Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria, and the animalcule Adineta steineri, not anticipated to produce SMM and/or DMSP. These diverse MmtN enzymes, alongside the larger plant MMT enzyme with an N-terminus homologous to MmtN, likely utilize the same proximity and desolvation mechanism. This study provides important insights into the catalytic mechanism of SMM and/or DMSP production, and proposes roles for these compounds in secondary metabolite production, and SMM cycling in diverse organisms and environments.}, } @article {pmid35618174, year = {2022}, author = {Siden-Kiamos, I and Koidou, V and Livadaras, I and Skoufa, E and Papadogiorgaki, S and Papadakis, S and Chalepakis, G and Ioannidis, P and Vontas, J}, title = {Dynamic interactions between the symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola and its olive fruit fly host Bactrocera oleae.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {146}, number = {}, pages = {103793}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103793}, pmid = {35618174}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; *Erwinia/genetics ; Larva ; *Olea ; Symbiosis ; *Tephritidae/genetics ; }, abstract = {The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, the most serious pest of olives, requires the endosymbiotic bacterium Candidatus Erwinia dacicola in order to complete its development in unripe green olives. Hence, a better understanding of the symbiosis of Ca. E. dacicola and its insect host may lead to new strategies for B. oleae control. The relative abundance of bacteria during the fly life cycle comparing black and green olives was estimated by real time quantitative PCR revealing significant fluctuations during development in black olives with a peak of the bacteria in the second instar larvae. By microscopy analysis of larvae, we show that the bacteria reside extracellularly in the gastric caeca. During the transition to late third instar larvae, the bacteria were discharged into the midgut concomitant with a change in caeca size and morphology due to the contraction of the muscles surrounding the caeca. A similar alteration was also observed in a laboratory strain devoid of bacteria. To further investigate the symbiotic interaction and the change in caeca morphology a comparative transcriptomics analysis was undertaken. Samples of dissected caeca from second and third instar larvae collected from the field as well as second instar larvae from a laboratory strain devoid of symbionts showed significant changes in transcript expression. This highlighted genes associated with the developmental changes revealed by the microscopic analysis as well as responses to microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid35613876, year = {2022}, author = {Ying, Y and Liu, C and He, R and Wang, R and Qu, L}, title = {Detection and Identification of Novel Intracellular Bacteria Hosted in Strains CBS 648.67 and CFCC 80795 of Biocontrol Fungi Metarhizium.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35613876}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Metarhizium/genetics ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {"Endosymbiosis" is a cohesive form of a symbiotic association. Endobacteria exist in many fungi and play important roles in fungal host biology. Metarhizium spp. are important entomopathogenic fungi for insect pest control. In the present study, we performed comprehensive ana-lyses of strains of Metarhizium bibionidarum and M. anisopliae using PCR, phylogenetics, and fluorescent electron microscopy to identify endobacteria within hyphae and conidia. The results of the phylogenetic ana-lysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these endobacteria were the most closely related to Pelomonas puraquae and affiliated with Betaproteobacteria. Ultrastructural observations indicated that endobacteria were coccoid and less than 500‍ ‍nm in diameter. The basic characteristics of endobacteria in M. bibionidarum and M. anisopliae were elucidated, and biological questions were raised regarding their biological functions in the Metarhizium hosts.}, } @article {pmid35612316, year = {2022}, author = {Han, Y and Lou, X and Zhang, W and Xu, T and Tang, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhanced Drought Resistance of Populus cathayana by Regulating the 14-3-3 Family Protein Genes.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0245621}, pmid = {35612316}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {14-3-3 Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plants/metabolism ; *Populus/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Plants can improve their resistance to a variety of stresses by forming mutualistic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The 14-3-3 protein is a major regulator of the plant stress response. However, the regulation mechanism of 14-3-3 family protein genes (14-3-3s) of mycorrhizal plants coping with stress during AMF symbiosis remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the physiological changes and 14-3-3 expression profiles of Populus cathayana inoculated with AMF under different water conditions. The results showed that good colonization and symbiotic relationships with plants were formed under all water conditions (63.00% to 83.67%). Photosynthesis, peroxidase (POD) activity, and Mg and Ca content were significantly affected by drought and AMF. In addition, thirteen 14-3-3 protein genes (PcGRF1-PcGRF13) were identified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), of which the expression levels of PcGRF10 and PcGRF11 induced by AMF were significantly positively correlated with superoxide dismutase (SOD), POD, and sugar content, indicating that the 14-3-3s of mycorrhizal symbiotic plants may respond to drought through antioxidant and osmotic regulation. This is the first study on 14-3-3s in the symbiosis system of forest arbor plants and AMF, and it may help to further study the effects of 14-3-3s during AMF symbiosis on stresses and provide new ideas for improving mycorrhizal seedling cultivation under stress. IMPORTANCE The 14-3-3 protein may regulate many biochemical and physiological processes under abiotic stress. Studies have shown that the 14-3-3 protein gene of AMF is not only upregulated under drought stress, but also enhances the regulation of AMF on plant drought tolerance by regulating plant signal pathways and drought response genes; however, knowledge about the biological relevance of these interactions remains limited and controversial. The precise functions of Populus cathayana 14-3-3s under drought stress remain poorly resolved and the mechanisms of action of these genes in mycorrhizae-induced drought stress are still unknown. Thus, studying the drought-resistance mechanism of the AMF symbiotic plant 14-3-3 gene is of special significance to improving the drought tolerance of the plant. Further systematic study is needed to probe the mechanism by which AMF regulates different 14-3-3 genes and their subsequent physiological effects on drought.}, } @article {pmid35611654, year = {2022}, author = {Robes, JMD and Altamia, MA and Murdock, EG and Concepcion, GP and Haygood, MG and Puri, AW}, title = {A Conserved Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Is Regulated by Quorum Sensing in a Shipworm Symbiont.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {11}, pages = {e0027022}, pmid = {35611654}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R00 GM118762/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bivalvia/microbiology ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts often provide critical functions for their hosts. For example, wood-boring bivalves called shipworms rely on cellulolytic endosymbionts for wood digestion. However, how the relationship between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts is formed and maintained remains unknown. Quorum sensing (QS) often plays an important role in regulating symbiotic relationships. We identified and characterized a QS system found in Teredinibacter sp. strain 2052S, a gill isolate of the wood-boring shipworm Bactronophorus cf. thoracites. We determined that 2052S produces the signal N-decanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) and that this signal controls the activation of a biosynthetic gene cluster colocated in the symbiont genome that is conserved among all symbiotic Teredinibacter isolates. We subsequently identified extracellular metabolites associated with the QS regulon, including ones linked to the conserved biosynthetic gene cluster, using mass spectrometry-based molecular networking. Our results demonstrate that QS plays an important role in regulating secondary metabolism in this shipworm symbiont. This information provides a step toward deciphering the molecular details of the relationship between these symbionts and their hosts. Furthermore, because shipworm symbionts harbor vast yet underexplored biosynthetic potential, understanding how their secondary metabolism is regulated may aid future drug discovery efforts using these organisms. IMPORTANCE Bacteria play important roles as symbionts in animals ranging from invertebrates to humans. Despite this recognized importance, much is still unknown about the molecular details of how these relationships are formed and maintained. One of the proposed roles of shipworm symbionts is the production of bioactive secondary metabolites due to the immense biosynthetic potential found in shipworm symbiont genomes. Here, we report that a shipworm symbiont uses quorum sensing to coordinate activation of its extracellular secondary metabolism, including the transcriptional activation of a biosynthetic gene cluster that is conserved among many shipworm symbionts. This work is a first step toward linking quorum sensing, secondary metabolism, and symbiosis in wood-boring shipworms.}, } @article {pmid35611584, year = {2022}, author = {Luu, TB and Ourth, A and Pouzet, C and Pauly, N and Cullimore, J}, title = {A newly evolved chimeric lysin motif receptor-like kinase in Medicago truncatula spp. tricycla R108 extends its Rhizobia symbiotic partnership.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {5}, pages = {1995-2007}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18270}, pmid = {35611584}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; *Rhizobium ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial lipochitooligosaccharidic Nod factors (NFs), specified by nod genes, are the primary determinants of host specificity in the legume-Rhizobia symbiosis. We examined the nodulation ability of Medicago truncatula cv Jemalong A17 and M. truncatula ssp. tricycla R108 with the Sinorhizobium meliloti nodF/nodL mutant, which produces modified NFs. We then applied genetic and functional approaches to study the genetic basis and mechanism of nodulation of R108 by this mutant. We show that the nodF/nodL mutant can nodulate R108 but not A17. Using genomics and reverse genetics, we identified a newly evolved, chimeric LysM receptor-like kinase gene in R108, LYK2bis, which is responsible for the phenotype and can allow A17 to gain nodulation with the nodF/nodL mutant. We found that LYK2bis is involved in nodulation by mutants producing nonO-acetylated NFs and interacts with the key receptor protein NFP. Many, but not all, natural S. meliloti and S. medicae strains tested require LYK2bis for efficient nodulation of R108. Our findings reveal that a newly evolved gene in R108, LYK2bis, extends nodulation specificity to mutants producing nonO-acetylated NFs and is important for nodulation by many natural Sinorhizobia. Evolution of this gene may present an adaptive advantage to allow nodulation by a greater variety of strains.}, } @article {pmid35610303, year = {2022}, author = {Okuda, S and Hirose, Y and Takihara, H and Okuda, A and Ling, Y and Tajima, Y and Shimada, Y and Ichikawa, H and Takizawa, K and Sakata, J and Wakai, T}, title = {Unveiling microbiome profiles in human inner body fluids and tumor tissues with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {8766}, pmid = {35610303}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Biliary Tract ; *Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; *Body Fluids ; Feces ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Pancreas ; }, abstract = {With the discovery of bacterial symbiosis in the tissues of various cancers, the study of the tumor microbiome is attracting a great deal of attention. Anatomically, since the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas form a continuous ductal structure, the microbiomes in the digestive juices of these organs may influence each other. Here, we report a series of microbiome data in tumor-associated tissues such as tumor, non-tumor, and lymph nodes, and body fluids such as saliva, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, and feces of patients with pancreatic or biliary tract cancers. The results show that the microbiome of tumor-associated tissues has a very similar bacterial composition, but that in body fluids has different bacterial composition which varies by location, where some bacteria localize to specific body fluids. Surprisingly, Akkermansia was only detected in the bile of patients with biliary tract cancer and its presence was significantly associated with the performance of external biliary drainage (P = 0.041). Furthermore, we found that tumor-associated tissues and body fluids in deep inner body are mostly inhabited by unidentified and uncharacterized bacteria, suggesting that such bacteria may be potential targets for precision therapy in the future.}, } @article {pmid35609747, year = {2022}, author = {Gong, X and Zhang, L and Gong, Q and Liu, X and Li, X and Zhang, Q and Peng, Y}, title = {Rapid cultivation and enrichment of anammox bacteria solely using traditional activated sludge as inoculum and biocarrier in low-strength real sewage treatment.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {358}, number = {}, pages = {127354}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127354}, pmid = {35609747}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Denitrification ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Sewage/microbiology ; Tin ; Wastewater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In low-ammonia sewage anammox process, cultivation and enrichment of anammox bacteria (AnAOB) is a challenge especially from traditional activated sludge. To this end, a novel strategy solely using activated sludge as inoculum and biocarrier in a dynamic fixed-bed reactor was proposed in this study. During 115-day operation, excellent performance was achieved with influent total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and effluent TIN of 55.3 mg·L[-1] and 4.1 mg·L[-1], respectively. Rapid enrichment of AnAOB (doubling time: 8.5 days) was demonstrated by augmented specific anammox activity (trace value to 1.85 mg N·g VSS[-1]·h[-1]) and increased hzsB gene number (10[6] to 10[9] copies·g[-1] dry sludge), with predominance of Candidatus_Brocadia. Large-flocs aggregate was the primary habitat for AnAOB with highest abundance and capacity. The distinctive sludge properties, symbiotic microbial interactions and dynamic operation scheme facilitated AnAOB growth and retention. This study provides a simple, economic and workable approach for the start-up of mainstream anammox process.}, } @article {pmid35608677, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, LL and Wang, YL and Guerin-Laguette, A and Wang, R and Zhang, P and Li, YM and Yu, FQ}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal synthesis between two Tuber species and six tree species: are different host-fungus combinations having dissimilar impacts on host plant growth?.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {3-4}, pages = {341-351}, pmid = {35608677}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Quercus/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Truffle cultivation has drawn more and more attention for its high economic and ecological values in the world. To select symbionts suitable for cultivation purposes, we conducted greenhouse-based mycorrhization trials of two Tuber species (T. formosanum and T. pseudohimalayense) with five broad-leaved tree species (Corylus yunnanensis, Quercus aliena var. acutiserrata, Q. acutissima, Q. robur, Q. variabilis) and one conifer species (Pinus armandii). Axenically germinated seedlings of all tree species were either inoculated, or not, with spore suspensions of these two truffles in the greenhouse. Eight months after inoculation, T. formosanum or T. pseudohimalayense ectomycorrhizae were successfully formed on these six tree species, as evidenced by both morphological and molecular analyses. All selected trees showed good receptivity to mycorrhization by both fungi, with average colonization rates visually estimated at 40-50%. Plant growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake were assessed 2 years after inoculation and were mainly affected by host species. Mycorrhization by both fungi significantly improved P uptake of the hosts, and the interaction between truffle species and host plant species had significant effects on leaf water and leaf K concentrations. In addition, a significantly negative correlation between leaf Ca and leaf C concentration was found across all the seedlings. In addition, mycorrhization had slightly increased plant stem and canopy, but had no significant effects on plant photosynthesis. Overall, these results suggest that the effects of these two Tuber ECMF on plant growth and nutrient acquisition depend on the identity of the host species. Moreover, all selected plant species could be symbiotic partners with either T. pseudohimalayense or T. formosanum for field cultivation purposes.}, } @article {pmid35608350, year = {2022}, author = {Tong, X and Yu, X and Du, Y and Su, F and Liu, Y and Li, H and Liu, Y and Mu, K and Liu, Q and Li, H and Zhu, J and Xu, H and Xiao, F and Li, Y}, title = {Peripheral Blood Microbiome Analysis via Noninvasive Prenatal Testing Reveals the Complexity of Circulating Microbial Cell-Free DNA.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0041422}, pmid = {35608350}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {*Cell-Free Nucleic Acids/genetics ; *Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Noninvasive Prenatal Testing ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; }, abstract = {While circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is becoming a powerful marker for noninvasive identification of infectious pathogens in liquid biopsy specimens, a microbial cfDNA baseline in healthy individuals is urgently needed for the proper interpretation of microbial cfDNA sequencing results in clinical metagenomics. Because noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) shares many similarities with the sequencing protocol of metagenomics, we utilized the standard low-pass whole-genome-sequencing-based NIPT to establish a microbial cfDNA baseline in healthy people. Sequencing data from a total of 107,763 peripheral blood samples of healthy pregnant women undergoing NIPT screening were retrospectively collected and reanalyzed for microbiome DNA screening. It was found that more than 95% of exogenous cfDNA was from bacteria, 3% from eukaryotes, and 0.4% from viruses, indicating the gut/environment origins of many microorganisms. Overall and regional abundance patterns were well illustrated, with huge regional diversity and complexity, and unique interspecies and symbiotic relationships were observed for TORCH organisms (Toxoplasma gondii, others [Treponema pallidum {causing syphilis}, hepatitis B virus {HBV}, and human parvovirus B19 {HPV-B19} ], rubella virus, cytomegalovirus [CMV], and herpes simplex virus [HSV]) and another common virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). To sum up, our study revealed the complexity of the baseline circulating microbial cfDNA and showed that microbial cfDNA sequencing results need to be interpreted in a more comprehensive manner. IMPORTANCE While circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been becoming a powerful marker for noninvasive identification of infectious pathogens in liquid biopsy specimens, a baseline for microbial cfDNA in healthy individuals is urgently needed for the proper interpretation of microbial cfDNA sequencing results in clinical metagenomics. Standard low-pass whole-genome-sequencing-based NIPT shares many similarities with the sequencing protocol for metagenomics and could provide a microbial cfDNA baseline in healthy people; thus, a reference cfDNA data set of the human microbiome was established with sequencing data from a total of 107,763 peripheral blood samples of healthy pregnant women undergoing NIPT screening. Our study revealed the complexity of circulating microbial cfDNA and indicated that microbial cfDNA sequencing results need to be interpreted in a more comprehensive manner, especially with regard to geographic patterns and coexistence networks.}, } @article {pmid35608298, year = {2022}, author = {Margarita, V and Bailey, NP and Rappelli, P and Diaz, N and Dessì, D and Fettweis, JM and Hirt, RP and Fiori, PL}, title = {Two Different Species of Mycoplasma Endosymbionts Can Influence Trichomonas vaginalis Pathophysiology.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {e0091822}, pmid = {35608298}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {BB/M011186/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Female ; Humans ; *Mycoplasma/genetics ; Mycoplasma hominis/genetics ; *Trichomonas Infections/microbiology ; *Trichomonas vaginalis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis can host the endosymbiont Mycoplasma hominis, an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium capable of modulating T. vaginalis pathobiology. Recently, a new noncultivable mycoplasma, "Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii," has been shown to be closely associated with women affected by trichomoniasis, suggesting a biological association. Although several features of "Ca. M. girerdii" have been investigated through genomic analysis, the nature of the potential T. vaginalis-"Ca. M. girerdii" consortium and its impact on the biology and pathogenesis of both microorganisms have not yet been explored. Here, we investigate the association between "Ca. M. girerdii" and T. vaginalis isolated from patients affected by trichomoniasis, demonstrating their intracellular localization. By using an in vitro model system based on single- and double-Mycoplasma infection of Mycoplasma-free isogenic T. vaginalis, we investigated the ability of the protist to establish a relationship with the bacteria and impact T. vaginalis growth. Our data indicate likely competition between M. hominis and "Ca. M. girerdii" while infecting trichomonad cells. Comparative dual-transcriptomics data showed major shifts in parasite gene expression in response to the presence of Mycoplasma, including genes associated with energy metabolism and pathogenesis. Consistent with the transcriptomics data, both parasite-mediated hemolysis and binding to host epithelial cells were significantly upregulated in the presence of either Mycoplasma species. Taken together, these results support a model in which this microbial association could modulate the virulence of T. vaginalis. IMPORTANCE T. vaginalis and M. hominis form a unique case of endosymbiosis that modulates the parasite's pathobiology. Recently, a new nonculturable mycoplasma species ("Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii") has been described as closely associated with the protozoon. Here, we report the characterization of this endosymbiotic relationship. Clinical isolates of the parasite demonstrate that mycoplasmas are common among trichomoniasis patients. The relationships are studied by devising an in vitro system of single and/or double infections in isogenic protozoan recipients. Comparative growth experiments and transcriptomics data demonstrate that the composition of different microbial consortia influences the growth of the parasite and significantly modulates its transcriptomic profile, including metabolic enzymes and virulence genes such as adhesins and pore-forming proteins. The data on modulation from RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) correlated closely with those of the cytopathic effect and adhesion to human target cells. We propose the hypothesis that the presence and the quantitative ratios of endosymbionts may contribute to modulating protozoan virulence. Our data highlight the importance of considering pathogenic entities as microbial ecosystems, reinforcing the importance of the development of integrated diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid35606558, year = {2022}, author = {Burkhardt, I and de Rond, T and Chen, PY and Moore, BS}, title = {Ancient plant-like terpene biosynthesis in corals.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {664-669}, pmid = {35606558}, issn = {1552-4469}, support = {F32 GM129960/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM085770/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41 GM103393/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bacteria/genetics ; Terpenes/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Octocorals are major contributors of terpenoid chemical diversity in the ocean. Natural products from other sessile marine animals are primarily biosynthesized by symbiotic microbes rather than by the host. Here, we challenge this long-standing paradigm by describing a monophyletic lineage of animal-encoded terpene cyclases (TCs) ubiquitous in octocorals. We characterized 15 TC enzymes from nine genera, several of which produce precursors of iconic coral-specific terpenoids, such as pseudopterosin, lophotoxin and eleutherobin. X-ray crystallography revealed that coral TCs share conserved active site residues and structural features with bacterial TCs. The identification of coral TCs enabled the targeted identification of the enzyme that constructs the coral-exclusive capnellane scaffold. Several TC genes are colocalized with genes that encode enzymes known to modify terpenes. This work presents an example of biosynthetic capacity in the kingdom Animalia that rivals the chemical complexity generated by plants, unlocking the biotechnological potential of octocorals for biomedical applications.}, } @article {pmid35605808, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, CF and Yang, XQ and Shi, WZ and Long, X and Su, S and Cen, RH and Yang, YB and Ding, ZT}, title = {The production of broad-spectrum antibiotics from phytopathogen Epicoccum sorghinum by culturing in host edible mushroom Thelephora ganbajun extract.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {113221}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113221}, pmid = {35605808}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {*Agaricales/chemistry ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Ascomycota ; *Basidiomycota ; }, abstract = {Metabolism of special endophytes and phytopathogens can be induced by the symbiotic interactions with the host. A phytopathogen Epicoccum sorghinum cultured in host mushroom Thelephora ganbajun medium exhibited different metabolites compared with that of ordinary medium. An unprecedented scaffold possessing the same substructure as perylenequinone mycotoxin, a first methyl rearrangement product of phytotoxin, epoxydon 6-methylsalicylate ester, three undescribed compounds, and an undescribed natural product were isolated from E. sorghinum cultured in T. ganbajun. Episorin A and epicosorin A were produced from E. sorghinum induced by culturing in host medium. Episorin A was the first example of perylenequinone analogue in the natural products. These induced compounds and other metabolites showed notable antibiosis against endogenous fungi, and insect existing in mushroom. Induced episorin A showed significant inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in LPS-activated macrophages, and anti-acetylcholinesterase with the IC50 at 5.40 ± 0.25 μM, and 4.32 μM, respectively, and cytotoxicity against HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and SW480 with IC50 at 14.21 ± 0.53, 17.93 ± 0.22, 18.17 ± 0.63, 28.36 ± 0.43, and 18.20 ± 1.03 μM.}, } @article {pmid35604874, year = {2022}, author = {Snelders, NC and Rovenich, H and Thomma, BPHJ}, title = {Microbiota manipulation through the secretion of effector proteins is fundamental to the wealth of lifestyles in the fungal kingdom.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35604874}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi ; Mammals ; *Microbiota ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi are well-known decomposers of organic matter that thrive in virtually any environment on Earth where they encounter wealths of other microbes. Some fungi evolved symbiotic lifestyles, including pathogens and mutualists, that have mostly been studied in binary interactions with their hosts. However, we now appreciate that such interactions are greatly influenced by the ecological context in which they take place. While establishing their symbioses, fungi not only interact with their hosts but also with the host-associated microbiota. Thus, they target the host and its associated microbiota as a single holobiont. Recent studies have shown that fungal pathogens manipulate the host microbiota by means of secreted effector proteins with selective antimicrobial activity to stimulate disease development. In this review, we discuss the ecological contexts in which such effector-mediated microbiota manipulation is relevant for the fungal lifestyle and argue that this is not only relevant for pathogens of plants and animals but also beneficial in virtually any niche where fungi occur. Moreover, we reason that effector-mediated microbiota manipulation likely evolved already in fungal ancestors that encountered microbial competition long before symbiosis with land plants and mammalian animals evolved. Thus, we claim that effector-mediated microbiota manipulation is fundamental to fungal biology.}, } @article {pmid35604375, year = {2022}, author = {de Wit, MP and Crookes, DJ and Blignaut, JN and de Beer, ZW and Paap, T and Roets, F and van der Merwe, C and van Wilgen, BW and Richardson, DM}, title = {An Assessment of the Potential Economic Impacts of the Invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Africa.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {115}, number = {4}, pages = {1076-1086}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toac061}, pmid = {35604375}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Forestry ; Introduced Species ; South Africa ; Trees ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {Studies addressing the economic impacts of invasive alien species are biased towards ex-post assessments of the costs and benefits of control options, but ex-ante assessments are also required to deal with potentially damaging invaders. The polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a recent and potentially damaging introduction to South Africa. We assessed the potential impact of this beetle by working across economic and biological disciplines and developing a simulation model that included dynamic mutualistic relations between the beetle and its symbiotic fungus. We modeled the potential growth in beetle populations and their effect on the net present cost of damage to natural forests, urban trees, commercial forestry, and the avocado industry over 10 yr. We modeled high, baseline, and low scenarios using discount rates of 8, 6, and 4%, and a plausible range of costs and mortality rates. Models predicted steady growth in the beetle and fungus populations, leading to average declines in tree populations of between 3.5 and 15.5% over 10 yr. The predicted net present cost was 18.45 billion international dollars (Int. $), or about 0.66% of the country's GDP for our baseline scenario ($2.7 billion to $164 billion for low and high scenarios). Most of the costs are for the removal of urban trees that die as a result of the beetle and its fungal symbiont, as has been found in other regions. We conclude that an ex-ante economic assessment system dynamics model can be useful for informing national strategies on invasive alien species management.}, } @article {pmid35604230, year = {2022}, author = {Dominelli, N and Platz, F and Heermann, R}, title = {The Insect Pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens Protects Plants from Phytopathogenic Fusarium graminearum via Chitin Degradation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {11}, pages = {e0064522}, pmid = {35604230}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Chitin/metabolism ; Fusarium ; Insecta/microbiology ; *Nematoda ; *Photorhabdus/genetics ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phytopathogens represent a large agricultural challenge. The use of chemical pesticides is harmful to the environment, animals, and humans. Therefore, new sustainable and biological alternatives are urgently needed. The insect-pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens, already used in combination with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as a biocontrol agent, is characterized by two different phenotypic cell forms, called primary (1°) and secondary (2°). The 1° cells are symbiotic with EPNs and are used for biocontrol, and the 2° cells are unable to undergo symbiosis with EPNs, remain in the soil after insect infection, and specifically interact with plant roots. A previous RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis showed that genes encoding the exochitinase Chi2A and chitin binding protein (CBP) are highly upregulated in 2° cells exposed to plant root exudates. Here, we investigate Chi2A and CBP functions and demonstrate that both are necessary for P. luminescens 2° cells to inhibit the growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. We provide evidence that Chi2A digests chitin and thereby inhibits fungal growth. Furthermore, we show that 2° cells specifically colonize fungal hyphae as one of the first mechanisms to protect plants from fungal phytopathogens. Finally, soil pot bioassays proved plant protection from F. graminearum by 2° cells, where Chi2A and CPB were essential for this process. This work gives molecular insights into the new applicability of P. luminescens as a plant-growth-promoting and plant-protecting organism in agriculture. IMPORTANCE The enteric enterobacterium Photorhabdus luminescens is already being used as a bioinsecticide since it is highly pathogenic toward a broad range of insects. However, the bacteria exist in two phenotypically different cell types, called 1° and 2° cells. Whereas only 1° cells are symbiotic with their nematode partner to infect insects, 2° cells were shown to remain in the soil after an insect infection cycle. It was demonstrated that 2° cells specifically interact with plant roots. Here, we show that the bacteria are beneficial for the plants by protecting them from phytopathogenic fungi. Specific colonization of the fungus mycelium as well as chitin-degrading activity mediated by the chitin binding protein (CBP) and the chitinase Chi2A are essential for this process. Our data give evidence for the novel future applicability of P. luminescens as a plant-growth-promoting organism and biopesticide.}, } @article {pmid35604153, year = {2022}, author = {Kulkarni, G and Apostolou, A and Ewart, L and Lucchesi, C and Kasendra, M}, title = {Combining Human Organoids and Organ-on-a-Chip Technology to Model Intestinal Region-Specific Functionality.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {183}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/63724}, pmid = {35604153}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; *Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; *Organoids ; Technology ; }, abstract = {The intestinal mucosa is a complex physical and biochemical barrier that fulfills a myriad of important functions. It enables the transport, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients and xenobiotics while facilitating a symbiotic relationship with microbiota and restricting the invasion of microorganisms. Functional interaction between various cell types and their physical and biochemical environment is vital to establish and maintain intestinal tissue homeostasis. Modeling these complex interactions and integrated intestinal physiology in vitro is a formidable goal with the potential to transform the way new therapeutic targets and drug candidates are discovered and developed. Organoids and Organ-on-a-Chip technologies have recently been combined to generate human-relevant intestine chips suitable for studying the functional aspects of intestinal physiology and pathophysiology in vitro. Organoids derived from the biopsies of the small (duodenum) and large intestine are seeded into the top compartment of an organ chip and then successfully expand as monolayers while preserving the distinct cellular, molecular, and functional features of each intestinal region. Human intestine tissue-specific microvascular endothelial cells are incorporated in the bottom compartment of the organ chip to recreate the epithelial-endothelial interface. This novel platform facilitates luminal exposure to nutrients, drugs, and microorganisms, enabling studies of intestinal transport, permeability, and host-microbe interactions. Here, a detailed protocol is provided for the establishment of intestine chips representing the human duodenum (duodenum chip) and colon (colon chip), and their subsequent culture under continuous flow and peristalsis-like deformations. We demonstrate methods for assessing drug metabolism and CYP3A4 induction in duodenum chip using prototypical inducers and substrates. Lastly, we provide a step-by-step procedure for the in vitro modeling of interferon gamma (IFNγ)-mediated barrier disruption (leaky gut syndrome) in a colon chip, including methods for evaluating the alteration of paracellular permeability, changes in cytokine secretion, and transcriptomic profiling of the cells within the chip.}, } @article {pmid35604107, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, Z and Zhao, X and He, A and Cao, Y and Han, Q and Lu, Y and Yong, JWH and Huang, J}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis reprograms ion fluxes and fatty acid metabolism in wild jujube during salt stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {189}, number = {4}, pages = {2481-2499}, pmid = {35604107}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Fruit ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Oleic Acid/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Salt Stress ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Ziziphus ; }, abstract = {Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is an important fruit tree in China, and soil salinity is the main constraint affecting jujube production. It is unclear how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis supports jujube adaptation to salt stress. Herein, we performed comparative physiological, ion flux, fatty acid (FA) metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses to examine the mechanism of AM jujube responding to salt stress. AM seedlings showed better performance during salt stress. AM symbiosis altered phytohormonal levels: indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid contents were significantly increased in AM roots and reduced by salt stress. Mycorrhizal colonization enhanced root H+ efflux and K+ influx, while inducing expression of plasma membrane-type ATPase 7 (ZjAHA7) and high-affinity K+ transporter 2 (ZjHAK2) in roots. High K+/Na+ homeostasis was maintained throughout salt exposure. FA content was elevated in AM leaves as well as roots, especially for palmitic acid, oleic acid, trans oleic acid, and linoleic acid, and similar effects were also observed in AM poplar (Populus. alba × Populus. glandulosa cv. 84K) and Medicago truncatula, indicating AM symbiosis elevating FA levels could be a conserved physiological effect. Gene co-expression network analyses uncovered a core gene set including 267 genes in roots associated with AM symbiosis and conserved transcriptional responses, for example, FA metabolism, phytohormone signal transduction, SNARE interaction in vesicular transport, and biotin metabolism. In contrast to widely up-regulated genes related to FA metabolism in AM roots, limited genes were affected in leaves. We propose a model of AM symbiosis-linked reprogramming of FA metabolism and provide a comprehensive insight into AM symbiosis with a woody species adaptation to salt stress.}, } @article {pmid35602532, year = {2022}, author = {Vishnu, RA and Alamelu, S and Arun, KV and Sujitha, P and Ganesh, PR}, title = {Comparative evaluation of subgingival microbiome in healthy periodontium and gingivitis using next-generation sequencing technology: A case-control study.}, journal = {Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {224-229}, pmid = {35602532}, issn = {0972-124X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Human dental plaque is a complex microbial community containing millions of species. Gingivitis is a dysregulated immune-inflammatory response induced by dysbiotic plaque biofilm that interrupts symbiosis. The emergence of next-generation sequencing with 16S rRNA gene has greatly contributed in understanding the complexity of microbiota. However, studies focusing on microbiome in gingivitis are limited. The whole bacterial community is important in causing periodontal disease than a small number of periodontal pathogens. In this study, we attempted to profile the subgingival microbiome from individuals with healthy gingiva and in patients with gingivitis using next-generation sequencing technology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples from 15 healthy periodontium (Group I) and 15 gingivitis (Group II) were collected and 16s rRNA sequencing was done in Illumina Solexa Sequencer. Data analysis using 16s metagenomics tool from BaseSpace onsite operational taxonomic units was assigned to each sequence using HOMD database. Individual variation in the microbiome of the subgingival samples between the two groups was also evaluated.

RESULTS: The comparison of top 20 species between Group I and Group II revealed no significant species group between them. Synergistetes was absent in Group I samples but found in Group II. At the genus level, HACEK group species were found in both the groups, while Dialister and Aneroglobus were found abundantly in the Group II.

CONCLUSION: The presence of unique genera and species seen in Group II samples could point toward a dysbiotic shift that could be taking place in the subgingival environment leading to gingivitis.}, } @article {pmid35602056, year = {2022}, author = {Ren, CG and Kong, CC and Liu, ZY and Zhong, ZH and Yang, JC and Wang, XL and Qin, S}, title = {A Perspective on Developing a Plant 'Holobiont' for Future Saline Agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {763014}, pmid = {35602056}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil salinity adversely affects plant growth and has become a major limiting factor for agricultural development worldwide. There is a continuing demand for sustainable technology innovation in saline agriculture. Among various bio-techniques being used to reduce the salinity hazard, symbiotic microorganisms such as rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have proved to be efficient. These symbiotic associations each deploy an array of well-tuned mechanisms to provide salinity tolerance for the plant. In this review, we first comprehensively cover major research advances in symbiont-induced salinity tolerance in plants. Second, we describe the common signaling process used by legumes to control symbiosis establishment with rhizobia and AM fungi. Multi-omics technologies have enabled us to identify and characterize more genes involved in symbiosis, and eventually, map out the key signaling pathways. These developments have laid the foundation for technological innovations that use symbiotic microorganisms to improve crop salt tolerance on a larger scale. Thus, with the aim of better utilizing symbiotic microorganisms in saline agriculture, we propose the possibility of developing non-legume 'holobionts' by taking advantage of newly developed genome editing technology. This will open a new avenue for capitalizing on symbiotic microorganisms to enhance plant saline tolerance for increased sustainability and yields in saline agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35602034, year = {2022}, author = {Naya-Català, F and Piazzon, MC and Calduch-Giner, JA and Sitjà-Bobadilla, A and Pérez-Sánchez, J}, title = {Diet and Host Genetics Drive the Bacterial and Fungal Intestinal Metatranscriptome of Gilthead Sea Bream.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {883738}, pmid = {35602034}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is now recognised as a key target for improving aquaculture profit and sustainability, but we still lack insights into the activity of microbes in fish mucosal surfaces. In the present study, a metatranscriptomic approach was used to reveal the expression of gut microbial genes in the farmed gilthead sea bream. Archaeal and viral transcripts were a minority but, interestingly and contrary to rRNA amplicon-based studies, fungal transcripts were as abundant as bacterial ones, and increased in fish fed a plant-enriched diet. This dietary intervention also drove a differential metatranscriptome in fish selected for fast and slow growth. Such differential response reinforced the results of previously inferred metabolic pathways, enlarging, at the same time, the catalogue of microbial functions in the intestine. Accordingly, vitamin and amino acid metabolism, and rhythmic and symbiotic processes were mostly shaped by bacteria, whereas fungi were more specifically configuring the host immune, digestive, or endocrine processes.}, } @article {pmid35600742, year = {2022}, author = {Talwar, N and Holden, NM}, title = {The limitations of bioeconomy LCA studies for understanding the transition to sustainable bioeconomy.}, journal = {The international journal of life cycle assessment}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {680-703}, pmid = {35600742}, issn = {0948-3349}, abstract = {PURPOSE: Transition to bioeconomy requires all actors and stakeholders to measure the impact of systems that use bioresources and technologies to provision society. There are however some challenges with integrating LCA into business development and management, which have important implications for bioeconomy. There have been many LCA studies published in the twenty-first century, but the question must be answered: how useful are these LCA studies to help understand and manage transition to sustainable bioeconomy?

METHOD: This research used a structured literature review to identify 83 bioeconomy LCA studies published from January 2006 to June 2021 (excluding bioenergy). The studies were analysed for compliance with the ISO 14044 standard, with specific reference to the goal, commissioning perspective, system boundary, function and functional unit, impact methods and categories.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: It was found that more than 85% of the studies reviewed failed to present the required goal statement and a description of the function of the system. Nearly 13% of the studies did not define the system boundary, and only 17% included a full life cycle including raw material extraction, production, use and end-of-life stages. The majority of the LCA studies surveyed from 2006 to 2021 were either (i) not in compliance with the ISO standards or (ii) space and style limitations of the publication process prevented competent practitioners from properly conveying their work. This suggests that the value and integrity of the literature are undermined by not rigorously addressing the first and most important stage of an LCA study.

CONCLUSION: When interpreting the results, a major shortcoming noted was that most studies did not consider the industrial symbiosis needed between feedstock, technology, primary products, side streams, downstream valorisation and long-term circularity in order to properly understand the transition pathways required. Bioeconomy technologies were imagined as displacers for feedstocks and processes to adapt business as usual, rather than as transformers of the system to a sustainable footing.

RECOMMENDATION: If LCA studies are going to provide meaningful information for actors and stakeholders to assess whether a system will be able to operate sustainably, studies should include a full, integrated system, standards should be adhered to and approaches should perhaps go beyond mere eco-efficiency, or doing less harm, as these are not necessarily indicative of sustainability. Historical bioeconomy LCA studies do not provide great insight into the transition to sustainable bioeconomy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11367-022-02053-w.}, } @article {pmid35600543, year = {2022}, author = {Zhong, C and Long, R and Stewart, GS}, title = {The role of rumen epithelial urea transport proteins in urea nitrogen salvage: A review.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {304-313}, pmid = {35600543}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between the host and the rumen microbiome plays a crucial role in ruminant physiology. One of the most important processes enabling this relationship is urea nitrogen salvaging (UNS). This process is important for both maintaining ruminant nitrogen balance and supporting production of their major energy supply, bacterially-derived short chain fatty acids (SCFA). The key step in UNS is the trans-epithelial movement of urea across the ruminal wall and this is a highly regulated process. At the molecular level, the key transport route is via the facilitative urea transporter-B2, localized to ruminal papillae epithelial layers. Additional urea transport through aquaporins (AQP), such as AQP3, is now also viewed as important. Long-term regulation of these ruminal urea transport proteins appears to mainly involve dietary fermentable carbohydrates; whereas, transepithelial urea transport is finely regulated by local conditions, such as CO2 levels, pH and SCFA concentration. Although the key principles of ruminal urea transport physiology are now understood, there remains much that is unknown regarding the regulatory pathways. One reason for this is the limited number of techniques currently used in many studies in the field. Therefore, future research in this area that combines a greater range of techniques could facilitate improvements to livestock efficiency, and potentially, reductions in the levels of waste nitrogen entering the environment.}, } @article {pmid35600538, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, B and Rutherfurd-Markwick, K and Zhang, XX and Mutukumira, AN}, title = {Isolation and characterisation of dominant acetic acid bacteria and yeast isolated from Kombucha samples at point of sale in New Zealand.}, journal = {Current research in food science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {835-844}, pmid = {35600538}, issn = {2665-9271}, abstract = {The demand for Kombucha, a sparkling sugared tea beverage fermented by a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and yeast is increasing worldwide. Despite the popularity of the beverage which is mainly due to its perceived health benefits and appealing sensory properties, the microbial composition of the products at the time of consumption is unknown. Such information is important to both manufacturers and consumers. Therefore, this study characterised the dominant AAB and yeast present in six commercial Kombucha samples sold in New Zealand which comprised of three domestic and three imported samples. Acetic acid bacteria and yeast were isolated from the Kombucha samples using glucose yeast extract peptone mannitol (GYPM) and yeast extract glucose chloramphenicol (YGC) media, respectively. Phenotypic and taxonomic identification of AAB and yeast were achieved by morphological and biochemical characterisation, followed by sequence analysis of ribosomal RNA genes (16S rRNA for AAB and 26S rRNA for yeast). Viable AAB and yeast were only found in domestically produced Kombucha samples and not in the imported products. The dominant AAB species were identified as Acetobacter musti and Gluconobacter potus. The yeast isolates belonged to Dekkera bruxelensis, Schizosaccharomyces pombes, Hanseniaspora valbyensis, Brettanomyces anamalus, Pichia kudriavzevii, Starmerella vitis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast communities were more complex and variable than the AAB communities in the analysed Kombucha samples.}, } @article {pmid35599894, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, J and Tang, Y and Kohler, A and Lebreton, A and Xing, Y and Zhou, D and Li, Y and Martin, FM and Guo, S}, title = {Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis of the Symbiotic Germination of D. officinale (Orchidaceae) With Emphasis on Plant Cell Wall Modification and Cell Wall-Degrading Enzymes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {880600}, pmid = {35599894}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Orchid seed germination in nature is an extremely complex physiological and ecological process involving seed development and mutualistic interactions with a restricted range of compatible mycorrhizal fungi. The impact of the fungal species' partner on the orchids' transcriptomic and metabolic response is still unknown. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis between symbiotic and asymbiotic germination at three developmental stages based on two distinct fungi (Tulasnella sp. and Serendipita sp.) inoculated to the same host plant, Dendrobium officinale. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding important structural proteins of the host plant cell wall were identified, such as epidermis-specific secreted glycoprotein, proline-rich receptor-like protein, and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) extensin-like protein. These DEGs were significantly upregulated in the symbiotic germination stages and especially in the protocorm stage (stage 3) and seedling stage (stage 4). Differentially expressed carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in symbiotic fungal mycelium were observed, they represented 66 out of the 266 and 99 out of the 270 CAZymes annotated in Tulasnella sp. and Serendipita sp., respectively. These genes were speculated to be involved in the reduction of plant immune response, successful colonization by fungi, or recognition of mycorrhizal fungi during symbiotic germination of orchid seed. Our study provides important data to further explore the molecular mechanism of symbiotic germination and orchid mycorrhiza and contribute to a better understanding of orchid seed biology.}, } @article {pmid35599880, year = {2022}, author = {Khatri, R and Pant, SR and Sharma, K and Niraula, PM and Lawaju, BR and Lawrence, KS and Alkharouf, NW and Klink, VP}, title = {Glycine max Homologs of DOESN'T MAKE INFECTIONS 1, 2, and 3 Function to Impair Heterodera glycines Parasitism While Also Regulating Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Expression.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {842597}, pmid = {35599880}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Glycine max root cells developing into syncytia through the parasitic activities of the pathogenic nematode Heterodera glycines underwent isolation by laser microdissection (LM). Microarray analyses have identified the expression of a G. max DOESN'T MAKE INFECTIONS3 (DMI3) homolog in syncytia undergoing parasitism but during a defense response. DMI3 encodes part of the common symbiosis pathway (CSP) involving DMI1, DMI2, and other CSP genes. The identified DMI gene expression, and symbiosis role, suggests the possible existence of commonalities between symbiosis and defense. G. max has 3 DMI1, 12 DMI2, and 2 DMI3 paralogs. LM-assisted gene expression experiments of isolated syncytia under further examination here show G. max DMI1-3, DMI2-7, and DMI3-2 expression occurring during the defense response in the H. glycines-resistant genotypes G.max [Peking/PI548402] and G.max [PI88788] indicating a broad and consistent level of expression of the genes. Transgenic overexpression (OE) of G. max DMI1-3, DMI2-7, and DMI3-2 impairs H. glycines parasitism. RNA interference (RNAi) of G. max DMI1-3, DMI2-7, and DMI3-2 increases H. glycines parasitism. The combined opposite outcomes reveal a defense function for these genes. Prior functional transgenic analyses of the 32-member G. max mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene family has determined that 9 of them act in the defense response to H. glycines parasitism, referred to as defense MAPKs. RNA-seq analyses of root RNA isolated from the 9 G. max defense MAPKs undergoing OE or RNAi reveal they alter the relative transcript abundances (RTAs) of specific DMI1, DMI2, and DMI3 paralogs. In contrast, transgenically-manipulated DMI1-3, DMI2-7, and DMI3-2 expression influences MAPK3-1 and MAPK3-2 RTAs under certain circumstances. The results show G. max homologs of the CSP, and defense pathway are linked, apparently involving co-regulated gene expression.}, } @article {pmid35599864, year = {2022}, author = {Yao, S and Wang, G and Wang, X}, title = {Effects of Phospholipase Dε Overexpression on Soybean Response to Nitrogen and Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {852923}, pmid = {35599864}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen is a key macronutrient to plant growth. We found previously that increased expression of phospholipase Dε (PLDε), which hydrolyzes phospholipids into phosphatidic acid (PA), enhanced plant growth under nitrogen deficiency in Brassicaceae species Arabidopsis and canola. The present study investigated the effect of AtPLDε-overexpression (OE) on soybean (Glycine max), a species capable of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. AtPLDε-OE soybean plants displayed increased root length and leaf size, and the effect of AtPLDε-ΟΕ on leaf size was greater under nitrogen-deficient than -sufficient condition. Under nitrogen deficiency, AtPLDε-OE soybean plants had a higher chlorophyll content and activity of nitrogen assimilation-related enzymes than wild-type soybean plants. AtPLDε-OE led to a higher level of specific PA species in roots after rhizobium inoculation than wild type. AtPLDε-OE soybean plants also increased seed production under nitrogen deprivation with and without nodulation and decreased seed germination in response to high humidity storage and artificial aging. These results suggest that PLDε promotes nitrogen response and affects adversely seed viability during storage.}, } @article {pmid35597849, year = {2022}, author = {Zarka, J and De Wint, FC and De Bruyn, L and Bonte, D and Parmentier, T}, title = {Dissecting the costs of a facultative symbiosis in an isopod living with ants.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {199}, number = {2}, pages = {355-366}, pmid = {35597849}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Isopoda ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The balance between costs and benefits is expected to drive associations between species. While these balances are well understood for strict associations, we have no insights to which extent they determine facultative associations between species. Here, we quantified the costs of living in a facultative association, by studying the effects of red wood ants on the facultatively associated isopod Porcellio scaber. Porcellio scaber frequently occurred in and near hostile red wood ant nests and might outnumber obligate nest associates. The facultative association involved different costs for the isopod. We found that the density of the isopod decreases near the nest with higher ant traffic. Individuals in and near the nest were smaller than individuals further away from the nest. Smaller individuals were also found at sites with higher ant traffic. A higher proportion of wounded individuals was found closer to the nest and with higher ant traffic. We recorded pregnant females and juveniles in the nest suggesting that the life cycle can be completed inside the nests. Lab experiments showed that females died sooner and invested less in reproduction in presence of red wood ants. Porcellio scaber rarely provoked an aggression response, but large numbers were carried as prey to the nest. These preyed isopods were mainly dried out corpses. Our results showed that the ant association incurred several costs for a facultative associate. Consequently, red wood ant nests and their surrounding territory act as an alternative habitat where demographic costs are offset by a stable resource provisioning and protection.}, } @article {pmid35597531, year = {2022}, author = {Boubakri, H and Najjar, E and Jihnaoui, N and Chihaoui, SA and Barhoumi, F and Jebara, M}, title = {Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of glutaredoxin gene family (Grxs) in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {833}, number = {}, pages = {146591}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2022.146591}, pmid = {35597531}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glutaredoxins/genetics/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; *Phaseolus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are ubiquitous oxidoreductase proteins implicated in development and abiotic stress response mainly through maintaining redox homoeostasis. Here, we conducted the first systematic analysis of the Grx gene family (PvGrx) in the most popular legume Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). A total of 50 PvGrx genes were identified, and divided into four classes (CC-type, CGFS-type, CPYC-type and Grl-type) based on the phylogenetic analysis. The different classes have different introns-exons structures and conserved motifs, indicating functional divergence in the PvGrx family. Both tandem and segmental duplications were found to be involved in the expansion of PvGrx family that underwent a purifying selection by excluding the deleterious loss-of-function mutations. Cis-acting regulatory elements and gene ontology analyses predicted their role of distinctive members in abiotic stress response and hormonal signalling. RNA-seq based expression analysis revealed their differential expression pattern during plant development. On the other hand, RT q-PCR analysis revealed that target PvGrx isoforms were associated with nodule organogenesis and symbiosis based on their expression profiles. In addition, a battery of PvGrx candidates were markedly upregulated by different abiotic stressors suggesting their broad spectrum of functions. These findings serve as a reference for functional analysis and genetic improvement in P. vulgaris and related legume species.}, } @article {pmid35597353, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, B and Zhang, D and Pan, X}, title = {Nodules of wild legumes as unique natural hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {839}, number = {}, pages = {156036}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156036}, pmid = {35597353}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Genes, Bacterial ; Soil ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {Root nodules (RN) of legumes have distinct microenvironment from their symbiotic roots and surrounding soils. The rhizobia can withstand the host-produced phytoalexins and antimicrobial compounds. We thus hypothesize that the wild legume RN may develop unique natural resistome and be antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) hotspots. In this study, in comparison with rhizosphere soil (RS) and bulk soil (BS), we characterized the feature of antibiotic resistance in the RN of two wild legumes, Medicago polymorpha and Astragalus sinicus, by metagenomics. It was shown that the total relative abundance of ARGs followed the order of RN > RS > BS for both legumes. ARGs encoding antibiotic efflux pump predominated in all samples with increased proportion from BS to RN samples for both legumes. Totally 275 ARG subtypes were detected, and diversity of ARGs in RN was significantly lower than in BS samples for both legumes. 32 and 25 unique ARGs subtypes were detected in RN of both legumes. Bacterial community played a key role in shaping nodule-associated resistome because both ARG profiles and bacterial community differed greatly among BS, RS and RN. Rhizobia potentially hosted 10 and 15 ARGs subtypes for both legumes. The number and proportion of plasmid- and ARG-carrying contigs (ACCs) were higher in RN than in BS. Host tracking analysis of plasmid-ACCs suggests that proportion of rhizobial bacteria identified as their hosts decreased from BS to RN samples. No plasmid-ACCs with multiple ARGs were observed in BS samples, whereas they were detected in RN samples of both legumes. Our study showed that even wild legume nodules are unique natural ARG hotspots and enough attention should be paid to the dissemination risk of ARGs posed by globally produced legume crops.}, } @article {pmid35597219, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, X and Johnson, KB and Gu, B and Zhang, H and Li, G and Huang, X and Xia, X}, title = {The in-situ release of algal bloom populations and the role of prokaryotic communities in their establishment and growth.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {118565}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.118565}, pmid = {35597219}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Diatoms ; *Dinoflagellida ; Estuaries ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; Rivers ; }, abstract = {Harmful algal blooms (HABs) may quickly travel and inoculate new water bodies via currents and runoff in estuaries. The role of in-situ prokaryotic communities in the re-establishment and growth of inoculated algal blooms remains unknown. A novel on-board incubation experiment was employed to simulate the sudden surge of algal blooms to new estuarine waters and reveal possible outcomes. A dinoflagellate (Amphidinium carterae) and a diatom species (Thalassiosira weissflogii) which had bloomed in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) area were cultured to bloom densities and reintroduced back into PRE natural seawaters. The diatom showed better adaptation ability to the new environment and increased significantly after the incubation. Simultaneously, particle-attached (PA) prokaryotic community structure was strongly influenced by adding of the diatom, with some opportunistic prokaryotes significantly enhanced in the diatom treatment. Whereas the dinoflagellate population did not increase following incubation, and their PA prokaryotic community showed no significant differences relative to the control. Metagenomic analyzes revealed that labile carbohydrates and organic nitrogen produced by the diatom contributed to the surge of certain PA prokaryotes. Genomic properties of a bacteria strain, which is affiliated with genus GMD16E07 (Planctomycetaceae) and comprised up to 50% of PA prokaryotes in the diatom treatment, was described here for the first time. Notably, the association of Planctomycetaceae and T. weissflogii likely represents symbiotic mutualism, with the diatom providing organic matter for Planctomycetaceae and the bacteria supplying vitamins and detoxifying nitriles and hydrogen peroxides in exchange. Therefore, the close association between Planctomycetaceae and T. weissflogii promoted the growth of both populations, and eventually facilitated the diatom bloom establishment.}, } @article {pmid35596782, year = {2022}, author = {Watts-Williams, SJ}, title = {Track and trace: how soil labelling techniques have revealed the secrets of resource transport in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {3-4}, pages = {257-267}, pmid = {35596782}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonise plant roots, and by doing so forge the 'mycorrhizal uptake pathway(s)' (MUP) that provide passageways for the trade of resources across a specialised membrane at the plant-fungus interface. The transport of nutrients such as phosphorus (P), nitrogen and zinc from the fungus, and carbon from the plant, via the MUP have mostly been quantified using stable or radioactive isotope labelling of soil in a specialised hyphae-only compartment. Recent advances in the study of AM fungi have used tracing studies to better understand how the AM association will function in a changing climate, the extent to which the MUP can contribute to P uptake by important crops, and how AM fungi trade resources in interaction with plants, other AM fungi, and friend and foe in the soil microbiome. The existing work together with well-designed future experiments will provide a valuable assessment of the potential for AM fungi to play a role in the sustainability of managed and natural systems in a changing climate.}, } @article {pmid35594346, year = {2022}, author = {Brachert, TC and Felis, T and Gagnaison, C and Hoehle, M and Reuter, M and Spreter, PM}, title = {Slow-growing reef corals as climate archives: A case study of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum 40 Ma ago.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {20}, pages = {eabm3875}, pmid = {35594346}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {The skeletons of stony corals on tropical shallow-water reefs are high-resolution climate archives. However, their systematic use for unlocking climate dynamics of the geologic past is limited by the susceptibility of the porous aragonite skeleton to diagenetic alterations. Here, we present oxygen and carbon isotope time series (monthly resolution) from reef corals with an unusual unaltered preservation from the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) "hyperthermal" (40 million years ago). Annual extension of the corals at the studied midlatitude site (France) was remarkably low (0.2 cm). Nonetheless, isotope signatures display no evidence for kinetic disequilibria that discredit their use as climate archive, but growth rate-dependent annual signal amplitude attenuations need corrections using an innovative sampling approach. Thereafter, we present evidence of symbiotic zooxanthellae in reef corals of the Paleogene and subdued sea surface temperature seasonality of only 7° to 8°C during the MECO, consistent with the globally equant climate of the hothouse.}, } @article {pmid35591999, year = {2022}, author = {Guizzo, MG and Tirloni, L and Gonzalez, SA and Farber, MD and Braz, G and Parizi, LF and Dedavid E Silva, LA and da Silva Vaz, I and Oliveira, PL}, title = {Coxiella Endosymbiont of Rhipicephalus microplus Modulates Tick Physiology With a Major Impact in Blood Feeding Capacity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {868575}, pmid = {35591999}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the past decade, metagenomics studies exploring tick microbiota have revealed widespread interactions between bacteria and arthropods, including symbiotic interactions. Functional studies showed that obligate endosymbionts contribute to tick biology, affecting reproductive fitness and molting. Understanding the molecular basis of the interaction between ticks and their mutualist endosymbionts may help to develop control methods based on microbiome manipulation. Previously, we showed that Rhipicephalus microplus larvae with reduced levels of Coxiella endosymbiont of R. microplus (CERM) were arrested at the metanymph life stage (partially engorged nymph) and did not molt into adults. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic differential analysis of the R. microplus metanymph in the presence and absence of its mutualist endosymbiont. The lack of CERM resulted in an altered expression profile of transcripts from several functional categories. Gene products such as DA-P36, protease inhibitors, metalloproteases, and evasins, which are involved in blood feeding capacity, were underexpressed in CERM-free metanymphs. Disregulation in genes related to extracellular matrix remodeling was also observed in the absence of the symbiont. Taken together, the observed alterations in gene expression may explain the blockage of development at the metanymph stage and reveal a novel physiological aspect of the symbiont-tick-vertebrate host interaction.}, } @article {pmid35591989, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, R and Dong, L and Chen, Y and Wang, S and Qu, L}, title = {Third Generation Genome Sequencing Reveals That Endobacteria in Nematophagous Fungi Esteya vermicola Contain Multiple Genes Encoding for Nematicidal Proteins.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {842684}, pmid = {35591989}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Esteya vermicola is the first recorded endoparasitic nematophagous fungus with high infectivity capacity, attacking the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus which causes pine wilt disease. Endosymbionts are found in the cytoplasm of E. vermicola from various geographical areas. We sequenced the genome of endobacteria residing in E. vermicola to discover possible biological functions of these widespread endobacteria. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses showed that the endobacteria form a previously unidentified lineage sister to Phyllobacterium myrsinacearum species. The number of genes in the endobacterium was 4542, with 87.8% of the proteins having a known function. It contained a high proportion of repetitive sequences, as well as more Acyl-CoA synthetase genes and genes encoding the electron transport chain, compared with compared with plant-associated P. zundukense Tri 48 and P. myrsinacearum DSM 5893. Thus, this symbiotic bacterium is likely to be more efficient in regulating gene expression and energy release. Furthermore, the endobacteria in nematophagous fungi Esteya vermicola contained multiple nematicidal subtilase/subtilisin encoding genes, so it is likely that endobacteria cooperate with the host to kill nematodes.}, } @article {pmid35591988, year = {2022}, author = {Siddiqui, JA and Khan, MM and Bamisile, BS and Hafeez, M and Qasim, M and Rasheed, MT and Rasheed, MA and Ahmad, S and Shahid, MI and Xu, Y}, title = {Role of Insect Gut Microbiota in Pesticide Degradation: A Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {870462}, pmid = {35591988}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insect pests cause significant agricultural and economic losses to crops worldwide due to their destructive activities. Pesticides are designed to be poisonous and are intentionally released into the environment to combat the menace caused by these noxious pests. To survive, these insects can resist toxic substances introduced by humans in the form of pesticides. According to recent findings, microbes that live in insect as symbionts have recently been found to protect their hosts against toxins. Symbioses that have been formed are between the pests and various microbes, a defensive mechanism against pathogens and pesticides. Insects' guts provide unique conditions for microbial colonization, and resident bacteria can deliver numerous benefits to their hosts. Insects vary significantly in their reliance on gut microbes for basic functions. Insect digestive tracts are very different in shape and chemical properties, which have a big impact on the structure and composition of the microbial community. Insect gut microbiota has been found to contribute to feeding, parasite and pathogen protection, immune response modulation, and pesticide breakdown. The current review will examine the roles of gut microbiota in pesticide detoxification and the mechanisms behind the development of resistance in insects to various pesticides. To better understand the detoxifying microbiota in agriculturally significant pest insects, we provided comprehensive information regarding the role of gut microbiota in the detoxification of pesticides.}, } @article {pmid35591984, year = {2022}, author = {Quach, QN and Gardner, DR and Clay, K and Cook, D}, title = {Phylogenetic Patterns of Swainsonine Presence in Morning Glories.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {871148}, pmid = {35591984}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endosymbionts play important roles in the life cycles of many macro-organisms. The indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine is produced by heritable fungi that occurs in diverse plant families, such as locoweeds (Fabaceae) and morning glories (Convolvulaceae) plus two species of Malvaceae. Swainsonine is known for its toxic effects on livestock following the ingestion of locoweeds and the potential for pharmaceutical applications. We sampled and tested herbarium seed samples (n = 983) from 244 morning glory species for the presence of swainsonine and built a phylogeny based on available internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the sampled species. We show that swainsonine occurs only in a single morning glory clade and host species are established on multiple continents. Our results further indicate that this symbiosis developed ∼5 mya and that swainsonine-positive species have larger seeds than their uninfected conspecifics.}, } @article {pmid35590484, year = {2022}, author = {Santos-Medellín, C and Edwards, J and Nguyen, B and Sundaresan, V}, title = {Acquisition of a complex root microbiome reshapes the transcriptomes of rice plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {5}, pages = {2008-2021}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18261}, pmid = {35590484}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {S10 OD010786/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cross-Sectional Studies ; Leucine ; *Microbiota ; *Oryza/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Plants/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Soil microorganisms can colonize plant roots and assemble in communities engaged in symbiotic relationships with their host. Though the compositional dynamics of root-associated microbiomes have been extensively studied, the host transcriptional response to these communities is poorly understood. Here, we developed an experimental system by which rice plants grown under axenic conditions can acquire a defined endosphere microbiome. Using this setup, we performed a cross-sectional characterization of plant transcriptomes in the presence or absence of a complex microbial community. To account for compositional variation, plants were inoculated with soil-derived microbiomes harvested from three distinct agricultural sites. Soil microbiomes triggered a major shift in the transcriptional profiles of rice plants that included the downregulation of one-third to one-fourth of the families of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases and nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors expressed in roots. Though the expression of several genes was consistent across all soil sources, a large fraction of this response was differentially impacted by soil type. These results demonstrate the role of root microbiomes in sculpting the transcriptomes of host plants and highlight the potential involvement of the two main receptor families of the plant immune system in the recruitment and maintenance of an endosphere microbiome.}, } @article {pmid35590396, year = {2022}, author = {Unzueta-Martínez, A and Scanes, E and Parker, LM and Ross, PM and O'Connor, W and Bowen, JL}, title = {Microbiomes of the Sydney Rock Oyster are acquired through both vertical and horizontal transmission.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {32}, pmid = {35590396}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The term holobiont is widely accepted to describe animal hosts and their associated microorganisms. The genomes of all that the holobiont encompasses, are termed the hologenome and it has been proposed as a unit of selection in evolution. To demonstrate that natural selection acts on the hologenome, a significant portion of the associated microbial genomes should be transferred between generations. Using the Sydney Rock Oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) as a model, we tested if the microbes of this broadcast spawning species could be passed down to the next generation by conducting single parent crosses and tracking the microbiome from parent to offspring and throughout early larval stages using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. From each cross, we sampled adult tissues (mantle, gill, stomach, gonad, eggs or sperm), larvae (D-veliger, umbo, eyed pediveliger, and spat), and the surrounding environment (water and algae feed) for microbial community analysis.

RESULTS: We found that each larval stage has a distinct microbiome that is partially influenced by their parental microbiome, particularly the maternal egg microbiome. We also demonstrate the presence of core microbes that are consistent across all families, persist throughout early life stages (from eggs to spat), and are not detected in the microbiomes of the surrounding environment. In addition to the core microbiomes that span all life cycle stages, there is also evidence of environmentally acquired microbial communities, with earlier larval stages (D-veliger and umbo), more influenced by seawater microbiomes, and later larval stages (eyed pediveliger and spat) dominated by microbial members that are specific to oysters and not detected in the surrounding environment.

CONCLUSION: Our study characterized the succession of oyster larvae microbiomes from gametes to spat and tracked selected members that persisted across multiple life stages. Overall our findings suggest that both horizontal and vertical transmission routes are possible for the complex microbial communities associated with a broadcast spawning marine invertebrate. We demonstrate that not all members of oyster-associated microbiomes are governed by the same ecological dynamics, which is critical for determining what constitutes a hologenome.}, } @article {pmid35589814, year = {2022}, author = {Drury, C and Bean, NK and Harris, CI and Hancock, JR and Huckeba, J and H, CM and Roach, TNF and Quinn, RA and Gates, RD}, title = {Intrapopulation adaptive variance supports thermal tolerance in a reef-building coral.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {486}, pmid = {35589814}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Coral Reefs ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Coral holobionts are multi-species assemblages, which adds significant complexity to genotype-phenotype connections underlying ecologically important traits like coral bleaching. Small scale heterogeneity in bleaching is ubiquitous in the absence of strong environmental gradients, which provides adaptive variance needed for the long-term persistence of coral reefs. We used RAD-seq, qPCR and LC-MS/MS metabolomics to characterize host genomic variation, symbiont community and biochemical correlates in two bleaching phenotypes of the vertically transmitting coral Montipora capitata. Phenotype was driven by symbiosis state and host genetic variance. We documented 5 gene ontologies that were significantly associated with both the binary bleaching phenotype and symbiont composition, representing functions that confer a phenotype via host-symbiont interactions. We bred these corals and show that symbiont communities were broadly conserved in bulk-crosses, resulting in significantly higher survivorship under temperature stress in juveniles, but not larvae, from tolerant parents. Using a select and re-sequence approach, we document numerous gene ontologies selected by heat stress, some of which (cell signaling, antioxidant activity, pH regulation) have unique selection dynamics in larvae from thermally tolerant parents. These data show that vertically transmitting corals may have an adaptive advantage under climate change if host and symbiont variance interact to influence bleaching phenotype.}, } @article {pmid35589789, year = {2022}, author = {de Souza, LMD and Lirio, JM and Coria, SH and Lopes, FAC and Convey, P and Carvalho-Silva, M and de Oliveira, FS and Rosa, CA and Câmara, PEAS and Rosa, LH}, title = {Diversity, distribution and ecology of fungal communities present in Antarctic lake sediments uncovered by DNA metabarcoding.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {8407}, pmid = {35589789}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Lakes ; *Mycobiome/genetics ; }, abstract = {We assessed fungal diversity in sediments obtained from four lakes in the South Shetland Islands and James Ross Island, Antarctica, using DNA metabarcoding. We detected 218 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota and Chytridiomycota. In addition, the rare phyla Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota as well as fungal-like Straminopila belonging to the phyla Bacillariophyta and Oomycota were detected. The fungal assemblages were dominated by unknown fungal taxa (Fungal sp. 1 and Fungal sp. 2), followed by Talaromyces rubicundus and Dactylonectria anthuriicola. In general, they displayed high diversity, richness and moderate dominance. Sequences representing saprophytic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected, including the phytopathogenic fungus D. anthuriicola that was abundant, in the relatively young Soto Lake on Deception Island. The lake sediments studied contained the DNA of rich, diverse and complex fungal communities, including both fungi commonly reported in Antarctica and other taxa considered to be rare. However, as the study was based on the use of environmental DNA, which does not unequivocally confirm the presence of active or viable organisms, further studies using other approaches such as shotgun sequencing are required to elucidate the ecology of fungi in these Antarctic lake sediments.}, } @article {pmid35588991, year = {2022}, author = {Riva, A and Pozzati, E and Grasso, M and De Caro, C and Russo, E and Verrotti, A and Striano, P}, title = {Targeting the MGBA with -biotics in epilepsy: New insights from preclinical and clinical studies.}, journal = {Neurobiology of disease}, volume = {170}, number = {}, pages = {105758}, doi = {10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105758}, pmid = {35588991}, issn = {1095-953X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Epilepsy/drug therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Diseases ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; Mitoguazone/analogs & derivatives ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Data accumulation reveals that the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the brain, called the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA), can be modulated by different compounds including prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotic (a fair combination of both), and diet, thus exerting a beneficial impact on brain activity and behaviors. This review aims to give an overview of the possible beneficial effects of the supplementation of -biotics in epilepsy treatment.

METHODS: A search on PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases using the terms "probiotics", OR "prebiotics", AND "gut microbiota", AND "epilepsy" was performed. The search covered the period of the last eleven years (2010-2021).

CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays, studies analyzing the clinical impact of gut microbiota-modulating intervention strategies on epilepsy are limited and heterogenous due either to the different experimental populations studied (i.e., genetic vs lesional mouse models) or the various primary outcomes measure evaluated. However, positive effects have invariably been noticed; particularly, there have been improvements in behavioral comorbidities and associated gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. More studies will be needed in the next few years to strictly evaluate the feasibility to introduce these new therapeutic strategies in the clinical treatment of highly refractory epilepsies.}, } @article {pmid35587930, year = {2022}, author = {Benyedem, H and Lekired, A and Mhadhbi, M and Dhibi, M and Romdhane, R and Chaari, S and Rekik, M and Ouzari, HI and Hajji, T and Darghouth, MA}, title = {First insights into the microbiome of Tunisian Hyalomma ticks gained through next-generation sequencing with a special focus on H. scupense.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {e0268172}, pmid = {35587930}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Francisella/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Ixodidae/genetics/microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rickettsia/genetics ; *Ticks/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ticks are one of the most important vectors of several pathogens affecting humans and animals. In addition to pathogens, ticks carry diverse microbiota of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms. In this study, we have investigated the first Tunisian insight into the microbial composition of the most dominant Hyalomma species infesting Tunisian cattle and explored the relative contribution of tick sex, life stage, and species to the diversity, richness and bacterial species of tick microbiome. In this regard, next generation sequencing for the 16S rRNA (V3-V4 region) of tick bacterial microbiota and metagenomic analysis were established. The analysis of the bacterial diversity reveals that H. marginatum and H. excavatum have greater diversity than H. scupense. Furthermore, microbial diversity and composition vary according to the tick's life stage and sex in the specific case of H. scupense. The endosymbionts Francisella, Midichloria mitochondrii, and Rickettsia were shown to be the most prevalent in Hyalomma spp. Rickettsia, Francisella, Ehrlichia, and Erwinia are the most common zoonotic bacteria found in Hyalomma ticks. Accordingly, Hyalomma ticks could represent potential vectors for these zoonotic bacterial agents.}, } @article {pmid35587780, year = {2022}, author = {Boaventura, J and Caetano, T and Mendo, S and Cleary, DFR and Gomes, NCM and Oliveira, V}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio mediterranei Strain CyArs1.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0015522}, pmid = {35587780}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Here, we report on the draft genome sequence of Vibrio mediterranei strain CyArs1, isolated from the marine sponge Cinachyrella sp. Genome annotation revealed multiple genomic features, including eukaryotic-like repeat protein- and multidrug resistance-encoding genes, potentially involved in symbiotic relationships with the sponge host.}, } @article {pmid35586213, year = {2022}, author = {Rawal, R and Scheerens, JC and Fenstemaker, SM and Francis, DM and Miller, SA and Benitez, MS}, title = {Novel Trichoderma Isolates Alleviate Water Deficit Stress in Susceptible Tomato Genotypes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {869090}, pmid = {35586213}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic fungi in the genus Trichoderma can induce abiotic stress tolerance in crops. The beneficial effects of Trichoderma on water deficit stress are poorly understood and may be isolate-specific. Our objective was to evaluate a collection of Nepalese Trichoderma isolates and their efficacy to improve tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth under water deficit. Variable growth in low moisture environments was observed among Trichoderma isolates from Nepal, Ohio, and commercial sources using in vitro assays. The overall performance of the population decreased when cultured under conditions of decreasing matric water potential (0.0, -2.8, -4.8, and -8.5 Ψ). Twelve isolates were selected for evaluation for their potential to elicit drought tolerance in greenhouse-grown 'Roma Organic' tomatoes. Plants treated with T. asperelloides-NT33 had higher shoot weight than the non-inoculated control (T0) under water deficit stress conditions. Further, the stress-reducing efficacy of isolates T. asperelloides-NT33, T. asperellum-NT16, T. asperelloides-NT3, and commercial T. harzianum-T22 were tested on tomato genotypes with differing tolerance to drought ['Roma Organic,' 'Jaune Flamme,' and 'Punta Banda']. The water deficit susceptible genotypes 'Roma Organic' and 'Jaune Flamme' inoculated with isolate NT33 had significantly higher shoot weight (37 and 30% respectively; p < 0.05) compared to the non-inoculated control under water deficit stress conditions. In drought tolerant 'Punta Banda,' shoot weight was also significantly greater in NT33 inoculated plants under water deficit stress conditions, but with lower magnitude difference (8%; p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate differences in the ability of Trichoderma isolates to confer tolerance to water deficit in tomato with NT33 potentially relieving stress. Tomato genotypes also play a role in the outcome of interactions with the Trichoderma isolates we tested.}, } @article {pmid35586129, year = {2022}, author = {Rosani, U}, title = {Tracing RNA viruses associated with Nudibranchia gastropods.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13410}, pmid = {35586129}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastropoda/genetics ; *RNA Viruses/genetics ; *Viruses/genetics ; Genes, Viral ; RNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nudibranchia is an under-studied taxonomic group of gastropods, including more than 3,000 species with colourful and extravagant body shapes and peculiar predatory and defensive strategies. Although symbiosis with bacteria has been reported, no data are available for the nudibranch microbiome nor regarding viruses possibly associated with these geographically widespread species.

METHODS: Based on 47 available RNA sequencing datasets including more than two billion reads of 35 nudibranch species, a meta-transcriptome assembly was constructed. Taxonomic searches with DIAMOND, RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase identification with palmscan and viral hallmark genes identification by VirSorter2 in combination with CheckV were applied to identify genuine viral genomes, which were then annotated using CAT.

RESULTS: A total of 20 viral genomes were identified as bona fide viruses, among 552 putative viral contigs resembling both RNA viruses of the Negarnaviricota, Pisuviricota, Kitrinoviricota phyla and actively transcribing DNA viruses of the Cossaviricota and Nucleocytoviricota phyla. The 20 commonly identified viruses showed similarity with RNA viruses identified in other RNA-seq experiments and can be putatively associated with bacteria, plant and arthropod hosts by co-occurence analysis. The RNA samples having the highest viral abundances showed a heterogenous and mostly sample-specific distribution of the identified viruses, suggesting that nudibranchs possess diversified and mostly unknown viral communities.}, } @article {pmid35585381, year = {2022}, author = {Rasheed, A and Barqawi, AA and Mahmood, A and Nawaz, M and Shah, AN and Bay, DH and Alahdal, MA and Hassan, MU and Qari, SH}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful tool for precise genome editing of legume crops: a review.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {49}, number = {6}, pages = {5595-5609}, pmid = {35585381}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; *Gene Editing/methods ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Vegetables/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes are an imperative source of food and proteins across the globe. They also improve soil fertility through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Genome editing (GE) is now a novel way of developing desirable traits in legume crops. Genome editing tools like clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system permits a defined genome alteration to improve crop performance. This genome editing tool is reliable, cost-effective, and versatile, and it has to deepen in terms of use compared to other tools. Recently, many novel variations have drawn the attention of plant geneticists, and efforts are being made to develop trans-gene-free cultivars for ensuring biosafety measures. This review critically elaborates on the recent development in genome editing of major legumes crops. We hope this updated review will provide essential informations for the researchers working on legumes genome editing. In general, the CRISPR/Cas9 novel GE technique can be integrated with other techniques like omics approaches and next-generation tools to broaden the range of gene editing and develop any desired legumes traits. Regulatory ethics of CRISPR/Cas9 are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid35585189, year = {2022}, author = {Devi, S and Saini, HS and Kaur, S}, title = {Assessing the pathogenicity of gut bacteria associated with tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura (Fab.).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {8257}, pmid = {35585189}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; Larva ; Serratia marcescens ; Spodoptera/physiology ; *Tobacco ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between insects and gut microbes contributes to their fitness by serving immense range of functions viz. nutrition and digestion, detoxification, communication and reproduction etc. However, this relationship between insect and gut microbes varies from mutualistic to pathogenic. Gut microbes become pathogenic when the healthy normal microbial composition is perturbed leading to the death of insect host. Spodoptera litura (Fab.) is a polyphagous pest that causes significant damage to many agricultural crops. The management of this pest primarily depends upon chemical insecticides which have resulted in development of resistance. Thus in search for alternative strategies, culturable gut bacteria isolated from S. litura were screened for insecticidal potential. Among these Serratia marcescens and Enterococcus mundtii induced higher larval mortality in S. litura. The mortality rate increased from 32 to 58% due to S. marcescens at concentrations ranging from 2.6 × 10[8] to 5.2 × 10[9] cfu/ml and 26 to 52% in case of E. mundtii due to increase in concentration from 4.6 × 10[8] to 6.1 × 10[9] cfu/ml. Both the bacteria negatively affected the development, nutritional physiology and reproductive potential of insect. The results indicated a change in gut microbial composition as well as damage to the gut epithelial membrane. Invasion of gut bacteria into the haemocoel led to septicaemia and ultimately death of host insect. In conclusion both these gut bacteria may serve as potential biocontrol agents against S. litura.}, } @article {pmid35584884, year = {2022}, author = {Busby, PE and Newcombe, G and Neat, AS and Averill, C}, title = {Facilitating Reforestation Through the Plant Microbiome: Perspectives from the Phyllosphere.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {337-356}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-021320-010717}, pmid = {35584884}, issn = {1545-2107}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Forests ; *Microbiota ; Plant Leaves ; Seedlings ; Soil ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Tree planting and natural regeneration contribute to the ongoing effort to restore Earth's forests. Our review addresses how the plant microbiome can enhance the survival of planted and naturally regenerating seedlings and serve in long-term forest carbon capture and the conservation of biodiversity. We focus on fungal leaf endophytes, ubiquitous defensive symbionts that protect against pathogens. We first show that fungal and oomycetous pathogen richness varies greatly for tree species native to the United States (n = 0-876 known pathogens per US tree species), with nearly half of tree species either without pathogens in these major groups or with unknown pathogens. Endophytes are insurance against the poorly known and changing threat of tree pathogens. Next, we review studies of plant phyllosphere feedback, but knowledge gaps prevent us from evaluating whether adding conspecific leaf litter to planted seedlings promotes defensive symbiosis, analogous to adding soil to promote positive feedback. Finally, we discuss research priorities for integrating the plant microbiome into efforts to expand Earth's forests.}, } @article {pmid35584674, year = {2022}, author = {Shao, TY and Kakade, P and Witchley, JN and Frazer, C and Murray, KL and Ene, IV and Haslam, DB and Hagan, T and Noble, SM and Bennett, RJ and Way, SS}, title = {Candida albicans oscillating UME6 expression during intestinal colonization primes systemic Th17 protective immunity.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {39}, number = {7}, pages = {110837}, pmid = {35584674}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {75N92020D00005/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 75N93022D00005/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI141893/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK078392/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 75N95020D00005/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; 75N99020D00005/OF/ORFDO NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI108992/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 AI131080/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI081704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Candida albicans/genetics ; Cell Wall ; Intestines ; Mice ; Symbiosis ; *Th17 Cells ; }, abstract = {Systemic immunity is stringently regulated by commensal intestinal microbes, including the pathobiont Candida albicans. This fungus utilizes various transcriptional and morphological programs for host adaptation, but how this heterogeneity affects immunogenicity remains uncertain. We show that UME6, a transcriptional regulator of filamentation, is essential for intestinal C. albicans-primed systemic Th17 immunity. UME6 deletion and constitutive overexpression strains are non-immunogenic during commensal colonization, whereas immunogenicity is restored by C. albicans undergoing oscillating UME6 expression linked with β-glucan and mannan production. In turn, intestinal reconstitution with these fungal cell wall components restores protective Th17 immunity to mice colonized with UME6-locked variants. These fungal cell wall ligands and commensal C. albicans stimulate Th17 immunity through multiple host pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, Dectin-1, and Dectin-2, which work synergistically for colonization-induced protection. Thus, dynamic gene expression fluctuations by C. albicans during symbiotic colonization are essential for priming host immunity against disseminated infection.}, } @article {pmid35584587, year = {2022}, author = {Kuroda, K and Narihiro, T and Shinshima, F and Yoshida, M and Yamaguchi, H and Kurashita, H and Nakahara, N and Nobu, MK and Noguchi, TQP and Yamauchi, M and Yamada, M}, title = {High-rate cotreatment of purified terephthalate and dimethyl terephthalate manufacturing wastewater by a mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor and the microbial ecology relevant to aromatic compound degradation.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {118581}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.118581}, pmid = {35584587}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Benzoates ; Bioreactors ; Phthalic Acids ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is produced worldwide, mainly as material for plastic drink bottles. PET is produced by polymerization of purified terephthalate (PTA) or dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) with ethylene glycol. During the synthetic manufacturing processes of PTA and DMT, high organic loading wastewater is produced, which is typically treated separately by anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies. Given the high demand for PET, manufacturing plants are expanding globally, which will result in an increase in the amounts of PTA and DMT wastewater in need of treatment. In terms of effective treatment, the cotreatment of PTA and DMT wastewater has several advantages, including lower area and energy requirements. In this study, we examined the performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor in cotreating PTA and DMT wastewater with high organic loading, evaluating its removal characteristics after 518 days of continuous operation. In addition, we performed a microbiome analysis of the UASB granular sludge to uncover the microbial interactions and metabolic functions within the reactor. By continuous operation, we achieved an organic removal rate of 6.6 kg m[-3] day[-1]. In addition, we confirmed that aromatic compounds in the complex wastewater from the PTA and DMT manufacturing processes are biodegradable in the following order: benzoate > orthophthalate > terephthalate > isophthalate > p-toluic acid. 16S rRNA gene-based network analysis shows that anaerobic Woesearchaeales belonging to phylum Nanoarchaeota has a positive correlation with Methanoregula, Candidatus Methanofastidiosum, and Methanosarcina, suggesting a symbiotic relationship with methanogens in granular sludge. Shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed that terephthalate, isophthalate/orthophthalate, and benzoate were degraded by different members of Pelotomaculaceae and Syntrophorhabdaceae. According to the genomic information, we propose two new possible routes for orthophthalate degradation by the Syntrophorhabdaceae organism.}, } @article {pmid35583332, year = {2022}, author = {Luo, Y and Ren, W and Smidt, H and Wright, AG and Yu, B and Schyns, G and McCormack, UM and Cowieson, AJ and Yu, J and He, J and Yan, H and Wu, J and Mackie, RI and Chen, D}, title = {Dynamic Distribution of Gut Microbiota in Pigs at Different Growth Stages: Composition and Contribution.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0068821}, pmid = {35583332}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; *Microbiota ; Swine ; }, abstract = {Fully understanding the dynamic distribution of the gut microbiota in pigs is essential, as gut microorganisms play a fundamental role in physiological processes, immunity, and the metabolism of nutrients by the host. Here, we first summarize the characteristics and the dynamic shifts in the gut microbial community of pigs at different ages based on the results of 63 peer-review publications. Then a meta-analysis based on the sequences from 16 studies with accession numbers in the GenBank database is conducted to verify the characteristics of the gut microbiota in healthy pigs. A dynamic shift is confirmed in the gut microbiota of pigs at different ages and growth phases. In general, Bacteroides, Escherichia, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella are dominant in piglets before weaning, then Prevotella and Aneriacter shift to be the predominant genera with Fusobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Miscellaneous as comparative minors in postweaned pigs. A number of 19 bacterial genera, including Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus can be found in more than 90% of pigs and three enterotypes can be identified in all pigs at different ages, suggesting there is a "core" microbiota in the gut of healthy pigs, which can be a potential target for nutrition or health regulation. The "core" members benefit the growth and gut health of the host. These findings help to define an "optimal" gut microbial profile for assessing, or improving, the performance and health status of pigs at different growth stages. IMPORTANCE The ban on feed antibiotics by more and more countries, and the expected ban on ZnO in feed supplementation from 2022 in the EU, urge researchers and pig producers to search for new alternatives. One possible alternative is to use the so-called "next-generation probiotics (NGPs)" derived from gastrointestinal tract. In this paper, we reveal that a total of 19 "core" bacterial genera including Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus etc., can be found in more than 90% of healthy pigs across different ages. These identified genera may probably be the potential candidates of NGPs or the potential target of microflora regulation. Adding substrates preferred by these target microbes will help to increase the abundance of specific symbiotic species and benefit the gut health of pigs. Further research targeting these "core" microbes and the dynamic distribution of microbiota, as well as the related function is of great importance in swine production.}, } @article {pmid35582859, year = {2023}, author = {Huang, LJ and Li, XA and Jin, MY and Guo, WX and Lei, LR and Liu, R and Zhang, MZ and Guo, DL and Wang, D and Zhou, Y and Deng, Y and Zhang, JG}, title = {Two previously undescribed phthalides from Talaromyces amestolkiae, a symbiotic fungus of Syngnathus acus.}, journal = {Journal of Asian natural products research}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {147-155}, doi = {10.1080/10286020.2022.2075738}, pmid = {35582859}, issn = {1477-2213}, mesh = {Molecular Structure ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; *Talaromyces/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Amestolkins A (1) and B (2), two previously undescribed phthalides sharing the same planar structure of (1, 5-dihydroxyhexyl)-7-hydroxyisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one were isolated from Talaromyces amestolkiae. Their absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic evidences in high-resolution electrospray mass spectra (HRESIMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) combined with electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and NMR calculations. 1 and 2 showed anti-neuroinflammatory activity by inhibiting the gene expressions of proinflammatory factors including C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), as well as attenuating the excretion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in BV-2 microglial cells at the concentration of 30 μM.}, } @article {pmid35582294, year = {2022}, author = {Manzhalii, E and Moyseyenko, V and Kondratiuk, V and Molochek, N and Falalyeyeva, T and Kobyliak, N}, title = {Effect of a specific Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain on minimal/mild hepatic encephalopathy treatment.}, journal = {World journal of hepatology}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {634-646}, pmid = {35582294}, issn = {1948-5182}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) can be considered a result of dysregulated gut-liver-brain axis function, where cognitive impairment can be reversed or prevented by the beneficial effects induced by "gut-centric" therapies, such as the administration of nonabsorbable disaccharides, nonabsorbable antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics.

AIM: To assess the short-term efficacy and safety of the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN) 1917 strain compared to lactulose and rifaximin in patients with minimal/mild HE.

METHODS: From January 2017 to March 2020, a total of 45 patients with HE were enrolled in this prospective, single-centre, open-label, randomized study. Participants were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1:1 to one of the treatment groups: The EcN group (n = 15), lactulose group (n = 15) or rifaximin group (n = 15) for a 1 mo intervention period. The main primary outcomes of the study were changes in serum ammonia and Stroop test score. The secondary outcomes were markers of a chronic systemic inflammatory response (ІL-6, ІL-8, and IFN-γ) and bacteriology of the stool flora evaluated by specialized nonculture techniques after a 1 mo intervention period.

RESULTS: Patients who were given rifaximin or EcN showed a more significant reduction in serum ammonia and normalization of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli abundance compared to the lactulose group. However, the most pronounced restoration of the symbiotic microflora was associated with EcN administration and characterized by the absence of E. coli with altered properties and pathogenic enterobacteria in patient faeces. In the primary outcome analysis, improvements in the Stroop test parameters in all intervention groups were observed. Moreover, EcN-treated patients performed 15% faster on the Stroop test than the lactulose group patients (P = 0.017). Both EcN and rifaximin produced similar significant reductions in the proinflammatory cytokines INF-γ, IL-6 and IL-8. EcN was more efficient than lactulose in reducing proinflammatory cytokine levels.

CONCLUSION: The use of the probiotic EcN strain was safe and quite efficient for HE treatment. The probiotic reduced the ammonia content and the level of serum proinflammatory cytokines, normalized the gut microbiota composition and improved the cognitive function of patients with HE. The application of the EcN strain was more effective than lactulose treatment.}, } @article {pmid35578838, year = {2023}, author = {de Oliveira, BFR and Freitas-Silva, J and Canellas, ALB and Costa, WF and Laport, MS}, title = {Time for a Change! A Spotlight on Many Neglected Facets of Sponge Microbial Biotechnology.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical biotechnology}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {471-485}, doi = {10.2174/1389201023666220516103715}, pmid = {35578838}, issn = {1873-4316}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biotechnology ; *Microbiota ; *Porifera ; }, abstract = {The sponge-microorganism partnership is one of the most successful symbiotic associations exploited from a biotechnological perspective. During the last thirty years, sponge-associated bacteria have been increasingly harnessed for bioactive molecules, notably antimicrobials and cytotoxic compounds. Unfortunately, there are gaps in sponge microbial biotechnology, with a multitude of applications being understudied or ignored. In this context, the current perspective aims to shed light on these underrated facets of sponge microbial biotechnology with a balance of existent reports and proposals for further research in the field. Our overview has showcased that the members of the sponge microbiome produce biomolecules whose usage can be valuable for several economically- relevant and demanding sectors. Outside the exhaustive search for antimicrobial secondary metabolites, sponge-associated microorganisms are gifted producers of antibiofilm, antivirulence and chronic diseases-attenuating substances highly envisaged by the pharmaceutical industry. Despite still at an infant stage of research, anti-ageing enzymes and pigments of special interest for the cosmetic and cosmeceutical sectors have also been reported from the sponge microbial symbionts. In a world urging for sustainability, sponge-associated microorganisms have been proven as fruitful resources for bioremediation, including recovery of heavy-metal contaminated areas, bioleaching processes, and as bioindicators of environmental pollution. In conclusion, we propose alternatives to better assess these neglected biotechnological applications of the sponge microbiome in the hope of sparking the interest of the scientific community toward their deserved exploitation.}, } @article {pmid35577487, year = {2022}, author = {Vandegrift, MA and Taylor-Piliae, RE}, title = {Selecting a theoretical framework for chronic cardiovascular disease self-management among rural dwelling adults.}, journal = {Applied nursing research : ANR}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {151585}, doi = {10.1016/j.apnr.2022.151585}, pmid = {35577487}, issn = {1532-8201}, mesh = {Adult ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Rural Population ; *Self-Management ; United States ; }, abstract = {A paucity of research has examined the factors and perceptions of self-management among individuals living rurally with chronic cardiovascular disease (CCVD). Exploration of this population is prudent as CCVD continues to be the leading cause of mortality within the United States (US). As the US population ages, increased rates of CCVD and the process of managing the disease will continue to challenge patients and the health care system. Rural dwelling adults are faced with additional complexities to manage a chronic disease, resulting in higher rates of chronic disease as compared to urban dwellers. It is essential for nurses working with adults living with CCVD in rural areas to promote self-management strategies derived from a theoretical perspective. The purpose of this paper is to examine theories and models that facilitate self-management of CCVD among rural dwelling adults. Three established self-management theories and models from psychology and public health were evaluated using Walker and Avant's framework for theory analysis. Social cognitive theory was selected as a best fit for self-management of CCVD among rural dwelling adults, due to the symbiosis of chronic disease, and applicability of ruralness within the triadic reciprocal causation of person-behavior-environment of the model.}, } @article {pmid35575076, year = {2022}, author = {Desplat, Y and Warner, JF and Lopez, JV}, title = {Holo-Transcriptome Sequences From the Tropical Marine Sponge Cinachyrella alloclada.}, journal = {The Journal of heredity}, volume = {113}, number = {2}, pages = {184-187}, doi = {10.1093/jhered/esab075}, pmid = {35575076}, issn = {1465-7333}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota ; Genome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Porifera/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Marine sponge transcriptomes are underrepresented in current databases. Furthermore, only 2 sponge genomes are available for comparative studies. Here we present the assembled and annotated holo-transcriptome of the common Florida reef sponge from the species Cinachyrella alloclada. After Illumina high-throughput sequencing, the data assembled using Trinity v2.5 confirmed a highly symbiotic organism, with the complexity of high microbial abundance sponges. This dataset is enriched in poly-A selected eukaryotic, rather than microbial transcripts. Overall, 39 813 transcripts with verified sponge sequence homology coded for 8496 unique proteins. The average sequence length was found to be 946 bp with an N50 sequence length of 1290 bp. Overall, the sponge assembly resulted in a GC content of 51.04%, which is within the range of GC bases in a eukaryotic transcriptome. BUSCO scored completeness analysis revealed a completeness of 60.3% and 60.1% based on the Eukaryota and Metazoa databases, respectively. Overall, this study points to an overarching goal of developing the C. alloclada sponge as a useful new experimental model organism.}, } @article {pmid35573692, year = {2022}, author = {Vogenstahl, J and Parrilla, M and Acker-Palmer, A and Segarra, M}, title = {Vascular Regulation of Developmental Neurogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {890852}, pmid = {35573692}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Evolutionary studies indicate that the nervous system evolved prior to the vascular system, but the increasing complexity of organisms prompted the vascular system to emerge in order to meet the growing demand for oxygen and nutrient supply. In recent years, it has become apparent that the symbiotic communication between the nervous and the vascular systems goes beyond the exclusive covering of the demands on nutrients and oxygen carried by blood vessels. Indeed, this active interplay between both systems is crucial during the development of the central nervous system (CNS). Several neural-derived signals that initiate and regulate the vascularization of the CNS have been described, however less is known about the vascular signals that orchestrate the development of the CNS cytoarchitecture. Here, we focus on reviewing the effects of blood vessels in the process of neurogenesis during CNS development in vertebrates. In mammals, we describe the spatiotemporal features of vascular-driven neurogenesis in two brain regions that exhibit different neurogenic complexity in their germinal zone, the hindbrain and the forebrain.}, } @article {pmid35573092, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, J and Piao, X and Mahfuz, S and Long, S and Wang, J}, title = {The interaction among gut microbes, the intestinal barrier and short chain fatty acids.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {159-174}, pmid = {35573092}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {The mammalian gut is inhabited by a massive and complicated microbial community, in which the host achieves a stable symbiotic environment through the interdependence, coordination, reciprocal constraints and participation in an immune response. The interaction between the host gut and the microbiota is essential for maintaining and achieving the homeostasis of the organism. Consequently, gut homeostasis is pivotal in safeguarding the growth and development and potential productive performance of the host. As metabolites of microorganisms, short chain fatty acids are not only the preferred energy metabolic feedstock for host intestinal epithelial cells, but also exert vital effects on antioxidants and the regulation of intestinal community homeostasis. Herein, we summarize the effects of intestinal microorganisms on the host gut and the mechanisms of action of short chain fatty acids on the four intestinal barriers of the organism, which will shed light on the manipulation of the intestinal community to achieve precise nutrition for specific individuals and provide a novel perspective for the prevention and treatment of diseases.}, } @article {pmid35572656, year = {2022}, author = {Um, S and Lee, J and Kim, SH}, title = {Lobophorin Producing Endophytic Streptomyces olivaceus JB1 Associated With Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi & Zoll.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {881253}, pmid = {35572656}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In this study, we focused on endophytes of Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi & Zoll. and the plant-microbe interaction at metabolite levels. We isolated seven endophytes associated with M. japonica (JB1-7), and focused on Streptomyces olivaceus JB1 because of antibacterial activities of its secondary metabolites. We confirmed lobophorin analogs production from the bacterial strain JB1 by using spectroscopic techniques such as NMR, UV, and LC/Q-TOF-MS. In the LC/MS system, thirteen reported lobophorin analogs and twelve unreported analogs were detected. Among metabolites, lobophorin A was clearly detected in the dried foliar residues of M. japonica which implies that JB1 resides in the host and accumulates its secondary metabolites likely interacting with the plant. Antimicrobial activity tests of the secondary metabolites against undesirable contaminants isolated from the external surface of M. japonica supported the host and microbe mutualistic relationship. In the meantime, lobophorin producing Streptomyces spp. were isolated from marine environments such as marine sediments, algae, corals, and sponges. As lobophorin producing Streptomyces is isolated commonly from marine environments, we conducted a saline water stress tolerance test with JB1 showing saline medium does not accelerate the growth of the bacterium.}, } @article {pmid35572647, year = {2022}, author = {Grossman, AS and Escobar, CA and Mans, EJ and Mucci, NC and Mauer, TJ and Jones, KA and Moore, CC and Abraham, PE and Hettich, RL and Schneider, L and Campagna, SR and Forest, KT and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {A Surface Exposed, Two-Domain Lipoprotein Cargo of a Type XI Secretion System Promotes Colonization of Host Intestinal Epithelia Expressing Glycans.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {800366}, pmid = {35572647}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The only known required component of the newly described Type XI secretion system (TXISS) is an outer membrane protein (OMP) of the DUF560 family. TXISSOMPs are broadly distributed across proteobacteria, but properties of the cargo proteins they secrete are largely unexplored. We report biophysical, histochemical, and phenotypic evidence that Xenorhabdus nematophila NilC is surface exposed. Biophysical data and structure predictions indicate that NilC is a two-domain protein with a C-terminal, 8-stranded β-barrel. This structure has been noted as a common feature of TXISS effectors and may be important for interactions with the TXISSOMP. The NilC N-terminal domain is more enigmatic, but our results indicate it is ordered and forms a β-sheet structure, and bioinformatics suggest structural similarities to carbohydrate-binding proteins. X. nematophila NilC and its presumptive TXISSOMP partner NilB are required for colonizing the anterior intestine of Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes: the receptacle of free-living, infective juveniles and the anterior intestinal cecum (AIC) in juveniles and adults. We show that, in adult nematodes, the AIC expresses a Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA)-reactive material, indicating the presence of N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylneuraminic acid sugars on the AIC surface. A role for this material in colonization is supported by the fact that exogenous addition of WGA can inhibit AIC colonization by X. nematophila. Conversely, the addition of exogenous purified NilC increases the frequency with which X. nematophila is observed at the AIC, demonstrating that abundant extracellular NilC can enhance colonization. NilC may facilitate X. nematophila adherence to the nematode intestinal surface by binding to host glycans, it might support X. nematophila nutrition by cleaving sugars from the host surface, or it might help protect X. nematophila from nematode host immunity. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses of wild type X. nematophila compared to those lacking nilB and nilC revealed differences in cell wall and secreted polysaccharide metabolic pathways. Additionally, purified NilC is capable of binding peptidoglycan, suggesting that periplasmic NilC may interact with the bacterial cell wall. Overall, these findings support a model that NilB-regulated surface exposure of NilC mediates interactions between X. nematophila and host surface glycans during colonization. This is a previously unknown function for a TXISS.}, } @article {pmid35571859, year = {2022}, author = {Cho, G and Gang, GH and Jung, HY and Kwak, YS}, title = {Exploration of Mycobiota in Cypripedium japonicum, an Endangered Species.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {142-149}, pmid = {35571859}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Orchids live with mycorrhizal fungi in mutualism. This symbiotic relationship plays an essential role in the overall life cycle of orchids from germination, growth, settlement, and reproduction. Among the 1000 species of the orchid, the Korean lady's slipper, Cypripedium japonicum, is known as an endangered species. Currently, only five natural habitats of the Korean lady's slipper remain in South Korea, and the population of Korean lady's slipper in their natural habitat is not increasing. To prevent extinction, this study was designed to understand the fungal community interacting in the rhizosphere of the Korean lady's slipper living in the native and artificial habitats. In-depth analyses were performed to discover the vital mycorrhizal fungi contributing to habitat expansion and cultivation of the endangered orchid species. Our results suggested that Lycoperdon nigrescens contributed most to the increase in natural habitats and Russula violeipes as a characteristic of successful cultivation. And the fungi that helped L. nigrescens and R. violeipes to fit into the rhizosphere community in Korean lady's slipper native place were Paraboeremia selaginellae and Metarhizium anisopliae, respectively. The findings will contribute to restoring and maintaining the endangered orchid population in natural habitats.}, } @article {pmid35571858, year = {2022}, author = {Gwon, JH and Park, H and Eom, AH}, title = {Mycorrhization of Quercus spp. with Tuber huidongense and T. himalayense Collected in Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {104-109}, pmid = {35571858}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Fungi of the genus Tuber are ectomycorrhizal fungi that form a symbiotic relationship mainly with oak and hazel trees. Tuber spp. exhibit a highly selective host plant preference; thus, for cultivation purposes it is important to select an appropriate host plant for successful mycorrhization. In addition, as mycorrhizal characteristics differ according to Tuber spp., it is necessary to understand the differences in mycorrhizae according to the fungal species. Tuber huidongense and Tuber himalayense were recently discovered in Korea; therefore, we used spore suspensions from these two species to inoculate two species of oak trees, Quercus acutissima and Quercus dentata, to compare colonization rates and morphologies of the mycorrhizae. The colonization rates demonstrated that the different Tuber spp. favored different host plant species. In addition, unique morphological and anatomical characteristics were observed for T. huidongense and T. himalayense depending on the host species. These findings can lead to new economically important agricultural activities related to truffle cultivation in Korea.}, } @article {pmid35569939, year = {2022}, author = {Matsubara, A and Nomura, A and Yamaguchi, T}, title = {[THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND GUT MICROBIOTA].}, journal = {Arerugi = [Allergy]}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {191-194}, doi = {10.15036/arerugi.71.191}, pmid = {35569939}, issn = {0021-4884}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Rhinitis, Allergic ; }, } @article {pmid35568972, year = {2023}, author = {Xu, L and Wang, J and Xiao, Y and Han, Z and Chai, J}, title = {Structural insight into chitin perception by chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 of Oryza sativa.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {235-248}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13279}, pmid = {35568972}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Chitin/metabolism ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Perception ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants have developed innate immune systems to fight against pathogenic fungi by monitoring pathogenic signals known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and have established endo symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi through recognition of mycorrhizal (Myc) factors. Chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 of Oryza sativa subsp. Japonica (OsCERK1) plays a bifunctional role in mediating both chitin-triggered immunity and symbiotic relationships with AM fungi. However, it remains unclear whether OsCERK1 can directly recognize chitin molecules. In this study, we show that OsCERK1 binds to the chitin hexamer ((NAG)6) and tetramer ((NAG)4) directly and determine the crystal structure of the OsCERK1-(NAG)6 complex at 2 Å. The structure shows that one OsCERK1 is associated with one (NAG)6 . Upon recognition, chitin hexamer binds OsCERK1 by interacting with the shallow groove on the surface of LysM2. These structural findings, complemented by mutational analyses, demonstrate that LysM2 is crucial for recognition of both (NAG)6 and (NAG)4 . Altogether, these findings provide structural insights into the ability of OsCERK1 in chitin perception, which will lead to a better understanding of the role of OsCERK1 in mediating both immunity and symbiosis in rice.}, } @article {pmid35567176, year = {2022}, author = {Feng, J and Lv, W and Xu, J and Huang, Z and Rui, W and Lei, X and Ju, X and Li, Z}, title = {Overlapping Root Architecture and Gene Expression of Nitrogen Transporters for Nitrogen Acquisition of Tomato Plants Colonized with Isolates of Funneliformis mosseae in Hydroponic Production.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35567176}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Understanding the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) upon the nitrogen (N) uptake of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) plants is crucial for effectively utilizing these beneficial microorganisms in industrial hydroponic tomato production. Yet it remains unknown whether, besides fungal delivery, the AMF also affects N uptake via altered plant root growth or whether, together with changed N transporters expression of hosts, this impact is isolate-specific. We investigated tomato root architecture and the expression of LeAMT1.1, LeAMT1.2, and LeNRT2.3 genes in roots inoculated with five isolates of Funneliformis mosseae, these collected from different geographical locations, under greenhouse conditions with nutritional solution in coconut coir production. Our results revealed that isolate-specific AMF inoculation strongly increased the root biomass, total root length, surface area, and volume. Linear relationships were found between the total root length and N accumulation in plants. Furthermore, expression levels of LeAMT1.1, LeAMT1.2, and LeNRT2.3 were significantly up-regulated by inoculation with F. mosseae with isolate-specific. These results implied N uptake greater than predicted by root growth, and N transporters up-regulated by AMF symbiosis in an isolate-specific manner. Thus, an overlap in root biomass, architecture and expression of N transporters increase N acquisition in tomato plants in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35567168, year = {2022}, author = {Flores-Duarte, NJ and Mateos-Naranjo, E and Redondo-Gómez, S and Pajuelo, E and Rodriguez-Llorente, ID and Navarro-Torre, S}, title = {Role of Nodulation-Enhancing Rhizobacteria in the Promotion of Medicago sativa Development in Nutrient-Poor Soils.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35567168}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Legumes are usually used as cover crops to improve soil quality due to the biological nitrogen fixation that occurs due to the interaction of legumes and rhizobia. This symbiosis can be used to recover degraded soils using legumes as pioneer plants. In this work, we screened for bacteria that improve the legume-rhizobia interaction in nutrient-poor soils. Fourteen phosphate solubilizer-strains were isolated, showing at least three out of the five tested plant growth promoting properties. Furthermore, cellulase, protease, pectinase, and chitinase activities were detected in three of the isolated strains. Pseudomonas sp. L1, Chryseobacterium soli L2, and Priestia megaterium L3 were selected to inoculate seeds and plants of Medicago sativa using a nutrient-poor soil as substrate under greenhouse conditions. The effects of the three bacteria individually and in consortium showed more vigorous plants with increased numbers of nodules and a higher nitrogen content than non-inoculated plants. Moreover, bacterial inoculation increased plants' antioxidant activities and improved their development in nutrient-poor soils, suggesting an important role in the stress mechanisms of plants. In conclusion, the selected strains are nodulation-enhancing rhizobacteria that improve leguminous plants growth and nodulation in nutrient-poor soils and could be used by sustainable agriculture to promote plants' development in degraded soils.}, } @article {pmid35567142, year = {2022}, author = {Jēkabsone, A and Andersone-Ozola, U and Karlsons, A and Neiceniece, L and Romanovs, M and Ievinsh, G}, title = {Dependence on Nitrogen Availability and Rhizobial Symbiosis of Different Accessions of Trifolium fragiferum, a Crop Wild Relative Legume Species, as Related to Physiological Traits.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35567142}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation by legume-rhizobacterial symbiosis in temperate grasslands is an important source of soil nitrogen. The aim of the present study was to characterize the dependence of different accessions of T. fragiferum, a rare crop wild relative legume species, from their native rhizobia as well as additional nitrogen fertilization in controlled conditions. Asymbiotically cultivated, mineral-fertilized T. fragiferum plants gradually showed signs of nitrogen deficiency, appearing as a decrease in leaf chlorophyll concentration, leaf senescence, and a decrease in growth rate. The addition of nitrogen, and the inoculation with native rhizobia, or both treatments significantly prevented the onset of these symptoms, leading to both increase in plant shoot biomass as well as an increase in tissue concentration of N. The actual degree of each type of response was genotype-specific. Accessions showed a relatively similar degree of dependence on nitrogen (70-95% increase in shoot dry mass) but the increase in shoot dry mass by inoculation with native rhizobia ranged from 27 to 85%. In general, there was no correlation between growth stimulation and an increase in tissue N concentration by the treatments. The addition of N or rhizobial inoculant affected mineral nutrition at the level of both macronutrient and micronutrient concentration in different plant parts. In conclusion, native rhizobial strains associated with geographically isolated accessions of T. fragiferum at the northern range of distribution of the species represent a valuable resource for further studies aimed at the identification of salinity-tolerant N2-fixing bacteria for the needs of sustainable agriculture, as well as in a view of understanding ecosystem functioning at the level of plant-microorganism interactions.}, } @article {pmid35567119, year = {2022}, author = {Perrot, T and Pauly, M and Ramírez, V}, title = {Emerging Roles of β-Glucanases in Plant Development and Adaptative Responses.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35567119}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plant β-glucanases are enzymes involved in the synthesis, remodelling and turnover of cell wall components during multiple physiological processes. Based on the type of the glycoside bond they cleave, plant β-glucanases have been grouped into three categories: (i) β-1,4-glucanases degrade cellulose and other polysaccharides containing 1,4-glycosidic bonds to remodel and disassemble the wall during cell growth. (ii) β-1,3-glucanases are responsible for the mobilization of callose, governing the symplastic trafficking through plasmodesmata. (iii) β-1,3-1,4-glucanases degrade mixed linkage glucan, a transient wall polysaccharide found in cereals, which is broken down to obtain energy during rapid seedling growth. In addition to their roles in the turnover of self-glucan structures, plant β-glucanases are crucial in regulating the outcome in symbiotic and hostile plant-microbe interactions by degrading non-self glucan structures. Plants use these enzymes to hydrolyse β-glucans found in the walls of microbes, not only by contributing to a local antimicrobial defence barrier, but also by generating signalling glucans triggering the activation of global responses. As a counterpart, microbes developed strategies to hijack plant β-glucanases to their advantage to successfully colonize plant tissues. This review outlines our current understanding on plant β-glucanases, with a particular focus on the latest advances on their roles in adaptative responses.}, } @article {pmid35565943, year = {2022}, author = {Cong, J and Zhou, P and Zhang, R}, title = {Intestinal Microbiota-Derived Short Chain Fatty Acids in Host Health and Disease.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35565943}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Polysaccharides ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota has its role as an important component of human physiology. It produces metabolites that module key functions to establish a symbiotic crosstalk with their host. Among them, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by intestinal bacteria during the fermentation of partially and non-digestible polysaccharides, play key roles in regulating colon physiology and changing intestinal environment. Recent research has found that SCFAs not only influence the signal transduction pathway in the gut, but they also reach tissues and organs outside of the gut, through their circulation in the blood. Growing evidence highlights the importance of SCFAs level in influencing health maintenance and disease development. SCFAs are probably involved in the management of host health in a complicated (positive or negative) way. Here, we review the current understanding of SCFAs effects on host physiology and discuss the potential prevention and therapeutics of SCFAs in a variety of disorders. It provides a systematic theoretical basis for the study of mechanisms and precise intake level of SCFAs to promote human health.}, } @article {pmid35564424, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Xu, J and Hu, J and Zhang, T and Wu, X and Yang, Y}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Glomalin Play a Crucial Role in Soil Aggregate Stability in Pb-Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35564424}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Environmental Pollution/analysis ; Humans ; Lead/analysis ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, soil contamination with heavy metal (HM) has gradually become a global environmental problem. Lead (Pb) is one of the most abundant toxic metals in soil and high concentrations of Pb can inhibit plant growth, harm human health, and damage soil properties, including quality and stability. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a type of obligate symbiotic soil microorganism forming symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants, which play an essential role in the remediation of HM-polluted soils. In this study, we investigated the effects of AMF on the stability of soil aggregates under Pb stress in a pot experiment. The results showed that the hyphal density (HLD) and spore density (SPD) of the AMF in the soil were significantly reduced at Pb stress levels of 1000 mg kg−1 and 2000 mg kg−1. AMF inoculation strongly improved the concentration of glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP). The percentage of soil particles >2 mm and 2−1 mm in the AMF-inoculation treatment was higher than that in the non-AMF-inoculation treatment, while the Pb stress increased the percentage of soil particles <0.053 mm and 0.25−0.53 mm. HLD, total glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP), and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) were the three dominant factors regulating the stability of the soil aggregates, based on the random forest model analysis. Furthermore, the structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the Pb stress exerted an indirect effect on the soil-aggregate stability by regulating the HLD or the GRSP, while only the GRSP had a direct effect on the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD). The current study increases the understanding of the mechanism through which soil degradation is caused by Pb stress, and emphasizes the crucial importance of glomalin in maintaining the soil-aggregate stability in HM-contaminated ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid35564034, year = {2022}, author = {Mileriene, J and Serniene, L and Kondrotiene, K and Santarmaki, V and Kourkoutas, Y and Vasiliauskaite, A and Lauciene, L and Malakauskas, M}, title = {Indigenous Lactococcus lactis with Probiotic Properties: Evaluation of Wet, Thermally- and Freeze-Dried Raisins as Supports for Cell Immobilization, Viability and Aromatic Profile in Fresh Curd Cheese.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35564034}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Indigenous Lactococcus lactis enriched raisins were incorporated in fresh curd cheese in wet, thermally dried, and freeze-dried form to produce a novel probiotic dairy product. Symbiotic cheese represents a rising trend in the global market. The viability of L. lactis cells was assessed in the cheeses during storage at 4 °C for 14 days and the effect of the added enriched raisins on physicochemical parameters, microbiological characteristics, and sugar content, aromatic profile, and sensory acceptance of cheeses were evaluated. Immobilized L. lactis cells maintained viability at necessary levels (>6 log cfu/g) during storage and significantly increased the acceptability of cheese. The addition of raisins enhanced the volatile profile of cheeses with 2-furanmethanol, 1-octanol, 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylbutanal, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 1-(2-furanyl)-ethanone, 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde. The obtained results are encouraging for the production of novel fresh cheeses with improved sensorial and nutritional characteristics on industrial and/or small industrial scale.}, } @article {pmid35563675, year = {2022}, author = {Nascimento, LBDS and Tattini, M}, title = {Beyond Photoprotection: The Multifarious Roles of Flavonoids in Plant Terrestrialization.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35563675}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Flavonoids/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants evolved an impressive arsenal of multifunctional specialized metabolites to cope with the novel environmental pressures imposed by the terrestrial habitat when moving from water. Here we examine the multifarious roles of flavonoids in plant terrestrialization. We reason on the environmental drivers, other than the increase in UV-B radiation, that were mostly responsible for the rise of flavonoid metabolism and how flavonoids helped plants in land conquest. We are reasonably based on a nutrient-deficiency hypothesis for the replacement of mycosporine-like amino acids, typical of streptophytic algae, with the flavonoid metabolism during the water-to-land transition. We suggest that flavonoids modulated auxin transport and signaling and promoted the symbiosis between plants and fungi (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM), a central event for the conquest of land by plants. AM improved the ability of early plants to take up nutrients and water from highly impoverished soils. We offer evidence that flavonoids equipped early land plants with highly versatile "defense compounds", essential for the new set of abiotic and biotic stressors imposed by the terrestrial environment. We conclude that flavonoids have been multifunctional since the appearance of plants on land, not only acting as UV filters but especially improving both nutrient acquisition and biotic stress defense.}, } @article {pmid35563659, year = {2022}, author = {Monroy-Morales, E and Dávila-Delgado, R and Ayala-Guzmán, E and Gamboa-deBuen, A and Sánchez-López, R}, title = {Visualization of the Crossroads between a Nascent Infection Thread and the First Cell Division Event in Phaseolus vulgaris Nodulation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35563659}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Cell Division ; *Phaseolus/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The development of a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodule in legumes involves infection and organogenesis. Infection begins when rhizobia enter a root hair through an inward structure, the infection thread (IT), which guides the bacteria towards the cortical tissue. Concurrently, organogenesis takes place by inducing cortical cell division (CCD) at the infection site. Genetic analysis showed that both events are well-coordinated; however, the dynamics connecting them remain to be elucidated. To visualize the crossroads between IT and CCD, we benefited from the fact that, in Phaseolus vulgaris nodulation, where the first division occurs in subepidermal cortical cells located underneath the infection site, we traced a Rhizobium etli strain expressing DsRed, the plant cytokinesis marker YFP-PvKNOLLE, a nuclear stain and cell wall auto-fluorescence. We found that the IT exits the root hair to penetrate an underlying subepidermal cortical (S-E) cell when it is concluding cytokinesis.}, } @article {pmid35563531, year = {2022}, author = {Di Stefano, M and Polizzi, A and Santonocito, S and Romano, A and Lombardi, T and Isola, G}, title = {Impact of Oral Microbiome in Periodontal Health and Periodontitis: A Critical Review on Prevention and Treatment.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35563531}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontal Diseases/complications ; *Periodontitis/etiology/therapy ; Periodontium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The skin, oral cavity, digestive and reproductive tracts of the human body harbor symbiotic and commensal microorganisms living harmoniously with the host. The oral cavity houses one of the most heterogeneous microbial communities found in the human organism, ranking second in terms of species diversity and complexity only to the gastrointestinal microbiota and including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. The accumulation of microbial plaque in the oral cavity may lead, in susceptible individuals, to a complex host-mediated inflammatory and immune response representing the primary etiological factor of periodontal damage that occurs in periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting about 20-50% of people worldwide and manifesting clinically through the detection of gingival inflammation, clinical attachment loss (CAL), radiographic assessed resorption of alveolar bone, periodontal pockets, gingival bleeding upon probing, teeth mobility and their potential loss in advanced stages. This review will evaluate the changes characterizing the oral microbiota in healthy periodontal tissues and those affected by periodontal disease through the evidence present in the literature. An important focus will be placed on the immediate and future impact of these changes on the modulation of the dysbiotic oral microbiome and clinical management of periodontal disease.}, } @article {pmid35563511, year = {2022}, author = {Parejo, S and Cabrera, JJ and Jiménez-Leiva, A and Tomás-Gallardo, L and Bedmar, EJ and Gates, AJ and Mesa, S}, title = {Fine-Tuning Modulation of Oxidation-Mediated Posttranslational Control of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens FixK2 Transcription Factor.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {35563511}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {BB/M00256X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/S008942/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/metabolism ; DNA/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {FixK2 is a CRP/FNR-type transcription factor that plays a central role in a sophisticated regulatory network for the anoxic, microoxic and symbiotic lifestyles of the soybean endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Aside from the balanced expression of the fixK2 gene under microoxic conditions (induced by the two-component regulatory system FixLJ and negatively auto-repressed), FixK2 activity is posttranslationally controlled by proteolysis, and by the oxidation of a singular cysteine residue (C183) near its DNA-binding domain. To simulate the permanent oxidation of FixK2, we replaced C183 for aspartic acid. Purified C183D FixK2 protein showed both low DNA binding and in vitro transcriptional activation from the promoter of the fixNOQP operon, required for respiration under symbiosis. However, in a B. diazoefficiens strain coding for C183D FixK2, expression of a fixNOQP'-'lacZ fusion was similar to that in the wild type, when both strains were grown microoxically. The C183D FixK2 encoding strain also showed a wild-type phenotype in symbiosis with soybeans, and increased fixK2 gene expression levels and FixK2 protein abundance in cells. These two latter observations, together with the global transcriptional profile of the microoxically cultured C183D FixK2 encoding strain, suggest the existence of a finely tuned regulatory strategy to counterbalance the oxidation-mediated inactivation of FixK2 in vivo.}, } @article {pmid35557719, year = {2022}, author = {Kitaeva, AB and Gorshkov, AP and Kusakin, PG and Sadovskaya, AR and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Tubulin Cytoskeleton Organization in Cells of Determinate Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {823183}, pmid = {35557719}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant cell differentiation is based on rearrangements of the tubulin cytoskeleton; this is also true for symbiotic nodules. Nevertheless, although for indeterminate nodules (with a long-lasting meristem) the organization of microtubules during nodule development has been studied for various species, for determinate ones (with limited meristem activity) such studies are rare. Here, we investigated bacteroid morphology and dynamics of the tubulin cytoskeleton in determinate nodules of four legume species: Glycine max, Glycine soja, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Lotus japonicus. The most pronounced differentiation of bacteroids was observed in G. soja nodules. In meristematic cells in incipient nodules of all analyzed species, the organization of both cortical and endoplasmic microtubules was similar to that described for meristematic cells of indeterminate nodules. In young infected cells in developing nodules of all four species, cortical microtubules formed irregular patterns (microtubules were criss-crossed) and endoplasmic ones were associated with infection threads and infection droplets. Surprisingly, in uninfected cells the patterns of cortical microtubules differed in nodules of G. max and G. soja on the one hand, and P. vulgaris and L. japonicus on the other. The first two species exhibited irregular patterns, while the remaining two exhibited regular ones (microtubules were oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of cell) that are typical for uninfected cells of indeterminate nodules. In contrast to indeterminate nodules, in mature determinate nodules of all four studied species, cortical microtubules formed a regular pattern in infected cells. Thus, our analysis revealed common patterns of tubulin cytoskeleton in the determinate nodules of four legume species, and species-specific differences were associated with the organization of cortical microtubules in uninfected cells. When compared with indeterminate nodules, the most pronounced differences were associated with the organization of cortical microtubules in nitrogen-fixing infected cells. The revealed differences indicated a possible transition during evolution of infected cells from anisotropic growth in determinate nodules to isodiametric growth in indeterminate nodules. It can be assumed that this transition provided an evolutionary advantage to those legume species with indeterminate nodules, enabling them to host symbiosomes in their infected cells more efficiently.}, } @article {pmid35557718, year = {2022}, author = {Lo, R and Dougan, KE and Chen, Y and Shah, S and Bhattacharya, D and Chan, CX}, title = {Alignment-Free Analysis of Whole-Genome Sequences From Symbiodiniaceae Reveals Different Phylogenetic Signals in Distinct Regions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {815714}, pmid = {35557718}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae are predominantly essential symbionts of corals and other marine organisms. Recent research reveals extensive genome sequence divergence among Symbiodiniaceae taxa and high phylogenetic diversity hidden behind subtly different cell morphologies. Using an alignment-free phylogenetic approach based on sub-sequences of fixed length k (i.e. k-mers), we assessed the phylogenetic signal among whole-genome sequences from 16 Symbiodiniaceae taxa (including the genera of Symbiodinium, Breviolum, Cladocopium, Durusdinium and Fugacium) and two strains of Polarella glacialis as outgroup. Based on phylogenetic trees inferred from k-mers in distinct genomic regions (i.e. repeat-masked genome sequences, protein-coding sequences, introns and repeats) and in protein sequences, the phylogenetic signal associated with protein-coding DNA and the encoded amino acids is largely consistent with the Symbiodiniaceae phylogeny based on established markers, such as large subunit rRNA. The other genome sequences (introns and repeats) exhibit distinct phylogenetic signals, supporting the expected differential evolutionary pressure acting on these regions. Our analysis of conserved core k-mers revealed the prevalence of conserved k-mers (>95% core 23-mers among all 18 genomes) in annotated repeats and non-genic regions of the genomes. We observed 180 distinct repeat types that are significantly enriched in genomes of the symbiotic versus free-living Symbiodinium taxa, suggesting an enhanced activity of transposable elements linked to the symbiotic lifestyle. We provide evidence that representation of alignment-free phylogenies as dynamic networks enhances the ability to generate new hypotheses about genome evolution in Symbiodiniaceae. These results demonstrate the potential of alignment-free phylogenetic methods as a scalable approach for inferring comprehensive, unbiased whole-genome phylogenies of dinoflagellates and more broadly of microbial eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid35556179, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, Y and Cartabia, A and Lalaymia, I and Declerck, S}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {3-4}, pages = {221-256}, pmid = {35556179}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plants, Medicinal/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Medicinal plants are an important source of therapeutic compounds used in the treatment of many diseases since ancient times. Interestingly, they form associations with numerous microorganisms developing as endophytes or symbionts in different parts of the plants. Within the soil, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most prevalent symbiotic microorganisms forming associations with more than 70% of vascular plants. In the last decade, a number of studies have reported the positive effects of AMF on improving the production and accumulation of important active compounds in medicinal plants.In this work, we reviewed the literature on the effects of AMF on the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. The major findings are as follows: AMF impact the production of secondary metabolites either directly by increasing plant biomass or indirectly by stimulating secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways. The magnitude of the impact differs depending on the plant genotype, the AMF strain, and the environmental context (e.g., light, time of harvesting). Different methods of cultivation are used for the production of secondary metabolites by medicinal plants (e.g., greenhouse, aeroponics, hydroponics, in vitro and hairy root cultures) which also are compatible with AMF. In conclusion, the inoculation of medicinal plants with AMF is a real avenue for increasing the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites of pharmacological, medical, and cosmetic interest.}, } @article {pmid35552446, year = {2022}, author = {Chakraborty, S and Valdés-López, O and Stonoha-Arther, C and Ané, JM}, title = {Transcription Factors Controlling the Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis: Integrating Infection, Organogenesis and the Abiotic Environment.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {63}, number = {10}, pages = {1326-1343}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcac063}, pmid = {35552446}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant ; }, abstract = {Legume roots engage in a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, leading to the development of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Nodule development is a sophisticated process and is under the tight regulation of the plant. The symbiosis initiates with a signal exchange between the two partners, followed by the development of a new organ colonized by rhizobia. Over two decades of study have shed light on the transcriptional regulation of rhizobium-legume symbiosis. A large number of transcription factors (TFs) have been implicated in one or more stages of this symbiosis. Legumes must monitor nodule development amidst a dynamic physical environment. Some environmental factors are conducive to nodulation, whereas others are stressful. The modulation of rhizobium-legume symbiosis by the abiotic environment adds another layer of complexity and is also transcriptionally regulated. Several symbiotic TFs act as integrators between symbiosis and the response to the abiotic environment. In this review, we trace the role of various TFs involved in rhizobium-legume symbiosis along its developmental route and highlight the ones that also act as communicators between this symbiosis and the response to the abiotic environment. Finally, we discuss contemporary approaches to study TF-target interactions in plants and probe their potential utility in the field of rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35552099, year = {2022}, author = {Ji, X and Xia, Y and Zhang, H and Cui, JL}, title = {The microscopic mechanism between endophytic fungi and host plants: From recognition to building stable mutually beneficial relationships.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {127056}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127056}, pmid = {35552099}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Endophytes/metabolism ; *Fungi/metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Growing research suggests that endophytic fungi deeply affect plant physiology, development, and metabolism, which has become an indispensable subject in plant research. However, the micromolecular mechanisms remain vague due to the complexity of the interactions. This article summarizes the latest progress in the mechanism studies of the symbiotic relationships between endophytic fungi and plants. We address the aspects from signal generation, plant defense, to fungal coping strategies to establish the balanced constraint relationships between fungi and their hosts that finally form "a community of shared future." These processes do not occur in isolation but in synergy. Both endophytic fungi and their host plants contribute to establishing the stable symbiosis. New insights have been provided into a deeper understanding of the occurrence of species interactions and their applications to solving practical problems.}, } @article {pmid35551207, year = {2022}, author = {Davison, HR and Pilgrim, J and Wybouw, N and Parker, J and Pirro, S and Hunter-Barnett, S and Campbell, PM and Blow, F and Darby, AC and Hurst, GDD and Siozios, S}, title = {Genomic diversity across the Rickettsia and 'Candidatus Megaira' genera and proposal of genus status for the Torix group.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {2630}, pmid = {35551207}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/J017698/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K501773/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods ; Genomics ; Mammals ; Phylogeny ; *Rickettsia/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Members of the bacterial genus Rickettsia were originally identified as causative agents of vector-borne diseases in mammals. However, many Rickettsia species are arthropod symbionts and close relatives of 'Candidatus Megaira', which are symbiotic associates of microeukaryotes. Here, we clarify the evolutionary relationships between these organisms by assembling 26 genomes of Rickettsia species from understudied groups, including the Torix group, and two genomes of 'Ca. Megaira' from various insects and microeukaryotes. Our analyses of the new genomes, in comparison with previously described ones, indicate that the accessory genome diversity and broad host range of Torix Rickettsia are comparable to those of all other Rickettsia combined. Therefore, the Torix clade may play unrecognized roles in invertebrate biology and physiology. We argue this clade should be given its own genus status, for which we propose the name 'Candidatus Tisiphia'.}, } @article {pmid35550809, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, J and Chen, G and Zhou, J and Zeng, Y and Cheng, K and Cai, Z}, title = {Dynamic patterns of quorum sensing signals in phycospheric microbes during a marine algal bloom.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {212}, number = {Pt C}, pages = {113443}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.113443}, pmid = {35550809}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Eutrophication ; *Microbiota ; Phytoplankton/genetics ; *Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {In the marine environment, the interactions among various species based on chemical signals play critical roles in influencing microbial structure and function. Quorum sensing (QS), the well-known signal-dependent communication autoinducer, is an important regulator in complex microbial communities. Here, we explored the QS gene profiles of phycosphere bacteria during a microcosmic phytoplankton bloom using metagenomic sequence data. More than fifteen subtypes of QS systems and 211,980 non-redundant amino acid sequences were collected and classified for constructing a hierarchical quorum-sensing database. The abundance of the various QS subtypes varied at different bloom stages and showed a strong correlation with phycosphere microorganisms. This suggested that QS is involved in regulating the phycosphere microbial succession during an algal bloom. A neutral community model revealed that the QS functional gene community assemblies were driven by stochastic processes. Co-occurrence model analysis showed that the QS gene networks of phycospheric microbes had similar topological structure and functional composition, which is a potential cornerstone for maintaining signal communication and population stabilization among microorganisms. Overall, QS systems have a strong relationship with the development of algal blooms and participate in regulating algal-associated microbial communities as chemical signals. This research reveals the chemical and ecological behavior of algal symbiotic bacteria and expands the current understanding of microbial dynamics in marine algal blooms.}, } @article {pmid35549698, year = {2022}, author = {Cui, G and Liew, YJ and Konciute, MK and Zhan, Y and Hung, SH and Thistle, J and Gastoldi, L and Schmidt-Roach, S and Dekker, J and Aranda, M}, title = {Nutritional control regulates symbiont proliferation and life history in coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {103}, pmid = {35549698}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis is fundamental for the coral reef ecosystem. Corals provide various inorganic nutrients to their algal symbionts in exchange for the photosynthates to meet their metabolic demands. When becoming symbionts, Symbiodiniaceae cells show a reduced proliferation rate and a different life history. While it is generally believed that the animal hosts play critical roles in regulating these processes, far less is known about the molecular underpinnings that allow the corals to induce the changes in their symbionts.

RESULTS: We tested symbiont cell proliferation and life stage changes in vitro in response to different nutrient-limiting conditions to determine the key nutrients and to compare the respective symbiont transcriptomic profiles to cells in hospite. We then examined the effects of nutrient repletion on symbiont proliferation in coral hosts and quantified life stage transitions in vitro using time-lapse confocal imaging. Here, we show that symbionts in hospite share gene expression and pathway activation profiles with free-living cells under nitrogen-limited conditions, strongly suggesting that symbiont proliferation in symbiosis is limited by nitrogen availability.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that nitrogen limitation not only suppresses cell proliferation but also life stage transition to maintain symbionts in the immobile coccoid stage. Nutrient repletion experiments in corals further confirmed that nitrogen availability is the major factor limiting symbiont density in hospite. Our study emphasizes the importance of nitrogen in coral-algae interactions and, more importantly, sheds light on the crucial role of nitrogen in symbiont life history regulation.}, } @article {pmid35548876, year = {2022}, author = {Bastías, DA and Gundel, PE and Johnson, RD and Gianoli, E}, title = {How and when fungal endophytes can eliminate the plant growth-defence trade-off: mechanistic perspectives.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {2}, pages = {388-390}, pmid = {35548876}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Plant Development ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35548463, year = {2022}, author = {Ross, M and McDougall, M}, title = {Hosting and Human Rights: The Summer Olympics in the Twenty-First Century.}, journal = {Frontiers in sports and active living}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {779522}, pmid = {35548463}, issn = {2624-9367}, abstract = {During the twenty-first century, Summer Olympic Games have been used to distract from, justify and push through acts of increased securitization, surveillance, and displacement of the host city populace. Situating sport within the field of International Relations, we outline these civil and human rights intrusions across successive Games. From Sydney 2000 to Rio de Janeiro 2016, we explicate the consequences, contestedness, and evolution of repressive techniques applied at each Games using theories of hegemony espoused by Antonio Gramsci, Robert W. Cox, and Raymond Williams, among others. In doing so, we demonstrate how the International Olympic Committee (IOC), their partners and host cities are wedded in a symbolic and symbiotic courtship that manufactures local consent for and normalizes human right infringements; simultaneously providing the architecture for the spread and imposition of neoliberal order on the citizenry, while masking the damage done by and through the Olympics. Finally, we close by asserting that the current formulation of the Olympics are not 'the best we can do.' Instead, through the counterhegemonic potential of critical approaches and engaged, strategic action, a transformation of critical consciousness - and the Olympics, into something to be proud of - remain a live and entirely possible option.}, } @article {pmid35547153, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, W and Ma, J and Jiang, Y and Deng, L and Lv, N and Gao, J and Cheng, J and Liang, JB and Wang, Y and Lan, T and Liao, X and Mi, J}, title = {Selective Maternal Seeding and Rearing Environment From Birth to Weaning Shape the Developing Piglet Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {795101}, pmid = {35547153}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The acquisition and development of the mammalian microbiome early in life are critical to establish a healthy host-microbiome symbiosis. Despite recent advances in understanding microbial sources in infants, the relative contribution of various microbial sources to the colonization of the gut microbiota in pigs remains unclear. Here, we longitudinally sampled the microbiota of 20 sow-piglet pairs (three piglets per sow) reared under identical conditions from multiple body sites and the surrounding weaning environment from birth to 28 days postpartum (1,119 samples in total). Source-tracking analysis revealed that the contribution of various microbial sources to the piglet gut microbiome gradually changed over time. The neonatal microbiota was initially sparsely populated, and the predominant contribution was from the maternal vaginal microbiota that increased gradually from 69.0% at day 0 to 89.3% at day 3 and dropped to 0.28% at day 28. As the piglets aged, the major microbial community patterns were most strongly associated with the sow feces and slatted floor, with contributions increasing from 0.52 and 9.6% at day 0 to 62.1 and 33.8% at day 28, respectively. The intestinal microbial diversity, composition, and function significantly changed as the piglets aged, and 30 age-discriminatory bacterial taxa were identified with distinctive time-dependent shifts in their relative abundance, which likely reflected the effect of the maternal and environmental microbial sources on the selection and adaptation of the piglet gut microbiota. Overall, these data demonstrate that the vaginal microbiota is the primary source of the gut microbiota in piglets within 3 days after birth and are gradually replaced by the sow fecal and slatted floor microbiota over time. These findings may offer novel strategies to promote the establishment of exogenous symbiotic microbes to improve piglet gut health.}, } @article {pmid35547114, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, H and Tang, H and Ni, X and Zhang, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Interactive Effects of Epichloë Endophytes and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Saline-Alkali Stress Tolerance in Tall Fescue.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {855890}, pmid = {35547114}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are two important symbiotic microorganisms of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum). Our research explores the combined effects of endophytes and AMF on saline-alkali stress. The finding revealed that a significant interaction between Epichloë endophytes and AMF, and saline-alkali stress occurred in the growth and physiological parameters of tall fescue. Endophyte infection significantly enhanced tall fescue resistance to saline-alkali stress by increasing shoot and root biomass and nutrient uptake (organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentration), and accumulating K[+] while decreasing Na[+] concentration. Furthermore, the beneficial effect of endophytes was enhanced by the beneficial AMF, Claroideoglomus etunicatum (CE) but was reduced by the detrimental AMF, Funneliformis mosseae (FM). Our findings highlight the importance of interactions among multiple microorganisms for plant performance under saline-alkali stress.}, } @article {pmid35546483, year = {2022}, author = {Atala, C and Acuña-Rodríguez, IS and Torres-Díaz, C and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Fungal endophytes improve the performance of host plants but do not eliminate the growth/defence trade-off.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {2}, pages = {384-387}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18160}, pmid = {35546483}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Phenomena ; *Endophytes ; Fungi ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35546195, year = {2022}, author = {Bischetti, M and Feruglio, C and D'Odorico, V and Arav, N and Bañados, E and Becker, G and Bosman, SEI and Carniani, S and Cristiani, S and Cupani, G and Davies, R and Eilers, AC and Farina, EP and Ferrara, A and Maiolino, R and Mazzucchelli, C and Mesinger, A and Meyer, RA and Onoue, M and Piconcelli, E and Ryan-Weber, E and Schindler, JT and Wang, F and Yang, J and Zhu, Y and Fiore, F}, title = {Suppression of black-hole growth by strong outflows at redshifts 5.8-6.6.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {605}, number = {7909}, pages = {244-247}, pmid = {35546195}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Bright quasars, powered by accretion onto billion-solar-mass black holes, already existed at the epoch of reionization, when the Universe was 0.5-1 billion years old[1]. How these black holes formed in such a short time is the subject of debate, particularly as they lie above the correlation between black-hole mass and galaxy dynamical mass[2,3] in the local Universe. What slowed down black-hole growth, leading towards the symbiotic growth observed in the local Universe, and when this process started, has hitherto not been known, although black-hole feedback is a likely driver[4]. Here we report optical and near-infrared observations of a sample of quasars at redshifts 5.8 ≲ z ≲ 6.6. About half of the quasar spectra reveal broad, blueshifted absorption line troughs, tracing black-hole-driven winds with extreme outflow velocities, up to 17% of the speed of light. The fraction of quasars with such outflow winds at z ≳ 5.8 is ≈2.4 times higher than at z ≈ 2-4. We infer that outflows at z ≳ 5.8 inject large amounts of energy into the interstellar medium and suppress nuclear gas accretion, slowing down black-hole growth. The outflow phase may then mark the beginning of substantial black-hole feedback. The red optical colours of outflow quasars at z ≳ 5.8 indeed suggest that these systems are dusty and may be caught during an initial quenching phase of obscured accretion[5].}, } @article {pmid35546182, year = {2022}, author = {Moriyama, M and Hayashi, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {A mucin protein predominantly expressed in the female-specific symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {7782}, pmid = {35546182}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Female ; *Heteroptera/genetics/microbiology ; Mucins/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diverse insects are obligatorily associated with microbial symbionts, wherein the host often develops special symbiotic organs and vertically transmits the symbiont to the next generation. What molecular factors underpin the host-symbiont relationship is of great interest but poorly understood. Here we report a novel protein preferentially produced in a female-specific symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali, whose posterior midgut develops numerous crypts to host a Pantoea-allied bacterial mutualist. In adult females, several posteriormost crypts are conspicuously enlarged, presumably specialized for vertical symbiont transmission. We detected conspicuous protein bands specific to the female's swollen crypts by gel electrophoresis, and identified them as representing a novel mucin-like glycoprotein. Histological inspections confirmed that the mucin protein is localized to the female's swollen crypts, coexisting with a substantial population of the symbiotic bacteria, and excreted from the swollen crypts to the midgut main tract together with the symbiotic bacteria. Using RNA interference, we successfully suppressed production of the mucin protein in adult females of P. stali. However, although the mucin protein was depleted, the symbiont population persisted in the swollen crypts, and vertical symbiont transmission to the next generation occurred. Possible biological roles and evolutionary trajectory of the symbiosis-related mucin protein are discussed.}, } @article {pmid35545656, year = {2022}, author = {Sharifi, MR and Akbarifard, S and Madadi, MR and Qaderi, K and Akbarifard, H}, title = {Optimization of hydropower energy generation by 14 robust evolutionary algorithms.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {7739}, pmid = {35545656}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Physical Phenomena ; Problem Solving ; *Whales ; }, abstract = {The use of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) for solving complex engineering problems has been very promising, so the application of EAs for optimal operation of hydropower reservoirs can be of great help. Accordingly, this study investigates the capability of 14 recently-introduced robust EAs in optimization of energy generation from Karun-4 hydropower reservoir. The best algorithm is the one that produces the largest objective function (energy generation) and has the minimum standard deviation (SD), the minimum coefficient of variations (CV), and the shortest time of CPU usage. It was found that the best solution was achieved by the moth swarm algorithm (MSA), with the optimized energy generation of 19,311,535 MW which was 65.088% more than the actual energy generation (11,697,757). The values of objective function, SD and CV for MSA were 0.147, 0.0029 and 0.0192, respectively. The next ranks were devoted to search group algorithm (SGA), water cycle algorithm (WCA), symbiotic organism search algorithm (SOS), and coyote optimization algorithm (COA), respectively, which have increased the energy generation by more than 65%. Some of the utilized EAs, including grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), dragonfly algorithm (DA), antlion optimization algorithm (ALO), and whale optimization algorithm (WOA), failed to produce reasonable results. The overall results indicate the promising capability of some EAs for optimal operation of hydropower reservoirs.}, } @article {pmid35544686, year = {2022}, author = {Babayekhorasani, F and Hosseini, M and Spicer, PT}, title = {Molecular and Colloidal Transport in Bacterial Cellulose Hydrogels.}, journal = {Biomacromolecules}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {2404-2414}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00178}, pmid = {35544686}, issn = {1526-4602}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Cellulose/chemistry ; Hydrogels ; *Nanofibers/chemistry ; Porosity ; }, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose biofilms are complex networks of strong interwoven nanofibers that control transport and protect bacterial colonies in the film. The design of diverse applications of these bacterial cellulose films also relies on understanding and controlling transport through the fiber mesh, and transport simulations of the films are most accurate when guided by experimental characterization of the structures and the resultant diffusion inside. Diffusion through such films is a function of their key microstructural length scales, determining how molecules, as well as particles and microorganisms, permeate them. We use microscopy to study the unique bacterial cellulose film via its pore structure and quantify the mobility dynamics of various sizes of tracer particles and macromolecules. Mobility is hindered within the films, as confinement and local movement strongly depend on the void size relative to diffusing tracers. The biofilms have a naturally periodic structure of alternating dense and porous layers of nanofiber mesh, and we tune the magnitude of the spacing via fermentation conditions. Micron-sized particles can diffuse through the porous layers but cannot penetrate the dense layers. Tracer mobility in the porous layers is isotropic, indicating a largely random pore structure there. Molecular diffusion through the whole film is only slightly reduced by the structural tortuosity. Knowledge of transport variations within bacterial cellulose networks can be used to guide the design of symbiotic cultures in these structures and enhance their use in applications like biomedical implants, wound dressings, lab-grown meat, clothing textiles, and sensors.}, } @article {pmid35543735, year = {2022}, author = {Merlin, BL and Moraes, GJ and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {The Microbiota of a Mite Prey-Predator System on Different Host Plants Are Characterized by Dysbiosis and Potential Functional Redundancy.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35543735}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {Microbiota has diverse roles in the life cycles of their hosts, affecting their growth, development, behavior, and reproduction. Changes in physiological conditions of the host can also impact the assemblage of host-associated microorganisms. However, little is known of the effects of host plant-prey-predatory mite interactions on mite microbiota. We compared the microbial communities of eggs and adult females of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), and of adult females of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on four different host plants (cotton, maize, pinto bean, and tomato) by metabarcoding sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA), using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Only the egg microbiota of T. urticae was affected by the host plant. The microbiota of the predatory mite N. californicus was very different from that of its prey, and the predator microbiota was unaffected by the different host plant-prey systems tested. Only the microbiota of the eggs of T. urticae carried Serratia as a high fidelity-biomarker, but their low abundance in T. urticae adult females suggests that the association between Serratia and T. urticae is accidental. Biomarker bacteria were also detected in the microbiota of adult females of T. urticae and N. californicus, with different biomarkers in each host plant species. The microbiota associated with eggs and adult females of T. urticae and adult females of N. californicus differed in their functional potential contributions to the host mite.}, } @article {pmid35543503, year = {2022}, author = {Khan, A and Wadood, SF and Chen, M and Wang, Y and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {Effector-triggered inhibition of nodulation: A rhizobial effector protease targets soybean kinase GmPBS1-1.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {189}, number = {4}, pages = {2382-2395}, pmid = {35543503}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Endopeptidases/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Type III protein secretion systems of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia deliver effector proteins into leguminous host cells to promote or inhibit the nodule symbiosis. However, mechanisms underlying effector-triggered inhibition of nodulation remain largely unknown. Nodulation outer protein T (NopT) of Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 is an effector protease related to the Pseudomonas effector Avirulence protein Pseudomonas phaseolicola B (AvrPphB). Here, we constructed NGR234 mutants producing different NopT variants and found that protease activity of NopT negatively affects nodulation of smooth crotalaria (Crotalaria pallida). NopT variants lacking residues required for autocleavage and subsequent lipidation showed reduced symbiotic effects and were not targeted to the plasma membrane. We further noticed that Sinorhizobium fredii strains possess a mutated nopT gene. Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 expressing nopT of NGR234 induced considerably fewer nodules in soybean (Glycine max) cv. Nenfeng 15 but not in other cultivars. Effector perception was further examined in NopT-expressing leaves of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and found to be dependent on the protein kinase Arabidopsis AvrPphB Susceptible 1 (AtPBS1) and the associated resistance protein Arabidopsis Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae 5 (AtRPS5). Experiments with Nicotiana benthamiana plants indicated that the soybean homolog GmPBS1-1 associated with AtRPS5 can perceive NopT. Further analysis showed that NopT cleaves AtPBS1 and GmPBS1-1 and thus can activate these target proteins. Insertion of a DKM motif at the cleavage site of GmPBS1-1 resulted in increased proteolysis. Nodulation tests with soybeans expressing an autoactive GmPBS1-1 variant indicated that activation of a GmPBS1-1-mediated resistance pathway impairs nodule formation in cv. Nenfeng 15. Our findings suggest that legumes face an evolutionary dilemma of either developing effector-triggered immunity against pathogenic bacteria or establishing symbiosis with suboptimally adapted rhizobia producing pathogen-like effectors.}, } @article {pmid35543104, year = {2022}, author = {Mucci, NC and Jones, KA and Cao, M and Wyatt, MR and Foye, S and Kauffman, SJ and Richards, GR and Taufer, M and Chikaraishi, Y and Steffan, SA and Campagna, SR and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Apex Predator Nematodes and Meso-Predator Bacteria Consume Their Basal Insect Prey through Discrete Stages of Chemical Transformations.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e0031222}, pmid = {35543104}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Tryptophan ; Insecta ; *Xenorhabdus/genetics ; *Moths ; *Rhabditida/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis drives physiological processes of higher-order systems, including the acquisition and consumption of nutrients that support symbiotic partner reproduction. Metabolic analytics provide new avenues to examine how chemical ecology, or the conversion of existing biomass to new forms, changes over a symbiotic life cycle. We applied these approaches to the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, its mutualist bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, and the insects they infect. The nematode-bacterium pair infects, kills, and reproduces in an insect until nutrients are depleted. To understand the conversion of insect biomass over time into either nematode or bacterium biomass, we integrated information from trophic, metabolomic, and gene regulation analyses. Trophic analysis established bacteria as meso-predators and primary insect consumers. Nematodes hold a trophic position of 4.6, indicative of an apex predator, consuming bacteria and likely other nematodes. Metabolic changes associated with Galleria mellonella insect bioconversion were assessed using multivariate statistical analyses of metabolomics data sets derived from sampling over an infection time course. Statistically significant, discrete phases were detected, indicating the insect chemical environment changes reproducibly during bioconversion. A novel hierarchical clustering method was designed to probe molecular abundance fluctuation patterns over time, revealing distinct metabolite clusters that exhibit similar abundance shifts across the time course. Composite data suggest bacterial tryptophan and nematode kynurenine pathways are coordinated for reciprocal exchange of tryptophan and NAD[+] and for synthesis of intermediates that can have complex effects on bacterial phenotypes and nematode behaviors. Our analysis of pathways and metabolites reveals the chemistry underlying the recycling of organic material during carnivory. IMPORTANCE The processes by which organic life is consumed and reborn in a complex ecosystem were investigated through a multiomics approach applied to the tripartite Xenorhabdus bacterium-Steinernema nematode-Galleria insect symbiosis. Trophic analyses demonstrate the primary consumers of the insect are the bacteria, and the nematode in turn consumes the bacteria. This suggests the Steinernema-Xenorhabdus mutualism is a form of agriculture in which the nematode cultivates the bacterial food sources by inoculating them into insect hosts. Metabolomics analysis revealed a shift in biological material throughout progression of the life cycle: active infection, insect death, and conversion of cadaver tissues into bacterial biomass and nematode tissue. We show that each phase of the life cycle is metabolically distinct, with significant differences including those in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and amino acid pathways. Our findings demonstrate that symbiotic life cycles can be defined by reproducible stage-specific chemical signatures, enhancing our broad understanding of metabolic processes that underpin a three-way symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35539007, year = {2022}, author = {Pfab, F and Brown, AL and Detmer, AR and Baxter, EC and Moeller, HV and Cunning, R and Nisbet, RM}, title = {Timescale separation and models of symbiosis: state space reduction, multiple attractors and initialization.}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {coac026}, pmid = {35539007}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Dynamic Energy Budget models relate whole organism processes such as growth, reproduction and mortality to suborganismal metabolic processes. Much of their potential derives from extensions of the formalism to describe the exchange of metabolic products between organisms or organs within a single organism, for example the mutualism between corals and their symbionts. Without model simplification, such models are at risk of becoming parameter-rich and hence impractical. One natural simplification is to assume that some metabolic processes act on 'fast' timescales relative to others. A common strategy for formulating such models is to assume that 'fast' processes equilibrate immediately, while 'slow' processes are described by ordinary differential equations. This strategy can bring a subtlety with it. What if there are multiple, interdependent fast processes that have multiple equilibria, so that additional information is needed to unambiguously specify the model dynamics? This situation can easily arise in contexts where an organism or community can persist in a 'healthy' or an 'unhealthy' state with abrupt transitions between states possible. To approach this issue, we offer the following: (a) a method to unambiguously complete implicitly defined models by adding hypothetical 'fast' state variables; (b) an approach for minimizing the number of additional state variables in such models, which can simplify the numerical analysis and give insights into the model dynamics; and (c) some implications of the new approach that are of practical importance for model dynamics, e.g. on the bistability of flux dynamics and the effect of different initialization choices on model outcomes. To demonstrate those principles, we use a simplified model for root-shoot dynamics of plants and a related model for the interactions between corals and endosymbiotic algae that describes coral bleaching and recovery.}, } @article {pmid35538594, year = {2022}, author = {Lin, X and Li, YZ and Chen, T and Min, SH and Wang, DF and Ding, MM and Jiang, G}, title = {Effects of wearing personal protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic on composition and diversity of skin bacteria and fungi of medical workers.}, journal = {Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV}, volume = {36}, number = {9}, pages = {1612-1622}, pmid = {35538594}, issn = {1468-3083}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Fungi ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Pandemics ; *Personal Protective Equipment ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing PPE can induce skin damage such as erythema, pruritus, erosion, and ulceration among others. Although the skin microbiome is considered important for skin health, the change of the skin microbiome after wearing PPE remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to characterize the diversity and structure of bacterial and fungal flora on skin surfaces of healthcare workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).

METHODS: A total of 10 Chinese volunteers were recruited and the microbiome of their face, hand, and back were analysed before and after wearing PPE. Moreover, VISIA was used to analyse skin features.

RESULTS: Results of alpha bacterial diversity showed that there was statistically significant decrease in alpha diversity indice in the skin samples from face, hand, and three sites after wearing PPE as compared with the indice in the skin samples before wearing PPE. Further, the results of evaluated alpha fungal diversity show that there was a statistically significant decrease in alpha diversity indices in the skin samples from hand after wearing PPE as compared with the indices in the skin samples before wearing PPE (P < 0.05). Results of the current study found that the main bacteria on the face, hand, and back skin samples before wearing the PPE were Propionibacterium spp. (34.04%), Corynebacterium spp. (13.12%), and Staphylococcus spp. (38.07%). The main bacteria found on the skin samples after wearing the PPE were Staphylococcus spp. (31.23%), Xanthomonas spp. (26.21%), and Cutibacterium spp. (42.59%). The fungal community composition was similar in three skin sites before and after wearing PPE.

CONCLUSION: It was evident that wearing PPE may affect the skin microbiota, especially bacteria. Therefore, it was evident that the symbiotic microbiota may reflect the skin health of medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.}, } @article {pmid35537462, year = {2022}, author = {Cowen, LJ and Putnam, HM}, title = {Bioinformatics of Corals: Investigating Heterogeneous Omics Data from Coral Holobionts for Insight into Reef Health and Resilience.}, journal = {Annual review of biomedical data science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {205-231}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-122120-030732}, pmid = {35537462}, issn = {2574-3414}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Computational Biology ; Coral Reefs ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are home to over two million species and provide habitat for roughly 25% of all marine animals, but they are being severely threatened by pollution and climate change. A large amount of genomic, transcriptomic, and other omics data is becoming increasingly available from different species of reef-building corals, the unicellular dinoflagellates, and the coral microbiome (bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, etc.). Such new data present an opportunity for bioinformatics researchers and computational biologists to contribute to a timely, compelling, and urgent investigation of critical factors that influence reef health and resilience.}, } @article {pmid35536989, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, KH and Nelson, J}, title = {A scoping review of bryophyte microbiota: diverse microbial communities in small plant packages.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {13}, pages = {4496-4513}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac191}, pmid = {35536989}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Bryophyta ; Fungi ; *Microbiota ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant health depends not only on the condition of the plant itself but also on its diverse community of microbes, or microbiota. Just like the better-studied angiosperms, bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) harbor diverse communities of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and other microbial eukaryotes. Bryophytes are increasingly recognized as important model systems for understanding plant evolution, development, physiology, and symbiotic interactions. Much of the work on bryophyte microbiota in the past focused on specific symbiont types for each bryophyte group, but more recent studies are taking a broader view acknowledging the coexistence of diverse microbial communities in bryophytes. Therefore, this review integrates studies of bryophyte microbes from both perspectives to provide a holistic view of the existing research for each bryophyte group and on key themes. The systematic search also reveals the taxonomic and geographic biases in this field, including a severe under-representation of the tropics, very few studies on viruses or eukaryotic microbes beyond fungi, and a focus on mycorrhizal fungi studies in liverworts. Such gaps may have led to errors in conclusions about evolutionary patterns in symbiosis. This analysis points to a wealth of future research directions that promise to reveal how the distinct life cycles and physiology of bryophytes interact with their microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35536734, year = {2022}, author = {Filloux, A}, title = {Bacterial protein secretion systems: Game of types.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001193}, pmid = {35536734}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {BB/N002539/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/K001930/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/N023250/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/S02316X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems/metabolism ; *Protein Translocation Systems/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {Protein trafficking across the bacterial envelope is a process that contributes to the organisation and integrity of the cell. It is the foundation for establishing contact and exchange between the environment and the cytosol. It helps cells to communicate with one another, whether they establish symbiotic or competitive behaviours. It is instrumental for pathogenesis and for bacteria to subvert the host immune response. Understanding the formation of envelope conduits and the manifold strategies employed for moving macromolecules across these channels is a fascinating playground. The diversity of the nanomachines involved in this process logically resulted in an attempt to classify them, which is where the protein secretion system types emerged. As our knowledge grew, so did the number of types, and their rightful nomenclature started to be questioned. While this may seem a semantic or philosophical issue, it also reflects scientific rigour when it comes to assimilating findings into textbooks and science history. Here I give an overview on bacterial protein secretion systems, their history, their nomenclature and why it can be misleading for newcomers in the field. Note that I do not try to suggest a new nomenclature. Instead, I explore the reasons why naming could have escaped our control and I try to reiterate basic concepts that underlie protein trafficking cross membranes.}, } @article {pmid35535499, year = {2022}, author = {Nguyen, TTM and Mai, VH and Kim, HS and Kim, D and Seo, M and An, YJ and Park, S}, title = {Real-Time Monitoring of Host-Gut Microbial Interspecies Interaction in Anticancer Drug Metabolism.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {144}, number = {19}, pages = {8529-8535}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.1c10998}, pmid = {35535499}, issn = {1520-5126}, mesh = {*Antineoplastic Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Fluorouracil/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiome can affect drug metabolism considerably, leading to modified drug response. However, quantitative estimation of host vs. microbial contributions in a living host-gut microbiome system has been challenging. Using the interspecies system of Caenorhabditis elegans and gut bacteria, we developed a real-time approach for monitoring their metabolic interaction in vivo during anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolism. The fluorine NMR-based approach yielded the quantitative contributions to the host 5-FU metabolism made by human gut-microbial species of variable genetic backgrounds. It also experimentally confirmed a bacterial gene-metabolism relationship. Differential 5-FU catabolism among bacterial substrains and the contributions to the host metabolism, unobservable by conventional 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing, were also found. The metabolic contributions could be correlated with phenotypic developmental toxicity of 5-FU to the host fed with different substrains. Our convenient platform should help to reveal heterogeneity in host-gut microbiome interactions for many drugs in a living symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid35534441, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, H and Mascher, M and Abbo, S and Jayakodi, M}, title = {Advancing Grain Legumes Domestication and Evolution Studies with Genomics.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {63}, number = {11}, pages = {1540-1553}, pmid = {35534441}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Humans ; *Domestication ; Edible Grain/genetics ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Plant Breeding ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {Grain legumes were domesticated in parallel with cereals in several regions of the world and formed the economic basis of early farming cultures. Since then, legumes have played a vital role in human and animal diets and in fostering agrobiodiversity. Increasing grain legume cultivation will be crucial to safeguard nutritional security and the resilience of agricultural ecosystems across the globe. A better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of domestication and crop evolution of grain legumes may be translated into practical approaches in modern breeding programs to stabilize yield, which is threatened by evolving pathogens and changing climates. During recent decades, domestication research in all crops has greatly benefited from the fast progress in genomic technologies. Yet still, many questions surrounding the domestication and diversification of legumes remain unanswered. In this review, we assess the potential of genomic approaches in grain legume research. We describe the centers of origin and the crucial domestication traits of grain legumes. In addition, we survey the effect of domestication on both above-ground and below-ground traits that have economic importance. Finally, we discuss open questions in grain legume domestication and diversification and outline how to bridge the gap between the preservation of historic crop diversity and their utilization in modern plant breeding.}, } @article {pmid35534356, year = {2022}, author = {Pang, L and Khan, F and Dunterman, M and Chen, P}, title = {Pharmacological targeting of the tumor-immune symbiosis in glioblastoma.}, journal = {Trends in pharmacological sciences}, volume = {43}, number = {8}, pages = {686-700}, pmid = {35534356}, issn = {1873-3735}, support = {R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; *Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; *Glioblastoma/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and highly lethal form of primary brain tumor in adults. The median survival of GBM patients is approximately 14-16 months despite multimodal therapies. Emerging evidence has substantiated the critical role of symbiotic interactions between GBM cells and noncancerous immune cells (e.g., myeloid cells and T cells) in regulating tumor progression and therapy resistance. Approaches to target the tumor-immune symbiosis have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM. Here, we review the recent developments for pharmacological targeting of the GBM-immune symbiosis and highlight the role of such strategies to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies in GBM.}, } @article {pmid35533201, year = {2022}, author = {Raharinirina, NA and Acevedo-Trejos, E and Merico, A}, title = {Modelling the acclimation capacity of coral reefs to a warming ocean.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {e1010099}, pmid = {35533201}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between corals and photosynthetic algae is the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. This relationship breaks down, leading to coral death, when sea temperature exceeds the thermal tolerance of the coral-algae complex. While acclimation via phenotypic plasticity at the organismal level is an important mechanism for corals to cope with global warming, community-based shifts in response to acclimating capacities may give valuable indications about the future of corals at a regional scale. Reliable regional-scale predictions, however, are hampered by uncertainties on the speed with which coral communities will be able to acclimate. Here we present a trait-based, acclimation dynamics model, which we use in combination with observational data, to provide a first, crude estimate of the speed of coral acclimation at the community level and to investigate the effects of different global warming scenarios on three iconic reef ecosystems of the tropics: Great Barrier Reef, South East Asia, and Caribbean. The model predicts that coral acclimation may confer some level of protection by delaying the decline of some reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef. However, the current rates of acclimation will not be sufficient to rescue corals from global warming. Based on our estimates of coral acclimation capacities, the model results suggest substantial declines in coral abundances in all three regions, ranging from 12% to 55%, depending on the region and on the climate change scenario considered. Our results highlight the importance and urgency of precise assessments and quantitative estimates, for example through laboratory experiments, of the natural acclimation capacity of corals and of the speed with which corals may be able to acclimate to global warming.}, } @article {pmid35531940, year = {2022}, author = {Gasmi, A and Bjørklund, G and Mujawdiya, PK and Semenova, Y and Dosa, A and Piscopo, S and Pen, JJ and Gasmi Benahmed, A and Costea, DO}, title = {Gut microbiota in bariatric surgery.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2022.2067116}, pmid = {35531940}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Gut microbes share a symbiotic relationship with humans and perform several metabolic and physiological functions essential for human survival. It has been established in several scientific studies that obesity and other metabolic complications are always associated with disturbed gut microbiota profile, also called gut dysbiosis. In recent years, bariatric surgery has become a treatment of choice for weight loss, and it forms an important part of obesity management strategies across the globe. Interestingly, bariatric surgery has been shown to alter gut microbiota profile and synthesize short-chain fatty acids by gut microbes. In other words, gut microbes play a crucial role in better clinical outcomes associated with bariatric surgery. In addition, gut microbes are important in reducing weight and lowering the adverse events post-bariatric surgery. Therefore, several prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics are recommended for patients who underwent bariatric surgery procedures for better clinical outcomes. The present review aims to understand the possible association between gut microbes and bariatric surgery and present scientific evidence showing the beneficial role of gut microbes in improving therapeutic outcomes of bariatric surgery.}, } @article {pmid35531676, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, QS and An, JC and Wang, H and Xu, J and Gao, YP and Yang, Y and Jang, WK and Zhang, JQ and Li, LY and Zhou, T}, title = {[Construction of protoplast genetic transformation system for Mycena--symbiont of Gastrodia elata].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {47}, number = {9}, pages = {2304-2308}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20220218.102}, pmid = {35531676}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; *Gastrodia/genetics ; Protoplasts ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Mycena, a symbiont of Gastrodia elata, promotes seed germination of G. elata and plays a crucial role in the sexual reproduction of G. elata. However, the lack of genetic transformation system of Mycena blocks the research on the interaction mechanism of the two. In order to establish the protoplast transformation system of Mycena, this study analyzed the protoplast enzymatic hydrolysis system, screened the resistance markers and regeneration medium, and explored the transient transformation. After hydrolysis of Mycena hyphae with complexes enzymes for 8 h and centrifugation at 4 000 r·min~(-1), high-concentration and quality protoplast was obtained. The optimum regeneration medium for Mycena was RMV, and the optimum resistance marker was 50 mg·mL~(-1) hygromycin. The pLH-HygB-HuSHXG-GFP-HdSHXG was transformed into the protoplast of Mycena which then expressed GFP. The established protoplast transformation system of Mycena laid a foundation for analyzing the functional genes of Mycena and the molecular mechanism of the symbiosis of Mycena and G. elata.}, } @article {pmid35529952, year = {2022}, author = {Chang, D and Gao, S and Zhou, G and Deng, S and Jia, J and Wang, E and Cao, W}, title = {The chromosome-level genome assembly of Astragalus sinicus and comparative genomic analyses provide new resources and insights for understanding legume-rhizobial interactions.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {100263}, pmid = {35529952}, issn = {2590-3462}, mesh = {*Astragalus Plant/genetics ; Chromosomes ; *Cytomegalovirus Infections ; *Fabaceae ; Genomics ; *Rhizobium ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {The legume species Astragalus sinicus (Chinese milk vetch [CMV]) has been widely cultivated for centuries in southern China as one of the most important green manures/cover crops for improving rice productivity and preventing soil degeneration. In this study, we generated the first chromosome-scale reference genome of CMV by combining PacBio and Illumina sequencing with high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) technology. The CMV genome was 595.52 Mb in length, with a contig N50 size of 1.50 Mb. Long terminal repeats (LTRs) had been amplified and contributed to genome size expansion in CMV. CMV has undergone two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events, and the genes retained after the WGD shared by Papilionoideae species shaped the rhizobial symbiosis and the hormonal regulation of nodulation. The chalcone synthase (CHS) gene family was expanded and was expressed primarily in the roots of CMV. Intriguingly, we found that resistance genes were more highly expressed in roots than in nodules of legume species, suggesting that their expression may be increased to bolster plant immunity in roots to cope with pathogen infection in legumes. Our work sheds light on the genetic basis of nodulation and symbiosis in CMV and provides a benchmark for accelerating genetic research and molecular breeding in the future.}, } @article {pmid35529690, year = {2022}, author = {Kim, IS}, title = {Current perspectives on the beneficial effects of soybean isoflavones and their metabolites on plants.}, journal = {Food science and biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {515-526}, pmid = {35529690}, issn = {2092-6456}, abstract = {Soybeans have traditionally been a staple part of the human diet being highly rich in protein and lipid content. In an addition to the high nutritional components, soybeans have several functional components, like isoflavones, saponins, lecithin, and oligosaccharides. Soybeans emerge as a healthy functional food option. Isoflavones are most notable functional component of soybeans, exhibiting antioxidant activity while preventing plant-related diseases (e.g., antimicrobial and antiherbivore activities) and having positive effects on the life quality of plants. Isoflavones are thus sometimes referred to as phytochemicals. The latest research trends evince substantial interest in the biological efficacy of isoflavones in the human body as well as in plants and their related mechanisms. However, there is little information on the relationship between isoflavones and plants than beneficial human effects. This review discusses what is known about the physiological communication (transport and secretion) between isoflavones and plants, especially in soybeans.}, } @article {pmid35527289, year = {2022}, author = {Kang, W and Kim, PS and Tak, EJ and Sung, H and Shin, NR and Hyun, DW and Whon, TW and Kim, HS and Lee, JY and Yun, JH and Jung, MJ and Bae, JW}, title = {Host phylogeny, habitat, and diet are main drivers of the cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiome.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {35527289}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Invertebrates are a very attractive subject for studying host-microbe interactions because of their simple gut microbial community and host diversity. Studying the composition of invertebrate gut microbiota and the determining factors is essential for understanding their symbiotic mechanism. Cephalopods are invertebrates that have similar biological properties to vertebrates such as closed circulation system, an advanced nervous system, and a well-differentiated digestive system. However, it is not currently known whether their microbiomes have more in common with vertebrates or invertebrates. This study reports on the microbial composition of six cephalopod species and compares them with other mollusk and marine fish microbiomes to investigate the factors that shape the gut microbiota.

RESULTS: Each cephalopod gut consisted of a distinct consortium of microbes, with Photobacterium and Mycoplasma identified as core taxa. The gut microbial composition of cephalopod reflected their host phylogeny, the importance of which was supported by a detailed oligotype-level analysis of operational taxonomic units assigned to Photobacterium and Mycoplasma. Photobacterium typically inhabited multiple hosts, whereas Mycoplasma tended to show host-specific colonization. Furthermore, we showed that class Cephalopoda has a distinct gut microbial community from those of other mollusk groups or marine fish. We also showed that the gut microbiota of phylum Mollusca was determined by host phylogeny, habitat, and diet.

CONCLUSION: We have provided the first comparative analysis of cephalopod and mollusk gut microbial communities. The gut microbial community of cephalopods is composed of distinctive microbes and is strongly associated with their phylogeny. The Photobacterium and Mycoplasma genera are core taxa within the cephalopod gut microbiota. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that cephalopod and mollusk gut microbiomes reflect host phylogeny, habitat, and diet. It is hoped that these data can contribute to future studies on invertebrate-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid35526745, year = {2022}, author = {Nascimento da Silva, J and Calixto Conceição, C and Cristina Ramos de Brito, G and Costa Santos, D and Martins da Silva, R and Arcanjo, A and Henrique Ferreira Sorgine, M and de Oliveira, PL and Andrade Moreira, L and da Silva Vaz, I and Logullo, C}, title = {Wolbachia pipientis modulates metabolism and immunity during Aedes fluviatilis oogenesis.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {146}, number = {}, pages = {103776}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103776}, pmid = {35526745}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {*Aedes/microbiology ; Animals ; Oogenesis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is a maternally transmitted bacterium that mostly colonizes arthropods, including the mosquito Aedes fluviatilis, potentially affecting different aspects of host physiology. This intracellular bacterium prefers gonadal tissue cells, interfering with the reproductive cycle of insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and nematodes. Wolbachia's ability to modulate the host's reproduction is related to its success in prevalence and frequency. Infecting oocytes is essential for vertical propagation, ensuring its presence in the germline. The mosquito Ae. fluviatilis is a natural host for this bacterium and therefore represents an excellent experimental model in the effort to understand host-symbiont interactions and the mutual metabolic regulation. The aim of this study was to comparatively describe metabolic changes in naturally Wolbachia-infected and uninfected ovaries of Ae. fluviatilis during the vitellogenic period of oogenesis, thus increasing the knowledge about Wolbachia parasitic/symbiotic mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid35525886, year = {2022}, author = {Camus, MF and Alexander-Lawrie, B and Sharbrough, J and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Inheritance through the cytoplasm.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {129}, number = {1}, pages = {31-43}, pmid = {35525886}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Cytoplasm/genetics ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Genome ; *Inheritance Patterns ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most heritable information in eukaryotic cells is encoded in the nuclear genome, with inheritance patterns following classic Mendelian segregation. Genomes residing in the cytoplasm, however, prove to be a peculiar exception to this rule. Cytoplasmic genetic elements are generally maternally inherited, although there are several exceptions where these are paternally, biparentally or doubly-uniparentally inherited. In this review, we examine the diversity and peculiarities of cytoplasmically inherited genomes, and the broad evolutionary consequences that non-Mendelian inheritance brings. We first explore the origins of vertical transmission and uniparental inheritance, before detailing the vast diversity of cytoplasmic inheritance systems across Eukaryota. We then describe the evolution of genomic organisation across lineages, how this process has been shaped by interactions with the nuclear genome and population genetics dynamics. Finally, we discuss how both nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes have evolved to co-inhabit the same host cell via one of the longest symbiotic processes, and all the opportunities for intergenomic conflict that arise due to divergence in inheritance patterns. In sum, we cannot understand the evolution of eukaryotes without understanding hereditary symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35524305, year = {2022}, author = {Carrier, TJ and Maldonado, M and Schmittmann, L and Pita, L and Bosch, TCG and Hentschel, U}, title = {Symbiont transmission in marine sponges: reproduction, development, and metamorphosis.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {100}, pmid = {35524305}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges (phylum Porifera) form symbioses with diverse microbial communities that can be transmitted between generations through their developmental stages. Here, we integrate embryology and microbiology to review how symbiotic microorganisms are transmitted in this early-diverging lineage. We describe that vertical transmission is widespread but not universal, that microbes are vertically transmitted during a select developmental window, and that properties of the developmental microbiome depends on whether a species is a high or low microbial abundance sponge. Reproduction, development, and symbiosis are thus deeply rooted, but why these partnerships form remains the central and elusive tenet of these developmental symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35524099, year = {2022}, author = {Zhong, M and Xia, J and He, R}, title = {Spatial effect analysis of heterogeneous green technology innovations on pollution emission reduction: evidence from China's power industry.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {44}, pages = {67336-67352}, pmid = {35524099}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Environmental Pollutants ; Industry ; Solid Waste ; Technology ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Based on the provincial panel dataset of the power industry in China from 1997 to 2020, this study employed the dynamic spatial Durbin model (SDM) to investigate the spatial effects of heterogeneous green technology innovations (GTIs) of the power industry chain-clean energy GTIs (GTI1), fossil-fueled GTIs (GTI2), energy-saving GTIs (GTI3), and power transmission technology innovations (GTI4)-on three pollution emission reduction: SO2, solid waste (SW), and waste water (WW). The empirical results revealed that three pollution emissions showed "path dependent" and "snowball effects." GTI1, GTI2, and GTI3 reduced local SO2 and SW emissions, while GTI2 and GTI4 had no obvious reduction effects on WW emissions. Different GTIs had the same spatial "symbiotic effects" on SO2 emission reduction in the short term, showing positive spatial spillover reduction effects. Finally, it is of great significance to make full use of the positive spatial spillover effects of GTIs to promote the regional collaborative linkage of pollutant governance in the power industry.}, } @article {pmid35522401, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, J and Huang, PW and Li, X and Vaistij, FE and Dai, CC}, title = {Generalist endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris colonization of Oryza sativa L. promotes plant growth under nitrogen starvation.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {109}, number = {6}, pages = {703-715}, pmid = {35522401}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; *Endophytes/physiology ; Nitrogen ; *Oryza ; Plant Roots/genetics ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophytes establish symbiotic relationships with host plants, which results in a mutual growth benefit. However, little is known about the plant genetic response underpinning endophyte colonization. Phomopsis liquidambaris usually lives as an endophyte in a wide range of asymptomatic hosts and promotes biotic and abiotic stress resistance. In this study, we show that under low nitrogen conditions P. liquidambaris promotes rice growth in a hydroponic system, which is free of other microorganisms. In order to gain insights into the mechanisms of plant colonization by P. liquidambaris under low nitrogen conditions, we compared root and shoot transcriptome profiles of root-inoculated rice at different colonization stages. We determined that genes related to plant growth promotion, such as gibberellin and auxin related genes, were up-regulated at all developmental stages both locally and systemically. The largest group of up-regulated genes (in both roots and shoots) were related to flavonoid biosynthesis, which is involved in plant growth as well as antimicrobial compounds. Furthermore, genes encoding plant defense-related endopeptidase inhibitors were strongly up-regulated at the early stage of colonization. Together, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe mutualism and the promotion of plant growth by a fungal endophyte under nitrogen-deficient conditions.}, } @article {pmid35522230, year = {2022}, author = {Luo, YH and Cadotte, MW and Liu, J and Burgess, KS and Tan, SL and Ye, LJ and Zou, JY and Chen, ZZ and Jiang, XL and Li, J and Xu, K and Li, DZ and Gao, LM}, title = {Multitrophic diversity and biotic associations influence subalpine forest ecosystem multifunctionality.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {103}, number = {9}, pages = {e3745}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3745}, pmid = {35522230}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; *Forests ; Fungi ; Mammals ; Soil ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Biodiversity across multiple trophic levels is required to maintain multiple ecosystem functions. Yet it remains unclear how multitrophic diversity and species interactions regulate ecosystem multifunctionality. Here, combining data from 9 different trophic groups (including trees, shrubs, herbs, leaf mites, small mammals, bacteria, pathogenic fungi, saprophytic fungi, and symbiotic fungi) and 13 ecosystem functions related to supporting, provisioning, and regulating services, we used a multitrophic perspective to evaluate the effects of elevation, diversity, and network complexity on scale-dependent subalpine forest multifunctionality. Our results demonstrated that elevation and soil pH significantly modified species composition and richness across multitrophic groups and influenced multiple functions simultaneously. We present evidence that species richness across multiple trophic groups had stronger effects on multifunctionality than species richness at any single trophic level. Moreover, biotic associations, indicating the complexity of trophic networks, were positively associated with multifunctionality. The relative effects of diversity on multifunctionality increased at the scale of the larger community compared to a scale accounting for neighboring interactions. Our results highlight the paramount importance of scale- and context-dependent multitrophic diversity and interactions for a better understanding of mountain ecosystem multifunctionality in a changing world.}, } @article {pmid35521555, year = {2022}, author = {Moustafa, MAM and Mohamed, WMA and Lau, ACC and Chatanga, E and Qiu, Y and Hayashi, N and Naguib, D and Sato, K and Takano, A and Matsuno, K and Nonaka, N and Taylor, D and Kawabata, H and Nakao, R}, title = {Novel symbionts and potential human pathogens excavated from argasid tick microbiomes that are shaped by dual or single symbiosis.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {1979-1992}, pmid = {35521555}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Research on vector-associated microbiomes has been expanding due to increasing emergence of vector-borne pathogens and awareness of the importance of symbionts in the vector physiology. However, little is known about microbiomes of argasid (or soft-bodied) ticks due to limited access to specimens. We collected four argasid species (Argas japonicus, Carios vespertilionis, Ornithodoros capensis, and Ornithodoros sawaii) from the nests or burrows of their vertebrate hosts. One laboratory-reared argasid species (Ornithodoros moubata) was also included. Attempts were then made to isolate and characterize potential symbionts/pathogens using arthropod cell lines. Microbial community structure was distinct for each tick species. Coxiella was detected as the predominant symbiont in four tick species where dual symbiosis between Coxiella and Rickettsia or Coxiella and Francisella was observed in C. vespertilionis and O. moubata, respectively. Of note, A. japonicus lacked Coxiella and instead had Occidentia massiliensis and Thiotrichales as alternative symbionts. Our study found strong correlation between tick species and life stage. We successfully isolated Oc. massiliensis and characterized potential pathogens of genera Ehrlichia and Borrelia. The results suggest that there is no consistent trend of microbiomes in relation to tick life stage that fit all tick species and that the final interpretation should be related to the balance between environmental bacterial exposure and endosymbiont ecology. Nevertheless, our findings provide insights on the ecology of tick microbiomes and basis for future investigations on the capacity of argasid ticks to carry novel pathogens with public health importance.}, } @article {pmid35519507, year = {2022}, author = {Li, H and Seneviratne, CJ and Jin, L}, title = {Human Oral Keratinocytes Challenged by Streptococcus sanguinis and Porphyromonas gingivalis Differentially Affect the Chemotactic Activity of THP-1 Monocytes.}, journal = {International journal of microbiology}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {9112039}, pmid = {35519507}, issn = {1687-918X}, abstract = {Periodontal diseases are initiated by the shift from microbe-host symbiosis to dysbiosis, and the disrupted host response predominantly contributes to tissue destruction. This study investigated whether and to what extent human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) challenged by a periodontal commensal or pathogen could differentially affect the chemotactic activity of THP-1 monocytes. A selected periodontal commensal (Streptococcus sanguinis ATCC 10556) and a pathogen (Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277) were cultured and inoculated, respectively, into the lower chamber of Transwell® Permeable Supports with HOKs and incubated for 2 h or 18 h at 37°C under appropriate cell growth conditions. HOKs alone served as the control for the transwell migration assay. Well-stained THP-1 monocytes were seeded in the top chamber of the device, incubated for 2 h and then collected from the lower well for quantitation of the migrated fluorescence-labeled cells by the FACSCalibur™ flow cytometer. The statistical significance was determined using one-way ANOVA. The HOKs challenged by S. sanguinis attracted a significantly higher number of THP-1 cell migration as compared with the control after 2 h or 18 h interaction (p < 0.01). By contrast, P. gingivalis-treated HOKs exhibited a markedly reduced chemotactic effect on THP-1 cells (p < 0.01, 2 h; p < 0.05, 18 h). There was no significant difference in THP-1 cell migration among the groups with either S. sanguinis or P. gingivalis alone. The current findings on P. gingivalis-HOKs interactions with resultant paralysis of THP-1 cell chemotaxis provide further evidence that the keystone periodontopathogen P. gingivalis can evade innate defense and contribute to periodontal pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid35515005, year = {2022}, author = {Sheehy, L and Cutler, J and Weedall, GD and Rae, R}, title = {Microbiome Analysis of Malacopathogenic Nematodes Suggests No Evidence of a Single Bacterial Symbiont Responsible for Gastropod Mortality.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {878783}, pmid = {35515005}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; *Nematoda ; *Rhabditoidea/microbiology ; Snails ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Nematodes and bacteria are prevalent in soil ecosystems, and some have evolved symbiotic relationships. In some cases, symbionts carry out highly specialized functions: a prime example being entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which vector bacteria (Xenorhabdus or Photorhabdus) into insect hosts, killing them to provide a food source for the nematodes. It is thought that the commercially available malacopathogenic (kills slugs and snails) biocontrol nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita vectors a bacterium (Moraxella osloensis) into slugs to kill them. To investigate this further we used a metagenomic approach to profile the bacteria present in the commercial strain of P. hermaphrodita, a wild strain of P. hermaphrodita and two other Phasmarhabditis species (P. californica and P. neopapillosa), after they had killed their slug host (Deroceras invadens). We show that these nematodes do not exclusively associate with one bacterium but a range of species, with members of the phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacillota, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota the most prevalent. The commercial strain of P. hermaphrodita had the least diverse bacterial community. Furthermore, we found that the bacterium P. hermaphrodita has been cultured on for 25 years is not the expected species M. osloensis but is Psychrobacter spp. and the only strain of the Phasmarhabditis species to associate with Psychrobacter spp. was the commercial strain of P. hermaphrodita. In summary, we found no evidence to show that P. hermaphrodita rely exclusively on one bacterium to cause host mortality but found variable and diverse bacterial communities associated with these nematodes in their slug hosts.}, } @article {pmid35513812, year = {2022}, author = {Ferreira, EGC and Gomes, DF and Delai, CV and Barreiros, MAB and Grange, L and Rodrigues, EP and Henning, LMM and Barcellos, FG and Hungria, M}, title = {Revealing potential functions of hypothetical proteins induced by genistein in the symbiosis island of Bradyrhizobium japonicum commercial strain SEMIA 5079 (= CPAC 15).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {122}, pmid = {35513812}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Genistein/metabolism/pharmacology ; Genomic Islands ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain SEMIA 5079 (= CPAC 15) is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of soybean broadly used in commercial inoculants in Brazil. Its genome has about 50% of hypothetical (HP) protein-coding genes, many in the symbiosis island, raising questions about their putative role on the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process. This study aimed to infer functional roles to 15 HP genes localized in the symbiosis island of SEMIA 5079, and to analyze their expression in the presence of a nod-gene inducer.

RESULTS: A workflow of bioinformatics tools/databases was established and allowed the functional annotation of the HP genes. Most were enzymes, including transferases in the biosynthetic pathways of cobalamin, amino acids and secondary metabolites that may help in saprophytic ability and stress tolerance, and hydrolases, that may be important for competitiveness, plant infection, and stress tolerance. Putative roles for other enzymes and transporters identified are discussed. Some HP proteins were specific to the genus Bradyrhizobium, others to specific host legumes, and the analysis of orthologues helped to predict roles in BNF.

CONCLUSIONS: All 15 HP genes were induced by genistein and high induction was confirmed in five of them, suggesting major roles in the BNF process.}, } @article {pmid35512631, year = {2022}, author = {Roossinck, MJ}, title = {The Ups and Downs of an Out-of-the-Box Scientist with a Curious Mind.}, journal = {Annual review of virology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {19-38}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-100520-013446}, pmid = {35512631}, issn = {2327-0578}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Exploratory Behavior ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {My early life was challenging, and not conducive to the study of science, but my first introduction to viruses was an epiphany for me. I spent the whole of my career dedicated to understanding viruses, driven largely by curiosity. This led me down many different avenues of study, and to work with many wonderful colleagues, most of whom remain friends. Some highlights of my career include the discovery of a mutualistic three-way symbiosis involving a virus, a fungus, and a plant; genetic mapping of a pathogenicity gene in tomato; uncovering a virus in 1,000-year-old corncobs; exploring virus biodiversity in wild plants; and establishing a system to use a fungal virus to understand the epidemiology of its host.}, } @article {pmid35512354, year = {2022}, author = {Che, X and Lai, W and Wang, S and Wang, X and Hu, W and Chen, H and Xie, X and Tang, M}, title = {Multiple PHT1 family phosphate transporters are recruited for mycorrhizal symbiosis in Eucalyptus grandis and conserved PHT1;4 is a requirement for the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {10}, pages = {2020-2039}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpac050}, pmid = {35512354}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Eucalyptus/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Minerals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Polyphosphates ; Soil ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Eucalypts engage in a mutualistic endosymbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to acquire mineral nutrients from soils, particularly inorganic phosphate (Pi). In return, the host plant provides organic carbons to its fungal partners. However, the mechanism by which the Eucalyptus plants acquire Pi released from the AM fungi has remained elusive. In this study, we investigated the characterization of potential PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER1 (PHT1) family Pi transporters in AM symbiosis in Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden. We show that multiple PHT1 family Pi transporters were recruited for AM symbiosis in E. grandis. We further report that EgPT4, an E. grandis member of the PHT1 family, is conserved across angiosperms and is exclusively expressed in AM roots with arbuscule-containing cells and localizes to the periarbuscular membrane (PAM). EgPT4 was able to complement a yeast mutant strain defective in all inorganic Pi transporters and mediate Pi uptake. Importantly, EgPT4 is essential for improved E. grandis growth, total phosphorus concentration and arbuscule development during symbiosis. Moreover, silencing of EgPT4 led to the induction of polyphosphate accumulation relevant genes of Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198. Collectively, our results unravel a pivotal role for EgPT4 in symbiotic Pi transport across the PAM required for arbuscule development in E. grandis.}, } @article {pmid35511325, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, JH and Park, JH}, title = {Host-microbial interactions in metabolic diseases: from diet to immunity.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {60}, number = {6}, pages = {561-575}, pmid = {35511325}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {*Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Metabolic Diseases ; }, abstract = {Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is an important contributor to metabolic diseases. Alterations in microbial communities are associated with changes in lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, intestinal barrier functions, and chronic inflammation, all of which can lead to metabolic disorders. Therefore, the gut microbiome may represent a novel therapeutic target for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This review discusses how gut microbes and their products affect metabolic diseases and outlines potential treatment approaches via manipulation of the gut microbiome. Increasing our understanding of the interactions between the gut microbiome and host metabolism may help restore the healthy symbiotic relationship between them.}, } @article {pmid35510820, year = {2022}, author = {Warren, DA and Burgess, AL and Karemera, F and Bacela-Spychalska, K and Stentiford, GD and Bojko, J}, title = {Histopathological survey for parasite groups in Gammarus varsoviensis (Amphipoda).}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {47-51}, doi = {10.3354/dao03658}, pmid = {35510820}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {*Acanthocephala ; *Amphipoda/parasitology ; Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Microsporidia ; *Parasites ; }, abstract = {Invasive non-native amphipods (Crustacea) are becoming a model system in which to explore the impact and diversity of invasive parasites-parasites that are carried along an invasion route with their hosts. Gammarus varsoviensis is a freshwater amphipod species that has a recently explored invasion history. We provide a histopathological survey for a putatively invasive non-native population of this amphipod, identifying 8 symbiotic groups: Acanthocephala, Rotifera, Digenea, ciliated protozoa, Haplosporidia, Microsporidia, 'Candidatus Aquirickettsiella', and a putative nudivirus, at various prevalence. Our survey indicates that the parasites have no sex bias and that each has the potential to be carried in either sex along an invasion route. We discuss the pathology and prevalence of the above symbiotic groups and whether those that are parasitic may pose a risk if G. varsoviensis were to carry them to novel locations.}, } @article {pmid35510290, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, L and Li, N and Wang, Y and Zheng, W and Shan, D and Yu, L and Luo, L}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti ohrR genes affect symbiotic performance with alfalfa (Medicago sativa).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {595-603}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.13079}, pmid = {35510290}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago sativa ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Peroxides ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti infects the host plant alfalfa to induce formation of nitrogen-fixation root nodules, which inevitably elicit reactive oxygen species (ROS) bursts and organic peroxide generation. The MarR family regulator OhrR regulates the expression of chloroperoxidase and organic hydrogen resistance protein, which scavenge organic peroxides in free-living S. meliloti cells. The single mutant of ohrR genes SMc01945 (ohrR1) and SMc00098 (ohrR2) lacked symbiotic phenotypes. In this work, we identified the novel ohrR gene SMa2020 (ohrR3) and determined that ohrR genes are important for rhizobial infection, nodulation and nitrogen fixation with alfalfa. By analysing the phenotypes of the single, double and triple deletion mutants of ohrR genes, we demonstrate that ohrR1 and ohrR3 slightly affect rhizobial growth, but ohrR2 and ohrR3 influence cellular resistance to the organic peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Deletion of ohrR1 and ohrR3 negatively affected infection thread formation and nodulation, and consequently, plant growth. Correspondingly, the expression of the ROS detoxification genes katA and sodB as well as that of the nitrogenase gene nifH was downregulated in bacteroids of the double and triple deletion mutants, which may underlie the symbiotic defects of these mutants. These findings demonstrate that OhrR proteins play a role in the S. meliloti-alfalfa symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35509306, year = {2022}, author = {Campos, C and Gomes, L and Rei, FT and Nobre, T}, title = {Olive Fruit Fly Symbiont Population: Impact of Metamorphosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {868458}, pmid = {35509306}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The current symbiotic view of the organisms also calls for new approaches in the way we perceive and manage our pest species. The olive fruit fly, the most important olive tree pest, is dependent on an obligate bacterial symbiont to its larvae development in the immature fruit. This symbiont, Candidatus (Ca.) Erwinia dacicola, is prevalent throughout the host life stages, and we have shown significant changes in its numbers due to olive fruit fly metamorphosis. The olive fruit fly microbiota was analyzed through 16S metabarcoding, at three development stages: last instar larvae, pupae, and adult. Besides Ca. E. dacicola, the olive fruit flies harbor a diverse bacterial flora of which 13 operational taxonomic units (grouped in 9 genera/species) were now determined to persist excluding at metamorphosis (Corynebacterium sp., Delftia sp., Enhydrobacter sp., Kocuria sp., Micrococcus sp., Propionibacterium sp., Pseudomonas sp., Raoultella sp., and Staphylococcus sp.). These findings open a new window of opportunities in symbiosis-based pest management.}, } @article {pmid35508250, year = {2022}, author = {Miyamoto, H and Asano, F and Ishizawa, K and Suda, W and Miyamoto, H and Tsuji, N and Matsuura, M and Tsuboi, A and Ishii, C and Nakaguma, T and Shindo, C and Kato, T and Kurotani, A and Shima, H and Moriya, S and Hattori, M and Kodama, H and Ohno, H and Kikuchi, J}, title = {A potential network structure of symbiotic bacteria involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism of wood-utilizing insect larvae.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {836}, number = {}, pages = {155520}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155520}, pmid = {35508250}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Acidobacteria/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Coleoptera/metabolism ; Larva/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Wood/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Effective biological utilization of wood biomass is necessary worldwide. Since several insect larvae can use wood biomass as a nutrient source, studies on their digestive microbial structures are expected to reveal a novel rule underlying wood biomass processing. Here, structural inferences for inhabitant bacteria involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism for beetle larvae, an insect model, were performed to explore the potential rules. Bacterial analysis of larval feces showed enrichment of the phyla Chroloflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Planctomycetes, and the genera Bradyrhizobium, Chonella, Corallococcus, Gemmata, Hyphomicrobium, Lutibacterium, Paenibacillus, and Rhodoplanes, as bacteria potential involved in plant growth promotion, nitrogen cycle modulation, and/or environmental protection. The fecal abundances of these bacteria were not necessarily positively correlated with their abundances in the habitat, indicating that they were selectively enriched in the feces of the larvae. Correlation and association analyses predicted that common fecal bacteria might affect carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Based on these hypotheses, structural equation modeling (SEM) statistically estimated that inhabitant bacterial groups involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism were composed of the phylum Gemmatimonadetes and Planctomycetes, and the genera Bradyrhizobium, Corallococcus, Gemmata, and Paenibacillus, which were among the fecal-enriched bacteria. Nevertheless, the selected common bacteria, i.e., the phyla Acidobacteria, Armatimonadetes, and Bacteroidetes and the genera Candidatus Solibacter, Devosia, Fimbriimonas, Gemmatimonas Opitutus, Sphingobium, and Methanobacterium, were necessary to obtain good fit indices in the SEM. In addition, the composition of the bacterial groups differed depending upon metabolic targets, carbon and nitrogen, and their stable isotopes, δ[13]C and δ[15]N, respectively. Thus, the statistically derived causal structural models highlighted that the larval fecal-enriched bacteria and common symbiotic bacteria might selectively play a role in wood biomass carbon and nitrogen metabolism. This information could confer a new perspective that helps us use wood biomass more efficiently and might stimulate innovation in environmental industries in the future.}, } @article {pmid35507857, year = {2022}, author = {Ali, Q and Ma, S and La, S and Guo, Z and Liu, B and Gao, Z and Farooq, U and Wang, Z and Zhu, X and Cui, Y and Li, D and Shi, Y}, title = {Microbial short-chain fatty acids: a bridge between dietary fibers and poultry gut health - A review.}, journal = {Animal bioscience}, volume = {35}, number = {10}, pages = {1461-1478}, pmid = {35507857}, issn = {2765-0189}, abstract = {The maintenance of poultry gut health is complex depending on the intricate balance among diet, the commensal microbiota, and the mucosa, including the gut epithelium and the superimposing mucus layer. Changes in microflora composition and abundance can confer beneficial or detrimental effects on fowl. Antibiotics have devastating impacts on altering the landscape of gut microbiota, which further leads to antibiotic resistance or spread the pathogenic populations. By eliciting the landscape of gut microbiota, strategies should be made to break down the regulatory signals of pathogenic bacteria. The optional strategy of conferring dietary fibers (DFs) can be used to counterbalance the gut microbiota. DFs are the non-starch carbohydrates indigestible by host endogenous enzymes but can be fermented by symbiotic microbiota to produce shortchain fatty acids (SCFAs). This is one of the primary modes through which the gut microbiota interacts and communicate with the host. The majority of SCFAs are produced in the large intestine (particularly in the caecum), where they are taken up by the enterocytes or transported through portal vein circulation into the bloodstream. Recent shreds of evidence have elucidated that SCFAs affect the gut and modulate the tissues and organs either by activating G-protein-coupled receptors or affecting epigenetic modifications in the genome through inducing histone acetylase activities and inhibiting histone deacetylases. Thus, in this way, SCFAs vastly influence poultry health by promoting energy regulation, mucosal integrity, immune homeostasis, and immune maturation. In this review article, we will focus on DFs, which directly interact with gut microbes and lead to the production of SCFAs. Further, we will discuss the current molecular mechanisms of how SCFAs are generated, transported, and modulated the pro-and anti-inflammatory immune responses against pathogens and host physiology and gut health.}, } @article {pmid35506571, year = {2022}, author = {Wendlandt, CE and Roberts, M and Nguyen, KT and Graham, ML and Lopez, Z and Helliwell, EE and Friesen, ML and Griffitts, JS and Price, P and Porter, SS}, title = {Negotiating mutualism: A locus for exploitation by rhizobia has a broad effect size distribution and context-dependent effects on legume hosts.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {844-854}, pmid = {35506571}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Negotiating ; Peptides ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {In mutualisms, variation at genes determining partner fitness provides the raw material upon which coevolutionary selection acts, setting the dynamics and pace of coevolution. However, we know little about variation in the effects of genes that underlie symbiotic fitness in natural mutualist populations. In some species of legumes that form root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria, hosts secrete nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides that cause rhizobia to differentiate in the nodule environment. However, rhizobia can cleave NCR peptides through the expression of genes like the plasmid-borne Host range restriction peptidase (hrrP), whose product degrades specific NCR peptides. Although hrrP activity can confer host exploitation by depressing host fitness and enhancing symbiont fitness, the effects of hrrP on symbiosis phenotypes depend strongly on the genotypes of the interacting partners. However, the effects of hrrP have yet to be characterised in a natural population context, so its contribution to variation in wild mutualist populations is unknown. To understand the distribution of effects of hrrP in wild rhizobia, we measured mutualism phenotypes conferred by hrrP in 12 wild Ensifer medicae strains. To evaluate context dependency of hrrP effects, we compared hrrP effects across two Medicago polymorpha host genotypes and across two experimental years for five E. medicae strains. We show for the first time in a natural population context that hrrP has a wide distribution of effect sizes for many mutualism traits, ranging from strongly positive to strongly negative. Furthermore, we show that hrrP effect size varies across host genotypes and experiment years, suggesting that researchers should be cautious about extrapolating the role of genes in natural populations from controlled laboratory studies of single genetic variants.}, } @article {pmid35505991, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and He, X and Yu, F}, title = {Non-host plants: Are they mycorrhizal networks players?.}, journal = {Plant diversity}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {127-134}, pmid = {35505991}, issn = {2468-2659}, abstract = {Common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that connect individual plants of the same or different species together play important roles in nutrient and signal transportation, and plant community organization. However, about 10% of land plants are non-mycorrhizal species with roots that do not form any well-recognized types of mycorrhizas; and each mycorrhizal fungus can only colonize a limited number of plant species, resulting in numerous non-host plants that could not establish typical mycorrhizal symbiosis with a specific mycorrhizal fungus. If and how non-mycorrhizal or non-host plants are able to involve in CMNs remains unclear. Here we summarize studies focusing on mycorrhizal-mediated host and non-host plant interaction. Evidence has showed that some host-supported both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) hyphae can access to non-host plant roots without forming typical mycorrhizal structures, while such non-typical mycorrhizal colonization often inhibits the growth but enhances the induced system resistance of non-host plants. Meanwhile, the host growth is also differentially affected, depending on plant and fungi species. Molecular analyses suggested that the AMF colonization to non-hosts is different from pathogenic and endophytic fungi colonization, and the hyphae in non-host roots may be alive and have some unknown functions. Thus we propose that non-host plants are also important CMNs players. Using non-mycorrhizal model species Arabidopsis, tripartite culture system and new technologies such as nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry and multi-omics, to study nutrient and signal transportation between host and non-host plants via CMNs may provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying benefits of intercropping and agro-forestry systems, as well as plant community establishment and stability.}, } @article {pmid35504748, year = {2022}, author = {Chaudhary, VB and Holland, EP and Charman-Anderson, S and Guzman, A and Bell-Dereske, L and Cheeke, TE and Corrales, A and Duchicela, J and Egan, C and Gupta, MM and Hannula, SE and Hestrin, R and Hoosein, S and Kumar, A and Mhretu, G and Neuenkamp, L and Soti, P and Xie, Y and Helgason, T}, title = {What are mycorrhizal traits?.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {573-581}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2022.04.003}, pmid = {35504748}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Ecology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Traits are inherent properties of organisms, but how are they defined for organismal networks such as mycorrhizal symbioses? Mycorrhizal symbioses are complex and diverse belowground symbioses between plants and fungi that have proved challenging to fit into a unified and coherent trait framework. We propose an inclusive mycorrhizal trait framework that classifies traits as morphological, physiological, and phenological features that have functional implications for the symbiosis. We further classify mycorrhizal traits by location - plant, fungus, or the symbiosis - which highlights new questions in trait-based mycorrhizal ecology designed to charge and challenge the scientific community. This new framework is an opportunity for researchers to interrogate their data to identify novel insights and gaps in our understanding of mycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35504283, year = {2022}, author = {Jinkerson, RE and Russo, JA and Newkirk, CR and Kirk, AL and Chi, RJ and Martindale, MQ and Grossman, AR and Hatta, M and Xiang, T}, title = {Cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis establishment is independent of photosynthesis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {2402-2415.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.021}, pmid = {35504283}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Photosynthesis ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photosynthesis shapes the symbiotic relationships between cnidarians and Symbiodiniaceae algae-with many cnidarian hosts requiring symbiont photosynthate for survival-but little is known about how photosynthesis impacts symbiosis establishment. Here, we show that during symbiosis establishment, infection, proliferation, and maintenance can proceed without photosynthesis, but the ability to do so is dependent on specific cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae relationships. The evaluation of 31 pairs of symbiotic relationships (five species of Symbiodiniaceae in sea anemone, coral, and jellyfish hosts) revealed that infection can occur without photosynthesis. A UV mutagenesis method for Symbiodiniaceae was established and used to generate six photosynthetic mutants that can infect these hosts. Without photosynthesis, Symbiodiniaceae cannot proliferate in the sea anemone Aiptasia or jellyfish Cassiopea but can proliferate in the juvenile polyps of the coral Acropora. After 6 months of darkness, Breviolum minutum is maintained within Aiptasia, indicating that Symbiodiniaceae maintenance can be independent of photosynthesis. Manipulating photosynthesis provides insights into cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35499659, year = {2022}, author = {Rosa, LH and Ogaki, MB and Lirio, JM and Vieira, R and Coria, SH and Pinto, OHB and Carvalho-Silva, M and Convey, P and Rosa, CA and Câmara, PEAS}, title = {Fungal diversity in a sediment core from climate change impacted Boeckella Lake, Hope Bay, north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula assessed using metabarcoding.}, journal = {Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {16}, pmid = {35499659}, issn = {1433-4909}, mesh = {Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; Bays ; Biodiversity ; *Climate Change ; Fungi/genetics ; *Lakes ; }, abstract = {We studied the fungal DNA present in a lake sediment core obtained from Trinity Peninsula, Hope Bay, north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula, using metabarcoding through high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Sequences obtained were assigned to 146 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) primarily representing unknown fungi, followed by the phyla Ascomycota, Rozellomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Mortierellomycota. The most abundant taxa were assigned to Fungal sp., Pseudeurotium hygrophilum, Rozellomycota sp. 1, Pseudeurotiaceae sp. 1 and Chytridiomycota sp. 1. The majority of the DNA reads, representing 40 ASVs, could only be assigned at higher taxonomic levels and may represent taxa not currently included in the sequence databases consulted and/or be previously undescribed fungi. Different sections of the core were characterized by high sequence diversity, richness and moderate ecological dominance indices. The assigned diversity was dominated by cosmopolitan cold-adapted fungi, including known saprotrophic, plant and animal pathogenic and symbiotic taxa. Despite the overall dominance of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota and psychrophilic Mortierellomycota, members of the cryptic phyla Rozellomycota and Chytridiomycota were also detected in abundance. As Boeckella Lake may cease to exist in approaching decades due the effects of local climatic changes, it also an important location for the study of the impacts of these changes on Antarctic microbial diversity.}, } @article {pmid35499004, year = {2022}, author = {Rodríguez-Romero, JJ and Durán-Castañeda, AC and Cárdenas-Castro, AP and Sánchez-Burgos, JA and Zamora-Gasga, VM and Sáyago-Ayerdi, SG}, title = {What we know about protein gut metabolites: Implications and insights for human health and diseases.}, journal = {Food chemistry: X}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {100195}, pmid = {35499004}, issn = {2590-1575}, abstract = {Gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of symbiotic bacteria that contribute to human metabolism and supply intestinal metabolites, whose production is mainly influenced by the diet. Dietary patterns characterized by a high intake of protein promotes the growth of proteolytic bacteria's, which produce metabolites from undigested protein fermentation. Microbioal protein metabolites can regulate immune, metabolic and neuronal responses in different target organs. Metabolic pathways of these compounds and their mechanisms of action on different pathologies can lead to the discovery of new diagnostic techniques, drugs and the potential use as functional ingredients in food. This review discusses the potential mechanisms by which amino acid catabolism is involved in microbial protein metabolites. In addition, results from several studies on the association of products from the intestinal metabolism of indigestible proteins and the state of health or disease of the host are revised.}, } @article {pmid35495712, year = {2022}, author = {Oleńska, E and Małek, W and Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Szopa, S and Włostowski, T and Aleksandrowicz, O and Swiecicka, I and Wójcik, M and Thijs, S and Vangronsveld, J}, title = {An Alliance of Trifolium repens-Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii-Mycorrhizal Fungi From an Old Zn-Pb-Cd Rich Waste Heap as a Promising Tripartite System for Phytostabilization of Metal Polluted Soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {853407}, pmid = {35495712}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Bolesław waste heap in South Poland, with total soil Zn concentrations higher than 50,000 mg kg[-1], 5,000 mg Pb kg[-1], and 500 mg Cd kg[-1], is a unique habitat for metallicolous plants, such as Trifolium repens L. The purpose of this study was to characterize the association between T. repens and its microbial symbionts, i.e., Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii and mycorrhizal fungi and to evaluate its applicability for phytostabilization of metal-polluted soils. Rhizobia originating from the nutrient-poor waste heap area showed to be efficient in plant nodulation and nitrogen fixation. They demonstrated not only potential plant growth promotion traits in vitro, but they also improved the growth of T. repens plants to a similar extent as strains from a non-polluted reference area. Our results revealed that the adaptations of T. repens to high Zn-Pb-Cd concentrations are related to the storage of metals predominantly in the roots (excluder strategy) due to nodule apoplast modifications (i.e., thickening and suberization of cell walls, vacuolar storage), and symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of a substantial genetic diversity. As a result, the rhizobia-mycorrhizal fungi-T. repens association appears to be a promising tool for phytostabilization of Zn-Pb-Cd-polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid35495676, year = {2022}, author = {Eardly, B and Meor Osman, WA and Ardley, J and Zandberg, J and Gollagher, M and van Berkum, P and Elia, P and Marinova, D and Seshadri, R and Reddy, TBK and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N and Loedolff, M and Laird, DW and Reeve, W}, title = {The Genome of the Acid Soil-Adapted Strain Rhizobium favelukesii OR191 Encodes Determinants for Effective Symbiotic Interaction With Both an Inverted Repeat Lacking Clade and a Phaseoloid Legume Host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {735911}, pmid = {35495676}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Although Medicago sativa forms highly effective symbioses with the comparatively acid-sensitive genus Ensifer, its introduction into acid soils appears to have selected for symbiotic interactions with acid-tolerant R. favelukesii strains. Rhizobium favelukesii has the unusual ability of being able to nodulate and fix nitrogen, albeit sub-optimally, not only with M. sativa but also with the promiscuous host Phaseolus vulgaris. Here we describe the genome of R. favelukesii OR191 and genomic features important for the symbiotic interaction with both of these hosts. The OR191 draft genome contained acid adaptation loci, including the highly acid-inducible lpiA/acvB operon and olsC, required for production of lysine- and ornithine-containing membrane lipids, respectively. The olsC gene was also present in other acid-tolerant Rhizobium strains but absent from the more acid-sensitive Ensifer microsymbionts. The OR191 symbiotic genes were in general more closely related to those found in Medicago microsymbionts. OR191 contained the nodA, nodEF, nodHPQ, and nodL genes for synthesis of polyunsaturated, sulfated and acetylated Nod factors that are important for symbiosis with Medicago, but contained a truncated nodG, which may decrease nodulation efficiency with M. sativa. OR191 contained an E. meliloti type BacA, which has been shown to specifically protect Ensifer microsymbionts from Medicago nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides. The nitrogen fixation genes nifQWZS were present in OR191 and P. vulgaris microsymbionts but absent from E. meliloti-Medicago microsymbionts. The ability of OR191 to nodulate and fix nitrogen symbiotically with P. vulgaris indicates that this host has less stringent requirements for nodulation than M. sativa but may need rhizobial strains that possess nifQWZS for N2-fixation to occur. OR191 possessed the exo genes required for the biosynthesis of succinoglycan, which is required for the Ensifer-Medicago symbiosis. However, [1]H-NMR spectra revealed that, in the conditions tested, OR191 exopolysaccharide did not contain a succinyl substituent but instead contained a 3-hydroxybutyrate moiety, which may affect its symbiotic performance with Medicago hosts. These findings provide a foundation for the genetic basis of nodulation requirements and symbiotic effectiveness with different hosts.}, } @article {pmid35495661, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Wang, S and Zhao, J and Dong, Z and Shao, T}, title = {Gut Microbiota of Ostrinia nubilalis Larvae Degrade Maize Cellulose.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {816954}, pmid = {35495661}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Most arthropod guts harbor diverse microbiota for symbiotic digestion. The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), is a devastating pest that feeds the lignocellulose-rich tissues of maize plants. However, the potential role of ECB gut microbes in degrading maize cellulose remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the gut microbiota of ECB fed with different diets and their potential function in maize lignocellulose degradation. The diversity and composition of gut bacterial communities varied dramatically between the ECB larva fed with artificial diets (ECB-D) and maize plants (ECB-M). Draft genomes of the microbial consortia from ECB-D and ECB-M showed that the principal degraders of cellulose mainly belonged to Firmicutes or Proteobacteria and they were primarily found in the midgut. The cellulolytic microbial consortia contained genes encoding various carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZyme). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed significant breakdown of lignocellulose in maize treated by the two microbial consortia for 9 days in vitro. Metabolomic analyses show that maize particles treated by two microbial consortia generate distinctive metabolomic profiles, with enrichment for different monosaccharides (i.e., Glucose, Rhamnofuranose, Isomaltose, and Cellobiose) and amino acids (i.e., Threonine, Histidine, and Lysine). The results indicated that the diet of the host impacted the composition and function of its gut microbiota and ECB exploited specific gut microbes to digest maize lignocellulose with distinctive products. Our study provides valuable microbiota resources for lignocellulose bioconversion.}, } @article {pmid35495648, year = {2022}, author = {Rataj, M and Zhang, T and Vd'ačný, P}, title = {Nuclear and Mitochondrial SSU rRNA Genes Reveal Hidden Diversity of Haptophrya Endosymbionts in Freshwater Planarians and Challenge Their Traditional Classification in Astomatia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {830951}, pmid = {35495648}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Like many other aquatic animals, freshwater planarians have also become partners of symbiotic ciliates from the class Oligohymenophorea. In the present study, we explored the hidden diversity and addressed the questionable systematic position of mouthless obligatory gut endosymbionts of freshwater planarians, using the nuclear and mitochondrial SSU rRNA genes. Although all isolated ciliates morphologically corresponded to a single species, molecular analyses suggested the existence of three genetically distinct entities: Haptophrya planariarum, Haptophrya dugesiarum nov. spec., and Haptophrya schmidtearum nov. spec. The two former species share the same planarian host, which indicates a speciation model involving one duplication event without host switching. Such a diversification pattern was recognized also in astome ciliates inhabiting megascolecid and glossoscolecid earthworms. The present multi-gene phylogenies along with the secondary structure of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA molecule, however, challenge the traditional classification of Haptophrya within the subclass Astomatia. Haptophrya very likely evolved from an orphan scuticociliate lineage by the loss of oral apparatus and by the transformation of the thigmotactic field into an adhesive sucker. Since astomy evolved multiple times independently within the Oligohymenophorea, the loss of cell mouth cannot be used as a sole argument for the assignment of Haptophrya to the Astomatia anymore.}, } @article {pmid35491843, year = {2022}, author = {Horrocks, V and Hind, CK and Wand, ME and Fady, PE and Chan, J and Hopkins, JC and Houston, GL and Tribe, RM and Sutton, JM and Mason, AJ}, title = {Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics of Symbioses between Bacterial Vaginosis-Associated Bacteria.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e0016622}, pmid = {35491843}, issn = {2379-5042}, support = {2081638/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; /DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; /BHF_/British Heart Foundation/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lactobacillus ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Pregnancy ; *Premature Birth ; Symbiosis ; *Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome, characterized by low levels of lactobacilli and overgrowth of a diverse group of bacteria, associated with higher risk of a variety of infections, surgical complications, cancer, and preterm birth (PTB). Despite the lack of a consistently applicable etiology, Prevotella spp. are often associated with both BV and PTB, and Pr. bivia has known symbiotic relationships with both Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Gardnerella vaginalis. Higher risk of PTB can also be predicted by a composite of metabolites linked to bacterial metabolism, but their specific bacterial source remains poorly understood. Here, we characterize diversity of metabolic strategies among BV-associated bacteria and lactobacilli and the symbiotic metabolic relationships between Pr. bivia and its partners and show how these influence the availability of metabolites associated with BV/PTB and/or pro- or anti-inflammatory immune responses. We confirm a commensal relationship between Pe. anaerobius and Pr. bivia, refining its mechanism, which sustains a substantial increase in acetate production. In contrast, the relationship between Pr. bivia and G. vaginalis strains, with sequence variant G2, is mutualistic, with outcome dependent on the metabolic strategy of the G. vaginalis strain. Taken together, our data show how knowledge of inter- and intraspecies metabolic diversity and the effects of symbiosis may refine our understanding of the mechanism and approach to risk prediction in BV and/or PTB. IMPORTANCE Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection for women of childbearing age. Although 50% of women with BV do not have any symptoms, it approximately doubles the risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection and also increases the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women. Recent studies of the vaginal microbiota have suggested that variation between species in the same genus or between strains of the same species explain better or poorer outcomes or at least some coexistence patterns for bacteria of concern. We tested whether such variation is manifested in how vaginal bacteria grow in the laboratory and whether and how they may share nutrients. We then showed that this affected the overall cocktail of chemicals they produce, including bacterially derived chemicals that we have previously shown are linked to a higher risk of preterm delivery.}, } @article {pmid35491828, year = {2022}, author = {Feng, XY and Tian, Y and Cui, WJ and Li, YZ and Wang, D and Liu, Y and Jiao, J and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {The PTS[Ntr]-KdpDE-KdpFABC Pathway Contributes to Low Potassium Stress Adaptation and Competitive Nodulation of Sinorhizobium fredii.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {e0372121}, pmid = {35491828}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases/genetics ; Potassium/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiosis is essential for sustainable agriculture by reducing nitrogen fertilizer input, but its efficiency varies under fluctuating soil conditions and resources. The nitrogen-related phosphotransferase system (PTS[Ntr]) consisting of PtsP, PtsO, and PtsN is required for optimal nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency of the broad-host-range Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 associated with diverse legumes, though the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This work characterizes the PtsN-KdpDE-KdpFABC pathway that contributes to low potassium adaptation and competitive nodulation of CCBAU45436. Among three PtsN, PtsN1 is the major functional homolog. The unphosphorylated PtsN1 binds the sensory kinase KdpD through a non-canonical interaction with the GAF domain of KdpD, while the region covering HisKA-HATPase domains mediates the interaction of KdpD with the response regulator KdpE. KdpE directly activates the kdpFABC operon encoding the conserved high-affinity potassium uptake system. Disruption of this signaling pathway leads to reduced nodule number, nodule occupancy, and low potassium adaptation ability, but without notable effects on rhizoplane colonization. The induction of key nodulation genes NIN and ENOD40 in host roots during early symbiotic interactions is impaired when inoculating the kdpBC mutant that shows delayed nodulation. The nodulation defect of the kdpBC mutant can be rescued by supplying replete potassium. Potassium is actively consumed by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and components of the PTS[Ntr]-KdpDE-KdpFABC pathway are widely conserved in bacteria, highlighting the global importance of this pathway in bacteria-host interactions. IMPORTANCE In all ecological niches, potassium is actively consumed by diverse prokaryotes and their interacting eukaryote hosts. It is only just emerging that potassium is a key player in host-pathogen interactions, and the role of potassium in mutualistic interactions remains largely unknown. This work is focused on the mutualistic symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes. We report that the nitrogen-related phosphotransferase system PTS[Ntr], the two-component system KdpDE, and the high-affinity potassium uptake system KdpFABC constitute a pathway that is important for low potassium adaptation and optimal nodulation of rhizobia. Given the widely conserved PTS[Ntr], KdpDE, and KdpFABC in bacteria and increasing knowledge on microbiome for various niches, the PTS[Ntr]-KdpDE-KdpFABC pathway can be globally important in the biosphere.}, } @article {pmid35491290, year = {2022}, author = {Hector, TE and Hoang, KL and Li, J and King, KC}, title = {Symbiosis and host responses to heating.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {611-624}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2022.03.011}, pmid = {35491290}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Climate Change ; Ecology ; *Heating ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Virtually all organisms are colonized by microbes. Average temperatures are rising because of global climate change - accompanied by increases in extreme climatic events and heat shock - and symbioses with microbes may determine species persistence in the 21st century. Although parasite infection typically reduces host upper thermal limits, interactions with beneficial microbes can facilitate host adaptation to warming. The effects of warming on the ecology and evolution of the microbial symbionts remain understudied but are important for understanding how climate change might affect host health and disease. We present a framework for untangling the contributions of symbiosis to predictions of host persistence in the face of global change.}, } @article {pmid35490231, year = {2022}, author = {Dupin, S and Klein, J and Rutten, L and Huisman, R and Geurts, R}, title = {Pseudogenization of the rhizobium-responsive EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE RECEPTOR in Parasponia is a rare event in nodulating plants.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {225}, pmid = {35490231}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {ENSA/GATES/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/United States ; ENSA/GATES/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/United States ; ENSA/GATES/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/United States ; ENSA/GATES/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/United States ; }, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plants ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nodule symbiosis with diazotrophic Frankia or rhizobium occurs in plant species belonging to ten taxonomic lineages within the related orders Fabales, Fagales, Cucurbitales, and Rosales. Phylogenomic studies indicate that this nitrogen-fixing nodulation trait has a single evolutionary origin. In legume model plants, the molecular interaction between plant and rhizobium microsymbiont is mapped to a significant degree. A specific LysM-type receptor kinase, LjEPR3 in Lotus japonicus and MtLYK10 in Medicago truncatula, was found to act in a secondary identity-based mechanism, controlling intracellular rhizobium infection. Furthermore, LjEPR3 showed to bind surface exopolysaccharides of Mesorhizobium loti, the diazotrophic microsymbiont of L. japonicus. EPR3 orthologous genes are not unique to legumes. Surprisingly, however, its ortholog EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE RECEPTOR (EPR) is pseudogenized in Parasponia, the only lineage of non-legume plants that nodulate also with rhizobium.

RESULTS: Analysis of genome sequences showed that EPR3 orthologous genes are highly conserved in nodulating plants. We identified a conserved retrotransposon insertion in the EPR promoter region in three Parasponia species, which associates with defected transcriptional regulation of this gene. Subsequently, we studied the EPR gene of two Trema species as they represent the sister genus of Parasponia for which it is assumed it lost the nitrogen-fixing nodulation trait. Both Trema species possess apparently functional EPR genes that have a nodulation-specific expression profile when introduced into a Parasponia background. This indicates the EPR gene functioned in nodulation in the Parasponia-Trema ancestor.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that nodule-specific expression of EPR3 orthologous genes is shared between the legume and Parasponia-Trema lineage, suggesting an ancestral function in the nitrogen-fixing nodulation trait. Pseudogenization of EPR in Parasponia is an exceptional case in nodulating plants. We speculate that this may have been instrumental to the microsymbiont switch -from Frankia to rhizobium- that has occurred in the Parasponia lineage and the evolution of a novel crack entry infection mechanism.}, } @article {pmid35489246, year = {2022}, author = {Bartolucci, G and Pallecchi, M and Menicatti, M and Moracci, L and Pucciarelli, S and Agostini, M and Crotti, S}, title = {A method for assessing plasma free fatty acids from C2 to C18 and its application for the early detection of colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis}, volume = {215}, number = {}, pages = {114762}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114762}, pmid = {35489246}, issn = {1873-264X}, mesh = {*Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Fatty Acids ; *Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The targeted analysis of free fatty acids (FFAs) is attracting interest since several years with a plenty of studies. However, most of them are devoted to the solely determination of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) arising from the symbiotic gut microbiota metabolism. Recently, the FFAs analysis highlighted changes in the plasma levels of octanoic and decanoic acids (medium-chain fatty acids or MCFAs) may be associated to gastrointestinal diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Then, the simultaneous quantification of both SCFAs and MCFAs could be useful to put in evidence the interconnection between microbiota and metabolic alterations during hosts' disease. To this aim, it was developed an isotopic dilution gas-chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (ID/GC-MS) method for the targeted analysis of both linear and branched FFAs (SCFAs, MCFAs, and LCFAs) in human plasma samples as specific markers for both microbiota and host metabolic alterations. In order to minimize sample manipulation procedures, an efficient, sensible and low time-consuming procedure is presented, which relies in a simple liquid-liquid extraction before the determination of underivatized free acids (FFAs) by Single Ion Monitoring (SIM) acquisition. The reached detection limits (LODs) were less than 100 μg L[-1] for most of analytes, except for acetic, hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acids that showed a LOD > 1 mg L[-1]. Methods accuracy and precision, obtained by the analysis of the FFAs mixtures showed accuracy values between 84% and 100% and precision (RSD %) between 0.1% and 12.4% at the concentration levels tested. The proposed ID/GC-MS method was applied in a case study to evaluate the FFAs as specific markers for both microbiota and host alterations in CRC patients. Obtained results highlight the advantage of present method for its rapidity, simplicity, and robustness.}, } @article {pmid35488499, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, W and Luo, X and Mei, YZ and Yang, Q and Zhang, AY and Chen, M and Mei, Y and Ma, CY and Du, YC and Li, M and Zhu, Q and Sun, K and Xu, FJ and Dai, CC}, title = {Priming of rhizobial nodulation signaling in the mycosphere accelerates nodulation of legume hosts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {3}, pages = {1212-1230}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18192}, pmid = {35488499}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arachis ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The simultaneous symbiosis of leguminous plants with two root mutualists, endophytic fungi and rhizobia is common in nature, yet how two mutualists interact and co-exist before infecting plants and the concomitant effects on nodulation are less understood. Using a combination of metabolic analysis, fungal deletion mutants and comparative transcriptomics, we demonstrated that Bradyrhizobium and a facultatively biotrophic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris, interacted to stimulate fungal flavonoid production, and thereby primed Bradyrhizobial nodulation signaling, enhancing Bradyrhizobial responses to root exudates and leading to early nodulation of peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and such effects were compromised when disturbing fungal flavonoid biosynthesis. Stress sensitivity assays and reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination revealed that flavonoid production acted as a strategy to alleviate hyphal oxidative stress during P. liquidambaris-Bradyrhizobial interactions. By investigating the interactions between P. liquidambaris and a collection of 38 rhizobacteria, from distinct bacterial genera, we additionally showed that the flavonoid-ROS module contributed to the maintenance of fungal and bacterial co-existence, and fungal niche colonization under soil conditions. Our results demonstrate for the first time that rhizobial nodulation signaling can be primed by fungi before symbiosis with host plants and highlight the importance of flavonoid in tripartite interactions between legumes, beneficial fungi and rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid35488151, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, S and Zhao, L}, title = {Development and synergetic evolution of the water-energy-food nexus system in the Yellow River Basin.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {43}, pages = {65549-65564}, pmid = {35488151}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Food ; Food Supply ; *Rivers ; *Water ; Water Supply ; }, abstract = {The water-energy-food nexus is a complex system where balancing the trade-offs across water, energy, and food sectors is especially difficult in resource-deficient areas. The Yellow River Basin is an area in which water shortages lead to conflicts among water, energy, and food resources. Thus, investigating the evolution state and spatial characteristics of the water-energy-food nexus in the Yellow River Basin is essential for the management of resources and sustainable development orientation of the region's water-energy-food nexus system. This study proposed an integrated assessment framework by using synergy theory and the integrated index system method. The improved Lotka-Volterra symbiotic model was used to elucidate the development and synergy evolution status of the water-energy-food nexus system in prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin between 2004 and 2019. The results show that the order degree of the water and energy subsystems in the Yellow River Basin increased by an average of 0.12 and 0.42, on average respectively, from 2004 to 2019, whereas that of the food subsystem only increased by an average of 0.004 compared to the initial year. Furthermore, most prefecture-level cities experienced subsystem degradation of one or two subsystems during the evolution of the water-energy-food nexus system. Based on the uniqueness and evolution process of each city, there are eight possibilities for system evolution and three types of feedback state between each pair of subsystems, which may lead to a certain spatial aggregation. Additionally, the interaction and competition states are more common than synergy states in the water-energy-food nexus system of the Yellow River Basin. This study provides an important basis and suggestions for the internal relationship and sustainable orientation of water-energy-food nexus systems in such water-deficient areas.}, } @article {pmid35487886, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, B and Zhang, L and Wang, Y and Dai, T and Qin, Z and Zhou, F and Zhang, L}, title = {Alterations in microbiota of patients with COVID-19: potential mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.}, journal = {Signal transduction and targeted therapy}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {143}, pmid = {35487886}, issn = {2059-3635}, mesh = {*COVID-19/complications/therapy ; Cell Line ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; }, abstract = {The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently ongoing. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A high proportion of COVID-19 patients exhibit gastrointestinal manifestations such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Moreover, the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are the primary habitats of human microbiota and targets for SARS-CoV-2 infection as they express angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) at high levels. There is accumulating evidence that the microbiota are significantly altered in patients with COVID-19 and post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Microbiota are powerful immunomodulatory factors in various human diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cancers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and certain viral infections. In the present review, we explore the associations between host microbiota and COVID-19 in terms of their clinical relevance. Microbiota-derived metabolites or components are the main mediators of microbiota-host interactions that influence host immunity. Hence, we discuss the potential mechanisms by which microbiota-derived metabolites or components modulate the host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, we review and discuss a variety of possible microbiota-based prophylaxes and therapies for COVID-19 and PACS, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, prebiotics, microbiota-derived metabolites, and engineered symbiotic bacteria. This treatment strategy could modulate host microbiota and mitigate virus-induced inflammation.}, } @article {pmid35487143, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, H and Cui, M and Yang, X and Liu, Y and Wang, J and Zhang, L and Zhan, G and Zhao, Y}, title = {Visual signal sensor coupling to nitrification for sustainable monitoring of trichloroacetaldehyde and the response mechanisms.}, journal = {Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {146}, number = {}, pages = {108142}, doi = {10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108142}, pmid = {35487143}, issn = {1878-562X}, mesh = {Bioreactors/microbiology ; Chloral Hydrate/analogs & derivatives ; *Denitrification ; *Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {In this work, a toxicity monitoring microbial system (TMMS) with a nitrifying biofilm as a sensing element and cathode oxygen reduction as an electrical signal was successfully constructed for trichloroacetaldehyde (TCAL) detection. The current and nitrification rate showed a linear relationship with TCAL concentration from 0 to 100 μg/L (R[2]current = 0.9892, R[2]nitrification = 0.9858), indicating that the target substrate concentration can be directly obtained from an electrical signal without further sample concentration. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the TMMS was composed of autotrophic/heterotrophic nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms. Further analysis via a symbiotic relationship network demonstrated that unclassified_Comamonadaceae and unclassified_Xanthobacteraceae were the core nodes for maintaining the interaction between autotropic and heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the electron transfer process primarily relied on ferredoxin and cytochromes under TCAL stress, and the abundance of functional enzymes involved in the process of nitrification was decreased, resulting in changes in electrical signal output. This work explored a visual signal sensor combined with electrochemistry and autotrophic/heterotrophic nitrification, which provided new insights into recognition and response mechanisms for microbial monitoring of toxic substances.}, } @article {pmid35486588, year = {2022}, author = {Barakat, N and Beaufort, S and Rizk, Z and Bouajila, J and Taillandier, P and El Rayess, Y}, title = {Kombucha analogues around the world: A review.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-25}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2022.2069673}, pmid = {35486588}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional healthy beverage usually made by the fermentation of sweetened tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The consumption of kombucha is associated with numerous health benefits and therefore the beverage has attracted the attention of consumers worldwide. Non-typical substrates (fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, dairy, and by-products) are being inoculated with the kombucha consortium in an attempt to develop new products. This review paper reviews the fermentation parameters for different non-tea substrates used to make kombucha, in addition to the findings obtained in terms of physico-chemical analysis, biological activities and sensory evaluation.}, } @article {pmid35483149, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, HR and Zhang, JM and Zhao, XY and Feng, F}, title = {N limit as a switch node between positive and negative plant-soil feedback: A meta-analysis based on the covariant diagnosis of plant growth and soil factors.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {237}, number = {}, pages = {113557}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113557}, pmid = {35483149}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Feedback ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Plants/metabolism ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Mounting evidence has confirmed the existence of plant-soil feedback, a reflection of plant-soil interaction. However, analysis of ecological feedback pathways remains a challenge. In this study, single and mixed plant communities in different soil ecosystems were screened using strict control systems in global ecosystems to identify the positive or negative feedback effects in indicator plants. Furthermore, the plant components and biomass were identified in each pathway. The significantly changed components indicated pathway factors. As negative feedback increased, the InRR (Response Ratio) of soil organic matter, soil total N, microbial alpha diversity and the symbiotic fungi proportion were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). In contrast, the stoichiometric ratio (C: N), water content, and the pathogenic bacteria proportion were downregulated (P < 0.05). However, the positive feedback showed the opposite trend. Importantly, N limit as a transform node between positive and negative plant-soil feedback predicted by Akaike information criterion (AIC > 0.8). Therefore, it has become an important evaluation standard for the inter-species relationship and ecological environment changes under the background of global N deposition. Finally, the feedback values of each sampling site were recalculated over the next 20 years, 50 years, and 100 years based on the global temperature rise and changing rainfall patterns. We also found that global warming and extreme rainfall may change the distribution of interspecies relationships on a global scale, with global warming having the greatest recognisable effect and decreasing the negative feedback layout by 21.7% (P < 0.05). Therefore, this work promotes the cognition of relationship of soil environment, microbial abundance and function, plant diversity and plant- soil feedback model. Meanwhile, it is of great significance to protect species diversity and restore environmental degradation.}, } @article {pmid35482894, year = {2022}, author = {Cook, TM and Mansuy-Aubert, V}, title = {Communication between the gut microbiota and peripheral nervous system in health and chronic disease.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2068365}, pmid = {35482894}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {F31 DK126441/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK117404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Chronic Disease ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Peripheral Nervous System ; }, abstract = {Trillions of bacteria reside within our gastrointestinal tract, ideally forming a mutually beneficial relationship between us. However, persistent changes in diet and lifestyle in the western diet and lifestyle contribute to a damaging of the gut microbiota-host symbiosis leading to diseases such as obesity and irritable bowel syndrome. Many symptoms and comorbidities associated with these diseases stem from dysfunctional signaling in peripheral neurons. Our peripheral nervous system (PNS) is comprised of a variety of sensory, autonomic, and enteric neurons which coordinate key homeostatic functions such as gastrointestinal motility, digestion, immunity, feeding behavior, glucose and lipid homeostasis, and more. The composition and signaling of bacteria in our gut dramatically influences how our peripheral neurons regulate these functions, and we are just beginning to uncover the molecular mechanisms mediating this communication. In this review, we cover the general anatomy and function of the PNS, and then we discuss how the molecules secreted or stimulated by gut microbes signal through the PNS to alter host development and physiology. Finally, we discuss how leveraging the power of our gut microbes on peripheral nervous system signaling may offer effective therapies to counteract the rise in chronic diseases crippling the western world.}, } @article {pmid35481141, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, CC and Liu, YN and Cheng, JF and Guo, R and Tian, L and Wang, B}, title = {Dual Roles of OsGH3.2 in Modulating Rice Root Morphology and Affecting Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {853435}, pmid = {35481141}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Several angiosperm GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 (GH3) genes, including tomato SlGH3.4 and rice OsGH3.2 are induced during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, but their functions remain largely unclear. Recently, tomato SlGH3.4 was suggested to negatively regulate arbuscule incidence via decreasing auxin levels in colonized cells. In this study, by acquiring rice OsGH3.2pro:β-glucuronidase (GUS) transgenic plants and generating Osgh3.2 mutants via CRISPR/Cas9 technique, the roles of OsGH3.2 in modulating rice root morphology and affecting AM symbiosis were investigated through time course experiments. Unlike SlGH3.4, OsGH3.2 showed asymbiotic expression in rice young lateral roots, and its mutation resulted in a "shallow" root architecture. Such root morphological change was also observed under symbiotic condition and it likely promoted AM fungal colonization, as the mutants exhibited higher colonization levels and arbuscule incidence than wild-type at early stages. Similar to SlGH3.4, OsGH3.2 showed symbiotic expression in cortical cells that have formed mature arbuscules. At late stages of symbiosis, Osgh3.2 mutants showed elongated cortical cells and larger arbuscules than wild-type, indicating elevated auxin level in the colonized cells. Together, these results revealed both asymbiotic and symbiotic roles of OsGH3.2 in modulating rice root architecture and controlling auxin levels in arbusculated cells, which further affected colonization rate and arbuscule phenotype.}, } @article {pmid35481136, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, T and Balla, B and Kovács, S and Kereszt, A}, title = {Varietas Delectat: Exploring Natural Variations in Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis Research.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {856187}, pmid = {35481136}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between leguminous plants and soil bacteria collectively called rhizobia plays an important role in the global nitrogen cycle and is an essential component of sustainable agriculture. Genetic determinants directing the development and functioning of the interaction have been identified with the help of a very limited number of model plants and bacterial strains. Most of the information obtained from the study of model systems could be validated on crop plants and their partners. The investigation of soybean cultivars and different rhizobia, however, has revealed the existence of ineffective interactions between otherwise effective partners that resemble gene-for-gene interactions described for pathogenic systems. Since then, incompatible interactions between natural isolates of model plants, called ecotypes, and different bacterial partner strains have been reported. Moreover, diverse phenotypes of both bacterial mutants on different host plants and plant mutants with different bacterial strains have been described. Identification of the genetic factors behind the phenotypic differences did already and will reveal novel functions of known genes/proteins, the role of certain proteins in some interactions, and the fine regulation of the steps during nodule development.}, } @article {pmid35480050, year = {2022}, author = {Yuyama, I and Higuchi, T and Mezaki, T and Tashiro, H and Ikeo, K}, title = {Metatranscriptomic Analysis of Corals Inoculated With Tolerant and Non-Tolerant Symbiont Exposed to High Temperature and Light Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {806171}, pmid = {35480050}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Algal symbionts of corals can influence host stress resistance; for example, in the Pacific Ocean, whereas Cladocopium (C-type) is generally dominant in corals, Durusdinium (D-type) is found in more heat-resistant corals. Thus, the presence of D-type symbiont likely increases coral heat tolerance, and this symbiotic relationship potentially provides a hint to increase the stress tolerance of coral-algal symbioses. In this study, transcriptome profiles of Cladocopium- and Durusdinium-harboring Acropora solitaryensis (C-coral and D-coral, respectively) and algal photosystem functioning (F v /F m) under bleaching conditions (high temperature and light stress) were compared. Stress treatment caused algal photoinhibition that the F v /F m value of Symbiodiniaceae was immediately reduced. The transcriptome analysis of corals revealed that genes involved in the following processes were detected: endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitophagy, apoptosis, endocytosis, metabolic processes (acetyl-CoA, chitin metabolic processes, etc.), and the PI3K-AKT pathway were upregulated, while DNA replication and the calcium signaling pathway were downregulated in both C- and D-corals. These results suggest that unrepaired DNA and protein damages were accumulated in corals under high temperature and light stress. Additionally, some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were specific to C- or D-corals, which includes genes involved in transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and vitamin B metabolic processes. Algal transcriptome analysis showed the increased expression of gene encoding photosystem and molecular chaperone especially in D-type symbiont. The transcriptome data imply a possible difference in the stress reactions on C-type and D-type symbionts. The results reveal the basic process of coral heat/light stress response and symbiont-type-specific coral transcriptional responses, which provides a perspective on the mechanisms that cause differences in coral stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid35480035, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, XY and Wang, DH}, title = {Gut Microbial Community and Host Thermoregulation in Small Mammals.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {888324}, pmid = {35480035}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The endotherms, particularly the small mammals living in the polar region and temperate zone, are faced with extreme challenges for maintaining stable core body temperatures in harsh cold winter. The non-hibernating small mammals increase metabolic rate including obligatory thermogenesis (basal/resting metabolic rate, BMR/RMR) and regulatory thermogenesis (mainly nonshivering thermogenesis, NST, in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle) to maintain thermal homeostasis in cold conditions. A substantial amount of evidence indicates that the symbiotic gut microbiota are sensitive to air temperature, and play an important function in cold-induced thermoregulation, via bacterial metabolites and byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids. Cold signal is sensed by specific thermosensitive transient receptor potential channels (thermo-TRPs), and then norepinephrine (NE) is released from sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and thyroid hormones also increase to induce NST. Meanwhile, these neurotransmitters and hormones can regulate the diversity and compositions of the gut microbiota. Therefore, cold-induced NST is controlled by both Thermo-TRPs-SNS-gut microbiota axis and thyroid-gut microbiota axis. Besides physiological thermoregulation, small mammals also rely on behavioral regulation, such as huddling and coprophagy, to maintain energy and thermal homeostasis, and the gut microbial community is involved in these processes. The present review summarized the recent progress in the gut microbiota and host physiological and behavioral thermoregulation in small mammals for better understanding the evolution and adaption of holobionts (host and symbiotic microorganism). The coevolution of host-microorganism symbionts promotes individual survival, population maintenance, and species coexistence in the ecosystems with complicated, variable environments.}, } @article {pmid35479719, year = {2021}, author = {Iman, K and Ahamad, MN and Monika, and Ansari, A and Saleh, HAM and Khan, MS and Ahmad, M and Haque, RA and Shahid, M}, title = {How to identify a smoker: a salient crystallographic approach to detect thiocyanate content.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {11}, number = {28}, pages = {16881-16891}, pmid = {35479719}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {There is an increasing demand for monitoring environmental pollutants and the control requires new sensing materials with better sensitivity, selectivity and reliability. In this study, a series of Co7 clusters incorporating various flexible polyhydroxyamine ligands are explored, with the first report of thiocyanate recognition triggered by crystal formation using a Co7 crystal (1). For this, we have fortunately synthesized three new mixed metal Co7 clusters with fascinating structural features. The clusters were characterized by spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods and later by DFT calculations. Due to its better emission spectrum, 1 was further utilized for evaluating its sensing ability towards various anions in water. Surprisingly, 1 shows better quenching ability towards the recognition of SCN[-] with a better binding constant. The luminescence quenching towards SCN[-] detection was further verified by the single crystal method, HSAB principle (symbiosis) and theoretical calculations such as DFT studies. The SCXRD data clearly suggest that the Co7 (1) can be converted into Co14 (1a) by direct reaction with NaSCN under ambient conditions. Besides the soft/hard acid-base concept (symbiosis), the energies of formation, and Co-NCS and Co-OH2 bond energies (as unravelled by DFT) are responsible for this transformation. Therefore, 1 can be used as a selective and sensitive sensor for the detection of thiocyanate anions based on the fluorescence amplification and quenching method. Further, the designed cluster has also been utilized to detect anions in human blood samples to differentiate a smoker and a non-smoker. It has been concluded that the samples of smokers have a high degree of thiocyanate (∼12 or 9.5 mg L[-1]) in comparison to those of non-smokers (2-3 mg L[-1]). Thus, this kind of cluster material has high potentiality in the field of bio-medical science in future endeavours for identification of the extent of thiocyanate content in smokers.}, } @article {pmid35478327, year = {2022}, author = {Kranner, I and Pichler, G and Grube, M}, title = {The lichen market place.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1541-1543}, pmid = {35478327}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Lichens ; }, abstract = {This article is a Commentary on Spribille et al. (2022), 234: 1566–1582.}, } @article {pmid35478267, year = {2022}, author = {Agnihotri, R and Sharma, MP and Bucking, H and Dames, JF and Bagyaraj, DJ}, title = {Methods for assessing the quality of AM fungal bio-fertilizer: Retrospect and future directions.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {97}, pmid = {35478267}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Fertilizers ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plants ; Reproducibility of Results ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the recent past, the mass production of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has bloomed into a large biofertilizer industry. Due to their obligate symbiotic nature, these fungi are propagated on living roots in substrate-based pot cultures and RiTDNA in in vitro or root organ culture systems. The quality assessment of AM inocula remains critical for the production and efficacy evaluation of AM fungi. The vigour of AM inocula are assessed through microscopic methods such as inoculum potential, infectivity potential/infection units, most probable number (MPN) and spore density. These methods marginally depend on the researcher's skill. The signature lipids specific to AM fungi, e.g. 16:1ω5cis ester-linked, phospholipid, and neutral lipid fatty acids provide more robustness and reproducibility. The quantitative real-time PCR of AM fungal taxa specific primers and probes analyzing gene copy number is also increasingly used. This article intends to sensitize AM fungal researchers and inoculum manufacturers to various methods of assessing the quality of AM inocula addressing their merits and demerits. This will help AM producers to fulfil the regulatory requirements ensuring the supply of high-quality AM inocula to end-users, and tap a new dimension of AM research in the commercial production of AM fungi and its application in sustainable plant production systems.}, } @article {pmid35477720, year = {2022}, author = {Maraci, Ö and Corsini, M and Antonatou-Papaioannou, A and Jünemann, S and Sudyka, J and Di Lecce, I and Caspers, BA and Szulkin, M}, title = {Changes to the gut microbiota of a wild juvenile passerine in a multidimensional urban mosaic.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {6872}, pmid = {35477720}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Cities ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; *Passeriformes ; Plant Breeding ; }, abstract = {Urbanisation is a major anthropogenic perturbation presenting novel ecological and evolutionary challenges to wild populations. Symbiotic microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tracts (gut) of vertebrates have mutual connections with host physiology and respond quickly to environmental alterations. However, the impact of anthropogenic changes and urbanisation on the gut microbiota remains poorly understood, especially in early development. To address this knowledge gap, we characterised the gut microbiota of juvenile great tits (Parus major) reared in artificial nestboxes and in natural cavities in an urban mosaic, employing two distinct frameworks characterising the urban space. Microbial diversity was influenced by cavity type. Alpha diversity was affected by the amount of impervious surface surrounding the breeding location, and positively correlated with tree cover density. Community composition differed between urban and rural sites: these alterations covaried with sound pollution and distance to the city centre. Overall, the microbial communities reflect and are possibly influenced by the heterogeneous environmental modifications that are typical of the urban space. Strikingly, the choice of framework and environmental variables characterising the urban space can influence the outcomes of such ecological studies. Our results open new perspectives to investigate the impact of microbial symbionts on the adaptive capacity of their hosts.}, } @article {pmid35476236, year = {2022}, author = {Shamseldin, A}, title = {Future Outlook of Transferring Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) to Cereals and Challenges to Retard Achieving this Dream.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {6}, pages = {171}, pmid = {35476236}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Edible Grain/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; }, abstract = {BNF is a fascinating phenomenon which contributes to protect the nature from environmental pollution that can be happened as a result of heavy nitrogen applications. The importance of BNF is due to its supply of the agricultural lands with about 200 million tons of N annually. In this biological process, a specific group of bacteria collectively called rhizobia fix the atmospheric N in symbiosis with legumes called symbiotic nitrogen fixation and others (free living) fix nitrogen gas from the atmosphere termed asymbiotic. Several trials were done by scientists around the world to make cereals more benefited from nitrogen gas through different approaches. The first approach is to engineer cereals to form nodulated roots. Secondly is to transfer nif genes directly to cereals and fix N without Rhizobium partner. The other two approaches are maximizing the inoculation of cereals with both of diazotrophs or endophytes. Recently, scientists solved some challenges that entangle engineering cereals with nif genes directly and they confirmed the suitability of mitochondria and plastids as a suitable place for better biological function of nif genes expression in cereals. Fortunately, this article is confirming the success of scientists not only to transfer synthetic nitrogenase enzyme to Escherichia coli that gave 50% of its activity of expression, but also move it to plants as Nicotiana benthamiana. This mini review aims at explaining the future outlook of BNF and the challenges limiting its transfer to cereals and levels of success to make cereals self nitrogen fixing.}, } @article {pmid35474688, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, H and Cui, Y and Zhou, J and Penttinen, P and Liu, J and Zeng, L and Chen, Q and Gu, Y and Zou, L and Zhao, K and Xiang, Q and Yu, X}, title = {Nickel mine soil is a potential source for soybean plant growth promoting and heavy metal tolerant rhizobia.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13215}, pmid = {35474688}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Soybeans/genetics ; Nickel/pharmacology ; Soil ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Metals, Heavy ; }, abstract = {Mine soil is not only barren but also contaminated by some heavy metals. It is unclear whether some rhizobia survived under extreme conditions in the nickel mine soil. Therefore, this study tries to isolate some effective soybean plant growth promoting and heavy metal resistant rhizobia from nickel mine soil, and to analyze their diversity. Soybean plants were used to trap rhizobia from the nickel mine soil. A total of 21 isolates were preliminarily identified as rhizobia, which were clustered into eight groups at 87% similarity level using BOXA1R-PCR fingerprinting technique. Four out of the eight representative isolates formed nodules on soybean roots with effectively symbiotic nitrogen-fixing and plant growth promoting abilities in the soybean pot experiment. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA, four housekeeping genes (atpD-recA-glnII-rpoB) and nifH genes assigned the symbiotic isolates YN5, YN8 and YN10 into Ensifer xinjiangense and YN11 into Rhizobium radiobacter, respectively. They also showed different tolerance levels to the heavy metals including cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc. It was concluded that there were some plant growth promoting and heavy metal resistant rhizobia with the potential to facilitate phytoremediation and alleviate the effects of heavy metals on soybean cultivation in nickel mine soil, indicating a novel evidence for further exploring more functional microbes from the nickel mine soil.}, } @article {pmid35474563, year = {2022}, author = {Yeung, KA and Chai, PR and Russell, BL and Erickson, TB}, title = {Avian Toxins and Poisoning Mechanisms.}, journal = {Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {321-333}, pmid = {35474563}, issn = {1937-6995}, support = {K23DA044874/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; 1 R44 DA051106/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Coturnix ; Humans ; *Poisons ; }, abstract = {All around the world, there are species of birds that have developed the ability to acquire toxic chemicals in their bodies making them less palatable or even lethal when consumed or contacted. Exposure to poisonous bird species is rare among humans, yet their poisons can produce serious clinical outcomes. In this study, we conducted a literature search focusing on seven avian species: the pitohuis (Pitohui spp.), blue-capped ifrita (Ifrita kowaldi), European quail (Cortunix corturnix coturnix), spur or spoor-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis), North American ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Brush bronzewings (Phaps elegans), and European hoopoes and woodhoopoes (Upupa epops and Phoeniculus purpureus, respectively). We present the geographic distribution of each poisonous bird, toxin physiology and origin, clinical signs and symptoms of poisoning, cases of human toxicity if available and discuss the birds' ability to prevent self-intoxication. Our results suggest that most cases of contact with toxic birds produce mild symptoms as most of these birds apart from the European quail (C. c. corturnix) and North American ruffed grouse (B. umbellus) are not commonly consumed by humans. Furthermore, we discuss several methods of toxin acquisition in these bird species, which are mostly diet acquired apart from the hoopoes and woodhoopoes (Upupa and Phoeniculus spp.) who have a symbiotic relationship with chemical-producing bacteria in their uropygial glands. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive review of the toxic physiology, clinical manifestations, and evolutionary insight to avian toxins.}, } @article {pmid35474485, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, Q and Fan, L and Tan, H and Zhang, Y and Fang, Q and Yang, J and Cui, SW and Nie, S}, title = {Impact of pectin with various esterification degrees on the profiles of gut microbiota and serum metabolites.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {106}, number = {9-10}, pages = {3707-3720}, pmid = {35474485}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; *Colitis/chemically induced ; Colon ; Dextran Sulfate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Esterification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glycerophospholipids/pharmacology ; Lactobacillus ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pectins/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Colitis is generally affected by multiple factors, including the dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota, and may affect organs outside colon through circulation. Pectin, which is an edible polysaccharide widely present in plant cell walls, has been proved in our previous study to possess preventive potentials against acute ulcerative colitis, especially when the esterification degree is less than 50%. This study aimed to clarify the underlying correlations of gut microbiome and serum metabolites with the preventive effects of pectin with different esterification degrees (H121, L13, and L102) against colitis in mice. MiSeq sequencing data showed that symbiotic bacteria especially beneficial Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were enriched by pectin intake. Fiber consumers such as Prevotella and Bacteroides actively responded to L13 pectin, particularly under high dosage (L13-H). In addition, the abnormal abundance of Akkermansia associated with colitis would not appear in mice who had been provided with any of the three pectins before dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) treatment. Furthermore, pre-treatment of H121 and L13 pectins could improve the serum glycerophospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). In contrast, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) contributing to the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was enriched only in the L13-H group, which has been previously proved to be associated with the epithelial barrier and intestinal homeostasis. Positive relationships between the glycerophospholipids and the dominant candidates of intestinal bacteria such as Lactobacillus indicated the joint actions of intestinal microbes and serum metabolites as well as the underlying crosstalks among gut microbiome. Therefore, the results of this research suggested that the preventive effects of low-esterified pectin on DSS-induced colitis were likely to be initiated by the enrichment of probiotics in the gut and serum glycerophospholipids. KEY POINTS: • L13 pectin remarkably improved the diversity of the gut microbiome in healthy mice. • Probiotics were enriched and abnormal Akkermansia was restored by L13 and L102 pectins. • Glycerophospholipid metabolism was significantly enriched by H121 and L13 pectins.}, } @article {pmid35474421, year = {2022}, author = {Zeng, Q and Ding, X and Wang, J and Han, X and Iqbal, HMN and Bilal, M}, title = {Insight into soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability and agricultural sustainability by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {30}, pages = {45089-45106}, pmid = {35474421}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; *Alphaproteobacteria ; Bacteria ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen ; Phosphates ; Phosphorus ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen and phosphorus are critical for the vegetation ecosystem and two of the most insufficient nutrients in the soil. In agriculture practice, many chemical fertilizers are being applied to soil to improve soil nutrients and yield. This farming procedure poses considerable environmental risks which affect agricultural sustainability. As robust soil microorganisms, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have emerged as an environmentally friendly way of maintaining and improving the soil's available nitrogen and phosphorus. As a special PGPR, rhizospheric diazotrophs can fix nitrogen in the rhizosphere and promote plant growth. However, the mechanisms and influences of rhizospheric nitrogen fixation (NF) are not well researched as symbiotic NF lacks summarizing. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are important members of PGPR. They can dissolve both insoluble mineral and organic phosphate in soil and enhance the phosphorus uptake of plants. The application of PSB can significantly increase plant biomass and yield. Co-inoculating PSB with other PGPR shows better performance in plant growth promotion, and the mechanisms are more complicated. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of rhizospheric NF and phosphate solubilization by PGPR. Deeper genetic insights would provide a better understanding of the NF mechanisms of PGPR, and co-inoculation with rhizospheric diazotrophs and PSB strains would be a strategy in enhancing the sustainability of soil nutrients.}, } @article {pmid35474114, year = {2022}, author = {Xiao, L and Johansson, S and Rughöft, S and Burki, F and Sandin, MM and Tenje, M and Behrendt, L}, title = {Photophysiological response of Symbiodiniaceae single cells to temperature stress.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {2060-2064}, pmid = {35474114}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Photosystem II Protein Complex ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae engage in symbiosis with scleractinian corals. As coral 'bleaching' is partly governed by the thermal sensitivity of different Symbiodiniaceae lineages, numerous studies have investigated their temperature sensitivity. However, the systematic identification of single-cells with increased temperature resistance among these dinoflagellates has remained inaccessible, mostly due to a lack of technologies operating at the microscale. Here, we employed a unique combination of microfluidics, miniaturized temperature control, and chlorophyll fluorometry to characterize the single-cell heterogeneity among five representative species within the Symbiodiniaceae family under temperature stress. We monitored single-cell maximum quantum yields (Fv/Fm) of photosystem (PS) II under increasing temperature stress (22‒39 °C, + 1 °C every 15 min), and detected a significant Fv/Fm reduction at lineage-specific temperatures ranging from 28 °C to 34 °C alongside a 40- to 180- fold increase in intraspecific heterogeneity under elevated temperatures (>31 °C). We discovered that the initial Fv/Fm of a cell could predict the same cell's ability to perform PSII photochemistry under moderate temperature stress (<32 °C), suggesting its use as a proxy for measuring the thermal sensitivity among Symbiodiniaceae. In combination, our study highlights the heterogeneous thermal sensitivity among photosynthetic Symbiodiniaceae and adds critical resolution to our understanding of temperature-induced coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid35473381, year = {2022}, author = {Pons, I and González Porras, MÁ and Breitenbach, N and Berger, J and Hipp, K and Salem, H}, title = {For the road: calibrated maternal investment in light of extracellular symbiont transmission.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1973}, pages = {20220386}, pmid = {35473381}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Insecta ; Larva ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Faithful transmission of beneficial symbionts is critical for the persistence of mutualisms. Many insect groups rely on extracellular routes that require microbial symbionts to survive outside the host during transfer. However, given a prolonged aposymbiotic phase in offspring, how do mothers mitigate the risk of symbiont loss due to unsuccessful transmission? Here, we investigated symbiont regulation and reacquisition during extracellular transfer in the tortoise beetle, Chelymorpha alternans (Coleoptera: Cassidinae). Like many cassidines, C. alternans relies on egg caplets to vertically propagate its obligate symbiont Candidatus Stammera capleta. On average, each caplet is supplied with 12 symbiont-bearing spheres where Stammera is embedded. We observe limited deviation (±2.3) in the number of spheres allocated to each caplet, indicating strict maternal control over symbiont supply. Larvae acquire Stammera 1 day prior to eclosion but are unable to do so after hatching, suggesting that a specific developmental window governs symbiont uptake. Experimentally manipulating the number of spheres available to each egg revealed that a single sphere is sufficient to ensure successful colonization by Stammera relative to the 12 typically packaged within a caplet. Collectively, our findings shed light on a tightly regulated symbiont transmission cycle optimized to ensure extracellular transfer.}, } @article {pmid35472357, year = {2022}, author = {Beltrán-Sanz, N and Raggio, J and Gonzalez, S and Dal Grande, F and Prost, S and Green, A and Pintado, A and Sancho, LG}, title = {Climate change leads to higher NPP at the end of the century in the Antarctic Tundra: Response patterns through the lens of lichens.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {835}, number = {}, pages = {155495}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155495}, pmid = {35472357}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorophyll A ; Climate Change ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Lichens/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Tundra ; *Unionidae ; }, abstract = {Poikilohydric autotrophs are the main colonizers of the permanent ice-free areas in the Antarctic tundra biome. Global climate warming and the small human footprint in this ecosystem make it especially vulnerable to abrupt changes. Elucidating the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem is challenging because it mainly comprises poikilohydric species, which are greatly influenced by microtopographic factors. In the present study, we investigated the potential effects of climate change on the metabolic activity and net primary photosynthesis (NPP) in the widespread lichen species Usnea aurantiaco-atra. Long-term monitoring of chlorophyll a fluorescence in the field was combined with photosynthetic performance measurements in laboratory experiments in order to establish the daily response patterns under biotic and abiotic factors at micro- and macro-scales. Our findings suggest that macroclimate is a poor predictor of NPP, thereby indicating that microclimate is the main driver due to the strong effects of microtopographic factors on cryptogams. Metabolic activity is also crucial for estimating the NPP, which is highly dependent on the type, distribution, and duration of the hydration sources available throughout the year. Under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, metabolic activity will increase slightly compared with that at present due to the increased precipitation events predicted in MIROC5. Temperature is highlighted as the main driver for NPP projections, and thus climate warming will lead to an average increase in NPP of 167-171% at the end of the century. However, small changes in other drivers such as light and relative humidity may strongly modify the metabolic activity patterns of poikilohydric autotrophs, and thus their NPP. Species with similar physiological response ranges to the species investigated in the present study are expected to behave in a similar manner provided that liquid water is available.}, } @article {pmid35471237, year = {2022}, author = {Jardinaud, MF and Fromentin, J and Auriac, MC and Moreau, S and Pecrix, Y and Taconnat, L and Cottret, L and Aubert, G and Balzergue, S and Burstin, J and Carrere, S and Gamas, P}, title = {MtEFD and MtEFD2: Two transcription factors with distinct neofunctionalization in symbiotic nodule development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {189}, number = {3}, pages = {1587-1607}, pmid = {35471237}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium-legume nitrogen-fixing symbiosis involves the formation of a specific organ, the root nodule, which provides bacteria with the proper cellular environment for atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Coordinated differentiation of plant and bacterial cells is an essential step of nodule development, for which few transcriptional regulators have been characterized. Medicago truncatula ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR REQUIRED FOR NODULE DIFFERENTIATION (MtEFD) encodes an APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (ERF) transcription factor, the mutation of which leads to both hypernodulation and severe defects in nodule development. MtEFD positively controls a negative regulator of cytokinin signaling, the RESPONSE REGULATOR 4 (MtRR4) gene. Here we showed that that the Mtefd-1 mutation affects both plant and bacterial endoreduplication in nodules, as well as the expression of hundreds of genes in young and mature nodules, upstream of known regulators of symbiotic differentiation. MtRR4 expressed with the MtEFD promoter complemented Mtefd-1 hypernodulation but not the nodule differentiation phenotype. Unexpectedly, a nonlegume homolog of MtEFD, AtERF003 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), could efficiently complement both phenotypes of Mtefd-1, in contrast to the MtEFD paralog MtEFD2 expressed in the root and nodule meristematic zone. A domain swap experiment showed that MtEFD2 differs from MtEFD by its C-terminal fraction outside the DNA binding domain. Furthermore, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) mutagenesis of MtEFD2 led to a reduction in the number of nodules formed in Mtefd-1, with downregulation of a set of genes, including notably NUCLEAR FACTOR-YA1 (MtNF-YA1) and MtNF-YB16, which are essential for nodule meristem establishment. We, therefore, conclude that nitrogen-fixing symbiosis recruited two proteins originally expressed in roots, MtEFD and MtEFD2, with distinct functions and neofunctionalization processes for each of them.}, } @article {pmid35470091, year = {2023}, author = {Luo, Y and Liu, W and Sun, J and Zhang, ZR and Yang, WC}, title = {Quantitative proteomics reveals key pathways in the symbiotic interface and the likely extracellular property of soybean symbiosome.}, journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {7-19}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2022.04.004}, pmid = {35470091}, issn = {1673-8527}, mesh = {*Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Soybean Proteins/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Rhizobium/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {An effective symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia relies largely on diverse proteins at the plant-rhizobium interface for material transportation and signal transduction during symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Here, we report a comprehensive proteome atlas of the soybean symbiosome membrane (SM), peribacteroid space (PBS), and root microsomal fraction (RMF) using state-of-the-art label-free quantitative proteomic technology. In total, 1759 soybean proteins with diverse functions are detected in the SM, and 1476 soybean proteins and 369 rhizobial proteins are detected in the PBS. The diversity of SM proteins detected suggests multiple origins of the SM. Quantitative comparative analysis highlights amino acid metabolism and nutrient uptake in the SM, indicative of the key pathways in nitrogen assimilation. The detection of soybean secretory proteins in the PBS and receptor-like kinases in the SM provides evidence for the likely extracellular property of the symbiosome and the potential signaling communication between both symbionts at the symbiotic interface. Our proteomic data provide clues for how some of the sophisticated regulation between soybean and rhizobium at the symbiotic interface is achieved, and suggest approaches for symbiosis engineering.}, } @article {pmid35469738, year = {2022}, author = {Najafi, J and Palmgren, M}, title = {Hexose transport reverts the growth penalty of mlo resistance.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {739-741}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2022.04.003}, pmid = {35469738}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Disease Resistance/genetics ; Fungi ; Hexoses ; *Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) promotes both symbiosis and biotrophic interactions with fungi. MLO disruption results in powdery mildew resistance but is associated with growth defects. New research by Li et al. demonstrates that they can be rescued by ectopic activation of a vacuolar hexose transporter.}, } @article {pmid35469007, year = {2022}, author = {Shi, YM and Hirschmann, M and Shi, YN and Ahmed, S and Abebew, D and Tobias, NJ and Grün, P and Crames, JJ and Pöschel, L and Kuttenlochner, W and Richter, C and Herrmann, J and Müller, R and Thanwisai, A and Pidot, SJ and Stinear, TP and Groll, M and Kim, Y and Bode, HB}, title = {Global analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters reveals conserved and unique natural products in entomopathogenic nematode-symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Nature chemistry}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {701-712}, pmid = {35469007}, issn = {1755-4349}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Products ; Humans ; Insecta/genetics/microbiology ; Multigene Family ; *Nematoda/genetics/microbiology ; *Photorhabdus/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Xenorhabdus/genetics ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms contribute to the biology and physiology of eukaryotic hosts and affect other organisms through natural products. Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus (XP) living in mutualistic symbiosis with entomopathogenic nematodes generate natural products to mediate bacteria-nematode-insect interactions. However, a lack of systematic analysis of the XP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) has limited the understanding of how natural products affect interactions between the organisms. Here we combine pangenome and sequence similarity networks to analyse BGCs from 45 XP strains that cover all sequenced strains in our collection and represent almost all XP taxonomy. The identified 1,000 BGCs belong to 176 families. The most conserved families are denoted by 11 BGC classes. We homologously (over)express the ubiquitous and unique BGCs and identify compounds featuring unusual architectures. The bioactivity evaluation demonstrates that the prevalent compounds are eukaryotic proteasome inhibitors, virulence factors against insects, metallophores and insect immunosuppressants. These findings explain the functional basis of bacterial natural products in this tripartite relationship.}, } @article {pmid35467116, year = {2022}, author = {Römer, D and Aguilar, GP and Meyer, A and Roces, F}, title = {Symbiont demand guides resource supply: leaf-cutting ants preferentially deliver their harvested fragments to undernourished fungus gardens.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {109}, number = {3}, pages = {25}, pmid = {35467116}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; Fungi ; Gardens ; Humans ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants are highly successful herbivores in the Neotropics. They forage large amounts of fresh plant material to nourish a symbiotic fungus that sustains the colony. It is unknown how workers organize the intra-nest distribution of resources, and whether they respond to increasing demands in some fungus gardens by adjusting the amount of delivered resources accordingly. In laboratory experiments, we analyzed the spatial distribution of collected leaf fragments among nest chambers in Acromyrmex ambiguus leaf-cutting ants, and how it changed when one of the fungus gardens experienced undernourishment. Plant fragments were evenly distributed among nest chambers when the fungal symbiont was well nourished. That pattern changed when one of the fungus gardens was undernourished and had a higher leaf demand, resulting in more leaf discs delivered to the undernourished fungus garden over at least 2 days after deprivation. Some ants bypassed nourished gardens to directly deliver their resource to the chamber with higher nutritional demand. We hypothesize that cues arising from that chamber might be used for orientation and/or that informed individuals, presumably stemming from the undernourished chamber, may preferentially orient to them.}, } @article {pmid35467072, year = {2022}, author = {Meshram, V and Sharma, G and Maymon, M and Protasov, A and Mendel, Z and Freeman, S}, title = {Symbiosis and pathogenicity of Geosmithia and Talaromyces spp. associated with the cypress bark beetles Phloeosinus spp. and their parasitoids.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {3369-3389}, pmid = {35467072}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; *Cupressus/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Bark/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Talaromyces/genetics ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Fungi associated with cypress bark beetles are practically unknown in the Eastern Mediterranean. Our study focused on the fungi associated with the body parts and galleries of two indigenous cypress bark beetles, Phloeosinus armatus and P. bicolor, sampled from Cupressus sempervirens trees in different regions in Israel. Arbitrarily primed PCR, performed on genomic DNA of 302 isolates, clustered the fungal population into five distinct groups. Multilocus phylogeny, split-network analyses and morphological characterization identified the isolates as Geosmithia omnicola, Geosmithia langdonii, Geosmithia sp. 708b, Geosmithia cupressina sp. nov. CBS147103 and Talaromyces cupressi sp. nov. CBS147104. Of these fungal isolates, G. cupressina and T. cupressi are newly described, and their morphological features and phylogenetic designations are presented. Inoculation of intact cypress saplings in an outdoor net-house revealed that only the representative isolate T. cupressi sp. nov. CBS147104 causes 100% disease incidence, whereas Geosmithia spp. isolates are not pathogenic. A number of these fungi were isolated from parasitoids that emerged from branch and stem sections colonized by P. armatus. This study suggests a long and stable association between Phloeosinus and Geosmithia species, and a possible role for additional associated fungal species as pathogens or endophytes of C. sempervirens trees in Israel.}, } @article {pmid35466873, year = {2022}, author = {Shah, SK and Dey, YN and Madhavan, Y and Maity, A}, title = {Fungal Endophytes: As a Store House of Bioactive Compound.}, journal = {Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/1389557522999220422133020}, pmid = {35466873}, issn = {1875-5607}, abstract = {Fungal endophytes are the microbial adaptations that usually enter inside the plant tissues during their life cycle without harming the host plants. They are found everywhere and generally depend on the hosts by developing various symbiotic relationships like mutualism, hostility, and parasitism on rare occasions which leads to the growth and rise in the nutrient content of the hosts. Endophytes can develop tolerance in host organisms against the different kinds of stress induced by either living or nonliving agents and also may protect them from insects or pests by building resistance. Interestingly, the endophytes can synthesize many phytohormones and medicinal natural compounds as well as several important enzymes useful for biotechnological perspectives that can be obtained by culturing plants tissue in a suitable medium. These endophytes are known to be a reservoir of many new active phytoconstituents like alkaloids, phenolics, steroids, quinones, tannins, saponins, etc., which exhibit anticancer, ant-insect, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and many more properties. The exploration of the new bioactive chemical entities from the endophytes may supply potent lead compounds for drug discovery to combat numerous disease conditions. Hence, the present review was carried out to explore the significance of the fungal endophytes and their medicinal, food, and cosmetics use.}, } @article {pmid35466077, year = {2022}, author = {Lin, CH and Hsu, CH and Adarsh, K and Hsu, CM and Wu, CM}, title = {Real-time intraoperative computed tomography can accurize virtual surgical planning on the double-barrel fibular flap for mandibular reconstruction.}, journal = {Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS}, volume = {75}, number = {8}, pages = {2702-2705}, doi = {10.1016/j.bjps.2022.02.083}, pmid = {35466077}, issn = {1878-0539}, mesh = {Fibula/transplantation ; *Free Tissue Flaps/blood supply ; Humans ; Mandible/diagnostic imaging/surgery ; *Mandibular Reconstruction/methods ; *Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods ; *Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Real-time intraoperative computed tomography created the accuracy of less than 1 mm deviation in virtual surgical planning double barrel fibular flap for mandibular reconstruction-the symbiosis of intelligent technology in a digital OR.

BACKGROUND: With the intelligent technology of virtual surgical planning, CAD/CAM, and intraoperative CT(iCT) in a digital OR, the secondary mandibular defect or primary amelobalstoma mandibulectomy can be restored using double barrel fibula and be achieved precision medicine purpose.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A series of 7 patients underwent free flap for oral cancers who sustained 5 osteoradionecrosis, 2 segmental mandibular defect, and 2 ameloblastoma. They received 9 double barrel fibula flap and 2 free skin flaptransfers. The fibula flap were reconstructed using a virtual surgical planning including CAD/CAM for simulation 3D model, cutting guides for recipient sites and fibulas osteotomy, and iCT for image fusion in a digital OR.

RESULT: The mandibular defect was 5-16 cm (average: 9.56 cm), and 2-5 fibular struts for double barrel fibula (average: 3.67 struts) image fusion. One vein graft for artery was required and all 11 flaps were transferred successfully without reexploration. Six patients had intraoperative revision of the fibula and plate to improve the onlay image fusion volume from 74.71 to 82.57%. The postoperative inter-incisor midline deviation was less than 2 mm in 5 patients, and well reduction image in 4 edentulous patients. Five landmarks including bilateral condyles, bilateral gonions, and gnathion demonstrated deviation less than 1 mm in average.

CONCLUSION: CAD/CAM can allow a practical virtual surgery to restore mandibular defect reconstruction using a double barrel fibula. The symbiosis of intelligent technology in a digital OR, the iCT can promote the accuracy of mandibular spatialframework and occlusion plain.}, } @article {pmid35466020, year = {2022}, author = {Lajoie, G and Parfrey, LW}, title = {Beyond specialization: re-examining routes of host influence on symbiont evolution.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {590-598}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2022.03.006}, pmid = {35466020}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Our understanding of host influence on microbial evolution has focused on symbiont specialization and the genomic streamlining that often accompanies it. However, a vast diversity of symbiotic lineages facultatively interact with hosts or associate with multiple hosts. Yet, there are no clear expectations for how host association influences the niche of these symbionts or their evolution. Here, we discuss how weak or variable selection on microbial symbiotic associations, horizontal transmission, and low costs of adaptation to novel host habitats are predicted to promote the expansion or maintenance of microbial niches. This broad perspective will aid in developing better and more general predictions for evolution in microbial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35465582, year = {2022}, author = {Scharf, JL and Bringewatt, A and Dracopoulos, C and Rody, A and Weichert, J and Gembicki, M}, title = {La Machine: Obstetric Phantoms of Madame Du Coudray … Back to the Roots.}, journal = {Journal of medical education and curricular development}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {23821205221090168}, pmid = {35465582}, issn = {2382-1205}, abstract = {For 300 years now, obstetrics has drawn on the concept of simulation training to not only teach anatomy and physiology theoretically, but to literally infuse it practically. In an 18[th] century scientific culture, which was predominantly patriarchal, the French royal midwife Angelique Marguerite Le Boursier du Coudray excelled in this field. Using La Machine, one of the first obstetric phantoms, she taught thousands of midwives and even physicians. The exponential increase in publications on obstetric simulations in recent years continues to underline their current relevance, and Madame du Coudray was once at the forefront with her mannequin, probably the most sophisticated phantom of its time, a symbiosis of practical-robust architecture and anatomical-theoretical accuracy. In retrospect, it is therefore worthwhile to take a closer look at this pioneer and her obstetric phantoms, applied in the first national simulation-based training course, and to evaluate them in the overall picture of the development of anatomically correct replicas for practice-oriented training with detailed, flexible exercise - back to the roots.}, } @article {pmid35465249, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Zhu, H and Zheng, Y}, title = {Detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Infants with Non-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Using Metagenomics Next-Generation Sequencing.}, journal = {Infection and drug resistance}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1889-1902}, pmid = {35465249}, issn = {1178-6973}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) via the microbial composition of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in the lower respiratory tract in infants with severe pneumonia who were hospitalized in the study's pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

METHODS: The clinical characteristics of 16 infants with non-HIV PCP (the PCP group) and 33 infants with severe pneumonia (the control group) who were hospitalized at the same time in the PICU were analyzed retrospectively. Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the two groups was analyzed, and the microbial results and clinical data were compared.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the infants in the PCP group had a lower incidence of cough (25% vs 78.8%; P < 0.05), a greater history of surgery (50.0% vs 39.1%; P < 0.05), and a more significant decrease in C3, C4, and CD4/CD8 ratios (all P < 0.05). The pathogenic bacteria in the BALF included P. jirovecii, respiratory syncytial virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Staphylococcus aureus. The predominance of viral infection in the PCP group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05), especially CMV (43.5% vs 15.2%; P < 0.05). The top five symbiotic microorganisms detected in the BALF of the 49 infants were Streptococcus, Propionibacterium, Rothia, Staphylococcus, and Moraxella. There was no significant difference in the relative abundance of common symbiotic microorganisms between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Non-HIV PCP has a higher incidence in PICU infants with severe pneumonia, especially those with underlying diseases or who are immunocompromised, which are clinically difficult to treat. A BALF analysis using mNGS is helpful for early and clear diagnoses. It also helps to clarify the distribution of pathogenic and lower respiratory tract colonizing bacteria in infants with severe pneumonia.}, } @article {pmid35465207, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, Y and Liu, F and Wu, F and Zhao, M and Zou, R and Wu, J and Li, X}, title = {A novel SCARECROW-LIKE3 transcription factor LjGRAS36 in Lotus japonicus regulates the development of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {573-583}, pmid = {35465207}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi improves plants' nutrient uptake. During this process, transcription factors have been highlighted to play crucial roles. Members of the GRAS transcription factor gene family have been reported involved in AM symbiosis, but little is known about SCARECROW-LIKE3 (SCL3) genes belonging to this family in Lotus japonicus. In this study, 67 LjGRAS genes were identified from the L. japonicus genome, seven of which were clustered in the SCL3 group. Three of the seven LjGRAS genes expression levels were upregulated by AM fungal inoculation, and our biochemical results showed that the expression of LjGRAS36 was specifically induced by AM colonization. Functional loss of LjGRAS36 in mutant ljgras36 plants exhibited a significantly reduced mycorrhizal colonization rate and arbuscular size. Transcriptome analysis showed a deficiency of LjGRAS36 led to the dysregulation of the gibberellic acid signal pathway associated with AM symbiosis. Together, this study provides important insights for understanding the important potential function of SCL3 genes in regulating AM symbiotic development.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01161-z.}, } @article {pmid35464967, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Chen, X and Du, Y and Zhang, D and Tang, Z}, title = {Nutrients Regulate the Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth and Reproduction of Cherry Tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {843010}, pmid = {35464967}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize the rhizosphere of plants and form a symbiotic association with plants. Mycorrhizal symbionts have diversified ecological roles and functions which are affected by soil conditions. Understanding the effects of different AMF inoculation on plants under varied nutritional conditions is of great significance for further understanding the effects of the external environment regulating mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant phenotypic traits. In this study, the effects of four AMF inoculation treatments on the growth and reproductive performance of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) were investigated under three nutrient levels by pot experiment. It was found that the growth-promoting effect of AMF on cherry tomato decreased with nutrient reduction, and the effects of the same AMF inoculation treatment on cherry tomato were different at different nutrient levels. Nutrient levels and AMF had interactive effects on flower characteristics, fruit yield, resource allocation, and seed germination of the cherry tomato. In addition, AMF could promote sexual reproductive investment. Nutrient levels and AMF also affected the accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus in cherry tomato, and there were significant differences among different AMF inoculation treatments. The results indicated that nutrient differences could affect the symbiosis between AMF and plants, and confirmed that there were differences in the effects of the four AMF inoculation treatments on the growth and reproductive traits of plants. The differences in growth and reproduction characteristics of cherry tomato between different AMF inoculation treatments at different nutrient levels indicated that the effects of AMF mycorrhizal on the traits of cherry tomato were regulated by nutrients.}, } @article {pmid35464537, year = {2022}, author = {Jadhav, SV and Bharambe, VK and Pathak, VS and Khurjekar, AP and Navandar, RL and K, AV}, title = {A Novel Online Dissection Course on Lower Limb Anatomy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e23081}, pmid = {35464537}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The teaching of human anatomy, a medical subject that relies heavily on live teaching, teacher-student interactivity, and visuospatial skills, has suffered tremendously since the COVID-19 pandemic mandated the shutting down of medical institutions. The medical education fraternity was compelled to replace the traditional teaching method of hands-on cadaveric dissections (HOCDs) with online education to overcome this new challenge, but it came at the cost of reduced student engagement and lesser spatial orientation.

METHOD: In this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study, we designed a novel online dissection course on lower limb anatomy and collected student feedback on the same from consenting Phase I Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students of Symbiosis Medical College for Women, Pune, India. The course design consisted of three different modes: a live Zoom session using a handheld camera phone, a pre-recorded video dissection uploaded on the institute learning management system, and a Powerpoint presentation with high-resolution photographs of each dissected layer; and the feedback intended to find out what works best for the students. Overall feedback regarding their preferences in terms of presentation design, use of background music in pre-recorded videos, and overall learning experience was also collected. The course consisted of six two-hour teaching sessions. The first three sessions each used a different mode of teaching, repeating the same pattern in the next three sessions. The first mode of teaching implemented was a live Zoom session where instructors used a hand-held cell phone camera to show specimens that had been dissected a day prior. The second mode involved a pre-recorded video showing step-by-step dissection performed by the instructor which was then uploaded on the Institute Learning Management System. Of the two pre-recorded videos, background music consisting of a low-volume instrumental track was added to the second video. The third mode utilized Powerpoint presentations containing high-resolution photographs of each dissected layer on a separate slide along with labeling. The presentations were shown to the students over a Zoom call. A Google Form (GF) questionnaire was created after validation by subject experts to gather the students' feedback on the teaching and learning of anatomy via these sessions. The GF responses were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS: 41.7% of students recommended the use of a combination of all three modes in the same session, while 36.7% favored pre-recorded videos. 86.7% of students said that a good quality presentation design helps in keeping them engaged and only 23% of students favored the use of background music for increasing their ability to concentrate. 63.3% of students found the learning experience highly satisfactory.

CONCLUSION: Although virtual dissection teaching methods may not be able to completely replace HOCDs, a well-planned online dissection course incorporating multiple modes of online dissections with an emphasis on good quality presentation design and frequent teacher-student interactivity can provide a strong impetus for learning in the absence of live teaching methods.}, } @article {pmid35464386, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Liu, Y and Ma, Y and Ge, X and Zhang, X and Cai, C and Yang, Y and Lu, C and Liang, G and Guo, X and Cao, G and Li, B and Gao, P}, title = {Effects of Maternal Factors and Postpartum Environment on Early Colonization of Intestinal Microbiota in Piglets.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {815944}, pmid = {35464386}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota significantly influences the intake, storage, and utilization of body nutrients, as well as animal growth and development. The establishment of microbiota is affected by many factors, such as delivery and feeding modes, antibiotics, disease, and the surrounding environment. In this study, we selected Chinese indigenous Mashen and Jinfen White pigs as the study subjects. To explore the source and factors affecting the piglet intestinal microbiota, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to analyze the microbial composition of the feces, saliva, vaginal secretions, and colostrum of parturient sows, feces and saliva of newborn piglets, and surrounding environment samples. The results showed that the microbiota of the saliva of sows and piglets is structurally similar to that of the environment and is dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria, including Acinetobacter, Actinomyces, and Pseudomonas. The core genus in the vaginal secretions and colostrum of sows was Pseudomonas. Among the fecal samples, the core bacterial genera in sows before and after delivery were Clostridium sensu_stricto_1 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, while in piglets at 1 d of age, Pseudomonas and Escherichia-Shigella were most abundant. These results indicate that microbiota in feces, colostrum, and vaginal secretions of sows more easily colonized piglet intestines through a symbiotic effect. The environmental and salivary microbiota could also affect the early colonization and succession of the intestinal microbiota of piglets to some extent. This study provides a theoretical basis for sow delivery protection and early nursing of piglets and background for the research and development of microbial agents to improve piglet intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid35463414, year = {2022}, author = {Vacant, S and Benites, LF and Salmeron, C and Intertaglia, L and Norest, M and Cadoudal, A and Sanchez, F and Caceres, C and Piganeau, G}, title = {Long-Term Stability of Bacterial Associations in a Microcosm of Ostreococcus tauri (Chlorophyta, Mamiellophyceae).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {814386}, pmid = {35463414}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Phytoplankton-bacteria interactions rule over carbon fixation in the sunlit ocean, yet only a handful of phytoplanktonic-bacteria interactions have been experimentally characterized. In this study, we investigated the effect of three bacterial strains isolated from a long-term microcosm experiment with one Ostreococcus strain (Chlorophyta, Mamiellophyceae). We provided evidence that two Roseovarius strains (Alphaproteobacteria) had a beneficial effect on the long-term survival of the microalgae whereas one Winogradskyella strain (Flavobacteriia) led to the collapse of the microalga culture. Co-cultivation of the beneficial and the antagonistic strains also led to the loss of the microalga cells. Metagenomic analysis of the microcosm is consistent with vitamin B12 synthesis by the Roseovarius strains and unveiled two additional species affiliated to Balneola (Balneolia) and Muricauda (Flavobacteriia), which represent less than 4% of the reads, whereas Roseovarius and Winogradskyella recruit 57 and 39% of the reads, respectively. These results suggest that the low-frequency bacterial species may antagonize the algicidal effect of Winogradskyella in the microbiome of Ostreococcus tauri and thus stabilize the microalga persistence in the microcosm. Altogether, these results open novel perspectives into long-term stability of phytoplankton cultures.}, } @article {pmid35463395, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, Y and Selee, B and Schnabel, EL and Poehlman, WL and Chavan, SA and Frugoli, JA and Feltus, FA}, title = {Time Series Transcriptome Analysis in Medicago truncatula Shoot and Root Tissue During Early Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {861639}, pmid = {35463395}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In response to colonization by rhizobia bacteria, legumes are able to form nitrogen-fixing nodules in their roots, allowing the plants to grow efficiently in nitrogen-depleted environments. Legumes utilize a complex, long-distance signaling pathway to regulate nodulation that involves signals in both roots and shoots. We measured the transcriptional response to treatment with rhizobia in both the shoots and roots of Medicago truncatula over a 72-h time course. To detect temporal shifts in gene expression, we developed GeneShift, a novel computational statistics and machine learning workflow that addresses the time series replicate the averaging issue for detecting gene expression pattern shifts under different conditions. We identified both known and novel genes that are regulated dynamically in both tissues during early nodulation including leginsulin, defensins, root transporters, nodulin-related, and circadian clock genes. We validated over 70% of the expression patterns that GeneShift discovered using an independent M. truncatula RNA-Seq study. GeneShift facilitated the discovery of condition-specific temporally differentially expressed genes in the symbiotic nodulation biological system. In principle, GeneShift should work for time-series gene expression profiling studies from other systems.}, } @article {pmid35462704, year = {2022}, author = {Shevkar, C and Armarkar, A and Weerasinghe, R and Maduranga, K and Pandey, K and Behera, SK and Kalia, K and Paranagama, P and Kate, AS}, title = {Cytotoxic Bioxanthracene and Macrocyclic Polyester from Endolichenic Fungus Talaromyces pinophilus: In-Vitro and In-Silico Analysis.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {2}, pages = {204-214}, pmid = {35462704}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Lichens are used in folklore medicines across the globe for wound healing and to treat skin disorders and respiratory diseases. They are an intricate symbiosis between fungi and algae with the domination of fungal counterparts. Recent research studies pointed out that yeast is a third major partner in lichens. Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are also a part of this complex miniature ecosystem. The highly competitive environment of lichens compels ELF to produce toxic metabolites which are comparatively less explored for their chemical diversity and use. Here, we investigated 31 ELF isolated from 32 lichens found on mangrove plants at Puttalam Lagoon of Sri Lanka to find cytotoxic molecules by applying LC-UV-HRMS analysis and in vitro bioassays. The studies resulted in the identification of three potent cytotoxic molecules from endolichenic fungi Talaromyces pinophilus isolated from host lichen Porina tetracerae. The ethyl acetate extract of this fungus showed moderate cytotoxicity against the breast cancer cell line. Chemical characterization of ethyl acetate extract of T. pinophilus produced peniazaphilin B, 152G256α-1, and ES-242-3. The structures of these molecules were confirmed by NMR and MS data. We are reporting ES-242-3 for the first time from the genus Talaromyces and peniazaphilin B and 152G256α-1 from T. pinophilus. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anticancer potential against breast, oral and cervical cancer cell lines. Compound 152G256α-1 showed potent cytotoxicity against oral cancer (CAL-27 cell line) with an IC50 value of 2.96 ± 0.17 µM while ES-242-3 showed the best activity against breast cancer (MCF-7 cell line) and cervical cancer (HeLa cell line) with IC50 value 14.08 ± 0.2 µM and 4.46 ± 0.05 µM respectively. An in-silico analysis was carried out to predict the mechanism of in-vitro activity, drug likeliness, and pharmacokinetic profile of the isolated compounds. The study confirms the potential of ELF T. pinophilus to produce diverse bioactive scaffolds and encourages the researchers to further explore the fungus and its metabolites with newer technologies to produce potent anticancer leads.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-021-00994-8.}, } @article {pmid35461664, year = {2022}, author = {Dash, HR and Das, S}, title = {Microbial community signatures for estimation of postmortem time intervals.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {118}, number = {}, pages = {91-113}, doi = {10.1016/bs.aambs.2022.02.002}, pmid = {35461664}, issn = {0065-2164}, mesh = {Autopsy ; Cadaver ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Postmortem Changes ; }, abstract = {The human body provides a complex ecosystem for symbiotic habitation of a huge number of microorganisms. These commensal microorganisms provide a huge benefit to the living host by acting against many deadly infections. Once the host dies, many changes in the complex ecosystem of the human body take place. The personalized microbes of a human body undergo successional change as many exogenous microbes attack the nutrient-rich cadaver after death. The succession pattern change of microbes in human cadaver allows postulating different models for estimation of Postmortem time interval (PMI). Estimation of PMI has a broad prospect from the criminal investigation point of view. Though many techniques are being used nowadays to estimate PMI, all of them have their pros and cons. With the advent of advanced molecular biological techniques, studies on the thanatomicrobiome of a human cadaver have gained pace and provide a superior alternative for conventional methods of PMI estimation. This chapter summarizes the recent advancements in the changes in signature microflora postmortem with change in human microenvironment to postulate a consensus model for estimation of PMI.}, } @article {pmid35461318, year = {2022}, author = {Hou, K and Wu, ZX and Chen, XY and Wang, JQ and Zhang, D and Xiao, C and Zhu, D and Koya, JB and Wei, L and Li, J and Chen, ZS}, title = {Microbiota in health and diseases.}, journal = {Signal transduction and targeted therapy}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {135}, pmid = {35461318}, issn = {2059-3635}, mesh = {*Dysbiosis/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity ; Inflammation ; }, abstract = {The role of microbiota in health and diseases is being highlighted by numerous studies since its discovery. Depending on the localized regions, microbiota can be classified into gut, oral, respiratory, and skin microbiota. The microbial communities are in symbiosis with the host, contributing to homeostasis and regulating immune function. However, microbiota dysbiosis can lead to dysregulation of bodily functions and diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, respiratory diseases, etc. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of how microbiota links to host health or pathogenesis. We first summarize the research of microbiota in healthy conditions, including the gut-brain axis, colonization resistance and immune modulation. Then, we highlight the pathogenesis of microbiota dysbiosis in disease development and progression, primarily associated with dysregulation of community composition, modulation of host immune response, and induction of chronic inflammation. Finally, we introduce the clinical approaches that utilize microbiota for disease treatment, such as microbiota modulation and fecal microbial transplantation.}, } @article {pmid35460895, year = {2022}, author = {Pang, CZ and Ip, YK and Chew, SF}, title = {Ammonia transporter 2 as a molecular marker to elucidate the potentials of ammonia transport in phylotypes of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {269}, number = {}, pages = {111225}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111225}, pmid = {35460895}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; *Bivalvia/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Giant clams harbor coccoid Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates that are phototrophic. These dinoflagellates generally include multiple phylotypes (species) of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium in disparate proportions depending on the environmental conditions. The coccoid symbionts can share photosynthate with the clam host, which in return supply them with nutrients containing inorganic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Symbionts can recycle nitrogen by absorbing and assimilating the endogenous ammonia produced by the host. This study aimed to use the transcript levels of ammonia transporter 2 (AMT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-AMT2), Cladocopium (Clad-AMT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-AMT2) as molecular indicators to estimate the potential of ammonia transport in these three genera of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates in different organs of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, obtained from Vietnam. We also determined the transcript levels of form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcII) and nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-rbcII; Symb-NRT2), Cladocopium (Clad-rbcII; Clad-NRT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-rbcII; Duru-NRT2), in order to examine the potential of ammonia transport with reference to the potentials of phototrophy or NO3[-] uptake independent of the quantities and proportion of these Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes. Our results indicated for the first time that phylotypes of Symbiodinium and Cladocopium could have different potentials of ammonia transport, and that phylotypes of Symbiodinium might have higher potential of NO3[-] transport than ammonia transport. They also suggested that Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes residing in different organs of T. squamosa could have disparate potentials of ammonia transport, alluding to the functional diversity among phylotypes of coccoid Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium.}, } @article {pmid35460846, year = {2022}, author = {Li, L and Liang, T and Zhao, M and Lv, Y and Song, Z and Sheng, T and Ma, F}, title = {A review on mycelial pellets as biological carriers: Wastewater treatment and recovery for resource and energy.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {355}, number = {}, pages = {127200}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127200}, pmid = {35460846}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; *Microalgae ; Mycelium ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Mycelial pellets, a new environment friendly biological carrier, have received wide attention from researchers due to porosity, stability and unique biocompatibility. In this article, the theoretical basis and mechanism of mycelial pellets as a biological carrier were analyzed from the properties of mycelial pellets and the interaction between mycelial pellets and other microorganisms. This article aims to collate and present the current application and development trend of mycelial pellets as biological carriers in wastewater treatment, resource and energy recovery, especially the symbiotic particle system formed by mycelial pellets and microalgae is an important way to break through the technical bottleneck of biodiesel recovery from wastewater. This review also analyzes the research hotspots and trends of mycelial pellets as carriers in recent years, discusses the challenges faced by this technology, and puts forward corresponding solutions.}, } @article {pmid35460841, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Lei, Z and Liu, Y}, title = {Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge for municipal wastewater treatment: From concept to practice.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {354}, number = {}, pages = {127201}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127201}, pmid = {35460841}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Humans ; *Microalgae ; *Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Recently, increasing interest has been placed in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) in the journey towards the energy and carbon neutrality of municipal wastewater treatment. Different from aerobic granular sludge, the performance of MBGS is mainly determined by the mutualism and symbiosis between coexisting microalgae and bacteria. It appears from the literature that most of studies on MBGS were conducted at small benchtop scales under controlled conditions with synthetic wastewater. Therefore, this article attempts to look into the major engineering gaps between the knowledge generated from numerous laboratory research works and the large-scale application of MBGS, including massive production of MBGS, type of bioreactor, effect of alternate photo and dark metabolisms on effluent quality, resource recovery from waste MBGS, etc. It is clearly demonstrated that MBGS is still at its infant stage, and more effort is strongly needed to identify the technological bottlenecks of full-scale applications, while providing corresponding engineering solutions.}, } @article {pmid35460679, year = {2022}, author = {Catta-Preta, CMC and de Azevedo-Martins, AC and de Souza, W and Motta, MCM}, title = {Effect of the endoplasmic reticulum stressor tunicamycin in Angomonas deanei heat-shock protein expression and on the association with the endosymbiotic bacterium.}, journal = {Experimental cell research}, volume = {417}, number = {1}, pages = {113162}, doi = {10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113162}, pmid = {35460679}, issn = {1090-2422}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; *Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Proteomics ; *Trypanosomatina/metabolism/microbiology ; Tunicamycin/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) presents unique properties to establishing bacterium symbiosis in eukaryotic cells since it synthesizes and glycosylates essential molecules like proteins and lipids. Tunicamycin (TM) is an antibiotic that inhibits the first step in the N-linked glycosylation in eukaryotes and has been used as an ER stress inducer to activate the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Mutualistic symbiosis in trypanosomatids is characterized by structural adaptations and intense metabolic exchanges, thus we investigated the effects of TM in the association between Angomonas deanei and its symbiotic bacterium, through ultrastructural and proteomic approaches. Cells treated with the inhibitor showed a decrease in proliferation, enlargement of the ER and Golgi cisternae and an increased distance between the symbiont and the ER. TM proved to be an important tool to better understand ER stress in trypanosomatids, since changes in protein composition were observed in the host protozoan, especially the expression of the Hsp90 chaperone. Furthermore, data obtained indicates the importance of the ER for the adaptation and maintenance of symbiotic associations between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, considering that this organelle has recognized importance in the biogenesis and division of cell structures.}, } @article {pmid35460260, year = {2022}, author = {Borgato, L and Ertz, D and Van Rossum, F and Verbeken, A}, title = {The Diversity of Lichenized Trentepohlioid Algal (Ulvophyceae) Communities is Driven by Fungal Taxonomy and Ecological Factors.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {582-602}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13252}, pmid = {35460260}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Chlorophyta/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Lichens/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Trentepohliales are a group of both free-living and lichenized algae, with most diversity occurring in tropical regions. Recent studies showed that the abundance of lichens with a trentepohlioid photobiont has been increasing in temperate habitats, probably because of global warming, which makes them an interesting study case. A detailed molecular study of the diversity of lichenized Trentepohliales, epiphytic as well as epilithic, was performed in three forests of north-western Europe. Additional samples of lichens of the Arthoniales order (associating essentially with a trentepohlioid photobiont) from other European regions and from other continents were also sequenced. A total of 195 algal sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses with rbcL and ITS loci were performed and associations between phylogenetic distances of photobionts and ecological factors (substratum, climate or Wirth indices, mycobiont taxonomy, and geographic location) were tested by variation partitioning and phylogenetic signal analyses. The high number of rbcL algal haplotypes found in some lichens or on different substrata revealed that the Trentepohliales diversity in extratropical regions was underestimated. The phylogenetic patterns showed selectivity of some photobionts in their fungal partner choice and vice-versa, while others were linked with several haplotypes. Photobionts seemed to be less selective than mycobionts. The main factors influencing lichenized algal community were climate and mycobiont species. Coevolution between mycobionts and photobionts as well as switching between free living and lichenized lifestyles appeared to drive the evolution of Trentepohliales and might explain the high cryptic diversity observed, which might be changing in some regions due to climate change.}, } @article {pmid35456888, year = {2022}, author = {Tsiantas, K and Konteles, SJ and Kritsi, E and Sinanoglou, VJ and Tsiaka, T and Zoumpoulakis, P}, title = {Effects of Non-Polar Dietary and Endogenous Lipids on Gut Microbiota Alterations: The Role of Lipidomics.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {35456888}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Carotenoids/pharmacology ; Dietary Fats/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lipidomics ; Sterols/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Advances in sequencing technologies over the past 15 years have led to a substantially greater appreciation of the importance of the gut microbiome to the health of the host. Recent outcomes indicate that aspects of nutrition, especially lipids (exogenous or endogenous), can influence the gut microbiota composition and consequently, play an important role in the metabolic health of the host. Thus, there is an increasing interest in applying holistic analytical approaches, such as lipidomics, metabolomics, (meta)transcriptomics, (meta)genomics, and (meta)proteomics, to thoroughly study the gut microbiota and any possible interplay with nutritional or endogenous components. This review firstly summarizes the general background regarding the interactions between important non-polar dietary (i.e., sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, and carotenoids) or amphoteric endogenous (i.e., eicosanoids, endocannabinoids-eCBs, and specialized pro-resolving mediators-SPMs) lipids and gut microbiota. In the second stage, through the evaluation of a vast number of dietary clinical interventions, a comprehensive effort is made to highlight the role of the above lipid categories on gut microbiota and vice versa. In addition, the present status of lipidomics in current clinical interventions as well as their strengths and limitations are also presented. Indisputably, dietary lipids and most phytochemicals, such as sterols and carotenoids, can play an important role on the development of medical foods or nutraceuticals, as they exert prebiotic-like effects. On the other hand, endogenous lipids can be considered either prognostic indicators of symbiosis or dysbiosis or even play a role as specialized mediators through dietary interventions, which seem to be regulated by gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35456872, year = {2022}, author = {Lirio-Paredes, J and Ogata-Gutiérrez, K and Zúñiga-Dávila, D}, title = {Effects of Rhizobia Isolated from Coffee Fields in the High Jungle Peruvian Region, Tested on Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35456872}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Soils in the high jungle region of Peru continuously face erosion due to heavy rain, which leads to significant nutrient losses. Leguminous plants may provide a sustainable solution to this problem due to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen with the help of symbiotic rhizospheric microbes that reside in their root nodules and help restore soil fertility. The aim of this study was to isolate native rhizobial strains that can form functional nodules in red kidney beans to help improve their growth, development, and yield in field conditions. Rhizobium strains were isolated from soil samples collected from coffee fields using bean plants as trap hosts. The strain RZC12 was selected because it showed good root nodule promotion and a number of PGPR (plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria) attributes. In the field, bean plants inoculated with the strain RZC12 and co-cultivated with coffee plants produced approximately 21 nodules per plant, whereas control plants produced an average of 1 nodule each. The inoculation with RZC12 significantly increased plant length (72.7%), number of leaves (58.8%), fresh shoot weight (85.5%), dry shoot weight (78%), fresh root weight (85.7%), and dry root weight (82.5%), compared with the control. The dry pod weight produced by the plants inoculated with RZC12 was 3.8 g, whereas the control plants produced 2.36 g of pods. In conclusion, RZC12 is a promising strain that can be used in field conditions to improve the overall productivity of red kidney beans.}, } @article {pmid35456824, year = {2022}, author = {He, J and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Hydra's Lasting Partnership with Microbes: The Key for Escaping Senescence?.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35456824}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Aging results from a complex interplay between genetic endowment and environmental exposures during lifetime. As our understanding of the aging process progresses, so does the need for experimental animal models that allow a mechanistic understanding of the genetic and environmental factors involved. One such well-studied animal model is the freshwater polyp Hydra. Hydra are remarkable because they are non-senescent. Much of this non-senescence can be ascribed to a tissue consisting of stem cells with continuous self-renewal capacity. Another important fact is that Hydra's ectodermal epithelial surface is densely colonized by a stable multispecies bacterial community. The symbiotic partnership is driven by interactions among the microbiota and the host. Here, we review key advances over the last decade that are deepening our understanding of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to Hydra's non-senescent lifestyle. We conclude that the microbiome prevents pathobiont invasion (colonization resistance) and stabilizes the patterning mechanisms, and that microbiome malfunction negatively affects Hydra's continuous self-renewal capacity.}, } @article {pmid35456805, year = {2022}, author = {Wen, Y and Li, S and Wang, Z and Feng, H and Yao, X and Liu, M and Chang, J and Ding, X and Zhao, H and Ma, W}, title = {Intestinal Microbial Diversity of Free-Range and Captive Yak in Qinghai Province.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35456805}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome is a large and complex organic assemblage with subtle and close relationships with the host. This symbiotic mechanism is important for the health and adaptability of the host to the environment. Compared with other ruminants, there are few studies on yak intestinal microbes. The study of the gut microbiota of the yak will help us better understand the correlation between the microbiota and the environmental adaptability of the host. In this study, we adapted 16S rDNA sequencing technology to investigate the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbial community in free-range yaks and captive yaks living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP).

RESULTS: Sequencing results showed that the intestinal microbial community diversity was significantly different between free-range yaks and captive yaks. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria in both free-range and captive yaks. However, there were differences between the microbes of the two analyzed feeding styles in different classification levels. Compared with the captive type, free-range yaks had a higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Eubacteriaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Elusimicrobium, and Oscillibacter, while the abundance of Succinivibrionaceae, Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, Roseburia, and Barnesiella was relatively low. The feeding method may be the key factor for the formation of intestinal flora differences in yaks, while altitude did not significantly affect Qinghai yak.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we used 16S rDNA sequencing technology to investigate the composition of intestinal flora in free-range and captive yaks living on the QTP. The exploration of dietary factors can provide a theoretical basis for scientifically and rationally breeding yaks and provides a new direction for the development of prebiotics and microecological agents.}, } @article {pmid35456723, year = {2022}, author = {Altimira, F and Godoy, S and Arias-Aravena, M and Araya, B and Montes, C and Castro, JF and Dardón, E and Montenegro, E and Pineda, W and Viteri, I and Tapia, E}, title = {Genomic and Experimental Analysis of the Biostimulant and Antagonistic Properties of Phytopathogens of Bacillus safensis and Bacillus siamensis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35456723}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The B. safensis RGM 2450 and B. siamensis RGM 2529 strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of plants presenting resilience to abiotic and biotic stress conditions. To understand the implications of bacteria in resilience, a genomic and experimental analysis was carried out on their biostimulant and phytopathogenic antagonist properties. Genome analyses of both strains indicated that they have the potential to synthesize bioactive compounds such as the battery of non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, extracellular enzymes and phytohormones. These results were consistent with the antagonistic activities of both strains against the phytopathogens Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophtora cinnamomi. They also showed the capacity to solubilize phosphorus, fix nitrogen and produce indole acetic acid. This was observed in tomato seedlings grown from seeds inoculated with the mixture of strains which presented significantly greater length as well as wet and dry weight in comparison with the treatments individually inoculated with each strain and the control. Accordingly, the combination of B. safensis RGM 2450 and B. siamensis RGM 2529 showed synergistic biostimulant activity. These findings contribute new knowledge of the genomic and metabolomic properties taking part in the symbiotic interactions between these strains and the plants and uphold the combined use of both strains as a biostimulant.}, } @article {pmid35453365, year = {2022}, author = {Méndez-Albiñana, P and Martínez-González, Á and Camacho-Rodríguez, L and Ferreira-Lazarte, Á and Villamiel, M and Rodrigues-Díez, R and Balfagón, G and García-Redondo, AB and Prieto-Nieto, MI and Blanco-Rivero, J}, title = {Supplementation with the Symbiotic Formulation Prodefen[®] Increases Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase and Decreases Oxidative Stress in Superior Mesenteric Artery from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35453365}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {In recent years, gut dysbiosis has been related to some peripheral vascular alterations linked to hypertension. In this work, we explore whether gut dysbiosis is related to vascular innervation dysfunction and altered nitric oxide (NO) production in the superior mesenteric artery, one of the main vascular beds involved in peripheral vascular resistance. For this purpose, we used spontaneously hypertensive rats, either treated or not with the commercial synbiotic formulation Prodefen[®] (10[8] colony forming units/day, 4 weeks). Prodefen[®] diminished systolic blood pressure and serum endotoxin, as well as the vasoconstriction elicited by electrical field stimulation (EFS), and enhanced acetic and butyric acid in fecal samples, and the vasodilation induced by the exogenous NO donor DEA-NO. Unspecific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME increased EFS-induced vasoconstriction more markedly in rats supplemented with Prodefen[®]. Both neuronal NO release and neuronal NOS activity were enhanced by Prodefen[®], through a hyperactivation of protein kinase (PK)A, PKC and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-AKT signaling pathways. The superoxide anion scavenger tempol increased both NO release and DEA-NO vasodilation only in control animals. Prodefen[®] caused an increase in both nuclear erythroid related factor 2 and superoxide dismutase activities, consequently reducing both superoxide anion and peroxynitrite releases. In summary, Prodefen[®] could be an interesting non-pharmacological approach to ameliorate hypertension.}, } @article {pmid35451535, year = {2022}, author = {Perez-Lamarque, B and Öpik, M and Maliet, O and Afonso Silva, AC and Selosse, MA and Martos, F and Morlon, H}, title = {Analysing diversification dynamics using barcoding data: The case of an obligate mycorrhizal symbiont.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {3496-3512}, pmid = {35451535}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; *Glomeromycota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Analysing diversification dynamics is key to understanding the past evolutionary history of clades that led to present-day biodiversity patterns. While such analyses are widespread in well-characterized groups of species, they are much more challenging in groups for which diversity is mostly known through molecular techniques. Here, we use the largest global database on the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene of Glomeromycotina, a subphylum of microscopic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that provide mineral nutrients to most land plants by forming one of the oldest terrestrial symbioses, to analyse the diversification dynamics of this clade in the past 500 million years. We perform a range of sensitivity analyses and simulations to control for potential biases linked to the nature of the data. We find that Glomeromycotina tend to have low speciation rates compared to other eukaryotes. After a peak of speciations between 200 and 100 million years ago, they experienced an important decline in speciation rates toward the present. Such a decline could be at least partially related to a shrinking of their mycorrhizal niches and to their limited ability to colonize new niches. Our analyses identify patterns of diversification in a group of obligate symbionts of major ecological and evolutionary importance and illustrate that short molecular markers combined with intensive sensitivity analyses can be useful for studying diversification dynamics in microbial groups.}, } @article {pmid35448597, year = {2022}, author = {Zhai, Y and Chen, Z and Malik, K and Wei, X and Li, C}, title = {Effect of Fungal Endophyte Epichloë bromicola Infection on Cd Tolerance in Wild Barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35448597}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Hydroponic Hordeum brevisubulatum (wild barley) was used as material in the greenhouse to study the effects of endophyte infection on plant growth, Cd absorption and transport, subcellular distribution, and Cd chemical forms under CdCl2 stress. Endophytic fungi respond positively to chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency under Cd stress. The order of Cd absorption in different parts of the plant was: roots > stems > leaves. Endophyte infection increased the plant’s absorption and transport of Cd while causing a significant difference in the stem, which was associated with the distribution density of endophyte hyphae. The proportion of organelle Cd in endophyte-infected wild barley was significantly higher, which facilitated more Cd transport to aboveground. Cd stress showed a slight effect on the chemical forms of Cd in leaves. The proportion of phosphate, oxalate, and residual Cd increased in the stem. Cd existed in the form of inorganic salt, organic acid, pectin, and protein in roots. Endophyte infection reduced the Cd content of the more toxic chemical forms to protect the normal progress of plant physiological functions. Therefore, the isolation of cell walls and vacuoles is a key mechanism for plant Cd tolerance and detoxification. As endophyte infections have more ability to absorb Cd in plants, H. brevisubulatum−Epichloë bromicola symbionts can improve heavy metal contaminated soil and water.}, } @article {pmid35448569, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, J and Zhong, P and Li, Y and Sun, Z and Sun, X and Aung, M and Hao, L and Cheng, Y and Zhu, W}, title = {Hydrogenosome, Pairing Anaerobic Fungi and H2-Utilizing Microorganisms Based on Metabolic Ties to Facilitate Biomass Utilization.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35448569}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Anaerobic fungi, though low in abundance in rumen, play an important role in the degradation of forage for herbivores. When only anaerobic fungi exist in the fermentation system, the continuous accumulation of metabolites (e.g., hydrogen (H2) and formate) generated from their special metabolic organelles-the hydrogenosome-inhibits the enzymatic reactions in the hydrogenosome and reduces the activity of the anaerobic fungi. However, due to interspecific H2 transfer, H2 produced by the hydrogenosome can be used by other microorganisms to form valued bioproducts. This symbiotic interaction between anaerobic fungi and other microorganisms can be used to improve the nutritional value of animal feeds and produce value-added products that are normally in low concentrations in the fermentation system. Because of the important role in the generation and further utilization of H2, the study of the hydrogensome is increasingly becoming an important part of the development of anaerobic fungi as model organisms that can effectively improve the utilization value of roughage. Here, we summarize and discuss the classification and the process of biomass degradation of anaerobic fungi and the metabolism and function of anaerobic fungal hydrogensome, with a focus on the potential role of the hydrogensome in the efficient utilization of biomass.}, } @article {pmid35447892, year = {2022}, author = {Romano, G and Almeida, M and Varela Coelho, A and Cutignano, A and Gonçalves, LG and Hansen, E and Khnykin, D and Mass, T and Ramšak, A and Rocha, MS and Silva, TH and Sugni, M and Ballarin, L and Genevière, AM}, title = {Biomaterials and Bioactive Natural Products from Marine Invertebrates: From Basic Research to Innovative Applications.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35447892}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/metabolism ; Biocompatible Materials/metabolism ; *Biological Products/metabolism/pharmacology ; Echinodermata ; Invertebrates/metabolism ; Marine Biology ; }, abstract = {Aquatic invertebrates are a major source of biomaterials and bioactive natural products that can find applications as pharmaceutics, nutraceutics, cosmetics, antibiotics, antifouling products and biomaterials. Symbiotic microorganisms are often the real producers of many secondary metabolites initially isolated from marine invertebrates; however, a certain number of them are actually synthesized by the macro-organisms. In this review, we analysed the literature of the years 2010-2019 on natural products (bioactive molecules and biomaterials) from the main phyla of marine invertebrates explored so far, including sponges, cnidarians, molluscs, echinoderms and ascidians, and present relevant examples of natural products of interest to public and private stakeholders. We also describe omics tools that have been more relevant in identifying and understanding mechanisms and processes underlying the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in marine invertebrates. Since there is increasing attention on finding new solutions for a sustainable large-scale supply of bioactive compounds, we propose that a possible improvement in the biodiscovery pipeline might also come from the study and utilization of aquatic invertebrate stem cells.}, } @article {pmid35447801, year = {2022}, author = {Araújo, S and Seibert, J and Ruani, A and Alcántara-de la Cruz, R and Cruz, A and Pereira, A and Zandonai, D and Forim, M and Silva, MF and Bueno, O and Fernandes, J}, title = {The Symbiotic Fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Möller) Singer (Agaricales, Agaricaceae) as a Target Organism to Control Leaf-Cutting Ants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35447801}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {1/CX/CSRD VA/United States ; }, abstract = {Atta and Acromyrmex are the main genera of leaf-cutting ants present in North and South America, causing extensive damage to agroforestry. Control of the ants requires high handling costs with few effective methods available to decrease the losses. The symbiosis between the leaf-cutting ants and the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus is essential for ant nest survival. Therefore, L. gongylophorus may be a key target in controlling leaf-cutting ants, since its reduction may cause an imbalance in the symbiosis necessary to maintain the nest. Among the options for natural fungal control, plant species are considered important sources of compounds belonging to several classes of natural products that show potential as antifungal agents. This review also presents studies that establish that the antagonist fungi from the Escovopsis and Trichoderma genera effectively reduce the development of L. gongylophorus. The development of nanostructured delivery systems, which have shown advantages over conventional formulations, is suggested for ant control; no commercial nanotechnology-based product has yet been developed, and this appears to be a new approach for future studies.}, } @article {pmid35447780, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, C and Ren, L and Wang, M and Wang, Z and Fu, N and Wang, H and Shi, J}, title = {Full-Length Transcriptome Sequencing-Based Analysis of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Response to Sirex noctilio Venom.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35447780}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Sirex noctilio is a major international quarantine pest that recently emerged in northeast China to specifically invade conifers. During female oviposition, venom is injected into the host together with its symbiotic fungus to alter the normal Pinus physiology and weaken or even kill the tree. In China, the Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica), an important wind-proof and sand-fixing species, is the unique host of S. noctilio. To explore the interplay between S. noctilio venom and Mongolian pine, we performed a transcriptome comparative analysis of a 10-year-old Mongolian pine after wounding and inoculation with S. noctilio venom. The analysis was performed at 12 h, 24 h and 72 h. PacBio ISO-seq was used and integrated with RNA-seq to construct an accurate full-length transcriptomic database. We obtained 52,963 high-precision unigenes, consisting of 48,654 (91.86%) unigenes that were BLASTed to known sequences in the public database and 4309 unigenes without any annotation information, which were presumed to be new genes. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) increased with the treatment time, and the DEGs were most abundant at 72 h. A total of 706 inoculation-specific DEGs (475 upregulated and 231 downregulated) and 387 wounding-specific DEGs (183 upregulated and 204 downregulated) were identified compared with the control. Under venom stress, we identified 6 DEGs associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 20 resistance genes in Mongolian pine. Overall, 52 transcription factors (TFs) were found under venom stress, 45 of which belonged to the AP2/ERF TF family and were upregulated. A total of 13 genes related to the photosystem, 3 genes related photo-regulation, and 9 TFs were identified under wounding stress. In conclusion, several novel putative genes were found in Mongolian pine by PacBio ISO seq. Meanwhile, we also identified various genes that were resistant to S. noctilio venom, such as GAPDH, GPX, CAT, FL2, CERK1, and HSP83A, etc.}, } @article {pmid35446252, year = {2022}, author = {Quek, S and Cerdeira, L and Jeffries, CL and Tomlinson, S and Walker, T and Hughes, GL and Heinz, E}, title = {Wolbachia endosymbionts in two Anopheles species indicates independent acquisitions and lack of prophage elements.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35446252}, issn = {2057-5858}, support = {BB/V011278/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 217303/Z/19/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 101285/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; BB/T001240/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 AI116811/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI138074/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anopheles ; Prophages/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a genus of obligate bacterial endosymbionts that infect a diverse range of arthropod species as well as filarial nematodes, with its single described species, Wolbachia pipientis , divided into several ‘supergroups’ based on multilocus sequence typing. Wolbachia strains in mosquitoes have been shown to inhibit the transmission of human pathogens, including Plasmodium malaria parasites and arboviruses. Despite their large host range, Wolbachia strains within the major malaria vectors of the Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus complexes appear at low density, established solely on PCR-based methods. Questions have been raised as to whether this represents a true endosymbiotic relationship. However, recent definitive evidence for two distinct, high-density strains of supergroup B Wolbachia within Anopheles demeilloni and Anopheles moucheti has opened exciting possibilities to explore naturally occurring Wolbachia endosymbionts in Anopheles for biocontrol strategies to block Plasmodium transmission. Here, we utilize genomic analyses to demonstrate that both Wolbachia strains have retained all key metabolic and transport pathways despite their smaller genome size, with this reduction potentially attributable to degenerated prophage regions. Even with this reduction, we confirmed the presence of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) factor genes within both strains, with wAnD maintaining intact copies of these genes while the cifB gene was interrupted in wAnM, so functional analysis is required to determine whether wAnM can induce CI. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis indicates that these Wolbachia strains may have been introduced into these two Anopheles species via horizontal transmission events, rather than by ancestral acquisition and subsequent loss events in the Anopheles gambiae species complex. These are the first Wolbachia genomes, to our knowledge, that enable us to study the relationship between natural strain Plasmodium malaria parasites and their anopheline hosts.}, } @article {pmid35446250, year = {2022}, author = {Darrington, M and Leftwich, PT and Holmes, NA and Friend, LA and Clarke, NVE and Worsley, SF and Margaritopolous, JT and Hogenhout, SA and Hutchings, MI and Chapman, T}, title = {Characterisation of the symbionts in the Mediterranean fruit fly gut.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35446250}, issn = {2057-5858}, support = {BB/K000489/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Ceratitis capitata/genetics/microbiology ; Klebsiella/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between bacteria and their insect hosts can range from loose associations through to obligate interdependence. While fundamental evolutionary insights have been gained from the in-depth study of obligate mutualisms, there is increasing interest in the evolutionary potential of flexible symbiotic associations between hosts and their gut microbiomes. Understanding relationships between microbes and hosts also offers the potential for exploitation for insect control. Here, we investigate the gut microbiome of a global agricultural pest, the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata). We used 16S rRNA profiling to compare the gut microbiomes of laboratory and wild strains raised on different diets and from flies collected from various natural plant hosts. The results showed that medfly guts harbour a simple microbiome that is primarily determined by the larval diet. However, regardless of the laboratory diet or natural plant host on which flies were raised, Klebsiella spp. dominated medfly microbiomes and were resistant to removal by antibiotic treatment. We sequenced the genome of the dominant putative Klebsiella spp. ('Medkleb') isolated from the gut of the Toliman wild-type strain. Genome-wide ANI analysis placed Medkleb within the K. oxytoca / michiganensis group. Species level taxonomy for Medkleb was resolved using a mutli-locus phylogenetic approach - and molecular, sequence and phenotypic analyses all supported its identity as K. michiganensis. Medkleb has a genome size (5825435 bp) which is 1.6 standard deviations smaller than the mean genome size of free-living Klebsiella spp. Medkleb also lacks some genes involved in environmental sensing. Moreover, the Medkleb genome contains at least two recently acquired unique genomic islands as well as genes that encode pectinolytic enzymes capable of degrading plant cell walls. This may be advantageous given that the medfly diet includes unripe fruits containing high proportions of pectin. The results suggest that the medfly harbours a commensal gut bacterium that may have developed a mutualistic association with its host and provide nutritional benefits.}, } @article {pmid35444626, year = {2022}, author = {Ali, A and Elrys, AS and Liu, L and Iqbal, M and Zhao, J and Huang, X and Cai, Z}, title = {Cover Plants-Mediated Suppression of Fusarium Wilt and Root-Knot Incidence of Cucumber is Associated With the Changes of Rhizosphere Fungal Microbiome Structure-Under Plastic Shed System of North China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {697815}, pmid = {35444626}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cover crops are known to alleviate the adverse effects of continuous cropping by influencing plant health and changing host fungal-microbiome structures. However, insight into the shift of rhizomicrobiota composition and their effects on plant growth performance and resistance mechanism is still limited under plastic shed cultivation (PSC). Four leafy vegetable rotations namely spinach rotation (SR), non-heading Chinese cabbage rotation (NCCR), coriander rotation (CR), and leafy lettuce rotation (LLR) were used as cover crops in 7-years of continuous cucumber planted soil (CC). Their ecological impacts were studied for plant growth performance, replant diseases incidence rate, and rhizosphere fungal microbiome. Compared to CC, SR showed a highly suppressive effect on fusarium wilt, i.e., by 13.2% in the spring season, while NCCR decreased the root-knot nematode incidence rate by 8.9% in the autumn season. Such protective effects caused a significant increase of shoot and fruit biomass and thus sustained the fruit quality of cucumber. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the CR, SR, and NCCR treatments altered the fungal community composition by increasing the abundance of the beneficial fungal genera, decreasing pathogenic taxa, and fostering the saprotrophic and symbiotic functions. However, the relative abundance of most of the potentially pathogenic fungal genera increased in CC and LLR cropping. There were 8 potential pathogens and 10 beneficial or biocontrol fungi characterized. It was found that Paecilomyces, Chaetomium, Cladorrhinum, Zopfiella, Purpureocillium, and Metarhizium were the putative biocontrol microbes that positively affected plant growth and replanted diseases inhibition. The characterized Fusarium, Dactylonectria, Alternaria, Gibberella, and Aspergillus were the key pathogenic fungal agents found to be negatively associated with plant growth characters, suggesting that rhizomicrobiome may play an important role in the occurrence of disease incidence of cucumber plants. Considering the ecological potential of some cover plants, this study suggested that rotation with spinach, non-heading Chinese cabbage, or coriander can enhance rhizosphere immunity by triggering the development of plant-protective fungal microbiomes under plastic shed cucumber cultivation.}, } @article {pmid35444277, year = {2022}, author = {Raina, JB and Lambert, BS and Parks, DH and Rinke, C and Siboni, N and Bramucci, A and Ostrowski, M and Signal, B and Lutz, A and Mendis, H and Rubino, F and Fernandez, VI and Stocker, R and Hugenholtz, P and Tyson, GW and Seymour, JR}, title = {Chemotaxis shapes the microscale organization of the ocean's microbiome.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {605}, number = {7908}, pages = {132-138}, pmid = {35444277}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Chemotaxis ; Dissolved Organic Matter ; *Microbiota ; Oceans and Seas ; Phytoplankton/metabolism ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The capacity of planktonic marine microorganisms to actively seek out and exploit microscale chemical hotspots has been widely theorized to affect ocean-basin scale biogeochemistry[1-3], but has never been examined comprehensively in situ among natural microbial communities. Here, using a field-based microfluidic platform to quantify the behavioural responses of marine bacteria and archaea, we observed significant levels of chemotaxis towards microscale hotspots of phytoplankton-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) at a coastal field site across multiple deployments, spanning several months. Microscale metagenomics revealed that a wide diversity of marine prokaryotes, spanning 27 bacterial and 2 archaeal phyla, displayed chemotaxis towards microscale patches of DOM derived from ten globally distributed phytoplankton species. The distinct DOM composition of each phytoplankton species attracted phylogenetically and functionally discrete populations of bacteria and archaea, with 54% of chemotactic prokaryotes displaying highly specific responses to the DOM derived from only one or two phytoplankton species. Prokaryotes exhibiting chemotaxis towards phytoplankton-derived compounds were significantly enriched in the capacity to transport and metabolize specific phytoplankton-derived chemicals, and displayed enrichment in functions conducive to symbiotic relationships, including genes involved in the production of siderophores, B vitamins and growth-promoting hormones. Our findings demonstrate that the swimming behaviour of natural prokaryotic assemblages is governed by specific chemical cues, which dictate important biogeochemical transformation processes and the establishment of ecological interactions that structure the base of the marine food web.}, } @article {pmid35444262, year = {2022}, author = {Pogoreutz, C and Oakley, CA and Rädecker, N and Cárdenas, A and Perna, G and Xiang, N and Peng, L and Davy, SK and Ngugi, DK and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Coral holobiont cues prime Endozoicomonas for a symbiotic lifestyle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {1883-1895}, pmid = {35444262}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; Cues ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; Tissue Extracts ; }, abstract = {Endozoicomonas are prevalent, abundant bacterial associates of marine animals, including corals. Their role in holobiont health and functioning, however, remains poorly understood. To identify potential interactions within the coral holobiont, we characterized the novel isolate Endozoicomonas marisrubri sp. nov. 6c and assessed its transcriptomic and proteomic response to tissue extracts of its native host, the Red Sea coral Acropora humilis. We show that coral tissue extracts stimulated differential expression of genes putatively involved in symbiosis establishment via the modulation of the host immune response by E. marisrubri 6c, such as genes for flagellar assembly, ankyrins, ephrins, and serpins. Proteome analyses revealed that E. marisrubri 6c upregulated vitamin B1 and B6 biosynthesis and glycolytic processes in response to holobiont cues. Our results suggest that the priming of Endozoicomonas for a symbiotic lifestyle involves the modulation of host immunity and the exchange of essential metabolites with other holobiont members. Consequently, Endozoicomonas may play an important role in holobiont nutrient cycling and may therefore contribute to coral health, acclimatization, and adaptation.}, } @article {pmid35443766, year = {2022}, author = {Satjarak, A and Golinski, GK and Trest, MT and Graham, LE}, title = {Microbiome and related structural features of Earth's most archaic plant indicate early plant symbiosis attributes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {6423}, pmid = {35443766}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Bryophyta/genetics ; *Embryophyta/genetics ; Humans ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Origin of earliest land plants from ancestral algae dramatically accelerated the evolution of Earth's terrestrial ecosystems, in which microbial symbioses have played key roles. Recent molecular diversification analyses identify the rare, geographically-limited moss Takakia as Earth's most archaic modern land plant. Despite occupying a phylogenetic position pivotal for understanding earliest plants, Takakia microbial associations are poorly known. Here, we describe symbiosis-related structural features and contig-based metagenomic data that illuminate the evolutionary transition from streptophyte algae to early embryophytes. We observed that T. lepidozioides shares with streptophyte algae secretion of microbe-harboring mucilage and bacterial taxa such as Rhizobium and genes indicating nitrogen fixation. We find that Takakia root-analogs produce lateral mucilage organs that are more complex than generally understood, having structural analogies to angiosperm lateral roots adapted for N-fixation symbioses, including presence of intracellular microbes. We also find structural and metagenomic evidence for mycorrhiza-like species of glomalean fungi (including Rhizophagus irregularis) not previously known for mosses, as well as ascomycete fungi (e.g. Rhizoscyphus ericae) that associate with other early-diverging plants. Because Takakia is the oldest known modern plant genus, this study of plants of a remote locale not strongly influenced by human activities may indicate microbiome features of early land plants.}, } @article {pmid35442322, year = {2022}, author = {Souza, CA and Rocha, R and Costa, PRF and Almeida, NS and Cotrim, HP}, title = {PROBIOTIC, PREBIOTIC OR SYMBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTATION IMPACTS ON INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA IN PATIENTS WITH NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.}, journal = {Arquivos de gastroenterologia}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {123-128}, doi = {10.1590/S0004-2803.202200001-21}, pmid = {35442322}, issn = {1678-4219}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/therapy ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotics has shown positive effects on clinical markers and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of supplementation with probiotic, prebiotic or symbiotic on intestinal microbiota in NAFLD patients.

METHODS: Two investigators conducted independently search for articles in the Medline databases, via PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Lilacs, Central Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials.gov and on the Ovid platform for the gray literature search.

RESULTS: A total of 3,423 papers were identified by searching the electronic databases; 1,560 of them were duplicate and they were excluded; 1,825 articles were excluded after reading the title and abstract. A total of 39 articles were select to reading, however only four articles met the eligibility criteria to include in this systematic review. Three of the included studies that used prebiotic or symbiotic supplementation showed that after the intervention there were changes in the intestinal microbiota pattern. Only in one study such changes were not observed. A high risk of bias was observed in most assessments.

CONCLUSION: Although there is a possible change in the gut microbiota of individuals with NAFLD after supplementation with symbiotics or prebiotics, a clinical indication as part of NAFLD treatment is not yet possible.}, } @article {pmid35442184, year = {2022}, author = {Hoang, KL and King, KC}, title = {Symbiont-mediated immune priming in animals through an evolutionary lens.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001181}, pmid = {35442184}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; *Immune System/physiology ; Parasites ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Protective symbionts can defend hosts from parasites through several mechanisms, from direct interference to modulating host immunity, with subsequent effects on host and parasite fitness. While research on symbiont-mediated immune priming (SMIP) has focused on ecological impacts and agriculturally important organisms, the evolutionary implications of SMIP are less clear. Here, we review recent advances made in elucidating the ecological and molecular mechanisms by which SMIP occurs. We draw on current works to discuss the potential for this phenomenon to drive host, parasite, and symbiont evolution. We also suggest approaches that can be used to address questions regarding the impact of immune priming on host-microbe dynamics and population structures. Finally, due to the transient nature of some symbionts involved in SMIP, we discuss what it means to be a protective symbiont from ecological and evolutionary perspectives and how such interactions can affect long-term persistence of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35442163, year = {2022}, author = {Rabuma, T and Gupta, OP and Chhokar, V}, title = {Recent advances and potential applications of cross-kingdom movement of miRNAs in modulating plant's disease response.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {519-532}, pmid = {35442163}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi/genetics ; Gene Silencing ; *MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the recent past, cross-kingdom movement of miRNAs, small (20-25 bases), and endogenous regulatory RNA molecules has emerged as one of the major research areas to understand the potential implications in modulating the plant's biotic stress response. The current review discussed the recent developments in the mechanism of cross-kingdom movement (long and short distance) and critical cross-talk between host's miRNAs in regulating gene function in bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, and nematodes, and vice-versa during host-pathogen interaction and their potential implications in crop protection. Moreover, cross-kingdom movement during symbiotic interaction, the emerging role of plant's miRNAs in modulating animal's gene function, and feasibility of spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) in combating biotic stresses in plants are also critically evaluated. The current review article analysed the horizontal transfer of miRNAs among plants, animals, and microbes that regulates gene expression in the host or pathogenic organisms, contributing to crop protection. Further, it highlighted the challenges and opportunities to harness the full potential of this emerging approach to mitigate biotic stress efficiently.}, } @article {pmid35442071, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, Y and Peng, T and He, Z and Wang, L and Zhang, X and He, Z and Shu, L}, title = {Symbiont-Induced Phagosome Changes Rather than Extracellular Discrimination Contribute to the Formation of Social Amoeba Farming Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0172721}, pmid = {35442071}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Amoeba/microbiology ; Animals ; *Burkholderia ; *Dictyostelium/microbiology ; Phagosomes ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiont recognition is essential in many symbiotic relationships, especially for horizontally transferred symbionts. Therefore, how to find the right partner is a crucial challenge in these symbiotic relationships. Previous studies have demonstrated that both animals and plants have evolved various mechanisms to recognize their symbionts. However, studies about the mechanistic basis of establishing protist-bacterium symbioses are scarce. This study investigated this question using a social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and their Burkholderia symbionts. We found no evidence that D. discoideum hosts could distinguish different Burkholderia extracellularly in chemotaxis assays. Instead, symbiont-induced phagosome biogenesis contributed to the formation of social amoeba symbiosis, and D. discoideum hosts have a higher phagosome pH when carrying symbiotic Burkholderia than nonsymbiotic Burkholderia. In conclusion, the establishment of social amoeba symbiosis is not linked with extracellular discrimination but related to symbiont-induced phagosome biogenesis, which provides new insights into the mechanisms of endosymbiosis formation between protists and their symbionts. IMPORTANCE Protists are single-celled, extremely diverse eukaryotic microbes. Like animals and plants, they live with bacterial symbionts and have complex relationships. In protist-bacterium symbiosis, while some symbionts are strictly vertically transmitted, others need to reestablish and acquire symbionts from the environment frequently. However, the mechanistic basis of establishing protist-bacterium symbioses is mostly unclear. This study uses a novel amoeba-symbiont system to show that the establishment of this symbiosis is not linked with extracellular discrimination. Instead, symbiont-induced phagosome biogenesis contributes to the formation of social amoeba-bacterium symbiosis. This study increases our understanding of the mechanistic basis of establishing protist-bacterium symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35441989, year = {2022}, author = {Marsola, SJ and Jorge, LF and Meniqueti, AB and Bertéli, MBD and de Lima, TEF and Bezerra, JL and Lopes, AD and Gazim, ZC and do Valle, JS and Colauto, NB and Linde, GA}, title = {Endophytic fungi of Brunfelsia uniflora: isolation, cryopreservation, and determination of enzymatic and antioxidant activity.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {94}, pmid = {35441989}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Antioxidants/chemistry ; *Ascomycota ; *Cellulase ; Cryopreservation ; Endophytes/chemistry ; Fungi ; Laccase ; Phenols ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; *Solanaceae ; }, abstract = {Brunfelsia uniflora (Pohl.) D. Don (Solanaceae), commonly known as manacá-de-cheiro, is widely distributed in Brazil and used by local indigenous peoples as an antirheumatic, antisyphilitic, depurative, emetic, vermifuge, and purgative agent. Several studies have examined the biological activities and phytochemical profile of Brunfelsia; however, few have focused on the diversity of endophytic microorganisms that colonize members of the genus. This study aimed to isolate and cryopreserve endophytic fungi from B. uniflora and determine their cellulase, laccase, and antioxidant activities. Endophytic fungi were isolated from B. uniflora stems, cultured on wheat grains, immersed in a 150 g L[-1] aqueous sucrose solution, and cryopreserved at - 80 °C for 1 and 6 months. Cellulase activity was determined by a qualitative test using carboxymethylcellulose medium and laccase activity by a quantitative test based on the oxidation of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate). Prior to antioxidant activity assays, fungi were grown in malt extract broth for production of mycelial biomass. A methanolic extract was prepared for evaluation of DPPH· scavenging activity, FRAP activity, and total phenolic content. A total of 46 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from B. uniflora stems and classified into 24 groups according to morphological similarities. B. uniflora was shown to harbor different genera of ascomycete fungi as endophytic organisms. Mycelial viability was observed after 1 and 6 months of cryopreservation at - 80 °C. Fungi exhibited cellulase and laccase activities. Isolate CE23 had the highest laccase activity after 7 days of cultivation. Twelve isolates were found to have low total phenolic contents and DPPH· and FRAP activities.}, } @article {pmid35441955, year = {2022}, author = {Janković, S and Katić, A and Ćirković, MM}, title = {Gaia as Solaris: An Alternative Default Evolutionary Trajectory.}, journal = {Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere : the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life}, volume = {52}, number = {1-3}, pages = {129-147}, pmid = {35441955}, issn = {1573-0875}, mesh = {Earth, Planet ; *Ecosystem ; Exobiology ; *Extraterrestrial Environment ; Planets ; }, abstract = {Now that we know that Earth-like planets are ubiquitous in the universe, as well as that most of them are much older than the Earth, it is justified to ask to what extent evolutionary outcomes on other such planets are similar, or indeed commensurable, to the outcomes we perceive around us. In order to assess the degree of specialty or mediocrity of our trajectory of biospheric evolution, we need to take into account recent advances in theoretical astrobiology, in particular (i) establishing the history of habitable planets' formation in the Galaxy, and (ii) understanding the crucial importance of "Gaian" feedback loops and temporal windows for the interaction of early life with its physical environment. Hereby we consider an alternative macroevolutionary pathway that may result in tight functional integration of all sub-planetary ecosystems, eventually giving rise to a true superorganism at the biospheric level. The blueprint for a possible outcome of this scenario has been masterfully provided by the great Polish novelist Stanisław Lem in his 1961 novel Solaris. In fact, Solaris offers such a persuasive and powerful case for an "extremely strong" Gaia hypothesis that it is, arguably, high time to investigate it in a discursive astrobiological and philosophical context. In addition to novel predictions in the domain of potentially detectable biosignatures, some additional cognitive and heuristic benefits of studying such extreme cases of functional integration are briefly discussed.}, } @article {pmid35441582, year = {2022}, author = {Oruganti, RK and Katam, K and Show, PL and Gadhamshetty, V and Upadhyayula, VKK and Bhattacharyya, D}, title = {A comprehensive review on the use of algal-bacterial systems for wastewater treatment with emphasis on nutrient and micropollutant removal.}, journal = {Bioengineered}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {10412-10453}, pmid = {35441582}, issn = {2165-5987}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Nutrients ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater/chemistry ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {The scarcity of water resources and environmental pollution have highlighted the need for sustainable wastewater treatment. Existing conventional treatment systems are energy-intensive and not always able to meet stringent disposal standards. Recently, algal-bacterial systems have emerged as environmentally friendly sustainable processes for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The algal-bacterial systems work on the principle of the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria. This paper comprehensively discusses the most recent studies on algal-bacterial systems for wastewater treatment, factors affecting the treatment, and aspects of resource recovery from the biomass. The algal-bacterial interaction includes cell-to-cell communication, substrate exchange, and horizontal gene transfer. The quorum sensing (QS) molecules and their effects on algal-bacterial interactions are briefly discussed. The effect of the factors such as pH, temperature, C/N/P ratio, light intensity, and external aeration on the algal-bacterial systems have been discussed. An overview of the modeling aspects of algal-bacterial systems has been provided. The algal-bacterial systems have the potential for removing micropollutants because of the diverse possible interactions between algae-bacteria. The removal mechanisms of micropollutants - sorption, biodegradation, and photodegradation, have been reviewed. The harvesting methods and resource recovery aspects have been presented. The major challenges associated with algal-bacterial systems for real scale implementation and future perspectives have been discussed. Integrating wastewater treatment with the algal biorefinery concept reduces the overall waste component in a wastewater treatment system by converting the biomass into a useful product, resulting in a sustainable system that contributes to the circular bioeconomy.}, } @article {pmid35439939, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, J and Huang, P and Lu, J and Wu, N and Lin, G and Zhang, X and Cao, H and Geng, W and Zhai, B and Xu, C and Sun, Z}, title = {Gene expression profiles provide insights into the survival strategies in deep-sea mussel (Bathymodiolus platifrons) of different developmental stages.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {23}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {311}, pmid = {35439939}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Gills/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; *Mytilidae ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Deep-sea mussels living in the cold seeps with enormous biomass act as the primary consumers. They are well adapted to the extreme environment where light is absent, and hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other hydrocarbon-rich fluid seepage occur. Despite previous studies on diversity, role, evolution, and symbiosis, the changing adaptation patterns during different developmental stages of the deep-sea mussels remain largely unknown.

RESULTS: The deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus platifrons) of two developmental stages were collected from the cold seep during the ocean voyage. The gills, mantles, and adductor muscles of these mussels were used for the Illumina sequencing. A total of 135 Gb data were obtained, and subsequently, 46,376 unigenes were generated using de-novo assembly strategy. According to the gene expression analysis, amounts of genes were most actively expressed in the gills, especially genes involved in environmental information processing. Genes encoding Toll-like receptors and sulfate transporters were up-regulated in gills, indicating that the gill acts as both intermedium and protective screen in the deep-sea mussel. Lysosomal enzymes and solute carrier responsible for nutrients absorption were up-regulated in the older mussel, while genes related to toxin resistance and autophagy were up-regulated in the younger one, suggesting that the older mussel might be in a vigorous stage while the younger mussel was still paying efforts in survival and adaptation.

CONCLUSIONS: In general, our study suggested that the adaptation capacity might be formed gradually during the development of deep-sea mussels, in which the gill and the symbionts play essential roles.}, } @article {pmid35439556, year = {2022}, author = {Yan, H and Lu, R and Liu, Y and Cui, X and Wang, Y and Yu, Z and Ruan, R and Zhang, Q}, title = {Development of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system for enhanced treatment of biogas slurry.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {354}, number = {}, pages = {127187}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127187}, pmid = {35439556}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Chlorella vulgaris/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {In this study, microalgae-bacteria consortia were developed using bacteria and microalgae isolated from biogas slurry for enhanced nutrients recovery and promoted microalgae growth in wastewater. The enhancement rate was introduced to quantify the interaction between bacteria and microalgae. Co-culture of the indigenous microalgae and bacteria could significantly improve the tolerance of microorganisms to pollutants, increase value-added products' production, promote nutrients removal, and reduce carbon emissions compared to mono-culture. The co-culture of Chlorella sp. GZQ001 and Lysinibacillus sp. SJX05 performed best, with its biomass, lipid, protein and fatty acid methyl ester productivities achieved 113.3, 19.2, 40.9 and 3.7 mg·L[-1]·d[-1], respectively. The corresponding nutrients removal efficiencies for ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, total organic carbon, and total phosphorus were 83.2%, 82.1%, 34.0% and 76.6%, respectively. These results indicated that co-culture of certain indigenous bacteria and microalgae is beneficial to biogas slurry treatment and microalgae growth.}, } @article {pmid35438622, year = {2022}, author = {Bender, FR and Nagamatsu, ST and Delamuta, JRM and Ribeiro, RA and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Genetic variation in symbiotic islands of natural variant strains of soybean Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens differing in competitiveness and in the efficiency of nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35438622}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Genetic Variation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Soybeans ; }, abstract = {Soybean is the most important legume cropped worldwide and can highly benefit from the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process. Brazil is recognized for its leadership in the use of inoculants and two strains, Bradyrhizobium japonicum CPAC 15 (=SEMIA 5079) and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens CPAC 7 (=SEMIA 5080) compose the majority of the 70 million doses of soybean inoculants commercialized yearly in the country. We studied a collection of natural variants of these two strains, differing in properties of competitiveness and efficiency of BNF. We sequenced the genomes of the parental strain SEMIA 566 of B. japonicum, of three natural variants of this strain (S 204, S 340 and S 370), and compared with another variant of this group, strain CPAC 15. We also sequenced the genome of the parental strain SEMIA 586 of B. diazoefficiens, of three natural variants of this strain (CPAC 390, CPAC 392 and CPAC 394) and compared with the genome of another natural variant, strain CPAC 7. As the main genes responsible for nodulation (nod, noe, nol) and BNF (nif, fix) in soybean Bradyrhizobium are located in symbiotic islands, our objective was to identify genetic variations located in this region, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions and deletions (indels), that could be potentially related to their different symbiotic phenotypes. We detected 44 genetic variations in the B. japonicum strains and three in B. diazoefficiens. As the B. japonicum strains have gone through a longer period of adaptation to the soil, the higher number of genetic variations could be explained by survival strategies under the harsh environmental conditions of the Brazilian Cerrado biome. Genetic variations were detected in genes enconding proteins such as a dephospho-CoA kinase, related to the CoA biosynthesis; a glucosamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase, key regulator of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway; a LysR family transcriptional regulator related to nodulation genes; and NifE and NifS proteins, directly related to the BNF process. We suggest potential genetic variations related to differences in the symbiotic phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid35436545, year = {2022}, author = {Liebrenz, K and Frare, R and Gómez, C and Pascuan, C and Brambilla, S and Soldini, D and Maguire, V and Carrio, A and Ruiz, O and McCormick, W and Soto, G and Ayub, N}, title = {Multiple ways to evade the bacteriostatic action of glyphosate in rhizobia include the mutation of the conserved serine 90 of the nitrogenase subunit NifH to alanine.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {173}, number = {6-7}, pages = {103952}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2022.103952}, pmid = {35436545}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Alanine/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/metabolism ; Glycine/analogs & derivatives ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Serine/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genome resequencing of spontaneous glyphosate-resistant mutants derived from the soybean inoculant E109 allowed identifying genes most likely associated with the uptake (gltL and cya) and metabolism (zigA and betA) of glyphosate, as well as with nitrogen fixation (nifH). Mutations in these genes reduce the lag phase and improve nodulation under glyphosate stress. In addition to providing glyphosate resistance, the amino acid exchange Ser90Ala in NifH increased the citrate synthase activity, growth rate and plant growth-promoting efficiency of E109 in the absence of glyphosate stress, suggesting roles for this site during both the free-living and symbiotic growth stages.}, } @article {pmid35436090, year = {2022}, author = {Sarkar, S and Biswas, A and Siddharthan, EE and Thapa, R and Dey, RS}, title = {Strategic Modulation of Target-Specific Isolated Fe,Co Single-Atom Active Sites for Oxygen Electrocatalysis Impacting High Power Zn-Air Battery.}, journal = {ACS nano}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {7890-7903}, doi = {10.1021/acsnano.2c00547}, pmid = {35436090}, issn = {1936-086X}, abstract = {An effective modulation of the active sites in a bifunctional electrocatalyst is essentially desired, and it is a challenge to outperform the state-of-the-art catalysts toward oxygen electrocatalysis. Herein, we report the development of a bifunctional electrocatalyst having target-specific Fe-N4/C and Co-N4/C isolated active sites, exhibiting a symbiotic effect on overall oxygen electrocatalysis performances. The dualism of N-dopants and binary metals lower the d-band centers of both Fe and Co in the Fe,Co,N-C catalyst, improving the overpotential of the overall electrocatalytic processes (ΔEORR-OER = 0.74 ± 0.02 V vs RHE). Finally, the Fe,Co,N-C showed a high areal power density of 198.4 mW cm[-2] and 158 mW cm[-2] in the respective liquid and solid-state Zn-air batteries (ZABs), demonstrating suitable candidature of the active material as air cathode material in ZABs.}, } @article {pmid35435757, year = {2022}, author = {Nakabachi, A and Moran, NA}, title = {Extreme Polyploidy of Carsonella, an Organelle-Like Bacterium with a Drastically Reduced Genome.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0035022}, pmid = {35435757}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Gammaproteobacteria ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Hemiptera/genetics/microbiology ; Organelles ; Phylogeny ; Polyploidy ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polyploidy is the state of having multiple copies of the genome within a nucleus or a cell, which has repeatedly evolved across the domains of life. Whereas most bacteria are monoploid, some bacterial species and endosymbiotic organelles that are derived from bacteria are stably polyploid. In the present study, using absolute quantitative PCR, we assessed the ploidy of Candidatus Carsonella ruddii (Gammaproteobacteria, Oceanospirillales), the obligate symbiont of the hackberry petiole gall psyllid, Pachypsylla venusta (Hemiptera, Psylloidea). The genome of this symbiont is one of the smallest known for cellular organisms, at 160 kb. The analysis revealed that Carsonella within a single bacteriocyte has ∼6 × 10[4] copies of the genome, indicating that some Carsonella cells can contain thousands or even tens of thousands of genomic copies per cell. The basis of polyploidy of Carsonella is unknown, but it potentially plays a role in the repair of DNA damage through homologous recombination. IMPORTANCE Mitochondria and plastids are endosymbiotic organelles in eukaryotic cells and are derived from free-living bacteria. They have many highly reduced genomes from which numerous genes have been transferred to the host nucleus. Similar, but more recently established, symbiotic systems are observed in some insect lineages. Although the genomic sequence data of such bacterial symbionts are rapidly accumulating, little is known about their ploidy. The present study revealed that a bacterium with a drastically reduced genome is an extreme polyploid, which is reminiscent of the case of organelles.}, } @article {pmid35435710, year = {2022}, author = {Stillson, PT and Baltrus, DA and Ravenscraft, A}, title = {Prevalence of an Insect-Associated Genomic Region in Environmentally Acquired Burkholderiaceae Symbionts.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {9}, pages = {e0250221}, pmid = {35435710}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Burkholderia/genetics ; *Burkholderiaceae/genetics ; Genomics ; *Heteroptera/microbiology ; Insecta ; Prevalence ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts are critical for the development and survival of many eukaryotes. Recent research suggests that the genes enabling these relationships can be localized in horizontally transferred regions of microbial genomes termed "symbiotic islands." Recently, a putative symbiotic island was found that may facilitate symbioses between true bugs and numerous Burkholderia species, based on analysis of five Burkholderia symbionts. We expanded on this work by exploring the putative island's prevalence, origin, and association with colonization across the bacterial family Burkholderiaceae. We performed a broad comparative analysis of 229 Burkholderiaceae genomes, including 8 new genomes of insect- or soil-associated Burkholderia sequenced for this study. We detected the region in 23% of the genomes; these were located solely within two Burkholderia clades. Our analyses suggested that the contiguous region arose at the common ancestor of plant- and insect-associated Burkholderia clades, but the genes themselves are ancestral. Although the region was initially discovered on plasmids and we did detect two likely instances of horizontal transfer within Burkholderia, we found that the region is almost always localized to a chromosome and does not possess any of the mobility elements that typify genomic islands. Finally, to attempt to deduce the region's function, we combined our data with information on several strains' abilities to colonize the insect's symbiotic organ. Although the region was associated with improved colonization of the host, this relationship was confounded with, and likely driven by, Burkholderia clade membership. These findings advance our understanding of the genomic underpinnings of a widespread insect-microbe symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Many plants and animals form intricate associations with bacteria. These pairings can be mediated by genomic islands, contiguous regions containing numerous genes with cohesive functionality. Pathogen-associated islands are well described, but recent evidence suggests that mutualistic islands, which benefit both host and symbiont, may also be common. Recently, a putative symbiosis island was found in Burkholderia symbionts of insects. We determined that this genomic region is located in only two clades of Burkholderia (the plant- and insect-associated species) and that although it has undergone horizontal transfer, it is most likely a symbiosis-associated region rather than a true island. This region is associated with improved host colonization, although this is may be due to specific Burkholderia clades' abilities to colonize rather than presence of the region. By studying the genomic basis of the insect-Burkholderia symbiosis, we can better understand how mutualisms evolve in animals.}, } @article {pmid35434600, year = {2022}, author = {Abaci, N and Senol Deniz, FS and Orhan, IE}, title = {Kombucha - An ancient fermented beverage with desired bioactivities: A narrowed review.}, journal = {Food chemistry: X}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {100302}, pmid = {35434600}, issn = {2590-1575}, abstract = {Kombucha, originated in China 2000 years ago, is a sour and sweet-tasted drink, prepared traditionally through fermentation of black tea. During the fermentation of kombucha, consisting of mainly acidic compounds, microorganisms, and a tiny amount of alcohol, a biofilm called SCOBY forms. The bacteria in kombucha has been generally identified as Acetobacteraceae. Kombucha is a noteworthy source of B complex vitamins, polyphenols, and organic acids (mainly acetic acid). Nowadays, kombucha is tended to be prepared with some other plant species, which, therefore, lead to variations in its composition. Pre-clinical studies conducted on kombucha revealed that it has desired bioactivities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-hypercholestorelomic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, etc. Only a few clinical studies have been also reported. In the current review, we aimed to overhaul pre-clinical bioactivities reported on kombucha as well as its brief compositional chemistry. The literature data indicate that kombucha has valuable biological effects on human health.}, } @article {pmid35434121, year = {2022}, author = {Carmona-Gutierrez, D and Kainz, K and Zimmermann, A and Hofer, SJ and Bauer, MA and Ruckenstuhl, C and Kroemer, G and Madeo, F}, title = {A hundred spotlights on microbiology: how microorganisms shape our lives.}, journal = {Microbial cell (Graz, Austria)}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {72-79}, pmid = {35434121}, issn = {2311-2638}, abstract = {Viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoal biology is of cardinal importance for the evolutionary history of life, ecology, biotechnology and infectious diseases. Various microbiological model systems have fundamentally contributed to the understanding of molecular and cellular processes, including the cell cycle, cell death, mitochondrial biogenesis, vesicular fusion and autophagy, among many others. Microbial interactions within the environment have profound effects on many fields of biology, from ecological diversity to the highly complex and multifaceted impact of the microbiome on human health. Also, biotechnological innovation and corresponding industrial operations strongly depend on microbial engineering. With this wide range of impact in mind, the peer-reviewed and open access journal Microbial Cell was founded in 2014 and celebrates its 100[th] issue this month. Here, we briefly summarize how the vast diversity of microbiological subjects influences our personal and societal lives and shortly review the milestones achieved by Microbial Cell during the last years.}, } @article {pmid35432395, year = {2022}, author = {Ivanova, KA and Chernova, EN and Kulaeva, OA and Tsyganova, AV and Kusakin, PG and Russkikh, IV and Tikhonovich, IA and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {The Regulation of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Symbiotic Nodule Infection and Defense Responses by Glutathione, Homoglutathione, and Their Ratio.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {843565}, pmid = {35432395}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In this study, the roles of glutathione (GSH), homoglutathione (hGSH), and their ratio in symbiotic nodule development and functioning, as well as in defense responses accompanying ineffective nodulation in pea (Pisum sativum) were investigated. The expression of genes involved in (h)GSH biosynthesis, thiol content, and localization of the reduced form of GSH were analyzed in nodules of wild-type pea plants and mutants sym33-3 (weak allele, "locked" infection threads, occasional bacterial release, and defense reactions) and sym33-2 (strong allele, "locked" infection threads, defense reactions), and sym40-1 (abnormal bacteroids, oxidative stress, early senescence, and defense reactions). The effects of (h)GSH depletion and GSH treatment on nodule number and development were also examined. The GSH:hGSH ratio was found to be higher in nodules than in uninoculated roots in all genotypes analyzed, with the highest value being detected in wild-type nodules. Moreover, it was demonstrated, that a hGSHS-to-GSHS switch in gene expression in nodule tissue occurs only after bacterial release and leads to an increase in the GSH:hGSH ratio. Ineffective nodules showed variable GSH:hGSH ratios that correlated with the stage of nodule development. Changes in the levels of both thiols led to the activation of defense responses in nodules. The application of a (h)GSH biosynthesis inhibitor disrupted the nitrogen fixation zone in wild-type nodules, affected symbiosome formation in sym40-1 mutant nodules, and meristem functioning and infection thread growth in sym33-3 mutant nodules. An increase in the levels of both thiols following GSH treatment promoted both infection and extension of defense responses in sym33-3 nodules, whereas a similar increase in sym40-1 nodules led to the formation of infected cells resembling wild-type nitrogen-fixing cells and the disappearance of an early senescence zone in the base of the nodule. Meanwhile, an increase in hGSH levels in sym40-1 nodules resulting from GSH treatment manifested as a restriction of infection similar to that seen in untreated sym33-3 nodules. These findings indicated that a certain level of thiols is required for proper symbiotic nitrogen fixation and that changes in thiol content or the GSH:hGSH ratio are associated with different abnormalities and defense responses.}, } @article {pmid35432275, year = {2022}, author = {Lu, H and Li, J and Yang, P and Jiang, F and Liu, H and Cui, F}, title = {Mutation in the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase of a Symbiotic Virus Is Associated With the Adaptability of the Viral Host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {883436}, pmid = {35432275}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Host adaptation has the potential to cause rapid genetic variation in symbiotic microorganisms in insects. How mutations in symbiotic viruses favor viral fitness in hosts and even influence host adaptability to new environments remains elusive. Here, we explored the role of genetic divergence at one site of a symbiotic virus, Acyrthosiphon pisum virus (APV), in the host aphid's adaptation to unfavorable plants. Based on the transcriptomes of the pea aphid Vicia faba colony and Vicia villosa colony, 46 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites were found in the APV genomes from the two aphid colonies. One SNP at site 5,990, G5990A, located at the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain, demonstrated a predominance from G to A when the host aphids were shifted from V. faba to the low-fitness plants V. villosa or Medicago sativa. This SNP resulted in a substitution from serine (S) to asparagine (N) at site 196 in RdRp. Although S196N was predicted to be located at a random coil far away from conserved functional motifs, the polymerase activity of the N196 type of RdRp was increased by 44.5% compared to that of the S196 type. The promoted enzymatic activity of RdRp was associated with a higher replication level of APV, which was beneficial for aphids as APV suppressed plant's resistance reactions toward aphids. The findings showed a novel case in which mutations selected in a symbiotic virus may confer a favor on the host as the host adapts to new environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid35432238, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, R and Shi, XF and Liu, PG and Wilson, AW and Mueller, GM}, title = {Host Shift Speciation of the Ectomycorrhizal Genus Suillus (Suillineae, Boletales) and Biogeographic Comparison With Its Host Pinaceae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {831450}, pmid = {35432238}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Suillus is a genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated almost exclusively with Pinaceae. Lack of sample collections in East Asia and unresolved basal phylogenetic relationships of the genus are the major obstacles for better understanding the Suillus evolution. A resolved phylogeny of Suillus representing global diversity was achieved by sequencing multiple nuclear ribosomal and protein coding genes and extensive samples collected in East Asia. Fungal fossils are extremely rare, and the Eocene ectomycorrhizal symbiosis (ECM) fossil of Pinus root has been widely used for calibration. This study explored an alternative calibration scenario of the ECM fossil for controversy. Ancestral host associations of Suillus were estimated by maximum likelihood and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analyses, inferred from current host information from root tips and field observation. Host shift speciation explains the diversification of Suillus major clades. The three basal subgenera of Suillus were inferred to be associated with Larix, and diverged in early Eocene or Upper Cretaceous. In the early Oligocene or Paleocene, subgenus Suillus diverged and switched host to Pinus subgenus Strobus, and then switched to subgenus Pinus four times. Suillus subgenus Douglasii switched host from Larix to Pseudotsuga in Oligocene or Eocene. Increased species diversity occurred in subgenus Suillus after it switched host to Pinus but no associated speciation rate shifts were detected. Ancestral biogeographic distributions of Suillus and Pinaceae were estimated under the Dispersal Extinction Cladogenesis (DEC) model. Ancestral distribution patterns of Suillus and Pinaceae are related but generally discordant. Dispersals between Eurasia and North America explain the prevalence of disjunct Suillus taxa.}, } @article {pmid35432232, year = {2022}, author = {Tan, LL and Tan, CH and Ng, NKJ and Tan, YH and Conway, PL and Loo, SCJ}, title = {Potential Probiotic Strains From Milk and Water Kefir Grains in Singapore-Use for Defense Against Enteric Bacterial Pathogens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {857720}, pmid = {35432232}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Kefir grains consist of complex symbiotic mixtures of bacteria and yeasts, and are reported to impart numerous health-boosting properties to milk and water kefir beverages. The objective of this work was to investigate the microbial communities in kefir grains, and explore the possibility of deriving useful probiotic strains from them. A total of 158 microbial strains, representing six fungal and 17 bacterial species, were isolated from milk and water kefir grains collected from a Singapore-based homebrewer. Based on 16S rRNA sequencing, isolated genera included Lactobacillus, Liquorilactobacillus, Lacticaseibacillus, Lentilactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, Oenococcus, Clostridium, Zymomonas, Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Lachancea, Candida, and Brettanomyces. To characterize these isolates, a funnel approach, involving numerous phenotypic and genomic screening assays, was applied to identify kefir-derived microbial strains with the highest probiotic potential. Particular focus was placed on examining the pathogen inhibitory properties of kefir isolates toward enteric pathogens which pose a considerable global health burden. Enteric pathogens tested include species of Bacillus, Salmonella, Vibrio, Clostridium, Klebsiella, Escherichia, and Staphylococcus. Well diffusion assays were conducted to determine the propensity of kefir isolates to inhibit growth of enteric pathogens, and a competitive adhesion/exclusion assay was used to determine the ability of kefir isolates to out-compete or exclude attachment of enteric pathogens to Caco-2 cells. Seven bacterial strains of Lentilactobacillus hilgardii, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Liquorilactobacillus satsumensis, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Lentilactobacillus kefiri, were ultimately identified as potential probiotics, and combined to form a "kefir probiotics blend." Desirable probiotic characteristics, including good survival in acid and bile environments, bile salt hydrolase activity, antioxidant activity, non-cytotoxicity and high adhesion to Caco-2 cells, and a lack of virulence or antimicrobial resistance genes. In addition, vitamin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis genes, were identified in these kefir isolates. Overall, probiotic candidates derived in this study are well-characterized strains with a good safety profile which can serve as novel agents to combat enteric diseases. These kefir-derived probiotics also add diversity to the existing repertoire of probiotic strains, and may provide consumers with alternative product formats to attain the health benefits of kefir.}, } @article {pmid35430950, year = {2022}, author = {Eliassen, M and Moholt, JM}, title = {Boundary work in task-shifting practices - a qualitative study of reablement teams.}, journal = {Physiotherapy theory and practice}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-14}, doi = {10.1080/09593985.2022.2064380}, pmid = {35430950}, issn = {1532-5040}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Health services worldwide have provided incentives for establishing teams to accommodate complex health care tasks, enhance patient outcomes and organizational efficiency, and compensate for shortages of health care professionals. Parallel to and partly due to the increased focus on teamwork, task shifting has become a health policy. Task shifting involves new tasks and responsibilities, which may result in social negotiations about occupational boundaries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how the division of tasks, responsibilities, and roles in reablement practices can appear as boundary work between physiotherapists (PTs) and home trainers (HTs).

METHODS: The study drew on data from fieldwork with seven Norwegian reablement teams, including observations and individual interviews with PTs and HTs. We conducted thematic analysis informed by a theoretical framework on professional boundaries.

RESULTS: We identified two different practices, which we labeled as: i) "The engine and the assistant" and ii) "The symbiotic team." We drew on these practices and theory of boundary making and boundary blurring to interpret the results.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that boundary-making processes may generate asymmetric power relations that may constrain autonomous work and job satisfaction in teams, whereas boundary-blurring processes may promote collaborative practices that enhance holistic approaches and mutual learning on reablement teams.}, } @article {pmid35429596, year = {2022}, author = {Qixin, L and Xuan, F and Zhiya, S and Wenxin, S and Shuo, W and Ji, L}, title = {Enhanced wastewater treatment performance by understanding the interaction between algae and bacteria based on quorum sensing.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {354}, number = {}, pages = {127161}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127161}, pmid = {35429596}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Carbon ; *Microalgae ; Quorum Sensing ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {In order to further obtain sustainable wastewater treatment technology, in-depth analysis based on algal-bacterial symbiosis, quorum sensing signal molecules and algal-bacterial relationship will lay the foundation for the synergistic algal-bacterial wastewater treatment process. The methods of enhancing algae and bacteria wastewater treatment technology were systematically explored, including promoting symbiosis, reducing algicidal behavior, eliminating the interference of quorum sensing inhibitor, and developing algae and bacteria granular sludge. These findings can provide guidance for sustainable economic and environmental development, and facilitate carbon emissions reduction by using algae and bacteria synergistic wastewater treatment technology in further attempts. The future work should be carried out in the following four aspects: (1) Screening of dominant microalgae and bacteria; (2) Coordination of stable (emerging) contaminants removal; (3) Utilization of algae to produce fertilizers and feed (additives), and (4) Constructing recombinant algae and bacteria for reducing carbon emissions and obtaining high value-added products.}, } @article {pmid35429554, year = {2022}, author = {Machado, C and Cuco, AP and Cássio, F and Wolinska, J and Castro, BB}, title = {Antiparasitic potential of agrochemical fungicides on a non-target aquatic model (Daphnia × Metschnikowia host-parasite system).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {833}, number = {}, pages = {155296}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155296}, pmid = {35429554}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agrochemicals ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents ; Antiparasitic Agents ; Daphnia ; Ecosystem ; *Fungicides, Industrial/toxicity ; *Metschnikowia ; *Parasites ; *Porifera ; }, abstract = {Pesticides are a major anthropogenic threat to the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems, having the potential to affect non-target aquatic organisms and disrupt the processes in which they intervene. Important knowledge gaps have been recognised concerning the ecological effects of synthetic fungicides on non-target symbiotic aquatic fungi and the ecological processes where they intervene. The goal of this work was to assess the influence of three commonly used fungicides (myclobutanil, metalaxyl and cymoxanil), which differ in their mode of action, on a host (the crustacean Daphnia magna) × parasite (the yeast Metschnikowia bicuspidata) experimental model. Using a set of life history experiments, we evaluated the effect of each fungicide on the outcome of this relationship (disease) and on the fitness of both host and parasite. Contrasting results were observed: (i) cymoxanil and metalaxyl were overall innocuous to host and parasite at the tested concentrations, although host reproduction was occasionally reduced in the simultaneous presence of parasite and fungicide; (ii) on the contrary, myclobutanil displayed a clear antifungal effect, decreasing parasite prevalence and alleviating infection signs in the hosts. This antiparasitic effect of myclobutanil was further investigated with a follow-up experiment that manipulated the timing of application of the fungicide, to understand which stage of parasite development was most susceptible: while myclobutanil did not interfere in the early stages of infection, its antifungal activity was clearly observable at a later stage of the disease (by impairing the production of transmission stages of the parasite). More research is needed to understand the broader consequences of this parasite-clearance effect, especially in face of increasing evidence that parasites are ecologically more important than their cryptic nature might suggest.}, } @article {pmid35428757, year = {2022}, author = {Klimov, PB and Chetverikov, PE and Dodueva, IE and Vishnyakov, AE and Bolton, SJ and Paponova, SS and Lutova, LA and Tolstikov, AV}, title = {Author Correction: Symbiotic bacteria of the gall-inducing mite Fragariocoptes setiger (Eriophyoidea) and phylogenomic resolution of the eriophyoid position among Acari.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {6328}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-10467-7}, pmid = {35428757}, issn = {2045-2322}, } @article {pmid35426077, year = {2022}, author = {Oliveira, NC and Rodrigues, PAP and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Host-Adapted Strains of Spodoptera frugiperda Hold and Share a Core Microbial Community Across the Western Hemisphere.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35426077}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is an important polyphagous agricultural pest in the Western Hemisphere and currently invasive to countries of the Eastern Hemisphere. This species has two host-adapted strains named "rice" and "corn" strains. Our goal was to identify the occurrence of core members in the gut bacterial community of fall armyworm larvae from distinct geographical distribution and/or host strain. We used next-generation sequencing to identify the microbial communities of S. frugiperda from corn fields in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru, and rice fields from Panama. The larval gut microbiota of S. frugiperda larvae did not differ between the host strains nor was it affected by the geographical distribution of the populations investigated. Our findings provide additional support for Enterococcus and Pseudomonas as core members of the bacterial community associated with the larval gut of S. frugiperda, regardless of the site of collection or strain. Further investigations are required for a deeper understanding of the nature of this relationship.}, } @article {pmid35425833, year = {2022}, author = {Ahmad, HI and Jabbar, A and Mushtaq, N and Javed, Z and Hayyat, MU and Bashir, J and Naseeb, I and Abideen, ZU and Ahmad, N and Chen, J}, title = {Immune Tolerance vs. Immune Resistance: The Interaction Between Host and Pathogens in Infectious Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {827407}, pmid = {35425833}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {The immune system is most likely developed to reduce the harmful impact of infections on the host homeostasis. This defense approach is based on the coordinated activity of innate and adaptive immune system components, which detect and target infections for containment, killing, or expulsion by the body's defense mechanisms. These immunological processes are responsible for decreasing the pathogen burden of an infected host to maintain homeostasis that is considered to be infection resistance. Immune-driven resistance to infection is connected with a second, and probably more important, defensive mechanism: it helps to minimize the amount of dysfunction imposed on host parenchymal tissues during infection without having a direct adverse effect on pathogens. Disease tolerance is a defensive approach that relies on tissue damage control systems to prevent infections from causing harm to the host. It also uncouples immune-driven resistance mechanisms from immunopathology and disease, allowing the body to fight infection more effectively. This review discussed the cellular and molecular processes that build disease tolerance to infection and the implications of innate immunity on those systems. In addition, we discuss how symbiotic relationships with microbes and their control by particular components of innate and adaptive immunity alter disease tolerance to infection.}, } @article {pmid35423531, year = {2021}, author = {Perez, AM and Wolfe, JA and Schermerhorn, JT and Qian, Y and Cela, BA and Kalinowski, CR and Largoza, GE and Fields, PA and Brandt, GS}, title = {Thermal stability and structure of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from the coral Acropora millepora.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {11}, number = {17}, pages = {10364-10374}, pmid = {35423531}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Corals are vulnerable to increasing ocean temperatures. It is known that elevated temperatures lead to the breakdown of an essential mutualistic relationship with photosynthetic algae. The molecular mechanisms of this temperature-dependent loss of symbiosis are less well understood. Here, the thermal stability of a critical metabolic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, from the stony coral Acropora millepora was found to increase significantly in the presence of its cofactor NAD[+]. Determination of the structure of the cofactor-enzyme complex (PDB ID 6PX2) revealed variable NAD[+] occupancy across the four monomers of the tetrameric enzyme. The structure of the fully occupied monomers was compared to those with partial cofactor occupancy, identifying regions of difference that may account for the increased thermal stability.}, } @article {pmid35423425, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, Q and Liu, Y and Liu, Z and Huang, G and Yuan, S and Yang, G and Wang, K and Zhang, P and Li, N}, title = {Symbiotic composite composed of MoS2 and pelagic clay with enhanced disinfection efficiency.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {11}, number = {16}, pages = {9621-9627}, pmid = {35423425}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted increasing attention as a promising photocatalyst. In addition to its application in photocatalytic hydrogen production and pollutant degradation, MoS2 is also used in water disinfection. However, its poor disinfection performance limits its practical utility. Herein, we prepared a symbiotic composite composed of MoS2 and pelagic clay (MoS2/PC) as a photocatalyst for water disinfection. The composite achieved a high disinfection rate of 99.95% to Escherichia coli (E. coli) under visible light illumination, which is significantly higher than that of bulk MoS2 (61.87%). Characterization shows that abundant hydroxyl groups in illite/montmorillonite (I/M) formed during hydrothermal synthesis of MoS2, which contributed to the enhanced disinfection activity. Those hydroxyl groups can attract photogenerated holes through electrostatic attraction, and facilitate the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby enhancing the disinfection activity. Moreover, the good hydrophilicity of pelagic clay improves the dispersity of MoS2 in water, which is beneficial for its utility in aqueous solutions. In addition, the symbiotic structure restricts the growth and aggregation of MoS2 nanosheets and shortens the diffusion distance of charge carriers to the material surface, further reducing the recombination of electrons and holes. This study provides a way to improve the disinfection activity of MoS2 and also sheds light on high value-added utilization of pelagic clay.}, } @article {pmid35422843, year = {2022}, author = {Peng, F and Engel, U and Aliyu, H and Rudat, J}, title = {Origin and Evolution of Enzymes with MIO Prosthetic Group: Microbial Coevolution After the Mass Extinction Event.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {851738}, pmid = {35422843}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {After major mass extinction events, ancient plants and terrestrial vertebrates were faced with various challenges, especially ultraviolet (UV) light. These stresses probably resulted in changes in the biosynthetic pathways, which employed the MIO (3,5-dihydro-5-methylidene-4H-imidazole-4-one)-dependent enzymes (ammonia-lyase and aminomutase), leading to enhanced accumulation of metabolites for defense against UV radiation, pathogens, and microorganisms. Up to now, the origin and evolution of genes from this superfamily have not been extensively studied. In this report, we perform an analysis of the phylogenetic relations between the members of the aromatic amino acid MIO-dependent enzymes (AAM), which demonstrate that they most probably have a common evolutionary origin from ancient bacteria. In early soil environments, numerous bacterial species with tyrosine ammonia-lyase genes (TAL; EC 4.3.1.23) developed tyrosine aminomutase (TAM; EC 5.4.3.6) activity as a side reaction for competing with their neighbors in the community. These genes also evolved into other TAL-like enzymes, such as histidine ammonia-lyase (HAL, EC 4.3.1.3) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; EC 4.3.1.24), in different bacterial species for metabolite production and accumulation for adaptation to adverse terrestrial environmental conditions. On the other hand, the existence of phenylalanine aminomutase (PAM; EC 5.4.3.10) and phenylalanine/tyrosine ammonia-lyase (PTAL; EC 4.3.1.25) strongly indicates the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between bacteria, fungi, and plants in symbiotic association after acquiring the PAL gene from their ancestor.}, } @article {pmid35422795, year = {2022}, author = {Rampoldi, F and Prinz, I}, title = {Three Layers of Intestinal γδ T Cells Talk Different Languages With the Microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {849954}, pmid = {35422795}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa ; *Intraepithelial Lymphocytes ; Language ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta ; }, abstract = {The mucosal surfaces of our body are the main contact site where the immune system encounters non-self molecules from food-derived antigens, pathogens, and symbiotic bacteria. γδ T cells are one of the most abundant populations in the gut. Firstly, they include intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, which screen and maintain the intestinal barrier integrity in close contact with the epithelium. A second layer of intestinal γδ T cells is found among lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL)s. These γδ LPLs are able to produce IL-17 and likely have functional overlap with local Th17 cells and innate lymphoid cells. In addition, a third population of γδ T cells resides within the Peyer´s patches, where it is probably involved in antigen presentation and supports the mucosal humoral immunity. Current obstacles in understanding γδ T cells in the gut include the lack of information on cognate ligands of the γδ TCR and an incomplete understanding of their physiological role. In this review, we summarize and discuss what is known about different subpopulations of γδ T cells in the murine and human gut and we discuss their interactions with the gut microbiota in the context of homeostasis and pathogenic infections.}, } @article {pmid35422783, year = {2022}, author = {Parihar, RD and Dhiman, U and Bhushan, A and Gupta, PK and Gupta, P}, title = {Heterorhabditis and Photorhabdus Symbiosis: A Natural Mine of Bioactive Compounds.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {790339}, pmid = {35422783}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Phylum Nematoda is of great economic importance. It has been a focused area for various research activities in distinct domains across the globe. Among nematodes, there is a group called entomopathogenic nematodes, which has two families that live in symbiotic association with bacteria of genus Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, respectively. With the passing years, researchers have isolated a wide array of bioactive compounds from these symbiotically associated nematodes. In this article, we are encapsulating bioactive compounds isolated from members of the family Heterorhabditidae inhabiting Photorhabdus in its gut. Isolated bioactive compounds have shown a wide range of biological activity against deadly pathogens to both plants as well as animals. Some compounds exhibit lethal effects against fungi, bacteria, protozoan, insects, cancerous cell lines, neuroinflammation, etc., with great potency. The main aim of this article is to collect and analyze the importance of nematode and its associated bacteria, isolated secondary metabolites, and their biomedical potential, which can serve as potential leads for further drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid35421438, year = {2022}, author = {Gall, BG and Stokes, AN and Brodie, ED and Brodie, ED}, title = {Tetrodotoxin levels in lab-reared Rough-Skinned Newts (Taricha granulosa) after 3 years and comparison to wild-caught juveniles.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {213}, number = {}, pages = {7-12}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.04.007}, pmid = {35421438}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Female ; Humans ; *Salamandridae ; Symbiosis ; Tetrodotoxin/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The origin and biogenesis of tetrodotoxin (TTX) is one of the most interesting and perplexing questions remaining for TTX researchers. Newts can possess extreme quantities of TTX and are one of the most well-studied of all TTX-bearing organisms, yet seemingly conflicting results between studies on closely related species continues to generate debate. In this study, eggs from 12 female newts (Taricha granulosa) were reared in captivity and the metamorphosed juveniles were fed a TTX-free diet for 3 years. Using a non-lethal sampling technique, we collected skin samples from each individual each year. Wild-caught juveniles from the same population were also sampled for TTX. In lab-reared juveniles, mass increased rapidly, and after only 2 years individuals approached adult body mass. TTX levels increased slowly during the first two years and then jumped considerably in year three when fed a diet free of TTX. However, wild-caught juvenile newts of unknown age were more toxic than their lab-reared counterparts. These results, coupled with additional data on the long-term production and synthesis of TTX in adult newts suggest that TTX is unlikely to come through dietary acquisition, but rather newts may be able to synthesize their own toxin or acquire it from symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35421185, year = {2022}, author = {Garuglieri, E and Booth, JM and Fusi, M and Yang, X and Marasco, R and Mbobo, T and Clementi, E and Sacchi, L and Daffonchio, D}, title = {Morphological characteristics and abundance of prokaryotes associated with gills in mangrove brachyuran crabs living along a tidal gradient.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {e0266977}, pmid = {35421185}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Brachyura/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Gills ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Due to the chemico-physical differences between air and water, the transition from aquatic life to the land poses several challenges for animal evolution, necessitating morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations. Microbial symbiosis is known to have played an important role in eukaryote evolution, favouring host adaptation under changing environmental conditions. We selected mangrove brachyuran crabs as a model group to investigate the prokaryotes associated with the gill of crabs dwelling at different tidal levels (subtidal, intertidal and supratidal). In these animals, the gill undergoes a high selective pressure, finely regulating multiple physiological functions during both animal submersion under and emersion from the periodical tidal events. We hypothesize that similarly to other marine animals, the gills of tidal crabs are consistently colonized by prokaryotes that may quantitatively change along the environmental gradient driven by the tides. Using electron microscopy techniques, we found a thick layer of prokaryotes over the gill surfaces of all of 12 crab species from the mangrove forests of Saudi Arabia, Kenya and South Africa. We consistently observed two distinct morphotypes (rod- and spherical-shaped), positioned horizontally and/or perpendicularly to the gill surface. The presence of replicating cells indicated that the prokaryote layer is actively growing on the gill surface. Quantitative analysis of scanning electron microscopy images and the quantification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene by qPCR revealed a higher specific abundance of prokaryote cells per gill surface area in the subtidal species than those living in the supratidal zone. Our results revealed a correlation between prokaryote colonization of the gill surfaces and the host lifestyle. This finding indicates a possible role of prokaryote partnership within the crab gills, with potential effects on animal adaptation to different levels of the intertidal gradient present in the mangrove ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid35420913, year = {2022}, author = {Honarpisheh, P and Bryan, RM and McCullough, LD}, title = {Aging Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Stroke Risk and Outcome.}, journal = {Circulation research}, volume = {130}, number = {8}, pages = {1112-1144}, pmid = {35420913}, issn = {1524-4571}, support = {R01 NS094543/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS103592/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; RF1 AG069466/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; RF1 AG058463/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; F31 NS118984/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aging ; Brain/metabolism ; Brain-Gut Axis ; Dysbiosis/complications/metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Obesity/complications/metabolism ; *Stroke/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The microbiota-gut-brain-axis (MGBA) is a bidirectional communication network between gut microbes and their host. Many environmental and host-related factors affect the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis is defined as compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiota that contribute to the pathogenesis, progression and treatment responses to disease. Dysbiosis occurs when perturbations of microbiota composition and function exceed the ability of microbiota and its host to restore a symbiotic state. Dysbiosis leads to dysfunctional signaling of the MGBA, which regulates the development and the function of the host's immune, metabolic, and nervous systems. Dysbiosis-induced dysfunction of the MGBA is seen with aging and stroke, and is linked to the development of common stroke risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Changes in the gut microbiota are also seen in response to stroke, and may impair recovery after injury. This review will begin with an overview of the tools used to study the MGBA with a discussion on limitations and potential experimental confounders. Relevant MGBA components are introduced and summarized for a better understanding of age-related changes in MGBA signaling and its dysfunction after stroke. We will then focus on the relationship between the MGBA and aging, highlighting that all components of the MGBA undergo age-related alterations that can be influenced by or even driven by the gut microbiota. In the final section, the current clinical and preclinical evidence for the role of MGBA signaling in the development of stroke risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and frailty are summarized, as well as microbiota changes with stroke in experimental and clinical populations. We conclude by describing the current understanding of microbiota-based therapies for stroke including the use of pre-/pro-biotics and supplementations with bacterial metabolites. Ongoing progress in this new frontier of biomedical sciences will lead to an improved understanding of the MGBA's impact on human health and disease.}, } @article {pmid35420439, year = {2022}, author = {Rohkin Shalom, S and Weiss, B and Lalzar, M and Kaltenpoth, M and Chiel, E}, title = {Abundance and Localization of Symbiotic Bacterial Communities in the Fly Parasitoid Spalangia cameroni.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {9}, pages = {e0254921}, pmid = {35420439}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Female ; *Gammaproteobacteria ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; *Rickettsia/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Wasps/microbiology ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Multicellular eukaryotes often host multiple microbial symbionts that may cooperate or compete for host resources, such as space and nutrients. Here, we studied the abundances and localization of four bacterial symbionts, Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Sodalis, and Arsenophonus, in the parasitic wasp Spalangia cameroni. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), we measured the symbionts' titers in wasps that harbor different combinations of these symbionts. We found that the titer of each symbiont decreased as the number of symbiont species in the community increased. Symbionts' titers were higher in females than in males. Rickettsia was the most abundant symbiont in all the communities, followed by Sodalis and Wolbachia. The titers of these three symbionts were positively correlated in some of the colonies. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was in line with the qPCR results: Rickettsia, Wolbachia, and Sodalis were observed in high densities in multiple organs, including brain, muscles, gut, Malpighian tubules, fat body, ovaries, and testes, while Arsenophonus was localized to fewer organs and in lower densities. Sodalis and Arsenophonus were observed in ovarian follicle cells but not within oocytes or laid eggs. This study highlights the connection between symbionts' abundance and localization. We discuss the possible connections between our findings to symbiont transmission success. IMPORTANCE Many insects carry intracellular bacterial symbionts (bacteria that reside within the cells of the insect). When multiple symbiont species cohabit in a host, they may compete or cooperate for space, nutrients, and transmission, and the nature of such interactions would be reflected in the abundance of each symbiont species. Given the widespread occurrence of coinfections with maternally transmitted symbionts in insects, it is important to learn more about how they interact, where they are localized, and how these two aspects affect their co-occurrence within individual insects. Here, we studied the abundance and the localization of four symbionts, Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Sodalis, and Arsenophonus, that cohabit the parasitic wasp Spalangia cameroni. We found that symbionts' titers differed between symbiotic communities. These results were corroborated by microscopy, which shows differential localization patterns. We discuss the findings in the contexts of community ecology, possible symbiont-symbiont interactions, and host control mechanisms that may shape the symbiotic community structure.}, } @article {pmid35419935, year = {2022}, author = {de Souza Buzo, F and Garé, LM and Garcia, NFS and de Andrade da Silva, MSR and da Silva, PHG and de Souza Morita, PR and Correa, JB and Martins, JT and Rigobelo, EC and Nogales, A and Arf, O}, title = {Chemical seed treatment and mycorrhizal inoculation provide better development and nutrition of common bean plants.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {78}, number = {7}, pages = {2985-2994}, doi = {10.1002/ps.6923}, pmid = {35419935}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Nutritional Status ; *Phaseolus ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Thiophanate/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chemical seed treatment is an established practice in agriculture to protect crops from soil-borne pathogens and pests. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) benefit plants by extending soil exploration as well as water and nutrient uptake. The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of combinations of seed treatments with doses of inoculant containing Rhizoglomus intraradices on vegetative development, root colonization and nutrition of Phaseolus vulgaris plants and soil microbiota.

RESULTS: Seed treatment benefited the vegetative development and nutrition of beans, with the treatments metalaxyl + fludioxonil + tiabendazole and pyraclostrobin + thiophanate methyl + fipronil standing out regarding the contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) of the aerial parts. Mycorrhizal inoculation linearly increased dehydrogenase activity, root biomass and total plant biomass, with increments reaching 27%. There was an interaction between seed treatment and inoculation dose for aboveground biomass and the contents of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), manganese (Mn) and root colonization, with expressive results for the combination of the two highest doses of inoculant with metalaxyl + fludioxonil + tiabendazole or pyraclostrobin + methylthiophanate + fipronil in the seeds.

CONCLUSION: Chemical seed treatment and mycorrhizal inoculation benefited bean plants and their nutritional status. The best combinations for the bean crop were metalaxyl + fludioxonil + tiabendazole with 41.4 mg of the inoculant per 100 seeds and pyraclostrobin + thiophanate methyl + fipronil with 62.1 mg of the inoculant per 100 seeds. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid35419869, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Wang, HL and Su, XY and Wang, XF and Yang, M and Bai, JW and Zeng, JY and Li, HP}, title = {Similar gut bacteria composition in Apriona germari on two preferred host plants.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {e21899}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21899}, pmid = {35419869}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Coleoptera/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Larva/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Apriona germari is one of the most serious wood-boring pests that cause damage to economic and landscaping trees and has adapted to a wide range of plants as diet. Gut bacteria play an important role in biology and ecology of herbivores, especially in growth and adaptation. To investigate how plant hosts shape A. germari gut microbiota, A. germari larvae were collected from Populus tomentosa and Malus pumilal, and gut microbiomes were sequenced based on 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 853,424 high-quality reads were obtained and clustered into 196 operational taxonomic units under a 97% similarity cutoff, which were annotated into 8 phyla, 10 classes, 21 orders, 34 families, 59 genera, and 39 species. Gibbsiella was the most dominant genus of intestinal bacteria, followed by Enterobacter and Acinetobacter. No significant difference was observed in larvae gut bacterial richness and diversity of A. germari collected from two hosts, though alpha diversity showed that the richness of gut bacteria in A. germari larvae collected on P. tomentosa was slightly higher than that in A. germari on M. pumilal, and beta diversity showed little difference between two host plants. The functional abundance analysis of the detected bacteria revealed fermentation, chemoheterotrophy, symbionts, and nitrate relative functions that highly possibly support wood-boring beetles to feed on woody tissues. Our study provided a theoretical basis for investigating the function of intestinal symbiosis bacteria of A. germari.}, } @article {pmid35419804, year = {2022}, author = {Huo, H and Zong, L and Liu, Y and Chen, W and Chen, J and Wei, G}, title = {Rhizobial HmuSpSym as a heme-binding factor is required for optimal symbiosis between Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 and Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {7}, pages = {2191-2210}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14335}, pmid = {35419804}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/microbiology ; Fibrinogen/metabolism ; Heme/metabolism ; *Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Robinia/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodules are formed by symbiotic association of legume hosts with rhizobia in nitrogen-deprived soils. Successful symbiosis is regulated by signals from both legume hosts and their rhizobial partners. HmuS is a heme degrading factor widely distributed in bacteria, but little is known about the role of rhizobial hmuS in symbiosis with legumes. Here, we found that inactivation of hmuSpSym in the symbiotic plasmid of Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 disrupted rhizobial infection, primordium formation, and nitrogen fixation in symbiosis with Robinia pseudoacacia. Although there was no difference in bacteroids differentiation, infected plant cells were shrunken and bacteroids were disintegrated in nodules of plants infected by the ΔhmuSpSym mutant strain. The balance of defence reaction was also impaired in ΔhmuSpSym strain-infected root nodules. hmuSpSym was strongly expressed in the nitrogen-fixation zone of mature nodules. Furthermore, the HmuSpSym protein could bind to heme but not degrade it. Inactivation of hmuSpSym led to significantly decreased expression levels of oxygen-sensing related genes in nodules. In summary, hmuSpSym of M. amorphae CCNWGS0123 plays an essential role in nodule development and maintenance of bacteroid survival within R. pseudoacacia cells, possibly through heme-binding in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35419017, year = {2022}, author = {Ho-Plágaro, T and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Multifarious and Interactive Roles of GRAS Transcription Factors During Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {836213}, pmid = {35419017}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a mutualistic symbiotic interaction between plant roots and AM fungi (AMF). This interaction is highly beneficial for plant growth, development and fitness, which has made AM symbiosis the focus of basic and applied research aimed at increasing plant productivity through sustainable agricultural practices. The creation of AM requires host root cells to undergo significant structural and functional modifications. Numerous studies of mycorrhizal plants have shown that extensive transcriptional changes are induced in the host during all stages of colonization. Advances have recently been made in identifying several plant transcription factors (TFs) that play a pivotal role in the transcriptional regulation of AM development, particularly those belonging to the GRAS TF family. There is now sufficient experimental evidence to suggest that GRAS TFs are capable to establish intra and interspecific interactions, forming a transcriptional regulatory complex that controls essential processes in the AM symbiosis. In this minireview, we discuss the integrative role of GRAS TFs in the regulation of the complex genetic re-programming determining AM symbiotic interactions. Particularly, research being done shows the relevance of GRAS TFs in the morphological and developmental changes required for the formation and turnover of arbuscules, the fungal structures where the bidirectional nutrient translocation occurs.}, } @article {pmid35418968, year = {2022}, author = {Chot, E and Reddy, MS}, title = {Role of Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis Behind the Host Plants Ameliorated Tolerance Against Heavy Metal Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {855473}, pmid = {35418968}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil heavy metal (HM) pollution, which arises from natural and anthropogenic sources, is a prime threat to the environment due to its accumulative property and non-biodegradability. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is highly efficient in conferring enhanced metal tolerance to their host plants, enabling their regeneration on metal-contaminated lands for bioremediation programs. Numerous reports are available regarding ECM fungal potential to colonize metal-contaminated lands and various defense mechanisms of ECM fungi and plants against HM stress separately. To utilize ECM-plant symbiosis successfully for bioremediation of metal-contaminated lands, understanding the fundamental regulatory mechanisms through which ECM symbiosis develops an enhanced metal tolerance in their host plants has prime importance. As this field is highly understudied, the present review emphasizes how plant's various defense systems and their nutrient dynamics with soil are affected by ECM fungal symbiosis under metal stress, ultimately leading to their host plants ameliorated tolerance and growth. Overall, we conclude that ECM symbiosis improves the plant growth and tolerance against metal stress by (i) preventing their roots direct exposure to toxic soil HMs, (ii) improving plant antioxidant activity and intracellular metal sequestration potential, and (iii) altering plant nutrient uptake from the soil in such a way to enhance their tolerance against metal stress. In some cases, ECM symbiosis promotes HM accumulation in metal stressed plants simultaneous to improved growth under the HM dilution effect.}, } @article {pmid35418958, year = {2022}, author = {Kosecka, M and Kukwa, M and Jabłońska, A and Flakus, A and Rodriguez-Flakus, P and Ptach, Ł and Guzow-Krzemińska, B}, title = {Phylogeny and Ecology of Trebouxia Photobionts From Bolivian Lichens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {779784}, pmid = {35418958}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the past few years, new phylogenetic lineages in Trebouxia were detected as a result of molecular approaches. These studies included symbiont selectivity in lichen communities, transects along altitudinal gradients at local and global scales and the photobiont diversity in local populations of lichen-forming fungal species. In most of these studies, phylogenetic and haplotype analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) locus have continuously allowed the recognition of new monophyletic lineages, which suggests that still numerous undiscovered Trebouxia lineages can be hidden in lichens from unexplored areas, especially in the tropics. Here, we estimated the biodiversity of photobionts in Bolivian Andean vegetation and assessed their specificity. About 403 lichen samples representing 42 genera, e.g., Haematomma, Heterodermia, Hypotrachyna, Lecanora, Lepra, Leucodermia, Parmotrema, Pertusaria, Polyblastidium, and Usnea, containing Trebouxia photobionts, were analyzed. ITS ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and rbcL markers were used. We obtained Trebouxia sequences from Bolivian samples belonging to already described clades A, C, I, and S. Thirty-nine Trebouxia lineages were distinguished within these clades, while 16 were new. To reveal the structure of the community of Bolivian photobionts and their relationships with mycobionts, the comparative effects of climate, altitude, geographical distances, substrate, and habitat type, as well as functional traits of lichens such as growth forms, propagation mode and secondary metabolites, were analyzed. Furthermore, new Bolivian records were included in analysis on a global scale. In our study, the mycobiont genus or even species are the most important factors correlated with photobiont identity. Moreover, we revealed that the community of Bolivian photobionts is shaped by altitude.}, } @article {pmid35418670, year = {2022}, author = {Titus, BM and Daly, M}, title = {Population genomics for symbiotic anthozoans: can reduced representation approaches be used for taxa without reference genomes?.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {128}, number = {5}, pages = {338-351}, pmid = {35418670}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Animals ; Genome/genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Humans ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Population genetic studies of symbiotic anthozoans have been historically challenging because their endosymbioses with dinoflagellates have impeded marker development. Genomic approaches like reduced representation sequencing alleviate marker development issues but produce anonymous loci, and without a reference genome, it is unknown which organism is contributing to the observed patterns. Alternative methods such as bait-capture sequencing targeting Ultra-Conserved Elements are now possible but costly. Thus, RADseq remains attractive, but how useful are these methods for symbiotic anthozoan taxa without a reference genome to separate anthozoan from algal sequences? We explore this through a case-study using a double-digest RADseq dataset for the sea anemone Bartholomea annulata. We assembled a holobiont dataset (3854 loci) for 101 individuals, then used a reference genome to create an aposymbiotic dataset (1402 loci). For both datasets, we investigated population structure and used coalescent simulations to estimate demography and population parameters. We demonstrate complete overlap in the spatial patterns of genetic diversity, demographic histories, and population parameter estimates for holobiont and aposymbiotic datasets. We hypothesize that the unique combination of anthozoan biology, diversity of the endosymbionts, and the manner in which assembly programs identify orthologous loci alleviates the need for reference genomes in some circumstances. We explore this hypothesis by assembling an additional 21 datasets using the assembly programs pyRAD and Stacks. We conclude that RADseq methods are more tractable for symbiotic anthozoans without reference genomes than previously realized.}, } @article {pmid35418112, year = {2022}, author = {Sarmikasoglou, E and Faciola, AP}, title = {Ruminal bacteria lipopolysaccharides: an immunological and microbial outlook.}, journal = {Journal of animal science and biotechnology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {41}, pmid = {35418112}, issn = {1674-9782}, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria made of three regions: the O-antigen; the core oligosaccharide; and a glucosamine disaccharide linked to hydroxy fatty acids, which is named lipid A. The number phosphate groups, and hydroxy fatty acid chains is associated with the immunopotency and the immunomodulatory activity of LPS, where six-acyl chain lipid A with two phosphate groups is found in virulent strains and five- or four-acyl chain lipid A with one phosphate group are found in non-virulent bacteria strains. Ruminal bacteria are predominantly Gram-negative and their LPS have not been thoroughly investigated. In the rumen, LPS is comprised of mixed ruminal LPS. Drawing upon a body of theoretical and applied work, this paper aims to critically review the scientific literature regarding single-species and mixed ruminal bacteria LPS, highlighting the importance of ruminal LPS to the host. Lastly, future research directions are suggested in order to further our understanding of the roles of LPS in the rumen. Possible suggestions for further understanding ruminal LPS include (1) in silico evaluation of major bacteria contributing to ruminal LPS, (2) structural characterization of LPS from prominent ruminal bacteria species, such as ruminal selenomonads and Megasphaera elsdenii, and, (3) ruminal epithelial tissue immune response evaluation from single-species and mixed ruminal LPS. In conclusion, this review identifies numerous areas for future research, including setting the basis for future modeling and simulation of host microbiome interactions in ruminants.}, } @article {pmid35418028, year = {2022}, author = {Shah, S and Shah, B and Sharma, R and Rekadwad, B and Shouche, YS and Sharma, J and Pant, B}, title = {Colonization with non-mycorrhizal culturable endophytic fungi enhances orchid growth and indole acetic acid production.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {101}, pmid = {35418028}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Alternaria/metabolism ; *Ascomycota/metabolism ; Endophytes ; Fungi/genetics/metabolism ; Hormones/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic associations of endophytic fungi have been proved by possessing an ability to produce hormones and metabolites for their host plant. Members of the Orchidaceae are obligate mycorrhizal species but a non-mycorrhizal association needs more investigation for their ability to promote plant growth and produce plant growth hormones. In the present study, endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of Dendrobium longicornu Lindl., to investigate the root colonizing activity and role in plant growth and development.

RESULTS: Among 23 fungal isolates were identified both by morphological and molecular technique as Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Coniochaeta sp., Alternaria sp., and Cladosporium sp. The dominate species were Coniochaeta sp. and Cladosporium sp. The dominant species as per the isolation was Coniochaeta sp. These fungal strains were screened for growth-promoting activity of Cymbidium aloifolium (plantlet) consider as cross genus interaction and Dendrobium longicornu (protocorms) as a host plant in in-vitro condition. Importantly, Cladosporium sp., and Coniochaeta sp. showed successful colonization and peloton formation with roots of C. aloifolium. Moreover, it also enhanced acclimatization of plantlets. Fungal elicitors from nine fungal isolates enhanced the growth of the in vitro grown protocorms of D. longicornu. Key bioactive compounds detected in the fungal colonized plant extract were 2H-pyran-2-one, Cyclopropanecarboxylic acid, Oleic Acid and d-Mannitol, which may have a potential role in plant-microbe interaction. All fungal endophytes were able to synthesize the indole acetic acid (IAA) in presence of tryptophan. Moreover, fungal extract DLCCR7 treated with DL-tryptophan yielded a greater IAA concentration of 43 μg per ml than the other extracts. The iaaM gene involved in IAA synthesis pathway was amplified using iaaM gene primers successfully from Alternaria sp., Cladosporium sp., and Coniochaeta sp.

CONCLUSIONS: Hence, this study confirms the production of IAA by endophytes and demonstrated their host as well as cross-genus plant growth-promoting potential by producing metabolites required for the growth of the plant.}, } @article {pmid35417184, year = {2022}, author = {Jiao, H and Xu, W and Chen, W and Hu, Y and Tian, R and Wang, Z}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence Data of Bacillus altitudinis LZP02, a Bacterium from the Rice Rhizosphere, for Studying the Promotion of Plant Growth.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {428-431}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-22-0012-A}, pmid = {35417184}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacillus/genetics ; Bacteria ; *Oryza ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; }, } @article {pmid35416764, year = {2022}, author = {Vadillo Gonzalez, S and Clark, GF and Johnston, EL and Turney, CSM and Fogwill, CJ and Steinberg, PD and Marzinelli, EM}, title = {Spatial variation in microbial communities associated with sea-ice algae in Commonwealth Bay, East Antarctica.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001176}, pmid = {35416764}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Bays ; Ecosystem ; Ice Cover ; *Microalgae ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Antarctic sea-ice forms a complex and dynamic system that drives many ecological processes in the Southern Ocean. Sea-ice microalgae and their associated microbial communities are understood to influence nutrient flow and allocation in marine polar environments. Sea-ice microalgae and their microbiota can have high seasonal and regional (>1000 km[2]) compositional and abundance variation, driven by factors modulating their growth, symbiotic interactions and function. In contrast, our knowledge of small-scale variation in these communities is limited. Understanding variation across multiple scales and its potential drivers is critical for informing on how multiple stressors impact sea-ice communities and the functions they provide. Here, we characterized bacterial communities associated with sea-ice microalgae and the potential drivers that influence their variation across a range of spatial scales (metres to >10 kms) in a previously understudied area in Commonwealth Bay, East Antarctica where anomalous events have substantially and rapidly expanded local sea-ice coverage. We found a higher abundance and different composition of bacterial communities living in sea-ice microalgae closer to the shore compared to those further from the coast. Variation in community structure increased linearly with distance between samples. Ice thickness and depth to the seabed were found to be poor predictors of these communities. Further research on the small-scale environmental drivers influencing these communities is needed to fully understand how large-scale regional events can affect local function and ecosystem processes.}, } @article {pmid35416699, year = {2022}, author = {Weisberg, AJ and Rahman, A and Backus, D and Tyavanagimatt, P and Chang, JH and Sachs, JL}, title = {Pangenome Evolution Reconciles Robustness and Instability of Rhizobial Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {e0007422}, pmid = {35416699}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Root nodulating rhizobia are nearly ubiquitous in soils and provide the critical service of nitrogen fixation to thousands of legume species, including staple crops. However, the magnitude of fixed nitrogen provided to hosts varies markedly among rhizobia strains, despite host legumes having mechanisms to selectively reward beneficial strains and to punish ones that do not fix sufficient nitrogen. Variation in the services of microbial mutualists is considered paradoxical given host mechanisms to select beneficial genotypes. Moreover, the recurrent evolution of non-fixing symbiont genotypes is predicted to destabilize symbiosis, but breakdown has rarely been observed. Here, we deconstructed hundreds of genome sequences from genotypically and phenotypically diverse Bradyrhizobium strains and revealed mechanisms that generate variation in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We show that this trait is conferred by a modular system consisting of many extremely large integrative conjugative elements and few conjugative plasmids. Their transmissibility and propensity to reshuffle genes generate new combinations that lead to uncooperative genotypes and make individual partnerships unstable. We also demonstrate that these same properties extend beneficial associations to diverse host species and transfer symbiotic capacity among diverse strains. Hence, symbiotic nitrogen fixation is underpinned by modularity, which engenders flexibility, a feature that reconciles evolutionary robustness and instability. These results provide new insights into mechanisms driving the evolution of mobile genetic elements. Moreover, they yield a new predictive model on the evolution of rhizobial symbioses, one that informs on the health of organisms and ecosystems that are hosts to symbionts and that helps resolve the long-standing paradox. IMPORTANCE Genetic variation is fundamental to evolution yet is paradoxical in symbiosis. Symbionts exhibit extensive variation in the magnitude of services they provide despite hosts having mechanisms to select and increase the abundance of beneficial genotypes. Additionally, evolution of uncooperative symbiont genotypes is predicted to destabilize symbiosis, but breakdown has rarely been observed. We analyzed genome sequences of Bradyrhizobium, bacteria that in symbioses with legume hosts, fix nitrogen, a nutrient essential for ecosystems. We show that genes for symbiotic nitrogen fixation are within elements that can move between bacteria and reshuffle gene combinations that change host range and quality of symbiosis services. Consequently, nitrogen fixation is evolutionarily unstable for individual partnerships, but is evolutionarily stable for legume-Bradyrhizobium symbioses in general. We developed a holistic model of symbiosis evolution that reconciles robustness and instability of symbiosis and informs on applications of rhizobia in agricultural settings.}, } @article {pmid35416244, year = {2022}, author = {Zaw, M and Rathjen, JR and Zhou, Y and Ryder, MH and Denton, MD}, title = {Rhizobial diversity is associated with inoculation history at a two-continent scale.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35416244}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Australia ; *Cicer ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; *Mesorhizobium ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A total of 120 Mesorhizobium strains collected from the central dry zone of Myanmar were analyzed in a pot experiment to evaluate nodulation and symbiotic effectiveness (SE%) in chickpea plants. Phylogenetic analyses revealed all strains belonged to the genus Mesorhizobium according to 16-23S rDNA IGS and the majority of chickpea nodulating rhizobia in Myanmar soils were most closely related to M. gobiense, M. muleiense, M. silamurunense, M. tamadayense and M. temperatum. Around two-thirds of the Myanmar strains (68%) were most closely related to Indian strain IC-2058 (CA-181), which is also most closely related to M. gobiense. There were no strains that were closely related to the cognate rhizobial species to nodulate chickpea: M. ciceri and M. mediterraneum. Strains with diverse 16S-23S rDNA IGS shared similar nodC and nifH gene sequences with chickpea symbionts. Detailed sequence analysis of nodC and nifH found that the strains in Myanmar were somewhat divergent from the group including M. ciceri and were more closely related to M. muleiense and IC-2058. A cross-continent analysis between strains isolated in Australia compared with Myanmar found that there was little overlap in species, where Australian soils were dominated with M. ciceri, M. temperatum and M. huakuii. The only co-occurring species found in both Myanmar and Australia were M. tamadayense and M. silumurunense. Continued inoculation with CC1192 may have reduced diversity of chickpea strains in Australian soils. Isolated strains in Australian and Myanmar had similar adaptive traits, which in some cases were also phylogenetically related. The genetic discrepancy between chickpea nodulating strains in Australia and Myanmar is not only due to inoculation history but to adaptation to soil conditions and crop management over a long period, and there has been virtually no loss of symbiotic efficiency over this time in strains isolated from soils in Myanmar.}, } @article {pmid35414717, year = {2022}, author = {Nett, RS and Bender, KS and Peters, RJ}, title = {Production of the plant hormone gibberellin by rhizobia increases host legume nodule size.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {1809-1817}, pmid = {35414717}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {R35 GM131885/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-associated microbes have evolved the ability to independently produce gibberellin (GA) phytohormones as a mechanism to influence their host. Indeed, GA was first discovered as a metabolite from the fungal rice pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi, which uses it as a virulence factor. Though some bacterial plant pathogens similarly use GA to promote infection, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia), which inhabit the root nodules of legumes, also can produce GA, suggesting a role in symbiosis. The bacterial GA biosynthetic operon has been identified, but in rhizobia this typically no longer encodes the final metabolic gene (cyp115), so that these symbionts can only produce the penultimate intermediate GA9. Here, we demonstrate that soybean (Glycine max) expresses functional GA 3-oxidases (GA3ox) within its nodules, which have the capability to convert GA9 produced by the enclosed rhizobial symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens to bioactive GA4. This rhizobia-derived GA is demonstrated to cause an increase in nodule size and decrease in the number of nodules. The increase in individual nodule size correlates to greater numbers of bacterial progeny within a nodule, thereby providing a selective advantage to rhizobia that produce GA during the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. The expression of GA3ox in nodules and resultant nodulation effects of the GA product suggests that soybean has co-opted control of bioactive GA production, and thus nodule size, for its own benefit. Thus, our results suggest rhizobial GA biosynthesis has coevolved with host plant metabolism for cooperative production of a phytohormone that influences nodulation in a mutually beneficial manner.}, } @article {pmid35413336, year = {2022}, author = {Pinto, CPG and Walker, AA and Robinson, SD and King, GF and Rossi, GD}, title = {Proteotranscriptomics reveals the secretory dynamics of teratocytes, regulators of parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {139}, number = {}, pages = {104395}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104395}, pmid = {35413336}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemocytes ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva ; *Moths ; *Polydnaviridae ; *Wasps/physiology ; }, abstract = {Parasitoid wasps have evolved sophisticated mechanisms of host regulation that establish a favorable environment for the development of immature parasitoids. While maternal venom and symbiotic virus-like particles are well-known mechanisms of host regulation, another less-studied mechanism is the secretion of host regulation factors by cells called teratocytes, extra-embryonic cells released during parasitoid larval eclosion. Consequently, identification and characterization of teratocyte secretory products has not been reported in detail for any parasitoid wasp. We aimed to analyze teratocyte secretory products released into hemolymph of the larval sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by its biological control agent, the koinobiont endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes Cameron, 1891 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Teratocytes were released upon eclosion of parasitoid larvae four days after parasitization (DAP) and increased in number and size until six DAP. Total D. saccharalis hemocyte viability was reduced immediately after parasitization until DAP 2, while total hemocyte count was lower from the third DAP, and phenoloxidase and lysozyme activity were disrupted compared to non-parasitized controls. To examine the secretory products of teratocytes, we generated a teratocyte transcriptome and compared its in silico translated open reading frames to mass spectra obtained from hemolymph from parasitized and unparasitized hosts. This led to the identification of 57 polypeptides secreted by teratocytes, the abundance of which we tracked over 0-10 DAP. Abundant teratocyte products included proteins similar to bracovirus proteins and multiple disulfide-rich peptides. Most teratocyte products accumulated in hemolymph, reaching their highest concentrations immediately before parasitoid pupation. Our results provide insights into host regulation by teratocytes and reveal molecules that may be useful in biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid35413115, year = {2022}, author = {Xuan, W and Hsu, WH and Khan, F and Dunterman, M and Pang, L and Wainwright, DA and Ahmed, AU and Heimberger, AB and Lesniak, MS and Chen, P}, title = {Circadian Regulator CLOCK Drives Immunosuppression in Glioblastoma.}, journal = {Cancer immunology research}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {770-784}, pmid = {35413115}, issn = {2326-6074}, support = {K02 AG068617/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA221747/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; *Brain Neoplasms/genetics ; CLOCK Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; *Glioblastoma/drug therapy/genetics ; Glycoproteins/genetics/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interactions between cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical for tumor progression. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this symbiosis in glioblastoma (GBM) remains enigmatic. Here, we show that circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) and its heterodimeric partner brain and muscle ARNT-like 1 (BMAL1) in glioma stem cells (GSC) drive immunosuppression in GBM. Integrated analyses of the data from transcriptome profiling, single-cell RNA sequencing, and TCGA datasets, coupled with functional studies, identified legumain (LGMN) as a direct transcriptional target of the CLOCK-BMAL1 complex in GSCs. Moreover, CLOCK-directed olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) upregulates LGMN in GSCs via hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1α) signaling. Consequently, LGMN promotes microglial infiltration into the GBM TME via upregulating CD162 and polarizes infiltrating microglia toward an immune-suppressive phenotype. In GBM mouse models, inhibition of the CLOCK-OLFML3-HIF1α-LGMN-CD162 axis reduces intratumoral immune-suppressive microglia, increases CD8+ T-cell infiltration, activation, and cytotoxicity, and synergizes with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1 therapy). In human GBM, the CLOCK-regulated LGMN signaling correlates positively with microglial abundance and poor prognosis. Together, these findings uncover the CLOCK-OLFML3-HIF1α-LGMN axis as a molecular switch that controls microglial biology and immunosuppression, thus revealing potential new therapeutic targets for patients with GBM.}, } @article {pmid35413060, year = {2022}, author = {Vandepol, N and Liber, J and Yocca, A and Matlock, J and Edger, P and Bonito, G}, title = {Linnemannia elongata (Mortierellaceae) stimulates Arabidopsis thaliana aerial growth and responses to auxin, ethylene, and reactive oxygen species.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {e0261908}, pmid = {35413060}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; *Burkholderia/genetics ; Ethylenes ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Harnessing the plant microbiome has the potential to improve agricultural yields and protect plants against pathogens and/or abiotic stresses, while also relieving economic and environmental costs of crop production. While previous studies have gained valuable insights into the underlying genetics facilitating plant-fungal interactions, these have largely been skewed towards certain fungal clades (e.g. arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi). Several different phyla of fungi have been shown to positively impact plant growth rates, including Mortierellaceae fungi. However, the extent of the plant growth promotion (PGP) phenotype(s), their underlying mechanism(s), and the impact of bacterial endosymbionts on fungal-plant interactions remain poorly understood for Mortierellaceae. In this study, we focused on the symbiosis between soil fungus Linnemannia elongata (Mortierellaceae) and Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae), as both organisms have high-quality reference genomes and transcriptomes available, and their lifestyles and growth requirements are conducive to research conditions. Further, L. elongata can host bacterial endosymbionts related to Mollicutes and Burkholderia. The role of these endobacteria on facilitating fungal-plant associations, including potentially further promoting plant growth, remains completely unexplored. We measured Arabidopsis aerial growth at early and late life stages, seed production, and used mRNA sequencing to characterize differentially expressed plant genes in response to fungal inoculation with and without bacterial endosymbionts. We found that L. elongata improved aerial plant growth, seed mass and altered the plant transcriptome, including the upregulation of genes involved in plant hormones and "response to oxidative stress", "defense response to bacterium", and "defense response to fungus". Furthermore, the expression of genes in certain phytohormone biosynthetic pathways were found to be modified in plants treated with L. elongata. Notably, the presence of Mollicutes- or Burkholderia-related endosymbionts in Linnemannia did not impact the expression of genes in Arabidopsis or overall growth rates. Together, these results indicate that beneficial plant growth promotion and seed mass impacts of L. elongata on Arabidopsis are likely driven by plant hormone and defense transcription responses after plant-fungal contact, and that plant phenotypic and transcriptional responses are independent of whether the fungal symbiont is colonized by Mollicutes or Burkholderia-related endohyphal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35413017, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, S and Morgan, X and Dogan, B and Martin, FP and Strickler, S and Oka, A and Herzog, J and Liu, B and Dowd, SE and Huttenhower, C and Pichaud, M and Dogan, EI and Satsangi, J and Longman, R and Yantiss, R and Mueller, LA and Scherl, EJ and Sartor, RB and Simpson, KW}, title = {Mucosal metabolites fuel the growth and virulence of E. coli linked to Crohn's disease.}, journal = {JCI insight}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {35413017}, issn = {2379-3708}, support = {P01 DK094779/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P40 OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK114252/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion ; *Crohn Disease/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Escherichia coli Infections/metabolism ; Ethanolamines/metabolism ; Health Promotion ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Mice ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Elucidating how resident enteric bacteria interact with their hosts to promote health or inflammation is of central importance to diarrheal and inflammatory bowel diseases across species. Here, we integrated the microbial and chemical microenvironment of a patient's ileal mucosa with their clinical phenotype and genotype to identify factors favoring the growth and virulence of adherent and invasive E. coli (AIEC) linked to Crohn's disease. We determined that the ileal niche of AIEC was characterized by inflammation, dysbiosis, coculture of Enterococcus, and oxidative stress. We discovered that mucosal metabolites supported general growth of ileal E. coli, with a selective effect of ethanolamine on AIEC that was augmented by cometabolism of ileitis-associated amino acids and glutathione and by symbiosis-associated fucose. This metabolic plasticity was facilitated by the eut and pdu microcompartments, amino acid metabolism, γ-glutamyl-cycle, and pleiotropic stress responses. We linked metabolism to virulence and found that ethanolamine and glutamine enhanced AIEC motility, infectivity, and proinflammatory responses in vitro. We connected use of ethanolamine to intestinal inflammation and L-fuculose phosphate aldolase (fucA) to symbiosis in AIEC monoassociated IL10-/- mice. Collectively, we established that AIEC were pathoadapted to utilize mucosal metabolites associated with health and inflammation for growth and virulence, enabling the transition from symbiont to pathogen in a susceptible host.}, } @article {pmid35412890, year = {2022}, author = {Haskett, TL and Paramasivan, P and Mendes, MD and Green, P and Geddes, BA and Knights, HE and Jorrin, B and Ryu, MH and Brett, P and Voigt, CA and Oldroyd, GED and Poole, PS}, title = {Engineered plant control of associative nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {16}, pages = {e2117465119}, pmid = {35412890}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/T006722/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/T001801/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Azorhizobium caulinodans/enzymology/genetics ; *Edible Grain/microbiology ; *Hordeum/microbiology ; Inositol/analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Engineering N2-fixing symbioses between cereals and diazotrophic bacteria represents a promising strategy to sustainably deliver biologically fixed nitrogen (N) in agriculture. We previously developed novel transkingdom signaling between plants and bacteria, through plant production of the bacterial signal rhizopine, allowing control of bacterial gene expression in association with the plant. Here, we have developed both a homozygous rhizopine producing (RhiP) barley line and a hybrid rhizopine uptake system that conveys upon our model bacterium Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 (Ac) 103-fold improved sensitivity for rhizopine perception. Using this improved genetic circuitry, we established tight rhizopine-dependent transcriptional control of the nitrogenase master regulator nifA and the N metabolism σ-factor rpoN, which drove nitrogenase expression and activity in vitro and in situ by bacteria colonizing RhiP barley roots. Although in situ nitrogenase activity was suboptimally effective relative to the wild-type strain, activation was specific to RhiP barley and was not observed on the roots of wild-type plants. This work represents a key milestone toward the development of a synthetic plant-controlled symbiosis in which the bacteria fix N2 only when in contact with the desired host plant and are prevented from interaction with nontarget plant species.}, } @article {pmid35412888, year = {2022}, author = {Coffman, KA and Hankinson, QM and Burke, GR}, title = {A viral mutualist employs posthatch transmission for vertical and horizontal spread among parasitoid wasps.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {16}, pages = {e2120048119}, pmid = {35412888}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Entomopoxvirinae/physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; *Tephritidae/virology ; *Wasps/genetics/virology ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbionts display a wide variety of transmission strategies to travel from one insect generation to the next. Parasitoid wasps, one of the most diverse insect groups, maintain several heritable associations with viruses that are beneficial for wasp survival during their development as parasites of other insects. Most of these beneficial viral entities are strictly transmitted through the wasp germline as endogenous viral elements within wasp genomes. However, a beneficial poxvirus inherited by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata wasps, known as Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV), is not integrated into the wasp genome and therefore may employ different tactics to infect future wasp generations. Here, we demonstrated that transmission of DlEPV is primarily dependent on parasitoid wasps, since viral transmission within fruit fly hosts of the wasps was limited to injection of the virus directly into the larval fly body cavity. Additionally, we uncovered a previously undocumented form of posthatch transmission for a mutualistic virus that entails external acquisition and localization of the virus within the adult wasp venom gland. We showed that this route is extremely effective for vertical and horizontal transmission of the virus within D. longicaudata wasps. Furthermore, the beneficial phenotype provided by DlEPV during parasitism was also transmitted with perfect efficiency, indicating an effective mode of symbiont spread to the advantage of infected wasps. These results provide insight into the transmission of beneficial viruses among insects and indicate that viruses can share features with cellular microbes during their evolutionary transitions into symbionts.}, } @article {pmid35411947, year = {2022}, author = {Ding, C and Yu, D and Chen, Y and Zhu, J and Wu, J and Du, X and Wang, X}, title = {Analysis of the mechanism of saponin biotransformation in Dioscoreae nipponicae rhizoma by the endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. C39 using whole-genome sequencing.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {5}, pages = {623-633}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202100664}, pmid = {35411947}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Biotransformation ; *Dioscorea ; Fungi/genetics ; *Fusarium/genetics ; Glycolipids ; *Saponins ; }, abstract = {Fusarium sp. C39 is an endophytic fungus of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. Symbiosis of Fusarium sp. C39 with Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (RDN) can significantly increase the content of saponin, which provides a new approach for saponin production and reduces the pressure on natural sources of saponins. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear, limiting its application. In this study, the genome of Fusarium sp. C39 was sequenced, the gene functions were predicted via gene annotation, and the genome was compared to the genomes of four related species. Fusarium sp. C39 is predicted to encode many key enzyme genes involved in saponin synthesis, which could transform the mevalonate, isopentenyl pyrophosphate, and various intermediate compounds present in the RDN extract into saponins. The Fusarium sp. C39 genome contains specific genes that are conducive to its endophytic lifestyle and can provide abundant raw materials for saponin synthesis. Based on the genomic analysis, we proposed the mechanism by which Fusarium sp. C39 generates saponins and provides a theoretical basis for rapid, efficient, low-cost production of saponins.}, } @article {pmid35411254, year = {2022}, author = {González-Acosta, B and Barraza, A and Guadarrama-Analco, C and Hernández-Guerrero, CJ and Martínez-Díaz, SF and Cardona-Félix, CS and Aguila-Ramírez, RN}, title = {Depth effect on the prokaryotic community assemblage associated with sponges from different rocky reefs.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13133}, pmid = {35411254}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera ; Mexico ; Biodiversity ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Acidobacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sponge microbiomes are essential for the function and survival of their host and produce biologically active metabolites, therefore, they are ideal candidates for ecological, pharmacologic and clinical research. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revealed that many factors, including the environment and host, determine the composition and structure of these symbiotic communities but the controls of this variation are not well described. This study assessed the microbial communities associated with two marine sponges of the genera Aplysina (Nardo, 1834) and Ircinia (Nardo, 1833) in rocky reefs from Punta Arena de la Ventana (Gulf of California) and Pichilingue (La Paz Bay) in the coast of Baja California Sur, México to determine the relative importance of environment and host in structuring the microbiome of sponges.

METHODS: Specimens of Aplysina sp were collected by scuba diving at 10 m and 2 m; Ircinia sp samples were collected at 2 m. DNA of sponge-associated prokaryotes was extracted from 1 cm[3] of tissue, purified and sent for 16S amplicon sequencing. Primer trimmed pair-ended microbial 16S rDNA gene sequences were merged using Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) Paired-end Reads Assembler. Chao1, Shannon and Simpson (alpha) biodiversity indices were estimated, as well permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), and Bray-Curtis distances.

RESULTS: The most abundant phyla differed between hosts. Those phyla were: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetes. In Ircinia sp the dominant phylum was Acidobacteria. Depth was the main factor influencing the microbial community, as analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed a significant difference between the microbial communities from different depths.

CONCLUSION: Microbial diversity analysis showed that depth was more important than host in structuring the Aplysina sp and Ircinia sp microbiome. This observation contrast with previous reports that the sponge microbiome is highly host specific.}, } @article {pmid35410135, year = {2022}, author = {Liang, Y and Pan, F and Jiang, Z and Li, Q and Pu, J and Liu, K}, title = {Accumulation in nutrient acquisition strategies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots in poor and heterogeneous soils of karst shrub ecosystems.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {188}, pmid = {35410135}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and roots play important roles in plant nutrient acquisition, especially in nutrient poor and heterogeneous soils. However, whether an accumulation strategy of AM fungi and root exists in such soils of karst shrubland ecosystems remains unclear. Root traits related to nutrient acquisition (root biomass, AM colonisation, root acid phosphatase activity and N2 fixation) were measured in two N2-fixing plants (i.e. Albizia odoratissima (Linn. f.) Benth. and Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp.) that were grown in heterogeneous or homogeneous nutrient (ammonium) soil with and without AM fungi inoculation.

RESULTS: Both of these plants had higher AM colonisation, root biomass and relative growth rate (RGR), but lower N2 fixation and root acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere in the heterogeneous soil environment, than that in the homogeneous soil environment. Plants grown in the AM fungi-inoculated heterogeneous soil environment had increased root biomass and root acid phosphatase activity compared with those grown in soil without inoculation. AM colonisation was negatively correlated with the N2 fixation rate of A. odoratissima, while it was not significantly correlated with the root phosphatase activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that enhanced AM symbiosis and root biomass increased the absorptive surfaces for nutrient acquisition, highlighting the accumulation strategies of AM and root traits for plant nutrient acquisition in nutrient poor and heterogeneous soils of the karst shrubland ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid35409100, year = {2022}, author = {Pipes, BL and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Nocturnal Acidification: A Coordinating Cue in the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35409100}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {NASA EXO-80NSSC21K0256/NASA/NASA/United States ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri ; Animals ; Cues ; Decapodiformes ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Vibrio fischeri-Euprymna scolopes symbiosis has become a powerful model for the study of specificity, initiation, and maintenance between beneficial bacteria and their eukaryotic partner. In this invertebrate model system, the bacterial symbionts are acquired every generation from the surrounding seawater by newly hatched squid. These symbionts colonize a specialized internal structure called the light organ, which they inhabit for the remainder of the host's lifetime. The V. fischeri population grows and ebbs following a diel cycle, with high cell densities at night producing bioluminescence that helps the host avoid predation during its nocturnal activities. Rhythmic timing of the growth of the symbionts and their production of bioluminescence only at night is critical for maintaining the symbiosis. V. fischeri symbionts detect their population densities through a behavior termed quorum-sensing, where they secrete and detect concentrations of autoinducer molecules at high cell density when nocturnal production of bioluminescence begins. In this review, we discuss events that lead up to the nocturnal acidification of the light organ and the cues used for pre-adaptive behaviors that both host and symbiont have evolved. This host-bacterium cross talk is used to coordinate networks of regulatory signals (such as quorum-sensing and bioluminescence) that eventually provide a unique yet stable environment for V. fischeri to thrive and be maintained throughout its life history as a successful partner in this dynamic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35408769, year = {2022}, author = {de Sá, JDM and Kumla, D and Dethoup, T and Kijjoa, A}, title = {Bioactive Compounds from Terrestrial and Marine-Derived Fungi of the Genus Neosartorya †.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {35408769}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Aspergillus/chemistry ; *Biological Products/chemistry ; Fungi/metabolism ; *Neosartorya/metabolism ; *Polyketides/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Fungi comprise the second most species-rich organism group after that of insects. Recent estimates hypothesized that the currently reported fungal species range from 3.5 to 5.1 million types worldwide. Fungi can grow in a wide range of habitats, from the desert to the depths of the sea. Most develop in terrestrial environments, but several species live only in aquatic habitats, and some live in symbiotic relationships with plants, animals, or other fungi. Fungi have been proved to be a rich source of biologically active natural products, some of which are clinically important drugs such as the β-lactam antibiotics, penicillin and cephalosporin, the immunosuppressant, cyclosporine, and the cholesterol-lowering drugs, compactin and lovastatin. Given the estimates of fungal biodiversity, it is easy to perceive that only a small fraction of fungi worldwide have ever been investigated regarding the production of biologically valuable compounds. Traditionally, fungi are classified primarily based on the structures associated with sexual reproduction. Thus, the genus Neosartorya (Family Trichocomaceae) is the telemorphic (sexual state) of the Aspergillus section known as Fumigati, which produces both a sexual state with ascospores and an asexual state with conidiospores, while the Aspergillus species produces only conidiospores. However, according to the Melbourne Code of nomenclature, only the genus name Aspergillus is to be used for both sexual and asexual states. Consequently, the genus name Neosartorya was no longer to be used after 1 January 2013. Nevertheless, the genus name Neosartorya is still used for the fungi that had already been taxonomically classified before the new rule was in force. Another aspect is that despite the small number of species (23 species) in the genus Neosartorya, and although less than half of them have been investigated chemically, the chemical diversity of this genus is impressive. Many chemical classes of compounds, some of which have unique scaffolds, such as indole alkaloids, peptides, meroterpenes, and polyketides, have been reported from its terrestrial, marine-derived, and endophytic species. Though the biological and pharmacological activities of a small fraction of the isolated metabolites have been investigated due to the available assay systems, they exhibited relevant biological and pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiplasmodial, lipid-lowering, and enzyme-inhibitory activities.}, } @article {pmid35405235, year = {2022}, author = {Makete, N and Rizzu, M and Seddaiu, G and Gohole, L and Otinga, A}, title = {Fluoride toxicity in cropping systems: Mitigation, adaptation strategies and related mechanisms. A review.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {833}, number = {}, pages = {155129}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155129}, pmid = {35405235}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Crops, Agricultural ; Environmental Pollution/prevention & control ; Fluorides/toxicity ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Environmental fluoride (F[-]) contamination, mainly due to natural geogenic processes, and in spot cases also of anthropogenic origin, is a widespread global issue, which has been recognized to affect all living organisms. From the contaminated soil and water, F[-] is absorbed by plants which can manifest symptoms of abiotic stress including oxidative stress and interference with essential physiological and biochemical processes involved in seed germination and plant growth and development. Depending on the diet of the population living in the high F-polluted areas, F-contaminated crops can be key contributors to excessive F[-] intake along food chains which can lead to human and animal health issues. Various strategies are being explored with the objective of reducing both F[-] bioaccumulation and its damage on plants (e.g. by means of immobilization or phytoextraction processes) or aimed at limiting the F[-] anthropogenic input in the soil (e.g. through the use of alternative phosphate fertilizers) but the literature is still fragmented. After a brief overview on the effects of F[-] on the production and safety of food crops, its sources, mobility and bioavailability in agricultural soils, this paper reviews the available F[-] mitigation and adaptation options and the involved mechanisms with the aim of providing stakeholders with knowledge to make informed decisions when selecting methods for coping with F[-] impacts in agricultural systems. Research gaps and possible areas for future studies have also been suggested.}, } @article {pmid35404419, year = {2022}, author = {Adjei, JA and Aserse, AA and Yli-Halla, M and Ahiabor, BDK and Abaidoo, RC and Lindstrom, K}, title = {Phylogenetically diverse Bradyrhizobium genospecies nodulate Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) in the northern savanna zones of Ghana.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35404419}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Ghana ; Grassland ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Vigna/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A total of 102 bacterial strains isolated from nodules of three Bambara groundnut and one soybean cultivars grown in nineteen soil samples collected from northern Ghana were characterized using multilocus gene sequence analysis. Based on a concatenated sequence analysis (glnII-rpoB-recA-gyrB-atpD-dnaK), 54 representative strains were distributed in 12 distinct lineages, many of which were placed mainly in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii supergroups. Twenty-four of the 54 representative strains belonged to seven putative novel species, while 30 were conspecific with four recognized Bradyrhizobium species. The nodA phylogeny placed all the representative strains in the cosmopolitan nodA clade III. The strains were further separated in seven nodA subclusters with reference strains mainly of African origin. The nifH phylogeny was somewhat congruent with the nodA phylogeny, but both symbiotic genes were mostly incongruent with the core housekeeping gene phylogeny indicating that the strains acquired their symbiotic genes horizontally from distantly related Bradyrhizobium species. Using redundancy analysis, the distribution of genospecies was found to be influenced by the edaphic factors of the respective sampling sites. In general, these results mainly underscore the high genetic diversity of Bambara groundnut-nodulating bradyrhizobia in Ghanaian soils and suggest a possible vast resource of adapted inoculant strains.}, } @article {pmid35404220, year = {2022}, author = {Patrick, S}, title = {A tale of two habitats: Bacteroides fragilis, a lethal pathogen and resident in the human gastrointestinal microbiome.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001156}, pmid = {35404220}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {*Bacterial Infections ; Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteroides fragilis is an obligately anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium and a major colonizer of the human large colon where Bacteroides is a predominant genus. During the growth of an individual clonal population, an astonishing number of reversible DNA inversion events occur, driving within-strain diversity. Additionally, the B. fragilis pan-genome contains a large pool of diverse polysaccharide biosynthesis loci, DNA restriction/modification systems and polysaccharide utilization loci, which generates remarkable between-strain diversity. Diversity clearly contributes to the success of B. fragilis within its normal habitat of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and during infection in the extra-intestinal host environment. Within the GI tract, B. fragilis is usually symbiotic, for example providing localized nutrients for the gut epithelium, but B. fragilis within the GI tract may not always be benign. Metalloprotease toxin production is strongly associated with colorectal cancer. B. fragilis is unique amongst bacteria; some strains export a protein >99 % structurally similar to human ubiquitin and antigenically cross-reactive, which suggests a link to autoimmune diseases. B. fragilis is not a primary invasive enteric pathogen; however, if colonic contents contaminate the extra-intestinal host environment, it successfully adapts to this new habitat and causes infection; classically peritoneal infection arising from rupture of an inflamed appendix or GI surgery, which if untreated, can progress to bacteraemia and death. In this review selected aspects of B. fragilis adaptation to the different habitats of the GI tract and the extra-intestinal host environment are considered, along with the considerable challenges faced when studying this highly variable bacterium.}, } @article {pmid35404117, year = {2022}, author = {Speare, L and Woo, M and Dunn, AK and Septer, AN}, title = {A Putative Lipoprotein Mediates Cell-Cell Contact for Type VI Secretion System-Dependent Killing of Specific Competitors.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0308521}, pmid = {35404117}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Lipoproteins/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Interbacterial competition is prevalent in host-associated microbiota, where it can shape community structure and function, impacting host health in both positive and negative ways. However, the factors that permit bacteria to discriminate among their various neighbors for targeted elimination of competitors remain elusive. We identified a putative lipoprotein (TasL) in Vibrio species that mediates cell-cell attachment with a subset of target strains, allowing inhibitors to target specific competitors for elimination. Here, we describe this putative lipoprotein, which is associated with the broadly distributed type VI secretion system (T6SS), by studying symbiotic Vibrio fischeri, which uses the T6SS to compete for colonization sites in their squid host. We demonstrate that TasL allows V. fischeri cells to restrict T6SS-dependent killing to certain genotypes by selectively integrating competitor cells into aggregates while excluding other cell types. TasL is also required for T6SS-dependent competition within juvenile squid, indicating that the adhesion factor is active in the host. Because TasL homologs are found in other host-associated bacterial species, this newly described cell-cell attachment mechanism has the potential to impact microbiome structure within diverse hosts. IMPORTANCE T6SSs are broadly distributed interbacterial weapons that share an evolutionary history with bacteriophage. Because the T6SS can be used to kill neighboring cells, it can impact the spatial distribution and biological function of both free-living and host-associated microbial communities. Like their phage relatives, T6SS[+] cells must sufficiently bind competitor cells to deliver their toxic effector proteins through the syringe-like apparatus. Although phage use receptor-binding proteins (RBPs) and tail fibers to selectively bind prey cells, the biophysical properties that mediate this cell-cell contact for T6SS-mediated killing remain unknown. Here, we identified a large, predicted lipoprotein that is coordinately expressed with T6SS proteins and facilitates the contact that is necessary for the T6SS-dependent elimination of competitors in a natural host. Similar to phage RBPs and tail fibers, this lipoprotein is required for T6SS[+] cells to discriminate between prey and nonprey cell types, revealing new insight into prey selection during T6SS-mediated competition.}, } @article {pmid35404070, year = {2022}, author = {Methou, P and Hikosaka, M and Chen, C and Watanabe, HK and Miyamoto, N and Makita, H and Takahashi, Y and Jenkins, RG}, title = {Symbiont Community Composition in Rimicaris kairei Shrimps from Indian Ocean Vents with Notes on Mineralogy.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {8}, pages = {e0018522}, pmid = {35404070}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Decapoda/microbiology ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Indian Ocean ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hydrothermal vent ecosystems are home to a wide array of symbioses between animals and chemosynthetic microbes, among which shrimps in the genus Rimicaris is one of the most iconic. So far, studies of Rimicaris symbioses have been restricted to Atlantic species, including Rimicaris exoculata, which is totally reliant on the symbionts for nutrition, and the mixotrophic species Rimicaris chacei. Here, we expand this by investigating and characterizing the symbiosis of the Indian Ocean species Rimicaris kairei using specimens from two vent fields, Kairei and Edmond. We also aimed to evaluate the differences in mineralogy and microbial communities between two cephalothorax color morphs, black and brown, through a combination of 16S metabarcoding, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and synchrotron near-edge X-ray absorption structure analyses. Overall, our results highlight that R. kairei exhibits similar symbiont lineages to those of its Atlantic congeners, although with a few differences, such as the lack of Zetaproteobacteria. We found distinct mineralization processes behind the two color morphs that were linked to differences in the vent fluid composition, but the symbiotic community composition was surprisingly similar. In R. exoculata, such mineralogical differences have been shown to stem from disparity in the microbial communities, but our results indicate that in R. kairei this is instead due to the shift of dominant metabolisms by the same symbiotic partners. We suggest that a combination of local environmental factors and biogeographic barriers likely contribute to the differences between Atlantic and Indian Ocean Rimicaris symbioses. IMPORTANCE Hydrothermal vent shrimps in the genus Rimicaris are among the most charismatic deep-sea animals of Atlantic and Indian Oceans, often occurring on towering black smokers in dense aggregates of thousands of individuals. Although this dominance is only possible because of symbiosis, no study on the symbiosis of Indian Ocean Rimicaris species has been conducted. Here, we characterize the Rimicaris kairei symbiosis by combining molecular, microscopic, and elemental analyses, making comparisons with those of the Atlantic species possible for the first time. Although most symbiotic partners remained consistent across the two oceans, some differences were recognized in symbiont lineages, as well as in the mechanisms behind the formation of two color morphs with distinct mineralogies. Our results shed new light on relationships among mineralogy, environmental factors, and microbial communities that are useful for understanding other deep-sea symbioses in the future.}, } @article {pmid35403785, year = {2022}, author = {Krumbholz, J and Ishida, K and Baunach, M and Teikari, JE and Rose, MM and Sasso, S and Hertweck, C and Dittmann, E}, title = {Deciphering Chemical Mediators Regulating Specialized Metabolism in a Symbiotic Cyanobacterium.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {61}, number = {26}, pages = {e202204545}, pmid = {35403785}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Multigene Family ; *Nostoc/genetics ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genomes of cyanobacteria feature a variety of cryptic biosynthetic pathways for complex natural products, but the peculiarities limiting the discovery and exploitation of the metabolic dark matter are not well understood. Here we describe the discovery of two cell density-dependent chemical mediators, nostoclide and nostovalerolactone, in the symbiotic model strain Nostoc punctiforme, and demonstrate their pronounced impact on the regulation of specialized metabolism. Through transcriptional, bioinformatic and labeling studies we assigned two adjacent biosynthetic gene clusters to the biosynthesis of the two polyketide mediators. Our findings provide insight into the orchestration of specialized metabolite production and give lessons for the genomic mining and high-titer production of cyanobacterial bioactive compounds.}, } @article {pmid35402511, year = {2022}, author = {Benler, S and Koonin, EV}, title = {Recruitment of Mobile Genetic Elements for Diverse Cellular Functions in Prokaryotes.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {821197}, pmid = {35402511}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Prokaryotic genomes are replete with mobile genetic elements (MGE) that span a continuum of replication autonomy. On numerous occasions during microbial evolution, diverse MGE lose their autonomy altogether but, rather than being quickly purged from the host genome, assume a new function that benefits the host, rendering the immobilized MGE subject to purifying selection, and resulting in its vertical inheritance. This mini-review highlights the diversity of the repurposed (exapted) MGE as well as the plethora of cellular functions that they perform. The principal contribution of the exaptation of MGE and their components is to the prokaryotic functional systems involved in biological conflicts, and in particular, defense against viruses and other MGE. This evolutionary entanglement between MGE and defense systems appears to stem both from mechanistic similarities and from similar evolutionary predicaments whereby both MGEs and defense systems tend to incur fitness costs to the hosts and thereby evolve mechanisms for survival including horizontal mobility, causing host addiction, and exaptation for functions beneficial to the host. The examples discussed demonstrate that the identity of an MGE, overall mobility and relationship with the host cell (mutualistic, symbiotic, commensal, or parasitic) are all factors that affect exaptation.}, } @article {pmid35401641, year = {2022}, author = {Tamayo, E and Figueira-Galán, D and Manck-Götzenberger, J and Requena, N}, title = {Overexpression of the Potato Monosaccharide Transporter StSWEET7a Promotes Root Colonization by Symbiotic and Pathogenic Fungi by Increasing Root Sink Strength.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {837231}, pmid = {35401641}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root colonization by filamentous fungi modifies sugar partitioning in plants by increasing the sink strength. As a result, a transcriptional reprogramming of sugar transporters takes place. Here we have further advanced in the characterization of the potato SWEET sugar transporters and their regulation in response to the colonization by symbiotic and pathogenic fungi. We previously showed that root colonization by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis induces a major transcriptional reprogramming of the 35 potato SWEETs, with 12 genes induced and 10 repressed. In contrast, here we show that during the early colonization phase, the necrotrophic fungus Fusarium solani only induces one SWEET transporter, StSWEET7a, while represses most of the others (25). StSWEET7a was also induced during root colonization by the hemi-biotrophic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi. StSWEET7a which belongs to the clade II of SWEET transporters localized to the plasma membrane and transports glucose, fructose and mannose. Overexpression of StSWEET7a in potato roots increased the strength of this sink as evidenced by an increase in the expression of the cell wall-bound invertase. Concomitantly, plants expressing StSWEET7a were faster colonized by R. irregularis and by F. oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi. The increase in sink strength induced by ectopic expression of StSWEET7a in roots could be abolished by shoot excision which reverted also the increased colonization levels by the symbiotic fungus. Altogether, these results suggest that AM fungi and Fusarium spp. might induce StSWEET7a to increase the sink strength and thus this gene might represent a common susceptibility target for root colonizing fungi.}, } @article {pmid35401497, year = {2022}, author = {Tan, B and Wang, Y and Gong, Z and Fan, X and Ni, B}, title = {Toxic Effects of Copper Nanoparticles on Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella Symbiotic System.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {834208}, pmid = {35401497}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Although many reports have demonstrated that nanoparticles can have a negative effect on aquatic organisms, the toxic effects on symbiotic organisms remain poorly understood. The present study conducts ultrastructure, enzyme activity, and transcriptomics to assess the toxic effects to the Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella symbiotic system from exposure to copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) for 24 h. We found that in both the host and symbiotic algae, CuNP exposure induced high reactive oxygen species level, which leads to oxidative damage and energy metabolism disorder. Moreover, transmission electron micrographs (TEMs) showed that the symbiotic algae in the cytoplasm of P. bursaria were enveloped in the digestive vacuole and digested, and the level of acid phosphatase activity increased significantly within 24 h, which indicated that the stability of the symbiotic system was affected after CuNP exposure. We speculated that the increased energy demand in the host and symbiotic algae resulted from oxidative stress, precipitating the decrease of the photosynthetic products provided to the host, the digestion of the symbiont, and the destruction of the stable symbiotic relationship. The study provides the first insight into the mechanisms of nanoparticles' toxicity to the symbiotic relationship in the ecosystem, which may help to understand the environmental effects and toxicological mechanisms of nanoparticles.}, } @article {pmid35401480, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, T and Hua, Z and Han, P and Zhao, Y and Zhou, J and Jin, Y and Li, X and Huang, L and Yuan, Y}, title = {Mycorrhizosphere Bacteria, Rahnella sp. HPDA25, Promotes the Growth of Armillaria gallica and Its Parasitic Host Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {842893}, pmid = {35401480}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Gastrodia elata is an entirely heterotrophic plant, the growth of which is completely reliant on Armillaria gallica, an orchid mycorrhizal fungus. To avoid damaging ecosystems, G. elata cultivation is shifting from woodland to farmland. However, whether the microbial community structure remains stable during this conversation is unknown. Here, we cultivated G. elata in woodland or farmland and found that woodland-cultivated G. elata produced a greater yield and larger tuber size. The relative abundance of Rahnella was 22.84- and 122.25-fold higher in woodland- and farmland-cultivated soil samples, respectively, than that in uncultivated soil samples. To investigate how Rahnella impacts the growth of G. elata and establishes symbiosis with Armillaria gallica, three Rahnella spp. strains (HPDA25, SBD3, and SBD11) were isolated from mycorrhizosphere soil samples. It was found that these strains, especially HPDA25, promoted the growth of A. gallica. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis detected the indole-3-acetic acid with 16.24 ng/ml in HPDA25 fermentation solution. Co-culturing with the strain HPDA25 or exogenous indole-3-acetic acid increased the branching and fresh weight of rhizomorphs and the growth rate and extracellular laccase activity of A. gallica, compared with A. gallica cultured alone. The results of RNA-seq and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that co-culturing A. gallica with HPDA25 increased the expression level of the genes including hydrophobin, SUR7/PalI family, and pectin methylesterase, whereas decreased the expression levels of glycolysis-related genes. Furthermore, co-culturing with the strain HPDA25, A. gallica promotes the growth of G. elata and enhances the tuber size of G. elata. These results provide new insights into an orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis and the cultivation of G. elata.}, } @article {pmid35398946, year = {2022}, author = {Rolshausen, G and Dal Grande, F and Otte, J and Schmitt, I}, title = {Lichen holobionts show compositional structure along elevation.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16471}, pmid = {35398946}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {Holobionts are dynamic ecosystems that may respond to abiotic drivers with compositional changes. Uncovering elevational diversity patterns within these microecosystems can further our understanding of community-environment interactions. Here, we assess how the major components of lichen holobionts-fungal hosts, green algal symbionts, and the bacterial community-collectively respond to an elevational gradient. We analyse populations of two lichen symbioses, Umbilicaria pustulata and U. hispanica, along an elevational gradient spanning 2100 altitudinal metres and covering three major biomes. Our study shows (i) discontinuous genomic variation in fungal hosts with one abrupt genomic differentiation within each of the two host species, (ii) altitudinally structured bacterial communities with pronounced turnover within and between hosts, and (iii) altitude-specific presence of algal symbionts. Alpha diversity of bacterial communities decreased with increasing elevation. A marked turnover in holobiont diversity occurred across two altitudinal belts: at 11°C-13°C average annual temperature (here: 800-1200 m a.s.l.), and at 7°C-9°C average annual temperature (here: 1500-1800 m a.s.l.). The two observed zones mark a clustering of distribution limits and community shifts. The three ensuing altitudinal classes, that is, the most frequent combinations of species in holobionts, approximately correspond to the Mediterranean, cool-temperate, and alpine climate zones. We conclude that multitrophic microecosystems, such as lichen holobionts, respond with concerted compositional changes to climatic factors that also structure communities of macroorganisms, for example, vascular plants.}, } @article {pmid35398075, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Yang, G and Lu, C and Xu, H and Wu, J and Zhou, Z and Song, Y and Guo, J}, title = {Insight into the enhancing mechanism of silica nanoparticles on denitrification: Effect on electron transfer and microbial metabolism.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {300}, number = {}, pages = {134510}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134510}, pmid = {35398075}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Denitrification ; Electron Transport ; Electrons ; *Nanoparticles/chemistry ; *Silicon Dioxide/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Although silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are produced in large numbers for industrial manufacturing and engineering applications, the effect of SiNPs on biotransformation in the environment is still not clear. In the current study, the effect of SiNPs in enhancing denitrification was investigated, and its mechanism was explored from the perspectives of electron transfer, microbial metabolism and bacterial community structure for the first time. Batch experiments showed that a concentration of SiNPs ranging from 0.05 to 5 g/L enhanced the bioreduction of nitrate. The mechanism study showed that SiNPs accelerated the extracellular electron transfer in the denitrification process due to their electron donating capacity, bonding action, and the secretion of more electron shuttles. During the denitrification process, SiNPs promoted metabolic activity, which mainly consists of promoting enzyme activities and electron transport system activity; these metabolic activity assays were positively correlated with SiNPs according to the structural equation modeling analysis. Moreover, SiNPs affected the composition of the microbial community, including denitrifying functional bacteria, silicon-activating bacteria and electron transfer active bacteria exhibiting a synergistic symbiosis. In addition, it was shown, by investigating two functional group-modified SiNPs, that the carboxyl modified SiNPs had the potential to be applied in nitrogen removal due to their performance and non-toxicity. This study presented a better insight into the role of SiNPs in biological transformation.}, } @article {pmid35398019, year = {2022}, author = {Lynch, JB and James, N and McFall-Ngai, M and Ruby, EG and Shin, S and Takagi, D}, title = {Transitioning to confined spaces impacts bacterial swimming and escape response.}, journal = {Biophysical journal}, volume = {121}, number = {13}, pages = {2653-2662}, pmid = {35398019}, issn = {1542-0086}, support = {F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology ; Animals ; *Confined Spaces ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; *Swimming ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria often navigate complex environments before colonizing privileged sites in their host organism. Chemical gradients are known to facilitate directional taxis of these bacteria, guiding them toward their eventual destination. However, less is known about the role of physical features in shaping the path the bacteria take and defining how they traverse a given space. The flagellated marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which forms a binary symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, must navigate tight physical confinement during colonization, squeezing through a tissue bottleneck constricting to ∼2 μm in width on the way to its eventual home. Using microfluidic in vitro experiments, we discovered that V. fischeri cells alter their behavior upon entry into confined space, straightening their swimming paths and promoting escape from confinement. Using a computational model, we attributed this escape response to two factors: reduced directional fluctuation and a refractory period between reversals. Additional experiments in asymmetric capillary tubes confirmed that V. fischeri quickly escape from confined ends, even when drawn into the ends by chemoattraction. This avoidance was apparent down to a limit of confinement approaching the diameter of the cell itself, resulting in a balance between chemoattraction and evasion of physical confinement. Our findings demonstrate that nontrivial distributions of swimming bacteria can emerge from simple physical gradients in the level of confinement. Tight spaces may serve as an additional, crucial cue for bacteria while they navigate complex environments to enter specific habitats.}, } @article {pmid35397983, year = {2022}, author = {McCall, A and Davison, M and Massey, A and Oester, C and Weber, A and Buckthorpe, M and Duffield, R}, title = {The exchange of health and performance information when transitioning from club to National football teams: A Delphi survey of National team practitioners.}, journal = {Journal of science and medicine in sport}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {486-491}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsams.2022.03.011}, pmid = {35397983}, issn = {1878-1861}, mesh = {*Athletic Injuries/epidemiology/prevention & control ; *Football ; Humans ; Organizations ; Physical Examination ; *Soccer/injuries ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To establish agreement in National team contexts when players transition from club to National team about (i) what medical and physical information to collect, (ii) how to use information (iii) identifying challenges to collection and (iv) collection methods.

DESIGN: Delphi survey.

METHODS: A series of sequential online questionnaires were sent to heads of medical and performance of the 32 National teams following the FIFA 2018 World Cup. Two separate Delphi's; 'Medical' and 'Physical' were administered. The 'Medical' respondent was the person responsible for player health. 'Physical' referred to the person responsible for physical performance. Content analyses were performed, with subsequent rounds designed according to responses of the previous. Agreement was considered at ≥70%.

RESULTS: Twenty-three Medical (72%) and 14 (44%) Physical heads participated in Round 1 (3 rounds total). Seventeen Medical and 12 Physical respondents completed all rounds. Medical information agreed upon injury epidemiology, screening and injury treatment strategies. Physical information included training/match-loads, fatigue, wellness and current exercise programmes. Both Medical and Physical agreed information should be used to plan and individualise player programmes. Additionally medical information should guide coaches' national team selection. Communication, willingness to share and quality/completeness of information were agreed as main challenges. Medical and Physical respondents agreed a standardised reporting form and electronic shared database as best option to collect information.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of health and performance information exchange between national and club teams. Further, this exchange should be cooperative, symbiotic and a two-way process to assist with improving player health.}, } @article {pmid35397954, year = {2022}, author = {Allen, JL and Lendemer, JC}, title = {A call to reconceptualize lichen symbioses.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {582-589}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2022.03.004}, pmid = {35397954}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {*Lichens/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several decades of research across disciplines have overturned historical perspectives of symbioses dominated by binary characterizations of highly specific species-species interactions. This paradigm shift has unlocked the previously underappreciated and overlooked dynamism of fungal mutualisms such as mycorrhizae. Lichens are another example of important fungal mutualisms where reconceptualization is urgently needed to realize their potential as model systems. This reconceptualization requires both an objective synthesis of new data and envisioning a revised integrative approach that unifies the spectrum of ecology and evolution. We propose a ten-theme framework that if pursued would propel lichens to the vanguard of symbiotic theory.}, } @article {pmid35396706, year = {2022}, author = {Burr, AA and Woods, KD and Cassidy, ST and Wood, CW}, title = {Priority effects alter the colonization success of a host-associated parasite and mutualist.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {103}, number = {8}, pages = {e3720}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3720}, pmid = {35396706}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Parasites ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Priority effects shape the assembly of free-living communities and host-associated communities. However, the current literature does not fully incorporate two features of host-symbiont interactions, correlated host responses to multiple symbionts and ontogenetic changes in host responses to symbionts, leading to an incomplete picture of the role of priority effects in host-associated communities. We factorially manipulated the inoculation timing of two plant symbionts (mutualistic rhizobia bacteria and parasitic root-knot nematodes) and tested how host age at arrival, arrival order, and arrival synchrony affected symbiont colonization success in the model legume Medicago truncatula. We found that host age, arrival order, and arrival synchrony significantly affected colonization of one or both symbionts. Host age at arrival only affected nematodes but not rhizobia: younger plants were more heavily infected than older plants. By contrast, arrival order only affected rhizobia but not nematodes: plants formed more rhizobia nodules when rhizobia arrived before nematodes. Finally, synchronous arrival decreased colonization both symbionts, an effect that depended on host age. Our results demonstrate that priority effects compromise the host's ability to control colonization by two major symbionts and suggest that the role of correlated host responses and host ontogeny in the assembly of host-associated communities deserve further attention.}, } @article {pmid35396623, year = {2022}, author = {Koide, RT}, title = {On Holobionts, Holospecies, and Holoniches: the Role of Microbial Symbioses in Ecology and Evolution.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35396623}, issn = {1432-184X}, abstract = {My goal in writing this is to increase awareness of the roles played by microbial symbionts in eukaryote ecology and evolution. Most eukaryotes host one or more species of symbiotic microorganisms, including prokaryotes and fungi. Many of these have profound impacts on the biology of their hosts. For example, microbial symbionts may expand the niches of their hosts, cause rapid adaptation of the host to the environment and re-adaptation to novel conditions via symbiont swapping, facilitate speciation, and fundamentally alter our concept of the species. In some cases, microbial symbionts and multicellular eukaryote hosts have a mutual dependency, which has obvious conservation implications. Hopefully, this contribution will stimulate a reevaluation of important ecological and evolutionary concepts including niche, adaptation, the species, speciation, and conservation of multicellular eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid35395168, year = {2022}, author = {Teulet, A and Camuel, A and Perret, X and Giraud, E}, title = {The Versatile Roles of Type III Secretion Systems in Rhizobium-Legume Symbioses.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {45-65}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-041020-032624}, pmid = {35395168}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To suppress plant immunity and promote the intracellular infection required for fixing nitrogen for the benefit of their legume hosts, many rhizobia use type III secretion systems (T3SSs) that deliver effector proteins (T3Es) inside host cells. As reported for interactions between pathogens and host plants, the immune system of legume hosts and the cocktail of T3Es secreted by rhizobia determine the symbiotic outcome. If they remain undetected, T3Es may reduce plant immunity and thus promote infection of legumes by rhizobia. If one or more of the secreted T3Es are recognized by the cognate plant receptors, defense responses are triggered and rhizobial infection may abort. However, some rhizobial T3Es can also circumvent the need for nodulation (Nod) factors to trigger nodule formation. Here we review the multifaceted roles played by rhizobial T3Es during symbiotic interactions with legumes.}, } @article {pmid35394028, year = {2022}, author = {Alcántara-Martínez, N and Figueroa-Martínez, F and Rivera-Cabrera, F and Volke-Sepúlveda, T}, title = {An unexpected guest: a green microalga associated with the arsenic-tolerant shrub Acacia farnesiana.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac041}, pmid = {35394028}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Acacia ; *Arsenic/toxicity ; *Chlorophyta ; Endophytes ; *Fabaceae ; *Microalgae ; }, abstract = {The best-known plant endophytes include mainly fungi and bacteria, but there are also a few records of microalgae growing endophytically in vascular land plants, some of which belong to the genus Coccomyxa. In this study, we isolated a single-celled photosynthetic microorganism from the arsenic-tolerant shrub Acacia farnesiana, thus we hypothesized that it is an endophytic arsenic-tolerant microalga. The microorganism was identified as belonging to the genus Coccomyxa, and the observation of algal cells within the root tissues strongly suggests its endophytic nature. The alga's tolerance to arsenate (AsV) and its influence on the fitness of A. farnesiana in the presence of AsV were evaluated. Coccomyxa sp. can tolerate up to 2000 µM of AsV for periods shorter than 10 days, however, AsV-tolerance decreased significantly in longer exposure periods. The association with the microalga increased the pigment content in aboveground tissues of A. farnesiana seedlings exposed to AsV for 50 days, without changes in plant growth or arsenic accumulation. This work describes the association, probably endophytic, between an angiosperm and a microalga, confirming the ability of the genus Coccomyxa to form associations with land plants and broadening the known variety of plant endophytes.}, } @article {pmid35393600, year = {2022}, author = {Sabrina Pankey, M and Plachetzki, DC and Macartney, KJ and Gastaldi, M and Slattery, M and Gochfeld, DJ and Lesser, MP}, title = {Cophylogeny and convergence shape holobiont evolution in sponge-microbe symbioses.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {750-762}, pmid = {35393600}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; Biodiversity ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities of sponges serve critical functions that have shaped the evolution of reef ecosystems since their origins. Symbiont abundance varies tremendously among sponges, with many species classified as either low microbial abundance (LMA) or high microbial abundance (HMA), but the evolutionary dynamics of these symbiotic states remain unknown. This study examines the LMA/HMA dichotomy across an exhaustive sampling of Caribbean sponge biodiversity and predicts that the LMA symbiotic state is the ancestral state among sponges. Conversely, HMA symbioses, consisting of more specialized microorganisms, have evolved multiple times by recruiting similar assemblages, mostly since the rise of scleractinian-dominated reefs. Additionally, HMA symbioses show stronger signals of phylosymbiosis and cophylogeny, consistent with stronger co-evolutionary interaction in these complex holobionts. These results indicate that HMA holobionts are characterized by increased endemism, metabolic dependence and chemical defences. The selective forces driving these patterns may include the concurrent increase in dissolved organic matter in reef ecosystems or the diversification of spongivorous fishes.}, } @article {pmid35393155, year = {2022}, author = {Fronk, DC and Sachs, JL}, title = {Symbiotic organs: the nexus of host-microbe evolution.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {599-610}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2022.02.014}, pmid = {35393155}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Plants/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Diverse plants and animals have evolved specialized structures to filter and house beneficial microbes. These symbiotic organs form crucial points of exchange between host and symbiont, are often shaped by both partners, and exhibit features that facilitate a suite of microbial services. While symbiotic organs exhibit varied function, morphology, and developmental plasticity, they share core features linked to the evolutionary maintenance of beneficial symbiosis. Moreover, these organs can have a significant role in altering the demographic forces that shape microbial genomes, driving population bottlenecks and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). To advance our understanding of these 'joint phenotypes' across varied systems, future research must consider the emergent forces that can shape symbiotic organs, including fitness feedbacks and conflicts between interacting genomes.}, } @article {pmid35392930, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, C and Wang, Y and Ma, X and Cui, D and Han, B and Xue, D and Han, L}, title = {Traditional agricultural management of Kam Sweet Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in southeast Guizhou Province, China.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {35392930}, issn = {1746-4269}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; China ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Humans ; *Oryza ; Plant Breeding ; Soil ; Taste ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Dong people mainly live in Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces, China, with a long history of glutinous rice cultivation, among which Kam Sweet Rice (KSR) is a group of rice landraces that has been domesticated for thousands of years by the Dong people. The core distribution area of KSR is Liping, Congjiang and Rongjiang County of southeast, Guizhou Province. Paddy fields, forests, livestock and cottages have formed a special artificial wetland ecosystem in local area, and the Dong people have also formed a set of traditional farming systems of KSR for variety breeding, field management, and soil and water conservation. However, this traditional agricultural management has not been reported at multiple levels based on landraces, species and ecosystems.

METHODS: Fieldwork was conducted in ten villages in southeast Guizhou from 2019 to 2021. A total of 229 informants were interviewed from the villages. Semi-structured and key informant interviews were administered to collect ethnoecological data on the characteristics and traditional utilization of KSR, traditional farming systems and agricultural management of the Dong people.

RESULTS: (1): A total of 57 KSR landraces were recorded as used by the Dong people in southeast Guizhou. We analyzed the cultural importance index (CII) of all KSRs. KSR with high CII often has a pleasant taste, special biological characteristics of cold resistance, disease and insect resistance and high utilization in the traditional culture of Dong people. (2) There is a clear division of labor between men and women in the breeding, seed retention, field management and grain storage management of different landraces of KSR in Dong communities. In order to resist natural disasters and insect pests, the cultivation of KSR is usually managed by multi-variety mixed planting. These agricultural management modes are the result of Dong people's understanding and adaptation to the local natural geographical environment, as well as the experience and wisdom crystallization of Dong people's long-term practice. (3) The traditional farmland of Dong People is a typical artificial wetland ecosystem that is planted with mixed KSR landraces with rich traditional wisdom. In addition, the economic benefit of the rice-fish-duck symbiotic system was 3.07 times that of hybrid rice alone; therefore, the rice-fish-duck system not only has the function of maintaining soil, water and ecological balance but also improves the income of Dong people.

CONCLUSION: KSR is a special kind of rice that has been domesticated and cultivated by Dong people for thousands of years. Dong people have also formed traditional agriculture dominated by KSR cultivation. The traditional agricultural management of Dong people provides suitable habitats for flora and fauna with biodiversity protection, and convenient conditions for rational utilization and distribution of water resources were also provided. This traditional management mode is of great significance for environmental protection, climate change response, community resource management, sustainable utilization and agricultural transformation in modern society. Therefore, we call for interdisciplinary research in natural and social sciences, in-depth study of the ecological culture of ethnic areas, and sort out treasures conducive to the development of all mankind.}, } @article {pmid35392808, year = {2022}, author = {Jiang, Y and Hu, X and Yuan, Y and Guo, X and Chase, MW and Ge, S and Li, J and Fu, J and Li, K and Hao, M and Wang, Y and Jiao, Y and Jiang, W and Jin, X}, title = {The Gastrodia menghaiensis (Orchidaceae) genome provides new insights of orchid mycorrhizal interactions.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {179}, pmid = {35392808}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Gastrodia/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Orchidaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: To illustrate the molecular mechanism of mycoheterotrophic interactions between orchids and fungi, we assembled chromosome-level reference genome of Gastrodia menghaiensis (Orchidaceae) and analyzed the genomes of two species of Gastrodia.

RESULTS: Our analyses indicated that the genomes of Gastrodia are globally diminished in comparison to autotrophic orchids, even compared to Cuscuta (a plant parasite). Genes involved in arbuscular mycorrhizae colonization were found in genomes of Gastrodia, and many of the genes involved biological interaction between Gatrodia and symbiotic microbionts are more numerous than in photosynthetic orchids. The highly expressed genes for fatty acid and ammonium root transporters suggest that fungi receive material from orchids, although most raw materials flow from the fungi. Many nuclear genes (e.g. biosynthesis of aromatic amino acid L-tryptophan) supporting plastid functions are expanded compared to photosynthetic orchids, an indication of the importance of plastids even in totally mycoheterotrophic species.

CONCLUSION: Gastrodia menghaiensis has the smallest proteome thus far among angiosperms. Many of the genes involved biological interaction between Gatrodia and symbiotic microbionts are more numerous than in photosynthetic orchids.}, } @article {pmid35392726, year = {2022}, author = {Christensen, SE and Wagner, L}, title = {Disaster Relief Nurses: Exploring the Impetus to Respond to Multiple Efforts.}, journal = {Nursing science quarterly}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {244-255}, doi = {10.1177/08943184211070575}, pmid = {35392726}, issn = {1552-7409}, abstract = {Little is known about the impact that disaster volunteerism has on nurses. It is important to hear the experiences of those who return again to better understand the reasons that call them back. Using grounded theory methodology, 20 nurses who responded to more than one disaster event participated in semistructured interviews. Capacity for the art of nursing, confidence in performing the role, fostering the team among the chaos, and humanistic symbiosis emerged, leading to a core category, facilitating self-transcendence, guided by Reed's middle-range theory. With repeat deployments come enhanced personal rewards that provide meaningful opportunities for self-transcendence.}, } @article {pmid35391984, year = {2022}, author = {Che, Y and Zhu, J and Huang, H}, title = {How Does Employee-Organization Relationship Affect Work Engagement and Work Well-Being of Knowledge-Based Employees?.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {814324}, pmid = {35391984}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {In the employment relationship, organizational factors are the main factors that affect employee behavior. Especially for knowledge-based workers, it is even more crucial for organizations to give enough attention to their individual needs. Based on Existence, Relatedness, and Growth (ERG) theory, this study constructs a moderated mediating model to explore how the impact of the employee-organization relationship (EOR) on work engagement (WE) and work well-being (WWB) of knowledge-based employees. In this study, existence-relatedness-growth need satisfaction (GNS) is used as a mediator and the perceived symbiotic relationship is used as a moderator. Data collected from 791 knowledge-based employees in higher education institutions from more than 20 provinces and cities in China are used to test the model. The results show that (1) EOR has significant positive effects on WE and WWB. (2) Need satisfaction for relatedness partially mediates the effects of EOR on WE and WWB. (3) Need satisfaction for growth mediates the effect of EOR on WE while the mediating role of need satisfaction for growth between EOR and WWB is unsupported. (4) The mediating role of need satisfaction for the existence of EOR on both WE and WWB is unsupported. (5) The perceived symbiotic relationship moderates the relationship between EOR and WE and WWB. The findings are of theoretical significance in expanding the research field of EOR and providing a basis for organizations to implement EOR strategies.}, } @article {pmid35391723, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, M and Li, X and Liu, X and Mi, Y and Fu, Z and Zhang, R and Su, H and Wei, Y and Liu, H and Wang, F}, title = {Effects of Antimony on Rice Growth and Its Existing Forms in Rice Under Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {814323}, pmid = {35391723}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants and regulate the uptake and distribution of antimony (Sb) in rice. The effect of AMF on the uptake and transport of Sb in rice was observed using pot experiments in the greenhouse. The results showed that AMF inoculation increased the contact area between roots and metals by forming mycelium, and changed the pH and Eh of the root soil, leading to more Sb entering various parts of the rice, especially at an Sb concentration of 1,200 mg/kg. The increase in metal toxicity further led to a decrease in the rice chlorophyll content, which directly resulted in a 22.7% decrease in aboveground biomass, 21.7% in underground biomass, and 11.3% in grain biomass. In addition, the antioxidant enzyme results showed that inoculation of AMF decreased 22.3% in superoxide dismutase, 9.9% in catalase, and 20.7% in peroxidase compared to the non-inoculation groups, further verifying the negative synergistic effect of AMF inoculation on the uptake of Sb in rice. The present study demonstrated the effect of AMF on the uptake and transport of Sb in the soil-rice system, facilitating future research on the related mechanism in the soil-rice system under Sb stress.}, } @article {pmid35391242, year = {2022}, author = {Dacoz, CD and Gully, F and Cochu, M and Anker, A}, title = {First Atlantic record of the rare infaunal shrimp Salmoneus erasimorum Dworschak, Abed-Navandi amp; Anker, 2000 (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Alpheidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5091}, number = {2}, pages = {393-400}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5091.2.10}, pmid = {35391242}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; Body Size ; *Decapoda ; Organ Size ; }, abstract = {The rare symbiotic alpheid shrimp Salmoneus erasimorum Dworschak, Abed-Navandi Anker, 2000 was previously known from a single specimen collected with a suction pump on the Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea, together with its host, the ghost shrimp, Gilvossius tyrrhenus (Petagna, 1792). A second record of S. erasimorum is presented here, with a diagnosis and the first colour photographs, based on a single specimen collected in northern Brittany, France, also with a suction pump, but without its host. This is also the first record of the species on the European coast of the Atlantic Ocean. An annotated list and a key to the species of Salmoneus currently known from the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea are provided.}, } @article {pmid35390454, year = {2022}, author = {Pacoud, M and Mandon, K and Cazareth, J and Pierre, O and Frendo, P and Alloing, G}, title = {Redox-sensitive fluorescent biosensors detect Sinorhizobium meliloti intracellular redox changes under free-living and symbiotic lifestyles.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {184}, number = {}, pages = {185-195}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.03.030}, pmid = {35390454}, issn = {1873-4596}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biosensing Techniques ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are key signaling molecules that control the setup and functioning of Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. This interaction results in the formation of a new organ, the root nodule, in which bacteria enter the host cells and differentiate into nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteroids. The interaction between Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago truncatula is a genetic model to study N2-fixing symbiosis. In previous work, S. meliloti mutants impaired in the antioxidant defense, showed altered symbiotic properties, emphasizing the importance of redox-based regulation in the bacterial partner. However, direct measurements of S. meliloti intracellular redox state have never been performed. Here, we measured dynamic changes of intracellular H2O2 and glutathione redox potential by expressing roGFP2-Orp1 and Grx1-roGFP2 biosensors in S. meliloti. Kinetic analyses of redox changes under free-living conditions showed that these biosensors are suitable to monitor the bacterial redox state in real-time, after H2O2 challenge and in different genetic backgrounds. In planta, flow cytometry and confocal imaging experiments allowed the determination of sensor oxidation state in nodule bacteria. These cellular studies establish the existence of an oxidative shift in the redox status of S. meliloti during bacteroid differentiation. Our findings open up new possibilities for in vivo studies of redox dynamics during N2-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35387266, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, X and Yang, C and Yu, Y and Zhao, Y}, title = {In Situ 3D Bioprinting Living Photosynthetic Scaffolds for Autotrophic Wound Healing.}, journal = {Research (Washington, D.C.)}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {9794745}, pmid = {35387266}, issn = {2639-5274}, abstract = {Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been extensively explored for tissue repair and regeneration, while the insufficient nutrient and oxygen availability in the printed constructs, as well as the lack of adaptive dimensions and shapes, compromises the overall therapeutic efficacy and limits their further application. Herein, inspired by the natural symbiotic relationship between salamanders and algae, we present novel living photosynthetic scaffolds by using an in situ microfluidic-assisted 3D bioprinting strategy for adapting irregular-shaped wounds and promoting their healing. As the oxygenic photosynthesis unicellular microalga (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) was incorporated during 3D printing, the generated scaffolds could produce sustainable oxygen under light illumination, which facilitated the cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation even in hypoxic conditions. Thus, when the living microalgae-laden scaffolds were directly printed into diabetic wounds, they could significantly accelerate the chronic wound closure by alleviating local hypoxia, increasing angiogenesis, and promoting extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. These results indicate that the in situ bioprinting of living photosynthetic microalgae offers an effective autotrophic biosystem for promoting wound healing, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for diverse tissue engineering applications.}, } @article {pmid35386686, year = {2022}, author = {Nagai, K and Goto, Y}, title = {Parasitomimetics: Can We Utilize Parasite-Derived Immunomodulatory Molecules for Interventions to Immunological Disorders?.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {824695}, pmid = {35386686}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity ; Immunomodulation ; *Parasites ; *Parasitic Diseases ; }, abstract = {Because our immune system has ability to expel microorganisms invading our body, parasites need evolution to maintain their symbiosis with the hosts. One such strategy of the parasites is to manipulate host immunity by producing immunomodulatory molecules and the ability of parasites to regulate host immunity has long been a target of research. Parasites can not only manipulate host immune response specific to them, but also influence the host's entire immune system. Such ability of the parasites may sometimes bring benefit to the hosts as many studies have indicated the "hygiene hypothesis" that a decreased opportunity of parasitic infections is associated with an increased incidence of allergy and autoimmune diseases. In other words, elucidating the mechanisms of parasites to regulate host immunity could be applied not only to resolution of parasitic infections but also to treatment of non-parasitic immunological disorders. In this review, we show how much progress has been made in the research on immunomodulation of host immunity by parasites. Here, we define the word 'parasitomimetics' as emulation of parasites' immunomodulatory systems to solve immunological problems in humans and discuss potential applications of parasite-derived molecules to other diseases.}, } @article {pmid35386572, year = {2022}, author = {, and Bragard, C and Baptista, P and Chatzivassiliou, E and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and Magnusson, CS and Milonas, P and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Stefani, E and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Vicent Civera, A and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Malumphy, C and Kertesz, V and Maiorano, A and MacLeod, A}, title = {Pest categorisation of Sirex nitobei.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {e07207}, pmid = {35386572}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Sirex nitobei (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), the nitobe horntail, for the territory of the EU. S. nitobei is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 but was identified as a potential regulated pest in a commodity risk assessment of Pinus thunbergii artificially dwarfed plants from Japan. This species is present in Japan (except Hokkaidō), the Republic of Korea and 13 Chinese provinces. S. nitobei attacks several Pinus species and has been reported less frequently on Abies firma and Larix spp., including L. leptolepis. The females oviposit into the sapwood. Eggs are deposited together with a phytotoxic mucus and a symbiotic fungus, Amylostereum areolatum or A. chailletii. The combined action of the venom and the fungus results in the death of the host trees. The fungus degrades the lignocellulosic components of the wood, and the larvae feed on the liquid fraction of the digested residues left by the fungus. All immature stages live in the hosts sapwood. The lifecycle of the pest lasts 1 year. S. nitobei can travel with conifer wood, wood packaging material or plants for planting, but these pathways from third countries are closed by prohibition. However, a derogation exists for artificially dwarfed Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) from Japan, which therefore provides a potential pathway. Climatic conditions in several EU member states and host plant availability in those areas are conducive for establishment. The introduction of S. nitobei is potentially damaging for pines. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and further spread, and there is a potential for biological control. S. nitobei satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.}, } @article {pmid35385672, year = {2022}, author = {Mitchum, MG and Liu, X}, title = {Peptide Effectors in Phytonematode Parasitism and Beyond.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {97-119}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-021621-115932}, pmid = {35385672}, issn = {1545-2107}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Nematoda ; Peptides ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Peptide signaling is an emerging paradigm in molecular plant-microbe interactions with vast implications for our understanding of plant-nematode interactions and beyond. Plant-like peptide hormones, first discovered in cyst nematodes, are now recognized as an important class of peptide effectors mediating several different types of pathogenic and symbiotic interactions. Here, we summarize what has been learned about nematode-secreted CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) peptide effectors since the last comprehensive review on this topic a decade ago. We also highlight new discoveries of a diverse array of peptide effectors that go beyond the CLE peptide effector family in not only phytonematodes but in organisms beyond the phylum Nematoda.}, } @article {pmid35384710, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, K and Wang, Y and Bai, Y and Luo, Q and Lin, X and Yang, Q and Wang, S and Xin, H}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Atrial Fibrillation Patients and Their Changes after Catheter Ablation.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e0107721}, pmid = {35384710}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {*Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy/surgery ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Catheter Ablation/adverse effects/methods ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota has been shown to be associated with multiple cardiovascular diseases, but there is little research on the gut microbiota and atrial fibrillation (AF); thus, how the gut microbiota and metabolites change in AF patients after catheter ablation is unclear. In this study, we used 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and nontargeted metabolomic detection to conduct horizontal and longitudinal analyses of the gut microbiota and metabolites of AF patients. Compared with a control group, species richness and diversity increased significantly in AF patients. Among them, opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as Klebsiella, Haemophilus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus, were significantly increased, and symbiotic bacteria, such as Agathobacter and Butyrivibrio, were significantly reduced. After catheter ablation, intestinal symbiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus, Agathobacter, Lachnospira, etc.) were increased in most AF patients, while pathogenic bacteria (Ruminococcus, etc.) were reduced. Moreover, in AF patients, caffeine, which was negatively correlated with Klebsiella, was downregulated, and estradiol and ascorbic acid, which were positively correlated with Agathobacter, were also downregulated. After catheter ablation, citrulline, which was positively correlated with Ralstonia and Lactobacillus, was increased. Oleanolic acid, which was negatively correlated with Ralstonia was downregulated. In conclusion, our results not only show overall changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites in AF patients but also indicate their changes in the short term after catheter ablation. These data will provide novel possibilities for the future clinical diagnosis and treatment of AF. IMPORTANCE Gut microbiota and metabolites play a very important role in human health and can not only assess human health but also treat and prevent diseases. We analyzed the characteristics of the microbiota and metabolites in the human gut and found the effect of disease on gut microbiota and metabolites, which may be of important value in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. At the same time, we also observed dynamic changes in gut microbiota and metabolites with the intervention of catheter ablation, which was not available in previous studies.}, } @article {pmid35383395, year = {2022}, author = {Lebreton, A and Tang, N and Kuo, A and LaButti, K and Andreopoulos, W and Drula, E and Miyauchi, S and Barry, K and Clum, A and Lipzen, A and Mousain, D and Ng, V and Wang, R and Dai, Y and Henrissat, B and Grigoriev, IV and Guerin-Laguette, A and Yu, F and Martin, FM}, title = {Comparative genomics reveals a dynamic genome evolution in the ectomycorrhizal milk-cap (Lactarius) mushrooms.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {1}, pages = {306-319}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18143}, pmid = {35383395}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Agaricales/genetics ; Animals ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Milk ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi play a key role in forests by establishing mutualistic symbioses with woody plants. Genome analyses have identified conserved symbiosis-related traits among ectomycorrhizal fungal species, but the molecular mechanisms underlying host specificity remain poorly known. We sequenced and compared the genomes of seven species of milk-cap fungi (Lactarius, Russulales) with contrasting host specificity. We also compared these genomes with those of symbiotic and saprotrophic Russulales species, aiming to identify genes involved in their ecology and host specificity. The size of Lactarius genomes is significantly larger than other Russulales species, owing to a massive accumulation of transposable elements and duplication of dispensable genes. As expected, their repertoire of genes coding for plant cell wall-degrading enzymes is restricted, but they retained a substantial set of genes involved in microbial cell wall degradation. Notably, Lactarius species showed a striking expansion of genes encoding proteases, such as secreted ectomycorrhiza-induced sedolisins. A high copy number of genes coding for small secreted LysM proteins and Lactarius-specific lectins were detected, which may be linked to host specificity. This study revealed a large diversity in the genome landscapes and gene repertoires within Russulaceae. The known host specificity of Lactarius symbionts may be related to mycorrhiza-induced species-specific genes, including secreted sedolisins.}, } @article {pmid35383179, year = {2022}, author = {Camp, EF and Kahlke, T and Signal, B and Oakley, CA and Lutz, A and Davy, SK and Suggett, DJ and Leggat, WP}, title = {Proteome metabolome and transcriptome data for three Symbiodiniaceae under ambient and heat stress conditions.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {153}, pmid = {35383179}, issn = {2052-4463}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics/metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; Metabolome ; Phylogeny ; Proteome ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The Symbiodiniaceae are a taxonomically and functionally diverse family of marine dinoflagellates. Their symbiotic relationship with invertebrates such as scleractinian corals has made them the focus of decades of research to resolve the underlying biology regulating their sensitivity to stressors, particularly thermal stress. Research to-date suggests that Symbiodiniaceae stress sensitivity is governed by a complex interplay between phylogenetic dependent and independent traits (diversity of characteristics of a species). Consequently, there is a need for datasets that simultaneously broadly resolve molecular and physiological processes under stressed and non-stressed conditions. Therefore, we provide a dataset simultaneously generating transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome data for three ecologically important Symbiodiniaceae isolates under nutrient replete growth conditions and two temperature treatments (ca. 26 °C and 32 °C). Elevated sea surface temperature is primarily responsible for coral bleaching events that occur when the coral-Symbiodiniaceae relationship has been disrupted. Symbiodiniaceae can strongly influence their host's response to thermal stress and consequently it is necessary to resolve drivers of Symbiodiniaceae heat stress tolerance. We anticipate these datasets to expand our understanding on the key genotypic and functional properties that influence the sensitivities of Symbiodiniaceae to thermal stress.}, } @article {pmid35381999, year = {2021}, author = {Li, M and Morey, DA and Rayo, MF}, title = {Symbiotic Design Application in Healthcare: Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections.}, journal = {Proceedings of the International Symposium of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare. International Symposium of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {211-216}, pmid = {35381999}, issn = {2327-8579}, support = {R01 HS027200/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Any clinical decision support (CDS) design project integrating computational technologies with clinician workflows will require the merging of multiple perspectives and fields of expertise in multidisciplinary teams. Much like the tools these teams aim to create, the team itself will need to continuously build, monitor, and repair a mutually beneficial relationship between each of its members. From our experience during the early development stages of an AI-enabled CDS tool for hospital-acquired infection (HAI) prevention, we abstract three central tenets of a symbiotic design process we have found to be vital for aligning goals, priorities, mental models, and techniques among a multidisciplinary team: (1) recurrent bottom-up feedback, (2) continual model (re-)alignment, and (3) openness to co-direction. With regards to these tenets, we discuss the successes and challenges our team has faced during the symbiotic design process through a series of vignettes and how these experiences coalescing diverse human design teams can influence the design of human-machine teams.}, } @article {pmid35381962, year = {2022}, author = {Kam, C}, title = {Enhancing Enneagram Therapy with Contemporary Research on the Conscious and Unconscious Mind.}, journal = {Integrative psychological & behavioral science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35381962}, issn = {1936-3567}, abstract = {The Enneagram is a personality framework with ancient philosophical underpinnings and cross cultural roots. It outlines nine different pathways of growth for nine different personalities. In recent years, it has started to gain traction in the peer reviewed level of research. Since the Enneagram has a conceptual versatility in addressing various levels and dimensions of the human psyche, it can both contribute and benefit from cross pollinating its insights with the latest scientific research on how the human mind works. One area of research that has the potential for this type of symbiotic partnership with the Enneagram is the study of the interaction between the conscious and unconscious mind. There is rich potential for the multi-leveled integration of contemporary findings on how the conscious and unconscious mind mutually interact with one another along with insights into personality structures from the Enneagram. These integrative insights have clinical implications and create possible directions for future research.}, } @article {pmid35381465, year = {2022}, author = {Groppa, MD and Zawoznik, MS and Benavides, MP and Iannone, MF}, title = {Beneficial effects of magnetite nanoparticles on soybean-Bradyrhizobium japonicum and alfalfa-Sinorhizobium meliloti associations.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {180}, number = {}, pages = {42-49}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.03.025}, pmid = {35381465}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Nanoparticles (NPs)-based growth stimulators have promising usage in agriculture. This research analyzed the impact of citric acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs; 50 mg Fe L[-1]) added once at pre-sowing on soybean and alfalfa seedlings growing in association with their corresponding microsymbiont partners, Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Sinorhizobium meliloti; also on the in vitro growth rate of these microorganisms. Fe-EDTA (50 mg Fe L[-1]) was used as a comparator. Fe3O4-NPs significantly augmented the growth rate constant (7-17%) and extracellular polysaccharides production of both microsymbionts (B. japonicum: 2-fold; S. meliloti: 43%), which probably favored bacterial adhesion to the root hairs. In both legumes, Fe3O4-NPs increased chlorophyll content (up to 56% in soybean) and improved plant growth, evidenced by a greater root biomass system (80-90% higher than the control), and increased shoot biomass (30-40%). Besides, Fe3O4-NPs addition resulted in earlier nodule formation and enhanced nodule biomass (about 2.5-fold in both species). Nodules were mainly located in the crown of the root in the NP50 treatment, while they were evenly distributed along lateral roots in the control and the comparator. Fe3O4-NPs also augmented significantly nodule leghemoglobin content (∼50-70%) and total N in legumes' shoots (ca. 20%). CAT activity increased only under NP50 treatment and no symptoms of oxidative damage were evidenced. In this work, we found that besides not being toxic neither to soybean and alfalfa plants nor to their microsymbiont partners, Fe3O4-NPs do not exert adverse effects on the symbioses establishment; oppositely, a more efficient nodulation pattern was verified in both plant species.}, } @article {pmid35381290, year = {2022}, author = {Tawfick, MM and Xie, H and Zhao, C and Shao, P and Farag, MA}, title = {Inulin fructans in diet: Role in gut homeostasis, immunity, health outcomes and potential therapeutics.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {948-961}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.218}, pmid = {35381290}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet ; Fructans/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Inulin/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Mice ; Outcome Assessment, Health Care ; Prebiotics ; }, abstract = {Inulin consumption in both humans and animal models is recognized for its prebiotic action with the most consistent change that lies in enhancing the growth and functionality of Bifidobacterium bacteria, as well as its effect on host gene expression and metabolism. Further, inulin-type fructans are utilized in the colon by bacterial fermentation to yield short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which play important role in its biological effects both locally inside the gut and in systemic actions. The gut symbiosis sustained by inulin supplementation among other dietary fibers exerts preventive and/or therapeutic options for many metabolic disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiometabolic diseases, kidney diseases and hyperuricemia. Although, gastrointestinal negative effects due to inulin consumption were reported, such as gastrointestinal symptoms in humans and exacerbated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. This comprehensive review aims to present the whole story of how inulin functions as a prebiotic at cellular levels and the interplay between physiological, functional and immunological responses inside the animal or human gut as influenced by inulin in diets, in context to its structural composition. Such review is of importance to identify management and feed strategies to optimize gut health, for instance, consumption of the tolerated doses to healthy adults of 10 g/day of native inulin or 5 g/day of naturally inulin-rich chicory extract. In addition, inulin-drug interactions should be further clarified particularly if used as a supplement for the treatment of degenerative diseases (e.g., diabetes) over a long period. The combined effect of probiotics and inulin appears more effective, and more research on this synergy is still needed.}, } @article {pmid35380912, year = {2022}, author = {Bergstrom, K and Xia, L}, title = {The barrier and beyond: Roles of intestinal mucus and mucin-type O-glycosylation in resistance and tolerance defense strategies guiding host-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2052699}, pmid = {35380912}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {P20 GM139763/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK085691/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glycosylation ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Mucins/metabolism ; Mucus/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Over the past two decades, our appreciation of the gut mucus has moved from a static lubricant to a dynamic and essential component of the gut ecosystem that not only mediates the interface between host tissues and vast microbiota, but regulates how this ecosystem functions to promote mutualistic symbioses and protect from microbe-driven diseases. By delving into the complex chemistry and biology of the mucus, combined with innovative in vivo and ex vivo approaches, recent studies have revealed novel insights into the formation and function of the mucus system, the O-glycans that make up this system, and how they mediate two major host-defense strategies - resistance and tolerance - to reduce damage caused by indigenous microbes and opportunistic pathogens. This current review summarizes these findings by highlighting the emerging roles of mucus and mucin-type O-glycans in influencing host and microbial physiology with an emphasis on host defense strategies against bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.}, } @article {pmid35378284, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Z and Wang, J and Chen, X and Lei, Z and Yuan, T and Shimizu, K and Zhang, Z and Lee, DJ}, title = {Insight into aerobic phosphorus removal from wastewater in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {352}, number = {}, pages = {127104}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127104}, pmid = {35378284}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Sewage/microbiology ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to figure out the main contributors to aerobic phosphorus (P) removal in the algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS)-based wastewater treatment system. Kinetics study showed that aerobic P removal was controlled by macropore (contributing to 64-75% P removal) and micropore diffusion, and the different light intensity (0, 4.0, 12.3, and 24.4 klux) didn't exert significant (p > 0.05) influence on P removal. On the other hand, the increasing light intensity did promote microalgae metabolism, leading to the elevated wastewater pH (8.0-9.8). The resultant pH increase had a strongly negative relationship (R[2] = 0.9723) with P uptake by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms, while promoted chemical Ca-P precipitation at a molar Ca/P ratio of 1.05. Results from this work could provide an in-depth understanding of microalgae-bacteria symbiotic interaction, which is helpful to better design and operate the algal-bacterial AGS systems.}, } @article {pmid35377795, year = {2022}, author = {Quek, S and Cook, DAN and Wu, Y and Marriott, AE and Steven, A and Johnston, KL and Ford, L and Archer, J and Hemingway, J and Ward, SA and Wagstaff, SC and Turner, JD and Taylor, MJ}, title = {Wolbachia depletion blocks transmission of lymphatic filariasis by preventing chitinase-dependent parasite exsheathment.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {15}, pages = {e2120003119}, pmid = {35377795}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {MC_PC_18055/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Chitinases/genetics ; *Elephantiasis, Filarial/transmission ; Humans ; *Microfilariae/enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Mosquito Vectors/parasitology ; *Wolbachia/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lymphatic filariasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease prioritized for global elimination. The filarial nematodes that cause the disease host a symbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, which has been targeted using antibiotics, leading to cessation of parasite embryogenesis, waning of circulating larvae (microfilariae [mf]), and gradual cure of adult infection. One of the benefits of the anti-Wolbachia mode of action is that it avoids the rapid killing of mf, which can drive inflammatory adverse events. However, mf depleted of Wolbachia persist for several months in circulation, and thus patients treated with antibiotics are assumed to remain at risk for transmitting infections. Here, we show that Wolbachia-depleted mf rapidly lose the capacity to develop in the mosquito vector through a defect in exsheathment and inability to migrate through the gut wall. Transcriptomic and Western blotting analyses demonstrate that chitinase, an enzyme essential for mf exsheathment, is down-regulated in Wolbachia-depleted mf and correlates with their inability to exsheath and escape the mosquito midgut. Supplementation of in vitro cultures of Wolbachia-depleted mf with chitinase enzymes restores their ability to exsheath to a similar level to that observed in untreated mf. Our findings elucidate a mechanism of rapid transmission-blocking activity of filariasis after depletion of Wolbachia and adds to the broad range of biological processes of filarial nematodes that are dependent on Wolbachia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35377636, year = {2022}, author = {Thangaraj, K and Li, J and Mei, H and Hu, S and Han, R and Zhao, Z and Chen, X and Li, X and Kamatchi Reddiar, D}, title = {Mycorrhizal Colonization Enhanced Sorghum bicolor Tolerance under Soil Water Deficit Conditions by Coordination of Proline and Reduced Glutathione (GSH).}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {70}, number = {14}, pages = {4243-4255}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.1c07184}, pmid = {35377636}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Antioxidants ; Droughts ; Glutathione ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Proline ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Soil ; *Sorghum/microbiology ; Water ; }, abstract = {Drought stress is an important limiting factor in crop production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant drought tolerance through antioxidant activities. However, the coordination of nonenzymatic antioxidants against drought remains unclear. Here, we investigated the AMF symbiosis in drought tolerance of Sorghum bicolor by increasing proline and reducing glutathione (GSH). Glomus mosseae inoculation increased grain yield, biochemical content, and bioactivities of millets. Under drought conditions, seedlings inoculated with G. mosseae had higher SOD, POD, CAT, PPO, proline, and GSH activities compared to noninoculated controls. Meanwhile, a lower accumulation of MDA and H2O2 was observed in the G. mosseae seedlings. Furthermore, genes attributed to nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as GST29, P5CS2, FD3, GST, and GAD, were significantly up-regulated by G. mosseae under drought conditions. In conclusion, G. mosseae inoculation enhanced the drought tolerance of S. bicolor by improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, including proline and GSH, that regulate ROS production and prevent oxidative damage.}, } @article {pmid35373828, year = {2022}, author = {Álvarez, C and Brenes-Álvarez, M and Molina-Heredia, FP and Mariscal, V}, title = {Quantitative Proteomics at Early Stages of the Symbiotic Interaction Between Oryza sativa and Nostoc punctiforme Reveals Novel Proteins Involved in the Symbiotic Crosstalk.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {63}, number = {10}, pages = {1433-1445}, pmid = {35373828}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Nostoc/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Oryza/genetics/microbiology ; Proteomics ; Ecosystem ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between cyanobacteria and plants is considered pivotal for biological nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite extensive knowledge of the ecology of plant-cyanobacterium symbioses, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in recognition between partners. Here, we conducted a quantitative sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra mass spectrometry pipeline to analyze protein changes in Oryza sativa and Nostoc punctiforme during early events of symbiosis. We found differentially expressed proteins in both organisms linked to several biological functions, including signal transduction, adhesion, defense-related proteins and cell wall modification. In N. punctiforme we found increased expression of 62 proteins that have been previously described in other Nostoc-plant symbioses, reinforcing the robustness of our study. Our findings reveal new proteins activated in the early stages of the Nostoc-Oryza symbiosis that might be important for the recognition between the plant and the host. Oryza mutants in genes in the common symbiosis signaling pathway (CSSP) show reduced colonization efficiency, providing first insights on the involvement of the CSSP for the accommodation of N. punctiforme inside the plant cells. This information may have long-term implications for a greater understanding of the symbiotic interaction between Nostoc and land plants.}, } @article {pmid35371134, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, XJ and Yin, YQ and Zhu, XM and Xia, X and Han, JJ}, title = {High Ambient Temperature Regulated the Plant Systemic Response to the Beneficial Endophytic Fungus Serendipita indica.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {844572}, pmid = {35371134}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Most plants in nature establish symbiotic associations with endophytic fungi in soil. Beneficial endophytic fungi induce a systemic response in the aboveground parts of the host plant, thus promoting the growth and fitness of host plants. Meanwhile, temperature elevation from climate change widely affects global plant biodiversity as well as crop quality and yield. Over the past decades, great progresses have been made in the response of plants to high ambient temperature and to symbiosis with endophytic fungi. However, little is known about their synergistic effect on host plants. The endophytic fungus Serendipita indica colonizes the roots of a wide range of plants, including Arabidopsis. Based on the Arabidopsis-S. indica symbiosis experimental system, we analyzed the synergistic effect of high ambient temperature and endophytic fungal symbiosis on host plants. By transcriptome analysis, we found that DNA replication-related genes were significantly upregulated during the systemic response of Arabidopsis aboveground parts to S. indica colonization. Plant hormones, such as jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET), play important roles in plant growth and systemic responses. We found that high ambient temperature repressed the JA and ET signaling pathways of Arabidopsis aboveground parts during the systemic response to S. indica colonization in roots. Meanwhile, PIF4 is the central hub transcription factor controlling plant thermosensory growth under high ambient temperature in Arabidopsis. PIF4 is also involving JA and/or ET signaling pathway. We found that PIF4 target genes overlapped with many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the systemic response, and further showed that the growth promotion efficiency of S. indica on the pif4 mutant was higher than that on the wild-type plants. In short, our data showed that high ambient temperature strengthened the growth promotion effect of S. indica fungi on the aboveground parts of the host plant Arabidopsis, and the growth promotion effect of the systemic response under high ambient temperature was regulated by PIF4.}, } @article {pmid35369521, year = {2022}, author = {Lupini, S and Peña-Bahamonde, J and Bonito, G and Rodrigues, DF}, title = {Effect of Endosymbiotic Bacteria on Fungal Resistance Toward Heavy Metals.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {822541}, pmid = {35369521}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Most studies on metal removal or tolerance by fungi or bacteria focus on single isolates, without taking into consideration that some fungi in nature may be colonized by endobacteria. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the tolerance and removal of diverse metals with two fungal species: Linnemannia elongata containing Burkholderia-related endobacteria and Benniella erionia containing Mollicute-related endobacteria. Isogenic lines of both species were generated with antibiotic treatments to remove their respective endobacteria. Experiments involved comparing the isogenic lines and wild type fungi in relation to the minimum inhibitory concentration for the metals, the fungal ability to remove these different metals via atomic adsorption spectroscopy, and the interaction of the metals with specific functional groups of the fungi and fungi-bacteria to determine the role of the bacteria via attenuated total reflection fourier transformed infrared (ATR-FTIR). Finally, we determined the influence of different metal concentrations, associated with moderate and high fungal growth inhibition, on the presence of the endobacteria inside the fungal mycelium via quantitative real-time PCR. Results showed that the presence of the endosymbiont increased B. erionia resistance to Mn[2+] and increased the removal of Fe[2+] compared to isogenic lines. The absence of the endosymbiont in L. elongata increased the fungal resistance toward Fe[2+] and improved the removal of Fe[2+]. Furthermore, when the bacterial endosymbiont was present in L. elongata, a decrease in the fungal resistance to Ca[2+], Fe[2+], and Cr[6+]was noticeable. In the ATR-FTIR analysis, we determined that C-H and C = O were the major functional groups affected by the presence of Cu[2+], Mn[2+], and Fe[2+] for L. elongata and in the presence of Cu[2+] and Ca[2+] for B. eronia. It is noteworthy that the highest concentration of Pb[2+] led to the loss of endobacteria in both L. elongata and B. eronia, while the other metals generally increased the concentration of endosymbionts inside the fungal mycelium. From these results, we concluded that bacterial endosymbionts of fungi can play a fundamental role in fungal resistance to metals. This study provides the first step toward a greater understanding of symbiotic interactions between bacteria and fungi in relation to metal tolerance and remediation.}, } @article {pmid35369519, year = {2022}, author = {Zhai, X and Cao, W and Zhang, Y and Ju, P and Chen, J and Duan, J and Sun, C}, title = {Study on the Bacterial Communities of the Biofilms on Titanium, Aluminum, and Copper Alloys at 5,772 m Undersea in Yap Trench.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {831984}, pmid = {35369519}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Biofilms formed on metal surfaces strongly affect metallic instruments serving in marine environments. However, due to sampling difficulty, less has been known about the bacterial communities of the biofilm on metallic surfaces in hadal environments, so the failure process of these deep-sea metallic instruments influenced by microbial communities could be hardly predicted. In this research, seven alloys, including titanium, aluminum, and copper alloys, were exposed in Yap Trench hadal environment for 1 year. Thus, the communities of the biofilms formed on metallic surfaces at 5,772 m undersea in Yap Trench were initially reported in previous studies. Then, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to visualize the in situ bacterial communities of the biofilms formed on titanium, aluminum, and copper alloys at 5,772 m undersea in Yap Trench. It was found that Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in all samples, but distinct genera were discovered on various alloys. The titanium alloy provided a suitable substrate for a mutualistic symbiotic biofilm with abundant bacterial richness. Aluminum alloys without copper components showed the least bacterial richness and formed a cold-adapted and oligotrophic-adapted biofilm containing the genera Sulfurimonas and PS1 Clade, while copper-present alloys showed relatively high bacterial richness with copper-resistant or even copper-utilizing biofilms constituting the genera Stenotrophomonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Achromobacter on the surfaces. Furthermore, among all the element components contained in alloys investigated in this research, copper element showed the strongest influences on the composition and function of microbial communities in the biofilms formed on various metallic surfaces.}, } @article {pmid35369505, year = {2022}, author = {Flores, E and Romanovicz, DK and Nieves-Morión, M and Foster, RA and Villareal, TA}, title = {Adaptation to an Intracellular Lifestyle by a Nitrogen-Fixing, Heterocyst-Forming Cyanobacterial Endosymbiont of a Diatom.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {799362}, pmid = {35369505}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between the diatom Hemiaulus hauckii and the heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Richelia intracellularis makes an important contribution to new production in the world's oceans, but its study is limited by short-term survival in the laboratory. In this symbiosis, R. intracellularis fixes atmospheric dinitrogen in the heterocyst and provides H. hauckii with fixed nitrogen. Here, we conducted an electron microscopy study of H. hauckii and found that the filaments of the R. intracellularis symbiont, typically composed of one terminal heterocyst and three or four vegetative cells, are located in the diatom's cytoplasm not enclosed by a host membrane. A second prokaryotic cell was also detected in the cytoplasm of H. hauckii, but observations were infrequent. The heterocysts of R. intracellularis differ from those of free-living heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria in that the specific components of the heterocyst envelope seem to be located in the periplasmic space instead of outside the outer membrane. This specialized arrangement of the heterocyst envelope and a possible association of the cyanobacterium with oxygen-respiring mitochondria may be important for protection of the nitrogen-fixing enzyme, nitrogenase, from photosynthetically produced oxygen. The cell envelope of the vegetative cells of R. intracellularis contained numerous membrane vesicles that resemble the outer-inner membrane vesicles of Gram-negative bacteria. These vesicles can export cytoplasmic material from the bacterial cell and, therefore, may represent a vehicle for transfer of fixed nitrogen from R. intracellularis to the diatom's cytoplasm. The specific morphological features of R. intracellularis described here, together with its known streamlined genome, likely represent specific adaptations of this cyanobacterium to an intracellular lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid35369485, year = {2022}, author = {Hussain, S and Perveen, N and Hussain, A and Song, B and Aziz, MU and Zeb, J and Li, J and George, D and Cabezas-Cruz, A and Sparagano, O}, title = {The Symbiotic Continuum Within Ticks: Opportunities for Disease Control.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {854803}, pmid = {35369485}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Among blood-sucking arthropods, ticks are recognized as being of prime global importance because of their role as vectors of pathogens affecting human and animal health. Ticks carry a variety of pathogenic, commensal, and symbiotic microorganisms. For the latter, studies are available concerning the detection of endosymbionts, but their role in the physiology and ecology of ticks remains largely unexplored. This review paper focuses on tick endosymbionts of the genera Coxiella, Rickettsia, Francisella, Midichloria, and Wolbachia, and their impact on ticks and tick-pathogen interactions that drive disease risk. Tick endosymbionts can affect tick physiology by influencing nutritional adaptation, fitness, and immunity. Further, symbionts may influence disease ecology, as they interact with tick-borne pathogens and can facilitate or compete with pathogen development within the vector tissues. Rickettsial symbionts are frequently found in ticks of the genera of Ixodes, Amblyomma, and Dermacentor with relatively lower occurrence in Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis, and Hyalomma ticks, while Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) were reported infecting almost all tick species tested. Francisella-like endosymbionts (FLEs) have been identified in tick genera such as Dermacentor, Amblyomma, Ornithodoros, Ixodes, and Hyalomma, whereas Wolbachia sp. has been detected in Ixodes, Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus tick genera. Notably, CLEs and FLEs are obligate endosymbionts essential for tick survival and development through the life cycle. American dog ticks showed greater motility when infected with Rickettsia, indirectly influencing infection risk, providing evidence of a relationship between tick endosymbionts and tick-vectored pathogens. The widespread occurrence of endosymbionts across the tick phylogeny and evidence of their functional roles in ticks and interference with tick-borne pathogens suggests a significant contribution to tick evolution and/or vector competence. We currently understand relatively little on how these endosymbionts influence tick parasitism, vector capacity, pathogen transmission and colonization, and ultimately on how they influence tick-borne disease dynamics. Filling this knowledge gap represents a major challenge for future research.}, } @article {pmid35369427, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Li, Y and Si, H and Zhao, G and Kolařík, M and Hulcr, J and Jiang, X and Dai, M and Chang, R}, title = {Geosmithia Species Associated With Bark Beetles From China, With the Description of Nine New Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {820402}, pmid = {35369427}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fungi of the genus Geosmithia are frequently associated with bark beetles that feed on phloem on various woody hosts. Most studies on Geosmithia were carried out in North and South America and Europe, with only two species being reported from Taiwan, China. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of Geosmithia species in China. Field surveys in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanghai, and Yunnan yielded a total of 178 Geosmithia isolates from 12 beetle species. The isolates were grouped based on morphology. The internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, and elongation factor 1-α gene regions of the representatives of each group were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on those sequences. In total, 12 species were identified, with three previously described species (Geosmithia xerotolerans, G. putterillii, and G. pallida) and nine new species which are described in this paper as G. luteobrunnea, G. radiata, G. brevistipitata, G. bombycina, G. granulata (Geosmithia sp. 20), G. subfulva, G. pulverea (G. sp. 3 and Geosmithia sp. 23), G. fusca, and G. pumila sp. nov. The dominant species obtained in this study were G. luteobrunnea and G. pulverea. This study systematically studied the Geosmithia species in China and made an important contribution to filling in the gaps in our understanding of global Geosmithia species diversity.}, } @article {pmid35368436, year = {2022}, author = {Sambhav, R and Jena, S and Chatterjee, A and Bhasin, S and Santapuri, S and Kumar, L and Muthukrishnan, SP and Roy, S}, title = {An Integrated Dynamic Closed Loop Simulation Platform for Elbow Flexion Augmentation Using an Upper Limb Exosuit Model.}, journal = {Frontiers in robotics and AI}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {768841}, pmid = {35368436}, issn = {2296-9144}, abstract = {Wearable robotic devices are designed to assist, enhance or restore human muscle performance. Understanding how a wearable robotic device changes human biomechanics through complex interaction is important to guide its proper design, parametric optimization and functional success. The present work develops a human-machine-interaction simulation platform for closed loop dynamic analysis with feedback control and to study the effect of soft-robotic wearables on human physiology. The proposed simulation platform incorporates Computed Muscle Control (CMC) algorithm and is implemented using the MATLAB -OpenSim interface. The framework is generic and will allow incorporation of any advanced control strategy for the wearable devices. As a demonstration, a Gravity Compensation (GC) controller has been implemented on the wearable device and the resulting decrease in the joint moments, muscle activations and metabolic costs during a simple repetitive load lifting task with two different speeds is investigated.}, } @article {pmid35368327, year = {2022}, author = {Al-Yahya'ei, MN and Błaszkowski, J and Al-Hashmi, H and Al-Farsi, K and Al-Rashdi, I and Patzelt, A and Boller, T and Wiemken, A and Symanczik, S}, title = {From isolation to application: a case study of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Arabian Peninsula.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {86}, number = {1}, pages = {123-132}, pmid = {35368327}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {The vegetation in the Arabian Peninsula experiences drought, heat, soil salinity, and low fertility, mainly due to low phosphorus (P) availability. The beneficial mycorrhizal symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a key factor supporting plant growth under such environmental conditions. Therefore, AMF strains isolated from these soils might be useful as biotechnological tools for agriculture and revegetation practices in the region. Here we present a pioneering program to isolate, identify, and apply AMF isolated from rhizosphere soils of agricultural and natural habitats, namely date palm plantations and five native desert plants, respectively in the Southern Arabian Peninsula. We established taxonomically unique AMF species as single-spore cultures as part of an expanding collection of AMF strains adapted to arid ecosystems. Preliminary experiments were conducted to evaluate the abilities of these AMF strains to promote seedling growth of a main crop Phoenix dactylifera L. and a common plant Prosopis cineraria L. (Druce) in the Arabian Peninsula. The results showed that inoculation with certain AMF species enhanced the growth of both plants, highlighting the potential of these fungi as part of sustainable land use practices in this region.}, } @article {pmid35368294, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, ZS}, title = {Microbiome Transmission During Sexual Intercourse Appears Stochastic and Supports the Red Queen Hypothesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {789983}, pmid = {35368294}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbes inhabit virtually everywhere on and/or in our bodies, including the seminal and vaginal fluids. They have significant importance in maintaining reproductive health and protecting hosts from diseases. The exchange of microbes during sexual intercourse is one of the most direct and significant microbial transmissions between men and women. Nevertheless, the mechanism of this microbial transmission was little known. Is the transmission mode stochastic, passive diffusion similar to the random walk of particles, or driven by some deterministic forces? What is the microbial transmission probability? What are the possible evolutionary implications, particularly from the perspective of sexual reproduction (selection)? We tackle these intriguing questions by leveraging the power of Hubbell's unified neutral theory of biodiversity, specifically implemented as the HDP-MSN (hierarchical Dirichlet process approximated multi-site neutral model), which allows for constructing truly multi-site metacommunity models, simultaneously including vaginal and semen microbiomes. By reanalyzing the microbiome datasets of seminal and vaginal fluids from 23 couples both before and after sexual intercourses originally reported by Mändar and colleagues, we found that the microbial transmission between seminal and vaginal fluids is a stochastic, passive diffusion similar to the random walk of particles in physics, rather than driven by deterministic forces. The transmission probability through sexual intercourse seems to be approximately 0.05. Inspired by the results from the HDP-MSN model, we further conjecture that the stochastic drifts of microbiome transmissions during sexual intercourses can be responsible for the homogeneity between semen and vaginal microbiomes first identified in a previous study, which should be helpful for sexual reproduction by facilitating the sperm movement/survival and/or egg fertilization. This inference seems to be consistent with the classic Red Queen hypothesis, which, when extended to the co-evolutionary interactions between humans and their symbiotic microbiomes, would predict that the reproductive system microbiomes should support sexual reproduction.}, } @article {pmid35362106, year = {2022}, author = {Ganugi, P and Fiorini, A and Ardenti, F and Caffi, T and Bonini, P and Taskin, E and Puglisi, E and Tabaglio, V and Trevisan, M and Lucini, L}, title = {Nitrogen use efficiency, rhizosphere bacterial community, and root metabolome reprogramming due to maize seed treatment with microbial biostimulants.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {174}, number = {2}, pages = {e13679}, pmid = {35362106}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Metabolome ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; Seeds/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Zea mays/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Seed inoculation with beneficial microorganisms has gained importance as it has been proven to show biostimulant activity in plants, especially in terms of abiotic/biotic stress tolerance and plant growth promotion, representing a sustainable way to ensure yield stability under low input sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, limited knowledge is available concerning the molecular and physiological processes underlying the root-inoculant symbiosis or plant response at the root system level. Our work aimed to integrate the interrelationship between agronomic traits, rhizosphere microbial population and metabolic processes in roots, following seed treatment with either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). To this aim, maize was grown under open field conditions with either optimal or reduced nitrogen availability. Both seed treatments increased nitrogen uptake efficiency under reduced nitrogen supply revealed some microbial community changes among treatments at root microbiome level and limited yield increases, while significant changes could be observed at metabolome level. Amino acid, lipid, flavone, lignan, and phenylpropanoid concentrations were mostly modulated. Integrative analysis of multi-omics datasets (Multiple Co-Inertia Analysis) highlighted a strong correlation between the metagenomics and the untargeted metabolomics datasets, suggesting a coordinate modulation of root physiological traits.}, } @article {pmid35361201, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, J and Zhou, Y and Li, J and Song, Z and Han, H}, title = {Novel approach to enhance Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens nodulation through continuous induction of ROS by manganese ferrite nanomaterials in soybean.}, journal = {Journal of nanobiotechnology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {168}, pmid = {35361201}, issn = {1477-3155}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium ; *Fabaceae ; Ferric Compounds ; Manganese Compounds ; *Nanostructures ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Soybeans ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The study of symbiotic nitrogen fixation between (SNF) legumes and rhizobia has always been a hot frontier in scientific research. Nanotechnology provides a new strategy for biological nitrogen fixation research. However, how to construct abiotic nano-structure-biological system, using the special properties of nanomaterials, to realize the self-enhancement of biological nitrogen fixation capacity is important.

RESULTS: In order to construct a more efficient SNF system, in this study, we applied manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MF-NPs) with sustainable diatomic catalysis to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus regulating the nodulation pathway and increasing the number of nodules in soybean (Glycine max), eventually enhancing symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Symbiosis cultivation of MF-NPs and soybean plants resulted in 50.85% and 61.4% increase in nodule weight and number, respectively, thus inducing a 151.36% nitrogen fixation efficiency increase, finally leading to a 25.70% biomass accumulation increase despite no substantial effect on the nitrogenase activity per unit. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that of 36 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 31 DEGs related to soybean nodulation were upregulated in late rhizobium inoculation stage (12 d), indicating that the increase of nodules was derived from nodule-related genes (Nod-R) continuous inductions by MF-NPs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the nodule number could be effectively increased by extending the nodulation period without threatening the vegetative growth of plants or triggering the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway. This study provides an effective strategy for induction of super-conventional nodulation.}, } @article {pmid35360325, year = {2022}, author = {Luo, C and Shi, Y and Xiang, Y}, title = {SNAREs Regulate Vesicle Trafficking During Root Growth and Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {853251}, pmid = {35360325}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins assemble to drive the final membrane fusion step of membrane trafficking. Thus, SNAREs are essential for membrane fusion and vesicular trafficking, which are fundamental mechanisms for maintaining cellular homeostasis. In plants, SNAREs have been demonstrated to be located in different subcellular compartments and involved in a variety of fundamental processes, such as cytokinesis, cytoskeleton organization, symbiosis, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. In addition, SNAREs can also contribute to the normal growth and development of Arabidopsis. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the biological functions and signaling network of SNAREs in vesicle trafficking and the regulation of root growth and development in Arabidopsis.}, } @article {pmid35360307, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, GH and Chen, XG and Selosse, MA and Gao, JY}, title = {Compatible and Incompatible Mycorrhizal Fungi With Seeds of Dendrobium Species: The Colonization Process and Effects of Coculture on Germination and Seedling Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {823794}, pmid = {35360307}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Orchids highly rely on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination, and compatible fungi could effectively promote germination up to seedlings, while incompatible fungi may stimulate germination but do not support subsequent seedling development. In this study, we compared the fungal colonization process among two compatible and two incompatible fungi during seed germination of Dendrobium officinale. The two compatible fungi, i.e., Tulasnella SSCDO-5 and Sebacinales LQ, originally from different habitats, could persistently colonize seeds and form a large number of pelotons continuously in the basal cells, and both fungi promoted seed germination up to seedling with relative effectiveness. In contrast, the two incompatible fungi, i.e., Tulasnella FDd1 and Tulasnella AgP-1, could not persistently colonize seeds. No pelotons in the FDd1 treatment and only a few pelotons in the AgP-1 treatment were observed; moreover, no seedlings were developed at 120 days after incubation in either incompatible fungal treatment. The pattern of fungal hyphae colonizing seeds was well-matched with the morphological differentiation of seed germination and seedling development. In the fungal cocultural experiments, for both orchids of D. officinale and Dendrobium devonianum, cocultures had slightly negative effects on seed germination, protocorm formation, and seedling formation compared with the monocultures with compatible fungus. These results provide us with a better understanding of orchid mycorrhizal interactions; therefore, for orchid conservation based on symbiotic seed germination, it is recommended that a single, compatible, and ecological/habitat-specific fungus can be utilized for seed germination.}, } @article {pmid35359723, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, JN and Yu, YJ and Dai, MD and Zeng, YL and Lu, XJ and Wang, L and Liu, XH and Su, ZZ and Lin, FC}, title = {A New Species in Pseudophialophora From Wild Rice and Beneficial Potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {845104}, pmid = {35359723}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Wild rice (Oryza granulata) is a natural resource pool containing abundant unknown endophytic fungi species. There are few reports on the endophytic fungi in wild rice. Here, one isolate recovered from wild rice roots was identified as a new species Pseudophialophora oryzae sp. nov based on the molecular phylogeny and morphological characteristics. Fluorescent protein-expressing P. oryzae was used to monitor the fungal colonization pattern. Hyphae invaded the epidermis to the inner cortex but not into the root stele. The inoculation of P. oryzae promoted the rice growth, with the growth parameters of chlorophyll content, shoot height, root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight and dry weight increasing by 24.10, 35.32, 19.35, 90.00, 33.3, and 79.17%, respectively. P. oryzae induced up-regulation of nitrate transporter OsPTR9 and potassium transporter OsHAK16 by 7.28 ± 0.84 and 2.57 ± 0.80 folds, promoting nitrogen and potassium elements absorption. In addition, P. oryzae also conferred a systemic resistance against rice blast, showing a 72.65 and 75.63% control rate in sterile plates and potting conditions. This systemic resistance was mediated by the strongly up-regulated expression of resistance-related genes NAC, OsSAUR2, OsWRKY71, EL5, and PR1α. Since P. oryzae can promote rice growth, biomass and induce systemic disease resistance, it can be further developed as a new biogenic agent for agricultural production, providing a new approach for biocontrol of rice blast.}, } @article {pmid35359710, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, S and Rajput, AP and Mao, T and Liu, Y and Ellepola, G and Herath, J and Yang, J and Meegaskumbura, M}, title = {Adapting to Novel Environments Together: Evolutionary and Ecological Correlates of the Bacterial Microbiome of the World's Largest Cavefish Diversification (Cyprinidae, Sinocyclocheilus).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {823254}, pmid = {35359710}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between a host and its microbiome is essential for host fitness, and this association is a consequence of the host's physiology and habitat. Sinocyclocheilus, the largest cavefish diversification of the world, an emerging multi-species model system for evolutionary novelty, provides an excellent opportunity for examining correlates of host evolutionary history, habitat, and gut-microbial community diversity. From the diversification-scale patterns of habitat occupation, major phylogenetic clades (A-D), geographic distribution, and knowledge from captive-maintained Sinocyclocheilus populations, we hypothesize habitat to be the major determinant of microbiome diversity, with phylogeny playing a lesser role. For this, we subject environmental water samples and fecal samples (representative of gut-microbiome) from 24 Sinocyclocheilus species, both from the wild and after being in captivity for 6 months, to bacterial 16S rRNA gene profiling using Illumina sequencing. We see significant differences in the gut microbiota structure of Sinocyclocheilus, reflective of the three habitat types; gut microbiomes too, were influenced by host-related factors. There is no significant association between the gut microbiomes and host phylogeny. However, there is some microbiome related structure at the clade level, with the most geographically distant clades (A and D) being the most distinct, and the two overlapping clades (B and C) showing similarities. Microbes inhabiting water were not a cause for significant differences in fish-gut microbiota, but water quality parameters were. Transferring from wild to captivity, the fish microbiomes changed significantly and became homogenized, signifying plastic changes and highlighting the importance of environmental factors (habitat) in microbiome community assembly. The core microbiome of this group, at higher taxonomic scale, resembled that of other teleost fishes. Our results suggest that divergent natural environments giving rise to evolutionary novelties underlying host adaptations, also includes the microbiome of these fishes.}, } @article {pmid35358636, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, L and Yu, X and Wu, D and Su, J}, title = {Antibiotic resistance gene profile in aerobic granular reactor under antibiotic stress: Can eukaryotic microalgae act as inhibiting factor?.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {304}, number = {}, pages = {119221}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119221}, pmid = {35358636}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; Bacteria/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Eukaryota ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Microalgae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Scenedesmus ; Sewage/microbiology ; Tetracycline ; }, abstract = {Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) pollution is critical environmental problem, and horizontal gene transfer acts as a driving evolutionary force. In theory, due to the phylogenetic distance between eukaryotes and prokaryotes, eukaryotic microalgae can be a natural barrier that plays a negative role in ARG transfer among the symbiotic bacteria to decrease ARG abundance in sludge during wastewater treatment. However, this hypothesis is far from proven and needs to be tested experimentally, so this study investigated the influence of eukaryote microalgae (Scenedesmus) on the ARG profile of symbiotic bacteria based on aerobic granular reactor. The results indicated that Scenedesmus symbiosis could affect ARG diversity of bacteria, and the detected numbers of ARG in aerobic granular sludge (AG) group and algae-bacteria granular consortia (AAG) group were 45-53 and 44-47, respectively. In terms of relative abundance, after target microalgae symbiosis, the total abundance of ARGs significantly decreased from 1.17 × 10°, 2.69 × 10° and 1.36 × 10[-1] to 6.53 × 10[-1], 9.64 × 10[-1] and 1.04 × 10[-1] in the systems with the addition of streptomycin, azithromycin and vancomycin, respectively (P < 0.05), yet there was no significant difference between AG and AAG under the stress of ampicillin, sulfamethazine and tetracycline (P > 0.05). Redundancy analysis showed that the eukaryotic microalgae were significant factor explaining the change in ARG relative abundance (P < 0.05), which contributed 15.3% of ARG variation. Furthermore, the results show that, except for the tetracycline treatment system, the total relative abundances of MGEs in the AAG under the stress of the other five antibiotics were 3.54 × 10[-2]-7.13 × 10[-1], which were all significantly lower than those in the AG (8.38 × 10[-2]-1.59 × 10°). There was a more significant positive correlation relationship between ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) than that between ARGs and dominated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35358534, year = {2022}, author = {Havas, V and Falk-Andersson, J and Deshpande, P}, title = {Small circles: The role of physical distance in plastics recycling.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {831}, number = {}, pages = {154913}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154913}, pmid = {35358534}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Europe ; Physical Distancing ; *Plastics ; Recycling ; *Waste Management ; }, abstract = {Circular economy (CE) strategies are central in solving the waste management challenges of today, yet the global nature of the waste trade results in emissions and the export of negative environmental externalities to low-income countries. Here, we target a systemic challenge in the current indicators developed to measure more sustainable consumption and production progress. We argue that sustainable, circular solutions to recycling need to account for the negative externalities caused by the physical distance of the waste trade. We define the new concept "Small Circles" (SC) and suggest a new circularity indicator that can better ensure sustainability in implementing closed-loop strategies and thereby provide critical criteria to consider in pursuing CE. The SC approach advocates the need to manage the waste within a smaller geographical area of its origin to reduce the environmental burdens originating from the transboundary export of waste. Further, it ensures that the waste-producing regions take responsibility for their waste generation and management. If implemented appropriately, we argue that the SC approach could improve the transparency of the fate of waste and boost local opportunities through job creation and allow for the development of symbiotic relations among regional industries. The SC concept demands commitment from all stakeholders across the product value chain to extract value from the waste without jeopardizing sustainability goals. The application of the SC concept is explained by describing the sustainability challenges and opportunities related to plastic waste management in Europe. To concretize the SC approach and the circularity indicator further, the management of the plastic waste sourcing from the Norwegian fishing sector and plastic waste management in the US are used as case examples.}, } @article {pmid35358343, year = {2022}, author = {Hsieh, YH and Wei, YH and Lo, JC and Pan, HY and Yang, SY}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances tomato lateral root formation by modulating CEP2 peptide expression.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {1}, pages = {292-305}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18128}, pmid = {35358343}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Peptides/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant lateral root (LR) growth usually is stimulated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. However, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. We used gene expression analysis, peptide treatment and virus-induced gene alteration assays to demonstrate that C-terminally encoded peptide (CEP2) expression in tomato was downregulated during AM symbiosis to mitigate its negative effect on LR formation through an auxin-related pathway. We showed that enhanced LR density and downregulated CEP2 expression were observed during mycorrhizal symbiosis. Synthetic CEP2 peptide treatment reduced LR density and impaired the expression of genes involved in indole-3-butyric acid (IBA, the precursor of IAA) to IAA conversion, auxin polar transport and the LR-related signaling pathway; however, application of IBA or synthetic auxin 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to the roots may rescue both defective LR formation and reduced gene expression. CEP receptor 1 (CEPR1) might be the receptor of CEP2 because its knockdown plants did not respond to CEP2 treatment. Most importantly, the LR density of CEP2 overexpression or knockdown plants could not be further increased by AM inoculation, suggesting that CEP2 was critical for AM-induced LR formation. These results indicated that AM symbiosis may regulate root development by modulating CEP2, which affects the auxin-related pathway.}, } @article {pmid35358287, year = {2022}, author = {Islam, M and Al-Hashimi, A and Ayshasiddeka, M and Ali, H and El Enshasy, HA and Dailin, DJ and Sayyed, RZ and Yeasmin, T}, title = {Prevalence of mycorrhizae in host plants and rhizosphere soil: A biodiversity aspect.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {e0266403}, pmid = {35358287}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Acacia ; *Asteraceae/microbiology ; Biodiversity ; *Chenopodiaceae ; *Glomeromycota ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Prevalence ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plants roots are colonized by soil inhabitants known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which increase plant productivity, and enhance carbon storage in the soil. We found mycorrhizal vesicles, arbuscles, and mycelium in the root of more than 89% of the selected plants of University of Rajshahi campus, Bangladesh. The rate of their presence differed in plant to plant of a family and different families. The highest root colonization (98±1.0%) was found to be present in Xanthium strumarium (Asteraceae). Mycorrhiza was not found in the root of Sphagneticola calendulacea (Asteraceae), Cestrun nocturnum (Solanaceae), Acacia nilotica and Acacia catechu (Mimosoidae), Rorippa nasturtium, Brassica oleracla var botrytis (Brasicaceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Tecoma capensis (Bignoniacea), Spinacia oleracia (Chenopodiaceae), Chenopodium album (Goosefoot). Result of soil analysis reveals that the rhizospheric soils were deficient in nutrients which might be suitable for mycorrhizal symbiosis with plants. In the rhizospheric soils, 22 species of Glomus, Scutelospora, Gigaspora, Archaeospora, and Acullospora were found. We also found the genera 'Glomus' dominance in the plant root and rhizospheric soil. So, it can be concluded that the highly colonized roots as well as spores can be used to prepare mycorrhizal inoculum for future purposes.}, } @article {pmid35358019, year = {2022}, author = {Herrera, M and Wang, R and Zhang, P and Yu, FQ}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal association of Tricholoma matsutake and two allied species, T. bakamatsutake and T. fulvocastaneum, with native hosts in subtropical China.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {114}, number = {2}, pages = {303-318}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2022.2025563}, pmid = {35358019}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Agaricales ; China ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Tricholoma/genetics ; }, abstract = {Accurate identification of edible ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushrooms and their host trees in nature is key to commercial production for consumption. For the first time we describe the ectomycorrhizal association of the three most common species of edible matsutake mushrooms with their native host trees in Yunnan Province in China. We collected ECM samples from three different localities in subtropical forests known to be highly productive areas of Tricholoma. Additionally, we collected basidiomata of Tricholoma from the field and markets in Yunnan. ECM samples were analyzed using morphological and molecular methods. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and analyzed the intergenic spacer of cpDNA psbA-trnH to identify basidiomata and plant hosts, respectively. Three species of Tricholoma were identified: T. bakamatsutake, T. fulvocastaneum, and T. matsutake. Four ECM associations in the study area were detected: Tricholoma bakamatsutake + Castanopsis tibetana, T. fulvocastaneum + C. tibetana, T. fulvocastaneum + Pinus yunnanensis, and T. matsutake + P. yunnanensis. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the ECM associations are presented.}, } @article {pmid35357208, year = {2022}, author = {Strunov, A and Schmidt, K and Kapun, M and Miller, WJ}, title = {Restriction of Wolbachia Bacteria in Early Embryogenesis of Neotropical Drosophila Species via Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mediated Autophagy.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0386321}, pmid = {35357208}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Autophagy ; Drosophila/microbiology ; Embryonic Development ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are maternally transmitted intracellular bacteria that are not only restricted to the reproductive organs but also found in various somatic tissues of their native hosts. The abundance of the endosymbiont in the soma, usually a dead end for vertically transmitted bacteria, causes a multitude of effects on life history traits of their hosts, which are still not well understood. Thus, deciphering the host-symbiont interactions on a cellular level throughout a host's life cycle is of great importance to understand their homeostatic nature, persistence, and spreading success. Using fluorescent and transmission electron microscopy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of Wolbachia tropism in soma and germ line of six Drosophila species at the intracellular level during host development. Our data uncovered diagnostic patterns of infections to embryonic primordial germ cells and to particular cells of the soma in three different neotropical Drosophila species that have apparently evolved independently. We further found that restricted patterns of Wolbachia tropism are determined in early embryogenesis via selective autophagy, and their spatially restricted infection patterns are preserved in adult flies. We observed tight interactions of Wolbachia with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, which might play a scaffolding role for autophagosome formation and subsequent elimination of the endosymbiont. Finally, by analyzing D. simulans lines transinfected with nonnative Wolbachia, we uncovered that the host genetic background regulates tissue tropism of infection. Our data demonstrate a novel and peculiar mechanism to limit and spatially restrict bacterial infection in the soma during a very early stage of host development. IMPORTANCE All organisms are living in close and intimate interactions with microbes that cause conflicts but also cooperation between both unequal genetic partners due to their different innate interests of primarily enhancing their own fitness. However, stable symbioses often result in homeostatic interaction, named mutualism, by balancing costs and benefits, where both partners profit. Mechanisms that have evolved to balance and stably maintain homeostasis in mutualistic relationships are still quite understudied; one strategy is to "domesticate" potentially beneficial symbionts by actively controlling their replication rate below a critical and, hence, costly threshold, and/or to spatially and temporally restrict their localization in the host organism, which, in the latter case, in its most extreme form, is the formation of a specialized housing organ for the microbe (bacteriome). However, questions remain: how do these mutualistic associations become established in their first place, and what are the mechanisms for symbiont control and restriction in their early stages? Here, we have uncovered an unprecedented symbiont control mechanism in neotropical Drosophila species during early embryogenesis. The fruit fly evolved selective autophagy to restrict and control the proliferation of its intracellular endosymbiont Wolbachia in a defined subset of the stem cells as soon as the host's zygotic genome is activated.}, } @article {pmid35357159, year = {2022}, author = {Nones, S and Sousa, E and Holighaus, G}, title = {Symbiotic Fungi of an Ambrosia Beetle Alter the Volatile Bouquet of Cork Oak Seedlings.}, journal = {Phytopathology}, volume = {112}, number = {9}, pages = {1965-1978}, doi = {10.1094/PHYTO-08-21-0345-R}, pmid = {35357159}, issn = {0031-949X}, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Quercus/microbiology ; Seedlings ; Trees ; *Volatile Organic Compounds/pharmacology ; *Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In Portugal, fungal symbionts of the ambrosia beetle Platypus cylindrus affect tree vigor of cork oak (Quercus suber) and are linked with the cork oak decline process. Fungal symbionts play crucial roles in the life history of bark and ambrosia beetles and recent work indicates complex interactions on the fungal and plant metabolic level. Colonized trees may respond with an array of currently unknown volatile metabolites being indicative of such interactions, acting as infochemicals with their environment. In this study, we examined volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of cork oak seedlings wound inoculated with strains of three fungal associates of P. cylindrus (Raffaelea montetyi, R. quercina, and Ceratocystiopsis sp. nov.) over a 45-day period by means of thermodesorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Fungal strains induced largely quantitative but species-specific changes among the 58 VOCs characterized. Overall, monoterpenes-the major volatiles of cork oak foliage-were significantly reduced, possibly a result of fungal biotransformation. Acetophenone, sulcatone, and nonanal-volatiles known for mediating ambrosia beetle behavior-increased in response to fungal inoculation. Qualitative VOC profiles of excised tissue of wood lesions (21 VOCs) and pure fungal cultures (60 VOCs) showed little overlap with seedling VOCs, indicating their plant-derived but fungal-induced origin. This chemoecological study expands on the limited knowledge of VOCs as infochemicals emitted from oak trees threatened by oak decline in relation to beetle-vectored ophiostomatoid fungi. It opens new avenues of research to clarify mutualistic or pathogenic aspects of these complex symbiotic interactions and develop new control strategies for P. cylindrus, including its mycobiota.}, } @article {pmid35356776, year = {2022}, author = {Di Natale, C and De Gregorio, V and Lagreca, E and Mauro, F and Corrado, B and Vecchione, R and Netti, PA}, title = {Engineered Bacterial Cellulose Nanostructured Matrix for Incubation and Release of Drug-Loaded Oil in Water Nanoemulsion.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {851893}, pmid = {35356776}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a highly pure form of cellulose produced by bacteria, which possesses numerous advantages such as good mechanical properties, high chemical flexibility, and the ability to assemble in nanostructures. Thanks to these features, it achieved a key role in the biomedical field and in drug delivery applications. BC showed its ability to modulate the release of several drugs and biomolecules to the skin, thus improving their clinical outcomes. This work displays the loading of a 3D BC nanonetwork with an innovative drug delivery nanoemulsion system. BC was optimized by static culture of SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and characterized by morphological and ultrastructural analyses, which indicate a cellulose fiber diameter range of 30-50 nm. BC layers were then incubated at different time points with a nanocarrier based on a secondary nanoemulsion (SNE) previously loaded with a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, namely, coenzyme-Q10 (Co-Q10). Incubation of Co-Q10-SNE in the BC nanonetwork and its release were analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy.}, } @article {pmid35356729, year = {2022}, author = {Barnett, JA and Bandy, ML and Gibson, DL}, title = {Is the Use of Glyphosate in Modern Agriculture Resulting in Increased Neuropsychiatric Conditions Through Modulation of the Gut-brain-microbiome Axis?.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {827384}, pmid = {35356729}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Environmental exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides has the potential to negatively influence neurodevelopment and behavior across generations indirectly through the gut-brain-microbiome axis. Potential mechanisms by which glyphosate may elicit these effects are through the disruption of the normally symbiotic relationship of the host and the gut microbiome. Given glyphosate can kill commensal members of the microbiome like Lactobacillus spp., Ruminococaeae and Butyricoccus spp., resulting in reductions in key microbial metabolites that act through the gut-brain-microbiome axis including indoles, L-glutamate and SCFAs. Glyphosate- resistant microbes in the gut have the potential to increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species which may result in increased HPA activation, resulting in increased production of glucocorticoids which have implications on neurodevelopment. In addition, maternal transfer of the gut microbiome can affect immune and neurodevelopment, across generations. This perspective article weighs the evidence for chronic glyphosate exposure on the gut microbiome and the potential consequences on the gut-brain axis correlated with increased incidence of neuropsychiatric conditions.}, } @article {pmid35356639, year = {2022}, author = {Ballinger, MJ and Christian, RC and Moore, LD and Taylor, DJ and Sabet, A}, title = {Evolution and diversity of inherited viruses in the Nearctic phantom midge, Chaoborus americanus.}, journal = {Virus evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {veac018}, pmid = {35356639}, issn = {2057-1577}, support = {P20 GM103646/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Inherited mutualists, parasites, and commensals occupy one of the most intimate ecological niches available to invertebrate-associated microbes. How this transmission environment influences microbial evolution is increasingly understood for inherited bacterial symbionts, but in viruses, research on the prevalence of vertical transmission and its effects on viral lineages is still maturing. The evolutionary stability of this strategy remains difficult to assess, although phylogenetic evidence of frequent host shifts and selective sweeps have been interpreted as strategies favoring parasite persistence. In this study, we describe and investigate a natural insect system in which species-wide sweeps have been restricted by the isolation of host populations. Previous work identified evidence of pronounced mitochondrial genetic structure among North American populations of the phantom midge, Chaoborus americanus. Here we take advantage of the geographical isolation in this species to investigate the diversity and persistence of its inherited virome. We identify eight novel RNA viruses from six families and use small RNA sequencing in reproductive tissues to provide evidence of vertical transmission. We report region-specific virus strains that mirror the continental phylogeography of the host, demonstrating that members of the inherited virome have independently persisted in parallel host lineages since they last shared a common ancestor in the Mid-Pleistocene. We find that the small interfering RNA pathway, a frontline of antiviral defense in insects, targets members of this inherited virome. Finally, our results suggest that the Piwi-mediated RNA silencing pathway is unlikely to function as a general antiviral defense in Chaoborus, in contrast to its role in some mosquitoes. However, we also report that this pathway generates abundant piRNAs from endogenous viral elements closely related to actively infecting inherited viruses, potentially helping to explain idiosyncratic patterns of virus-specific Piwi targeting in this insect.}, } @article {pmid35353011, year = {2022}, author = {Jaffe, AL and Fuster, M and Schoelmerich, MC and Chen, LX and Colombet, J and Billard, H and Sime-Ngando, T and Banfield, JF}, title = {Long-Term Incubation of Lake Water Enables Genomic Sampling of Consortia Involving Planctomycetes and Candidate Phyla Radiation Bacteria.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e0022322}, pmid = {35353011}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Humans ; *Planctomycetes ; Lakes/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; Bacteria ; Genomics ; *Microbiota ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities in lakes can profoundly impact biogeochemical processes through their individual activities and collective interactions. However, the complexity of these communities poses challenges, particularly for studying rare organisms such as Candidate Phyla Radiation bacteria (CPR) and enigmatic entities such as aster-like nanoparticles (ALNs). Here, a reactor was inoculated with water from Lake Fargette, France, and maintained under dark conditions at 4°C for 31 months and enriched for ALNs, diverse Planctomycetes, and CPR bacteria. We reconstructed draft genomes and predicted metabolic traits for 12 diverse Planctomycetes and 9 CPR bacteria, some of which are likely representatives of undescribed families or genera. One CPR genome representing the little-studied lineage "Candidatus Peribacter" was curated to completion (1.239 Mbp) and unexpectedly encodes the full gluconeogenesis pathway. Metatranscriptomic data indicate that some planctomycetes and CPR bacteria were active under the culture conditions, accounting for ∼30% and ∼1% of RNA reads mapping to the genome set, respectively. We also reconstructed genomes and obtained transmission electron microscope images for numerous viruses, including one with a >300-kbp genome and several predicted to infect Planctomycetes. Together, our analyses suggest that freshwater Planctomycetes are central players in a subsystem that includes ALNs, symbiotic CPR bacteria, and viruses. IMPORTANCE Laboratory incubations of natural microbial communities can aid in the study of member organisms and their networks of interaction. This is particularly important for understudied lineages for which key elements of basic biology are still emerging. Using genomics and microscopy, we found that members of the bacterial lineage Planctomycetes may be central players in a subset of a freshwater lake microbiome that includes other bacteria, archaea, viruses, and mysterious entities, called aster-like nanoparticles (ALNs), whose origin is unknown. Our results help constrain the possible origins of ALNs and provide insight into possible interactions within a complex lake ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid35351108, year = {2022}, author = {De Proost, M and Coene, G and Nekkebroeck, J and Provoost, V}, title = {'I feel that injustice is being done to me': a qualitative study of women's viewpoints on the (lack of) reimbursement for social egg freezing.}, journal = {BMC medical ethics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {35}, pmid = {35351108}, issn = {1472-6939}, mesh = {Cryopreservation ; Emotions ; Female ; *Fertility Preservation ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: During the last decade, the possibility for women to cryopreserve oocytes in anticipation of age-related fertility loss, also referred to as social egg freezing, has become an established practice at fertility clinics around the globe. In Europe, there is extensive variation in the costs for this procedure, with the common denominator that there are almost no funding arrangements or reimbursement policies. This is the first qualitative study that specifically explores viewpoints on the (lack of) reimbursement for women who had considered to uptake at least one social egg freezing cycle in Belgium.

METHODS: To understand the moral considerations of these women, drawing from twenty-one interviews, this paper integrates elements of a symbiotic empirical ethics approach and thematic analysis.

RESULTS: We identify four themes: (1) being confronted with unclear information; (2) financial costs as ongoing concern; (3) necessity of coverage; (4) extent of reimbursement. In the first theme, we found that some women were concerned about the lack of clear information about the cost of social egg freezing. In the second theme, we report moral sentiments of injustice and discrimination which some women attributed to their struggles and needs not being recognised. The third theme illustrates diverse views on reimbursement, ranging from viewing social egg freezing as an elective treatment not appropriate for reimbursement to preferences for greater public responsibility and wider access. Finally, we describe the participants' varying proposals for partial reimbursement and the idea that it should not be made available for free.

CONCLUSIONS: This research adds important empirical insights to the bioethics debate on social egg freezing, in particular by presenting (potential) users' views on the lack of reimbursement. While there is much more to say about the ethical and political complexities of the reimbursement of this procedure, our study highlighted the voices of (potential) users and showed that at least some of them would welcome the coverage of SEF through the public healthcare insurance.}, } @article {pmid35350854, year = {2022}, author = {Tougeron, K and Iltis, C}, title = {Impact of heat stress on the fitness outcomes of symbiotic infection in aphids: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1971}, pages = {20212660}, pmid = {35350854}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Heat-Shock Response ; Insecta ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microorganisms shape the evolutionary trajectories of their hosts, facilitating or constraining the colonization of new ecological niches. One convincing example entails the responses of insect-microbe associations to rising temperatures. Indeed, insect resilience to stressful high temperatures depends on the genetic identity of the obligate symbiont and the presence of heat-protective facultative symbionts. As extensively studied organisms, aphids and their endosymbiotic bacteria represent valuable models to address eco-evolutionary questions about the thermal ecology of insect-microbe partnerships, with broad relevance to various biological systems and insect models. This meta-analysis aims to quantify the context-dependent impacts of symbionts on host phenotype in benign or stressful heat conditions, across fitness traits, types of heat stress and symbiont species. We found that warming lowered the benefits (resistance to parasitoids) and costs (development, fecundity) of infection by facultative symbionts, which was overall mostly beneficial to the hosts under short-term heat stress (heat shock) rather than extended warming. Heat-tolerant genotypes of the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola and some facultative symbionts (Rickettsia sp., Serratia symbiotica) improved or maintained aphid fitness under heat stress. We discuss the implications of these findings for the general understanding of the cost-benefit balance of insect-microbe associations across multiple traits and their eco-evolutionary dynamics faced with climate change.}, } @article {pmid35350613, year = {2022}, author = {Fodor, A and Clarke, DJ and Dillman, AR and Tarasco, E and Hazir, S}, title = {Editorial: New Antimicrobial Peptides From Bacteria/Invertebrate Obligate Symbiotic Associations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {862198}, pmid = {35350613}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid35349939, year = {2022}, author = {Tvedt, H and Marioara, CD and Thronsen, E and Hell, C and Andersen, SJ and Holmestad, R}, title = {AutomAl 6000: Semi-automatic structural labelling of HAADF-STEM images of precipitates in Al-Mg-Si(-Cu) alloys.}, journal = {Ultramicroscopy}, volume = {236}, number = {}, pages = {113493}, doi = {10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113493}, pmid = {35349939}, issn = {1879-2723}, abstract = {When the Al-Mg-Si(-Cu) alloy system is subjected to age hardening, different types of precipitates nucleate depending on the composition and thermomechanical treatment. The main hardening precipitates extend as needles, laths or rods along the <100> directions in the aluminium matrix. It has been found that the structures of all metastable precipitates may be generalized as stacks of <100> columns, where most of these columns are replaced by solute elements. In the precipitates, a column relates to neighbour columns by a set of simple structural principles, which allows identification of species and relative longitudinal displacement over the (100) cross-section. Aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) is an important tool for studying such precipitates. With the goal of analysing atomic resolution HAADF-STEM images of precipitate cross-sections in the Al-Mg-Si(-Cu) system, we have developed the stand-alone software AutomAl 6000, which features a column characterization algorithm based on the symbiosis of a statistical model and the structural principles formulated in a digraph-like framework. The software can semi-autonomously determine the 3D column positions in the image, as well as column species. In turn, AutomAl 6000 can then display, analyse and/or export the structure data. This paper describes the methodology of AutomAl 6000 and applies it on three different HAADF-STEM images, which demonstrate the methodology. The software, as well as other resources, are available at http://automal.org. The source code is also directly available from https://github.com/Haawk666/AutomAl-6000.}, } @article {pmid35349854, year = {2022}, author = {Kushwaha, AS and Thakur, RS and Patel, DK and Kumar, M}, title = {Impact of arsenic on phosphate solubilization, acquisition and poly-phosphate accumulation in endophytic fungus Serendipita indica.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {259}, number = {}, pages = {127014}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2022.127014}, pmid = {35349854}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Arsenic ; *Basidiomycota/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions play a crucial role in the phosphate (Pi) nutrient status of the host plant and offer resilience during biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite a competitive behavior of arsenic (AsV) with Pi, Serendipita indica association promotes plant growth by reducing arsenic bioavailability in the rhizosphere. Reduced arsenic availability is due to the adsorption, accumulation, and precipitation of arsenic in the fungus. The present investigation focused on the fitness and performance of Pi acquisition and utilization in S. indica for growth and metabolism under arsenic stress. The fungus accumulates a massive amount of arsenic up to 2459.3 ppm at a tolerable limit of arsenic supply (1 mM) with a bioaccumulation factor (BAF) 32. Arsenic induces Pi transporter expression to stimulate the arsenic acquisition in the fungus. At the same time, Pi accumulation was also enhanced by 112.2 times higher than the control with an increase in poly-P (polyphosphate) content (6.69 times) of the cell. This result suggests arsenic does not hamper poly-P storage in the cell but shows a marked delocalization of stored poly-P from the vacuoles. Furthermore, an enhanced exopolyphosphatase activity and poly-P storage during arsenic stress suggest induction of cellular machinery for the utilization of Pi is required to deal with arsenic toxicity and competition. However, at high arsenic supply (2.5 and 5 mM), 14.55 and 22.07 times reduced Pi utilization, respectively, was observed during the Pi uptake by the fungus. The reduction of Pi uptake reduces the cell growth and biomass due to competition between arsenic and phosphate. The study suggests no negative impact of arsenic on the Pi acquisition, storage, and metabolism in symbiotic fungus, S. indica, under environmental arsenic contamination.}, } @article {pmid35349687, year = {2022}, author = {Gould, AL and Henderson, JB and Lam, AW}, title = {Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Bioluminescent Cardinalfish Siphamia tubifer: An Emerging Model for Symbiosis Research.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35349687}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {DP5 OD026405/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM122502/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES029930/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES029930/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosomes ; Fishes/genetics/microbiology ; *Perciformes/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The bioluminescent symbiosis involving the sea urchin cardinalfish Siphamia tubifer and the luminous bacterium Photobacterium mandapamensis is an emerging vertebrate model for the study of microbial symbiosis. However, little genetic data are available for the host, limiting the scope of research that can be implemented with this association. We present a chromosome-level genome assembly for S. tubifer using a combination of PacBio HiFi sequencing and Hi-C technologies. The final assembly was 1.2 Gb distributed on 23 chromosomes and contained 32,365 protein coding genes with a BUSCO score of 99%. A comparison of the S. tubifer genome to that of another nonluminous species of cardinalfish revealed a high degree of synteny, whereas a comparison to a more distant relative in the sister order Gobiiformes revealed the fusion of two chromosomes in the cardinalfish genomes. The complete mitogenome of S. tubifer was also assembled, and an inversion in the vertebrate WANCY tRNA genes as well as heteroplasmy in the length of the control region were discovered. A phylogenetic analysis based on whole the mitochondrial genome indicated that S. tubifer is divergent from the rest of the cardinalfish family, highlighting the potential role of the bioluminescent symbiosis in the initial divergence of Siphamia. This high-quality reference genome will provide novel opportunities for the bioluminescent S. tubifer-P. mandapamensis association to be used as a model for symbiosis research.}, } @article {pmid35349333, year = {2022}, author = {Breusing, C and Genetti, M and Russell, SL and Corbett-Detig, RB and Beinart, RA}, title = {Horizontal transmission enables flexible associations with locally adapted symbiont strains in deep-sea hydrothermal vent symbioses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {14}, pages = {e2115608119}, pmid = {35349333}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {SignificanceIn marine ecosystems, transmission of microbial symbionts between host generations occurs predominantly through the environment. Yet, it remains largely unknown how host genetics, symbiont competition, environmental conditions, and geography shape the composition of symbionts acquired by individual hosts. To address this question, we applied population genomic approaches to four species of deep-sea hydrothermal vent snails that live in association with chemosynthetic bacteria. Our analyses show that environment is more important to strain-level symbiont composition than host genetics and that symbiont strains show genetic variation indicative of adaptation to the distinct geochemical conditions at each vent site. This corroborates a long-standing hypothesis that hydrothermal vent invertebrates affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains to cope with the variable conditions characterizing their habitats.}, } @article {pmid35348891, year = {2022}, author = {Hayashi-Tsugane, M and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Lotus japonicus HAR1 regulates root morphology locally and systemically under a moderate nitrate condition in the absence of rhizobia.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {255}, number = {5}, pages = {95}, pmid = {35348891}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Lotus/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The local and long-distance signaling pathways mediated by the leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase HAR1 suppress root branching and promote primary root length in response to nitrate supply. The root morphology of higher plants changes plastically to effectively absorb nutrients and water from the soil. In particular, legumes develop root organ nodules, in which symbiotic rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen in nitrogen-poor environments. The number of nodules formed in roots is negatively regulated by a long-distance signaling pathway that travels through shoots called autoregulation of nodulation (AON). In the model plant Lotus japonicus, defects in AON genes, such as a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase HYPERNODULATION ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION 1 (HAR1), an orthologue of CLAVATA1, and the F-box protein TOO MUCH LOVE (TML), induce the formation of an excess number of nodules. The loss-of-function mutant of HAR1 exhibits a short and bushy root phenotype in the absence of rhizobia. We show that the har1 mutant exhibits high nitrate sensitivity during root development. The uninfected har1 mutant significantly increased lateral root number and reduced primary root length in the presence of 3 mM nitrate, compared with the wild-type and tml mutant. Grafting experiments indicated that local and long-distance signaling pathways via root- and shoot-acting HAR1 additively regulated root morphology under the moderate nitrate concentrations. These findings allow us to propose that HAR1-mediated signaling pathways control the root system architecture by suppressing lateral root branching and promoting primary root elongation in response to nitrate availability.}, } @article {pmid35348451, year = {2022}, author = {DeMers, M}, title = {Alternaria alternata as endophyte and pathogen.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35348451}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {*Alternaria/genetics ; *Endophytes/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Alternaria alternata is a common species of fungus frequently isolated from plants as both an endophyte and a pathogen. Although the current definition of A. alternata rests on a foundation of morphological, genetic and genomic analyses, doubts persist regarding the scope of A. alternata within the genus due to the varied symbiotic interactions and wide host range observed in these fungi. These doubts may be due in large part to the history of unstable taxonomy in Alternaria, based on limited morphological characters for species delimitation and host specificity associated with toxins encoded by genes carried on conditionally dispensable chromosomes. This review explores the history of Alternaria taxonomy, focusing in particular on the use of nutritional mode and host associations in species delimitation, with the goal of evaluating A. alternata as it currently stands based on taxonomic best practice. Given the recombination detected among isolates of A. alternata, different symbiotic associations in this species should not be considered phylogenetically informative.}, } @article {pmid35345876, year = {2022}, author = {Sabban, R and Dash, K and Suwas, S and Murty, BS}, title = {Strength-Ductility Synergy in High Entropy Alloys by Tuning the Thermo-Mechanical Process Parameters: A Comprehensive Review.}, journal = {Journal of the Indian Institute of Science}, volume = {102}, number = {1}, pages = {91-116}, pmid = {35345876}, issn = {0970-4140}, abstract = {The strength-ductility trade-off is an eminent factor in deciding the mechanical performance of a material with regard to specific applications. The strength-ductility synergy is generally inadequate in as-synthesized high entropy alloys (HEAs); however, it can be tailored owing to its tunable microstructure and phase stability. Thermo-mechanical processing (TMP) allows the microstructure to be tailored to achieve desired strength-ductility combination. The additional attribute is evolution of texture, which also significantly influences the mechanical properties. This review presents a critical insight into the role of TMP to achieve superior strength-ductility symbiosis at room temperature in single-phase (FCC, BCC) and multiphase HEA. The role of overall processing strategy of HEAs encompassing rolling and subsequent annealing in relation to the evolution of microstructure and texture in have been discussed. Recently practiced severe plastic deformation processes have also shown promise in improving the strength-ductility combination. The relevance of these processes in the processing of HEAs has also been analysed. At the end, futuristic approaches have been elaborated to enable efficient as well as hassle-free process towards achieving the proficiency of strength-ductility in HEAs.}, } @article {pmid35343248, year = {2022}, author = {Akamatsu, A and Nagae, M and Takeda, N}, title = {The CYCLOPS Response Element in the NIN Promoter Is Important but Not Essential for Infection Thread Formation During Lotus japonicus-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {650-658}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-21-0252-R}, pmid = {35343248}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Codon, Initiator/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/physiology ; Minocycline/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Response Elements ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The establishment of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, termed the root-nodule symbiosis (RNS), requires elaborate interactions at the molecular level. The host plant-derived transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is known to be crucial for RNS, regulating associated processes such as alteration of root hair morphology, infection thread formation, and cell division during nodulation. This emphasizes the importance of the precise spatiotemporal regulation of NIN expression for the establishment of RNS; however, the detailed role of NIN promoter sequences in this process remains unclear. The daphne mutant, a nin mutant allele containing a chromosomal translocation approximately 7 kb upstream of the start codon, does not form nodules but does form infection threads, indicating that the region within 7 kb of the NIN start codon contributes to NIN expression during infection thread formation. CYCLOPS binds to a CYCLOPS response element (CYC-RE) in the NIN promoter, and cyclops mutants are defective in infection thread formation. Here, we performed complementation analysis in nin mutants, using various truncated forms of the NIN promoter, and found that the CYC-RE is important for infection thread formation. Additionally, the CYC-RE deletion mutant, generated through CRISPR/Cas9 technology, displayed a significant reduction in infection thread formation, indicating that the CYC-RE is important for the fine-tuning of NIN expression during this process. However, the fact that infection thread formation is not completely abolished in the CYC-RE deletion mutant suggests that cis and trans factors other than CYCLOPS and the CYC-RE may cooperatively regulate NIN expression for the induction of infection thread formation. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35342606, year = {2022}, author = {Vesala, R and Rikkinen, A and Pellikka, P and Rikkinen, J and Arppe, L}, title = {You eat what you find - Local patterns in vegetation structure control diets of African fungus-growing termites.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e8566}, pmid = {35342606}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites and their symbiotic Termitomyces fungi are critically important carbon and nutrient recyclers in arid and semiarid environments of sub-Saharan Africa. A major proportion of plant litter produced in these ecosystems is decomposed within nest chambers of termite mounds, where temperature and humidity are kept optimal for the fungal symbionts. While fungus-growing termites are generally believed to exploit a wide range of different plant substrates, the actual diets of most species remain elusive. We studied dietary niches of two Macrotermes species across the semiarid savanna landscape in the Tsavo Ecosystem, southern Kenya, based on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes in Termitomyces fungus combs. We applied Bayesian mixing models to determine the proportion of grass and woody plant matter in the combs, these being the two major food sources available for Macrotermes species in the region. Our results showed that both termite species, and colonies cultivating different Termitomyces fungi, occupied broad and largely overlapping isotopic niches, indicating no dietary specialization. Including laser scanning derived vegetation cover estimates to the dietary mixing model revealed that the proportion of woody plant matter in fungus combs increased with increasing woody plant cover in the nest surroundings. Nitrogen content of fungus combs was positively correlated with woody plant cover around the mounds and negatively correlated with the proportion of grass matter in the comb. Considering the high N demand of large Macrotermes colonies, woody plant matter seems to thus represent a more profitable food source than grass. As grass is also utilized by grazing mammals, and the availability of grass matter typically fluctuates over the year, mixed woodland-grasslands and bushlands seem to represent more favorable habitats for large Macrotermes colonies than open grasslands.}, } @article {pmid35342582, year = {2022}, author = {Herrán, N and Narayan, GR and Doo, SS and Klicpera, A and Freiwald, A and Westphal, H}, title = {High-resolution imaging sheds new light on a multi-tier symbiotic partnership between a "walking" solitary coral, a sipunculan, and a bivalve from East Africa.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e8633}, pmid = {35342582}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Marine symbioses are integral to the persistence of ecosystem functioning in coral reefs. Solitary corals of the species Heteropsammia cochlea and Heterocyathus aequicostatus have been observed to live in symbiosis with the sipunculan worm Aspidosiphon muelleri muelleri, which inhabits a cavity within the coral, in Zanzibar (Tanzania). The symbiosis of these photosymbiotic corals enables the coral holobiont to move, in fine to coarse unconsolidated substrata, a process termed as "walking." This allows the coral to escape sediment cover in turbid conditions which is crucial for these light-dependent species. An additional commensalistic symbiosis of this coral-worm holobiont is found between the Aspidosiphon worm and the cryptoendolithic bivalve Jousseaumiella sp., which resides within the cavity of the coral skeleton. To understand the morphological alterations caused by these symbioses, interspecific relationships, with respect to the carbonate structures between these three organisms, are documented using high-resolution imaging techniques (scanning electron microscopy and µCT scanning). Documenting multi-layered symbioses can shed light on how morphological plasticity interacts with environmental conditions to contribute to species persistence.}, } @article {pmid35342195, year = {2021}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Le, E and Martin, AN and Moran, NA}, title = {The gut microbiota of bumblebees.}, journal = {Insectes sociaux}, volume = {68}, number = {4}, pages = {287-301}, pmid = {35342195}, issn = {0020-1812}, support = {R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bumblebees (Bombus) are charismatic and important pollinators. They are one of the best studied insect groups, especially in terms of ecology, behavior, and social structure. As many species are declining, there is a clear need to understand more about them. Microbial symbionts, which can influence many dimensions of animal life, likely have an outsized role in bumblebee biology. Recent research has shown that a conserved set of beneficial gut bacterial symbionts is ubiquitous across bumblebees. These bacteria are related to gut symbionts of honeybees, but have not been studied as intensively. Here we synthesize studies of bumblebee gut microbiota, highlight major knowledge gaps, and suggest future directions. Several patterns emerge, such as symbiont-host specificity maintained by sociality, frequent symbiont loss from individual bees, symbiont-conferred protection from trypanosomatid parasites, and divergence between bumblebee and honeybee microbiota in several key traits. For many facets of bumblebee-microbe interactions, however, underlying mechanisms and ecological functions remain unclear. Such information is important if we are to understand how bumblebees shape, and are shaped by, their gut microbiota. Bumblebees may provide a useful system for microbiome scientists, providing insights into general principles of host-microbe interactions. We also note how microbiota could influence bumblebee traits and responses to stressors. Finally, we propose that tinkering with the microbiota could be one way to aid bumblebee resilience in the face of global change.}, } @article {pmid35339818, year = {2022}, author = {Mavima, L and Beukes, CW and Palmer, M and De Meyer, SE and James, EK and Maluk, M and Muasya, MA and Avontuur, JR and Chan, WY and Venter, SN and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Delineation of Paraburkholderia tuberum sensu stricto and description of Paraburkholderia podalyriae sp. nov. nodulating the South African legume Podalyria calyptrata.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {126316}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126316}, pmid = {35339818}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {Since the discovery of Paraburkholderia tuberum, an indigenous South African species and one of the first beta-rhizobia described, several other South African rhizobial Paraburkholderia species have been recognized. Here, we investigate the taxonomic status of 31 rhizobial isolates from the root nodules of diverse South African legume hosts in the Core Cape Subregion, which were initially identified as P. tuberum. These isolates originate from the root nodules of genera in the Papilionoideae as well as Vachellia karroo, from the subfamily Caesalpinioideae. Genealogical concordance analysis of five loci allowed delineation of the isolates into two putative species clusters (A and B). Cluster A included P. tuberum STM678[T], suggesting that this monophyletic group represents P. tuberum sensu stricto. Cluster B grouped sister to P. tuberum and included isolates from the Paarl Rock Nature Reserve in the Western Cape Province. Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) analysis further confirmed that isolates of Cluster A shared high genome similarity with P. tuberum STM678[T] compared to Cluster B and other Paraburkholderia species. The members of Cluster B associated with a single species of Podalyria, P. calyptrata. For this new taxon we accordingly propose the name Paraburkholderia podalyriae sp. nov., with the type strain WC7.3b[T] (= LMG 31413[T]; SARCC 750[T]). Based on our nodA and nifH phylogenies, P. podalyriae sp. nov. and strains of P. tuberum sensu stricto (including one from V. karroo) belong to symbiovar africana, the symbiotic loci of which have a separate evolutionary origin to those of Central and South American Paraburkholderia strains.}, } @article {pmid35339790, year = {2022}, author = {Islam, TA}, title = {A business approach to climate adaptation in local communities.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {312}, number = {}, pages = {114938}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114938}, pmid = {35339790}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; *Climate Change ; Commerce ; *Local Government ; Public Sector ; }, abstract = {Climate change poses risks to the assets and operations of businesses. They can anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to the potential impacts of climate change by focusing on modifying their own internal operations. But businesses can find additional opportunities to adapt by examining their relationships with local governments. Businesses provide critical services to the communities in which they are located, and also benefit from services provided by the local governments. This symbiotic relationship is an important consideration for businesses as they work to adapt to a changing climate. By thinking broadly about how working with local governments can influence their resilience, businesses may be able to uncover additional adaptation opportunities and enhance their adaption efforts in ways they may not be able to achieve on their own. This paper includes two case studies of businesses that pursued adaptation efforts with local, state, or federal government officials to provide real-world context for the symbiotic relationships that exist between the private and public sectors in communities.}, } @article {pmid35337134, year = {2022}, author = {Puccetti, M and Pariano, M and Costantini, C and Giovagnoli, S and Ricci, M}, title = {Pharmaceutically Active Microbial AhR Agonists as Innovative Biodrugs in Inflammation.}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35337134}, issn = {1424-8247}, abstract = {Alterations of the microbiome occur in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, a finding consistent with the role of the microbiome in the maintenance of the immune system homeostasis. In this regard, L-tryptophan (Trp) metabolites, of both host and microbial origin, act as important regulators of host-microbial symbiosis by acting as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands. The intestinal and respiratory barriers are very sensitive to AhR activity, suggesting that AhR modulation could be a therapeutic option to maintain the integrity of the epithelial barrier, which has substantial implications for health even beyond the mucosal site. A number of studies have highlighted the capacity of AhR to respond to indoles and indolyl metabolites, thus positioning AhR as a candidate indole receptor. However, the context-and ligand-dependent activity of AhR requires one to resort to suitable biopharmaceutical formulations to enable site-specific drug delivery in order to achieve therapeutic effectiveness, decrease unwanted toxicities and prevent off-target effects. In this review, we highlight the dual activity of the microbial metabolite indole-3-aldehyde at the host-microbe interface and its ability to orchestrate host pathophysiology and microbial symbiosis and discuss how its proper clinical development may turn into a valuable therapeutic strategy in local and distant inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid35336686, year = {2022}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Maghrebi, M and Novero, M and Votta, C and Mazzarella, T and Buffoni, B and Astolfi, S and Vigani, G}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Differentially Affects the Nutritional Status of Two Durum Wheat Genotypes under Drought Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35336686}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Durum wheat is one of the most important agricultural crops, currently providing 18% of the daily intake of calories and 20% of daily protein intake for humans. However, being wheat that is cultivated in arid and semiarid areas, its productivity is threatened by drought stress, which is being exacerbated by climate change. Therefore, the identification of drought tolerant wheat genotypes is critical for increasing grain yield and also improving the capability of crops to uptake and assimilate nutrients, which are seriously affected by drought. This work aimed to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant growth under normal and limited water availability in two durum wheat genotypes (Svevo and Etrusco). Furthermore, we investigated how the plant nutritional status responds to drought stress. We found that the response of Svevo and Etrusco to drought stress was differentially affected by AMF. Interestingly, we revealed that AMF positively affected sulfur homeostasis under drought conditions, mainly in the Svevo cultivar. The results provide a valuable indication that the identification of drought tolerant plants cannot ignore their nutrient use efficiency or the impact of other biotic soil components (i.e., AMF).}, } @article {pmid35336627, year = {2022}, author = {Tominaga, T and Yao, L and Saito, H and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Conserved and Diverse Transcriptional Reprogramming Triggered by the Establishment of Symbioses in Tomato Roots Forming Arum-Type and Paris-Type Arbuscular Mycorrhizae.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35336627}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi allocate mineral nutrients to their host plants, and the hosts supply carbohydrates and lipids to the fungal symbionts in return. The morphotypes of intraradical hyphae are primarily determined on the plant side into Arum- and Paris-type AMs. As an exception, Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) forms both types of AMs depending on the fungal species. Previously, we have shown the existence of diverse regulatory mechanisms in Arum- and Paris-type AM symbioses in response to gibberellin (GA) among different host species. However, due to the design of the study, it remained possible that the use of different plant species influenced the results. Here, we used tomato plants to compare the transcriptional responses during Arum- and Paris-type AM symbioses in a single plant species. The tomato plants inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis or Gigaspora margarita exhibited Arum- and Paris-type AMs, respectively, and demonstrated similar colonization rates and shoot biomass. Comparative transcriptomics showed shared expression patterns of AM-related genes in tomato roots upon each fungal infection. On the contrary, the defense response and GA biosynthetic process was transcriptionally upregulated during Paris-type AM symbiosis. Thus, both shared and different transcriptional reprogramming function in establishing Arum- and Paris-type AM symbioses in tomato plants.}, } @article {pmid35336602, year = {2022}, author = {Olson, D and Berry, HM and Riggs, JD and Argueso, CT and Gomez, SK}, title = {Phytohormone Profile of Medicago in Response to Mycorrhizal Fungi, Aphids, and Gibberellic Acid.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35336602}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Although gibberellic acid (GA) is widely used in agriculture, it is unclear whether exogenous GA makes aphid-infested, mycorrhizal plants more susceptible to herbivory. This study investigates the role of GA in modulating defenses in barrel medic plants (Medicago truncatula) that are infested with pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and colonized by the beneficial symbiont Rhizophagus intraradices. Mock- and R. intraradices-inoculated potted plants were grown in a topsoil: sand mix for 42 days and were treated with GA or solvent. Subsequently, plants were exposed to herbivory or no aphid herbivory for 36 h and 7 days. Afterwards, plant growth parameters, aphid fitness, and foliar phytohormone concentrations were measured. The results revealed that GA regulates plant defenses during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus-plant-aphid interactions as aphids that fed for 7 days on mycorrhizal, GA-untreated plants weighed more than those that fed on mycorrhizal, GA-treated plants. No major differences were detected in phytohormone levels at 36 h. Overall, mycorrhizal plants showed more shoot biomass compared to non-mycorrhizal controls. The arbuscule density and fungal biomass of R. intraradices were not altered by exogenous GA and aphid herbivory based on molecular markers. This study indicates that exogenous GA may help reduce aphid fitness when feeding on mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid35336232, year = {2022}, author = {Teo, HM and A, A and A, WA and Bhubalan, K and S, SNM and C I, MS and Ng, LC}, title = {Setting a Plausible Route for Saline Soil-Based Crop Cultivations by Application of Beneficial Halophyte-Associated Bacteria: A Review.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35336232}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The global scale of land salinization has always been a considerable concern for human livelihoods, mainly regarding the food-producing agricultural industries. The latest update suggested that the perpetual salinity problem claimed up to 900 million hectares of agricultural land worldwide, inducing salinity stress among salt-sensitive crops and ultimately reducing productivity and yield. Moreover, with the constant growth of the human population, sustainable solutions are vital to ensure food security and social welfare. Despite that, the current method of crop augmentations via selective breeding and genetic engineering only resulted in mild success. Therefore, using the biological approach of halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (HT-PGPB) as bio-inoculants provides a promising crop enhancement strategy. HT-PGPB has been proven capable of forming a symbiotic relationship with the host plant by instilling induced salinity tolerance (IST) and multiple plant growth-promoting traits (PGP). Nevertheless, the mechanisms and prospects of HT-PGPB application of glycophytic rice crops remains incomprehensively reported. Thus, this review describes a plausible strategy of halophyte-associated HT-PGPB as the future catalyst for rice crop production in salt-dominated land and aims to meet the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger.}, } @article {pmid35336227, year = {2022}, author = {Pujic, P and Alloisio, N and Miotello, G and Armengaud, J and Abrouk, D and Fournier, P and Normand, P}, title = {The Proteogenome of Symbiotic Frankia alni in Alnus glutinosa Nodules.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35336227}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Omics are the most promising approaches to investigate microbes for which no genetic tools exist such as the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic Frankia. A proteogenomic analysis of symbiotic Frankia alni was done by comparing those proteins more and less abundant in Alnus glutinosa nodules relative to N2-fixing pure cultures with propionate as the carbon source. There were 250 proteins that were significantly overabundant in nodules at a fold change (FC) ≥ 2 threshold, and 1429 with the same characteristics in in vitro nitrogen-fixing pure culture. Nitrogenase, SuF (Fe-Su biogenesis) and hopanoid lipids synthesis determinants were the most overabundant proteins in symbiosis. Nitrogenase was found to constitute 3% of all Frankia proteins in nodules. Sod (superoxide dismutase) was overabundant, indicating a continued oxidative stress, while Kats (catalase) were not. Several transporters were overabundant including one for dicarboxylates and one for branched amino acids. The present results confirm the centrality of nitrogenase in the actinorhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35335666, year = {2022}, author = {Fodor, A and Gualtieri, M and Zeller, M and Tarasco, E and Klein, MG and Fodor, AM and Haynes, L and Lengyel, K and Forst, SA and Furgani, GM and Karaffa, L and Vellai, T}, title = {Type Strains of Entomopathogenic Nematode-Symbiotic Bacterium Species, Xenorhabdus szentirmaii (EMC) and X. budapestensis (EMA), Are Exceptional Sources of Non-Ribosomal Templated, Large-Target-Spectral, Thermotolerant-Antimicrobial Peptides (by Both), and Iodinin (by EMC).}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35335666}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Antimicrobial multidrug resistance (MDR) is a global challenge, not only for public health, but also for sustainable agriculture. Antibiotics used in humans should be ruled out for use in veterinary or agricultural settings. Applying antimicrobial peptide (AMP) molecules, produced by soil-born organisms for protecting (soil-born) plants, seems a preferable alternative. The natural role of peptide-antimicrobials, produced by the prokaryotic partner of entomopathogenic-nematode/bacterium (EPN/EPB) symbiotic associations, is to sustain monoxenic conditions for the EPB in the gut of the semi-anabiotic infective dauer juvenile (IJ) EPN. They keep pathobiome conditions balanced for the EPN/EPB complex in polyxenic (soil, vanquished insect cadaver) niches. Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM16338(T) (EMC), and X. budapestensis DSM16342(T) (EMA), are the respective natural symbionts of EPN species Steinernema rarum and S. bicornutum. We identified and characterized both of these 15 years ago. The functional annotation of the draft genome of EMC revealed 71 genes encoding non-ribosomal peptide synthases, and polyketide synthases. The large spatial Xenorhabdus AMP (fabclavine), was discovered in EMA, and its biosynthetic pathway in EMC. The AMPs produced by EMA and EMC are promising candidates for controlling MDR prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens (bacteria, oomycetes, fungi, protozoa). EMC releases large quantity of iodinin (1,6-dihydroxyphenazine 5,10-dioxide) in a water-soluble form into the media, where it condenses to form spectacular water-insoluble, macroscopic crystals. This review evaluates the scientific impact of international research on EMA and EMC.}, } @article {pmid35334705, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Sun, X and Huang, T and Ye, L and Song, K}, title = {Cold Starting Temperature Drift Modeling and Compensation of Micro-Accelerometer Based on High-Order Fourier Transform.}, journal = {Micromachines}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35334705}, issn = {2072-666X}, abstract = {The traditional temperature modeling method is based on the full heating of the accelerometer to achieve thermal balance, which is not suitable for the cold start-up phase of the micro-accelerometer. For decreasing the complex temperature drift of the cold start-up phase, a new temperature compensation method based on a high-order Fourier transform combined model is proposed. The system structure and repeatability test of the micro digital quartz flexible accelerometer are provided at first. Additionally, we analyzed where the complex temperature drift of the cold start-up phase comes from based on the system structure and repeatability test. Secondly, a high-order temperature compensation model combined with K-means clustering and the symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm is established with repeatability test data as training data. To verify the proposed temperature compensation model, a test platform was built to transmit the measured values before and after compensation with the proposed Fourier-related model and the other time-related model, which is also a model aiming at temperature compensation in the cold start-up phase. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves better compensation accuracy compared with the traditional temperature compensation methods and the time-related compensation model. Furthermore, the compensation for the cold start-up phase has no effect on the original accuracy over the whole temperature range. The stability of the accelerometer can be significantly improved to about 30 μg in the start-up phase of different temperatures after compensation.}, } @article {pmid35334141, year = {2022}, author = {Mathur, P and Roy, S and Nasir Khan, M and Mukherjee, S}, title = {Hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) in the hidden half: Role in root growth, stress signalling and rhizospheric interactions.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {559-568}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13417}, pmid = {35334141}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Droughts ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; *Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Apart from nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) has emerged as a potential gasotransmitter that has regulatory roles in root differentiation, proliferation and stress signalling. H2 S metabolism in plants exhibits spatio-temporal differences that are intimately associated with sulphide signalling in the cytosol and other subcellular components, e.g. chloroplast and mitochondria. H2 S biosynthesis in plant organs uses both enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways. H2 S generation in roots and aerial organs is modulated by developmental phase and changes in environmental stimuli. H2 S has an influential role in root development and in the nodulation process. Studies have revealed that H2 S is a part of the auxin and NO signalling pathways in roots, which induce lateral root formation. At the molecular level, exogenous application of H2 S regulates expression of several transcription factors, viz. LBD (Lateral organ Boundaries Domain), MYB (myeloblastosis) and AP2/ERF (Apetala 2/ Ethylene Response Factor), which stimulate upregulation of PpLBD16 (Lateral organ boundaries domain 16), thereby significantly increasing the number of lateral roots. Concomitantly, H2 S acts as a crucial signalling molecule in roots during various abiotic stresses, e.g. drought, salinity heavy metals (HMs), etc., and augments stress tolerance in plants. Interestingly, extensive crosstalk exists between H2 S, NO, ABA, calcium and ethylene during stress, which escalate plant defence and regulate plant growth and productivity. Hence, the present review will elaborate the role of H2 S in root development, stress alleviation, legume-Rhizobium symbiosis and rhizosphere signalling. The review also examines the mechanism of H2 S-mediated abiotic stress mitigation and cross-talk with other signaling molecules.}, } @article {pmid35333977, year = {2022}, author = {Mittal, A and Chauhan, A}, title = {Aspects of Biological Replication and Evolution Independent of the Central Dogma: Insights from Protein-Free Vesicular Transformations and Protein-Mediated Membrane Remodeling.}, journal = {The Journal of membrane biology}, volume = {255}, number = {2-3}, pages = {185-209}, pmid = {35333977}, issn = {1432-1424}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Mammals ; *Membrane Fusion ; Membranes ; *Nucleic Acids/analysis/metabolism ; Viral Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; Virus Internalization ; }, abstract = {Biological membrane remodeling is central to living systems. In spite of serving as "containers" of whole-living systems and functioning as dynamic compartments within living systems, biological membranes still find a "blue collar" treatment compared to the "white collar" nucleic acids and proteins in biology. This may be attributable to the fact that scientific literature on biological membrane remodeling is only 50 years old compared to ~ 150 years of literature on proteins and a little less than 100 years on nucleic acids. However, recently, evidence for symbiotic origins of eukaryotic cells from data only on biological membranes was reported. This, coupled with appreciation of reproducible amphiphilic self-assemblies in aqueous environments (mimicking replication), has already initiated discussions on origins of life beyond nucleic acids and proteins. This work presents a comprehensive compilation and meta-analyses of data on self-assembly and vesicular transformations in biological membranes-starting from model membranes to establishment of Influenza Hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion as a prototypical remodeling system to a thorough comparison between enveloped mammalian viruses and cellular vesicles. We show that viral membrane fusion proteins, in addition to obeying "stoichiometry-driven protein folding", have tighter compositional constraints on their amino acid occurrences than general-structured proteins, regardless of type/class. From the perspective of vesicular assemblies and biological membrane remodeling (with and without proteins) we find that cellular vesicles are quite different from viruses. Finally, we propose that in addition to pre-existing thermodynamic frameworks, kinetic considerations in de novo formation of metastable membrane structures with available "third-party" constituents (including proteins) were not only crucial for origins of life but also continue to offer morphological replication and/or functional mechanisms in modern life forms, independent of the central dogma.}, } @article {pmid35330772, year = {2022}, author = {Dastogeer, KMG and Zahan, MI and Rhaman, MS and Sarker, MSA and Chakraborty, A}, title = {Microbe-Mediated Thermotolerance in Plants and Pertinent Mechanisms- A Meta-Analysis and Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {833566}, pmid = {35330772}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial symbionts can mediate plant stress responses by enhancing thermal tolerance, but less attention has been paid to measuring these effects across plant-microbe studies. We performed a meta-analysis of published studies as well as discussed with relevant literature to determine how the symbionts influence plant responses under non-stressed versus thermal-stressed conditions. As compared to non-inoculated plants, inoculated plants had significantly higher biomass and photosynthesis under heat stress conditions. A significantly decreased accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) indicated a lower oxidation level in the colonized plants, which was also correlated with the higher activity of catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase enzymes due to microbial colonization under heat stress. However, the activity of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate oxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and proline were variable. Our meta-analysis revealed that microbial colonization influenced plant growth and physiology, but their effects were more noticeable when their host plants were exposed to high-temperature stress than when they grew under ambient temperature conditions. We discussed the mechanisms of microbial conferred plant thermotolerance, including at the molecular level based on the available literature. Further, we highlighted and proposed future directions toward exploring the effects of symbionts on the heat tolerances of plants for their implications in sustainable agricultural production.}, } @article {pmid35330763, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, YH and Kong, WL and Zhu, ML and Dai, Y and Wu, XQ}, title = {Colonization by the Mycorrhizal Helper Bacillus pumilus HR10 Is Enhanced During the Establishment of Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis Between Hymenochaete sp. Rl and Pinus thunbergii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {818912}, pmid = {35330763}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {There are complex interactions between mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHBs) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, with MHBs promoting mycorrhizal synthesis and ECM fungi regulating plant rhizobacterial colonization, diversity, and function. In this study, to investigate whether the ECM fungus Hymenochaete sp. Rl affects the survival and colonization of the MHB strain Bacillus pumilus HR10 in the rhizosphere, the biomass of B. pumilus HR10 was measured in the rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere. In addition, extracts of Hymenochaete sp. Rl and Pinus thunbergii were evaluated for their effect on B. pumilus HR10 colonization (growth, sporulation, biofilm formation, extracellular polysaccharide and extracellular protein contents, flagellar motility, and expression of colonization-related genes). The results showed that inoculation of Hymenochaete sp. Rl significantly increased the biomass of B. pumilus HR10 in the rhizosphere; however, while extracts of Hymenochaete sp. Rl and P. thunbergii did not affect the biomass or spore formation of HR10, they did affect its biofilm formation, extracellular polysaccharide and extracellular protein production, and flagellar motility. Furthermore, the addition of symbiont extracts affected the expression of chemotaxis-related genes in HR10. When the extracts were added separately, the expression of srf genes in HR10 increased; when the extracts were added simultaneously, the expression of the flagellin gene fliG in HR10 increased, but there was no significant effect on the expression of srf genes, consistent with the results on biofilm production. Thus, Hymenochaete sp. Rl and P. thunbergii roots had a positive effect on colonization by B. pumilus HR10 at the rhizosphere level through their secretions.}, } @article {pmid35330239, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, ZH and Xing, Y and Ma, JG and Li, YM and Yang, XQ and Wang, XB}, title = {Epichloë Fungal Endophytes Have More Host-Dependent Effects on the Soil Microenvironment than on the Initial Litter Quality.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35330239}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungal endophytes have been extensively found in most terrestrial plants. This type of plant-microorganism symbiosis generates many benefits for plant growth by promoting nutrient availability, uptake, and resistance to environmental disease or stress. Recent studies have reported that fungal endophytes have a potential impact on plant litter decomposition, but the mechanisms behind its effect are not well understood. We proposed a hypothesis that the impacts of fungal endophytes on litter decomposition are not only due to a shift in the symbiont-induced litter quality but a shift in soil microenvironment. To test this hypothesis, we set-up a field trial by planting three locally dominant grass species (wild barley, drunken horse grass, and perennial ryegrass) with Epichloë endophyte-infected (E[+]) and -free (E[-]) status, respectively. The aboveground litter and bulk soil from each plant species were collected. The litter quality and the soil biotic and abiotic parameters were analyzed to identify their changes across E[+] and E[-] status and plant species. While Epichloë endophyte status mainly caused a significant shift in soil microenvironment, plant species had a dominant effect on litter quality. Available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as well as soil organic carbon and microbial biomass in most soils with planting E[+] plants increased by 17.19%, 14.28%, 23.82%, and 11.54%, respectively, in comparison to soils with planting E[-] plants. Our results confirm that fungal endophytes have more of an influence on the soil microenvironment than the aboveground litter quality, providing a partial explanation of the home-field advantage of litter decomposition.}, } @article {pmid35330209, year = {2022}, author = {Park, SH and Kyndt, JA and Brown, JK}, title = {Comparison of Auxenochlorella protothecoides and Chlorella spp. Chloroplast Genomes: Evidence for Endosymbiosis and Horizontal Virus-like Gene Transfer.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35330209}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Resequencing of the chloroplast genome (cpDNA) of Auxenochlorella protothecoides UTEX 25 was completed (GenBank Accession no. KC631634.1), revealing a genome size of 84,576 base pairs and 30.8% GC content, consistent with features reported for the previously sequenced A. protothecoides 0710, (GenBank Accession no. KC843975). The A. protothecoides UTEX 25 cpDNA encoded 78 predicted open reading frames, 32 tRNAs, and 4 rRNAs, making it smaller and more compact than the cpDNA genome of C. variabilis (124,579 bp) and C. vulgaris (150,613 bp). By comparison, the compact genome size of A. protothecoides was attributable primarily to a lower intergenic sequence content. The cpDNA coding regions of all known Chlorella species were found to be organized in conserved colinear blocks, with some rearrangements. The Auxenochlorella and Chlorella species genome structure and composition were similar, and of particular interest were genes influencing photosynthetic efficiency, i.e., chlorophyll synthesis and photosystem subunit I and II genes, consistent with other biofuel species of interest. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Prototheca cutis is the closest known A. protothecoides relative, followed by members of the genus Chlorella. The cpDNA of A. protothecoides encodes 37 genes that are highly homologous to representative cyanobacteria species, including rrn16, rrn23, and psbA, corroborating a well-recognized symbiosis. Several putative coding regions were identified that shared high nucleotide sequence identity with virus-like sequences, suggestive of horizontal gene transfer. Despite these predictions, no corresponding transcripts were obtained by RT-PCR amplification, indicating they are unlikely to be expressed in the extant lineage.}, } @article {pmid35328782, year = {2022}, author = {Cangioli, L and Vaccaro, F and Fini, M and Mengoni, A and Fagorzi, C}, title = {Scent of a Symbiont: The Personalized Genetic Relationships of Rhizobium-Plant Interaction.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35328782}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Odorants ; *Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Soil ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many molecular signals are exchanged between rhizobia and host legume plants, some of which are crucial for symbiosis to take place, while others are modifiers of the interaction, which have great importance in the competition with the soil microbiota and in the genotype-specific perception of host plants. Here, we review recent findings on strain-specific and host genotype-specific interactions between rhizobia and legumes, discussing the molecular actors (genes, gene products and metabolites) which play a role in the establishment of symbiosis, and highlighting the need for research including the other components of the soil (micro)biota, which could be crucial in developing rational-based strategies for bioinoculants and synthetic communities' assemblage.}, } @article {pmid35328699, year = {2022}, author = {Mathilakathu, A and Wessolly, M and Mairinger, E and Uebner, H and Kreidt, D and Brcic, L and Steinborn, J and Greimelmaier, K and Wohlschlaeger, J and Schmid, KW and Mairinger, FD and Borchert, S}, title = {Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Regulate Kinase Activity in Mesothelioma Cell Lines via Paracrine Signaling and Thereby Dictate Cell Faith and Behavior.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35328699}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Apoptosis ; *Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; *Lung Neoplasms/metabolism ; *Mesothelioma/pathology ; *Mesothelioma, Malignant ; Paracrine Communication ; Phosphorylation ; *Pleural Neoplasms/pathology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has an infaust prognosis due to resistance to systemic treatment with platin-analoga. MPM cells modulate the immune response to their benefit. They release proinflammatory cytokines, such as TGF-ß, awakening resting fibrocytes that switch their phenotype into activated fibroblasts. Signaling interactions between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an integral part in tumor progression. This study aimed to investigate the role CAFs play in MPM progression, analyzing the impact this complex, symbiotic interaction has on kinase-related cell signaling in vitro.

METHODS: We simulated paracrine signaling in vitro by treating MPM cell lines with conditioned medium (CM) from fibroblasts (FB) and vice versa. NCI-H2052, MSTO-211H, and NCI-H2452 cell lines representing the three mayor MPM subtypes, while embryonal myofibroblast cell lines, IMR-90 and MRC-5, provide a CAFs-like phenotype. Subsequently, differences in proliferation rates, migratory behavior, apoptosis, necrosis, and viability were used as covariates for data analysis. Kinase activity of treated samples and corresponding controls were then analyzed using the PamStation12 platform (PamGene); Results: Treatment with myofibroblast-derived CM revealed significant changes in phosphorylation patterns in MPM cell lines. The observed effect differs strongly between the analyzed MPM cell lines and depends on the origin of CM. Overall, a much stronger effect was observed using CM derived from IMR-90 than MRC-5. The phosphorylation changes mainly affected the MAPK signaling pathway.; Conclusions: The factors secreted by myofibroblasts in fibroblasts CM significantly influence the phosphorylation of kinases, mainly affecting the MAPK signaling cascade in tested MPM cell lines. Our in vitro results indicate promising therapeutic effects by the use of MEK or ERK inhibitors and might have synergistic effects in combination with cisplatin-based treatment, improving clinical outcomes for MPM patients.}, } @article {pmid35327473, year = {2022}, author = {Bacali, C and Vulturar, R and Buduru, S and Cozma, A and Fodor, A and Chiș, A and Lucaciu, O and Damian, L and Moldovan, ML}, title = {Oral Microbiome: Getting to Know and Befriend Neighbors, a Biological Approach.}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35327473}, issn = {2227-9059}, abstract = {The oral microbiome, forming a biofilm that covers the oral structures, contains a high number of microorganisms. Biofilm formation starts from the salivary pellicle that allows bacterial adhesion-colonization-proliferation, co-aggregation and biofilm maturation in a complex microbial community. There is a constant bidirectional crosstalk between human host and its oral microbiome. The paper presents the fundamentals regarding the oral microbiome and its relationship to modulator factors, oral and systemic health. The modern studies of oral microorganisms and relationships with the host benefits are based on genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Pharmaceuticals such as antimicrobials, prebiotics, probiotics, surface active or abrasive agents and plant-derived ingredients may influence the oral microbiome. Many studies found associations between oral dysbiosis and systemic disorders, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular, diabetes, cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. We outline the general and individual factors influencing the host-microbial balance and the possibility to use the analysis of the oral microbiome in prevention, diagnosis and treatment in personalized medicine. Future therapies should take in account the restoration of the normal symbiotic relation with the oral microbiome.}, } @article {pmid35327116, year = {2022}, author = {Melara, EG and Avellaneda, MC and Valdivié, M and García-Hernández, Y and Aroche, R and Martínez, Y}, title = {Probiotics: Symbiotic Relationship with the Animal Host.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35327116}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Antibiotic growth-promoters in animal feeding are known to generate bacterial resistance on commercial farms and have proven deleterious effects on human health. This review addresses the effects of probiotics and their symbiotic relationship with the animal host as a viable alternative for producing healthy meat, eggs, and milk at present and in the future. Probiotics can tolerate the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the gastric acid, pH and bile salts, to exert beneficial effects on the host. They (probiotics) may also have a beneficial effect on productivity, health and wellbeing in different parameters of animal performance. Probiotics stimulate the native microbiota (microbes that are present in their place of origin) and production of short-chain fatty acids, with proven effects such as antimicrobial, hypocholesterolemic and immunomodulatory effects, resulting in better intestinal health, nutrient absorption capacity and productive responses in ruminant and non-ruminant animals. These beneficial effects of probiotics are specific to each microbial strain; therefore, the isolation and identification of beneficial microorganisms, as well as in vitro and in vivo testing in different categories of farm animals, will guarantee their efficacy, replicability and sustainability in the current production systems.}, } @article {pmid35326394, year = {2022}, author = {Ornelas, A and Dowdell, AS and Lee, JS and Colgan, SP}, title = {Microbial Metabolite Regulation of Epithelial Cell-Cell Interactions and Barrier Function.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {35326394}, issn = {2073-4409}, support = {K01 DK129410/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK50189/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007405/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK104713/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095491/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Communication ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; *Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Permeability ; *Tight Junctions/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Epithelial cells that line tissues such as the intestine serve as the primary barrier to the outside world. Epithelia provide selective permeability in the presence of a large constellation of microbes, termed the microbiota. Recent studies have revealed that the symbiotic relationship between the healthy host and the microbiota includes the regulation of cell-cell interactions at the level of epithelial tight junctions. The most recent findings have identified multiple microbial-derived metabolites that influence intracellular signaling pathways which elicit activities at the epithelial apical junction complex. Here, we review recent findings that place microbiota-derived metabolites as primary regulators of epithelial cell-cell interactions and ultimately mucosal permeability in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid35326098, year = {2022}, author = {Santamarina, AB and Moraes, RCM and Nehmi Filho, V and Murata, GM and de Freitas, JA and de Miranda, DA and Cerqueira, ARA and Costa, SKP and Ferreira, AFF and Britto, LR and de Camargo, JA and Rodrigues de Oliveira, D and de Jesus, FN and Otoch, JP and Pessoa, AFM}, title = {The Symbiotic Effect of a New Nutraceutical with Yeast β-Glucan, Prebiotics, Minerals, and Silybum marianum (Silymarin) for Recovering Metabolic Homeostasis via Pgc-1α, Il-6, and Il-10 Gene Expression in a Type-2 Diabetes Obesity Model.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35326098}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {The use of natural products and derivatives for the prevention and control of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and hepatic steatosis is a way to achieve homeostasis through different metabolic pathways. Thus, male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet (HFD) vehicle, HFD + Supplemented, HFD + Supplemented_S, and isolated compounds. The vehicle and experimental formulations were administered orally by gavage once a day over the four weeks of the diet (28 consecutive days). We evaluated the energy homeostasis, cytokines, and mitochondrial gene expression in these groups of mice. After four weeks of supplementation, only the new nutraceutical group (HFD + Supplemented) experienced reduced fasting glycemia, insulin, HOMA index, HOMA-β, dyslipidemia, ectopic fat deposition, and hepatic fibrosis levels. Additionally, the PPARγ coactivator 1 α (Pgc-1α), interleukin-6 (Il-6), and interleukin-10 (Il-10) gene expression were augmented, while hepatic steatosis decreased and liver parenchyma was recovered. The glutathione-S-transferase activity status was found to be modulated by the supplement. We discovered that the new nutraceutical was able to improve insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis mainly by regulating IL-6, IL-10, and Pgc-1α gene expression.}, } @article {pmid35325496, year = {2022}, author = {Rotterová, J and Edgcomb, VP and Čepička, I and Beinart, R}, title = {Anaerobic ciliates as a model group for studying symbioses in oxygen-depleted environments.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {5}, pages = {e12912}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12912}, pmid = {35325496}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; *Ciliophora/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Oxygen ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Anaerobiosis has independently evolved in multiple lineages of ciliates, allowing them to colonize a variety of anoxic and oxygen-depleted habitats. Anaerobic ciliates commonly form symbiotic relationships with various prokaryotes, including methanogenic archaea and members of several bacterial groups. The hypothesized functions of these ecto- and endosymbionts include the symbiont utilizing the ciliate's fermentative end products to increase the host's anaerobic metabolic efficiency, or the symbiont directly providing the host with energy by denitrification or photosynthesis. The host, in turn, may protect the symbiont from competition, the environment, and predation. Despite rapid advances in sampling, molecular, and microscopy methods, as well as the associated broadening of the known diversity of anaerobic ciliates, many aspects of these ciliate symbioses, including host specificity and coevolution, remain largely unexplored. Nevertheless, with the number of comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses targeting anaerobic ciliates and their symbionts on the rise, insights into the nature of these symbioses and the evolution of the ciliate transition to obligate anaerobiosis continue to deepen. This review summarizes the current body of knowledge regarding the complex nature of symbioses in anaerobic ciliates, the diversity of these symbionts, their role in the evolution of ciliate anaerobiosis and their significance in ecosystem-level processes.}, } @article {pmid35325431, year = {2022}, author = {Raul, B and Sinharoy, S}, title = {An Improvised Hairy Root Transformation Method for Efficient Gene Silencing in Roots and Nodules of Arachis hypogaea.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2408}, number = {}, pages = {303-316}, pmid = {35325431}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; RNA Interference ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; }, abstract = {Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a major oilseed crop and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical climate zone worldwide. Peanut belongs to the Papilionoid family with an atypical nodule developmental program. In particular, rhizobia enter through developmental cracks and lead to the formation of aeschynomenoid subtype determinate nodules. Peanut nodules are efficient nitrogen-fixers and form swollen bacteroid containing symbiosomes. The allotetraploid genome and recalcitrance to stable transformation used to be the major bottleneck for peanut biologists. Recent genome sequencing of peanut cultivar Tifrunner has opened up a huge opportunity for molecular research. A composite plant contains transformed roots with a non-transformed shoot. The composite plant-based approach has already proven to be a tool of choice for high throughput studies in root biology. The available protocols failed to generate efficient hairy root transformation in the genome sequenced cultivar Tifrunner. Here we describe an efficient hairy root transformation and composite plant generation protocol for the peanut cultivar Tifrunner. Our protocol generated ~92% plant regeneration efficiency with between 21.8% and 58.6% co-transformed root regeneration. We also show that this protocol can be efficiently used for protein localization, promoter GUS analysis, monitoring hormone response, and RNAi mediated knockdown of the genes using genome sequenced cultivar Tifrunner.}, } @article {pmid35324678, year = {2022}, author = {Guo, C and Zhang, L and Zhao, Q and Beckmann, M and Phillips, H and Meng, H and Mo, C and Mur, LAJ and He, W}, title = {Host-Species Variation and Environment Influence Endophyte Symbiosis and Mycotoxin Levels in Chinese Oxytropis Species.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35324678}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {BB/R02118X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Endophytes/genetics ; Host Specificity ; *Mycotoxins ; *Oxytropis/genetics/microbiology ; Swainsonine ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Oxytropis plants are widely distributed in the grasslands in northern China. Some Oxytropis species have been reported to contain the mycotoxin swainsonine, an alkaloid which causes poisoning in livestock, referred to as locoism. Previous studies showed that endophytic fungi (Alternaria oxytropis) symbiotically associate with these Oxytropis species to produce swainsonine. However, the influence of variation within the Oxytropis genus on the fixation or loss of symbiosis and toxicity is poorly understood, as is the influence of environmental factors. Here we used a collection of 17 common Oxytropis species sampled in northern China to assess genetic diversity using genotyping by sequencing which was compared with the levels of the endophyte and swainsonine. Results showed that nine Oxytropis species have detectable A. oxytropis colonisation, and seven Oxytropis species contain sufficient swainsonine to be considered poisonous, whereas the rest may be non-toxic. Species variation rather than the genetic lineage was associated with the fixation or loss of endophyte and swainsonine production, which appears to have resulted from genetic drift. Genotype × Environment (G × E) effects were also found to influence endophyte and swainsonine levels amongst species of the Oxytropis genus. Our study will provide a better understanding about the evolutionary basis of A. oxytropis symbiosis and swainsonine biosynthesis in locoweeds.}, } @article {pmid35324384, year = {2022}, author = {Drew, GC and King, KC}, title = {More or Less? The Effect of Symbiont Density in Protective Mutualisms.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {199}, number = {4}, pages = {443-454}, doi = {10.1086/718593}, pmid = {35324384}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractSymbionts can provide hosts with effective protection from natural enemies, but it can sometimes come at a cost. It is unclear to what extent the density of symbionts modulates the cost and benefits of conferred protection. Here, we use a meta-analysis of 103 effect sizes from a broad taxonomic range of protective symbioses to show that the degree of both protection and cost afforded to hosts is a positive function of symbiont density. We found that the effects of symbiont density on protection and cost are robust across ecological contexts. Density-function relationships did not vary with host type, symbiont localization, or transmission mode, nor did they vary with the method of density manipulation. Taken together, our results suggest that symbiont density can be a key variable determining the costs and benefits of a protective interaction.}, } @article {pmid35324326, year = {2022}, author = {Del Cerro, P and Cook, NM and Huisman, R and Dangeville, P and Grubb, LE and Marchal, C and Ho Ching Lam, A and Charpentier, M}, title = {Engineered CaM2 modulates nuclear calcium oscillation and enhances legume root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {13}, pages = {e2200099119}, pmid = {35324326}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Calcium ; Calcium Signaling/physiology ; *Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {SignificanceOscillations in intracellular calcium concentration play an essential role in the regulation of multiple cellular processes. In plants capable of root endosymbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, nuclear localized calcium oscillations are essential to transduce the microbial signal. Although the ion channels required to generate the nuclear localized calcium oscillations have been identified, their mechanisms of regulation are unknown. Here, we combined proteomics and engineering approaches to demonstrate that the calcium-bound form of the calmodulin 2 (CaM2) associates with CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE GATED CHANNEL 15 (CNGC15s), closing the channels and providing the negative feedback to sustain the oscillatory mechanism. We further unraveled that the engineered CaM2 accelerates early endosymbioses and enhanced root nodule symbiosis but not arbuscular mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid35323543, year = {2022}, author = {Nurashikin-Khairuddin, W and Abdul-Hamid, SNA and Mansor, MS and Bharudin, I and Othman, Z and Jalinas, J}, title = {A Review of Entomopathogenic Nematodes as a Biological Control Agent for Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35323543}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a severe pest of palm trees worldwide. The development and feeding activities of R. ferrugineus larvae inside the trunk damage palm trees. However, the absence of noticeable infestation signs at an early stage contributes to the spread of the attack. Integrated pest management (IPM) has been introduced to control R. ferrugineus infestation by implementing various approaches and techniques. The application of chemical pesticides has shown impressive results. However, biological control should be applied as an alternative solution due to adverse environmental impacts and pest resistance issues. One example is the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as biological control agents, which can forage and attack targeted pests without compromising the environment and other nontarget organisms. EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria have a mutualistic interaction that can kill the host within a short period of time. Therefore, this review emphasizes the effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria against R. ferrugineus.}, } @article {pmid35322688, year = {2022}, author = {Wülser, J and Ernst, C and Vetsch, D and Emmenegger, B and Michel, A and Lutz, S and Ahrens, CH and Vorholt, JA and Ledermann, R and Fischer, HM}, title = {Salt- and Osmo-Responsive Sensor Histidine Kinases Activate the Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens General Stress Response to Initiate Functional Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {604-615}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-22-0051-FI}, pmid = {35322688}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Histidine ; Histidine Kinase/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Phosphotransferases ; Sodium Chloride ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The general stress response (GSR) enables bacteria to sense and overcome a variety of environmental stresses. In alphaproteobacteria, stress-perceiving histidine kinases of the HWE and HisKA_2 families trigger a signaling cascade that leads to phosphorylation of the response regulator PhyR and, consequently, to activation of the GSR σ factor σ[EcfG]. In the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, PhyR and σ[EcfG] are crucial for tolerance against a variety of stresses under free-living conditions and also for efficient infection of its symbiotic host soybean. However, the molecular players involved in stress perception and activation of the GSR remained largely unknown. In this work, we first showed that a mutant variant of PhyR where the conserved phosphorylatable aspartate residue D194 was replaced by alanine (PhyR[D194A]) failed to complement the ΔphyR mutant in symbiosis, confirming that PhyR acts as a response regulator. To identify the PhyR-activating kinases in the nitrogen-fixing symbiont, we constructed in-frame deletion mutants lacking single, distinct combinations, or all of the 11 predicted HWE and HisKA_2 kinases, which we named HRXXN histidine kinases HhkA through HhkK. Phenotypic analysis of the mutants and complemented derivatives identified two functionally redundant kinases, HhkA and HhkE, that are required for nodulation competitiveness and during initiation of symbiosis. Using σ[EcfG]-activity reporter strains, we further showed that both HhkA and HhkE activate the GSR in free-living cells exposed to salt and hyperosmotic stress. In conclusion, our data suggest that HhkA and HhkE trigger GSR activation in response to osmotically stressful conditions which B. diazoefficiens encounters during soybean host infection.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35321446, year = {2022}, author = {Heckert, C}, title = {Syndemics in Symbiotic Cities: Pathogenic Policy and the Production of Health Inequity across Borders.}, journal = {Journal of borderlands studies}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {37-55}, pmid = {35321446}, issn = {0886-5655}, support = {RL5 GM118969/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; TL4 GM118971/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 GM118970/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, } @article {pmid35318763, year = {2022}, author = {Haga, N}, title = {Micromanipulation in Paramecium: From non-mendelian inheritance to the outlook for versatile micromachines.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {5}, pages = {e12909}, pmid = {35318763}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Cytoplasm ; Macronucleus/genetics ; Micromanipulation ; *Paramecium/physiology ; *Paramecium tetraurelia/genetics ; }, abstract = {This review addresses nine areas of knowledge revealed by micromanipulations performed with Paramecium. Microinjection has shown that sexual maturation and senescence of Paramecium caudatum is a programmed process conducted by a specific gene and its product protein. In Paramecium tetraurelia, autogamy was revealed to depend on the number of DNA syntheses rather than the number of cell divisions in clonal aging. The cytoplasmic complementarity test established that microinjection of wild-type cytoplasm can correct genetic defects of mutants. The concept of complementarity together with protein chemistry revealed compounds that control membrane excitability. In non-Mendelian inheritance, noncoding small RNAs made from the parental micronucleus regulate the rearrangement of the progeny's macronuclear DNA. The macronucleus has the potential to be used as a factory for genetic engineering. The development and differentiation of progeny's nuclei in mating pairs are controlled by the parental macronucleus. The chemical reaction processes associated with exocytosis have been revealed by microinjection of various enzymes and antibodies. Using the fusion gene of histone H2B and yellow-fluorescence protein, it was revealed that the fusion gene-mRNA is transferred between cells during mating. Experiments with endosymbiotic bacteria and the host shed light on the conditions needed to establish sustainable symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid35318667, year = {2022}, author = {Gong, X and Jensen, E and Bucerius, S and Parniske, M}, title = {A CCaMK/Cyclops response element in the promoter of Lotus japonicus calcium-binding protein 1 (CBP1) mediates transcriptional activation in root symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {3}, pages = {1196-1211}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18112}, pmid = {35318667}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/metabolism ; Minocycline/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Response Elements ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Early gene expression in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is governed by a shared regulatory complex. Yet many symbiosis-induced genes are specifically activated in only one of the two symbioses. The Lotus japonicus T-DNA insertion line T90, carrying a promoterless uidA (GUS) gene in the promoter of Calcium Binding Protein 1 (CBP1) is exceptional as it exhibits GUS activity in both root endosymbioses. To identify the responsible cis- and trans-acting factors, we subjected deletion/modification series of CBP1 promoter : reporter fusions to transactivation and spatio-temporal expression analysis and screened ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS)-mutagenized T90 populations for aberrant GUS expression. We identified one cis-regulatory element required for GUS expression in the epidermis and a second element, necessary and sufficient for transactivation by the calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) in combination with the transcription factor Cyclops and conferring gene expression during both AM and RNS. Lack of GUS expression in T90 white mutants could be traced to DNA hypermethylation detected in and around this element. We concluded that the CCaMK/Cyclops complex can contribute to at least three distinct gene expression patterns on its direct target promoters NIN (RNS), RAM1 (AM), and CBP1 (AM and RNS), calling for yet-to-be identified specificity-conferring factors.}, } @article {pmid35318404, year = {2022}, author = {Sousa, KKA and Camargo, RS and Caldato, N and Farias, AP and Calca, MVC and Dal Pai, A and Matos, CAO and Zanuncio, JC and Santos, ICL and Forti, LC}, title = {The ideal habitat for leaf-cutting ant queens to build their nests.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {4830}, pmid = {35318404}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; Humans ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Queens of Atta sexdens Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) face biotic and abiotic environmental factors in the environment while establishing their nests. Biotic factors such as predation, microbial pathogens, successful symbiotic fungus regurgitation, excavation effort and abiotic factors such as radiant sunlight, temperature, density, and soil moisture exert selection pressures on ant queens. Biotic factors such as temperature and solar irradiation affect the survival of the initial colony differently, in different environments in the field. Queens of the leaf-cutting ant A. sexdens, were installed in sunny and shaded conditions to test this hypothesis. Two hundred A. sexdens queens were collected and individualized in two experimental areas (sunny and shaded), each in an experimental area (25 m[2]) in the center of a square (50 × 50 cm). Temperature, irradiance, nest depth, rainfall and queen mortality were evaluated. Atta sexdens colony development was better in the shaded environment, and the depth and volume of the initial chamber, fungus garden biomass and number of eggs, larvae, pupae and workers were greater. The queen masses were similar in both environments but mortality was higher in the sunny environment. The worse parameter values for A. sexdens nests in the sunny environment are due to the greater solar irradiance, increasing the variation range of the internal temperature of the initial chamber of the nest. On the other hand, the more stable internal temperature of this chamber in the shaded environment, is due to the lower incidence of solar irradiance, which is also more advantageous for queen survival and the formation and development of A. sexdens colonies. Shaded environments are a better micro habitat for nesting A. sexdens than sunny ones.}, } @article {pmid35317738, year = {2022}, author = {Jawahar, J and McCumber, AW and Lickwar, CR and Amoroso, CR and de la Torre Canny, SG and Wong, S and Morash, M and Thierer, JH and Farber, SA and Bohannan, BJM and Guillemin, K and Rawls, JF}, title = {Starvation causes changes in the intestinal transcriptome and microbiome that are reversed upon refeeding.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {225}, pmid = {35317738}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {P01 DK094779/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK081426/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK093399/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK131742/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Transcriptome ; Zebrafish/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ability of animals and their microbiomes to adapt to starvation and then restore homeostasis after refeeding is fundamental to their continued survival and symbiosis. The intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption and microbiome interaction, however our understanding of intestinal adaptations to starvation and refeeding remains limited. Here we used RNA sequencing and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to uncover changes in the intestinal transcriptome and microbiome of zebrafish subjected to long-term starvation and refeeding compared to continuously fed controls.

RESULTS: Starvation over 21 days led to increased diversity and altered composition in the intestinal microbiome compared to fed controls, including relative increases in Vibrio and reductions in Plesiomonas bacteria. Starvation also led to significant alterations in host gene expression in the intestine, with distinct pathways affected at early and late stages of starvation. This included increases in the expression of ribosome biogenesis genes early in starvation, followed by decreased expression of genes involved in antiviral immunity and lipid transport at later stages. These effects of starvation on the host transcriptome and microbiome were almost completely restored within 3 days after refeeding. Comparison with published datasets identified host genes responsive to starvation as well as high-fat feeding or microbiome colonization, and predicted host transcription factors that may be involved in starvation response.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term starvation induces progressive changes in microbiome composition and host gene expression in the zebrafish intestine, and these changes are rapidly reversed after refeeding. Our identification of bacterial taxa, host genes and host pathways involved in this response provides a framework for future investigation of the physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying intestinal adaptations to food restriction.}, } @article {pmid35316949, year = {2022}, author = {Prada, C and López-Londoño, T and Pollock, FJ and Roitman, S and Ritchie, KB and Levitan, DR and Knowlton, N and Woodley, C and Iglesias-Prieto, R and Medina, M}, title = {Linking photoacclimation responses and microbiome shifts between depth-segregated sibling species of reef corals.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {211591}, pmid = {35316949}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Metazoans host complex communities of microorganisms that include dinoflagellates, fungi, bacteria, archaea and viruses. Interactions among members of these complex assemblages allow hosts to adjust their physiology and metabolism to cope with environmental variation and occupy different habitats. Here, using reciprocal transplantation across depths, we studied adaptive divergence in the corals Orbicella annularis and O. franksi, two young species with contrasting vertical distribution in the Caribbean. When transplanted from deep to shallow, O. franksi experienced fast photoacclimation and low mortality, and maintained a consistent bacterial community. By contrast, O. annularis experienced high mortality and limited photoacclimation when transplanted from shallow to deep. The photophysiological collapse of O. annularis in the deep environment was associated with an increased microbiome variability and reduction of some bacterial taxa. Differences in the symbiotic algal community were more pronounced between coral species than between depths. Our study suggests that these sibling species are adapted to distinctive light environments partially driven by the algae photoacclimation capacity and the microbiome robustness, highlighting the importance of niche specialization in symbiotic corals for the maintenance of species diversity. Our findings have implications for the management of these threatened Caribbean corals and the effectiveness of coral reef restoration efforts.}, } @article {pmid35314306, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, H and Xu, B and Zhao, C and Liu, J and Zhao, Y and Sun, S and Wei, J}, title = {Simultaneous biogas upgrading and biogas slurry treatment by different microalgae-based technologies under various strigolactone analog (GR24) concentrations.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {351}, number = {}, pages = {127033}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127033}, pmid = {35314306}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Lactones ; *Microalgae ; *Reishi ; }, abstract = {In this research, the effects of exogenous strigolactone analog (GR24) on the growth rate, daily productivity and photosynthesis of symbiotes of Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris)-Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum)-endophytic bacteria, C. vulgaris-G. lucidum-activated sludge and C. vulgaris-G. lucidum-multi-walled carbon nanotube, and the simultaneous treatment of biogas slurry and biogas were examined. The C. vulgaris-G. lucidum-endophytic bacteria symbiote achieved the best treatment effectiveness for biogas slurry and biogas, with removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and CO2 of 81.4 ± 7.6%, 79.6 ± 7.6%, 82.5 ± 8.2%, and 67.3 ± 6.3% under the optimal GR24 concentration of 10[-9] M. Moreover, the treatment effects were positively correlated with growth performance and photosynthesis efficiency of the symbiote. These findings advance the development and application of symbiotic systems in the field of wastewater treatment and biogas upgrading.}, } @article {pmid35314082, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, GH and Du, J and Chu, CY and Madhav, M and Hughes, GL and Champer, J}, title = {Symbionts and gene drive: two strategies to combat vector-borne disease.}, journal = {Trends in genetics : TIG}, volume = {38}, number = {7}, pages = {708-723}, doi = {10.1016/j.tig.2022.02.013}, pmid = {35314082}, issn = {0168-9525}, support = {NIHR2000907/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; BB/T001240/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; V011278/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Culicidae/genetics ; *Gene Drive Technology ; *Malaria/genetics/prevention & control ; Mosquito Vectors/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes bring global health problems by transmitting parasites and viruses such as malaria and dengue. Unfortunately, current insecticide-based control strategies are only moderately effective because of high cost and resistance. Thus, scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective strategies are needed for mosquito-borne disease control. Symbiont-based and genome engineering-based approaches provide new tools that show promise for meeting these criteria, enabling modification or suppression approaches. Symbiotic bacteria like Wolbachia are maternally inherited and manipulate mosquito host reproduction to enhance their vertical transmission. Genome engineering-based gene drive methods, in which mosquitoes are genetically altered to spread drive alleles throughout wild populations, are also proving to be a potentially powerful approach in the laboratory. Here, we review the latest developments in both symbionts and gene drive-based methods. We describe some notable similarities, as well as distinctions and obstacles, relating to these promising technologies.}, } @article {pmid35313954, year = {2022}, author = {Makarova, KS and Blackburne, B and Wolf, YI and Nikolskaya, A and Karamycheva, S and Espinoza, M and Barry, CE and Bewley, CA and Koonin, EV}, title = {Phylogenomic analysis of the diversity of graspetides and proteins involved in their biosynthesis.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {35313954}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/chemistry/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Multigene Family ; *Peptides/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacteria and archaea produce an enormous diversity of modified peptides that are involved in various forms of inter-microbial conflicts or communication. A vast class of such peptides are Ribosomally synthesized, Postranslationally modified Peptides (RiPPs), and a major group of RiPPs are graspetides, so named after ATP-grasp ligases that catalyze the formation of lactam and lactone linkages in these peptides. The diversity of graspetides, the multiple proteins encoded in the respective Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs) and their evolution have not been studied in full detail. In this work, we attempt a comprehensive analysis of the graspetide-encoding BGCs and report a variety of novel graspetide groups as well as ancillary proteins implicated in graspetide biosynthesis and expression.

RESULTS: We compiled a comprehensive, manually curated set of graspetides that includes 174 families including 115 new families with distinct patterns of amino acids implicated in macrocyclization and further modification, roughly tripling the known graspetide diversity. We derived signature motifs for the leader regions of graspetide precursors that could be used to facilitate graspetide prediction. Graspetide biosynthetic gene clusters and specific precursors were identified in bacterial divisions not previously known to encode RiPPs, in particular, the parasitic and symbiotic bacteria of the Candidate phyla radiation. We identified Bacteroides-specific biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) that include remarkable diversity of graspetides encoded in the same loci which predicted to be modified by the same ATP-grasp ligase. We studied in details evolution of recently characterized chryseoviridin BGCs and showed that duplication and horizonal gene exchange both contribute to the diversification of the graspetides during evolution.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate previously unsuspected diversity of graspetide sequences, even those associated with closely related ATP-grasp enzymes. Several previously unnoticed families of proteins associated with graspetide biosynthetic gene clusters are identified. The results of this work substantially expand the known diversity of RiPPs and can be harnessed to further advance approaches for their identification.}, } @article {pmid35313493, year = {2022}, author = {Fontaine, D and Kristensen, RK and Rasmussen, J and Eriksen, J}, title = {Data on growth, uptake and N2 fixation of grass-clover leys fertilized with mineral N fertilizer and cattle slurry.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {42}, number = {}, pages = {107998}, pmid = {35313493}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {This article presents the data obtained from a field experiment in which grass-clover leys were fertilized with increasing N rates applied in either mineral N fertilizer and/or cattle slurry forms. The leys were composed of a 2-species mixture of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and a 4-species mixture of white clover, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), festulolium (Festulolium braunii) and ryegrass. In total, eighty fields were established at two farm sites in the western part of Denmark on sandy soils and monitored for two herbage seasons (2018-2019). Dry matter yield, botanical composition, N concentration and the proportion of N derived from the atmosphere using the 15 N dilution method were recorded in the harvestable biomass after each cut. Furthermore, the specific growth, N uptake and quantitative biological N fixation of the species were determined. The dataset can be used to establish the N balance, to calculate the optimal economic fertilization rate based on grass-clover composition and to predict N leaching and residual effect. The data presented were thoroughly used and discussed in the research article "Contrasting effects of slurry and mineral fertilizer on N2 fixation in grass-clover mixtures".}, } @article {pmid35310572, year = {2022}, author = {Mendelson, M and Sharland, M and Mpundu, M}, title = {Antibiotic resistance: calling time on the 'silent pandemic'.}, journal = {JAC-antimicrobial resistance}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {dlac016}, pmid = {35310572}, issn = {2632-1823}, abstract = {It is time to stop referring to the antibiotic resistance pandemic as 'silent'. Continuing to use such a term denies the reality that antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, driven by misuse and abuse of antibiotics by humans against microbial ecosystems that we should be living in symbiosis with, is wrong. Both our terminology and who the real 'enemy' is in relation to antibiotic resistance demands serious reconsideration.}, } @article {pmid35310454, year = {2022}, author = {Lu, Q and Yang, MF and Liang, YJ and Xu, J and Xu, HM and Nie, YQ and Wang, LS and Yao, J and Li, DF}, title = {Immunology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics.}, journal = {Journal of inflammation research}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1825-1844}, pmid = {35310454}, issn = {1178-7031}, abstract = {As a main digestive organ and an important immune organ, the intestine plays a vital role in resisting the invasion of potential pathogens into the body. Intestinal immune dysfunction remains important pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this review, we explained the interactions among symbiotic flora, intestinal epithelial cells, and the immune system, clarified the operating mechanism of the intestinal immune system, and highlighted the immunological pathogenesis of IBD, with a focus on the development of immunotherapy for IBD. In addition, intestinal fibrosis is a significant complication in patients with long-term IBD, and we reviewed the immunological pathogenesis involved in the development of intestinal fibrogenesis and provided novel antifibrotic immunotherapies for IBD.}, } @article {pmid35310189, year = {2022}, author = {Shen, Y and Liu, C and Luo, J and Wang, J and Zhang, D}, title = {16SrDNA-Based Detection Technology in Patients with Chronic Pharyngitis to Analyze the Distribution Characteristics of Pharyngeal Bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of healthcare engineering}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {5186991}, pmid = {35310189}, issn = {2040-2309}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Pharyngitis/diagnosis/microbiology ; Prospective Studies ; Technology ; }, abstract = {In order to analyze the distribution characteristics of pharyngeal bacteria in patients with chronic pharyngitis (CP) by 16SrDNA-based detection technology, a prospective study is conducted to collect pharyngeal secretion samples from patients diagnosed with CP who are admitted to the Otorhinolaryngology Department of The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen from May 2021 to September 2021. Among them, 11 cases are chronic simple pharyngitis (CSP), 11 cases are chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis (CHP), and 8 cases are healthy subjects. All samples are detected by the 16SrDNA technique and analyzed by bioinformatics. 55724.64 ± 1772.80, 53697.73 ± 2252.19, and 55177.5 ± 1661.80 optimized sequences are obtained by 16SrDNA sequencing. The α diversity analysis of pharyngeal microflora showed that the abundance index SOBS of pharyngeal microflora is upregulated in patients with CHP compared with normal controls (NC), but the diversity index of pharyngeal bacteria in the three groups is not significantly changed, indicating that the abundance of pharyngeal bacteria in the CHP group is increased. The β diversity analysis of pharyngeal microflora showed that the three groups are similar in structure and composition, and there is no significant statistical difference. The structural difference analysis of pharyngeal flora combined with LEfSe difference analysis showed that at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Spirochaetes and Synergistetes in the CHP group is significantly higher than that in the CSP group. At the genus level, the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens such as Selenomonas and Campylobacter increased significantly in the CSP group. The relative abundance of Escherichia, Mycoplasma, and Porphyromonas are significantly increased in the CHP group. The abundance of beneficial symbiotic bacteria decreased significantly in patients with CP. The pharyngitis of patients with CP is characterized by an increase in the abundance of pharyngitis, changes in the structure of pharyngitis, a decline in the symbiotic beneficial bacteria, and an increase in the content of opportunistic pathogens, which may be closely related to the onset and development of CP.}, } @article {pmid35308549, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, T and Ishikawa, T and Sasaki, M and Chiba, T}, title = {Oral and Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Central Role of Porphyromonas gingivalis.}, journal = {Frontiers in medicine}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {822190}, pmid = {35308549}, issn = {2296-858X}, abstract = {Gut microbiota play many important roles, such as the regulation of immunity and barrier function in the intestine, and are crucial for maintaining homeostasis in living organisms. The disruption in microbiota is called dysbiosis, which has been associated with various chronic inflammatory conditions, food allergies, colorectal cancer, etc. The gut microbiota is also affected by several other factors such as diet, antibiotics and other medications, or bacterial and viral infections. Moreover, there are some reports on the oral-gut-liver axis indicating that the disruption of oral microbiota affects the intestinal biota. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the systemic diseases caused due to the dysregulation of the oral-gut-liver axis. NAFLD is the most common liver disease reported in the developed countries. It includes liver damage ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and cancer. Recently, accumulating evidence supports an association between NAFLD and dysbiosis of oral and gut microbiota. Periodontopathic bacteria, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis, have been correlated with the pathogenesis and development of NAFLD based on the clinical and basic research, and immunology. P. gingivalis was detected in the liver, and lipopolysaccharide from this bacteria has been shown to be involved in the progression of NAFLD, thereby indicating a direct role of P. gingivalis in NAFLD. Moreover, P. gingivalis induces dysbiosis of gut microbiota, which promotes the progression of NAFLD, through disrupting both metabolic and immunologic pathways. Here, we review the roles of microbial dysbiosis in NAFLD. Focusing on P. gingivalis, we evaluate and summarize the most recent advances in our understanding of the relationship between oral-gut microbiome symbiosis and the pathogenesis and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as discuss novel strategies targeting both P. gingivalis and microbial dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35308349, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, X and Jiang, H and Cai, B and Feng, H and Wang, X and Yu, G}, title = {Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Fucosylated Glycoproteins Produced by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Under Different Polysaccharide Nutrition Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {826942}, pmid = {35308349}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, one of the most eminent representative gut commensal Bacteroides species, is able to use the L-fucose in host-derived and dietary polysaccharides to modify its capsular polysaccharides and glycoproteins through a mammalian-like salvage metabolic pathway. This process is essential for the colonization of the bacteria and for symbiosis with the host. However, despite the importance of fucosylated proteins (FGPs) in B. thetaiotaomicron, their types, distribution, and functions remain unclear. In this study, the effects of different polysaccharide (corn starch, mucin, and fucoidan) nutrition conditions on newly synthesized FGPs expressions and fucosylation are investigated using a chemical biological method based on metabolic labeling and bioorthogonal reaction. According to the results of label-free quantification, 559 FGPs (205 downregulated and 354 upregulated) are affected by the dietary conditions. Of these differentially expressed proteins, 65 proteins show extremely sensitive to polysaccharide nutrition conditions (FGPs fold change/global protein fold change ≥2.0 or ≤0.5). Specifically, the fucosylation of the chondroitin sulfate ABC enzyme, Sus proteins, and cationic efflux system proteins varies significantly upon the addition of mucin, corn starch, or fucoidan. Moreover, these polysaccharides can trigger an appreciable increase in the fucosylation level of the two-component system and ammonium transport proteins. These results highlight the efficiency of the combined metabolic glycan labeling and bio-orthogonal reaction in enriching the intestinal Bacteroides glycoproteins. Moreover, it emphasizes the sensitivity of Bacteroides fucosylation to polysaccharide nutrition conditions, which allows for the regulation of bacterial growth.}, } @article {pmid35307677, year = {2022}, author = {Voronkova, OS and Lusta, MV and Voronkova, YS and Fawzy, YS and Ostanina, TH}, title = {PECULIARITIES OF DISTRIBUTION OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT STRAINS OF E. COLI - E. FAECALIS ASSOCIATION IN THE UROGENITAL TRACT OF PREGNANT WOMEN.}, journal = {Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {462-468}, pmid = {35307677}, issn = {0043-5147}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; *Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The aim: To investigate the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains from the association of E. coli - E. faecalis in the urogenital tract of pregnant women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Used bacteriological method of sectoral culture of urine on nutrient media and identification of strains to the species. The susceptibility of strains to antibiotics was determined by disk-diffusion method, the interpretation of results - according to current EUCAST recommendations. Statistical processing was performed in MS Excel (Analysis of variance (ANOVA)).

RESULTS: Results: The number of resistant to cefuroxime, cephalexin, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin and trimethoprim uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli does not change depending on the monostrain and associated strain of E. coli from the urine of pregnant women in Dnipro. It was found that the differences in the number of fosfomycin-resistant uropathogenic strains of E. coli depending on the type of culture - the number of fosfomycintolerant urostrains E. coli is 2 times higher among the associated strains, compared with monostains of the studied microorganism. The number of uropathogenic strains of E. faecalis resistant to ampicillin, trimethoprim, nitrofurantoin and norfloxacin does not change depending on the type of culture isolated from the urine of pregnant women in Dnipro.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The symbiotic type of existence of two representatives of the normal intestinal flora on the uroepithelium of pregnant women may be associated with the development of Escherichia coli antibiotic resistance only to fosfomycin compared with monoinfection caused by each of these microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid35306134, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, H and Ma, B and Huang, T and Yang, W and Liu, X and Niu, L}, title = {Nitrogen removal from low carbon/nitrogen polluted water is enhanced by a novel synthetic micro-ecosystem under aerobic conditions: Novel insight into abundance of denitrification genes and community interactions.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {351}, number = {}, pages = {127013}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127013}, pmid = {35306134}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Carbon ; *Denitrification ; Ecosystem ; Nitrates ; *Nitrogen/analysis ; Wastewater/microbiology ; Water ; }, abstract = {The main limiting factor in treatment of wastewater with a low carbon/nitrogen ratio is insufficient electron donors for aerobic denitrification. A novel synthetic micro-ecosystem (SM) with functional materials as the core structure was prepared to enhance nitrate removal during wastewater treatment. Nitrate removal in the reactors with SM increased by more than 40 % and reached 97.43 % under aerobic conditions. The abundance of denitrification functional genes in activated sludge increased by 2.7 folds after adding SM. Network analysis showed that the denitrifying bacterial community in the reactors with SM displayed a more abundant symbiotic structure. In the reactors with SM, bacteria with both denitrification and inorganic electron transfer capabilities (such as Paracoccus sp., Thaurea sp., and Achromobacter sp.) occupied dominant niche. A species abundance distribution model indicated more intense competition for the dominant niche for the denitrification community in the reactor with SM. Thus, SM promotes denitrification in polluted water bodies under aerobic conditions.}, } @article {pmid35305159, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, T and Wang, X and Gang, Y and Cui, X and Lan, H and Liu, Z}, title = {Spatial Pattern of Endophytic Fungi and the Symbiotic Germination of Tulasnella Fungi from Wild Cymbidium goeringii (Orchidaceae) in China.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {5}, pages = {139}, doi = {10.1007/s00284-022-02826-4}, pmid = {35305159}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota/genetics ; Germination ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endophytic microbiome in orchid plants is rich and diverse; however, few studies have analyzed the endophytic microbiome of Cymbidium plants in different tissues and soils. This study implemented the Illumina Miseq technology to investigate the diversity of endophytic fungi in different tissues of wild Cymbidium goeringii. The results demonstrated that different tissue samples harbor a rich fungal endophytic community, and those fungi could be classified into 4 phyla, at least 145 families, and 185 genera. The endophytic fungal community diversity differed among the orchid tissues and soils, and some fungal taxa were clearly concentrated in certain orchid tissues, with more operational taxonomic units (OTUs) being detected. Investigation of mycorrhizal associations showed that 43 (about 3.8%) of the total 1137 OTUs could be assigned as Orchidaceae mycorrhizal fungi (OMF), while about 96.2% the OTUs were non-mycorrhizal fungi. Among the OMFs, OTUs of the ectomycorrhizal fungi Russulaceae and Thelephoraceae families were the most abundant, with different richness in the soil, followed by Tulasnellaceae and Ceratobasidiaceae, which were dominant in the root communities of C. goeringii. In the seeds, the absolutely dominant family was Nectriaceae, and the common OMFs Ceratobasidiaceae (five OTUs) and Tulasnellaceae (one OTU) were also detected in the seeds. Two Tulasnella spp. isolates from the roots of wild C. goeringii could effectively promote seed germination and rhizome formation of wild C. goeringii, and these strains might be particularly important in the practice of conservation for many endangered C. goeringii in China.}, } @article {pmid35304743, year = {2022}, author = {Hoang, KL and Choi, H and Gerardo, NM and Morran, LT}, title = {Coevolution's conflicting role in the establishment of beneficial associations.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {76}, number = {5}, pages = {1073-1081}, pmid = {35304743}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reciprocal adaptation between hosts and symbionts can drive the maintenance of symbioses, resulting in coevolution and beneficial genotypic interactions. Consequently, hosts may experience decreased fitness when paired with nonsympatric partners compared to sympatric symbionts. However, coevolution does not preclude conflict-host and symbiont can act to advance their own fitness interests, which do not necessarily align with those of their partner. Despite coevolution's importance in extant symbioses, we know little about its role in shaping the origin of symbioses. Here, we tested the role of coevolution in establishing a novel association by experimentally (co)evolving a host with a protective bacterium under environmental stress. Although evolution in the presence of nonevolving bacteria facilitated host adaptation, co-passaged hosts did not exhibit greater adaptation rates than hosts paired with nonevolving bacteria. Furthermore, co-passaged hosts exhibited greater fecundity when paired with sympatric, co-passaged bacteria compared to co-passaged bacteria with which they did not share an evolutionary history. Thus, shared evolutionary history between the hosts and microbes actually reduced host fitness and has the potential to impede evolution of new beneficial associations.}, } @article {pmid35304589, year = {2022}, author = {Nyholm, SV and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Publisher Correction: A lasting symbiosis: how the Hawaiian bobtail squid finds and keeps its bioluminescent bacterial partner.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {315}, doi = {10.1038/s41579-022-00723-y}, pmid = {35304589}, issn = {1740-1534}, } @article {pmid35303964, year = {2022}, author = {Chaverri, P and Chaverri, G}, title = {Fungal communities in feces of the frugivorous bat Ectophylla alba and its highly specialized Ficus colubrinae diet.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {24}, pmid = {35303964}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bats are important long-distance dispersers of many tropical plants, yet, by consuming fruits, they may disperse not only the plant's seeds, but also the mycobiota within those fruits. We characterized the culture-dependent and independent fungal communities in fruits of Ficus colubrinae and feces of Ectophylla alba to determine if passage through the digestive tract of bats affected the total mycobiota.

RESULTS: Using presence/absence and normalized abundance data from fruits and feces, we demonstrate that the fungal communities were significantly different, even though there was an overlap of ca. 38% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs). We show that some of the fungi from fruits were also present and grew from fecal samples. Fecal fungal communities were dominated by Agaricomycetes, followed by Dothideomycetes, Sordariomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Malasseziomycetes, while fruit samples were dominated by Dothideomycetes, followed by Sordariomycetes, Agaricomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Laboulbeniomycetes. Linear discriminant analyses (LDA) show that, for bat feces, the indicator taxa include Basidiomycota (i.e., Agaricomycetes: Polyporales and Agaricales), and the ascomycetous class Eurotiomycetes (i.e., Eurotiales, Aspergillaceae). For fruits, indicator taxa are in the Ascomycota (i.e., Dothideomycetes: Botryosphaeriales; Laboulbeniomycetes: Pyxidiophorales; and Sordariomycetes: Glomerellales). In our study, the differences in fungal species composition between the two communities (fruits vs. feces) reflected on the changes in the functional diversity. For example, the core community in bat feces is constituted by saprobes and animal commensals, while that of fruits is composed mostly of phytopathogens and arthropod-associated fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides the groundwork to continue disentangling the direct and indirect symbiotic relationships in an ecological network that has not received enough attention: fungi-plants-bats. Findings also suggest that the role of frugivores in plant-animal mutualistic networks may extend beyond seed dispersal: they may also promote the dispersal of potentially beneficial microbial symbionts while, for example, hindering those that can cause plant disease.}, } @article {pmid35303955, year = {2022}, author = {Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Aubé, J and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Reveillaud, J}, title = {Correction to: Niche partitioning in the Rimicaris exoculata holobiont: the case of the first symbiotic Zetaproteobacteria.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {51}, pmid = {35303955}, issn = {2049-2618}, } @article {pmid35303419, year = {2022}, author = {Yao, Y and Kim, G and Shafer, S and Chen, Z and Kubo, S and Ji, Y and Luo, J and Yang, W and Perner, SP and Kanellopoulou, C and Park, AY and Jiang, P and Li, J and Baris, S and Aydiner, EK and Ertem, D and Mulder, DJ and Warner, N and Griffiths, AM and Topf-Olivestone, C and Kori, M and Werner, L and Ouahed, J and Field, M and Liu, C and Schwarz, B and Bosio, CM and Ganesan, S and Song, J and Urlaub, H and Oellerich, T and Malaker, SA and Zheng, L and Bertozzi, CR and Zhang, Y and Matthews, H and Montgomery, W and Shih, HY and Jiang, J and Jones, M and Baras, A and Shuldiner, A and Gonzaga-Jauregui, C and Snapper, SB and Muise, AM and Shouval, DS and Ozen, A and Pan, KT and Wu, C and Lenardo, MJ}, title = {Mucus sialylation determines intestinal host-commensal homeostasis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {185}, number = {7}, pages = {1172-1188.e28}, pmid = {35303419}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {RC2 DK118640/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; Z01 AI000566/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Mice ; Mucus/metabolism ; Sialyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Intestinal mucus forms the first line of defense against bacterial invasion while providing nutrition to support microbial symbiosis. How the host controls mucus barrier integrity and commensalism is unclear. We show that terminal sialylation of glycans on intestinal mucus by ST6GALNAC1 (ST6), the dominant sialyltransferase specifically expressed in goblet cells and induced by microbial pathogen-associated molecular patterns, is essential for mucus integrity and protecting against excessive bacterial proteolytic degradation. Glycoproteomic profiling and biochemical analysis of ST6 mutations identified in patients show that decreased sialylation causes defective mucus proteins and congenital inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mice harboring a patient ST6 mutation have compromised mucus barriers, dysbiosis, and susceptibility to intestinal inflammation. Based on our understanding of the ST6 regulatory network, we show that treatment with sialylated mucin or a Foxo3 inhibitor can ameliorate IBD.}, } @article {pmid35302658, year = {2022}, author = {Marro, N and Grilli, G and Soteras, F and Caccia, M and Longo, S and Cofré, N and Borda, V and Burni, M and Janoušková, M and Urcelay, C}, title = {The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species and taxonomic groups on stressed and unstressed plants: a global meta-analysis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {1}, pages = {320-332}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18102}, pmid = {35302658}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The great majority of plants gain access to soil nutrients and enhance their performance under stressful conditions through symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The benefits that AMF confer vary among species and taxonomic groups. However, a comparative analysis of the different benefits among AMF has not yet been performed. We conducted a global meta-analysis of recent studies testing the benefits of individual AMF species and main taxonomic groups in terms of plant performance (growth and nutrition). Separately, we examined AMF benefits to plants facing biotic (pathogens, parasites, and herbivores) and abiotic (drought, salinity, and heavy metals) stress. AMF had stronger positive effects on phosphorus nutrition than on plant growth and nitrogen nutrition and the effects on the growth of plants facing biotic and abiotic stresses were similarly positive. While the AMF taxonomic groups showed positive effects on plant performance either with or without stress, Diversisporales were the most beneficial to plants without stress and Gigasporales to plants facing biotic stress. Our results provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits of different AMF species and taxonomic groups on plant performance and useful insights for their management and use as bio-inoculants for agriculture and restoration.}, } @article {pmid35302355, year = {2022}, author = {Luong, P and Ghosh, A and Moulton, KD and Kulkarni, SS and Dube, DH}, title = {Synthesis and Application of Rare Deoxy Amino l-Sugar Analogues to Probe Glycans in Pathogenic Bacteria.}, journal = {ACS infectious diseases}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {889-900}, pmid = {35302355}, issn = {2373-8227}, support = {P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R15 GM109397/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103420/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Azides/chemistry ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Fucose ; Humans ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry ; Sugars ; }, abstract = {Bacterial cell envelope glycans are compelling antibiotic targets as they are critical for strain fitness and pathogenesis yet are virtually absent from human cells. However, systematic study and perturbation of bacterial glycans remains challenging due to their utilization of rare deoxy amino l-sugars, which impede traditional glycan analysis and are not readily available from natural sources. The development of chemical tools to study bacterial glycans is a crucial step toward understanding and altering these biomolecules. Here we report an expedient methodology to access azide-containing analogues of a variety of unusual deoxy amino l-sugars starting from readily available l-rhamnose and l-fucose. Azide-containing l-sugar analogues facilitated metabolic profiling of bacterial glycans in a range of Gram-negative bacteria and revealed differential utilization of l-sugars in symbiotic versus pathogenic bacteria. Further application of these probes will refine our knowledge of the glycan repertoire in diverse bacteria and aid in the design of novel antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid35302240, year = {2022}, author = {Spribille, T and Resl, P and Stanton, DE and Tagirdzhanova, G}, title = {Evolutionary biology of lichen symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1566-1582}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18048}, pmid = {35302240}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biology ; *Cyanobacteria ; Fungi ; *Lichens/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are the symbiotic outcomes of open, interspecies relationships, central to which are a fungus and a phototroph, typically an alga and/or cyanobacterium. The evolutionary processes that led to the global success of lichens are poorly understood. In this review, we explore the goods and services exchange between fungus and phototroph and how this propelled the success of both symbiont and symbiosis. Lichen fungal symbionts count among the only filamentous fungi that expose most of their mycelium to an aerial environment. Phototrophs export carbohydrates to the fungus, which converts them to specific polyols. Experimental evidence suggests that polyols are not only growth and respiratory substrates but also play a role in anhydrobiosis, the capacity to survive desiccation. We propose that this dual functionality is pivotal to the evolution of fungal symbionts, enabling persistence in environments otherwise hostile to fungi while simultaneously imposing costs on growth. Phototrophs, in turn, benefit from fungal protection from herbivory and light stress, while appearing to exert leverage over fungal sex and morphogenesis. Combined with the recently recognized habit of symbionts to occur in multiple symbioses, this creates the conditions for a multiplayer marketplace of rewards and penalties that could drive symbiont selection and lichen diversification.}, } @article {pmid35301482, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, Y and Zhang, L and Gao, Z and Yin, P and Wang, H and Li, H and Chen, Z and Zhang, Y and Yang, M and Feng, Y}, title = {AcrIF5 specifically targets DNA-bound CRISPR-Cas surveillance complex for inhibition.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {670-677}, pmid = {35301482}, issn = {1552-4469}, mesh = {*Bacteriophages/genetics/metabolism ; *CRISPR-Associated Proteins/genetics ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; DNA/metabolism ; Viral Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {CRISPR-Cas systems are prokaryotic antiviral systems, and phages use anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) to inactivate these systems. Here we present structural and functional analyses of AcrIF5, exploring its unique anti-CRISPR mechanism. AcrIF5 shows binding specificity only for the target DNA-bound form of the crRNA-guided surveillance (Csy) complex, but not the apo Csy complex from the type I-F CRISPR-Cas system. We solved the structure of the Csy-dsDNA-AcrIF5 complex, revealing that the conformational changes of the Csy complex caused by dsDNA binding dictate the binding specificity for the Csy-dsDNA complex by AcrIF5. Mechanistically, five AcrIF5 molecules bind one Csy-dsDNA complex, which destabilizes the helical bundle domain of Cas8f, thus preventing subsequent Cas2/3 recruitment. AcrIF5 exists in symbiosis with AcrIF3, which blocks Cas2/3 recruitment. This attack on the recruitment event stands in contrast to the conventional mechanisms of blocking binding of target DNA. Overall, our study reveals an unprecedented mechanism of CRISPR-Cas inhibition by AcrIF5.}, } @article {pmid35301409, year = {2022}, author = {Aguilar, OM and Collavino, MM and Mancini, U}, title = {Nodulation competitiveness and diversification of symbiosis genes in common beans from the American centers of domestication.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {4591}, pmid = {35301409}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Domestication ; *Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean), having a proposed Mexican origin within the Americas, comprises three centers of diversification: Mesoamerica, the southern Andes, and the Amotape-Huancabamba Depression in Peru-Ecuador. Rhizobium etli is the predominant rhizobium found symbiotically associated with beans in the Americasalthough closely related Rhizobium phylotypes have also been detected. To investigate if symbiosis between bean varieties and rhizobia evolved affinity, firstly nodulation competitiveness was studied after inoculation with a mixture of sympatric and allopatric rhizobial strains isolated from the respective geographical regions. Rhizobia strains harboring nodC types α and [Formula: see text], which were found predominant in Mexico and Ecuador, were comparable in nodule occupancy at 50% of each in beans from the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools, but it is one of those two nodC types which clearly predominated in Ecuadorian-Peruvian beans as well as in Andean beans nodC type [Formula: see text] predominated the sympatric nodC type δ. The results indicated that those beans from Ecuador-Peru and Andean region, respectively exhibited no affinity for nodulation by the sympatric rhizobial lineages that were found to be predominant in bean nodules formed in those respective areas. Unlike the strains isolated from Ecuador, Rhizobium etli isolated from Mexico as well from the southern Andes was highly competitive for nodulation in beans from Ecuador-Peru, and quite similarly competitive in Mesoamerican and Andean beans. Finally, five gene products associated with symbiosis were examined to analyze variations that could be correlated with nodulation competitiveness. A small GTPase RabA2, transcriptional factors NIN and ASTRAY, and nodulation factor receptors NFR1 and NFR5- indicated high conservation but NIN, NFR1 and NFR5 of beans representative of the Ecuador-Peru genetic pool clustered separated from the Mesoamerican and Andean showing diversification and possible different interaction. These results indicated that both host and bacterial genetics are important for mutual affinity, and that symbiosis is another trait of legumes that could be sensitive to evolutionary influences and local adaptation.}, } @article {pmid35301166, year = {2022}, author = {Naragon, TH and Wagner, JM and Parker, J}, title = {Parallel evolutionary paths of rove beetle myrmecophiles: replaying a deep-time tape of life.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {51}, number = {}, pages = {100903}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2022.100903}, pmid = {35301166}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/parasitology ; Biological Evolution ; *Coleoptera/anatomy & histology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rise of ants over the past ~100 million years reshaped the biosphere, presenting ecological challenges for many organisms, but also opportunities. No insect group has been so adept at exploiting niches inside ant colonies as the rove beetles (Staphylinidae) - a global clade of>64,000 predominantly free-living predators from which numerous socially parasitic 'myrmecophile' lineages have emerged. Myrmecophilous staphylinids are specialized for colony life through changes in behavior, chemistry, anatomy, and life history that are often strikingly convergent, and hence potentially adaptive for this symbiotic way of life. Here, we examine how the interplay between ecological pressures and molecular, cellular, and neurobiological mechanisms shape the evolutionary trajectories of symbiotic lineages in this ancient, convergent system.}, } @article {pmid35300477, year = {2022}, author = {Bongrand, C and Koch, E and Mende, D and Romano, A and Lawhorn, S and McFall-Ngai, M and DeLong, EF and Ruby, EG}, title = {Evidence of Genomic Diversification in a Natural Symbiotic Population Within Its Host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {854355}, pmid = {35300477}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Planktonic cells of the luminous marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri establish themselves in the light-emitting organ of each generation of newly hatched Euprymna scolopes bobtail squid. A symbiont population is maintained within the 6 separated crypts of the organ for the ∼9-month life of the host. In the wild, the initial colonization step is typically accomplished by a handful of planktonic V. fischeri cells, leading to a species-specific, but often multi-strain, symbiont population. Within a few hours, the inoculating cells proliferate within the organ's individual crypts, after which there is evidently no supernumerary colonization. Nevertheless, every day at dawn, the majority of the symbionts is expelled, and the regrowth of the remaining ∼5% of cells provides a daily opportunity for the population to evolve and diverge, thereby increasing its genomic diversity. To begin to understand the extent of this diversification, we characterized the light-organ population of an adult animal. First, we used 16S sequencing to determine that species in the V. fischeri clade were essentially the only ones detectable within a field-caught E. scolopes. Efforts to colonize the host with a minor species that appeared to be identified, V. litoralis, revealed that, although some cells could be imaged within the organ, they were <0.1% of the typical V. fischeri population, and did not persist. Next, we determined the genome sequences of seventy-two isolates from one side of the organ. While all these isolates were associated with one of three clusters of V. fischeri strains, there was considerable genomic diversity within this natural symbiotic population. Comparative analyses revealed a significant difference in both the number and the presence/absence of genes within each cluster; in contrast, there was little accumulation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms. These data suggest that, in nature, the light organ is colonized by a small number of V. fischeri strains that can undergo significant genetic diversification, including by horizontal-gene transfer, over the course of ∼1500 generations of growth in the organ. When the resulting population of symbionts is expelled into seawater, its genomic mix provides the genetic basis for selection during the subsequent environmental dispersal, and transmission to the next host.}, } @article {pmid35300014, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, M and Shi, Z and Zhang, S and Gao, J}, title = {A Database on Mycorrhizal Traits of Chinese Medicinal Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {840343}, pmid = {35300014}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The mycorrhizal traits of plants have been widely reported based on different scales or plant functional groups. To better utilize mycorrhizae to improve the cultivation yield and active ingredient accumulation of medicinal plants, a database of medicinal plant mycorrhizal characteristics is needed. A database on mycorrhizal traits including mycorrhizal type or status of Chinese medicinal plant species was assembled. In this study, the mycorrhizal type or status of a total of 3,230 medicinal plants was presented. Among them, the mycorrhizal traits of 1,321 species were ascertained. These medicinal plants had three mycorrhizal statuses, both single mycorrhiza (SM) and multi-mycorrhiza (MM) contained four mycorrhizal types. The majority of medicinal plants were obligatorily symbiotic with mycorrhizal fungi with 926 (70.10%) species. The most widespread mycorrhizal type is AM, which is associated with 842 medicinal plant species (90.93% of mycorrhiza has an obligatorily symbiotic relationship with Chinese medicinal plants). Another broadly studied mycorrhizal type is ECM, which is associated with 15 medicinal plant species. This study is the first exclusive database on mycorrhizal traits of medicinal plants, which provides both mycorrhizal type and status. This database provides valuable resources for identifying the mycorrhizal information of medicinal plants and enriching the theory of mycorrhizal traits, which will greatly benefit the production or management of medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid35298630, year = {2022}, author = {Coleine, C and Delgado-Baquerizo, M and Albanese, D and Singh, BK and Stajich, JE and Selbmann, L and Egidi, E}, title = {Rocks support a distinctive and consistent mycobiome across contrasting dry regions of Earth.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac030}, pmid = {35298630}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Desert Climate ; Earth, Planet ; Fungi/genetics ; *Mycobiome ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rock-dwelling fungi play critical ecological roles in drylands, including soil formation and nutrient cycling; however, we know very little about the identity, function and environmental preferences of these important organisms, and the mere existence of a consistent rock mycobiome across diverse arid regions of the planet remains undetermined. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of rock fungi and spatially associated soil communities, surveyed across 28 unique sites spanning four major biogeographic regions (North America, Arctic, Maritime and Continental Antarctica) including contrasting climates, from cold and hot deserts to semiarid drylands. We show that rocks support a consistent and unique mycobiome that was different from that found in surrounding soils. Lichenized fungi from class Lecanoromycetes were consistently indicative of rocks across contrasting regions, together with ascomycetous representatives of black fungi in Arthoniomycetes, Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes. In addition, compared with soil, rocks had a lower proportion of saprobes and plant symbiotic fungi. The main drivers structuring rock fungi distribution were spatial distance and, to a larger extent, climatic factors regulating moisture and temperature (i.e. mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation), suggesting that these paramount and unique communities might be particularly sensitive to increases in temperature and desertification.}, } @article {pmid35297650, year = {2022}, author = {Chakraborty, S and Harris, JM}, title = {At the Crossroads of Salinity and Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {540-553}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-21-0231-FI}, pmid = {35297650}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Salinity ; Symbiosis ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {Legume roots interact with soil bacteria rhizobia to develop nodules, de novo symbiotic root organs that host these rhizobia and are mini factories of atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Nodulation is a sophisticated developmental process and is sensitive to several abiotic factors, salinity being one of them. While salinity influences both the free-living partners, symbiosis is more vulnerable than other aspects of plant and microbe physiology, and the symbiotic interaction is strongly impaired even under moderate salinity. In this review, we tease apart the various known components of rhizobium-legume symbiosis and how they interact with salt stress. We focus primarily on the initial stages of symbiosis since we have a greater mechanistic understanding of the interaction at these stages.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35297054, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, C and Wang, E and Liu, J}, title = {CERK1, more than a co-receptor in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1606-1613}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18074}, pmid = {35297054}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; }, abstract = {CERK1 (Chitin Elicitor Receptor Kinase 1), a lysin motif-containing pattern recognition receptor (PRR), perceives chitooligosaccharides (COs) to mount immune and symbiotic responses. However, CERK1, for a relatively long time, has been regarded as a co-receptor in plant immunity, mainly due to its lack of high binding affinity to known elicitors. Recent studies demonstrated several novel carbohydrates as ligands of CERK1 in different plant species and recognized CERK1 as a key receptor in plant immunity and symbiosis. This review summarizes recent knowledge acquired on the role of CERK1 in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid35293806, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Cheng, X and Bai, L and Gao, M and Kang, G and Cao, X and Huang, H}, title = {Positive Interventional Effect of Engineered Butyrate-Producing Bacteria on Metabolic Disorders and Intestinal Flora Disruption in Obese Mice.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e0114721}, pmid = {35293806}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Butyrates/adverse effects/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Glucose/adverse effects ; *Metabolic Diseases ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Obese ; Obesity/therapy ; }, abstract = {The substantially increased prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases has generated considerable concern. Currently, synthetic biological strategies have played an essential role in preventing and treating chronic diseases such as obesity. A growing number of symbiotic bacteria used as vectors for genetic engineering have been applied to create living therapeutics. In this study, using Bacillus subtilis as a cellular chassis, we constructed the engineered butyrate-producing strain BsS-RS06551 with a butyrate yield of 1.5 g/liter. A mouse model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) was established to study the long-term intervention effects of this butyrate-producing bacteria on obesity. Combined with phenotypic assay results, we found that BsS-RS06551 could effectively retard body weight gain induced by a high-fat diet and visceral fat accumulation of mice, whereas it could improve glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance, reducing liver damage. We explored the BsS-RS06551 mechanism of action on host function and changes in intestinal flora by integrating multiple omics profiling, including untargeted metabolomics and metagenomics. The results showed that 24 major differential metabolites were involved in the metabolic regulation of BsS-RS06551 to prevent obesity in mice, including bile acid metabolism, branch chain amino acids, aromatic amino acids, and other metabolic pathways. Continuous ingestion of BsS-RS06551 could regulate gut microbiota composition and structure and enhance intestinal flora metabolic function abundance, which was closely related to host interactions. Our results demonstrated that engineered butyrate-producing bacteria had potential as an effective strategy to prevent obesity. IMPORTANCE Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease with an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, and obesity-related metabolic diseases have become increasingly common. There is an urgent need to develop effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity. This study showed that long-term consumption of BsS-RS06551 had a significant inhibitory effect on obesity induced by a high-fat diet and was more potent in inhibiting obesity than prebiotic inulin. In addition, this study showed a beneficial effect on host glucose, lipid metabolism, and gut microbe composition. Considering its colonization potential, this engineered bacteria provided a new strategy for the effective and convenient treatment of obesity in the long term.}, } @article {pmid35293790, year = {2022}, author = {Shaffer, JP and Carter, ME and Spraker, JE and Clark, M and Smith, BA and Hockett, KL and Baltrus, DA and Arnold, AE}, title = {Transcriptional Profiles of a Foliar Fungal Endophyte (Pestalotiopsis, Ascomycota) and Its Bacterial Symbiont (Luteibacter, Gammaproteobacteria) Reveal Sulfur Exchange and Growth Regulation during Early Phases of Symbiotic Interaction.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e0009122}, pmid = {35293790}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {K12 GM068524/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Symbiosis ; Endophytes ; Pestalotiopsis ; *Gammaproteobacteria ; *Type VI Secretion Systems ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Fungi, Unclassified ; *Xanthomonadaceae ; Plants ; Methionine ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with bacteria is widespread among eukaryotes, including fungi. Bacteria that live within fungal mycelia (endohyphal bacteria) occur in many plant-associated fungi, including diverse Mucoromycota and Dikarya. Pestalotiopsis sp. strain 9143 is a filamentous ascomycete isolated originally as a foliar endophyte of Platycladus orientalis (Cupressaceae). It is infected naturally with the endohyphal bacterium Luteibacter sp. strain 9143, which influences auxin and enzyme production by its fungal host. Previous studies have used transcriptomics to examine similar symbioses between endohyphal bacteria and root-associated fungi such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant pathogens. However, currently there are no gene expression studies of endohyphal bacteria of Ascomycota, the most species-rich fungal phylum. To begin to understand such symbioses, we developed methods for assessing gene expression by Pestalotiopsis sp. and Luteibacter sp. when grown in coculture and when each was grown axenically. Our assays showed that the density of Luteibacter sp. in coculture was greater than in axenic culture, but the opposite was true for Pestalotiopsis sp. Dual-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) data demonstrate that growing in coculture modulates developmental and metabolic processes in both the fungus and bacterium, potentially through changes in the balance of organic sulfur via methionine acquisition. Our analyses also suggest an unexpected, potential role of the bacterial type VI secretion system in symbiosis establishment, expanding current understanding of the scope and dynamics of fungal-bacterial symbioses. IMPORTANCE Interactions between microbes and their hosts have important outcomes for host and environmental health. Foliar fungal endophytes that infect healthy plants can harbor facultative endosymbionts called endohyphal bacteria, which can influence the outcome of plant-fungus interactions. These bacterial-fungal interactions can be influential but are poorly understood, particularly from a transcriptome perspective. Here, we report on a comparative, dual-RNA-seq study examining the gene expression patterns of a foliar fungal endophyte and a facultative endohyphal bacterium when cultured together versus separately. Our findings support a role for the fungus in providing organic sulfur to the bacterium, potentially through methionine acquisition, and the potential involvement of a bacterial type VI secretion system in symbiosis establishment. This work adds to the growing body of literature characterizing endohyphal bacterial-fungal interactions, with a focus on a model facultative bacterial-fungal symbiosis in two species-rich lineages, the Ascomycota and Proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid35292761, year = {2022}, author = {Keegstra, JM and Carrara, F and Stocker, R}, title = {The ecological roles of bacterial chemotaxis.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {8}, pages = {491-504}, pmid = {35292761}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Chemotaxis ; Oceans and Seas ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How bacterial chemotaxis is performed is much better understood than why. Traditionally, chemotaxis has been understood as a foraging strategy by which bacteria enhance their uptake of nutrients and energy, yet it has remained puzzling why certain less nutritious compounds are strong chemoattractants and vice versa. Recently, we have gained increased understanding of alternative ecological roles of chemotaxis, such as navigational guidance in colony expansion, localization of hosts or symbiotic partners and contribution to microbial diversity by the generation of spatial segregation in bacterial communities. Although bacterial chemotaxis has been observed in a wide range of environmental settings, insights into the phenomenon are mostly based on laboratory studies of model organisms. In this Review, we highlight how observing individual and collective migratory behaviour of bacteria in different settings informs the quantification of trade-offs, including between chemotaxis and growth. We argue that systematically mapping when and where bacteria are motile, in particular by transgenerational bacterial tracking in dynamic environments and in situ approaches from guts to oceans, will open the door to understanding the rich interplay between metabolism and growth and the contribution of chemotaxis to microbial life.}, } @article {pmid35291596, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, JH and Oh, SY and Kim, W and Hur, JS}, title = {Endolichenic Fungal Community Analysis by Pure Culture Isolation and Metabarcoding: A Case Study of Parmotrema tinctorum.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {55-65}, pmid = {35291596}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Lichen is a symbiotic mutualism of mycobiont and photobiont that harbors diverse organisms including endolichenic fungi (ELF). Despite the taxonomic and ecological significance of ELF, no comparative investigation of an ELF community involving isolation of a pure culture and high-throughput sequencing has been conducted. Thus, we analyzed the ELF community in Parmotrema tinctorum by culture and metabarcoding. Alpha diversity of the ELF community was notably greater in metabarcoding than in culture-based analysis. Taxonomic proportions of the ELF community estimated by metabarcoding and by culture analyses showed remarkable differences: Sordariomycetes was the most dominant fungal class in culture-based analysis, while Dothideomycetes was the most abundant in metabarcoding analysis. Thirty-seven operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were commonly observed by culture- and metabarcoding-based analyses but relative abundances differed: most of common OTUs were underrepresented in metabarcoding. The ELF community differed in lichen segments and thalli in metabarcoding analysis. Dissimilarity of ELF community intra lichen thallus increased with thallus segment distance; inter-thallus ELF community dissimilarity was significantly greater than intra-thallus ELF community dissimilarity. Finally, we tested how many fungal sequence reads would be needed to ELF diversity with relationship assays between numbers of lichen segments and saturation patterns of OTU richness and sample coverage. At least 6000 sequence reads per lichen thallus were sufficient for prediction of overall ELF community diversity and 50,000 reads per thallus were enough to observe rare taxa of ELF.}, } @article {pmid35289680, year = {2022}, author = {Colpo, I and Martins, MES and Buzuku, S and Sellitto, MA}, title = {Industrial symbiosis in Brazil: A systematic literature review.}, journal = {Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA}, volume = {40}, number = {10}, pages = {1462-1479}, doi = {10.1177/0734242X221084065}, pmid = {35289680}, issn = {1096-3669}, mesh = {Brazil ; *Industry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study describes how industrial symbiosis is reposed in studies dealing with the Brazilian context. This study was based on a systematic literature review in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, relying on the Prisma method and a research protocol. The results embrace quantitative and qualitative aspects such as the number of publications, the territorial scope of the studies, authors and keywords networks. The sample was also segregated into three categories, theoretical works, opportunities and formed networks, reporting the presence of industrial symbiosis in Brazil in the extant literature. The main contribution of this research is to aggregate the studies already published in the international literature, demonstrate how the IS is reported and how they can be expanded in territories or business cases not yet portrayed.}, } @article {pmid35289401, year = {2022}, author = {Cezarino, EC and Guedes Silva, KC and Souza Almeida, F and Kawazoe Sato, AC}, title = {Stability and viability of synbiotic microgels incorporated into liquid, Greek and frozen yogurts.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {87}, number = {4}, pages = {1796-1809}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.16107}, pmid = {35289401}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Lactobacillus acidophilus/metabolism ; Microbial Viability ; *Microgels ; *Probiotics ; *Synbiotics ; Yogurt ; }, abstract = {The viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus when co-encapsulated with fructooligosaccharides in alginate-gelatin microgels, for incorporation into liquid, Greek, and frozen yogurts, during storage and in vitro-simulated digestion was studied. Liquid yogurt provided the highest viability for the encapsulated probiotics during storage, followed by frozen and Greek formulations when compared to free probiotics, highlighting the influence of microencapsulation, yogurt composition, and storage conditions. Addition of up to 20% of probiotic (AG) and symbiotic (AGF) microgels did not cause significant changes in the liquid and frozen yogurts' apparent viscosity (ηap); however, it decreased ηap for the Greek yogurt, indicating that microgels can alter product acceptability in this case. Both AG and AGF microparticles improved viability of cells face to gastric conditions for liquid and frozen yogurts, delivering cells in the enteric stage. Summarizing, liquid yogurt was the most appropriate for probiotic viability during storage, while frozen yogurt presented better protection along digestibility.}, } @article {pmid35288242, year = {2022}, author = {Hawrysh, PJ and Myrka, AM and Buck, LT}, title = {Review: A history and perspective of mitochondria in the context of anoxia tolerance.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology}, volume = {260}, number = {}, pages = {110733}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpb.2022.110733}, pmid = {35288242}, issn = {1879-1107}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hypoxia/metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Turtles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is found throughout nature, but perhaps nowhere is it more fundamental than mitochondria in all eukaryotes. Since mitochondria were discovered and mechanisms of oxygen reduction characterized, an understanding gradually emerged that these organelles were involved not just in the combustion of oxygen, but also in the sensing of oxygen. While multiple hypotheses exist to explain the mitochondrial involvement in oxygen sensing, key elements are developing that include potassium channels and reactive oxygen species. To understand how mitochondria contribute to oxygen sensing, it is informative to study a model system which is naturally adapted to survive extended periods without oxygen. Amongst air-breathing vertebrates, the most highly adapted are western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii), which overwinter in ice-covered and anoxic water bodies. Through research of this animal, it was postulated that metabolic rate depression is key to anoxic survival and that mitochondrial regulation is a key aspect. When faced with anoxia, excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in turtle brain are inhibited through mitochondrial calcium release, termed "channel arrest". Simultaneously, inhibitory GABAergic signalling contributes to the "synaptic arrest" of excitatory action potential firing through a pathway dependent on mitochondrial depression of ROS generation. While many pathways are implicated in mitochondrial oxygen sensing in turtles, such as those of adenosine, ATP turnover, and gaseous transmitters, an apparent point of intersection is the mitochondria. In this review we will explore how an organelle that was critical for organismal complexity in an oxygenated world has also become a potentially important oxygen sensor.}, } @article {pmid35286770, year = {2022}, author = {Hazraty-Kari, S and Masaya, M and Kawachi, M and Harii, S}, title = {The early acquisition of symbiotic algae benefits larval survival and juvenile growth in the coral Acropora tenuis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental zoology. Part A, Ecological and integrative physiology}, volume = {337}, number = {5}, pages = {559-565}, doi = {10.1002/jez.2589}, pmid = {35286770}, issn = {2471-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Larva/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Larval dispersal and postsettlement survival of corals play significant roles in the maintenance of coral populations. Most corals acquire their symbiotic algae (Symbiodiniaceae) from the environment in each generation (horizontal transmission). For horizontal transmitters, the quick establishment of symbiosis is important for their survival, since the photosynthetic activity of symbiotic algae provides energy. However, recent studies have indicated that oxidative stress resulting from photosynthesis might also harm coral larvae. Therefore, it remains unclear whether symbionts contribute energy sources along with intrinsic lipids from eggs and assist in settlement/metamorphosis in early life stages. In the present study, we show that symbiotic algae contribute supplemental energy and are also associated with settlement. Furthermore, although juveniles acquired symbiotic algae after settlement, the acquisition of symbiotic algae in the larval stages caused higher growth (number of polyps and size) and low mortality in the juvenile stage. Our data suggest that symbiotic larvae potentially have longer dispersal periods due to their lower lipid consumption rates, which make them better able to retain buoyancy and motility, increasing the ability of symbiotic larvae to settle in favored locations compared with aposymbiotic larvae. Moreover, postsettlement juveniles may continue to benefit from symbiotic relationships formed during the larval stage. Overall, these findings reveal that the effects of symbiotic algae on Acropora tenuis coral larvae are beneficial, particularly under normal seawater temperature conditions.}, } @article {pmid35286729, year = {2022}, author = {McEwen, ES and Warren, E and Tenpas, S and Jones, B and Durdevic, K and Rapport Munro, E and Call, J}, title = {Primate cognition in zoos: Reviewing the impact of zoo-based research over 15 years.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {84}, number = {10}, pages = {e23369}, pmid = {35286729}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; *Animals, Zoo ; Behavior, Animal ; Cognition ; Humans ; *Primates ; Research ; }, abstract = {Primate cognition research is reliant on access to members of the study sp ecies and logistical infrastructures to conduct observations and experiments. Historically founded in research centers and private collections, and spreading to modern zoos, sanctuaries, and the field, primate cognition has been investigated in diverse settings, each with benefits and challenges. In our systematic review of 12 primatology, animal behavior, and animal cognition journals over the last 15 years, we turn a spotlight on zoos to quantify their current impact on the field and to highlight their potential as robust contributors to future work. To put zoo-based research in context, we compare zoos to three other site types: university-owned or independent research centers, sanctuaries, and field sites. We assess the contributions of zoos across several critical considerations in primate cognition research, including number of investigations, species diversity, sample size, research topic diversity, and methodology. We identified 1119 publications reporting studies of primate cognition, almost 25% of which report research conducted in zoos. Across publications, zoo-based research has greater species diversity than research centers and covers a diverse range of research topics. Although our review is merely a snapshot of primate cognition research, our findings suggest that zoos may present advantages to researchers regarding species diversity, and lack some of the methodological constraints of field sites, allowing greater ease of access to a diverse range of subjects for cognition investigations. We suggest that zoos have great potential as key contributors for future investigations in primate cognition. Finally, we shed light on the symbiotic relationship that can emerge between researchers and zoos, forming partnerships that bring unique advantages to both parties.}, } @article {pmid35285355, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, R and Li, Z and Qin, C and Lu, P and Lin, J and Zheng, W and Xiong, Y and Li, C}, title = {A novel antibacterial tyroscherin derivative with a natural unprecedented morpholine-2, 3-dione structural unit from the fungus Pseudallescheria boydii.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {36}, number = {23}, pages = {5977-5983}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2022.2050228}, pmid = {35285355}, issn = {1478-6427}, mesh = {*Pseudallescheria/chemistry ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Morpholines ; }, abstract = {A novel tyroscherin derivative named pseudallecin A (1) with a natural unprecedented morpholine-2, 3-dione structural unit, and a new biogenic synthesis related organic acid named pseudallecin B (2) were purified from a symbiotic fungus Pseudallescheria boydii derived from Pomacea canaliculata. Their structures were elucidated via spectroscopic analyses and ECD calculation. Pseudallecin A exhibited strong inhibitory activities against both Gram-positive Escherichia coli and Gram-negative Staphylococcus aureus.}, } @article {pmid35283923, year = {2022}, author = {Floc'h, JB and Hamel, C and Laterrière, M and Tidemann, B and St-Arnaud, M and Hijri, M}, title = {Long-Term Persistence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere and Bulk Soils of Non-host Brassica napus and Their Networks of Co-occurring Microbes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {828145}, pmid = {35283923}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate plant symbionts that improve the nutrition and health of their host. Most, but not all the crops form a symbiosis with AMF. It is the case for canola (Brassica napus), an important crop in the Canadian Prairies that is known to not form this association. From 2008 to 2018, an experiment was replicated at three locations of the Canadian Prairies and it was used to assess the impact of canola on the community of AMF naturally occurring in three cropping systems, canola monoculture, or canola in two different rotation systems (2-years, canola-wheat and 3-years, barley-pea-canola). We sampled canola rhizosphere and bulk soils to: (i) determine diversity and community structure of AMF, we expected that canola will negatively impact AMF communities in function of its frequency in crop rotations and (ii) wanted to assess how these AMF communities interact with other fungi and bacteria. We detected 49 AMF amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in canola rhizosphere and bulk soils, confirming the persistence of a diversified AMF community in canola-planted soil, even after 10 years of canola monoculture, which was unexpected considering that canola is among non-mycorrhizal plants. Network analysis revealed a broad range of potential interactions between canola-associated AMF and some fungal and bacterial taxa. We report for the first time that two AMF, Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus iranicus, shared their bacterial cohort almost entirely in bulk soil. Our results suggest the existence of non-species-specific AMF-bacteria or AMF-fungi relationships that could benefit AMF in absence of host plants. The persistence of an AMF community in canola rhizosphere and bulk soils brings a new light on AMF ecology and leads to new perspectives for further studies about AMF and soil microbes interactions and AMF subsistence without mycotrophic host plants.}, } @article {pmid35283769, year = {2022}, author = {Lefoulon, E and McMullen, JG and Stock, SP}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis of Steinernema Nematodes Highlights Metabolic Costs Associated to Xenorhabdus Endosymbiont Association and Rearing Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {821845}, pmid = {35283769}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema have a mutualistic relationship with bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus and together they form an antagonist partnership against their insect hosts. The nematodes (third-stage infective juveniles, or IJs) protect the bacteria from the external environmental stressors and vector them from one insect host to another. Xenorhabdus produce secondary metabolites and antimicrobial compounds inside the insect that protect the cadaver from soil saprobes and scavengers. The bacteria also become the nematodes' food, allowing them to grow and reproduce. Despite these benefits, it is yet unclear what the potential metabolic costs for Steinernema IJs are relative to the maintenance and vectoring of Xenorhabdus. In this study, we performed a comparative dual RNA-seq analysis of IJs of two nematode-bacteria partnerships: Steinernema carpocapsae-Xenorhabdus nematophila and Steinernema. puntauvense-Xenorhbdus bovienii. For each association, three conditions were studied: (1) IJs reared in the insect (in vivo colonized), (2) colonized IJs reared on liver-kidney agar (in vitro colonized), and (3) IJs depleted by the bacteria reared on liver-kidney agar (in vitro aposymbiotic). Our study revealed the downregulation of numerous genes involved in metabolism pathways, such as carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism when IJs were reared in vitro, both colonized and without the symbiont. This downregulation appears to impact the longevity pathway, with the involvement of glycogen and trehalose metabolism, as well as arginine metabolism. Additionally, a differential expression of the venom protein known to be secreted by the nematodes was observed when both Steinernema species were depleted of their symbiotic partners. These results suggest Steinernema IJs may have a mechanism to adapt their virulence in absence of their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid35283442, year = {2022}, author = {d'Afflitto, M and Upadhyaya, A and Green, A and Peiris, M}, title = {Association Between Sex Hormone Levels and Gut Microbiota Composition and Diversity-A Systematic Review.}, journal = {Journal of clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {56}, number = {5}, pages = {384-392}, pmid = {35283442}, issn = {1539-2031}, support = {BBS/E/F/000PR10355/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Estrogens ; Feces ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Male ; *Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Testosterone ; }, abstract = {GOALS/BACKGROUND: Animal studies have highlighted how the microbiota acts in a sex-specific manner with sex hormones demonstrating an association with the composition and diversity of the microbiota. This systematic review aimed to gather the available scientific evidence to explore the association between sex hormones and gut microbiota composition and diversity, in humans.

STUDY: Four bibliographic databases were searched in July 2020 using terms related to "microbiota," "microflora," "sex hormones," "testosterone," and "estrogen." Human studies that investigated the correlation between sex hormones and the microbiota composition or diversity using next-generation sequencing were included.

RESULTS: A total of 10,468 records were screened with 13 studies included in this review. In healthy women, higher estrogen levels were found to be associated with a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes, a lower abundance of Firmicutes, the Ruminococcaceae family and increased diversity. In healthy men, raised testosterone levels positively correlated with Ruminococcus, Acinetobacter, and an increased microbial diversity. Escherichia and Shigella spp. were correlated with raised testosterone in healthy women whereas Ruminococcus spp. was negatively associated with elevated testosterone levels. Women with altered testosterone/estrogen profiles (such as in polycystic ovary syndrome), had a differing gut microbiota compared with healthy women.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings gathered highlight an association between sex hormones and the gut microbiota composition/diversity and may contribute to the sex-based variations observed in disease pathogenesis. Factors such as age and medical conditions are implicated in the associations observed and should be accounted for in future studies. As the understanding of the complex symbiotic relationship between humans and their gut microbiota increases, microbiota modulation could be an attractive option for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.}, } @article {pmid35283370, year = {2022}, author = {Shimamura, M and Kumaki, T and Hashimoto, S and Saeki, K and Ayabe, SI and Higashitani, A and Akashi, T and Sato, S and Aoki, T}, title = {Phenolic Acids Induce Nod Factor Production in Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35283370}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Lotus/genetics ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In legume-rhizobia symbiosis, partner recognition and the initiation of symbiosis processes require the mutual exchange of chemical signals. Chemicals, generally (iso)flavonoids, in the root exudates of the host plant induce the expression of nod genes in rhizobia, and, thus, are called nod gene inducers. The expression of nod genes leads to the production of lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) called Nod factors. Natural nod gene inducer(s) in Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium symbiosis remain unknown. Therefore, we developed an LCO detection method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQMS) to identify these inducers and used it herein to screen 40 phenolic compounds and aldonic acids for their ability to induce LCOs in Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF303099. We identified five phenolic acids with LCO-inducing activities, including p-coumaric, caffeic, and ferulic acids. The induced LCOs caused root hair deformation, and nodule numbers in L. japonicus inoculated with M. japonicum were increased by these phenolic acids. The three phenolic acids listed above induced the expression of the nodA, nodB, and ttsI genes in a strain harboring a multicopy plasmid encoding NodD1, but not that encoding NodD2. The presence of p-coumaric and ferulic acids in the root exudates of L. japonicus was confirmed by UPLC-TQMS, and the induction of ttsI::lacZ in the strain harboring the nodD1 plasmid was detected in the rhizosphere of L. japonicus. Based on these results, we propose that phenolic acids are a novel type of nod gene inducer in L. japonicus-Mesorhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35282279, year = {2022}, author = {Amillano-Cisneros, JM and Hernández-Rosas, PT and Gomez-Gil, B and Navarrete-Ramírez, P and Ríos-Durán, MG and Martínez-Chávez, CC and Johnston-Monje, D and Martínez-Palacios, CA and Raggi, L}, title = {Loss of gut microbial diversity in the cultured, agastric fish, Mexican pike silverside (Chirostoma estor: Atherinopsidae).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e13052}, pmid = {35282279}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Esocidae/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Fishes/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Teleost fish are the most diverse group of extant vertebrates and have varied digestive anatomical structures and strategies, suggesting they also possess an array of different host-microbiota interactions. Differences in fish gut microbiota have been shown to affect host development, the process of gut colonization, and the outcomes of gene-environment or immune system-microbiota interactions. There is generally a lack of studies on the digestive mechanisms and microbiota of agastric short-intestine fish however, meaning that we do not understand how changes in gut microbial diversity might influence the health of these types of fish. To help fill these gaps in knowledge, we decided to study the Mexican pike silverside (Chirostoma estor) which has a simplified alimentary canal (agastric, short-intestine, 0.7 gut relative length) to observe the diversity and metabolic potential of its intestinal microbiota. We characterized gut microbial populations using high-throughput sequencing of the V3 region in bacterial 16S rRNA genes while searching for population shifts resulting associated with fish development in different environments and cultivation methods. Microbiota samples were taken from the digesta, anterior and posterior intestine (the three different intestinal components) of fish that grew wild in a lake, that were cultivated in indoor tanks, or that were raised in outdoor ponds. Gut microbial diversity was significantly higher in wild fish than in cultivated fish, suggesting a loss of diversity when fish are raised in controlled environments. The most abundant phyla observed in these experiments were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, particularly of the genera Mycoplasma, Staphylococcus, Spiroplasma, and Aeromonas. Of the 14,161 OTUs observed in this experiment, 133 were found in all groups, and 17 of these, belonging to Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, and Spiroplasma genera, were found in all samples suggesting the existence of a core C. estor microbiome. Functional metagenomic prediction of bacterial ecological functions using PICRUSt2 suggested that different intestinal components select for functionally distinct microbial populations with variation in pathways related to the metabolism of amino acids, vitamins, cofactors, and energy. Our results provide, for the first time, information on the bacterial populations present in an agastric, short-gut teleost with commercial potential and show that controlled cultivation of this fish reduces the diversity of its intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35281875, year = {2022}, author = {Xiao, P and Hua, Z and Kang, X and Lu, B and Li, M and Wu, J and Dong, W and Zhang, J and Cheng, C}, title = {Influence of Oral Intaking Habit on Tongue Coating Microbiota in Patients with Esophageal Precancerous Lesions.}, journal = {Journal of Cancer}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {1168-1180}, pmid = {35281875}, issn = {1837-9664}, abstract = {Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common digestive tract tumor in China, and oral intaking habit has a great influence on the development of EC. The present study explored the correlation between oral intaking habit and tongue coating (TC) microbiota in patients with esophageal precancerous lesions (EPL) to provide a reasonable interpretation of the influence of oral intaking habit on microbial alterations in the EPL. Methods: A case-control study was designed with 123 EPL patients and 176 volunteers with mild esophagitis, and they were well matched using sex, age, and body mass index. The TC microbiota was profiled using high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, and the serum levels of total bile acid (TBA) and interleukin-17α (IL-17α) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Alpha diversity, community structure, and linear discriminant analysis were conducted, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to build the symbiotic network. Results: No significant differences were observed in the diversity and richness of the TC microbiota between the cases and controls (P > 0.05). TC Peptostreptococcus and Capnocytophaga were enriched in EPL patients. Stratified analysis showed that TC microbial composition was affected by both EPL and oral intaking habit; for example, Atopobium and Actinomyces were positively related to oral intaking habit scores in both the cases and controls, while Simonsiella was negatively correlated with oral intaking habit status in cases but positively correlated with oral intaking habit status in controls. Although serum TBA and IL-17α were not associated with EPL (P > 0.05), the daily-drinking cases had a higher level of serum TBA than the nondrinking cases (P < 0.05), and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) negative controls had a higher level of serum TBA than the Hp-positive controls (P < 0.05). The symbiotic networks were comprised of 71 significant correlations in the controls and 52 significant correlations in the cases. Conclusions: The development of EPL changed the TC microbiota and decreased the symbiotic complexity of the TC bacteria, which were also influenced by the cancer-related oral intaking habit. Bile acid may be a key factor mediating changes in TC microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35281750, year = {2023}, author = {Grimes, A and Badenhorst, S and Maré, DC and Poot, J and Sin, I}, title = {Quality of life, quality of business, and destinations of recent graduates: fields of study matter.}, journal = {The Annals of regional science}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {55-80}, pmid = {35281750}, issn = {0570-1864}, abstract = {One of the main challenges facing non-metropolitan regions is the attraction and retention of highly-educated young people. A loss of the brightest can lead to reduced business creation, innovation, growth and community well-being in such regions. We use rich longitudinal microdata from New Zealand to analyse the determinants and geography of the choice of destination of recent university and polytechnic graduates 2 years and 4 years after graduation. Rather than considering a range of location-specific consumption and production amenities, we assume spatial equilibrium and calculate, following Chen and Rosenthal (J Urban Econ 64:519-537, 2008), 'quality of life' and 'quality of business' indicators for urban areas that encompass all amenities that are utility and/or productivity enhancing (or reducing, in the case of disamenities). Specifically, we test whether students locate in places that are regarded as good to live or good to do business; and how this differs by field of study. Our estimates are conditional on students' prior school (home) location and the location of their higher education institution. We find that graduates are attracted to locate in urban places that have high quality production amenities. High quality consumption amenities have heterogeneous effects on the location choice of students. Creative arts and commerce graduates are relatively more likely to locate in places that are attractive to business, consistent with a symbiosis between bohemians and business. Decision makers can leverage their existing local strengths, in terms of production and/or consumption amenities, to act as drawcards for, or to retain, recent graduates in specific fields.}, } @article {pmid35280972, year = {2022}, author = {Subbiahdoss, G and Osmen, S and Reimhult, E}, title = {Cellulosic biofilm formation of Komagataeibacter in kombucha at oil-water interfaces.}, journal = {Biofilm}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {100071}, pmid = {35280972}, issn = {2590-2075}, abstract = {Bacteria forming biofilms at oil-water interfaces have diverse metabolism, they use hydrocarbons as a carbon and energy source. Kombucha is a fermented drink obtained from a complex symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, where acetic acid bacteria present in kombucha use sugars as a carbon source to produce cellulosic biofilms. We hypothesize that Komagataeibacteraceae in kombucha can adsorb to and use hydrocarbons as the sole energy source to produce cellulosic biofilms. Hence we characterized a kombucha culture, studied bacterial adsorption and cellulosic biofilm formation of kombucha at the n-decane or mineral oil-kombucha suspension interface. The cellulosic biofilms were imaged using fluorescence microscopy and cryo-scanning electron microscopy, and their time-dependent rheology was measured. Komagataeibacter, the dominant bacterial genus in the kombucha culture, produced cellulosic biofilms with reduced cellulose biomass yield at the oil-kombucha suspension interfaces compared to at the air-kombucha suspension interface. The presence of biosurfactants in the supernatant secreted by the kombucha microbes led to a larger and faster decrease in the interfacial tension on both oil types, leading to the formation of stable and elastic biofilm membranes. The difference in interfacial tension reduction was insignificant already after 2 h of biofilm formation at the mineral oil-kombucha suspension interface compared to kombucha microbes resuspended without biosurfactants but persisted for longer than 24 h in contact with n-decane. We also demonstrate that Komagataeibacter in kombucha can produce elastic cellulosic biofilms using hydrocarbons from the oil interface as the sole source of carbon and energy. Thus Komagataeibacter and kombucha shows the potential of this system for producing valued bacterial cellulose through remediation of hydrocarbon waste.}, } @article {pmid35280528, year = {2022}, author = {Al-Rashidi, HE}, title = {Gut microbiota and immunity relevance in eubiosis and dysbiosis.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {1628-1643}, pmid = {35280528}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Human gut is colonized by numerous microorganisms, in which bacteria present the highest proportion of this colonization that live in a symbiotic relationship with the host. This microbial collection is commonly known as the microbiota. The gut microbiota can mediate gut epithelial and immune cells interaction through vitamins synthesis or metabolic products. The microbiota plays a vital role in growth and development of the main components of human's adaptive and innate immune system, while the immune system regulates host-microbe symbiosis. On the other hand, negative alteration in gut microbiota composition or gut dysbiosis, can disturb immune responses. This review highlights the gut microbiota-immune system cross-talk in both eubiosis and dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35278990, year = {2022}, author = {Gómez-Gallego, T and Valderas, A and van Tuinen, D and Ferrol, N}, title = {Impact of arbuscular mycorrhiza on maize P1B-ATPases gene expression and ionome in copper-contaminated soils.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {234}, number = {}, pages = {113390}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113390}, pmid = {35278990}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, symbionts of most land plants, increase plant fitness in metal contaminated soils. To further understand the mechanisms of metal tolerance in the AM symbiosis, the expression patterns of the maize Heavy Metal ATPase (HMA) family members and the ionomes of non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants grown under different Cu supplies were examined. Expression of ZmHMA5a and ZmHMA5b, whose encoded proteins were predicted to be localized at the plasma membrane, was up-regulated by Cu in non-mycorrhizal roots and to a lower extent in mycorrhizal roots. Gene expression of the tonoplast ZmHMA3a and ZmHMA4 isoforms was up-regulated by Cu-toxicity in shoots and roots of mycorrhizal plants. AM mitigates the changes induced by Cu toxicity on the maize ionome, specially at the highest Cu soil concentration. Altogether these data suggest that in Cu-contaminated soils, AM increases expression of the HMA genes putatively encoding proteins involved in Cu detoxification and balances mineral nutrient uptake improving the nutritional status of the maize plants.}, } @article {pmid35278884, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, C}, title = {A rhizobial non-coding RNA has an effect on symbiotic nodulation by regulating an ABC transporter.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {603}, number = {}, pages = {82-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.03.022}, pmid = {35278884}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; RNA, Untranslated ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum has been widely used as a model to study nodule biochemistry, its genomic sequence has been published. We screened the Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 genome sequence using a bioinformatics analysis for discovering potential small non-coding RNAs. One of these identified non-coding RNAs, cis-encoded antisense RLS1, was found to affect the symbiotic nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The mature form of RLS1 was 258 nt of non-coding RNA, its disruption mutant strain (△RLS1) caused that the nodulation stages were delayed dramatically and the total number of nodules decreased, leading to a 25% reduction in the total amount of nitrogen fixed in the symbiotic system of Rhizobium- Pisum sativum, compared with wild-type strain. RLS1 targets an ABC transporter mRNA, bind to Hfq in vitro, and to be stable in the absence of Hfq. Further analysis showed that Hfq is not required for interactions between RLS1 and its target mRNAs. △RLS1 strain exhibited that its production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was over three times higher than in wild-type strain. The findings suggest that RLS1 might affect nodulation by participating in the regulatory network for EPS accurate secretion, playing a pivotal role in the infection process and in root nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid35278083, year = {2022}, author = {Qin, C and Lu, Y and Bai, L and Wang, K}, title = {The molecular regulation of autophagy in antimicrobial immunity.}, journal = {Journal of molecular cell biology}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35278083}, issn = {1759-4685}, mesh = {*Anti-Infective Agents ; *Autophagy ; Immunity, Innate ; }, abstract = {Autophagy is a catabolic process that can degrade worn-out organelles and invading pathogens. The activation of autophagy regulates innate and adaptive immunity, playing a key role in the response to microbial invasion. Microbial infection may cause different consequences such as the elimination of invaders through autophagy or xenophagy, host cell death, and symbiotic relationships. Pathogens adapt to the autophagy mechanism and further relieve intracellular stress, which is conducive to host cell survival and microbial growth. The regulation of autophagy forms a complex network through which host immunity is modulated, resulting in a variety of pathophysiological manifestations. Modification of the autophagic pathway is an essential target for the development of antimicrobial drugs.}, } @article {pmid35276524, year = {2022}, author = {Cusick, JA and Wellman, CL and Demas, GE}, title = {Maternal stress and the maternal microbiome have sex-specific effects on offspring development and aggressive behavior in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).}, journal = {Hormones and behavior}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {105146}, doi = {10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105146}, pmid = {35276524}, issn = {1095-6867}, support = {T32 HD049336/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aggression/physiology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cricetinae ; Female ; Male ; *Microbiota ; *Phodopus/physiology ; Pregnancy ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome, a community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses, interacts with many physiological systems to affect behavior. Prenatal experiences, including exposure to maternal stress and different maternal microbiomes, are important sources of organismal variation that can affect offspring development. These physiological systems do not act in isolation and can have long-term effects on offspring development and behavior. Here we investigated the interactive effects of maternal stress and manipulations of the maternal microbiome on offspring development and social behavior using Siberian hamsters, Phodopus sungorus. We exposed pregnant females to either a social stressor, antibiotics, both the social stressor and antibiotics, or no treatment (i.e., control) over the duration of their pregnancy and quantified male and female offspring growth, gut microbiome composition and diversity, stress-induced cortisol concentrations, and social behavior. Maternal antibiotic exposure altered the gut microbial communities of male and female offspring. Maternal treatment also had sex-specific effects on aspects of offspring development and aggressive behavior. Female offspring produced by stressed mothers were more aggressive than other female offspring. Female, but not male, offspring produced by mothers exposed to the combined treatment displayed low levels of aggression, suggesting that alteration of the maternal microbiome attenuated the effects of prenatal stress in a sex-specific manner. Maternal treatment did not affect non-aggressive behavior in offspring. Collectively, our study offers insight into how maternal systems can interact to affect offspring in sex-specific ways and highlights the important role of the maternal microbiome in mediating offspring development and behavior.}, } @article {pmid35276232, year = {2022}, author = {Hönigova, K and Navratil, J and Peltanova, B and Polanska, HH and Raudenska, M and Masarik, M}, title = {Metabolic tricks of cancer cells.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer}, volume = {1877}, number = {3}, pages = {188705}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188705}, pmid = {35276232}, issn = {1879-2561}, mesh = {Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Neoplasms/pathology ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {One of the characteristics of cancer cells important for tumorigenesis is their metabolic plasticity. Indeed, in various stress conditions, cancer cells can reshape their metabolic pathways to support the increased energy request due to continuous growth and rapid proliferation. Moreover, selective pressures in the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, acidosis, and competition for resources, force cancer cells to adapt by complete reorganization of their metabolism. In this review, we highlight the characteristics of cancer metabolism and discuss its clinical significance, since overcoming metabolic plasticity of cancer cells is a key objective of modern cancer therapeutics and a better understanding of metabolic reprogramming may lead to the identification of possible targets for cancer therapy.}, } @article {pmid35276225, year = {2022}, author = {Detmer, AR and Cunning, R and Pfab, F and Brown, AL and Stier, AC and Nisbet, RM and Moeller, HV}, title = {Fertilization by coral-dwelling fish promotes coral growth but can exacerbate bleaching response.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {541}, number = {}, pages = {111087}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2022.111087}, pmid = {35276225}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon ; Coral Reefs ; Fertilization ; Fishes ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many corals form close associations with a diverse assortment of coral-dwelling fishes and other fauna. As coral reefs around the world are increasingly threatened by mass bleaching events, it is important to understand how these biotic interactions influence corals' susceptibility to bleaching. We used dynamic energy budget modeling to explore how nitrogen excreted by coral-dwelling fish affects the physiological performance of host corals. In our model, fish presence influenced the functioning of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis by altering nitrogen availability, and the magnitude and sign of these effects depended on environmental conditions. Although our model predicted that fish-derived nitrogen can promote coral growth, the relationship between fish presence and coral tolerance of photo-oxidative stress was non-linear. Fish excretions supported denser symbiont populations that provided protection from incident light through self-shading. However, these symbionts also used more of their photosynthetic products for their own growth, rather than sharing with the coral host, putting the coral holobiont at a higher risk of becoming carbon-limited and bleaching. The balance between the benefits of increased symbiont shading and costs of reduced carbon sharing depended on environmental conditions. Thus, while there were some scenarios under which fish presence increased corals' tolerance of light stress, fish could also exacerbate bleaching and slow or prevent subsequent recovery. We discuss how the contrast between the potentially harmful effects of fish predicted by our model and results of empirical studies may relate to key model assumptions that warrant further investigation. Overall, this study provides a foundation for future work on how coral-associated fauna influence the bioenergetics of their host corals, which in turn has implications for how these corals respond to bleaching-inducing stressors.}, } @article {pmid35276191, year = {2022}, author = {Rui, J and Hu, J and Wang, F and Zhao, Y and Li, C}, title = {Altitudinal niches of symbiotic, associative and free-living diazotrophs driven by soil moisture and temperature in the alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {211}, number = {}, pages = {113033}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.113033}, pmid = {35276191}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Grassland ; Plants ; *Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Temperature ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Legume-associated symbiotic diazotrophs contribute more to nitrogen (N) fixation than non-symbiotic diazotrophs in many terrestrial ecosystems. However, the percentage of legume biomass is low in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. Therefore, non-symbiotic diazotrophs may play important roles in N fixation in alpine meadow soils. Moreover, Tibetan alpine meadows are fragile and sensitive to global climate change, and the investigating of the key factor driving soil diazotrophic community still entails several challenges. To address these issues, we investigated diazotrophic spatial distribution and diversity along the elevational gradient between 3200 and 4200 m in the alpine meadow using amplicon sequencing of nifH gene. The result clearly showed that soil moisture and temperature were key factors driving soil diazotrophic community structures. Both altitude and soil depth significantly differentiated diazotrophic community composition. Alpha diversity indices of diazotrophic communities showed unimodal distribution along elevation gradient, strongly affected by soil moisture. Altitudinal niches were occupied by different diazotrophs. Soils at lower elevations were dominated by symbiotic diazotrophs and associative diazotrophs related to high biomass of plant hosts, while those at higher elevations were dominated by free-living psychrophiles such as Polaromonas. Furthermore, high moisture stimulated free-living anaerobes at middle elevations, such as Geobacter and Anaeromyxobacter, while suppressed legumes and symbiotic Mezorhizobium. Soil temperature not only directly affected temperature-sensitive diazotrophs, but also indirectly affected them through plants and soil properties such as pH and ammonium content. Our results suggest that climate change may strongly affect biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), and free-living diazotrophs may play important roles in BNF of alpine meadow system on the Tibetan Plateau.}, } @article {pmid35276187, year = {2022}, author = {Kong, L and Feng, Y and Sun, J and Rong, K and Zhou, J and Zheng, R and Ni, S and Liu, S}, title = {Cross-feeding among microalgae facilitates nitrogen recovery at low C/N.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {211}, number = {}, pages = {113052}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.113052}, pmid = {35276187}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Chlorella/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Vitamin B 12/analysis/metabolism ; Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Although co-culture of microalgae has been found as a feasible strategy to improve biomass production, their interspecies relationships are not fully understood. Here, two algae taxa, Chlorella sp. and Phormidium sp., were mono-cultured and co-cultured in three photobioreactors for 70 days with periodically harvesting to investigate how dual-species interaction influence nitrogen recovery. Results showed that the co-culture system achieved a significantly higher protein production and nitrogen removal rate than those in the individual cultures at a C/N ratio of 3:1 (p < 0.05). Genome-Centered metagenomic analysis revealed their cooperative relationship exemplified by cross-feeding. Phormidium sp. had the ability to synthesize pseudo-cobalamin, and Chlorella sp. harbored the gene for remodeling the pseudo-cobalamin to bioavailable vitamin B12. Meanwhile, Chlorella sp. could contribute the costly amino acid and cofactors for Phormidium sp. Their symbiotic interaction facilitated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production and nitrogen recovery. The EPS concentration in co-culture was positively related to the settling efficiency (R[2] = 0.774), which plays an essential role in nitrogen recovery. This study provides new insights into microbial interactions among the photoautotrophic community and emphasizes the importance of algal interspecies interaction in algae-based wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid35275725, year = {2022}, author = {Thies, AB and Quijada-Rodriguez, AR and Zhouyao, H and Weihrauch, D and Tresguerres, M}, title = {A Rhesus channel in the coral symbiosome membrane suggests a novel mechanism to regulate NH3 and CO2 delivery to algal symbionts.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {eabm0303}, pmid = {35275725}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals maintain an intracellular photosymbiotic association with dinoflagellate algae. As the algae are hosted inside the symbiosome, all metabolic exchanges must take place across the symbiosome membrane. Using functional studies in Xenopus oocytes, immunolocalization, and confocal Airyscan microscopy, we established that Acropora yongei Rh (ayRhp1) facilitates transmembrane NH3 and CO2 diffusion and that it is present in the symbiosome membrane. Furthermore, ayRhp1 abundance in the symbiosome membrane was highest around midday and lowest around midnight. We conclude that ayRhp1 mediates a symbiosomal NH4[+]-trapping mechanism that promotes nitrogen delivery to algae during the day-necessary to sustain photosynthesis-and restricts nitrogen delivery at night-to keep algae under nitrogen limitation. The role of ayRhp1-facilitated CO2 diffusion is less clear, but it may have implications for metabolic dysregulation between symbiotic partners and bleaching. This previously unknown mechanism expands our understanding of symbioses at the immediate animal-microbe interface, the symbiosome.}, } @article {pmid35274313, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, S and Daniels, DA and Ivanov, S and Jurgensen, L and Müller, LM and Versaw, WK and Harrison, MJ}, title = {A genetically encoded biosensor reveals spatiotemporal variation in cellular phosphate content in Brachypodium distachyon mycorrhizal roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1817-1831}, pmid = {35274313}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biosensing Techniques ; *Brachypodium/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is accompanied by alterations to root cell metabolism and physiology, and to the pathways of orthophosphate (Pi) entry into the root, which increase with Pi delivery to cortical cells via arbuscules. How AM symbiosis influences the Pi content and Pi response dynamics of cells in the root cortex and epidermis is unknown. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based Pi biosensors, we mapped the relative cytosolic and plastidic Pi content of Brachypodium distachyon mycorrhizal root cells, analyzed responses to extracellular Pi and traced extraradical hyphae-mediated Pi transfer to colonized cells. Colonized cortical cells had a higher cytosolic Pi content relative to noncolonized cortical and epidermal cells, while plastidic Pi content was highest in cells at the infection front. Pi application to the entire mycorrhizal root resulted in transient changes in cytosolic Pi that differed in direction and magnitude depending on cell type and arbuscule status; cells with mature arbuscules showed a substantial transient increase in cytosolic Pi while those with collapsed arbuscules showed a decrease. Directed Pi application to extraradical hyphae resulted in measurable changes in cytosolic Pi of colonized cells 18 h after application. Our experiments reveal that cells within a mycorrhizal root vary in Pi content and Pi response dynamics.}, } @article {pmid35273743, year = {2022}, author = {Triplett, J and Braddock, A and Roberts, E and Ellis, D and Chan, V}, title = {Identification of sleep fragmentation-induced gut microbiota alteration and prediction of functional impact in Sprague Dawley rats harboring microbiome derived from multiple human donors.}, journal = {Sleep science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)}, volume = {15}, number = {Spec 1}, pages = {07-19}, pmid = {35273743}, issn = {1984-0659}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Poor quality sleep, including sleep fragmentation (SF), can result in severe health consequences. Gut microbiota symbiotically coexist with the host, making essential contributions to overall well-being. In this study, the effects of both acute (6-day) and chronic (6-week) SF in a humanized rat model were examined to evaluate the impact of SF on this symbiotic relationship.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human fecal material was transplanted into antibiotic-treated, microbially depleted, Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were subjected to either acute or chronic SF and shifts to gut microbiota were investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing and predictive functional profiles were constructed with PICRUSt. We also investigated SF-induced intestinal microbial adhesion and penetration or increased microbial invasion of selected tissues and organs; as well as changes in crypt/villi architecture.

RESULTS: Microbiota profiling indicated that chronic, but not acute, SF significantly decreased the richness of alpha-diversity of distal ileum microbiota, and altered cecum and distal ileum beta-diversity; although both acute and chronic SF significantly changed select populations of microbiota in all three regions. Neither acute nor chronic SF induced changes to microbial adhesion, penetration, or invasion into intestinal tissues or nearby organs. Additionally, we found that chronic SF caused a reduction in villus height in the proximal colon.

DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that acute SF alters the gut microbiota in this humanized rat model, while chronic SF produces more pronounced changes to microbiota populations. This study identified potential microbiota targets for the prevention and/or intervention of the adverse effects of S F.}, } @article {pmid35273638, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, T and Shen, S and Hao, Y and Li, W and Wang, J}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Microbial Community Diversity and Dynamics on Diseased Tubers During Potato Storage in Different Regions of Qinghai China.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {818940}, pmid = {35273638}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Effective storage of potatoes is very important for the food industry. Given the problems involving rotten potatoes and low quality during storage, harvested potatoes from the main potato-producing areas in the Qinghai Plateau were treated by selection and air drying (Group "A") and the others were stored directly as controls (Group "C"). Then, the microbial community structure and diversity of diseased potato tubers from four main production areas were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology in different storage stages. The results showed that the community composition and diversity of microbes in different regions and storage periods were different, and the dominant fungi in diseased potato tubers were Boeremia in Huangyuan (HY), Maying (MY) and Zhongling (ZL) and Apiotrichum in Huangzhong (HZ) at the genus level. The dominant bacterial genus was Pseudomonas, but its abundance varied in samples from different regions and storage periods. In the analysis of indicator species, there were some common species and endemic species in each region and period, and the period with the largest number of different species was the third period. Among the four storage periods, the region with the largest number of different species was HZ. Some fungi, especially Fusarium and other potato pathogens, were more abundant in control Group "C" than in treatment Group "A." In the diversity analysis, the α diversity of fungi in Group "C" was higher than that in Group "A," but the α diversity of bacteria in Group "A" was higher than that in Group "C," and there was no obvious regularity with storage time. The β diversity varied significantly among different regions. In addition, through functional prediction analysis, it was found that a plant pathogen was one of the main nutritional types of fungi, which indicated that treatment by selection and drying could significantly reduce phytopathogenic microbe and other microorganisms and could be used as an effective measure for potato storage compared with the prevention and control by drugs that can cause environmental pollution. Further analysis of co-occurrence network showed that pathogenic fungi Fusarium was negatively correlated with pathogenic bacteria Erwinia, and there is also a negative correlation between pathogens and antagonistic microorganisms indicated that there were various symbiotic relationships among microorganisms in diseased potatoes. This study may provide a theoretical basis for biological control of potato cellar diseases and the maintenance of potato quality during long-term storage.}, } @article {pmid35273345, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, L and He, J and Tan, P and Gong, Z and Qian, S and Miao, Y and Zhang, HY and Tu, G and Chen, Q and Zhong, Q and Han, G and He, J and Wang, M}, title = {The genome of an apodid holothuroid (Chiridota heheva) provides insights into its adaptation to a deep-sea reducing environment.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {224}, pmid = {35273345}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Acclimatization/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Animals ; Genome ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cold seeps and hydrothermal vents are deep-sea reducing environments that are characterized by lacking oxygen and photosynthesis-derived nutrients. Most animals acquire nutrition in cold seeps or hydrothermal vents by maintaining epi- or endosymbiotic relationship with chemoautotrophic microorganisms. Although several seep- and vent-dwelling animals hosting symbiotic microbes have been well-studied, the genomic basis of adaptation to deep-sea reducing environment in nonsymbiotic animals is still lacking. Here, we report a high-quality genome of Chiridota heheva Pawson & Vance, 2004, which thrives by extracting organic components from sediment detritus and suspended material, as a reference for nonsymbiotic animal's adaptation to deep-sea reducing environments. The expansion of the aerolysin-like protein family in C. heheva compared with other echinoderms might be involved in the disintegration of microbes during digestion. Moreover, several hypoxia-related genes (Pyruvate Kinase M2, PKM2; Phospholysine Phosphohistidine Inorganic Pyrophosphate Phosphatase, LHPP; Poly(A)-specific Ribonuclease Subunit PAN2, PAN2; and Ribosomal RNA Processing 9, RRP9) were subject to positive selection in the genome of C. heheva, which contributes to their adaptation to hypoxic environments.}, } @article {pmid35270182, year = {2022}, author = {Nascimento, SVD and Costa, PHO and Herrera, H and Caldeira, CF and Gastauer, M and Ramos, SJ and Oliveira, G and Valadares, RBDS}, title = {Proteomic Profiling and Rhizosphere-Associated Microbial Communities Reveal Adaptive Mechanisms of Dioclea apurensis Kunth in Eastern Amazon's Rehabilitating Minelands.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35270182}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Dioclea apurensis Kunth is native to ferruginous rocky outcrops (known as canga) in the eastern Amazon. Native cangas are considered hotspots of biological diversity and have one of the largest iron ore deposits in the world. There, D. apurensis can grow in post-mining areas where molecular mechanisms and rhizospheric interactions with soil microorganisms are expected to contribute to their establishment in rehabilitating minelands (RM). In this study, we compare the root proteomic profile and rhizosphere-associated bacterial and fungal communities of D. apurensis growing in canga and RM to characterize the main mechanisms that allow the growth and establishment in post-mining areas. The results showed that proteins involved in response to oxidative stress, drought, excess of iron, and phosphorus deficiency showed higher levels in canga and, therefore, helped explain its high establishment rates in RM. Rhizospheric selectivity of microorganisms was more evident in canga. The microbial community structure was mostly different between the two habitats, denoting that despite having its preferences, D. apurensis can associate with beneficial soil microorganisms without specificity. Therefore, its good performance in RM can also be improved or attributed to its ability to cope with beneficial soil-borne microorganisms. Native plants with such adaptations must be used to enhance the rehabilitation process.}, } @article {pmid35270090, year = {2022}, author = {Ručová, D and Đorđević, T and Baláž, M and Weidinger, M and Lang, I and Gajdoš, A and Goga, M}, title = {Investigation of Calcium Forms in Lichens from Travertine Sites.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35270090}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms with an extraordinary capability to colonise areas of extreme climate and heavily contaminated sites, such as metal-rich habitats. Lichens have developed several mechanisms to overcome the toxicity of metals, including the ability to bind metal cations to extracellular sites of symbiotic partners and to subsequently form oxalates. Calcium is an essential alkaline earth element that is important in various cell processes. Calcium can serve as a metal ligand but can be toxic at elevated concentrations. This study investigated calcium-rich and calcium-poor sites and the lichen species that inhabit them (Cladonia sp.). The calcium content of these lichen species were analyzed, along with localized calcium oxalate formed in thalli collected from each site. The highest concentration of calcium was found in the lichen squamules, which can serve as a final deposit for detoxification. Interestingly, the highest content of calcium in Cladonia furcata was localized to the upper part of the thallus, which is the youngest. The produced calcium oxalates were species-specific. Whewellite (CaC2O4∙H2O) was formed in the case of C. furcata and weddellite (CaC2O4∙2H2O) was identified in C. foliacea.}, } @article {pmid35269869, year = {2022}, author = {Soboleva, A and Frolova, N and Bureiko, K and Shumilina, J and Balcke, GU and Zhukov, VA and Tikhonovich, IA and Frolov, A}, title = {Dynamics of Reactive Carbonyl Species in Pea Root Nodules in Response to Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)-Induced Osmotic Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35269869}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Glyceraldehyde ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Osmotic Pressure ; Peas/metabolism ; Polyethylene Glycols/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Drought dramatically affects crop productivity worldwide. For legumes this effect is especially pronounced, as their symbiotic association with rhizobia is highly-sensitive to dehydration. This might be attributed to the oxidative stress, which ultimately accompanies plants' response to water deficit. Indeed, enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species in root nodules might result in up-regulation of lipid peroxidation and overproduction of reactive carbonyl compounds (RCCs), which readily modify biomolecules and disrupt cell functions. Thus, the knowledge of the nodule carbonyl metabolome dynamics is critically important for understanding the drought-related losses of nitrogen fixation efficiency and plant productivity. Therefore, here we provide, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time a comprehensive overview of the pea root nodule carbonyl metabolome and address its alterations in response to polyethylene glycol-induced osmotic stress as the first step to examine the changes of RCC patterns in drought treated plants. RCCs were extracted from the nodules and derivatized with 7-(diethylamino)coumarin-3-carbohydrazide (CHH). The relative quantification of CHH-derivatives by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry with a post-run correction for derivative stability revealed in total 194 features with intensities above 1 × 10[5] counts, 19 of which were down- and three were upregulated. The upregulation of glyceraldehyde could accompany non-enzymatic conversion of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to methylglyoxal. The accumulation of 4,5-dioxovaleric acid could be the reason for down-regulation of porphyrin metabolism, suppression of leghemoglobin synthesis, inhibition of nitrogenase and degradation of legume-rhizobial symbiosis in response to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress effect. This effect needs to be confirmed with soil-based drought models.}, } @article {pmid35269538, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Z and Li, Y and Sun, Q and Wei, J and Li, B and Qiu, Y and Liu, K and Shao, D and Ma, Z}, title = {Targeting the Pulmonary Microbiota to Fight against Respiratory Diseases.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35269538}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Lung ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The mucosal immune system of the respiratory tract possesses an effective "defense barrier" against the invading pathogenic microorganisms; therefore, the lungs of healthy organisms are considered to be sterile for a long time according to the strong pathogens-eliminating ability. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technology has accelerated the studies about the microbial communities and immune regulating functions of lung microbiota during the past two decades. The acquisition and maturation of respiratory microbiota during childhood are mainly determined by the birth mode, diet structure, environmental exposure and antibiotic usage. However, the formation and development of lung microbiota in early life might affect the occurrence of respiratory diseases throughout the whole life cycle. The interplay and crosstalk between the gut and lung can be realized by the direct exchange of microbial species through the lymph circulation, moreover, the bioactive metabolites produced by the gut microbiota and lung microbiota can be changed via blood circulation. Complicated interactions among the lung microbiota, the respiratory viruses, and the host immune system can regulate the immune homeostasis and affect the inflammatory response in the lung. Probiotics, prebiotics, functional foods and fecal microbiota transplantation can all be used to maintain the microbial homeostasis of intestinal microbiota and lung microbiota. Therefore, various kinds of interventions on manipulating the symbiotic microbiota might be explored as novel effective strategies to prevent and control respiratory diseases.}, } @article {pmid35267967, year = {2022}, author = {Sainz, T and Diaz, L and Rojo, D and Clemente, MI and Barbas, C and Gosalbes, MJ and Jimenez-Hernandez, N and Escosa, L and Guillen, S and Ramos, JT and Muñoz-Fernández, MÁ and Navarro, ML and Mellado, MJ and Serrano-Villar, S}, title = {Targeting the Gut Microbiota of Vertically HIV-Infected Children to Decrease Inflammation and Immunoactivation: A Pilot Clinical Trial.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {35267967}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Child ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *HIV Infections/therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphocyte Activation ; }, abstract = {Aims: Children with HIV exhibit chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). Strategies targeting persistent inflammation are needed to improve health in people living with HIV. The gut microbiota likely interacts with the immune system, but the clinical implications of modulating the dysbiosis by nutritional supplementation are unclear. Methods: Pilot, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial in which 24 HIV-infected on ART were randomized to supplementation with a daily mixture of symbiotics, omega-3/6 fatty acids and amino acids, or placebo four weeks, in combination with ART. We analyzed inflammatory markers and T-cell activation changes and their correlations with shifts in fecal microbiota. Results: Twenty-four HIV-infected children were recruited and randomized to receive a symbiotic nutritional supplement or placebo. Mean age was 12 ± 3.9 years, 62.5% were female. All were on ART and had HIV RNA < 50/mL. We did not detect changes in inflammatory (IL-6, IL-7, IP-10), microbial translocation (sCD14), mucosal integrity markers (IFABP, zonulin) or the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio, or changes in markers of the adaptive immune response in relation to the intervention. However, we found correlations between several key bacteria and the assessed inflammatory and immunological parameters, supporting a role of the microbiota in immune modulation in children with HIV. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, a four-week nutritional supplementation had no significant effects in terms of decreasing inflammation, microbial translocation, or T-cell activation in HIV-infected children. However, the correlations found support the interaction between gut microbiota and the immune system.}, } @article {pmid35266150, year = {2022}, author = {Carrell, AA and Lawrence, TJ and Cabugao, KGM and Carper, DL and Pelletier, DA and Lee, JH and Jawdy, SS and Grimwood, J and Schmutz, J and Hanson, PJ and Shaw, AJ and Weston, DJ}, title = {Habitat-adapted microbial communities mediate Sphagnum peatmoss resilience to warming.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {6}, pages = {2111-2125}, pmid = {35266150}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon ; Ecosystem ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; *Sphagnopsida/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Sphagnum peatmosses are fundamental members of peatland ecosystems, where they contribute to the uptake and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon. Warming threatens Sphagnum mosses and is known to alter the composition of their associated microbiome. Here, we use a microbiome transfer approach to test if microbiome thermal origin influences host plant thermotolerance. We leveraged an experimental whole-ecosystem warming study to collect field-grown Sphagnum, mechanically separate the associated microbiome and then transfer onto germ-free laboratory Sphagnum for temperature experiments. Host and microbiome dynamics were assessed with growth analysis, Chla fluorescence imaging, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and 16S rDNA profiling. Microbiomes originating from warming field conditions imparted enhanced thermotolerance and growth recovery at elevated temperatures. Metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses revealed that warming altered microbial community structure in a manner that induced the plant heat shock response, especially the HSP70 family and jasmonic acid production. The heat shock response was induced even without warming treatment in the laboratory, suggesting that the warm-microbiome isolated from the field provided the host plant with thermal preconditioning. Our results demonstrate that microbes, which respond rapidly to temperature alterations, can play key roles in host plant growth response to rapidly changing environments.}, } @article {pmid35264769, year = {2022}, author = {Melhem, H and Kaya, B and Kaymak, T and Wuggenig, P and Flint, E and Roux, J and Oost, KC and Cavelti-Weder, C and Balmer, ML and Walser, JC and Morales, RA and Riedel, CU and Liberali, P and Villablanca, EJ and Niess, JH}, title = {Epithelial GPR35 protects from Citrobacter rodentium infection by preserving goblet cells and mucosal barrier integrity.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {443-458}, pmid = {35264769}, issn = {1935-3456}, mesh = {Animals ; Citrobacter rodentium ; Colon/microbiology ; *Enterobacteriaceae Infections/metabolism ; *Goblet Cells/physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Mice ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Goblet cells secrete mucin to create a protective mucus layer against invasive bacterial infection and are therefore essential for maintaining intestinal health. However, the molecular pathways that regulate goblet cell function remain largely unknown. Although GPR35 is highly expressed in colonic epithelial cells, its importance in promoting the epithelial barrier is unclear. In this study, we show that epithelial Gpr35 plays a critical role in goblet cell function. In mice, cell-type-specific deletion of Gpr35 in epithelial cells but not in macrophages results in goblet cell depletion and dysbiosis, rendering these animals more susceptible to Citrobacter rodentium infection. Mechanistically, scRNA-seq analysis indicates that signaling of epithelial Gpr35 is essential to maintain normal pyroptosis levels in goblet cells. Our work shows that the epithelial presence of Gpr35 is a critical element for the function of goblet cell-mediated symbiosis between host and microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35264574, year = {2022}, author = {Klimov, PB and Chetverikov, PE and Dodueva, IE and Vishnyakov, AE and Bolton, SJ and Paponova, SS and Lutova, LA and Tolstikov, AV}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria of the gall-inducing mite Fragariocoptes setiger (Eriophyoidea) and phylogenomic resolution of the eriophyoid position among Acari.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3811}, pmid = {35264574}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Mites/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Eriophyoid mites represent a hyperdiverse, phytophagous lineage with an unclear phylogenetic position. These mites have succeeded in colonizing nearly every seed plant species, and this evolutionary success was in part due to the mites' ability to induce galls in plants. A gall is a unique niche that provides the inducer of this modification with vital resources. The exact mechanism of gall formation is still not understood, even as to whether it is endogenic (mites directly cause galls) or exogenic (symbiotic microorganisms are involved). Here we (i) investigate the phylogenetic affinities of eriophyoids and (ii) use comparative metagenomics to test the hypothesis that the endosymbionts of eriophyoid mites are involved in gall formation. Our phylogenomic analysis robustly inferred eriophyoids as closely related to Nematalycidae, a group of deep-soil mites belonging to Endeostigmata. Our comparative metagenomics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy experiments identified two candidate endosymbiotic bacteria shared across samples, however, it is unlikely that they are gall inducers (morphotype1: novel Wolbachia, morphotype2: possibly Agrobacterium tumefaciens). We also detected an array of plant pathogens associated with galls that may be vectored by the mites, and we determined a mite pathogenic virus (Betabaculovirus) that could be tested for using in biocontrol of agricultural pest mites.}, } @article {pmid35263721, year = {2022}, author = {D'Acunto, M}, title = {Quantum biology.π-πentanglement signatures in protein-DNA interactions.}, journal = {Physical biology}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1088/1478-3975/ac5bda}, pmid = {35263721}, issn = {1478-3975}, mesh = {Biology ; *DNA/chemistry ; *Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Electrons ; Proteins ; }, abstract = {The biological functions of DNA are carried out by individual proteins that interact with specific sequences along the DNA in order to prime the molecular processes required by the cellular metabolism. Protein-DNA interactions include DNA replication, gene expression and its regulation, DNA repair, DNA restriction and modification by endonucleases, generally classified as enzymatic functions, or transcription factors functions. To find specific binding target sequences and achieve their aims, in less than one second proteins operate in symbiosis with a crowded cellular environment, identifying extremely small cognate sequences along the DNA chain, which range from 15-20 bps for repressors to 4-6 bps for restriction enzymes. In a previous work, we proposed that the extraordinary ability of proteins to identify consensus sequences on DNA in a short time appears to be dependent on specific quantum signatures such as the entanglement ofπ-πelectrons between DNA nucleotides and protein amino acids, where the couple ofπelectrons function as a radical pair, oneπelectron is located on a specific site of sequence to be identified and the other one performs a quantum walk to identify possible sites of consensus sequence. In this paper, we use the restriction endonucleases enzymes, EcoRV and EcoRI as a case study. These enzymes are able to recognize 3'-GATACT-5' or 3'-GAATCT-5' sequences, respectively. We exploit the analogy of a coin operator with a Bloch sphere to demonstrate that the entanglement betweenπ-πelectrons generated at the contacts on specific GA dimers between proteins and DNA relies on the spin of the electrons that form an initial singlet state. The latter is a maximally entangled state so that the identification of specific nucleotides is associated with the formation of singlet states. On the other hand, during the identification of subsequent GA dimers, the spin-orbit interaction on walkingπelectron induces triplet transitions so that singlet-triplet transitions should manifest an experimentally measurable effect. We propose that the possible experimental evidence of entanglement betweenπ-πelectrons may be due to the phosphorescence signal correspondence to triplet decay processes.}, } @article {pmid35261742, year = {2022}, author = {Pardo-De la Hoz, CJ and Medeiros, ID and Gibert, JP and Chagnon, PL and Magain, N and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Phylogenetic structure of specialization: A new approach that integrates partner availability and phylogenetic diversity to quantify biotic specialization in ecological networks.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e8649}, pmid = {35261742}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Biotic specialization holds information about the assembly, evolution, and stability of biological communities. Partner availabilities can play an important role in enabling species interactions, where uneven partner availabilities can bias estimates of biotic specialization when using phylogenetic diversity indices. It is therefore important to account for partner availability when characterizing biotic specialization using phylogenies. We developed an index, phylogenetic structure of specialization (PSS), that avoids bias from uneven partner availabilities by uncoupling the null models for interaction frequency and phylogenetic distance. We incorporate the deviation between observed and random interaction frequencies as weights into the calculation of partner phylogenetic α-diversity. To calculate the PSS index, we then compare observed partner phylogenetic α-diversity to a null distribution generated by randomizing phylogenetic distances among the same number of partners. PSS quantifies the phylogenetic structure (i.e., clustered, overdispersed, or random) of the partners of a focal species. We show with simulations that the PSS index is not correlated with network properties, which allows comparisons across multiple systems. We also implemented PSS on empirical networks of host-parasite, avian seed-dispersal, lichenized fungi-cyanobacteria, and hummingbird pollination interactions. Across these systems, a large proportion of taxa interact with phylogenetically random partners according to PSS, sometimes to a larger extent than detected with an existing method that does not account for partner availability. We also found that many taxa interact with phylogenetically clustered partners, while taxa with overdispersed partners were rare. We argue that species with phylogenetically overdispersed partners have often been misinterpreted as generalists when they should be considered specialists. Our results highlight the important role of randomness in shaping interaction networks, even in highly intimate symbioses, and provide a much-needed quantitative framework to assess the role that evolutionary history and symbiotic specialization play in shaping patterns of biodiversity. PSS is available as an R package at https://github.com/cjpardodelahoz/pss.}, } @article {pmid35260690, year = {2022}, author = {Anandan, A and Nagireddy, R and Sabarinathan, S and Bhatta, BB and Mahender, A and Vinothkumar, M and Parameswaran, C and Panneerselvam, P and Subudhi, H and Meher, J and Bose, LK and Ali, J}, title = {Multi-trait association study identifies loci associated with tolerance of low phosphorus in Oryza sativa and its wild relatives.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {4089}, pmid = {35260690}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Oryza/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phosphorus ; Plant Breeding ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; }, abstract = {We studied variation in adaptive traits and genetic association to understand the low P responses, including the symbiotic association of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization in Oryza species (O. sativa, O. nivara, and O. rufipogon). In the present experiment, we performed the phenotypic variability of the morphometric and geometric traits for P deficiency tolerance and conducted the association studies in GLM and MLM methods. A positive association between the geometric trait of the top-view area and root traits suggested the possibility of exploring a non-destructive approach in screening genotypes under low P. The AMOVA revealed a higher proportion of variation among the individuals as they belonged to different species of Oryza and the NM value was 2.0, indicating possible gene flow between populations. A sub-cluster with superior-performing accessions had a higher proportion of landraces (42.85%), and O. rufipogon (33.3%) was differentiated by four Pup1-specific markers. Association mapping identified seven notable markers (RM259, RM297, RM30, RM6966, RM242, RM184, and PAP1) and six potential genotypes (IC459373, Chakhao Aumbi, AC100219, AC100062, Sekri, and Kumbhi Phou), which will be helpful in the marker-assisted breeding to improve rice for P-deprived condition. In addition, total root surface area becomes a single major trait that helps in P uptake under deficit P up to 33% than mycorrhizal colonization. Further, the phenotypic analysis of the morphometric and geometric trait variations and their interactions provides excellent potential for selecting donors for improving P-use efficiency. The identified potential candidate genes and markers offered new insights into our understanding of the molecular and physiological mechanisms driving PUE and improving grain yield under low-P conditions.}, } @article {pmid35260683, year = {2022}, author = {Rieger, T and Roesler, E and Manzey, D}, title = {Challenging presumed technological superiority when working with (artificial) colleagues.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3768}, pmid = {35260683}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Automation ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Technology ; Trust ; }, abstract = {Technological advancements are ubiquitously supporting or even replacing humans in all areas of life, bringing the potential for human-technology symbiosis but also novel challenges. To address these challenges, we conducted three experiments in different task contexts ranging from loan assignment over X-Ray evaluation to process industry. Specifically, we investigated the impact of support agent (artificial intelligence, decision support system, or human) and failure experience (one vs. none) on trust-related aspects of human-agent interaction. This included not only the subjective evaluation of the respective agent in terms of trust, reliability, and responsibility, when working together, but also a change in perspective to the willingness to be assessed oneself by the agent. In contrast to a presumed technological superiority, we show a general advantage with regard to trust and responsibility of human support over both technical support systems (i.e., artificial intelligence and decision support system), regardless of task context from the collaborative perspective. This effect reversed to a preference for technical systems when switching the perspective to being assessed. These findings illustrate an imperfect automation schema from the perspective of the advice-taker and demonstrate the importance of perspective when working with or being assessed by machine intelligence.}, } @article {pmid35259985, year = {2022}, author = {Perez, M and Breusing, C and Angers, B and Beinart, RA and Won, YJ and Young, CR}, title = {Divergent paths in the evolutionary history of maternally transmitted clam symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {289}, number = {1970}, pages = {20212137}, pmid = {35259985}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bivalvia/genetics ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Vertical transmission of bacterial endosymbionts is accompanied by virtually irreversible gene loss that results in a progressive reduction in genome size. While the evolutionary processes of genome reduction have been well described in some terrestrial symbioses, they are less understood in marine systems where vertical transmission is rarely observed. The association between deep-sea vesicomyid clams and chemosynthetic Gammaproteobacteria is one example of maternally inherited symbioses in the ocean. Here, we assessed the contributions of drift, recombination and selection to genome evolution in two extant vesicomyid symbiont clades by comparing 15 representative symbiont genomes (1.017-1.586 Mb) to those of closely related bacteria and the hosts' mitochondria. Our analyses suggest that drift is a significant force driving genome evolution in vesicomyid symbionts, though selection and interspecific recombination appear to be critical for maintaining symbiont functional integrity and creating divergent patterns of gene conservation. Notably, the two symbiont clades possess putative functional differences in sulfide physiology, anaerobic respiration and dependency on environmental vitamin B12, which probably reflect adaptations to different ecological habitats available to each symbiont group. Overall, these results contribute to our understanding of the eco-evolutionary processes shaping reductive genome evolution in vertically transmitted symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35259253, year = {2022}, author = {Maire, J and Buerger, P and Chan, WY and Deore, P and Dungan, AM and Nitschke, MR and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Effects of Ocean Warming on the Underexplored Members of the Coral Microbiome.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {1700-1709}, pmid = {35259253}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Climate Change ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {The climate crisis is one of the most significant threats to marine ecosystems. It is leading to severe increases in sea surface temperatures and in the frequency and magnitude of marine heatwaves. These changing conditions are directly impacting coral reef ecosystems, which are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Coral-associated symbionts are particularly affected because summer heatwaves cause coral bleaching-the loss of endosymbiotic microalgae (Symbiodiniaceae) from coral tissues, leading to coral starvation and death. Coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria have been extensively studied in the context of climate change, especially in terms of community diversity and dynamics. However, data on other microorganisms and their response to climate change are scarce. Here, we review current knowledge on how increasing temperatures affect understudied coral-associated microorganisms such as archaea, fungi, viruses, and protists other than Symbiodiniaceae, as well as microbe-microbe interactions. We show that the coral-microbe symbiosis equilibrium is at risk under current and predicted future climate change and argue that coral reef conservation initiatives should include microbe-focused approaches.}, } @article {pmid35257790, year = {2022}, author = {Maltseva, AL and Lobov, AA and Pavlova, PA and Panova, M and Gafarova, ER and Marques, JP and Danilov, LG and Granovitch, AI}, title = {Orphan gene in Littorina: An unexpected role of symbionts in the host evolution.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {824}, number = {}, pages = {146389}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2022.146389}, pmid = {35257790}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Speciation ; *Microbiota ; Reproductive Isolation ; *Snails/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mechanisms of reproductive isolation between closely related sympatric species are of high evolutionary significance as they may function as initial drivers of speciation and protect species integrity afterwards. Proteins involved in the establishment of reproductive barriers often evolve fast and may be key players in cessation of gene flow between the incipient species. The five Atlantic Littorina (Neritrema) species represent a notable example of recent radiation. The geographic ranges of these young species largely overlap and the mechanisms of reproductive isolation are poorly understood. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of the reproductive protein LOSP, previously identified in Littorina. We showed that this protein is evolutionary young and taxonomically restricted to the genus Littorina. It has high sequence variation both within and between Littorina species, which is compatible with its presumable role in the reproductive isolation. The strongest differences in the LOSP structure were detected between Littorina subgenera with distinctive repetitive motifs present exclusively in the Neritrema species, but not in L. littorea. Moreover, the sequence of these repetitive structural elements demonstrates a high homology with genetic elements of bacteria, identified as components of Littorina associated microbiomes. We suggest that these elements were acquired from a symbiotic bacterial donor via horizontal genetic transfer (HGT), which is indirectly confirmed by the presence of multiple transposable elements in the LOSP flanking and intronic regions. Furthermore, we hypothesize that this HGT-driven evolutionary innovation promoted LOSP function in reproductive isolation, which might be one of the factors determining the intensive cladogenesis in the Littorina (Neritrema) lineage in contrast to the anagenesis in the L. littorea clade.}, } @article {pmid35257787, year = {2022}, author = {Janda, M and Robatzek, S}, title = {Extracellular vesicles from phytobacteria: Properties, functions and uses.}, journal = {Biotechnology advances}, volume = {58}, number = {}, pages = {107934}, doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107934}, pmid = {35257787}, issn = {1873-1899}, mesh = {*Extracellular Vesicles ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cytosol-containing membrane spheres providing a chassis for the removal and delivery of cargoes in a highly dynamic and cue-responsive manner. EVs play important roles in cell-to-cell communication, including the dialogue between recipient microbial and plant cells. Bacterial EVs are well-studied in the medical field, but their relevance for plant infection is only now being recognized. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of EVs from phytobacteria in modulating plant immunity and the outcome of disease or in symbiosis. In this review, we highlight the composition of EVs and discuss their role in the interaction with plants. Knowledge of EV composition and functions will aid their use in biotechnology and agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35256015, year = {2022}, author = {Quan, Y and da Silva, NM and de Souza Lima, BJF and de Hoog, S and Vicente, VA and Mayer, V and Kang, Y and Shi, D}, title = {Black fungi and ants: a genomic comparison of species inhabiting carton nests versus domatia.}, journal = {IMA fungus}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {35256015}, issn = {2210-6340}, abstract = {Some members of Chaetothyriales, an order containing potential agents of opportunistic infections in humans, have a natural habitat in nests of tropical arboreal ants. In these black fungi, two types of ant symbiosis are known, i.e. occurrence in domatia inside living plants, or as components of carton constructions made of ant-chewed plant tissue. In order to explain differences between strains from these types of association, we sequenced and annotated genomes of two newly described carton species, Incumbomyces lentus and Incumbomyces delicatus, and compared these with genomes of four domatia species and related Chaetothyriales. General genomic characteristics, CYP genes, carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), secondary metabolism, and sex-related genes were included in the study.}, } @article {pmid35255932, year = {2022}, author = {Gebrayel, P and Nicco, C and Al Khodor, S and Bilinski, J and Caselli, E and Comelli, EM and Egert, M and Giaroni, C and Karpinski, TM and Loniewski, I and Mulak, A and Reygner, J and Samczuk, P and Serino, M and Sikora, M and Terranegra, A and Ufnal, M and Villeger, R and Pichon, C and Konturek, P and Edeas, M}, title = {Microbiota medicine: towards clinical revolution.}, journal = {Journal of translational medicine}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {111}, pmid = {35255932}, issn = {1479-5876}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by the largest microbial community within the human body consisting of trillions of microbes called gut microbiota. The normal flora is the site of many physiological functions such as enhancing the host immunity, participating in the nutrient absorption and protecting the body against pathogenic microorganisms. Numerous investigations showed a bidirectional interplay between gut microbiota and many organs within the human body such as the intestines, the lungs, the brain, and the skin. Large body of evidence demonstrated, more than a decade ago, that the gut microbial alteration is a key factor in the pathogenesis of many local and systemic disorders. In this regard, a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in the gut microbial symbiosis/dysbiosis is crucial for the clinical and health field. We review the most recent studies on the involvement of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of many diseases. We also elaborate the different strategies used to manipulate the gut microbiota in the prevention and treatment of disorders. The future of medicine is strongly related to the quality of our microbiota. Targeting microbiota dysbiosis will be a huge challenge.}, } @article {pmid35252590, year = {2021}, author = {Roquis, D and Cosseau, C and Brener Raffalli, K and Romans, P and Masanet, P and Mitta, G and Grunau, C and Vidal-Dupiol, J}, title = {The tropical coral Pocillopora acuta displays an unusual chromatin structure and shows histone H3 clipping plasticity upon bleaching.}, journal = {Wellcome open research}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {195}, pmid = {35252590}, issn = {2398-502X}, abstract = {Background: Pocillopora acuta is a hermatypic coral with strong ecological importance. Anthropogenic disturbances and global warming are major threats that can induce coral bleaching, the disruption of the mutualistic symbiosis between the coral host and its endosymbiotic algae. Previous works have shown that somaclonal colonies display different levels of survival depending on the environmental conditions they previously faced. Epigenetic mechanisms are good candidates to explain this phenomenon. However, almost no work had been published on the P. acuta epigenome, especially on histone modifications. In this study, we aim at providing the first insight into chromatin structure of this species. Methods: We aligned the amino acid sequence of P. acuta core histones with histone sequences from various phyla. We developed a centri-filtration on sucrose gradient to separate chromatin from the host and the symbiont. The presence of histone H3 protein and specific histone modifications were then detected by western blot performed on histone extraction done from bleached and healthy corals. Finally, micrococcal nuclease (MNase) digestions were undertaken to study nucleosomal organization. Results: The centri-filtration enabled coral chromatin isolation with less than 2% of contamination by endosymbiont material. Histone sequences alignments with other species show that P. acuta displays on average ~90% of sequence similarities with mice and ~96% with other corals. H3 detection by western blot showed that H3 is clipped in healthy corals while it appeared to be intact in bleached corals. MNase treatment failed to provide the usual mononucleosomal digestion, a feature shared with some cnidarian, but not all; suggesting an unusual chromatin structure. Conclusions: These results provide a first insight into the chromatin, nucleosome and histone structure of P. acuta. The unusual patterns highlighted in this study and partly shared with other cnidarian will need to be further studied to better understand its role in corals.}, } @article {pmid35254439, year = {2022}, author = {Ricono, C and Vandenkoornhuyse, P and Aviron, S and Jambon, O and Michon-Coudouel, S and Causse-Vedrines, R and Mauger, S and Mony, C}, title = {Organic agriculture and field edges uphold endospheric wheat microbiota at field and landscape scale.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac027}, pmid = {35254439}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Organic Agriculture ; Triticum ; }, abstract = {Agricultural intensification has been demonstrated to induce a loss of biodiversity. Despite the key role of symbiotic microorganisms in plant nutrition and protection, the impact of agricultural intensification on these microorganisms is not fully understood. Organic farming and field edges (as semi-natural elements) may promote a higher microbial diversity thanks to lower anthropic disturbance and higher plant diversity. We sampled wheat individuals in pairs of wheat fields (one organic and one conventional) along a distance gradient to the edges (hedgerow vs. grassy), in 20 landscape windows selected along an uncorrelated gradient of organic farming and hedgerow density. We demonstrated that organic farming shaped microbial composition and increased fungal and bacterial richness, while hedgerows had a neutral or negative effect on richness depending on the microbial phyla considered. In contrast to bacteria, fungal communities were heterogeneously distributed within fields, having a higher diversity for some phyla close to field edges. Overall we highlighted that fungi responded more to the field scale while bacteria were more affected by landscape scale. The effect of agricultural intensification on plant microbiota and therefore on the functions provided by microorganisms to the plants has to be considered at a multiple spatial scale-from field to landscape.}, } @article {pmid35253476, year = {2022}, author = {Ricci, F and Tandon, K and Black, JR and Lê Cao, KA and Blackall, LL and Verbruggen, H}, title = {Host Traits and Phylogeny Contribute to Shaping Coral-Bacterial Symbioses.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e0004422}, pmid = {35253476}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Phylogeny ; Bacteria ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The success of tropical scleractinian corals depends on their ability to establish symbioses with microbial partners. Host phylogeny and traits are known to shape the coral microbiome, but to what extent they affect its composition remains unclear. Here, by using 12 coral species representing the complex and robust clades, we explored the influence of host phylogeny, skeletal architecture, and reproductive mode on the microbiome composition, and further investigated the structure of the tissue and skeleton bacterial communities. Our results show that host phylogeny and traits explained 14% of the tissue and 13% of the skeletal microbiome composition, providing evidence that these predictors contributed to shaping the holobiont in terms of presence and relative abundance of bacterial symbionts. Based on our data, we conclude that host phylogeny affects the presence of specific microbial lineages, reproductive mode predictably influences the microbiome composition, and skeletal architecture works like a filter that affects bacterial relative abundance. We show that the β-diversity of coral tissue and skeleton microbiomes differed, but we found that a large overlapping fraction of bacterial sequences were recovered from both anatomical compartments, supporting the hypothesis that the skeleton can function as a microbial reservoir. Additionally, our analysis of the microbiome structure shows that 99.6% of tissue and 99.7% of skeletal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were not consistently present in at least 30% of the samples, suggesting that the coral tissue and skeleton are dominated by rare bacteria. Together, these results provide novel insights into the processes driving coral-bacterial symbioses, along with an improved understanding of the scleractinian microbiome.}, } @article {pmid35252750, year = {2022}, author = {Belton, S and Lamari, N and Jermiin, LS and Mariscal, V and Flores, E and McCabe, PF and Ng, CKY}, title = {Genetic and lipidomic analyses suggest that Nostoc punctiforme, a plant-symbiotic cyanobacterium, does not produce sphingolipids.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {000306}, pmid = {35252750}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Sphingolipids, a class of amino-alcohol-based lipids, are well characterized in eukaryotes and in some anaerobic bacteria. However, the only sphingolipids so far identified in cyanobacteria are two ceramides (i.e., an acetylsphingomyelin and a cerebroside), both based on unbranched, long-chain base (LCB) sphingolipids in Scytonema julianum and Moorea producens , respectively. The first step in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis is the condensation of l-serine with palmitoyl-CoA to produce 3-keto-diyhydrosphingosine (KDS). This reaction is catalyzed by serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), which belongs to a small family of pyridoxal phosphate-dependent α-oxoamine synthase (AOS) enzymes. Based on sequence similarity to molecularly characterized bacterial SPT peptides, we identified a putative SPT (Npun_R3567) from the model nitrogen-fixing, plant-symbiotic cyanobacterium, Nostoc punctiforme strain PCC 73102 (ATCC 29133). Gene expression analysis revealed that Npun_R3567 is induced during late-stage diazotrophic growth in N. punctiforme . However, Npun_R3567 could not produce the SPT reaction product, 3-keto-diyhydrosphingosine (KDS), when heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli . This agreed with a sphingolipidomic analysis of N. punctiforme cells, which revealed that no LCBs or ceramides were present. To gain a better understanding of Npun_R3567, we inferred the phylogenetic position of Npun_R3567 relative to other bacterial AOS peptides. Rather than clustering with other bacterial SPTs, Npun_R3567 and the other cyanobacterial BioF homologues formed a separate, monophyletic group. Given that N. punctiforme does not appear to possess any other gene encoding an AOS enzyme, it is altogether unlikely that N. punctiforme is capable of synthesizing sphingolipids. In the context of cross-kingdom symbiosis signalling in which sphingolipids are emerging as important regulators, it appears unlikely that sphingolipids from N. punctiforme play a regulatory role during its symbiotic association with plants.}, } @article {pmid35252673, year = {2022}, author = {Rahman, MH and Hasan, MN and Amin, R and Setu, MAA and Akter, S and Nigar, S and Khan, MZH and Khan, MZH}, title = {Mixed Nanocomposite Fertilizers Influencing Endophytic Symbiosis and Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties of Oryza sativa as a Sustainable Alternative for Commercial Fertilizers.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {6787-6794}, pmid = {35252673}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {This study investigated the comparative effects of mixed nanocomposite (MNC) fertilizers as an alternative to commercial fertilizers (CFs) on endophytic symbiosis and nutritional properties of rice grains. We synthesized MNC fertilizers with different concentrations and characterized them by using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The CF was applied as per the method followed by local farmers; however, for MNC fertilizers both foliar and soil applications were done. Comparative analysis of growth and development, rice-endophyte symbiosis, and nutritional properties of rice grains was conducted. The panicles per hill, length of panicles, grain per panicles, 1000-grain weight, and dry matter of rice plants treated with MNC fertilizers were found to be not statistically (p > 0.05) different compared to those of CF. However, growth parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in MNC fertilizer-treated crops than in CF-treated crops. Several predominant endophytes such as Penicillium spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus spp., and Fusarium spp. that could have significant effects on the enhancement of growth and nutritional properties of rice grains were identified in rice plants treated with MNC fertilizers at different concentrations. Contrarily, stem-associated Cercospora spp. was found in the CF-treated field and fission yeast was observed in the blank-treated field. In addition, the contents of proteins, fibers, carbohydrates, energy-yielding components, vitamin A, and minerals were significantly increased in rice plants treated with MNC fertilizers. Thus, we would like to conclude that MNC fertilizers could be one of the most potential alternatives to CFs for achieving better rice-endophyte symbiosis as well as nutritional improvements in rice grains for sustainable production.}, } @article {pmid35251968, year = {2022}, author = {Amemiya, T and Yamaguchi, T}, title = {Oscillations and Dynamic Symbiosis in Cellular Metabolism in Cancer.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {783908}, pmid = {35251968}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {The grade of malignancy differs among cancer cell types, yet it remains the burden of genetic studies to understand the reasons behind this observation. Metabolic studies of cancer, based on the Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis, have also not provided any clarity. Instead, the significance of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) has been found to play critical roles in aggressive cancer cells. In this perspective, metabolic symbiosis is addressed as one of the ultimate causes of the grade of cancer malignancy. Metabolic symbiosis gives rise to metabolic heterogeneities which enable cancer cells to acquire greater opportunities for proliferation and metastasis in tumor microenvironments. This study introduces a real-time new imaging technique to visualize metabolic symbiosis between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer cells based on the metabolic oscillations in these cells. The causality of cellular oscillations in cancer cells and CAFs, connected through lactate transport, is a key point for the development of this novel technique.}, } @article {pmid35251880, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, J and Qin, G and Liu, X and Li, J and Liu, C and Zhou, J and Liu, J}, title = {Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of HAK/KUP/KT potassium transporter provides insights into genes involved in responding to potassium deficiency and salt stress in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {77}, pmid = {35251880}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: In plants, the HAK/KUP/KT family is the largest group of potassium transporters, and it plays an important role in mineral element absorption, plant growth, environmental stress adaptation, and symbiosis. Although these important genes have been investigated in many plant species, limited information is currently available on the HAK/KUP/KT genes for Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). In the present study, a total of 20 CaHAK genes were identified from the pepper genome and the CaHAK genes were numbered 1 - 20 based on phylogenetic analysis. For the genes and their corresponding proteins, the physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationship, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, conserved motifs, gene duplication events, and expression patterns were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis divided CaHAK genes into four cluster (I-IV) based on their structural features and the topology of the phylogenetic tree. Purifying selection played a crucial role in the evolution of CaHAK genes, while whole-genome triplication contributed to the expansion of the CaHAK gene family. The expression patterns showed that CaHAK proteins exhibited functional divergence in terms of plant K[+] uptake and salt stress response. In particular, transcript abundance of CaHAK3 and CaHAK7 was strongly and specifically up-regulated in pepper roots under low K[+] or high salinity conditions, suggesting that these genes are candidates for high-affinity K[+] uptake transporters and may play crucial roles in the maintenance of the Na[+]/K[+] balance during salt stress in pepper. In summary, the results not only provided the important information on the characteristics and evolutionary relationships of CaHAKs, but also provided potential genes responding to potassium deficiency and salt stress.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03136-z.}, } @article {pmid35251376, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, S and Wu, BC and Cheng, Z and Li, L and Zhang, YP and Zhao, H and Zeng, HM and Qi, DF and Ma, ZY and Li, JG and Han, R and Qu, FZ and Luo, Y and Liu, Y and Chen, XL and Dai, HM}, title = {The Microbiome of Meibomian Gland Secretions from Patients with Internal Hordeolum Treated with Hypochlorous Acid Eyelid Wipes.}, journal = {Disease markers}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {7550090}, pmid = {35251376}, issn = {1875-8630}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; Female ; Hordeolum/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypochlorous Acid/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Meibomian Glands/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Oxidants/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The aims of our experiment were to compare the microorganisms in meibomian gland secretions from patients with internal hordeolum before and after treatment using hypochlorous acid eyelid wipes, to elucidate the mechanism underlying hypochlorous acid eyelid wipe treatment of internal hordeolum.

METHODS: This was a prospective, matched-pair study. A total of eight patients with internal hordeolum who attended the ophthalmology clinic of our hospital from April to August 2020 were included. Meibomian gland secretions were collected from subjects before treatment (Group A) and from patients cured after eyelid cleaning with hypochlorous acid eyelid wipes for 7 days (Group B). Samples were submitted to 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and the resulting data were analyzed to compare the differences in the structure and composition of meibomian gland secretion microbial flora before and after treatment of internal hordeolum.

RESULTS: A total of 2127 operational taxonomic units were obtained from the two groups of samples, and there was no significant difference in alpha diversity before and after eyelid cleaning. At the phylum level, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The predominant phyla in Group A included the following: Firmicutes (32.78% ± 20.16%), Proteobacteria (26.73% ± 7.49%), Acidobacteria (10.58% ± 11.45%), Bacteroidetes (9.05% ± 6.63%), Actinobacteria (8.48% ±1.77%), and Chloroflexi (3.15% ± 3.12%), while those in Group B were the following: Proteobacteria (31.86% ± 9.69%), Firmicutes (29.07% ± 24.20%), Acidobacteria (11.33% ± 7.53%), Actinobacteria (7.10% ± 1.98%), Bacteroidetes (5.39% ± 5.17%), and Chloroflexi (3.89% ± 3.67%). Starting from the class level, significant differences in microbial communities were detected before and after eyelid cleaning (P < 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed the core flora in Group A microbiome comprising Actinobacteria, Staphylococcus, Staphylococcaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, Ruminococcacea UCg-014, Ruminococcacea-UCG-014, Halomonadaceae, Neisseria, Methylobacterium, Frankiales, and Neisseria sicca, while those in Group B microbial were Streptococcus sp., Blautia, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Subdoligranulum, Subdoligranulum variabile, Faecalibacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii.

CONCLUSION: Eyelid cleaning with hypochlorous acid eyelid wipes does not change the biodiversity in the meibomian gland secretions of patients with internal hordeolum. Hypochlorous acid eyelid wipes may affect the internal hordeolum through broad-spectrum antibacterial action to effectively reduce the relative abundance of symbiotic pathogens, such as Staphylococcus, Neisseria, Actinomycetes, and Ruminococcus and increase that of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and other symbiotic probiotics with anti-inflammatory effects.}, } @article {pmid35248379, year = {2022}, author = {Ban, Q and Sun, X and Jiang, Y and Cheng, J and Guo, M}, title = {Effect of synbiotic yogurt fortified with monk fruit extract on hepatic lipid biomarkers and metabolism in rats with type 2 diabetes.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {105}, number = {5}, pages = {3758-3769}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2021-21204}, pmid = {35248379}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; *Cucurbitaceae ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism/veterinary ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Fruit/chemistry ; Glyoxylates/metabolism/pharmacology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids/pharmacology ; Liver/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Rats ; *Rodent Diseases/metabolism ; Sweetening Agents/analysis ; *Synbiotics ; Yogurt/analysis ; }, abstract = {Monk fruit extract (MFE) is widely used as a sweetener in foods. In this study, the effects of the consumption of MFE-sweetened synbiotic yogurt on the lipid biomarkers and metabolism in the livers of type 2 diabetic rats were evaluated. The results revealed that the MFE-sweetened symbiotic yogurt affected the phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylinositols, lysophosphatidylserines, and fatty acid-hydroxy fatty acids biomarkers in the livers of type 2 diabetic rats. In addition, the consumption of the MFE-sweetened synbiotic yogurt significantly altered 12 hepatic metabolites, which are involved in phenylalanine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, bile secretion, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism in the liver. Furthermore, a multiomics (metabolomic and transcriptomic) association study revealed that there was a significant correlation between the MFE-sweetened synbiotic yogurt and the metabolites and genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. The findings of this study will provide new insights on exploring the function of sweeteners for improving type 2 diabetes mellitus liver lipid biomarkers.}, } @article {pmid35246580, year = {2022}, author = {Chinda, D and Takada, T and Mikami, T and Shimizu, K and Oana, K and Arai, T and Akitaya, K and Sakuraba, H and Katto, M and Nagara, Y and Makino, H and Fujii, D and Oishi, K and Fukuda, S}, title = {Spatial distribution of live gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism in various parts of human large intestine.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3593}, pmid = {35246580}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bile Acids and Salts ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiomics is based on analysis of both live and dead cells in the stool. However, to understand the ecology of gut microbiota and their symbiotic relationships with hosts, spatial distribution of live bacteria must be examined. Here, we analyzed the live composition of luminal microbiota (LM) and mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM) in the ascending and descending colons and the rectums of 10 healthy adults and compared it with the total composition. The abundance of Lachnospiraceae in live LM decreased along the gut length and was significantly lower than that in total LM. Contrastingly, the abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae in live LM was higher than that in total LM, suggesting differences in death rate during gut migration. Live Enterobacteriaceae levels in MAM were significantly higher in rectum than in the ascending and descending colons and in LM. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of luminal bile acids revealed that 7α-dehydroxylation occurred towards the rectum. In live LM where a bile acid-inducible gene could be detected, 7α-dehydroxylation rates were higher than those in the group without the gene. Overall, we showed differences in live bacteria composition among three gut sites and between LM and MAM, highlighting the importance of understanding their spatial distribution.}, } @article {pmid35246381, year = {2022}, author = {Roy, S and Müller, LM}, title = {A rulebook for peptide control of legume-microbe endosymbioses.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {870-889}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2022.02.002}, pmid = {35246381}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Peptides ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants engage in mutually beneficial relationships with microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, for optimized nutrient acquisition. In return, the microbial symbionts receive photosynthetic carbon from the plant. Both symbioses are regulated by the plant nutrient status, indicating the existence of signaling pathways that allow the host to fine-tune its interactions with the beneficial microbes depending on its nutrient requirements. Peptide hormones coordinate a plethora of developmental and physiological processes and, recently, various peptide families have gained special attention as systemic and local regulators of plant-microbe interactions and nutrient homeostasis. In this review, we identify five 'rules' or guiding principles that govern peptide function during symbiotic plant-microbe interactions, and highlight possible points of integration with nutrient acquisition pathways.}, } @article {pmid35245838, year = {2022}, author = {Pierzynowski, S and Pierzynowska, K}, title = {Alpha-ketoglutarate, a key molecule involved in nitrogen circulation in both animals and plants, in the context of human gut microbiota and protein metabolism.}, journal = {Advances in medical sciences}, volume = {67}, number = {1}, pages = {142-147}, doi = {10.1016/j.advms.2022.02.004}, pmid = {35245838}, issn = {1898-4002}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/metabolism ; Humans ; *Ketoglutaric Acids ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Nitrogen (N2) is an indispensable metabolite required for the synthesis of protein. In animals, gut bacteria and, to a certain extent, even hepatocytes, are able to assimilate nitrogen from ammonium (NH4[+]), which is essentially derived from the amine group (-NH2) and which is at the same time a very toxic metabolite. Initially, NH4[+] is coupled to alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a reaction which results in the appearance of glutamate (one amine group), and after that, in the appearance of glutamine - containing two amine groups. The surplus of NH4[+] which is not utilized by AKG/glutamate/glutamine is eliminated as urea in the urine, via the urea cycle in hepatocytes. Plants bacteria also assimilate nitrogen from NH4[+], by its fixation to ammonia (NH3)/NH4[+].

MATERIALS/METHODS: Previous studies have shown that AKG (also known as 2-oxo-glutaric acid or 2-oxopentanedioic acid), the primary metabolite of Rhizobium and gut bacteria, is essential for the assimilation of nitrogen.

RESULTS: Symbiotic bacteria produce AKG, which together with glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), 'generates' primarily amine groups from NH4[+]. The final product is glutamate - the first amino acid. Glutamate has the capacity to be converted to glutamine, through the action of glutamine synthetase, after the assimilation of the second nitrogen from NH4[+].

CONCLUSION: Glutamate/glutamine, derivatives of AKG metabolism, are capable of donating amine groups for the creation of other amino acids, following NH2 transamination to certain metabolites e.g., short chain fatty acids (SCFA).}, } @article {pmid35245824, year = {2022}, author = {Papadopoulou, A and Matsi, T and Kamou, N and Avdouli, D and Mellidou, I and Karamanoli, K}, title = {Decoding the potential of a new Pseudomonas putida strain for inducing drought tolerance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants through seed biopriming.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {271}, number = {}, pages = {153658}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153658}, pmid = {35245824}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Droughts ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; *Pseudomonas putida ; Seeds ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {A total of 11 potential plant growth promoting rhizobacteria previously isolated from naturally stressed environments were evaluated for various traits of interest for a beneficial symbiosis with plants, including colonization ability, biofilm formation, motility, exopolysaccharide production and salt tolerance. The vast majority of the strains were found to possess multiple plant growth promoting traits. Nevertheless, the intensity varied among isolates, with those originated from tomato plants being more efficient colonizers. The strain SAESo11, genetically characterized as a Pseudomonas putida member was selected for further investigation of its potential to alleviate drought stress in tomato seedlings. Inoculation with SAESo11 mitigated the negative effects of drought stress as indicated by growth and photosynthetic indices. Furthermore, bacterial inoculation enhanced H2O2 content and malondialdehyde levels in colonized plants. Drought treatment did not further alter the oxidative status of these plants. Similarly, total phenolic content and antioxidant enzyme activity were induced in plant tissues in response to drought stress only at the absence of inoculum. These results indicated that inoculation with the selected strain imposed plants at a priming state, that enabled them to respond more robustly at the exposure to drought stress and efficiently attenuated the drought-induced injury. This state of plant alertness mediated by SAESo11 occurred at no cost to growth, highlighting its role as a potential plant priming agent.}, } @article {pmid35245311, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, H and Liu, H and Peng, H and Wang, Y and Zhang, C and Guo, X and Wang, H and Liu, L and Lv, W and Cheng, P and Gong, M}, title = {A symbiotic gut bacterium enhances Aedes albopictus resistance to insecticide.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {e0010208}, pmid = {35245311}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {*Aedes ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Female ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; Mosquito Vectors ; *Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The increasing insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus puts many countries in Asia and Africa, including China, at great risk of a mosquito-borne virus epidemic. To date, a growing number of researches have focused on the relationship between intestinal symbiotic bacteria and their hosts' resistance to insecticides. This provides a novel aspect to the study of resistant mechanisms.

METHODS/FINDINGS: This study reveals significant composition and dynamic changes in the intestinal symbiotic bacteria of Ae. albopictus between the resistant and susceptible strains based on full-length sequencing technology. The relative abundance of Serratia oryzae was significantly higher in the resistance strain than in the susceptible strains; also, the relative abundance of S. oryzae was significantly higher in deltamethrin-induced Ae. albopictus than in their counterpart. These suggested that S. oryzae may be involved in the development of insecticide resistance in Ae. albopictus. To explore the insecticide resistance mechanism, adult mosquitoes were fed with GFP-tagged S. oryzae, which resulted in stable bacterial enrichment in the mosquito gut without affecting the normal physiology, longevity, oviposition, and hatching rates of the host. The resistance measurements were made based on bioassays as per the WHO guidelines. The results showed that the survival rate of S. oryzae-enriched Ae. albopictus was significantly higher than the untreated mosquitoes, indicating the enhanced resistance of S. oryzae-enriched Ae. albopictus. Also, the activities of three metabolic detoxification enzymes in S. oryzae-enriched mosquitoes were increased to varying degrees. Meanwhile, the activity of extracellular enzymes released by S. oryzae was measured, but only carboxylesterase activity was detected. HPLC and UHPLC were respectively used to measure deltamethrin residue concentration and metabolite qualitative analysis, showing that the deltamethrin degradation efficiency of S. oryzae was positively correlated with time and bacterial amount. Deltamethrin was broken down into 1-Oleoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-PE and 2',2'-Dibromo-2'-deoxyguanosine. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 9 cytochrome P450s, 8 GSTs and 7 CarEs genes were significantly upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS: S. oryzae can be accumulated into adult Ae. albopictus by artificial feeding, which enhances deltamethrin resistance by inducing the metabolic detoxification genes and autocrine metabolic enzymes. S. oryzae is vertically transmitted in Ae. albopictus population. Importantly, S. oryzae can degrade deltamethrin in vitro, and use deltamethrin as the sole carbon source for their growths. Therefore, in the future, S. oryzae may also be commercially used to break down the residual insecticides in the farmland and lakes to protect the environment.}, } @article {pmid35245159, year = {2022}, author = {Dellaert, Z and Vargas, PA and La Riviere, PJ and Roberson, LM}, title = {Uncovering the Effects of Symbiosis and Temperature on Coral Calcification.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {242}, number = {1}, pages = {62-73}, doi = {10.1086/716711}, pmid = {35245159}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {AbstractWe tested the impact of temperature and symbiont state on calcification in corals, using the facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata as a model system. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic colonies of A. poculata were reared in 15, 20, and 27 °C conditions. We used scanning electron microscopy to quantify how these physiological and environmental conditions impact skeletal structure. Buoyant weight data over time revealed that temperature significantly affects calcification rates. Scanning electron microscopy of A. poculata skeletons showed that aposymbiotic colonies appear to have a lower density of calcium carbonate in actively growing septal spines. We describe a novel approach to analyze the roughness and texture of scanning electron microscopy images. Quantitative analysis of the roughness of septal spines revealed that aposymbiotic colonies have a rougher surface than symbiotic colonies in tropical conditions (27 °C). This trend reversed at 15 °C, a temperature at which the symbionts of A. poculata may exhibit parasitic properties. Analysis of surface texture patterns showed that temperature impacts the spatial variance of crystals on the spine surface. Few published studies have examined the skeleton of A. poculata by using scanning electron microscopy. Our approach provides a way to study detailed changes in skeletal microstructure in response to environmental parameters and can serve as a proxy for more expensive and time-consuming analyses. Utilizing a facultatively symbiotic coral that is native to both temperate and tropical regions provides new insights into the impact of both symbiosis and temperature on calcification in corals.}, } @article {pmid35244953, year = {2022}, author = {Kitamoto, S and Kamada, N}, title = {Periodontal connection with intestinal inflammation: Microbiological and immunological mechanisms.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {89}, number = {1}, pages = {142-153}, pmid = {35244953}, issn = {1600-0757}, support = {R01 DK108901/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK119219/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK125087/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI142047/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation/complications ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Humans have coevolved with the trillions of resident microbes that populate every nook and cranny of the body. At each site, the resident microbiota creates a unique ecosystem specialized to its environment, benefiting the development and maintenance of human physiology through harmonious symbiotic relationships with the host. However, when the resident microbiota is perturbed, significant complications may arise with disastrous consequences that affect the local and distant ecosystems. In this context, periodontal disease results in inflammation beyond the oral cavity, such as in the gastrointestinal tract. Accumulating evidence indicates that potentially harmful oral resident bacteria (referred to as pathobionts) and pathogenic immune cells in the oral mucosa can migrate to the lower gastrointestinal tract and contribute to intestinal inflammation. We will review the most recent advances concerning the periodontal connection with intestinal inflammation from microbiological and immunological perspectives. Potential therapeutic approaches that target the connection between the mouth and the gut to treat gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, will be examined. Deciphering the complex interplay between microbes and immunity along the mouth-gut axis will provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of both oral and gut pathologies and present therapeutic opportunities.}, } @article {pmid35243727, year = {2022}, author = {Fujishima, M and Kodama, Y}, title = {Mechanisms for establishing primary and secondary endosymbiosis in Paramecium.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {5}, pages = {e12901}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12901}, pmid = {35243727}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; *Paramecium/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Primary (eukaryote and procaryote) and secondary (eukaryote and eukaryote) endosymbioses are driving forces in eukaryotic cell evolution. These phenomena are still contributing to acquire new cell structures and functions. To understand mechanisms for establishment of each endosymbiosis, experiments that can induce endosymbiosis synchronously by mixing symbionts isolated from symbiont-bearing host cells and symbiont-free host cells are indispensable. Recent progress on endosymbiosis using Paramecium and their endonuclear symbiotic bacteria Holospora or symbiotic green alga Chlorella has been remarkable, providing excellent opportunities for elucidating host-symbiont interactions. These organisms are now becoming model organisms to know the mechanisms for establishing primary and secondary endosymbioses. Based on experiments of many researchers, we introduce how these endosymbionts escape from the host lysosomal fusion, how they migrate in the host cytoplasm to localize specific locations within the host, how their species specificity and strain specificity of the host cells are controlled, how their life cycles are controlled, how they escape from the host cell to infect more young host cell, how they affect the host viability and gene expression, what kind of substances are needed in these phenomena, and what changes had been induced in the symbiont and the host genomes.}, } @article {pmid35243720, year = {2022}, author = {Kuizu, S and Ruiyu, W and Hui, Z and Wei, W and Tianwei, H}, title = {Mechanism and regulation of filamentous algal-bacterial symbiosis based on microbiological quorum sensing.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {e10697}, doi = {10.1002/wer.10697}, pmid = {35243720}, issn = {1554-7531}, abstract = {In algae-bacteria symbiotic systems, algae and bacteria work cooperatively to reduce aeration demand and carbon emissions during wastewater treatment. However, controlling and stabilizing microbial communities in the conventional algae-bacteria symbiotic systems are complicated and unstable. We, therefore, developed a novel sewage treatment system based on a filamentous algae-bacterial symbiotic granule system (AB) in a photo-sequencing batch reactor (PSBR). The exogenous signal molecules (i.e., N-acyl-homoserine lactones [AHLs]) were applied to promote the algae-bacteria consortia formation. The characteristics and performance of the mature algae-bacterial granular consortia were investigated and then compared with that of the activated sludge (AS) system under identical operating conditions. The chemical oxidation demand (COD) removal efficiencies were greater than 90% in the dynamic synergistic investigation, even without aeration. However, the addition of AHLs (5, 50, and 200 nmol/L) had a negligible effect on treatment performance. In static conditions, 10[-9] nmol/L of AHLs can significantly regulate the algae-bacteria symbiotic system, and AHLs (<50 nmol/L) improved COD and NH4 [+] removal efficiencies by up to 90%. Moreover, the addition of AHLs augmented polysaccharide secretion but had little effect on protein secretion. In comparison to the AS system, the AB system demonstrated promise in terms of pollution removal efficiency and microbial diversity enhancement. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Oscillatoria can serve as an excellent biological carrier for immobilizing bacteria. AHLs (10[-9] mol/L) regulated the operation state of algae-bacteria symbiotic system. AHLs altered the composition and content of EPS in the algae-bacteria system.}, } @article {pmid35243711, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, X and Liu, BQ and Li, CQ and Chen, ZB and Xu, XR and Luan, JB}, title = {A novel microRNA regulates cooperation between symbiont and a laterally acquired gene in the regulation of pantothenate biosynthesis within Bemisia tabaci whiteflies.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {2611-2624}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16416}, pmid = {35243711}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Halomonadaceae/genetics ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) play a key role in animal symbiosis, and some horizontally transferred genes or proteins are highly expressed in specialized host cells (bacteriocytes). However, it is not clear how HTGs are regulated, but microRNAs (miRNAs) are prime candidates given their previously demonstrated roles in symbiosis and impacts on the expression of host genes. A horizontally acquired PanBC that is highly expressed in whitefly bacteriocytes can cooperate with an obligate symbiont Portiera for pantothenate production, facilitating whitefly performance and Portiera titre. Here, we found that a whitefly miRNA, novel-m0780-5p, was up-regulated and its target panBC was down-regulated in Portiera-eliminated whiteflies. This miRNA was located in the cytoplasmic region of whitefly bacteriocytes. Injection of novel-m0780-5p agomir reduced the expression of PanBC in whitefly bacteriocytes, while injection of novel-m0780-5p antagomir enhanced PanBC expression. Agomir injection also reduced the pantothenate level, Portiera titre and whitefly performance. Supplementation with pantothenate restored Portiera titre and the fitness of agomir-injected whiteflies. Thus, we demonstrate that a whitefly miRNA regulates panBC-mediated host-symbiont collaboration required for pantothenate synthesis, benefiting the whitefly-Portiera symbiosis. Both panBC and novel-m0780-5p are present in the genomes of six Bemisia tabaci species. The expression of a novel miRNA in multiple B. tabaci species suggests that the miRNA evolved after panBC acquisition, and allowed this gene to be more tightly regulated. Our discovery provides the first account of a HTG being regulated by a miRNA from the host genome, and suggests key roles for interactions between miRNAs and HTGs in the functioning of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35243647, year = {2022}, author = {Yan, H and Freschet, GT and Wang, H and Hogan, JA and Li, S and Valverde-Barrantes, OJ and Fu, X and Wang, R and Dai, X and Jiang, L and Meng, S and Yang, F and Zhang, M and Kou, L}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis pathway and edaphic fertility frame root economics space among tree species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1639-1653}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18066}, pmid = {35243647}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fertility ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {The root economics space (RES) is multidimensional and largely shaped by belowground biotic and abiotic influences. However, how root-fungal symbioses and edaphic fertility drive this complexity remains unclear. Here, we measured absorptive root traits of 112 tree species in temperate and subtropical forests of China, including traits linked to functional differences between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) hosts. Our data, from known mycorrhizal tree species, revealed a 'fungal-symbiosis' dimension distinguishing AM from ECM species. This divergence likely resulted from the contrasting mycorrhizal evolutionary development of AM vs ECM associations. Increased root tissue cortical space facilitates AM symbiosis, whereas increased root branching favours ECM symbiosis. Irrespective of mycorrhizal type, a 'root-lifespan' dimension reflecting aspects of root construction cost and defence was controlled by variation in specific root length and root tissue density, which was fully independent of root nitrogen content. Within this function-based RES, we observed a substantial covariation of axes with soil phosphorus and nitrate levels, highlighting the role played by these two axes in nutrient acquisition and conservation. Overall, our findings demonstrate the importance of evolved mycorrhizal symbiosis pathway and edaphic fertility in framing the RES, and provide theoretical and mechanistic insights into the complexity of root economics.}, } @article {pmid35243632, year = {2022}, author = {Luo, Z and Moreau, C and Wang, J and Frugier, F and Xie, F}, title = {NLP1 binds the CEP1 signalling peptide promoter to repress its expression in response to nitrate.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1547-1552}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18062}, pmid = {35243632}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Protein Sorting Signals ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35242112, year = {2021}, author = {Qi, L and Lian, CA and Zhu, FC and Shi, M and He, LS}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Microflora Between Two Developmental Stages of Rimicaris kairei, a Hydrothermal Shrimp From the Central Indian Ridge.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {802888}, pmid = {35242112}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Despite extreme physical and chemical characteristics, deep-sea hydrothermal vents provide a place for fauna survival and reproduction. The symbiotic relationship of chemotrophic microorganisms has been investigated in the gill of Rimicaris exoculata, which are endemic to the hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. However, only a few studies have examined intestinal symbiosis. Here, we studied the intestinal fauna in juvenile and adult Rimicaris kairei, another species in the Rimicaris genus that was originally discovered at the Kairei and Edmond hydrothermal vent fields in the Central Indian Ridge. The results showed that there were significant differences between juvenile and adult gut microbiota in terms of species richness, diversity, and evenness. The values of Chao1, observed species, and ASV rarefaction curves indicated almost four times the number of species in adults compared to juveniles. In juveniles, the most abundant phylum was Deferribacterota, at 80%, while in adults, Campilobacterota was the most abundant, at 49%. Beta diversity showed that the intestinal communities of juveniles and adults were clearly classified into two clusters based on the evaluations of Bray-Curtis and weighted UniFrac distance matrices. Deferribacteraceae and Sulfurovum were the main featured bacteria contributing to the difference. Moreover, functional prediction for all of the intestinal microbiota showed that the pathways related to ansamycin synthesis, branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, and cell motility appeared highly abundant in juveniles. However, for adults, the most abundant pathways were those of sulfur transfer, carbohydrate, and biotin metabolism. Taken together, these results indicated large differences in intestinal microbial composition and potential functions between juvenile and adult vent shrimp (R. kairei), which may be related to their physiological needs at different stages of development.}, } @article {pmid35241967, year = {2022}, author = {Chamkhi, I and El Omari, N and Balahbib, A and El Menyiy, N and Benali, T and Ghoulam, C}, title = {Is the rhizosphere a source of applicable multi-beneficial microorganisms for plant enhancement?.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {1246-1259}, pmid = {35241967}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {The plant faces different pedological and climatic challenges that influence its growth and enhancement. While, plant-microbes interactions throught the rhizosphere offer several privileges to this hotspot in the service of plant, by attracting multi-beneficial mutualistic and symbiotic microorganisms as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), archaea, mycorrhizal fungi, endophytic fungi, and others…). Currently, numerous investigations showed the beneficial effects of these microbes on growth and plant health. Indeed, rhizospheric microorganisms offer to host plants the essential assimilable nutrients, stimulate the growth and development of host plants, and induce antibiotics production. They also attributed to host plants numerous phenotypes involved in the increase the resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The investigations and the studies on the rhizosphere can offer a way to find a biological and sustainable solution to confront these environmental problems. Therefore, the interactions between microbes and plants may lead to interesting biotechnological applications on plant improvement and the adaptation in different climates to obtain a biological sustainable agricultures without the use of chemical fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid35240978, year = {2022}, author = {Andrade, RC and Figueredo, CS and de Carvalho Alves, J and Roselino, MN}, title = {Evidence and Updates on Non-dairy Synbiotic Beverage Development.}, journal = {Recent patents on biotechnology}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {214-225}, doi = {10.2174/1872208316666220303095807}, pmid = {35240978}, issn = {2212-4012}, mesh = {Beverages ; Humans ; Patents as Topic ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: With the increase in cases of intolerance and allergies to milk protein, new food possibilities have been studied as an alternative to dairy drinks in order to meet the needs of this population, such as non-dairy synbiotic drinks.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to carry out an integrative literature review on the main types of non-dairy synbiotic beverages in order to investigate the probiotics and prebiotics added to them. Besides, we also looked into the characteristics of the substrates and fermentation conditions (temperature, time, and pH) to assess the influences on bacterial viability, consumer acceptance, conservation, and antimicrobial action.

METHODS: We conducted an integrative review of articles published in Pubmed, Web of Science, Scielo, Scopus, and Capes journals in the last five years, using the following terms: symbiotic drink, symbiotic beverage, synbiotic drink, synbiotic beverage, bebida simbiótica, not kombucha, which resulted in the inclusion of 28 articles.

RESULTS: As expected, the main probiotics were lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, while the prebiotics were inulin and fructooligosaccharide. It is noteworthy that all analyzed beverages were, in fact, probiotics since they had values above the minimum viability of 6 log CFU/mL; consequently, they can bring benefits to consumers.

CONCLUSION: In addition to being rich sources of nutrients, fruits and vegetables also enable the development of synbiotic drinks supplied from their substrates, providing an alternative for people who are lactose intolerant.}, } @article {pmid35239199, year = {2022}, author = {Almario, J and Fabiańska, I and Saridis, G and Bucher, M}, title = {Unearthing the plant-microbe quid pro quo in root associations with beneficial fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {6}, pages = {1967-1976}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18061}, pmid = {35239199}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis ; Carbon ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiotic associations between multicellular eukaryotes and their microbiota are driven by the exchange of nutrients in a quid pro quo manner. In the widespread arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis involving plant roots and Glomeromycotina fungi, the mycobiont is supplied with carbon through photosynthesis, which in return supplies the host plant with essential minerals such as phosphorus (P). Most terrestrial plants are largely dependent on AM fungi for nutrients, which raises the question of how plants that are unable to form a functional AM sustain their P nutrition. AM nonhost plants can form alternative, evolutionarily younger, mycorrhizal associations such as the ectomycorrhiza, ericoid and orchid mycorrhiza. However, it is unclear how plants such as the Brassicaceae species Arabidopsis thaliana, which do not form known mycorrhizal symbioses, have adapted to the loss of these essential mycorrhizal traits. Isotope tracing experiments with root-colonizing fungi have revealed the existence of new 'mycorrhizal-like' fungi capable of transferring nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and P to plants, including Brassicaceae. Here, we provide an overview of the biology of trophic relationships between roots and fungi and how these associations might support plant adaptation to climate change.}, } @article {pmid35238478, year = {2022}, author = {Polenogova, OV and Noskov, YA and Artemchenko, AS and Zhangissina, S and Klementeva, TN and Yaroslavtseva, ON and Khodyrev, VP and Kruykova, NA and Glupov, VV}, title = {Citrobacter freundii, a natural associate of the Colorado potato beetle, increases larval susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {78}, number = {9}, pages = {3823-3835}, doi = {10.1002/ps.6856}, pmid = {35238478}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacillus thuringiensis ; Citrobacter freundii ; *Coleoptera ; Larva ; *Solanum tuberosum ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We assume that certain representatives of gut microflora mediate immune changes during dysbiosis, accelerating septicemia caused by Bacillus thuringiensis.

RESULTS: Co-introduction of Citrobacter freundii with Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis (morrisoni) (Bt) led to an increase in Colorado potato beetle (CPB) larval mortality to 69.0% (1.3-5×) and a synergistic effect was observed from day 1 to day 6. Ultrathin sections of the CPB midgut showed autophagosome formation and partial destruction of gut microvilli under the influence of Bt, which was accompanied by pronounced hypersecretion of the endoplasmic reticulum with apocrine vesicle formation and oncotic changes in cells under the action of C. freundii. The destruction of gut tissues was accompanied by suppression of detoxification processes under the action of the bacteria and a decrease (2.8-3.5×) in the concentration of lipid oxidation products during Bt infection. In the first hours post combined treatment, we registered a slight increase in the total hemocyte count (THC) especially a predomination (1.4×) of immune-competent plasmatocytes. Oral administration of symbiotic and entomopathogenic bacteria to the CPB larvae significantly decreased the THC (1.4×) after 24 h and increased (1.1-1.5×) the detoxifying enzymes level in the lymph. These changes are likely to be associated with the destruction of hemocytes and the need to remove the toxic products of reactive oxygen species.

CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate that feeding of C. freundii and B. thuringiensis to the CPB larvae is accompanied by tissue changes that significantly affect the cellular and humoral immunity of the insect, increasing its susceptibility to Bt. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid35238079, year = {2023}, author = {Rietmann, SJ and Gäbel, G and Dengler, F}, title = {The intraruminal redox potential is stabilised by opposing influences during fermentation.}, journal = {Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition}, volume = {107}, number = {1}, pages = {53-61}, pmid = {35238079}, issn = {1439-0396}, mesh = {Cattle ; Animals ; Sheep ; *Diet/veterinary ; *Animal Feed/analysis ; Fermentation ; Ruminants ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Rumen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {An optimal fermentation process in the forestomach is pivotal for the wellbeing and performance of ruminants. Complex carbohydrates are broken down into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) which form the major energy source for the animal. A strong interrelationship of this process with intraruminal pH and redox potential (Eh) exists. These parameters can be measured with intraruminal sensors, but the interpretation of the measurements, especially of Eh, and their meaning for intraruminal homeostasis is not completely clear. In this study, factors influencing intraruminal Eh were elucidated. We hypothesised that intraruminal Eh is influenced by the fermentation process as such, but not by its end products SCFA. We measured Eh and pH in ruminal fluid from fasting cannulated sheep after the addition of 0.06 m Na-acetate, -propionate, -butyrate or glucose in vitro. Furthermore, we assessed the interrelation of pH and Eh. Basal Eh and pH values were -120 ± 41 mV and 7.0 ± 0.3, respectively, in native ruminal fluid in vitro. While the addition of SCFA did not induce any changes, glucose addition caused a significant decrease in both pH and Eh compared to the values before the addition (paired Student's t-test, p < 0.05). We attribute the decrease in Eh to an increased production of H2 in the process of generating SCFA, predominantly acetate. By titrating both native and particle-free ruminal fluid to more acidic and basic pH values (4.5-8.5), we found a non-linear inverse correlation of pH and Eh, counteracting the H2 -driven decrease of Eh during fermentation. Thus, the intraruminal Eh is influenced by pH and H2 output during SCFA formation. The opposed character of these factors stabilises the intraruminal homeostasis which might help maintain symbiotic microbiota in the rumen. Understanding, monitoring, and supporting this system will be an essential part of modern cattle production.}, } @article {pmid35235797, year = {2022}, author = {Li, NN and Jiang, S and Lu, KY and Hong, JS and Wang, YB and Yan, JY and Luan, JB}, title = {Bacteriocyte development is sexually differentiated in Bemesia tabaci.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {110455}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110455}, pmid = {35235797}, issn = {2211-1247}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; *Hemiptera/metabolism ; Male ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Some symbiotic microbes are restricted to specialized host cells called bacteriocytes. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of bacteriocytes are largely obscure. We find that maternally inherited bacteriocytes proliferate in adult females but degenerate in adult males of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Single-cell transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry reveal that cell division only occurs in the bacteriocytes of adult females, whereas autophagy and apoptosis are induced in the bacteriocytes of adult males. A transcription factor, Adf-1, enriched in bacteriocytes, is highly expressed in female bacteriocytes relative to male bacteriocytes. Silencing Adf-1 reduces the bacteriocyte number and Portiera titer and activates autophagy and apoptosis in females. The differential dynamics of both cell division and death in bacteriocytes and distinct expression of Adf-1 in bacteriocytes between whitefly sexes underlie the sexual differentiation of bacteriocyte development. Our study reveals that insect sex affects the development of bacteriocytes by cellular and molecular remodeling.}, } @article {pmid35235767, year = {2022}, author = {Venkatesh, N and Greco, C and Drott, MT and Koss, MJ and Ludwikoski, I and Keller, NM and Keller, NP}, title = {Bacterial hitchhikers derive benefits from fungal housing.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {1523-1533.e6}, pmid = {35235767}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {R01 AI150669/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM112739/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; Fungi ; Housing ; *Microbiota ; *Ralstonia solanacearum ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi and bacteria are ubiquitous constituents of all microbiomes, yet mechanisms of microbial persistence in polymicrobial communities remain obscure. Here, we examined the hypothesis that specialized fungal survival structures, chlamydospores, induced by bacterial lipopeptides serve as bacterial reservoirs. We find that symbiotic and pathogenic gram-negative bacteria from non-endosymbiotic taxa enter and propagate in chlamydospores. Internalized bacteria have higher fitness than planktonic bacteria when challenged with abiotic stress. Further, tri-cultures of Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aspergillus flavus reveal the unprecedented finding that chlamydospores are colonized by endofungal bacterial communities. Our work identifies a previously unknown ecological role of chlamydospores, provides an expanded view of microbial niches, and presents significant implications for the persistence of pathogenic and beneficial bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35235457, year = {2022}, author = {Goto, T and Soyano, T and Liu, M and Mori, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Auxin methylation by IAMT1, duplicated in the legume lineage, promotes root nodule development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {10}, pages = {e2116549119}, pmid = {35235457}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Gene Duplication ; Genes, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Methylation ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legumes attract symbiotic bacteria and create de novo root organs called nodules. Nodule development consists of bacterial infection of root epidermis and subsequent primordium formation in root cortex, steps that need to be spatiotemporally coordinated. The Lotus japonicus mutant “daphne ” has uncoupled symbiotic events in epidermis and cortex, in that it promotes excessive bacterial infection in epidermis but does not produce nodule primordia in cortex. Therefore, daphne should be useful for exploring unknown signals that coordinate these events across tissues. Here, we conducted time-course RNA sequencing using daphne after rhizobial infection. We noticed that IAA carboxyl methyltransferase 1 (IAMT1) , which encodes the enzyme that converts auxin (IAA) into its methyl ester (MeIAA), is transiently induced in wild-type roots at early stages of infection but shows different expression dynamics in daphne. IAMT1 serves an important function in shoot development of Arabidopsis, a nonsymbiotic plant, but the function of IAMT1 in roots has not been reported. Phylogenetic tree analysis suggests a gene duplication of IAMT1 in the legume lineage, and we found that one of the two IAMT1s (named IAMT1a) was induced in roots by epidermal infection. IAMT1a knockdown inhibited nodule development in cortex; however, it had no effect on epidermal infection. The amount of root MeIAA increased with rhizobial infection. Application of MeIAA, but not IAA , significantly induced expression of the symbiotic gene NIN in the absence of rhizobial infection. Our results provide evidence for the role of auxin methylation in an early stage of root nodule development.}, } @article {pmid35234495, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, K and Huang, G and Li, Y and Zhang, X and Lei, Y and Li, Y and Xiong, J and Sun, Y}, title = {Illumina MiSeq Sequencing Reveals Correlations among Fruit Ingredients, Environmental Factors, and AMF Communities in Three Lycium Barbarum Producing Regions of China.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e0229321}, pmid = {35234495}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Fruit ; *Glomeromycota ; Humans ; *Lycium/chemistry ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plants ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is important for Lycium barbarum, a highly nutritious and medicinal crop. However, the influence of environmental factors on AMF communities remains largely elusive. Based on MiSeq sequencing, we analyzed AMF communities in rhizosphere soils of L. barbarum with growth synchronization in three typical L. barbarum cultivation sites in China. The Zhongning region has poor soils with a high richness of AMF communities. Geographical environmental variances lead to differences in AMF communities which in turn affects the active ingredients of L. barbarum fruit. Furthermore, different genera of AMF showed significant correlations with environmental factors and fruit ingredients. The three genera, Claroideoglomus, Dominikia, and Funneliformis correlated to environmental factors and fruits ingredients in a similar manner affecting the whole sugar (TS) and flavonoids (FLA) contents in the fruits of L. barbarum. Also, these showed a significantly positive correlation with soil pH. This fact was unknown so far due to different soil acidity/alkalinity in different studies. IMPORTANCE The climatic and ecological environment is a complex phenomenon, involving various environmental factors that regulate the diversity and population distribution structure of AMF communities affecting plant growth, crop composition, and yield. Current studies on the effects of environmental factors on AMF communities have mainly focused on soil conditions and host plants. Fewer studies have been conducted on the correlation between temperature, enzyme activity, plant fruiting, and AMF communities. The present study investigated the diversity of AMF communities and the influence of environmental factors on their distribution patterns, which showed similar effects on some AMF species. The results suggest that screening AMF fungicides that meet the target may significantly help soil restoration reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and a large amount of human and material resources.}, } @article {pmid35233609, year = {2021}, author = {Nobori, T}, title = {Know your appetite: Phosphate-sensing proteins regulate AM symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {3387-3388}, pmid = {35233609}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Appetite ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis ; Medicago ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, } @article {pmid35233600, year = {2021}, author = {Cox, KL}, title = {Nodding on and off: transcription factor cis-elements that regulate nitrate-dependent gene expression for root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {33}, number = {7}, pages = {2101-2103}, pmid = {35233600}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {DNA/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; *Nitrates/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, } @article {pmid35232254, year = {2022}, author = {Ličytė, J and Kvederavičiūtė, K and Rukšėnaitė, A and Godliauskaitė, E and Gibas, P and Tomkutė, V and Petraitytė, G and Masevičius, V and Klimašauskas, S and Kriukienė, E}, title = {Distribution and regulatory roles of oxidized 5-methylcytosines in DNA and RNA of the basidiomycete fungi Laccaria bicolor and Coprinopsis cinerea.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {210302}, pmid = {35232254}, issn = {2046-2441}, mesh = {5-Methylcytosine ; *Agaricales/metabolism ; Animals ; *Basidiomycota/genetics/metabolism ; Cytosine/metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Laccaria ; Mammals ; RNA/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The formation of three oxidative DNA 5-methylcytosine (5mC) modifications (oxi-mCs)-5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC)-by the TET/JBP family of dioxygenases prompted intensive studies of their functional roles in mammalian cells. However, the functional interplay of these less abundant modified nucleotides in other eukaryotic lineages remains poorly understood. We carried out a systematic study of the content and distribution of oxi-mCs in the DNA and RNA of the basidiomycetes Laccaria bicolor and Coprinopsis cinerea, which are established models to study DNA methylation and developmental and symbiotic processes. Quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed persistent but uneven occurrences of 5hmC, 5fC and 5caC in the DNA and RNA of the two organisms, which could be upregulated by vitamin C. 5caC in RNA (5carC) was predominantly found in non-ribosomal RNA, which potentially includes non-coding, messenger and small RNA species. Genome-wide mapping of 5hmC and 5fC using the single CG analysis techniques hmTOP-seq and foTOP-seq pointed at involvement of oxi-mCs in the regulation of gene expression and silencing of transposable elements. The implicated diverse roles of 5mC and oxi-mCs in the two fungi highlight the epigenetic importance of the latter modifications, which are often neglected in standard whole-genome bisulfite analyses.}, } @article {pmid35229443, year = {2022}, author = {Ashraf, HJ and Ramos Aguila, LC and Akutse, KS and Ilyas, M and Abbasi, A and Li, X and Wang, L}, title = {Comparative microbiome analysis of Diaphorina citri and its associated parasitoids Tamarixia radiata and Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis reveals Wolbachia as a dominant endosymbiont.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {1638-1652}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15948}, pmid = {35229443}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Citrus/microbiology ; *Hemiptera/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Wasps ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Microbiome analysis in a host-parasitoid interaction network was conducted to compare the taxonomic composition of bacterial communities of Diaphornia citri, Tamarixia radiata, and Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis. The comparative analysis revealed differences in the composition and diversity of the symbiont populations across the host and its associated parasitoids. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum, representing 67.80% of the total bacterial community, while Candidatus Profftella armature and Wolbachia were the dominant genera across the host and parasitoids. There were clear differences observed in alpha and beta diversity of microbiota through the host and its associated parasitoids. The function prediction of bacterial communities and Pearson correlation analysis showed that specific bacterial communities displayed positive correlations with the carbohydrate metabolism pathway. Furthermore, when symbiotic bacteria were eliminated using a broad-spectrum antibiotic, tetracycline hydrochloride, the parasitoids' median survival time and longevity were significantly reduced. We confirmed the physiological effects of symbiotic bacteria on the fitness of parasitoids and demonstrated the effect of antibiotics in decreasing the food intake and measurement of amino acids in the hemolymph. This study sheds light on basic information about the mutualism between parasitoids and bacteria, which may be a potential source for biocontrol strategies for citrus psyllid, especially D. citri.}, } @article {pmid35229422, year = {2022}, author = {Taylor, JA and Díez-Vives, C and Nielsen, S and Wemheuer, B and Thomas, T}, title = {Communality in microbial stress response and differential metabolic interactions revealed by time-series analysis of sponge symbionts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {2299-2314}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15962}, pmid = {35229422}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The diversity and function of sponge-associated symbionts is now increasingly understood; however, we lack an understanding of how they dynamically behave to ensure holobiont stability in the face of environmental variation. Here, we performed a metatransciptomic analysis on three microbial symbionts of the sponge Cymbastela concentrica in situ over 14 months and through differential gene expression and correlation analysis to environmental variables uncovered differences that speak to their metabolic activities and level of symbiotic and environmental interactions. The nitrite-oxidizing Ca. Porinitrospira cymbastela maintained a seemingly stable metabolism, with the few differentially expressed genes related only to stress responses. The heterotrophic Ca. Porivivens multivorans displayed differential use of holobiont-derived compounds and respiration modes, while the ammonium-oxidizing archaeon Ca. Nitrosopumilus cymbastelus differentially expressed genes related to phosphate metabolism and symbiosis effectors. One striking similarity between the symbionts was their similar variation in expression of stress-related genes. Our time-series study showed that the microbial community of C. concentrica undertakes dynamic gene expression adjustments in response to the surroundings, tuned to deal with general stress and metabolic interactions between holobiont members. The success of these dynamic adjustments likely underpins the stability of the sponge holobiont and may provide resilience against environmental change.}, } @article {pmid35228912, year = {2022}, author = {Nanjareddy, K and Zepeda-Jazo, I and Arthikala, MK}, title = {A protocol for the generation of Arachis hypogaea composite plants: A valuable tool for the functional study of mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e11454}, pmid = {35228912}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE: Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced hairy root systems are one of the most preferred and versatile systems for the functional characterization of genes. The use of hairy root systems is a rapid and convenient alternative for studying root biology, biotic and abiotic stresses, and root symbiosis in in vitro recalcitrant legume species such as Arachis hypogaea.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We present a rapid, simplified method for the generation of composite A. hypogaea plants with transgenic hairy roots. We demonstrate a technique of hairy root induction mediated by A. rhizogenes from young A. hypogaea shoots. The efficacy of the system for producing transgenic roots is demonstrated using an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression vector. Furthermore, the application of the system for studying root branching is shown using the auxin-responsive marker DR5 promoter fused to β-glucuronidase (GUS). Finally, the success of the hairy root system for root symbiotic studies is illustrated by inoculating hairy roots with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we have developed a rapid, efficient, and cost-effective composite plant protocol for A. hypogaea that is particularly effective for root-related studies and for the validation of candidate genes in A. hypogaea during mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35228910, year = {2022}, author = {Eisenhofer, R and D'Agnese, E and Taggart, D and Carver, S and Penrose, B}, title = {Microbial biogeography of the wombat gastrointestinal tract.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e12982}, pmid = {35228910}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Tract ; Feces/chemistry ; *Marsupialia ; Colon ; }, abstract = {Most herbivorous mammals have symbiotic microbes living in their gastrointestinal tracts that help with harvesting energy from recalcitrant plant fibre. The bulk of research into these microorganisms has focused on samples collected from faeces, representing the distal region of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, the GI tract in herbivorous mammals is typically long and complex, containing different regions with distinct physico-chemical properties that can structure resident microbial communities. Little work has been done to document GI microbial communities of herbivorous animals at these sites. In this study, we use 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the microbial biogeography along the GI tract in two species of wombats. Specifically, we survey the microbes along four major gut regions (stomach, small intestine, proximal colon, distal colon) in a single bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) and a single southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Our preliminary results show that GI microbial communities of wombats are structured by GI region. For both wombat individuals, we observed a trend of increasing microbial diversity from stomach to distal colon. The microbial composition in the first proximal colon region was more similar between wombat species than the corresponding distal colon region in the same species. We found several microbial genera that were differentially abundant between the first proximal colon (putative site for primary plant fermentation) and distal colon regions (which resemble faecal samples). Surprisingly, only 10.6% (98) and 18.8% (206) of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were shared between the first proximal colon region and the distal colon region for the bare-nosed and southern hairy-nosed wombat, respectively. These results suggest that microbial communities in the first proximal colon region-the putative site of primary plant fermentation in wombats-are distinct from the distal colon, and that faecal samples may have limitations in capturing the diversity of these communities. While faeces are still a valuable and effective means of characterising the distal colon microbiota, future work seeking to better understand how GI microbiota impact the energy economy of wombats (and potentially other hindgut-fermenting mammals) may need to take gut biogeography into account.}, } @article {pmid35228905, year = {2022}, author = {Cortés-Carrasco, F and Elías-Gutiérrez, M and García-Madrigal, MDS}, title = {Holothuriophilus trapeziformis Nauck, 1880 (Decapoda: Pinnotheridae) from the Pacific coast of Mexico: taxonomic revision based on integrative taxonomy.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e12774}, pmid = {35228905}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; Male ; Mexico ; *Holothuria ; Chile ; Seafood ; *Cypriniformes ; *Decapoda ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Holothuriophilus trapeziformis Nauck, 1880 is a holothurian-dweller pinnotherid crab representing one of the two species of the genus distributed along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Chile, respectively. While the parasitic ecological interaction with its host is well established, the morphology of the male remains unknown, and DNA information for the species is not available. Furthermore, the only morphological trait separating both species of the genus is subjective and corresponds to the presence or absence of a gap between the fingers of the chelae. Our goal is to complete and clarify the taxonomic status of H. trapeziformis and describe the male morphology with the use of the integrative taxonomy, providing additional characters to differentiate this species.

METHODS: We collected new biological material in the Pacific coast of Mexico including the topotypes. We also reviewed material from national collections to integrate morphology (based on a complete and detailed description and illustration of the species using light microscopy), ecological data (based on the identification of the host and the place where it was located within the host), and the mtCOI gene information (commonly known as DNA barcode) to differentiate Holothuriophilus trapeziformis from other related crabs.

RESULTS: This species presents marked sexual dimorphism only in the primary sexual characters. For the first time we describe morphological variability of traditionally stable characters. In addition to the gap between the fingers of the chelae, Holothuriophilus trapeziformis differs from H. pacificus (Poeppig, 1836) by their ornamentation, the shape of the male abdomen, and the gonopod. Cytocrome Oxidase 1 gene (COI) distance divergence was >3% between both Holothuriophilus species forming a clear clade. DNA barcoding indicates only one taxon, with a maximum divergence of 2.2%. All the specimens have the same Barcode Index Number (BIN; BOLD: ADE9974). All the hosts for H. trapeziformis were identified as Holothuria (Halodeima) inornata Semper, 1868; the presence of the crab in the host's coelomic cavity was confirmed, and for the first time we found it within the intestine. The geographical distribution is the Pacific coast of Mexico. Based on the data presented here, the taxonomic status of Holothuriophilus trapeziformis is now complete.}, } @article {pmid35228034, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, LH and Ning, J and Bao, WL and Yan, A and Yin, QR}, title = {A study on the marine ecological security assessment of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {113416}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113416}, pmid = {35228034}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {China ; Cities ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Hong Kong ; Macau ; *Marine Biology ; }, abstract = {The construction of world-class Bay makes the marine ecology in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area in risk. Based on the DPSIR index framework, Lotka-Volterra symbiosis model is applied to calculate symbiosis degree between coastal socio-economic system and marine ecosystem in 9 coastal cities. It is found that the marine ecological pressure in this area have not been reversed in recent 20 years. Most cities are in the stage that socio-economic development and marine ecological damage coexist. In Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan and Zhongshan, the damaged marine ecology has begun to restrain the further expansion of economy and society. The massive population agglomeration in Hong Kong, Macao and other places has caused serious marine ecological stress. It is urgent to improve the marine ecological security by cultivating ecological industrial system and industrial clusters, establishing a land-sea ecological restoration, promoting joint-protection and co-governance across different administrative regions.}, } @article {pmid35228031, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, C and Ma, Y and Wang, D and Shan, Y and Song, X and Hu, H and Ren, X and Ma, X and Luo, J and Cui, J and Ma, Y}, title = {Microbiology combined with metabonomics revealing the response of soil microorganisms and their metabolic functions exposed to phthalic acid esters.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {233}, number = {}, pages = {113338}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113338}, pmid = {35228031}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Dibutyl Phthalate/toxicity ; Esters ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; *Phthalic Acids/toxicity ; Plastics ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {As microplastics became the focus of global attention, the hazards of plastic plasticizers (PAEs) have gradually attracted people's attention. Agricultural soil is one of its hardest hit areas. However, current research of its impact on soil ecology only stops at the microorganism itself, and there is still lack of conclusion on the impact of soil metabolism. To this end, three most common PAEs (Dimethyl phthalate: DMP, Dibutyl phthalate: DBP and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate: DEHP) were selected and based on high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics platforms, the influence of PAEs residues on soil metabolic functions were revealed for the first time. PAEs did not significantly changed the alpha diversity of soil bacteria in the short term, but changed their community structure and interfered with the complexity of community symbiosis network. Metabolomics indicated that exposure to DBP can significantly change the soil metabolite profile. A total of 172 differential metabolites were found, of which 100 were up-regulated and 72 were down-regulated. DBP treatment interfered with 43 metabolic pathways including basic metabolic processes. In particular, it interfered with the metabolism of residual steroids and promoted the metabolism of various plasticizers. In addition, through differential labeling and collinear analysis, some bacteria with the degradation potential of PAEs, such as Gordonia, were excavated.}, } @article {pmid35226151, year = {2022}, author = {Suzuki, M and Shimizu-Hirota, R and Mita, M and Hamase, K and Sasabe, J}, title = {Chiral resolution of plasma amino acids reveals enantiomer-selective associations with organ functions.}, journal = {Amino acids}, volume = {54}, number = {3}, pages = {421-432}, pmid = {35226151}, issn = {1438-2199}, mesh = {*Alanine ; *Amino Acids ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Humans ; Proline ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {Plasma amino acids reflect the dynamics of amino acids in organs and their levels have clinical significance. Amino acids as clinical indicators have been evaluated as a mixture of D- and L-amino acids because D-enantiomers are believed to be physiologically nonexistent. However, it has become clear that some D-amino acids are synthesized by endogenous enzymes and symbiotic bacteria. Here, using a two-dimensional HPLC system, we measured enantiomers of all proteinogenic amino acids in plasma and urine and analyzed for correlation with other biochemical parameters in humans who underwent health checkups at our institutional hospital. Four D-amino acids (D-asparagine, D-alanine, D-serine, and D-proline) were detected in the plasma, amounting to less than 1% of the quantities of L-amino acids, but in the urine at several tens of percent, showing that D-amino acids have much higher fractional excretion than their L-counterparts. Detected plasma D-amino acids and D-/L-amino acid ratios were well correlated with renal parameters, such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and cystatin C. On the other hand, a set of plasma L-amino acids were associated with body mass index and correlated with metabolic parameters such as liver enzymes, lipids, blood glucose, and uric acid. Thus, chiral resolution of plasma amino acids revealed totally different associations of the enantiomers with organ functions, and warrants further investigation for clinical and laboratory usefulness.}, } @article {pmid35226102, year = {2022}, author = {Frungillo, L}, title = {Getting to the root of nodulation: how legumes and rhizobia use nitrate uptake to control symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {1443-1444}, pmid = {35226102}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35225668, year = {2022}, author = {Vladimirova, ME and Muntyan, VS and Afonin, AM and Muntyan, AN and Baturina, OA and Dzuybenko, EA and Saksaganskaya, AS and Simarov, BV and Roumiantseva, ML and Kabilov, MR}, title = {Complete Genome of Sinorhizobium meliloti AK76, a Symbiont of Wild Diploid Medicago lupulina from the Mugodgary Mountain Region.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0108821}, pmid = {35225668}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a symbiotic bacterial species forming nitrogen-fixing nodules on roots of annual and perennial Medicago spp. We report the full genome sequence of S. meliloti strain AK76, an effective symbiont of the wild diploid plant Medicago lupulina grown in the Mugodgary Mountain region, Kazakhstan.}, } @article {pmid35225336, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, H and Genot, B and Duhamel, S and Kerney, R and Burns, JA}, title = {Organismal and cellular interactions in vertebrate-alga symbioses.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {609-620}, doi = {10.1042/BST20210153}, pmid = {35225336}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota/physiology ; Mammals ; Photosynthesis ; *Plants ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {Photosymbioses, intimate interactions between photosynthetic algal symbionts and heterotrophic hosts, are well known in invertebrate and protist systems. Vertebrate animals are an exception where photosynthetic microorganisms are not often considered part of the normal vertebrate microbiome, with a few exceptions in amphibian eggs. Here, we review the breadth of vertebrate diversity and explore where algae have taken hold in vertebrate fur, on vertebrate surfaces, in vertebrate tissues, and within vertebrate cells. We find that algae have myriad partnerships with vertebrate animals, from fishes to mammals, and that those symbioses range from apparent mutualisms to commensalisms to parasitisms. The exception in vertebrates, compared with other groups of eukaryotes, is that intracellular mutualisms and commensalisms with algae or other microbes are notably rare. We currently have no clear cell-in-cell (endosymbiotic) examples of a trophic mutualism in any vertebrate, while there is a broad diversity of such interactions in invertebrate animals and protists. This functional divergence in vertebrate symbioses may be related to vertebrate physiology or a byproduct of our adaptive immune system. Overall, we see that diverse algae are part of the vertebrate microbiome, broadly, with numerous symbiotic interactions occurring across all vertebrate and many algal clades. These interactions are being studied for their ecological, organismal, and cellular implications. This synthesis of vertebrate-algal associations may prove useful for the development of novel therapeutics: pairing algae with medical devices, tissue cultures, and artificial ecto- and endosymbioses.}, } @article {pmid35224464, year = {2022}, author = {Garg, P and Tan, CH and Sternberg, PW}, title = {DiI staining of sensory neurons in the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum.}, journal = {microPublication biology}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35224464}, issn = {2578-9430}, abstract = {Steinernema hermaphroditum entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and their Xenorhabdus griffiniae symbiotic bacteria have recently been shown to be a genetically tractable system for the study of both parasitic and mutualistic symbiosis. In their infective juvenile (IJ) stage, EPNs search for insect hosts to invade and quickly kill them with the help of the symbiotic bacteria they contain. The mechanisms behind these behaviors have not been well characterized, including how the nematodes sense their insect hosts. In the well-studied free‑living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, ciliated amphid neurons enable the worms to sense their environment, including chemosensation. Some of these neurons have also been shown to control the decision to develop as a stress-resistant dauer larva, analogous to the infective juveniles of EPNs, or to exit from dauer and resume larval development. In C. elegans and other nematodes, dye-filling with DiI is an easy and efficient method to label these neurons. We developed a protocol for DiI staining of S. hermaphroditum sensory neurons. Using this method, we could identify neurons positionally analogous to the C. elegans amphid neurons ASI, ADL, ASK, ASJ, as well as inner labial neurons IL1 and IL2. Similar to findings in other EPNs, we also found that the IJs of S. hermaphroditum are dye-filling resistant.}, } @article {pmid35224074, year = {2021}, author = {Rafiq, K and Tofazzal Hossain, M and Ahmed, R and Hasan, MM and Islam, R and Hossen, MI and Shaha, SN and Islam, MR}, title = {Role of Different Growth Enhancers as Alternative to In-feed Antibiotics in Poultry Industry.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {794588}, pmid = {35224074}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {The poultry industry has grown so fast alongside the irrational use of antibiotics to maximize profit and make the production cost-effective during the last few decades. The rising and indiscriminate use of antibiotics might result in the deposition of residues in poultry food products and in the development of resistance to these drugs by microorganisms. Therefore, many diseases are becoming difficult to treat both in humans and animals. In addition, the use of low-dose antibiotics as growth enhancer results in antibiotic residues in food products, which have detrimental effects on human health. On the other hand, many studies have shown that antibiotics administered to poultry and livestock are poorly absorbed through the gut and usually excreted without metabolism. These excreted antibiotics eventually accumulate in the environment and enter the human food chain, resulting in the bioaccumulation of drug residues in the human body. In this regard, to find out alternatives is of paramount importance for the production of safe meat and egg. Therefore, in recent years, much research attention was disarticulated toward the exploration for alternatives to antibiotic as in-feed growth enhancers after its ban by the EU. As a result, probiotics, prebiotics, phytobiotics, spirulina, symbiotic, and their combination are being used more frequently in poultry production. Feed additives therefore gained popularity in poultry production by having many advantages but without any residues in poultry products. In addition, numerous studies demonstrating that such biological supplements compete with antimicrobial resistance have been conducted. Therefore, the purpose of this review article was to highlight the advantages of using biological products instead of antibiotics as poultry in-feed growth enhancers to enhance the production performance, reduce intestinal pathogenic bacteria, and maintain gut health, potentiating the immune response, safety, and wholesomeness of meat and eggs as evidence of consumer protection, as well as to improve the safety of poultry products for human consumption.}, } @article {pmid35223833, year = {2022}, author = {Chowdhury, A and Witte, S and Aich, A}, title = {Role of Mitochondrial Nucleic Acid Sensing Pathways in Health and Patho-Physiology.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {796066}, pmid = {35223833}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Mitochondria, in symbiosis with the host cell, carry out a wide variety of functions from generating energy, regulating the metabolic processes, cell death to inflammation. The most prominent function of mitochondria relies on the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. OXPHOS heavily influences the mitochondrial-nuclear communication through a plethora of interconnected signaling pathways. Additionally, owing to the bacterial ancestry, mitochondria also harbor a large number of Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs). These molecules relay the information about the state of the mitochondrial health and dysfunction to the innate immune system. Consequently, depending on the intracellular or extracellular nature of detection, different inflammatory pathways are elicited. One group of DAMPs, the mitochondrial nucleic acids, hijack the antiviral DNA or RNA sensing mechanisms such as the cGAS/STING and RIG-1/MAVS pathways. A pro-inflammatory response is invoked by these signals predominantly through type I interferon (T1-IFN) cytokines. This affects a wide range of organ systems which exhibit clinical presentations of auto-immune disorders. Interestingly, tumor cells too, have devised ingenious ways to use the mitochondrial DNA mediated cGAS-STING-IRF3 response to promote neoplastic transformations and develop tumor micro-environments. Thus, mitochondrial nucleic acid-sensing pathways are fundamental in understanding the source and nature of disease initiation and development. Apart from the pathological interest, recent studies also attempt to delineate the structural considerations for the release of nucleic acids across the mitochondrial membranes. Hence, this review presents a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of mitochondrial nucleic acid-sensing. It attempts to summarize the nature of the molecular patterns involved, their release and recognition in the cytoplasm and signaling. Finally, a major emphasis is given to elaborate the resulting patho-physiologies.}, } @article {pmid35222085, year = {2022}, author = {Cotinat, P and Fricano, C and Toullec, G and Röttinger, E and Barnay-Verdier, S and Furla, P}, title = {Intrinsically High Capacity of Animal Cells From a Symbiotic Cnidarian to Deal With Pro-Oxidative Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {819111}, pmid = {35222085}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis is a mutualistic intracellular association based on the photosynthetic activity of the endosymbiont. This relationship involves significant constraints and requires co-evolution processes, such as an extensive capacity of the holobiont to counteract pro-oxidative conditions induced by hyperoxia generated during photosynthesis. In this study, we analyzed the capacity of Anemonia viridis cells to deal with pro-oxidative conditions by in vivo and in vitro approaches. Whole specimens and animal primary cell cultures were submitted to 200 and 500 μM of H2O2 during 7 days. Then, we monitored global health parameters (symbiotic state, viability, and cell growth) and stress biomarkers (global antioxidant capacity, oxidative protein damages, and protein ubiquitination). In animal primary cell cultures, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also evaluated under H2O2 treatments. At the whole organism scale, both H2O2 concentrations didn't affect the survival and animal tissues exhibited a high resistance to H2O2 treatments. Moreover, no bleaching has been observed, even at high H2O2 concentration and after long exposure (7 days). Although, the community has suggested the role of ROS as the cause of bleaching, our results indicating the absence of bleaching under high H2O2 concentration may exculpate this specific ROS from being involved in the molecular processes inducing bleaching. However, counterintuitively, the symbiont compartment appeared sensitive to an H2O2 burst as it displayed oxidative protein damages, despite an enhancement of antioxidant capacity. The in vitro assays allowed highlighting an intrinsic high capacity of isolated animal cells to deal with pro-oxidative conditions, although we observed differences on tolerance between H2O2 treatments. The 200 μM H2O2 concentration appeared to correspond to the tolerance threshold of animal cells. Indeed, no disequilibrium on redox state was observed and only a cell growth decrease was measured. Contrarily, the 500 μM H2O2 concentration induced a stress state, characterized by a cell viability decrease from 1 day and a drastic cell growth arrest after 7 days leading to an uncomplete recovery after treatment. In conclusion, this study highlights the overall high capacity of cnidarian cells to cope with H2O2 and opens new perspective to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in this peculiar resistance.}, } @article {pmid35220470, year = {2022}, author = {Srivastava, R and Roychowdhury, A and Kumar, R}, title = {Host SPX-PHR regulatory circuit: the molecular dynamo steering mycorrhization in plants.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {1329-1332}, pmid = {35220470}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {We highlight the newly emerged roles of plant SPX-PHR proteins beyond phosphate starvation responses in controlling arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization success in roots.}, } @article {pmid35220426, year = {2022}, author = {Shah, PA and Govindarajan, V and Rangaiah, A and Diggikar, S and Devadas, S and Chunchanur, SK and Shankar, SM and Das, S and Kariyappa, M}, title = {Mycobacterium Species on the Cutaneous Microbiome of Very Preterm Neonates.}, journal = {Journal of tropical pediatrics}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/tropej/fmac020}, pmid = {35220426}, issn = {1465-3664}, mesh = {Child ; Humans ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; *Kangaroo-Mother Care Method ; *Microbiota ; *Mycobacterium ; }, abstract = {The neonatal skin microbiome consists of all the genomes and genetic products of microorganisms harboring on an infant's skin. Host and the microbiota develop a harmonious environment resulting in symbiosis. Any disruption of this environment could lead to pathological disease. This study was conducted to understand the neonatal skin microbiome of very preterm neonates (under 32 weeks) admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU) at a tertiary healthcare setting before and after kangaroo mother care (KMC), using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Skin swabs were collected on two different occasions and analyzed using the NGS technique after amplification via polymerase chain reaction. The results showed relative abundance for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 83.33% and 66.67% (p = 0.29) and Mycobacteroides abscessus in 100% and 93.33% (p = 0.30) of the very preterm neonates on the skin microbiome before and after KMC, respectively as an incidental finding. The mere presence of these bacilli as commensals or as potential pathogens is alarming due to the risk of early exposure and incidence of tuberculosis from birth. These findings, in our view, are the first findings to be established in such a setting.}, } @article {pmid35220065, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, B and Wu, L and Shi, W and Zhang, Z and Lens, PNL}, title = {A novel strategy for rapid development of a self-sustaining symbiotic algal-bacterial granular sludge: Applying algal-mycelial pellets as nuclei.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {214}, number = {}, pages = {118210}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2022.118210}, pmid = {35220065}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) is a promising technology for wastewater treatment, benefiting from the synergetic interactions between algae and bacteria. However, the rapid start-up of the ABGS system is not trivial. Herein, a novel strategy was proposed by applying the algal-mycelial pellets (AMPs) as the primary nuclei for accelerating the development of a self-sustaining symbiotic ABGS system. The results indicated that by using this strategy complete granulation was shortened to 12 days, much shorter than the control system without AMPs dosage (28 days). The ABGS had a large particle diameter (3.3 mm), compact granular structure (1.0253 g/mL), and excellent settleability (SVI30 of 53.2 mL/g). Moreover, 98.6% of COD, 80.8% of TN and 80.0% of PO4[3-]-P were removed by the ABGS. The nuclei of targeted algae (Chlorella) and filamentous fungi (Aspergillus niger), the enhanced production of extracellular polymeric substances (especially proteins) and the enrichment of functional bacteria (such as Neomegalonema and Flavobacterium) facilitated the granules development. The low surface free energy (-69.56 mJ/m[2]) and energy barrier (89.93 KT) were the inherent mechanisms for the strong surface hydrophobicity, the easy bacterial adhesion, and the short granulation period. This study provides an economically feasible approach to accelerate ABGS granulation and sustain system stability.}, } @article {pmid35218937, year = {2022}, author = {Kanwal, JK and Parker, J}, title = {The neural basis of interspecies interactions in insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {100891}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2022.100891}, pmid = {35218937}, issn = {2214-5753}, support = {R34 NS118470/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brain ; *Insecta/physiology ; *Nervous System ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {As insects move through the world, they continuously engage in behavioral interactions with other species. These interactions take on a spectrum of forms, from inconsequential encounters to predation, defense, and specialized symbiotic partnerships. All such interactions rely on sensorimotor pathways that carry out efficient categorization of different organisms and enact behaviors that cross species boundaries. Despite the universality of interspecies interactions, how insect brains perceive and process salient features of other species remains unexplored. Here, we present an overview of major questions concerning the neurobiology and evolution of behavioral interactions between species, providing a framework for future research on this critical role of the insect nervous system.}, } @article {pmid35218585, year = {2022}, author = {Scarpellini, E and Balsiger, LM and Maurizi, V and Rinninella, E and Gasbarrini, A and Giostra, N and Santori, P and Abenavoli, L and Rasetti, C}, title = {Zinc and gut microbiota in health and gastrointestinal disease under the COVID-19 suggestion.}, journal = {BioFactors (Oxford, England)}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {294-306}, pmid = {35218585}, issn = {1872-8081}, mesh = {*COVID-19 ; *Gastrointestinal Diseases ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Immunity ; Zinc/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Microelements represent an emerging resource for medicine and its preventive branch. Zinc is the second most abundant element in our organism with peculiar physiologic functions and pathophysiologic implications in systemic and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. It interacts very often with gut microbiota (GM) and can affect natural course of GI diseases through a bidirectional relationship with intestinal bugs. We aimed to review literature data regarding zinc chemistry, role in health, and GI diseases in man with a special focus on its interaction with GM. We conducted a search on the main medical databases for original articles, reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials and case series using the following keywords and acronyms and their associations: zinc, microelements, gut microbiota, gut health, and COVID-19. Zinc has a rapid and simple metabolism and limited storage within our body. Its efficacy on immune system modulation reflects on improved response to pathogens, reduced inflammatory response, and improved atopic/allergic reactions. Zinc is also involved in cell cycle regulation (namely, apoptosis) with potential anti-cancerogenic effects. All these effects are in a "symbiotic" relationship with GM. Finally, zinc shows preliminary viral antireplicative effects. Zinc seems to gain more and more evidences on its efficacy in allergic, atopic and infectious diseases treatment, and prevention. COVID-19 can be the booster for research on future applications of zinc as perfect "postbiotic" in medicine.}, } @article {pmid35218311, year = {2022}, author = {Hwang, G}, title = {In it together: Candida-bacterial oral biofilms and therapeutic strategies.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {183-196}, pmid = {35218311}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {R01 DE027970/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biofilms ; *Candida ; Candida albicans ; *Dental Caries ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Under natural environmental settings or in the human body, the majority of microorganisms exist in complex polymicrobial biofilms adhered to abiotic and biotic surfaces. These microorganisms exhibit symbiotic, mutualistic, synergistic, or antagonistic relationships with other species during biofilm colonization and development. These polymicrobial interactions are heterogeneous, complex and hard to control, thereby often yielding worse outcomes than monospecies infections. Concerning fungi, Candida spp., in particular, Candida albicans is often detected with various bacterial species in oral biofilms. These Candida-bacterial interactions may induce the transition of C. albicans from commensal to pathobiont or dysbiotic organism. Consequently, Candida-bacterial interactions are largely associated with various oral diseases, including dental caries, denture stomatitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and oral cancer. Given the severity of oral diseases caused by cross-kingdom consortia that develop hard-to-remove and highly drug-resistant biofilms, fundamental research is warranted to strategically develop cost-effective and safe therapies to prevent and treat cross-kingdom interactions and subsequent biofilm development. While studies have shed some light, targeting fungal-involved polymicrobial biofilms has been limited. This mini-review outlines the key features of Candida-bacterial interactions and their impact on various oral diseases. In addition, current knowledge on therapeutic strategies to target Candida-bacterial polymicrobial biofilms is discussed.}, } @article {pmid35218016, year = {2022}, author = {Kajihara, KT and Egan, CP and Swift, SOI and Wall, CB and Muir, CD and Hynson, NA}, title = {Core arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are predicted by their high abundance-occupancy relationship while host-specific taxa are rare and geographically structured.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {4}, pages = {1464-1476}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18058}, pmid = {35218016}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Forests ; Fungi ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Habitat restoration may depend on the recovery of plant microbial symbionts such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but this requires a better understanding of the rules that govern their community assembly. We examined the interactions of soil and host-associated AM fungal communities between remnant and restored patches of subtropical montane forests. While AM fungal richness did not differ between habitat types, community membership did and was influenced by geography, habitat and host. These differences were largely driven by rare host-specific AM fungi that displayed near-complete turnover between forest types, while core AM fungal taxa were highly abundant and ubiquitous. The bipartite networks in the remnant forest were more specialized and hosts more specific than in the restored forest. Host-associated AM fungal communities nested within soil communities in both habitats, but only significantly so in the restored forest. Our results provide evidence that restored and remnant forests harbour the same core fungal symbionts, while rare host-specific taxa differ, and that geography, host identity and taxonomic resolution strongly affect the observed distribution patterns of these fungi. We suggest that host-specific interactions with AM fungi, as well as spatial processes, should be explicitly considered to effectively re-establish target host and symbiont communities.}, } @article {pmid35217162, year = {2022}, author = {Li, S and Chu, Y and Xie, P and Xie, Y and Chang, H and Ho, SH}, title = {Insights into the microalgae-bacteria consortia treating swine wastewater: Symbiotic mechanism and resistance genes analysis.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {349}, number = {}, pages = {126892}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126892}, pmid = {35217162}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Chlorella ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microalgae/genetics ; Swine ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the effects of microalgae-bacteria consortia (MBC) (Chlorella pyrenoidosa-activated sludge (AS)) treating swine wastewater with low C/N ratios. After co-culture, the removal rates of NH4[+]-N and PO4[3-]-P increased by 53.84% and 43.52%. Furthermore, the sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation rates in MBC were slightly higher than in the activated sludge process. Interestingly, the absolute abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in effluent from MBC is relatively less than in the AS process. C. pyrenoidosa has a negative zeta potential that allows bacteria to adhere to its surface. The concentrations of carbohydrates and proteins in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of MBC dramatically increased compared with the AS process. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Cyanobacteria were the main bacteria, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the primary fungi in MBC. Overall, those findings lead to a better understanding of the swine wastewater containing antibiotic treatment by MBC.}, } @article {pmid35217030, year = {2022}, author = {Bhattacherjee, R and De, S and Sharma, G and Ghosh, S and Mishra, S and Suman, DS and Banerjee, D}, title = {Prevalence of mouthpart sensilla and protease producing symbiotic gut bacteria in the forensic fly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794): Insight from foraging to digestion.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {229}, number = {}, pages = {106380}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106380}, pmid = {35217030}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Calliphoridae ; Digestion ; *Diptera ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Prevalence ; *Sensilla ; }, abstract = {The blow fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) is a globally prevalent forensically important species that helps to estimate accurate postmortem interval since the death. This fly occasionally causes cutaneous myiasis and transmits several pathogenic bacteria. To understand their ability of corpse detection and digestion of protein-rich meal, the present study describes the mouthpart sensilla and assessment of protease producing symbiotic gut bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the prevalence of trichoid sensilla (Tr), basiconic sensilla (Ba) and microtrichia (Mr) on labellar lobes, haustellum and maxillary palps of mouthparts. Bacterial particles of both rod (small and large) and spherical shaped were detected in the gut of C. megacephala using SEM. The bacterial density was higher on the foregut and midgut in comparison to the hindgut. From 72 bacterial isolates, 10 isolates from the foregut region showed considerable protease-producing efficacy ranging between 3.98 - 6.83 GHR and 9.73 - 34.68 U/ml protease. Among these, the most promising protease-producing bacterial isolate showed 16S rDNA sequence similarity (99.85%) with Chryseobacterium artocarpi DNA. This bacterium was the first report from flies. The findings of the study might help in better understanding of the role of sensilla in host perception and foregut symbiotic bacterial association in protein digestion in C. megacephala.}, } @article {pmid35216519, year = {2022}, author = {Bennett, AE and Groten, K}, title = {The Costs and Benefits of Plant-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Interactions.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {73}, number = {}, pages = {649-672}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-102820-124504}, pmid = {35216519}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Cost-Benefit Analysis ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is often perceived as beneficial for both partners, though a large ecological literature highlights the context dependency of this interaction. Changes in abiotic variables, such as nutrient availability, can drive the interaction along the mutualism-parasitism continuum with variable outcomes for plant growth and fitness. However, AM fungi can benefit plants in more ways than improved phosphorus nutrition and plant growth. For example, AM fungi can promote abiotic and biotic stress tolerance even when considered parasitic from a nutrient provision perspective. Other than being obligate biotrophs, very little is known about the benefits AM fungi gain from plants. In this review, we utilize both molecular biology and ecological approaches to expand our understanding of the plant-AM fungal interaction across disciplines.}, } @article {pmid35214847, year = {2022}, author = {Amine-Khodja, IR and Boscari, A and Riah, N and Kechid, M and Maougal, RT and Belbekri, N and Djekoun, A}, title = {Impact of Two Strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum on the Adaptation to Terminal Water Deficit of Two Cultivars Vicia faba.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35214847}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Drought stress has become one of the most uncontrolled and unpredictable constraints on crop production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of two different Rhizobium leguminosarum strains on terminal drought tolerance induction in two faba bean genotypes cultivated in Algeria, Aquadulce and Maltais. To this end, we measured physiological parameters-osmoprotectants accumulation, oxidative stress markers and enzyme activities-to assess the effect of R. leguminosarum inoculation on V. faba under terminal water deficiency conditions in greenhouse trials. Upregulation of anti-oxidative mechanisms and production of compatible solutes were found differentially activated according to Rhizobium strain. Drought stress resilience of the Maltais variety was improved using the local Rhizobium strain OL13 compared to the common strain 3841. Symbiosis with OL13 strain leads in particular to a much better production of proline and soluble sugar in nodules but also in roots and leaves of Maltais plant. Even if additional work is still necessary to decipher the mechanism by which a Rhizobium strain can affect the accumulation of osmoprotectants or cellular redox status in all the plants, inoculation with selected Rhizobium could be a promising strategy for improving water stress management in the forthcoming era of climate change.}, } @article {pmid35214574, year = {2022}, author = {Zubair, AA and Razak, SA and Ngadi, MA and Al-Dhaqm, A and Yafooz, WMS and Emara, AM and Saad, A and Al-Aqrabi, H}, title = {A Cloud Computing-Based Modified Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm (AI) for Optimal Task Scheduling.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35214574}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; *Cloud Computing ; Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The search algorithm based on symbiotic organisms' interactions is a relatively recent bio-inspired algorithm of the swarm intelligence field for solving numerical optimization problems. It is meant to optimize applications based on the simulation of the symbiotic relationship among the distinct species in the ecosystem. The task scheduling problem is NP complete, which makes it hard to obtain a correct solution, especially for large-scale tasks. This paper proposes a modified symbiotic organisms search-based scheduling algorithm for the efficient mapping of heterogeneous tasks to access cloud resources of different capacities. The significant contribution of this technique is the simplified representation of the algorithm's mutualism process, which uses equity as a measure of relationship characteristics or efficiency of species in the current ecosystem to move to the next generation. These relational characteristics are achieved by replacing the original mutual vector, which uses an arithmetic mean to measure the mutual characteristics with a geometric mean that enhances the survival advantage of two distinct species. The modified symbiotic organisms search algorithm (G_SOS) aims to minimize the task execution time (makespan), cost, response time, and degree of imbalance, and improve the convergence speed for an optimal solution in an IaaS cloud. The performance of the proposed technique was evaluated using a CloudSim toolkit simulator, and the percentage of improvement of the proposed G_SOS over classical SOS and PSO-SA in terms of makespan minimization ranges between 0.61-20.08% and 1.92-25.68% over a large-scale task that spans between 100 to 1000 Million Instructions (MI). The solutions are found to be better than the existing standard (SOS) technique and PSO.}, } @article {pmid35213532, year = {2022}, author = {Espada-Hinojosa, S and Drexel, J and Kesting, J and Kniha, E and Pifeas, I and Schuster, L and Volland, JM and Zambalos, HC and Bright, M}, title = {Host-symbiont stress response to lack-of-sulfide in the giant ciliate mutualism.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {e0254910}, pmid = {35213532}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Carbon Cycle/genetics ; Ciliophora/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Sulfides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The mutualism between the thioautotrophic bacterial ectosymbiont Candidatus Thiobius zoothamnicola and the giant ciliate Zoothamnium niveum thrives in a variety of shallow-water marine environments with highly fluctuating sulfide emissions. To persist over time, both partners must reproduce and ensure the transmission of symbionts before the sulfide stops, which enables carbon fixation of the symbiont and nourishment of the host. We experimentally investigated the response of this mutualism to depletion of sulfide. We found that colonies released some initially present but also newly produced macrozooids until death, but in fewer numbers than when exposed to sulfide. The symbionts on the colonies proliferated less without sulfide, and became larger and more rod-shaped than symbionts from freshly collected colonies that were exposed to sulfide and oxygen. The symbiotic monolayer was severely disturbed by growth of other microbes and loss of symbionts. We conclude that the response of both partners to the termination of sulfide emission was remarkably quick. The development and the release of swarmers continued until host died and thus this behavior contributed to the continuation of the association.}, } @article {pmid35213503, year = {2022}, author = {Brajcich, BC and Stigall, K and Walsh, DS and Varghese, TK and Barber, AE and Kralovich, KA and Wescott, AB and Pockaj, BA and Ko, CY and Laronga, C}, title = {Preoperative Nutritional Optimization of the Oncology Patient: A Scoping Review.}, journal = {Journal of the American College of Surgeons}, volume = {234}, number = {3}, pages = {384-394}, doi = {10.1097/XCS.0000000000000055}, pmid = {35213503}, issn = {1879-1190}, support = {T32 CA247801/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; *Digestive System Surgical Procedures/adverse effects ; Humans ; *Malnutrition/etiology/prevention & control ; *Neoplasms/complications/surgery ; Preoperative Care/adverse effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is common among patients with cancer and is a known risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes; however, preoperative nutritional optimization guidelines are lacking in this high-risk population. The objective of this study was to review the evidence regarding preoperative nutritional optimization of patients undergoing general surgical operations for the treatment of cancer.

METHODS: A literature search was performed across the Ovid (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and Web of Science (Clarivate) databases. Eligible studies included randomized clinical trials, observational studies, reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2010 and 2020. Included studies evaluated clinical outcomes after preoperative nutritional interventions among adult patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer. Data extraction was performed using a template developed and tested by the study team.

RESULTS: A total of 5,505 publications were identified, of which 69 studies were included for data synthesis after screening and full text review. These studies evaluated preoperative nutritional counseling, protein-calorie supplementation, immunonutrition supplementation, and probiotic or symbiotic supplementation.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative nutritional counseling and immunonutrition supplementation should be considered for patients undergoing surgical treatment of gastrointestinal malignancy. For malnourished patients, protein-calorie supplementation should be considered, and for patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery, probiotics or symbiotic supplementation should be considered.}, } @article {pmid35213136, year = {2022}, author = {Zimmermann, I and Provost, M and Mejaouri, S and Al Atem, M and Blaizot, A and Duchatelet, A and Collin, S and Rousset, J}, title = {Industrially Compatible Fabrication Process of Perovskite-Based Mini-Modules Coupling Sequential Slot-Die Coating and Chemical Bath Deposition.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {11636-11644}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.1c24558}, pmid = {35213136}, issn = {1944-8252}, abstract = {To upscale the emerging perovskite photovoltaic technology to larger-size modules, industrially relevant deposition techniques need to be developed. In this work, the deposition of tin oxide used as an electron extraction layer is established using chemical bath deposition (CBD), a low-cost and solution-based fabrication process. Applying this simple low-temperature deposition method, highly homogeneous SnO2 films are obtained in a reproducible manner. Moreover, the perovskite layer is prepared by sequentially slot-die coating on top of the n-type contact. The symbiosis of these two industrially relevant deposition techniques allows for the growth of high-quality dense perovskite layers with large grains. The uniformity of the perovskite film is further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and cathodoluminescence measurements allowing us to probe the elemental composition at the nanoscale. Perovskite solar cells fabricated from CBD SnO2 and slot-die-coated perovskite show power conversion efficiencies up to 19.2%. Furthermore, mini-modules with an aperture area of 40 cm[2] demonstrate efficiencies of 17% (18.1% on active area).}, } @article {pmid35212898, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, L and Jiang, H and Zhang, X and Peng, D}, title = {Biogeographic pattern and relevant environmental factors for rhizobial communities in the rhizosphere and root nodules of kudzu (Pueraria lobata).}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {32}, pages = {49136-49146}, pmid = {35212898}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Nitrogenase/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Pueraria/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is an important medicinal plant, which can associate with rhizobia for nitrogen fixation. The mutualistic symbiosis between rhizobium and kudzu is not well understood, but it is necessary to fully utilize kudzu. Nodules and rhizosphere soils collected from 16 sampling sites were characterized based on phylogenetic analyses of the rpoB gene; 16S rRNA gene; the housekeeping genes SMc00019, truA, and thrA; and the symbiotic genes nodA and nifH. The relationships between biogeographic pattern, nitrogenase activity, and environmental factors were studied. Results indicated that a clear biogeographic pattern of rhizobial communities in the kudzu rhizosphere existed in southern China; latitude and soil pH were found to be the most important factors affecting the biogeographic pattern. Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and Bradyrhizobium erythrophlei were the dominant species in kudzu rhizosphere. The symbiotic rhizobia in kudzu nodules mainly belonged to B. lablabi, B. elkanii, B. pachyrhizi, and B. japonicum. Nitrogenase activities in the nodules of kudzu in the Jiangxi sampling region were significantly higher than those in the Guangxi and Hunan sampling regions, and they were significantly negatively correlated to pH and exchangeable Ca. These results constitute the first report of the existence of symbiotic genes in kudzu bradyrhizobia, which are similar to those in B. elkanii and B. pachyrhizi. Our findings could improve the understanding of kudzu-rhizobium symbiosis and could advance the application of rhizobial inoculation in medicinal legumes in terms of increasing the content of active ingredients.}, } @article {pmid35211166, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, GC and Ko, CH}, title = {Exploring Multiple Application Scenarios of Visual Communication Course Using Deep Learning Under the Digital Twins.}, journal = {Computational intelligence and neuroscience}, volume = {2022}, number = {}, pages = {5844290}, pmid = {35211166}, issn = {1687-5273}, mesh = {Communication ; *Deep Learning ; Humans ; Students ; *Virtual Reality ; }, abstract = {The emergence of intelligent technology has brought a particular impact and allows for virtuality-reality interaction in the educational field. In particular, digital twins (DTs) feature virtuality-reality symbiosis, solid virtual simulation, and high real-time interaction. It has also seen extended applications to the field of education. This study optimizes the design of the visual communication (Viscom) course based on the deep learning (DL) algorithm. Firstly, the theory of DL is analyzed following the relevant literature, and the typical DL networks, network structures, and related algorithms are introduced. Secondly, Viscom technology is expounded, and DL technology is applied to the Viscom course. Then, the applicability and feasibility of DL in the Viscom course are analyzed through a questionnaire survey (QS) design by collecting students' attitudes towards Viscom courses before and after the experiment. After introducing DL into the Viscom course, the results show that students' learning interest and satisfaction with the practical knowledge mastery have increased. However, the satisfaction with theoretical knowledge mastery before practical courses has decreased; overall, the teaching effect of the Viscom course has been improved. Therefore, the introduction of DL into the DT-enabled Viscom can provide a reference for developing the Viscom course. The research content offers technical support (TS) for integrating DT technology and modern education.}, } @article {pmid35210716, year = {2022}, author = {Chowaniec, K and Rola, K}, title = {Evaluation of the importance of ionic and osmotic components of salt stress on the photosynthetic efficiency of epiphytic lichens.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {107-121}, pmid = {35210716}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Salt stress can significantly disrupt the functioning of lichens which are self-sufficient symbiotic organisms inhabiting various severe environments. The aim was to test the effect of salt and sucrose on the photosynthetic efficiency of two selected epiphytic lichens inhabiting the interior of the land. Firstly, we compared the effect of salt and sucrose solutions of different concentrations. Secondly, the effect of salt and sucrose solutions with identical osmotic pressures was compared. The results showed that short-term salt stress leads to a significant reduction of F V /F M , greater changes in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and OJIP transients compared to the osmotic effects induced by sucrose. This proved that the negative impact of salt stress is associated primarily with ionic effects. The most symptomatic effect of the ionic stress was a significant reduction of the utilisation of trapped energy in electron transport and thereby down-regulation of electron transfer. Since lichens are resistant to a temporary lack of water, ionic stress could have more serious consequences than osmotic stress itself. Hypogymnia physodes was more sensitive to salt stress than Pseudevernia furfuracea, but the reduction of photosynthetic efficiency was not permanent since after 24 h F V /F M returned to the level characteristic for healthy lichens. Nevertheless, repeated exposure to salt may reduce the vitality of lichens growing along communication routes sprinkled with salt in the winter season. Finally, the changes in certain JIP-test parameters were stronger than F V /F M , thus they could be better indicators of salt stress in lichens.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01134-2.}, } @article {pmid35210576, year = {2022}, author = {Averill, C and Fortunel, C and Maynard, DS and van den Hoogen, J and Dietze, MC and Bhatnagar, JM and Crowther, TW}, title = {Alternative stable states of the forest mycobiome are maintained through positive feedbacks.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {375-382}, pmid = {35210576}, issn = {2397-334X}, support = {179900/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Feedback ; Forests ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Most trees on Earth form a symbiosis with either arbuscular mycorrhizal or ectomycorrhizal fungi. By forming common mycorrhizal networks, actively modifying the soil environment and other ecological mechanisms, these contrasting symbioses may generate positive feedbacks that favour their own mycorrhizal strategy (that is, the con-mycorrhizal strategy) at the expense of the alternative strategy. Positive con-mycorrhizal feedbacks set the stage for alternative stable states of forests and their fungi, where the presence of different forest mycorrhizal strategies is determined not only by external environmental conditions but also mycorrhiza-mediated feedbacks embedded within the forest ecosystem. Here, we test this hypothesis using thousands of US forest inventory sites to show that arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal tree recruitment and survival exhibit positive con-mycorrhizal density dependence. Data-driven simulations show that these positive feedbacks are sufficient in magnitude to generate and maintain alternative stable states of the forest mycobiome. Given the links between forest mycorrhizal strategy and carbon sequestration potential, the presence of mycorrhizal-mediated alternative stable states affects how we forecast forest composition, carbon sequestration and terrestrial climate feedbacks.}, } @article {pmid35208983, year = {2022}, author = {Sorres, J and Hebra, T and Elie, N and Leman-Loubière, C and Grayfer, T and Grellier, P and Touboul, D and Stien, D and Eparvier, V}, title = {Antiparasitic Ovalicin Derivatives from Pseudallescheria boydii, a Mutualistic Fungus of French Guiana Termites.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35208983}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; *Antimalarials/chemistry/pharmacology ; French Guiana ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Plasmodium falciparum/*growth & development ; *Scedosporium/chemistry/metabolism ; *Sesquiterpenes/chemistry/pharmacology ; *Trypanocidal Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; Trypanosoma brucei brucei/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Social insects are in mutualism with microorganisms, contributing to their resistance against infectious diseases. The fungus Pseudallescheria boydii SNB-CN85 isolated from termites produces ovalicin derivatives resulting from the esterification of the less hindered site of the ovalicin epoxide by long-chain fatty acids. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis and semisynthesis from ovalicin. For ovalicin, these compounds displayed antiprotozoal activities against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei, with IC50 values of 19.8 and 1.1 µM, respectively, for the most active compound, i.e., ovalicin linoleate. In parallel, metabolomic profiling of a collection of P. boydii strains associated with termites made it possible to highlight this class of compounds together with tyroscherin derivatives in all strains. Finally, the complete genome of P. boydii strains was obtained by sequencing, and the cluster of potential ovalicin and ovalicin biosynthesis genes was annotated. Through these metabolomic and genomic analyses, a new ovalicin derivative named boyden C, in which the 6-membered ring of ovalicin was opened by oxidative cleavage, was isolated and structurally characterized.}, } @article {pmid35208852, year = {2022}, author = {Karekar, S and Stefanini, R and Ahring, B}, title = {Homo-Acetogens: Their Metabolism and Competitive Relationship with Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35208852}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Homo-acetogens are microbes that have the ability to grow on gaseous substrates such as H2/CO2/CO and produce acetic acid as the main product of their metabolism through a metabolic process called reductive acetogenesis. These acetogens are dispersed in nature and are found to grow in various biotopes on land, water and sediments. They are also commonly found in the gastro-intestinal track of herbivores that rely on a symbiotic relationship with microbes in order to breakdown lignocellulosic biomass to provide the animal with nutrients and energy. For this motive, the fermentation scheme that occurs in the rumen has been described equivalent to a consolidated bioprocessing fermentation for the production of bioproducts derived from livestock. This paper reviews current knowledge of homo-acetogenesis and its potential to improve efficiency in the rumen for production of bioproducts by replacing methanogens, the principal H2-scavengers in the rumen, thus serving as a form of carbon sink by deviating the formation of methane into bioproducts. In this review, we discuss the main strategies employed by the livestock industry to achieve methanogenesis inhibition, and also explore homo-acetogenic microorganisms and evaluate the members for potential traits and characteristics that may favor competitive advantage over methanogenesis, making them prospective candidates for competing with methanogens in ruminant animals.}, } @article {pmid35208848, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Q and Chen, Y and Zhang, S and Lyu, Y and Zou, Y and Li, J}, title = {DNA Enrichment Methods for Microbial Symbionts in Marine Bivalves.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35208848}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {High-throughput sequencing is a powerful tool used for bivalve symbiosis research, but the largest barrier is the contamination of host DNA. In this work, we assessed the host DNA reduction efficiency, microbial community structure, and microbial diversity of four different sample pre-treatment and DNA extraction methods employed in bivalve gill tissue samples. Metagenomic sequencing showed the average proportions of reads belonging to microorganisms retrieved using PowerSoil DNA extraction kit, pre-treatment with differential centrifugation, pre-treatment with filtration, and HostZERO Microbial DNA kit samples were 2.3 ± 0.6%, 2.5 ± 0.2%, 4.7 ± 1.6%, and 42.6 ± 6.8%, respectively. The microbial DNA was effectively enriched with HostZERO Microbial DNA kit. The microbial communities revealed by amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed the taxonomic biases by using four different pre-treatment and DNA extraction methods. The species diversities of DNA samples extracted with the PowerSoil DNA extraction kit were similar, while lower than DNA samples extracted with HostZERO Microbial DNA kit. The results of this study emphasized the bias of these common methods in bivalve symbionts research and will be helpful to choose a fit-for-purpose microbial enrichment strategy in future research on bivalves or other microbe-invertebrate symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35208814, year = {2022}, author = {Tiwari, P and Bae, H}, title = {Endophytic Fungi: Key Insights, Emerging Prospects, and Challenges in Natural Product Drug Discovery.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35208814}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plant-associated endophytes define an important symbiotic association in nature and are established bio-reservoirs of plant-derived natural products. Endophytes colonize the internal tissues of a plant without causing any disease symptoms or apparent changes. Recently, there has been a growing interest in endophytes because of their beneficial effects on the production of novel metabolites of pharmacological significance. Studies have highlighted the socio-economic implications of endophytic fungi in agriculture, medicine, and the environment, with considerable success. Endophytic fungi-mediated biosynthesis of well-known metabolites includes taxol from Taxomyces andreanae, azadirachtin A and B from Eupenicillium parvum, vincristine from Fusarium oxysporum, and quinine from Phomopsis sp. The discovery of the billion-dollar anticancer drug taxol was a landmark in endophyte biology/research and established new paradigms for the metabolic potential of plant-associated endophytes. In addition, endophytic fungi have emerged as potential prolific producers of antimicrobials, antiseptics, and antibiotics of plant origin. Although extensively studied as a "production platform" of novel pharmacological metabolites, the molecular mechanisms of plant-endophyte dynamics remain less understood/explored for their efficient utilization in drug discovery. The emerging trends in endophytic fungi-mediated biosynthesis of novel bioactive metabolites, success stories of key pharmacological metabolites, strategies to overcome the existing challenges in endophyte biology, and future direction in endophytic fungi-based drug discovery forms the underlying theme of this article.}, } @article {pmid35208753, year = {2022}, author = {Belfquih, M and Filali-Maltouf, A and Le Quéré, A}, title = {Analysis of Ensifer aridi Mutants Affecting Regulation of Methionine, Trehalose, and Inositol Metabolisms Suggests a Role in Stress Adaptation and Symbiosis Development.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35208753}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Isolated from desert, the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Ensifer aridi LMR001 is capable of survival under particularly harsh environmental conditions. To obtain insights in molecular mechanisms involved in stress adaptation, a recent study using RNAseq revealed that the RpoE2-mediated general stress response was activated under mild saline stress but appeared non-essential for the bacterium to thrive under stress and develop the symbiosis. Functions associated with the stress response included the metabolisms of trehalose, methionine, and inositol. To explore the roles of these metabolisms in stress adaptation and symbiosis development, and the possible regulatory mechanisms involved, mutants were generated notably in regulators and their transcriptions were studied in various mutant backgrounds. We found that mutations in regulatory genes nesR and sahR of the methionine cycle generating S-adenosylmethionine negatively impacted symbiosis, tolerance to salt, and motility in the presence of NaCl. When both regulators were mutated, an increased tolerance to detergent, oxidative, and acid stresses was found, suggesting a modification of the cell wall components which may explain these phenotypes and support a major role of the fine-tuning methylation for symbiosis and stress adaptation of the bacterium. In contrast, we also found that mutations in the predicted trehalose transport and utilization regulator ThuR and the trehalose phosphate phosphatase OtsB-encoding genes improved symbiosis and growth in liquid medium containing 0.4 M of NaCl of LMR001ΔotsB, suggesting that trehalose metabolism control and possibly trehalose-6 phosphate cellular status may be biotechnologically engineered for improved symbiosis under stress. Finally, transcriptional fusions of gfp to promoters of selected genes and expression studies in the various mutant backgrounds suggest complex regulatory interplay between inositol, methionine, and trehalose metabolic pathways.}, } @article {pmid35207577, year = {2022}, author = {Latorre, A and Domínguez-Santos, R and García-Ferris, C and Gil, R}, title = {Of Cockroaches and Symbionts: Recent Advances in the Characterization of the Relationship between Blattella germanica and Its Dual Symbiotic System.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35207577}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Mutualistic stable symbioses are widespread in all groups of eukaryotes, especially in insects, where symbionts have played an essential role in their evolution. Many insects live in obligate relationship with different ecto- and endosymbiotic bacteria, which are needed to maintain their hosts' fitness in their natural environment, to the point of even relying on them for survival. The case of cockroaches (Blattodea) is paradigmatic, as both symbiotic systems coexist in the same organism in two separated compartments: an intracellular endosymbiont (Blattabacterium) inside bacteriocytes located in the fat body, and a rich and complex microbiota in the hindgut. The German cockroach Blattella germanica is a good model for the study of symbiotic interactions, as it can be maintained in the laboratory in controlled populations, allowing the perturbations of the two symbiotic systems in order to study the communication and integration of the tripartite organization of the host-endosymbiont-microbiota, and to evaluate the role of symbiotic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in host control over their symbionts. The importance of cockroaches as reservoirs and transmission vectors of antibiotic resistance sequences, and their putative interest to search for AMPs to deal with the problem, is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid35207509, year = {2022}, author = {Kollmen, J and Strieth, D}, title = {The Beneficial Effects of Cyanobacterial Co-Culture on Plant Growth.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35207509}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous phototrophic prokaryotes that find a wide range of applications in industry due to their broad product spectrum. In this context, the application of cyanobacteria as biofertilizers and thus as an alternative to artificial fertilizers has emerged in recent decades. The benefit is mostly based on the ability of cyanobacteria to fix elemental nitrogen and make it available to the plants in a usable form. However, the positive effects of co-cultivating plants with cyanobacteria are not limited to the provision of nitrogen. Cyanobacteria produce numerous secondary metabolites that can be useful for plants, for example, they can have growth-promoting effects or increase resistance to plant diseases. The effects of biotic and abiotic stress can as well be reduced by many secondary metabolites. Furthermore, the biofilms formed by the cyanobacteria can lead to improved soil conditions, such as increased water retention capacity. To exchange the substances mentioned, cyanobacteria form symbioses with plants, whereby the strength of the symbiosis depends on both partners, and not every plant can form symbiosis with every cyanobacterium. Not only the plants in symbiosis benefit from the cyanobacteria, but also vice versa. This review summarizes the beneficial effects of cyanobacterial co-cultivation on plants, highlighting the substances exchanged and the strength of cyanobacterial symbioses with plants. A detailed explanation of the mechanism of nitrogen fixation in cyanobacterial heterocysts is given. Finally, a summary of possible applications of co-cultivation in the (agrar-)industry is given.}, } @article {pmid35206792, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, HY and Lee, SH and Min, KJ}, title = {The Increased Abundance of Commensal Microbes Decreases Drosophila melanogaster Lifespan through an Age-Related Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35206792}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Commensal microbiota live in their host with a symbiotic relationship that affects the host's health and physiology. Many studies showed that microbial load and composition were changed by aging and observed that increasing the abundance and changing the composition of commensal microbes had detrimental effects on host lifespan. We hypothesized that dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota leads to systemic effects in aging flies as a result of the increased intestinal permeability.

METHODS: We used the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, laboratory strains w[1118], as a model system with many advantages for microbe-host studies.

RESULTS: The incidence of intestinal dysfunction was increased with age, and intestinal dysfunction increased the permeability of the fly intestine to resident microbes. The lifespan of flies with an intestinal barrier dysfunction was increased by removal of the microbes. Interestingly, some bacteria were also found in the hemolymph of flies with intestinal barrier dysfunction.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the possibility that, as the host ages, there is an increase in intestinal permeability, which leads to an increased intestinal microbial load and a reduction in the host lifespan. Our data therefore indicate a connection between commensal microbes and host lifespan.}, } @article {pmid35206789, year = {2022}, author = {Damiani, C and Cappelli, A and Comandatore, F and Montarsi, F and Serrao, A and Michelutti, A and Bertola, M and Mancini, MV and Ricci, I and Bandi, C and Favia, G}, title = {Wolbachia in Aedes koreicus: Rare Detections and Possible Implications.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35206789}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The emerging distribution of new alien mosquito species was recently described in Europe. In addition to the invasion of Aedes albopictus, several studies have focused on monitoring and controlling other invasive Aedes species, as Aedes koreicus and Aedes japonicus. Considering the increasing development of insecticide resistance in Aedes mosquitoes, new control strategies, including the use of bacterial host symbionts, are proposed. However, little is known about the bacterial communities associated with these species, thus the identification of possible candidates for Symbiotic Control is currently limited. The characterization of the natural microbiota of field-collected Ae. koreicus mosquitoes from North-East Italy through PCR screening, identified native infections of Wolbachia in this species that is also largely colonized by Asaia bacteria. Since Asaia and Wolbachia are proposed as novel tools for Symbiotic Control, our study supports their use for innovative control strategies against new invasive species. Although the presence of Asaia was previously characterized in Ae. koreicus, our study characterized this Wolbachia strain, also inferring its phylogenetic position. The co-presence of Wolbachia and Asaia may provide additional information about microbial competition in mosquito, and to select suitable phenotypes for the suppression of pathogen transmission and for the manipulation of host reproduction in Ae. koreicus.}, } @article {pmid35206042, year = {2022}, author = {Pratap, K and Majzoub, ME and Taki, AC and Hernandez, SM and Magnusson, M and Glasson, CRK and de Nys, R and Thomas, T and Lopata, AL and Kamath, SD}, title = {The Algal Polysaccharide Ulvan and Carotenoid Astaxanthin Both Positively Modulate Gut Microbiota in Mice.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35206042}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {The intestinal microbial community (microbiota) is dynamic and variable amongst individuals and plays an essential part in gut health and homeostasis. Dietary components can modulate the structure of the gut microbiota. In recent years, substantial efforts have been made to find novel dietary components with positive effects on the gut microbial community structure. Natural algal polysaccharides and carotenoids have been reported to possess various functions of biological relevance and their impact on the gut microbiota is currently a topic of interest. This study, therefore, reports the effect of the sulfated polysaccharide ulvan and the carotenoid astaxanthin extracted and purified from the aquacultured marine green macroalgae Ulva ohnoi and freshwater green microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, respectively, on the temporal development of the murine gut microbiota. Significant changes with the increase in the bacterial classes Bacteroidia, Bacilli, Clostridia, and Verrucomicrobia were observed after feeding the mice with ulvan and astaxanthin. Duration of the treatments had a more substantial effect on the bacterial community structure than the type of treatment. Our findings highlight the potential of ulvan and astaxanthin to mediate aspects of host-microbe symbiosis in the gut, and if incorporated into the diet, these could assist positively in improving disease conditions associated with gut health.}, } @article {pmid35205933, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, Y and Fu, X and Zhang, G and Zhang, R and Kang, Z and Gao, K and Mendgen, K}, title = {Mechanisms in Growth-Promoting of Cucumber by the Endophytic Fungus Chaetomium globosum Strain ND35.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35205933}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are effective in plant growth and development by secreting various kinds of plant hormones and nutrients. However, the cellular and molecular interactions between the endophytic fungi and plant growth-promoting have remained less explored. The present study was designed to explore the effects of the infection and colonization events of Chaetomium globosum strain ND35 on cucumber growth and the expression pattern of some metabolically important genes in development of the cucumber radicle. The results demonstrated that strain ND35 can infect and colonize the outer layers (cortical cells) of cucumber root and form a symbiotic structure with the host cell, similar to a periarbuscular membrane and establish chemical communication with the plant. Through transcriptome analysis, we found the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) caused by strain ND35 were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, plant-pathogen interaction and photosynthesis. Correspondingly, the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin (GA), zeatin (ZT), salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), and peroxidase (POD) in ND35-colonized seedlings were generally higher than those of non-inoculated seedlings. Overall, the infection and colonization events of C. globosum strain ND35 increased cucumber growth through complex regulation of plant hormones biosynthesis and metabolism. Furthermore, although the endophytic fungus strain ND35 produced IAA, GA, ZT, and ergosterol in the fermentation broth, and there are enabled to promote growth of cucumber, it is uncertain whether there are ND35-derived microbial hormones in plants. This study of the interaction between cucumber and strain ND35 contributes to a better understanding of the plant-endophytic fungi interactions, and may help to develop new strategies for crop production.}, } @article {pmid35205383, year = {2022}, author = {Fu, ZY and An, JQ and Liu, W and Zhang, HP and Yang, P}, title = {Genomic Analyses of the Fungus Paraconiothyrium sp. Isolated from the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect Reveals Its Symbiotic Character.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35205383}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; Carbohydrates ; Genomics ; *Hemiptera/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The Chinese white wax scale, Ericerus pela, is an insect native to China. It harbors a variety of microbes. The Paraconiothyrium fungus was isolated from E. pela and genome sequenced in this study. A fungal cytotoxicity assay was performed on the Aedes albopictus cell line C6/36. The assembled Paraconiothyrium sp. genome was 39.55 Mb and consisted of 14,174 genes. The coding sequences accounted for 50.75% of the entire genome. Functional pathway analyses showed that Paraconiothyrium sp. possesses complete pathways for the biosynthesis of 20 amino acids, 10 of which E. pela lacks. It also had complementary genes in the vitamin B groups synthesis pathways. Secondary metabolism prediction showed many gene clusters that produce polyketide. Additionally, a large number of genes associated with 'reduced virulence' in the genome were annotated with the Pathogen-Host Interaction database. A total of 651 genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes were predicted to be mostly involved in plant polysaccharide degradation. Pan-specific genomic analyses showed that genes unique to Paraconiothyrium sp. were enriched in the pathways related to amino acid metabolism and secondary metabolism. GO annotation analysis yielded similar results. The top COG categories were 'carbohydrate transport and metabolism', 'lipid transport and metabolism', and 'secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport and catabolism'. Phylogenetic analyses based on gene family and pan genes showed that Paraconiothyrium sp is clustered together with species from the Didymosphaeriaceae family. A multi-locus sequence analysis showed that it converged with the same branch as P. brasiliense and they formed one group with fungi from the Paraconiothyrium genus. To validate the in vitro toxicity of Paraconiothyrium sp., a cytotoxicity assay was performed. The results showed that medium-cultured Paraconiothyrium sp. had no harmful effect on cell viability. No toxins were secreted by the fungus during growth. Our results imply that Paraconiothyrium sp. may establish a symbiotic relationship with the host to supply complementary nutrition to E. pela.}, } @article {pmid35205237, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, W and Chi, Y and Zhang, J and Bai, B and Ji, X and Shen, Y}, title = {MtWRP1, a Novel Fabacean Specific Gene, Regulates Root Nodulation and Plant Growth in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35205237}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Development ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Fabaceans symbiotically interact with nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria to form root nodules. Some fabacean specific proteins play important roles in the symbiosis. WRKY-related Protein (WRP) is a novel fabacean specific protein, whose functions have not been well characterized. In this study, MtWRP1 was functionally characterized in Medicago truncatula. It contains a WRKY domain at C-terminal and a novel transmembrane (TM) domain at N-terminal, and its WRKY domain was highly similar to the N-terminal WRKY domain of the group I WRKY proteins. The TM domain was highly homologous to the eukaryotic cytochrome b561 (Cytb561) proteins from birds. Subcellular localization revealed that MtWRP1 was targeted to the Golgi apparatus through the novel TM domain. MtWRP1 was highly expressed in roots and nodules, suggesting its possible roles in the regulation of root growth and nodulation. Both MtWRP1-overexpression transgenic M. truncatula and MtWRP1 mutants showed altered root nodulation and plant growth performance. Specifically, the formation of root nodules was significantly reduced in the absence of MtWRP1. These results demonstrated that MtWRP1 plays critical roles in root nodulation and plant growth.}, } @article {pmid35205161, year = {2022}, author = {Alotaibi, SS and Darwish, H and Zaynab, M and Alharthi, S and Alghamdi, A and Al-Barty, A and Asif, M and Wahdan, RH and Baazeem, A and Noureldeen, A}, title = {Isolation, Identification, and Biocontrol Potential of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Associated Bacteria against Virachola livia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35205161}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Virachola livia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) are the key pests of pomegranates in Saudi Arabia that are managed mainly using broad-spectrum pesticides. Interactions between the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernematids, and Heterorhabditids, and their entomopathogenic bacterial symbionts (EPBs) have long been considered monoxenic 2-partner associations responsible for killing insects and, therefore, are widely used in insect pest biocontrol. However, there are limited reports identifying such organisms in Taif, Saudi Arabia. The current study aimed to identify the EPNs and their associated bacteria isolated from Taif, Saudi Arabia, and evaluate their biocontrol potential on third instar larvae of V. livia and E. ceratoniae under laboratory conditions. A total of 35 EPN isolates belonging to Steinernema (20) and Heterorhabditis (15) were recovered from 320 soil samples. Twenty-six isolates of symbiotic or associated bacteria were isolated from EPNs and molecularly identified as Xenorhabdus (6 isolates), Photorhabdus (4 isolates), Pseudomonas (7), or Stenotrophomonas (9). A pathogenicity assay revealed that Steinernema spp. were more virulent than Heterorhabditis spp. against the two pomegranate insects, with LC50 values of 18.5 and 13.6 infective juveniles (IJs)/larva of V. livia for Steinernema spp. and 52 and 32.4 IJs/larva of V. livia for Heterorhabditis spp. at 48 and 72 h post-treatment, respectively. Moreover, LC50 values of 9 and 6.6 IJs/larva (Steinernema spp.) and 34.4 and 26.6 IJs/larva (Heterorhabditis spp.) were recorded for E. ceratoniae larvae at 48 and 72 h post-treatment. In addition, the EPB Stenotrophomonas maltophilia CQ1, isolated from Steinernema spp., surpassed Pseudomonas mosselii SJ10, associated with Heterorhabditis spp., in their ability to kill V. livia or E. ceratoniae larvae within 6 h post-application, resulting in 100% mortality in both insects after 24 and 48 h of exposure. We conclude that either application of EPNs' IJs or their associated EPBs could serve as potential biocontrol agents for V. livia and E. ceratoniae.}, } @article {pmid35205086, year = {2022}, author = {Xiao, X and Chen, J and Liao, X and Yan, Q and Liang, G and Liu, J and Wang, D and Guan, R}, title = {Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Established by Two Inoculation Methods Improve Growth and Drought Resistance of Cinnamomum Migao Seedlings Differently.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35205086}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Drought stress is one of the greatest obstacles affecting field crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions, and its severity and frequency are expected to increase due to human-induced changes to the environment and climate. Drought has led to rocky desertification in Karst regions. Cinnamomum migao is a unique, fast-growing medicinal plant of Southwest China that only thrives in Karst regions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis alleviates drought stress in plants; however, establishment and function of the symbiotic interaction between AMF host plant in relation to the inoculation method remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of AMF species (Glomus etunicatum and Funneliformis mosseae) and two inoculation methods (seed vs. seedling inoculation) under drought stress on C. migao seedlings, and quantified mycorrhizal colonization, AMF spore density, root vigor, relative water content, C. migao growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, and osmotic adjustment. Inoculation with AMF (G. etunicatum and F. mosseae) positively affected the growth and root vigor of Cinnamomum migao under drought stress, regardless of the inoculation method. Additionally, both AMF species markedly upregulated antioxidant enzyme activities and osmotic adjustment substances, regardless of the inoculation method. Our results showed that the collective stimulatory effect of G. etunicatum is more efficient than that of F. mosseae. AMF application could promote afforestation with C. migao to prevent rocky desertification in Karst regions where water is the greatest limiting factor on plant growth and yield.}, } @article {pmid35203798, year = {2022}, author = {Santos-Aberturas, J and Vior, NM}, title = {Beyond Soil-Dwelling Actinobacteria: Fantastic Antibiotics and Where to Find Them.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35203798}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Bacterial secondary metabolites represent an invaluable source of bioactive molecules for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Although screening campaigns for the discovery of new compounds have traditionally been strongly biased towards the study of soil-dwelling Actinobacteria, the current antibiotic resistance and discovery crisis has brought a considerable amount of attention to the study of previously neglected bacterial sources of secondary metabolites. The development and application of new screening, sequencing, genetic manipulation, cultivation and bioinformatic techniques have revealed several other groups of bacteria as producers of striking chemical novelty. Biosynthetic machineries evolved from independent taxonomic origins and under completely different ecological requirements and selective pressures are responsible for these structural innovations. In this review, we summarize the most important discoveries related to secondary metabolites from alternative bacterial sources, trying to provide the reader with a broad perspective on how technical novelties have facilitated the access to the bacterial metabolic dark matter.}, } @article {pmid35203748, year = {2022}, author = {Mežnarić, S and Brčić Karačonji, I and Crnković, G and Lesar, A and Pavlešić, T and Vučković, D and Gobin, I}, title = {Combined Inhibitory Effect of Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Honeydew Honey and Probiotic Bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the Growth of Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhimurium.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35203748}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Honey is a natural food consisting mainly of sugars, enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, minerals and aromatic substances. In addition to specific organoleptic properties, honey also has other components that contribute to its nutritional and health value. Proteins, vitamins, minerals, organic acids and phenolic compounds, the most variable components of honey, are predominantly responsible for its strong bioactive effect. Honeydew honey is a less known type of honey with outstanding antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that also demonstrates prebiotic effects and can promote the growth of probiotic bacteria. Foodborne illnesses can be prevented by using probiotic strains in combination with prebiotics. The aim of this study was for the first time to determine potential synergistic antimicrobial effect of fir (Abies alba Mill.) honeydew honey (HS) and probiotic bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, a primary cause of foodborne illnesses. The effect of three different samples of fir honeydew honey on the growth of L. plantarum in de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) medium and the potential synergistic effect of HSs and L. plantarum on the growth of S. Typhimurium in the Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) medium were examined. The results indicate that concentrations of 1 and 5% of all three HS samples stimulate the growth and metabolic activity of L. plantarum, while a concentration of 10% inhibits the growth of L. plantarum. The concentration of 5% of all three HS and L. plantarum combined inhibits the growth of S. Typhimurium in BHI broth. Fir honeydew honey showed potential prebiotic properties and antimicrobial activity, both of which can synergistically enhance the probiotic efficacy of L. plantarum against S. Typhimurium To conclude, the combination of fir honeydew honey and L. plantarum represents a successful combination against S. Typhimurium and additional experiments are necessary regarding the mechanisms of their combined effect.}, } @article {pmid35203109, year = {2022}, author = {Castaingts, M and Kirolinko, C and Rivero, C and Artunian, J and Mancini Villagra, U and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Identification of conserved and new miRNAs that affect nodulation and strain selectivity in the Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium etli symbiosis through differential analysis of host small RNAs.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {4}, pages = {1430-1447}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18055}, pmid = {35203109}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*MicroRNAs/genetics ; *Phaseolus/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Rhizobium etli/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris plants from the Mesoamerican centre of genetic diversification establish a preferential and more efficient root nodule symbiosis with sympatric Rhizobium etli strains. This is mediated by changes in host gene expression, which might occur either at the transcriptional or at the post-transcriptional level. However, the implication of small RNA (sRNA)-mediated control of gene expression in strain selectivity has remained elusive. sRNA sequencing was used to identify host microRNAs (miRNAs) differentially regulated in roots at an early stage of the symbiotic interaction, which were further characterized by applying a reverse genetic approach. In silico analysis identified known and new miRNAs that accumulated to a greater extent in the preferential and more efficient interaction. One of them, designated as Pvu-miR5924, participates in the mechanisms that determine the selection of R. etli strains that will colonize the nodules. In addition, the functional analysis of Pvu-miR390b verified that this miRNA is a negative modulator of nodule formation and bacterial infection. This study not only extended the list of miRNAs identified in P. vulgaris but also enabled the identification of miRNAs that play relevant functions in nodule formation, rhizobial infection and the selection of the rhizobial strains that will occupy the nodule.}, } @article {pmid35202673, year = {2022}, author = {Tougeron, K}, title = {Homeostasis theory: What can we learn from dormancy and symbiotic associations?.}, journal = {Physiology & behavior}, volume = {249}, number = {}, pages = {113749}, doi = {10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113749}, pmid = {35202673}, issn = {1873-507X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diapause/physiology ; Homeostasis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this letter, I discuss the notion of dormancy that De Luca Jr. relies on to criticize the theory of homeostasis. In particular, I try to qualify the issues related to the fact that dormancy is not always a free behavior but is in most situations under the influence of environmental factors. To this end, I discuss diapause in arthropods, which can be obligatory (under the influence of endogenous commands) but which is in most cases facultative (under external command). I emphasize that the notion of stability of a dormant organism must be taken with caution. I briefly mention what the study of sleep in animals can contribute to the notion of homeostasis. Finally, I focus on the role of microbial symbionts and the notion of holobiont. Through this, I question the future of the notions of internal environment and homeostasis and I propose to revisit them in the context of the effects of species interactions on the physiology of organisms.}, } @article {pmid35202662, year = {2022}, author = {AbdElgawad, H and El-Sawah, AM and Mohammed, AE and Alotaibi, MO and Yehia, RS and Selim, S and Saleh, AM and Beemster, GTS and Sheteiwy, MS}, title = {Increasing atmospheric CO2 differentially supports arsenite stress mitigating impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in wheat and soybean plants.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {296}, number = {}, pages = {134044}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134044}, pmid = {35202662}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Arsenites ; Carbon Dioxide/pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Poaceae ; Soybeans ; Sugars ; Triticum ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial for the plant growth under heavy metal stress. Such beneficial effect is improved by elevated CO2 (eCO2). However, the mechanisms by which eCO2 improves AMF symbiotic associations under arsenite (As[III]) toxicity are hardly studied. Herein, we compared these regulatory mechanisms in species from two agronomical important plant families - grasses (wheat) and legumes (soybean). As[III] decreased plant growth (i.e., 53.75 and 60.29% of wheat and soybean, respectively) and photosynthesis. It also increased photorespiration and oxidative injury in both species, but soybean was more sensitive to oxidative stress as indicated by higher H2O2 accumulation and oxidation of protein and lipid. eCO2 significantly improved AMF colonization by increasing auxin levels, which induced high carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCDs) activity, particularly in soybean roots. The improved sugar metabolism in plant shoots by co-application of eCO2 and As[III] allocated more sugars to roots sequentially. Sugar accumulation in plant roots is further induced by AMF, resulting in more C skeletons to produce organic acids, which are effectively exudated into the soil to reduce As[III] uptake. Exposure to eCO2 reduced oxidative damage and this mitigation was stronger in soybean. This could be attributed to a greater reduction in photorespiration as well as a stronger antioxidant and detoxification defence systems. The grass/legume-specificity was supported by principal component analysis, which revealed that soybean was more affected by As[III] stress and more responsive to AMF and eCO2. This study provided a mechanistic understanding of the impact of AMF, eCO2 and their interaction on As-stressed grass and legume plants, allowing better practical strategies to mitigate As[III] phytotoxicity.}, } @article {pmid35201412, year = {2022}, author = {Cheng, K and Wei, M and Jin, X and Tang, M and Zhang, H}, title = {LbAMT3-1, an ammonium transporter induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal in Lycium barbarum, confers tobacco with higher mycorrhizal levels and nutrient uptake.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {41}, number = {6}, pages = {1477-1480}, pmid = {35201412}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism/pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; *Lycium ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Nutrients ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics ; }, abstract = {An ammonium transporter LbAMT3-1 overexpression increases the arbuscular abundance of mycorrhizal that opens the possibility of using LbAMT3-1 in breeding programs to improve symbiotic nutrient uptake in Lycium barbarum. Nitrogen (N) is one of the most essential nutrients required by plants and limits net primary production much of the time in most terrestrial ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance plant nutrient uptake and improve plant productivity in nutrient limit ecosystems. Here, we identified an ammonia transporter, LbAMT3-1, specifically induced by AM fungi in Lycium barbarum. To understand the expression characteristics and biological functions, LbAMT3-1 was cloned, characterized, and overexpressed in Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). A BLAST search identified the coding sequence for LbAMT3-1 with an open-reading frame of 1473 bp. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that, besides mycorrhizal roots, LbAMT3-1 were barely detectable in other tissues, including stems and leaves. Promoter-GUS assay showed that GUS staining was detected in mycorrhizal roots, and GUS activity driven by the LbAMT3-1 promoter was exclusively confined to root cells containing arbuscules. LbAMT3-1 functionally complemented the yeast mutant efficiently, and yeast expressing LbAMT3-1 showed well growth on the agar medium with 0.02, 0.2, and 2 mM NH4[+] supply. Moreover, overexpression of LbAMT3-1 in N. tabacum resulted a significant increase in arbuscular abundance and enhanced the nutrient acquisition capacity of mycorrhizal plants. Based on the results of our study, we propose that overexpression of LbAMT3-1 can promote P and N uptake of host plants through the mycorrhizal pathway, and increase the colonization intensity and arbuscular abundance, which opens the possibility of using LbAMT3-1 in breeding programs.}, } @article {pmid35200648, year = {2022}, author = {Baur, P and Kühl, M and Comba, P and Behrendt, L}, title = {Possible Functional Roles of Patellamides in the Ascidian-Prochloron Symbiosis.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35200648}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Peptides, Cyclic/biosynthesis/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Prochloron/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Urochordata/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Patellamides are highly bioactive compounds found along with other cyanobactins in the symbiosis between didemnid ascidians and the enigmatic cyanobacterium Prochloron. The biosynthetic pathway of patellamide synthesis is well understood, the relevant operons have been identified in the Prochloron genome and genes involved in patellamide synthesis are among the most highly transcribed cyanobacterial genes in hospite. However, a more detailed study of the in vivo dynamics of patellamides and their function in the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis is complicated by the fact that Prochloron remains uncultivated despite numerous attempts since its discovery in 1975. A major challenge is to account for the highly dynamic microenvironmental conditions experienced by Prochloron&nbsp;in hospite, where light-dark cycles drive rapid shifts between hyperoxia and anoxia as well as pH variations from pH ~6 to ~10. Recently, work on patellamide analogues has pointed out a range of different catalytic functions of patellamide that could prove essential for the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis and could be modulated by the strong microenvironmental dynamics. Here, we review fundamental properties of patellamides and their occurrence and dynamics in vitro and in vivo. We discuss possible functions of patellamides in the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis and identify important knowledge gaps and needs for further experimental studies.}, } @article {pmid35198995, year = {2022}, author = {Júnior, JCDS and Meireles Mafaldo, Í and de Lima Brito, I and Tribuzy de Magalhães Cordeiro, AM}, title = {Kombucha: Formulation, chemical composition, and therapeutic potentialities.}, journal = {Current research in food science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {360-365}, pmid = {35198995}, issn = {2665-9271}, abstract = {Kombucha is a millennial beverage with great potential due to its functional claims. The infusion of black or green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) and sugar is fermented by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) resulting in an acidic and lightly carbonated beverage, kombucha. It offers in its composition phytoconstituents with relevant nutritional valor, among these, flavonoids that stand out for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory characteristics and their association with decreasing the risks of various diseases. Previous studies in vivo and in vitro have shown promising results using kombucha as a functional beverage. Those studies promote the search for alternative raw materials for the production of kombucha, in addition, new ingredients interfere in the production, constitution, and nutritional potentialities of the beverage, as well as its functionality in the face of diseases. Thus, this graphical review compiles relevant scientific data on kombucha involving its origin, production, nutritional potential, and possible health benefits associated with its consumption.}, } @article {pmid35198665, year = {2022}, author = {Chin, GJWL and Law, SV and Rodrigues, KF and Jani, J and Anton, A}, title = {Dataset of genome sequence, de novo assembly, and functional annotation of Ruegeria sp. (PBVC088), a marine bacterium associated with the toxin-producing harmful dinoflagellate, Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {107881}, pmid = {35198665}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {The dataset comprises a whole-genome sequence of Ruegeria sp. PBVC088, a symbiotic (Gram-negative) bacterium associated with Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum, which has been associated with harmful algal blooms in the coastal waters of west Sabah, Malaysia. Harmful algal blooms contribute to economic losses for the aquaculture industry, as well as human illnesses and fatalities due to paralytic shellfish poisoning. Bacteria-algae dynamics have posited that the interaction is potentially responsible for the toxin production during a toxic harmful algal bloom event. Despite the expanding body of literature on the capabilities of these bacteria to metabolize, produce, and modify toxins autonomously, it has yet to be confirmed that these toxin-producing bacteria are capable of autonomous toxin synthesis. Saxitoxin, a paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin, is produced by a unique biosynthetic pathway, where the genetic basis for the saxitoxin production was first reported in the saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria strain Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii T3 (NCBI accession no. DQ787200). The genes responsible for saxitoxin biosynthesis in dinoflagellates, have yet to be fully elucidated. The identification of cyanobacteria saxitoxin biosynthesis genes (sxt) may eventually lead to the identification of homologous genes within the dinoflagellates. Previous studies on the diversity of the bacterial communities associated with the same toxic P. bahamense harmful alga has been carried out by using both the culture-dependent 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis and culture-independent 16S metagenomic sequence analysis. This study extends the knowledge pertaining to the genomic aspect of an associated bacterium isolated from P. bahamense alga by adopting a whole genome sequencing approach. Here, we report the genome sequencing, de novo assembly, and annotation data of a bacterium, Ruegeria sp. PBVC088, associated with harmful alga P. bahamense, which can be referenced by researchers to identify the genes and pathways related to toxin biosynthesis from a much larger data set. The genome of Ruegeria sp. PBVC088 was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform with 250 bp paired-end reads. The number of reads generated from the MiSeq sequencer was 1,135,484, with an estimated coverage of 100X. The estimated genome size for the marine bacterium was computed to be 5.78 Mb. Annotation of the genome predicted 5,689 gene sequences, which were assigned putative functions based on homology to existing protein sequences in public databases. In addition, annotation of genes related to saxitoxin biosynthesis pathway was also performed. Raw fastq reads and the final version of the genome assembly have been deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) (BioProject: PRJNA324753, WGS: LZNT00000000, SRA: SRR3646181). The genome data provided here are expected to better understand the genetic processes involved in saxitoxin biosynthesis in marine bacteria associated with dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid35196818, year = {2022}, author = {Lu, J and Yang, S and Wang, C and Wang, H and Gong, G and Xi, Y and Pan, J and Wang, X and Zeng, J and Zhang, J and Li, P and Shen, Q and Shan, T and Zhang, W}, title = {Gut Virome of the World's Highest-Elevation Lizard Species (Phrynocephalus erythrurus and Phrynocephalus theobaldi) Reveals Versatile Commensal Viruses.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0187221}, pmid = {35196818}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lizards/metabolism/*virology ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tibet ; *Virome/physiology ; Viruses/classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {The gut virome is a reservoir of diverse symbiotic and pathogenic viruses coevolving with their hosts, and yet limited research has explored the gut viromes of highland-dwelling rare species. Using viral metagenomic analysis, the viral communities of the Phrynocephalus lizards living in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were investigated. Phage-encoded functional genes and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were analyzed. The viral communities of different lizard species were all predominated by bacteriophages, especially the Caudovirales order. The virome of Phrynocephalus erythrurus living around the Namtso Lake possessed a unique structure, with the greatest abundance of the Parvoviridae family and the highest number of exclusive viral species. Several vertebrate-infecting viruses were discovered, including caliciviruses, astroviruses, and parvoviruses. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the virus hallmark genes of bacteriophages possessed high genetic diversity. After functional annotation, the majority of phage-associated functional genes were classified in the energy metabolism category. In addition, plenty of ARGs belonging to the multidrug category were discovered, and five ARGs were exclusive to the virome from Phrynocephalus theobaldi. This study provided the first insight into the structure and function of the virome in highland lizards, contributing to the protection of threatened lizard species. Also, our research is of exemplary significance for the gut virome research of lizard species and other cold-blooded and highland-dwelling animals, prompting a better understanding of the interspecific differences and transmission of commensal viruses. IMPORTANCE The Phrynocephalus lizards inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) are considered to be the highest-altitude lizard species in the world, and they have been added to the IUCN list of threatened species. Living in the QTP with hypoxic, arid, natural conditions, the lizards presented a unique pattern of gut virome, which could provide both positive and negative effects, such as the enrichment of functional genes and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This work provides the foundation for further research on the gut virome in these endangered lizard species and other cold-blooded and highland-dwelling animals, contributing to the maintenance of ecological balance on the plateau.}, } @article {pmid35196372, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, C and Yu, Z and Zhang, M and Li, X and Wang, M and Li, L and Li, X and Ding, Z and Tian, H}, title = {Serratia marcescens PLR enhances lateral root formation through supplying PLR-derived auxin and enhancing auxin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {11}, pages = {3711-3725}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac074}, pmid = {35196372}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Serratia marcescens/genetics/metabolism ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) refer to bacteria that colonize the rhizosphere and contribute to plant growth or stress tolerance. To further understand the molecular mechanism by which PGPR exhibit symbiosis with plants, we performed a high-throughput single colony screening from the rhizosphere, and uncovered a bacterium (named promoting lateral root, PLR) that significantly promotes Arabidopsis lateral root formation. By 16S rDNA sequencing, PLR was identified as a novel sub-species of Serratia marcescens. RNA-seq analysis of Arabidopsis integrated with phenotypic verification of auxin signalling mutants demonstrated that the promoting effect of PLR on lateral root formation is dependent on auxin signalling. Furthermore, PLR enhanced tryptophan-dependent indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis by inducing multiple auxin biosynthesis genes in Arabidopsis. Genome-wide sequencing of PLR integrated with the identification of IAA and its precursors in PLR exudates showed that tryptophan treatment significantly enhanced the ability of PLR to produce IAA and its precursors. Interestingly, PLR induced the expression of multiple nutrient (N, P, K, S) transporter genes in Arabidopsis in an auxin-independent manner. This study provides evidence of how PLR enhances plant growth through fine-tuning auxin biosynthesis and signalling in Arabidopsis, implying a potential application of PLR in crop yield improvement through accelerating root development.}, } @article {pmid35193499, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, X and Liang, J and Liu, Z and Kuang, Y and Han, L and Chen, H and Xie, X and Hu, W and Tang, M}, title = {Transcriptional regulation of metal metabolism- and nutrient absorption-related genes in Eucalyptus grandis by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at different zinc concentrations.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {76}, pmid = {35193499}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Cytosol/metabolism ; Eucalyptus/drug effects/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/*metabolism/pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Eucalyptus spp. are candidates for phytoremediation in heavy metal (HM)-polluted soils as they can adapt to harsh environments, grow rapidly, and have good economic value. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most widely distributed plant symbiotic fungi in nature, and they play an important role in promoting the phytoremediation of HM-polluted soils. However, few studies have evaluated the HM detoxification mechanism of E. spp. in symbiosis with AMF, and thus, the molecular mechanism remains unclear.

RESULTS: The gene transcription and metabolic pathways of E. grandis were studied with and without inoculation with AMF and at different zinc (Zn) concentrations. Here, we focused on the transcript level of six HM-related gene families (ZNT, COPT/Ctr, YSL, ZIFL and CE). Under high-Zn conditions, thirteen genes (ZNT:2, COPT/Ctr:5, YSL:3, ZIFL:1, CE:2) were upregulated, whereas ten genes (ZNT:3, COPT/Ctr:2, YSL:3, ZIFL:1, CE:1) were downregulated. With AMF symbiosis under high-Zn conditions, ten genes (ZNT:4, COPT/Ctr:2, YSL:3, CE:1) were upregulated, whereas nineteen genes (ZNT:9, COPT/Ctr:2, YSL:3, ZIFL:4, CE:1) were downregulated. Under high-Zn conditions, genes of three potassium-related transporters, six phosphate transporters (PHTs), and two nitrate transporters (NRTs) were upregulated, whereas genes of four potassium-related transporters,four PHTs, and four nitrogen-related transporters were downregulated. With AMF symbiosis under high-Zn conditions, genes of two potassium-related transporters, six ammonium transporters (AMTs) and five PHTs were upregulated, whereas genes of six potassium-related transporters, two AMTs and five PHTs were downregulated.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicates that AMF increases the resistance of E. grandis to high-Zn stress by improving nutrients uptake and regulating Zn uptake at the gene transcription level. Meanwhile, our findings provide a genome-level resource for the functional assignments of key genes regulated by Zn treatment and AM symbiosis in six HM-associated gene families and macromineral nutrient-related gene families of E. grandis. This may contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of the response to Zn stress in E. grandis with AM symbiosis at the aspect of the interaction between HM tolerance and nutrient acquisition.}, } @article {pmid35193491, year = {2022}, author = {Li, A and Liu, A and Wu, S and Qu, K and Hu, H and Yang, J and Shrestha, N and Liu, J and Ren, G}, title = {Comparison of structural variants in the whole genome sequences of two Medicago truncatula ecotypes: Jemalong A17 and R108.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {77}, pmid = {35193491}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Chromatin/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Plant ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Ecotype ; Euchromatin/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; Heterochromatin/chemistry/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Structural variants (SVs) constitute a large proportion of the genomic variation that results in phenotypic variation in plants. However, they are still a largely unexplored feature in most plant genomes. Here, we present the whole-genome landscape of SVs between two model legume Medicago truncatula ecotypes-Jemalong A17 and R108- that have been extensively used in various legume biology studies.

RESULTS: To catalogue SVs, we first resolved the previously published R108 genome assembly (R108 v1.0) to chromosome-scale using 124 × Hi-C data, resulting in a high-quality genome assembly. The inter-chromosomal reciprocal translocations between chromosomes 4 and 8 were confirmed by performing syntenic analysis between the two genomes. Combined with the Hi-C data, it appears that these translocation events had a significant effect on chromatin organization. Using both whole-genome and short-read alignments, we identified the genomic landscape of SVs between the two genomes, some of which may account for several phenotypic differences, including their differential responses to aluminum toxicity and iron deficiency, and the development of different anthocyanin leaf markings. We also found extensive SVs within the nodule-specific cysteine-rich gene family which encodes antimicrobial peptides essential for terminal bacteroid differentiation during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a near-complete R108 genome assembly and the first genomic landscape of SVs obtained by comparing two M. truncatula ecotypes. This may provide valuable genomic resources for the functional and molecular research of legume biology in the future.}, } @article {pmid35192804, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, H and Li, A and Wang, J and Li, X and Cui, M and Yang, N and Liu, Y and Zhang, L and Wang, X and Zhan, G}, title = {A novel electrochemical sensor based on autotropic and heterotrophic nitrifying biofilm for trichloroacetic acid toxicity monitoring.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {210}, number = {}, pages = {112985}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.112985}, pmid = {35192804}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Bioreactors ; *Nitrification ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxygen ; *Trichloroacetic Acid ; Water ; }, abstract = {Trichloroacetic acid (TCA), a toxic substance produced in the disinfection process of wastewater treatment plants, will accumulate in the receiving water. The detection of TCA in the water can achieve the purpose of early warning. However, currently there are few reports on microbial sensors used for TCA detection, and the characteristics of their microbial communities are still unclear. In this work, a toxicity monitoring microbial system (TMMS) with nitrifying biofilm as a sensing element and cathode oxygen reduction as a current signal was successfully constructed for TCA detection. The current and nitrification rate showed a linear relationship with low TCA concentration from 0 to 50 μg/L (R[2]current = 0.9892, R[2]nitrification = 0.9860), and high concentration range from 50 to 5000 μg/L (R[2]current = 0.9883, R[2]nitrification = 0.9721). High-throughput sequencing revealed that the TMMS was composed of autotrophic/heterotrophic nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms. Further analysis via symbiotic relationship network demonstrated that Arenimonas and Hyphomicrobium were the core nodes for maintaining interaction between autotropic and heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that after adding TCA to TMMS, the carbon metabolism and the abundance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle pathway were reduced, and the activity of microorganisms was inhibited. TCA stress caused a low abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying functional enzymes, resulting in low oxygen consumption in the nitrification process, but more oxygen supply for cathode oxygen reduction. This work explored a novel sensor combined with electrochemistry and autotrophic/heterotrophic nitrification, which provided a new insight into the development of microbial monitoring of toxic substances.}, } @article {pmid35192238, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, X and Feng, H and He, J and Liang, X and Zhang, N and Shao, Y and Zhang, F and Lu, X}, title = {The gut commensal bacterium Enterococcus faecalis LX10 contributes to defending against Nosema bombycis infection in Bombyx mori.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {78}, number = {6}, pages = {2215-2227}, pmid = {35192238}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bombyx/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Enterococcus faecalis/genetics ; *Nosema/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microsporidia, a group of obligate intracellular fungal-related parasites, have been used as efficient biocontrol agents for agriculture and forestry pests due to their host specificity and transovarial transmission. They mainly infect insect pests through the intestinal tract, but the interactions between microsporidia and the gut microbiota of the host have not been well demonstrated.

RESULTS: Based on the microsporidia-Bombyx mori model, we report that the susceptibility of silkworms to exposure to the microsporidium Nosema bombycis was both dose and time dependent. Comparative analyses of the silkworm gut microbiome revealed substantially increased abundance of Enterococcus belonging to Firmicutes after N. bombycis infection. Furthermore, a bacterial strain (LX10) was obtained from the gut of B. mori and identified as Enterococcus faecalis based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis. E. faecalis LX10 reduced the N. bombycis spore germination rate and the infection efficiency in vitro and in vivo, as confirmed by bioassay tests and histopathological analyses. In addition, after simultaneous oral feeding with E. faecalis LX10 and N. bombycis, gene (Akirin, Cecropin A, Mesh, Ssk, DUOX and NOS) expression, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide levels, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity showed different degrees of recovery and correction compared with those under N. bombycis infection alone. Finally, the enterococcin LX protein was identified from sterile LX10 fermentation liquid based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis.

CONCLUSION: Altogether, the results revealed that E. faecalis LX10 with anti-N. bombycis activity might play an important role in protecting silkworms from microsporidia. Removal of these specific commensal bacteria with antibiotics and utilization of transgenic symbiotic systems may effectively improve the biocontrol value of microsporidia. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid35192073, year = {2022}, author = {Mani, S and Aiyegoro, OA and Adeleke, MA}, title = {Association between host genetics of sheep and the rumen microbial composition.}, journal = {Tropical animal health and production}, volume = {54}, number = {2}, pages = {109}, pmid = {35192073}, issn = {1573-7438}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Genome-Wide Association Study/veterinary ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rumen/microbiology ; Sheep/genetics ; }, abstract = {A synergy between the rumen microbiota and the host genetics has created a symbiotic relationship, beneficial to the host's health. In this study, the association between the host genetics and rumen microbiome of Damara and Meatmaster sheep was investigated. The composition of rumen microbiota was estimated through the analysis of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, while the sheep blood DNA was genotyped with Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip and the genome-wide association (GWA) was analyzed. Sixty significant SNPs dispersed in 21 regions across the Ovis aries genome were found to be associated with the relative abundance of seven genera: Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, Flavobacterium, Prevotella, Pseudomonas, and Streptobacillus. A total of eighty-four candidate genes were identified, and their functional annotations were mainly associated with immunity responses and function, metabolism, and signal transduction. Our results propose that those candidate genes identified in the study may be modulating the composition of rumen microbiota and further indicating the significance of comprehending the interactions between the host and rumen microbiota to gain better insight into the health of sheep.}, } @article {pmid35192066, year = {2022}, author = {Gruneck, L and Gentekaki, E and Khongphinitbunjong, K and Popluechai, S}, title = {Distinct gut microbiota profiles of Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) foragers.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {3}, pages = {187}, pmid = {35192066}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bees ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bee gut microbial communities have been studied extensively and linked to honey bee biology in terms of stages of bee development and behavior. Associations of bee gut microbiota in health and disease have also been explored. A large number of studies have centered on the gut microbiome of Apis mellifera, with similar investigations lagging far behind in Asian honey bee foragers. In this study, we characterized and compared the gut bacterial profiles of foragers and nurse bees of A. cerana and A. mellifera. Analysis of 16S rRNA partial gene sequences revealed significant differences in gut bacterial communities between the two honey bee species. Despite sharing dominant taxa, Bacteroides was more abundant in A. cerana, while Proteobacteria was higher in A. mellifera. Specific gut members are distinctly associated with hosts performing different tasks (i.e. nurse bees versus foragers). An exclusive abundance of Apibacter detected in Asian honey bee seemed to be a microbial signature of A. cerana foragers. Overall, our study highlights that variations in gut microbiota could be linked to task-specific (nurse bees and foragers) bacterial species associated with honey bees. Future investigations on the symbiotic relationship between host and the resident microbiota would be beneficial for improving honey bee health.}, } @article {pmid35191580, year = {2022}, author = {Li, G and Zheng, X and Zhu, Y and Long, Y and Xia, X}, title = {Bacillus symbiont drives alterations in intestinal microbiota and circulating metabolites of lepidopteran host.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {4049-4064}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15934}, pmid = {35191580}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; *Bacillus ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insecta/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Vitamin B Complex/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association between bacterial symbionts and insect hosts is a complicated process that is not completely understood. Herein, we used a silkworm model to study the association between symbiotic Bacillus and lepidopteran insect by investigating the changes in intestinal microbiota and hemolymph circulating metabolites of silkworm after symbiotic Bacillus subtilis treatment. Results showed that B. subtilis can generate a variety of primary and secondary metabolites, such as B vitamins and antimicrobial compounds, to provide micronutrients and enhance the pathogen resistance of their insect host. Shifts in the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Brevibacterium, Buttiauxella, Pseudomonas, Brevundimonas and Limnobacter had significant correlations with the concentrations of differential metabolites (e.g. phospholipids and certain amino acids) in insect hemolymph. The antimicrobial compounds secreted by B. subtilis were the primary driving force for the reconstruction of intestinal microbiota. Meanwhile, the altered levels of circulating metabolites in multiple metabolic pathways were potential adaptive mechanism of insect hosts in response to the shifts of intestinal microbiota. Our findings provided concrete evidence that bacterial intestinal symbiont can alter the physiological state of insects and highlighted the importance of the compositional alterations of intestinal microbiota as a source of variation in circulating metabolites of insect hosts.}, } @article {pmid35191490, year = {2022}, author = {Ba, F and Liu, Y and Liu, WQ and Tian, X and Li, J}, title = {SYMBIOSIS: synthetic manipulable biobricks via orthogonal serine integrase systems.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {50}, number = {5}, pages = {2973-2985}, pmid = {35191490}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Integrases/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; *Serine/genetics ; Synthetic Biology/*methods ; }, abstract = {Serine integrases are emerging as one of the most powerful biological tools for synthetic biology. They have been widely used across genome engineering and genetic circuit design. However, developing serine integrase-based tools for directly/precisely manipulating synthetic biobricks is still missing. Here, we report SYMBIOSIS, a versatile method that can robustly manipulate DNA parts in vivo and in vitro. First, we propose a 'keys match locks' model to demonstrate that three orthogonal serine integrases are able to irreversibly and stably switch on seven synthetic biobricks with high accuracy in vivo. Then, we demonstrate that purified integrases can facilitate the assembly of 'donor' and 'acceptor' plasmids in vitro to construct composite plasmids. Finally, we use SYMBIOSIS to assemble different chromoprotein genes and create novel colored Escherichia coli. We anticipate that our SYMBIOSIS strategy will accelerate synthetic biobrick manipulation, genetic circuit design and multiple plasmid assembly for synthetic biology with broad potential applications.}, } @article {pmid35191483, year = {2022}, author = {Berry, D and Lee, K and Winter, D and Mace, W and Becker, Y and Nagabhyru, P and Treindl, AD and Bogantes, EV and Young, CA and Leuchtmann, A and Johnson, LJ and Johnson, RD and Cox, MP and Schardl, CL and Scott, B}, title = {Cross-species transcriptomics identifies core regulatory changes differentiating the asymptomatic asexual and virulent sexual life cycles of grass-symbiotic Epichloë fungi.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35191483}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; *Epichloe/genetics ; Life Cycle Stages ; Poaceae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Fungi from the genus Epichloë form systemic endobiotic infections of cool season grasses, producing a range of host-protective natural products in return for access to nutrients. These infections are asymptomatic during vegetative host growth, with associations between asexual Epichloë spp. and their hosts considered mutualistic. However, the sexual cycle of Epichloë spp. involves virulent growth, characterized by the envelopment and sterilization of a developing host inflorescence by a dense sheath of mycelia known as a stroma. Microscopic analysis of stromata revealed a dramatic increase in hyphal propagation and host degradation compared with asymptomatic tissues. RNAseq was used to identify differentially expressed genes in asymptomatic vs stromatized tissues from 3 diverse Epichloë-host associations. Comparative analysis identified a core set of 135 differentially expressed genes that exhibited conserved transcriptional changes across all 3 associations. The core differentially expressed genes more strongly expressed during virulent growth encode proteins associated with host suppression, digestion, adaptation to the external environment, a biosynthetic gene cluster, and 5 transcription factors that may regulate Epichloë stroma formation. An additional 5 transcription factor encoding differentially expressed genes were suppressed during virulent growth, suggesting they regulate mutualistic processes. Expression of biosynthetic gene clusters for natural products that suppress herbivory was universally suppressed during virulent growth, and additional biosynthetic gene clusters that may encode production of novel host-protective natural products were identified. A comparative analysis of 26 Epichloë genomes found a general decrease in core differentially expressed gene conservation among asexual species, and a specific decrease in conservation for the biosynthetic gene cluster expressed during virulent growth and an unusual uncharacterized gene.}, } @article {pmid35191478, year = {2022}, author = {Gupta, S and Schillaci, M and Roessner, U}, title = {Metabolomics as an emerging tool to study plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Emerging topics in life sciences}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {175-183}, pmid = {35191478}, issn = {2397-8554}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Genomics/methods ; *Metabolomics/methods ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In natural environments, interaction between plant roots and microorganisms are common. These interactions between microbial species and plants inhabited by them are being studied using various techniques. Metabolomics research based on mass spectrometric techniques is one of the crucial approaches that underpins system biology and relies on precision instrument analysis. In the last decade, this emerging field has received extensive attention. It provides a qualitative and quantitative approach for determining the mechanisms of symbiosis of bacteria and fungi with plants and also helps to elucidate the tolerance mechanisms of host plants against various abiotic stresses. However, this -omics application and its tools in plant-microbe interaction studies is still underutilized compared with genomic and transcriptomic methods. Therefore, it is crucial to bring this field forward to bear on the study of plant resistance and susceptibility. This review describes the current status of methods and progress in metabolomics applications for plant-microbe interaction studies discussing current challenges and future prospects.}, } @article {pmid35191335, year = {2022}, author = {Folkers, A and Opitz, S}, title = {Low-carbon cows: From microbial metabolism to the symbiotic planet.}, journal = {Social studies of science}, volume = {52}, number = {3}, pages = {330-352}, pmid = {35191335}, issn = {1460-3659}, mesh = {Animals ; *Carbon ; Cattle ; Climate Change ; *Planets ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This article focuses on two projects - one at a large chemical company and the other at a small start-up - to intervene in the relations between cows and ruminal microbes to reduce bovine methane emissions. It describes these interventions as 'symbiotic engineering': a biopolitical technique targeting holobionts and becoming effective by working on interlaced sets of living things. Based on the analysis of these cases, the article elucidates a planetary symbiopolitics (Helmreich) that connects 'molecular biopolitics' (Rose) and 'microbiopolitics' (Paxson) to 'bovine biopolitics' (Lorimer, Driessen) and the politics of climate change. We critically investigate the spatial imaginaries of symbiotic engineering practices that single out the microbial realm as an Archimedean point to address planetary problems. This technoscientific vision resonates with the notion of the 'symbiotic planet' advanced by Lynn Margulis that depicts the Earth System, or Gaia, as a vast set of relations among living things down to the tiniest microbes. Margulis' concept, as well as the 'symbiotic view of life' (Gilbert, Scott, Sapp) has been embraced in recent debates in STS as a way to think of multispecies worldings. The article contributes critically to these debates by showing what happens when the topology of the symbiotic Earth becomes the operating space for symbiotic engineering practices.}, } @article {pmid35190599, year = {2022}, author = {Yoshioka, Y and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Shinzato, C}, title = {Larval transcriptomic responses of a stony coral, Acropora tenuis, during initial contact with the native symbiont, Symbiodinium microadriaticum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {2854}, pmid = {35190599}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Larva/*genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Although numerous dinoflagellate species (Family Symbiodiniaceae) are present in coral reef environments, Acropora corals tend to select a single species, Symbiodinium microadriaticum, in early life stages, even though this species is rarely found in mature colonies. In order to identify molecular mechanisms involved in initial contact with native symbionts, we analyzed transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis larvae at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after their first contact with S. microadriaticum, as well as with non-native symbionts, including the non-symbiotic S. natans and the occasional symbiont, S. tridacnidorum. Some gene expression changes were detected in larvae inoculated with non-native symbionts at 1 h post-inoculation, but those returned to baseline levels afterward. In contrast, when larvae were exposed to native symbionts, we found that the number of differentially expressed genes gradually increased in relation to inoculation time. As a specific response to native symbionts, upregulation of pattern recognition receptor-like and transporter genes, and suppression of cellular function genes related to immunity and apoptosis, were exclusively observed. These findings indicate that coral larvae recognize differences between symbionts, and when the appropriate symbionts infect, they coordinate gene expression to establish stable mutualism.}, } @article {pmid35189702, year = {2022}, author = {Ravi, K and Falkowski, NR and Scales, BS and Akulava, VD and Valentovich, LN and Huffnagle, GB}, title = {The Psychrotrophic Pseudomonas lundensis, a Non-aeruginosa Pseudomonad, Has a Type III Secretion System of the Ysc Family, Which Is Transcriptionally Active at 37°C.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0386921}, pmid = {35189702}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 HL007749/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL121774/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI138348/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Cystic Fibrosis ; Humans ; Mammals/metabolism ; Mice ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism ; *Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a needle-like structure found in Gram-negative pathogens that directly delivers virulence factors like toxins and effector molecules into eukaryotic cells. The T3SS is classified into different families according to the type of effector and host. Of these, the Ysc family T3SS, found in Yersinia species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, confers high virulence to bacteria against eukaryotic hosts. Here, we present the first identification and transcriptional analyses of a Ysc T3SS in a non-aeruginosa Pseudomonas species, Pseudomonas lundensis, an environmental psychrotrophic bacterium and important agent of frozen food spoilage. We have identified and sequenced isolates of P. lundensis from three very distinct ecological niches (Antarctic temporary meltwater pond, U.S. supermarket 1% pasteurized milk, and cystic fibrosis lungs) and compared these to previously reported food spoilage isolates in Europe. In this paper, we show that strains of P. lundensis isolated from these diverse environments with ambient temperatures ranging from below freezing to 37°C all possess a Ysc family T3SS secretion system and a T3S effector, ExoU. Using in vitro and in vivo transcriptomics, we show that the T3SS in P. lundensis is transcriptionally active, is expressed more highly at mammalian body temperature (37°C) than 4°C, and has even higher expression levels when colonizing a host environment (mouse intestine). Thus, this Ysc T3SS-expressing psychrotrophic Pseudomonad has an even greater range of growth niches than previously appreciated, including diseased human airways. IMPORTANCE P. lundensis strains have been isolated from environments that are distinct and diverse in both nutrient availability and environmental pressures (cold food spoilage, Antarctic melt ponds, cystic fibrosis lungs). As a species, this bacterium can grow in diverse niches that markedly vary in available nutrients and temperature, and in our study, we show that these various strains share greater than 99% sequence similarity. In addition, all isolates studied here encoded complete homologs of the Ysc family T3SS seen in P. aeruginosa. Until recently, P. aeruginosa has remained as the only Pseudomonas species to have a characterized functional Ysc (Psc) family T3SS. With the identification of a complete Ysc T3SS in P. lundensis that is expressed at 37°C in vivo, it is intriguing to wonder whether this bacterium may indeed have some level of symbiotic activity, of yet unknown type, when consumed by a mammalian host.}, } @article {pmid35189356, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, J and Wang, B and Lai, Q and Lu, Y and Li, L and Li, Y and Liu, S}, title = {Boosted growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity and disease resistance of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) by single or in combination dietary Bacillus subtilis and xylo-oligosaccharides.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {109296}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109296}, pmid = {35189356}, issn = {1532-0456}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Bacillus subtilis/metabolism ; *Carps/metabolism ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements ; Disease Resistance ; *Fish Diseases ; Goldfish/metabolism ; *Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/veterinary ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {In this study, a total of 420 healthy crucian carp (9.77 ± 0.04 g) were randomly divided into CK, B·S, XOS and B·S + XOS group, and cultured for 8 weeks. Results showed that the dietary Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) can significantly increased the final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, protein efficiency and survival rate of crucian carp. Dietary B. subtilis and XOS can significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity, significantly decreased the contents of malondialdehyde, and significantly increased the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lysozyme and the contents of complement component 3,4 and immunoglobulin M in crucian carp serum. In addition, compared with CK group, the expression levels of TGF-β and IL-10 in B·S, XOS and B·S + XOS group were significantly increased, and the expression levels of TNF-α, HSP90, IL-1β, TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly decreased. Supplementation of B. subtilis and XOS can also improve the intestinal tissue morphology of crucian carp. After injection of 1 × 10[7] CFU/mL Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila), compared with CK group, the survival rates of the B·S group, the XOS group and the B·S + XOS group were increased by 13.98%, 10.56% and 30.74%, respectively. These results show that dietary B. subtilis and XOS can significantly improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity and resistance to A. hydrophila of crucian carp, and the combined effect is better than that of single addition.}, } @article {pmid35188189, year = {2022}, author = {Yi, X and Liu, J and Chen, S and Wu, H and Liu, M and Xu, Q and Lei, L and Lee, S and Zhang, B and Kudrna, D and Fan, W and Wing, RA and Wang, X and Zhang, M and Zhang, J and Yang, C and Chen, N}, title = {Genome assembly of the JD17 soybean provides a new reference genome for comparative genomics.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {35188189}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; INDEL Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Soybeans/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cultivated soybean (Glycine max) is an important source for protein and oil. Many elite cultivars with different traits have been developed for different conditions. Each soybean strain has its own genetic diversity, and the availability of more high-quality soybean genomes can enhance comparative genomic analysis for identifying genetic underpinnings for its unique traits. In this study, we constructed a high-quality de novo assembly of an elite soybean cultivar Jidou 17 (JD17) with chromosome contiguity and high accuracy. We annotated 52,840 gene models and reconstructed 74,054 high-quality full-length transcripts. We performed a genome-wide comparative analysis based on the reference genome of JD17 with 3 published soybeans (WM82, ZH13, and W05), which identified 5 large inversions and 2 large translocations specific to JD17, 20,984-46,912 presence-absence variations spanning 13.1-46.9 Mb in size. A total of 1,695,741-3,664,629 SNPs and 446,689-800,489 Indels were identified and annotated between JD17 and them. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation genes were identified and the effects from these variants were further evaluated. It was found that the coding sequences of 9 nitrogen fixation-related genes were greatly affected. The high-quality genome assembly of JD17 can serve as a valuable reference for soybean functional genomics research.}, } @article {pmid35188058, year = {2022}, author = {Xiao, Y and Zou, H and Li, J and Song, T and Lv, W and Wang, W and Wang, Z and Tao, S}, title = {Impact of quorum sensing signaling molecules in gram-negative bacteria on host cells: current understanding and future perspectives.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2039048}, pmid = {35188058}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; *Quorum Sensing/physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing is a molecular signaling-based communication mechanism in prokaryotes. In the basic mode, signaling molecules released by certain bacteria are sensed by intracellular receptors or membrane-bound receptors of other members in the community, leading to the collective isogenic signaling molecule synthesis and synchronized activities. This regulation is important for the symbiosis of the bacterium with the host, as well as virulence and biofilm formation. Notably, quorum sensing signaling molecules are not only able to control microbial community behavior but can likewise regulate the physiological status of host cells. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the importance of quorum sensing signaling molecules in gram-negative bacteria in regulating host cell function and gut health, and suggest possible opportunities for application in combating human and animal diseases by blocking the pathways through which quorum sensing signaling molecules exert their functions.}, } @article {pmid35187843, year = {2022}, author = {Nofar, M and Utz, J and Geis, N and Altstädt, V and Ruckdäschel, H}, title = {Foam 3D Printing of Thermoplastics: A Symbiosis of Additive Manufacturing and Foaming Technology.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e2105701}, pmid = {35187843}, issn = {2198-3844}, mesh = {Polymers/chemistry ; Porosity ; *Printing, Three-Dimensional ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Due to their light-weight and cost-effectiveness, cellular thermoplastic foams are considered as important engineering materials. On the other hand, additive manufacturing or 3D printing is one of the emerging and fastest growing manufacturing technologies due to its advantages such as design freedom and tool-less production. Nowadays, 3D printing of polymer compounds is mostly limited to manufacturing of solid parts. In this context, a merged foaming and printing technology can introduce a great alternative for the currently used foam manufacturing technologies such as foam injection molding. This perspective review article tackles the attempts taken toward initiating this novel technology to simultaneously foam and print thermoplastics. After explaining the basics of polymer foaming and additive manufacturing, this article classifies different attempts that have been made toward generating foamed printed structures while highlighting their challenges. These attempts are clustered into 1) architected porous structures, 2) syntactic foaming, 3) post-foaming of printed parts, and eventually 4) printing of blowing agents saturated filaments. Among these, the latest approach is the most practical route although it has not been thoroughly studied yet. A filament free approach that can be introduced as a potential strategy to unlock the difficulties to produce printed foam structures is also proposed.}, } @article {pmid35187492, year = {2022}, author = {Juhaszova, M and Kobrinsky, E and Zorov, DB and Nuss, HB and Yaniv, Y and Fishbein, KW and de Cabo, R and Montoliu, L and Gabelli, SB and Aon, MA and Cortassa, S and Sollott, SJ}, title = {ATP Synthase K[+]- and H[+]-fluxes Drive ATP Synthesis and Enable Mitochondrial K[+]-"Uniporter" Function: II. Ion and ATP Synthase Flux Regulation.}, journal = {Function (Oxford, England)}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {zqac001}, pmid = {35187492}, issn = {2633-8823}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases/genetics ; *Mitochondria/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We demonstrated that ATP synthase serves the functions of a primary mitochondrial K[+] "uniporter," i.e., the primary way for K[+] to enter mitochondria. This K[+] entry is proportional to ATP synthesis, regulating matrix volume and energy supply-vs-demand matching. We show that ATP synthase can be upregulated by endogenous survival-related proteins via IF1. We identified a conserved BH3-like domain of IF1 which overlaps its "minimal inhibitory domain" that binds to the β-subunit of F1. Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 possess a BH3-binding-groove that can engage IF1 and exert effects, requiring this interaction, comparable to diazoxide to augment ATP synthase's H[+] and K[+] flux and ATP synthesis. Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, but not Bcl-2, serve as endogenous regulatory ligands of ATP synthase via interaction with IF1 at this BH3-like domain, to increase its chemo-mechanical efficiency, enabling its function as the recruitable mitochondrial KATP-channel that can limit ischemia-reperfusion injury. Using Bayesian phylogenetic analysis to examine potential bacterial IF1-progenitors, we found that IF1 is likely an ancient (∼2 Gya) Bcl-family member that evolved from primordial bacteria resident in eukaryotes, corresponding to their putative emergence as symbiotic mitochondria, and functioning to prevent their parasitic ATP consumption inside the host cell.}, } @article {pmid35185856, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, R and Wang, L and Xie, J and Zhang, Z}, title = {Corrigendum: Diversity and Function of Wolf Spider Gut Microbiota Revealed by Shotgun Metagenomics.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {849170}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2022.849170}, pmid = {35185856}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.758794.].}, } @article {pmid35185849, year = {2022}, author = {Mousa, WK and Chehadeh, F and Husband, S}, title = {Recent Advances in Understanding the Structure and Function of the Human Microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {825338}, pmid = {35185849}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Trillions of microbes live within our bodies in a deep symbiotic relationship. Microbial populations vary across body sites, driven by differences in the environment, immunological factors, and interactions between microbial species. Major advances in genome sequencing enable a better understanding of microbiome composition. However, most of the microbial taxa and species of the human microbiome are still unknown. Without revealing the identity of these microbes as a first step, we cannot appreciate their role in human health and diseases. A shift in the microbial balance, termed dysbiosis, is linked to a broad range of diseases from simple colitis and indigestion to cancer and dementia. The last decade has witnessed an explosion in microbiome research that led to a better understanding of the microbiome structure and function. This understanding leads to potential opportunities to develop next-generation microbiome-based drugs and diagnostic biomarkers. However, our understanding is limited given the highly personalized nature of the microbiome and its complex and multidirectional interactions with the host. In this review, we discuss: (1) our current knowledge of microbiome structure and factors that shape the microbial composition, (2) recent associations between microbiome dysbiosis and diseases, and (3) opportunities of new microbiome-based therapeutics. We analyze common themes, promises, gaps, and challenges of the microbiome research.}, } @article {pmid35185819, year = {2021}, author = {Xing, YM and Li, B and Liu, L and Li, Y and Yin, SX and Yin, SC and Chen, J and Guo, SX}, title = {Armillaria mellea Symbiosis Drives Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Changes in Polyporus umbellatus Sclerotia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {792530}, pmid = {35185819}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sclerotia, the medicinal part of Polyporus umbellatus, play important roles in diuresis and renal protection, with steroids and polysaccharides as the main active ingredients. The sclerotia grow and develop only after symbiosis with Armillaria sp. In this study, a systematic metabolomics based on non-targeted UPLC-MS method was carried out between the infected part of the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia (QR) and the uninfected part (the control group, CK) to find and identify differential metabolites. The biosynthetic pathway of characteristic steroids in sclerotia of P. umbellatus was deduced and the content of ergosterol, polyporusterone A and B in the QR and CK groups were detected with the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, the expression patterns of putative genes associated with steroid biosynthesis pathway were also performed with quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that a total of 258 metabolites originated from fungi with the fragmentation score more than 45 and high resolution mass were identified, based on UPLC-MS metabolomic analysis, and there were 118 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between both groups. The metabolic pathways indicated that steroids, fatty acid and carbohydrate were active and enriched during P. umbellatus sclerotia infected by A. mellea. The content of ergosterol, polyporusterone A and B in the QR group increased by 32.2, 75.0, and 20.0%, in comparison to that of the control group. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that series of enzymes including C-8 sterol isomerase (ERG2), sterol C-24 methyltransferase (ERG6) and sterol 22-desaturase (ERG5), which played important roles in the final steps of ergosterol biosynthesis, all presented up-regulated patterns in the QR group in P. umbellatus. The comprehensive metabolomic and transcriptomic information will contribute to further study concerning the mechanisms of P. umbellatus sclerotial formation infected by A. mellea in the future.}, } @article {pmid35184701, year = {2022}, author = {Huang, L and Xie, T and Wang, Y and Tan, S and Lu, Z and Wang, L and Mo, C}, title = {Symbiotic treatment of ammonia-nitrogen wastewater by algae and activated sludge: effects of algae and sludge inoculation rates.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2022.2044919}, pmid = {35184701}, issn = {1479-487X}, abstract = {A symbiotic microalgal-bacterial system may be an optional technology for wastewater treatment. It was composed of microalgae and activated sludge and established in the SBR to explore the effect of different dosing ratios of algae and sludge on the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from simulated wastewater containing ammonium. It can be seen from the result that varied algae-sludge dosing ratios had a higher removal effect on COD removal, but the difference was not significant. The algal-bacterial symbiosis system had a 100% removal rate for ammonium removal on the 8th day. Relatively speaking, the removal of nutrients and related mechanisms vary with environmental conditions (inoculation rate). In general, when the additive ratio was 5:1 (algae: AS), the removal rate of TN and TP was the highest, reaching 53.85% and 85.13% in the shortest time (14 days), among them, the removal rate of ammonium and COD was 100%, and the reduction rates of Nitrite nitrogen and Nitrate nitrogen were 362.99% and 73.42%, respectively. In addition, 16S rDNA gene analysis results demonstrated that the microbial community in the reactor with algal sludge inoculation ratio of 5:1 had differences in three stages of the initial reaction, the middle reaction and the end of the reaction. Comamonadaceae, Flavobacterium, Paenarthrobacter, Mesorhizobium, Nitrobacter were enriched during the reaction operation.}, } @article {pmid35184190, year = {2022}, author = {Hu, XL and Zhang, J and Kaundal, R and Kataria, R and Labbé, JL and Mitchell, JC and Tschaplinski, TJ and Tuskan, GA and Cheng, ZM and Yang, X}, title = {Diversity and conservation of plant small secreted proteins associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35184190}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is widespread mutualistic association between plants and fungi, which plays an essential role in nutrient exchange, enhancement in plant stress resistance, development of host, and ecosystem sustainability. Previous studies have shown that plant small secreted proteins (SSPs) are involved in beneficial symbiotic interactions. However, the role of SSPs in the evolution of AMS has not been well studied yet. In this study, we performed computational analysis of SSPs in 60 plant species and identified three AMS-specific ortholog groups containing SSPs only from at least 30% of the AMS species in this study and three AMS-preferential ortholog groups containing SSPs from both AMS and non-AMS species, with AMS species containing significantly more SSPs than non-AMS species. We found that independent lineages of monocot and eudicot plants contained genes in the AMS-specific ortholog groups and had significant expansion in the AMS-preferential ortholog groups. Also, two AMS-preferential ortholog groups showed convergent changes, between monocot and eudicot species, in gene expression in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Furthermore, conserved cis-elements were identified in the promoter regions of the genes showing convergent gene expression. We found that the SSPs, and their closely related homologs, in each of three AMS-preferential ortholog groups, had some local variations in the protein structural alignment. We also identified genes co-expressed with the Populus trichocarpa SSP genes in the AMS-preferential ortholog groups. This first plant kingdom-wide analysis on SSP provides insights on plant-AMS convergent evolution with specific SSP gene expression and local diversification of protein structures.}, } @article {pmid35183637, year = {2022}, author = {Nicastro, KR and Seuront, L and McQuaid, CD and Zardi, GI}, title = {Symbiont-induced intraspecific phenotypic variation enhances plastic trapping and ingestion in biogenic habitats.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {826}, number = {}, pages = {153922}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153922}, pmid = {35183637}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Variation, Population ; Eating ; Ecosystem ; Microplastics ; *Mytilus ; Plastics ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {Plastic contamination has major effects on biodiversity, enhancing the consequences of other forms of global anthropogenic disturbance such as climate change and habitat fragmentation. Despite this and the recognised importance of intraspecific diversity, we still know relatively little about how plastic pollution affects diversity below the species level. Here, we assessed the effects of intraspecific variation in a habitat forming species (the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis) on the trapping and ingestion of microplastics. We focused on symbiont-induced phenotypic variation in mussel beds. Using fractal analysis, we measured an increase in the complexity of mussel bed surfaces by ca. 15% caused by phototropic shell-degrading endoliths. By simulating high tide flow conditions and incoming waves, we found that symbionts significantly increased microplastic accumulation in mussel beds. This likely reflects deceleration of near-bed flow velocities, creation of turbulence in the bottom boundary layer and consequently increased particle retention. This effect was not constant at high tide, with no effect of infestation on retention at the base of the mussel bed under mid and high flow conditions and reduced microplastic trapping on the surface of mussel shells. Nevertheless, under natural conditions, the ingestion and trapping of microplastic were higher by the mussels comprising beds with symbionts than those in beds without symbionts. Given the dependency of many species on mussel biogenic habitats, there is an increased risk of plastics moving up the food chain in mussel beds infested by symbiotic endoliths. Our results highlight how the effects of within-species phenotypic diversity may influence the consequences of rising levels of plastic pollution.}, } @article {pmid35183556, year = {2022}, author = {Wlodawer, A and Sekula, B and Gustchina, A and Rotanova, TV}, title = {Structure and the Mode of Activity of Lon Proteases from Diverse Organisms.}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology}, volume = {434}, number = {7}, pages = {167504}, pmid = {35183556}, issn = {1089-8638}, support = {Z01 BC010348/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {ATP-Dependent Proteases/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; *Protease La/chemistry/classification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lon proteases, members of the AAA[+] superfamily of enzymes, are key components of the protein quality control system in bacterial cells, as well as in the mitochondria and other specialized organelles of higher organisms. These enzymes have been subject of extensive biochemical and structural investigations, resulting in 72 crystal and solution structures, including structures of the individual domains, multi-domain constructs, and full-length proteins. However, interpretation of the latter structures still leaves some questions unanswered. Based on their amino acid sequence and details of their structure, Lon proteases can be divided into at least three subfamilies, designated as LonA, LonB, and LonC. Protomers of all Lons are single-chain polypeptides and contain two functional domains, ATPase and protease. The LonA enzymes additionally include a large N-terminal region, and different Lons may also include non-conserved inserts in the principal domains. These ATP-dependent proteases function as homohexamers, in which unfolded substrates are translocated to a large central chamber where they undergo proteolysis by a processive mechanism. X-ray crystal structures provided high-resolution models which verified that Lons are hydrolases with the rare Ser-Lys catalytic dyad. Full-length LonA enzymes have been investigated by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), providing description of the functional enzyme at different stages of the catalytic cycle, indicating extensive flexibility of their N-terminal domains, and revealing insights into the substrate translocation mechanism. Structural studies of Lon proteases provide an interesting case for symbiosis of X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, currently the two principal techniques for determination of macromolecular structures.}, } @article {pmid35183339, year = {2022}, author = {Kwasiborski, A and Bastide, F and Hamon, B and Poupard, P and Simoneau, P and Guillemette, T}, title = {In silico analysis of RNA interference components and miRNAs-like RNAs in the seed-borne necrotrophic fungus Alternariabrassicicola.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {126}, number = {3}, pages = {224-234}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2021.12.004}, pmid = {35183339}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Alternaria/genetics ; *Arabidopsis/microbiology ; *MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Seeds ; }, abstract = {RNA interference is a mechanism of suppressing gene expression in plants, animals and fungi. This regulation mechanism involves three main enzymes, Dicers (Dcr), Argonautes (Ago) and RNA Dependent RNA Polymerases (Rdrp) allowing to produce smallRNAs. RNA interference and smallRNAs have a role in the plant-microorganisms interaction, either in a pathogenic or in a symbiotic relationships. Alternaria brassicicola is a pathogenic fungus of the Brassicaceae plants. During plant infection, it is able to transmit itself vertically and horizontally, giving advantages for new infection and dissemination. To investigate RNA interference and the presence of smallRNAs in A. brassicicola, an in silico analysis was achieved. Two DCR, 4 AGO and 3 RDRP genes were identified comforting the presence of smallRNAs in A. brassicicola. SmallRNA sequencing from wild-type strain and DCR deleted mutants allowed the identifcation of 17 miRNAs in A. brassicicola. The synthesis of these miRNAs is only weakly influenced by the inactivation of DCR genes suggesting the possible existence of an alternative Dicer-independent miRNA synthesis pathway. Target's prediction of A. brassicicola miRNAs identified genes in the fungus and in the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana. Some miRNAs were predicted to target A. thaliana genes involved in the methylation of histone and in the disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid35183231, year = {2022}, author = {Dehghan, H and Mosa-Kazemi, SH and Yakhchali, B and Maleki-Ravasan, N and Vatandoost, H and Oshaghi, MA}, title = {Evaluation of anti-malaria potency of wild and genetically modified Enterobacter cloacae expressing effector proteins in Anopheles stephensi.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {63}, pmid = {35183231}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anopheles/parasitology ; *Antimalarials ; Enterobacter cloacae/genetics ; Female ; *Malaria/prevention & control ; Mice ; Plasmodium berghei/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria is one of the most lethal infectious diseases in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Paratransgenesis using symbiotic bacteria offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy to combat this disease. In the study reported here, we evaluated the disruption of malaria transmission in the Anopheles stephensi-Plasmodium berghei assemblage using the wild-type (WT) and three modified strains of the insect gut bacterium, Enterobacter cloacae.

METHODS: The assay was carried out using the E. cloacae dissolvens WT and three engineered strains (expressing green fluorescent protein-defensin (GFP-D), scorpine-HasA (S-HasA) and HasA only, respectively). Cotton wool soaked in a solution of 5% (wt/vol) fructose + red dye (1/50 ml) laced with one of the bacterial strains (1 × 10[9]cells/ml) was placed overnight in cages containing female An. stephensi mosquitoes (age: 3-5 days). Each group of sugar-fed mosquitoes was then starved for 4-6 h, following which time they were allowed to blood-feed on P. berghei-infected mice for 20 min in the dark at 17-20 °C. The blood-fed mosquitoes were kept at 19 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 5% relative humidity, and parasite infection was measured by midgut dissection and oocyst counting 10 days post-infection (dpi).

RESULTS: Exposure to both WT and genetically modified E. cloacae dissolvens strains significantly (P < 0.0001) disrupted P. berghei development in the midgut of An. stephensi, in comparison with the control group. The mean parasite inhibition of E. cloacae[WT], E. cloacae[HasA], E. cloacae[S-HasA] and E. cloacae[GFP-D] was measured as 72, 86, 92.5 and 92.8 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The WT and modified strains of E. cloacae have the potential to abolish oocyst development by providing a physical barrier or through the excretion of intrinsic effector molecules. These findings reinforce the case for the use of either WT or genetically modified strains of E. cloacae bacteria as a powerful tool to combat malaria.}, } @article {pmid35179208, year = {2022}, author = {Roberty, S and Plumier, JC}, title = {Bleaching physiology: who's the 'weakest link' - host vs. symbiont?.}, journal = {Emerging topics in life sciences}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {17-32}, doi = {10.1042/ETLS20210228}, pmid = {35179208}, issn = {2397-8554}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Respiration ; Climate Change ; *Cnidaria ; *Dinoflagellida ; Ecosystem ; }, abstract = {Environmental stress, such as an increase in the sea surface temperature, triggers coral bleaching, a profound dysfunction of the mutualist symbiosis between the host cnidarians and their photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the Family Symbiodiniaceae. Because of climate change, mass coral bleaching events will increase in frequency and severity in the future, threatening the persistence of this iconic marine ecosystem at global scale. Strategies adapted to coral reefs preservation and restoration may stem from the identification of the succession of events and of the different molecular and cellular contributors to the bleaching phenomenon. To date, studies aiming to decipher the cellular cascade leading to temperature-related bleaching, emphasized the involvement of reactive species originating from compromised bioenergetic pathways (e.g. cellular respiration and photosynthesis). These molecules are responsible for damage to various cellular components causing the dysregulation of cellular homeostasis and the breakdown of symbiosis. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge available in the literature on the cellular mechanisms caused by thermal stress, which can initiate or participate in the cell cascade leading to the loss of symbionts, with a particular emphasis on the role of each partner in the initiating processes.}, } @article {pmid35177632, year = {2022}, author = {Tong, L and Huang, S and Shen, Y and Liu, S and Ma, X and Zhu, F and Chen, G and Ouyang, G}, title = {Atomically unveiling the structure-activity relationship of biomacromolecule-metal-organic frameworks symbiotic crystal.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {951}, pmid = {35177632}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Crystallization ; Metal-Organic Frameworks/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy ; }, abstract = {Crystallization of biomacromolecules-metal-organic frameworks (BMOFs) allows for orderly assemble of symbiotic hybrids with desirable biological and chemical functions in one voxel. The structure-activity relationship of this symbiotic crystal, however, is still blurred. Here, we directly identify the atomic-level structure of BMOFs, using the integrated differential phase contrast-scanning transmission electron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy and x-ray absorption fine structure techniques. We discover an obvious difference in the nanoarchitecture of BMOFs under different crystallization pathways that was previously not seen. In addition, we find the nanoarchitecture significantly affects the bioactivity of the BMOFs. This work gives an important insight into the structure-activity relationship of BMOFs synthesized in different scenarios, and may act as a guide to engineer next-generation materials with excellent biological and chemical functions.}, } @article {pmid35175637, year = {2022}, author = {Fan, W and Xia, C and Wang, S and Liu, J and Deng, L and Sun, S and Wang, X}, title = {Rhizobial infection of 4C cells triggers their endoreduplication during symbiotic nodule development in soybean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {3}, pages = {1018-1030}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18036}, pmid = {35175637}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endoreduplication ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia results in the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Endoreduplication is essential for nodule development and efficient nitrogen fixation; however, the cellular mechanism by which rhizobial infection causes endoreduplication in symbiotic nodules and the roles of the resulting polyploid cells in nitrogen fixation remain largely unknown. Here, we developed a series of different approaches to separate infected cells (ICs) and uninfected cells (UCs) and determined their ploidy levels in soybean (Glycine max) developing nodules. We demonstrated that 4C nuclei exist in both UCs and ICs of developing nodules and that these 4C cells are primarily invaded by rhizobia and subsequently undergo endoreduplication. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing analysis of nuclei with different ploidy levels from soybean nodules at 12 d post-infection (dpi) and 20 dpi showed that 4C cells are predominantly ICs in 12-dpi nodules but UCs in 20-dpi nodules. We conclude that the infection of 4C cells by rhizobia is critical for initiating endoreduplication. These findings provide significant insight into rhizobial infection, nodule endoreduplication and nitrogen fixation in symbiotic nodules.}, } @article {pmid35175624, year = {2022}, author = {}, title = {Pietro Spanu.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {6}, pages = {2337-2339}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17989}, pmid = {35175624}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Plant Diseases ; }, } @article {pmid35175121, year = {2022}, author = {Shiohama, Y and Takeshita, K and Hirakata, Y and Nobu, MK and Ito, M and Shinzato, N}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of "Candidatus Hydrogeosomobacter endosymbioticus," an Intracellular Bacterial Symbiont of the Anaerobic Ciliate Scuticociliate GW7.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0115021}, pmid = {35175121}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {The bacterium "Candidatus Hydrogenosomobacter endosymbioticus" is an intracellular symbiont of anaerobic scuticociliate GW7, which is associated with hydrogenosome together with methanogenic archaea. Here, we report a complete genome sequence of the symbiont consisting of 827 kbp. Knowing this sequence would contribute to the understanding of the metabolic interactions and evolution of the tripartite symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35174688, year = {2022}, author = {Şanlibaba, P and Toprak, ZTT and Tezel, BU}, title = {The role of probiotics on slowing down the aging process.}, journal = {Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {53-66}, doi = {10.17306/J.AFS.1013}, pmid = {35174688}, issn = {1898-9594}, mesh = {Aged ; Aging ; Dysbiosis/therapy ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; *Quality of Life ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is one of the most complex ecosystems in nature that are mainly comprised of bacteria and other microbes like fungi, protozoa, and viruses. More than 1000 bacterial species have been reported in the gut microbiome, of which most of these species belong to Firmicutes (31.1%), Proteobacteria (29.5%), Actinobacteria (25.9%), or Bacteroidetes (7.1%) phylum. A symbiotic relationship, which plays a critical role in host health, exists between intestinal microflora and its host. With aging, the intestinal microbiota profile changes are observed, generally characterized by the decrease in biodiversity, carriage of commensals, and enrichment of opportunistic pathogens. The dysbiosis associated with aging in the gut microbiota increases the risk of several diseases. Probiotics are defined as &ldquo;live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host&rdquo; and play crucial functions in improving gut health and disease in all age groups, particularly the elderly induvial. This review focuses on the promising effects of probiotics on slowing down the aging process, treating age-related diseases, and improving the quality of life in light of the current clinical studies.}, } @article {pmid35173688, year = {2021}, author = {Škvorová, Z and Černajová, I and Steinová, J and Peksa, O and Moya, P and Škaloud, P}, title = {Promiscuity in Lichens Follows Clear Rules: Partner Switching in Cladonia Is Regulated by Climatic Factors and Soil Chemistry.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {781585}, pmid = {35173688}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Climatic factors, soil chemistry and geography are considered as major factors affecting lichen distribution and diversity. To determine how these factors limit or support the associations between the symbiotic partners, we revise the lichen symbiosis as a network of relationships here. More than one thousand thalli of terricolous Cladonia lichens were collected at sites with a wide range of soil chemical properties from seven biogeographical regions of Europe. A total of 18 OTUs of the algal genus Asterochloris and 181 OTUs of Cladonia mycobiont were identified. We displayed all realized pairwise mycobiont-photobiont relationships and performed modularity analysis. It revealed four virtually separated modules of cooperating OTUs. The modules differed in mean annual temperature, isothermality, precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil pH, nitrogen, and carbon contents. Photobiont switching was strictly limited to algae from one module, i.e., algae of similar ecological preferences, and only few mycobionts were able to cooperate with photobionts from different modules. Thus, Cladonia mycobionts generally cannot widen their ecological niches through photobiont switching. The modules also differed in the functional traits of the mycobionts, e.g., sexual reproduction rate, presence of soredia, and thallus type. These traits may represent adaptations to the environmental conditions that drive the differentiation of the modules. In conclusion, the promiscuity in Cladonia mycobionts is strictly limited by climatic factors and soil chemistry.}, } @article {pmid35173231, year = {2022}, author = {Clúa, J and Rivero, CH and Roda, C and Giorgis, C and Donna, S and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis of Mesoamerican and Andean Phaseolus vulgaris accessions revealed mRNAs and lncRNAs associated with strain selectivity during symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {2614}, pmid = {35173231}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Phaseolus/*genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Long Noncoding/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/*genetics ; RNA, Plant/*genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume plants establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. Compatibility between legumes and rhizobia is determined at species-specific level, but variations in the outcome of the symbiotic process are also influenced by the capacity of the plant to discriminate and select specific strains that are better partners. We compared the transcriptional response of two genetically diverse accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris from Mesoamerica and South Andes to Rhizobium etli strains that exhibit variable degrees of symbiotic affinities. Our results indicate that the plant genotype is the major determinant of the transcriptional reprogramming occurring in roots at early stages of the symbiotic interaction. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated in the Mesoamerican and the Andean accessions in response to specific strains are different, but they belong to the same functional categories. The common and strain-specific transcriptional responses to rhizobia involve distinct transcription factors and cis-elements present in the promoters of DEGs in each accession, showing that diversification and domestication of common bean at different geographic regions influenced the evolution of symbiosis differently in each genetic pool. Quantitative PCR analysis validated our transcriptional datasets, which constitute a valuable source of coding and non-coding candidate genes to further unravel the molecular determinants governing the mechanisms by which plants select bacterial strains that produce a better symbiotic outcome.}, } @article {pmid35172163, year = {2022}, author = {Lynch, JB and Bennett, BD and Merrill, BD and Ruby, EG and Hryckowian, AJ}, title = {Independent host- and bacterium-based determinants protect a model symbiosis from phage predation.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {38}, number = {7}, pages = {110376}, pmid = {35172163}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/virology ; Animals ; Bacteriophages/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Plankton/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophages (phages) are diverse and abundant constituents of microbial communities worldwide, capable of modulating bacterial populations in diverse ways. Here, we describe the phage HNL01, which infects the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. We use culture-based approaches to demonstrate that mutations in the exopolysaccharide locus of V. fischeri render this bacterium resistant to infection by HNL01, highlighting the extracellular matrix as a key determinant of HNL01 infection. Additionally, using the natural symbiosis between V. fischeri and the squid Euprymna scolopes, we show that, during colonization, V. fischeri is protected from phages present in the ambient seawater. Taken together, these findings shed light on independent yet synergistic host- and bacterium-based strategies for resisting symbiosis-disrupting phage predation, and we present important implications for understanding these strategies in the context of diverse host-associated microbial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid35171648, year = {2022}, author = {Kovács, S and Kiss, E and Jenei, S and Fehér-Juhász, E and Kereszt, A and Endre, G}, title = {The Medicago truncatula IEF Gene Is Crucial for the Progression of Bacterial Infection During Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {401-415}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-21-0279-R}, pmid = {35171648}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacterial Infections/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes are able to meet their nitrogen need by establishing nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia. Nitrogen fixation is performed by rhizobia, which has been converted to bacteroids, in newly formed organs, the root nodules. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, nodule cells are invaded by rhizobia through transcellular tubular structures called infection threads (ITs) that are initiated at the root hairs. Here, we describe a novel M. truncatula early symbiotic mutant identified as infection-related epidermal factor (ief), in which the formation of ITs is blocked in the root hair cells and only nodule primordia are formed. We show that the function of MtIEF is crucial for the bacterial infection in the root epidermis but not required for the nodule organogenesis. The IEF gene that appears to have been recruited for a symbiotic function after the duplication of a flower-specific gene is activated by the ERN1-branch of the Nod factor signal transduction pathway and independent of the NIN activity. The expression of MtIEF is induced transiently in the root epidermal cells by the rhizobium partner or Nod factors. Although its expression was not detectable at later stages of symbiosis, complementation experiments indicate that MtIEF is also required for the proper invasion of the nodule cells by rhizobia. The gene encodes an intracellular protein of unknown function possessing a coiled-coil motif and a plant-specific DUF761 domain. The IEF protein interacts with RPG, another symbiotic protein essential for normal IT development, suggesting that combined action of these proteins plays a role in nodule infection.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid35171344, year = {2022}, author = {Palhares Farias, T and Lima Soares, B and Barbosa D'Eça, CS and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Polymeric formulations of liquid inoculants with rhizobia exopolysaccharides increase the survival and symbiotic efficiency of elite Bradyrhizobium strains.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {3}, pages = {177}, pmid = {35171344}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; *Rhizobium ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis ; *Vigna ; }, abstract = {We studied the survival of four elite strains of Bradyrhizobium in liquid inoculants with three formulations with exopolysaccharides extracted from other rhizobia genera, and the symbiotic efficiency of these elite strains with soybean and cowpea in a greenhouse. For that purpose, we verified the effectiveness of formulations for maintaining the cell viability of strains by counting the colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter of the liquid inoculants with formulations after 90 days. For survival of the soybean inoculant strains, 29W and CPAC15, the largest number of CFU (> 10[10] mL[-1]) after 90 days was observed in the PEPS formulation. For the cowpea inoculant strains, INPA3-11B and UFLA3-84, the REPS1 formulation had the largest number of CFU (> 10[10] mL[-1]) after 90 days. The symbiotic efficiency of the PEPS formulation, followed by REPS2, was higher than that shown by the commercial inoculant in soybean. For cowpea, the three formulations with EPS, especially REPS1, showed symbiotic efficiency better than that of the commercial inoculant.}, } @article {pmid35169758, year = {2022}, author = {Kuila, D and Ghosh, S}, title = {Aspects, problems and utilization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) application as bio-fertilizer in sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Current research in microbial sciences}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {100107}, pmid = {35169758}, issn = {2666-5174}, abstract = {The rapid growth of human population on globe and reduction in agricultural land exerts huge pressure on crop productivity, food security and soil health; specially, in developing countries. Improper land management with excessive dependency on chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals to secure productivity tolls on human health, environment, biodiversity and sustainability. The utilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as bio-fertilizer and in consortia with other beneficial microbes has become an increasing area of research in agriculture and life sciences. Former investigations revealed the positive influence of AM in nutrition, growth, yield of crops, soil quality increasing biological soil fertility and pathogen resistance. AMF symbionts are highly beneficial in plant abiotic stress tolerance. Along with other beneficial rhiozobacteria AM is almost substitute of chemical fertilizers in modern sustainable organic agricultural systems. But conventional agriculture in most countries is beyond to reach these benefits of AM. The issues which hinder the utilization also contradict to sustainability to some degrees. The present review highlights on the issues of hindrances in applicability of AM to the agricultural fields focusing on the mode of functions, maintaining soil and environmental sustainability; interactions with other biofertilizers and impact of various agrochemicals and agro-practices including tillage and crop rotation. The procedures to avail the full benefit of AM in agricultural field for sustainable system are discussed here.}, } @article {pmid35168163, year = {2022}, author = {Korver, DR}, title = {Intestinal nutrition: role of vitamins and biofactors and gaps of knowledge.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {101}, number = {4}, pages = {101665}, pmid = {35168163}, issn = {1525-3171}, mesh = {Animals ; Chickens ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Nutritional Status ; Poultry ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {The role of the microbiota in the health of the host is complex and multifactorial. The microbiota both consumes nutrients in competition with the host, but also creates nutrients that can be used by other microbes, but also the host. However, the quantitative impact of the microbiota on nutrient supply and demand is not well understood in poultry. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the largest points of contact with the external environment, and the intestinal microbiome is the largest and most complex of any system. Although the intestinal microbiota has first access to consumed nutrients, including vitamins, and is potentially a major contributor to production of various vitamins, the quantification of these impacts remains very poorly understood in poultry. Based on the human literature, it is clear that vitamin deficiencies can have systemic effects on the regulation of many physiological systems, beyond the immediate, direct nutrient functions of the vitamins. The impact of excessive supplementation of vitamins on the microbiota is not well understood in any species. In the context of poultry nutrition, in which substantial dietary excesses of most vitamins are provided, this represents a knowledge gap. Given the paucity of studies investigating the vitamin requirements of modern, high-producing poultry, the limited understanding of vitamin nutrition (supply and utilization) by the microbiome, and the potential impacts on the microbiome of the move away from dietary growth-promoting antibiotic use, more research in this area is required. The microbiota also contributes a vast array of other metabolites involved in intramicrobiota communication, symbiosis and competition that can also have an impact on the host. Myo-inositol and butyrate are briefly discussed as examples of biofactors produced by the microbiota as mediators of intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid35166563, year = {2022}, author = {Pudlo, NA and Urs, K and Crawford, R and Pirani, A and Atherly, T and Jimenez, R and Terrapon, N and Henrissat, B and Peterson, D and Ziemer, C and Snitkin, E and Martens, EC}, title = {Phenotypic and Genomic Diversification in Complex Carbohydrate-Degrading Human Gut Bacteria.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0094721}, pmid = {35166563}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK118024/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK125445/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Polysaccharides/chemistry ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Dietary Fiber/metabolism ; Genomics ; Mucins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are responsible for the majority of complex carbohydrate digestion in the human colon. Since the identities and amounts of dietary polysaccharides directly impact the gut microbiota, determining which microorganisms consume specific nutrients is central for defining the relationship between diet and gut microbial ecology. Using a custom phenotyping array, we determined carbohydrate utilization profiles for 354 members of the Bacteroidetes, a dominant saccharolytic phylum. There was wide variation in the numbers and types of substrates degraded by individual bacteria, but phenotype-based clustering grouped members of the same species indicating that each species performs characteristic roles. The ability to utilize dietary polysaccharides and endogenous mucin glycans was negatively correlated, suggesting exclusion between these niches. By analyzing related Bacteroides ovatus/Bacteroides xylanisolvens strains that vary in their ability to utilize mucin glycans, we addressed whether gene clusters that confer this complex, multilocus trait are being gained or lost in individual strains. Pangenome reconstruction of these strains revealed a remarkably mosaic architecture in which genes involved in polysaccharide metabolism are highly variable and bioinformatics data provide evidence of interspecies gene transfer that might explain this genomic heterogeneity. Global transcriptomic analyses suggest that the ability to utilize mucin has been lost in some lineages of B. ovatus and B. xylanisolvens, which harbor residual gene clusters that are involved in mucin utilization by strains that still actively express this phenotype. Our data provide insight into the breadth and complexity of carbohydrate metabolism in the microbiome and the underlying genomic events that shape these behaviors. IMPORTANCE Nonharmful bacteria are the primary microbial symbionts that inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria play many beneficial roles and in some cases can modify disease states, making it important to understand which nutrients sustain specific lineages. This knowledge will in turn lead to strategies to intentionally manipulate the gut microbial ecosystem. We designed a scalable, high-throughput platform for measuring the ability of gut bacteria to utilize polysaccharides, of which many are derived from dietary fiber sources that can be manipulated easily. Our results provide paths to expand phenotypic surveys of more diverse gut bacteria to understand their functions and also to leverage dietary fibers to alter the physiology of the gut microbial community.}, } @article {pmid35164560, year = {2021}, author = {García-Tomsig, NI and Robledo, M and diCenzo, GC and Mengoni, A and Millán, V and Peregrina, A and Uceta, A and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Pervasive RNA Regulation of Metabolism Enhances the Root Colonization Ability of Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiotic α-Rhizobia.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0357621}, pmid = {35164560}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {RNA/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; }, abstract = {The rhizosphere and rhizoplane are nutrient-rich but selective environments for the root microbiome. Here, we deciphered a posttranscriptional network regulated by the homologous trans-small RNAs (sRNAs) AbcR1 and AbcR2, which rewire the metabolism of the nitrogen-fixing α-rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti during preinfection stages of symbiosis with its legume host alfalfa. The LysR-type regulator LsrB, which transduces the cell redox state, is indispensable for AbcR1 expression in actively dividing bacteria, whereas the stress-induced transcription of AbcR2 depends on the alternative σ factor RpoH1. MS2 affinity purification coupled with RNA sequencing unveiled exceptionally large and overlapping AbcR1/2 mRNA interactomes, jointly representing ⁓6% of the S. meliloti protein-coding genes. Most mRNAs encode transport/metabolic proteins whose translation is silenced by base pairing to two distinct anti-Shine Dalgarno motifs that function independently in both sRNAs. A metabolic model-aided analysis of the targetomes predicted changes in AbcR1/2 expression driven by shifts in carbon/nitrogen sources, which were confirmed experimentally. Low AbcR1/2 levels in some defined media anticipated overexpression growth phenotypes linked to the silencing of specific mRNAs. As a proof of principle, we confirmed AbcR1/2-mediated downregulation of the l-amino acid AapQ permease. AbcR1/2 interactomes are well represented in rhizosphere-related S. meliloti transcriptomic signatures. Remarkably, a lack of AbcR1 specifically compromised the ability of S. meliloti to colonize the root rhizoplane. The AbcR1 regulon likely ranks the utilization of available substrates to optimize metabolism, thus conferring on S. meliloti an advantage for efficient rhizosphere/rhizoplane colonization. AbcR1 regulation is predicted to be conserved in related α-rhizobia, which opens unprecedented possibilities for engineering highly competitive biofertilizers. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses between rhizobia and legume plants provide more than half of the combined nitrogen incorporated annually into terrestrial ecosystems, rendering plant growth independent of environmentally unfriendly chemical fertilizers. The success of symbiosis depends primarily on the capacity of rhizobia to establish competitive populations in soil and rhizosphere environments. Here, we provide insights into the regulation and architecture of an extensive RNA posttranscriptional network that fine-tunes the metabolism of the alfalfa symbiont S. meliloti, thereby enhancing the ability of this beneficial bacterium to colonize nutrient-rich but extremely selective niches, such as the rhizosphere of its host plant. This pervasive RNA regulation of metabolism is a major adaptive mechanism, predicted to operate in diverse rhizobial species. Because RNA regulation relies on modifiable base-pairing interactions, our findings open unexplored avenues for engineering the legumes rhizobiome within sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid35163862, year = {2022}, author = {Kappacher, C and Trübenbacher, B and Losso, K and Rainer, M and Bonn, GK and Huck, CW}, title = {Portable vs. Benchtop NIR-Sensor Technology for Classification and Quality Evaluation of Black Truffle.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35163862}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*chemistry/*classification/isolation & purification ; Biosensing Techniques/*methods ; Food Contamination/*analysis ; Species Specificity ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/*methods ; }, abstract = {Truffles represent the best known and most expensive edible mushroom. Known as Ascomycetes, they belong to the genus Tuber and live in symbiosis with plant host roots. Due to their extraordinary taste and smell, truffles are sold worldwide for high prices of up to 3000-5000 euros per kilogram (Tuber magnatum&nbsp;PICO). Amongst black truffles, the species Tuber melanosporum&nbsp;VITTAD. is highly regarded for its organoleptic properties. Nonetheless, numerous different sorts of black truffle are offered at lower prices, including Tuber aestivum&nbsp;VITTAD., Tuber indicum and Tuber uncinatum, which represent the most frequently consumed types. Because truffles do not differ visually for inexperienced consumers, food fraud is likely to occur. In particular, for the highly prized Tuber melanosporum, which morphologically forms very similar fruiting bodies to those of Tuber indicum, there is a risk of fraud via imported truffles from Asia. In this study, 126 truffle samples belonging to the four mentioned species were investigated by four different NIR instruments, including three miniaturized devices-the Tellspec Enterprise Sensor, the VIAVI solutions MicroNIR 1700 and the Consumer Physics SCiO-working on different technical principles. Three different types of measurement techniques were applied for all instruments (outer shell, rotational device and fruiting body) in order to identify the best results for classification and quality assurance in a non-destructive manner. Results provided differentiation with an accuracy up to 100% for the expensive Tuber melanosporum from Tuber indicum. Classification between Tuber melanosporum, Tuber indicum, Tuber aestivum and Tuber uncinatum could also be achieved with success of 100%. In addition, quality monitoring including discrimination between fresh and frozen/thawed, and prediction of the approximate date of harvesting, was performed. Furthermore, feasibility studies according to the geographical origin of the truffle were attempted. The presented work compares the performance for prediction and quality monitoring of portable vs. benchtop NIR devices and applied measurement techniques in order to be able to present a suitable, accurate, fast, non-destructive and reliable method for consumers.}, } @article {pmid35163417, year = {2022}, author = {Ramires, LC and Santos, GS and Ramires, RP and da Fonseca, LF and Jeyaraman, M and Muthu, S and Lana, AV and Azzini, G and Smith, CS and Lana, JF}, title = {The Association between Gut Microbiota and Osteoarthritis: Does the Disease Begin in the Gut?.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35163417}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; *Osteoarthritis/etiology/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Some say that all diseases begin in the gut. Interestingly, this concept is actually quite old, since it is attributed to the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who proposed the hypothesis nearly 2500 years ago. The continuous breakthroughs in modern medicine have transformed our classic understanding of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and human health. Although the gut microbiota (GMB) has proven to be a core component of human health under standard metabolic conditions, there is now also a strong link connecting the composition and function of the GMB to the development of numerous diseases, especially the ones of musculoskeletal nature. The symbiotic microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract are very sensitive to biochemical stimuli and may respond in many different ways depending on the nature of these biological signals. Certain variables such as nutrition and physical modulation can either enhance or disrupt the equilibrium between the various species of gut microbes. In fact, fat-rich diets can cause dysbiosis, which decreases the number of protective bacteria and compromises the integrity of the epithelial barrier in the GIT. Overgrowth of pathogenic microbes then release higher quantities of toxic metabolites into the circulatory system, especially the pro-inflammatory cytokines detected in osteoarthritis (OA), thereby promoting inflammation and the initiation of many disease processes throughout the body. Although many studies link OA with GMB perturbations, further research is still needed.}, } @article {pmid35163415, year = {2022}, author = {Fonseca-García, C and López-García, CM and Pacheco, R and Armada, E and Nava, N and Pérez-Aguilar, R and Solis-Miranda, J and Quinto, C}, title = {Metallothionein1A Regulates Rhizobial Infection and Nodulation in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35163415}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Metallothionein/*metabolism ; *Phaseolus/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*growth & development ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metallothioneins (MTs) constitute a heterogeneous family of ubiquitous metal ion-binding proteins. In plants, MTs participate in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation, protection against heavy metal stress, oxidative stress responses, and responses to pathogen attack. Despite their wide variety of functions, the role of MTs in symbiotic associations, specifically nodule-fabacean symbiosis, is poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the role of the PvMT1A gene in Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium tropici symbiosis using bioinformatics and reverse genetics approaches. Using in silico analysis, we identified six genes encoding MTs in P. vulgaris, which were clustered into three of the four classes described in plants. PvMT1A transcript levels were significantly higher in roots inoculated with R. tropici at 7 and 30 days post inoculation (dpi) than in non-inoculated roots. Functional analysis showed that downregulating PvMT1A by RNA interference (RNAi) reduced the number of infection events at 7 and 10 dpi and the number of nodules at 14 and 21 dpi. In addition, nodule development was negatively affected in PvMT1A:RNAi transgenic roots, and these nodules displayed a reduced nitrogen fixation rate at 21 dpi. These results strongly suggest that PvMT1A plays an important role in the infection process and nodule development in P. vulgaris during rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35163143, year = {2022}, author = {Konopelski, P and Mogilnicka, I}, title = {Biological Effects of Indole-3-Propionic Acid, a Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolite, and Its Precursor Tryptophan in Mammals' Health and Disease.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35163143}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism/pathology/*prevention & control ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism/pathology/*prevention & control ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Indoles/*pharmacology ; *Oxidative Stress ; Tryptophan/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Actions of symbiotic gut microbiota are in dynamic balance with the host's organism to maintain homeostasis. Many different factors have an impact on this relationship, including bacterial metabolites. Several substrates for their synthesis have been established, including tryptophan, an exogenous amino acid. Many biological processes are influenced by the action of tryptophan and its endogenous metabolites, serotonin, and melatonin. Recent research findings also provide evidence that gut bacteria-derived metabolites of tryptophan share the biological effects of their precursor. Thus, this review aims to investigate the biological actions of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a gut microbiota-derived metabolite of tryptophan. We searched PUBMED and Google Scholar databases to identify pre-clinical and clinical studies evaluating the impact of IPA on the health and pathophysiology of the immune, nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular system in mammals. IPA exhibits a similar impact on the energetic balance and cardiovascular system to its precursor, tryptophan. Additionally, IPA has a positive impact on a cellular level, by preventing oxidative stress injury, lipoperoxidation and inhibiting synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Its synthesis can be diminished in the presence of different risk factors of atherosclerosis. On the other hand, protective factors, such as the introduction of a Mediterranean diet, tend to increase its plasma concentration. IPA seems to be a promising new target, linking gut health with the cardiovascular system.}, } @article {pmid35163041, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Liao, J and Wu, J and Huang, H and Yuan, Z and Yang, W and Wu, X and Li, X}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Soybean DEAD-Box Gene Family and Expression Response to Rhizobia.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35163041}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Acetates/pharmacology ; Chromosome Mapping/*methods ; Conserved Sequence ; Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Multigene Family ; Oxylipins/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Salicylic Acid/pharmacology ; Soybeans/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {DEAD-box proteins are a large family of RNA helicases that play important roles in almost all cellular RNA processes in model plants. However, little is known about this family of proteins in crops such as soybean. Here, we identified 80 DEAD-box family genes in the Glycine max (soybean) genome. These DEAD-box genes were distributed on 19 chromosomes, and some genes were clustered together. The majority of DEAD-box family proteins were highly conserved in Arabidopsis and soybean, but Glyma.08G231300 and Glyma.14G115100 were specific to soybean. The promoters of these DEAD-box genes share cis-acting elements involved in plant responses to MeJA, salicylic acid (SA), low temperature and biotic as well as abiotic stresses; interestingly, half of the genes contain nodulation-related cis elements in their promoters. Microarray data analysis revealed that the DEAD-box genes were differentially expressed in the root and nodule. Notably, 31 genes were induced by rhizobia and/or were highly expressed in the nodule. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis validated the expression patterns of some DEAD-box genes, and among them, Glyma.08G231300 and Glyma.14G115100 were induced by rhizobia in root hair. Thus, we provide a comprehensive view of the DEAD-box family genes in soybean and highlight the crucial role of these genes in symbiotic nodulation.}, } @article {pmid35163038, year = {2022}, author = {Portincasa, P and Bonfrate, L and Vacca, M and De Angelis, M and Farella, I and Lanza, E and Khalil, M and Wang, DQ and Sperandio, M and Di Ciaula, A}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Short Chain Fatty Acids: Implications in Glucose Homeostasis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35163038}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {P30 DK020541/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glucose/*metabolism ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota encompasses a wide variety of commensal microorganisms consisting of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbial population coexists in symbiosis with the host, and related metabolites have profound effects on human health. In this respect, gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the regulation of metabolic, endocrine, and immune functions. Bacterial metabolites include the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) acetate (C2), propionate (C3), and butyrate (C4), which are the most abundant SCFAs in the human body and the most abundant anions in the colon. SCFAs are made from fermentation of dietary fiber and resistant starch in the gut. They modulate several metabolic pathways and are involved in obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Thus, diet might influence gut microbiota composition and activity, SCFAs production, and metabolic effects. In this narrative review, we discuss the relevant research focusing on the relationship between gut microbiota, SCFAs, and glucose metabolism.}, } @article {pmid35161303, year = {2022}, author = {Lopez, L and Perrella, G and Calderini, O and Porceddu, A and Panara, F}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification of Histone Modification Gene Families in the Model Legume Medicago truncatula and Their Expression Analysis in Nodules.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35161303}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Histone methylation and acetylation are key processes in the epigenetic regulation of plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stimuli. The genes encoding for the enzymes that are responsible for these chromatin post-translational modifications, referred to as histone modification genes (HMGs), have been poorly investigated in Leguminosae species, despite their importance for establishment and activity of nitrogen-fixing nodules. In silico analysis of Medicago truncatula HMGs identified 81 histone methyltransferases, 46 histone demethylases, 64 histone acetyltransferases, and 15 histone deacetylases. MtHMGs were analyzed for their structure and domain composition, and some combinations that were not yet reported in other plant species were identified. Genes have been retrieved from M. truncatula A17 and R108 genotypes as well as M. sativa CADL and Zhongmu No.1; the gene number and distribution were compared with Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, by analyzing the expression data that were obtained at various developmental stages and in different zones of nitrogen-fixing nodules, we identified MtHMG loci that could be involved in nodule development and function. This work sets a reference for HMG genomic organization in legumes which will be useful for functional investigation that is aimed at elucidating HMGs involvement in nodule development and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid35159602, year = {2022}, author = {Bartkiene, E and Özogul, F and Rocha, JM}, title = {Bread Sourdough Lactic Acid Bacteria-Technological, Antimicrobial, Toxin-Degrading, Immune System-, and Faecal Microbiota-Modelling Biological Agents for the Preparation of Food, Nutraceuticals and Feed.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35159602}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {This review intends to highlight the fact that bread sourdough is a very promising source of technological, antimicrobial, toxin-degrading, immune system-, and faecal microbiota-modelling biological agents for the preparation of food, nutraceuticals, and feed, which has great potential at industrial biotechnology scale. There are many applications of sourdough lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are the main microorganisms in spontaneous sourdough. In addition to their application as pure technological strains in the food and feed industries, taking into consideration the specific properties of these microorganisms (antimicrobial, antifungal, immuno-, and microbiota-modulating, etc.), they are used as valuable ingredients in higher-value food as well as nutraceutical formulations. Additionally, a very promising application of LAB is their use in combination with plant- and/or animal-based ingredients to increase the functional properties of the whole combination due to different mechanisms of action, as well as desirable symbiotic activity. In addition to traditional foods prepared using sourdough microorganisms (bread, biscuits, meat products, dairy, beverages, etc.), they could find application in the preparation of added-value ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and feed industries. Finally, this mini-review gives a brief introduction to the possible applications of sourdough LAB in the food, feed, and nutraceutical industries.}, } @article {pmid35157135, year = {2022}, author = {Dhole, A and Shelat, H}, title = {Non-Rhizobial Endophytes Associated with Nodules of Vigna radiata L. and Their Combined Activity with Rhizobium sp.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {103}, pmid = {35157135}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; *Vigna ; }, abstract = {Root nodules of legume plants are devoted for hosting endophytic symbiotic bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen but recently proved as a niche for various non-rhizobial endophytes (NRE) also. In the present investigation, one rhizobial and two NRE were isolated and characterized as Rhizobium sp. AAU B3, Bacillus sp. AAU B6 and Bacillus sp. AAU B12. These isolates were studied for in vitro biocontrol activity against two pathogenic fungi. NRE isolates exhibited antifungal activity against root rot causing Macrophomina phaseolina (ITCC-6749) isolated from Vigna radiata and wilt causing pathogen Fusarium udum Butler isolated from Cajanus cajan in liquid as well as on solid medium. Furthermore, their antagonism was increased markedly when combined with Rhizobium sp. Moreover, Bacillus sp. AAU B6 showed amplification of the zwittermicin A gene (~ 950 bp) which is evident for the production of antibiotics. All three isolates showed HCN production in vitro also, Bacillus sp. AAU B12 exhibited amplification of its gene hcnC. Pathogenic fungal hyphae became thin, transparent, and bent as well as fungi lost their normal growth and branching patterns when exposed to volatile compounds produced by NRE. All the 3 isolates produced siderophores, however siderophore production was increased considerably when all three strains are mixed together. Furthermore, all the three isolates produced cell wall degrading enzymes (chitinase, protease, and cellulase) but lipolytic activity was exhibited only by Rhizobium sp. AAU B3. When NRE inoculated in combination of Rhizobium; overcomes the disease severity against M. phaseolina under pot study. Thus, from present study it is concluded that co-inoculation of NRE and Rhizobium sp. can be exploited as biocontrol bio-agents against M. phaseolina in green gram at field levels.}, } @article {pmid35157130, year = {2022}, author = {Bilek, FN and Rezki, MA and Bekki, A}, title = {The impact of indigenous soil yeasts inoculation on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) growth.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {3}, pages = {170}, pmid = {35157130}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Phaseolus ; *Rhizobium ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To determine whether the use of soil yeasts as inoculum would intervene in improving bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) growth and its symbiotic parameters, various experiments have been carried out. The effect of inoculation by soil yeasts Meyerozyma guilliermondii GP MT258984, Debaryomyces hansenii DFA MT259039, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LIA MT259358, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LC MT252049, along with the strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae in their cell or metabolite forms, was investigated in non-sterile (sand) and agricultural substrates (soil), in association or not with mycorrhizal fungi. The results showed that the yeast could have a beneficial effect on the bean biomass directly without increasing its nodulation and mycorrhization, or indirectly by improving those symbiotic parameters. They also revealed a very important ecological aspect and the possibility of inoculating with indigenous soil yeasts to increase the number of fertilising microorganisms, such as mycorrhizae and rhizobia, without resorting to introducing exogenous strains.}, } @article {pmid35155442, year = {2021}, author = {Díaz-Díaz, LM and Rodríguez-Villafañe, A and García-Arrarás, JE}, title = {The Role of the Microbiota in Regeneration-Associated Processes.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {768783}, pmid = {35155442}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {The microbiota, the set of microorganisms associated with a particular environment or host, has acquired a prominent role in the study of many physiological and developmental processes. Among these, is the relationship between the microbiota and regenerative processes in various organisms. Here we introduce the concept of the microbiota and its involvement in regeneration-related cellular events. We then review the role of the microbiota in regenerative models that extend from the repair of tissue layers to the regeneration of complete organs or animals. We highlight the role of the microbiota in the digestive tract, since it accounts for a significant percentage of an animal microbiota, and at the same time provides an outstanding system to study microbiota effects on regeneration. Lastly, while this review serves to highlight echinoderms, primarily holothuroids, as models for regeneration studies, it also provides multiple examples of microbiota-related interactions in other processes in different organisms.}, } @article {pmid35154176, year = {2021}, author = {An, N and Lu, N and Fu, B and Chen, W and Keyimu, M and Wang, M}, title = {Evidence of Differences in Covariation Among Root Traits Across Plant Growth Forms, Mycorrhizal Types, and Biomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {785589}, pmid = {35154176}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Fine roots play an important role in plant ecological strategies, adaptation to environmental constraints, and ecosystem functions. Covariation among root traits influence the physiological and ecological processes of plants and ecosystems. Root trait covariation in multiple dimensions at the global scale has been broadly discussed. How fine-root traits covary at the regional scale and whether the covariation is generalizable across plant growth forms, mycorrhizal types, and biomes are largely unknown. Here, we collected six key traits - namely root diameter (RD), specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD), root C content (RCC), root N content (RNC), and root C:N ratio (RCN) - of first- and second-order roots of 306 species from 94 sampling sites across China. We examined the covariation in root traits among different plant growth forms, mycorrhizal types, and biomes using the phylogenetic principal component analysis (pPCA). Three independent dimensions of the covariation in root traits were identified, accounting for 39.0, 26.1, and 20.2% of the total variation, respectively. The first dimension was represented by SRL, RNC, RTD, and RCN, which was in line with the root economics spectrum (RES). The second dimension described a negative relationship between RD and SRL, and the third dimension was represented by RCC. These three main principal components were mainly influenced by biome and mycorrhizal type. Herbaceous and ectomycorrhizal species showed a more consistent pattern with the RES, in which RD, RTD, and RCN were negatively correlated with SRL and RNC within the first axis compared with woody and arbuscular mycorrhizal species, respectively. Our results highlight the roles of plant growth form, mycorrhizal type, and biome in shaping root trait covariation, suggesting that root trait relationships in specific regions may not be generalized from global-scale analyses.}, } @article {pmid35154053, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, W and Shan, HW and Li, JM and Zhang, CX and Chen, JP and Mao, Q}, title = {Roles of Bacterial Symbionts in Transmission of Plant Virus by Hemipteran Vectors.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {805352}, pmid = {35154053}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The majority of plant viruses are transmitted by hemipteran insects. Bacterial symbionts in hemipteran hosts have a significant impact on the host life, physiology and ecology. Recently, the involvement of bacterial symbionts in hemipteran vector-virus and vector-plant interactions has been documented. Thus, the exploitation and manipulation of bacterial symbionts have great potential for plant viral disease control. Herein, we review the studies performed on the impact of symbiotic bacteria on plant virus transmission, including insect-bacterial symbiont associations, the role of these bacterial symbionts in viral acquisition, stability and release during viral circulation in insect bodies, and in viral vertical transmission. Besides, we prospect further studies aimed to understand tripartite interactions of the virus-symbiotic microorganisms-insect vector.}, } @article {pmid35154034, year = {2021}, author = {Mansky, J and Wang, H and Ebert, M and Härtig, E and Jahn, D and Tomasch, J and Wagner-Döbler, I}, title = {The Influence of Genes on the "Killer Plasmid" of Dinoroseobacter shibae on Its Symbiosis With the Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {804767}, pmid = {35154034}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The marine bacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae shows a Jekyll-and-Hyde behavior in co-culture with the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum: In the initial symbiotic phase it provides the essential vitamins B12 (cobalamin) and B1 (thiamine) to the algae. In the later pathogenic phase it kills the dinoflagellate. The killing phenotype is determined by the 191 kb plasmid and can be conjugated into other Roseobacters. From a transposon-library of D. shibae we retrieved 28 mutants whose insertion sites were located on the 191 kb plasmid. We co-cultivated each of them with P. minimum in L1 medium lacking vitamin B12. With 20 mutant strains no algal growth beyond the axenic control lacking B12 occurred. Several of these genes were predicted to encode proteins from the type IV secretion system (T4SS). They are apparently essential for establishing the symbiosis. With five transposon mutant strains, the initial symbiotic phase was intact but the later pathogenic phase was lost in co-culture. In three of them the insertion sites were located in an operon predicted to encode genes for biotin (B7) uptake. Both P. minimum and D. shibae are auxotrophic for biotin. We hypothesize that the bacterium depletes the medium from biotin resulting in apoptosis of the dinoflagellate.}, } @article {pmid35153837, year = {2022}, author = {Goettler, W and Kaltenpoth, M and McDonald, S and Strohm, E}, title = {Comparative Morphology of the Symbiont Cultivation Glands in the Antennae of Female Digger Wasps of the Genus Philanthus (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {815494}, pmid = {35153837}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Females of the solitary digger wasp tribe Philanthini, called the beewolves (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), cultivate strains of symbiotic bacteria that belong to the genus Streptomyces in unique and highly specialized glands in their antennae. The glands consist of large reservoirs that are surrounded by numerous gland cell complexes (class III). The symbionts are cultivated inside the reservoirs and are probably provisioned with nutrients secreted from the surrounding glands and/or sequestered from the hemolymph. The wasp female delivers the bacteria into the subterranean brood cell prior to oviposition. Fully grown larvae take up the bacteria and apply them to their cocoon. There the bacteria produce several antibiotics that protect the wasp offspring against fungus infestation. Hitherto Streptomyces bacteria were detected in the antennae of 38 species of the Philanthini. However, a detailed morphological analysis of the antennal glands is only available for a few species. In order to shed light on the evolutionary history of the association between beewolf wasps and bacteria, we investigated the morphology of the antennal glands of another 14 Philanthus species from the Palearctic, Paleotropic, and Nearctic. We generated 3D-models of the glands based on serial semithin sections and/or micro-CT (μCT). Despite broad similarities in number and structure of antennal glands, the results revealed interspecific differences with regard to overall shape, complexity, and relative size of the reservoirs as well as the number of the surrounding gland cell units. Mapping the morphology of all species studied so far on the phylogeny (that parallels geographical distribution) revealed that related species share similarities in gland morphology, but there are notable differences between lineages. In particular, compared to the North American species the European and African species possess more complex gland structures with a higher number of gland cells. We discuss morphological, ecological, and physiological aspects and provide scenarios for the evolution of the antennal glands of the Philanthini as symbiont cultivation organs.}, } @article {pmid35153380, year = {2022}, author = {Ken, I and León, KS}, title = {Regulatory theater in the pork industry: how the capitalist state harms workers, farmers, and unions.}, journal = {Crime, law, and social change}, volume = {78}, number = {5}, pages = {599-619}, pmid = {35153380}, issn = {0925-4994}, abstract = {The United States pork sector generates billions of pounds of food and billions of dollars of sales and tax revenue per year. This industry has also generated hundreds of workers' deaths from covid infections, thousands of workers' injuries from hazardous working conditions, economic and environmental depletion of communities near production sites, and the massive decline of small hog farming operations - not to mention over a billion tons of fecal waste per year. Although pork companies, like most firms in the food industry, portray state regulation as a burden for commercial interests, we identify how the pork industry enjoys a symbiotic relationship with the state to create favorable conditions for three interrelated processes: 1) monopoly and monopsony power; 2) hyper-efficient but injurious working conditions; 3) union busting. Using structural contradictions theory, we explain the failure to protect workers, farmers, and communities as a feature of the fundamental contradiction between protection and accumulation within the capitalist state. We argue that the solution to pork industry harms is not more regulation but the outright replacement of currently existing capitalism.}, } @article {pmid35152038, year = {2022}, author = {Mahapatra, S and Samal, K and Dash, RR}, title = {Waste Stabilization Pond (WSP) for wastewater treatment: A review on factors, modelling and cost analysis.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {308}, number = {}, pages = {114668}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114668}, pmid = {35152038}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Costs and Cost Analysis ; Ponds ; Sewage/microbiology ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Wastewater/microbiology ; *Water Purification/methods ; }, abstract = {Waste stabilization pond (WSP) is natural technology which can be installed in centralized or semi-centralized sewerage systems for treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater, septage and sludge, etc. WSPs are highly efficient, simple to construct, low cost and easy to operate. It can be used as secondary or tertiary treatment unit in a treatment plant either individually or in a coupling manner. The algal-bacterial symbiosis in WSP makes it completely natural treatment process for which it becomes economic as compared to other treatment technologies in terms of its maintenance cost and energy requirement. Effluent from WSP can also be used for agricultural purpose, gardening, watering road, vehicle wash, etc. Advance technologies are being integrated for better design and efficiency of WSP, but the main challenges are the separation and removal of algal species which lead to deterioration of the water if stays long. Research is necessary to maximize algal growth yield, selection of beneficial strain and optimizing harvesting methods. This review focuses on the treatment mechanism in the pond, affecting factors, types of ponds, design equation, cost analysis.}, } @article {pmid35150917, year = {2022}, author = {Shigenobu, S and Yorimoto, S}, title = {Aphid hologenomics: current status and future challenges.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {100882}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2022.100882}, pmid = {35150917}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Genomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids are important model organisms in ecological, developmental, and evolutionary studies of, for example, symbiosis, insect-plant interactions, pest management, and developmental polyphenism. Here, we review the recent progress made in the genomics of aphids and their symbionts: hologenomics. The reference genome of Acyrthosiphon pisum has been greatly improved, and chromosome-level assembly is now available. The genomes of over 20 aphid species have been sequenced, and comparative genomic analyses have revealed pervasive gene duplication and dynamic chromosomal rearrangements. Over 120 symbiont genomes (both obligate and facultative) have been sequenced, and modern deep-sequencing technologies have identified novel symbionts. The advances in hologenomics have helped to elucidate the dynamic evolution of facultative and co-obligate symbionts with the ancient obligate symbiont Buchnera.}, } @article {pmid35148861, year = {2022}, author = {Rafaluk-Mohr, C and Gerth, M and Sealey, JE and Ekroth, AKE and Aboobaker, AA and Kloock, A and King, KC}, title = {Microbial protection favors parasite tolerance and alters host-parasite coevolutionary dynamics.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {1593-1598.e3}, pmid = {35148861}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 204826/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/microbiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; *Microbiota ; *Parasites ; }, abstract = {Coevolution between hosts and parasites is a major driver of rapid evolutionary change[1] and diversification.[2][,][3] However, direct antagonistic interactions between hosts and parasites could be disrupted[4] when host microbiota form a line of defense, a phenomenon widespread across animal and plant species.[5][,][6] By suppressing parasite infection, protective microbiota could reduce the need for host-based defenses and favor host support for microbiota colonization,[6] raising the possibility that the microbiota can alter host-parasite coevolutionary patterns and processes.[7] Here, using an experimental evolution approach, we co-passaged populations of nematode host (Caenorhabditis elegans) and parasites (Staphylococcus aureus) when hosts were colonized (or not) by protective bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis). We found that microbial protection during coevolution resulted in the evolution of host mortality tolerance-higher survival following parasite infection-and in parasites adapting to microbial defenses. Compared to unprotected host-parasite coevolution, the protected treatment was associated with reduced dominance of fluctuating selection dynamics in host populations. No differences in host recombination rate or genetic diversity were detected. Genomic divergence was observed between parasite populations coevolved in protected and unprotected hosts. These findings indicate that protective host microbiota can determine the evolution of host defense strategies and shape host-parasite coevolutionary dynamics.}, } @article {pmid35148385, year = {2022}, author = {Fernandez-Pozo, N and Haas, FB and Gould, SB and Rensing, SA}, title = {An overview of bioinformatics, genomics, and transcriptomics resources for bryophytes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {13}, pages = {4291-4305}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac052}, pmid = {35148385}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Bryophyta/genetics ; Computational Biology ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Bryophytes are useful models for the study of plant evolution, development, plant-fungal symbiosis, stress responses, and gametogenesis. Additionally, their dominant haploid gametophytic phase makes them great models for functional genomics research, allowing straightforward genome editing and gene knockout via CRISPR or homologous recombination. Until 2016, however, the only bryophyte genome sequence published was that of Physcomitrium patens. Throughout recent years, several other bryophyte genomes and transcriptome datasets became available, enabling better comparative genomics in evolutionary studies. The increase in the number of bryophyte genome and transcriptome resources available has yielded a plethora of annotations, databases, and bioinformatics tools to access the new data, which covers the large diversity of this clade and whose biology comprises features such as association with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, sex chromosomes, low gene redundancy, or loss of RNA editing genes for organellar transcripts. Here we provide a guide to resources available for bryophytes with regards to genome and transcriptome databases and bioinformatics tools.}, } @article {pmid35146519, year = {2022}, author = {Misawa, F and Ito, M and Nosaki, S and Nishida, H and Watanabe, M and Suzuki, T and Miura, K and Kawaguchi, M and Suzaki, T}, title = {Nitrate transport via NRT2.1 mediates NIN-LIKE PROTEIN-dependent suppression of root nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {1844-1862}, pmid = {35146519}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes have adaptive mechanisms that regulate nodulation in response to the amount of nitrogen in the soil. In Lotus japonicus, two NODULE INCEPTION (NIN)-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) transcription factors, LjNLP4 and LjNLP1, play pivotal roles in the negative regulation of nodulation by controlling the expression of symbiotic genes in high nitrate conditions. Despite an improved understanding of the molecular basis for regulating nodulation, how nitrate plays a role in the signaling pathway to negatively regulate this process is largely unknown. Here, we show that nitrate transport via NITRATE TRANSPORTER 2.1 (LjNRT2.1) is a key step in the NLP signaling pathway to control nodulation. A mutation in the LjNRT2.1 gene attenuates the nitrate-induced control of nodulation. LjNLP1 is necessary and sufficient to induce LjNRT2.1 expression, thereby regulating nitrate uptake/transport. Our data suggest that LjNRT2.1-mediated nitrate uptake/transport is required for LjNLP4 nuclear localization and induction/repression of symbiotic genes. We further show that LjNIN, a positive regulator of nodulation, counteracts the LjNLP1-dependent induction of LjNRT2.1 expression, which is linked to a reduction in nitrate uptake. These findings suggest a plant strategy in which nitrogen acquisition switches from obtaining nitrogen from the soil to symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid35146416, year = {2022}, author = {Kaposi, KL and Courtney, RL and Seymour, JE}, title = {Implications of bleaching on cnidarian venom ecology.}, journal = {Toxicon: X}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {100094}, pmid = {35146416}, issn = {2590-1710}, abstract = {Cnidarian bleaching research often focuses on the effects on a cnidarian's physiological health and fitness, whilst little focus has been towards the impacts of these events on their venom ecology. Given the importance of a cnidarian's venom to their survival and the increasing threat of bleaching events, it is important to understand the effects that this threat may have on this important aspect of their ecology as it may have unforeseen impacts on their ability to catch prey and defend themselves. This review aims to explore evidence that suggests that bleaching may impact on each of the key aspects of a cnidarians' venom ecology: cnidae, venom composition, and venom toxicity. Additionally, the resulting energy deficit, compensatory heterotrophic feeding, and increased defensive measures have been highlighted as possible ecological factors driving these changes. Suggestions are also made to guide the success of research in this field into the future, specifically in regards to selecting a study organism, the importance of accurate symbiont and cnidae identification, use of appropriate bleaching methods, determination of bleaching, and animal handling. Ultimately, this review highlights a significant and important gap in our knowledge into how cnidarians are, and will, continue to be impacted by bleaching stress.}, } @article {pmid35146414, year = {2022}, author = {Pearson, KC and Tarvin, RD}, title = {A review of chemical defense in harlequin toads (Bufonidae: Atelopus).}, journal = {Toxicon: X}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {100092}, pmid = {35146414}, issn = {2590-1710}, abstract = {Toads of the genus Atelopus are chemically defended by a unique combination of endogenously synthesized cardiotoxins (bufadienolides) and neurotoxins which may be sequestered (guanidinium alkaloids). Investigation into Atelopus small-molecule chemical defenses has been primarily concerned with identifying and characterizing various forms of these toxins while largely overlooking their ecological roles and evolutionary implications. In addition to describing the extent of knowledge about Atelopus toxin structures, pharmacology, and biological sources, we review the detection, identification, and quantification methods used in studies of Atelopus toxins to date and conclude that many known toxin profiles are unlikely to be comprehensive because of methodological and sampling limitations. Patterns in existing data suggest that both environmental (toxin availability) and genetic (capacity to synthesize or sequester toxins) factors influence toxin profiles. From an ecological and evolutionary perspective, we summarize the possible selective pressures acting on Atelopus toxicity and toxin profiles, including predation, intraspecies communication, disease, and reproductive status. Ultimately, we intend to provide a basis for future ecological, evolutionary, and biochemical research on Atelopus.}, } @article {pmid35146383, year = {2022}, author = {Kleist, TJ and Bortolazzo, A and Keyser, ZP and Perera, AM and Irving, TB and Venkateshwaran, M and Atanjaoui, F and Tang, RJ and Maeda, J and Cartwright, HN and Christianson, ML and Lemaux, PG and Luan, S and Ané, JM}, title = {Stress-associated developmental reprogramming in moss protonemata by synthetic activation of the common symbiosis pathway.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {103754}, pmid = {35146383}, issn = {2589-0042}, support = {T32 GM007133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between angiosperms and rhizobia or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are controlled through a conserved signaling pathway. Microbe-derived, chitin-based elicitors activate plant cell surface receptors and trigger nuclear calcium oscillations, which are decoded by a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) and its target transcription factor interacting protein of DMI3 (IPD3). Genes encoding CCaMK and IPD3 have been lost in multiple non-mycorrhizal plant lineages yet retained among non-mycorrhizal mosses. Here, we demonstrated that the moss Physcomitrium is equipped with a bona fide CCaMK that can functionally complement a Medicago loss-of-function mutant. Conservation of regulatory phosphosites allowed us to generate predicted hyperactive forms of Physcomitrium CCaMK and IPD3. Overexpression of synthetically activated CCaMK or IPD3 in Physcomitrium led to abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation and ectopic development of brood cells, which are asexual propagules that facilitate escape from local abiotic stresses. We therefore propose a functional role for Physcomitrium CCaMK-IPD3 in stress-associated developmental reprogramming.}, } @article {pmid35145889, year = {2022}, author = {Berza Beyene, B and Pagano, MC and Vaiyapuri R, P and Assefa Tuji, F}, title = {Microbial consortia inoculation of woody legume Erythrina brucei increases nodulation and shoot nitrogen and phosphorus under greenhouse conditions.}, journal = {Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {33}, number = {}, pages = {e00707}, pmid = {35145889}, issn = {2215-017X}, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis provides Nitrogen (N), while Legume-AMF symbiosis improves Phosphorus (P) supply to plants. This research was conducted to evaluate the symbiotic effectiveness of the Bradyrhizobium spp. and consortial inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria -Bradyrhizobium shewense (AU27) and Acinetobacter soli (AU4), and arbuscular mycorrhizhal fungi Glomus sp.1 (AMF1) and Acaulospora sp.1 (AMF2), on growth, production and shoot N and P content of Erythrina brucei.The bacterial and mycorrhizal species were evaluated for phyto-beneficial properties in the greenhouse as individual as well as consortial inoculation.. All Bradyrhizobium species were effective for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Consortial inoculations comprising of B. shewense (AU27) + A. soli (AU4) + Glomus sp.1 (AMF1) + Acaulospora sp.1 (AMF2) (T7) increased shoot length and shoot dry weight by 140% and 268%, respectively compared to un-inoculated control. Inoculations that involved B. shewense (AU27) + A. soli (AU4) increased shoot nitrogen by 260%, and 1200% increment of shoot P was recorded with inoculations of B. shewense (AU27) + Glomus sp.1 (AMF1) compared to un-inoculated control. These microbial inputs could be candidates for growth enhancement and shoot nitrogen and phosphorus improvement in Erythrina brucei and also as sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture input.}, } @article {pmid35142841, year = {2022}, author = {Pons, I and Scieur, N and Dhondt, L and Renard, ME and Renoz, F and Hance, T}, title = {Pervasiveness of the symbiont Serratia symbiotica in the aphid natural environment: distribution, diversity and evolution at a multitrophic level.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac012}, pmid = {35142841}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are significant drivers of insect evolutionary ecology. Despite recent findings that these associations can emerge from environmentally derived bacterial precursors, there is still little information on how these potential progenitors of insect symbionts circulate in trophic systems. Serratia symbiotica represents a valuable model for deciphering evolutionary scenarios of bacterial acquisition by insects, as its diversity includes gut-associated strains that retained the ability to live independently of their hosts, representing a potential reservoir for symbioses emergence. Here, we conducted a field study to examine the distribution and diversity of S. symbiotica found in aphid populations, and in different compartments of their surrounding environment. Twenty % of aphid colonies were infected with S. symbiotica, including a wide diversity of strains with varied tissue tropism corresponding to different lifestyle. We also showed that the prevalence of S. symbiotica is influenced by seasonal temperatures. We found that S. symbiotica was present in non-aphid species and in host plants, and that its prevalence in these samples was higher when associated aphid colonies were infected. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses suggest the existence of horizontal transfers between the different trophic levels. These results provide a new picture of the pervasiveness of an insect symbiont in nature.}, } @article {pmid35142840, year = {2022}, author = {Khairnar, M and Hagir, A and Parmar, K and Sayyed, RZ and James, EK and Rahi, P}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity and plant growth-promoting activities of rhizobia nodulating fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) cultivated in different agroclimatic regions of India.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac014}, pmid = {35142840}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Trigonella/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.), is an extensively cultivated legume crop used as a herb, spice, and traditional medicine in India. The symbiotic efficiency and plant growth-promoting potential of fenugreek rhizobia depend on the symbiont strain and environmental factors. We isolated 176 root-nodulating bacteria from fenugreek cultivated in different agroclimatic regions of India. MALDI-TOF MS-based identification and phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and five housekeeping genes classified the fenugreek-rhizobia as Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) meliloti. However, the strains represent separate sub-lineages of E. meliloti, distinct from all reported sub-lineages across the globe. We also observed the spatial distribution of fenugreek rhizobia, as the three sub-lineages of E. meliloti recorded during this study were specific to their respective agroclimatic regions. According to the symbiotic gene (nodC and nifH) phylogenies, all three sub-lineages of E. meliloti harboured symbiotic genes similar to symbiovar meliloti; as with the housekeeping genes, these also revealed a spatial distribution for different clades of sv. meliloti. The strains could nodulate fenugreek plants and they showed plant growth-promoting potential. Significant differences were found in the plant growth parameters in response to inoculation with the various strains, suggesting strain-level differences. This study demonstrates that fenugreek rhizobia in India are diverse and spatially distributed in different agro-climatic regions.}, } @article {pmid35142516, year = {2022}, author = {Loo, RL and Chan, Q and Nicholson, JK and Holmes, E}, title = {Balancing the Equation: A Natural History of Trimethylamine and Trimethylamine-N-oxide.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {560-589}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00851}, pmid = {35142516}, issn = {1535-3907}, support = {MR/S019669/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Methylamines ; Oxides ; }, abstract = {Trimethylamine (TMA) and its N-oxide (TMAO) are ubiquitous in prokaryote and eukaryote organisms as well as in the environment, reflecting their fundamental importance in evolutionary biology, and their diverse biochemical functions. Both metabolites have multiple biological roles including cell-signaling. Much attention has focused on the significance of serum and urinary TMAO in cardiovascular disease risk, yet this is only one of the many facets of a deeper TMA-TMAO partnership that reflects the significance of these metabolites in multiple biological processes spanning animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. We report on analytical methods for measuring TMA and TMAO and attempt to critically synthesize and map the global functions of TMA and TMAO in a systems biology framework.}, } @article {pmid35141788, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Z and Liang, J and Kuang, Y and Li, X and Chen, H and Tang, M and Hu, W}, title = {Cultivation of arbuscular mycorrhizal Broussonetia papyrifera seedlings by planting the mycorrhizal nurse plant downwards.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {203-212}, pmid = {35141788}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Broussonetia ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Seedlings/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant mycorrhization can be achieved by transplanting new seedlings with mycorrhizal nurse plants; however, this method inevitably induces plant interactions. Transplanting nurse plants downwards may prevent light competition among new seedlings and nurse plants in the same pot. We hypothesized that seedling mycorrhization via mycorrhizal provision from plants planted downwards would be a feasible and efficient strategy. We used seedlings cultivated for 6 months after inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as nurse plants, and seedlings cultivated for 1 month without AMF as recipient plants, transplanting one nurse plant and three recipient plants together in one pot. We compared two approaches for cultivating mycorrhizal Broussonetia papyrifera seedlings: planting mycorrhizal nurse plants upwards (M-NU) and downwards (M-ND). We also planted non-mycorrhizal nurse plants upwards (NM-NU) and downwards (NM-ND) as controls. We analyzed growth parameters and the mycorrhizal colonization status of recipient plants at 45, 60, and 75 days after planting (DAP). As expected, the plant growth, gas exchange, and root morphological parameters of recipient plants with mycorrhizal nurse plants were higher than those of recipient plants with non-mycorrhizal nurse plants at 60 and 75 DAP. Furthermore, the AMF colonization status and physiological growth status of M-ND recipient plants were improved compared with M-NU recipient plants. Our results demonstrate that inducing seedling mycorrhization by planting mycorrhizal nurse plants downwards is a feasible strategy for achieving AMF symbiosis while mitigating negative interactions among plants.}, } @article {pmid35140881, year = {2022}, author = {Schrieke, H and Maignien, L and Constancias, F and Trigodet, F and Chakloute, S and Rakotoarivony, I and Marie, A and L'Ambert, G and Makoundou, P and Pages, N and Murat Eren, A and Weill, M and Sicard, M and Reveillaud, J}, title = {The mosquito microbiome includes habitat-specific but rare symbionts.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {410-420}, pmid = {35140881}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Microbial communities are known to influence mosquito lifestyles by modifying essential metabolic and behavioral processes that affect reproduction, development, immunity, digestion, egg survival, and the ability to transmit pathogens. Many studies have used 16S rRNA gene amplicons to characterize mosquito microbiota and investigate factors that influence host-microbiota dynamics. However, a relatively low taxonomic resolution due to clustering methods based on arbitrary threshold and the overall dominance of Wolbachia or Asaia symbionts obscured the investigation of rare members of mosquito microbiota in previous studies. Here, we used high resolution Shannon entropy-based oligotyping approach to analyze the microbiota of Culex pipiens, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes individuals from continental Southern France and overseas Guadeloupe as well as from laboratories with or without antibiotics treatment. Our experimental design that resulted in a series of mosquito samples with a gradient of Wolbachia density and relative abundance along with high-resolution analyses of amplicon sequences enabled the recovery of a robust signal from typically less accessible bacterial taxa. Our data confirm species-specific mosquito-bacteria associations with geography as a primary factor that influences bacterial community structure. But interestingly, they also reveal co-occurring symbiotic bacterial variants within single individuals for both Elizabethkingia and Erwinia genera, distinct and specific Asaia and Chryseobacterium in continental and overseas territories, and a putative rare Wolbachia variant. Overall, our study reveals the presence of previously overlooked microdiversity and multiple closely related symbiotic strains within mosquito individuals with a remarkable habitat-specificity.}, } @article {pmid35139814, year = {2022}, author = {Frailey, DC and Zhang, Q and Wood, DJ and Davis, TM}, title = {Defining the mutation sites in chickpea nodulation mutants PM233 and PM405.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {66}, pmid = {35139814}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Cicer/*genetics ; Genome, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Like most legumes, chickpeas form specialized organs called root nodules. These nodules allow for a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria. The rhizobia provide fixed atmospheric nitrogen to the plant in a usable form. It is of both basic and practical interest to understand the host plant genetics of legume root nodulation. Chickpea lines PM233 and PM405, which harbor the mutationally identified nodulation genes rn1 and rn4, respectively, both display nodulation-deficient phenotypes. Previous investigators identified the rn1 mutation with the chickpea homolog of Medicago truncatula nodulation gene NSP2, but were unable to define the mutant rn1 allele. We used Illumina and Nanopore sequencing reads to attempt to identify and characterize candidate mutation sites responsible for the PM233 and PM405 phenotypes.

RESULTS: We aligned Illumina reads to the available desi chickpea reference genome, and did a de novo contig assembly of Nanopore reads. In mutant PM233, the Nanopore contigs allowed us to identify the breakpoints of a ~ 35 kb deleted region containing the CaNSP2 gene, the Medicago truncatula homolog of which is involved in nodulation. In mutant PM405, we performed variant calling in read alignments and identified 10 candidate mutations. Genotyping of a segregating progeny population narrowed that pool down to a single candidate gene which displayed homology to M. truncatula nodulation gene NIN.

CONCLUSIONS: We have characterized the nodulation mutation sites in chickpea mutants PM233 and PM405. In mutant PM233, the rn1 mutation was shown to be due to deletion of the entire CaNSP2 nodulation gene, while in mutant PM405 the rn4 mutation was due to a single base deletion resulting in a frameshift mutation between the predicted RWP-RK and PB1 domains of the NIN nodulation gene. Critical to characterization of the rn1 allele was the generation of Nanopore contigs for mutant PM233 and its wild type parent ICC 640, without which the deletional boundaries could not be defined. Our results suggest that efforts of prior investigators were hampered by genomic misassemblies in the CaNSP2 region of both the desi and kabuli reference genomes.}, } @article {pmid35139407, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, C and Jiang, F and Zhu, S}, title = {Complex small RNA-mediated regulatory networks between viruses/viroids/satellites and host plants.}, journal = {Virus research}, volume = {311}, number = {}, pages = {198704}, doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198704}, pmid = {35139407}, issn = {1872-7492}, mesh = {*MicroRNAs/genetics ; Plant Diseases ; *Plant Viruses/genetics/metabolism ; Plants ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; RNA, Viral/genetics/metabolism ; *Viroids/genetics ; }, abstract = {Host plants deploy the small RNA (sRNA)-directed RNA silencing pathway to resist invasion by acellular microorganisms (viruses/viroids/satellites), and, in turn, this pathway is exploited by pathogenic agents to create an environment conducive to infection. Previous known sRNA-RNA systems consist of host endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) mediating the regulation of host mRNAs and virus/viroid/satellite-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) targeting their genomic RNAs. However, more in-depth explorations have substantially expanded the understanding of the complexity of sRNA-RNA regulatory networks. Here, we review some recently discovered sRNA-mediated regulatory systems. Specifically, in addition to virus-encoded proteins acting as virulence factors, vsiRNAs can serve as important pathogenic determinants targeting host mRNAs and noncoding RNAs to promote virus/viroid/satellite infection and trigger symptoms that may be side effects of infection. Additionally, virus-activated but host-derived siRNAs (vasiRNAs) regulate endogenous plant gene expression related to virus resistance or pathogenicity. The inhibitory effect of miRNAs on plant endogenous mRNAs and viral RNAs (vRNAs) has also been identified. Furthermore, siRNA-based interregulation occurring between viruses and their parasite satellite RNAs (satRNAs) enables coexisting virus-satRNA-plant homoeostasis. Thus, the underlying mechanisms of plant-virus/viroid/satellite competition and symbiosis are largely obscured by these diverse sRNA-RNA combinations. Guided by the intricate regulatory network-based principle at the RNA level, practically applicable and feasible strategies have been developed for the management of plant viruses/viroids/satellites for which effective control measures are lacking.}, } @article {pmid35138603, year = {2022}, author = {Schneider, SA and Sodano, J and LaPolla, JS}, title = {Distinguishing Symbiotic Partners of Acropyga Ants from Free-Living Soil Inhabitants.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {51}, number = {4}, pages = {641-647}, pmid = {35138603}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Hemiptera ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The fruitful study of associations between ants and scale insects yields insight into the mechanisms that shape these symbioses. Field collections provide the basic information linking partnered species, and as such it is critical that collection techniques from the field reflect true species-to-species partnerships in the published literature. It is equally critical that such practices limit the potential for mistaking free-living "neighbors" for symbiotic partners and publishing erroneous associations. This article describes a protocol for collecting subterranean scale insects and associated Acropyga Roger ants, which relies upon the activity of worker ants to sort and distinguish symbionts from free-living scale insects that happen to live near the colony. By collecting samples of ants and scales into nest boxes and allowing a resting period of several hours, worker ants will gather symbiotic partners into dense, protected clusters in which symbionts are actively tended. Free-living scale insects neighboring the colony can be collected from soil along with colony samples, but these free-living individuals are excluded from protective clusters and ignored by workers. Following confirmation of ant attendance, true symbiotic partners can be confidently collected, preserved, and recorded for future study. We illustrate the value of employing this collection protocol using a case study from Peru.}, } @article {pmid35137847, year = {2022}, author = {Monteiro, GG and Paulo, HH and Nascimento, DD and Pelegrini, G and Lacerda, LM and Chacon-Orozco, J and Leite, LG and Polanczyk, RA}, title = {Virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria, under laboratory conditions, aiming controlling Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on sugarcane.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {84}, number = {}, pages = {e253780}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.253780}, pmid = {35137847}, issn = {1678-4375}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Female ; *Hemiptera ; Humans ; Laboratories ; Pest Control, Biological ; *Rhabditida ; *Saccharum ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Sugarcane crops Saccharum spp. (Poales: Poaceae) produces different derivatives to the world: sugar, ethanol and bioenergy. Despite the application of pesticides, insect pests still cause economic losses, among these the pink sugarcane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) causing direct and indirect damage to the plant. This study assess the virulence of three entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) species and their symbiont bacteria against the pink sugarcane mealybug, under laboratory conditions. Fourteen treatments represented by control (distilled water), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 (HB EN01) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), Steinernema rarum (Doucet, 1986) (PAM25) and Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser, 1955 (All) (Rhabditida: Steinermatidae) at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/insect, and the standard chemical product, thiamethoxam, were assayed. In a second experiment, the bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens (Thomas and Poinar, 1979), Xenorhabdus szentirmaii Lengyel, 2005 and Xenorhabdus nematophila (Poinar and Thomas, 1965) (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae) at 3.0 x 109 cells/ml were assessed for each treatment. Ten replications were stablished, each one counting ten females/mealybugs inside a 10 cm Petri dish, amounting 100 individuals/treatment. All treatments were kept under stable conditions (25±1 ºC, H 70±10%, in the dark). All nematodes species infected S. sacchari. Steinerma rarum (PAM25) provided the highest mortality against the pink sugarcane mealybug (79.25%), followed by H. bacteriophora (HB EN01) (58.25%) and S. carpocapsae (All) (42.50%) (P<0.001). The mortality rate caused by X. szentirmaii, P. luminescens and X. nematophila were 40, 45 and 20%, respectively. Steinerma rarum (PAM25) has conditions to be a potential agent to be incorporate into the integrated pest management in sugarcane.}, } @article {pmid35137225, year = {2022}, author = {Sillo, F and Brunetti, C and Marroni, F and Vita, F and Dos Santos Nascimento, LB and Vizzini, A and Mello, A and Balestrini, R}, title = {Systemic effects of Tuber melanosporum inoculation in two Corylus avellana genotypes.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {7}, pages = {1463-1480}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpac012}, pmid = {35137225}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Corylus/genetics/microbiology ; Genotype ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; }, abstract = {Roots of the European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), i.e., one of the most economically important nut species, form symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, including truffles. Although physical interactions only occur in roots, the presence of mycorrhizal fungi can lead to metabolic changes at a systemic level, i.e., in leaves. However, how root colonization by ECM fungi modifies these processes in the host plant has so far not been widely studied. This work aimed to investigate the response in two C. avellana genotypes, focusing on leaves from plants inoculated with the black truffle Tuber melanosporum Vittad. Transcriptomic profiles of leaves of colonized plants were compared with those of non-colonized plants, as well as sugar and polyphenolic content. Results suggested that T. melanosporum has the potential to support plants in stressed conditions, leading to the systemic regulation of several genes involved in signaling and defense responses. Although further confirmation is needed, our results open new perspectives for future research aimed to highlight novel aspects in ECM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35137020, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, L and Di, Q and Zhang, D and Liu, Y and Li, X and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Yan, J and Luo, L}, title = {A legume-specific novel type of phytosulfokine, PSK-δ, promotes nodulation by enhancing nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {8}, pages = {2698-2713}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac051}, pmid = {35137020}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Peptides/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phytosulfokine-α (PSK-α), a tyrosine-sulfated pentapeptide with the sequence YSO3IYSO3TQ, is widely distributed across the plant kingdom and plays multiple roles in plant growth, development, and immune response. Here, we report a novel type of phytosulfokine, PSK-δ, and its precursor proteins (MtPSKδ, LjPSKδ, and GmPSKδ1), specifically from legume species. The sequence YSO3IYSO3TN of sulfated PSK-δ peptide is different from PSK-α at the last amino acid. Expression pattern analysis revealed PSK-δ-encoding precursor genes to be expressed primarily in legume root nodules. Specifically, in Medicago truncatula, MtPSKδ expression was detected in root cortical cells undergoing nodule organogenesis, in nodule primordia and young nodules, and in the apical region of mature nodules. Accumulation of sulfated PSK-δ peptide in M. truncatula nodules was detected by LC/MS. Application of synthetic PSK-δ peptide significantly increased nodule number in legumes. Similarly, overexpression of MtPSKδ in transgenic M. truncatula markedly promoted symbiotic nodulation. This increase in nodule number was attributed to enhanced nodule organogenesis induced by PSK-δ. Additional genetic evidence from the MtPSKδ mutant and RNA interference assays suggested that the PSK-δ and PSK-α peptides function redundantly in regulating nodule organogenesis. These results suggest that PSK-δ, a legume-specific novel type of phytosulfokine, promotes symbiotic nodulation by enhancing nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid35136549, year = {2022}, author = {Ametrano, CG and Lumbsch, HT and Di Stefano, I and Sangvichien, E and Muggia, L and Grewe, F}, title = {Should we hail the Red King? Evolutionary consequences of a mutualistic lifestyle in genomes of lichenized ascomycetes.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e8471}, pmid = {35136549}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The Red Queen dynamic is often brought into play for antagonistic relationships. However, the coevolutionary effects of mutualistic interactions, which predict slower evolution for interacting organisms (Red King), have been investigated to a lesser extent. Lichens are a stable, mutualistic relationship of fungi and cyanobacteria and/or algae, which originated several times independently during the evolution of fungi. Therefore, they represent a suitable system to investigate the coevolutionary effect of mutualism on the fungal genome. We measured substitution rates and selective pressure of about 2000 protein-coding genes (plus the rDNA region) in two different classes of Ascomycota, each consisting of closely related lineages of lichenized and non-lichenized fungi. Our results show that independent lichenized clades are characterized by significantly slower rates for both synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions. We hypothesize that this evolutionary pattern is connected to the lichen life cycle (longer generation time of lichenized fungi) rather than a result of different selection strengths, which is described as the main driver for the Red Kind dynamic. This first empirical evidence of slower evolution in lichens provides an important insight on how biotic cooperative interactions are able to shape the evolution of symbiotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid35135483, year = {2022}, author = {Palberg, D and Kisiała, A and Jorge, GL and Emery, RJN}, title = {A survey of Methylobacterium species and strains reveals widespread production and varying profiles of cytokinin phytohormones.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {49}, pmid = {35135483}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Cytokinins/*analysis/*metabolism ; Methylobacterium/*chemistry/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic Methylobacterium strains comprise a significant part of plant microbiomes. Their presence enhances plant productivity and stress resistance, prompting classification of these strains as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Methylobacteria can synthesize unusually high levels of plant hormones, called cytokinins (CKs), including the most active form, trans-Zeatin (tZ).

RESULTS: This study provides a comprehensive inventory of 46 representatives of Methylobacterium genus with respect to phytohormone production in vitro, including 16 CK forms, abscisic acid (ABA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). High performance-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analyses revealed varying abilities of Methylobacterium strains to secrete phytohormones that ranged from 5.09 to 191.47 pmol mL[-1] for total CKs, and 0.46 to 82.16 pmol mL[-1] for tZ. Results indicate that reduced methanol availability, the sole carbon source for bacteria in the medium, stimulates CK secretion by Methylobacterium. Additionally, select strains were able to transform L-tryptophan into IAA while no ABA production was detected.

CONCLUSIONS: To better understand features of CKs in plants, this study uncovers CK profiles of Methylobacterium that are instrumental in microbe selection for effective biofertilizer formulations.}, } @article {pmid35134923, year = {2022}, author = {Peksa, O and Gebouská, T and Škvorová, Z and Vančurová, L and Škaloud, P}, title = {The guilds in green algal lichens-an insight into the life of terrestrial symbiotic communities.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiac008}, pmid = {35134923}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Chlorophyta ; Fungi/genetics ; *Lichens/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichenized algae and cyanobacteria are known to be shared and selected by unrelated lichen-forming fungi coexisting in so-called photobiont-mediated guilds. Life in such a guild could be crucial for the survival of a large group of lichen fungi dependent on horizontal transmission of photobionts. Here, we investigate frequent lichen phycobionts of the genus Trebouxia in rock-dwelling lichen communities. We found intensive and repeated sharing of specific Trebouxia assemblages by co-occurring lichens across distant localities. Rock chemistry, expressed as pH, determined the composition of photobiont pools and separated three saxicolous lichen guilds, sharing environmentally specific photobiont groups. Moreover, unlike the majority of lichen fungi, many Trebouxia photobionts represented opportunists in the choice of general substrate form (soil-rock-tree bark/wood), maintaining their pH preferences. Thus, saxicolous communities form just a part of a complex guild system that is in principle mediated by environmentally conditioned groups of naturally co-occurring photobionts. The complexity of the system is influenced by diverse photobiont life strategies, including also dispersal style. The findings of photobionts strictly or predominantly associated with sexually reproducing fungi stimulated us to emphasize the role of free-dispersing photobionts in the establishment and maintenance of lichen guilds.}, } @article {pmid35134272, year = {2022}, author = {Dar, MA and Xie, R and Pandit, RS and Danso, B and Dong, C and Sun, J}, title = {Exploring the region-wise diversity and functions of symbiotic bacteria in the gut system of wood-feeding termite, Coptotermes formosanus, toward the degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and organic dyes.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {1414-1432}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.13012}, pmid = {35134272}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Coloring Agents/metabolism ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Polysaccharides ; Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism ; Xylans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The wood-feeding termite Coptotermes formosanus represents a unique and impressive system for lignocellulose degradation. The highly efficient digestion of lignocellulose is achieved through symbiosis with gut symbionts like bacteria. Despite extensive research during the last three decades, diversity of bacterial symbionts residing in individual gut regions of the termite and their associated functions is still lacking. To this end, cellulose, xylan, and dye-decolorization bacteria residing in foregut, midgut, and hindgut regions of C. formosanus were enlisted by using enrichment and culture-dependent molecular methods. A total of 87 bacterial strains were successfully isolated from different gut regions of C. formosanus which belonged to 27 different species of 10 genera, majorly affiliated with Proteobacteria (80%) and Firmicutes (18.3%). Among the gut regions, 37.9% of the total bacterial isolates were observed in the hindgut that demonstrated predominance of cellulolytic bacteria (47.6%). The majority of the xylanolytic and dye-decolorization bacteria (50%) were obtained from the foregut and midgut, respectively. Actinobacteria represented by Dietza sp. was observed in the hindgut only. Based on species richness, the highest diversity was observed in midgut and hindgut regions each of which harbored seven unique bacterial species. The members of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas were common among the gut regions. The lignocellulolytic activities of the selected potential bacteria signpost their assistance to the host for lignocellulose digestion. The overall results indicate that C. formosanus harbors diverse communities of lignocellulolytic bacteria in different regions of the gut system. These observations will significantly advance our understanding of the termite-bacteria symbiosis and their microbial ecology uniquely existed in different gut regions of C. formosanus, which may further shed a light on its potential values at termite-modeled biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid35133010, year = {2022}, author = {Guo, R and Wu, YN and Liu, CC and Liu, YN and Tian, L and Cheng, JF and Pan, Z and Wang, D and Wang, B}, title = {OsADK1, a novel kinase regulating arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {1}, pages = {256-268}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17979}, pmid = {35133010}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis relies on the formation of arbuscules for efficient nutrient exchange between plants and AM fungi. In this study, we identified a novel kinase gene in rice named OsADK1 (Arbuscule Development Kinase 1) that is required for arbuscule development. By obtaining OsADK1pro::GUS transgenic rice plants and also generating Osadk1 mutants via CRISPR/Cas9 technique, OsADK1 was revealed to be specifically induced in the arbusculated cortical cells and mutations in OsADK1 resulted in an extremely low colonisation rate (c. 3%) of rice roots by AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. In the mutant roots, the very few observed arbuscules nearly all arrested at an early 'trunk-forming' phase without forming any branches. Increasing the inoculum strength of AM fungus or cocultivation with a wild-type nurse plant did not result in the rescue of the arbuscule phenotype. Transcriptome sequencing of both nursed and un-nursed Osadk1 mutants then revealed that the mutation of OsADK1 could greatly affect the AM symbiotic programme, including many key transcription factors such as RAM1 and WRI5. OsADK1 therefore represents a new rice kinase that is required for arbuscule branching. Its identification opens a new window to explore the elaborate signal transduction pathway that determines arbuscule development during plant-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35132164, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, W and Wang, Y and Wang, YH and Zhang, YN and Wang, JF}, title = {Diversity and dynamics of bacteria at the Chrysomya megacephala pupal stage revealed by third-generation sequencing.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {2006}, pmid = {35132164}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Calliphoridae/*microbiology ; Erysipelothrix/genetics/isolation & purification ; Firmicutes/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Forensic Entomology ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Microbiota/genetics/physiology ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Pupa/*microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Characterization of the microbial community is essential for understanding the symbiotic relationships between microbes and host insects. Chrysomya megacephala is a vital resource, a forensic insect, a pollinator, and a vector for enteric bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and viruses. However, research on its microbial community is incomprehensive, particularly at the pupal stage, which comprises approximately half of the entire larval development stage and is important entomological evidence in forensic medicine. For the first time, this study investigated the bacterial communities of C. megacephala pupae at different ages using third-generation sequencing technology. The results showed that C. megacephala has a diverse and dynamic bacterial community. Cluster analysis at ≥ 97% similarity produced 154 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that belonged to 10 different phyla and were distributed into 15 classes, 28 orders, 50 families, 88 genera, and 130 species. Overall, the number of bacterial OTUs increased with the development of pupae, and the relative abundance of Wolbachia in the Day5 group was significantly lower than that in the other groups. Within the pupal stage, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla of bacteria. At the genus level, Wolbachia and Ignatzschineria coexisted, a rarely known feature. In addition, we found Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the etiological agent of swine erysipelas, which is rarely identified in insects. This study enriches the understanding of the microbial community of C. megacephala and provides a reference for better utilization and control of C. megacephala.}, } @article {pmid35130720, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, KH and Zhang, B and Yang, BS and Shi, WT and Li, YF and Wang, Y and Zhang, P and Jiao, J and Tian, CF}, title = {Rhizobiales-Specific RirA Represses a Naturally "Synthetic" Foreign Siderophore Gene Cluster To Maintain Sinorhizobium-Legume Mutualism.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0290021}, pmid = {35130720}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Siderophores/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/metabolism ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Vegetables ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Iron homeostasis is strictly regulated in cellular organisms. The Rhizobiales order enriched with symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria has evolved a lineage-specific regulator, RirA, responding to iron fluctuations. However, the regulatory role of RirA in bacterium-host interactions remains largely unknown. Here, we report that RirA is essential for mutualistic interactions of Sinorhizobium fredii with its legume hosts by repressing a gene cluster directing biosynthesis and transport of petrobactin siderophore. Genes encoding an inner membrane ABC transporter (fat) and the biosynthetic machinery (asb) of petrobactin siderophore are sporadically distributed in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. An outer membrane siderophore receptor gene (fprA) was naturally assembled with asb and fat, forming a long polycistron in S. fredii. An indigenous regulation cascade harboring an inner membrane protease (RseP), a sigma factor (FecI), and its anti-sigma protein (FecR) were involved in direct activation of the fprA-asb-fat polycistron. Operons harboring fecI and fprA-asb-fat, and those encoding the indigenous TonB-ExbB-ExbD complex delivering energy to the outer membrane transport activity, were directly repressed by RirA under iron-replete conditions. The rirA deletion led to upregulation of these operons and iron overload in nodules, impaired intracellular persistence, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation of rhizobia. Mutualistic defects of the rirA mutant can be rescued by blocking activities of this naturally "synthetic" circuit for siderophore biosynthesis and transport. These findings not only are significant for understanding iron homeostasis of mutualistic interactions but also provide insights into assembly and integration of foreign machineries for biosynthesis and transport of siderophores, horizontal transfer of which is selected in microbiota. IMPORTANCE Iron is a public good explored by both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The abundant ferric form is insoluble under neutral and basic pH conditions, and many bacteria secrete siderophores forming soluble ferric siderophore complexes, which can be then taken up by specific receptors and transporters. Siderophore biosynthesis and uptake machineries can be horizontally transferred among bacteria in nature. Despite increasing attention on the importance of siderophores in host-microbiota interactions, the regulatory integration process of transferred siderophore biosynthesis and transport genes is poorly understood in an evolutionary context. By focusing on the mutualistic rhizobium-legume symbiosis, here, we report how a naturally synthetic foreign siderophore gene cluster was integrated with the rhizobial indigenous regulation cascade, which is essential for maintaining mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid35130140, year = {2022}, author = {Yin, Q and Liang, J and Zheng, X and Wang, Y and Song, ZM and Zhang, Y and Xu, Y}, title = {Corrigendum: Algibacter onchidii sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from a marine invertebrate.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005189}, pmid = {35130140}, issn = {1466-5034}, } @article {pmid35129135, year = {2022}, author = {Sreekumar, J and Muhammed Sadiq, PA and Raju, S and Mukherjee, A}, title = {In silico analysis of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).}, journal = {Journal of genetics}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {35129135}, issn = {0973-7731}, mesh = {Carotenoids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Manihot/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The apocarotenoids play a vital role in plant growth and development process, especially strigolactones, which can induce rooting and help in the interaction with symbiotic microbes in plants. They also act as colorants, antioxidants, hormones, signalling components, scent/aroma constituents and chromophores. In silico approaches are valuable in reducing the complexity regarding gene networks in plants that help to develop new biotechnological and bioinformatics tactics in crop improvement programmes. An in silico comparative genomic analysis of the key enzymes encoding genes involved in apocarotenoid biosynthesis in cassava was carried out using template plants such as arabidopsis, tomato, potato and sweet potato. Forty carotenoid genes were identified, and the nucleotide sequences were subjected to various regulatory sequence analyses such as transcription factor prediction, CpG island analysis, microRNA regulatory analysis and promotor sequence analysis. The corresponding protein sequences were subjected to domain/motif analysis and phylogenetic analysis. The expression profile of apocarotenoid genes in cassava were generated and subcellular localization prediction was done to identify the distribution of the proteins. The results indicated that the apocarotenoid protein domains were conserved in template plants and cassava. Eighteen transcription factors like MYB, BBR-BPC, bHLH and NAC were associated with the identified carotenoid genes in cassava. The apocarotenoid genes were found to be expressed in all the major parts of the plants. These genes were distributed in 17 of 18 cassava chromosomes and the third one contained maximum number of genes. MiRNA regulatory analysis identified three microRNAs, namely miR159a, miR171b and miR396a which were significantly associated with carotenoid biosynthesis in cassava and the pathway was reconstructed by incorporating the above information. A better understanding of the genes and pathway associated with carotenoid biosynthesis in cassava would be helpful in the breeding programme to develop improved carotenoid rich varieties.}, } @article {pmid35127294, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, JT and Chu, CW and Soong, K}, title = {Comparison of the bleaching susceptibility of coral species by using minimal samples of live corals.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e12840}, pmid = {35127294}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Temperature ; Seasons ; Acclimatization ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In massive bleaching events (losing symbiotic algae from corals), more sensitive corals are bleached earlier than other corals. To perform a comparison of bleaching susceptibility within and across coral species, a simple quantitative method is required. Accordingly, we present a laboratory-based method for comparing the bleaching susceptibility of various coral species by using a standardized image analysis protocol. Coral fragments were sampled from the colonies of five species selected from Kenting, southern Taiwan, and maintained in the same aquarium tank with circulating seawater; 2 seawater temperature regimes were used (i.e., fast-heating program (FHP), with a heating rate of 1 °C per day; and slow-heating program (SHP), with a heating rate of 1 °C per 3 days). Each coral fragment was photographed periodically, and the colored images were subsequently converted to grayscale images and then digitally analyzed to determine the standardized grayscale values (G0) by comparing with that of standard color strip. The G0 of a sample at each time of photographing during bleaching was divided by the difference of G0 between the acclimating and the same but completely bleached fragment to derive the relative grayscale (RG%) at a particular stage of bleaching; this is done for each coral fragment of a colony. The smaller the RG% of a coral fragment the closer it is approaching completely bleached condition. The level of decrease in RG% within a time series of images in each heating regime was used to establish a bleaching time index (BTI). The lower the BTI, the sooner to reach a defined bleaching level (e.g., 30%), this indicates the coral is more sensitive to thermal bleaching. In the experiment, we compared the bleaching susceptibility of the five species. Based on the proposed BTI, the five species were ranked in terms of bleaching susceptibility, and the rankings were identical between the two temperature regimes; three species in Pocilloporidae had lower BTI, whereas the hydrocoral Millepora species had the highest BTI. Within each heating regime, the BTI of different species were ranked and used to indicate susceptibility. In the FHP, the three Pocilloporidae species could be divided into two groups in terms of bleaching susceptibility. FHP not only displayed a higher differentiating capability on coal bleaching susceptibility than SHP, but also had a faster completion time, thus reducing the likelihood of unforeseen complications during the tank experiments. Our color-based method is easier and less effort-intensive than methods involving the assessment of zooxanthellae densities. Moreover, it requires much fewer replicates and all samples in one large tank (e.g., 300 L) for the studies considering multiple species comparisons. This method opens opportunities for studying the effects of species types, acclimatization (e.g., seasons), and environmental factors other than temperature on coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid35127049, year = {2022}, author = {Kaech, H and Jud, S and Vorburger, C}, title = {Similar cost of Hamiltonella defensa in experimental and natural aphid-endosymbiont associations.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e8551}, pmid = {35127049}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Endosymbiont-conferred resistance to parasitoids is common in aphids, but comes at a cost to the host in the absence of parasitoids. In black bean aphids (Aphis fabae), costs in terms of reduced lifespan and lifetime reproduction were demonstrated by introducing 11 isolates of the protective symbiont Hamiltonella defensa into previously uninfected aphid clones. Transfection of H. defensa isolates into a common genetic background allows to compare the costs of different endosymbiont isolates unconfounded by host genetic variation, but has been suggested to overestimate the realized costs of the endosymbiont in natural populations, because transfection creates new and potentially maladapted host-symbiont combinations that would be eliminated by natural selection in the field. In this experiment, we show that removing H. defensa isolates from their natural host clones with antibiotics results in a fitness gain that is comparable to the fitness loss from their introduction into two new clones. This suggests that estimating cost by transfecting endosymbiont isolates into a shared host genotype does not lead to gross overestimates of their realized costs, at least not in the two recipient genotypes used here. By comparing our data with data reported in previous publications using the same lines, we show that symbiont-induced costs may fluctuate over time. Thus, costs estimated after extended culture in the laboratory may not always be representative of the costs at the time of collection in the field. Finally, we report the accidental observation that two isolates from a distinct haplotype of H. defensa could not be removed by cefotaxime treatment, while all isolates from two other haplotypes were readily eliminated, which is suggestive of variation in susceptibility to this antibiotic in H. defensa.}, } @article {pmid35127032, year = {2022}, author = {Duarte, AG and Maherali, H}, title = {A meta-analysis of the effects of climate change on the mutualism between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e8518}, pmid = {35127032}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Climate change and other anthropogenic activities have the potential to alter the dynamics of resource exchange in the mutualistic symbiosis between plants and mycorrhizal fungi, potentially altering its stability. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which interact with most plant species, are less cold-tolerant than other groups of fungi; warming might therefore lead to increased fungal-mediated nutrient transfers to plants, which could strengthen the mutualism. By stimulating photosynthesis, rising CO2 could reduce the carbon cost of supporting AM fungi, which may also strengthen the mutualism. Furthermore, rising temperature and CO2 could have stronger effects on the mutualism in wild plants than in domesticated plants because the process of domestication can reduce the dependence of plants on mycorrhizal fungi. We conducted a multi-level random effects meta-analysis of experiments that quantified the strength of the mutualism as plant growth response to AM fungal inoculation (i.e., mycorrhizal growth response) under contrasting temperature and CO2 treatments that spanned the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to those expected with future climate change. We tested predictions using a three-level mixed effects meta-regression model with temperature or CO2, domestication status and their interaction as moderators. Increases from subambient to ambient temperature stimulated mycorrhizal growth response only for wild, but not for domesticated plant species. An increase from ambient to superambient temperature stimulated mycorrhizal growth response in both wild and domesticated plants, but the overall temperature effect was not statistically significant. By contrast, increased CO2 concentration, either from subambient to ambient or ambient to super ambient levels, did not affect mycorrhizal growth response in wild or domesticated plants. These results suggest the mutualism between wild plants and AM fungi was likely strengthened as temperature rose from the past to the present and that forecasted warming due to climate change may have modest positive effects on the mutualistic responses of plants to AM fungi. Mutualistic benefits obtained by plants from AM fungi may not have been altered by atmospheric CO2 increases from the past to the present, nor are they likely to be affected by a forecasted CO2 increase. This meta-analysis also identified gaps in the literature. In particular, (i) a large majority of studies that examined temperature effects on the mutualism focus on domesticated species (>80% of all trials) and (ii) very few studies examine how rising temperature and CO2, or other anthropogenic effects, interact to influence the mutualism. Therefore, to predict the stability of the mycorrhizal mutualism in the Anthropocene, future work should prioritize wild plant species as study subjects and focus on identifying how climate change factors and other human activities interact to affect plant responses to AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid35125351, year = {2021}, author = {Antonovich, J}, title = {White Coats, White Hoods: The Medical Politics of the Ku Klux Klan in 1920s America.}, journal = {Bulletin of the history of medicine}, volume = {95}, number = {4}, pages = {437-463}, doi = {10.1353/bhm.2021.0053}, pmid = {35125351}, issn = {1086-3176}, mesh = {Humans ; *Physicians ; *Politics ; United States ; }, abstract = {This article explores the medical politics of the second iteration of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States. As eugenics gained a foothold in America at the turn of the twentieth century, the Klan embraced the latest in scientific racism to lend legitimacy to their cultural, political, and economic goals of white supremacy. Klan physicians in particular held a vested interest in preserving a racialized medical hierarchy and promoting reproductive surveillance in public health. By the 1920s, a symbiotic relationship developed between the organization and the medical profession. The Klan relied on its member physicians to lend professional respectability to the organization and scientific legitimacy to its agenda. In turn, affiliation with the Klan gave physicians an opportunity for career advancement and provided the muscle to intimidate professional and political opponents.}, } @article {pmid35125017, year = {2022}, author = {Shah, PA and Govindarajan, V and Diggikar, S and Rangaiah, A and Devadas, S and Kariyappa, M}, title = {Exploring the Skin Mycobiome in Very Preterm babies during the early neonatal period in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of India.}, journal = {Tropical doctor}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {362-364}, doi = {10.1177/00494755221077520}, pmid = {35125017}, issn = {1758-1133}, mesh = {Candida/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; *Mycobiome ; }, abstract = {The neonatal skin microbiome consists of all the genomes and genetic products of micro-organisms harbouring the skin of babies. Host and the microbiota develop a harmonious environment resulting in symbiosis. Any disruption of this environment could lead to pathological disease. Our study was conducted to explore the neonatal skin fungal microbiome of very preterm neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a tertiary health care setting using Next Generation Sequencing of the18S rRNA gene. The most abundant genera found in 22/30 samples were Candida followed by Bipolaris & Cladosporium on the skin microbiome of these neonates. The presence of these fungi, whether just as commensals or as potential pathogens, is currently under research, owing to the risk of early exposure and incidence of infection right from birth.}, } @article {pmid35124491, year = {2022}, author = {Wen, X and Geng, F and Xu, Y and Li, X and Liu, D and Liu, Z and Luo, Z and Wang, J}, title = {Quantitative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the changes in Tricholoma matsutake fruiting bodies during cold storage.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {381}, number = {}, pages = {132292}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132292}, pmid = {35124491}, issn = {1873-7072}, mesh = {Agaricales ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; *Tricholoma/chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {A combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses was performed to systematically understand the metabolic changes in Tricholoma matsutake fruiting bodies during cold storage. In total, 800 metabolites were identified and 19,964 annotated unigenes were quantified. The unigenes related to the catabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids were mainly upregulated during cold storage, but the related primary metabolites were not accumulated, which indicated complete degradation and loss of nutrients. Concurrently, the synthesis and metabolism of the main components of the cell wall, chitin and β-1,3-glucan, were regulated, indicating the dynamic remodeling of the T. matsutake cell wall structure. Additionally, indole-3-acetic acid and components of its synthesis pathway were found in T. matsutake, indicating their potential role as a communicator between T. matsutake and its symbiotic plants. The results provide new information to improve the understanding of the metabolic mechanism of T. matsutake fruit bodies during postharvest cold storage.}, } @article {pmid35124069, year = {2022}, author = {Booysen, E and Malan, AP and Dicks, LMT}, title = {Colour of heterorhabditis zealandica-infected-Galleria mellonella dependent on the Photorhabdus symbiont, with two new nematode-symbiotic associations reported.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {107729}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2022.107729}, pmid = {35124069}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Color ; Larva/microbiology ; *Moths/genetics ; *Nematoda/genetics ; *Photorhabdus/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Strongyloidea ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) play an important role in terms of the insecticidal properties of nematodes in pest control. Galleria mellonella larvae, shortly after being infected with three different strains of Heterorhabditis zealandica, which were isolated from South African soil, changed from pale white to steel grey-blue (blue), bright red, and yellow with a green tint (green), respectively. The genetic relatedness of the bacterial symbionts that were isolated from the three strains of H. zealandica was determined by means of comparing the 16S rRNA, recA, gyrB, dnaN, gltX and infB gene sequences. Subsequently, comparing the concatenated sequences revealed the presence of three distinct Photorhabdus species. The H. zealandica strain SF41, associated with Photorhabdus heterorhabditis, produced 'blue' G. mellonella larvae. The H. zealandica strain MJ2C, associated with Photorhabdus thracensis, yielded 'green' G. mellonella larvae, while the H. zealandica strain LLM associated with Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii yielded red larvae. The colour changes in G. mellonella larvae were found to have been instigated by a particular Photorhabdus species associated with H. zealandica. The red and 'green' phenotypes of G. mellonella larvae were found to represent new combinations of Heterorhabditis and Photorhabdus. In future studies, the colour of infected G. mellonella larvae needs to be reported as a phenotypic character, as it indicates the different bacterial species associated with the same nematode host, as shown in the case of H. zealandica.}, } @article {pmid35123653, year = {2022}, author = {Zheng, Y and Hunt, RL and Villaruz, AE and Fisher, EL and Liu, R and Liu, Q and Cheung, GYC and Li, M and Otto, M}, title = {Commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis contributes to skin barrier homeostasis by generating protective ceramides.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {301-313.e9}, pmid = {35123653}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {Z01 AI000904/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ceramides ; Homeostasis ; Mice ; Skin/microbiology ; *Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Previously either regarded as insignificant or feared as potential sources of infection, the bacteria living on our skin are increasingly recognized for their role in benefitting human health. Skin commensals modulate mucosal immune defenses and directly interfere with pathogens; however, their contribution to the skin's physical integrity is less understood. Here, we show that the abundant skin commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis contributes to skin barrier integrity. S. epidermidis secretes a sphingomyelinase that acquires essential nutrients for the bacteria and assists the host in producing ceramides, the main constituent of the epithelial barrier that averts skin dehydration and aging. In mouse models, S. epidermidis significantly increases skin ceramide levels and prevents water loss of damaged skin in a fashion entirely dependent on its sphingomyelinase. Our findings reveal a symbiotic mechanism that demonstrates an important role of the skin microbiota in the maintenance of the skin's protective barrier.}, } @article {pmid35123400, year = {2022}, author = {Ma, J and Wang, W and Yang, J and Qin, S and Yang, Y and Sun, C and Pei, G and Zeeshan, M and Liao, H and Liu, L and Huang, J}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis promotes the nutrient content accumulation and affects the root exudates in maize.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {64}, pmid = {35123400}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Biomass ; Crops, Agricultural/growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Exudates/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Zea mays/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a group of important symbiotic microorganisms found in ecosystems. Maize is the second most produced food crop globally. To investigate the mechanisms by which mycorrhizal symbiosis improves maize yields, the effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on root vigor, nutrient accumulation in various tissues, and root exudates were investigated. We propose the following hypothesis: The secretion of organic acids in root exudates has antagonistic or synergistic effects, which are related to the rhizosphere environment. AMF symbiosis will enhance this effect.

RESULT: Rhizophagus aggreatus, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Funneliformis mosseae were used to inoculate maize plants separately; meanwhile, maize was inoculated with the above three fungi together for another processing. The plant tissues were sampled at five growth stages: V12 (twelve-leaf), VT (Tassel), R1 (Silking), R2 (Blister), and R4 (Dough stage). The root vigor, and nutrient content in different maize organs and organic acids in root exudates were determined in these stages. The results show that mycorrhizal symbiosis significantly improved the root vigor of maize, especially for plants inoculated with F. mosseae. AMF symbiosis significantly increased N, P, and K accumulation. Mixed inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly promoted the accumulation of N and K in maize. P accumulation was significantly promoted by C. etunicatum inoculation. Mycorrhizal symbiosis reduced the levels of protocatechuic, vanillic, citric, and ferulic acid in maize root exudates and increased the levels of p-hydroxybenzoic and caffeic acid. Except for syringic, chlorogenic and succinic acid, the levels of other organic acids in root exudates were higher in plants inoculated with F. mosseae than in other treatments.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that mycorrhizal symbiosis improves root vigor and promotes nutrient accumulation at various sites; in addition, mycorrhizal symbiosis affects the content of organic acids in root exudates.}, } @article {pmid35123184, year = {2022}, author = {Ding, C and Zhao, Y and Zhang, Q and Lin, Y and Xue, R and Chen, C and Zeng, R and Chen, D and Song, Y}, title = {Cadmium transfer between maize and soybean plants via common mycorrhizal networks.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {113273}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113273}, pmid = {35123184}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Cadmium/analysis/toxicity ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Roots ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; Soybeans ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {More than 80% terrestrial plants establish mutualistic symbiosis with soil-borne arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These fungi not only significantly improve plant nutrient acquisition and stress resistance, but also mitigate heavy metal phytotoxicity, Furthermore, the extraradical mycorrhizal mycelia can form common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that link roots of multiple plants in a community. Here we show that the networks mediate migration of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) from maize (Zea mays L.) to soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.) plants. CMNs between maize and soybean plants were established after inoculation of maize plants with AMF Funneliformis mosseae. Application of CdCl2 in maize plants led to 64.4% increase in the shoots and 48.2% increase in the roots in Cd content in CMNs-connected soybean plants compared to the control without Cd treatment in maize. Meanwhile, although the CMNs-connected soybean plants did not directly receive Cd supply, they upregulated transcriptional levels of Cd transport-related genes HATPase and RSTK 2.13- and 5.96-fold, respectively, induced activities of POD by 44.8% in the leaves, and increased MDA by 146.2% in the roots. Furthermore, Cd addition inhibited maize growth but mycorrhizal colonization improved plant performance in presence of Cd stress. This finding demonstrates that mycorrhizal networks mediate the transfer of Cd between plants of different species, suggesting a potential to use CMNs as a conduit to transfer toxic heavy metals from main food crops to heavy metal hyperaccumulators via intercropping.}, } @article {pmid35123121, year = {2022}, author = {Kemph, A and Lynch, JA}, title = {Evolution of germ plasm assembly and function among the insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {100883}, pmid = {35123121}, issn = {2214-5753}, support = {R01 GM129153/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila Proteins/genetics ; Germ Cells ; Insecta ; }, abstract = {Germ plasm is a substance capable of driving naive cells toward the germ cell fate. Germ plasm has had multiple independent origins, and takes on diverse forms and functions throughout animals, including in insects. We describe here recent advances in the understanding of the evolution of germ plasm in insects. A major theme that has emerged is the complex and convoluted interactions of germ plasm with symbiotic bacteria within the germline, including at the very origin of oskar, the gene required for assembling germ plasm in insects. Major advancements have also been made in understanding the basic molecular arrangement of germ plasm in insects. These advances demonstrate that further analysis of insect germ plasm will be fruitful in illuminating diverse aspects of evolutionary and developmental biology.}, } @article {pmid35119708, year = {2022}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Forgia, M and de Saint Germain, A and D'Arrigo, G and Cornu, D and Le Bris, P and Al-Babili, S and Cardinale, F and Prandi, C and Spyrakis, F and Boyer, FD and Turina, M and Lanfranco, L}, title = {A structural homologue of the plant receptor D14 mediates responses to strigolactones in the fungal phytopathogen Cryphonectria parasitica.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {3}, pages = {1003-1017}, pmid = {35119708}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Lactones/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones and important signalling molecules required to promote arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. While in plants an α/β-hydrolase, DWARF14 (D14), was shown to act as a receptor that binds and cleaves SLs, the fungal receptor for SLs is unknown. Since AM fungi are currently not genetically tractable, in this study, we used the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, for which gene deletion protocols exist, as a model, as we have previously shown that it responds to SLs. By means of computational, biochemical and genetic analyses, we identified a D14 structural homologue, CpD14. Molecular homology modelling and docking support the prediction that CpD14 interacts with and hydrolyses SLs. The recombinant CpD14 protein shows α/β hydrolytic activity in vitro against the SLs synthetic analogue GR24; its enzymatic activity requires an intact Ser/His/Asp catalytic triad. CpD14 expression in the d14-1 loss-of-function Arabidopsis thaliana line did not rescue the plant mutant phenotype. However, gene inactivation by knockout homologous recombination reduced fungal sensitivity to SLs. These results indicate that CpD14 is involved in SLs responses in C. parasitica and strengthen the role of SLs as multifunctional molecules acting in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid35119375, year = {2022}, author = {Akbas, S and Said, S and Roche, TR and Nöthiger, CB and Spahn, DR and Tscholl, DW and Bergauer, L}, title = {User Perceptions of Different Vital Signs Monitor Modalities During High-Fidelity Simulation: Semiquantitative Analysis.}, journal = {JMIR human factors}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e34677}, pmid = {35119375}, issn = {2292-9495}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Patient safety during anesthesia is crucially dependent on the monitoring of vital signs. However, the values obtained must also be perceived and correctly classified by the attending care providers. To facilitate these processes, we developed Visual-Patient-avatar, an animated virtual model of the monitored patient, which innovatively presents numerical and waveform data following user-centered design principles. After a high-fidelity simulation study, we analyzed the participants' perceptions of 3 different monitor modalities, including this newly introduced technique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to collect and evaluate participants' opinions and experiences regarding 3 different monitor modalities, which are Visual-Patient-avatar, Split Screen (avatar and Conventional monitor alongside each other), and Conventional monitor after using them during simulated critical anesthetic events.

METHODS: This study was a researcher-initiated, single-center, semiquantitative study. We asked 92 care providers right after finishing 3 simulated emergency scenarios about their positive and negative opinions concerning the different monitor modalities. We processed the field notes obtained and derived the main categories and corresponding subthemes following qualitative research methods.

RESULTS: We gained a total of 307 statements. Through a context-based analysis, we identified the 3 main categories of "Visual-Patient-avatar," "Split Screen," and "Conventional monitor" and divided them into 11 positive and negative subthemes. We achieved substantial interrater reliability in assigning the statements to 1 of the topics. Most of the statements concerned the design and usability features of the avatar or the Split Screen mode.

CONCLUSIONS: This study semiquantitatively reviewed the clinical applicability of the Visual-Patient-avatar technique in a high-fidelity simulation study and revealed the strengths and limitations of the avatar only and Split Screen modality. In addition to valuable suggestions for improving the design, the requirement for training prior to clinical implementation was emphasized. The responses to the Split Screen suggest that this symbiotic modality generates better situation awareness in combination with numerical data and accurate curves. As a subsequent development step, a real-life introduction study is planned, where we will test the avatar in Split Screen mode under actual clinical conditions.}, } @article {pmid35118662, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, Z and Chen, H and Pan, Y and Feng, H and Fang, D and Yang, J and Wang, Y and Yang, J and Sahu, SK and Liu, J and Xing, Y and Wang, X and Liu, M and Luo, X and Gao, P and Li, L and Liu, Z and Yang, H and Liu, X and Xu, X and Liu, H and Wang, E}, title = {Genome of Hippophae rhamnoides provides insights into a conserved molecular mechanism in actinorhizal and rhizobial symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {235}, number = {1}, pages = {276-291}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18017}, pmid = {35118662}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Frankia/genetics ; *Hippophae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), a horticulturally multipurpose species in the family Elaeagnaceae, can build associations with Frankia actinomycetes to enable symbiotic nitrogen-fixing. Currently, no high-quality reference genome is available for an actinorhizal plant, which greatly hinders the study of actinorhizal symbiotic nodulation. Here, by combining short-read, long-read and Hi-C sequencing technologies, we generated a chromosome-level reference genome of H. rhamnoides (scaffold N50: 65 Mb, and genome size: 730 Mb) and predicted 30 812 protein-coding genes mainly on 12 pseudochromosomes. Hippophae rhamnoides was found to share a high proportion of symbiotic nodulation genes with Medicago truncatula, implying a shared molecular mechanism between actinorhizal and rhizobial symbioses. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the three paralogous NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) genes of H. rhamnoides with those of other nodulating species, forming the NIN group that most likely evolved from the ancestral NLP group. The genome of H. rhamnoides will help us to decipher the underlying genetic programming of actinorhizal symbiosis, and our high-quality genome and transcriptomic resources will make H. rhamnoides a new excellent model plant for actinorhizal symbiosis research.}, } @article {pmid35116200, year = {2022}, author = {Rehman, N and Khan, FU and Imran, M and Rajput, SA and Li, Y and Ullah, I and Akhtar, RW and Imran, M and Al-Huqail, AA and Askary, AE and Khalifa, AS and Azhar, MT}, title = {Knockdown of GmD53a confers strigolactones mediated rhizobia interaction and promotes nodulation in soybean.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e12815}, pmid = {35116200}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Soybeans/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Strigolactones (SLs) play a key role in modulating plant root growth, shoot branching, and plant-symbiont interaction. However, despite their significance, the components of SL biosynthesis and signaling in soybean and their role in soybean-rhizobia interaction is unknown.

METHODS: In this study, we identified and functionally characterized the GmD53a from soybean. The GmD53a ORFs were amplified from root cDNA using primers for GmD53a RNA interference. To induce transgenic hairy roots of soybean, electric shock was used to transform pB7WG1WG2 vectors containing GmD53a knockdown and GUS into K599 strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The hairy roots and nodules were collected and examined for root nodules ratio and RNA was extracted after 4 weeks of rhizobia inoculation.

RESULTS: A tissue-specific expression assay showed that GmD53a was differentially expressed in plant parts, predominantly in the stem and nodule. Furthermore, its expression was significantly up-regulated during rhizobia infection and varied with nodule formation. The GmD53a-knockdown chimerical plants were produced to further check its role in soybean nodulation in comparison with control GUS. In knockdown lines, the GmD53a (suppressor of strigolactone MAX2) has a higher number of nodules compared to control lines. Furthermore, the expression levels of several nodulation genes essential for initiation and formation of nodules were altered in GmD53a-knockdown lines.

CONCLUSION: The results revealed that SL biosynthesis and signaling are not conserved but also have close interaction between SL and legume rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid35116156, year = {2022}, author = {Barott, KL and Thies, AB and Tresguerres, M}, title = {V-type H[+]-ATPase in the symbiosome membrane is a conserved mechanism for host control of photosynthesis in anthozoan photosymbioses.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {211449}, pmid = {35116156}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {In reef-building corals (order Scleractinia) and giant clams (phylum Molluca), V-type H[+]-ATPase (VHA) in host cells is part of a carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM) that regulates photosynthetic rates of their symbiotic algae. Here, we show that VHA plays a similar role in the sea anemone Anemonia majano, a member of the order Actinaria and sister group to the Scleractinia, which in contrast to their colonial calcifying coral relatives is a solitary, soft-bodied taxa. Western blotting and immunofluorescence revealed that VHA was abundantly present in the host-derived symbiosome membrane surrounding the photosymbionts. Pharmacological inhibition of VHA activity in individual anemones resulted in an approximately 80% decrease of photosynthetic O2 production. These results extend the presence of a host-controlled VHA-dependent CCM to non-calcifying cnidarians of the order Actiniaria, suggesting it is widespread among photosymbiosis between aquatic invertebrates and Symbiodiniaceae algae.}, } @article {pmid35115725, year = {2022}, author = {Bytnerowicz, TA and Akana, PR and Griffin, KL and Menge, DNL}, title = {Temperature sensitivity of woody nitrogen fixation across species and growing temperatures.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {209-216}, pmid = {35115725}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Carbon Sequestration ; *Ecosystem ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Temperature ; Trees/physiology ; }, abstract = {The future of the land carbon sink depends on the availability of nitrogen (N)[1,2] and, specifically, on symbiotic N fixation[3-8], which can rapidly alleviate N limitation. The temperature response of symbiotic N fixation has been hypothesized to explain the global distribution of N-fixing trees[9,10] and is a key part of some terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs)[3,7,8], yet there are few data to constrain the temperature response of symbiotic N fixation. Here we show that optimal temperatures for N fixation in four tree symbioses are in the range 29.0-36.9 °C, well above the 25.2 °C optimum currently used by TBMs. The shape of the response to temperature is also markedly different to the function used by TBMs (asymmetric rather than symmetric). We also show that N fixation acclimates to growing temperature (hence its range of optimal temperatures), particularly in our two tropical symbioses. Surprisingly, optimal temperatures were 5.2 °C higher for N fixation than for photosynthesis, suggesting that plant carbon and N gain are decoupled with respect to temperature. These findings may help explain why N-fixing tree abundance is highest where annual maximum temperatures are >35 °C (ref. [10]) and why N-fixing symbioses evolved during a warm period in the Earth's history[11,12]. Everything else being equal, our findings indicate that climate warming will probably increase N fixation, even in tropical ecosystems, in direct contrast to past projections[8].}, } @article {pmid35115172, year = {2022}, author = {Wangpraseurt, D and You, S and Sun, Y and Chen, S}, title = {Biomimetic 3D living materials powered by microorganisms.}, journal = {Trends in biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {843-857}, doi = {10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.01.003}, pmid = {35115172}, issn = {1879-3096}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomimetic Materials/chemistry ; Biomimetics ; *Bioprinting ; Ecosystem ; Mammals ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry ; }, abstract = {3D bioprinting is currently widely used to build engineered mammalian tissue constructs with complex spatial structures. It has revolutionized tissue engineering and is a promising avenue for regenerative medicine. Recently, 3D bioprinting has also been used for the fabrication of living tissues that cultivate microorganisms including photosynthetic single-celled microalgae and bacterial cells. Here we review the principles and applications of biomimetic 3D living materials powered by microorganisms. We envision that there will be great potential for the application of microorganism-driven materials in biomedicine, biotechnology, and living device fabrication as well as for ecosystem restoration.}, } @article {pmid35114544, year = {2022}, author = {Prakash, S and Kumar, A and Okla, MK and Ahmad, A and Abbas, ZK and Al-Ghamdi, AA and Beemster, G and AbdElgawad, H}, title = {Physiological responses of the symbiotic shrimp Ancylocaris brevicarpalis and its host sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni to ocean acidification.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {175}, number = {}, pages = {113287}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113287}, pmid = {35114544}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; *Sea Anemones ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, the physiology of symbiotic 'peacock-tail' shrimp Ancylocaris brevicarpalis and its host 'Haddon's carpet' sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni were tested under lowered pH (7.7) and control (8.1) conditions. The biochemical responses such as digestive enzyme (AP), organic acids (lactate and succinate), oxidative damages (MDA), antioxidants metabolites/enzymes (ASC, GSH, SOD, CAT, APX, GPX, GR, POX, and PHOX), and detoxification enzyme (GST) were measured. The AP showed insignificantly reduced values in both the organisms in lowered pH conditions compared to control indicating the effect of abiotic stress. The hierarchical clustering analysis indicated low MDA in sea anemone can be explained by higher POX, APX, GR, ASC, and GSH levels compared to shrimps. However, the detoxification enzyme GST showed less activity in sea anemones compared to shrimps. The results suggest that A. brevicarpalis and sea anemone S. haddoni may have deleterious effects when exposed to short-term acidification stress.}, } @article {pmid35114379, year = {2022}, author = {Hassing, B and Candy, A and Eaton, CJ and Fernandes, TR and Mesarich, CH and Di Pietro, A and Scott, B}, title = {Localisation of phosphoinositides in the grass endophyte Epichloë festucae and genetic and functional analysis of key components of their biosynthetic pathway in E. festucae symbiosis and Fusarium oxysporum pathogenesis.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {159}, number = {}, pages = {103669}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103669}, pmid = {35114379}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Animals ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; *Endophytes/genetics ; Epichloe ; Fusarium ; Mammals ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Poaceae ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phosphoinositides (PI) are essential components of eukaryotic membranes and function in a large number of signaling processes. While lipid second messengers are well studied in mammals and yeast, their role in filamentous fungi is poorly understood. We used fluorescent PI-binding molecular probes to localize the phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol species PI[3]P, PI[3,5]P2, PI[4]P and PI[4,5]P2 in hyphae of the endophyte Epichloë festucae in axenic culture and during interaction with its grass host Lolium perenne. We also analysed the roles of the phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase MssD and the predicted phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate 3-phosphatase TepA, a homolog of the mammalian tumour suppressor protein PTEN. Deletion of tepA in E. festucae and in the root-infecting tomato pathogen Fusarium oxysporum had no impact on growth in culture or the host interaction phenotype. However, this mutation did enable the detection of PI[3,4,5]P3 in septa and mycelium of E. festucae and showed that TepA is required for chemotropism in F. oxysporum. The identification of PI[3,4,5]P3 in ΔtepA strains suggests that filamentous fungi are able to generate PI[3,4,5]P3 and that fungal PTEN homologs are functional lipid phosphatases. The F. oxysporum chemotropism defect suggests a conserved role of PTEN homologs in chemotaxis across protists, fungi and mammals.}, } @article {pmid35114015, year = {2022}, author = {Angulo, V and Beriot, N and Garcia-Hernandez, E and Li, E and Masteling, R and Lau, JA}, title = {Plant-microbe eco-evolutionary dynamics in a changing world.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {6}, pages = {1919-1928}, doi = {10.1111/nph.18015}, pmid = {35114015}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Microbiota ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Both plants and their associated microbiomes can respond strongly to anthropogenic environmental changes. These responses can be both ecological (e.g. a global change affecting plant demography or microbial community composition) and evolutionary (e.g. a global change altering natural selection on plant or microbial populations). As a result, global changes can catalyse eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Here, we take a plant-focused perspective to discuss how microbes mediate plant ecological responses to global change and how these ecological effects can influence plant evolutionary response to global change. We argue that the strong and functionally important relationships between plants and their associated microbes are particularly likely to result in eco-evolutionary feedbacks when perturbed by global changes and discuss how improved understanding of plant-microbe eco-evolutionary dynamics could inform conservation or even agriculture.}, } @article {pmid35113751, year = {2022}, author = {Bhuyan, B and Pandey, P}, title = {Remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil using hydrocarbonoclastic rhizobacteria, applied through Azadirachta indica rhizosphere.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {24}, number = {13}, pages = {1444-1454}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2022.2033689}, pmid = {35113751}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {*Petroleum/metabolism ; Soil ; Rhizosphere ; *Azadirachta ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Catalase/metabolism ; Siderophores/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Hydrocarbons/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; *Alphaproteobacteria/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Crude oil/petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) are major pollutants worldwide. In the present study, three bacterial isolates -Pseudomonas aeruginosa BB-BE3, P. aeruginosa BBBJ, and Gordonia amicalis BB-DAC were selected for their efficient hydrocarbon degradation and plant growth promotion (PGP) abilities. All three isolates were positive for siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, and IAA production, even in the presence of crude oil. The rhizoremediation ability was validated through pot trials where all three isolates promoted the growth of the Azadirachta indica plant in crude oil-contaminated soils. Treatment with the combination of the plant (A. indica) and bacteria, i.e., Pseudomonas aeruginosa BB-BE3; P. aeruginosa BBBJ; Gordonia amicalis BB-DAC showed 95.71, 93.28, and 89.88% removal of TPHs respectively, while the treatment with the plant (only) resulted in 13.44% removal of TPHs whereas, in the control (Sterile bulk soil + Crude oil), the hydrocarbon removal percentage was only 5.87%. The plant tissues were analyzed for catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activities, and the plants augmented with bacterial strains had significantly low CAT and POX activities as compared to uninoculated control. Therefore, the results suggest that the A. indica plant, in symbiotic association with these hydrocarbonoclastic rhizobacteria, could be used for bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soil.}, } @article {pmid35112996, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, K and Liu, Y and Li, X and Zhang, H and Zhang, S and Mak, HY and Liu, P}, title = {Dietary S. maltophilia induces supersized lipid droplets by enhancing lipogenesis and ER-LD contacts in C. elegans.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {2013762}, pmid = {35112996}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lipid Droplets/*metabolism ; *Lipogenesis ; Male ; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase/genetics/metabolism ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Dietary and symbiotic bacteria can exert powerful influence on metazoan lipid metabolism. Recent studies have emerged that microbiota have a role in animal obesity and related health disorders, but the mechanisms by which bacteria influence lipid storage in their host are unknown. To reduce the complexity of the relationship between gut microbiota and the host, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been chosen as a model organism to study interspecies interaction. Here, we demonstrate that feeding C. elegans with an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) retards growth and promotes excessive neutral lipid storage. Gene expression analysis reveals that dietary S. maltophilia induces a lipogenic transcriptional response that includes the SREBP ortholog SBP-1, and fatty acid desaturases FAT-6 and FAT-7. Live imaging and ultrastructural analysis suggest that excess neutral lipid is stored in greatly expanded lipid droplets (LDs), as a result of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-LD interaction. We also report that loss of function mutations in dpy-9 in C. elegans confers resistance to S. maltophilia. Dietary S. maltophilia induces supersized LDs by enhancing lipogenesis and ER-LD contacts in C. elegans. This work delineates a new model for understanding microbial regulation of metazoan physiology.}, } @article {pmid35112871, year = {2022}, author = {Deutsch, JM and Mandelare-Ruiz, P and Yang, Y and Foster, G and Routhu, A and Houk, J and De La Flor, YT and Ushijima, B and Meyer, JL and Paul, VJ and Garg, N}, title = {Metabolomics Approaches to Dereplicate Natural Products from Coral-Derived Bioactive Bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {85}, number = {3}, pages = {462-478}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01110}, pmid = {35112871}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Products/metabolism/pharmacology ; Metabolomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Stony corals (Scleractinia) are invertebrates that form symbiotic relationships with eukaryotic algal endosymbionts and the prokaryotic microbiome. The microbiome has the potential to produce bioactive natural products providing defense and resilience to the coral host against pathogenic microorganisms, but this potential has not been extensively explored. Bacterial pathogens can pose a significant threat to corals, with some species implicated in primary and opportunistic infections of various corals. In response, probiotics have been proposed as a potential strategy to protect corals in the face of increased incidence of disease outbreaks. In this study, we screened bacterial isolates from healthy and diseased corals for antibacterial activity. The bioactive extracts were analyzed using untargeted metabolomics. Herein, an UpSet plot and hierarchical clustering analyses were performed to identify isolates with the largest number of unique metabolites. These isolates also displayed different antibacterial activities. Through application of in silico and experimental approaches coupled with genome analysis, we dereplicated natural products from these coral-derived bacteria from Florida's coral reef environments. The metabolomics approach highlighted in this study serves as a useful resource to select probiotic candidates and enables insights into natural product-mediated chemical ecology in holobiont symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35112359, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, H and Hu, B and Liu, Z and Sun, H and Zhou, M and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Physiological responses of black locust-rhizobia symbiosis to water stress.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {174}, number = {1}, pages = {e13641}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13641}, pmid = {35112359}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Dehydration ; Ecosystem ; *Rhizobium ; *Robinia/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The present study explores the interaction of water supply and rhizobia inoculation on CO2 and H2 O gas exchange characteristics, physiological and biochemical traits in seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia L. originating from two provenances with contrasting climate and soil backgrounds: the Gansu Province (GS) in northwest China and the Dongbei region (DB) of northeast China. Rhizobia strains were isolated from the 50-years old Robinia forest sites grown in the coastal region of east China. Robinia seedlings with and without rhizobia inoculation were exposed to normal water supply, moderate drought, and rewatering treatments, respectively. After 2 weeks of drought treatment, photosynthetic and physiological traits (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, stable isotope signature of carbon, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content) of Robinia leaves were significantly altered, but after rewatering, a general recovery was observed. Rhizobia inoculation significantly increased the drought resistance of both Robinia provenances by promoting photosynthesis, increasing the foliar N content and reducing the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. Among the two provenances, DB plants developed more nodules than GS plants, but GS plants were more drought-tolerant than DB plants, both inoculated or noninoculated, indicated by the foliar gas exchange parameters and biochemical traits studied. Our results also show that inoculation of rhizobia could significantly improve the drought resistance of Robinia in both provenances. The present study contributes to the scientific background for the selection of drought-resistant varieties of Robinia to ensure the success of future afforestation projects in degraded terrestrial ecosystems under global climate change.}, } @article {pmid35110564, year = {2022}, author = {Cabral, L and Persinoti, GF and Paixão, DAA and Martins, MP and Morais, MAB and Chinaglia, M and Domingues, MN and Sforca, ML and Pirolla, RAS and Generoso, WC and Santos, CA and Maciel, LF and Terrapon, N and Lombard, V and Henrissat, B and Murakami, MT}, title = {Gut microbiome of the largest living rodent harbors unprecedented enzymatic systems to degrade plant polysaccharides.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {629}, pmid = {35110564}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/enzymology/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Dietary Fiber/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism ; Lignin ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Rodentia/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Xylans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The largest living rodent, capybara, can efficiently depolymerize and utilize lignocellulosic biomass through microbial symbiotic mechanisms yet elusive. Herein, we elucidate the microbial community composition, enzymatic systems and metabolic pathways involved in the conversion of dietary fibers into short-chain fatty acids, a main energy source for the host. In this microbiota, the unconventional enzymatic machinery from Fibrobacteres seems to drive cellulose degradation, whereas a diverse set of carbohydrate-active enzymes from Bacteroidetes, organized in polysaccharide utilization loci, are accounted to tackle complex hemicelluloses typically found in gramineous and aquatic plants. Exploring the genetic potential of this community, we discover a glycoside hydrolase family of β-galactosidases (named as GH173), and a carbohydrate-binding module family (named as CBM89) involved in xylan binding that establishes an unprecedented three-dimensional fold among associated modules to carbohydrate-active enzymes. Together, these results demonstrate how the capybara gut microbiota orchestrates the depolymerization and utilization of plant fibers, representing an untapped reservoir of enzymatic mechanisms to overcome the lignocellulose recalcitrance, a central challenge toward a sustainable and bio-based economy.}, } @article {pmid35108076, year = {2022}, author = {Giannotti, D and Boscaro, V and Husnik, F and Vannini, C and Keeling, PJ}, title = {The "Other" Rickettsiales: an Overview of the Family "Candidatus Midichloriaceae".}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {6}, pages = {e0243221}, pmid = {35108076}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Alphaproteobacteria/genetics ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Phylogeny ; *Rickettsiales ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The family "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" constitutes the most diverse but least studied lineage within the important order of intracellular bacteria Rickettsiales. "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" endosymbionts are found in many hosts, including terrestrial arthropods, aquatic invertebrates, and protists. Representatives of the family are not documented to be pathogenic, but some are associated with diseased fish or corals. Different genera display a range of unusual features, such as full sets of flagellar genes without visible flagella or the ability to invade host mitochondria. Since studies on "Ca. Midichloriaceae" tend to focus on the host, the family is rarely addressed as a unit, and we therefore lack a coherent picture of its diversity. Here, we provide four new midichloriaceae genomes, and we survey molecular and ecological data from the entire family. Features like genome size, ecological context, and host transitions vary considerably even among closely related midichloriaceae, suggesting a high frequency of such shifts, incomplete sampling, or both. Important functional traits involved in energy metabolism, flagella, and secretion systems were independently reduced multiple times with no obvious correspondence to host or habitat, corroborating the idea that many features of these "professional symbionts" are largely independent of host identity. Finally, despite "Ca. Midichloriaceae" being predominantly studied in ticks, our analyses show that the clade is mainly aquatic, with a few terrestrial offshoots. This highlights the importance of considering aquatic hosts, and protists in particular, when reconstructing the evolution of these endosymbionts and by extension all Rickettsiales. IMPORTANCE Among endosymbiotic bacterial lineages, few are as intensely studied as Rickettsiales, which include the causative agents of spotted fever, typhus, and anaplasmosis. However, an important subgroup called "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" receives little attention despite accounting for a third of the diversity of Rickettsiales and harboring a wide range of bacteria with unique features, like the ability to infect mitochondria. Midichloriaceae are found in many hosts, from ticks to corals to unicellular protozoa, and studies on them tend to focus on the host groups. Here, for the first time since the establishment of this clade, we address the genomics, evolution, and ecology of "Ca. Midichloriaceae" as a whole, highlighting trends and patterns, the remaining gaps in our knowledge, and its importance for the understanding of symbiotic processes in intracellular bacteria.}, } @article {pmid35107338, year = {2022}, author = {Stephens, ME and Benjamino, J and Graf, J and Gage, DJ}, title = {Simultaneous Single-Cell Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing of Termite Hindgut Protists Reveals Metabolic and Evolutionary Traits of Their Endosymbionts.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0002122}, pmid = {35107338}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Carbon/metabolism ; Eukaryota/genetics ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Some of the protist species which colonize the hindguts of wood-feeding Reticulitermes termites are associated with endosymbiotic bacteria belonging to the genus Endomicrobium. In this study, we focused on the endosymbionts of three protist species from Reticulitermes flavipes, as follows: Pyrsonympha vertens, Trichonympha agilis, and Dinenympha species II. Since these protist hosts represented members of different taxa which colonize separate niches within the hindguts of their termite hosts, we investigated if these differences translated to differential gene content and expression in their endosymbionts. Following assembly and comparative genome and transcriptome analyses, we discovered that these endosymbionts differed with respect to some possible niche-specific traits, such as carbon metabolism. Our analyses suggest that species-specific genes related to carbon metabolism were acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and may have come from taxa which are common in the termite hind gut. In addition, our analyses suggested that these endosymbionts contain and express genes related to natural transformation (competence) and recombination. Taken together, the presence of genes acquired by HGT and a putative competence pathway suggest that these endosymbionts are not cut off from gene flow and that competence may be a mechanism by which members of Endomicrobium can acquire new traits. IMPORTANCE The composition and structure of wood, which contains cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, prevent most organisms from using this common food source. Termites are a rare exception among animals, and they rely on a complex microbiota housed in their hindguts to use wood as a source of food. The lower termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, houses a variety of protists and prokaryotes that are the key players in the disassembly of lignocellulose. Here, we describe the genomes and the gene expression profiles of five Endomicrobium endosymbionts living inside three different protist species from R. flavipes. Data from these genomes suggest that these Endomicrobium species have different mechanisms for using carbon. In addition, they harbor genes that may be used to import DNA from their environment. This process of DNA uptake may contribute to the high levels of horizontal gene transfer noted previously in Endomicrobium species.}, } @article {pmid35107129, year = {2022}, author = {Hotchkiss, MZ and Poulain, AJ and Forrest, JRK}, title = {Pesticide-induced disturbances of bee gut microbiotas.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuab056}, pmid = {35107129}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Lactobacillus ; *Microbiota ; *Pesticides/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Social bee gut microbiotas play key roles in host health and performance. Worryingly, a growing body of literature shows that pesticide exposure can disturb these microbiotas. Most studies examine changes in taxonomic composition in Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiotas caused by insecticide exposure. Core bee gut microbiota taxa shift in abundance after exposure but are rarely eliminated, with declines in Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillus near melliventris abundance being the most common shifts. Pesticide concentration, exposure duration, season and concurrent stressors all influence whether and how bee gut microbiotas are disturbed. Also, the mechanism of disturbance-i.e. whether a pesticide directly affects microbial growth or indirectly affects the microbiota by altering host health-likely affects disturbance consistency. Despite growing interest in this topic, important questions remain unanswered. Specifically, metabolic shifts in bee gut microbiotas remain largely uninvestigated, as do effects of pesticide-disturbed gut microbiotas on bee host performance. Furthermore, few bee species have been studied other than A. mellifera, and few herbicides and fungicides have been examined. We call for these knowledge gaps to be addressed so that we may obtain a comprehensive picture of how pesticides alter bee gut microbiotas, and of the functional consequences of these changes.}, } @article {pmid35107002, year = {2022}, author = {Asai, M and Miyazawa, H and Yanase, R and Inaba, K and Nakano, H}, title = {A New Species of Acoela Possessing a Middorsal Appendage with a Possible Sensory Function.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {147-156}, doi = {10.2108/zs210058}, pmid = {35107002}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animal Structures/*anatomy & histology ; Animals ; Male ; Phylogeny ; *Sensation ; }, abstract = {Acoels, belonging to Xenacoelomorpha, are small worms with a relatively simple body plan and are considered a critical clade for understanding the evolution of bilaterians. Despite acoels' importance, however, many undiscovered species are predicted to be present worldwide. Here, we describe a new marine acoel species, Amphiscolops oni sp. nov., based on materials collected from the intertidal and subtidal zones of rocky shores at several localities along the Japanese Pacific coast. The new species is approximately 3 mm long and shows typical characteristics of the family Convolutidae, such as the presence of eyespots, symbiosis with algae, position of the gonopores, morphology of the bursal nozzles, lack of central singlet microtubules in the axonemes of spermatozoa, and funnel-like posture of the anterior end. Based on morphology and the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses, we assign this species to the genus Amphiscolops. Interestingly, these worms show unique behaviors such as swimming by flapping the lateral sides and actively capturing prey by swinging the anterior funnel. Furthermore, they possess a dorsal appendage-a characteristic previously unreported in Xenacoelomorpha-representing an evolutionary novelty acquired by this species.}, } @article {pmid35106734, year = {2022}, author = {Muchhala, KH and Koseli, E and Gade, AR and Woods, K and Minai, S and Kang, M and McQuiston, AR and Dewey, WL and Akbarali, HI}, title = {Chronic Morphine Induces IL-18 in Ileum Myenteric Plexus Neurons Through Mu-opioid Receptor Activation in Cholinergic and VIPergic Neurons.}, journal = {Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology}, volume = {17}, number = {1-2}, pages = {111-130}, pmid = {35106734}, issn = {1557-1904}, support = {P30 DA033934/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; P30DA033934/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R25GM090084/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DA036975/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM090084/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA036975/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Mice ; Animals ; *Myenteric Plexus ; *Morphine/pharmacology ; Interleukin-18 ; Cholinergic Agents ; Receptors, Opioid ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal epithelium is critical for maintaining a symbiotic relationship with commensal microbiota. Chronic morphine exposure can compromise the gut epithelial barrier in mice and lead to dysbiosis. Recently, studies have implicated morphine-induced dysbiosis in the mechanism of antinociceptive tolerance and reward, suggesting the presence of a gut-brain axis in the pharmacological effects of morphine. However, the mechanism(s) underlying morphine-induced changes in the gut microbiome remains unclear. The pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-18 (IL-18), released by enteric neurons can modulate gut barrier function. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effect of morphine on IL-18 expression in the mouse ileum. We observed that chronic morphine exposure in vivo induces IL-18 expression in the ileum myenteric plexus that is attenuated by naloxone. Given that mu-opioid receptors (MORs) are mainly expressed in enteric neurons, we also characterized morphine effects on the excitability of cholinergic (excitatory) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing (inhibitory) myenteric neurons. We found fundamental differences in the electrical properties of cholinergic and VIP neurons such that VIP neurons are more excitable than cholinergic neurons. Furthermore, MORs were primarily expressed in cholinergic neurons, although a subset of VIP neurons also expressed MORs and responded to morphine in electrophysiology experiments. In conclusion, these data show that morphine increases IL-18 in ileum myenteric plexus neurons via activation of MORs in a subset of cholinergic and VIP neurons. Thus, understanding the neurochemistry and electrophysiology of MOR-expressing enteric neurons can help to delineate mechanisms by which morphine perturbs the gut barrier.}, } @article {pmid35105280, year = {2022}, author = {Ho-Plágaro, T and Tamayo-Navarrete, MI and García Garrido, JM}, title = {Microtubule cytoskeleton and mycorrhizal roots.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {2031504}, pmid = {35105280}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Microtubules/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; }, abstract = {For the establishment of the Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis it is essential that epidermis and cortical cells from plant roots suffer a strong reorganization to allow the penetration of intracellular fungal hyphae. In the same manner, the new formation of a periarbuscular membrane and a symbiotic interface with specific compositions are required for a functional symbiosis. It is believed that the cytoskeleton of the plant host plays an essential role in these processes, particularly the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton, as huge modifications have been observed in the MT array of root cells accompanying the establishment of the AM symbiosis. Recent research has established a link between microtubule rearrangements and arbuscule functioning. However, further research is required to elucidate the specific functions of MT cytoskeleton along the different stages of the arbuscule life cycle and to unravel the signals triggering these changes.}, } @article {pmid35102893, year = {2022}, author = {Alenazi, J and Mayclin, S and Subramanian, S and Myler, PJ and Asojo, OA}, title = {Crystal structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase from Burkholderia phymatum in complex with NAD.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology communications}, volume = {78}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {52-58}, pmid = {35102893}, issn = {2053-230X}, support = {HHSN272200700057C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN272201200025C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN272201700059C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 GM138433/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Burkholderiaceae/*enzymology ; Coenzymes/chemistry/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Models, Molecular ; NAD/*chemistry/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Short Chain Dehydrogenase-Reductases/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Burkholderia phymatum is an important symbiotic nitrogen-fixing betaproteobacterium. B. phymatum is beneficial, unlike other Burkholderia species, which cause disease or are potential bioagents. Structural genomics studies at the SSGCID include characterization of the structures of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) from multiple Burkholderia species. The crystal structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase from B. phymatum (BpSDR) was determined in space group C2221 at a resolution of 1.80 Å. BpSDR shares less than 38% sequence identity with any known structure. The monomer is a prototypical SDR with a well conserved cofactor-binding domain despite its low sequence identity. The substrate-binding cavity is unique and offers insights into possible functions and likely inhibitors of the enzymatic functions of BpSDR.}, } @article {pmid35102699, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, Z and Ju, X and Yang, M and Xue, R and Li, Q and Fu, K and Guo, W and Tong, L and Song, Y and Zeng, R and Wang, J}, title = {Colorado potato beetle exploits frass-associated bacteria to suppress defense responses in potato plants.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {78}, number = {9}, pages = {3778-3787}, doi = {10.1002/ps.6823}, pmid = {35102699}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Coleoptera ; Larva ; Plant Leaves ; *Solanum tuberosum/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is a destructive quarantine pest that develops broad physiological adaptations to potato plants. During feeding, CPB deposits a copious amount of wet frass onto the surface of leaves and stems that remains in place for long periods. Insect behaviors such as feeding, crawling and oviposition are able to mediate plant defenses. However, the specific role of CPB defecation-associated cues in manipulating plant defenses remains unclear.

RESULTS: CPB larval frass significantly suppressed potato polyphenol oxidase activity and enhanced larval growth on treated potato plants. The incorporation of antibiotics into larval frass triggered higher jasmonic acid (JA)-regulated defense responses in potato plants compared with antibiotic-free frass. Four bacterial symbionts belonging to the genera Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Pantoea were isolated from larval frass and suppressed plant defenses. After reinoculation of these bacteria into axenic larvae, Acinetobacter and Citrobacter were found to be highly abundant in the frass, whereas Enterobacter and Pantoea were less abundant probably due to the negative effect of potato steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGA) such as α-solanine. Furthermore, direct application of Acinetobacter and Citrobacter to wounded potato plants significantly inhibited the expression of genes associated with the JA-mediated defense signaling pathway and SGA biosynthesis.

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that CPB exploits frass-associated bacteria as a deceptive strategy of plant defense suppression, adding an interesting dimension to our understanding of how CPB successfully specializes on potato plants. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid35102527, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, JH and Kwon, SJ and Han, JY and Cho, SH and Cho, YJ and Park, JH}, title = {A mucin-responsive hybrid two-component system controls Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron colonization and gut homeostasis.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {60}, number = {2}, pages = {215-223}, pmid = {35102527}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*genetics/*metabolism ; Colitis/chemically induced ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Gain of Function Mutation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Fitness ; Germ-Free Life ; HT29 Cells ; Homeostasis ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mucins/*metabolism ; Mutagenesis ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; RNA, Bacterial ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestinal tract contains trillions of bacteria. However, the genetic factors that allow gut symbiotic bacteria to occupy intestinal niches remain poorly understood. Here, we identified genetic determinants required for Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron colonization in the gut using transposon sequencing analysis. Transposon insertion in BT2391, which encodes a hybrid two-component system, increased the competitive fitness of B. thetaiotaomicron. The BT2391 mutant showed a growth advantage in a mucin-dependent manner and had an increased ability to adhere to mucus-producing cell lines. The increased competitive advantage of the BT2391 mutant was dependent on the BT2392-2395 locus containing susCD homologs. Deletion of BT2391 led to changes in the expression levels of B. thetaiotaomicron genes during gut colonization. However, colonization of the BT2391 mutant promoted DSS colitis in low-fiber diet-fed mice. These results indicate that BT2391 contributes to a sustainable symbiotic relationship by maintaining a balance between mucosal colonization and gut homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid35102501, year = {2022}, author = {Gurbanov, R and Kabaoğlu, U and Yağcı, T}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of intestinal microbiota in wild rats living in urban and rural habitats.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {67}, number = {3}, pages = {469-477}, pmid = {35102501}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Mammals/genetics ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Mammals have a symbiotic relationship with various microorganisms called microbiota throughout their lives. These microorganisms are known to affect the host's physiology, health, and even mental balance. The development of the gut microbiota is regulated by a complex interaction between host and environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle. Herein, it is aimed to elucidate the differences in the gut microbiota of rats living in urban and rural habitats. The taxonomic changes in the gut microbiota of wild rats belonging to Rattus rattus species caught from urban and rural areas of Western Anatolian (Bilecik province) were examined comparatively by 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing technique. Laboratory rats were used as reference animals. The alpha diversities were found lower in the rural rats with respect to the urban rats, whereas the highest alpha diversity was calculated for laboratory rats. The lower Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios (F/B ratio) were accounted for both rural and laboratory rats compared with urban rats. The Proteobacteria to Actinobacteria ratio (P/A ratio) was lower for rural rats, but higher for laboratory rats, compared with urban rats. The heatmap analyses of taxonomic units in the microbiota of each group demonstrated distinct patterns at the species and genus levels. The study provided metagenomic data on the gut microbiota of rats residing in urban and rural habitats, offering a different perspective on future environmental biomonitoring studies.}, } @article {pmid35101797, year = {2022}, author = {Pacheco, R and Quinto, C}, title = {Phospholipase Ds in plants: Their role in pathogenic and symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {173}, number = {}, pages = {76-86}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.01.025}, pmid = {35101797}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Phospholipase D ; Phospholipases ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phospholipase Ds (PLDs) are a heterogeneous group of enzymes that are widely distributed in organisms. These enzymes hydrolyze the structural phospholipids of the plasma membrane, releasing phosphatidic acid (PA), an important secondary messenger. Plant PLDs play essential roles in several biological processes, including growth and development, abiotic stress responses, and plant-microbe interactions. Although the roles of PLDs in plant-pathogen interactions have been extensively studied, their roles in symbiotic relationships are not well understood. The establishment of the best-studied symbiotic interactions, those between legumes and rhizobia and between most plants and mycorrhizae, requires the regulation of several physiological, cellular, and molecular processes. The roles of PLDs in hormonal signaling, lipid metabolism, and cytoskeletal dynamics during rhizobial symbiosis were recently explored. However, to date, the roles of PLDs in mycorrhizal symbiosis have not been reported. Here, we present a critical review of the participation of PLDs in the interactions of plants with pathogens, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We describe how PLDs regulate rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbiosis by modulating reactive oxygen species levels, hormonal signaling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and G-protein activity.}, } @article {pmid35100649, year = {2022}, author = {Bourdiol, A and Roquilly, A}, title = {New Insights in the Pathophysiology of Hospital- and Ventilator-Acquired Pneumonia: A Complex Interplay between Dysbiosis and Critical-Illness-Related Immunosuppression.}, journal = {Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicine}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {271-279}, doi = {10.1055/s-0041-1740606}, pmid = {35100649}, issn = {1098-9048}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Critical Illness ; *Cross Infection/drug therapy ; Dysbiosis ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; *Microbiota ; *Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated/drug therapy/prevention & control ; Ventilators, Mechanical/adverse effects ; }, abstract = {Both hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) have long been considered as diseases resulting from the invasion by pathogens of a previously sterile lung environment. Based on this historical understanding of their pathophysiology, our approaches for the prevention and treatment have significantly improved the outcomes of patients, but treatment failures remain frequent. Recent studies have suggested that the all-antimicrobial therapy-based treatment of pneumonia has reached a glass ceiling. The demonstration that the constant interactions between the respiratory microbiome and mucosal immunity are required to tune homeostasis in a state of symbiosis has changed our comprehension of pneumonia. We proposed that HAP and VAP should be considered as a state of dysbiosis, defined as the emergence of a dominant pathogen thriving at the same time from the catastrophic collapse of the fragile ecosystem of the lower respiratory tract and from the development of critical-illness-related immunosuppression. This multidimensional approach to the pathophysiology of HAP and VAP holds the potential to achieve future successes in research and critical care. Microbiome and mucosal immunity can indeed be manipulated and used as adjunctive therapies or targets to prevent or treat pneumonia.}, } @article {pmid35098940, year = {2022}, author = {Roberts, DC and Chidambaram, S and Kinross, JM}, title = {The role of the colonic microbiota and bile acids in colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Current opinion in gastroenterology}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {179-188}, doi = {10.1097/MOG.0000000000000816}, pmid = {35098940}, issn = {1531-7056}, mesh = {Bile Acids and Salts ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Of the various established risk factors for this aggressive condition, diet is a notable modifiable risk factor. This review aims to summarize the mounting evidence to suggest the role of diet, the microbiota and their cross-talk in modulating an individual's risk of developing CRC.

RECENT FINDINGS: Specifically, the metabolism of bile acids and its symbiosis with the microbiota has gained weight given its basis on a high meat, high fat, and low fibre diet that is present in populations with the highest risk of CRC. Bacteria modify bile acids that escape enterohepatic circulation to increase the diversity of the human bile acid pool. The production of microbial bile acids contributes to this as well. Epidemiological studies have shown that changing the diet results in different levels and composition of bile acids, which has in turn modified the risk of CRC at a population level. Evidence to identify underlying mechanisms have tied into the microbiota-led digestions of various foods into fatty acids that feedback into bile acid physiology as well as modulation of endogenous receptors for bile acids.

SUMMARY: There is adequate evidence to support the role of microbiota in in the metabolism of bile acids, and how this relates to colorectal cancer. Further work is necessary to identify specific bacteriome involved and their underlying mechanistic pathways.}, } @article {pmid35095980, year = {2021}, author = {Bovin, AD and Pavlova, OA and Dolgikh, AV and Leppyanen, IV and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {The Role of Heterotrimeric G-Protein Beta Subunits During Nodulation in Medicago truncatula Gaertn and Pisum sativum L.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {808573}, pmid = {35095980}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Heterotrimeric G-proteins regulate plant growth and development as master regulators of signaling pathways. In legumes with indeterminate nodules (e.g., Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum), the role of heterotrimeric G-proteins in symbiosis development has not been investigated extensively. Here, the involvement of heterotrimeric G-proteins in M. truncatula and P. sativum nodulation was evaluated. A genome-based search for G-protein subunit-coding genes revealed that M. truncatula and P. sativum harbored only one gene each for encoding the canonical heterotrimeric G-protein beta subunits, MtG beta 1 and PsG beta 1, respectively. RNAi-based suppression of MtGbeta1 and PsGbeta1 significantly decreased the number of nodules formed, suggesting the involvement of G-protein beta subunits in symbiosis in both legumes. Analysis of composite M. truncatula plants carrying the pMtGbeta1:GUS construct showed β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining in developing nodule primordia and young nodules, consistent with data on the role of G-proteins in controlling organ development and cell proliferation. In mature nodules, GUS staining was the most intense in the meristem and invasion zone (II), while it was less prominent in the apical part of the nitrogen-fixing zone (III). Thus, MtG beta 1 may be involved in the maintenance of meristem development and regulation of the infection process during symbiosis. Protein-protein interaction studies using co-immunoprecipitation revealed the possible composition of G-protein complexes and interaction of G-protein subunits with phospholipase C (PLC), suggesting a cross-talk between G-protein- and PLC-mediated signaling pathways in these legumes. Our findings provide direct evidence regarding the role of MtG beta 1 and PsG beta 1 in symbiosis development regulation.}, } @article {pmid35095938, year = {2021}, author = {Omari, RA and Yuan, K and Anh, KT and Reckling, M and Halwani, M and Egamberdieva, D and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Bellingrath-Kimura, SD}, title = {Enhanced Soybean Productivity by Inoculation With Indigenous Bradyrhizobium Strains in Agroecological Conditions of Northeast Germany.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {707080}, pmid = {35095938}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Commercial inoculants are often used to inoculate field-grown soybean in Europe. However, nodulation efficiencies in these areas are often low. To enhance biological nitrogen (N) fixation and increase domestic legume production, indigenous strains that are adapted to local conditions could be used to develop more effective inoculants. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of locally isolated Bradyrhizobium strains to enhance soybean productivity in different growing conditions of Northeast Germany. Three indigenous Bradyrhizobium isolates (GMF14, GMM36, and GEM96) were tested in combination with different soybean cultivars of different maturity groups and quality characteristics in one field trial and two greenhouse studies. The results showed a highly significant strain × cultivar interactions on nodulation response. Independent of the Bradyrhizobium strain, inoculated plants in the greenhouse showed higher nodulation, which corresponded with an increased N uptake than that in field conditions. There were significantly higher nodule numbers and nodule dry weights following GMF14 and GMM36 inoculation in well-watered soil, but only minor differences under drought conditions. Inoculation of the soybean cultivar Merlin with the strain GEM96 enhanced nodulation but did not correspond to an increased grain yield under field conditions. USDA110 was consistent in improving the grain yield of soybean cultivars Sultana and Siroca. On the other hand, GMM36 inoculation to Sultana and GEM96 inoculation to Siroca resulted in similar yields. Our results demonstrate that inoculation of locally adapted soybean cultivars with the indigenous isolates improves nodulation and yield attributes. Thus, to attain optimal symbiotic performance, the strains need to be matched with specific cultivars.}, } @article {pmid35095828, year = {2021}, author = {Fadiji, AE and Babalola, OO and Santoyo, G and Perazzolli, M}, title = {The Potential Role of Microbial Biostimulants in the Amelioration of Climate Change-Associated Abiotic Stresses on Crops.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {829099}, pmid = {35095828}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Crop plants are more often exposed to abiotic stresses in the current age of fast-evolving climate change. This includes exposure to extreme and unpredictable changes in climatic conditions, phytosanitary hazards, and cultivation conditions, which results in drastic losses in worldwide agricultural productions. Plants coexist with microbial symbionts, some of which play key roles in the ecosystem and plant processes. The application of microbial biostimulants, which take advantage of symbiotic relationships, is a long-term strategy for improving plant productivity and performance, even in the face of climate change-associated stresses. Beneficial filamentous fungi, yeasts, and bacteria are examples of microbial biostimulants, which can boost the growth, yield, nutrition and stress tolerance in plants. This paper highlights recent information about the role of microbial biostimulants and their potential application in mitigating the abiotic stresses occurring on crop plants due to climate change. A critical evaluation for their efficient use under diverse climatic conditions is also made. Currently, accessible products generally improve cultural conditions, but their action mechanisms are mostly unknown, and their benefits are frequently inconsistent. Thus, further studies that could lead to the more precisely targeted products are discussed.}, } @article {pmid35095826, year = {2021}, author = {Fu, N and Li, J and Wang, M and Ren, L and Zong, S and Luo, Y}, title = {Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for Gene Expression Analysis in Different Development Stages of Amylostereum areolatum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {827241}, pmid = {35095826}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A strict relationship exists between the Sirex noctilio and the Amylostereum areolatum, which is carried and spread by its partner. The growth and development of this symbiotic fungus is key to complete the life history of the Sirex woodwasp. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used to measure gene expression in samples of A. areolatum at different growth stages and explore the key genes and pathways involved in the growth and development of this symbiotic fungus. To obtain accurate RT-qPCR data, target genes need to be normalized by reference genes that are stably expressed under specific experimental conditions. In our study, the stability of 10 candidate reference genes in symbiotic fungal samples at different growth and development stages was evaluated using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, delta Ct methods, and RefFinder. Meanwhile, laccase1 was used to validate the stability of the selected reference gene. Under the experimental conditions of this study, p450, CYP, and γ-TUB were identified as suitable reference genes. This work is the first to systematically evaluate the reference genes for RT-qPCR results normalization during the growth of this symbiotic fungus, which lays a foundation for further gene expression experiments and understanding the symbiotic relationship and mechanism between S. noctilio and A. areolatum.}, } @article {pmid35095795, year = {2021}, author = {Duan, C and Mei, Y and Wang, Q and Wang, Y and Li, Q and Hong, M and Hu, S and Li, S and Fang, L}, title = {Rhizobium Inoculation Enhances the Resistance of Alfalfa and Microbial Characteristics in Copper-Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {781831}, pmid = {35095795}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Some studies have reported the importance of rhizobium in mitigating heavy metal toxicity, however, the regulatory mechanism of the alfalfa-rhizobium symbiosis to resist copper (Cu) stress in the plant-soil system through biochemical reactions is still unclear. This study assessed the effects of rhizobium (Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020) inoculation on the growth of alfalfa and soil microbial characteristics under Cu-stress. Further, we determined the regulatory mechanism of rhizobium inoculation to alleviate Cu-stress in alfalfa through plant-soil system. The results showed that rhizobium inoculation markedly alleviated Cu-induced growth inhibition in alfalfa by increasing the chlorophyll content, height, and biomass, in addition to nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Furthermore, rhizobium application alleviated Cu-induced phytotoxicity by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities and soluble protein content in tissues, and inhibiting the lipid peroxidation levels (i.e., malondialdehyde content). In addition, rhizobium inoculation improved soil nutrient cycling, which increased soil enzyme activities (i.e., β-glucosidase activity and alkaline phosphatase) and microbial biomass nitrogen. Both Pearson correlation coefficient analysis and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) identified that the interactions between soil nutrient content, enzyme activity, microbial biomass, plant antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative damage could jointly regulate plant growth. This study provides comprehensive insights into the mechanism of action of the legume-rhizobium symbiotic system to mitigate Cu stress and provide an efficient strategy for phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid35095792, year = {2021}, author = {Cristi, A and Parada-Pozo, G and Morales-Vicencio, F and Cárdenas, CA and Trefault, N}, title = {Variability in Host Specificity and Functional Potential of Antarctic Sponge-Associated Bacterial Communities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {771589}, pmid = {35095792}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sponge-associated microorganisms are essential for sponge survival. They play an important role in recycling nutrients and, therefore, in the maintenance of the ecosystem. These microorganisms are diverse, species-specific, and different from those in the surrounding seawater. Bacterial sponge symbionts have been extensively studied in the tropics; however, little is known about these microorganisms in sponges from high-latitude environments. Sponges can cover up to 80% of the benthos in Antarctica and are crucial architects for the marine food web. In this study, we present analyses of the bacterial symbionts of three sponges: Haliclona (Rhizoniera) sp., Hymeniacidon torquata, and Isodictya kerguelenensis from the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) with the aim to determine variations on the specificity of the bacteria-sponge interactions and potential signatures on their predicted functional profiles. We use high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 30 sponge individuals inhabiting South Bay (Palmer Archipelago, WAP) to describe their microbiome taxonomy and diversity and predict potential functional profiles based on this marker gene. Our work shows similar bacterial community composition profiles among the same sponge species, although the symbiotic relationship is not equally conserved among the three Antarctic sponges. The number of species-specific core operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of these Antarctic sponges was low, with important differences between the total abundance accounted for these OTUs. Only eight OTUs were shared between the three sponge species. Analyses of the functional potential revealed that despite the high host-symbiont specificity, the inferred functions are conserved among these microbiomes, although with differences in the abundance of specific functions. H. torquata showed the highest level of intra-specificity and a higher potential of pathways related to energy metabolism, metabolisms of terpenoids and polyketides, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. Overall, this work shows variations in the specificity of the sponge-associated bacterial communities, differences in how hosts and symbionts establish their relations, and in their potential functional capabilities.}, } @article {pmid35092309, year = {2022}, author = {Pereira, WJ and Knaack, S and Chakraborty, S and Conde, D and Folk, RA and Triozzi, PM and Balmant, KM and Dervinis, C and Schmidt, HW and Ané, JM and Roy, S and Kirst, M}, title = {Functional and comparative genomics reveals conserved noncoding sequences in the nitrogen-fixing clade.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {2}, pages = {634-649}, pmid = {35092309}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genomics ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is one of the most inaccessible plant nutrients, but certain species have overcome this limitation by establishing symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root nodule. This root-nodule symbiosis (RNS) is restricted to species within a single clade of angiosperms, suggesting a critical, but undetermined, evolutionary event at the base of this clade. To identify putative regulatory sequences implicated in the evolution of RNS, we evaluated the genomes of 25 species capable of nodulation and identified 3091 conserved noncoding sequences (CNS) in the nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC). We show that the chromatin accessibility of 452 CNS correlates significantly with the regulation of genes responding to lipochitooligosaccharides in Medicago truncatula. These included 38 CNS in proximity to 19 known genes involved in RNS. Five such regions are upstream of MtCRE1, Cytokinin Response Element 1, required to activate a suite of downstream transcription factors necessary for nodulation in M. truncatula. Genetic complementation of an Mtcre1 mutant showed a significant decrease of nodulation in the absence of the five CNS, when they are driving the expression of a functional copy of MtCRE1. CNS identified in the NFC may harbor elements required for the regulation of genes controlling RNS in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid35091281, year = {2022}, author = {Yurchenko, OV and Borzykh, OG and Kalachev, AV}, title = {Microscopic anatomy of gonadal area in the deep-sea clam Calyptogena pacifica (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae) with emphasis on somatic cells.}, journal = {Tissue & cell}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {101743}, doi = {10.1016/j.tice.2022.101743}, pmid = {35091281}, issn = {1532-3072}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia/ultrastructure ; Female ; Gametogenesis ; *Gonads ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Spermatogenesis ; }, abstract = {Somatic cells in the gonadal area of male and female deep-sea clams, Calyptogena pacifica, were examined using light and transmission electron microscopy. Acini both at the pre-spawning stage and at the stage of active spermatogenesis were observed to be simultaneously present in sections through a male gonad. Oocytes of various degrees of maturity were simultaneously present in female acini. No storage tissue and cells similar to adipogranular cells or vesicular connective tissue of other mollusks were found in the gonadal area of C. pacifica. Instead, in both males and females, numerous hemocytes surround the acini. Among hemocytes, two types of granulocytes and erythrocytes were identified. Bundles of muscle cells were also found in the interacinar space. Male intraacinar accessory cells were rather large, glycogen-rich, with lipid inclusions, and phagosomes contained spermatogenic cells. Female accessory cells had well-developed endoplasmic reticulum, but they did not form any follicles around oocytes, being in their basal part, closer to basal lamina. Such a specific pattern of gonad organization can presumably be explained by both symbiosis with sulfide-oxidizing bacteria and phylogenetic aspects that should be further studied. Some evidence for continuous gametogenesis are discussed.}, } @article {pmid35090316, year = {2022}, author = {Allegrini, A and Salvaneschi, P and Schirone, B and Cianfaglione, K and Di Michele, A}, title = {Multipurpose plant species and circular economy: Corylus avellana L. as a study case.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, doi = {10.31083/j.fbl2701011}, pmid = {35090316}, issn = {2768-6698}, mesh = {*COVID-19 ; *Corylus ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Phenols ; SARS-CoV-2 ; }, abstract = {Corylus avellana L. is one of the most cultivated species in the world. Mainly utilized with the purpose of obtaining food material, hazel trees cannot guarantee constant kernels productions given the threats related to pathogens and to adverse conditions, especially in a globalisation and global changes scenarios. This matter led us to consider the opportunity of using hazel tree in all its parts and for several purposes, due to its multifunctional characteristics. As a pioneer species, it is a precious plant useful for forest restoration purposes and for forest successions/wildlife facilitation. Its roots enter into symbiosis with truffles making this species exploitable for hazelnuts and truffles production. The precious elements contained in what is considered "waste" deriving from hazel crops (i.e., leaves, skins, shells, husks and pruning material), could be reused and valorised in the perspective of a circular economy that is opposed to a linear one. In particular, a list of several phenolic compounds detected in hazelnut shells has been reported in literature to prevent and delay many human diseases due to their antioxidant properties and to free radical scavenging activities, with implications potentially useful even in the fight against COVID-19. All this makes hazel crop by-products interesting to be valorised as a chemical compound source for human health, even more than a biomass fuel or for bio-char applications. The multiple possible uses of the hazel tree would lead to alternative productions than the only nut productions, avoiding significant economic losses, would decrease the cost of disposal of crops residues and would increase the sustainability of agro-ecosystems by reducing, among other things, the production of wastes and of greenhouse gases deriving from the usual burning of residues which often happens directly in fields.}, } @article {pmid35090190, year = {2022}, author = {Bonthond, G and Barilo, A and Allen, RJ and Cunliffe, M and Krueger-Hadfield, SA}, title = {Fungal endophytes vary by species, tissue type, and life cycle stage in intertidal macroalgae.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {330-342}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13237}, pmid = {35090190}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chondrus ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Seaweed ; }, abstract = {Fungal symbionts of terrestrial plants are among the most widespread and well-studied symbioses, relatively little is known about fungi that are associated with macroalgae. To fill the gap in marine fungal taxonomy, we combined simple culture methods with amplicon sequencing to characterize the fungal communities associated with three brown (Sargassum muticum, Pelvetia canaliculata, and Himanthalia elongata) and two red (Mastocarpus stellatus and Chondrus crispus) macroalgae from one intertidal zone. In addition to characterizing novel fungal diversity, we tested three hypotheses: fungal diversity and community composition vary (i) among species distributed at different tidal heights, (ii) among tissue types (apices, mid-thallus, and stipe), and (iii) among "isomorphic" C. crispus life cycle stages. Almost 70% of our reads were classified as Ascomycota, 29% as Basidiomycota, and 1% that could not be classified to a phylum. Thirty fungal isolates were obtained, 18 of which were also detected with amplicon sequencing. Fungal communities differed by host and tissue type. Interestingly, P. canaliculata, a fucoid at the extreme high intertidal, did not show differences in fungal diversity across the thallus. As found in filamentous algal endophytes, fungal diversity varied among the three life cycle stages in C. crispus. Female gametophytes were also compositionally more dispersed as compared to the fewer variable tetrasporophytes and male gametophytes. We demonstrate the utility of combining relatively simple cultivation and sequencing approaches to characterize and study macroalgal-fungal associations and highlight the need to understand the role of fungi in near-shore marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid35089084, year = {2022}, author = {Rivera Pérez, CA and Janz, D and Schneider, D and Daniel, R and Polle, A}, title = {Transcriptional Landscape of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Their Host Provides Insight into N Uptake from Forest Soil.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0095721}, pmid = {35089084}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Soil ; Forests ; Trees/metabolism ; Plants ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mineral nitrogen (N) is a major nutrient showing strong fluctuations in the environment due to anthropogenic activities. The acquisition and translocation of N to forest trees are achieved mainly by highly diverse ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) living in symbioses with their host roots. Here, we examined colonized root tips to characterize the entire root-associated fungal community by DNA metabarcoding-Illumina sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) molecular marker and used RNA sequencing to target metabolically active fungi and the plant transcriptome after N application. The study was conducted with beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), a dominant tree species in central Europe, grown in native forest soil. We demonstrate strong enrichment of [15]N from nitrate or ammonium in the ectomycorrhizal roots by stable-isotope labeling. The relative abundance of the EMF members in the fungal community was correlated with their transcriptional abundances. The fungal metatranscriptome covered Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) categories similar to those of model fungi and did not reveal significant changes related to N metabolization but revealed species-specific transcription patterns, supporting trait stability. In contrast to the resistance of the fungal metatranscriptome, the transcriptome of the host exhibited dedicated nitrate- or ammonium-responsive changes with the upregulation of transporters and enzymes required for nitrate reduction and a drastic enhancement of glutamine synthetase transcript levels, indicating the channeling of ammonium into the pathway for plant protein biosynthesis. Our results support that naturally assembled fungal communities living in association with the tree roots buffer nutritional signals in their own metabolism but do not shield plants from high environmental N levels. IMPORTANCE Although EMF are well known for their role in supporting tree N nutrition, the molecular mechanisms underlying N flux from the soil solution into the host through the ectomycorrhizal pathway remain widely unknown. Furthermore, ammonium and nitrate availability in the soil solution is subject to frequent oscillations that create a dynamic environment for the tree roots and associated microbes during N acquisition. Therefore, it is important to understand how root-associated mycobiomes and the tree roots handle these fluctuations. We studied the responses of the symbiotic partners by screening their transcriptomes after a sudden environmental flux of nitrate or ammonium. We show that the fungi and the host respond asynchronously, with the fungi displaying resistance to increased nitrate or ammonium and the host dynamically metabolizing the supplied N sources. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of the symbiotic partners operating under N enrichment in a multidimensional symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid35089065, year = {2022}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Cangioli, L and Nicoud, Q and Cheng, JHT and Blow, MJ and Shapiro, N and Woyke, T and Biondi, EG and Alunni, B and Mengoni, A and Mergaert, P}, title = {DNA Methylation in Ensifer Species during Free-Living Growth and during Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis with Medicago spp.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0109221}, pmid = {35089065}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {*DNA Methylation ; Medicago ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Methyltransferases ; *Rhizobium ; }, abstract = {Methylation of specific DNA sequences is ubiquitous in bacteria and has known roles in immunity and regulation of cellular processes, such as the cell cycle. Here, we explored DNA methylation in bacteria of the genus Ensifer, including its potential role in regulating terminal differentiation during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes. Using single-molecule real-time sequencing, six genome-wide methylated motifs were identified across four Ensifer strains, five of which were strain-specific. Only the GANTC motif, recognized by the cell cycle-regulated CcrM methyltransferase, was methylated in all strains. In actively dividing cell cultures, methylation of GANTC motifs increased progressively from the ori to ter regions in each replicon, in agreement with a cell cycle-dependent regulation of CcrM. In contrast, there was near full genome-wide GANTC methylation in the early stage of symbiotic differentiation. This was followed by a moderate decrease in the overall extent of methylation and a progressive decrease in chromosomal GANTC methylation from the ori to ter regions in later stages of differentiation. Based on these observations, we suggest that CcrM activity is dysregulated and constitutive during terminal differentiation, which we hypothesize is a driving factor for endoreduplication of terminally differentiated bacteroids. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen fixation by rhizobia in symbiosis with legumes is economically and ecologically important. The symbiosis can involve a complex bacterial transformation-terminal differentiation-that includes major shifts in the transcriptome and cell cycle. Epigenetic regulation is an important regulatory mechanism in diverse bacteria; however, the roles of DNA methylation in rhizobia and symbiotic nitrogen fixation have been poorly investigated. We show that aside from cell cycle regulation, DNA methyltransferases are unlikely to have conserved roles in the biology of bacteria of the genus Ensifer. However, we present evidence consistent with an interpretation that the cell cycle methyltransferase CcrM is dysregulated during symbiosis, which we hypothesize may be a key factor driving the cell cycle switch in terminal differentiation required for effective symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35088406, year = {2022}, author = {Kaur, S and Campbell, BJ and Suseela, V}, title = {Root metabolome of plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis mirrors the mutualistic or parasitic mycorrhizal phenotype.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {2}, pages = {672-687}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17994}, pmid = {35088406}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Metabolome ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with plants, the most ancient and widespread association, exhibits phenotypes that range from mutualism to parasitism. However, we still lack an understanding of the cellular-level mechanisms that differentiate and regulate these phenotypes. We assessed the modulation in growth parameters and root metabolome of two sorghum accessions inoculated with two AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis, Gigaspora gigantea), alone and in a mixture under phosphorus (P) limiting conditions. Rhizophagus irregularis exhibited a mutualistic phenotype with increased P uptake and plant growth. This positive outcome was associated with a facilitatory metabolic response including higher abundance of organic acids and specialized metabolites critical to maintaining a functional symbiosis. However, G. gigantea exhibited a parasitic phenotype that led to plant growth depression and resulted in inhibitory plant metabolic responses including the higher abundance of p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime with antifungal properties. These findings suggest that the differential outcome of plant-AMF symbiosis could be regulated by or reflected in changes in the root metabolome that arises from the interaction of the plant species with the specific AMF species. A mutualistic symbiotic association prevailed when the host plants were exposed to a mixture of AMF. Our results provide a metabolome-level landscape of plant-AMF symbiosis and highlight the importance of the identity of both AMF and crop genotypes in facilitating a mutualistic AMF symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35087493, year = {2021}, author = {Flemming, FE and Grosser, K and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {Natural Shifts in Endosymbionts' Occurrence and Relative Frequency in Their Ciliate Host Population.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {791615}, pmid = {35087493}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The role of bacterial endosymbionts harbored by heterotrophic Paramecium species is complex. Obligate intracellular bacteria supposedly always inflict costs as the host is the only possible provider of resources. However, several experimental studies have shown that paramecia carrying bacterial endosymbionts can benefit from their infection. Here, we address the question which endosymbionts occur in natural paramecia populations isolated from a small lake over a period of 5 years and which factors might explain observed shifts and persistence in the symbionts occurrence. One hundred and nineteen monoclonal strains were investigated and approximately two-third harbored intracellular bacteria. The majority of infected paramecia carried the obligate endosymbiotic "Candidatus Megaira polyxenophila", followed by Caedimonas varicaedens, and Holospora undulata. The latter was only detected in a single strain. While "Ca. M. polyxenophila" was observed in seven out of 13 samplings, C. varicaedens presence was limited to a single sampling occasion. After the appearance of C. varicaedens, "Ca. M. polyxenophila" prevalence dramatically dropped with some delay but recovered to original levels at the end of our study. Potential mechanisms explaining these observations include differences in infectivity, host range, and impact on host fitness as well as host competitive capacities. Growth experiments revealed fitness advantages for infected paramecia harboring "Ca. M. polyxenophila" as well as C. varicaedens. Furthermore, we showed that cells carrying C. varicaedens gain a competitive advantage from the symbiosis-derived killer trait. Other characteristics like infectivity and overlapping host range were taken into consideration, but the observed temporal persistence of "Ca. M. polyxenophila" is most likely explained by the positive effect this symbiont provides to its host.}, } @article {pmid35087489, year = {2021}, author = {Laihonen, M and Saikkonen, K and Helander, M and Vázquez de Aldana, BR and Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Fuchs, B}, title = {Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {786619}, pmid = {35087489}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants host taxonomically and functionally complex communities of microbes. However, ecological studies on plant-microbe interactions rarely address the role of multiple co-occurring plant-associated microbes. Here, we contend that plant-associated microbes interact with each other and can have joint consequences for higher trophic levels. In this study we recorded the occurrence of the plant seed pathogenic fungus Claviceps purpurea and aphids (Sitobion sp.) on an established field experiment with red fescue (Festuca rubra) plants symbiotic to a seed transmitted endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae (E+) or non-symbiotic (E-). Both fungi are known to produce animal-toxic alkaloids. The study was conducted in a semi-natural setting, where E+ and E- plants from different origins (Spain and Northern Finland) were planted in a randomized design in a fenced common garden at Kevo Subarctic Research Station in Northern Finland. The results reveal that 45% of E+ plants were infected with Claviceps compared to 31% of E- plants. Uninfected plants had 4.5 times more aphids than Claviceps infected plants. By contrast, aphid infestation was unaffected by Epichloë symbiosis. Claviceps alkaloid concentrations correlated with a decrease in aphid numbers, which indicates their insect deterring features. These results show that plant mutualistic fungi can increase the infection probability of a pathogenic fungus, which then becomes beneficial to the plant by controlling herbivorous insects. Our study highlights the complexity and context dependency of species-species and multi-trophic interactions, thus challenging the labeling of species as plant mutualists or pathogens.}, } @article {pmid35083207, year = {2021}, author = {Lou, X and Zhao, J and Lou, X and Xia, X and Feng, Y and Li, H}, title = {The Biodegradation of Soil Organic Matter in Soil-Dwelling Humivorous Fauna.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {808075}, pmid = {35083207}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Soil organic matter contains more carbon than global vegetation and the atmosphere combined. Gaining access to this source of organic carbon is challenging and requires at least partial removal of polyphenolic and/or soil mineral protections, followed by subsequent enzymatic or chemical cleavage of diverse plant polysaccharides. Soil-feeding animals make significant contributions to the recycling of terrestrial organic matter. Some humivorous earthworms, beetles, and termites, among others, have evolved the ability to mineralize recalcitrant soil organic matter, thereby leading to their tremendous ecological success in the (sub)tropical areas. This ability largely relies on their symbiotic associations with a diverse community of gut microbes. Recent integrative omics studies, including genomics, metagenomics, and proteomics, provide deeper insights into the functions of gut symbionts. In reviewing this literature, we emphasized that understanding how these soil-feeding fauna catabolize soil organic substrates not only reveals the key microbes in the intestinal processes but also uncovers the potential novel enzymes with considerable biotechnological interests.}, } @article {pmid35083203, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, Y and Ai, M and Jia, X}, title = {Optimization of a Two-Species Microbial Consortium for Improved Mcl-PHA Production From Glucose-Xylose Mixtures.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {794331}, pmid = {35083203}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted much attention as a good substitute for petroleum-based plastics, especially mcl-PHA due to their superior physical and mechanical properties with broader applications. Artificial microbial consortia can solve the problems of low metabolic capacity of single engineered strains and low conversion efficiency of natural consortia while expanding the scope of substrate utilization. Therefore, the use of artificial microbial consortia is considered a promising method for the production of mcl-PHA. In this work, we designed and constructed a microbial consortium composed of engineered Escherichia coli MG1655 and Pseudomonas putida KT2440 based on the "nutrition supply-detoxification" concept, which improved mcl-PHA production from glucose-xylose mixtures. An engineered E. coli that preferentially uses xylose was engineered with an enhanced ability to secrete acetic acid and free fatty acids (FFAs), producing 6.44 g/L acetic acid and 2.51 g/L FFAs with 20 g/L xylose as substrate. The mcl-PHA producing strain of P. putida in the microbial consortium has been engineered to enhance its ability to convert acetic acid and FFAs into mcl-PHA, producing 0.75 g/L mcl-PHA with mixed substrates consisting of glucose, acetic acid, and octanoate, while also reducing the growth inhibition of E. coli by acetic acid. The further developed artificial microbial consortium finally produced 1.32 g/L of mcl-PHA from 20 g/L of a glucose-xylose mixture (1:1) after substrate competition control and process optimization. The substrate utilization and product synthesis functions were successfully divided into the two strains in the constructed artificial microbial consortium, and a mutually beneficial symbiosis of "nutrition supply-detoxification" with a relatively high mcl-PHA titer was achieved, enabling the efficient accumulation of mcl-PHA. The consortium developed in this study is a potential platform for mcl-PHA production from lignocellulosic biomass.}, } @article {pmid35082177, year = {2022}, author = {Agake, SI and Plucani do Amaral, F and Yamada, T and Sekimoto, H and Stacey, G and Yokoyama, T and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N}, title = {Plant Growth-promoting Effects of Viable and Dead Spores of Bacillus pumilus TUAT1 on Setaria viridis.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35082177}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Bacillus ; *Bacillus pumilus ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Setaria Plant ; Spores, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Spores are a stress-resistant form of Bacillus spp., which include species that are plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Previous studies showed that the inoculation of plants with vegetative cells or spores exerted different plant growth-promoting effects. To elucidate the spore-specific mechanism, we compared the effects of viable vegetative cells, autoclaved dead spores, and viable spores of Bacillus pumilus TUAT1 inoculated at 10[7] CFU plant[-1] on the growth of the C4 model plant, Setaria viridis A10.1. B. pumilus TUAT1 spores exerted stronger growth-promoting effects on Setaria than on control plants 14 days after the inoculation. Viable spores increased shoot weight, root weight, shoot length, root length, and nitrogen uptake efficiency 21 days after the inoculation. These increases involved primary and crown root formation. Additionally, autoclaved dead spores inoculated at 10[8] or 10[9] CFU plant[-1] had a positive impact on crown root differentiation, which increased total lateral root length, resulting in a greater biomass and more efficient nitrogen uptake. The present results indicate that an inoculation with viable spores of B. pumilus TUAT1 is more effective at enhancing the growth of Setaria than that with vegetative cells. The plant response to dead spores suggests that the spore-specific plant growth-promoting mechanism is at least partly independent of symbiotic colonization.}, } @article {pmid35081951, year = {2022}, author = {O'Regan, A and O'Doherty, J and Green, J and Hyde, S}, title = {Symbiotic relationships through longitudinal integrated clerkships in general practice.}, journal = {BMC medical education}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {64}, pmid = {35081951}, issn = {1472-6920}, mesh = {*Clinical Clerkship ; *Education, Medical ; Family Practice ; *General Practice/education ; *General Practitioners ; Humans ; *Students, Medical ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs) are an innovation in medical education that are often successfully implemented in general practice contexts. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of general practitioner (GP)-tutors on the impact of LICs on their practices, patients and the wider community.

METHODS: GPs affiliated with the University of Limerick School of Medicine- LIC were invited to participate in in-depth interviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in person and over the phone and were based on a topic guide. The guide and approach to analysis were informed by symbiosis in medical education as a conceptual lens. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

RESULTS: Twenty-two GPs participated. Two main themes were identified from interviews: 'roles and relationships' and 'patient-centred physicians'. Five subthemes were identified which were: 'GP-role model', 'community of learning', and 'mentorship', 'student doctors' and 'serving the community'.

CONCLUSION: LICs have the potential to develop more patient-centred future doctors, who have a greater understanding of how medicine is practised in the community. The LIC model appears to have a positive impact on all stakeholders but their success hinges on having adequate support for GPs and resourcing for the practices.}, } @article {pmid35081330, year = {2022}, author = {Ji, H and Xiao, R and Lyu, X and Chen, J and Zhang, X and Wang, Z and Deng, Z and Wang, Y and Wang, H and Li, R and Chai, Q and Hao, Y and Xu, Q and Liao, J and Wang, Q and Liu, Y and Tang, R and Liu, B and Li, X}, title = {Differential light-dependent regulation of soybean nodulation by papilionoid-specific HY5 homologs.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {783-795.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.041}, pmid = {35081330}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hypocotyl ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Soybeans ; }, abstract = {Legumes have evolved photosynthesis and symbiotic nitrogen fixation for the acquisition of energy and nitrogen nutrients. During the transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth, blue light primarily triggers photosynthesis and low soil nitrogen induces symbiotic nodulation. Whether and how darkness and blue light influence root symbiotic nodulation during this transition is unknown. Here, we show that short-term darkness promotes nodulation and that blue light inhibits nodulation through two soybean TGACG-motif-binding factors (STF1 and STF2), which are Papilionoideae-specific transcription factors and divergent orthologs of Arabidopsis ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5). STF1 and STF2 negatively regulate soybean nodulation by repressing the transcription of nodule inception a (GmNINa), which is a central regulator of nodulation, in response to darkness and blue light. STF1 and STF2 are not capable of moving from the shoots to roots, and they act both locally and systemically to mediate darkness- and blue-light-regulated nodulation. We further show that cryptochromes GmCRY1s are required for nodulation in the dark and partially contribute to the blue light inhibition of nodulation. In addition, root GmCRY1s mediate blue-light-induced transcription of STF1 and STF2, and intriguingly, GmCRY1b can interact with STF1 and STF2 to stabilize the protein stability of STF1 and STF2. Our results establish that the blue light receptor GmCRY1s-STF1/2 module plays a pivotal role in integrating darkness/blue light and nodulation signals. Furthermore, our findings reveal a molecular basis by which photosensory pathways modulate nodulation and autotrophic growth through an intricate interplay facilitating seedling establishment in response to low nitrogen and light signals.}, } @article {pmid35080285, year = {2022}, author = {Irving, TB and Chakraborty, S and Ivanov, S and Schultze, M and Mysore, KS and Harrison, MJ and Ané, JM}, title = {KIN3 impacts arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and promotes fungal colonisation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {110}, number = {2}, pages = {513-528}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15685}, pmid = {35080285}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {1370021/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi help their host plant in the acquisition of nutrients, and this association is itself impacted by soil nutrient levels. High phosphorus levels inhibit the symbiosis, whereas high nitrogen levels enhance it. The genetic mechanisms regulating the symbiosis in response to soil nutrients are poorly understood. Here, we characterised the symbiotic phenotypes in four Medicago truncatula Tnt1-insertion mutants affected in arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation. We located their Tnt1 insertions and identified alleles for two genes known to be involved in mycorrhization, RAM1 and KIN3. We compared the effects of the kin3-2 and ram1-4 mutations on gene expression, revealing that the two genes alter the expression of overlapping but not identical gene sets, suggesting that RAM1 acts upstream of KIN3. Additionally, KIN3 appears to be involved in the suppression of plant defences in response to the fungal symbiont. KIN3 is located on the endoplasmic reticulum of arbuscule-containing cortical cells, and kin3-2 mutants plants hosted significantly fewer arbuscules than the wild type. KIN3 plays an essential role in the symbiotic response to soil nitrogen levels, as, contrary to wild-type plants, the kin3-2 mutant did not exhibit increased root colonisation under high nitrogen.}, } @article {pmid35078978, year = {2022}, author = {Das, D and Paries, M and Hobecker, K and Gigl, M and Dawid, C and Lam, HM and Zhang, J and Chen, M and Gutjahr, C}, title = {PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE transcription factors enable arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {477}, pmid = {35078978}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oryza/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Soil/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a widespread symbiosis between roots of the majority of land plants and Glomeromycotina fungi. AM is important for ecosystem health and functioning as the fungi critically support plant performance by providing essential mineral nutrients, particularly the poorly accessible phosphate, in exchange for organic carbon. AM fungi colonize the inside of roots and this is promoted at low but inhibited at high plant phosphate status, while the mechanistic basis for this phosphate-dependence remained obscure. Here we demonstrate that a major transcriptional regulator of phosphate starvation responses in rice PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 2 (PHR2) regulates AM. Root colonization of phr2 mutants is drastically reduced, and PHR2 is required for root colonization, mycorrhizal phosphate uptake, and yield increase in field soil. PHR2 promotes AM by targeting genes required for pre-contact signaling, root colonization, and AM function. Thus, this important symbiosis is directly wired to the PHR2-controlled plant phosphate starvation response.}, } @article {pmid35077273, year = {2022}, author = {May, G and Shaw, RG and Geyer, CJ and Eck, DJ}, title = {Do Interactions among Microbial Symbionts Cause Selection for Greater Pathogen Virulence?.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {199}, number = {2}, pages = {252-265}, doi = {10.1086/717679}, pmid = {35077273}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; *Parasites ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {AbstractThe ecological and evolutionary consequences of microbiome treatments aimed at protecting plants and animals against infectious disease are not well understood, even as such biological control measures become more common in agriculture and medicine. Notably, we lack information on the impacts of symbionts on pathogen fitness with which to project the consequences of competition for the evolution of virulence. To address this gap, we estimated fitness consequences for a common plant pathogen, Ustilago maydis, over differing virulence levels and when the host plant (Zea mays) is coinfected with a defensive symbiont (Fusarium verticillioides) and compared these fitness estimates to those obtained when the symbiont is absent. Here, virulence is measured as the reduction in the growth of the host caused by pathogen infection. Results of aster statistical models demonstrate that the defensive symbiont most negatively affects pathogen infection and that these effects propagate through subsequent stages of disease development to cause lower pathogen fitness across all virulence levels. Moreover, the virulence level at which pathogen fitness is maximal is higher in the presence of the defensive symbiont than in its absence. Thus, as expected from theory for multiple parasites, competition from the defensive symbiont may cause selection for increased pathogen virulence. More broadly, we consider that the evolutionary impacts of interactions between pathogens and microbial symbionts will depend critically on biological context and environment and that interactions among diverse microbial symbionts in spatially heterogeneous communities contribute to the maintenance of the highly diverse symbiotic functions observed in these communities.}, } @article {pmid35076273, year = {2022}, author = {Mu, Y and Qi, W and Zhang, T and Zhang, J and Mao, S}, title = {Multi-omics Analysis Revealed Coordinated Responses of Rumen Microbiome and Epithelium to High-Grain-Induced Subacute Rumen Acidosis in Lactating Dairy Cows.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0149021}, pmid = {35076273}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Cattle ; Animals ; *Lactation ; Rumen/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Multiomics ; Epithelium/metabolism ; *Acidosis/etiology ; }, abstract = {Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a major metabolic disease in lactating dairy cows caused by the excessive intake of high-concentrate diets. Here, we investigated the synergistic responses of rumen bacteria and epithelium to high-grain (HG)-induced SARA. Eight ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 2 groups for a 3-week experiment and fed either a conventional (CON) diet or an HG diet. The results showed that the HG-feeding cows had a thickened rumen epithelial papilla with edge injury and a decreased plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results demonstrated that HG feeding caused changes in rumen bacterial structure and composition, which further altered rumen fermentation and metabolism. Cooccurrence network analysis revealed that the distribution of the diet-sensitive bacteria responded to the treatment (CON or HG) and that all diet-sensitive amplicon sequence variants showed low to medium degrees of cooccurrence. Metabolomics analysis indicated that the endothelial permeability-increasing factor prostaglandin E1 and the polyamine synthesis by-product 5'-methylthioadenosine were enriched under HG feeding. Transcriptome analysis suggested that cholesterol biosynthesis genes were upregulated in the rumen epithelium of HG cows. The gene expression changes, coupled with more substrate being available (total volatile fatty acids), may have caused an enrichment of intracellular cholesterol and its metabolites. All of these variations could coordinately stimulate cell proliferation, increase membrane permeability, and trigger epithelial inflammation, which eventually disrupts rumen homeostasis and negatively affects cow health. IMPORTANCE Dairy cows are economically important livestock animals that supply milk for humans. The cow's rumen is a complex and symbiotic ecosystem composed of diverse microorganisms, which has evolved to digest high-fiber diets. In modern dairy production, SARA is a common health problem due to overfeeding of high-concentrate diets for an ever-increasing milk yield. Although extensive studies have been conducted on SARA, it remains unclear how HG feeding affects rumen cross talk homeostasis. Here, we identified structural and taxonomic fluctuation for the rumen bacterial community, an enrichment of certain detrimental metabolites in rumen fluid, and a general upregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes in the rumen epithelium of HG-feeding cows by multi-omics analysis. Based on these results, we propose a speculation to explain cellular events of coordinated rumen bacterial and epithelial adaptation to HG diets. Our work provides new insights into the exploitation of molecular regulation strategies to treat and prevent SARA.}, } @article {pmid35076269, year = {2022}, author = {Wendering, P and Nikoloski, Z}, title = {Genome-Scale Modeling Specifies the Metabolic Capabilities of Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0121621}, pmid = {35076269}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genome, Fungal ; Plants/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizophagus irregularis is one of the most extensively studied arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that forms symbioses with and improves the performance of many crops. Lack of transformation protocol for R. irregularis renders it challenging to investigate molecular mechanisms that shape the physiology and interactions of this AMF with plants. Here, we used all published genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics resources to gain insights into the metabolic functionalities of R. irregularis by reconstructing its high-quality genome-scale metabolic network that considers enzyme constraints. Extensive validation tests with the enzyme-constrained metabolic model demonstrated that it can be used to (i) accurately predict increased growth of R. irregularis on myristate with minimal medium; (ii) integrate enzyme abundances and carbon source concentrations that yield growth predictions with high and significant Spearman correlation ([Formula: see text] = 0.74) to measured hyphal dry weight; and (iii) simulate growth rate increases with tighter association of this AMF with the host plant across three fungal structures. Based on the validated model and system-level analyses that integrate data from transcriptomics studies, we predicted that differences in flux distributions between intraradical mycelium and arbuscles are linked to changes in amino acid and cofactor biosynthesis. Therefore, our results demonstrated that the enzyme-constrained metabolic model can be employed to pinpoint mechanisms driving developmental and physiological responses of R. irregularis to different environmental cues. In conclusion, this model can serve as a template for other AMF and paves the way to identify metabolic engineering strategies to modulate fungal metabolic traits that directly affect plant performance. IMPORTANCE Mounting evidence points to the benefits of the symbiotic interactions between the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and crops; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological responses of this fungus to different host plants and environments remain largely unknown. We present a manually curated, enzyme-constrained, genome-scale metabolic model of R. irregularis that can accurately predict experimentally observed phenotypes. We show that this high-quality model provides an entry point into better understanding the metabolic and physiological responses of this fungus to changing environments due to the availability of different nutrients. The model can be used to design metabolic engineering strategies to tailor R. irregularis metabolism toward improving the performance of host plants.}, } @article {pmid35076268, year = {2022}, author = {Perez-Lamarque, B and Krehenwinkel, H and Gillespie, RG and Morlon, H}, title = {Limited Evidence for Microbial Transmission in the Phylosymbiosis between Hawaiian Spiders and Their Microbiota.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0110421}, pmid = {35076268}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; Hawaii ; *Spiders ; *Microbiota ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; }, abstract = {The degree of similarity between the microbiotas of host species often mirrors the phylogenetic proximity of the hosts. This pattern, referred to as phylosymbiosis, is widespread in animals and plants. While phylosymbiosis was initially interpreted as the signal of symbiotic transmission and coevolution between microbes and their hosts, it is now recognized that similar patterns can emerge even if the microbes are environmentally acquired. Distinguishing between these two scenarios, however, remains challenging. We recently developed HOME (host-microbiota evolution), a cophylogenetic model designed to detect vertically transmitted microbes and host switches from amplicon sequencing data. Here, we applied HOME to the microbiotas of Hawaiian spiders of the genus Ariamnes, which experienced a recent radiation on the archipelago. We demonstrate that although Hawaiian Ariamnes spiders display a significant phylosymbiosis, there is little evidence of microbial vertical transmission. Next, we performed simulations to validate the absence of transmitted microbes in Ariamnes spiders. We show that this is not due to a lack of detection power because of the low number of segregating sites or an effect of phylogenetically driven or geographically driven host switches. Ariamnes spiders and their associated microbes therefore provide an example of a pattern of phylosymbiosis likely emerging from processes other than vertical transmission. IMPORTANCE How host-associated microbiotas assemble and evolve is one of the outstanding questions of microbial ecology. Studies aiming at answering this question have repeatedly found a pattern of "phylosymbiosis," that is, a phylogenetic signal in the composition of host-associated microbiotas. While phylosymbiosis was often interpreted as evidence for vertical transmission and host-microbiota coevolution, simulations have now shown that it can emerge from other processes, including host filtering of environmentally acquired microbes. However, distinguishing the processes driving phylosymbiosis in nature remains challenging. We recently developed a cophylogenetic method that can detect vertical transmission. Here, we applied this method to the microbiotas of recently diverged spiders from the Hawaiian archipelago, which display a clear phylosymbiosis pattern. We found that none of the bacterial operational taxonomic units is vertically transmitted. We show with simulations that this result is not due to methodological artifacts. Thus, we provide a striking empirical example of phylosymbiosis emerging from processes other than vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid35075759, year = {2022}, author = {Nyiew, KY and Kwong, PJ and Yow, YY}, title = {An overview of antimicrobial properties of kombucha.}, journal = {Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {1024-1053}, doi = {10.1111/1541-4337.12892}, pmid = {35075759}, issn = {1541-4337}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Polyphenols/analysis ; *Tea/microbiology ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional beverage of Manchurian origin, typically made by fermenting sugared black or green tea with the symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The beverage has gained increasing popularity in recent years, mainly due to its heralded health benefits. The fermentation process of kombucha also results in the production of various bioactive compounds with antimicrobial potential, making it a promising candidate in the exploration of alternative sources of antimicrobial agents, and may be helpful in combating the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. Literature survey performed on Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed revealed the extensive research that has firmly established the antimicrobial activity of kombucha against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi. This activity could be attributed to the synergistic activities of the microbial species in the kombucha microbiota that led to the synthesis of compounds with antimicrobial properties such as acetic acid and various polyphenols. However, research thus far only involved screening for the antimicrobial activity of kombucha. Therefore, there is still a research gap about the molecular mechanism of the kombucha reaction against specific pathogens and its influence on human health upon consumption. Future research may focus on investigating this aspect. Further characterization of the biological activity of the microbial community in kombucha may also facilitate the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds, such as bacteriocins produced by the microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid35074813, year = {2022}, author = {Yellappa, V and Bindu, H and Rao, N and Narayanan, D}, title = {Understanding dynamics of private tuberculosis pharmacy market: a qualitative inquiry from a South Indian district.}, journal = {BMJ open}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e052319}, pmid = {35074813}, issn = {2044-6055}, mesh = {Humans ; India/epidemiology ; *Pharmacy ; Public Health ; Qualitative Research ; Referral and Consultation ; *Tuberculosis/diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: In India, retail private pharmacists (RPPs) are often patients' first point of contact for diseases, including tuberculosis (TB). We assessed the factors influencing RPPs' referral of patients with chest symptoms to the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) and the way business is carried out with reference to TB drugs.

DESIGN: We conducted semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of 41 RPPs in a South Indian district between May and October 2013. Data were collected from urban areas (21 RPPs) and rural areas (20 RPPs) employing the principle of data saturation. Data were analysed thematically using NVivo V.9.

RESULTS: Knowledge and compliance of RPPs regarding TB symptoms and regulatory requirements were found to be poor. The RPPs routinely dispensed medicines over the counter and less than half of the respondents had pharmacy qualifications. None of them had received TB-related training, yet half of them knew about TB symptoms. Practice of self-referrals was common particularly among economically poorer populations who preferred purchasing medicines over the counter based on RPPs' advice. Inability of patients with TB to purchase the full course of TB drugs was conspicuous. Rural RPPs were more likely to refer patients with TB symptoms to the NTEP compared with urban ones who mostly referred such clients to private practitioners (PPs). Reciprocal relationships between the RPPs, PPs, medical representatives and the prevalence of kickbacks influenced RPPs' drug-stocking patterns. PPs wielded power in this nexus, especially in urban areas.

CONCLUSION: India hopes to end TB by 2025. Our study findings will help the NTEP to design policy and interventions to engage RPPs in public health initiatives by taking cognisance of symbiotic relationships and power differentials that exist between PPs, RPPs and medical representatives. Concurrently, there should be a strong enforcement mechanism for existing regulatory norms regarding over-the-counter sales and record keeping.}, } @article {pmid35074057, year = {2022}, author = {Robinson, DA}, title = {Neurophysiology of the optokinetic system.}, journal = {Progress in brain research}, volume = {267}, number = {1}, pages = {251-269}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.10.012}, pmid = {35074057}, issn = {1875-7855}, abstract = {This chapter provides a review of early studies into the neural substrate for optokinetic-vestibular responses. Properties and connections of retinal and brainstem neurons contributing to optokinetic responses in the afoveate rabbit are summarized. Electrophysiological and lesion studies provide support for confluence of optokinetic and vestibular signals in the vestibular nucleus to provide the brain's estimate of self-rotation. Evidence for optokinetic-vestibular symbiosis in humans comes from the observation that individuals who have lost vestibular function show no optokinetic after-nystagmus in darkness, following full-field stimulus motion. An anatomical scheme for brainstem elaboration of optokinetic responses is proposed and cerebellar contributions are reviewed.}, } @article {pmid35074056, year = {2022}, author = {Robinson, DA}, title = {Models of the optokinetic system.}, journal = {Progress in brain research}, volume = {267}, number = {1}, pages = {231-249}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.10.011}, pmid = {35074056}, issn = {1875-7855}, mesh = {Humans ; *Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; *Vestibule, Labyrinth/physiology ; }, abstract = {This chapter starts by comparing two different models to account for optokinetic-vestibular symbiosis. In the first, there are two separate velocity storage (integrator) elements for vestibular and optokinetic systems, and in the second model, velocity storage is shared between the two systems. Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence is presented to support the model with shared velocity storage and its ability to provide a linear addition of vestibular and optokinetic signals, account for different time constants of optokinetic and vestibular responses and separate adaptive properties of the two systems. This model is then extended to account for an unexplained clinical disorder-periodic alternating nystagmus-and provide insights into its pathogenesis and treatment.}, } @article {pmid35074055, year = {2022}, author = {Robinson, DA}, title = {The behavior of the optokinetic system.}, journal = {Progress in brain research}, volume = {267}, number = {1}, pages = {215-230}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.10.010}, pmid = {35074055}, issn = {1875-7855}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Nystagmus, Optokinetic ; Pursuit, Smooth ; *Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular/physiology ; Rotation ; *Vestibule, Labyrinth/physiology ; }, abstract = {Optokinetic responses in several species are compared, describing differences in afoveate and foveate animals, and the effects of visual testing conditions, including directions of stimulus motion. Smooth pursuit contributes to responses to full-field visual motion in foveate species; in the latter, measurement of optokinetic after-nystagmus in darkness allows investigation of the optokinetic system. The concept of optokinetic-vestibular symbiosis and velocity storage are discussed, pertinent electrophysiological studies (such as vestibular nucleus neurons that respond to both optokinetic and vestibular stimuli) are reviewed and a model is developed. The different purposes and properties of optokinetic responses (to maintain clear vision during self-rotation) and smooth pursuit (to visually track a moving target) are clarified.}, } @article {pmid35074003, year = {2022}, author = {Jin, J and Krohn, C and Franks, AE and Wang, X and Wood, JL and Petrovski, S and McCaskill, M and Batinovic, S and Xie, Z and Tang, C}, title = {Elevated atmospheric CO2 alters the microbial community composition and metabolic potential to mineralize organic phosphorus in the rhizosphere of wheat.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {35074003}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phosphorus ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Triticum/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding how elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) impacts on phosphorus (P) transformation in plant rhizosphere is critical for maintaining ecological sustainability in response to climate change, especially in agricultural systems where soil P availability is low.

METHODS: This study used rhizoboxes to physically separate rhizosphere regions (plant root-soil interface) into 1.5-mm segments. Wheat plants were grown in rhizoboxes under eCO2 (800 ppm) and ambient CO2 (400 ppm) in two farming soils, Chromosol and Vertosol, supplemented with phytate (organic P). Photosynthetic carbon flow in the plant-soil continuum was traced with [13]CO2 labeling. Amplicon sequencing was performed on the rhizosphere-associated microbial community in the root-growth zone, and 1.5 mm and 3 mm away from the root.

RESULTS: Elevated CO2 accelerated the mineralization of phytate in the rhizosphere zones, which corresponded with increases in plant-derived [13]C enrichment and the relative abundances of discreet phylogenetic clades containing Bacteroidetes and Gemmatimonadetes in the bacterial community, and Funneliformis affiliated to arbuscular mycorrhizas in the fungal community. Although the amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) associated the stimulation of phytate mineralization under eCO2 differed between the two soils, these ASVs belonged to the same phyla associated with phytase and phosphatase production. The symbiotic mycorrhizas in the rhizosphere of wheat under eCO2 benefited from increased plant C supply and increased P access from soil. Further supportive evidence was the eCO2-induced increase in the genetic pool expressing the pentose phosphate pathway, which is the central pathway for biosynthesis of RNA/DNA precursors.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that an increased belowground carbon flow under eCO2 stimulated bacterial growth, changing community composition in favor of phylotypes capable of degrading aromatic P compounds. It is proposed that energy investments by bacteria into anabolic processes increase under eCO2 to level microbial P-use efficiencies and that synergies with symbiotic mycorrhizas further enhance the competition for and mineralization of organic P. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid35073753, year = {2022}, author = {Fukumori, K and Oguchi, K and Ikeda, H and Shinohara, T and Tanahashi, M and Moriyama, M and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Evolutionary Dynamics of Host Organs for Microbial Symbiosis in Tortoise Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae).}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0369121}, pmid = {35073753}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; *Turtles ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Insecta/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Pectins ; }, abstract = {Diverse insects host specific microbial symbionts that play important roles for their growth, survival, and reproduction. They often develop specialized symbiotic organs for harboring the microbial partners. While such intimate associations tend to be stably maintained over evolutionary time, the microbial symbionts may have been lost or replaced occasionally. How symbiont acquisitions, replacements, and losses are linked to the development of the host's symbiotic organs is an important but poorly understood aspect of microbial symbioses. Cassidine leaf beetles are associated with a specific gammaproteobacterial lineage, Stammera, whose reduced genome is streamlined for producing pectin-degrading enzymes to assist the host's digestion of food plants. We investigated the symbiotic system of 24 Japanese cassidine species and found that (i) most species harbored Stammera within paired symbiotic organs located at the foregut-midgut junction, (ii) the host phylogeny was largely congruent with the symbiont phylogeny, indicating stable host-symbiont association over evolutionary time, (iii) meanwhile, the symbiont was not detected in three distinct host lineages, uncovering recurrent losses of the ancient microbial mutualist, (iv) the symbiotic organs were vestigial but present in the symbiont-free lineages, indicating evolutionary persistence of the symbiotic organs even in the absence of the symbiont, and (v) the number of the symbiotic organs was polymorphic among the cassidine species, either two or four, unveiling a dynamic evolution of the host organs for symbiosis. These findings are discussed as to what molecular mechanisms and evolutionary trajectories underpin the recurrent symbiont losses and the morphogenesis of the symbiotic organs in the herbivorous insect group. IMPORTANCE Insects represent the biodiversity of the terrestrial ecosystem, and their prosperity is attributable to their association with symbiotic microorganisms. By sequestering microbial functionality into their bodies, organs, tissues, or cells, diverse insects have successfully exploited otherwise inaccessible ecological niches and resources, including herbivory enabled by utilization of indigestible plant cell wall components. In leaf beetles of the subfamily Cassininae, an ancient symbiont lineage, Stammera, whose genome is extremely reduced and specialized for encoding pectin-degrading enzymes, is hosted in gut-associated symbiotic organs and contributes to the host's food plant digestion. Here, we demonstrate that multiple symbiont losses and recurrent structural switching of the symbiotic organs have occurred in the evolutionary course of cassidine leaf beetles, which sheds light on the evolutionary and developmental dynamics of the insect's symbiotic organs and provides a model system to investigate how microbial symbionts affect the host's development and morphogenesis and vice versa.}, } @article {pmid35071861, year = {2022}, author = {Subramanian, V and Hari Prasad, K and Das, HT and Ganapathy, K and Nallani, S and Maiyalagan, T}, title = {Novel Dispersion of 1D Nanofiber Fillers for Fast Ion-Conducting Nanocomposite Polymer Blend Quasi-Solid Electrolytes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {1658-1670}, pmid = {35071861}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Electrospun nanocomposite polymer blend poly(vinylidene difluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) membranes with a novel dispersion of x wt % of one-dimensional (1D) TiO2 nanofiber fillers (x = 0.0-0.8 in steps of 0.2) were developed using the electrospinning technique. The developed nanocomposite polymer membranes were activated using various redox agents such as LiI, NaI, KI, and tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (TBAI). Introduction of the 1D TiO2 nanofiber fillers improves the amorphous nature of the blended polymer membrane, as confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and yielded an electrolyte uptake of over 480% for a 6 wt % TiO2 nanofiber filler-dispersed sample. PVDF-HFP/PMMA-1D 6 wt % TiO2 nanofiber fillers with the LiI-based redox electrolyte provided a high conductivity of 2.80 × 10[-2] S cm[-1] and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.08% to their fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The observed better ionic conductivity and efficiency of the fabricated DSSCs could be due to the faster movement of the smaller-ionic-radius (Li) ions entrapped inside the amorphous polymer. This enhanced mobility of ions in the quasi-solid electrolyte leads to faster regeneration of the depleting electrons in the photoanode, resulting in improved efficiency. Further, the achieved high conductivity was analyzed in terms of the dynamics and relaxation mechanisms involved by the ionic charge carriers with complex impedance spectroscopy using a random barrier model and Havriliak-Negami formulation. It was observed that the high-conducting PVDF-HFP/PMMA-1D 6 wt % TiO2 nanofiber fillers with LiI-based redox electrolyte show better ac conductivity parameters such as a σ of 5.82 × 10[-2] S cm[-1], ωe (12685 rad s[-1]), τe (0.909 × 10[-4] s), and n (0.578). Also, dielectric studies revealed that the high-conducting sample has a higher dielectric constant and subsequently high loss. The J-V characteristics were studied using the equivalent circuit of a single-diode model, and the parameters influencing the photovoltaic performance were determined by Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) algorithm. The results suggest that the high-efficient sample possesses a minimum series resistance of 1.33 Ω and a maximum shunt resistance of 997 Ω. Hence, the highest-conducting electrospun-blended polymeric nanocomposite (PVDF-HFP-PMMA-6 wt % TiO2 nanofiber fillers) with LiI-based redox agent and tert-butyl pyridine (TBP) additive as the polymer quasi-solid electrolyte nanofibrous membrane can be a better electrolyte for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cell applications.}, } @article {pmid35071038, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, T and Yang, R and Zhou, J and Lu, X and Yuan, Z and Wei, X and Guo, L}, title = {Interactions Between Streptococcus gordonii and Fusobacterium nucleatum Altered Bacterial Transcriptional Profiling and Attenuated the Immune Responses of Macrophages.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {783323}, pmid = {35071038}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bacterial Adhesion ; *Fusobacterium nucleatum/genetics ; Immunity ; Macrophages ; *Streptococcus gordonii/genetics ; }, abstract = {Interspecies coaggregation promotes transcriptional changes in oral bacteria, affecting bacterial pathogenicity. Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) are common oral inhabitants. The present study investigated the transcriptional profiling of S. gordonii and F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum in response to the dual-species coaggregation using RNA-seq. Macrophages were infected with both species to explore the influence of bacterial coaggregation on both species' abilities to survive within macrophages and induce inflammatory responses. Results indicated that, after the 30-min dual-species coaggregation, 116 genes were significantly up-regulated, and 151 genes were significantly down-regulated in S. gordonii; 97 genes were significantly down-regulated, and 114 genes were significantly up-regulated in F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum. Multiple S. gordonii genes were involved in the biosynthesis and export of cell-wall proteins and carbohydrate metabolism. F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum genes were mostly associated with translation and protein export. The coaggregation led to decreased expression levels of genes associated with lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Coaggregation between S. gordonii and F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum significantly promoted both species' intracellular survival within macrophages and attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β. Physical interactions between these two species promoted a symbiotic lifestyle and repressed macrophage's killing and pro-inflammatory responses.}, } @article {pmid35071025, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, J and Zhai, C and Rho, JR and Lee, S and Heo, HJ and Kim, S and Kim, HJ and Hong, ST}, title = {Treatment of Hyperammonemia by Transplanting a Symbiotic Pair of Intestinal Microbes.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {696044}, pmid = {35071025}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Ammonia ; Animals ; *Hyperammonemia/therapy ; *Limosilactobacillus reuteri ; Mice ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Hyperammonemia is a deleterious and inevitable consequence of liver failure. However, no adequate therapeutic agent is available for hyperammonemia. Although recent studies showed that the pharmabiotic approach could be a therapeutic option for hyperammonemia, its development is clogged with poor identification of etiological microbes and low transplantation efficiency of candidate microbes. In this study, we developed a pharmabiotic treatment for hyperammonemia that employs a symbiotic pair of intestinal microbes that are both able to remove ammonia from the surrounding environment. By a radioactive tracing experiment in mice, we elucidated how the removal of ammonia by probiotics in the intestinal lumen leads to lower blood ammonia levels. After determination of the therapeutic mechanism, ammonia-removing probiotic strains were identified by high-throughput screening of gut microbes. The symbiotic partners of ammonia-removing probiotic strains were identified by screening intestinal microbes of a human gut, and the pairs were administrated to hyperammonemic mice to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. Blood ammonia was in a chemical equilibrium relationship with intestinal ammonia. Lactobacillus reuteri JBD400 removed intestinal ammonia to shift the chemical equilibrium to lower the blood ammonia level. L. reuteri JBD400 was successfully transplanted with a symbiotic partner, Streptococcus rubneri JBD420, improving transplantation efficiency 2.3×10[3] times more compared to the sole transplantation while lowering blood ammonia levels significantly. This work provides new pharmabiotics for the treatment of hyperammonemia as well as explains its therapeutic mechanism. Also, this approach provides a concept of symbiotic pairs approach in the emerging field of pharmabiotics.}, } @article {pmid35070504, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, JT and Wang, YT and Chen, CA and Meng, PJ and Tew, KS and Chiang, PW and Tang, SL}, title = {Extra high superoxide dismutase in host tissue is associated with improving bleaching resistance in "thermal adapted" and Durusdinium trenchii-associating coral.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e12746}, pmid = {35070504}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Acclimatization ; Superoxide Dismutase ; }, abstract = {Global warming threatens reef-building corals with large-scale bleaching events; therefore, it is important to discover potential adaptive capabilities for increasing their temperature resistance before it is too late. This study presents two coral species (Platygyra verweyi and Isopora palifera) surviving on a reef having regular hot water influxes via a nearby nuclear power plant that exhibited completely different bleaching susceptibilities to thermal stress, even though both species shared several so-called "winner" characteristics (e.g., containing Durusdinium trenchii, thick tissue, etc.). During acute heating treatment, algal density did not decline in P. verweyi corals within three days of being directly transferred from 25 to 31 °C; however, the same treatment caused I. palifera to lose < 70% of its algal symbionts within 24 h. The most distinctive feature between the two coral species was an overwhelmingly higher constitutive superoxide dismutase (ca. 10-fold) and catalase (ca. 3-fold) in P. verweyi over I. palifera. Moreover, P. verweyi also contained significantly higher saturated and lower mono-unsaturated fatty acids, especially a long-chain saturated fatty acid (C22:0), than I. palifera, and was consistently associated with the symbiotic bacteria Endozoicomonas, which was not found in I. palifera. However, antibiotic treatment and inoculation tests did not support Endozoicomonas having a direct contribution to thermal resistance. This study highlights that, besides its association with a thermally tolerable algal symbiont, a high level of constitutive antioxidant enzymes in the coral host is crucial for coral survivorship in the more fluctuating and higher temperature environments.}, } @article {pmid35069669, year = {2021}, author = {Quiñones, MA and Lucas, MM and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {Adaptive Mechanisms Make Lupin a Choice Crop for Acidic Soils Affected by Aluminum Toxicity.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {810692}, pmid = {35069669}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Almost half of the world's agricultural soils are acidic, and most of them present significant levels of aluminum (Al) contamination, with Al[3+] as the prevailing phytotoxic species. Lupin is a protein crop that is considered as an optimal alternative to soybean cultivation in cold climates. Lupins establish symbiosis with certain soil bacteria, collectively known as rhizobia, which are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Moreover, some lupin species, especially white lupin, form cluster roots, bottlebrush-like structures specialized in the mobilization and uptake of nutrients in poor soils. Cluster roots are also induced by Al toxicity. They exude phenolic compounds and organic acids that chelate Al to form non-phytotoxic complexes in the rhizosphere and inside the root cells, where Al complexes are accumulated in the vacuole. Lupins flourish in highly acidic soils where most crops, including other legumes, are unable to grow. Some lupin response mechanisms to Al toxicity are common to other plants, but lupin presents specific tolerance mechanisms, partly as a result of the formation of cluster roots. Al-induced lupin organic acid secretion differs from P-induced secretion, and organic acid transporters functions differ from those in other legumes. Additionally, symbiotic rhizobia can contribute to Al detoxification. After revising the existing knowledge on lupin distinct Al tolerance mechanisms, we conclude that further research is required to elucidate the specific organic acid secretion and Al accumulation mechanisms in this unique legume, but definitely, white lupin arises as a choice crop for cultivation in Al-rich acidic soils in temperate climate regions.}, } @article {pmid35069496, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, J and Cha, WH and Lee, DW}, title = {Multiple Precursor Proteins of Thanatin Isoforms, an Antimicrobial Peptide Associated With the Gut Symbiont of Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {796548}, pmid = {35069496}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Thanatin is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) generated by insects for defense against bacterial infections. In the present study, we performed cDNA cloning of thanatin and found the presence of multiple precursor proteins from the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris. The cDNA sequences encoded 38 precursor proteins, generating 13 thanatin isoforms. In the phylogenetic analysis, thanatin isoforms were categorized into two groups based on the presence of the membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) domain. In insect-bacterial symbiosis, specific substances are produced by the immune system of the host insect and are known to modulate the symbiont's population. Therefore, to determine the biological function of thanatin isoforms in symbiosis, the expression levels of three AMP genes were compared between aposymbiotic insects and symbiotic R. pedestris. The expression levels of the thanatin genes were significantly increased in the M4 crypt, a symbiotic organ, of symbiotic insects upon systemic bacterial injection. Further, synthetic thanatin isoforms exhibited antibacterial activity against gut-colonized Burkholderia symbionts rather than in vitro-cultured Burkholderia cells. Interestingly, the suppression of thanatin genes significantly increased the population of Burkholderia gut symbionts in the M4 crypt under systemic Escherichia coli K12 injection. Overgrown Burkholderia gut symbionts were observed in the hemolymph of host insects and exhibited insecticidal activity. Taken together, these results suggest that thanatin of R. pedestris is a host-derived symbiotic factor and an AMP that controls the population of gut-colonized Burkholderia symbionts.}, } @article {pmid35068870, year = {2021}, author = {Lapaquette, P and Bizeau, JB and Acar, N and Bringer, MA}, title = {Reciprocal interactions between gut microbiota and autophagy.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {27}, number = {48}, pages = {8283-8301}, pmid = {35068870}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Autophagy ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic relationship has set up between the gut microbiota and its host in the course of evolution, forming an interkingdom consortium. The gut offers a favorable ecological niche for microbial communities, with the whole body and external factors (e.g., diet or medications) contributing to modulating this microenvironment. Reciprocally, the gut microbiota is important for maintaining health by acting not only on the gut mucosa but also on other organs. However, failure in one or another of these two partners can lead to the breakdown in their symbiotic equilibrium and contribute to disease onset and/or progression. Several microbial and host processes are devoted to facing up the stress that could alter the symbiosis, ensuring the resilience of the ecosystem. Among these processes, autophagy is a host catabolic process integrating a wide range of stress in order to maintain cell survival and homeostasis. This cytoprotective mechanism, which is ubiquitous and operates at basal level in all tissues, can be rapidly down- or up-regulated at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, or post-translational levels, to respond to various stress conditions. Because of its sensitivity to all, metabolic-, immune-, and microbial-derived stimuli, autophagy is at the crossroad of the dialogue between changes occurring in the gut microbiota and the host responses. In this review, we first delineate the modulation of host autophagy by the gut microbiota locally in the gut and in peripheral organs. Then, we describe the autophagy-related mechanisms affecting the gut microbiota. We conclude this review with the current challenges and an outlook toward the future interventions aiming at modulating host autophagy by targeting the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid35067935, year = {2022}, author = {Crosbie, DB and Mahmoudi, M and Radl, V and Brachmann, A and Schloter, M and Kemen, E and Marín, M}, title = {Microbiome profiling reveals that Pseudomonas antagonises parasitic nodule colonisation of cheater rhizobia in Lotus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {1}, pages = {242-255}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17988}, pmid = {35067935}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Lotus/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Pseudomonas/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodule microbiota are dominated by symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, however, other non-rhizobial bacteria also colonise this niche. Although many of these bacteria harbour plant-growth-promoting functions, it is not clear whether these less abundant nodule colonisers impact root-nodule symbiosis. We assessed the relationship between the nodule microbiome and nodulation as influenced by the soil microbiome, by using a metabarcoding approach to characterise the communities inside nodules of healthy and starved Lotus species. A machine learning algorithm and network analyses were used to identify nodule bacteria of interest, which were re-inoculated onto plants in controlled conditions to observe their potential functionality. The nodule microbiome of all tested species differed according to inoculum, but only that of Lotus burttii varied with plant health. Amplicon sequence variants representative of Pseudomonas species were the most indicative non-rhizobial signatures inside healthy L. burttii nodules and negatively correlated with Rhizobium sequences. A representative Pseudomonas isolate co-colonised nodules infected with a beneficial Mesorhizobium, but not with an ineffective Rhizobium isolate and another even reduced the number of ineffective nodules induced on Lotus japonicus. Our results show that nodule endophytes influence the overall outcome of the root-nodule symbiosis, albeit in a plant host-specific manner.}, } @article {pmid35067801, year = {2022}, author = {Wendlandt, CE and Gano-Cohen, KA and Stokes, PJN and Jonnala, BNR and Zomorrodian, AJ and Al-Moussawi, K and Sachs, JL}, title = {Wild legumes maintain beneficial soil rhizobia populations despite decades of nitrogen deposition.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {198}, number = {2}, pages = {419-430}, pmid = {35067801}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Natural landscapes are increasingly impacted by nitrogen enrichment from aquatic and airborne pollution sources. Nitrogen enrichment in the environment can eliminate the net benefits that plants gain from nitrogen-fixing microbes such as rhizobia, potentially altering host-mediated selection on nitrogen fixation. However, we know little about the long-term effects of nitrogen enrichment on this critical microbial service. Here, we sampled populations of the legume Acmispon strigosus and its associated soil microbial communities from sites spanning an anthropogenic nitrogen deposition gradient. We measured the net growth benefits plants obtained from their local soil microbial communities and quantified plant investment into nodules that house nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. We found that plant growth benefits from sympatric soil microbes did not vary in response to local soil nitrogen levels, and instead varied mainly among plant lines. Soil nitrogen levels positively predicted the number of nodules formed on sympatric plant hosts, although this was likely due to plant genotypic variation in nodule formation, rather than variation among soil microbial communities. The capacity of all the tested soil microbial communities to improve plant growth is consistent with plant populations imposing strong selection on rhizobial nitrogen fixation despite elevated soil nitrogen levels, suggesting that host control traits in A. strigosus are stable under long-term nutrient enrichment.}, } @article {pmid35066930, year = {2021}, author = {Benezra, A}, title = {Microbial Kin: Relations of Environment and Time.}, journal = {Medical anthropology quarterly}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {511-528}, doi = {10.1111/maq.12680}, pmid = {35066930}, issn = {0745-5194}, mesh = {Anthropology, Medical ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Microbiome science considers human beings supraorganisms: single ecological units made up of symbiotic assemblages of human cells and microorganisms. Microbes co-evolve with humans, and microbial populations in human bodies are determined by environments/exposures including family, food and place, health care, race and gender inequities, and toxic pollution. Microbiomes are transgenerational links, disarrangements between different bodies and the outside world. This article asserts that microbes are kin-kin that are made of and making environments, across generations. Post/nonhuman theories have debated the agency, sociality, and ontologies of microbes and things like microbes, all the while appropriating and eliding Indigenous scholarship that directly address the nonhuman world. Microbial kin evokes Indigenous formulations that necessitate reciprocal, ethical accountability to more-than-human relations. This article uses fieldwork in a transnational microbiome malnutrition project in Bangladesh to explore what develops for both the biological and social sciences if we call human-microbe relations kinships, and call microbes our kin.}, } @article {pmid35065114, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Zhao, W and Du, H and Guan, Y and Ma, M and Rennenberg, H}, title = {The symbiotic system of sulfate-reducing bacteria and clay-sized fraction of purplish soil strengthens cadmium fixation through iron-bearing minerals.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {820}, number = {}, pages = {153253}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153253}, pmid = {35065114}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Cadmium/analysis ; Clay ; *Desulfovibrio ; Iron ; Minerals/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Sulfates ; }, abstract = {The microbe-clay mineral system is widely known to reduce the fluidity of heavy metals through biomineralization, thus mitigating soil pollution stemming from heavy metals. Here, we investigated the effect of mineral distinction on the solidification of cadmium (Cd) using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to construct symbiotic systems with purplish soil, clay-sized fraction of purple soil (Clay-csp), clay particles of amorphous iron (Fe) oxide (Clay-ox), clay particles removing crystalline Fe oxide (Clay-CBD), and residues of Clay-CBD treated by hydrochloric acid (Clay-HCl). The difference in Cd morphology among purplish soil, Clay-csp, and Clay-ox indicated that the fixation of Cd in soil was largely determined by Fe oxides. The content of Cd in Clay-csp decreased by 66.7% after the removal of amorphous Fe, confirming that clay easily adsorbed infinitive Fe oxides in purple soil. In the system of SRB and Clay-ox, carbonate-bound Cd (F2) decreased by 14.85% and residual Cd (F5) increased by 14% from the retardation to late decline phase, eventually forming iron-sulfur (Fe-S) compounds. Based on the correlation analyses of Cd and Fe in amorphous-bound state and Fe-manganese (Mn) oxidation state in simulation experiments, it is demonstrated that Fe-Mn oxides control the behavior of Cd in soil clay, and SRB-mediated Fe-bearing minerals promote the transformation of Cd from activated to stable state.}, } @article {pmid35063552, year = {2022}, author = {Tang, CH and Shi, SH and Li, HH and Lin, CY and Wang, WH}, title = {Lipid profiling of coral symbiosomes in response to copper-induced carbon limitation: A metabolic effect of algal symbionts on the host immune status.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {293}, number = {}, pages = {133673}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133673}, pmid = {35063552}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/chemistry ; Carbon/metabolism ; Copper/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Copper micropollutants are known to constrain coral's assimilation of carbonate, affecting the carbon available to algal symbionts and thus inducing a light stress. However, little is known regarding the physiological relevance of lipid metabolism in coral symbiotic algae in a carbon-limited state. Membrane lipids exhibit multiple physicochemical properties that are collectively responsible for the dynamic structure of cells depending on the physiological demands of the circumstances. To gain insight into lipid metabolism's importance in this regard, glycerophosphocholine (GPC) profiling of symbiosomes in coral (Seriatopora caliendrum) exposed to environmentally relevant copper levels (2.2-7.5 μg/L) for 4 days was performed in this study. Notably, reducing the number of 22:6-processing GPCs and increasing that of lyso-GPCs likely addressed the demands of metabolizing excess light energy, such as affecting the membrane dynamics to promote mitochondrial uncoupling. The decrease in 22:6-processing GPCs additionally protected cellular membranes from elevated oxidative stress, reducing their susceptibility to peroxidation and offsetting oxidized lipid-induced effects on membrane dynamics. The change in plasmanylcholines specifically localized within the symbiosome membrane also met the membrane requirements for responding to oxidative stress conditions. Moreover, increasing the 20:4-possessing plasmanylcholines and lysoplasmanylcholines and reducing the 22:6-possessing plasmanylcholines likely resulted in an imbalance of the immune reaction, influencing the coral-algae symbiosis given the role of such plasmanylcholines in cell signaling. In summary, carbon limitations induced by copper enrichment lead to a shift in the membrane lipid profile of coral symbiosomes, accommodating themselves to light stress conditions while compromising the symbiosis's stability.}, } @article {pmid35061852, year = {2022}, author = {Alves, NSF and Kaory Inoue, SG and Carneiro, AR and Albino, UB and Setzer, WN and Maia, JG and Andrade, EH and da Silva, JKR}, title = {Variation in Peperomia pellucida growth and secondary metabolism after rhizobacteria inoculation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e0262794}, pmid = {35061852}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Enterobacter/genetics ; Klebsiella/genetics ; Peperomia/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Phenols/metabolism ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Secondary Metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Peperomia pellucida L. Kunth is a herb well-known for its secondary metabolites (SM) with biological potential. In this study, the variations in the SM of P. pellucida during association with rhizobacteria were evaluated. Plants were inoculated with Enterobacter asburiae and Klebsiella variicola, which were identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The data were evaluated at 7, 21, and 30-day post inoculation (dpi). Plant-bacteria symbiosis improved plant growth and weight. Total phenolic content and phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme activity had a significant increase mainly at 30 dpi. P. pellucida was mainly composed of phenylpropanoids (37.30-52.28%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (39.28-49.42%). The phenylpropanoid derivative 2,4,5-trimethoxy-styrene (ArC2), the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon ishwarane, and the phenylpropanoid dillapiole were the major compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the classes and compounds ≥ 2.0% indicated that plants colonized by E. asburiae had a reduction in the content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and an increase in phenylpropanoids and derivatives. Plants treated with this bacterium also had an increase in the content of 2,4,5-trimethoxystyrene at 30 dpi. Plants inoculated with K. variicola had significant increases only in the content of the classes monoterpene hydrocarbons and 'other compounds' (hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, etc.). These data suggest that the production of plant secondary metabolites can be modified depending on the type of rhizobacteria inoculated.}, } @article {pmid35061237, year = {2022}, author = {Rinaldi, F and Marotta, L and Mascolo, A and Amoruso, A and Pane, M and Giuliani, G and Pinto, D}, title = {Facial Acne: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on the Clinical Efficacy of a Symbiotic Dietary Supplement.}, journal = {Dermatology and therapy}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {577-589}, pmid = {35061237}, issn = {2193-8210}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Treatments other than topical and systemic antibiotics are needed to restore the dysbiosis correlated with acne onset and evolution. In this view, probiotics and botanical extracts could represent a valid adjunctive therapeutic approach. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a dietary supplement containing probiotics (Bifidobacterium breve BR03 DSM 16604, Lacticaseibacillus casei LC03 DSM 27537, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius LS03 DSM 22776) and botanical extract (lupeol from Solanum melongena L. and Echinacea extract) in subjects with mild to moderate acne over an 8-week study period.

METHODS: Monocentric, randomized, double-blind, four-arm, placebo-controlled clinical study involving 114 subjects.

RESULTS: A significant (p < 0.05) effect on the number of superficial inflammatory lesions was reported over the study period in the subjects taking the study agent (group II) (-56.67%), the botanical extracts (group III) (-40.00%), and the probiotics (group IV) (-38.89%) versus placebo (-10.00%). A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in mean desquamation score, sebum secretion rate, and porphyrin mean count versus baseline was also reported, and the effect was most evident for group II. The analysis of log relative abundance after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment compared with baseline showed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in Cutibacterium acnes and S. aureus, along with a contextually and significant (p < 0.05) increase in Staphylococcus epidermidis, especially in group II. No significant changes were reported for group I.

CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that the administration of the dietary supplement under study was effective, safe, and well tolerated in subjects with mild to moderate acne and could represent a promising optional complement for the treatment of inflammatory acne as well as for control of acne-prone skin.}, } @article {pmid35059602, year = {2022}, author = {Weber, PM and Paredes, GF and Viehboeck, T and Pende, N and Volland, JM and Gros, O and VanNieuwenhze, M and Ott, J and Bulgheresi, S}, title = {FtsZ-mediated fission of a cuboid bacterial symbiont.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {103552}, pmid = {35059602}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Less than a handful of cuboid and squared cells have been described in nature, which makes them a rarity. Here, we show how Candidatus Thiosymbion cuboideus, a cube-like gammaproteobacterium, reproduces on the surface of marine free-living nematodes. Immunostaining of symbiont cells with an anti-fimbriae antibody revealed that they are host-polarized, as these appendages exclusively localized at the host-proximal (animal-attached) pole. Moreover, by applying a fluorescently labeled metabolic probe to track new cell wall insertion in vivo, we observed that the host-attached pole started septation before the distal one. Similarly, Ca. T. cuboideus cells immunostained with an anti-FtsZ antibody revealed a proximal-to-distal localization pattern of this tubulin homolog. Although FtsZ has been shown to arrange into squares in synthetically remodeled cuboid cells, here we show that FtsZ may also mediate the division of naturally occurring ones. This implies that, even in natural settings, membrane roundness is not required for FtsZ function.}, } @article {pmid35058901, year = {2021}, author = {Gruet, C and Muller, D and Moënne-Loccoz, Y}, title = {Significance of the Diversification of Wheat Species for the Assembly and Functioning of the Root-Associated Microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {782135}, pmid = {35058901}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Wheat, one of the major crops in the world, has had a complex history that includes genomic hybridizations between Triticum and Aegilops species and several domestication events, which resulted in various wild and domesticated species (especially Triticum aestivum and Triticum durum), many of them still existing today. The large body of information available on wheat-microbe interactions, however, was mostly obtained without considering the importance of wheat evolutionary history and its consequences for wheat microbial ecology. This review addresses our current understanding of the microbiome of wheat root and rhizosphere in light of the information available on pre- and post-domestication wheat history, including differences between wild and domesticated wheats, ancient and modern types of cultivars as well as individual cultivars within a given wheat species. This analysis highlighted two major trends. First, most data deal with the taxonomic diversity rather than the microbial functioning of root-associated wheat microbiota, with so far a bias toward bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi that will progressively attenuate thanks to the inclusion of markers encompassing other micro-eukaryotes and archaea. Second, the comparison of wheat genotypes has mostly focused on the comparison of T. aestivum cultivars, sometimes with little consideration for their particular genetic and physiological traits. It is expected that the development of current sequencing technologies will enable to revisit the diversity of the wheat microbiome. This will provide a renewed opportunity to better understand the significance of wheat evolutionary history, and also to obtain the baseline information needed to develop microbiome-based breeding strategies for sustainable wheat farming.}, } @article {pmid35058538, year = {2022}, author = {Glenz, R and Kaiping, A and Göpfert, D and Weber, H and Lambour, B and Sylvester, M and Fröschel, C and Mueller, MJ and Osman, M and Waller, F}, title = {The major plant sphingolipid long chain base phytosphingosine inhibits growth of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {1081}, pmid = {35058538}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Arabidopsis ; Fungi/*drug effects/metabolism ; Gene Expression/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Immunity/genetics/immunology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Pseudomonas syringae ; Sphingolipids/*metabolism ; Sphingosine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Sphingolipid long chain bases (LCBs) are building blocks of sphingolipids and can serve as signalling molecules, but also have antimicrobial activity and were effective in reducing growth of a range of human pathogens. In plants, LCBs are linked to cell death processes and the regulation of defence reactions against pathogens, but their role in directly influencing growth of plant-interacting microorganisms has received little attention. Therefore, we tested the major plant LCB phytosphingosine in in vitro tests with the plant pathogenic fungi Verticillium longisporum, Fusarium graminearum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the plant symbiotic fungal endophyte Serendipita indica, the bacterial pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and the related beneficial strain Rhizobium radiobacter. Phytosphingosine inhibited growth of these organisms at micromolar concentrations. Among the fungal pathogens, S. sclerotiorum was the most, and F. graminearum was the least sensitive. 15.9 μg/mL phytosphingosine effectively killed 95% of the three bacterial species. Plant disease symptoms and growth of Pst were also inhibited by phytosphingosine when co-infiltrated into Arabidopsis leaves, with no visible negative effect on host tissue. Taken together, we demonstrate that the plant LCB phytosphingosine inhibits growth of plant-interacting microorganisms. We discuss the potential of elevated LCB levels to enhance plant pathogen resistance.}, } @article {pmid35058458, year = {2022}, author = {van Woesik, R and Kratochwill, C}, title = {A global coral-bleaching database, 1980-2020.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {20}, pmid = {35058458}, issn = {2052-4463}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Databases, Factual ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are the world's most diverse marine ecosystems that provide resources and services that benefit millions of people globally. Yet, coral reefs have recently experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of thermal-stress events that are causing coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is a result of the breakdown of the symbiosis between corals and their symbiotic microalgae, causing the loss of pigments and symbionts, giving corals a pale, bleached appearance. Bleaching can be temporary or fatal for corals, depending on the species, the geographic location, historical conditions, and on local and regional influences. Indeed, marine heat waves are the greatest threat to corals worldwide. Here we compile a Global Coral-Bleaching Database (GCBD) that encompasses 34,846 coral bleaching records from 14,405 sites in 93 countries, from 1980-2020. The GCBD provides vital information on the presence or absence of coral bleaching along with site exposure, distance to land, mean turbidity, cyclone frequency, and a suite of sea-surface temperature metrics at the times of survey.}, } @article {pmid35056642, year = {2022}, author = {Ntana, F and Johnson, SR and Hamberger, B and Jensen, B and Jørgensen, HJL and Collinge, DB}, title = {Regulation of Tomato Specialised Metabolism after Establishment of Symbiosis with the Endophytic Fungus Serendipita indica.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056642}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Specialised metabolites produced during plant-fungal associations often define how symbiosis between the plant and the fungus proceeds. They also play a role in the establishment of additional interactions between the symbionts and other organisms present in the niche. However, specialised metabolism and its products are sometimes overlooked when studying plant-microbe interactions. This limits our understanding of the specific symbiotic associations and potentially future perspectives of their application in agriculture. In this study, we used the interaction between the root endophyte Serendipita indica and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants to explore how specialised metabolism of the host plant is regulated upon a mutualistic symbiotic association. To do so, tomato seedlings were inoculated with S. indica chlamydospores and subjected to RNAseq analysis. Gene expression of the main tomato specialised metabolism pathways was compared between roots and leaves of endophyte-colonised plants and tissues of endophyte-free plants. S. indica colonisation resulted in a strong transcriptional response in the leaves of colonised plants. Furthermore, the presence of the fungus in plant roots appears to induce expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of lignin-derived compounds, polyacetylenes, and specific terpenes in both roots and leaves, whereas pathways producing glycoalkaloids and flavonoids were expressed in lower or basal levels.}, } @article {pmid35056636, year = {2022}, author = {Zboralski, A and Biessy, A and Filion, M}, title = {Bridging the Gap: Type III Secretion Systems in Plant-Beneficial Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056636}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are bacterial membrane-embedded nanomachines translocating effector proteins into the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. They have been intensively studied for their important roles in animal and plant bacterial diseases. Over the past two decades, genome sequencing has unveiled their ubiquitous distribution in many taxa of Gram-negative bacteria, including plant-beneficial ones. Here, we discuss the distribution and functions of the T3SS in two agronomically important bacterial groups: the symbiotic nodule-forming nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and the free-living plant-beneficial Pseudomonas spp. In legume-rhizobia symbiosis, T3SSs and their cognate effectors play important roles, including the modulation of the plant immune response and the initiation of the nodulation process in some cases. In plant-beneficial Pseudomonas spp., the roles of T3SSs are not fully understood, but pertain to plant immunity suppression, biocontrol against eukaryotic plant pathogens, mycorrhization facilitation, and possibly resistance against protist predation. The diversity of T3SSs in plant-beneficial bacteria points to their important roles in multifarious interkingdom interactions in the rhizosphere. We argue that the gap in research on T3SSs in plant-beneficial bacteria must be bridged to better understand bacteria/eukaryotes rhizosphere interactions and to support the development of efficient plant-growth promoting microbial inoculants.}, } @article {pmid35056588, year = {2022}, author = {Fuentes-Romero, F and Navarro-Gómez, P and Ayala-García, P and Moyano-Bravo, I and López-Baena, FJ and Pérez-Montaño, F and Ollero-Márquez, FJ and Acosta-Jurado, S and Vinardell, JM}, title = {The nodD1 Gene of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Restores Nodulation Capacity on Bean in a Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 nodD1/nodD2 Mutant, but the Secondary Symbiotic Regulators nolR, nodD2 or syrM Prevent HH103 to Nodulate with This Legume.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056588}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Rhizobial NodD proteins and appropriate flavonoids induce rhizobial nodulation gene expression. In this study, we show that the nodD1 gene of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, but not the nodD2 gene, can restore the nodulation capacity of a double nodD1/nodD2 mutant of Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 in bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris). S. fredii HH103 only induces pseudonodules in beans. We have also studied whether the mutation of different symbiotic regulatory genes may affect the symbiotic interaction of HH103 with beans: ttsI (the positive regulator of the symbiotic type 3 protein secretion system), and nodD2, nolR and syrM (all of them controlling the level of Nod factor production). Inactivation of either nodD2, nolR or syrM, but not that of ttsI, affected positively the symbiotic behavior of HH103 with beans, leading to the formation of colonized nodules. Acetylene reduction assays showed certain levels of nitrogenase activity that were higher in the case of the nodD2 and nolR mutants. Similar results have been previously obtained by our group with the model legume Lotus japonicus. Hence, the results obtained in the present work confirm that repression of Nod factor production, provided by either NodD2, NolR or SyrM, prevents HH103 to effectively nodulate several putative host plants.}, } @article {pmid35056545, year = {2022}, author = {Nicoletti, R and Becchimanzi, A}, title = {Ecological and Molecular Interactions between Insects and Fungi.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056545}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Insects and fungi represent two of the most widespread groupings of organisms in nature, occurring in every kind of ecological context and impacting agriculture and other human activities in various ways. Moreover, they can be observed to reciprocally interact, establishing a wide range of symbiotic relationships, from mutualism to antagonism. The outcome of these relationships can in turn affect the extent at which species of both organisms can exert their noxious effects, as well as the management practices which are to be adopted to counter them. In conjunction with the launch of a Special Issue of Microorganisms with the same title, this article offers a general overview of the manifold aspects related to such interactions from the perspective of implementing our capacity to regulate them in a direction more favorable for the environment, crop production and human health.}, } @article {pmid35056524, year = {2021}, author = {Salmeron-Santiago, IA and Martínez-Trujillo, M and Valdez-Alarcón, JJ and Pedraza-Santos, ME and Santoyo, G and Pozo, MJ and Chávez-Bárcenas, AT}, title = {An Updated Review on the Modulation of Carbon Partitioning and Allocation in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Plants.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056524}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs that supply mineral nutrients to the host plant in exchange for carbon derived from photosynthesis. Sucrose is the end-product of photosynthesis and the main compound used by plants to translocate photosynthates to non-photosynthetic tissues. AMF alter carbon distribution in plants by modifying the expression and activity of key enzymes of sucrose biosynthesis, transport, and/or catabolism. Since sucrose is essential for the maintenance of all metabolic and physiological processes, the modifications addressed by AMF can significantly affect plant development and stress responses. AMF also modulate plant lipid biosynthesis to acquire storage reserves, generate biomass, and fulfill its life cycle. In this review we address the most relevant aspects of the influence of AMF on sucrose and lipid metabolism in plants, including its effects on sucrose biosynthesis both in photosynthetic and heterotrophic tissues, and the influence of sucrose on lipid biosynthesis in the context of the symbiosis. We present a hypothetical model of carbon partitioning between plants and AMF in which the coordinated action of sucrose biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism plays a role in the generation of hexose gradients to supply carbon to AMF, and to control the amount of carbon assigned to the fungus.}, } @article {pmid35056506, year = {2021}, author = {Hachani, C and Lamhamedi, MS and Zine El Abidine, A and Abassi, M and Khasa, DP and Béjaoui, Z}, title = {Water Relations, Gas Exchange, Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Electrolyte Leakage of Ectomycorrhizal Pinus halepensis Seedlings in Response to Multi-Heavy Metal Stresses (Pb, Zn, Cd).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056506}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The success of mine site restoration programs in arid and semi-arid areas poses a significant challenge and requires the use of high-quality seedlings capable of tolerating heavy metal stresses. The effect of ectomycorrhizal fungi on different physiological traits was investigated in Pinus halepensis seedlings grown in soil contaminated with heavy metals (Pb-Zn-Cd). Ectomycorrhizal (M) and non-ectomycorrhizal (NM) seedlings were subjected to heavy metals stress (C: contaminated, NC: control or non-contaminated) soils conditions for 12 months. Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, water relations parameters derived from pressure-volume curves and electrolyte leakage were evaluated at 4, 8 and 12 months. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis promoted stronger resistance to heavy metals and improved gas exchange parameters and water-use efficiency compared to the non-ectomycorrhizal seedlings. The decrease in leaf osmotic potentials (Ψπ[100]: osmotic potential at saturation and Ψπ[0]: osmotic potential with loss of turgor) was higher for M-C seedling than NM-C ones, indicating that the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis promotes cellular osmotic adjustment and protects leaf membrane cell against leakage induced by Pb, Zn and Cd. Our results suggest that the use of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is among the promising practices to improve the morphophysiological quality of seedlings produced in forest nurseries, their performance and their tolerance to multi-heavy metal stresses.}, } @article {pmid35056494, year = {2021}, author = {Nicoletti, R and Becchimanzi, A}, title = {Talaromyces-Insect Relationships.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056494}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Facing the urgent need to reduce the input of agrochemicals, in recent years, the ecological relationships between plants and their associated microorganisms have been increasingly considered as an essential tool for improving crop production. New findings and data have been accumulated showing that the application of fungi can go beyond the specific role that has been traditionally assigned to the species, employed in integrated pest management as entomopathogens or mycoparasites, and that strains combining both aptitudes can be identified and possibly used as multipurpose biocontrol agents. Mainly considered for their antagonistic relationships with plant pathogenic fungi, species in the genus Talaromyces have been more and more widely reported as insect associates in investigations carried out in various agricultural and non-agricultural contexts. Out of a total of over 170 species currently accepted in this genus, so far, 27 have been found to have an association with insects from 9 orders, with an evident increasing trend. The nature of their mutualistic and antagonistic relationships with insects, and their ability to synthesize bioactive compounds possibly involved in the expression of the latter kind of interactions, are analyzed in this paper with reference to the ecological impact and applicative perspectives in crop protection.}, } @article {pmid35056477, year = {2021}, author = {Maeda, I}, title = {Potential of Phototrophic Purple Nonsulfur Bacteria to Fix Nitrogen in Rice Fields.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056477}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation catalyzed by Mo-nitrogenase of symbiotic diazotrophs has attracted interest because its potential to supply plant-available nitrogen offers an alternative way of using chemical fertilizers for sustainable agriculture. Phototrophic purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) diazotrophically grow under light anaerobic conditions and can be isolated from photic and microaerobic zones of rice fields. Therefore, PNSB as asymbiotic diazotrophs contribute to nitrogen fixation in rice fields. An attempt to measure nitrogen in the oxidized surface layer of paddy soil estimates that approximately 6-8 kg N/ha/year might be accumulated by phototrophic microorganisms. Species of PNSB possess one of or both alternative nitrogenases, V-nitrogenase and Fe-nitrogenase, which are found in asymbiotic diazotrophs, in addition to Mo-nitrogenase. The regulatory networks control nitrogenase activity in response to ammonium, molecular oxygen, and light irradiation. Laboratory and field studies have revealed effectiveness of PNSB inoculation to rice cultures on increases of nitrogen gain, plant growth, and/or grain yield. In this review, properties of the nitrogenase isozymes and regulation of nitrogenase activities in PNSB are described, and research challenges and potential of PNSB inoculation to rice cultures are discussed from a viewpoint of their applications as nitrogen biofertilizer.}, } @article {pmid35056030, year = {2022}, author = {Niu, Q and Liu, S and Yin, M and Lei, S and Rezzonico, F and Zhang, L}, title = {Phytobacter diazotrophicus from Intestine of Caenorhabditis elegans Confers Colonization-Resistance against Bacillus nematocida Using Flagellin (FliC) as an Inhibition Factor.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35056030}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms in the intestinal tract can influence the general fitness of their hosts and contribute to protecting them against invading pathogens. In this study, we obtained isolate Phytobacter diazotrophicus SCO41 from the gut of free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that displayed strong colonization-resistance against invading biocontrol bacterium Bacillus nematocida B16. The colonization-resistance phenotype was found to be mediated by a 37-kDa extracellular protein that was identified as flagellin (FliC). With the help of genome information, the fliC gene was cloned and heterologously expressed in E. coli. It could be shown that the B. nematocida B16 grows in chains rather than in planktonic form in the presence of FliC. Scanning Electronic Microscopy results showed that protein FliC-treated B16 bacterial cells are thinner and longer than normal cells. Localization experiments confirmed that the protein FliC is localized in both the cytoplasm and the cell membrane of B16 strain, in the latter especially at the position of cell division. ZDOCK analysis showed that FliC could bind with serine/threonine protein kinase, membrane protein insertase YidC and redox membrane protein CydB. It was inferred that FliC interferes with cell division of B. nematocidal B16, therefore inhibiting its colonization of C. elegans intestines in vivo. The isolation of P. diazotrophicus as part of the gut microbiome of C. elegans not only provides interesting insights about the lifestyle of this nitrogen-fixing bacterium, but also reveals how the composition of the natural gut microbiota of nematodes can affect biological control efforts by protecting the host from its natural enemies.}, } @article {pmid35055989, year = {2021}, author = {de Azevedo-Martins, AC and Ocaña, K and de Souza, W and Vasconcelos, ATR and Teixeira, MMG and Camargo, EP and Alves, JMP and Motta, MCM}, title = {The Importance of Glycerophospholipid Production to the Mutualist Symbiosis of Trypanosomatids.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35055989}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {The symbiosis in trypanosomatids is a mutualistic relationship characterized by extensive metabolic exchanges between the bacterium and the protozoan. The symbiotic bacterium can complete host essential metabolic pathways, such as those for heme, amino acid, and vitamin production. Experimental assays indicate that the symbiont acquires phospholipids from the host trypanosomatid, especially phosphatidylcholine, which is often present in bacteria that have a close association with eukaryotic cells. In this work, an in-silico study was performed to find genes involved in the glycerophospholipid (GPL) production of Symbiont Harboring Trypanosomatids (SHTs) and their respective bacteria, also extending the search for trypanosomatids that naturally do not have symbionts. Results showed that most genes for GPL synthesis are only present in the SHT. The bacterium has an exclusive sequence related to phosphatidylglycerol production and contains genes for phosphatidic acid production, which may enhance SHT phosphatidic acid production. Phylogenetic data did not indicate gene transfers from the bacterium to the SHT nucleus, proposing that enzymes participating in GPL route have eukaryotic characteristics. Taken together, our data indicate that, differently from other metabolic pathways described so far, the symbiont contributes little to the production of GPLs and acquires most of these molecules from the SHT.}, } @article {pmid35055909, year = {2022}, author = {Thube, SH and Pandian, TP and Bhavishya, A and Babu, M and Josephrajkumar, A and Chaithra, M and Hegde, V and Ruzzier, E}, title = {Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Its Fungal Symbiont Ambrosiella roeperi Associated with Arecanut Kernel Decay in Karnataka, India.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35055909}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is reported causing damage to areca palm plantations (Areca catechu L.-Arecaceae) in Karnataka (India). In particular, X. crassiusculus has been observed attacking and successfully reproducing on areca nuts; besides the new host plant record, the data provided here represent the first documented case of spermatophagy for this xyleborine beetle. All infestation symptoms of this polyphagous pest were documented and illustrated. The identity of the scolytid, besides morphologically, was confirmed by its DNA barcoding. Eggs, larvae and pupae were found within the galleries of infested kernels. All galleries of the infested kernels were characterized by the presence of whitish to greyish fungal growth. The fungus was identified as Ambrosiella roeperi, a known symbiont of Xylosandrus crassiusculus. Incidence of this symbiotic insect-fungus complex in the economic part of arecanut, i.e., the kernel, is of serious concern. In a climate change scenario, this beetle with fungal symbionts may pose a serious threat to arecanut production in India and elsewhere.}, } @article {pmid35054923, year = {2022}, author = {Doni, F and Suhaimi, NSM and Mispan, MS and Fathurrahman, F and Marzuki, BM and Kusmoro, J and Uphoff, N}, title = {Microbial Contributions for Rice Production: From Conventional Crop Management to the Use of 'Omics' Technologies.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35054923}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Crop Production ; Genomics/methods ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Metabolomics/methods ; Microbiota ; Oryza/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteomics/methods ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rice, the main staple food for about half of the world's population, has had the growth of its production stagnate in the last two decades. One of the ways to further improve rice production is to enhance the associations between rice plants and the microbiome that exists around, on, and inside the plant. This article reviews recent developments in understanding how microorganisms exert positive influences on plant growth, production, and health, focusing particularly on rice. A variety of microbial species and taxa reside in the rhizosphere and the phyllosphere of plants and also have multiple roles as symbiotic endophytes while living within plant tissues and even cells. They alter the morphology of host plants, enhance their growth, health, and yield, and reduce their vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. The findings of both agronomic and molecular analysis show ways in which microorganisms regulate the growth, physiological traits, and molecular signaling within rice plants. However, many significant scientific questions remain to be resolved. Advancements in high-throughput multi-omics technologies can be used to elucidate mechanisms involved in microbial-rice plant associations. Prospectively, the use of microbial inoculants and associated approaches offers some new, cost-effective, and more eco-friendly practices for increasing rice production.}, } @article {pmid35053245, year = {2022}, author = {Kendra, PE and Tabanca, N and Cruz, LF and Menocal, O and Schnell, EQ and Carrillo, D}, title = {Volatile Emissions and Relative Attraction of the Fungal Symbionts of Tea Shot Hole Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35053245}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Female ; *Fusarium ; *Persea ; Tea ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {Euwallacea perbrevis is an ambrosia beetle that vectors fungal pathogens causing Fusarium dieback in Florida avocado trees. Current monitoring lures contain quercivorol, a fungus-produced volatile, but the exact attractant is unknown since lures contain a mixture of p-menth-2-en-1-ol isomers and both α- and β-phellandrene. This study used pure cultures of six symbiotic fungi isolated from E. perbrevis to document volatile emissions and determine the relative attraction of symbionts in binary choice assays. In a comparative test, headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to identify and quantify emissions from 3-week-old cultures. In a temporal study, Super-Q collection followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection was used to measure cis- and trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol emissions for three months. A total of 15 compounds were detected, with monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenoids predominating. Only trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol was common to all six symbionts. Peak levels of both isomers were observed at day 7, then gradually declined over a 90 day period. In choice tests, avocado sawdust disks inoculated with Fusarium sp. nov. were the most attractive. This symbiont produced only two volatiles, trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol and limonene. The combined results indicate that trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol is the primary female attractant emitted from symbiotic fungi, but limonene may be a secondary attractant of E. perbrevis.}, } @article {pmid35053022, year = {2021}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Jamilloux, V and Choisne, N and Calchera, A and Rolshausen, G and Petersen, M and Schulz, M and Nilsson, MA and Schmitt, I}, title = {Transposable Elements in the Genome of the Lichen-Forming Fungus Umbilicaria pustulata and Their Distribution in Different Climate Zones along Elevation.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35053022}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Transposable elements (TEs) are an important source of genome plasticity across the tree of life. Drift and natural selection are important forces shaping TE distribution and accumulation. Fungi, with their multifaceted phenotypic diversity and relatively small genome size, are ideal models to study the role of TEs in genome evolution and their impact on the host's ecological and life history traits. Here we present an account of all TEs found in a high-quality reference genome of the lichen-forming fungus Umbilicaria pustulata, a macrolichen species comprising two climatic ecotypes: Mediterranean and cold temperate. We trace the occurrence of the newly identified TEs in populations along three elevation gradients using a Pool-Seq approach to identify TE insertions of potential adaptive significance. We found that TEs cover 21.26% of the 32.9 Mbp genome, with LTR Gypsy and Copia clades being the most common TEs. We identified 28 insertions displaying consistent insertion frequency differences between the two host ecotypes across the elevation gradients. Most of the highly differentiated insertions were located near genes, indicating a putative function. This pioneering study of the content and climate niche-specific distribution of TEs in a lichen-forming fungus contributes to understanding the roles of TEs in fungal evolution.}, } @article {pmid35052498, year = {2022}, author = {Gu, B and Chen, Y and Xie, F and Murray, JD and Miller, AJ}, title = {Inorganic Nitrogen Transport and Assimilation in Pea (Pisum sativum).}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35052498}, issn = {2073-4425}, support = {BBS/E/J/000PR9790/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004588/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004561/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Inorganic Chemicals/*metabolism ; Ion Transport ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Peas/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The genome sequences of several legume species are now available allowing the comparison of the nitrogen (N) transporter inventories with non-legume species. A survey of the genes encoding inorganic N transporters and the sensing and assimilatory families in pea, revealed similar numbers of genes encoding the primary N assimilatory enzymes to those in other types of plants. Interestingly, we find that pea and Medicago truncatula have fewer members of the NRT2 nitrate transporter family. We suggest that this difference may result from a decreased dependency on soil nitrate acquisition, as legumes have the capacity to derive N from a symbiotic relationship with diazotrophs. Comparison with M. truncatula, indicates that only one of three NRT2s in pea is likely to be functional, possibly indicating less N uptake before nodule formation and N-fixation starts. Pea seeds are large, containing generous amounts of N-rich storage proteins providing a reserve that helps seedling establishment and this may also explain why fewer high affinity nitrate transporters are required. The capacity for nitrate accumulation in the vacuole is another component of assimilation, as it can provide a storage reservoir that supplies the plant when soil N is depleted. Comparing published pea tissue nitrate concentrations with other plants, we find that there is less accumulation of nitrate, even in non-nodulated plants, and that suggests a lower capacity for vacuolar storage. The long-distance transported form of organic N in the phloem is known to be specialized in legumes, with increased amounts of organic N molecules transported, like ureides, allantoin, asparagine and amides in pea. We suggest that, in general, the lower tissue and phloem nitrate levels compared with non-legumes may also result in less requirement for high affinity nitrate transporters. The pattern of N transporter and assimilatory enzyme distribution in pea is discussed and compared with non-legumes with the aim of identifying future breeding targets.}, } @article {pmid35052243, year = {2022}, author = {Kukulskienė, M and Žemaitienė, N}, title = {Experience of Late Miscarriage and Practical Implications for Post-Natal Health Care: Qualitative Study.}, journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35052243}, issn = {2227-9032}, abstract = {Miscarriage is the most common reason for pregnancy loss, affecting around one in four pregnancies. It is classified as a traumatic event, associated with an increased risk for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, alcohol dependence, somatic symptoms, sexual dysfunction, suicide, and complicated grief. This study aimed to analyse experiences of late miscarriage and to describe practical implications for post-natal health care based on characteristics of pregnancy loss revealed in a qualitative study. Seven women who had late miscarriages participated in in-depth biographical interviews. A phenomenological thematic analysis was applied. Experiential characteristics of late miscarriage were described by four themes and 13 subthemes: the initial splitting state (Dissociation, An Opened Void, An impaired Symbiosis, and The Body is Still Pregnant while the Psyche is Mourning); Betrayal of the body (Symbolic Experience of Internalised Death, Shocking Materiality of the Ongoing Miscarriage, Lost control of the Body, and Confusing Body Signals); Disconnecting (Depersonalising Medical Environment, Guilt Falsifies perception, and Retreat as a means of Self-Preservation); and Reconnecting (Collecting Shatters and Reinterpretation of Maternal Identity). Based on the results of the experiential analysis, another four themes represent practical recommendations for post-natal health care: Informing, Opportunity for Goodbye, Attention to Emotional Wellbeing, and Respectful Hospital Environment.}, } @article {pmid35051873, year = {2022}, author = {Gomaa, F and Utter, DR and Loo, W and Lahr, DJG and Cavanaugh, CM}, title = {Exploring the protist microbiome: The diversity of bacterial communities associated with Arcella spp. (Tubulina: Amoebozoa).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {125861}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2021.125861}, pmid = {35051873}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {*Amoebozoa ; Bacteria/genetics ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tubulina ; }, abstract = {Research on protist-bacteria interactions is increasingly relevant as these associations are now known to play important roles in ecosystem and human health. Free-living amoebae are abundant in all environments and are frequent hosts for bacterial endosymbionts including pathogenic bacteria. However, to date, only a small fraction of these symbionts have been identified, while the structure and composition of the total symbiotic bacterial communities still remains largely unknown. Here, we use the testate amoeba Arcella spp. as model organisms to investigate the specificity and diversity of Arcella-associated microbial communities. High-throughputamplicon sequencing from the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene revealed high diversity in the bacterial communities associated with the wild Arcella spp. To investigate the specificity of the associated bacterial community with greater precision, we investigated the bacterial communities of two lab-cultured Arcella species, A. hemispherica and A. intermedia, grown in two different media types. Our results suggest that Arcella-bacteria associations are species-specific, and that the associated bacterial community of lab-cultured Arcella spp. remains distinct from that of the surrounding media. Further, each host Arcella species could be distinguished based on its bacterial composition. Our findings provide insight into the understanding of eukaryotic-bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35051427, year = {2022}, author = {Rahmah, S and Nasrah, U and Lim, LS and Ishak, SD and Rozaini, MZH and Liew, HJ}, title = {Aquaculture wastewater-raised Azolla as partial alternative dietary protein for Pangasius catfish.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {112718}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2022.112718}, pmid = {35051427}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Aquaculture/methods ; *Catfishes ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Proteins ; *Ferns ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Azolla is a freshwater floating aquatic fern found in the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions with a high nitrogen-fixing rate from the result of symbiotic relationship with the blue-green cyanobacterium, Anabaena azollae. Azolla can effectively remediate aquaculture wastewater owing to its high production capacity and the ability to absorb nutrients and toxic compounds. The Azolla biomass generated as a by-product is currently underutilized and could potentially benefit the aquafeed industry in replacing the unfeasible and expensive fishmeal protein at a certain level. This study evaluates the incorporation of red tilapia wastewater-raised Azolla as a dietary protein for the growth performance, feed efficiency, survival, body indices, body composition and nutrient utilization of Pangasius catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus during a 90-days feeding experiment. Dried Azolla was incorporated into four isonitrogenous (30 g kg[-1]) and isolipidic (12 g kg[-1]) practical diets containing 0 g kg[-1] (Control), 10 g kg[-1] (A10), 20 g kg[-1] (A20) and 30 g kg[-1] (A30) fishmeal protein replacement. One hundred and twenty juveniles with an initial mean weight of 45 ± 15 g were distributed into 12 tanks representing four dietary treatments in triplicates. Results showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in Pangasius catfish fed 10 g kg[-1] Azolla protein. Beyond that, WG, SGR, PER and FCR decreased to the lowest value when fed with 30 g kg[-1] Azolla protein. No significant (p > 0.05) effects were recorded for feed intake, survival, body indices and nutrient utilization amongst all dietary treatments. In conclusion, Azolla raised from red tilapia aquaculture wastewater can replace fishmeal protein up to 10 g kg[-1] in the diet of Pangasius catfish juveniles having better growth, feed efficiency and nutrient utilization without affecting its survival, body indices and body composition.}, } @article {pmid35050869, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, C and Wang, L and Liu, Z and Cai, G and Zhan, J}, title = {Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency and algae viability in an immobilized algae and bacteria symbiosis system with pink luminescent filler.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, pages = {104-115}, doi = {10.2166/wst.2021.606}, pmid = {35050869}, issn = {0273-1223}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Nitrogen/analysis ; *Phosphorus ; Sewage ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, an immobilized algae and bacteria symbiotic biofilm reactor (ABSBR) with pink luminescent filler (PLF) was constructed. The effects of PLF addition in the construction of an algae and bacteria symbiotic biofilm system on the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies and algae viability were evaluated. Our results showed that for influent TN and TP concentrations of 40 ± 5 and 5 ± 0.8 mg/L, respectively, the pollutant removal rates (PRRs) of TN and TP by the ABSBR can reach up to 74.74% and 88.36%, respectively. The chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration on the PLF reaches approximately 5,500 μg/L with a specific oxygen generation rate (SOGR) of 65.48 μmolO2 mg[-1]Chl-a h[-1]. These results indicate that the adding PLF into algae and bacteria symbiosis systems can effectively improve the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies of the sewage as well as increase biomass and viability of the algae in the system.}, } @article {pmid35050159, year = {2022}, author = {Fernando, K and Reddy, P and Guthridge, KM and Spangenberg, GC and Rochfort, SJ}, title = {A Metabolomic Study of Epichloë Endophytes for Screening Antifungal Metabolites.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35050159}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes, fungal endosymbionts of Pooidae grasses, are commonly utilized in forage and turf industries because they produce beneficial metabolites that enhance resistance against environmental stressors such as insect feeding and disease caused by phytopathogen infection. In pastoral agriculture, phytopathogenic diseases impact both pasture quality and animal production. Recently, bioactive endophyte strains have been reported to secrete compounds that significantly inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. A screen of previously described Epichloë-produced antifeedant and toxic alkaloids determined that the antifungal bioactivity observed is not due to the production of these known metabolites, and so there is a need for methods to identify new bioactive metabolites. The process described here is applicable more generally for the identification of antifungals in new endophytes. This study aims to characterize the fungicidal potential of novel, 'animal friendly' Epichloë endophyte strains NEA12 and NEA23 that exhibit strong antifungal activity using an in vitro assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation, followed by metabolite analysis, identified 61 metabolites that, either singly or in combination, are responsible for the observed bioactivity. Analysis of the perennial ryegrass-endophyte symbiota confirmed that NEA12 and NEA23 produce the prospective antifungal metabolites in symbiotic association and thus are candidates for compounds that promote disease resistance in planta. The "known unknown" suite of antifungal metabolites identified in this study are potential biomarkers for the selection of strains that enhance pasture and turf production through better disease control.}, } @article {pmid35050140, year = {2021}, author = {Liang, J and Luo, W and Yu, K and Xu, Y and Chen, J and Deng, C and Ge, R and Su, H and Huang, W and Wang, G}, title = {Multi-Omics Revealing the Response Patterns of Symbiotic Microorganisms and Host Metabolism in Scleractinian Coral Pavona minuta to Temperature Stresses.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35050140}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Global climate change has resulted in large-scale coral reef decline worldwide, for which the ocean warming has paid more attention. Coral is a typical mutually beneficial symbiotic organism with diverse symbiotic microorganisms, which maintain the stability of physiological functions. This study compared the responses of symbiotic microorganisms and host metabolism in a common coral species, Pavona minuta, under indoor simulated thermal and cold temperatures. The results showed that abnormal temperature stresses had unfavorable impact on the phenotypes of corals, resulting in bleaching and color change. The compositions of symbiotic bacteria and dinoflagellate communities only presented tiny changes under temperature stresses. However, some rare symbiotic members have been showed to be significantly influenced by water temperatures. Finally, by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) method, we found that different temperature stresses had very different impacts on the metabolism of coral holobiont. The thermal and cold stresses induced the decrease of anti-oxidation metabolites, several monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs), and the increase of lipotoxic metabolite, 10-oxo-nonadecanoic acid, in the coral holobiont, respectively. Our study indicated the response patterns of symbiotic microorganisms and host metabolism in coral to the thermal and cold stresses, providing theoretical data for the adaptation and evolution of coral to a different climate in the future.}, } @article {pmid35049955, year = {2021}, author = {Batista, KOM and Silva, DV and Nascimento, VL and de Souza, DJ}, title = {Effects of Trichoderma strigosellum in Eucalyptus urophylla Development and Leaf-Cutting Ant Behavior.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35049955}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungal endophytes can protect plants against herbivory and be used to control leaf-cutting ants. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of endophytic colonization of Eucalyptus urophylla by three filamentous fungal species and their influence on the plant development and foraging behavior of Atta sexdens. The study design was completely randomized and comprised a factorial scheme of 4 × 3, three antagonistic fungal species (Escovopsis sp., Metarhizium anisopliae, and Trichoderma strigosellum) of the leaf-cutting ant, and one control and three inoculation methods (conidial suspension via foliar spray [FS] and soil drench [SD] inoculation, and seedlings inoculated with mycelium [SWM]). The SWM method allowed T. strigosellum to colonize all plant organs, and these plants exhibited higher height, leaf number, shoot dry mass, and total dry mass than the ones subjected to the other inoculation methods. The SWM method increased the plant height than the control plants and those inoculated with Escovopsis sp. and M. anisopliae. Trichoderma strigosellum, previously isolated from soil, colonized E. urophylla plants and positively influenced their development, as demonstrated by the SWM method. Trichoderma strigosellum promoted the increase in E. urophylla height compared with when the FS and SD methods were used (by 19.62% and 18.52%, respectively). Our results reveal that A. sexdens workers preferentially began cutting the leaves from plants not previously colonized by T. strigosellum. This behavior can be explained by modifications in the phenotypic traits of the eucalyptus leaves.}, } @article {pmid35049917, year = {2022}, author = {Giddings, LA and Newman, DJ}, title = {Extremophilic Fungi from Marine Environments: Underexplored Sources of Antitumor, Anti-Infective and Other Biologically Active Agents.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35049917}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Antineoplastic Agents ; *Aquatic Organisms ; Biological Factors ; *Fungi ; }, abstract = {Marine environments are underexplored terrains containing fungi that produce a diversity of natural products given unique environmental pressures and nutrients. While bacteria are commonly the most studied microorganism for natural products in the marine world, marine fungi are also abundant but remain an untapped source of bioactive metabolites. Given that their terrestrial counterparts have been a source of many blockbuster antitumor agents and anti-infectives, including camptothecin, the penicillins, and cyclosporin A, marine fungi also have the potential to produce new chemical scaffolds as leads to potential drugs. Fungi are more phylogenetically diverse than bacteria and have larger genomes that contain many silent biosynthetic gene clusters involved in making bioactive compounds. However, less than 5% of all known fungi have been cultivated under standard laboratory conditions. While the number of reported natural products from marine fungi is steadily increasing, their number is still significantly lower compared to those reported from their bacterial counterparts. Herein, we discuss many varied cytotoxic and anti-infective fungal metabolites isolated from extreme marine environments, including symbiotic associations as well as extreme pressures, temperatures, salinity, and light. We also discuss cultivation strategies that can be used to produce new bioactive metabolites or increase their production. This review presents a large number of reported structures though, at times, only a few of a large number of related structures are shown.}, } @article {pmid35049086, year = {2022}, author = {Maggioni, D and Garese, A and Huang, D and Hoeksema, BW and Arrigoni, R and Seveso, D and Galli, P and Berumen, ML and Montalbetti, E and Pica, D and Torsani, F and Montano, S}, title = {Diversity, host specificity and biogeography in the Cladocorynidae (Hydrozoa, Capitata), with description of a new genus.}, journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {13-37}, doi = {10.1111/cla.12480}, pmid = {35049086}, issn = {1096-0031}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region ; Host Specificity/genetics ; *Hydrozoa ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hydrozoan family Cladocorynidae inhabits tropical to temperate waters and comprises the two genera Pteroclava and Cladocoryne. Pteroclava lives in association with some octocorals and hydrozoans, whereas Cladocoryne is more generalist in terms of substrate choice. This work provides a thorough morpho-molecular reassessment of the Cladocorynidae by presenting the first well-supported phylogeny of the family based on the analyses of three mitochondrial and four nuclear markers. Notably, the two nominal genera were confirmed to be monophyletic and both morphological and genetic data led to the formal description of a new genus exclusively associated with octocorals, Pseudozanclea gen. nov. Maggioni & Montano. Accordingly, the diagnosis of the family was updated. The ancestral state reconstruction of selected characters revealed that the symbiosis with octocorals likely appeared in the most recent common ancestor of Pteroclava and Pseudozanclea. Additionally, the presence of euryteles aggregation in the polyp stage and the exumbrellar nematocyst pouches with euryteles represent synapomorphies of all cladocorynid taxa and probably emerged in their most recent common ancestor. The analysis of several Pteroclava krempfi colonies from Indo-Pacific and Caribbean localities associated with several host octocorals revealed a high intra-specific genetic variability. Single- and multi-locus species delimitations resulted in three to five species hypotheses, but the statistical analysis of morphometric data showed only limited distinction among the clades of P. krempfi. However, P. krempfi clades showed differences in both host specificity, mostly at the octocoral family level, and geographic distribution, with one clade found exclusively in the Caribbean Sea and the others found in the Indo-Pacific.}, } @article {pmid35048708, year = {2022}, author = {Honeker, LK and Hildebrand, GA and Fudyma, JD and Daber, LE and Hoyt, D and Flowers, SE and Gil-Loaiza, J and Kübert, A and Bamberger, I and Anderton, CR and Cliff, J and Leichty, S and AminiTabrizi, R and Kreuzwieser, J and Shi, L and Bai, X and Velickovic, D and Dippold, MA and Ladd, SN and Werner, C and Meredith, LK and Tfaily, MM}, title = {Elucidating Drought-Tolerance Mechanisms in Plant Roots through [1]H NMR Metabolomics in Parallel with MALDI-MS, and NanoSIMS Imaging Techniques.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {2021-2032}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.1c06772}, pmid = {35048708}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {*Droughts ; Metabolomics ; *Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {As direct mediators between plants and soil, roots play an important role in metabolic responses to environmental stresses such as drought, yet these responses are vastly uncharacterized on a plant-specific level, especially for co-occurring species. Here, we aim to examine the effects of drought on root metabolic profiles and carbon allocation pathways of three tropical rainforest species by combining cutting-edge metabolomic and imaging technologies in an in situ position-specific [13]C-pyruvate root-labeling experiment. Further, washed (rhizosphere-depleted) and unwashed roots were examined to test the impact of microbial presence on root metabolic pathways. Drought had a species-specific impact on the metabolic profiles and spatial distribution in Piper sp. and Hibiscus rosa sinensis roots, signifying different defense mechanisms; Piper sp. enhanced root structural defense via recalcitrant compounds including lignin, while H. rosa sinensis enhanced biochemical defense via secretion of antioxidants and fatty acids. In contrast, Clitoria fairchildiana, a legume tree, was not influenced as much by drought but rather by rhizosphere presence where carbohydrate storage was enhanced, indicating a close association with symbiotic microbes. This study demonstrates how multiple techniques can be combined to identify how plants cope with drought through different drought-tolerance strategies and the consequences of such changes on below-ground organic matter composition.}, } @article {pmid35048428, year = {2022}, author = {Roy Choudhury, S and Pandey, S}, title = {SymRK-dependent phosphorylation of Gα protein and its role in signaling during soybean (Glycine max) nodulation.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {277-291}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15672}, pmid = {35048428}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {*Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Signal Transduction ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heterotrimeric G proteins, comprised of Gα, Gβ and Gγ subunits, influence signaling in most eukaryotes. In metazoans, G proteins are activated by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated GDP to GTP exchange on Gα; however, the role(s) of GPCRs in regulating plant G-protein signaling remains equivocal. Mounting evidence suggests the involvement of receptor-like kinases (RLKs) in regulating plant G-protein signaling, but their mechanistic details remain scarce. We have previously shown that during Glycine max (soybean) nodulation, the nod factor receptor 1 (NFR1) interacts with G-protein components and indirectly affects signaling. We explored the direct regulation of G-protein signaling by RLKs using protein-protein interactions, receptor-mediated in vitro phosphorylations and the effects of such phosphorylations on soybean nodule formation. Results presented in this study demonstrate a direct, phosphorylation-based regulation of Gα by symbiosis receptor kinase (SymRK). SymRKs interact with and phosphorylate Gα at multiple residues in vitro, including two in its active site, which abolishes GTP binding. Additionally, phospho-mimetic Gα fails to interact with Gβγ, potentially allowing for constitutive signaling by the freed Gβγ. These results uncover an unusual mechanism of G-protein cycle regulation in plants where the receptor-mediated phosphorylation of Gα not only affects its activity but also influences the availability of its signaling partners, thereby exerting a two-pronged check on signaling.}, } @article {pmid35048168, year = {2023}, author = {Boscaro, V and Manassero, V and Keeling, PJ and Vannini, C}, title = {Single-cell Microbiomics Unveils Distribution and Patterns of Microbial Symbioses in the Natural Environment.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, pages = {307-316}, pmid = {35048168}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Humans ; Phylogeny ; *Ciliophora/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Environment ; Symbiosis ; Rickettsiales ; *Euplotes/microbiology ; *Burkholderiaceae ; }, abstract = {Protist-bacteria associations are extremely common. Among them, those involving ciliates of the genus Euplotes are emerging as models for symbioses between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and a great deal of information is available from cultured representatives of this system. Even so, as for most known microbial symbioses, data on natural populations is lacking, and their ecology remains largely unexplored; how well lab cultures represent actual diversity is untested. Here, we describe a survey on natural populations of Euplotes based on a single-cell microbiomic approach, focusing on taxa that include known endosymbionts of this ciliate. The results reveal an unexpected variability in symbiotic communities, with individual hosts of the same population harboring different sets of bacterial endosymbionts. Co-occurring Euplotes individuals of the same population can even have different essential symbionts, Polynucleobacter and "Candidatus Protistobacter," which might suggest that replacement events could be more frequent in nature than previously hypothesized. Accessory symbionts are even more variable: some showed a strong affinity for one host species, some for a sampling site, and two ("Candidatus Cyrtobacter" and "Candidatus Anadelfobacter") displayed an unusual pattern of competitive exclusion. These data represent the first insight into the prevalence and patterns of bacterial symbionts in natural populations of free-living protists.}, } @article {pmid35047509, year = {2021}, author = {Smirlis, D and Dingli, F and Sabatet, V and Roth, A and Knippschild, U and Loew, D and Späth, GF and Rachidi, N}, title = {Identification of the Host Substratome of Leishmania-Secreted Casein Kinase 1 Using a SILAC-Based Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Assay.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {800098}, pmid = {35047509}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Leishmaniasis is a severe public health problem, caused by the protozoan Leishmania. This parasite has two developmental forms, extracellular promastigote in the insect vector and intracellular amastigote in the mammalian host where it resides inside the phagolysosome of macrophages. Little is known about the virulence factors that regulate host-pathogen interactions and particularly host signalling subversion. All the proteomes of Leishmania extracellular vesicles identified the presence of Leishmania casein kinase 1 (L-CK1.2), a signalling kinase. L-CK1.2 is essential for parasite survival and thus might be essential for host subversion. To get insights into the functions of L-CK1.2 in the macrophage, the systematic identification of its host substrates is crucial, we thus developed an easy method to identify substrates, combining phosphatase treatment, in vitro kinase assay and Stable Isotope Labelling with Amino acids in Cell (SILAC) culture-based mass spectrometry. Implementing this approach, we identified 225 host substrates as well as a potential novel phosphorylation motif for CK1. We confirmed experimentally the enrichment of our substratome in bona fide L-CK1.2 substrates and showed they were also phosphorylated by human CK1δ. L-CK1.2 substratome is enriched in biological processes such as "viral and symbiotic interaction," "actin cytoskeleton organisation" and "apoptosis," which are consistent with the host pathways modified by Leishmania upon infection, suggesting that L-CK1.2 might be the missing link. Overall, our results generate important mechanistic insights into the signalling of host subversion by these parasites and other microbial pathogens adapted for intracellular survival.}, } @article {pmid35047238, year = {2022}, author = {Presnell, JS and Wirsching, E and Weis, VM}, title = {Tentacle patterning during Exaiptasia diaphana pedal lacerate development differs between symbiotic and aposymbiotic animals.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {e12770}, pmid = {35047238}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Lacerations ; *Anthozoa ; Environment ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; }, abstract = {Exaiptasia diaphana, a tropical sea anemone known as Aiptasia, is a tractable model system for studying the cellular, physiological, and ecological characteristics of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Aiptasia is widely used as a proxy for coral-algal symbiosis, since both Aiptasia and corals form a symbiosis with members of the family Symbiodiniaceae. Laboratory strains of Aiptasia can be maintained in both the symbiotic (Sym) and aposymbiotic (Apo, without algae) states. Apo Aiptasia allow for the study of the influence of symbiosis on different biological processes and how different environmental conditions impact symbiosis. A key feature of Aiptasia is the ease of propagating both Sym and Apo individuals in the laboratory through a process called pedal laceration. In this form of asexual reproduction, small pieces of tissue rip away from the pedal disc of a polyp, then these lacerates eventually develop tentacles and grow into new polyps. While pedal laceration has been described in the past, details of how tentacles are formed or how symbiotic and nutritional state influence this process are lacking. Here we describe the stages of development in both Sym and Apo pedal lacerates. Our results show that Apo lacerates develop tentacles earlier than Sym lacerates, while over the course of 20 days, Sym lacerates end up with a greater number of tentacles. We describe both tentacle and mesentery patterning during lacerate development and show that they form through a single pattern in early stages regardless of symbiotic state. In later stages of development, Apo lacerate tentacles and mesenteries progress through a single pattern, while variable patterns were observed in Sym lacerates. We discuss how Aiptasia lacerate mesentery and tentacle patterning differs from oral disc regeneration and how these patterning events compare to postembryonic development in Nematostella vectensis, another widely-used sea anemone model. In addition, we demonstrate that Apo lacerates supplemented with a putative nutrient source developed an intermediate number of tentacles between un-fed Apo and Sym lacerates. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that pedal lacerates progress through two different, putatively nutrient-dependent phases of development. In the early phase, the lacerate, regardless of symbiotic state, preferentially uses or relies on nutrients carried over from the adult polyp. These resources are sufficient for lacerates to develop into a functional polyp. In the late phase of development, continued growth and tentacle formation is supported by nutrients obtained from either symbionts and/or the environment through heterotrophic feeding. Finally, we advocate for the implementation of pedal lacerates as an additional resource in the Aiptasia model system toolkit for studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid35046983, year = {2021}, author = {Cai, S and Jia, J and He, C and Zeng, L and Fang, Y and Qiu, G and Lan, X and Su, J and He, X}, title = {Multi-Omics of Pine Wood Nematode Pathogenicity Associated With Culturable Associated Microbiota Through an Artificial Assembly Approach.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {798539}, pmid = {35046983}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Pinewood nematode (PWN), the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), causes massive global losses of Pinus species each year. Bacteria and fungi existing in symbiosis with PWN are closely linked with the pathogenesis of PWD, but the relationship between PWN pathogenicity and the associated microbiota is still ambiguous. This study explored the relationship between microbes and the pathogenicity of PWN by establishing a PWN-associated microbe library, and used this library to generate five artificial PWN-microbe symbiont (APMS) assemblies with gnotobiotic PWNs. The fungal and bacterial communities of different APMSs (the microbiome) were explored by next-generation sequencing. Furthermore, different APMSs were used to inoculate the same Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) cultivar, and multi-omics (metabolome, phenomics, and transcriptome) data were obtained to represent the pathogenicity of different APMSs at 14 days post-inoculation (dpi). Significant positive correlations were observed between microbiome and transcriptome or metabolome data, but microbiome data were negatively correlated with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the host. Five response genes, four fungal genera, four bacterial genera, and nineteen induced metabolites were positively correlated with the ROS level, while seven induced metabolites were negatively correlated. To further explore the function of PWN-associated microbes, single genera of functional microbes (Mb1-Mb8) were reloaded onto gnotobiotic PWNs and used to inoculate pine tree seedlings. Three of the genera (Cladophialophora, Ochroconis, and Flavobacterium) decreased the ROS level of the host pine trees, while only one genus (Penicillium) significantly increased the ROS level of the host pine tree seedlings. These results demonstrate a clear relationship between associated microbes and the pathogenicity of PWN, and expand the knowledge on the interaction between PWD-induced forest decline and the PWN-associated microbiome.}, } @article {pmid35046982, year = {2021}, author = {Hawkins, JP and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {The Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis: Co-opting Successful Stress Management.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {796045}, pmid = {35046982}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The interaction of bacteria with plants can result in either a positive, negative, or neutral association. The rhizobium-legume interaction is a well-studied model system of a process that is considered a positive interaction. This process has evolved to require a complex signal exchange between the host and the symbiont. During this process, rhizobia are subject to several stresses, including low pH, oxidative stress, osmotic stress, as well as growth inhibiting plant peptides. A great deal of work has been carried out to characterize the bacterial response to these stresses. Many of the responses to stress are also observed to have key roles in symbiotic signaling. We propose that stress tolerance responses have been co-opted by the plant and bacterial partners to play a role in the complex signal exchange that occurs between rhizobia and legumes to establish functional symbiosis. This review will cover how rhizobia tolerate stresses, and how aspects of these tolerance mechanisms play a role in signal exchange between rhizobia and legumes.}, } @article {pmid35046559, year = {2022}, author = {Grupstra, CGB and Howe-Kerr, LI and Veglia, AJ and Bryant, RL and Coy, SR and Blackwelder, PL and Correa, AMS}, title = {Thermal stress triggers productive viral infection of a key coral reef symbiont.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {1430-1441}, pmid = {35046559}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Virus Diseases ; }, abstract = {Climate change-driven ocean warming is increasing the frequency and severity of bleaching events, in which corals appear whitened after losing their dinoflagellate endosymbionts (family Symbiodiniaceae). Viral infections of Symbiodiniaceae may contribute to some bleaching signs, but little empirical evidence exists to support this hypothesis. We present the first temporal analysis of a lineage of Symbiodiniaceae-infecting positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses ("dinoRNAVs") in coral colonies, which were exposed to a 5-day heat treatment (+2.1 °C). A total of 124 dinoRNAV major capsid protein gene "aminotypes" (unique amino acid sequences) were detected from five colonies of two closely related Pocillopora-Cladocopium (coral-symbiont) combinations in the experiment; most dinoRNAV aminotypes were shared between the two coral-symbiont combinations (64%) and among multiple colonies (82%). Throughout the experiment, seventeen dinoRNAV aminotypes were found only in heat-treated fragments, and 22 aminotypes were detected at higher relative abundances in heat-treated fragments. DinoRNAVs in fragments of some colonies exhibited higher alpha diversity and dispersion under heat stress. Together, these findings provide the first empirical evidence that exposure to high temperatures triggers some dinoRNAVs to switch from a persistent to a productive infection mode within heat-stressed corals. Over extended time frames, we hypothesize that cumulative dinoRNAV production in the Pocillopora-Cladocopium system could affect colony symbiotic status, for example, by decreasing Symbiodiniaceae densities within corals. This study sets the stage for reef-scale investigations of dinoRNAV dynamics during bleaching events.}, } @article {pmid35045336, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, D and Han, M}, title = {Bacterial peptidoglycan muropeptides benefit mitochondrial homeostasis and animal physiology by acting as ATP synthase agonists.}, journal = {Developmental cell}, volume = {57}, number = {3}, pages = {361-372.e5}, pmid = {35045336}, issn = {1878-1551}, support = {R01 GM047869/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM139631/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {ATP Synthetase Complexes/*metabolism ; Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*physiology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; HEK293 Cells ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestines/metabolism ; Metabolome/drug effects ; Mitochondria/drug effects/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Peptidoglycan/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between commensal microbes and host animals predicts unidentified beneficial impacts of individual bacterial metabolites on animal physiology. Peptidoglycan fragments (muropeptides) from the bacterial cell wall are known for their roles in pathogenicity and for inducing host immune responses. However, the potential beneficial usage of muropeptides from commensal bacteria by the host needs exploration. We identified a striking role for muropeptides in supporting mitochondrial homeostasis, development, and behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans. We determined that the beneficial molecules are disaccharide muropeptides containing a short AA chain, and they enter intestinal-cell mitochondria to repress oxidative stress. Further analyses indicate that muropeptides execute this role by binding to and promoting the activity of ATP synthase. Therefore, given the exceptional structural conservation of ATP synthase, the role of muropeptides as a rare agonist of the ATP synthase presents a major conceptual modification regarding the impact of bacterial cell metabolites on animal physiology.}, } @article {pmid35045070, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, CJ and Hu, JM}, title = {Molecular phylogeny of Asian Ardisia (Myrsinoideae, Primulaceae) and their leaf-nodulated endosymbionts, Burkholderia s.l. (Burkholderiaceae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e0261188}, pmid = {35045070}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Burkholderia ; }, abstract = {The genus Ardisia (Myrsinoideae, Primulaceae) has 16 subgenera and over 700 accepted names, mainly distributed in tropical Asia and America. The circumscription of Ardisia is not well-defined and sometimes confounded with the separation of some small genera. A taxonomic revision focusing on Ardisia and allies is necessary. In the Ardisia subgenus Crispardisia, symbiotic association with leaf-nodule bacteria is a unique character within the genus. The endosymbionts are vertically transmitted, highly specific and highly dependent on the hosts, suggesting strict cospeciation may have occurred in the evolutionary history. In the present study, we aimed to establish a phylogenetic framework for further taxonomic revision. We also aimed to test the cospeciation hypothesis of the leaf-nodulate Ardisia and their endosymbiotic bacteria. Nuclear ITS and two chloroplast intergenic spaces were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of Asian Ardisia and relatives in Myrsinoideae, Primulaceae. The 16S-23S rRNA were used to reconstruct the bacterial symbionts' phylogeny. To understand the evolutionary association of the Ardisia and symbionts, topology tests and cophylogenetic analyses were conducted. The molecular phylogeny suggested Ardisia is not monophyletic, unless Sardiria, Hymenandra, Badula and Oncostemum are included. The results suggest the generic limit within Myrsinoideae (Primulaceae) needs to be further revised. The subgenera Crispardisia, Pimelandra, and Stylardisia were supported as monophyly, while the subgenus Bladhia was separated into two distant clades. We proposed to divide the subgenus Bladhia into subgenus Bladhia s.str. and subgenus Odontophylla. Both of the cophylogenetic analyses and topology tests rejected strict cospeciation hypothesis between Ardisia hosts and symbiotic Burkholderia. Cophylogenetic analyses showed general phylogenetic concordance of Ardisia and Burkholderia, and cospeciation events, host-switching events and loss events were all inferred.}, } @article {pmid35044646, year = {2022}, author = {Rosolen, MD and Bordini, FW and da Luz, GQ and Diaz, PS and Conceição, FR and Fiorentini, ÂM and da Silva, WP and Pieniz, S}, title = {Survival of Microencapsulated Lactococcus lactis Subsp. lactis R7 Applied in Different Food Matrices.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {194}, number = {5}, pages = {2135-2150}, pmid = {35044646}, issn = {1559-0291}, mesh = {*Lactococcus lactis ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Survival of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis R7, microencapsulated with whey and inulin, was analyzed when added to blueberry juice, milk, and cream. For 28 days, cell viability was evaluated for storage (4 °C), simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and thermal resistance. All matrices demonstrated high cell concentration when submitted to GIT (11.74 and 12 log CFU mL[-1]), except for the blueberry juice. The thermal resistance analysis proved the need for microencapsulation, regardless of the food matrix. The results indicate that L. lactis R7 microcapsules have potential for application in different matrices and development of new probiotic products by thermal processing.}, } @article {pmid35044170, year = {2022}, author = {Jiang, W and Yang, X and Gu, F and Li, X and Wang, S and Luo, Y and Qi, Q and Liang, Q}, title = {Construction of Synthetic Microbial Ecosystems and the Regulation of Population Proportion.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {538-546}, doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.1c00354}, pmid = {35044170}, issn = {2161-5063}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Microbial Consortia/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {With the development of synthetic biology, the design and application of microbial consortia have received increasing attention. However, the construction of synthetic ecosystems is still hampered by our limited ability to rapidly develop microbial consortia with the required dynamics and functions. By using modular design, we constructed synthetic competitive and symbiotic ecosystems with Escherichia coli. Two ecological relationships were realized by reconfiguring the layout between the communication and effect modules. Furthermore, we designed inducible synthetic ecosystems to regulate subpopulation ratios. With the addition of different inducers, a wide range of strain ratios between subpopulations was achieved. These inducible synthetic ecosystems enabled a larger volume of population regulation and simplified culture conditions. The synthetic ecosystems we constructed combined both basic and applied functionalities and expanded the toolkit of synthetic biology research.}, } @article {pmid35043240, year = {2022}, author = {Arenas, F and López-García, Á and Berná, LM and Morte, A and Navarro-Ródenas, A}, title = {Desert truffle mycorrhizosphere harbors organic acid releasing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, essentially during the truffle fruiting season.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {193-202}, pmid = {35043240}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seasons ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Desert truffle is becoming a new crop in semiarid areas. Climatic parameters and the presence of microorganisms influence the host plant physiology and alter desert truffle production. Desert truffle plants present a typical summer deciduous plant phenology divided into four stages: summer dormancy, autumn bud break, winter photosynthetic activity, and spring fruiting. We hypothesize that the bacterial community associated with desert truffle plants will show a seasonal trend linked to their plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) traits. This information will provide us with a better understanding about its potential role in this symbiosis and possible management implementations. Bacteria were isolated from root-adhering soil at the four described seasons. A total of 417 isolated bacteria were phenotypically and biochemically characterized and gathered by molecular analysis into 68 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). They were further characterized for PGPR traits such as indole acetic acid production, siderophore production, calcium phosphate solubilization, and ACCD (1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxilatedeaminase) activity. These PGPR traits were used to infer functional PGPR diversity and cultivable bacterial OTU composition at different phenological moments. The different seasons induced shifts in the OTU composition linked to their PGPR traits. Summer was the phenological stage with the lowest microbial diversity and PGPR functions, whereas spring was the most active one. Among the PGPR traits analyzed, P-solubilizing rhizobacteria were harbored in the mycorrhizosphere during desert truffle fruiting in spring.}, } @article {pmid35042973, year = {2022}, author = {Cahanovitc, R and Livne-Luzon, S and Angel, R and Klein, T}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi mediate belowground carbon transfer between pines and oaks.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {1420-1429}, pmid = {35042973}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Quercus/microbiology ; Soil ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Inter-kingdom belowground carbon (C) transfer is a significant, yet hidden, biological phenomenon, due to the complexity and highly dynamic nature of soil ecology. Among key biotic agents influencing C allocation belowground are ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). EMF symbiosis can extend beyond the single tree-fungus partnership to form common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs). Despite the high prevalence of CMNs in forests, little is known about the identity of the EMF transferring the C and how these in turn affect the dynamics of C transfer. Here, Pinus halepensis and Quercus calliprinos saplings growing in forest soil were labeled using a [13]CO2 labeling system. Repeated samplings were applied during 36 days to trace how [13]C was distributed along the tree-fungus-tree pathway. To identify the fungal species active in the transfer, mycorrhizal fine root tips were used for DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) with [13]CO2 followed by sequencing of labeled DNA. Assimilated [13]CO2 reached tree roots within four days and was then transferred to various EMF species. C was transferred across all four tree species combinations. While Tomentella ellisii was the primary fungal mediator between pines and oaks, Terfezia pini, Pustularia spp., and Tuber oligospermum controlled C transfer among pines. We demonstrate at a high temporal, quantitative, and taxonomic resolution, that C from EMF host trees moved into EMF and that C was transferred further to neighboring trees of similar and distinct phylogenies.}, } @article {pmid35042050, year = {2022}, author = {Christensen, VG and Olds, HT and Norland, J and Khan, E}, title = {Phytoplankton community interactions and cyanotoxin mixtures in three recurring surface blooms within one lake.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {427}, number = {}, pages = {128142}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128142}, pmid = {35042050}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; Lakes ; Microcystins ; *Microcystis ; Phytoplankton ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria can produce numerous secondary metabolites (cyanotoxins) with various toxicities, yet data on cyanotoxins in many lakes are limited. Moreover, little research is available on complex relations among cyanobacteria that produce toxins. Therefore, we studied cyanobacteria and 19 cyanotoxins at three sites with recurring blooms in Kabetogama Lake (USA). Seven of 19 toxins were detected in various combinations. Anabaenopeptin A and B were detected in every sample. Microcystin-YR was detected more frequently than microcystin-LR, unlike other lakes in the region. Microcystin-YR concentrations, however, generally were low; two samples exceeded drinking water guidelines and no samples exceeded recreational guidelines. Anabaenopeptins correlated with six cyanobacterial taxa, most of which lack available literature on peptide production. The potential toxin producing cyanobacteria, Microcystis, was significantly correlated to microcystin-YR. Pseudanabaena sp. and Synechococcus sp. had strong negative correlations with several toxins that may indicate competition or stress between organisms. Non-metric multidimensional scaling identified three cyanobacterial pairs that may reflect symbiotic or antagonistic relations. This study highlights interactions among cyanobacteria and multiple cyanotoxins and the methods used may be useful for uncovering additional patterns in cyanobacteria communities in other systems, leading to further understanding of how those interactions lead to toxin production.}, } @article {pmid35041884, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, M and Zhong, X and Li, M and Yang, X and Abou Elwafa, SF and Albaqami, M and Tian, H}, title = {Genome-wide analyses of the Nodulin-like gene family in bread wheat revealed its potential roles during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {201}, number = {}, pages = {424-436}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.01.076}, pmid = {35041884}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Bread ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Membrane Proteins ; Plant Proteins ; Plant Roots/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Triticum/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nodulin-like (NL) genes are involved in transporting of various substances and may play key roles during the establishment of symbiosis in legumes plants. However, basic biological information of NL genes in the wheat genome is still largely unknown. Here, we identified and characterized NL genes in wheat via integrating genomic information, collinearity analysis, co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and transcriptome analysis. In addition, we analyzed the polymorphisms and the roles of NL genes during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis using a large wheat panel consists of 259 wheat genotypes. We identified 181 NL genes in the wheat genome, which were classified into SWEET, Early Nodulin-Like (ENODL), Major Facilitator Superfamily-Nodulin (MFS), Vacuolar Iron Transporter (VIT) and Early nodulin 93 (ENOD93) subfamily. The expansion of NL genes was mainly driven by segmental duplication. The bHLH genes are potential unrecognized transcription factors regulating NL genes. Moreover, two NL genes were more sensitive than other NL genes to AM colonization. The polymorphisms of NL genes are mainly due to random drift, and the natural mutation of NL genes led to significant differences in the mycorrhizal dependence of wheat in phosphorus uptake. The results concluded that NL genes potentially play important roles during AM symbiosis with wheat.}, } @article {pmid35040703, year = {2022}, author = {Gallo-Francisco, PH and Brocchi, M and Giorgio, S}, title = {Leishmania and its relationships with bacteria.}, journal = {Future microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {199-218}, doi = {10.2217/fmb-2021-0133}, pmid = {35040703}, issn = {1746-0921}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Humans ; *Leishmania ; *Leishmaniasis/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic and neglected disease, which represents an important public health problem worldwide. Different species of Leishmania are associated with different manifestations, and a practical problem that can worsen the condition of hosts infected with Leishmania is the secondary infection caused by bacteria. This review aims to examine the importance and prevalence of bacteria co-infection during leishmaniasis and the nature of this ecological relationship. In the cases discussed in this review, the facilitation phenomenon, defined as any interaction where the action of one organism has a beneficial effect on an organism of another species, was considered in the Leishmania-bacteria interaction, as well as the effects on one another and their consequences for the host.}, } @article {pmid35040587, year = {2022}, author = {Ji, C and Qiu, M and Ruan, H and Li, C and Cheng, L and Wang, J and Li, C and Qi, J and Cui, W and Deng, L}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Symbiosis Niche of 3D Scaffolds to Accelerate Bone Defect Healing.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e2105194}, pmid = {35040587}, issn = {2198-3844}, mesh = {*Bone Regeneration/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Osteogenesis ; Symbiosis ; *Tissue Scaffolds ; }, abstract = {Three dimension (3D) printed scaffolds have been shown to be superior in promoting tissue repair, but the cell-level specific regulatory network activated by 3D printing scaffolds with different material components to form a symbiosis niche have not been systematically revealed. Here, three typical 3D printed scaffolds, including natural polymer hydrogel (gelatin-methacryloyl, GelMA), synthetic polymer material (polycaprolactone, PCL), and bioceramic (β-tricalcium phosphate, β-TCP), are fabricated to explore the regulating effect of the symbiotic microenvironment during bone healing. Enrichment analysis show that hydrogel promotes tissue regeneration and reconstruction by improving blood vessel generation by enhancing oxygen transport and red blood cell development. The PCL scaffold regulates cell proliferation and differentiation by promoting cellular senescence, cell cycle and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication pathways, accelerating the process of endochondral ossification, and the formation of callus. The β-TCP scaffold can specifically enhance the expression of osteoclast differentiation and extracellular space pathway genes to promote the differentiation of osteoclasts and promote the process of bone remodeling. In these processes, specific biomaterial properties can be used to guide cell behavior and regulate molecular network in the symbiotic microenvironment to reduce the barriers of regeneration and repair.}, } @article {pmid35038375, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Zhou, Y and Li, R and Liang, J and Tian, T and Ji, J and Chen, R and Zhou, Y and Fan, Q and Ning, G and Larkin, RM and Becana, M and Duanmu, D}, title = {Single cell-type transcriptome profiling reveals genes that promote nitrogen fixation in the infected and uninfected cells of legume nodules.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {616-618}, pmid = {35038375}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid35037274, year = {2022}, author = {Ndoye, MS and Burridge, J and Bhosale, R and Grondin, A and Laplaze, L}, title = {Root traits for low input agroecosystems in Africa: Lessons from three case studies.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {637-649}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14256}, pmid = {35037274}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {BB/S011102/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Agriculture ; Fertilizers ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phenotype ; Water ; }, abstract = {In many regions across Africa, agriculture is largely based on low-input and small-holder farming systems that use little inorganic fertilisers and have limited access to irrigation and mechanisation. Improving agricultural practices and developing new cultivars adapted to these environments, where production already suffers from climate change, is a major priority for food security. Here, we illustrate how breeding for specific root traits could improve crop resilience in Africa using three case studies covering very contrasting low-input agroecosystems. We first review how greater basal root whorl number and longer and denser root hairs increased P acquisition efficiency and yield in common bean in South East Africa. We then discuss how water-saving strategies, root hair density and deep root growth could be targeted to improve sorghum and pearl millet yield in West Africa. Finally, we evaluate how breeding for denser root systems in the topsoil and interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could be mobilised to optimise water-saving alternate wetting and drying practices in West African rice agroecosystems. We conclude with a discussion on how to evaluate the utility of root traits and how to make root trait selection feasible for breeders so that improved varieties can be made available to farmers through participatory approaches.}, } @article {pmid35037255, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, X and Lai, W and Che, X and Wang, S and Ren, Y and Hu, W and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {A SPX domain-containing phosphate transporter from Rhizophagus irregularis handles phosphate homeostasis at symbiotic interface of arbuscular mycorrhizas.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {2}, pages = {650-671}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17973}, pmid = {35037255}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fungi ; Homeostasis ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Reciprocal symbiosis of > 70% of terrestrial vascular plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi provides the fungi with fatty acids and sugars. In return, AM fungi facilitate plant phosphate (Pi) uptake from soil. However, how AM fungi handle Pi transport and homeostasis at the symbiotic interface of AM symbiosis is poorly understood. Here, we identify an SPX (SYG1/Pho81/XPR1) domain-containing phosphate transporter, RiPT7 from Rhizophagus irregularis. To characterize the RiPT7 transporter, we combined subcellular localization and heterologous expression studies in yeasts with reverse genetics approaches during the in planta phase. The results show that RiPT7 is conserved across fungal species and expressed in the intraradical mycelia. It is expressed in the arbuscules, intraradical hyphae and vesicles, independently of Pi availability. The plasma membrane-localized RiPT7 facilitates bidirectional Pi transport, depending on Pi gradient across the plasma membrane, whereas the SPX domain of RiPT7 inhibits Pi transport activity and mediates the vacuolar targeting of RiPT7 in yeast in response to Pi starvation. Importantly, RiPT7 silencing hampers arbuscule development of R. irregularis and symbiotic Pi delivery under medium- to low-Pi conditions. Collectively, our findings reveal a role for RiPT7 in fine-tuning of Pi homeostasis across the fungal membrane to maintain the AM development.}, } @article {pmid35037106, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, J and Wilson, GWT and Cobb, AB and Zhang, Y and Liu, L and Zhang, X and Sun, F}, title = {Mycorrhizal and rhizobial interactions influence model grassland plant community structure and productivity.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {15-32}, pmid = {35037106}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Grassland ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobium are likely important drivers of plant coexistence and grassland productivity due to complementary roles in supplying limiting nutrients. However, the interactive effects of mycorrhizal and rhizobial associations on plant community productivity and competitive dynamics remain unclear. To address this, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to determine the influences of these key microbial functional groups on communities comprising three plant species by comparing plant communities grown with or without each symbiont. We also utilized N-fertilization and clipping treatments to explore potential shifts in mycorrhizal and rhizobial benefits across abiotic and biotic conditions. Our research suggests AM fungi and rhizobium co-inoculation was strongly facilitative for plant community productivity and legume (Medicago sativa) growth and nodulation. Plant competitiveness shifted in the presence of AM fungi and rhizobium, favoring M. sativa over a neighboring C4 grass (Andropogon gerardii) and C3 forb (Ratibida pinnata). This may be due to rhizobial symbiosis as well as the relatively greater mycorrhizal growth response of M. sativa, compared to the other model plants. Clipping and N-fertilization altered relative costs and benefits of both symbioses, presumably by altering host-plant nitrogen and carbon dynamics, leading to a relative decrease in mycorrhizal responsiveness and proportional biomass of M. sativa relative to the total biomass of the entire plant community, with a concomitant relative increase in A. gerardii and R. pinnata proportional biomass. Our results demonstrate a strong influence of both microbial symbioses on host-plant competitiveness and community dynamics across clipping and N-fertilization treatments, suggesting the symbiotic rhizosphere community is critical for legume establishment in grasslands.}, } @article {pmid35035276, year = {2022}, author = {Khan, F and Ali, Y}, title = {Implementation of the circular supply chain management in the pharmaceutical industry.}, journal = {Environment, development and sustainability}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {13705-13731}, pmid = {35035276}, issn = {1573-2975}, abstract = {The ever-increasing levels of pollution and waste creation have subjected industries around the world to incorporate the concept of circular economy (CE) in their supply chains. The amalgamation of the CE approach along with supply chain management is called circular supply chain management (CSCM). Among other industries, the pharmaceutical industry is also involved in damaging the ecosystem. Hence, an effective framework for the adoption of CSCM in a particular industry is very essential. Therefore, this paper aims to devise a model that will help the pharmaceutical industries to adopt CSCM in their organizations. For this purpose, the study in the first phase identifies ten barriers that are working as an impediment in the adoption of the CSCM approach. To counter those barriers, the study in the second phase identifies a set of twelve enablers. To analyse the barriers and enablers, the study uses a new hybrid methodology. For allocating weights and prioritizing the barriers, the fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, i.e. fuzzy full consistency method (F-FUCOM) is used, whereas the total quality management tool, i.e. fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD) is used to rank the enablers. The results from F-FUCOM suggest "lack of financial resources and funding", "market challenges", and "lack of coordination and collaboration among the entire supply chain network" to be the top-most barriers, respectively, whereas the results achieved from the FQFD suggest "industrial symbiosis", "Reverse Logistic (RL) infrastructure", and "block chain technology" to be the top-ranked enablers, respectively. The provision of a facilitating framework for the adoption of CSCM in the pharmaceutical industry and the newly developed hybrid methodology are both novelties of this study.}, } @article {pmid35035111, year = {2022}, author = {O'Neill, B and Stapleton, L}, title = {Digital cultural heritage standards: from silo to semantic web.}, journal = {AI & society}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {891-903}, pmid = {35035111}, issn = {0951-5666}, abstract = {This paper is a survey of standards being used in the domain of digital cultural heritage with focus on the Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS) created by the Library of Congress in the United States of America. The process of digitization of cultural heritage requires silo breaking in a number of areas-one area is that of academic disciplines to enable the performance of rich interdisciplinary work. This lays the foundation for the emancipation of the second form of silo which are the silos of knowledge, both traditional and born digital, held in individual institutions, such as galleries, libraries, archives and museums. Disciplinary silo breaking is the key to unlocking these institutional knowledge silos. Interdisciplinary teams, such as developers and librarians, work together to make the data accessible as open data on the "semantic web". Description logic is the area of mathematics which underpins many ontology building applications today. Creating these ontologies requires a human-machine symbiosis. Currently in the cultural heritage domain, the institutions' role is that of provider of this open data to the national aggregator which in turn can make the data available to the trans-European aggregator known as Europeana. Current ingests to the aggregators are in the form of machine readable cataloguing metadata which is limited in the richness it provides to disparate object descriptions. METS can provide this richness.}, } @article {pmid35034180, year = {2022}, author = {Hupperts, SF and Lilleskov, EA}, title = {Predictors of taxonomic and functional composition of black spruce seedling ectomycorrhizal fungal communities along peatland drainage gradients.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {67-81}, pmid = {35034180}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Picea ; Seedlings ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Many trees depend on symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi for nutrients in exchange for photosynthetically derived carbohydrates. Trees growing in peatlands, which cover 3% of the earth's terrestrial surface area yet hold approximately one-third of organic soil carbon stocks, may benefit from ectomycorrhizal fungi that can efficiently forage for nutrients and degrade organic matter using oxidative enzymes such as class II peroxidases. However, such traits may place a higher carbon cost on both the fungi and host tree. To investigate these trade-offs that might structure peatland ectomycorrhizal fungal communities, we sampled black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.)) seedlings along 100-year-old peatland drainage gradients in Minnesota, USA, that had resulted in higher soil nitrogen and canopy density. Structural equation models revealed that the relative abundance of the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungal genus, Cortinarius, which is known for relatively high fungal biomass coupled with elevated class II peroxidase potential, was negatively linked to site fertility but more positively affected by recent host stem radial growth, suggesting carbon limitation. In contrast, Cenococcum, known for comparatively lower fungal biomass and less class II peroxidase potential, was negatively linked to host stem radial growth and unrelated to site fertility. Like Cortinarius, the estimated relative abundance of class II peroxidase genes in the ectomycorrhizal community was more related to host stem radial growth than site fertility. Our findings indicate a trade-off between symbiont foraging traits and associated carbon costs that consequently structure seedling ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in peatlands.}, } @article {pmid35033961, year = {2022}, author = {Lu, MZ and Carter, AM and Tegeder, M}, title = {Altering ureide transport in nodulated soybean results in whole-plant adjustments of metabolism, assimilate partitioning, and sink strength.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {269}, number = {}, pages = {153613}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153613}, pmid = {35033961}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Allantoin/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Nitrogen/chemistry/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Soybeans/*metabolism/microbiology ; Urea/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes develop a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that are housed in root nodules and fix atmospheric di-nitrogen (N2) to ammonia. In soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) nodules, the final products of nitrogen (N) fixation are amino acids, and the ureides allantoin and allantoic acid that also serve as the major long-distance N transport forms. Recently, we have shown that increased expression of UPS1 (ureide permease 1) in soybean nodules results in enhanced ureide export from nodules with positive effects on N fixation and seed yield. Here, we demonstrate that changes in the ureide transport processes trigger alterations in allantoin and allantoic acid pools and partitioning throughout the transgenic plants. They further result in adjustments in amino acid availability in, and translocation to, root and shoot sinks. In addition, leaf carbon (C) capture, assimilation and allocation to sinks are improved, accommodating the increased nodule function, and root and shoot growth. Overall, we demonstrate that enhanced ureide partitioning in nodulated soybean leads to a complex rebalancing of N and C acquisition, metabolism, and transport processes with positive consequences for above- and below-ground vegetative biomass, and whole-plant N and C gains.}, } @article {pmid35033793, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, Z and Ni, X and Chen, S and Wu, Z and Tang, J and Su, Y and Wang, X and Wang, L}, title = {Ingested microplastics impair the metabolic relationship between the giant clam Tridacna crocea and its symbionts.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {243}, number = {}, pages = {106075}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106075}, pmid = {35033793}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia ; Ecosystem ; Microplastics ; Nitrate Transporters ; Plastics ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Microplastics are emerging as widespread pollutants in coral reef ecosystems worldwide; however, there is limited knowledge regarding their impact on giant clams, which are important reef builders. In the present study, the cytological, physiological, and molecular response of the giant clam Tridacna crocea to a 5 d exposure of microplastics was investigated. The concentration of microplastics in the intestine and outer mantle increased significantly and gradually after the exposure to microplastics. There were no significant changes in the density of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae throughout the exposure period, but symbiont chlorophyll content increased significantly after 1 d of exposure. There was a significant increase in symbiont superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but a decrease in giant clam SOD activity and symbiont glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. No significant changes in catalase (CAT) activity and caspase3 activation level were observed in the two symbiotic partners. Transcriptomic analysis of the giant clam revealed 138 significantly upregulated and 1390 significantly downregulated genes after 5 d of microplastic exposure. The top 20 GO terms overrepresented by these significantly downregulated genes were related to primary metabolic processes and cellular metabolic processes. No significantly upregulated genes were observed in symbionts, but 28 genes were significantly downregulated, including chloroplast oxygen-evolving enhancer, photosystem I reaction center subunit II, peptide/nitrate transporter, sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter, beta-glucosidase, and TPA: lipase. These results suggest that T. crocea ingests microplastics through the outer mantle and intestine, and these microplastics can suppress the photosynthesis, organic nutrient transportation, and detoxification ability of the symbionts, as well as the primary metabolism of the giant clam. This eventually could threaten their metabolic relationship and long-term survival.}, } @article {pmid35033643, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, F and Chen, X and Cui, Y and Hu, X and Qian, J and Wang, F and Kubar, AA and Xu, L and Huo, S}, title = {Weak magnetic field intervention on outdoor production of oil-rich filamentous microalgae: Influence of seasonal changes.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {348}, number = {}, pages = {126707}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126707}, pmid = {35033643}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biomass ; Magnetic Fields ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Photobioreactors ; Seasons ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The weak magnetic field (MF) intervention on the semi-continuous system of filamentous algae Tribonema sp. during outdoor cultivation was investigated using starch wastewater. Results show that except for winter, MF in other seasons can effectively improve the algal biomass yield and oil productivity. In summer, the biomass concentration and oil productivity of Tribonema sp. could reach up to 14.7 g/L and 0.216 g/(L d) (130 mT), which increased by 9.8% and 35.8% respectively compared with the control group without MF intervention. By continuously shortening HRT to increase the nutrient load, the removal rate of COD, total nitrogen and total phosphorus all reached more than 87.9%. MF intervention not only weakened the bacterial diversity in open-photobioreactors system but also proved to be beneficial to the establishment of bacteria-algae symbiotic system. As a non-transgenic method, MF effectively up-regulated the growth of filamentous microalgae and promoted the biosynthesis productivity of high value-added compounds.}, } @article {pmid35033523, year = {2022}, author = {Sundaramahalingam, MA and Sivashanmugam, P and Rajeshbanu, J and Ashokkumar, M}, title = {A review on contemporary approaches in enhancing the innate lipid content of yeast cell.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {293}, number = {}, pages = {133616}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133616}, pmid = {35033523}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Lipids ; *Metabolic Engineering ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Yeasts/genetics ; }, abstract = {For the past few decades, industrialization has made a huge environmental hazard to the world with its waste. The approach of waste to wealth in the recent era has made many Eco-economical suggestions for the industries. The valuable products in biorefinery aspects of the eco-economical suggestions include; energy products, high-value drugs and novel materials. Bio-lipids are found to be the major influencing eco-economical products in the process. Production of bio-lipid from microbial sources has paved the way for future research on lipid-bioproducts. The yeast cell is a unique organism with a large unicellular structure capable of accumulating a high amount of lipids. It constitutes 90% of neutral lipids. Various strategies enhance the lipid profile of yeast cells: usage of oleaginous yeast, usage of low cost (or) alternative substrates, developing stress conditions in the growth medium, using genetically modified yeast, altering metabolic pathways of yeast and by using the symbiotic cultures of yeast with other microbes. The metabolic alterations of lipid pathways such as lipid biosynthesis, lipid elongation, lipid accumulation and lipid degradation have been a striking feature of research in lipid-based microbial work. The lipid-bioproducts have also made a strong footprint in the history of alternative energy products. It includes partial acyl glycerol, oleochemicals, phospholipids and biofuels. This report comprises the recent approaches carried out in the yeast cell for enhancing its lipid content. The limitations, challenges and future scope of individual strategies were also highlighted in this article.}, } @article {pmid35032341, year = {2022}, author = {Černajová, I and Schiefelbein, U and Škaloud, P}, title = {Lichens from the littoral zone host diverse Ulvophycean photobionts.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {267-280}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13234}, pmid = {35032341}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; *Lichens/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Crustose Verrucariaceae lichens form a distinctive black belt on seashores all over the world. This lifestyle is apparently enabled by a specific set of photobionts. However, their diversity is understudied. We sampled these lichens from the northern Patagonian Pacific coast of Chile. Using molecular markers, we identified both mycobionts and photobionts. The lichens, belonging to the genus Hydropunctaria and to the Wahlenbergiella group, hosted solely Ulvophycean photobionts. Pseudendoclonium submarinum (Kornmanniaceae, Ulvales) was the most common, but representatives of other closely related, yet undescribed, lineages were also found. Undulifilum symbioticum gen. et sp. nov. is described within Kornmanniaceae based on culture morphology and DNA sequence data. Furthermore, the free-living macroscopic genus Urospora (Acrosiphoniaceae, Ulotrichales) is reported as a lichen photobiont for the first time and is the first of its kind in the order. These results indicate that undescribed algal diversity is waiting to be uncovered in seashore lichens.}, } @article {pmid35031894, year = {2022}, author = {Schultz, CJ and Wu, Y and Baumann, U}, title = {A targeted bioinformatics approach identifies highly variable cell surface proteins that are unique to Glomeromycotina.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {45-66}, pmid = {35031894}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; *Glomeromycota ; Membrane Proteins ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diversity in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) contributes to biodiversity and resilience in natural environments and healthy agricultural systems. Functional complementarity exists among species of AMF in symbiosis with their plant hosts, but the molecular basis of this is not known. We hypothesise this is in part due to the difficulties that current sequence assembly methodologies have assembling sequences for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) due to their low sequence complexity. IDPs are potential candidates for functional complementarity because they often exist as extended (non-globular) proteins providing additional amino acids for molecular interactions. Rhizophagus irregularis arabinogalactan-protein-like proteins (AGLs) are small secreted IDPs with no known orthologues in AMF or other fungi. We developed a targeted bioinformatics approach to identify highly variable AGLs/IDPs in RNA-sequence datasets. The approach includes a modified multiple k-mer assembly approach (Oases) to identify candidate sequences, followed by targeted sequence capture and assembly (mirabait-mira). All AMF species analysed, including the ancestral family Paraglomeraceae, have small families of proteins rich in disorder promoting amino acids such as proline and glycine, or glycine and asparagine. Glycine- and asparagine-rich proteins also were found in Geosiphon pyriformis (an obligate symbiont of a cyanobacterium), from the same subphylum (Glomeromycotina) as AMF. The sequence diversity of AGLs likely translates to functional diversity, based on predicted physical properties of tandem repeats (elastic, amyloid, or interchangeable) and their broad pI ranges. We envisage that AGLs/IDPs could contribute to functional complementarity in AMF through processes such as self-recognition, retention of nutrients, soil stability, and water movement.}, } @article {pmid35030517, year = {2022}, author = {Weiner, AKM and Cullison, B and Date, SV and Tyml, T and Volland, JM and Woyke, T and Katz, LA and Sleith, RS}, title = {Examining the Relationship Between the Testate Amoeba Hyalosphenia papilio (Arcellinida, Amoebozoa) and its Associated Intracellular Microalgae Using Molecular and Microscopic Methods.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {173}, number = {1}, pages = {125853}, pmid = {35030517}, issn = {1618-0941}, support = {R15 HG010409/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Amoeba ; *Amoebozoa/genetics ; *Chlorella/genetics ; *Lobosea ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between heterotrophic and phototrophic partners are common in microbial eukaryotes. Among Arcellinida (Amoebozoa) several species are associated with microalgae of the genus Chlorella (Archaeplastida). So far, these symbioses were assumed to be stable and mutualistic, yet details of the interactions are limited. Here, we analyzed 22 single-cell transcriptomes and 36 partially-sequenced genomes of the Arcellinida morphospecies Hyalosphenia papilio, which contains Chlorella algae, to shed light on the amoeba-algae association. By characterizing the genetic diversity of associated Chlorella, we detected two distinct clades that can be linked to host genetic diversity, yet at the same time show a biogeographic signal across sampling sites. Fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of intact algae cells within the amoeba cell. Yet analysis of transcriptome data suggested that the algal nuclei are inactive, implying that instead of a stable, mutualistic relationship, the algae may be temporarily exploited for photosynthetic activity before being digested. Differences in gene expression of H. papilio and Hyalosphenia elegans demonstrated increased expression of genes related to oxidative stress. Together, our analyses increase knowledge of this host-symbiont association and reveal 1) higher diversity of associated algae than previously characterized, 2) a transient association between H. papilio and Chlorella with unclear benefits for the algae, 3) algal-induced gene expression changes in the host.}, } @article {pmid35029792, year = {2021}, author = {Sebestyén, A and Dankó, T and Sztankovics, D and Moldvai, D and Raffay, R and Cervi, C and Krencz, I and Zsiros, V and Jeney, A and Petővári, G}, title = {The role of metabolic ecosystem in cancer progression - metabolic plasticity and mTOR hyperactivity in tumor tissues.}, journal = {Cancer metastasis reviews}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {989-1033}, pmid = {35029792}, issn = {1573-7233}, mesh = {Carcinogenesis/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/pathology ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Despite advancements in cancer management, tumor relapse and metastasis are associated with poor outcomes in many cancers. Over the past decade, oncogene-driven carcinogenesis, dysregulated cellular signaling networks, dynamic changes in the tissue microenvironment, epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, protein expression within regulatory pathways, and their part in tumor progression are described in several studies. However, the complexity of metabolic enzyme expression is considerably under evaluated. Alterations in cellular metabolism determine the individual phenotype and behavior of cells, which is a well-recognized hallmark of cancer progression, especially in the adaptation mechanisms underlying therapy resistance. In metabolic symbiosis, cells compete, communicate, and even feed each other, supervised by tumor cells. Metabolic reprogramming forms a unique fingerprint for each tumor tissue, depending on the cellular content and genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental alterations of the developing cancer. Based on its sensing and effector functions, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is considered the master regulator of metabolic adaptation. Moreover, mTOR kinase hyperactivity is associated with poor prognosis in various tumor types. In situ metabolic phenotyping in recent studies highlights the importance of metabolic plasticity, mTOR hyperactivity, and their role in tumor progression. In this review, we update recent developments in metabolic phenotyping of the cancer ecosystem, metabolic symbiosis, and plasticity which could provide new research directions in tumor biology. In addition, we suggest pathomorphological and analytical studies relating to metabolic alterations, mTOR activity, and their associations which are necessary to improve understanding of tumor heterogeneity and expand the therapeutic management of cancer.}, } @article {pmid35029317, year = {2022}, author = {de Miranda, JF and Ruiz, LF and Silva, CB and Uekane, TM and Silva, KA and Gonzalez, AGM and Fernandes, FF and Lima, AR}, title = {Kombucha: A review of substrates, regulations, composition, and biological properties.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {503-527}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.16029}, pmid = {35029317}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Beverages/analysis ; *Camellia sinensis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; *Tea ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {Kombucha has been gaining prominence around the world and becoming popular due to its good health benefits. This beverage is historically obtained by the tea fermentation of Camellia sinensis and by a biofilm of cellulose containing the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The other substrates added to the C. sinensis tea have also been reported to help kombucha production. The type as well as the amount of sugar substrate, which is the origin of SCOBY, in addition to time and temperature of fermentation influence the content of organic acids, vitamins, total phenolics, and alcoholic content of kombucha. The route involved in the metabolite biotransformation identified in kombucha so far and the microorganisms involved in the process need to be further studied. Some nutritional properties and benefits related to the beverage have already been reported. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and antidiabetic and anticarcinogenic effects are some of the beneficial effects attributed to kombucha. Nevertheless, scientific literature needs clinical studies to evaluate these benefits in human beings. The toxic effects associated with the consumption of kombucha are still unclear, but due to the possibility of adverse reactions occurring, its consumption is contraindicated in infants and pregnant women, children under 4-years-old, patients with kidney failure, and patients with HIV. The regulations in place for kombucha address a number of criteria, mainly for the pH and alcohol content, in order to guarantee the quality and safety of the beverage as well as to ensure transparency of information for consumers.}, } @article {pmid35029285, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, S and Nishi, M and Morine, Y and Shimada, M and Tokunaga, T and Kashihara, H and Takasu, C and Yamada, S and Wada, Y}, title = {Epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate hinders metabolic coupling to suppress colorectal cancer malignancy through targeting aerobic glycolysis in cancer‑associated fibroblasts.}, journal = {International journal of oncology}, volume = {60}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35029285}, issn = {1791-2423}, mesh = {Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/drug effects ; Catechin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/prevention & control ; Oxidative Coupling/*drug effects ; Warburg Effect, Oncologic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {In recent times, researchers working on tumor metabolism have paid increasing attention to the tumor microenvironment. Emerging evidence has confirmed that epigenetic modifications of cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) alters the characteristics of glucose metabolism to achieve a symbiotic relationship with the cancer cells. Epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate (EGCG) exerts anti‑tumor effects via a variety of mechanisms, although the underlying mechanism that accounts for the effects of EGCG on glucose metabolic alterations of CAFs have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, through co‑culture with colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, human intestinal fibroblasts were transformed into CAFs, and exhibited enhanced aerobic glycolysis. Induced CAFs were able to enhance the proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells in vitro. EGCG treatment led to direct inhibition of the proliferation and migration of CRC cells; furthermore, EGCG treatment of CAFs suppressed their tumor‑promoting capabilities by inhibiting their glycolytic activity. Blocking the lactic acid efflux of CAFs with a monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) inhibitor or through silencing MCT4 could also suppress their tumor‑promoting capabilities, indicating that lactate fulfills an important role in the metabolic coupling that occurs between CAFs and cancer cells. Taken together, the results of the present study showed that EGCG targeting of the metabolism of tumor stromal cells provided a safe and effective strategy of anti‑cancer therapy.}, } @article {pmid35029104, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, J and Hestrin, R and Nuccio, EE and Morrison, KD and Ramon, CE and Samo, TJ and Pett-Ridge, J and Ly, SS and Laurence, TA and Weber, PK}, title = {Label-Free Multiphoton Imaging of Microbes in Root, Mineral, and Soil Matrices with Time-Gated Coherent Raman and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {1994-2008}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.1c05818}, pmid = {35029104}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Minerals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman/methods ; }, abstract = {Imaging biogeochemical interactions in complex microbial systems─such as those at the soil-root interface─is crucial to studies of climate, agriculture, and environmental health but complicated by the three-dimensional (3D) juxtaposition of materials with a wide range of optical properties. We developed a label-free multiphoton nonlinear imaging approach to provide contrast and chemical information for soil microorganisms in roots and minerals with epi-illumination by simultaneously imaging two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF), coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), second-harmonic generation (SHG), and sum-frequency mixing (SFM). We used fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and time gating to correct CARS for the autofluorescence background native to soil particles and fungal hyphae (TG-CARS) using time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). We combined TPEF, TG-CARS, and FLIM to maximize image contrast for live fungi and bacteria in roots and soil matrices without fluorescence labeling. Using this instrument, we imaged symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) structures within unstained plant roots in 3D to 60 μm depth. High-quality imaging was possible at up to 30 μm depth in a clay particle matrix and at 15 μm in complex soil preparation. TG-CARS allowed us to identify previously unknown lipid droplets in the symbiotic fungus, Serendipita bescii. We also visualized unstained putative bacteria associated with the roots of Brachypodium distachyon in a soil microcosm. Our results show that this multimodal approach holds significant promise for rhizosphere and soil science research.}, } @article {pmid35028741, year = {2022}, author = {Vohník, M and Figura, T and Réblová, M}, title = {Hyaloscypha gabretae and Hyaloscypha gryndleri spp. nov. (Hyaloscyphaceae, Helotiales), two new mycobionts colonizing conifer, ericaceous and orchid roots.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {105-122}, pmid = {35028741}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; *Tracheophyta ; }, abstract = {Historically, Hyaloscypha s. lat. (Hyaloscyphaceae, Helotiales) included various saprobes with small apothecia formed on decaying plant matter, usually wood, that were defined by chemical and (ultra)structural aspects. However, recent molecular phylogenetic and resynthesis studies have narrowed the concept of the genus and shown that it contains several widely distributed species with unknown sexual morphs that form ectomycorrhizae, ericoid mycorrhizae, and mycothalli and also grow endophytically in plant roots and hypogeous ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fruitbodies (i.e., the historical Hymenoscyphus ericae aggregate). Hence, some of the sexually reproducing saprobic Hyaloscypha s. lat. and the symbionts belong to the monophyletic Hyaloscypha s. str. Here, we introduce two new root-symbiotic Hyaloscypha s. str. species, i.e., H. gabretae and H. gryndleri spp. nov. While the former was isolated only from ericaceous hosts (Vaccinium myrtillus from Southern Bohemia, Czechia and Calluna vulgaris from England, UK), the latter was obtained from a basidiomycetous EcM root tip of Picea abies (Pinaceae), roots of Pseudorchis albida (Orchidaceae), and hair roots of V. myrtillus from Southern Bohemia and C. vulgaris from England. Hyaloscypha gryndleri comprises two closely related lineages, suggesting ongoing speciation, possibly connected with the root-symbiotic life-style. Fungal isolates from ericaceous roots with sequences similar to H. gabretae and H. gryndleri have been obtained in Japan and in Canada and Norway, respectively, suggesting a wide and scattered distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. In a series of in vitro experiments, both new species failed to form orchid mycorrhizal structures in roots of P. albida and H. gryndleri repeatedly formed what morphologically corresponds to the ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) symbiosis in hair roots of V. myrtillus, whereas the ErM potential of H. gabretae remained unresolved. Our results highlight the symbiotic plasticity of root-associated hyaloscyphoid mycobionts as well as our limited knowledge of their diversity and distribution, warranting further ecophysiological and taxonomic research of these important and widespread fungi.}, } @article {pmid35027725, year = {2022}, author = {Muñoz-Gómez, SA and Susko, E and Williamson, K and Eme, L and Slamovits, CH and Moreira, D and López-García, P and Roger, AJ}, title = {Site-and-branch-heterogeneous analyses of an expanded dataset favour mitochondria as sister to known Alphaproteobacteria.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {253-262}, pmid = {35027725}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {*Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Metagenome ; Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Determining the phylogenetic origin of mitochondria is key to understanding the ancestral mitochondrial symbiosis and its role in eukaryogenesis. However, the precise evolutionary relationship between mitochondria and their closest bacterial relatives remains hotly debated. The reasons include pervasive phylogenetic artefacts as well as limited protein and taxon sampling. Here we developed a new model of protein evolution that accommodates both across-site and across-branch compositional heterogeneity. We applied this site-and-branch-heterogeneous model (MAM60 + GFmix) to a considerably expanded dataset that comprises 108 mitochondrial proteins of alphaproteobacterial origin, and novel metagenome-assembled genomes from microbial mats, microbialites and sediments. The MAM60 + GFmix model fits the data much better and agrees with analyses of compositionally homogenized datasets with conventional site-heterogenous models. The consilience of evidence thus suggests that mitochondria are sister to the Alphaproteobacteria to the exclusion of MarineProteo1 and Magnetococcia. We also show that the ancestral presence of the crista-developing mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (a mitofilin-domain-containing Mic60 protein) in mitochondria and the Alphaproteobacteria only supports their close relationship.}, } @article {pmid35023780, year = {2022}, author = {Herlambang, A and Guo, Y and Takashima, Y and Narisawa, K and Ohta, H and Nishizawa, T}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence of Entomortierella parvispora E1425, a Mucoromycotan Fungus Associated with Burkholderiaceae-Related Endosymbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0110121}, pmid = {35023780}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Some mucoromycotan fungi establish symbiotic associations with endohyphal bacteria. Here, the genome of Entomortierella parvispora E1425 (synonymously known as Mortierella parvispora E1425), which harbors a cultured Burkholderiaceae-related endobacterium (BRE) designated Mycoavidus sp. strain B2-EB, was sequenced. We provide genomic information to elucidate fungal-BRE symbiotic features.}, } @article {pmid35023534, year = {2022}, author = {Kim, G and Bae, JH and Cheon, S and Lee, DH and Kim, DH and Lee, D and Park, SH and Shim, S and Seo, JH and Han, NS}, title = {Prebiotic activities of dextran from Leuconostoc mesenteroides SPCL742 analyzed in the aspect of the human gut microbial ecosystem.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {1256-1267}, doi = {10.1039/d1fo03287a}, pmid = {35023534}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {Dextrans/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Leuconostoc mesenteroides/*metabolism ; Prebiotics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate the prebiotic activities of dextran (LM742) produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides SPCL742 in the aspect of the human gut microbial ecosystem focusing on microbiome and metabolome changes in in vitro colonic fermentation. LM742 dextran had a medium-chain structure with the molecular weight of 1394.87 kDa (DP = 7759.22) and α-1,6 and α-1,3 linkages with a 26.11 : 1 ratio. The LM742 dextran was resistent to digestive enzymes in the human gastrointestinal conditions. The individual cultivation of 30 intestinal bacteria with LM742 dextran showed the growth of Bacteroides spp., whereas in vitro human fecal fermentation with LM742 exhibited the symbiotic growth of Bacteroides spp. and beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium spp. Further co-cultivation of Bacteroides xylanisolvens and several probiotics indicated that B. xylanisolvens provides a cross-feeding of dextran to probiotics. In fecal fermentation, LM742 dextran resulted in increased concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, valerate and pantothenate, but it rarely affected the conversion of betaine to trimethylamine. Lastly, LM742 dextran inhibited the adhesion of pathogenic E. coli to human epithelial cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate the prebiotic potential of LM742 dextran as a health-beneficial polysaccharide in the human intestine.}, } @article {pmid35023254, year = {2022}, author = {Plett, KL and Snijders, F and Castañeda-Gómez, L and Wong-Bajracharya, JW and Anderson, IC and Carrillo, Y and Plett, JM}, title = {Nitrogen fertilization differentially affects the symbiotic capacity of two co-occurring ectomycorrhizal species.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {309-323}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15879}, pmid = {35023254}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fertilization ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Forest trees rely on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi to obtain growth-limiting nutrients. While addition of nitrogen (N) has the potential to disrupt these critical relationships, there is conflicting evidence as to the mechanism by which ECM:host mutualism may be affected. We evaluated how N fertilization altered host interactions and gene transcription between Eucalyptus grandis and Pisolithus microcarpus or Pisolithus albus, two closely related ECM species that typically co-occur within the same ecosystem. Our investigation demonstrated species-specific responses to elevated N: P. microcarpus maintained its ability to transport microbially sourced N to its host but had a reduced ability to penetrate into root tissues, while P. albus maintained its colonization ability but reduced delivery of N to its host. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that regulation of different suites of N-transporters may be responsible for these species-specific differences. In addition to N-dependent responses, we were also able to define a conserved 'core' transcriptomic response of Eucalyptus grandis to mycorrhization that was independent of abiotic conditions. Our results demonstrate that even between closely related ECM species, responses to N fertilization can vary considerably, suggesting that a better understanding of the breadth and mechanisms of their responses is needed to support forest ecosystems into the future.}, } @article {pmid35022794, year = {2022}, author = {Jiang, D and Lin, R and Tan, M and Yan, J and Yan, S}, title = {The mycorrhizal-induced growth promotion and insect resistance reduction in Populus alba × P. berolinensis seedlings: a multi-omics study.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {1059-1069}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpab155}, pmid = {35022794}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Animals ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; *Moths ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Populus/genetics ; Seedlings/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are an alternative to chemical insecticides or fertilizers, and there is an urgent need to extend the application of AM fungi to woody plants. This study aims to investigate the growth and resistance against the gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar) in Glomus intraradices-colonized Populus alba × P. berolinensis seedlings, and to unravel the transcriptome and metabolome phenotypes recruited by AM fungus colonization that affect plant growth and insect resistance. Our results showed a positive mycorrhizal growth response, i.e., growth and biomass of mycorrhizal seedlings were enhanced. However, AM fungus inoculation reduced the resistance of poplar to gypsy moth larvae, as evidenced by the decreased carbon/nitrogen ratio in leaves, as well as the increased larval growth and shortened larval developmental duration. Transcriptome analysis revealed that in both auxin and gibberellin signaling transductions, all nodes were responsive to AM symbiosis and most differentially expressed genes belonging to effectors were up-regulated in mycorrhizal seedlings. Furthermore, the two key enzymes (4-coumarate-CoA ligase and trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase) involved in the synthesis of p-Coumaroyl-CoA, an initial metabolite in flavonoid biosynthesis and the first rate-limiting enzyme (chalcone synthase) in flavonoid biosynthesis, were down-regulated at the transcriptional level. Consistent with the transcriptome results, metabolome analysis found that the amounts of all differentially accumulated flavonoid compounds (e.g., catechin and quercetin) identified in mycorrhizal seedlings were decreased. Taken together, these findings highlight the diverse outcomes of AM fungi-host plant-insect interaction and reveal the regulatory network of the positive mycorrhizal growth response and mycorrhizal-induced reduction of insect resistance in poplar.}, } @article {pmid35022540, year = {2022}, author = {Tanaka, S and Hashimoto, K and Kobayashi, Y and Yano, K and Maeda, T and Kameoka, H and Ezawa, T and Saito, K and Akiyama, K and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Asymbiotic mass production of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus clarus.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {43}, pmid = {35022540}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*administration & dosage ; Fungi/*physiology ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*administration & dosage ; Lactones/*administration & dosage ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Myristic Acid/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/*administration & dosage ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a mutually beneficial interaction between fungi and land plants and promotes global phosphate cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. AM fungi are recognised as obligate symbionts that require root colonisation to complete a life cycle involving the production of propagules, asexual spores. Recently, it has been shown that Rhizophagus irregularis can produce infection-competent secondary spores asymbiotically by adding a fatty acid, palmitoleic acid. Furthermore, asymbiotic growth can be supported using myristate as a carbon and energy source for their asymbiotic growth to increase fungal biomass. However, the spore production and the ability of these spores to colonise host roots were still limited compared to the co-culture of the fungus with plant roots. Here we show that a combination of two plant hormones, strigolactone and jasmonate, induces the production of a large number of infection-competent spores in asymbiotic cultures of Rhizophagus clarus HR1 in the presence of myristate and organic nitrogen. Inoculation of asymbiotically-generated spores promoted the growth of host plants, as observed for spores produced by symbiotic culture system. Our findings provide a foundation for the elucidation of hormonal control of the fungal life cycle and the development of inoculum production schemes.}, } @article {pmid35022241, year = {2022}, author = {Sakai, HD and Nur, N and Kato, S and Yuki, M and Shimizu, M and Itoh, T and Ohkuma, M and Suwanto, A and Kurosawa, N}, title = {Insight into the symbiotic lifestyle of DPANN archaea revealed by cultivation and genome analyses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35022241}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Archaea/classification/cytology/*genetics/*physiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Genomics ; Nanoarchaeota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Decades of culture-independent analyses have resulted in proposals of many tentative archaeal phyla with no cultivable representative. Members of DPANN (an acronym of the names of the first included phyla Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanohaloarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota), an archaeal superphylum composed of at least 10 of these tentative phyla, are generally considered obligate symbionts dependent on other microorganisms. While many draft/complete genome sequences of DPANN archaea are available and their biological functions have been considerably predicted, only a few examples of their successful laboratory cultivation have been reported, limiting our knowledge of their symbiotic lifestyles. Here, we investigated physiology, morphology, and host specificity of an archaeon of the phylum "Candidatus Micrarchaeota" (ARM-1) belonging to the DPANN superphylum by cultivation. We constructed a stable coculture system composed of ARM-1 and its original host Metallosphaera sp. AS-7 belonging to the order Sulfolobales Further host-switching experiments confirmed that ARM-1 grew on five different archaeal species from three genera-Metallosphaera, Acidianus, and Saccharolobus-originating from geologically distinct hot, acidic environments. The results suggested the existence of DPANN archaea that can grow by relying on a range of hosts. Genomic analyses showed inferred metabolic capabilities, common/unique genetic contents of ARM-1 among cultivated micrarchaeal representatives, and the possibility of horizontal gene transfer between ARM-1 and members of the order Sulfolobales Our report sheds light on the symbiotic lifestyles of DPANN archaea and will contribute to the elucidation of their biological/ecological functions.}, } @article {pmid35021216, year = {2022}, author = {Liao, Z and Hu, C and Gao, Y}, title = {Mechanisms modulating the activities of intestinal stem cells upon radiation or chemical agent exposure.}, journal = {Journal of radiation research}, volume = {63}, number = {2}, pages = {149-157}, pmid = {35021216}, issn = {1349-9157}, mesh = {Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/cytology ; Intestines/cytology ; Muscle Proteins/metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Stem Cells/drug effects/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are essential for the regeneration of intestinal cells upon radiation or chemical agent damage. As for radiation-induced damage, the expression of AIM2, YAP, TLR3, PUMA or BVES can aggravate ISCs depletion, while the stimulation of TLR5, HGF/MET signaling, Ass1 gene, Slit/Robo signaling facilitate the radio-resistance of ISCs. Upon chemical agent treatment, the activation of TRAIL or p53/PUMA pathway exacerbate injury on ISCs, while the increased levels of IL-22, β-arrestin1 can ease the damage. The transformation between reserve ISCs (rISCs) maintaining quiescent states and active ISCs (aISCs) that are highly proliferative has obtained much attention in recent years, in which ISCs expressing high levels of Hopx, Bmi1, mTert, Krt19 or Lrig1 are resistant to radiation injury, and SOX9, MSI2, clusterin, URI are essential for rISCs maintenance. The differentiated cells like Paneth cells and enteroendocrine cells can also obtain stemness driven by radiation injury mediated by Wnt or Notch signaling. Besides, Mex3a-expressed ISCs can survive and then proliferate into intestinal epithelial cells upon chemical agent damage. In addition, the modulation of symbiotic microbes harboring gastrointestinal (GI) tract is also a promising strategy to protect ISCs against radiation damage. Overall, the strategies targeting mechanisms modulating ISCs activities are conducive to alleviating GI injury of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy or victims of nuclear or chemical accident.}, } @article {pmid35020747, year = {2022}, author = {Zawierucha, K and Trzebny, A and Buda, J and Bagshaw, E and Franzetti, A and Dabert, M and Ambrosini, R}, title = {Trophic and symbiotic links between obligate-glacier water bears (Tardigrada) and cryoconite microorganisms.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e0262039}, pmid = {35020747}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Ice Cover ; }, abstract = {Insights into biodiversity and trophic webs are important for understanding ecosystem functions. Although the surfaces of glaciers are one of the most productive and biologically diverse parts of the cryosphere, the links between top consumers, their diet and microbial communities are poorly understood. In this study, for the first time we investigated the relationships between bacteria, fungi and other microeukaryotes as they relate to tardigrades, microscopic metazoans that are top consumers in cryoconite, a biologically rich and productive biogenic sediment found on glacier surfaces. Using metabarcoding (16S rDNA for bacteria, ITS1 for fungi, and 18S rDNA for other microeukaryotes), we analyzed the microbial community structures of cryoconite and compared them with the community found in both fully fed and starved tardigrades. The community structure of each microbial group (bacteria, fungi, microeukaryotes) were similar within each host group (cryoconite, fully fed tardigrades and starved tardigrades), and differed significantly between groups, as indicated by redundancy analyses. The relative number of operational taxonomic units (ZOTUs, OTUs) and the Shannon index differed significantly between cryoconite and tardigrades. Species indicator analysis highlighted a group of microbial taxa typical of both fully fed and starved tardigrades (potential commensals), like the bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus and Stenotrophomonas, as well as a group of taxa typical of both cryoconite and fully fed tardigrades (likely part of the tardigrade diet; bacteria Flavobacterium sp., fungi Preussia sp., algae Trebouxiophyceae sp.). Tardigrades are consumers of bacteria, fungi and other microeukaryotes in cryoconite and, being hosts for diverse microbes, their presence can enrich the microbiome of glaciers.}, } @article {pmid35020195, year = {2022}, author = {Bell, CA and Magkourilou, E and Urwin, PE and Field, KJ}, title = {Disruption of carbon for nutrient exchange between potato and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhanced cyst nematode fitness and host pest tolerance.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {1}, pages = {269-279}, pmid = {35020195}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Nematoda ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Solanum tuberosum ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants simultaneously interact with a range of biotrophic symbionts, ranging from mutualists such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to parasites such as the potato cyst nematode (PCN). The exchange of mycorrhizal-acquired nutrients for plant-fixed carbon (C) is well studied; however, the impact of competing symbionts remains underexplored. In this study, we examined mycorrhizal nutrient and host resource allocation in potato with and without AMF and PCN using radioisotope tracing, whilst determining the consequences of such allocation. The presence of PCN disrupted C for nutrient exchange between plants and AMF, with plant C overwhelmingly obtained by the nematodes. Despite this, AMF maintained transfer of nutrients on PCN-infected potato, ultimately losing out in their C for nutrient exchange with the host. Whilst PCN exploited the greater nutrient reserves to drive population growth on AMF-potato, the fungus imparted tolerance to allow the host to bear the parasitic burden. Our findings provide important insights into the belowground dynamics of plant-AMF symbioses, where simultaneous nutritional and nonnutritional benefits conferred by AMF to hosts and their parasites are seldom considered in plant community dynamics. Our findings suggest this may be a critical oversight, particularly in the consideration of C and nutrient flows in plant and soil communities.}, } @article {pmid35019788, year = {2022}, author = {Chakrabarty, T and Sarkar, S}, title = {Algal treatment of membrane rejects: a unique approach towards zero liquid discharge.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {1321-1329}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2021.2025208}, pmid = {35019788}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Microalgae ; Osmosis ; Rivers ; Water ; *Water Purification/methods ; }, abstract = {A major concern in membrane-based water purification system is generation of huge concentrate stream and wastage of water. A typical Reverse osmosis (RO) or Nanofiltration (NF) system generates 20-25% reject containing high amount of dissolved salts and other contaminants. Contrary to popular belief, this reject water cannot be used without removing the contaminants or cannot be discharged anywhere. Main goal of this project is to find a cheapest and green way for treatment of RO/NF reject. Algal evaporation technique was explored in laboratory scale, to find its suitability for treatment of chloride-rich membrane reject in actual scenario and based on the results obtained, a pilot plant of 48KL was established on Hooghly Met Coke division (HMC), Tata Steel. Particular species of microalgae was selected, to take up minerals from reject water. There are several types of bacteria and symbiotic algae associated with selected micro algae survive in high TDS. A unique slope roof system, connected with algae growth tank, helps in efficient evaporation of water ensuring a Zero discharge. A markedly improved performance was achieved when algal evaporation followed solar evaporation. A total evaporation of 11 L/m[2]/day was observed, which was almost five times faster than Solar evaporation.}, } @article {pmid35019702, year = {2022}, author = {Cibichakravarthy, B and Oses-Prieto, JA and Ben-Yosef, M and Burlingame, AL and Karr, TL and Gottlieb, Y}, title = {Comparative Proteomics of Coxiella like Endosymbionts (CLEs) in the Symbiotic Organs of Rhipicephalus sanguineus Ticks.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0167321}, pmid = {35019702}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {P41 GM103481/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD016229/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Coxiella/genetics/*metabolism ; Dogs ; Female ; Gene Ontology ; Malpighian Tubules ; Ovary ; *Proteomics ; Rhipicephalus ; Rhipicephalus sanguineus ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Maternally transmitted obligatory endosymbionts are found in the female gonads as well as in somatic tissue and are expected to provide missing metabolite to their hosts. These deficiencies are presumably complemented through specific symbiotic microorganisms such as Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) of Rhipicephalus ticks. CLEs are localized in specialized host tissue cells within the Malpighian tubules (Mt) and the ovaries (Ov) from which they are maternally transmitted to developing oocytes. These two organs differ in function and cell types, but the role of CLEs in these tissues is unknown. To probe possible functions of CLEs, comparative proteomics was performed between Mt and Ov of R. sanguineus ticks. Altogether, a total of 580 and 614 CLE proteins were identified in Mt and Ov, respectively. Of these, 276 CLE proteins were more abundant in Mt, of which 12 were significantly differentially abundant. In Ov, 290 CLE proteins were more abundant, of which 16 were significantly differentially abundant. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that most of the proteins enriched in Mt are related to cellular metabolic functions and stress responses, whereas in Ov, the majority were related to cell proliferation suggesting CLEs function differentially and interdependently with host requirements specific to each organ. The results suggest Mt CLEs provide essential nutrients to its host and Ov CLEs promote proliferation and vertical transmission to tick progeny. IMPORTANCE Here we compare the Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) proteomes from Malpighian tubule (Mt) and the ovaries (Ov) of the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Our results support the hypothesis that CLEs function interdependently with host requirements in each of the organs. The different functional specificity of CLE in the same host suggest that metabolic capabilities evolved according to the constrains imposed by the specific organ function and requirements. Our findings provide specific CLE protein targets that can be useful for future studies of CLE biology with a focus on tick population control.}, } @article {pmid35018995, year = {2022}, author = {Tekdal, D and Çiftçi, C and Çingay, B and Çetiner, S}, title = {Isolation and characterization of the most abundant rhizobacterial species associated with Vuralia turcica (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae).}, journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {e20191460}, doi = {10.1590/0001-3765202220191460}, pmid = {35018995}, issn = {1678-2690}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Humans ; Plant Development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Vurali turcica is naturally grown in a limited area in Central Anatolia in Turkey and was categorized as a critically endangered plant in the Red Data Book of Turkish Plants. This study aimed to analyze whether the symbiotic and mutualistic relation between V. turcica rhizomes and present microflora in the habitat can be active on its distribution. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) colonize the rhizosphere and promote plant growth and physiology. In this paper, the diversity of PGPRs of rhizomes of V. turcica was analyzed. Rhizome samples were obtained from the natural habitats of V. turcica by the workers of Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden, and bacterial isolation was conducted on the collected samples. MIS analysis, 16S rRNA, and 16S-23S rRNA ITS region sequencing were implemented, and as a result, Bacillus megaterium was found to be one of the most abundant bacterial species of the rhizomes of V. turcica based on nucleotide homology. This study is the first report on the identification of rhizobacterial species in V. turcica.}, } @article {pmid35018227, year = {2021}, author = {Fu, C and Yang, Z and Yu, J and Wei, M}, title = {The interaction between gut microbiome and anti-tumor drug therapy.}, journal = {American journal of cancer research}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {5812-5832}, pmid = {35018227}, issn = {2156-6976}, abstract = {A large number of symbiotic gut microbiome exists in the human gastrointestinal micro-ecosystem. The daily diet, lifestyle, and body constitution influence the type and quantity of gut microbiome in the body. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the gut microbiome can affect tumor development and progress. We discuss in this paper how the gut microbiome impacts tumor pathology through DNA damage, production of dietary and microbial metabolites, altered cellular signaling pathways, immune system suppression, and involvement in pro-inflammatory pathways changing gut microbiome composition. The gut microbiome acts on different types of the anti-tumor drug through bacterial translocation, immuno-modulation, metabolic modulation, enzymatic degradation, and reduction of microbial diversity. This article summarized the aforementioned by reviewing recent studies on the interaction among the gut microbiome, tumor development, and antitumor drugs.}, } @article {pmid35017835, year = {2021}, author = {Arne, A and Ilgaza, A}, title = {Prebiotic and synbiotic effect on rumen papilla length development and rumen pH in 12-week-old calves.}, journal = {Veterinary world}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {2883-2888}, pmid = {35017835}, issn = {0972-8988}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIM: Europe and the USA have banned antibiotics use as growth promoters. There is a need for alternative products that can ensure production and health protection. Prebiotics has been proposed as alternatives because these materials have wide-ranging physiological effects on gut function, activity of the large intestinal microflora, mineral absorption, and immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of three different doses of inulin, a prebiotic, in combination with probiotic Enterococcus faecium (a new synbiotic) on postnatal rumen development by comparing rumen papilla length, width, muscle layer thickness, and content pH level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomly selected 23 (±5)-days-old healthy male Holstein crossbreed calves, weighing 50 kg (±5 kg), were randomly allocated to seven groups, ten in each group. The calves were kept in a pen of 5, under the same conditions and were fed twice a day, ~3.5 liters of whole milk per feeding. Control group (C n=10) was fed with whole milk only (no additives were added). The six other groups (three prebiotics and three synbiotics) received food additives with their morning milk feeding. The source of prebiotics, Jerusalem artichoke powder concentrate (JAPC) contained 50% of inulin. JAPC in doses of 6 g, 12 g, or 24 g were added to the milk. Formed prebiotic groups were denoted as PreG6, PreG12, and PreG24. To evaluate if the addition of the probiotic E. faecium 2×10[9] colony forming unit g[-1] to manufacturer recommended dose of 0.25 g improves inulin effect on rumen, it was added to all their JAPC doses. The new content synbiotic groups were denoted as SynG6, SynG12, and SynG24. On day 57 of the study, when all calves were approximately 12 weeks old, they were slaughtered in a certified slaughterhouse. Tissue cultures for histological analysis were obtained from Saccus dorsalis and Saccus ventralis of the rumen. Tissue culture staining for histology was carried out using hematoxylin and eosin staining method. Rumen histological samples were used to measure papilla length, width, and muscle layer thickness. Each sample was used to make five measurements on the present rumen papilla.

RESULTS: The results showed that by adding 12 g of inulin to whole milk when feeding calves improves rumen papilla development, which is seen by increased length and width of papilla, especially in the Saccus ventralis region. By combing this dose of inulin with 0.25 g of E. faecium, a significant increase of papilla is achieved. Saccus ventralis muscle layer in the rumen is thicker than it is in Saccus dorsalis regardless of addition of prebiotics or synbiotics.

CONCLUSION: The addition of inulin to whole milk can influence the pH of the rumen by making it more alkaline. The addition of prebiotic inulin and a novel synbiotic (inulin combined with E. faecium) can accelerate postnatal rumen development and improve its functionality.}, } @article {pmid35017093, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, X and Yang, H and Zhou, Y and Liu, X}, title = {Performance and mechanism analysis of gel immobilized anammox bacteria in treating different proportions of domestic wastewater: a valid alternative to granular sludge.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {347}, number = {}, pages = {126623}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126623}, pmid = {35017093}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Sewage ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The treatment performance of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) immobilized filler on different proportions of domestic wastewater was evaluated. The results showed that, in comparison to synthetic wastewater, 50% domestic wastewater promoted the anammox reaction of immobilized filler, while 100% domestic wastewater had no significant effect on the anammox activity of immobilized filler but the total nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) was improved through enhanced denitrification. The TNRE of the immobilized filler was 82.5%, which was significantly higher than that of AnGS (69.7%), and its average anammox contribution rate was more than 90%. This was because the encapsulated anammox biomass could better maintain competitive advantages and coordinate the symbiotic relationship with denitrifying bacteria. Moreover, lower NH4[+]-N concentration resulted in greater influence of C/N ratio on anammox performance than COD concentration, while the opposite was true at high NH4[+]-N concentration. This study verified that anammox immobilized filler is effective for mainstream applications.}, } @article {pmid35017090, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Cao, P and Wang, S and Xu, X}, title = {Research on the treatment mechanism of anthraquinone dye wastewater by algal-bacterial symbiotic system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {347}, number = {}, pages = {126691}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126691}, pmid = {35017090}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anthraquinones ; *Bacteria ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Symbiosis ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study analyzed the role of algae and bacteria in algal-bacterial symbiotic systems for the treatment of dyeing wastewater. The mechanism was investigated by constructing an algae-bacteria tandem system (A system) and a bacteria-algae tandem system (B system). The results showed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and decolorization rates of A system reached 91% and 90%, respectively, under optimal conditions, which were higher than that of B system. The degradation pathways of A and B systems differed according the degradation product analysis. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria in A and B systems. Armatimonadetes increased considerably in A system. These results show that algae mainly contributed to the preliminary degradation of anthraquinone dye, and resulting products were easily degraded by bacteria. This study provides guidance on the optimization of the system. It can be better adapted to the actual needs of wastewater treatment plants.}, } @article {pmid35015997, year = {2022}, author = {Jarratt-Barnham, E and Zarrabian, D and Oldroyd, GED}, title = {Symbiotic regulation: How plants seek salvation in starvation.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {R46-R48}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.059}, pmid = {35015997}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {When plants are starved of phosphate, many rely on an ancient symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to secure a critical supply. A new study demonstrates a molecular basis for the regulation of symbiosis by phosphate starvation.}, } @article {pmid35015977, year = {2022}, author = {Zou, Q and Zhou, Y and Cheng, G and Peng, Y and Luo, S and Wu, H and Yan, C and Li, X and He, D}, title = {Erratum for Zou et al., "Antioxidant Ability of Glutaredoxins and Their Role in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841".}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {e0218621}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02186-21}, pmid = {35015977}, issn = {1098-5336}, } @article {pmid35015849, year = {2022}, author = {Coelho, JC and Calhoun, ED and Calhoun, GN and Poole, AZ}, title = {Patchy Distribution of GTPases of Immunity-Associated Proteins (GIMAP) within Cnidarians and Dinoflagellates Suggests a Complex Evolutionary History.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {35015849}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cnidaria/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {GTPases of Immunity-Associated Proteins (GIMAP) are a group of small GTP-binding proteins found in a variety of organisms, including vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. These proteins are characterized by the highly conserved AIG1 domain, and in vertebrates, have been implicated in regulation of the immune system as well as apoptosis and autophagy, though their exact mechanism of action remains unclear. Recent work on cnidarian GIMAPs suggests a conserved role in immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy-three processes involved in coral bleaching, or the breakdown of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Therefore, to further understand the evolution of GIMAPs in this group of organisms, the purpose of this study was to characterize GIMAP or GIMAP-like sequences utilizing publicly available genomic and transcriptomic data in species across the cnidarian phylogeny. The results revealed a patchy distribution of GIMAPs in cnidarians, with three distinct types referred to as L-GIMAP, S-GIMAP, and GIMAP-like. Additionally, GIMAPs were present in most dinoflagellate species and formed seven well-supported clades. Overall, these results elucidate the distribution of GIMAPs within two distantly related eukaryotic groups and represent the first in-depth investigation on the evolution of these proteins within both protists and basal metazoans.}, } @article {pmid35014871, year = {2022}, author = {Schulte, CCM and Ramachandran, VK and Papachristodoulou, A and Poole, PS}, title = {Genome-Scale Metabolic Modelling of Lifestyle Changes in Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0097521}, pmid = {35014871}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {BB/T001801/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/F013159/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/T006722/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/R017859/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Proteome/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation in rhizobium-legume symbioses is of major importance for sustainable agricultural practices. To establish a mutualistic relationship with their plant host, rhizobia transition from free-living bacteria in soil to growth down infection threads inside plant roots and finally differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. We reconstructed a genome-scale metabolic model for Rhizobium leguminosarum and integrated the model with transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and gene essentiality data to investigate nutrient uptake and metabolic fluxes characteristic of these different lifestyles. Synthesis of leucine, polyphosphate, and AICAR is predicted to be important in the rhizosphere, while myo-inositol catabolism is active in undifferentiated nodule bacteria in agreement with experimental evidence. The model indicates that bacteroids utilize xylose and glycolate in addition to dicarboxylates, which could explain previously described gene expression patterns. Histidine is predicted to be actively synthesized in bacteroids, consistent with transcriptome and proteome data for several rhizobial species. These results provide the basis for targeted experimental investigation of metabolic processes specific to the different stages of the rhizobium-legume symbioses. IMPORTANCE Rhizobia are soil bacteria that induce nodule formation on plant roots and differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. A detailed understanding of this complex symbiosis is essential for advancing ongoing efforts to engineer novel symbioses with cereal crops for sustainable agriculture. Here, we reconstruct and validate a genome-scale metabolic model for Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841. By integrating the model with various experimental data sets specific to different stages of symbiosis formation, we elucidate the metabolic characteristics of rhizosphere bacteria, undifferentiated bacteria inside root nodules, and nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Our model predicts metabolic flux patterns for these three distinct lifestyles, thus providing a framework for the interpretation of genome-scale experimental data sets and identifying targets for future experimental studies.}, } @article {pmid35014870, year = {2022}, author = {Kreuzenbeck, NB and Seibel, E and Schwitalla, JW and Fricke, J and Conlon, BH and Schmidt, S and Hammerbacher, A and Köllner, TG and Poulsen, M and Hoffmeister, D and Beemelmanns, C}, title = {Comparative Genomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Termitomyces Species Provides Insights into the Terpenome of the Fungal Cultivar and the Characteristic Odor of the Fungus Garden of Macrotermes natalensis Termites.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e0121421}, pmid = {35014870}, issn = {2379-5077}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Termitomyces/genetics ; *Isoptera ; Phylogeny ; Ecosystem ; Limonene/metabolism ; Odorants ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {Macrotermitinae termites have domesticated fungi of the genus Termitomyces as food for their colony, analogously to human farmers growing crops. Termites propagate the fungus by continuously blending foraged and predigested plant material with fungal mycelium and spores (fungus comb) within designated subterranean chambers. To test the hypothesis that the obligate fungal symbiont emits specific volatiles (odor) to orchestrate its life cycle and symbiotic relations, we determined the typical volatile emission of fungus comb biomass and Termitomyces nodules, revealing α-pinene, camphene, and d-limonene as the most abundant terpenes. Genome mining of Termitomyces followed by gene expression studies and phylogenetic analysis of putative enzymes related to secondary metabolite production encoded by the genomes uncovered a conserved and specific biosynthetic repertoire across strains. Finally, we proved by heterologous expression and in vitro enzymatic assays that a highly expressed gene sequence encodes a rare bifunctional mono-/sesquiterpene cyclase able to produce the abundant comb volatiles camphene and d-limonene. IMPORTANCE The symbiosis between macrotermitinae termites and Termitomyces is obligate for both partners and is one of the most important contributors to biomass conversion in the Old World tropic's ecosystems. To date, research efforts have dominantly focused on acquiring a better understanding of the degradative capabilities of Termitomyces to sustain the obligate nutritional symbiosis, but our knowledge of the small-molecule repertoire of the fungal cultivar mediating interspecies and interkingdom interactions has remained fragmented. Our omics-driven chemical, genomic, and phylogenetic study provides new insights into the volatilome and biosynthetic capabilities of the evolutionarily conserved fungal genus Termitomyces, which allows matching metabolites to genes and enzymes and, thus, opens a new source of unique and rare enzymatic transformations.}, } @article {pmid35014694, year = {2022}, author = {Ortiz-Barbosa, GS and Torres-Martínez, L and Manci, A and Neal, S and Soubra, T and Khairi, F and Trinh, J and Cardenas, P and Sachs, JL}, title = {No disruption of rhizobial symbiosis during early stages of cowpea domestication.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {76}, number = {3}, pages = {496-511}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14424}, pmid = {35014694}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Domestication ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Vigna/genetics ; }, abstract = {Modern agriculture intensely selects aboveground plant structures, while often neglecting belowground features, and evolutionary tradeoffs between these traits are predicted to disrupt host control over microbiota. Moreover, drift, inbreeding, and relaxed selection for symbiosis in crops might degrade plant mechanisms that support beneficial microbes. We studied the impact of domestication on the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between cowpea and root-nodulating Bradyrhizobium. We combined genome-wide analyses with a greenhouse inoculation study to investigate genomic diversity, heritability, and symbiosis trait variation among wild and early-domesticated cowpea genotypes. Cowpeas experienced modest decreases in genome-wide diversity during early domestication. Nonetheless, domesticated cowpeas responded efficiently to variation in symbiotic effectiveness, by forming more root nodules with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and sanctioning nonfixing strains. Domesticated populations invested a larger proportion of host tissues into root nodules than wild cowpeas. Unlike soybean and wheat, cowpea showed no compelling evidence for degradation of symbiosis during domestication. Domesticated cowpeas experienced a less severe bottleneck than these crops and the low nutrient conditions in Africa where cowpea landraces were developed likely favored plant genotypes that gain substantial benefits from symbiosis. Breeders have largely neglected symbiosis traits, but artificial selection for improved plant responses to microbiota could increase plant performance and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid35014053, year = {2022}, author = {Das, S and Das, S and Ghangrekar, MM}, title = {Efficacious bioremediation of heavy metals and radionuclides from wastewater employing aquatic macro- and microphytes.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {3-4}, pages = {260-278}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202100372}, pmid = {35014053}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; *Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Radioisotopes ; Wastewater ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic contaminants, such as heavy metals and radionuclides, have become an alarming environmental concern globally, especially for developed and developing nations. Moreover, inefficient prevalent wastewater treatment technologies combined with increased industrial activity and modernization has led to increase in the concentration of toxic metals and radioactive components in the natural water bodies. However, for the improvement of ecosystem of rivers, lakes, and other water sources different physicochemical methods such as membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, activated carbon adsorption, electrocoagulation, and other electrochemical treatment are employed, which are uneconomical and insufficient for the complete abatement of these emerging pollutants. Therefore, the application of bioremediation employing aquatic macrophytes and microphytes have gained considerable importance owing to the benefits of cost-effectiveness, eco-friendly, and higher energy efficiency. Thus, the present review aims to enlighten the readers on the potential application of algae, cyanobacteria, plant, and other aquatic micro- and macrophytes for the elimination of carcinogenic metals and radioactive isotopes from wastewater. Additionally, the use of transgenic plants, genetically modified species, algal-bacterial symbiosis for the enhancement of removal efficiency of mutagenic contaminants are also highlighted. Furthermore, species selection based on robustness, mechanism of different pathways for heavy metal and radionuclide detoxification are elucidated in this review article.}, } @article {pmid35014041, year = {2022}, author = {Koprivnikar, J}, title = {The enemy of my enemy is my friend: Consumption of parasite infectious stages benefits hosts and predators depending on transmission mode.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {1}, pages = {4-7}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13625}, pmid = {35014041}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; *Parasites ; Predatory Behavior ; Snails ; *Trematoda ; }, abstract = {Research Highlight: Hobart, B. K., Moss, W. E., McDevitt-Galles, T., Stewart Merrill, T. E., Johnson, P. T. J. (2021). It's a worm-eat-worm world: Consumption of parasite free-living stages protects hosts and benefits predators. Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13591 Many parasites and pathogens have infectious stages that are vulnerable to consumption by non-host organisms. This consumption can benefit both the predators that consume this unusual food resource and the hosts which are less likely to encounter infectious propagules. Yet the importance of these benefits may also depend on parasite transmission, which can influence consumer opportunities to feed upon free-living infectious stages. Hobart et al. (2021) report that freshwater snails with high densities of symbiotic oligochaetes are less likely to be parasitized by trematodes (Platyhelminthes) with an 'active' versus 'passive' (motile or stationary, respectively) mode of transmission, supporting a protective effect via oligochaete predation upon infectious propagules. However, these predators benefit from snails harbouring passively acquired infections, and likely achieve their higher abundance from easy access to prey in the form of a second infectious stage emerging from these hosts. Consumption of free-living infectious stages is thus beneficial to hosts and predators, but varies with parasite life history and ecology.}, } @article {pmid35012977, year = {2022}, author = {Wong-Bajracharya, J and Singan, VR and Monti, R and Plett, KL and Ng, V and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, FM and Anderson, IC and Plett, JM}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus encodes a microRNA involved in cross-kingdom gene silencing during symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {35012977}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Gene Silencing ; Genome, Fungal ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Small RNAs (sRNAs) are known to regulate pathogenic plant-microbe interactions. Emerging evidence from the study of these model systems suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) can be translocated between microbes and plants to facilitate symbiosis. The roles of sRNAs in mutualistic mycorrhizal fungal interactions, however, are largely unknown. In this study, we characterized miRNAs encoded by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus and investigated their expression during mutualistic interaction with Eucalyptus grandis. Using sRNA sequencing data and in situ miRNA detection, a novel fungal miRNA, Pmic_miR-8, was found to be transported into E. grandis roots after interaction with P. microcarpus Further characterization experiments demonstrate that inhibition of Pmic_miR-8 negatively impacts the maintenance of mycorrhizal roots in E. grandis, while supplementation of Pmic_miR-8 led to deeper integration of the fungus into plant tissues. Target prediction and experimental testing suggest that Pmic_miR-8 may target the host NB-ARC domain containing transcripts, suggesting a potential role for this miRNA in subverting host signaling to stabilize the symbiotic interaction. Altogether, we provide evidence of previously undescribed cross-kingdom sRNA transfer from ectomycorrhizal fungi to plant roots, shedding light onto the involvement of miRNAs during the developmental process of mutualistic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid35011598, year = {2021}, author = {Abedi, A and Hajiahmadi, Z and Kordrostami, M and Esmaeel, Q and Jacquard, C}, title = {Analyses of Lysin-motif Receptor-like Kinase (LysM-RLK) Gene Family in Allotetraploid Brassica napus L. and Its Progenitor Species: An In Silico Study.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35011598}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Brassica napus/*enzymology/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Codon/genetics ; *Computer Simulation ; Exons/genetics ; Gene Duplication ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Introns/genetics ; MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; *Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; *Tetraploidy ; }, abstract = {The LysM receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) play a crucial role in plant symbiosis and response to environmental stresses. Brassica napus, B. rapa, and B. oleracea are utilized as valuable vegetables. Different biotic and abiotic stressors affect these crops, resulting in yield losses. Therefore, genome-wide analysis of the LysM-RLK gene family was conducted. From the genome of the examined species, 33 LysM-RLK have been found. The conserved domains of Brassica LysM-RLKs were divided into three groups: LYK, LYP, and LysMn. In the BrassicaLysM-RLK gene family, only segmental duplication has occurred. The Ka/Ks ratio for the duplicated pair of genes was less than one indicating that the genes' function had not changed over time. The BrassicaLysM-RLKs contain 70 cis-elements, indicating that they are involved in stress response. 39 miRNA molecules were responsible for the post-transcriptional regulation of 12 Brassica LysM-RLKs. A total of 22 SSR loci were discovered in 16 Brassica LysM-RLKs. According to RNA-seq data, the highest expression in response to biotic stresses was related to BnLYP6. According to the docking simulations, several residues in the active sites of BnLYP6 are in direct contact with the docked chitin and could be useful in future studies to develop pathogen-resistant B. napus. This research reveals comprehensive information that could lead to the identification of potential genes for Brassica species genetic manipulation.}, } @article {pmid35011384, year = {2021}, author = {Stelmasiewicz, M and Świątek, Ł and Ludwiczuk, A}, title = {Phytochemical Profile and Anticancer Potential of Endophytic Microorganisms from Liverwort Species, Marchantia polymorpha L.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35011384}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Endophytes/*chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Marchantia/*chemistry ; Metabolomics/methods ; Molecular Structure ; Phytochemicals/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/pharmacology ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Liverwort endophytes could be a source of new biologically active substances, especially when these spore-forming plants are known to produce compounds that are not found in other living organisms. Despite the significant development of plant endophytes research, there are only a few studies describing liverwort endophytic microorganisms and their metabolites. In the presented study, the analysis of the volatile compounds obtained from thallose liverwort species, Marchantia polymorpha L., and its endophytes was carried out. For this purpose, non-polar extracts of plant material and symbiotic microorganisms were obtained. The extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Compounds with the structure of diketopiperazine in the endophyte extract were identified. Liverwort volatile extract was a rich source of cuparane-, chamigrane-, acorane-, and thujopsane-type sesquiterpenoids. The cytotoxicity of ethyl acetate extracts from endophytic microorganisms was evaluated on a panel of cancer (FaDu, HeLa, and SCC-25) cell lines and normal (VERO), and revealed significant anticancer potential towards hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and cervical adenocarcinoma.}, } @article {pmid35011176, year = {2021}, author = {Kowalczyk, M and Znamirowska, A and Pawlos, M and Buniowska, M}, title = {The Use of Olkuska Sheep Milk for the Production of Symbiotic Dairy Ice Cream.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35011176}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of using Olkuska sheep milk for the production of ice cream with probiotics and prebiotics. The study examined the effect of the storage and type of bacteria used for the fermentation of ice cream mixes and partial replacement of inulin with apple fiber on the physicochemical properties, viability of probiotic cultures and organoleptic properties of sheep's milk ice cream stored at -22 °C for 21 days. The addition of apple fiber reduced the pH value of ice cream mixes before fermentation. In ice cream mixes and ice cream with apple fiber, the lactic acid content was higher by 0.1-0.2 g L[-1] than in their equivalents with inulin only. These differences persisted during the storage of the ice cream. After fermentation of the ice mixes, the bacterial cell count ranged from 10.62 log cfu g[-1] to 12.25 log cfu g[-1]. The freezing process reduced the population of probiotic bacteria cells in ice cream with inulin from 0.8 log cfu g[-1] in ice cream with Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1.0 log cfu g[-1] in ice cream with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and 1.1 log cfu g[-1] in ice cream with Lacticaseibacilluscasei. Freezing the varieties with apple fiber also resulted in a reduction of viable bacterial cells from 0.8 log cfu g[-1] in ice cream with L. paracasei and Lb. acidophilus to 1 log cfu g[-1] in ice cream with L. casei, compared to the results after fermentation. The highest percentage overrun was determined in ice cream with L. paracasei and Lb. acidophilus. Ice cream with L. casei was characterized by significantly lower overrun on the 7th and 21st days of storage. Although L. paracasei ice cream had the highest overrun, it did not cause a significant reduction in the probiotic population during storage. After seven days of storage, the first drop differed significantly depending on the type of bacteria used for fermentation of the mixture and the addition of apple fiber. L. casei ice cream had a longer first drop time than L. paracasei and Lb. acidophilus ice cream. Partial replacement of inulin with apple fiber resulted in a significant darkening of the color of ice cream mixes. Depending on the type of bacteria used for fermentation, the addition of apple fiber decreased the value of the L* parameter. Ice cream mixes and ice cream with inulin and apple fiber were characterized by a high proportion of yellow. Partial replacement of inulin with apple fiber reduced the hardness of ice cream compared to inulin-only ice cream. Moreover, the panelists found that ice cream with inulin was characterized by a sweeter taste than ice cream with apple fiber. Moreover, the addition of apple fiber favorably increased the flavor and aroma perception of the mango-passion fruit. Therefore, the milk of Olkuska sheep could be successfully used for the production of symbiotic dairy ice cream.}, } @article {pmid35010297, year = {2021}, author = {Scarpellini, E and Rinninella, E and Basilico, M and Colomier, E and Rasetti, C and Larussa, T and Santori, P and Abenavoli, L}, title = {From Pre- and Probiotics to Post-Biotics: A Narrative Review.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35010297}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: gut microbiota (GM) is a complex ecosystem containing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeasts. It has several functions in the human body ranging from immunomodulation to metabolic. GM derangement is called dysbiosis and is involved in several host diseases. Pre-, probiotics, and symbiotics (PRE-PRO-SYMB) have been extensively developed and studied for GM re-modulation. Herein, we review the literature data regarding the new concept of postbiotics, starting from PRE-PRO-SYMB.

METHODS: we conducted a search on the main medical databases for original articles, reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, and case series using the following keywords and acronyms and their associations: gut microbiota, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotic, and postbiotics.

RESULTS: postbiotics account for PRO components and metabolic products able to beneficially affect host health and GM. The deeper the knowledge about them, the greater their possible uses: the prevention and treatment of atopic, respiratory tract, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: better knowledge about postbiotics can be useful for the prevention and treatment of several human body diseases, alone or as an add-on to PRE-PRO-SYMB.}, } @article {pmid35009916, year = {2022}, author = {Asiedu, DKP and Yun, JH}, title = {Power Resource Optimization for Backscatter-Aided Symbiotic Full-Duplex Secondary Transmission with Hardware Impairments in a Cognitive Radio Framework.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35009916}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {This paper investigates the power resource optimization problem for a new cognitive radio framework with a symbiotic backscatter-aided full-duplex secondary link under imperfect interference cancellation and other hardware impairments. The problem is formulated using two approaches, namely, maximization of the sum rate and maximization of the primary link rate, subject to rate constraints on the secondary link, and the solution for each approach is derived. The problem of a half-duplex secondary link is also solved. Simulation results show that the sum rate and exploitation of the full-duplex capability of the secondary link are strongly affected by both the problem objective and hardware impairments.}, } @article {pmid35009115, year = {2021}, author = {Corcoz, L and Păcurar, F and Pop-Moldovan, V and Vaida, I and Stoian, V and Vidican, R}, title = {Mycorrhizal Patterns in the Roots of Dominant Festuca rubra in a High-Natural-Value Grassland.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35009115}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Grassland ecosystems occupy significant areas worldwide and represent a reservoir for biodiversity. These areas are characterized by oligotrophic conditions that stimulate mycorrhizal symbiotic partnerships to meet nutritional requirements. In this study, we selected Festuca rubra for its dominance in the studied mountain grassland, based on the fact that grasses more easily accept a symbiotic partner. Quantification of the entire symbiosis process, both the degree of colonization and the presence of a fungal structure, was performed using the root mycorrhizal pattern method. Analysis of data normality indicated colonization frequency as the best parameter for assessing the entire mycorrhizal mechanism, with five equal levels, each of 20%. Most of the root samples showed an intensity of colonization between 0 and 20% and a maximum of arbuscules of about 5%. The colonization degree had an average value of 35%, which indicated a medium permissiveness of roots for mycorrhizal partners. Based on frequency regression models, the intensity of colonization presented high fluctuations at 50% frequency, while the arbuscule development potential was set to a maximum of 5% in mycorrhized areas. Arbuscules were limited due to the unbalanced and unequal root development and their colonizing hyphal networks. The general regression model indicated that only 20% of intra-radicular hyphae have the potential to form arbuscules. The colonization patterns of dominant species in mountain grasslands represent a necessary step for improved understanding of the symbiont strategies that sustain the stability and persistence of these species.}, } @article {pmid35008909, year = {2022}, author = {Popkov, VA and Zharikova, AA and Demchenko, EA and Andrianova, NV and Zorov, DB and Plotnikov, EY}, title = {Gut Microbiota as a Source of Uremic Toxins.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {35008909}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Enzymes/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Metadata ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Uremic Toxins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Uremic retention solutes are the compounds that accumulate in the blood when kidney excretory function is impaired. Some of these compounds are toxic at high concentrations and are usually known as "uremic toxins". The cumulative detrimental effect of uremic toxins results in numerous health problems and eventually mortality during acute or chronic uremia, especially in end-stage renal disease. More than 100 different solutes increase during uremia; however, the exact origin for most of them is still debatable. There are three main sources for such compounds: exogenous ones are consumed with food, whereas endogenous ones are produced by the host metabolism or by symbiotic microbiota metabolism. In this article, we identify uremic retention solutes presumably of gut microbiota origin. We used database analysis to obtain data on the enzymatic reactions in bacteria and human organisms that potentially yield uremic retention solutes and hence to determine what toxins could be synthesized in bacteria residing in the human gut. We selected biochemical pathways resulting in uremic retention solutes synthesis related to specific bacterial strains and revealed links between toxin concentration in uremia and the proportion of different bacteria species which can synthesize the toxin. The detected bacterial species essential for the synthesis of uremic retention solutes were then verified using the Human Microbiome Project database. Moreover, we defined the relative abundance of human toxin-generating enzymes as well as the possibility of the synthesis of a particular toxin by the human metabolism. Our study presents a novel bioinformatics approach for the elucidation of the origin of both uremic retention solutes and uremic toxins and for searching for the most likely human microbiome producers of toxins that can be targeted and used for the therapy of adverse consequences of uremia.}, } @article {pmid35007577, year = {2022}, author = {Tran, CTK and Watts-Williams, SJ and Smernik, RJ and Cavagnaro, TR}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas increased tomato biomass and nutrition but did not affect local soil P availability or 16S bacterial community in the field.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {819}, number = {}, pages = {152620}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152620}, pmid = {35007577}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While interest in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal effects on soil phosphorus (P) have recently increased, field experiments on this topic are lacking. While microcosm studies provided valuable insights, the lack of field studies represents a knowledge gap. Here, we present a field study in which we grew a mycorrhiza-defective tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotype (named rmc) and its mycorrhizal wild-type progenitor (named 76R) with and without additional fertiliser, using a drip-irrigation system to examine the impacts of the AM symbiosis on soil P availability and plant growth and nutrition. AM effects on fruit biomass and nutrients, soil nutrient availability, soil moisture and the soil bacterial community were examined. At the time of harvest, the AM tomato plants without fertiliser had the same early season fruit biomass and fruit nutrient concentrations as plants that received fertiliser. The presence of roots reduced the concentration of available soil P, ammonium and soil moisture in the top 10 cm soil layer. Arbuscular mycorrhizas did not significantly affect soil P availability, soil moisture, or 16S bacterial community composition. These findings suggest an indirect role for AM fungi in tomato production but not necessarily a direct role in determining soil physicochemical traits, during the one season that this experiment was conducted. While longer-term field studies may be required in the future, the present study provides new insights into impacts of AM fungi on P availability and uptake in a field soil system.}, } @article {pmid35007432, year = {2021}, author = {Ibrahim, A and Maatouk, M and Rajaonison, A and Zgheib, R and Haddad, G and Bou Khalil, J and Raoult, D and Bittar, F}, title = {Adapted Protocol for Saccharibacteria Cocultivation: Two New Members Join the Club of Candidate Phyla Radiation.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e0106921}, pmid = {35007432}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Actinomycetaceae/classification/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques/instrumentation/*methods ; Culture Media/metabolism ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {The growing application of metagenomics to different ecological and microbiome niches in recent years has enhanced our knowledge of global microbial biodiversity. Among these abundant and widespread microbes, the candidate phyla radiation (CPR) group has been recognized as representing a large proportion of the microbial kingdom (>26%). CPR are characterized by their obligate symbiotic or exoparasitic activity with other microbial hosts, mainly bacteria. Currently, isolating CPR is still considered challenging for microbiologists. The idea of this study was to develop an adapted protocol for the coculture of CPR with a suitable bacterial host. Based on various sputum samples, we tried to enrich CPR (Saccharibacteria members) and to cocultivate them with pure hosts (Schaalia odontolytica). This protocol was monitored by TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) using a system specific for Saccharibacteria designed in this study, as well as by electron microscopy and sequencing. We succeeded in coculturing and sequencing the complete genomes of two new Saccharibacteria species, "Candidatus Minimicrobia naudis" and "Candidatus Minimicrobia vallesae." In addition, we noticed a decrease in the CT values of Saccharibacteria and a significant multiplication through their physical association with Schaalia odontolytica strains in the enriched medium that we developed. This work may help bridge gaps in the genomic database by providing new CPR members, and in the future, their currently unknown characteristics may be revealed. IMPORTANCE In this study, the first TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) system, targeting Saccharibacteria phylum, has been developed. This technique can specifically quantify Saccharibacteria members in any sample of interest in order to investigate their prevalence. In addition, another easy, specific, and sensitive protocol has been developed to maintain the viability of Saccharibacteria cells in an enriched medium with their bacterial host. The use of this protocol facilitates subsequent studies of the phenotypic characteristics of CPR and their physical interactions with bacterial species, as well as the sequencing of new genomes to improve the current database.}, } @article {pmid35006645, year = {2022}, author = {Fokin, SI and Serra, V}, title = {Bacterial symbiosis in ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora): Roads traveled and those still to be taken.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {5}, pages = {e12886}, pmid = {35006645}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {*Alveolata ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Ciliophora/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The diversity of prokaryotic symbionts in Ciliophora and other protists is fascinatingly rich; they may even include some potentially pathogenic bacteria. In this review, we summarize currently available data on biodiversity and some morphological and biological peculiarities of prokaryotic symbionts mainly within the genera Paramecium and Euplotes. Another direction of ciliate symbiology, neglected for a long time and now re-discovered, is the study of epibionts of ciliates. This promises a variety of interesting outcomes. Last, but not least, we stress the new technologies, such as next generation sequencing and the use of genomics data, which all can clarify many new aspects of relevance. For this reason, a brief overview of achievements in genomic studies on ciliate's symbionts is provided. Summing up the results of numerous scientific contributions, we systematically update current knowledge and outline the prospects as to how symbiology of Ciliophora may develop in the near future.}, } @article {pmid35005579, year = {2021}, author = {Chang, R and Wingfield, MJ and Marincowitz, S and de Beer, ZW and Zhou, X and Duong, TA}, title = {Ophiostomatoid fungi including a new species associated with Asian larch bark beetle Ips subelongatus, in Heilongjiang (Northeast China).}, journal = {Fungal systematics and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {155-161}, pmid = {35005579}, issn = {2589-3831}, abstract = {Ips subelongatus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) is an important bark beetle species that infests Larix spp. in Asia. Individuals of this beetle are vectors of ophiostomatoid fungi, on their exoskeletons, that are transmitted to infested trees. In this study, the symbiotic assemblage of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with I. subelongatus in Northeast China was studied. Fungal isolates were identified based on their morphological characters and sequences of ITS, beta-tubulin, elongation factor 1-alpha and calmodulin gene regions. In total, 48 isolates were collected and identified, residing in six taxa. These included a novel species, described here as Ophiostoma gmelinii sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid35004925, year = {2021}, author = {Ferguson, TD and Vanzant, ES and McLeod, KR}, title = {Endophyte Infected Tall Fescue: Plant Symbiosis to Animal Toxicosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {774287}, pmid = {35004925}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {Endophyte-infected fescue is a major cool season forage used for livestock production in the United States and through other areas of the world. A unique aspect of this forage resource is the symbiotic relationship with an endophytic fungus (Epichloë coenophiala) that has detrimental impact on herbivores due to toxic ergot alkaloids. Research over the past 50 years has unveiled details regarding this symbiotic relationship. This review focuses on the origin of tall fescue in the United States and the consequences of its wide-spread utilization as a livestock forage, along with the discovery and toxicodynamics of ergot alkaloids produced by E. coenophiala. The majority of past ergot alkaloid research has focused on observing phenotypic changes that occur in livestock affected by ergot alkaloids, but recent investigation of the metabolome, transcriptome, and proteome have shown that fescue toxicity-related illnesses are much more complex than previous research suggests.}, } @article {pmid35003632, year = {2021}, author = {Zani, ROA and Ferro, M and Bacci, M}, title = {Three phylogenetically distinct and culturable diazotrophs are perennial symbionts of leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {24}, pages = {17686-17699}, pmid = {35003632}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The obligate mutualistic basidiomycete fungus, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus, mediates nutrition of leaf-cutting ants with carbons from vegetal matter. In addition, diazotrophic Enterobacteriales in the fungus garden and intestinal Rhizobiales supposedly mediate assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen, and Entomoplasmatales in the genus Mesoplasma, as well as other yet unidentified strains, supposedly mediate ant assimilation of other compounds from vegetal matter, such as citrate, fructose, and amino acids. Together, these nutritional partners would support the production of high yields of leafcutter biomass. In the present investigation, we propose that three phylogenetically distinct and culturable diazotrophs in the genera Ralstonia, Methylobacterium, and Pseudomonas integrate this symbiotic nutrition network, facilitating ant nutrition on nitrogen. Strains in these genera were often isolated and directly sequenced in 16S rRNA libraries from the ant abdomen, together with the nondiazotrophs Acinetobacter and Brachybacterium. These five isolates were underrepresented in libraries, suggesting that none of them is dominant in vivo. Libraries have been dominated by four uncultured Rhizobiales strains in the genera Liberibacter, Terasakiella, and Bartonella and, only in Acromyrmex ants, by the Entomoplasmatales in the genus Mesoplasma. Acromyrmex also presented small amounts of two other uncultured Entomoplasmatales strains, Entomoplasma and Spiroplasma. The absence of Entomoplasmatales in Atta workers implicates that the association with these bacteria is not mandatory for ant biomass production. Most of the strains that we detected in South American ants were genetically similar with strains previously described in association with leafcutters from Central and North America, indicating wide geographic dispersion, and suggesting fixed ecological services.}, } @article {pmid35003164, year = {2021}, author = {Unger, S and Habermann, FM and Schenke, K and Jongen, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nutrition Determine the Outcome of Competition Between Lolium multiflorum and Trifolium subterraneum.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {778861}, pmid = {35003164}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may affect competitive plant interactions, which are considered a prevalent force in shaping plant communities. Aiming at understanding the role of AMF in the competition between two pasture species and its dependence on soil nutritional status, a pot experiment with mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Lolium multiflorum and Trifolium subterraneum was conducted, with manipulation of species composition (five levels), and nitrogen (N)- and phosphorus (P)- fertilization (three levels). In the non-mycorrhizal state, interspecific competition did not play a major role. However, in the presence of AMF, Lolium was the strongest competitor, with this species being facilitated by Trifolium. While N-fertilization did not change the competitive balance, P-fertilization gave Lolium, a competitive advantage over Trifolium. The effect of AMF on the competitive outcome may be driven by differential C-P trade benefits, with Lolium modulating carbon investment in the mycorrhizal network and the arbuscule/vesicle ratio at the cost of Trifolium.}, } @article {pmid35003118, year = {2021}, author = {Ozakman, Y and Raval, D and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Activin and BMP Signaling Activity Affects Different Aspects of Host Anti-Nematode Immunity in Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {795331}, pmid = {35003118}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {R01 AI110675/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI110675/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Activins/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/*metabolism ; Cecropins/metabolism ; Drosophila Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology ; Dual Oxidases/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhabditida/*physiology ; Rhabditida Infections/*immunology ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The multifaceted functions ranging from cellular and developmental mechanisms to inflammation and immunity have rendered TGF-ß signaling pathways as critical regulators of conserved biological processes. Recent studies have indicated that this evolutionary conserved signaling pathway among metazoans contributes to the Drosophila melanogaster anti-nematode immune response. However, functional characterization of the interaction between TGF-ß signaling activity and the mechanisms activated by the D. melanogaster immune response against parasitic nematode infection remains unexplored. Also, it is essential to evaluate the precise effect of entomopathogenic nematode parasites on the host immune system by separating them from their mutualistic bacteria. Here, we investigated the participation of the TGF-ß signaling branches, activin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), to host immune function against axenic or symbiotic Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes (parasites lacking or containing their mutualistic bacteria, respectively). Using D. melanogaster larvae carrying mutations in the genes coding for the TGF-ß extracellular ligands Daw and Dpp, we analyzed the changes in survival ability, cellular immune response, and phenoloxidase (PO) activity during nematode infection. We show that infection with axenic H. bacteriophora decreases the mortality rate of dpp mutants, but not daw mutants. Following axenic or symbiotic H. bacteriophora infection, both daw and dpp mutants contain only plasmatocytes. We further detect higher levels of Dual oxidase gene expression in dpp mutants upon infection with axenic nematodes and Diptericin and Cecropin gene expression in daw mutants upon infection with symbiotic nematodes compared to controls. Finally, following symbiotic H. bacteriophora infection, daw mutants have higher PO activity relative to controls. Together, our findings reveal that while D. melanogaster Dpp/BMP signaling activity modulates the DUOX/ROS response to axenic H. bacteriophora infection, Daw/activin signaling activity modulates the antimicrobial peptide and melanization responses to axenic H. bacteriophora infection. Results from this study expand our current understanding of the molecular and mechanistic interplay between nematode parasites and the host immune system, and the involvement of TGF-ß signaling branches in this process. Such findings will provide valuable insight on the evolution of the immune role of TGF-ß signaling, which could lead to the development of novel strategies for the effective management of human parasitic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid35003041, year = {2021}, author = {Cheng, S and Zou, YN and Kuča, K and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Wu, QS}, title = {Elucidating the Mechanisms Underlying Enhanced Drought Tolerance in Plants Mediated by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {809473}, pmid = {35003041}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants are often subjected to various environmental stresses during their life cycle, among which drought stress is perhaps the most significant abiotic stress limiting plant growth and development. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, a group of beneficial soil fungi, can enhance the adaptability and tolerance of their host plants to drought stress after infecting plant roots and establishing a symbiotic association with their host plant. Therefore, AM fungi represent an eco-friendly strategy in sustainable agricultural systems. There is still a need, however, to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying AM fungi-mediated enhancement of plant drought tolerance to ensure their effective use. AM fungi establish well-developed, extraradical hyphae on root surfaces, and function in water absorption and the uptake and transfer of nutrients into host cells. Thus, they participate in the physiology of host plants through the function of specific genes encoded in their genome. AM fungi also modulate morphological adaptations and various physiological processes in host plants, that help to mitigate drought-induced injury and enhance drought tolerance. Several AM-specific host genes have been identified and reported to be responsible for conferring enhanced drought tolerance. This review provides an overview of the effect of drought stress on the diversity and activity of AM fungi, the symbiotic relationship that exists between AM fungi and host plants under drought stress conditions, elucidates the morphological, physiological, and molecular mechanisms underlying AM fungi-mediated enhanced drought tolerance in plants, and provides an outlook for future research.}, } @article {pmid35003010, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, Y and Huang, N and Wang, M and Liu, H and Jing, H}, title = {Microbial Eukaryotes Associated With Sediments in Deep-Sea Cold Seeps.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {782004}, pmid = {35003010}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial eukaryotes are key components of the marine food web, but their distribution in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems has not been well studied. Here, high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene and network analysis were applied to investigate the diversity, distribution and potential relationships between microbial eukaryotes in samples collected from two cold seeps and one trough in the northern South China Sea. SAR (i.e., Stramenopiles, Alveolata, and Rhizaria) was the predominant group in all the samples, and it was highly affiliated to genotypes with potential symbiotic and parasitic strategies identified from other deep-sea extreme environments (e.g., oxygen deficient zones, bathypelagic waters, and hydrothermal vents). Our findings indicated that specialized lineages of deep-sea microbial eukaryotes exist in chemosynthetic cold seeps, where microbial eukaryotes affiliated with parasitic/symbiotic taxa were prevalent in the community. The biogeographic pattern of the total community was best represented by the intermediate operational taxonomic unit (OTU) category, whose relative abundance ranged 0.01-1% within a sample, and the communities of the two cold seeps were distinct from the trough, which suggests that geographical proximity has no critical impact on the distribution of deep-sea microbial eukaryotes. Overall, this study has laid the foundations for future investigations regarding the ecological function and in situ trophic relationships of microbial eukaryotes in deep-sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid35003003, year = {2021}, author = {Moya, P and Molins, A and Škaloud, P and Divakar, PK and Chiva, S and Dumitru, C and Molina, MC and Crespo, A and Barreno, E}, title = {Biodiversity Patterns and Ecological Preferences of the Photobionts Associated With the Lichen-Forming Genus Parmelia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {765310}, pmid = {35003003}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The worldwide, ecologically relevant lichen-forming genus Parmelia currently includes 41 accepted species, of which the Parmelia sulcata group (PSULgp) and the Parmelia saxatilis group (PSAXgp) have received considerable attention over recent decades; however, phycobiont diversity is poorly known in Parmelia s. lat. Here, we studied the diversity of Trebouxia microalgae associated with 159 thalli collected from 30 locations, including nine Parmelia spp.: P. barrenoae, P. encryptata, P. ernstiae, P. mayi, P. omphalodes, P. saxatilis, P. serrana, P. submontana, and P. sulcata. The mycobionts were studied by carrying out phylogenetic analyses of the nrITS. Microalgae genetic diversity was examined by using both nrITS and LSU rDNA markers. To evaluate putative species boundaries, three DNA species delimitation analyses were performed on Trebouxia and Parmelia. All analyses clustered the mycobionts into two main groups: PSULgp and PSAXgp. Species delimitation identified 13 fungal and 15 algal species-level lineages. To identify patterns in specificity and selectivity, the diversity and abundance of the phycobionts were identified for each Parmelia species. High specificity of each Parmelia group for a given Trebouxia clade was observed; PSULgp associated only with clade I and PSAXgp with clade S. However, the degree of specificity is different within each group, since the PSAXgp mycobionts were less specific and associated with 12 Trebouxia spp., meanwhile those of PSULgp interacted only with three Trebouxia spp. Variation-partitioning analyses were conducted to detect the relative contributions of climate, geography, and symbiotic partner to phycobiont and mycobiont distribution patterns. Both analyses explained unexpectedly high portions of variability (99 and 98%) and revealed strong correlations between the fungal and algal diversity. Network analysis discriminated seven ecological clusters. Even though climatic conditions explained the largest proportion of the variation among these clusters, they seemed to show indifference relative to climatic parameters. However, the cluster formed by P. saxatilis A/P. saxatilis B/Trebouxia sp. 2/Trebouxia sp. S02/Trebouxia sp. 3A was identified to prefer cold-temperate as well as humid summer environments.}, } @article {pmid34999517, year = {2022}, author = {Nombre Rodríguez-Navarro, D and Lorite, MJ and Temprano Vera, FJ and Camacho, M}, title = {Selection and characterization of Spanish Trifolium-nodulating rhizobia for pasture inoculation.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {126290}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126290}, pmid = {34999517}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; *Trifolium ; }, abstract = {Identification of elite nitrogen-fixing rhizobia strains is a continuous and never ending effort, since new legume species can be cultivated in different agro systems or are introduced into new areas. This current study reports on the taxonomic affiliation and symbiotic proficiency of nine strains of Trifolium-nodulating rhizobia isolated from different pasture areas in Spain, as well as three Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii reference strains, on eleven Trifolium species. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences the strains belonged to the R. leguminosarum species complex. Additional phylogenetic analyses of the housekeeping genes recA, atpD and rpoB showed the strains were closely related to the species R. leguminosarum, R. laguerreae, R. indicum, R. ruizarguesonis or R. acidisoli. In addition, three strains had no clear affiliation and could represent putative new species, although two of the reference strains were positioned close to R. ruizarguesonis. nodC gene phylogeny allowed the discrimination between strains isolated from annual or perennial Trifolium species and placed all of them in the symbiovar trifolii. Neither geographic origin nor host-plant species could be correlated with the taxonomic affiliation of the strains and a high degree of phenotypic diversity was found among this set of strains. The strong interaction of plant species with the rhizobial strains found for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was noteworthy, and allowed the identification of rhizobial strains with a maximum proficiency for certain trefoil species. Several strains showed high BNF potential with a wide range of clover species, which made them valuable strains for inoculant manufacturers and they would be particularly useful for inoculation of seed mixtures in natural or cultivated pastures.}, } @article {pmid34998744, year = {2022}, author = {Cheng, H and Yuan, M and Tang, L and Shen, Y and Yu, Q and Li, S}, title = {Integrated microbiology and metabolomics analysis reveal responses of soil microorganisms and metabolic functions to phosphorus fertilizer on semiarid farm.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {817}, number = {}, pages = {152878}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152878}, pmid = {34998744}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid ; Farms ; *Fertilizers/analysis ; Metabolomics ; Phosphorus/chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Localized fertilization of phosphorus has potential benefits in achieving higher crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency, but the underlying biological mechanisms of interactions between soil microorganisms and related metabolic cycle remain largely to be recognized. Here, we combined microbiology with non-target metabolomics to explore how P fertilizer levels and fertilization patterns affect wheat soil microbial communities and metabolic functions based on high-throughput sequencing and UPLC-MS/MS platforms. The results showed P fertilizer decreased the diversity of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS genes, and it did significantly change both soil bacterial and fungal overall community structures and compositions. The P levels and patterns also interfered with complexity of soil bacterial and fungal symbiosis networks. Moreover, metabolomics analysis showed that P fertilizer significantly changed soil metabolite spectrum, and the differential metabolites were significantly enriched to 7 main metabolic pathways, such as arginine and proline metabolism, biosynthesis of plant hormones, amino acids, plant secondary metabolites, and alkaloids derived from ornithine. Additionally, microbes also were closely related to the accumulation of metabolites through correlation analysis. Our results indicated that localized appropriate phosphorus fertilizer plays an important role in regulating soil microbial metabolism, and their interactions in soil providing valuable information for understanding how the changed phosphorus management practices affect the complex biological processes and the adaption capacity of plants to environments.}, } @article {pmid34997021, year = {2022}, author = {Zhukova, NV and Eliseikina, MG and Balakirev, ES and Ayala, FJ}, title = {Multiple bacterial partners in symbiosis with the nudibranch mollusk Rostanga alisae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {169}, pmid = {34997021}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microbiota ; Mollusca/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Ribotyping ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The discovery of symbiotic associations extends our understanding of the biological diversity in the aquatic environment and their impact on the host's ecology. Of particular interest are nudibranchs that unprotected by a shell and feed mainly on sponges. The symbiotic association of the nudibranch Rostanga alisae with bacteria was supported by ample evidence, including an analysis of cloned bacterial 16S rRNA genes and a fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis, and microscopic observations. A total of 74 clones belonging to the phyla α-, β-, γ-Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria were identified. FISH confirmed that bacteriocytes were packed with Bradyrhizobium, Maritalea, Labrenzia, Bulkholderia, Achromobacter, and Stenotrophomonas mainly in the foot and notum epidermis, and also an abundance of Synechococcus cyanobacteria in the intestinal epithelium. An ultrastructural analysis showed several bacterial morphotypes of bacteria in epidermal cells, intestine epithelium, and in mucus layer covering the mollusk body. The high proportion of typical bacterial fatty acids in R. alisae indicated that symbiotic bacteria make a substantial contribution to its nutrition. Thus, the nudibranch harbors a high diversity of specific endo- and extracellular bacteria, which previously unknown as symbionts of marine invertebrates that provide the mollusk with essential nutrients. They can provide chemical defense against predators.}, } @article {pmid34995739, year = {2022}, author = {Cejp, B and Ravara, A and Aguado, MT}, title = {First mitochondrial genomes of Chrysopetalidae (Annelida) from shallow-water and deep-sea chemosynthetic environments.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {815}, number = {}, pages = {146159}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.146159}, pmid = {34995739}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Codon Usage ; Ecosystem ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*genetics ; Proteins/genetics ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Among Annelida, Chrysopetalidae is an ecologically and morphologically diverse group, which includes shallow-water, deep-sea, free-living, and symbiotic species. Here, the four first mitochondrial genomes of this group are presented and described. One of the free-living shallow-water species Chrysopetalum debile (Chrysopetalinae), one of the yet undescribed free-living deep-sea species Boudemos sp., and those of the two deep-sea bivalve endosymbionts Craseoschema thyasiricola and Iheyomytilidicola lauensis (Calamyzinae). An updated phylogeny of Chrysopetalidae is performed, which supports previous phylogenetic hypotheses within Chrysopetalinae and indicates a complex ecological evolution within Calamyzinae. Additionally, analyses of natural selection pressure in the four mitochondrial genomes and additional genes from the two shallow-water species Bhawania goodei and Arichlidon gathofi were performed. Relaxed selection pressure in the mitochondrion of deep-sea and symbiotic species was found, with many sites under selection identified in the COX3 gene of deep-sea species.}, } @article {pmid34995397, year = {2022}, author = {Guha, S and Molla, F and Sarkar, M and Ibañez, F and Fabra, A and DasGupta, M}, title = {Nod factor-independent 'crack-entry' symbiosis in dalbergoid legume Arachis hypogaea.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {2732-2746}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15888}, pmid = {34995397}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Arachis ; *Bradyrhizobium ; Endophytes ; *Fabaceae ; *Oryza ; Symbiosis ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {Dalbergoids are typified by crack-entry symbiosis which is evidenced to be Nod Factor (NF)-independent in several Aeschynomene legumes. Natural symbionts of the dalbergoid legume Arachis hypogaea are always NF-producing, prompting us to check whether symbiosis in this legume could also be NF-independent. For this, we followed the symbiosis with two NF-containing bradyrhizobial strains - SEMIA6144, a natural symbiont of Arachis and ORS285, a versatile nodulator of Aeschynomene legumes, along with their corresponding nodulation (nod) mutants. Additionally, we investigated NF-deficient bradyrhizobia like BTAi1, a natural symbiont of Aeschynomene indica and the WBOS strains that were natural endophytes of Oryza sativa, collected from an Arachis-Oryza intercropped field. While SEMIA6144ΔnodC was non-nodulating, both ORS285 and ORS285ΔnodB could induce functional nodulation, although with lower efficiency than SEMIA6144. On the other hand, all the NF-deficient strains - BTAi1, WBOS2 and WBOS4 showed comparable nodulation with ORS285 indicating Arachis to harbour an NF-independent mechanism of symbiosis. Intriguingly, symbiosis in Arachis, irrespective of whether it was NF-dependent or independent, was always associated with the curling or branching of the rosette root hairs at the lateral root bases. Thus, despite being predominantly described as an NF-dependent legume, Arachis does retain a vestigial, less-efficient form of NF-independent symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34992261, year = {2022}, author = {Sorbara, MT and Pamer, EG}, title = {Microbiome-based therapeutics.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {365-380}, pmid = {34992261}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {R01 AI095706/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA023766/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI124275/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI042135/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; FRN 152527//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract promote health by decreasing susceptibility to infection and enhancing resistance to a range of diseases. In this Review, we discuss our increasing understanding of the impact of the microbiome on the mammalian host and recent efforts to culture and characterize intestinal symbiotic microorganisms that produce or modify metabolites that impact disease pathology. Manipulation of the intestinal microbiome has great potential to reduce the incidence and/or severity of a wide range of human conditions and diseases, and the biomedical research community now faces the challenge of translating our understanding of the microbiome into beneficial medical therapies. Our increasing understanding of symbiotic microbial species and the application of ecological principles and machine learning are providing exciting opportunities for microbiome-based therapeutics to progress from faecal microbiota transplantation to the administration of precisely defined and clinically validated symbiotic microbial consortia that optimize disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid34991725, year = {2022}, author = {Lee, JG and Lee, S and Jeon, J and Kong, HG and Cho, HJ and Kim, JH and Kim, SY and Oh, MJ and Lee, D and Seo, N and Park, KH and Yu, K and An, HJ and Ryu, CM and Lee, JS}, title = {Host tp53 mutation induces gut dysbiosis eliciting inflammation through disturbed sialic acid metabolism.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {34991725}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis/chemically induced ; Inflammation ; Mutation ; *N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/adverse effects ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Zebrafish ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Host tp53 mutations are frequently found during the early stages of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), but whether such mutations induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and chronic intestinal inflammation that contributes to the development of CAC, remains unknown.

RESULTS: We found that zebrafish tp53 mutant larvae exhibited elevated intestinal inflammation, by monitoring the NFκB activity in the mid-distal intestines of zebrafish larvae using an NFκB:EGFP transgenic reporter line in vivo as well as neutrophil infiltration into the intestine. This inflammation was due to dysbiotic gut microbiota with reduced diversity, revealed using both 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and a germfree larva model. In this dysbiosis, Aeromonas spp. were aberrantly enriched as major pathobionts and exhibited the capacity for aggressive colonization in tp53 mutants. Importantly, the ex-germfree experiments supported the causality of the host tp53 mutation for inducing the inflammation. Transcriptome and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses of the host gastrointestinal tracts identified dysregulated sialic acid (SA) metabolism concomitant with increased host Neu5Gc levels as the key determinant of aberrant inflammation, which was reversed by the sialidase inhibitors oseltamivir and Philippin A.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a crucial role for host tp53 in maintaining symbiosis and immune homeostasis via SA metabolism. Disturbed SA metabolism via a tp53 mutation may be exploited by specific elements of the gut microbiome, eliciting both dysbiosis and inflammation. Manipulating sialometabolism may therefore provide an efficacious therapeutic strategy for tp53 mutation-induced dysbiosis, inflammation, and ultimately, related cancers. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid34991722, year = {2022}, author = {Pereira, AM and de Lurdes Nunes Enes Dapkevicius, M and Borba, AES}, title = {Alternative pathways for hydrogen sink originated from the ruminal fermentation of carbohydrates: Which microorganisms are involved in lowering methane emission?.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, pmid = {34991722}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {Agriculture is responsible for a great share of the anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases that, by warming the earth, threaten its biodiversity. Among greenhouse gas emissions, enteric CH4 from livestock is an important target to slow down climate changes. The CH4 is originated from rumen fermentation and its concentration is affected by several factors, including genetics and nutrition. Ruminants have an extraordinary symbiosis with microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and protozoa) that ferment otherwise indigestible carbohydrates, from which they obtain energy to grow and continue actively producing, among other products, volatile fatty acids, CO2 and H2. Detrimental ruminal accumulation of H2 is avoided by methanogenesis carried out by Archaea methanogens. Importantly, methanogenesis is not the only H2 sink pathway. In fact, other bacteria can reduce substrates using metabolic hydrogen formed during carbohydrate fermentation, namely propionate production and reductive acetogenesis, thus lowering the CH4 produced. Although the complexity of rumen poses challenges to mitigate CH4 production, the emergence of sequencing techniques that allow the study of microbial communities, gene expression, and metabolome are largely contributing to unravel pathways and key players in the rumen. Indeed, it is now recognized that in vivo emissions of CH4 are correlated to microbial communities, and particularly with the abundance of methanogens, several bacterial groups, and their genes. The goal of CH4 mitigation is to work in favor of the natural processes, without compromising rumen function, animal health, and productivity. Notwithstanding, the major challenge continues to be the feasibility and affordability of the proposed solutions.}, } @article {pmid34990667, year = {2022}, author = {Li, W and Li, Y and Zheng, N and Ge, C and Yao, H}, title = {Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in the guts of shrimp from different coastal areas of China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {815}, number = {}, pages = {152756}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152756}, pmid = {34990667}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Aquaculture ; China ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; *Penaeidae ; }, abstract = {With the continuous increase in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) aquaculture production, the widespread use of antibiotics as a means of preventing and treating diseases has adversely affected the environment, animal health and symbiotic microorganisms in gut environments. At the same time, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are widespread in aquaculture and pose a great threat to aquatic organisms and humans. Therefore, in the present study, the occurrence and distribution of 17 antibiotics, ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected in the guts of shrimp collected from 12 coastal regions of China. The results showed that sulfadiazine, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were detectable in the guts of L. vannamei at all sampling sites. Sul1, sul2, floR and intI-1 were also detected in the guts of L. vannamei at all sampling sites. The total relative abundances of ARGs and MGEs were significantly positively correlated according to Pearson correlation analysis. Sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1 and sul2) were significantly positively correlated with intI-1. These results indicated that MGEs could increase the risk of horizontal gene transfer of ARGs in a gut environment. MGEs are the most important factors promoting the spread of ARGs. Correlation analysis showed that sulfadiazine was significantly positively correlated with sul1 and sul2 and that fluoroquinolone antibiotics were significantly positively correlated with floR, indicating that antibiotics could induce the production of ARGs. Network analysis indicated that Iamia and Alkaliphilus species may harbor the most antibiotic resistance genes, and these bacteria were closely related to the proliferation and spread of ARGs in a gut environment. Antibiotic use and the spread of ARGs in mariculture systems may have negative effects on shrimp and human health. The use of antibiotics should be strictly regulated to control contaminants in mariculture systems, including pathogens and ARGs, thereby reducing potential risks to human health.}, } @article {pmid34990307, year = {2022}, author = {Kohlmeier, MG and Yudistira, H and Ali, A and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum FN1 produces an inhibitory substance that affects competition for nodule occupancy.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {4}, pages = {227-236}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2021-0355}, pmid = {34990307}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteriocins are narrow-spectrum antibiotics of bacterial origin that can affect competition in resource-limited environments, such as the rhizosphere. Therefore, bacteriocins may be good candidates for manipulation to generate more competitive inocula for soybean. In this study, Bradyrhizobium japonicum FN1, along with other Bradyrhizobia in our culture collection, was screened for bacteriocin-like activity. Five distinct inhibitory effects were observed. FN1 genes putatively involved in bacteriocin production were computationally identified. These genes were mutagenized, and the subsequent strains were screened for loss of inhibitory activity. Mutant strain BRJ-48, with an insert in bjfn1_01204, displayed a loss of ability to inhibit an indicator strain. This loss can be complemented by the introduction of a plasmid expressing bjfn1_01204 in trans. The strain carrying the mutation did not affect competition in broth cultures but was less competitive for nodule occupancy. Annotation suggests that bjfn1_01204 encodes a carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase; however, the direct contribution of how this enzyme contributes to inhibiting the tester strain remains unknown.}, } @article {pmid34987486, year = {2021}, author = {Medeiros, ID and Mazur, E and Miadlikowska, J and Flakus, A and Rodriguez-Flakus, P and Pardo-De la Hoz, CJ and Cieślak, E and Śliwa, L and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Turnover of Lecanoroid Mycobionts and Their Trebouxia Photobionts Along an Elevation Gradient in Bolivia Highlights the Role of Environment in Structuring the Lichen Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {774839}, pmid = {34987486}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Shifts in climate along elevation gradients structure mycobiont-photobiont associations in lichens. We obtained mycobiont (lecanoroid Lecanoraceae) and photobiont (Trebouxia alga) DNA sequences from 89 lichen thalli collected in Bolivia from a ca. 4,700 m elevation gradient encompassing diverse natural communities and environmental conditions. The molecular dataset included six mycobiont loci (ITS, nrLSU, mtSSU, RPB1, RPB2, and MCM7) and two photobiont loci (ITS, rbcL); we designed new primers to amplify Lecanoraceae RPB1 and RPB2 with a nested PCR approach. Mycobionts belonged to Lecanora s.lat., Bryonora, Myriolecis, Protoparmeliopsis, the "Lecanora" polytropa group, and the "L." saligna group. All of these clades except for Lecanora s.lat. occurred only at high elevation. No single species of Lecanoraceae was present along the entire elevation gradient, and individual clades were restricted to a subset of the gradient. Most Lecanoraceae samples represent species which have not previously been sequenced. Trebouxia clade C, which has not previously been recorded in association with species of Lecanoraceae, predominates at low- to mid-elevation sites. Photobionts from Trebouxia clade I occur at the upper extent of mid-elevation forest and at some open, high-elevation sites, while Trebouxia clades A and S dominate open habitats at high elevation. We did not find Trebouxia clade D. Several putative new species were found in Trebouxia clades A, C, and I. These included one putative species in clade A associated with Myriolecis species growing on limestone at high elevation and a novel lineage sister to the rest of clade C associated with Lecanora on bark in low-elevation grassland. Three different kinds of photobiont switching were observed, with certain mycobiont species associating with Trebouxia from different major clades, species within a major clade, or haplotypes within a species. Lecanoraceae mycobionts and Trebouxia photobionts exhibit species turnover along the elevation gradient, but with each partner having a different elevation threshold at which the community shifts completely. A phylogenetically defined sampling of a single diverse family of lichen-forming fungi may be sufficient to document regional patterns of Trebouxia diversity and distribution.}, } @article {pmid34986009, year = {2022}, author = {Hunter, MS and Umanzor, EF and Kelly, SE and Whitaker, SM and Ravenscraft, A}, title = {Development of Common Leaf-Footed Bug Pests Depends on the Presence and Identity of Their Environmentally Acquired Symbionts.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {5}, pages = {e0177821}, pmid = {34986009}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; *Burkholderia ; *Heteroptera/microbiology ; Humans ; Nymph ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many beneficial symbioses between bacteria and their terrestrial arthropod hosts are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring, ensuring that the progeny acquire necessary partners. Unusually, in several families of coreoid and lygaeoid bugs (Hemiptera), nymphs must instead ingest the beneficial symbiont, Burkholderia (sensu lato), from the environment early in development. We studied the effects of Burkholderia on development of two species of leaf-footed bug (Coreidae) in the genus Leptoglossus, Leptoglossus zonatus and Leptoglossus phyllopus. We found no evidence for vertical transmission of the symbiont but found stark differences in performance between symbiotic and aposymbiotic individuals. Symbiotic nymphs grew more rapidly, were approximately four times more likely to survive to adulthood than aposymbiotic bugs, and were two times larger. These findings suggest that Burkholderia is an obligate symbiont for the Leptoglossus species. We also tested for variation in fitness effects conferred by four symbiont isolates representing different species within the Burkholderia insect-associated stinkbug beneficial and environmental (SBE) clade. While three isolates conferred similar benefits to hosts, nymphs associated with the fourth isolate grew more slowly and weighed significantly less as adults. The effects of the four isolates were similar for both Leptoglossus species. This work indicates that both Burkholderia acquisition and isolate identity play critical roles in the growth and development of Leptoglossus. IMPORTANCELeptoglossus zonatus and L. phyllopus are important polyphagous pests, and both species have been well-studied but generally without regard to their dependance on a bacterial symbiont. Our results indicate that the central role of Burkholderia in the biology of these insects, as well as in other leaf-footed bugs, should be considered in future studies of coreid life history, ecology, and pest management. Our work suggests that acquisition of Burkholderia is critical for the growth and development of Leptoglossus species. Further, we found that there was variation in performance outcomes according to symbiont identity, even among members of the stinkbug beneficial and environmental clade. This suggests that although environmental acquisition of a symbiont can provide extraordinary flexibility in partner associations, it also carries a risk if the partner is suboptimal.}, } @article {pmid34985559, year = {2022}, author = {Mansotra, P and Sharma, P and Sirari, A and Aggarwal, N}, title = {Ecological performance of multifunctional pesticide tolerant strains of Mesorhizobium sp. in chickpea with recommended pendimethalin, ready-mix of pendimethalin and imazethpyr, carbendazim and chlorpyrifos application.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {117}, pmid = {34985559}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Aniline Compounds ; Benzimidazoles ; Carbamates ; *Chlorpyrifos ; *Cicer ; *Mesorhizobium ; *Pesticides ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The present study was designed to screen the Mesorhizobium strains (50) for tolerance with four recommended pesticides in chickpea. In-vitro, robust pesticide tolerant strains were developed in pesticides amended media over several generations. Further, verification of the multifunctional traits of pesticide tolerant mesorhizobia under pesticide stress was conducted in-vitro. Among different pesticides, significantly high tolerance in Mesorhizobium strains was observed with recommended doses of pendimethalin (37%) and ready-mix (36%) followed by chlorpyrifos (31%) and carbendazim (30%), on an overall basis. Based on multifunctional traits, Mesorhizobium strains viz. MR2, MR17 and recommended MR33 were the most promising. Ecological performance of the potential Mesorhizobium strains alone and in dual-inoculation with recommended PGP rhizobacterium strain RB-1 (Pseudomonas argenttinensis JX239745.1) was subsequently analyzed in field following standard pesticide application in PBG-7 and GPF-2 chickpea varieties for two consecutive rabi seasons (2015 and 2016). Dual-inoculant treatments; recommended RB-1 + MR33 (4.1%) and RB-1 + MR2 (3.8%) significantly increased the grain yield over Mesorhizobium alone treatments viz MR33 and MR2, respectively. Grain yield in PBG7 variety was significantly affected (7.3%) by the microbial inoculant treatments over GPF2 variety. Therefore, the potential pesticide tolerant strains MR2 and MR33 can be further explored as compatible dual-inoculants with recommended RB-1 for chickpea under environmentally stressed conditions (pesticide application) at multiple locations. Our approach using robust multifunctional pesticide tolerant Mesorhizobium for bio-augmentation of chickpea might be helpful in the formulation of effective bio-inoculants consortia in establishing successful chickpea-Mesorhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34985299, year = {2022}, author = {Lang, H and Duan, H and Wang, J and Zhang, W and Guo, J and Zhang, X and Hu, X and Zheng, H}, title = {Specific Strains of Honeybee Gut Lactobacillus Stimulate Host Immune System to Protect against Pathogenic Hafnia alvei.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0189621}, pmid = {34985299}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; Bacteria/classification ; Bees/*immunology/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genomics ; Hafnia alvei ; *Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Lactobacillus/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tetracycline ; }, abstract = {Honeybee gut microbiota plays an important role in host physiology and metabolism. Recent studies have shown that the influence of the resident microorganisms in the regulation of honeybee immune system is profound, which protects against the pathogen Serratia marcescens. However, only few of the core gut members in the regulation of immune functions have been studied. Here, we explored how different bee gut bacterial species aided in the clearance of the pathogenic Hafnia alvei, which causes bee septicemia with a high mortality rate. We found that both Gilliamella apicola W8136 and Lactobacillus apis W8172 protect honeybees from the opportunistic pathogen, while two other strains from Gilliamella and Lactobacillus did not affect the invasion of H. alvei. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that gut species induced different expression profiles in the gut. Specifically, two regulator genes from the Toll pathway, PGRP-S3 recognizing Gram-positive and Spätzle that bind to the Toll protein for the downstream signal transduction, were elevated by L. apis. Correspondingly, multiple genes encoding antibacterial proteins were also stimulated by L. apis. Interestingly, we found an increased expression of apidaecin, which also exhibited a high in vitro inhibitory effect on H. alvei. To elucidate the difference of strains in the host's immune regulation, comparative genomic analyses indicate that the S-layer proteins unique to L. apis are potentially involved in honeybee Toll signaling and the activation of antibacterial protein production. IMPORTANCE Honeybees are essential pollinators supporting global agricultural economies and food supplies. Recent honeybee decline has been linked to several factors, while pathogen infection is considered one of the most significant contributing factors. Although a limited number of bacterial pathogens have been identified, Hafnia alvei is one of the pathogens causing septicemia in adult bees. In this study, we showed that two bee gut members, Gilliamella and Lactobacillus, can clear H. alvei from invasion. Mono-colonization of specific strains can stimulate the host Toll signaling pathway and the downstream expression of AMPs. Specifically, apidaecin upregulated by the gut symbionts is more effective against the pathogen. Moreover, our genomic analysis suggests that the surface-layer proteins specific to Lactobacillus strains are an important driver of Toll signaling, highlighting the variation of bee gut strains in regulating the host immune system.}, } @article {pmid34984520, year = {2022}, author = {Burnett, MW and Bobbett, AE and Brendel, CE and Marshall, K and von Sperber, C and Paulus, EL and Vitousek, PM}, title = {Foliar ẟ[15]N patterns in legumes and non-N fixers across a climate gradient, Hawai'i Island, USA.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {198}, number = {1}, pages = {229-242}, pmid = {34984520}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae ; Hawaii ; Nitrogen ; Plant Leaves ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Recent studies from the Hawaiian Islands showed that pedogenic thresholds demarcate domains in which rock-derived nutrient dynamics remain similar across wide variations in rainfall. These thresholds appear related to certain aspects of N cycling, but the degree to which they correspond to patterns of biological N fixation (BNF)-the dominant input of N into less-managed ecosystems-remains unclear. We measured aboveground plant biomass, foliar nutrient concentrations, and foliar δ[15]N along a climate gradient on ~ 150,000-year-old basaltic substrate to characterize foliar N sources and spatially relate them to soil nutrients. Patterns in legume δ[15]N correspond to known pedogenic thresholds along the rainfall gradient, with low δ[15]N values (~ 0 to - 2‰) occurring in the dry, biologically inactive domain and the wet, highly weathered domain. Elevated δ[15]N in the middle, fertile domain suggests a greater reliance of legumes on soil N where it has accumulated over time. Non-legume face N deficiencies throughout most of the gradient while legumes maintain low C:N ratios via symbiotic BNF. However, legume abundance declines outside the fertile domain, limiting ecosystem N inputs. Breakpoints in legume δ[15]N data suggest that P (and potentially other nutrients) limits BNF and, by extension, legume abundance in wet region. Nutrients may also constrain legume abundance in the dry domain, but pedogenic effects could not be isolated from climatic constraints at the dry sites. We conclude that pedogenic thresholds defined by climate can be informative of foliar δ[15]N patterns in cases where legumes are not directly constrained by climate, land use, or other external factors.}, } @article {pmid34983403, year = {2022}, author = {Gao, Y and Ji, J and Zhang, Y and Yang, N and Zhang, M}, title = {Biochemical and transcriptomic analyses of the symbiotic interaction between Cremastra appendiculata and the mycorrhizal fungus Coprinellus disseminatus.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {15}, pmid = {34983403}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Agaricales/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant ; Germination ; Lignin/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; RNA-Seq ; Seeds/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cremastra appendiculata is a rare terrestrial orchid with a high market value as an ornamental and medicinal plant. However, the species depends entirely on fungi for seed germination under natural conditions. In a previous study, we have successfully isolated and identified the mycorrhizal fungus Coprinellus disseminatus which was able to induce the germination of C. appendiculata seeds. We then speculated that C. disseminatus may do so by breaking the testa imposed dormancy of the seeds. In this study, biochemical and transcriptomic analyses were used to characterize the germination of C. appendiculata seeds, collected at different stages of germination, as affected by C. disseminatus.

RESULTS: The lignocellulose in the seeds coat of C. appendiculata was degraded by the mycorrhizal fungus resulting in facilitated absorption of water. The rate of decline in lignin content was 67 and 73% at 6 and 12 days after sowing, respectively. The water content increased from 13 to 90% during symbiosis. A total of 15,382 genes showing significantly different levels of expression (log2 FPKM≥2.0, Qvalue≤0.05) were successfully identified among all libraries, where the highest number of DEGs was shared between 6 days versus 0 day after symbiotic germination. Gene annotation results suggested that 15 key genes related water-status, such as DHN gene family and Xero 1 were down-regulated. The genes zeaxanthin epoxidase ZEP, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase NCED3 and β-carotene hydroxylase involved in the biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA) were significantly down-regulated in 6 days as compared to 0 day after symbiotic germination.

CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates that mycorrhizal fungus C. disseminatus can stimulate C. appendiculata seeds germination through a mechanism of breaking the testa imposed dormancy and inducing water absorption of the embryo.}, } @article {pmid34982231, year = {2022}, author = {Dias, C and Gouveia, L and Santos, JAL and Reis, A and da Silva, TL}, title = {Rhodosporidium toruloides and Tetradesmus obliquus Populations Dynamics in Symbiotic Cultures, Developed in Brewery Wastewater, for Lipid Production.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {40}, pmid = {34982231}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Biomass ; Lipids ; *Microalgae ; *Rhodotorula ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {In this work, primary brewery wastewater (PBWW) and secondary brewery wastewater (SBWW) separately, or mixed at the ratios of 1:1 (PBWW:SBWW) and 1:7 (PBWW:SBWW), with or without supplementation with sugarcane molasses (SCM), were used as culture media for lipid production by a mixed culture of the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921 and the microalgae Tetradesmus obliquus (ACOI 204/07). Flow cytometry was used to understand the dynamics of the two micro-organisms during the mixed cultures evolution, as well as to evaluate the physiological states of each micro-organism, in order to assess the impact of the different brewery effluent media composition on the microbial consortium performance. Both brewery wastewaters (primary and secondary) without supplementation did not allow R. toruloides heterotrophic growth. Nevertheless, all brewery wastewater media, with and without SCM supplementation, allowed the microalgae growth, although the yeast was the dominant population. The maximum total biomass concentration of 2.17 g L[-1] was achieved in the PBWW mixed cultivation with 10 g L[-1] of SCM. The maximum lipid content (14.86% (w/w DCW)) was obtained for the mixed culture developed on SBWW supplemented with 10 g L[-1] of SCM. This work demonstrated the potential of using brewery wastewater supplemented with SCM as a low-cost culture medium to grow R. toruloides and T. obliquus in a mixed culture for brewery wastewater treatment with concomitant lipid production.}, } @article {pmid34981939, year = {2022}, author = {Abebew, D and Sayedain, FS and Bode, E and Bode, HB}, title = {Uncovering Nematicidal Natural Products from Xenorhabdus Bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {498-506}, pmid = {34981939}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; Antinematodal Agents ; *Biological Products ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Tylenchoidea ; *Xenorhabdus/genetics ; }, abstract = {Parasitic nematodes infect different species of animals and plants. Root-knot nematodes are members of the genus Meloidogyne, which is distributed worldwide and parasitizes numerous plants, including vegetables, fruits, and crops. To reduce the global burden of nematode infections, only a few chemical therapeutic classes are currently available. The majority of nematicides are prohibited due to their harmful effects on the environment and public health. This study was intended to identify new nematicidal natural products (NPs) from the bacterial genus Xenorhabdus, which exists in symbiosis with Steinernema nematodes. Cell-free culture supernatants of Xenorhabdus bacteria were used for nematicidal bioassay, and high mortality rates for Caenorhabditis elegans and Meloidogyne javanica were observed. Promoter exchange mutants of biosynthetic gene clusters encoding nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) or NRPS-polyketide synthase hybrids in Xenorhabdus bacteria carrying additionally a hfq deletion produce a single NP class, which have been tested for their bioactivity. Among the NPs tested, fabclavines, rhabdopeptides, and xenocoumacins were highly toxic to nematodes and resulted in mortalities of 95.3, 74.6, and 72.6% to C. elegans and 82.0, 90.0, and 85.3% to M. javanica, respectively. The findings of such nematicidal NPs can provide templates for uncovering effective and environmentally safe alternatives to commercially available nematicides.}, } @article {pmid34981766, year = {2022}, author = {Kim, J and Pham, H and Baek, Y and Jo, I and Kim, YH and Ha, NC}, title = {Structure of the plant growth-promoting factor YxaL from the rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis and its application to protein engineering.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section D, Structural biology}, volume = {78}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {104-112}, doi = {10.1107/S2059798321011724}, pmid = {34981766}, issn = {2059-7983}, mesh = {Bacillus/*chemistry/genetics ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Structure ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Plant Growth Regulators/*chemistry ; Protein Engineering/*methods ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Tryptophan/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The YxaL protein was isolated from the soil bacterium Bacillus velezensis and has been shown to promote the root growth of symbiotic plants. YxaL has further been suggested to act as an exogenous signaling protein to induce the growth and branching of plant roots. Amino acid sequence analysis predicted YxaL to exhibit an eight-bladed β-propeller fold stabilized by six tryptophan-docking motifs and two modified motifs. Protein engineering to improve its structural stability is needed to increase the utility of YxaL as a plant growth-promoting factor. Here, the crystal structure of YxaL from B. velezensis was determined at 1.8 Å resolution to explore its structural features for structure-based protein engineering. The structure showed the typical eight-bladed β-propeller fold with structural variations in the third and fourth blades, which may decrease the stability of the β-propeller fold. Engineered proteins targeting the modified motifs were subsequently created. Crystal structures of the engineered YxaL proteins showed that the typical tryptophan-docking interaction was restored in the third and fourth blades, with increased structural stability, resulting in improved root growth-promoting activity in Arabidopsis seeds. The work is an example of structure-based protein engineering to improve the structural stability of β-propellor fold proteins.}, } @article {pmid34981609, year = {2022}, author = {Blanckaert, ACA and Omanović, D and Fine, M and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Desert dust deposition supplies essential bioelements to Red Sea corals.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {2341-2359}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.16074}, pmid = {34981609}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Copper ; Coral Reefs ; Dust ; Indian Ocean ; Iron ; Manganese ; Metals ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Climate change-related increase in seawater temperature has become a leading cause of coral bleaching and mortality. However, corals from the northern Red Sea show high thermal tolerance and no recorded massive bleaching event. This specific region is frequently subjected to intense dust storms, coming from the surrounding arid deserts, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in the future. The aerial dust deposition supplies essential bioelements to the water column. Here, we investigated the effect of dust deposition on the physiology of a Red Sea coral, Stylophora pistillata. We measured the modifications in coral and Symbiodiniaceae metallome (cellular metal content), as well as the changes in photosynthesis and oxidative stress status of colonies exposed during few weeks to dust deposition. Our results show that 1 mg L[-1] of dust supplied nanomolar amounts of nitrate and other essential bioelements, such as iron, manganese, zinc and copper, rapidly assimilated by the symbionts. At 25°C, metal bioaccumulation enhanced the chlorophyll concentration and photosynthesis of dust-exposed corals compared to control corals. These results suggest that primary production was limited by metal availability in seawater. A 5°C increase in seawater temperature enhanced iron assimilation in both control and dust-enriched corals. Temperature rise increased the photosynthesis of control corals only, dust-exposed ones having already reached maximal photosynthesis rates at 25°C. Finally, we observed a combined effect of temperature and bioelement concentration on the assimilation of molybdenum, cadmium, manganese and copper, which were in higher concentrations in symbionts of dust-exposed corals maintained at 30°C. All together these observations highlight the importance of dust deposition in the supply of essential bioelements, such as iron, to corals and its role in sustaining coral productivity in Red Sea reefs.}, } @article {pmid34981190, year = {2022}, author = {Thanni, B and Merckx, R and De Bauw, P and Boeraeve, M and Peeters, G and Hauser, S and Honnay, O}, title = {Spatial variability and environmental drivers of cassava-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) associations across Southern Nigeria.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {1-13}, pmid = {34981190}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Fungi ; *Manihot ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nigeria ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cassava, forming starch-rich, tuberous roots, is an important staple crop in smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Its relatively good tolerance to drought and nutrient-poor soils may be partly attributed to the crop's association with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF). Yet insights into AMF-community composition and richness of cassava, and knowledge of its environmental drivers are still limited. Here, we sampled 60 cassava fields across three major cassava-growing agro-ecological zones in Nigeria and used a DNA meta-barcoding approach to quantify large-scale spatial variation and evaluate the effects of soil characteristics and common agricultural practices on AMF community composition, richness and Shannon diversity. We identified 515 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs), dominated by Glomus, with large variation across agro-ecological zones, and with soil pH explaining most of the variation in AMF community composition. High levels of soil available phosphorus reduced OTU richness without affecting Shannon diversity. Long fallow periods (> 5 years) reduced AMF richness compared with short fallows, whereas both zero tillage and tractor tillage reduced AMF diversity compared with hoe tillage. This study reveals that the symbiotic relationship between cassava and AMF is strongly influenced by soil characteristics and agricultural management and that it is possible to adjust cassava cultivation practices to modify AMF diversity and community structure.}, } @article {pmid34981189, year = {2022}, author = {Yin, R and Hao, Z and Zhou, X and Wu, H and Feng, Z and Yuan, X and Chen, B}, title = {Ozone does not diminish the beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizas on Medicago sativa L. in a low phosphorus soil.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {33-43}, pmid = {34981189}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Medicago sativa ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; *Ozone/analysis/pharmacology ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Enriched surface ozone (O3) can impose harmful effects on plants. Conversely, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can enhance plant tolerance to various environmental stresses and facilitate plant growth. The interaction of AM fungi and O3 on plant performance, however, seldom has been investigated. In this study, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was used as a test plant to study the effects of O3 and AM symbiosis on plant physiology and growth under two O3 levels (ambient air and elevated O3 with 60 nmol·mol[-1] O3 enrichment) and three AM inoculation treatments (inoculation with exogenous or indigenous AM fungi and non-inoculation control). The results showed that elevated O3 decreased plant net photosynthetic rate and biomass, and increased malondialdehyde concentration, while AM inoculation (with both exogenous and indigenous AM fungi) could promote plant nutrient acquisition and growth irrespective of O3 levels. The positive effects of AM symbiosis on plant nutrient acquisition and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) activities were most likely offset by increased stomatal conductance and O3 intake. As a result, AM inoculation and O3 generally showed no significant interactions on plant performance: although elevated O3 did not diminish the beneficial effects of AM symbiosis on alfalfa plants, AM symbiosis also did not alleviate the harmful effects of O3 on plants.}, } @article {pmid34980290, year = {2022}, author = {Chiang, E and Deblois, CL and Carey, HV and Suen, G}, title = {Characterization of captive and wild 13-lined ground squirrel cecal microbiotas using Illumina-based sequencing.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {34980290}, issn = {2524-4671}, support = {T32 GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hibernating animals experience extreme changes in diet that make them useful systems for understanding host-microbial symbioses. However, most of our current knowledge about the hibernator gut microbiota is derived from studies using captive animals. Given that there are substantial differences between captive and wild environments, conclusions drawn from studies with captive hibernators may not reflect the gut microbiota's role in the physiology of wild animals. To address this, we used Illumina-based sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to compare the bacterial cecal microbiotas of captive and wild 13-lined ground squirrels (TLGS) in the summer. As the first study to use Illumina-based technology to compare the microbiotas of an obligate rodent hibernator across the year, we also reported changes in captive TLGS microbiotas in summer, winter, and spring.

RESULTS: Wild TLGS microbiotas had greater richness and phylogenetic diversity with less variation in beta diversity when compared to captive microbiotas. Taxa identified as core operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and found to significantly contribute to differences in beta diversity were primarily in the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. Captive TLGS microbiotas shared phyla and core OTUs across the year, but active season (summer and spring) microbiotas had different alpha and beta diversities than winter season microbiotas.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to compare the microbiotas of captive and wild rodent hibernators. Our findings suggest that data from captive and wild ground squirrels should be interpreted separately due to their distinct microbiotas. Additionally, as the first study to compare seasonal microbiotas of obligate rodent hibernators using Illumina-based 16S rRNA sequencing, we reported changes in captive TLGS microbiotas that are consistent with previous work. Taken together, this study provides foundational information for improving the reproducibility and experimental design of future hibernation microbiota studies.}, } @article {pmid34980289, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Y and Sun, J and Chen, C and Zhou, Y and Van Dover, CL and Wang, C and Qiu, JW and Qian, PY}, title = {Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses reveal minor-yet-crucial roles of gut microbiome in deep-sea hydrothermal vent snail.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {34980289}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine animals often exhibit complex symbiotic relationship with gut microbes to attain better use of the available resources. Many animals endemic to deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems host chemoautotrophic bacteria endocellularly, and they are thought to rely entirely on these symbionts for energy and nutrition. Numerous investigations have been conducted on the interdependence between these animal hosts and their chemoautotrophic symbionts. The provannid snail Alviniconcha marisindica from the Indian Ocean hydrothermal vent fields hosts a Campylobacterial endosymbiont in its gill. Unlike many other chemosymbiotic animals, the gut of A. marisindica is reduced but remains functional; yet the contribution of gut microbiomes and their interactions with the host remain poorly characterised.

RESULTS: Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses showed that the gut microbiome of A. marisindica plays key nutritional and metabolic roles. The composition and relative abundance of gut microbiota of A. marisindica were different from those of snails that do not depend on endosymbiosis. The relative abundance of microbial taxa was similar amongst three individuals of A. marisindica with significant inter-taxa correlations. These correlations suggest the potential for interactions between taxa that may influence community assembly and stability. Functional profiles of the gut microbiome revealed thousands of additional genes that assist in the use of vent-supplied inorganic compounds (autotrophic energy source), digest host-ingested organics (carbon source), and recycle the metabolic waste of the host. In addition, members of five taxonomic classes have the potential to form slime capsules to protect themselves from the host immune system, thereby contributing to homeostasis. Gut microbial ecology and its interplay with the host thus contribute to the nutritional and metabolic demands of A. marisindica.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings advance the understanding of how deep-sea chemosymbiotic animals use available resources through contributions from gut microbiota. Gut microbiota may be critical in the survival of invertebrate hosts with autotrophic endosymbionts in extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid34979929, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, X and Xu, L and Wang, J and Dong, M and Xu, C and Kai, G and Wan, W and Jiang, J}, title = {Endophytic fungus Pseudodidymocyrtis lobariellae KL27 promotes taxol biosynthesis and accumulation in Taxus chinensis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {34979929}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Paclitaxel/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Taxus/*metabolism/microbiology ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Taxol from Taxus species is a precious drug used for the treatment of cancer and can effectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the growth of Taxus plants is very slow and the content of taxol is quite low. Therefore, it is of great significance to improve the yield of taxol by modern biotechnology without destroying the wild forest resources. Endophytic fungus which symbiosis with their host plants can promote the growth and secondary metabolism of medicinal plants.

RESULTS: Here, an endophytic fungus KL27 was isolated from T. chinensis, and identified as Pseudodidymocyrtis lobariellae. The fermentation broth of KL27 (KL27-FB) could significantly promote the accumulation of taxol in needles of T. chinensis, reaching 0.361 ± 0.082 mg/g·DW (dry weight) at 7 days after KL27-FB treatment, which is 3.26-fold increase as compared to the control. The RNA-seq and qRT-PCR showed that KL27-FB could significantly increase the expression of key genes involved in the upstream pathway of terpene synthesis (such as DXS and DXR) and those in the taxol biosynthesis pathway (such as GGPPS, TS, T5OH, TAT, T10OH, T14OH, T2OH, TBT, DBAT and PAM), especially at the early stage of the stimulation. Moreover, the activation of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and JA signal transduction, and its crosstalk with other hormones, such as gibberellin acid (GA), ethylene (ET) and salicylic acid (SA), explained the elevation of most of the differential expressed genes related to taxol biosynthesis pathway. Moreover, TF (transcriptional factor)-encoding genes, including MYBs, ethylene-responsive transcription factors (ERFs) and basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH), were detected as differential expressed genes after KL27-FB treatment, further suggested that the regulation of hormone signaling on genes of taxol biosynthesis was mediated by TFs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that fermentation broth of endophytic fungus KL27-FB could effectively enhance the accumulation of taxol in T. chinensis needles by regulating the phytohormone metabolism and signal transduction and further up-regulating the expression of multiple key genes involved in taxol biosynthesis. This study provides new insight into the regulatory mechanism of how endophytic fungus promotes the production and accumulation of taxol in Taxus sp.}, } @article {pmid34978930, year = {2022}, author = {Li, D and Li, Z and Wu, J and Tang, Z and Xie, F and Chen, D and Lin, H and Li, Y}, title = {Analysis of Outer Membrane Vesicles Indicates That Glycerophospholipid Metabolism Contributes to Early Symbiosis Between Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 and Soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {311-322}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-21-0288-R}, pmid = {34978930}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Glycerophospholipids/metabolism ; Lipids ; Mammals/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Gram-negative bacteria can produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), and most functional studies of OMVs have been focused on mammalian-bacterial interactions. However, research on the OMVs of rhizobia is still limited. In this work, we isolated and purified OMVs from Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 under free-living conditions that were set as control (C-OMVs) and symbiosis-mimicking conditions that were induced by genistein (G-OMVs). The soybean roots treated with G-OMVs displayed significant deformation of root hairs. G-OMVs significantly induced the expression of nodulation genes related to early symbiosis, while they inhibited that of the defense genes of soybean. Proteomics analysis identified a total of 93 differential proteins between C-OMVs and G-OMVs, which are mainly associated with ribosome synthesis, flagellar assembly, two-component system, ABC transporters, oxidative phosphorylation, nitrogen metabolism, quorum sensing, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. A total of 45 differential lipids were identified through lipidomics analysis. Correlation analysis of OMV proteome and lipidome data revealed that glycerophospholipid metabolism is the enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes metabolic pathway, and the expression of phosphatidylserine decarboxylase was significantly up-regulated in G-OMVs. The changes in three lipids related to symbiosis in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicate that glycerophospholipid metabolism contributes to rhizobia-soybean symbiosis via OMVs.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34977392, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Li, H and Liu, Y and Zhou, M and Ding, M and Yuan, Y}, title = {Construction of synthetic microbial consortia for 2-keto-L-gulonic acid biosynthesis.}, journal = {Synthetic and systems biotechnology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {481-489}, pmid = {34977392}, issn = {2405-805X}, abstract = {Currently, the establishment of synthetic microbial consortia with rational strategies has gained extensive attention, becoming one of the important frontiers of synthetic biology. Systems biology can offer insights into the design and construction of synthetic microbial consortia. Taking the high-efficiency production of 2-keto-l-gulonic acid (2-KLG) as an example, we constructed a synthetic microbial consortium "Saccharomyces cerevisiae-Ketogulonigenium vulgare" based on systems biology analysis. In the consortium, K. vulgare was the 2-KLG producing strain, and S. cerevisiae acted as the helper strain. Comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed on an engineered S. cerevisiae (VTC2) and a wild-type S. cerevisiae BY4741. The results showed that the up-regulated genes in VTC2, compared with BY4741, were mainly involved in glycolysis, TCA cycle, purine metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids, B vitamins, and antioxidant proteases, all of which play important roles in promoting the growth of K. vulgare. Furthermore, Vitamin C produced by VTC2 could further relieve the oxidative stress in the environment to increase the production of 2-KLG. Therefore, VTC2 would be of great advantage in working with K. vulgare. Thus, the synthetic microbial consortium "VTC2-K. vulgare" was constructed based on transcriptomics analyses, and the accumulation of 2-KLG was increased by 1.49-fold compared with that of mono-cultured K. vulgare, reaching 13.2 ± 0.52 g/L. In addition, the increased production of 2-KLG was accompanied by the up-regulated activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the medium and the up-regulated oxidative stress-related genes (sod, cat and gpd) in K. vulgare. The results indicated that the oxidative stress in the synthetic microbial consortium was efficiently reduced. Thus, systems analysis confirmed a favorable symbiotic relationship between microorganisms, providing guidance for further engineering synthetic consortia.}, } @article {pmid34976805, year = {2021}, author = {Li, Y and Zhang, J and Xu, J and Liu, S}, title = {The Metabolism Symbiosis Between Pancreatic Cancer and Tumor Microenvironment.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {759376}, pmid = {34976805}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Complex interactions occur between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Studies have focused on the mechanism of metabolic symbiosis between tumors and the tumor microenvironment. During tumor development, the metabolic pattern undergoes significant changes, and the optimal metabolic mode of the tumor is selected on the basis of its individual environment. Tumor cells can adapt to a specific microenvironment through metabolic adjustment to achieve compatibility. In this study, the effects of tumor glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism on the tumor microenvironment and related mechanisms were reviewed. Selective targeting of tumor cell metabolic reprogramming is an attractive direction for tumor therapy. Understanding the mechanism of tumor metabolic adaptation and determining the metabolism symbiosis mechanism between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment may provide a new approach for treatment, which is of great significance for accelerating the development of targeted tumor metabolic drugs and administering individualized tumor metabolic therapy.}, } @article {pmid34976307, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, MJ and Song, H and Feng, J and Yu, ZL and Shi, P and Liang, J and Hu, Z and Zhou, C and Wang, XL and Zhang, T}, title = {Symbiotic microbiome and metabolism profiles reveal the effects of induction by oysters on the metamorphosis of the carnivorous gastropod Rapana venosa.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {1-14}, pmid = {34976307}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Most marine mollusks have a pelagic larval phase, and they need to undergo metamorphosis to develop into adults. Metamorphosis is affected by many factors, including abiotic factors such as temperature, salinity and illumination as well as biological factors such as food and microorganisms. In our previous study, we found that the metamorphosis of Rapana venosa requires induction by juvenile oysters, which are the food source of R. venosa. However, the regulatory mechanism of this induction is largely unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the impacts of induction by juvenile oysters on competent larvae of R. venosa. Competent larvae were experimentally divided into two pools, and scallop shells without juvenile oysters and scallop shells with juvenile oysters were added for 2 h and 12 h to monitor alterations in critical gene expression, symbiotic microbiota and metabolomic responses. The carboxypeptidase gene was increased while the cellulase gene was decreased, which may mean that the food habit transition was induced by juvenile oysters. Meanwhile, critical genes in the neuroendocrine system were also significantly altered in juvenile oysters. Furthermore, dramatic changes in the symbiotic microbiota and metabolism profiles were observed, with many of them associated with the digestive system and neuroendocrine system. In conclusion, juveniles as food resources may induce metamorphosis in R. venosa by regulating the neuroendocrine system and promoting the development of the digestive system and changes in digestive enzymes. This study may provide evidence that induction by juvenile oysters can promote food habit transition and metamorphosis in R. venosa by regulating the metabolome and microbiome and further altering the digestive and neuroendocrine systems of R. venosa, which expands our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of metamorphosis in R. venosa. However, further studies are needed to explore the specific substance inducing metamorphosis released by juvenile oysters.}, } @article {pmid34975995, year = {2021}, author = {Dong, Q and Guo, X and Chen, K and Ren, S and Muneer, MA and Zhang, J and Li, Y and Ji, B}, title = {Phylogenetic Correlation and Symbiotic Network Explain the Interdependence Between Plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Tibetan Alpine Meadow.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {804861}, pmid = {34975995}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form complex symbiotic networks based on functional trait selection, contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem biodiversity and stability. However, the selectivity of host plants on AMF and the characteristics of plant-AMF networks remain unclear in Tibetan alpine meadows. In this study, we studied the AMF communities in 69 root samples from 23 plant species in a Tibetan alpine meadow using Illumina-MiSeq sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the phylogenetic distances of plant species and the taxonomic dissimilarity of their AMF community. The plant-AMF network was characterized by high connectance, high nestedness, anti-modularity, and anti-specialization, and the phylogenetic signal from plants was stronger than that from AMF. The high connected and nested plant-AMF network potentially promoted the interdependence and stability of the plant-AMF symbioses in Tibetan alpine meadows. This study emphasizes that plant phylogeny and plant-AMF networks play an important role in the coevolution of host plants and their mycorrhizal partners and enhance our understanding of the interactions between aboveground and belowground communities.}, } @article {pmid34975984, year = {2021}, author = {Tominaga, T and Miura, C and Sumigawa, Y and Hirose, Y and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Mine, A and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Conservation and Diversity in Gibberellin-Mediated Transcriptional Responses Among Host Plants Forming Distinct Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Morphotypes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {795695}, pmid = {34975984}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Morphotypes of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, Arum, Paris, and Intermediate types, are mainly determined by host plant lineages. It was reported that the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) inhibits the establishment of Arum-type AM symbiosis in legume plants. In contrast, we previously reported that GA promotes the establishment of Paris-type AM symbiosis in Eustoma grandiflorum, while suppressing Arum-type AM symbiosis in a legume model plant, Lotus japonicus. This raises a hitherto unexplored possibility that GA-mediated transcriptional reprogramming during AM symbiosis is different among plant lineages as the AM morphotypes are distinct. Here, our comparative transcriptomics revealed that several symbiosis-related genes were commonly upregulated upon AM fungal colonization in L. japonicus (Arum-type), Daucus carota (Intermediate-type), and E. grandiflorum (Paris-type). Despite of the similarities, the fungal colonization levels and the expression of symbiosis-related genes were suppressed in L. japonicus and D. carota but were promoted in E. grandiflorum in the presence of GA. Moreover, exogenous GA inhibited the expression of genes involved in biosynthetic process of the pre-symbiotic signal component, strigolactone, which resulted in the reduction of its endogenous accumulation in L. japonicus and E. grandiflorum. Additionally, differential regulation of genes involved in sugar metabolism suggested that disaccharides metabolized in AM roots would be different between L. japonicus and D. carota/E. grandiflorum. Therefore, this study uncovered the conserved transcriptional responses during mycorrhization regardless of the distinct AM morphotype. Meanwhile, we also found diverse responses to GA among phylogenetically distant AM host plants.}, } @article {pmid34975976, year = {2021}, author = {Alam, B and Lǐ, J and Gě, Q and Khan, MA and Gōng, J and Mehmood, S and Yuán, Y and Gǒng, W}, title = {Endophytic Fungi: From Symbiosis to Secondary Metabolite Communications or Vice Versa?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {791033}, pmid = {34975976}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi (EF) are a group of fascinating host-associated fungal communities that colonize the intercellular or intracellular spaces of host tissues, providing beneficial effects to their hosts while gaining advantages. In recent decades, accumulated research on endophytic fungi has revealed their biodiversity, wide-ranging ecological distribution, and multidimensional interactions with host plants and other microbiomes in the symbiotic continuum. In this review, we highlight the role of secondary metabolites (SMs) as effectors in these multidimensional interactions, and the biosynthesis of SMs in symbiosis via complex gene expression regulation mechanisms in the symbiotic continuum and via the mimicry or alteration of phytochemical production in host plants. Alternative biological applications of SMs in modern medicine, agriculture, and industry and their major classes are also discussed. This review recapitulates an introduction to the research background, progress, and prospects of endophytic biology, and discusses problems and substantive challenges that need further study.}, } @article {pmid34975860, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, PT and Yamamoto, FY and Low, CF and Loh, JY and Chong, CM}, title = {Gut Immune System and the Implications of Oral-Administered Immunoprophylaxis in Finfish Aquaculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {773193}, pmid = {34975860}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/*therapeutic use ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Aquaculture/*methods ; Fish Diseases/*prevention & control ; Fishes ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Vaccines/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal immune system plays an important role in immune homeostasis regulation. It regulates the symbiotic host-microbiome interactions by training and developing the host's innate and adaptive immunity. This interaction plays a vital role in host defence mechanisms and at the same time, balancing the endogenous perturbations of the host immune homeostasis. The fish gastrointestinal immune system is armed with intricate diffused gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) that establish tolerance toward the enormous commensal gut microbiome while preserving immune responses against the intrusion of enteric pathogens. A comprehensive understanding of the intestinal immune system is a prerequisite for developing an oral vaccine and immunostimulants in aquaculture, particularly in cultured fish species. In this review, we outline the remarkable features of gut immunity and the essential components of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. The mechanistic principles underlying the antigen absorption and uptake through the intestinal epithelial, and the subsequent immune activation through a series of molecular events are reviewed. The emphasis is on the significance of gut immunity in oral administration of immunoprophylactics, and the different potential adjuvants that circumvent intestinal immune tolerance. Comprehension of the intestinal immune system is pivotal for developing effective fish vaccines that can be delivered orally, which is less labour-intensive and could improve fish health and facilitate disease management in the aquaculture industry.}, } @article {pmid34975812, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, A and Chen, X and Luo, S and Zou, Q and Xie, J and He, D and Li, X and Cheng, G}, title = {Corrigendum: Rhizobium leguminosarum Glutathione Peroxidase Is Essential for Oxidative Stress Resistance and Efficient Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {789870}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2021.789870}, pmid = {34975812}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.627562.].}, } @article {pmid34975799, year = {2021}, author = {Zou, Q and Luo, S and Wu, H and He, D and Li, X and Cheng, G}, title = {Corrigendum: A GMC Oxidoreductase GmcA Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {774051}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2021.774051}, pmid = {34975799}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00394.].}, } @article {pmid34975794, year = {2021}, author = {Ge, R and Liang, J and Yu, K and Chen, B and Yu, X and Deng, C and Chen, J and Xu, Y and Qin, L}, title = {Regulation of the Coral-Associated Bacteria and Symbiodiniaceae in Acropora valida Under Ocean Acidification.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {767174}, pmid = {34975794}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ocean acidification is one of many stressors that coral reef ecosystems are currently contending with. Thus, understanding the response of key symbiotic microbes to ocean acidification is of great significance for understanding the adaptation mechanism and development trend of coral holobionts. Here, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to investigate the coral-associated bacteria and Symbiodiniaceae of the ecologically important coral Acropora valida exposed to different pH gradients. After 30 days of acclimatization, we set four acidification gradients (pH 8.2, 7.8, 7.4, and 7.2, respectively), and each pH condition was applied for 10 days, with the whole experiment lasting for 70 days. Although the Symbiodiniaceae density decreased significantly, the coral did not appear to be bleached, and the real-time photosynthetic rate did not change significantly, indicating that A. valida has strong tolerance to acidification. Moreover, the Symbiodiniaceae community composition was hardly affected by ocean acidification, with the C1 subclade (Cladocopium goreaui) being dominant among the Symbiodiniaceae dominant types. The relative abundance of the Symbiodiniaceae background types was significantly higher at pH 7.2, indicating that ocean acidification might increase the stability of the community composition by regulating the Symbiodiniaceae rare biosphere. Furthermore, the stable symbiosis between the C1 subclade and coral host may contribute to the stability of the real-time photosynthetic efficiency. Finally, concerning the coral-associated bacteria, the stable symbiosis between Endozoicomonas and coral host is likely to help them adapt to ocean acidification. The significant increase in the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria at pH 7.2 may also compensate for the photosynthesis efficiency of a coral holobiont. In summary, this study suggests that the combined response of key symbiotic microbes helps the whole coral host resist the threats of ocean acidification.}, } @article {pmid34975785, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, R and Wang, L and Xie, J and Zhang, Z}, title = {Diversity and Function of Wolf Spider Gut Microbiota Revealed by Shotgun Metagenomics.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {758794}, pmid = {34975785}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are crucial component of integrated pest management programs and the characteristics of their gut microbiota are known to play important roles in improving fitness and survival of the host. However, there are only few studies of the gut microbiota among closely related species of wolf spider. Whether wolf spiders gut microbiota vary with habitats remains unknown. Here, we used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to compare the gut microbiota of two wolf spider species, Pardosa agraria and P. laura from farmland and woodland ecosystems, respectively. The results show that the gut microbiota of Pardosa spiders is similar in richness and abundance. Approximately 27.3% of the gut microbiota of P. agraria comprises Proteobacteria, and approximately 34.5% of the gut microbiota of P. laura comprises Firmicutes. We assembled microbial genomes and found that the gut microbiota of P. laura are enriched in genes for carbohydrate metabolism. In contrast, those of P. agraria showed a higher proportion of genes encoding acetyltransferase, an enzyme involved in resistance to antibiotics. We reconstructed three high-quality and species-level microbial genomes: Vulcaniibacterium thermophilum, Anoxybacillus flavithermus and an unknown bacterium belonging to the family Simkaniaceae. Our results contribute to an understanding of the diversity and function of gut microbiota in closely related spiders.}, } @article {pmid34975776, year = {2021}, author = {Paulucci, NS and Cesari, AB and Biasutti, MA and Dardanelli, MS and Perillo, MA}, title = {Membrane Homeoviscous Adaptation in Sinorhizobium Submitted to a Stressful Thermal Cycle Contributes to the Maintenance of the Symbiotic Plant-Bacteria Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {652477}, pmid = {34975776}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Here, we estimate fast changes in the fluidity of Sinorhizobium meliloti membranes submitted to cyclic temperature changes (10°C-40°C-10°C) by monitoring the fluorescence polarization (P) of DPH and TMA-DPH of the whole cell (WC) as well as in its outer (OM) and inner (IM) membranes. Additionally, the long-term response to thermal changes is demonstrated through the dynamics of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition in each membrane. This allowed membrane homeoviscous adaptation by the return to optimal fluidity levels as measured by the PDPH/TMA-DPH in WC, OM, IM, and multilamellar vesicles of lipids extracted from OM and IM. Due to probe-partitioning preferences and membranes' compositional characteristics, DPH and TMA-DPH exhibit different behaviors in IM and OM. The rapid effect of cyclic temperature changes on the P was the opposite in both membranes with the IM being the one that exhibited the thermal behavior expected for lipid bilayers. Interestingly, only after the incubation at 40°C, cells were unable to recover the membrane preheating P levels when cooled up to 10°C. Solely in this condition, the formation of threads and nodular structures in Medicago sativa infected with S. meliloti were delayed, indicating that the symbiotic interaction was partially altered but not halted.}, } @article {pmid34975352, year = {2021}, author = {Sherifi, D and Ndanga, M and Hunt, TT and Srinivasan, S}, title = {THE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH INFORMATICS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND COLLABORATION.}, journal = {Perspectives in health information management}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {1c}, pmid = {34975352}, issn = {1559-4122}, mesh = {Delivery of Health Care ; *Health Information Management ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Information Technology ; *Medical Informatics ; }, abstract = {Health information management (HIM) and health informatics (HI) are two similar but distinct disciplines. They share a common goal in terms of using information technologies and information power to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care; contribute to disease prevention and treatment; and improve overall population health. HIM professionals are primarily focused on managing health information, and HI professionals are primarily focused on the technologies and systems that make health information management possible. The right combination of the breadth of knowledge HIM professionals possess and the depth of knowledge HI professionals bring into the various areas constituting the scopes of the two disciplines can strengthen an organization's potential and growth in a complex, fast-changing healthcare environment.}, } @article {pmid34975234, year = {2022}, author = {Moghari, S and Ghorani, M}, title = {A symbiosis between cellular automata and dynamic weighted multigraph with application on virus spread modeling.}, journal = {Chaos, solitons, and fractals}, volume = {155}, number = {}, pages = {111660}, pmid = {34975234}, issn = {0960-0779}, abstract = {The pattern of coronavirus spread at different geographical scales verifies that travel or shipment by air, sea or road are potential to transmit viruses from one location to somewhere far away in a very short time. Simulation and analysis of such a situation requires the development of models that support long distance transmission of viruses. Cellular Automata (CA) are a family of spatiotemporal computational models frequently employed in analysis of biomedical systems. A CA consists of a topological combination of units called cells as well as a transition function that propagates the configuration of cells locally and step by step. In this paper, we first present some patterns that show the local interaction between CA cells is not sufficient for virus spread modeling, especially at large spatial scales. Then, we generalize the concept of CA by providing a symbiosis between the neighborhood relationship of cells and the transmission channels represented by a dynamic weighted multigraph. Furthermore, we characterize the capabilities of the proposed modeling tool in simulation of the virus spread, and estimating the risk control during the movement restrictions and related health protocols. Finally, we simulate the coronavirus outbreak in the five study areas including three states and two countries. Our experiments using the proposed model verify that the proposed model is capable of formulating different ways of virus transmission, including long-distance transmission, and supports high-precision simulation of the pandemic.}, } @article {pmid34973740, year = {2022}, author = {Pan, L and Fu, T and Cheng, H and Mi, J and Shang, Q and Yu, G}, title = {Polysaccharide from edible alga Gloiopeltis furcata attenuates intestinal mucosal damage by therapeutically remodeling the interactions between gut microbiota and mucin O-glycans.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {278}, number = {}, pages = {118921}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118921}, pmid = {34973740}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Carbohydrate Conformation ; Dextran Sulfate ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa/*drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mucins/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Polysaccharides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Seaweed/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Gloiopeltis furcata is an edible alga that has long been consumed in China. However, the bioactive polysaccharides from G. furcata have been largely unexplored. Here, we show for the first time that a sulfated polysaccharide from G. furcata (SAO) could improve the integrity of the colonic epithelial layer and protect against dextran sulfate sodium-induced intestinal mucosal damage. Mechanistically, SAO attenuated colonic mucosal damage by therapeutically remodeling the interactions between gut microbiota and mucin O-glycans. Specifically, SAO increased the proportions of complex long-chain mucin O-glycans in the epithelial layer with two terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid residues and promoted the growth of probiotic bacteria including Roseburia spp. and Muribaculaceae. Altogether, our study demonstrates a novel application of SAO for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease-associated mucosal damage and forms the basis to understand the therapeutic effects of natural polysaccharides from the perspective of symbiotic interactions between host mucin O-glycome and gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid34972536, year = {2021}, author = {Enz, A and Müller, S and Mittelmeier, W and Klinder, A}, title = {Severe polymicrobial and fungal periprosthetic osteomyelitis persisting after hip disarticulations treated with caspofungin in risk patients: a case series.}, journal = {Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {86}, pmid = {34972536}, issn = {1476-0711}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*therapeutic use ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*adverse effects ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/*adverse effects ; Caspofungin/*therapeutic use ; Disarticulation/*methods ; Female ; Fungi/drug effects ; Hip Prosthesis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses/*drug therapy ; Osteomyelitis/*drug therapy ; Prosthesis-Related Infections/*drug therapy ; Recurrence ; Reoperation/*adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic fungal infections are considered rare and opportunistic infections. Treatment is difficult, and established standards do not yet exist. The choice of the appropriate antifungal drug might affect the patient outcome.

CASES: All the three cases presented showed polybacterial recurrent infection of the revision hip arthroplasty. All patients were of younger age, had multiple revisions of the endoprosthesis, each had a large partial femoral replacement greater than 40% of the femoral length, gentamycin-loaded cement, and a long anchoring distance of the used intramedullary stem. Due to the severe life-threatening infection with deep osteomyelitis, an amputation had to be performed. However, despite surgical intervention, the fungal dominated infection persisted. Finally, only the use of caspofungin allowed permanent infection control.

CONCLUSION: The polybacterial infection is driven by the symbiosis between fungi and bacteria. Therefore, eradication of the fungus is required to achieve elimination of the bacteria. Antimycotics of the echinocandin-class, such as caspofungin, may be considered as initial treatment.}, } @article {pmid34971956, year = {2022}, author = {Zeng, H and Hu, W and Liu, G and Xu, H and Wei, Y and Zhang, J and Shi, H}, title = {Microbiome-wide association studies between phyllosphere microbiota and ionome highlight the beneficial symbiosis of Lactococcus lactis in alleviating aluminium in cassava.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {66-74}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.12.029}, pmid = {34971956}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Aluminum ; *Lactococcus lactis ; *Manihot/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phyllosphere is one of the most abundant habitats for global microbiota. The ionome is the composition of mineral elements in plants. The correlation between phyllosphere microbiota and the ionome remains elusive in plants, especially in the most important tropical crop cassava. In this study, microbiome-wide association studies (MWASs) of thirty varieties were performed to reveal the association between phyllosphere microbiota and ionomic variations in cassava. Annotation of metagenomic species identified some species that were significantly correlated with ionomic variations in cassava. Among them, Lactococcus lactis abundance was negatively associated with leaf aluminium (Al) levels but positively related to leaf potassium (K) levels. Notably, both the reference and isolated L. lactis showed strong binding capacity to Al. Further bacterial transplantation of isolated L. lactis could significantly decrease endogenous Al levels but increase K levels in cassava, and it can also lead to increased citric acid and lactic acid levels as well as higher transcript levels of K uptake-related genes. Taken together, this study reveals the involvement of phyllosphere microbiota in ionomic variation in cassava, and the correlation between L. lactis abundance and Al and K levels provides novel insights into alleviating Al accumulation and promoting K uptake simultaneously.}, } @article {pmid34971476, year = {2022}, author = {van 't Padje, A and Klein, M and Caldas, V and Oyarte Galvez, L and Broersma, C and Hoebe, N and Sanders, IR and Shimizu, T and Kiers, ET}, title = {Decreasing relatedness among mycorrhizal fungi in a shared plant network increases fungal network size but not plant benefit.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {509-520}, pmid = {34971476}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Theory suggests that relatives will cooperate more, and compete less, because of an increased benefit for shared genes. In symbiotic partnerships, hosts may benefit from interacting with highly related symbionts because there is less conflict among the symbionts. This has been difficult to test empirically. We used the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to study the effects of fungal relatedness on host and fungal benefits, creating fungal networks varying in relatedness between two hosts, both in soil and in-vitro. To determine how fungal relatedness affected overall transfer of nutrients, we fluorescently tagged phosphorus and quantified resource distribution between two root systems. We found that colonization by less-related fungi was associated with increased fungal growth, lower transport of nutrients across the network, and lower plant benefit - likely an outcome of increased fungal competition. More generally, we demonstrate how symbiont relatedness can mediate benefits of symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34971389, year = {2022}, author = {Dokwal, D and Cocuron, JC and Alonso, AP and Dickstein, R}, title = {Metabolite shift in Medicago truncatula occurs in phosphorus deprivation.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {7}, pages = {2093-2111}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab559}, pmid = {34971389}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation entails successful interaction between legume hosts and rhizobia that occur in specialized organs called nodules. N-fixing legumes have a higher demand for phosphorus (P) than legumes grown on mineral N. Medicago truncatula is an important model plant for characterization of effects of P deficiency at the molecular level. Hence, a study was carried out to address the alteration in metabolite levels of M. truncatula grown aeroponically and subjected to 4 weeks of P stress. First, GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics initially revealed changes in the metabolic profile of nodules, with increased levels of amino acids and sugars and a decline in amounts of organic acids. Subsequently, LC-MS/MS was used to quantify these compounds including phosphorylated metabolites in the whole plant. Our results showed a drastic reduction in levels of organic acids and phosphorylated compounds in -P leaves, with a moderate reduction in -P roots and nodules. Additionally, sugars and amino acids were elevated in the whole plant under P deprivation. These findings provide evidence that N fixation in M. truncatula is mediated through a N feedback mechanism that in parallel is related to carbon and P metabolism.}, } @article {pmid34970585, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, L and Gao, M and Kang, G and Huang, H}, title = {The Potential Role of Phytonutrients Flavonoids Influencing Gut Microbiota in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {798038}, pmid = {34970585}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, is comprised of two idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases. As the incidence of IBD increases, so does the need for safe and effective treatments. Trillions of microorganisms are colonized in the mammalian intestine, coevolve with the host in a symbiotic relationship. Gut microbiota has been reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of IBD. In this regard, phytonutrients flavonoids have received increasing attention for their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, we address recent advances in the interactions among flavonoids, gut microbiota, and IBD. Moreover, their possible potential mechanisms of action in IBD have been discussed. We conclude that there is a complex interaction between flavonoids and gut microbiota. It is expected that flavonoids can change or reshape the gut microbiota to provide important considerations for developing treatments for IBD.}, } @article {pmid34970318, year = {2021}, author = {Lv, M and Lei, Q and Yin, H and Hu, T and Wang, S and Dong, K and Pan, H and Liu, Y and Lin, Q and Cao, Z}, title = {In vitro Effects of Prebiotics and Synbiotics on Apis cerana Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Polish journal of microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {4}, pages = {511-520}, pmid = {34970318}, issn = {2544-4646}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bees/microbiology ; Bifidobacterium/physiology ; Fermentation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Glucose/pharmacology ; Lactobacillus/physiology ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology ; *Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; *Synbiotics/analysis ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to investigate in vitro effects of the selected prebiotics alone, and in combination with two potential probiotic Lactobacillus strains on the microbial composition of Apis cerana gut microbiota and acid production. Four prebiotics, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides, and isomalto-oligosaccharides were chosen, and glucose served as the carbon source. Supplementation of this four prebiotics increased numbers of Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria while decreasing the pH value of in vitro fermentation broth inoculated with A. cerana gut microbiota compared to glucose. Then, two potential probiotics derived from A. cerana gut at different dosages, Lactobacillus helveticus KM7 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri LP4 were added with isomalto-oligosaccharides in fermentation broth inoculated with A. cerana gut microbiota, respectively. The most pronounced impact was observed with isomalto-oligosaccharides. Compared to isomalto-oligosaccharides alone, the combination of isomalto-oligosaccharides with both lactobacilli strains induced the growth of Bifidobacterium, LAB, and total bacteria and reduced the proliferation of Enterococcus and fungi. Consistent with these results, the altered metabolic activity was observed as lowered pH in in vitro culture of gut microbiota supplemented with isomalto-oligosaccharides and lactobacilli strains. The symbiotic impact varied with the types and concentration of Lactobacillus strains and fermentation time. The more effective ability was observed with IMO combined with L. helveticus KM7. These results suggested that isomalto-oligosaccharides could be a potential prebiotic and symbiotic with certain lactobacilli strains on A. cerana gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid34970234, year = {2021}, author = {Vančurová, L and Malíček, J and Steinová, J and Škaloud, P}, title = {Choosing the Right Life Partner: Ecological Drivers of Lichen Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {769304}, pmid = {34970234}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lichens are an iconic example of symbiotic systems whose ecology is shaped by the requirements of the symbionts. Previous studies suggest that fungal (mycobionts) as well as photosynthesizing (phycobionts or cyanobionts) partners have a specific range of acceptable symbionts that can be chosen according to specific environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of climatic conditions and mycobiont identity on phycobiont distribution within the lichen genera Stereocaulon, Cladonia, and Lepraria. The study area comprised the Canary Islands, Madeira, Sicily, and the Aeolian Islands, spanning a wide range of climatic conditions. These islands are known for their unique and diverse fauna and flora; however, lichen phycobionts have remained unstudied in most of these areas. In total, we genetically analyzed 339 lichen samples. The phycobiont pool differed significantly from that outside the studied area. Asterochloris mediterranea was identified as the most abundant phycobiont. However, its distribution was limited by climatic constraints. Other species of Asterochloris and representatives of the genera Chloroidium, Vulcanochloris, and Myrmecia were also recovered as phycobionts. The selection of symbiotic partners from the local phycobiont pool was driven by mycobiont specificity (i.e., the taxonomic range of acceptable partners) and the environmental conditions, mainly temperature. Interestingly, the dominant fungal species responded differently in their selection of algal symbionts along the environmental gradients. Cladonia rangiformis associated with its phycobiont A. mediterranea in a broader range of temperatures than Stereocaulon azoreum, which favors other Asterochloris species along most of the temperature gradient. Stereocaulon vesuvianum associated with Chloroidium spp., which also differed in their temperature optima. Finally, we described Stereocaulon canariense as a new endemic species ecologically distinct from the other Stereocaulon species on the Canary Islands.}, } @article {pmid34969947, year = {2021}, author = {Ghanavi, HR and Twort, VG and Duplouy, A}, title = {Exploring bycatch diversity of organisms in whole genome sequencing of Erebidae moths (Lepidoptera).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {24499}, pmid = {34969947}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Genome, Insect ; Lepidoptera/genetics/physiology ; Moths/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; Wolbachia/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Models estimate that up to 80% of all butterfly and moth species host vertically transmitted endosymbiotic microorganisms, which can affect the host fitness, metabolism, reproduction, population dynamics, and genetic diversity, among others. The supporting empirical data are however currently highly biased towards the generally more colourful butterflies, and include less information about moths. Additionally, studies of symbiotic partners of Lepidoptera predominantly focus on the common bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, while infections by other inherited microbial partners have more rarely been investigated. Here, we mine the whole genome sequence data of 47 species of Erebidae moths, with the aims to both inform on the diversity of symbionts potentially associated with this Lepidoptera group, and discuss the potential of metagenomic approaches to inform on host associated microbiome diversity. Based on the result of Kraken2 and MetaPhlAn2 analyses, we found clear evidence of the presence of Wolbachia in four species. Our result also suggests the presence of three other bacterial symbionts (Burkholderia spp., Sodalis spp. and Arsenophonus spp.) in three other moth species. Additionally, we recovered genomic material from bracovirus in about half of our samples. The detection of the latter, usually found in mutualistic association to braconid parasitoid wasps, may inform on host-parasite interactions that take place in the natural habitat of the Erebidae moths, suggesting either contamination with material from species of the host community network, or horizontal transfer of members of the microbiome between interacting species.}, } @article {pmid34969860, year = {2022}, author = {He, S and Zhu, B and Jiang, X and Han, G and Li, S and Lau, CH and Wu, Y and Zhang, Y and Shao, L}, title = {Symbiosis-inspired de novo synthesis of ultrahigh MOF growth mixed matrix membranes for sustainable carbon capture.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {119}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {34969860}, issn = {1091-6490}, abstract = {Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are one of the most promising solutions for energy-efficient gas separation. However, conventional MMM synthesis methods inevitably lead to poor filler-polymer interfacial compatibility, filler agglomeration, and limited loading. Herein, inspired by symbiotic relationships in nature, we designed a universal bottom-up method for in situ nanosized metal organic framework (MOF) assembly within polymer matrices. Consequently, our method eliminating the traditional postsynthetic step significantly enhanced MOF dispersion, interfacial compatibility, and loading to an unprecedented 67.2 wt % in synthesized MMMs. Utilizing experimental techniques and complementary density functional theory (DFT) simulation, we validated that these enhancements synergistically ameliorated CO2 solubility, which was significantly different from other works where MOF typically promoted gas diffusion. Our approach simultaneously improves CO2 permeability and selectivity, and superior carbon capture performance is maintained even during long-term tests; the mechanical strength is retained even with ultrahigh MOF loadings. This symbiosis-inspired de novo strategy can potentially pave the way for next-generation MMMs that can fully exploit the unique characteristics of both MOFs and matrices.}, } @article {pmid34969660, year = {2022}, author = {Dhurjad, P and Dhavaliker, C and Gupta, K and Sonti, R}, title = {Exploring Drug Metabolism by the Gut Microbiota: Modes of Metabolism and Experimental Approaches.}, journal = {Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals}, volume = {50}, number = {3}, pages = {224-234}, doi = {10.1124/dmd.121.000669}, pmid = {34969660}, issn = {1521-009X}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence uncovers the involvement of gut microbiota in the metabolism of numerous pharmaceutical drugs. The human gut microbiome harbors 10-100 trillion symbiotic gut microbial bacteria that use drugs as substrates for enzymatic processes to alter host metabolism. Thus, microbiota-mediated drug metabolism can change the conventional drug action course and cause inter-individual differences in efficacy and toxicity, making it vital for drug discovery and development. This review focuses on drug biotransformation pathways and discusses different models for evaluating the role of gut microbiota in drug metabolism. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review emphasizes the importance of gut microbiota and different modes of drug metabolism mediated by them. It provides information on in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, in silico and multi-omics approaches for identifying the role of gut microbiota in metabolism. Further, it highlights the significance of gut microbiota-mediated metabolism in the process of new drug discovery and development as a rationale for safe and efficacious drug therapy.}, } @article {pmid34968948, year = {2022}, author = {Anderson, J and Lévesque, N and Caron, F and Beckett, P and Spiers, GA}, title = {A review on the use of lichens as a biomonitoring tool for environmental radioactivity.}, journal = {Journal of environmental radioactivity}, volume = {243}, number = {}, pages = {106797}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106797}, pmid = {34968948}, issn = {1879-1700}, mesh = {*Air Pollutants/analysis ; Biological Monitoring ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; *Lichens ; Mining ; *Radiation Monitoring ; *Radioactivity ; }, abstract = {Lichens have been widely used as a biomonitoring tool to record the distribution and concentration of airborne radioactivity and pollutants such as metals. There are limitations, however: although pollutants can be preserved in lichen tissues for long periods of time, not all radioactive and inert elements behave similarly. The chemical species of elements at the source, once captured, and the mode of storage within lichens play a role in this biomonitoring tool. Lichens are a symbiotic association of an algal or cyanobacterial partner (photobiont) with a fungal host (mycobiont). Lichens grow independently of the host substrates, including rocks, soils, trees and human-made structures. Lacking a root system, lichen nutrient or contaminant uptake is mostly through direct atmospheric inputs, mainly as wet and dry deposition. As lichens grow in a large variety of environments and are resilient in harsh climates, they are adapted to capture and retain nutrients from airborne sources. The context of this review partially relates to future deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and mining in remote areas of Canada. SMRs have been identified as a future source of energy (electricity and heat) for remote off-grid mines, potentially replacing diesel fuel generation facilities. For licensing purposes, SMR deployment and mine development requires capabilities to monitor background contaminants (natural radioactivity and metals) before, during and after deployment, including for decommissioning and removal. Key aspects reviewed herein include: (1) how lichens have been used in the past to monitor radioactivity; (2) radiocontaminants capture and storage in lichens; (3) longevity of radiocontaminant storage in lichen tissues; and (4) limitations of lichens use for monitoring radiocontaminants and selected metals.}, } @article {pmid34968802, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Li, S and Wang, N and Yang, T and Brunel, B and Andrews, M and Zong, X and Wang, E}, title = {Rhizobium sophorae is the dominant rhizobial symbiont of Vicia faba L. In North China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {126291}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126291}, pmid = {34968802}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; *Vicia faba ; }, abstract = {Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a major introduced grain-legume crop cultivated in China. In this study, rhizobia that nodulated faba bean grown in soils from three sites in North China (Hebei Province) were isolated and characterized. Firstly, isolates were categorized into genotypes by ribosomal IGS PCR-RFLP analysis, then representatives of the different IGS genotypes were further identified by phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, housekeeping (atpD, recA) and nodulation (nodC) gene sequences. Rhizobial distribution based on the IGS genotype was related to the different soil physicochemical features by redundancy analysis. IGS typing and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA and concatenated housekeeping gene sequences affiliated the 103 rhizobial strains isolated into four Rhizobium species/genospecies. A total of 69 strains of 3 IGS types were assigned to R. sophorae, 20 isolates of 5 IGS types to R. changzhiense and 9 isolates of 3 IGS types to R. indicum. The representative strain of the five remaining isolates (1 IGS type) was clearly separated from all Rhizobium type strains and was most closely related to defined genospecies according to the recently described R. leguminosarum species complex. Rhizobium sophorae strains (67% of total isolates) were common in all sites and shared an identical nodC sequence typical of faba bean symbionts belonging to symbiovar viciae. In this first study of rhizobia nodulating faba bean in Hebei Province, China, R. sophorae was found to be the dominant symbiont in contrast to other countries.}, } @article {pmid34968731, year = {2022}, author = {Das, D and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Old dog, new trick: The PHR-SPX system regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {225-227}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2021.12.010}, pmid = {34968731}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, } @article {pmid34967095, year = {2022}, author = {Shu, Y and Xie, Y and Li, S and Cai, L and Liu, Y and Feng, Y and He, J and Zhang, H and Ran, M and Jia, Q and Wu, H and Lu, L}, title = {Risk and protection strategies of Amolops wuyiensis intestine against gastrointestinal nematode (Cosmocercoides wuyiensis n. sp.) infection.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {1454-1466}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15881}, pmid = {34967095}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/genetics ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; *Intestines ; *Nematoda/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Anuran amphibians are susceptible to infection by intestinal nematodes, but the damage and response mechanisms that occur in their intestines after infection are only partially understood. In this study, the intestinal disruption and response mechanisms in Amolops wuyiensis frogs infected with Cosmocercoides wuyiensis n. sp. were revealed through analysis of the intestinal histopathology, digestive enzyme activity, transcriptome and intestinal microbiota. Tissue section analysis showed histological damage and inflammation in the infected intestine, and the digestive enzyme activity indicated a decrease in digestion and absorption of some nutrients. We found that infection led to differences in the intestinal microbiota composition, including lower diversity and symbiotic relationships. The greater relative abundance of the genera Burkholderia and Rhodococcus may enhance intestinal immunity to resist pathogenic infections. A comparison of the transcriptomes of infected and uninfected intestines revealed 1055 differentially expressed genes. GO enrichment and KEGG pathways analyses suggested that the guts of infected C. wuyiensis n. sp. show enhanced complement activation, cell adhesion molecule function, NOD-like receptor signalling pathway activity and other innate immunity responses. Among the adaptive immune responses, the intestinal immune network for IgA production was significantly enriched, and the expression of IL-17D and transforming growth factor beta-1 genes were upregulated in the infected intestine. These results imply that C. wuyiensis n. sp. infection of A. wuyiensis intestine may trigger innate and adaptive immune responses, which reduce the post-infection burden. Furthermore, the intestine of A. wuyiensis may also respond to C. wuyiensis n. sp. infection by increasing metallocarboxypeptidase activity and accelerating smooth muscle contraction.}, } @article {pmid34966637, year = {2022}, author = {Saranya, M and Kennedy, JS and Anandham, R}, title = {Functional characterization of cultivable gut bacterial communities associated with rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {14}, pmid = {34966637}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Gut symbiotic bacteria provide protection and nutrition to the host insect. A high reproductive rate and dispersal ability of the rugose spiralling whitefly help this polyphagous species to develop and thrive on many horticultural crops. In this study, we isolated the cultivable gut bacteria associated with rugose spiralling whitefly and demonstrated their role in the host insect. We also studied the influence of antibiotics on the rugose spiralling whitefly oviposition. A total of 70 gut bacteria were isolated from the second nymphal stage of rugose spiralling whitefly reared on coconut, banana, and sapota using seven growth media. From the 70 isolates, chitinase, siderophore (51), protease (44), and Glutathione-S-Transferase producers (16) were recorded. The activities of chitinase, siderophore, protease, and Glutathione-S-Transferase in the gut bacterial isolates of rugose spiralling whitefly ranged from 0.07 to 3.96 µmol[-1] min[-1] mL[-1], 10.01 to 76.93%, 2.10 to 83.40%, and 5.21 to 24.48 nmol[-1] min[-1] mL[-1] μg[-1] protein, respectively. The16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that bacterial genera associated with the gut of rugose spiralling whitefly included Bacillus, Exiguobacterium, Acinetobacter, Lysinibacillus, Arthrobacter, and Pseudomonas. Based on the susceptibility of the gut bacteria to antibiotics, 11antibiotic treatments were administered to the host plant leaves infested with the nymphal stages. The antibiotics were evaluated for their effect on rugose spiralling whitefly oviposition. Among the antibiotic treatments, carbenicillin (100 µg mL[-1]) + ciprofloxacin (5 µg mL[-1]) significantly reduced the oviposition (13 eggs spiral[-1]) and egg hatchability (61.54%) of rugose spiralling whitefly. Disruption of chitinase, siderophore, protease, and detoxification enzyme producers and elimination of these symbionts through antibiotics altered the host insect physiology and indirectly affected whitefly oviposition. In conclusion, gut bacteria-based management strategies might be used as insecticides for the effective control of whiteflies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-03081-3.}, } @article {pmid34966395, year = {2021}, author = {Kovacs, S and Fodor, L and Domonkos, A and Ayaydin, F and Laczi, K and Rákhely, G and Kalo, P}, title = {Amino Acid Polymorphisms in the VHIID Conserved Motif of Nodulation Signaling Pathways 2 Distinctly Modulate Symbiotic Signaling and Nodule Morphogenesis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {709857}, pmid = {34966395}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes establish an endosymbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria. Following the mutual recognition of the symbiotic partner, the infection process is controlled by the induction of the signaling pathway and subsequent activation of symbiosis-related host genes. One of the protein complexes regulating nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis is formed by GRAS domain regulatory proteins Nodulation Signaling Pathways 1 and 2 (NSP1 and NSP2) that control the expression of several early nodulation genes. Here, we report on a novel point mutant allele (nsp2-6) affecting the function of the NSP2 gene and compared the mutant with the formerly identified nsp2-3 mutant. Both mutants carry a single amino acid substitution in the VHIID motif of the NSP2 protein. We found that the two mutant alleles show dissimilar root hair response to bacterial infection. Although the nsp2-3 mutant developed aberrant infection threads, rhizobia were able to colonize nodule cells in this mutant. The encoded NSP2 proteins of the nsp2-3 and the novel nsp2 mutants interact with NSP1 diversely and, as a consequence, the activation of early nodulin genes and nodule organogenesis are arrested in the new nsp2 allele. The novel mutant with amino acid substitution D244H in NSP2 shows similar defects in symbiotic responses as a formerly identified nsp2-2 mutant carrying a deletion in the NSP2 gene. Additionally, we found that rhizobial strains induce delayed nodule formation on the roots of the ns2-3 weak allele. Our study highlights the importance of a conserved Asp residue in the VHIID motif of NSP2 that is required for the formation of a functional NSP1-NSP2 signaling module. Furthermore, our results imply the involvement of NSP2 during differentiation of symbiotic nodule cells.}, } @article {pmid34966280, year = {2021}, author = {Ji, C and Li, Y and Mo, Y and Lu, Z and Lu, F and Lin, Q and Liu, X and Zou, C and Wu, Y}, title = {Rhubarb Enema Decreases Circulating Trimethylamine N-Oxide Level and Improves Renal Fibrosis Accompanied With Gut Microbiota Change in Chronic Kidney Disease Rats.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {780924}, pmid = {34966280}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Objectives: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolic product of gut flora, is increased in chronic kidney disease (CKD) subjects and is recognized as one type of uremic toxins which is associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes and kidney function loss. Previous studies have suggested that rhubarb enema could reduce circulating uremic toxins such as urea, creatinine, and indoxyl sulfate and also regulate the intestinal microbiota. However, whether rhubarb enema retards kidney dysfunction by reducing circulating TMAO and its underlying mechanism, are still unclear. The present study aims to investigate the impact of rhubarb enema on TMAO and its precursors, as well as on the intestinal microbiota in 5/6 nephrectomized (5/6Nx) CKD rats. Design: Rats in the treatment groups were given rhubarb enema after modeling. At the end of the study, blood, feces, and kidney tissues were collected and processed for biochemical analyses, histological and western blot analyses, 16S rRNA sequence and untargeted metabolomic analyses. Results: Rhubarb enema reduced serum TMAO and trimethylamine (TMA) levels, inhibited the expression of inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α and Interferon-γ) and alleviated tubular atrophy, monocyte infiltration and interstitial fibrosis in 5/6Nx CKD rats. Moreover, rhubarb enema significantly increased the abundance of some symbiotic bacteria and probiotics, while reduced the abundance of some potential pathogens at the genus level. In addition, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that lachnospiraceae and romboutsia were positively correlated with TMAO. Conclusion: Rhubarb enema decreases circulating TMAO level and improves renal fibrosis in 5/6Nx CKD rats, which may be related to the regulation of intestinal microbial community.}, } @article {pmid34964947, year = {2022}, author = {Cho, SH and Cho, YJ and Park, JH}, title = {The human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron promotes diet-induced obesity by regulating host lipid metabolism.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {60}, number = {1}, pages = {118-127}, pmid = {34964947}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*physiology ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hepcidins/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Obesity/etiology/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) alters the bacterial communities in the gut, leading to metabolic disorders. Several bacterial species have been associated with diet-induced obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. However, the mechanisms underlying the control of lipid metabolism by symbiotic bacteria remain elusive. Here, we show that the human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron aggravates metabolic disorders by promoting lipid digestion and absorption. Administration of B. thetaiotaomicron to HFD-fed mice promoted weight gain, elevated fasting glucose levels, and impaired glucose tolerance. Furthermore, B. thetaiotaomicron treatment upregulated the gene expression of the fatty acid transporter and increased fatty acid accumulation in the liver. B. thetaiotaomicron inhibits expression of the gene encoding a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor, angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), thereby increasing lipase activity in the small intestine. In particular, we found that B. thetaiotaomicron induced the expression of hepcidin, the master regulator of iron metabolism and an antimicrobial peptide, in the liver. Hepcidin treatment resulted in a decrease in ANGPTL4 expression in Caco-2 cells, whereas treatment with an iron chelator restored ANGPTL4 expression in hepcidin-treated cells. These results indicate that B. thetaiotaomicron-mediated regulation of iron storage in intestinal epithelial cells may contribute to increased fat deposition and impaired glucose tolerance in HFD-fed mice.}, } @article {pmid34962589, year = {2021}, author = {Kalu, CM and Ogola, HJO and Selvarajan, R and Tekere, M and Ntushelo, K}, title = {Correlations Between Root Metabolomics and Bacterial Community Structures in the Phragmites australis Under Acid Mine Drainage-Polluted Wetland Ecosystem.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {34}, pmid = {34962589}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Metabolomics ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis/toxicity ; *Microbiota ; Rhizosphere ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Despite root microecology playing critical role in plant growth and fidelity, relatively few studies have focused on the link between the microbial communities and root metabolome in the aquatic macrophytes under heavy metal (HM) pollution. Using high-throughput metagenomic sequencing, targeted metabolomics and community-level physiological profile analyses, we investigated the symbiotic associations between Phragmites australis with rhizospheric bacterial communities under differing acid mine drainage (AMD) pollution. Results indicated that AMD pollution and root localization significantly affected root metabolome profiles. Higher accumulation of adenosine monophosphate, inosine, methionine, carnitine and dimethylglycine were observed in the rhizosphere under AMD than non-AMD habitat. Overall, the bacterial diversity and richness, and functional (metabolic) diversity were lower under high-AMD pollution. While non-AMD site was enriched with members of phylum Firmicutes, Proteobacteria were the most abundant taxa in the rhizosphere and endosphere under AMD-polluted sites. Further, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Rhizobium, Delftia, Bradyrhizobium, and Mesorhizobium) and metal-tolerant bacteria (Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Massilia and Methylocystis) were most abundant in AMD-polluted than non-AMD habitat. Finally, pH, TDS (total dissolved solids), Cu, Cr, Fe, and Zn content were the key environmental factors that strongly contributed to the spatial perturbation of rhizospheric metabolites, proteobacterial and acidobacterial taxa. Overall, the study linked the differential endospheric and rhizospheric bacterial community and metabolite profiles in P. australis under AMD environment and provided insights into HM adaptability and phytoremediation potential.}, } @article {pmid34962095, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, J and Lan, L and Jin, Y and Yu, N and Wang, D and Wang, E}, title = {Mechanisms underlying legume-rhizobium symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {244-267}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13207}, pmid = {34962095}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes, unlike most land plants, can form symbiotic root nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to secure nitrogen for growth. The formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on legume roots requires the coordination of rhizobial infection at the root epidermis with cell division in the cortex. The nodules house the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in organelle-like structures known as symbiosomes, which enable nitrogen fixation and facilitate the exchange of metabolites between the host and symbionts. In addition to this beneficial interaction, legumes are continuously exposed to would-be pathogenic microbes; therefore the ability to discriminate pathogens from symbionts is a major determinant of plant survival under natural conditions. Here, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of root nodule symbiosis signaling, transcriptional regulation, and regulation of plant immunity during legume-rhizobium symbiosis. In addition, we propose several important questions to be addressed and provide insights into the potential for engineering the capacity to fix nitrogen in legume and non-legume plants.}, } @article {pmid34961453, year = {2022}, author = {Manolis, AA and Manolis, TA and Melita, H and Manolis, AS}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular Disease: Symbiosis Versus Dysbiosis.}, journal = {Current medicinal chemistry}, volume = {29}, number = {23}, pages = {4050-4077}, doi = {10.2174/0929867328666211213112949}, pmid = {34961453}, issn = {1875-533X}, mesh = {*Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome interacts with host physiology through various mechanisms, including the cardiovascular (CV) system. A healthy microbiome has the ability to process and digest complex carbohydrates into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). These SCFA function as signaling molecules, immune-modulating molecules, and energy sources. However, when the microbiome is altered, it produces gut dysbiosis with overgrowth of certain bacteria that may lead to overproduction of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) from the metabolism of phosphatidylcholine, choline, and carnitine; dysbiosis also leads to increased intestinal permeability allowing the microbiome-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin, to enter the blood circulation, triggering inflammatory responses. An altered gastrointestinal (GI) tract environment and microbiome- derived metabolites are associated with CV events. Disrupted content and function of the microbiome leading to elevated TMAO and LPS levels, altered bile acid metabolism pathways, and SCFA production are associated with an increased risk of CV diseases (CVD), including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, arrhythmias, and stroke. Therapeutic interventions that may favorably influence a dysbiotic GI tract profile and promote a healthy microbiome may benefit the CV system and lead to a reduction of CVD incidence in certain situations. These issues are herein reviewed with a focus on the spectrum of microbiota-related CVD, the mechanisms involved, and the potential use of microbiome modification as a possible therapeutic intervention.}, } @article {pmid34961125, year = {2021}, author = {Lebedeva, M and Azarakhsh, M and Sadikova, D and Lutova, L}, title = {At the Root of Nodule Organogenesis: Conserved Regulatory Pathways Recruited by Rhizobia.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34961125}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The interaction between legume plants and soil bacteria rhizobia results in the formation of new organs on the plant roots, symbiotic nodules, where rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen. Symbiotic nodules represent a perfect model to trace how the pre-existing regulatory pathways have been recruited and modified to control the development of evolutionary "new" organs. In particular, genes involved in the early stages of lateral root development have been co-opted to regulate nodule development. Other regulatory pathways, including the players of the KNOX-cytokinin module, the homologues of the miR172-AP2 module, and the players of the systemic response to nutrient availability, have also been recruited to a unique regulatory program effectively governing symbiotic nodule development. The role of the NIN transcription factor in the recruitment of such regulatory modules to nodulation is discussed in more details.}, } @article {pmid34961119, year = {2021}, author = {Sivojiene, D and Kacergius, A and Baksiene, E and Maseviciene, A and Zickiene, L}, title = {The Influence of Organic Fertilizers on the Abundance of Soil Microorganism Communities, Agrochemical Indicators, and Yield in East Lithuanian Light Soils.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34961119}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Soil microorganisms are one of the main indicators used for assessing the stability of the soil ecosystem, the metabolism in the soil, and its fertility. The most important are the active soil microorganisms and the influence of the fertilizer applied to the soil on the abundance of these microorganisms. We aimed to investigate how the applied organic fertilizers affect the most active soil microorganisms, which determine the soil fertility and stability. Fungi, yeast-like fungi abundance, and abundance of three physiological groups of bacteria were analyzed: non-symbiotic diazotrophic, organotrophic, and mineral nitrogen assimilating. This study is valuable because relatively few similar studies have been performed on infertile Lithuanian soils. The first results of a long-term study were obtained. The results show the effect of fertilizers on trends in the changes of microorganism community diversity; however, more analysis is needed to assess the impact of organic fertilizers on the most active soil microorganisms. Therefore, the investigation was continued. The results of the 2020 quantitative analysis of culturable soil microorganisms show that the highest abundance of organotrophic and non-symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria were recorded during the summer season. Meanwhile, the abundance of bacteria assimilating mineral nitrogen and fungi was higher in autumn. Agrochemical parameters were determined at the beginning of the experiment. The highest concentration of Nmin in the soil was determined after fertilizing the plants with the combination of granulated poultry manure (N170) + biological substance Azotobacter spp. The yield of barley was calculated. It was found that the highest yield of spring barley in 2020 was obtained by fertilizing the experimental field with organic in combination with mineral fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid34961054, year = {2021}, author = {Gaile, L and Andersone-Ozola, U and Samsone, I and Elferts, D and Ievinsh, G}, title = {Modification of Growth and Physiological Response of Coastal Dune Species Anthyllis maritima to Sand Burial by Rhizobial Symbiosis and Salinity.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34961054}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to establish an experimental system in controlled conditions to study the physiological effect of abiotic/biotic interaction using a rare wild leguminous plant species from coastal sand dunes, Anthyllis maritima. The particular hypothesis tested was that there is an interaction between sand burial, rhizobial symbiosis and salt treatment at the level of physiological responses. Experiment in controlled conditions included 18 treatment combinations of experimental factors, with two intensities of sand burial, rhizobial inoculation and two types of NaCl treatment (soil irrigation and foliar spray). Shoot biomass was significantly affected both by burial and by inoculation, and by interaction between burial and NaCl in the case of shoot dry mass. For plants sprayed with NaCl, burial had a strong significant positive effect on shoot growth irrespective of inoculation. General effect of inoculation with rhizobia on shoot growth of plants without NaCl treatment was negative except for the plants buried 2 cm with sand, where significant stimulation of shoot dry mass by inoculant was found. The positive effect of burial on shoot growth was mainly associated with an increase in leaf petiole height and number of leaves. Performance index significantly increased in buried plants in all treatment combinations, and leaf chlorophyll concentration increased in buried plants independently on burial depth, and only in plants not treated with NaCl. Inoculation led to significant increase of leaf peroxidase activity in all treatment combinations except NaCl-irrigated plants buried for 2 cm by sand. Sand burial stimulated peroxidase activity, mostly in non-inoculated plants, as inoculation itself led to increased enzyme activity. In conclusion, strong interaction between sand burial and NaCl treatment was evident, as the latter significantly affected the effect of burial on growth and physiological indices. Moreover, rhizobial symbiosis had a significant effect on physiological processes through interaction with both sand burial and NaCl treatment, but the effect was rather controversial; it was positive for photosynthesis-related parameters but negative for growth and tissue integrity indices.}, } @article {pmid34960001, year = {2021}, author = {Kaashyap, M and Cohen, M and Mantri, N}, title = {Microbial Diversity and Characteristics of Kombucha as Revealed by Metagenomic and Physicochemical Analysis.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34960001}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Acetobacter/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/classification ; Chemical Phenomena ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Kombucha Tea/*analysis/*microbiology ; Metagenomics/*methods ; *Microbiota ; Phenols/analysis ; Probiotics/analysis ; Proteins/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tea/chemistry ; Yeasts/classification ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented tea made from a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) with a long history of use as a health tonic. It is likely that most health benefits come from the tea and fermentation metabolites from specific microbial communities. Despite its growing importance as a functional health drink, the microbial ecosystem present in kombucha has not been fully documented. To characterize the microbial composition and biochemical properties of 'The Good Brew' original base kombucha, we used metagenomics amplicon (16S rRNA and ITS) sequencing to identify the microbial communities at the taxonomic level. We identified 34 genera with 200 microbial species yet described in kombucha. The dominance of organic acid producing microorganisms Acetobacter, Komagataeibacter and Starmerella are healthy for the human gut and their glucose metabolising activities have a putative role in preventing conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Kombucha contains high protein (3.31 µg/mL), high phenolic content (290.4 mg/100 mL) and low sugars (glucose: 1.87 g/L; sucrose 1.11 g/L; fructose: 0.05 g/L) as compared to green tea. The broad microbial diversity with proven health benefits for the human gut suggests kombucha is a powerful probiotic. These findings are important to improve the commercial value of kombucha and uncover the immense prospects for health benefits.}, } @article {pmid34959674, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, J and Lv, S and Liu, J and Yu, Y and Wang, H and Zhang, H}, title = {An Overview of Bioactive 1,3-Oxazole-Containing Alkaloids from Marine Organisms.}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34959674}, issn = {1424-8247}, abstract = {1,3-Oxazole chemicals are a unique class of five-membered monocyclic heteroarenes, containing a nitrogen atom and an oxygen. These alkaloids have attracted extensive attention from medicinal chemists and pharmacologists owing to their diverse arrays of chemical structures and biological activities, and a series of 1,3-oxazole derivatives has been developed into therapeutic agents (e.g., almoxatone, befloxatone, cabotegravir, delpazolid, fenpipalone, haloxazolam, inavolisib). A growing amount of evidence indicates that marine organisms are one of important sources of 1,3-oxazole-containing alkaloids. To improve our knowledge regarding these marine-derived substances, as many as 285 compounds are summarized in this review, which, for the first time, highlights their sources, structural features and biological properties, as well as their biosynthesis and chemical synthesis. Perspective for the future discovery of new 1,3-oxazole compounds from marine organisms is also provided.}, } @article {pmid34959256, year = {2022}, author = {Basanta, MD and Rebollar, EA and García-Castillo, MG and Rosenblum, EB and Byrne, AQ and Piovia-Scott, J and Parra-Olea, G}, title = {Genetic variation of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is linked to skin bacterial diversity in the Pacific treefrog Hyliola regilla (hypochondriaca).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {494-506}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15861}, pmid = {34959256}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Batrachochytrium ; *Chytridiomycota/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Mexico ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacterial communities are crucial to combating infections and contribute to host health. The amphibian skin microbiome plays an important role in protecting their hosts against pathogens such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), one of the causative agents of chytridiomycosis, which is responsible for dramatic amphibian population declines worldwide. Although symbiotic skin bacteria are known to inhibit Bd growth, an understanding of the relationship between Bd genetic variability, environmental conditions, and skin bacterial communities is limited. Therefore, we examined the associations between Bd infection load, Bd genetic diversity and skin bacterial communities in five populations of Hyliola regilla (hypochondriaca) from environmentally contrasting sites in Baja California, Mexico. We observed differences in Bd genetics and infection load among sites and environments. Genetic analysis of Bd isolates revealed patterns of spatial structure corresponding to the five sites sampled. Amphibian skin bacterial diversity and community structure differed among environments and sites. Bacterial community composition was correlated with Bd genetic differences and infection load, with specific bacterial taxa enriched on infected and un-infected frogs. Our results indicate that skin-associated bacteria and Bd strains likely interact on the host skin, with consequences for microbial community structure and Bd infection intensity.}, } @article {pmid34957651, year = {2022}, author = {Matsuda, SB and Chakravarti, LJ and Cunning, R and Huffmyer, AS and Nelson, CE and Gates, RD and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Temperature-mediated acquisition of rare heterologous symbionts promotes survival of coral larvae under ocean warming.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {2006-2025}, pmid = {34957651}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Larva ; Oceans and Seas ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals form nutritional symbioses with endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae), a relationship that facilitates the ecological success of coral reefs. These symbionts are mostly acquired anew each generation from the environment during early life stages ("horizontal transmission"). Symbiodiniaceae species exhibit trait variation that directly impacts the health and performance of the coral host under ocean warming. Here, we test the capacity for larvae of a horizontally transmitting coral, Acropora tenuis, to establish symbioses with Symbiodiniaceae species in four genera that have varying thermal thresholds (the common symbiont genera, Cladocopium and Durusdinium, and the less common Fugacium and Gerakladium). Over a 2-week period in January 2018, a series of both no-choice and four-way choice experiments were conducted at three temperatures (27, 30, and 31°C). Symbiont acquisition success and cell proliferation were measured in individual larvae. Larvae successfully acquired and maintained symbionts of all four genera in no-choice experiments, and >80% of larvae were infected with at least three genera when offered a four-way choice. Unexpectedly, Gerakladium symbionts increased in dominance over time, and at high temperatures outcompeted Durusdinium, which is regarded as thermally tolerant. Although Fugacium displayed the highest thermal tolerance in culture and reached similar cell densities to the other three symbionts at 31°C, it remained a background symbiont in choice experiments, suggesting host preference for other symbiont species. Larval survivorship at 1 week was highest in larvae associated with Gerakladium and Fugacium symbionts at 27 and 30°C, however at 31°C, mortality was similar for all treatments. We hypothesize that symbionts that are currently rare in corals (e.g., Gerakladium) may become more common and widespread in early life stages under climate warming. Uptake of such symbionts may function as a survival strategy in the wild, and has implications for reef restoration practices that use sexually produced coral stock.}, } @article {pmid34957296, year = {2021}, author = {Safdari, Y and Vazifedoost, M and Didar, Z and Hajirostamloo, B}, title = {The Effect of Banana Fiber and Banana Peel Fiber on the Chemical and Rheological Properties of Symbiotic Yogurt Made from Camel Milk.}, journal = {International journal of food science}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {5230882}, pmid = {34957296}, issn = {2314-5765}, abstract = {Functional foods play an important role in human health by prevention of disease. A variety of functional foods are produced around the world. Recently, the consumption of dairy products containing probiotic bacteria and prebiotics (synbiotic) has increased. Yoghurt is the most common fermented dairy product. Various compounds are used to enrich yoghurt. One of these compounds is dietary fiber. Since the peel of fruits has a significant amount of fiber and is mainly disposed of as solid waste, so using the peel of fruits to extract fiber can not only solve environmental problems but also produce a cheap and useful source that leads to the production of dietary fiber. In this study, the effect of banana fiber and banana peel fiber at different concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.5, and 1%) on the chemical and rheological properties of synbiotic yogurt prepared from camel milk was investigated. The result showed that with increase of the amount of both fibers, pH, hydration, surface tension, overall acceptability, color, and flavor of the samples decreased significantly, but the viscosity, survival of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus gasseri), and texture acceptance increased significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these fibers were able to reduce the syneresis of yogurt, which is one of the biggest disadvantages of yogurt, and help to increase health.}, } @article {pmid34956293, year = {2021}, author = {Ponert, J and Šoch, J and Vosolsobě, S and Čiháková, K and Lipavská, H}, title = {Integrative Study Supports the Role of Trehalose in Carbon Transfer From Fungi to Mycotrophic Orchid.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {793876}, pmid = {34956293}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Orchids rely on mycorrhizal symbiosis, especially in the stage of mycoheterotrophic protocorms, which depend on carbon and energy supply from fungi. The transfer of carbon from fungi to orchids is well-documented, but the identity of compounds ensuring this transfer remains elusive. Some evidence has been obtained for the role of amino acids, but there is also vague and neglected evidence for the role of soluble carbohydrates, probably trehalose, which is an abundant fungal carbohydrate. We therefore focused on the possible role of trehalose in carbon and energy transfer. We investigated the common marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis) and its symbiotic fungus Ceratobasidium sp. using a combination of cultivation approaches, high-performance liquid chromatography, application of a specific inhibitor of the enzyme trehalase, and histochemical localization of trehalase activity. We found that axenically grown orchid protocorms possess an efficient, trehalase-dependent, metabolic pathway for utilizing exogenous trehalose, which can be as good a source of carbon and energy as their major endogenous soluble carbohydrates. This is in contrast to non-orchid plants that cannot utilize trehalose to such an extent. In symbiotically grown protocorms and roots of adult orchids, trehalase activity was tightly colocalized with mycorrhizal structures indicating its pronounced role in the mycorrhizal interface. Inhibition of trehalase activity arrested the growth of both symbiotically grown protocorms and trehalose-supported axenic protocorms. Since trehalose constitutes only an inconsiderable part of the endogenous saccharide spectrum of orchids, degradation of fungal trehalose likely takes place in orchid mycorrhiza. Our results strongly support the neglected view of the fungal trehalose, or the glucose produced by its cleavage as compounds transported from fungi to orchids to ensure carbon and energy flow. Therefore, we suggest that not only amino acids, but also soluble carbohydrates are transported. We may propose that the soluble carbohydrates would be a better source of energy for plant metabolism than amino acids, which is partially supported by our finding of the essential role of trehalase.}, } @article {pmid34955828, year = {2021}, author = {Savassi, B and Cordeiro, BF and Silva, SH and Oliveira, ER and Belo, G and Figueiroa, AG and Alves Queiroz, MI and Faria, AMC and Alves, J and da Silva, TF and Campos, GM and Esmerino, EA and Rocha, RS and Freitas, MQ and Silva, MC and Cruz, AG and Vital, KD and Fernandes, SOA and Cardoso, VN and Acurcio, LB and Jan, G and Le Loir, Y and Gala-Garcia, A and do Carmo, FLR and Azevedo, V}, title = {Lyophilized Symbiotic Mitigates Mucositis Induced by 5-Fluorouracil.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {755871}, pmid = {34955828}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Mucositis is an adverse effect of cancer chemotherapies using 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). It is characterized by mucosal inflammation, pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Some studies reported promising healing effects of probiotic strains, when associated with prebiotics, as adjuvant treatment of mucositis. We developed a lyophilized symbiotic product, containing skimmed milk, supplemented with whey protein isolate (WPI) and with fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and fermented by Lactobacillus casei BL23, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum B7, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B1. In a mice 5-FU mucositis model, this symbiotic lyophilized formulation was able to reduce weight loss and intestinal permeability. This last was determined in vivo by quantifying blood radioactivity after oral administration of 99mTc-DTPA. Finally, histological damages caused by 5-FU-induced mucositis were monitored. Consumption of the symbiotic formulation caused a reduced score of inflammation in the duodenum, ileum, and colon. In addition, it decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in the mice ileum. The symbiotic product developed in this work thus represents a promising adjuvant treatment of mucositis.}, } @article {pmid34953721, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, P and Limpens, E and Yao, R}, title = {Orchestrating plant direct and indirect phosphate uptake pathways.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {319-321}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.12.005}, pmid = {34953721}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Oryza/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {A recent groundbreaking study by Shi et al. reveals an extensive transcriptional regulatory network for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in rice. The finding that phosphate starvation response (PHR) transcription factors centrally orchestrate the direct and indirect AM pathways for inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake in rice opens a wealth of opportunities for plant breeding to enhance nutrient acquisition.}, } @article {pmid34953105, year = {2022}, author = {Meng, Y and Varshney, K and Incze, N and Badics, E and Kamran, M and Davies, SF and Oppermann, LMF and Magne, K and Dalmais, M and Bendahmane, A and Sibout, R and Vogel, J and Laudencia-Chingcuanco, D and Bond, CS and Soós, V and Gutjahr, C and Waters, MT}, title = {KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 regulates leaf development, root system architecture and arbuscular-mycorrhizal symbiosis in Brachypodium distachyon.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {109}, number = {6}, pages = {1559-1574}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15651}, pmid = {34953105}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/physiology ; *Brachypodium/genetics ; Furans ; Lactones/pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Pyrans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2) is an α/β-hydrolase required for plant responses to karrikins, which are abiotic butenolides that can influence seed germination and seedling growth. Although represented by four angiosperm species, loss-of-function kai2 mutants are phenotypically inconsistent and incompletely characterised, resulting in uncertainties about the core functions of KAI2 in plant development. Here we characterised the developmental functions of KAI2 in the grass Brachypodium distachyon using molecular, physiological and biochemical approaches. Bdkai2 mutants exhibit increased internode elongation and reduced leaf chlorophyll levels, but only a modest increase in water loss from detached leaves. Bdkai2 shows increased numbers of lateral roots and reduced root hair growth, and fails to support normal root colonisation by arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The karrikins KAR1 and KAR2 , and the strigolactone (SL) analogue rac-GR24, each elicit overlapping but distinct changes to the shoot transcriptome via BdKAI2. Finally, we show that BdKAI2 exhibits a clear ligand preference for desmethyl butenolides and weak responses to methyl-substituted SL analogues such as GR24. Our findings suggest that KAI2 has multiple roles in shoot development, root system development and transcriptional regulation in grasses. Although KAI2-dependent AM symbiosis is likely conserved within monocots, the magnitude of the effect of KAI2 on water relations may vary across angiosperms.}, } @article {pmid34951405, year = {2021}, author = {Buysse, M and Floriano, AM and Gottlieb, Y and Nardi, T and Comandatore, F and Olivieri, E and Giannetto, A and Palomar, AM and Makepeace, BL and Bazzocchi, C and Cafiso, A and Sassera, D and Duron, O}, title = {A dual endosymbiosis supports nutritional adaptation to hematophagy in the invasive tick Hyalomma marginatum.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34951405}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Francisella/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Ixodidae/*microbiology/physiology ; Rickettsiales/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Vitamin B Complex/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Many animals are dependent on microbial partners that provide essential nutrients lacking from their diet. Ticks, whose diet consists exclusively on vertebrate blood, rely on maternally inherited bacterial symbionts to supply B vitamins. While previously studied tick species consistently harbor a single lineage of those nutritional symbionts, we evidence here that the invasive tick Hyalomma marginatum harbors a unique dual-partner nutritional system between an ancestral symbiont, Francisella, and a more recently acquired symbiont, Midichloria. Using metagenomics, we show that Francisella exhibits extensive genome erosion that endangers the nutritional symbiotic interactions. Its genome includes folate and riboflavin biosynthesis pathways but deprived functional biotin biosynthesis on account of massive pseudogenization. Co-symbiosis compensates this deficiency since the Midichloria genome encompasses an intact biotin operon, which was primarily acquired via lateral gene transfer from unrelated intracellular bacteria commonly infecting arthropods. Thus, in H. marginatum, a mosaic of co-evolved symbionts incorporating gene combinations of distant phylogenetic origins emerged to prevent the collapse of an ancestral nutritional symbiosis. Such dual endosymbiosis was never reported in other blood feeders but was recently documented in agricultural pests feeding on plant sap, suggesting that it may be a key mechanism for advanced adaptation of arthropods to specialized diets.}, } @article {pmid34951210, year = {2021}, author = {Tang, T and Chen, HG and Zhao, C and Gong, XJ and Deng, QF and Zhou, X}, title = {[Research progress on intestinal microecology regulating mechanism and biological activities of polysaccharides].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {46}, number = {21}, pages = {5585-5592}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20210623.701}, pmid = {34951210}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; *Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microecology is an important defense system in the human body. The intestinal flora is the core micro-ecosystem in the human intestine. It has a symbiotic relationship with the overall functions of the body. It has strong metabolic activity to maintain the normal functioning of the body and resist the invasion of various viral antigens in the body. Playing a protective function,the imbalanced intestinal microecology can cause various diseases. Polysaccharides can be extracted from a wide range of sources and have low toxicity and side effects. They have attracted wide attention because of their anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities. Studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides can regulate intestinal microecological disorders. According to the studies in recent years, this review summarizes that polysaccharides mainly modulate intestinal microecological disorders through regulating the composition of intestinal flora, improving the metabolism of the flora, and repairing the intestinal tract barrier. On the basis of these mechanisms of action, this paper elaborates the anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of polysaccharides. This paper can provide reference for the future research on the intestinal microecology-regulating mechanism and biological activities of polysaccharides.}, } @article {pmid34950847, year = {2021}, author = {Kryukov, AA and Gorbunova, AO and Kudriashova, TR and Yakhin, OI and Lubyanov, AA and Malikov, UM and Shishova, MF and Kozhemyakov, AP and Yurkov, AP}, title = {Sugar transporters of the SWEET family and their role in arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {754-760}, doi = {10.18699/VJ21.086}, pmid = {34950847}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Plant sugar transporters play an essential role in the organism's productivity by carrying out carbohydrate transportation from source cells in the leaves to sink cells in the cortex. In addition, they aid in the regulation of a substantial part of the exchange of nutrients with microorganisms in the rhizosphere (bacteria and fungi), an ty essential to the formation of symbiotic relationships. This review pays special attention to carbohydrate nutrition during the development of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), a symbiosis of plants with fungi from the Glomeromycotina subdivision. This relationship results in the host plant receiving micronutrients from the mycosymbiont, mainly phosphorus, and the fungus receiving carbon assimilation products in return. While the eff icient nutrient transport pathways in AM symbiosis are yet to be discovered, SWEET sugar transporters are one of the three key families of plant carbohydrate transporters. Specif ic AM symbiosis transporters can be identif ied among the SWEET proteins. The survey provides data on the study history, structure and localization, phylogeny and functions of the SWEET proteins. A high variability of both the SWEET proteins themselves and their functions is noted along with the fact that the same proteins may perform different functions in different plants. A special role is given to the SWEET transporters in AM development. SWEET transporters can also play a key role in abiotic stress tolerance, thus allowing plants to adapt to adverse environmental conditions. The development of knowledge about symbiotic systems will contribute to the creation of microbial preparations for use in agriculture in the Russian Federation.}, } @article {pmid34948897, year = {2021}, author = {Fan, X and Luo, W and Yu, H and Rong, Y and Gu, X and Zheng, Y and Ou, S and Tiando, DS and Zhang, Q and Tang, G and Li, J}, title = {Landscape Evolution and Simulation of Rural Settlements around Wetland Park Based on MCCA Model and Landscape Theory: A Case Study of Chaohu Peninsula, China.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {18}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {34948897}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {China ; Computer Simulation ; Geography ; Humans ; *Rural Population ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {As a transitional zone between urban and rural areas, the peri-urban areas are the areas with the most intense urban expansion and the most frequent spatial reconfiguration, and in this context, it is particularly important to reveal the evolution pattern of rural settlements in the peri-urban areas to provide reference for the rearrangement of rural settlements. The study takes five townships in the urban suburbs, and explores the scale, shape, spatial layout, and spatial characteristics of the urban suburbs of Hefei from 1980 to 2030 under the influence of urban-lake symbiosis based on spatial mathematical analysis and geographical simulation software. The study shows that: (1) the overall layout of rural settlements in the study area is randomly distributed due to the hilly terrain, but in small areas there is a high and low clustering phenomenon, and the spatial density shows the distribution characteristics of "high in the east and low in the west"; (2) since the reform and opening up, there are large spatial differences in the scale of rural settlements in the study area. (3) Different development scenarios have a strong impact on the future spatial pattern of rural settlement land use within the study area, which is a strong reflection of policy.}, } @article {pmid34947985, year = {2021}, author = {Cheng, C and Wang, J and Hou, W and Malik, K and Zhao, C and Niu, X and Liu, Y and Huang, R and Li, C and Nan, Z}, title = {Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms by which Seed-Borne Endophytic Fungi, Epichloë gansuensis, Increases the Tolerance of Achnatherum inebrians to NaCl Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {34947985}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Endophytes/physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Poaceae/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Long Noncoding/*genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; *Salt Stress ; Seeds/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sodium Chloride/adverse effects ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Exome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Seed-borne endophyte Epichloë gansuensis enhance NaCl tolerance in Achnatherum inebrians and increase its biomass. However, the molecular mechanism by which E. gansuensis increases the tolerance of host grasses to NaCl stress is unclear. Hence, we firstly explored the full-length transcriptome information of A. inebrians by PacBio RS II. In this work, we obtained 738,588 full-length non-chimeric reads, 36,105 transcript sequences and 27,202 complete CDSs from A. inebrians. We identified 3558 transcription factors (TFs), 15,945 simple sequence repeats and 963 long non-coding RNAs of A. inebrians. The present results show that 2464 and 1817 genes were differentially expressed by E. gansuensis in the leaves of E+ and E- plants at 0 mM and 200 mM NaCl concentrations, respectively. In addition, NaCl stress significantly regulated 4919 DEGs and 502 DEGs in the leaves of E+ and E- plants, respectively. Transcripts associated with photosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, amino acids metabolism, flavonoid biosynthetic process and WRKY TFs were differentially expressed by E. gansuensis; importantly, E. gansuensis up-regulated biology processes (brassinosteroid biosynthesis, oxidation-reduction, cellular calcium ion homeostasis, carotene biosynthesis, positive regulation of proteasomal ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis) of host grass under NaCl stress, which indicated an increase in the ability of host grasses' adaptation to NaCl stress. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the molecular mechanism for E. gansuensis to increase the tolerance to salt stress in the host, which provides a theoretical basis for the molecular breed to create salt-tolerant forage with endophytes.}, } @article {pmid34947945, year = {2021}, author = {Lin, HY and Lin, YS and Shih, SP and Lee, SB and El-Shazly, M and Chang, KM and Yang, YSH and Lee, YL and Lu, MC}, title = {The Anti-Proliferative Activity of Secondary Metabolite from the Marine Streptomyces sp. against Prostate Cancer Cells.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34947945}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Many active substances from marine organisms are produced by symbiotic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae. Secondary metabolites from marine actinomycetes exhibited several biological activities and provided interesting drug leads. This study reported the isolation of Lu01-M, a secondary metabolite from the marine actinomycetes Streptomyces sp., with potent anti-proliferative activity against prostate cancers. Lu01-M blocked cell proliferation with IC50 values of 1.03 ± 0.31, 2.12 ± 0.38, 1.27 ± 0.25 μg/mL in human prostate cancer PC3, DU145, and LNCaP cells, respectively. Lu01-M induced cytotoxic activity through multiple mechanisms including cell apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ER stress, and inhibiting colony formation and cell migration. Lu01-M induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and DNA damage. However, the activity of autophagy induced survival response in cancer cells. Our findings suggested that Lu01-M holds the potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent against prostate cancers.}, } @article {pmid34947025, year = {2021}, author = {Araújo, JPM and Li, Y and Six, D and Rajchenberg, M and Smith, ME and Johnson, AJ and Klepzig, KD and Crous, PW and Leal-Dutra, CA and Skelton, J and Adams, SN and Hulcr, J}, title = {Diversity and Evolution of Entomocorticium (Russulales, Peniophoraceae), a Genus of Bark Beetle Mutualists Derived from Free-Living, Wood Rotting Peniophora.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34947025}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Symbiosis between insects and fungi arose multiple times during the evolution of both groups, and some of the most biologically diverse and economically important are mutualisms in which the insects cultivate and feed on fungi. Among these are bark beetles, whose ascomycetous cultivars are better known and studied than their frequently-overlooked and poorly understood basidiomycetous partners. In this study, we propose five new species of Entomocorticium, fungal mutualists in the Russulales (Basidiomycota) that are mutualistic symbionts of scolytine beetles. We have isolated these fungi from the beetle mycangia, which are structures adapted for the selective storage and transportation of fungal mutualists. Herein, we present the most complete phylogeny of the closely related genera Entomocorticium and Peniophora and provide insights into how an insect-associated taxon (Entomocorticium) evolved from within a wood-decaying, wind-dispersed lineage (Peniophora). Our results indicate that following a transition from angiosperms to gymnosperms, fungal domestication by beetles facilitated the evolution and diversification of Entomocorticium. We additionally propose four new species: Entomocorticium fibulatum Araújo, Li & Hulcr, sp. nov.; E. belizense Araújo, Li & Hulcr, sp. nov.; E. perryae Araújo, Li & Hulcr, sp. nov.; and E. macrovesiculatum Araújo, Li, Six & Hulcr, sp. nov. Our findings highlight the fact that insect-fungi associations remain an understudied field and that these associations harbor a large reservoir of novel fungal species.}, } @article {pmid34947008, year = {2021}, author = {Dai, Q and Zhang, FL and Feng, T}, title = {Sesquiterpenoids Specially Produced by Fungi: Structures, Biological Activities, Chemical and Biosynthesis (2015-2020).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34947008}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungi are widely distributed in the terrestrial environment, freshwater, and marine habitat. Only approximately 100,000 of these have been classified although there are about 5.1 million characteristic fungi all over the world. These eukaryotic microbes produce specialized metabolites and participate in a variety of ecological functions, such as quorum detection, chemical defense, allelopathy, and maintenance of symbiosis. Fungi therefore remain an important resource for the screening and discovery of biologically active natural products. Sesquiterpenoids are arguably the richest natural products from plants and micro-organisms. The rearrangement of the 15 high-ductility carbons gave rise to a large number of different skeletons. At the same time, abundant structural variations lead to a diversification of biological activity. This review examines the isolation, structural determination, bioactivities, and synthesis of sesquiterpenoids that were specially produced by fungi over the past five years (2015-2020).}, } @article {pmid34946990, year = {2021}, author = {Christopher, Y and Aguilar, C and Gálvez, D and Wcislo, WT and Gerardo, NM and Fernández-Marín, H}, title = {Interactions among Escovopsis, Antagonistic Microfungi Associated with the Fungus-Growing Ant Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946990}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungi in the genus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are prevalent associates of the complex symbiosis between fungus-growing ants (Tribe Attini), the ants' cultivated basidiomycete fungi and a consortium of both beneficial and harmful microbes found within the ants' garden communities. Some Escovopsis spp. have been shown to attack the ants' cultivated fungi, and co-infections by multiple Escovopsis spp. are common in gardens in nature. Yet, little is known about how Escovopsis strains impact each other. Since microbe-microbe interactions play a central role in microbial ecology and evolution, we conducted experiments to assay the types of interactions that govern Escovopsis-Escovopsis relationships. We isolated Escovopsis strains from the gardens of 10 attine ant genera representing basal (lower) and derived groups in the attine ant phylogeny. We conducted in vitro experiments to determine the outcome of both intraclonal and interclonal Escovopsis confrontations. When paired with self (intraclonal interactions), Escovopsis isolated from lower attine colonies exhibited antagonistic (inhibitory) responses, while strains isolated from derived attine colonies exhibited neutral or mutualistic interactions, leading to a clear phylogenetic pattern of interaction outcome. Interclonal interactions were more varied, exhibiting less phylogenetic signal. These results can serve as the basis for future studies on the costs and benefits of Escovopsis coinfection, and on the genetic and chemical mechanisms that regulate the compatibility and incompatibility observed here.}, } @article {pmid34946213, year = {2021}, author = {Ruytinx, J and Miyauchi, S and Hartmann-Wittulsky, S and de Freitas Pereira, M and Guinet, F and Churin, JL and Put, C and Le Tacon, F and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Martin, F and Kohler, A}, title = {A Transcriptomic Atlas of the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946213}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Trees are able to colonize, establish and survive in a wide range of soils through associations with ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi. Proper functioning of EcM fungi implies the differentiation of structures within the fungal colony. A symbiotic structure is dedicated to nutrient exchange and the extramatricular mycelium explores soil for nutrients. Eventually, basidiocarps develop to assure last stages of sexual reproduction. The aim of this study is to understand how an EcM fungus uses its gene set to support functional differentiation and development of specialized morphological structures. We examined the transcriptomes of Laccaria bicolor under a series of experimental setups, including the growth with Populus tremula x alba at different developmental stages, basidiocarps and free-living mycelium, under various conditions of N, P and C supply. In particular, N supply induced global transcriptional changes, whereas responses to P supply seemed to be independent from it. Symbiosis development with poplar is characterized by transcriptional waves. Basidiocarp development shares transcriptional signatures with other basidiomycetes. Overlaps in transcriptional responses of L. bicolor hyphae to a host plant and N/C supply next to co-regulation of genes in basidiocarps and mature mycorrhiza were detected. Few genes are induced in a single condition only, but functional and morphological differentiation rather involves fine tuning of larger gene sets. Overall, this transcriptomic atlas builds a reference to study the function and stability of EcM symbiosis in distinct conditions using L. bicolor as a model and indicates both similarities and differences with other ectomycorrhizal fungi, allowing researchers to distinguish conserved processes such as basidiocarp development from nutrient homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid34946172, year = {2021}, author = {Vassilev, N and Malusà, E}, title = {Special Issue: Microorganisms and Plant Nutrition.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946172}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plant-beneficial microorganisms affect plant nutrition and health, as a key part of prebiotic-, probiotic-, and symbiotic-based interactions [...].}, } @article {pmid34946092, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, C and Ruan, H and Cai, W and Staehelin, C and Dai, W}, title = {Identification of an Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis Gene in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946092}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Exopolysaccharides (EPS) play critical roles in rhizobium-plant interactions. However, the EPS biosynthesis pathway in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 remains elusive. Here we used transposon (Tn) mutagenesis with the aim to identify genetic elements required for EPS biosynthesis in B. diazoefficiens USDA110. Phenotypic screening of Tn5 insertion mutants grown on agar plates led to the identification of a mutant with a transposon insertion site in the blr2358 gene. This gene is predicted to encode a phosphor-glycosyltransferase that transfers a phosphosugar onto a polyprenol phosphate substrate. The disruption of the blr2358 gene resulted in defective EPS synthesis. Accordingly, the blr2358 mutant showed a reduced capacity to induce nodules and stimulate the growth of soybean plants. Glycosyltransferase genes related to blr2358 were found to be well conserved and widely distributed among strains of the Bradyrhizobium genus. In conclusion, our study resulted in identification of a gene involved in EPS biosynthesis and highlights the importance of EPS in the symbiotic interaction between USDA110 and soybeans.}, } @article {pmid35582011, year = {2021}, author = {Chetta, P and Zadra, G}, title = {Metabolic reprogramming as an emerging mechanism of resistance to endocrine therapies in prostate cancer.}, journal = {Cancer drug resistance (Alhambra, Calif.)}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {143-162}, pmid = {35582011}, issn = {2578-532X}, abstract = {Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is the driver of both PCa development and progression and, thus, the major target of current in-use therapies. However, despite the survival benefit of second-generation inhibitors of AR signaling in the metastatic setting, resistance mechanisms inevitably occur. Thus, novel strategies are required to circumvent resistance occurrence and thereby to improve PCa survival. Among the key cellular processes that are regulated by androgens, metabolic reprogramming stands out because of its intricate links with cancer cell biology. In this review, we discuss how cancer metabolism and lipid metabolism in particular are regulated by androgens and contribute to the acquisition of resistance to endocrine therapy. We describe the interplay between genetic alterations, metabolic vulnerabilities and castration resistance. Since PCa cells adapt their metabolism to excess nutrient supply to promote cancer progression, we review our current knowledge on the association between diet/obesity and resistance to anti-androgen therapies. We briefly describe the metabolic symbiosis between PCa cells and tumor microenvironment and how this crosstalk might contribute to PCa progression. We discuss how tackling PCa metabolic vulnerabilities represents a potential approach of synthetic lethality to endocrine therapies. Finally, we describe how the continuous advances in analytical technologies and metabolic imaging have led to the identification of potential new prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and non-invasive approaches to monitor therapy response.}, } @article {pmid35355952, year = {2022}, author = {González-Ortegón, E and Perez-Miguel, M and Navas, JI and Drake, P and Cuesta, JA}, title = {Isotopic niche provides an insight into the ecology of a symbiont during its geographic expansion.}, journal = {Current zoology}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {185-197}, pmid = {35355952}, issn = {1674-5507}, abstract = {The study of the recent colonization of a symbiont and its interaction with host communities in new locations is an opportunity to understand how they interact. The use of isotopic ratios in trophic ecology can provide measurements of a species' isotopic niche, as well as knowledge about how the isotopic niches between symbiont and host species overlap. Stable isotope measurements were used to assess the sources of carbon assimilated by the host species (the bivalves Mytilus galloprovincialis and Scrobicularia plana) and their associated symbiont pea crab Afropinnotheres monodi, which occurs within these bivalves' mantle cavities. The mixing model estimates suggest that all of them assimilate carbon from similar sources, particularly from pseudofaeces and particulate organic matter in this symbiotic system based on filter feeding. The symbiotic species occupy comparable trophic levels and its association seems to be commensal or parasitic depending on the duration of such association. The pea crab A. monodi reflects a sex-specific diet, where males are more generalist than the soft females because the latter's habitat is restricted to the host bivalve. The high isotopic overlap between soft females and M. galloprovincialis may reflect a good commensal relationship with the host.}, } @article {pmid35386933, year = {2020}, author = {Tzani-Tzanopoulou, P and Skliros, D and Megremis, S and Xepapadaki, P and Andreakos, E and Chanishvili, N and Flemetakis, E and Kaltsas, G and Taka, S and Lebessi, E and Doudoulakakis, A and Papadopoulos, NG}, title = {Interactions of Bacteriophages and Bacteria at the Airway Mucosa: New Insights Into the Pathophysiology of Asthma.}, journal = {Frontiers in allergy}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {617240}, pmid = {35386933}, issn = {2673-6101}, abstract = {The airway epithelium is the primary site where inhaled and resident microbiota interacts between themselves and the host, potentially playing an important role on allergic asthma development and pathophysiology. With the advent of culture independent molecular techniques and high throughput technologies, the complex composition and diversity of bacterial communities of the airways has been well-documented and the notion of the lungs' sterility definitively rejected. Recent studies indicate that the microbial composition of the asthmatic airways across the spectrum of disease severity, differ significantly compared with healthy individuals. In parallel, a growing body of evidence suggests that bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or simply phages), regulating bacterial populations, are present in almost every niche of the human body and can also interact directly with the eukaryotic cells. The triptych of airway epithelial cells, bacterial symbionts and resident phages should be considered as a functional and interdependent unit with direct implications on the respiratory and overall homeostasis. While the role of epithelial cells in asthma pathophysiology is well-established, the tripartite interactions between epithelial cells, bacteria and phages should be scrutinized, both to better understand asthma as a system disorder and to explore potential interventions.}, } @article {pmid35537429, year = {2021}, author = {Stewart, CJ}, title = {Importance of the Gut Microbiome in Preterm Infants.}, journal = {Nestle Nutrition Institute workshop series}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {141-148}, doi = {10.1159/000519396}, pmid = {35537429}, issn = {1664-2155}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Milk, Human ; Oligosaccharides ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Birth represents the start of an incredible journey for the individual and the microbes which reside within and upon them. This interaction between human and microbe is essential for healthy development. Term infants are colonized by bacteria at birth, and thereafter the diet is the most important factor shaping the gut microbiome, in particular receipt of human milk. Human milk contains viable bacteria and numerous components that modulate the bacterial community, including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) which promote the growth of Bifidobacteriumspecies. Notably, Bifidobacteriumspp. are the primary bacterium used in probiotic supplements, owing to their association with positive outcomes in cohort studies and range of beneficial properties in mechanistic experiments. Preterm infants born <32 weeks' gestation encounter an unnatural beginning to life, with housing in "sterile" incubators, higher rates of caesarean delivery and antibiotic use, and complex nutritional provision. This reduces Bifidobacteriumabundance and overall microbial diversity. However, this also presents an opportunity to use probiotics and prebiotics (e.g., HMOs) to restore "normal" development. Much work has focused in this area over the past two decades and, while more work is needed, there is promise in symbiotic intervention to modulate the microbiome and reduce disease in preterm infants.}, } @article {pmid35024188, year = {2021}, author = {Zeng, L and Zhou, X and Liao, Y and Yang, Z}, title = {Roles of specialized metabolites in biological function and environmental adaptability of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) as a metabolite studying model.}, journal = {Journal of advanced research}, volume = {34}, number = {}, pages = {159-171}, pmid = {35024188}, issn = {2090-1224}, mesh = {Animals ; Caffeine ; *Camellia sinensis ; *Catechin/analysis ; Humans ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Tea ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tea is the second most popular beverage globally after water and contains abundant specialized metabolites. These metabolites give tea unique quality and are beneficial to human health. Some secondary metabolites are produced to help plants, including tea plants (Camellia sinensis), adapt to variable environment and grow normally. Therefore, whether abundant specialized metabolites have biological functions and play roles in the environmental adaptability of tea plants is of interest.

AIM OF REVIEW: Research progress regarding the biological functions of specialized metabolites (including catechins, l-theanine, caffeine, and volatile compounds) in tea plants is summarized. Furthermore, the main and characteristic scientific questions regarding tea plant growth in contrast to other economic crops are proposed, including (i) how tea plants adapt to acid soils, (ii) why tea plants have fewer diseases, and (iii) why tea plants and tea green leafhoppers have a symbiotic relationship. Accordingly, the potential adaptive mechanism is summarized, which is related to the function of specialized metabolites in tea plants.

This is the most in-depth investigation of biological functions of volatile compounds in tea plants. Direct in vivo evidence in tea plants shows that volatile compounds help defend against insects through plant-to-plant signaling. Furthermore, abundant specialized metabolites are speculated to contribute to the environmental adaptability of tea plants. However, further in vivo evidence and exploration of relevant mechanisms are required for all aspects discussed. This review provides an important reference for basic biological research on the tea plant as a specialized metabolite studying model.}, } @article {pmid35515378, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, M and Wang, Q and Tao, W and Liu, G and Liu, W and Wang, L and Ma, L}, title = {Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil properties jointly influence plant C, N, and P stoichiometry in West Lake, Hangzhou.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {10}, number = {65}, pages = {39943-39953}, pmid = {35515378}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play important roles in terrestrial plants via mutualistic symbiosis. However, knowledge about the functions of AMF in aquatic plants remains limited. Here, four dominate emergent plant communities in West Lake, Hangzhou were chosen, the characteristics of AMF, plant C, N, and P stoichiometry, and soil properties were investigated. The results showed that both AMF infection rates and the number of AMF spore species increased, suggesting a great mutualism between AMF and emergent plants. Contents of C, N, and P in aboveground biomass and roots and their ratios varied greatly among these four emergent plants. Moreover, AMF infection frequency showed a significant negative correlation with aboveground biomass N (p < 0.05), whereas the rates of arbuscular mycorrhiza formation and vesicular formation after root infection showed significant negative correlations with root N and root N/P. Soil total C, soil total N, soil total P, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were significantly associated with AMF infection characteristics. Our main findings are that the results of redundancy analysis and path analysis further indicated that soil C, N, and P contents, and ORP affected plant C, N, and P contents and their stoichiometry directly. Meanwhile, soil properties can also regulate plant ecological stoichiometry indirectly via altering AMF mycorrhiza. Our findings highlight that interactions between AMF and soil play crucial roles in regulating plant ecological stoichiometry and can be treated as a whole in investigating the relationships between plant and soil.}, } @article {pmid35382099, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, C and Yuan, XJ and Ren, X}, title = {Twelve Agendas on Interacting with Information: A Human-Engaged Computing Perspective.}, journal = {Data and information management}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {191-199}, pmid = {35382099}, issn = {2543-9251}, abstract = {During the coronavirus global pandemic crisis, we have received information from authentic and inauthentic sources. Fake news, continuous rumors, and prejudiced opinions from digital platforms and social media have the capacity to disrupt social harmony, to stall personal development, and to undermine trust on all levels of human interaction. Despite the wide plurality of perspectives, the diversity of contents, the variety of voices, and the many often-conflicting reasons for publishing, our interactions with information on digital devices are progressively shaping such situations and affecting decisions on all levels. We look at the limitations of existing designs and guidelines in the current paradigm, and we ask to what extent researchers and developers can focus and contribute, through their innovations, to the reduction of uncertainty and cases of misdirection, how they can mitigate tensions between information and humans, and how they can contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of worthy human values. Human-engaged computing (HEC) calls for innate user capacities to be enhanced rather than displaced by digital technologies so that the human factor in interactions is fully exploited and truly efficient symbiotic relationships between humans and devices can be achieved. Under the framework of HEC, we propose 12 research agendas from the theoretical, principled, and practical aspects, in order to develop future synergized interactions between humans and information. The present crisis presents us with a good opportunity to reflect on the need to empower humans in relation to the tools they use and to consider the next paradigm shift for designing information interaction.}, } @article {pmid35516931, year = {2020}, author = {Nirmal, N and Pillay, MN and Mariola, M and Petruccione, F and van Zyl, WE}, title = {Formation of dialysis-free Kombucha-based bacterial nanocellulose embedded in a polypyrrole/PVA composite for bulk conductivity measurements.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {10}, number = {46}, pages = {27585-27597}, pmid = {35516931}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {The preparation of dialysis-free bacterial nanocrystalline cellulose (BNCC) combined with a suitable polymer to form a robust conducting material remains a challenge. In this work, we developed a polypyrrole@BNCC/PVA nanocomposite that avoids the time-consuming dialysis step and which exhibits bulk electrical conductivity. The nanocellulose (NC) was derived from bacterial cellulose (BC) that was grown from a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) starting from Kombucha tea, and then subjected to sulfuric acid hydrolysis that led to isolable bacterial nanocrystalline cellulose (BNCC) product and subsequently utilized as a stabilizer and support. Pyrrole monomer was reacted with FeCl3·6H2O as a polymerization initiator to form polypyrrole (PPy) and combined with BNCC it produced PPy@BNCC nanocomposite. We found PPy to BNCC in a 1 : 1 ratio provided the best suspension of the components and formed a well dispersed homogeneous network. The PPy@BNCC nanocomposite was then suspended in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), that facilitated the construction of a continuous PPy@BNCC/PVA conductive network in the matrix. We designed an in-house electrical measurement apparatus and developed a method that recorded bulk resistance. The results obtained from the measurements of the electrical properties of the PPy@BNCC/PVA composite prepared dialysis-free were then compared with (i) a dialyzed sample of similar composition, and (ii) a traditional four-point probe measurement. The PPy@BNCC/PVA dialysis-free sample showed a higher conductivity compared to the dialyzed composite at 4.27 × 10[-1] and 3.41 × 10[-1] S m[-1], respectively, and both values closely matched the traditional four-point probe measurement.}, } @article {pmid35519857, year = {2019}, author = {Shahid, M and Khan, MS and Kumar, M}, title = {Kitazin-pea interaction: understanding the fungicide induced nodule alteration, cytotoxicity, oxidative damage and toxicity alleviation by Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {9}, number = {30}, pages = {16929-16947}, pmid = {35519857}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Realizing the severity of fungicidal toxicity to legumes and importance of fungicide tolerant rhizobia in legume production, kitazin tolerant (2400 μg mL[-1]) strain RP1 was recovered from pea nodules and was identified as Rhizobium leguminosarum (accession no. KY940047). R. leguminosarum produced indole acetic acid (80.5 ± 2.5 mL[-1]), siderophores: salicylic acid (54 ± 7.3 μg mL[-1]) and 2,3-dihydoxybenzoic acid (31.9 ± 2.7 μg mL[-1]), α-ketobutyrate (51 ± 3.2 per mg per protein per hour), solubilized insoluble phosphate (29.5 ± 1.8 μg mL[-1]) and secreted 29.5 + 2.6 μg mL[-1] exopolysaccharides, which, however, decreased consistently with gradually increasing kitazin concentrations. Beyond the tolerance level, kitazin caused structural damage and altered membrane integrity of RP1, as revealed under scanning (SEM) and confocal (CLSM) electron microscopy. Phytotoxicity of kitazin to peas was obvious under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. A significant reduction of 23, 68, 57 and 50% in germination, seedling vigor index, plumule length and radicle length was found at 2× kitazin compared to the control. Cellular damage and cytotoxicity induced by kitazin in membrane altered root cells was detected with acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) and Evans blue dye. A maximum increase of 1.72, 5.2, 9.3 and 1.72, 5.2, 9.3-fold in red and blue fluorescence was quantified at 1×, 2×, and 3× doses of kitazin, respectively. In contrast, application of R. leguminosarum RP1 alleviated toxicity and enhanced the length of plant organs, dry biomass, symbiotic attributes, photosynthetic pigments, nutrient uptake and grain features of peas comparatively uninoculated and fungicide-treated plants. Additionally, strain RP1 expressively reduced the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase and malondialdehyde contents by 10, 2.2, 11, 20 and 4% compared to stressed plants raised at 192 μg kg[-1] soil. Moreover, a decline of 19, 21 and 20% in proline content extracted from roots, shoots and grains, respectively was recorded for R. leguminosarum inoculated pea plants grown with 96 μg kg[-1] kitazin. Also, the SEM and CLSM of roots revealed the bacterial colonization. In conclusion, R. leguminosarum tolerated a higher level of kitazin, secreted plant growth promoting (PGP) bioactive molecules even under fungicide stress and significantly increased the performance of peas while reducing the levels of proline and antioxidant enzymes. So, it can safely be suggested to legume growers that RP1 strain could inexpensively be explored as an efficient biofertilizer for enhancing the production of legumes especially peas while growing even under fungicide (kitazin) enriched soils.}, } @article {pmid35521409, year = {2019}, author = {Sardelli, L and Pacheco, DP and Ziccarelli, A and Tunesi, M and Caspani, O and Fusari, A and Briatico Vangosa, F and Giordano, C and Petrini, P}, title = {Towards bioinspired in vitro models of intestinal mucus.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {9}, number = {28}, pages = {15887-15899}, pmid = {35521409}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Intestinal mucus is a biological structure that acts as a barrier between the external environment and the epithelium. It actively selects nutrient and drug intake, regulates the symbiosis with the intestinal microbiota and keeps the epithelium protected from the attack of pathogens. All these functions are closely connected to the chemical and structural complexity of this biological material, on which its viscoelastic and diffusive properties depend. Many models have been proposed to replicate these characteristics using glycoproteins in solution and possibly the addition of other mucus components, such as lipids and other proteins. In the field of mucus modelling, an overall view of the mucus as a material, having its own viscous, rheological and diffusive characteristics, has been undersized with respect to a pure biological-functional analysis. In this review, we propose a description of the mucus as a biomaterial, including a presentation of its chemical and structural complexity, and of its main viscoelastic-diffusive properties, in order to provide a synthesis of the characteristics necessary for the engineering of more advanced mucus models.}, } @article {pmid35517707, year = {2019}, author = {Bao, H and Zhang, X and Su, H and Li, L and Lv, Z and Zhang, X}, title = {Study on the hydrogen production ability of high-efficiency bacteria and synergistic fermentation of maize straw by a combination of strains.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {9}, number = {16}, pages = {9030-9040}, pmid = {35517707}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Based on the principle of reciprocal symbiosis and co-metabolism of mixed culture microorganisms, a group of high-efficiency maize straw-degrading hydrogen-producing complex bacteria X9 + B2 was developed by a strain matching optimization experiment. Systematic research and optimization experiments were carried out on the mechanism of the main controlling factors affecting the hydrogen production of the complex bacteria. The results showed that the optimum conditions for the acid blasting pre-treatment of maize straw as a substrate were as follows: when the inoculation amount was 6% and the inoculum ratio was 1 : 1, at which point, we needed to simultaneously inoculate, the initial pH was 6, the substrate concentration was 12 g L[-1], and the culture time was 40 h. The complex bacteria adopted the variable temperature and speed regulation hydrogen production operational mode; after the initial temperature of 37 °C for 8 hours, the temperature was gradually increased to 40 °C for 3 hours. The initial shaker speed was 90 rpm for 20 hours, and the speed was gradually increased to 130 rpm. The maximum hydrogen production rate obtained by the complex bacteria under these conditions was 12.6 mmol g[-1], which was 1.6 times that of the single strain X9 with a maximum hydrogen production rate of 5.7 mmol g[-1]. Through continuous subculturing and the 10[th], 20[th], 40[th], 60[th], 80[th], 100[th] and 120[th] generation fermentation hydrogen production stability test analysis, no significant difference was observed between generations; the maximum difference was not more than 5%, indicating better functional properties and stability.}, } @article {pmid34996266, year = {2018}, author = {Fan, F and Wu, X and Zhao, J and Ran, G and Shang, S and Li, M and Lu, X}, title = {A Specific Drug Delivery System for Targeted Accumulation and Tissue Penetration in Prostate Tumors Based on Microbially Synthesized PHBHHx Biopolyester and iRGD Peptide Fused PhaP.}, journal = {ACS applied bio materials}, volume = {1}, number = {6}, pages = {2041-2053}, doi = {10.1021/acsabm.8b00524}, pmid = {34996266}, issn = {2576-6422}, abstract = {Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) is an intracellular biopolyester synthesized by various bacteria. Polyhydroxyalkanoate granule-binding protein (PhaP), a natural biomacromolecule symbiotic with PHBHHx, can be steadily adsorbed into the PHBHHx matrix through hydrophobic interactions. In this study, PHBHHx nanoparticles (NPs) and iRGD peptide fused PhaP (iRGD-PhaP) were used in conjunction to build a specific drug delivery system for targeted accumulation and tissue penetration in prostate tumors. A proper presentation and high surface density of iRGD could be ensured within 1 h through a convenient coincubation method using a PhaP-mediated modification strategy. iRGD-PhaP-NPs showed a satisfactory particle size (182.9 ± 4.9 nm) and slightly negative surface charge (-17.2 ± 0.3 mV), with a uniformly spherical shape. In human prostate cancer cell line PC3, iRGD-PhaP-NPs displayed remarkably improved cellular uptake compared to naked NPs, which was attributed to iRGD receptor-mediated active endocytosis. Enhanced targeted accumulation and retention of iRGD-PhaP-NPs in prostate tumors were found in both the ex vivo tumor spheroid assay and in vivo real-time imaging. Moreover, slices of the tumor deep region demonstrated the favorable tumor penetration ability of iRGD-PhaP-NPs after intravenous administration. These results highlight the specificity and efficiency of iRGD-PhaP-NPs in future clinical use.}, } @article {pmid35559088, year = {2018}, author = {Shahid, M and Ahmed, B and Zaidi, A and Khan, MS}, title = {Toxicity of fungicides to Pisum sativum: a study of oxidative damage, growth suppression, cellular death and morpho-anatomical changes.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {8}, number = {67}, pages = {38483-38498}, pmid = {35559088}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Considering the fungicidal threat to the sustainable agro-environment, the toxicological impacts of three fungicides, namely kitazin, hexaconazole and carbendazim, on the biological, chemical and morpho-anatomical changes of peas were assessed. Fungicide applications in general caused a slow but gradual reduction in growth, symbiosis and yields of peas, which, however, varied appreciably among species and concentrations of the three fungicides. Of the three fungicides, carbendazim had the most lethal effect, in which it delayed seed germination and also diminished the overall pea growth. Carbendazim at 3000 μg kg[-1] maximally reduced the germination, SVI, size of roots and shoots and total dry matter accumulation in roots, shoots and whole plants distinctly by 40%, 84%, 72%, 73%, 68%, 75% and 73% (p ≤ 0.05), respectively. Hexaconazole at 120 μg kg[-1] significantly (p ≤ 0.05) declined total chlorophyll, carotenoids, grain yields, grain protein, root P and shoot N by 19%, 28%, 46%, 69%, 48% and 51%, respectively, over the control. The synthesis of stress biomarkers and oxidative stress were increased with increasing dosage rates of fungicides. Proline content in roots, shoots, leaves and grains, MDA, electrolyte leakage and H2O2 of plants grown in soil treated with 288 μg kg[-1] kitazin were increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) by 73%, 52%, 41%, 24%, 59%, 40% and 27%, respectively, relative to the control. Antioxidant defence enzymes were greater in pea foliage. The SEM and CLSM images revealed an obvious alteration in root tips, enhanced cellular damage and cell death when plants were raised under fungicide stress. Also, morpho-anatomical variations in fungicide-treated foliage were visible in the SEM images. Overall, the present study suggests that a careful and secure strategy should be adopted before fungicides are chosen for enhancing pulse production in different agro-climatic regions.}, } @article {pmid35547297, year = {2018}, author = {Wongwilaiwalin, S and Mhuantong, W and Champreda, V and Tangphatsornruang, S and Panichnumsin, P and Ratanakhanokchai, K and Tachaapaikoon, C}, title = {Structural and metabolic adaptation of cellulolytic microcosm in co-digested Napier grass-swine manure and its application in enhancing thermophilic biogas production.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {8}, number = {52}, pages = {29806-29815}, pmid = {35547297}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Biogas production from cellulosic wastes has received increasing attention. However, its efficiency is limited by the recalcitrant nature of plant cell wall materials. In this study, an active and structurally stable lignocellulolytic microcosm (PLMC) was isolated from seed culture in sugarcane bagasse compost by successive enrichment on Napier grass supplemented with swine manure, which is a mixture of highly fibrous co-digested waste under septic conditions. Tagged 16S rRNA gene sequencing on an Ion PGM platform revealed the adaptive merging of microorganisms in the co-digested substrates resulting in a stable symbiotic consortium comprising anaerobic cellulolytic clostridia stably co-existing with facultative (hemi)cellulolytic bacteria in the background of native microflora in the substrates. Ethanoligenens, Tepidimicrobium, Clostridium, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus were the most predominant taxonomic groups comprising 72.82% of the total community. The remarkable enrichment of catabolic genes encoding for endo-cellulases and hemicellulases, both of which are key accessory enzymes in PLMC, was predicted by PICRUSt. PLMC was capable of degrading 43.6% g VS and 36.8% g VSS of the co-digested substrates within 7 days at 55 °C. Inoculation of the microcosm to batch thermophilic anaerobic digestion containing both substrates led to a 36.6% increase in methane yield along with an increase in cellulose removal efficiency. This study demonstrated structural and metabolic adaptation of the cellulolytic microcosms isolated in the background of native microflora from the co-digested wastes and its potent application in the enhancement of anaerobic digestion efficiency.}, } @article {pmid34969203, year = {2011}, author = {Dikow, RB}, title = {Systematic relationships within the Vibrionaceae (Bacteria: Gammaproteobacteria): steps toward a phylogenetic taxonomy.}, journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {9-28}, doi = {10.1111/j.1096-0031.2010.00312.x}, pmid = {34969203}, issn = {1096-0031}, abstract = {A phylogenetic hypothesis is presented for all 95 species of the family Vibrionaceae (Bacteria: Gammaproteobacteria) based on a combined analysis of eight molecular loci (16S rRNA, gyrB, recA, rpoA, gapA, mreB, topA, atpA) for up to 9337 nucleotide characters. Members of this taxon exhibit diverse life histories, including bioluminescence, pathogenicity to human and marine organisms, symbiosis, quorum sensing and extremophilic environment living, making a hypothesis of phylogenetic history important to studies addressing these traits from an evolutionary perspective. It is proposed that this phylogenetic set of relationships replaces previous phenetic hypotheses and be used to construct a phylogenetic taxonomy. Recent taxonomic proposals, including the validity of four, instead of one, families representing the 95 species and historical notions of genera within the group are compared with the presented phylogenetic hypothesis. Character support is traced through the tree and is used to address these taxonomic proposals. Photobacterium is not a monophyletic group as it is currently delimited. Aliivibrio is found within Photobacterium, suggesting a new definition for Photobacterium that includes all species of Aliivibrio. Enterovibrio, Salinivibrio and Grimontia, previously thought to be distinct from and basal to Photobacterium and Vibrio, are found nested deeply within a large Vibrio clade. © The Willi Hennig Society 2010.}, } @article {pmid34991281, year = {2005}, author = {Donner, SD and Skirving, WJ and Little, CM and Oppenheimer, M and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Global assessment of coral bleaching and required rates of adaptation under climate change.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {2251-2265}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.01073.x}, pmid = {34991281}, issn = {1365-2486}, abstract = {Elevated ocean temperatures can cause coral bleaching, the loss of colour from reef-building corals because of a breakdown of the symbiosis with the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. Recent studies have warned that global climate change could increase the frequency of coral bleaching and threaten the long-term viability of coral reefs. These assertions are based on projecting the coarse output from atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (GCMs) to the local conditions around representative coral reefs. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive global assessment of coral bleaching under climate change by adapting the NOAA Coral Reef Watch bleaching prediction method to the output of a low- and high-climate sensitivity GCM. First, we develop and test algorithms for predicting mass coral bleaching with GCM-resolution sea surface temperatures for thousands of coral reefs, using a global coral reef map and 1985-2002 bleaching prediction data. We then use the algorithms to determine the frequency of coral bleaching and required thermal adaptation by corals and their endosymbionts under two different emissions scenarios. The results indicate that bleaching could become an annual or biannual event for the vast majority of the world's coral reefs in the next 30-50 years without an increase in thermal tolerance of 0.2-1.0°C per decade. The geographic variability in required thermal adaptation found in each model and emissions scenario suggests that coral reefs in some regions, like Micronesia and western Polynesia, may be particularly vulnerable to climate change. Advances in modelling and monitoring will refine the forecast for individual reefs, but this assessment concludes that the global prognosis is unlikely to change without an accelerated effort to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.}, } @article {pmid34946059, year = {2021}, author = {Afonin, AM and Gribchenko, ES and Zorin, EA and Sulima, AS and Zhukov, VA}, title = {DNA Methylation Patterns Differ between Free-Living Rhizobium leguminosarum RCAM1026 and Bacteroids Formed in Symbiosis with Pea (Pisum sativum L.).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946059}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum (Rl) is a common name for several genospecies of rhizobia able to form nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of pea (Pisum sativum L.) while undergoing terminal differentiation into a symbiotic form called bacteroids. In this work, we used Oxford Nanopore sequencing to analyze the genome methylation states of the free-living and differentiated forms of the Rl strain RCAM1026. The complete genome was assembled; no significant genome rearrangements between the cell forms were observed, but the relative abundances of replicons were different. GANTC, GGCGCC, and GATC methylated motifs were found in the genome, along with genes encoding methyltransferases with matching predicted target motifs. The GGCGCC motif was completely methylated in both states, with two restriction-modification clusters on different replicons enforcing this specific pattern of methylation. Methylation patterns for the GANTC and GATC motifs differed significantly depending on the cell state, which indicates their possible connection to the regulation of symbiotic differentiation. Further investigation into the differences of methylation patterns in the bacterial genomes coupled with gene expression analysis is needed to elucidate the function of bacterial epigenetic regulation in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34946044, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, X and Zhang, Y and Shen, Z and Xia, L and Wang, J and Zhao, L and Wang, K and Wang, W and Hao, Z and Liu, Z}, title = {Characterization of NDM-1-Producing Carbapenemase in Proteus mirabilis among Broilers in China.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946044}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Carbapenem-resistant pathogens mediated by metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) have spread worldwide, where NDM-1 is a typical and key MBL. Here, we firstly discussed the distribution characterization of NDM-1, which produces multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis among broilers in China. From January to April 2019, 40 (18.1%, 40/221) blaNDM-1-carrying P. mirabilis strains were recovered from commercial broilers in slaughterhouse B in China. All the isolates were resistant to imipenem, meropenem and other β-lactams. These isolates belong to five clusters identified via pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Further studies on twenty representative strains revealed that seven blaNDM-1 genes were located on plasmids with sizes of 104.5-138.9 kb. Notably, only three strains (PB72, PB96 and PB109) were successfully transferred to Escherichia coli J53, while the other four isolates were located in nontransferable plasmids. The rest were harbored in chromosomes. Ulteriorly, based on whole genome sequencing (WGS), these twenty isolates showed four typical phylogenetic clades according to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of a core genome and presented four main genomic backbone profiles, in which type II/III strains shared a similar genetic context. All of the above is evidence of blaNDM-1 transmission and evolution in P. mirabilis, suggesting that the prevalence may be more diverse in broiler farms. Accordingly, as intestinal and environmental symbiotic pathogens, blaNDM-1-positive P. mirabilis will pose greater threats to the environment and public health.}, } @article {pmid34946034, year = {2021}, author = {Sonenshine, DE and Stewart, PE}, title = {Microbiomes of Blood-Feeding Arthropods: Genes Coding for Essential Nutrients and Relation to Vector Fitness and Pathogenic Infections. A Review.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946034}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Blood-feeding arthropods support a diverse array of symbiotic microbes, some of which facilitate host growth and development whereas others are detrimental to vector-borne pathogens. We found a common core constituency among the microbiota of 16 different arthropod blood-sucking disease vectors, including Bacillaceae, Rickettsiaceae, Anaplasmataceae, Sphingomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Moraxellaceae and Staphylococcaceae. By comparing 21 genomes of common bacterial symbionts in blood-feeding vectors versus non-blooding insects, we found that certain enteric bacteria benefit their hosts by upregulating numerous genes coding for essential nutrients. Bacteria of blood-sucking vectors expressed significantly more genes (p < 0.001) coding for these essential nutrients than those of non-blooding insects. Moreover, compared to endosymbionts, the genomes of enteric bacteria also contained significantly more genes (p < 0.001) that code for the synthesis of essential amino acids and proteins that detoxify reactive oxygen species. In contrast, microbes in non-blood-feeding insects expressed few gene families coding for these nutrient categories. We also discuss specific midgut bacteria essential for the normal development of pathogens (e.g., Leishmania) versus others that were detrimental (e.g., bacterial toxins in mosquitoes lethal to Plasmodium spp.).}, } @article {pmid34946030, year = {2021}, author = {Baxter, L and Roy, P and Picot, E and Watts, J and Jones, A and Wilkinson, H and Schäfer, P and Gifford, M and Lagunas, B}, title = {Comparative Genomics across Three Ensifer Species Using a New Complete Genome Sequence of the Medicago Symbiont Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti WSM1022.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946030}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Here, we report an improved and complete genome sequence of Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti strain WSM1022, a microsymbiont of Medicago species, revealing its tripartite structure. This improved genome sequence was generated combining Illumina and Oxford nanopore sequencing technologies to better understand the symbiotic properties of the bacterium. The 6.75 Mb WSM1022 genome consists of three scaffolds, corresponding to a chromosome (3.70 Mb) and the pSymA (1.38 Mb) and pSymB (1.66 Mb) megaplasmids. The assembly has an average GC content of 62.2% and a mean coverage of 77X. Genome annotation of WSM1022 predicted 6058 protein coding sequences (CDSs), 202 pseudogenes, 9 rRNAs (3 each of 5S, 16S, and 23S), 55 tRNAs, and 4 ncRNAs. We compared the genome of WSM1022 to two other rhizobial strains, closely related Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti Sm1021 and Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) medicae WSM419. Both WSM1022 and WSM419 species are high-efficiency rhizobial strains when in symbiosis with Medicago truncatula, whereas Sm1021 is ineffective. Our findings report significant genomic differences across the three strains with some similarities between the meliloti strains and some others between the high efficiency strains WSM1022 and WSM419. The addition of this high-quality rhizobial genome sequence in conjunction with comparative analyses will help to unravel the features that make a rhizobial symbiont highly efficient for nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid34946024, year = {2021}, author = {Singh, S and Singh, A and Baweja, V and Roy, A and Chakraborty, A and Singh, IK}, title = {Molecular Rationale of Insect-Microbes Symbiosis-From Insect Behaviour to Mechanism.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34946024}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Insects nurture a panoply of microbial populations that are often obligatory and exist mutually with their hosts. Symbionts not only impact their host fitness but also shape the trajectory of their phenotype. This co-constructed niche successfully evolved long in the past to mark advanced ecological specialization. The resident microbes regulate insect nutrition by controlling their host plant specialization and immunity. It enhances the host fitness and performance by detoxifying toxins secreted by the predators and abstains them. The profound effect of a microbial population on insect physiology and behaviour is exploited to understand the host-microbial system in diverse taxa. Emergent research of insect-associated microbes has revealed their potential to modulate insect brain functions and, ultimately, control their behaviours, including social interactions. The revelation of the gut microbiota-brain axis has now unravelled insects as a cost-effective potential model to study neurodegenerative disorders and behavioural dysfunctions in humans. This article reviewed our knowledge about the insect-microbial system, an exquisite network of interactions operating between insects and microbes, its mechanistic insight that holds intricate multi-organismal systems in harmony, and its future perspectives. The demystification of molecular networks governing insect-microbial symbiosis will reveal the perplexing behaviours of insects that could be utilized in managing insect pests.}, } @article {pmid34945725, year = {2021}, author = {Gorczynski, RM and Lindley, RA and Steele, EJ and Wickramasinghe, NC}, title = {Nature of Acquired Immune Responses, Epitope Specificity and Resultant Protection from SARS-CoV-2.}, journal = {Journal of personalized medicine}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34945725}, issn = {2075-4426}, abstract = {The primary global response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been to bring to the clinic as rapidly as possible a number of vaccines that are predicted to enhance immunity to this viral infection. While the rapidity with which these vaccines have been developed and tested (at least for short-term efficacy and safety) is commendable, it should be acknowledged that this has occurred despite the lack of research into, and understanding of, the immune elements important for natural host protection against the virus, making this endeavor a somewhat unique one in medical history. In contrast, as pointed out in the review below, there were already important past observations that suggested that respiratory infections at mucosal surfaces were susceptible to immune clearance by mechanisms not typical of infections caused by systemic (blood-borne) pathogens. Accordingly, it was likely to be important to understand the role for both innate and acquired immunity in response to viral infection, as well as the optimum acquired immune resistance mechanisms for viral clearance (B cell or antibody-mediated, versus T cell mediated). This information was needed both to guide vaccine development and to monitor its success. We have known that many pathogens enter into a quasi-symbiotic relationship with the host, with each undergoing sequential change in response to alterations the other makes to its presence. The subsequent evolution of viral variants which has caused such widespread concern over the last 3-6 months as host immunity develops was an entirely predictable response. What is still not known is whether there will be other unexpected side-effects of the deployment of novel vaccines in humans which have yet to be characterized, and, if so, how and if these can be avoided. We conclude by remarking that to ignore a substantial body of well-attested immunological research in favour of expediency is a poor way to proceed.}, } @article {pmid34945602, year = {2021}, author = {Ivanova, S and Delattre, C and Karcheva-Bahchevanska, D and Benbasat, N and Nalbantova, V and Ivanov, K}, title = {Plant-Based Diet as a Strategy for Weight Control.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34945602}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {According to the World Health Organization, obesity has nearly tripled since the 1970s. Obesity and overweight are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, inflammatory-mediated diseases, and other serious medical conditions. Moreover, recent data suggest that obesity, overweight, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality. Different strategies for weight control have been introduced over the last two decades. Unfortunately, these strategies have shown little effect. At the same time, many studies show that plants might be the key to a successful strategy for weight control. Following the PRISMA guidelines for conducting systematic reviews, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase using the following keywords: obesity, globesity, vegan, plant-based diet, etc. Our results show that vegan diets are associated with improved gut microbiota symbiosis, increased insulin sensitivity, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and over-expression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. The key features of this diet are reduced calorie density and reduced cholesterol intake. The combination of these two factors is the essence of the efficiency of this approach to weight control. Our data suggest that plant-based/vegan diets might play a significant role in future strategies for reducing body weight.}, } @article {pmid34944756, year = {2021}, author = {Artym, J and Zimecki, M}, title = {Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review.}, journal = {Biomedicines}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34944756}, issn = {2227-9059}, abstract = {Women's intimate health depends on several factors, such as age, diet, coexisting metabolic disorders, hormonal equilibrium, sexual activity, drug intake, contraception, surgery, and personal hygiene. These factors may affect the homeostasis of the internal environment of the genital tract: the vulva, vagina and cervix. This equilibrium is dependent on strict and complex mutual interactions between epithelial cells, immunocompetent cells and microorganisms residing in this environment. The microbiota of the genital tract in healthy women is dominated by several species of symbiotic bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus. The bacteria inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and inflammatory processes by virtue of direct and multidirectional antimicrobial action and, indirectly, by the modulation of immune system activity. For the homeostasis of the genital tract ecosystem, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides, as well as proteins secreted by mucus cells into the cervicovaginal fluid, have a fundamental significance. Of these, a multifunctional protein known as lactoferrin (LF) is one of the most important since it bridges innate and acquired immunity. Among its numerous properties, particular attention should be paid to prebiotic activity, i.e., exerting a beneficial action on symbiotic microbiota of the gastrointestinal and genital tract. Such activity of LF is associated with the inhibition of bacterial and fungal infections in the genital tract and their consequences, such as endometritis, pelvic inflammation, urinary tract infections, miscarriage, premature delivery, and infection of the fetus and newborns. The aim of this article is to review the results of laboratory as well as clinical trials, confirming the prebiotic action of LF on the microbiota of the lower genital tract.}, } @article {pmid34944495, year = {2021}, author = {Bharadwaj, A and Kempster, E and Waisman, DM}, title = {The Annexin A2/S100A10 Complex: The Mutualistic Symbiosis of Two Distinct Proteins.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34944495}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {162283//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Annexin A2/*metabolism ; Dipeptides/metabolism ; Feedback, Physiological ; Fibrinolysin/metabolism ; Humans ; Proteolysis ; S100 Proteins/*metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiosis refers to the symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species in which both individuals benefit from the association. S100A10, a member of the S100 family of Ca[2+]-binding proteins, exists as a tight dimer and binds two annexin A2 molecules. This association forms the annexin A2/S100A10 complex known as AIIt, and modifies the distinct functions of both proteins. Annexin A2 is a Ca[2+]-binding protein that binds F-actin, phospholipid, RNA, and specific polysaccharides such as heparin. S100A10 does not bind Ca[2+], but binds tPA, plasminogen, certain plasma membrane ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and the structural scaffold protein, AHNAK. S100A10 relies on annexin A2 for its intracellular survival: in the absence of annexin A2, it is rapidly destroyed by ubiquitin-dependent and independent proteasomal degradation. Annexin A2 requires S100A10 to increase its affinity for Ca[2+], facilitating its participation in Ca[2+]-dependent processes such as membrane binding. S100A10 binds tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen, and promotes plasminogen activation to plasmin, which is a process stimulated by annexin A2. In contrast, annexin A2 acts as a plasmin reductase and facilitates the autoproteolytic destruction of plasmin. This review examines the relationship between annexin A2 and S100A10, and how their mutualistic symbiosis affects the function of both proteins.}, } @article {pmid34943194, year = {2021}, author = {Margaryan, K and Melyan, G and Röckel, F and Töpfer, R and Maul, E}, title = {Genetic Diversity of Armenian Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Germplasm: Molecular Characterization and Parentage Analysis.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34943194}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Armenia is an important country of origin of cultivated Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera and wild Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris and has played a key role in the long history of grape cultivation in the Southern Caucasus. The existence of immense grapevine biodiversity in a small territory is strongly linked with unique relief and diverse climate conditions assembled with millennium-lasting cultural and historical context. In the present in-depth study using 25 nSSR markers, 492 samples collected in old vineyards, home gardens, and private collections were genotyped. For verification of cultivar identity, the symbiotic approach combining genotypic and phenotypic characterization for each genotype was carried out. The study provided 221 unique varieties, including 5 mutants, from which 66 were widely grown, neglected or minor autochthonous grapevine varieties, 49 turned out to be new bred cultivars created within the national breeding programs mainly during Soviet Era and 34 were non-Armenian varieties with different countries of origin. No references and corresponding genetic profiles existed for 67 genotypes. Parentage analysis was performed inferring 62 trios with 53 out of them having not been previously reported and 185 half-kinships. Instability of grapevine cultivars was detected, showing allelic variants, with three and in rare cases four alleles at one loci. Obtained results have great importance and revealed that Armenia conserved an extensive grape genetic diversity despite geographical isolation and low material exchange. This gene pool richness represents a huge reservoir of under-explored genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid34943189, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, Y and Liao, X and Han, T and Su, A and Guo, Z and Lu, N and He, C and Lu, Z}, title = {Full-Length Transcriptome Sequencing of the Scleractinian Coral Montipora foliosa Reveals the Gene Expression Profile of Coral-Zooxanthellae Holobiont.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34943189}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Coral-zooxanthellae holobionts are one of the most productive ecosystems in the ocean. With global warming and ocean acidification, coral ecosystems are facing unprecedented challenges. To save the coral ecosystems, we need to understand the symbiosis of coral-zooxanthellae. Although some Scleractinia (stony corals) transcriptomes have been sequenced, the reliable full-length transcriptome is still lacking due to the short-read length of second-generation sequencing and the uncertainty of the assembly results. Herein, PacBio Sequel II sequencing technology polished with the Illumina RNA-seq platform was used to obtain relatively complete scleractinian coral M. foliosa transcriptome data and to quantify M. foliosa gene expression. A total of 38,365 consensus sequences and 20,751 unique genes were identified. Seven databases were used for the gene function annotation, and 19,972 genes were annotated in at least one database. We found 131 zooxanthellae transcripts and 18,829 M. foliosa transcripts. A total of 6328 lncRNAs, 847 M. foliosa transcription factors (TFs), and 2 zooxanthellae TF were identified. In zooxanthellae we found pathways related to symbiosis, such as photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism. Pathways related to symbiosis in M. foliosa include oxidative phosphorylation and nitrogen metabolism, etc. We summarized the isoforms and expression level of the symbiont recognition genes. Among the membrane proteins, we found three pathways of glycan biosynthesis, which may be involved in the organic matter storage and monosaccharide stabilization in M. foliosa. Our results provide better material for studying coral symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34943158, year = {2021}, author = {Kočárek, P and Wahab, RA}, title = {Termitophily Documented in Earwigs (Dermaptera).}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34943158}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Based on behavioral observations, we report termitophily by the earwig Spirolabia kaja Kočárek, sp. nov. (Spongiphoridae: Labiinae). The new species was found in association with the wood-boring termite Schedorhinotermes sarawakensis (Holmgren, 1913) in a dipterocarp rain forest in Borneo; in addition to being observed in the galleries, termite-earwig interactions were subsequently documented in the laboratory. We found that earwigs and termites communicate by antennation, and we observed no form of targeted mutual or unilateral aggressive behavior. The earwigs responded to the proximity of an experimentally irritated termite soldier by conflict-avoidance behavior based on thanatosis, which seems to be a defensive reaction that may reduce the chance of being attacked by an irritated termite. Based on the analysis of gastrointestinal tract contents, we conclude that S. kaja sp. nov. is an omnivorous species that feeds mainly on plant tissues and fungi but occasionally on arthropod remains. The occurrence of S. kaja sp. nov. adults together with the nymphs (2nd to 4th instars) in the galleries of S. sarawakensis strongly suggests that the earwig can reproduce inside the termite colony. Spirolabia kaja Kočárek, sp. nov. is the first earwig species for which termitophily has been demonstrated.}, } @article {pmid34942265, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, Y and Cheng, J and Xia, Y and Li, X and Liu, Y and Liu, PF}, title = {Response mechanism of gut microbiome and metabolism of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to temperature stress.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {813}, number = {}, pages = {151786}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151786}, pmid = {34942265}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bass ; Chromatography, Liquid ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In animals, the gut microbiome is vital to growth, and changes in the composition of these microbial communities may affect growth and adaptability to the environment. Temperature is another important factor that influences the healthy growth of animals. To date, the mechanism by which juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and their symbiotic flora adapt to changes in environmental temperature is not well understood. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of temperature on the gut microbiota and metabolism of European seabass juveniles. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and non-targeted liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics to study the gut microbes of European seabass after 60 days of rearing of water temperature at 10 °C (T1), 15 °C (T2) and 20 °C (T3). At the phylum level, the abundance of the gut microbiota did not differ significantly among the three groups after 60 days of cultivation. At the genus level, however, the abundance of Faecalibacterium, Filifactor, Butyricicoccus, and Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-006 in the intestines differed significantly among the temperature groups. Compared with T2, the relative abundance of Filifactor in T1 was significantly increased, while Faecalibacterium was significantly decreased, while the relative abundance of Butyricicoccus and Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-006 in T3 was significantly increased. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 107 metabolites in the 10 °C group and 68 metabolites in the 20 °C group that differed significantly from those in the intestines of fish in the 15 °C control group. These metabolites are closely related to several metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, glucose and lipid metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Correlation analysis of the Intestine microbiota, metabolic pathways, and metabolites identified metabolic pathways and metabolites that were strongly related to the observed significant differences in the microbiome among the temperature groups. These results show that temperature can induce significant changes in the gut microbiota and metabolism of European seabass juveniles, and that significant changes in metabolites may be mediated through the interaction of the microbiome and metabolic pathways.}, } @article {pmid34942023, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, F and Labourel, A and Haon, M and Kemppainen, M and Da Silva Machado, E and Brouilly, N and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Kohler, A and Rosso, MN and Pardo, A and Henrissat, B and Berrin, JG and Martin, F}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor releases a GH28 polygalacturonase that plays a key role in symbiosis establishment.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {6}, pages = {2534-2547}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17940}, pmid = {34942023}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; *Laccaria/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Polygalacturonase/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In ectomycorrhiza, root penetration and colonization of the intercellular space by symbiotic hyphae is thought to rely on the mechanical force that results from hyphal tip growth, enhanced by the activity of secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes. Here, we characterize the biochemical properties of the symbiosis-induced polygalacturonase LbGH28A from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. The transcriptional regulation of LbGH28A was measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The biological relevance of LbGH28A was confirmed by generating RNA interference (RNAi)-silenced LbGH28A mutants. We localized the LbGH28A protein by immunofluorescence confocal and immunogold cytochemical microscopy in poplar ectomycorrhizal roots. Quantitative PCR confirmed the induced expression of LbGH28A during ectomycorrhiza formation. Laccaria bicolor RNAi mutants have a lower ability to establish ectomycorrhiza, confirming the key role of this enzyme in symbiosis. The purified recombinant LbGH28A has its highest activity towards pectin and polygalacturonic acid. In situ localization of LbGH28A indicates that this endopolygalacturonase is located in both fungal and plant cell walls at the symbiotic hyphal front. These findings suggest that the symbiosis-induced pectinase LbGH28A is involved in the Hartig net formation and is an important determinant for successful symbiotic colonization.}, } @article {pmid34941453, year = {2022}, author = {Nieves, KM and Hirota, SA and Flannigan, KL}, title = {Xenobiotic receptors and the regulation of intestinal homeostasis: harnessing the chemical output of the intestinal microbiota.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology}, volume = {322}, number = {2}, pages = {G268-G281}, doi = {10.1152/ajpgi.00160.2021}, pmid = {34941453}, issn = {1522-1547}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Homeostasis/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/*metabolism ; Xenobiotics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The commensal bacteria that reside in the gastrointestinal tract exist in a symbiotic relationship with the host, driving the development of the immune system and maintaining metabolic and tissue homeostasis in the local environment. The intestinal microbiota has the capacity to generate a wide array of chemical metabolites to which the cells of the intestinal mucosa are exposed. Host cells express xenobiotic receptors, such as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the pregnane X receptor (PXR), that can sense and respond to chemicals that are generated by nonhost pathways. In this review, we outline the physiological and immunological processes within the intestinal environment that are regulated by microbial metabolites through the activation of the AhR and the PXR, with a focus on ligands generated by the stepwise catabolism of tryptophan.}, } @article {pmid34941382, year = {2022}, author = {Perlman, D and Martínez-Álvaro, M and Moraïs, S and Altshuler, I and Hagen, LH and Jami, E and Roehe, R and Pope, PB and Mizrahi, I}, title = {Concepts and Consequences of a Core Gut Microbiota for Animal Growth and Development.}, journal = {Annual review of animal biosciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {177-201}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-animal-013020-020412}, pmid = {34941382}, issn = {2165-8110}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Growth and Development ; *Microbiota/genetics ; }, abstract = {Animal microbiomes are occasionally considered as an extension of host anatomy, physiology, and even their genomic architecture. Their compositions encompass variable and constant portions when examined across multiple hosts. The latter, termed the core microbiome, is viewed as more accommodated to its host environment and suggested to benefit host fitness. Nevertheless, discrepancies in its definitions, characteristics, and importance to its hosts exist across studies. We survey studies that characterize the core microbiome, detail its current definitions and available methods to identify it, and emphasize the crucial need to upgrade and standardize the methodologies among studies. We highlight ruminants as a case study and discussthe link between the core microbiome and host physiology and genetics, as well as potential factors that shape it. We conclude with main directives of action to better understand the host-core microbiome axis and acquire the necessary insights into its controlled modulation.}, } @article {pmid34941379, year = {2022}, author = {Schroeder, MM and Gomez, MY and McLain, N and Gachomo, EW}, title = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum IRAT FA3 Alters Arabidopsis thaliana Root Architecture via Regulation of Auxin Efflux Transporters PIN2, PIN3, PIN7, and ABCB19.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {215-229}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-21-0118-R}, pmid = {34941379}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics ; }, abstract = {Beneficial rhizobacteria can stimulate changes in plant root development. Although root system growth is mediated by multiple factors, the regulated distribution of the phytohormone auxin within root tissues plays a principal role. Auxin transport facilitators help to generate the auxin gradients and maxima that determine root structure. Here, we show that the plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterial strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum IRAT FA3 influences specific auxin efflux transporters to alter Arabidopsis thaliana root morphology. Gene expression profiling of host transcripts in control and B. japonicum-inoculated roots of the wild-type A. thaliana accession Col-0 confirmed upregulation of PIN2, PIN3, PIN7, and ABCB19 with B. japonicum and identified genes potentially contributing to a diverse array of auxin-related responses. Cocultivation of the bacterium with loss-of-function auxin efflux transport mutants revealed that B. japonicum requires PIN3, PIN7, and ABCB19 to increase lateral root development and utilizes PIN2 to reduce primary root length. Accelerated lateral root primordia production due to B. japonicum was not observed in single pin3, pin7, or abcb19 mutants, suggesting independent roles for PIN3, PIN7, and ABCB19 during the plant-microbe interaction. Our work demonstrates B. japonicum's influence over host transcriptional reprogramming during plant interaction with this beneficial microbe and the subsequent alterations to root system architecture.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34941378, year = {2022}, author = {Dai, H and Zhang, X and Zhao, B and Shi, J and Zhang, C and Wang, G and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {Colonization of Mutualistic Mycorrhizal and Parasitic Blast Fungi Requires OsRAM2-Regulated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Rice.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {178-186}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-21-0270-R}, pmid = {34941378}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Oryza/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form a mutual association with the majority of land plants, including most angiosperms of the dicotyledon and monocotyledon lineages. The symbiosis is based upon bidirectional nutrient exchange between the host and symbiont that occurs between inner cortical cells of the root and branched AM hyphae called arbuscules that develop within these cells. Lipid transport and its regulation during the symbiosis have been intensively investigated in dicotyledon plants, especially legumes. Here, we characterize OsRAM2 and OsRAM2L, homologs of Medicago truncatula RAM2, and found that plants defective in OsRAM2 were unable to be colonized by AM fungi and showed impaired colonization by Magnaporthe oryzae. The induction of OsRAM2 and OsRAM2L is dependent on OsRAM1 and the common symbiosis signaling pathway pathway genes CCaMK and CYCLOPS, while overexpression of OsRAM1 results in increased expression of OsRAM2 and OsRAM2L. Collectively, our data show that the function and regulation of OsRAM2 is conserved in monocot and dicot plants and reveals that, similar to mutualistic fungi, pathogenic fungi have recruited RAM2-mediated fatty acid biosynthesis to facilitate invasion.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34940811, year = {2022}, author = {Roulé, T and Crespi, M and Blein, T}, title = {Regulatory long non-coding RNAs in root growth and development.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {403-412}, doi = {10.1042/BST20210743}, pmid = {34940811}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Growth and Development ; Minerals/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; *RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {As sessile organisms, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms of gene regulation to cope with changing environments. Among them, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNAs regulating gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. They are highly responsive to environmental cues or developmental processes and are generally involved in fine-tuning plant responses to these signals. Roots, in addition to anchoring the plant to the soil, allow it to absorb the major part of its mineral nutrients and water. Furthermore, roots directly sense environmental constraints such as mineral nutrient availability and abiotic or biotic stresses and dynamically adapt their growth and architecture. Here, we review the role of lncRNAs in the control of root growth and development. In particular, we highlight their action in fine-tuning primary root growth and the development of root lateral organs, such as lateral roots and symbiotic nodules. Lastly, we report their involvement in plant response to stresses and the regulation of nutrient assimilation and homeostasis, two processes leading to the modification of root architecture. LncRNAs could become interesting targets in plant breeding programs to subtly acclimate crops to coming environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid34940597, year = {2021}, author = {Vidkjær, NH and Schmidt, S and Hu, H and Bodawatta, KH and Beemelmanns, C and Poulsen, M}, title = {Species- and Caste-Specific Gut Metabolomes in Fungus-Farming Termites.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34940597}, issn = {2218-1989}, support = {771349/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Fungus-farming termites host gut microbial communities that contribute to the pre-digestion of plant biomass for manuring the fungal mutualist, and potentially to the production of defensive compounds that suppress antagonists. Termite colonies are characterized by complex division of labor and differences in diet between termite size (minor and major) and morphological (worker and soldier) castes, and this extends to the composition of their gut microbial communities. We hypothesized that gut metabolomes should mirror these differences and tested this through untargeted LC-MS/MS analyses of three South African species of fungus-farming termites. We found distinct metabolomes between species and across castes, especially between soldiers and workers. Primary metabolites dominate the metabolomes and the high number of overlapping features with the mutualistic fungus and plant material show distinct impacts of diet and the environment. The identification of a few bioactive compounds of likely microbial origin underlines the potential for compound discovery among the many unannotated features. Our untargeted approach provides a first glimpse into the complex gut metabolomes and our dereplication suggests the presence of bioactive compounds with potential defensive roles to be targeted in future studies.}, } @article {pmid34940213, year = {2021}, author = {Patwa, N and Ranger, CM and Lehenberger, M and Biedermann, PH and Reding, ME}, title = {Stability of Nuclear and Mitochondrial Reference Genes in Selected Tissues of the Ambrosia Beetle Xylosandrus germanus.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34940213}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The fungus-farming ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) uses a pouch-like structure (i.e., mycangium) to transport spores of its nutritional fungal mutualist. Our current study sought to identify reference genes necessary for future transcriptome analyses aimed at characterizing gene expression within the mycangium. Complementary DNA was synthesized using selected tissue types from laboratory-reared and field-collected X. germanus consisting of the whole body, head + thorax, deflated or inflated mycangium + scutellum, inflated mycangium, and thorax + abdomen. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR reactions were performed using primers for 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA), arginine kinase (AK), carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2-aspartate transcarbamylase-dihydroorotase (CAD), mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1), and elongation factor-1α (EF1α). Reference gene stability was analyzed using GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt, and a comprehensive final ranking by RefFinder. The gene CO1 was identified as the primary reference gene since it was generally ranked in first or second position among the tissue types containing the mycangium. Reference gene AK was identified as a secondary reference gene. In contrast, EF1α was generally ranked in the last or penultimate place. Identification of two stable reference genes will aid in normalizing the expression of target genes for subsequent gene expression studies of X. germanus' mycangium.}, } @article {pmid34940172, year = {2021}, author = {Cardoso, DC and Cristiano, MP}, title = {Karyotype Diversity, Mode, and Tempo of the Chromosomal Evolution of Attina (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini): Is There an Upper Limit to Chromosome Number?.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34940172}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Ants are an important insect group that exhibits considerable diversity in chromosome numbers. Some species show only one chromosome, as in the males of the Australian bulldog ant Myrmecia croslandi, while some have as many as 60 chromosomes, as in the males of the giant Neotropical ant Dinoponera lucida. Fungus-growing ants are a diverse group in the Neotropical ant fauna, engaged in a symbiotic relationship with a basidiomycete fungus, and are widely distributed from Nearctic to Neotropical regions. Despite their importance, new chromosome counts are scarcely reported, and the marked variation in chromosome number across species has been poorly studied under phylogenetic and genome evolutionary contexts. Here, we present the results of the cytogenetic examination of fungus-farming ants and compile the cytogenetic characteristics and genome size of the species studied to date to draw insights regarding the evolutionary paths of karyotype changes and diversity. These data are coupled with a fossil-calibrated phylogenetic tree to discuss the mode and tempo of chromosomal shifting, considering whether there is an upper limit for chromosome number and genome size in ants, using fungus-farming ants as a model study. We recognize that karyotypes are generally quite variable across fungus-farming ant phylogeny, mostly between genera, and are more numerically conservative within genera. A low chromosome number, between 10 and 12 chromosomes, seems to present a notable long-term evolutionary stasis (intermediate evolutionary stasis) in fungus-farming ants. All the genome size values were inside a limited spectrum below 1 pg. Eventual departures in genome size occurred with regard to the mean of 0.38 pg, indicating that there is a genome, and likely a chromosome, number upper limit.}, } @article {pmid34939988, year = {2022}, author = {Dangerfield, DT and Ober, AJ and Li, MJ and Allen, S and Bluthenthal, RN}, title = {HIV Treatment Adherence Strategies Among Virally Suppressed Black Sexual Minority Men in Baltimore, Maryland, and Los Angeles, California: A Theory-Based Qualitative Study.}, journal = {The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {54-62}, pmid = {34939988}, issn = {1552-6917}, support = {K01 DA051329/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AI094189/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aged ; Baltimore ; *HIV Infections/drug therapy ; Humans ; Los Angeles ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; *Sexual and Gender Minorities ; Treatment Adherence and Compliance ; }, abstract = {The goals and strategies of Black sexual minority men living with HIV (BSMMLWH) who achieve viral suppression require further investigation. This study explored treatment adherence strategies among BSMMLWH with sustained viral suppression. We conducted 27 in-depth qualitative interviews with BSMMLWH in Baltimore, Maryland, and Los Angeles, California, between December 2018 and May 2019. Interviews included questions guided by Positive Deviance and Life Course theoretical frameworks regarding multilevel factors and explicit strategies for antiretroviral therapy adherence. Themes regarding intentional, age group-specific strategies such as using technology (among younger men) and taking HIV medications with other daily pills (among older men) were identified. Participants also reported symbiotic goals and values that encouraged adherence, such as having a desire to live, strong familial relationships with clinicians, and support networks. Identifying personal goals and having supportive clinical and social relationships could be key to improving treatment adherence and viral suppression among BSMMLWH.}, } @article {pmid34939561, year = {2021}, author = {Moran, NA}, title = {Microbe Profile: Buchnera aphidicola: ancient aphid accomplice and endosymbiont exemplar.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {167}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001127}, pmid = {34939561}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; *Buchnera/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Buchnera aphidicola is an obligate endosymbiont of aphids that cannot be cultured outside of hosts. It exists as diverse strains in different aphid species, and phylogenetic reconstructions show that it has been maternally transmitted in aphids for >100 million years. B. aphidicola genomes are highly reduced and show conserved gene order and no gene acquisition, but encoded proteins undergo rapid evolution. Aphids depend on B. aphidicola for biosynthesis of essential amino acids and as an integral part of embryonic development. How B. aphidicola populations are regulated within hosts remains little known.}, } @article {pmid34938955, year = {2021}, author = {McGaley, J and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Visualising an invisible symbiosis.}, journal = {Plants, people, planet}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {462-470}, pmid = {34938955}, issn = {2572-2611}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Despite the vast abundance and global importance of plant and microbial species, the large majority go unnoticed and unappreciated by humans, contributing to pressing issues including the neglect of study and research of these organisms, the lack of interest and support for their protection and conservation, low microbial and botanical literacy in society, and a growing disconnect between people and nature. The invisibility of many of these organisms is a key factor in their oversight by society, but also points to a solution: sharing the wealth of visual data produced during scientific research with a broader audience. Here, we discuss how the invisible can be visualised for a public audience, and the benefits it can bring.

SUMMARY: Whether too small, slow or concealed, the majority of species on Earth go unseen by humans. One such rather unobservable group of organisms are the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, who form beneficial symbioses with plants. AM symbiosis is ubiquitous and vitally important globally in ecosystem functioning, but partly as a consequence of its invisibility, it receives disproportionally little attention and appreciation. Yet AM fungi, and other unseen organisms, need not remain overlooked: from decades of scientific research there exists a goldmine of visual data, which if shared effectively we believe can alleviate the issues of low awareness. Here, we use examples from our experience of public engagement with AM symbiosis as well as evidence from the literature to outline the diverse ways in which invisible organisms can be visualised for a broad audience. We highlight outcomes and knock-on consequences of this visualisation, ranging from improved human mental health to environmental protection, making the case for researchers to share their images more widely for the benefit of plants (and fungi and other overlooked organisms), people and planet.}, } @article {pmid34938792, year = {2021}, author = {Cowgill, M and Zink, AG and Sparagon, W and Yap, TA and Sulaeman, H and Koo, MS and Vredenburg, VT}, title = {Social Behavior, Community Composition, Pathogen Strain, and Host Symbionts Influence Fungal Disease Dynamics in Salamanders.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {742288}, pmid = {34938792}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {The emerging fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which can cause a fatal disease called chytridiomycosis, is implicated in the collapse of hundreds of host amphibian species. We describe chytridiomycosis dynamics in two co-occurring terrestrial salamander species, the Santa Lucia Mountains slender salamander, Batrachoseps luciae, and the arboreal salamander, Aneides lugubris. We (1) conduct a retrospective Bd-infection survey of specimens collected over the last century, (2) estimate present-day Bd infections in wild populations, (3) use generalized linear models (GLM) to identify biotic and abiotic correlates of infection risk, (4) investigate susceptibility of hosts exposed to Bd in laboratory trials, and (5) examine the ability of host skin bacteria to inhibit Bd in culture. Our historical survey of 2,866 specimens revealed that for most of the early 20th century (~1920-1969), Bd was not detected in either species. By the 1990s the proportion of infected specimens was 29 and 17% (B. luciae and A. lugubris, respectively), and in the 2010s it was 10 and 17%. This was similar to the number of infected samples from contemporary populations (2014-2015) at 10 and 18%. We found that both hosts experience signs of chytridiomycosis and suffered high Bd-caused mortality (88 and 71% for B. luciae and A. lugubris, respectively). Our GLM revealed that Bd-infection probability was positively correlated with intraspecific group size and proximity to heterospecifics but not to abiotic factors such as precipitation, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, mean temperature, and elevation, or to the size of the hosts. Finally, we found that both host species contain symbiotic skin-bacteria that inhibit growth of Bd in laboratory trials. Our results provide new evidence consistent with other studies showing a relatively recent Bd invasion of amphibian host populations in western North America and suggest that the spread of the pathogen may be enabled both through conspecific and heterospecific host interactions. Our results suggest that wildlife disease studies should assess host-pathogen dynamics that consider the interactions and effects of multiple hosts, as well as the historical context of pathogen invasion, establishment, and epizootic to enzootic transitions to better understand and predict disease dynamics.}, } @article {pmid34938515, year = {2021}, author = {Hiillos, AL and Thonig, A and Knott, KE}, title = {Droplet digital PCR as a tool for investigating dynamics of cryptic symbionts.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {23}, pages = {17381-17396}, pmid = {34938515}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Interactions among symbiotic organisms and their hosts are major drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes. Monitoring the infection patterns among natural populations and identifying factors affecting these interactions are critical for understanding symbiont-host relationships. However, many of these interactions remain understudied since the knowledge about the symbiont species is lacking, which hinders the development of appropriate tools. In this study, we developed a digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) assay based on apicomplexan COX1 gene to detect an undescribed agamococcidian symbiont. We show that the method gives precise and reproducible results and enables detecting cryptic symbionts in low target concentration. We further exemplify the assay's use to survey seasonally sampled natural host (Pygospio elegans) populations for symbiont infection dynamics. We found that symbiont prevalence differs spatially but does not show seasonal changes. Infection load differed between populations and was low in spring and significantly increased towards fall in all populations. We also found that the symbiont prevalence is affected by host length and population density. Larger hosts were more likely to be infected, and high host densities were found to have a lower probability of infection. The observed variations could be due to characteristics of both symbiont and host biology, especially the seasonal variation in encounter rates. Our findings show that the developed ddPCR assay is a robust tool for detecting undescribed symbionts that are otherwise difficult to quantify, enabling further insight into the impact cryptic symbionts have on their hosts.}, } @article {pmid34938291, year = {2021}, author = {Fang, Y and Gu, Y}, title = {Regulation of Plant Immunity by Nuclear Membrane-Associated Mechanisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {771065}, pmid = {34938291}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Active Transport, Cell Nucleus/immunology ; Cell Nucleus/immunology/metabolism ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Models, Immunological ; Nuclear Envelope/*immunology ; Nuclear Pore/immunology/metabolism ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/*immunology/metabolism ; Plant Immunity/*immunology ; Plant Proteins/*immunology/metabolism ; Plants/*immunology/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; }, abstract = {Unlike animals, plants do not have specialized immune cells and lack an adaptive immune system. Instead, plant cells rely on their unique innate immune system to defend against pathogens and coordinate beneficial interactions with commensal and symbiotic microbes. One of the major convergent points for plant immune signaling is the nucleus, where transcriptome reprogramming is initiated to orchestrate defense responses. Mechanisms that regulate selective transport of nuclear signaling cargo and chromatin activity at the nuclear boundary play a pivotal role in immune activation. This review summarizes the current knowledge of how nuclear membrane-associated core protein and protein complexes, including the nuclear pore complex, nuclear transport receptors, and the nucleoskeleton participate in plant innate immune activation and pathogen resistance. We also discuss the role of their functional counterparts in regulating innate immunity in animals and highlight potential common mechanisms that contribute to nuclear membrane-centered immune regulation in higher eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid34938224, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, L and Zhou, X and Shirshitskaia, E}, title = {Millennials' Entrepreneurial Values, Entrepreneurial Symbiosis Network and New Ventures Growth: Evidence From China.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {713280}, pmid = {34938224}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {The fate of new ventures incubated by the same corporate ecosystem is different. Can entrepreneurs' ideas affect the way out of incubating companies? Based on self-verification theory and symbiosis theory, we took millennial entrepreneurs as the research object, combined with entrepreneurial enterprises' data in the makerspace. We analyzed the impact of millennials' entrepreneurial values on new ventures growth and explored the mediating role of entrepreneurial symbiosis networks. The following conclusions are obtained by analyzing the questionnaire of 191 millennial entrepreneurs: Millennials' entrepreneurial values significantly promote new ventures growth. The strength and scale of the entrepreneurial symbiosis network have a positive impact on new ventures growth. The entrepreneur symbiosis network acts as an intermediary between the millennials' entrepreneurial values and new ventures growth.}, } @article {pmid34937193, year = {2021}, author = {Böhringer, N and Green, R and Liu, Y and Mettal, U and Marner, M and Modaresi, SM and Jakob, RP and Wuisan, ZG and Maier, T and Iinishi, A and Hiller, S and Lewis, K and Schäberle, TF}, title = {Mutasynthetic Production and Antimicrobial Characterization of Darobactin Analogs.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e0153521}, pmid = {34937193}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R01 AI158388/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acinetobacter baumannii ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli Proteins/pharmacology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*drug effects ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multigene Family ; Phenylpropionates/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {There is great need for therapeutics against multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Recently, darobactin A, a novel bicyclic heptapeptide that selectively kills Gram-negative bacteria by targeting the outer membrane protein BamA, was discovered. Its efficacy was proven in animal infection models of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, thus promoting darobactin A as a promising lead compound. Originally discovered from members of the nematode-symbiotic genus Photorhabdus, the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) encoding the synthesis of darobactin A can also be found in other members of the class Gammaproteobacteria. Therein, the precursor peptides DarB to -F, which differ in their core sequence from darobactin A, were identified in silico. Even though production of these analogs was not observed in the putative producer strains, we were able to generate them by mutasynthetic derivatization of a heterologous expression system. The analogs generated were isolated and tested for their bioactivity. The most potent compound, darobactin B, was used for cocrystallization with the target BamA, revealing a binding site identical to that of darobactin A. Despite its potency, darobactin B did not exhibit cytotoxicity, and it was slightly more active against Acinetobacter baumannii isolates than darobactin A. Furthermore, we evaluated the plasma protein binding of darobactin A and B, indicating their different pharmacokinetic properties. This is the first report on new members of this new antibiotic class, which is likely to expand to several promising therapeutic candidates. IMPORTANCE Therapeutic options to combat Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are dwindling with increasing antibiotic resistance. This study presents a proof of concept for the heterologous-expression approach to expand on the novel antibiotic class of darobactins and to generate analogs with different activities and pharmacokinetic properties. In combination with the structural data of the target BamA, this approach may contribute to structure-activity relationship (SAR) data to optimize inhibitors of this essential outer membrane protein of Gram-negative pathogens.}, } @article {pmid34937124, year = {2022}, author = {Babenko, LM and Kosakivska, IV and Romanenko, КО}, title = {Molecular mechanisms of N-acyl homoserine lactone signals perception by plants.}, journal = {Cell biology international}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {523-534}, doi = {10.1002/cbin.11749}, pmid = {34937124}, issn = {1095-8355}, mesh = {*Acyl-Butyrolactones ; Perception ; Plants ; *Quorum Sensing/physiology ; }, abstract = {N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) belong to the class of bacterial quorum sensing signal molecules involved in distance signal transduction between Gram-negative bacteria colonizers of the rhizosphere, as well as bacteria and plants. AHLs synchronize the activity of genes from individual cells, allowing the bacterial population to act as a multicellular organism, and establish a symbiotic or antagonistic relationship with the host plant. Although the effect of AHLs on plants has been studied for more than ten years, the mechanisms of plant perception of AHL signals are not fully understood. The specificity of the reactions caused by AHL indicates the existence of appropriate mechanisms for their perception by plants. In the current review, we summarize available data on the molecular mechanisms of AHL-signal perception in plants, its effect on plant growth, development, and stress resistance. We describe the latest research demonstrating direct (on plants) and indirect (on rhizosphere microflora) effects of AHLs, as well as the prospects of using these compounds in biotechnology to increase plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid34936969, year = {2022}, author = {Xie, K and Ren, Y and Chen, A and Yang, C and Zheng, Q and Chen, J and Wang, D and Li, Y and Hu, S and Xu, G}, title = {Plant nitrogen nutrition: The roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {269}, number = {}, pages = {153591}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153591}, pmid = {34936969}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is the most abundant mineral nutrient required by plants, and crop productivity depends heavily on N fertilization in many soils. Production and application of N fertilizers consume huge amounts of energy and substantially increase the costs of agricultural production. Excess N compounds released from agricultural systems are also detrimental to the environment. Thus, increasing plant N uptake efficiency is essential for the development of sustainable agriculture. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are beneficial symbionts of most terrestrial plants that facilitate plant nutrient uptake and increase host resistance to diverse environmental stresses. AM association is an endosymbiotic process that relies on the differentiation of both host plant roots and AM fungi to create novel contact interfaces within the cells of plant roots. AM plants have two pathways for nutrient uptake: either direct uptake via the root hairs and root epidermis, or indirectly through AM fungal hyphae into root cortical cells. Over the last few years, great progress has been made in deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the AM-mediated modulation of nutrient uptake processes, and a growing number of fungal and plant genes responsible for the uptake of nutrients from soil or transfer across the fungi-root interface have been identified. Here, we mainly summarize the recent advances in N uptake, assimilation, and translocation in AM symbiosis, and also discuss how N interplays with C and P in modulating AM development, as well as the synergies between AM fungi and soil microbial communities in N uptake.}, } @article {pmid34936156, year = {2022}, author = {Suescún-Bolívar, LP and Thomé, PE}, title = {The specific inhibition of glycerol synthesis and the phosphorylation of a putative Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase give insight into the mechanism of osmotic sensing in a dinoflagellate symbiont.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {2}, pages = {e12883}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12883}, pmid = {34936156}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Glycerol ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Signaling pathways are fundamental for the establishment and maintenance of diverse symbioses. The symbiosis of cnidarians and dinoflagellate algae is the foundation for the ecological success of coral reefs, involving the transfer of photosynthetic products from the symbiont to host. However, signal transduction pathways for this symbiosis remain uncharacterized. Cultured and natural cnidarian symbionts can produce glycerol, one of the main translocated photosynthates. Here, we investigate whether a signal transduction pathway may be involved in inducing glycerol synthesis in cultured symbionts under an osmotic stress model. We evaluated the effect of specific inhibitors of the main transduction pathways, p38, JNK, and ERK 1/2 in Brevolium minutum, the symbiont of the Aiptasia model system. We found that glycerol production and the specific activity of the enzyme Gpdh were selectively inhibited by a p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) inhibitor. Additionally, the phosphorylation of a putative p38-like protein was rapidly detected. Finally, we studied the presence of each of the components of the p38 MAPK pathway in silico in genomes and transcriptomes reported up to date for different symbiont types. We propose a model for the arrangement of this pathway in the family of dinoflagellate symbionts known as Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid34936038, year = {2021}, author = {Li, H and Wei, Y and Yuan, G and Guan, R}, title = {Insight into maize gene expression profiles responses to symbiotic bacteria derived from Helicoverpa armigera and Ostrinia furnacalis.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {56}, pmid = {34936038}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Larva ; *Moths/genetics ; Transcriptome ; *Zea mays/genetics ; }, abstract = {The insects of Ostrinia furnacalis and Helicoverpa armigera are the two main pests that affect maize growth, which significantly decrease the yield. Plants induce various immune-related pathways to antagonize insect feeding during insect-plant interactions. Moreover, different insect elicitors or effectors participate in the interactions via releasing into plants. While there are many bacteria during insect regurgitation, their roles in insect-plant interaction are unknown. In this study, four bacterial strains were isolated from regurgitation fluid of O. furnacalis and H. armigera, and their cultures were inoculated on maize leaves for response analysis. All the four bacterial strains altered gene expression profiles in maize, and these altered expression profiles included phytohormones, secondary metabolic pathways, transcription factors, MAPK, and plant-pathogen interaction-related genes. A total of 210 genes, such as WRKY54, WRKY62, PIF5, argonaute 1, Xa21, NRR, ubiquitin-proteasome system genes, were co-changed in response to bacterial inoculation. These changes were similar with maize gene profile changes after insect feeding. Symbiotic insect bacteria participate in insect-plant interactions by changing maize gene expression profiles, which might be used to develop anti-pest microbial agents by activating plant defense system with identified microbes. In future, understanding the roles of symbiotic insect bacteria on plant-insect interaction might provide a promising and novel strategy for pest biocontrol using microbes.}, } @article {pmid34936025, year = {2021}, author = {Vijayakumar, VR and Saravanan, K and Somasundaram, M and Jayaraj, R and Annamalai, P and Nooruddin, T and Dharumadurai, D}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of lichen-associated bacterial community profiling in Roccella montagnei.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {54}, pmid = {34936025}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; India ; *Lichens ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {A lichen is a composite organism formed of algae or cyanobacteria that live in a mutually advantageous symbiotic relationship with the filaments (hyphae) of fungus. Three lichen samples were obtained from diverse sites at a terrestrial habitat located in Coimbatore and coastal habitats located in Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu. Amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 regions were used for metagenomic study. Aside from the Next-Generation Sequencing data (NGS), distinct types of lichen microbiome profiles were clearly revealed. The bacterial diversity in the lichen genera of Roccella montagnei growing in coastal and terrestrial environments was further investigated using common and unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and the QIIME pipeline (1.9.1). Using similarity clustering, the heat map analysis depicts the abundance information of chosen OTUs as well as the similarity and difference between OTUs and lichen samples. Using multiple methods, the alpha and beta diversity analysis revealed that there were differences in all of the samples. However, UPGMA tree inference of comparable bacterial community in coastal habitat lichen samples compared to terrestrial habitat validates their evolutionary lineage. As a result, the bacterial population associated with corticolous lichen is dependent on geographic locations, growth substrate, and climatic circumstances of similar lichen genera produced in different habitats and tree substrates.}, } @article {pmid34935953, year = {2022}, author = {Ángel-Restrepo, M and Parra, PP and Ochoa-Ascencio, S and Fernández-Pavía, S and Vázquez-Marrufo, G and Equihua-Martínez, A and Barrientos-Priego, AF and Ploetz, RC and Konkol, JL and Saucedo-Carabez, JR and Gazis, R}, title = {First Look Into the Ambrosia Beetle-Fungus Symbiosis Present in Commercial Avocado Orchards in Michoacán, Mexico.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {51}, number = {2}, pages = {385-396}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvab142}, pmid = {34935953}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Mexico ; *Ophiostomatales ; *Persea ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most beetle-fungus symbioses do not represent a threat to agricultural and natural ecosystems; however, a few beetles are able to inoculate healthy hosts with disease-causing fungal symbionts. Here, we report the putative nutritional symbionts associated with five native species of ambrosia beetles colonizing commercial avocado trees in four locations in Michoacán. Knowing which beetles are present in the commercial orchards and the surrounding areas, as well as their fungal associates, is imperative for developing a realistic risk assessment and an effective monitoring system that allows for timely management actions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed five potentially new, previously undescribed species of Raffaelea, and three known species (R. arxi, R. brunnea, R. fusca). The genus Raffaelea was recovered from all the beetle species and across the different locations. Raffaelea lauricola (RL), which causes a deadly vascular fungal disease known as laurel wilt (LW) in Lauraceae species, including avocado, was not recovered. This study points to the imminent danger of native ambrosia beetles spreading RL if the pathogen is introduced to Mexico's avocado orchards or natural areas given that these beetles are associated with Raffaelea species and that lateral transfer of RL among ambrosia beetles in Florida suggests that the likelihood of this phenomenon increases when partners are phylogenetically close. Therefore, this study provides important information about the potential vectors of RL in Mexico and other avocado producing regions. Confirming beetle-fungal identities in these areas is especially important given the serious threat laurel wilt disease represents to the avocado industry in Mexico.}, } @article {pmid34935074, year = {2021}, author = {Shen, L and Liu, JJ and Liu, PX and An, MM and He, XW and Zhao, GZ}, title = {A non-symbiotic novel species, Rhizobium populisoli sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of Populus popularis.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {34935074}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Phospholipids/analysis ; Phylogeny ; *Populus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Strain XQZ8[T], isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a Populus popularis plant in China, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain XQZ8[T] was related to members of the genus Rhizobium and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Rhizobium smilacinae PTYR-5[T] (96.6%). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain XQZ8[T] and R. smilacinae PTYR-5[T] were 77.5% and 21.4%, respectively. TYGS whole-genome-based taxonomic and multi-locus sequence analyses of three concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD-recA-glnII) further indicated that strain XQZ8[T] was a new member of the genus Rhizobium. The major cellular fatty acids included summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c), summed feature 2 (C12:0 aldehyde/unknown 10.928), C16:0, and C19:0 cyclo ω8c. The major respiratory quinones were Q-9 and Q-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, an unidentified glycophospholipid, and three unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G + C content of the strain was 60.1 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, and genotypic characteristics, strain XQZ8[T] represents a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium populisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XQZ8[T] (= JCM 34442[T] = GDMCC 1.2201[T]).}, } @article {pmid34933923, year = {2022}, author = {Jeffers, CD and Frye, SA and Hoffman, JM}, title = {SNMMI Clinical Trials Network Research Series for Technologists: Clinical Research Primer-Regulatory Process, Part I: How and When Radiopharmaceuticals Can Be Used.}, journal = {Journal of nuclear medicine technology}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {2-9}, doi = {10.2967/jnmt.121.263499}, pmid = {34933923}, issn = {1535-5675}, mesh = {*Curriculum ; *Radiopharmaceuticals ; United States ; }, abstract = {CE credit: For CE credit, you can access the test for this article, as well as additional JNMT CE tests, online at https://www.snmmilearningcenter.org Complete the test online no later than March 2025. Your online test will be scored immediately. You may make 3 attempts to pass the test and must answer 75% of the questions correctly to receive Continuing Education Hour (CEH) credit. Credit amounts can be found in the SNMMI Learning Center Activity. SNMMI members will have their CEH credit added to their VOICE transcript automatically; nonmembers will be able to print out a CE certificate upon successfully completing the test. The online test is free to SNMMI members; nonmembers must pay $15.00 by credit card when logging onto the website to take the test.The radiopharmaceutical development and approval process in the United States has changed dramatically over the past decade with the emergence of several new and exciting diagnostic and therapeutic drugs. This impressive expansion is a direct result of the symbiotic relationship that exists between drug development, clinical research, and improved regulatory guidance. The correlative increase in clinical research has introduced diverse opportunities for newcomers in medical and scientific professions. Knowing how to successfully navigate the clinical research process can be challenging for a novice. The pathway is highly regulated and, with the addition of radiopharmaceuticals, may be confusing and daunting. Moreover, very little clinical research education and training is provided in the typical collegiate curricula for these new initiates. This article will familiarize the reader with the U.S. regulatory process by providing basic definitions and understanding of how and when radiopharmaceuticals can be used in clinical research, including those involving investigational new drug applications and radioactive drug research committees. A later article will expand the reader's clinical research knowledge by focusing on the identity and role of the institutional review board.}, } @article {pmid34933459, year = {2021}, author = {Li, ML and Jiao, J and Zhang, B and Shi, WT and Yu, WH and Tian, CF}, title = {Correction for Li et al., "Global Transcriptional Repression of Diguanylate Cyclases by MucR1 Is Essential for Sinorhizobium-Soybean Symbiosis".}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0336921}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.03369-21}, pmid = {34933459}, issn = {2150-7511}, } @article {pmid34933458, year = {2021}, author = {Bruner-Montero, G and Wood, M and Horn, HA and Gemperline, E and Li, L and Currie, CR}, title = {Symbiont-Mediated Protection of Acromyrmex Leaf-Cutter Ants from the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0188521}, pmid = {34933458}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {S10 RR029531/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI142720/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/chemistry/immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; Chemometrics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metarhizium/*physiology ; Pseudonocardia/chemistry/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many fungus-growing ants engage in a defensive symbiosis with antibiotic-producing ectosymbiotic bacteria in the genus Pseudonocardia, which help protect the ants' fungal mutualist from a specialized mycoparasite, Escovopsis. Here, using germfree ant rearing and experimental pathogen infection treatments, we evaluate if Acromyrmex ants derive higher immunity to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae from their Pseudonocardia symbionts. We further examine the ecological dynamics and defensive capacities of Pseudonocardia against M. anisopliae across seven different Acromyrmex species by controlling Pseudonocardia acquisition using ant-nonnative Pseudonocardia switches, in vitro challenges, and in situ mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). We show that Pseudonocardia protects the ants against M. anisopliae across different Acromyrmex species and appears to afford higher protection than metapleural gland (MG) secretions. Although Acromyrmex echinatior ants with nonnative Pseudonocardia symbionts receive protection from M. anisopliae regardless of the strain acquired compared with Pseudonocardia-free conditions, we find significant variation in the degree of protection conferred by different Pseudonocardia strains. Additionally, when ants were reared in Pseudonocardia-free conditions, some species exhibit more susceptibility to M. anisopliae than others, indicating that some ant species depend more on defensive symbionts than others. In vitro challenge experiments indicate that Pseudonocardia reduces Metarhizium conidiospore germination area. Our chemometric analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) reveals that Pseudonocardia-carrying ants produce more chemical signals than Pseudonocardia-free treatments, indicating that Pseudonocardia produces bioactive metabolites on the Acromyrmex cuticle. Our results indicate that Pseudonocardia can serve as a dual-purpose defensive symbiont, conferring increased immunity for both the obligate fungal mutualist and the ants themselves. IMPORTANCE In some plants and animals, beneficial microbes mediate host immune response against pathogens, including by serving as defensive symbionts that produce antimicrobial compounds. Defensive symbionts are known in several insects, including some leaf-cutter ants where antifungal-producing Actinobacteria help protect the fungal mutualist of the ants from specialized mycoparasites. In many defensive symbioses, the extent and specificity of defensive benefits received by the host are poorly understood. Here, using "aposymbiotic" rearing, symbiont switching experiments, and imaging mass spectrometry, we explore the ecological and chemical dynamics of the model defensive symbiosis between Acromyrmex ants and their defensive symbiotic bacterium Pseudonocardia. We show that the defensive symbiont not only protects the fungal crop of Acromyrmex but also provides protection from fungal pathogens that infect the ant workers themselves. Furthermore, we reveal that the increased immunity to pathogen infection differs among strains of defensive symbionts and that the degree of reliance on a defensive symbiont for protection varies across congeneric ant species. Taken together, our results suggest that Acromyrmex-associated Pseudonocardia have evolved broad antimicrobial defenses that promote strong immunity to diverse fungal pathogens within the ancient fungus-growing ant-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34933456, year = {2021}, author = {Smith, TE and Lee, M and Person, MD and Hesek, D and Mobashery, S and Moran, NA}, title = {Horizontal-Acquisition of a Promiscuous Peptidoglycan-Recycling Enzyme Enables Aphids To Influence Symbiont Cell Wall Metabolism.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0263621}, pmid = {34933456}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM131685/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM126706/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Buchnera/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Wall/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase/*genetics/metabolism ; Peptidoglycan/*biosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During evolution, enzymes can undergo shifts in preferred substrates or in catalytic activities. An intriguing question is how enzyme function changes following horizontal gene transfer, especially for bacterial genes that have moved to animal genomes. Some insects have acquired genes that encode enzymes for the biosynthesis of bacterial cell wall components and that appear to function to support or control their obligate endosymbiotic bacteria. In aphids, the bacterial endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola provides essential amino acids for aphid hosts but lacks most genes for remodeling of the bacterial cell wall. The aphid genome has acquired seven genes with putative functions in cell wall metabolism that are primarily expressed in the aphid cells harboring Buchnera. In analyses of aphid homogenates, we detected peptidoglycan (PGN) muropeptides indicative of the reactions of PGN hydrolases encoded by horizontally acquired aphid genes but not by Buchnera genes. We produced one such host enzyme, ApLdcA, and characterized its activity with both cell wall derived and synthetic PGN. Both ApLdcA and the homologous enzyme in Escherichia coli, which functions as an l,d-carboxypeptidase in the cytoplasmic PGN recycling pathway, exhibit turnover of PGN substrates containing stem pentapeptides and cross-linkages via l,d-endopeptidase activity, consistent with a potential role in cell wall remodeling. Our results suggest that ApLdcA derives its functions from the promiscuous activities of an ancestral LdcA enzyme, whose acquisition by the aphid genome may have enabled hosts to influence Buchnera cell wall metabolism as a means to control symbiont growth and division. IMPORTANCE Most enzymes are capable of performing biologically irrelevant side reactions. During evolution, promiscuous enzyme activities may acquire new biological roles, especially after horizontal gene transfer to new organisms. Pea aphids harbor obligate bacterial symbionts called Buchnera and encode horizontally acquired bacterial genes with putative roles in cell wall metabolism. Though Buchnera lacks cell wall endopeptidase genes, we found evidence of endopeptidase activity among peptidoglycan muropeptides purified from aphids. We characterized a multifunctional, aphid-encoded enzyme, ApLdcA, which displays l,d-endopeptidase activities considered promiscuous for the Escherichia coli homolog, for which these activities do not contribute to its native role in peptidoglycan recycling. These results exemplify the roles of enzyme promiscuity and horizontal gene transfer in enzyme evolution and demonstrate how aphids influence symbiont cell wall metabolism.}, } @article {pmid34932960, year = {2021}, author = {Gadd, GM}, title = {Fungal biomineralization.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {24}, pages = {R1557-R1563}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.041}, pmid = {34932960}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Biomineralization ; Fungi ; Metals ; Minerals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi are key organisms of the biosphere with major roles in organic-matter decomposition, element cycling, plant pathogenicity, and symbioses in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The vast majority exhibit a filamentous, branching growth form and are aerobic chemoorganotrophs that derive carbon and energy from organic substances, and are particularly associated with soil, the plant-root zone, and rock surfaces. It is now known that some fungi are lithotrophs, deriving energy from the oxidation of inorganic materials, whereas others are photoheterotrophs, deriving additional energy from light for organic matter utilization when oxygen is limited. This means that fungi are of much wider environmental significance than previously thought and explains their ubiquity in locations previously thought to be inimical to fungal existence, such as the deep subsurface and other anaerobic locations. In addition to such free-living species, fungi associated with photosynthetic partners are also of profound biosphere importance. For example, lichens, which are composed of a symbiotic association between a fungus and a phototrophic alga and/or cyanobacterium, are pioneer colonizers and bioweathering agents of rocks and minerals. Mycorrhizas are symbiotic, plant-root-associated fungi found to colonize the majority of plant genera, where they improve plant nutrition through solubilization of essential metals and phosphate from soil minerals. Biomineralization in the soil can also immobilize toxic metals in the vicinity of plant roots, thereby benefiting plant colonization and facilitating revegetation of contaminated habitats. Wherever fungi are found, transformation of metals and minerals is a key aspect of their activity, with biomineralization an important feature. Fungal biomineralization is an important facet of geomycology - namely the roles of fungi in geochemical and geophysical processes. This article seeks to highlight the concept of biomineralization as applied to fungi, the occurrence and significance of important fungal biominerals in natural and synthetic environments, and the applied potential of fungal biomineralization in nanobiotechnology.}, } @article {pmid34931906, year = {2022}, author = {Jain, M and Cai, L and Black, I and Azadi, P and Carlson, RW and Jones, KM and Gabriel, DW}, title = {'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'-Encoded BCP Peroxiredoxin Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Defense Signaling and Nitrosative Stress In Planta.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {257-273}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-21-0230-R}, pmid = {34931906}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins ; *Citrus/microbiology ; Cytochrome b Group ; Ferritins ; Liberibacter ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Nitrosative Stress ; Peroxiredoxins/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Rhizobiaceae/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria trigger a nitrosative and oxidative burst in both animals and plants during pathogen invasion. Liberibacter crescens strain BT-1 is a surrogate for functional genomic studies of the uncultured pathogenic 'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. that are associated with severe diseases such as citrus greening and potato zebra chip. Structural determination of L. crescens LPS revealed the presence of a very long chain fatty acid modification. L. crescens LPS pretreatment suppressed growth of Xanthomonas perforans on nonhost tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and X. citri subsp. citri on host orange (Citrus sinensis), confirming bioactivity of L. crescens LPS in activation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). L. crescens LPS elicited a rapid burst of nitric oxide (NO) in suspension cultured tobacco cells. Pharmacological inhibitor assays confirmed that arginine-utilizing NO synthase (NOS) activity was the primary source of NO generation elicited by L. crescens LPS. LPS treatment also resulted in biological markers of NO-mediated SAR activation, including an increase in the glutathione pool, callose deposition, and activation of the salicylic acid and azelaic acid (AzA) signaling networks. Transient expression of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' bacterioferritin comigratory protein (BCP) peroxiredoxin in tobacco compromised AzA signaling, a prerequisite for LPS-triggered SAR. Western blot analyses revealed that 'Ca. L. asiaticus' BCP peroxiredoxin prevented peroxynitrite-mediated tyrosine nitration in tobacco. 'Ca. L. asiaticus' BCP peroxiredoxin (i) attenuates NO-mediated SAR signaling and (ii) scavenges peroxynitrite radicals, which would facilitate repetitive cycles of 'Ca. L. asiaticus' acquisition and transmission by fecund psyllids throughout the limited flush period in citrus.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34931082, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, KH and Owens, JA and Saeedi, B and Cohen, CE and Bellissimo, MP and Naudin, C and Darby, T and Druzak, S and Maner-Smith, K and Orr, M and Hu, X and Fernandes, J and Camacho, MC and Hunter-Chang, S and VanInsberghe, D and Ma, C and Ganesh, T and Yeligar, SM and Uppal, K and Go, YM and Alvarez, JA and Vos, MB and Ziegler, TR and Woodworth, MH and Kraft, CS and Jones, RM and Ortlund, E and Neish, AS and Jones, DP}, title = {Microbial metabolite delta-valerobetaine is a diet-dependent obesogen.}, journal = {Nature metabolism}, volume = {3}, number = {12}, pages = {1694-1705}, pmid = {34931082}, issn = {2522-5812}, support = {K24 DK096574/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R00 AA021803/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD018006/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA026086/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R03 AG066559/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK125701/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES023485/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES019776/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK102851/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R03 DK117246/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U2C ES030163/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 HD089056/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; UH2 AI132345/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008602/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RC2 DK118619/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 ES031824/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adiposity ; Animals ; Diet, Western ; *Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver/metabolism ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Obesity/etiology/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; }, abstract = {Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders are linked to the intestinal microbiome. However, the causality of changes in the microbiome-host interaction affecting energy metabolism remains controversial. Here, we show the microbiome-derived metabolite δ-valerobetaine (VB) is a diet-dependent obesogen that is increased with phenotypic obesity and is correlated with visceral adipose tissue mass in humans. VB is absent in germ-free mice and their mitochondria but present in ex-germ-free conventionalized mice and their mitochondria. Mechanistic studies in vivo and in vitro show VB is produced by diverse bacterial species and inhibits mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation through decreasing cellular carnitine and mitochondrial long-chain acyl-coenzyme As. VB administration to germ-free and conventional mice increases visceral fat mass and exacerbates hepatic steatosis with a western diet but not control diet. Thus, VB provides a molecular target to understand and potentially manage microbiome-host symbiosis or dysbiosis in diet-dependent obesity.}, } @article {pmid34928162, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, H and Guo, Y and Zhang, Z and Mao, W and Shen, C and Xiong, W and Yao, Y and Zhao, X and Hu, Y and Zou, Z and Wu, J}, title = {Symbiotic Algae-Bacteria Dressing for Producing Hydrogen to Accelerate Diabetic Wound Healing.}, journal = {Nano letters}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {229-237}, doi = {10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c03693}, pmid = {34928162}, issn = {1530-6992}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bandages ; *Chlorella ; *Diabetes Mellitus ; *Diabetic Foot/therapy ; Hydrogels/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Hydrogen/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Wound Healing ; }, abstract = {Oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia or chronic inflammation can limit diabetic wound healing, resulting in diabetic foot ulcers. Hydrogen has the potential to act as an antioxidant and scavenge reactive oxygen species, thereby attenuating inflammation in these chronic wounds. However, most of the reported H2 delivery systems for wound healing, including hydrogen gas, hydrogen-rich water, and hydrogen-rich saline, are very short-lived for the low solubility of hydrogen gas. Here, we introduce a hydrogen-producing hydrogel made of living Chlorella and bacteria within a cell-impermeable casing that can continuously produce hydrogen for 60 h. This microbe-hydrogel system can selectively reduce highly toxic •OH and ONOO[-] species and reduce inflammation. Additional experiments indicated that the microbe-hydrogel dressing could promote cell proliferation and diabetic wound healing by almost 50% at day 3. The symbiotic algae-bacteria hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and reactive oxygen species scavenging features, indicating it has great promise for clinical use.}, } @article {pmid34927106, year = {2021}, author = {Lelapalli, S and Baskar, S and Jacob, SM and Paranthaman, S}, title = {Characterization of phosphate solubilizing plant growth promoting rhizobacterium Lysinibacillus pakistanensis strain PCPSMR15 isolated from Oryza sativa.}, journal = {Current research in microbial sciences}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {100080}, pmid = {34927106}, issn = {2666-5174}, abstract = {The rhizosphere soil is a source for a diversity of microorganisms which play a vital role in the enhancement of plant health through the mechanism of symbiotic interaction thereby influencing the plant growth. The present study aimed at isolating potential phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria from rice (Oryza sativa) crop for which, four different rhizosphere soil samples were collected from different locations of Tiruvallur district, India. Isolates were cultured on nutrient agar medium followed by serial dilutions and different colonies with morphological variations were isolated from each dilution. A total of 52 bacteria were isolated and maintained as pure cultures. Out of the 52 isolates, 16 strains showed phosphate solubilizing ability and amongst them, 4 were highly potential which were subjected to morphological and biochemical characterization. Phosphate solubilizing bacterial strains when assessed for their possible effect of their inoculation on the growth and development of mung bean seeds significantly enhanced the growth of the plants. Furthermore, the potential bacteria were analysed for Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) production, which was found to be directly proportional to the plant growth promotion. Upon the comparative analysis of the four potential isolates, PCPSMR15 exhibited remarkable plant growth promoting traits. A detailed biochemical and molecular analysis identified the promising strain PCPSMR15 as Lysinibacillus pakistanensis. The present study, thus signifies the strain, PCPSMR15 for exploration as an inoculant for improving soil fertility, enhancing phosphorus availability to plants and improved crop production and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid34925295, year = {2021}, author = {Fonseca, PLC and De-Paula, RB and Araújo, DS and Tomé, LMR and Mendes-Pereira, T and Rodrigues, WFC and Del-Bem, LE and Aguiar, ERGR and Góes-Neto, A}, title = {Global Characterization of Fungal Mitogenomes: New Insights on Genomic Diversity and Dynamism of Coding Genes and Accessory Elements.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {787283}, pmid = {34925295}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fungi comprise a great diversity of species with distinct ecological functions and lifestyles. Similar to other eukaryotes, fungi rely on interactions with prokaryotes and one of the most important symbiotic events was the acquisition of mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles found in eukaryotic cells whose main function is to generate energy through aerobic respiration. Mitogenomes (mtDNAs) are double-stranded circular or linear DNA from mitochondria that may contain core genes and accessory elements that can be replicated, transcribed, and independently translated from the nuclear genome. Despite their importance, investigative studies on the diversity of fungal mitogenomes are scarce. Herein, we have evaluated 788 curated fungal mitogenomes available at NCBI database to assess discrepancies and similarities among them and to better understand the mechanisms involved in fungal mtDNAs variability. From a total of 12 fungal phyla, four do not have any representative with available mitogenomes, which highlights the underrepresentation of some groups in the current available data. We selected representative and non-redundant mitogenomes based on the threshold of 90% similarity, eliminating 81 mtDNAs. Comparative analyses revealed considerable size variability of mtDNAs with a difference of up to 260 kb in length. Furthermore, variation in mitogenome length and genomic composition are generally related to the number and length of accessory elements (introns, HEGs, and uORFs). We identified an overall average of 8.0 (0-39) introns, 8.0 (0-100) HEGs, and 8.2 (0-102) uORFs per genome, with high variation among phyla. Even though the length of the core protein-coding genes is considerably conserved, approximately 36.3% of the mitogenomes evaluated have at least one of the 14 core coding genes absent. Also, our results revealed that there is not even a single gene shared among all mitogenomes. Other unusual genes in mitogenomes were also detected in many mitogenomes, such as dpo and rpo, and displayed diverse evolutionary histories. Altogether, the results presented in this study suggest that fungal mitogenomes are diverse, contain accessory elements and are absent of a conserved gene that can be used for the taxonomic classification of the Kingdom Fungi.}, } @article {pmid34925292, year = {2021}, author = {Larsen, OFA and van de Burgwal, LHM}, title = {On the Verge of a Catastrophic Collapse? The Need for a Multi-Ecosystem Approach to Microbiome Studies.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {784797}, pmid = {34925292}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {While the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased focus on pathogenic microbes that cross the animal-human species barrier, calls to include non-pathogenic interactions in our perspective on public health are gaining traction in the academic community. Over generations, the diversity of the human gut microbiota is being challenged by external perturbations and reduced acquisition of symbiotic species throughout life. When such reduced diversity concerns not only the microbial species, but also the higher taxonomic levels and even the guild level, adequate compensation for possible losses may be lacking. Shifts from a high-abundance to a low-abundance state, known as a tipping point, may result in simultaneous shifts in covarying taxa and ultimately to a catastrophic collapse in which the ecosystem abruptly and possibly irreversibly shifts to an alternative state. Here, we propose that co-occurrence patterns within and between microbial communities across human, animal, soil, water, and other environmental domains should be studied in light of such critical transitions. Improved mechanistic understanding of factors that shape structure and function is needed to understand whether interventions can sustainably remodel disease-prone microbiota compositions to robust and resilient healthy microbiota. Prerequisites for a rational approach are a better understanding of the microbial interaction network, both within and inter-domain, as well as the identification of early warning signs for a catastrophic collapse, warranting a timely response for intervention. We should not forget that mutualism and pathogenicity are two sides of the same coin. Building upon the planetary health concept, we argue that microbiome research should include system level approaches to conserve ecosystem resilience. HIGHLIGHTS 1. Non-pathogenic interactions between ecosystems play a key role in maintaining health. 2. The human gut microbiome may be on the verge of a catastrophic collapse. 3. Research should identify keystone taxa and guilds that interconnect different domains. 4. We should not forget that mutualism and pathogenicity are two sides of the same coin.}, } @article {pmid34925265, year = {2021}, author = {von Cräutlein, M and Helander, M and Korpelainen, H and Leinonen, PH and Vázquez de Aldana, BR and Young, CA and Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Genetic Diversity of the Symbiotic Fungus Epichloë festucae in Naturally Occurring Host Grass Populations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {756991}, pmid = {34925265}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Epichloë festucae is a common symbiont of the perennial and widely distributed cool season grass, Festuca rubra. The symbiosis is highly integrated involving systemic growth of the fungus throughout above-ground host parts and vertical transmission from plant to its offspring via host seeds. However, the nature of symbiosis is labile ranging from antagonistic to mutualistic depending on prevailing selection pressures. Both the loss of fungus in the maternal host lineage and horizontal transmission through sexual spores within the host population may partly explain the detected variation in symbiosis in wild grass populations. Epichloë species are commonly considered as pathogens when they produce sexual spores and partly castrate their host plant. This is the pathogenic end of the continuum from antagonistic to mutualistic interactions. Here we examined the population genetic structure of E. festucae to reveal the gene flow, importance of reproduction modes, and alkaloid potential of the symbiotic fungus in Europe. Epichloë-species are highly dependent on the host in survival and reproduction whilst benefits to the host are largely linked to defensive mutualism attributable to fungal-origin bioactive alkaloids that negatively affect vertebrate and/or invertebrate herbivores. We detected decreased genetic diversity in previously glaciated areas compared to non-glaciated regions during the last glacial maximum period and found three major genetic clusters in E. festucae populations: southern, northeastern and northwestern Europe. Sexual reproduction may have a higher role than expected in Spanish E. festucae populations due to the predominance of unique genotypes and presence of both mating types in the region. In contrast, asexual reproduction via host seeds predominates in the Faroe Island and Finland in northern Europe due to the presence of biased mating-type ratios and large dominant genotypes in the E. festucae populations within the region. A substantially larger variation of alkaloid genotypes was observed in the fungal populations than expected, although the variability of the alkaloid genotypes within populations is considerably lower in northern than Spanish populations in southern Europe. E. festucae populations consist of different combinations of alkaloid classes from the gene clusters of ergot alkaloid and indole-terpenes, and from pyrrolopyrazine alkaloid gene. We suggest that the postglacial distribution history of the host grass, prevailing reproduction strategies of E. festucae, and local selection pressures likely explain a large part of the genetic variation observed in fungal populations among geographic regions. The identified alkaloid genotypes can be used by turfgrass breeders to improve resistance against herbivores in red fescue varieties and to develop new sustainable cultivars in Europe.}, } @article {pmid34925263, year = {2021}, author = {Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and D'Angelo, T and Gueddou, A and Ghazouani, S and Gtari, M and Tisa, LS}, title = {Alone Yet Not Alone: Frankia Lives Under the Same Roof With Other Bacteria in Actinorhizal Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {749760}, pmid = {34925263}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants host mutualistic symbionts of the nitrogen-fixing actinobacterial genus Frankia within nodule structures formed on their roots. Several plant-growth-promoting bacteria have also been isolated from actinorhizal root nodules, but little is known about them. We were interested investigating the in planta microbial community composition of actinorhizal root nodules using culture-independent techniques. To address this knowledge gap, 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on DNA from the nodules of Casuarina glauca. DNA was extracted from C. glauca nodules collected in three different sampling sites in Tunisia, along a gradient of aridity ranging from humid to arid. Sequencing libraries were prepared using Illumina NextEra technology and the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Genome bins extracted from the metagenome were taxonomically and functionally profiled. Community structure based off preliminary 16S rRNA gene amplicon data was analyzed via the QIIME pipeline. Reconstructed genomes were comprised of members of Frankia, Micromonospora, Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Phyllobacterium, and Afipia. Frankia dominated the nodule community at the humid sampling site, while the absolute and relative prevalence of Frankia decreased at the semi-arid and arid sampling locations. Actinorhizal plants harbor similar non-Frankia plant-growth-promoting-bacteria as legumes and other plants. The data suggests that the prevalence of Frankia in the nodule community is influenced by environmental factors, with being less abundant under more arid environments.}, } @article {pmid34925249, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, Y and Ma, B and Chen, W and Schlaeppi, K and Erb, M and Stirling, E and Hu, L and Wang, E and Zhang, Y and Zhao, K and Lu, Z and Ye, S and Xu, J}, title = {Rhizobium Symbiotic Capacity Shapes Root-Associated Microbiomes in Soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {709012}, pmid = {34925249}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Root-microbiome interactions are of central importance for plant performance and yield. A distinctive feature of legumes is that they engage in symbiosis with N2-fixing rhizobia. If and how the rhizobial symbiotic capacity modulates root-associated microbiomes are still not yet well understood. We determined root-associated microbiomes of soybean inoculated with wild type (WT) or a noeI mutant of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 by amplicon sequencing. UPLC-MS/MS was used to analyze root exudates. The noeI gene is responsible for fucose-methylation of Nod factor secreted by USDA 110 WT strain. Soybean roots inoculated with the noeI mutant showed a significant decrease in nodulation and root-flavonoid exudation compared to roots inoculated with WT strain. The noeI mutant-inoculated roots exhibited strong changes in microbiome assembly in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane, including reduced diversity, changed co-occurrence interactions and a substantial depletion of root microbes. Root exudates and soil physiochemical properties were significantly correlated with microbial community shift in the rhizosphere between different rhizobial treatments. These results illustrate that rhizobial symbiotic capacity dramatically alters root-associated microbiomes, in which root exudation and edaphic patterns play a vital role. This study has important implications for understanding the evolution of plant-microbiome interactions.}, } @article {pmid34925070, year = {2021}, author = {Marinelli, I and Fletcher, PA and Sherman, AS and Satin, LS and Bertram, R}, title = {Symbiosis of Electrical and Metabolic Oscillations in Pancreatic β-Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {781581}, pmid = {34925070}, issn = {1664-042X}, support = {R01 DK046409/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Insulin is secreted in a pulsatile pattern, with important physiological ramifications. In pancreatic β-cells, which are the cells that synthesize insulin, insulin exocytosis is elicited by pulses of elevated intracellular Ca[2+] initiated by bursts of electrical activity. In parallel with these electrical and Ca[2+] oscillations are oscillations in metabolism, and the periods of all of these oscillatory processes are similar. A key question that remains unresolved is whether the electrical oscillations are responsible for the metabolic oscillations via the effects of Ca[2+], or whether the metabolic oscillations are responsible for the electrical oscillations due to the effects of ATP on ATP-sensitive ion channels? Mathematical modeling is a useful tool for addressing this and related questions as modeling can aid in the design of well-focused experiments that can test the predictions of particular models and subsequently be used to improve the models in an iterative fashion. In this article, we discuss a recent mathematical model, the Integrated Oscillator Model (IOM), that was the product of many years of development. We use the model to demonstrate that the relationship between calcium and metabolism in beta cells is symbiotic: in some contexts, the electrical oscillations drive the metabolic oscillations, while in other contexts it is the opposite. We provide new insights regarding these results and illustrate that what might at first appear to be contradictory data are actually compatible when viewed holistically with the IOM.}, } @article {pmid34923700, year = {2021}, author = {Verhage, L}, title = {It takes three to tango: an endobacterium plays a role in mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {108}, number = {6}, pages = {1545-1546}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15622}, pmid = {34923700}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobiaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid34923651, year = {2022}, author = {Abdulsalam, O and Ueberschaar, N and Krause, K and Kothe, E}, title = {Geosmin synthase ges1 knock-down by siRNA in the dikaryotic fungus Tricholoma vaccinum.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {2}, pages = {109-115}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202100564}, pmid = {34923651}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Agaricales ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Naphthols ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; *Tricholoma ; }, abstract = {Genetic manipulation for generating knock-out experiments is essential in deciphering the precise function of a gene. However, dikaryotic fungi pose the inherent challenge of having two allelic versions of each gene, one in each nucleus. In addition, they often are slow-growing and do not withstand protoplasting, which is why Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation has been adapted. To obtain knock-out strains, however, is not feasible with a mere deletion construct transformation and screening for deletions in both nuclear copies. Hence, a convenient method using chemically synthesized dicer substrate interfering RNA (DsiRNA) for posttranscriptional interference of targeted mRNA was developed, based on the fungal dicer/argonaute system inherent in fungi for sequence recognition and degradation. A proof-of-principle using this newly established method for knock-down of the volatile geosmin is presented in the dikaryotic fungus Tricholoma vaccinum that is forming ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with spruce trees. The gene ges1, a terpene synthase, was transcribed with a 50-fold reduction in transcript levels in the knockdown strain. The volatile geosmin was slightly reduced, but not absent in the fungus carrying the knockdown construct pointing at low specificity in other terpene synthases known for that class of enzymes.}, } @article {pmid34923261, year = {2022}, author = {Kyozuka, J and Nomura, T and Shimamura, M}, title = {Origins and evolution of the dual functions of strigolactones as rhizosphere signaling molecules and plant hormones.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {102154}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102154}, pmid = {34923261}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Lactones ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) play roles as a class of plant hormones and rhizosphere signaling chemicals that induce hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and seed germination of parasitic plants. Therefore, SLs have dual functions. Recent progress in genome sequencing and genetic studies of bryophytes and algae has begun to shed light on the origin and evolution of these two functions of SLs.}, } @article {pmid34921886, year = {2022}, author = {Marangoni, LFB and Beraud, E and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Polystyrene nanoplastics impair the photosynthetic capacities of Symbiodiniaceae and promote coral bleaching.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {815}, number = {}, pages = {152136}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152136}, pmid = {34921886}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Bleaching ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Microplastics ; Plastics ; Polystyrenes ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals are increasingly threatened by global and regional stresses, which affect the stability of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae association. Among them, plastic pollution has been an ongoing and growing concern. Whereas several studies have highlighted the detrimental impact of microplastics (0.1 μm-5 mm) on corals and their symbiotic dinoflagellate algae, the physiological changes induced by nanoplastic (NP, <0.1 μm) pollution are still poorly known. Long-term experiments (4 weeks) were conducted to investigate the effects of ecologically relevant NP concentrations (0 to 0.5 mg/L of 20 nm polystyrene NPs) on two Symbiodiniaceae in culture [CCMP2467 or Clade A1 and pd44b or Clade F1]. The effects of 0.5 mg/L NPs were also evaluated on Clade A1 living in symbiosis with the coral Stylophora pistillata, to assess the in hospite effects of NPs on coral symbionts. The photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II, the oxidative status of the Symbiodiniaceae and the coral host, as well as the host-symbiont stability were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Symbiodiniaceae in culture exhibited a significant decrease in the maximal electron transport rate (ETRmax) at NP concentrations as low as 0.005 mg/L, highlighting an impairment of the photosynthetic capacities of the dinoflagellates in presence of nanoplastics. Also, Clade A1 exhibited a significant decrease in its Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and an increase in Lipid Peroxidation (LPO), which evidence oxidative stress and cellular damage. Interestingly, Clade A1 in hospite did not show any signs of oxidative stress, however, the coral host exhibited increased TAC and LPO. Additionally, exposure of S. pistillata to 0.5 mg/L NPs induced significant bleaching (loss of symbionts and photosynthetic pigments). Overall, NPs were detrimental for both the Symbiodiniaceae in culture and the host-symbiont association. In the future, the persistence of reef corals may be severely impacted by the cumulative effects of nanoplastic pollution along with global warming.}, } @article {pmid34919672, year = {2022}, author = {Bahram, M and Netherway, T}, title = {Fungi as mediators linking organisms and ecosystems.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {34919672}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Fungi form a major and diverse component of most ecosystems on Earth. They are both micro and macroorganisms with high and varying functional diversity as well as great variation in dispersal modes. With our growing knowledge of microbial biogeography, it has become increasingly clear that fungal assembly patterns and processes differ from other microorganisms such as bacteria, but also from macroorganisms such as plants. The success of fungi as organisms and their influence on the environment lies in their ability to span multiple dimensions of time, space, and biological interactions, that is not rivalled by other organism groups. There is also growing evidence that fungi mediate links between different organisms and ecosystems, with the potential to affect the macroecology and evolution of those organisms. This suggests that fungal interactions are an ecological driving force, interconnecting different levels of biological and ecological organisation of their hosts, competitors, and antagonists with the environment and ecosystem functioning. Here we review these emerging lines of evidence by focusing on the dynamics of fungal interactions with other organism groups across various ecosystems. We conclude that the mediating role of fungi through their complex and dynamic ecological interactions underlie their importance and ubiquity across Earth's ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34918344, year = {2022}, author = {Vandhana, TM and Reyre, JL and Sushmaa, D and Berrin, JG and Bissaro, B and Madhuprakash, J}, title = {On the expansion of biological functions of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {6}, pages = {2380-2396}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17921}, pmid = {34918344}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cellulose/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism ; *Mixed Function Oxygenases/metabolism ; *Polysaccharides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) constitute an enigmatic class of enzymes, the discovery of which has opened up a new arena of riveting research. LPMOs can oxidatively cleave the glycosidic bonds found in carbohydrate polymers enabling the depolymerisation of recalcitrant biomasses, such as cellulose or chitin. While most studies have so far mainly explored the role of LPMOs in a (plant) biomass conversion context, alternative roles and paradigms begin to emerge. In the present review, we propose a historical perspective of LPMO research providing a succinct overview of the major achievements of LPMO research over the past decade. This journey through LPMOs landscape leads us to dive into the emerging biological functions of LPMOs and LPMO-like proteins. We notably highlight roles in fungal and oomycete plant pathogenesis (e.g. potato late blight), but also in mutualistic/commensalism symbiosis (e.g. ectomycorrhizae). We further present the potential importance of LPMOs in other microbial pathogenesis including diseases caused by bacteria (e.g. pneumonia), fungi (e.g. human meningitis), oomycetes and viruses (e.g. entomopox), as well as in (micro)organism development (including several plant pests). Our assessment of the literature leads to the formulation of outstanding questions, promising for the coming years exciting research and discoveries on these moonlighting proteins.}, } @article {pmid34917705, year = {2021}, author = {Tayyrov, A and Schnyder, M}, title = {Microbiome dataset of the cardiopulmonary nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {107648}, pmid = {34917705}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Angiostrongylus vasorum is an emerging parasitic nematode of dogs, red foxes, and other wild canids. The severity of infection in dogs ranges from subclinical to fatal cardiopulmonary and bleeding disorders collectively known as canine angiostrongylosis. A symbiotic relationship between microorganisms such as bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts is commonly observed in nature. The mutualistic role of bacteria has been documented in plant-parasitic nematodes, gastrointestinal nematodes, and filarial nematodes. The importance of the bacteria for the survival of these parasites has been demonstrated with antibiotic treatments. To characterize associated bacteria of adult A. vasorum parasites, 36 individual worm samples were used. The worms were extracted from foxes hunted either in the city or in the rural regions within the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. DNA was isolated and the V3/V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified. Sequenced Illumina MiSeq reads were analysed using QIIME2. The data were used to profile the abundance and diversity of microbial communities in worms originating from either rural or urban foxes.}, } @article {pmid34916613, year = {2022}, author = {Yuan, Z and Wu, Q and Xu, L and Druzhinina, IS and Stukenbrock, EH and Nieuwenhuis, BPS and Zhong, Z and Liu, ZJ and Wang, X and Cai, F and Kubicek, CP and Shan, X and Wang, J and Shi, G and Peng, L and Martin, FM}, title = {Genomic landscape of a relict fir-associated fungus reveals rapid convergent adaptation towards endophytism.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {1294-1305}, pmid = {34916613}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Endophytes ; *Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; *Genomics ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Comparative and pan-genomic analyses of the endophytic fungus Pezicula neosporulosa (Helotiales, Ascomycota) from needles of the relict fir, Abies beshanzuensis, showed expansions of carbohydrate metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes characteristic for unrelated plant-beneficial helotialean, such as dark septate endophytes and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. The current species within the relatively young Pliocene genus Pezicula are predominantly saprotrophic, while P. neosporulosa lacks such features. To understand the genomic background of this putatively convergent evolution, we performed population analyses of 77 P. neosporulosa isolates. This revealed a mosaic structure of a dozen non-recombining and highly genetically polymorphic subpopulations with a unique mating system structure. We found that one idiomorph of a probably duplicated mat1-2 gene was found in putatively heterothallic isolates, while the other co-occurred with mat1-1 locus suggesting homothallic reproduction for these strains. Moreover, 24 and 81 genes implicated in plant cell-wall degradation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, respectively, showed signatures of the balancing selection. These findings highlight the evolutionary pattern of the two gene families for allowing the fungus a rapid adaptation towards endophytism and facilitating diverse symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid34915391, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, B and Kuang, S and Shao, H and Cheng, F and Wang, H}, title = {Improving soil fertility by driving microbial community changes in saline soils of Yellow River Delta under petroleum pollution.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {304}, number = {}, pages = {114265}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114265}, pmid = {34915391}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Microbiota ; *Petroleum ; *Petroleum Pollution ; Rivers ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants ; }, abstract = {It is promising to use indigenous microorganisms for fertility improvement in petroleum-contaminated coastal soil. As a result, the microbial community and physicochemical property are the base for the restoration. For the detailed information, the Phragmites Communis (P), Chinese Tamarisk (C), Suaeda salsa (S), and new Bare Land (B) soil of Yellow River Delta was 90 g in 100 mL sterile bottles simulated at 25 °C with soil: petroleum = 10:1 in the incubator for four months. The samples were detected at 60 and 120 days along with untreated soil and aged Oil Sludge (O) as control. The results showed that all the samples were alkaline (pH 7.99-8.83), which the salinity and NO3[-] content of incubate soil followed the in situ samples as P (1.09-1.72‰, 8.02-8.17 mg kg[-1]), C (10.61-13.79‰, 5.99-6.07 mg kg[-1]), S (10.19-12.43‰, 3.64-4.22 mg kg[-1]), B (31.85-32.45‰, 3.56-3.72 mg kg[-1]) and O (31.61-34.30‰, 0.89-0.90 mg kg[-1]). NO3[-] and organic carbon decreased after incubation, which the polluted samples (86.63-92.63 g kg[-1]) still had higher organic carbon than untreated ones with more NH4[+] consumption. The high-throughput sequence results showed that the Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria were dominant in all samples, while sulfate reducting bacteria Alphaproteobacteria decreased at 120 days. Meanwhile, the electroactive Gammaproteobacteria might symbiosis with Methanosaetaceae and Methanosarcinaceae, degrading petroleum after electron receptors depletion. Nitrososphaeraceae and Nitrosopumilaceae oxidise NH4[+] to NO2[-] for intra-aerobic anaerobes and denitrifying bacteria producing oxygen for biodegradation in polluted Phragmites Communis soil. The halotolerant Halomicrobiaceae and Haloferacaceae predominated in saline Chinese Tamarisk, Suaeda Salsa and Bare Land, which were potential electroactive degradater. As the ageing sludge formed, the hydrogen trophic methanogens Methanothermobacteraceae (73.90-92.72%) was prevalent with the petroleum pollution. In conclusion, petroleum initiated two-phase in the sludge forming progress: electron acceptor consumption and electron transfer between degradater and methanogens. Based on the results, the domestic sewage N, P removal coupling and electron transport will be the basement for polluted soils fertility improvement.}, } @article {pmid34915224, year = {2022}, author = {Zhou, Z and Ni, X and Wu, Z and Tang, J}, title = {Physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal the threat of herbicides glufosinate and glyphosate to the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {229}, number = {}, pages = {113074}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113074}, pmid = {34915224}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Aminobutyrates ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Glycine/analogs & derivatives ; *Herbicides/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The amino acid metabolism-related herbicides glufosinate and glyphosate are used worldwide and have flowed into the oceans, threatening the marine organisms. In the present study, physiological activities and transcriptomic profiles of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis and symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae were determined during a 48 h-exposure to the two herbicides with the final concentration of 10 μmol L[-1]. Coral samples were collected at 0, 12, 24, and 48 h after exposure to determine symbiont density, chlorophyll content, as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and phenoloxidase (PO), and the caspase-3 levels, and the samples collected at 24 h were employed in the transcriptomic analysis. Specifically, the symbiont densities did not change significantly in response to the two herbicides, while the chlorophyll content increased significantly at 24 h post glufosinate exposure. SOD and CAT activities in the coral host increased significantly at 12 h after glufosinate and glyphosate exposure, while the activity of NOS in symbionts decreased significantly at 48 h after glufosinate exposure. Caspase-3 levels in the coral host declined significantly at 24 h after exposure to the two herbicides. In the transcriptomic analysis, glufosinate triggered the expression of genes related to the response to stimuli and immunoregulation in the coral host, and suppressed the expression of genes related to coral nitrogen-related metabolism, symbiont cell cycle, and response to nutrient levels. Furthermore, glyphosate activated the expression of genes involved in coral calcification and symbiont nutrient export and suppressed the expression of genes involved in coral meiosis and symbiont cell communication. These results suggest that although the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis is not disrupted, short-term glufosinate and glyphosate exposures alter several essential physiological processes including metabolism, calcification, and meiosis in the coral host, as well as the cell cycle and nutrient export in the symbiont. SUMMARY: Glufosinate and glyphosate herbicide exposures can disturb several essential physiological processes, including metabolism, calcification, and meiosis in the coral host as well as the cell cycle and nutrient export in the symbiont, threating the survival of scleractinian corals.}, } @article {pmid34913995, year = {2022}, author = {Chakraborty, K and Kizhakkekalam, VK and Joy, M and Chakraborty, RD}, title = {Bacillibactin class of siderophore antibiotics from a marine symbiotic Bacillus as promising antibacterial agents.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {106}, number = {1}, pages = {329-340}, pmid = {34913995}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Bacillus ; *Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Oligopeptides ; Siderophores ; }, abstract = {Preliminary antibacterial metabolite production screening unveiled that B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12,713 associated with the intertidal red alga Kappaphycus alverezii exhibited potential inhibitory effects against drug-resistant pathogens methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Four homologous siderophore types of bacillibactins were isolated from a heterotrophic marine bacterium through bioactivity-guided purification. All detectable natural product gene clusters in B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12,713 were analyzed by sequencing the complete genome of the bacterium. The studied compounds displayed broad spectrum bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant strains with a range of minimum inhibitory concentration values from 1.56 to 6.25 µg/mL, whereas standard antibiotic chloramphenicol was active at 6.25 to 12.5 µg/mL. Structure-bioactivity relationship assessment showed that higher electronic values were responsible for antibacterial properties against the nosocomial pathogens. The 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoate (dhb)-assisted biosynthetic pathway of catecholate-enclosed bacillibactins was proposed through the bacillibactin synthase multienzyme complex catalysis followed by dimerization of dhbACEBF operons with 16 genes (~ 12 kb bacterial genome). The present findings recognized an undescribed 4-methoxy-11'-pentanoyloxy-bacillibactin C as a source of potential antibacterial agent for use against drug-resistant pathogens for pharmaceutical applications. KEY POINTS: • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in association with Kappaphycus alverezii was isolated • Four antibacterial bacillibactin analogs were identified from symbiotic bacterium • 4-Methoxy-11'-pentanoyloxy-bacillibactin C showed potential antibacterial activity.}, } @article {pmid34913407, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, F and Liao, XF and Wang, LH and Bai, XX and Yang, YB and Luo, ZQ and Yan, FX}, title = {Isolation and identification of beneficial orchid mycorrhizal fungi in Paphiopedilum barbigerum (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {2005882}, pmid = {34913407}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Seedlings ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Seed germination and seedling development in nearly all orchid species rely on a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi; however, this is not the case with all mycorrhizal fungi. This study aims to provide an understanding about the important role of mycorrhiza in seed germination and growth of Paphiopedilum barbigerum. Therefore, we isolated and identified endophytic fungi from the roots of wild P. barbigerum. The beneficial mycorrhizal fungi Epulorhiza sp. FQXY019 and Tulasnella calospora FQXY017 were screened by seed symbiotic germination tests and found to promote seed germination. However, only the seeds inoculated with FQXY019 progressed from the seed germination to rooting stage. This shows that mycorrhizal fungi and P. barbigerum have a specific relation at different growth phases. In addition, we selected FQXY019 and inoculated it into MS medium, B5 medium, OMA medium, and PDA medium. The results showed that FQXY019 co-cultured on PDA significantly promoted the increase in seedling fresh weight, leaf length, and root length (p < .01). Furthermore, it significantly promoted the root number and leaf number of seedlings compared with those co-cultured on MS, B5, and OMA media and control (p < .05). Thus, this study demonstrated the promoting effect of Epulorhiza sp. FQXY019 on seed germination and seedling development, making it an alternative method for the artificial propagation of P. barbigerum.}, } @article {pmid34912312, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, H and Wei, TP and Li, LZ and Luo, MY and Jia, WY and Zeng, Y and Jiang, YL and Tao, GC}, title = {Multigene Phylogeny, Diversity and Antimicrobial Potential of Endophytic Sordariomycetes From Rosa roxburghii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {755919}, pmid = {34912312}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rosa roxburghii Tratt. is widely applied in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine, and has been demonstrated to possess diverse bioactivities. Plant endophytic fungi are important microbial resources with great potential for application in many fields. They not only establish mutualistic symbiosis with host plants but also produce a variety of bioactive compounds. Therefore, in the present study, endophytic fungi were isolated from R. roxburghii, the diversity and antimicrobial activities were evaluated. As a result, 242 strains of endophytic Sordariomycetes were successfully isolated. Multigene phylogenetic analyses showed that these isolates included eight orders, 19 families, 33 genera. The dominant genera were Diaporthe (31.4%), Fusarium (14.4%), Chaetomium (7.9%), Dactylonectria (7.0%), Graphium (4.5%), Colletotrichum (4.1%), and Clonostachys (4.1%). For different tissues of R. roxburghii, alpha diversity analysis revealed that the diversity of fungal communities decreased in the order of root, fruit, stem, flower, leaf, and seed, and Clonostachys and Dactylonectria exhibited obvious tissue specificity. Meanwhile, functional annotation of 33 genera indicated that some fungi have multitrophic lifestyles combining endophytic, pathogenic, and saprophytic behavior. Additionally, antimicrobial activities of endophytic Sordariomycetes against Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Colletotrichum capsici, Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Pseudomonas syringae, Pantoea agglomerans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were screened. Dual culture test assays showed that there were 40 different endophytic species with strong inhibition of at least one or moderate inhibition of two or more against the 12 tested strains. The results from the filter paper diffusion method suggested that extracellular metabolites may be more advantageous than intracellular metabolites in the development of antimicrobial agents. Eleven isolates with good activities were screened. In particular, Hypomontagnella monticulosa HGUP194009 and Nigrospora sphaerica HGUP191020 have shown promise in both broad-spectrum and intensity. Finally, some fungi that commonly cause disease have been observed to have beneficial biological activities as endophytic fungi. In conclusion, this study showed the species composition, alpha diversity, and lifestyle diversity of endophytic Sordariomycetes from R. roxburghii and demonstrated these isolates are potential sources for exploring antimicrobial agents.}, } @article {pmid34910772, year = {2021}, author = {Mitchell, LJ and Tettamanti, V and Rhodes, JS and Marshall, NJ and Cheney, KL and Cortesi, F}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of biallelic F0 anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) mutants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {e0261331}, pmid = {34910772}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; Fishes/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Editing/*methods ; Gene Frequency/genetics ; Genome/genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Zygote/transplantation ; }, abstract = {Genomic manipulation is a useful approach for elucidating the molecular pathways underlying aspects of development, physiology, and behaviour. However, a lack of gene-editing tools appropriated for use in reef fishes has meant the genetic underpinnings for many of their unique traits remain to be investigated. One iconic group of reef fishes ideal for applying this technique are anemonefishes (Amphiprioninae) as they are widely studied for their symbiosis with anemones, sequential hermaphroditism, complex social hierarchies, skin pattern development, and vision, and are raised relatively easily in aquaria. In this study, we developed a gene-editing protocol for applying the CRISPR/Cas9 system in the false clown anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris. Microinjection of zygotes was used to demonstrate the successful use of our CRISPR/Cas9 approach at two separate target sites: the rhodopsin-like 2B opsin encoding gene (RH2B) involved in vision, and Tyrosinase-producing gene (tyr) involved in the production of melanin. Analysis of the sequenced target gene regions in A. ocellaris embryos showed that uptake was as high as 73.3% of injected embryos. Further analysis of the subcloned mutant gene sequences combined with amplicon shotgun sequencing revealed that our approach had a 75% to 100% efficiency in producing biallelic mutations in F0 A. ocellaris embryos. Moreover, we clearly show a loss-of-function in tyr mutant embryos which exhibited typical hypomelanistic phenotypes. This protocol is intended as a useful starting point to further explore the potential application of CRISPR/Cas9 in A. ocellaris, as a platform for studying gene function in anemonefishes and other reef fishes.}, } @article {pmid34910305, year = {2022}, author = {Narayan, KS and Vorburger, C and Hafer-Hahmann, N}, title = {Bottom-up effect of host protective symbionts on parasitoid diversity: Limited evidence from two field experiments.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {3}, pages = {643-654}, pmid = {34910305}, issn = {1365-2656}, support = {21003A_181969/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; CRSII3_154396/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Protective symbionts can provide effective and specific protection to their hosts. This protection can differ between different symbiont strains with each strain providing protection against certain components of the parasite and pathogen community their host faces. Protective symbionts are especially well known from aphids where, among other functions, they provide protection against different parasitoid wasps. However, most of the evidence for this protection comes from laboratory experiments. Our aim was to understand how consistent protection is across different symbiont strains under natural field conditions and whether symbiont diversity enhanced the species diversity of colonizing parasitoids, as could be expected from the specificity of their protection. We used experimental colonies of the black bean aphid Aphis fabae to investigate symbiont-conferred protection under natural field conditions over two seasons. Colonies differed only in their symbiont composition, carrying either no symbionts, a single strain of the protective symbiont Hamiltonella defensa, or a mixture of three H. defensa strains. These aphid colonies were exposed to natural parasitoid communities in the field. Subsequently, we determined the parasitoids hatched from each aphid colony. The evidence for a protective effect of H. defensa was limited and inconsistent between years, and aphid colonies harbouring multiple symbiont strains did not support a more diverse parasitoid community. Instead, parasitoid diversity tended to be highest in the absence of H. defensa. Symbiont-conferred protection, although a strong and repeatable effect under laboratory conditions may not always cause the predicted bottom-up effects under natural conditions in the field.}, } @article {pmid34908500, year = {2021}, author = {Ren, Y and Che, X and Liang, J and Wang, S and Han, L and Liu, Z and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Brassinosteroids Benefit Plants Performance by Augmenting Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e0164521}, pmid = {34908500}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Eucalyptus ; Fungi/physiology ; Gibberellins ; Glomeromycota ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Peas/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Steroids, Heterocyclic ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) play an important role in improving plant growth and development. The interaction between phytohormones and AM symbiosis is gradually revealed. Here we examined the effect of Brassinosteroids (BR) on AM symbiosis and discussed the synergistic promotion of plant growth by BR and AM symbiosis. The xylophyta Eucalyptus grandis Hill (E. grandis) was inoculated with AM fungi Rhizoglomus irregularis R197198 (R. irregularis) and treated with different concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 nM) of 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) for 6 weeks. With the increase of 24-epiBL concentration, E. grandis growth was firstly promoted and then inhibited, but inoculation with AM fungi alleviated this inhibition. 24-epiBL and R. irregularis colonization significantly improved E. grandis growth and antioxidant system response, and the synergistic effect was the best. Compared with the control group, 24-epiBL treatment significantly increased the mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscular abundance of AM fungi R. irregular in E. grandis roots. The expression of AM symbiosis maker genes was significantly increased by 24-epiBL treatment. Both 24-epiBL treatment and AM colonization upregulated gibberellins (GA) synthesis genes, but no inhibition caused by GA levels was found. 24-epiBL is a kind of synthetic highly active BR. Based on the results of 24-epiBL treatment, we hypothesized that BR actively regulates AM symbiosis regulates AM symbiosis without affecting GA-INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1)-DELLA expression. The synergistic treatment of BR and AM symbiosis can significantly promote the growth and development of plants. IMPORTANCE Brassinosteroids (BR) and Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) symbiosis play an important role in improving plant growth and development. Previous studies have shown that there is a complex regulatory network between phytohormones and AM symbiosis. However, the interactions of BR-signaling and AM symbiosis are still poorly understood. Our results suggest that BR actively regulates the colonization and development of AM fungi, and AM fungal colonization can alleviate the inhibition of plant growth caused by excessive BR. In addition, BR actively regulates AM symbiosis, but does not primarily mediate gibberellins-DELLA interaction. The synergistic treatment of BR and AM symbiosis can significantly promote the growth and development of plants. The conclusions of this study provide a reference for phytohormones-AM symbiosis interaction.}, } @article {pmid34908451, year = {2021}, author = {Khaing, KK and Rangnoi, K and Michlits, H and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N and Tittabutr, P and Yamabhai, M}, title = {Application of Recombinant Human scFv Antibody as a Powerful Tool to Monitor Nitrogen Fixing Biofertilizer in Rice and Legume.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e0209421}, pmid = {34908451}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*chemistry/*physiology ; Cell Surface Display Techniques ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Humans ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Optical Imaging/*methods ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Single-Chain Antibodies/*analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium is an endophytic bacterium under investigation as an efficient biofertilizer for sustainable legume-rice rotational cropping system. Monitoring and bio-imaging of this nitrogen fixing bacterium is essential for the study of plant-microbe evolution, soil microbiome, as well as quality control in organic farming. While phage display antibody technology has been widely used to generate recombinant antibody for myriad medical purposes, so far, this technology has been minimally applied in the agricultural sector. In this study, single-chain variable fragments (scFv) against two Bradyrhizobium strains SUTN9-2 (yiN92-1e10) and DOA9 (yiDOA9-162) were isolated from a human phage display antibody library. Specific binding of scFv was demonstrated by ELISA and confocal-immunofluorescence imaging techniques. Bradyrhizobium localization in both endophytic and bacteroid forms could be observed inside rice tissue and plant nodule, respectively. Moreover, successful application of the recombinant antibody for the evaluation of nodule occupancy was also demonstrated in comparison with standard GUS-staining method. The results of this study showed for the first time the potential use of human phage display scFv antibody for imaging and monitoring of Bradyrhizobium biofertilizer and thus could be further applied for point-of-detection of bacterial inoculum in the legume-rice rotational crop system. IMPORTANCE Human scFv antibody generated from phage display technology was successfully used for the generation of specific recombinant antibodies: yiN92-1e10 and yiDOA9-162 for the detection of Bradyrhizobium strains SUTN9-2 and DOA9, respectively. These two recombinant scFv antibodies could be used for precise detection of the rhizobia both in symbiosis with legume and endophyte in rice tissue by ELISA and immunofluorescent staining, during legume-rice rotational cropping system in the field. This methodology can be further employed for the study of other plant-microbe interactions and monitoring of biofertilizer in diverse sustainable cropping systems as well as in precision agriculture.}, } @article {pmid34907298, year = {2021}, author = {Lyu, J}, title = {Lipid transfer enabled symbiosis and terrestrialization.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {1529}, pmid = {34907298}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid34904861, year = {2021}, author = {Dai, J and Mi, W and Wu, C and Song, H and Bao, Y and Zhang, M and Zhang, S and Fang, W}, title = {The Sugar Transporter MST1 Is Involved in Colonization of Rhizosphere and Rhizoplane by Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {e0127721}, pmid = {34904861}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {It is widely recognized that plant-symbiotic fungi are supported by photosynthates; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the utilization of plant-derived sugars by rhizospheric fungi. In the insect-pathogenic and plant-symbiotic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, we previously showed that the utilization of oligosaccharides by the transporter MRT (Metarhizium raffinose transporter) is important for rhizosphere competency. In this study, we identified a novel monosaccharide transporter (MST1) that is involved in the colonization of the rhizoplane and acts additively with MRT to colonize the rhizosphere. MST1 is not involved in infection of insects by M. robertsii. MST1 is an H[+] symporter and is able to transport a broad spectrum of monosaccharides, including glucose, sorbose, mannose, rhamnose, and fructose. Deletion of the Mst1 gene impaired germination and mycelial growth in medium containing the sugars that it can transport. Homologs of MST1 were widely found in many fungi, including plant symbionts such as Trichoderma spp. and mycorrhizal fungi and plant pathogens such as Fusarium spp. This work significantly advances insights into the development of symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi. IMPORTANCE Over 90% of all vascular plant species develop an intimate symbiosis with fungi, which has an enormous impact on terrestrial ecosystems. It is widely recognized that plant-symbiotic fungi are supported by photosynthates, but little is known about the mechanisms for fungi to utilize plant-derived carbon sources. In the fungus Metarhizium robertsii, we identified a novel monosaccharide transporter (MST1) that is an H[+] symporter and can transport a broad spectrum of monosaccharides, including glucose, sorbose, mannose, rhamnose, and fructose. MST1 is involved in the colonization of the rhizoplane and acts additively with the previously characterized oligosaccharide transporter MRT to colonize the rhizosphere. Homologs of MST1 were found in many fungi, including plant symbionts and plant pathogens, suggesting that the utilization of plant-derived sugars by MST1 homologs could also be important for other fungi to develop a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with their respective plant hosts.}, } @article {pmid34904658, year = {2022}, author = {Ramsay, JP and Bastholm, TR and Verdonk, CJ and Tambalo, DD and Sullivan, JT and Harold, LK and Panganiban, BA and Colombi, E and Perry, BJ and Jowsey, W and Morris, C and Hynes, MF and Bond, CS and Cameron, ADS and Yost, CK and Ronson, CW}, title = {An epigenetic switch activates bacterial quorum sensing and horizontal transfer of an integrative and conjugative element.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {975-988}, pmid = {34904658}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Conjugation, Genetic ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genomic Islands ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal transfer of the integrative and conjugative element ICEMlSymR7A converts non-symbiotic Mesorhizobium spp. into nitrogen-fixing legume symbionts. Here, we discover subpopulations of Mesorhizobium japonicum R7A become epigenetically primed for quorum-sensing (QS) and QS-activated horizontal transfer. Isolated populations in this state termed R7A* maintained these phenotypes in laboratory culture but did not transfer the R7A* state to recipients of ICEMlSymR7A following conjugation. We previously demonstrated ICEMlSymR7A transfer and QS are repressed by the antiactivator QseM in R7A populations and that the adjacently-coded DNA-binding protein QseC represses qseM transcription. Here RNA-sequencing revealed qseM expression was repressed in R7A* cells and that RNA antisense to qseC was abundant in R7A but not R7A*. Deletion of the antisense-qseC promoter converted cells into an R7A*-like state. An adjacently coded QseC2 protein bound two operator sites and repressed antisense-qseC transcription. Plasmid overexpression of QseC2 stimulated the R7A* state, which persisted following curing of this plasmid. The epigenetic maintenance of the R7A* state required ICEMlSymR7A-encoded copies of both qseC and qseC2. Therefore, QseC and QseC2, together with their DNA-binding sites and overlapping promoters, form a stable epigenetic switch that establishes binary control over qseM transcription and primes a subpopulation of R7A cells for QS and horizontal transfer.}, } @article {pmid34904518, year = {2021}, author = {Sisaphaithong, T and Yanase, M and Mano, T and Tanabe, S and Minami, E and Tanaka, A and Hata, S and Kobae, Y}, title = {Localized expression of the Dwarf14-like2a gene in rice roots on infection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and hydrolysis of rac-GR24 by the encoded protein.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {2009998}, pmid = {34904518}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Hydrolysis ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that control diverse aspects of the shoot and root growth and are exuded into the soil as recruitment signals for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. SL signaling in plants is transduced via the α/β-hydrolase receptor Dwarf14 (D14). The D14 family consists of D14, Dwarf14-like (D14L), and Dwarf14-like 2 (D14L2) clades in rice. The D14L receptor is known to condition pre-symbiotic perception of AM fungi. In this study, it was found that the Dwarf14-like2a (D14L2a) gene expression was significantly induced by AM fungal colonization. The transcript of D14L2a appeared not only in mature arbuscule-containing cells but also in epidermal/cortical cells at an early colonization stage and near the elongating intercellular hyphae. D14L2a transcript was detected normally in mycorrhizal roots of str1-2 mutant that form stunted arbuscules, suggesting that the gene expression is independent of arbuscule development. Moreover, the recombinant D14L2a protein exhibited hydrolase activity of synthetic SL, rac-GR24. Based on these results, we discussed the role of D14L2 in the establishment of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34903227, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, W and Zuo, C and Wang, C and Zhang, T and Lyu, L and Qiao, Y and Zhao, F and Miao, M}, title = {The hidden genomic diversity of ciliated protists revealed by single-cell genome sequencing.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {264}, pmid = {34903227}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; *Ciliophora/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genomics/methods ; Macronucleus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ciliated protists are a widely distributed, morphologically diverse, and genetically heterogeneous group of unicellular organisms, usually known for containing two types of nuclei: a transcribed polyploid macronucleus involved in gene expression and a silent diploid micronucleus responsible for transmission of genetic material during sexual reproduction and generation of the macronucleus. Although studies in a few species of culturable ciliated protists have revealed the highly dynamic nature of replicative and recombination events relating the micronucleus to the macronucleus, the broader understanding of the genomic diversity of ciliated protists, as well as their phylogenetic relationships and metabolic potential, has been hampered by the inability to culture numerous other species under laboratory conditions, as well as the presence of symbiotic bacteria and microalgae which provide a challenge for current sequencing technologies. Here, we optimized single-cell sequencing methods and associated data analyses, to effectively remove contamination by commensal bacteria, and generated high-quality genomes for a number of Euplotia species.

RESULTS: We obtained eight high-quality Euplotia genomes by using single-cell genome sequencing techniques. The genomes have high genomic completeness, with sizes between 68 and 125 M and gene numbers between 14K and 25K. Through comparative genomic analysis, we found that there are a large number of gene expansion events in Euplotia genomes, and these expansions are closely related to the phenotypic evolution and specific environmental adaptations of individual species. We further found four distinct subgroups in the genus Euplotes, which exhibited considerable genetic distance and relative lack of conserved genomic syntenies. Comparative genomic analyses of Uronychia and its relatives revealed significant gene expansion associated with the ciliary movement machinery, which may be related to the unique and strong swimming ability.

CONCLUSIONS: We employed single-cell genomics to obtain eight ciliate genomes, characterized the underestimated genomic diversity of Euplotia, and determined the divergence time of representative species in this subclass for the first time. We also further investigated the extensive duplication events associated with speciation and environmental adaptation. This study provides a unique and valuable resource for understanding the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of ciliates.}, } @article {pmid34903056, year = {2021}, author = {Shropshire, JD and Hamant, E and Cooper, BS}, title = {Male Age and Wolbachia Dynamics: Investigating How Fast and Why Bacterial Densities and Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Strengths Vary.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0299821}, pmid = {34903056}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM124701/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cytoplasm/genetics/*microbiology ; Drosophila/genetics/immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Female ; Male ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbionts can influence host reproduction and fitness to favor their maternal transmission. For example, endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria often cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that kills uninfected embryos fertilized by Wolbachia-modified sperm. Infected females can rescue CI, providing them a relative fitness advantage. Wolbachia-induced CI strength varies widely and tends to decrease as host males age. Since strong CI drives Wolbachia to high equilibrium frequencies, understanding how fast and why CI strength declines with male age is crucial to explaining age-dependent CI's influence on Wolbachia prevalence. Here, we investigate if Wolbachia densities and/or CI gene (cif) expression covary with CI-strength variation and explore covariates of age-dependent Wolbachia-density variation in two classic CI systems. wRi CI strength decreases slowly with Drosophila simulans male age (6%/day), but wMel CI strength decreases very rapidly (19%/day), yielding statistically insignificant CI after only 3 days of Drosophila melanogaster adult emergence. Wolbachia densities and cif expression in testes decrease as wRi-infected males age, but both surprisingly increase as wMel-infected males age, and CI strength declines. We then tested if phage lysis, Octomom copy number (which impacts wMel density), or host immune expression covary with age-dependent wMel densities. Only host immune expression correlated with density. Together, our results identify how fast CI strength declines with male age in two model systems and reveal unique relationships between male age, Wolbachia densities, cif expression, and host immunity. We discuss new hypotheses about the basis of age-dependent CI strength and its contributions to Wolbachia prevalence. IMPORTANCEWolbachia bacteria are the most common animal-associated endosymbionts due in large part to their manipulation of host reproduction. Many Wolbachia cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that kills uninfected host eggs. Infected eggs are protected from CI, favoring Wolbachia spread in natural systems and in transinfected mosquito populations where vector-control groups use strong CI to maintain pathogen-blocking Wolbachia at high frequencies for biocontrol of arboviruses. CI strength varies considerably in nature and declines as males age for unknown reasons. Here, we determine that CI strength weakens at different rates with age in two model symbioses. Wolbachia density and CI gene expression covary with wRi-induced CI strength in Drosophila simulans, but neither explain rapidly declining wMel-induced CI in aging D. melanogaster males. Patterns of host immune gene expression suggest a candidate mechanism behind age-dependent wMel densities. These findings inform how age-dependent CI may contribute to Wolbachia prevalence in natural systems and potentially in transinfected systems.}, } @article {pmid34902424, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Zhou, Y and Qin, Y and Wei, J and Shigong, P and Ma, H and Li, Y and Yuan, X and Zhao, L and Yan, H and Zhang, Y and Yu, Z}, title = {Assessment of the juvenile vulnerability of symbiont-bearing giant clams to ocean acidification.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {812}, number = {}, pages = {152265}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152265}, pmid = {34902424}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; *Seawater ; }, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) severely affects marine bivalves, especially their calcification processes. However, very little is known about the fate of symbiont-bearing giant clams in the acidified oceans, which hinders our ability to develop strategies to protect this ecologically and economically important group in coral reef ecosystems. Here, we explored the integrated juvenile responses of fluted giant clam Tridacna squamosa (Lamarck, 1819) to acidified seawater at different levels of biological organization. Our results revealed that OA did not cause a significant reduction in survival and shell growth performance, indicating that T. squamosa juveniles are tolerated to moderate acidification. Yet, significantly reduced net calcification rate demonstrated the calcifying physiology sensitivity to OA, in line with significant declines in symbiont photosynthetic yield and zooxanthellae density which in turn lowered the amount of energy supply for energetically expensive calcification processes. Subsequent transcriptome sequencing and comparative analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that the regulation of calcification processes, such as transport of calcification substrates, acid-base regulation, synthesis of organic matrix in the calcifying fluid, as well as metabolic depression were the major response to OA. Taken together, the integration of physiological and molecular responses can provide a comprehensive understanding of how the early life history stages of giant clams respond to OA and make an important leap forward in assessing their fate under future ocean conditions.}, } @article {pmid34902254, year = {2021}, author = {Shang, J and Yao, YS and Chen, LL and Zhu, XZ and Niu, L and Gao, XK and Luo, JY and Ji, JC and Cui, JJ}, title = {Sublethal Exposure to Deltamethrin Stimulates Reproduction and Alters Symbiotic Bacteria in Aphis gossypii.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {69}, number = {50}, pages = {15097-15107}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.1c05070}, pmid = {34902254}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Insecticides/toxicity ; Nitriles ; *Pyrethrins/toxicity ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {In aphids, hormesis and symbiotic bacteria are the drivers for the development of pesticide resistance. However, the related mechanism remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the sublethal and transgenerational effects of the extensively used pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin (DMT) on the population dynamics in Aphis gossypii and tested its influence on symbiotic bacterial communities. The leaf-dip bioassay revealed that DMT was highly toxic to A. gossypii, and at a low lethal concentration of DMT, the intrinsic (r) and finite rates of increase (λ) of the initially exposed aphids (G0) significantly decreased. Intriguingly, the r, λ, and net reproductive rate (R0) of G1 and G2 significantly increased, but the r and λ decreased in G3. The adult and total preoviposition period increased in G3 but decreased in G4. Additionally, the diversity of the bacterial community decreased, while the abundance values of Buchnera, Pseudomonadaceae, and Burkholderiaceae increased after 24 h of exposure to LC30 DMT in G0 aphids, and the latter two decreased in G1 but increased in G2. In summary, sublethal DMT has intergenerational hormesis effect on cotton aphids in G1-G2 and remarkably altered their symbiotic bacterial community and abundance. These results broaden our understanding of the relationship of hormesis and symbiotic bacteria in aphids under insecticide exposure.}, } @article {pmid34900833, year = {2021}, author = {Namazi, N and Esmaeili, S and Ahmadikhatir, S and Razi, F and Nasli-Esfahani, E and Larijani, B}, title = {Nutrition and Diet Therapy in Diabetes Mellitus: A Roadmap based on available evidence.}, journal = {Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {1913-1918}, pmid = {34900833}, issn = {2251-6581}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nutrition is considered as a primary approach for diabetes management. It needs a comprehensive assessment of evidence to identify nutritional dimensions that should be explored in the future. We aimed to provide a roadmap on diabetes and nutrition and clarify research gaps in this field.

METHODS: In the present review, we searched Scopus and PubMed electronic databases to collect eligible publications with English and Farsi languages from 2015 to December 2019 in the field of nutrition and diabetes. Relevant papers were classified into six subgroups including biochemistry/ animal studies, clinical nutrition, food industry, genetic, public health, and dietary supplements. Based on evidence-based pyramid, publications were categorized as well. Publications trend from 2015 to 2019 and frequency of publications in each category were provided.

RESULTS: Finally, we reached 438 eligible papers. Most studies (40.86%) were clinical trials and in most human studies (n = 224) patients with type 2 diabetes were considered. Probiotic/prebiotic/ symbiotic, vitamin D, and omega-3/fish oil were the most frequent studied dietary supplements. Low portions of studies were dedicated to diabetic children (n = 3), type 1 diabetes (n = 6), diabetes complications (n = 23) and GDM (n = 25).

CONCLUSION: An increasing trend in nutrition publications in the field of diabetes was observed. Publications were mostly dedicated to clinical trials with a focus on dietary supplements. Low portion of studies have been dedicated to children with diabetes, diabetes complications, and GDM. More attention to high quality basic research, product-based projects, and interdisciplinary studies in the field of nutrition and diabetes are needed.}, } @article {pmid34900069, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, CY and Yu, CH and Yu, WY and Ying, HZ}, title = {Gut-Lung Microbiota in Chronic Pulmonary Diseases: Evolution, Pathogenesis, and Therapeutics.}, journal = {The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {9278441}, pmid = {34900069}, issn = {1712-9532}, abstract = {The microbiota colonized in the human body has a symbiotic relationship with human body and forms a different microecosystem, which affects human immunity, metabolism, endocrine, and other physiological processes. The imbalance of microbiota is usually linked to the aberrant immune responses and inflammation, which eventually promotes the occurrence and development of respiratory diseases. Patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, often have alteration of the composition and function of intestinal and lung microbiota. Gut microbiota affects respiratory immunity and barrier function through the lung-gut microbiota, resulting in altered prognosis of chronic respiratory diseases. In turn, lung dysbiosis promotes aggravation of lung diseases and causes intestinal dysfunction through persistent activation of lymphoid cells in the body. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technology have disclosed the pivotal roles of lung-gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory diseases. This review focuses on the association between the gut-lung dysbiosis and respiratory diseases pathogenesis. In addition, potential therapeutic modalities, such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, are also evaluated for the prevention of chronic respiratory diseases.}, } @article {pmid34899728, year = {2021}, author = {Mooney, EC and Holden, SE and Xia, XJ and Li, Y and Jiang, M and Banson, CN and Zhu, B and Sahingur, SE}, title = {Quercetin Preserves Oral Cavity Health by Mitigating Inflammation and Microbial Dysbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {774273}, pmid = {34899728}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {R01 DE025037/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE027374/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alveolar Bone Loss/drug therapy/etiology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Biomarkers ; Cell Line ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/*drug therapy ; Gingiva/drug effects/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mice ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Models, Animal ; Models, Biological ; Mouth/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Periodontal Diseases/drug therapy/etiology/pathology ; Quercetin/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Failure to attenuate inflammation coupled with consequent microbiota changes drives the development of bone-destructive periodontitis. Quercetin, a plant-derived polyphenolic flavonoid, has been linked with health benefits in both humans and animals. Using a systematic approach, we investigated the effect of orally delivered Quercetin on host inflammatory response, oral microbial composition and periodontal disease phenotype. In vivo, quercetin supplementation diminished gingival cytokine expression, inflammatory cell infiltrate and alveolar bone loss. Microbiome analyses revealed a healthier oral microbial composition in Quercetin-treated versus vehicle-treated group characterized by reduction in the number of pathogenic species including Enterococcus, Neisseria and Pseudomonas and increase in the number of non-pathogenic Streptococcus sp. and bacterial diversity. In vitro, Quercetin diminished inflammatory cytokine production through modulating NF-κB:A20 axis in human macrophages following challenge with oral bacteria and TLR agonists. Collectively, our findings reveal that Quercetin supplement instigates a balanced periodontal tissue homeostasis through limiting inflammation and fostering an oral cavity microenvironment conducive of symbiotic microbiota associated with health. This proof of concept study provides key evidence for translational studies to improve overall health.}, } @article {pmid34898417, year = {2021}, author = {Castaneda-Alvarez, C and Prodan, S and Zamorano, A and San-Blas, E and Aballay, E}, title = {Xenorhabdus lircayensis sp. nov., the symbiotic bacterium associated with the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema unicornum.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005151}, pmid = {34898417}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhabditida/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Xenorhabdus/classification/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus is a symbiotic group of bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Steinernematidae. Although the described Steirnernema species list is extensive, not all their symbiotic bacteria have been identified. One single motile, Gram-negative and non-spore-forming rod-shaped symbiotic bacterium, strain VLS[T], was isolated from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema unicornum. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene determined that the VLS[T] isolate belongs to the genus Xenorhabdus, and its closest related species is Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM 16338[T] (98.2 %). Deeper analyses using the whole genome for phylogenetic reconstruction indicate that VLS[T] exhibits a unique clade in the genus. Genomic comparisons considering digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values confirms this result, showing that the VLS[T] values are distant enough from the 70 % threshold suggested for new species, sharing 30.7, 30.5 and 30.3 % dDDH with Xenorhabdus khoisanae MCB, Xenorhabdus koppenhoeferi DSM 18168[T] and Xenorhabdus miraniensis DSM 18168[T], respectively, as the closest species. Detailed physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic tests of the VLS[T] isolate reveal consistent differences from previously described Xenorhabdus species. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic approaches show that VLS[T] represents a new species of the genus Xenorhabdus, for which the name Xenorhabdus lircayensis sp. nov. (type strain VLS[T]=CCCT 20.04[T]=DSM 111583[T]) is proposed.}, } @article {pmid34896171, year = {2022}, author = {Dal Pizzol, JL and Marques, JA and da Silva Fonseca, J and Costa, PG and Bianchini, A}, title = {Metal accumulation induces oxidative stress and alters carbonic anhydrase activity in corals and symbionts from the largest reef complex in the South Atlantic ocean.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {290}, number = {}, pages = {133216}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133216}, pmid = {34896171}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Atlantic Ocean ; *Carbonic Anhydrases ; Coral Reefs ; Metals/toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; }, abstract = {We evaluated the influence of metal accumulation on the oxidative status [lipid peroxidation (LPO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in host and symbionts of the coral Mussismilia harttii and the hydrocoral Millepora alcicornis collected in Abrolhos Reef Banks (Northeast Brazil), potentially impacted by a major mine dam rupture. Considering metal levels measured in reefs worldwide, Abrolhos corals had higher Fe and Mn levels than expected for preserved offshore reefs. Increasing concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) drove inhibition of CA and increased oxidative damage in the hydrocoral M. alcicornis. The impairment of enzymatic activity in the symbiotic algae of M. alcicornis may be related to the oxidative stress condition. The hydrocoral M. alcicornis was more affected by metals than the coral M. harttii, which did not show the expected CA inhibition after metal exposure. Our results suggest that CA activity can be applied as a complementary biomarker to evaluate the physiological impacts of environmental metal contamination in reefs. Also, the metal levels and biochemical biomarkers reported in the present study may provide reference data to monitor the health of reefs impacted by a relevant dam rupture.}, } @article {pmid34894279, year = {2021}, author = {Dai, L and Zheng, J and Ye, J and Chen, H}, title = {Phylogeny of Leptographium qinlingensis cytochrome P450 genes and transcription levels of six CYPs in response to different nutrition media or terpenoids.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {34894279}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics ; Monoterpenes ; Phylogeny ; *Pinus ; *Terpenes ; }, abstract = {The ascomycete Leptographium qinlingensis is one of the major externally living fungal associates of Dendroctonus armandi, which can kill host trees when it invades Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii). We identified and phylogenetically analysed the cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes in the transcriptome of L. qinlingensis. Furthermore, the expression profiles of six CYPs in the mycelium of L. qinlingensis grown on different media or treated with terpenoids were detected, as well as their growth rates on different nutritional media and inhibition by terpenoids. The CYP evolution predicted that most of the CYPs occurred in a putative common ancestor shared between L. qinlingensis and Grosmannia clavigera. The growth rates and inhibition test result shows that L. qinlingensis has more similarity with G. clavigera, which can retrieve nutrition from pine wood and utilize monoterpenes as the sole carbon source. CYP582C and CYP52Z4 of L. qinlingensis might be involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and detoxification of terpenes and phenolics after the analysis of their transcription levels with different treatments.}, } @article {pmid34893862, year = {2022}, author = {de Oliveira, AL and Mitchell, J and Girguis, P and Bright, M}, title = {Novel Insights on Obligate Symbiont Lifestyle and Adaptation to Chemosynthetic Environment as Revealed by the Giant Tubeworm Genome.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {34893862}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; *Polychaeta/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The mutualism between the giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila and its endosymbiont Candidatus Endoriftia persephone has been extensively researched over the past 40 years. However, the lack of the host whole-genome information has impeded the full comprehension of the genotype/phenotype interface in Riftia. Here, we described the high-quality draft genome of Riftia, its complete mitogenome, and tissue-specific transcriptomic data. The Riftia genome presents signs of reductive evolution, with gene family contractions exceeding expansions. Expanded gene families are related to sulfur metabolism, detoxification, antioxidative stress, oxygen transport, immune system, and lysosomal digestion, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to the vent environment and endosymbiosis. Despite the derived body plan, the developmental gene repertoire in the gutless tubeworm is extremely conserved with the presence of a near intact and complete Hox cluster. Gene expression analyses establish that the trophosome is a multifunctional organ marked by intracellular digestion of endosymbionts, storage of excretory products, and hematopoietic functions. Overall, the plume and gonad tissues both in contact to the environment harbor highly expressed genes involved with cell cycle, programed cell death, and immunity indicating a high cell turnover and defense mechanisms against pathogens. We posit that the innate immune system plays a more prominent role into the establishment of the symbiosis during the infection in the larval stage, rather than maintaining the symbiostasis in the trophosome. This genome bridges four decades of physiological research in Riftia, whereas it simultaneously provides new insights into the development, whole organism functions, and evolution in the giant tubeworm.}, } @article {pmid34893256, year = {2022}, author = {Vanacore, A and Vitiello, G and Wanke, A and Cavasso, D and Clifton, LA and Mahdi, L and Campanero-Rhodes, MA and Solís, D and Wuhrer, M and Nicolardi, S and Molinaro, A and Marchetti, R and Zuccaro, A and Paduano, L and Silipo, A}, title = {Lipopolysaccharide O-antigen molecular and supramolecular modifications of plant root microbiota are pivotal for host recognition.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {277}, number = {}, pages = {118839}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118839}, pmid = {34893256}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*chemistry/immunology/microbiology ; Herbaspirillum/*immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*immunology/isolation & purification ; O Antigens/chemistry/*immunology/isolation & purification ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharides, the major outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria, are crucial actors of the host-microbial dialogue. They can contribute to the establishment of either symbiosis or bacterial virulence, depending on the bacterial lifestyle. Plant microbiota shows great complexity, promotes plant health and growth and assures protection from pathogens. How plants perceive LPS from plant-associated bacteria and discriminate between beneficial and pathogenic microbes is an open and urgent question. Here, we report on the structure, conformation, membrane properties and immune recognition of LPS isolated from the Arabidopsis thaliana root microbiota member Herbaspirillum sp. Root189. The LPS consists of an O-methylated and variously acetylated D-rhamnose containing polysaccharide with a rather hydrophobic surface. Plant immunology studies in A. thaliana demonstrate that the native acetylated O-antigen shields the LPS from immune recognition whereas the O-deacylated one does not. These findings highlight the role of Herbaspirillum LPS within plant-microbial crosstalk, and how O-antigen modifications influence membrane properties and modulate LPS host recognition.}, } @article {pmid34890743, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Jia, X and Zhao, Y and Zhang, C and Zhao, J}, title = {Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots on antioxidant enzyme activity in leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings under elevated CO2 and Cd exposure.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {294}, number = {}, pages = {118652}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118652}, pmid = {34890743}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Antioxidants ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/analysis/toxicity ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; *Robinia ; Seedlings/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are easily influenced by increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and heavy metals including cadmium (Cd), which can regulate antioxidant enzyme in host plants. Although the effect of AMF under individual conditions such as elevated CO2 (ECO2) and Cd on antioxidant enzyme in host plants has been reported widely, the effect of AMF under ECO2 + Cd receives little attention. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of AMF community in roots on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) activities in leaves of 135-d Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings under ECO2 + Cd. The activities of SOD and CAT increased and POD activity and the richness and diversity of AMF community decreased under ECO2 + Cd relative to Cd alone. The richness and diversity of AMF were negatively related to Cd content in roots and leaves. The richness and OTUs of AMF community positively and AMF gene abundance negatively affected POD activity under the combined treatments. Superoxide dismutase and POD activities were negatively and positively related to Archaeospora and Scutellospora, respectively, under ECO2 + Cd. Cadmium in roots and leaves was negatively and significantly related to Glomus, Scutellospora, and Claroideoglomus abundance under ECO2 + Cd. Overall, AMF diversity and Archaeospora and Scutellospora in roots significantly influenced SOD, POD, and CAT activities. The response of AM symbiosis to ECO2 might regulate antioxidant capacity in host plants upon Cd exposure. Glomus, Scutellospora, and Claroideoglomus might be applied to phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid34890484, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, MX and Li, J and Zhang, XN and Li, HH and Xu, XF}, title = {Comparative transcriptome profiling of Termitomyces sp. between monocultures in vitro and link-stipe of fungus-combs in situ.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {429-443}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13628}, pmid = {34890484}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Isoptera ; Symbiosis ; *Termitomyces ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The edible mushroom Termitomyces is an agaric-type basidiomycete fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with fungus-growing termites. An understanding of the detailed development mechanisms underlying the adaptive responses of Termitomyces sp. to their growing environment is lacking. Here, we compared the transcriptome sequences of different Termitomyces sp. samples and link-stipe grown on fungus combs in situ and monocultured in vitro. The assembled reads generated 8052 unigenes. The expression profiles were highly different for 2556 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the treated samples, where the expression of 1312 and 1244 DEGs was upregulated in the Mycelium and link-stipe groups respectively. Functional classification of the DEGs based on both Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed an expected shift in fungal gene expression, where stress response genes whose expression was upregulated in link-stipe may adaptively be involved in cell wall hydrolysis and fusion, pathogenesis, oxidation-reduction, transporter efflux, transposon efflux and self/non-self-recognition. Urease has implications in the expression of genes involved in the nitrogen metabolism pathway, and its expression could be controlled by low-level nitrogen fixation of fungus combs. In addition, the expression patterns of eleven select genes on the basis of qRT-PCR were consistent with their changes in transcript abundance, as revealed by RNA sequencing. Taken together, these findings may be useful for enriching the knowledge concerning the Termitomyces adaptive response to in situ fungus combs compared with the response of monocultures in vitro.}, } @article {pmid34890249, year = {2021}, author = {Li, Y and Zhang, H and Li, Y and Chen, S}, title = {Fusaricidin Biosynthesis Is Controlled via a KinB-Spo0A-AbrB Signal Pathway in Paenibacillus polymyxa WLY78.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {1378-1389}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-21-0117-R}, pmid = {34890249}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacillus subtilis/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Paenibacillus polymyxa/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Spores, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Fusaricidins produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa are important lipopeptide antibiotics against fungi. The fusGFEDCBA (fusaricidin biosynthesis) operon is responsible for synthesis of fusaricidins. However, the regulation mechanisms of fusaricidin biosynthesis remain to be fully clarified. In this study, we revealed that fusaricidin production is controlled by a complex regulatory network including KinB-Spo0A-AbrB. Evidence suggested that the regulator AbrB represses the transcription of the fus gene cluster by direct binding to the fus promoter, in which the sequences (5'-AATTTTAAAATAAATTTTGTGATTT-3') located from -136 to -112 bp relative to the transcription start site is required for this repression. Spo0A binds to the abrB promoter that contains the Spo0A-binding sequences (5'-TGTCGAA-3', 0A box) and in turn prevents the further transcription of abrB. The decreasing concentration of AbrB allows for the derepression of the fus promoter repressed by AbrB. The genome of P. polymyxa WLY78 contains two orthologs (named Kin1508 and Kin4833) of Bacillus subtilis KinB, but only Kin4833 activates sporulation and fusaricidin production, indicating that this kinase may be involved in phosphorylating Spo0A to initiate sporulation and regulate the abrB transcription. Our results reveal that Kin4833 (KinB), Spo0A, and AbrB are involved in regulation of fusaricidin production and a signaling mechanism that links fusaricidin production and sporulation.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34888582, year = {2022}, author = {Prieto-Sandoval, V and Mejia-Villa, A and Jaca, C and Ormazabal, M}, title = {The Case of an Agricultural Crop Business Association in Navarra as Circular Economy Intermediary.}, journal = {Circular economy and sustainability}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {713-729}, pmid = {34888582}, issn = {2730-5988}, abstract = {The circular economy (CE) is an alternative economic system based on closing energy and material cycles to achieve sustainable development and create value based on innovation. In this sense, business associations (BAs) can work as intermediaries to promote CE in industrial sectors. They bring together many companies, generate trust-based relationships, support companies' strategy and collaborative innovation to construct closed-loop material flows, and increase competitiveness in sectors and regions. This study aims to show the BA's role as intermediaries of CE and promoters of industrial symbiosis (IS) as a value creation strategy among its affiliated companies (AC). Thus, this work takes the form of an exploratory case study of five different companies of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Navarra (UCAN) in Spain. Researchers collected this study's data through a focus group and surveys. As a result, an original serious game was developed in 2016 and a survey in 2016 and 2020, which considers the CE's six fields of action (take, make, manufacture, distribution, use, recovery, and IS). Finally, this study proposes a methodology to promote the CE through the BAs, based on the performance of the UCAN as an intermediary of the CE and IS. Likewise, BAs' potential to promote the closure of energy and materials cycles in regions and commercial sectors such as agribusiness is demonstrated. The study also demonstrated the organizations' evolution and the improved perception of economic benefits and reduced barriers to implementing CE. This long-term analysis is valuable in novel topics such as CE.}, } @article {pmid34888573, year = {2021}, author = {Oughton, C and Anda, M and Kurup, B and Ho, G}, title = {Water Circular Economy at the Kwinana Industrial Area, Western Australia-the Dimensions and Value of Industrial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Circular economy and sustainability}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {995-1018}, pmid = {34888573}, issn = {2730-5988}, abstract = {The major industrial companies located in the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) produce many industrial, agricultural and mining chemicals and refined materials, for national and international markets. With over 150 documented product and by-product exchanges, Kwinana is considered to be one of the best examples of industrial symbiosis (IS) in the world. A new model of IS comprised of four dimensions is under development, whereby whilst each dimension is unique, collectively, they interact to characterise an industrial estate, thus contributing to the evolutionary understanding of IS. We investigate the basis for this model through an analysis of two water circular economy examples as they relate to Western Australia's premier industrial area, the KIA. Case studies will consider a managed aquifer recharge (MAR) project that failed and the process water interconnectedness of enterprises operating successfully as a sub-ecology within the industrial cluster. Apart from the traditional product and by-product dimension of IS, three additional dimensions seem to be playing a crucial role in the KIA, these being the skilled workforce, support industry and governance dimensions. We provide additional context for the water-related examples of the circular economy at Kwinana by exploring a new four-dimensional model for IS.}, } @article {pmid34885789, year = {2021}, author = {Kosmachevskaya, OV and Nasybullina, EI and Shumaev, KB and Topunov, AF}, title = {Expressed Soybean Leghemoglobin: Effect on Escherichia coli at Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {34885789}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Escherichia coli/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Plant ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Leghemoglobin/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitroso Compounds/metabolism ; *Oxidative Stress ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Leghemoglobin (Lb) is an oxygen-binding plant hemoglobin of legume nodules, which participates in the symbiotic nitrogen fixation process. Another way to obtain Lb is its expression in bacteria, yeasts, or other organisms. This is promising for both obtaining Lb in the necessary quantity and scrutinizing it in model systems, e.g., its interaction with reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species. The main goal of the work was to study how Lb expression affected the ability of Escherichia coli cells to tolerate oxidative and nitrosative stress. The bacterium E. coli with the embedded gene of soybean leghemoglobin a contains this protein in an active oxygenated state. The interaction of the expressed Lb with oxidative and nitrosative stress inducers (nitrosoglutathione, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and benzylviologen) was studied by enzymatic methods and spectrophotometry. Lb formed NO complexes with heme-nitrosylLb or nonheme iron-dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs). The formation of Lb-bound DNICs was also detected by low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Lb displayed peroxidase activity and catalyzed the reduction of organic peroxides. Despite this, E. coli-synthesized Lb were more sensitive to stress inducers. This might be due to the energy demand required by the Lb synthesis, as an alien protein consumes bacterial resources and thereby decreases adaptive potential of E. coli.}, } @article {pmid34884793, year = {2021}, author = {Susniak, K and Krysa, M and Kidaj, D and Szymanska-Chargot, M and Komaniecka, I and Zamlynska, K and Choma, A and Wielbo, J and Ilag, LL and Sroka-Bartnicka, A}, title = {Multimodal Spectroscopic Imaging of Pea Root Nodules to Assess the Nitrogen Fixation in the Presence of Biofertilizer Based on Nod-Factors.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {34884793}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fertilizers/microbiology ; Leghemoglobin/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Peas/growth & development/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; }, abstract = {Multimodal spectroscopic imaging methods such as Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI MSI), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy were used to monitor the changes in distribution and to determine semi quantitatively selected metabolites involved in nitrogen fixation in pea root nodules. These approaches were used to evaluate the effectiveness of nitrogen fixation by pea plants treated with biofertilizer preparations containing Nod factors. To assess the effectiveness of biofertilizer, the fresh and dry masses of plants were determined. The biofertilizer was shown to be effective in enhancing the growth of the pea plants. In case of metabolic changes, the biofertilizer caused a change in the apparent distribution of the leghaemoglobin from the edges of the nodule to its centre (the active zone of nodule). Moreover, the enhanced nitrogen fixation and presumably the accelerated maturation form of the nodules were observed with the use of a biofertilizer.}, } @article {pmid34884778, year = {2021}, author = {Amoozadeh, S and Johnston, J and Meisrimler, CN}, title = {Exploiting Structural Modelling Tools to Explore Host-Translocated Effector Proteins.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {34884778}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Molecular Conformation ; Oomycetes/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Oomycete and fungal interactions with plants can be neutral, symbiotic or pathogenic with different impact on plant health and fitness. Both fungi and oomycetes can generate so-called effector proteins in order to successfully colonize the host plant. These proteins modify stress pathways, developmental processes and the innate immune system to the microbes' benefit, with a very different outcome for the plant. Investigating the biological and functional roles of effectors during plant-microbe interactions are accessible through bioinformatics and experimental approaches. The next generation protein modeling software RoseTTafold and AlphaFold2 have made significant progress in defining the 3D-structure of proteins by utilizing novel machine-learning algorithms using amino acid sequences as their only input. As these two methods rely on super computers, Google Colabfold alternatives have received significant attention, making the approaches more accessible to users. Here, we focus on current structural biology, sequence motif and domain knowledge of effector proteins from filamentous microbes and discuss the broader use of novel modelling strategies, namely AlphaFold2 and RoseTTafold, in the field of effector biology. Finally, we compare the original programs and their Colab versions to assess current strengths, ease of access, limitations and future applications.}, } @article {pmid34883747, year = {2021}, author = {Shavyrkina, NA and Skiba, EA and Kazantseva, AE and Gladysheva, EK and Budaeva, VV and Bychin, NV and Gismatulina, YA and Kashcheyeva, EI and Mironova, GF and Korchagina, AA and Pavlov, IN and Sakovich, GV}, title = {Static Culture Combined with Aeration in Biosynthesis of Bacterial Cellulose.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {34883747}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {One of the ways to enhance the yield of bacterial cellulose (BC) is by using dynamic aeration and different-type bioreactors because the microbial producers are strict aerobes. But in this case, the BC quality tends to worsen. Here we have combined static culture with aeration in the biosynthesis of BC by symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 for the first time. A new aeration method by feeding the air onto the growth medium surface is proposed herein. The culture was performed in a Binder-400 climate chamber. The study found that the air feed at a rate of 6.3 L/min allows a 25% increase in the BC yield. Moreover, this aeration mode resulted in BC samples of stable quality. The thermogravimetric and X-ray structural characteristics were retained: the crystallinity index in reflection and transmission geometries were 89% and 92%, respectively, and the allomorph Iα content was 94%. Slight decreases in the degree of polymerization (by 12.0% compared to the control-no aeration) and elastic modulus (by 12.6%) are not critical. Thus, the simple aeration by feeding the air onto the culture medium surface has turned out to be an excellent alternative to dynamic aeration. Usually, when the cultivation conditions, including the aeration ones, are changed, characteristics of the resultant BC are altered either, due to the sensitivity of individual microbial strains. In our case, the stable parameters of BC samples under variable aeration conditions are explained by the concomitant factors: the new efficient aeration method and the highly adaptive microbial producer-symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12.}, } @article {pmid34883060, year = {2021}, author = {Yadav, J and Nathan, N and Philpott, DJ}, title = {Gut symbionts dial up RA to prime host defense.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {1727-1729}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2021.11.011}, pmid = {34883060}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {*Citrobacter rodentium ; *Enterobacteriaceae Infections ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Woo et al. (2021) show that retinoic acid generated by symbiotic segmented filamentous bacteria in the intestine primes host intestinal epithelial defense and mediates early innate immune protection against Citrobacter rodentium infection.}, } @article {pmid34881282, year = {2021}, author = {Shankar, J}, title = {Food Habit Associated Mycobiota Composition and Their Impact on Human Health.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {773577}, pmid = {34881282}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Mycobiota is not only associated with healthy homeostasis in the human gut but also helps to adapt to the environment. Food habits, alcohol consumption, intake of probiotics, and contaminated food with a mycotoxin, often lead to the alteration in the mycobiota composition. Impaired immunity of the host may affect fungal symbiosis leading to mycosis. The human gut adapts to the commensalism fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Diet habits such as plant-or animal-based, phytoestrogens enriched plant products, fat-rich diets also influence the colonization of certain fungal species in the mammalian gut. Food habits or mycotoxin-contaminated food or fungal peptides have an impact on bacterial-fungal interaction and human health. The mycobiota population such as Fusarium, Humicola, Aspergillus, and Candida are altered due to alcohol intake in alcoholic liver disease. The role of associated gut mycobiota due to irregular bowel habits or lifestyle change has been observed in inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, it has been observed that Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Candida, and Malassezia were the common genus in the human mycobiota. Therefore, this study focused on how diet habits and alcohol intake, among others., influence mycobiota composition that may affect the human immune system or overall health.}, } @article {pmid34881158, year = {2021}, author = {Azizkhani, N and Mirzaei, S and Torkzadeh-Mahani, M}, title = {Genome-wide identification and characterization of legume T2 Ribonuclease gene family and analysis of GmaRNS9, a soybean T2 Ribonuclease gene, function in nodulation.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {495}, pmid = {34881158}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {T2 ribonuclease family (RNaseT2) proteins are secretory and nonspecific endoribonucleases that have a large conserved biological role. Family members of RNaseT2 are found in every organism and carry out important biological functions. However, little is known about the functions of these proteins in legumes, including potential roles in symbiotic nodulation. This study aimed to characterize and perform bioinformatic analysis of RNaseT2 genes in four legume species that their genome was sequenced. In total, 60 RNaseT2 genes were identified and characterized. By analyzing their phylogeny, we divided these RNaseT2 into five clades. Expression analysis of RNaseT2 genes indicated that these genes are expressed in various tissues, and the most expression level was related to the pod, flower, and root. Moreover, GmaRNS9 expression analysis in soybean was consistent with in silico studies and demonstrated that this gene usually has high root tip expression. GmaRNS9 expression was reduced by Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculation and nodule formation. Reduced expression of this gene was possibly controlled by the GmNARK gene either directly or pleiotropically through increased phosphorus requirements during increased nodulation. However, the nutrient stress (phosphate and nitrate starvation) led to an increase in the expression level of GmRNS9. In silico and quantitative gene expression analyses showed that RNaseT2 genes could play important roles in the growth and development of legumes as well as nodulation.}, } @article {pmid34880288, year = {2021}, author = {Mpai, T and Jaiswal, SK and Cupido, CN and Dakora, FD}, title = {Ecological adaptation and phylogenetic analysis of microsymbionts nodulating Polhillia, Wiborgia and Wiborgiella species in the Cape fynbos, South Africa.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {23614}, pmid = {34880288}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Drug Resistance/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Salinity ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polhillia, Wiborgia and Wiborgiella species are shrub legumes endemic to the Cape fynbos of South Africa. They have the ability to fix atmospheric N2 when in symbiosis with soil bacteria called 'rhizobia'. The aim of this study was to assess the morpho-physiological and phylogenetic characteristics of rhizobia associated with the nodulation of Polhillia, Wiborgia and Wiborgiella species growing in the Cape fynbos. The bacterial isolates from root nodules consisted of a mixture of fast and intermediate growers that differed in colony shape and size. The isolates exhibited tolerance to salinity (0.5-3% NaCl) and pH (pH 5-10) and different antibiotic concentrations, and could produce 0.51 to 51.23 µg mL[-1] of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), as well as solubilize tri-calcium phosphate. The ERIC-PCR results showed high genomic diversity in the rhizobial population and grouped them into two major clusters. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, gyrB, nifH and nodC gene sequences revealed distinct and novel evolutionary lineages related to the genus Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium, with some of them being very close to Mesorhizobium australicum. However, the phylogenetic analysis of glnII and nifH genes of some isolates showed incongruency.}, } @article {pmid34880054, year = {2022}, author = {Tomofuji, Y and Kishikawa, T and Maeda, Y and Ogawa, K and Nii, T and Okuno, T and Oguro-Igashira, E and Kinoshita, M and Yamamoto, K and Sonehara, K and Yagita, M and Hosokawa, A and Motooka, D and Matsumoto, Y and Matsuoka, H and Yoshimura, M and Ohshima, S and Nakamura, S and Inohara, H and Mochizuki, H and Takeda, K and Kumanogoh, A and Okada, Y}, title = {Whole gut virome analysis of 476 Japanese revealed a link between phage and autoimmune disease.}, journal = {Annals of the rheumatic diseases}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {278-288}, pmid = {34880054}, issn = {1468-2060}, mesh = {Asian People ; Autoimmune Diseases/*virology ; *Bacteriophages ; Case-Control Studies ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Virome ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The relationship between autoimmune diseases and the gut microbiome has been intensively studied, and several autoimmunity-associated bacterial taxa have been identified. However, much less is known about the roles of the gut virome in autoimmune diseases.

METHODS: Here, we performed a whole gut virome analysis based on the shotgun sequencing of 476 Japanese which included patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis and healthy control subjects.

RESULTS: Our case-control comparison of the viral abundance revealed that crAss-like phages, which are one of the main components of a healthy gut virome, significantly decreased in the gut of the patients with autoimmune disease, specifically the patients with RA and SLE. In addition, Podoviridae significantly decreased in the gut of the patients with SLE. To understand how these viruses affected the bacteriome, we performed a quantitative virus-bacterium association analysis and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-based virus-bacterium interaction analysis. We identified a symbiosis between Podoviridae and Faecalibacterium. In addition, multiple bacterial targets of crAss-like phages were identified (eg, Ruminococcus spp).

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the gut virome can affect our body either directly or via bacteria. Our analyses have elucidated a previously missing part of the autoimmunity-associated gut microbiome and presented new candidates that contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases.}, } @article {pmid34879270, year = {2021}, author = {Daisley, BA and Koenig, D and Engelbrecht, K and Doney, L and Hards, K and Al, KF and Reid, G and Burton, JP}, title = {Emerging connections between gut microbiome bioenergetics and chronic metabolic diseases.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {37}, number = {10}, pages = {110087}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110087}, pmid = {34879270}, issn = {2211-1247}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Dysbiosis ; *Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Metabolic Diseases/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The conventional viewpoint of single-celled microbial metabolism fails to adequately depict energy flow at the systems level in host-adapted microbial communities. Emerging paradigms instead support that distinct microbiomes develop interconnected and interdependent electron transport chains that rely on cooperative production and sharing of bioenergetic machinery (i.e., directly involved in generating ATP) in the extracellular space. These communal resources represent an important subset of the microbial metabolome, designated here as the "pantryome" (i.e., pantry or external storage compartment), that critically supports microbiome function and can exert multifunctional effects on host physiology. We review these interactions as they relate to human health by detailing the genomic-based sharing potential of gut-derived bacterial and archaeal reference strains. Aromatic amino acids, metabolic cofactors (B vitamins), menaquinones (vitamin K2), hemes, and short-chain fatty acids (with specific emphasis on acetate as a central regulator of symbiosis) are discussed in depth regarding their role in microbiome-related metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid34879123, year = {2022}, author = {Schmidt, S and Kildgaard, S and Guo, H and Beemelmanns, C and Poulsen, M}, title = {The chemical ecology of the fungus-farming termite symbiosis.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {231-248}, pmid = {34879123}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Fungi ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Covering: September 1972 to December 2020Explorations of complex symbioses have often elucidated a plethora of previously undescribed chemical compounds that may serve ecological functions in signalling, communication or defence. A case in point is the subfamily of termites that cultivate a fungus as their primary food source and maintain complex bacterial communities, from which a series of novel compound discoveries have been made. Here, we summarise the origins and types of 375 compounds that have been discovered from the symbiosis over the past four decades and discuss the potential for synergistic actions between compounds within the complex chemical mixtures in which they exist. We go on to highlight how vastly underexplored the diversity and geographic distribution of the symbiosis is, which leaves ample potential for natural product discovery of compounds of both ecological and medical importance.}, } @article {pmid34879082, year = {2021}, author = {Rainwater, R and Mukherjee, A}, title = {The legume-rhizobia symbiosis can be supported on Mars soil simulants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {e0259957}, pmid = {34879082}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {P20 GM103429/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Crop Production ; *Mars ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry/*classification ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes (soybeans, peas, lentils, etc.) play important roles in agriculture on Earth because of their food value and their ability to form a mutualistic beneficial association with rhizobia bacteria. In this association, the host plant benefits from atmospheric nitrogen fixation by rhizobia. The presence of nitrogen in the Mars atmosphere offers the possibility to take advantage of this important plant-microbe association. While some studies have shown that Mars soil simulants can support plant growth, none have investigated if these soils can support the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. In this study, we investigated the establishment of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis on different Mars soil simulants (different grades of the Mojave Mars Simulant (MMS)-1: Coarse, Fine, Unsorted, Superfine, and the MMS-2 simulant). We used the model legume, Medicago truncatula, and its symbiotic partners, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Sinorhizobium medicae, in these experiments. Our results show that root nodules could develop on M. truncatula roots when grown on these Mars soil simulants and were comparable to those formed on plants that were grown on sand. We also detected nifH (a reporter gene for nitrogen fixation) expression inside these nodules. Our results indicate that the different Mars soil simulants used in this study can support legume-rhizobia symbiosis. While the average number of lateral roots and nodule numbers were comparable on plants grown on the different soil simulants, total plant mass was higher in plants grown on MMS-2 soil than on MMS-1 soil and its variants. Our results imply that the chemical composition of the simulants is more critical than their grain size for plant mass. Based on these results, we recommend that the MMS-2 Superfine soil simulant is a better fit than the MMS-1 soil and it's variants for future studies. Our findings can serve as an excellent resource for future studies investigating beneficial plant-microbe associations for sustainable agriculture on Mars.}, } @article {pmid34878294, year = {2021}, author = {Feng, Z and Zhang, Z and Liu, Y and Gu, J and Cheng, Y and Hu, W and Li, Y and Han, W}, title = {The Second Chromosome Promotes the Adaptation of the Genus Flammeovirga to Complex Environments.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e0098021}, pmid = {34878294}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*genetics/physiology ; Bacteroidetes/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Base Composition/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Humans ; Plasmids/genetics ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Replicon/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Approximately 10% of bacterial strains contain more than one chromosome; however, in contrast to the primary chromosomes, the mechanisms underlying the formation of the second chromosomes and the significance of their existence remain unclear. Species of the genus Flammeovirga are typical polysaccharide-degrading bacteria, and herein, we report complete genome maps of this genus. These genomes all had multireplicons and second chromosomes. The second chromosome, much larger than plasmids and even megaplasmids, had rRNA and a disparity of 1% relative to the main chromosome in guanine-cytosine (GC) content. The largest chromosomes carried core genes for cellular processes, while the second chromosomes were enriched with genes involved in the transport and metabolism of inorganic ions and carbohydrates, particularly genes encoding glycoside hydrolases and polysaccharide lyases, which constituted the genetic basis for the strains' excellent capabilities to utilize polysaccharides. The second chromosomal evolution had a higher mutation rate than the primary chromosomes. Furthermore, the second chromosomes were also enriched in horizontal transfer genes and duplicated genes. The primary chromosomes were more evolutionarily conserved, while the second chromosomes were more plastic, which might be related to their different roles in the bacterial survival process. This study can be used as an example to explain possible formation mechanisms and functions of the second chromosomes, providing a reference for peer research on the second chromosomes. In particular, the second chromosomes were enriched in polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, which will provide theoretical support for using genomic data to mine tool-type carbohydrase resources. IMPORTANCE For decades, the typical bacterial genome has been thought to contain a single chromosome and a few small plasmids carrying nonessential genes. However, an increasing number of secondary chromosomes have been identified in various bacteria (e.g., plant symbiotic bacteria and human pathogens). This study reported three complete genomes of the polysaccharide-degrading marine bacterial genus Flammeovirga, revealed that they harbor two chromosomes, and further identified that the presence of a multireplicon system is a characteristic of complete Flammeovirga genomes. These sequences will add to our knowledge on secondary chromosomes, especially within Bacteroidetes. This study indicated that the second chromosomes of the genus Flammeovirga initially originated from an ancestral plasmid and subsequently expanded by gene duplication or by obtaining heterologous genes with functions, thus promoting host strains to adapt to complex living environments (e.g., to degrade more diverse polysaccharides from marine environments). These findings will promote the understanding of the evolution and function of bacteria with multireplicon systems.}, } @article {pmid34878124, year = {2021}, author = {Sexauer, M and Shen, D and Schön, M and Andersen, TG and Markmann, K}, title = {Visualizing polymeric components that define distinct root barriers across plant lineages.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {148}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {34878124}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {*Cell Wall/genetics/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; *Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Hydrophobic cell wall depositions in roots play a key role in plant development and interaction with the soil environment, as they generate barriers that regulate bidirectional nutrient flux. Techniques to label the respective polymers are emerging, but are efficient only in thin roots or sections. Moreover, simultaneous imaging of the barrier constituents lignin and suberin remains problematic owing to their similar chemical compositions. Here, we describe a staining method compatible with single- and multiphoton confocal microscopy that allows for concurrent visualization of primary cell walls and distinct secondary depositions in one workflow. This protocol permits efficient separation of suberin- and lignin-specific signals with high resolution, enabling precise dissection of barrier constituents. Our approach is compatible with imaging of fluorescent proteins, and can thus complement genetic markers or aid the dissection of barriers in biotic root interactions. We further demonstrate applicability in deep root tissues of plant models and crops across phylogenetic lineages. Our optimized toolset will significantly advance our understanding of root barrier dynamics and function, and of their role in plant interactions with the rhizospheric environment.}, } @article {pmid34877400, year = {2021}, author = {Mofatteh, M}, title = {Neurosurgery and artificial intelligence.}, journal = {AIMS neuroscience}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {477-495}, pmid = {34877400}, issn = {2373-7972}, abstract = {Neurosurgeons receive extensive and lengthy training to equip themselves with various technical skills, and neurosurgery require a great deal of pre-, intra- and postoperative clinical data collection, decision making, care and recovery. The last decade has seen a significant increase in the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in neurosurgery. AI can provide a great promise in neurosurgery by complementing neurosurgeons' skills to provide the best possible interventional and noninterventional care for patients by enhancing diagnostic and prognostic outcomes in clinical treatment and help neurosurgeons with decision making during surgical interventions to improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, AI is playing a pivotal role in the production, processing and storage of clinical and experimental data. AI usage in neurosurgery can also reduce the costs associated with surgical care and provide high-quality healthcare to a broader population. Additionally, AI and neurosurgery can build a symbiotic relationship where AI helps to push the boundaries of neurosurgery, and neurosurgery can help AI to develop better and more robust algorithms. This review explores the role of AI in interventional and noninterventional aspects of neurosurgery during pre-, intra- and postoperative care, such as diagnosis, clinical decision making, surgical operation, prognosis, data acquisition, and research within the neurosurgical arena.}, } @article {pmid34876338, year = {2022}, author = {Shao, SC and Luo, Y and Jacquemyn, H}, title = {Successful reintroduction releases pressure on China's orchid species.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {211-213}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.11.018}, pmid = {34876338}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Endangered Species ; *Germination ; *Orchidaceae ; Seeds ; }, abstract = {Orchids have suffered dramatic declines in China and elsewhere in the world and several species are at the brink of extinction. Recent developments in orchid reintroduction programs could help establish new populations in natural habitats and release the current pressure on China's most threatened orchid species.}, } @article {pmid34876224, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, H and Peng, Y and Cai, X and Zhou, Y and Zhou, Y and Huang, H and Xu, L and Nie, Y}, title = {Genome insights of Enterococcus raffinosus CX012922, isolated from the feces of a Crohn's disease patient.}, journal = {Gut pathogens}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {71}, pmid = {34876224}, issn = {1757-4749}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Enterococcus raffinosus is one of the Enterococcus species that often cause nosocomial infections. To date, only one E. raffinosus genome has been completely assembled, and the genomic features have not been characterized. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the strain CX012922, isolated from the feces of a Crohn's disease patient, and perform a comparative genome analysis to the relevant Enterococcus spp. strains in silico.

RESULTS: De novo assembly of the sequencing reads of the strain CX012922 generated a circular genome of 2.83 Mb and a circular megaplasmid of 0.98 Mb. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that the strain CX012922 belonged to the E. raffinosus species. By comparative genome analysis, we found that some strains previously identified as E. raffinosus or E. gilvus should be reclassified as novel species. Genome islands (GIs), virulence factors, and antibiotic genes were found in both the genome and the megaplasmid, although pathogenic genes were mainly encoded in the genome. A large proportion of the genes encoded in the megaplasmid were involved in substrate utilization, such as raffinose metabolism. Giant megaplasmids (~1 Mb) equipped with toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems generally formed symbiosis relationships with the genome of E. raffinosus strains.

CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcus spp. have a higher species-level diversity than is currently appreciated. The pathogenicity of E. raffinosus is mainly determined by the genome-encoded virulence factors, while the megaplasmid broadens the gene function pool. The symbiosis between the genome and the megaplasmids endows E. raffinosus with large genomic sizes as well as versatile gene functions, especially for their colonization, adaptation, virulence, and pathogenesis in the human gut.}, } @article {pmid34876203, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, Q and Wang, S and Zhang, X and Zhang, K and Liu, W and Zhang, R and Zhang, Z}, title = {Enterobacter hormaechei in the intestines of housefly larvae promotes host growth by inhibiting harmful intestinal bacteria.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {598}, pmid = {34876203}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacter/*physiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Houseflies/growth & development/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Male ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: As a pervasive insect that transmits a variety of pathogens to humans and animals, the housefly has abundant and diverse microbial communities in its intestines. These gut microbes play an important role in the biology of insects and form a symbiotic relationship with the host insect. Alterations in the structure of the gut microbial community would affect larval development. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism regulating the influence of specific bacteria on the development of housefly larvae.

METHODS: For this study we selected the intestinal symbiotic bacterium Enterobacter hormaechei, which is beneficial to the growth and development of housefly larvae, and used it as a probiotic supplement in larval feed. 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology was used to explore the effect of E. hormaechei on the intestinal flora of housefly larvae, and plate confrontation experiments were performed to study the interaction between E. hormaechei and intestinal microorganisms.

RESULTS: The composition of the gut microflora of the larvae changed after the larvae were fed E. hormaechei, with the abundance of Pseudochrobactrum, Enterobacter and Vagococcus increasing and that of Klebsiella and Bacillus decreasing. Analysis of the structure and interaction of larval intestinal flora revealed that E. hormaechei inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Providencia stuartii and Providencia vermicola, and promoted the reproduction of beneficial bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study has explored the influence of specific beneficial bacteria on the intestinal flora of houseflies. The results of this study reveal the important role played by specific beneficial bacteria on the development of housefly larvae and provide insight for the development of sustained biological agents for housefly control through interference of gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid34876182, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, Y and Li, X and Wu, L and Li, Y and Li, F and Xiu, Z and Tong, Y}, title = {The advanced performance of microbial consortium for simultaneous utilization of glucose and xylose to produce lactic acid directly from dilute sulfuric acid pretreated corn stover.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {233}, pmid = {34876182}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lignocellulosic feedstocks have attracted much attention as a potential carbon source for lactic acid (LA) production because of their ready availability, sustainability, and renewability. However, there are at least two major technical challenges to producing LA from lignocellulose. Inhibitors derived from lignocellulose pretreatment have a negative impact on the growth of cells producing LA. Furthermore, pentose sugars produced from the pretreatment are difficultly utilized by most LA producers, which is known as the carbon catabolite repression (CCR) effect. This complex feedstock can be utilized by a robust microbial consortium with high bioconversion efficiency.

RESULTS: In this study, a thermophilic consortium DUT50 producing LA was enriched and employed to improve corn stover (CS) utilization. Enterococcus was the dominant family in the consortium DUT50, accounting for 93.66% of the total abundance, with Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Lactococcus, and Trichococcus accounted for the remaining 2.68%. This consortium could be resistant to inhibitors concentration up to 9.74 g/L (2.88 g/L acetic acid, 2.46 g/L furfural, 2.20 g/L 5-HMF, and 2.20 g/L vanillin derived from pretreatment of CS), and simultaneously metabolizes hexose and pentose without CCR effect. Based on the promising consortium features, an efficient process of simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) was developed to produce LA from acid pretreated corn stover, in which solid-liquid separation and detoxification were avoided. The key influencing factors were investigated and optimized, including dry biomass and cellulase loading, corn steep liquor powder concentration, and the pre-hydrolysis time. The highest LA titer of 71.04 g/L with a yield of 0.49 g/g-CS was achieved at a dry biomass loading of 20% (w/v), which is the highest LA production from non-detoxified acid pretreated corn stover via the SSCF process without wastewater generation reported to date. The simultaneous metabolism of hexose and pentose revealed collaboration between Enterococcus in the consortium, whereas xylose may be efficiently metabolized by Lactobacillus and Bacillus with low abundance via the pentose phosphate pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: The experimental results demonstrated the potential advantage of symbiosis in microbial consortia used for LA production from lignocellulosic biomass.}, } @article {pmid34875178, year = {2021}, author = {Crang, N and Borah, K and James, EK and Jorrín, B and Green, P and Tkacz, A and East, AK and Poole, PS}, title = {Role and Regulation of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate in Nitrogen Fixation in Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {1390-1398}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-21-0138-R}, pmid = {34875178}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/T001801/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Azorhizobium caulinodans ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Hydroxybutyrates ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Polyesters ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An Azorhizobium caulinodans phaC mutant (OPS0865) unable to make poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), grows poorly on many carbon sources and cannot fix nitrogen in laboratory culture. However, when inoculated onto its host plant, Sesbania rostrata, the phaC mutant consistently fixed nitrogen. Upon reisolation from S. rostrata root nodules, a suppressor strain (OPS0921) was isolated that has significantly improved growth on a variety of carbon sources and also fixes nitrogen in laboratory culture. The suppressor retains the original mutation and is unable to synthesize PHB. Genome sequencing revealed a suppressor transition mutation, G to A (position 357,354), 13 bases upstream of the ATG start codon of phaR in its putative ribosome binding site (RBS). PhaR is the global regulator of PHB synthesis but also has other roles in regulation within the cell. In comparison with the wild type, translation from the phaR native RBS is increased approximately sixfold in the phaC mutant background, suggesting that the level of PhaR is controlled by PHB. Translation from the phaR mutated RBS (RBS*) of the suppressor mutant strain (OPS0921) is locked at a low basal rate and unaffected by the phaC mutation, suggesting that RBS* renders the level of PhaR insensitive to regulation by PHB. In the original phaC mutant (OPS0865), the lack of nitrogen fixation and poor growth on many carbon sources is likely to be due to increased levels of PhaR causing dysregulation of its complex regulon, because PHB formation, per se, is not required for effective nitrogen fixation in A. caulinodans.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34875085, year = {2022}, author = {Beaumont, M and Mussard, E and Barilly, C and Lencina, C and Gress, L and Painteaux, L and Gabinaud, B and Cauquil, L and Aymard, P and Canlet, C and Paës, C and Knudsen, C and Combes, S}, title = {Developmental Stage, Solid Food Introduction, and Suckling Cessation Differentially Influence the Comaturation of the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Epithelium in Rabbits.}, journal = {The Journal of nutrition}, volume = {152}, number = {3}, pages = {723-736}, pmid = {34875085}, issn = {1541-6100}, mesh = {Animals ; Cecum ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Mammals ; *Microbiota ; Rabbits ; Weaning ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In mammals, the establishment around weaning of a symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and its host determines long-term health.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the factors driving the comaturation of the gut microbiota and intestinal epithelium at the suckling-to-weaning transition. We hypothesized that the developmental stage, solid food ingestion, and suckling cessation contribute to this process.

METHODS: From birth to day 18, Hyplus rabbits were exclusively suckling. From day 18 to day 25, rabbits were 1) exclusively suckling; 2) suckling and ingesting solid food; or 3) exclusively ingesting solid food. The microbiota (16S amplicon sequencing), metabolome (nuclear magnetic resonance), and epithelial gene expression (high-throughput qPCR) were analyzed in the cecum at days 18 and 25.

RESULTS: The microbiota structure and metabolic activity were modified with age when rabbits remained exclusively suckling. The epithelial gene expression of nutrient transporters, proliferation markers, and innate immune factors were also regulated with age (e.g., 1.5-fold decrease of TLR5). Solid food ingestion by suckling rabbits had a major effect on the gut microbiota by increasing its α diversity, remodeling its structure (e.g., 6.3-fold increase of Ruminococcaceae), and metabolic activity (e.g., 4.6-fold increase of butyrate). Solid food introduction also regulated the gene expression of nutrient transporters, differentiation markers, and innate immune factors in the epithelium (e.g., 3-fold increase of nitric oxide synthase). Suckling cessation had no effect on the microbiota, while it regulated the expression of genes involved in epithelial differentiation and immunoglobulin transport (e.g., 2.5-increase of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor).

CONCLUSIONS: In rabbits, the maturation of the microbiota at the suckling-to-weaning transition is driven by the introduction of solid food and, to a lesser extent, by the developmental stage. In contrast, the maturation of the intestinal epithelium at the suckling-to-weaning transition is under the influence of the developmental stage, solid food introduction, and suckling cessation.}, } @article {pmid34874617, year = {2022}, author = {An, X and Zhang, W and Ye, C and Smagghe, G and Wang, JJ and Niu, J}, title = {Discovery of a widespread presence bunyavirus that may have symbiont-like relationships with different species of aphids.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {1120-1134}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12989}, pmid = {34874617}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/physiology ; Mammals ; *Orthobunyavirus ; *Plant Viruses ; *RNA Viruses ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Aphids are important agricultural pests, vectors of many plant viruses and have sophisticated relationships with symbiotic microorganisms. Abundant asymptomatic RNA viruses have been reported in aphids due to the application of RNA-seq, but aphid-virus interactions remain unclear. Bunyavirales is the most abundant RNA virus order, which can infect mammals, arthropods, and plants. However, many bunyaviruses have specific hosts, such as insects. Here, we discovered 18 viruses from 10 aphid species by RNA-seq. Importantly, a widespread presence bunyavirus, Aphid bunyavirus 1 (ABV-1), was determined to have a wide host range, infecting and replicating in all 10 tested aphid species. ABV-1 may be transmitted horizontally during feeding on plant leaves and vertically through reproduction. In a comparison of the physiological parameters of ABV-1[high] and ABV-1[low] strains of pea aphid, higher ABV-1 titers reduced the total nymphal duration and induced the reproduction. Moreover, viral titer significantly affected the lipid and protein contents in pea aphids. In summary, we proposed that ABV-1 may have stable symbiont-like relationships with aphids, and these observations may provide a new direction for studying bunyaviruses in aphids and establishing a model for virus-aphid interactions.}, } @article {pmid34873267, year = {2021}, author = {Beaulieu, WT and Panaccione, DG and Quach, QN and Smoot, KL and Clay, K}, title = {Diversification of ergot alkaloids and heritable fungal symbionts in morning glories.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {1362}, pmid = {34873267}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Convolvulaceae/*microbiology ; Ergot Alkaloids/*analysis ; Hypocreales/chemistry/*physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heritable microorganisms play critical roles in life cycles of many macro-organisms but their prevalence and functional roles are unknown for most plants. Bioactive ergot alkaloids produced by heritable Periglandula fungi occur in some morning glories (Convolvulaceae), similar to ergot alkaloids in grasses infected with related fungi. Ergot alkaloids have been of longstanding interest given their toxic effects, psychoactive properties, and medical applications. Here we show that ergot alkaloids are concentrated in four morning glory clades exhibiting differences in alkaloid profiles and are more prevalent in species with larger seeds than those with smaller seeds. Further, we found a phylogenetically-independent, positive correlation between seed mass and alkaloid concentrations in symbiotic species. Our findings suggest that heritable symbiosis has diversified among particular clades by vertical transmission through seeds combined with host speciation, and that ergot alkaloids are particularly beneficial to species with larger seeds. Our results are consistent with the defensive symbiosis hypothesis where bioactive ergot alkaloids from Periglandula symbionts protect seeds and seedlings from natural enemies, and provide a framework for exploring microbial chemistry in other plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34873261, year = {2021}, author = {Wagner, M and Brunauer, G and Bathke, AC and Cary, SC and Fuchs, R and Sancho, LG and Türk, R and Ruprecht, U}, title = {Macroclimatic conditions as main drivers for symbiotic association patterns in lecideoid lichens along the Transantarctic Mountains, Ross Sea region, Antarctica.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {23460}, pmid = {34873261}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; *Climate ; Climate Change ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Haplotypes ; Lichens/*physiology ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Lecideoid lichens as dominant vegetation-forming organisms in the climatically harsh areas of the southern part of continental Antarctica show clear preferences in relation to environmental conditions (i.e. macroclimate). 306 lichen samples were included in the study, collected along the Ross Sea coast (78°S-85.5°S) at six climatically different sites. The species compositions as well as the associations of their two dominant symbiotic partners (myco- and photobiont) were set in context with environmental conditions along the latitudinal gradient. Diversity values were nonlinear with respect to latitude, with the highest alpha diversity in the milder areas of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (78°S) and the most southern areas (Durham Point, 85.5°S; Garden Spur, 84.5°S), and lowest in the especially arid and cold Darwin Area (~ 79.8°S). Furthermore, the specificity of mycobiont species towards their photobionts decreased under more severe climate conditions. The generalist lichen species Lecanora fuscobrunnea and Lecidea cancriformis were present in almost all habitats, but were dominant in climatically extreme areas. Carbonea vorticosa, Lecidella greenii and Rhizoplaca macleanii were confined to milder areas. In summary, the macroclimate is considered to be the main driver of species distribution, making certain species useful as bioindicators of climate conditions and, consequently, for assessing the consequences of climate change.}, } @article {pmid34873026, year = {2021}, author = {Wade, J and Byrne, DJ and Ballentine, CJ and Drakesmith, H}, title = {Temporal variation of planetary iron as a driver of evolution.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {51}, pages = {}, pmid = {34873026}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {MC_UU_00008/10/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_UU_12010/10/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biological Availability ; *Biological Evolution ; Earth, Planet ; Ecosystem ; *Evolution, Planetary ; Genetic Variation ; Geology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Iron/chemistry/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Water/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Iron is an irreplaceable component of proteins and enzyme systems required for life. This need for iron is a well-characterized evolutionary mechanism for genetic selection. However, there is limited consideration of how iron bioavailability, initially determined by planetary accretion but fluctuating considerably at global scale over geological time frames, has shaped the biosphere. We describe influences of iron on planetary habitability from formation events >4 Gya and initiation of biochemistry from geochemistry through oxygenation of the atmosphere to current host-pathogen dynamics. By determining the iron and transition element distribution within the terrestrial planets, planetary core formation is a constraint on both the crustal composition and the longevity of surface water, hence a planet's habitability. As such, stellar compositions, combined with metallic core-mass fraction, may be an observable characteristic of exoplanets that relates to their ability to support life. On Earth, the stepwise rise of atmospheric oxygen effectively removed gigatons of soluble ferrous iron from habitats, generating evolutionary pressures. Phagocytic, infectious, and symbiotic behaviors, dating from around the Great Oxygenation Event, refocused iron acquisition onto biotic sources, while eukaryotic multicellularity allows iron recycling within an organism. These developments allow life to more efficiently utilize a scarce but vital nutrient. Initiation of terrestrial life benefitted from the biochemical properties of abundant mantle/crustal iron, but the subsequent loss of iron bioavailability may have been an equally important driver of compensatory diversity. This latter concept may have relevance for the predicted future increase in iron deficiency across the food chain caused by elevated atmospheric CO2.}, } @article {pmid34871402, year = {2022}, author = {Wan, Y and Yang, L and Jiang, S and Qian, D and Duan, J}, title = {Excessive Apoptosis in Ulcerative Colitis: Crosstalk Between Apoptosis, ROS, ER Stress, and Intestinal Homeostasis.}, journal = {Inflammatory bowel diseases}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {639-648}, doi = {10.1093/ibd/izab277}, pmid = {34871402}, issn = {1536-4844}, mesh = {Apoptosis ; *Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ulcerative colitis (UC), an etiologically complicated and relapsing gastrointestinal disease, is characterized by the damage of mucosal epithelium and destruction of the intestinal homeostasis, which has caused a huge social and economic burden on the health system all over the world. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, including environmental factors, genetic susceptibility, epithelial barrier defect, symbiotic flora imbalance, and dysregulated immune response. Thus far, although immune cells have become the focus of most research, it is increasingly clear that intestinal epithelial cells play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of UC. Notably, apoptosis is a vital catabolic process in cells, which is crucial to maintain the stability of intestinal environment and regulate intestinal ecology. In this review, the mechanism of apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum stress, as well as excessive apoptosis in intestinal epithelial dysfunction and gut microbiology imbalance are systematically and comprehensively summarized. Further understanding the role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of UC may provide a novel strategy for its therapy in clinical practices and the development of new drugs.}, } @article {pmid34870861, year = {2022}, author = {Chu, X and Su, H and Hayashi, S and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Spatiotemporal changes in gibberellin content are required for soybean nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {2}, pages = {479-493}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17902}, pmid = {34870861}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; *Fabaceae ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The plant hormone gibberellin (GA) is required at different stages of legume nodule development, with its spatiotemporal distribution tightly regulated. Transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses established that several key GA biosynthesis and catabolism enzyme encoding genes are critical to soybean (Glycine max) nodule formation. We examined the expression of several GA oxidase genes and used a Förster resonance energy transfer-based GA biosensor to determine the bioactive GA content of roots inoculated with DsRed-labelled Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. We manipulated the level of GA by genetically disrupting the expression of GA oxidase genes. Moreover, exogenous treatment of soybean roots with GA3 induced the expression of key nodulation genes and altered infection thread and nodule phenotypes. GmGA20ox1a, GmGA3ox1a, and GmGA2ox1a are upregulated in soybean roots inoculated with compatible B. diazoefficiens. GmGA20ox1a expression is predominately localized to the transient meristem of soybean nodules and coincides with the spatiotemporal distribution of bioactive GA occurring throughout nodule organogenesis. GmGA2ox1a exhibits a nodule vasculature-specific expression pattern, whereas GmGA3ox1a can be detected throughout the nodule and root. Disruptions in the level of GA resulted in aberrant rhizobia infection and reduced nodule numbers. Collectively, our results establish a central role for GAs in root hair infection by symbiotic rhizobia and in nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid34870816, year = {2022}, author = {Liberti, A and Leigh, BA and Graham, Z and Natarajan, O and Dishaw, LJ}, title = {A Role for Secreted Immune Effectors in Microbial Biofilm Formation Revealed by Simple In Vitro Assays.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2421}, number = {}, pages = {127-140}, pmid = {34870816}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Carrier Proteins ; Chitin/metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Proteins ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The formation of biofilms is critical for the successful and stable colonization of mucosal surfaces by microbes, which often build three-dimensional environments by exuding exopolysaccharides and other macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, and even DNA. It is not just bacteria, but fungi such as yeast, that form these adherent interacting communities. Historically, biofilms have been studied in the context of pathogenesis, but only recently it has been recognized that important relationships among members of host-associated microbiomes are maintained within the context of biofilms. Host immune responses impact biofilm formation in various ways; for example, it is likely that formation of stable biofilms by non-pathogens improves barrier defenses by not just filling available niche spaces but also by helping to ward off pathogens directly. Recently, it was found that soluble immune effector molecules such as immunoglobulin A (IgA) in mammals serve essential roles in modulating complex biofilm communities in ways that benefit the host. Additional lines of evidence from other secreted immune effectors, such as the variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins (VCBPs) in protochordates, now suggest that this phenomenon is much more widespread than previously recognized. The activity of these immune molecules also likely serves roles beyond those of simple defense strategies; rather, they may be improving the outcome of symbiotic interactions benefiting the host. Thus, traditional immune assays that are aimed at studying the function of secreted immune effectors, such as agglutination assays, should take into account the possibility that the first observation may not be the last if the microbes under study are not directly killed. Here, we describe a series of simple approaches to characterize biofilm formation when bacteria (or yeast) are cultured in the presence of a secreted immune effector. To model this approach, we use microbes isolated from the gut of Ciona robusta, each grown in the presence or absence of VCBPs. The approaches defined here are amenable to diverse model systems and their microbes.}, } @article {pmid34870352, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Yang, P and Zhou, Y and Hu, T and Zhang, P and Wu, Y}, title = {A proteomic approach to understand the impact of nodulation on salinity stress response in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {323-332}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13369}, pmid = {34870352}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Medicago sativa ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proteomics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Salinity ; Salt Stress ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes is an important source of nitrogen supply in sustainable agriculture. Salinity is a key abiotic stress that negatively affects host plant growth, rhizobium-legume symbiosis and nitrogen fixation. This work investigates how the symbiotic relationship impacts plant response to salinity stress. We assayed the physiological changes and the proteome profile of alfalfa plants with active nodules (NA), inactive nodules (NI) or without nodules (NN) when plants were subjected to salinity stress. Our data suggest that NA plants respond to salinity stress through some unique signalling regulations. NA plants showed upregulation of proteins related to cell wall remodelling and reactive oxygen species scavenging, and downregulation of proteins involved in protein synthesis and degradation. The data also show that NA plants, together with NI plants, upregulated proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbon fixation and respiration, anion transport and plant defence against pathogens. The study suggests that the symbiotic relationship gave the host plant a better capacity to adjust key processes, probably to more efficiently use energy and resources, deal with oxidative stress, and maintain ion homeostasis and health during salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid34869967, year = {2021}, author = {Narayan, M}, title = {Securing Native Disulfide Bonds in Disulfide-Coupled Protein Folding Reactions: The Role of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Elements vis-à-vis Protein Aggregation and Neurodegeneration.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {6}, number = {47}, pages = {31404-31410}, pmid = {34869967}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Disulfide bonds play an important role in physiology and are the mainstay of proteins that reside in the plasma membrane and of those that are secreted outside the cell. Disulfide-bond-containing proteins comprise ∼30% of all eukaryotic proteins. Using bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) as an exemplar, we review the regeneration (oxidative folding) of disulfide-bond-containing proteins from their fully reduced state to the biologically active form. We discuss the key aspects of the oxidative folding landscape w.r.t. the acquisition and retention of native disulfide bonds which is an essential requirement for the polypeptide to be biologically functional. By re-examining the regeneration trajectory in light of the symbiotic relationship between native disulfide bonds and a protective structure, we describe the elements that compete with the processes that secure native disulfide bonds in disulfide-coupled protein folding. The impact of native-disulfide-bond formation on protein stability, trafficking, protein misfolding, and neurodegenerative onset is elaborated upon.}, } @article {pmid34868178, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, W and Ye, T and Sun, Q and Niu, T and Zhang, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Alters Root System Architecture in Camellia sinensis L. as Revealed by RNA-Seq Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {777357}, pmid = {34868178}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), forming symbiosis with most terrestrial plants, strongly modulates root system architecture (RSA), which is the main characteristic of root in soil, to improve plant growth and development. So far, the studies of AMF on tea plant seedlings are few and the relevant molecular mechanism is not deciphered. In this study, the 6-month-old cutting seedlings of tea plant cultivar "Wancha No.4" were inoculated with an AMF isolate, Rhizophagus intraradices BGC JX04B and harvested after 6 months of growth. The indexes of RSA and sugar contents in root were determined. The transcriptome data in root tips of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal cutting seedlings were obtained by RNA-sequence (Seq) analysis. The results showed that AMF significantly decreased plant growth, but increased the sucrose content in root and the higher classes of lateral root (LR) formation (third and fourth LR). We identified 2047 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the transcriptome data, and DEGs involved in metabolisms of phosphorus (42 DEGs), sugar (39), lipid (67), and plant hormones (39) were excavated out. Variation partitioning analysis showed all these four categories modulated the RSA. In phosphorus (P) metabolism, the phosphate transport and release (DEGs related to purple acid phosphatase) were promoted by AMF inoculation, while DEGs of sugar transport protein in sugar metabolism were downregulated. Lipid metabolism might not be responsible for root branching but for AMF propagation. With respect to phytohormones, DEGs of auxin (13), ethylene (14), and abscisic acid (5) were extensively affected by AMF inoculation, especially for auxin and ethylene. The further partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis indicated that pathways of P metabolism and auxin, as well as the direct way of AMF inoculation, were of the most important in AMF promoting root branching, while ethylene performed a negative role. Overall, our data revealed the alterations of genome-wide gene expression in tea plant roots after inoculation with AMF and provided a molecular basis for the regulatory mechanism of RSA (mainly root branching) changes induced by AMF.}, } @article {pmid34868165, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, X and Wei, X and Ling, J and Chen, J}, title = {Cobalt: An Essential Micronutrient for Plant Growth?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {768523}, pmid = {34868165}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cobalt is a transition metal located in the fourth row of the periodic table and is a neighbor of iron and nickel. It has been considered an essential element for prokaryotes, human beings, and other mammals, but its essentiality for plants remains obscure. In this article, we proposed that cobalt (Co) is a potentially essential micronutrient of plants. Co is essential for the growth of many lower plants, such as marine algal species including diatoms, chrysophytes, and dinoflagellates, as well as for higher plants in the family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. The essentiality to leguminous plants is attributed to its role in nitrogen (N) fixation by symbiotic microbes, primarily rhizobia. Co is an integral component of cobalamin or vitamin B12, which is required by several enzymes involved in N2 fixation. In addition to symbiosis, a group of N2 fixing bacteria known as diazotrophs is able to situate in plant tissue as endophytes or closely associated with roots of plants including economically important crops, such as barley, corn, rice, sugarcane, and wheat. Their action in N2 fixation provides crops with the macronutrient of N. Co is a component of several enzymes and proteins, participating in plant metabolism. Plants may exhibit Co deficiency if there is a severe limitation in Co supply. Conversely, Co is toxic to plants at higher concentrations. High levels of Co result in pale-colored leaves, discolored veins, and the loss of leaves and can also cause iron deficiency in plants. It is anticipated that with the advance of omics, Co as a constitute of enzymes and proteins and its specific role in plant metabolism will be exclusively revealed. The confirmation of Co as an essential micronutrient will enrich our understanding of plant mineral nutrition and improve our practice in crop production.}, } @article {pmid34868100, year = {2021}, author = {García-Soto, I and Boussageon, R and Cruz-Farfán, YM and Castro-Chilpa, JD and Hernández-Cerezo, LX and Bustos-Zagal, V and Leija-Salas, A and Hernández, G and Torres, M and Formey, D and Courty, PE and Wipf, D and Serrano, M and Tromas, A}, title = {The Lotus japonicus ROP3 Is Involved in the Establishment of the Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis but Not of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {696450}, pmid = {34868100}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes form root mutualistic symbioses with some soil microbes promoting their growth, rhizobia, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A conserved set of plant proteins rules the transduction of symbiotic signals from rhizobia and AMF in a so-called common symbiotic signaling pathway (CSSP). Despite considerable efforts and advances over the past 20 years, there are still key elements to be discovered about the establishment of these root symbioses. Rhizobia and AMF root colonization are possible after a deep cell reorganization. In the interaction between the model legume Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium loti, this reorganization has been shown to be dependent on a SCAR/Wave-like signaling module, including Rho-GTPase (ROP in plants). Here, we studied the potential role of ROP3 in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis (NFS) as well as in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). We performed a detailed phenotypic study on the effects of the loss of a single ROP on the establishment of both root symbioses. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of key genes related to CSSP and to the rhizobial-specific pathway. Under our experimental conditions, rop3 mutant showed less nodule formation at 7- and 21-days post inoculation as well as less microcolonies and a higher frequency of epidermal infection threads. However, AMF root colonization was not affected. These results suggest a role of ROP3 as a positive regulator of infection thread formation and nodulation in L. japonicus. In addition, CSSP gene expression was neither affected in NFS nor in AMS condition in rop3 mutant. whereas the expression level of some genes belonging to the rhizobial-specific pathway, like RACK1, decreased in the NFS. In conclusion, ROP3 appears to be involved in the NFS, but is neither required for intra-radical growth of AMF nor arbuscule formation.}, } @article {pmid34867901, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, ZW and Long, HZ and Cheng, Y and Luo, HY and Wen, DD and Gao, LC}, title = {From Microbiome to Inflammation: The Key Drivers of Cervical Cancer.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {767931}, pmid = {34867901}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Microbes and hosts form a mutually beneficial symbiosis relationship, and various parts of the host body are microbial habitats. Microbes can trigger inflammation in certain parts of the host body, contributing to cervical cancer development. This article reviews the relationship between cervicovaginal microbes, inflammation and cervical cancer, and discusses the effect of some key cervical microbes on cervical cancer. Finally, probiotic therapy and immunotherapy are summarized.}, } @article {pmid34867860, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, L and Wang, D and Yin, Z and Zhang, C and Bible, A and Xie, Z}, title = {The FtcR-Like Protein ActR in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 Is Involved in Bacterial Motility and Symbiosis With the Host Plant.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {744268}, pmid = {34867860}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial signal transduction pathways are important for a variety of adaptive responses to environment, such as two-component systems (TCSs). In this paper, we reported the characterization of a transcriptional regulator in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, ActR, with an N-terminal receiver domain and one C-terminal OmpR/PhoB-type DNA binding domain. Sequence analysis showed that ActR shared a high similarity with FtcR regulator of Brucella melitensis 16M known to be involved in flagellar regulation. The structural gene of this regulator was largely distributed in Alphaproteobacteria, in particular in Rhizobiales and Rhodobacterales, and was located within clusters of genes related to motility functions. Furthermore, we studied the biological function of ActR in A. caulinodans grown at the free-living state or in association with Sesbania rostrata by constructing actR gene deletion mutant. In the free-living state, the bacterial flagellum and motility ability were entirely deleted, the expression of flagellar genes was downregulated; and the exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, and cell flocculation decreased significantly compared with those of the wild-type strain. In the symbiotic state, ΔactR mutant strain showed weakly competitive colonization and nodulation on the host plant. These results illustrated that FtcR-like regulator in A. caulinodans is involved in flagellar biosynthesis and provide bacteria with an effective competitive nodulation for symbiosis. These findings improved our knowledge of FtcR-like transcriptional regulator in A. caulinodans.}, } @article {pmid34865251, year = {2022}, author = {Igai, K and Kitade, O and Fu, J and Omata, K and Yonezawa, T and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Fine-scale genetic diversity and putative ecotypes of oxymonad protists coinhabiting the hindgut of Reticulitermes speratus.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {1317-1331}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16309}, pmid = {34865251}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecotype ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Humans ; *Isoptera/genetics ; *Oxymonadida ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hindgut of lower termites is generally coinhabited by multiple morphologically identifiable protist species. However, it is unclear how many protist species truly coexist in this miniaturized environment, and moreover, it is difficult to define the fundamental unit of protist diversity. Species delineation of termite gut protists has therefore been guided without a theory-based concept of species. Here, we focused on the hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes speratus, where 10 or 11 morphologically distinct oxymonad cell types, that is, morphospecies, coexist. We elucidated the phylogenetic structure of all co-occurring oxymonads and addressed whether their diversity can be explained by the "ecotype" hypothesis. Oxymonad-specific 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses of whole-gut samples, combined with single-cell 18S rRNA sequencing of the oxymonad morphospecies, identified 210 one-nucleotide-level variants. The phylogenetic analysis of these variants revealed the presence of microdiverse clusters typically within 1% sequence divergence. Each known oxymonad morphospecies comprised one to several monophyletic or paraphyletic microdiverse clusters. Using these sequence data sets, we conducted computational simulation to predict the rates of ecotype formation and periodic selection, and to demarcate putative ecotypes. Our simulations suggested that the oxymonad genetic divergence is constrained primarily by strong selection, in spite of limited population size and possible bottlenecks during intergenerational transmission. A total of 33 oxymonad ecotypes were predicted, and most of the putative ecotypes were consistently detected among different colonies and host individuals. These findings provide a possible theoretical basis for species diversity and underlying mechanisms of coexistence of termite gut protists.}, } @article {pmid34864282, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Liu, G and Han, K and Sun, L and Gao, K and Liu, W and Wang, ET and Chen, W}, title = {Distribution and biodiversity of rhizobia nodulating Chamaecrista mimosoides in the Shandong peninsula of china.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {126280}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126280}, pmid = {34864282}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Chamaecrista ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chamaecrista mimosoides is an annual herb legume widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa. It may have primitive and independently-evolved root nodule types but its rhizobia have not been systematically studied. Therefore, in order to learn the diversity and species affinity of its rhizobia, root nodules were sampled from C. mimosoides plants growing in seven geographical sites along the coast line of Shandong Peninsula, China. A total of 422 rhizobial isolates were obtained from nodules, and they were classified into 28 recA haplotypes. By using multilocus sequence analysis of the concatenated housekeeping genes dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB, the representative strains for these haplotypes were designated as eight defined and five candidate novel genospecies in the genus Bradyrhizobium. Bradyrhizobium elkanii and Bradyrhizobium ferriligni were predominant and universally distributed. The symbiotic genes nodC and nifH of the representative strains showed very similar topology in their phylogenetic trees indicating their co-evolution history. All the representative strains formed effective root nodules in nodulation tests. The correlation between genospecies and soil characteristics analyzed by CANOCO software indicated that available potassium (AK), organic carbon (OC) and available nitrogen (AN) in the soil samples were the main factors affecting the distribution of the symbionts involved in this current study. The study is the first systematic survey of Chamaecrista mimosoides-nodulating rhizobia, and it showed that Chamaecrista spp. were nodulated by bradyrhizobia in natural environments. In addition, the host spectrum of the corresponding rhizobial species was extended, and the study provided novel information on the biodiversity and biogeography of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid34862970, year = {2022}, author = {Yun, J and Sun, Z and Jiang, Q and Wang, Y and Wang, C and Luo, Y and Zhang, F and Li, X}, title = {The miR156b-GmSPL9d module modulates nodulation by targeting multiple core nodulation genes in soybean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {4}, pages = {1881-1899}, pmid = {34862970}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nodulation is initiated in the roots of legumes in response to low nitrogen and rhizobial signal molecules and is dynamically regulated by a complex regulatory network that coordinates rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. It has been shown that the miR156-SPL module mediates nodulation in legumes; however, conclusive evidence of how this module exerts its function during nodulation remains elusive. Here, we report that the miR156b-GmSPL9d module regulates symbiotic nodulation by targeting multiple key regulatory genes in the nodulation signalling pathway of soybean. miR156 family members are differentially expressed during nodulation, and miR156b negatively regulates nodulation by mainly targeting soybean SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like 9d (GmSPL9d), a positive regulator of soybean nodulation. GmSPL9d directly binds to the miR172c promoter and activates its expression, suggesting a conserved role of GmSPL9d. Furthermore, GmSPL9d was coexpressed with the soybean nodulation marker genes nodule inception a (GmNINa) and GmENOD40-1 during nodule formation and development. Intriguingly, GmSPL9d can bind to the promoters of GmNINa and GmENOD40-1 and regulate their expression. Our data demonstrate that the miR156b-GmSPL9d module acts as an upstream master regulator of soybean nodulation, which coordinates multiple marker genes involved in soybean nodulation.}, } @article {pmid34861049, year = {2022}, author = {Looney, B and Miyauchi, S and Morin, E and Drula, E and Courty, PE and Kohler, A and Kuo, A and LaButti, K and Pangilinan, J and Lipzen, A and Riley, R and Andreopoulos, W and He, G and Johnson, J and Nolan, M and Tritt, A and Barry, KW and Grigoriev, IV and Nagy, LG and Hibbett, D and Henrissat, B and Matheny, PB and Labbé, J and Martin, FM}, title = {Evolutionary transition to the ectomycorrhizal habit in the genomes of a hyperdiverse lineage of mushroom-forming fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {5}, pages = {2294-2309}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17892}, pmid = {34861049}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Agaricales/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Habits ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis has independently evolved from diverse types of saprotrophic ancestors. In this study, we seek to identify genomic signatures of the transition to the ECM habit within the hyperdiverse Russulaceae. We present comparative analyses of the genomic architecture and the total and secreted gene repertoires of 18 species across the order Russulales, of which 13 are newly sequenced, including a representative of a saprotrophic member of Russulaceae, Gloeopeniophorella convolvens. The genomes of ECM Russulaceae are characterized by a loss of genes for plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), an expansion of genome size through increased transposable element (TE) content, a reduction in secondary metabolism clusters, and an association of small secreted proteins (SSPs) with TE 'nests', or dense aggregations of TEs. Some PCWDEs have been retained or even expanded, mostly in a species-specific manner. The genome of G. convolvens possesses some characteristics of ECM genomes (e.g. loss of some PCWDEs, TE expansion, reduction in secondary metabolism clusters). Functional specialization in ECM decomposition may drive diversification. Accelerated gene evolution predates the evolution of the ECM habit, indicating that changes in genome architecture and gene content may be necessary to prime the evolutionary switch.}, } @article {pmid34858367, year = {2021}, author = {Yuan, S and Zhou, S and Feng, Y and Zhang, C and Huang, Y and Shan, Z and Chen, S and Guo, W and Yang, H and Yang, Z and Qiu, D and Chen, H and Zhou, X}, title = {Identification of the Important Genes of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens 113-2 Involved in Soybean Nodule Development and Senescence.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {754837}, pmid = {34858367}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Legume nodule development and senescence directly affect nitrogen fixation efficiency and involve a programmed series of molecular events. These molecular events are carried out synchronously by legumes and rhizobia. The characteristics and molecular mechanisms of nitrogen fixation at soybean important developmental stages play critical roles in soybean cultivation and fertilizer application. Although the gene expression of soybean were analyzed in nodules at five important soybean developmental stages, information on the expression of rhizobial genes in these nodule samples is limited. In the present study, we investigated the expression of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens 113-2 genes in the nodule samples from five developmental stages of soybean (Branching stage, flowering stage, fruiting stage, pod stage and harvest stage). Similar gene expression patterns of B. diazoefficiens 113-2 were existed during optimal symbiotic functioning, while different expression patterns were found among early nodule development, nitrogen fixation progress and nodule senescence. Besides, we identified 164 important different expression genes (DEGs) associated with nodule development and senescence. These DEGs included those encoding nod, nif, fix proteins and T3SS secretion system-related proteins, as well as proteins involved in nitrogen metabolism, ABC transporters and two-component system pathways. Gene Ontology, KEGG pathway and homology analysis of the identified DEGs revealed that most of these DEGs are uncharacterized genes associated with nodule development and senescence, and they are not core genes among the rhizobia genomes. Our results provide new clues for the understanding of the genetic determinants of soil rhizobia in nodule development and senescence, and supply theoretical basis for the creation of high efficiency soybean cultivation technology.}, } @article {pmid34857934, year = {2022}, author = {Rädecker, N and Pogoreutz, C and Gegner, HM and Cárdenas, A and Perna, G and Geißler, L and Roth, F and Bougoure, J and Guagliardo, P and Struck, U and Wild, C and Pernice, M and Raina, JB and Meibom, A and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Heat stress reduces the contribution of diazotrophs to coral holobiont nitrogen cycling.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {1110-1118}, pmid = {34857934}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Heat-Shock Response ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Efficient nutrient cycling in the coral-algal symbiosis requires constant but limited nitrogen availability. Coral-associated diazotrophs, i.e., prokaryotes capable of fixing dinitrogen, may thus support productivity in a stable coral-algal symbiosis but could contribute to its breakdown when overstimulated. However, the effects of environmental conditions on diazotroph communities and their interaction with other members of the coral holobiont remain poorly understood. Here we assessed the effects of heat stress on diazotroph diversity and their contribution to holobiont nutrient cycling in the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata from the central Red Sea. In a stable symbiotic state, we found that nitrogen fixation by coral-associated diazotrophs constitutes a source of nitrogen to the algal symbionts. Heat stress caused an increase in nitrogen fixation concomitant with a change in diazotroph communities. Yet, this additional fixed nitrogen was not assimilated by the coral tissue or the algal symbionts. We conclude that although diazotrophs may support coral holobiont functioning under low nitrogen availability, altered nutrient cycling during heat stress abates the dependence of the coral host and its algal symbionts on diazotroph-derived nitrogen. Consequently, the role of nitrogen fixation in the coral holobiont is strongly dependent on its nutritional status and varies dynamically with environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid34856767, year = {2021}, author = {Boem, F and Nannini, G and Amedei, A}, title = {Multidisciplinary of anti-COVID-19 battle: from immunological weapons to ecological interventions.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {1274-1285}, doi = {10.52586/5023}, pmid = {34856767}, issn = {2768-6698}, mesh = {COVID-19/immunology/*prevention & control/virology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy/*methods ; SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a medical and epidemiological problem. In fact, its impact concerns numerous aspects of human life (such as social and the political-economic dimension). This review aims at highlighting some crucial and neglected aspects of the pandemic in order to include them into a more general framework for the understanding of the phenomenon. Accordingly, it is structured as follows. First, after e brief recap of COVID-19 onset, it is argued the so-called proximate causes of the pandemic, i.e., the mechanisms by which viruses infect their hosts and the patterns of spread of the resulting pathologies, are not enough for a more adequate understanding of it. Second, it is shown how possible solutions to the risk of an upcoming pandemic involve studying the ultimate causes of this phenomenon. This means understanding not only how COVID-19 has become a global issue but also why it was possible for this to happen. Next, it is argued that is urgent to go to the root of the possible conditions: thus looking at the ecological dimension of diseases, the role of microorganisms in evolution, up to rethinking the organization of health systems. Third, to keep these very different perspectives together entails the study of COVID-19 from the point of view of the relationships between biological entities in a purely systemic dimension. Fourth, special attention is given to the symbiotic perspective offered by the study of the microbiota. It is argued how this perspective on microbiota provides an innovative interpretative lens with which to analyze various aspects (from the immunological to the ecosystemic one) of the pandemic. In conclusion, it is claimed that this field of study could perhaps offer not only elements that will be useful to make the treatment and containment strategies of the pandemic effective in its mechanisms, but also may suggest innovative elements for the solutions about the deep reasons that have made COVID-19 a global issue.}, } @article {pmid34855810, year = {2021}, author = {Nishida, A and Nakagawa, M and Yamamura, M}, title = {Determinism of microbial community assembly by drastic environmental change.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {e0260591}, pmid = {34855810}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Stochastic Processes ; }, abstract = {Microbial community assembly is shaped by deterministic and stochastic processes, but the relationship between these processes and the environment is not understood. Here we describe a rule for the determinism and stochasticity of microbial community assembly affected by the environment using in silico, in situ, and ex situ experiments. The in silico experiment with a simple mathematical model showed that the existence of essential symbiotic microorganisms caused stochastic microbial community assembly, unless the community was exposed to a non-adapted nutritional concentration. Then, a deterministic assembly occurred due to the low number of microorganisms adapted to the environment. In the in situ experiment in the middle of a river, the microbial community composition was relatively deterministic after the drastic environmental change caused by the treated wastewater contamination, as analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Furthermore, by culturing microbial communities collected from the upstream natural area and downstream urban area of the river in test tubes with varying carbon source concentrations, the upstream community assembly became deterministic with high carbon concentrations while the downstream community assembly became deterministic with low carbon concentrations. These results suggest that large environmental changes, which are different from the original environment, result in a deterministic microbial community assembly.}, } @article {pmid34855479, year = {2021}, author = {Ortiz-Ramírez, C and Guillotin, B and Xu, X and Rahni, R and Zhang, S and Yan, Z and Coqueiro Dias Araujo, P and Demesa-Arevalo, E and Lee, L and Van Eck, J and Gingeras, TR and Jackson, D and Gallagher, KL and Birnbaum, KD}, title = {Ground tissue circuitry regulates organ complexity in maize and Setaria.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {374}, number = {6572}, pages = {1247-1252}, pmid = {34855479}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {P30 CA045508/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM136362/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Flow Cytometry ; Genome, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA-Seq ; Setaria Plant/cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Zea mays/cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Most plant roots have multiple cortex layers that make up the bulk of the organ and play key roles in physiology, such as flood tolerance and symbiosis. However, little is known about the formation of cortical layers outside of the highly reduced anatomy of Arabidopsis. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing to rapidly generate a cell-resolution map of the maize root, revealing an alternative configuration of the tissue formative transcription factor SHORT-ROOT (SHR) adjacent to an expanded cortex. We show that maize SHR protein is hypermobile, moving at least eight cell layers into the cortex. Higher-order SHR mutants in both maize and Setaria have reduced numbers of cortical layers, showing that the SHR pathway controls expansion of cortical tissue to elaborate anatomical complexity.}, } @article {pmid34855234, year = {2022}, author = {Zarei, A and Javid, H and Sanjarian, S and Senemar, S and Zarei, H}, title = {Metagenomics studies for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.}, journal = {The Prostate}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {289-297}, doi = {10.1002/pros.24276}, pmid = {34855234}, issn = {1097-0045}, mesh = {Genitalia, Male/*microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Precision Medicine ; *Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism/therapy ; }, abstract = {AIM: Mutation occurs in the prostate cell genes, leading to abnormal prostate proliferation and ultimately cancer. Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers amongst men, and its prevalence worldwide increases relative to men's age. About 16% of the world's cancers are the result of microbes in the human body. Impaired population balance of symbiosis microbes in the human reproductive system is linked to PC development.

DISCUSSION: With the advent of metagenomics science, the genome sequence of the microbiota of the human body has been unveiled. Therefore, it is now possible to identify a higher range of microbiome changes in PC tissue via the Next Generation Technique, which will have positive consequences in personalized medicine. In this review, we intend to question the role of metagenomics studies in the diagnosis and treatment of PC.

CONCLUSION: The microbial imbalance in the men's genital tract might have an effect on prostate health. Based on next-generation sequencing-generated data, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteriodetes are the nine frequent phyla detected in a PC sample, which might be involved in inducing mutation in the prostate cells that cause cancer.}, } @article {pmid34854911, year = {2022}, author = {Kanyile, SN and Engl, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Nutritional symbionts enhance structural defence against predation and fungal infection in a grain pest beetle.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {225}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {34854911}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {ERC CoG 819585/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Mycoses ; Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects benefit from bacterial symbionts that provide essential nutrients and thereby extend the hosts' adaptive potential and their ability to cope with challenging environments. However, the implications of nutritional symbioses for the hosts' defence against natural enemies remain largely unstudied. Here, we investigated whether the cuticle-enhancing nutritional symbiosis of the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis confers protection against predation and fungal infection. We exposed age-defined symbiotic and symbiont-depleted (aposymbiotic) beetles to two antagonists that must actively penetrate the cuticle for a successful attack: wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana. While young beetles suffered from high predation and fungal infection rates regardless of symbiont presence, symbiotic beetles were able to escape this period of vulnerability and reach high survival probabilities significantly faster than aposymbiotic beetles. To understand the mechanistic basis of these differences, we conducted a time-series analysis of cuticle development in symbiotic and aposymbiotic beetles by measuring cuticular melanisation and thickness. The results reveal that the symbionts accelerate their host's cuticle formation and thereby enable it to quickly reach a cuticle quality threshold that confers structural protection against predation and fungal infection. Considering the widespread occurrence of cuticle enhancement via symbiont-mediated tyrosine supplementation in beetles and other insects, our findings demonstrate how nutritional symbioses can have important ecological implications reaching beyond the immediate nutrient-provisioning benefits.}, } @article {pmid34854195, year = {2022}, author = {Khan, Y and Xiong, Z and Zhang, H and Liu, S and Yaseen, T and Hui, T}, title = {Expression and roles of GRAS gene family in plant growth, signal transduction, biotic and abiotic stress resistance and symbiosis formation-a review.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {404-416}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13364}, pmid = {34854195}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The GRAS (derived from GAI, RGA and SCR) gene family consists of plant-specific genes, works as a transcriptional regulator and plays a key part in the regulation of plant growth and development. The past decade has witnessed significant progress in understanding and advances on GRAS transcription factors in various plants. A notable concern is to what extent the mechanisms found in plants, particularly crops, are shared by other species, and what other characteristics are dependent on GRAS transcription factor (TFS)-mediated gene expression. GRAS are involved in many processes that are intimately linked to plant growth regulation. However, GRAS also perform additional roles against environmental stresses, allowing plants to function more efficiently. GRAS increase plant growth and development by improving several physiological processes, such as phytohormone, biosynthetic and signalling pathways. Furthermore, the GRAS gene family plays an important role in response to abiotic stresses, e.g. photooxidative stress. Moreover, evidence shows the involvement of GRAS in arbuscule development during plant-mycorrhiza associations. In this review, the diverse roles of GRAS in plant systems are highlighted that could be useful in enhancing crop productivity through genetic modification, especially of crops. This is the first review to report the role and function of the GRAS gene family in plant systems. Furthermore, a large number of studies are reviewed, and several limitations and research gaps identified that must be addressed in future studies.}, } @article {pmid34853824, year = {2021}, author = {Elliott, AJ and Daniell, TJ and Cameron, DD and Field, KJ}, title = {A commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum increases root colonization across wheat cultivars but does not increase assimilation of mycorrhiza-acquired nutrients.}, journal = {Plants, people, planet}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {588-599}, pmid = {34853824}, issn = {2572-2611}, abstract = {Production and heavy application of chemical-based fertilizers to maintain crop yields is unsustainable due to pollution from run-off, high CO2 emissions, and diminishing yield returns. Access to fertilizers will be limited in the future due to rising energy costs and dwindling rock phosphate resources. A growing number of companies produce and sell arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculants, intended to help reduce fertilizer usage by facilitating crop nutrient uptake through arbuscular mycorrhizas. However, their success has been variable. Here, we present information about the efficacy of a commercially available AMF inoculant in increasing AMF root colonization and fungal contribution to plant nutrient uptake, which are critical considerations within the growing AMF inoculant industry. Summary Arable agriculture needs sustainable solutions to reduce reliance on large inputs of nutrient fertilizers while continuing to improve crop yields. By harnessing arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, there is potential to improve crop nutrient assimilation and growth without additional inputs, although the efficacy of commercially available mycorrhizal inocula in agricultural systems remains controversial.Using stable and radioisotope tracing, carbon-for-nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and three modern cultivars of wheat was quantified in a non-sterile, agricultural soil, with or without the addition of a commercial mycorrhizal inoculant.While there was no effect of inoculum addition on above-ground plant biomass, there was increased root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and changes in community structure. Inoculation increased phosphorus uptake across all wheat cultivars by up to 30%, although this increase was not directly attributable to mycorrhizal fungi. Carbon-for-nutrient exchange between symbionts varied substantially between the wheat cultivars.Plant tissue phosphorus increased in inoculated plants potentially because of changes induced by inoculation in microbial community composition and/or nutrient cycling within the rhizosphere. Our data contribute to the growing consensus that mycorrhizal inoculants could play a role in sustainable food production systems of the future.}, } @article {pmid34853255, year = {2021}, author = {Sato, T and Kasuya, A and Kobayashi, H and Asahina, Y and Suzuki, T and Aoyama, K and Yamazaki, K and Yaguchi, T}, title = {A Case of an Ex Vivo Onychomycosis Model Introduced with a Cultured Colony of Kocuria koreensis from a Diabetic Ingrown Toenail.}, journal = {Medical mycology journal}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {89-92}, doi = {10.3314/mmj.21-00005}, pmid = {34853255}, issn = {1882-0476}, mesh = {*Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Humans ; Male ; Micrococcaceae ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; *Nails, Ingrown ; *Onychomycosis ; }, abstract = {A 57-year-old male patient with >10-year history of type 2 diabetes presented with a left big toenail deformity and pain. A physical examination revealed a white and yellow-to-brown patch on the nail as well as thickening and ingrowth of the nail plate. The nail plate was opened using nippers, and a fungal culture revealed Trichophyton interdigitale with yellow yeast. The yeast isolate was identified as Kocuria koreensis, a Gram-positive aerobic coccoid with keratinolytic properties that is part of the normal flora of the skin. We created an ex vivo onychomycosis model of T. interdigitale infection of the human nail by placing a sterilized normal nail on the cultured slant. K. koreensis initially spread over the normal nail, and T. interdigitale then penetrated the nail plate. After one year and six months, a spiral ingrown nail developed. A histopathological examination of the spiral revealed onychomycosis with superficial and deep abscesses of Gram-positive cocci infection. We performed PCR from paraffin-embedded material, and the sequences obtained were identical to those of T. interdigitale and K. koreensis. These results suggest that the development of onychomycosis by T. interdigitale is introduced and accelerated by K. koreensis, and the symbiosis of these microorganisms is suspected in the nail. This ex vivo model has a number of limitations. Therefore, further research on co-infected cases is needed to confirm this hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid34852184, year = {2022}, author = {Park, JD and Li, Y and Moon, K and Han, EJ and Lee, SR and Seyedsayamdost, MR}, title = {Structural Elucidation of Cryptic Algaecides in Marine Algal-Bacterial Symbioses by NMR Spectroscopy and MicroED.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {61}, number = {4}, pages = {e202114022}, pmid = {34852184}, issn = {1521-3773}, support = {R01 GM140034/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Herbicides/*chemistry/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Structure ; *Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Rhodobacteraceae/*chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial secondary metabolite discovery is often conducted in pure monocultures. In a natural setting, however, where metabolites are constantly exchanged, biosynthetic precursors are likely provided by symbionts or hosts. In the current work, we report eight novel and architecturally unusual secondary metabolites synthesized by the bacterial symbiont Phaeobacter inhibens from precursors that, in a native context, would be provided by their algal hosts. Three of these were produced at low titres and their structures were determined de novo using the emerging microcrystal electron diffraction method. Some of the new metabolites exhibited potent algaecidal activity suggesting that the bacterial symbiont can convert algal precursors, tryptophan and sinapic acid, into complex cytotoxins. Our results have important implications for the parasitic phase of algal-bacterial symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid34850882, year = {2022}, author = {Achom, M and Roy, P and Lagunas, B and Picot, E and Richards, L and Bonyadi-Pour, R and Pardal, AJ and Baxter, L and Richmond, BL and Aschauer, N and Fletcher, EM and Rowson, M and Blackwell, J and Rich-Griffin, C and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Ott, S and Carré, IA and Gifford, ML}, title = {Plant circadian clock control of Medicago truncatula nodulation via regulation of nodule cysteine-rich peptides.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {7}, pages = {2142-2156}, pmid = {34850882}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/T015357/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Circadian Clocks ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Peptides/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes house nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic rhizobia in specialized polyploid cells within root nodules, which undergo tightly regulated metabolic activity. By carrying out expression analysis of transcripts over time in Medicago truncatula nodules, we found that the circadian clock enables coordinated control of metabolic and regulatory processes linked to nitrogen fixation. This involves the circadian clock-associated transcription factor LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), with lhy mutants being affected in nodulation. Rhythmic transcripts in root nodules include a subset of nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) that have the LHY-bound conserved evening element in their promoters. Until now, studies have suggested that NCRs act to regulate bacteroid differentiation and keep the rhizobial population in check. However, these conclusions came from the study of a few members of this very large gene family that has complex diversified spatio-temporal expression. We suggest that rhythmic expression of NCRs may be important for temporal coordination of bacterial activity with the rhythms of the plant host, in order to ensure optimal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34850518, year = {2022}, author = {Brunetti, M and Magoga, G and Gionechetti, F and De Biase, A and Montagna, M}, title = {Does diet breadth affect the complexity of the phytophagous insect microbiota? The case study of Chrysomelidae.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {3565-3579}, pmid = {34850518}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/microbiology ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Diet ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Plants/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rickettsia/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chrysomelidae is a family of phytophagous insects with a highly variable degree of trophic specialization. The aim of this study is to test whether species feeding on different plants (generalists) harbour more complex microbiotas than those feeding on a few or a single plant species (specialists). The microbiota of representative leaf beetle species was characterized with a metabarcoding approach targeting V1-V2 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA. Almost all the analysed species harbour at least one reproductive manipulator bacteria (e.g., Wolbachia, Rickettsia). Two putative primary symbionts, previously isolated only from a single species (Bromius obscurus), have been detected in two species of the same subfamily, suggesting a widespread symbiosis in Eumolpinae. Surprisingly, the well-known aphid symbiont Buchnera is well represented in the microbiota of Orsodacne humeralis. Moreover, in this study, using Hill numbers to dissect the components of the microbiota diversity (abundant and rare bacteria), it has been demonstrated that generalist insect species harbour a more diversified microbiota than specialists. The higher microbiota diversity associated with a wider host-plant spectrum could be seen as an adaptive trait, conferring new metabolic potential useful to expand the diet breath, or as a result of environmental stochastic acquisition conveyed by diet.}, } @article {pmid34850414, year = {2022}, author = {do Nascimento, MO and Teles Tenório, AC and Sarmento, RA and Melo, RCC and Della Lucia, TMC and Dias Amaral, K and de Souza, DJ}, title = {Soil actinobacteria inhibit antagonistic fungi of leafcutter ant colonies.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {1}, pages = {63-73}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202100476}, pmid = {34850414}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria/genetics ; Animals ; *Ants ; Fungi/genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Founder females of the leaf-cutting ant species Atta sexdens experience high mortality during the founding and establishment of their colonies. The foundation site is crucial for the success of a new colony. In this study, we isolated and identified actinobacteria from fungus garden chambers of A. sexdens colony growth in soils from (1) forested areas without leafcutter ant nests and (2) open ground areas close to leafcutter ant nests. The inhibitory effect of these isolates on pathogenic fungi and the mutualistic fungus cultivated by leafcutter ants was evaluated. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were employed to identify nine selected actinobacteria species found in the soil: Streptomyces (6), Nocardia (2), and Kitasatospora (1). One Streptomyces and one Kitasatospora isolate inhibited all the tested fungi. Since there is no evidence of actinobacteria cultivation in the workers' cuticle of the Atta genus, our results corroborate the hypothesis that these workers may establish temporary adaptive symbiosis with soil microorganisms that produce antibiotic substances, living in some parts of their nest, or even inside their bodies. Pathogenic fungi are a risk factor that can be controlled by actinobacteria metabolites from soils, with minimal energy cost to the colony.}, } @article {pmid34850388, year = {2022}, author = {Madhubalaji, CK and Ravi, S and Mudliar, SN}, title = {Unraveling of Chlorella-associated bacterial load, diversity, and their imputed functions at high- and low-yield conditions through metagenome sequencing.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {133-145}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13225}, pmid = {34850388}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Bacterial Load ; *Chlorella/genetics ; Metagenome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Vitamin B 12 ; }, abstract = {Chlorella-associated bacteria can have a significant influence on facilitating higher Chlorella biomass yield due to their symbiotic relationship. In this study, non-axenic Chlorella was cultivated in an airlift photobioreactor at high and low-yield conditions. The associated bacterial diversity was analyzed using 16S rRNA metagenome sequencing. At high-yield conditions, the bacterial load was observed in the range of 10[8] -10[10] CFU · mL[-1] , whereas at low-yield conditions, bacteria were more dominant and observed in the range of 10[14] -10[15] CFU · mL[-1] . The majority of the bacterial species associated with Chlorella at high-yield conditions belongs to Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Further, Bacteroidetes levels were decreased at low-yield conditions and were highly diversified with Planctomycetes, Firmicutes, and 18 others. Predicted functional genes indicated that Chlorella-associated bacteria have the enzymes involved in the metabolism and biosynthesis of B-complex vitamins (i.e., vitamin B12 , thiamin, biotin, pyridoxine, and riboflavin). A critical evaluation revealed that vitamin biosynthesis genes were more abundant at low-yield conditions; however, vitamin B12 transport genes (B12 transport ATP-binding protein, B12 substrate-binding transportation, and B12 permease protein) were less abundant, indicating even though vitamins production occurs, but their availability to Chlorella was limited due to the lack of vitamin transport genes. Further, at high yield, Chlorella-associated bacteria enabled higher growth by supplementing the vitamins. In contrast, at low-yield condition-an increased bacterial load, diversity, and limited vitamin transport functional genes affected the Chlorella yield. It can be inferred that Chlorella yield was significantly affected by three factors: associated bacterial load, diversity, and transport functional genes of vitamins.}, } @article {pmid34850211, year = {2022}, author = {McDonald, TR and Rizvi, MF and Ruiter, BL and Roy, R and Reinders, A and Ward, JM}, title = {Posttranslational regulation of transporters important for symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {188}, number = {2}, pages = {941-954}, pmid = {34850211}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Rhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Coordinated sharing of nutritional resources is a central feature of symbiotic interactions, and, despite the importance of this topic, many questions remain concerning the identification, activity, and regulation of transporter proteins involved. Recent progress in obtaining genome and transcriptome sequences for symbiotic organisms provides a wealth of information on plant, fungal, and bacterial transporters that can be applied to these questions. In this update, we focus on legume-rhizobia and mycorrhizal symbioses and how transporters at the symbiotic interfaces can be regulated at the protein level. We point out areas where more research is needed and ways that an understanding of transporter mechanism and energetics can focus hypotheses. Protein phosphorylation is a predominant mechanism of posttranslational regulation of transporters in general and at the symbiotic interface specifically. Other mechanisms of transporter regulation, such as protein-protein interaction, including transporter multimerization, polar localization, and regulation by pH and membrane potential are also important at the symbiotic interface. Most of the transporters that function in the symbiotic interface are members of transporter families; we bring in relevant information on posttranslational regulation within transporter families to help generate hypotheses for transporter regulation at the symbiotic interface.}, } @article {pmid34849241, year = {2021}, author = {Bollazzi, M and Römer, D and Roces, F}, title = {Carbon dioxide levels and ventilation in Acromyrmex nests: significance and evolution of architectural innovations in leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {210907}, pmid = {34849241}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ant colonies largely differ in size, yet all consume O2 and produce CO2 in large amounts because of their underground fungus gardens. We have shown that in the Acromyrmex genus, three basic nest morphologies occur, and investigated the effects of architectural innovations on nest ventilation. We recognized (i) serial nests, similar to the ancestral type of the sister genus Trachymyrmex, with chambers excavated along a vertical tunnel connecting to the outside via a single opening, (ii) shallow nests, with one/few chambers extending shallowly with multiple connections to the outside, and (iii) thatched nests, with an above-ground fungus garden covered with plant material. Ventilation in shallow and thatched nests, but not in serial nests, occurred via wind-induced flows and thermal convection. CO2 concentrations were below the values known to affect the respiration of the symbiotic fungus, indicating that shallow and thatched nests are not constrained by harmful CO2 levels. Serial nests may be constrained depending on the soil CO2 levels. We suggest that in Acromyrmex, selective pressures acting on temperature and humidity control led to nesting habits closer to or above the soil surface and to the evolution of architectural innovations that improved gas exchanges.}, } @article {pmid34848921, year = {2022}, author = {Bettencourt, GM and George Mwangi, CA and Green, KL and Morales, DM}, title = {But, Do I Need a College Degree?: Understanding Perceptions of College and Career Readiness among Students Enrolled in a Career and Technical High School.}, journal = {Innovative higher education}, volume = {47}, number = {3}, pages = {453-470}, pmid = {34848921}, issn = {0742-5627}, abstract = {Career and technical education (CTE) and college preparation curriculum in high school are often treated as mutually exclusive options rather than integrated, symbiotic tracks. However, increasingly career fields require some postsecondary education, and access to four-year college degrees are important for long-term earnings and mobility. In this two-year case study, we examined how 16 juniors enrolled in a CTE high school described and perceived their college and career aspirations. Our findings revealed that participants saw vocational and academic goals as mutually beneficial but experienced them through distinctive pathways, a disconnect amplified by a lack of resources in our sample site. While mechanisms to promote college-going existed, they were often only available to subsets of students and of limited utility. From this research, we suggest that the education system should expand dual enrollment opportunities, provide mentorship of diverse career possibilities, and begin integration between college and career planning earlier in students' schooling. Moreover, we examine the possibilities demonstrated by this case study for K-16 pathways and how postsecondary institutions can meaningfully engage with CTE schools to support this integration.}, } @article {pmid34845838, year = {2022}, author = {Watanabe, K and Motonaga, A and Tachibana, M and Shimizu, T and Watarai, M}, title = {Francisella novicida can utilize Paramecium bursaria as its potential host.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {50-59}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.13029}, pmid = {34845838}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; *Francisella ; *Paramecium/microbiology ; *Tularemia/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Francisella novicida is a facultative intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of tularemia. Although cases of infection caused by exposure to contaminated water have been reported, its natural host and ecology in the environment remain unclear. In this study, we investigated in vitro the possibility that Paramecium bursaria may be a useful tool as a protist host model of F. novicida. Experimental infection with F. novicida resulted in a stable intracellular relationship within P. bursaria. This symbiotic intracellular relationship was not observed in experimental infections with other Francisella species and Legionella pneumophila. We found that F. novicida showed similar behaviour to that of the eukaryotic endosymbiont of P. bursaria, the green algae Chlorella, in the internalization process. In addition, stable intracellular localization of F. novicida was possible only when Chlorella was not present. Although we investigated the type VI secretion system of F. novicida as a candidate for the bacterial factor, we found that it was not involved in the establishment of an intracellular relationship with P. bursaria. These results suggested that P. bursaria is potentially a protist host model for F. novicida and may be a useful tool for understanding the relationship between protist hosts and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid34845335, year = {2022}, author = {Carrell, AA and Veličković, D and Lawrence, TJ and Bowen, BP and Louie, KB and Carper, DL and Chu, RK and Mitchell, HD and Orr, G and Markillie, LM and Jawdy, SS and Grimwood, J and Shaw, AJ and Schmutz, J and Northen, TR and Anderton, CR and Pelletier, DA and Weston, DJ}, title = {Novel metabolic interactions and environmental conditions mediate the boreal peatmoss-cyanobacteria mutualism.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {1074-1085}, pmid = {34845335}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nostoc/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between Sphagnum (peat moss) and cyanobacteria play critical roles in terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycling processes. Knowledge of the metabolites exchanged, the physiological processes involved, and the environmental conditions allowing the formation of symbiosis is important for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these interactions. In this study, we used a cross-feeding approach with spatially resolved metabolite profiling and metatranscriptomics to characterize the symbiosis between Sphagnum and Nostoc cyanobacteria. A pH gradient study revealed that the Sphagnum-Nostoc symbiosis was driven by pH, with mutualism occurring only at low pH. Metabolic cross-feeding studies along with spatially resolved matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) identified trehalose as the main carbohydrate source released by Sphagnum, which were depleted by Nostoc along with sulfur-containing choline-O-sulfate, taurine and sulfoacetate. In exchange, Nostoc increased exudation of purines and amino acids. Metatranscriptome analysis indicated that Sphagnum host defense was downregulated when in direct contact with the Nostoc symbiont, but not as a result of chemical contact alone. The observations in this study elucidated environmental, metabolic, and physiological underpinnings of the widespread plant-cyanobacterial symbioses with important implications for predicting carbon and nitrogen cycling in peatland ecosystems as well as the basis of general host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34844367, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, C and Ma, Y and Wang, D and Shan, Y and Song, X and Hu, H and Ren, X and Ma, X and Cui, J and Ma, Y}, title = {Integrated microbiology and metabolomics analysis reveal plastic mulch film residue affects soil microorganisms and their metabolic functions.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {423}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {127258}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127258}, pmid = {34844367}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Metabolomics ; *Plastics ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Research on microplastic pollution of terrestrial soils is catching up with the aquatic environment, especially agricultural soil systems. Plastic residues have caused various environmental problems in mulch film extensively used agricultural areas. However, studies focusing specifically on the potential influence of mulch film residues on the metabolic cycle of soil systems have yet to be conducted. Here, high-throughput sequencing combined with metabolomics were first used to study the effects of residual mulch on soil microbial communities and related metabolic functions. Plastic film treatment did not significantly affect soil physicochemical properties including pH, organic matter and nitrogen, etc in short term. However, it did significantly changed overall community structure of soil bacteria, and interfered with complexity of soil bacterial symbiosis networks; exposure time and concentration of residues were particularly important factors affecting community structure. Furthermore, metabolomics analysis showed that film residue significantly changed soil metabolite spectrum, and interfered with basic carbon and lipid metabolism, and also affected basic cellular processes such as membrane transport and, in particular, interfered with the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, as well as, biodegradation and metabolism of xenobiotics. Additionally, through linear discriminant and collinear analysis, some new potential microplastic degrading bacteria including Nitrospira, Nocardioidaceae and Pseudonocardiaceae have been excavated.}, } @article {pmid34843477, year = {2021}, author = {Ramirez, JL and Schumacher, MK and Ower, G and Palmquist, DE and Juliano, SA}, title = {Impacts of fungal entomopathogens on survival and immune responses of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the context of native Wolbachia infections.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {e0009984}, pmid = {34843477}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R15 AI124005/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/drug effects/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Animals ; Culex/drug effects/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Fungi ; Gene Expression ; Immunity/*genetics ; Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/genetics/metabolism ; Mosquito Vectors/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vector Borne Diseases ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbial control of mosquitoes via the use of symbiotic or pathogenic microbes, such as Wolbachia and entomopathogenic fungi, are promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides to tackle the rapid increase in insecticide resistance and vector-borne disease outbreaks. This study evaluated the susceptibility and host responses of two important mosquito vectors, Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens, that naturally carry Wolbachia, to infections by entomopathogenic fungi. Our study indicated that while Wolbachia presence did not provide a protective advantage against entomopathogenic fungal infection, it nevertheless influenced the bacterial / fungal load and the expression of select anti-microbial effectors and phenoloxidase cascade genes in mosquitoes. Furthermore, although host responses from Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens were mostly similar, we observed contrasting phenotypes with regards to susceptibility and immune responses to fungal entomopathogenic infection in these two mosquitoes. This study provides new insights into the intricate multipartite interaction between the mosquito host, its native symbiont and pathogenic microbes that might be employed to control mosquito populations.}, } @article {pmid34843386, year = {2022}, author = {Osman, EO and Weinnig, AM}, title = {Microbiomes and Obligate Symbiosis of Deep-Sea Animals.}, journal = {Annual review of animal biosciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {151-176}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-animal-081621-112021}, pmid = {34843386}, issn = {2165-8110}, mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities associated with deep-sea animals are critical to the establishment of novel biological communities in unusual environments. Over the past few decades, rapid exploration of the deep sea has enabled the discovery of novel microbial communities, some of which form symbiotic relationships with animal hosts. Symbiosis in the deep sea changes host physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution over time and space. Symbiont diversity within a host is often aligned with diverse metabolic pathways that broaden the environmental niche for the animal host. In this review, we focus on microbiomes and obligate symbionts found in different deep-sea habitats and how they facilitate survival of the organisms that live in these environments. In addition, we discuss factors that govern microbiome diversity, host specificity, and biogeography in the deep sea. Finally, we highlight the current limitations of microbiome research and draw a road map for future directions to advance our knowledge of microbiomes in the deep sea.}, } @article {pmid34843377, year = {2022}, author = {Kennedy, EN and Barr, SA and Liu, X and Vass, LR and Liu, Y and Xie, Z and Bourret, RB}, title = {Azorhizobium caulinodans Chemotaxis Is Controlled by an Unusual Phosphorelay Network.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {204}, number = {2}, pages = {e0052721}, pmid = {34843377}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM050860/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM050860/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*genetics/*physiology ; Chemotaxis/*genetics/physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; }, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that forms root nodules on its host legume, Sesbania rostrata. This agriculturally significant symbiotic relationship is important in lowland rice cultivation and allows nitrogen fixation under flood conditions. Chemotaxis plays an important role in bacterial colonization of the rhizosphere. Plant roots release chemical compounds that are sensed by bacteria, triggering chemotaxis along a concentration gradient toward the roots. This gives motile bacteria a significant competitive advantage during root surface colonization. Although plant-associated bacterial genomes often encode multiple chemotaxis systems, A. caulinodans appears to encode only one. The che cluster on the A. caulinodans genome contains cheA, cheW, cheY2, cheB, and cheR. Two other chemotaxis genes, cheY1 and cheZ, are located independently from the che operon. Both CheY1 and CheY2 are involved in chemotaxis, with CheY1 being the predominant signaling protein. A. caulinodans CheA contains an unusual set of C-terminal domains: a CheW-like/receiver pair (termed W2-Rec) follows the more common single CheW-like domain. W2-Rec impacts both chemotaxis and CheA function. We found a preference for transfer of phosphoryl groups from CheA to CheY2, rather than to W2-Rec or CheY1, which appears to be involved in flagellar motor binding. Furthermore, we observed increased phosphoryl group stabilities on CheY1 compared to CheY2 and W2-Rec. Finally, CheZ enhanced dephosphorylation of CheY2 substantially more than CheY1 but had no effect on the dephosphorylation rate of W2-Rec. This network of phosphotransfer reactions highlights a previously uncharacterized scheme for regulation of chemotactic responses. IMPORTANCE Chemotaxis allows bacteria to move toward nutrients and away from toxins in their environment. Chemotactic movement provides a competitive advantage over nonspecific motion. CheY is an essential mediator of the chemotactic response, with phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of CheY differentially interacting with the flagellar motor to change swimming behavior. Previously established schemes of CheY dephosphorylation include action of a phosphatase and/or transfer of the phosphoryl group to another receiver domain that acts as a sink. Here, we propose that A. caulinodans uses a concerted mechanism in which the Hpt domain of CheA, CheY2, and CheZ function together as a dual sink system to rapidly reset chemotactic signaling. To the best of our knowledge, this mechanism is unlike any that have previously been evaluated. Chemotaxis systems that utilize both receiver and Hpt domains as phosphate sinks likely occur in other bacterial species.}, } @article {pmid34843017, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, ZH and Yang, ZW and Zhang, J and Luo, JY and Men, Y and Wang, YH and Xie, Q}, title = {Stage correlation of symbiotic bacterial community and function in the development of litchi bugs (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae).}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {115}, number = {1}, pages = {125-139}, pmid = {34843017}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Fruit ; *Heteroptera ; *Litchi ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts of insects have been shown to play important roles in host fitness. However, little is known about the bacterial community of Tessaratoma papillosa which is one of the most destructive pests of the well-known fruits Litchi chinensis Sonn and Dimocarpus longan Lour in Oriental Region, especially in South-east Asia and adjacent areas. In this study, we surveyed the bacterial community diversity and dynamics of T. papillosa in all developmental stages with both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods by the third-generation sequencing technology. Five bacterial phyla were identified in seven developmental stages of T. papillosa. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum and Pantoea was the dominant genus of T. papillosa. The results of alpha and beta diversity analyses showed that egg stage had the most complex bacterial community. Some of different developmental stages showed similarities, which were clustered into three phases: (1) egg stage, (2) early nymph stages (instars 1-3), and (3) late nymph stages (instars 4-5) and adult stage. Functional prediction indicated that the bacterial community played different roles in these three phases. Furthermore, 109 different bacterial strains were isolated and identified from various developmental stages. This study revealed the relationship between the symbiotic bacteria and the development of T. papillosa, and may thus contribute to the biological control techniques of T. papillosa in the future.}, } @article {pmid34842379, year = {2021}, author = {Victoria Rombot, D and Yermia Semuel, M}, title = {The Metagenomic Analysis of Potential Pathogenic Emerging Bacteria in Fleas.}, journal = {Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {1084-1090}, doi = {10.3923/pjbs.2021.1084.1090}, pmid = {34842379}, issn = {1812-5735}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Metagenomics/methods ; Pesticides ; Siphonaptera/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Background and Objective: At present many pathogenic microbes that cause disease in humans are transmitted through animals. Ctenocephalides felisis specific ectoparasites in cats. Metagenomic research on the digestive tract and body surface of C. felishas been conducted. DNA genomics was extracted from the body surface and digestive tract of C. felis. Materials and Methods: Metagenomic analysis has used the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 region). Sequencing was carried out using New Generation Sequencing at the First BASE Laboratory, Singapore. Results: Wolbachia has the most significant bacterial composition in C. felis (94.4%), we were found bacteria with a composition >1% that have never been reported to be associated with C. felis. Also, there were 0.2% of bacteria whose taxonomic status cannot be determined. Conclusion: The results of this study become a vital reference pathogenic bacteria that can be transmitted to humans and animals through C. felis. It is necessary to study the resistance of bacteria isolated fromC. felisto antibiotics in the future.}, } @article {pmid34841805, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, X and Shen, J and Su, H and Liu, L and Jiang, F}, title = {[Photorhabdus virulence cassette promotes bacterial invasion into macrophages by activating NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {11}, pages = {4056-4065}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.210148}, pmid = {34841805}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Macrophages ; NF-kappa B/genetics ; *Photorhabdus ; Signal Transduction ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus is a Gram-negative bacterium from the family Enterobacteriaceae that lives in a symbiotic association with nematode or insects. In addition to the role of being insect pathogens, one species called Photorhabdus asymbiotica (Pa) causes human infection around the world. Nevertheless, how does this transkingdom infection occur remains elusive. Here we focus on one pathogenic determinant called Photorhabdus virulence cassette (PVC) that is founded in the Pa genome and many other pathogens. The RNA-seq and qPCR data showed that the NF-κB and MAPK pathways were drastically activated in the PVC-treated mammalian macrophages. Western blotting assays using samples treated with various inhibitors of the affected pathways confirmed the results we have observed for MAPK pathway previously. p65 translocation assays validated the NF-κB activation in the macrophages after PVC treatment. Moreover, the bacterial phagocytosis by macrophage was also promoted by PVC at the early stage, and this phagocytosis was inhibited by cytoskeleton inhibitors. Thus, the results indicated that PVC is involved in the bacterial invasion by activating NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway, providing a new perspective for analyzing the pathogenicity of Pa in human infections.}, } @article {pmid34841790, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, C}, title = {[The health benefits of the active ingredients and whole food components of natural plants through regulating the flora].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {11}, pages = {3853-3862}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.210425}, pmid = {34841790}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polysaccharides ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {With the cooperation of bacteria and the human body, the nutrients in food are deeply digested, utilized, and shared. In addition, symbiosis is formed between microorganisms and hosts. Such a delicate combination makes the microorganisms form the inherent flora in the human body. They obtain the biological basis for survival, and provide the necessary regulation and support for the host in terms of immunity and nutrition, through their functional metabolism and population signals. At present, most of the researches focus on the isolation and evaluation of the functional components of plants, such as plant polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, and other active functional components. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, plants are often used with whole food components. To date, studies have found that the dynamics of flora affecting human health are not fixed, nor dependent on the change of a single strain. The ecological competition and metabolic regulation between microorganisms are usually coevolved with the host. The regulatory effect of natural plants for both medicine and food mainly depends on their whole food components. This provides evidence to support the role of whole food components played in promoting the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine from the perspective of microenvironment. Therefore, the development and utilization of medicinal and edible natural plant activities should be fully understood and evaluated with flora regulation.}, } @article {pmid34841778, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, J and Wang, J and Deng, Z}, title = {[Preface for special issue on microbiome and human health].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {11}, pages = {3711-3716}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.210789}, pmid = {34841778}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {China ; Humans ; Intestines ; Lung ; *Microbiota ; *Neoplasms ; }, abstract = {Human microbiome is comprised of symbiotic microorganisms in the human body, whose dynamic balance is closely related to human health, and is recognized as important "organs" that can regulate immunity, metabolism and other aspects in human body, and is associated with functions of many organs including lung, intestine, vagina and brain, becoming a potential target for the treatment of cancer, coronary heart disease, neurological diseases and other difficult diseases. In recent years, with the rapid development of microbiome sequencing and analysis technology, it has become an international focus and forefront to discover the relationship between human microorganisms and many diseases, as well as target for new treatment methods. Thus, we organized this special issue and publish reviews on study methodology, human disease and microbiome as well as therapeutic strategies, and provide important information to advance microbiome research in China.}, } @article {pmid34841317, year = {2021}, author = {Mitra, D and Rad, KV and Chaudhary, P and Ruparelia, J and Sagarika, MS and Boutaj, H and Mohapatra, PKD and Panneerselvam, P}, title = {Involvement of strigolactone hormone in root development, influence and interaction with mycorrhizal fungi in plant: Mini-review.}, journal = {Current research in microbial sciences}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {100026}, pmid = {34841317}, issn = {2666-5174}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant symbiosis is the old, fascinating and beneficial relation that exist on earth for the plants. In this review, we have elaborated that the strigolactones (SLs) are released from the roots and function with root parasite, seeds and symbiotic AMF as contact chemicals. They are transported through the xylem in the plants and can regulate plant architecture, seed germination, nodule formation, increase the primary root length, influence the root hairs and physiological reactions to non-living agents by regulating their metabolism. SLs first evolved in ancient plant lineages as regulators of the basic production processes and then took a new role to maintain the growing biological complexities of terrestrial plant. SLs belongs to a diversified category of butenolide-bearing plant hormones related to various processes of agricultural concern. SLs also arouses the development of spores, the divergence and enlargement of hyphae of AMF, metabolism of mitochondria, reprogramming of transcription process, and generation of chitin oligosaccharides which further stimulate the early response of symbiosis in the host plant, results from better communication in plant and ability of coexistence with these fungi. The required nutrients are transferred from the roots to the shoots, which affect the physiological, biochemical, and morphological characteristics of the plant. On the other hand, the plant provides organic carbon in the form of sugars and lipids to the fungi, which they use as a source of energy and for carried out different anabolic pathways. SLs also lead to alteration in the dynamic and structure of actin in the root region as well as changes the auxin's transporter localization in the plasma membrane. Thus, this study reveals the functions that SLs play in the growth of roots, as well as their effect and interaction with AMF that promote plant growth.}, } @article {pmid34841313, year = {2021}, author = {Yao, Y and Gao, S and Ding, X and Zhang, Q and Li, P}, title = {Topography effect on Aspergillus flavus occurrence and aflatoxin B1 contamination associated with peanut.}, journal = {Current research in microbial sciences}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {100021}, pmid = {34841313}, issn = {2666-5174}, abstract = {Aflatoxin B1 is a strong carcinogenic and toxic fungal toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and other Aspergillus species, and can seriously threaten the health of consumers and the safety and quality of agricultural products. Aspergillus in agricultural products are closely related to topography and symbiotic microbes. It is not fully clear that how topography affects the assembly process of A. flavus and symbiotic fungi on plant. In this study, we analyzed the structure and assembly process of fungi on the peanut. We also performed the metatranscriptome analysis, identified the functional genes and metabolic pathways enriched in both A. flavus and its symbiotic fungi. In our experiment, terrain and soil properties could significantly affect the gene expression of microbiome, A. flavus abundance and infection ability to peanuts. Meanwhile, the Permanova correlation analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were strongly correlated with the soil physicochemical factors. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis identified the main metabolites associated with A. flavus and aflatoxin B1, the results proved that the terrain significantly affected the microorganisms associated with peanut pods to produce a variety of metabolites. In conclusion, our results indicate that topography can significantly influence the assembly process of A. flavus and microorganisms, the activation of functional genes and metabolic pathways, the enrichment of aflatoxin-producing fungi.}, } @article {pmid34839705, year = {2022}, author = {Wardell, GE and Hynes, MF and Young, PJ and Harrison, E}, title = {Why are rhizobial symbiosis genes mobile?.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1842}, pages = {20200471}, pmid = {34839705}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are one of the most important and best studied groups of bacterial symbionts. They are defined by their ability to establish nitrogen-fixing intracellular infections within plant hosts. One surprising feature of this symbiosis is that the bacterial genes required for this complex trait are not fixed within the chromosome, but are encoded on mobile genetic elements (MGEs), namely plasmids or integrative and conjugative elements. Evidence suggests that many of these elements are actively mobilizing within rhizobial populations, suggesting that regular symbiosis gene transfer is part of the ecology of rhizobial symbionts. At first glance, this is counterintuitive. The symbiosis trait is highly complex, multipartite and tightly coevolved with the legume hosts, while transfer of genes can be costly and disrupt coadaptation between the chromosome and the symbiosis genes. However, horizontal gene transfer is a process driven not only by the interests of the host bacterium, but also, and perhaps predominantly, by the interests of the MGEs that facilitate it. Thus understanding the role of horizontal gene transfer in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis requires a 'mobile genetic element's-eye view' on the ecology and evolution of this important symbiosis. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.}, } @article {pmid34839703, year = {2022}, author = {Santamaría, RI and Bustos, P and Van Cauwenberghe, J and González, V}, title = {Hidden diversity of double-stranded DNA phages in symbiotic Rhizobium species.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1842}, pages = {20200468}, pmid = {34839703}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Bacteriophages/genetics ; DNA ; Genome, Viral ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study, we addressed the extent of diversification of phages associated with nitrogen-fixing symbiotic Rhizobium species. Despite the ecological and economic importance of the Rhizobium genus, little is known about the diversity of the associated phages. A thorough assessment of viral diversity requires investigating both lytic phages and prophages harboured in diverse Rhizobium genomes. Protein-sharing networks identified 56 viral clusters (VCs) among a set of 425 isolated phages and predicted prophages. The VCs formed by phages had more proteins in common and a higher degree of synteny, and they group together in clades in the associated phylogenetic tree. By contrast, the VCs of prophages showed significant genetic variation and gene loss, with selective pressure on the remaining genes. Some VCs were found in various Rhizobium species and geographical locations, suggesting that they have wide host ranges. Our results indicate that the VCs represent distinct taxonomic units, probably representing taxa equivalent to genera or even species. The finding of previously undescribed phage taxa indicates the need for further exploration of the diversity of phages associated with Rhizobium species. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.}, } @article {pmid34839700, year = {2022}, author = {Weisberg, AJ and Miller, M and Ream, W and Grünwald, NJ and Chang, JH}, title = {Diversification of plasmids in a genus of pathogenic and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1842}, pages = {20200466}, pmid = {34839700}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Members of the agrobacteria-rhizobia complex (ARC) have multiple and diverse plasmids. The extent to which these plasmids are shared and the consequences of their interactions are not well understood. We extracted over 4000 plasmid sequences from 1251 genome sequences and constructed a network to reveal interactions that have shaped the evolutionary histories of oncogenic virulence plasmids. One newly discovered type of oncogenic plasmid is a mosaic with three incomplete, but complementary and partially redundant virulence loci. Some types of oncogenic plasmids recombined with accessory plasmids or acquired large regions not known to be associated with pathogenicity. We also identified two classes of partial virulence plasmids. One class is potentially capable of transforming plants, but not inciting disease symptoms. Another class is inferred to be incomplete and non-functional but can be found as coresidents of the same strain and together are predicted to confer pathogenicity. The modularity and capacity for some plasmids to be transmitted broadly allow them to diversify, convergently evolve adaptive plasmids and shape the evolution of genomes across much of the ARC. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.}, } @article {pmid34839697, year = {2022}, author = {DeWerff, SJ and Zhang, C and Schneider, J and Whitaker, RJ}, title = {Intraspecific antagonism through viral toxin encoded by chronic Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {377}, number = {1842}, pages = {20200476}, pmid = {34839697}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Archaea ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Sulfolobus/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Viruses ; }, abstract = {Virus-host interactions evolve along a symbiosis continuum from antagonism to mutualism. Long-term associations between virus and host, such as those in chronic infection, will select for traits that drive the interaction towards mutualism, especially when susceptible hosts are rare in the population. Virus-host mutualism has been demonstrated in thermophilic archaeal populations where Sulfolobus spindle-shaped viruses (SSVs) provide a competitive advantage to their host Sulfolobus islandicus by producing a toxin that kills uninfected strains. Here, we determine the genetic basis of this killing phenotype by identifying highly transcribed genes in cells that are chronically infected with a diversity of SSVs. We demonstrate that these genes alone confer growth inhibition by being expressed in uninfected cells via a Sulfolobus expression plasmid. Challenge of chronically infected strains with vector-expressed toxins revealed a nested network of cross-toxicity among divergent SSVs, with both broad and specific toxin efficacies. This suggests that competition between viruses and/or their hosts could maintain toxin diversity. We propose that competitive interactions among chronic viruses to promote their host fitness form the basis of virus-host mutualism. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.}, } @article {pmid34839530, year = {2022}, author = {Ge, S and He, L and Jin, L and Xia, X and Li, L and Ahammed, GJ and Qi, Z and Yu, J and Zhou, Y}, title = {Light-dependent activation of HY5 promotes mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato by systemically regulating strigolactone biosynthesis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {4}, pages = {1900-1914}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17883}, pmid = {34839530}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Lactones/metabolism ; *Solanum lycopersicum/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Light quality affects mutualisms between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs), which modify nutrient acquisition in plants. However, the mechanisms by which light systemically modulates root colonization by AMFs and phosphate uptake in roots remain unclear. We used a range of approaches, including grafting techniques, protein immunoblot analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase assays, to unveil the molecular basis of light signal transmission from shoot to root that mediates arbuscule development and phosphate uptake in tomato. The results show that shoot phytochrome B (phyB) triggers shoot-derived mobile ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) protein accumulation in roots, and HY5 further positively regulates transcription of strigolactone (SL) synthetic genes, thus forming a shoot phyB-dependent systemic signaling pathway that regulates the synthesis and accumulation of SLs in roots. Further experiments with carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 7 mutants and supplementary red light confirm that SLs are indispensable in the red-light-regulated mycorrhizal symbiosis in roots. Our results reveal a phyB-HY5-SLs systemic signaling cascade that facilitates mycorrhizal symbiosis and phosphate utilization in plants. The findings provide new prospects for the potential application of AMFs and light manipulation to effectively improve nutrient utilization and minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and associated pollution.}, } @article {pmid34839525, year = {2022}, author = {Healy, RA and Arnold, AE and Bonito, G and Huang, YL and Lemmond, B and Pfister, DH and Smith, ME}, title = {Endophytism and endolichenism in Pezizomycetes: the exception or the rule?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {5}, pages = {1974-1983}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17886}, pmid = {34839525}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Endophytes ; Fungi ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid34839036, year = {2022}, author = {Muleta, A and Tesfaye, K and Assefa, F and Greenlon, A and Riely, BK and Carrasquilla-Garcia, N and Gai, Y and Haileslassie, T and Cook, DR}, title = {Genomic diversity and distribution of Mesorhizobium nodulating chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) from low pH soils of Ethiopia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {126279}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126279}, pmid = {34839036}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Cicer ; DNA, Bacterial ; Ethiopia ; Genomics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chickpea is the third most important grain legume worldwide. This is due in part to its high protein content that results from its ability to acquire bioavailable nitrogen when colonized by diverse, nitrogen fixing Mesorhizobium species. However, the diversity and distribution of mesorhizobia communities may depend on their adaptation to soil conditions. Therefore, this study was initiated in order to isolate and investigate the diversity and taxonomic identities of chickpea-nodulating Mesorhizobium species from low pH soils of Ethiopia. A total of 81 rhizobia strains were isolated from chickpea nodules harvested from low pH soils throughout Ethiopia, and their genomes were sequenced and assembled. Considering a representative set of the best-sequenced 81 genomes, the average sequence depth was 30X, with estimated average genome sizes of approximately 7 Mbp. Annotation of the assembled genome predicted an average of 7,453 protein-coding genes. Concatenation of 400 universal PhyloPhlAn conserved genes present in the genomes of all 81 strains allowed detailed phylogenetic analysis, from which eight well-supported species were identified, including M.opportunistum, M.australicum, Mesorhizobium sp. LSJC280BOO, M.wenxiniae, M.amorphae, M.loti and M.plurifarium, as well as a novel species. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on the symbiosis-related (nodC and nifH) genes were different from the core genes and consistent with horizontal transfer of the symbiotic island. The two major genomic groups, M.plurifarium and M.loti, were widely distributed in almost all the sites. The geographic pattern of genomic diversity indicated there was no relationship between geographic and genetic distance (r = 0.01, p > 0.01). In conclusion, low pH soils in Ethiopia harbored a diverse group of Mesorhizobium species, several of which were not previously known to nodulate chickpea.}, } @article {pmid34839032, year = {2022}, author = {Poelman, EH and Cusumano, A}, title = {Impact of parasitoid-associated polydnaviruses on plant-mediated herbivore interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {56-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2021.11.004}, pmid = {34839032}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Herbivory ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insecta ; Larva/physiology ; Plants ; *Wasps/physiology ; }, abstract = {Insect herbivores interact via plant-mediated interactions in which one herbivore species induces changes in plant quality that affects the performance of a second phytophagous insect that shares the food plant. These interactions are often asymmetric due to specificity in induced plant responses to herbivore attack, amount of plant damage, elicitors in herbivore saliva and plant organ damaged by herbivores. Parasitoids and their symbiotic polydnaviruses alter herbivore physiology and behaviour and may influence how plants respond to parasitized herbivores. We argue that these phenomena affect plant-mediated interactions between herbivores. We identify that the extended phenotype of parasitoid polydnaviruses is an important knowledge gap in interaction networks of insect communities.}, } @article {pmid34838968, year = {2022}, author = {Dong, X and Wei, J and Huang, J and Zhao, C and Sun, S and Zhao, Y and Liu, J}, title = {Performance of different microalgae-fungi-bacteria co-culture technologies in photosynthetic and removal performance in response to various GR24 concentrations.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {347}, number = {}, pages = {126428}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126428}, pmid = {34838968}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Coculture Techniques ; Fungi ; *Microalgae ; Technology ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The purification effect of two different microalgae-fungi-bacteria symbiosis technologies on biogas and biogas slurry was studied to determine the best symbiosis treatment technology and the suitable concentration of GR24. The results showed that the purification effect of biogas slurry in Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-endophytic bacteria (S395-2) symbiont co-culture system was better than that of the biogas slurry in Scenedesmus obliquus-Pleurotus ostreatus-S395-2 symbionts. Following 10[-9] M GR24 treatment, Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum-S395-2 symbionts had elevated mean daily production rate and growth rate by 1.92 and 1.46 folds in comparison with blank group. After adjusting the GR24 level within the range of 10[-9] M-10[-7] M, Ganoderma lucidum-assisted Chlorella vulgaris-S395-2 attained higher maximal removal rates for TN, COD, CO2, and TP by 10.78%, 14.62%, 3.86%, and 9.07%, respectively, compared to the rates when GR24 was not added.}, } @article {pmid34837720, year = {2022}, author = {Bajaj, G and Current, S and Schmidt, D and Bandyopadhyay, B and Myers, CW and Parthasarathy, S}, title = {Knowledge Gaps: A Challenge for Agent-Based Automatic Task Completion.}, journal = {Topics in cognitive science}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {780-799}, doi = {10.1111/tops.12584}, pmid = {34837720}, issn = {1756-8765}, mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Cognition ; }, abstract = {The study of human cognition and the study of artificial intelligence (AI) have a symbiotic relationship, with advancements in one field often informing or creating new work in the other. Human cognition has many capabilities modern AI systems cannot compete with. One such capability is the detection, identification, and resolution of knowledge gaps (KGs). Using these capabilities as inspiration, we examine how to incorporate detection, identification, and resolution of KGs in artificial agents. We present a paradigm that enables research on the understanding of KGs for visual-linguistic communication. We leverage and enhance and existing KG taxonomy to identify possible KGs that can occur for visual question answer (VQA) tasks and use these findings to develop a classifier to identify questions that could be engineered to contain specific KG types for other VQA datasets. Additionally, we examine the performance of different VQA models through the lens of KGs.}, } @article {pmid34837246, year = {2022}, author = {Buoso, S and Zamboni, A and Franco, A and Commisso, M and Guzzo, F and Varanini, Z and Pinton, R and Tomasi, N and Zanin, L}, title = {Nodulating white lupins take advantage of the reciprocal interplay between N and P nutritional responses.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {174}, number = {1}, pages = {e13607}, pmid = {34837246}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Lupinus/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The low bioavailability of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), is one of the most limiting factors for crop production. In this study, under N- and P-free nutrient solution (-N-P), nodulating white lupin plants developed some nodules and analogous cluster root structures characterized by different morphological, physiological, and molecular responses than those observed upon single nutrient deficiency (strong acidification of external media, a better nutritional status than -N+P and +N-P plants). The multi-elemental analysis highlighted that the concentrations of nutrients in white lupin plants were mainly affected by P availability. Gene-expression analyses provided evidence of interconnections between N and P nutritional pathways that are active to promote N and P balance in plants. The root exudome was mainly characterized by N availability in nutrient solution, and, in particular, the absence of N and P in the nutrient solution triggered a high release of phenolic compounds, nucleosides monophosphate and saponines by roots. These morphological, physiological, and molecular responses result from a close interplay between N and P nutritional pathways. They contribute to the good development of nodulating white lupin plants when grown on N- and P-free media. This study provides evidence that limited N and P availability in the nutrient solution can promote white lupin-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis, which is favourable for the sustainability of legume production.}, } @article {pmid34836611, year = {2021}, author = {Lloyd, D and Chapman, A and Ellis, JE and Hillman, K and Paget, TA and Yarlett, N and Williams, AG}, title = {Oxygen levels are key to understanding "Anaerobic" protozoan pathogens with micro-aerophilic lifestyles.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {163-240}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ampbs.2021.09.001}, pmid = {34836611}, issn = {2162-5468}, mesh = {*Energy Metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Oxygen ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; }, abstract = {Publications abound on the physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of "anaerobic" protozoal parasites as usually grown under "anaerobic" culture conditions. The media routinely used are poised at low redox potentials using techniques that remove O2 to "undetectable" levels in sealed containers. However there is growing understanding that these culture conditions do not faithfully resemble the O2 environments these organisms inhabit. Here we review for protists lacking oxidative energy metabolism, the oxygen cascade from atmospheric to intracellular concentrations and relevant methods of measurements of O2, some well-studied parasitic or symbiotic protozoan lifestyles, their homeodynamic metabolic and redox balances, organism-drug-oxygen interactions, and the present and future prospects for improved drugs and treatment regimes.}, } @article {pmid34835994, year = {2021}, author = {Pärnänen, P and Lähteenmäki, H and Tervahartiala, T and Räisänen, IT and Sorsa, T}, title = {Lingonberries-General and Oral Effects on the Microbiome and Inflammation.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835994}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Fruit/*chemistry ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology/*pathology ; *Microbiota ; Vaccinium vitis-idaea/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis ideae L.) is a low-bush wild plant found in the northern hemisphere. The berries are used in traditional medicine in Finland to treat oral yeast infections. General and oral effects of lingonberries on the microbiome and inflammation are reviewed. A brief introduction to oral microbiome symbiosis and dysbiosis, innate and adaptive immunity and inflammation are included, and special features in microbe/host interactions in the oral environment are considered. In vitro anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and in vivo mouse and human studies are included, focusing on the symbiotic effect of lingonberries on oral and general health.}, } @article {pmid34835409, year = {2021}, author = {El Khoury, S and Gauthier, J and Bouslama, S and Cheaib, B and Giovenazzo, P and Derome, N}, title = {Dietary Contamination with a Neonicotinoid (Clothianidin) Gradient Triggers Specific Dysbiosis Signatures of Microbiota Activity along the Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Digestive Tract.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835409}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Pesticides are increasing honeybee (Apis mellifera) death rates globally. Clothianidin neonicotinoid appears to impair the microbe-immunity axis. We conducted cage experiments on newly emerged bees that were 4-6 days old and used a 16S rRNA metataxonomic approach to measure the impact of three sublethal clothianidin concentrations (0.1, 1 and 10 ppb) on survival, sucrose syrup consumption and gut microbiota community structure. Exposure to clothianidin significantly increased mortality in the three concentrations compared to controls. Interestingly, the lowest clothianidin concentration was associated with the highest mortality, and the medium concentration with the highest food intake. Exposure to clothianidin induced significant variation in the taxonomic distribution of gut microbiota activity. Co-abundance network analysis revealed local dysbiosis signatures specific to each gut section (midgut, ileum and rectum) were driven by specific taxa. Our findings confirm that exposure to clothianidin triggers a reshuffling of beneficial strains and/or potentially pathogenic taxa within the gut, suggesting a honeybee's symbiotic defense systems' disruption, such as resistance to microbial colonization. This study highlights the role of weak transcriptional activity taxa in maintaining a stable honeybee gut microbiota. Finally, the early detection of gut dysbiosis in honeybees is a promising biomarker in hive management for assessing the impact exposure to sublethal xenobiotics.}, } @article {pmid34835387, year = {2021}, author = {Binimelis-Salazar, J and Casanova-Katny, A and Arnold, N and Lima, CA and Norambuena, HV and González-Rocha, G and Palfner, G}, title = {Diversity and Host Relationships of the Mycoparasite Sepedonium (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) in Temperate Central Chile.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835387}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {We present the first major survey of regional diversity, distribution and host-association of Sepedonium. Whereas the rather scarce worldwide records of this mycoparasitic fungus suggested no specific distribution pattern of most species before, we provide new evidence of endemic and specific host-parasite guilds of Sepedonium in Southern South America, including the description of a new species. The corresponding inventory was performed in temperate central Chile. The regional landscape, a mosaic of exotic timber plantations and remnants of native Nothofagus forests, facilitates a unique combination of endemic and adventitious Boletales hosts. During a two-year survey, 35 Sepedonium strains were isolated and cultured from infected basidiomata of allochthonous Chalciporus piperatus, Paxillus involutus, Rhizopogon spp. and Suillus spp., as well as from the native Boletus loyita, B. loyo, B. putidus and Gastroboletus valdivianus. Taxonomic diagnosis included morphology of conidia and conidiophores, sequences of ITS, RPB2 and EF1 molecular markers and characteristics of in vitro cultures. Phylogenetic reconstructions were performed using Bayesian methods. Four Sepedonium species could be identified and characterized, viz.: S. ampullosporum, S. chrysospermum, S. laevigatum and the newly described species S. loyorum. The most frequent species on introduced Boletales was S. ampullosporum, followed by S. chrysospermum and S. laevigatum. S. loyorum sp. nov. was found exclusively on native boletacean hosts, separated from its closest relative S. chalcipori by micromorphological and molecular attributes. Species descriptions and identification keys are provided. Ecological and biogeographical aspects of endemic and allochthonous symbiotic units consisting of mycoparasite, ectomycorrhizal fungal host and respective mycorrhizal tree are discussed.}, } @article {pmid34835335, year = {2021}, author = {Maire, J and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Intracellular Bacterial Symbionts in Corals: Challenges and Future Directions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835335}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Corals are the main primary producers of coral reefs and build the three-dimensional reef structure that provides habitat to more than 25% of all marine eukaryotes. They harbor a complex consortium of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and protists, which they rely on for their survival. The symbiosis between corals and bacteria is poorly studied, and their symbiotic relationships with intracellular bacteria are only just beginning to be acknowledged. In this review, we emphasize the importance of characterizing intracellular bacteria associated with corals and explore how successful approaches used to study such microorganisms in other systems could be adapted for research on corals. We propose a framework for the description, identification, and functional characterization of coral-associated intracellular bacterial symbionts. Finally, we highlight the possible value of intracellular bacteria in microbiome manipulation and mitigating coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid34835310, year = {2021}, author = {Pihurov, M and Păcularu-Burada, B and Cotârleţ, M and Vasile, MA and Bahrim, GE}, title = {Novel Insights for Metabiotics Production by Using Artisanal Probiotic Cultures.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835310}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Wild probiotic consortia of microorganisms (bacteria and yeasts) associated in the artisanal cultures' microbiota (milk kefir grains, water kefir grains and kombucha) are considered valuable promoters for metabiotics (prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and paraprobiotics) production. The beneficial effects of the fermented products obtained with the artisanal cultures on human well-being are described by centuries and the interest for them is continuously increasing. The wild origin and microbial diversity of these above-mentioned consortia give them extraordinary protection capacity against microbiological contaminants in unusual physico-chemical conditions and unique fermentative behaviour. This review summarizes the state of the art for the wild artisanal cultures (milk and water kefir grains, respectively, kombucha-SCOBY), their symbiotic functionality, and the ability to ferment unconventional substrates in order to obtain valuable bioactive compounds with in vitro and in vivo beneficial functional properties. Due to the necessity of the bioactives production and their use as metabiotics in the modern consumer's life, artisanal cultures are the perfect sources able to biosynthesize complex functional metabolites (bioactive peptides, antimicrobials, polysaccharides, enzymes, vitamins, cell wall components). Depending on the purposes of the biotechnological fermentation processes, artisanal cultures can be used as starters on different substrates. Current studies show that the microbial synergy between bacteria-yeast and/or bacteria-offers new perspectives to develop functional products (food, feeds, and ingredients) with a great impact on life quality.}, } @article {pmid34835309, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, Y and Su, K and Li, C and White, JF}, title = {Interactive Effects of Epichloë Endophyte, Dormancy-Breaking Treatments and Geographic Origin on Seed Germination of Achnatherum inebrians.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835309}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: the cool-season grass Achnatherum inebrians (drunken horse grass) is an important species in the northwest grasslands of China. This grass engages in a symbiotic relationship with Epichloë endophytes, which affect host plants by increasing growth, repelling herbivores, and increasing tolerance to stressful environments.

METHODS: in this work, we evaluated the interaction effects of the endophyte on various dormancy-breaking treatments on A. inebrians seeds from six different locations. We used both endophyte-infected plants and noninfected plants and applied four dormancy-breaking methods to test germination.

RESULTS: our results showed that the germination rate of endophytic Achnatherum inebrians seeds from the Xiahe site (with highest altitude) was significantly higher than that from other sites when water soaking was applied (p < 0.05). Endophytic seeds had a greater germination rate, and soluble sugar, indole acetic acid (IAA), and gibberellin (GA) contents, under any condition. There was a significant interaction among the method, endophyte status, and origin regarding germination (p < 0.001); particularly, the effects of warm water soaking and endophyte infection on the germination of seeds from the Xiahe site was significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: the infection of Epichloë endophyte is able to increase the content of soluble sugar, IAA, and GA, and stimulate the seed germination of A. inebrians.}, } @article {pmid34835110, year = {2021}, author = {Oberemok, VV and Puzanova, YV and Kubyshkin, AV and Kamenetsky-Goldstein, R}, title = {Top Three Strategies of ss(+)RNA Plant Viruses: Great Opportunists and Ecosystem Tuners with a Small Genome.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34835110}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Genome, Viral ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Insect Viruses/genetics/physiology ; Insecta/*virology ; Plant Diseases/*virology ; *Plant Viruses/genetics/physiology ; Plants/*virology ; *RNA Viruses/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {ss(+)RNA viruses represent the dominant group of plant viruses. They owe their evolutionary superiority to the large number of mutations that occur during replication, courtesy of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Natural selection rewards successful viral subtypes, whose effective tuning of the ecosystem regulates the interactions between its participants. Thus, ss(+)RNA viruses act as shuttles for the functionally important genes of the participants in symbiotic relationships within the ecosystem, of which the most common ecological triad is "plant-virus-insect". Due to their short life cycle and large number of offspring, RNA viruses act as skillful tuners of the ecosystem, which benefits both viruses and the system as a whole. A fundamental understanding of this aspect of the role played by viruses in the ecosystem makes it possible to apply this knowledge to the creation of DNA insecticides. In fact, since the genes that viruses are involved in transferring are functionally important for both insects and plants, silencing these genes (for example, in insects) can be used to regulate the pest population. RNA viruses are increasingly treated not as micropathogens but as necessary regulators of ecosystem balance.}, } @article {pmid34834906, year = {2021}, author = {Arcidiacono, M and Catalano, C and Motisi, A and Sajeva, M and Carimi, F and Carra, A}, title = {Influence of Culture Conditions on In Vitro Asymbiotic Germination of Anacamptis longicornu and Ophrys panormitana (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34834906}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {This study is the first approach to in vitro asymbiotic germination of two species of Sicilian threatened terrestrial orchids, Anacamptis longicornu and Ophrys panormitana. Seeds were collected in the wild and cultured in two different media-Orchimax medium (OM) and Murashige and Skoog (MS)-and exposed to different photoperiods and temperatures to evaluate the best conditions for the specific stages of development. The germination of A. longicornu was very high on OM (95.5%) and lower on MS medium (21.4%), whereas O. panormitana germinated only on OM medium, with significantly lower percentages (12.0%), compared with A. longicornu. This difference is caused by variation in quality and quantity of nutrients used, primarily by nitrogen source. The results show that temperature and photoperiod widely affect seed germination and development. Although further investigations on asymbiotic and symbiotic germination are needed for the improvement of conservation of Mediterranean terrestrial orchids, our results contribute to the conservation of this group of plants.}, } @article {pmid34834870, year = {2021}, author = {Yurkov, AP and Puzanskiy, RK and Avdeeva, GS and Jacobi, LM and Gorbunova, AO and Kryukov, AA and Kozhemyakov, AP and Laktionov, YV and Kosulnikov, YV and Romanyuk, DA and Yemelyanov, VV and Shavarda, AL and Kirpichnikova, AA and Smolikova, GN and Shishova, MF}, title = {Mycorrhiza-Induced Alterations in Metabolome of Medicago lupulina Leaves during Symbiosis Development.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34834870}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The present study is aimed at disclosing metabolic profile alterations in the leaves of the Medicago lupulina MlS-1 line that result from high-efficiency arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis formed with Rhizophagus irregularis under condition of a low phosphorus level in the substrate. A highly effective AM symbiosis was established in the period from the stooling to the shoot branching initiation stage (the efficiency in stem height exceeded 200%). Mycorrhization led to a more intensive accumulation of phosphates (glycerophosphoglycerol and inorganic phosphate) in M. lupulina leaves. Metabolic spectra were detected with GS-MS analysis. The application of complex mathematical analyses made it possible to identify the clustering of various groups of 320 metabolites and thus demonstrate the central importance of the carbohydrate and carboxylate-amino acid clusters. The results obtained indicate a delay in the metabolic development of mycorrhized plants. Thus, AM not only accelerates the transition between plant developmental stages but delays biochemical "maturation" mainly in the form of a lag of sugar accumulation in comparison with non-mycorrhized plants. Several methods of statistical modeling proved that, at least with respect to determining the metabolic status of host-plant leaves, stages of phenological development have priority over calendar age.}, } @article {pmid34834623, year = {2021}, author = {Keșa, AL and Pop, CR and Mudura, E and Salanță, LC and Pasqualone, A and Dărab, C and Burja-Udrea, C and Zhao, H and Coldea, TE}, title = {Strategies to Improve the Potential Functionality of Fruit-Based Fermented Beverages.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34834623}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {It is only recently that fermentation has been facing a dynamic revival in the food industry. Fermented fruit-based beverages are among the most ancient products consumed worldwide, while in recent years special research attention has been granted to assess their functionality. This review highlights the functional potential of alcoholic and non-alcoholic fermented fruit beverages in terms of chemical and nutritional profiles that impact on human health, considering the natural occurrence and enrichment of fermented fruit-based beverages in phenolic compounds, vitamins and minerals, and pro/prebiotics. The health benefits of fruit-based beverages that resulted from lactic, acetic, alcoholic, or symbiotic fermentation and specific daily recommended doses of each claimed bioactive compound were also highlighted. The latest trends on pre-fermentative methods used to optimize the extraction of bioactive compounds (maceration, decoction, and extraction assisted by supercritical fluids, microwave, ultrasound, pulsed electric fields, high pressure homogenization, or enzymes) are critically assessed. As such, optimized fermentation processes and post-fermentative operations, reviewed in an industrial scale-up, can prolong the shelf life and the quality of fermented fruit beverages.}, } @article {pmid34834606, year = {2021}, author = {Dodueva, I and Lebedeva, M and Lutova, L}, title = {Dialog between Kingdoms: Enemies, Allies and Peptide Phytohormones.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34834606}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Various plant hormones can integrate developmental and environmental responses, acting in a complex network, which allows plants to adjust their developmental processes to changing environments. In particular, plant peptide hormones regulate various aspects of plant growth and development as well as the response to environmental stress and the interaction of plants with their pathogens and symbionts. Various plant-interacting organisms, e.g., bacterial and fungal pathogens, plant-parasitic nematodes, as well as symbiotic and plant-beneficial bacteria and fungi, are able to manipulate phytohormonal level and/or signaling in the host plant in order to overcome plant immunity and to create the habitat and food source inside the plant body. The most striking example of such phytohormonal mimicry is the ability of certain plant pathogens and symbionts to produce peptide phytohormones of different classes. To date, in the genomes of plant-interacting bacteria, fungi, and nematodes, the genes encoding effectors which mimic seven classes of peptide phytohormones have been found. For some of these effectors, the interaction with plant receptors for peptide hormones and the effect on plant development and defense have been demonstrated. In this review, we focus on the currently described classes of peptide phytohormones found among the representatives of other kingdoms, as well as mechanisms of their action and possible evolutional origin.}, } @article {pmid34834605, year = {2021}, author = {Sithole, N and Tsvuura, Z and Kirkman, K and Magadlela, A}, title = {Nitrogen Source Preference and Growth Carbon Costs of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit Saplings in South African Grassland Soils.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34834605}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Leucaena leucocephala (Fabaceae) is native to Central America and has invaded many climatic regions of the tropics. In South Africa, the species is categorized as an emerging or incipient weed used as fodder, timber, firewood and in erosion control on degraded habitats. The species is common along the eastern subtropical regions of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, where it invades grasslands, savannas and edges of forests. Soils of these ecosystems are characterized as nutrient deficient and acidic. Using a pot trial, we determined the effects of the nutrient addition treatments on microbial symbiosis, N nutrition and biomass accumulation of L. leucocephala under greenhouse conditions. After 180 days of growth, plants were harvested, and their utilization of N derived from the atmosphere and from the soil was quantified through determination of δ[15]N values. L. leucocephala maintained growth and N nutrition by relying on both atmospheric- and soil-derived N across all soil treatments. The NDFA was significantly higher in high P (N1 + P, N2 + P and N3 + P) soils. L. leucocephala was able to nodulate with intermediate and fast-growing strains from the Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium genus in N2 + P grown plants. This shows that L. leucocephala possesses traits that are successful in acquiring nutrients, especially in nutrient limited conditions, by establishing plant symbiosis with multiple bacteria and relying on extracting N from the soil and from the atmosphere through the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34833968, year = {2021}, author = {Booth, NJ and Smith, PMC and Ramesh, SA and Day, DA}, title = {Malate Transport and Metabolism in Nitrogen-Fixing Legume Nodules.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {34833968}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Malates/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobiaceae/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form a symbiosis with rhizobia, a soil bacterium that allows them to access atmospheric nitrogen and deliver it to the plant for growth. Biological nitrogen fixation occurs in specialized organs, termed nodules, that develop on the legume root system and house nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteroids in organelle-like structures termed symbiosomes. The process is highly energetic and there is a large demand for carbon by the bacteroids. This carbon is supplied to the nodule as sucrose, which is broken down in nodule cells to organic acids, principally malate, that can then be assimilated by bacteroids. Sucrose may move through apoplastic and/or symplastic routes to the uninfected cells of the nodule or be directly metabolised at the site of import within the vascular parenchyma cells. Malate must be transported to the infected cells and then across the symbiosome membrane, where it is taken up by bacteroids through a well-characterized dct system. The dicarboxylate transporters on the infected cell and symbiosome membranes have been functionally characterized but remain unidentified. Proteomic and transcriptomic studies have revealed numerous candidates, but more work is required to characterize their function and localise the proteins in planta. GABA, which is present at high concentrations in nodules, may play a regulatory role, but this remains to be explored.}, } @article {pmid34830343, year = {2021}, author = {Svoboda, T and Thon, MR and Strauss, J}, title = {The Role of Plant Hormones in the Interaction of Colletotrichum Species with Their Host Plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {34830343}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Colletotrichum/genetics/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Ethylenes/*biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Humans ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Oxylipins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Colletotrichum is a plant pathogenic fungus which is able to infect virtually every economically important plant species. Up to now no common infection mechanism has been identified comparing different plant and Colletotrichum species. Plant hormones play a crucial role in plant-pathogen interactions regardless whether they are symbiotic or pathogenic. In this review we analyze the role of ethylene, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, auxin and salicylic acid during Colletotrichum infections. Different Colletotrichum strains are capable of auxin production and this might contribute to virulence. In this review the role of different plant hormones in plant-Colletotrichum interactions will be discussed and thereby auxin biosynthetic pathways in Colletotrichum spp. will be proposed.}, } @article {pmid34830273, year = {2021}, author = {Sgobba, E and Daguerre, Y and Giampà, M}, title = {Unravel the Local Complexity of Biological Environments by MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {34830273}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Diagnostic Imaging/methods ; Fungi/*metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Insecta/metabolism ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lipidomics/*methods ; *Metabolome ; Nematoda/metabolism ; Peptides/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Classic metabolomic methods have proven to be very useful to study functional biology and variation in the chemical composition of different tissues. However, they do not provide any information in terms of spatial localization within fine structures. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) does and reaches at best a spatial resolution of 0.25 μm depending on the laser setup, making it a very powerful tool to analyze the local complexity of biological samples at the cellular level. Here, we intend to give an overview of the diversity of the molecules and localizations analyzed using this method as well as to update on the latest adaptations made to circumvent the complexity of samples. MALDI MSI has been widely used in medical sciences and is now developing in research areas as diverse as entomology, microbiology, plant biology, and plant-microbe interactions, the rhizobia symbiosis being the most exhaustively described so far. Those are the fields of interest on which we will focus to demonstrate MALDI MSI strengths in characterizing the spatial distributions of metabolites, lipids, and peptides in relation to biological questions.}, } @article {pmid34829222, year = {2021}, author = {Muggia, L and Coleine, C and De Carolis, R and Cometto, A and Selbmann, L}, title = {Antarctolichenia onofrii gen. nov. sp. nov. from Antarctic Endolithic Communities Untangles the Evolution of Rock-Inhabiting and Lichenized Fungi in Arthoniomycetes.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34829222}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Microbial endolithic communities are the main and most widespread life forms in the coldest and hyper-arid desert of the McMurdo Dry Valleys and other ice-free areas across Victoria Land, Antarctica. There, the lichen-dominated communities are complex and self-supporting assemblages of phototrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms, including bacteria, chlorophytes, and both free-living and lichen-forming fungi living at the edge of their physiological adaptability. In particular, among the free-living fungi, microcolonial, melanized, and anamorphic species are highly recurrent, while a few species were sometimes found to be associated with algae. One of these fungi is of paramount importance for its peculiar traits, i.e., a yeast-like habitus, co-growing with algae and being difficult to propagate in pure culture. In the present study, this taxon is herein described as the new genus Antarctolichenia and its type species is A. onofrii, which represents a transitional group between the free-living and symbiotic lifestyle in Arthoniomycetes. The phylogenetic placement of Antarctolichenia was studied using three rDNA molecular markers and morphological characters were described. In this study, we also reappraise the evolution and the connections linking the lichen-forming and rock-inhabiting lifestyles in the basal lineages of Arthoniomycetes (i.e., Lichenostigmatales) and Dothideomycetes.}, } @article {pmid34829201, year = {2021}, author = {Bizarria, R and Kooij, PW and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Climate Change Influences Basidiome Emergence of Leaf-Cutting Ant Cultivars.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34829201}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Maintaining symbiosis homeostasis is essential for mutualistic partners. Leaf-cutting ants evolved a long-term symbiotic mutualism with fungal cultivars for nourishment while using vertical asexual transmission across generations. Despite the ants' efforts to suppress fungal sexual reproduction, scattered occurrences of cultivar basidiomes have been reported. Here, we review the literature for basidiome occurrences and associated climate data. We hypothesized that more basidiome events could be expected in scenarios with an increase in temperature and precipitation. Our field observations and climate data analyses indeed suggest that Acromyrmex coronatus colonies are prone to basidiome occurrences in warmer and wetter seasons. Even though our study partly depended on historical records, occurrences have increased, correlating with climate change. A nest architecture with low (or even the lack of) insulation might be the cause of this phenomenon. The nature of basidiome occurrences in the A. coronatus-fungus mutualism can be useful to elucidate how resilient mutualistic symbioses are in light of climate change scenarios.}, } @article {pmid34829197, year = {2021}, author = {Rayko, M and Sokornova, S and Lapidus, A}, title = {Fungal Metagenome of Chernevaya Taiga Soils: Taxonomic Composition, Differential Abundance and Factors Related to Plant Gigantism.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34829197}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The Chernevaya taiga of Western Siberia is a unique and complex ecosystem, distinguished by the unusually large sizes of herbaceous plants, the reasons for which are poorly understood. Here, we explored the fungal diversity of the Chernevaya taiga soils in the Tomsk regions of Western Siberia in comparison with other soil types. The soil biomes of Chernevaya taiga and the control regions were investigated using Illumina ITS rRNA sequencing, and taxonomic analysis revealed a predominance of fungal phyla in the different soils. These results demonstrate that the fungi of the Chernevaya taiga regions have a higher species diversity (Faith's PD) vs. the control soils, and the diversity is due more to the sampling sites rather than to the seasons (Bray-Curtis distance). We studied most of the differentially abundant taxa among the soil types, and we annotated the taxa with their ecological guilds and trophic types. Some of the abundant fungal taxa in the summer- and fall-Chernevaya taiga samples belong to the phylum Glomeromycota-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotrophs, which are known to establish symbiotic relationships and enhance plant growth. Additionally, several OTUs were assigned to novel genera in the Glomeraceae and Claroideoglomeraceae families. Our findings add a potential explanation of the high productivity and plant gigantism in Chernevaya taiga and expand our knowledge of fungal biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid34829181, year = {2021}, author = {Xie, X and Fan, X and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Phosphorus Starvation- and Zinc Excess-Induced Astragalus sinicus AsZIP2 Zinc Transporter Is Suppressed by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34829181}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Zinc (Zn) is one of the most essential micronutrients for plant growth and metabolism, but Zn excess can impair many basic metabolic processes in plant cells. In agriculture, crops often experience low phosphate (Pi) and high Zn double nutrient stresses because of inordinate agro-industrial activities, while the dual benefit of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi protects plants from experiencing both deficient and toxic nutrient stresses. Although crosstalk between Pi and Zn nutrients in plants have been extensively studied at the physiological level, the molecular basis of how Pi starvation triggers Zn over-accumulation in plants and how AM plants coordinately modulate the Pi and Zn nutrient homeostasis remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that a novel AsZIP2 gene, a Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus) member of the ZIP gene family, participates in the interaction between Pi and Zn nutrient homeostasis in plants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this AsZIP2 protein was closely related to the orthologous Medicago MtZIP2 and Arabidopsis AtZIP2 transporters. Gene expression analysis indicated that AsZIP2 was highly induced in roots by Pi starvation or Zn excess yet attenuated by arbuscular mycorrhization in a Pi-dependent manner. Subcellular localization and heterologous expression experiments further showed that AsZIP2 encoded a functional plasma membrane-localized transporter that mediated Zn uptake in yeast. Moreover, overexpression of AsZIP2 in A. sinicus resulted in the over-accumulation of Zn concentration in roots at low Pi or excessive Zn concentrations, whereas AsZIP2 silencing lines displayed an even more reduced Zn concentration than control lines under such conditions. Our results reveal that the AsZIP2 transporter functioned in Zn over-accumulation in roots during Pi starvation or high Zn supply but was repressed by AM symbiosis in a Pi-dependent manner. These findings also provide new insights into the AsZIP2 gene acting in the regulation of Zn homeostasis in mycorrhizal plants through Pi signal.}, } @article {pmid34829049, year = {2021}, author = {Reig, M and Vecino, X and Cortina, JL}, title = {Use of Membrane Technologies in Dairy Industry: An Overview.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34829049}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {The use of treatments of segregated process streams as a water source, as well as technical fluid reuse as a source of value-added recovery products, is an emerging direction of resource recovery in several applications. Apart from the desired final product obtained in agro-food industries, one of the challenges is the recovery or separation of intermediate and/or secondary metabolites with high-added-value compounds (e.g., whey protein). In this way, processes based on membranes, such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO), could be integrated to treat these agro-industrial streams, such as milk and cheese whey. Therefore, the industrial application of membrane technologies in some processing stages could be a solution, replacing traditional processes or adding them into existing treatments. Therefore, greater efficiency, yield enhancement, energy or capital expenditure reduction or even an increase in sustainability by producing less waste, as well as by-product recovery and valorization opportunities, could be possible, in line with industrial symbiosis and circular economy principles. The maturity of membrane technologies in the dairy industry was analyzed for the possible integration options of membrane processes in their filtration treatment. The reported studies and developments showed a wide window of possible applications for membrane technologies in dairy industry treatments. Therefore, the integration of membrane processes into traditional processing schemes is presented in this work. Overall, it could be highlighted that membrane providers and agro-industries will continue with a gradual implementation of membrane technology integration in the production processes, referring to the progress reported on both the scientific literature and industrial solutions commercialized.}, } @article {pmid34828024, year = {2021}, author = {Bogusławska-Tryk, M and Ziółkowska, E and Sławińska, A and Siwek, M and Bogucka, J}, title = {Modulation of Intestinal Histology by Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics Delivered In Ovo in Distinct Chicken Genotypes.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34828024}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The aim of the study was to determine the effect of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics administered in ovo on selected morphological parameters of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) in broiler chickens (Ross 308) and native chickens (Green-legged Partridge, GP). On the 12th day of embryonic development (the incubation period), an aqueous solution of a suitable bioactive substance was supplied in ovo to the egg's air cell: probiotic-Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (PRO), prebiotic-GOS, galacto-oligosaccharides (PRE) or symbiotic-GOS + Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (SYN). Sterile saline was injected into control (CON) eggs. After hatching, the chicks were placed in pens (8 birds/pen, 4 replicates/group) and housed for 42 days. On the last day of the experiment, all birds were individually weighed and slaughtered. Samples for histological analysis were taken directly after slaughter from three sections of the small intestine. In samples from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, the height and width of the intestinal villi (VH) were measured and their area (VA) was calculated, the depth of the intestinal crypts (CD) was determined, the thickness of the muscularis was measured and the ratio of the villus height to the crypt depth (V/C) was calculated. On the basis of the obtained data, it can be concluded that the applied substances administered in ovo affect the production parameters and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens and GP. The experiment showed a beneficial effect of in ovo stimulation with a prebiotic on the final body weight of Ross 308 compared to CON, while the effect of the administered substances on the intestinal microstructure is not unequivocal. In GP, the best effect in terms of villi height and V/C ratio was found in the in ovo synbiotic group. Taking into account the obtained results, it can be concluded that chickens of different genotypes react differently to a given substance; therefore, the substances should be adapted to the genotype.}, } @article {pmid34827743, year = {2021}, author = {Ding, DS and Sun, WT and Pan, CH}, title = {Feeding of a Scleractinian Coral, Goniopora columna, on Microalgae, Yeast, and Artificial Feed in Captivity.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34827743}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Nutritional requirements are critical in the process of coral aquaculture. In addition to energy from symbiotic algae, corals obtain sufficient nutrition through heterotrophic feeding. Microalgae and yeast are commonly used as nutritional supplements for many aquaculture organisms. In addition, if artificial feed can match or improve upon the nutritional supplementation provided by microalgae and yeast in the case of G. columna, then feeding this coral would be markedly easier. Hence, this article preliminarily discusses feeds suitable for G. columna. In this study, artificial PUFA rich in animal protein (R), Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Isochrysis galbana tml, and Nannochloropsis oculate were fed to G. columna at quantities of 5% and 10% of body weight. Growth, survival, body composition, and digestive enzymes were assessed. Regarding body composition, the coral's protein content is higher than that of carbohydrate or fat; thus, evaluating the heterotrophic nutrition of G. columna by using protein absorption is appropriate. The protease content is also high in digestive enzymes. Protein content, protease activity, and specific growth rate were significantly higher in the R group than in other groups. The number of polyps in the groups fed R at 5% and 10% of body weight increased by 40.00 ± 2.43 and 47.33 ± 0.89 number, respectively, significantly greater increases than those achieved in the other groups (p < 0.05). Changes in body composition and digestive enzymes over a 24-h period were compared to determine the optimal feeding time. Protein content and protease activity increased markedly between 6:00 and 12:00. The experimental results suggest that R can improve the activity of G. columna digestive enzymes and their protein and lipid content in body tissue, shorten the cultivation time, and enhance the profitability of coral aquaculture.}, } @article {pmid34827590, year = {2021}, author = {Busset, N and Gully, D and Teulet, A and Fardoux, J and Camuel, A and Cornu, D and Severac, D and Giraud, E and Mergaert, P}, title = {The Type III Effectome of the Symbiotic Bradyrhizobium vignae Strain ORS3257.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34827590}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Many Bradyrhizobium strains are able to establish a Nod factor-independent symbiosis with the leguminous plant Aeschynomene indica by the use of a type III secretion system (T3SS). Recently, an important advance in the understanding of the molecular factors supporting this symbiosis has been achieved by the in silico identification and functional characterization of 27 putative T3SS effectors (T3Es) of Bradyrhizobium vignae ORS3257. In the present study, we experimentally extend this catalog of T3Es by using a multi-omics approach. Transcriptome analysis under non-inducing and inducing conditions in the ORS3257 wild-type strain and the ttsI mutant revealed that the expression of 18 out of the 27 putative effectors previously identified, is under the control of TtsI, the global transcriptional regulator of T3SS and T3Es. Quantitative shotgun proteome analysis of culture supernatant in the wild type and T3SS mutant strains confirmed that 15 of the previously determined candidate T3Es are secreted by the T3SS. Moreover, the combined approaches identified nine additional putative T3Es and one of them was experimentally validated as a novel effector. Our study underscores the power of combined proteome and transcriptome analyses to complement in silico predictions and produce nearly complete effector catalogs. The establishment of the ORS3257 effectome will form the basis for a full appraisal of the symbiotic properties of this strain during its interaction with various host legumes via different processes.}, } @article {pmid34827140, year = {2021}, author = {Falgueras-Cano, J and Falgueras-Cano, JA and Moya, A}, title = {A Study of the Coevolution of Digital Organisms with an Evolutionary Cellular Automaton.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34827140}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {This paper presents an Evolutionary Cellular Automaton (ECA) that simulates the evolutionary dynamics of biological interactions by manipulating strategies of dispersion and associations between digital organisms. The parameterization of the different types of interaction and distribution strategies using configuration files generates easily interpretable results. In that respect, ECA is an effective instrument for measuring the effects of relative adaptive advantages and a good resource for studying natural selection. Although ECA works effectively in obtaining the expected results from most well-known biological interactions, some unexpected effects were observed. For example, organisms uniformly distributed in fragmented habitats do not favor eusociality, and mutualism evolved from parasitism simply by varying phenotypic flexibility. Finally, we have verified that natural selection represents a cost for the emergence of sex by destabilizing the stable evolutionary strategy of the 1:1 sex ratio after generating randomly different distributions in each generation.}, } @article {pmid34826461, year = {2022}, author = {Fytili, D and Zabaniotou, A}, title = {Organizational, societal, knowledge and skills capacity for a low carbon energy transition in a Circular Waste Bioeconomy (CWBE): Observational evidence of the Thessaly region in Greece.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {813}, number = {}, pages = {151870}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151870}, pmid = {34826461}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biomass ; *Carbon ; Greece ; *Industrial Waste/analysis ; }, abstract = {Advancing a Circular Waste Bioeconomy (CWBE) should be a priority over business-as-usual, entailing sustainable resource use in early and late stages of industrialization processes. The present paper is both descriptive and prescriptive. Firstly, it aims to explore the main barriers, challenges, opportunities, and the context within agro-biomass and agro-industrial waste valorization can accelerate a low carbon economy, in the Thessaly region of Greece, where agricultural production and agro-industrial business are the prevailing economic sectors. Secondly, organizational, societal, knowledge and skills capacity actions are suggested as the most likely to change the business-as usual scenarios. A SWOT analysis performed to draw useful conclusions about the extent to which CWBE principles can be integrated into the economic, social, and environmental life of the Thessaly region, and recommendations made of what it is needed. One of the key insights is how to leverage emerging low carbon circular economy for regional regenerative future. The results showed that waste is managed inefficiently in the region and there is a lack of synergies and collaborations between different stakeholders. The milestones of accelerating a low carbon CWBE for regional development, and employment are a) the territorial cohesion and regional symbiosis, b) increasing the financial market opportunities for small and critical projects, c) promoting awareness, public knowledge, skills, and the responsibility of young scientists and citizens.}, } @article {pmid34826097, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, J and Jiang, X and Guan, D and Kang, Y and Li, L and Cao, F and Zhao, B and Ma, M and Zhao, J and Li, J}, title = {Effects of rehydration on physiological and transcriptional responses of a water-stressed rhizobium.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {60}, number = {1}, pages = {31-46}, pmid = {34826097}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcription, Genetic ; Trehalose/metabolism ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {As a microsymbiont of soybean, Bradyrhizobium japonicum plays an important role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and sustainable agriculture. However, the survival of B. japonicum cells under water-deplete (e.g., drought) and water-replete (e.g., flood) conditions is a major concern affecting their nitrogen-fixing ability by establishing the symbiotic relationship with the host. In this study, we isolated a water stress tolerant rhizobium from soybean root nodules and tested its survival under water-deplete conditions. The rhizobium was identified as Bradyrhizobium japonicum and named strain 5038. Interestingly, both plate counting and live/dead fluorescence staining assays indicate that a number of viable but non-culturable cells exist in the culture medium upon the rehydration process which could cause dilution stress. Bradyrhizobium japonicum 5038 cells increased production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) and trehalose when dehydrated, suggesting that protective responses were stimulated. As expected, cells reduced their production upon the subsequent rehydration. To examine differential gene expression of B. japonicum 5038 when exposed to water-deplete and subsequent water-replete conditions, whole-genome transcriptional analysis was performed under 10% relative humidity (RH), and subsequent 100% RH, respectively. A total of 462 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, > 2.0-fold) were identified under the 10% RH condition, while 3,776 genes showed differential expression during the subsequent rehydration (100% RH) process. Genes involved in signal transduction, inorganic ion transport, energy production and metabolisms of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids were far more up-regulated than down-regulated in the 10% RH condition. Notably, trehalose biosynthetic genes (otsAB, treS, and treYZ), genes ligD, oprB, and a sigma factor rpoH were significantly induced by 10% RH. Under the subsequent 100% RH condition, genes involved in transcription, translation, cell membrane regulation, replication and repair, and protein processing were highly up-regulated. Interestingly, most of 10%-RH inducible genes displayed rehydration-repressed, except three genes encoding heat shock (Hsp20) proteins. Therefore, this study provides molecular evidence for the switch of gene expression of B. japonicum cells when encountered the opposite water availability from water-deplete to water-replete conditions.}, } @article {pmid34825657, year = {2021}, author = {Kakati, P and Paine, SK and Bhattacharjee, CK and Bhattacharyya, C and Sharma, A and Phukan, D and Barman, NN and Basu, A}, title = {Gut microbiome architecture of wild greater one-horned rhinoceros:a vulnerable species from Kaziranga National Park, India.}, journal = {Journal of genetics}, volume = {100}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34825657}, issn = {0973-7731}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Feces/microbiology ; Fungi/classification/isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/veterinary ; India ; Perissodactyla/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhinoceros unicornis, also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros (GoHR), is a vulnerable wildlife species found in the Indian subcontinent with an estimated global population of 3582, of which an estimated 2995 resides in India. The Kaziranga National Park of Assam is the home to ~80.56% of the GoH population in India. Recent advances in genetics and microbial studies underscored the importance of gut microbial symbiosis as a crucial factor for host metabolic health and environmental interaction, particularly for higher mammals. Alteration of the normal microbiome can also be an indicator of chronic disease and infection. Freshly voided dung samples from nine dung heaps of free ranging or wild GoH rhinoceros were collected from Kaziranga National Park for mapping the gut microbial architecture through 16S-metagenomic approach. In our sample, the GoH gut harbours 168.8±12.55 (SE) bacteria-specific OTUs belonging to 21 phyla of which the gram-negative Proteobacteria is the most abundant phyla. Other abundant phylas found in the GoH gut are Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Although the GoH rhinoceros gut can utilize fibrous plant by microbial fermentation, the aerobic, nonfermenting Acinetobacter (20.7%), Stenotrophomonas (17.8%) and Brevundimonas (9.1%) constitute about 50% of all identified genus. Functional prediction of the GoH microbiome reveals that>50% of the bacteria present are involved in metabolism followed by cellular processes and information processing. A significant proportion (>1%) are associated with different diseases. In summary, our study characterized bacterial communities of nine wild GoH to identify some unique features and its implication in disease and survival of GoH.}, } @article {pmid34825404, year = {2022}, author = {Coker, OO}, title = {Non-bacteria microbiome (virus, fungi, and archaea) in gastrointestinal cancer.}, journal = {Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {256-262}, doi = {10.1111/jgh.15738}, pmid = {34825404}, issn = {1440-1746}, mesh = {Archaea ; Fungi ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/microbiology/prevention & control ; Humans ; Viruses ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract houses millions of microbes collectively referred to as the gut microbiome. The gut microbes comprise of bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea, and microscopic eukaryotes, which co-evolved or colonize the gut forming complex symbiotic and mutualistic relationships. A state of homeostasis is required between host and gut microbiome relationship to maintain several host beneficial processes. Alterations in the taxonomic and functional composition of the gut microbes are associated with several human diseases including gastrointestinal cancers. Owed to their overwhelming abundance and ease of characterization, several studies focus on the role of bacteria in gastrointestinal cancers. There is however growing evidence that non-bacteria gut microbes are associated with the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. This review details the association of non-bacteria gut microbes including fungi, viruses, and archaea and their potential manipulation in the prevention and treatment of human gastrointestinal cancers.}, } @article {pmid34824797, year = {2021}, author = {Pu, Y and Naikatini, A and Pérez-Escobar, OA and Silber, M and Renner, SS and Chomicki, G}, title = {Genome-wide transcriptome signatures of ant-farmed Squamellaria epiphytes reveal key functions in a unique symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {22}, pages = {15882-15895}, pmid = {34824797}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Farming of fungi by ants, termites, or beetles has led to ecologically successful societies fueled by industrial-scale food production. Another type of obligate insect agriculture in Fiji involves the symbiosis between the ant Philidris nagasau and epiphytes in the genus Squamellaria (Rubiaceae) that the ants fertilize, defend, harvest, and depend on for nesting. All farmed Squamellaria form tubers (domatia) with preformed entrance holes and complex cavity networks occupied by P. nagasau. The inner surface of the domatia consists of smooth-surfaced walls where the ants nest and rear their brood, and warty-surfaced walls where they fertilize their crop by defecation. Here, we use RNA sequencing to identify gene expression patterns associated with the smooth versus warty wall types. Since wall differentiation occurred in the most recent common ancestor of all farmed species of Squamellaria, our study also identifies genetic pathways co-opted following the emergence of agriculture. Warty-surfaced walls show many upregulated genes linked to auxin transport, root development, and nitrogen transport consistent with their root-like function; their defense-related genes are also upregulated, probably to protect these permeable areas from pathogen entry. In smooth-surfaced walls, genes functioning in suberin and wax biosynthesis are upregulated, contributing to the formation of an impermeable ant-nesting area in the domatium. This study throws light on a number of functional characteristics of plant farming by ants and illustrates the power of genomic studies of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34824233, year = {2021}, author = {Huus, KE and Hoang, TT and Creus-Cuadros, A and Cirstea, M and Vogt, SL and Knuff-Janzen, K and Sansonetti, PJ and Vonaesch, P and Finlay, BB}, title = {Cross-feeding between intestinal pathobionts promotes their overgrowth during undernutrition.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {6860}, pmid = {34824233}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {FDN-159935//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Child ; Coculture Techniques ; Diet/adverse effects ; Enterobacteriaceae/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/chemistry/microbiology ; Malnutrition/*microbiology ; Mice ; Nutrients/analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Child undernutrition is a global health issue associated with a high burden of infectious disease. Undernourished children display an overabundance of intestinal pathogens and pathobionts, and these bacteria induce enteric dysfunction in undernourished mice; however, the cause of their overgrowth remains poorly defined. Here, we show that disease-inducing human isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroidales spp. are capable of multi-species symbiotic cross-feeding, resulting in synergistic growth of a mixed community in vitro. Growth synergy occurs uniquely under malnourished conditions limited in protein and iron: in this context, Bacteroidales spp. liberate diet- and mucin-derived sugars and Enterobacteriaceae spp. enhance the bioavailability of iron. Analysis of human microbiota datasets reveals that Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae are strongly correlated in undernourished children, but not in adequately nourished children, consistent with a diet-dependent growth synergy in the human gut. Together these data suggest that dietary cross-feeding fuels the overgrowth of pathobionts in undernutrition.}, } @article {pmid34822389, year = {2021}, author = {Papantoniou, D and Vergara, F and Weinhold, A and Quijano, T and Khakimov, B and Pattison, DI and Bak, S and van Dam, NM and Martínez-Medina, A}, title = {Cascading Effects of Root Microbial Symbiosis on the Development and Metabolome of the Insect Herbivore Manduca sexta L.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34822389}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Root mutualistic microbes can modulate the production of plant secondary metabolites affecting plant-herbivore interactions. Still, the main mechanisms underlying the impact of root mutualists on herbivore performance remain ambiguous. In particular, little is known about how changes in the plant metabolome induced by root mutualists affect the insect metabolome and post-larval development. By using bioassays with tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum), we analyzed the impact of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the growth-promoting fungus Trichoderma harzianum on the plant interaction with the specialist insect herbivore Manduca sexta. We found that root colonization by the mutualistic microbes impaired insect development, including metamorphosis. By using untargeted metabolomics, we found that root colonization by the mutualistic microbes altered the secondary metabolism of tomato shoots, leading to enhanced levels of steroidal glycoalkaloids. Untargeted metabolomics further revealed that root colonization by the mutualists affected the metabolome of the herbivore, leading to an enhanced accumulation of steroidal glycoalkaloids and altered patterns of fatty acid amides and carnitine-derived metabolites. Our results indicate that the changes in the shoot metabolome triggered by root mutualistic microbes can cascade up altering the metabolome of the insects feeding on the colonized plants, thus affecting the insect development.}, } @article {pmid34821833, year = {2021}, author = {Vicente-Díez, I and Blanco-Pérez, R and Chelkha, M and Puelles, M and Pou, A and Campos-Herrera, R}, title = {Exploring the Use of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and the Natural Products Derived from Their Symbiotic Bacteria to Control the Grapevine Moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34821833}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The European grapevine moth (EGVM) Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a relevant pest in the Palearctic region vineyards and is present in the Americas. Their management using biological control agents and environmentally friendly biotechnical tools would reduce intensive pesticide use. The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are well-known virulent agents against arthropod pests thanks to symbiotic bacteria in the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus (respectively) that produce natural products with insecticidal potential. Novel technological advances allow field applications of EPNs and those bioactive compounds as powerful bio-tools against aerial insect pests. This study aimed to determine the viability of four EPN species (Steinernema feltiae, S. carpocapsae, S. riojaense, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) as biological control agents against EGVM larval instars (L1, L3, and L5) and pupae. Additionally, the bioactive compounds from their four symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus bovienii, X. nematophila, X. kozodoii, and Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii, respectively) were tested as unfiltered ferment (UF) and cell-free supernatant (CFS) against the EGVM larval instars L1 and L3. All of the EPN species showed the capability of killing EGVM during the larval and pupal stages, particularly S. carpocapsae (mortalities of ~50% for L1 and >75% for L3 and L5 in only two days), followed by efficacy by S. feltiae. Similarly, the bacterial bioactive compounds produced higher larval mortality at three days against L1 (>90%) than L3 (~50%), making the application of UF more virulent than the application of CFS. Our findings indicate that both steinernematid species and their symbiotic bacterial bioactive compounds could be considered for a novel agro-technological approach to control L. botrana in vineyards. Further research into co-formulation with adjuvants is required to expand their viability when implemented for aboveground grapevine application.}, } @article {pmid34820171, year = {2021}, author = {Heminger, AR and Belden, LK and Barney, JN and Badgley, BD and Haak, DC}, title = {Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) fruit bacterial communities are not variable across fine spatial scales.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e12359}, pmid = {34820171}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Fruit house microbial communities that are unique from the rest of the plant. While symbiotic microbial communities complete important functions for their hosts, the fruit microbiome is often understudied compared to other plant organs. Fruits are reproductive tissues that house, protect, and facilitate the dispersal of seeds, and thus they are directly tied to plant fitness. Fruit microbial communities may, therefore, also impact plant fitness. In this study, we assessed how bacterial communities associated with fruit of Solanum carolinense, a native herbaceous perennial weed, vary at fine spatial scales (<0.5 km). A majority of the studies conducted on plant microbial communities have been done at large spatial scales and have observed microbial community variation across these large spatial scales. However, both the environment and pollinators play a role in shaping plant microbial communities and likely have impacts on the plant microbiome at fine scales. We collected fruit samples from eight sampling locations, ranging from 2 to 450 m apart, and assessed the fruit bacterial communities using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Overall, we found no differences in observed richness or microbial community composition among sampling locations. Bacterial community structure of fruits collected near one another were not more different than those that were farther apart at the scales we examined. These fine spatial scales are important to obligate out-crossing plant species such as S. carolinense because they are ecologically relevant to pollinators. Thus, our results could imply that pollinators serve to homogenize fruit bacterial communities across these smaller scales.}, } @article {pmid34820166, year = {2021}, author = {Price, DC and Brennan, JR and Wagner, NE and Egizi, AM}, title = {Comparative hologenomics of two Ixodes scapularis tick populations in New Jersey.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e12313}, pmid = {34820166}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Tick-borne diseases, such as those transmitted by the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis, are a significant and growing public health problem in the US. There is mounting evidence that co-occurring non-pathogenic microbes can also impact tick-borne disease transmission. Shotgun metagenome sequencing enables sampling of the complete tick hologenome-the collective genomes of the tick and all of the microbial species contained therein, whether pathogenic, commensal or symbiotic. This approach simultaneously uncovers taxonomic composition and allows the detection of intraspecific genetic variation, making it a useful tool to compare spatial differences across tick populations. We evaluated this approach by comparing hologenome data from two tick samples (N = 6 ticks per location) collected at a relatively fine spatial scale, approximately 23 km apart, within a single US county. Several intriguing variants in the data between the two sites were detected, including polymorphisms in both in the tick's own mitochondrial DNA and that of a rickettsial endosymbiont. The two samples were broadly similar in terms of the microbial species present, including multiple known tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum), filarial nematodes, and Wolbachia and Babesia species. We assembled the complete genome of the rickettsial endosymbiont (most likely Rickettsia buchneri) from both populations. Our results provide further evidence for the use of shotgun metagenome sequencing as a tool to compare tick hologenomes and differentiate tick populations across localized spatial scales.}, } @article {pmid34818748, year = {2022}, author = {Ramírez Tapias, YA and Di Monte, MV and Peltzer, MA and Salvay, AG}, title = {Bacterial cellulose films production by Kombucha symbiotic community cultured on different herbal infusions.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {372}, number = {}, pages = {131346}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131346}, pmid = {34818748}, issn = {1873-7072}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Cellulose ; Fermentation ; *Kombucha Tea/analysis ; Tea ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) of Kombucha beverage produces a floating film composed of bacterial cellulose, a distinctive biobased material. In this work, Kombucha fermentation was carried out in six different herbal infusions, where SCOBY was able to synthesise cellulosic films. Infusions of black and green tea, yerba mate, lavender, oregano and fennel added with sucrose (100 g/l) were used as culture media. In all cultures, film production resulted in a maximum after 21 days. Yield conversion, process productivity and antioxidant activity were quantified. Macroscopic and microscopic features of films were determined based on electronic microscopy, calorimetric and mechanical properties and hydration behaviour. Native films from yerba mate had a remarkable antioxidant activity of 93 ± 4% of radical inhibition due to plant polyphenols, which could prevent food oxidation. Results revealed that films retained natural bioactive substances preserving important physicochemical properties, essential for developing active materials.}, } @article {pmid34818107, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, YB and Li, C and Yan, JY and Wang, TY and Yao, YL and Ren, FR and Luan, JB}, title = {Autophagy Regulates Whitefly-Symbiont Metabolic Interactions.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {3}, pages = {e0208921}, pmid = {34818107}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Autophagy ; *Halomonadaceae/genetics ; *Hemiptera/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Vitamin B Complex/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nutritional symbionts are restricted to specialized host cells called bacteriocytes in various insect orders. These symbionts can provide essential nutrients to the host. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the regulation of these insect-symbiont metabolic associations remain largely unclear. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 hosts "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" (here, "Ca. Portiera") and "Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa" (here, "Ca. Hamiltonella") bacteria in the same bacteriocyte. In this study, the induction of autophagy by chemical treatment and gene silencing decreased symbiont titers and essential amino acid (EAA) and B vitamin contents. In contrast, the repression of autophagy in bacteriocytes via Atg8 silencing increased symbiont titers, and amino acid and B vitamin contents. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with non-EAAs or B vitamins alleviated autophagy in whitefly bacteriocytes, elevated TOR (target of rapamycin) expression, and increased symbiont titers. TOR silencing restored symbiont titers in whiteflies after dietary supplementation with B vitamins. These data suggest that "Ca. Portiera" and "Ca. Hamiltonella" evade autophagy of the whitefly bacteriocytes by activating the TOR pathway via providing essential nutrients. Taken together, we demonstrate that autophagy plays a critical role in regulating the metabolic interactions between the whitefly and two intracellular symbionts. Therefore, this study reveals that autophagy is an important cellular basis for bacteriocyte evolution and symbiosis persistence in whiteflies. The whitefly symbiosis unravels the interactions between cellular and metabolic functions of bacteriocytes. IMPORTANCE Nutritional symbionts, which are restricted to specialized host cells called bacteriocytes, can provide essential nutrients for many hosts. However, the cellular mechanisms of regulation of animal-symbiont metabolic associations have been largely unexplored. Here, using the whitefly-"Ca. Portiera"/"Ca. Hamiltonella" endosymbiosis, we demonstrate autophagy regulates the symbiont titers and thereby alters the essential amino acid and B vitamin contents. For persistence in the whitefly bacteriocytes, "Ca. Portiera" and "Ca. Hamiltonella" alleviate autophagy by activating the TOR (target of rapamycin) pathway through providing essential nutrients. Therefore, we demonstrate that autophagy plays a critical role in regulating the metabolic interactions between the whitefly and two intracellular symbionts. This study also provides insight into the cellular basis of bacteriocyte evolution and symbiosis persistence in the whitefly. The mechanisms underlying the role of autophagy in whitefly symbiosis could be widespread in many insect nutritional symbioses. These findings provide a new avenue for whitefly control via regulating autophagy in the future.}, } @article {pmid34813842, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, Y and Woo, YJ}, title = {Photosynthetic symbiotic therapeutics - An innovative, effective treatment for ischemic cardiovascular diseases.}, journal = {Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology}, volume = {164}, number = {}, pages = {51-57}, doi = {10.1016/j.yjmcc.2021.11.007}, pmid = {34813842}, issn = {1095-8584}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/therapy ; Humans ; Ischemia ; *Myocardial Ischemia ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, affecting over 15 million patients in the United States. Recent advances in research and innovation have greatly broadened clinicians' ability to treatment ischemic heart disease and associated heart failure using various preventive, pharmacologic, and surgical strategies. Specifically, innovative photosynthetic symbiotic systems using Synechococcus elongatus has gained significant attention. S. elongatus is a unicellular cyanobacterium that can carry out oxygenic photosynthesis. Photosynthetic therapies have been developed to rescue ischemic tissue by taking up tissue-derived carbon dioxide and in turn releasing oxygen for sustained aerobic metabolism during ischemia. In this article, we review the application of cyanobacteria, specifically S. elongatus, in the field of biotechnology, ischemic heart disease, and other clinical applications in ischemic diseases. We also address the motivation for innovation and current limitations in the field of S. elongatus photosynthetic therapeutics for ischemic cardiovascular disease.}, } @article {pmid34813707, year = {2022}, author = {Hernández-Reyes, C and Lichtenberg, E and Keller, J and Delaux, PM and Ott, T and Schenk, ST}, title = {NIN-Like Proteins: Interesting Players in Rhizobia-Induced Nitrate Signaling Response During Interaction with Non-Legume Host Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {230-243}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-21-0261-R}, pmid = {34813707}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient and a key cellular messenger. Plants have evolved refined molecular systems to sense the cellular nitrogen status. This is exemplified by the root nodule symbiosis between legumes and symbiotic rhizobia, where nitrate availability inhibits this mutualistic interaction. Additionally, nitrate also functions as a metabolic messenger, resulting in nitrate signaling cascades which intensively crosstalk with other physiological pathways. Nodule inception-like proteins (NLPs) are key players in nitrate signaling and regulate nitrate-dependent transcription during legume-rhizobia interactions. Nevertheless, the coordinated interplay between nitrate signaling pathways and rhizobacteria-induced responses remains to be elucidated. In our study, we investigated rhizobia-induced changes in the root system architecture of the non-legume host arabidopsis under different nitrate conditions. We demonstrate that rhizobium-induced lateral root growth and increased root hair length and density are regulated by a nitrate-related signaling pathway. Key players in this process are AtNLP4 and AtNLP5, because the corresponding mutants failed to respond to rhizobia. At the cellular level, AtNLP4 and AtNLP5 control a rhizobia-induced decrease in cell elongation rates, while additional cell divisions occurred independently of AtNLP4. In summary, our data suggest that root morphological responses to rhizobia are coordinated by a newly considered nitrate-related NLP pathway that is evolutionarily linked to regulatory circuits described in legumes.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34813605, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, N and Li, Z and Meng, S and Wu, F}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on the growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymatic activity of Euonymus maackii Rupr. under gradient water deficit levels.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {e0259959}, pmid = {34813605}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Desert Climate ; Droughts ; Euonymus/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seedlings/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices) in the amelioration of the water deficit-mediated negative influence on the growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant system in Euonymus maackii Rupr. was examined. E. maackii seedlings were subjected to 5 water deficit levels, soil water contents of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% field capacity (FC), and 2 inoculation treatments, with and without AM inoculation. The water deficit increasingly limited the seedling height, biomass accumulation in shoots and roots, chlorophyll content, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters with an increasing water deficit level. In addition, water deficit stimulated the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), in both shoots and roots, except under 20% FC conditions. E. maackii seedlings under all water deficit conditions formed symbiosis well with AM fungi, which significantly ameliorated the drought-mediated negative effect, especially under 40% and 60% FC conditions. Under 40% to 80% FC conditions, AM formation improved seedling growth and photosynthesis by significantly enhancing the biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content and assimilation. Mycorrhizal seedlings showed better tolerance and less sensitivity to a water deficit, reflected in the lower SOD activities of shoots and roots and CAT activity of shoots under 40% and 60% FC conditions. Downregulation of the antioxidant system in mycorrhizal seedlings suggested better maintenance of redox homeostasis and protection of metabolism, including biomass accumulation and assimilation. All the results advocated the positive role of R. intraradices inoculation in E. maackii against a water deficit, especially under 40% FC, which suggested the distinct AM performance in drought tolerance and the potential role of the combination of E. maackii-AM fungi in ecological restoration in arid regions.}, } @article {pmid34812941, year = {2021}, author = {Zeng, M and Wan, B and Wang, L and Chen, Z and Lin, Y and Ye, W and Wang, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Identification and characterization of L-type lectin receptor-like kinases involved in Glycine max-Phytophthora sojae interaction.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {254}, number = {6}, pages = {128}, pmid = {34812941}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium ; Disease Resistance ; Lectins ; Phylogeny ; *Phytophthora ; Plant Diseases ; Soybeans/genetics ; }, abstract = {Soybean contains a group of 64 L-type lectin receptor-like kinases. Three LecRKs were involved in the interactions with Phytophthora sojae and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. L-type lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRKs) comprise an important class of membrane-localized receptor-like kinases that are involved in plant adaptation. In this study, we performed an inventory analysis of LecRKs in Glycine max (soybean). In total, 64 GmLecRKs containing the canonical LecRK feature were identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 48 GmLecRKs have close orthologs in Arabidopsis or Solanum lycopersicum, while 16 are likely present only in the leguminous plant species. Transcriptome analyses revealed that expressions of multiple GmLecRK genes are either induced or suppressed during infection by the soybean root rot pathogen Phytophthora sojae. In addition, overexpression of the three LecRKs (Glyma.17G085000, Glyma.05G041300 or Glyma.17G224600) in the soybean hairy roots enhanced resistance to P. sojae. Upon inoculation with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, overexpression of Glyma.17G085000 in the soybean hairy roots does not significantly influence the nodulation, while overexpression of Glyma.05G041300 or Glyma.17G224600 slightly reduced the number and dry weight of nodules. This study highlights the importance of LecRKs in regulating plant-microbe interactions and provides new knowledge on the deployment of LecRKs to increase resistance in soybean.}, } @article {pmid34811861, year = {2022}, author = {Rodríguez-Esperón, MC and Eastman, G and Sandes, L and Garabato, F and Eastman, I and Iriarte, A and Fabiano, E and Sotelo-Silveira, JR and Platero, R}, title = {Genomics and transcriptomics insights into luteolin effects on the beta-rhizobial strain Cupriavidus necator UYPR2.512.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {240-264}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15845}, pmid = {34811861}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Cupriavidus/genetics ; *Cupriavidus necator/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Genomics ; Luteolin/metabolism/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Cupriavidus necator UYPR2.512 is a rhizobial strain that belongs to the Beta-subclass of proteobacteria, able to establish successful symbiosis with Mimosoid legumes. The initial steps of rhizobium-legumes symbioses involve the reciprocal recognition by chemical signals, being luteolin one of the molecules involved. However, there is a lack of information on the effect of luteolin in beta-rhizobia. In this work, we used long-read sequencing to complete the genome of UYPR2.512 providing evidence for the existence of four closed circular replicons. We used an RNA-Seq approach to analyse the response of UYPR2.512 to luteolin. One hundred and forty-five genes were differentially expressed, with similar numbers of downregulated and upregulated genes. Most repressed genes were mapped to the main chromosome, while the upregulated genes were overrepresented among pCne512e, containing the symbiotic genes. Induced genes included the nod operon and genes implicated in exopolysaccharides and flagellar biosynthesis. We identified many genes involved in iron, copper and other heavy metals metabolism. Among repressed genes, we identified genes involved in basal carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Our results suggest that in response to luteolin, C. necator strain UYPR2.512 reshapes its metabolism in order to be prepared for the forthcoming symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid34811084, year = {2021}, author = {Cedrola, F and Fregulia, P and DA Silva, ZRJ and Rossi, MF and Mendes, SM and Dias, RJP}, title = {Systematic review of the genus Ostracodinium (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae) and notes on the taxonomy of Ostracodinium rugoloricatum Kofoid amp; MacLennan, 1932.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5039}, number = {2}, pages = {252-262}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5039.2.6}, pmid = {34811084}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; *Ciliophora ; }, abstract = {The family Ophryoscolecidae (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida) constitutes a diverse and monophyletic group of symbiotic ciliates of herbivorous mammals. The family includes approximately 200 species, distributed in three subfamilies and sixteen genera. The subfamily Diplodiniinae is the most diverse group in Ophryoscolecidae and comprises the genus Ostracodinium, which includes species with two retractable ciliary zones in the anterior body portion, a broad skeletal plate covering almost all the right surface of the body and a variable number of contractile vacuoles. The genus currently comprises 28 species, classified according to body size and shape, position and shape of the nuclear apparatus, number and position of contractile vacuoles, and number and shape of caudal projections. The present study performs a systematic review of the genus Ostracodinium, based on morphological and molecular data, and provides data about geographic distribution and hosts of each species.}, } @article {pmid34811015, year = {2021}, author = {DE Azevedo Ferreira, LA and Anker, A}, title = {An annotated and illustrated checklist of the porcelain crabs of Panama (Decapoda: Anomura).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5045}, number = {1}, pages = {1-154}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5045.1.1}, pmid = {34811015}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animals ; *Anomura ; Dental Porcelain ; *Palaemonidae ; Panama ; }, abstract = {The present study is the first exhaustive checklist of porcelain crabs (Porcellanidae) distributed on the Pacific and Atlantic (Caribbean) coasts of Panama, based on literature records and material collected between 2006 and 2019. The Panamanian porcellanid fauna is currently composed of a total of 76 species, with 26 species reported from the Caribbean coast, 45 species reported from the Pacific coast, and five species reported from both sides of the Central American Isthmus (Isthmus of Panama). In other words, the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama each harbour, respectively, 31 and 50 species of porcellanid crabs. However, this total includes two problematic porcellanid records from Panama, viz. Clastotoechus nodosus (Streets, 1872) and Petrolisthes brachycarpus Sivertsen, 1933, as well as a putatively undecribed taxon reported as Pachycheles sp. The following four species are recorded for the first time from Panama, viz. Euceramus panatelus Glassell, 1938, Pachycheles riisei (Stimpson, 1859) [also being new for Mexico], Petrolisthes dissimulatus Gore, 1983 and P. tonsorius Haig, 1960. In addition, Minyocerus kirki Glassell, 1938 is newly recorded from Colombia, extending its previously known distributional range significantly southwards. Most species are illustrated in colour, several for the first time, based on material from Panama or other localities. At least 20 further species (16 in the Atlantic, 5 in the Pacific, and 1 in both oceans) are suspected to occur in Panamanian waters, based on their records from the neighbouring Costa Rica and/or Colombia, or their wide distribution in the Caribbean Sea or the tropical eastern Pacific. The presence of several cryptic or pseudocryptic species (at least some of them presumably undescribed), especially in the taxonomically challenging Petrolisthes galathinus (Bosc, 1802) species complex, or the eventual species splitting within some taxa currently seen as transisthmian, will likely further increase the total number of species present in Panama. The porcellanid fauna of Panama is also ecologically remarkably diversified. Most Panamanian porcelain crabs are free-living under rocks, in crevices of rocks, dead coral heads, coralline algae, coral rubble etc., or on mud, among mangrove roots. Euceramus panatelus lives in possibly self-dug burrows in soft mud or muddy sand, whereas its congener E. transversilineatus (Lockington, 1878) may occasionally be found in association with holothuroids. At least 15 further porcellanid species occurring in Panama live in permanent or facultative associations with a variety of other marine organisms, including sponges, cnidarians (octocorals), echinoderms (sea urchins, sea stars, sea cucumbers), polychaetes (parchment worms) and other decapod crustaceans (hermit crabs), making them one of the most attractive groups for studies of symbiosis-related behaviour and evolution.}, } @article {pmid34810633, year = {2021}, author = {Caripe, JV and Pereda, L and Anker, A}, title = {A new species and two new records of symbiotic infaunal alpheid shrimps from the genera Leptalpheus Williams, 1965 and Fenneralpheus Felder amp; Manning, 1986 (Decapoda: Caridea) from Venezuela.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5061}, number = {1}, pages = {177-184}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5061.1.10}, pmid = {34810633}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; *Decapoda ; Venezuela ; }, abstract = {Leptalpheus lirai sp. nov., a new species of symbiotically living, infaunal alpheid shrimp, is described based on a single specimen from the Gulf of Santa Fe, Sucre, Venezuela. The new species belongs to an informal group of nine species within the genus Leptalpheus Williams, 1965, which is characterised by the presence of well-developed adhesive disks on the major chela. In addition, Leptalpheus axianassae Dworschak Coelho, 1999 and Fenneralpheus chacei Felder Manning, 1986 are recorded for the first time from Venezuela (Anzotegui and Sucre, respectively), the latter also representing the first record of the genus Fenneralpheus Felder Manning, 1986 for the country. These records bring to 11 the number of alpheid genera, and to four the number of species of Leptalpheus, known in Venezuelan marine waters.}, } @article {pmid34808804, year = {2021}, author = {Luo, J and Zhang, H and Forsberg, E and Hou, S and Li, S and Xu, Z and Chen, X and Sun, X and He, S}, title = {Confocal hyperspectral microscopic imager for the detection and classification of individual microalgae.}, journal = {Optics express}, volume = {29}, number = {23}, pages = {37281-37301}, doi = {10.1364/OE.438253}, pmid = {34808804}, issn = {1094-4087}, mesh = {Animals ; Deep Learning ; Equipment Design ; Hyperspectral Imaging/*instrumentation/methods ; Microalgae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Microscopy, Confocal/*instrumentation/methods ; Principal Component Analysis ; Scyphozoa ; Support Vector Machine ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We propose a confocal hyperspectral microscopic imager (CHMI) that can measure both transmission and fluorescent spectra of individual microalgae, as well as obtain classical transmission images and corresponding fluorescent hyperspectral images with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, the system can realize precise identification, classification, and location of microalgae in a free or symbiosis state. The CHMI works in a staring state, with two imaging modes, a confocal fluorescence hyperspectral imaging (CFHI) mode and a transmission hyperspectral imaging (THI) mode. The imaging modes share the main light path, and thus obtained fluorescence and transmission hyperspectral images have point-to-point correspondence. In the CFHI mode, a confocal technology to eliminate image blurring caused by interference of axial points is included. The CHMI has excellent performance with spectral and spatial resolutions of 3 nm and 2 µm, respectively (using a 10× microscope objective magnification). To demonstrate the capacity and versatility of the CHMI, we report on demonstration experiments on four species of microalgae in free form as well as three species of jellyfish with symbiotic microalgae. In the microalgae species classification experiments, transmission and fluorescence spectra collected by the CHMI were preprocessed using principal component analysis (PCA), and a support vector machine (SVM) model or deep learning was then used for classification. The accuracy of the SVM model and deep learning method to distinguish one species of individual microalgae from another was found to be 96.25% and 98.34%, respectively. Also, the ability of the CHMI to analyze the concentration, species, and distribution differences of symbiotic microalgae in symbionts is furthermore demonstrated.}, } @article {pmid34808506, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, C and Yang, Y and Zeeshan, M and Qin, S and Ma, J and Liu, L and Yang, J and Zhou, X and Huang, J}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reverse selenium stress in Zea mays seedlings by improving plant and soil characteristics.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {228}, number = {}, pages = {113000}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113000}, pmid = {34808506}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Selenium (Se) is a beneficial trace element for certain animals including humans, while remaining controversial for plants. High Se concentration in soil is toxic to plants especially at seedling stage of the plants. Although, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important for plant stress resistance; but the mechanisms by which AMF alleviate Se stress in crop seedlings are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the potential strategies of AMF symbiosis to alleviate Se stress in maize (Zea mays) from plants and soil perspectives. Results showed that Se stress (Se application level > 5 mg kg[-1]) significantly inhibited leaf area, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight of maize (P < 0.05). In contrast, AM symbiosis significantly improved root morphology, increased nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition, promoted shoot growth, inhibited the transport of Se from soil/roots to shoots, and then diluted the concentration of Se in shoots (32.65-52.80%). In general, the response of maize growth to AMF was mainly observed in shoots rather than roots. In addition, AMF inoculation significantly increased the easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein and organic matter contents and decreased the availability of soil Se to the plant. Principal component analysis showed that AMF promoted growth and nutrition uptake of maize was the most dominant effect of Se stress alleviation, followed by the decrease of soil Se availability, limiting Se transport from soil/roots to shoots. Moreover, the expression of Se uptake-related ion transporter genes (ZmPht2, ZmNIP2;1, and ZmSultr1;3) in maize roots were down-regulated upon AM symbiosis which resultantly inhibited the uptake and transport of Se from soil to maize roots. Thus, AMF could impede Se stress in maize seedlings by improving plant and soil characteristics.}, } @article {pmid34808175, year = {2022}, author = {Manirakiza, B and Zhang, S and Addo, FG and Isabwe, A and Nsabimana, A}, title = {Exploring microbial diversity and ecological function of epiphytic and surface sediment biofilm communities in a shallow tropical lake.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {808}, number = {}, pages = {151821}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151821}, pmid = {34808175}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Biofilms ; Eukaryota ; Geologic Sediments ; *Lakes ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities in epiphytic biofilms and surface sediments play a vital role in the biogeochemical cycles of the major chemical elements in freshwater. However, little is known about the diversity, composition, and ecological functions of microbial communities in shallow tropical lakes dominated by aquatic macrophytes. In this study, epiphytic bacterial and eukaryotic biofilm communities on submerged and floating macrophytes and surface sediments were investigated in Lake Rumira, Rwanda in August and November 2019. High-throughput sequencing data revealed that members of the phyla, including Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteriodetes, Verrumicrobia, and Myxomycota, dominated bacterial communities, while the microeukaryotic communities were dominated by Unclassified (uncl) SAR(Stramenopiles, Alveolata, Rhizaria), Rotifers, Ascomycota, Gastrotricha, Platyhelminthes, Chloroplastida, and Arthropoda. Interestingly, the eukaryotic OTUs (operational taxonomic units) number and Shannon indices were significantly higher in sediments and epiphytic biofilms on Eicchornia crassipes than Ceratophyllum demersum (p < 0.05), while no differences were observed in bacterial OTUs number and Shannon values among substrates. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total nitrogen (TN), and electrical conductivity (EC) were the most important abiotic factors closely related to the microbial community on C. demersum and E. crassipes. Furthermore, co-occurrence networks analysis (|r| > 0.7, p < 0.05) and functional prediction revealed more complex interactions among microbes on C. demersum than on E. crassipes and sediments, and those interactions include cross-feeding, parasitism, symbiosis, and predatism among organisms in biofilms. These results suggested that substrate-type and environmental factors were the strong driving forces of microbial diversity in epiphytic biofilms and surface sediments, thus shedding new insights into microbial community diversity in epiphytic biofilms and surface sediments and its ecological role in tropical lacustrine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34807441, year = {2022}, author = {Swaggerty, CL and Bortoluzzi, C and Lee, A and Eyng, C and Pont, GD and Kogut, MH}, title = {Potential Replacements for Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry: Interactions at the Gut Level and Their Impact on Host Immunity.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1354}, number = {}, pages = {145-159}, pmid = {34807441}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Poultry ; Prebiotics/analysis ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The chicken gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has a complex, biodiverse microbial community of ~ 9 million bacterial genes plus archaea and fungi that links the host diet to its health. This microbial population contributes to host physiology through metabolite signaling while also providing local and systemic nutrients to multiple organ systems. In a homeostatic state, the host-microbial interaction is symbiotic; however, physiological issues are associated with dysregulated microbiota. Manipulating the microbiota is a therapeutic option, and the concept of adding beneficial bacteria to the intestine has led to probiotic and prebiotic development. The gut microbiome is readily changeable by diet, antibiotics, pathogenic infections, and host- and environmental-dependent events. The intestine performs key roles of nutrient absorption, tolerance of beneficial microbiota, yet responding to undesirable microbes or microbial products and preventing translocation to sterile body compartments. During homeostasis, the immune system is actively preventing or modulating the response to known or innocuous antigens. Manipulating the microbiota through nutrition, modulating host immunity, preventing pathogen colonization, or improving intestinal barrier function has led to novel methods to prevent disease, but also resulted in improved body weight, feed conversion, and carcass yield in poultry. This review highlights the importance of adding different feed additives to the diets of poultry in order to manipulate and enhance health and productivity of flocks.}, } @article {pmid34805456, year = {2021}, author = {Kumar K, S and Pindi, PK}, title = {Data on host specificity and symbiotic association between indigenous Rhizobium BD1 strain and Vigna radiata (green gram).}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {107520}, doi = {10.1016/j.dib.2021.107520}, pmid = {34805456}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {The main objective of this study is to use bio-inoculants in relative to specific legume plant diversity for, enhanced nodulation and plant growth. Method involves organically based selection of 36 rhizobial strains, of which 6 strains were isolated to assess the efficiency of relative host-specific inoculation on nodulation and development in legumes viz. Vigna radiata. All promising combinations of the preferred rhizobial strain inoculants were tested under sterile conditions for improving nodulation and to screen the best isolate to be evaluated for its enhanced characteristics through inoculation by field trial in various soils. It was observed that the strains from Bhadrachalam forest BD1 are highly host specific for Vigna radiata plants and when inoculated, improved nodulation and enhanced plant growth. Because of the novel characters in BD1, further studies were carried out and was identified as Rhizobium sp. BD1 (NCBI Accession no. MT577595). The percentage of nitrogen content in Vigna radiata ranged between 1.2% to 2.9%. This Rhizobium sp. BD1 was tested for the unraveling and amelioration of crop production in barren, polluted and agricultural soils which showed enhanced characteristics in Vigna radiata plants. This method may be employed across the globe of same climatic conditions for the retrieval of plants in soils that carry agriculture unsuccessfully.}, } @article {pmid34805250, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, HQ and Ma, ZL and Zhang, DX and Wu, P and Guo, YH and Yang, F and Li, DY}, title = {Sequential Extraction, Characterization, and Analysis of Pumpkin Polysaccharides for Their Hypoglycemic Activities and Effects on Gut Microbiota in Mice.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {769181}, pmid = {34805250}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {This study aimed to extract polysaccharides from pumpkin, characterize the structures of four of them, and evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Additionally, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was established and used to determine their hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in vivo, and the underlying mechanisms related to the regulation of gut microbiota. Water-extracted crude pumpkin polysaccharides (W-CPPs), water extraction and alcohol precipitation crude pumpkin polysaccharides (WA-CPPs), deproteinized pumpkin polysaccharides (DPPs), and refined pumpkin polysaccharides (RPPs) were sequentially extracted and purified from pumpkin powder by hot water extraction, water extraction, and alcohol precipitation, deproteinization and DEAE-52 cellulose gel column, respectively. The extraction and purification methods had significant influence on the extraction yield, physicochemical properties, and in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. W-CCP and RPPs had a significant positive free radical-scavenging capacities and inhibitory activities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. RPP-3 not only inhibited the uptake of glucose in Caco-2 monolayer but also promoted the excretion of glucose, while RPP-2 had no inhibitory effect. Animal experiment results showed that W-CPP treatment significantly improved the T2DM symptoms in mice, which included lowering of fasting blood glucose (FBG), reducing insulin resistance (IR), and lowering of blood lipid levels. It increased the diversity of intestinal flora and reduced the harmful flora of model mice, which included Clostridium, Thermoanaerobe, Symbiotic bacteria, Deinococcus, Vibrio haematococcus, Proteus gamma, and Corio. At the family level, W-CPP (1,200 mg/kg) treatment significantly reduced the abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae, and the Akkermanaceae of Verrucobacterium became a biomarker. Pumpkin polysaccharides reshaped the intestinal flora by reducing Erysipelotrichaceae and increasing Akkermansia abundance, thereby improving blood glucose and lipid metabolism in the T2DM mice. Our results suggest that W-CCP and RPP-3 possess strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, and are potential candidates for food additives or natural medicines.}, } @article {pmid34804572, year = {2021}, author = {Akami, M and Tamgue, O and Ren, X and Wang, Y and Qi, X and Martin Luther, KM and Ngono Ngane, RA and Niu, CY}, title = {Effects of symbiotic population impairment on microbiome composition and longevity of Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {211104}, pmid = {34804572}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {In order to understand the role of symbionts for their insect hosts, it is customary to treat them with antibiotics or to sterilize eggs (treatments), resulting in aposymbiotic and axenic insects, respectively. Such axenic insects can then be compared with untreated controls. Fruit flies often bear complex communities which are greatly reduced by such treatments. However, the bacterial community is not completely eliminated. Here, we examine the effect of these procedures on the structure of the remaining bacterial communities in Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) and on the insect longevity. The antibiotics (Norfloxacin and Ceftazedime) were administered to 1-day-old adult flies through sugar meal for 7 days, and eggs were surface sterilized and dechorionated to produce axenic lines. The flies were starved of protein before they were offered full diets or diets containing non-essential amino acids only. Antibiotic and egg disinfection treatments resulted in a significant reduction of the vast majority of gut bacterial populations, especially Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. On the other hand, antibiotic allowed the persistence of Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Acidobacteria populations. In untreated control flies, longevity was extended irrespective of diet quality in comparison to treated flies. Conversely, when gut bacteria were largely reduced (aposymbiotic and axenic flies), longevity was reduced in the non-essential amino acids diet treatment versus slightly improved in the presence of a protein diet. We discuss these results in an ecological-life-history perspective.}, } @article {pmid34804060, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, ZB and Meng, KF and Ding, LG and Wu, S and Han, GK and Zhai, X and Sun, RH and Yu, YY and Ji, W and Xu, Z}, title = {Dynamic Interaction Between Mucosal Immunity and Microbiota Drives Nose and Pharynx Homeostasis of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) After SVCV Infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {769775}, pmid = {34804060}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animal Structures/immunology/microbiology/virology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*immunology ; Carps/*immunology/microbiology/virology ; Fish Diseases/*immunology/microbiology/virology ; Fish Proteins/genetics/immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Homeostasis/genetics/immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/genetics/*immunology ; Pharynx/*immunology/microbiology/virology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics/immunology ; Rhabdoviridae/genetics/*immunology/physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {The crosstalk between the immune system and microbiota drives an amazingly complex mutualistic symbiosis. In mammals, the upper respiratory tract acts as a gateway for pathogen invasion, and the dynamic interaction between microbiota and mucosal immunity on its surface can effectively prevent disease development. However, the relationship between virus-mediated mucosal immune responses and microbes in lower vertebrates remains uncharacterized. In this study, we successfully constructed an infection model by intraperitoneally injecting common carp (Cyprinus carpio) with spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV). In addition to the detection of the SVCV in the nose and pharynx of common carp, we also identified obvious histopathological changes following viral infection. Moreover, numerous immune-related genes were significantly upregulated in the nose and pharynx at the peak of SVCV infection, after which the expression levels decreased to levels similar to those of the control group. Transcriptome sequencing results revealed that pathways associated with bacterial infection in the Toll-like receptor pathway and the Nod-like receptor pathway were activated in addition to the virus-related Rig-I-like receptor pathway after SVCV infection, suggesting that viral infection may be followed by opportunistic bacterial infection in these mucosal tissues. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we further identified an upward trend in pathogenic bacteria on the mucosal surface of the nose and pharynx 4 days after SVCV infection, after which these tissues eventually reached new homeostasis. Taken together, our results suggest that the dynamic interaction between mucosal immunity and microbiota promotes the host to a new ecological state.}, } @article {pmid34804014, year = {2021}, author = {Ullrich, L and Lueder, Y and Juergens, AL and Wilharm, A and Barros-Martins, J and Bubke, A and Demera, A and Ikuta, K and Patzer, GE and Janssen, A and Sandrock, I and Prinz, I and Rampoldi, F}, title = {IL-4-Producing Vγ1[+]/Vδ6[+] γδ T Cells Sustain Germinal Center Reactions in Peyer's Patches of Mice.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {729607}, pmid = {34804014}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Germinal Center/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/immunology/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; Interleukin-4/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Intraepithelial Lymphocytes/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Depletion ; Mice, Knockout ; Peyer's Patches/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Salmonella Infections/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Salmonella typhimurium/immunology/pathogenicity ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The mucosal immune system is the first line of defense against pathogens. Germinal centers (GCs) in the Peyer's patches (PPs) of the small intestine are constantly generated through stimulation of the microbiota. In this study, we investigated the role of γδ T cells in the GC reactions in PPs. Most γδ T cells in PPs localized in the GCs and expressed a TCR composed of Vγ1 and Vδ6 chains. By using mice with partial and total γδ T cell deficiencies, we found that Vγ1[+]/Vδ6[+] T cells can produce high amounts of IL-4, which drives the proliferation of GC B cells as well as the switch of GC B cells towards IgA. Therefore, we conclude that γδ T cells play a role in sustaining gut homeostasis and symbiosis via supporting the GC reactions in PPs.}, } @article {pmid34803949, year = {2021}, author = {Koch, RA and Herr, JR}, title = {Global Distribution and Richness of Armillaria and Related Species Inferred From Public Databases and Amplicon Sequencing Datasets.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {733159}, pmid = {34803949}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Armillaria is a globally distributed fungal genus most notably composed of economically important plant pathogens that are found predominantly in forest and agronomic systems. The genus sensu lato has more recently received attention for its role in woody plant decomposition and in mycorrhizal symbiosis with specific plants. Previous phylogenetic analyses suggest that around 50 species are recognized globally. Despite this previous work, no studies have analyzed the global species richness and distribution of the genus using data derived from fungal community sequencing datasets or barcoding initiatives. To assess the global diversity and species richness of Armillaria, we mined publicly available sequencing datasets derived from numerous primer regions for the ribosomal operon, as well as ITS sequences deposited on Genbank, and clustered them akin to metabarcoding studies. Our estimates reveal that species richness ranges from 50 to 60 species, depending on whether the ITS1 or ITS2 marker is used. Eastern Asia represents the biogeographic region with the highest species richness. We also assess the overlap of species across geographic regions and propose some hypotheses regarding the drivers of variability in species diversity and richness between different biogeographic regions.}, } @article {pmid34803434, year = {2021}, author = {Cho, HJ and Park, KH and Park, MS and Cho, Y and Kim, JS and Seo, CW and Oh, SY and Lim, YW}, title = {Determination of Diversity, Distribution and Host Specificity of Korean Laccaria Using Four Approaches.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {49}, number = {5}, pages = {461-468}, pmid = {34803434}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {The genus Laccaria (Hydnangiaceae, Agaricales) plays an important role in forest ecosystems as an ectomycorrhizal fungus, contributing to nutrient cycles through symbiosis with many types of trees. Though understanding Laccaria diversity and distribution patterns, as well as its association with host plants, is fundamental to constructing a balanced plant diversity and conducting effective forest management, previous studies have not been effective in accurately investigating, as they relied heavily on specimen collection alone. To investigate the true diversity and distribution pattern of Laccaria species and determine their host types, we used four different approaches: specimen-based analysis, open database search (ODS), NGS analysis, and species-specific PCR (SSP). As a result, 14 Laccaria species have been confirmed in Korea. Results regarding the species distribution pattern were different between specimen-based analysis and SSP. However, when both were integrated, the exact distribution pattern of each Laccaria species was determined. In addition, the SSP revealed that many Laccaria species have a wide range of host types. This study shows that using these four different approaches is useful in determining the diversity, distribution, and host of ECM fungi. Furthermore, results obtained for Laccaria will serve as a baseline to help understand the role of ECM fungi in forest management in response to climate change.}, } @article {pmid34801776, year = {2022}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Rusaczonek, A and Kochańska-Jeziorska, A}, title = {Exploring apoplast reorganization in the nodules of Lotus corniculatus L. growing on old Zn-Pb calamine wastes.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {268}, number = {}, pages = {153561}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153561}, pmid = {34801776}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Lead ; Lignin ; *Lotus/drug effects ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Pectins ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*growth & development ; Soil Pollutants ; Symbiosis ; *Zinc ; }, abstract = {Nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation are important factors that determine legume growth. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effects of Zn-Pb contamination on nodule apoplast (cell walls and intercellular spaces) of bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) that spontaneously colonized old calamine wastes. The plants were grown in pots filled with sterile calamine substrate (M, metal treated) or expanded clay (NM, untreated) and inoculated with calamine-derived Lotus-nodulating Bradyrhizobium liaoningense. Apoplast reorganization in the nodules was examined using specific dyes for cellulose, pectin and lignin detection, and immuno-histochemical techniques based on monoclonal antibodies against xyloglucan (Lm25), pectins (Jim5 and Jim7), and structural proteins (arabinogalactan protein - Lm14 and extensin - Jim12). Microscopic analysis of metal-treated nodules revealed changes in the apoplast structure and composition of nodule cortex tissues and infected cells. Wall thickening was accompanied by intensified deposition of cellulose, xyloglucan, esterified pectin, arabinogalactan protein and extensin. The metal presence redirected also lignin and suberin deposition in the walls of the nodule cortex tissues. Our results showed reorganization of the apoplast of cortex tissues and infected cells of Lotus nodules under Zn-Pb presence. These changes in the apoplast structure and composition may have created actual barriers for the toxic ions. For this reason, they can be regarded as an element of legume defense strategy against metal stress that enables effective functioning of L. corniculatus-rhizobia symbiosis on Zn-Pb polluted calamine tailings.}, } @article {pmid34801685, year = {2021}, author = {Tiwari, M and Pandey, V and Singh, B and Yadav, M and Bhatia, S}, title = {Evolutionary and expression dynamics of LRR-RLKs and functional establishment of KLAVIER homolog in shoot mediated regulation of AON in chickpea symbiosis.}, journal = {Genomics}, volume = {113}, number = {6}, pages = {4313-4326}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.11.022}, pmid = {34801685}, issn = {1089-8646}, mesh = {*Cicer/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Chickpea shoot exogenously treated with cytokinin showed stunted phenotype of root, shoot and significantly reduced nodule numbers. Genome-wide identification of LRR-RLKs in chickpea and Medicago resulted in 200 and 371 genes respectively. Gene duplication analysis revealed that LRR-RLKs family expanded through segmental duplications in chickpea and tandem duplications in Medicago. Expression profiling of LRR-RLKs revealed their involvement in cytokinin signaling and plant organ development. Overexpression of KLAVIER ortholog of chickpea, Ca_LRR-RLK147, in roots revealed its localization in the membrane but showed no effect on root nodulation despite increased cle peptide levels. Two findings (i) drastic effect on nodule number by exogenous cytokinin treatment to only shoot and restoration to normal nodulation by treatment to both root and shoot tissue and (ii) no effect on nodule number by overexpression of Ca_LRR-RLK147 establishes the fact that despite presence of cle peptides in root, the function of Ca_LRR-RLK147 was shoot mediated during AON.}, } @article {pmid34800449, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and Xie, Y and Qi, L and He, Y and Bo, H}, title = {Synergies evaluation and influencing factors analysis of the water-energy-food nexus from symbiosis perspective: A case study in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {818}, number = {}, pages = {151731}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151731}, pmid = {34800449}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Beijing ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Food ; Particulate Matter ; *Symbiosis ; *Water ; }, abstract = {In the context of global population growth and environmental degradation, research on the synergies of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is important for sustainable regional development. Using symbiosis and synergy theories, the authors constructed a synergy evaluation index for the WEF nexus and used the set pair analysis-variable fuzzy sets model to analyze the WEF nexus synergies in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region (BTH) of China, from 2005 to 2017. The main factors affecting WEF nexus synergies were also analyzed, with results indicating that: 1) the WEF nexus synergies were the best in Beijing, followed by the BTH as a whole, Tianjin, and then Hebei. We also found that WEF nexus synergy grades have been gradually improving over time, with Beijing improving the most, and Tianjin the least. 2) The WEF nexus synergy grades in each region, for symbiotic units, symbiotic relationships, and symbiotic environments, have also gradually improved. And symbiotic relationship synergies were better than symbiotic environment synergies than symbiotic unit synergies. 3) The WEF nexus symbiotic unit synergies were strongest in Tianjin, followed by Beijing, the BTH as a whole, and then Hebei. The symbiotic relationship synergies were strongest in Beijing, followed by Hebei, the BTH as a whole, and then Tianjin. The symbiotic environment synergies were also strongest in Beijing, followed this time by the BTH as a whole, Tianjin, and then Hebei. 4) Economic factors and symbiotic unit synergies were found to be the aspects most influential on WEF nexus synergies in each region. In addition, symbiotic relationship synergies were found to have important impacts on the WEF nexus synergies in Hebei and the BTH as a whole. Overall, we were able to conclude that the methodology developed in this study provided a scientific basis for synergy optimization in the context of a regional WEF nexus.}, } @article {pmid34800273, year = {2022}, author = {Han, F and Sun, M and Jia, X and Klemeš, JJ and Shi, F and Yang, D}, title = {Agent-based model for simulation of the sustainability revolution in eco-industrial parks.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {16}, pages = {23117-23128}, pmid = {34800273}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; Computer Simulation ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; Industry ; }, abstract = {Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) are of increasing importance for implementing industrial ecology strategies and are facing increasing challenges in terms of environmental pollution and resource scarcity. As a complex adaptive system, an EIP involves multiple sectors and faces various disturbances that influence its evolutionary trajectories. This study adopts an agent-based model to simulate the material flows and industrial symbiosis process in the EIP, considering the initiative of each company and the ever-changing environment. The proposed EIP model emphasises the heterogeneity of companies and attempts to reflect multiple and dynamic factors that have received less attention in previous studies. This model contains two types of agents, companies and the external environment. A company agent makes decisions and interacts with other agents following its own behaviour rules, while the external environment agent functions to coordinate the material flows and exert influence on the companies. The model has been verified and validated by simulating a 20-year-period development of an empirical EIP in China. The simulation results are assessed by three indicators: eco-connectance, eco-efficiency, and industrial symbiosis indicator. Results showed that during the growing phase, the eco-connectance increased from 0.02 to 0.1 for the non-disturbance situation. The eco-efficiency and industrial symbiosis indicator also realised 78.5% and 74.8% of their total increments. The outcome of this research provides insights for the design of the strategies to improve the industrial symbiosis performance and is of high potential to facilitate EIPs in promoting eco-transformation and sustainable development.}, } @article {pmid34799446, year = {2021}, author = {Weinstein, SB and Martínez-Mota, R and Stapleton, TE and Klure, DM and Greenhalgh, R and Orr, TJ and Dale, C and Kohl, KD and Dearing, MD}, title = {Microbiome stability and structure is governed by host phylogeny over diet and geography in woodrats (Neotoma spp.).}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {47}, pages = {}, pmid = {34799446}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {T32 AI055434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM141848/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Diet ; Geography ; *Microbiota ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sigmodontinae/*microbiology ; Southwestern United States ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbiome is critical for host survival and fitness, but gaps remain in our understanding of how this symbiotic community is structured. Despite evidence that related hosts often harbor similar bacterial communities, it is unclear whether this pattern is due to genetic similarities between hosts or to common ecological selection pressures. Here, using herbivorous rodents in the genus Neotoma, we quantify how geography, diet, and host genetics, alongside neutral processes, influence microbiome structure and stability under natural and captive conditions. Using bacterial and plant metabarcoding, we first characterized dietary and microbiome compositions for animals from 25 populations, representing seven species from 19 sites across the southwestern United States. We then brought wild animals into captivity, reducing the influence of environmental variation. In nature, geography, diet, and phylogeny collectively explained ∼50% of observed microbiome variation. Diet and microbiome diversity were correlated, with different toxin-enriched diets selecting for distinct microbial symbionts. Although diet and geography influenced natural microbiome structure, the effects of host phylogeny were stronger for both wild and captive animals. In captivity, gut microbiomes were altered; however, responses were species specific, indicating again that host genetic background is the most significant predictor of microbiome composition and stability. In captivity, diet effects declined and the effects of host genetic similarity increased. By bridging a critical divide between studies in wild and captive animals, this work underscores the extent to which genetics shape microbiome structure and stability in closely related hosts.}, } @article {pmid34797927, year = {2022}, author = {Bogar, LM and Tavasieff, OS and Raab, TK and Peay, KG}, title = {Does resource exchange in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis vary with competitive context and nitrogen addition?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {3}, pages = {1331-1344}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17871}, pmid = {34797927}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen ; *Pinus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is essential for the nutrition of most temperate forest trees and helps regulate the movement of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) through forested ecosystems. The factors governing the exchange of plant C for fungal N, however, remain obscure. Because competition and soil resources may influence ectomycorrhizal resource movement, we performed a 10-month split-root microcosm study using Pinus muricata seedlings with Thelephora terrestris, Suillus pungens, or no ectomycorrhizal fungus, under two N concentrations in artificial soil. Fungi competed directly with roots and indirectly with each other. We used stable isotope enrichment to track plant photosynthate and fungal N. For T. terrestris, plants received N commensurate with the C given to their fungal partners. Thelephora terrestris was a superior mutualist under high-N conditions. For S. pungens, plant C and fungal N exchange were not coupled. However, in low-N conditions, plants preferentially allocated C to S. pungens rather than T. terrestris. Our results suggest that ectomycorrhizal resource transfer depends on competitive and nutritional context. Plants can exchange C for fungal N, but coupling of these resources can depend on the fungal species and soil N. Understanding the diversity of fungal strategies, and how they change with environmental context, reveals mechanisms driving this important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34797921, year = {2022}, author = {Franco, MEE and Wisecaver, JH and Arnold, AE and Ju, YM and Slot, JC and Ahrendt, S and Moore, LP and Eastman, KE and Scott, K and Konkel, Z and Mondo, SJ and Kuo, A and Hayes, RD and Haridas, S and Andreopoulos, B and Riley, R and LaButti, K and Pangilinan, J and Lipzen, A and Amirebrahimi, M and Yan, J and Adam, C and Keymanesh, K and Ng, V and Louie, K and Northen, T and Drula, E and Henrissat, B and Hsieh, HM and Youens-Clark, K and Lutzoni, F and Miadlikowska, J and Eastwood, DC and Hamelin, RC and Grigoriev, IV and U'Ren, JM}, title = {Ecological generalism drives hyperdiversity of secondary metabolite gene clusters in xylarialean endophytes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {3}, pages = {1317-1330}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17873}, pmid = {34797921}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endophytes ; Fungi ; *Lichens/microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Xylariales ; }, abstract = {Although secondary metabolites are typically associated with competitive or pathogenic interactions, the high bioactivity of endophytic fungi in the Xylariales, coupled with their abundance and broad host ranges spanning all lineages of land plants and lichens, suggests that enhanced secondary metabolism might facilitate symbioses with phylogenetically diverse hosts. Here, we examined secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMGCs) across 96 Xylariales genomes in two clades (Xylariaceae s.l. and Hypoxylaceae), including 88 newly sequenced genomes of endophytes and closely related saprotrophs and pathogens. We paired genomic data with extensive metadata on endophyte hosts and substrates, enabling us to examine genomic factors related to the breadth of symbiotic interactions and ecological roles. All genomes contain hyperabundant SMGCs; however, Xylariaceae have increased numbers of gene duplications, horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) and SMGCs. Enhanced metabolic diversity of endophytes is associated with a greater diversity of hosts and increased capacity for lignocellulose decomposition. Our results suggest that, as host and substrate generalists, Xylariaceae endophytes experience greater selection to diversify SMGCs compared with more ecologically specialised Hypoxylaceae species. Overall, our results provide new evidence that SMGCs may facilitate symbiosis with phylogenetically diverse hosts, highlighting the importance of microbial symbioses to drive fungal metabolic diversity.}, } @article {pmid34791999, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, S and Liu, G and Luan, Q and Ma, Y and Yu, X}, title = {Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Induced B Cell Differentiation by Toll-like Receptors 2 and 4.}, journal = {Protein and peptide letters}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {46-56}, doi = {10.2174/0929866528666211118085828}, pmid = {34791999}, issn = {1875-5305}, mesh = {Animals ; *B-Lymphocytes/cytology/microbiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; *Porphyromonas gingivalis ; *Toll-Like Receptor 2/genetics ; *Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a pathogenic bacterium widely present in subgingival plaques of patients with periodontitis. It induces periodontitis with bone loss as its main feature by changing the number and composition of symbiotic microorganisms, as well as inducing the natural immune response of the host. However, the mechanism of the latter remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effect of P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on regulatory B cells (Breg) in the occurrence and development of periodontitis.

METHODS: We detected the mRNA levels of IL-10 in B cells under the stimulation of P. gingivalis LPS and/or E. coli LPS, distinguished IL-10-producing cells from different B cell subgroups using flow cytometry. Through toll-like receptor (TLR) knockout mice, the role of TLR2 and TLR4 in this process was also evaluated.

RESULTS: Results showed that P. gingivalis stimulated B cells to produce IL-10 via TLR2/4. CD5+B1 subset is the main source of IL-10+Breg cell. Under P. gingivalis LPS stimulation, CD5+IgM+CD93-IL-10+B cell subset increased significantly, which was regulated through TLR2/ 4.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study provides new insights into the immunopathogenic mechanism of P. gingivalis, preliminarily discussed the effect of P. gingivalis on the production of Breg, and present a theoretical foundation for subsequent investigations on the occurrence and development of periodontitis.}, } @article {pmid34791858, year = {2021}, author = {Lu, JC and Shen, FH and Lei, Y and Xu, QW and Yang, B and Cheng, Y}, title = {[Progress of researches on symbionts in the management of mosquito-borne infectious diseases].}, journal = {Zhongguo xue xi chong bing fang zhi za zhi = Chinese journal of schistosomiasis control}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, pages = {544-550}, doi = {10.16250/j.32.1374.2020333}, pmid = {34791858}, issn = {1005-6661}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Vectors ; Humans ; *Insecticides ; *Malaria/prevention & control ; Mosquito Control ; Mosquito Vectors ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes are the main vectors of many infectious diseases, including malaria and yellow fever, which seriously threaten human health across the world. In addition to the use of chemical insecticides, genetic control is a new attempt to currently available interventions used for mosquito vector control. In terms of ecological safety, however, symbiotic control as a novel approach has been proposed for mosquito control. Since there are multiple symbiotic microflora inhabiting in a variety of tissues of mosquitoes, including the digestive tract, they may affect the transmission of mosquito-borne infectious diseases through affecting the lifespan, reproductive competence, and vector competence of the host. In this review, the interactions between symbionts in mosquitoes were summarized, and the research progress of mosquito-associated symbionts in the management of mosquitoborne infectious diseases was reviewed.}, } @article {pmid34791196, year = {2022}, author = {Cao, M and Schwartz, HT and Tan, CH and Sternberg, PW}, title = {The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum is a self-fertilizing hermaphrodite and a genetically tractable system for the study of parasitic and mutualistic symbiosis.}, journal = {Genetics}, volume = {220}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {34791196}, issn = {1943-2631}, support = {P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM131570/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), including Heterorhabditis and Steinernema, are parasitic to insects and contain mutualistically symbiotic bacteria in their intestines (Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, respectively) and therefore offer opportunities to study both mutualistic and parasitic symbiosis. The establishment of genetic tools in EPNs has been impeded by limited genetic tractability, inconsistent growth in vitro, variable cryopreservation, and low mating efficiency. We obtained the recently described Steinernema hermaphroditum strain CS34 and optimized its in vitro growth, with a rapid generation time on a lawn of its native symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus griffiniae. We developed a simple and efficient cryopreservation method. Previously, S. hermaphroditum isolated from insect hosts was described as producing hermaphrodites in the first generation. We discovered that CS34, when grown in vitro, produced consecutive generations of autonomously reproducing hermaphrodites accompanied by rare males. We performed mutagenesis screens in S. hermaphroditum that produced mutant lines with visible and heritable phenotypes. Genetic analysis of the mutants demonstrated that this species reproduces by self-fertilization rather than parthenogenesis and that its sex is determined chromosomally. Genetic mapping has thus far identified markers on the X chromosome and three of four autosomes. We report that S. hermaphroditum CS34 is the first consistently hermaphroditic EPN and is suitable for genetic model development to study naturally occurring mutualistic symbiosis and insect parasitism.}, } @article {pmid34791195, year = {2021}, author = {Geraghty, S and Koutsouveli, V and Hall, C and Chang, L and Sacristan-Soriano, O and Hill, M and Riesgo, A and Hill, A}, title = {Establishment of Host-Algal Endosymbioses: Genetic Response to Symbiont Versus Prey in a Sponge Host.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34791195}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Chlorella/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri and its Chlorella-like algal partner is an emerging model for studying animal: algal endosymbiosis. The sponge host is a tractable laboratory organism, and the symbiotic algae are easily cultured. We took advantage of these traits to interrogate questions about mechanisms that govern the establishment of durable intracellular partnerships between hosts and symbionts in facultative symbioses. We modified a classical experimental approach to discern the phagocytotic mechanisms that might be co-opted to permit persistent infections, and identified genes differentially expressed in sponges early in the establishment of endosymbiosis. We exposed algal-free E. muelleri to live native algal symbionts and potential food items (bacteria and native heat-killed algae), and performed RNA-Seq to compare patterns of gene expression among treatments. We found a relatively small but interesting suite of genes that are differentially expressed in the host exposed to live algal symbionts, and a larger number of genes triggered by host exposure to heat-killed algae. The upregulated genes in sponges exposed to live algal symbionts were mostly involved in endocytosis, ion transport, metabolic processes, vesicle-mediated transport, and oxidation-reduction. One of the host genes, an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter that is downregulated in response to live algal symbionts, was further evaluated for its possible role in the establishment of the symbiosis. We discuss the gene expression profiles associated with host responses to living algal cells in the context of conditions necessary for long-term residency within host cells by phototrophic symbionts as well as the genetic responses to sponge phagocytosis and immune-driven pathways.}, } @article {pmid34791191, year = {2022}, author = {Kafle, A and Frank, HER and Rose, BD and Garcia, K}, title = {Split down the middle: studying arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal symbioses using split-root assays.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {5}, pages = {1288-1300}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab489}, pmid = {34791191}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants symbiotically interact with soil-borne fungi to ensure nutrient acquisition and tolerance to various environmental stressors. Among these symbioses, arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal associations can be found in a large proportion of plants, including many crops. Split-root assays are widely used in plant research to study local and systemic signaling responses triggered by local treatments, including nutrient availability, interaction with soil microbes, or abiotic stresses. However, split-root approaches have only been occasionally used to tackle these questions with regard to mycorrhizal symbioses. This review compiles and discusses split-root assays developed to study arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal symbioses, with a particular emphasis on colonization by multiple beneficial symbionts, systemic resistance induced by mycorrhizal fungi, water and nutrient transport from fungi to colonized plants, and host photosynthate allocation from the host to fungal symbionts. In addition, we highlight how the use of split-root assays could result in a better understanding of mycorrhizal symbioses, particularly for a broader range of essential nutrients, and for multipartite interactions.}, } @article {pmid34790193, year = {2021}, author = {Bondet, V and Le Baut, M and Le Poder, S and Lécu, A and Petit, T and Wedlarski, R and Duffy, D and Le Roux, D}, title = {Constitutive IFNα Protein Production in Bats.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {735866}, pmid = {34790193}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line ; Chiroptera/*blood/genetics/immunology/virology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Immunity, Innate ; Interferon-alpha/*blood/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Viruses/*immunology/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Bats are the only mammals with self-powered flight and account for 20% of all extant mammalian diversity. In addition, they harbor many emerging and reemerging viruses, including multiple coronaviruses, several of which are highly pathogenic in other mammals, but cause no disease in bats. How this symbiotic relationship between bats and viruses exists is not yet fully understood. Existing evidence supports a specific role for the innate immune system, in particular type I interferon (IFN) responses, a major component of antiviral immunity. Previous studies in bats have shown that components of the IFN pathway are constitutively activated at the transcriptional level. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the type I IFN response in bats is also constitutively activated at the protein level. For this, we utilized highly sensitive Single Molecule (Simoa) digital ELISA assays, previously developed for humans that we adapted to bat samples. We prospectively sampled four non-native chiroptera species from French zoos. We identified a constitutive expression of IFNα protein in the circulation of healthy bats, and concentrations that are physiologically active in humans. Expression levels differed according to the species examined, but were not associated with age, sex, or health status suggesting constitutive IFNα protein expression independent of disease. These results confirm a unique IFN response in bat species that may explain their ability to coexist with multiple viruses in the absence of pathology. These results may help to manage potential zoonotic viral reservoirs and potentially identify new anti-viral strategies.}, } @article {pmid34788209, year = {2021}, author = {Yin, Q and Liang, J and Zheng, X and Wang, Y and Song, ZM and Zhang, Y and Xu, Y}, title = {Algibacter onchidii sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from a marine invertebrate.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005102}, pmid = {34788209}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Flavobacteriaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Gastropoda/microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vitamin K 2/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A novel symbiotic bacterium, designated strain XY-114[T], was isolated from the cerata of an Onchidium marine invertebrate species collected in the South China Sea. Strain XY-114[T] was an aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and short rod-shaped bacterium (0.5-0.8 µm wide and 1.0-1.5 µm long) without flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain XY-114[T] belonged to the genus Algibacter with the highest similarity of 97.2 % to the closest phylogenetic relative Algibacter aestuarii KYW371[T]. Cells grew at 15-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum 7.0-8.0) and at NaCl concentrations of 0.5-5.0 % (w/v; optimum 1.5-3.0 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The predominant polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-6. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. The genome size of strain XY-114[T] was 3.4 Mbp, with 34.9 mol% of DNA G+C content. The average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and amino acid identity values between strain XY-114[T] and A. aestuarii KYW371[T] were 74.5 %, 17.0±1.8 % and 73.9 %. Characterization based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic evidence demonstrated that strain XY-114[T] represents a novel species of the genus Algibacter, for which the name Algibacter onchidii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XY-114[T] (=KCTC 72217[T]=MCCC 1K03606[T]).}, } @article {pmid34788073, year = {2022}, author = {Xiang, N and Hassenrück, C and Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Simancas-Giraldo, SM and Voolstra, CR and Wild, C and Gärdes, A}, title = {Contrasting Microbiome Dynamics of Putative Denitrifying Bacteria in Two Octocoral Species Exposed to Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Warming.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {e0188621}, pmid = {34788073}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Dissolved Organic Matter ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic nutrient cycling in the coral-algae symbiosis depends on limited nitrogen (N) availability for algal symbionts. Denitrifying prokaryotes capable of reducing nitrate or nitrite to dinitrogen could thus support coral holobiont functioning by limiting N availability. Octocorals show some of the highest denitrification rates among reef organisms; however, little is known about the community structures of associated denitrifiers and their response to environmental fluctuations. Combining 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with nirS in-silico PCR and quantitative PCR, we found differences in bacterial community dynamics between two octocorals exposed to excess dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and concomitant warming. Although bacterial communities of the gorgonian Pinnigorgia flava remained largely unaffected by DOC and warming, the soft coral Xenia umbellata exhibited a pronounced shift toward Alphaproteobacteria dominance under excess DOC. Likewise, the relative abundance of denitrifiers was not altered in P. flava but decreased by 1 order of magnitude in X. umbellata under excess DOC, likely due to decreased proportions of Ruegeria spp. Given that holobiont C:N ratios remained stable in P. flava but showed a pronounced increase with excess DOC in X. umbellata, our results suggest that microbial community dynamics may reflect the nutritional status of the holobiont. Hence, denitrifier abundance may be directly linked to N availability. This suggests a passive regulation of N cycling microbes based on N availability, which could help stabilize nutrient limitation in the coral-algal symbiosis and thereby support holobiont functioning in a changing environment. IMPORTANCE Octocorals are important members of reef-associated benthic communities that can rapidly replace scleractinian corals as the dominant ecosystem engineers on degraded reefs. Considering the substantial change in the (a)biotic environment that is commonly driving reef degradation, maintaining a dynamic and metabolically diverse microbial community might contribute to octocoral acclimatization. Nitrogen (N) cycling microbes, in particular denitrifying prokaryotes, may support holobiont functioning by limiting internal N availability, but little is known about the identity and (a)biotic drivers of octocoral-associated denitrifiers. Here, we show contrasting dynamics of bacterial communities associated with two common octocoral species, the soft coral Xenia umbellata and the gorgonian Pinnigorgia flava after a 6-week exposure to excess dissolved organic carbon under concomitant warming conditions. The specific responses of denitrifier communities of the two octocoral species aligned with the nutritional status of holobiont members. This suggests a passive regulation based on N availability in the coral holobiont.}, } @article {pmid34788070, year = {2022}, author = {Hirayama, H and Takaki, Y and Abe, M and Imachi, H and Ikuta, T and Miyazaki, J and Tasumi, E and Uematsu, K and Tame, A and Tsuda, M and Tanaka, K and Matsui, Y and Watanabe, HK and Yamamoto, H and Takai, K}, title = {Multispecies Populations of Methanotrophic Methyloprofundus and Cultivation of a Likely Dominant Species from the Iheya North Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Field.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {e0075821}, pmid = {34788070}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Methane/metabolism ; *Methylococcaceae/genetics/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Mytilidae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Methyloprofundus clade is represented by uncultivated methanotrophic bacterial endosymbionts of deep-sea bathymodiolin mussels, but only a single free-living species has been cultivated to date. This study reveals the existence of free-living Methyloprofundus variants in the Iheya North deep-sea hydrothermal field in the mid-Okinawa Trough. A clade-targeted amplicon analysis of the particulate methane monooxygenase gene (pmoA) detected 647 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of the Methyloprofundus clade in microbial communities newly formed in in situ colonization systems. Such systems were deployed at colonies of bathymodiolin mussels and a galatheoid crab in diffuse-flow areas. These ASVs were classified into 161 species-like groups. The proportion of the species-like groups representing endosymbionts of mussels was unexpectedly low. A methanotrophic bacterium designated INp10, a likely dominant species in the Methyloprofundus population in this field, was enriched in a biofilm formed in a methane-fed cultivation system operated at 10°C. Genomic characterization with the gene transcription data set of INp10 from the biofilm suggested traits advantageous to niche competition in environments, such as mobility, chemotaxis, biofilm formation, offensive and defensive systems, and hypoxia tolerance. The notable metabolic traits that INp10 shares with some Methyloprofundus members are the use of lanthanide-dependent XoxF as the sole methanol dehydrogenase due to the absence of the canonical MxaFI, the glycolytic pathway using fructose-6-phosphate aldolase instead of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, and the potential to perform partial denitrification from nitrate under oxygen-limited conditions. These findings help us better understand the ecological strategies of this possibly widespread marine-specific methanotrophic clade. IMPORTANCE The Iheya North deep-sea hydrothermal field in the mid-Okinawa Trough is characterized by abundant methane derived from organic-rich sediments and diverse chemosynthetic animal species, including those harboring methanotrophic bacterial symbionts, such as bathymodiolin mussels Bathymodiolus japonicus and "Bathymodiolus" platifrons and a galatheoid crab, Shinkaia crosnieri. Symbiotic methanotrophs have attracted significant attention, and yet free-living methanotrophs in this environment have not been studied in detail. We focused on the free-living Methyloprofundus spp. that thrive in this hydrothermal field and identified an unexpectedly large number of species-like groups in this clade. Moreover, we enriched and characterized a methanotroph whose genome sequence indicated that it corresponds to a new species in the genus Methyloprofundus. This species might be a dominant member of the indigenous Methyloprofundus population. New information on free-living Methyloprofundus populations suggests that the hydrothermal field is a promising locale at which to investigate the adaptive capacity and associated genetic diversity of Methyloprofundus spp.}, } @article {pmid34786803, year = {2022}, author = {Schweiger, AH and Ullmann, GM and Nürk, NM and Triebel, D and Schobert, R and Rambold, G}, title = {Chemical properties of key metabolites determine the global distribution of lichens.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {416-426}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13930}, pmid = {34786803}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Chlorophyta ; Climate ; *Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In lichen symbioses, fungal secondary metabolites provide UV protection on which lichen algae such as trebouxiophycean green algae-the most prominent group of photobionts in lichen symbioses-sensitively depend. These metabolites differ in their UV absorbance capability and solvability, and thus vary in their propensity of being leached from the lichen body in humid and warm environments, with still unknown implications for the global distribution of lichens. In this study covering more than 10,000 lichenised fungal species, we show that the occurrence of fungal-derived metabolites in combination with their UV absorbance capability and their probability of being leached in warm and humid environments are important eco-evolutionary drivers of global lichen distribution. Fungal-derived UV protection seems to represent an indirect environmental adaptation in which the lichen fungus invests to protect the trebouxiophycean photobiont from high UV radiation in warm and humid climates and, by doing this, secures its carbon source.}, } @article {pmid34785223, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Q and Ravnskov, S and Pullens, JWM and Andersen, MN}, title = {Interactions between biochar, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and photosynthetic processes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {816}, number = {}, pages = {151649}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151649}, pmid = {34785223}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Charcoal ; *Mycorrhizae ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; *Solanum tuberosum ; }, abstract = {Pyrolyzed biomass, generating biochar for use as soil amendment, is recognized as a promising strategy for carbon sequestration. Current understanding of the interactions between biochar, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), and plant photosynthesis, in terms of biochemical processes and CO2 uptake, is fragmentary. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on photosynthesis in potato including maximum rate of carboxylation by Rubisco (Vcmax), maximum rate of electron transport rate for RuBP-regeneration (Jmax), mesophyll conductance (gm) and other plant traits. Four types of biochar (wheat or miscanthus straw pellets pyrolyzed at temperatures of either 550 °C or 700 °C) were amended into low phosphorus soil. Potato plants were inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (M+) or not (M-). The results showed that four types of biochar generally decreased nitrogen and phosphorus content of potato, especially the biochars pyrolyzed at high temperature. This negative effect of biochar on nutrient content was alleviated by AM. It was found that Vcmax was limited by low plant nitrogen content as well as leaf area and phosphorus content. Plant phosphorus content also limited Jmax, which was mutually constrained by Vcmax of leaves. Low gm was an additional limiting factor for photosynthesis. The gm was positively correlated to nitrogen content, which influenced the leaf anatomical structure by alteration of leaf mass per area. In conclusion, the influence of interactions between quality of biochar and AM symbiosis on photosynthesis of potato seems to relate to effects on plant nutrient content and leaf structures. Accordingly, a model for the dependence of Vcmax on nitrogen and phosphorus content and their interactive effect exhibited a high correlation coefficient. As potato plants form AM symbiosis under natural field conditions, the extent and interaction with the quality of amended biochar can be a determining factor for plant nutrient content, growth and yield.}, } @article {pmid34785124, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, M and Kong, X}, title = {How plants discern friends from foes.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {107-109}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.11.001}, pmid = {34785124}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Humans ; *Plant Diseases ; *Plant Immunity ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-triggered immunity (MTI) is a well-known plant innate immune response to pathogens. Plant commensal microbes have evolved a variety of strategies to interfere with or bypass MTI to establish symbiosis. Recent progress reported by Teixeira et al., Colaianni et al., Zhang et al., Fröschel et al., and Zhou et al. has been made in elucidating how commensal microbes regulate MTI.}, } @article {pmid34782938, year = {2022}, author = {Liebrenz, K and Gómez, C and Brambilla, S and Frare, R and Stritzler, M and Maguire, V and Ruiz, O and Soldini, D and Pascuan, C and Soto, G and Ayub, N}, title = {Whole-Genome Resequencing of Spontaneous Oxidative Stress-Resistant Mutants Reveals an Antioxidant System of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Involved in Soybean Colonization.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {4}, pages = {1133-1140}, pmid = {34782938}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Soybeans/microbiology ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Oxidative Stress ; }, abstract = {Soybean is the most inoculant-consuming crop in the world, carrying strains belonging to the extremely related species Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Currently, it is well known that B. japonicum has higher efficiency of soybean colonization than B. diazoefficiens, but the molecular mechanism underlying this differential symbiotic performance remains unclear. In the present study, genome resequencing of four spontaneous oxidative stress-resistant mutants derived from the commercial strain B. japonicum E109 combined with molecular and physiological studies allowed identifying an antioxidant cluster (BjAC) containing a transcriptional regulator (glxA) that controls the expression of a catalase (catA) and a phosphohydrolase (yfbR) related to the hydrolysis of hydrogen peroxide and oxidized nucleotides, respectively. Integrated synteny and phylogenetic analyses supported the fact that BjAC emergence in the B. japonicum lineage occurred after its divergence from the B. diazoefficiens lineage. The transformation of the model bacterium B. diazoefficiens USDA110 with BjAC from E109 significantly increased its ability to colonize soybean roots, experimentally recapitulating the beneficial effects of the occurrence of BjAC in B. japonicum. In addition, the glxA mutation significantly increased the nodulation competitiveness and plant growth-promoting efficiency of E109. Finally, the potential applications of these types of non-genetically modified mutant microbes in soybean production worldwide are discussed.}, } @article {pmid34782765, year = {2021}, author = {Turner, M}, title = {Symbiotic seagrasses.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {1571}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-021-01607-9}, pmid = {34782765}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Environmental Monitoring ; }, } @article {pmid34782247, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, L and Zhou, J and George, TS and Limpens, E and Feng, G}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi conducting the hyphosphere bacterial orchestra.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {402-411}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.10.008}, pmid = {34782247}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {More than two-thirds of terrestrial plants acquire nutrients by forming a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungal hyphae recruit distinct microbes into their hyphosphere, the narrow region of soil influenced by hyphal exudates. They thereby shape this so-called second genome of AM fungi, which significantly contributes to nutrient mobilization and turnover. We summarize current insights into characteristics of the hyphosphere microbiome and the role of hyphal exudates on orchestrating its composition. The hyphal exudates not only contain carbon-rich compounds but also promote bacterial growth and activity and influence the microbial community structure. These effects lead to shifts in function and cause changes in organic nutrient cycling, making the hyphosphere a unique and largely overlooked functional zone in ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34782200, year = {2022}, author = {Li, J and Gao, F and Chen, X and Zhang, Y and Dong, H}, title = {Insights into nitrogen removal from seawater-based wastewater through marine anammox bacteria under ampicillin stress: Microbial community evolution and genetic response.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {424}, number = {Pt C}, pages = {127597}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127597}, pmid = {34782200}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Ampicillin ; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Seawater ; Sewage ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Global spread of ampicillin (AMP) in the aquatic environment have attracted much attention recently. Marine anammox bacteria (MAB) have potentials in saline wastewater treatment due to their good salt tolerance. However, to date, the effect resulting from AMP on MAB is still unknown. Herein, the effect of AMP on MAB, involving microbial community evolution and genetic response, was investigated for the first time. A lab-scale reactor inoculated by MAB sludge was operated under saline condition (35 g/L) and AMP stress of different gradients. Within 200 cycles, nitrogen removal performance was monitored and sludge samples were withdrawn for high-throughput sequencing analyses and qPCR. The results confirmed that the nitrogen removal capacity of MAB declined with increasing AMP dosage, and almost collapsed at 300 mg/L AMP. The total nitrogen removal rate and specific anammox activity finally dropped to 0.17 kg N m[-3] d[-1] and 101.86 mg N g[-1]VSS d[-1], respectively. Pseudoalteromonas (38.13%) dominated the reactor on Cycle 190, which formed a new symbiosis with MAB. And the emergence of oleophilic bacteria such as Colwellia (2.53%) was also observed. Moreover, antibiotic resistance genes were detected with increased abundance and diversity, indicating the AMP dosing significantly promoted microbial community evolution and genetic response.}, } @article {pmid34781749, year = {2021}, author = {Benhamou, S and Rahioui, I and Henri, H and Charles, H and Da Silva, P and Heddi, A and Vavre, F and Desouhant, E and Calevro, F and Mouton, L}, title = {Cytotype Affects the Capability of the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED Species To Feed and Oviposit on an Unfavorable Host Plant.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0073021}, pmid = {34781749}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Amino Acids/chemistry ; Animals ; Feeding Behavior ; Fertility ; Hemiptera/classification/*physiology ; Hibiscus/chemistry/*parasitology/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Lantana/chemistry/*parasitology/physiology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Oviposition ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/chemistry/*parasitology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The acquisition of nutritional obligate primary endosymbionts (P-symbionts) allowed phloemo-phageous insects to feed on plant sap and thus colonize novel ecological niches. P-symbionts often coexist with facultative secondary endosymbionts (S-symbionts), which may also influence their hosts' niche utilization ability. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a highly diversified species complex harboring, in addition to the P-symbiont "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum," seven S-symbionts whose roles remain poorly understood. Here, we compare the phenotypic and metabolic responses of three B. tabaci lines differing in their S-symbiont community, reared on three different host plants, hibiscus, tobacco, or lantana, and address whether and how S-symbionts influence insect capacity to feed and produce offspring on those plants. We first show that hibiscus, tobacco, and lantana differ in their free amino acid composition. Insects' performance, as well as free amino acid profile and symbiotic load, were shown to be plant dependent, suggesting a critical role for the plant nutritional properties. Insect fecundity was significantly lower on lantana, indicating that it is the least favorable plant. Remarkably, insects reared on this plant show a specific amino acid profile and a higher symbiont density compared to the two other plants. In addition, this plant was the only one for which fecundity differences were observed between lines. Using genetically homogeneous hybrids, we demonstrate that cytotype (mitochondria and symbionts), and not genotype, is a major determinant of females' fecundity and amino acid profile on lantana. As cytotypes differ in their S-symbiont community, we propose that these symbionts may mediate their hosts' suitable plant range. IMPORTANCE Microbial symbionts are universal in eukaryotes, and it is now recognized that symbiotic associations represent major evolutionary driving forces. However, the extent to which symbionts contribute to their hosts' ecological adaptation and subsequent diversification is far from being fully elucidated. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a sap feeder associated with multiple coinfecting intracellular facultative symbionts. Here, we show that plant species simultaneously affect whiteflies' performance, amino acid profile, and symbiotic density, which could be partially explained by differences in plant nutritional properties. We also demonstrate that, on lantana, the least favorable plant used in our study, whiteflies' performance is determined by their cytotype. We propose that the host plant utilization in B. tabaci is influenced by its facultative symbiont community composition, possibly through its impact on the host dietary requirements. Altogether, our data provide new insights into the impact of intracellular microorganisms on their animal hosts' ecological niche range and diversification.}, } @article {pmid34780911, year = {2022}, author = {Wei, J and Zhang, X and Ai, S and Huang, Y and Yang, X and Mei, Y and Zhang, K and Wang, H}, title = {The effective astaxanthin productivities of immobilized Haematococcus pluvialis with bacterial cellulose.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {344}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {126317}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126317}, pmid = {34780911}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Cellulose ; *Chlorophyta ; Photobioreactors ; Xanthophylls ; }, abstract = {Haematococcus pluvialis is traditionally cultivated in a suspension for astaxanthin production. This study presents the novel cultivation approach by immobilized H. pluvialis in bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from the symbiosis of Gluconacetobacter xylinus and H. pluvialis. It was observed that the immobilization itself was a regulator to increase the astaxanthin content. The key genes associated to astaxanthin synthesis, such as psy, lcy, bkt, chy, were significantly up-regulated after immobilization. BC immobilized gel can be utilized concurrently with different technologies to improve astaxanthin accumulation (e.g., amount of induction medium, area of biogel, et al). A small-scale screen panel photobioreactor was design to explore the application of the cultivation approach. Compared to suspended culture, the induction time was shortened from 7 days to 3 days. Astaxanthin productivity of red stage reached 343.2 mg·m[-2]·d[-1]. This was greater than that of many other cultivation systems.}, } @article {pmid34779067, year = {2023}, author = {Zhang, H and Churchill, AC and Anderson, IC and Igwenagu, C and Power, SA and Plett, JM and Macdonald, CA and Pendall, E and Carrillo, Y and Powell, JR}, title = {Ecological stoichiometry and fungal community turnover reveal variation among mycorrhizal partners in their responses to warming and drought.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {229-243}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16278}, pmid = {34779067}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome/genetics ; Droughts ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Fungi/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic fungi mediate important energy and nutrient transfers in terrestrial ecosystems. Environmental change can lead to shifts in communities of symbiotic fungi, but the consequences of these shifts for nutrient dynamics among symbiotic partners are poorly understood. Here, we assessed variation in carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in tissues of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and a host plant (Medicago sativa) in response to experimental warming and drought. We linked compositional shifts in AM fungal communities in roots and soil to variation in hyphal chemistry by using high-throughput DNA sequencing and joint species distribution modelling. Compared to plants, AM hyphae was 43% lower in (C) and 24% lower in (N) but more than nine times higher in (P), with significantly lower C:N, C:P and N:P ratios. Warming and drought resulted in increases in (P) and reduced C:P and N:P ratios in all tissues, indicating fungal P accumulation was exacerbated by climate-associated stress. Warming and drought modified the composition of AM fungal communities, and many of the AM fungal genera that were linked to shifts in mycelial chemistry were also negatively impacted by climate variation. Our study offers a unified framework to link climate change, fungal community composition, and community-level functional traits. Thus, our study provides insight into how environmental change can alter ecosystem functions via the promotion or reduction of fungal taxa with different stoichiometric characteristics and responses.}, } @article {pmid34777326, year = {2021}, author = {Li, J and Wang, C and Liang, W and Liu, S}, title = {Rhizosphere Microbiome: The Emerging Barrier in Plant-Pathogen Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {772420}, pmid = {34777326}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the ecosystem, microbiome widely exists in soil, animals, and plants. With the rapid development of computational biology, sequencing technology and omics analysis, the important role of soil beneficial microbial community is being revealed. In this review, we mainly summarized the roles of rhizosphere microbiome, revealing its complex and pervasive nature contributing to the largely invisible interaction with plants. The manipulated beneficial microorganisms function as an indirect layer of the plant immune system by acting as a barrier to pathogen invasion or inducing plant systemic resistance. Specifically, plant could change and recruit beneficial microbial communities through root-type-specific metabolic properties, and positively shape their rhizosphere microorganisms in response to pathogen invasion. Meanwhile, plants and beneficial microbes exhibit the abilities to avoid excessive immune responses for their reciprocal symbiosis. Substantial lines of evidence show pathogens might utilize secreting proteins/effectors to overcome the emerging peripheral barrier for their advantage in turn. Overall, beneficial microbial communities in rhizosphere are involved in plant-pathogen interactions, and its power and potential are being explored and explained with the aim to effectively increase plant growth and productivity.}, } @article {pmid34777287, year = {2021}, author = {Aguirre-Noyola, JL and Rosenblueth, M and Santiago-Martínez, MG and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Transcriptomic Responses of Rhizobium phaseoli to Root Exudates Reflect Its Capacity to Colonize Maize and Common Bean in an Intercropping System.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {740818}, pmid = {34777287}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Corn and common bean have been cultivated together in Mesoamerica for thousands of years in an intercropping system called "milpa," where the roots are intermingled, favoring the exchange of their microbiota, including symbionts such as rhizobia. In this work, we studied the genomic expression of Rhizobium phaseoli Ch24-10 (by RNA-seq) after a 2-h treatment in the presence of root exudates of maize and bean grown in monoculture and milpa system under hydroponic conditions. In bean exudates, rhizobial genes for nodulation and degradation of aromatic compounds were induced; while in maize, a response of genes for degradation of mucilage and ferulic acid was observed, as well as those for the transport of sugars, dicarboxylic acids and iron. Ch24-10 transcriptomes in milpa resembled those of beans because they both showed high expression of nodulation genes; some genes that were expressed in corn exudates were also induced by the intercropping system, especially those for the degradation of ferulic acid and pectin. Beans grown in milpa system formed nitrogen-fixing nodules similar to monocultured beans; therefore, the presence of maize did not interfere with Rhizobium-bean symbiosis. Genes for the metabolism of sugars and amino acids, flavonoid and phytoalexin tolerance, and a T3SS were expressed in both monocultures and milpa system, which reveals the adaptive capacity of rhizobia to colonize both legumes and cereals. Transcriptional fusions of the putA gene, which participates in proline metabolism, and of a gene encoding a polygalacturonase were used to validate their participation in plant-microbe interactions. We determined the enzymatic activity of carbonic anhydrase whose gene was also overexpressed in response to root exudates.}, } @article {pmid34776237, year = {2021}, author = {Osyczka, P and Latkowska, E and Rola, K}, title = {Metabolic processes involved with sugar alcohol and secondary metabolite production in the hyperaccumulator lichen Diploschistes muscorum reveal its complex adaptation strategy against heavy-metal stress.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {125}, number = {12}, pages = {999-1008}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2021.08.002}, pmid = {34776237}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; *Lichens ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Sugar Alcohols ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The synthesis of various unique secondary metabolites by lichens is the result of mutualistic symbiotic association between the mycobiont and autotrophic photobiont. The function of these compounds and causal factors for their production are not fully understood. This paper examines the effect of heavy-metal bioaccumulation and physiological parameters related to photosynthesis and carbon metabolism on the production of lichen substances in hyperaccumulator Diploschistes muscorum. The obtained model of secondary metabolite concentrations in the thalli demonstrates that the carbon source provided by the photobiont and associated polyols produced by the mycobiont have positive impact on the production; on the contrary, the increased intracellular load of heavy metals and excessive loss of cell membrane integrity adversely affected secondary metabolite contents. Additionally, the production of secondary metabolites appears to be more dependent on intracellular metal concentrations than on soil pollution level. To compensate for metal stress, both efficient functioning of algal component and sufficient production of secondary metabolites are required. The balanced physiological functioning of mycobiont and photobiont constitutes the complex protective mechanism to alleviate the harmful effects of heavy metal stress on primary and secondary metabolism of lichens.}, } @article {pmid34774981, year = {2021}, author = {Treindl, AD and Stapley, J and Winter, DJ and Cox, MP and Leuchtmann, A}, title = {Chromosome-level genomes provide insights into genome evolution, organization and size in Epichloe fungi.}, journal = {Genomics}, volume = {113}, number = {6}, pages = {4267-4275}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.11.009}, pmid = {34774981}, issn = {1089-8646}, mesh = {Chromosomes ; Endophytes/genetics ; *Epichloe/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Fungal ; Poaceae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Epichloe fungi are endophytes of cool season grasses, both wild species and commercial cultivars, where they may exhibit mutualistic or pathogenic lifestyles. The Epichloe-grass symbiosis is of great interest to agricultural research for the fungal bioprotective properties conferred to host grasses but also serves as an ideal system to study the evolution of fungal plant-pathogens in natural environments. Here, we assembled and annotated gapless chromosome-level genomes of two pathogenic Epichloe sibling species. Both genomes have a bipartite genome organization, with blocks of highly syntenic gene-rich regions separated by blocks of AT-rich DNA. The AT-rich regions show an extensive signature of RIP (repeat-induced point mutation) and the expansion of this compartment accounts for the large difference in genome size between the two species. This study reveals how the rapid evolution of repeat structure can drive divergence between closely related taxa and highlights the evolutionary role of dynamic compartments in fungal genomes.}, } @article {pmid34773605, year = {2022}, author = {Rai, A and Jha, MN and Singh, D and Thapa, S and Chaurasia, SK and Jha, G}, title = {Detection of endophytic association between Aeschynomene nodulating Bradyrhizobium sp. and traditional Desariya rice roots under rice-Aeschynomene ecosystem of chaur land, Bihar, India.}, journal = {Biologia futura}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {95-105}, pmid = {34773605}, issn = {2676-8607}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; *Oryza/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Engineering diazotrophic rice having either an integral component of diazotrophic microbes or placing microbial origin nif gene to the rice plant is the dream of biotechnologist. Rice-Aeschynomene ecosystem of pristine chaur land provides a suitable niche to search Rhizobium endophytes in rice. Accordingly, the work was initiated to search suitable endophytic Rhizobium strain for artificial symbiosis within the roots of Desariya rice and its source through morphological, biochemical and molecular approaches. Detection of Acetylene reduction assay (ARA) activity in sterilized Desariya rice root confirmed the presence of putative diazotrophic endophytes in rice root. Isolates from Aeschynomene aspera L. nodulating and Desariya rice endophytic Rhizobium were evaluated for growth, IAA, morphological and biochemical features. Carbon profiling pattern of both these isolates indicated that Desariya rice endophytic Rhizobium has its similarity with Aeschynomene aspera L. nodulating Rhizobium. 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the presence of endophytic Bradyrhizobium sp. in Desariya rice roots and its similarity with Aeschynomene aspera L. nodulating Bradyrhizobium. Desariya rice Bradyrhizobium may be an ideal candidate in the future for creating artificial symbiosis in rice due to its similarity with Aeschynomene aspera L. Bradyrhizobium.}, } @article {pmid34773414, year = {2022}, author = {Hu, Y and Wang, K and Ye, C}, title = {"Four-in-One" Nanozyme and Natural Enzyme Symbiotic System of Cu2-x Se-GOx for Cervical Cancer Therapy.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {e202102885}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202102885}, pmid = {34773414}, issn = {1521-3765}, mesh = {Catalysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; *Glucose Oxidase ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Tumor Microenvironment ; *Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; }, abstract = {Cervical cancer, as a common malignant tumor of the reproductive system, seriously threatens women's life and health, and is difficult to be cured by traditional treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Fortunately, tumor microenvironment (TME)-activated catalytic therapy with high efficiency and reduced off-target toxicity has emerged as a novel treatment model. Herein, we designed a "four-in-one" nanozyme and natural enzyme symbiotic system of Cu2-x Se-GOx for TME-triggered cascaded catalytic enhanced cancer treatment. In response to unique TME, Cu2-x Se with catalase activity could effectively catalyze over-expressed H2 O2 in cancer cells into O2 . Subsequently, the glucose oxidase (GOx) could deplete intracellular glucose with the assistance of O2 ; this not only achieves starvation therapy, but also regenerates H2 O2 to boost the generation of highly cytotoxic [.] OH due to the peroxidase activity of Cu2-x Se. Moreover, although the free-radical scavenger glutathione (GSH) is overexpressed in tumor cells, Cu2-x Se with glutathione oxidase activity could effectively consume GSH for enhanced ROS production. Thus, the "four-in-one" nanozyme@natural enzyme symbiotic system of Cu2-x Se-GOx could induce significant ROS accumulation at the tumor regions, thus providing a potential approach for the treatment of cervical cancer.}, } @article {pmid34772700, year = {2021}, author = {Dallaire, A and Manley, BF and Wilkens, M and Bista, I and Quan, C and Evangelisti, E and Bradshaw, CR and Ramakrishna, NB and Schornack, S and Butter, F and Paszkowski, U and Miska, EA}, title = {Transcriptional activity and epigenetic regulation of transposable elements in the symbiotic fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {2290-2302}, pmid = {34772700}, issn = {1549-5469}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic relationships with most land plant species. AM fungi have long been considered as ancient asexuals. Long-term clonal evolution would be remarkable for a eukaryotic lineage and suggests the importance of alternative mechanisms to promote genetic variability facilitating adaptation. Here, we assessed the potential of transposable elements for generating such genomic diversity. The dynamic expression of TEs during Rhizophagus irregularis spore development suggests ongoing TE activity. We find Mutator-like elements located near genes belonging to highly expanded gene families. Whole-genome epigenomic profiling of R. irregularis provides direct evidence of DNA methylation and small RNA production occurring at TE loci. Our results support a model in which TE activity shapes the genome, while DNA methylation and small RNA-mediated silencing keep their overproliferation in check. We propose that a well-controlled TE activity directly contributes to genome evolution in AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid34771012, year = {2021}, author = {Cao, R and Wu, X and Guo, H and Pan, X and Huang, R and Wang, G and Liu, J}, title = {Naringin Exhibited Therapeutic Effects against DSS-Induced Mice Ulcerative Colitis in Intestinal Barrier-Dependent Manner.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {34771012}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced/*drug therapy ; Dextran Sulfate/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flavanones/*pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Protective Agents/*pharmacology ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Naringin is a kind of multi-source food additive which has been explored broadly for its various biological activities and therapeutic potential. In the present study, the protective effect and mechanism of naringin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice were investigated. The results showed that naringin significantly alleviated DSS-induced colitis symptoms, including disease activity index (DAI), colon length shortening, and colon pathological damage. The tissue and serum secretion of inflammatory cytokines, as well as the oxidative stress, were decreased accordingly upon naringin intervention. Naringin also decreased the proteins involved in inflammation and increased the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. Moreover, naringin increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes/Bacteroides and reduced the content of Proteobacteria to improve the intestinal flora disorder caused by DSS, which promotes the intestinal health of mice. It was concluded that naringin can significantly ameliorate the pathogenic symptoms of UC through inhibiting inflammatory response and regulating intestinal microbiota, which might be a promising natural therapeutic agent for the dietary treatment of UC and the improvement of intestinal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34770740, year = {2021}, author = {Hanif, N and Tyas, TA and Hidayati, L and Dinelsa, FF and Provita, D and Kinnary, NR and Prasetiawan, FM and Khalik, GA and Mubarok, Z and Tohir, D and Setiawan, A and Farid, M and Kurnianda, V and Murni, A and de Voogd, NJ and Tanaka, J}, title = {Oxy-Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers from the Indonesian Marine Sponge, Lamellodysidea herbacea: X-ray, SAR, and Computational Studies.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {34770740}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; HEK293 Cells ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Molecular Structure ; Porifera/*chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) compounds, derived from marine organisms, originate from symbiosis between marine sponges and cyanobacteria or bacteria. PBDEs have broad biological spectra; therefore, we analyzed structure and activity relationships of PBDEs to determine their potential as anticancer or antibacterial lead structures, through reactions and computational studies. Six known PBDEs (1-6) were isolated from the sponge, Lamellodysdiea herbacea; [13]C NMR data for compound 6 are reported for the first time and their assignments are confirmed by their theoretical [13]C NMR chemical shifts (RMSE < 4.0 ppm). Methylation and acetylation of 1 (2, 3, 4, 5-tetrabromo-6-(3', 5'-dibromo-2'-hydroxyphenoxy) phenol) at the phenol functional group gave seven molecules (7-13), of which 10, 12, and 13 were new. New crystal structures for 8 and 9 are also reported. Debromination carried out on 1 produced nine compounds (1, 2, 14, 16-18, 20, 23, and 26) of which 18 was new. Debromination product 16 showed a significant IC50 8.65 ± 1.11; 8.11 ± 1.43 µM against human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells. Compounds 1 and 16 exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae with MID 0.078 µg/disk. The number of four bromine atoms and two phenol functional groups are important for antibacterial activity (S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) and cytotoxicity (HEK293T). The result was supported by analysis of frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs). We also propose possible products of acetylation and debromination using analysis of FMOs and electrostatic charges and we confirm the experimental result.}, } @article {pmid34769435, year = {2021}, author = {Skowronek, M and Sajnaga, E and Kazimierczak, W and Lis, M and Wiater, A}, title = {Screening and Molecular Identification of Bacteria from the Midgut of Amphimallon solstitiale Larvae Exhibiting Antagonistic Activity against Bacterial Symbionts of Entomopathogenic Nematodes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {34769435}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/microbiology ; Bacterial Toxins ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva ; Photorhabdus/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) are a group of organisms capable of infecting larvae of insects living in soil, including representatives of the family Scarabaeidae. Their insecticidal activity is related to the presence of symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. or Photorhabdus spp. in the alimentary tract, which are released into the insect body, leading to its death caused by bacterial toxins and septicemia. Although the antibacterial activities of symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes have been well described, there is insufficient knowledge of the interactions between these bacteria and microorganisms that naturally inhabit the alimentary tract of insects infested by nematodes. In this study, 900 bacterial strains isolated from midgut samples of Amphimallon solstitiale larvae were tested for their antagonistic activity against the selected five Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species. Cross-streak tests showed significant antibacterial activity of 20 isolates. These bacteria were identified as Bacillus [Brevibacterium] frigoritolerans, Bacillus toyonensis, Bacillus wiedmannii, Chryseobacterium lathyri, Chryseobacterium sp., Citrobacter murliniae, Enterococcus malodoratus, Paenibacillus sp., Serratia marcescens and Serratia sp. Since some representatives of the intestinal microbiota of A. solstitiale are able to inhibit the growth of Xenorhabdus and Photorhrhabdus bacteria in vitro, it can be assumed that this type of bacterial interaction may occur at certain stages of insect infection by Steinernema or Heterorhabditis nematodes.}, } @article {pmid34769335, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, JX and Yang, Y and Li, G and Ma, BG}, title = {Computationally Reconstructed Interactome of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 Reveals Novel Functional Modules and Protein Hubs for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {34769335}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Protein Interaction Maps ; Proteome ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is an important part of the nitrogen biogeochemical cycles and the main nitrogen source of the biosphere. As a classical model system for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, rhizobium-legume systems have been studied elaborately for decades. Details about the molecular mechanisms of the communication and coordination between rhizobia and host plants is becoming clearer. For more systematic insights, there is an increasing demand for new studies integrating multiomics information. Here, we present a comprehensive computational framework integrating the reconstructed protein interactome of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 with its transcriptome and proteome data to study the complex protein-protein interaction (PPI) network involved in the symbiosis system. We reconstructed the interactome of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 by computational approaches. Based on the comparison of interactomes between B. diazoefficiens USDA110 and other rhizobia, we inferred that the slow growth of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 may be due to the requirement of more protein modifications, and we further identified 36 conserved functional PPI modules. Integrated with transcriptome and proteome data, interactomes representing free-living cell and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing (SNF) bacteroid were obtained. Based on the SNF interactome, a core-sub-PPI-network for symbiotic nitrogen fixation was determined and nine novel functional modules and eleven key protein hubs playing key roles in symbiosis were identified. The reconstructed interactome of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 may serve as a valuable reference for studying the mechanism underlying the SNF system of rhizobia and legumes.}, } @article {pmid34769312, year = {2021}, author = {Micallef, P and Wu, Y and Bauzá-Thorbrügge, M and Chanclón, B and Vujičić, M and Peris, E and Ek, CJ and Wernstedt Asterholm, I}, title = {Adipose Tissue-Breast Cancer Crosstalk Leads to Increased Tumor Lipogenesis Associated with Enhanced Tumor Growth.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {34769312}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/*pathology ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms/*pathology ; Female ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; *Lipogenesis ; *Lipolysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Oxygen Consumption ; }, abstract = {We sought to identify therapeutic targets for breast cancer by investigating the metabolic symbiosis between breast cancer and adipose tissue. To this end, we compared orthotopic E0771 breast cancer tumors that were in direct contact with adipose tissue with ectopic E0771 tumors in mice. Orthotopic tumors grew faster and displayed increased de novo lipogenesis compared to ectopic tumors. Adipocytes release large amounts of lactate, and we found that both lactate pretreatment and adipose tissue co-culture augmented de novo lipogenesis in E0771 cells. Continuous treatment with the selective FASN inhibitor Fasnall dose-dependently decreased the E0771 viability in vitro. However, daily Fasnall injections were effective only in 50% of the tumors, while the other 50% displayed accelerated growth. These opposing effects of Fasnall in vivo was recapitulated in vitro; intermittent Fasnall treatment increased the E0771 viability at lower concentrations and suppressed the viability at higher concentrations. In conclusion, our data suggest that adipose tissue enhances tumor growth by stimulating lipogenesis. However, targeting lipogenesis alone can be deleterious. To circumvent the tumor's ability to adapt to treatment, we therefore believe that it is necessary to apply an aggressive treatment, preferably targeting several metabolic pathways simultaneously, together with conventional therapy.}, } @article {pmid34768741, year = {2021}, author = {Timsit, Y and Lescot, M and Valiadi, M and Not, F}, title = {Bioluminescence and Photoreception in Unicellular Organisms: Light-Signalling in a Bio-Communication Perspective.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {34768741}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Communication ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Light ; Light Signal Transduction/*physiology ; Luciferases/metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; Luminescent Proteins/*metabolism ; Photoreceptor Cells/metabolism/*physiology ; Plankton/metabolism ; Predatory Behavior ; }, abstract = {Bioluminescence, the emission of light catalysed by luciferases, has evolved in many taxa from bacteria to vertebrates and is predominant in the marine environment. It is now well established that in animals possessing a nervous system capable of integrating light stimuli, bioluminescence triggers various behavioural responses and plays a role in intra- or interspecific visual communication. The function of light emission in unicellular organisms is less clear and it is currently thought that it has evolved in an ecological framework, to be perceived by visual animals. For example, while it is thought that bioluminescence allows bacteria to be ingested by zooplankton or fish, providing them with favourable conditions for growth and dispersal, the luminous flashes emitted by dinoflagellates may have evolved as an anti-predation system against copepods. In this short review, we re-examine this paradigm in light of recent findings in microorganism photoreception, signal integration and complex behaviours. Numerous studies show that on the one hand, bacteria and protists, whether autotrophs or heterotrophs, possess a variety of photoreceptors capable of perceiving and integrating light stimuli of different wavelengths. Single-cell light-perception produces responses ranging from phototaxis to more complex behaviours. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that unicellular prokaryotes and eukaryotes can perform complex tasks ranging from habituation and decision-making to associative learning, despite lacking a nervous system. Here, we focus our analysis on two taxa, bacteria and dinoflagellates, whose bioluminescence is well studied. We propose the hypothesis that similar to visual animals, the interplay between light-emission and reception could play multiple roles in intra- and interspecific communication and participate in complex behaviour in the unicellular world.}, } @article {pmid34767660, year = {2021}, author = {Venice, F and Chialva, M and Domingo, G and Novero, M and Carpentieri, A and Salvioli di Fossalunga, A and Ghignone, S and Amoresano, A and Vannini, C and Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {Symbiotic responses of Lotus japonicus to two isogenic lines of a mycorrhizal fungus differing in the presence/absence of an endobacterium.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {108}, number = {6}, pages = {1547-1564}, pmid = {34767660}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Burkholderiaceae/*physiology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lignin/metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology/physiology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {As other arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Gigaspora margarita contains unculturable endobacteria in its cytoplasm. A cured fungal line has been obtained and showed it was capable of establishing a successful mycorrhizal colonization. However, previous OMICs and physiological analyses have demonstrated that the cured fungus is impaired in some functions during the pre-symbiotic phase, leading to a lower respiration activity, lower ATP, and antioxidant production. Here, by combining deep dual-mRNA sequencing and proteomics applied to Lotus japonicus roots colonized by the fungal line with bacteria (B+) and by the cured line (B-), we tested the hypothesis that L. japonicus (i) activates its symbiotic pathways irrespective of the presence or absence of the endobacterium, but (ii) perceives the two fungal lines as different physiological entities. Morphological observations confirmed the absence of clear endobacteria-dependent changes in the mycorrhizal phenotype of L. japonicus, while transcript and proteomic datasets revealed activation of the most important symbiotic pathways. They included the iconic nutrient transport and some less-investigated pathways, such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. However, significant differences between the mycorrhizal B+/B- plants emerged in the respiratory pathways and lipid biosynthesis. In both cases, the roots colonized by the cured line revealed a reduced capacity to activate genes involved in antioxidant metabolism, as well as the early biosynthetic steps of the symbiotic lipids, which are directed towards the fungus. Similar to its pre-symbiotic phase, the intraradical fungus revealed transcripts related to mitochondrial activity, which were downregulated in the cured line, as well as perturbation in lipid biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid34767630, year = {2022}, author = {Wu, G and Miyauchi, S and Morin, E and Kuo, A and Drula, E and Varga, T and Kohler, A and Feng, B and Cao, Y and Lipzen, A and Daum, C and Hundley, H and Pangilinan, J and Johnson, J and Barry, K and LaButti, K and Ng, V and Ahrendt, S and Min, B and Choi, IG and Park, H and Plett, JM and Magnuson, J and Spatafora, JW and Nagy, LG and Henrissat, B and Grigoriev, IV and Yang, ZL and Xu, J and Martin, FM}, title = {Evolutionary innovations through gain and loss of genes in the ectomycorrhizal Boletales.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {3}, pages = {1383-1400}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17858}, pmid = {34767630}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {We aimed to identify genomic traits of transitions to ectomycorrhizal ecology within the Boletales by comparing the genomes of 21 symbiotrophic species with their saprotrophic brown-rot relatives. Gene duplication rate is constant along the backbone of Boletales phylogeny with large loss events in several lineages, while gene family expansion sharply increased in the late Miocene, mostly in the Boletaceae. Ectomycorrhizal Boletales have a reduced set of plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) compared with their brown-rot relatives. However, the various lineages retain distinct sets of PCWDEs, suggesting that, over their evolutionary history, symbiotic Boletales have become functionally diverse. A smaller PCWDE repertoire was found in Sclerodermatineae. The gene repertoire of several lignocellulose oxidoreductases (e.g. laccases) is similar in brown-rot and ectomycorrhizal species, suggesting that symbiotic Boletales are capable of mild lignocellulose decomposition. Transposable element (TE) proliferation contributed to the higher evolutionary rate of genes encoding effector-like small secreted proteins, proteases, and lipases. On the other hand, we showed that the loss of secreted CAZymes was not related to TE activity but to DNA decay. This study provides novel insights on our understanding of the mechanisms influencing the evolutionary diversification of symbiotic boletes.}, } @article {pmid34767052, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, C and Wang, F and Zhang, H and Chen, G and Deng, Y and Chen, J and Yang, J and Ge, T}, title = {Enrichment of beneficial rhizosphere microbes in Chinese wheat yellow mosaic virus-resistant cultivars.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {105}, number = {24}, pages = {9371-9383}, pmid = {34767052}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {China ; *Mosaic Viruses ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Triticum ; }, abstract = {The microbial community within the root system, the rhizosphere closely connected to the root, and their symbiotic relationship with the host are increasingly seen as possible drivers of natural pathogen resistance. Resistant cultivars have the most effective strategy in controlling the Chinese wheat yellow mosaic disease, but the roles of the root and rhizosphere microbial interactions among different taxonomic levels of resistant cultivars are still unknown. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether these microbial community composition and network characteristics are related to disease resistance and to analyze the belowground plant-associated microflora. Relatively high microbial diversity and stable community structure for the resistant cultivars were detected. Comparison analysis showed that some bacterial phyla were significantly enriched in the wheat root or rhizosphere of the resistant wheat cultivar. Furthermore, the root and rhizosphere of the resistant cultivars greatly recruited many known beneficial bacterial and fungal taxa. In contrast, the relative abundance of potential pathogens was higher for the susceptible cultivar than for the resistant cultivar. Network co-occurrence analysis revealed that a much more complex, more mutually beneficial, and a higher number of bacterial keystone taxa in belowground microbial networks were displayed in the resistant cultivar, which may have been responsible for maintaining the stability and ecological balance of the microbial community. Overall, compared with the susceptible cultivar, the resistant cultivar tends to recruit more potential beneficial microbial groups for plant and rhizosphere microbial community interactions. These findings indicate that beneficial rhizosphere microbiomes for cultivars should be targeted and evaluated using community compositional profiles. KEY POINTS: • Different resistance levels in cultivars affect the rhizosphere microbiome.. • Resistant cultivars tend to recruit more potential beneficial microbial groups. • Bacteria occupy a high proportion and core position in the microflora network.}, } @article {pmid34764946, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Bao, X and Li, S}, title = {Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Rice Growth Under Different Flooding and Shading Regimes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {756752}, pmid = {34764946}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are present in paddy fields, where they suffer from periodic soil flooding and sometimes shading stress, but their interaction with rice plants in these environments is not yet fully explained. Based on two greenhouse experiments, we examined rice-growth response to AMF under different flooding and/or shading regimes to survey the regulatory effects of flooding on the mycorrhizal responses of rice plants under different light conditions. AMF had positive or neutral effects on the growth and yields of both tested rice varieties under non-flooding conditions but suppressed them under all flooding and/or shading regimes, emphasizing the high importance of flooding and shading conditions in determining the mycorrhizal effects. Further analyses indicated that flooding and shading both reduced the AMF colonization and extraradical hyphal density (EHD), implying a possible reduction of carbon investment from rice to AMF. The expression profiles of mycorrhizal P pathway marker genes (GintPT and OsPT11) suggested the P delivery from AMF to rice roots under all flooding and shading conditions. Nevertheless, flooding and shading both decreased the mycorrhizal P benefit of rice plants, as indicated by the significant decrease of mycorrhizal P responses (MPRs), contributing to the negative mycorrhizal effects on rice production. The expression profiles of rice defense marker genes OsPR1 and OsPBZ1 suggested that regardless of mycorrhizal growth responses (MGRs), AMF colonization triggered the basal defense response, especially under shading conditions, implying the multifaceted functions of AMF symbiosis and their effects on rice performance. In conclusion, this study found that flooding and shading both modulated the outcome of AMF symbiosis for rice plants, partially by influencing the mycorrhizal P benefit. This finding has important implications for AMF application in rice production.}, } @article {pmid34764887, year = {2021}, author = {Prokopidis, K and Chambers, E and Ni Lochlainn, M and Witard, OC}, title = {Mechanisms Linking the Gut-Muscle Axis With Muscle Protein Metabolism and Anabolic Resistance: Implications for Older Adults at Risk of Sarcopenia.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {770455}, pmid = {34764887}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Aging is associated with a decline in skeletal muscle mass and function-termed sarcopenia-as mediated, in part, by muscle anabolic resistance. This metabolic phenomenon describes the impaired response of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) to the provision of dietary amino acids and practice of resistance-based exercise. Recent observations highlight the gut-muscle axis as a physiological target for combatting anabolic resistance and reducing risk of sarcopenia. Experimental studies, primarily conducted in animal models of aging, suggest a mechanistic link between the gut microbiota and muscle atrophy, mediated via the modulation of systemic amino acid availability and low-grade inflammation that are both physiological factors known to underpin anabolic resistance. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate the action of specific gut bacteria (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) to increase systemic amino acid availability and elicit an anti-inflammatory response in the intestinal lumen. Prospective lifestyle approaches that target the gut-muscle axis have recently been examined in the context of mitigating sarcopenia risk. These approaches include increasing dietary fiber intake that promotes the growth and development of gut bacteria, thus enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Prebiotic/probiotic/symbiotic supplementation also generates SCFA and may mitigate low-grade inflammation in older adults via modulation of the gut microbiota. Preliminary evidence also highlights the role of exercise in increasing the production of SCFA. Accordingly, lifestyle approaches that combine diets rich in fiber and probiotic supplementation with exercise training may serve to produce SCFA and increase microbial diversity, and thus may target the gut-muscle axis in mitigating anabolic resistance in older adults. Future mechanistic studies are warranted to establish the direct physiological action of distinct gut microbiota phenotypes on amino acid utilization and the postprandial stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in older adults.}, } @article {pmid34764442, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, E and Chai, L and Zhang, S and Yu, R and Zhang, X and Xu, C and Hu, Y}, title = {Catabolism of strigolactones by a carboxylesterase.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {1495-1504}, pmid = {34764442}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*enzymology ; *Carboxylesterase/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant hormones that control shoot branching and communications between host plants and symbiotic fungi or root parasitic plants. Extensive studies have identified the key components participating in SL biosynthesis and signalling, whereas the catabolism or deactivation of endogenous SLs in planta remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis carboxylesterase 15 (AtCXE15) and its orthologues function as efficient hydrolases of SLs. We show that overexpression of AtCXE15 promotes shoot branching by dampening SL-inhibited axillary bud outgrowth. We further demonstrate that AtCXE15 could bind and efficiently hydrolyse SLs both in vitro and in planta. We also provide evidence that AtCXE15 is capable of catalysing hydrolysis of diverse SL analogues and that such CXE15-dependent catabolism of SLs is evolutionarily conserved in seed plants. These results disclose a catalytic mechanism underlying homoeostatic regulation of SLs in plants, which also provides a rational approach to spatial-temporally manipulate the endogenous SLs and thus architecture of crops and ornamental plants.}, } @article {pmid34764268, year = {2021}, author = {Lin, J and Roswanjaya, YP and Kohlen, W and Stougaard, J and Reid, D}, title = {Nitrate restricts nodule organogenesis through inhibition of cytokinin biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {6544}, pmid = {34764268}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Cytokinins/metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes balance nitrogen acquisition from soil nitrate with symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation requires establishment of a new organ, which is a cytokinin dependent developmental process in the root. We found cytokinin biosynthesis is a central integrator, balancing nitrate signalling with symbiotic acquired nitrogen. Low nitrate conditions provide a permissive state for induction of cytokinin by symbiotic signalling and thus nodule development. In contrast, high nitrate is inhibitory to cytokinin accumulation and nodule establishment in the root zone susceptible to nodule formation. This reduction of symbiotic cytokinin accumulation was further exacerbated in cytokinin biosynthesis mutants, which display hypersensitivity to nitrate inhibition of nodule development, maturation and nitrogen fixation. Consistent with this, cytokinin application rescues nodulation and nitrogen fixation of biosynthesis mutants in a concentration dependent manner. These inhibitory impacts of nitrate on symbiosis occur in a Nlp1 and Nlp4 dependent manner and contrast with the positive influence of nitrate on cytokinin biosynthesis that occurs in species that do not form symbiotic root nodules. Altogether this shows that legumes, as exemplified by Lotus japonicus, have evolved a different cytokinin response to nitrate compared to non-legumes.}, } @article {pmid34762272, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Z and Jiang, L and Zhang, M and Deng, Y and Suo, W and Zhang, H and Wang, C and Li, H}, title = {Bioconversion of Apple Pomace into Microbial Protein Feed Based on Extrusion Pretreatment.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {194}, number = {4}, pages = {1496-1509}, doi = {10.1007/s12010-021-03727-1}, pmid = {34762272}, issn = {1559-0291}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Aspergillus niger/metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Malus/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Apple pomace (AP) is often used directly as animal feed, while the value of feeding is limited by its low protein content. In this study, extrusion pretreatment was performed for AP, and further fermentation was carried out to improve its nutrition value. Strains suitable for extruded apple pomace (EAP) to produce high-quality microbial protein (MP) feed were screened from 12 different strains. Results showed that Aspergillus niger 3.324 (Asn), Candida utilis1314 (Cau), Geotrichum candidum 1315 (Gec), Bacillus subtilis A308 (Bas1), and Lactic acid bacteria (Lac) were screened as the dominant strains, which exhibited higher feeding value. Strong symbiotic effect was observed in fermentation with mixed strains of Asn, Cau, Gec, and Lac at the ratio of 1:1:1:1. Compared with AP, the pure protein content in the optimized fermented EAP (FEAP) was increased by 138% accompanying with a pleasant flavor and taste. And its pure protein content was increased by 19.20% in comparison to that of the fermented apple pomace. The nutrition value of FEAP was characterized by amino acid profiles; it found that FEAP was comparable to other commercial proteins with higher contents of histidine, phenylalanine, threonine, and valine. Combination of fermentation and extrusion technology significantly enhanced pure protein content and nutritional composition of apple pomace, which was revalorized as a nutritive animal feed rich in microbial protein.}, } @article {pmid34761378, year = {2022}, author = {Batstone, RT}, title = {Genomes within genomes: nested symbiosis and its implications for plant evolution.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {1}, pages = {28-34}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17847}, pmid = {34761378}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phenotype ; *Plants/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many important plant traits are products of nested symbiosis: mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are nested within microbes, which in turn, are nested within plants. Plant trait variation is therefore not only determined by the plant's genome, but also by loci within microbes and MGEs. Yet it remains unclear how interactions and coevolution within nested symbiosis impacts the evolution of plant traits. Despite the complexities of nested symbiosis, including nonadditive interactions, understanding the evolution of plant traits is facilitated by combining quantitative genetic and functional genomic approaches that explicitly consider sources of nested genetic variation (from loci in MGEs to microbiomes). Additionally, understanding coevolution within nested symbiosis enables us to design or select for MGEs that promote plant health.}, } @article {pmid34759945, year = {2021}, author = {Russo, G and Genre, A}, title = {Divide and Be Conquered-Cell Cycle Reactivation in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {753265}, pmid = {34759945}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid34759906, year = {2021}, author = {Haydon, TD and Seymour, JR and Raina, JB and Edmondson, J and Siboni, N and Matthews, JL and Camp, EF and Suggett, DJ}, title = {Rapid Shifts in Bacterial Communities and Homogeneity of Symbiodiniaceae in Colonies of Pocillopora acuta Transplanted Between Reef and Mangrove Environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {756091}, pmid = {34759906}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {It has been proposed that an effective approach for predicting whether and how reef-forming corals persist under future climate change is to examine populations thriving in present day extreme environments, such as mangrove lagoons, where water temperatures can exceed those of reef environments by more than 3°C, pH levels are more acidic (pH < 7.9, often below 7.6) and O2 concentrations are regularly considered hypoxic (<2 mg/L). Defining the physiological features of these "extreme" corals, as well as their relationships with the, often symbiotic, organisms within their microbiome, could increase our understanding of how corals will persist into the future. To better understand coral-microbe relationships that potentially underpin coral persistence within extreme mangrove environments, we therefore conducted a 9-month reciprocal transplant experiment, whereby specimens of the coral Pocillopora acuta were transplanted between adjacent mangrove and reef sites on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Bacterial communities associated with P. acuta specimens native to the reef environment were dominated by Endozoicomonas, while Symbiodiniaceae communities were dominated by members of the Cladocopium genus. In contrast, P. acuta colonies native to the mangrove site exhibited highly diverse bacterial communities with no dominating members, and Symbiodiniaceae communities dominated by Durusdinium. All corals survived for 9 months after being transplanted from reef-to-mangrove, mangrove-to-reef environments (as well as control within environment transplants), and during this time there were significant changes in the bacterial communities, but not in the Symbiodiniaceae communities or their photo-physiological functioning. In reef-to-mangrove transplanted corals, there were varied, but sometimes rapid shifts in the associated bacterial communities, including a loss of "core" bacterial members after 9 months where coral bacterial communities began to resemble those of the native mangrove corals. Bacterial communities associated with mangrove-to-reef P. acuta colonies also changed from their original composition, but remained different to the native reef corals. Our data demonstrates that P. acuta associated bacterial communities are strongly influenced by changes in environmental conditions, whereas Symbiodiniaceae associated communities remain highly stable.}, } @article {pmid34759753, year = {2021}, author = {Saboor, A and Ali, MA and Hussain, S and El Enshasy, HA and Hussain, S and Ahmed, N and Gafur, A and Sayyed, RZ and Fahad, S and Danish, S and Datta, R}, title = {Zinc nutrition and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis effects on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and productivity.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {6339-6351}, pmid = {34759753}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient required to enhance crop growth and yield. In the arid - semiarid region, Zn deficiency is expected due to alkaline calcareous soil. Contrarily, Zn toxicity is also becoming an environmental concern due to increasing anthropogenic activities (metal smelting, copper industry, etc.). Therefore, balanced Zn application is necessary to save resources and achieve optimum crop growth and yield. Most scientists suggest biological approaches to overcome the problem of Zn toxicity and deficiency. These biological approaches are mostly environment-friendly and cost-effective. In these biological approaches, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) symbiosis is becoming popular. It can provide tolerance to the host plant against Zn-induced stress. Inoculation of AMF helps in balance uptake of Zn and enhances the growth and yield of crops. On the other hand, maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop due to its multifarious uses. As maize is an effective host for mycorrhizae symbiosis, that's why this review was written to elaborate on the beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The review aimed to glance at the recent advances in the use of AMF to enhance nutrient uptake, especially Zn. It was also aimed to discuss the mechanism of AMF to overcome the toxic effect of Zn. We have also discussed the detailed mechanism and physiological improvement in the maize plant. In conclusion, AMF can play an imperative role in improving maize growth, yield, and balance uptake of Zn by alleviating Zn stress and mitigating its toxicity.}, } @article {pmid34759465, year = {2021}, author = {Adilovic, M and Cabric, A}, title = {Efficacy of Subtenonal Administration of Triamcinolone Acetate in a Patient with Malignant Hypertension-a Case Report.}, journal = {Acta informatica medica : AIM : journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia & Herzegovina : casopis Drustva za medicinsku informatiku BiH}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {231-235}, pmid = {34759465}, issn = {0353-8109}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malignant hypertension is a condition characterized by severe hypertension and multiorganic ischemic complications. The underlying cause of malignant hypertension can be primary or secondary hypertension, and identification of the cause is mandatory to select the correct treatment to control blood pressure and reduce end-organ damage. Hypertensive retinopathy is a disease that has short-term and long-term consequences for the overall health and mortality of patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to present a case of malignant hypertension and hypertnive maculopathy detected in a female patient as well as the positive response that occurs after administration of only one ampoule of triamcinolone subtenonially in two doses in monthly intervals.

CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old patient comes to our clinic for an ophthalmological consultation after noticing impaired vision back a few months, especially noticeable on her left eye. Examination of the fundus visualizes PNO of unclear boundaries, especially in the inferior quadrants, mottled hemorrhages localized around the neuroretinal rim, edematous macula with hard deposits in the form of stelatae primarily on the left eye, and cotton wool exudates on the retina on both sides, nevus chorioidee of the right eye. Blood vessels hypertonically altered. On the OCT images of the macula, neurosensory retinal ablations are observed on both sides, intraretinal fluid with intraretinal hard deposits is present, more pronounced on the left. The seriousness of the condition is explained to the patient, as well as that in this state it requires urgent hospitalization, therapy is prescribed in the form of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to preserve the macula, and a treatment algorithm is arranged in the form of subtenonial application of triamcinolone after dehospitalization. At check-ups, there is a subjective and objective positive shift in the patient's condition.

CONCLUSION: The presence of hypertensive retinopathy may help to stratify the patient when assessing the future risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, and heart and kidney failure, even if the hypertension is well controlled.There is also a need to emphasize the obligatory symbiosis of internal medicine and ophthalmological disciplines, as well as to point out the fact that triamcinolone, as one of the very available and more affordable drugs, very effectively helps in the algorithm of treatment of these patients.}, } @article {pmid34759313, year = {2021}, author = {Oh, SF and Praveena, T and Song, H and Yoo, JS and Jung, DJ and Erturk-Hasdemir, D and Hwang, YS and Lee, CC and Le Nours, J and Kim, H and Lee, J and Blumberg, RS and Rossjohn, J and Park, SB and Kasper, DL}, title = {Host immunomodulatory lipids created by symbionts from dietary amino acids.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {600}, number = {7888}, pages = {302-307}, pmid = {34759313}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {K01 DK102771/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT010268/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK044319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/chemistry/*immunology/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antigens, CD1d/immunology ; Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/*metabolism ; Galactosylceramides/*immunology/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Models, Molecular ; Natural Killer T-Cells/cytology/immunology ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Small molecules derived from symbiotic microbiota critically contribute to intestinal immune maturation and regulation[1]. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control immune development in the host-microbiota environment. Here, using a targeted lipidomic analysis and synthetic approach, we carried out a multifaceted investigation of immunomodulatory α-galactosylceramides from the human symbiont Bacteroides fragilis (BfaGCs). The characteristic terminal branching of BfaGCs is the result of incorporation of branched-chain amino acids taken up in the host gut by B. fragilis. A B. fragilis knockout strain that cannot metabolize branched-chain amino acids showed reduced branching in BfaGCs, and mice monocolonized with this mutant strain had impaired colonic natural killer T (NKT) cell regulation, implying structure-specific immunomodulatory activity. The sphinganine chain branching of BfaGCs is a critical determinant of NKT cell activation, which induces specific immunomodulatory gene expression signatures and effector functions. Co-crystal structure and affinity analyses of CD1d-BfaGC-NKT cell receptor complexes confirmed the interaction of BfaGCs as CD1d-restricted ligands. We present a structural and molecular-level paradigm of immunomodulatory control by interactions of endobiotic metabolites with diet, microbiota and the immune system.}, } @article {pmid34757818, year = {2022}, author = {Costa, A and Corallo, B and Amarelle, V and Stewart, S and Pan, D and Tiscornia, S and Fabiano, E}, title = {Paenibacillus sp. Strain UY79, Isolated from a Root Nodule of Arachis villosa, Displays a Broad Spectrum of Antifungal Activity.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {e0164521}, pmid = {34757818}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Arachis ; *Fusarium ; *Paenibacillus/genetics ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A nodule-inhabiting Paenibacillus sp. strain (UY79) isolated from wild peanut (Arachis villosa) was screened for its antagonistic activity against diverse fungi and oomycetes (Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium semitectum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phomopsis longicolla, Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora sojae, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Trichoderma atroviride). The results obtained show that Paenibacillus sp. UY79 was able to antagonize these fungi/oomycetes and that agar-diffusible compounds and volatile compounds (different from HCN) participate in the antagonism exerted. Acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, and 2-methyl-1-butanol were identified among the volatile compounds produced by strain UY79 with possible antagonistic activity against fungi/oomycetes. Paenibacillus sp. strain UY79 did not affect symbiotic association or growth promotion of alfalfa plants when coinoculated with rhizobia. By whole-genome sequence analysis, we determined that strain UY79 is a new species of Paenibacillus within the Paenibacillus polymyxa complex. Diverse genes putatively involved in biocontrol activity were identified in the UY79 genome. Furthermore, according to genome mining and antibiosis assays, strain UY79 would have the capability to modulate the growth of bacteria commonly found in soil/plant communities. IMPORTANCE Phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes are responsible for causing devastating losses in agricultural crops. Therefore, there is enormous interest in the development of effective and complementary strategies that allow the control of the phytopathogens, reducing the input of agrochemicals in croplands. The discovery of new strains with expanded antifungal activities and with a broad spectrum of action is challenging and of great future impact. Diverse strains belonging to the P. polymyxa complex have been reported to be effective biocontrol agents. Results presented here show that the novel discovered strain of Paenibacillus sp. presents diverse traits involved in antagonistic activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens and is a potential and valuable strain to be further assessed for the development of biofungicides.}, } @article {pmid34757297, year = {2021}, author = {Gile, GH and Taerum, SJ and Jasso-Selles, DE and Sillam-Dussès, D and Ohkuma, M and Kitade, O and Noda, S}, title = {Molecular Phylogenetic Position of Microjoenia (Parabasalia: Spirotrichonymphea) from Reticulitermes and Hodotermopsis Termite Hosts.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {172}, number = {5-6}, pages = {125836}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2021.125836}, pmid = {34757297}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera ; *Parabasalidea/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microjoenia are obligate symbionts of termites. The genus was erected in 1892 for small cells with many flagella that insert near, but not directly from, the cell apex, and an axostyle that can protrude from the cell posterior. Although ultrastructural studies have been carried out on three Microjoenia species to date, no molecular data have been directly attributed to any species. Microjoenia are classified within the parabasalian class Spirotrichonymphea, which is characterized by flagellar bands that emerge near the cell apex and proceed posteriorly in a right-handed helix. In Microjoenia, however, the flagellar bands are very short and proceed longitudinally or with a weakly observable helix. In this study, we have amplified and sequenced the 18S ribosomal RNA gene from individually isolated Microjoenia cells from Reticulitermes and Hodotermopsis hosts as part of an ongoing effort to understand the phylogeny of Spirotrichonymphea and their coevolution with termites. In our 18S rRNA gene phylogeny, Microjoenia forms the sister lineage to Spirotrichonympha, though many other evolutionary relationships within Spirotrichonymphea remain unresolved.}, } @article {pmid34757168, year = {2022}, author = {Avontuur, JR and Palmer, M and Beukes, CW and Chan, WY and Tasiya, T and van Zyl, E and Coetzee, MPA and Stepkowski, T and Venter, SN and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Bradyrhizobium altum sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium oropedii sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium acaciae sp. nov. from South Africa show locally restricted and pantropical nodA phylogeographic patterns.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {107338}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107338}, pmid = {34757168}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Africa is known for its rich legume diversity with a significant number of endemic species originating in South Africa. Many of these legumes associate with rhizobial symbionts of the genus Bradyrhizobium, of which most represent new species. Yet, none of the Bradyrhizobium species from South Africa have been described. In this study, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences of fourteen strains isolated in southern Africa from root nodules of diverse legumes (i.e., from the tribes Crotalarieae, Acacieae, Genisteae, Phaseoleae and Cassieae) revealed that they belong to the Bradyrhizobium elkanii supergroup. The taxonomic position and possible novelty of these strains were further interrogated using genealogical concordance of five housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, glnII, gyrB and rpoB). These phylogenies consistently recovered four monophyletic groups and one singleton within Bradyrhizobium. Of these groups, two were conspecific with Bradyrhizobium brasilense UFLA 03-321[T] and Bradyrhizobium ivorense CI-1B[T], while the remaining three represented novel taxa. Their existence was further supported with genome data, as well as metabolic and physiological traits. Analysis of nodA gene sequences further showed that the evolution of these bacteria likely involved adapting to local legume hosts and environmental conditions through the acquisition, via horizontal gene transfer, of optimal symbiotic loci. We accordingly propose the following names Bradyrhizobium acaciae sp. nov. 10BB[T] (SARCC 730[T] = LMG 31409[T]), Bradyrhizobium oropedii sp. nov. Pear76[T] (SARCC 731[T] = LMG 31408[T]), and Bradyrhizobium altum sp. nov. Pear77[T] (SARCC 754[T] = LMG 31407[T]) to accommodate three novel species, all of which are symbionts of legumes in South Africa.}, } @article {pmid34756963, year = {2022}, author = {Tepavčević, J and Yarrington, K and Fung, B and Lin, X and Visick, KL}, title = {sRNA chaperone Hfq controls bioluminescence and other phenotypes through Qrr1-dependent and -independent mechanisms in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {809}, number = {}, pages = {146048}, pmid = {34756963}, issn = {1879-0038}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/growth & development/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Luminescence ; Molecular Chaperones/genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; RNA, Small Interfering/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri depends on bacterial biofilm formation, motility, and bioluminescence. Previous work has demonstrated an inhibitory role for the small RNA (sRNA) Qrr1 in quorum-induced bioluminescence of V. fischeri, but the contribution of the corresponding sRNA chaperone, Hfq, was not examined. We thus hypothesized that V. fischeri Hfq similarly functions to inhibit bacterial bioluminescence as well as regulate other key steps of symbiosis, including bacterial biofilm formation and motility. Surprisingly, deletion of hfq increased luminescence of V. fischeri beyond what was observed for the loss of qrr1 sRNA. Epistasis experiments revealed that, while Hfq contributes to the Qrr1-dependent regulation of light production, it also functions independently of Qrr1 and its downstream target, LitR. This Hfq-dependent, Qrr1-independent regulation of bioluminescence is also independent of the major repressor of light production in V. fischeri, ArcA. We further determined that Hfq is required for full motility of V. fischeri in a mechanism that partially depends on the Qrr1/LitR regulators. Finally, Hfq also appears to function in the control of biofilm formation: loss of Hfq delayed the timing and diminished the extent of wrinkled colony development, but did not eliminate the production of SYP-polysaccharide-dependent cohesive colonies. Furthermore, loss of Hfq enhanced production of cellulose and resulted in increased Congo red binding. Together, these findings point to Hfq as an important regulator of multiple phenotypes relevant to symbiosis between V. fischeri and its squid host.}, } @article {pmid34756535, year = {2022}, author = {Ruotsalainen, AL and Kauppinen, M and Wäli, PR and Saikkonen, K and Helander, M and Tuomi, J}, title = {Dark septate endophytes: mutualism from by-products?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {247-254}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.10.001}, pmid = {34756535}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Endophytes ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant roots are abundantly colonized by dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi in virtually all ecosystems. DSE fungi are functionally heterogeneous and their relationships with plants range from antagonistic to mutualistic. Here, we consider the role of by-product benefits in DSE and other root-fungal symbioses. We compared host investments against symbiont-derived benefits for the host plant and categorized these benefits as by-products or benefits requiring reciprocal investment from the host. By-product benefits may provide the variability required for the evolution of invested mutualisms between the host and symbiont. We suggest that DSE could be considered as 'a by-product mutualist transitional phase' in the evolution of cooperative mycorrhizal symbionts from saprotrophic fungi.}, } @article {pmid34755755, year = {2022}, author = {Rebuffat, S}, title = {Ribosomally synthesized peptides, foreground players in microbial interactions: recent developments and unanswered questions.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {273-310}, doi = {10.1039/d1np00052g}, pmid = {34755755}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {*Bacteria/metabolism ; *Biological Products/metabolism/pharmacology ; Peptides/metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {It is currently well established that multicellular organisms live in tight association with complex communities of microorganisms including a large number of bacteria. These are immersed in complex interaction networks reflecting the relationships established between them and with host organisms; yet, little is known about the molecules and mechanisms involved in these mutual interactions. Ribosomally synthesized peptides, among which bacterial antimicrobial peptides called bacteriocins and microcins have been identified as contributing to host-microbe interplays, are either unmodified or post-translationally modified peptides. This review will unveil current knowledge on these ribosomal peptide-based natural products, their interplay with the host immune system, and their roles in microbial interactions and symbioses. It will include their major structural characteristics and post-translational modifications, the main rules of their maturation pathways, and the principal ecological functions they ensure (communication, signalization, competition), especially in symbiosis, taking select examples in various organisms. Finally, we address unanswered questions and provide a framework for deciphering big issues inspiring future directions in the field.}, } @article {pmid34754961, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Nan, X and Zhao, Y and Jiang, L and Wang, H and Hua, D and Zhang, F and Wang, Y and Liu, J and Yao, J and Xiong, B}, title = {Dietary supplementation with inulin improves lactation performance and serum lipids by regulating the rumen microbiome and metabolome in dairy cows.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {1189-1204}, pmid = {34754961}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {This study investigated the effects of inulin on rumen fermentation parameters, ruminal microbiome and metabolites, as well as lactation performance and serum indexes in dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein dairy cows with similar body conditions were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 8 per group), with inulin addition at 0 and 200 g/d per cow. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks, including a 1-week adaptation period and a 5-week treatment period. At the end of the experimental period, the milk, serum and rumen fluid were sampled and analyzed. The microbiome and metabolome in the rumen fluid were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. The results showed that supplementation with inulin (200 g/d per cow) increased the milk yield (P = 0.001), milk protein (P = 0.032), lactose rate (P = 0.004) and proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in milk (P < 0.001), but decreased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) (P = 0.041). Rumen pH (P = 0.040) and the concentration of NH3-N (P = 0.024) were decreased; however, acetate (P < 0.001), propionate (P = 0.003), butyrate (P < 0.001) and lactic acid (LA) (P = 0.043) were increased. The total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.008) and triglycerides (TG) (P = 0.01) in serum were also reduced. Additionally, inulin addition elevated the relative abundance of several beneficial symbiotic and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as Muribaculaceae (false discovery rate [FDR]-adjusted P < 0.01), Acetitomaculum (FDR-adjusted P = 0.043), and Butyrivibrio (FDR-adjusted P = 0.036), while elevating the levels of L-lysine (FDR-adjusted P = 4.24 × 10[-3]), L-proline (FDR-adjusted P = 0.0158), and L-phenylalanine (FDR-adjusted P = 0.027). In contrast, several pathogens and ruminal bacteria abundant in high-fat diets, such as Escherichia-Shigella (FDR-adjusted P = 0.022), Erysipelotrichaceae __UCG-004 (FDR-adjusted P < 0.01) and RF39 (FDR-adjusted P = 0.042) were decreased along with the reduction of lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) (18:1 (9Z)) (FDR-adjusted P = 1.03 × 10[-3]), LysoPC (16:0) (FDR-adjusted P = 0.0108), LysoPC (18:2 (9Z, 12Z)) (FDR-adjusted P = 1.65 × 10[-3]) and 8-methylnonenoate. In conclusion, dietary inulin supplementation could increase the relative abundance of commensal microbiota and SCFA-producing bacteria, upregulate amino acidmetabolism and downregulate lipid metabolism in the rumen of dairy cows, which might further improve lactation performance and the level of serum lipids.}, } @article {pmid34754501, year = {2021}, author = {Grieves, LA and Gloor, GB and Bernards, MA and MacDougall-Shackleton, EA}, title = {Preen gland microbiota covary with major histocompatibility complex genotype in a songbird.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {210936}, pmid = {34754501}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Pathogen-mediated selection at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is thought to promote MHC-based mate choice in vertebrates. Mounting evidence implicates odour in conveying MHC genotype, but the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. MHC effects on odour may be mediated by odour-producing symbiotic microbes whose community structure is shaped by MHC genotype. In birds, preen oil is a primary source of body odour and similarity at MHC predicts similarity in preen oil composition. Hypothesizing that this relationship is mediated by symbiotic microbes, we characterized MHC genotype, preen gland microbial communities and preen oil chemistry of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Consistent with the microbial mediation hypothesis, pairwise similarity at MHC predicted similarity in preen gland microbiota. Counter to this hypothesis, overall microbial similarity did not predict chemical similarity of preen oil. However, permutation testing identified a maximally predictive set of microbial taxa that best reflect MHC genotype, and another set of taxa that best predict preen oil chemical composition. The relative strengths of relationships between MHC and microbes, microbes and preen oil, and MHC and preen oil suggest that MHC may affect host odour both directly and indirectly. Thus, birds may assess MHC genotypes based on both host-associated and microbially mediated odours.}, } @article {pmid34754266, year = {2021}, author = {Vico, P and Iriarte, A and Bonilla, S and Piccini, C}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of Raphidiopsisraciborskii microbiome: beyond the individual.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e72514}, pmid = {34754266}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {Raphidiopsisraciborskii is a toxic, invasive bacteria with a defined biogeographic pattern attributed to the generation of ecotypes subjected to local environmental filters and to phenotypic plasticity. The interactions taking place between the cyanobacterium and the other bacteria inhabiting the external polysaccharide-rich matrix surrounding the cells, or phycosphere, may be ecotype-specific and would have different influence on the carbon and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem. Here, we describe the bacterial community or microbiome (assessed by 16S rRNA metagenomics) associated to two R.raciborskii strains that have been described as different ecotypes: the saxitoxin-producer MVCC19 and the non-toxic LB2897. Our results showed that both ecotypes share 50% of their microbiomes and differ in their dominant taxa. The taxon having the highest abundance in the microbiome of MVCC19 was Neorhizobium (22.5% relative abundance), while the dominant taxon in LB2897 was the Planctomycetes SM1A02 (26.2% relative abundance). These groups exhibit different metabolic capabilities regarding nitrogen acquisition (symbiotic nitrogen-fixing in Neorhizobium vs. anammox in SM1A02), suggesting the existence of ecotype-specific microbiomes that play a relevant role in cyanobacterial niche-adaptation. In addition, as saxitoxin and analogues are nitrogen-rich (7 atoms per molecule), we hypothesise that saxitoxin-producing R.raciborskii benefits from external sources of nitrogen provided by the microbiome bacteria. Based on these findings, we propose that the mechanisms involved in the assembly of the cyanobacterial microbiome community are ecotype-dependent.}, } @article {pmid34750710, year = {2022}, author = {López, CL and Mayta, C and Naoki, K and Quezada, JAN and Hensen, I and Gallegos, SC}, title = {Bracken fern does not diminish arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inoculum potential in tropical deforested areas.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {123-131}, pmid = {34750710}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Forests ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Pteridium ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tropical montane forests are threatened by uncontrolled fire events because of agricultural expansion. Consequently, deforested areas frequently are dominated by the bracken fern, Pteridium spp., for long periods, and forest regeneration is limited. Despite considerable research on bracken-dominated ecosystems, little is known about the relationship between bracken mycorrhizal fungi and tree seedlings. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with terrestrial plants, providing nutrients and protection against pathogens and promoting seedling growth and establishment. Therefore, AMF inoculum have high potential for forest restoration programs. Here, we compare the species diversity of AMF spores, root colonization, and seedling growth of Clusia trochiformis 1 year after the addition of different liquefied root inocula: forest conspecific, forest heterospecific, and from Pteridium rhizomes. Thirteen morphospecies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were identified on the roots of C. trochiformis, and Glomus spp. were the most abundant in all treatments. No differences were observed in spore species richness and diversity among treatments, but spore density was the highest subsequent to the Pteridium inoculum. There was no significant difference in mycorrhizal root colonization and seedling growth of C. trochiformis among inoculated treatments. We found a positive relation between root colonization and total biomass. This study shows that the AMF communities in bracken areas and forests present similar characteristics and that the bracken fern does not limit AMF inoculum potential, favouring seedling growth of Clusia.}, } @article {pmid34749730, year = {2021}, author = {Parisot, N and Vargas-Chávez, C and Goubert, C and Baa-Puyoulet, P and Balmand, S and Beranger, L and Blanc, C and Bonnamour, A and Boulesteix, M and Burlet, N and Calevro, F and Callaerts, P and Chancy, T and Charles, H and Colella, S and Da Silva Barbosa, A and Dell'Aglio, E and Di Genova, A and Febvay, G and Gabaldón, T and Galvão Ferrarini, M and Gerber, A and Gillet, B and Hubley, R and Hughes, S and Jacquin-Joly, E and Maire, J and Marcet-Houben, M and Masson, F and Meslin, C and Montagné, N and Moya, A and Ribeiro de Vasconcelos, AT and Richard, G and Rosen, J and Sagot, MF and Smit, AFA and Storer, JM and Vincent-Monegat, C and Vallier, A and Vigneron, A and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Zamoum, W and Vieira, C and Rebollo, R and Latorre, A and Heddi, A}, title = {The transposable element-rich genome of the cereal pest Sitophilus oryzae.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {241}, pmid = {34749730}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {U24 HG010136/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Communication ; *Coleoptera ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Edible Grain ; Humans ; *Weevils/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae is one of the most important agricultural pests, causing extensive damage to cereal in fields and to stored grains. S. oryzae has an intracellular symbiotic relationship (endosymbiosis) with the Gram-negative bacterium Sodalis pierantonius and is a valuable model to decipher host-symbiont molecular interactions.

RESULTS: We sequenced the Sitophilus oryzae genome using a combination of short and long reads to produce the best assembly for a Curculionidae species to date. We show that S. oryzae has undergone successive bursts of transposable element (TE) amplification, representing 72% of the genome. In addition, we show that many TE families are transcriptionally active, and changes in their expression are associated with insect endosymbiotic state. S. oryzae has undergone a high gene expansion rate, when compared to other beetles. Reconstruction of host-symbiont metabolic networks revealed that, despite its recent association with cereal weevils (30 kyear), S. pierantonius relies on the host for several amino acids and nucleotides to survive and to produce vitamins and essential amino acids required for insect development and cuticle biosynthesis.

CONCLUSIONS: Here we present the genome of an agricultural pest beetle, which may act as a foundation for pest control. In addition, S. oryzae may be a useful model for endosymbiosis, and studying TE evolution and regulation, along with the impact of TEs on eukaryotic genomes.}, } @article {pmid34749532, year = {2021}, author = {Tischler, AH and Vanek, ME and Peterson, N and Visick, KL}, title = {Calcium-Responsive Diguanylate Cyclase CasA Drives Cellulose-Dependent Biofilm Formation and Inhibits Motility in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0257321}, pmid = {34749532}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/enzymology/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Signaling ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Cyclic GMP/analogs & derivatives ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hawaii ; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Vibrio cholerae/genetics ; }, abstract = {The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri colonizes its host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, in a manner requiring both bacterial biofilm formation and motility. The decision to switch between sessile and motile states is often triggered by environmental signals and regulated by the widespread signaling molecule c-di-GMP. Calcium is an environmental signal previously shown to affect both biofilm formation and motility by V. fischeri. In this study, we investigated the link between calcium and c-di-GMP, determining that calcium increases intracellular c-di-GMP dependent on a specific diguanylate cyclase, calcium-sensing protein A (CasA). CasA is activated by calcium, dependent on residues in an N-terminal sensory domain, and synthesizes c-di-GMP through an enzymatic C-terminal domain. CasA is responsible for calcium-dependent inhibition of motility and activation of cellulose-dependent biofilm formation. Calcium regulates cellulose biofilms at the level of transcription, which also requires the transcription factor VpsR. Finally, the Vibrio cholerae CasA homolog, CdgK, is unable to complement CasA and may be inhibited by calcium. Collectively, these results identify CasA as a calcium-responsive regulator, linking an external signal to internal decisions governing behavior, and shed light on divergence between Vibrio spp. IMPORTANCE Biofilm formation and motility are often critical behaviors for bacteria to colonize a host organism. Vibrio fischeri is the exclusive colonizer of its host's symbiotic organ and requires both biofilm formation and motility to initiate successful colonization, providing a relatively simple model to explore complex behaviors. In this study, we determined how the environmental signal calcium alters bacterial behavior through production of the signaling molecule c-di-GMP. Calcium activates the diguanylate cyclase CasA to synthesize c-di-GMP, resulting in inhibition of motility and activation of cellulose production. These activities depend on residues in CasA's N-terminal sensory domain and C-terminal enzymatic domain. These findings thus identify calcium as a signal recognized by a specific diguanylate cyclase to control key bacterial phenotypes. Of note, CasA activity is seemingly inverse to that of the homologous V. cholerae protein, CdgK, providing insight into evolutionary divergence between closely related species.}, } @article {pmid34746023, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, J and Gu, L and Zhang, M and Zhang, S and Wang, M and Long, Y and Zhang, X}, title = {The Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: A Remarkable Clinical Therapy for Slow Transit Constipation in Future.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {732474}, pmid = {34746023}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Constipation/therapy ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Slow transit constipation is a common condition that would be difficult to treat in clinical practice with a widespread incidence in the population. Pharmacotherapy and surgery are common treatment modalities. However, the clinical effect is limited, and patients still suffer from it. As the researchers strived in this field for decades, the profound relationship between slow transit constipation and fecal microbiota transplantation has comprehensively been sustained. It is very pivotal to maintain intestinal homeostasis, the structure function and metabolic function of symbiotic bacteria, which can inhibit the engraftment of intestinal pathogens. This mini review explains the treatment effects and possible mechanisms of the fecal microbiota transplantation in treating slow transit constipation. Simultaneously, it is found that there is significant improvement in the disease by adjusting the intestinal microbes like fecal microbiota transplantation. Fecal microbiota transplantation has efficient therapeutic effects in slow transit constipation compared with traditional therapies.}, } @article {pmid34745425, year = {2021}, author = {Vieira, CP and Rosario, AILS and Lelis, CA and Rekowsky, BSS and Carvalho, APA and Rosário, DKA and Elias, TA and Costa, MP and Foguel, D and Conte-Junior, CA}, title = {Bioactive Compounds from Kefir and Their Potential Benefits on Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {9081738}, pmid = {34745425}, issn = {1942-0994}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Biological Products/*pharmacology ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Immunomodulating Agents/*pharmacology ; *Kefir ; Milk/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Despite evidence of health benefits from kefir administration, a systematic review with meta-analysis on bioactive compounds associated with these benefits is still absent in the literature. Kefir is fermented milk resulting from the metabolism of a complex microbiota in symbiosis. Recent researches have investigated the bioactive compounds responsible for the preventive and therapeutic effects attributed to kefir. However, differences in functional potential between industrial and artisanal kefir are still controversial. Firstly, we identified differences in the microbial composition among both types of kefir. Available evidence concerning the action of different bioactive compounds from kefir on health, both from in vitro and in vivo studies, was subsequently summarized to draw a primary conclusion of the dose and the intervention time for effect, the producer microorganisms, the precursor in the milk, and the action mechanism. Meta-analysis was performed to investigate the statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between intervention and control and between both types of kefir for each health effect studied. In summary, the bioactive compounds more commonly reported were exopolysaccharides, including kefiran, bioactive peptides, and organic acids, especially lactic acid. Kefir bioactive compounds presented antimicrobial, anticancer, and immune-modulatory activities corroborated by the meta-analysis. However, clinical evidence is urgently needed to strengthen the practical applicability of these bioactive compounds. The mechanisms of their action were diverse, indicating that they can act by different signaling pathways. Still, industrial and artisanal kefir may differ regarding functional potential-OR of 8.56 (95% CI: 2.27-32.21, P ≤ .001)-according to the observed health effect, which can be associated with differences in the microbial composition between both types of kefir.}, } @article {pmid34745190, year = {2021}, author = {Biała-Leonhard, W and Zanin, L and Gottardi, S and de Brito Francisco, R and Venuti, S and Valentinuzzi, F and Mimmo, T and Cesco, S and Bassin, B and Martinoia, E and Pinton, R and Jasiński, M and Tomasi, N}, title = {Identification of an Isoflavonoid Transporter Required for the Nodule Establishment of the Rhizobium-Fabaceae Symbiotic Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {758213}, pmid = {34745190}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) as well as Phosphorus (P) are key nutrients determining crop productivity. Legumes have developed strategies to overcome nutrient limitation by, for example, forming a symbiotic relationship with N-fixing rhizobia and the release of P-mobilizing exudates and are thus able to grow without supply of N or P fertilizers. The legume-rhizobial symbiosis starts with root release of isoflavonoids that act as signaling molecules perceived by compatible bacteria. Subsequently, bacteria release nod factors, which induce signaling cascades allowing the formation of functional N-fixing nodules. We report here the identification and functional characterization of a plasma membrane-localized MATE-type transporter (LaMATE2) involved in the release of genistein from white lupin roots. The LaMATE2 expression in the root is upregulated under N deficiency as well as low phosphate availability, two nutritional deficiencies that induce the release of this isoflavonoid. LaMATE2 silencing reduced genistein efflux and even more the formation of symbiotic nodules, supporting the crucial role of LaMATE2 in isoflavonoid release and nodulation. Furthermore, silencing of LaMATE2 limited the P-solubilization activity of lupin root exudates. Transport assays in yeast vesicles demonstrated that LaMATE2 acts as a proton-driven isoflavonoid transporter.}, } @article {pmid34745189, year = {2021}, author = {Pepe, M and Hesami, M and Small, F and Jones, AMP}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning and Evolutionary Optimization Algorithms for Precision Micropropagation of Cannabis sativa: Prediction and Validation of in vitro Shoot Growth and Development Based on the Optimization of Light and Carbohydrate Sources.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {757869}, pmid = {34745189}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Micropropagation techniques offer opportunity to proliferate, maintain, and study dynamic plant responses in highly controlled environments without confounding external influences, forming the basis for many biotechnological applications. With medicinal and recreational interests for Cannabis sativa L. growing, research related to the optimization of in vitro practices is needed to improve current methods while boosting our understanding of the underlying physiological processes. Unfortunately, due to the exorbitantly large array of factors influencing tissue culture, existing approaches to optimize in vitro methods are tedious and time-consuming. Therefore, there is great potential to use new computational methodologies for analyzing data to develop improved protocols more efficiently. Here, we first tested the effects of light qualities using assorted combinations of Red, Blue, Far Red, and White spanning 0-100 μmol/m[2]/s in combination with sucrose concentrations ranging from 1 to 6% (w/v), totaling 66 treatments, on in vitro shoot growth, root development, number of nodes, shoot emergence, and canopy surface area. Collected data were then assessed using multilayer perceptron (MLP), generalized regression neural network (GRNN), and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to model and predict in vitro Cannabis growth and development. Based on the results, GRNN had better performance than MLP or ANFIS and was consequently selected to link different optimization algorithms [genetic algorithm (GA), biogeography-based optimization (BBO), interior search algorithm (ISA), and symbiotic organisms search (SOS)] for prediction of optimal light levels (quality/intensity) and sucrose concentration for various applications. Predictions of in vitro conditions to refine growth responses were subsequently tested in a validation experiment and data showed no significant differences between predicted optimized values and observed data. Thus, this study demonstrates the potential of machine learning and optimization algorithms to predict the most favorable light combinations and sucrose levels to elicit specific developmental responses. Based on these, recommendations of light and carbohydrate levels to promote specific developmental outcomes for in vitro Cannabis are suggested. Ultimately, this work showcases the importance of light quality and carbohydrate supply in directing plant development as well as the power of machine learning approaches to investigate complex interactions in plant tissue culture.}, } @article {pmid34743922, year = {2021}, author = {Dhariwala, MO and Scharschmidt, TC}, title = {Baby's skin bacteria: first impressions are long-lasting.}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {42}, number = {12}, pages = {1088-1099}, pmid = {34743922}, issn = {1471-4981}, support = {DP2 AI144968/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K99 AR079554/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; Humans ; Infant ; *Microbiota ; Skin/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Early life is a dynamic period for skin microbial colonization and immune development. We postulate that microbial exposures in this period durably alter the skin immune trajectory and later disease susceptibility. Bacteria contribute to infant skin immune imprinting via interactions with microbes as well as with cutaneous epithelial and immune cells. Excellent research is underway at the skin microbiome-immune interface, both in deciphering basic mechanisms and implementing their therapeutic applications. As emphasized herein, focusing on the unique opportunities and challenges presented by microbial immune modulation in early life will be important. In our view, only through dedicated study of skin-microbe crosstalk in this developmental window can we elucidate the molecular underpinnings of pivotal events that contribute to sustained host-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34743817, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, D and Li, A}, title = {Effect of zero-valent iron and granular activated carbon on nutrient removal and community assembly of photogranules treating low-strength wastewater.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {151311}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151311}, pmid = {34743817}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Charcoal ; *Cyanobacteria ; Iron ; Nutrients ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Traditional wastewater treatment processes with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are not suitable for rural areas with low sewage strength and wide distribution. In this study, a microalgae-bacteria synergistic photogranules system was developed under the impetus of green chemical additives to address these challenges. The results showed that zero-valent iron (ZVI) or granular activated carbon (GAC) addition made successful photogranulation treating low-strength wastewater with excellent settleability and stability performance (settling velocity: 14-22 m h[-1]; integrity coefficient: 0.81-6.62%), while systems without light or additives failed due to the bio-granules disintegration caused by the overgrowth of predators or phototrophic species. A better nutrient removal performance (TN < 15 mg L[-1], TP < 0.4 mg L[-1]) was observed in photogranules systems, and stoichiometric and biological analysis found that the divisions of nitrogen removal by microalgae and bacteria were different for photogranules between GAC and ZVI additions. As a physical enhancer, GAC can be used as the nucleus of photogranules regenerating after granules disintegration rather than affecting the community succession process. However, ZVI addition strengthened the sedimentation ability and stability of photogranules through chemical and biological effects, focusing on enhancing bacterial community diversity, enriching biofilm formation bacteria and inhibiting the overgrowth of filamentous cyanobacteria. Notably, the photogranules process with ZVI addition could be operated under non-aeration conditions without compromising removal efficiency. There existed an ideal distribution of microalgae and bacterial functional species in the photogranules, which seemed to be essential for its self-sustained synergistic symbiosis and stability. Consequently, this work might provide engineering alternatives for realizing carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability of the decentralized wastewater treatment process for low-strength wastewater in rural areas.}, } @article {pmid34742959, year = {2022}, author = {Li, Y and Xiang, T and Liang, H and Wang, P and Gao, D}, title = {Achieving rapid mainstream deammonification through inoculating long-term refrigerated sidestream sludge in plug-flow fixed-bed biofilm reactor.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {151415}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151415}, pmid = {34742959}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Biofilms ; Bioreactors ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Sewage ; }, abstract = {The start-up of a stable mainstream deammonification requires sufficient anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). This study used a plug-flow fixed-bed reactor (PFBR) to verify the feasibility of establishing the mainstream deammonification system by inoculating the sidestream sludge after long-term refrigeration. A rapid resuscitation of the mainstream deammonification system was accomplished by controlling the front-end aeration rate of the PFBR. Results showed that the system was rapidly resuscitated in 44 days eventually with the nitrogen removal rate and nitrogen removal efficiency of 0.1 kg N·(m[3]·d)[-1] and 79.1%, respectively. Also, the efficient performance was secured by the proportionate approaching equilibrium of AnAOB and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) activity of 2.35 ± 0.40 and 2.60 ± 0.29 mg N·(g VSS·h)[-1], respectively. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis revealed that AnAOB abundance (detected Candidatus Kuenenia) negatively correlated with the AOB (mainly Nitrosomonas)/AnAOB abundance ratio, while correlated positively with the residual ammonium concentration of a region. Furthermore, long-term refrigeration probably reduced the cross-feed relationship between AnAOB and other symbiotic organisms (Armatimonadetes and Chloroflexi) to maintain the basic metabolism. Meanwhile, extracellular polymeric substances produced by other genera (order Xanthomonadales and Pseudomonadales) decreased the mass transfer, protecting AnAOB from unfavorable conditions, thereby facilitating high AnAOB abundance during refrigeration. Thus, this study provides a promising perspective towards the practical applications of mainstream process.}, } @article {pmid34742805, year = {2022}, author = {Estévez, S and González-García, S and Feijoo, G and Moreira, MT}, title = {How decentralized treatment can contribute to the symbiosis between environmental protection and resource recovery.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {812}, number = {}, pages = {151485}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151485}, pmid = {34742805}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; Water ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Challenges associated with the sustainability of the water cycle pose new opportunities for resource recovery and greater environmental protection. While centralized wastewater treatment plants must evolve in their design and operation to adapt to a scenario of increasing demand for water, resources and energy, the decentralized approach emerges as an option to be considered in small communities or developing residential areas where bioenergy production can be improved through the recovery of organic matter in segregated streams or where the investment in the sewer network for connection to a centralized facility may be technologically or economically unfeasible. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the environmental and economic profile of a hybrid-decentralized configuration for the purpose of efficient wastewater management and resource recovery and its comparative evaluation with the centralized treatment scenario. Beyond water reclamation, decentralized treatment offers the possibility of valorization of digestate streams as nutrient sources for horticultural or ornamental crops in the vicinity of the plant. Based on the results of the environmental profile, this manuscript shows that the decentralized treatment approach is in line with the philosophy and guidelines of the circular economy, as it allows the use of reclaimed water and biofertilizers under safe and environmental-friendly conditions.}, } @article {pmid34742306, year = {2021}, author = {Duran-Pinedo, A and Solbiati, J and Teles, F and Teles, R and Zang, Y and Frias-Lopez, J}, title = {Long-term dynamics of the human oral microbiome during clinical disease progression.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {240}, pmid = {34742306}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {R01 DE021553/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; DE021553/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; DE021127/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; Disease Progression ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontitis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Oral microbiome dysbiosis is linked to overt inflammation of tooth-supporting tissues, leading to periodontitis, an oral condition that can cause tooth and bone loss. Microbiome dysbiosis has been described as a disruption in the symbiotic microbiota composition's stability that could adversely affect the host's health status. However, the precise microbiome dynamics that lead to dysbiosis and the progression of the disease are largely unknown. The objective of our study was to investigate the long-term dynamics of periodontitis progression and its connection to dysbiosis.

RESULTS: We studied three different teeth groups: sites that showed disease progression, sites that remained stable during the study, and sites that exhibited a cyclic deepening followed by spontaneous recovery. Time-series analysis revealed that communities followed a characteristic succession of bacteria clusters. Stable and fluctuating sites showed high asynchrony in the communities (i.e., different species responding dissimilarly through time) and a reordering of the communities where directional changes dominated (i.e., sample distance increases over time) in the stable sites but not in the fluctuating sites. Progressing sites exhibited low asynchrony and convergence (i.e., samples distance decreases over time). Moreover, new species were more likely to be recruited in stable samples if a close relative was not recruited previously. In contrast, progressing and fluctuating sites followed a neutral recruitment model, indicating that competition between closely related species is a significant component of species-species interactions in stable samples. Finally, periodontal treatment did not select similar communities but stabilized α-diversity, centered the abundance of different clusters to the mean, and increased community rearrangement.

CONCLUSIONS: Here, we show that ecological principles can define dysbiosis and explain the evolution and outcomes of specific microbial communities of the oral microbiome in periodontitis progression. All sites showed an ecological succession in community composition. Stable sites were characterized by high asynchrony, a reordering of the communities where directional changes dominated, and new species were more likely to be recruited if a close relative was not recruited previously. Progressing sites were characterized by low asynchrony, community convergence, and a neutral model of recruitment. Finally, fluctuating sites were characterized by high asynchrony, community convergence, and a neutral recruitment model.}, } @article {pmid34741016, year = {2021}, author = {Sato, Y and Jang, S and Takeshita, K and Itoh, H and Koike, H and Tago, K and Hayatsu, M and Hori, T and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Insecticide resistance by a host-symbiont reciprocal detoxification.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {6432}, pmid = {34741016}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/drug effects/genetics ; Heteroptera/drug effects/genetics ; Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Organophosphorus Compounds/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Insecticide resistance is one of the most serious problems in contemporary agriculture and public health. Although recent studies revealed that insect gut symbionts contribute to resistance, the symbiont-mediated detoxification process remains unclear. Here we report the in vivo detoxification process of an organophosphorus insecticide, fenitrothion, in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris. Using transcriptomics and reverse genetics, we reveal that gut symbiotic bacteria degrade this insecticide through a horizontally acquired insecticide-degrading enzyme into the non-insecticidal but bactericidal compound 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, which is subsequently excreted by the host insect. This integrated "host-symbiont reciprocal detoxification relay" enables the simultaneous maintenance of symbiosis and efficient insecticide degradation. We also find that the symbiont-mediated detoxification process is analogous to the insect genome-encoded fenitrothion detoxification system present in other insects. Our findings highlight the capacity of symbiosis, combined with horizontal gene transfer in the environment, as a powerful strategy for an insect to instantly eliminate a toxic chemical compound, which could play a critical role in the human-pest arms race.}, } @article {pmid34740329, year = {2021}, author = {Van Geel, M and Aavik, T and Ceulemans, T and Träger, S and Mergeay, J and Peeters, G and van Acker, K and Zobel, M and Koorem, K and Honnay, O}, title = {The role of genetic diversity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in population recovery of the semi-natural grassland plant species Succisa pratensis.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {200}, pmid = {34740329}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {*Dipsacaceae ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Grassland ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ecosystem restoration is as a critical tool to counteract the decline of biodiversity and recover vital ecosystem services. Restoration efforts, however, often fall short of meeting their goals. Although functionally important levels of biodiversity can significantly contribute to the outcome of ecosystem restoration, they are often overlooked. One such important facet of biodiversity is within-species genetic diversity, which is fundamental to population fitness and adaptation to environmental change. Also the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), obligate root symbionts that regulate nutrient and carbon cycles, potentially plays a vital role in mediating ecosystem restoration outcome. In this study, we investigated the relative contribution of intraspecific population genetic diversity, AMF diversity, and their interaction, to population recovery of Succisa pratensis, a key species of nutrient poor semi natural grasslands. We genotyped 180 individuals from 12 populations of S. pratensis and characterized AMF composition in their roots, using microsatellite markers and next generation amplicon sequencing, respectively. We also investigated whether the genetic makeup of the host plant species can structure the composition of root-inhabiting AMF communities.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that population allelic richness was strongly positively correlated to relative population growth, whereas AMF richness and its interaction with population genetic diversity did not significantly contribute. The variation partitioning analysis showed that, after accounting for soil and spatial variables, the plant genetic makeup explained a small but significant part of the unique variation in AMF communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that population genetic diversity can contribute to population recovery, highlighting the importance of within-species genetic diversity for the success of restoration. We could not find evidence, however, that population recovery benefits from the presence of more diverse AMF communities. Our analysis also showed that the genetic makeup of the host plant structured root-inhabiting AMF communities, suggesting that the plant genetic makeup may be linked to genes that control symbiosis development.}, } @article {pmid34738903, year = {2021}, author = {Katlav, A and Hajiqanbar, H and Riegler, M and Seeman, OD}, title = {Sheltered life beneath elytra: three new species of Eutarsopolipus (Acari, Heterostigmatina, Podapolipidae) parasitizing Australian ground beetles.}, journal = {Parasite (Paris, France)}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {75}, pmid = {34738903}, issn = {1776-1042}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; *Coleoptera/parasitology ; *Mites/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {In this study, we conducted a summer sampling of carabid beetles in eastern Australia to identify their associated parasitic mites. Here, we describe three new species of the genus Eutarsopolipus from under the elytra (forewings) of three native carabid species (Coleoptera: Carabidae): Eutarsopolipus paryavae n. sp. (pterostichi group) from Geoscaptus laevissimus Chaudoir; Eutarsopolipus pulcher n. sp. (leytei group) from Gnathaphanus pulcher (Dejean); and Eutarsopolipus chlaenii n. sp. (myzus group) from Chlaenius flaviguttatus Macleay. We further provide an identification key of the world species of pterostichi and leytei species groups as well as closely related species of the myzus group possessing similar characters including short cheliceral stylets. The significant diversity of Eutarsopolipus recovered here suggests that the current knowledge about Australian podapolipid mites (specially Eutarsopolipus) is still in its infancy and deserves further study.}, } @article {pmid34737003, year = {2022}, author = {Koltun, A and Fuhrmann-Aoyagi, MB and Cardoso Moraes, LA and Lima Nepomuceno, A and Simões Azeredo Gonçalves, L and Mertz-Henning, LM}, title = {Uncovering the roles of hemoglobins in soybean facing water stress.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {810}, number = {}, pages = {146055}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.146055}, pmid = {34737003}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Gene Expression ; Genome, Plant ; Hemoglobins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Water ; }, abstract = {Water stress drastically hinders crop yield, including soybean - one of the world's most relevant feeding crops - threatening the food security of an ever-growing global population. Hemoglobins (GLBs) are involved in water stress tolerance; however, the role they effectively play in soybean remains underexplored. In this study, in silico and in vivo analyses were performed to identify soybean GLBs, capture their transcriptional profile under water stress, and overexpress promising members to assess how soybean cope with waterlogging. Seven GLBs were found, two GLB1 (non-symbiotic) and five GLB2 (symbiotic or leghemoglobins). Three out of the seven GLBs were differentially expressed in soybean RNA-seq libraries of water stress and were evaluated by real-time PCR. Consistently, GmGLB1-1 and GmGLB1-2 were moderately and highly expressed under waterlogging, respectively. Composite plants with roots overexpressing GmGLB1-1 or GmGLB1-2 (mostly) showed higher transcript abundance of stress-defensive genes involved in anaerobic, nitrogen, carbon, and antioxidant metabolism when subjected to waterlogging. In addition, soybean bearing p35S:GmGLB1-2 had lower H2O2 root content, a reactive oxygen species (ROS), under water excess compared with the control condition. Altogether these results suggest that GmGLB1-2 is a strong candidate for soybean genetic engineering to generate waterlogging-tolerant soybean cultivars.}, } @article {pmid34735850, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, W and Clegg, P and Li, T}, title = {Symbiosis between the components of a soft composite material responding to osmotic shock: The case of three-liquid systems.}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {608}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {1135-1140}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2021.10.086}, pmid = {34735850}, issn = {1095-7103}, mesh = {Emulsions ; *Oils ; Osmotic Pressure ; Surface-Active Agents ; *Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {HYPOTHESIS: For conventional high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with an external osmotic pressure greater than Laplace pressure, once the osmotic balance is broken, the swelling or shrinking of the aqueous phase can easily trigger phase separation. Mixing two immiscible dispersed phases in a double HIPE can evolve differently following an osmotic shock, which is expected to create a synergistic effect that can frustrate the phase separation of the system.

EXPERIMENTS: Osmotic responses of double HIPEs were studied at the surface of a NaCl solution at a range of molarities. Fluorescence confocal microscopy studies were carried out to track the responses on microscopic scales. Measurements on surface tensions revealed the interfacial behaviors of the used surfactant.

FINDINGS: A synergistic effect is achieved by a symbiotic process between the dispersed oils, where one type of droplets become more stable and pack around the other ones to halt their coalescence. The essential drive comes from the adsorption/desorption of surfactant molecules at oil-water interfaces. By directly adjusting the osmotic pressure difference, transitions between osmotic down-shock and osmotic up-shock can also be realized. This symbiosis greatly expands the potential technological applications of multiple-liquid systems, and can be used to design novel multi-functional composite materials.}, } @article {pmid34733778, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, J and Sun, S and Luan, S and Xiao, X and Yang, Y and Mao, C and Chen, L and Zeng, X and Zhang, Y and Yuan, Y}, title = {Gut Microbiota for Esophageal Cancer: Role in Carcinogenesis and Clinical Implications.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {717242}, pmid = {34733778}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common malignant tumor of the upper digestive tract. The microbiota in the digestive tract epithelium comprises a large number of microorganisms that adapt to the immune defense and interact with the host to form symbiotic networks, which affect many physiological processes such as metabolism, tissue development, and immune response. Reports indicate that there are microbial compositional changes in patients with EC, which provides an important opportunity to advance clinical applications based on findings on the gut microbiota. For example, microbiota detection can be used as a biomarker for screening and prognosis, and microorganism levels can be adjusted to treat cancer and decrease the adverse effects of treatment. This review aims to provide an outline of the gut microbiota in esophageal neoplasia, including the mechanisms involved in microbiota-related carcinogenesis and the prospect of utilizing the microbiota as EC biomarkers and treatment targets. These findings have important implications for translating the use of gut microbiota in clinical applications.}, } @article {pmid34733585, year = {2021}, author = {Solak, CN and Gastineau, R and Lemieux, C and Turmel, M and Gorecka, E and Trobajo, R and Rybak, M and Yılmaz, E and Witkowski, A}, title = {Nitzschia anatoliensis sp. nov., a cryptic diatom species from the highly alkaline Van Lake (Turkey).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e12220}, pmid = {34733585}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {In this article we describe Nitzschia anatoliensis Górecka, Gastineau & Solak sp. nov., an example of a diatom species inhabiting extreme habitats. The new species has been isolated and successfully grown from the highly alkaline Van Lake in East Turkey. The description is based on morphology (light and scanning electron microscopy), the sequencing of its organellar genomes and several molecular phylogenies. This species could easily be overlooked because of its extreme similarity to Nitzschia aurariae but molecular phylogenies indicate that they are only distantly related. Furthermore, molecular data suggest that N. anatoliensis may occur in several alkaline lakes of Asia Minor and Siberia, but was previously misidentified as Nitzschia communis. It also revealed the very close genetic proximity between N. anatoliensis and the endosymbiont of the dinotom Kryptoperidinium foliaceum, providing additional clues on what might have been the original species of diatoms to enter symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34733251, year = {2021}, author = {Li, J and Zhang, C and Qu, X and Luo, Z and Lu, S and Kuzyakov, Y and Alharbi, HA and Yuan, J and Niu, G}, title = {Microbial Communities and Functions in the Rhizosphere of Disease-Resistant and Susceptible Camellia spp.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {732905}, pmid = {34733251}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Oil tea (Camellia spp.) is endemic to the hilly regions in the subtropics. Camellia yuhsienensis is resistant to diseases such as anthracnose and root rot, while Camellia oleifera is a high-yield species but susceptible to these diseases. We hypothesize that differences in the rhizosphere microbial communities and functions will elucidate the resistance mechanisms of these species. We used high-throughput sequencing over four seasons to characterize the rhizosphere microbiome of C. oleifera (Rhizo-Sus) and C. yuhsienensis (Rhizo-Res) and of the bulk soil control (BulkS). In Rhizo-Res, bacterial richness and diversity (Shannon index) in autumn and winter were both higher than that in Rhizo-Sus. In Rhizo-Res, fungal richness in autumn and winter and diversity in summer, autumn, and winter were higher than that in Rhizo-Sus. The seasonal variations in bacterial community structure were different, while that of fungal community structure were similar between Rhizo-Res and Rhizo-Sus. Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, and stress-tolerant bacteria were the dominant groups in Rhizo-Sus, while Gram-negative bacteria were the dominant group in Rhizo-Res. The significant differences in bacterial and fungal functions between Rhizo-Sus and Rhizo-Res were as follows: (1) in Rhizo-Sus, there were three bacterial and four fungal groups with plant growth promoting potentials, such as Brevibacterium epidermidis and Oidiodendron maius, and one bacterium and three fungi with pathogenic potentials, such as Gryllotalpicola sp. and Cyphellophora sessilis; (2) in Rhizo-Res, there were also three bacteria and four fungal groups with plant-growth-promoting potentials (e.g., Acinetobacter lwoffii and Cenococcum geophilum) but only one phytopathogen (Schizophyllum commune). In summary, the rhizosphere microbiome of disease-resistant C. yuhsienensis is characterized by a higher richness and diversity of microbial communities, more symbiotic fungal communities, and fewer pathogens compared to the rhizosphere of high-yield but disease-susceptible C. oleifera.}, } @article {pmid34733243, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Z and Zhou, Q and Zheng, G and Fang, J and Han, F and Zhang, X and Lu, Q}, title = {Abundance and Diversity of Ophiostomatoid Fungi Associated With the Great Spruce Bark Beetle (Dendroctonus micans) in the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {721395}, pmid = {34733243}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The role of several virulent tree pathogens in host death has been overlooked because of the aggressiveness of their associated bark beetles. The great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans) is a widely distributed beetle that infests coniferous plants in Eurasia; however, its associated fungi have been poorly studied. Therefore, in this study, we elucidated the diversity of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with D. micans in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through field investigation, laboratory isolation, and culture analyses. A total of 220 strains of ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from adults and tunnel galleries of D. micans infesting Picea crassifolia. We identified that the isolated strains belonged to eight ophiostomatoid species, including five new species (Ophiostoma huangnanense sp. nov., Ophiostoma maixiuense sp. nov., Ophiostoma sanum sp. nov., Leptographium sanjiangyuanense sp. nov., and Leptographium zekuense sp. nov.), one undefined species (Ophiostoma sp. 1), and two known species (Ophiostoma bicolor and Endoconidiophora laricicola), using phylogenetic analysis of multigene DNA sequences and morphological characteristics. This is the first time that E. laricicola, a pioneer invader and virulent pathogen, has been reported in China. We found that E. laricicola was the dominant species, accounting for 40.91% of the total number of ophiostomatoid communities. This study enriched the knowledge of the fungal associates of D. micans and elucidated that it carried the virulent pathogen E. laricicola at a surprisingly high frequency. Our findings show increased species association between D. micans and ophiostomatoid fungi and provide a basis for understanding the occurrence of forest diseases and pests.}, } @article {pmid34732889, year = {2021}, author = {Mohr, W and Lehnen, N and Ahmerkamp, S and Marchant, HK and Graf, JS and Tschitschko, B and Yilmaz, P and Littmann, S and Gruber-Vodicka, H and Leisch, N and Weber, M and Lott, C and Schubert, CJ and Milucka, J and Kuypers, MMM}, title = {Terrestrial-type nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between seagrass and a marine bacterium.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {600}, number = {7887}, pages = {105-109}, pmid = {34732889}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Alismatales/metabolism/*microbiology ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Aquatic Organisms/*metabolism/microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Mediterranean Sea ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic N2-fixing microorganisms have a crucial role in the assimilation of nitrogen by eukaryotes in nitrogen-limited environments[1-3]. Particularly among land plants, N2-fixing symbionts occur in a variety of distantly related plant lineages and often involve an intimate association between host and symbiont[2,4]. Descriptions of such intimate symbioses are lacking for seagrasses, which evolved around 100 million years ago from terrestrial flowering plants that migrated back to the sea[5]. Here we describe an N2-fixing symbiont, 'Candidatus Celerinatantimonas neptuna', that lives inside seagrass root tissue, where it provides ammonia and amino acids to its host in exchange for sugars. As such, this symbiosis is reminiscent of terrestrial N2-fixing plant symbioses. The symbiosis between Ca. C. neptuna and its host Posidonia oceanica enables highly productive seagrass meadows to thrive in the nitrogen-limited Mediterranean Sea. Relatives of Ca. C. neptuna occur worldwide in coastal ecosystems, in which they may form similar symbioses with other seagrasses and saltmarsh plants. Just like N2-fixing microorganisms might have aided the colonization of nitrogen-poor soils by early land plants[6], the ancestors of Ca. C. neptuna and its relatives probably enabled flowering plants to invade nitrogen-poor marine habitats, where they formed extremely efficient blue carbon ecosystems[7].}, } @article {pmid34732568, year = {2021}, author = {Ortiz, M and Leung, PM and Shelley, G and Jirapanjawat, T and Nauer, PA and Van Goethem, MW and Bay, SK and Islam, ZF and Jordaan, K and Vikram, S and Chown, SL and Hogg, ID and Makhalanyane, TP and Grinter, R and Cowan, DA and Greening, C}, title = {Multiple energy sources and metabolic strategies sustain microbial diversity in Antarctic desert soils.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {45}, pages = {}, pmid = {34732568}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Autotrophic Processes ; Biodiversity ; *Desert Climate ; Gases/*metabolism ; Hydrogenase/metabolism ; Ice Cover/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phototrophic Processes ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Numerous diverse microorganisms reside in the cold desert soils of continental Antarctica, though we lack a holistic understanding of the metabolic processes that sustain them. Here, we profile the composition, capabilities, and activities of the microbial communities in 16 physicochemically diverse mountainous and glacial soils. We assembled 451 metagenome-assembled genomes from 18 microbial phyla and inferred through Bayesian divergence analysis that the dominant lineages present are likely native to Antarctica. In support of earlier findings, metagenomic analysis revealed that the most abundant and prevalent microorganisms are metabolically versatile aerobes that use atmospheric hydrogen to support aerobic respiration and sometimes carbon fixation. Surprisingly, however, hydrogen oxidation in this region was catalyzed primarily by a phylogenetically and structurally distinct enzyme, the group 1l [NiFe]-hydrogenase, encoded by nine bacterial phyla. Through gas chromatography, we provide evidence that both Antarctic soil communities and an axenic Bacteroidota isolate (Hymenobacter roseosalivarius) oxidize atmospheric hydrogen using this enzyme. Based on ex situ rates at environmentally representative temperatures, hydrogen oxidation is theoretically sufficient for soil communities to meet energy requirements and, through metabolic water production, sustain hydration. Diverse carbon monoxide oxidizers and abundant methanotrophs were also active in the soils. We also recovered genomes of microorganisms capable of oxidizing edaphic inorganic nitrogen, sulfur, and iron compounds and harvesting solar energy via microbial rhodopsins and conventional photosystems. Obligately symbiotic bacteria, including Patescibacteria, Chlamydiae, and predatory Bdellovibrionota, were also present. We conclude that microbial diversity in Antarctic soils reflects the coexistence of metabolically flexible mixotrophs with metabolically constrained specialists.}, } @article {pmid34732245, year = {2021}, author = {Su, Q and Wang, Q and Mu, X and Chen, H and Meng, Y and Zhang, X and Zheng, L and Hu, X and Zhai, Y and Zheng, H}, title = {Strain-level analysis reveals the vertical microbial transmission during the life cycle of bumblebee.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {216}, pmid = {34732245}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bees ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbial acquisition and development of the gut microbiota impact the establishment of a healthy host-microbes symbiosis. Compared with other animals, the eusocial bumblebees and honeybees possess a simple, recurring, and similar set of gut microbiota. However, all bee gut phylotypes have high strain-level diversity. Gut communities of different bee species are composed of host-specific groups of strains. The variable genomic regions among strains of the same species often confer critical functional differences, such as carbon source utilization, essential for the natural selection of specific strains. The annual bumblebee colony founded by solitary queens enables tracking the transmission routes of gut bacteria during development stages.

RESULTS: Here, we first showed the changes in the microbiome of individual bumblebees across their holometabolous life cycle. Some core gut bacteria persist throughout different stages of development. Gut microbiota of newly emerged workers always resembles those of their queens, suggesting a vertical transmission of strains from queens to the newborn workers. We then follow the dynamic changes in the gut community by comparing strain-level metagenomic profiles of queen-worker pairs longitudinally collected across different stages of the nest development. Species composition of both queen and worker shifts with the colony's growth, and the queen-to-worker vertical inheritance of specific strains was identified. Finally, comparative metagenome analysis showed clear host-specificity for microbes across different bee hosts. Species from honeybees often possess a higher level of strain variation, and they also exhibited more complex gene repertoires linked to polysaccharide digestion. Our results demonstrate bacterial transmission events in bumblebee, highlighting the role of social interactions in driving the microbiota composition.

CONCLUSIONS: By the community-wide metagenomic analysis based on the custom genomic database of bee gut bacteria, we reveal strain transmission events at high resolution and the dynamic changes in community structure along with the colony development. The social annual life cycle of bumblebees is key for the acquisition and development of the gut microbiota. Further studies using the bumblebee model will advance our understanding of the microbiome transmission and the underlying mechanisms, such as strain competition and niche selection. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid34731216, year = {2021}, author = {Pokluda, R and Ragasová, L and Jurica, M and Kalisz, A and Komorowska, M and Niemiec, M and Sekara, A}, title = {Effects of growth promoting microorganisms on tomato seedlings growing in different media conditions.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {e0259380}, pmid = {34731216}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*physiology ; Culture Media, Conditioned/*chemistry ; Solanum lycopersicum/chemistry/*growth & development/microbiology ; Magnesium/chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Phenol/analysis ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/growth & development/microbiology ; Potassium/chemistry ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) play vital roles in maintaining crop fitness and soil health in stressed environments. Research have included analysis-based cultivation of soil-microbial-plant relationships to clarify microbiota potential. The goal of the research was to (i) evaluate the symbiotic microorganism effects on tomato seedling fitness under stressed conditions simulating a fragile soil susceptible to degradation; (ii) compare the plant-microbial interactions after inoculation with microbial isolates and fungi-bacteria consortia; (iii) develop an effective crop-microbial network, which improves soil and plant status. The experimental design included non-inoculated treatments with peat and sand at ratios of 50:50, 70:30, 100:0 (v:v), inoculated treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Azospirillum brasilense (AZ) using the aforementioned peat:sand ratios; and treatment with peat co-inoculated with AMF and Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis (S). AMF + AZ increased root fresh weight in peat substrate compared to the control (4.4 to 3.3 g plant-1). An increase in shoot fresh weight was detected in the AMF + AZ treatment with a 50:50 peat:sand ratio (10.1 to 8.5 g plant-1). AMF + AZ reduced antioxidant activity (DPPH) (18-34%) in leaves, whereas AMF + S had the highest DPPH in leaves and roots (45%). Total leaf phenolic content was higher in control with a decreased proportion of peat. Peroxidase activity was enhanced in AMF + AZ and AMF + S treatments, except for AMF + AZ in peat. Microscopic root assays revealed the ability of AMF to establish strong fungal-tomato symbiosis; the colonization rate was 78-89%. AMF + AZ accelerated K and Mg accumulation in tomato leaves in treatments reflecting soil stress. To date, there has been no relevant information regarding the successful AMF and Saccharothrix co-inoculation relationship. This study confirmed that AMF + S could increase the P, S, and Fe status of seedlings under high organic C content conditions. The improved tomato growth and nutrient acquisition demonstrated the potential of PGPM colonization under degraded soil conditions.}, } @article {pmid34731078, year = {2021}, author = {Arnold, AE and Harrington, AH and Huang, YL and U'Ren, JM and Massimo, NC and Knight-Connoni, V and Inderbitzin, P}, title = {Coniochaeta elegans sp. nov., Coniochaeta montana sp. nov. and Coniochaeta nivea sp. nov., three new species of endophytes with distinctive morphology and functional traits.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.005003}, pmid = {34731078}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ascomycota/classification/isolation & purification ; Canada ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Endophytes/classification/isolation & purification ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sweden ; United States ; }, abstract = {A growing interest in fungi that occur within symptom-less plants and lichens (endophytes) has uncovered previously uncharacterized species in diverse biomes worldwide. In many temperate and boreal forests, endophytic Coniochaeta (Sacc.) Cooke (Coniochaetaceae, Coniochaetales, Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) are commonly isolated on standard media, but rarely are characterized. We examined 26 isolates of Coniochaeta housed at the Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium. The isolates were collected from healthy photosynthetic tissues of conifers, angiosperms, mosses and lichens in Canada, Sweden and the United States. Their barcode sequences (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer and 5.8S; ITS rDNA) were ≤97% similar to any documented species available through GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses based on two loci (ITS rDNA and translation elongation factor 1-alpha) indicated that two isolates represented Coniochaeta cymbiformispora, broadening the ecological niche and geographic range of a species known previously from burned soil in Japan. The remaining 24 endophytes represented three previously undescribed species that we characterize here: Coniochaeta elegans sp. nov., Coniochaeta montana sp. nov. and Coniochaeta nivea sp. nov. Each has a wide host range, including lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants. C. elegans sp. nov. and C. nivea sp. nov. have wide geographic ranges. C. montana sp. nov. occurs in the Madrean biome of Arizona (USA), where it is sympatric with the other species described here. All three species display protease, chitinase and cellulase activity in vitro. Overall, this study provides insight into the ecological and evolutionary diversity of Coniochaeta and suggests that these strains may be amenable for studies of traits relevant to a horizontally transmitted, symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid34731055, year = {2022}, author = {Ojima, MN and Asao, Y and Nakajima, A and Katoh, T and Kitaoka, M and Gotoh, A and Hirose, J and Urashima, T and Fukiya, S and Yokota, A and Abou Hachem, M and Sakanaka, M and Katayama, T}, title = {Diversification of a Fucosyllactose Transporter within the Genus Bifidobacterium.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {e0143721}, pmid = {34731055}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Bifidobacterium/metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Milk, Human/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are natural bifidogenic prebiotics, were recently commercialized to fortify formula milk. However, HMO assimilation phenotypes of bifidobacteria vary by species and strain, which has not been fully linked to strain genotype. We have recently shown that specialized uptake systems, particularly for the internalization of major HMOs (fucosyllactose [FL]), are associated with the formation of a Bifidobacterium-rich gut microbial community. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FL transporters have diversified into two clades harboring four clusters within the Bifidobacterium genus, but the underpinning functional diversity associated with this divergence remains underexplored. In this study, we examined the HMO consumption phenotypes of two bifidobacterial species, Bifidobacterium catenulatum subsp. kashiwanohense and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, both of which possess FL-binding proteins that belong to phylogenetic clusters with unknown specificities. Growth assays, heterologous gene expression experiments, and HMO consumption analyses showed that the FL transporter type from B. catenulatum subsp. kashiwanohense JCM 15439[T] conferred a novel HMO uptake pattern that includes complex fucosylated HMOs (lacto-N-fucopentaose II and lacto-N-difucohexaose I/II). Further genomic landscape analyses of FL transporter-positive bifidobacterial strains revealed that the H-antigen- or Lewis antigen-specific fucosidase gene(s) and FL transporter specificities were largely aligned. These results suggest that bifidobacteria have acquired FL transporters along with the corresponding gene sets necessary to utilize the imported HMOs. Our results provide insight into the species- and strain-dependent adaptation strategies of bifidobacteria in HMO-rich environments. IMPORTANCE The gut of breastfed infants is generally dominated by health-promoting bifidobacteria. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) from breast milk selectively promote the growth of specific taxa such as bifidobacteria, thus forming an HMO-mediated host-microbe symbiosis. While the coevolution of humans and bifidobacteria has been proposed, the underpinning adaptive strategies employed by bifidobacteria require further research. Here, we analyzed the divergence of the critical fucosyllactose (FL) HMO transporter within Bifidobacterium. We have shown that the diversification of the solute-binding proteins of the FL transporter led to uptake specificities of fucosylated sugars ranging from simple trisaccharides to complex hexasaccharides. This transporter and the congruent acquisition of the necessary intracellular enzymes allow bifidobacteria to consume different types of HMOs in a predictable and strain-dependent manner. These findings explain the adaptation and proliferation of bifidobacteria in the competitive and HMO-rich infant gut environment and enable accurate specificity annotation of transporters from metagenomic data.}, } @article {pmid34730647, year = {2021}, author = {Corrêa, JS and Cecchetto, FR and Fernandes, FL}, title = {[Police reports on the prevention of violence among youths: experiences in Brazil and Scotland].}, journal = {Ciencia & saude coletiva}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {4603-4612}, doi = {10.1590/1413-812320212610.11322021}, pmid = {34730647}, issn = {1678-4561}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Brazil ; Crime ; Humans ; *Police ; Scotland ; *Violence/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {This study analyzes the reports of police officers on violence prevention initiatives in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The theoretical-methodological framework of the social sciences, based on interpretative anthropology, was used to analyze the data. The results reveal the demand for intervention at an increasingly early stage, aiming at young people from outlying urban neighborhoods in both countries. Dysfunctional family environment, social vulnerability and involvement with crime are cited as risk factors. Reports such as these, promote the prospect of negativity and of labeling youth as a "social problem", reuniting formulations that are structured on the basis of the symbiosis between the role of agent of the state and the moral ethos that supports the individual decisions of police officers. The study highlights the complexity of the interventions, and the dispute around the forms of control and the maintenance of order in the two contexts analyzed. It is suggested that future studies investigate how the rationale present in the field of public health has been incorporated into public safety policies and programs. The risks of narratives reinforcing the stigmatization of underprivileged youths in violence prevention initiatives are emphasized.}, } @article {pmid34730183, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, YH and Hou, LL and Wu, XQ and Zhu, ML and Dai, Y and Zhao, YJ}, title = {Mycorrhiza helper bacterium Bacillus pumilus HR10 improves growth and nutritional status of Pinus thunbergii by promoting mycorrhizal proliferation.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {907-918}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpab139}, pmid = {34730183}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Bacillus pumilus ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Basidiomycota ; Cell Proliferation ; Chlorophyll ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutritional Status ; *Pinus ; Seedlings ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) play an important role in mediating mycorrhizal symbiosis, which improves the growth and nutrient uptake of plants. This study examined the growth-promoting effects and mechanisms of pine growth after inoculation with the MHB Bacillus pumilus HR10 and/or Hymenochaete sp. Rl. The effect of B. pumilus HR10 on Hymenochaete sp. Rl growth, enzyme activity and gene expression related to mycorrhiza formation were determined. The growth, root activity, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content and chlorophyll fluorescence activity of Pinus thunbergii and the mycorrhizal colonization intensity of Hymenochaete sp. Rl-inoculated pine seedlings after inoculation with B. pumilus HR10 were also evaluated. The results showed that B. pumilus HR10 promoted growth, regulated the expression of mycorrhizal-related genes and affected the β-1,3-glucanase activity of Hymenochaete sp. Rl. The mycorrhizal colonization intensity of pine seedlings co-inoculated with B. pumilus HR10 and Hymenochaete sp. Rl was 1.58-fold higher than seedlings inoculated with only Hymenochaete sp. Rl. Inoculation with B. pumilus HR10 and/or Hymenochaete sp. Rl increased lateral root number and root activity of pine seedlings and chlorophyll fluorescence activity of pine needles compared with the control. Bacillus pumilus HR10 facilitated nutrient uptake by enhancing the mycorrhizal proliferation of pine and induced greater photosynthesis and root activity of pine seedlings, which confirms its role as an outstanding plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium. These findings improve our understanding of the mechanism of B. pumilus HR10 promotion of mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34728557, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, Q and Nair, S and Ruedl, C}, title = {Microbiota regulates the turnover kinetics of gut macrophages in health and inflammation.}, journal = {Life science alliance}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {34728557}, issn = {2575-1077}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Disease Susceptibility ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Homeostasis ; Immunophenotyping ; Inflammation/etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/*metabolism/pathology ; Macrophages/*immunology/*metabolism ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gut immune system has evolved to co-exist in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with its microflora. Here, using a germ-free fate-mapping mouse model, we provide clear insight into how the enteric commensals determine the kinetics of macrophage turnover. The microbiome density along the gastrointestinal tract defines the persistence of ontogenically diverse macrophages, with the highest numbers of the long-lived F4/80[hi]Tim4[+] macrophage subset in the less densely colonized small intestine. Furthermore, the microbiome contributes to a tightly regulated monocyte-dependent replenishment of both long- and short-lived F4/80[hi] macrophages under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. In the latter situation, the commensals regulate rapid replenishment of the depleted macrophage niche caused by the intestinal inflammation. The microbial ecosystem imprints a favorable cytokine microenvironment in the intestine to support macrophage survival and monocyte-dependent replenishment. Therefore, the host immune system-commensal cross-talk provides an efficient strategy to assure intestinal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid34728194, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, Y and Jiang, L and Gong, S and Diaz-Pulido, G and Yuan, X and Tong, H and Huang, L and Zhou, G and Zhang, Y and Huang, H}, title = {Changes in physiological performance and protein expression in the larvae of the coral Pocillopora damicornis and their symbionts in response to elevated temperature and acidification.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {807}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {151251}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151251}, pmid = {34728194}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Larva ; Proteomics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Climate change causes ocean warming and acidification, which threaten coral reef ecosystems. Ocean warming and acidification cause bleaching and mortality, and decrease calcification in adult corals, leading to changes in the composition of coral communities; however, their interactive effects on coral larvae are not comprehensively understood. To examine the underlying molecular mechanisms of larval responses to elevated temperature and pCO2, we examined the physiological performance and protein expression profiles of Pocillopora damicornis at two temperatures (29 and 33 °C) and pCO2 levels (500 and 1000 μatm) for 5 d. Extensive physiological and proteomic changes were observed in coral larvae. The results indicated a significant decrease in net photosynthesis (PNET) and autotrophic capability (PNET/RD) of larvae exposed to elevated temperature but a marked increase in PNET and PNET/RD of larvae exposed to high pCO2 levels. Elevated temperature significantly reduced endosymbiont densities by 70% and photochemical efficiency, indicating that warming impaired host-symbiont symbiosis. Expression of photosynthesis-related proteins, the photosystem (PS) I reaction center subunits IV and XI as well as oxygen-evolving enhancer 1, was downregulated at higher temperatures in symbionts, whereas expression of the PS I iron‑sulfur center protein was increased under high pCO2 conditions. Furthermore, expression of phosphoribulokinase (involved in the Calvin cycle) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (related to the C4 pathway) was downregulated in symbionts under thermal stress; this finding suggests reduced carbon fixation at high temperatures. The abundance of carbonic anhydrase-associated proteins, which are predicted to exert biochemical roles in dissolved inorganic carbon transport in larvae, was reduced in coral host and symbionts at high temperatures. These results elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the responses of coral larvae exposed to elevated temperature and acidification and suggest an important role of symbionts in the response to warming and acidification.}, } @article {pmid34727151, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, L and Zhang, J and Zhou, M and Chen, Q and Yang, X and Hou, Y and Huang, M and Man, C and Jiang, Y}, title = {Evaluation of the effect of antibiotics on gut microbiota in early life based on culturomics, SMRT sequencing and metagenomics sequencing methods.}, journal = {Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications}, volume = {13}, number = {43}, pages = {5144-5156}, doi = {10.1039/d1ay01106e}, pmid = {34727151}, issn = {1759-9679}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic gut microbiota in early life plays a vital role in human health, and changes in its communication and function are associated with various complex disorders. In this study, we analyzed the gut flora communication of 6 infants at 4 months of age and determined the disturbances related to antibiotic treatment. By the culturomics and Single Molecule Real-time sequencing methods, a total of 6234 strains were divided into 16 genera and 45 species. The alpha diversity of culturable microorganisms in amoxicillin-treated infants was significantly less than that in healthy infants (p <0.05), as indicated by Chao 1, observed species and Faith's PD index. According to metagenomics, the dominant genus and species were Bifidobacterium and B. longum in the healthy group. After treatment with amoxicillin, the dominant genus and species shifted to Enterococcus and E. faecium. Based on the functional annotation of metagenomics, amoxicillin affected the metabolic function of the gut microbiome by activating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and inhibiting amino acid metabolism. Besides, the intake of antibiotics in early life increased the risk of neurodegenerative disease, virus infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance. The Antibiotic Resistance Genes Database annotation result indicated that the abundance of drug-resistance genes in the antibiotic group was higher than that in the healthy group. These genes were associated with resistance to bacitracin, most of which were associated with K. pneumonia. These findings can provide guidance in the clinic on the proper usage of antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid34724941, year = {2021}, author = {Pesante, G and Sabbadin, F and Elias, L and Steele-King, C and Shipway, JR and Dowle, AA and Li, Y and Busse-Wicher, M and Dupree, P and Besser, K and Cragg, SM and Bruce, NC and McQueen-Mason, SJ}, title = {Characterisation of the enzyme transport path between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {233}, pmid = {34724941}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {BB/H531543/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L001926/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Bivalvia ; Phylogeny ; *Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Shipworms are marine xylophagus bivalve molluscs, which can live on a diet solely of wood due to their ability to produce plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. Bacterial carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), synthesised by endosymbionts living in specialised shipworm cells called bacteriocytes and located in the animal's gills, play an important role in wood digestion in shipworms. However, the main site of lignocellulose digestion within these wood-boring molluscs, which contains both endogenous lignocellulolytic enzymes and prokaryotic enzymes, is the caecum, and the mechanism by which bacterial enzymes reach the distant caecum lumen has remained so far mysterious. Here, we provide a characterisation of the path through which bacterial CAZymes produced in the gills of the shipworm Lyrodus pedicellatus reach the distant caecum to contribute to the digestion of wood.

RESULTS: Through a combination of transcriptomics, proteomics, X-ray microtomography, electron microscopy studies and in vitro biochemical characterisation, we show that wood-digesting enzymes produced by symbiotic bacteria are localised not only in the gills, but also in the lumen of the food groove, a stream of mucus secreted by gill cells that carries food particles trapped by filter feeding to the mouth. Bacterial CAZymes are also present in the crystalline style and in the caecum of their shipworm host, suggesting a unique pathway by which enzymes involved in a symbiotic interaction are transported to their site of action. Finally, we characterise in vitro four new bacterial glycosyl hydrolases and a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase identified in our transcriptomic and proteomic analyses as some of the major bacterial enzymes involved in this unusual biological system.

CONCLUSION: Based on our data, we propose that bacteria and their enzymes are transported from the gills along the food groove to the shipworm's mouth and digestive tract, where they aid in wood digestion.}, } @article {pmid34723522, year = {2021}, author = {Schmid, C and Mittermeier-Kleßinger, V and Tabea Peters, VC and Berger, F and Kramler, M and Heuberger, H and Rinder, R and Hofmann, T and Gutjahr, C and Dawid, C}, title = {Quantitative Mapping of Flavor and Pharmacologically Active Compounds in European Licorice Roots (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) in Response to Growth Conditions and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {69}, number = {44}, pages = {13173-13189}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.1c05576}, pmid = {34723522}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {*Glycyrrhiza ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Saponins ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Taste ; }, abstract = {Application of a sensitive UHPLC-MS/MSMRM method enabled the simultaneous quantitation of 23 sweet-, licorice-, and bitter-tasting saponins in Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., different licorice plants and root compartments, processed licorice, as well as different Glycyrrhiza spp. The combination of quantitative data with sweet, licorice, and bitter taste thresholds led to the determination of dose-over-threshold factors to elucidate the sweet, licorice, and bitter impact of the individual saponins with and without mycorrhiza symbiosis to evaluate the licorice root quality. Aside from glycyrrhizin (1), which is the predominant sweet- and licorice-tasting saponin in all licorice samples, 20 out of 22 quantitated saponins contributed to the taste profile of licorice roots. Next to sweet-/licorice-tasting glycyrrhizin (1), 24-hydroxy-glycyrrhizin (9), 30-hydroxy-glycyrrhizin (11), and 11-deoxo-24-hydroxy-glycyrrhizin (14) as well as licorice tasting saponins 20α-galacturonic acid glycyrrhizin (17), 24-hydroxy-20α-glycyrrhizin (21), and 11-deoxo-glycyrrhizin (12) were determined as key contributors to licorice root's unique taste profile. A quantitative comparison of 23 saponins as well as 28 polyphenols between licorice roots inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and controls showed that important taste-mediating saponins were increased in mycorrhizal roots, and these alterations depended on the growth substrate and the level of phosphate fertilization.}, } @article {pmid34721475, year = {2021}, author = {Wielkopolan, B and Jakubowska, M and Obrępalska-Stęplowska, A}, title = {Beetles as Plant Pathogen Vectors.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {748093}, pmid = {34721475}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Herbivorous insects, likewise, other organisms, are exposed to diverse communities of microbes from the surrounding environment. Insects and microorganisms associated with them share a range of relationships, including symbiotic and pathogenic. Insects damage plants by feeding on them and delivering plant pathogens to wounded places, from where pathogens spread over the plant. Thus insects can be considered as both pests and reservoirs or vectors of plant pathogens. Although beetles are not mentioned in the first place as plant pathogen vectors, their transmission of pathogens also takes place and affects the ecosystem. Here we present an overview of beetles as vectors of plant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and Oomycota, which are responsible for developing plant diseases that can have a significant impact on crop yield and quality.}, } @article {pmid34721455, year = {2021}, author = {Abdalla, M and Ahmed, MA}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Symbiosis Enhances Water Status and Soil-Plant Hydraulic Conductance Under Drought.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {722954}, pmid = {34721455}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Recent studies have identified soil drying as a dominant driver of transpiration reduction at the global scale. Although Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) are assumed to play a pivotal role in plant response to soil drying, studies investigating the impact of AMF on plant water status and soil-plant hydraulic conductance are lacking. Thus, the main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of AMF on soil-plant conductance and plant water status of tomato under drought. We hypothesized that AMF limit the drop in matric potential across the rhizosphere, especially in drying soil. The underlying mechanism is that AMF extend the effective root radius and hence reduce the water fluxes at the root-soil interface. The follow-up hypothesis is that AMF enhance soil-plant hydraulic conductance and plant water status during soil drying. To test these hypotheses, we measured the relation between transpiration rate, soil and leaf water potential of tomato with reduced mycorrhiza colonization (RMC) and the corresponding wild type (WT). We inoculated the soil of the WT with Rhizophagus irregularis spores to potentially upsurge symbiosis initiation. During soil drying, leaf water potential of the WT did not drop below -0.8MPa during the first 6days after withholding irrigation, while leaf water potential of RMC dropped below -1MPa already after 4days. Furthermore, AMF enhanced the soil-plant hydraulic conductance of the WT during soil drying. In contrast, soil-plant hydraulic conductance of the RMC declined more abruptly as soil dried. We conclude that AMF maintained the hydraulic continuity between root and soil in drying soils, hereby reducing the drop in matric potential at the root-soil interface and enhancing soil-plant hydraulic conductance of tomato under edaphic stress. Future studies will investigate the role of AMF on soil-plant hydraulic conductance and plant water status among diverse plant species growing in contrasting soil textures.}, } @article {pmid34721372, year = {2021}, author = {Wale, M and Daffonchio, D and Fusi, M and Marasco, R and Garuglieri, E and Diele, K}, title = {The Importance of Larval Stages for Considering Crab Microbiomes as a Paradigm for the Evolution of Terrestrialization.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {770245}, pmid = {34721372}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid34721360, year = {2021}, author = {Nishiyama, K and Yokoi, T and Sugiyama, M and Osawa, R and Mukai, T and Okada, N}, title = {Roles of the Cell Surface Architecture of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium in the Gut Colonization.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {754819}, pmid = {34721360}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {There are numerous bacteria reside within the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Among the intestinal bacteria, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Ruminococcus closely interact with the intestinal mucus layer and are, therefore, known as mucosal bacteria. Mucosal bacteria use host or dietary glycans for colonization via adhesion, allowing access to the carbon source that the host's nutrients provide. Cell wall or membrane proteins, polysaccharides, and extracellular vesicles facilitate these mucosal bacteria-host interactions. Recent studies revealed that the physiological properties of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium significantly change in the presence of co-existing symbiotic bacteria or markedly differ with the spatial distribution in the mucosal niche. These recently discovered strategic colonization processes are important for understanding the survival of bacteria in the gut. In this review, first, we introduce the experimental models used to study host-bacteria interactions, and then, we highlight the latest discoveries on the colonization properties of mucosal bacteria, focusing on the roles of the cell surface architecture regarding Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium.}, } @article {pmid34721080, year = {2021}, author = {Rodrigues, DR and Wilson, KM and Bielke, LR}, title = {Proper Immune Response Depends on Early Exposure to Gut Microbiota in Broiler Chicks.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {758183}, pmid = {34721080}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The successional changes in the early intestinal microbiota occur concomitantly with the development, expansion, and education of the mucosal immune system. Although great attention of researchers has been focused on understanding the linkage between microbiota and immune functions, many essential details of the symbiotic relationship between the intestinal pioneer microbiota and the avian immune system remain to be discovered. This study was conducted to understand the impact of different early life intestinal colonizers on innate and adaptive immune processes in chicks and further identify immune-associated proteins expressed in the intestinal tissue. To accomplish it, we performed an in ovo application of two apathogenic Enterobacteriaceae isolates and lactic acid bacteria (L) to determine their influences on the intestinal proteome profile of broilers at the day of hatch (DOH) and at 10 days old. The results indicated that there were predicted biological functions of L-treated chicks associated with the activation and balanced function of the innate and adaptive immune systems. At the same time, the Enterobacteriaceae-exposed birds presented dysregulated immunological mechanisms or downregulated processes related to immune development. Those findings suggested that a proper immune function was dependent on specific gut microbiota exposure, in which the prenatal probiotic application may have favored the fitting programming of immune functions in chicks.}, } @article {pmid34720785, year = {2021}, author = {Netherer, S and Kandasamy, D and Jirosová, A and Kalinová, B and Schebeck, M and Schlyter, F}, title = {Interactions among Norway spruce, the bark beetle Ips typographus and its fungal symbionts in times of drought.}, journal = {Journal of pest science}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {591-614}, pmid = {34720785}, issn = {1612-4758}, support = {V 631/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Resilience and functionality of European Norway spruce forests are increasingly threatened by mass outbreaks of the bark beetle Ips typographus promoted by heat, wind throw and drought. Here, we review current knowledge on Norway spruce and I. typographus interactions from the perspective of drought-stressed trees, host selection, colonisation behaviour of beetles, with multi-level effects of symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi. By including chemo-ecological, molecular and behavioural perspectives, we provide a comprehensive picture on this complex, multitrophic system in the light of climate change. Trees invest carbon into specialised metabolism to produce defence compounds against biotic invaders; processes that are strongly affected by physiological stress such as drought. Spruce bark contains numerous terpenoid and phenolic substances, which are important for bark beetle aggregation and attack success. Abiotic stressors such as increased temperatures and drought affect composition, amounts and emission rates of volatile compounds. Thus, drought events may influence olfactory responses of I. typographus, and further the pheromone communication enabling mass attack. In addition, I. typographus is associated with numerous ophiostomatoid fungal symbionts with multiple effects on beetle life history. Symbiotic fungi degrade spruce toxins, help to exhaust tree defences, produce beetle semiochemicals, and possibly provide nutrition. As the various fungal associates have different temperature optima, they can influence the performance of I. typographus differently under changing environmental conditions. Finally, we discuss why effects of drought on tree-killing by bark beetles are still poorly understood and provide an outlook on future research on this eruptive species using both, field and laboratory experiments.}, } @article {pmid34718377, year = {2022}, author = {Selosse, MA and Petrolli, R and Mujica, MI and Laurent, L and Perez-Lamarque, B and Figura, T and Bourceret, A and Jacquemyn, H and Li, T and Gao, J and Minasiewicz, J and Martos, F}, title = {The Waiting Room Hypothesis revisited by orchids: were orchid mycorrhizal fungi recruited among root endophytes?.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {129}, number = {3}, pages = {259-270}, pmid = {34718377}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Waiting Rooms ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: As in most land plants, the roots of orchids (Orchidaceae) associate with soil fungi. Recent studies have highlighted the diversity of the fungal partners involved, mostly within Basidiomycotas. The association with a polyphyletic group of fungi collectively called rhizoctonias (Ceratobasidiaceae, Tulasnellaceae and Serendipitaceae) is the most frequent. Yet, several orchid species target other fungal taxa that differ from rhizoctonias by their phylogenetic position and/or ecological traits related to their nutrition out of the orchid roots (e.g. soil saprobic or ectomycorrhizal fungi). We offer an evolutionary framework for these symbiotic associations.

SCOPE: Our view is based on the 'Waiting Room Hypothesis', an evolutionary scenario stating that mycorrhizal fungi of land flora were recruited from ancestors that initially colonized roots as endophytes. Endophytes biotrophically colonize tissues in a diffuse way, contrasting with mycorrhizae by the absence of morphological differentiation and of contribution to the plant's nutrition. The association with rhizoctonias is probably the ancestral symbiosis that persists in most extant orchids, while during orchid evolution numerous secondary transitions occurred to other fungal taxa. We suggest that both the rhizoctonia partners and the secondarily acquired ones are from fungal taxa that have broad endophytic ability, as exemplified in non-orchid roots. We review evidence that endophytism in non-orchid plants is the current ecology of many rhizoctonias, which suggests that their ancestors may have been endophytic in orchid ancestors. This also applies to the non-rhizoctonia fungi that were secondarily recruited by several orchid lineages as mycorrhizal partners. Indeed, from our review of the published literature, they are often detected, probably as endophytes, in extant rhizoctonia-associated orchids.

CONCLUSION: The orchid family offers one of the best documented examples of the 'Waiting Room Hypothesis': their mycorrhizal symbioses support the idea that extant mycorrhizal fungi have been recruited among endophytic fungi that colonized orchid ancestors.}, } @article {pmid34717991, year = {2022}, author = {Ordoñez-Arévalo, B and Huerta-Lwanga, E and Calixto-Romo, MLÁ and Dunn, MF and Guillén-Navarro, K}, title = {Hemicellulolytic bacteria in the anterior intestine of the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Sav.).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {151221}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151221}, pmid = {34717991}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Humans ; Intestines ; *Oligochaeta ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Tropical agriculture produces large amounts of lignocellulosic residues that can potentially be used as a natural source of value-added products. The complexity of lignocellulose makes industrial-scale processing difficult. New processing techniques must be developed to improve the yield and avoid this valuable resource going to waste. Hemicelluloses comprise a variety of polysaccharides with different backbone compositions and decorations (such as methylations and acetylations), and form part of an intricate framework that confers structural stability to the plant cell wall. Organisms that are able to degrade these biopolymers include earthworms (Eisenia fetida), which can rapidly decompose a wide variety of lignocellulosic substrates. This ability probably derives from enzymes and symbiotic microorganisms in the earthworm gut. In this work, two substrates with similar C/N ratios but different hemicellulose content were selected. Palm fibre and coffee husk have relatively high (28%) and low (5%) hemicellulose contents, respectively. A vermicomposting mixture was prepared for the earthworms to feed on by mixing a hemicellulose substrate with organic market waste. Xylanase activity was determined in earthworm gut and used as a selection criterion for the isolation of hemicellulose-degrading bacteria. Xylanase activity was similar for both substrates, even though their physicochemical properties principally pH and electrical conductivity, as shown by the MANOVA analysis) were different for the total duration of the experiment (120 days). Xylanolytic strains isolated from earthworm gut were identified by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. Our results indicate that the four Actinobacteria, two Proteobacteria, and one Firmicutes isolated are active participants of the xylanolytic degradation by microbiota in the intestine of E. fetida. Most bacteria were more active at pH 7 and 28 °C, and those with higher activities are reported as being facultatively anaerobic, coinciding with the microenvironment reported for the earthworm gut. Each strain had a different degradative capacity.}, } @article {pmid34717990, year = {2022}, author = {Rodríguez-Berbel, N and Soria, R and Ortega, R and Lucas-Borja, ME and Miralles, I}, title = {Benefits of applying organic amendments from recycled wastes for fungal community growth in restored soils of a limestone quarry in a semiarid environment.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {151226}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151226}, pmid = {34717990}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Calcium Carbonate ; Mining ; *Mycobiome ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {Applying organic amendments to recover physical, chemical, and biological qualities of soil may enable recovery of soils degraded by mining in semiarid climates. This study's aim was to investigate the development and changes in the composition of fungal communities in restored soils with five different types of organic amendments (two types of vegetable compost and sewage sludge compost, and a mixture of both) compared with unamended soils and surrounding natural soils and to examine the relationships between the fungal taxa, the new physico-chemical and biological soil properties of technosoils after 18 months of restoration, and natural soils. Restoration improved soil quality and fungal diversity, placing these soils in an intermediate position between unrestored soils (with no fungi present) and undisturbed reference soils, which were the most fungal diverse. Sewage-treated soils and their mixtures showed high nitrogen and carbohydrate content as well as high basal respiration and fatty acid content, suggesting that they provided readily biodegradable organic matter. In contrast, greenhouse compost-treated soils showed high total organic carbon and polyphenol content, whereas garden compost-treated soils showed intermediate values. The biological soil properties of both composts showed were similar to those of the reference soils, suggesting that composts contained more resilient organic matter. Organic amendments of dissimilar origin caused significantly different fungal soil communities at the genus level among the restored soils. Results indicated that soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen content, soil basal respiration, fungi/bacteria-PLFA ratio, and dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activities, together with Pearson's correlations, revealed that these properties and nutrient content (total organic carbon, C/N ratio, carbohydrates, and polyphenols) influenced 40 soil fungal taxa. Therefore, the organic amendments led to changes in soil properties that favoured plant cover by promoting the soil fungal community growth beneficial to the carbon cycle and symbiotic with plants.}, } @article {pmid34716959, year = {2022}, author = {Alderdice, R and Pernice, M and Cárdenas, A and Hughes, DJ and Harrison, PL and Boulotte, N and Chartrand, K and Kühl, M and Suggett, DJ and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Hypoxia as a physiological cue and pathological stress for coral larvae.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {571-587}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16259}, pmid = {34716959}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Cues ; Hypoxia/genetics ; Larva/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ocean deoxygenation events are intensifying worldwide and can rapidly drive adult corals into a state of metabolic crisis and bleaching-induced mortality, but whether coral larvae are subject to similar stress remains untested. We experimentally exposed apo-symbiotic coral larvae of Acropora selago to deoxygenation stress with subsequent reoxygenation aligned to their night-day light cycle, and followed their gene expression using RNA-Seq. After 12 h of deoxygenation stress (~2 mg O2 /L), coral planulae demonstrated a low expression of HIF-targeted hypoxia response genes concomitant with a significantly high expression of PHD2 (a promoter of HIFα proteasomal degradation), similar to corresponding adult corals. Despite exhibiting a consistent swimming phenotype compared to control samples, the differential gene expression observed in planulae exposed to deoxygenation-reoxygenation suggests a disruption of pathways involved in developmental regulation, mitochondrial activity, lipid metabolism, and O2 -sensitive epigenetic regulators. Importantly, we found that treated larvae exhibited a disruption in the expression of conserved HIF-targeted developmental regulators, for example, Homeobox (HOX) genes, corroborating how changes in external oxygen levels can affect animal development. We discuss how the observed deoxygenation responses may be indicative of a possible acclimation response or alternatively may imply negative latent impacts for coral larval fitness.}, } @article {pmid34716345, year = {2021}, author = {Einarsson, R and Sanz-Cobena, A and Aguilera, E and Billen, G and Garnier, J and van Grinsven, HJM and Lassaletta, L}, title = {Crop production and nitrogen use in European cropland and grassland 1961-2019.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {288}, pmid = {34716345}, issn = {2052-4463}, mesh = {*Crop Production ; Europe ; *Fertilizers ; *Grassland ; *Nitrogen/analysis ; }, abstract = {This paper presents EuropeAgriDB v1.0, a dataset of crop production and nitrogen (N) flows in European cropland 1961-2019. The dataset covers 26 present-day countries, detailing the cropland N harvests in 17 crop categories as well as cropland N inputs in synthetic fertilizers, manure, symbiotic fixation, and atmospheric deposition. The study builds on established methods but goes beyond previous research by combining data from FAOSTAT, Eurostat, and a range of national data sources. The result is a detailed, complete, and consistent dataset, intended as a basis for further analyses of past and present agricultural production patterns, as well as construction of scenarios for the future.}, } @article {pmid34716271, year = {2021}, author = {Gysel, K and Laursen, M and Thygesen, MB and Lironi, D and Bozsóki, Z and Hjuler, CT and Maolanon, NN and Cheng, J and Bjørk, PK and Vinther, M and Madsen, LH and Rübsam, H and Muszyński, A and Ghodrati, A and Azadi, P and Sullivan, JT and Ronson, CW and Jensen, KJ and Blaise, M and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J and Andersen, KR}, title = {Kinetic proofreading of lipochitooligosaccharides determines signal activation of symbiotic plant receptors.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {44}, pages = {}, pmid = {34716271}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Kinetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plants/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants and animals use cell surface receptors to sense and interpret environmental signals. In legume symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the specific recognition of bacterial lipochitooligosaccharide (LCO) signals by single-pass transmembrane receptor kinases determines compatibility. Here, we determine the structural basis for LCO perception from the crystal structures of two lysin motif receptor ectodomains and identify a hydrophobic patch in the binding site essential for LCO recognition and symbiotic function. We show that the receptor monitors the composition of the amphiphilic LCO molecules and uses kinetic proofreading to control receptor activation and signaling specificity. We demonstrate engineering of the LCO binding site to fine-tune ligand selectivity and correct binding kinetics required for activation of symbiotic signaling in plants. Finally, the hydrophobic patch is found to be a conserved structural signature in this class of LCO receptors across legumes that can be used for in silico predictions. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of cell-surface receptor activation by kinetic proofreading of ligands and highlight the potential in receptor engineering to capture benefits in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34715015, year = {2021}, author = {Caiafa, MV and Jusino, MA and Wilkie, AC and Díaz, IA and Sieving, KE and Smith, ME}, title = {Discovering the role of Patagonian birds in the dispersal of truffles and other mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {24}, pages = {5558-5570.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.024}, pmid = {34715015}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Birds ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Fungi/genetics ; Mammals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants/microbiology ; *Seed Dispersal ; }, abstract = {Dispersal is a key process that impacts population dynamics and structures biotic communities. Dispersal limitation influences the assembly of plant and microbial communities, including mycorrhizal fungi and their plant hosts. Mycorrhizal fungi play key ecological roles in forests by feeding nutrients to plants in exchange for sugars, so the dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi spores actively shapes plant communities. Although many fungi rely on wind for spore dispersal, some fungi have lost the ability to shoot their spores into the air and instead produce enclosed belowground fruiting bodies (truffles) that rely on animals for dispersal. The role of mammals in fungal spore dispersal is well documented, but the relevance of birds as dispersal agents of fungi has been understudied, despite the prominence of birds as seed dispersal vectors. Here, we use metagenomics and epifluorescence microscopy to demonstrate that two common, widespread, and endemic Patagonian birds, chucao tapaculos (Scelorchilus rubecula) and black-throated huet-huets (Pteroptochos tarnii), regularly consume mycorrhizal fungi and disperse viable spores via mycophagy. Our metagenomic analysis indicates that these birds routinely consume diverse mycorrhizal fungi, including many truffles, that are symbiotically associated with Nothofagaceae trees that dominate Patagonian forests. Epifluorescence microscopy of fecal samples confirmed that the birds dispersed copious viable spores from truffles and other mycorrhizal fungi. We show that fungi are a common food for both bird species and that this animal-fungi symbiosis is widespread and ecologically important in Patagonia. Our findings indicate that birds may also act as cryptic but critical fungal dispersal agents in other ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34714534, year = {2021}, author = {Ramesh, C and Bessho-Uehara, M}, title = {Acquisition of bioluminescent trait by non-luminous organisms from luminous organisms through various origins.}, journal = {Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology}, volume = {20}, number = {11}, pages = {1547-1562}, pmid = {34714534}, issn = {1474-9092}, mesh = {Animals ; Fishes ; Luciferases ; *Luciferins ; *Luminescence ; Luminescent Measurements ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Bioluminescence is a natural light emitting phenomenon that occurs due to a chemical reaction between luciferin and luciferase. It is primarily an innate and inherited trait in most terrestrial luminous organisms. However, most luminous organisms produce light in the ocean by acquiring luminous symbionts, luciferin (substrate), and/or luciferase (enzyme) through various transmission pathways. For instance, coelenterazine, a well-known luciferin, is obtained by cnidarians, crustaceans, and deep-sea fish through multi-level dietary linkages from coelenterazine producers such as ctenophores, decapods, and copepods. In contrast, some non-luminous Vibrio bacteria became bioluminescent by obtaining lux genes from luminous Vibrio species by horizontal gene transfer. Various examples detailed in this review show how non-luminescent organisms became luminescent by acquiring symbionts, dietary luciferins and luciferases, and genes. This review highlights three modes (symbiosis, ingestion, and horizontal gene transfer) that allow organisms lacking genes for autonomous bioluminescent systems to obtain the ability to produce light. In addition to bioluminescence, this manuscript discusses the acquisition of other traits such as pigments, fluorescence, toxins, and others, to infer the potential processes of acquisition.}, } @article {pmid34713922, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, X and Chen, J and Liao, D and Ye, H and Li, C and Luo, Z and Yan, A and Zhao, Q and Xie, K and Li, Y and Wang, D and Chen, J and Chen, A and Xu, G}, title = {Auxin-mediated regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: A role of SlGH3.4 in tomato.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {955-968}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14210}, pmid = {34713922}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; *Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants can establish symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to increase fitness to environmental challenges. The development of AM symbiosis is controlled by intricate procedures involving all phytohormones. However, the mechanisms underlying the auxin-mediated regulation of AM symbiosis remains largely unknown. Here, we report that AM colonisation promotes auxin response and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) accumulation, but downregulates IAA biosynthesis genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). External IAA application modulates the AM symbiosis by promoting arbuscule formation at low concentrations but repressing it at high concentrations. An AM-induced GH3 gene, SlGH3.4, encoding a putative IAA-amido synthetase, negatively regulates mycorrhization via maintaining cellular auxin homoeostasis. Loss of SlGH3.4 function increased free IAA content and arbuscule incidence, while constitutively overexpressing SlGH3.4 in either tomato or rice resulted in decreased IAA content, total colonisation level and arbuscule abundance in mycorrhizal roots. Several auxin-inducible expansin genes involved in AM formation or resistance to pathogen infection were upregulated in slgh3.4 mycorrhizal roots but downregulated in the SlGH3.4-overexpressing plants. Taken together, our results highlight a positive correlation between the endogenous IAA content and mycorrhization level, particularly arbuscule incidence, and suggest that the SlGH3.4-mediated auxin homoeostasis and regulation of expansin genes is involved in finely tuning the AM development.}, } @article {pmid34712115, year = {2021}, author = {Deidda, G and Biazzo, M}, title = {Gut and Brain: Investigating Physiological and Pathological Interactions Between Microbiota and Brain to Gain New Therapeutic Avenues for Brain Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {753915}, pmid = {34712115}, issn = {1662-4548}, abstract = {Brain physiological functions or pathological dysfunctions do surely depend on the activity of both neuronal and non-neuronal populations. Nevertheless, over the last decades, compelling and fast accumulating evidence showed that the brain is not alone. Indeed, the so-called "gut brain," composed of the microbial populations living in the gut, forms a symbiotic superorganism weighing as the human brain and strongly communicating with the latter via the gut-brain axis. The gut brain does exert a control on brain (dys)functions and it will eventually become a promising valuable therapeutic target for a number of brain pathologies. In the present review, we will first describe the role of gut microbiota in normal brain physiology from neurodevelopment till adulthood, and thereafter we will discuss evidence from the literature showing how gut microbiota alterations are a signature in a number of brain pathologies ranging from neurodevelopmental to neurodegenerative disorders, and how pre/probiotic supplement interventions aimed to correct the altered dysbiosis in pathological conditions may represent a valuable future therapeutic strategy.}, } @article {pmid34711880, year = {2021}, author = {Mullins, A and Chouvenc, T and Su, NY}, title = {Soil organic matter is essential for colony growth in subterranean termites.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {21252}, pmid = {34711880}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Intrinsic dinitrogen (N2) fixation by diazotrophic bacteria in termite hindguts has been considered an important pathway for nitrogen acquisition in termites. However, studies that supported this claim focused on measuring instant N2 fixation rates and failed to address their relationship with termite colony growth and reproduction over time. We here argue that not all wood-feeding termites rely on symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria for colony growth. The present study looks at dietary nitrogen acquisition in a subterranean termite (Rhinotermitidae, Coptotermes). Young termite colonies reared with wood and nitrogen-rich organic soil developed faster, compared to those reared on wood and inorganic sand. More critically, further colony development was arrested if access to organic soil was removed. In addition, no difference of relative nitrogenase expression rates was found when comparing the hindguts of termites reared between the two conditions. We therefore propose that subterranean termite (Rhinotermitidae) colony growth is no longer restricted to metabolically expensive intrinsic N2 fixation, as the relationship between diazotrophic bacteria and subterranean termites may primarily be trophic rather than symbiotic. Such reliance of Rhinotermitidae on soil microbial decomposition activity for optimal colony growth may also have had a critical mechanistic role in the initial emergence of Termitidae.}, } @article {pmid34709792, year = {2021}, author = {Golisch, B and Lei, Z and Tamura, K and Brumer, H}, title = {Configured for the Human Gut Microbiota: Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary β-Glucan Utilization.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {2087-2102}, doi = {10.1021/acschembio.1c00563}, pmid = {34709792}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {MOP-142472//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; beta-Glucans/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The β-glucans are a disparate group of structurally diverse polysaccharides, whose members are widespread in human diets as components of the cell walls of plants, algae, and fungi (including yeasts), and as bacterial exopolysaccharides. Individual β-glucans from these sources have long been associated with positive effects on human health through metabolic and immunological effects. Remarkably, the β-configured glucosidic linkages that define these polysaccharides render them inaccessible to the limited repertoire of digestive enzymes encoded by the human genome. As a result, the various β-glucans become fodder for the human gut microbiota (HGM) in the lower gastrointestinal tract, where they influence community composition and metabolic output, including fermentation to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Only recently, however, have the specific molecular systems that enable the utilization of β-glucans by select members of the HGM been fully elucidated by combined genetic, biochemical, and structural biological approaches. In the context of β-glucan structures and their effects on human nutrition and health, we summarize here the functional characterization of individual polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) responsible for the saccharification of mixed-linkage β(1→3)/β(1→4)-glucans, β(1→6)-glucans, β(1→3)-glucans, β(1→2)-glucans, and xyloglucans in symbiotic human gut bacteria. These exemplar PULs serve as well-defined biomarkers for the prediction of β-glucan metabolic capability in individual bacterial taxa and across the global human population.}, } @article {pmid34709650, year = {2022}, author = {Williams, LH and Anstett, A and Bach Muñoz, V and Chisholm, J and Fallows, C and Green, JR and Higuera Rivas, JE and Skomal, G and Winton, M and Hammerschlag, N}, title = {Sharks as exfoliators: widespread chafing between marine organisms suggests an unexplored ecological role.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {103}, number = {1}, pages = {e03570}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3570}, pmid = {34709650}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; *Sharks ; }, } @article {pmid34708614, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, L and Wang, G and Ma, F and You, Y}, title = {[Symbiosis between hyperaccumulators and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their synergistic effect on the absorption and accumulation of heavy metals: a review].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {10}, pages = {3604-3621}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.210305}, pmid = {34708614}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Metals, Heavy ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The remediation of heavy-metal (HM) contaminated soil using hyperaccumulators is one of the important solutions to address the inorganic contamination widely occurred worldwide. Hyperaccumulators are able to hyperaccumulate HMs, but their planting, growth, and extraction capacities are greatly affected by HM stress. The application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhances the function of hyperaccumulators by combining the functional advantages of both, improving the efficiency of remediation, shortening the remediation cycle, and maintaining the stability and persistence of the remediation. Thus, the combined use of AMF with hyperaccumulators has broad prospects for application in the management of increasingly complex and severe HM pollution. This review starts by defining the concept of hyperaccumulators, followed by describing the typical hyperaccumulators that were firstly reported in China as well as those known to form symbioses with AMF. This review provides a systematic and in-depth discussion of the effects of AMF on the growth of hyperaccumulators, as well as the absorption and accumulation of HMs, the effects and mechanism on the hyperaccumulator plus AMF symbiosis to absorb and accumulate HMs. AMF enhances the function of hyperaccumulators on the absorption and accumulation of HMs by regulating the physicochemical and biological conditions in the plant rhizosphere, the situation of elements homeostasis, the physiological metabolism and gene expression. Moreover, the symbiotic systems established by hyperaccumulators plus AMF have the potential to combine their abilities to remediate HMs-contaminated habitat. Finally, challenges for the combined use of remediation technologies for hyperaccumulator plus AMF symbiosis and future directions were prospected.}, } @article {pmid34708512, year = {2022}, author = {Chen, YH and Chen, HJ and Yang, CY and Shiu, JH and Hoh, DZ and Chiang, PW and Chow, WS and Chen, CA and Shih, TH and Lin, SH and Yang, CM and Reimer, JD and Hirose, E and Iskandar, BH and Huang, H and Schupp, PJ and Tan, CHJ and Yamashiro, H and Liao, MH and Tang, SL}, title = {Prevalence, complete genome, and metabolic potentials of a phylogenetically novel cyanobacterial symbiont in the coral-killing sponge, Terpios hoshinota.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {1308-1325}, pmid = {34708512}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Porifera/genetics ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Terpios hoshinota is an aggressive, space-competing sponge that kills various stony corals. Outbreaks of this species have led to intense damage to coral reefs in many locations. Here, the first large-scale 16S rRNA gene survey across three oceans revealed that bacteria related to the taxa Prochloron, Endozoicomonas, SAR116, Ruegeria, and unclassified Proteobacteria were prevalent in T. hoshinota. A Prochloron-related bacterium was the most dominant and prevalent cyanobacterium in T. hoshinota. The complete genome of this uncultivated cyanobacterium and pigment analysis demonstrated that it has phycobiliproteins and lacks chlorophyll b, which is inconsistent with the definition of Prochloron. Furthermore, the cyanobacterium was phylogenetically distinct from Prochloron, strongly suggesting that it should be a sister taxon to Prochloron. Therefore, we proposed this symbiotic cyanobacterium as a novel species under the new genus Candidatus Paraprochloron terpiosi. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that 'Paraprochloron' and Prochloron exhibit distinct genomic features and DNA replication machinery. We also characterized the metabolic potentials of 'Paraprochloron terpiosi' in carbon and nitrogen cycling and propose a model for interactions between it and T. hoshinota. This study builds a foundation for the study of the T. hoshinota microbiome and paves the way for better understanding of ecosystems involving this coral-killing sponge.}, } @article {pmid34707830, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, S and Su, H and Jiang, W and Hu, D and Ali, I and Jin, T and Yang, Y and Ma, X}, title = {Symbiotic microbial studies in diverse populations of Aphis gossypii, existing on altered host plants in different localities during different times.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {20}, pages = {13948-13960}, pmid = {34707830}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Complex interactions between symbiotic bacteria and insects ultimately result in equilibrium in all aspects of life in natural insect populations. In this study, abundance of principal symbiotic bacteria was estimated using qPCR in 1553 individuals of aphids, Aphis gossypii. Aphids were sampled from primary and secondary host plants-hibiscus and cotton. Hibiscus aphids were collected from 24 different locations in April, September, and November, whereas cotton aphids were collected between 2015 and 2017 from areas with wide variations in climatic conditions. About 30%-45% aphids were recorded with the most dominant symbiont, Arsenophonus. The other symbionts were in low frequency, and about 7% of aphids were noted with Hamiltonella, Acinetobacter, and Microbacterium, and 3% of aphids were verified with Serratia and Pseudomonas. Aphids infected with Hamiltonella, Arsenophonus, and Serratia can influence Buchnera densities. Hamiltonella has positive interaction with densities of Arsenophonus and Serratia. Almost 100% coinfection of Hamiltonella and Arsenophonus was detected in Xinxiang aphids and 50% coinfection was reported in aphids from North China, while no coinfection was detected in Hainan aphids. These findings describe the prevalence pattern and richness of core community of symbiotic bacteria in naturally occurring populations of A. gossypii and provide new insights for the study of symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34707182, year = {2021}, author = {Ruocco, N and Esposito, R and Zagami, G and Bertolino, M and De Matteo, S and Sonnessa, M and Andreani, F and Crispi, S and Zupo, V and Costantini, M}, title = {Microbial diversity in Mediterranean sponges as revealed by metataxonomic analysis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {21151}, pmid = {34707182}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/pathogenicity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Microbiota ; Porifera/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although the Mediterranean Sea covers approximately a 0.7% of the world's ocean area, it represents a major reservoir of marine and coastal biodiversity. Among marine organisms, sponges (Porifera) are a key component of the deep-sea benthos, widely recognized as the dominant taxon in terms of species richness, spatial coverage, and biomass. Sponges are evolutionarily ancient, sessile filter-feeders that harbor a largely diverse microbial community within their internal mesohyl matrix. In the present work, we firstly aimed at exploring the biodiversity of marine sponges from four different areas of the Mediterranean: Faro Lake in Sicily and "Porto Paone", "Secca delle fumose", "Punta San Pancrazio" in the Gulf of Naples. Eight sponge species were collected from these sites and identified by morphological analysis and amplification of several conserved molecular markers (18S and 28S RNA ribosomal genes, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and internal transcribed spacer). In order to analyze the bacterial diversity of symbiotic communities among these different sampling sites, we also performed a metataxonomic analysis through an Illumina MiSeq platform, identifying more than 1500 bacterial taxa. Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) analysis revealed a great variability of the host-specific microbial communities. Our data highlight the occurrence of dominant and locally enriched microbes in the Mediterranean, together with the biotechnological potential of these sponges and their associated bacteria as sources of bioactive natural compounds.}, } @article {pmid34707162, year = {2021}, author = {Rivera, HE and Davies, SW}, title = {Symbiosis maintenance in the facultative coral, Oculina arbuscula, relies on nitrogen cycling, cell cycle modulation, and immunity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {21226}, pmid = {34707162}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ambystoma/immunology/*metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Chlorophyta/*metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with unicellular algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae is common across tropical marine invertebrates. Reef-building corals offer a clear example of cellular dysfunction leading to a dysbiosis that disrupts entire ecosystems in a process termed coral bleaching. Due to their obligate symbiotic relationship, understanding the molecular underpinnings that sustain this symbiosis in tropical reef-building corals is challenging, as any aposymbiotic state is inherently coupled with severe physiological stress. Here, we leverage the subtropical, facultatively symbiotic and calcifying coral Oculina arbuscula to investigate gene expression differences between aposymbiotic and symbiotic branches within the same colonies under baseline conditions. We further compare gene ontology (GO) and KOG enrichment in gene expression patterns from O. arbuscula with prior work in the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida (Aiptasia) and the salamander Ambystoma maculatum-both of which exhibit endophotosymbiosis with unicellular algae. We identify nitrogen cycling, cell cycle control, and immune responses as key pathways involved in the maintenance of symbiosis under baseline conditions. Understanding the mechanisms that sustain a healthy symbiosis between corals and Symbiodiniaceae algae is of urgent importance given the vulnerability of these partnerships to changing environmental conditions and their role in the continued functioning of critical and highly diverse marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34705275, year = {2022}, author = {Dreyer, N and Tsai, PC and Olesen, J and Kolbasov, GA and Høeg, JT and Chan, BKK}, title = {Independent and adaptive evolution of phenotypic novelties driven by coral symbiosis in barnacle larvae.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {76}, number = {1}, pages = {139-157}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14380}, pmid = {34705275}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Larva ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Thoracica/genetics ; }, abstract = {The invasion of novel habitats is recognized as a major promotor of adaptive trait evolution in animals. We tested whether similar ecological niches entail independent and adaptive evolution of key phenotypic structures related to larval host invasion in distantly related taxa. We use disparately related clades of coral barnacles as our model system (Acrothoracica: Berndtia and Thoracicalcarea: Pyrgomatidae). We analyze the larval antennular phenotypes and functional morphologies facilitating host invasion. Extensive video recordings show that coral host invasion is carried out exclusively by cypris larvae with spear-shaped antennules. These first exercise a series of complex probing behaviors followed by repeated antennular penetration of the soft host tissues, which subsequently facilitates permanent invasion. Phylogenetic mapping of larval form and function related to niche invasion in 99 species of barnacles (Thecostraca) compellingly shows that the spear phenotype is uniquely associated with corals and penetrative behaviors. These features evolved independently in the two coral barnacle clades and from ancestors with fundamentally different antennular phenotypes. The larval host invasion system in coral barnacles likely evolved adaptively across millions of years for overcoming challenges associated with invading and entering demanding coral hosts.}, } @article {pmid34704828, year = {2021}, author = {Jensen, M and Wippler, J and Kleiner, M}, title = {Evaluation of RNAlater as a Field-Compatible Preservation Method for Metaproteomic Analyses of Bacterium-Animal Symbioses.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e0142921}, pmid = {34704828}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Preservation, Biological/*methods ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Field studies are central to environmental microbiology and microbial ecology, because they enable studies of natural microbial communities. Metaproteomics, the study of protein abundances in microbial communities, allows investigators to study these communities "in situ," which requires protein preservation directly in the field because protein abundance patterns can change rapidly after sampling. Ideally, a protein preservative for field deployment works rapidly and preserves the whole proteome, is stable in long-term storage, is nonhazardous and easy to transport, and is available at low cost. Although these requirements might be met by several protein preservatives, an assessment of their suitability under field conditions when targeted for metaproteomic analyses is currently lacking. Here, we compared the protein preservation performance of flash freezing and the preservation solution RNAlater using the marine gutless oligochaete Olavius algarvensis and its symbiotic microbes as a test case. In addition, we evaluated long-term RNAlater storage after 1 day, 1 week, and 4 weeks at room temperature (22°C to 23°C). We evaluated protein preservation using one-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We found that RNAlater and flash freezing preserved proteins equally well in terms of total numbers of identified proteins and relative abundances of individual proteins, and none of the test time points was altered, compared to time zero. Moreover, we did not find biases against specific taxonomic groups or proteins with particular biochemical properties. Based on our metaproteomic data and the logistical requirements for field deployment, we recommend RNAlater for protein preservation of field-collected samples targeted for metaproteomic analyses. IMPORTANCE Metaproteomics, the large-scale identification and quantification of proteins from microbial communities, provide direct insights into the phenotypes of microorganisms on the molecular level. To ensure the integrity of the metaproteomic data, samples need to be preserved immediately after sampling to avoid changes in protein abundance patterns. In laboratory setups, samples for proteomic analyses are most commonly preserved by flash freezing; however, liquid nitrogen or dry ice is often unavailable at remote field locations, due to their hazardous nature and transport restrictions. Our study shows that RNAlater can serve as a low-hazard, easy-to-transport alternative to flash freezing for field preservation of samples for metaproteomic analyses. We show that RNAlater preserves the metaproteome equally well, compared to flash freezing, and protein abundance patterns remain stable during long-term storage for at least 4 weeks at room temperature.}, } @article {pmid34704501, year = {2021}, author = {Melekoglu, E and Samur, FG}, title = {Dietary strategies for gut-derived protein-bound uremic toxins and cardio-metabolic risk factors in chronic kidney disease: A focus on dietary fibers.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-15}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2021.1996331}, pmid = {34704501}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with altered composition and function of gut microbiota. The cause of gut dysbiosis in CKD is multifactorial and encompasses the following: uremic state, metabolic acidosis, slow colonic transit, dietary restrictions of plant-based fiber-rich foods, and pharmacological therapies. Dietary restriction of potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, which are common sources of fermentable dietary fibers, inhibits the conversion of dietary fibers to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which are the primary nutrient source for the symbiotic gut microbiota. Reduced consumption of fermentable dietary fibers limits the population of SCFA-forming bacteria and causes dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Gut dysbiosis induces colonic fermentation of protein and formation of gut-derived uremic toxins. In this review, we discuss the roles and benefits of dietary fiber on gut-derived protein-bound uremic toxins and plant-based dietary patterns that could be recommended to decrease uremic toxin formation in CKD patients. Recent studies have indicated that dietary fiber supplementation may be useful to decrease gut-derived uremic toxin formation and slow CKD progression. However, research on associations between adherence of healthy dietary patterns and gut-derived uremic toxins formation in patients with CKD is lacking.}, } @article {pmid34703504, year = {2021}, author = {Carlos-Shanley, C and Guerra, T and Hahn, D}, title = {Draft genomes of non-nitrogen-fixing Frankia strains.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {68-75}, pmid = {34703504}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {In this study, we describe the genomes of two novel candidate species of non-nitrogen fixing Frankia that were isolated from the root nodules of Coriaria nepalensis and Alnus glutinosa, genospecies CN and Ag, respectively. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that both genospecies lack genes essential for nitrogen-fixation and possess genes involved in the degradation of plant cell walls. Additionally, we found distinct biosynthetic gene clusters in each genospecies. The availability of these genomes will contribute to the study of the taxonomy and evolution of actinorhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34700374, year = {2021}, author = {Li, ML and Jiao, J and Zhang, B and Shi, WT and Yu, WH and Tian, CF}, title = {Global Transcriptional Repression of Diguanylate Cyclases by MucR1 Is Essential for Sinorhizobium-Soybean Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0119221}, pmid = {34700374}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/biosynthesis/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases/biosynthesis/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The ubiquitous bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP is intensively studied in pathogens but less so in mutualistic bacteria. Here, we report a genome-wide investigation of functional diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) synthesizing c-di-GMP from two molecules of GTP in Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436, a facultative microsymbiont fixing nitrogen in nodules of diverse legumes, including soybean. Among 25 proteins harboring a putative GGDEF domain catalyzing the biosynthesis of c-di-GMP, eight functional DGCs were identified by heterogenous expression in Escherichia coli in a Congo red binding assay. This screening result was further verified by in vitro enzymatic assay with purified full proteins or the GGDEF domains from representative functional and nonfunctional DGCs. In the same in vitro assay, a functional EAL domain catalyzing the degradation of c-di-GMP into pGpG was identified in a protein that has an inactive GGDEF domain but with an active phosphodiesterase (PDE) function. The identified functional DGCs generally exhibited low transcription levels in soybean nodules compared to free-living cultures, as revealed in transcriptomes. An engineered upregulation of a functional DGC in nodules led to a significant increase of c-di-GMP level and symbiotic defects, which were not observed when a functional EAL domain was upregulated at the same level. Further transcriptional analysis and gel shift assay demonstrated that these functional DGCs were all transcriptionally repressed in nodules by a global pleiotropic regulator, MucR1, that is essential in Sinorhizobium-soybean symbiosis. These findings shed novel insights onto the systematic regulation of c-di-GMP biosynthesis in mutualistic symbiosis. IMPORTANCE The ubiquitous second messenger c-di-GMP is well-known for its role in biofilm formation and host adaptation of pathogens, whereas it is less investigated in mutualistic symbioses. Here, we reveal a cocktail of eight functional diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) catalyzing the biosynthesis of c-di-GMP in a broad-host-range Sinorhizobium that can establish nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean and many other legumes. These functional DGCs are generally transcribed at low levels in soybean nodules compared to free-living conditions. The engineered nodule-specific upregulation of DGC can elevate the c-di-GMP level and cause symbiotic defects, while the upregulation of a phosphodiesterase that quenches c-di-GMP has no detectable symbiotic defects. Moreover, eight functional DGCs located on two different replicons are all directly repressed in nodules by a global silencer, MucR1, that is essential for Sinorhizobium-soybean symbiosis. These findings represent a novel mechanism of a strategic regulation of the c-di-GMP biosynthesis arsenal in prokaryote-eukaryote interactions.}, } @article {pmid34699940, year = {2021}, author = {Asghar, S and Khan, IU and Salman, S and Khalid, SH and Ashfaq, R and Vandamme, TF}, title = {Plant-derived nanotherapeutic systems to counter the overgrowing threat of resistant microbes and biofilms.}, journal = {Advanced drug delivery reviews}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {114019}, doi = {10.1016/j.addr.2021.114019}, pmid = {34699940}, issn = {1872-8294}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biofilms/*drug effects/growth & development ; Cross Infection/microbiology ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Liberation ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/physiology ; Drug Stability ; Equipment and Supplies/microbiology ; Humans ; Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System/*chemistry ; Particle Size ; Phytochemicals/administration & dosage/chemistry/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Since antiquity, the survival of human civilization has always been threatened by the microbial infections. An alarming surge in the resistant microbial strains against the conventional drugs is quite evident in the preceding years. Furthermore, failure of currently available regimens of antibiotics has been highlighted by the emerging threat of biofilms in the community and hospital settings. Biofilms are complex dynamic composites rich in extracellular polysaccharides and DNA, supporting plethora of symbiotic microbial life forms, that can grow on both living and non-living surfaces. These enforced structures are impervious to the drugs and lead to spread of recurrent and non-treatable infections. There is a strong realization among the scientists and healthcare providers to work out alternative strategies to combat the issue of drug resistance and biofilms. Plants are a traditional but rich source of effective antimicrobials with wider spectrum due to presence of multiple constituents in perfect synergy. Other than the biocompatibility and the safety profile, these phytochemicals have been repeatedly proven to overcome the non-responsiveness of resistant microbes and films via multiple pathways such as blocking the efflux pumps, better penetration across the cell membranes or biofilms, and anti-adhesive properties. However, the unfavorable physicochemical attributes and stability issues of these phytochemicals have hampered their commercialization. These issues of the phytochemicals can be solved by designing suitably constructed nanoscaled structures. Nanosized systems can not only improve the physicochemical features of the encapsulated payloads but can also enhance their pharmacokinetic and therapeutic profile. This review encompasses why and how various types of phytochemicals and their nanosized preparations counter the microbial resistance and the biofouling. We believe that phytochemical in tandem with nanotechnological innovations can be employed to defeat the microbial resistance and biofilms. This review will help in better understanding of the challenges associated with developing such platforms and their future prospects.}, } @article {pmid34699617, year = {2022}, author = {Shoguchi, E}, title = {Gene clusters for biosynthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids in dinoflagellate nuclear genomes: Possible recent horizontal gene transfer between species of Symbiodiniaceae (Dinophyceae).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {1-11}, pmid = {34699617}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Global warming increases the temperature of the ocean surface, which can disrupt dinoflagellate-coral symbioses and result in coral bleaching. Photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae include bleaching-tolerant and bleaching-sensitive coral symbionts. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms for changing symbiont diversity is potentially useful to assist recovery of coral holobionts (corals and their associated microbes, including multiple species of Symbiodiniaceae), although sexual reproduction has not been observed in the Symbiodiniaceae. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses estimate that the Symbiodiniaceae appeared 160 million years ago and diversified into 15 groups, five genera of which now have available draft genomes (i.e., Symbiodinium, Durusdinium, Breviolum, Fugacium, and Cladocopium). Comparative genomic analyses have suggested that crown groups have fewer gene families than early-diverging groups, although many genes that were probably acquired via gene duplications and horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) have been found in each decoded genome. Because UV stress is likely a contributor to coral bleaching, and because the highly conserved gene cluster for mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA) biosynthesis has been found in thermal-tolerant symbiont genomes, I reviewed genomic features of the Symbiodiniaceae, focusing on possible acquisition of a biosynthetic gene cluster for MAAs, which absorb UV radiation. On the basis of highly conserved noncoding sequences, I hypothesized that HGTs have occurred among members of the Symbiodiniaceae and have contributed to the diversification of Symbiodiniaceae-host relationships. Finally, I proposed that bleaching tolerance may be strengthened by multiple MAAs from both symbiotic dinoflagellates and corals.}, } @article {pmid34699614, year = {2022}, author = {Hill, RA and Wong-Bajracharya, J and Anwar, S and Coles, D and Wang, M and Lipzen, A and Ng, V and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Anderson, IC and Cazzonelli, CI and Jeffries, T and Plett, KL and Plett, JM}, title = {Abscisic acid supports colonization of Eucalyptus grandis roots by the mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {2}, pages = {966-982}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17825}, pmid = {34699614}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism/pharmacology ; Basidiomycota ; *Eucalyptus/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The pathways regulated in ectomycorrhizal (EcM) plant hosts during the establishment of symbiosis are not as well understood when compared to the functional stages of this mutualistic interaction. Our study used the EcM host Eucalyptus grandis to elucidate symbiosis-regulated pathways across the three phases of this interaction. Using a combination of RNA sequencing and metabolomics we studied both stage-specific and core responses of E. grandis during colonization by Pisolithus microcarpus. Using exogenous manipulation of the abscisic acid (ABA), we studied the role of this pathway during symbiosis establishment. Despite the mutualistic nature of this symbiosis, a large number of disease signalling TIR-NBS-LRR genes were induced. The transcriptional regulation in E. grandis was found to be dynamic across colonization with a small core of genes consistently regulated at all stages. Genes associated to the carotenoid/ABA pathway were found within this core and ABA concentrations increased during fungal integration into the root. Supplementation of ABA led to improved accommodation of P. microcarpus into E. grandis roots. The carotenoid pathway is a core response of an EcM host to its symbiont and highlights the need to understand the role of the stress hormone ABA in controlling host-EcM fungal interactions.}, } @article {pmid34699520, year = {2021}, author = {Miller, AK and Westlake, CS and Cross, KL and Leigh, BA and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {The microbiome impacts host hybridization and speciation.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {e3001417}, pmid = {34699520}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; *Genetic Speciation ; Genome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; *Hybridization, Genetic ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis and speciation profoundly shape the composition of life's biodiversity. Despite the enormous contributions of these two fields to the foundations of modern biology, there is a vast and exciting frontier ahead for research, literature, and conferences to address the neglected prospects of merging their study. Here, we survey and synthesize exemplar cases of how endosymbionts and microbial communities affect animal hybridization and vice versa. We conclude that though the number of case studies remain nascent, the wide-ranging types of animals, microbes, and isolation barriers impacted by hybridization will likely prove general and a major new phase of study that includes the microbiome as part of the functional whole contributing to reproductive isolation. Though microorganisms were proposed to impact animal speciation a century ago, the weight of the evidence supporting this view has now reached a tipping point.}, } @article {pmid34698580, year = {2021}, author = {Costa, MAC and Vilela, DLS and Fraiz, GM and Lopes, IL and Coelho, AIM and Castro, LCV and Martin, JGP}, title = {Effect of kombucha intake on the gut microbiota and obesity-related comorbidities: A systematic review.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2021.1995321}, pmid = {34698580}, issn = {1549-7852}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented nonalcoholic tea-based beverage produced through a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. In vitro studies have demonstrated antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-carcinogenic properties of kombucha. However, no systematic reviews have evaluated the effects of kombucha in vivo. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the evidence that exists so far about kombucha consumption on comorbidities associated with obesity as well as on the gut microbiota. The search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020158917). The MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, SciELO, Scopus, and Science Direct databases were used in the search considering the following terms: "kombucha" OR "kombucha tea" OR "kombucha teas" OR "tea, kombucha" OR "teas, kombucha" NOT "review." Fifteen studies were included in this review. The results suggest that kombucha consumption attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation, improves the liver detoxification process, and reduces intestinal dysbiosis. There is evidence that kombucha consumption is beneficial for the control and treatment of obesity and associated comorbidities, as well as for the modulation of the gut microbiota in vivo.}, } @article {pmid34697892, year = {2021}, author = {Merges, D and Dal Grande, F and Greve, C and Otte, J and Schmitt, I}, title = {Virus diversity in metagenomes of a lichen symbiosis (Umbilicaria phaea): complete viral genomes, putative hosts and elevational distributions.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {6637-6650}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15802}, pmid = {34697892}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Genome, Viral/genetics ; *Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Viruses can play critical roles in symbioses by initiating horizontal gene transfer, affecting host phenotypes, or expanding their host's ecological niche. However, knowledge of viral diversity and distribution in symbiotic organisms remains elusive. Here we use deep-sequenced metagenomic DNA (PacBio Sequel II; two individuals), paired with a population genomics approach (Pool-seq; 11 populations, 550 individuals) to understand viral distributions in the lichen Umbilicaria phaea. We assess (i) viral diversity in lichen thalli, (ii) putative viral hosts (fungi, algae, bacteria) and (iii) viral distributions along two replicated elevation gradients. We identified five novel viruses, showing 28%-40% amino acid identity to known viruses. They tentatively belong to the families Caulimoviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae. Our analysis suggests that the Caulimovirus is associated with green algal photobionts (Trebouxia) of the lichen, and the remaining viruses with bacterial hosts. We did not detect viral sequences in the mycobiont. Caulimovirus abundance decreased with increasing elevation, a pattern reflected by a specific algal lineage hosting this virus. Bacteriophages showed population-specific patterns. Our work provides the first comprehensive insights into viruses associated with a lichen holobiont and suggests an interplay of viral hosts and environment in structuring viral distributions.}, } @article {pmid34697646, year = {2022}, author = {Tighilt, L and Boulila, F and De Sousa, BFS and Giraud, E and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Palacios, JM and Imperial, J and Rey, L}, title = {The Bradyrhizobium Sp. LmicA16 Type VI Secretion System Is Required for Efficient Nodulation of Lupinus Spp.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {844-855}, pmid = {34697646}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Lupinus/microbiology ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium are capable of inducing nodules in legumes. In this work, the importance of a type VI secretion system (T6SS) in a symbiotic strain of the genus Bradyrhizobium is described. T6SS of Bradyrhizobium sp. LmicA16 (A16) is necessary for efficient nodulation with Lupinus micranthus and Lupinus angustifolius. A mutant in the gene vgrG, coding for a component of the T6SS nanostructure, induced less nodules and smaller plants than the wild-type (wt) strain and was less competitive when co-inoculated with the wt strain. A16 T6SS genes are organized in a 26-kb DNA region in two divergent gene clusters of nine genes each. One of these genes codes for a protein (Tsb1) of unknown function but containing a methyltransferase domain. A tsb1 mutant showed an intermediate symbiotic phenotype regarding vgrG mutant and higher mucoidity than the wt strain in free-living conditions. T6SS promoter fusions to the lacZ reporter indicate expression in nodules but not in free-living cells grown in different media and conditions. The analysis of nodule structure revealed that the level of nodule colonization was significantly reduced in the mutants with respect to the wt strain.}, } @article {pmid34697433, year = {2022}, author = {Delmont, TO and Pierella Karlusich, JJ and Veseli, I and Fuessel, J and Eren, AM and Foster, RA and Bowler, C and Wincker, P and Pelletier, E}, title = {Heterotrophic bacterial diazotrophs are more abundant than their cyanobacterial counterparts in metagenomes covering most of the sunlit ocean.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {927-936}, pmid = {34697433}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Metagenome ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; *Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation contributes significantly to marine primary productivity. The current view depicts few cyanobacterial diazotrophs as the main marine nitrogen fixers. Here, we used 891 Tara Oceans metagenomes derived from surface waters of five oceans and two seas to generate a manually curated genomic database corresponding to free-living, filamentous, colony-forming, particle-attached, and symbiotic bacterial and archaeal populations. The database provides the genomic content of eight cyanobacterial diazotrophs including a newly discovered population related to known heterocystous symbionts of diatoms, as well as 40 heterotrophic bacterial diazotrophs that considerably expand the known diversity of abundant marine nitrogen fixers. These 48 populations encapsulate 92% of metagenomic signal for known nifH genes in the sunlit ocean, suggesting that the genomic characterization of the most abundant marine diazotrophs may be nearing completion. Newly identified heterotrophic bacterial diazotrophs are widespread, express their nifH genes in situ, and also occur in large planktonic size fractions where they might form aggregates that provide the low-oxygen microenvironments required for nitrogen fixation. Critically, we found heterotrophic bacterial diazotrophs to be more abundant than cyanobacterial diazotrophs in most metagenomes from the open oceans and seas, emphasizing the importance of a wide range of heterotrophic populations in the marine nitrogen balance.}, } @article {pmid34695269, year = {2021}, author = {Gimmi, E and Vorburger, C}, title = {Strong genotype-by-genotype interactions between aphid-defensive symbionts and parasitoids persist across different biotic environments.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {1944-1953}, pmid = {34695269}, issn = {1420-9101}, support = {31003A_181969/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Genotype ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps/genetics ; }, abstract = {The dynamics of coevolution between hosts and parasites are influenced by their genetic interactions. Highly specific interactions, where the outcome of an infection depends on the precise combination of host and parasite genotypes (G × G interactions), have the potential to maintain genetic variation by inducing negative frequency-dependent selection. The importance of this effect also rests on whether such interactions are consistent across different environments or modified by environmental variation (G × G × E interaction). In the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, resistance to its parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum is largely determined by the possession of a heritable bacterial endosymbiont, Hamiltonella defensa, with strong G × G interactions between H. defensa and L. fabarum. A key environmental factor in this system is the host plant on which the aphid feeds. Here, we exposed genetically identical aphids harbouring three different strains of H. defensa to three asexual genotypes of L. fabarum and measured parasitism success on three common host plants of A. fabae, namely Vicia faba, Chenopodium album and Beta vulgaris. As expected, we observed the pervasive G × G interaction between H. defensa and L. fabarum, but despite strong main effects of the host plants on average rates of parasitism, this interaction was not altered significantly by the host plant environment (no G × G × E interaction). The symbiont-conferred specificity of resistance is thus likely to mediate the coevolution of A. fabae and L. fabarum, even when played out across diverse host plants of the aphid.}, } @article {pmid34693526, year = {2022}, author = {Seemann, C and Heck, C and Voß, S and Schmoll, J and Enderle, E and Schwarz, D and Requena, N}, title = {Root cortex development is fine-tuned by the interplay of MIGs, SCL3 and DELLAs during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {2}, pages = {948-965}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17823}, pmid = {34693526}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Root development is a crucial process that determines the ability of plants to acquire nutrients, adapt to the substrate and withstand changing environmental conditions. Root plasticity is controlled by a plethora of transcriptional regulators that allow, in contrast to tissue development in animals, post-embryonic changes that give rise to new tissue and specialized cells. One of these changes is the accommodation in the cortex of hyperbranched hyphae of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, called arbuscules. Arbuscule-containing cells undergo massive reprogramming to coordinate developmental changes with transport processes. Here we describe a novel negative regulator of arbuscule development, MIG3. MIG3 induces and interacts with SCL3, both of which modulate the activity of the central regulator DELLA, restraining cortical cell growth. As in a tug-of-war, MIG3-SCL3 antagonizes the function of the complex MIG1-DELLA, which promotes the cell expansion required for arbuscule development, adjusting cell size during the dynamic processes of the arbuscule life cycle. Our results in the legume plant Medicago truncatula advance the knowledge of root development in dicot plants, showing the existence of additional regulatory elements not present in Arabidopsis that fine-tune the activity of conserved central modules.}, } @article {pmid34692246, year = {2021}, author = {Goren, M and Stern, N}, title = {Cryptocentrus steinhardti (Actinopterygii; Gobiidae): a new species of shrimp-goby, and a new invasive to the Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e12136}, pmid = {34692246}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {A new species of shrimp-goby was collected at depths of 60-80 m off the southern Israeli Mediterranean coast. A unique 'DNA barcoding' signature (mtDNA COI and Cytb) revealed that it differs from any other previously bar-coded goby species clustered phylogenetically with the shrimp-gobies group, in which Cryptocentrus is the most speciose genus. A morphological study supported the assignment of the fish to Cryptocentrus and differentiated the new species from its congeners. The species is described here as Cryptocentrus steinhardti n. sp. However, the present phylogenetic analysis demonstrates a paraphyly of Cryptocentrus and emphasizes the need for revision of the genus based on integrating morphological and genetic characteristics. This finding constitutes the third record of an invasive shrimp goby in the Mediterranean Sea. An intriguing ecological issue arises regarding the possible formation of a fish-shrimp symbiosis in a newly invaded territory. Describing an alien tropical species in the Mediterranean prior to its discovery in native distribution is an unusual event, although not the first such case. Several similar examples are provided in the present article.}, } @article {pmid34690969, year = {2021}, author = {Jung, P and Brust, K and Schultz, M and Büdel, B and Donner, A and Lakatos, M}, title = {Opening the Gap: Rare Lichens With Rare Cyanobionts - Unexpected Cyanobiont Diversity in Cyanobacterial Lichens of the Order Lichinales.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {728378}, pmid = {34690969}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The last decades of research led to a change in understanding of lichens that are now seen as self-sustaining micro-ecosystems, harboring diverse microbial organisms in tight but yet not fully understood relationships. Among the diverse interdependencies, the relationship between the myco- and photobiont is the most crucial, determining the shape, and ecophysiological properties of the symbiotic consortium. Roughly 10% of lichens associate with cyanobacteria as their primary photobiont, termed cyanolichens. Up to now, the diversity of cyanobionts of bipartite lichens resolved by modern phylogenetic approaches is restricted to the filamentous and heterocytous genera of the order Nostocales. Unicellular photobionts were placed in the orders Chroococcales, Pleurocapsales, and Chroococcidiopsidales. However, especially the phylogeny and taxonomy of the Chroococcidiopsidales genera remained rather unclear. Here we present new data on the identity and phylogeny of photobionts from cyanolichens of the genera Gonohymenia, Lichinella, Peccania, and Peltula from a broad geographical range. A polyphasic approach was used, combining morphological and cultivation-depending characteristics (microscopy, staining techniques, life cycle observation, baeocyte motility, and nitrogen fixation test) with phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and 16S-23S ITS gene region. We found an unexpectedly high cyanobiont diversity in the cyanobacterial lichens of the order Lichinales, including two new genera and seven new species, all of which were not previously perceived as lichen symbionts. As a result, we describe the novel unicellular Chroococcidiopsidales genera Pseudocyanosarcina gen. nov. with the species Pseudocyanosarcina phycocyania sp. nov. (from Peltula clavata, Australia) and Compactococcus gen. nov. with the species Compactococcus sarcinoides sp. nov. (from Gonohymenia sp., Australia) and the new Chroococcidiopsidales species Aliterella compacta sp. nov. (from Peltula clavata, Australia), Aliterella gigantea sp. nov. (from Peltula capensis; South Africa), Sinocapsa ellipsoidea sp. nov. (from Peccania cerebriformis, Austria), as well as the two new Nostocales species Komarekiella gloeocapsoidea sp. nov. (from Gonohymenia sp., Czechia) and Komarekiella globosa sp. nov. (from Lichinella cribellifera, Canary Islands, Spain). Our study highlights the role of cyanolichens acting as a key in untangling cyanobacterial taxonomy and diversity. With this study, we hope to stimulate further research on photobionts, especially of rare cyanolichens.}, } @article {pmid34690955, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, F and Gao, Y and Liu, M and Xu, L and Wu, X and Zhao, X and Zhang, X}, title = {Bacterial Inhibition on Beauveria bassiana Contributes to Microbiota Stability in Delia antiqua.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {710800}, pmid = {34690955}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Given the multiple roles of associated microbiota in improving animal host fitness in a microbial environment, increasing numbers of researchers have focused on how the associated microbiota keeps stable under complex environmental factors, especially some biological ones. Recent studies show that associated microbiota interacts with pathogenic microbes. However, whether and how the interaction would influence microbiota stability is limitedly investigated. Based on the interaction among Delia antiqua, its associated microbiota, and one pathogen Beauveria bassiana, the associated microbiota's response to the pathogen was determined in this study. Besides, the underlying mechanism for the response was also preliminarily investigated. Results showed that B. bassiana neither infect D. antiqua larvae nor did it colonize inside the associated microbiota, and both the bacterial and fungal microbiota kept stable during the interaction. Further experiments showed that bacterial microbiota almost completely inhibited conidial germination and mycelial growth of B. bassiana during its invasion, while fungal microbiota did not inhibit conidial germination and mycelial growth of B. bassiana. According to the above results, individual dominant bacterial species were isolated, and their inhibition on conidial germination and mycelial growth of B. bassiana was reconfirmed. Thus, these results indicated that bacterial instead of fungal microbiota blocked B. bassiana conidia and stabilized the associated microbiota of D. antiqua larvae during B. bassiana invasion. The findings deepened the understanding of the role of associated microbiota-pathogen microbe interaction in maintaining microbiota stability. They may also contribute to the development of novel biological control agents and pest management strategies.}, } @article {pmid34689599, year = {2022}, author = {Raul, B and Bhattacharjee, O and Ghosh, A and Upadhyay, P and Tembhare, K and Singh, A and Shaheen, T and Ghosh, AK and Torres-Jerez, I and Krom, N and Clevenger, J and Udvardi, M and Scheffler, BE and Ozias-Akins, P and Sharma, RD and Bandyopadhyay, K and Gaur, V and Kumar, S and Sinharoy, S}, title = {Microscopic and Transcriptomic Analyses of Dalbergoid Legume Peanut Reveal a Divergent Evolution Leading to Nod-Factor-Dependent Epidermal Crack-Entry and Terminal Bacteroid Differentiation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {131-145}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-21-0122-R}, pmid = {34689599}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arachis/genetics/microbiology ; Cell Differentiation ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is the pillar behind sustainable agriculture and plays a pivotal role in the environmental nitrogen cycle. Most of the genetic, molecular, and cell-biological knowledge on RNS comes from model legumes that exhibit a root-hair mode of bacterial infection, in contrast to the Dalbergoid legumes exhibiting crack-entry of rhizobia. As a step toward understanding this important group of legumes, we have combined microscopic analysis and temporal transcriptome to obtain a dynamic view of plant gene expression during Arachis hypogaea (peanut) nodule development. We generated comprehensive transcriptome data by mapping the reads to A. hypogaea, and two diploid progenitor genomes. Additionally, we performed BLAST searches to identify nodule-induced yet-to-be annotated peanut genes. Comparison between peanut, Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, and Glycine max showed upregulation of 61 peanut orthologs among 111 tested known RNS-related genes, indicating conservation in mechanisms of nodule development among members of the Papilionoid family. Unlike model legumes, recruitment of class 1 phytoglobin-derived symbiotic hemoglobin (SymH) in peanut indicates diversification of oxygen-scavenging mechanisms in the Papilionoid family. Finally, the absence of cysteine-rich motif-1-containing nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide (NCR) genes but the recruitment of defensin-like NCRs suggest a diverse molecular mechanism of terminal bacteroid differentiation. In summary, our work describes genetic conservation and diversification in legume-rhizobia symbiosis in the Papilionoid family, as well as among members of the Dalbergoid legumes.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34688039, year = {2021}, author = {Shealy, NG and Yoo, W and Byndloss, MX}, title = {Colonization resistance: metabolic warfare as a strategy against pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {82-90}, pmid = {34688039}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA236733/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 ES007028/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; *Enterobacteriaceae Infections ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The intestine is home to a large and complex bacterial ecosystem (microbiota), which performs multiple beneficial functions for the host, including immune education, nutrition, and protection against invasion by enteric pathogens (colonization resistance). The host and microbiome symbiotic interactions occur in part through metabolic crosstalk. Thus, microbiota members have evolved highly diverse metabolic pathways to inhibit pathogen colonization via activation of protective immune responses and nutrient acquisition and utilization. Conversely, pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae actively induce an inflammation-dependent disruption of the gut microbial ecosystem (dysbiosis) to gain a competitive metabolic advantage against the resident microbiota. This review discusses the recent findings on the crucial role of microbiota metabolites in colonization resistance regulation. Additionally, we summarize metabolic mechanisms used by pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae to outcompete commensal microbes and cause disease.}, } @article {pmid34687936, year = {2022}, author = {Srinivasan, VM and Shlobin, NA and Karahalios, K and Scherschinski, L and Rahmani, R and Graffeo, CS and Burkhardt, JK and Chaurasia, B and Catapano, JS and Labib, MA and Lawton, MT}, title = {Adoption of Advanced Microneurosurgical Technologies: An International Survey.}, journal = {World neurosurgery}, volume = {157}, number = {}, pages = {e473-e483}, doi = {10.1016/j.wneu.2021.10.128}, pmid = {34687936}, issn = {1878-8769}, mesh = {Adult ; Biomedical Technology/methods/*trends ; Female ; Humans ; *Internationality ; Male ; Microsurgery/methods/*trends ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgeons/*trends ; Neurosurgical Procedures/methods/*trends ; *Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Operating microscopes and adjunctive technologies are continually refined to advance microneurosurgical care. How frequently these advances are used is unknown. In the present study, we assessed the international adoption of microneurosurgical technologies and discussed their value.

METHODS: A 27-question electronic survey was distributed to cerebrovascular neurosurgeon members of U.S., European, and North American neurosurgical societies and social media networks of cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgeons. The survey encompassed the surgeons' training background, surgical preferences, and standard microneurosurgical practices.

RESULTS: Of the respondents, 56% (53 of 95) were attendings, 74% (70 of 95) were in their first 10 years of practice, and 67% (63 of 94) practiced at an academic teaching hospital. Vascular, endovascular, and skull base fellowships had been completed by 38% (36 of 95), 27% (26 of 95), and 32% (30 of 95) of the respondents, respectively. Most respondents did not use an exoscope (78%; 73 of 94), a mouthpiece (61%; 58 of 95), or foot pedals (56%; 55 of 94). All 95 respondents used a microscope, and 71 (75%) used Zeiss microscopes. Overall, 57 neurosurgeons (60%) used indocyanine green for aneurysms (n = 54), arteriovenous malformations (n = 43), and dural arteriovenous fistulas (n = 42). Most (80%; 75 of 94) did not use fluorescence. The respondents with a vascular-focused practice more commonly used indocyanine green, Yellow 560 fluorescence, and intraoperative 2-dimensional digital subtraction angiography. The respondents with a skull base-focused practice more commonly used foot pedals and an endoscope-assist device.

CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present survey have characterized the current adoption of operative microscopes and adjunctive technologies in microneurosurgery. Despite numerous innovations to improve the symbiosis between neurosurgeon and microscope, their adoption has been underwhelming. Future advances are essential to improve surgical outcomes.}, } @article {pmid34687882, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, H and Wang, M and Zhang, H and Wang, H and Zhou, L and Zhong, Z and Cao, L and Lian, C and Sun, Y and Li, C}, title = {microRNAs facilitate comprehensive responses of Bathymodiolinae mussel against symbiotic and nonsymbiotic bacteria stimulation.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {420-431}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2021.10.025}, pmid = {34687882}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; *Mytilidae/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bathymodiolinae mussels are dominant species in cold seeps and hydrothermal vents and could harbor endosymbionts in gill bacteriocytes. However, mechanisms underlying the symbiosis have remained largely undisclosed for years. In the present study, the global expression pattern of immune-related genes and miRNAs were surveyed in Gigantidas platifrons during bacterial challenges using enriched symbiotic methane oxidation bacteria MOBs or nonsymbiotic Vibrio. As a result, multiple pattern recognition receptors were found differentially expressed at 12 h and 24 h post bacteria challenges and distinctly clustered between stimulations. Dozens of immune effectors along with signal transducers were also modulated simultaneously during MOB or Vibrio challenge. A total of 459 miRNAs were identified in the gill while some were differentially expressed post MOB or nonsymbiotic bacteria challenge. A variety of immune-related genes were annotated as target genes of aforesaid differentially expressed miRNAs. As a result, biological processes including the immune recognition, lysosome activity and bacteria engulfment were suggested to be dynamically modulated by miRNAs in either symbiotic or nonsymbiotic bacteria challenge. It was suggested that G. platifrons mussels could maintain a robust immune response against invading pathogens while establishing symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria with the orchestra of immune-related genes and miRNAs.}, } @article {pmid34687569, year = {2022}, author = {Bowd, EJ and Banks, SC and Bissett, A and May, TW and Lindenmayer, DB}, title = {Disturbance alters the forest soil microbiome.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {419-447}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16242}, pmid = {34687569}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Fires ; Forests ; Humans ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Billions of microorganisms perform critical below-ground functions in all terrestrial ecosystems. While largely invisible to the naked eye, they support all higher lifeforms, form symbiotic relationships with ~90% of terrestrial plant species, stabilize soils, and facilitate biogeochemical cycles. Global increases in the frequency of disturbances are driving major changes in the structure and function of forests. However, despite their functional significance, the disturbance responses of forest microbial communities are poorly understood. Here, we explore the influence of disturbance on the soil microbiome (archaea, fungi and bacteria) of some of the world's tallest and most carbon-dense forests, the Mountain Ash forests of south-eastern Australia. From 80 sites, we identified 23,277 and 19,056 microbial operational taxonomic units from the 0-10 cm and 20-30 cm depths of soil respectively. From this extensive data set, we found the diversity and composition of these often cryptic communities has been altered by human and natural disturbance events. For instance, the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi declined with clearcut logging, the diversity of archaea declined with salvage logging, and bacterial diversity and overall microbial diversity declined with the number of fires. Moreover, we identified key associations between edaphic (soil properties), environmental (slope, elevation) and spatial variables and the composition of all microbial communities. Specifically, we found that soil pH, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and nitrate were associated with the composition of all microbial communities. In a period of widespread degradation of global forest ecosystems, our findings provide an important and timely insight into the disturbance responses of soil microbial communities, which may influence key ecological functions.}, } @article {pmid34686745, year = {2021}, author = {Nouwen, N and Chaintreuil, C and Fardoux, J and Giraud, E}, title = {A glutamate synthase mutant of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 is unable to induce nodules on Nod factor-independent Aeschynomene species.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {20910}, pmid = {34686745}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Glutamate Synthase/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 is able to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with both Nod factor (NF) dependent and NF-independent Aeschynomene species. Here, we have studied the growth characteristics and symbiotic interaction of a glutamate synthase (GOGAT; gltD::Tn5) mutant of Bradyrhizobium ORS285. We show that the ORS285 gltD::Tn5 mutant is unable to use ammonium, nitrate and many amino acids as nitrogen source for growth and is unable to fix nitrogen under free-living conditions. Moreover, on several nitrogen sources, the growth rate of the gltB::Tn5 mutant was faster and/or the production of the carotenoid spirilloxanthin was much higher as compared to the wild-type strain. The absence of GOGAT activity has a drastic impact on the symbiotic interaction with NF-independent Aeschynomene species. With these species, inoculation with the ORS285 gltD::Tn5 mutant does not result in the formation of nodules. In contrast, the ORS285 gltD::Tn5 mutant is capable to induce nodules on NF-dependent Aeschynomene species, but these nodules were ineffective for nitrogen fixation. Interestingly, in NF-dependent and NF-independent Aeschynomene species inoculation with the ORS285 gltD::Tn5 mutant results in browning of the plant tissue at the site of the infection suggesting that the mutant bacteria induce plant defence responses.}, } @article {pmid34686005, year = {2021}, author = {Dūmiņš, K and Andersone-Ozola, U and Samsone, I and Elferts, D and Ievinsh, G}, title = {Growth and Physiological Performance of a Coastal Species Trifolium fragiferum as Affected by a Coexistence with Trifolium repens, NaCl Treatment and Inoculation with Rhizobia.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34686005}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to analyze the growth and physiological performance of two coexisting species, Trifolium fragiferum, and Trifolium repens, under the effect of NaCl and rhizobial symbiosis. Seeds of T. fragiferum and T. repens were collected from populations in the wild, and plants were cultivated in an automated greenhouse, two plants per container. Three basic types of planting were performed: (1) both plants were T. fragiferum (single species), (2) one T. fragiferum and one T. repens (species coexistence), (3) both plants were T. repens (single species). For every basic type, three subtypes were made: (1) non-inoculated, (2) inoculated with rhizobia taken from T. fargiferum, (3) inoculated with rhizobia taken from T. repens. For every subtype, half of the containers were used as control, and half were treated with NaCl. Shoot fresh mass of plants was significantly (p < 0.001) affected by species coexistence, inoculant, and NaCl. Three significant two-way interactions on plant shoot growth were found: between species coexistence and NaCl (p < 0.001), inoculant and species (p < 0.05), and NaCl and species (p < 0.001). A significant three-way interaction between inoculant, NaCl, and species (p < 0.001) indicated different responses of shoot growth of the two species to inoculant type and NaCl. NaCl treatment was an important factor for T. fragiferum, resulting in better growth in conditions of species coexistence, but the positive effect of bacterial inoculant was significantly more pronounced. A decrease in peroxidase activity in leaves was a good indicator of relative NaCl tolerance, while the absence/presence of rhizobial inoculation was reflected by changes in leaf chlorophyll concentration and photochemical activity of photosystem II. It can be concluded that interaction between biotic and abiotic factors affected the outcome of the coexistence of the two Trifolium species. Distribution of T. fragiferum in sea-affected habitats seems to be related to a higher competitive ability with allied species at increased substrate salinity, based on better physiological salinity tolerance.}, } @article {pmid34685928, year = {2021}, author = {Bamisile, BS and Siddiqui, JA and Akutse, KS and Ramos Aguila, LC and Xu, Y}, title = {General Limitations to Endophytic Entomopathogenic Fungi Use as Plant Growth Promoters, Pests and Pathogens Biocontrol Agents.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34685928}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The multiple roles of fungal entomopathogens in host plants' growth promotion, pest and pathogen management have drawn huge attention for investigation. Endophytic species are known to influence various activities of their associated host plants, and the endophyte-colonized plants have been demonstrated to gain huge benefits from these symbiotic associations. The potential application of fungal endophytes as alternative to inorganic fertilizers for crop improvement has often been proposed. Similarly, various strains of insect pathogenic fungi have been formulated for use as mycopesticides and have been suggested as long-term replacement for the synthetic pesticides that are commonly in use. The numerous concerns about the negative effects of synthetic chemical pesticides have also driven attention towards developing eco-friendly pest management techniques. However, several factors have been underlined to be militating the successful adoption of entomopathogenic fungi and fungal endophytes as plant promoting, pests and diseases control bio-agents. The difficulties in isolation and characterization of novel strains, negative effects of geographical location, vegetation type and human disturbance on fungal entomopathogens, are among the numerous setbacks that have been documented. Although, the latest advances in biotechnology and microbial studies have provided means of overcoming many of these problems. For instance, studies have suggested measures for mitigating the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on entomopathogenic fungi in inundative application on the field, or when applied in the form of fungal endophytes. In spite of these efforts, more studies are needed to be done to achieve the goal of improving the overall effectiveness and increase in the level of acceptance of entomopathogenic fungi and their products as an integral part of the integrated pest management programs, as well as potential adoption as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.}, } @article {pmid34685806, year = {2021}, author = {Card, SD and Bastías, DA and Caradus, JR}, title = {Antagonism to Plant Pathogens by Epichloë Fungal Endophytes-A Review.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34685806}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Epichloë is a genus of filamentous fungal endophytes that has co-evolved with cool-season grasses with which they form long-term, symbiotic associations. The most agriculturally important associations for pasture persistence for grazing livestock are those between asexual vertically transmitted Epichloë strains and the pasture species, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. The fungus confers additional traits to their host grasses including invertebrate pest deterrence and drought tolerance. Selected strains of these mutualistic endophytes have been developed into highly efficacious biocontrol products and are widely utilized within the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand for pasture persistence. Less publicized is the antagonism Epichloë endophytes display towards multiple species of saprophytic and pathogenic microbes. This opinion piece will review the current literature on antimicrobial properties exhibited by this genus of endophyte and discuss the reasons why this trait has historically remained a research curiosity rather than a trait of commercial significance.}, } @article {pmid34685776, year = {2021}, author = {Kameli, N and Becker, HEF and Welbers, T and Jonkers, DMAE and Penders, J and Savelkoul, P and Stassen, FR}, title = {Metagenomic Profiling of Fecal-Derived Bacterial Membrane Vesicles in Crohn's Disease Patients.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34685776}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Crohn Disease/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Feces/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Metagenomics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the past, many studies suggested a crucial role for dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in the etiology of Crohn's disease (CD). However, despite being important players in host-bacteria interaction, the role of bacterial membrane vesicles (MV) has been largely overlooked in the pathogenesis of CD. In this study, we addressed the composition of the bacterial and MV composition in fecal samples of CD patients and compared this to the composition in healthy individuals.

METHODS: Fecal samples from six healthy subjects (HC) in addition to twelve CD patients (six active, six remission) were analyzed in this study. Fecal bacterial membrane vesicles (fMVs) were isolated by a combination of ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography. DNA was obtained from the fMV fraction, the pellet of dissolved feces as bacterial DNA (bDNA), or directly from feces as fecal DNA (fDNA). The fMVs were characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis and cryo-electron microscopy. Amplicon sequencing of 16s rRNA V4 hypervariable gene regions was conducted to assess microbial composition of all fractions.

RESULTS: Beta-diversity analysis showed that the microbial community structure of the fMVs was significantly different from the microbial profiles of the fDNA and bDNA. However, no differences were observed in microbial composition between fDNA and bDNA. The microbial richness of fMVs was significantly decreased in CD patients compared to HC, and even lower in active patients. Profiling of fDNA and bDNA demonstrated that Firmicutes was the most dominant phylum in these fractions, while in fMVs Bacteroidetes was dominant. In fMV, several families and genera belonging to Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were significantly altered in CD patients when compared to HC.

CONCLUSION: The microbial alterations of MVs in CD patients particularly in Firmicutes and Proteobacteria suggest a possible role of MVs in host-microbe symbiosis and induction or progression of inflammation in CD pathogenesis. Yet, the exact role for these fMV in the pathogenesis of the disease needs to be elucidated in future studies.}, } @article {pmid34685452, year = {2021}, author = {Kambach, S and Sadlowski, C and Peršoh, D and Guerreiro, MA and Auge, H and Röhl, O and Bruelheide, H}, title = {Foliar Fungal Endophytes in a Tree Diversity Experiment Are Driven by the Identity but Not the Diversity of Tree Species.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34685452}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Symbiotic foliar fungal endophytes can have beneficial effects on host trees and might alleviate climate-induced stressors. Whether and how the community of foliar endophytes is dependent on the tree neighborhood is still under debate with contradicting results from different tree diversity experiments. Here, we present our finding regarding the effect of the tree neighborhood from the temperate, densely planted and 12-years-old Kreinitz tree diversity experiment. We used linear models, redundancy analysis, Procrustes analysis and Holm-corrected multiple t-tests to quantify the effects of the plot-level tree neighborhood on the diversity and composition of foliar fungal endophytes in Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea and Picea abies. Against our expectations, we did not find an effect of tree diversity on endophyte diversity. Endophyte composition, however, was driven by the identity of the host species. Thirteen endophytes where overabundant in tree species mixtures, which might indicate frequent spillover or positive interactions between foliar endophytes. The independence of the diversity of endophytes from the diversity of tree species might be attributed to the small plot size and the high density of tree individuals. However, the mechanistic causes for these cryptic relationships still remain to be uncovered.}, } @article {pmid34684874, year = {2021}, author = {Shimoyama, A and Fukase, K}, title = {Lipid A-Mediated Bacterial-Host Chemical Ecology: Synthetic Research of Bacterial Lipid As and Their Development as Adjuvants.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {34684874}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Bacteria/drug effects/*immunology ; Endotoxins/*immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid A/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Gram-negative bacterial cell surface component lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its active principle, lipid A, exhibit immunostimulatory effects and have the potential to act as adjuvants. However, canonical LPS acts as an endotoxin by hyperstimulating the immune response. Therefore, LPS and lipid A must be structurally modified to minimize their toxic effects while maintaining their adjuvant effect for application as vaccine adjuvants. In the field of chemical ecology research, various biological phenomena occurring among organisms are considered molecular interactions. Recently, the hypothesis has been proposed that LPS and lipid A mediate bacterial-host chemical ecology to regulate various host biological phenomena, mainly immunity. Parasitic and symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the host are predicted to possess low-toxicity immunomodulators due to the chemical structural changes of their LPS caused by co-evolution with the host. Studies on the chemical synthesis and functional evaluation of their lipid As have been developed to test this hypothesis and to apply them to low-toxicity and safe adjuvants.}, } @article {pmid34684638, year = {2021}, author = {Mertowska, P and Mertowski, S and Wojnicka, J and Korona-Głowniak, I and Grywalska, E and Błażewicz, A and Załuska, W}, title = {A Link between Chronic Kidney Disease and Gut Microbiota in Immunological and Nutritional Aspects.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34684638}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; Kidney/immunology/microbiology ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*immunology ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is generally progressive and irreversible, structural or functional renal impairment for 3 or more months affecting multiple metabolic pathways. Recently, the composition, dynamics, and stability of a patient's microbiota has been noted to play a significant role during disease onset or progression. Increasing urea concentration during CKD can lead to an acceleration of the process of kidney injury leading to alterations in the intestinal microbiota that can increase the production of gut-derived toxins and alter the intestinal epithelial barrier. A detailed analysis of the relationship between the role of intestinal microbiota and the development of inflammation within the symbiotic and dysbiotic intestinal microbiota showed significant changes in kidney dysfunction. Several recent studies have determined that dietary factors can significantly influence the activation of immune cells and their mediators. Moreover, dietary changes can profoundly affect the balance of gut microbiota. The aim of this review is to present the importance and factors influencing the differentiation of the human microbiota in the progression of kidney diseases, such as CKD, IgA nephropathy, idiopatic nephropathy, and diabetic kidney disease, with particular emphasis on the role of the immune system. Moreover, the effects of nutrients, bioactive compounds on the immune system in development of chronic kidney disease were reviewed.}, } @article {pmid34684469, year = {2021}, author = {Comerford, KB and Miller, GD and Reinhardt Kapsak, W and Brown, KA}, title = {The Complementary Roles for Plant-Source and Animal-Source Foods in Sustainable Healthy Diets.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34684469}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diet, Healthy ; Food ; Food Supply ; Fruit ; Health Impact Assessment ; Humans ; *Meat ; Nutrition Policy ; *Plants, Edible ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {There are approximately 100 countries with food-based dietary guidelines throughout the world, each of which aims to encompass the cultural, geographical, and health considerations unique to their country of origin. Common themes throughout these guides emphasize diverse and balanced intake of food groups from both plant- and animal-sources. With the globally recognized need to shift to more sustainable food systems, several countries and international food and health organizations have begun to incorporate sustainability recommendations into their dietary guidance. These sustainability recommendations are often based on food source (i.e., eat more plant-source and fewer animal-source foods), yet food source may not be the only useful or informative comparator for assessing healthy and sustainable diets. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the roles of plant-source foods and animal-source foods in the context of sustainable healthy diets-with an emphasis on the contributions of the most commonly recommended food groups from global food-based dietary guidelines (i.e., fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods). Overall, plant and animal agriculture have complementary and symbiotic roles in healthy and sustainable food systems, and these abilities are largely dependent on various contextual factors (e.g., geography, production practices, processing methods, consumption patterns)-not just on whether the food originated from the plant or animal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid34684330, year = {2021}, author = {Tanaka, Y and Shimizu, S and Shirotani, M and Yorozu, K and Kitamura, K and Oehorumu, M and Kawai, Y and Fukuzawa, Y}, title = {Nutrition and Cancer Risk from the Viewpoint of the Intestinal Microbiome.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34684330}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*epidemiology/*microbiology ; *Nutritional Status ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {There are various important factors in reducing the risk of cancer development and progression; these factors may correct an unbalanced intake of nutrients to maintain the living body's homeostasis, detoxify toxic materials, acting as an external factor, and maintain and strengthen the body's immune function. In a normal cell environment, nutrients, such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, are properly digested and absorbed into the body, and, as a result, an environment in which cancer can develop and progress is prevented. It is necessary to prevent toxic materials from entering the body and to detoxify poisons in the body. If these processes occur correctly, cells work normally, and genes cannot be damaged. The most important factor in the fight against cancer and prevention of the development and progression of cancer is the immune system. This requires a nutritional state in which the immune system works well, allowing the intestinal microbiome to carry out all of its roles. In order to grow intestinal microbiota, the consumption of prebiotics, such as organic vegetables, fruits, and dietary fiber, and probiotics of effective intestinal microbiota, such as fermented foods and supplements, is required. Symbiosis, in which these organisms work together, is an effective means of reducing the risk of cancer. In addition, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using ultrafine bubble water, produced specially by the Association for Clinical Research of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Japan, is also useful for improving the nutritional condition and reducing the risk of cancer.}, } @article {pmid34684244, year = {2021}, author = {Dujon, AM and Schofield, G and Venegas, RM and Thomas, F and Ujvari, B}, title = {Sea Turtles in the Cancer Risk Landscape: A Global Meta-Analysis of Fibropapillomatosis Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34684244}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Several cancer risk factors (exposure to ultraviolet-B, pollution, toxins and pathogens) have been identified for wildlife, to form a "cancer risk landscape." However, information remains limited on how the spatiotemporal variability of these factors impacts the prevalence of cancer in wildlife. Here, we evaluated the cancer risk landscape at 49 foraging sites of the globally distributed green turtle (Chelonia mydas), a species affected by fibropapillomatosis, by integrating data from a global meta-analysis of 31 publications (1994-2019). Evaluated risk factors included ultraviolet light exposure, eutrophication, toxic phytoplanktonic blooms, sea surface temperature, and the presence of mechanical vectors (parasites and symbiotic species). Prevalence was highest in areas where nutrient concentrations facilitated the emergence of toxic phytoplankton blooms. In contrast, ultraviolet light exposure and the presence of parasitic and/or symbiotic species did not appear to impact disease prevalence. Our results indicate that, to counter outbreaks of fibropapillomatosis, management actions that reduce eutrophication in foraging areas should be implemented.}, } @article {pmid34684238, year = {2021}, author = {Błaszczyk, L and Salamon, S and Mikołajczak, K}, title = {Fungi Inhabiting the Wheat Endosphere.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34684238}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Wheat production is influenced by changing environmental conditions, including climatic conditions, which results in the changing composition of microorganisms interacting with this cereal. The group of these microorganisms includes not only endophytic fungi associated with the wheat endosphere, both pathogenic and symbiotic, but also those with yet unrecognized functions and consequences for wheat. This paper reviews the literature in the context of the general characteristics of endophytic fungi inhabiting the internal tissues of wheat. In addition, the importance of epigenetic regulation in wheat-fungus interactions is recognized and the current state of knowledge is demonstrated. The possibilities of using symbiotic endophytic fungi in modern agronomy and wheat cultivation are also proposed. The fact that the current understanding of fungal endophytes in wheat is based on a rather small set of experimental conditions, including wheat genotypes, plant organs, plant tissues, plant development stage, or environmental conditions, is recognized. In addition, most of the research to date has been based on culture-dependent methods that exclude biotrophic and slow-growing species and favor the detection of fast-growing fungi. Additionally, only a few reports of studies on the entire wheat microbiome using high-throughput sequencing techniques exist. Conducting comprehensive research on the mycobiome of the endosphere of wheat, mainly in the context of the possibility of using this knowledge to improve the methods of wheat management, mainly the productivity and health of this cereal, is needed.}, } @article {pmid34683491, year = {2021}, author = {Al-Ameeli, ZT and Al-Sammak, MA and DeLong, JP and Dunigan, DD and Van Etten, JL}, title = {Catalysis of Chlorovirus Production by the Foraging of Bursaria truncatella on Paramecia bursaria Containing Endosymbiotic Algae.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34683491}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Chloroviruses are large viruses that replicate in chlorella-like green algae and normally exist as mutualistic endosymbionts (referred to as zoochlorellae) in protists such as Paramecium bursaria. Chlorovirus populations rise and fall in indigenous waters through time; however, the factors involved in these virus fluctuations are still under investigation. Chloroviruses attach to the surface of P. bursaria but cannot infect their zoochlorellae hosts because the viruses cannot reach the zoochlorellae as long as they are in the symbiotic phase. Predators of P. bursaria, such as copepods and didinia, can bring chloroviruses into contact with zoochlorellae by disrupting the paramecia, which results in an increase in virus titers in microcosm experiments. Here, we report that another predator of P. bursaria, Bursaria truncatella, can also increase chlorovirus titers. After two days of foraging on P. bursaria, B. truncatella increased infectious chlorovirus abundance about 20 times above the controls. Shorter term foraging (3 h) resulted in a small increase of chlorovirus titers over the controls and more foraging generated more chloroviruses. Considering that B. truncatella does not release viable zoochlorellae either during foraging or through fecal pellets, where zoochlorellae could be infected by chlorovirus, we suggest a third pathway of predator virus catalysis. By engulfing the entire protist and digesting it slowly, virus replication can occur within the predator and some of the virus is passed out through a waste vacuole. These results provide additional support for the hypothesis that predators of P. bursaria are important drivers of chlorovirus population sizes and dynamics.}, } @article {pmid34683438, year = {2021}, author = {Abokor, AA and McDaniel, GH and Golonka, RM and Campbell, C and Brahmandam, S and Yeoh, BS and Joe, B and Vijay-Kumar, M and Saha, P}, title = {Immunoglobulin A, an Active Liaison for Host-Microbiota Homeostasis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34683438}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Mucosal surfaces in the gastrointestinal tract are continually exposed to native, commensal antigens and susceptible to foreign, infectious antigens. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) provides dual humoral responses that create a symbiotic environment for the resident gut microbiota and prevent the invasion of enteric pathogens. This review features recent immunological and microbial studies that elucidate the underlying IgA and microbiota-dependent mechanisms for mutualism at physiological conditions. IgA derailment and concurrent microbiota instability in pathological diseases are also discussed in detail. Highlights of this review underscore that the source of IgA and its structural form can dictate microbiota reactivity to sustain a diverse niche where both host and bacteria benefit. Other important studies emphasize IgA insufficiency can result in the bloom of opportunistic pathogens that encroach the intestinal epithelia and disseminate into circulation. The continual growth of knowledge in these subjects can lead to the development of therapeutics targeting IgA and/or the microbiota to treat life threatening diseases.}, } @article {pmid34683336, year = {2021}, author = {Huo, D and Li, H and Cai, F and Guo, X and Qiao, Z and Wang, W and Yu, G and Li, R}, title = {Genome Evolution of Filamentous Cyanobacterium Nostoc Species: From Facultative Symbiosis to Free Living.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34683336}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {In contrast to obligate bacteria, facultative symbiotic bacteria are mainly characterized by genome enlargement. However, the underlying relationship of this feature with adaptations to various habitats remains unclear. In this study, we used the global genome data of Nostoc strains, including 10 novel genomes sequenced in this study and 26 genomes available from public databases, and analyzed their evolutionary history. The evolutionary boundary of the real clade of Nostoc species was identified and was found to be consistent with the results of polyphasic taxonomy. The initial ancestral species of Nostoc was demonstrated to be consistent with a facultative symbiotic population. Further analyses revealed that Nostoc strains tended to shift from facultative symbiosis to a free-living one, along with an increase in genome sizes during the dispersal of each exterior branch. Intracellular symbiosis was proved to be essentially related to Nostoc evolution, and the adaptation of its members to free-living environments was coupled with a large preference for gene acquisition involved in gene repair and recombination. These findings provided unique evidence of genomic mechanisms by which homologous microbes adapt to distinct life manners and external environments.}, } @article {pmid34683335, year = {2021}, author = {Gupta, SK and Srivastava, M and Osmanoglu, Ö and Xu, Z and Brakhage, AA and Dandekar, T}, title = {Aspergillus fumigatus versus Genus Aspergillus: Conservation, Adaptive Evolution and Specific Virulence Genes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34683335}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Aspergillus is an important fungal genus containing economically important species, as well as pathogenic species of animals and plants. Using eighteen fungal species of the genus Aspergillus, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of conserved genes and their evolution. This also allows us to investigate the selection pressure driving the adaptive evolution in the pathogenic species A. fumigatus. Among single-copy orthologs (SCOs) for A. fumigatus and the closely related species A. fischeri, we identified 122 versus 50 positively selected genes (PSGs), respectively. Moreover, twenty conserved genes of unknown function were established to be positively selected and thus important for adaption. A. fumigatus PSGs interacting with human host proteins show over-representation of adaptive, symbiosis-related, immunomodulatory and virulence-related pathways, such as the TGF-β pathway, insulin receptor signaling, IL1 pathway and interfering with phagosomal GTPase signaling. Additionally, among the virulence factor coding genes, secretory and membrane protein-coding genes in multi-copy gene families, 212 genes underwent positive selection and also suggest increased adaptation, such as fungal immune evasion mechanisms (aspf2), siderophore biosynthesis (sidD), fumarylalanine production (sidE), stress tolerance (atfA) and thermotolerance (sodA). These genes presumably contribute to host adaptation strategies. Genes for the biosynthesis of gliotoxin are shared among all the close relatives of A. fumigatus as an ancient defense mechanism. Positive selection plays a crucial role in the adaptive evolution of A. fumigatus. The genome-wide profile of PSGs provides valuable targets for further research on the mechanisms of immune evasion, antimycotic targeting and understanding fundamental virulence processes.}, } @article {pmid34682291, year = {2021}, author = {Landi, L and Foglia, R and Murolo, S and Romanazzi, G}, title = {The Mycorrizal Status in Vineyards Affected by Esca.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34682291}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {In this work we analyzed the relationship among native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vine roots affected by esca, a serious grapevine trunk disease. The AMF symbiosis was analyzed on the roots of neighboring plants (symptomatic and asymptomatic to esca) in 14 sites of three vineyards in Marche region (central-eastern Italy). The AMF colonization intensity, identified by non-vital staining, showed higher value in all esca symptomatic plants (ranging from 24.6% to 61.3%) than neighboring asymptomatic plants (from 17.4% to 57.6%). The same trend of Glomeromycota phylum abundance was detected by analyzing fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) linked to the AMF community, obtained by amplicon high throughput analysis of ITS 1 region. Overall, the highest amount of OTUs was detected on roots from symptomatic plants (0.42%), compared to asymptomatic roots (0.29%). Specific primer pairs for native Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae AMF species, were designed in 28S rRNA and large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA, respectively, and droplet digital PCR protocol for absolute quantification was set up. A higher number of DNA copies of both fungal species were detected more frequently in symptomatic than asymptomatic vines. Our study suggests a relationship between esca and native AMF in grapevine. These results underline the importance of native rhizosphere microbial communities for a better knowledge of grapevine esca disease.}, } @article {pmid34682289, year = {2021}, author = {Mathur, S and Agnihotri, R and Sharma, MP and Reddy, VR and Jajoo, A}, title = {Effect of High-Temperature Stress on Plant Physiological Traits and Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Maize Plants.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34682289}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Increasing high temperature (HT) has a deleterious effect on plant growth. Earlier works reported the protective role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under stress conditions, particularly influencing the physiological parameters. However, the protective role of AMF under high-temperature stress examining physiological parameters with characteristic phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) of soil microbial communities including AMF has not been studied. This work aims to study how high-temperature stress affects photosynthetic and below-ground traits in maize plants with and without AMF. Photosynthetic parameters like quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II, PSI, electron transport, and fractions of open reaction centers decreased in HT exposed plants, but recovered in AMF + HT plants. AMF + HT plants had significantly higher AM-signature 16:1ω5cis neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA), spore density in soil, and root colonization with lower lipid peroxidation than non-mycorrhizal HT plants. As a result, enriched plants had more active living biomass, which improved photosynthetic efficiency when exposed to heat. This study provides an understanding of how AM-mediated plants can tolerate high temperatures while maintaining the stability of their photosynthetic apparatus. This is the first study to combine above- and below-ground traits, which could lead to a new understanding of plant and rhizosphere stress.}, } @article {pmid34682257, year = {2021}, author = {Mayer, VE and de Hoog, S and Cristescu, SM and Vera, L and Prenafeta-Boldú, FX}, title = {Volatile Organic Compounds in the Azteca/Cecropia Ant-Plant Symbiosis and the Role of Black Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34682257}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Black fungi of the order Chaetothyriales are grown by many tropical plant-mutualistic ants as small so-called "patches" in their nests, which are located inside hollow structures provided by the host plant ("domatia"). These fungi are introduced and fostered by the ants, indicating that they are important for the colony. As several species of Chaetothyriales tolerate, adsorb, and metabolize toxic volatiles, we investigated the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of selected domatia in the Azteca/Cecropia ant-plant mutualism. Concentrations of VOCs in ant-inhabited domatia, empty domatia, and background air were compared. In total, 211 compounds belonging to 19 chemical families were identified. Ant-inhabited domatia were dominated by ketones with 2-heptanone, a well-known ant alarm semiochemical, as the most abundant volatile. Empty domatia were characterized by relatively high concentrations of the monoterpenes d-limonene, p-cymene and β-phellandrene, as well as the heterocyclic sulphur-containing compound, benzothiazole. These compounds have biocidal properties and are primarily biosynthesized by plants as a defense mechanism. Interestingly, most of the latter compounds were present at lower concentrations in ant inhabited domatia than in non-colonized ones. We suggest that Chaetothyriales may play a role in reducing the VOCs, underlining that the mutualistic nature of these fungi as VOCs accumulation might be detrimental for the ants, especially the larvae.}, } @article {pmid34681926, year = {2021}, author = {Lv, D and Liu, X and Dong, Y and Yan, Z and Zhang, X and Wang, P and Yuan, X and Li, Y}, title = {Comparison of Gut Bacterial Communities of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Reared on Different Host Plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {34681926}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Avena/parasitology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brassica napus/parasitology ; Capsicum/parasitology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Plants/classification/*parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Spodoptera/microbiology/*physiology ; Zea mays/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Spodoptera frugiperda is a highly polyphagous and invasive agricultural pest that can harm more than 300 plants and cause huge economic losses to crops. Symbiotic bacteria play an important role in the host biology and ecology of herbivores, and have a wide range of effects on host growth and adaptation. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the effects of different hosts (corn, wild oat, oilseed rape, pepper, and artificial diet) on gut microbial community structure and diversity. Corn is one of the most favored plants of S. frugiperda. We compared the gut microbiota on corn with and without a seed coating agent. The results showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the gut microbial community. The microbial abundance on oilseed rape was the highest, the microbial diversity on wild oat was the lowest, and the microbial diversity on corn without a seed coating agent was significantly higher than that with such an agent. PCoA analysis showed that there were significant differences in the gut microbial community among different hosts. PICRUSt analysis showed that most of the functional prediction categories were related to metabolic and cellular processes. The results showed that the gut microbial community of S. frugiperda was affected not only by the host species, but also by different host treatments, which played an important role in host adaptation. It is important to deepen our understanding of the symbiotic relationships between invasive organisms and microorganisms. The study of the adaptability of host insects contributes to the development of more effective and environmentally friendly pest management strategies.}, } @article {pmid34681392, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, KY and Tsai, YC and Wang, SY and Chen, YP and Chen, MJ}, title = {Coculture Strategy for Developing Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 Fermented Milk with Anti-Colitis Effect.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34681392}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Few studies have documented the effects of fermented milk on intestinal colitis, which are mediated by regulating various microbial and inflammatory processes. Here, we investigated the effects of fermented milk with Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 on intestinal epithelial cells in vitro and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in vivo. As L. paracasei PS23 grew poorly in milk, a coculture strategy with yogurt culture was provided to produce fermented milk (FM). The results indicated that the coculture exhibited a symbiotic effect, contributing to the better microbial and physicochemical property of the fermented milk products. We further evaluated the anti-colitis effect of fermented milk with L. paracasei PS23 in vitro. Both PS23-fermented milk (PS23 FM) and its heat-killed counterpart (HK PS23 FM) could protect or reverse the increased epithelial permeability by strengthening the epithelial barrier function in vitro by increasing transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). In vivo analysis of the regulation of intestinal physiology demonstrated that low-dose L. paracasei PS23-fermented ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, with a significant attenuation of the bleeding score and reduction of fecal calprotectin levels. This anti-colitis effect may be exerted by deactivating the inflammatory cascade and strengthening the tight junction through the modification of specific cecal bacteria and upregulation of short-chain fatty acids. Our findings can clarify the role of L. paracasei PS23 in FM products when cocultured with yogurt culture and can elucidate the mechanisms of the anti-colitis effect of L. paracasei PS23 FM, which may be considered for therapeutic intervention.}, } @article {pmid34681150, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, J and Gui, H and Yang, S and Yang, X and Shi, L}, title = {Fungal Interactions Matter: Tricholoma matsutake Domination Affect Fungal Diversity and Function in Mountain Forest Soils.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34681150}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Tricholoma matsutake forms a symbiotic association with coniferous trees, developing mycelial aggregations, called 'shiro', which are characterized by distinct chemical and physical properties from nearby forest bulk soil. The fungal diversity living in shiro soil play key roles in nutrient cycles for this economically important mushroom, but have not been profiled across large spatial and environmental gradients. Samples of shiro and non-shiro (nearby bulk soil) were taken from five field sites where sporocarps naturally formed. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and Illumina MiSeq sequencing were combined to identify fungal biomass and community structure. Matsutake dominated in the shiro, which had a significantly reduced saprotrophic fungi biomass compared to non-shiro soil. Fungal diversity was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of T. matsutake in the shiro soil. The fungal community in the shiro was characterized by similar fungal species composition in most samples regardless of forest types. Matsutake coexisted with a specific fungal community due to competition or nutrient interactions. Oidiodendron was positively correlated with the abundance of T. matsutake, commonly cohabitant in the shiro. In contrast, Helotiales and Mortierella were negatively correlated with T. matsutake, both of which commonly inhabit the non-shiro soil but do not occur in shiro soils. We conclude that T. matsutake generate a dominance effect to shape the fungal community and diversity in shiro soil across distinctive forest types.}, } @article {pmid34681115, year = {2021}, author = {Muñoz-Benavent, M and Latorre, A and Alemany-Cosme, E and Marín-Miret, J and Domínguez-Santos, R and Silva, FJ and Gil, R and García-Ferris, C}, title = {Gut Microbiota Cannot Compensate the Impact of (quasi) Aposymbiosis in Blattella germanica.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34681115}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Blattella germanica presents a very complex symbiotic system, involving the following two kinds of symbionts: the endosymbiont Blattabacterium and the gut microbiota. Although the role of the endosymbiont has been fully elucidated, the function of the gut microbiota remains unclear. The study of the gut microbiota will benefit from the availability of insects deprived of Blattabacterium. Our goal is to determine the effect of the removal (or, at least, the reduction) of the endosymbiont population on the cockroach's fitness, in a normal gut microbiota community. For this purpose, we treated our cockroach population, over several generations, with rifampicin, an antibiotic that only affects the endosymbiont during its extracellular phase, and decreases its amount in the following generation. As rifampicin also affects gut bacteria that are sensitive to this antibiotic, the treatment was performed during the first 12 days of the adult stage, which is the period when the endosymbiont infects the oocytes and lacks bacteriocyte protection. We found that after this antibiotic treatment, the endosymbiont population remained extremely reduced and only the microbiota was able to recover, although it could not compensate for the endosymbiont role, and the host's fitness was drastically affected. This accomplished reduction, however, is not homogenous and requires further study to develop stable quasi-aposymbiotic cockroaches.}, } @article {pmid34681098, year = {2021}, author = {Elbrense, H and Elmasry, AMA and Seleiman, MF and Al-Harbi, MS and Abd El-Raheem, AM}, title = {Can Symbiotic Bacteria (Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus) Be More Efficient than Their Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Pieris rapae and Pentodon algerinus Larvae?.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34681098}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Pieris rapae and Pentodon algerinus are considered a global threat to agricultural crops and food security; hence, their control is a critical issue. Heterorhabditid and Steinernematid nematodes, along with their symbiotic bacteria, can achieve the optimal biocontrol agent criterion. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema riobravis, and their symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus) against P. rapae and P. algerinus larvae. The virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) was determined at different infective juvenile concentrations and exposure times, while the symbiotic bacteria were applied at the concentration of 3 × 10[7] colony-forming units (CFU)/mL at different exposure times. Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis and the cytotoxic effect of Photorhabdus sp. and Xenorhabdus sp. were determined. The results indicated that H. bacteriophora, S. riobravis, and their symbiotic bacteria significantly (p ≤ 0.001) induced mortality in both insect species. However, H. bacteriophora and its symbiont, Photorhabdus sp., were more virulent. Moreover, the data clarified that both symbiotic bacteria outperformed EPNs against P. rapae but the opposite was true for P. algerinus. GC-MS analysis revealed the main active compounds that have insecticidal activity. However, the results revealed that there was no significant cytotoxic effect. In conclusion, H. bacteriophora, S. riobravis, and their symbiotic bacteria can be an optimal option for bio-controlling both insect species. Furthermore, both symbiotic bacteria can be utilized independently on EPNs for the management of both pests, and, hence, they can be safely incorporated into biocontrol programs and tested against other insect pests.}, } @article {pmid34680698, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, XD and Kaur, N and Horton, DR and Cooper, WR and Qureshi, JA and Stelinski, LL}, title = {Crude Extracts and Alkaloids Derived from Ipomoea-Periglandula Symbiotic Association Cause Mortality of Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34680698}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is an important economic pest of citrus crops because it vectors the causal pathogen of huanglongbing (HLB; aka citrus greening). Population suppression of D. citri with insecticides has been disproportionally relied on for HLB management and a greater diversity of more sustainable tools is needed. Periglandula spp. is a fungal endosymbiont (family Clavicipitaceae) that forms a mutualistic relationship with members of plants in family Convolvulaceae. This association results in the production of ergot alkaloids that were previously documented as having psyllicidal properties. We investigated the mortality and behavior of D. citri exposed to crude extracts from morning glories in the plant family Convolvulaceae, as well as synthetic ergot alkaloids. Nymphs and adults were exposed to the crude plant extracts from Periglandula positive species of Convolvulaceae, as well as five synthetic ergot alkaloids. Treatments were prepared by exposing clippings of citrus to 100 ng/µL of crude extract from Periglandula-positive species of Ipomoea (I. imperati, I. leptophylla, I. pandurata and I. tricolor), and Turbina corymbosa, and from one Periglandula-negative species (I. alba) (100 ng/µL). Mortality of adult and nymphal D. citri was significantly higher than the control after exposure to extracts from I. tricolor and I. imperati. The synthetic ergot alkaloids, lysergol (10-100 ng/µL), ergonovine maleate (100 ng/µL), agroclavine (10-100 ng/µL), and ergosine (10-100 ng/µL) increased mortality of D. citri nymphs, while ergosine (100 ng/µL) and agroclavine (100 ng/µL) increased mortality of adults compared to water controls. Fewer D. citri adults settled on plants treated with crude extracts or synthetic ergot alkaloids than on water controls at 48 h after release. D. citri that fed on citrus leaves treated with 10 ng/μL solution of crude extract from the Periglandula-positive species Ipomoea (I. imperati, I. leptophylla, I. pandurata, I. tricolor), and Turbina corymbosa excreted significantly less honeydew compared with a negative water control and extract from Periglandula-negative species (I. alba). Our results indicate that crude extracts and ergot alkaloids exhibit toxic and sub-lethal effects on D. citri that could be useful for management of this pest.}, } @article {pmid34680692, year = {2021}, author = {Nikolouli, K and Sassù, F and Ntougias, S and Stauffer, C and Cáceres, C and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Enterobacter sp. AA26 as a Protein Source in the Larval Diet of Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34680692}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The Spotted-Wing Drosophila fly, Drosophila suzukii, is an invasive pest species infesting major agricultural soft fruits. Drosophila suzukii management is currently based on insecticide applications that bear major concerns regarding their efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an efficient and friendly to the environment pest control method that has been suggested for the D. suzukii population control. Successful SIT applications require mass-rearing of the strain to produce competitive and of high biological quality males that will be sterilized and consequently released in the wild. Recent studies have suggested that insect gut symbionts can be used as a protein source for Ceratitis capitata larval diet and replace the expensive brewer's yeast. In this study, we exploited Enterobacter sp. AA26 as partial and full replacement of inactive brewer's yeast in the D. suzukii larval diet and assessed several fitness parameters. Enterobacter sp. AA26 dry biomass proved to be an inadequate nutritional source in the absence of brewer's yeast and resulted in significant decrease in pupal weight, survival under food and water starvation, fecundity, and adult recovery.}, } @article {pmid34680047, year = {2021}, author = {Gojda, J and Cahova, M}, title = {Gut Microbiota as the Link between Elevated BCAA Serum Levels and Insulin Resistance.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34680047}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/*blood/genetics ; Blood Glucose/genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance/*genetics ; Obesity/blood/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The microbiota-harboring human gut is an exquisitely active ecosystem that has evolved in a constant symbiosis with the human host. It produces numerous compounds depending on its metabolic capacity and substrates availability. Diet is the major source of the substrates that are metabolized to end-products, further serving as signal molecules in the microbiota-host cross-talk. Among these signal molecules, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) has gained significant scientific attention. BCAAs are abundant in animal-based dietary sources; they are both produced and degraded by gut microbiota and the host circulating levels are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the complex relationship between gut microbiota and its functional capacity to handle BCAAs as well as the host BCAA metabolism in insulin resistance development. Targeting gut microbiota BCAA metabolism with a dietary modulation could represent a promising approach in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance related states, such as obesity and diabetes.}, } @article {pmid34679676, year = {2021}, author = {Antolak, H and Piechota, D and Kucharska, A}, title = {Kombucha Tea-A Double Power of Bioactive Compounds from Tea and Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY).}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34679676}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Kombucha is a low alcoholic beverage with high content of bioactive compounds derived from plant material (tea, juices, herb extracts) and metabolic activity of microorganisms (acetic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts). Currently, it attracts an increasing number of consumers due to its health-promoting properties. This review focuses on aspects significantly affecting the bioactive compound content and biological activities of Kombucha tea. The literature review shows that the drink is characterized by a high content of bioactive compounds, strong antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Factors that substantially affect these activities are the tea type and its brewing parameters, the composition of the SCOBY, as well as the fermentation parameters. On the other hand, Kombucha fermentation is characterized by many unknowns, which result, inter alia, from different methods of tea extraction, diverse, often undefined compositions of microorganisms used in the fermentation, as well as the lack of clearly defined effects of microorganisms on bioactive compounds contained in tea, and therefore the health-promoting properties of the final product. The article indicates the shortcomings in the current research in the field of Kombucha, as well as future perspectives on improving the health-promoting activities of this fermented drink.}, } @article {pmid34678969, year = {2021}, author = {Cappelli, A and Amantini, C and Maggi, F and Favia, G and Ricci, I}, title = {Formulation and Safety Tests of a Wickerhamomyces anomalus-Based Product: Potential Use of Killer Toxins of a Mosquito Symbiotic Yeast to Limit Malaria Transmission.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34678969}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {*Biological Control Agents ; Cell Survival ; Freeze Drying ; HaCaT Cells ; Humans ; Microbial Viability ; Saccharomycetales/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Toxins, Biological/metabolism/*physiology/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Wickerhamomyces anomalus strain WaF17.12 is a yeast with an antiplasmodial property based on the production of a killer toxin. For its symbiotic association with Anopheles mosquitoes, it has been proposed for the control of malaria. In an applied view, we evaluated the yeast formulation by freeze-drying WaF17.12. The study was carried out by comparing yeast preparations stored at room temperature for different periods, demonstrating that lyophilization is a useful method to obtain a stable product in terms of cell growth reactivation and maintenance of the killer toxin antimicrobial activity. Moreover, cytotoxic assays on human cells were performed, showing no effects on the cell viability and the proinflammatory response. The post-formulation effectiveness of the killer toxin and the safety tests indicate that WaF17.12 is a promising bioreagent able to impair the malaria parasite in vector mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid34678642, year = {2021}, author = {Izadi-Darbandi, A and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Role of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase 1 in nodule development of soybean.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {267}, number = {}, pages = {153543}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153543}, pmid = {34678642}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA-Reductases, NADP-dependent/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Autoregulation of nodulation (AON) plays a central role in nodulation by inhibiting the formation of excess number of legume root nodules. In this study, the effect of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase 1 (GmHMGR1) gene expression on nodulation and the AON system in Glycine max (L.) Merr was investigated. Wild-type soybean (cultivar Bragg) and its near-isogenic supernodulating mutant (nitrate tolerant symbiotic) nts1007 were selected to identify the expression pattern of this gene in rootlets after inoculation by its microsymbiont Bradyrhizobium. For further analysis, the full length of GmHMGR1 and its promoter were cloned after amplification by inverse-PCR and BAC library screening. Also, we constructed an intron hairpin RNA interference (ihpRNAi) and a GmHMGR1 promoter: β-glucuronidase fusion constructs, consequently for suppression of GmHMGR1 and histochemical analysis in transgenic soybean hairy roots induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain K599. The GmHMGR1 gene was functional during the early stages of nodulation with the AON system having a negative effect on GmHMGR1 expression and nodule formation in wild-type rootlets. GmHMGR1 was particularly expressed in the developing phloem within the root, nodules and nodule lenticels. Expression of GmHMGR1 in transgenic hairy roots was suppressed by RNAi silencing approximately 85% as compared to empty vector controls. This suggests that the GmHMGR1 gene has an important role in triggering nodule formation as its suppression caused a reduction of nodule formation in nts mutant lines with a deficient AON system.}, } @article {pmid34678546, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, W and Xia, J and Ren, Y and Xie, M and Yin, H and Liu, X and Huang, J and Zhu, M and Li, X}, title = {Coastal corals during heat stress and eutrophication: A case study in Northwest Hainan coastal areas.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {173}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {113048}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113048}, pmid = {34678546}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Chlorophyll A ; *Dinoflagellida ; Eutrophication ; Heat-Shock Response ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study initially investigated the coral status during the unexpected bleaching event in three coastal areas in Northwest Hainan coastal areas and analyzed changes in coral holobionts of the healthy and bleached Galaxea fascicularis. Coral coverage had declined severely, and the bleaching rate was extremely high during heat stress. The bleached corals had lower maximum photosynthetic yield, actual photosynthetic yield, zooxanthellae density, and chlorophyll a content than the healthy G. fascicularis, but there was no significant difference in protein, carbohydrate and lipid in eutrophic waters. The diversity and community composition of Symbiodiniaceae and symbiotic bacteria between healthy and bleached G. fascicularis showed no difference. Function prediction of the symbiotic bacteria revealed that the metabolism process was the main pathway of annotation. Present findings suggested that energy reserve functioning and high stability of the holobiont structure and might provide opportunities to G. fascicularis to adapt to eutrophication and heat stress.}, } @article {pmid34676666, year = {2022}, author = {Qi, H and Xia, FN and Xiao, S and Li, J}, title = {TRAF proteins as key regulators of plant development and stress responses.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {431-448}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13182}, pmid = {34676666}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arabidopsis/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; *Biological Phenomena ; Mammals/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) proteins are conserved in higher eukaryotes and play key roles in transducing cellular signals across different organelles. They are characterized by their C-terminal region (TRAF-C domain) containing seven to eight anti-parallel β-sheets, also known as the meprin and TRAF-C homology (MATH) domain. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made toward understanding the diverse roles of TRAF proteins in mammals and plants. Compared to other eukaryotic species, the Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa) genomes encode many more TRAF/MATH domain-containing proteins; these plant proteins cluster into five classes: TRAF/MATH-only, MATH-BPM, MATH-UBP (ubiquitin protease), Seven in absentia (SINA), and MATH-Filament and MATH-PEARLI-4 proteins, suggesting parallel evolution of TRAF proteins in plants. Increasing evidence now indicates that plant TRAF proteins form central signaling networks essential for multiple biological processes, such as vegetative and reproductive development, autophagosome formation, plant immunity, symbiosis, phytohormone signaling, and abiotic stress responses. Here, we summarize recent advances and highlight future prospects for understanding on the molecular mechanisms by which TRAF proteins act in plant development and stress responses.}, } @article {pmid34675897, year = {2021}, author = {Krohn, I and Bergmann, L and Qi, M and Indenbirken, D and Han, Y and Perez-Garcia, P and Katzowitsch, E and Hägele, B and Lübcke, T and Siry, C and Riemann, R and Alawi, M and Streit, WR}, title = {Deep (Meta)genomics and (Meta)transcriptome Analyses of Fungal and Bacteria Consortia From Aircraft Tanks and Kerosene Identify Key Genes in Fuel and Tank Corrosion.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {722259}, pmid = {34675897}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial contamination of fuels, associated with a wide variety of bacteria and fungi, leads to decreased product quality and can compromise equipment performance by biofouling or microbiologically influenced corrosion. Detection and quantification of microorganisms are critical in monitoring fuel systems for an early detection of microbial contaminations. To address these challenges, we have analyzed six metagenomes, one transcriptome, and more than 1,200 fluid and swab samples taken from fuel tanks or kerosene. Our deep metagenome sequencing and binning approaches in combination with RNA-seq data and qPCR methods implied a metabolic symbiosis between fungi and bacteria. The most abundant bacteria were affiliated with α-, β-, and γ-Proteobacteria and the filamentous fungi Amorphotheca. We identified a high number of genes, which are related to kerosene degradation and biofilm formation. Surprisingly, a large number of genes coded enzymes involved in polymer degradation and potential bio-corrosion processes. Thereby, the transcriptionally most active microorganisms were affiliated with the genera Methylobacteria, Pseudomonas, Kocuria, Amorpotheka, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Many not yet cultured bacteria and fungi appeared to contribute to the biofilm transcriptional activities. The largest numbers of transcripts were observed for dehydrogenase, oxygenase, and exopolysaccharide production, attachment and pili/flagella-associated proteins, efflux pumps, and secretion systems as well as lipase and esterase activity.}, } @article {pmid34675260, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez-Lachaud, G and Rocha, FH and Pozo, C and Kaminski, LA and Seraphim, N and Lachaud, JP}, title = {A new ant-butterfly symbiosis in the forest canopy fills an evolutionary gap.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {20770}, pmid = {34675260}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Biological Evolution ; Butterflies/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Forests ; Oviposition ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Myrmecophilous butterflies can establish complex symbiotic relationships with ants. A caterpillar wandering among the brood of the aggressive ponerine ant Neoponera villosa was found inside the core of a nest built in the myrmecophytic bromeliad Aechmea bracteata. This is the first caterpillar found living inside a ponerine ant nest. Its DNA barcode was sequenced, and an integrative approach was used to identify it as Pseudonymphidia agave, a poorly known member of the subtribe Pachythonina in the riodinid tribe Nymphidiini. The cuticle of the tank-like caterpillar lacks projections or tubercles and is covered dorsally by specialized flat setae that form an armor of small plates. Ant-organs potentially related to caterpillar-ant signaling, such as perforated cupola organs and tentacle nectary organs, are present. These morphological traits, together with evidence of social integration (direct contact with host brood, protective morphology, slow movement, no host aggressiveness), suggest that P. agave is a symbiotic, social parasite of N. villosa, preying on its host brood. However, several knowledge gaps remain, including oviposition site, dependence on bromeliad association, steps to colony integration, and larval diet through development. Carnivory has been reported in all known members of the subtribe Pachythonina (caterpillars prey on honeydew-producing hemipterans) suggesting a shift to myrmecophagy inside the ant nests as a possible evolutionary transition.}, } @article {pmid34674103, year = {2021}, author = {Bonthond, G and Shalygin, S and Bayer, T and Weinberger, F}, title = {Draft genome and description of Waterburya agarophytonicola gen. nov. sp. nov. (Pleurocapsales, Cyanobacteria): a seaweed symbiont.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {114}, number = {12}, pages = {2189-2203}, pmid = {34674103}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhodophyta ; *Seaweed ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {This work introduces Waterburya agarophytonicola Bonthond and Shalygin gen. nov., sp. nov, a baeocyte producing cyanobacterium that was isolated from the rhodophyte Agarophyton vermiculophyllum (Ohmi) Gurgel et al., an invasive seaweed that has spread across the northern hemisphere. The new species genome reveals a diverse repertoire of chemotaxis and adhesion related genes, including genes coding for type IV pili assembly proteins and a high number of genes coding for filamentous hemagglutinin family (FHA) proteins. Among a genetic basis for the synthesis of siderophores, carotenoids and numerous vitamins, W. agarophytonicola is potentially capable of producing cobalamin (vitamin B12), for which A. vermiculophyllum is an auxotroph. With a taxonomic description of the genus and species and a draft genome, this study provides as a basis for future research, to uncover the nature of this geographically independent association between seaweed and cyanobiont.}, } @article {pmid34674014, year = {2022}, author = {Agbulu, V and Zaman, R and Ishangulyyeva, G and Cahill, JF and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Host Defense Metabolites Alter the Interactions between a Bark Beetle and its Symbiotic Fungi.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {834-843}, pmid = {34674014}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Plant Bark ; *Pinus/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils/microbiology ; Monoterpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Successful host plant colonization by tree-killing bark beetle-symbiotic fungal complexes depends on host suitability, which is largely determined by host defense metabolites such as monoterpenes. Studies have shown the ability of specific blends of host monoterpenes to influence bark beetles or their fungal symbionts, but how biologically relevant blends of host monoterpenes influence bark beetle-symbiotic fungal interaction is unknown. We tested how interactions between two host species (lodgepole pine or jack pine) and two fungal symbionts of mountain pine beetle (Grosmannia clavigera or Ophiostoma montium) affect the performance of adult female beetles in vitro. Beetles treated with the propagules of G. clavigera or O. montium or not treated (natural fungal load) were introduced into media amended with a blend of the entire monoterpene profile of either host species and beetle performance was compared. Overall, host blends altered beetle performance depending on the fungal species used in the beetle amendment. When beetles were amended with G. clavigera, their performance was superior over beetles amended with O. montium in either host blend. Furthermore, G. clavigera-amended beetles performed better in media amended with host blends than without a host blend; in contrast, O. montium-amended beetles performed better in media without a host blend than with a host blend. Overall, this study showed that host defense metabolites affect host suitability to bark beetles through influencing their fungal symbionts and that different species of fungal symbionts respond differentlly to host defense metabolites.}, } @article {pmid34673198, year = {2022}, author = {Chan, SS and Khoo, KS and Chew, KW and Ling, TC and Show, PL}, title = {Recent advances biodegradation and biosorption of organic compounds from wastewater: Microalgae-bacteria consortium - A review.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {344}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {126159}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126159}, pmid = {34673198}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; *Microalgae ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The litter of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the water streams and soil bodies via industrial effluents led to several adverse effects on the environment, health, and ecosystem. For the past decades, scientists have been paying efforts in the innovation and development of POPs removal from wastewater treatment. However, the conventional methods used for the removal of POPs from wastewater are costly and could lead to secondary pollution including soil and water bodies pollution. In recent, the utilization of green mechanisms such as biosorption, bioaccumulation and biodegradation has drawn attention and prelude the potential of green technology globally. Microalgae-bacteria consortia have emerged to be one of the latent wastewater treatment systems. The synergistic interactions between microalgae and bacteria could proficiently enhance the existing biological wastewater treatment system. This paper will critically review the comparison of conventional and recent advanced wastewater treatment systems and the mechanisms of the microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system.}, } @article {pmid34673189, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, Y and He, Y and Li, X and Nagarajan, D and Chang, JS}, title = {Enhanced biodegradation of chlortetracycline via a microalgae-bacteria consortium.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {343}, number = {}, pages = {126149}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126149}, pmid = {34673189}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; *Chlortetracycline ; *Microalgae ; }, abstract = {Microbial removal of Chlortetracycline (CTC) at low CTC concentrations (in the order of 10-20 mg/L) has been reported. In this study, a novel microalgae-bacteria consortium was developed for effective CTC biodegradation at higher concentrations (up to 80 mg/L). The microalgae-bacteria consortium is resistant to up to 80 mg/L CTC, while the pure microalgal culture could only tolerate 60 mg/L CTC. CTC removal in the initial 12 h was primarily via biosorption by the microalgae-bacteria consortium and the adsorption capacity increased from 61.71 to 102.53 mg/g biomass in 12 h. Further, CTC biodegradation by the microalgae-bacteria consortium was catalyzed by extracellular enzymes secreted under antibiotic stress. The symbiotic bacterial diversity was analyzed by high throughput sequencing. The aerobic bacteria Porphyrobacter and Devosia were the dominant genera in the consortium. In the presence of CTC, a microbial community shift occurred with Chloroptast, Spingopyxis, and Brevundimonas being the dominant genera.}, } @article {pmid34671328, year = {2021}, author = {Acevedo, TS and Fricker, GP and Garcia, JR and Alcaide, T and Berasategui, A and Stoy, KS and Gerardo, NM}, title = {The Importance of Environmentally Acquired Bacterial Symbionts for the Squash Bug (Anasa tristis), a Significant Agricultural Pest.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {719112}, pmid = {34671328}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Most insects maintain associations with microbes that shape their ecology and evolution. Such symbioses have important applied implications when the associated insects are pests or vectors of disease. The squash bug, Anasa tristis (Coreoidea: Coreidae), is a significant pest of human agriculture in its own right and also causes damage to crops due to its capacity to transmit a bacterial plant pathogen. Here, we demonstrate that complete understanding of these insects requires consideration of their association with bacterial symbionts in the family Burkholderiaceae. Isolation and sequencing of bacteria housed in the insects' midgut crypts indicates that these bacteria are consistent and dominant members of the crypt-associated bacterial communities. These symbionts are closely related to Caballeronia spp. associated with other true bugs in the superfamilies Lygaeoidea and Coreoidea. Fitness assays with representative Burkholderiaceae strains indicate that the association can significantly increase survival and decrease development time, though strains do vary in the benefits that they confer to their hosts, with Caballeronia spp. providing the greatest benefit. Experiments designed to assess transmission mode indicate that, unlike many other beneficial insect symbionts, the bacteria are not acquired from parents before or after hatching but are instead acquired from the environment after molting to a later developmental stage. The bacteria do, however, have the capacity to escape adults to be transmitted to later generations, leaving the possibility for a combination of indirect vertical and horizontal transmission.}, } @article {pmid34669453, year = {2022}, author = {Bravo, M and Combes, T and Martinez, FO and Risco, D and Gonçalves, P and Garcia-Jimenez, WL and Cerrato, R and Fernandez-Llario, P and Gutierrez-Merino, J}, title = {Wildlife Symbiotic Bacteria Are Indicators of the Health Status of the Host and Its Ecosystem.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {e0138521}, pmid = {34669453}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Bacteria/genetics ; Health Status ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are gut symbionts that can be used as a model to understand the host-microbiota cross talk under unpredictable environmental conditions, such as wildlife ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine whether viable LAB can be informative of the health status of wild boar populations. We monitored the genotype and phenotype of LAB based on markers that included safety and phylogenetic origin, antibacterial activity, and immunomodulatory properties. A LAB profile dominated by lactobacilli appears to stimulate protective immune responses and relates to strains widely used as probiotics, resulting in a potentially healthy wildlife population, whereas microbiota overpopulated by enterococci was observed in a hostile environment. These enterococci were closely related to pathogenic strains that have developed mechanisms to evade innate immune systems, posing a potential risk for host health. Furthermore, our LAB isolates displayed antibacterial properties in a species-dependent manner. Nearly all of them were able to inhibit bacterial pathogens, raising the possibility of using them as an a la carte antibiotic alternative in the unexplored field of wildlife disease mitigation. Our study highlights that microbiological characterization of LAB is a useful indicator of wildlife health status and the ecological origin from which they derive. IMPORTANCE The wildlife symbiotic microbiota is an important component for the greater diversity and functionality of their bacterial populations, influencing host health and adaptability to its ecosystem. Although many microbes are partly responsible for the development of multiple physiological processes, only certain bacterial groups, such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB), have the capacity to overpopulate the gut, promoting health (or disease) when specific genetic and environmental conditions are present. LAB have been exploited in many ways due to their probiotic properties, particularly lactobacilli; however, their relationship with wildlife gut-associated microbiota hosts remains to be elucidated. On the other hand, it is unclear whether LAB such as enterococci, which have been associated with detrimental health effects, could lead to disease. These important questions have not been properly considered in the field of wildlife and, therefore, should be clearly addressed.}, } @article {pmid34669447, year = {2022}, author = {Mendiola, SY and Stoy, KS and DiSalvo, S and Wynn, CL and Civitello, DJ and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Competitive Exclusion of Phytopathogenic Serratia marcescens from Squash Bug Vectors by the Gut Endosymbiont Caballeronia.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {e0155021}, pmid = {34669447}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI150774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Burkholderiaceae ; *Heteroptera ; Insecta ; Serratia marcescens ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects harbor microbial symbiotic partners that offer protection against pathogens, parasitoids, and other natural enemies. Mounting evidence suggests that these symbiotic microbes can play key roles in determining infection outcomes in insect vectors, making them important players in the quest to develop novel vector control strategies. Using the squash bug Anasa tristis, we investigated how the presence of Caballeronia symbionts affected the persistence and intensity of phytopathogenic Serratia marcescens within the insect vector. We reared insects aposymbiotically and with different Caballeronia isolates, infected them with S. marcescens, and then sampled the insects periodically to assess the intensity and persistence of pathogen infection. Squash bugs harboring Caballeronia consistently had much lower-intensity infections and cleared S. marcescens significantly faster than their aposymbiotic counterparts. These patterns held even when we reversed the timing of exposure to symbiont and pathogen. Taken together, these results indicate that Caballeronia symbionts play an essential role in S. marcescens infection outcomes in squash bugs and could be used to alter vector competence to enhance agricultural productivity in the future. IMPORTANCE Insect-microbe symbioses have repeatedly been shown to profoundly impact an insect's ability to vector pathogens to other hosts. The use of symbiotic microbes to control insect vector populations is of growing interest in agricultural settings. Our study examines how symbiotic microbes affect the dynamics of a plant pathogen infection within the squash bug vector Anasa tristis, a well-documented pest of squash and other cucurbit plants and a vector of Serratia marcescens, the causative agent of cucurbit yellow vine disease. We provide evidence that the symbiont Caballeronia prevents successful, long-term establishment of S. marcescens in the squash bug. These findings give us insight into symbiont-pathogen dynamics within the squash bug that could ultimately determine its ability to transmit pathogens and be leveraged to interrupt disease transmission in this system.}, } @article {pmid34669029, year = {2021}, author = {Bhalla, S and Garg, N}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae and silicon alleviate arsenic toxicity by enhancing soil nutrient availability, starch degradation and productivity in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {735-754}, pmid = {34669029}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Arsenic/toxicity ; *Cajanus ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots ; Silicon ; Soil ; Starch ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) pollution of soil reduces the growth and reproductive potential of plants. Silicon (Si) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play significant roles in alleviating adverse effects of As stress. However, studies are scant regarding alleviative effects of Si in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) because legumes are considered low Si-accumulators. We investigated the individual as well as synergistic potential of Si with two AM species (M1-Claroideoglomus etunicatum and M2-Rhizoglomus intraradices) in modulating soil properties, thereby improving growth and productivity of pigeonpea genotype Pusa 2001 grown in AsV and AsIII challenged soils. Both As species hampered the establishment of AM symbiosis, thus, reducing nutrient uptake, growth and yield, with AsIII more toxic than AsV. Exogenously applied Si and AM species enhanced soil glomalin and phosphatases activity, hence decreased metal bioavailability in soil, increased plant nutrient acquisition, biomass and chlorophylls; with maximum benefits provided by M2, closely followed by Si and least by M1. These amendments boosted the activities of starch hydrolytic enzymes (α-, β-amylase, starch phosphorylase) in plants, along with a simultaneous increase in total soluble sugars (TSS). This enhanced sugar accumulation directly led to improved reproductive attributes, more efficiently by M2 and Si than by M1. Moreover, there was a substantial increase in proline biosynthesis due to significantly enhanced activities of its biosynthetic enzymes. Additionally, combined applications of Si and AM, especially +Si+M2, complemented each other where AM enhanced Si uptake, while Si induced mycorrhization, suggesting their mutual and beneficial roles in ameliorating metal(loid) toxicity and achieving sustainability in pigeonpea production under As stress.}, } @article {pmid34668199, year = {2022}, author = {Erlandson, SR and Margis, R and Ramirez, A and Nguyen, N and Lofgren, LA and Liao, HL and Vilgalys, R and Kennedy, PG and Peay, KG}, title = {Transcriptional acclimation and spatial differentiation characterize drought response by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus pungens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {234}, number = {6}, pages = {1910-1913}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17816}, pmid = {34668199}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {S10 OD018220/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization ; *Basidiomycota/physiology ; Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid34663831, year = {2021}, author = {Sousa, KKA and Camargo, RS and Caldato, N and Farias, AP and Matos, CAO and Zanuncio, JC and Santos, ICL and Forti, LC}, title = {Carbon dioxide levels in initial nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {20562}, pmid = {34663831}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/metabolism/microbiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Carbon Dioxide/*analysis ; Fungi/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nesting Behavior/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Claustral foundation of nests by Atta sexdens Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) involves great effort by its queens, solely responsible for the cultivation of the fungus and care for her offspring at this stage. The minimum workers, after 4 months, open access to the external environment to foraging plants to cultivate the symbiotic fungus, which decomposes the plant fragments and produces gongilidea nodules as food for the individuals in the colony. Colony gas exchange and decomposition of organic matter in underground ant nests generate carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere. We described the carbon dioxide concentration in colonies in the field. The objective was to evaluate the carbon dioxide concentration in initial A. sexdens colonies, in the field, and their development. The CO2 level was also measured in 4-month-old colonies in the field, using an open respirometric system fitted with an atmospheric air inlet. The CO2 level of the respirometric container was read by introducing a tube into the nest inlet hole and the air sucked by a peristaltic pump into the CO2 meter box. The CO2 concentration in the initial colony was also measured after 4 months of age, when the offspring production (number of eggs, larvae, pupae and adult workers) stabilized. Ten perforations (15 cm deep) was carried out in the adjacent soil, without a nest of ants nearby, to determine the concentration of CO2. The composition of the nests in the field was evaluated after excavating them using a gardening shovel and they were stored in 250 ml pots with 1 cm of moistened plaster at the bottom. The CO2 concentration was higher in field nest than in adjacent soil. The concentration of carbon dioxide in A. sexdens nests in the field is higher than in those in the soil, due to the production of CO2 by the fungus garden and colony.}, } @article {pmid34662574, year = {2022}, author = {Tang, CC and Zhang, XY and Wang, R and Wang, TY and He, ZW and Wang, XC}, title = {Calcium ions-effect on performance, growth and extracellular nature of microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system treating wastewater.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {112228}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2021.112228}, pmid = {34662574}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Biomass ; Calcium ; Chlorophyll A ; Ions ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system treating wastewater has attracted great concern because of its advantages of carbon dioxide reduction and biomass energy production. However, due to the low density and negative surface charge of microalgae cells, the sedimentation and harvesting performance of microalgae biomass has been one limitation for the application of MABS system on wastewater treatment. This study investigated the performance enhancement of microalgae harvesting and wastewater treatment contributed by calcium ions (i.e., Ca[2+]) in the MABS system. Results showed that a low Ca[2+] loading (i.e., 0.1 mM) promoted both COD and nutrients removal, with growth rates of 11.95, 6.53 and 1.21% for COD, TN and TP compared to control, and chlorophyll a was increased by 64.15%. Differently, a high Ca[2+] loading (i.e., 10 mM) caused removal reductions by improving the aggregation of microalgae, with reduction rates of 34.82, 3.50 and 10.30% for COD, NH4[+]-N and TP. Mechanism analysis indicated that redundant Ca[2+] adsorbed on MABS aggregates and dissolved in wastewater decreased the dispersibility of microalgae cells by electrical neutralization and compressed double electric layer. Moreover, the presence of Ca[2+] could improve extracellular secretions and promoted flocculation performance, with particle size increasing by 336.22%. The findings of this study may provide some solutions for the enhanced microalgae biomass harvest and nutrients removal from wastewater.}, } @article {pmid34662348, year = {2021}, author = {Earle, SG and Lobanovska, M and Lavender, H and Tang, C and Exley, RM and Ramos-Sevillano, E and Browning, DF and Kostiou, V and Harrison, OB and Bratcher, HB and Varani, G and Tang, CM and Wilson, DJ and Maiden, MCJ}, title = {Genome-wide association studies reveal the role of polymorphisms affecting factor H binding protein expression in host invasion by Neisseria meningitidis.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {e1009992}, pmid = {34662348}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 102908/Z/13/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; R35 GM126942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 087622/Z/08/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 218205/Z/19/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 102908/Z/13/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 101237/Z/13/B/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 203141/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; /DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; R35 GM126942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antigens, Bacterial/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Meningococcal Infections/*genetics ; Neisseria meningitidis/*genetics/*pathogenicity ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; }, abstract = {Many invasive bacterial diseases are caused by organisms that are ordinarily harmless components of the human microbiome. Effective interventions against these microbes require an understanding of the processes whereby symbiotic or commensal relationships transition into pathology. Here, we describe bacterial genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Neisseria meningitidis, a common commensal of the human respiratory tract that is nevertheless a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis. An initial GWAS discovered bacterial genetic variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associated with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) versus carriage in several loci across the meningococcal genome, encoding antigens and other extracellular components, confirming the polygenic nature of the invasive phenotype. In particular, there was a significant peak of association around the fHbp locus, encoding factor H binding protein (fHbp), which promotes bacterial immune evasion of human complement by recruiting complement factor H (CFH) to the meningococcal surface. The association around fHbp with IMD was confirmed by a validation GWAS, and we found that the SNPs identified in the validation affected the 5' region of fHbp mRNA, altering secondary RNA structures, thereby increasing fHbp expression and enhancing bacterial escape from complement-mediated killing. This finding is consistent with the known link between complement deficiencies and CFH variation with human susceptibility to IMD. These observations demonstrate the importance of human and bacterial genetic variation across the fHbp:CFH interface in determining IMD susceptibility, the transition from carriage to disease.}, } @article {pmid34661728, year = {2022}, author = {Znój, A and Gawor, J and Gromadka, R and Chwedorzewska, KJ and Grzesiak, J}, title = {Root-Associated Bacteria Community Characteristics of Antarctic Plants: Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis-a Comparison.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {808-820}, pmid = {34661728}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Caryophyllaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Plants ; Bacteria/genetics ; }, abstract = {Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. and Deschampsia antarctica Desv. are the only Magnoliophyta to naturally colonize the Antarctic region. The reason for their sole presence in Antarctica is still debated as there is no definitive consensus on how only two unrelated flowering plants managed to establish breeding populations in this part of the world. In this study, we have explored and compared the rhizosphere and root-endosphere dwelling microbial community of C. quitensis and D. antarctica specimens sampled in maritime Antarctica from sites displaying contrasting edaphic characteristics. Bacterial phylogenetic diversity (high-throughput 16S rRNA gene fragment targeted sequencing) and microbial metabolic activity (Biolog EcoPlates) with a geochemical soil background were assessed. Gathered data showed that the microbiome of C. quitensis root system was mostly site-dependent, displaying different characteristics in each of the examined locations. This plant tolerated an active bacterial community only in severe conditions (salt stress and nutrient deprivation), while in other more favorable circumstances, it restricted microbial activity, with a possibility of microbivory-based nutrient acquisition. The microbial communities of D. antarctica showed a high degree of similarity between samples within a particular rhizocompartment. The grass' endosphere was significantly enriched in plant beneficial taxa of the family Rhizobiaceae, which displayed obligatory endophyte characteristics, suggesting that at least part of this community is transmitted vertically. Ultimately, the ecological success of C. quitensis and D. antarctica in Antarctica might be largely attributed to their associations and management of root-associated microbiota.}, } @article {pmid34659448, year = {2021}, author = {Cai, XW and Bao, YQ and Hu, MF and Liu, JB and Zhu, JM}, title = {Simulation and Prediction of Fungal Community Evolution Based on RBF Neural Network.}, journal = {Computational and mathematical methods in medicine}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {7918192}, pmid = {34659448}, issn = {1748-6718}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; Ecosystem ; Linear Models ; Microbial Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Mycobiome/*genetics/*physiology ; *Neural Networks, Computer ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Simulation and prediction of the scale change of fungal community. First, using the experimental data of a variety of fungal decomposition activities, a mathematical model of the decomposition rate and the relationship between the bacterial species was established, thereby revealing the internal mechanism of fungal decomposition activity in a complex environment. Second, based on the linear regression method and the principle of biodiversity, a model of fungal decomposition rate was constructed, and it was concluded that the interaction between mycelial elongation and moisture resistance could increase the fungal decomposition rate. Third, the differential equations are used to quantify the competitive relationship between different bacterial species, divide the boundaries of superior and inferior species, and simulate the long-term and short-term evolution trends of the community under the same initial environment. And an empirical analysis is made by taking the sudden change of the atmosphere affecting the evolution of the colony as an example. Finally, starting from summer, combining soil temperature, humidity, and fungal species data in five different environments such as arid and semiarid, a three-dimensional model and RBF neural network are introduced to predict community evolution. The study concluded that under given conditions, different strains are in short-term competition, and in the long-term, mutually beneficial symbiosis. Biodiversity is important for the biological regulation of nature.}, } @article {pmid34659396, year = {2021}, author = {Li, J and Chen, L and Li, D and Lu, M and Huang, X and Han, X and Chen, H}, title = {Electroacupuncture Promotes the Survival of the Grafted Human MGE Neural Progenitors in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia by Promoting Angiogenesis and Inhibiting Inflammation.}, journal = {Neural plasticity}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {4894881}, pmid = {34659396}, issn = {1687-5443}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Cell Survival/physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Electroacupuncture/*methods ; Embryonic Stem Cells/physiology/transplantation ; Hippocampus/cytology/physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning/physiology ; Median Eminence/cytology/physiology/*transplantation ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/*physiology ; Neural Stem Cells/physiology/transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation/*methods ; }, abstract = {Stem cells have the potential as a regenerative therapy for cerebral ischemia by improving functional outcomes. However, cell transplantation has some limitations, including a low rate of the grafted cell survival. There is still a major challenge of promoting the harmonious symbiosis between grafted cells and the host. Acupuncture can effectively improve the functional outcome after cerebral ischemia. The present study evaluated the therapeutic effects and explored the mechanism of combined medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) neural progenitors differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with electroacupuncture (EA) in a bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) rat model. The results showed that EA could promote the survival of the grafted MGE neural progenitors differentiated from hESCs and alleviate learning and memory impairment in rats with cerebral ischemia. This may have partially resulted from inhibited expression of TNF-α and IL-1β and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and blood vessel density in the hippocampus. Our findings indicated that EA could promote the survival of the grafted MGE neural progenitors and enhance transplantation therapy's efficacy by promoting angiogenesis and inhibiting inflammation.}, } @article {pmid34659316, year = {2021}, author = {Hernández-Coronado, M and Ortiz-Ramírez, C}, title = {Root Patterning: Tuning SHORT ROOT Function Creates Diversity in Form.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {745861}, pmid = {34659316}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Roots have a fundamental role in plant growth and adaptation to different environments. Diversity in root morphology and architecture enables plants to acquire water and nutrients in contrasting substrate conditions, resist biotic and abiotic stress, and develop symbiotic associations. At its most fundamental level, morphology is determined by discrete changes in tissue patterning. Differences in the number and arrangement of the cell layers in the root can change tissue structure, as well as root length and girth, affecting important productivity traits. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling variation in developmental patterning is an important goal in biology. The ground tissue (GT) system is an ideal model to study the genetic basis of morphological diversity because it displays great interspecific variability in cell layer number. In addition, the genetic circuit controlling GT patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana has been well described, although little is known about species with more complex root anatomies. In this review, we will describe the Arabidopsis model for root radial patterning and present recent progress in elucidating the genetic circuitry controlling GT patterning in monocots and the legume Medicago truncatula (Mt), species that develop roots with more complex anatomies and multilayered cortex.}, } @article {pmid34659281, year = {2021}, author = {Sarkar, S and Dey, A and Kumar, V and Batiha, GE and El-Esawi, MA and Tomczyk, M and Ray, P}, title = {Fungal Endophyte: An Interactive Endosymbiont With the Capability of Modulating Host Physiology in Myriad Ways.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {701800}, pmid = {34659281}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi ubiquitously dwell inside the tissue-spaces of plants, mostly asymptomatically. They grow either intercellularly or intracellularly in a particular host plant to complete the whole or part of their life cycle. They have been found to be associated with almost all the plants occurring in a natural ecosystem. Due to their important role in the survival of plants (modulate photosynthesis, increase nutrient uptake, alleviate the effect of various stresses) they have been selected to co-evolve with their hosts through the course of evolution. Many years of intense research have discovered their tremendous roles in increasing the fitness of the plants in both normal and stressed conditions. There are numerous literature regarding the involvement of various endophytic fungi in enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, etc. But, there are scant reports documenting the specific mechanisms employed by fungal endophytes to manipulate plant physiology and exert their effects. In this review, we aim to document the probable ways undertaken by endophytic fungi to alter different physiological parameters of their host plants. Our objective is to present an in-depth elucidation about the impact of fungal endophytes on plant physiology to make this evolutionarily conserved symbiotic interaction understandable from a broader perspective.}, } @article {pmid34657204, year = {2021}, author = {Sportes, A and Hériché, M and Boussageon, R and Noceto, PA and van Tuinen, D and Wipf, D and Courty, PE}, title = {A historical perspective on mycorrhizal mutualism emphasizing arbuscular mycorrhizas and their emerging challenges.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {637-653}, pmid = {34657204}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza, one of the oldest interactions on earth (~ 450 million years old) and a first-class partner for plants to colonize emerged land, is considered one of the most pervasive ecological relationships on the globe. Despite how important and old this interaction is, its discovery was very recent compared to the long story of land plant evolution. The story of the arbuscular mycorrhiza cannot be addressed apart from the history, controversies, and speculations about mycorrhiza in its broad sense. The chronicle of mycorrhizal research is marked by multiple key milestones such as the initial description of a "persistent epiderm and pellicular wall structure" by Hartig; the introduction of the "Symbiotismus" and "Mycorrhiza" concepts by Frank; the description of diverse root-fungal morphologies; the first description of arbuscules by Gallaud; Mosse's pivotal statement of the beneficial nature of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis; the impact of molecular tools on the taxonomy of mycorrhizal fungi as well as the development of in vitro root organ cultures for producing axenic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). An appreciation of the story - full of twists and turns - of the arbuscular mycorrhiza, going from the roots of mycorrhiza history, along with the discovery of different mycorrhiza types such as ectomycorrhiza, can improve research to help face our days' challenge of developing sustainable agriculture that integrates the arbuscular mycorrhiza and its ecosystem services.}, } @article {pmid34655935, year = {2021}, author = {Alacid, E and Richards, TA}, title = {A cell-cell atlas approach for understanding symbiotic interactions between microbes.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {47-59}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2021.09.001}, pmid = {34655935}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Natural environments are composed of a huge diversity of microorganisms interacting with each other to form complex functional networks. Our understanding of the operative nature of host-symbiont associations is limited because propagating such associations in a laboratory is challenging. The advent of single-cell technologies applied to, for example, animal cells and apicomplexan parasites has revolutionized our understanding of development and disease. Such cell atlas approaches generate maps of cell-specific processes and variations within cellular populations. These methods can now be combined with cellular-imaging so that interaction stage versus transcriptome state can be quantized for microbe-microbe interactions. We predict that the combination of these methods applied to the study of symbioses will transform our understanding of many ecological interactions, including those sampled directly from natural environments.}, } @article {pmid34653199, year = {2021}, author = {Boo, MV and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {The colorful mantle of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa expresses a homolog of electrogenic sodium: Bicarbonate cotransporter 2 that mediates the supply of inorganic carbon to photosynthesizing symbionts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {e0258519}, pmid = {34653199}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bicarbonates/metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Bivalvia/*metabolism/parasitology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; Light ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Sequence Alignment ; Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Giant clams live in symbiosis with phototrophic dinoflagellates, which reside extracellularly inside zooxanthellal tubules located mainly in the colourful and extensible outer mantle. As symbiotic dinoflagellates have no access to the ambient seawater, they need to obtain inorganic carbon (Ci) from the host for photosynthesis during illumination. The outer mantle has a host-mediated and light-dependent carbon-concentrating mechanism to augment the supply of Ci to the symbionts during illumination. Iridocytes can increase the secretion of H+ through vacuolar H+-ATPase to dehydrate HCO3- present in the hemolymph to CO2. CO2 can permeate the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cells of the zooxanthellal tubules, and rehydrated back to HCO3- in the cytoplasm catalysed by carbonic anhydrase 2. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in the transport of HCO3- across the apical membrane of these epithelial cells into the luminal fluid surrounding the symbionts. We had obtained the complete cDNA coding sequence of a homolog of electrogenic Na+-HCO3- cotransporter 2 (NBCe2-like gene) from the outer mantle of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. NBCe2-like gene comprised 3,399 bp, encoding a protein of 1,132 amino acids of 127.3 kDa. NBCe2-like protein had an apical localization in the epithelial cells of zooxanthellal tubules, denoting that it could transport HCO3- between the epithelial cells and the luminal fluid. Furthermore, illumination augmented the transcript level and protein abundance of NBCe2-like gene/NBCe2-like protein in the outer mantle, indicating that it could mediate the increased transport of HCO3- into the luminal fluid to support photosynthesis in the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid34650529, year = {2021}, author = {Jiang, ZR and Masuya, H and Kajimura, H}, title = {Novel Symbiotic Association Between Euwallacea Ambrosia Beetle and Fusarium Fungus on Fig Trees in Japan.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {725210}, pmid = {34650529}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ficus carica plantations in Japan were first reported to be infested by an ambrosia beetle species, identified as Euwallacea interjectus, in 1996. The purpose of this study was to determine the symbiotic fungi of female adults of E. interjectus emerging from F. carica trees infected with fig wilt disease (FWD). Dispersal adults (51 females) of E. interjectus, which were collected from logs of an infested fig tree in Hiroshima Prefecture, Western Japan, were separated into three respective body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen) and used for fungal isolation. Isolated fungi were identified based on the morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data. Over 13 species of associated fungi were detected, of which a specific fungus, Fusarium kuroshium, was dominant in female head (including oral mycangia). The plant-pathogenic fungus of FWD, Ceratocystis ficicola, was not observed within any body parts of E. interjectus. We further discussed the relationship among E. interjectus and its associated fungi in fig tree.}, } @article {pmid34650115, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Smith, HK and Goossens, E and Hertzog, L and Bletz, MC and Bonte, D and Verheyen, K and Lens, L and Vences, M and Pasmans, F and Martel, A}, title = {Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {20493}, pmid = {34650115}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Bacterial Load ; Belgium ; *Diet ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Human Activities ; Male ; Predatory Behavior ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Salamandra/*microbiology/physiology ; Sex Factors ; }, abstract = {Diverse communities of symbiotic microbes inhabit the digestive systems of vertebrates and play a crucial role in animal health, and host diet plays a major role in shaping the composition and diversity of these communities. Here, we characterized diet and gut microbiome of fire salamander populations from three Belgian forests. We carried out DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples, targeting eukaryotic 18S rRNA of potential dietary prey items, and bacterial 16S rRNA of the concomitant gut microbiome. Our results demonstrated an abundance of soft-bodied prey in the diet of fire salamanders, and a significant difference in the diet composition between males and females. This sex-dependent effect on diet was also reflected in the gut microbiome diversity, which is higher in males than female animals. Proximity to human activities was associated with increased intestinal pathogen loads. Collectively, the data supports a relationship between diet, environment and intestinal microbiome in fire salamanders, with potential health implications.}, } @article {pmid34649057, year = {2021}, author = {Bahareh Nowruzi, and Bouaïcha, N and Metcalf, JS and Porzani, SJ and Konur, O}, title = {Plant-cyanobacteria interactions: Beneficial and harmful effects of cyanobacterial bioactive compounds on soil-plant systems and subsequent risk to animal and human health.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {192}, number = {}, pages = {112959}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112959}, pmid = {34649057}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Ecosystem ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Plants ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Plant-cyanobacteria interactions occur in different ways and at many different levels, both beneficial and harmful. Plant-cyanobacteria interactions, as a beneficial symbiosis, have long been demonstrated in rice-growing areas (Poaceae) where the most efficient nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are present in paddies. Moreover, cyanobacteria may in turn produce and/or secrete numerous bioactive compounds that have plant growth-promoting abilities or that may make the plant more resistant to abiotic or biotic stress. In recent years, there has been a growing worldwide interest in the use of cyanobacterial biomass as biofertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers, in part to overcome increasing organic-farming demands. However, the potential presence of harmful cyanotoxins has delayed the use of such cyanobacterial biomass, which can be found in large quantities in freshwater ecosystems around the world. In this review, we describe the existing evidence for the positive benefit of plant-cyanobacteria interactions and discuss the use of cyanobacterial biomass as biofertilizers and its growing worldwide interest. Although mass cyanobacterial blooms and scums are a current and emerging threat to the degradation of ecosystems and to animal and human health, they may serve as a source of numerous bioactive compounds with multiple positive effects that could be of use as an alternative to chemical fertilizers in the context of sustainable development.}, } @article {pmid34649028, year = {2021}, author = {Rhem, MFK and Silva, VC and Dos Santos, JMF and Zilli, JÉ and James, EK and Fragomeni Simon, M and Gross, E}, title = {The large mimosoid genus Inga Mill. (tribe Ingeae, Caesalpinioideae) is nodulated by diverse Bradyrhizobium strains in its main centers of diversity in Brazil.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {126268}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126268}, pmid = {34649028}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Inga (Caesalpinioideae) is the type genus of the Ingeae tribe in the mimosoid clade. It comprises about 300 species, all trees or treelets, and has an exclusively neotropical distribution, with Brazil as its main center of diversity. In this study, we analyzed the diversity of 40 strains of rhizobia isolated from root nodules collected from ten species of Inga belonging to different types of vegetation in Brazil. Sequences of their housekeeping genes (dnaK, recA, rpoB, gyrB and glnII), 16S rRNA genes, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, as well as their symbiosis-essential genes (nodC and nifH) were used to characterize them genetically. The ability of the rhizobia to form nodules on Inga spp., and on the promiscuous legume siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) was also evaluated. A multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) combined with an analysis of the ITS region showed that the isolates were distributed into four main groups (A-D) within the large genus Bradyrhizobium. Analysis of the nodC and nifH genes showed that the isolates formed a separate branch from all described species of Bradyrhizobium, except for B. ingae. Most of the tested isolates formed nodules on siratro and all isolates tested nodulated Inga spp. Our results suggest a unique co-evolutionary history of Bradyrhizobium and Inga and demonstrate the existence of potential new species of microsymbionts nodulating this important and representative genus of leguminous tree from the Caesalpinioideae mimosoid clade.}, } @article {pmid34648395, year = {2021}, author = {Rogalski, MA and Stewart Merrill, T and Gowler, CD and Cáceres, CE and Duffy, MA}, title = {Context-Dependent Host-Symbiont Interactions: Shifts along the Parasitism-Mutualism Continuum.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {198}, number = {5}, pages = {563-575}, doi = {10.1086/716635}, pmid = {34648395}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; Daphnia ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Lakes ; *Parasites ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractSymbiotic interactions can shift along a mutualism-parasitism continuum. While there are many studies examining dynamics typically considered to be mutualistic that sometimes shift toward parasitism, little is known about conditions underlying shifts from parasitism toward mutualism. In lake populations, we observed that infection by a microsporidian gut symbiont sometimes conferred a reproductive advantage and other times a disadvantage to its Daphnia host. We hypothesized that the microsporidian might benefit its host by reducing infection by more virulent parasites, which attack via the gut. In a laboratory study using field-collected animals, we found that spores of a virulent fungal parasite were much less capable of penetrating the guts of Daphnia harboring the microsporidian gut symbiont. We predicted that this altered gut penetrability could cause differential impacts on host fitness depending on ecological context. Field survey data revealed that microsporidian-infected Daphnia hosts experienced a reproductive advantage when virulent parasites were common while resource scarcity led to a reproductive disadvantage, but only in lakes where virulent parasites were relatively rare. Our findings highlight the importance of considering multiparasite community context and resource availability in host-parasite studies and open the door for future research into conditions driving shifts along parasitism to mutualism gradients.}, } @article {pmid34646255, year = {2021}, author = {Glowacki, RWP and Engelhart, MJ and Ahern, PP}, title = {Controlled Complexity: Optimized Systems to Study the Role of the Gut Microbiome in Host Physiology.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {735562}, pmid = {34646255}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The profound impact of the gut microbiome on host health has led to a revolution in biomedical research, motivating researchers from disparate fields to define the specific molecular mechanisms that mediate host-beneficial effects. The advent of genomic technologies allied to the use of model microbiomes in gnotobiotic mouse models has transformed our understanding of intestinal microbial ecology and the impact of the microbiome on the host. However, despite incredible advances, our understanding of the host-microbiome dialogue that shapes host physiology is still in its infancy. Progress has been limited by challenges associated with developing model systems that are both tractable enough to provide key mechanistic insights while also reflecting the enormous complexity of the gut ecosystem. Simplified model microbiomes have facilitated detailed interrogation of transcriptional and metabolic functions of the microbiome but do not recapitulate the interactions seen in complex communities. Conversely, intact complex communities from mice or humans provide a more physiologically relevant community type, but can limit our ability to uncover high-resolution insights into microbiome function. Moreover, complex microbiomes from lab-derived mice or humans often do not readily imprint human-like phenotypes. Therefore, improved model microbiomes that are highly defined and tractable, but that more accurately recapitulate human microbiome-induced phenotypic variation are required to improve understanding of fundamental processes governing host-microbiome mutualism. This improved understanding will enhance the translational relevance of studies that address how the microbiome promotes host health and influences disease states. Microbial exposures in wild mice, both symbiotic and infectious in nature, have recently been established to more readily recapitulate human-like phenotypes. The development of synthetic model communities from such "wild mice" therefore represents an attractive strategy to overcome the limitations of current approaches. Advances in microbial culturing approaches that allow for the generation of large and diverse libraries of isolates, coupled to ever more affordable large-scale genomic sequencing, mean that we are now ideally positioned to develop such systems. Furthermore, the development of sophisticated in vitro systems is allowing for detailed insights into host-microbiome interactions to be obtained. Here we discuss the need to leverage such approaches and highlight key challenges that remain to be addressed.}, } @article {pmid34645495, year = {2021}, author = {Mao, LQ and Zhou, YL and Wang, SS and Chen, L and Hu, Y and Yu, LM and Xu, JM and Lyu, B}, title = {Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the gastric microbiome.}, journal = {Gut pathogens}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {60}, pmid = {34645495}, issn = {1757-4749}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication has been used for many years. Yet, the impact of this eradication on the normal gastric microflora is not well understood. In this study, we explored the effect of eradication on the stomach microbial community and its recovery after successful Hp eradication.

METHODS: Among the 89 included patients, 23, 17, 40, and 9 were included in the Hp-negative, Hp-positive, successful eradication, and failed eradication groups, respectively. Four subgroups were further determined according to disease status (Hp-negative chronic gastritis [N-CG], Hp-negative atrophic gastritis [N-AG], successful-eradication chronic gastritis [SE-CG], and atrophic gastritis with successful eradication [SE-AG]). During the endoscopic examination, one piece of gastric mucosa tissue was obtained from the lesser curvature side of the gastric antrum and gastric corpus, respectively. In addition, 16S rDNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the gastric mucosal microbiome.

RESULTS: In the Hp-negative group, the gastric microbiota was dominated by five phyla: Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria. After successfully eradicating Hp, the bacterial flora in the stomach recovered to a considerable extent. In the failed eradication group, the flora was similar to the flora in Hp-positive subjects based on the alpha and beta diversities. Among the groups, Curvibacter and Acinetobacter were enriched in the presence of Hp (i.e., failed eradication and Hp-positive groups), suggesting that these two genera could be used as biomarkers in the symbiotic flora in the presence of Hp. SE-CG was characterized by an increase in Firmicutes taxa and a decrease in Proteobacteria taxa compared with N-CG. SE-AG was characterized by a decrease in Firmicutes relative to N-AG. Finally, no differences were found in the pairwise comparisons of nitrate and nitrite reductase functions of the microflora among the four subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: After Hp infection, the diversity and relative abundance of gastric microflora were significantly decreased. Yet, gastric microbiota could be partially restored to the Hp-negative status after eradication. Still, this effect was incomplete and might contribute to the long-term risks.}, } @article {pmid34644527, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, J and Zhao, B and Zheng, S and Zhang, X and Wang, X and Dong, W and Xie, Q and Wang, G and Xiao, Y and Chen, F and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {A phosphate starvation response-centered network regulates mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {184}, number = {22}, pages = {5527-5540.e18}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.030}, pmid = {34644527}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*physiology ; Oryza/genetics/microbiology ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {To secure phosphorus (P) from soil, most land plants use a direct phosphate uptake pathway via root hairs and epidermis and an indirect phosphate uptake pathway via mycorrhizal symbiosis. The interaction between these two pathways is unclear. Here, we mapped a network between transcription factors and mycorrhizal symbiosis-related genes using Y1H. Intriguingly, this gene regulatory network is governed by the conserved P-sensing pathway, centered on phosphate starvation response (PHR) transcription factors. PHRs are required for mycorrhizal symbiosis and regulate symbiosis-related genes via the P1BS motif. SPX-domain proteins suppress OsPHR2-mediated induction of symbiosis-related genes and inhibit mycorrhizal infection. In contrast, plants overexpressing OsPHR2 show improved mycorrhizal infection and are partially resistant to P-mediated inhibition of symbiosis. Functional analyses of network nodes revealed co-regulation of hormonal signaling and mycorrhizal symbiosis. This network deciphers extensive regulation of mycorrhizal symbiosis by endogenous and exogenous signals and highlights co-option of the P-sensing pathway for mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34644055, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, H and Zhang, Z and Hu, T and Zhang, X}, title = {Nanochannel {InZn} -Organic Framework with a High Catalytic Performance on CO2 Chemical Fixation and Deacetalization-Knoevenagel Condensation.}, journal = {Inorganic chemistry}, volume = {60}, number = {21}, pages = {16429-16438}, doi = {10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02262}, pmid = {34644055}, issn = {1520-510X}, abstract = {The rare combination of In[III] 5p and Zn[II] 3d in the presence of a structure-oriented TDP[6-] ligand led to a robust hybrid material of {(Me2NH2)[InZn(TDP)(OH2)]·4DMF·4H2O} n (NUC-42) with the interlaced hierarchical nanochannels (hexagonal and cylindrical) shaped by six rows of undocumented [InZn(CO2)6(OH2)] clusters, which represented the first 5p-3d nanochannel-based heterometallic metal-organic framework. With respect to the multifarious symbiotic Lewis acid-base and Brønsted acid sites in the high porous framework, the catalytic performance of activated NUC-42a upon CO2 cycloaddition with styrene oxide was evaluated under solvent-free conditions with 1 atm of CO2 pressure, which exhibited that the reaction could be well completed at ambient temperature within 48 h or at 60 °C within 4 h with high yield and selectivity. Moreover, because of the acidic function of metal sites and a central free pyridine in the TDP[6-] ligand, deacetalization-Knoevenagel condensation of acetals and malononitrile could be efficiently facilitated by an activated sample of NUC-42a under lukewarm conditions.}, } @article {pmid34643440, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Z and Zhang, F and Liang, Y and Zheng, K and Gu, C and Zhang, W and Liu, Y and Zhang, X and Shao, H and Jiang, Y and Guo, C and He, H and Wang, H and Sung, YY and Mok, WJ and Wong, LL and He, J and McMinn, A and Wang, M}, title = {Genome and Ecology of a Novel Alteromonas Podovirus, ZP6, Representing a New Viral Genus, Mareflavirus.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e0046321}, pmid = {34643440}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Alteromonas/*virology ; Bacteriophages/classification/*genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; China ; *Genome, Viral ; Myoviridae/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/virology ; }, abstract = {Alteromonas is a ubiquitous, abundant, copiotrophic and phytoplankton-associated marine member of the Gammaproteobacteria with a range extending from tropical waters to polar regions and including hadal zones. Here, we describe a novel Alteromonas phage, ZP6, that was isolated from surface coastal waters of Qingdao, China. ZP6 contains a linear, double-stranded, 38,080-bp DNA molecule with 50.1% G+C content and 47 putative open reading frames (ORFs). Three auxiliary metabolic genes were identified, encoding metal-dependent phosphohydrolase, diaminopurine synthetase, and nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase. The first two ORFs facilitate the replacement of adenine (A) by diaminopurine (Z) in phage genomes and help phages to evade attack from host restriction enzymes. The nucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase enables the host cells to stop programmed cell death and improves the survival rate of the host in a nutrient-depleted environment. Phylogenetic analysis based on the amino acid sequences of whole genomes and comparative genomic analysis revealed that ZP6 is most closely related to Enhodamvirus but with low similarity (shared genes, <30%, and average nucleotide sequence identity, <65%); it is distinct from other bacteriophages. Together, these results suggest that ZP6 could represent a novel viral genus, here named Mareflavirus. Combining its ability to infect Alteromonas, its harboring of a diaminopurine genome-biosynthetic system, and its representativeness of an understudied viral group, ZP6 could be an important and novel model system for marine virus research. IMPORTANCEAlteromonas is an important symbiotic bacterium of phytoplankton, but research on its bacteriophages is still at an elementary level. Our isolation and genome characterization of a novel Alteromonas podovirus, ZP6, identified a new viral genus of podovirus, namely, Mareflavirus. The ZP6 genome, with a diaminopurine genome-biosynthetic system, is different from those of other isolated Alteromonas phages and will bring new impetus to the development of virus classification and provide important insights into novel viral sequences from metagenomic data sets.}, } @article {pmid34639042, year = {2021}, author = {Kwon, Y and Kabange, NR and Lee, JY and Seo, BY and Shin, D and Lee, SM and Cha, JK and Cho, JH and Kang, JW and Park, DS and Ko, JM and Lee, JH}, title = {RNA-Seq and Electrical Penetration Graph Revealed the Role of Grh1-Mediated Activation of Defense Mechanisms towards Green Rice Leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler) Resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {34639042}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology ; Disease Resistance/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; *Hemiptera ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Oryza/*genetics/*parasitology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcriptome ; Vesicular Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The green rice leafhopper (GRH, Nephotettix cincticeps Uhler) is one of the most important insect pests causing serious damage to rice production and yield loss in East Asia. Prior to performing RNA-Seq analysis, we conducted an electrical penetration graph (EPG) test to investigate the feeding behavior of GRH on Ilpum (recurrent parent, GRH-susceptible cultivar), a near-isogenic line (NIL carrying Grh1) compared to the Grh1 donor parent (Shingwang). Then, we conducted a transcriptome-wide analysis of GRH-responsive genes in Ilpum and NIL, which was followed by the validation of RNA-Seq data by qPCR. On the one hand, EPG results showed differential feeding behaviors of GRH between Ilpum and NIL. The phloem-like feeding pattern was detected in Ilpum, whereas the EPG test indicated a xylem-like feeding habit of GRH on NIL. In addition, we observed a high death rate of GRH on NIL (92%) compared to Ilpum (28%) 72 h post infestation, attributed to GRH failure to suck the phloem sap of NIL. On the other hand, RNA-Seq data revealed that Ilpum and NIL GRH-treated plants generated 1,766,347 and 3,676,765 counts per million mapped (CPM) reads, respectively. The alignment of reads indicated that more than 75% of reads were mapped to the reference genome, and 8859 genes and 15,815,400 transcripts were obtained. Of this number, 3424 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 1605 upregulated in Ilpum and downregulated in NIL; 1819 genes upregulated in NIL and downregulated in Ilpum) were identified. According to the quantile normalization of the fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM) values, followed by the Student's t-test (p < 0.05), we identified 3283 DEGs in Ilpum (1935 upregulated and 1348 downregulated) and 2599 DEGs in NIL (1621 upregulated and 978 downregulated) with at least a log2 (logarithm base 2) twofold change (Log2FC ≥2) in the expression level upon GRH infestation. Upregulated genes in NIL exceeded by 13.3% those recorded in Ilpum. The majority of genes associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, the activity of coenzymes, the action of phytohormones, protein modification, homeostasis, the transport of solutes, and the uptake of nutrients, among others, were abundantly upregulated in NIL (carrying Grh1). However, a high number of upregulated genes involved in photosynthesis, cellular respiration, secondary metabolism, redox homeostasis, protein biosynthesis, protein translocation, and external stimuli response related genes were found in Ilpum. Therefore, all data suggest that Grh1-mediated resistance against GRH in rice would involve a transcriptome-wide reprogramming, resulting in the activation of bZIP, MYB, NAC, bHLH, WRKY, and GRAS transcription factors, coupled with the induction of the pathogen-pattern triggered immunity (PTI), systemic acquired resistance (SAR), symbiotic signaling pathway, and the activation of genes associated with the response mechanisms against viruses. This comprehensive transcriptome profile of GRH-responsive genes gives new insights into the molecular response mechanisms underlying GRH (insect pest)-rice (plant) interaction.}, } @article {pmid34638433, year = {2021}, author = {Dendl, K and Koerber, SA and Kratochwil, C and Cardinale, J and Finck, R and Dabir, M and Novruzov, E and Watabe, T and Kramer, V and Choyke, PL and Haberkorn, U and Giesel, FL}, title = {FAP and FAPI-PET/CT in Malignant and Non-Malignant Diseases: A Perfect Symbiosis?.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {13}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {34638433}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {A fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is an atypical type II transmembrane serine protease with both endopeptidase and post-proline dipeptidyl peptidase activity. FAP is overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are found in most epithelial tumors. CAFs have been implicated in promoting tumor cell invasion, angiogenesis and growth and their presence correlates with a poor prognosis. However, FAP can generally be found during the remodeling of the extracellular matrix and therefore can be detected in wound healing and benign diseases. For instance, chronic inflammation, arthritis, fibrosis and ischemic heart tissue after a myocardial infarction are FAP-positive diseases. Therefore, quinoline-based FAP inhibitors (FAPIs) bind with a high affinity not only to tumors but also to a variety of benign pathologic processes. When these inhibitors are radiolabeled with positron emitting radioisotopes, they provide new diagnostic and prognostic tools as well as insights into the role of the microenvironment in a disease. In this respect, they deliver additional information beyond what is afforded by conventional FDG PET scans that typically report on glucose uptake. Thus, FAP ligands are considered to be highly promising novel tracers that offer a new diagnostic and theranostic potential in a variety of diseases.}, } @article {pmid34637779, year = {2021}, author = {Chipashvili, O and Utter, DR and Bedree, JK and Ma, Y and Schulte, F and Mascarin, G and Alayyoubi, Y and Chouhan, D and Hardt, M and Bidlack, F and Hasturk, H and He, X and McLean, JS and Bor, B}, title = {Episymbiotic Saccharibacteria suppresses gingival inflammation and bone loss in mice through host bacterial modulation.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {1649-1662.e7}, pmid = {34637779}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {K99 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE020102/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE031274/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE027199/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE026186/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095373/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F31 DE026057/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Actinomyces/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity/physiology ; Alveolar Bone Loss/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology/prevention & control ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Collagen/metabolism ; Dental Plaque/microbiology ; Down-Regulation ; Genes, Bacterial ; Gingivitis/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/metabolism ; Periodontitis/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Propionibacteriaceae/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Saccharibacteria (TM7) are obligate epibionts living on the surface of their host bacteria and are strongly correlated with dysbiotic microbiomes during periodontitis and other inflammatory diseases, suggesting they are putative pathogens. However, due to the recalcitrance of TM7 cultivation, causal research to investigate their role in inflammatory diseases is lacking. Here, we isolated multiple TM7 species on their host bacteria from periodontitis patients. These TM7 species reduce inflammation and consequential bone loss by modulating host bacterial pathogenicity in a mouse ligature-induced periodontitis model. Two host bacterial functions involved in collagen binding and utilization of eukaryotic sialic acid are required for inducing bone loss and are altered by TM7 association. This TM7-mediated downregulation of host bacterial pathogenicity is shown for multiple TM7/host bacteria pairs, suggesting that, in contrast to their suspected pathogenic role, TM7 could protect mammalian hosts from inflammatory damage induced by their host bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34636998, year = {2021}, author = {Delgado-García, G and Wiebe, S and Josephson, CB}, title = {The use of patient-reported measures in epilepsy care: the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program experience.}, journal = {Journal of patient-reported outcomes}, volume = {5}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {83}, pmid = {34636998}, issn = {2509-8020}, abstract = {The regular use of patient-reported measures (PRMs) has been associated with greater patient satisfaction and outcomes. In this article, we will review the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program's successful experience with PRMs in both clinical and research settings, as well as our current challenges and future directions. Our experience will illustrate that is feasible and convenient to implement PRMs, and especially electronic PRMs (ePRMs), into epilepsy clinics. These PRMs have direct clinical and research applications. They inform clinical decision making through readily interpretable scales to which clinicians can expeditiously respond. Equally, they are increasingly forming an integral and central component of intervention and outcomes-based research. However, implementation studies are necessary to address knowledge gaps and facilitate adoption and dissemination of this approach. A natural symbiosis of the clinical and research realms is precision medicine. The foundations of precision-based interventions are now being set whereby we can maximize the quality of life and psychosocial functioning on an individual level. As illustrated in this article, this exciting prospect crucially depends on the routine use of ePRMs in the everyday care of people with epilepsy. Increasing ePRMs uptake will clearly be a catalyst propelling precision epilepsy from aspiration to clinical reality.}, } @article {pmid34636935, year = {2021}, author = {Wackerow-Kouzova, ND and Myagkov, DV}, title = {Clarification of the Taxonomic Position of Paramecium caudatum Micronucleus Symbionts.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {12}, pages = {4098-4102}, pmid = {34636935}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Holosporaceae/genetics ; *Paramecium caudatum/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of genus Holospora (order Holosporales, class Alphaproteobacteria) are obligate intranuclear symbionts of ciliates Paramecium spp. with strict host species and nuclear (macronucleus or micronucleus) specificity. However, three species under study Holospora undulata, Holospora elegans and 'Holospora recta' occupy the same ecological niche-micronucleus of Paramecium caudatum and demonstrate some differences in morphology of infectious form. The genetic diversity of holosporas by rrs and rpoB sequence analysis was determined. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis of Holospora spp., as well as some phenotypic features indicate that there is no distinctive difference supporting studied micronuclear endosymbionts as distinct species. Therefore, Holospora elegans and 'Holospora recta' should be considered subspecies of Holospora undulata (ex Haffkine 1890) Gromov and Ossipov 1981, which was described first. Thus, we confirmed the evolutionary aspects of the development of symbiotic relationships: holosporas have a strict specificity to the host species and the type of nucleus.}, } @article {pmid34636414, year = {2022}, author = {Sanders, WB and Brisky, BJ}, title = {Airborne ascospore discharge with co-dispersal of attached epihymenial algae in some foliicolous lichens.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {58-66}, pmid = {34636414}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Florida ; *Lichens/microbiology ; Plant Leaves ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Lichen-forming fungi that colonize leaf surfaces must find a compatible algal symbiont, establish lichen symbiosis, and reproduce within the limited life span of their substratum. Many produce specialized asexual propagules that appear to be dispersed by rain and runoff currents, but less is known about dispersal of their meiotic ascospores. In some taxa, a layer of algal symbionts covers the hymenial surface of the apothecia, where asci discharge their ascospores. We examined the untested hypothesis that their ascospores are ejected into air currents and carry with them algal symbionts from the epihymenial layer for subsequent lichenization.

METHODS: Leaves bearing the lichens Calopadia puiggarii, Sporopodium marginatum (Pilocarpaceae), and Gyalectidium viride (Gomphillaceae) were collected in southern Florida. The latter two species have epihymenial algal layers. Leaf fragments with apotheciate thalli were affixed in petri dishes, with glass cover slips attached inside the lid over the thalli. Subsequent discharge of ascospores and any co-dispersed algae was evaluated with light microscopy.

RESULTS: All three species discharged ascospores aerially. Discharged ascospores were frequently surrounded by a halo-like sheath of transparent material. In the two species with an epihymenial algal layer, most dispersing ascospores (>90%) co-transported algal cells attached to the spore sheath or wall.

CONCLUSIONS: While water may be the usual vector for their asexual propagules, foliicolous lichen-forming fungi make use of air currents to disperse their ascospores. The epihymenial algal layer represents an adaptation for efficient co-dispersal of the algal symbiont with the next genetic generation of the fungus.}, } @article {pmid34635793, year = {2022}, author = {Jesus, B and Jauffrais, T and Trampe, ECL and Goessling, JW and Lekieffre, C and Meibom, A and Kühl, M and Geslin, E}, title = {Kleptoplast distribution, photosynthetic efficiency and sequestration mechanisms in intertidal benthic foraminifera.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {822-832}, pmid = {34635793}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Diatoms ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; *Foraminifera ; Geologic Sediments ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Foraminifera are ubiquitously distributed in marine habitats, playing a major role in marine sediment carbon sequestration and the nitrogen cycle. They exhibit a wide diversity of feeding and behavioural strategies (heterotrophy, autotrophy and mixotrophy), including species with the ability of sequestering intact functional chloroplasts from their microalgal food source (kleptoplastidy), resulting in a mixotrophic lifestyle. The mechanisms by which kleptoplasts are integrated and kept functional inside foraminiferal cytosol are poorly known. In our study, we investigated relationships between feeding strategies, kleptoplast spatial distribution and photosynthetic functionality in two shallow-water benthic foraminifera (Haynesina germanica and Elphidium williamsoni), both species feeding on benthic diatoms. We used a combination of observations of foraminiferal feeding behaviour, test morphology, cytological TEM-based observations and HPLC pigment analysis, with non-destructive, single-cell level imaging of kleptoplast spatial distribution and PSII quantum efficiency. The two species showed different feeding strategies, with H. germanica removing diatom content at the foraminifer's apertural region and E. williamsoni on the dorsal site. All E. williamsoni parameters showed that this species has higher autotrophic capacity albeit both feeding on benthic diatoms. This might represent two different stages in the evolutionary process of establishing a permanent symbiotic relationship, or may reflect different trophic strategies.}, } @article {pmid34634928, year = {2021}, author = {Jiménez, NE and Gerdtzen, ZP and Olivera-Nappa, Á and Salgado, JC and Conca, C}, title = {Novel Symbiotic Genome-Scale Model Reveals Wolbachia's Arboviral Pathogen Blocking Mechanism in Aedes aegypti.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0156321}, pmid = {34634928}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology/*virology ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Arboviruses/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virus Replication/physiology ; Wolbachia/*genetics/metabolism/*virology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are endosymbiont bacteria known to infect arthropods causing different effects, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility and pathogen blocking in Aedes aegypti. Although several Wolbachia strains have been studied, there is little knowledge regarding the relationship between this bacterium and their hosts, particularly on their obligate endosymbiont nature and its pathogen blocking ability. Motivated by the potential applications on disease control, we developed a genome-scale model of two Wolbachia strains: wMel and the strongest Dengue blocking strain known to date: wMelPop. The obtained metabolic reconstructions exhibit an energy metabolism relying mainly on amino acids and lipid transport to support cell growth that is consistent with altered lipid and cholesterol metabolism in Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. The obtained metabolic reconstruction was then coupled with a reconstructed mosquito model to retrieve a symbiotic genome-scale model accounting for 1,636 genes and 6,408 reactions of the Aedes aegypti-Wolbachia interaction system. Simulation of an arboviral infection in the obtained novel symbiotic model represents a metabolic scenario characterized by pathogen blocking in higher titer Wolbachia strains, showing that pathogen blocking by Wolbachia infection is consistent with competition for lipid and amino acid resources between arbovirus and this endosymbiotic bacteria. IMPORTANCE Arboviral diseases such as Zika and Dengue have been on the rise mainly due to climate change, and the development of new treatments and strategies to limit their spreading is needed. The use of Wolbachia as an approach for disease control has motivated new research related to the characterization of the mechanisms that underlie its pathogen-blocking properties. In this work, we propose a new approach for studying the metabolic interactions between Aedes aegypti and Wolbachia using genome-scale models, finding that pathogen blocking is mainly influenced by competition for the resources required for Wolbachia and viral replication.}, } @article {pmid34634140, year = {2021}, author = {Allen, JL and McMullin, RT and Wiersma, YF and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Population genetics and biogeography of the lungwort lichen in North America support distinct Eastern and Western gene pools.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {108}, number = {12}, pages = {2416-2424}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1774}, pmid = {34634140}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Gene Pool ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; *Lichens/genetics ; North America ; Phylogeny ; *Pulmonaria ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Populations of species with large spatial distributions are shaped by complex forces that differ throughout their ranges. To maintain the genetic diversity of species, genepool-based subsets of widespread species must be considered in conservation assessments.

METHODS: The population genetics of the lichenized fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and its algal partner, Symbiochloris reticulata, were investigated using microsatellite markers to determine population structure, genetic diversity, and degree of congruency in eastern and western North America. Data loggers measuring temperature and humidity were deployed at selected populations in eastern North America to test for climatic adaptation. To better understand the role Pleistocene glaciations played in shaping population patterns, a North American, range-wide species distribution model was constructed and hindcast to 22,000 years before present and at 500-year time slices from then to the present.

RESULTS: The presence of two gene pools with minimal admixture was supported, one in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and one in eastern North America. Western populations were significantly more genetically diverse than eastern populations. There was no evidence for climatic adaptation among eastern populations, though there was evidence for range-wide adaptation to evapotranspiration rates. Hindcast distribution models suggest that observed genetic diversity may be due to a drastic Pleistocene range restriction in eastern North America, whereas a substantial coastal refugial area is inferred in the west.

CONCLUSIONS: Taken together the results show different, complex population histories of L. pulmonaria in eastern and western North America, and suggest that conservation planning for each gene pool should be considered separately.}, } @article {pmid34633544, year = {2021}, author = {Noceto, PA and Bettenfeld, P and Boussageon, R and Hériché, M and Sportes, A and van Tuinen, D and Courty, PE and Wipf, D}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, a key symbiosis in the development of quality traits in crop production, alone or combined with plant growth-promoting bacteria.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {655-669}, pmid = {34633544}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Anthocyanins ; Bacteria ; Crop Production ; Crops, Agricultural ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Modern agriculture is currently undergoing rapid changes in the face of the continuing growth of world population and many ensuing environmental challenges. Crop quality is becoming as important as crop yield and can be characterised by several parameters. For fruits and vegetables, quality descriptors can concern production cycle (e.g. conventional or organic farming), organoleptic qualities (e.g. sweet taste, sugar content, acidity) and nutritional qualities (e.g. mineral content, vitamins). For other crops, however, the presence of secondary metabolites such as anthocyanins or certain terpenes in the targeted tissues is of interest as well, especially for their human health properties. All plants are constantly interacting with microorganisms. These microorganisms include arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as well as certain soil bacteria that provide ecosystem services related to plant growth, nutrition and quality parameters. This review is an update of current research on the single and combined (co-inoculation) use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in crop production, with a focus on their positive impacts on crop quality traits (e.g. nutritional value, organoleptic properties). We also highlight the need to dissect mechanisms regulating plant-symbionts and symbiont-symbiont interactions, to develop farming practices and to study a broad range of interactions to optimize the symbiotic potential of root-associated microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid34633461, year = {2022}, author = {Fu, M and Sun, J and Li, X and Guan, Y and Xie, F}, title = {Asymmetric redundancy of soybean Nodule Inception (NIN) genes in root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {188}, number = {1}, pages = {477-489}, pmid = {34633461}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/*genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Nodule Inception (NIN) is one of the most important root nodule symbiotic genes as it is required for both infection and nodule organogenesis in legumes. Unlike most legumes with a sole NIN gene, there are four putative orthologous NIN genes in soybean (Glycine max). Whether and how these NIN genes contribute to soybean-rhizobia symbiotic interaction remain unknown. In this study, we found that all four GmNIN genes are induced by rhizobia and that conserved CE and CYC binding motifs in their promoter regions are required for their expression in the nodule formation process. By generation of multiplex Gmnin mutants, we found that the Gmnin1a nin2a nin2b triple mutant and Gmnin1a nin1b nin2a nin2b quadruple mutant displayed similar defects in rhizobia infection and root nodule formation, Gmnin2a nin2b produced fewer nodules but displayed a hyper infection phenotype compared to wild type (WT), while the Gmnin1a nin1b double mutant nodulated similar to WT. Overexpression of GmNIN1a, GmNIN1b, GmNIN2a, and GmNIN2b reduced nodule numbers after rhizobia inoculation, with GmNIN1b overexpression having the weakest effect. In addition, overexpression of GmNIN1a, GmNIN2a, or GmNIN2b, but not GmNIN1b, produced malformed pseudo-nodule-like structures without rhizobia inoculation. In conclusion, GmNIN1a, GmNIN2a, and GmNIN2b play functionally redundant yet complicated roles in soybean nodulation. GmNIN1b, although expressed at a comparable level with the other homologs, plays a minor role in root nodule symbiosis. Our work provides insight into the understanding of the asymmetrically redundant function of GmNIN genes in soybean.}, } @article {pmid34631801, year = {2021}, author = {Thomès, L and Bojar, D}, title = {The Role of Fucose-Containing Glycan Motifs Across Taxonomic Kingdoms.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {755577}, pmid = {34631801}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {The extraordinary diversity of glycans leads to large differences in the glycomes of different kingdoms of life. Yet, while most monosaccharides are solely found in certain taxonomic groups, there is a small set of monosaccharides with widespread distribution across nearly all domains of life. These general monosaccharides are particularly relevant for glycan motifs, as they can readily be used by commensals and pathogens to mimic host glycans or hijack existing glycan recognition systems. Among these, the monosaccharide fucose is especially interesting, as it frequently presents itself as a terminal monosaccharide, primed for interaction with proteins. Here, we analyze fucose-containing glycan motifs across all taxonomic kingdoms. Using a hereby presented large species-specific glycan dataset and a plethora of methods for glycan-focused bioinformatics and machine learning, we identify characteristic as well as shared fucose-containing glycan motifs for various taxonomic groups, demonstrating clear differences in fucose usage. Even within domains, fucose is used differentially based on an organism's physiology and habitat. We particularly highlight differences in fucose-containing motifs between vertebrates and invertebrates. With the example of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, we also demonstrate the importance of fucose-containing motifs in molecular mimicry and thereby pathogenic potential. We envision that this study will shed light on an important class of glycan motifs, with potential new insights into the role of fucosylated glycans in symbiosis, pathogenicity, and immunity.}, } @article {pmid34631332, year = {2021}, author = {Matsui, S and Akazawa, H and Tsujikawa, Y and Fukuda, I and Suzuki, Y and Yamamoto, Y and Mukai, T and Shirai, Y and Osawa, R}, title = {Milk oligosaccharide-mediated cross-feeding between Enterococcus gallinarum and lactobacilli in the gut microbiota of infant rats.}, journal = {Bioscience of microbiota, food and health}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {204-211}, pmid = {34631332}, issn = {2186-6953}, abstract = {We investigated bacteria that have a nutritional symbiotic relationship with respect to milk oligosaccharides in gut microbiota of suckling rats, with specific reference to sialyllactose (SL) degrading Enterococcus gallinarum. Our next generation sequencing analysis of the colonic contents of 12-day-old suckling rats revealed that almost half of the bacteria in the microbiota belonged to the Lactobacillaceae family. Major Lactobacillus species in the contents were identified as L. johnsonii, L. murinus, and L. reuteri. We then monitored changes in numbers of the above Lactobacillus species, E. gallinarum, and the bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae (i.e., enterobacteria) in the colonic contents of infant rats at 7, 12, 21, 28, and 35 days of age by using real-time PCR assays targeting these bacterial groups. The 7-day-old infant rats had a gut microbiota in which enterobacteria were predominant. Such dominance was replaced by L. johnsonii and the concomitant E. gallinarum markedly increased in those of 12 and 21 days of ages. During this period, the number of enterobacteria declined dramatically, but that of L. reuteri surged dramatically. Our separate in vitro experiment showed that supplementation of culture media with SL promoted the growth of L. johnsonii and E. gallinarum, with marked production of lactic acid. These findings revealed possible milk oligosaccharide-mediated cross-feeding between E. gallinarum and L. johnsonii, with the former degrading SL to release lactose to be utilized by the latter.}, } @article {pmid34630349, year = {2021}, author = {Wierz, JC and Gaube, P and Klebsch, D and Kaltenpoth, M and Flórez, LV}, title = {Transmission of Bacterial Symbionts With and Without Genome Erosion Between a Beetle Host and the Plant Environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {715601}, pmid = {34630349}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many phytophagous insects harbor symbiotic bacteria that can be transmitted vertically from parents to offspring, or acquired horizontally from unrelated hosts or the environment. In the latter case, plants are a potential route for symbiont transfer and can thus foster a tripartite interaction between microbe, insect, and plant. Here, we focus on two bacterial symbionts of the darkling beetle Lagria villosa that belong to the genus Burkholderia; the culturable strain B. gladioli Lv-StA and the reduced-genome strain Burkholderia Lv-StB. The strains can be transmitted vertically and confer protection to the beetle's eggs, but Lv-StA can also proliferate in plants, and both symbiont strains have presumably evolved from plant pathogens. Notably, little is known about the role of the environment for the transmission dynamics and the maintenance of the symbionts. Through manipulative assays, we demonstrate the transfer of the symbionts from the beetle to wheat, rice and soybean plants, as well as leaf litter. In addition, we confirm that aposymbiotic larvae can pick up Lv-StA from dry leaves and the symbiont can successfully establish in the beetle's symbiotic organs. Also, we show that the presence of plants and soil in the environment improves symbiont maintenance. These results indicate that the symbionts of L. villosa beetles are still capable of interacting with plants despite signatures of genome erosion and suggest that a mixed-mode of bacterial transmission is likely key for the persistence of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34630340, year = {2021}, author = {Mishra, K and Bukavina, L and Ghannoum, M}, title = {Symbiosis and Dysbiosis of the Human Mycobiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {636131}, pmid = {34630340}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 AI145289/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI143305/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The influence of microbiological species has gained increased visibility and traction in the medical domain with major revelations about the role of bacteria on symbiosis and dysbiosis. A large reason for these revelations can be attributed to advances in deep-sequencing technologies. However, the research on the role of fungi has lagged. With the continued utilization of sequencing technologies in conjunction with traditional culture assays, we have the opportunity to shed light on the complex interplay between the bacteriome and the mycobiome as they relate to human health. In this review, we aim to offer a comprehensive overview of the human mycobiome in healthy and diseased states in a systematic way. The authors hope that the reader will utilize this review as a scaffolding to formulate their understanding of the mycobiome and pursue further research.}, } @article {pmid34630089, year = {2021}, author = {Shimabukuro, N and Cataruci, ACS and Ishikawa, KH and de Oliveira, BE and Kawamoto, D and Ando-Suguimoto, ES and Albuquerque-Souza, E and Nicoli, JR and Ferreira, CM and de Lima, J and Bueno, MR and da Silva, LBR and Silva, PHF and Messora, MR and Camara, NOS and Simionato, MRL and Mayer, MPA}, title = {Bifidobacterium Strains Present Distinct Effects on the Control of Alveolar Bone Loss in a Periodontitis Experimental Model.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {713595}, pmid = {34630089}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease induced by a dysbiotic oral microbiome. Probiotics of the genus Bifidobacterium may restore the symbiotic microbiome and modulate the immune response, leading to periodontitis control. We evaluated the effect of two strains of Bifidobacterium able to inhibit Porphyromonas gingivalis interaction with host cells and biofilm formation, but with distinct immunomodulatory properties, in a mice periodontitis model. Experimental periodontitis (P+) was induced in C57Bl/6 mice by a microbial consortium of human oral organisms. B. bifidum 162[2A] [B+ (1622)] and B. breve 110[1A] [B+ (1101)] were orally inoculated for 45 days. Alveolar bone loss and inflammatory response in gingival tissues were determined. The microbial consortium induced alveolar bone loss in positive control (P + B-), as demonstrated by microtomography analysis, although P. gingivalis was undetected in oral biofilms at the end of the experimental period. TNF-α and IL-10 serum levels, and Treg and Th17 populations in gingiva of SHAM and P + B- groups did not differ. B. bifidum 162[2A], but not B. breve 110[1A], controlled bone destruction in P+ mice. B. breve 110[1A] upregulated transcription of Il-1β, Tnf-α, Tlr2, Tlr4, and Nlrp3 in P-B+(1101), which was attenuated by the microbial consortium [P + B+(1101)]. All treatments downregulated transcription of Il-17, although treatment with B. breve 110[1A] did not yield such low levels of transcripts as seen for the other groups. B. breve 110[1A] increased Th17 population in gingival tissues [P-B+ (1101) and P + B+ (1101)] compared to SHAM and P + B-. Administration of both bifidobacteria resulted in serum IL-10 decreased levels. Our data indicated that the beneficial effect of Bifidobacterium is not a common trait of this genus, since B. breve 110[1A] induced an inflammatory profile in gingival tissues and did not prevent alveolar bone loss. However, the properties of B. bifidum 162[2A] suggest its potential to control periodontitis.}, } @article {pmid34626680, year = {2022}, author = {Werny, L and Colmorgen, C and Becker-Pauly, C}, title = {Regulation of meprin metalloproteases in mucosal homeostasis.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular cell research}, volume = {1869}, number = {1}, pages = {119158}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.119158}, pmid = {34626680}, issn = {1879-2596}, mesh = {Animals ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Metalloendopeptidases/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Multimerization ; }, abstract = {Mucus is covering the entire epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), building the interface for the symbiosis between microorganisms and their host. Hence, a disrupted mucosal barrier or alterations of proper mucus composition, including the gut microbiota, can cause severe infection and inflammation. Meprin metalloproteases are well-known to cleave various pro-inflammatory molecules, contributing to the onset and progression of pathological conditions including sepsis, pulmonary hypertension or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, meprins have an impact on migration and infiltration of immune cells like monocytes or leukocytes during intestinal inflammation by cleaving tight junction proteins or cell adhesion molecules, thereby disrupting epithelial cell barrier and promoting transendothelial cell migration. Interestingly, both meprin α and meprin β are susceptibility genes for IBD. However, both genes are significantly downregulated in inflamed intestinal tissue in contrast to healthy donors. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is the basis for developing new and effective therapies against manifold pathologies like IBD. This review focuses on the regulation of meprin metalloproteases and its impact on physiological and pathological conditions related to mucosal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid34626495, year = {2022}, author = {Primieri, S and Magnoli, SM and Koffel, T and Stürmer, SL and Bever, JD}, title = {Perennial, but not annual legumes synergistically benefit from infection with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {233}, number = {1}, pages = {505-514}, pmid = {34626495}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many plant species simultaneously interact with multiple symbionts, which can, but do not always, generate synergistic benefits for their host. We ask if plant life history (i.e. annual vs perennial) can play an important role in the outcomes of the tripartite symbiosis of legumes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and rhizobia. We performed a meta-analysis of 88 studies examining outcomes of legume-AMF-rhizobia interactions on plant and microbial growth. Perennial legumes associating with AMF and rhizobia grew larger than expected based on their response to either symbiont alone (i.e. their response to co-inoculation was synergistic). By contrast, annual legume growth with co-inoculation did not differ from additive expectations. AMF and rhizobia differentially increased phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) tissue concentration. Rhizobium nodulation increased with mycorrhizal fungi inoculation, but mycorrhizal fungi colonization did not increase with rhizobium inoculation. Microbial responses to co-infection were significantly correlated with synergisms in plant growth. Our work supports a balanced plant stoichiometry mechanism for synergistic benefits. We find that synergisms are in part driven by reinvestment in complementary symbionts, and that time-lags in realizing benefits of reinvestment may limit synergisms in annuals. Optimization of microbiome composition to maximize synergisms may be critical to productivity, particularly for perennial legumes.}, } @article {pmid34625829, year = {2022}, author = {Bouhnik, O and Alami, S and Lamin, H and Lamrabet, M and Bennis, M and Ouajdi, M and Bellaka, M and Antri, SE and Abbas, Y and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and Idrissi, MME}, title = {The Fodder Legume Chamaecytisus albidus Establishes Functional Symbiosis with Different Bradyrhizobial Symbiovars in Morocco.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {794-807}, pmid = {34625829}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Symbiosis/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Ecosystem ; Morocco ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Lupinus/genetics ; Animal Feed ; Soil ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {In this work, we analyzed the symbiotic performance and diversity of rhizobial strains isolated from the endemic shrubby legume Chamaecytisus albidus grown in soils of three different agroforestry ecosystems representing arid and semi-arid forest areas in Morocco. The analysis of the rrs gene sequences from twenty-four representative strains selected after REP-PCR fingerprinting showed that all the strains belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Following multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) using the rrs, gyrB, recA, glnII, and rpoB housekeeping genes, five representative strains, CA20, CA61, CJ2, CB10, and CB61 were selected for further molecular studies. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB genes showed that the strain CJ2 isolated from Sahel Doukkala soil is close to Bradyrhizobium canariense BTA-1[ T] (96.95%); that strains CA20 and CA61 isolated from the Amhach site are more related to Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3[T], with 96.40 and 94.57% similarity values; and that the strains CB10 and CB60 isolated from soil in the Bounaga site are more related to Bradyrhizobium murdochi CNPSo 4020[ T] and Bradyrhizobium. retamae Ro19[T], with which they showed 95.45 and 97.34% similarity values, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of the symbiotic genes showed that the strains belong to symbiovars lupini, genistearum, and retamae. All the five strains are able to nodulate Lupinus luteus, Retama monosperma, and Cytisus monspessilanus, but they do not nodulate Glycine max and Phaseolus vulgaris. The inoculation tests showed that the strains isolated from the 3 regions improve significantly the plant yield as compared to uninoculated plants. However, the strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. sv. retamae isolated from the site of Amhach were the most performing. The phenotypic analysis showed that the strains are able to use a wide range of carbohydrates and amino acids as sole carbon and nitrogen source. The strains isolated from the arid areas of Bounaga and Amhach were more tolerant to salinity and drought stress than strains isolated in the semi-arid area of Sahel Doukkala.}, } @article {pmid34625370, year = {2022}, author = {Rijo-Ferreira, F and Takahashi, JS}, title = {Circadian rhythms in infectious diseases and symbiosis.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {126}, number = {}, pages = {37-44}, pmid = {34625370}, issn = {1096-3634}, support = {K99 GM132557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Circadian Clocks ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology ; *Communicable Diseases ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Timing is everything. Many organisms across the tree of life have evolved timekeeping mechanisms that regulate numerous of their cellular functions to optimize timing by anticipating changes in the environment. The specific environmental changes that are sensed depends on the organism. For animals, plants, and free-living microbes, environmental cues include light/dark cycles, daily temperature fluctuations, among others. In contrast, for a microbe that is never free-living, its rhythmic environment is its host's rhythmic biology. Here, we describe recent research on the interactions between hosts and microbes, from the perspective both of symbiosis as well as infections. In addition to describing the biology of the microbes, we focus specifically on how circadian clocks modulate these host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34624588, year = {2022}, author = {Hornok, S and Kontschán, J and Takács, N and Chaber, AL and Halajian, A and Szekeres, S and Sándor, AD and Plantard, O}, title = {Rickettsiaceae in two reptile-associated tick species, Amblyomma exornatum and Africaniella transversale: First evidence of Occidentia massiliensis in hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae).}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {101830}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101830}, pmid = {34624588}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Amblyomma ; Animals ; *Ixodidae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Reptiles/parasitology ; *Rickettsia/genetics ; Rickettsiaceae ; *Ticks ; }, abstract = {All species of hard ticks associated with reptiles as hosts throughout their life cycle, are currently assigned to genera including Amblyomma and Africaniella. Among these species, based on literature data, Africaniella transversale has never been investigated for the presence of tick-borne pathogens. In this study, seven DNA extracts (two from A. transversale and five from Amblyomma exornatum) were screened for the presence of important tick-borne protozoa (piroplasms) and bacteria (Anaplasmataceae and Rickettsiaceae) with conventional PCRs and sequencing. A new heat shock protein chaperonin (groEL) gene-specific PCR was also developed to identify Occidentia spp. in these samples. In A. transversale, Occidentia massiliensis (previously detected in rodent-associated soft ticks) and Rickettsia hoogstraalii were present. While the latter was molecularly identical with formerly reported sequences of this rickettsia, the genotype of O. massiliensis was new based on sequence and phylogenetic analyses of its groEL gene. In A. exornatum, a Rickettsia genotype closely related to R. tamurae and R. monacensis, was detected. The ompA sequence of this genotype was identical to that of Rickettsia sp. Ae-8 reported from A. exornatum in a reptile breeding facility in the USA. These results show that A. transversale might carry O. massiliensis which (unless having a symbiotic nature in ticks) may originate either from the reptile host of this hard tick species or the rodent prey of reptiles. This is also the first detection of the reptile tick-associated Rickettsia sp. Ae-8 (phylogenetically aligning with R. tamurae, R. monacensis) in Africa, i.e. within the original geographical range of A. exornatum.}, } @article {pmid34623904, year = {2022}, author = {Simon, C and Cooley, JR and Karban, R and Sota, T}, title = {Advances in the Evolution and Ecology of 13- and 17-Year Periodical Cicadas.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {457-482}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-072121-061108}, pmid = {34623904}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; *Hemiptera/genetics/microbiology ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; Phylogeography ; }, abstract = {Apart from model organisms, 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada) are among the most studied insects in evolution and ecology. They are attractive subjects because they predictably emerge in large numbers; have a complex biogeography shaped by both spatial and temporal isolation; and include three largely sympatric, parallel species groups that are, in a sense, evolutionary replicates. Magicicada are also relatively easy to capture and manipulate, and their spectacular, synchronized mass emergences facilitate outreach and citizen science opportunities. Since the last major review, studies of Magicicada have revealed insights into reproductive character displacement and the nature of species boundaries, provided additional examples of allochronic speciation, found evidence for repeated and parallel (but noncontemporaneous) evolution of 13- and 17-year life cycles, quantified the amount and direction of gene flow through time, revealed phylogeographic patterning resulting from paleoclimate change, examined the timing of juvenile development, and created hypotheses for the evolution of life-cycle control and the future effects of climate changeon Magicicada life cycles. New ecological studies have supported and questioned the role of prime numbers in Magicicada ecology and evolution, found bidirectional shifts in population size over generations, quantified the contribution of Magicicada to nutrient flow in forest ecosystems, and examined behavioral and biochemical interactions between Magicicada and their fungal parasites and bacterial endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid34623896, year = {2021}, author = {Khokhani, D and Carrera Carriel, C and Vayla, S and Irving, TB and Stonoha-Arther, C and Keller, NP and Ané, JM}, title = {Deciphering the Chitin Code in Plant Symbiosis, Defense, and Microbial Networks.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {583-607}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-051921-114809}, pmid = {34623896}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {T32 GM007133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Chitin/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chitin is a structural polymer in many eukaryotes. Many organisms can degrade chitin to defend against chitinous pathogens or use chitin oligomers as food. Beneficial microorganisms like nitrogen-fixing symbiotic rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi produce chitin-based signal molecules called lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and short chitin oligomers to initiate a symbiotic relationship with their compatible hosts and exchange nutrients. A recent study revealed that a broad range of fungi produce LCOs and chitooligosaccharides (COs), suggesting that these signaling molecules are not limited to beneficial microbes. The fungal LCOs also affect fungal growth and development, indicating that the roles of LCOs beyond symbiosis and LCO production may predate mycorrhizal symbiosis. This review describes the diverse structures of chitin; their perception by eukaryotes and prokaryotes; and their roles in symbiotic interactions, defense, and microbe-microbe interactions. We also discuss potential strategies of fungi to synthesize LCOs and their roles in fungi with different lifestyles.}, } @article {pmid34622756, year = {2021}, author = {Kaya, S and Uçkan, F and Er, A}, title = {Immunosuppressive influence of parasitoid wasp Pimpla turionellae calyx fluid on host Galleria mellonella cell-mediated immune response and hemocyte viability.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-9}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485321000924}, pmid = {34622756}, issn = {1475-2670}, abstract = {Endoparasitoid species devoid of symbiotic viruses inject secretions derived from their reproductive glands into their hosts during parasitism in order to avoid various immune responses of their hosts. Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is an endoparasitoid that lacks polydnaviruses, and its venom has previously been shown to paralyze the host Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and suppress its immune reactions to ensure the egg survival. The present study demonstrates that another female-injected factor calyx fluid extracted from the P. turionellae ovary is also responsible for the suppression of G. mellonella immunity. The total hemocyte counts of G. mellonella decrease after treatment with calyx fluid in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant reductions in cell viability are also observed at all calyx fluid doses both in vivo and in vitro. The analyses of the beads injected into the insects as encapsulation targets revealed that the number of encapsulated beads reduced significantly compared to controls post-calyx fluid injection. The injection of the highest calyx fluid dose (1 female equivalent calyx) is sufficient to completely inhibit the strong encapsulation and melanization reactions of the last instar larvae 24 h post-injection. These results demonstrate that P. turionellae calyx fluid is required to regulate host immunity for successful parasitization.}, } @article {pmid34621734, year = {2021}, author = {Fu, J and Zeng, L and Zheng, L and Bai, Z and Li, Z and Liu, L}, title = {Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Antibiotic-Treated and Normally Reared Bactrocera dorsalis Reveals a Possible Gut Self-Immunity Mechanism.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {647604}, pmid = {34621734}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is a notorious agricultural pest worldwide, and its prevention and control have been widely studied. Bacteria in the midgut of B. dorsalis help improve host insecticide resistance and environmental adaption, regulate growth and development, and affect male mating selection, among other functions. Insects have an effective gut defense system that maintains self-immunity and the balance among microorganisms in the gut, in addition to stabilizing the diversity among the gut symbiotic bacteria. However, the detailed regulatory mechanisms governing the gut bacteria and self-immunity are still unclear in oriental fruit flies. In this study, the diversity of the gut symbiotic bacteria in B. dorsalis was altered by feeding host fruit flies antibiotics, and the function of the gut bacteria was predicted. Then, a database of the intestinal transcriptome of the host fruit fly was established and analyzed using the Illumina HiSeq Platform. The gut bacteria shifted from Gram negative to Gram positive after antibiotic feeding. Antibiotics lead to a reduction in gut bacteria, particularly Gram-positive bacteria, which ultimately reduced the reproduction of the host flies. Ten immunity-related genes that were differentially expressed in the response to intestinal bacterial community changes were selected for qRT-PCR validation. Peptidoglycan-recognition protein SC2 gene (PGRP-SC2) was one of the 10 immunity-related genes analyzed. The differential expression of PGRP-SC2 was the most significant, which confirms that PGRP-SC2 may affect immunity of B. dorsalis toward gut bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34621470, year = {2021}, author = {Benjak Horvat, I and Gobin, I and Kresović, A and Hauser, G}, title = {How can probiotic improve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms?.}, journal = {World journal of gastrointestinal surgery}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {923-940}, pmid = {34621470}, issn = {1948-9366}, abstract = {The onset and manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with several factors, and the pathophysiology involves various central and peripheral mechanisms. Most studies indicate that the management of gut microbiota could significantly affect the improvement of subjective disorders in patients with IBS. Numerous clinical trials have assessed the efficacy of probiotics for IBS with controversial conclusions. Several clinical trials have suggested that probiotics can improve global IBS symptoms, while others only improve individual IBS symptoms, such as bloating scores and abdominal pain scores. Only a few clinical trials have found no apparent effect of probiotics on IBS symptoms. Generally, probiotics appear to be safe for patients with IBS. However, the question of which probiotics should be used for certain IBS subtypes remains unresolved. In everyday practice, the dose of the recommended probiotic remains questionable, as well as how long the probiotic should be used in therapy. The use of probiotics in the M subtype and non-classified IBS is particularly problematic, in which combination therapy should be recommended due to the change in symptoms. Therefore, new approaches are needed in the design of clinical studies that should address certain subtypes of IBS.}, } @article {pmid34620547, year = {2022}, author = {Macabuhay, A and Arsova, B and Walker, R and Johnson, A and Watt, M and Roessner, U}, title = {Modulators or facilitators? Roles of lipids in plant root-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {180-190}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.08.004}, pmid = {34620547}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Lipids ; *Plant Roots ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lipids have diverse functions in regulating the plasma membrane's cellular processes and signaling mediation. Plasma membrane lipids are also involved in the plant's complex interactions with the surrounding microorganisms, with which plants are in various forms of symbiosis. The roles of lipids influence the whole microbial colonization process, thus shaping the rhizomicrobiome. As chemical signals, lipids facilitate the stages of rhizospheric interactions - from plant root to microbe, microbe to microbe, and microbe to plant root - and modulate the plant's defense responses upon perception or contact with either beneficial or phytopathogenic microorganisms. Although studies have come a long way, further investigation is needed to discover more lipid species and elucidate novel lipid functions and profiles under various stages of plant root-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34620078, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, H and An, T and Huang, D and Liu, R and Xu, B and Zhang, S and Deng, X and Siddique, KHM and Chen, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses alleviating salt stress in maize is associated with a decline in root-to-leaf gradient of Na[+]/K[+] ratio.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {457}, pmid = {34620078}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Ion Transport/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*chemistry/metabolism ; Potassium/*analysis/metabolism ; Salt Stress/physiology ; Salt Tolerance/*physiology ; Sodium/*analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zea mays/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has the potential to alleviate salt stress in host plants through the mitigation of ionic imbalance. However, inoculation effects vary, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Two maize genotypes (JD52, salt-tolerant with large root system, and FSY1, salt-sensitive with small root system) inoculated with or without AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae were grown in pots containing soil amended with 0 or 100 mM NaCl (incrementally added 32 days after sowing, DAS) in a greenhouse. Plants were assessed 59 DAS for plant growth, tissue Na[+] and K[+] contents, the expression of plant transporter genes responsible for Na[+] and/or K[+] uptake, translocation or compartmentation, and chloroplast ultrastructure alterations.

RESULTS: Under 100 mM NaCl, AM plants of both genotypes grew better with denser root systems than non-AM plants. Relative to non-AM plants, the accumulation of Na[+] and K[+] was decreased in AM plant shoots but increased in AM roots with a decrease in the shoot: root Na[+] ratio particularly in FSY1, accompanied by differential regulation of ion transporter genes (i.e., ZmSOS1, ZmHKT1, and ZmNHX). This induced a relatively higher Na[+] efflux (recirculating) rate than K[+] in AM shoots while the converse outcoming (higher Na[+] influx rate than K[+]) in AM roots. The higher K[+]: Na[+] ratio in AM shoots contributed to the maintenance of structural and functional integrity of chloroplasts in mesophyll cells.

CONCLUSION: AM symbiosis improved maize salt tolerance by accelerating Na[+] shoot-to-root translocation rate and mediating Na[+]/K[+] distribution between shoots and roots.}, } @article {pmid34619575, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, X and Ding, S}, title = {The biological and pharmacological connections between diabetes and various types of cancer.}, journal = {Pathology, research and practice}, volume = {227}, number = {}, pages = {153641}, doi = {10.1016/j.prp.2021.153641}, pmid = {34619575}, issn = {1618-0631}, mesh = {Animals ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/*metabolism/pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy/epidemiology/*metabolism/pathology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism/pathology ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones/metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use ; Incidence ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Neoplasms/epidemiology/*metabolism/pathology ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Diabetes and cancer incidence have risen tremendously over the years. Additionally, both cancer and diabetes share numerous risks, such as overweight, inactive lifestyles, older age, and smoking. Numerous methods have been suggested to connect obesity and diabetes to cancer advancements, such as increasing insulin/ Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) signaling, lipid and glucose uptake and metabolism, shifts in the cytokine, chemokine, and adipokine profile also variations in the adipose tissue immediately adjacent to cancer spots. Diabetes has been found to have a complicated cancer-causing mechanism involving excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, loss of critical macromolecules, chronic inflammation, and delayed repair, all of which contribute to carcinogenesis. Diabetes-associated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition lead to the formation of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumors by enabling tumor cells to extravasate via the endothelium and epithelium. This study aims to describe the correlation between diabetes and cancer, as well as summarize the molecular connections and shared pathways such as sex hormones, hyperglycemia, inflammation, insulin axis, metabolic symbiosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that exist between them.}, } @article {pmid34618101, year = {2021}, author = {Karas, BJ and Ross, L and Novero, M and Amyot, L and Shrestha, A and Inada, S and Nakano, M and Sakai, T and Bonetta, D and Sato, S and Murray, JD and Bonfante, P and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Intragenic complementation at the Lotus japonicus CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE D1 locus rescues root hair defects.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {186}, number = {4}, pages = {2037-2050}, pmid = {34618101}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Glucosyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/enzymology/*genetics/growth & development ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Root hair cells form the primary interface of plants with the soil environment, playing key roles in nutrient uptake and plant defense. In legumes, they are typically the first cells to become infected by nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria during root nodule symbiosis. Here, we report a role for the CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE D1 (CSLD1) gene in root hair development in the legume species Lotus japonicus. CSLD1 belongs to the cellulose synthase protein family that includes cellulose synthases and cellulose synthase-like proteins, the latter thought to be involved in the biosynthesis of hemicellulose. We describe 11 Ljcsld1 mutant alleles that impose either short (Ljcsld1-1) or variable (Ljcsld1-2 to 11) root hair length phenotypes. Examination of Ljcsld1-1 and one variable-length root hair mutant, Ljcsld1-6, revealed increased root hair cell wall thickness, which in Ljcsld1-1 was significantly more pronounced and also associated with a strong defect in root nodule symbiosis. Lotus japonicus plants heterozygous for Ljcsld1-1 exhibited intermediate root hair lengths, suggesting incomplete dominance. Intragenic complementation was observed between alleles with mutations in different CSLD1 domains, suggesting CSLD1 function is modular and that the protein may operate as a homodimer or multimer during root hair development.}, } @article {pmid34618095, year = {2021}, author = {Völkner, C and Holzner, LJ and Day, PM and Ashok, AD and Vries, J and Bölter, B and Kunz, HH}, title = {Two plastid POLLUX ion channel-like proteins are required for stress-triggered stromal Ca2+release.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {187}, number = {4}, pages = {2110-2125}, pmid = {34618095}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {852725/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Intracellular Membranes/*metabolism ; Ion Channels/*genetics ; Peas/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/*genetics ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Two decades ago, large cation currents were discovered in the envelope membranes of Pisum sativum L. (pea) chloroplasts. The deduced K+-permeable channel was coined fast-activating chloroplast cation channel but its molecular identity remained elusive. To reveal candidates, we mined proteomic datasets of isolated pea envelopes. Our search uncovered distant members of the nuclear POLLUX ion channel family. Since pea is not amenable to molecular genetics, we used Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize the two gene homologs. Using several independent approaches, we show that both candidates localize to the chloroplast envelope membrane. The proteins, designated PLASTID ENVELOPE ION CHANNELS (PEC1/2), form oligomers with regulator of K+ conductance domains protruding into the intermembrane space. Heterologous expression of PEC1/2 rescues yeast mutants deficient in K+ uptake. Nuclear POLLUX ion channels cofunction with Ca2+ channels to generate Ca2+ signals, critical for establishing mycorrhizal symbiosis and root development. Chloroplasts also exhibit Ca2+ transients in the stroma, probably to relay abiotic and biotic cues between plastids and the nucleus via the cytosol. Our results show that pec1pec2 loss-of-function double mutants fail to trigger the characteristic stromal Ca2+ release observed in wild-type plants exposed to external stress stimuli. Besides this molecular abnormality, pec1pec2 double mutants do not show obvious phenotypes. Future studies of PEC proteins will help to decipher the plant's stress-related Ca2+ signaling network and the role of plastids. More importantly, the discovery of PECs in the envelope membrane is another critical step towards completing the chloroplast ion transport protein inventory.}, } @article {pmid34618047, year = {2021}, author = {Banasiak, J and Jamruszka, T and Murray, JD and Jasiński, M}, title = {A roadmap of plant membrane transporters in arbuscular mycorrhizal and legume-rhizobium symbioses.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {187}, number = {4}, pages = {2071-2091}, pmid = {34618047}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*drug effects ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants live in close contact with beneficial soil microbes: the majority of land plant species establish symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, while most legumes, the third largest plant family, can form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. These microbes contribute to plant nutrition via endosymbiotic processes that require modulating the expression and function of plant transporter systems. The efficient contribution of these symbionts involves precisely controlled integration of transport, which is enabled by the adaptability and plasticity of their transporters. Advances in our understanding of these systems, driven by functional genomics research, are rapidly filling the gap in knowledge about plant membrane transport involved in these plant-microbe interactions. In this review, we synthesize recent findings associated with different stages of these symbioses, from the pre-symbiotic stage to nutrient exchange, and describe the role of host transport systems in both mycorrhizal and legume-rhizobia symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34617232, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, B and Dong, P and Zhang, X and Feng, Z and Wen, Z and Shi, L and Xia, Y and Chen, C and Shen, Z and Lian, C and Chen, Y}, title = {Identification and characterization of eight metallothionein genes involved in heavy metal tolerance from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {10}, pages = {14430-14442}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-021-16776-0}, pmid = {34617232}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Laccaria ; Metallothionein/genetics ; *Metals, Heavy ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; }, abstract = {Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich, heavy metal-binding proteins involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification. The increasing numbers of available genomic sequences of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi enable deeper insights into the characteristics of MT genes in these fungi that form the most important symbiosis with the host trees in forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to establish a comprehensive, genome-wide inventory of MT genes from the ECM fungus Laccaria bicolor. Eight MT genes in L. bicolor were cloned, and the expression patterns of their transcripts at various developmental stages based on expressed sequence tag (EST) counts were analyzed. The expression levels of four MTs were significantly increased during symbiosis stages. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that transcripts of LbMT1 were dominant in free-living mycelia and strongly induced by excessive copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). To determine whether these eight MTs functioned as metal chelators, we expressed them in the Cu- and Cd-sensitive yeast mutants, cup1∆ and yap1∆, respectively. All LbMT proteins provided similar levels of Cu(II) or Cd(II) tolerance, but did not affect by H2O2. Our findings provide novel data on the evolution and diversification of fungal MT gene duplicates, a valuable resource for understanding the vast array of biological processes in which these proteins are involved.}, } @article {pmid34617123, year = {2022}, author = {Medeiros, MCI and Seabourn, PS and Rollins, RL and Yoneishi, NM}, title = {Mosquito Microbiome Diversity Varies Along a Landscape-Scale Moisture Gradient.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {893-900}, pmid = {34617123}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Aedes/microbiology ; Mosquito Vectors/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Disease Vectors ; Urbanization ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms live in close association with metazoan hosts and form symbiotic microbiotas that modulate host biology. Although the function of host-associated microbiomes may change with composition, hosts within a population can exhibit high turnover in microbiome composition among individuals. However, environmental drivers of this variation are inadequately described. Here, we test the hypothesis that this diversity among the microbiomes of Aedes albopictus (a mosquito disease vector) is associated with the local climate and land-use patterns on the high Pacific island of O 'ahu, Hawai 'i. Our principal finding demonstrates that the relative abundance of several bacterial symbionts in the Ae. albopictus microbiome varies in response to a landscape-scale moisture gradient, resulting in the turnover of the mosquito microbiome composition across the landscape. However, we find no evidence that mosquito microbiome diversity is tied to an index of urbanization. This result has implications toward understanding the assembly of host-associated microbiomes, especially during an era of rampant global climate change.}, } @article {pmid34617114, year = {2022}, author = {Ding, YE and Zou, YN and Wu, QS and Kuča, K}, title = {Mycorrhizal fungi regulate daily rhythm of circadian clock in trifoliate orange under drought stress.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {616-628}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpab132}, pmid = {34617114}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Circadian Clocks ; *Citrus ; Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Poncirus/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The circadian rhythm of plants is associated with stress responses; however, it is not clear whether increased host plant drought tolerance by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is associated with changes in the circadian clock. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of Funneliformis mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Schüßler & Walker on the circadian clock gene expression patterns in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) along with gas exchange, abscisic acid (ABA) levels and antioxidant enzyme gene expression under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS) conditions. Plant growth, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and ABA levels were significantly higher in AMF- than in non-AMF-inoculated plants regardless of soil water regimes. Six circadian clock genes, including PtPRR7, PtLHY, PtCCA1, PtGI, PtPIF3 and PtSRR1, were identified and showed rhythmic expression patterns over the course of the day. The AMF inoculation reduced the expression of most circadian clock genes in different time periods. However, AMF treatment significantly increased PtPRR7 and PtGI expression at 5:00 p.m. under WW and DS conditions, PtLHY expression at 1:00 a.m. and PtSRR1 expression at 9:00 p.m. At 1:00 a.m., AMF inoculation up-regulated the expression of the circadian clock genes PtPRR7, PtCCA1, PtLHY and PtPIF3 and the antioxidant enzyme genes PtFe-SOD, PtMn-SOD, PtCu/Zn-SOD, PtPOD and PtCAT1. Correlation analysis revealed that these changes in circadian clock gene expression were associated with antioxidant enzyme gene expression, root ABA and gas exchange. We concluded that mycorrhizal fungi have the ability to regulate the daily rhythm of the circadian clock in trifoliate orange plants in response to drought.}, } @article {pmid34616941, year = {2021}, author = {Sochard, C and Bellec, L and Simon, JC and Outreman, Y}, title = {Influence of "protective" symbionts throughout the different steps of an aphid-parasitoid interaction.}, journal = {Current zoology}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {441-453}, pmid = {34616941}, issn = {1674-5507}, abstract = {Microbial associates are widespread in insects, some conferring a protection to their hosts against natural enemies like parasitoids. These protective symbionts may affect the infection success of the parasitoid by modifying behavioral defenses of their hosts, the development success of the parasitoid by conferring a resistance against it or by altering life-history traits of the emerging parasitoids. Here, we assessed the effects of different protective bacterial symbionts on the entire sequence of the host-parasitoid interaction (i.e., from parasitoid attack to offspring emergence) between the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and its main parasitoid, Aphidius ervi and their impacts on the life-history traits of the emerging parasitoids. To test whether symbiont-mediated phenotypes were general or specific to particular aphid-symbiont associations, we considered several aphid lineages, each harboring a different strain of either Hamiltonella defensa or Regiella insecticola, two protective symbionts commonly found in aphids. We found that symbiont species and strains had a weak effect on the ability of aphids to defend themselves against the parasitic wasps during the attack and a strong effect on aphid resistance against parasitoid development. While parasitism resistance was mainly determined by symbionts, their effects on host defensive behaviors varied largely from one aphid-symbiont association to another. Also, the symbiotic status of the aphid individuals had no impact on the attack rate of the parasitic wasps, the parasitoid emergence rate from parasitized aphids nor the life-history traits of the emerging parasitoids. Overall, no correlations between symbiont effects on the different stages of the host-parasitoid interaction was observed, suggesting no trade-offs or positive associations between symbiont-mediated phenotypes. Our study highlights the need to consider various sequences of the host-parasitoid interaction to better assess the outcomes of protective symbioses and understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of insect-symbiont associations.}, } @article {pmid34616653, year = {2021}, author = {Ponampalam, R and Pong, JZ and Wong, XY}, title = {Medical students as disaster volunteers: A strategy for improving emergency department surge response in times of crisis.}, journal = {World journal of critical care medicine}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {163-169}, pmid = {34616653}, issn = {2220-3141}, abstract = {Disasters resulting in mass casualty incidents can rapidly overwhelm the Emergency Department (ED). To address critical manpower needs in the ED's disaster response, medical student involvement has been advocated. Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School is in proximity to Singapore General Hospital and represents an untapped manpower resource. With appropriate training and integration into ED disaster workflows, medical students can be leveraged upon as qualified manpower. This review provides a snapshot of the conceptualization and setting up of the Disaster Volunteer Corps - a programme where medical students were recruited to receive regular training and assessment from emergency physicians on disaster response principles to fulfil specific roles during a crisis, while working as part of a team under supervision. We discuss overall strategy and benefits to stakeholders, emphasizing the close symbiotic relationship between academia and healthcare services.}, } @article {pmid34616416, year = {2021}, author = {Nguyen, CT and Saito, K}, title = {Role of Cell Wall Polyphosphates in Phosphorus Transfer at the Arbuscular Interface in Mycorrhizas.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {725939}, pmid = {34616416}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide plants with soil mineral nutrients, particularly phosphorus. In this symbiotic association, the arbuscular interface is the main site for nutrient exchange. To understand phosphorus transfer at the interface, we analyzed the subcellular localization of polyphosphate (polyP) in mature arbuscules of Rhizophagus irregularis colonizing roots of Lotus japonicus wild-type (WT) and H[+]-ATPase ha1-1 mutant, which is defective in phosphorus acquisition through the mycorrhizal pathway. In both, the WT and the ha1-1 mutant, polyP accumulated in the cell walls of trunk hyphae and inside fine branch modules close to the trunk hyphae. However, many fine branches lacked polyP. In the mutant, most fine branch modules showed polyP signals compared to the WT. Notably, polyP was also observed in the cell walls of some fine branches formed in the ha1-1 mutant, indicating phosphorus release from fungal cells to the apoplastic regions. Intense acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was detected in the periarbuscular spaces around the fine branches. Furthermore, double staining of ACP activity and polyP revealed that these had contrasting distribution patterns in arbuscules. These observations suggest that polyP in fungal cell walls and apoplastic phosphatases may play an important role in phosphorus transfer at the symbiotic interface in arbuscules.}, } @article {pmid34614768, year = {2021}, author = {Li, X and Zhang, S and Liu, J and Yan, D and Wang, C and Yang, Z}, title = {Symbiotic coexistence of noise-like pulses.}, journal = {Optics express}, volume = {29}, number = {19}, pages = {30449-30460}, doi = {10.1364/OE.432957}, pmid = {34614768}, issn = {1094-4087}, abstract = {Noise-like pulse (NLP) can split and then self-assemble into dynamic bound states, named NLP polymer. Here, we reported the first observation, to the best of our knowledge, of the buildup process of bound NLPs in all-normal-dispersion Yb-doped fiber lasers. By designing two NLP fiber lasers, the distinct autocorrelation trace property for the bound NLPs with a short time interval (around 30 ps), and the high-speed oscilloscope trace characterization for the bound NLPs with a relatively broad time interval (∼500 ps) have all been exhibited. Also, we have demonstrated that it was the Raman effect that mediated the NLP bound states. The experiment results showed that though the inter-interval between the NLPs and the NLP width in the bound states are constantly changing, the envelope of each NLP remained localized and the bound NLPs could maintain within a wide pump range. The dynamics of the experimentally observed bound NLPs have also been discussed with fitting models and numerical simulations. In addition, the experimental test results for the coherence of the NLPs and their bound states further indicated that the NLPs had low temporal coherence characteristics.}, } @article {pmid34614366, year = {2022}, author = {Vorburger, C}, title = {Defensive Symbionts and the Evolution of Parasitoid Host Specialization.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {329-346}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-072621-062042}, pmid = {34614366}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/microbiology ; Food Chain ; Host Specificity ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Insect host-parasitoid interactions abound in nature and are characterized by a high degree of host specialization. In addition to their behavioral and immune defenses, many host species rely on heritable bacterial endosymbionts for defense against parasitoids. Studies on aphids and flies show that resistance conferred by symbionts can be very strong and highly specific, possibly as a result of variation in symbiont-produced toxins. I argue that defensive symbionts are therefore an important source of diversifying selection, promoting the evolution of host specialization by parasitoids. This is likely to affect the structure of host-parasitoid food webs. I consider potential changes in terms of food web complexity, although the nature of these effects will also be influenced by whether maternally transmitted symbionts have some capacity for lateral transfer. This is discussed in the light of available evidence for horizontal transmission routes. Finally, I propose that defensive mutualisms other than microbial endosymbionts may also exert diversifying selection on insect parasitoids.}, } @article {pmid34612103, year = {2022}, author = {Banerjee, S and Maiti, TK and Roy, RN}, title = {Enzyme producing insect gut microbes: an unexplored biotechnological aspect.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {384-402}, doi = {10.1080/07388551.2021.1942777}, pmid = {34612103}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Biotechnology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Insecta ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To explore the unmapped biotechnologically important microbial platforms for human welfare, the insect gut system is such a promising arena. Insects, the inhabitant of all ecological niches, harbor a healthy diversified microbial population in their versatile gut environment. This deep-rooted symbiotic relationship between insects and gut microbes is the result of several indispensable microbial performances that include: enzyme production, detoxification of plant defense compounds and insecticides, maintenance of life cycle, host fertility, bioremediation, pest biocontrol, production of antimicrobial compounds, and in addition provide vitamins, amino acids, and lactic acids to their hosts. Insects have developed such symbiotic interactions with different microorganisms for nutritional benefits like the digestion of dietary compounds by the production of several key hydrolytic enzymes viz: amylase, cellulase, lignocellulase, protease, lipase, xylanase, pectinase, chitinase, laccase, etc. The nutritional enrichment offered by these microbes to insects may be the key factor in the evolutionary attainment of this group. Around one million insect species are grouped under 31 orders, however, only ten of such groups' have been studied in relation to enzyme-producing gut microbes. Moreover, insect gut symbionts are a potential source of biotechnologically active biomolecules as these microbes go through a course of selection pressures in their host gut environment. As symbiosis has pronounced potential regarding the production of novel compounds, especially enzymes with multidimensional industrial capabilities, so there are ample scopes to explore this treasure box for human welfare. Biological significance as well as industrially compatible capabilities can categorize these insect gut symbionts as an unexplored biotechnological aspect.}, } @article {pmid34611723, year = {2021}, author = {Dippenaar, SM and Narváez, K and Osaer, F and Mangena, T}, title = {Symbiotic Siphonostomatoida (Copepoda) of the hammerhead shark species Sphyrna zygaena (Carcharhiniformes: Sphyrnidae) and stingray Dasyatis pastinaca (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) off the Canary Islands, with a re-description of Pseudocharopinus pillaii Kabata, 1979.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {120}, number = {11}, pages = {3739-3747}, pmid = {34611723}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; *Copepoda ; Humans ; *Pastinaca ; Phylogeny ; *Sharks ; *Skates, Fish ; Spain ; }, abstract = {The biology, including accompanying ectoparasitic fauna, remains unstudied for several elasmobranchs off the Canary Islands in spite of concerns over their conservation. Within this region, this is the first report of copepod associations with these fishes. Twenty smooth hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna zygaena, and one common stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca, were inspected for symbionts on their body surface. Symbiotic siphonostomatoids were collected from 18 S. zygaena hosts and represent two different species, i.e., Alebion crassus (Caligidae) and Pandarus cranchii (Pandaridae). A high prevalence of 90% and a mean infection of 8.3 individuals per infected host were exhibited by A. crassus, while only a single P. cranchii was collected. Both these findings represent new geographical records. Additionally, one free-ranging common stingray Dasyatis pastinaca was opportunistically inspected and 11 Pseudocharopinus pillaii (Lernaeopodidae) collected which constitutes a new host record and a new geographical record. A re-description with detail regarding the morphology of the appendages is provided for the first time. Due to the morphological similarity between P. pillaii and P. malleus, a molecular analysis of the partial mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I gene was done in an attempt to determine if there is molecular divergence between the two species. This provided an estimate of the phylogenetic relationships amongst four Pseudocharopinus species (P. bicaudatus, P. pteromylaei, P. malleus, and P. pillaii) with Charopinus dubius as an outgroup as an alternative hypothesis to compare with the previous morphological topology estimated for all Pseudocharopinus species.}, } @article {pmid34610466, year = {2022}, author = {Konno, T and Tsukagoshi, A}, title = {Crayfish co-introduced symbiotic ostracod found on native crab in Japan: The first record of epibiont ostracod found a new host.}, journal = {Parasitology international}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {102475}, doi = {10.1016/j.parint.2021.102475}, pmid = {34610466}, issn = {1873-0329}, mesh = {Animals ; Astacoidea/*parasitology ; Crustacea/*physiology ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Introduced Species ; Japan ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ankylocythere sinuosa (Rioja, 1942), a symbiotic ostracod native to North America, was found from the Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica (De Haan, 1835), a species native to Japan, collected from a pond in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. Introduced North American crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852), which is a host of A. sinuosa in their native range, inhabits ponds sympatrically with Japanese mitten crabs, and it is thought that the ostracods transferred from the exotic crayfish to the native crabs. In recent years, along with the artificial transportation of crayfish around the world, their symbiotic ostracods also have been found on the body surfaces of exotic crayfish in Europe and Japan. However, no studies have confirmed the infestation of exotic ostracods on native crustaceans in the field. A wide range of developmental stages of A. sinuosa from juveniles to adults were found in Japanese mitten crabs, and mating individuals were also found. This strongly suggests that they can reproduce on the body surface of Japanese mitten crabs. In the future, it will be necessary to strengthen measures against alien species to prevent these exotic symbionts from infestating native ecosystems, and we also need to investigate the exact impact of this symbiont on Japanese mitten crabs.}, } @article {pmid34610222, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, J and Chen, Y and Li, S and Zhao, Z and Wu, Z}, title = {Machine learning in orthodontics: Challenges and perspectives.}, journal = {Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {1065-1074}, doi = {10.17219/acem/138702}, pmid = {34610222}, issn = {1899-5276}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Machine Learning ; *Orthodontics ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {Artificial intelligence (AI) applications have significantly improved our everyday quality of life. The last decade has witnessed the emergence of up-and-coming applications in the field of dentistry. It is hopeful that AI, especially machine learning (ML), due to its powerful capacity for image processing and decision support systems, will find extensive application in orthodontics in the future. We performed a comprehensive literature review of the latest studies on the application of ML in orthodontic procedures, including diagnosis, decision-making and treatment. Machine learning models have been found to perform similar to or with even higher accuracy than humans in landmark identification, skeletal classification, bone age prediction, and tooth segmentation. Meanwhile, compared to human experts, ML algorithms allow for high agreement and stability in orthodontic decision-making procedures and treatment effect evaluation. However, current research on ML raises important questions regarding its interpretability and dataset sample reliability. Therefore, more collaboration between orthodontic professionals and technicians is urged to achieve a positive symbiosis between AI and the clinic.}, } @article {pmid34610117, year = {2021}, author = {Youseif, SH and Abd El-Megeed, FH and Abdelaal, AS and Ageez, A and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Plant-microbe-microbe interactions influence the faba bean nodule colonization by diverse endophytic bacteria.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab138}, pmid = {34610117}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Klebsiella ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; *Vicia faba ; }, abstract = {Legume root nodules harbor rhizobia and other non-nodulating endophytes known as nodule-associated bacteria (NAB) whose role in the legume symbiosis is still unknown. We analysed the genetic diversity of 34 NAB isolates obtained from the root nodules of faba bean grown under various soil conditions in Egypt using 16S rRNA and concatenated sequences of three housekeeping genes. All isolates were identified as members of the family Enterobacteriaceae belonging to the genera Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Raoultella. We identified nine enterobacterial genospecies, most of which have not been previously reported as NAB. All isolated strains harbored nifH gene sequences and most of them possessed plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Upon co-inoculation with an N2 fixing rhizobium (Rlv NGB-FR128), two strains (Enterobacter sichanensis NGB-FR97 and Klebsiella variicola NGB-FR116) significantly increased nodulation, growth and N-uptake of faba bean plants over the single treatments or the uninoculated control. The presence of these enterobacteria in nodules was significantly affected by the host plant genotype, symbiotic rhizobium genotype and endophyte genotype, indicating that the nodule colonization process is regulated by plant-microbe-microbe interactions. This study emphasizes the importance of nodule-associated enterobacteria and suggests their potential role in improving the effectiveness of rhizobial inoculants.}, } @article {pmid34607467, year = {2021}, author = {Dial, CN and Speare, L and Sharpe, GC and Gifford, SM and Septer, AN and Visick, KL}, title = {Para-Aminobenzoic Acid, Calcium, and c-di-GMP Induce Formation of Cohesive, Syp-Polysaccharide-Dependent Biofilms in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0203421}, pmid = {34607467}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {4-Aminobenzoic Acid/*metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri efficiently colonizes its symbiotic squid host, Euprymna scolopes, by producing a transient biofilm dependent on the symbiosis polysaccharide (SYP). In vitro, however, wild-type strain ES114 fails to form SYP-dependent biofilms. Instead, genetically engineered strains, such as those lacking the negative regulator BinK, have been developed to study this phenomenon. Historically, V. fischeri has been grown using LBS, a complex medium containing tryptone and yeast extract; supplementation with calcium is required to induce biofilm formation by a binK mutant. Here, through our discovery that yeast extract inhibits biofilm formation, we uncover signals and underlying mechanisms that control V. fischeri biofilm formation. In contrast to its inability to form a biofilm on unsupplemented LBS, a binK mutant formed cohesive, SYP-dependent colony biofilms on tTBS, modified LBS that lacks yeast extract. Moreover, wild-type strain ES114 became proficient to form cohesive, SYP-dependent biofilms when grown in tTBS supplemented with both calcium and the vitamin para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA); neither molecule alone was sufficient, indicating that this phenotype relies on coordinating two cues. pABA/calcium supplementation also inhibited bacterial motility. Consistent with these phenotypes, cells grown in tTBS with pABA/calcium were enriched in transcripts for biofilm-related genes and predicted diguanylate cyclases, which produce the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP). They also exhibited elevated levels of c-di-GMP, which was required for the observed phenotypes, as phosphodiesterase overproduction abrogated biofilm formation and partially rescued motility. This work thus provides insight into conditions, signals, and processes that promote biofilm formation by V. fischeri. IMPORTANCE Bacteria integrate environmental signals to regulate gene expression and protein production to adapt to their surroundings. One such behavioral adaptation is the formation of a biofilm, which can promote adherence and colonization and provide protection against antimicrobials. Identifying signals that trigger biofilm formation and the underlying mechanism(s) of action remain important and challenging areas of investigation. Here, we determined that yeast extract, commonly used for growth of bacteria in laboratory culture, inhibits biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri, a model bacterium used for investigating host-relevant biofilm formation. Omitting yeast extract from the growth medium led to the identification of an unusual signal, the vitamin para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA), that when added together with calcium could induce biofilm formation. pABA increased the concentrations of the second messenger, c-di-GMP, which was necessary but not sufficient to induce biofilm formation. This work thus advances our understanding of signals and signal integration controlling bacterial biofilm formation.}, } @article {pmid34606856, year = {2022}, author = {Ren, B and Shi, X and Chi, Y and Ren, T and Jin, X and Wang, XC and Jin, P}, title = {A comprehensive assessment of fungi in urban sewer biofilms: Community structure, environmental factors, and symbiosis patterns.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {150728}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150728}, pmid = {34606856}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biofilms ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycobiome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sewers are important parts of wastewater treatment facilities and the fungal microbial communities therein make large contributions to the biotransformation of wastewater. Therefore, this experiment constructed an experimental sewer system and characterized the fungal microbial communities using ITS high-throughput sequencing technology in combination with network structure analysis and statistical correlation analysis methods. The results demonstrated that the overall diversity of the fungal communities gradually increased as growth phases progressed, but the dominant groups differed significantly among phases. In the early growth phase (RS1) the dominant genera were Apiotrichum and Inocybe, with abundances of 34% and 14%, respectively, while the middle and late growth phases (RS2 and RS3) were dominated by Candida, with a relative abundance of 47%-66%. CCA and correlation analysis showed that the fungal communities diversity from the artificial sewers had significant positive correlations with COD (r[2] = 0.44, p < 0.05) and NH4[+] (r[2] = 0.64, p < 0.05) and that environmental factors significantly influenced the abundances of Fusarium and Aspergillus. Network analysis revealed differences in the fungal groups representing key nodes during different periods. Candida, Trichosporon, Fusarium, and Aspergillus played important roles in the microbial ecosystem of the simulated sewer systems. This study provides data-supported insight into the bacterial-fungal interaction mechanisms and associated pollutant biodegradation technologies in sewers.}, } @article {pmid34606367, year = {2022}, author = {Eribo, OA and du Plessis, N and Chegou, NN}, title = {The Intestinal Commensal, Bacteroides fragilis, Modulates Host Responses to Viral Infection and Therapy: Lessons for Exploration during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {e0032121}, pmid = {34606367}, issn = {1098-5522}, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Bacteroides fragilis/*physiology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Disease Management ; Disease Resistance/immunology ; Disease Susceptibility ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Interferons/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; Organ Specificity ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; Tuberculosis/etiology ; Virus Diseases/*etiology/metabolism/*therapy ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota has emerged as a critical player in host health. Bacteroides fragilis is a prominent member of the gut microbiota within the phyla Bacteroidetes. This commensal bacterium produces unique capsular polysaccharides processed by antigen-presenting cells and activates CD4[+] T cells to secrete inflammatory cytokines. Indeed, due to their immunomodulatory functions, B. fragilis and its capsular polysaccharide-A (PSA) are arguably the most explored single commensal microbiota/symbiotic factor. B. fragilis/PSA has been shown to protect against colitis, encephalomyelitis, colorectal cancer, pulmonary inflammation, and asthma. Here, we review recent data on the immunomodulatory role of B. fragilis/PSA during viral infections and therapy, B. fragilis PSA's dual ability to mediate pro-and anti-inflammatory processes, and the potential for exploring this unique characteristic during intracellular bacterial infections such as with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We also discuss the protective roles of single commensal-derived probiotic species, including B. fragilis in lung inflammation and respiratory infections that may provide essential cues for possible exploration of microbiota based/augmented therapies in tuberculosis (TB). Available data on the relationship between B. fragilis/PSA, the immune system, and disease suggest clinical relevance for developing B. fragilis into a next-generation probiotic or, possibly, the engineering of PSA into a potent carbohydrate-based vaccine.}, } @article {pmid34606364, year = {2022}, author = {Salem, H and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Beetle-Bacterial Symbioses: Endless Forms Most Functional.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {201-219}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-061421-063433}, pmid = {34606364}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beetles are hosts to a remarkable diversity of bacterial symbionts. In this article, we review the role of these partnerships in promoting beetle fitness following a surge of recent studies characterizing symbiont localization and function across the Coleoptera. Symbiont contributions range from the supplementation of essential nutrients and digestive or detoxifying enzymes to the production of bioactive compounds providing defense against natural enemies. Insights on this functional diversity highlight how symbiosis can expand the host's ecological niche, but also constrain its evolutionary potential by promoting specialization. As bacterial localization can differ within and between beetle clades, we discuss how it corresponds to the microbe's beneficial role and outline the molecular and behavioral mechanisms underlying symbiont translocation and transmission by its holometabolous host. In reviewing this literature, we emphasize how the study of symbiosis can inform our understanding of the phenotypic innovations behind the evolutionary success of beetles.}, } @article {pmid34606096, year = {2021}, author = {Miller, SL and Gans, MR}, title = {Largely invariant communities of bacterial endophytes in the nonphotosynthetic mycoheterotrophic plant Pterospora andromedea.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {108}, number = {11}, pages = {2208-2219}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1754}, pmid = {34606096}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {P20 GM103432/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Endophytes ; *Ericaceae ; Plant Roots ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Mycoheterotrophic plants rely on fungi to obtain their carbon requirements. Recent experiments demonstrated the presence of endophytic bacteria associated with mycoheterotrophs. Although mycoheterotrophs show high specificity for their fungal partners, it is not known whether they also show high specificity for associated bacteria or whether the bacteria have a definite function in the symbiosis.

METHODS: Two 16S rRNA sequencing experiments were designed to explore endophytic microbial community composition and function in root ball fractions of the mycoheterotroph Pterospora andromedea (Ericaceae), and rhizosphere soil and control soil 5 m away from each plant. One experiment compared microbial assemblages in fractions of six plants to those in rhizosphere and control soil samples. Another experiment documented bacterial endophyte diversity in root balls of 97 plants from across North America.

RESULTS: Soil samples were similar in bacterial community structure but were significantly more diverse and less consistently structured than were bacterial communities within root balls. The proportion of endophytic bacterial species varied slightly but not their community composition despite differences in P. andromedea lineage, geography, conifer species, and fungi. Predictive metagenomic profiling of the endophytes in P. andromedea-only root ball fractions showed many of the bacterial endophytes likely function in N-metabolism and N-fixation.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results document a consistent and largely invariant community of endophytic bacteria in P. andromedea across biotic and abiotic environmental conditions at a continental scale. It is unknown what role these bacteria may play in the quad-partite symbiotic network centered on P. andromedea; however, the predictive metagenomic profiling suggests a possible function in N-metabolism or N-fixation. Discovery of a ubiquitous community of endophytic bacteria with a putative function centered on N-metabolism or N-fixation could have a previously unrecognized impact on understanding of mycoheterotroph ecophysiology.}, } @article {pmid34606078, year = {2021}, author = {Kömpe, YO and Mutlu, VA}, title = {Ex vitro symbiotic germination of the seeds of Anacamptis coriophora (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pritgeon & M.W. Chase and Orchis anatolica Boiss.}, journal = {Biologia futura}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {509-516}, pmid = {34606078}, issn = {2676-8607}, mesh = {Germination/genetics/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Seeds/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rapid destruction of orchid habitats and over-collection of the tubers are the greatest threats to orchid diversity. To counter these threats, it is necessary to grow orchid tubers easily and quickly for economic reasons and to reintroduce populations in the habitats of species that are facing extinction. This study demonstrates a simple viability test for orchid seeds and the ex vitro symbiotic seed germination of temperate orchids. Viability of the seeds of two orchid species, Anacamptis coriophora and Orchis anatolica, was determined without any chemical treatment of the seed coat. Seeds were incubated in packs in moist cocopeats for five days during which seed viability tests being performed daily. The highest viability rate was found in the seeds that were incubated for five days (64.33% for O. coriophora; 67.19% for O. anatolica). The seeds of these orchids were sown non-axenically into a pre-inoculated soil mixture with a compatible fungus, Ceratobasidium sp. AG A. The seeds of both the orchids germinated 18 days after sowing. Leafy and rooted seedlings developed two months after sowing and the first tubers of both the species developed seven months later.}, } @article {pmid34605762, year = {2021}, author = {Colombi, E and Perry, BJ and Sullivan, JT and Bekuma, AA and Terpolilli, JJ and Ronson, CW and Ramsay, JP}, title = {Comparative analysis of integrative and conjugative mobile genetic elements in the genus Mesorhizobium.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34605762}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plasmids ; Quorum Sensing ; Recombination, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Members of the Mesorhizobium genus are soil bacteria that often form nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes. Most characterised Mesorhizobium spp. genomes are ~8 Mb in size and harbour extensive pangenomes including large integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) carrying genes required for symbiosis (ICESyms). Here, we document and compare the conjugative mobilome of 41 complete Mesorhizobium genomes. We delineated 56 ICEs and 24 integrative and mobilizable elements (IMEs) collectively occupying 16 distinct integration sites, along with 24 plasmids. We also demonstrated horizontal transfer of the largest (853,775 bp) documented ICE, the tripartite ICEMspSym[AA22]. The conjugation systems of all identified ICEs and several plasmids were related to those of the paradigm ICESym ICEMlSym[R7A], with each carrying conserved genes for conjugative pilus formation (trb), excision (rdfS), DNA transfer (rlxS) and regulation (fseA). ICESyms have likely evolved from a common ancestor, despite occupying a variety of distinct integration sites and specifying symbiosis with diverse legumes. We found extensive evidence for recombination between ICEs and particularly ICESyms, which all uniquely lack the conjugation entry-exclusion factor gene trbK. Frequent duplication, replacement and pseudogenization of genes for quorum-sensing-mediated activation and antiactivation of ICE transfer suggests ICE transfer regulation is constantly evolving. Pangenome-wide association analysis of the ICE identified genes potentially involved in symbiosis, rhizosphere colonisation and/or adaptation to distinct legume hosts. In summary, the Mesorhizobium genus has accumulated a large and dynamic pangenome that evolves through ongoing horizontal gene transfer of large conjugative elements related to ICEMlSym[R7A].}, } @article {pmid34605432, year = {2021}, author = {Vuković, V and Leduc, T and Jelić-Matošević, Z and Didierjean, C and Favier, F and Guillot, B and Jelsch, C}, title = {A rush to explore protein-ligand electrostatic interaction energy with Charger.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section D, Structural biology}, volume = {77}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {1292-1304}, doi = {10.1107/S2059798321008433}, pmid = {34605432}, issn = {2059-7983}, mesh = {Benzophenones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Ligands ; *Models, Molecular ; Polyporaceae/*enzymology ; *Software ; *Static Electricity ; *Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {The mutual penetration of electron densities between two interacting molecules complicates the computation of an accurate electrostatic interaction energy based on a pseudo-atom representation of electron densities. The numerical exact potential and multipole moment (nEP/MM) method is time-consuming since it performs a 3D integration to obtain the electrostatic energy at short interaction distances. Nguyen et al. [(2018), Acta Cryst. A74, 524-536] recently reported a fully analytical computation of the electrostatic interaction energy (aEP/MM). This method performs much faster than nEP/MM (up to two orders of magnitude) and remains highly accurate. A new program library, Charger, contains an implementation of the aEP/MM method. Charger has been incorporated into the MoProViewer software. Benchmark tests on a series of small molecules containing only C, H, N and O atoms show the efficiency of Charger in terms of execution time and accuracy. Charger is also powerful in a study of electrostatic symbiosis between a protein and a ligand. It determines reliable protein-ligand interaction energies even when both contain S atoms. It easily estimates the individual contribution of every residue to the total protein-ligand electrostatic binding energy. Glutathione transferase (GST) in complex with a benzophenone ligand was studied due to the availability of both structural and thermodynamic data. The resulting analysis highlights not only the residues that stabilize the ligand but also those that hinder ligand binding from an electrostatic point of view. This offers new perspectives in the search for mutations to improve the interaction between the two partners. A proposed mutation would improve ligand binding to GST by removing an electrostatic obstacle, rather than by the traditional increase in the number of favourable contacts.}, } @article {pmid34605178, year = {2022}, author = {Tchesunov, AV and Ivanenko, VN}, title = {What is the difference between marine and limnetic-terrestrial associations of nematodes with invertebrates?.}, journal = {Integrative zoology}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {481-510}, doi = {10.1111/1749-4877.12595}, pmid = {34605178}, issn = {1749-4877}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Crustacea ; Invertebrates/parasitology ; *Nematoda ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Zoo- and phyto-parasitic nematodes of the order Rhabditida and zooparasites of the subclass Dorylaimia are well known, due largely to their medical, veterinarian and agricultural significance. However, there have been many switches from a free-living to a symbiotic (including parasitism) mode of existence in the evolutionary trajectories of various nematode clades. Here, we attempt to summarize all known cases of symbioses (from commensalism to true parasitism) between marine nematodes representing nonparasitic taxa and various larger animals, ranging from protists to vertebrates. Most cases are of nematodes relating to dwelling on crustaceans (ectocommensalism) or living in the body cavity and internal organs of various invertebrates (endoparasitism or parasitoidism). Ectocommensal species may differ from their free-living relatives in their longer filiform bodies and enlarged ventral and caudal glands, which may be interpreted as adaptations for the purpose of fixation on the body surface of a motile host. Endoparasitic species are characterized by deep anatomical modification, including rudimentation of the alimentary tract and hypertrophy of reproductive organs. Unlike terrestrial and limnetic invertebrates, marine invertebrates have almost no intestinal nematode dwellers. The evolutionary trajectories of nematode dwellers of marine and nonmarine invertebrates are compared.}, } @article {pmid34604233, year = {2021}, author = {Le Noci, V and Bernardo, G and Bianchi, F and Tagliabue, E and Sommariva, M and Sfondrini, L}, title = {Toll Like Receptors as Sensors of the Tumor Microbial Dysbiosis: Implications in Cancer Progression.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {732192}, pmid = {34604233}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {The microbiota is a complex ecosystem of active microorganisms resident in the body of mammals. Although the majority of these microorganisms resides in the distal gastrointestinal tract, high-throughput DNA sequencing technology has made possible to understand that several other tissues of the human body host their own microbiota, even those once considered sterile, such as lung tissue. These bacterial communities have important functions in maintaining a healthy body state, preserving symbiosis with the host immune system, which generates protective responses against pathogens and regulatory pathways that sustain the tolerance to commensal microbes. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are critical in sensing the microbiota, maintaining the tolerance or triggering an immune response through the direct recognition of ligands derived from commensal microbiota or pathogenic microbes. Lately, it has been highlighted that the resident microbiota influences the initiation and development of cancer and its response to therapies and that specific changes in the number and distribution of taxa correlate with the existence of cancers in various tissues. However, the knowledge of functional activity and the meaning of microbiome changes remain limited. This review summarizes the current findings on the function of TLRs as sensors of the microbiota and highlighted their modulation as a reflection of tumor-associated changes in commensal microbiota. The data available to date suggest that commensal "onco-microbes" might be able to break the tolerance of TLRs and become complicit in cancer by sustaining its growth.}, } @article {pmid34604104, year = {2021}, author = {Girardot, M and Millot, M and Hamion, G and Billard, JL and Juin, C and Ntoutoume, GMAN and Sol, V and Mambu, L and Imbert, C}, title = {Lichen Polyphenolic Compounds for the Eradication of Candida albicans Biofilms.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {698883}, pmid = {34604104}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents ; Biofilms ; *Candida albicans ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; *Lichens ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; }, abstract = {Lichens, due to their symbiotic nature (association between fungi and algae), constitute a chemical factory of original compounds. Polyphenolic compounds (depsides and depsidones) are the main constituents of lichens and are exclusively biosynthesized by these organisms. A panel of 11 polyphenols was evaluated for their anti-biofilm activity against Candida albicans biofilms on the maturation phase (anti-maturation) (MMIC50) as well as on preformed 24-h-old biofilm (anti-biofilm) (MBIC50) using the XTT assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of compounds (MICs) against C. albicans planktonic yeast were also determined using a broth microdilution method. While none of the tested compounds were active against planktonic cells (IC50 > 100 µg/ml), three depsides slowed the biofilm maturation (MMIC50 ≤12.5 µg/ml after 48 h of contact with Candida cells). Evernic acid was able to both slow the maturation and reduce the already formed biofilms with MBIC50 ≤12.5 µg/ml after 48 h of contact with the biofilm. This compound shows a weak toxicity against HeLa cells (22%) at the minimal active concentration and no hemolytic activity at 100 µg/ml. Microscopic observations of evernic acid and optimization of its solubility were performed to further study this compound. This work confirmed the anti-biofilm potential of depsides, especially evernic acid, and allows to establish the structure-activity relationships to better explain the anti-biofilm potential of these compounds.}, } @article {pmid34604101, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, N and Ding, H and Yu, H and Ji, Y and Xifang, X and Pang, W and Wang, X and Zhang, Q and Li, W}, title = {Comprehensive Characterization of Microbial Community in the Female Genital Tract of Reproductive-Aged Women in China.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {649067}, pmid = {34604101}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; *Lactobacillus/genetics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Vagina ; }, abstract = {The microbiota in the human body play critical roles in many physiological and pathological processes. However, the diversity and dynamics of the female genital tract (FGT) microbiota have not been fully unveiled. In this study, we characterized the microbiome variations in reproductive-aged Chinese women, and we revealed that the cervicovaginal microbiota were dominated by Lactobacillus. Overall, the composition of microbiota in the uterine cavity was more diverse than that in the vagina and cervix. A positive correlation between Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus was observed in both the vagina and the cervix, suggesting that these two species might have a symbiotic relationship in the cervicovaginal microbiota. Moreover, we, for the first time, stratified the reproductive-aged Chinese women into subgroups, based on their microbiome profiles. Furthermore, we identified the bacteria whose abundance changed in the uterine cavity of infertile patients when compared with healthy controls, such as L. iners and L. crispatus. Functionally, the metabolism-related pathways, neurotrophin signaling pathway, and adipocytokine signaling pathway were predominantly dysregulated in the uterine cavity of infertile patients. In conclusion, we characterized a comprehensive microbial landscape in FGT, as well as their functional roles in female infertility of the Chinese population.}, } @article {pmid34602840, year = {2021}, author = {Si, HL and Su, YM and Zheng, XX and Ding, MY and Bose, T and Chang, RL}, title = {Phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Coniochaeta isolates recovered from Inner Mongolia and Yunnan revealed three new endolichenic fungal species.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {83}, number = {}, pages = {105-121}, pmid = {34602840}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Lichens are the result of a symbiotic interaction between fungi (mycobionts) and algae (phycobionts). Aside from mycobionts, lichen thalli can also contain non-lichenised fungal species, such as lichenicolous and endolichenic fungi. For this study, three surveys were conducted in China's Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region between 2017 and 2020. Several samples of four lichen species were collected during these surveys: Candelariafibrosa, Flavoparmeliacaperata, Flavopuncteliaflaventior and Ramalinasinensis. Six isolates of Coniochaeta were recovered from these four lichen species. The phylogenetic and morphological analyses revealed that two of these isolates were previously identified species, Coniochaetavelutinosa and C.acaciae. Those remaining were from potentially unknown species. We used molecular and morphological data to describe these previously-unknown species as Coniochaetafibrosae sp. nov., C.mongoliae sp. nov. and C.sinensis sp. nov. The findings of this study significantly improve our understanding of the variety and habitat preferences of Coniochaeta in China and globally.}, } @article {pmid34602098, year = {2021}, author = {Guilhot, R and Rombaut, A and Xuéreb, A and Howell, K and Fellous, S}, title = {Influence of bacteria on the maintenance of a yeast during Drosophila melanogaster metamorphosis.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {68}, pmid = {34602098}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {Interactions between microorganisms associated with metazoan hosts are emerging as key features of symbiotic systems. Little is known about the role of such interactions on the maintenance of host-microorganism association throughout the host's life cycle. We studied the influence of extracellular bacteria on the maintenance of a wild isolate of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae through metamorphosis of the fly Drosophila melanogaster reared in fruit. Yeasts maintained through metamorphosis only when larvae were associated with extracellular bacteria isolated from D. melanogaster faeces. One of these isolates, an Enterobacteriaceae, favoured yeast maintenance during metamorphosis. Such bacterial influence on host-yeast association may have consequences for the ecology and evolution of insect-yeast-bacteria symbioses in the wild.}, } @article {pmid34601502, year = {2022}, author = {Brunetti, AE and Bunk, B and Lyra, ML and Fuzo, CA and Marani, MM and Spröer, C and Haddad, CFB and Lopes, NP and Overmann, J}, title = {Molecular basis of a bacterial-amphibian symbiosis revealed by comparative genomics, modeling, and functional testing.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {788-800}, pmid = {34601502}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The molecular bases for the symbiosis of the amphibian skin microbiome with its host are poorly understood. Here, we used the odor-producer Pseudomonas sp. MPFS and the treefrog Boana prasina as a model to explore bacterial genome determinants and the resulting mechanisms facilitating symbiosis. Pseudomonas sp. MPFS and its closest relatives, within a new clade of the P. fluoresens Group, have large genomes and were isolated from fishes and plants, suggesting environmental plasticity. We annotated 16 biosynthetic gene clusters from the complete genome sequence of this strain, including those encoding the synthesis of compounds with known antifungal activity and of odorous methoxypyrazines that likely mediate sexual interactions in Boana prasina. Comparative genomics of Pseudomonas also revealed that Pseudomonas sp. MPFS and its closest relatives have acquired specific resistance mechanisms against host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), specifically two extra copies of a multidrug efflux pump and the same two-component regulatory systems known to trigger adaptive resistance to AMPs in P. aeruginosa. Subsequent molecular modeling indicated that these regulatory systems interact with an AMP identified in Boana prasina through the highly acidic surfaces of the proteins comprising their sensory domains. In agreement with a symbiotic relationship and a highly selective antibacterial function, this AMP did not inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas sp. MPFS but inhibited the growth of another Pseudomonas species and Escherichia coli in laboratory tests. This study provides deeper insights into the molecular interaction of the bacteria-amphibian symbiosis and highlights the role of specific adaptive resistance toward AMPs of the hosts.}, } @article {pmid34601337, year = {2021}, author = {Naithani, S and Komath, SS and Nonomura, A and Govindjee, G}, title = {Plant lectins and their many roles: Carbohydrate-binding and beyond.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {266}, number = {}, pages = {153531}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153531}, pmid = {34601337}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics ; *Carbohydrates ; Crops, Agricultural ; Plant Breeding ; *Plant Lectins ; }, abstract = {Lectins are ubiquitous proteins that reversibly bind to specific carbohydrates and, thus, serve as readers of the sugar code. In photosynthetic organisms, lectin family proteins play important roles in capturing and releasing photosynthates via an endogenous lectin cycle. Often, lectin proteins consist of one or more lectin domains in combination with other types of domains. This structural diversity of lectins is the basis for their current classification, which is consistent with their diverse functions in cell signaling associated with growth and development, as well as in the plant's response to biotic, symbiotic, and abiotic stimuli. Furthermore, the lectin family shows evolutionary expansion that has distinct clade-specific signatures. Although the function(s) of many plant lectin family genes are unknown, studies in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have provided insights into their diverse roles. Here, we have used a biocuration approach rooted in the critical review of scientific literature and information available in the public genomic databases to summarize the expression, localization, and known functions of lectins in Arabidopsis. A better understanding of the structure and function of lectins is expected to aid in improving agricultural productivity through the manipulation of candidate genes for breeding climate-resilient crops, or by regulating metabolic pathways by applications of plant growth regulators.}, } @article {pmid34601230, year = {2021}, author = {Ayuba, J and Jaiswal, SK and Mohammed, M and Denwar, NN and Dakora, FD}, title = {Adaptability to local conditions and phylogenetic differentiation of microsymbionts of TGx soybean genotypes in the semi-arid environments of Ghana and South Africa.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {126264}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126264}, pmid = {34601230}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Genotype ; Ghana ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; *Soybeans ; }, abstract = {The study of the nitrogen fixation and phylogenetic diversity of nodule microsymbionts of grain legumes in many parts of the globe is often carried out in order to identify legume-rhizobia combinations for agricultural sustainability. Several reports have therefore found that rhizobial species diversity is shaped by edapho-climatic conditions that characterize different geographic locations, suggesting that rhizobial communities often possess traits that aid their adaptation to their habitat. In this study, the soybean-nodulating rhizobia from semi-arid savannahs of Ghana and South Africa were evaluated. The authenticated rhizobial isolates were highly diverse based on their colony characteristics, as well as their BOX-PCR profiles and gene sequences. In the 16S rRNA phylogeny, the isolates were placed in the different clades Bradyrhizobium iriomotense and Bradyrhizobium jicamae together with two superclades Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii. The multilocus (atpD, glnII, gyrB, recA) phylogenetic analyses indicated the dominance of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and putative new Bradyrhizobium species in the semi-arid Ghanaian region. The phylogenetic analyses based on the symbiotic genes (nifH and nodC) clustered the test isolates into different symbiovars (sv. glycinearum, sv. retame and sv. sojae). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that soil factors played a significant role in favoring the occurrence of soybean-nodulating microsymbionts in the tested local conditions. The results suggested that isolates had marked local adaptation to the prevailing conditions in semi-arid regions but further studies are needed to confirm new Bradyrhizobium species.}, } @article {pmid34601037, year = {2021}, author = {Irshad, S and Xie, Z and Kamran, M and Nawaz, A and Faheem, and Mehmood, S and Gulzar, H and Saleem, MH and Rizwan, M and Malik, Z and Parveen, A and Ali, S}, title = {Biochar composite with microbes enhanced arsenic biosorption and phytoextraction by Typha latifolia in hybrid vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {291}, number = {}, pages = {118269}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118269}, pmid = {34601037}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Arsenic ; Charcoal ; Humans ; *Typhaceae ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater/analysis ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Arsenic contamination of ground water is a worldwide issue, causing a number of ailments in humans. As an engineered and integrated solution, a hybrid vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSF-CW) amended with BCXZM composite (Bacillus XZM immobilized on rice husk biochar), was found effective for the bioremediation of arsenic contaminated water. Biological filter was prepared by amending top 3 cm of VSSF-CW bed with BCXZM. This filter scavenged ∼64% of total arsenic and removal efficiency of ∼95% was achieved by amended and planted (As + P + B) VSSF-CW, while non-amended (As + P) VSSF-CW showed a removal efficiency of ∼55%. The unplanted and amended (As + B) VSSF-CW showed a removal efficiency of ∼70%. The symbiotic association of Bacillus XZM, confirmed by SEM micrographs, significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in Typha latifolia, hence, increasing the plant growth (2 folds). An increase in the indole acetic acid (IAA) and arsenic accumulation in plant was also observed in As + P + B system. The removal efficiency of the system was compromised after 4th consecutive cycle and 48 h was observed as optimum retention time. The FTIR-spectra showed the involvement of -N-H bond, carboxylic acids, -CH2 stretching of -CH2 and -CH3, carbonyl groups, -C-H, C-O-P and C-O-C, sulphur/thiol and phosphate functional groups in the bio-sorption of arsenic by BCXZM filter. Our study is a first reported on the simultaneous phytoextraction and biosorption of arsenic in a hybrid VSSF-CW. It is proposed that BCXZM can be applied effectively in CWs for the bioremediation of arsenic contaminated water on large scale.}, } @article {pmid34600093, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, Q and Zhang, C and Zhu, Y and Yuan, C and Zhao, T}, title = {Effect of bacteria-to-algae volume ratio on treatment performance and microbial community of a novel heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification bacteria-chlorella symbiotic system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {342}, number = {}, pages = {126025}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126025}, pmid = {34600093}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Chlorella ; Denitrification ; Heterotrophic Processes ; *Microbiota ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {A novel symbiotic system combined by heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) mixed bacteria and Chlorella pyrenoidosa was firstly proposed to resolve the poor tolerance and nitrogen removal performance of traditional symbiotic system for treating high ammonia biogas slurry. Results showed that the volume ratio of bacteria to algae had significant effects on nitrogen removal efficiency, microbial community structure, functional bacteria and genes. The optimal ratio was 1/3, and the average removal efficiency of TN and TP increased by 28.9% and 67.6% respectively, compared to those of HN-AD bacteria. High-throughput sequencing indicated nitrogen removal was jointly completed by HN-AD and heterotrophic denitrification. HN-AD bacteria Halomonas and Pseudomonas played a key role in nitrogen removal, and Rhodocyclaceae and Paracoccus took an important part in phosphorus removal. According to the functional gene prediction, the total relative abundance of nitrogen removal genes (0.0127%) and narG, narH and narL genes (0.0054%) were highest in 1/3 system.}, } @article {pmid34599592, year = {2022}, author = {Triozzi, PM and Irving, TB and Schmidt, HW and Keyser, ZP and Chakraborty, S and Balmant, K and Pereira, WJ and Dervinis, C and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Ané, JM and Kirst, M and Conde, D}, title = {Spatiotemporal cytokinin response imaging and ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASE 3 function in Medicago nodule development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {188}, number = {1}, pages = {560-575}, pmid = {34599592}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Cytokinins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Organogenesis/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Most legumes can establish a symbiotic association with soil rhizobia that trigger the development of root nodules. These nodules host the rhizobia and allow them to fix nitrogen efficiently. The perception of bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) in the epidermis initiates a signaling cascade that allows rhizobial intracellular infection in the root and de-differentiation and activation of cell division that gives rise to the nodule. Thus, nodule organogenesis and rhizobial infection need to be coupled in space and time for successful nodulation. The plant hormone cytokinin (CK) contributes to the coordination of this process, acting as an essential positive regulator of nodule organogenesis. However, the temporal regulation of tissue-specific CK signaling and biosynthesis in response to LCOs or Sinorhizobium meliloti inoculation in Medicago truncatula remains poorly understood. In this study, using a fluorescence-based CK sensor (pTCSn::nls:tGFP), we performed a high-resolution tissue-specific temporal characterization of the sequential activation of CK response during root infection and nodule development in M. truncatula after inoculation with S. meliloti. Loss-of-function mutants of the CK-biosynthetic gene ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASE 3 (IPT3) showed impairment of nodulation, suggesting that IPT3 is required for nodule development in M. truncatula. Simultaneous live imaging of pIPT3::nls:tdTOMATO and the CK sensor showed that IPT3 induction in the pericycle at the base of nodule primordium contributes to CK biosynthesis, which in turn promotes expression of positive regulators of nodule organogenesis in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid34598739, year = {2021}, author = {Bornbusch, SL and Harris, RL and Grebe, NM and Roche, K and Dimac-Stohl, K and Drea, CM}, title = {Antibiotics and fecal transfaunation differentially affect microbiota recovery, associations, and antibiotic resistance in lemur guts.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {65}, pmid = {34598739}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Antibiotics alter the diversity, structure, and dynamics of host-associated microbial consortia, including via development of antibiotic resistance; however, patterns of recovery from microbial imbalances and methods to mitigate associated negative effects remain poorly understood, particularly outside of human-clinical and model-rodent studies that focus on outcome over process. To improve conceptual understanding of host-microbe symbiosis in more naturalistic contexts, we applied an ecological framework to a non-traditional, strepsirrhine primate model via long-term, multi-faceted study of microbial community structure before, during, and following two experimental manipulations. Specifically, we administered a broad-spectrum antibiotic, either alone or with subsequent fecal transfaunation, to healthy, male ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), then used 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing to longitudinally track the diversity, composition, associations, and resistomes of their gut microbiota both within and across baseline, treatment, and recovery phases.

RESULTS: Antibiotic treatment resulted in a drastic decline in microbial diversity and a dramatic alteration in community composition. Whereas microbial diversity recovered rapidly regardless of experimental group, patterns of microbial community composition reflected long-term instability following treatment with antibiotics alone, a pattern that was attenuated by fecal transfaunation. Covariation analysis revealed that certain taxa dominated bacterial associations, representing potential keystone species in lemur gut microbiota. Antibiotic resistance genes, which were universally present, including in lemurs that had never been administered antibiotics, varied across individuals and treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term, integrated study post antibiotic-induced microbial imbalance revealed differential, metric-dependent evidence of recovery, with beneficial effects of fecal transfaunation on recovering community composition, and potentially negative consequences to lemur resistomes. Beyond providing new perspectives on the dynamics that govern host-associated communities, particularly in the Anthropocene era, our holistic study in an endangered species is a first step in addressing the recent, interdisciplinary calls for greater integration of microbiome science into animal care and conservation.}, } @article {pmid34597574, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, Y and Ip, JC and Xie, JY and Yeung, YH and Sun, Y and Qiu, JW}, title = {Host-symbiont transcriptomic changes during natural bleaching and recovery in the leaf coral Pavona decussata.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {150656}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150656}, pmid = {34597574}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Chlorophyll A ; Coral Reefs ; Plant Leaves ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching has become a major threat to coral reefs worldwide, but for most coral species little is known about their resilience to environmental changes. We aimed to understand the gene expressional regulation underlying natural bleaching and recovery in Pavona decussata, a dominant species of scleractinian coral in the northern South China Sea. Analyzing samples collected in 2017 from the field revealed distinct zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll a concentration and transcriptomic signatures corresponding to changes in health conditions of the coral holobiont. In the host, normal-looking tissues of partially bleached colonies were frontloaded with stress responsive genes, as indicated by upregulation of immune defense, response to endoplasmic reticulum, and oxidative stress genes. Bleaching was characterized by upregulation of apoptosis-related genes which could cause a reduction in algal symbionts, and downregulation of genes involved in stress responses and metabolic processes. The transcription factors stat5b and irf1 played key roles in bleaching by regulating immune and apoptosis pathways. Recovery from bleaching was characterized by enrichment of pathways involved in mitosis, DNA replication, and recombination for tissue repairing, as well as restoration of energy and metabolism. In the symbionts, bleaching corresponded to imbalance in photosystems I and II activities which enhanced oxidative stress and limited energy production and nutrient assimilation. Overall, our study revealed distinct gene expressional profiles and regulation in the different phases of the bleaching and recovery process, and provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the holobiont's resilience that may determine the species' fate in response to global and regional environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid34596711, year = {2022}, author = {Russell, KA and McFrederick, QS}, title = {Elevated Temperature May Affect Nectar Microbes, Nectar Sugars, and Bumble Bee Foraging Preference.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {2}, pages = {473-482}, pmid = {34596711}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Bees ; Flowers/microbiology ; *Plant Nectar ; *Pollination/physiology ; Sugars ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Floral nectar, an important resource for pollinators, is inhabited by microbes such as yeasts and bacteria, which have been shown to influence pollinator preference. Dynamic and complex plant-pollinator-microbe interactions are likely to be affected by a rapidly changing climate, as each player has their own optimal growth temperatures and phenological responses to environmental triggers, such as temperature. To understand how warming due to climate change is influencing nectar microbial communities, we incubated a natural nectar microbial community at different temperatures and assessed the subsequent nectar chemistry and preference of the common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens. The microbial community in floral nectar is often species-poor, and the cultured Brassica rapa nectar community was dominated by the bacterium Fructobacillus. Temperature increased the abundance of bacteria in the warmer treatment. Bumble bees preferred nectar inoculated with microbes, but only at the lower, ambient temperature. Warming therefore induced an increase in bacterial abundance which altered nectar sugars and led to significant differences in pollinator preference.}, } @article {pmid34595373, year = {2021}, author = {Pavlova, OA and Leppyanen, IV and Kustova, DV and Bovin, AD and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Phylogenetic and structural analysis of annexins in pea (Pisum sativum L.) and their role in legume-rhizobial symbiosis development.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {502-513}, doi = {10.18699/VJ21.057}, pmid = {34595373}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Annexins as Ca2+/phospholipid-binding proteins are involved in the control of many biological processes essential for plant growth and development. In a previous study, we had shown, using a proteomic approach, that the synthesis of two annexins is induced in pea roots in response to rhizobial inoculation. In this study, phylogenetic analysis identif ied these annexins as PsAnn4 and PsAnn8 based on their homology with annexins from other legumes. The modeling approach allowed us to estimate the structural features of these annexins that might inf luence their functional activity. To verify the functions of these annexins, we performed comparative proteomic analysis, experiments with calcium inf lux inhibitors, and localization of labeled proteins. Essential down-regulation of PsAnn4 synthesis in a non-nodulating pea mutant P56 (sym10) suggests an involvement of this annexin in the rhizobial symbiosis. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that PsAnn4 was upregulated at the early stages of symbiosis development, starting from 1-3 days after inoculation to up to 5 days after inoculation, while experiments with the Ca2+ channel blocker LaCl3 revealed its negative inf luence on this expression. To follow the PsAnn4 protein localization in plant cells, it was fused to the f luorophores such as red f luorescent protein (RFP) and yellow f luorescent protein (YFP) and expressed under the transcriptional regulation of the 35S promoter in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by inf iltration with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The localization of PsAnn4 in the cell wall or plasma membrane of plant cells may indicate its participation in membrane modif ication or ion transport. Our results suggest that PsAnn4 may play an important role during the early stages of pea-rhizobial symbiosis development.}, } @article {pmid34594312, year = {2021}, author = {Hori, Y and Fujita, H and Hiruma, K and Narisawa, K and Toju, H}, title = {Synergistic and Offset Effects of Fungal Species Combinations on Plant Performance.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {713180}, pmid = {34594312}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In natural and agricultural ecosystems, survival and growth of plants depend substantially on residing microbes in the endosphere and rhizosphere. Although numerous studies have reported the presence of plant-growth promoting bacteria and fungi in below-ground biomes, it remains a major challenge to understand how sets of microbial species positively or negatively affect plants' performance. By conducting a series of single- and dual-inoculation experiments of 13 plant-associated fungi targeting a Brassicaceae plant species (Brassica rapa var. perviridis), we here systematically evaluated how microbial effects on plants depend on presence/absence of co-occurring microbes. The comparison of single- and dual-inoculation experiments showed that combinations of the fungal isolates with the highest plant-growth promoting effects in single inoculations did not have highly positive impacts on plant performance traits (e.g., shoot dry weight). In contrast, pairs of fungi with small/moderate contributions to plant growth in single-inoculation contexts showed the greatest effects on plants among the 78 fungal pairs examined. These results on the offset and synergistic effects of pairs of microbes suggest that inoculation experiments of single microbial species/isolates can result in the overestimation or underestimation of microbial functions in multi-species contexts. Because keeping single-microbe systems under outdoor conditions is impractical, designing sets of microbes that can maximize performance of crop plants is an important step for the use of microbial functions in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid34593557, year = {2022}, author = {Parekh, R and Maini, A and Golding, B and Kumar, S}, title = {Community-engaged medical education: helping to address child health and social inequality.}, journal = {Archives of disease in childhood. Education and practice edition}, volume = {107}, number = {6}, pages = {397-401}, doi = {10.1136/archdischild-2021-322024}, pmid = {34593557}, issn = {1743-0593}, mesh = {Humans ; Child ; *Child Health ; Community Participation ; Stakeholder Participation ; *Education, Medical ; Socioeconomic Factors ; }, abstract = {Medical education has a key role in helping to address child health and social inequality. In this paper we describe the rationale for developing a community-engaged approach to education, whereby medical schools partner with local communities. This symbiotic relationship enables medical students to experience authentic learning through working with communities to address local health and social priorities. Case studies of how such approaches have been implemented are described, with key takeaway points for paediatric healthcare professionals wanting to develop community-engaged educational initiatives.}, } @article {pmid34591638, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, T and Guo, J and Peng, Y and Lyu, X and Liu, B and Sun, S and Wang, X}, title = {Light-induced mobile factors from shoots regulate rhizobium-triggered soybean root nodulation.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {374}, number = {6563}, pages = {65-71}, doi = {10.1126/science.abh2890}, pmid = {34591638}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Light ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Organogenesis, Plant/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology/*physiology/radiation effects ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/microbiology/*physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is an energy-expensive process, and the light available to plants has been proposed to be a primary influencer. We demonstrate that the light-induced soybean TGACG-motif binding factor 3/4 (GmSTF3/4) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (GmFTs), which move from shoots to roots, interdependently induce nodule organogenesis. Rhizobium-activated calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) phosphorylates GmSTF3, triggering GmSTF3–GmFT2a complex formation, which directly activates expression of nodule inception (NIN) and nuclear factor Y (NF-YA1 and NF-YB1). Accordingly, the CCaMK–STF–FT module integrates aboveground light signals with underground symbiotic signaling, ensuring that the host plant informs its roots that the aboveground environment is prepared to sustainably supply the carbohydrate necessary for symbiosis. These results suggest approaches that could enhance the balance of carbon and nitrogen in the biosphere.}, } @article {pmid34587336, year = {2022}, author = {Rouan, A and Pousse, M and Tambutté, E and Djerbi, N and Zozaya, W and Capasso, L and Zoccola, D and Tambutté, S and Gilson, E}, title = {Telomere dysfunction is associated with dark-induced bleaching in the reef coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {23}, pages = {6087-6099}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16199}, pmid = {34587336}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; Coral Reefs ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Telomere DNA length is a complex trait controlled by both multiple loci and environmental factors. A growing number of studies are focusing on the impact of stress and stress accumulation on telomere length and the link with survival and fitness in ecological contexts. Here, we investigated the telomere changes occurring in a symbiotic coral, Stylophora pistillata, that has experienced continuous darkness over 6 months. This stress condition led to the loss of its symbionts in a similar manner to that observed during large-scale bleaching events due to climate changes and anthropogenic activities, threatening reef ecosystems worldwide. We found that continuous darkness was associated with telomere length shortening. This result, together with a phylogenetic analysis of the telomere coral proteins and a transcriptome survey of the continuous darkness condition, paves the way for future studies on the role of telomeres in the coral stress response and the importance of environmentally induced telomere shortening in endangered coral species.}, } @article {pmid34587163, year = {2021}, author = {Harris, F and Dobbs, J and Atkins, D and Ippolito, JA and Stewart, JE}, title = {Soil fertility interactions with Sinorhizobium-legume symbiosis in a simulated Martian regolith; effects on nitrogen content and plant health.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {e0257053}, pmid = {34587163}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/analysis ; Biomass ; Fabaceae/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Linear Models ; *Mars ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Due to increasing population growth and declining arable land on Earth, astroagriculture will be vital to terraform Martian regolith for settlement. Nodulating plants and their N-fixing symbionts may play a role in increasing Martian soil fertility. On Earth, clover (Melilotus officinalis) forms a symbiotic relationship with the N-fixing bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti; clover has been previously grown in simulated regolith yet without bacterial inoculation. In this study, we inoculated clover with S. meliloti grown in potting soil and regolith to test the hypothesis that plants grown in regolith can form the same symbiotic associations as in soils and to determine if greater plant biomass occurs in the presence of S. meliloti regardless of growth media. We also examined soil NH4 concentrations to evaluate soil augmentation properties of nodulating plants and symbionts. Greater biomass occurred in inoculated compared to uninoculated groups; the inoculated average biomass in potting mix and regolith (2.23 and 0.29 g, respectively) was greater than the uninoculated group (0.11 and 0.01 g, respectively). However, no significant differences existed in NH4 composition between potting mix and regolith simulant. Linear regression analysis results showed that: i) symbiotic plant-bacteria relationships differed between regolith and potting mix, with plant biomass positively correlated to regolith-bacteria interactions; and, ii) NH4 production was limited to plant uptake yet the relationships in regolith and potting mix were similar. It is promising that plant-legume symbiosis is a possibility for Martian soil colonization.}, } @article {pmid34585955, year = {2022}, author = {Tanaka, A and Ryder, MH and Suzuki, T and Uesaka, K and Yamaguchi, N and Amimoto, T and Otani, M and Nakayachi, O and Arakawa, K and Tanaka, N and Takemoto, D}, title = {Production of Agrocinopine A by Ipomoea batatas Agrocinopine Synthase in Transgenic Tobacco and Its Effect on the Rhizosphere Microbial Community.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {73-84}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-21-0114-R}, pmid = {34585955}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; *Ipomoea batatas ; *Microbiota ; Rhizosphere ; Sugar Phosphates ; Tobacco ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a bacterial pathogen that causes crown gall disease on a wide range of eudicot plants by genetic transformation. Besides T-DNA integrated by natural transformation of plant vegetative tissues by pathogenic Agrobacterium spp., previous reports have indicated that T-DNA sequences originating from an ancestral Agrobacterium sp. are present in the genomes of all cultivated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) varieties analyzed. Expression of an Agrobacterium-derived agrocinopine synthase (ACS) gene was detected in leaf and root tissues of sweet potato, suggesting that the plant can produce agrocinopine, a sugar-phosphodiester opine considered to be utilized by some strains of Agrobacterium spp. in crown gall. To validate the product synthesized by Ipomoea batatas ACS (IbACS), we introduced IbACS into tobacco under a constitutive promoter. High-voltage paper electrophoresis followed by alkaline silver nitrate staining detected the production of an agrocinopine-like substance in IbACS1-expressing tobacco, and further mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the product confirmed that IbACS can produce agrocinopine A from natural plant substrates. The partially purified compound was biologically active in an agrocinopine A bioassay. A 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing and meta-transcriptome analysis revealed that the rhizosphere microbial community of tobacco was affected by the expression of IbACS. A new species of Leifsonia (actinobacteria) was isolated as an enriched bacterium in the rhizosphere of IbACS1-expressing tobacco. This Leifsonia sp. can catabolize agrocinopine A produced in tobacco, indicating that the production of agrocinopine A attracts rhizosphere bacteria that can utilize this sugar-phosphodiester. These results suggest a potential role of IbACS conserved among sweet potato cultivars in manipulating their microbial community.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34584645, year = {2021}, author = {Subramaniam, T and Nikalje, MR and Jadhav, S}, title = {Oral manifestations among COVID-19: An observational study of 713 patients.}, journal = {Dental research journal}, volume = {18}, number = {}, pages = {67}, pmid = {34584645}, issn = {1735-3327}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: COVID-19 outbreak in 2019 took the entire world by a storm with the medical fraternity struggling to understand and comprehend its complex nature. A number of patients who are COVID positive have reported oral lesions. However, there is still a lingering question, whether these lesions are because of coronavirus infection or they are secondary to the patient's systemic condition. This article aims to report the oral findings of an observational study of 713 patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A singlssswe-institution, short-term observational study was conducted on patients admitted to Symbiosis University Hospital and Research Centre, Lavale, Pune who were positive to coronavirus, who presented varied oral findings such as herpes simplex, candidiasis, geographic tongue, and aphthous ulcer.

RESULTS: A total of 713 patients, 416 males and 297 females, who were positive to coronavirus, were screened from April 2020 to June 30, 2020, for oral ulcers. In this group, nine patients reported oral discomfort due to varied forms of oral lesions ranging from herpes simplex ulcers to angular cheilitis (1.26%).

CONCLUSION: This study supports the hypothesis that oral manifestations in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 could be secondary lesions resulting from local irritants or from the deterioration of systemic health or could be just coexisting conditions. No specific pattern or characteristic oral lesions were noted in a study of 713 COVID-positive patients in our study to qualify these lesions as oral manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection.}, } @article {pmid34584215, year = {2022}, author = {Jiao, J and Zhang, B and Li, ML and Zhang, Z and Tian, CF}, title = {The zinc-finger bearing xenogeneic silencer MucR in α-proteobacteria balances adaptation and regulatory integrity.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {738-749}, pmid = {34584215}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Alphaproteobacteria/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Foreign AT-rich genes drive bacterial adaptation to new niches while challenging the existing regulation network. Here we report that MucR, a conserved regulator in α-proteobacteria, balances adaptation and regulatory integrity in Sinorhizobium fredii, a facultative microsymbiont of legumes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing coupled with transcriptomic data reveal that average transcription levels of both target and non-target genes, under free-living and symbiotic conditions, increase with their conservation levels. Targets involved in environmental adaptation and symbiosis belong to genus or species core and can be repressed or activated by MucR in a condition-dependent manner, implying regulatory integrations. However, most targets are enriched in strain-specific genes of lower expression levels and higher AT%. Within each conservation levels, targets have higher AT% and average transcription levels than non-target genes and can be further up-regulated in the mucR mutant. This is consistent with higher AT% of spacers between -35 and -10 elements of promoters for target genes, which enhances transcription. The MucR recruitment level linearly increases with AT% and the number of a flexible pattern (with periodic repeats of Ts) of target sequences. Collectively, MucR directly represses AT-rich foreign genes with predisposed high transcription potential while progressive erosions of its target sites facilitate regulatory integrations of foreign genes.}, } @article {pmid34584163, year = {2021}, author = {Conceição, CC and da Silva, JN and Arcanjo, A and Nogueira, CL and de Abreu, LA and de Oliveira, PL and Gondim, KC and Moraes, B and de Carvalho, SS and da Silva, RM and da Silva Vaz, I and Moreira, LA and Logullo, C}, title = {Aedes fluviatilis cell lines as new tools to study metabolic and immune interactions in mosquito-Wolbachia symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {19202}, pmid = {34584163}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aedes/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Female ; Host Microbial Interactions/immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Wolbachia/*immunology ; }, abstract = {In the present work, we established two novel embryonic cell lines from the mosquito Aedes fluviatilis containing or not the naturally occurring symbiont bacteria Wolbachia, which were called wAflu1 and Aflu2, respectively. We also obtained wAflu1 without Wolbachia after tetracycline treatment, named wAflu1.tet. Morphofunctional characterization was performed to help elucidate the symbiont-host interaction in the context of energy metabolism regulation and molecular mechanisms of the immune responses involved. The presence of Wolbachia pipientis improves energy performance in A. fluviatilis cells; it affects the regulation of key energy sources such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, making the distribution of actin more peripheral and with extensions that come into contact with neighboring cells. Additionally, innate immunity mechanisms were activated, showing that the wAflu1 and wAflu1.tet cells are responsive after the stimulus using Gram negative bacteria. Therefore, this work confirms the natural, mutually co-regulating symbiotic relationship between W. pipientis and A. fluviatilis, modulating the host metabolism and immune pathway activation. The results presented here add important resources to the current knowledge of Wolbachia-arthropod interactions.}, } @article {pmid34584161, year = {2021}, author = {Toki, W and Aoki, D}, title = {Nutritional resources of the yeast symbiont cultivated by the lizard beetle Doubledaya bucculenta in bamboos.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {19208}, pmid = {34584161}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Coleoptera/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Larva/metabolism/microbiology ; Oviposition ; Saccharomycetales/*metabolism ; Sasa/microbiology/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic fungi of wood-inhabiting insects are often considered to aid wood digestion of host insects when the associated fungi can assimilate wood-associated indigestible materials. In most cases, however, the components of wood that are utilized by fungal symbionts remain poorly understood. The lizard beetle Doubledaya bucculenta (Coleoptera, Erotylidae, Languriinae) farms the symbiotic yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus inside the cavity of host bamboo internodes, which serves as food for larvae. To determine the carbon sources of the internodes serving as nutritional substrates for W. anomalus, we used ion exchange chromatography measurements to analyze free and structural sugar compositions in fresh pith (FP), yeast-cultured pith (YP), and larva-reared pith (LP) of internodes. Glucose and fructose were the major free sugars in FP and markedly decreased in YP and LP. For structural sugars, no sugar significantly decreased in YP or LP compared with FP. Carbon assimilation tests showed that W. anomalus assimilated glucose, mannose, fructose, and sucrose strongly, xylose and cellobiose moderately, and xylan weakly. Elemental analysis revealed that the compositions of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen were not significantly different among tissue types. These results suggest that W. anomalus does not consume bamboo-associated indigestible sugars but most free sugars, mainly glucose and fructose, in the pith. Our findings suggest that a symbiont's abilities may not always benefit its host in nature.}, } @article {pmid34584120, year = {2021}, author = {Andrade-Domínguez, A and Trejo-Hernández, A and Vargas-Lagunas, C and Encarnación-Guevara, S}, title = {Phenotypic plasticity and a new small molecule are involved in a fungal-bacterial interaction.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {19219}, pmid = {34584120}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*metabolism ; Biofilms ; Biomass ; Glucans/chemistry/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; Plasmids ; Rhizobium etli/genetics/*growth & development ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing bacteria have been extensively studied in the context of interactions with their host plants; however, little is known about the phenotypic plasticity of these microorganisms in nonmutualistic interactions with other eukaryotes. A dual-species coculture model was developed by using the plant symbiotic bacterium Rhizobium etli and the well-studied eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a tractable system to explore the molecular mechanisms used by R. etli in nonmutual interactions. Here, we show that the fungus promotes the growth of the bacterium and that together, these organisms form a mixed biofilm whose biomass is ~ 3 times greater and is more structured than that of either single-species biofilm. We found that these biofilm traits are dependent on a symbiotic plasmid encoding elements involved in the phenotypic plasticity of the bacterium, mitochondrial function and in the production of a yeast-secreted sophoroside. Interestingly, the promoters of 3 genes that are key in plant bacteria-interaction (nifH, fixA and nodA) were induced when R. etli coexists with yeast. These results show that investigating interactions between species that do not naturally coexist is a new approach to discover gene functions and specialized metabolites in model organisms.}, } @article {pmid34583643, year = {2021}, author = {James, SA and Ong, HS and Hari, R and Khan, AM}, title = {A systematic bioinformatics approach for large-scale identification and characterization of host-pathogen shared sequences.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {Suppl 3}, pages = {700}, pmid = {34583643}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; *Flaviviridae ; Hepacivirus ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; *Zika Virus/genetics ; *Zika Virus Infection ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Biology has entered the era of big data with the advent of high-throughput omics technologies. Biological databases provide public access to petabytes of data and information facilitating knowledge discovery. Over the years, sequence data of pathogens has seen a large increase in the number of records, given the relatively small genome size and their important role as infectious and symbiotic agents. Humans are host to numerous pathogenic diseases, such as that by viruses, many of which are responsible for high mortality and morbidity. The interaction between pathogens and humans over the evolutionary history has resulted in sharing of sequences, with important biological and evolutionary implications.

RESULTS: This study describes a large-scale, systematic bioinformatics approach for identification and characterization of shared sequences between the host and pathogen. An application of the approach is demonstrated through identification and characterization of the Flaviviridae-human share-ome. A total of 2430 nonamers represented the Flaviviridae-human share-ome with 100% identity. Although the share-ome represented a small fraction of the repertoire of Flaviviridae (~ 0.12%) and human (~ 0.013%) non-redundant nonamers, the 2430 shared nonamers mapped to 16,946 Flaviviridae and 7506 human non-redundant protein sequences. The shared nonamer sequences mapped to 125 species of Flaviviridae, including several with unclassified genus. The majority (~ 68%) of the shared sequences mapped to Hepacivirus C species; West Nile, dengue and Zika viruses of the Flavivirus genus accounted for ~ 11%, ~ 7%, and ~ 3%, respectively, of the Flaviviridae protein sequences (16,946) mapped by the share-ome. Further characterization of the share-ome provided important structural-functional insights to Flaviviridae-human interactions.

CONCLUSION: Mapping of the host-pathogen share-ome has important implications for the design of vaccines and drugs, diagnostics, disease surveillance and the discovery of unknown, potential host-pathogen interactions. The generic workflow presented herein is potentially applicable to a variety of pathogens, such as of viral, bacterial or parasitic origin.}, } @article {pmid34583583, year = {2021}, author = {Fenton, A and Camus, MF and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Positive selection on mitochondria may eliminate heritable microbes from arthropod populations.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1959}, pages = {20211735}, pmid = {34583583}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diverse eukaryotic taxa carry facultative heritable symbionts, microbes that are passed from mother to offspring. These symbionts are coinherited with mitochondria, and selection favouring either new symbionts, or new symbiont variants, is known to drive loss of mitochondrial diversity as a correlated response. More recently, evidence has accumulated of episodic directional selection on mitochondria, but with currently unknown consequences for symbiont evolution. We therefore employed a population genetic mean field framework to model the impact of selection on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) upon symbiont frequency for three generic scenarios of host-symbiont interaction. Our models predict that direct selection on mtDNA can drive symbionts out of the population where a positively selected mtDNA mutation occurs initially in an individual that is uninfected with the symbiont, and the symbiont is initially at low frequency. When, by contrast, the positively selected mtDNA mutation occurs in a symbiont-infected individual, the mutation becomes fixed and in doing so removes symbiont variation from the population. We conclude that the molecular evolution of symbionts and mitochondria, which has previously been viewed from a perspective of selection on symbionts driving the evolution of a neutral mtDNA marker, should be reappraised in the light of positive selection on mtDNA.}, } @article {pmid34582868, year = {2022}, author = {Kenigsberg, C and Titelboim, D and Ashckenazi-Polivoda, S and Herut, B and Kucera, M and Zukerman, Y and Hyams-Kaphzan, O and Almogi-Labin, A and Abramovich, S}, title = {The combined effects of rising temperature and salinity may halt the future proliferation of symbiont-bearing foraminifera as ecosystem engineers.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {806}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {150581}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150581}, pmid = {34582868}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation ; Ecosystem ; *Foraminifera ; Salinity ; Seawater ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Rising sea surface temperatures and extreme heat waves are affecting symbiont-bearing tropical calcifiers such as corals and Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF). In many ecosystems, parallel to warming, global change unleashes a host of additional changes to the marine environment, and the combined effect of such multiple stressors may be far greater than those of temperature alone. One such additional stressor, positively correlated to temperature in evaporation-dominated shallow-water settings is rising salinity. Here we used laboratory culture experiments to evaluate the combined thermohaline tolerance of one of the most common LBF species and carbonate producer, Amphistegina lobifera. The experiments were done under ambient (39 psu) and modified (30, 45, 50 psu) salinities and at optimum (25 °C) and warm temperatures (32 °C). Calcification of the A. lobifera holobiont was evaluated by measuring alkalinity loss in the culturing seawater, as an indication of carbonate ion uptake. The vitality of the symbionts was determined by monitoring pigment loss of the holobiont and their photosynthetic performances by measuring dissolved oxygen. We further evaluated the growth of Peneroplis (P. pertusus and P. planatus), a Rhodophyta bearing LBF, which is known to tolerate high temperatures, under elevated salinities. The results show that the A. lobifera holobiont exhibits optimal performance at 39 psu and 25 °C, and its growth is significantly reduced upon exposure to 30, 45, 50 psu and under all 32 °C treatments. Salinity and temperature exhibit a significant interaction, with synergic effects observed in most treatments. Our results confirm that Peneroplis has a higher tolerance to elevated temperature and salinity compared to A. lobifera, implying that a further increase of salinity and temperatures may result in a regime shift from Amphistegina- to Peneroplis-dominated assemblages.}, } @article {pmid34582748, year = {2021}, author = {Sakamoto, K and Jin, SP and Goel, S and Jo, JH and Voisin, B and Kim, D and Nadella, V and Liang, H and Kobayashi, T and Huang, X and Deming, C and Horiuchi, K and Segre, JA and Kong, HH and Nagao, K}, title = {Disruption of the endopeptidase ADAM10-Notch signaling axis leads to skin dysbiosis and innate lymphoid cell-mediated hair follicle destruction.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {54}, number = {10}, pages = {2321-2337.e10}, pmid = {34582748}, issn = {1097-4180}, support = {ZIA BC011561/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {ADAM10 Protein/*immunology ; Alopecia/immunology/pathology ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases/*immunology ; Animals ; Corynebacterium ; Dysbiosis/*immunology/pathology ; Female ; Hair Follicle/immunology/*pathology ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Membrane Proteins/*immunology ; Mice ; Receptors, Notch/*immunology ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Skin/immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Hair follicles (HFs) function as hubs for stem cells, immune cells, and commensal microbes, which must be tightly regulated during homeostasis and transient inflammation. Here we found that transmembrane endopeptidase ADAM10 expression in upper HFs was crucial for regulating the skin microbiota and protecting HFs and their stem cell niche from inflammatory destruction. Ablation of the ADAM10-Notch signaling axis impaired the innate epithelial barrier and enabled Corynebacterium species to predominate the microbiome. Dysbiosis triggered group 2 innate lymphoid cell-mediated inflammation in an interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor-, S1P receptor 1-, and CCR6-dependent manner, leading to pyroptotic cell death of HFs and irreversible alopecia. Double-stranded RNA-induced ablation models indicated that the ADAM10-Notch signaling axis bolsters epithelial innate immunity by promoting β-defensin-6 expression downstream of type I interferon responses. Thus, ADAM10-Notch signaling axis-mediated regulation of host-microbial symbiosis crucially protects HFs from inflammatory destruction, which has implications for strategies to sustain tissue integrity during chronic inflammation.}, } @article {pmid34581595, year = {2021}, author = {McFall-Ngai, M and Ruby, E}, title = {Getting the Message Out: the Many Modes of Host-Symbiont Communication during Early-Stage Establishment of the Squid-Vibrio Partnership.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {e0086721}, pmid = {34581595}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/CD/ODCDC CDC HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis, by its basic nature, depends on partner interactions that are mediated by cues and signals. This kind of critical reciprocal communication shapes the trajectory of host-microbe associations from their onset through their maturation and is typically mediated by both biochemical and biomechanical influences. Symbiotic partnerships often involve communities composed of dozens to hundreds of microbial species, for which resolving the precise nature of these partner interactions is highly challenging. Naturally occurring binary associations, such as those between certain legumes, nematodes, fishes, and squids, and their specific bacterial partner species offer the opportunity to examine interactions with high resolution and at the scale at which the interactions occur. The goals of this review are to provide the conceptual framework for evolutionarily conserved drivers of host-symbiont communication in animal associations and to offer a window into some mechanisms of this phenomenon as discovered through the study of the squid-vibrio model. The discussion focuses upon the early events that lead to persistence of the symbiotic partnership. The biophysical and biochemical determinants of the initial hours of dialogue between partners and how the symbiosis is shaped by the environment that is created by their reciprocal interactions are key topics that have been difficult to approach in more complex systems. Through our research on the squid-vibrio system, we provide insight into the intricate temporal and spatial complexity that underlies the molecular and cellular events mediating successful microbial colonization of the host animal.}, } @article {pmid34581573, year = {2021}, author = {Li, JH and Cho, W and Hamchand, R and Oh, J and Crawford, JM}, title = {A Conserved Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase in Xenorhabdus bovienii Produces Citrulline-Functionalized Lipopeptides.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {84}, number = {10}, pages = {2692-2699}, pmid = {34581573}, issn = {1520-6025}, support = {RM1 GM141649/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM067543/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Citrulline/*chemistry ; Computational Biology ; Lipopeptides/*biosynthesis ; Metabolomics ; Molecular Structure ; Peptide Synthases/*metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii exists in a mutualistic relationship with nematodes of the genus Steinernema. Free-living infective juveniles of Steinernema prey on insect larvae and regurgitate X. bovienii within the hemocoel of a host larva. X. bovienii subsequently produces a complex array of specialized metabolites and effector proteins that kill the insect and regulate various aspects of the trilateral symbiosis. While Xenorhabdus species are rich producers of secondary metabolites, many of their biosynthetic gene clusters remain uncharacterized. Here, we describe a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) identified through comparative genomics analysis that is widely conserved in Xenorhabdus species. Heterologous expression of this NRPS gene from X. bovienii in E. coli led to the discovery of a family of lipo-tripeptides that chromatographically appear as pairs, containing either a C-terminal carboxylic acid or carboxamide. Coexpression of the NRPS with the leupeptin protease inhibitor pathway enhanced production, facilitating isolation and characterization efforts. The new lipo-tripeptides were also detected in wild-type X. bovienii cultures. These metabolites, termed bovienimides, share an uncommon C-terminal d-citrulline residue. The NRPS lacked a dedicated chain termination domain, resulting in product diversification and release from the assembly line through reactions with ammonia, water, or exogenous alcohols.}, } @article {pmid34581434, year = {2022}, author = {Zayed, N and Boon, N and Bernaerts, K and Chatzigiannidou, I and Van Holm, W and Verspecht, T and Teughels, W}, title = {Differences in chlorhexidine mouthrinses formulations influence the quantitative and qualitative changes in in-vitro oral biofilms.}, journal = {Journal of periodontal research}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {52-62}, doi = {10.1111/jre.12937}, pmid = {34581434}, issn = {1600-0765}, mesh = {*Anti-Infective Agents ; *Anti-Infective Agents, Local/pharmacology ; Biofilms ; Cetylpyridinium/pharmacology ; Chlorhexidine/pharmacology ; Mouthwashes/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Chlorhexidine mouthrinses are marketed in different formulations. This study aimed at investigating qualitative and quantitative changes in in-vitro multispecies oral biofilms, induced by different chlorhexidine-containing mouthrinses.

BACKGROUND DATA: Earlier studies comparing chlorhexidine mouthrinses are either clinical studies or in-vitro studies assessing the antimicrobial efficacy of the mouthrinses. However, no clear investigations are available regarding ecological impact of different chlorhexidine formulations on in-vitro multispecies oral biofilms after rinsing with different chlorhexidine formulations.

METHODS: Nine commercially available chlorhexidine mouthrinses were selected. Multispecies oral communities (14 species) were grown for 48 h in a Biostat-B Twin bioreactor. After that, they were used to develop biofilms on the surface of hydroxyapatite disks in 24-well pates for 48 h. Biofilms were then rinsed once or multiple times with the corresponding mouthrinse. Biofilms were collected before starting the rinsing experiment and every 24 h for 3 days and vitality quantitative PCR was performed. The experiment was repeated 3 independent times on 3 different days and the results were analyzed using a linear mixed model.

RESULTS: The mouthrinses provoked different effects in terms of change in total viable bacterial load (VBL), ecology, and community structure of the multispecies biofilms. There was no relation between chlorhexidine concentrations, presence, or absence of cetylpyridinium chloride and/or alcohol, and the observed effects. Some tested chlorhexidine mouthrinses (MC, HG, HH, and HI) strongly lowered the total VBL (≈10[07] Geq/ml), but disrupted biofilm symbiosis (≥40% of the biofilms communities are pathobionts). On the other hand, other tested chlorhexidine mouthrinses (MD, ME, and HF) had limited impact on total VBL (≥10[10] Geq/ml), but improved the biofilm ecology and community structure (≤10% of the biofilms communities are pathobionts).

CONCLUSION: Not all chlorhexidine mouthrinses have the same effect on oral biofilms. Their effect seems to be strongly product dependent and vary according to their compositions and formulations.}, } @article {pmid34580790, year = {2021}, author = {Zettler, LW and Dvorak, CJ}, title = {Tulasnella calospora (UAMH 9824) retains its effectiveness at facilitating orchid symbiotic germination in vitro after two decades of subculturing.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {62}, number = {1}, pages = {14}, pmid = {34580790}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The technique of symbiotic germination-using mycorrhizal fungi to propagate orchids from seed in vitro-has been used as one method to cultivate orchids in North America and abroad for > 30 years. A long-held assumption is that mycorrhizal fungi used for this purpose lose their effectiveness at germinating seeds over time with repeated subculturing.

RESULTS: We provide evidence for the lingering efficacy of one particular strain of Tulasnella calospora (266; UAMH 9824) to stimulate seed germination exemplified by the North American terrestrial orchid, Spiranthes cernua, as a case study. This fungus was originally acquired from roots from Spiranthes brevilabris in 1999 and sub-cultured during the two decades since. Seeds inoculated with the fungus in vitro developed to an advanced protocorm stage after 16 days, and leaf elongation was pronounced after 42 days. In a pilot study, seedlings co-cultured with Tulasnella calospora 266 were deflasked after 331 days and later transferred to soil under greenhouse conditions where they eventually initiated anthesis. During the course of two decades, seeds of 39 orchid species, cultivars and hybrids spanning 21 genera, germinated in vitro co-cultured with Tulasnella calospora 266. These orchids included temperate terrestrials and tropical epiphytes alike.

CONCLUSIONS: The sustained effectiveness of this fungus is noteworthy because it argues against the concept of mycorrhizal fungi losing their symbiotic capability through prolonged subculturing. This study serves as an example of why in situ habitat preservation is essential for the conservation of orchids as a source of potentially useful mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid34579576, year = {2021}, author = {Fu, L and Shao, S and Feng, Y and Ye, F and Sun, X and Wang, Q and Yu, F and Wang, Q and Huang, B and Niu, P and Li, X and Wong, CCL and Qi, J and Tan, W and Gao, GF}, title = {Mechanism of Microbial Metabolite Leupeptin in the Treatment of COVID-19 by Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0222021}, pmid = {34579576}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Leupeptins/*therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/*methods ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects/pathogenicity ; Vero Cells ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; }, abstract = {Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused huge deaths and economic losses worldwide in the current pandemic. The main protease (M[pro]) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is thought to be an ideal drug target for treating COVID-19. Leupeptin, a broad-spectrum covalent inhibitor of serine, cysteine, and threonine proteases, showed inhibitory activity against M[pro], with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 127.2 μM in vitro in our study here. In addition, leupeptin can also inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells, with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of 42.34 μM. More importantly, various strains of streptomyces that have a broad symbiotic relationship with medicinal plants can produce leupeptin and leupeptin analogs to regulate autogenous proteases. Fingerprinting and structure elucidation using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), respectively, further proved that the Qing-Fei-Pai-Du (QFPD) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for the effective treatment of COVID-19 during the period of the Wuhan outbreak, contains leupeptin. All these results indicate that leupeptin at least contributes to the antiviral activity of the QFPD decoction against SARS-CoV-2. This also reminds us to pay attention to the microbiomes in TCM herbs as streptomyces in the soil might produce leupeptin that will later infiltrate the medicinal plant. We propose that plants, microbiome, and microbial metabolites form an ecosystem for the effective components of TCM herbs. IMPORTANCE A TCM formula has played an important role in the treatment of COVID-19 in China. However, the mechanism of TCM action is still unclear. In this study, we identified leupeptin, a metabolite produced by plant-symbiotic actinomyces (PSA), which showed antiviral activity in both cell culture and enzyme assays. Moreover, leupeptin found in the QFPD decoction was confirmed by both HPLC fingerprinting and HRMS. These results suggest that leupeptin likely contributes to the antiviral activity of the QFPD decoction against SARS-CoV-2. This result gives us important insight into further studies of the PSA metabolite and medicinal plant ecosystem for future TCM modernization research.}, } @article {pmid34579565, year = {2021}, author = {Essock-Burns, T and Bennett, BD and Arencibia, D and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Medeiros, M and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Regulation Induces Morphological Change in a Key Host Tissue during the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0240221}, pmid = {34579565}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/chemistry/genetics/*growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Luminescence ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbes colonize the apical surfaces of polarized epithelia in nearly all animal taxa. In one example, the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri enters, grows to a dense population within, and persists for months inside, the light-emitting organ of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Crucial to the symbiont's success after entry is the ability to trigger the constriction of a host tissue region (the "bottleneck") at the entrance to the colonization site. Bottleneck constriction begins at about the same time as bioluminescence, which is induced in V. fischeri through an autoinduction process called quorum sensing. Here, we asked the following questions: (i) Are the quorum signals that induce symbiont bioluminescence also involved in triggering the constriction? (ii) Does improper signaling of constriction affect the normal maintenance of the symbiont population? We manipulated the presence of three factors, the two V. fischeri quorum signal synthases, AinS and LuxI, the transcriptional regulator LuxR, and light emission itself, and found that the major factor triggering and maintaining bottleneck constriction is an as yet unknown effector(s) regulated by LuxIR. Treating the animal with chemical inhibitors of actin polymerization reopened the bottlenecks, recapitulating the host's response to quorum-sensing defective symbionts, as well as suggesting that actin polymerization is the primary mechanism underlying constriction. Finally, we found that these host responses to the presence of symbionts changed as a function of tissue maturation. Taken together, this work broadens our concept of how quorum sensing can regulate host development, thereby allowing bacteria to maintain long-term tissue associations. IMPORTANCE Interbacterial signaling within a host-associated population can have profound effects on the behavior of the bacteria, for instance, in their production of virulence/colonization factors; in addition, such signaling can dictate the nature of the outcome for the host, in both pathogenic and beneficial associations. Using the monospecific squid-vibrio model of symbiosis, we examined how quorum-sensing regulation by the Vibrio fischeri population induces a biogeographic tissue phenotype that promotes the retention of this extracellular symbiont within the light organ of its host, Euprymna scolopes. Understanding the influence of bacterial symbionts on key sites of tissue architecture has implications for all horizontally transmitted symbioses, especially those that colonize an epithelial surface within the host.}, } @article {pmid34579480, year = {2021}, author = {Feng, J and Huang, Z and Zhang, Y and Rui, W and Lei, X and Li, Z}, title = {Beneficial Effects of the Five Isolates of Funneliformis mosseae on the Tomato Plants Were Not Related to Their Evolutionary Distances of SSU rDNA or PT1 Sequences in the Nutrition Solution Production.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34579480}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The symbiosis and beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) on plants have been widely reported; however, the effects might be unascertained in tomato industry production with coconut coir due to the nutrition solution supply, or alternatively with isolate-specific. Five isolates of AM fungi were collected from soils of differing geographical origins, identified as Funneliformis mosseae and evidenced closing evolutionary distances with the covering of the small subunit (SSU) rDNA regions and Pi transporter gene (PT1) sequences. The effects of these isolates on the colonization rates, plant growth, yield, and nutrition uptake were analyzed in tomato nutrition solution production with growing seasons of spring-summer and autumn-winter. Our result indicated that with isolate-specific effects, irrespective of geographical or the SSU rDNA and PT1 sequences evolution distance, two isolates (A2 and NYN1) had the most yield benefits for plants of both growing seasons, one (E2) had weaker effects and the remaining two (A2 and T6) had varied seasonal-specific effects. Inoculation with effective isolates induced significant increases of 29.0-38.0% (isolate X5, T6) and 34.6-36.5% (isolate NYN1, T6) in the plant tissues respective nitrogen and phosphorus content; the plant biomass increased by 18.4-25.4% (isolate T6, NYN1), and yields increased by 8.8-12.0% (isolate NYN1, A2) compared with uninoculated plants. The maximum root biomass increased by 28.3% (isolate T6) and 55.1% (isolate E2) in the autumn-winter and spring-summer growing seasons, respectively. This strong effect on root biomass was even more significant in an industry culture with a small volume of substrate per plant. Our results reveal the potential benefits of using selected effective isolates as a renewable resource that can overcome the suppressing effects of sufficient nutrient availability on colonization rates, while increasing the yields of industrially produced tomatoes in nutrition solution with coconut coir.}, } @article {pmid34579323, year = {2021}, author = {Bai, XN and Hao, H and Hu, ZH and Leng, PS}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal Inoculation Enhances the Salt Tolerance of Quercus mongolica Seedlings.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34579323}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Salt stress harms the growth and development of plants, and the degree of soil salinization in North China is becoming increasingly severe. Ectomycorrhiza (ECM) is a symbiotic system formed by fungi and plants that can improve the growth and salt tolerance of plants. No studies to date have examined the salt tolerance of Quercus mongolica, a typical ectomycorrhizal tree species of temperate forests in the northern hemisphere. Here, we inoculated Q. mongolica with two ectomycorrhizal fungi (Gomphidius viscidus; Suillus luteus) under NaCl stress to characterize the effects of ECM. The results showed that the symbiotic relationship of Q. mongolica with G. viscidus was more stable than that with S. luteus. The cross-sectional area of roots increased after inoculation with the two types of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Compared with the control group, plant height, soluble sugar content, and soluble protein content of leaves were 1.62, 2.41, and 2.04 times higher in the G. viscidus group, respectively. Chlorophyll (Chl) content, stomatal conductance (Gs), and intracellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were significantly higher in Q. mongolica inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi than in the control, but differences in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and photosystem II maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) were lower. The relative conductivity of Q. mongolica inoculated with the two ectomycorrhizal fungi was consistently lower than that of non-mycorrhizal seedlings, with the effect of G. viscidus more pronounced than that of S. luteus. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content showed a similar pattern. Peroxidase (POD) and catylase (CAT) levels in mycorrhizal seedlings were generally higher than those of non-mycorrhizal seedlings under normal conditions, and were significantly higher than those of non-mycorrhizal seedlings on the 36th and 48th day after salt treatment, respectively. Overall, the results indicated that the salt tolerance of Q. mongolica seedlings was improved by ectomycorrhizal inoculation.}, } @article {pmid34579294, year = {2021}, author = {Sithole, N and Tsvuura, Z and Kirkman, K and Magadlela, A}, title = {Altering Nitrogen Sources Affects Growth Carbon Costs in Vachellia nilotica Growing in Nutrient-Deficient Grassland Soils.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34579294}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Vachellianilotica (L.) Willd. Ex Del. is a multipurpose leguminous tree that is common in grassland and savanna ecosystems in southern and eastern Africa. These ecosystem soils are reported to be acidic and nutrient-limited, specifically with regards to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The presence of this plant in these terrestrial ecosystems improves soil fertility benefiting the surrounding vegetation due to its ability to fix atmospheric N. This study seeks to understand the N-fixing bacteria symbiosis and physiological adaptations of V. nilotica in these acidic and nutrient-deficient KwaZulu-Natal soils. The soils used for this study were collected from the Ukulinga Grassland Nutrient Experiment located at the Ukulinga research farm of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Due to long-term soil nutrient addition treatments, these soils offered a diverse nutrient variation for better understanding the effects of acidity and nutrient variation on microbial symbiosis, plant nutrition, and biomass accumulation of V. nilotica. V. nilotica was able to maintain growth by relying on both atmospheric and soil-derived N across all treatments decreasing carbon (C) growth costs. There was an increased reliance on atmospheric-derived N of un-nodulated high N-treated plants. The plants grown in high N + P soils were able to nodulate with various species from the Mesorhizobium genus, which resulted in increased biomass compared to other plants. The results of this study show that V. nilotica can alter N sources to reduce C growth costs. In addition, both nodulating and free-living soil N2 fixing bacteria such as Caulobacter rhizosphaerae, Sphingomonas sp. and Burkholderia contaminans identified in the experimental soils may play an important role under P-deficient conditions.}, } @article {pmid34576875, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, SH and Park, G and Park, JS and Kwon, HC}, title = {Antifungal Streptomyces spp., Plausible Partners for Brood-Caring of the Dung Beetle Copris tripartitus.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576875}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The dung beetle Copris tripartitus Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a coprophagous insect that lives in and feeds primarily on the feces of mammalian herbivores and is known to protect their offspring from the pathogen-rich environment by performing parental care for brood balls. Brood balls under continuous management by dung beetle are rarely contaminated by entomopathogenic fungi compared to abandoned brood balls. On the supposition that dung beetles may benefit from mutualistic bacteria that protect their offspring against fungal pathogens, we evaluated the antifungal activities of bacteria isolated from the dung beetle and brood ball. As a result, bacterial isolates, mainly streptomycetes, manifested potent and broad-spectrum antifungal activity against various fungi, including entomopathogens. Of the isolates, Streptomyces sp. AT67 exhibited pronounced antifungal activities. Culture-dependent and independent approaches show that this strain has occurred continuously in dung beetles that were collected over three years. Moreover, metabolic profiling and chemical investigation demonstrated that the strain produced an antifungal polyene macrocyclic lactam, sceliphrolactam, as a major product. Our findings imply that specific symbiotic bacteria of C. tripartitus are likely to contribute brood ball hygiene by inhibiting fungal parasites in the environment.}, } @article {pmid34576867, year = {2021}, author = {Liang, J and Deng, C and Yu, K and Ge, R and Xu, Y and Qin, Z and Chen, B and Wang, Y and Su, H and Huang, X and Huang, W and Wang, G and Gong, S}, title = {Cross-Linked Regulation of Coral-Associated Dinoflagellates and Bacteria in Pocillopora sp. during High-Temperature Stress and Recovery.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576867}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {As the problem of ocean warming worsens, the environmental adaptation potential of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria is directly related to the future and fate of corals. This study aimed to analyse the comprehensive community dynamics and physiology of these two groups of organisms in the coral Pocillopora sp. through indoor simulations of heat stress (which involved manually adjusting the temperature between both 26 °C and 34 °C). Heat treatment (≥30 °C) significantly reduced the abundance of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria by more than 70%. After the temperature was returned to 26 °C for one month, the Symbiodiniaceae density was still low, while the absolute number of bacteria quickly recovered to 55% of that of the control. At this time point, the Fv/Fm value rose to 91% of the pretemperature value. The content of chlorophyll b associated with Cyanobacteria increased by 50% compared with that under the control conditions. Moreover, analysis of the Symbiodiniaceae subclade composition suggested that the relative abundance of C1c.C45, C1, and C1ca increased during heat treatment, indicating that they might constitute heat-resistant subgroups. We suggest that the increase in the absolute number of bacteria during the recovery period could be an important indicator of coral holobiont recovery after heat stress. This study provides insight into the cross-linked regulation of key symbiotic microbes in the coral Pocillopora sp. during high-temperature stress and recovery and provides a scientific basis for exploring the mechanism underlying coral adaptation to global warming.}, } @article {pmid34576861, year = {2021}, author = {Ushida, K and Kock, R and Sundset, MA}, title = {Special Issue: Wildlife Microbiology.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576861}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Research on the effect of symbiotic microbes on the health of the host through their impact on digestion, the immune system, development, and behavior is accumulating [...].}, } @article {pmid34576860, year = {2021}, author = {Peace, O and Rachakonda, K and Kress, M and Villalta, F and Rachakonda, G}, title = {Respiratory and Neurological Disease across Different Ethnic Groups Is Influenced by the Microbiome.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576860}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {U54MD007586/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; U54MD007593/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; U24 MD015970/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; S21MD000104/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM067871-17/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Acute and chronic upper respiratory illnesses such as asthma, and allergic rhinitis (AR) have been linked to the presence of microorganisms in the nose. Microorganisms can exist in symbiotic or commensal relationships with the human body. However, in certain cases, opportunistic pathogens can take over, leading to altered states (dysbiosis) and causing disease. Thus, the microflora present in a host can be useful to reflect health status. The human body contains 10 trillion to 100 trillion microorganisms. Of these populations, certain pathogens have been identified to promote or undermine wellbeing. Therefore, knowledge of the microbiome is potentially helpful as a diagnostic tool for many diseases. Variations have been recognized in the types of microbes that inhabit various populations based on geography, diet, and lifestyle choices and various microbiota have been shown to modulate immune responses in allergic disease. Interestingly, the diseases affected by these changes are prevalent in certain racial or ethnic populations. These prevalent microbiome variations in these groups suggest that the presence of these microorganisms may be significantly associated with health disparities. We review current research in the search for correlations between ethnic diversity, microbiome communities in the nasal cavity and health outcomes in neurological and respiratory functions.}, } @article {pmid34576846, year = {2021}, author = {Dar, MA and Dhole, NP and Xie, R and Pawar, KD and Ullah, K and Rahi, P and Pandit, RS and Sun, J}, title = {Valorization Potential of a Novel Bacterial Strain, Bacillus altitudinis RSP75, towards Lignocellulose Bioconversion: An Assessment of Symbiotic Bacteria from the Stored Grain Pest, Tribolium castaneum.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576846}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Bioconversion of lignocellulose into renewable energy and commodity products faces a major obstacle of inefficient saccharification due to its recalcitrant structure. In nature, lignocellulose is efficiently degraded by some insects, including termites and beetles, potentially due to the contribution from symbiotic gut bacteria. To this end, the presented investigation reports the isolation and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the gut system of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Out of the 15 isolated bacteria, strain RSP75 showed the highest cellulolytic activities by forming a clearance zone of 28 mm in diameter with a hydrolytic capacity of ~4.7. The MALDI-TOF biotyping and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the strain RSP75 belongs to Bacillus altitudinis. Among the tested enzymes, B. altitudinis RSP75 showed maximum activity of 63.2 IU/mL extract for xylanase followed by β-glucosidase (47.1 ± 3 IU/mL extract) which were manifold higher than previously reported activities. The highest substrate degradation was achieved with wheat husk and corn cob powder which accounted for 69.2% and 54.5%, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy showed adhesion of the bacterial cells with the substrate which was further substantiated by FTIR analysis that depicted the absence of the characteristic cellulose bands at wave numbers 1247, 1375, and 1735 cm[-1] due to hydrolysis by the bacterium. Furthermore, B. altitudinis RSP75 showed co-culturing competence with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for bioethanol production from lignocellulose as revealed by GC-MS analysis. The overall observations signify the gut of T. castaneum as a unique and impressive reservoir to prospect for lignocellulose-degrading bacteria that can have many biotechnological applications, including biofuels and biorefinery.}, } @article {pmid34576810, year = {2021}, author = {Cretoiu, D and Ionescu, RF and Enache, RM and Cretoiu, SM and Voinea, SC}, title = {Gut Microbiome, Functional Food, Atherosclerosis, and Vascular Calcifications-Is There a Missing Link?.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576810}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The gut microbiome is represented by the genome of all microorganisms (symbiotic, potential pathogens, or pathogens) residing in the intestine. These ecological communities are involved in almost all metabolic diseases and cardiovascular diseases are not excluded. Atherosclerosis, with a continuously increasing incidence in recent years, is the leading cause of coronary heart disease and stroke by plaque rupture and intraplaque hemorrhage. Vascular calcification, a process very much alike with osteogenesis, is considered to be a marker of advanced atherosclerosis. New evidence, suggesting the role of dietary intake influence on the diversity of the gut microbiome in the development of vascular calcifications, is highly debated. Gut microbiota can metabolize choline, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine and produce vasculotoxic metabolites, such as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a proatherogenic metabolite. This review article aims to discuss the latest research about how probiotics and the correction of diet is impacting the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the atherosclerotic process and vascular calcification. Further studies could create the premises for interventions in the microbiome as future primary tools in the prevention of atherosclerotic plaque and vascular calcifications.}, } @article {pmid34576797, year = {2021}, author = {Striganavičiūtė, G and Žiauka, J and Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė, V and Vaitiekūnaitė, D}, title = {Impact of Plant-Associated Bacteria on the In Vitro Growth and Pathogenic Resistance against Phellinus tremulae of Different Aspen (Populus) Genotypes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576797}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Aspens (Populus tremula and its hybrids), economically and ecologically important fast-growing trees, are often damaged by Phellinus tremulae, a rot-causing fungus. Plant-associated bacteria can be used to increase plant growth and resistance; however, no systematic studies relating the activity of symbiotic bacteria to aspen resistance against Phellinus tremulae have been conducted so far. The present pioneer study investigated the responses of two Populus tremula and two P. tremula × P. tremuloides genotypes to in vitro inoculations with, first, either Pseudomonas sp. or Paenibacillus sp. bacteria (isolated originally from hybrid aspen tissue cultures and being most closely related to Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Paenibacillus tundrae, respectively) and, in the subsequent stage, with Phellinus tremulae. Both morphological parameters of in vitro-grown plants and biochemical content of their leaves, including photosynthesis pigments and secondary metabolites, were analyzed. It was found that both Populus tremula × P. tremuloides genotypes, whose development in vitro was significantly damaged by Phellinus tremulae, were characterized by certain responses to the studied bacteria: decreased shoot development by both Paenibacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. and increased phenol content by Pseudomonas sp. In turn, these responses were lacking in both Populus tremula genotypes that showed in vitro resistance to the fungus. Moreover, these genotypes showed positive long-term growth responses to bacterial inoculation, even synergistic with the subsequent fungal inoculation. Hence, the studied bacteria were demonstrated as a potential tool for the improved in vitro propagation of fungus-resistant aspen genotypes.}, } @article {pmid34576770, year = {2021}, author = {Messyasz, A and Maher, RL and Meiling, SS and Thurber, RV}, title = {Nutrient Enrichment Predominantly Affects Low Diversity Microbiomes in a Marine Trophic Symbiosis between Algal Farming Fish and Corals.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576770}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {While studies show that nutrient pollution shifts reef trophic interactions between fish, macroalgae, and corals, we know less about how the microbiomes associated with these organisms react to such disturbances. To investigate how microbiome dynamics are affected during nutrient pollution, we exposed replicate Porites lobata corals colonized by the fish Stegastes nigricans, which farm an algal matrix on the coral, to a pulse of nutrient enrichment over a two-month period and examined the microbiome of each partner using 16S amplicon analysis. We found 51 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) shared among the three hosts. Coral microbiomes had the lowest diversity with over 98% of the microbiome dominated by a single genus, Endozoicomonas. Fish and algal matrix microbiomes were ~20 to 70× more diverse and had higher evenness compared to the corals. The addition of nutrients significantly increased species richness and community variability between samples of coral microbiomes but not the fish or algal matrix microbiomes, demonstrating that coral microbiomes are less resistant to nutrient pollution than their trophic partners. Furthermore, the 51 common ASVs within the 3 hosts indicate microbes that may be shared or transmitted between these closely associated organisms, including Vibrionaceae bacteria, many of which can be pathogenic to corals.}, } @article {pmid34576755, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, Q and Cui, Y and Chu, X and Li, G and Yang, M and Wang, R and Liang, G and Wu, S and Tigabu, M and Zhang, F and Hu, X}, title = {Gut Bacterial Communities of Lymantria xylina and Their Associations with Host Development and Diet.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576755}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The gut microbiota of insects has a wide range of effects on host nutrition, physiology, and behavior. The structure of gut microbiota may also be shaped by their environment, causing them to adjust to their hosts; thus, the objective of this study was to examine variations in the morphological traits and gut microbiota of Lymantria xylina in response to natural and artificial diets using high-throughput sequencing. Regarding morphology, the head widths for larvae fed on a sterilized artificial diet were smaller than for larvae fed on a non-sterilized host-plant diet in the early instars. The gut microbiota diversity of L. xylina fed on different diets varied significantly, but did not change during different development periods. This seemed to indicate that vertical inheritance occurred in L. xylina mutualistic symbionts. Acinetobacter and Enterococcus were dominant in/on eggs. In the first instar larvae, Acinetobacter accounted for 33.52% of the sterilized artificial diet treatment, while Enterococcus (67.88%) was the predominant bacteria for the non-sterilized host-plant diet treatment. Gut microbe structures were adapted to both diets through vertical inheritance and self-regulation. This study clarified the impacts of microbial symbiosis on L. xylina and might provide new possibilities for improving the control of these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34576739, year = {2021}, author = {Mahmud, K and Lee, K and Hill, NS and Mergoum, A and Missaoui, A}, title = {Influence of Tall Fescue Epichloë Endophytes on Rhizosphere Soil Microbiome.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576739}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire) often forms a symbiotic relationship with fungal endophytes (Epichloë coenophiala), which provides increased plant performance and greater tolerance to environmental stress compared to endophyte-free tall fescue. Whether this enhanced performance of tall fescue exclusively results from the grass-fungus symbiosis, or this symbiosis additionally results in the recruitment of soil microbes in the rhizosphere that in turn promote plant growth, remain a question. We investigated the soil bacterial and fungal community composition in iron-rich soil in the southeastern USA, and possible community shifts in soil microbial populations based on endophyte infection in tall fescue by analyzing the 16s rRNA gene and ITS specific region. Our data revealed that plant-available phosphorus (P) was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by endophyte infection in tall fescue. While the prominent soil bacterial phyla were similar, a clear fungal community shift was observed between endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E-) tall fescue soil at the phylum level. Moreover, compared to E- soil, E+ soil showed a greater fungal diversity at the genus level. Our results, thus, indicate a possible three-way interaction between tall fescue, fungal endophyte, and soil fungal communities resulting in improved tall fescue performance.}, } @article {pmid34576728, year = {2021}, author = {Nettleton, JE and Klancic, T and Schick, A and Choo, AC and Cheng, N and Shearer, J and Borgland, SL and Rho, JM and Reimer, RA}, title = {Prebiotic, Probiotic, and Synbiotic Consumption Alter Behavioral Variables and Intestinal Permeability and Microbiota in BTBR Mice.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576728}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {PJT-159626/CAPMC/CIHR/Canada ; }, abstract = {Given that prebiotics have been shown to improve gut microbiota composition, gastrointestinal symptoms and select behaviors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we hypothesized that prebiotic supplementation would improve sociability, communication, and repetitive behaviors in a murine model of ASD. We also examined the effect of a synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic). Juvenile male BTBR mice were randomized to: (1) control; (2) probiotic (1 × 10[10] CFU/d Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14[®]; now known as Limosilactobacillus reuteri); (3) prebiotic (10% oligofructose-enriched inulin); (4) prebiotic + probiotic (n = 12/group) administered through food for 3 weeks. Sociability, communication, repetitive behavior, intestinal permeability and gut microbiota were assessed. Probiotic and symbiotic treatments improved sociability (92 s and 70 s longer in stranger than empty chamber) and repetitive behaviors (50% lower frequency), whereas prebiotic intake worsened sociability (82 s less in stranger chamber) and increased the total time spent self-grooming (96 s vs. 80 s CTR), but improved communication variables (4.6 ms longer call duration and 4 s higher total syllable activity). Mice consuming probiotics or synbiotics had lower intestinal permeability (30% and 15% lower than CTR). Prebiotic, probiotic, and symbiotic treatments shifted gut microbiota to taxa associated with improved gut health. L.reuteri may help alleviate ASD behavioral symptom severity and improve gut health. The potential use of prebiotics in an ASD population warrants further research.}, } @article {pmid34576712, year = {2021}, author = {Plett, KL and Buckley, S and Plett, JM and Anderson, IC and Lundberg-Felten, J and Jämtgård, S}, title = {Novel Microdialysis Technique Reveals a Dramatic Shift in Metabolite Secretion during the Early Stages of the Interaction between the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Pisolithus microcarpus and Its Host Eucalyptus grandis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34576712}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The colonisation of tree roots by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi is the result of numerous signalling exchanges between organisms, many of which occur before physical contact. However, information is lacking about these exchanges and the compounds that are secreted by each organism before contact. This is in part due to a lack of low disturbance sampling methods with sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to capture these exchanges. Using a novel in situ microdialysis approach, we sampled metabolites released from Eucalyptus grandis and Pisolithus microcarpus independently and during indirect contact over a 48-h time-course using UPLC-MS. A total of 560 and 1530 molecular features (MFs; ESI- and ESI+ respectively) were identified with significant differential abundance from control treatments. We observed that indirect contact between organisms altered the secretion of MFs to produce a distinct metabolomic profile compared to either organism independently. Many of these MFs were produced within the first hour of contact and included several phenylpropanoids, fatty acids and organic acids. These findings show that the secreted metabolome, particularly of the ECM fungus, can rapidly shift during the early stages of pre-symbiotic contact and highlight the importance of observing these early interactions in greater detail. We present microdialysis as a useful tool for examining plant-fungal signalling with high temporal resolution and with minimal experimental disturbance.}, } @article {pmid34575757, year = {2021}, author = {Lu, H and Wei, T and Lou, H and Shu, X and Chen, Q}, title = {A Critical Review on Communication Mechanism within Plant-Endophytic Fungi Interactions to Cope with Biotic and Abiotic Stresses.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34575757}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi infect plant tissues by evading the immune response, potentially stimulating stress-tolerant plant growth. The plant selectively allows microbial colonization to carve endophyte structures through phenotypic genes and metabolic signals. Correspondingly, fungi develop various adaptations through symbiotic signal transduction to thrive in mycorrhiza. Over the past decade, the regulatory mechanism of plant-endophyte interaction has been uncovered. Currently, great progress has been made on plant endosphere, especially in endophytic fungi. Here, we systematically summarize the current understanding of endophytic fungi colonization, molecular recognition signal pathways, and immune evasion mechanisms to clarify the transboundary communication that allows endophytic fungi colonization and homeostatic phytobiome. In this work, we focus on immune signaling and recognition mechanisms, summarizing current research progress in plant-endophyte communication that converge to improve our understanding of endophytic fungi.}, } @article {pmid34575754, year = {2021}, author = {Meng, LL and Liu, RC and Yang, L and Zou, YN and Srivastava, AK and Kuča, K and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Giri, B and Wu, QS}, title = {The Change in Fatty Acids and Sugars Reveals the Association between Trifoliate Orange and Endophytic Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34575754}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Endophytes have the ability to improve plant nutrition alongside their agronomic performance, among which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide the most benefits to their host. Previously, we reported for the first time that an arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungus Piriformospora indica had the ability to colonize roots of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) and conferred positive effects on nutrient acquisition. Present study showed the changes in fatty acids and sugars to unravel the physiological and symbiotic association of trifoliate orange with P. indica and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Funneliformis mosseae singly or in combination. All the endophytic fungi collectively increased fructose, glucose, and sucrose content in leaves and roots, along with a relatively higher increase with P. indica inoculation than with F. mosseae alone or dual inoculation. Treatment with P. indica increased the concentration of part unsaturated fatty acids such as C18:3N6, C20:2, C20:3N6, C20:4N6, C20:3N3, C20:5N3, C22:1N9, and C24:1. Additionally, P. indica induced the increase in the concentration of part saturated fatty acids such as C6:0, C8:0, C13:0, C14:0, and C24:0. F. mosseae hardly changed the content of fatty acids, except for increase in C14:0 and C20:5N3. Double inoculation only reduced the C21:0, C10:0, C12:0, C18:3N3, and C18:1 content and increased the C20:5N3 content. These endophytic fungi up-regulated the root PtFAD2, PtFAD6, PtΔ9, and PtΔ15 gene expression level, coupled with a higher expression of PtFAD2 and PtΔ9 by P. indica than by F. mosseae. It was concluded that P. indica exhibited a stronger response, for sugars and fatty acids, than F. mosseae on trifoliate orange. Such results also reveal the Pi (an in vitro culturable fungus) as a bio-stimulator applying to citriculture.}, } @article {pmid34575743, year = {2021}, author = {Devanthi, PVP and Kho, K and Nurdiansyah, R and Briot, A and Taherzadeh, MJ and Aslanzadeh, S}, title = {Do Kombucha Symbiotic Cultures of Bacteria and Yeast Affect Bacterial Cellulose Yield in Molasses?.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34575743}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a valuable biopolymer typically observed in Kombucha with many potential food applications. Many studies highlight yeast's roles in providing reducing sugars, used by the bacteria to grow and produce BC. However, whether yeast could enhance the BC yields remains unclear. This study investigates the effect of yeast Dekkera bruxellensis on bacteria Komagataeibacter intermedius growth and BC production in molasses medium. The results showed that the co-culture stimulated K. intermedius by ~2 log CFU/mL, which could be attributed to enhanced reducing sugar utilization. However, BC yields decreased by ~24%, suggesting a negative impact of D. bruxellensis on BC production. In contrast to other studies, regardless of D. bruxellensis, K. intermedius increased the pH to ~9.0, favoring the BC production. Furthermore, pH increase was slower in co-culture as compared to single culture cultivation, which could be the reason for lower BC yields. This study indicates that co-culture could promote synergistic growth but results in the BC yield reduction. This knowledge can help design a more controlled fermentation process for optimum bacterial growth and, ultimately, BC production.}, } @article {pmid34572603, year = {2021}, author = {Olejnik, P and Mądrzak, CJ and Nuc, K}, title = {Cyclophilins and Their Functions in Abiotic Stress and Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34572603}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Cyclophilins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Oxidative Stress ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Plants have developed a variety of mechanisms and regulatory pathways to change their gene expression profiles in response to abiotic stress conditions and plant-microbe interactions. The plant-microbe interaction can be pathogenic or beneficial. Stress conditions, both abiotic and pathogenic, negatively affect the growth, development, yield and quality of plants, which is very important for crops. In contrast, the plant-microbe interaction could be growth-promoting. One of the proteins involved in plant response to stress conditions and plant-microbe interactions is cyclophilin. Cyclophilins (CyPs), together with FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) and parvulins, belong to a big family of proteins with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity (Enzyme Commission (EC) number 5.2.1.8). Genes coding for proteins with the CyP domain are widely expressed in all organisms examined, including bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants. Their different forms can be found in the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, chloroplast, mitochondrion and in the phloem space. They are involved in numerous processes, such as protein folding, cellular signaling, mRNA processing, protein degradation and apoptosis. In the past few years, many new functions, and molecular mechanisms for cyclophilins have been discovered. In this review, we aim to summarize recent advances in cyclophilin research to improve our understanding of their biological functions in plant defense and symbiotic plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34571752, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, HH and Li, HJ and Ye, YX and Zhuo, JC and Zhang, CX}, title = {Intersex Plays a Role in Microbial Homeostasis in the Brown Planthopper.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34571752}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Insects harbor a wide variety of symbiotic microorganisms that are capable of regulating host health and promoting host adaptation to their environment and food sources. However, there is little knowledge concerning the mechanisms that maintain the microbial community homeostasis within insects. In this study, we found that the intersex (ix) gene played an essential role in maintaining microbial homeostasis in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. Injection of the double-strand RNA targeting N. lugens ix (Nlix) into the newly emerged females resulted in abnormal expansion of the copulatory bursa of BPH after mating. Further observation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the abnormally enlarged copulatory bursa resulting from dsNlix treatment was full of microorganisms, while in contrast, the copulatory bursa of dsGFP-treated individuals stored a large number of sperm accompanied by a few bacteria. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis showed that the gene responses to bacteria were remarkably enriched in differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition, 16s rRNA sequencing indicated that, compared with control samples, changes in the composition of microbes presented in dsNlix-treated copulatory bursa. Together, our results revealed the immune functions of the Nlix gene in maintaining microbial homeostasis and combating infection in BPH.}, } @article {pmid34570772, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, JJ and Lan, W and Zhang, X}, title = {Geographic proximity, supply chain and organizational glocalized survival: China's e-commerce investments in Indonesia.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {e0256837}, pmid = {34570772}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {China ; Commerce/*statistics & numerical data ; Electronic Mail/*economics ; Humans ; Indonesia ; *International Cooperation ; Investments/statistics & numerical data ; *Models, Econometric ; }, abstract = {Chinese e-commerce companies are in the ascendant into the overseas market, while still lack adequate academic attention. Adopting case study and public policy approaches, this article applies the symbiosis theory, based on the fundamentals of the development data of Chinese e-commerce companies in the Indonesia market, to construct an evaluation model and proposes a strategic orientation to reaching an embedded survival and further development. Through understanding the structural characteristics and developing status of different types of Chinese e-commerce companies going overseas, a detailed investigation to the Chinese e-commerce companies investing in Indonesia has been conducted. Findings show that the production capacity cooperation stage of the two countries has a trend of asymmetric symbiosis gradually developing towards symmetric symbiosis. To promote a continuous economic cooperation between China and Indonesia, this article proposes that the national-level collaboration policies, cross-border e-commerce value chain, as well as organizational-level coordination are the key sectors for reaching the vision of symmetric symbiosis between the two countries. Sectors in infrastructure, trade, capital, and people's mindset intimacy also contribute to construct a symbiosis mechanism for capacity cooperation between the two nations.}, } @article {pmid34567077, year = {2021}, author = {Cao, R and Ren, Q and Luo, J and Tian, Z and Liu, W and Zhao, B and Li, J and Diao, P and Tan, Y and Qiu, X and Zhang, G and Wang, Q and Guan, G and Luo, J and Yin, H and Liu, G}, title = {Analysis of Microorganism Diversity in Haemaphysalis longicornis From Shaanxi, China, Based on Metagenomic Sequencing.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {723773}, pmid = {34567077}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Ticks are dangerous ectoparasites of humans and animals, as they are important disease vectors and serve as hosts for various microorganisms (including a variety of pathogenic microorganisms). Diverse microbial populations coexist within the tick body. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been suggested to be useful for rapidly and accurately obtaining microorganism abundance and diversity data. In this study, we performed mNGS to analyze the microbial diversity of Haemaphysalis longicornis from Baoji, Shaanxi, China, with the Illumina HiSeq platform. We identified 189 microbial genera (and 284 species) from ticks in the region; the identified taxa included Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and other important tick-borne pathogens at the genus level as well as symbiotic microorganisms such as Wolbachia spp., and Candidatus Entotheonella. The results of this study provide insights into possible tick-borne diseases and reveal new tick-borne pathogens in this region. Additionally, valuable information for the biological control of ticks is provided. In conclusion, this study provides reference data for guiding the development of prevention and control strategies targeting ticks and tick-borne diseases in the region, which can improve the effectiveness of tick and tick-borne disease control.}, } @article {pmid34567052, year = {2021}, author = {Suzaki, T and Valkov, VT and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {Editorial: Nutrient Dependent Signaling Pathways Controlling the Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Process.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {744450}, pmid = {34567052}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid34567032, year = {2021}, author = {Boivin, S and Mahé, F and Debellé, F and Pervent, M and Tancelin, M and Tauzin, M and Wielbo, J and Mazurier, S and Young, P and Lepetit, M}, title = {Genetic Variation in Host-Specific Competitiveness of the Symbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum Symbiovar viciae.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {719987}, pmid = {34567032}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes of the Fabeae tribe form nitrogen-fixing root nodules resulting from symbiotic interaction with the soil bacteria Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae (Rlv). These bacteria are all potential symbionts of the Fabeae hosts but display variable partner choice when co-inoculated in mixture. Because partner choice and symbiotic nitrogen fixation mostly behave as genetically independent traits, the efficiency of symbiosis is often suboptimal when Fabeae legumes are exposed to natural Rlv populations present in soil. A core collection of 32 Rlv bacteria was constituted based on the genomic comparison of a collection of 121 genome sequences, representative of known worldwide diversity of Rlv. A variable part of the nodD gene sequence was used as a DNA barcode to discriminate and quantify each of the 32 bacteria in mixture. This core collection was co-inoculated on a panel of nine genetically diverse Pisum sativum, Vicia faba, and Lens culinaris genotypes. We estimated the relative Early Partner Choice (EPC) of the bacteria with the Fabeae hosts by DNA metabarcoding on the nodulated root systems. Comparative genomic analyses within the bacterial core collection identified molecular markers associated with host-dependent symbiotic partner choice. The results revealed emergent properties of rhizobial populations. They pave the way to identify genes related to important symbiotic traits operating at this level.}, } @article {pmid34565329, year = {2021}, author = {Janssenswillen, S and Roelants, K and Carpentier, S and de Rooster, H and Metzemaekers, M and Vanschoenwinkel, B and Proost, P and Bossuyt, F}, title = {Odorant-binding proteins in canine anal sac glands indicate an evolutionarily conserved role in mammalian chemical communication.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {182}, pmid = {34565329}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {*Anal Sacs ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; *Dogs ; Female ; Mammals/genetics ; *Odorants ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chemical communication is an important aspect of the behavioural ecology of a wide range of mammals. In dogs and other carnivores, anal sac glands are thought to convey information to conspecifics by secreting a pallet of small volatile molecules produced by symbiotic bacteria. Because these glands are unique to carnivores, it is unclear how their secretions relate to those of other placental mammals that make use of different tissues and secretions for chemical communication. Here we analyse the anal sac glands of domestic dogs to verify the secretion of proteins and infer their evolutionary relationship to those involved in the chemical communication of non-carnivoran mammals.

RESULTS: Proteomic analysis of anal sac gland secretions of 17 dogs revealed the consistently abundant presence of three related proteins. Homology searches against online databases indicate that these proteins are evolutionary related to 'odorant binding proteins' (OBPs) found in a wide range of mammalian secretions and known to contribute to chemical communication. Screening of the dog's genome sequence show that the newly discovered OBPs are encoded by a single cluster of three genes in the pseudoautosomal region of the X-chromosome. Comparative genomic screening indicates that the same locus is shared by a wide range of placental mammals and that it originated at least before the radiation of extant placental orders. Phylogenetic analyses suggest a dynamic evolution of gene duplication and loss, resulting in large gene clusters in some placental taxa and recurrent loss of this locus in others. The homology of OBPs in canid anal sac glands and those found in other mammalian secretions implies that these proteins maintained a function in chemical communication throughout mammalian evolutionary history by multiple shifts in expression between secretory tissues involved in signal release and nasal mucosa involved in signal reception.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study elucidates a poorly understood part of the biology of a species that lives in close association with humans. In addition, it shows that the protein repertoire underlying chemical communication in mammals is more evolutionarily stable than the variation of involved glands and tissues would suggest.}, } @article {pmid34564659, year = {2021}, author = {Giovati, L and Ciociola, T and De Simone, T and Conti, S and Magliani, W}, title = {Wickerhamomyces Yeast Killer Toxins' Medical Applications.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34564659}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*therapeutic use/*toxicity ; Communicable Diseases/*drug therapy ; Cytotoxins/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Killer Factors, Yeast/*therapeutic use/*toxicity ; Saccharomycetales/*chemistry ; Vaccine Development ; }, abstract = {Possible implications and applications of the yeast killer phenomenon in the fight against infectious diseases are reviewed, with particular reference to some wide-spectrum killer toxins (KTs) produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus and other related species. A perspective on the applications of these KTs in the medical field is provided considering (1) a direct use of killer strains, in particular in the symbiotic control of arthropod-borne diseases; (2) a direct use of KTs as experimental therapeutic agents; (3) the production, through the idiotypic network, of immunological derivatives of KTs and their use as potential anti-infective therapeutics. Studies on immunological derivatives of KTs in the context of vaccine development are also described.}, } @article {pmid34564245, year = {2021}, author = {Carpenter, M and Peng, L and Smith, AH and Joffe, J and O'Connor, M and Oliver, KM and Russell, JA}, title = {Frequent Drivers, Occasional Passengers: Signals of Symbiont-Driven Seasonal Adaptation and Hitchhiking in the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34564245}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Insects harbor a variety of maternally inherited bacterial symbionts. As such, variation in symbiont presence/absence, in the combinations of harbored symbionts, and in the genotypes of harbored symbiont species provide heritable genetic variation of potential use in the insects' adaptive repertoires. Understanding the natural importance of symbionts is challenging but studying their dynamics over time can help to elucidate the potential for such symbiont-driven insect adaptation. Toward this end, we studied the seasonal dynamics of six maternally transferred bacterial symbiont species in the multivoltine pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Our sampling focused on six alfalfa fields in southeastern Pennsylvania, and spanned 14 timepoints within the 2012 growing season, in addition to two overwintering periods. To test and generate hypotheses on the natural relevance of these non-essential symbionts, we examined whether symbiont dynamics correlated with any of ten measured environmental variables from the 2012 growing season, including some of known importance in the lab. We found that five symbionts changed prevalence across one or both overwintering periods, and that the same five species underwent such frequency shifts across the 2012 growing season. Intriguingly, the frequencies of these dynamic symbionts showed robust correlations with a subset of our measured environmental variables. Several of these trends supported the natural relevance of lab-discovered symbiont roles, including anti-pathogen defense. For a seventh symbiont-Hamiltonella defensa-studied previously across the same study periods, we tested whether a reported correlation between prevalence and temperature stemmed not from thermally varying host-level fitness effects, but from selection on co-infecting symbionts or on aphid-encoded alleles associated with this bacterium. In general, such "hitchhiking" effects were not evident during times with strongly correlated Hamiltonella and temperature shifts. However, we did identify at least one time period in which Hamiltonella spread was likely driven by selection on a co-infecting symbiont-Rickettsiella viridis. Recognizing the broader potential for such hitchhiking, we explored selection on co-infecting symbionts as a possible driver behind the dynamics of the remaining six species. Out of twelve examined instances of symbiont dynamics unfolding across 2-week periods or overwintering spans, we found eight in which the focal symbiont underwent parallel frequency shifts under single infection and one or more co-infection contexts. This supported the idea that phenotypic variation created by the presence/absence of individual symbionts is a direct target for selection, and that symbiont effects can be robust under co-habitation with other symbionts. Contrastingly, in two cases, we found that selection may target phenotypes emerging from symbiont co-infections, with specific species combinations driving overall trends for the focal dynamic symbionts, without correlated change under single infection. Finally, in three cases-including the one described above for Hamiltonella-our data suggested that incidental co-infection with a (dis)favored symbiont could lead to large frequency shifts for "passenger" symbionts, conferring no apparent cost or benefit. Such hitchhiking has rarely been studied in heritable symbiont systems. We propose that it is more common than appreciated, given the widespread nature of maternally inherited bacteria, and the frequency of multi-species symbiotic communities across insects.}, } @article {pmid34563609, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Yang, Y and Zhang, Y and Kulyar, MF and Waqas, M and Han, Z and Jiang, X}, title = {Milk replacer supplementation in early life optimizes the development of intestinal microbes in goats.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {161}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {105210}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105210}, pmid = {34563609}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Animals ; Dietary Supplements ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Goats ; *Milk ; Weaning ; }, abstract = {Colonization and development of the gut microbiome during early life is important in establishing a host-microbial symbiotic relationship. It contributes to maintaining health and well-being throughout the life span. To date, early longitudinal development of intestinal microflora in the ileum micro-ecology of the Yimeng black goats (YBGs) is rare. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of milk replacer with age on the ileal microbiota growth and maturation in YBGs throughout the post-weaning phase. The newborn YBGs (n = 24) were divided into two groups, i.e., milk replacer (R group) and control group (B group). The microbiome of Ileum was observed on days 15, 25, 45, and 75. When compared with baseline (B group), the R group's alpha diversity was lower (day 15, 25, 45), but it gradually approached and exceeded the baseline in the later stages (day 75). On the time axis, the richness of intestinal microflora was increased with age, but there was no statistically significant difference. The relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Peptoclustridium, Lachnospiraceae, and Prevotellaceae showed a continuous trend of increase initially. They then decreased except Ruminococcaceae, which reflected the gradual maturity of intestinal microbial development. Milk replacer treatment temporarily increased the abundance of Actinomycetes (day 25 and 45), while the relative proportion of several intestinal bacteria such as Parasutterella, Megasphaera, Prevotellaceae, Akkermansia, and Subdoligranulum species were significantly higher in R group than in B group. The major changes in gut microflora composition might reflect positive effect of milk replacer on the development and maturation of the intestine during the early stage, connecting with substrate availability in the gut. Our study provides an effective strategy to promote the development of the gut microbiome, which is helpful for a smooth transition during the early-weaning period in YBGs.}, } @article {pmid34563127, year = {2021}, author = {Deng, J and Assandri, G and Chauhan, P and Futahashi, R and Galimberti, A and Hansson, B and Lancaster, LT and Takahashi, Y and Svensson, EI and Duplouy, A}, title = {Wolbachia-driven selective sweep in a range expanding insect species.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {181}, pmid = {34563127}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyprus ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Odonata/*genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Evolutionary processes can cause strong spatial genetic signatures, such as local loss of genetic diversity, or conflicting histories from mitochondrial versus nuclear markers. Investigating these genetic patterns is important, as they may reveal obscured processes and players. The maternally inherited bacterium Wolbachia is among the most widespread symbionts in insects. Wolbachia typically spreads within host species by conferring direct fitness benefits, and/or by manipulating its host reproduction to favour infected over uninfected females. Under sufficient selective advantage, the mitochondrial haplotype associated with the favoured maternally-inherited symbiotic strains will spread (i.e. hitchhike), resulting in low mitochondrial genetic variation across the host species range.

METHOD: The common bluetail damselfly (Ischnura elegans: van der Linden, 1820) has recently emerged as a model organism for genetics and genomic signatures of range expansion during climate change. Although there is accumulating data on the consequences of such expansion on the genetics of I. elegans, no study has screened for Wolbachia in the damselfly genus Ischnura. Here, we present the biogeographic variation in Wolbachia prevalence and penetrance across Europe and Japan (including samples from 17 populations), and from close relatives in the Mediterranean area (i.e. I. genei: Rambur, 1842; and I. saharensis: Aguesse, 1958).

RESULTS: Our data reveal (a) multiple Wolbachia-strains, (b) potential transfer of the symbiont through hybridization, (c) higher infection rates at higher latitudes, and (d) reduced mitochondrial diversity in the north-west populations, indicative of hitchhiking associated with the selective sweep of the most common strain. We found low mitochondrial haplotype diversity in the Wolbachia-infected north-western European populations (Sweden, Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy) of I. elegans, and, conversely, higher mitochondrial diversity in populations with low penetrance of Wolbachia (Ukraine, Greece, Montenegro and Cyprus). The timing of the selective sweep associated with infected lineages was estimated between 20,000 and 44,000 years before present, which is consistent with the end of the last glacial period about 20,000 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide an example of how endosymbiont infections can shape spatial variation in their host evolutionary genetics during postglacial expansion. These results also challenge population genetic studies that do not consider the prevalence of symbionts in many insects, which we show can impact geographic patterns of mitochondrial genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid34562300, year = {2021}, author = {Ramírez, CS and Tolmie, C and Opperman, DJ and González, PJ and Rivas, MG and Brondino, CD and Ferroni, FM}, title = {Copper nitrite reductase from Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011: Crystal structure and interaction with the physiological versus a nonmetabolically related cupredoxin-like mediator.}, journal = {Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {2310-2323}, pmid = {34562300}, issn = {1469-896X}, mesh = {Azurin/*chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Nitrite Reductases/*chemistry ; Protein Domains ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {We report the crystal structure of the copper-containing nitrite reductase (NirK) from the Gram-negative bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011 (Sm), together with complex structural alignment and docking studies with both non-cognate and the physiologically related pseudoazurins, SmPaz1 and SmPaz2, respectively. S. meliloti is a rhizobacterium used for the formulation of Medicago sativa bionoculants, and SmNirK plays a key role in this symbiosis through the denitrification pathway. The structure of SmNirK, solved at a resolution of 2.5 Å, showed a striking resemblance with the overall structure of the well-known Class I NirKs composed of two Greek key β-barrel domains. The activity of SmNirK is ~12% of the activity reported for classical NirKs, which could be attributed to several factors such as subtle structural differences in the secondary proton channel, solvent accessibility of the substrate channel, and that the denitrifying activity has to be finely regulated within the endosymbiont. In vitro kinetics performed in homogenous and heterogeneous media showed that both SmPaz1 and SmPaz2, which are coded in different regions of the genome, donate electrons to SmNirK with similar performance. Even though the energetics of the interprotein electron transfer (ET) process is not favorable with either electron donors, adduct formation mediated by conserved residues allows minimizing the distance between the copper centers involved in the interprotein ET process.}, } @article {pmid34561509, year = {2021}, author = {Petrou, K and Nunn, BL and Padula, MP and Miller, DJ and Nielsen, DA}, title = {Broad scale proteomic analysis of heat-destabilised symbiosis in the hard coral Acropora millepora.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {19061}, pmid = {34561509}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/parasitology/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Hot Temperature ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Proteomics/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs across the globe are threatened by warming oceans. The last few years have seen the worst mass coral bleaching events recorded, with more than one quarter of all reefs irreversibly impacted. Considering the widespread devastation, we need to increase our efforts to understanding the physiological and metabolic shifts underlying the breakdown of this important symbiotic ecosystem. Here, we investigated the proteome (PRIDE accession # PXD011668) of both host and symbionts of the reef-building coral Acropora millepora exposed to ambient (~ 28 °C) and elevated temperature (~ 32 °C for 2 days, following a five-day incremental increase) and explored associated biomolecular changes in the symbiont, with the aim of gaining new insights into the mechanisms underpinning the collapse of the coral symbiosis. We identified 1,230 unique proteins (774 host and 456 symbiont) in the control and thermally stressed corals, of which 107 significantly increased and 125 decreased in abundance under elevated temperature relative to the control. Proteins involved in oxidative stress and proteolysis constituted 29% of the host proteins that increased in abundance, with evidence of impairment to endoplasmic reticulum and cytoskeletal regulation proteins. In the symbiont, we detected a decrease in proteins responsible for photosynthesis and energy production (33% of proteins decreased in abundance), yet minimal signs of oxidative stress or proteolysis. Lipid stores increased > twofold despite reduction in photosynthesis, suggesting reduced translocation of carbon to the host. There were significant changes in proteins related to symbiotic state, including proteins linked to nitrogen metabolism in the host and the V-ATPase (-0.6 fold change) known to control symbiosome acidity. These results highlight key differences in host and symbiont proteomic adjustments under elevated temperature and identify two key proteins directly involved in bilateral nutrient exchange as potential indicators of symbiosis breakdown.}, } @article {pmid34560436, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, M and An, Y and Huang, J and Sun, X and Yang, A and Zhou, Z}, title = {Elucidating the intensifying effect of introducing influent to an anaerobic side-stream reactor on sludge reduction of the coupled membrane bioreactors.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {342}, number = {}, pages = {125931}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125931}, pmid = {34560436}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Bioreactors ; Membranes, Artificial ; *Sewage ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {Three anoxic/oxic membrane bioreactors (AO-MBRs) coupled with the anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) with different influent flow distribution ratios (IFDRs) were assessed to elucidate how IFDR in the ASSR affected pollutants removal, sludge reduction, membrane fouling, and potential co-occurrence network of microorganisms. When the IFDR in the ASSR was increased from 0% (ASSR0-MBR), to 25% (ASSR25-MBR) and 75% (ASSR75-MBR), chemical oxygen demand removal was enhanced and nutrient removal was comparable. Compared to ASSR0-MBR, ASSR25- and ASSR75-MBR further improved the sludge reduction by 7.6% and 10.9%, respectively. ASSR25-MBR followed cake-complete model due to the weak membrane surface scouring and high concentration of extracellular polymeric substances, while ASSR0- and ASSR75-MBR fitted cake-standard model. The increased IFDR in the ASSR boosted the relative abundance of hydrolytic and slow-growing bacteria. The co-occurrence networks of sludge reduction, nutrient removal and membrane fouling propensity indicated that the symbiotic relationships were dominant.}, } @article {pmid34560321, year = {2021}, author = {Zuo, T and Wu, X and Wen, W and Lan, P}, title = {Gut Microbiome Alterations in COVID-19.}, journal = {Genomics, proteomics & bioinformatics}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {679-688}, pmid = {34560321}, issn = {2210-3244}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *COVID-19/complications ; Fungi ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; }, abstract = {Since the outset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the gut microbiome in COVID-19 has garnered substantial interest, given its significant roles in human health and pathophysiology. Accumulating evidence is unveiling that the gut microbiome is broadly altered in COVID-19, including the bacterial microbiome, mycobiome, and virome. Overall, the gut microbial ecological network is significantly weakened and becomes sparse in patients with COVID-19, together with a decrease in gut microbiome diversity. Beyond the existence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the gut microbiome of patients with COVID-19 is also characterized by enrichment of opportunistic bacteria, fungi, and eukaryotic viruses, which are also associated with disease severity and presentation. Meanwhile, a multitude of symbiotic bacteria and bacteriophages are decreased in abundance in patients with COVID-19. Such gut microbiome features persist in a significant subset of patients with COVID-19 even after disease resolution, coinciding with 'long COVID' (also known as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19). The broadly-altered gut microbiome is largely a consequence of SARS-CoV-2infection and its downstream detrimental effects on the systemic host immunity and the gut milieu. The impaired host immunity and distorted gut microbial ecology, particularly loss of low-abundance beneficial bacteria and blooms of opportunistic fungi including Candida, may hinder the reassembly of the gut microbiome post COVID-19. Future investigation is necessary to fully understand the role of the gut microbiome in host immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the long-term effect of COVID-19 on the gut microbiome in relation to the host health after the pandemic.}, } @article {pmid34560100, year = {2021}, author = {Li, B and Liang, J and Hanfrey, CC and Phillips, MA and Michael, AJ}, title = {Discovery of ancestral L-ornithine and L-lysine decarboxylases reveals parallel, pseudoconvergent evolution of polyamine biosynthesis.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {297}, number = {4}, pages = {101219}, pmid = {34560100}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {R01 AI034432/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI034432/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Archaeal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacteria/enzymology/genetics ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Biogenic Polyamines/biosynthesis/chemistry ; *Carboxy-Lyases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Euryarchaeota/enzymology/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Ornithine Decarboxylase/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Polyamines are fundamental molecules of life, and their deep evolutionary history is reflected in extensive biosynthetic diversification. The polyamines putrescine, agmatine, and cadaverine are produced by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent L-ornithine, L-arginine, and L-lysine decarboxylases (ODC, ADC, LDC), respectively, from both the alanine racemase (AR) and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) folds. Two homologous forms of AAT-fold decarboxylase are present in bacteria: an ancestral form and a derived, acid-inducible extended form containing an N-terminal fusion to the receiver-like domain of a bacterial response regulator. Only ADC was known from the ancestral form and limited to the Firmicutes phylum, whereas extended forms of ADC, ODC, and LDC are present in Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Here, we report the discovery of ancestral form ODC, LDC, and bifunctional O/LDC and extend the phylogenetic diversity of functionally characterized ancestral ADC, ODC, and LDC to include phyla Fusobacteria, Caldiserica, Nitrospirae, and Euryarchaeota. Using purified recombinant enzymes, we show that these ancestral forms have a nascent ability to decarboxylate kinetically less preferred amino acid substrates with low efficiency, and that product inhibition primarily affects preferred substrates. We also note a correlation between the presence of ancestral ODC and ornithine/arginine auxotrophy and link this with a known symbiotic dependence on exogenous ornithine produced by species using the arginine deiminase system. Finally, we show that ADC, ODC, and LDC activities emerged independently, in parallel, in the homologous AAT-fold ancestral and extended forms. The emergence of the same ODC, ADC, and LDC activities in the nonhomologous AR-fold suggests that polyamine biosynthesis may be inevitable.}, } @article {pmid34559611, year = {2021}, author = {Steidinger, BS and Peay, KG}, title = {Optimal Allocation Ratios: A Square Root Relationship between the Ratios of Symbiotic Costs and Benefits.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {198}, number = {4}, pages = {460-472}, doi = {10.1086/716182}, pmid = {34559611}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; *Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractAll organisms struggle to make sense of environmental stimuli in order to maximize their fitness. For animals, the responses of single cells and superorganisms to stimuli are generally proportional to stimulus ratios, a phenomenon described by Weber's law. However, Weber's law has not yet been used to predict how plants respond to stimuli generated from their symbiotic partners. Here we develop a model for quantitatively predicting the ratios of carbon (C) allocation to symbionts that provide nutrients to their plant host. Consistent with Weber's law, our model demonstrates that the optimal ratio of resources allocated to a less beneficial relative to a more beneficial symbiont scale to the ratio of the growth benefits of the two strains. As C allocation to symbionts increases, the ratio of C allocation to two strains approaches the square root of the ratio of symbiotic growth benefits (e.g., a worse symbiont providing one-fourth the benefits gets 1/4=1/2 the C of a better symbiont). We document a compelling correspondence between our square root model prediction and a meta-analysis of experimental literature on C allocation. This type of preferential allocation can promote coexistence between more beneficial and less beneficial symbionts, offering a potential mechanism behind the high diversity of microbial symbionts observed in nature.}, } @article {pmid34557206, year = {2021}, author = {Jorrin, B and Maluk, M and Atoliya, N and Kumar, SC and Chalasani, D and Tkacz, A and Singh, P and Basu, A and Pullabhotla, SV and Kumar, M and Mohanty, SR and East, AK and Ramachandran, VK and James, EK and Podile, AR and Saxena, AK and Rao, D and Poole, PS}, title = {Genomic Diversity of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) Endosymbionts in India and Selection of Potential Strains for Use as Agricultural Inoculants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {680981}, pmid = {34557206}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) is a legume crop resilient to climate change due to its tolerance to drought. It is grown by millions of resource-poor farmers in semiarid and tropical subregions of Asia and Africa and is a major contributor to their nutritional food security. Pigeon pea is the sixth most important legume in the world, with India contributing more than 70% of the total production and harbouring a wide variety of cultivars. Nevertheless, the low yield of pigeon pea grown under dry land conditions and its yield instability need to be improved. This may be done by enhancing crop nodulation and, hence, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by supplying effective symbiotic rhizobia through the application of "elite" inoculants. Therefore, the main aim in this study was the isolation and genomic analysis of effective rhizobial strains potentially adapted to drought conditions. Accordingly, pigeon pea endosymbionts were isolated from different soil types in Southern, Central, and Northern India. After functional characterisation of the isolated strains in terms of their ability to nodulate and promote the growth of pigeon pea, 19 were selected for full genome sequencing, along with eight commercial inoculant strains obtained from the ICRISAT culture collection. The phylogenomic analysis [Average nucleotide identity MUMmer (ANIm)] revealed that the pigeon pea endosymbionts were members of the genera Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer. Based on nodC phylogeny and nod cluster synteny, Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense was revealed as the most common endosymbiont, harbouring nod genes similar to those of Bradyrhizobium cajani and Bradyrhizobium zhanjiangense. This symbiont type (e.g., strain BRP05 from Madhya Pradesh) also outperformed all other strains tested on pigeon pea, with the notable exception of an Ensifer alkalisoli strain from North India (NBAIM29). The results provide the basis for the development of pigeon pea inoculants to increase the yield of this legume through the use of effective nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, tailored for the different agroclimatic regions of India.}, } @article {pmid34557097, year = {2021}, author = {Cruz, CS and Ricci, MF and Vieira, AT}, title = {Gut Microbiota Modulation as a Potential Target for the Treatment of Lung Infections.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {724033}, pmid = {34557097}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal and respiratory systems are colonized by a complex ecosystem of microorganisms called the microbiota. These microorganisms co-evolved over millions of years with the host, creating a symbiotic relationship that is fundamental for promoting host homeostasis by producing bioactive metabolites and antimicrobial molecules, and regulating the immune and inflammatory responses. Imbalance in the abundance, diversity, and function of the gut microbiota (known as dysbiosis) have been shown to increase host susceptibility to infections in the lungs, suggesting crosstalk between these organs. This crosstalk is now referred to as the gut-lung axis. Hence, the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for modulation of gut microbiota has been studied based on their effectiveness in reducing the duration and severity of respiratory tract infections, mainly owing to their effects on preventing pathogen colonization and modulating the immune system. This review discusses the role and responses of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in the gut-lung axis in the face of lung infections.}, } @article {pmid34555618, year = {2021}, author = {Lemos Gonçalves, GR and Melo Dos Santos, PV and Costa, VE and Negreiros-Fransozo, ML and Bearhop, S and Castilho, AL}, title = {Trophic relationships between the crab Libinia ferreirae and its symbionts.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {105479}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105479}, pmid = {34555618}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; Nutritional Status ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; Zooplankton ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom. However, in most cases, the role of each member is relatively fixed, and it is rare for the same species to exhibit different symbiotic behaviours throughout its ontogeny. Here, we use stable isotope analyses of food resources to identify the relationships between the spider crab Libinia ferreirae as a symbiont of its jellyfish host during juvenile life stages and as a host for sea anemone epibionts on its carapace as an adult. We ask the following questions: How do the food sources used by the crab change between its juvenile and adult phase? How does the symbiotic relationship change when the crab develops from a juvenile into an adult? We were particularly interested in the extent to which L. ferreirae juveniles feed on jellyfish hosts versus planktonic prey during the juvenile symbiont phase and how adults feed on their epibionts during the free-living phase. δ[13]C of L. ferreirae differed between juvenile (associated with the jellyfish) and adult stages (free-living), unsurprisingly suggesting that there is little isotopic niche overlap between these life phases. SIMMr models using δ[13]C and δ[15]N of the crab and its potential food sources indicated that the juvenile crab symbionts did not derive any significant nutrition from medusae and relied predominantly on zooplankton prey. Since juvenile crabs do not have structures to capture zooplankton for feeding, we suggest that they may be kleptoparasites, stealing zooplankton food from their host, though further work is needed to identify the form that such a symbiosis might take. The nutrition of free-living crabs was predominantly derived from benthic algae and shrimps rather than from epibionts. These epibionts appear to use similar food resources as the host, suggesting a symbiotic relationship more akin to mutualism. Thus, the crabs move from a symbiosis in which they may act as parasites to one where they act as hosts. Such flexible approaches to symbioses may be more common than currently described, particularly in species with different functional roles during individual life stages.}, } @article {pmid34555528, year = {2021}, author = {Ishizuka, S and Yamamoto, M and Hirouchi, H and Yotsuya, M and Ohkubo, M and Sato, M and Abe, S}, title = {Muscle-bone relationship in temporomandibular joint disorders after partial discectomy.}, journal = {Journal of oral biosciences}, volume = {63}, number = {4}, pages = {436-443}, doi = {10.1016/j.job.2021.09.003}, pmid = {34555528}, issn = {1880-3865}, mesh = {Diskectomy ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle/pathology ; Muscles/pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint/pathology ; *Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/surgery ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) causes degenerative changes in TMJ tissues. The inter-tissue crosstalk that exacerbates illness and organic changes in bone secondary to TMJ-OA potentially affects the muscles; therefore, patients with a muscular disease might also suffer from bone disease. However, knowledge gaps exist concerning muscle pathology at the onset of TMJ-OA. In this study, we documented the pathogeneses of the bone and muscle at the onset of TMJ-OA using a mouse model.

METHODS: We performed a partial resection of the TMJ disk to establish a mouse model of TMJ-OA. After the onset of TMJ-OA, we performed various measurements at 8, 12, and 16 weeks post-surgery in the defined groups.

RESULTS: The volume of the mandibular head in the TMJ-OA group was significantly greater than that in the control group. The temporal muscles in the TMJ-OA group were significantly deformed compared with those in the control group; however, between-group comparisons did not reveal significant differences in the mandibular head or temporal muscles after surgery. Therefore, we hypothesized that the degree of mandibular head hypertrophy would alter the temporal muscles. A subsequent analysis of the correlation between the bone and muscle confirmed that the deformity of the temporal muscle increased with increasing hypertrophy of the mandibular head. Temporal and masseter muscle contact was observed in 25% of surgical groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that TMJ-OA progressed when organic changes occurred in bones and muscles, supporting the symbiotic relationship between bones and muscles.}, } @article {pmid34554509, year = {2020}, author = {Kamiab, F and Tavassolian, I and Hosseinifarahi, M}, title = {Biologia futura: the role of polyamine in plant science.}, journal = {Biologia futura}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {183-194}, pmid = {34554509}, issn = {2676-8607}, mesh = {Feedback, Physiological ; Food Storage ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Receptor Cross-Talk ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polyamines (PAs) are positively charged amines such as putrescine, spermidine and spermine that ubiquitously exist in all organisms. They have been considered as a new type of plant biostimulants, with pivotal roles in many physiological processes. Polyamine levels are controlled by intricate regulatory feedback mechanisms. PAs are directly or indirectly regulated through interaction with signaling metabolites (H202, NO), aminobutyric acid (GABA), phytohormones (abscisic acid, gibberellins, ethylene, cytokinins, auxin, jasmonic acid and brassinosteroids) and nitrogen metabolism (maintaining the balance of C:N in plants). Exogenous applications of PAs enhance the stress resistance, flowering and fruit set, synthesis of bioactive compounds and extension of agricultural crops shelf life. Up-regulation of PAs biosynthesis by genetic manipulation can be a novel strategy to increase the productivity of agricultural crops. Recently, the role of PAs in symbiosis relationships between plants and beneficial microorganisms has been confirmed. PA metabolism has also been targeted to design new harmless fungicides.}, } @article {pmid34553287, year = {2022}, author = {Shokoohi, E and Mashela, PW and Machado, RAR}, title = {Bacterial communities associated with Zeldia punctata, a bacterivorous soil-borne nematode.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {207-216}, pmid = {34553287}, issn = {1618-1905}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Nematoda ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Soil inhabiting organisms are important determinants of agroecosystem productivity. Understanding the composition, the abundance, and the type of interactions established by soil microorganisms is therefore crucial to design strategies to improve agricultural practices and agroecosystem management. In this study, we collected Zeldia punctata nematodes in maize fields in South Africa and profiled their associated bacterial communities using next-generation sequencing. We observed that Z. punctata nematodes establish associations with ecologically diverse bacterial species. The most abundant species observed are Pseudomonas syringae, a phytopathogenic bacterial complex; Lactobacillus paraplantarum, a broadly distributed bacterial species that is present in soils, water bodies, and animal intestinal tracts and has certain probiotic and antimicrobial properties; and Melissococcus plutonius, a serious pathogenic bacterial species that causes brood disease in honeybees. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the soil bacterial communities associated with nematodes in maize agricultural soils in South Africa and unravels the presence of diverse detrimental and beneficial nematode-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34552603, year = {2021}, author = {Shan, T and Zhou, L and Li, B and Chen, X and Guo, S and Wang, A and Tian, L and Liu, J}, title = {The Plant Growth-Promoting Fungus MF23 (Mycena sp.) Increases Production of Dendrobium officinale (Orchidaceae) by Affecting Nitrogen Uptake and NH 4 + Assimilation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {693561}, pmid = {34552603}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a traditional and scarce medicinal orchid in China. Mycorrhizal fungi could supply nitrogen (N) to orchids for seed germination and seedling recruitment. However, the N transport mechanism between orchids and the fungus is poorly understand. Early studies found that the fungus MF23 (Mycena sp.) could promote the growth of D. officinale. To better dissect the molecular interactions involved in N transport between D. officinale and MF23, transcriptome and metabolome analyses were conducted on conventional and mycorrhizal cultivations of D. officinale. Moreover, validation tests were carried out in the greenhouse to measure net fluxes of N O 3 - and N H 4 + of roots by a non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT), determine N assimilation enzyme activity by the ELISA, and analyze the expression level of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of N transporters and DEGs involved in N metabolism by RT-qPCR. Combined transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that MF23 may influence N metabolism in D. officinale. The expression of DoNAR2.1 (nitrate transporter-activating protein), DoAMT11 (ammonium transporter), DoATFs (amino acid transporters), DoOPTs (oligopeptide transporters), and DoGDHs (glutamate dehydrogenases) in symbiotic D. officinale was upregulated. NMT results showed a preference for N H 4 + in D. officinale and indicated that MF23 could promote the uptake of N O 3 - and N H 4 + , especially for N H 4 + . ELISA results showed that MF23 could increase the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase. This study suggested that MF23 increases the production of D. officinale by affecting N uptake and N H 4 + assimilation capacity.}, } @article {pmid34552221, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, Y and Hu, G and Wang, MC}, title = {Host and microbiota metabolic signals in aging and longevity.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {1027-1036}, pmid = {34552221}, issn = {1552-4469}, support = {R01 AG045183/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT009050/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AG066606/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 DK113644/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Aging/*physiology ; Animals ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Longevity/physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Aging is an inevitable biochemical process that adversely affects personal health and poses ever-increasing challenges to society. Recent research has revealed the crucial role of metabolism in regulating aging and longevity. During diverse metabolic processes, the host organism and their symbiotic partners-the microbiota-produce thousands of chemical products (metabolites). Emerging studies have uncovered specific metabolites that act as signaling molecules to actively regulate longevity. Here we review the latest progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which metabolites from the host and/or microbiota promote longevity. We also highlight state-of-the-art technologies for discovering, profiling and imaging aging- and longevity-regulating metabolites and for deciphering the molecular basis of their actions. The broad application of these technologies in aging research, together with future advances, will foster the systematic discovery of aging- and longevity-regulating metabolites and their signaling pathways. These metabolite signals should provide promising targets for developing new interventions to promote longevity and healthy aging.}, } @article {pmid34552134, year = {2021}, author = {Ziemlewska, A and Nizioł-Łukaszewska, Z and Bujak, T and Zagórska-Dziok, M and Wójciak, M and Sowa, I}, title = {Effect of fermentation time on the content of bioactive compounds with cosmetic and dermatological properties in Kombucha Yerba Mate extracts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {18792}, pmid = {34552134}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Acetobacter/metabolism ; Cosmetics/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Dermatologic Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Fermentation ; *Fermented Beverages ; Gluconobacter/metabolism ; HaCaT Cells/drug effects ; Humans ; *Ilex paraguariensis/metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; *Kombucha Tea ; Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Saccharomyces/metabolism ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a beverage made by fermenting sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria belonging to the genus Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, and the yeasts of the genus Saccharomyces along with glucuronic acid, which has health-promoting properties. The paper presents the evaluation of ferments as a potential cosmetic raw material obtained from Yerba Mate after different fermentation times with the addition of Kombucha. Fermented and unfermented extracts were compared in terms of chemical composition and biological activity. The antioxidant potential of obtained ferments was analyzed by evaluating the scavenging of external and intracellular free radicals. Cytotoxicity was determined on keratinocyte and fibroblast cell lines, resulting in significant increase in cell viability for the ferments. The ferments, especially after 14 and 21 days of fermentation showed strong ability to inhibit (about 40% for F21) the activity of lipoxygenase, collagenase and elastase enzymes and long-lasting hydration after their application on the skin. Moreover, active chemical compounds, including phenolic acids, xanthines and flavonoids were identified by HPLC/ESI-MS. The results showed that both the analyzed Yerba Mate extract and the ferments obtained with Kombucha may be valuable ingredients in cosmetic products.}, } @article {pmid34551161, year = {2021}, author = {Abbott, E and Dixon, G and Matz, M}, title = {Shuffling between Cladocopium and Durusdinium extensively modifies the physiology of each symbiont without stressing the coral host.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {24}, pages = {6585-6595}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16190}, pmid = {34551161}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {As sea surface temperatures increase, many coral species that used to harbour symbionts of the genus Cladocopium have become colonized with the thermally tolerant genus, Durusdinium. Here, we asked how gene expression in the symbionts of one genus changes depending on the abundance of another symbiont genus within the same coral host, and what effect this interaction has on the host. Symbiont gene expression was overwhelmingly driven by whether the genus was the minority or the majority within the host, which affected 79% (Durusdinium) and 96% (Cladocopium) of all genes. Particularly strong effects in both genera were observed for photosynthesis components (upregulated in the minority state) and proteins putatively associated with cell motility (upregulated in the majority state). Importantly, there was no distinct gene expression signature associated with the mixed symbiosis state when both genera were represented in comparable proportions within the host, which could lead to more intense competition. The mixed symbiosis was also not associated with elevated host stress: in fact, after heat treatment, stress signatures were the lowest in mixed-symbiosis corals compared to both Cladocopium- and Durusdinium-dominated corals. In conclusion, during shuffling between Cladocopium and Durusdinium both symbiont genera go through extensive and largely reciprocal physiological transitions, but there is no evidence of intensifying antagonistic interactions that are detrimental to the host. Unless the mixed-symbiosis corals in this study are not representative of the typical transition between Cladocopium and Durusdinium, the process of shuffling from one symbiont genus to another appears to be cost-free for the coral host, and even appears to be associated with lower stress susceptibility. This raises optimism for the future corals, which will probably have to rely on symbiont shuffling more and more to withstand environmental challenges.}, } @article {pmid34550731, year = {2021}, author = {Gault, JA and Bentlage, B and Huang, D and Kerr, AM}, title = {Lineage-specific variation in the evolutionary stability of coral photosymbiosis.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {39}, pages = {eabh4243}, pmid = {34550731}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {More than half of reef-building corals (Scleractinia) participate in a nutritional symbiosis, known as photosymbiosis, with photosynthetic dinoflagellates that ranges from obligate to facultative dependence. Fitting hidden-rates models allowing among-lineage variation in the rate of trait evolution to supertree and molecular phylogenies of Scleractinia, we reconstruct the history of photosymbiosis within Scleractinia and characterize its evolutionary stability. We find that most lineages of scleractinians are extraordinarily stable for the trait, evincing no instances of loss, but that in some clades photosymbiosis is more labile, thus providing a framework for comparative studies to further our mechanistic understanding of the factors that shape the evolutionary fates of scleractinian photosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34549855, year = {2022}, author = {McClure, SM and Kuhlmann, AS}, title = {Practices of disciplinary symbiosis: (Re)blending theory and method, anthropology and public health.}, journal = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council}, volume = {34 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {e23683}, doi = {10.1002/ajhb.23683}, pmid = {34549855}, issn = {1520-6300}, mesh = {Anthropology ; Humans ; *Public Health ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: If you are dually trained in anthropology and public health and your goal is an academic career, in what academic unit should you make your professional home? Should you be a public health-trained academic anthropologist or an anthropologist in a public health school or program?

AIMS: Associate Professor of Public Health Anne Sebert Kuhlmann and Assistant Professor of Anthropology Stephanie McClure see their dual training as essential to enacting the career goal of fostering understanding of and positively affecting health in people's everyday lives and preparing students to do the same. "We credit our dual training for our robust perspectives on the nature and causes of health and illness and our recognition that theory and methods are complementary tools in teaching and research. We also recognize that though dual training brings conceptual power and functional applicability to our work, it can also be a challenge to navigate a career path that effectively blends the two. Conventional hierarchies in academia and in public health practice can position the two disciplines for conflict rather than complementarity".

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this article, the two first review the complementarity and conflict between anthropology and public health.

DISCUSSION: Next, shifting to a conversational mode, they compare their paths to dual training, their attempts and successes at bringing those blended perspectives to bear in their current positions, and their ideas about more robustly inhabiting (within themselves) and fostering (between the disciplines) public health/anthropology collaborations.}, } @article {pmid34547550, year = {2021}, author = {Priyadarshini, P and Choudhury, S and Tilgam, J and Bharati, A and Sreeshma, N}, title = {Nitrogen fixing cereal: A rising hero towards meeting food security.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {912-920}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.09.012}, pmid = {34547550}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Edible Grain ; Food Security ; *Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen serves as one of the primary components of major biomolecules and thus extends a significant contribution to crop growth and yield. But the inability of plants to utilize freely available atmospheric N2 makes the whole agricultural system dependent on chemical fertilizers, which incur significant input cost to supplement required quantities of nitrogen to crops. Only bacteria and archaea have been gifted with the power of drawing free N2 from air to convert them into NH3, which is one of the two utilizable forms of nitrogen taken up by plants. Legumes, the only family of crops, can engage themselves in symbiotic nitrogen fixation where they establish a mutualistic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and in turn, can waive off the necessity of adding nitrogen fertilizers. Sincere effort, therefore, has been undertaken to incorporate this capability of nitrogen-fixation into non-legume crops, especially cereals which make up a vital portion in the food basket. Biotechnological interventions have also played important role in providing nitrogen fixing trait to non-legumes. This review takes up an effort to look into and accumulate all the important updates to date regarding nitrogen-fixing non-legumes with a special focus on cereals, which is one of the most important future goals in the field of science in the present era.}, } @article {pmid34547433, year = {2021}, author = {Tang, W and Guo, M and Jiang, X and Xu, H}, title = {Expression, purification, and biochemical characterization of an NAD[+]-dependent homoserine dehydrogenase from the symbiotic Polynucleobacter necessarius subsp. necessarius.}, journal = {Protein expression and purification}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {105977}, doi = {10.1016/j.pep.2021.105977}, pmid = {34547433}, issn = {1096-0279}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Aspartic Acid/analogs & derivatives/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Burkholderiaceae/chemistry/*enzymology/genetics ; Chromatography, Gel ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Euplotes/microbiology ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors/chemistry/metabolism ; Homoserine/metabolism ; Homoserine Dehydrogenase/biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Kinetics ; Molecular Weight ; NAD/*metabolism ; NADP/metabolism ; Protein Multimerization ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Homoserine dehydrogenase (HSD), encoded by the hom gene, is a key enzyme in the aspartate pathway, which reversibly catalyzes the conversion of l-aspartate β-semialdehyde to l-homoserine (l-Hse), using either NAD(H) or NADP(H) as a coenzyme. In this work, we presented the first characterization of the HSD from the symbiotic Polynucleobacter necessaries subsp. necessarius (PnHSD) produced in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis showed that PnHSD is an ACT domain-containing monofunctional HSD with 436 amnio acid residues. SDS-PAGE and Western blot demonstrated that PnHSD could be overexpressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cell as a soluble form by using SUMO fusion technique. It could be purified to apparent homogeneity for biochemical characterization. Size-exclusion chromatography revealed that the purified PnHSD has a native molecular mass of ∼160 kDa, indicating a homotetrameric structure. The oxidation activity of PnHSD was studied in this work. Kinetic analysis revealed that PnHSD displayed an up to 1460-fold preference for NAD[+] over NADP[+], in contrast to its homologs. The purified PnHSD displayed maximal activity at 35 °C and pH 11. Similar to its NAD[+]-dependent homolog, neither NaCl and KCl activation nor L-Thr inhibition on the enzymatic activity of PnHSD was observed. These results will contribute to a better understanding of the coenzyme specificity of the HSD family and the aspartate pathway of P. necessarius.}, } @article {pmid34547313, year = {2021}, author = {Gupta, GD and Bansal, R and Mistry, H and Pandey, B and Mukherjee, PK}, title = {Structure-function analysis reveals Trichoderma virens Tsp1 to be a novel fungal effector protein modulating plant defence.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {267-276}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.085}, pmid = {34547313}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hypocrea/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Protein Domains ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Zea mays/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Trichoderma virens colonizes roots and develops a symbiotic relationship with plants where the fungal partner derives nutrients from plants and offers defence, in return. Tsp1, a small secreted cysteine-rich protein, was earlier found to be upregulated in co-cultivation of T. virens with maize roots. Tsp1 is well conserved in Ascomycota division of fungi, but none of its homologs have been studied yet. We have expressed and purified recombinant Tsp1, and resolved its structure to 1.25 Å resolutions, from two crystal forms, using Se-SAD methods. The Tsp1 adopts a β barrel fold and forms dimer in structure as well as in solution form. DALI based structure analysis revealed the structure similarity with two known fungal effector proteins: Alt a1 and PevD1. Structure and evolutionary analysis suggested that Tsp1 belongs to a novel effector protein family. Tsp1 acted as an inducer of salicylic acid mediated susceptibility in plants, rendering maize plants more susceptible to a necrotrophic pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus, as observed using plant defence assay and RT-qPCR analysis.}, } @article {pmid34546560, year = {2022}, author = {Żurek, G and Wiewióra, B and Rybka, K and Prokopiuk, K}, title = {Different response of perennial ryegrass-Epichloë endophyte symbiota to the elevated concentration of heavy metals in soil.}, journal = {Journal of applied genetics}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {47-59}, pmid = {34546560}, issn = {2190-3883}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; *Lolium ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phenomenon of plant mutualistic symbiosis with microbes may have a positive effect on the improvement of plant tolerance to environmental stresses as well as on the ability of plants to accumulate heavy metal (HM) ions from soil. The influence of Epichloë fungal endophyte (Ascomycota, Clavicipitaceae) on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants grown in the presence of elevated concentrations of HM ions (Cd[2+], Pb[2+], and Cu[2+]) in soil was studied. The presence of Epichloë in the host grass tissues resulted in different accumulation of HM ions in the aboveground parts of the plants. In some cases, endophyte infection positively affected ryegrass ability to accumulate HM ions from soil. In plants with (E +) and without (E -) endophytes, the hormesis effect was induced by the elevated concentration of Cu[2+] ions, resulting in better growth and photosynthesis, as examined by measurements of Chl a fluorescence. The obtained results indicate that based on the laboratory evaluation of the efficiency of HM accumulation, we were able to choose the best associations of perennial ryegrass with endophytes for HM phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid34545683, year = {2021}, author = {Suetsugu, K and Okada, H}, title = {Symbiotic germination and development of fully mycoheterotrophic plants convergently targeting similar Glomeraceae taxa.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {6328-6343}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15781}, pmid = {34545683}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Germination ; *Glomeromycota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants producing dust seeds often meet their carbon demands by exploiting fungi at the seedling stage. This germination strategy (i.e. mycoheterotrophic germination) has been investigated among orchidaceous and ericaceous plants exploiting Ascomycota or Basidiomycota. Although several other angiosperm lineages have evolved fully mycoheterotrophic relationships with Glomeromycota, the fungal identities involved in mycoheterotrophic germination remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted in situ seed baiting and high-throughput DNA barcoding to identify mycobionts associated with seedlings of Burmannia championii (Burmanniaceae: Dioscoreales) and Sciaphila megastyla (Triuridaceae: Pandanales), which have independently evolved full mycoheterotrophy. Subsequently, we revealed that both seedlings and adults in B. championii and S. megastyla predominantly associate with Glomeraceae. However, mycorrhizal communities are somewhat distinct between seedling and adult stages, particularly in S. megastyla. Notably, the dissimilarity of mycorrhizal communities between S. megastyla adult samples and S. megastyla seedling samples is significantly higher than that between B. championi adult samples and S. megastyla adult samples, based on some indices. This pattern is possibly due to both mycorrhizal shifts during ontogenetic development and convergent recruitment of cheating-susceptible fungi. The extensive fungal overlap in two unrelated mycoheterotrophic plants indicates that both species convergently exploit specific AM fungal phylotypes.}, } @article {pmid34545411, year = {2021}, author = {Basit, A and Shah, ST and Ullah, I and Muntha, ST and Mohamed, HI}, title = {Microbe-assisted phytoremediation of environmental pollutants and energy recycling in sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {10}, pages = {5859-5885}, pmid = {34545411}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Environmental Pollutants ; Fertilizers ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The perception of phytoremediation is efficiently utilized as an eco-friendly practice of green plants combating and cleaning up the stressed environment without harming it. The industrial revolution was followed by the green revolution which fulfilled the food demands of the growing population caused an increase in yield per unit area in crop production, but it also increased the use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Globally, the intensive use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture has led to serious health problems and irreversible environmental damage. Biofertilizers improve the growth of the plant and can be applied as an alternative to chemical/synthetic fertilizers. Cyanobacteria, bacteria, and fungi are known as some of the principal microbe groups used to produce biofertilizers that form symbiotic associations with plants. Microorganisms perform a key role in phosphate solubilization and mobilization, nitrogen fixation, nutrient management, biotic elicitors and probiotics, and pollution management (biodegradation agents), specifically bacteria which also help in atmospheric nitrogen fixation and are thus available for the growth of the plant. Management or biodegradation of hazardous chemical residues and heavy metals produced by a huge number of large-scale industries should be given primary importance to be transformed by various bacterial strains, fungi, algae. Currently, modern omics technologies such as metagenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic are being used to develop strategies for studying the ecology of microorganisms, as well as their use in environmental monitoring and bioremediation. This review briefly discusses some of the major groups of microorganisms that can perform different functions responsible for plant health, crop production, phytoremediation and also focus on the omics techniques reportedly used in environmental monitoring to tackle the pollution load.}, } @article {pmid34544379, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, W and Liang, Y and Zheng, K and Gu, C and Liu, Y and Wang, Z and Zhang, X and Shao, H and Jiang, Y and Guo, C and He, H and Wang, H and Sung, YY and Mok, WJ and Zhang, Y and McMinn, A and Wang, M}, title = {Characterization and genomic analysis of the first Oceanospirillum phage, vB_OliS_GJ44, representing a novel siphoviral cluster.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {675}, pmid = {34544379}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Bacteriophages/genetics ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; *Siphoviridae/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine bacteriophages play key roles in the community structure of microorganisms, biogeochemical cycles, and the mediation of genetic diversity through horizontal gene transfer. Recently, traditional isolation methods, complemented by high-throughput sequencing metagenomics technology, have greatly increased our understanding of the diversity of bacteriophages. Oceanospirillum, within the order Oceanospirillales, are important symbiotic marine bacteria associated with hydrocarbon degradation and algal blooms, especially in polar regions. However, until now there has been no isolate of an Oceanospirillum bacteriophage, and so details of their metagenome has remained unknown.

RESULTS: Here, we reported the first Oceanospirillum phage, vB_OliS_GJ44, which was assembled into a 33,786 bp linear dsDNA genome, which includes abundant tail-related and recombinant proteins. The recombinant module was highly adapted to the host, according to the tetranucleotides correlations. Genomic and morphological analyses identified vB_OliS_GJ44 as a siphovirus, however, due to the distant evolutionary relationship with any other known siphovirus, it is proposed that this virus could be classified as the type phage of a new Oceanospirivirus genus within the Siphoviridae family. vB_OliS_GJ44 showed synteny with six uncultured phages, which supports its representation in uncultured environmental viral contigs from metagenomics. Homologs of several vB_OliS_GJ44 genes have mostly been found in marine metagenomes, suggesting the prevalence of this phage genus in the oceans.

CONCLUSIONS: These results describe the first Oceanospirillum phage, vB_OliS_GJ44, that represents a novel viral cluster and exhibits interesting genetic features related to phage-host interactions and evolution. Thus, we propose a new viral genus Oceanospirivirus within the Siphoviridae family to reconcile this cluster, with vB_OliS_GJ44 as a representative member.}, } @article {pmid34544123, year = {2021}, author = {He, Q and Xiang, S and Wang, W and Shu, Y and Li, Z and Wang, S and Chen, L and Yang, X and Zhao, T}, title = {Transcriptomic and photosynthetic responses to grafting of the Nod1 gene in nodulated and non-nodulated soybeans.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34544123}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; *Soybeans/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legume plants form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia to convert N2 into ammonia, and the nodulation status can affect plant development including photosynthesis. However, the relationship between nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis during carbon and nitrogen metabolism remains unclear. This study was undertaken to unravel regulation of nodulation and photosynthesis using a spontaneous nonnodulated soybean mutant by grafting. The results of inheritance and gene mapping showed that the nonnodulated mutant was controlled by a recessive gene overlapped with the reported rj1 locus, and might be a new rj1 allele with 1 bp deletion in the fourth exon in comparison to the sequence of normal nodulation plants. According to grafting results, soybean nodulation is obviously determined by the roots, not the seedlings. Moreover, nitrogen content along with related metabolic enzyme activity, and photosynthetic capacity were enhanced by nonnodulated scions grafted with nodulated roots. Contrary results were obtained for nodulated scions grafted with nonnodulated roots. A total of 853 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the leaves and 1874 in the roots were identified by transcriptome analyses of the grafting treatments. We identified 285 differential gene ontology (GO) terms and 57 differential pathway terms identified in the leaves, while 856 differential GO terms and 207 differential pathway terms in the roots. Twenty DEGs interacting at translation level were selected, and the results of transcriptome analyses were verified by q-PCR. These findings indicated that the nodulation-related Nod allelic gene increases the nitrogen content of nonnodulated plants, which affects the enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, leading to changes in hormone levels and further regulation of photosynthesis and carbon metabolism.}, } @article {pmid34542540, year = {2021}, author = {Smith, S and Septer, AN}, title = {Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {175}, pages = {}, pmid = {34542540}, issn = {1940-087X}, support = {R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Optical Imaging ; Plasmids ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interbacterial competition can directly impact the structure and function of microbiomes. This work describes a fluorescence microscopy approach that can be used to visualize and quantify competitive interactions between different bacterial strains at the single-cell level. The protocol described here provides methods for advanced approaches in slide preparation on both upright and inverted epifluorescence microscopes, live-cell and time-lapse imaging techniques, and quantitative image analysis using the open-source software FIJI. The approach in this manuscript outlines the quantification of competitive interactions between symbiotic Vibrio fischeri populations by measuring the change in area over time for two coincubated strains that are expressing different fluorescent proteins from stable plasmids. Alternative methods are described for optimizing this protocol in bacterial model systems that require different growth conditions. Although the assay described here uses conditions optimized for V. fischeri, this approach is highly reproducible and can easily be adapted to study competition among culturable isolates from diverse microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid34542375, year = {2021}, author = {Strohecker, J and Golladay, J and Paramo, M and Paramo, M and El Rahmany, W and Blackstone, NW}, title = {Reactive Oxygen Species and the Stress Response in Octocorals.}, journal = {Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ}, volume = {94}, number = {6}, pages = {394-410}, doi = {10.1086/716857}, pmid = {34542375}, issn = {1537-5293}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Hot Temperature ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractReactive oxygen species (ROS) may damage cellular components but may also contribute to signaling that mitigates damage. In this context, the role of ROS in the stress response that leads to coral bleaching was investigated in three series of experiments with octocorals Sarcothelia sp. and Sympodium sp. Using video and fluorescent microscopy, the first experiments examined ROS and symbiont migration. Colonies mildly stressed with increased temperature and light showed increases in both ROS and numbers of migrating symbionts compared with stress-free controls. Symbionts migrating in the gastrovascular lumen may escape programmed cell death and provide a reservoir of healthy symbionts once conditions return to normal. In the second series of experiments, colonies were mildly stressed with elevated temperature and light. During stress, treated colonies were incubated in seawater enriched with two concentrations of bicarbonate (1 and 3 mmol/L), while controls were incubated in normal seawater. Bicarbonate enrichment provides additional carbon for photosynthesis and at some concentrations diminished the ROS emissions of stressed colonies of Sympodium sp. and Sarcothelia sp. In all experiments, the latter species tended to exhibit more ROS. Sympodium sp. contains Cladocopium sp. symbionts, which are less tolerant of stress, while Sarcothelia sp. contains the more resistant Durusdinium sp. Indeed, in direct comparisons, Sarcothelia sp. experienced higher levels of ROS under stress-free conditions and thus is conditioned to endure the stress associated with bleaching. Generally, ROS levels provide important insight into the cnidarian stress response and should be measured more often in studies of this response.}, } @article {pmid34541661, year = {2021}, author = {Koko, JH and Swift, SOI and Hynson, NA}, title = {Hawaiian Island endemic and indigenous plant species have higher mycorrhizal incidence than the global average.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {108}, number = {9}, pages = {1635-1645}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1731}, pmid = {34541661}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Hawaii ; Incidence ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Prior efforts have shown that continents harbor a greater proportion of mycorrhizal hosts than on islands. However, in the Hawaiian Islands, estimates of the proportion of mycorrhizal plant species are higher than on continents (>90%), but there are few studies to support this claim. Concurrently, Hawaii's flora faces some of the greatest global risks of extinction, and significant efforts are aimed at restoring native vegetation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been shown to improve plant restoration success, but little work has been done in Hawaii to understand the extent of mycorrhizal associations among native plant populations.

METHODS: We surveyed 35 native Hawaiian plant species in the wild, focusing on plant species that are reared for reintroduction. Roots from wild individuals were collected from 10 sites on Oahu to determine degree of mycorrhizal fungal colonization and how this varies across host populations.

RESULTS: Of the species surveyed, 97% had evidence of mycorrhizal colonization, including 25 endemic and nine indigenous species from 23 families. The mycorrhizal status of 22 of the species surveyed was unknown before this study. For four species, the degree of colonization by AM fungi differed among sites, and these differences corresponded with variations in precipitation and temperature.

CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of mycorrhizal colonization provides evidence that island flora can actually harbor more mycorrhizal hosts than species on mainlands and that future reintroduction projects should consider the potentially important roles of AM fungi for success of these hosts in the wild.}, } @article {pmid34539717, year = {2021}, author = {Cartabia, A and Tsiokanos, E and Tsafantakis, N and Lalaymia, I and Termentzi, A and Miguel, M and Fokialakis, N and Declerck, S}, title = {The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833 Modulates Metabolites Production of Anchusa officinalis L. Under Semi-Hydroponic Cultivation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {724352}, pmid = {34539717}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Anchusa officinalis is recognized for its therapeutic properties, which are attributed to the production of different metabolites. This plant interacts with various microorganisms, including the root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Whether these fungi play a role in the metabolism of A. officinalis is unknown. In the present study, two independent experiments, associating A. officinalis with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833, were conducted in a semi-hydroponic (S-H) cultivation system. The experiments were intended to investigate the primary and secondary metabolites (PMs and SMs, respectively) content of shoots, roots, and exudates of mycorrhized (M) and non-mycorrhized (NM) plants grown 9 (Exp. 1) or 30 (Exp. 2) days in the S-H cultivation system. Differences in the PMs and SMs were evaluated by an untargeted ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics approach combined with multivariate data analysis. Differences in metabolite production were shown in Exp. 1. Volcano-plots analysis revealed a strong upregulation of 10 PMs and 23 SMs. Conversely, in Exp. 2, no significant differences in PMs and SMs were found in shoots or roots between M and NM plants whereas the coumarin scoparone and the furanocoumarin byakangelicin, accumulated in the exudates of the M plants. In Exp. 1, we noticed an enhanced production of PMs, including organic acids and amino acids, with the potential to act as precursors of other amino acids and as building blocks for the production of macromolecules. Similarly, SMs production was significantly affected in Exp 1. In particular, the phenolic compounds derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. Fifteen di-, tri-, and tetra-meric C6-C3 derivatives of caffeic acid were induced mainly in the roots of M plants, while four oleanane-types saponins were accumulated in the shoots of M plants. Two new salvianolic acid B derivatives and one new rosmarinic acid derivative, all presenting a common substitution pattern (methylation at C-9"' and C-9' and hydroxylation at C-8), were detected in the roots of M plants. The accumulation of diverse compounds observed in colonized plants suggested that AMF have the potential to affect specific plant biosynthetic pathways.}, } @article {pmid34539704, year = {2021}, author = {Torres, N and Yu, R and Martínez-Lüscher, J and Kostaki, E and Kurtural, SK}, title = {Effects of Irrigation at Different Fractions of Crop Evapotranspiration on Water Productivity and Flavonoid Composition of Cabernet Sauvignon Grapevine.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {712622}, pmid = {34539704}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Climate change models predict lower precipitation and higher air temperatures that will negatively affect viticultural regions. Irrigation of vineyards will be crucial for mitigating abiotic stress during the growing season. However, the environmental impact of irrigation requires consideration for ensuring its sustainability in the future. We evaluated the standard irrigation practices on grapevine water use efficiency, berry flavonoid composition, vineyard water footprint, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-grapevine symbiosis in two seasons with contrasting amounts of precipitation. The irrigation treatments consisted of weekly replacement of 25, 50, and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during two growing seasons. Irrigation in grapevine vineyards mitigated the water scarcity when precipitation during the dormant season was not sufficient. The results provided field data supporting that despite the low rainfall recorded in one of the seasons, increasing the amount of irrigation was not advised, and replacing 50% ETc was sufficient. In this treatment, berry composition was improved with increased contents of total soluble solids, anthocyanins, and flavonols, and a stable flavonoid profile without an economic decrease in yield. In addition, with 50% ETc, the mycorrhizal symbiosis was not compromised and water resources were not highly impacted. Altogether, our results provide fundamental knowledge for viticulturists to design an appropriate irrigation schedule under the future warming scenarios with minimal environmental impact in semi-arid regions facing warming trends.}, } @article {pmid34539609, year = {2021}, author = {Cuesta-Maté, A and Renelies-Hamilton, J and Kryger, P and Jensen, AB and Sinotte, VM and Poulsen, M}, title = {Resistance and Vulnerability of Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Gut Bacteria to Commonly Used Pesticides.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {717990}, pmid = {34539609}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Agricultural and apicultural practices expose honeybees to a range of pesticides that have the potential to negatively affect their physiology, neurobiology, and behavior. Accumulating evidence suggests that these effects extend to the honeybee gut microbiome, which serves important functions for honeybee health. Here we test the potential effects of the pesticides thiacloprid, acetamiprid, and oxalic acid on the gut microbiota of honeybees, first in direct in vitro inhibition assays and secondly in an in vivo caged bee experiment to test if exposure leads to gut microbiota community changes. We found that thiacloprid did not inhibit the honeybee core gut bacteria in vitro, nor did it affect overall community composition or richness in vivo. Acetamiprid did also not inhibit bacterial growth in vitro, but it did affect community structure within bees. The eight bacterial genera tested showed variable levels of susceptibility to oxalic acid in vitro. In vivo, treatment with this pesticide reduced amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness and affected gut microbiome composition, with most marked impact on the common crop bacteria Lactobacillus kunkeei and the genus Bombella. We conducted network analyses which captured known associations between bacterial members and illustrated the sensitivity of the microbiome to environmental stressors. Our findings point to risks of honeybee exposure to oxalic acid, which has been deemed safe for use in treatment against Varroa mites in honeybee colonies, and we advocate for more extensive assessment of the long-term effects that it may have on honeybee health.}, } @article {pmid34539600, year = {2021}, author = {Price, DRG and Bartley, K and Blake, DP and Karp-Tatham, E and Nunn, F and Burgess, STG and Nisbet, AJ}, title = {A Rickettsiella Endosymbiont Is a Potential Source of Essential B-Vitamins for the Poultry Red Mite, Dermanyssus gallinae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {695346}, pmid = {34539600}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many obligate blood-sucking arthropods rely on symbiotic bacteria to provision essential B vitamins that are either missing or at sub-optimal levels in their nutritionally challenging blood diet. The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae, an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite, is a serious threat to the hen egg industry. Poultry red mite infestation has a major impact on hen health and welfare and causes a significant reduction in both egg quality and production. Thus far, the identity and biological role of nutrient provisioning bacterial mutualists from D. gallinae are little understood. Here, we demonstrate that an obligate intracellular bacterium of the Rickettsiella genus is detected in D. gallinae mites collected from 63 sites (from 15 countries) across Europe. In addition, we report the genome sequence of Rickettsiella from D. gallinae (Rickettsiella - D. gallinae endosymbiont; Rickettsiella DGE). Rickettsiella DGE has a circular 1.89Mbp genome that encodes 1,973 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the placement of Rickettsiella DGE within the Rickettsiella genus, related to a facultative endosymbiont from the pea aphid and Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) from blood feeding ticks. Analysis of the Rickettsiella DGE genome reveals that many protein-coding sequences are either pseudogenized or lost, but Rickettsiella DGE has retained several B vitamin biosynthesis pathways, suggesting the importance of these pathways in evolution of a nutritional symbiosis with D. gallinae. In silico metabolic pathway reconstruction revealed that Rickettsiella DGE is unable to synthesize protein amino acids and, therefore, amino acids are potentially provisioned by the host. In contrast, Rickettsiella DGE retains biosynthetic pathways for B vitamins: thiamine (vitamin B1) via the salvage pathway; riboflavin (vitamin B2) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and the cofactors: flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and coenzyme A (CoA) that likely provision these nutrients to the host.}, } @article {pmid34539137, year = {2021}, author = {Correia, FP and Lourenço, LC}, title = {Artificial intelligence application in diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy - Deus ex machina?.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {27}, number = {32}, pages = {5351-5361}, pmid = {34539137}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Artificial Intelligence ; *Barrett Esophagus ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; *Gastroenterology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The close relationship of medicine with technology and the particular interest in this symbiosis in recent years has led to the development of several computed artificial intelligence (AI) systems aimed at various areas of medicine. A number of studies have demonstrated that those systems allow accurate diagnoses with histological precision, thus facilitating decision-making by clinicians in real time. In the field of gastroenterology, AI has been applied in the diagnosis of pathologies of the entire digestive tract and their attached glands, and are increasingly accepted for the detection of colorectal polyps and confirming their histological classification. Studies have shown high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in relation to expert endoscopists, and mainly in relation to those with less experience. Other applications that are increasingly studied and with very promising results are the investigation of dysplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus and the endoscopic and histological assessment of colon inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. In some cases AI is thus better than or at least equal to human abilities. However, additional studies are needed to reinforce the existing data, and mainly to determine the applicability of this technology in other indications. This review summarizes the state of the art of AI in gastroenterological pathology.}, } @article {pmid34539115, year = {2021}, author = {Abbaspour, H and Pour, FSN and Abdel-Wahhab, MA}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis regulates the physiological responses, ion distribution and relevant gene expression to trigger salt stress tolerance in pistachio.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1765-1778}, pmid = {34539115}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis is generally considered effective in ameliorating plant tolerance to abiotic stress by altering gene expression, and evaluation of genes involved in ion homeostasis and nutrient uptake. This study aimed to use arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) to alleviate salinity stress and analyse relevant gene expression in pistachio plants under No/NaCl stress in greenhouse conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis was used to study the physiological responses, ion distribution and relevant gene expression in pistachio plants under salinity stress. After four months of symbiosis, mycorrhizal root colonization showed a significant reduction in all tested parameters under salt stress treatment compared to non-saline treatment. Salinity affected the morphological traits, and decreased the nutrient content including N, P, Mg and Fe as well as K/Na and Ca/Na ratios, relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), and increased the concentration of K, Ca and Na nutrient, glycine betaine, ROS and MDA. Inoculation of seedlings with AMF mitigated the negative effects of salinity on plant growth as indicated by increasing the root colonization, morphological traits, glycine betaine, RWC and MSI. Specifically, under salinity stress, shoot and root dry weight, P and Fe nutrient content, K/Na and Ca/Na ratio of AMF plants were increased by 53.2, 48.6, 71.6, 60.2, 87.5, and 80.1% respectively, in contrast to those of the NMF plants. The contents of Na, O[2•-] and MDA in AMF plants were significantly decreased by 66.8, 36.8, and 23.1%, respectively at 250 mM NaCl. Moreover, salinity markedly increased SOS1, CCX2 and SKOR genes expression and the inoculation with AMF modulated these genes expression; however, NRT2.4, PHO1 and PIP2.4 gene expressions were increased by salinity and AMF. It could be concluded that inoculation of AMF with Rhizophagus irregularis conferred a larger endurance towards soil salinity in pistachio plants and stimulate the nutrient uptake and ionic homeostasis maintenance, superior RWC and osmoprotection, toxic ion partitioning, maintaining membrane integrity and the ion-relevant genes expression.}, } @article {pmid34538903, year = {2021}, author = {Mohammadi, M and Nouri, L and Mortazavian, AM}, title = {Development of a functional synbiotic beverage fortified with different cereal sprouts and prebiotics.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {58}, number = {11}, pages = {4185-4193}, pmid = {34538903}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {ABSTRACT: The study was devoted to developing a novel synbiotic beverage based on with millet, rye and alfalfa sprouts with a mixed culture of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum. In this regard, the influences of incorporated prebiotics inulin and oligofructose on probiotics viability during the refrigerated storage (4 ± 1 °C, 28 days) as well as under the simulated gastric condition were investigated. The characteristics such as microbial viability, physicochemical properties (viscosity, pH, titrable acidity and radical scavenging activity) and sensorial evaluation were assessed. The synbiotic beverage produced contained 10[8] CFU ml[-1] for L. casei, with a good survival throughout the storage period (10[8] CFU ml[-1]) and L. plantarum at sufficient levels (10[6] CFU ml[-1]) after about 21 days. Inulin and oligofructose promoted the growth of the strains and their viability under cold storage while conferring higher sensory scores. In this context, the beverages demonstrated acceptable sensory attributes. The viability (bacterial survival) of over 55% for all the strains was achieved under simulated gastric condition. Therefore, the introduced fermented beverage was a good food matrix from the viability of probiotics as well as under the gastric condition and sensory characteristics.}, } @article {pmid34537702, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, Q and Wang, P and Huangleng, J and Su, H and Chen, P and Chen, X and Zhao, H and Kang, Z and Tang, J and Jiang, G and Li, Z and Zou, S and Dong, K and Huang, Y and Li, N}, title = {Co-occurrence of chromophytic phytoplankton and the Vibrio community during Phaeocystis globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {805}, number = {}, pages = {150303}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150303}, pmid = {34537702}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Haptophyta ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; Phytoplankton ; *Vibrio ; }, abstract = {Accumulating research evidence has revealed that harmful algal blooms (HABs) can substantially affect the community structures of phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria in marine ecosystems. However, little is known about their species-specific interactions between phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria during the HABs period and about their interaction shifts in response to blooms. From this perspective, we investigated the co-occurrence of chromophytic phytoplankton and Vibrio during Phaeocystis globosa blooms in the Beibu Gulf. The results showed that Vibrio communities were distinct during the blooms, and P. globosa blooms resulted in a decline in phytoplankton alpha diversity, revealing that the blooms could affect their community compositions. The regression lines between the Shannon indices and Bray-Curtis distances of phytoplankton and Vibrio showed positive correlations with each other (p < 0.001), suggesting that they may have intrageneric symbiotic interactions overall. In addition, network analysis further demonstrated that relationships between phytoplankton and Vibrio were dominated by positive correlations, and more interaction modules were observed during the blooms, revealing that the blooms intensified synergistic association and mutual symbiotic interactions between them. Environmental factors (SiO3[2-], NH4[+], NO3[-] and TN,) and P. globosa density more deeply affected network interactions between phytoplankton and Vibrio during the periods of P. globosa blooms than those before the blooms and after the blooms. This study provided new insight to elucidate community structure and interaction relationships between phytoplankton and Vibrio in response to P. globosa blooms and their ecological effects in marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34537598, year = {2021}, author = {Nguyen, TD and Itayama, T and Ramaraj, R and Iwami, N and Shimizu, K and Dao, TS and Pham, TL and Maseda, H}, title = {Chronic ecotoxicology and statistical investigation of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin to Daphnia magna under extendedly long-term exposure.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {291}, number = {}, pages = {118095}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118095}, pmid = {34537598}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Ciprofloxacin/toxicity ; *Daphnia ; Ecosystem ; Ecotoxicology ; Ofloxacin/toxicity ; Reproduction ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Ciprofloxacin (CFX) and ofloxacin (OFX) are two of the most often used fluoroquinolone antibiotics, and their residues are found in large amounts in various aquatic settings. However, the toxicity tests of CFX using eukaryotic organisms such as Daphnia magna are inadequate, and the test result of OFX is currently unknown. Therefore, the chronic toxicity test for D. magna was performed during 42 days under exposure to CFX and OFX concentrations of 50, 500, and 5000 μg L[-1]. All exposure conditions did not cause mortality for D. magna. CFX exposure at 500 μg L[-1] resulted in an earlier oogenesis date and increased brood size in the second birth. The Poisson-based generalized linear mixed-effects model revealed that the reduction of fertility was statistically significant for the CFX and OFX exposures at 5000 μg L[-1]. On the other hand, the production of dead eggs as offspring degradation was also found significantly as maternal D. magna exposed to antibiotics at 5000 μg L[-1]. In addition, following long-term exposure to antibiotics, maternal adaptation to antibiotics was established for offspring deterioration and fertility. However, the OFX exposure showed that the fertility-suppressed effects continued for a longer period than the CFX exposure. Although no rational explanation has yet been given for the more substantial effect of OFX on reducing fertility than CFX, molecular cell biology and symbiotic microbial flora derived from previous studies could explain our ecotoxicological results. This study is the first report for the OFX chronic toxicities on D. magna by comparing it to the toxicity of CFX. Our study contributes to guiding the future impact assessment of fluoroquinolone antibiotic pollution on ecosystems, including the need for new statistical methods in ecotoxicological studies.}, } @article {pmid34537276, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, DL and Yang, XQ and Shi, WZ and Cen, RH and Yang, YB and Ding, ZT}, title = {The selective anti-fungal metabolites from Irpex lacteus and applications in the chemical interaction of Gastrodia elata, Armillaria sp., and endophytes.}, journal = {Fitoterapia}, volume = {155}, number = {}, pages = {105035}, doi = {10.1016/j.fitote.2021.105035}, pmid = {34537276}, issn = {1873-6971}, mesh = {Armillaria/growth & development ; China ; Endophytes/chemistry ; Fungicides, Industrial/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Gastrodia/*microbiology ; Molecular Structure ; Polyporales/*chemistry ; Seeds/microbiology ; Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The investigation of the metabolites from endophyte Irpex lacteus cultured in host "tian ma" (Gastrodia elata) revealed five new tremulane sesquiterpenes (1-5), and a new tetrahydrofuran derivative (6). Compound 1 was the first tremulane glucoside, and 6 possessed a rare tetrahydropyran-tetrahydrofuran scaffold. Main metabolite (2,3-dihydroxydodacane-4,7-dione, 14) from I. lacteus showed significant selectivity for antifungal activity against phytopathogen and endophytes associated with G. elata rather than against Armillaria sp. providing nutrition for the host G. elata. 14 accounted for 27.4% of isolated compounds from G. elata medium, and 69.3% by co-culturing with Armillaria sp. So the I. lacteus tended to promote the growth of Armillaria sp. in co-culture by producing 2,3-dihydroxydodacane-4,7-dione (14) to selective inhibit the phytopathogen and endophyte existed in host G. elata for the benefit of G. elata-Armillaria symbiosis. And the results were in accord with the real environment of G. elata depending on the nutrition of Armillaria. Some metabolites had anti-fungal activities against phytopathogens of G. elata with MICs ≤8 μg/mL.}, } @article {pmid34536490, year = {2022}, author = {Chidambaram, SB and Essa, MM and Rathipriya, AG and Bishir, M and Ray, B and Mahalakshmi, AM and Tousif, AH and Sakharkar, MK and Kashyap, RS and Friedland, RP and Monaghan, TM}, title = {Gut dysbiosis, defective autophagy and altered immune responses in neurodegenerative diseases: Tales of a vicious cycle.}, journal = {Pharmacology & therapeutics}, volume = {231}, number = {}, pages = {107988}, doi = {10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107988}, pmid = {34536490}, issn = {1879-016X}, mesh = {Autophagy ; Brain/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/pathology/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Immunity ; *Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human microbiota comprises trillions of symbiotic microorganisms and is involved in regulating gastrointestinal (GI), immune, nervous system and metabolic homeostasis. Recent observations suggest a bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the brain via immune, circulatory and neural pathways, termed the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). Alterations in gut microbiota composition, such as seen with an increased number of pathobionts and a decreased number of symbionts, termed gut dysbiosis or microbial intestinal dysbiosis, plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders. Clinical reports confirm that GI symptoms often precede neurological symptoms several years before the development of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Pathologically, gut dysbiosis disrupts the integrity of the intestinal barrier leading to ingress of pathobionts and toxic metabolites into the systemic circulation causing GBA dysregulation. Subsequently, chronic neuroinflammation via dysregulated immune activation triggers the accumulation of neurotoxic misfolded proteins in and around CNS cells resulting in neuronal death. Emerging evidence links gut dysbiosis to the aggravation and/or spread of proteinopathies from the peripheral nervous system to the CNS and defective autophagy-mediated proteinopathies. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of gut microbiota in NDDs, and highlights a vicious cycle of gut dysbiosis, immune-mediated chronic neuroinflammation, impaired autophagy and proteinopathies, which contributes to the development of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We also discuss novel therapeutic strategies targeting the modulation of gut dysbiosis through prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics or dietary interventions, and faecal microbial transplantation (FMT) in the management of NDDs.}, } @article {pmid34535866, year = {2021}, author = {Aloo, BN and Mbega, ER and Makumba, BA and Tumuhairwe, JB}, title = {Effects of agrochemicals on the beneficial plant rhizobacteria in agricultural systems.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {43}, pages = {60406-60424}, pmid = {34535866}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Agrochemicals ; Fertilizers ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Conventional agriculture relies heavily on chemical pesticides and fertilizers to control plant pests and diseases and improve production. Nevertheless, the intensive and prolonged use of agrochemicals may have undesirable consequences on the structure, diversity, and activities of soil microbiomes, including the beneficial plant rhizobacteria in agricultural systems. Although literature continues to mount regarding the effects of these chemicals on the beneficial plant rhizobacteria in agricultural systems, our understanding of them is still limited, and a proper account is required. With the renewed efforts and focus on agricultural and environmental sustainability, understanding the effects of different agrochemicals on the beneficial plant rhizobacteria in agricultural systems is both urgent and important to deduce practical solutions towards agricultural sustainability. This review critically evaluates the effects of various agrochemicals on the structure, diversity, and functions of the beneficial plant rhizobacteria in agricultural systems and propounds on the prospects and general solutions that can be considered to realize sustainable agricultural systems. This can be useful in understanding the anthropogenic effects of common and constantly applied agrochemicals on symbiotic systems in agricultural soils and shed light on the need for more environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid34535706, year = {2021}, author = {Kudo, T and Aonuma, H and Hasegawa, E}, title = {A symbiotic aphid selfishly manipulates attending ants via dopamine in honeydew.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {18569}, pmid = {34535706}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aggression ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Aphids/*physiology ; Dopamine/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are widespread in nature, but the mechanisms maintaining these relationships remain to be elucidated because symbiosis incurs a maintenance cost to each participant, which lowers its reproductive rate. In host-parasite relationships, parasites are known to manipulate the host's behavior selfishly, and there is an arms race between them. Selfish manipulations also occur in symbiosis, but the effects of selfish manipulations on symbiosis are not fully understood. Here, we show that an ant-associated aphid manipulates attending ants to receive stronger protection. Aphid honeydew regurgitated by ants contains dopamine (DA). The ants showed low aggressiveness before contact with the aphids, but it rose after contact. Administration of DA to the ants increased ant aggressiveness as the concentration increased, while an antagonist of DA inhibited this effect. The other 3 amines showed no effect on aggressiveness. A previous study showed that attending ants selfishly manipulate aphids by increasing the reproductive rate of green morph to obtain high-quality honeydew. These results suggest that mutual selfish manipulation benefits both participants and is likely to strengthen symbiosis. The selfishness of each participant may contribute to sustaining this symbiosis because their selfishness increases their long-term fitness.}, } @article {pmid34533971, year = {2021}, author = {Hao, H and Wang, Z and Gou, C and Sha, S and Yan, C and Niu, D and Wang, L and Feng, H}, title = {Genome Sequence of the Agrobacterium salinitolerans DG3-1 Isolated from Cotton Roots.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {1458-1460}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-21-0154-A}, pmid = {34533971}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Agrobacterium ; *Fusarium ; Gossypium ; Plant Diseases ; *Verticillium ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium salinitolerans DG3-1 is an endophytic bacterium isolated from cotton root tissue. Our previous work has shown that it can inhibit the growth of Fusarium and Verticillium wilt pathogens as well as increase the chlorophyll content of cotton leaves. Here, we reported the complete genome sequence of strain DG3-1, which was analyzed by sequence reads generated from Nanopore PromethION and Illumina NovaSeq PE150 platforms. This genome sequence could be used to clarify the possible mechanism of DG3-1 at the gene level.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34533882, year = {2021}, author = {Ohtani, N and Hara, E}, title = {Gut-liver axis-mediated mechanism of liver cancer: A special focus on the role of gut microbiota.}, journal = {Cancer science}, volume = {112}, number = {11}, pages = {4433-4443}, pmid = {34533882}, issn = {1349-7006}, mesh = {Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*etiology ; Cellular Senescence/physiology ; Choline/metabolism ; DNA Damage ; Ethanol/metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/metabolism ; Hepatitis, Alcoholic/etiology ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Liver/anatomy & histology/metabolism/*physiology ; Liver Diseases/etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/*etiology/microbiology ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/etiology ; Symbiosis ; Teichoic Acids/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota and the mammalian host share a symbiotic relationship, in which the host provides a suitable ecosystem for the gut bacteria to digest indigestible nutrients and produce useful metabolites. Although gut microbiota primarily reside in and influence the intestine, they also regulate liver function via absorption and subsequent transfer of microbial components and metabolites through the portal vein to the liver. Due to this transfer, the liver may be continuously exposed to gut-derived metabolites and components. For example, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by gut microbiota, through the fermentation of dietary fiber, can suppress inflammation via regulatory T cell induction through SCFA-induced epigenetic mechanisms. Additionally, secondary bile acids (BA), such as deoxycholic acid, produced by gut bacteria through the 7α-dehydroxylation of primary BAs, are thought to induce DNA damage and contribute to the remodeling of tumor microenvironments. Other substances that are also thought to influence liver function include lipopolysaccharides (components of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria) and lipoteichoic acid (cell wall component of Gram-positive bacteria), which are ligands of innate immune receptors, Toll-like receptor-4, and Toll-like receptor-2, respectively, through which inflammatory signaling is elicited. In this review, we focus on the role of gut microbiota in the liver microenvironment, describing the anatomy of the gut-liver axis, the role of gut microbial metabolites, and the relationships that exist between gut microbiota and liver diseases, including liver cancer.}, } @article {pmid34533221, year = {2021}, author = {Nelson, JM and Hauser, DA and Li, FW}, title = {The diversity and community structure of symbiotic cyanobacteria in hornworts inferred from long-read amplicon sequencing.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {108}, number = {9}, pages = {1731-1744}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1729}, pmid = {34533221}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Anthocerotophyta ; *Bryophyta ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Nitrogen-fixing endosymbioses with cyanobacteria have evolved independently in five very different plant lineages. Expanding knowledge of these symbioses promises to improve the understanding of symbiosis evolution and broaden the toolkit for agricultural engineering to reduce artificial fertilizer use. Here we focused on hornworts, a bryophyte lineage in which all members host cyanobacteria, and investigated factors shaping the diversity of their cyanobiont communities.

METHODS: We sampled hornworts and adjacent soils in upstate New York throughout the hornwort growing season. We included all three sympatric hornwort species in the area, allowing us to directly compare partner selectivity. To profile cyanobacteria communities, we established a metabarcoding protocol targeting rbcL-X with PacBio long reads.

RESULTS: The hornwort cyanobionts detected were phylogenetically diverse, including clades that do not contain other known plant symbionts. We found significant overlap between hornwort cyanobionts and soil cyanobacteria, a pattern not previously reported in other plant-cyanobacteria symbioses. Cyanobiont communities differed between host plants only centimeters apart, but we did not detect an effect of sampling time or host species on the cyanobacterial community structure.

CONCLUSIONS: This study expands the phylogenetic diversity of known symbiotic cyanobacteria. Our analyses suggest that hornwort cyanobionts have a tight connection to the soil background, and we found no evidence that time within growing season, host species, or distance at the scale of meters strongly govern cyanobacteria community assembly. This study provides a critical foundation for further study of the ecology, evolution, and interaction dynamics of plant-cyanobacteria symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34531432, year = {2021}, author = {Saboor, A and Ali, MA and Danish, S and Ahmed, N and Fahad, S and Datta, R and Ansari, MJ and Nasif, O and Rahman, MHU and Glick, BR}, title = {Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the physiological functioning of maize under zinc-deficient soils.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {18468}, pmid = {34531432}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Stomata/metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; Zea mays/metabolism/*microbiology ; Zinc/analysis/*deficiency ; }, abstract = {Zinc (Zn) deficiency can severely inhibit plant growth, yield, and enzymatic activities. Zn plays a vital role in various enzymatic activities in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in improving the plant's Zn nutrition and mitigating Zn stress effects on plants. The current study was conducted to compare the response of inoculated and non-inoculated maize (YH 1898) in the presence of different levels of zinc under greenhouse conditions under a Zn deficient condition. There were two mycorrhizal levels (i.e., M + with mycorrhizae, M- without mycorrhizae) and five Zn levels (i.e., 0, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 mg kg[-1]), with three replicates following completely randomized design. At the vegetative stage (before tillering), biochemical, physiological, and agronomic attributes were measured. The results showed that maize plants previously inoculated with AMF had higher gaseous exchange traits, i.e., a higher stomatal conductance rate, favoring an increased photosynthetic rate. Improvement in antioxidant enzyme activity was also observed in inoculated compared to non-inoculated maize plants. Moreover, AMF inoculation also played a beneficial role in nutrients availability and its uptake by plants. Higher Zn12 (12 mg Zn kg[-1] soil) treatment accumulated a higher Zn concentration in soil, root, and shoot in AMF-inoculated than in non-inoculated maize plants. These results are consistent with mycorrhizal symbiosis beneficial role for maize physiological functioning in Zn deficient soil conditions. Additionally, AMF inoculation mitigated the stress conditions and assisted nutrient uptake by maize.}, } @article {pmid34530516, year = {2022}, author = {Hernández-Granados, MJ and Ortiz-Basurto, RI and Jiménez-Fernández, M and García-Munguía, CA and Franco-Robles, E}, title = {Dietary encapsulated Bifidobacterium animalis and Agave fructans improve growth performance, health parameters, and immune response in broiler chickens.}, journal = {Animal bioscience}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {587-595}, pmid = {34530516}, issn = {2765-0189}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis, Agave fructans, and symbiotic of both encapsulated on growth performance, feed efficiency, blood parameters, and immune status in broiler chickens, and to compare these with diets including antibiotic growth promoters and without additives.

METHODS: A comparative experimental study was carried out with 135 male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Each trial was divided into 5 equal groups. Control group (CON) received a standard diet without growth promoter; GPA, a standard diet with colistin sulfate and zinc bacitracin (0.25 g/kg of feed); PRE, a standard diet with 1% Agave fructans; PRO, a standard diet with Bifidobacterium animalis (11.14±0.70 log CFU/g); SYM, a standard diet with B. animalis and Agave fructans.

RESULTS: A significant decrease in food consumption was found for the GPA, PRE, and SYM, compared to the CON group. The results show a better feed conversion index in PRE and GPA with respect to the CON group with the highest conversion index. Interestingly, the weight of the gastrointestinal tract shows a statistically significant difference between GPA and PRE groups. Moreover, the length of the gastrointestinal tract of the GPA group was less than the PRE group. In the total leukocyte count, there was a statistically significant increase in the GPA group compared to the CON, PRE, and PRO groups, and the heterophiles-lymphocytes index was lower in PRO. Regarding the cytokines, interleukin 10 (IL-10) decreased in PRO compared to CON and PRE, while IL-1β increased in the SYM group.

CONCLUSION: Alternative treatments were shown to achieve similar productive results as growth-promoting antibiotics and showed improvement over diet without additives; however, they have immunomodulatory properties and improved the development of the gastrointestinal tract compared to the treatment of growth-promoting antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid34530224, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, DD and Wan, L and Cao, X and Klisarova, D and Gerdzhikov, D and Zhou, Y and Song, C and Yoon, S}, title = {Metagenomic insights into co-proliferation of Vibrio spp. and dinoflagellates Prorocentrum during a spring algal bloom in the coastal East China Sea.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {117625}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2021.117625}, pmid = {34530224}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; *Microbiota ; *Vibrio ; }, abstract = {Coastal harmful algal blooms (HABs), commonly termed 'red tides', have severe undesirable consequences to the marine ecosystems and local fishery and tourism industries. Increase in nitrogen and/or phosphorus loading is often regarded as the major culprits of increasing frequency and intensity of the coastal HAB; however, fundamental understanding is lacking as to the causes and mechanism of bloom formation despite decades of intensive investigation. In this study, we interrogated the prokaryotic microbiomes of surface water samples collected at two neighboring segments of East China Sea that contrast greatly in terms of the intensity and frequency of Prorocentrum-dominated HAB. Mantel tests identified significant correlations between the structural and functional composition of the microbiomes and the physicochemical state and the algal biomass density of the surface seawater, implying the possibility that prokaryotic microbiota may play key roles in the coastal HAB. A conspicuous feature of the microbiomes at the sites characterized with high trophic state index and eukaryotic algal cell counts was disproportionate proliferation of Vibrio spp., and their complete domination of the functional genes attributable to the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) pathway substantially enriched at these sites. The genes attributed to phosphorus uptake function were significantly enriched at these sites, presumably due to the Pi-deficiency induced by algal growth; however, the profiles of the phosphorus mineralization genes lacked consistency, barring any conclusive evidence with regard to contribution of prokaryotic microbiota to phosphorus bioavailability. The results of the co-occurrence network analysis performed with the core prokaryotic microbiome supported that the observed proliferation of Vibrio and HAB may be causally associated. The findings of this study suggest a previously unidentified association between Vibrio proliferation and the Prorocentrum-dominated HAB in the subtropical East China Sea, and opens a discussion regarding a theoretically unlikely, but still possible, involvement of Vibrio-mediated DNRA in Vibrio-Prorocentrum symbiosis. Further experimental substantiation of this supposed symbiotic mechanism may prove crucial in understanding the dynamics of explosive local algal growth in the region during spring algal blooms.}, } @article {pmid34530074, year = {2021}, author = {Koosha, RZ and Fazel, P and Sedighian, H and Behzadi, E and Ch, MH and Imani Fooladi, AA}, title = {The impact of the gut microbiome on toxigenic bacteria.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {160}, number = {}, pages = {105188}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105188}, pmid = {34530074}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Millions of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms known as microbiota colonize the host body. The microbiome plays an important role in human health and colonizes hundreds of different species of multicellular organisms so that they are introduced as the metaorganisms. Changes in the microbial population of the gut microbiome may cause resistance to pathogenic bacteria-induced infection. Understanding the principles of Host-Microbiota Interactions (HMIs) is important because it clarifies our insight towards the mechanisms of infections established in the host. Interactions between the host and the microbiota help answer the question of how a microorganism can contribute to the health or disease of the host. Microbiota can increase host resistance to colonization of pathogenic species. Studying the HMIs network can in several ways delineate the pathogenic mechanisms of pathogens and thereby help to increase useful and novel therapeutic pathways. For example, the potentially unique microbial effects that target the distinct host or interfere with the endogenous host interactions can be identified. In addition, the way mutations in essential proteins in the host and/or in the microbes can influence the interactions between them may be determined. Furthermore, HMIs help in identifying host cell regulatory modules.}, } @article {pmid34529755, year = {2021}, author = {Turney, PD}, title = {Evolution of Autopoiesis and Multicellularity in the Game of Life.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {26-43}, doi = {10.1162/artl_a_00334}, pmid = {34529755}, issn = {1530-9185}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Models, Biological ; *Reproduction ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recently we introduced a model of symbiosis, Model-S, based on the evolution of seed patterns in Conway's Game of Life. In the model, the fitness of a seed pattern is measured by one-on-one competitions in the Immigration Game, a two-player variation of the Game of Life. Our previous article showed that Model-S can serve as a highly abstract, simplified model of biological life: (1) The initial seed pattern is analogous to a genome. (2) The changes as the game runs are analogous to the development of the phenome. (3) Tournament selection in Model-S is analogous to natural selection in biology. (4) The Immigration Game in Model-S is analogous to competition in biology. (5) The first three layers in Model-S are analogous to biological reproduction. (6) The fusion of seed patterns in Model-S is analogous to symbiosis. The current article takes this analogy two steps further: (7) Autopoietic structures in the Game of Life (still lifes, oscillators, and spaceships-collectively known as ashes) are analogous to cells in biology. (8) The seed patterns in the Game of Life give rise to multiple, diverse, cooperating autopoietic structures, analogous to multicellular biological life. We use the apgsearch software (Ash Pattern Generator Search), developed by Adam Goucher for the study of ashes, to analyze autopoiesis and multicellularity in Model-S. We find that the fitness of evolved seed patterns in Model-S is highly correlated with the diversity and quantity of multicellular autopoietic structures.}, } @article {pmid34528105, year = {2022}, author = {Zhang, J and Peng, S and Li, S and Song, J and Brunel, B and Wang, E and James, EK and Chen, W and Andrews, M}, title = {Arachis hypogaea L. from Acid Soils of Nanyang (China) Is Frequently Associated with Bradyrhizobium guangdongense and Occasionally with Bradyrhizobium ottawaense or Three Bradyrhizobium Genospecies.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {2}, pages = {556-564}, pmid = {34528105}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Arachis ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Henan Province is a major area of peanut production in China but the rhizobia nodulating the crop in this region have not been described. A collection of 217 strains of peanut rhizobia was obtained from six field sites across four soil types in Henan Province, North China, by using peanut as a trap host under glasshouse conditions. The 217 strains separated into 8 distinct types on PCR-RFLP analysis of their IGS sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA, recA, atpD, and glnII genes of 11 representative strains of the 8 IGS types identified Bradyrhizobium guangdongense, B. ottawaense and three novel Bradyrhizobium genospecies. Bradyrhizobium guangdongense was dominant, accounting for 75.0% of the total isolates across the field sites while B. ottawaense covered 5.1% and the three novel Bradyrhizobium genospecies 4.1 to 8.8% of the total. The symbiosis-related nodA and nifH gene sequences were not congruent with the core genes on phylogenetic analysis and separated into three groups, two of which were similar to sequences of Bradyrhizobium spp. isolated from peanut in south-east China and the third identical to that of B. yuanmingense isolated from Lespedeza cuneata in northern China. A canonical correlation analysis between the distribution of IGS genotypes and soil physicochemical characteristics and climatic factors indicated that the occurrence of IGS types/species was mainly associated with soil pH and available phosphorus.}, } @article {pmid34527601, year = {2021}, author = {Altinli, M and Schnettler, E and Sicard, M}, title = {Symbiotic Interactions Between Mosquitoes and Mosquito Viruses.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {694020}, pmid = {34527601}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arboviruses ; *Culicidae ; Female ; Humans ; *Insect Viruses ; Metagenomics ; *Viruses ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes not only transmit human and veterinary pathogens called arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) but also harbor mosquito-associated insect-specific viruses (mosquito viruses) that cannot infect vertebrates. In the past, studies investigating mosquito viruses mainly focused on highly pathogenic interactions that were easier to detect than those without visible symptoms. However, the recent advances in viral metagenomics have highlighted the abundance and diversity of viruses which do not generate mass mortality in host populations. Over the last decade, this has facilitated the rapid growth of virus discovery in mosquitoes. The circumstances around the discovery of mosquito viruses greatly affected how they have been studied so far. While earlier research mainly focused on the pathogenesis caused by DNA and some double-stranded RNA viruses during larval stages, more recently discovered single-stranded RNA mosquito viruses were heavily studied for their putative interference with arboviruses in female adults. Thus, many aspects of mosquito virus interactions with their hosts and host-microbiota are still unknown. In this context, considering mosquito viruses as endosymbionts can help to identify novel research areas, in particular in relation to their long-term interactions with their hosts (e.g. relationships during all life stages, the stability of the associations at evolutionary scales, transmission routes and virulence evolution) and the possible context-dependent range of interactions (i.e. beneficial to antagonistic). Here, we review the symbiotic interactions of mosquito viruses considering different aspects of their ecology, such as transmission, host specificity, host immune system and interactions with other symbionts within the host cellular arena. Finally, we highlight related research gaps in mosquito virus research.}, } @article {pmid34526541, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, N and Li, Z and Tang, M}, title = {Impact of salt and exogenous AM inoculation on indigenous microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of dioecious plant, Populus cathayana.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {18403}, pmid = {34526541}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biomass ; Environment ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzymes/chemistry ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Populus/*physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Salts/*administration & dosage ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The sex-specific physical and biochemical responses in dioecious plants to abiotic stresses could result in gender imbalance, and how to ease the current situation by microorganisms is still unclear. Using native soil where poplars were grown, growth parameters, soil physicochemical properties in the rhizosphere soil of different sexes of Populus cathayana exposed to salt stress and exogenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation were tested. Besides, the sex-specific microbial community structures in the rhizosphere soil of different sexes of Populus cathayana were compared under salt stress. To identify the sex-specific microbial community characteristics related to salinity and AM symbiosis, a combined qPCR and DGGE method was used to monitor microbial community diversity. Seedlings suffered severe pressure by salt stress, reflected in limited growth, biomass, and nutrient element accumulation, especially on females. Exogenous AM inoculation treatment alleviated these negative effects, especially under salt treatment of 75 mM. Compared with salt effect, exogenous AM inoculation treatment showed a greater effect on soil physical-chemical properties of both sexes. Based on DGGE results, salt stress negatively affected fungal richness but positively affected fungal Simpson diversity index, while exogenous AM inoculation treatment showed the opposite effect. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to show the causal relationships between salt and exogenous AM inoculation treatments with biomass accumulation and microbial community: salt and exogenous AM inoculation treatment showed complicated effects on elementary concentrations, soil properties, which resulted in different relationship with biomass accumulation and microbial community. Salt stress had a negative effect on soil properties and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere soil of P. cathayana, whereas exogenous AM inoculation showed positive impacts on most of the soil physical-chemical properties and microbial community status.}, } @article {pmid34526023, year = {2021}, author = {Worsley, SF and Innocent, TM and Holmes, NA and Al-Bassam, MM and Schiøtt, M and Wilkinson, B and Murrell, JC and Boomsma, JJ and Yu, DW and Hutchings, MI}, title = {Competition-based screening helps to secure the evolutionary stability of a defensive microbiome.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {205}, pmid = {34526023}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Ants ; Biological Evolution ; *Microbiota ; RNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The cuticular microbiomes of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants pose a conundrum in microbiome biology because they are freely colonisable, and yet the prevalence of the vertically transmitted bacteria Pseudonocardia, which contributes to the control of Escovopsis fungus garden disease, is never compromised by the secondary acquisition of other bacterial strains. Game theory suggests that competition-based screening can allow the selective recruitment of antibiotic-producing bacteria from the environment, by providing abundant resources to foment interference competition between bacterial species and by using Pseudonocardia to bias the outcome of competition in favour of antibiotic producers.

RESULTS: Here, we use RNA-stable isotope probing (RNA-SIP) to confirm that Acromyrmex ants can maintain a range of microbial symbionts on their cuticle by supplying public resources. We then used RNA sequencing, bioassays, and competition experiments to show that vertically transmitted Pseudonocardia strains produce antibacterials that differentially reduce the growth rates of other microbes, ultimately biassing the bacterial competition to allow the selective establishment of secondary antibiotic-producing strains while excluding non-antibiotic-producing strains that would parasitise the symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that competition-based screening is a plausible mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the co-adapted mutualism between the leaf-cutting ant farming symbiosis and its defensive microbiome. Our results have broader implications for explaining the stability of other complex symbioses involving horizontal acquisition.}, } @article {pmid34525774, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, H and Deng, L and Qi, Z and Wang, W}, title = {Constructed microalgal-bacterial symbiotic (MBS) system: Classification, performance, partnerships and perspectives.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {803}, number = {}, pages = {150082}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150082}, pmid = {34525774}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biomass ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The microalgal-bacterial symbiotic (MBS) system shows great advantages in the synchronous implementation of wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery. To enhance the understanding of different MBS systems, this review summarizes reported MBS systems and proposes three patterns according to the living state of microalgae and bacteria. They are free microalgal-bacterial (FMB) system, attached microalgal-bacterial (AMB) system and bioflocculated microalgal-bacterial (BMB) system. Compared with the other two patterns, BMB system shows the advantages of microalgal biomass harvesting and application. To further understand the microalgal-bacterial partnerships in the bioflocculation of BMB system, this review discusses bioflocs characteristics, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) properties and production, and the effect of microalgae/bacteria ratio and microalgal strains on the formation of bioflocculation. Microalgal biomass production and application are important for BMB system development in the future. Food processing wastewater characterized by high biodegradability and low toxicity should be conducive for microalgal cultivation. In addition, exogenous addition of functional bacteria for nutrient removal and bioflocculation formation would be a crucial research direction to facilitate the large-scale application of BMB system.}, } @article {pmid34525649, year = {2021}, author = {Adhikari, SK}, title = {Symbiotic solitons in quasi-one- and quasi-two-dimensional spin-1 condensates.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {104}, number = {2-1}, pages = {024207}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.104.024207}, pmid = {34525649}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {We study the formation of spin-1 symbiotic spinor solitons in a quasi-one- (quasi-1D) and quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) hyperfine spin F=1 ferromagnetic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). The symbiotic solitons necessarily have a repulsive intraspecies interaction and are bound due to an attractive interspecies interaction. Due to a collapse instability in higher dimensions, an additional spin-orbit coupling is necessary to stabilize a quasi-2D symbiotic spinor soliton. Although a quasi-1D symbiotic soliton has a simple Gaussian-type density distribution, novel spatial periodic structure in density is found in quasi-2D symbiotic SO-coupled spinor solitons. For a weak SO coupling, the quasi-2D solitons are of the (-1,0,+1) or (+1,0,-1) type with intrinsic vorticity and multiring structure, for Rashba or Dresselhaus SO coupling, respectively, where the numbers in the parentheses are angular momenta projections in spin components F_{z} =+1,0,-1, respectively. For a strong SO coupling, stripe and superlattice solitons, respectively, with a stripe and square-lattice modulation in density, are found in addition to the multiring solitons. The stationary states were obtained by imaginary-time propagation of a mean-field model; dynamical stability of the solitons was established by real-time propagation over a long period of time. The possibility of the creation of such a soliton by removing the trap of a confined spin-1 BEC in a laboratory is also demonstrated.}, } @article {pmid34525561, year = {2021}, author = {Mann, P and Smith, VA and Mitchell, JBO and Dobson, S}, title = {Symbiotic and antagonistic disease dynamics on networks using bond percolation.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {104}, number = {2-1}, pages = {024303}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.104.024303}, pmid = {34525561}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {In this paper we introduce a description of the equilibrium state of a bond percolation process on random graphs using the exact method of generating functions. This allows us to find the expected size of the giant connected component (GCC) of two sequential bond percolation processes in which the bond occupancy probability of the second process is modulated (increased or decreased) by a node being inside or outside of the GCC created by the first process. In the context of epidemic spreading this amounts to both an antagonistic partial immunity and a synergistic partial coinfection interaction between the two sequential diseases. We examine configuration model networks with tunable clustering. We find that the emergent evolutionary behavior of the second strain is highly dependent on the details of the coupling between the strains. Contact clustering generally reduces the outbreak size of the second strain relative to unclustered topologies; however, positive assortativity induced by clustered contacts inverts this conclusion for highly transmissible disease dynamics.}, } @article {pmid34523547, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, C and Liu, B and Meng, S and Wang, Y and Yan, L and Zhang, X and Wei, D}, title = {Microbial fuel cell enhanced pollutants removal in a solid-phase biological denitrification reactor: System performance, bioelectricity generation and microbial community analysis.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {341}, number = {}, pages = {125909}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125909}, pmid = {34523547}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Denitrification ; Electricity ; Electrodes ; *Environmental Pollutants ; *Microbiota ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {A novel electrochemical system of microbial fuel cell (MFC) coupled solid-phase denitrification biofilm reactor (DBR) system was established to explore the effect of simultaneous power generation and pollutant removal under different HRTs (Ⅰ:48 h; Ⅱ :24 h). The average removal rates of methyl orange, Cr (VI) and NO3[-]-N in test group were 93.0, 98.6 and 95.5% within 60 days, while those were 53.1, 72.1 and 72.7% in control. The maximum power density was 61.2 (Ⅰ) and 16.1 mW/m[2] (Ⅱ), while average output voltage was 122 (Ⅰ) and 83.6 mV (Ⅱ). Components 1 and 2 in soluble microbial products were identified, and the humic-like and fulvic acid-like substances varied through different layers. Pseudomonas produced electricity in anode, while denitrified in denitrification layer. Importantly, symbiotic cooperation was absolutely dominant in network analysis of both anodic and denitrifying biofilms. MFC significantly improved DBR's ability to treatment co-polluted wastewater.}, } @article {pmid34522979, year = {2021}, author = {Rosland, NA and Ikhsan, N and Min, CC and Yusoff, FM and Karim, M}, title = {Influence of Symbiotic Probiont Strains on the Growth of Amphora and Chlorella and Its Potential Protections Against Vibrio spp. in Artemia.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {11}, pages = {3901-3912}, pmid = {34522979}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Artemia ; Bacillaceae ; Bacillus ; *Chlorella ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Symbiosis ; *Vibrio/genetics ; }, abstract = {The emerging aquaculture industry is in need of non-antibiotic-based disease control approaches to minimize the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bacterial infections mainly caused by Vibrio spp. have caused mass mortalities of fish especially during the larval stages. The objectives of this study were to verify the potential of symbiotic probiont strains, isolated from microalgae (Amphora, Chlorella, and Spirulina) for suppressing the growth of Vibrio spp. and at the same time ascertain their abilities to enhance microalgal biomass by mutualistic interactions through microalgae-bacteria symbiosis. In addition, in vivo studies on Artemia bioencapsulated with probiont strains (single strain and mix strains) and microalgae were evaluated. The selected potential probionts were identified as Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain A-1 (LFA-1), Bacillus sp. strain A-2 (BA-2), Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain Cl-3 (LFCl-3), and Bacillus pocheonensis strain S-2 (BPS-2) using 16s rRNA. The cell densities of Amphora culture supplemented with BA-2 and Chlorella culture supplemented with LFCl-3 were higher than those of the controls. Artemia bioencapsulated with mix strains (LFA-1 + BA-2 + LFCl-3 + BPS-2) and Amphora demonstrated the highest survival rate compared to the controls, after being challenged with V. harveyi (60 ± 4%) and V. parahaemolyticus (78 ± 2%). Our study postulated that BA-2 and LFCl-3 were found to be good promoting bacteria for microalgal growth and microalgae serve as a vector to transport probiotic into Artemia. Moreover, mixture of potential probionts is beneficial for Artemia supplementation in conferring protection to Artemia nauplii against pathogenic Vibrios.}, } @article {pmid34521754, year = {2021}, author = {Jenkins, BH and Maguire, F and Leonard, G and Eaton, JD and West, S and Housden, BE and Milner, DS and Richards, TA}, title = {Emergent RNA-RNA interactions can promote stability in a facultative phototrophic endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {38}, pages = {}, pmid = {34521754}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; WT107791/Z/15/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Chlorella/genetics ; Chloroplasts/genetics ; Eukaryota/genetics ; Paramecium/genetics ; Phototrophic Processes/*genetics ; Plastids/genetics ; RNA/*genetics ; RNA Interference/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiosis was responsible for the spread of chloroplast (plastid) organelles. Stability is required for the metabolic and genetic integration that drives the establishment of new organelles, yet the mechanisms that act to stabilize emergent endosymbioses-between two fundamentally selfish biological organisms-are unclear. Theory suggests that enforcement mechanisms, which punish misbehavior, may act to stabilize such interactions by resolving conflict. However, how such mechanisms can emerge in a facultative endosymbiosis has yet to be explored. Here, we propose that endosymbiont-host RNA-RNA interactions, arising from digestion of the endosymbiont population, can result in a cost to host growth for breakdown of the endosymbiosis. Using the model facultative endosymbiosis between Paramecium bursaria and Chlorella spp., we demonstrate that this mechanism is dependent on the host RNA-interference (RNAi) system. We reveal through small RNA (sRNA) sequencing that endosymbiont-derived messenger RNA (mRNA) released upon endosymbiont digestion can be processed by the host RNAi system into 23-nt sRNA. We predict multiple regions of shared sequence identity between endosymbiont and host mRNA, and demonstrate through delivery of synthetic endosymbiont sRNA that exposure to these regions can knock down expression of complementary host genes, resulting in a cost to host growth. This process of host gene knockdown in response to endosymbiont-derived RNA processing by host RNAi factors, which we term "RNAi collisions," represents a mechanism that can promote stability in a facultative eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiosis. Specifically, by imposing a cost for breakdown of the endosymbiosis, endosymbiont-host RNA-RNA interactions may drive maintenance of the symbiosis across fluctuating ecological conditions.}, } @article {pmid34520120, year = {2022}, author = {Yan, L and Tang, L and Zhou, Z and Lu, W and Wang, B and Sun, Z and Jiang, X and Hu, D and Li, J and Zhang, D}, title = {Metagenomics reveals contrasting energy utilization efficiencies of captive and wild camels (Camelus ferus).}, journal = {Integrative zoology}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {333-345}, doi = {10.1111/1749-4877.12585}, pmid = {34520120}, issn = {1749-4877}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild ; *Camelus/genetics ; Feces ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metagenomics ; }, abstract = {Captive conditions can affect the symbiotic microbiome of animals. In this study, we compared the structural and functional differences of the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) between wild and captive populations, as well as their different host energy utilization performances through metagenomics. The results showed that wild-living camels harbored more microbial taxa related to the production of volatile fatty acids, fewer methanogens, and fewer genes encoding enzymes involved in methanogenesis, leading to higher energy utilization efficiency compared to that of captive-living camels. These findings suggest that the wild-living camel fecal microbiome demonstrates a series of adaptive characteristics that enable the host to adjust to a relatively barren field environment. Our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of wildlife adaptations to habitats from the perspective of the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid34519538, year = {2021}, author = {Waterworth, SC and Parker-Nance, S and Kwan, JC and Dorrington, RA}, title = {Comparative Genomics Provides Insight into the Function of Broad-Host Range Sponge Symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0157721}, pmid = {34519538}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; *Genomics ; *Host Specificity ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The fossil record indicates that the earliest evidence of extant marine sponges (phylum Porifera) existed during the Cambrian explosion and that their symbiosis with microbes may have begun in their extinct ancestors during the Precambrian period. Many symbionts have adapted to their sponge host, where they perform specific, specialized functions. There are also widely distributed bacterial taxa such as Poribacteria, SAUL, and Tethybacterales that are found in a broad range of invertebrate hosts. Here, we added 11 new genomes to the Tethybacterales order, identified a novel family, and show that functional potential differs between the three Tethybacterales families. We compare the Tethybacterales with the well-characterized Entoporibacteria and show that these symbionts appear to preferentially associate with low-microbial abundance (LMA) and high-microbial abundance (HMA) sponges, respectively. Within these sponges, we show that these symbionts likely perform distinct functions and may have undergone multiple association events, rather than a single association event followed by coevolution. IMPORTANCE Marine sponges often form symbiotic relationships with bacteria that fulfil a specific need within the sponge holobiont, and these symbionts are often conserved within a narrow range of related taxa. To date, there exist only three known bacterial taxa (Entoporibacteria, SAUL, and Tethybacterales) that are globally distributed and found in a broad range of sponge hosts, and little is known about the latter two. We show that the functional potential of broad-host range symbionts is conserved at a family level and that these symbionts have been acquired several times over evolutionary history. Finally, it appears that the Entoporibacteria are associated primarily with high-microbial abundance sponges, while the Tethybacterales associate with low-microbial abundance sponges.}, } @article {pmid34519518, year = {2021}, author = {Qu, Z and Zhang, H and Wang, Q and Zhao, H and Liu, X and Fu, Y and Lin, Y and Xie, J and Cheng, J and Li, B and Jiang, D}, title = {Exploring the Symbiotic Mechanism of a Virus-Mediated Endophytic Fungus in Its Host by Dual Unique Molecular Identifier-RNA Sequencing.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {e0081421}, pmid = {34519518}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The symbiosis of endophytes and plants is universal in nature. However, how endophytes grow in plants is not entirely clear. Previously, we reported that a virus-infected fungal pathogen could grow in plants as an endophyte. In this study, we utilized Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strain DT-8, a virus-mediated endophyte, to investigate the mechanism of symbiosis with rapeseed by dual unique molecular identifier-RNA sequencing (dual-UMI RNA-seq). We found that the expressions of genes encoding S. sclerotiorum amylase/glucoamylase, glucose transporters, and rapeseed sugars will eventually be exported transporter 11 (SWEET11) were upregulated. It suggested that strain DT-8 might utilize plant starch as a nutrient. The defense systems of rapeseed were also activated, such as production of reactive oxygen species, phenylpropanoids, and brassinin, to control the growth of strain DT-8, while strain DT-8 counteracted host suppression by producing effector-like proteins, detoxification enzymes, and antioxidant components. Moreover, rapeseed also upregulated pectate lyase and pectinesterase genes to facilitate the colonization by strain DT-8. Our findings provide novel insights into the interaction of virus-mediated endophytes and their hosts that warrant further study. IMPORTANCE Although endophytes are widespread in nature, the interactions between endophytes and their hosts are still not fully understood. Members of a unique class of endophytes, the virus-mediated endophytic fungi, are continuously being discovered and have received wide attention. In this study, we investigated the interaction between a mycovirus-mediated endophytic fungus and its host rapeseed by using dual-UMI RNA-seq. According to the dual-UMI RNA-seq results, an aerial view of symbiotic mechanism under balanced regulation was suggested. This research expands our understanding of the symbiotic mechanisms of virus-fungus-plant interactions and could establish a foundation for the further development of practical application with virus-mediated hypovirulent fungi.}, } @article {pmid34517753, year = {2021}, author = {Matano, LM and Coyne, MJ and García-Bayona, L and Comstock, LE}, title = {Bacteroidetocins Target the Essential Outer Membrane Protein BamA of Bacteroidales Symbionts and Pathogens.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0228521}, pmid = {34517753}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P30 DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI093771/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132580/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007061/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane/chemistry/drug effects/metabolism ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteriocins/*pharmacology ; Bacteroidetes/chemistry/*drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteroidetocins are a family of antibacterial peptide toxins that are produced by and target members of the phylum Bacteroidetes. To date, 19 bacteroidetocins have been identified, and four have been tested and shown to kill diverse Bacteroidales species (M. J. Coyne, N. Béchon, L. M. Matano, V. L. McEneany, et al., Nat Commun 10:3460, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11494-1). Here, we identify the target and likely mechanism of action of the bacteroidetocins. We selected seven spontaneous mutants of four different genera, all resistant to bacteroidetocin A (Bd-A) and found that all contained mutations in a single gene, bamA. Construction of three of these bamA mutants in the wild-type (WT) strains confirmed they confer resistance to Bd-A as well as to other bacteroidetocins. We identified an aspartate residue of BamA at the beginning of exterior loop 3 (eL3) that, when altered, renders strains resistant to Bd-A. Analysis of a panel of diverse Bacteroidales strains showed a correlation between the presence of this aspartate residue and Bd-A sensitivity. Fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of Bd-A-treated cells showed cellular morphological changes consistent with a BamA defect. Transcriptomic analysis of Bd-A-treated cells revealed gene expression changes indicative of cell envelope stress. Studies in mice revealed that bacteroidetocin-resistant mutants are outcompeted by their WT strain in vivo. Analyses of longitudinal human gut isolates showed that bamA mutations leading to bacteroidetocin resistance do not become fixed in the human gut, even in bacteroidetocin-producing strains and nonproducing coresident strains. Together, these data lend further support to the applicability of the bacteroidetocins as therapeutic peptides in the treatment of maladies involving Bacteroidales species. IMPORTANCE The bacteroidetocins are a newly discovered class of bacteriocins specific to Bacteroidetes with a spectrum of targets extending from symbiotic gut Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Prevotella species to pathogenic oral and vaginal Prevotella species. We previously showed that one such bacteroidetocin, Bd-A, is active at nanomolar concentrations, is water soluble, and is bactericidal, all desirable features in a therapeutic antibacterial peptide. Here, we identify the target of several of the bacteroidetocins as the essential outer membrane protein BamA. Although mutations in bamA can be selected in bacteria grown in vitro, we show both in a mouse model and in human gut ecosystems that bamA mutants leading to Bd-A resistance are fitness attenuated and are not selected. These features further support the potential usefulness of the bacteroidetocins as therapeutics for maladies associated with pathogenic Prevotella species, such as recurrent bacterial vaginosis, for which there are few effective treatments.}, } @article {pmid34512702, year = {2021}, author = {Aroney, STN and Poole, PS and Sánchez-Cañizares, C}, title = {Rhizobial Chemotaxis and Motility Systems at Work in the Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {725338}, pmid = {34512702}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Bacteria navigate their way often as individual cells through their chemical and biological environment in aqueous medium or across solid surfaces. They swim when starved or in response to physical and chemical stimuli. Flagella-driven chemotaxis in bacteria has emerged as a paradigm for both signal transduction and cellular decision-making. By altering motility, bacteria swim toward nutrient-rich environments, movement modulated by their chemotaxis systems with the addition of pili for surface movement. The numbers and types of chemoreceptors reflect the bacterial niche and lifestyle, with those adapted to complex environments having diverse metabolic capabilities, encoding far more chemoreceptors in their genomes. The Alpha-proteobacteria typify the latter case, with soil bacteria such as rhizobia, endosymbionts of legume plants, where motility and chemotaxis are essential for competitive symbiosis initiation, among other processes. This review describes the current knowledge of motility and chemotaxis in six model soil bacteria: Sinorhizobium meliloti, Agrobacterium fabacearum, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Azorhizobium caulinodans, Azospirillum brasilense, and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Although motility and chemotaxis systems have a conserved core, rhizobia possess several modifications that optimize their movements in soil and root surface environments. The soil provides a unique challenge for microbial mobility, since water pathways through particles are not always continuous, especially in drier conditions. The effectiveness of symbiont inoculants in a field context relies on their mobility and dispersal through the soil, often assisted by water percolation or macroorganism movement or networks. Thus, this review summarizes the factors that make it essential to consider and test rhizobial motility and chemotaxis for any potential inoculant.}, } @article {pmid34512700, year = {2021}, author = {Goddard, ML and Belval, L and Martin, IR and Roth, L and Laloue, H and Deglène-Benbrahim, L and Valat, L and Bertsch, C and Chong, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Triggers Major Changes in Primary Metabolism Together With Modification of Defense Responses and Signaling in Both Roots and Leaves of Vitis vinifera.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {721614}, pmid = {34512700}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide but is subjected to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, especially related to climate change. In this context, the grapevine culture could take advantage of symbiosis through association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which are able to establish symbiosis with most terrestrial plants. Indeed, it is well established that mycorrhization improves grapevine nutrition and resistance to stresses, especially water stress and resistance to root pathogens. Thus, it appears essential to understand the effect of mycorrhization on grapevine metabolism and defense responses. In this study, we combined a non-targeted metabolomic approach and a targeted transcriptomic study to analyze changes induced in both the roots and leaves of V. vinifera cv. Gewurztraminer by colonization with Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri). We showed that colonization of grapevine with AMF triggers major reprogramming of primary metabolism in the roots, especially sugar and fatty acid metabolism. On the other hand, mycorrhizal roots had decreased contents of most sugars and sugar acids. A significant increase in several fatty acids (C16:1, linoleic and linolenic acids and the C20 arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids) was also detected. However, a downregulation of the JA biosynthesis pathway was evidenced. We also found strong induction of the expression of PR proteins from the proteinase inhibitor (PR6) and subtilase (PR7) families in roots, suggesting that these proteins are involved in the mycorrhiza development but could also confer higher resistance to root pathogens. Metabolic changes induced by mycorrhization were less marked in leaves but involved higher levels of linoleic and linolenic acids and decreased sucrose, quinic, and shikimic acid contents. In addition, Ri colonization resulted in enhanced JA and SA levels in leaves. Overall, this study provides a detailed picture of metabolic changes induced by AMF colonization in a woody, economically important species. Moreover, stimulation of fatty acid biosynthesis and PR protein expression in roots and enhanced defense hormone contents in leaves establish first insight in favor of better resistance of grapevine to various pathogens provided by AMF colonization.}, } @article {pmid34512607, year = {2021}, author = {Villa-Rivera, MG and Cano-Camacho, H and López-Romero, E and Zavala-Páramo, MG}, title = {The Role of Arabinogalactan Type II Degradation in Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {730543}, pmid = {34512607}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arabinogalactans (AGs) are structural polysaccharides of the plant cell wall. A small proportion of the AGs are associated with hemicellulose and pectin. Furthermore, AGs are associated with proteins forming the so-called arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), which can be found in the plant cell wall or attached through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor to the plasma membrane. AGPs are a family of highly glycosylated proteins grouped with cell wall proteins rich in hydroxyproline. These glycoproteins have important and diverse functions in plants, such as growth, cellular differentiation, signaling, and microbe-plant interactions, and several reports suggest that carbohydrate components are crucial for AGP functions. In beneficial plant-microbe interactions, AGPs attract symbiotic species of fungi or bacteria, promote the development of infectious structures and the colonization of root tips, and furthermore, these interactions can activate plant defense mechanisms. On the other hand, plants secrete and accumulate AGPs at infection sites, creating cross-links with pectin. As part of the plant cell wall degradation machinery, beneficial and pathogenic fungi and bacteria can produce the enzymes necessary for the complete depolymerization of AGs including endo-β-(1,3), β-(1,4) and β-(1,6)-galactanases, β-(1,3/1,6) galactanases, α-L-arabinofuranosidases, β-L-arabinopyranosidases, and β-D-glucuronidases. These hydrolytic enzymes are secreted during plant-pathogen interactions and could have implications for the function of AGPs. It has been proposed that AGPs could prevent infection by pathogenic microorganisms because their degradation products generated by hydrolytic enzymes of pathogens function as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) eliciting the plant defense response. In this review, we describe the structure and function of AGs and AGPs as components of the plant cell wall. Additionally, we describe the set of enzymes secreted by microorganisms to degrade AGs from AGPs and its possible implication for plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34512591, year = {2021}, author = {Nesbitt, H and Burke, C and Haghi, M}, title = {Manipulation of the Upper Respiratory Microbiota to Reduce Incidence and Severity of Upper Respiratory Viral Infections: A Literature Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {713703}, pmid = {34512591}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {There is a high incidence of upper respiratory viral infections in the human population, with infection severity being unique to each individual. Upper respiratory viruses have been associated previously with secondary bacterial infection, however, several cross-sectional studies analyzed in the literature indicate that an inverse relationship can also occur. Pathobiont abundance and/or bacterial dysbiosis can impair epithelial integrity and predispose an individual to viral infection. In this review we describe common commensal microorganisms that have the capacity to reduce the abundance of pathobionts and maintain bacterial symbiosis in the upper respiratory tract and discuss the potential and limitations of localized probiotic formulations of commensal bacteria to reduce the incidence and severity of viral infections.}, } @article {pmid34512573, year = {2021}, author = {He, X and Xie, H and Gao, D and Khashi U Rahman, M and Zhou, X and Wu, F}, title = {Biochar and Intercropping With Potato-Onion Enhanced the Growth and Yield Advantages of Tomato by Regulating the Soil Properties, Nutrient Uptake, and Soil Microbial Community.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {695447}, pmid = {34512573}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The application of biochar stimulates the activities of microorganisms that affect soil quality and plant growth. However, studies on the impacts of biochar mainly focus on a monoculture, its effects on interspecific interactions are rarely reported. Here, we investigated the impacts of biochar on tomato/potato-onion intercropped (TO) in a pot experiment. Tomato monoculture (T) and TO were treated with no, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2% biochar concentrations in a pot experiment. Microbial communities from tomato rhizosphere soil were analyzed by quantitative PCR and Illumina MiSeq. The results showed that compared with the tomato monoculture, 0.6%TO and 1.2%TO significantly increased tomato yield in 2018. TO and 1.2%TO significantly increased plant height and dry weight in 2018 and 2019. Biochar treatments increased soil pH, decreased NO 3 - -N and bulk density, and increased the absorption of N, P, and K by tomato. Bacterial and fungal abundances increased with an increase in biochar concentration, while Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. abundances showed an "increase-decrease-increase" trend. Biochar had a little effect on bacterial diversities but significantly lowered fungal diversities. TO, 0.6%TO, and 1.2%TO increased the potentially beneficial organisms (e.g., Pseudeurotium and Solirubrobacter) and lowered the potentially pathogenic organisms (e.g., Kribbella and Ilyonectria). Different concentrations of biochar affected the bacterial and fungal community structures. Redundancy analysis indicated that the bacterial community was strongly correlated with soil pH, NO 3 - -N, and EC, while the fungal community was closely related to soil NO 3 - -N and moisture. The network analysis showed that biochar and intercropping affected the symbiosis pattern of the microorganisms and increased the proportion of positive interactions and nitrifying microorganisms (Nitrospirae) in the microbial community. Overall, our results indicated that monoculture and intercropping with biochar improved soil physicochemical states and plant nutrient absorption, and regulated soil microbial communities, these were the main factors to promote tomato growth and increase tomato productivity.}, } @article {pmid34512088, year = {2021}, author = {Kise, H and Obuchi, M and Reimer, JD}, title = {A new Antipathozoanthus species (Cnidaria, Hexacorallia, Zoantharia) from the northwest Pacific Ocean.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1040}, number = {}, pages = {49-64}, pmid = {34512088}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {A new species of zoantharian within the genus Antipathozoanthus is described based on specimens collected from the coast of mainland Japan, northwest Pacific Ocean. Antipathozoanthustubus sp. nov. is characterized by its substrate (epibiotic on polychaete tube) and habitat (exposed rock). As well, the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses using concatenated multiple genetic markers also support the distinction between A.tubus sp. nov. and its congenerics. Antipathozoanthustubus sp. nov. is the first species of Antipathozoanthus species reported to be epibiotic on polychaete tubes, and is the second species in the genus that is not associated with antipatharians.}, } @article {pmid34511061, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, X and Hu, A and Zou, Q and Luo, S and Wu, H and Yan, C and Liu, T and He, D and Li, X and Cheng, G}, title = {The Mesorhizobium huakuii transcriptional regulator AbiEi plays a critical role in nodulation and is important for bacterial stress response.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {245}, pmid = {34511061}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Oxidative Stress ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial abortive infection (Abi) systems are type IV toxin-antitoxin (TA) system, which could elicit programmed cell death and constitute a native survival strategy of pathogenic bacteria under various stress conditions. However, no rhizobial AbiE family TA system has been reported so far. Here, a M. huakuii AbiE TA system was identified and characterized.

RESULTS: A mutation in M. huakuii abiEi gene, encoding an adjacent GntR-type transcriptional regulator, was generated by homologous recombination. The abiEi mutant strain grew less well in rich TY medium, and displayed increased antioxidative capacity and enhanced gentamicin resistance, indicating the abiEi operon was negatively regulated by the antitoxin AbiEi in response to the oxidative stress and a particular antibiotic. The mRNA expression of abiEi gene was significantly up-regulated during Astragalus sinicus nodule development. The abiEi mutant was severely impaired in its competitive ability in rhizosphere colonization, and was defective in nodulation with 97% reduction in nitrogen-fixing capacity. The mutant infected nodule cells contained vacuolation and a small number of abnormal bacteroids with senescence character. RNA-seq experiment revealed it had 5 up-regulated and 111 down-regulated genes relative to wild type. Of these down-regulated genes, 21 are related to symbiosis nitrogen fixation and nitrogen mechanism, 16 are involved in the electron transport chain and antioxidant responses, and 12 belong to type VI secretion system (T6SS).

CONCLUSIONS: M. huakuii AbiEi behaves as a key transcriptional regulator mediating root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34510609, year = {2021}, author = {Rangel, LI and Hamilton, O and de Jonge, R and Bolton, MD}, title = {Fungal social influencers: secondary metabolites as a platform for shaping the plant-associated community.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {108}, number = {3}, pages = {632-645}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15490}, pmid = {34510609}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi/chemistry/*metabolism ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Hypocreales/physiology ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Pollination/*physiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungal secondary metabolites (FSMs) are capable of manipulating plant community dynamics by inhibiting or facilitating the establishment of co-habitating organisms. Although production of FSMs is not crucial for survival of the producer, their absence can indirectly impair growth and/or niche competition of these fungi on the plant. The presence of FSMs with no obvious consequence on the fitness of the producer leaves questions regarding ecological impact. This review investigates how fungi employ FSMs as a platform to mediate fungal-fungal, fungal-bacterial and fungal-animal interactions associated with the plant community. We discuss how the biological function of FSMs may indirectly benefit the producer by altering the dynamics of surrounding organisms. We introduce several instances where FSMs influence antagonistic- or alliance-driven interactions. Part of our aim is to decipher the meaning of the FSM 'language' as it is widely noted to impact the surrounding community. Here, we highlight the contribution of FSMs to plant-associated interaction networks that affect the host either broadly or in ways that may have previously been unclear.}, } @article {pmid34509840, year = {2022}, author = {Bai, YN and Zhang, F and Yu, LP and Zhang, YL and Wu, Y and Lau, TC and Zhao, HP and Zeng, RJ}, title = {Acetate and electricity generation from methane in conductive fiber membrane- microbial fuel cells.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {804}, number = {}, pages = {150147}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150147}, pmid = {34509840}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Acetates ; *Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Electricity ; Electrodes ; Methane ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbial conversion of methane to electricity, fuels, and liquid chemicals has attracted much attention. However, due to the low solubility of methane, it is not considered a suitable substrate for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, a conductive fiber membrane (CFM) module was constructed as the bioanode of methane-driven MFCs, directly delivering methane. After biofilm formation on the CFM surface, a steady voltage output of 0.6 to 0.7 V was recorded, and the CFM-MFCs obtained a maximum power density of 64 ± 2 mW/m[2]. Moreover, methane oxidation produced a high concentration of intermediate acetate (up to 7.1 mM). High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing suggests that the microbial community was significantly changed after electricity generation. Methane-related archaea formed a symbiotic consortium with characterized electroactive bacteria and fermentative bacteria, suggesting a combination of three types of microorganisms for methane conversion into acetate and electricity.}, } @article {pmid34509839, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, Y and Wang, M and Zhong, Z and Chen, H and Wang, H and Zhou, L and Cao, L and Fu, L and Zhang, H and Lian, C and Sun, S and Li, C}, title = {Adaption to hydrogen sulfide-rich environments: Strategies for active detoxification in deep-sea symbiotic mussels, Gigantidas platifrons.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {804}, number = {}, pages = {150054}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150054}, pmid = {34509839}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Hydrogen Sulfide ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; *Mytilidae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons is a representative species that relies on nutrition provided by chemoautotrophic endosymbiotic bacteria to survive in both hydrothermal vent and methane seep environments. However, vent and seep habitats have distinct geochemical features, with vents being more harsh than seeps because of abundant toxic chemical substances, particularly hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Until now, the adaptive strategies of G. platifrons in a heterogeneous environment and their sulfide detoxification mechanisms are still unclear. Herein, we conducted 16S rDNA sequencing and metatranscriptome sequencing of G. platifrons collected from a methane seep at Formosa Ridge in the South China Sea and a hydrothermal vent at Iheya North Knoll in the Mid-Okinawa Trough to provide a model for understanding environmental adaption and sulfide detoxification mechanisms, and a three-day laboratory controlled Na2S stress experiment to test the transcriptomic responses under sulfide stress. The results revealed the active detoxification of sulfide in G. platifrons gills. First, epibiotic Campylobacterota bacteria were more abundant in vent mussels and contributed to environmental adaptation by active oxidation of extracellular H2S. Notably, a key sulfide-oxidizing gene, sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (sqr), derived from the methanotrophic endosymbiont, was significantly upregulated in vent mussels, indicating the oxidization of intracellular sulfide by the endosymbiont. In addition, transcriptomic comparison further suggested that genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial sulfide oxidization pathway played important roles in the sulfide tolerance of the host mussels. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis of Na2S stressed mussels confirmed the upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and sulfide oxidization genes in response to sulfide exposure. Overall, this study provided a systematic transcriptional analysis of both the active bacterial community members and the host mussels, suggesting that the epibionts, endosymbionts, and mussel host collaborated on sulfide detoxification from extracellular to intracellular space to adapt to harsh H2S-rich environments.}, } @article {pmid34509665, year = {2021}, author = {Pereira, AM and Clemente, A}, title = {Dogs' Microbiome From Tip to Toe.}, journal = {Topics in companion animal medicine}, volume = {45}, number = {}, pages = {100584}, doi = {10.1016/j.tcam.2021.100584}, pmid = {34509665}, issn = {1946-9837}, mesh = {Animals ; Dogs/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Microbiota and microbiome, which refers, respectively, to the microorganisms and conjoint of microorganisms and genes are known to live in symbiosis with hosts, being implicated in health and disease. The advancements and cost reduction associated with high-throughput sequencing techniques have allowed expanding the knowledge of microbial communities in several species, including dogs. Throughout their body, dogs harbor distinct microbial communities according to the location (e.g., skin, ear canal, conjunctiva, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract, gut), which have been a target of study mostly in the last couple of years. Although there might be a core microbiota for different body sites, shared by dogs, it is likely influenced by intrinsic factors such as age, breed, and sex, but also by extrinsic factors such as the environment (e.g., lifestyle, urban vs rural), and diet. It starts to become clear that some medical conditions are mediated by alterations in microbiota namely dysbiosis. Moreover, understanding microbial colonization and function can be used to prevent medical conditions, for instance, modulation of gut microbiota of puppies is more effective to ensure a healthy gut than interventions in adults. This paper gathers current knowledge of dogs' microbial communities, exploring their function, implications in the development of diseases, and potential interactions among communities while providing hints for further research.}, } @article {pmid34508929, year = {2022}, author = {Xi, L and Shen, Y and Zhao, X and Zhou, M and Mi, Y and Li, X and Chen, H and Wei, Y and Su, H and Hou, H}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on frond antimony enrichment, morphology, and proteomics in Pteris cretica var. nervosa during antimony phytoremediation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {804}, number = {}, pages = {149904}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149904}, pmid = {34508929}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Antimony ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Proteomics ; *Pteris ; }, abstract = {Pteris cretica var. nervosa is a dominant fern species found in antimony (Sb) mining areas, capable of forming symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), especially with those members of the Glomus genus. Despite this fern's relevance and the potential contribution of mycorrhizal symbiosis to phytoremediation, the AMF's impact on P. var. nervosa phytoremediation of Sb remains unknown. Here, we exposed P. var. nervosa to different concentrations of Sb for 6 months. Our results showed that Sb reduced shoot biomass, enlarged the root/shoot ratio, and disrupted the fronds' intracellular structure. AMF inoculation, however, was able to moderate these phenotypic changes and increased the accumulation level of Sb in plants. From a proteomics analysis of this plant's fronds, a total of 283 proteins were identified. Notably, those proteins with catalytic function, carbon fixing and ATP metabolic function were highly enriched. K-means clustering demonstrated protein-changing patterns involved in multiple metabolic pathways during exposure to Sb. Further, these patterns can be moderated by AMF inoculation. Pearson correlations were used to assess the plant biomarkers-soil Sb relationships; This revealed a strong correlation between ribosome alteration and the root/shoot ratio when inoculated with AMF, and a positive correlation between photosynthesis proteins and chlorophyll (SPAD value). Our results indicate AMF could moderate the fronds impairment by maintaining the sufficient protein levels for ribosomal functioning, photosynthesis activity and to counter ROS production. We demonstrate the effective use of AMF associated with P. cretica var. nervosa for Sb phytoremediation and the potential of applying proteomics to better understand the mechanism behind this symbiotic plant physiological response.}, } @article {pmid34508776, year = {2021}, author = {van de Guchte, M and Mondot, S and Doré, J}, title = {Dynamic Properties of the Intestinal Ecosystem Call for Combination Therapies, Targeting Inflammation and Microbiota, in Ulcerative Colitis.}, journal = {Gastroenterology}, volume = {161}, number = {6}, pages = {1969-1981.e12}, doi = {10.1053/j.gastro.2021.08.057}, pmid = {34508776}, issn = {1528-0012}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics/immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; *Cellular Microenvironment ; Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology/microbiology/*therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dysbiosis ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*drug effects ; Inflammation Mediators/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Intestines/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Remission Induction ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intestinal microbiota-host interactions play a major role in health and disease. This has been documented at the microbiota level ("dysbiosis" in chronic immune-mediated diseases) and through the study of specific bacteria-host interactions but rarely at the level of intestinal ecosystem dynamics. However, understanding the behavior of this ecosystem may be key to the successful treatment of disease. We recently postulated that health and disease represent alternative stable states of the intestinal ecosystem (different configurations that can exist under identical external conditions), which would require adapted strategies in disease treatment. Here, we examine if alternative stable states indeed exist in this ecosystem and if they could affect remission from ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS: We analyzed data from a study on pediatric UC. The data reflect current treatment practice following the recruitment of treatment-naive patients with new-onset disease. Patients received personalized anti-inflammatory treatments over a period of 1 year. Stool samples at 0, 4, 12, and 52 weeks allowed an estimation of microbiota status (through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing) and host inflammatory status (through the measurement of fecal calprotectin levels).

RESULTS: We identify 4 microbiota states and 4 host states. Longitudinal data show that the improvement of inflammatory status is accompanied by an improvement of microbiota status. However, they also provide strong indications that both improvements are retarded or blocked by alternative states barriers.

CONCLUSIONS: Our observations strongly suggest that inflammation suppression should be combined with microbiota management where possible to improve the efficacy of UC treatment.}, } @article {pmid34506623, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, S and Chen, J and Qin, M and Jiang, L and Qiao, G}, title = {Geography-dependent symbiont communities in two oligophagous aphid species.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34506623}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Geography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids and their diverse symbionts have become a good model to study bacteria-arthropod symbiosis. The feeding habits of aphids are usually influenced by a variety of symbionts. Most studies on symbiont diversity have focused on polyphagous aphids, while symbiont community patterns for oligophagous aphids remain unclear. Here, we surveyed the bacterial communities in natural populations of two oligophagous aphids, Melanaphis sacchari and Neophyllaphis podocarpi, in natural populations. Seven common symbionts were detected, among which Buchnera aphidicola and Wolbachia were the most prevalent. In addition, an uncommon Sodalis-like symbiont was also detected in these two aphids, and Gilliamella was found in some samples of M. sacchari. We further assessed the significant variation in symbiont communities within the two aphid species, geographical regions and host specialization using statistical and ordination analyses. Geography was an important factor in shaping the symbiont community structure in these oligophagous aphids. Furthermore, the strong geographical influence may be related to specific environmental factors, especially temperature, among different regions. These findings extend our knowledge of the significance of geography and its associated environmental conditions in the symbiont community structure associated with oligophagous aphids.}, } @article {pmid34504005, year = {2021}, author = {Büttner, H and Niehs, SP and Vandelannoote, K and Cseresnyés, Z and Dose, B and Richter, I and Gerst, R and Figge, MT and Stinear, TP and Pidot, SJ and Hertweck, C}, title = {Bacterial endosymbionts protect beneficial soil fungus from nematode attack.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {37}, pages = {}, pmid = {34504005}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthelmintics/*pharmacology ; Burkholderiaceae/*physiology ; Genomics ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metagenome ; Mortierella/drug effects/*physiology ; Nematoda/*drug effects/pathogenicity ; Peptide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi of the genus Mortierella occur ubiquitously in soils where they play pivotal roles in carbon cycling, xenobiont degradation, and promoting plant growth. These important fungi are, however, threatened by micropredators such as fungivorous nematodes, and yet little is known about their protective tactics. We report that Mortierella verticillata NRRL 6337 harbors a bacterial endosymbiont that efficiently shields its host from nematode attacks with anthelmintic metabolites. Microscopic investigation and 16S ribosomal DNA analysis revealed that a previously overlooked bacterial symbiont belonging to the genus Mycoavidus dwells in M. verticillata hyphae. Metabolic profiling of the wild-type fungus and a symbiont-free strain obtained by antibiotic treatment as well as genome analyses revealed that highly cytotoxic macrolactones (CJ-12,950 and CJ-13,357, syn necroxime C and D), initially thought to be metabolites of the soil-inhabiting fungus, are actually biosynthesized by the endosymbiont. According to comparative genomics, the symbiont belongs to a new species (Candidatus Mycoavidus necroximicus) with 12% of its 2.2 Mb genome dedicated to natural product biosynthesis, including the modular polyketide-nonribosomal peptide synthetase for necroxime assembly. Using Caenorhabditis elegans and the fungivorous nematode Aphelenchus avenae as test strains, we show that necroximes exert highly potent anthelmintic activities. Effective host protection was demonstrated in cocultures of nematodes with symbiotic and chemically complemented aposymbiotic fungal strains. Image analysis and mathematical quantification of nematode movement enabled evaluation of the potency. Our work describes a relevant role for endofungal bacteria in protecting fungi against mycophagous nematodes.}, } @article {pmid34499794, year = {2021}, author = {Decelle, J and Veronesi, G and LeKieffre, C and Gallet, B and Chevalier, F and Stryhanyuk, H and Marro, S and Ravanel, S and Tucoulou, R and Schieber, N and Finazzi, G and Schwab, Y and Musat, N}, title = {Subcellular architecture and metabolic connection in the planktonic photosymbiosis between Collodaria (radiolarians) and their microalgae.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {6569-6586}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15766}, pmid = {34499794}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Dinoflagellida ; *Microalgae ; Photosynthesis ; Plankton ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photosymbiosis is widespread and ecologically important in the oceanic plankton but remains poorly studied. Here, we used multimodal subcellular imaging to investigate the photosymbiosis between colonial Collodaria and their microalga dinoflagellate (Brandtodinium). We showed that this symbiosis is very dynamic whereby symbionts interact with different host cells via extracellular vesicles within the colony. 3D electron microscopy revealed that the photosynthetic apparatus of the microalgae was more voluminous in symbiosis compared to free-living while the mitochondria volume was similar. Stable isotope probing coupled with NanoSIMS showed that carbon and nitrogen were stored in the symbiotic microalga in starch granules and purine crystals respectively. Nitrogen was also allocated to the algal nucleolus. In the host, low [13] C transfer was detected in the Golgi. Metal mapping revealed that intracellular iron concentration was similar in free-living and symbiotic microalgae (c. 40 ppm) and twofold higher in the host, whereas copper concentration increased in symbionts and was detected in the host cell and extracellular vesicles. Sulfur concentration was around two times higher in symbionts (chromatin and pyrenoid) than their host. This study improves our understanding on the functioning of this oceanic photosymbiosis and paves the way for more studies to further assess its biogeochemical significance.}, } @article {pmid34498919, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, I and Barh, D and Podolich, O and Brenig, B and Tiwari, S and Azevedo, V and Góes-Neto, A and Reva, O and Kozyrovska, N and de Vera, JP and Kim, BS}, title = {Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences Obtained from a Reactivated Kombucha Microbial Community Exposed to a Mars-Like Environment outside the International Space Station.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {10}, number = {36}, pages = {e0054921}, pmid = {34498919}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional tea fermented by symbiotic microbiota, and it has been known as a functional fermented product. Here, we report four microbial metagenome-assembled genome sequences (MAGs) reconstructed from the microbiomes in kombucha exposed to a Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station.}, } @article {pmid34498051, year = {2022}, author = {Falvey, A and Metz, CN and Tracey, KJ and Pavlov, VA}, title = {Peripheral nerve stimulation and immunity: the expanding opportunities for providing mechanistic insight and therapeutic intervention.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {107-118}, pmid = {34498051}, issn = {1460-2377}, support = {R01 GM128008/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM118182/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Immunity ; Inflammation ; *Neuroimmunomodulation ; *Vagus Nerve/physiology ; }, abstract = {Pre-clinical research advances our understanding of the vagus nerve-mediated regulation of immunity and clinical trials successfully utilize electrical vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of patients with inflammatory disorders. This symbiotic relationship between pre-clinical and clinical research exploring the vagus nerve-based 'inflammatory reflex' has substantially contributed to establishing the field of bioelectronic medicine. Recent studies identify a crosstalk between the vagus nerve and other neural circuitries in controlling inflammation and delineate new neural immunoregulatory pathways. Here we outline current mechanistic insights into the role of vagal and non-vagal neural pathways in neuro-immune communication and inflammatory regulation. We also provide a timely overview of expanding opportunities for bioelectronic neuromodulation in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders.}, } @article {pmid34496600, year = {2022}, author = {Barroso Márquez, L and Gil Llanes, I and Rodríguez Martínez, O and Chao González, L and Samada Suárez, M and Tusen Toledo, Y and Pérez González, T and Rodríguez Rodríguez, H}, title = {Effect of symbiotic fermented milk together with conventional therapy in the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori.}, journal = {Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas}, volume = {114}, number = {2}, pages = {114-115}, doi = {10.17235/reed.2021.8302/2021}, pmid = {34496600}, issn = {1130-0108}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Milk ; Stomach ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with various gastrointestinal diseases and is the dominant microorganism in gastric microbiota. There are multiple therapeutic combinations used with uneven results for eradication. Studies have been carried out with some strains of Lactobacillus (L) that support its preponderant role in the treatment of infection and reduction of inflammation.}, } @article {pmid34495983, year = {2021}, author = {Nobre, T}, title = {Olive fruit fly and its obligate symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola: Two new symbiont haplotypes in the Mediterranean basin.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {e0256284}, pmid = {34495983}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Erwinia/*physiology ; Haplotypes ; Mediterranean Region ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The olive fruit fly, specialized to become monophagous during several life stages, remains the most important olive tree pest with high direct production losses, but also affecting the quality, composition, and inherent properties of the olives. Thought to have originated in Africa is nowadays present wherever olive groves are grown. The olive fruit fly evolved to harbor a vertically transmitted and obligate bacterial symbiont -Candidatus Erwinia dacicola- leading thus to a tight evolutionary history between olive tree, fruit fly and obligate, vertical transmitted symbiotic bacterium. Considering this linkage, the genetic diversity (at a 16S fragment) of this obligate symbiont was added in the understanding of the distribution pattern of the holobiont at nine locations throughout four countries in the Mediterranean Basin. This was complemented with mitochondrial (four mtDNA fragments) and nuclear (ten microsatellites) data of the host. We focused on the previously established Iberian cluster for the B. oleae structure and hypothesised that the Tunisian samples would fall into a differentiated cluster. From the host point of view, we were unable to confirm this hypothesis. Looking at the symbiont, however, two new 16S haplotypes were found exclusively in the populations from Tunisia. This finding is discussed in the frame of host-symbiont specificity and transmission mode. To understand olive fruit fly population diversity and dispersion, the dynamics of the symbiont also needs to be taken into consideration, as it enables the fly to, so efficiently and uniquely, exploit the olive fruit resource.}, } @article {pmid34495522, year = {2022}, author = {Dyson, P and Figueiredo, M and Andongma, AA and Whitten, MMA}, title = {Symbiont-Mediated RNA Interference (SMR): Using Symbiotic Bacteria as Vectors for Delivering RNAi to Insects.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2360}, number = {}, pages = {295-306}, pmid = {34495522}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {BB/R006418/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Insecta/genetics ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics ; Thysanoptera/genetics ; }, abstract = {RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a widely used approach for reverse genetic analysis in eukaryotes. In insects, RNAi also has an application in the control of insect pests. Several methods have been developed for delivery of interfering RNA in insects, with varying outcomes for different species. Here we describe how a bacterial symbiont can be exploited for continuous synthesis of interfering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in its insect host. This approach, termed symbiont-mediated RNAi (SMR), can overcome problems associated with instability of dietary dsRNA due to action of salivary or foregut nucleases. As insects do not possess RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity that can amplify and extend RNAi in other organisms, SMR also offers the possibility of long-term systemic RNAi not afforded by single applications of dsRNA to insects by other delivery methods. Here, we describe how SMR can be applied in a globally distributed agricultural pest species, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis).}, } @article {pmid34495359, year = {2022}, author = {Agarwal, R and Gupta, M and Antony, A and Sen, R and Raychoudhury, R}, title = {In Vitro Studies Reveal that Pseudomonas, from Odontotermes obesus Colonies, can Function as a Defensive Mutualist as it Prevents the Weedy Fungus While Keeping the Crop Fungus Unaffected.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {2}, pages = {391-403}, pmid = {34495359}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Plant Weeds/genetics ; Pseudomonas/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects that farm monocultures of fungi are canonical examples of nutritional symbiosis as well as independent evolution of agriculture in non-human animals. But just like in human agriculture, these fungal crops face constant threat of invasion by weeds which, if unchecked, take over the crop fungus. In fungus-growing termites, the crop fungus (Termitomyces) faces such challenges from the weedy fungus Pseudoxylaria. The mechanism by which Pseudoxylaria is suppressed is not known. However, evidence suggests that some bacterial secondary symbionts can serve as defensive mutualists by preventing the growth of Pseudoxylaria. However, such secondary symbionts must possess the dual, yet contrasting, capabilities of suppressing the weedy fungus while keeping the growth of the crop fungus unaffected. This study describes the isolation, identification, and culture-dependent estimation of the roles of several such putative defensive mutualists from the colonies of the wide-spread fungus-growing termite from India, Odontotermes obesus. From the 38 bacterial cultures tested, a strain of Pseudomonas showed significantly greater suppression of the weedy fungus than the crop fungus. Moreover, a 16S rRNA pan-microbiome survey, using the Nanopore platform, revealed Pseudomonas to be a part of the core microbiota of O. obesus. A meta-analysis of microbiota composition across different species of Odontotermes also confirms the widespread prevalence of Pseudomonas within this termite. These lines of evidence indicate that Pseudomonas could be playing the role of defensive mutualist within Odontotermes.}, } @article {pmid34494768, year = {2020}, author = {Xie, J and Yan, QL and Zhang, T}, title = {[Temporal effects of thinning on the composition and growth of regenerated woody plants in Larix kaempferi plantations].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {2481-2490}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202008.010}, pmid = {34494768}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Acer ; Forests ; *Larix ; *Quercus ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Understanding the temporal effects of thinning on the composition and growth of regene-rated broadleaved woody species in coniferous plantations can provide profound references for promoting the conversion of monoculture plantations into mixed conifer-broadleaved forests, which could solve the problem that the production and ecological functions of monoculture plantations cannot be balanced. We compared the composition of regenerated woody plant species in Larix kaempferi plantation with short-term (1-3 years), medium-term (4-9 years) and long-term (>9 years) after thinning. Furthermore, we selected three regenerated tree species with higher importance value and reciprocal symbiosis with L. kaempferi, which differed in shade tolerance, including shade-intolerant species Quercus mongolica, intermediate shade-tolerant species Acer mono, and shade-tolerant species Tilia mandschurica. We analyzed the relationships between light conditions (i.e., canopy density) and the growth (i.e., base diameter and height) of those species in L. kaempferi plantation with different terms after thinning. The results showed that 46 species of regene-rated broadleaved woody plants were recorded in thinned plantations. The common and dominant tree in different terms after thinning was A. mono, and the shrub species were Lonicera japonica and Euonymus alatus. With the increasing time after thinning, species richness of regenerated trees decreased, but the ratio of tree to shrub species increased and the intermediate shade-tolerant tree species took the dominant position. The temporal effect of thinning on the growth of three tree species was affected by shade tolerance ability. Basal diameter and height of T. mandschurica were higher than those of Q. mongolica and A. mono. With the increases of time after thinning, basal diameter of T. mandschurica and height of A. mono were more sensitive to light, indicating that there were respectively "a shade tolerance strategy" and "a shade avoidance strategy" to adapt to the post-thinning environment. The effects of thinning on the composition and growth of regenerated broadleaved woody species in L. kaempferi plantations were significantly time-sensitive. When deve-loping thinning measures to promote the regeneration of broadleaved trees in plantations, we should consider to extend the thinning interval appropriately to ensure the growth of broadleaved tree seedlings (e.g., T. mandschurica and A. mono) and accelerate their migration into the canopy layer. This would promote the formation of mixed conifer-broadleaved forests and eventually realize the sustainable development of plantations.}, } @article {pmid34494339, year = {2021}, author = {Leech, T and McDowall, L and Hopkins, KP and Sait, SM and Harrison, XA and Bretman, A}, title = {Social environment drives sex and age-specific variation in Drosophila melanogaster microbiome composition and predicted function.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {22}, pages = {5831-5843}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16149}, pmid = {34494339}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Brain-Gut Axis ; *Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Female ; Male ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Social Environment ; }, abstract = {Social environments influence multiple traits of individuals including immunity, stress and ageing, often in sex-specific ways. The composition of the microbiome (the assemblage of symbiotic microorganisms within a host) is determined by environmental factors and the host's immune, endocrine and neural systems. The social environment could alter host microbiomes extrinsically by affecting transmission between individuals, probably promoting homogeneity in the microbiome of social partners. Alternatively, intrinsic effects arising from interactions between the microbiome and host physiology (the microbiota-gut-brain axis) could translate social stress into dysbiotic microbiomes, with consequences for host health. We investigated how manipulating social environments during larval and adult life-stages altered the microbiome composition of Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. We used social contexts that particularly alter the development and lifespan of males, predicting that any intrinsic social effects on the microbiome would therefore be sex-specific. The presence of adult males during the larval stage significantly altered the microbiome of pupae of both sexes. In adults, same-sex grouping increased bacterial diversity in both sexes. Importantly, the microbiome community structure of males was more sensitive to social contact at older ages, an effect partially mitigated by housing focal males with young rather than coaged groups. Functional analyses suggest that these microbiome changes impact ageing and immune responses. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the substantial effects of the social environment on individual health are mediated through intrinsic effects on the microbiome, and provides a model for understanding the mechanistic basis of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.}, } @article {pmid34493891, year = {2021}, author = {Hom, EFY and Penn, AS}, title = {Symbiosis and the Anthropocene.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {239-270}, pmid = {34493891}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Recent human activity has profoundly transformed Earth biomes on a scale and at rates that are unprecedented. Given the central role of symbioses in ecosystem processes, functions, and services throughout the Earth biosphere, the impacts of human-driven change on symbioses are critical to understand. Symbioses are not merely collections of organisms, but co-evolved partners that arise from the synergistic combination and action of different genetic programs. They function with varying degrees of permanence and selection as emergent units with substantial potential for combinatorial and evolutionary innovation in both structure and function. Following an articulation of operational definitions of symbiosis and related concepts and characteristics of the Anthropocene, we outline a basic typology of anthropogenic change (AC) and a conceptual framework for how AC might mechanistically impact symbioses with select case examples to highlight our perspective. We discuss surprising connections between symbiosis and the Anthropocene, suggesting ways in which new symbioses could arise due to AC, how symbioses could be agents of ecosystem change, and how symbioses, broadly defined, of humans and "farmed" organisms may have launched the Anthropocene. We conclude with reflections on the robustness of symbioses to AC and our perspective on the importance of symbioses as ecosystem keystones and the need to tackle anthropogenic challenges as wise and humble stewards embedded within the system.}, } @article {pmid34492529, year = {2021}, author = {Ren, J and Deng, L and Li, C and Dong, L and Li, Z and Zhao, J and Huhetaoli, and Zhang, J and Niu, D}, title = {Safety of composts consisting of hydrothermally treated penicillin fermentation residue: Degradation products, antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial diversity.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {290}, number = {}, pages = {118075}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118075}, pmid = {34492529}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Composting ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Fermentation ; Genes, Bacterial ; Manure ; Penicillins ; }, abstract = {Combining hydrothermal treatment and composting is an effective method to dispose of penicillin fermentation residue (PFR), but the safety and related mechanism are still unclear. In this study, penicillin solution was hydrothermally treated to decipher its degradation mechanism, and then hydrothermally treated PFR (HT-PFR) was mixed with bulking agents at ratios of 2:0 (CK), 2:1.5 (T1), and 2:5 (T2) to determine the absolute abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the succession of bacterial community. Results showed that penicillin was degraded to several new compounds without the initial lactam structure after hydrothermal treatment. During composting, temperature and pH of the composts increased with the raising of HT-PFR proportion, except the pH at days 2. After 52 days of composting, the absolute copies of ARGs (blaTEM, blaCMY2, and blaSFO) and the relative abundance of bacteria related to pathogens were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Especially, the total amount of ARGs in the samples of CK and T1 were decreased to equal level (around 5 log10 copies/g), which indicated that more ARGs were degraded in the latter by the composting process. In the CK samples, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria accounted for ~69.8% of the total bacteria, but they were gradually replaced by Firmicutes with increasing proportions of HT-PFR, which can be caused by the high protein content in PFR. Consisting with bacterial community, more gram-positive bacteria were observed in T1 and T2, and most of them are related to manganese oxidation and chitinolysis. As composting proceeded, bacteria having symbiotic or pathogenic relationships with animals and plants were reduced, but those related to ureolysis and cellulolysis were enriched. Above all, hydrothermal treatment is effective in destroying the lactam structure of penicillin, which makes that most ARGs and pathogenic bacteria are eliminated in the subsequent composting.}, } @article {pmid34492105, year = {2021}, author = {Shinkura, R}, title = {Therapeutic immunoglobulin A antibody for dysbiosis-related diseases.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {787-790}, pmid = {34492105}, issn = {1460-2377}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*drug effects/immunology ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Immunomodulating Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*drug therapy/immunology/microbiology ; Intestines/*drug effects/immunology/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Dysbiosis is alterations in the microbial composition compared with a healthy microbiota and often features a reduction in gut microbial diversity and a change in microbial taxa. Dysbiosis, especially in the gut, has also been proposed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. A body of evidence has shown that intestinal polymeric immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies are important to regulate the gut microbiota as well as to exclude pathogenic bacteria or viral infection such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) at mucosal sites. Since the 1970s, trials for oral administration of therapeutic IgA or IgG have been performed mainly to treat infectious enteritis caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli or Clostridium difficile. However, few of them have been successfully developed for clinical application up to now. In addition to the protective function against intestinal pathogens, IgA is well known to modulate the gut commensal microbiota leading to symbiosis. Nevertheless, the development of therapeutic IgA drugs to treat dysbiosis is not progressing. In this review, the advantages of therapeutic IgA antibodies and the problems for their development will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid34491587, year = {2021}, author = {Tortorelli, G and Pettolino, F and Lai, DH and Tomčala, A and Bacic, A and Oborník, M and Lukeš, J and McFadden, GI}, title = {The cell wall polysaccharides of a photosynthetic relative of apicomplexans, Chromera velia.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {6}, pages = {1805-1809}, pmid = {34491587}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Alveolata ; Cell Wall ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides ; }, abstract = {Chromerids are a group of alveolates, found in corals, that show peculiar morphological and genomic features. These organisms are evolutionary placed in-between symbiotic dinoflagellates and parasitic apicomplexans. There are two known species of chromerids: Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis. Here, the biochemical composition of the C. velia cell wall was analyzed. Several polysaccharides adorn this structure, with glucose being the most abundant monosaccharide (approx. 80%) and predominantly 4-linked (approx. 60%), suggesting that the chromerids cell wall is mostly cellulosic. The presence of cellulose was cytochemically confirmed with calcofluor white staining of the algal cell. The remaining wall polysaccharides, assuming structures are similar to those of higher plants, are indicative of a mixture of galactans, xyloglucans, heteroxylans, and heteromannans. The present work provides, for the first time, insights into the outermost layers of the photosynthetic alveolate C. velia.}, } @article {pmid34490719, year = {2021}, author = {Muñoz, VL and Figueredo, MS and Reinoso, H and Fabra, A}, title = {Role of ethylene in effective establishment of the peanut-bradyrhizobia symbiotic interaction.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1141-1148}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13333}, pmid = {34490719}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Arachis ; *Bradyrhizobium ; Ethylenes ; *Fabaceae ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ethylene has been implicated in nitrogen fixing symbioses in legumes, where rhizobial invasion occurs via infection threads (IT). In the symbiosis between peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and bradyrhizobia, the bacteria penetrate the root cortex intercellularly and IT are not formed. Little attention has been paid to the function of ethylene in the establishment of this symbiosis. The aim of this article is to evaluate whether ethylene plays a role in the development of this symbiotic interaction and the participation of Nod Factors (NF) in the regulation of ethylene signalling. Manipulation of ethylene in peanut was accomplished by application of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), which mimics applied ethylene, or AgNO3, which blocks ethylene responses. To elucidate the participation of NF in the regulation of ethylene signalling, we inoculated plants with a mutant isogenic rhizobial strain unable to produce NF and evaluated the effect of AgNO3 on gene expression of NF and ethylene responsive signalling pathways. Data revealed that ethylene perception is required for the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules, while addition of ACC does not affect peanut symbiotic performance. This phenotypic evidence is in agreement with transcriptomic data from genes involved in symbiotic and ethylene signalling pathways. NF seem to modulate the expression of ethylene signalling genes. Unlike legumes infected through IT formation, ACC addition to peanut does not adversely affect nodulation, but ethylene perception is required for establishment of this symbiosis. Evidence for the contribution of NF to the modulation of ethylene-inducible defence gene expression is provided.}, } @article {pmid34490564, year = {2022}, author = {Sonel, E and Gür, Ş and Eren, T}, title = {Analysis of factors affecting industrial symbiosis collaboration.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {8479-8486}, pmid = {34490564}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Industry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rapidly increasing population causes an increase in consumption amounts day by day. This leads to negative effects such as the reduction of limited resources. In order to eliminate or reduce such negative effects, sustainable approaches are adopted for the future. Industrial symbiosis is one of these sustainable approaches. Industrial symbiosis is when two or more economic enterprises operating independently of each other form beneficial partnerships. In this study, the factors affecting industrial symbiosis collaboration were determined by literature review and by analyzing these factors; it is aimed to eliminate inefficiencies and to ensure the sustainability of established relations. The criteria determined are weighted with the Analytical Network Process method, which is one of the multi-criteria decision-making methods, and it is aimed to calculate the degree of importance and priority.}, } @article {pmid34490546, year = {2021}, author = {Bitomský, M and Pakeman, RJ and Schaefer, H and Klimešová, J and Rūsiņa, S and Lososová, Z and Mládková, P and Duchoslav, M}, title = {Mycorrhizal status is a poor predictor of the distribution of herbaceous species along the gradient of soil nutrient availability in coastal and grassland habitats.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {577-587}, pmid = {34490546}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Grassland ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Plants ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant mycorrhizal status (a trait indicating the ability to form mycorrhizas) can be a useful plant trait for predicting changes in vegetation influenced by increased fertility. Mycorrhizal fungi enhance nutrient uptake and are expected to provide a competitive advantage for plants growing in nutrient-poor soils; while in nutrient-rich soils, mycorrhizal symbiosis may be disadvantageous. Some studies in natural systems have shown that mycorrhizal plants can be more frequent in P and N-poor soils (low nutrient availability) or Ca and Mg-high (high pH) soils, but empirical support is still not clear. Using vegetation and soil data from Scottish coastal habitats, and Latvian and Czech grasslands, we examined whether there is a link between plant mycorrhizal status and plant-available P, N, Ca and Mg. We performed the max test analysis (to examine the central tendency) and a combination of quantile regression and meta-analysis (to examine tendencies in different quantiles) on both community and plant species data combined with plant phylogenies. We consistently found no changes in mycorrhizal status at the community and species levels along the gradients of plant-available P, N, Ca and Mg in the central tendency and in almost all quantiles across all datasets. Thus, we found no support for the hypotheses that herbaceous species which are able to form mycorrhizas are more frequent in nutrient-poor and high pH environments. Obligatory, facultatively and non-mycorrhizal herbaceous species appear to assemble randomly along the gradients of nutrient availability in several European herbaceous habitats, suggesting that all these strategies perform similarly under non-extreme soil nutrient conditions.}, } @article {pmid34490259, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, S and Liu, Y and Li, J and Zhao, L and Yan, W and Lin, B and Guo, X and Wei, Y}, title = {Fusobacterium nucleatum Acts as a Pro-carcinogenic Bacterium in Colorectal Cancer: From Association to Causality.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {710165}, pmid = {34490259}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer worldwide with complex etiology. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), an oral symbiotic bacterium, has been linked with CRC in the past decade. A series of gut microbiota studies show that CRC patients carry a high abundance of F. nucleatum in the tumor tissue and fecal, and etiological studies have clarified the role of F. nucleatum as a pro-carcinogenic bacterium in various stages of CRC. In this review, we summarize the biological characteristics of F. nucleatum and the epidemiological associations between F. nucleatum and CRC, and then highlight the mechanisms by which F. nucleatum participates in CRC progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance by affecting cancer cells or regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME). We also discuss the research gap in this field and give our perspective for future studies. These findings will pave the way for manipulating gut F. nucleatum to deal with CRC in the future.}, } @article {pmid34490039, year = {2021}, author = {Naik, B and Ahmed, SMQ and Laha, S and Das, SP}, title = {Genetic Susceptibility to Fungal Infections and Links to Human Ancestry.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {709315}, pmid = {34490039}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Over the ages, fungi have associated with different parts of the human body and established symbiotic associations with their host. They are mostly commensal unless there are certain not so well-defined factors that trigger the conversion to a pathogenic state. Some of the factors that induce such transition can be dependent on the fungal species, environment, immunological status of the individual, and most importantly host genetics. In this review, we discuss the different aspects of how host genetics play a role in fungal infection since mutations in several genes make hosts susceptible to such infections. We evaluate how mutations modulate the key recognition between the pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and the host pattern recognition receptor (PRR) molecules. We discuss the polymorphisms in the genes of the immune system, the way it contributes toward some common fungal infections, and highlight how the immunological status of the host determines fungal recognition and cross-reactivity of some fungal antigens against human proteins that mimic them. We highlight the importance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with several of the receptor coding genes and discuss how it affects the signaling cascade post-infection, immune evasion, and autoimmune disorders. As part of personalized medicine, we need the application of next-generation techniques as a feasible option to incorporate an individual's susceptibility toward invasive fungal infections based on predisposing factors. Finally, we discuss the importance of studying genomic ancestry and reveal how genetic differences between the human race are linked to variation in fungal disease susceptibility.}, } @article {pmid34490014, year = {2021}, author = {Tang, N and Lebreton, A and Xu, W and Dai, Y and Yu, F and Martin, FM}, title = {Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Differential Gene Expression of Secreted Proteases and Highly Specific Gene Repertoires Involved in Lactarius-Pinus Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {714393}, pmid = {34490014}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi establish a mutualistic symbiosis in roots of most woody plants. The molecular underpinning of ectomycorrhizal development was only explored in a few lineages. Here, we characterized the symbiotic transcriptomes of several milkcap species (Lactarius, Russulales) in association with different pine hosts. A time-course study of changes in gene expression during the development of L. deliciosus-Pinus taeda symbiosis identified 6 to 594 differentially expressed fungal genes at various developmental stages. Up- or down-regulated genes are involved in signaling pathways, nutrient transport, cell wall modifications, and plant defenses. A high number of genes coding for secreted proteases, especially sedolisins, were induced during root colonization. In contrast, only a few genes encoding mycorrhiza-induced small secreted proteins were identified. This feature was confirmed in several other Lactarius species in association with various pines. Further comparison among all these species revealed that each Lactarius species encodes a highly specific symbiotic gene repertoire, a feature possibly related to their host-specificity. This study provides insights on the genetic basis of symbiosis in an ectomycorrhizal order, the Russulales, which was not investigated so far.}, } @article {pmid34489993, year = {2021}, author = {Mendoza-Suárez, M and Andersen, SU and Poole, PS and Sánchez-Cañizares, C}, title = {Competition, Nodule Occupancy, and Persistence of Inoculant Strains: Key Factors in the Rhizobium-Legume Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {690567}, pmid = {34489993}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium-legume symbioses represents an environmentally friendly and inexpensive alternative to the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers in legume crops. Rhizobial inoculants, applied frequently as biofertilizers, play an important role in sustainable agriculture. However, inoculants often fail to compete for nodule occupancy against native rhizobia with inferior nitrogen-fixing abilities, resulting in low yields. Strains with excellent performance under controlled conditions are typically selected as inoculants, but the rates of nodule occupancy compared to native strains are rarely investigated. Lack of persistence in the field after agricultural cycles, usually due to the transfer of symbiotic genes from the inoculant strain to naturalized populations, also limits the suitability of commercial inoculants. When rhizobial inoculants are based on native strains with a high nitrogen fixation ability, they often have superior performance in the field due to their genetic adaptations to the local environment. Therefore, knowledge from laboratory studies assessing competition and understanding how diverse strains of rhizobia behave, together with assays done under field conditions, may allow us to exploit the effectiveness of native populations selected as elite strains and to breed specific host cultivar-rhizobial strain combinations. Here, we review current knowledge at the molecular level on competition for nodulation and the advances in molecular tools for assessing competitiveness. We then describe ongoing approaches for inoculant development based on native strains and emphasize future perspectives and applications using a multidisciplinary approach to ensure optimal performance of both symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid34489402, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, WC and Liu, Y and Zhang, X and Zhang, CJ and Zou, D and Zheng, S and Xu, W and Luo, Z and Liu, F and Li, M}, title = {Comparative genomic analysis reveals metabolic flexibility of Woesearchaeota.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {5281}, pmid = {34489402}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Anaerobiosis/genetics ; Archaea/classification/enzymology/*genetics ; Archaeal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Fermentation ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Heterotrophic Processes/genetics ; Hydrogenase/*genetics/metabolism ; Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Archaeal/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {The archaeal phylum Woesearchaeota, within the DPANN superphylum, includes phylogenetically diverse microorganisms that inhabit various environments. Their biology is poorly understood due to the lack of cultured isolates. Here, we analyze datasets of Woesearchaeota 16S rRNA gene sequences and metagenome-assembled genomes to infer global distribution patterns, ecological preferences and metabolic capabilities. Phylogenomic analyses indicate that the phylum can be classified into ten subgroups, termed A-J. While a symbiotic lifestyle is predicted for most, some members of subgroup J might be host-independent. The genomes of several Woesearchaeota, including subgroup J, encode putative [FeFe] hydrogenases (known to be important for fermentation in other organisms), suggesting that these archaea might be anaerobic fermentative heterotrophs.}, } @article {pmid34488648, year = {2021}, author = {Prazeres, M and Roberts, TE and Ramadhani, SF and Doo, SS and Schmidt, C and Stuhr, M and Renema, W}, title = {Diversity and flexibility of algal symbiont community in globally distributed larger benthic foraminifera of the genus Amphistegina.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {243}, pmid = {34488648}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Coral Reefs ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Diatoms/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Foraminifera/classification/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the specificity and flexibility of the algal symbiosis-host association is fundamental for predicting how species occupy a diverse range of habitats. Here we assessed the algal symbiosis diversity of three species of larger benthic foraminifera from the genus Amphistegina and investigated the role of habitat and species identity in shaping the associated algal community.

RESULTS: We used next-generation sequencing to identify the associated algal community, and DNA barcoding to identify the diatom endosymbionts associated with species of A. lobifera, A. lessonii, and A. radiata, collected from shallow habitats (< 15 m) in 16 sites, ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to French Polynesia. Next-generation sequencing results showed the consistent presence of Ochrophyta as the main algal phylum associated with all species and sites analysed. A significant proportion of phylotypes were classified as Chlorophyta and Myzozoa. We uncovered unprecedented diversity of algal phylotypes found in low abundance, especially of the class Bacillariophyta (i.e., diatoms). We found a significant influence of sites rather than host identity in shaping algal communities in all species. DNA barcoding revealed the consistent presence of phylotypes classified within the order Fragilariales as the diatoms associated with A. lobifera and A. lessonii, while A. radiata specimens host predominately diatoms of the order Triceratiales.

CONCLUSIONS: We show that local habitat is the main factor influencing the overall composition of the algal symbiont community. However, host identity and the phylogenetic relationship among hosts is relevant in shaping the specific endosymbiont diatom community, suggesting that the relationship between diatom endosymbiont and hosts plays a crucial role in the evolutionary history of the genus Amphistegina. The capacity of Amphistegina species to associate with a diverse array of diatoms, and possibly other algal groups, likely underpins the ecological success of these crucial calcifying organisms across their extensive geographic range.}, } @article {pmid34488458, year = {2021}, author = {Chrostek, E and Martins, N and Marialva, MS and Teixeira, L}, title = {Wolbachia-Conferred Antiviral Protection Is Determined by Developmental Temperature.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0292320}, pmid = {34488458}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 094664/Z/10/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dicistroviridae/*physiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*growth & development/*microbiology/virology ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Male ; *Temperature ; Viral Load ; Virus Diseases/prevention & control ; Virus Replication ; Wolbachia/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted bacterium that is widespread in arthropods and filarial nematodes and confers strong antiviral protection in Drosophila melanogaster and other arthropods. Wolbachia-transinfected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are currently being deployed to fight transmission of dengue and Zika viruses. However, the mechanism of antiviral protection and the factors influencing are still not fully understood. Here, we show that temperature modulates Wolbachia-conferred protection in Drosophila melanogaster. Temperature after infection directly impacts Drosophila C virus (DCV) replication and modulates Wolbachia protection. At higher temperatures, viruses proliferate more and are more lethal, while Wolbachia confers lower protection. Strikingly, host developmental temperature is a determinant of Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection. While there is strong protection when flies develop from egg to adult at 25°C, the protection is highly reduced or abolished when flies develop at 18°C. However, Wolbachia-induced changes during development are not sufficient to limit virus-induced mortality, as Wolbachia is still required to be present in adults at the time of infection. This developmental effect is general, since it was present in different host genotypes, Wolbachia variants, and upon infection with different viruses. Overall, we show that Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection is temperature dependent, being present or absent depending on the environmental conditions. This interaction likely impacts Wolbachia-host interactions in nature and, as a result, frequencies of host and symbionts in different climates. Dependence of Wolbachia-mediated pathogen blocking on developmental temperature could be used to dissect the mechanistic bases of protection and influence the deployment of Wolbachia to prevent transmission of arboviruses. IMPORTANCE Insects are often infected with beneficial intracellular bacteria. The bacterium Wolbachia is extremely common in insects and can protect them from pathogenic viruses. This effect is being used to prevent transmission of dengue and Zika viruses by Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. To understand the biology of insects in the wild, we need to discover which factors affect Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection. Here, we show that the temperature at which insects develop from eggs to adults can determine the presence or absence of antiviral protection. The environment, therefore, strongly influences this insect-bacterium interaction. Our work may help to provide insights into the mechanism of viral blocking by Wolbachia, deepen our understanding of the geographical distribution of host and symbiont, and incentivize further research on the temperature dependence of Wolbachia-conferred protection for control of mosquito-borne disease.}, } @article {pmid34487637, year = {2022}, author = {Yang, Z and Du, H and Xing, X and Li, W and Kong, Y and Li, X and Zhang, C}, title = {A small heat shock protein, GmHSP17.9, from nodule confers symbiotic nitrogen fixation and seed yield in soybean.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {103-115}, pmid = {34487637}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {*Heat-Shock Proteins, Small/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Seeds/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobia symbiosis enables biological nitrogen fixation to improve crop production for sustainable agriculture. Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are involved in multiple environmental stresses and plant development processes. However, the role of sHSPs in nodule development in soybean remains largely unknown. In the present study, we identified a nodule-localized sHSP, called GmHSP17.9, in soybean, which was markedly up-regulated during nodule development. GmHSP17.9 was specifically expressed in the infected regions of the nodules. GmHSP17.9 overexpression and RNAi in transgenic composite plants and loss of function in CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing mutant plants in soybean resulted in remarkable alterations in nodule number, nodule fresh weight, nitrogenase activity, contents of poly β-hydroxybutyrate bodies (PHBs), ureide and total nitrogen content, which caused significant changes in plant growth and seed yield. GmHSP17.9 was also found to act as a chaperone for its interacting partner, GmNOD100, a sucrose synthase in soybean nodules which was also preferentially expressed in the infected zone of nodules, similar to GmHSP17.9. Functional analysis of GmNOD100 in composite transgenic plants revealed that GmNOD100 played an essential role in soybean nodulation. The hsp17.9 lines showed markedly more reduced sucrose synthase activity, lower contents of UDP-glucose and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), and decreased activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in nodules due to the missing interaction with GmNOD100. Our findings reveal an important role and an unprecedented molecular mechanism of sHSPs in nodule development and nitrogen fixation in soybean.}, } @article {pmid34486742, year = {2022}, author = {Yu, Q and Li, P and Li, B and Zhang, C and Zhang, C and Ge, Y}, title = {Effects of algal-bacterial ratio on the growth and cadmium accumulation of Chlorella salina-Bacillus subtilis consortia.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {3-4}, pages = {518-529}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202100314}, pmid = {34486742}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Bacillus subtilis ; *Cadmium/analysis/toxicity ; *Chlorella ; Phosphorus ; }, abstract = {Algae-bacteria consortia have been proven effective in the removal of metal pollutants, but the effects of algal-bacterial ratio in the metal accumulation and resistance by this symbiotic system have not been systematically investigated. In this study, we set up consortia with various ratios of Chlorella salina-Bacillus subtilis, determined their growth, Cd accumulation, levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH), extracellular polysaccharide, phosphorus (P) in the culture medium, and functional groups of consortia after Cd treatments (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg L[-1]) for 7 days. With the addition of B. subtilis in the C. salina culture, the dry weight and specific growth rate of the consortia significantly increased compared with C. salina alone, reaching 68.33 mg and 0.382 (mg L[-1]) d[-1] respectively at the 1:4 algal-bacterial ratio with 1 mg L[-1] Cd treatment. Maximum Cd removal (51.66%) was also observed upon the same Cd exposure and algal-bacterial ratio. Cadmium was mostly taken up into cells at 1 mg L[-1] Cd whereas its adsorption dominated the accumulation when Cd was 0.1 and 0.5 mg L[-1] . The amounts of extracellular polysaccharides, GSH, and P of the symbiotic system were also increased by the bacterial addition. Besides, Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed that functional groups like N-H, O-H, and P-O-C were involved in the Cd complexation. Taken together, a higher bacterial ratio promoted the Cd accumulation and detoxification by the C. salina-B. subtilis consortia through intra- and extracellular processes.}, } @article {pmid34486684, year = {2021}, author = {Song, P and Wang, QB and Liang, B and Jiang, SJ}, title = {Advances in research on the relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer.}, journal = {European review for medical and pharmacological sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {16}, pages = {5104-5112}, doi = {10.26355/eurrev_202108_26521}, pmid = {34486684}, issn = {2284-0729}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Immunotherapy/*methods ; Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to provide currently available information on the relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this mini-review, we explored the PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar electronic databases, with regards to the searching terms "gut microbiome, cancer, intestinal flora, immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor". By reviewing and analyzing the literature, we analyzed how the bacterial microbiome influences the immune system and cancer, as well as how changes in symbiotic flora may be applied to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

RESULTS: The microbiota is related to the development of tumors and may promote canceration. In recent years, a number of studies have confirmed the influence of intestinal flora on immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients, and studies have also shown the link between the intestinal microbiome and treatment-related immune toxicity. Antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and hormones affect the composition of the gut microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal flora is closely related to cancer. Intestinal flora has a certain impact on cancer occurrence, cancer treatment, cancer immunotherapy efficacy, and side effects.}, } @article {pmid34486343, year = {2021}, author = {M Fathy, D and Eldomiaty, AS and I Abd El-Fattah, H and Mahgoub, EI and A Hassanin, A}, title = {Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Rhizobia of Faba Bean Plants Grown in North Nile Delta Egypt.}, journal = {Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {672-679}, doi = {10.3923/pjbs.2021.672.679}, pmid = {34486343}, issn = {1812-5735}, mesh = {Egypt ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Ribotyping ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Background and Objective: Rhizobia are bacteria including genes codes for enzymes involved in the fixing of the atmospheric nitrogen. A set of twenty rhizobial isolates were studied to determine their morphological, biochemical, molecular characteristics using the 16S rRNA gene in addition to assess their growth and symbiotic performance. Materials and Methods: Rhizobial isolates were isolated from root nodules of Vicia faba L. plants. The isolates were morphologically characterized by determining cell shapes, size, Gram stain reaction, motility, sporulation, bacterial growth performance was determined by IAA production and biomass density. Symbiotic performance was measured by evaluation of nodulation status and shoot/root dry weight. Sequencing of 16S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis were done for the five promising isolates. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-sample Student t-test. Results: Only five rhizobial isolates (Rh 32, Rh 6-A, Rh 3-4, Rh RL3 and Rh 8-A) were selected according to their growth and symbiotic performance and subjected to further molecular characterizations. All isolates were found to have remarkable nodulation status, IAA production, nitrogenase activity and increasing the root and shoot dry weight. The five selected rhizobial isolates were identified by partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and registered in the GenBank database. The alignment and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA sequences closely related in the GenBank revealed that all isolates belonging to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae. Conclusion: The results confirmed that the five Rhizobial strains will be promising as a source of genes for nitrogen fixation and plant growth promotion.}, } @article {pmid34485316, year = {2021}, author = {Gould, AL and Fritts-Penniman, A and Gaisiner, A}, title = {Museum Genomics Illuminate the High Specificity of a Bioluminescent Symbiosis for a Genus of Reef Fish.}, journal = {Frontiers in ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34485316}, issn = {2296-701X}, support = {DP5 OD026405/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between bioluminescent bacteria and fishes have evolved multiple times across hundreds of fish taxa, but relatively little is known about the specificity of these associations and how stable they are over host generations. This study describes the degree of specificity of a bioluminescent symbiosis between cardinalfishes in the genus Siphamia and luminous bacteria in the Vibrio family. Primarily using museum specimens, we investigated the codivergence of host and symbiont and test for patterns of divergence that correlate with both biogeography and time. Contrary to expectations, we determined that the light organ symbionts of all 14 Siphamia species examined belong to one genetic clade of Photobacterium mandapamensis (Clade II), indicating that the association is highly specific and conserved throughout the host genus. Thus, we did not find evidence of codivergence among hosts and symbionts. We did observe that symbionts hosted by individuals sampled from colder water regions were more divergent, containing more than three times as many single nucleotide polymorphisms than the rest of the symbionts examined. Overall, our findings indicate that the symbiosis between Siphamia fishes and P. mandapamensis Clade II has been highly conserved across host taxa and over a broad geographic range despite the facultative nature of the bacterial symbiont. We also present a new approach to simultaneously recover genetic information from a bacterial symbiont and its vertebrate host from formalin-fixed specimens, enhancing the utility of museum collections.}, } @article {pmid34484136, year = {2021}, author = {Gopal, M and Shil, S and Gupta, A and Hebbar, KB and Arivalagan, M}, title = {Metagenomic Investigation Uncovers Presence of Probiotic-Type Microbiome in Kalparasa[®] (Fresh Unfermented Coconut Inflorescence Sap).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {662783}, pmid = {34484136}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The phloem sap tapped from unopened inflorescence (spadix) of coconut palm using a novel collecting device, "coco-sap chiller," has been branded Kalparasa[®] (henceforth as Kalparasa in the text) to distinguish its properties not found in sap harvested by traditional methods. To know its hitherto unidentified microbiome profile, we employed high-throughput sequencing to uncover the bacteriome and mycobiome in fresh and 12-h fermented samples. Fresh Kalparasa had a pH of 7.2, which dropped to 4.5 after 12 h, signifying fermentation of the sap. Diversity analysis indicated fresh Kalparasa having higher bacterial species than the fermented one. Contrary to this, fresh sap had lower fungal/yeast diversity than the fermented sample. Fresh Kalparasa had relatively higher abundance of probiotic-type Leuconostoc genus followed by equal proportions of Gluconobacter, Acetobacter, and Fructobacillus. The 12-h fermented Kalparasa showed a significant increase in Gluconobacter with a sharp decrease in Leuconostoc. Mycobiome data revealed fresh Kalparasa to be preponderant in Saccharomyces and Hanseniaspora genera of yeasts while the fermented sap had higher representation of Hanseniaspora and Cortinarius and lesser Saccharomyces. This suggested that the fermentation of Kalparasa was probably driven by symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY), particularly acetic acid bacteria and non-Saccharomyces yeasts. The bacteriome-function predictions highlighted the enrichment of glycerophospholipid, ABC transporters, purine, and pyrimidine metabolisms. Based on our findings, Kalparasa containing large population of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Fructobacillus fructosus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Hanseniaspora guilliermondii can be promoted as a healthy "unfermented" plant edible food containing live probiotic-type microbiome during its consumption.}, } @article {pmid34483443, year = {2021}, author = {Gupta, MM and Richardson, DHS}, title = {Editorial: Anthropogenic impacts on symbiotic systems.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {229-232}, pmid = {34483443}, issn = {0334-5114}, } @article {pmid34482407, year = {2021}, author = {Bishop, C and Jurga, E and Graham, L}, title = {Patterns of bacterial diversity in embryonic capsules of the spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum: an expanding view of a symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab128}, pmid = {34482407}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Ambystoma/genetics ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Capsules ; Plant Breeding ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The unicellular green alga, Oophila amblystomatis, populates egg capsules of the spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum. This nutrient-exchange mutualism is widely perceived as a bipartite interaction, but the presence and contributing effects of bacteria to this symbiosis are unknown. We used standard cultivation techniques and amplicon sequencing of the V4/V5 region of 16S rRNA gene to identify and compare diversity of bacterial taxa in embryonic capsules with that in the aquatic breeding habitat. Our sampling regime allowed us to investigate diversity among individual capsules of an egg mass and between two ponds and sampling years. Capsules contain much lower diversity of bacteria than pond water, and spatial and temporal variation in intracapsular and pond bacterial diversity was observed. Despite this variation, sequences corresponding to species in the orders Burkholderiales and Oligoflexales were either prevalent or abundant, or both. Isolates most commonly recovered from capsules were closely related to species in the genus Herbaspirillum (Burkholderiaceae); other isolates were pseudomonads, but in all cases are closely related to known vascular plant-associated species. We conclude that, despite observed variation, there are bacterial taxa whose presence is held in common spatially and temporally among capsules and that the symbiosis between O. amblystomatis and A. maculatum may involve these taxa.}, } @article {pmid34481657, year = {2022}, author = {Heavey, MK and Durmusoglu, D and Crook, N and Anselmo, AC}, title = {Discovery and delivery strategies for engineered live biotherapeutic products.}, journal = {Trends in biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {354-369}, pmid = {34481657}, issn = {1879-3096}, support = {R35 GM137898/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Genetic Engineering ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Genetically engineered microbes that secrete therapeutics, sense and respond to external environments, and/or target specific sites in the gut fall under an emergent class of therapeutics, called live biotherapeutic products (LBPs). As live organisms that require symbiotic host interactions, LBPs offer unique therapeutic opportunities, but also face distinct challenges in the gut microenvironment. In this review, we describe recent approaches (often demonstrated using traditional probiotic microorganisms) to discover LBP chassis and genetic parts utilizing omics-based methods and highlight LBP delivery strategies, with a focus on addressing physiological challenges that LBPs encounter after oral administration. Finally, we share our perspective on the opportunity to apply an integrated approach, wherein discovery and delivery strategies are utilized synergistically, towards tailoring and optimizing LBP efficacy.}, } @article {pmid34480334, year = {2022}, author = {Agas, D and Sabbieti, MG}, title = {Autophagic Mediators in Bone Marrow Niche Homeostasis.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1376}, number = {}, pages = {61-75}, pmid = {34480334}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Autophagy ; *Bone Marrow/physiology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; *Stem Cell Niche ; }, abstract = {The bone marrow serves as a reservoir for a multifunctional assortment of stem, progenitor, and mature cells, located in functional anatomical micro-areas termed niches. Within the niche, hematopoietic and mesenchymal progenies establish a symbiotic relationship characterized by interdependency and interconnectedness. The fine-tuned physical and molecular interactions that occur in the niches guarantee physiological bone turnover, blood cell maturation and egression, and moderation of inflammatory and oxidative intramural stressful conditions. The disruption of bone marrow niche integrity causes severe local and systemic pathological settings, and thus bone marrow inhabitants have been the object of extensive study. In this context, research has revealed the importance of the autophagic apparatus for niche homeostatic maintenance. Archetypal autophagic players such as the p62 and the Atg family proteins have been found to exert a variety of actions, some autophagy-related and others not; they moderate the essential features of mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells and switch their operational schedules. This chapter focuses on our current understanding of bone marrow functionality and the role of the executive autophagic apparatus in the niche framework. Autophagic mediators such as p62 and Atg7 are currently considered the most important orchestrators of stem and mature cell dynamics in the bone marrow.}, } @article {pmid34480215, year = {2021}, author = {Stahlhut, KN and Dowell, JA and Temme, AA and Burke, JM and Goolsby, EW and Mason, CM}, title = {Genetic control of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization by Rhizophagus intraradices in Helianthus annuus (L.).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {723-734}, pmid = {34480215}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; *Helianthus/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi provides many benefits, including increased nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and belowground pathogen resistance. To develop a better understanding of the genetic architecture of mycorrhizal symbiosis, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of this plant-fungal interaction in cultivated sunflower. A diversity panel of cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was phenotyped for root colonization under inoculation with the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices. Using a mixed linear model approach with a high-density genetic map, we identified genomic regions that are likely associated with R. intraradices colonization in sunflower. Additionally, we used a set of twelve diverse lines to assess the effect that inoculation with R. intraradices has on dried shoot biomass and macronutrient uptake. Colonization among lines in the mapping panel ranged from 0-70% and was not correlated with mycorrhizal growth response, shoot phosphorus response, or shoot potassium response among the Core 12 lines. Association mapping yielded three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were significantly associated with R. intraradices colonization. This is the first study to use GWAS to identify genomic regions associated with AM colonization in an Asterid eudicot species. Three genes of interest identified from the regions containing these SNPs are likely related to plant defense.}, } @article {pmid34479412, year = {2021}, author = {Qiu, X and Gao, T and Yang, J and Wang, E and Liu, L and Yuan, H}, title = {Water-Soluble Humic Materials Modulating Metabolism and Triggering Stress Defense in Sinorhizobium fredii.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e0029321}, pmid = {34479412}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Humic Substances/*analysis ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Soybeans/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Water/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria have evolved a series of mechanisms to maintain their survival and reproduction in changeable and stressful environments. In-depth understanding of these mechanisms can allow for better developing and utilizing of bacteria with various biological functions. In this study, we found that water-soluble humic materials (WSHM), a well-known environment-friendly plant growth biostimulant, significantly promoted the free-living growth and survival of Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 in a bell-shaped, dose-dependent manner, along with more-efficient carbon source consumption and relief of medium acidification. By using RNA-Seq analysis, a total of 1,136 genes significantly up-/downregulated by external addition of WSHM were identified under test conditions. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in functional categories related to carbon/nitrogen metabolism, cellular stress response, and genetic information processing. Further protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and reverse genetic engineering indicated that WSHM might reprogram the transcriptome through inhibiting the expression of key hub gene rsh, which encodes a bifunctional enzyme catalyzing synthesis and hydrolysis of the "magic spot" (p)ppGpp. In addition, the root colonization and viability in soil of S. fredii CCBAU45436 were increased by WSHM. These findings provide us with new insights into how WSHM benefit bacterial adaptations and demonstrate great application value to be a unique inoculant additive. IMPORTANCE Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 is a highly effective, fast-growing rhizobium that can establish symbiosis with multiple soybean cultivars. However, it is difficult to maintain the high-density effective viable cells in the rhizobial inoculant for the stressful conditions during production, storage, transport, and application. Here, we showed that WSHM greatly increased the viable cells of S. fredii CCBAU45436 in culture, modulating metabolism and triggering stress defense. The root colonization and viability in soil of S. fredii CCBAU45436 were also increased by WSHM. Our results shed new insights into the effects of WSHM on bacteria and the importance of metabolism and stress defense during the bacteria's whole life. In addition, the functional mechanism of WSHM may provide candidate genes for improving environmental adaptability and application potential of bacteria through genetic engineering.}, } @article {pmid34478567, year = {2021}, author = {Côté, IM and Brandl, SJ}, title = {Functional niches of cleanerfish species are mediated by habitat use, cleaning intensity and client selectivity.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {12}, pages = {2834-2847}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13585}, pmid = {34478567}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Fishes ; *Perciformes ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An animal's functional niche is a complex, multidimensional construct, mediated by an individual's morphology, physiology and behaviour. Behavioural aspects of the niche can be difficult to quantify, as their expression is often subtle and tailored to an infinite number of different situations that involve sophisticated mechanisms such as mutualisms, species dominance or fear effects. The extreme diversity of tropical fish assemblages has led to extensive debate over the extent to which species differ in their resource use and functional role. Ectoparasite removal by cleanerfish species is considered a behaviourally complex interspecific interaction in vertebrates, but differences in the services rendered by various species of cleanerfish, and potential consequences for the range of clients (i.e. resources) they attract, have rarely been examined. Here, we quantify differences among three coexisting species of morphologically similar cleaner wrasses (Labroides bicolor, L. dimidiatus and L. pectoralis) in the global centre of marine biodiversity, the Coral Triangle. We found no clear taxonomic partitioning of clients among cleanerfishes. However, the three cleanerfish species exhibited distinct habitat preferences, and differed in their cleaning intensity: L. bicolor serviced the fewest species and clients, while L. pectoralis serviced the most clients and spent the most time cleaning. Accordingly, L. pectoralis showed no preference for clients based on client size or abundance, while both L. bicolor and L. dimidiatus had a higher likelihood of interacting with clients based on their size (larger client species in L. bicolor, smaller client species in L. dimidiatus) and abundance (more abundant client species for both). Our results suggest that the services rendered by the three species of cleanerfishes differ in their spatial availability, quality and selectivity, thus permitting the coexistence of these species despite their ecological similarity. This, in turn, creates a complex seascape of species-specific cleaning services that underpins crucial biotic interactions in the ocean's most diverse ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid34478216, year = {2021}, author = {Ke, Q and Khalil, I and Smeyers, B and Li, Z and de Oliveira-Silva, R and Sels, B and Sakellariou, D and Dusselier, M}, title = {A Cooperative OSDA Blueprint for Highly Siliceous Faujasite Zeolite Catalysts with Enhanced Acidity Accessibility.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {60}, number = {45}, pages = {24189-24197}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202109163}, pmid = {34478216}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {A cooperative OSDA strategy is demonstrated, leading to novel high-silica FAU zeolites with a large potential for disruptive acid catalysis. In bottom-up synthesis, the symbiosis of choline ion (Ch[+]) and 15-crown-5 (CE) was evidenced, in a form of full occupation of the sodalite (sod) cages with the trans Ch[+] conformer, induced by the CE presence. CE itself occupied the supercages along with additional gauche Ch[+] , but in synthesis without CE, no trans was found. The cooperation, and thus the fraction of trans Ch[+] , was closely related to the Si/Al ratio, a key measure for FAU stability and acidity. As such, a bottom-up handle for lowering the Al-content of FAU and tuning its acid site distribution is shown. A mechanistic study demonstrated that forming sod cages with trans Ch[+] is key to the nucleation of high-silica FAU zeolites. The materials showed superior performances to commercial FAU zeolites and those synthesized without cooperation, in the catalytic degradation of polyethylene.}, } @article {pmid34475861, year = {2021}, author = {Mosquera, KD and Martinez Villegas, LE and Pidot, SJ and Sharif, C and Klimpel, S and Stinear, TP and Moreira, LA and Tobias, NJ and Lorenzo, MG}, title = {Multi-Omic Analysis of Symbiotic Bacteria Associated With Aedes aegypti Breeding Sites.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {703711}, pmid = {34475861}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {MR/N017455/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Mosquito breeding sites are complex aquatic environments with wide microbial diversity and physicochemical parameters that can change over time during the development of immature insect stages. Changes in biotic and abiotic conditions in water can alter life-history traits of adult mosquitos but this area remains understudied. Here, using microbial genomic and metabolomics analyses, we explored the metabolites associated with Aedes aegypti breeding sites as well as the potential contribution of Klebsiella sp., symbiotic bacteria highly associated with mosquitoes. We sought to address whether breeding sites have a signature metabolic profile and understand the metabolite contribution of the bacteria in the aquatic niches where Ae. aegypti larvae develop. An analysis of 32 mosquito-associated bacterial genomes, including Klebsiella, allowed us to identify gene clusters involved in primary metabolic pathways. From them, we inferred metabolites that could impact larval development (e.g., spermidine), as well as influence the quality assessment of a breeding site by a gravid female (e.g., putrescine), if produced by bacteria in the water. We also detected significant variance in metabolite presence profiles between water samples representing a decoupled oviposition event (oviposition by single females and manually deposited eggs) versus a control where no mosquito interactions occurred (PERMANOVA: p < 0.05; R [2] = 24.64% and R [2] = 30.07%). Five Klebsiella metabolites were exclusively linked to water samples where oviposition and development occurred. These data suggest metabolomics can be applied to identify compounds potentially used by female Ae. aegypti to evaluate the quality of a breeding site. Elucidating the physiological mechanisms by which the females could integrate these sensory cues while ovipositing constitutes a growing field of interest, which could benefit from a more depurated list of candidate molecules.}, } @article {pmid34475800, year = {2021}, author = {Meidl, P and Furneaux, B and Tchan, KI and Kluting, K and Ryberg, M and Guissou, ML and Soro, B and Traoré, A and Konomou, G and Yorou, NS and Rosling, A}, title = {Soil fungal communities of ectomycorrhizal dominated woodlands across West Africa.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {81}, number = {}, pages = {45-68}, pmid = {34475800}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Forests and woodlands in the West African Guineo-Sudanian transition zone contain many tree species that form symbiotic interactions with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. These fungi facilitate plant growth by increasing nutrient and water uptake and include many fruiting body-forming fungi, including some edible mushrooms. Despite their importance for ecosystem functioning and anthropogenic use, diversity and distribution of ECM fungi is severely under-documented in West Africa. We conducted a broad regional sampling across five West African countries using soil eDNA to characterize the ECM as well as the total soil fungal community in gallery forests and savanna woodlands dominated by ECM host tree species. We subsequently sequenced the entire ITS region and much of the LSU region to infer a phylogeny for all detected soil fungal species. Utilizing a long read sequencing approach allows for higher taxonomic resolution by using the full ITS region, while the highly conserved LSU gene allows for a more accurate higher-level assignment of species hypotheses, including species without ITS-based taxonomy assignments. We detect no overall difference in species richness between gallery forests and woodlands. However, additional gallery forest plots and more samples per plot would have been needed to firmly conclude this pattern. Based on both abundance and richness, species from the families Russulaceae and Inocybaceae dominate the ECM fungal soil communities across both vegetation types. The community structure of both total soil fungi and ECM fungi was significantly influenced by vegetation types and showed strong correlation within plots. However, we found no significant difference in fungal community structure between samples collected adjacent to different host tree species within each plot. We conclude that within plots, the fungal community is structured more by the overall ECM host plant community than by the species of the individual host tree that each sample was collected from.}, } @article {pmid34475664, year = {2021}, author = {Alipour, H and Izadpanah, L and Azizi, K and Shahriari-Namadi, M and Kalantari, M}, title = {Potential co-infection of Wolbachia with Leishmania among sand fly vectors caught from endemic leishmaniasis foci in Fars province, southern Iran.}, journal = {Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {817-822}, pmid = {34475664}, issn = {0971-7196}, abstract = {Leishmaniasis is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases in the tropical region of many countries in the world. The etiological agents (Leishmania parasites) of the disease are transmitted to human and other vertebrate hosts by infectious bites of female phlebotomine sand flies. On the other hand, some symbiotic microorganisms such as Wolbachia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) may be transmitted vertically in many arthropods and may cause synergistic or antagonistic effects on epidemiology of the vector-borne diseases. Hence, in the present study, potential coinfection of Wolbachia with Leishmania in the sand fly vectors will be examined by PCR technique in the important leishmaniasis foci of Fars province in southern Iran, as a new feature for the disease long-term control. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps from indoor and outdoor locations of 5 different areas of Fars province during 2018 and 2019. DNAs of sand flies were extracted and PCR method was performed based on primers which were designed from surface proteins (WSP) genome region for Wolbachia and minicircle kDNA gene for Leishmania detections. At last, PCR products were sequenced and recorded in the GenBank. Out of 1002 sand flies caught from 5 different foci of Fars province, 909 male and female and 386 female sand flies' DNAs were extracted for detection of Wolbachia and Leishmania by PCR, respectively. Accordingly, out of the total 44 pools prepared from sand flies, 6 out of 28 pools form P. papatasi female were positive for Wolbachia in Shiraz, Marvdasht and Kharameh. However, none of female sand flies were positive for Leishmania. The study also focused on monitoring of sand flies co-infection of Wolbachia with Leishmania, which was not found in any of the studied samples. The negative results may be due to control strategies implemented which were done against Leishmaniasis in the studied areas during last years.}, } @article {pmid34474944, year = {2022}, author = {Bolejko, A and Andersson, BT and Debess, J and Fridell, K and Henner, A and Sanderud, A and Saukko, E and Mussmann, BR}, title = {Facilitators for and barriers to radiography research in public healthcare in Nordic countries.}, journal = {Radiography (London, England : 1995)}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {88-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.radi.2021.08.007}, pmid = {34474944}, issn = {1532-2831}, mesh = {*Allied Health Personnel ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Radiography ; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: It has been suggested that the future of diagnostic imaging relies on engagement in research and evidence-based practice. This implies a role transition from a clinical radiographer to a clinical radiographer-researcher. Clinical radiographers' stimuli for engaging in research in Nordic countries are unknown. This study aimed to address this gap.

METHODS: Cross-sectional data collection via an online questionnaire on facilitators for and barriers to participation in radiography research was carried out among 507 clinical radiographers in public healthcare in the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

RESULTS: Support from colleagues (odds ratio [OR] 2.62) and other professionals (OR 2.74), and self-esteem in research skills (OR ≥ 2.21), were facilitators for radiography research. Lack of knowledge and skills to conduct research (OR 2.48) was revealed to hinder radiographers' participation in research. The absence of a radiography research culture in the workplace explained non-participation in research (OR 1.75).

CONCLUSION: This study revealed significant factors for clinical radiographers' participation in research.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A strategy for establishing a radiography research culture in healthcare is proposed that is novel for the context. Management support for knowledge development and activity leading to inter-professional research projects across knowledge fields, provision of a radiography research lead and acknowledgement of radiography research among colleagues signify the establishment of the culture. These prerequisites might provide a paradigm change towards not only the symbiosis of a clinical radiographer and an autonomous researcher but also a partner who adds radiography research to evidence-based practice in diagnostic imaging.}, } @article {pmid34473860, year = {2021}, author = {Meunier, V and Geissler, L and Bonnet, S and Rädecker, N and Perna, G and Grosso, O and Lambert, C and Rodolfo-Metalpa, R and Voolstra, CR and Houlbrèque, F}, title = {Microbes support enhanced nitrogen requirements of coral holobionts in a high CO2 environment.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {22}, pages = {5888-5899}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16163}, pmid = {34473860}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon Dioxide ; Coral Reefs ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Ocean acidification is posing a threat to calcifying organisms due to the increased energy requirements of calcification under high CO2 conditions. The ability of scleractinian corals to cope with future ocean conditions will thus depend on their ability to fulfil their carbon requirement. However, the primary productivity of coral holobionts is limited by low nitrogen (N) availability in coral reef waters. Here, we employed CO2 seeps of Tutum Bay (Papua New Guinea) as a natural laboratory to understand how coral holobionts offset their increased energy requirements under high CO2 conditions. Our results demonstrate for the first time that under high pCO2 conditions, N assimilation pathways of Pocillopora damicornis are jointly modified. We found that diazotroph-derived N assimilation rates in the Symbiodiniaceae were significantly higher in comparison to an ambient CO2 control site, concomitant with a restructured diazotroph community and the specific prevalence of an alpha-proteobacterium. Further, corals at the high CO2 site also had increased feeding rates on picoplankton and in particular exhibited selective feeding on Synechococcus sp., known to be rich in N. Given the high abundance of picoplankton in oligotrophic waters at large, our results suggest that corals exhibiting flexible diazotrophic communities and capable of exploiting N-rich picoplankton sources to offset their increased N requirements may be able to cope better in a high pCO2 world.}, } @article {pmid34473375, year = {2022}, author = {Bizarria, R and Pagnocca, FC and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Yeasts in the attine ant-fungus mutualism: Diversity, functional roles, and putative biotechnological applications.}, journal = {Yeast (Chichester, England)}, volume = {39}, number = {1-2}, pages = {25-39}, doi = {10.1002/yea.3667}, pmid = {34473375}, issn = {1097-0061}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; Biotechnology ; Fungi ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {Insects interact with a wide variety of yeasts, often providing a suitable substrate for their growth. Some yeast-insect interactions are tractable models for understanding the relationships between the symbionts. Attine ants are prominent insects in the Neotropics and have performed an ancient fungiculture of mutualistic basidiomycete fungi for more than 55-65 million years. Yeasts gain access to this sophisticated mutualism, prompting diversity, ecological, and biotechnological studies in this environment. We review half a century research in this field, surveying for recurrent yeast taxa and their putative ecological roles in this environment. We found that previous studies mainly covered the yeast diversity from a small fraction of attine ants, being Saccharomycetales, Tremellales, and Trichosporonales as the most frequent yeast or yeast-like orders found. Apiotrichum, Aureobasidium, Candida, Cutaneotrichosporon, Debaryomyces, Meyerozyma, Papiliotrema, Rhodotorula, Trichomonascus, and Trichosporon are the most frequent recovered genera. On the other hand, studies of yeasts' ecological roles on attine ant-fungus mutualism only tapped the tip of the iceberg. Previous established hypotheses in the literature cover the production of lignocellulosic enzymes, chemical detoxification, and fungus garden protection. Some of these roles have parallels in biotechnological processes. In conclusion, the attine ant environment has a hidden potential for studying yeast biodiversity, ecology, and biotechnology, which has been particularly unexplored considering the vast diversity of fungus-growing ants.}, } @article {pmid34472169, year = {2021}, author = {Dauphin, B and de Freitas Pereira, M and Kohler, A and Grigoriev, IV and Barry, K and Na, H and Amirebrahimi, M and Lipzen, A and Martin, F and Peter, M and Croll, D}, title = {Cryptic genetic structure and copy-number variation in the ubiquitous forest symbiotic fungus Cenococcum geophilum.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {6536-6556}, pmid = {34472169}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Genetic Structures ; Genetic Variation ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi associated with plants constitute one of the most successful symbiotic interactions in forest ecosystems. ECM support trophic exchanges with host plants and are important factors for the survival and stress resilience of trees. However, ECM clades often harbour morpho-species and cryptic lineages, with weak morphological differentiation. How this relates to intraspecific genome variability and ecological functioning is poorly known. Here, we analysed 16 European isolates of the ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum, an extremely ubiquitous forest symbiotic fungus with no known sexual or asexual spore-forming structures but with a massively enlarged genome. We carried out whole-genome sequencing to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We found no geographic structure at the European scale but divergent lineages within sampling sites. Evidence for recombination was restricted to specific cryptic lineages. Lineage differentiation was supported by extensive copy-number variation. Finally, we confirmed heterothallism with a single MAT1 idiomorph per genome. Synteny analyses of the MAT1 locus revealed substantial rearrangements and a pseudogene of the opposite MAT1 idiomorph. Our study provides the first evidence for substantial genome-wide structural variation, lineage-specific recombination and low continent-wide genetic differentiation in C. geophilum. Our study provides a foundation for targeted analyses of intra-specific functional variation in this major symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34470944, year = {2021}, author = {Fukudome, M and Shimokawa, Y and Hashimoto, S and Maesako, Y and Uchi-Fukudome, N and Niihara, K and Osuki, KI and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Nitric Oxide Detoxification by Mesorhizobium loti Affects Root Nodule Symbiosis with Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {34470944}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Hemeproteins/genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia involves nitric oxide (NO) regulation by both the host plant and symbiotic rhizobia. However, the mechanisms by which the rhizobial control of NO affects root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus are unknown. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of enhanced NO removal by Mesorhizobium loti on symbiosis with L. japonicus. The hmp gene, which in Sinorhizobium meliloti encodes a flavohemoglobin involved in NO detoxification, was introduced into M. loti to generate a transconjugant with enhanced NO removal. The symbiotic phenotype of the transconjugant with L. japonicus was examined. The transconjugant showed delayed infection and higher nitrogenase activity in mature nodules than the wild type, whereas nodule senescence was normal. This result is in contrast to previous findings showing that enhanced NO removal in L. japonicus by class 1 phytoglobin affected nodule senescence. To evaluate differences in NO detoxification between M. loti and L. japonicus, NO localization in nodules was investigated. The enhanced expression of class 1 phytoglobin in L. japonicus reduced the amount of NO not only in infected cells, but also in vascular bundles, whereas that of hmp in M. loti reduced the amount of NO in infected cells only. This difference suggests that NO detoxification by M. loti exerts different effects in symbiosis than that by L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid34469578, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, P and Snijders, R and Kohlen, W and Liu, J and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {Medicago SPX1 and SPX3 regulate phosphate homeostasis, mycorrhizal colonization, and arbuscule degradation.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {3470-3486}, pmid = {34469578}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Homeostasis/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphates/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To acquire sufficient mineral nutrients such as phosphate (Pi) from the soil, most plants engage in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Attracted by plant-secreted strigolactones (SLs), the fungi colonize the roots and form highly branched hyphal structures called arbuscules inside inner cortex cells. The host plant must control the different steps of this interaction to maintain its symbiotic nature. However, how plants sense the amount of Pi obtained from the fungus, and how this determines the arbuscule lifespan, are far from understood. Here, we show that Medicago truncatula SPX-domain containing proteins SPX1 and SPX3 regulate root Pi starvation responses, in part by interacting with PHOSPHATE RESPONSE REGULATOR2, as well as fungal colonization and arbuscule degradation. SPX1 and SPX3 are induced upon Pi starvation but become more restricted to arbuscule-containing cells upon the establishment of symbiosis. This induction in arbuscule-containing cells is associated with the presence of cis-regulatory AW-boxes and transcriptional regulation by the WRINKLED1-like transcription factor WRI5a. Under Pi-limiting conditions, SPX1 and SPX3 facilitate the expression of the SL biosynthesis gene DWARF27, which could help explain the increased fungal branching in response to root exudates. Later, in arbuscule-containing cells, SPX1 and SPX3 redundantly control arbuscule degradation. Thus, SPX proteins play important roles as phosphate sensors to maintain a beneficial AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34467889, year = {2021}, author = {Sheng, H and Weng, R and He, Y and Wei, Z and Yang, Y and Chen, J and Huang, M and Zhou, G}, title = {The coupling of mixotrophic denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) promoting the start-up of anammox by addition of calcium nitrate.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {341}, number = {}, pages = {125822}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125822}, pmid = {34467889}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Anaerobiosis ; Calcium Compounds ; Denitrification ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; }, abstract = {This study discovered one nitrate-calcium-based anammox start-up pathway. Compared with control, the start-up time of anammox was saved by 33.3%, and the average total nitrogen removal efficiency increased from 29.6% to 53.7% during the start-up. Besides, the continuous nitrite accumulation (1.18 mg/L) and a marked increase in the relative abundance of denitrifying and anammox bacteria were observed in the only Ca(NO3)2-added group. These results suggested that calcium nitrate induced partial denitrification to provide nitrite for anammox. Additionally, the role of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in the Ca(NO3)2-added systems also deserved attention, for the contribution of DNRA to nitrate removal as well as the relative abundance of DNRA bacteria were both increased for the Ca(NO3)2-added groups. These results suggested that a mutualistic symbiosis among denitrification, DNRA and anammox exists in the calcium nitrate-added systems, which may explain the reason for acceleration of anammox start-up by adding calcium nitrate.}, } @article {pmid34466692, year = {2021}, author = {Fuentes Barrera, GA and Gabarrell I Durany, X and Rieradevall Pons, J and Guerrero Erazo, JG}, title = {Trends in global research on industrial parks: A bibliometric analysis from 1996-2019.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e07778}, pmid = {34466692}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Industrial parks have been used to promote the economic development of countries. However, its rapid growth has generated environmental problems related to the depletion of natural resources and pollution. Consequently, the network analysis and the bibliometric analysis applied in this research generated qualitative and quantitative information from a systemic perspective on the thematic and community evolution of research on industrial parks (IP) performed to improve its negative environmental impact and reach sustainability. This study used the Web of Science (WoS) database from 1996 - 2019. The main trends and critical research points were identified in four periods of 6-year each. Social network analysis (SNA) was used to identify the intellectual structure main and the academic collaboration networks established among countries/territories, institutions, and authors. The most productive country in articles is currently China (882), however, when we consider the frequency of articles per million inhabitants, it ranks seventh. The WoS database grouped 63.6 % of the articles published in the subjects of "Environmental Sciences & Ecology", "Engineering", and "Science & Technology - Other Topics". Industrial Ecology (IE), Industrial Symbiosis (IS), and Circular Economy (CE) were the author keywords with the highest frequency, indicating that IP research has focused from these perspectives to promote the exchange of byproducts and to evaluate the performance and environmental impact of industrial areas through the use of methodologies such as carbon footprints, emergy analysis, and life cycle analysis (LCA). Finally, some themes were identified and proposed for future research based on analyzing research trends and hot spots from the literature review on industrial parks.}, } @article {pmid34466288, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez-Lachaud, G and Lachaud, JP}, title = {Co-occurrence in ant primary parasitoids: a Camponotus rectangularis colony as host of two eucharitid wasp genera.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11949}, pmid = {34466288}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Different assemblages of parasitoids may attack a given host species and non-random distribution patterns in parasitoid species assemblages have been reported on various occasions, resulting in co-occurrence at the population, colony, or even individual host levels. This is the case for different closely related species of eucharitid wasps (a family of specialized ant parasitoids) sharing similar niches and co-occurring on the same host at different levels. Here we reviewed all known associations between eucharitid wasps and the ant host genus Camponotus Mayr, 1861 and reported new ant-parasitoid associations. In addition, we report a new case of co-occurrence in eucharitid wasps, at the host colony level, involving a new undescribed species of Pseudochalcura Ashmead, 1904 and an unidentified species of Obeza Heraty, 1985, which attack the common but very poorly known neotropical arboreal ant Camponotus rectangularis Emery, 1890. Most attacks were solitary, but various cocoons were parasitized by two (16%) or three (8%) parasitoids. Globally, parasitism prevalence was very low (3.7%) but showed an important variability among samples. Low parasitism prevalence along with host exposure to parasitoid attack on host plants and overlapping reproductive periods of both parasitoid species may have allowed the evolution of co-occurrence. We also provided some additional data regarding the host ant nesting habits, the colony composition and new symbiotic associations with membracids and pseudococcids. The seemingly polydomous nesting habits of C. rectangularis could play a part in the reduction of parasitism pressure at the population level and, combined with occasionally important local parasitism rates, could also contribute to some parts of the colonies escaping from parasites, polydomy possibly representing an effective parasitism avoidance trait.}, } @article {pmid34465209, year = {2021}, author = {Taylor Parkins, SK and Murthy, S and Picioreanu, C and Kühl, M}, title = {Multiphysics modelling of photon, mass and heat transfer in coral microenvironments.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {18}, number = {182}, pages = {20210532}, pmid = {34465209}, issn = {1742-5662}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Hot Temperature ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are constructed by calcifying coral animals that engage in a symbiosis with dinoflagellate microalgae harboured in their tissue. The symbiosis takes place in the presence of steep and dynamic gradients of light, temperature and chemical species that are affected by the structural and optical properties of the coral and their interaction with incident irradiance and water flow. Microenvironmental analyses have enabled quantification of such gradients and bulk coral tissue and skeleton optical properties, but the multi-layered nature of corals and its implications for the optical, thermal and chemical microenvironment remains to be studied in more detail. Here, we present a multiphysics modelling approach, where three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations of the light field in a simple coral slab morphology with multiple tissue layers were used as input for modelling the heat dissipation and photosynthetic oxygen production driven by photon absorption. By coupling photon, heat and mass transfer, the model predicts light, temperature and O2 gradients in the coral tissue and skeleton, under environmental conditions simulating, for example, tissue contraction/expansion, symbiont loss via coral bleaching or different distributions of coral host pigments. The model reveals basic structure-function mechanisms that shape the microenvironment and ecophysiology of the coral symbiosis in response to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid34465022, year = {2021}, author = {Michalik, A and Castillo Franco, D and Kobiałka, M and Szklarzewicz, T and Stroiński, A and Łukasik, P}, title = {Alternative Transmission Patterns in Independently Acquired Nutritional Cosymbionts of Dictyopharidae Planthoppers.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0122821}, pmid = {34465022}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Hemiptera/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Microscopy/methods ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sap-sucking hemipterans host specialized, heritable microorganisms that supplement their diet with essential nutrients. These microbes show unusual features that provide a unique perspective on the coevolution of host-symbiont systems but are still poorly understood. Here, we combine microscopy with high-throughput sequencing to revisit 80-year-old reports on the diversity of symbiont transmission modes in a broadly distributed planthopper family, Dictyopharidae. We show that in seven species examined, the ancestral nutritional symbionts Sulcia and Vidania producing essential amino acids are complemented by co-primary symbionts, either Arsenophonus or Sodalis, acquired several times independently by different host lineages and contributing to the biosynthesis of B vitamins. These symbionts reside within separate bacteriomes within the abdominal cavity, although in females Vidania also occupies bacteriocytes in the rectal organ. Notably, the symbionts are transovarially transmitted from mothers to offspring in two alternative ways. In most examined species, all nutritional symbionts simultaneously infect the posterior end of the full-grown oocytes and next gather in their perivitelline space. In contrast, in other species, Sodalis colonizes the cytoplasm of the anterior pole of young oocytes, forming a cluster separate from the "symbiont ball" formed by late-invading Sulcia and Vidania. Our results show how newly arriving microbes may utilize different strategies to establish long-term heritable symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Sup-sucking hemipterans host ancient heritable microorganisms that supplement their unbalanced diet with essential nutrients and have repeatedly been complemented or replaced by other microorganisms. These symbionts need to be reliably transmitted to subsequent generations through the reproductive system, and often they end up using the same route as the most ancient ones. We show for the first time that in a single family of planthoppers, the complementing symbionts that have established infections independently utilize different transmission strategies, one of them novel, with the transmission of different microbes separated spatially and temporally. These data show how newly arriving microbes may utilize different strategies to establish long-term heritable symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34464802, year = {2022}, author = {Xu, J and Li, C and Shen, Y and Zhu, N}, title = {Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) promoted by pyrogenic biochar: Deciphering the interaction with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {802}, number = {}, pages = {149884}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149884}, pmid = {34464802}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Anaerobiosis ; Bioreactors ; Charcoal ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sewage ; }, abstract = {Efficient biological nitrogen removal (BNR) by anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) can be achieved with presence of redox-active pyrogenic biochar that potentially acting as an insoluble electron acceptor. Anammox bacteria and other symbiotic consortia are surrounded by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) forming aggregate architecture, which also contains electrochemical-active biomolecules such as aromatic proteins and humic substances. Therefore, understanding the role of EPS is necessary in biochar-promoting anammox process. Herein, we investigated the influence of biochar with granular-sized (GP) and micrometer-sized (MP) particle sizes on microbiology and characteristics of EPS in anammox sludge. Addition of GP and MP biochar not only improved the BNR efficiency by 17.5% and 34.6%, respectively, but also increased the relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadia. The bulk and bound EPS contents substantially decreased in biochar-amended groups, while more slime EPS was produced. Spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman, and circular dichroism) and electrochemical (voltammetry and impedance spectrum) analyses revealed that biochar addition enhanced the structural integrity and electron-transfer capability of anammox sludge. EPS depletion led to a steep decrease in BNR efficiency (21.5% vs 83.0% with EPS-retained sludge), whereas it resumed to 42.1% in the presence of MP biochar. Electron transport system activity data showed that biochar replenished the loss of anaerobic respiration metabolism due to EPS depletion. In summary, these results suggested that EPS possibly work as transient mediator for shuttling electrons from ammonium oxidation to soluble (nitrite) and insoluble electron acceptors (redox-active biochar).}, } @article {pmid34463992, year = {2021}, author = {Villar, CC and Dongari-Bagtzoglou, A}, title = {Fungal diseases: Oral dysbiosis in susceptible hosts.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {166-180}, doi = {10.1111/prd.12378}, pmid = {34463992}, issn = {1600-0757}, support = {R01 DE013986/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Candida albicans ; *Candidiasis, Oral ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Mycoses ; }, abstract = {The oral cavity is colonized by a large number of microorganisms that are referred to collectively as the oral microbiota. These indigenous microorganisms have evolved in symbiotic relationships with the oral mucosal immune system and are involved in maintaining homeostasis in the oral cavity. Although Candida species are commonly found in the healthy oral cavity without causing infection, these fungi can become pathogenic. Recents advances indicate that the development of oral candidiasis is driven both by Candida albicans overgrowth in a dysbiotic microbiome and by disturbances in the host's immune system. Perturbation of the oral microbiota triggered by host-extrinsic (ie, medications), host-intrinsic (ie, host genetics), and microbiome-intrinsic (ie, microbial interactions) factors may increase the risk of oral candidiasis. In this review, we provide an overview of the oral mycobiome, with a particular focus on the interactions of Candida albicans with some of the most common oral bacteria and the oral mucosal immune system. Also, we present a summary of our current knowledge of the host-intrinsic and host-extrinsic factors that can predispose to oral candidiasis.}, } @article {pmid34463566, year = {2021}, author = {Shikuma, NJ}, title = {Bacteria-Stimulated Metamorphosis: an Ocean of Insights from Investigating a Transient Host-Microbe Interaction.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0075421}, doi = {10.1128/mSystems.00754-21}, pmid = {34463566}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Recent research on host-microbe interactions has focused on intimate symbioses. Yet transient interactions, such as the stimulation of animal metamorphosis by bacteria, can have significant impacts on each partner. During these short-lived interactions, swimming animal larvae identify a desirable location on the seafloor and undergo metamorphosis into a juvenile based on the presence of specific bottom-dwelling bacteria. While this phenomenon is critical for seeding new animals to establish or maintain benthic ecosystems, there is an ocean of fundamental questions that remain unanswered. Here, I propose an updated model of how bacteria stimulate animal metamorphosis based on evidence that bacteria inject a stimulatory protein that prompts tubeworm metamorphosis. I consider what we hope to learn about stimulatory bacterial products, how animals recognize these products, and the consequences for both partners. Finally, I provide examples of how studying an enigmatic host-microbe interaction can serve as an engine for scientific discovery.}, } @article {pmid34462622, year = {2022}, author = {Verma, R}, title = {Smart City Healthcare Cyber Physical System: Characteristics, Technologies and Challenges.}, journal = {Wireless personal communications}, volume = {122}, number = {2}, pages = {1413-1433}, pmid = {34462622}, issn = {0929-6212}, abstract = {The recent pandemic has demanded a strong and smart healthcare system which can monitor the patients efficiently and handle the situation that arises from the outbreak of the disease. Smart healthcare cyber physical systems are the future systems as they integrate the physical and cyber world for efficient functioning of medical processes and treatment through external monitoring and control of patients, medical devices and equipment for continuous communication and information exchange of physiological data. Technologies like Internet of Things, Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence have given birth to smart cyber physical systems like Smart Healthcare Systems, Smart Homes, Smart Vehicular Systems and Smart Grid. Such systems are interdisciplinary in nature with multitude of technologies contributing to its effective working. This paper presents a case study on healthcare cyber physical systems presenting its characteristics, role of various technologies in its growth and major challenges in successful implementation of cyber physical medication systems.}, } @article {pmid34460912, year = {2022}, author = {Tian, L and Liu, L and Xu, S and Deng, R and Wu, P and Jiang, H and Wu, G and Chen, Y}, title = {A d-pinitol transporter, LjPLT11, regulates plant growth and nodule development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {351-365}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab402}, pmid = {34460912}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Inositol/analogs & derivatives ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polyol transporters have been functionally characterized in yeast and Xenopus laevis oocytes as H+-symporters with broad substrate specificity, but little is known about their physiological roles in planta. To extend this knowledge, we investigated the role of LjPLT11 in Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium symbiosis. Functional analyses of LjPLT11 in yeast characterized it as an energy-independent transporter of xylitol, two O-methyl inositols, xylose, and galactose. We showed that LjPLT11 is located on peribacteroid membranes and functions as a facilitative transporter of d-pinitol within infected cells of L. japonicus nodules. Knock-down of LjPLT11 (LjPLT11i) in L. japonicus accelerated plant growth under nitrogen sufficiency, but resulted in abnormal bacteroids with corresponding reductions in nitrogenase activity in nodules and plant growth in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. LjPLT11i nodules had higher osmotic pressure in cytosol, and lower osmotic pressure in bacteroids, than wild-type nodules both 3 and 4 weeks after inoculation of Mesorhizobium loti. Levels and distributions of reactive oxygen species were also perturbed in infected cells of 4-week-old nodules in LjPLT11i plants. The results indicate that LjPLT11 plays a key role in adjustment of the levels of its substrate pinitol, and thus maintenance of osmotic balance in infected cells and peribacteroid membrane stability during nodule development.}, } @article {pmid34460265, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, S and Xia, J and De Paepe, K and Zhang, B and Fu, X and Huang, Q and Van de Wiele, T}, title = {Ultra-high Pressure Treatment Controls In Vitro Fecal Fermentation Rate of Insoluble Dietary Fiber from Rosa Roxburghii Tratt Pomace and Induces Butyrogenic Shifts in Microbiota Composition.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {69}, number = {36}, pages = {10638-10647}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03453}, pmid = {34460265}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Dietary Fiber ; Fermentation ; Fruit ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Rosa ; }, abstract = {Dietary fiber has been considered a key element in shaping the beneficial host-microbe symbiosis. In the present study, we identified Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruits as a promising dietary fiber source. The physicochemical properties and in vitro fermentability by human fecal microbes of R. roxburghii pomace water insoluble dietary fiber (RIDF) obtained from ultrasonic extraction and ultrahigh pressure (90 MPa)-treated RIDF (RIDF-90) were compared to those of R. roxburghii Tratt pomace (R). Ultrahigh pressure modification significantly increased the water holding, oil holding, and swelling capacity of RIDF-90 in comparison to R and RIDF. RIDF-90 displayed the slowest fermentation rate yet yielded the highest butyrate production. The superior butyrogenic properties of both RIDF-90 and, in part, RIDF were reflected by increased Coprococcus and Ruminococcus levels, demonstrating that ultrasonic extraction and/or further ultrahigh pressure treatment of insoluble fibers promotes the prebiotic value of R. roxburghii Tratt.}, } @article {pmid34459553, year = {2021}, author = {Lindström, S and Timonen, S and Sundström, L}, title = {The bacterial and fungal community composition in time and space in the nest mounds of the ant Formica exsecta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e1201}, pmid = {34459553}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Arctic Regions ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Cold Climate ; Cold Temperature ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Mycobiome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In a subarctic climate, the seasonal shifts in temperature, precipitation, and plant cover drive the temporal changes in the microbial communities in the topsoil, forcing soil microbes to adapt or decline. Many organisms, such as mound-building ants, survive the cold winter owing to the favorable microclimate in their nest mounds. We have previously shown that the microbial communities in the nest of the ant Formica exsecta are significantly different from those in the surrounding bulk soil. In the current study, we identified taxa, which were consistently present in the nests over a study period of three years. Some taxa were also significantly enriched in the nest samples compared with spatially corresponding reference soils. We show that the bacterial communities in ant nests are temporally stable across years, whereas the fungal communities show greater variation. It seems that the activities of the ants contribute to unique biochemical processes in the secluded nest environment, and create opportunities for symbiotic interactions between the ants and the microbes. Over time, the microbial communities may come to diverge, due to drift and selection, especially given the long lifespan (up to 30 years) of the ant colonies.}, } @article {pmid34458654, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, HH and Si, J and Brandt, A and Li, M}, title = {Taking Both Sides: Seeking Symbiosis Between Intelligent Prostheses and Human Motor Control during Locomotion.}, journal = {Current opinion in biomedical engineering}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34458654}, issn = {2468-4511}, support = {R01 EB024570/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Robotic lower-limb prostheses aim to replicate the power-generating capability of biological joints during locomotion to empower individuals with lower-limb loss. However, recent clinical trials have not demonstrated clear advantages of these devices over traditional passive devices. We believe this is partly because the current designs of robotic prothesis controllers and clinical methods for fitting and training individuals to use them do not ensure good coordination between the prosthesis and user. Accordingly, we advocate for new holistic approaches in which human motor control and intelligent prosthesis control function as one system (defined as human-prosthesis symbiosis). We hope engineers and clinicians will work closely to achieve this symbiosis, thereby improving the functionality and acceptance of robotic prostheses and users' quality of life.}, } @article {pmid34457079, year = {2023}, author = {Wechsler, H}, title = {Immunity and security using holism, ambient intelligence, triangulation, and stigmergy: Sensitivity analysis confronts fake news and COVID-19 using open set transduction.}, journal = {Journal of ambient intelligence and humanized computing}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {3057-3074}, pmid = {34457079}, issn = {1868-5137}, abstract = {This paper introduces a multi-faceted security methodology based on Holism, Ambient Intelligence, Triangulation, and Stigmergy (HATS) to combat the spread of current pandemics such as fake news and COVID-19. HATS leverages the apparent complementarity and similarity of physical and mental pandemics using adversarial learning and transduction to promote immunity on both using conformal prediction and principled symbiosis. As such, HATS confronts both mental and physical adversity found in misinformation and disinformation. It confers herd immunity using holism and triangulation that call to advantage on sensitivity analysis using open set transduction and meta-reasoning. Ambient intelligence and stigmergy further mediate meta-reasoning and re-identification in building and sharing immunity. As change is constant and everything is fluid, as truth is not always reality and reality is not always truth, and as truth is imponderable and lie can become truth, two things have to happen. First, reconditioning and reconfiguration engage random deficiency to discern familiarity from strangeness and a-typicality. Second, transfer learning using trans-adaptation and transposition, serve adaptation and interoperability. Together, this empowers open set transduction in facing adaptive persistent threats such as deception and denial when it engages moving target defense using modification and de-identification. Immunology and security further come together using to advantage the coupling of active and adversarial learning.}, } @article {pmid34456937, year = {2021}, author = {Dijkhuizen, LW and Tabatabaei, BES and Brouwer, P and Rijken, N and Buijs, VA and Güngör, E and Schluepmann, H}, title = {Far-Red Light-Induced Azolla filiculoides Symbiosis Sexual Reproduction: Responsive Transcripts of Symbiont Nostoc azollae Encode Transporters Whilst Those of the Fern Relate to the Angiosperm Floral Transition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {693039}, pmid = {34456937}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Water ferns of the genus Azolla and the filamentous cyanobacteria Nostoc azollae constitute a model symbiosis that enabled the colonization of the water surface with traits highly desirable for the development of more sustainable crops: their floating mats capture CO2 and fix N2 at high rates using light energy. Their mode of sexual reproduction is heterosporous. The regulation of the transition from the vegetative phase to the spore forming phase in ferns is largely unknown, yet a prerequisite for Azolla domestication, and of particular interest as ferns represent the sister lineage of seed plants. Sporocarps induced with far red light could be crossed so as to verify species attribution of strains from the Netherlands but not of the strain from the Anzali lagoon in Iran; the latter strain was assigned to a novel species cluster from South America. Red-dominated light suppresses the formation of dissemination stages in both gametophyte- and sporophyte-dominated lineages of plants, the response likely is a convergent ecological strategy to open fields. FR-responsive transcripts included those from MIKC[C] homologues of CMADS1 and miR319-controlled GAMYB transcription factors in the fern, transporters in N. azollae, and ycf2 in chloroplasts. Loci of conserved microRNA (miRNA) in the fern lineage included miR172, yet FR only induced miR529 and miR535, and reduced miR319 and miR159. Phylogenomic analyses of MIKC[C] TFs suggested that the control of flowering and flower organ specification may have originated from the diploid to haploid phase transition in the homosporous common ancestor of ferns and seed plants.}, } @article {pmid34455564, year = {2022}, author = {Sun, W and Yang, B and Zhu, Y and Wang, H and Qin, G and Yang, H}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi enhance the tolerance of phytotoxicity and cadmium accumulation in oak (Quercus acutissima Carruth.) seedlings: modulation of growth properties and the antioxidant defense responses.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {6526-6537}, pmid = {34455564}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Cadmium/toxicity ; Catalase/metabolism ; Glutathione/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Quercus/metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), which form symbiotic ectomycorrhiza with tree roots, mediate heavy metal tolerance of host plants. To investigate the roles of EMF in the growth, modulation of oxidative stress, and cadmium (Cd) accumulation and translocation in Quercus acutissima seedlings, ectomycorrhizal seedlings inoculated with Suillus luteus were treated with different Cd concentrations (0.1, and 5 mg kg[-1]) for 14 days. EMF accelerated seedling growth and Cd accumulation in roots under the highest Cd concentration of 5 mg kg[-1]. Catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased in the leaves of ectomycorrhizal seedlings under the highest Cd concentration. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) trended to increase under both Cd concentrations. Although reduced glutathione (GSH) increased after inoculation of EMF under both Cd concentrations, the release of malondialdehyde increased in the leaves and roots under the highest Cd concentration, indicating that the defense role of EMF in Q. acutissima depends on the Cd concentration. These results indicate that EMF mitigate Cd stress by promoting plant growth and nutrient uptake while modulating the antioxidant system to reduce oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid34455175, year = {2021}, author = {Brookfield, SJ and Selvey, L and Maher, L and Fitzgerald, L}, title = {"It Just Kind of Cascades": A critical ethnography of methamphetamine-related pleasure among people in recovery.}, journal = {The International journal on drug policy}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {103427}, doi = {10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103427}, pmid = {34455175}, issn = {1873-4758}, mesh = {Anthropology, Cultural ; Humans ; *Methamphetamine ; Pleasure ; Self Medication ; *Substance-Related Disorders ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Despite its well documented risks and harms, methamphetamine use can also be experienced as a pleasurable, purposeful, and productive activity. Drug use discourse has historically deemphasised the pleasures of drug use, as they can contradict the expectations of neoliberalism that individuals be moderate, rational consumers. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people trying to reduce or control their methamphetamine use, utilising a critical interactionist approach to excavate the subjugated knowledge of methamphetamine-related pleasure, and construct an understanding of methamphetamine use that incorporated these positive experiences.

METHODS: Qualitative interviews and ethnographic observation were conducted over an eight-month period with a group of twelve people using methamphetamine and accessing recovery services. Transcripts and fieldnotes were analysed thematically with a critical interactionist lens.

RESULTS: The pleasures of methamphetamine use were differentiated into pursuing the rush, exploring sociality, self-medication, and desiring productivity. The interwoven nature of these themes presents a multidimensional understanding of methamphetamine use resulting from a cascade of interacting causes and effects, rather than a linear product of individual choice or structural forces. These findings also highlight the complex symbiotic relationship between pleasure, productivity, and risk for people using methamphetamine which can be traced to the broader cultural and economic context in which use occurs.

CONCLUSION: Interventions and policies responding to harmful methamphetamine use must address the content and nature of the methamphetamine use cascade, acknowledging the diverse needs methamphetamine can meet for contemporary neoliberal citizens, and the sometimes complex and sophisticated purposes for which people may utilise its effects.}, } @article {pmid34453995, year = {2022}, author = {Prigot-Maurice, C and Beltran-Bech, S and Braquart-Varnier, C}, title = {Why and how do protective symbionts impact immune priming with pathogens in invertebrates?.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {126}, number = {}, pages = {104245}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2021.104245}, pmid = {34453995}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Fungi ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Invertebrates ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Growing evidence demonstrates that invertebrates display adaptive-like immune abilities, commonly known as "immune priming". Immune priming is a process by which a host improves its immune defences following an initial pathogenic exposure, leading to better protection after a subsequent infection with the same - or different - pathogens. Nevertheless, beneficial symbionts can enhance similar immune priming processes in hosts, such as when they face repeated infections with pathogens. This "symbiotic immune priming" protects the host against pathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi, or eukaryotic parasites. In this review, we explore the extent to which protective symbionts interfere and impact immune priming against pathogens from both a mechanical (proximal) and an evolutionary (ultimate) point of view. We highlight that the immune priming of invertebrates is the cornerstone of the tripartite interaction of hosts/symbionts/pathogens. The main shared mechanism of immune priming (induced by symbionts or pathogens) is the sustained immune response at the beginning of host-microbial interactions. However, the evolutionary outcome of immune priming leads to a specific discrimination, which provides enhanced tolerance or resistance depending on the type of microbe. Based on several studies testing immune priming against pathogens in the presence or absence of protective symbionts, we observed that both types of immune priming could overlap and affect each other inside the same hosts. As protective symbionts could be an evolutionary force that influences immune priming, they may help us to better understand the heterogeneity of pathogenic immune priming across invertebrate populations and species.}, } @article {pmid34453562, year = {2021}, author = {Le Quéré, A and Diop, S and Dehaene, N and Niang, D and Do Rego, F and Fall, S and Neyra, M and Karsova-Wade, T}, title = {Development of an Illumina-based analysis method to study bradyrhizobial population structure-case study on nitrogen-fixing rhizobia associating with cowpea or peanut.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {105}, number = {18}, pages = {6943-6957}, pmid = {34453562}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Arachis ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; *Vigna ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobia are Gram-negative soil bacteria that regroup a growing number of species. They are widespread in nature and recovered from various biomes that may be explained by a high genetic diversity in this genus. Among the numerous metabolic properties they can harbor, the nitrogen fixation resulting from the association with plants among which important crop legumes (soya bean, peanut, cowpea …) is of great interest, notably in a context of sustainable development. Metabarcoding is widely applied to study biodiversity from complex microbial communities. Here, we demonstrate that using a new species-specific and highly polymorphic 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer barcode, we could rapidly estimate the diversity of bradyrhizobial populations that associate with cowpea and peanut plants, two crop legumes of major interest in Senegal. Application of the method on indigenous bradyrhizobia associated with peanut and cowpea grown in soils collected in the center of the peanut basin shows that Bradyrhizobium vignae is a dominant symbiont. We also showed that the two plant species associate with distinct community profiles and that strains introduced by inoculation significantly modified the population structure with these two plants suggesting that application of elite strains as inoculants may well ensure optimized symbiotic performance. This approach may further be used to study the diversity of bradyrhizobia from contrasting agro-eco-climatic zones, to test whether the plant genotype influences the association outputs as well as to estimate the competitiveness for nodule occupancy and the fate of elite strains inoculated in the field.Key points• An amplicon sequencing approach targeting the Bradyrhizobium genus was developed.• Diversity of cowpea and peanut bradyrhizobia from cultivated soils was identified.• The method is well suited to test the competitiveness of defined Bradyrhizobium inoculants.}, } @article {pmid34451777, year = {2021}, author = {Li, HH and Lu, JL and Lo, HE and Tsai, S and Lin, C}, title = {Effect of Cryopreservation on Proteins from the Ubiquitous Marine Dinoflagellate Breviolum sp. (Family Symbiodiniaceae).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34451777}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Coral reefs around the world are exposed to thermal stress from climate change, disrupting the delicate symbiosis between the coral host and its symbionts. Cryopreservation is an indispensable tool for the preservation of species, as well as the establishment of a gene bank. However, the development of cryopreservation techniques for application to symbiotic algae is limited, in addition to the scarceness of related studies on the molecular level impacts post-thawing. Hence, it is essential to set up a suitable freezing protocol for coral symbionts, as well as to analyze its cryo-injury at the molecular level. The objective of this study was to develop a suitable protocol for the coral symbiont Breviolum subjected to two-step freezing. The thawed Breviolum were then cultured for 3, 7, 14, and 28 days before they were analyzed by Western blot for protein expression, light-harvesting protein (LHP), and red fluorescent protein (RFP) and tested by adenosine triphosphate bioassay for cell viability. The results showed the highest cell viability for thawed Breviolum that was treated with 2 M propylene glycol (PG) and 2 M methanol (MeOH) and equilibrated with both cryoprotectants for 30 min and 20 min. Both treatment groups demonstrated a significant increase in cell population after 28 days of culture post-thawing, especially for the MeOH treatment group, whose growth rate was twice of the PG treatment group. Regarding protein expression, the total amounts of each type of protein were significantly affected by cryopreservation. After 28 days of culture, the protein expression for the MeOH treatment group showed no significant difference to that of the control group, whereas the protein expression for the PG treatment group showed a significant difference. Breviolum that were frozen with MeOH recovered faster upon thawing than those frozen with PG. LHP was positively and RFP was negatively correlated with Symbiodiniaceae viability and so could serve as health-informing biomarkers. This work represents the first time to document it in Symbiodiniaceae, and this study established a suitable protocol for the cryopreservation of Breviolum and further refined the current understanding of the impact of low temperature on its protein expression. By gaining further understanding of the use of cryopreservation as a way to conserve Symbiodiniaceae, we hope to make an effort in the remediation and conservation of the coral reef ecosystem and provide additional methods to rescue coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid34450441, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, S and Yu, H and Su, Q and Zuo, J}, title = {Exploring the role of heterotrophs in partial nitritation-anammox process treating thermal hydrolysis process - anaerobic digestion reject water.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {341}, number = {}, pages = {125762}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125762}, pmid = {34450441}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Anaerobiosis ; Bioreactors ; *Denitrification ; Hydrolysis ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sewage ; Wastewater ; Water ; }, abstract = {Heterotrophic bacteria (HB) are generally prevalent in anammox-based processes, but their functional and ecological roles in partial nitritation-anammox (PN/A) process treating high-organics wastewater remained unclear. This study aimed to elucidate HB activities and microbial interactions in a one-stage PN/A treating thermal hydrolysis process (THP) - anaerobic digestion (AD) reject water. The PN/A reactor achieved a satisfactory nitrogen removal rate of 0.58 ± 0.06 g N/(L·d), and around 12% of COD in the THP-AD reject water was removed. N2O emission factors of the PN/A reactor were 1.15% ± 0.18% treating synthetic wastewater, and 0.95% ± 0.06% treating reject water. A balanced symbiotic relationship was maintained between HB and functional groups (i.e., anammox bacteria and aerobic-ammonia-oxidizing bacteria) over the reactor operation. The relative abundances of Anaerolineae spp. clearly increased, while Denitratisoma, capable of denitrification, slightly decreased when treating THP-AD reject water. The preference for electron donors of heterotrophs explained discrepant growth trends.}, } @article {pmid34450153, year = {2021}, author = {Palaka, BK and Vijayakumar, S and Roy Choudhury, S}, title = {Exploring nod factor receptors activation process in chickpea by bridging modelling, docking and molecular dynamics simulations.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {965-979}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.152}, pmid = {34450153}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/chemistry ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cicer/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Bonding ; *Molecular Docking Simulation ; *Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plasma membrane-bound receptor proteins play crucial roles in the perception and further transmission of regulatory signals to modulate numerous developmental and metabolic events. Precise functioning and fine-tuning of Nod factor receptor (NFR) mediated signalling is a critical requirement for root nodule symbiosis. Here, we have identified, cloned and phylogenetically characterized chickpea NFR1 and NFR5, which are showing significant homology with other legume NFR receptors. Homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations highlight the molecular structure of ligand binding ectodomains [EDs] and cytosolic kinase domains [KDs] of NFRs in chickpea. Our detailed structural analysis also revealed that both NFR1 and NFR5 share resemblance as well as dissimilarity in sequence, structure and substrate-binding pocket. Further, molecular docking simulations provide us adequate insights into the active site of receptors where the Nod factor (NF) binds. The outcome of this work sheds light on the binding specificity of NFs towards NFRs and thus may significantly contribute to the design of new strategies in improving root-nodule symbiosis towards meeting the agricultural demands.}, } @article {pmid34449786, year = {2021}, author = {Harrower, JT and Gilbert, GS}, title = {Parasitism to mutualism continuum for Joshua trees inoculated with different communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from a desert elevation gradient.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {e0256068}, pmid = {34449786}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Climate ; Fungi ; Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Trees/microbiology ; Yucca/metabolism/*microbiology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Most desert plants form symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), yet fungal identity and impacts on host plants remain largely unknown. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of AMF relationships for plant functioning, we do not know how fungal community structure changes across a desert climate gradient, nor the impacts of different fungal communities on host plant species. Because climate change can shape the distribution of species through effects on species interactions, knowing how the ranges of symbiotic partners are geographically structured and the outcomes of those species interactions informs theory and improves management recommendations. Here we used high throughput sequencing to examine the AMF community of Joshua trees along a climate gradient in Joshua Tree National Park. We then used a range of performance measures and abiotic factors to evaluate how different AMF communities may affect Joshua tree fitness. We found that fungal communities change with elevation resulting in a spectrum of interaction outcomes from mutualism to parasitism that changed with the developmental stage of the plant. Nutrient accumulation and the mycorrhizal growth response of Joshua tree seedlings inoculated with fungi from the lowest (warmest) elevations was first negative, but after 9 months had surpassed that of plants with other fungal treatments. This indicates that low elevation fungi are costly for the plant to initiate symbiosis, yet confer benefits over time. The strong relationship between AMF community and plant growth suggests that variation in AMF community may have long term consequences for plant populations along an elevation gradient.}, } @article {pmid34449321, year = {2021}, author = {Duan, L and An, X and Zhang, Y and Jin, D and Zhao, S and Zhou, R and Duan, Y and Zhang, Y and Liu, X and Lian, F}, title = {Gut microbiota as the critical correlation of polycystic ovary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {142}, number = {}, pages = {112094}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112094}, pmid = {34449321}, issn = {1950-6007}, mesh = {Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology/*physiopathology ; Dysbiosis/complications/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/microbiology/*physiopathology ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota forms a symbiotic relationship with the host and maintains the ecological balance of the internal and external environment of the human body. However, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and immune deficiency, as well as environmental changes, can destroy the host-microbial balance, leading to the occurrence of a variety of diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. Meanwhile, diseases can also affect gut microbiota, forming a vicious cycle. The role of the intestinal microbiota in different diseases have been proven by several studies; however, as a common target of PCOS and T2DM, there are few reports on the treatment of different diseases through the regulation of intestinal microbiota as the critical correlation. This review analyzed the common mechanisms of intestinal microbiota in PCOS and T2DM, including the dysbiosis of gut microbiota, endotoxemia, short-chain fatty acids, biotransformation of bile acids, and synthesis of amino acid in regulating insulin resistance, obesity, chronic inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The possible therapeutic effects of probiotics and/or prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, bariatric surgery, dietary intervention, drug treatment, and other treatments targeted at regulating intestinal microbiota were also elucidated.}, } @article {pmid34448690, year = {2021}, author = {Perez, M and Angers, B and Young, CR and Juniper, SK}, title = {Shining light on a deep-sea bacterial symbiont population structure with CRISPR.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34448690}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Ecosystem ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many foundation species in chemosynthesis-based ecosystems rely on environmentally acquired symbiotic bacteria for their survival. Hence, understanding the biogeographic distributions of these symbionts at regional scales is key to understanding patterns of connectivity and predicting resilience of their host populations (and thus whole communities). However, such assessments are challenging because they necessitate measuring bacterial genetic diversity at fine resolutions. For this purpose, the recently discovered clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) constitutes a promising new genetic marker. These DNA sequences harboured by about half of bacteria hold their viral immune memory, and as such, might allow discrimination of different lineages or strains of otherwise indistinguishable bacteria. In this study, we assessed the potential of CRISPR as a hypervariable phylogenetic marker in the context of a population genetic study of an uncultured bacterial species. We used high-throughput CRISPR-based typing along with multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) to characterize the regional population structure of the obligate but environmentally acquired symbiont species Candidatus Endoriftia persephone on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Mixed symbiont populations of Ca. Endoriftia persephone were sampled across individual Ridgeia piscesae hosts from contrasting habitats in order to determine if environmental conditions rather than barriers to connectivity are more important drivers of symbiont diversity. We showed that CRISPR revealed a much higher symbiont genetic diversity than the other housekeeping genes. Several lines of evidence imply this diversity is indicative of environmental strains. Finally, we found with both CRISPR and gene markers that local symbiont populations are strongly differentiated across sites known to be isolated by deep-sea circulation patterns. This research showed the high power of CRISPR to resolve the genetic structure of uncultured bacterial populations and represents a step towards making keystone microbial species an integral part of conservation policies for upcoming mining operations on the seafloor.}, } @article {pmid34448326, year = {2022}, author = {Tortorelli, G and Oakley, CA and Davy, SK and van Oppen, MJH and McFadden, GI}, title = {Cell wall proteomic analysis of the cnidarian photosymbionts Breviolum minutum and Cladocopium goreaui.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {e12870}, pmid = {34448326}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Wall ; *Cnidaria ; *Dinoflagellida ; Proteome ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The algal cell wall is an important cellular component that functions in defense, nutrient utilization, signaling, adhesion, and cell-cell recognition-processes important in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. The cell wall of symbiodiniacean dinoflagellates is not well characterized. Here, we present a method to isolate cell walls of Symbiodiniaceae and prepare cell-wall-enriched samples for proteomic analysis. Label-free liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to explore the surface proteome of two Symbiodiniaceae species from the Great Barrier Reef: Breviolum minutum and Cladocopium goreaui. Transporters, hydrolases, translocases, and proteins involved in cell-adhesion and protein-protein interactions were identified, but the majority of cell wall proteins had no homologues in public databases. We propose roles for some of these proteins in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. This work provides the first proteomics investigation of cell wall proteins in the Symbiodiniaceae and represents a basis for future explorations of the roles of cell wall proteins in Symbiodiniaceae and other dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid34445229, year = {2021}, author = {Luna-Sánchez, M and Bianchi, P and Quintana, A}, title = {Mitochondria-Induced Immune Response as a Trigger for Neurodegeneration: A Pathogen from Within.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {34445229}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytokines/immunology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/immunology ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*immunology/pathology ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/*immunology/pathology ; RNA, Mitochondrial/immunology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between the mitochondrion and the ancestor of the eukaryotic cell allowed cellular complexity and supported life. Mitochondria have specialized in many key functions ensuring cell homeostasis and survival. Thus, proper communication between mitochondria and cell nucleus is paramount for cellular health. However, due to their archaebacterial origin, mitochondria possess a high immunogenic potential. Indeed, mitochondria have been identified as an intracellular source of molecules that can elicit cellular responses to pathogens. Compromised mitochondrial integrity leads to release of mitochondrial content into the cytosol, which triggers an unwanted cellular immune response. Mitochondrial nucleic acids (mtDNA and mtRNA) can interact with the same cytoplasmic sensors that are specialized in recognizing genetic material from pathogens. High-energy demanding cells, such as neurons, are highly affected by deficits in mitochondrial function. Notably, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and chronic inflammation are concurrent events in many severe debilitating disorders. Interestingly in this context of pathology, increasing number of studies have detected immune-activating mtDNA and mtRNA that induce an aberrant production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interferon effectors. Thus, this review provides new insights on mitochondria-driven inflammation as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative and primary mitochondrial diseases.}, } @article {pmid34445201, year = {2021}, author = {Rogato, A and Valkov, VT and Nadzieja, M and Stougaard, J and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {The Lotus japonicus AFB6 Gene Is Involved in the Auxin Dependent Root Developmental Program.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {34445201}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Organogenesis, Plant ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Auxin is essential for root development, and its regulatory action is exerted at different steps from perception of the hormone up to transcriptional regulation of target genes. In legume plants there is an overlap between the developmental programs governing lateral root and N2-fixing nodule organogenesis, the latter induced as the result of the symbiotic interaction with rhizobia. Here we report the characterization of a member of the L. japonicus TIR1/AFB auxin receptor family, LjAFB6. A preferential expression of the LjAFB6 gene in the aerial portion of L. japonicus plants was observed. Significant regulation of the expression was not observed during the symbiotic interaction with Mesorhizobium loti and the nodule organogenesis process. In roots, the LjAFB6 expression was induced in response to nitrate supply and was mainly localized in the meristematic regions of both primary and lateral roots. The phenotypic analyses conducted on two independent null mutants indicated a specialized role in the control of primary and lateral root elongation processes in response to auxin, whereas no involvement in the nodulation process was found. We also report the involvement of LjAFB6 in the hypocotyl elongation process and in the control of the expression profile of an auxin-responsive gene.}, } @article {pmid34443614, year = {2021}, author = {Al-Mohammadi, AR and Ismaiel, AA and Ibrahim, RA and Moustafa, AH and Abou Zeid, A and Enan, G}, title = {Chemical Constitution and Antimicrobial Activity of Kombucha Fermented Beverage.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {34443614}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*analysis/*pharmacology ; Fermented Foods/*analysis/microbiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional beverage of sweetened black tea fermented with a symbiotic association of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. In this study, kombucha fermented beverage (KFB) appeared to include nine chemical groups (alcohols, acids, lactones, condensed heterocyclic compounds, antibiotics, esters, aldehydes, fatty acids, and alkaloids) of many bioactive metabolites, as elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and IR spectra. The fermented metabolic components of KFB seem collectively to act in a synergistic action giving rise to the antimicrobial activity. Four types of kombucha preparations (fermented, neutralized, heat-treated and unfermented) were demonstrated with respect to their antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using agar well diffusion assay. KFB exerted the strongest antimicrobial activities when compared with neutralized and heat-treated kombucha beverages (NKB and HKB). Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538 (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli ATCC11229 (E. coli) were the organisms most susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of kombucha beverage preparations. Finally, the KFB preparation showed remarkable inhibitory activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria in a brain heart infusion broth and in some Egyptian fruit juices (apple, guava, strawberry, and tomato). These data reveal that kombucha is not only a prophylactic agent, but also appears to be promising as a safe alternative biopreservative, offering protection against pathogenic bacteria and fungi.}, } @article {pmid34442809, year = {2021}, author = {Rumbou, A and Vainio, EJ and Büttner, C}, title = {Towards the Forest Virome: High-Throughput Sequencing Drastically Expands Our Understanding on Virosphere in Temperate Forest Ecosystems.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34442809}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Thanks to the development of HTS technologies, a vast amount of genetic information on the virosphere of temperate forests has been gained in the last seven years. To estimate the qualitative/quantitative impact of HTS on forest virology, we have summarized viruses affecting major tree/shrub species and their fungal associates, including fungal plant pathogens, mutualists and saprotrophs. The contribution of HTS methods is extremely significant for forest virology. Reviewed data on viral presence in holobionts allowed us a first attempt to address the role of virome in holobionts. Forest health is dependent on the variability of microorganisms interacting with the host tree/holobiont; symbiotic microbiota and pathogens engage in a permanent interplay, which influences the host. Through virus-virus interplays synergistic or antagonistic relations may evolve, which may drastically affect the health of the holobiont. Novel insights of these interplays may allow practical applications for forest plant protection based on endophytes and mycovirus biocontrol agents. The current analysis is conceived in light of the prospect that novel viruses may initiate an emergent infectious disease and that measures for the avoidance of future outbreaks in forests should be considered.}, } @article {pmid34442700, year = {2021}, author = {Dhodary, B and Spiteller, D}, title = {Ammonia Production by Streptomyces Symbionts of Acromyrmex Leaf-Cutting Ants Strongly Inhibits the Fungal Pathogen Escovopsis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34442700}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants live in mutualistic symbiosis with their garden fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus that can be attacked by the specialized pathogenic fungus Escovopsis. Actinomyces symbionts from Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants contribute to protect L. gongylophorus against pathogens. The symbiont Streptomyces sp. Av25_4 exhibited strong activity against Escovopsis weberi in co-cultivation assays. Experiments physically separating E. weberi and Streptomyces sp. Av25_4 allowing only exchange of volatiles revealed that Streptomyces sp. Av25_4 produces a volatile antifungal. Volatile compounds from Streptomyces sp. Av25_4 were collected by closed loop stripping. Analysis by NMR revealed that Streptomyces sp. Av25_4 overproduces ammonia (up to 8 mM) which completely inhibited the growth of E. weberi due to its strong basic pH. Additionally, other symbionts from different Acromyrmex ants inhibited E. weberi by production of ammonia. The waste of ca. one third of Acomyrmex and Atta leaf-cutting ant colonies was strongly basic due to ammonia (up to ca. 8 mM) suggesting its role in nest hygiene. Not only complex and metabolically costly secondary metabolites, such as polyketides, but simple ammonia released by symbionts of leaf-cutting ants can contribute to control the growth of Escovopsis that is sensitive to ammonia in contrast to the garden fungus L. gongylophorus.}, } @article {pmid34442641, year = {2021}, author = {Maquia, ISA and Fareleira, P and Videira E Castro, I and Soares, R and Brito, DRA and Mbanze, AA and Chaúque, A and Máguas, C and Ezeokoli, OT and Ribeiro, NS and Marques, I and Ribeiro-Barros, AI}, title = {The Nexus between Fire and Soil Bacterial Diversity in the African Miombo Woodlands of Niassa Special Reserve, Mozambique.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34442641}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {(1) Background: the Miombo woodlands comprise the most important vegetation from southern Africa and are dominated by tree legumes with an ecology highly driven by fires. Here, we report on the characterization of bacterial communities from the rhizosphere of Brachystegia boehmii in different soil types from areas subjected to different regimes. (2) Methods: bacterial communities were identified through Illumina MiSeq sequencing (16S rRNA). Vigna unguiculata was used as a trap to capture nitrogen-fixing bacteria and culture-dependent methods in selective media were used to isolate plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). PGP traits were analysed and molecular taxonomy of the purified isolates was performed. (3) Results: Bacterial communities in the Miombo rhizosphere are highly diverse and driven by soil type and fire regime. Independent of the soil or fire regime, the functional diversity was high, and the different consortia maintained the general functions. A diverse pool of diazotrophs was isolated, and included symbiotic (e.g., Mesorhizobium sp., Neorhizobium galegae, Rhizobium sp., and Ensifer adhaerens), and non-symbiotic (e.g., Agrobacterium sp., Burkholderia sp., Cohnella sp., Microvirga sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Stenotrophomonas sp.) bacteria. Several isolates presented cumulative PGP traits. (4) Conclusions: Although the dynamics of bacterial communities from the Miombo rhizosphere is driven by fire, the maintenance of high levels of diversity and functions remain unchanged, constituting a source of promising bacteria in terms of plant-beneficial activities such as mobilization and acquisition of nutrients, mitigation of abiotic stress, and modulation of plant hormone levels.}, } @article {pmid34442639, year = {2021}, author = {Yuyama, I and Ugawa, N and Hashimoto, T}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis of Durusdinium Associated with the Transition from Free-Living to Symbiotic.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34442639}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {To detect the change during coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis establishment, we compared transcriptome data derived from free-living and symbiotic Durusdinium, a coral symbiont genus. We detected differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using two statistical methods (edgeR using raw read data and the Student's t-test using bootstrap resampling read data) and detected 1214 DEGs between the symbiotic and free-living states, which we subjected to gene ontology (GO) analysis. Based on the representative GO terms and 50 DEGs with low false discovery rates, changes in Durusdinium during endosymbiosis were predicted. The expression of genes related to heat-shock proteins and microtubule-related proteins tended to decrease, and those of photosynthesis genes tended to increase. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis of dapdiamide A (antibiotics) synthase, which was upregulated among the 50 DEGs, confirmed that two genera in the Symbiodiniaceae family, Durusdinium and Symbiodinium, retain dapdiamide A synthase. This antibiotic synthase-related gene may contribute to the high stress tolerance documented in Durusdinium species, and its increased expression during endosymbiosis suggests increased antibacterial activity within the symbiotic complex.}, } @article {pmid34442636, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, X and Li, J and Tang, N and Xie, H and Fan, X and Chen, H and Tang, M and Xie, X}, title = {Genome-Wide Analysis of Nutrient Signaling Pathways Conserved in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34442636}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form a mutualistic symbiosis with a majority of terrestrial vascular plants. To achieve an efficient nutrient trade with their hosts, AM fungi sense external and internal nutrients, and integrate different hierarchic regulations to optimize nutrient acquisition and homeostasis during mycorrhization. However, the underlying molecular networks in AM fungi orchestrating the nutrient sensing and signaling remain elusive. Based on homology search, we here found that at least 72 gene components involved in four nutrient sensing and signaling pathways, including cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA), sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1) protein kinase, target of rapamycin kinase (TOR) and phosphate (PHO) signaling cascades, are well conserved in AM fungi. Based on the knowledge known in model yeast and filamentous fungi, we outlined the possible gene networks functioning in AM fungi. These pathways may regulate the expression of downstream genes involved in nutrient transport, lipid metabolism, trehalase activity, stress resistance and autophagy. The RNA-seq analysis and qRT-PCR results of some core genes further indicate that these pathways may play important roles in spore germination, appressorium formation, arbuscule longevity and sporulation of AM fungi. We hope to inspire further studies on the roles of these candidate genes involved in these nutrient sensing and signaling pathways in AM fungi and AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34442634, year = {2021}, author = {Malassigné, S and Minard, G and Vallon, L and Martin, E and Valiente Moro, C and Luis, P}, title = {Diversity and Functions of Yeast Communities Associated with Insects.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34442634}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Following the concept of the holobiont, insect-microbiota interactions play an important role in insect biology. Many examples of host-associated microorganisms have been reported to drastically influence insect biological processes such as development, physiology, nutrition, survival, immunity, or even vector competence. While a huge number of studies on insect-associated microbiota have focused on bacteria, other microbial partners including fungi have been comparatively neglected. Yeasts, which establish mostly commensal or symbiotic relationships with their host, can dominate the mycobiota of certain insects. This review presents key advances and progress in the research field highlighting the diversity of yeast communities associated with insects, as well as their impact on insect life-history traits, immunity, and behavior.}, } @article {pmid34440691, year = {2021}, author = {Szklarzewicz, T and Michalik, K and Grzywacz, B and Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk, M and Michalik, A}, title = {Fungal Associates of Soft Scale Insects (Coccomorpha: Coccidae).}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34440691}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemiptera/*anatomy & histology/metabolism/physiology/ultrastructure ; Hypocreales/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ophiocordyceps fungi are commonly known as virulent, specialized entomopathogens; however, recent studies indicate that fungi belonging to the Ophiocordycypitaceae family may also reside in symbiotic interaction with their host insect. In this paper, we demonstrate that Ophiocordyceps fungi may be obligatory symbionts of sap-sucking hemipterans. We investigated the symbiotic systems of eight Polish species of scale insects of Coccidae family: Parthenolecanium corni, Parthenolecanium fletcheri, Parthenolecanium pomeranicum, Psilococcus ruber, Sphaerolecanium prunasti, Eriopeltis festucae, Lecanopsis formicarum and Eulecanium tiliae. Our histological, ultrastructural and molecular analyses showed that all these species host fungal symbionts in the fat body cells. Analyses of ITS2 and Beta-tubulin gene sequences, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization, confirmed that they should all be classified to the genus Ophiocordyceps. The essential role of the fungal symbionts observed in the biology of the soft scale insects examined was confirmed by their transovarial transmission between generations. In this paper, the consecutive stages of fungal symbiont transmission were analyzed under TEM for the first time.}, } @article {pmid34440531, year = {2021}, author = {Lulamba, TE and Green, E and Serepa-Dlamini, MH}, title = {Photorhabdus sp. ETL Antimicrobial Properties and Characterization of Its Secondary Metabolites by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34440531}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are known to be highly pathogenic to insect pests, due to their associated symbiotic bacteria, which produce virulence factors, exo-enzymes and other harmful secondary metabolites to conquer, kill, and degrade their insect hosts. However, these properties are not fully characterized. This study reports on the antimicrobial activities of Photorhabdus sp. strain ETL, symbiotically associated to an insect pathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis zealandica, against human pathogenic bacteria and toxigenic fungi, as well as the non-targeted profiling of its secondary metabolites (SMs) using gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Fatty acids including 3-eicosene, (E)-; 5-eicosene, (E)-; eicosene; 9-octadecenamide; undecanoic acid with shown antimicrobial activities were detected. This provided more insight on the composition and bioactivities of SMs produced by the Photorhabdus sp.}, } @article {pmid34438918, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, L and Yang, F and Li, N and Dayananda, B}, title = {Environment-Dependent Variation in Gut Microbiota of an Oviparous Lizard (Calotes versicolor).}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34438918}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Vertebrates maintain complex symbiotic relationships with microbiota living within their gastrointestinal tracts which reflects the ecological and evolutionary relationship between hosts and their gut microbiota. However, this understanding is limited in lizards and the spatial heterogeneity and co-occurrence patterns of gut microbiota inside the gastrointestinal tracts of a host and variations of microbial community among samples remain poorly understood. To address this issue and provide a guide for gut microbiota sampling from lizards, we investigated the bacteria in three gut locations of the oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) and the data were analyzed for bacterial composition by 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing. We found the relative abundance of the dominant phyla exhibited an increasing trend from the small intestine to the large intestine, and phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were the three primary phyla in the gut microbiota of C. versicolor. There were a higher abundance of genus Bacteroides (Class: Bacteroidia), Coprobacillus and Eubacterium (Class: Erysipelotrichia), Parabacteroides (Family: Porphyromonadaceae) and Ruminococcus (Family: Lachnospiraceae), and Family Odoribacteraceae and Rikenellaceae in the sample from the hindgut. The secondary bile acid biosynthesis, glycosaminoglycan degradation, sphingolipid metabolism and lysosome were significantly higher in the hindgut than that in the small intestine. Taken together our results indicate variations of gut microbiota composition and metabolic pathway in different parts of the oriental garden lizard.}, } @article {pmid34438657, year = {2021}, author = {Silva, RXG and Cartaxana, P and Calado, R}, title = {Prevalence and Photobiology of Photosynthetic Dinoflagellate Endosymbionts in the Nudibranch Berghia stephanieae.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34438657}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Berghia stephanieae is a stenophagous sea slug that preys upon glass anemones, such as Exaiptasia diaphana. Glass anemones host photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts that sea slugs ingest when consuming E. diaphana. However, the prevalence of these photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts in sea slugs appears to be short-lived, particularly if B.stephanieae is deprived of prey that host these microalgae (e.g., during bleaching events impacting glass anemones). In the present study, we investigated this scenario, along with food deprivation, and validated the use of a non-invasive and non-destructive approach employing chlorophyll fluorescence as a proxy to monitor the persistence of the association between sea slugs and endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates acquired through the consumption of glass anemones. Berghia stephanieae deprived of a trophic source hosting photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts (e.g., through food deprivation or by feeding on bleached E. diaphana) showed a rapid decrease in minimum fluorescence (Fo) and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) when compared to sea slugs fed with symbiotic anemones. A complete loss of endosymbionts was observed within 8 days, confirming that no true symbiotic association was established. The present work opens a new window of opportunity to rapidly monitor in vivo and over time the prevalence of associations between sea slugs and photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts, particularly during bleaching events that prevent sea slugs from incorporating new microalgae through trophic interactions.}, } @article {pmid34437908, year = {2021}, author = {Hsu, CL and Duan, Y and Fouts, DE and Schnabl, B}, title = {Intestinal virome and therapeutic potential of bacteriophages in liver disease.}, journal = {Journal of hepatology}, volume = {75}, number = {6}, pages = {1465-1475}, pmid = {34437908}, issn = {1600-0641}, support = {R01 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; I01 BX004594/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; P30 DK120515/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA024726/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK007202/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P50 AA011999/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA026939/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteriophages/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Virome/drug effects/immunology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Humans harbour a large quantity of microbes in the intestinal tract and have evolved symbiotic relationships with many of them. However, several specific bacterial pathobionts are associated with liver disease pathogenesis. Although bacteriophages (phages) and eukaryotic viruses (collectively known as "the virome") outnumber bacteria and fungi in the intestine, little is known about the intestinal virome in patients with liver disease. As natural predators of bacteria, phages can precisely edit the bacterial microbiota. Hence, there is interest in using them to target bacterial pathobionts in several diseases, including those of the liver. Herein, we will summarise changes in the faecal virome associated with fatty liver diseases and cirrhosis, and describe the therapeutic potential of phages and potential challenges to their clinical application.}, } @article {pmid34437838, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, R and Gallant, É and Wilson, MZ and Wu, Y and Li, A and Gitai, Z and Seyedsayamdost, MR}, title = {Algal p-coumaric acid induces oxidative stress and siderophore biosynthesis in the bacterial symbiont Phaeobacter inhibens.}, journal = {Cell chemical biology}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {670-679.e5}, pmid = {34437838}, issn = {2451-9448}, support = {DP1 AI124669/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Coumaric Acids ; Oxidative Stress ; *Rhodobacteraceae/genetics/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Siderophores/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The marine alpha-proteobacterium Phaeobacter inhibens engages in intermittent symbioses with microalgae. The symbiosis is biphasic and concludes in a parasitic phase, during which the bacteria release algaecidal metabolites in response to algal p-coumaric acid (pCA). The cell-wide effects of pCA on P. inhibens remain unknown. Herein, we report a microarray-based transcriptomic study and find that genes related to the oxidative stress response and secondary metabolism are upregulated most, while those associated with energy production and motility are downregulated in the presence of pCA. Among genes upregulated is a previously unannotated biosynthetic gene cluster and, using a combination of gene deletions and metabolic profiling, we show that it gives rise to an unreported siderophore, roseobactin. The simultaneous production of algaecides and roseobactin in the parasitic phase allows the bacteria to take up any iron that is released from dying algal cells, thereby securing a limited micronutrient.}, } @article {pmid34437434, year = {2021}, author = {Gao, C and Ren, L and Wang, M and Wang, Z and Fu, N and Wang, H and Wang, X and Ao, T and Du, W and Zheng, Z and Li, H and Shi, J}, title = {Proteo-Transcriptomic Characterization of Sirex nitobei (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) Venom.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34437434}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota ; Exocrine Glands/*metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Pinus/microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; Proteome/analysis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; *Wasp Venoms/chemistry/genetics ; *Wasps/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The wood-boring woodwasp Sirex nitobei is a native pest in Asia, infecting and weakening the host trees in numerous ecological and commercial coniferous forest plantations. In China, hosts of S. nitobei are diverse, so the pest has spread to several provinces of China, resulting in considerable economic and ecological damage. During female oviposition, S. nitobei venom along with arthrospores of the symbiotic fungus Amylostereum areolatum or A. chaetica is injected into host trees, and the combination of these two biological factors causes the death of xylem host trees. The presence of venom alone causes only the yellowing and wilting of needles. In this study, we constructed the venom gland transcriptome of S. nitobei for the first time and a total of 15,036 unigenes were acquired. From the unigenes, 11,560 ORFs were identified and 537 encoding protein sequences with signal peptides at the N-terminus. Then, we used the venomics approach to characterize the venom composition of female S. nitobei and predicted 1095 proteins by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. We focused on seven proteins that were both highly expressed in the venom gland transcriptome and predicted in the crude venom proteome. These seven proteins are laccase-2, laccase-3, a protein belonging to the Kazal family, chitooligosaccharidolytic β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, beta-galactosidase, icarapin-like protein, and waprin-Thr1-like protein. Using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), we also proved that the genes related to these seven proteins are specifically expressed in the venom glands. Finally, we revealed the functional role of S. nitobei venom in the physiological response of host trees. It can not only promote the colonization of symbiotic fungus but contribute to the development of eggs and larvae. This study provides a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of the woodwasp-pine interaction.}, } @article {pmid34436969, year = {2021}, author = {Carrier, TJ and Beaulieu, SE and Mills, SW and Mullineaux, LS and Reitzel, AM}, title = {Larvae of Deep-Sea Invertebrates Harbor Low-Diversity Bacterial Communities.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {241}, number = {1}, pages = {65-76}, doi = {10.1086/715669}, pmid = {34436969}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Invertebrates ; Larva ; }, abstract = {AbstractMicrobial symbionts are a common life-history character of marine invertebrates and their developmental stages. Communities of bacteria that associate with the eggs, embryos, and larvae of coastal marine invertebrates tend to be species specific and correlate with aspects of host biology and ecology. The richness of bacteria associated with the developmental stages of coastal marine invertebrates spans four orders of magnitude, from single mutualists to thousands of unique taxa. This understanding stems predominately from the developmental stages of coastal species. If they are broadly representative of marine invertebrates, then we may expect deep-sea species to associate with bacterial communities that are similar in diversity. To test this, we used amplicon sequencing to profile the bacterial communities of invertebrate larvae from multiple taxonomic groups (annelids, molluscs, crustaceans) collected from 2500 to 3670 m in depth in near-bottom waters near hydrothermal vents in 3 different regions of the Pacific Ocean (the East Pacific Rise, the Mariana Back-Arc, and the Pescadero Basin). We find that larvae of deep-sea invertebrates associate with low-diversity bacterial communities (~30 bacterial taxa) that lack specificity between taxonomic groups. The diversity of these communities is estimated to be ~7.9 times lower than that of coastal invertebrate larvae, but this result depends on the taxonomic group. Associating with a low-diversity community may imply that deep-sea invertebrate larvae do not have a strong reliance on a microbiome and that the hypothesized lack of symbiotic contributions would differ from expectations for larvae of coastal marine invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid34436634, year = {2021}, author = {Chakraborty, K and Francis, A and Chakraborty, RD and Asharaf, S and Kizhakkekalam, VK and Paulose, SK}, title = {Marine macroalga-associated heterotrophic Bacillus velezensis: a novel antimicrobial agent with siderophore mode of action against drug-resistant nosocomial pathogens.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {9}, pages = {5561-5575}, pmid = {34436634}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacillus ; *Cross Infection ; Humans ; *Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; *Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Prospective Studies ; *Seaweed ; Siderophores ; }, abstract = {Increased prevalence of microbial resistance and development of drug-resistant pathogens have triggered an urge among researchers to discover potential antimicrobial compounds, particularly from the marine habitat. The present study highlights the cultivable diversity and bioactivities of heterotrophic bacteria associated with marine macroalgae of southeast Indian coastal region. Culture-dependent isolation method resulted in 40 isolates, in which greater part of the isolates represented Gammaproteobacteria (62%) followed by that comprised of the phylum Firmicutes. One of the most active strains isolated from a macroalga, Laurencia papillosa, was characterized based on the integrated phenotypic and genotypic analysis as Bacillus velezensis MBTDLP1 MTCC 13048, with an inhibition zone of about 35 mm against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was selected for bioprospecting studies. Type-I pks gene (MT394492) of 700 bp could be amplified from the heterotrophic B. velezensis. The bacterium exhibited siderophore production and possessed genes implicated in the biosynthesis of siderophore type of metabolites exhibiting 99% similarity with other GenBank sequences in BLAST search. B. velezensis exhibited promising anti-infective properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration 15 µg/mL), and the activities were positively correlated (r[2] > 0.9) with iron-chelating activities. Chemical investigation of the organic extract of B. velezensis MBTDLP1 characterized a macrocyclic polyketide exhibiting prospective antibacterial potential against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MIC 0.38 µg/mL), than that exhibited by positive control chloramphenicol (6.25 µg/mL). Significant antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria combined with the presence of genes coding for bioactive secondary metabolites revealed that this marine symbiotic bacterium could be used against emerging antibiotic resistance.}, } @article {pmid34436283, year = {2021}, author = {Esposito, R and Ruocco, N and Viel, T and Federico, S and Zupo, V and Costantini, M}, title = {Sponges and Their Symbionts as a Source of Valuable Compounds in Cosmeceutical Field.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34436283}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Cosmeceuticals/*chemistry ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the last decades, the marine environment was discovered as a huge reservoir of novel bioactive compounds, useful for medicinal treatments improving human health and well-being. Among several marine organisms exhibiting biotechnological potential, sponges were highlighted as one of the most interesting phyla according to a wide literature describing new molecules every year. Not surprisingly, the first marine drugs approved for medical purposes were isolated from a marine sponge and are now used as anti-cancer and anti-viral agents. In most cases, experimental evidence reported that very often associated and/or symbiotic communities produced these bioactive compounds for a mutual benefit. Nowadays, beauty treatments are formulated taking advantage of the beneficial properties exerted by marine novel compounds. In fact, several biological activities suitable for cosmetic treatments were recorded, such as anti-oxidant, anti-aging, skin whitening, and emulsifying activities, among others. Here, we collected and discussed several scientific contributions reporting the cosmeceutical potential of marine sponge symbionts, which were exclusively represented by fungi and bacteria. Bioactive compounds specifically indicated as products of the sponge metabolism were also included. However, the origin of sponge metabolites is dubious, and the role of the associated biota cannot be excluded, considering that the isolation of symbionts represents a hard challenge due to their uncultivable features.}, } @article {pmid34436210, year = {2021}, author = {Lou, X and Zhang, X and Zhang, Y and Tang, M}, title = {The Synergy of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Exogenous Abscisic Acid Benefits Robinia pseudoacacia L. Growth through Altering the Distribution of Zn and Endogenous Abscisic Acid.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34436210}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The simultaneous effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and abscisic acid (ABA) on the tolerance of plants to heavy metal (HM) remain unclear. A pot experiment was carried out to clarify the effects of simultaneous applications of AM fungi and ABA on plant growth, Zn accumulation, endogenous ABA contents, proline metabolism, and the oxidative injury of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) exposed to excess Zn stress. The results suggested that exogenously applied ABA positively enhanced AM colonization, and that the growth of plants only with AM fungi was improved by ABA application. Under Zn stress, AM inoculation and ABA application increased the ABA content in the root/leaf (increased by 48-172% and 92%, respectively) and Zn content in the root/shoot (increased by 63-152% and 61%, respectively) in AM plants, but no similar trends were observed in NM plants. Additionally, exogenous ABA addition increased the proline contents of NM roots concomitantly with the activities of the related synthases, whereas it reduced the proline contents and the activity of Δ[1]-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase in AM roots. Under Zn stress, AM inoculation and ABA application decreased H2O2 contents and the production rate of O2, to varying degrees. Furthermore, in the roots exposed to Zn stress, AM inoculation augmented the activities of SOD, CAT, POD and APX, and exogenously applied ABA increased the activities of SOD and POD. Overall, AM inoculation combined with ABA application might be beneficial to the survival of black locust under Zn stress by improving AM symbiosis, inhibiting the transport of Zn from the roots to the shoots, increasing the distribution of ABA in roots, and stimulating antioxidant defense systems.}, } @article {pmid34436190, year = {2021}, author = {Cha, HJ and Chiang, MWL and Guo, SY and Lin, SM and Pang, KL}, title = {Culturable Fungal Community of Pterocladiella capillacea in Keelung, Taiwan: Effects of Surface Sterilization Method and Isolation Medium.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34436190}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fungi associated with macroalgae are less known when compared with those on wood in the marine environment. In this study, we assessed the diversity of fungi associated with the red alga Pterocladiella capillacea at Chao-Jin Park, Keelung, Taiwan. Algal segments of healthy and dead thalli were washed/sterilized with different solutions (sterile artificial seawater, 70% ethanol, and 4% sodium hypochlorite), plated on three different media (glucose-yeast extract-peptone seawater agar (GYPS), potato dextrose seawater agar (PDAS), and artificial seawater agar (SA)), and isolated as pure cultures. Identification was mainly based on BLAST search analysis of the internal transcribed spacers of rDNA (ITS). The highest isolation frequency (no. of segment with fungi/total no. of segment × 100) was in dead thalli (61.23%), thalli washed with seawater (88.38%), and thalli plated on GYPS (62.10%). A total of 3187 isolates were cultured, representing 129 taxa (in 67 genera); the higher species richness was isolated from healthy thalli (119 species), thalli washed with seawater (111 species), and on GYPS (112 species). Ascomycota (Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Capnodiales, Pleosporales, Xylariales) dominated the fungal community in P. capillacea with many basidiomycetous yeasts and few Mucoromycota. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium (Ascomycota), and Rhodosporidium (Basidiomycota) were the dominant genera associated with the alga. The surface washing/sterilization schemes of algal thalli affected fungal diversity, but the isolation media used did not. While these genera are known producers of antimicrobial secondary metabolites, they might form a mutualistic relationship with P. capillacea by exchanging nutrients from photosynthesis for protection from microbial diseases.}, } @article {pmid34436172, year = {2021}, author = {Kou, MZ and Bastías, DA and Christensen, MJ and Zhong, R and Nan, ZB and Zhang, XX}, title = {The Plant Salicylic Acid Signalling Pathway Regulates the Infection of a Biotrophic Pathogen in Grasses Associated with an Epichloë Endophyte.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34436172}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The study of the contribution of the plant defence hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), in the resistance against pathogens of plants associated with Epichloë fungal endophytes has been scanty. We hypothesised that Epichloë spp., capable of inducing host plant SA-dependent defences, would increase the levels of plant resistance against biotrophic pathogens. Plants of Achnatherum inebrians, with and without the fungal endophyte Epichloë gansuensis, were inoculated with the biotrophic fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis. We measured the status of plant defences (associated with SA and JA signalling pathways) and the levels of resistance to the pathogen. Plants associated with the endophyte showed less disease symptoms caused by the biotrophic pathogen than plants without the endophyte. In agreement with our hypothesis, the Epichloë endophyte increased the plant production of SA and enhanced the expression levels of plant genes of synthesis and response to the SA hormone. The elevated expression of SA-related genes coding for putative plant enzymes with anti-fungal activities promoted by the endophyte may explain the enhanced resistance to the pathogen. The present study highlights that interaction between the plant immune system and Epichloë fungal endophytes can contribute significantly to the resistance of endophyte-symbiotic plants against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid34436154, year = {2021}, author = {Lang, M and Zhou, J and Chen, T and Chen, Z and Malik, K and Li, C}, title = {Influence of Interactions between Nitrogen, Phosphorus Supply and Epichloёbromicola on Growth of Wild Barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34436154}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes are biotrophic fungi that establish mutualistic symbiotic relationship with grasses and affect performance of the host under different environments. Wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) is an important forage grass and often infected by Epichloë&nbsp;bromicola, thus showing tolerances to stresses. Since the plant growth correlates with both microbial infection and nutrient stoichiometry, this study was performed to investigate whether the function of Epichloë&nbsp;bromicola endophyte to improve host growth depend upon the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) fertilization. Epichloë-infected (E+) and Epichloë-free (E-) wild barley plants were subjected to nine types of mixed N (0.2 mM, 3 mM, 15 mM) and P (0.01 mM, 0.1 mM, 1.5 mM) levels treatments for 90 d to collect plant samples and determine multiple related indexes. We found that E. bromicola and N, P additions positively affected seed germination. Further, E. bromicola significantly enhanced chlorophyll content and root metabolic activity under N-deficiency, and meanwhile, might alter allocation of photosynthate under different conditions. The contents of N, P and stoichiometry of C:N:P of E+ plants were significantly higher than that of E- under nutrient deficiency, but contrary results were observed under adequate nutrients. Therefore, we propose that the growth-promoting ability of E. bromicola is closely correlated with N and P additional levels. Under low N, P additions, positive roles of endophyte are significant as opposed to negative roles under high N, P additions.}, } @article {pmid34435855, year = {2021}, author = {Couceiro, JF and Keller-Costa, T and Marques, M and Kyrpides, NC and Woyke, T and Whitman, WB and Costa, R}, title = {The Roseibium album (Labrenzia alba) Genome Possesses Multiple Symbiosis Factors Possibly Underpinning Host-Microbe Relationships in the Marine Benthos.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {10}, number = {34}, pages = {e0032021}, pmid = {34435855}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Here, we announce the genomes of eight Roseibium album (synonym Labrenzia alba) strains that were obtained from the octocoral Eunicella labiata. Genome annotation revealed multiple symbiosis factors common to all genomes, such as eukaryotic-like repeat protein- and multidrug resistance-encoding genes, which likely underpin symbiotic relationships with marine invertebrate hosts.}, } @article {pmid34434901, year = {2021}, author = {Karunarathna, A and Tibpromma, S and Jayawardena, RS and Nanayakkara, C and Asad, S and Xu, J and Hyde, KD and Karunarathna, SC and Stephenson, SL and Lumyong, S and Kumla, J}, title = {Fungal Pathogens in Grasslands.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {695087}, pmid = {34434901}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics ; *Grassland ; Humans ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Grasslands are major primary producers and function as major components of important watersheds. Although a concise definition of grasslands cannot be given using a physiognomic or structural approach, grasslands can be described as vegetation communities experiencing periodical droughts and with canopies dominated by grasses and grass-like plants. Grasslands have a cosmopolitan distribution except for the Antarctic region. Fungal interactions with grasses can be pathogenic or symbiotic. Herbivorous mammals, insects, other grassland animals, and fungal pathogens are known to play important roles in maintaining the biomass and biodiversity of grasslands. Although most pathogenicity studies on the members of Poaceae have been focused on economically important crops, the plant-fungal pathogenic interactions involved can extend to the full range of ecological circumstances that exist in nature. Hence, it is important to delineate the fungal pathogen communities and their interactions in man-made monoculture systems and highly diverse natural ecosystems. A better understanding of the key fungal players can be achieved by combining modern techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) together with studies involving classic phytopathology, taxonomy, and phylogeny. It is of utmost importance to develop experimental designs that account for the ecological complexity of the relationships between grasses and fungi, both above and below ground. In grasslands, loss in species diversity increases interactions such as herbivory, mutualism, predation or infectious disease transmission. Host species density and the presence of heterospecific host species, also affect the disease dynamics in grasslands. Many studies have shown that lower species diversity increases the severity as well as the transmission rate of fungal diseases. Moreover, communities that were once highly diverse but have experienced decreased species richness and dominancy have also shown higher pathogenicity load due to the relaxed competition, although this effect is lower in natural communities. This review addresses the taxonomy, phylogeny, and ecology of grassland fungal pathogens and their interactions in grassland ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34432129, year = {2021}, author = {Frank, HER and Garcia, K}, title = {Benefits provided by four ectomycorrhizal fungi to Pinus taeda under different external potassium availabilities.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {755-766}, pmid = {34432129}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; Hebeloma ; Laccaria ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Pinus ; Pinus taeda ; Potassium ; Seedlings ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi contribute to the nutrition of many woody plants, including those in the Pinaceae family. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), a native species of the Southeastern USA, can be colonized by multiple species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The role of these symbionts in P. taeda potassium (K[+]) nutrition has not been previously investigated. Here, we assessed the contribution of four ectomycorrhizal fungi, Hebeloma cylindrosporum, Paxillus ammoniavirescens, Laccaria bicolor, and Suillus cothurnatus, in P. taeda K[+] acquisition under different external K[+] availabilities. Using a custom-made two-compartment system, P. taeda seedlings were inoculated with one of the four fungi, or kept non-colonized, and grown under K[+]-limited or -sufficient conditions for 8 weeks. Only the fungi had access to separate compartments in which rubidium, an analog tracer for K[+], was supplied before harvest. Resulting effects of the fungi were recorded, including root colonization, biomass, and nutrient concentrations. We also analyzed the fungal performance in axenic conditions under varying supply of K[+] and sodium. Our study revealed that these four ectomycorrhizal fungi are differentially affected by external K[+] and sodium variations, that they are not able to provide similar benefits to the host P. taeda in our growing conditions, and that rubidium may be used with some limitations to estimate K[+] transport from ectomycorrhizal fungi to colonized plants.}, } @article {pmid34429522, year = {2022}, author = {Foster, RA and Tienken, D and Littmann, S and Whitehouse, MJ and Kuypers, MMM and White, AE}, title = {The rate and fate of N2 and C fixation by marine diatom-diazotroph symbioses.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {477-487}, pmid = {34429522}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Diatoms ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {N2 fixation constitutes an important new nitrogen source in the open sea. One group of filamentous N2 fixing cyanobacteria (Richelia intracellularis, hereafter Richelia) form symbiosis with a few genera of diatoms. High rates of N2 fixation and carbon (C) fixation have been measured in the presence of diatom-Richelia symbioses. However, it is unknown how partners coordinate C fixation and how the symbiont sustains high rates of N2 fixation. Here, both the N2 and C fixation in wild diatom-Richelia populations are reported. Inhibitor experiments designed to inhibit host photosynthesis, resulted in lower estimated growth and depressed C and N2 fixation, suggesting that despite the symbionts ability to fix their own C, they must still rely on their respective hosts for C. Single cell analysis indicated that up to 22% of assimilated C in the symbiont is derived from the host, whereas 78-91% of the host N is supplied from their symbionts. A size-dependent relationship is identified where larger cells have higher N2 and C fixation, and only N2 fixation was light dependent. Using the single cell measures, the N-rich phycosphere surrounding these symbioses was estimated and contributes directly and rapidly to the surface ocean rather than the mesopelagic, even at high estimated sinking velocities (<10 m d[-1]). Several eco-physiological parameters necessary for incorporating symbiotic N2 fixing populations into larger basin scale biogeochemical models (i.e., N and C cycles) are provided.}, } @article {pmid34429165, year = {2021}, author = {Montoya, QV and Martiarena, MJS and Bizarria, R and Gerardo, NM and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Fungi inhabiting attine ant colonies: reassessment of the genus Escovopsis and description of Luteomyces and Sympodiorosea gens. nov.}, journal = {IMA fungus}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {34429165}, issn = {2210-6340}, abstract = {Escovopsis is a diverse group of fungi, which are considered specialized parasites of the fungal cultivars of fungus-growing ants. The lack of a suitable taxonomic framework and phylogenetic inconsistencies have long hampered Escovopsis research. The aim of this study is to reassess the genus Escovopsis using a taxonomic approach and a comprehensive multilocus phylogenetic analysis, in order to set the basis of the genus systematics and the stage for future Escovopsis research. Our results support the separation of Escovopsis into three distinct genera. In light of this, we redefine Escovopsis as a monophyletic clade whose main feature is to form terminal vesicles on conidiophores. Consequently, E. kreiselii and E. trichodermoides were recombined into two new genera, Sympodiorosea and Luteomyces, as S. kreiselii and L. trichodermoides, respectively. This study expands our understanding of the systematics of Escovopsis and related genera, thereby facilitating future research on the evolutionary history, taxonomic diversity, and ecological roles of these inhabitants of the attine ant colonies.}, } @article {pmid34429124, year = {2021}, author = {Šečić, E and Zanini, S and Wibberg, D and Jelonek, L and Busche, T and Kalinowski, J and Nasfi, S and Thielmann, J and Imani, J and Steinbrenner, J and Kogel, KH}, title = {A novel plant-fungal association reveals fundamental sRNA and gene expression reprogramming at the onset of symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {171}, pmid = {34429124}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Techniques ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, } @article {pmid34428005, year = {2021}, author = {Włodarczyk, K and Wdowiak-Wróbel, S and Marek-Kozaczuk, M and Wielbo, J}, title = {Genetic and physiological diversity of white Spanish broom (Chamaecytisus albus) endophytes.}, journal = {Acta biochimica Polonica}, volume = {68}, number = {3}, pages = {419-426}, doi = {10.18388/abp.2020_5655}, pmid = {34428005}, issn = {1734-154X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cellulases/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fertilizers ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Poland ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Spartium/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Chamaecytisus albus (Spanish broom) is a legume shrub that can be found in only one natural locality in Poland. This specimen is critically endangered; therefore, different actions focusing on protection of this plant in the natural habitat are undertaken, and one of them involves studies of the population of Chamaecytisus albus bacterial endophytes, which in the future could be used as bioprotectants and/or biofertilizers. A collection of 94 isolates was obtained from Spanish broom nodules, and the physiological and genetic diversity of these strains was studied. A few potentially beneficial traits were detected, i.e. secretion of cellulases (66 isolates), production of siderophores (60 isolates), phosphate solubilization (25 isolates), and production of IAA (58 isolates), indole (16 isolates), or HCN (3 isolates). Twenty-nine of the 94 tested isolates were able to induce the development of root nodules in plants grown in vitro and can therefore be assumed as Chamaecytisus albus symbionts. Genome fingerprinting by BOX-PCR, as well as gyrB and nodZ gene sequencing revealed a great genetic diversity of specimens in the collection. The symbiotic isolates were classified in different clades, suggesting they could belong to different species, however, most of them revealed sequence similarity to Bradyrhizobium genus.}, } @article {pmid34427725, year = {2021}, author = {Klepa, MS and Janoni, V and Paulitsch, F and da Silva, AR and do Carmo, MRB and Delamuta, JRM and Hungria, M and da Silva Batista, JS}, title = {Molecular diversity of rhizobia-nodulating native Mimosa of Brazilian protected areas.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {9}, pages = {5533-5545}, pmid = {34427725}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Mimosa ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic Paraburkholderia have been increasingly studied in the past 20 years, especially when associated with Mimosa; however, studies with native/endemic species are still scarce. In this study, thirty strains were isolated from root nodules of native Mimosa paranapiacabae and M. micropteris in two locations of the Campos Gerais. The BOX-PCR fingerprinting revealed high genomic diversity, and the 16S rRNA phylogeny clustered the strains in three distinct groups (GI, GII, GIII), with one strain occupying an isolated position. Phylogenetic analysis with four concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD + gltB + gyrB + recA) confirmed the same clusters of 16S rRNA, and the closest species were P. nodosa BR 3437[T] and P. guartelaensis CNPSo 3008[T]; this last one isolated from another Mimosa species of the Campos Gerais. The phylogenies of the symbiotic genes nodAC and nifH placed all strains in a well-supported branch with the other species of the symbiovar mimosae. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the strains represent novel lineages of sv. mimosae and that endemic Mimosa coevolved with indigenous Paraburkholderia in their natural environments.}, } @article {pmid34427647, year = {2021}, author = {Pervent, M and Lambert, I and Tauzin, M and Karouani, A and Nigg, M and Jardinaud, MF and Severac, D and Colella, S and Martin-Magniette, ML and Lepetit, M}, title = {Systemic control of nodule formation by plant nitrogen demand requires autoregulation-dependent and independent mechanisms.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {22}, pages = {7942-7956}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab374}, pmid = {34427647}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Homeostasis ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In legumes interacting with rhizobia, the formation of symbiotic organs involved in the acquisition of atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) is dependent on the plant nitrogen (N) demand. We used Medicago truncatula plants cultivated in split-root systems to discriminate between responses to local and systemic N signaling. We evidenced a strong control of nodule formation by systemic N signaling but obtained no clear evidence of a local control by mineral nitrogen. Systemic signaling of the plant N demand controls numerous transcripts involved in root transcriptome reprogramming associated with early rhizobia interaction and nodule formation. SUPER NUMERIC NODULES (SUNN) has an important role in this control, but we found that major systemic N signaling responses remained active in the sunn mutant. Genes involved in the activation of nitrogen fixation are regulated by systemic N signaling in the mutant, explaining why its hypernodulation phenotype is not associated with higher nitrogen fixation of the whole plant. We show that the control of transcriptome reprogramming of nodule formation by systemic N signaling requires other pathway(s) that parallel the SUNN/CLE (CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-LIKE PEPTIDES) pathway.}, } @article {pmid34427304, year = {2022}, author = {Deguma, JJ and Capuno, RG and Manguilimotan, RP and Padillo, GG and Deguma, MC}, title = {Redefining public health and sustainable economy: Covid-19 from pandemic to endemic.}, journal = {Journal of public health (Oxford, England)}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {e630}, pmid = {34427304}, issn = {1741-3850}, mesh = {Humans ; *Pandemics/prevention & control ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Public Health ; }, abstract = {With the recent claim that the maintenance of population immunity will not depend on continued vaccinations but on the endemic presence of the virus, the proper understanding of the value of public health allows us to configure human living conditions as it thrives in a world where the novel Corona Virus Disease in 2019 (Covid-19) becomes endemic. World leaders and economic managers need to redefine public health not just as a means that enables economic productivity but as a substantially primordial goal-an end that every functional society must achieve via living an economically sustainable lifestyle. This paper argues that economic and societal sustainability thus must be framed and delimited within the human ecological boundary-a crucial viewpoint that could sustain public health amid a Covid-19 endemic world while preventing another viral pandemic from occurring.}, } @article {pmid34427014, year = {2021}, author = {Bellucci, E and Mario Aguilar, O and Alseekh, S and Bett, K and Brezeanu, C and Cook, D and De la Rosa, L and Delledonne, M and Dostatny, DF and Ferreira, JJ and Geffroy, V and Ghitarrini, S and Kroc, M and Kumar Agrawal, S and Logozzo, G and Marino, M and Mary-Huard, T and McClean, P and Meglič, V and Messer, T and Muel, F and Nanni, L and Neumann, K and Servalli, F and Străjeru, S and Varshney, RK and Vasconcelos, MW and Zaccardelli, M and Zavarzin, A and Bitocchi, E and Frontoni, E and Fernie, AR and Gioia, T and Graner, A and Guasch, L and Prochnow, L and Oppermann, M and Susek, K and Tenaillon, M and Papa, R}, title = {The INCREASE project: Intelligent Collections of food-legume genetic resources for European agrofood systems.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {108}, number = {3}, pages = {646-660}, pmid = {34427014}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Europe ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Genotype ; International Cooperation ; *Seed Bank ; Seeds/genetics ; }, abstract = {Food legumes are crucial for all agriculture-related societal challenges, including climate change mitigation, agrobiodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, food security and human health. The transition to plant-based diets, largely based on food legumes, could present major opportunities for adaptation and mitigation, generating significant co-benefits for human health. The characterization, maintenance and exploitation of food-legume genetic resources, to date largely unexploited, form the core development of both sustainable agriculture and a healthy food system. INCREASE will implement, on chickpea (Cicer arietinum), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), lentil (Lens culinaris) and lupin (Lupinus albus and L. mutabilis), a new approach to conserve, manage and characterize genetic resources. Intelligent Collections, consisting of nested core collections composed of single-seed descent-purified accessions (i.e., inbred lines), will be developed, exploiting germplasm available both from genebanks and on-farm and subjected to different levels of genotypic and phenotypic characterization. Phenotyping and gene discovery activities will meet, via a participatory approach, the needs of various actors, including breeders, scientists, farmers and agri-food and non-food industries, exploiting also the power of massive metabolomics and transcriptomics and of artificial intelligence and smart tools. Moreover, INCREASE will test, with a citizen science experiment, an innovative system of conservation and use of genetic resources based on a decentralized approach for data management and dynamic conservation. By promoting the use of food legumes, improving their quality, adaptation and yield and boosting the competitiveness of the agriculture and food sector, the INCREASE strategy will have a major impact on economy and society and represents a case study of integrative and participatory approaches towards conservation and exploitation of crop genetic resources.}, } @article {pmid34424571, year = {2021}, author = {Beigel, K and Matthews, AE and Kellner, K and Pawlik, CV and Greenwold, M and Seal, JN}, title = {Cophylogenetic analyses of Trachymyrmex ant-fungal specificity: "One to one with some exceptions".}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {21}, pages = {5605-5620}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16140}, pmid = {34424571}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/genetics ; Fungi ; Genotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Over the past few decades, large-scale phylogenetic analyses of fungus-gardening ants and their symbiotic fungi have depicted strong concordance among major clades of ants and their symbiotic fungi, yet within clades, fungus sharing is widespread among unrelated ant lineages. Sharing has been explained using a diffuse coevolution model within major clades. Understanding horizontal exchange within clades has been limited by conventional genetic markers that lack both interspecific and geographic variation. To examine whether reports of horizontal exchange were indeed due to symbiont sharing or the result of employing relatively uninformative molecular markers, samples of Trachymyrmex arizonensis and Trachymyrmex pomonae and their fungi were collected from native populations in Arizona and genotyped using conventional marker genes and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Conventional markers of the fungal symbionts generally exhibited cophylogenetic patterns that were consistent with some symbiont sharing, but most fungal clades had low support. SNP analysis, in contrast, indicated that each ant species exhibited fidelity to its own fungal subclade with only one instance of a colony growing a fungus that was otherwise associated with a different ant species. This evidence supports a pattern of codivergence between Trachymyrmex species and their fungi, and thus a diffuse coevolutionary model may not accurately predict symbiont exchange. These results suggest that fungal sharing across host species in these symbioses may be less extensive than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid34424396, year = {2021}, author = {Beal, HE and Horenstein, NA}, title = {Comparative genomic analysis of azasugar biosynthesis.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {120}, pmid = {34424396}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Azasugars are monosaccharide analogs in which the ring oxygen is replaced with a nitrogen atom. These well-known glycosidase inhibitors are of interest as therapeutics, yet several aspects of azasugars remain unknown including their distribution, structural diversity, and chemical ecology. The hallmark signature of bacterial azasugar biosynthesis is a three gene cluster (3GC) coding for aminotransferase, phosphatase, and dehydrogenase enzymes. Using the bioinformatics platform Enzyme Similarity Tool (EST), we identified hundreds of putative three gene clusters coding for azasugar production in microbial species. In the course of this work, we also report a consensus sequence for the aminotransferase involved in azasugar biosynthesis as being: SGNXFRXXXFPNXXXXXXXLXVPXPYCXRC. Most clusters are found in Bacillus and Streptomyces species which typically inhabit soil and the rhizosphere, but some clusters are found with diverse species representation such as Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus which are symbiotic with entomopathogenic nematodes; the human skin commensal Cutibacterium acnes, and the marine Bacillus rugosus SPB7, a symbiont to the sea sponge Spongia officinalis. This pan-taxonomic survey of the azasugar 3GC signature may lead to the identification of new azasugar producers, facilitate studies of their natural functions, and lead to new potential therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid34423211, year = {2021}, author = {Li, X and Mo, H and Zhou, C and Ci, Y and Wang, J and Zang, L}, title = {Nickel Foam Promotes Syntrophic Metabolism of Propionate and Butyrate in Anaerobic Digestion.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {6}, number = {32}, pages = {21033-21042}, pmid = {34423211}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Enhanced interspecies electron transfer (IET) among symbiotic microorganisms is an effective method to increase the rate of methane (CH4) production in anaerobic digestion. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), which does not involve dissolved redox media, is considered an alternative and superior method to enhance methane production by interspecific hydrogen (H2) transfer (IHT). In this study, nickel foam was built into a semicontinuous anaerobic reactor to investigate its effect on the metabolism of propionate and butyrate. Both increased the average yield of CH4 in anaerobic digestion by 18.1 and 15.9%, respectively. Analysis of bacterial and archaeal communities showed that the addition of nickel foam could increase the relative abundance of microbial communities involved in DIET and could increase the diversity of microorganisms in the reactor. Moreover, the anaerobic digestion performance of the nickel foam reactor was good at high hydrogen partial pressure.}, } @article {pmid34422882, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, Q and Qiao, Q and Gao, Y and Hou, J and Hu, M and Du, Y and Zhao, K and Li, X}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Their Role in Health and Metabolic Disease of Dairy Cow.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {701511}, pmid = {34422882}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Ruminants are mostly herbivorous animals that employ rumen fermentation for the digestion of feed materials, including dairy cows. Ruminants consume plant fibre as their regular diet, but lack the machinery for their digestion. For this reason, ruminants maintain a symbiotic relation with microorganisms that are capable of producing enzymes to degrade plant polymers. Various species of microflora including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and bacteriophages are hosted at distinct concentrations for accomplishing complete digestion. The ingested feed is digested at a defined stratum. The polysaccharic plant fibrils are degraded by cellulolytic bacteria, and the substrate formed is acted upon by other bacteria. This sequential degradative mechanism forms the base of complete digestion as well as harvesting energy from the ingested feed. The composition of microbiota readily gets tuned to the changes in the feed habits of the dairy cow. The overall energy production as well as digestion is decided by the intactness of the resident communal flora. Disturbances in the homogeneity gastrointestinal microflora has severe effects on the digestive system and various other organs. This disharmony in communal relationship also causes various metabolic disorders. The dominance of methanogens sometimes lead to bloating, and high sugar feed culminates in ruminal acidosis. Likewise, disruptive microfloral constitution also ignites reticuloperitonitis, ulcers, diarrhoea, etc. The role of symbiotic microflora in the occurrence and progress of a few important metabolic diseases are discussed in this review. Future studies in multiomics provides platform to determine the physiological and phenotypical upgradation of dairy cow for milk production.}, } @article {pmid34422540, year = {2021}, author = {Mukherjee, A and Bhowmick, S and Yadav, S and Rashid, MM and Chouhan, GK and Vaishya, JK and Verma, JP}, title = {Re-vitalizing of endophytic microbes for soil health management and plant protection.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {399}, pmid = {34422540}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Soil health management and increase crop productivity are challenging issues for researchers and scientists. Many research publications have given multiple technological solutions for improving soil health and crop productivity but main problem is sustainability of those technologies under field condition and different agro-climatic zone. Due to the random industrialization, deforestation, mining and other environmental factor reduce soil fertility and human health. Many alternative options e.g., crop rotation, green manuring, integrated farming, biofertilizer (plant-growth-promoting microorganism, microbial consortium of rhizosphere soils), and vermicomposting are available for adapting and improving the soil heath and crop productivity by farmers. Recent trends of new research dimension for sustainable agriculture, endophytic microbes and its consortium is one of the better alternative for increasing crop productivity, soil health and fertility management. However, current trends are focuses on the endophytic microbes, which are present mostly in all plant species. Endophytic microbes are isolated from plant parts-root, shoot, leaf, flower and seeds which have very potential ability of plant growth promotion and bio-controlling agent for enhancing plant growth and development. Mostly plant endophytes showed multi-dimensional (synergistic, mutualistic, symbiotic etc.) interactions within the host plants. It promotes the plant growth, protects from pathogen, and induces resistance against biotic and abiotic environmental stresses, and improves the soil fertility. Till date, most of the scientific research has been done on assuming that interaction of plant endophytes with the host is similar like the plant-growth-promoting microorganism (PGPM). It would be very interesting to explore the functional properties of plant endophytes to modulate the essential gene expression during biotic and abiotic stresses. Endophytes have the ability to induce the soil fertility by improving soil essential nutrient, enzymatic activity and influence the other physiochemical property. In this study, we have discussed details about functional properties of plant endophytes and their mechanism for enhancing plant productivity and soil health and fertility management under climate-resilient agricultural practices. Our main objective is to promote and explore the beneficial plant endophytes for enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity.}, } @article {pmid34421967, year = {2021}, author = {Serghi, EU and Kokkoris, V and Cornell, C and Dettman, J and Stefani, F and Corradi, N}, title = {Homo- and Dikaryons of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis Differ in Life History Strategy.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {715377}, pmid = {34421967}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate plant symbionts that have the potential to improve crop yield. These multinucleate organisms are either "homokaryotic" or "dikaryotic". In AMF dikaryons, thousands of nuclei originating from two parental strains coexist in the same cytoplasm. In other fungi, homokaryotic and dikaryotic strains show distinct life history traits (LHTs), such as variation in growth rates and fitness. However, how such traits compare between dikaryons and homokaryons of AMF is unknown. To address this, we measured 20 LHT of four dikaryons and five homokaryons of the model fungus Rhizophagus irregularis across root organ cultures of three host plants (carrot, chicory, and tobacco). Our analyses show that dikaryons have clearly distinct life history strategies (LHSs) compared to homokaryons. In particular, spores of homokaryons germinate faster and to a higher proportion than dikaryons, whereas dikaryons grow significantly faster and create a more complex hyphal network irrespective of host plant species. Our study links AMF nuclear status with key LHT with possible implications for mycorrhizal symbiotic functioning.}, } @article {pmid34421960, year = {2021}, author = {Bicharanloo, B and Cavagnaro, TR and Keitel, C and Dijkstra, FA}, title = {Nitrogen Fertilisation Increases Specific Root Respiration in Ectomycorrhizal but Not in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Plants: A Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {711720}, pmid = {34421960}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants spend a high proportion of their photosynthetically fixed carbon (C) belowground to support mycorrhizal associations in return for nutrients, but this C expenditure may decrease with increased soil nutrient availability. In this study, we assessed how the effects of nitrogen (N) fertiliser on specific root respiration (SRR) varied among mycorrhizal type (Myco type). We conducted a multi-level meta-analysis across 1,600 observations from 32 publications. SRR increased in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) plants with more than 100 kg N ha[-1] applied, did not change in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants, but increased in plants with a dual mycorrhizal association in response to N fertilisation. Our results suggest that high N availability (>100 kg N ha[-1]) could disadvantage the growth of ECM plants because of increased C costs associated with maintaining higher root N concentrations, while the insensitivity in SRR by AM plants to N fertilisation may be because AM fungi are more important for phosphorus (P) uptake.}, } @article {pmid34421711, year = {2021}, author = {Wynne, CDL}, title = {The Indispensable Dog.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {656529}, pmid = {34421711}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Dogs' remarkable success in living in a human-dominated world rests on a set of adaptations to cohabitation with humans. In this paper, I review the nature of these adaptations. They include changes in reproductive and foraging behavior from their ancestor species, wolves, which can be understood as adaptations to the change from hunting live prey to feeding on human food residues. Dogs also show several changes in social behavior which are more controversial and even somewhat paradoxical. Contrary to theories of canine domestication which view dogs as less aggressive and more cooperative than wolves, several studies show that dogs' social interactions with conspecifics are more hierarchical and competitive than are wolves'. As scavengers rather than hunters, dogs do not need to cooperate with conspecifics the way that wolves do. But how then can we understand dogs' willingness to cooperate with humans? I propose an integrated account of dogs' social behavior that does not assume that dogs need to recognize the species-identity of the individuals with whom they interact. Because of the overlap in formal signals of dominance and submission between dog and human and people's complete control over the resources dogs need, I propose that people occupy a status of "super-dominance" over dogs. This conception suggests several new lines of research which could shed light on the human-dog relationship to the benefit of both partners.}, } @article {pmid34419904, year = {2021}, author = {Lira, ALO and Craveiro, N and da Silva, FF and Rosa Filho, JS}, title = {Effects of contact with crude oil and its ingestion by the symbiotic polychaete Branchiosyllis living in sponges (Cinachyrella sp.) following the 2019 oil spill on the tropical coast of Brazil.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {801}, number = {}, pages = {149655}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149655}, pmid = {34419904}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; Eating ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Petroleum ; *Petroleum Pollution ; }, abstract = {In August 2019, thousands of tons of crude oil from an unidentified source began washing up on the Brazilian coast, causing the most severe environmental disaster that has ever impacted the South Atlantic Ocean. Paiva beach, which has some of the best-preserved tropical coral reefs on the Brazilian coast, was one of the coastal environments most severely affected by this oil. We report on the impact of the disaster on the local population of the symbiotic polychaete Branchiosyllis spp. associated with the sponge Cinachyrella sp. Following the oil spill sponges were found with oil stains on their surface and in their channels, and oil droplets were identified among the grains of the sediment accumulated within these channels. During this same period, the polychaetes in sponges had oil droplets on the surface of the body or in their pharynxes. Solubility tests using mineral oil and Raman spectra indicated that these oil droplets, found in both the sponges and the polychaetes, had similar chemical characteristics to those of the crude oil that washed up on the beach. Following the disaster, the abundance of Branchiosyllis declined sharply, although there was no significant shift in the mean size of individuals. By December 2019, the density of polychaetes was significantly lower than in the preceding months (107.9 ± 28.31 ind.10 mL[-1] of sponge in August 2019 vs. 18.62 ± 35.48 ind.10 mL[-1] of sponge in December 2019). This abrupt reduction in abundance with no change in the mean size of the individuals indicates that mortality affected all size (age) classes similarly, which is typical of anthropogenic impacts rather than natural mortality. It is thus clear that the contamination of polychaetes with crude oil increased mortality, causing a significant reduction in the Branchiosyllis populations of the coral reefs of Paiva beach following the 2019 oil spill.}, } @article {pmid34417849, year = {2022}, author = {Sangwan, S and Prasanna, R}, title = {Mycorrhizae Helper Bacteria: Unlocking Their Potential as Bioenhancers of Plant-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Associations.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {34417849}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The dynamic interactions of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that facilitate the efficient uptake of minerals from soil and provide protection from various environmental stresses (biotic and abiotic) are now also attributed to a third component of the symbiosis. These are the less investigated mycorrhizae helper bacteria (MHB), which constitute a dense, active bacterial community, tightly associated with AMF, and involved in the development and functioning of AMF. Although AMF spores are known to host several bacteria in their spore walls and cytoplasm, their role in promoting the ecological fitness and establishment of AMF symbiosis by influencing spore germination, mycelial growth, root colonization, metabolic diversity, and biocontrol of soil borne diseases is now being deciphered. MHB also promote the functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by triggering various plant growth factors, leading to better availability of nutrients in the soil and uptake by plants. In order to develop strategies to promote mycorrhization by AMF, and particularly to stimulate the ability to utilize phosphorus from the soil, there is a need to decipher crucial metabolic signalling pathways of MHB and elucidate their functional significance as mycorrhiza helper bacteria. MHB, also referred to as AMF bioenhancers, also improve agronomic efficiency and formulations using AMF along with enriched population of MHB are a promising option. This review covers the aspects related to the specificity and mechanisms of action of MHB, which positively impact the formation and functioning of AMF in mycorrhizal symbiosis, and the need to advocate MHB as AMF bioenhancers towards their inclusion in integrated nutrient management practices in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid34417122, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, L and Ding, C and Wu, J and Chen, X and Ng, DM and Wang, H and Zhang, Y and Shi, N}, title = {Probiotics and synbiotics show clinical efficacy in treating gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis.}, journal = {Primary care diabetes}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {937-947}, doi = {10.1016/j.pcd.2021.08.005}, pmid = {34417122}, issn = {1878-0210}, mesh = {*Diabetes, Gestational/diagnosis/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin ; Pregnancy ; *Probiotics/adverse effects ; *Synbiotics ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study performed a systematic and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore the efficacy of probiotic- and symbiotic-based supplements in the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics/synbiotics in GDM treatment, following a systematic search in Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO databases for articles published up to July 2020.

RESULTS: In total, 12 RCTs comprising 894 participants, were analyzed. Compared to the placebo, patients administered with probiotic and synbiotic supplements benefited more with regards to glucose and lipid metabolism as well as anti-inflammation and antioxidant capacity including insulin of change (WMD: 3.57, 95%CI: -5.26, -1.88), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (WMD: -5.03, 95%CI: -8.26, -1.79), nitric oxide (NO) at the end of trial (WMD: 2.31, 95%CI: 0.91, 3.70), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) at the end of trial (SMD: 0.74, 95%CI: 0.21, 1.27), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) at the end of trial (SMD: -1.23, 95%CI: -1.97, -0.49). Besides, probiotic and synbiotic supplements improved outcomes on fetal hyperbilirubinemia risk (RR: 0.26, 95%CI: 0.12, 0.55), fetal macrosomia risk (RR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.27, 0.83) and newborn weight (SMD: -0.29, 95%CI: -0.50, -0.09).

CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this work demonstrate that probiotic/symbiotic-based interventions improve glucose and lipid metabolism, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ability in diet-controlled GDM patients, and exert beneficial outcomes on fetal hyperbilirubinemia, fetal macrosomia, and newborn weight.}, } @article {pmid34416125, year = {2022}, author = {Morris, RM and Spietz, RL}, title = {The Physiology and Biogeochemistry of SUP05.}, journal = {Annual review of marine science}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {261-275}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-010419-010814}, pmid = {34416125}, issn = {1941-0611}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gammaproteobacteria ; Heterotrophic Processes ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The SUP05 clade of gammaproteobacteria (Thioglobaceae) comprises both primary producers and primary consumers of organic carbon in the oceans. Host-associated autotrophs are a principal source of carbon and other nutrients for deep-sea eukaryotes at hydrothermal vents, and their free-living relatives are a primary source of organic matter in seawater at vents and in marine oxygen minimum zones. Similar to other abundant marine heterotrophs, such as SAR11 and Roseobacter, heterotrophic Thioglobaceae use the dilute pool of osmolytes produced by phytoplankton for growth, including methylated amines and sulfonates. Heterotrophic members are common throughout the ocean, and autotrophic members are abundant at hydrothermal vents and in anoxic waters; combined, they can account for more than 50% of the total bacterial community. Studies of both cultured and uncultured representatives from this diverse family are providing novel insights into the shifting biogeochemical roles of autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria that cross oxic-anoxic boundary layers in the ocean.}, } @article {pmid34415086, year = {2021}, author = {Prescott, SL}, title = {A world of inflammation: the need for ecological solutions that co-benefit people, place and planet.}, journal = {Veterinary dermatology}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {539-e149}, doi = {10.1111/vde.13013}, pmid = {34415086}, issn = {1365-3164}, mesh = {Animals ; Inflammation/veterinary ; *Microbiota ; Planets ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The ecology of the early environment - including microbial diversity, nutrition, nature, social interactions and the totality of exposures in the wider "exposome" - have life-long implications for all aspects of health and resilience. In particular, the emergence of "microbiome science" provides new evidence for vital relationships between biodiversity and health at every level. New perspectives of ecological interdependence connect personal and planetary health; the human health crisis cannot be separated from the social, political and economic "ecosystems" otherwise driving dysbiosis (from its etymological root, "life in distress") at every level. Adverse changes in macroscale ecology - of food systems, lifestyle behaviours, socioeconomic disadvantage and environmental degradation - all impact the microbial systems sitting at the foundations of all ecosystems. In particular, changes in the function and composition of the human-associated microbiome have been implicated in the mounting global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), exacerbating inflammation and metabolic dysregulation through multiple pathways across the lifespan. This "dysbiotic drift" (adverse shifts in ecology at all scales) underscores the need for ecological approaches aimed at restoring symbiosis, balance and mutualism. While there is promise with supplement-based strategies (e.g. probiotics, prebiotics), it is essential to focus on upstream factors implicated in dysbiosis, including the health of wider environments, lifestyle, nature relatedness, and the social policies and practices which can facilitate or inhibit dysbiotic drift. This also calls for ambitious integrative approaches which not only define these interconnections, but also capitalize on them to create novel, collaborative and mutualistic solutions to our vast interdependent global challenges.}, } @article {pmid34415013, year = {2021}, author = {Simunović, V}, title = {Genomic and molecular evidence reveals novel pathways associated with cell surface polysaccharides in bacteria.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab119}, pmid = {34415013}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Burkholderia/genetics ; Genomics ; *Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; }, abstract = {Amino acid (acyl carrier protein) ligases (AALs) are a relatively new family of bacterial amino acid adenylating enzymes with unknown function(s). Here, genomic enzymology tools that employ sequence similarity networks and genome context analyses were used to hypothesize the metabolic function(s) of AALs. In over 50% of species, aal and its cognate acyl carrier protein (acp) genes, along with three more genes, formed a highly conserved AAL cassette. AAL cassettes were strongly associated with surface polysaccharide gene clusters in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, yet were prevalent among soil and rhizosphere-associated α- and β-Proteobacteria, including symbiotic α- and β-rhizobia and some Mycolata. Based on these associations, AAL cassettes were proposed to encode a noncanonical Acp-dependent polysaccharide modification route. Genomic-inferred predictions were substantiated by published experimental evidence, revealing a role for AAL cassettes in biosynthesis of biofilm-forming exopolysaccharide in pathogenic Burkholderia and expression of aal and acp genes in nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteroids. Aal and acp genes were associated with dltBD-like homologs that modify cell wall teichoic acids with d-alanine, including in Paenibacillus and certain other bacteria. Characterization of pathways that involve AAL and Acp may lead to developing new plant and human disease-controlling agents as well as strains with improved nitrogen fixation capacity.}, } @article {pmid34414750, year = {2021}, author = {Shao, LM and Ren, JD and Lü, F and Zhang, H and He, PJ}, title = {[Experimental Influence of Food Waste Fermentation Broth on the Soil Quality in a Loess Hilly Area].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {42}, number = {9}, pages = {4500-4509}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202012234}, pmid = {34414750}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Fermentation ; Food ; *Refuse Disposal ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {Loess is widely distributed in northwestern China. Due to the arid climate and rainstorm erosion, lack of nutrients and microorganisms, as well as severe salinization limits the ecosystem carrying capacity of loess soil, which has become one of the major causes of regional land desertification. The fermentation broth derived from food waste usually contains substantial organic acids and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and it has the advantages of being easily produced industrially and applied as fertilizer. Hence, this broth has the potential to become a soil amendment for loess soils. This work studied the Lanzhou loess, which is a typical soil of the Loess Plateau of China, fertilized with fermentation broth for the evaluation of physicochemical properties and microbial analyses. After the application of the broth amendment, the total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium, and organic matter content increased by 363%, 577%, 308%, and 204%, respectively. After planting grass, including Halogeton arachnoideus Moq. and Medicago sativa L., the comprehensive soil fertility level was further improved and the total salt content of the soil was decreased by 2.3 g·kg[-1] and 1.2 g·kg[-1], respectively. Meanwhile, the fermentation broth promoted the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, which increased by 22 times, and fungi by 8.3 times. Therefore, food waste fermentation broth is conducive to further forming plant-microorganisms symbiosis, improving the ecological environment quality of loess soils.}, } @article {pmid34413894, year = {2021}, author = {Schmid, N and Haelg, L and Sewerin, S and Schmidt, TS and Simmen, I}, title = {Governing complex societal problems: The impact of private on public regulation through technological change.}, journal = {Regulation & governance}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {840-855}, pmid = {34413894}, issn = {1748-5991}, abstract = {When addressing complex societal problems, public regulation is increasingly complemented by private regulation. Extant literature has provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of such complex governance structures, with most empirical studies focusing on how public regulation influences private regulation. Conversely, the impact of private on public regulation is less well studied. Here, we investigate this impact with a focus on technological change as possible mechanism. Based on a case study of energy efficiency in buildings in Switzerland, we find evidence of a symbiotic interaction between public and private regulation that leads to ratcheting-up of regulatory stringency. We identify technological change as the mechanism linking private and public regulation. We discuss the relevance of our findings for governance literature and regulators.}, } @article {pmid34411153, year = {2021}, author = {Alexiev, A and Chen, MY and McKenzie, VJ}, title = {Identifying fungal-host associations in an amphibian host system.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {e0256328}, pmid = {34411153}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bufonidae/genetics/*microbiology ; Chytridiomycota/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Colorado ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Skin/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbes can interact with macro-organisms in a number of ways that affect host health. Few studies of host-associated microbiomes, however, focus on fungi. In addition, it is difficult to discern whether a fungal organism found in or on an ectotherm host is associating with it in a durable, symbiotic interaction versus a transient one, and to what extent the habitat and host share microbes. We seek to identify these host-microbe interactions on an amphibian, the Colorado boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas). We sequenced the ITS1 region of the fungal community on the skin of wild toads (n = 124) from four sites in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, across its physiologically dynamic developmental life stages. We also sampled the common habitats used by boreal toads: water from their natal wetland and aquatic pond sediment. We then examined diversity patterns within different life stages, between host and habitat, and identified fungal taxa that could be putatively host-associated with toads by using an indicator species analysis on toad versus environmental samples. Host and habitat were strikingly similar, with the exception of toad eggs. Post-hatching toad life stages were distinct in their various fungal diversity measures. We identified eight fungal taxa that were significantly associated with eggs, but no other fungal taxa were associated with other toad life stages compared with their environmental habitat. This suggests that although pre- and post-metamorphic toad life stages differ from each other, the habitat and host fungal communities are so similar that identifying obligate host symbionts is difficult with the techniques used here. This approach does, however, leverage sequence data from host and habitat samples to predict which microbial taxa are host-associated versus transient microbes, thereby condensing a large set of sequence data into a smaller list of potential targets for further consideration.}, } @article {pmid34410053, year = {2021}, author = {Neroev, VV and Neroeva, NV and Zueva, MV and Katargina, LA and Tsapenko, IV and Ilyukhin, PA and Losanova, OA and Karmokova, AG and Rogov, SV}, title = {Electroretinographic signs of retinal remodeling after experimental induction of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy.}, journal = {Vestnik oftalmologii}, volume = {137}, number = {4}, pages = {24-30}, doi = {10.17116/oftalma202113704124}, pmid = {34410053}, issn = {0042-465X}, mesh = {Animals ; Atrophy ; Electroretinography ; Rabbits ; Retina ; *Retinal Degeneration ; *Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Various animal models of atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are created in order to study certain aspects of geographical atrophy in humans. To study the effects of new methods of therapy, it is necessary to determine the objective functional markers of structural changes in the retina.

PURPOSE: To determine the alterations in activity of the retina that characterize its remodeling in induction of RPE atrophy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Full-field electroretinograms (ERG), pattern ERG, and multifocal ERG were recorded according to the ISCEV standards from the right eyes of twenty rabbits of the New Zealand albino breed 6-7 weeks after induction of RPE atrophy by subretinal administration of 0.9% sodium chloride or bevacizumab solution.

RESULTS: Characteristic electroretinographic signs of RPE atrophy and retinal remodeling are described. Changes in ERG indicate a predominant inhibition of the functional activity of photoreceptors compared with bipolar cells, which objectively reflects an impairment of their metabolism associated with RPE pathology. With the injection of bevacizumab, a sharp weakening of the functional symbiosis of Mueller cells with bipolar cells was observed. According to pattern ERG, the function of the retinal ganglion cells was reduced. The reaction of the paired eyes after induction of RPE atrophy included a moderate decrease in the amplitude of b-wave of photopic ERG and activation of glia-neuronal relationships.

CONCLUSION: Subretinal injections of 0.9% sodium chloride and bevacizumab trigger changes in the retina that reflect specific remodeling of retinal neurons of the second and third orders, which characterizes the used models of RPE atrophy.}, } @article {pmid34408733, year = {2021}, author = {Schapheer, C and Pellens, R and Scherson, R}, title = {Arthropod-Microbiota Integration: Its Importance for Ecosystem Conservation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {702763}, pmid = {34408733}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Recent reports indicate that the health of our planet is getting worse and that genuine transformative changes are pressing. So far, efforts to ameliorate Earth's ecosystem crises have been insufficient, as these often depart from current knowledge of the underlying ecological processes. Nowadays, biodiversity loss and the alterations in biogeochemical cycles are reaching thresholds that put the survival of our species at risk. Biological interactions are fundamental for achieving biological conservation and restoration of ecological processes, especially those that contribute to nutrient cycles. Microorganism are recognized as key players in ecological interactions and nutrient cycling, both free-living and in symbiotic associations with multicellular organisms. This latter assemblage work as a functional ecological unit called "holobiont." Here, we review the emergent ecosystem properties derived from holobionts, with special emphasis on detritivorous terrestrial arthropods and their symbiotic microorganisms. We revisit their relevance in the cycling of recalcitrant organic compounds (e.g., lignin and cellulose). Finally, based on the interconnection between biodiversity and nutrient cycling, we propose that a multicellular organism and its associates constitute an Ecosystem Holobiont (EH). This EH is the functional unit characterized by carrying out key ecosystem processes. We emphasize that in order to meet the challenge to restore the health of our planet it is critical to reduce anthropic pressures that may threaten not only individual entities (known as "bionts") but also the stability of the associations that give rise to EH and their ecological functions.}, } @article {pmid34406832, year = {2021}, author = {Kulikov, EE and Golomidova, AK and Efimov, AD and Belalov, IS and Letarova, MA and Zdorovenko, EL and Knirel, YA and Dmitrenok, AS and Letarov, AV}, title = {Equine Intestinal O-Seroconverting Temperate Coliphage Hf4s: Genomic and Biological Characterization.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {21}, pages = {e0112421}, pmid = {34406832}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coliphages/genetics ; Escherichia coli/virology ; Genomics ; Horses/*virology ; O Antigens ; *Podoviridae/genetics ; Superinfection ; }, abstract = {Tailed bacteriophages constitute the bulk of the intestinal viromes of vertebrate animals. However, the relationships between lytic and lysogenic lifestyles of phages in these ecosystems are not always clear and may vary between the species or even between the individuals. The human intestinal (fecal) viromes are dominated mostly by temperate phages, while in horse feces virulent phages are more prevalent. To our knowledge, all the previously reported isolates of horse fecal coliphages are virulent. Temperate coliphage Hf4s was isolated from horse feces, from the indigenous equine Escherichia coli 4s strain. It is a podovirus related to the Lederbergvirus genus (including the well-characterized Salmonella bacteriophage P22). Hf4s recognizes the host O antigen as its primary receptor and possesses a functional O antigen seroconversion cluster that renders the lysogens protected from superinfection by the same bacteriophage and also abolishes the adsorption of some indigenous equine virulent coliphages, such as DT57C, while other phages, such as G7C or phiKT, retain the ability to infect E. coli 4s (Hf4s) lysogens. IMPORTANCE The relationships between virulent and temperate bacteriophages and their impact on high-density symbiotic microbial ecosystems of animals are not always clear and may vary between species or even between individuals. The horse intestinal virome is dominated by virulent phages, and Hf4s is the first temperate equine intestinal coliphage characterized. It recognizes the host O antigen as its primary receptor and possesses a functional O antigen seroconversion cluster that renders the lysogens protected from superinfection by some indigenous equine virulent coliphages, such as DT57C, while other phages, such as G7C or phiKT, retain the ability to infect E. coli 4s (Hf4s) lysogens. These findings raise questions on the significance of bacteriophage-bacteriophage interactions within the ecology of microbial viruses in mammal intestinal ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34406815, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, L and Zhang, Y and Cui, X and Zhu, Y and Dai, Q and Chen, H and Liu, G and Yao, R and Yang, Z}, title = {Host Bias in Diet-Source Microbiome Transmission in Wild Cohabitating Herbivores: New Knowledge for the Evolution of Herbivory and Plant Defense.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e0075621}, pmid = {34406815}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Deer/*microbiology/physiology ; Diet/veterinary ; Feeding Behavior ; Herbivory/physiology ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is commonly understood that dietary nutrition will influence the composition and function of the animal gut microbiome. However, the transmission of organisms from the diet-source microbiome to the animal gut microbiome in the natural environment remains poorly understood, and elucidating this process may help in understanding the evolution of herbivores and plant defenses. Here, we investigated diet-source microbiome transmission across a range of herbivores (insects and mammals) living in both captive and wild environments. We discovered a host bias among cohabitating herbivores (leaf-eating insects and deer), where a significant portion of the herbivorous insect gut microbiome may originate from the diet, while in deer, only a tiny fraction of the gut microbiome is of dietary origin. We speculated that the putative difference in the oxygenation level in the host digestion systems would lead to these host biases in plant-source (diet) microbiome transmission due to the oxygenation living condition of the dietary plant's symbiotic microbiome. IMPORTANCE We discovered a host bias among cohabitating herbivores (leaf-eating insects and deer), where a significant portion of the herbivorous insect gut microbiome may originate from the diet, while in deer, only a tiny fraction of the gut microbiome is of dietary origin. We speculated that the putative difference in the oxygenation level in the host digestion systems would lead to these host biases in plant-source (diet) microbiome transmission due to the oxygenation living condition of the dietary plant's symbiotic microbiome. This study shed new light on the coevolution of herbivory and plant defense.}, } @article {pmid34406688, year = {2021}, author = {von Beeren, C and Blüthgen, N and Hoenle, PO and Pohl, S and Brückner, A and Tishechkin, AK and Maruyama, M and Brown, BV and Hash, JM and Hall, WE and Kronauer, DJC}, title = {A remarkable legion of guests: Diversity and host specificity of army ant symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {20}, pages = {5229-5246}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16101}, pmid = {34406688}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/genetics ; Biodiversity ; *Coleoptera ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Tropical rainforests are among the most diverse biomes on Earth. While species inventories are far from complete for any tropical rainforest, even less is known about the intricate species interactions that form the basis of these ecological communities. One fascinating but poorly studied example are the symbiotic associations between army ants and their rich assemblages of parasitic arthropod guests. Hundreds of these guests, or myrmecophiles, have been taxonomically described. However, because previous work has mainly been based on haphazard collections from disjunct populations, it remains challenging to define species boundaries. We therefore know little about the species richness, abundance and host specificity of most guests in any given population, which is crucial to understand co-evolutionary and ecological dynamics. Here, we report a quantitative community survey of myrmecophiles parasitizing the six sympatric Eciton army ant species in a Costa Rican rainforest. Combining DNA barcoding with morphological identification of over 2,000 specimens, we discovered 62 species, including 49 beetles, 11 flies, one millipede and one silverfish. At least 14 of these species were new to science. Ecological network analysis revealed a clear signal of host partitioning, and each Eciton species was host to both specialists and generalists. These varying degrees in host specificities translated into a moderate level of network specificity, highlighting the system's level of biotic pluralism in terms of biodiversity and interaction diversity. By providing vouchered DNA barcodes for army ant guest species, this study provides a baseline for future work on co-evolutionary and ecological dynamics in these species-rich host-symbiont networks across the Neotropical realm.}, } @article {pmid34403645, year = {2021}, author = {van de Peppel, LJJ and Nieuwenhuis, M and Auxier, B and Grum-Grzhimaylo, AA and Cárdenas, ME and de Beer, ZW and Lodge, DJ and Smith, ME and Kuyper, TW and Franco-Molano, AE and Baroni, TJ and Aanen, DK}, title = {Ancestral predisposition toward a domesticated lifestyle in the termite-cultivated fungus Termitomyces.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {19}, pages = {4413-4421.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.070}, pmid = {34403645}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; Animals ; Humans ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Life Style ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Termitomyces/genetics ; }, abstract = {The ancestor of termites relied on gut symbionts for degradation of plant material, an association that persists in all termite families.[1][,][2] However, the single-lineage Macrotermitinae has additionally acquired a fungal symbiont that complements digestion of food outside the termite gut.[3] Phylogenetic analysis has shown that fungi grown by these termites form a clade-the genus Termitomyces-but the events leading toward domestication remain unclear.[4] To address this, we reconstructed the lifestyle of the common ancestor of Termitomyces using a combination of ecological data with a phylogenomic analysis of 21 related non-domesticated species and 25 species of Termitomyces. We show that the closely related genera Blastosporella and Arthromyces also contain insect-associated species. Furthermore, the genus Arthromyces produces asexual spores on the mycelium, which may facilitate insect dispersal when growing on aggregated subterranean fecal pellets of a plant-feeding insect. The sister-group relationship between Arthromyces and Termitomyces implies that insect association and asexual sporulation, present in both genera, preceded the domestication of Termitomyces and did not follow domestication as has been proposed previously. Specialization of the common ancestor of these two genera on an insect-fecal substrate is further supported by similar carbohydrate-degrading profiles between Arthromyces and Termitomyces. We describe a set of traits that may have predisposed the ancestor of Termitomyces toward domestication, with each trait found scattered in related taxa outside of the termite-domesticated clade. This pattern indicates that the origin of the termite-fungus symbiosis may not have required large-scale changes of the fungal partner.}, } @article {pmid34403628, year = {2021}, author = {Franke, M and Geier, B and Hammel, JU and Dubilier, N and Leisch, N}, title = {Coming together-symbiont acquisition and early development in deep-sea bathymodioline mussels.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1957}, pages = {20211044}, pmid = {34403628}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Ecosystem ; Gills ; *Mytilidae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How and when symbionts are acquired by their animal hosts has a profound impact on the ecology and evolution of the symbiosis. Understanding symbiont acquisition is particularly challenging in deep-sea organisms because early life stages are so rarely found. Here, we collected early developmental stages of three deep-sea bathymodioline species from different habitats to identify when these acquire their symbionts and how their body plan adapts to a symbiotic lifestyle. These mussels gain their nutrition from chemosynthetic bacteria, allowing them to thrive at deep-sea vents and seeps worldwide. Correlative imaging analyses using synchrotron-radiation based microtomography together with light, fluorescence and electron microscopy revealed that the pediveliger larvae were aposymbiotic. Symbiont colonization began during metamorphosis from a planktonic to a benthic lifestyle, with the symbionts rapidly colonizing first the gills, the symbiotic organ of adults, followed by all other epithelia of their hosts. Once symbiont densities in plantigrades reached those of adults, the host's intestine changed from the looped anatomy typical for bivalves to a straightened form. Within the Mytilidae, this morphological change appears to be specific to Bathymodiolus and Gigantidas, and is probably linked to the decrease in the importance of filter feeding when these mussels switch to gaining their nutrition largely from their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid34403011, year = {2021}, author = {Hersche, M and Lippuner, S and Korb, M and Benini, L and Rahimi, A}, title = {Near-channel classifier: symbiotic communication and classification in high-dimensional space.}, journal = {Brain informatics}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {34403011}, issn = {2198-4018}, abstract = {Brain-inspired high-dimensional (HD) computing represents and manipulates data using very long, random vectors with dimensionality in the thousands. This representation provides great robustness for various classification tasks where classifiers operate at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. Similarly, hyperdimensional modulation (HDM) leverages the robustness of complex-valued HD representations to reliably transmit information over a wireless channel, achieving a similar SNR gain compared to state-of-the-art codes. Here, we first propose methods to improve HDM in two ways: (1) reducing the complexity of encoding and decoding operations by generating, manipulating, and transmitting bipolar or integer vectors instead of complex vectors; (2) increasing the SNR gain by 0.2 dB using a new soft-feedback decoder; it can also increase the additive superposition capacity of HD vectors up to 1.7[Formula: see text] in noise-free cases. Secondly, we propose to combine encoding/decoding aspects of communication with classification into a single framework by relying on multifaceted HD representations. This leads to a near-channel classification (NCC) approach that avoids transformations between different representations and the overhead of multiple layers of encoding/decoding, hence reducing latency and complexity of a wireless smart distributed system while providing robustness against noise and interference from other nodes. We provide a use-case for wearable hand gesture recognition with 5 classes from 64 EMG sensors, where the encoded vectors are transmitted to a remote node for either performing NCC, or reconstruction of the encoded data. In NCC mode, the original classification accuracy of 94% is maintained, even in the channel at SNR of 0 dB, by transmitting 10,000-bit vectors. We remove the redundancy by reducing the vector dimensionality to 2048-bit that still exhibits a graceful degradation: less than 6% accuracy loss is occurred in the channel at - 5 dB, and with the interference from 6 nodes that simultaneously transmit their encoded vectors. In the reconstruction mode, it improves the mean-squared error by up to 20 dB, compared to standard decoding, when transmitting 2048-dimensional vectors.}, } @article {pmid34402646, year = {2021}, author = {Nicolas, AM and Jaffe, AL and Nuccio, EE and Taga, ME and Firestone, MK and Banfield, JF}, title = {Soil Candidate Phyla Radiation Bacteria Encode Components of Aerobic Metabolism and Co-occur with Nanoarchaea in the Rare Biosphere of Rhizosphere Grassland Communities.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e0120520}, pmid = {34402646}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {DP2 AI117984/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria and nanoarchaea populate most ecosystems but are rarely detected in soil. We concentrated particles of less than 0.2 μm in size from grassland soil, enabling targeted metagenomic analysis of these organisms, which are almost totally unexplored in largely oxic environments such as soil. We recovered a diversity of CPR bacterial and some archaeal sequences but no sequences from other cellular organisms. The sampled sequences include Doudnabacteria (SM2F11) and Pacearchaeota, organisms rarely reported in soil, as well as Saccharibacteria, Parcubacteria, and Microgenomates. CPR and archaea of the phyla Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota (DPANN) were enriched 100- to 1,000-fold compared to that in bulk soil, in which we estimate each of these organisms comprises approximately 1 to 100 cells per gram of soil. Like most CPR and DPANN sequenced to date, we predict these microorganisms live symbiotic anaerobic lifestyles. However, Saccharibacteria, Parcubacteria, and Doudnabacteria genomes sampled here also harbor ubiquinol oxidase operons that may have been acquired from other bacteria, likely during adaptation to aerobic soil environments. We conclude that CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea are part of the rare soil biosphere and harbor unique metabolic platforms that potentially evolved to live symbiotically under relatively oxic conditions. IMPORTANCE Here, we investigated overlooked microbes in soil, Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria and Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota (DPANN) archaea, by size fractionating small particles from soil, an approach typically used for the recovery of viral metagenomes. Concentration of these small cells (<0.2 μm) allowed us to identify these organisms as part of the rare soil biosphere and to sample genomes that were absent from non-size-fractionated metagenomes. We found that some of these predicted symbionts, which have been largely studied in anaerobic systems, have acquired aerobic capacity via lateral transfer that may enable adaptation to oxic soil environments. We estimate that there are approximately 1 to 100 cells of each of these lineages per gram of soil, highlighting that the approach provides a window into the rare soil biosphere and its associated genetic potential.}, } @article {pmid34402628, year = {2021}, author = {Yurgel, SN and Qu, Y and Rice, JT and Ajeethan, N and Zink, EM and Brown, JM and Purvine, S and Lipton, MS and Kahn, ML}, title = {Specialization in a Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis: Proteome Differences Between Sinorhizobium medicae Bacteria and Bacteroids.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {1409-1422}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-21-0180-R}, pmid = {34402628}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proteome ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sinorhizobium ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), we analyzed the proteome of Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419 growing as free-living cells and in symbiosis with Medicago truncatula. In all, 3,215 proteins were identified, over half of the open reading frames predicted from the genomic sequence. The abundance of 1,361 proteins displayed strong lifestyle bias. In total, 1,131 proteins had similar levels in bacteroids and free-living cells, and the low levels of 723 proteins prevented statistically significant assignments. Nitrogenase subunits comprised approximately 12% of quantified bacteroid proteins. Other major bacteroid proteins included symbiosis-specific cytochromes and FixABCX, which transfer electrons to nitrogenase. Bacteroids had normal levels of proteins involved in amino acid biosynthesis, glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway; however, several amino acid degradation pathways were repressed. This suggests that bacteroids maintain a relatively independent anabolic metabolism. Tricarboxylic acid cycle proteins were highly expressed in bacteroids and no other catabolic pathway emerged as an obvious candidate to supply energy and reductant to nitrogen fixation. Bacterial stress response proteins were induced in bacteroids. Many WSM419 proteins that are not encoded in S. meliloti Rm1021 were detected, and understanding the functions of these proteins might clarify why S. medicae WSM419 forms a more effective symbiosis with M. truncatula than S. meliloti Rm1021.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34400661, year = {2021}, author = {Piromyou, P and Nguyen, HP and Songwattana, P and Boonchuen, P and Teamtisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Alisha Tantasawat, P and Göttfert, M and Okazaki, S and Teaumroong, N}, title = {The Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens type III effector NopE modulates the regulation of plant hormones towards nodulation in Vigna radiata.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {16604}, pmid = {34400661}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Plant Growth Regulators/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/biosynthesis/genetics ; RNA, Plant/biosynthesis/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Host-specific legume-rhizobium symbiosis is strictly controlled by rhizobial type III effectors (T3Es) in some cases. Here, we demonstrated that the symbiosis of Vigna radiata (mung bean) with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 is determined by NopE, and this symbiosis is highly dependent on host genotype. NopE specifically triggered incompatibility with V. radiata cv. KPS2, but it promoted nodulation in other varieties of V. radiata, including KPS1. Interestingly, NopE1 and its paralogue NopE2, which exhibits calcium-dependent autocleavage, yield similar results in modulating KPS1 nodulation. Furthermore, NopE is required for early infection and nodule organogenesis in compatible plants. Evolutionary analysis revealed that NopE is highly conserved among bradyrhizobia and plant-associated endophytic and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings suggest that V. radiata and B. diazoefficiens USDA110 may use NopE to optimize their symbiotic interactions by reducing phytohormone-mediated ETI-type (PmETI) responses via salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis suppression.}, } @article {pmid34399629, year = {2021}, author = {Zakharova, A and Saura, A and Butenko, A and Podešvová, L and Warmusová, S and Kostygov, AY and Nenarokova, A and Lukeš, J and Opperdoes, FR and Yurchenko, V}, title = {A New Model Trypanosomatid, Novymonas esmeraldas: Genomic Perception of Its "Candidatus Pandoraea novymonadis" Endosymbiont.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0160621}, pmid = {34399629}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Trypanosoma/classification/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The closest relative of human pathogen Leishmania, the trypanosomatid Novymonas esmeraldas, harbors a bacterial endosymbiont "Candidatus Pandoraea novymonadis." Based on genomic data, we performed a detailed characterization of the metabolic interactions of both partners. While in many respects the metabolism of N. esmeraldas resembles that of other Leishmaniinae, the endosymbiont provides the trypanosomatid with heme, essential amino acids, purines, some coenzymes, and vitamins. In return, N. esmeraldas shares with the bacterium several nonessential amino acids and phospholipids. Moreover, it complements its carbohydrate metabolism and urea cycle with enzymes missing from the "Ca. Pandoraea novymonadis" genome. The removal of the endosymbiont from N. esmeraldas results in a significant reduction of the overall translation rate, reduced expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial respiratory activity, and downregulation of several aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, enzymes involved in the synthesis of some amino acids, as well as proteins associated with autophagy. At the same time, the genes responsible for protection against reactive oxygen species and DNA repair become significantly upregulated in the aposymbiotic strain of this trypanosomatid. By knocking out a component of its flagellum, we turned N. esmeraldas into a new model trypanosomatid that is amenable to genetic manipulation using both conventional and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated approaches. IMPORTANCENovymonas esmeraldas is a parasitic flagellate of the family Trypanosomatidae representing the closest insect-restricted relative of the human pathogen Leishmania. It bears symbiotic bacteria in its cytoplasm, the relationship with which has been established relatively recently and independently from other known endosymbioses in protists. Here, using the genome analysis and comparison of transcriptomic profiles of N. esmeraldas with and without the endosymbionts, we describe a uniquely complex cooperation between both partners on the biochemical level. We demonstrate that the removal of bacteria leads to a decelerated growth of N. esmeraldas, substantial suppression of many metabolic pathways, and increased oxidative stress. Our success with the genetic transformation of this flagellate makes it a new model trypanosomatid species that can be used for the dissection of mechanisms underlying the symbiotic relationships between protists and bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34399622, year = {2021}, author = {Grossman, AS and Mauer, TJ and Forest, KT and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {A Widespread Bacterial Secretion System with Diverse Substrates.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0195621}, pmid = {34399622}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Computer Simulation ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Neisseria meningitidis/genetics/metabolism ; Proteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Rhabditida/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In host-associated bacteria, surface and secreted proteins mediate acquisition of nutrients, interactions with host cells, and specificity of tissue localization. In Gram-negative bacteria, the mechanism by which many proteins cross and/or become tethered to the outer membrane remains unclear. The domain of unknown function 560 (DUF560) occurs in outer membrane proteins throughout Proteobacteria and has been implicated in host-bacterium interactions and lipoprotein surface exposure. We used sequence similarity networking to reveal three subfamilies of DUF560 homologs. One subfamily includes those DUF560 proteins experimentally characterized thus far: NilB, a host range determinant of the nematode-mutualist Xenorhabdus nematophila, and the surface lipoprotein assembly modulators Slam1 and Slam2, which facilitate lipoprotein surface exposure in Neisseria meningitidis (Y. Hooda, C. C. Lai, A. Judd, C. M. Buckwalter, et al., Nat Microbiol 1:16009, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.9; Y. Hooda, C. C. L. Lai, T. F. Moraes, Front Cell Infect Microbiol 7:207, 2017, https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00207). We show that DUF560 proteins from a second subfamily facilitate secretion of soluble, nonlipidated proteins across the outer membrane. Using in silico analysis, we demonstrate that DUF560 gene complement correlates with bacterial environment at a macro level and host association at a species level. The DUF560 protein superfamily represents a newly characterized Gram-negative secretion system capable of lipoprotein surface exposure and soluble protein secretion with conserved roles in facilitating symbiosis. In light of these data, we propose that it be titled the type 11 secretion system (TXISS). IMPORTANCE The microbial constituency of a host-associated microbiome emerges from a complex physical and chemical interplay of microbial colonization factors, host surface conditions, and host immunological responses. To fill unique niches within a host, bacteria encode surface and secreted proteins that enable interactions with and responses to the host and co-occurring microbes. Bioinformatic predictions of putative bacterial colonization factor localization and function facilitate hypotheses about the potential of bacteria to engage in pathogenic, mutualistic, or commensal activities. This study uses publicly available genome sequence data alongside experimental results from Xenorhabdus nematophila to demonstrate a role for DUF560 family proteins in secretion of bacterial effectors of host interactions. Our research delineates a broadly distributed family of proteins and enables more accurate predictions of the localization of colonization factors throughout Proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid34399526, year = {2021}, author = {Savary, O and Mounier, J and Thierry, A and Poirier, E and Jourdren, J and Maillard, MB and Penland, M and Decamps, C and Coton, E and Coton, M}, title = {Tailor-made microbial consortium for Kombucha fermentation: Microbiota-induced biochemical changes and biofilm formation.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {147}, number = {}, pages = {110549}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110549}, pmid = {34399526}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Acetobacter ; Biofilms ; Brettanomyces ; Fermentation ; Hanseniaspora ; *Microbial Consortia ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a very distinct naturally fermented sweetened tea that has been produced for thousands of years. Fermentation relies on metabolic activities of the complex autochthonous symbiotic microbiota embedded in a floating biofilm and used as a backslop for successive fermentations. Here, we designed a tailor-made microbial consortium representative of the core Kombucha microbiota to drive this fermentation. Microbial (counts, metagenetics), physico-chemical (pH, density) and biochemical (organic acids, volatile compounds) parameters were monitored as well as biofilm formation by confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. While nine species were co-inoculated, four (Dekkera bruxellensis, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Acetobacter okinawensis and Liquorilactobacillus nagelii) largely dominated. Microbial activities led to acetic, lactic, succinic and oxalic acids being produced right from the start of fermentation while gluconic and glucuronic acids progressively increased. A distinct shift in volatile profile was also observed with mainly aldehydes identified early on, then high abundances of fatty acids, ketones and esters at the end. Correlation analyses, combining metabolomic and microbial data also showed a shift in species abundances during fermentation. We also determined distinct bacteria-yeast co-occurence patterns in biofilms by microscopy. Our study provides clear evidence that a tailor-made consortium can be successfully used to drive Kombucha fermentations.}, } @article {pmid34398660, year = {2021}, author = {de Kerckhove, D}, title = {The personal digital twin, ethical considerations.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200367}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0367}, pmid = {34398660}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {The personal digital twin extends to individual persons, a concept that originated in engineering to twin complex machines with a digital simulation containing a model of its functions to monitor its past and present behaviour, and repair, correct, improve or otherwise ensure its optimal operation. Several independent trends in technological developments are seen to converge towards the elaboration of the digital replication of individual human data and life history, notably in health industries. Among the main ones, we consider the ubiquitous distribution of digital assistants, the rapid progress of machine learning concurrent with the exponential growth of 'personal' Big Data and the incipient interest in developing lifelogs. The core hypothesis here is that among the psychological effects of the digital transformation, the externalization of cognitive faculties such as memory, planning and judgement, the decision-making processes located within the human person are also emigrating to digital functions, perhaps as a prelude to a later re-integration within the person via brain-computer interfaces. The paper concludes with ethical considerations about these ongoing developments. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398659, year = {2021}, author = {Vogel-Heuser, B and Ocker, F and Weiß, I and Mieth, R and Mann, F}, title = {Potential for combining semantics and data analysis in the context of digital twins.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200368}, pmid = {34398659}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {Modern production systems can benefit greatly from integrated and up-to-date digital representations. Their applications range from consistency checks during the design phase to smart manufacturing to maintenance support. Such digital twins not only require data, information and knowledge as inputs but can also be considered integrated models themselves. This paper provides an overview of data, information and knowledge typically available throughout the lifecycle of production systems and the variety of applications driven by data analysis, expert knowledge and knowledge-based systems. On this basis, we describe the potential for combining data analysis and knowledge-based systems in the context of production systems and describe two feasibility studies that demonstrate how knowledge-based systems can be created using data analysis. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398658, year = {2021}, author = {Flammini, F}, title = {Digital twins as run-time predictive models for the resilience of cyber-physical systems: a conceptual framework.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200369}, pmid = {34398658}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {Digital twins (DT) are emerging as an extremely promising paradigm for run-time modelling and performability prediction of cyber-physical systems (CPS) in various domains. Although several different definitions and industrial applications of DT exist, ranging from purely visual three-dimensional models to predictive maintenance tools, in this paper, we focus on data-driven evaluation and prediction of critical dependability attributes such as safety. To that end, we introduce a conceptual framework based on autonomic systems to host DT run-time models based on a structured and systematic approach. We argue that the convergence between DT and self-adaptation is the key to building smarter, resilient and trustworthy CPS that can self-monitor, self-diagnose and-ultimately-self-heal. The conceptual framework eases dependability assessment, which is essential for the certification of autonomous CPS operating with artificial intelligence and machine learning in critical applications. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398657, year = {2021}, author = {Kaynak, O and He, W and Flammini, F and Liu, Z}, title = {Towards symbiotic autonomous systems.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200359}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0359}, pmid = {34398657}, issn = {1471-2962}, } @article {pmid34398656, year = {2021}, author = {McDermid, JA and Jia, Y and Porter, Z and Habli, I}, title = {Artificial intelligence explainability: the technical and ethical dimensions.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200363}, pmid = {34398656}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {In recent years, several new technical methods have been developed to make AI-models more transparent and interpretable. These techniques are often referred to collectively as 'AI explainability' or 'XAI' methods. This paper presents an overview of XAI methods, and links them to stakeholder purposes for seeking an explanation. Because the underlying stakeholder purposes are broadly ethical in nature, we see this analysis as a contribution towards bringing together the technical and ethical dimensions of XAI. We emphasize that use of XAI methods must be linked to explanations of human decisions made during the development life cycle. Situated within that wider accountability framework, our analysis may offer a helpful starting point for designers, safety engineers, service providers and regulators who need to make practical judgements about which XAI methods to employ or to require. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398655, year = {2021}, author = {Abbass, H and Petraki, E and Hussein, A and McCall, F and Elsawah, S}, title = {A model of symbiomemesis: machine education and communication as pillars for human-autonomy symbiosis.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200364}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0364}, pmid = {34398655}, issn = {1471-2962}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Communication ; Humans ; Morals ; *Symbiosis ; Trust ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a physiological phenomenon where organisms of different species develop social interdependencies through partnerships. Artificial agents need mechanisms to build their capacity to develop symbiotic relationships. In this paper, we discuss two pillars for these mechanisms: machine education (ME) and bi-directional communication. ME is a new revolution in artificial intelligence (AI) which aims at structuring the learning journey of AI-enabled autonomous systems. In addition to the design of a systematic curriculum, ME embeds the body of knowledge necessary for the social integration of AI, such as ethics, moral values and trust, into the evolutionary design and learning of the AI. ME promises to equip AI with skills to be ready to develop logic-based symbiosis with humans and in a manner that leads to a trustworthy and effective steady-state through the mental interaction between humans and autonomy; a state we name symbiomemesis to differentiate it from ecological symbiosis. The second pillar, bi-directional communication as a discourse enables information to flow between the AI systems and humans. We combine machine education and communication theory as the two prerequisites for symbiosis of AI agents and present a formal computational model of symbiomemesis to enable symbiotic human-autonomy teaming. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398654, year = {2021}, author = {Harrison, R and Vera, D and Ahmad, B}, title = {Towards the realization of dynamically adaptable manufacturing automation systems.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200365}, pmid = {34398654}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {The transition from traditional to truly smart dynamically adaptable manufacturing demands the adoption of a high degree of autonomy within automation systems, with resultant changes in the role of the human, in both the manufacturing and logistics functions within the factory. In the context of smart manufacturing, this paper describes research towards the realization of adaptable autonomous automation systems from both the control and information perspectives. Key facets of the approach taken at WMG are described in relation to human-machine interaction, autonomous approaches to assembly and intra-logistics, integration and dynamic system-wide optimization. The progression from simple distributed behavioural components towards autonomous functional entities is described. Effective systems integration and the importance of interoperability in the realization of more distributed and autonomous automation systems are discussed, so that operational information can propagate seamlessly, eliminating the traditional boundary between operational technology and information technology systems, and as an enabler for global knowledge collection, analysis and optimization. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398653, year = {2021}, author = {Walter Colombo, A and Karnouskos, S and Hanisch, C}, title = {Engineering human-focused Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems in Industry 4.0 context.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200366}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0366}, pmid = {34398653}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {The world is increasingly interconnected, and this can also be seen in industry, where an ecosystem of digitalized assets, and humans with appropriate digital interfaces, constantly interact with each other. Digital transformation efforts in the industry rely on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems that are driven by service-based cooperation among humans and digitalized industrial assets. This implies a radical paradigm change in their engineering and operation, which is focused on the symbiosis of digitalized assets and humans that cohabit a collaboration-driven industrial ecosystem. This work discusses how a digital transformation can effectively be achieved in an industrial ecosystem via a digitalization process performed along the three dimensions of the Reference Architecture Model for Industry 4.0, facilitated by the specification, development and implementation of an Asset Administration Shell. The discussion focus is put on humans and how the digitally transformed industrial environments empower her/his capabilities and interactions. It is also critically pointed out how one should go beyond technology and consider additional aspects. Therefore, it is argued that human-centred efforts in Industry 4.0 (I4.0) should be seen in the larger context of sustainability and circular economy in order to properly consider the interplay of the involved socio-technical dimensions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398652, year = {2021}, author = {Yablochnikov, EI and Chukichev, AV and Timofeeva, OS and Abyshev, OA and Abaev, GE and Colombo, AW}, title = {Development of an industrial cyber-physical platform for small series production using digital twins.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200370}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0370}, pmid = {34398652}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {The article describes an industrial cyber-physical platform for small series production using digital twins under development at ITMO University (Saint Petersburg, Russia). The platform is based on the following approaches: group technology, adaptive and selective assembling, and digital twin of production systems and processes. The article presents a mechanism for constructing a unified manufacturing process, and results of an integrated multiscale simulation of an injection moulding process. The issues of ensuring identification and monitoring of objects of the industrial cyber-physical platform are considered. Specific service applications required to implement the smart product concept are discussed. The combination of the considered technologies is used to create digital twins of production system objects. All humans that have different roles in the product value stream can interact with the industrial cyber-physical platform at the three levels, receiving support in performing their tasks. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398651, year = {2021}, author = {Jiang, Y and Yin, S and Li, K and Luo, H and Kaynak, O}, title = {Industrial applications of digital twins.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200360}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0360}, pmid = {34398651}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {A digital twin (DT) is classically defined as the virtual replica of a real-world product, system, being, communities, even cities that are continuously updated with data from its physical counterpart, as well as its environment. It bridges the virtual cyberspace with the physical entities and, as such, is considered to be the pillar of Industry 4.0 and the innovation backbone of the future. A DT is created and used throughout the whole life cycle of the entity it replicates, from cradle to grave, so to speak. This article focuses on the present state of the art of DTs, concentrating on the use of DTs in industry in the context of smart manufacturing, especially from the point of view of plantwide optimization. The main capabilities of DTs (mirroring, shadowing and threading) are discussed in this context. The article concludes with a perspective on the future. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398650, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, J and Shi, Y}, title = {Stochastic model predictive control framework for resilient cyber-physical systems: review and perspectives.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200371}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0371}, pmid = {34398650}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {In the era of Industrial 4.0, the next-generation control system regards the cyber-physical system (CPS) as the core ingredient thanks to the comprehensive integration of physical systems, online computation, networking and control. A reliable, stable and resilient CPS should pledge robustness and safety. A significant concern in CPS development arises from security issues since the CPS is vulnerable to physical constraints, ubiquitous uncertainties and malicious cyber attacks. The integration of the stochastic model predictive control (MPC) framework and the resilient mechanism is a possible approach to guarantee robustness in the presence of stochastic uncertainties and enable resilience against cyber attacks. This review paper aims to offer a detailed overview of existing stochastic MPC algorithms and their CPS applications. More specifically, we first review existing stochastic MPC algorithms for both linear and nonlinear systems subject to probabilistic constraints. We then discuss how to extend the stochastic MPC framework to incorporate resilience mechanisms for constrained CPS under various malicious attacks. Finally, we present an architectural stochastic MPC-based framework for resilient CPS and identify future research challenges. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398649, year = {2021}, author = {Saracco, R and Grise, K and Martinez, T}, title = {The winding path towards symbiotic autonomous systems.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200361}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0361}, pmid = {34398649}, issn = {1471-2962}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Over the next 10 years, we are likely to see the convergence of two independent evolutionary paths: one leading to an augmentation of machine capabilities; the other with the augmentation of human capabilities. This convergence will not happen at a specific point in time; instead, it will be the result of progressive overlapping, to the point that it might be difficult to identify a defining moment. The following decade will likely be quite different from the present one. 5G will probably be remembered as a transitional system, artificial intelligence (AI) as a misplaced objective. We are looking forward to a communications fabric created by autonomous systems that will exist both in the physical world as well as in cyberspace, determining a continuum that gives rise to digital reality and where intelligence is an emerging property of the ambient. Hence, the dichotomy between AI and natural intelligence will no longer exist and AI will be considered as a tool for human augmentation and as the glue connecting minds and machines. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398648, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, Z and Tang, J and Zhao, Z and Zhang, S}, title = {Adaptive neural network control for nonlinear cyber-physical systems subject to false data injection attacks with prescribed performance.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200372}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0372}, pmid = {34398648}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {Cyber-physical systems (CPSs), as emerging products of industry [Formula: see text], play a key role in the development of intelligent manufacturing. This paper proposes an observer-based adaptive neural network (NN) control for nonlinear strict-feedback CPSs subject to false data injection attacks. Since there may be strict constraints on the state or output signals of nonlinear cyber-physical systems (NCPSs), we propose a time-varying asymmetric barrier Lyapunov function to realize the specific output constraints of NCPSs under cyber-attacks. Besides, since false data injection attacks will corrupt the transmitted state variables, an observer is designed to obtain observations of the exact states, and NN is used to approximate the unknown nonlinearity of NCPSs. With the proposed control strategy, the constraint control problem of NCPSs subject to false data injection attacks is settled. Finally, a numerical simulation example verifies the effectiveness of the proposed controller. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398647, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Karray, F and Kwong, S and Plataniotis, KN and Leung, H and Hou, M and Tunstel, E and Rudas, IJ and Trajkovic, L and Kaynak, O and Kacprzyk, J and Zhou, M and Smith, MH and Chen, P and Patel, S}, title = {On the philosophical, cognitive and mathematical foundations of symbiotic autonomous systems.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200362}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0362}, pmid = {34398647}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {Symbiotic autonomous systems (SAS) are advanced intelligent and cognitive systems that exhibit autonomous collective intelligence enabled by coherent symbiosis of human-machine interactions in hybrid societies. Basic research in the emerging field of SAS has triggered advanced general-AI technologies that either function without human intervention or synergize humans and intelligent machines in coherent cognitive systems. This work presents a theoretical framework of SAS underpinned by the latest advances in intelligence, cognition, computer, and system sciences. SAS are characterized by the composition of autonomous and symbiotic systems that adopt bio-brain-social-inspired and heterogeneously synergized structures and autonomous behaviours. This paper explores the cognitive and mathematical foundations of SAS. The challenges to seamless human-machine interactions in a hybrid environment are addressed. SAS-based collective intelligence is explored in order to augment human capability by autonomous machine intelligence towards the next generation of general AI, cognitive computers, and trustworthy mission-critical intelligent systems. Emerging paradigms and engineering applications of SAS are elaborated via autonomous knowledge learning systems that symbiotically work between humans and cognitive robots. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398646, year = {2021}, author = {Yu, X and Zhang, S and Liu, Y and Li, B and Ma, Y and Min, G}, title = {Co-carrying an object by robot in cooperation with humans using visual and force sensing.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20200373}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2020.0373}, pmid = {34398646}, issn = {1471-2962}, mesh = {Humans ; Motion ; *Robotics ; }, abstract = {Human-robot collaboration poses many challenges where humans and robots work inside a shared workspace. Robots collaborating with humans indirectly bring difficulties for accomplishing co-carrying tasks. In our work, we focus on co-carrying an object by robots in cooperation with humans using visual and force sensing. A framework using visual and force sensing is proposed for human-robot co-carrying tasks, enabling robots to actively cooperate with humans and reduce human efforts. Visual sensing for perceiving human motion is involved in admittance-based force control, and a hybrid controller combining visual servoing with force feedback is proposed which generates refined robot motion. The proposed framework is validated by a co-carrying task in experiments. There exist two phases in experimental processes: in Phase 1, the human hand holds one side of the box object, and the robot gripper of the Baxter robot automatically approaches to the other side of the box object and finally holds it; in Phase 2, the human and the Baxter robot co-carry the box object over a distance to different target positions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34398645, year = {2021}, author = {Teller, M}, title = {Legal aspects related to digital twin.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {379}, number = {2207}, pages = {20210023}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2021.0023}, pmid = {34398645}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {The creation of digital replicas of individuals, based on their data, gives birth to what experts in medical field called the 'personal digital twin'. This new 'digital self' raises many difficulties, in sociology, in science and in law. This article presents the main issues from a legal point of view. Most of the structuring concepts of the law are questioned by these special symbiotic systems: the concept of person, identity, entitlement to rights and obligations, legal capacity, liability, data processing, etc. All these notions, which are rooted in the legal tradition, are correlated to the human person and must therefore be profoundly adapted to apply to the digital twin. It is a new experience: the law must devise concepts to take account of an entity that is halfway between people and things. We see this as an opportunity to rethink the legal framework and to consider the advent of future digital human rights. This questioning, barely sketched here, aims to make the law evolve towards a better consideration of symbiotic systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards symbiotic autonomous systems'.}, } @article {pmid34396150, year = {2021}, author = {Jubery, TZ and Carley, CN and Singh, A and Sarkar, S and Ganapathysubramanian, B and Singh, AK}, title = {Using Machine Learning to Develop a Fully Automated Soybean Nodule Acquisition Pipeline (SNAP).}, journal = {Plant phenomics (Washington, D.C.)}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {9834746}, pmid = {34396150}, issn = {2643-6515}, abstract = {Nodules form on plant roots through the symbiotic relationship between soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) roots and bacteria (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) and are an important structure where atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is fixed into bioavailable ammonia (NH3) for plant growth and development. Nodule quantification on soybean roots is a laborious and tedious task; therefore, assessment is frequently done on a numerical scale that allows for rapid phenotyping, but is less informative and suffers from subjectivity. We report the Soybean Nodule Acquisition Pipeline (SNAP) for nodule quantification that combines RetinaNet and UNet deep learning architectures for object (i.e., nodule) detection and segmentation. SNAP was built using data from 691 unique roots from diverse soybean genotypes, vegetative growth stages, and field locations and has a good model fit (R [2] = 0.99). SNAP reduces the human labor and inconsistencies of counting nodules, while acquiring quantifiable traits related to nodule growth, location, and distribution on roots. The ability of SNAP to phenotype nodules on soybean roots at a higher throughput enables researchers to assess the genetic and environmental factors, and their interactions on nodulation from an early development stage. The application of SNAP in research and breeding pipelines may lead to more nitrogen use efficiency for soybean and other legume species cultivars, as well as enhanced insight into the plant-Bradyrhizobium relationship.}, } @article {pmid34395523, year = {2021}, author = {Schindler, F and Fragner, L and Herpell, JB and Berger, A and Brenner, M and Tischler, S and Bellaire, A and Schönenberger, J and Li, W and Sun, X and Schinnerl, J and Brecker, L and Weckwerth, W}, title = {Dissecting Metabolism of Leaf Nodules in Ardisia crenata and Psychotria punctata.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {683671}, pmid = {34395523}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Root-microbe interaction and its specialized root nodule structures and functions are well studied. In contrast, leaf nodules harboring microbial endophytes in special glandular leaf structures have only recently gained increased interest as plant-microbe phyllosphere interactions. Here, we applied a comprehensive metabolomics platform in combination with natural product isolation and characterization to dissect leaf and leaf nodule metabolism and functions in Ardisia crenata (Primulaceae) and Psychotria punctata (Rubiaceae). The results indicate that abiotic stress resilience plays an important part within the leaf nodule symbiosis of both species. Both species showed metabolic signatures of enhanced nitrogen assimilation/dissimilation pattern and increased polyamine levels in nodules compared to leaf lamina tissue potentially involved in senescence processes and photosynthesis. Multiple links to cytokinin and REDOX-active pathways were found. Our results further demonstrate that secondary metabolite production by endophytes is a key feature of this symbiotic system. Multiple anhydromuropeptides (AhMP) and their derivatives were identified as highly characteristic biomarkers for nodulation within both species. A novel epicatechin derivative was structurally elucidated with NMR and shown to be enriched within the leaf nodules of A. crenata. This enrichment within nodulated tissues was also observed for catechin and other flavonoids indicating that flavonoid metabolism may play an important role for leaf nodule symbiosis of A. crenata. In contrast, pavettamine was only detected in P. punctata and showed no nodule specific enrichment but a developmental effect. Further natural products were detected, including three putative unknown depsipeptide structures in A. crenata leaf nodules. The analysis presents a first metabolomics reference data set for the intimate interaction of microbes and plants in leaf nodules, reveals novel metabolic processes of plant-microbe interaction as well as the potential of natural product discovery in these systems.}, } @article {pmid34395395, year = {2021}, author = {Yousaf, MJ and Hussain, A and Hamayun, M and Iqbal, A and Irshad, M and Kim, HY and Lee, IJ}, title = {Transformation of Endophytic Bipolaris spp. Into Biotrophic Pathogen Under Auxin Cross-Talk With Brassinosteroids and Abscisic Acid.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {657635}, pmid = {34395395}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Auxin is the reciprocal signaling molecule, which interferes with other phyto-hormonal and physiological processes during plant-microbes interaction. In this regard, Bipolaris spp., a growth-promoting endophytic fungus was used to inoculate pre-stressed Zea mays seedlings with yucasin (IAA inhibitor). The IAA-deficient host was heavily colonized by the endophyte that subsequently promoted the host growth and elevated the IAA levels with a peak value at 72 h. However, the seedling growth was inhibited later (i.e., at 120 h) due to the high levels of IAA that interfered with the activity of phytoalexins and brassinosteroids. Such interference also modulated the endophytic fungus from symbiotic to biotrophic pathogen that left the host plants defenseless.}, } @article {pmid34395081, year = {2021}, author = {Vu, NT and Quach, TN and Dao, XT and Le, HT and Le, CP and Nguyen, LT and Le, LT and Ngo, CC and Hoang, H and Chu, HH and Phi, QT}, title = {A genomic perspective on the potential of termite-associated Cellulosimicrobium cellulans MP1 as producer of plant biomass-acting enzymes and exopolysaccharides.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11839}, pmid = {34395081}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lignocellulose is a renewable and enormous biomass resource, which can be degraded efficiently by a range of cocktails of carbohydrate-active enzymes secreted by termite gut symbiotic bacteria. There is an urgent need to find enzymes with novel characteristics for improving the conversion processes in the production of lignocellulosic-based products. Although various studies dedicated to the genus Cellulosimicrobium as gut symbiont, genetic potential related to plant biomass-acting enzymes and exopolysaccharides production has been fully untapped to date.

METHODS: The cellulolytic bacterial strain MP1 was isolated from termite guts and identified to the species level by phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genomic analysis. To further explore genes related to cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, the draft genome of strain MP1 was obtained by using whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation through the Illumina platform. Lignocellulose degrading enzymes and levan production in the liquid medium were also examined to shed light on bacterial activities.

RESULTS: Among 65 isolates obtained, the strain MP1 was the most efficient cellulase producer with cellulase activity of 0.65 ± 0.02 IU/ml. The whole genome analysis depicted that strain MP1 consists of a circular chromosome that contained 4,580,223 bp with an average GC content of 73.9%. The genome comprises 23 contigs including 67 rRNA genes, three tRNA genes, a single tmRNA gene, and 4,046 protein-coding sequences. In support of the phenotypic identification, the 16S rRNA gene sequence, average nucleotide identity, and whole-genome-based taxonomic analysis demonstrated that the strain MP1 belongs to the species Cellulosimicrobium cellulans. A total of 30 genes related to the degradation of cellulases and hemicellulases were identified in the C. cellulans MP1 genome. Of note, the presence of sacC1-levB-sacC2-ls operon responsible for levan and levan-type fructooligosaccharides biosynthesis was detected in strain MP1 genome, but not with closely related C. cellulans strains, proving this strain to be a potential candidate for further studies. Endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and xylanase were achieved by using cheaply available agro-residues such as rice bran and sugar cane bagasse. The maximum levan production by C. cellulans MP1 was 14.8 ± 1.2 g/l after 20 h of cultivation in media containing 200 g/l sucrose. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first genome-based analysis of a Cellulosimicrobium species which focuses on lignocellulosic enzymes and levan biosynthesis, illustrating that the C. cellulans MP1 has a great potential to be an efficient platform for basic research and industrial exploitation.}, } @article {pmid34394379, year = {2021}, author = {Malmir, H and Ejtahed, HS and Soroush, AR and Mortazavian, AM and Fahimfar, N and Ostovar, A and Esmaillzadeh, A and Larijani, B and Hasani-Ranjbar, S}, title = {Probiotics as a New Regulator for Bone Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {3582989}, pmid = {34394379}, issn = {1741-427X}, abstract = {Despite the proposed role of the gut microbiota-bone axis, findings on the association between probiotic consumption and bone health are conflicting. This systematic review aimed to assess the effect of probiotic consumption on bone health parameters. A systematic literature search of relevant reports published in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Google scholar before December 2020 was conducted. All clinical trials or experimental studies, which examined the relationship between probiotic consumption and bone health parameters, were included. No limitation was applied during the search. After screening articles based on inclusion criteria, 44 studies remained. In clinical trials, probiotic consumption affects bone health parameters such as serum calcium levels (3.82; 95% CI: 1.05, 6.59 mmol/l), urinary calcium levels (4.85; 95% CI: 1.16, 8.53 mmol/l), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (-5.53; 95% CI: -9.83, -0.86 ng/l). In most studies, Lactobacillus species such as L. helveticus, L. reuteri, and L. casei were consumed and women aged 50 years or older were assessed. Spinal and total hip bone mineral density (BMD) was not affected significantly by probiotic consumption. In 37 animal experiments, probiotic or symbiotic feeding mostly had effects on bone health parameters. Some strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus including L. reuteri, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, and L. acidophilus have indicated beneficial effects on bone health parameters. In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that probiotic supplementation might improve bone health. Further studies are needed to decide on the best probiotic species and appropriate dosages.}, } @article {pmid34394152, year = {2021}, author = {Hug, S and Liu, Y and Heiniger, B and Bailly, A and Ahrens, CH and Eberl, L and Pessi, G}, title = {Differential Expression of Paraburkholderia phymatum Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS) Suggests a Role of T6SS-b in Early Symbiotic Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {699590}, pmid = {34394152}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815, a rhizobial strain of the Burkholderiaceae family, is able to nodulate a broad range of legumes including the agriculturally important Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). P. phymatum harbors two type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS-b and T6SS-3) in its genome that contribute to its high interbacterial competitiveness in vitro and in infecting the roots of several legumes. In this study, we show that P. phymatum T6SS-b is found in the genomes of several soil-dwelling plant symbionts and that its expression is induced by the presence of citrate and is higher at 20/28°C compared to 37°C. Conversely, T6SS-3 shows homologies to T6SS clusters found in several pathogenic Burkholderia strains, is more prominently expressed with succinate during stationary phase and at 37°C. In addition, T6SS-b expression was activated in the presence of germinated seeds as well as in P. vulgaris and Mimosa pudica root nodules. Phenotypic analysis of selected deletion mutant strains suggested a role of T6SS-b in motility but not at later stages of the interaction with legumes. In contrast, the T6SS-3 mutant was not affected in any of the free-living and symbiotic phenotypes examined. Thus, P. phymatum T6SS-b is potentially important for the early infection step in the symbiosis with legumes.}, } @article {pmid34394025, year = {2021}, author = {de Mendonça, DMF and Caixeta, MCS and Martins, GL and Moreira, CC and Kloss, TG and Elliot, SL}, title = {Low Virulence of the Fungi Escovopsis and Escovopsioides to a Leaf-Cutting Ant-Fungus Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {673445}, pmid = {34394025}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Eusocial insects interact with a diversity of parasites that can threaten their survival and reproduction. The amount of harm these parasites cause to their hosts (i.e., their virulence) can be influenced by numerous factors, such as the ecological context in which the parasite and its host are inserted. Leaf-cutting ants (genera Atta, Acromyrmex and Amoimyrmex, Attini: Formicidae) are an example of a eusocial insect whose colonies are constantly threatened by parasites. The fungi Escovopsis and Escovopsioides (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are considered a highly virulent parasite and an antagonist, respectively, to the leaf-cutting ants' fungal cultivar, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Basidiomycota: Agaricales). Since Escovopsis and Escovopsioides are common inhabitants of healthy colonies that can live for years, we expect them to have low levels of virulence. However, this virulence could vary depending on ecological context. We therefore tested two hypotheses: (i) Escovopsis and Escovopsioides are of low virulence to colonies; (ii) virulence increases as colony complexity decreases. For this, we used three levels of complexity: queenright colonies (fungus garden with queen and workers), queenless colonies (fungus garden and workers, without queen) and fungus gardens (without any ants). Each was inoculated with extremely high concentrations of conidia of Escovopsis moelleri, Escovopsioides nivea, the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum or a blank control. We found that these fungi were of low virulence to queenright colonies. The survival of queenless colonies was decreased by E. moelleri and fungus gardens were suppressed by all treatments. Moreover, E. nivea and T. longibrachiatum seemed to be less aggressive than E. moelleri, observed both in vivo and in vitro. The results highlight the importance of each element (queen, workers and fungus garden) in the leaf-cutting ant-fungus symbiosis. Most importantly, we showed that Escovopsis may not be virulent to healthy colonies, despite commonly being described as such, with the reported virulence of Escovopsis being due to poor colony conditions in the field or in laboratory experiments.}, } @article {pmid34394019, year = {2021}, author = {Nattoh, G and Maina, T and Makhulu, EE and Mbaisi, L and Mararo, E and Otieno, FG and Bukhari, T and Onchuru, TO and Teal, E and Paredes, J and Bargul, JL and Mburu, DM and Onyango, EA and Magoma, G and Sinkins, SP and Herren, JK}, title = {Horizontal Transmission of the Symbiont Microsporidia MB in Anopheles arabiensis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {647183}, pmid = {34394019}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The recently discovered Anopheles symbiont, Microsporidia MB, has a strong malaria transmission-blocking phenotype in Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant Anopheles gambiae species complex member in many active transmission areas in eastern Africa. The ability of Microsporidia MB to block Plasmodium transmission together with vertical transmission and avirulence makes it a candidate for the development of a symbiont-based malaria transmission blocking strategy. We investigate the characteristics and efficiencies of Microsporidia MB transmission between An. arabiensis mosquitoes. We show that Microsporidia MB is not transmitted between larvae but is effectively transmitted horizontally between adult mosquitoes. Notably, Microsporidia MB was only found to be transmitted between male and female An. arabiensis, suggesting sexual horizontal transmission. In addition, Microsporidia MB cells were observed infecting the An. arabiensis ejaculatory duct. Female An. arabiensis that acquire Microsporidia MB horizontally are able to transmit the symbiont vertically to their offspring. We also investigate the possibility that Microsporidia MB can infect alternate hosts that live in the same habitats as their An. arabiensis hosts, but find no other non-anopheline hosts. Notably, Microsporidia MB infections were found in another primary malaria African vector, Anopheles funestus s.s. The finding that Microsporidia MB can be transmitted horizontally is relevant for the development of dissemination strategies to control malaria that are based on the targeted release of Microsporidia MB infected Anopheles mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid34393323, year = {2021}, author = {Dutta, R and Pujari, S and Tyagi, S and Gupta, MM and Davy, SK and Richardson, DHS}, title = {World symbiosis day webinar - when living together is a win-win.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {233-237}, pmid = {34393323}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {The following information is intended for those who were unable to attend the first webinar of the International Symbiosis Society (ISS) on - 'When living together is a win-win' - a celebration of 'World Symbiosis Day' on 30 July 2020. The objective of the webinar was to disseminate information about the Society, to gather feedback, and to encourage the audience to join the Society. This introduction presents a summary of the webinar, highlighting the keynote presentations, the panel discussion, the journal Symbiosis, and the next ISS conference to be held in Lyon in 2022. In addition, we report on the discussions and feedback from participants that were collected through polls and other aspects of the webinar.}, } @article {pmid34390616, year = {2021}, author = {Mills, S and Ross, RP}, title = {Colliding and interacting microbiomes and microbial communities - consequences for human health.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {7341-7354}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15722}, pmid = {34390616}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Health ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Living 'things' coexist with microorganisms, known as the microbiota/microbiome that provides essential physiological functions to its host. Despite this reliance, the microbiome is malleable and can be altered by several factors including birth-mode, age, antibiotics, nutrition, and disease. In this minireview, we consider how other microbiomes and microbial communities impact the host microbiome and the host through the concept of microbiome collisions (initial exposures) and interactions. Interactions include changes in host microbiome composition and functionality and/or host responses. Understanding the impact of other microbiomes and microbial communities on the microbiome and host are important considering the decline in human microbiota diversity in the developed world - paralleled by the surge of non-communicable, inflammatory-based diseases. Thus, surrounding ourselves with rich and diverse beneficial microbiomes and microbial communities to collide and interact with should help to diminish the loss in microbial diversity and protect from certain diseases. In the same vein, our microbiomes not only influence our health but potentially the health of those close to us. We also consider strategies for enhanced host microbiome collisions and interactions through the surrounding environment that ensure increased microbiome diversity and functionality contributing to enhanced symbiotic return to the host in terms of health benefit.}, } @article {pmid34390483, year = {2021}, author = {Su, ZZ and Dai, MD and Zhu, JN and Zeng, YL and Lu, XJ and Liu, XH and Lin, FC}, title = {An efficient genetic manipulation protocol for dark septate endophyte Falciphora oryzae.}, journal = {Biotechnology letters}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, pages = {2045-2052}, pmid = {34390483}, issn = {1573-6776}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics/metabolism ; *Endophytes/genetics/metabolism ; Protoplasts/*metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transfection/*methods ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protoplast preparation and transformation system of endophytic fungus Falciphora oryzae.

RESULTS: F. oryzae strain obtained higher protoplast yield and effective transformation when treated with enzyme digestion solution containing 0.9 M KCl solution and 10 mg mL[-1] glucanase at 30 °C with shaking at 80 rpm for 2-3 h. When the protoplasts were plated on a regenerations-agar medium containing 1 M sucrose, the re-growth rate of protoplasts was the highest. We successfully acquired green fluorescent protein-expressing transformants by transforming the pKD6-GFP vector into protoplasts. Further, the GFP expression in fungal hyphae possessed good stability and intensity during symbiosis in rice roots.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a protoplast transformation system of F. oryzae, creating opportunities for future genetic research in other endophytic fungi.}, } @article {pmid34389828, year = {2022}, author = {Perreau, J and Moran, NA}, title = {Genetic innovations in animal-microbe symbioses.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Genetics}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {23-39}, pmid = {34389828}, issn = {1471-0064}, support = {R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio/*genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Arthropods/*genetics/microbiology ; Decapodiformes/*genetics/microbiology ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Drift ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/classification/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Animal hosts have initiated myriad symbiotic associations with microorganisms and often have maintained these symbioses for millions of years, spanning drastic changes in ecological conditions and lifestyles. The establishment and persistence of these relationships require genetic innovations on the parts of both symbionts and hosts. The nature of symbiont innovations depends on their genetic population structure, categorized here as open, closed or mixed. These categories reflect modes of inter-host transmission that result in distinct genomic features, or genomic syndromes, in symbionts. Although less studied, hosts also innovate in order to preserve and control symbiotic partnerships. New capabilities to sequence host-associated microbial communities and to experimentally manipulate both hosts and symbionts are providing unprecedented insights into how genetic innovations arise under different symbiont population structures and how these innovations function to support symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid34387704, year = {2021}, author = {de Siqueira, KA and Senabio, JA and Pietro-Souza, W and de Oliveira Mendes, TA and Soares, MA}, title = {Aspergillus sp. A31 and Curvularia geniculata P1 mitigate mercury toxicity to Oryza sativa L.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {9}, pages = {5345-5361}, pmid = {34387704}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Aspergillus/genetics ; Curvularia ; Endophytes ; *Mercury/toxicity ; *Oryza ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Aspergillus sp. A31 and Curvularia geniculata P1 are endophytes that colonize the roots of Aeschynomene fluminensis Vell. and Polygonum acuminatum Kunth. in humid environments contaminated with mercury. The two strains mitigated mercury toxicity and promoted Oryza sativa L growth. C. geniculata P1 stood out for increasing the host biomass by fourfold and reducing the negative effects of the metal on photosynthesis. Assembling and annotation of Aspergillus sp. A31 and C. geniculata P1 genomes resulted in 28.60 Mb (CG% 53.1; 10,312 coding DNA sequences) and 32.92 Mb (CG% 50.72; 8,692 coding DNA sequences), respectively. Twelve and 27 genomes of Curvularia/Bipolaris and Aspergillus were selected for phylogenomic analyzes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis inferred the separation of species from the genus Curvularia and Bipolaris into different clades, and the separation of species from the genus Aspergillus into three clades; the species were distinguished by occupied niche. The genomes had essential gene clusters for the adaptation of microorganisms to high metal concentrations, such as proteins of the phytoquelatin-metal complex (GO: 0090423), metal ion binders (GO: 0046872), ABC transporters (GO: 0042626), ATPase transporters (GO: 0016887), and genes related to response to reactive oxygen species (GO: 0000302) and oxidative stress (GO: 0006979). The results reported here help to understand the unique regulatory mechanisms of mercury tolerance and plant development.}, } @article {pmid34387337, year = {2021}, author = {Villar, I and Rubio, MC and Calvo-Begueria, L and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Larrainzar, E and Wilson, MT and Sandal, N and Mur, LA and Wang, L and Reeder, B and Duanmu, D and Uchiumi, T and Stougaard, J and Becana, M}, title = {Three classes of hemoglobins are required for optimal vegetative and reproductive growth of Lotus japonicus: genetic and biochemical characterization of LjGlb2-1.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {22}, pages = {7778-7791}, pmid = {34387337}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Hemoglobins/genetics ; Leghemoglobin ; *Lotus/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes express two major types of hemoglobins, namely symbiotic (leghemoglobins) and non-symbiotic (phytoglobins), with the latter being categorized into three classes according to phylogeny and biochemistry. Using knockout mutants, we show that all three phytoglobin classes are required for optimal vegetative and reproductive development of Lotus japonicus. The mutants of two class 1 phytoglobins showed different phenotypes: Ljglb1-1 plants were smaller and had relatively more pods, whereas Ljglb1-2 plants had no distinctive vegetative phenotype and produced relatively fewer pods. Non-nodulated plants lacking LjGlb2-1 showed delayed growth and alterations in the leaf metabolome linked to amino acid processing, fermentative and respiratory pathways, and hormonal balance. The leaves of mutant plants accumulated salicylic acid and contained relatively less methyl jasmonic acid, suggesting crosstalk between LjGlb2-1 and the signaling pathways of both hormones. Based on the expression of LjGlb2-1 in leaves, the alterations of flowering and fruiting of nodulated Ljglb2-1 plants, the developmental and biochemical phenotypes of the mutant fed on ammonium nitrate, and the heme coordination and reactivity of the protein toward nitric oxide, we conclude that LjGlb2-1 is not a leghemoglobin but an unusual class 2 phytoglobin. For comparison, we have also characterized a close relative of LjGlb2-1 in Medicago truncatula, MtLb3, and conclude that this is an atypical leghemoglobin.}, } @article {pmid34386321, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, X and Han, Y and Huang, W and Jin, M and Gao, Z}, title = {The influence of the gut microbiota on the bioavailability of oral drugs.}, journal = {Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {1789-1812}, pmid = {34386321}, issn = {2211-3835}, abstract = {Due to its safety, convenience, low cost and good compliance, oral administration attracts lots of attention. However, the efficacy of many oral drugs is limited to their unsatisfactory bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. One of the critical and most overlooked factors is the symbiotic gut microbiota that can modulate the bioavailability of oral drugs by participating in the biotransformation of oral drugs, influencing the drug transport process and altering some gastrointestinal properties. In this review, we summarized the existing research investigating the possible relationship between the gut microbiota and the bioavailability of oral drugs, which may provide great ideas and useful instructions for the design of novel drug delivery systems or the achievement of personalized medicine.}, } @article {pmid34385987, year = {2021}, author = {Salonen, IS and Chronopoulou, PM and Nomaki, H and Langlet, D and Tsuchiya, M and Koho, KA}, title = {16S rRNA Gene Metabarcoding Indicates Species-Characteristic Microbiomes in Deep-Sea Benthic Foraminifera.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {694406}, pmid = {34385987}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Foraminifera are unicellular eukaryotes that are an integral part of benthic fauna in many marine ecosystems, including the deep sea, with direct impacts on benthic biogeochemical cycles. In these systems, different foraminiferal species are known to have a distinct vertical distribution, i.e., microhabitat preference, which is tightly linked to the physico-chemical zonation of the sediment. Hence, foraminifera are well-adapted to thrive in various conditions, even under anoxia. However, despite the ecological and biogeochemical significance of foraminifera, their ecology remains poorly understood. This is especially true in terms of the composition and diversity of their microbiome, although foraminifera are known to harbor diverse endobionts, which may have a significant meaning to each species' survival strategy. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to investigate the microbiomes of five different deep-sea benthic foraminiferal species representing differing microhabitat preferences. The microbiomes of these species were compared intra- and inter-specifically, as well as with the surrounding sediment bacterial community. Our analysis indicated that each species was characterized with a distinct, statistically different microbiome that also differed from the surrounding sediment community in terms of diversity and dominant bacterial groups. We were also able to distinguish specific bacterial groups that seemed to be strongly associated with particular foraminiferal species, such as the family Marinilabiliaceae for Chilostomella ovoidea and the family Hyphomicrobiaceae for Bulimina subornata and Bulimina striata. The presence of bacterial groups that are tightly associated to a certain foraminiferal species implies that there may exist unique, potentially symbiotic relationships between foraminifera and bacteria that have been previously overlooked. Furthermore, the foraminifera contained chloroplast reads originating from different sources, likely reflecting trophic preferences and ecological characteristics of the different species. This study demonstrates the potential of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding in resolving the microbiome composition and diversity of eukaryotic unicellular organisms, providing unique in situ insights into enigmatic deep-sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34383896, year = {2021}, author = {Stever, H and Eiben, J and Bennett, GM}, title = {Hawaiian Nysius Insects Rely on an Obligate Symbiont with a Reduced Genome That Retains a Discrete Nutritional Profile to Match Their Plant Seed Diet.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34383896}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hawaii ; *Hemiptera/genetics/microbiology ; *Heteroptera/genetics ; Insecta/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Seed-feeding Nysius insects (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) have a symbiotic association with distinct intracellular bacteria, "Candidatus Schneideria nysicola" (Gammaproteobacteria). Although many other hemipteran insect groups generally rely on bacterial symbionts that synthesize all ten essential amino acids lacking in their plant sap diets, the nutritional role of Schneideria in Nysius hosts that specialize on a more nutritionally complete seed-based diet has remained unknown. To determine the nutritional and functional capabilities of Schneideria, we sequenced the complete Schneideria genomes from three distantly related endemic Hawaiian Nysius seed bug species. The complete Schneideria genomes are highly conserved and perfectly syntenic among Hawaiian Nysius host species. Each circular chromosome is ∼0.57 Mb in size and encodes 537 protein-coding genes. They further exhibit a strong A + T nucleotide substitution bias with an average G + C nucleotide content of 29%. The predicted nutritional contribution of Schneideria includes four B vitamins and five of the ten essential amino acids that likely match its hosts' seed-based diet. Disrupted and degraded genes in Schneideria suggests that Hawaiian lineages are undergoing continued gene losses observed in the smaller genomes of the other more ancient hemipteran symbionts.}, } @article {pmid34383852, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, HB and Cao, Z and Qiao, JX and Zhong, ZQ and Pan, CC and Liu, C and Zhang, LM and Wang, YF}, title = {Metabolomics provide new insights into mechanisms of Wolbachia-induced paternal defects in Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {e1009859}, pmid = {34383852}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*complications/metabolism/microbiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Infertility, Male/etiology/metabolism/*pathology ; Male ; *Metabolome ; *Phenotype ; *Reproduction ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a group of intracellular symbiotic bacteria that widely infect arthropods and nematodes. Wolbachia infection can regulate host reproduction with the most common phenotype in insects being cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which results in embryonic lethality when uninfected eggs fertilized with sperms from infected males. This suggests that CI-induced defects are mainly in paternal side. However, whether Wolbachia-induced metabolic changes play a role in the mechanism of paternal-linked defects in embryonic development is not known. In the current study, we first use untargeted metabolomics method with LC-MS to explore how Wolbachia infection influences the metabolite profiling of the insect hosts. The untargeted metabolomics revealed 414 potential differential metabolites between Wolbachia-infected and uninfected 1-day-old (1d) male flies. Most of the differential metabolites were significantly up-regulated due to Wolbachia infection. Thirty-four metabolic pathways such as carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid, and vitamin and cofactor metabolism were affected by Wolbachia infection. Then, we applied targeted metabolomics analysis with GC-MS and showed that Wolbachia infection resulted in an increased energy expenditure of the host by regulating glycometabolism and fatty acid catabolism, which was compensated by increased food uptake. Furthermore, overexpressing two acyl-CoA catabolism related genes, Dbi (coding for diazepam-binding inhibitor) or Mcad (coding for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase), ubiquitously or specially in testes caused significantly decreased paternal-effect egg hatch rate. Oxidative stress and abnormal mitochondria induced by Wolbachia infection disrupted the formation of sperm nebenkern. These findings provide new insights into mechanisms of Wolbachia-induced paternal defects from metabolic phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid34383819, year = {2021}, author = {Yimthin, T and Fukruksa, C and Muangpat, P and Dumidae, A and Wattanachaiyingcharoen, W and Vitta, A and Thanwisai, A}, title = {A study on Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates from Northeastern Thailand: Identification, antibacterial activity, and association with entomopathogenic nematode hosts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {e0255943}, pmid = {34383819}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nematoda/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/chemistry/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry/parasitology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/chemistry/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are gram negative bacteria that can produce several secondary metabolites, including antimicrobial compounds. They have a symbiotic association with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species and their associated nematode symbionts from Northeastern region of Thailand. We also evaluated the antibacterial activity of these symbiotic bacteria. The recovery rate of EPNs was 7.82% (113/1445). A total of 62 Xenorhabdus and 51 Photorhabdus strains were isolated from the EPNs. Based on recA sequencing and phylogeny, Xenorhabdus isolates were identified as X. stockiae (n = 60), X. indica (n = 1) and X. eapokensis (n = 1). Photorhabdus isolates were identified as P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (n = 29), P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis (n = 18), P. luminescens subsp. laumondii (n = 2), and P. asymbiotica subsp. australis (n = 2). The EPNs based on 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis were identified as Steinernema surkhetense (n = 35), S. sangi (n = 1), unidentified Steinernema (n = 1), Heterorhabditis indica (n = 39), H. baujardi (n = 1), and Heterorhabditis sp. SGmg3 (n = 3). Antibacterial activity showed that X. stockiae (bMSK7.5_TH) extract inhibited several antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on mutualistic association between P. luminescens subsp. laumondii and Heterorhabditis sp. SGmg3. This study could act as a platform for future studies focusing on the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds from these bacterial isolates.}, } @article {pmid34381726, year = {2021}, author = {Le, F and Yang, L and Han, Y and Zhong, Y and Zhan, F and Feng, Y and Hu, H and Chen, T and Tan, B}, title = {TPL Inhibits the Invasion and Migration of Drug-Resistant Ovarian Cancer by Targeting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB-Signaling Pathway to Inhibit the Polarization of M2 TAMs.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {704001}, pmid = {34381726}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Chemoresistance is the primary reason for the poor prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer, and the search for a novel drug treatment or adjuvant chemotherapy drug is an urgent need. The tumor microenvironment plays key role in the incidence and development of tumors. As one of the most important components of the tumor microenvironment, M2 tumor-associated macrophages are closely related to tumor migration, invasion, immunosuppressive phenotype and drug resistance. Many studies have confirmed that triptolide (TPL), one of the principal components of Tripterygium wilfordii, possesses broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity. The aims of this study were to determine whether TPL could inhibit the migration and invasion of A2780/DDP cells in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the polarization of M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs); to explore the mechanism(s) underlying TPL effects; and to investigate the influence of TPL on murine intestinal symbiotic microbiota. In vitro results showed that M2 macrophage supernatant slightly promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of A2780/DDP cells, which was reversed by TPL in a dose-dependent manner. Animal experiments showed that TPL, particularly TPL + cisplatin (DDP), significantly reduced the tumor burden, prolonged the life span of mice by inhibiting M2 macrophage polarization, and downregulated the levels of CD31 and CD206 (CD31 is the vascular marker and CD206 is the macrophage marker), the mechanism of which may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. High-throughput sequencing results of the intestinal microbiota in nude mice illustrated that Akkermansia and Clostridium were upregulated by DDP and TPL respective. We also found that Lactobacillus and Akkermansia were downregulated by DDP combined with TPL. Our results highlight the importance of M2 TAMs in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) migration ability, invasiveness, and resistance to DDP. We also preliminarily explored the mechanism governing the reversal of the polarization of M2 macrophages by TPL.}, } @article {pmid34380284, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, X and Hu, S and Sun, R and Wu, Y and Qiao, Z and Wang, S and Zhang, Z and Cui, C}, title = {Dissolved oxygen disturbs nitrate transformation by modifying microbial community, co-occurrence networks, and functional genes during aerobic-anoxic transition.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {790}, number = {}, pages = {148245}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148245}, pmid = {34380284}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; *Microbiota ; *Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Oxides ; Oxygen ; }, abstract = {No consensus has been achieved among researchers on the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) on nitrate (NO3[-]-N) transformation and the microbial community, especially during aerobic-anoxic transition. To supplement this knowledge, NO3[-]-N transformation, microbial communities, co-occurrence networks, and functional genes were investigated during aerobic-anoxic transition via microcosm simulation. NO3[-]-N transformation rate in the early stage (DO ≥2 mg/L) was always significantly higher than that in the later stage (DO <2 mg/L) during aerobic-anoxic transition, and NO2[-]-N accumulation was more significant during the anoxic stage, consistent with the result obtained under constant DO conditions. These NO3[-]-N transformation characteristics were not affected by other environmental factors, indicating the important role of DO in NO3[-]-N transformation during aerobic-anoxic transition. Changes in DO provoked significant alterations in microbial diversity and abundance of functional bacteria dominated by Massilia, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas, leading to the variation in NO3[-]-N transformation. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that NO3[-]-N transformation was performed by the interactions between functional bacteria including symbiotic and competitive relationship. In the presence of oxygen, these interactions accelerated the NO3[-]-N transformation rate, and bacterial metabolization proceeded via increasingly varied pathways including aerobic and anoxic respiration, which was demonstrated through predicted genes. The higher relative abundance of genes narG, narH, and napA suggested the occurrence of coupled aerobic-anoxic denitrification in the early stage. NO3[-]-N transformation rate decreased accompanied by a significant NO2[-]-N accumulation with the weakening of coupled aerobic-anoxic denitrification during aerobic-anoxic transition. Structural equation modeling further demonstrated the relationship between DO and NO3[-]-N transformation. DO affects NO3[-]-N transformation by modifying microbial community, bacterial co-occurrence, and functional genes during aerobic-anoxic transition.}, } @article {pmid34380242, year = {2021}, author = {Savoldelli, S and Cattò, C and Villa, F and Saracchi, M and Troiano, F and Cortesi, P and Cappitelli, F}, title = {Biological risk assessment in the History and Historical Documentation Library of the University of Milan.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {790}, number = {}, pages = {148204}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148204}, pmid = {34380242}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Bacteria ; Documentation ; *Fungi ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {There are billions of books that in recent and in ancient times have been produced by the human race containing evidence of its intellectual and cultural efforts. Even when stored in libraries, not all these books survive over time undamaged, because in the biosphere their materials are potential nutrients. This is the unfortunate case of the History and Historical Documentation Library of the University of Milan, where biological agents have badly affected rare and valuable old books. An entomological monitoring was carried out using sticky traps and collecting insects during inspections. The beetle Gastrallus pubens Fairmaire, rarely identified in European libraries so far, was the main biological agent responsible for the book damage, since several tunnels due to larval activity and holes made by adults were observed. Using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were found to be the most abundant phyla. Ascomycota was the dominant phylum among three fungal phyla. As bacteria and fungi spread by the insects are primary indications of the insect presence in the library, in this paper a potential biomarker able to detect the G. pubens presence before visible infestation was searched for among the bacterial and fungal community peculiar in the insect frass and gut, but also found on books and the surfaces of shelves. Symbiotaphrina, an ascomycete fungus described as one of the symbiotic levuliform fungi, present in the anobiid beetles' gut, was the only one found in all samples analyzed and has therefore been proposed as a putative biomarker.}, } @article {pmid34379848, year = {2021}, author = {Wuitchik, DM and Almanzar, A and Benson, BE and Brennan, S and Chavez, JD and Liesegang, MB and Reavis, JL and Reyes, CL and Schniedewind, MK and Trumble, IF and Davies, SW}, title = {Characterizing environmental stress responses of aposymbiotic Astrangia poculata to divergent thermal challenges.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {20}, pages = {5064-5079}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16108}, pmid = {34379848}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Coral Reefs ; Hot Temperature ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic climate change threatens corals globally and both high and low temperatures are known to induce coral bleaching. However, coral stress responses across wide thermal breadths remain understudied. Disentangling the role of symbiosis on the stress response in obligately symbiotic corals is challenging because this response is inherently coupled with nutritional stress. Here, we leverage aposymbiotic colonies of the facultatively symbiotic coral, Astrangia poculata, which lives naturally with and without its algal symbionts, to examine how broad thermal challenges influence coral hosts in the absence of symbiosis. A. poculata were collected from their northern range limit and thermally challenged in two independent 16-day common garden experiments (heat and cold challenge) and behavioural responses to food stimuli and genome-wide gene expression profiling (TagSeq) were performed. Both thermal challenges elicited significant reductions in polyp extension. However, there were five times as many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under cold challenge compared to heat challenge. Despite an overall stronger response to cold challenge, there was significant overlap in DEGs between thermal challenges. We contrasted these responses to a previously identified module of genes associated with the environmental stress response (ESR) in tropical reef-building corals. Cold challenged corals exhibited a pattern consistent with more severe stressors while the heat challenge response was consistent with lower intensity stressors. Given that these responses were observed in aposymbiotic colonies, many genes previously implicated in ESRs in tropical symbiotic species may represent the coral host's stress response in or out of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34379774, year = {2021}, author = {Motoyama, T and Yun, CS and Osada, H}, title = {Biosynthesis and biological function of secondary metabolites of the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae.}, journal = {Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {48}, number = {9-10}, pages = {}, pmid = {34379774}, issn = {1476-5535}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; *Magnaporthe/genetics ; *Oryza ; Plant Diseases ; }, abstract = {Filamentous fungi have many secondary metabolism genes and produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites with complex and unique structures. However, the role of most secondary metabolites remains unclear. Moreover, most fungal secondary metabolism genes are silent or poorly expressed under laboratory conditions and are difficult to utilize. Pyricularia oryzae, the causal pathogen of rice blast disease, is a well-characterized plant pathogenic fungus. P. oryzae also has a large number of secondary metabolism genes and appears to be a suitable organism for analyzing secondary metabolites. However, in case of this fungus, biosynthetic genes for only four groups of secondary metabolites have been well characterized. Among two of the four groups of secondary metabolites, biosynthetic genes were identified by activating secondary metabolism. These secondary metabolites include melanin, a polyketide compound required for rice infection; tenuazonic acid, a well-known mycotoxin produced by various plant pathogenic fungi and biosynthesized by a unique nonribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase hybrid enzyme; nectriapyrones, antibacterial polyketide compounds produced mainly by symbiotic fungi, including plant pathogens and endophytes, and pyriculols, phytotoxic polyketide compounds. This review mainly focuses on the biosynthesis and biological functions of the four groups of P. oryzae secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid34379764, year = {2021}, author = {Selvaraj, G and Santos-Garcia, D and Mozes-Daube, N and Medina, S and Zchori-Fein, E and Freilich, S}, title = {An eco-systems biology approach for modeling tritrophic networks reveals the influence of dietary amino acids on symbiont dynamics of Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab117}, pmid = {34379764}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Amino Acids ; Animals ; Diet ; Ecosystem ; *Hemiptera ; Symbiosis ; *Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Metabolic conversions allow organisms to produce essential metabolites from the available nutrients in an environment, frequently requiring metabolic exchanges among co-inhabiting organisms. Here, we applied genomic-based simulations for exploring tri-trophic interactions among the sap-feeding insect whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), its host-plants, and symbiotic bacteria. The simplicity of this ecosystem allows capturing the interacting organisms (based on genomic data) and the environmental content (based on metabolomics data). Simulations explored the metabolic capacities of insect-symbiont combinations under environments representing natural phloem. Predictions were correlated with experimental data on the dynamics of symbionts under different diets. Simulation outcomes depict a puzzle of three-layer origins (plant-insect-symbionts) for the source of essential metabolites across habitats and stratify interactions enabling the whitefly to feed on diverse hosts. In parallel to simulations, natural and artificial feeding experiments provide supporting evidence for an environment-based effect on symbiont dynamics. Based on simulations, a decrease in the relative abundance of a symbiont can be associated with a loss of fitness advantage due to an environmental excess in amino-acids whose production in a deprived environment used to depend on the symbiont. The study demonstrates that genomic-based predictions can bridge environment and community dynamics and guide the design of symbiont manipulation strategies.}, } @article {pmid34379492, year = {2021}, author = {Nelson, C and Garcia-Pichel, F}, title = {Beneficial Cyanosphere Heterotrophs Accelerate Establishment of Cyanobacterial Biocrust.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {20}, pages = {e0123621}, pmid = {34379492}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Chlorophyll A/analysis ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*growth & development ; Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are communities of microbes that inhabit the surface of arid soils and provide essential services to dryland ecosystems. While resistant to extreme environmental conditions, biocrusts are susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances that can deprive ecosystems of these valuable services for decades. Until recently, culture-based efforts to produce inoculum for cyanobacterial biocrust restoration in the southwestern United States focused on producing and inoculating the most abundant primary producers and biocrust pioneers, Microcoleus vaginatus and members of the family Coleofasciculaceae (also called Microcoleus steenstrupii complex). The discovery that a unique microbial community characterized by diazotrophs, known as the cyanosphere, is intimately associated with M. vaginatus suggests a symbiotic division of labor in which nutrients are traded between phototrophs and heterotrophs. To probe the potential use of such cyanosphere members in the restoration of biocrusts, we performed coinoculations of soil substrates with cyanosphere constituents. This resulted in cyanobacterial growth that was more rapid than that seen for inoculations with the cyanobacterium alone. Additionally, we found that the mere addition of beneficial heterotrophs enhanced the formation of a cohesive biocrust without the need for additional phototrophic biomass within native soils that contain trace amounts of biocrust cyanobacteria. Our findings support the hitherto-unknown role of beneficial heterotrophic bacteria in the establishment and growth of biocrusts and allow us to make recommendations concerning biocrust restoration efforts based on the presence of remnant biocrust communities in disturbed areas. Future biocrust restoration efforts should consider cyanobacteria and their beneficial heterotrophic community as inoculants. IMPORTANCE The advancement of biocrust restoration methods for cyanobacterial biocrusts has been largely achieved through trial and error. Successes and failures could not always be traced back to particular factors. The investigation and application of foundational microbial interactions existing within biocrust communities constitute a crucial step toward informed and repeatable biocrust restoration methods.}, } @article {pmid34378984, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, D and Pérez-Moreno, J and He, X and Garibay-Orijel, R and Yu, F}, title = {Truffle Microbiome Is Driven by Fruit Body Compartmentalization Rather than Soils Conditioned by Different Host Trees.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e0003921}, pmid = {34378984}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Ascomycota/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Fungi/classification/*genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Truffles are among the most expensive edible mushrooms; their value is worth billions of U.S. dollars annually in international markets. They establish ectomycorrhizal symbiotic relationships with diverse host tree roots and produce hypogeous ascomata. Their whole life cycle is closely related to their associated microbiome. However, whether truffle-associated compartments or host tree rhizospheres are the vital driver for truffle ascomata microbiome is unclear. To identify and compare fungal and bacterial communities in four truffle-associated compartments (Tuber indicum: bulk soil, adhering soil to peridium, peridium, and gleba) from three host trees, we sequenced their ITS (fungal) and 16S (bacterial) ribosomal DNA using the Illumina MiSeq high-throughput platform. We further applied the amplicon data to analyze the core microbiome and microbial ecological networks. Tuber indicum microbiome composition was strongly driven by its associated compartments rather than by their symbiotic host trees. Truffle microbiome was bacteria dominated, and its bacterial community formed a substantially more complex interacting network compared to that of the fungal community. The core fungal community changed from Basidiomycota dominated (bulk soil) to Rozellomycota dominated (interphase soil); the core bacterial community shifted from Bacteroidetes to Proteobacteria dominance from truffle peridium to gleba tissue. Especially, at the truffle and soil interphase, the niche-based selection of truffle microbiome was verified by (i) a clear exclusion of four bacterial phyla (Rokubacteria, Nitrospirae, Chloroflexi, and Planctomycetes) in gleba; (ii) a significant decrease in alpha-diversity (as revealed by Chao 1, Shannon, and Simpson indices); and (iii) the complexity of the network substantially decreased from bulk soil to soil-truffle interphase and further to the peridium and gleba. The network analysis of microbiome showed that the microbial positive interactions were higher in truffle tissues than in both bulk soil and peridium-adhering soil and that Cupriavidus, Bradyrhizobium, Aminobacter, and Mesorhizobium spp. were the keystone network hubs in the truffle gleba. This study provides insights into the factors that drive the truffle microbiome dynamics and the recruitment and function of the microbiome components. IMPORTANCE Currently, the factors that drive the microbiome associated with truffles, the most highly prized fungi in the world, are largely unknown. We demonstrate for the first time here that truffle microbiome composition is strongly driven by associated compartments rather than by symbiotic host trees. The truffle microbiome was bacteria dominated, and its bacterial community formed a substantially more complex (with the higher numbers of nodes, links, and modules) interacting network compared to that of the fungal community. Network analysis showed a higher number of positive microbial interactions with each other in truffle tissues than in both bulk soil and peridium-adhering soil. For the first time, the fungal community structure associated with truffles using high-throughput sequencing, microbial networks, and keystone species analyses is presented. This study provides novel insights into the factors that drive the truffle microbiome dynamics and the recruitment and function of the microbiome components, showing that they are more complex than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid34378967, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, X and Wang, S and Li, T and Zhang, Q and Zhang, R and Zhang, Z}, title = {Bacteriophage: A Useful Tool for Studying Gut Bacteria Function of Housefly Larvae, Musca domestica.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e0059921}, pmid = {34378967}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development/*virology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteriophages/*physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Houseflies/*microbiology/physiology/virology ; Larva/microbiology/physiology/virology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial symbiotic bacteria have positive effects on some insects' (such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies) biological activities. However, the effects of a lack of one specific symbiotic bacterium on the life activities of some insects and their natural gut microbiota composition remain unclear. Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria and have the potential to shape gut bacterial communities. In previous work, Pseudomonas aeruginosa that naturally colonized the intestines of housefly larvae was shown to be essential to protect housefly larvae from entomopathogenic fungal infections, leading us to test whether a deficiency in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in housefly larvae that was specifically caused using bacteriophages could remold the composition of the intestinal bacteria and affect the development of housefly larvae. Our research revealed that the phage, with a titer of 10[8] PFU/ml, can remove 90% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the gut. A single feeding of low-dose phage had no effect on the health of housefly larvae. However, the health of housefly larvae was affected by treatment with phage every 24 h. Additionally, treating housefly larvae with bacteriophages every 24 h led to bacterial composition changes in the gut. Collectively, the results revealed that deficiency in one symbiotic gut bacteria mediated by precise targeting using bacteriophages indirectly influences the intestinal microbial composition of housefly larvae and has negative effects on the development of the host insect. Our results indicated the important role of symbiotic gut bacteria in shaping the normal gut microbiota composition in insects. IMPORTANCE The well-balanced gut microbiota ensures appropriate development of the host insect, such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, and flies. Various intestinal symbiotic bacteria have different influences on the host gut community structure and thus exert different effects on host health. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand the contributions of one specific bacterial symbiont to the gut microbiota community structure and insect health. Bacteriophages that target certain bacteria are effective tools that can be used to analyze gut bacterial symbionts. However, experimental evidence for phage efficacy in regulating insect intestinal bacteria has been little reported. In this study, we used phages as precision tools to regulate a bacterial community and analyzed the influence on host health after certain bacteria were inhibited by bacteriophage. The ability of phages to target intestinal-specific bacteria in housefly larvae and reduce the levels of target bacteria makes them an effective tool for studying the function of gut bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34378694, year = {2021}, author = {Cerrón, MM and Mayer, FB and Arantes-Costa, FM and Tempski, PZ}, title = {[The development of autonomy among adolescents with Down syndrome based on the pedagogy of Paulo Freire].}, journal = {Ciencia & saude coletiva}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {3019-3030}, doi = {10.1590/1413-81232021268.09322020}, pmid = {34378694}, issn = {1678-4561}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Caregivers ; *Down Syndrome ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Autonomy is a process that enables us to understand and act on the environment and on ourselves. During adolescence, transformations result in the development of autonomy. Adolescents with Down syndrome (ADS) have perceptual-cognitive limitations and few opportunities to acquire autonomy. The development of autonomy in an occupational therapy group, with dyads of ADS and their main caregivers was analyzed. The evaluation of the materials produced in the therapeutic process pointed to four categories of analysis: self-perception, perception of the other, shared experience and change of attitude. The results show symbiotic relationships between the dyad, which hamper the individuation process and limit the opportunities to carry out activities independently. The therapeutic process based on Paulo Freire's pedagogy raised the level from an ingenuous to a critical awareness, resulting in changes in the attitudes of caregivers in relation to the identification of potential and acceptance of their own limitations and the ADS under care. This symbiosis complicates the individuation process and the access to experiences necessary for the development of autonomy. The therapeutic process can modify the attitudes of caregivers and foster continuity in development and autonomy.}, } @article {pmid34378301, year = {2022}, author = {Ogunrin, O and Gabbay, M and Woolfall, K and Frith, L}, title = {Community engagement in genomic research: Proposing a strategic model for effective participation of indigenous communities.}, journal = {Developing world bioethics}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {189-202}, doi = {10.1111/dewb.12329}, pmid = {34378301}, issn = {1471-8847}, mesh = {Humans ; *Genomics ; *Research Personnel ; Qualitative Research ; Focus Groups ; Research Design ; Community Participation ; }, abstract = {Community engagement (CE) contributes to successful research. There is, however, a lack of literature on the effectiveness of different models of CE and, specifically, on CE strategies for the conduct of genomic research in sub-Saharan Africa. There is also a need for models of CE that transcend the recruitment stage of engaging prospective individuals and communities and embed CE throughout the research process and after the research has concluded. The qualitative study reported here was designed to address these knowledge gaps and comprised of 36 key informant semi-structured interviews and fifteen focus groups with 50 participants. We interviewed selected stakeholders in genomic research in Nigeria: biomedical researchers, community rulers, opinion leaders, community health workers, and prospective research participants. We explored these stakeholders' views on their understanding of community engagement, their expectations, experiences, and their opinions on acceptable processes of community consultation in genomic research. The methodological design, adapted from grounded theory, used the constant comparative method of data analysis; while normative conclusions were made using the symbiotic empirical ethics approach. Data analysis revealed five main themes important for successfully engaging communities in genomic research: effective communication, diversity of community gatekeeping, trust, cultural integration of research, and conservation of the research setting. From these themes, we have developed a four-stage model of community engagement that covers all stages of the research process; namely, the Community Approach, Intermediate phase, Collaboration and Post-research Cordiality model (CICP). This model could be used to improve the integration of CE in genomic research among local communities.}, } @article {pmid34378246, year = {2021}, author = {Kobayashi, T and Imanishi, I}, title = {Epithelial-immune crosstalk with the skin microbiota in homeostasis and atopic dermatitis - a mini review.}, journal = {Veterinary dermatology}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {533-e147}, doi = {10.1111/vde.13007}, pmid = {34378246}, issn = {1365-3164}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytokines ; *Dermatitis, Atopic/veterinary ; *Dog Diseases ; Dogs ; Homeostasis ; Immunity, Innate ; Lymphocytes ; *Microbiota ; Skin ; }, abstract = {The skin is a complex and dynamic ecosystem, wherein epithelial cells, immune cells and the skin microbiota actively interact and maintain barrier integrity and functional immunity. Skin microbes actively tune the functions of the resident immune cells. Dysbiosis - alterations in the resident microbiota - leads to the dysregulation of host immunity. Microbiome analyses in humans and dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) have shown shifts in microbial diversity, and in particular, an increased proportion of staphylococci. Monogenic diseases that manifest AD-like symptoms provide insights into the pathogenesis of AD and the mechanisms of dysbiosis, from both the epithelial and immunological perspectives. The symbiotic relationships between the host and microbiota must be maintained constitutively. Detailed mechanisms of how host immunity regulates commensal bacteria in the steady state have been reported. The skin harbours multiple tissue-resident immune cells, including both innate and adaptive immune cells. Recent studies have highlighted the fundamental role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in the maintenance of barrier functions and tissue homeostasis. ILCs directly respond to tissue-derived signals and are instrumental in barrier immunity. Epithelial cells produce alarmins such as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and interleukins (IL)-33 and IL-25, all of which activate group 2 ILCs (ILC2s), which produce type 2 cytokines, such as IL-5 and IL-13, boosting type 2 immune reactions. Dysregulation of the epithelial-ILC crosstalk results in allergic inflammation. This review highlights our understanding of the active interactions between the host epithelial and immune cells, and microbiota, providing a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory skin diseases.}, } @article {pmid34375792, year = {2021}, author = {Tian, Z and Zhou, N and You, W and He, D and Chang, F and Zheng, M}, title = {Mitigating NO and N2O emissions from a pilot-scale oxidation ditch using bioaugmentation of immobilized aerobic denitrifying bacteria.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {340}, number = {}, pages = {125704}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125704}, pmid = {34375792}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Ammonia ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; *Nitrous Oxide/analysis ; Sewage ; }, abstract = {Nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) requires urgent mitigation because of its significant contribution to the greenhouse effect. In this study, bioaugmentation was applied in a pilot-scale oxidation ditch with the aerobic denitrifying bacteria strain PCN-1 immobilized on polyurethane biocarriers, which demonstrated effective N2O mitigation. Microbial community analysis suggested that the bioaugmentation facilitated a symbiotic relationship of the bacterial populations between the activated sludge and the biocarriers. The denitrifying bacteria with well-known N2O reducing capabilities predominated on the biocarriers. Correspondingly, the increases of denitrifying genes and NO and N2O reductase provided evidence for the enhanced genetic potential for NO and N2O reduction. Besides, the enriched comammox Nitrospira on the biocarriers is proposed as another significant driver for N2O mitigation by avoiding nitrite accumulation. In addition, the bioaugmentation enhanced the stability and recovery capability of the system in the ammonia overload and aeration failure shock tests.}, } @article {pmid34375534, year = {2021}, author = {Luan, S and Wang, C}, title = {Calcium Signaling Mechanisms Across Kingdoms.}, journal = {Annual review of cell and developmental biology}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {311-340}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120219-035210}, pmid = {34375534}, issn = {1530-8995}, support = {R01 GM138401/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Calcium/metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Homeostasis ; Plants/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Calcium (Ca[2+]) is a unique mineral that serves as both a nutrient and a signal in all eukaryotes. To maintain Ca[2+] homeostasis for both nutrition and signaling purposes, the tool kit for Ca[2+] transport has expanded across kingdoms of eukaryotes to encode specific Ca[2+] signals referred to as Ca[2+] signatures. In parallel, a large array of Ca[2+]-binding proteins has evolved as specific sensors to decode Ca[2+] signatures. By comparing these coding and decoding mechanisms in fungi, animals, and plants, both unified and divergent themes have emerged, and the underlying complexity will challenge researchers for years to come. Considering the scale and breadth of the subject, instead of a literature survey, in this review we focus on a conceptual framework that aims to introduce readers to the principles and mechanisms of Ca[2+] signaling. We finish with several examples of Ca[2+]-signaling pathways, including polarized cell growth, immunity and symbiosis, and systemic signaling, to piece together specific coding and decoding mechanisms in plants versus animals.}, } @article {pmid34375301, year = {2021}, author = {Riazi-Rad, F and Behrouzi, A and Mazaheri, H and Katebi, A and Ajdary, S}, title = {Impact of gut microbiota on immune system.}, journal = {Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1556/030.2021.01532}, pmid = {34375301}, issn = {1588-2640}, abstract = {The commensal microflora collection known as microbiota has an essential role in maintaining the host's physiological homeostasis. The microbiota has a vital role in induction and regulation of local and systemic immune responses. On the other hand, the immune system involves maintaining microbiota compositions. Optimal microbiota-immune system cross-talk is essential for protective responses to pathogens and immune tolerance to self and harmless environmental antigens. Any change in this symbiotic relationship may cause susceptibility to diseases. The association of various cancers and auto-immune diseases with microbiota has been proven. Here we review the interaction of immune responses to gut microbiota, focusing on innate and adaptive immune system and disease susceptibility.}, } @article {pmid34374557, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, M and Chen, N and Wang, J and Zhou, Y and Han, L and Shi, X and Hikichi, Y and Ohnishi, K and Li, J and Zhang, Y}, title = {Involvement of a FAD-Linked Oxidase RSc0454 for Expression of the Type III Secretion System and Pathogenicity in Ralstonia solanacearum.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {1228-1235}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-21-0168-SC}, pmid = {34374557}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide ; Oxidoreductases ; Plant Diseases ; *Ralstonia solanacearum/genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Ralstonia solanacearum RSc0454 is predicted as a FAD-linked oxidase based on protein homologies, while it contains distinct domains of lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase. A previous study demonstrated that RSc0454 exhibits lactate dehydrogenase activity using pyruvate and NADH as substrates, and is essential for pathogenicity of R. solanacearum. Here, we genetically characterized involvement of RSc0454 on bacterial growth and expression of genes for the type III secretion system (T3SS, a pathogenicity determinant) in R. solanacearum. The RSc0454 mutant grew normally in rich medium but grew faintly in host plants, and failed to grow in minimal medium. Supplementary succinate but not lactate could substantially restore some phenotypes of RSc0454 mutants, including faint growth in host plants, diminished growth in the minimal medium, and lost pathogenicity toward host plants. Expression of T3SS genes is directly controlled by a master regulator, HrpB, and hrpB expression is positively regulated by HrpG and PrhG in parallel ways. Deletion of RSc0454 substantially reduced expression levels of hrpB and T3SS both in vitro and in planta. Moreover, RSc0454 is revealed to be required for the T3SS expression via HrpG and PrhG, although through some novel pathway, and impaired expression of these genes was not due to growth deficiency of RSc0454 mutants. RSc0454 is suggested to be important for redox balance inside cells, and supplementary NADH partially restored diminished growth of the RSc0454 mutant in the minimal medium only in the presence of succinate at some moderate concentrations, indicating that the unbalanced redox in the RSc0454 mutant might be responsible for its diminished growth in the minimal medium. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the understanding of various biological functions of this FAD-linked oxidase RSc0454 and involvement of the redox balance on expression of the T3SS in R. solanacearum.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34371704, year = {2021}, author = {Felgueiras, HP}, title = {An Insight into Biomolecules for the Treatment of Skin Infectious Diseases.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34371704}, issn = {1999-4923}, abstract = {In assigning priorities, skin infectious diseases are frequently classified as minor when compared to infectious diseases of high mortality rates, such as tuberculosis or HIV. However, skin infections are amongst the most common and prevalent diseases worldwide. Elderly individuals present an increased susceptibility to skin infections, which may develop atypical signs and symptoms or even complicate pre-existing chronic disorders. When the skin fails to correct or inhibit the action of certain pathogenic microorganisms, biomolecules endowed with antimicrobial features are frequently administered topically or systemically to assist or treat such conditions. (1) Antibiotics, (2) antimicrobial peptides, or (3) natural extracts display important features that can actively inhibit the propagation of these pathogens and prevent the evolution of infectious diseases. This review highlights the properties and mechanisms of action of these biomolecules, emphasizing their effects on the most prevalent and difficult to treat skin infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The versatility of biomolecules' actions, their symbiotic effects with skin cells and other inherent antimicrobial components, and their target-directed signatures are also explored here.}, } @article {pmid34371559, year = {2021}, author = {Wilkes, TI and Warner, DJ and Edmonds-Brown, V and Davies, KG and Denholm, I}, title = {The Tripartite Rhizobacteria-AM Fungal-Host Plant Relationship in Winter Wheat: Impact of Multi-Species Inoculation, Tillage Regime and Naturally Occurring Rhizobacteria Species.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34371559}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Soils and plant root rhizospheres have diverse microorganism profiles. Components of this naturally occurring microbiome, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), may be beneficial to plant growth. Supplementary application to host plants of AM fungi and PGPR either as single species or multiple species inoculants has the potential to enhance this symbiotic relationship further. Single species interactions have been described; the nature of multi-species tripartite relationships between AM fungi, PGPR and the host plant require further scrutiny. The impact of select Bacilli spp. rhizobacteria and the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices as both single and combined inoculations (PGPR[i] and AMF[i]) within field extracted arable soils of two tillage treatments, conventional soil inversion (CT) and zero tillage (ZT) at winter wheat growth stages GS30 and GS39 have been conducted. The naturally occurring soil borne species (PGPR[s] and AMF[s]) have been determined by qPCR analysis. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were evident between inocula treatments and the method of seedbed preparation. A positive impact on wheat plant growth was noted for B. amyloliquefaciens applied as both a single inoculant (PGPR[i]) and in combination with R. intraradices (PGPR[i] + AMF[i]); however, the two treatments did not differ significantly from each other. The findings are discussed in the context of the inocula applied and the naturally occurring soil borne PGPR[s] present in the field extracted soil under each method of tillage.}, } @article {pmid34371395, year = {2021}, author = {Ferreira, V and Pavlaki, MD and Martins, R and Monteiro, MS and Maia, F and Tedim, J and Soares, AMVM and Calado, R and Loureiro, S}, title = {Effects of nanostructure antifouling biocides towards a coral species in the context of global changes.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {799}, number = {}, pages = {149324}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149324}, pmid = {34371395}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Biofouling/prevention & control ; Coral Reefs ; *Disinfectants/toxicity ; Ecosystem ; *Nanostructures/toxicity ; Thiazoles ; }, abstract = {Biofouling prevention is one of the biggest challenges faced by the maritime industry, but antifouling agents commonly impact marine ecosystems. Advances in antifouling technology include the use of nanomaterials. Herein we test an antifouling nano-additive based on the encapsulation of the biocide 4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (DCOIT) in engineered silica nanocontainers (SiNC). The work aims to assess the biochemical and physiological effects on the symbiotic coral Sarcophyton cf. glaucum caused by (1) thermal stress and (2) DCOIT exposure (free or nanoencapsulated forms), in a climate change scenario. Accordingly, the following hypotheses were addressed: (H1) ocean warming can cause toxicity on S. cf. glaucum; (H2) the nanoencapsulation process decreases DCOIT toxicity towards this species; (H3) the biocide toxicity, free or encapsulated forms, can be affected by ocean warming. Coral fragments were exposed for seven days to DCOIT in both free and encapsulated forms, SiNC and negative controls, under two water temperature regimes (26 °C and 30.5 °C). Coral polyp behavior and photosynthetic efficiency were determined in the holobiont, while biochemical markers were assessed individually in the endosymbiont and coral host. Results showed transient coral polyp retraction and diminished photosynthetic efficiency in the presence of heat stress or free DCOIT, with effects being magnified in the presence of both stressors. The activity of catalase and glutathione-S-transferase were modulated by temperature in each partner of the symbiosis. The shifts in enzymatic activity were more pronounced in the presence of free DCOIT, but to a lower extent for encapsulated DCOIT. Increased levels of oxidative damage were detected under heat conditions. The findings highlight the physiological constrains elicited by the increase of seawater temperature to symbiotic corals and demonstrate that DCOIT toxicity can be minimized through encapsulation in SiNC. The presence of both stressors magnifies toxicity and confirm that ocean warming enhances the vulnerability of tropical photosynthetic corals to local stressors.}, } @article {pmid34370559, year = {2021}, author = {Smith, S and Salvato, F and Garikipati, A and Kleiner, M and Septer, AN}, title = {Activation of the Type VI Secretion System in the Squid Symbiont Vibrio fischeri Requires the Transcriptional Regulator TasR and the Structural Proteins TssM and TssA.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {203}, number = {21}, pages = {e0039921}, pmid = {34370559}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Genotype ; Mutation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria have evolved diverse strategies to compete for a niche, including the type VI secretion system (T6SS), a contact-dependent killing mechanism. T6SSs are common in bacterial pathogens, commensals, and beneficial symbionts, where they affect the diversity and spatial structure of host-associated microbial communities. Although T6SS gene clusters are often located on genomic islands (GIs), which may be transferred as a unit, the regulatory strategies that promote gene expression once the T6SS genes are transferred into a new cell are not known. We used the squid symbiont Vibrio fischeri to identify essential regulatory factors that control expression of a strain-specific T6SS encoded on a GI. We found that a transcriptional reporter for this T6SS is active only in strains that contain the T6SS-encoding GI, suggesting the GI encodes at least one essential regulator. A transposon screen identified seven mutants that could not activate the reporter. These mutations mapped exclusively to three genes on the T6SS-containing GI that encode two essential structural proteins (a TssA-like protein and TssM) and a transcriptional regulator (TasR). Using T6SS reporters, reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), competition assays, and differential proteomics, we found that all three genes are required for expression of many T6SS components, except for the TssA-like protein and TssM, which are constitutively expressed. Based on these findings, we propose a model whereby T6SS expression requires conserved structural proteins, in addition to the essential regulator TasR, and this ability to self-regulate may be a strategy to activate T6SS expression upon transfer of T6SS-encoding elements into a new bacterial host. IMPORTANCE Interbacterial weapons like the T6SS are often located on mobile genetic elements, and their expression is highly regulated. We found that two conserved structural proteins are required for T6SS expression in Vibrio fischeri. These structural proteins also contain predicted GTPase and GTP binding domains, suggesting their role in promoting T6SS expression may involve sensing the energetic state of the cell. Such a mechanism would provide a direct link between T6SS activation and cellular energy levels, providing a "checkpoint" to ensure the cell has sufficient energy to build such a costly weapon. Because these regulatory factors are encoded within the T6SS gene cluster, they are predicted to move with the genetic element to activate T6SS expression in a new host cell.}, } @article {pmid34370457, year = {2021}, author = {Lessard, JM and Habert, G and Tagnit-Hamou, A and Amor, B}, title = {Tracking the Environmental Consequences of Circular Economy over Space and Time: The Case of Close- and Open-Loop Recovery of Postconsumer Glass.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {55}, number = {17}, pages = {11521-11532}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.1c03074}, pmid = {34370457}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Canada ; Glass ; Industry ; *Recycling ; *Waste Management ; }, abstract = {With the increasing globalization of waste-derived raw materials, region-oriented circular economy measures that stimulate resource recovery can cause far-reaching ripple effects in geographically dispersed markets, with unintended environmental effects. Identifying, quantifying, and characterizing these implications in a multiregional economic system remains challenging. This Policy Analysis aims to track these market-mediated environmental consequences over space and time with high material resolution. It explores a novel avenue of coupling consequential life cycle assessment and a time-series multiregional material-product chains model. The model is applied to two measures to recover postconsumer glass waste in the province of Quebec (Canada): improving closed-loop bottle-to-bottle resource recovery systems and deploying open-loop system for the marketing of glass powder as a supplementary cementitious material. Their environmental consequence trajectories (2030-2050) across a seven-industry and six-region competing symbiosis are examined. In both cases, cost-based optimized results highlight widespread adjustments in eastern North America trade patterns that are expanding over time in response to the coevolution of symbiotic industries. Between 55% and 94% of the environmental benefits are felt beyond Quebec borders. This information can help decision makers better anticipate the in- and cross-border scope of their measures and coordinate across jurisdictions to maximize overall environmental benefits.}, } @article {pmid34370205, year = {2021}, author = {Xie, X and Li, X and Fan, H and He, W}, title = {Correction to: Spatial analysis of production-living-ecological functions and zoning method under symbiosis theory of Henan, China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {48}, pages = {69111}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-021-15714-4}, pmid = {34370205}, issn = {1614-7499}, } @article {pmid34367203, year = {2021}, author = {Geiger, O and Sohlenkamp, C and Vera-Cruz, D and Medeot, DB and Martínez-Aguilar, L and Sahonero-Canavesi, DX and Weidner, S and Pühler, A and López-Lara, IM}, title = {ExoS/ChvI Two-Component Signal-Transduction System Activated in the Absence of Bacterial Phosphatidylcholine.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {678976}, pmid = {34367203}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti contains the negatively charged phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin as well as the zwitterionic phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) as major membrane phospholipids. In previous studies we had isolated S. meliloti mutants that lack PE or PC. Although mutants deficient in PE are able to form nitrogen-fixing nodules on alfalfa host plants, mutants lacking PC cannot sustain development of any nodules on host roots. Transcript profiles of mutants unable to form PE or PC are distinct; they differ from each other and they are different from the wild type profile. For example, a PC-deficient mutant of S. meliloti shows an increase of transcripts that encode enzymes required for succinoglycan biosynthesis and a decrease of transcripts required for flagellum formation. Indeed, a PC-deficient mutant is unable to swim and overproduces succinoglycan. Some suppressor mutants, that regain swimming and form normal levels of succinoglycan, are altered in the ExoS sensor. Our findings suggest that the lack of PC in the sinorhizobial membrane activates the ExoS/ChvI two-component regulatory system. ExoS/ChvI constitute a molecular switch in S. meliloti for changing from a free-living to a symbiotic life style. The periplasmic repressor protein ExoR controls ExoS/ChvI function and it is thought that proteolytic ExoR degradation would relieve repression of ExoS/ChvI thereby switching on this system. However, as ExoR levels are similar in wild type, PC-deficient mutant and suppressor mutants, we propose that lack of PC in the bacterial membrane provokes directly a conformational change of the ExoS sensor and thereby activation of the ExoS/ChvI two-component system.}, } @article {pmid34365823, year = {2021}, author = {Thiele-Bruhn, S}, title = {The role of soils in provision of genetic, medicinal and biochemical resources.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {376}, number = {1834}, pages = {20200183}, pmid = {34365823}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Intact, 'healthy' soils provide indispensable ecosystem services that largely depend on the biotic activity. Soil health is connected with human health, yet, knowledge of the underlying soil functioning remains incomplete. This review highlights selected services, i.e. (i) soil as a genetic resource and hotspot of biodiversity, forming the basis for providing (ii) biochemical resources and (iii) medicinal services and goods. Soils harbour an unrivalled biodiversity of organisms, especially microorganisms. Some of the abilities of autochthonous microorganisms and their relevant enzymes serve (i) to improve natural soil functions and in particular plant growth, e.g. through beneficial plant growth-promoting, symbiotic and mycorrhizal microorganisms, (ii) to act as biopesticides, (iii) to facilitate biodegradation of pollutants for soil bioremediation and (iv) to yield enzymes or chemicals for industrial use. Soils also exert direct effects on human health. Contact with soil enriches the human microbiome, affords protection against allergies and promotes emotional well-being. Medicinally relevant are soil substrates such as loams, clays and various minerals with curative effects as well as pharmaceutically active organic chemicals like antibiotics that are formed by soil microorganisms. By contrast, irritating minerals, soil dust inhalation and misguided soil ingestion may adversely affect humans. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People.}, } @article {pmid34365209, year = {2021}, author = {Li, XD and Xin, L and Rong, WT and Liu, XY and Deng, WA and Qin, YC and Li, XL}, title = {Effect of heavy metals pollution on the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbial community of a pygmy grasshopper (Eucriotettix oculatus).}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {223}, number = {}, pages = {112582}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112582}, pmid = {34365209}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; *Grasshoppers ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis/toxicity ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Heavy metal pollution in the environment is mostly manifested as a multi-elemental compound pollution. The effect of the long-term exposure to heavy metal pollution on the gut microbes of insects has remained unknown. For the current work, the population of Eucriotettix oculatus living in mining areas around the Diaojiang River with a history of hundreds of years of pollution, was selected along with the similar species living in non-mining areas to conduct a comparative study of their gut microbes. The microbial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The results showed Proteobacteria to be dominant among gut microbes of E. oculatus, but the abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly increased when the insects were exposed to the environment with heavy metal pollution. The symbiotic bacteria belonging to genus Wolbachia were found to be dominant among the insect population from the non-mining area group, while the pathogenic bacteria belonging to Aeromonas were dominant among the insect population of the mining area group. The diversity analysis showed that the gut microbial community diversity of E. oculatus was reduced in the heavy metal pollution habitat. The analysis of the differences in the gut microbial population and metabolic pathways of the two groups showed that the heavy metal pollution caused the increase in pathogenic bacteria among the gut microbes of E. oculatus, which might have a negative impact on the health of the host. At the same time, probiotics and the beneficial metabolism pathways were also found to increase and enhance, helping the host to resist the damage caused by heavy metal stress. This might be one of the strategies used by E. oculatus to adapt to heavy metal pollution.}, } @article {pmid34365152, year = {2021}, author = {Kern, L and Abdeen, SK and Kolodziejczyk, AA and Elinav, E}, title = {Commensal inter-bacterial interactions shaping the microbiota.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {158-171}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2021.07.011}, pmid = {34365152}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; Nutrients ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms of different kingdoms, impacts host physiology and disease. Within this ecosystem, inter-bacterial interactions and their impacts on microbiota community structure and the eukaryotic host remain insufficiently explored. Microbiota-related inter-bacterial interactions range from symbiotic interactions, involving exchange of nutrients, enzymes, and genetic material; competition for nutrients and space, mediated by biophysical alterations and secretion of toxins and anti-microbials; to predation of overpopulating bacteria. Collectively, these understudied interactions hold important clues as to forces shaping microbiota diversity, niche formation, and responses to signals perceived from the host, incoming pathogens and the environment. In this review, we highlight the roles and mechanisms of selected inter-bacterial interactions in the microbiota, and their potential impacts on the host and pathogenic infection. We discuss challenges in mechanistically decoding these complex interactions, and prospects of harnessing them as future targets for rational microbiota modification in a variety of diseases.}, } @article {pmid34364710, year = {2021}, author = {Kanangat, S and Skaljic, I}, title = {Microbiome analysis, the immune response and transplantation in the era of next generation sequencing.}, journal = {Human immunology}, volume = {82}, number = {11}, pages = {883-901}, doi = {10.1016/j.humimm.2021.07.009}, pmid = {34364710}, issn = {1879-1166}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Dysbiosis/*diagnosis/immunology/microbiology ; Graft Rejection/immunology/prevention & control ; HLA Antigens/genetics ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Histocompatibility Testing/methods ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/*immunology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics/immunology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Transplantation, Homologous/adverse effects ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract, skin and mucosal surfaces are inhabited by a complex system of bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea, protists, and eukaryotic parasites with predominance of bacteria and bacterial viruses (bacteriophages). Collectively these microbes form the microbiota of the microecosystem of humans. Recent advancement in technologies for nucleic acid isolation from various environmental samples, feces and body secretions and advancements in shotgun throughput massive parallel DNA and RNA sequencing along with 16S ribosomal gene sequencing have unraveled the identity of otherwise unknown microbial entities constituting the human microecosystem. The improved transcriptome analysis, technological developments in biochemical analytical methods and availability of complex bioinformatics tools have allowed us to begin to understand the metabolome of the microbiome and the biochemical pathways and potential signal transduction pathways in human cells in response to microbial infections and their products. Also, developments in human whole genome sequencing, targeted gene sequencing of histocompatibility genes and other immune response associated genes by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have allowed us to have a better conceptualization of immune responses, and alloimmune responses. These modern technologies have enabled us to dive into the intricate relationship between commensal symbiotic and pathogenic microbiome and immune system. For the most part, the commensal symbiotic microbiota helps to maintain normal immune homeostasis besides providing healthy nutrients, facilitating digestion, and protecting the skin, mucosal and intestinal barriers. However, changes in diets, administration of therapeutic agents like antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, immunosuppressants etc. along with certain host factors including human histocompatibility antigens may alter the microbial ecosystem balance by causing changes in microbial constituents, hierarchy of microbial species and even dysbiosis. Such alterations may cause immune dysregulation, breach of barrier protection and lead to immunopathogenesis rather than immune homeostasis. The effects of human microbiome on immunity, health and disease are currently under intense research with cutting edge technologies in molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics along with tremendous ability to characterize immune response at single cell level. This review will discuss the contemporary status on human microbiome immune system interactions and their potential effects on health, immune homeostasis and allograft transplantation.}, } @article {pmid34363515, year = {2022}, author = {Perera, IA and Abinandan, S and Subashchandrabose, SR and Venkateswarlu, K and Naidu, R and Megharaj, M}, title = {Impact of Nitrate and Ammonium Concentrations on Co-Culturing of Tetradesmus obliquus IS2 with Variovorax paradoxus IS1 as Revealed by Phenotypic Responses.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {4}, pages = {951-959}, pmid = {34363515}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Comamonadaceae ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutual interactions in co-cultures of microalgae and bacteria are well known for establishing consortia and nutrient uptake in aquatic habitats, but the phenotypic changes in terms of morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes that drive these interactions have not been clearly understood. In this novel study, we demonstrated the phenotypic response in a co-culture involving a microalga, Tetradesmus obliquus IS2, and a bacterium, Variovorax paradoxus IS1, grown with varying concentrations of two inorganic nitrogen sources. Modified Bold's basal medium was supplemented with five ratios (%) of NO3-N:NH4-N (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100), and by maintaining N:P Redfield ratio of 16:1. The observed morphological changes in microalga included an increase in granularity and a broad range of cell sizes under the influence of increased ammonium levels. Co-culturing in presence of NO3-N alone or combination with NH4-N up to equimolar concentrations resulted in complete nitrogen uptake, increased growth in both the microbial strains, and enhanced accumulation of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Total chlorophyll content in microalga was also significantly higher when it was grown as a co-culture with NO3-N and NH4-N up to a ratio of 50:50. Significant upregulation in the synthesis of amino acids and sugars and downregulation of organic acids were evident with higher ammonium uptake in the co-culture, indicating the regulation of carbon and nitrogen assimilation pathways and energy synthesis. Our data suggest that the co-culture of strains IS1 and IS2 could be exploited for effluent treatment by considering the concentrations of inorganic sources, particularly ammonium, in the wastewaters.}, } @article {pmid34361927, year = {2021}, author = {Sagar, A and Rathore, P and Ramteke, PW and Ramakrishna, W and Reddy, MS and Pecoraro, L}, title = {Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Their Synergistic Interactions to Counteract the Negative Effects of Saline Soil on Agriculture: Key Macromolecules and Mechanisms.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34361927}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Soil saltiness is a noteworthy issue as it results in loss of profitability and development of agrarian harvests and decline in soil health. Microorganisms associated with plants contribute to their growth promotion and salinity tolerance by employing a multitude of macromolecules and pathways. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have an immediate impact on improving profitability based on higher crop yield. Some PGPR produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic (ACC) deaminase (EC 4.1.99.4), which controls ethylene production by diverting ACC into α-ketobutyrate and ammonia. ACC deaminase enhances germination rate and growth parameters of root and shoot in different harvests with and without salt stress. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) show a symbiotic relationship with plants, which helps in efficient uptake of mineral nutrients and water by the plants and also provide protection to the plants against pathogens and various abiotic stresses. The dual inoculation of PGPR and AMF enhances nutrient uptake and productivity of several crops compared to a single inoculation in both normal and stressed environments. Positively interacting PGPR + AMF combination is an efficient and cost-effective recipe for improving plant tolerance against salinity stress, which can be an extremely useful approach for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid34361731, year = {2021}, author = {Dell'Oste, V and Spyrakis, F and Prandi, C}, title = {Strigolactones, from Plants to Human Health: Achievements and Challenges.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {34361731}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Agriculture/methods ; Agrochemicals/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/biosynthesis/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation/prevention & control ; Lactones/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*metabolism ; Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Patents as Topic ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Plants/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Weed Control/methods ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoid plant hormones that play a role in the response of plants to various biotic and abiotic stresses. When released into the rhizosphere, they are perceived by both beneficial symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi and parasitic plants. Due to their multiple roles, SLs are potentially interesting agricultural targets. Indeed, the use of SLs as agrochemicals can favor sustainable agriculture via multiple mechanisms, including shaping root architecture, promoting ideal branching, stimulating nutrient assimilation, controlling parasitic weeds, mitigating drought and enhancing mycorrhization. Moreover, over the last few years, a number of studies have shed light onto the effects exerted by SLs on human cells and on their possible applications in medicine. For example, SLs have been demonstrated to play a key role in the control of pathways related to apoptosis and inflammation. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms behind their action has inspired further investigations into their effects on human cells and their possible uses as anti-cancer and antimicrobial agents.}, } @article {pmid34360589, year = {2021}, author = {Şenel, S}, title = {An Overview of Physical, Microbiological and Immune Barriers of Oral Mucosa.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {34360589}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; *Microbiota ; Mouth Mucosa/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The oral mucosa, which is the lining tissue of the oral cavity, is a gateway to the body and it offers first-line protection against potential pathogens, exogenous chemicals, airborne allergens, etc. by means of its physical and microbiological-immune barrier functions. For this reason, oral mucosa is considered as a mirror to the health of the individual as well as a guard or early warning system. It is organized in two main components: a physical barrier, which consists of stratified epithelial cells and cell-cell junctions, and a microbiological-immune barrier that keeps the internal environment in a condition of homeostasis. Different factors, including microorganism, saliva, proteins and immune components, have been considered to play a critical role in disruption of oral epithelial barrier. Altered mucosal structure and barrier functions results in oral pathologies as well as systemic diseases. About 700 kinds of microorganisms exist in the human mouth, constituting the oral microbiota, which plays a significant role on the induction, training and function of the host immune system. The immune system maintains the symbiotic relationship of the host with this microbiota. Crosstalk between the oral microbiota and immune system includes various interactions in homeostasis and disease. In this review, after reviewing briefly the physical barriers of oral mucosa, the fundamentals of oral microbiome and oral mucosal immunity in regard to their barrier properties will be addressed. Furthermore, their importance in development of new diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for certain diseases as well as in the application for personalized medicine will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid34360533, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, L and Liang, J and Zhou, Y and Tian, T and Zhang, B and Duanmu, D}, title = {Molecular Characterization of Carbonic Anhydrase Genes in Lotus japonicus and Their Potential Roles in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {34360533}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Carbonic Anhydrases/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Carbonic anhydrase (CA) plays a vital role in photosynthetic tissues of higher plants, whereas its non-photosynthetic role in the symbiotic root nodule was rarely characterized. In this study, 13 CA genes were identified in the model legume Lotus japonicus by comparison with Arabidopsis CA genes. Using qPCR and promoter-reporter fusion methods, three previously identified nodule-enhanced CA genes (LjαCA2, LjαCA6, and LjβCA1) have been further characterized, which exhibit different spatiotemporal expression patterns during nodule development. LjαCA2 was expressed in the central infection zone of the mature nodule, including both infected and uninfected cells. LjαCA6 was restricted to the vascular bundle of the root and nodule. As for LjβCA1, it was expressed in most cell types of nodule primordia but only in peripheral cortical cells and uninfected cells of the mature nodule. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, the knockout of LjβCA1 or both LjαCA2 and its homolog, LjαCA1, did not result in abnormal symbiotic phenotype compared with the wild-type plants, suggesting that LjβCA1 or LjαCA1/2 are not essential for the nitrogen fixation under normal symbiotic conditions. Nevertheless, the nodule-enhanced expression patterns and the diverse distributions in different types of cells imply their potential functions during root nodule symbiosis, such as CO2 fixation, N assimilation, and pH regulation, which await further investigations.}, } @article {pmid34359684, year = {2021}, author = {Abdul Rahman, R and Lamarca, A and Hubner, RA and Valle, JW and McNamara, MG}, title = {The Microbiome as a Potential Target for Therapeutic Manipulation in Pancreatic Cancer.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {13}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {34359684}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers and is projected to be the second most common cause of cancer-related death by 2030, with an overall 5-year survival rate between 7% and 9%. Despite recent advances in surgical, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy techniques, the outcome for patients with PDAC remains poor. Poor prognosis is multifactorial, including the likelihood of sub-clinical metastatic disease at presentation, late-stage at presentation, absence of early and reliable diagnostic biomarkers, and complex biology surrounding the extensive desmoplastic PDAC tumour micro-environment. Microbiota refers to all the microorganisms found in an environment, whereas microbiome is the collection of microbiota and their genome within an environment. These organisms reside on body surfaces and within mucosal layers, but are most abundantly found within the gut. The commensal microbiome resides in symbiosis in healthy individuals and contributes to nutritive, metabolic and immune-modulation to maintain normal health. Dysbiosis is the perturbation of the microbiome that can lead to a diseased state, including inflammatory bowel conditions and aetiology of cancer, such as colorectal and PDAC. Microbes have been linked to approximately 10% to 20% of human cancers, and they can induce carcinogenesis by affecting a number of the cancer hallmarks, such as promoting inflammation, avoiding immune destruction, and microbial metabolites can deregulate host genome stability preceding cancer development. Significant advances have been made in cancer treatment since the advent of immunotherapy. The microbiome signature has been linked to response to immunotherapy and survival in many solid tumours. However, progress with immunotherapy in PDAC has been challenging. Therefore, this review will focus on the available published evidence of the microbiome association with PDAC and explore its potential as a target for therapeutic manipulation.}, } @article {pmid34359442, year = {2021}, author = {Murube, E and Beleggia, R and Pacetti, D and Nartea, A and Frascarelli, G and Lanzavecchia, G and Bellucci, E and Nanni, L and Gioia, T and Marciello, U and Esposito, S and Foresi, G and Logozzo, G and Frega, GN and Bitocchi, E and Papa, R}, title = {Characterization of Nutritional Quality Traits of a Common Bean Germplasm Collection.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34359442}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Food legumes are at the crossroads of many societal challenges that involve agriculture, such as climate change and food sustainability and security. In this context, pulses have a crucial role in the development of plant-based diets, as they represent a very good source of nutritional components and improve soil fertility, such as by nitrogen fixation through symbiosis with rhizobia. The main contribution to promotion of food legumes in agroecosystems will come from plant breeding, which is guaranteed by the availability of well-characterized genetic resources. Here, we analyze seeds of 25 American and European common bean purified accessions (i.e., lines of single seed descent) for different morphological and compositional quality traits. Significant differences among the accessions and superior genotypes for important nutritional traits are identified, with some lines showing extreme values for more than one trait. Heritability estimates indicate the importance of considering the effects of environmental growth conditions on seed compositional traits. They suggest the need for more phenotypic characterization in different environments over different years to better characterize combined effects of environment and genotype on nutritional trait variations. Finally, adaptation following the introduction and spread of common bean in Europe seems to have affected its nutritional profile. This finding further suggests the relevance of evolutionary studies to guide breeders in the choice of plant genetic resources.}, } @article {pmid34359364, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, YH and Chung, SW and Auh, QS and Hong, SJ and Lee, YA and Jung, J and Lee, GJ and Park, HJ and Shin, SI and Hong, JY}, title = {Progress in Oral Microbiome Related to Oral and Systemic Diseases: An Update.}, journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34359364}, issn = {2075-4418}, abstract = {The human oral microbiome refers to an ecological community of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms found in the oral cavity. The oral cavity is an environment that provides various biological niches, such as the teeth, tongue, and oral mucosa. The oral cavity is the gateway between the external environment and the human body, maintaining oral homeostasis, protecting the mouth, and preventing disease. On the flip side, the oral microbiome also plays an important role in the triggering, development, and progression of oral and systemic diseases. In recent years, disease diagnosis through the analysis of the human oral microbiome has been realized with the recent development of innovative detection technology and is overwhelmingly promising compared to the previous era. It has been found that patients with oral and systemic diseases have variations in their oral microbiome compared to normal subjects. This narrative review provides insight into the pathophysiological role that the oral microbiome plays in influencing oral and systemic diseases and furthers the knowledge related to the oral microbiome produced over the past 30 years. A wide range of updates were provided with the latest knowledge of the oral microbiome to help researchers and clinicians in both academic and clinical aspects. The microbial community information can be utilized in non-invasive diagnosis and can help to develop a new paradigm in precision medicine, which will benefit human health in the era of post-metagenomics.}, } @article {pmid34357485, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, SY and Son, JS and Hwang, YJ and Shin, JH and Ghim, SY}, title = {Metabacillus elymi sp. nov., isolated from the Rhizosphere of Elymus tsukushiensis, a plant native to the Dokdo Islands, Republic of Korea.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {114}, number = {10}, pages = {1709-1719}, pmid = {34357485}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Elymus ; Islands ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; *Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Dokdo islands in Republic of Korea, is not suited to survive plant because strong wind, low organic content and high salinity. Nevertheless, 64 taxa of plants have a symbiotic relationship with microbe. The Metabacillus elymi KUDC1714[T] was isolated from the rhizosphere of Elymus tsukushiensis collected from Dokdo Islands. This bacterial strain was Gram-stain positive, non-motile, non-spore forming, aerobic and rod-shape bacteria with 0.4-0.5 × 2.5-3.0 μm in size. Colonies were smooth, yellowish-white circular and 2.0-3.0 mm in diameter. KUDC1714[T] was capable of growing at 10-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7-11 (optimum, pH 8) and 0-8.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.0-2.0%). Flagella were not observed by transmission electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that KUDC1714[T] belonged to the genus Metabacillus formed a phyletic lineage within the genus Metabacillus of the family Bacillaceae. The strain KUDC1714[T] was most closely related to Metabacillus sediminilitoris DSL-17[ T] (98.2%), Metabacillus litoralis SW-211[ T] (98.2%) and Metabacillus halosaccharovorans E33[T] (97.7%) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization using genome-to-genome distance calculator were analysed at 25.8% and 23.5% in strain KUDC1714[T] and Metabacillus sediminilitoris DSL-17[ T], and strain KUDC1714[T] and Metabacillus litoralis SW-211[ T], respectively. Strain KUDC1714[T] and its closet type strain were all below cut-off point of the average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values. The genome contains 5197 CDSs, 3 rRNAs, 118 tRNAs, 5 ncRNAs. The genomic DNA G + C content was 34.8 mol%. Its polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and its major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. The strain KUDC1714[T] contained menaquinone-7 as major isoprenoid quinone. Based on its genetic data, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain KUDC1714[T] should be considered a novel species of the genus Metabacillus, for which we propose the name Metabacillus elymi sp. nov. the type strain is KUDC1714[T] (= KCTC 33222[ T], = DSM 27608[ T]).}, } @article {pmid34357349, year = {2021}, author = {Bellés-Sancho, P and Lardi, M and Liu, Y and Eberl, L and Zamboni, N and Bailly, A and Pessi, G}, title = {Metabolomics and Dual RNA-Sequencing on Root Nodules Revealed New Cellular Functions Controlled by Paraburkholderia phymatum NifA.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34357349}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815 is a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont that nodulate the agriculturally important Phaseolus vulgaris and several other host plants. We previously showed that the nodules induced by a STM815 mutant of the gene encoding the master regulator of nitrogen fixation NifA showed no nitrogenase activity (Fix[-]) and increased in number compared to P. vulgaris plants infected with the wild-type strain. To further investigate the role of NifA during symbiosis, nodules from P. phymatum wild-type and nifA mutants were collected and analyzed by metabolomics and dual RNA-Sequencing, allowing us to investigate both host and symbiont transcriptome. Using this approach, several metabolites' changes could be assigned to bacterial or plant responses. While the amount of the C4-dicarboxylic acid succinate and of several amino acids was lower in Fix[-] nodules, the level of indole-acetamide (IAM) and brassinosteroids increased. Transcriptome analysis identified P. phymatum genes involved in transport of C4-dicarboxylic acids, carbon metabolism, auxin metabolism and stress response to be differentially expressed in absence of NifA. Furthermore, P. vulgaris genes involved in autoregulation of nodulation (AON) are repressed in nodules in absence of NifA potentially explaining the hypernodulation phenotype of the nifA mutant. These results and additional validation experiments suggest that P. phymatum STM815 NifA is not only important to control expression of nitrogenase and related enzymes but is also involved in regulating its own auxin production and stress response. Finally, our data indicate that P. vulgaris does sanction the nifA nodules by depleting the local carbon allocation rather than by mounting a strong systemic immune response to the Fix[-] rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid34356914, year = {2021}, author = {Cairns, TC and Zheng, X and Zheng, P and Sun, J and Meyer, V}, title = {Turning Inside Out: Filamentous Fungal Secretion and Its Applications in Biotechnology, Agriculture, and the Clinic.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34356914}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Filamentous fungi are found in virtually every marine and terrestrial habitat. Vital to this success is their ability to secrete a diverse range of molecules, including hydrolytic enzymes, organic acids, and small molecular weight natural products. Industrial biotechnologists have successfully harnessed and re-engineered the secretory capacity of dozens of filamentous fungal species to make a diverse portfolio of useful molecules. The study of fungal secretion outside fermenters, e.g., during host infection or in mixed microbial communities, has also led to the development of novel and emerging technological breakthroughs, ranging from ultra-sensitive biosensors of fungal disease to the efficient bioremediation of polluted environments. In this review, we consider filamentous fungal secretion across multiple disciplinary boundaries (e.g., white, green, and red biotechnology) and product classes (protein, organic acid, and secondary metabolite). We summarize the mechanistic understanding for how various molecules are secreted and present numerous applications for extracellular products. Additionally, we discuss how the control of secretory pathways and the polar growth of filamentous hyphae can be utilized in diverse settings, including industrial biotechnology, agriculture, and the clinic.}, } @article {pmid34356088, year = {2021}, author = {van der Burg, CA and Prentis, PJ}, title = {The Tentacular Spectacular: Evolution of Regeneration in Sea Anemones.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34356088}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genomics/methods ; Immunity, Innate ; Regeneration/*physiology ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sea anemones vary immensely in life history strategies, environmental niches and their ability to regenerate. While the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is the starlet of many key regeneration studies, recent work is emerging on the diverse regeneration strategies employed by other sea anemones. This manuscript will explore current molecular mechanisms of regeneration employed by non-model sea anemones Exaiptasia diaphana (an emerging model species for coral symbiosis studies) and Calliactis polypus (a less well-studied species) and examine how these species compare to the model sea anemone N. vectensis. We summarize the field of regeneration within sea anemones, within the greater context of phylum Cnidaria and in other invertebrate models of regeneration. We also address the current knowledge on two key systems that may be implemented in regeneration: the innate immune system and developmental pathways, including future aspects of work and current limitations.}, } @article {pmid34355858, year = {2021}, author = {Tang, KY and Heng, JZX and Lin, M and Li, Z and Ye, E and Loh, XJ}, title = {Kombucha SCOBY Waste as a Catalyst Support.}, journal = {Chemistry, an Asian journal}, volume = {16}, number = {19}, pages = {2939-2946}, doi = {10.1002/asia.202100676}, pmid = {34355858}, issn = {1861-471X}, abstract = {It is established that food waste can be repurposed to extend its lifecycle and decrease its carbon footprint. In this work, SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) waste from kombucha tea production has been repurposed as a catalyst support. Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) have been embedded in a piece of treated SCOBY via an in-situ method which enabled the catalyst, inCu/t-SCOBY, to be easily recycled. In addition, inCu/t-SCOBY catalyzed the full reduction of 4-nitrophenol in an excess of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) within 20 minutes. After 6 additional catalytic cycles, the catalyst maintained up to 50% of its performance in the first cycle. Characterization of the catalyst has also been done to understand the mechanism of action and interactions occurring between t-SCOBY and Cu NPs. The results of this work clearly present a proof-of-concept in utilizing porous wastes materials such as SCOBY as catalyst supports, allowing metallic NPs to be efficacious and practical heterogenous catalysts.}, } @article {pmid34355085, year = {2021}, author = {Malhotra, A and Nandigama, S and Bhattacharya, KS}, title = {Food, fields and forage: A socio-ecological account of cultural transitions among the Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh in India.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e07569}, pmid = {34355085}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Traditional food systems of many ethnic communities in India directly depend on their symbiotic relationship with the surrounding natural resources and the local socio-ecological and cultural dynamics. However, in the light of development activities resulting in drastic socio-ecological changes, these communities are oftentimes found stranded with over-simplified and unsustainable food systems. Using an ethnographic methodology, we present the case of Gaddis - an agro-pastoral community of Himachal Pradesh in India. In this paper, we documented the on-going trade-offs in traditional livelihoods of the Gaddis and their land use patterns that cause a significant transition in the traditional food systems. Based on our observations, we argue that mapping the shifting political ecology of resources enables a better understanding of transitioning food systems and the consequent eco-cultural changes. While doing so, we emphasize the need for revisitng the existing praxis of tribal development in India with an urgent focus on holistic socio-ecological approaches.}, } @article {pmid34352239, year = {2021}, author = {Frizzera, A and Bojko, J and Cremonte, F and Vázquez, N}, title = {Symbionts of invasive and native crabs, in Argentina: The most recently invaded area on the Southwestern Atlantic coastline.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {184}, number = {}, pages = {107650}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2021.107650}, pmid = {34352239}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Argentina ; Brachyura/*parasitology/*physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Introduced Species ; *Symbiosis ; Trematoda/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological invasions have the capacity to introduce non-native parasites. This study aimed to determine whether the invasive green crab population, Carcinus spp., on the Southwestern Atlantic coast of Argentina harbours any symbionts, and whether these may spillover or spillback between native crabs, Cyrtograpsus altimanus and C. angulatus. Macroscopy, histology, and molecular analyses of some parasites were used to describe and compare their diversity across the three species of crab. We also evaluated the susceptibility of invasive Carcinus spp. to a native digenean, Maritrema madrynense, via experimental infections (exposure and cohabitation). Our results revealed that the green crab pathobiome included similar symbiotic groups to native crabs. This included putative viral, bacterial, and protozoan parasites. Haplosporidium-like observations were recorded in all crab species, and a single green crab was found to be parasitized by an Agmasoma-like microsporidium. Metagenomic analysis of one individual revealed additional symbiotic diversity (46 bacteria, 5 eukaryotic species). The green crabs were infected by more microparasite taxa than the native crabs (5:3). Wild populations of Carcinus spp. were free of metazoan parasites and are shown not to be susceptible to M. madryense under experimental conditions. Our results suggest a reduction/escape of macroparasites (trematode Maritrema madrynense; acanthocephalan Profilicollis chasmagnathi) in invasive Carcinus spp. compared to their native competitors.}, } @article {pmid34352091, year = {2021}, author = {Brill, SA and Guerrero-Martin, SM and Metcalf Pate, KA}, title = {The Symbiotic Relationship Between Scientific Quality and Animal Research Ethics.}, journal = {ILAR journal}, volume = {60}, number = {3}, pages = {334-340}, pmid = {34352091}, issn = {1930-6180}, support = {F31 CA265165/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM136628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; *Biomedical Research ; Ethics, Research ; Research Design ; }, abstract = {Researchers have worked with animals as models for decades to expand our knowledge of basic biological processes and to systematically study the physiology of disease. In general, the public has an expectation that work with animals has a purpose and will ultimately reap benefits. The likelihood of such an outcome is directly dependent on the quality of the science being conducted with those animals. However, not all frameworks for consideration of the ethics around animal research overtly consider scientific quality. In the following review, we explore the complex relationship between scientific quality and animal research ethics. We advocate for the development of a detailed "Harm-Yield Analysis" for the evaluation of biomedical animal research that emphasizes scientific quality along with societal benefit in the ethical justification of the research. We reflect on the lost opportunity to establish best practices in animal research early in the career of scientists by introducing in the curriculum and encouraging the use of a paradigm of the iterative consideration of the ethics of animal research alongside other aspects of experimental design.}, } @article {pmid34351792, year = {2021}, author = {Sogin, EM and Kleiner, M and Borowski, C and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Dubilier, N}, title = {Life in the Dark: Phylogenetic and Physiological Diversity of Chemosynthetic Symbioses.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {695-718}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-051021-123130}, pmid = {34351792}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Possibly the last discovery of a previously unknown major ecosystem on Earth was made just over half a century ago, when researchers found teaming communities of animals flourishing two and a half kilometers below the ocean surface at hydrothermal vents. We now know that these highly productive ecosystems are based on nutritional symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and eukaryotes and that these chemosymbioses are ubiquitous in both deep-sea and shallow-water environments. The symbionts are primary producers that gain energy from the oxidation of reduced compounds, such as sulfide and methane, to fix carbon dioxide or methane into biomass to feed their hosts. This review outlines how the symbiotic partners have adapted to living together. We first focus on the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of these symbioses and then highlight selected research directions that could advance our understanding of the processes that shaped the evolutionary and ecological success of these associations.}, } @article {pmid34349815, year = {2021}, author = {Wongdee, J and Yuttavanichakul, W and Longthonglang, A and Teamtisong, K and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N and Tittabutr, P}, title = {Enhancing the Efficiency of Soybean Inoculant for Nodulation under Multi-Environmental Stress Conditions.}, journal = {Polish journal of microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {257-271}, pmid = {34349815}, issn = {2544-4646}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; *Environment ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The development of rhizobial inoculants with increased resistance to abiotic stress is critical to mitigating the challenges related to climate change. This study aims at developing a soybean stress-tolerant Bradyrhizobium inoculant to be used under the mixed stress conditions of acidity, high temperature, and drought. Six isolates of Bradyrhizobium with high symbiotic performance on soybean were tested to determine their growth or survival abilities under in vitro conditions. The representative stress-tolerant Bradyrhizobium isolates 184, 188, and 194 were selected to test their ability to promote soybean growth under stress conditions compared to the type strain Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. The plant experiment indicated that isolate 194 performed better in symbiosis with soybean than other Bradyrhizobium strains under stress conditions. Based on the stress tolerance index, soybeans inoculated with isolate 194 showed a high growth performance and significantly better nodulation competition ability than USDA110 under several stress conditions. Interestingly, supplementation of sucrose in the culture medium significantly enhances the survival of the isolate and leads to improved plant biomass under various stress conditions. Analysis of the intra-cellular sugars of isolate 194 supplemented with sucrose showed the accumulation of compatible solutes, such as trehalose and glycerol, that may act as osmoprotectants. This study indicates that inoculation of stress-tolerant Bradyrhizobium together with sucrose supplementation in a medium could enhance bacterial survival and symbiosis efficiency under stress conditions. Although it can be applied for inoculant production, this strategy requires validation of its performance in field conditions before adopting this technology.}, } @article {pmid34349738, year = {2021}, author = {Cesaro, P and Massa, N and Bona, E and Novello, G and Todeschini, V and Boatti, L and Mignone, F and Gamalero, E and Berta, G and Lingua, G}, title = {Native AMF Communities in an Italian Vineyard at Two Different Phenological Stages of Vitis vinifera.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {676610}, pmid = {34349738}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial soil microorganisms that can establish symbiotic associations with Vitis vinifera roots, resulting in positive effects on grapevine performance, both in terms of water use efficiency, nutrient uptake, and replant success. Grapevine is an important perennial crop cultivated worldwide, especially in Mediterranean countries. In Italy, Piedmont is one of the regions with the longest winemaking tradition. In the present study, we characterized the AMF communities of the soil associated or not with the roots of V. vinifera cv. Pinot Noir cultivated in a vineyard subjected to conventional management using 454 Roche sequencing technology. Samplings were performed at two plant phenological stages (flowering and early fruit development). The AMF community was dominated by members of the family Glomeraceae, with a prevalence of the genus Glomus and the species Rhizophagus intraradices and Rhizophagus irregularis. On the contrary, the genus Archaeospora was the only one belonging to the family Archaeosporaceae. Since different AMF communities occur in the two considered soils, independently from the plant phenological stage, a probable role of V. vinifera in determining the AMF populations associated to its roots has been highlighted.}, } @article {pmid34349734, year = {2021}, author = {Herrera, M and Liew, YJ and Venn, A and Tambutté, E and Zoccola, D and Tambutté, S and Cui, G and Aranda, M}, title = {New Insights From Transcriptomic Data Reveal Differential Effects of CO2 Acidification Stress on Photosynthesis of an Endosymbiotic Dinoflagellate in hospite.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {666510}, pmid = {34349734}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) has both detrimental as well as beneficial effects on marine life; it negatively affects calcifiers while enhancing the productivity of photosynthetic organisms. To date, many studies have focused on the impacts of OA on calcification in reef-building corals, a process particularly susceptible to acidification. However, little is known about the effects of OA on their photosynthetic algal partners, with some studies suggesting potential benefits for symbiont productivity. Here, we investigated the transcriptomic response of the endosymbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum (CCMP2467) in the Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata subjected to different long-term (2 years) OA treatments (pH 8.0, 7.8, 7.4, 7.2). Transcriptomic analyses revealed that symbionts from corals under lower pH treatments responded to acidification by increasing the expression of genes related to photosynthesis and carbon-concentrating mechanisms. These processes were mostly up-regulated and associated metabolic pathways were significantly enriched, suggesting an overall positive effect of OA on the expression of photosynthesis-related genes. To test this conclusion on a physiological level, we analyzed the symbiont's photochemical performance across treatments. However, in contrast to the beneficial effects suggested by the observed gene expression changes, we found significant impairment of photosynthesis with increasing pCO2. Collectively, our data suggest that over-expression of photosynthesis-related genes is not a beneficial effect of OA but rather an acclimation response of the holobiont to different water chemistries. Our study highlights the complex effects of ocean acidification on these symbiotic organisms and the role of the host in determining symbiont productivity and performance.}, } @article {pmid34348764, year = {2021}, author = {Browne, HP and Almeida, A and Kumar, N and Vervier, K and Adoum, AT and Viciani, E and Dawson, NJR and Forster, SC and Cormie, C and Goulding, D and Lawley, TD}, title = {Host adaptation in gut Firmicutes is associated with sporulation loss and altered transmission cycle.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {204}, pmid = {34348764}, issn = {1474-760X}, support = {098051/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Firmicutes/*genetics/growth & development ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Adaptation/*genetics ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Spores, Bacterial/*genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Human-to-human transmission of symbiotic, anaerobic bacteria is a fundamental evolutionary adaptation essential for membership of the human gut microbiota. However, despite its importance, the genomic and biological adaptations underpinning symbiont transmission remain poorly understood. The Firmicutes are a dominant phylum within the intestinal microbiota that are capable of producing resistant endospores that maintain viability within the environment and germinate within the intestine to facilitate transmission. However, the impact of host transmission on the evolutionary and adaptive processes within the intestinal microbiota remains unknown.

RESULTS: We analyze 1358 genomes of Firmicutes bacteria derived from host and environment-associated habitats. Characterization of genomes as spore-forming based on the presence of sporulation-predictive genes reveals multiple losses of sporulation in many distinct lineages. Loss of sporulation in gut Firmicutes is associated with features of host-adaptation such as genome reduction and specialized metabolic capabilities. Consistent with these data, analysis of 9966 gut metagenomes from adults around the world demonstrates that bacteria now incapable of sporulation are more abundant within individuals but less prevalent in the human population compared to spore-forming bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest host adaptation in gut Firmicutes is an evolutionary trade-off between transmission range and colonization abundance. We reveal host transmission as an underappreciated process that shapes the evolution, assembly, and functions of gut Firmicutes.}, } @article {pmid34347820, year = {2021}, author = {Enrique-Navarro, A and Huertas, IE and León Cobo, MJ and Prieto, L}, title = {Impact of ocean warming and ocean acidification on asexual reproduction and statolith formation of the symbiotic jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {e0254983}, pmid = {34347820}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acids/*chemistry ; Alkalies/chemistry ; Animals ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; *Climate Change ; Linear Models ; *Oceans and Seas ; Oxygen/analysis ; Reproduction, Asexual/*physiology ; Scyphozoa/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Ocean acidification and warming are challenging marine organisms and ecosystems around the world. The synergetic effects of these two climate change stressors on jellyfish remain still understudied. Here, we examine the independent and combined effects of these two environmental variables on polyp population dynamics of the Mediterranean jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata. An experiment was conducted to examine asexual reproduction by budding and strobilation considering current and ca. 2100 winter (Trial 1, 36 days) and summer (Trial 2, 36 days) conditions under the RCP8.5 (IPCC 2013). In Trial 1, a temperature of 18°C and two pH levels (current: 7.9 and, reduced: 7.7) were tested. Trial 2 considered two temperature levels 24°C and 30°C, under current and reduced acidification conditions (8.0 and 7.7, respectively). Ephyrae size and statolith formation of released ephyrae from polyps exposed to summer temperatures under both acidification treatment was also analyzed. Zooxanthellae density inside the polyps throughout the experiment was measured. C. tuberculata polyps could cope with the conditions mimicked in all experimental treatments and no significant effect of pH, temperature, or the combination of both variables on the abundance of polyps was observed. At 18°C, strobilation was reduced under high PCO2 conditions. Under summer treatments (24°C and 30°C), percentage strobilation was very low and several released ephyrae suffered malformations and reduced size, as a consequence of reduced pH and elevated temperatures, separately. The number of statoliths was not affected by pH or temperature, however, bigger statoliths were formed at elevated temperatures (30°C). Finally, zooxanthellae density was not affected by experimental conditions, even if, the duration of the experiment significantly affected symbiont concentration. Our results show that even though polyps of C. tuberculata would thrive the future worst scenario predicted for the Mediterranean Sea, their capacity to undergo a proper strobilation and to produce healthy ephyrae will be more vulnerable to climate induced environmental conditions, thereby affecting medusae recruitment and, therefore, population dynamics of the species.}, } @article {pmid34346497, year = {2021}, author = {Takeuchi, T and Ohno, H}, title = {Reciprocal regulation of IgA and the gut microbiota: a key mutualism in the intestine.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {781-786}, doi = {10.1093/intimm/dxab049}, pmid = {34346497}, issn = {1460-2377}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine is home to trillions of microbes, and their colonization contributes to host physiology through the production of indispensable metabolites and competition against pathogens. However, it is also important to balance this symbiotic relationship, as overgrowth and translocation of microbes could trigger a fatal infection. IgA is the major immunoglobulin class produced and secreted in the intestine and is considered to play a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis. In this review, we summarize recent studies exploring the interactions between IgA and the gut microbiota and explain how different types of IgA could coexist to regulate the gut microbiota. In particular, we discuss two important aspects of IgA in controlling the gut microbes: function and specificity. Differences in these two aspects appear attributable to how IgA is induced and are associated with the functions of IgA as well. Together, our review delineates a recent understanding of IgA-microbiome interactions and proposes a future direction to clarify its complexity.}, } @article {pmid34346367, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, X and Teng, Y and Ren, W and Han, Y and Wang, X and Li, X}, title = {Soil bacterial diversity and functionality are driven by plant species for enhancing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons dissipation in soils.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {797}, number = {}, pages = {149204}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149204}, pmid = {34346367}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {Plant-microorganisms symbiosis has been widely used in developing strategies for the rhizoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) contaminated agricultural soils. However, understanding the potential mechanisms for using complex plant-microbe interactions to enhance rhizoremediation in contaminated soils is still limited. In this study, rhizosphere microbiomes were established by cultivating four types of cover crops for 15 months in a PAHs-contaminated field. The results showed that the PAHs removal rates were significantly higher in rhizosphere soils (55.2-82.3%) than the bare soils (20.5%). Of the four cover crops, the rhizosphere soils associated with the alfalfa and clover had higher removal rates for high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (78.5-87.1%) than the grasses (39.0-46.2%). High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that bacterial community structure between the planted and bare soils, and among four cover crops rhizosphere soils were significantly different. The rhizosphere soils associated with the alfalfa and clover had more abundant degradation-related taxa. Correlation network analysis showed that bacterial communities with high removal rates have stronger interactions. Metagenome analysis indicated that the relative abundance of the key functional genes involved in PAHs degradation and nutrient metabolisms were significantly higher in rhizosphere soils, especially for alfalfa and clover. Overall, this study provides new insights for us to understand the mechanisms by different plants enhancing PAHs dissipation from the viewpoint of microbiology.}, } @article {pmid34346335, year = {2022}, author = {Wang, L and Yang, D and Ma, F and Wang, G and You, Y}, title = {Recent advances in responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - Plant symbiosis to engineered nanoparticles.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {286}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {131644}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131644}, pmid = {34346335}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Nanoparticles ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The application of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is increasing in all walks of life, inevitably resulting in a high risk of ENMs entering the natural environment. Recent studies have demonstrated that phytoaccumulation of ENMs in the environment may be detrimental to plants to varying degrees. However, plants primarily assimilate ENMs through the roots, which are inevitably affected by rhizomicroorganisms. In this review, we focus on a group of common rhizomicroorganisms-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These fungi contribute to ENMs immobilization and inhibition of phytoaccumulation, improvement of host plant growth and activation of systematic protection in response to excess ENMs stress. In present review, we summarize the biological responses of plants to ENMs and the modulatory mechanisms of AMF on the immobilization of ENMs in substrate-plant interfaces, and indirectly regulatory mechanisms of AMF on the deleterious effects of ENMs on host plants. In addition, the information of feedback of ENMs on mycorrhizal symbiosis and the prospects of future research on the fate and mechanism of phyto-toxicity of ENMs mediated by AMF in the environment are also addressed. In view of above, synergistic reaction of plants and AMF may prove to be a cost-effective and eco-friendly technology to bio-control potential ENMs contamination on a sustainable basis.}, } @article {pmid34346098, year = {2022}, author = {Semete-Makokotlela, B and Mahlangu, GN and Mukanga, D and Darko, DM and Stonier, P and Gwaza, L and Nkambule, P and Matsoso, P and Lehnert, R and Rosenkranz, B and Pillai, GC}, title = {Needs-driven talent and competency development for the next generation of regulatory scientists in Africa.}, journal = {British journal of clinical pharmacology}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {579-586}, pmid = {34346098}, issn = {1365-2125}, support = {001/WHO_/World Health Organization/International ; }, mesh = {Capacity Building ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Physicians ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {Capacity building programmes for African regulators should link education, training and research with career development in an approach that combines an academic base and experiential learning aligned within a competency framework. A regulatory ecosystem that engages with a broad range of stakeholders will mean that expertise in the ever-expanding field of regulatory science filters into teaching and research in a symbiotic way. In this way capacity development interventions will be a collaborative approach between the learning context (academic and training institutions) and the performance context (regulatory agencies and industry), which will ultimately best serve the patients. Monitoring and evaluation of capacity development interventions will be essential to show value of investments and ultimately guide continued funding and sustainability. This paper reviews the skills and human capacity gaps, reports on regulatory assessment pathways used in Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe and outlines a staged tactical approach for Africa that builds on previous efforts to strengthen African regulatory ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34343445, year = {2021}, author = {Aoki, T and Liyanage, PNH and Konkol, JL and Ploetz, RC and Smith, JA and Kasson, MT and Freeman, S and Geiser, DM and O'Donnell, K}, title = {Three novel Ambrosia Fusarium Clade species producing multiseptate "dolphin-shaped" conidia, and an augmented description of Fusarium kuroshium.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {113}, number = {5}, pages = {1089-1109}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2021.1923300}, pmid = {34343445}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; *Dolphins ; *Fusarium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {The Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) is a monophyletic lineage within clade 3 of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) that currently comprises 19 genealogically exclusive species. These fungi are known or predicted to be farmed by adult female Euwallacea ambrosia beetles as a nutritional mutualism (Coleoptera: Scolytinae; Xyleborini). To date, only eight of the 19 AFC species have been described formally with Latin binomials. We describe three AFC species, previously known as AF-8, AF-10, and AF-11, based on molecular phylogenetic analysis of multilocus DNA sequence data and comparative morphological/phenotypic studies. Fusarium duplospermum (AF-8) farmed by E. perbrevis on avocado in Florida, USA, is distinguished by forming two morphologically different types of multiseptate conidia and brownish orange colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fusarium drepaniforme (AF-10), isolated from an unknown woody host in Singapore and deposited as Herb IMI 351954 in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, under the name F. bugnicourtii, is diagnosed by frequent production of multiseptate sickle-shaped conidia. Fusarium papillatum (AF-11), isolated from mycangia of E. perbrevis infesting tea in Kandy, Sri Lanka, forms multiseptate clavate conidia that possess a papillate apical cell protruding toward the ventral side. Lastly, we prepared an augmented description of F. kuroshium (AF-12), previously isolated from the heads or galleries of E. kuroshio in a California sycamore tree, El Cajon, California, USA, and recently validated nomenclaturally as Fusarium. Conidia formed by F. kuroshium vary widely in size and shape, suggesting a close morphological relationship with F. floridanum, compared with all other AFC species. Maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses of a multilocus data set resolve these three novel AFC species, and F. kuroshium, as phylogenetically distinct based on genealogical concordance. Given the promiscuous nature of several Euwallacea species, and the overlapping geographic range of several AFC species and Euwallacea ambrosia beetles, the potential for symbiont switching among sympatric species is discussed.}, } @article {pmid34343017, year = {2021}, author = {Gabaldón, T}, title = {Origin and Early Evolution of the Eukaryotic Cell.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {631-647}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-090817-062213}, pmid = {34343017}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/genetics ; *Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Prokaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The origin of eukaryotes has been defined as the major evolutionary transition since the origin of life itself. Most hallmark traits of eukaryotes, such as their intricate intracellular organization, can be traced back to a putative common ancestor that predated the broad diversity of extant eukaryotes. However, little is known about the nature and relative order of events that occurred in the path from preexisting prokaryotes to this already sophisticated ancestor. The origin of mitochondria from the endosymbiosis of an alphaproteobacterium is one of the few robustly established events to which most hypotheses on the origin of eukaryotes are anchored, but the debate is still open regarding the time of this acquisition, the nature of the host, and the ecological and metabolic interactions between the symbiotic partners. After the acquisition of mitochondria, eukaryotes underwent a fast radiation into several major clades whose phylogenetic relationships have been largely elusive. Recent progress in the comparative analyses of a growing number of genomes is shedding light on the early events of eukaryotic evolution as well as on the root and branching patterns of the tree of eukaryotes. Here I discuss current knowledge and debates on the origin and early evolution of eukaryotes. I focus particularly on how phylogenomic analyses have challenged some of the early assumptions about eukaryotic evolution, including the widespread idea that mitochondrial symbiosis in an archaeal host was the earliest event in eukaryogenesis.}, } @article {pmid34342533, year = {2021}, author = {Caraballo-Rodríguez, AM and Puckett, SP and Kyle, KE and Petras, D and da Silva, R and Nothias, LF and Ernst, M and van der Hooft, JJJ and Tripathi, A and Wang, M and Balunas, MJ and Klassen, JL and Dorrestein, PC}, title = {Chemical Gradients of Plant Substrates in an Atta texana Fungus Garden.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e0060121}, pmid = {34342533}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R01 GM107550/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41 GM103484/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DP2 GM137413/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R03 CA211211/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Many ant species grow fungus gardens that predigest food as an essential step of the ants' nutrient uptake. These symbiotic fungus gardens have long been studied and feature a gradient of increasing substrate degradation from top to bottom. To further facilitate the study of fungus gardens and enable the understanding of the predigestion process in more detail than currently known, we applied recent mass spectrometry-based approaches and generated a three-dimensional (3D) molecular map of an Atta texana fungus garden to reveal chemical modifications as plant substrates pass through it. The metabolomics approach presented in this study can be applied to study similar processes in natural environments to compare with lab-maintained ecosystems. IMPORTANCE The study of complex ecosystems requires an understanding of the chemical processes involving molecules from several sources. Some of the molecules present in fungus-growing ants' symbiotic system originate from plants. To facilitate the study of fungus gardens from a chemical perspective, we provide a molecular map of an Atta texana fungus garden to reveal chemical modifications as plant substrates pass through it. The metabolomics approach presented in this study can be applied to study similar processes in natural environments.}, } @article {pmid34342082, year = {2021}, author = {Voolstra, CR and Valenzuela, JJ and Turkarslan, S and Cárdenas, A and Hume, BCC and Perna, G and Buitrago-López, C and Rowe, K and Orellana, MV and Baliga, NS and Paranjape, S and Banc-Prandi, G and Bellworthy, J and Fine, M and Frias-Torres, S and Barshis, DJ}, title = {Contrasting heat stress response patterns of coral holobionts across the Red Sea suggest distinct mechanisms of thermal tolerance.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {18}, pages = {4466-4480}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16064}, pmid = {34342082}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Heat-Shock Response ; Indian Ocean ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Corals from the northern Red Sea, in particular the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA), have exceptionally high bleaching thresholds approaching >5℃ above their maximum monthly mean (MMM) temperatures. These elevated thresholds are thought to be due to historical selection, as corals passed through the warmer Southern Red Sea during recolonization from the Arabian Sea. To test this hypothesis, we determined thermal tolerance thresholds of GoA versus central Red Sea (CRS) Stylophora pistillata corals using multi-temperature acute thermal stress assays to determine thermal thresholds. Relative thermal thresholds of GoA and CRS corals were indeed similar and exceptionally high (~7℃ above MMM). However, absolute thermal thresholds of CRS corals were on average 3℃ above those of GoA corals. To explore the molecular underpinnings, we determined gene expression and microbiome response of the coral holobiont. Transcriptomic responses differed markedly, with a strong response to the thermal stress in GoA corals and their symbiotic algae versus a remarkably muted response in CRS colonies. Concomitant to this, coral and algal genes showed temperature-induced expression in GoA corals, while exhibiting fixed high expression (front-loading) in CRS corals. Bacterial community composition of GoA corals changed dramatically under heat stress, whereas CRS corals displayed stable assemblages. We interpret the response of GoA corals as that of a resilient population approaching a tipping point in contrast to a pattern of consistently elevated thermal resistance in CRS corals that cannot further attune. Such response differences suggest distinct thermal tolerance mechanisms that may affect the response of coral populations to ocean warming.}, } @article {pmid34339781, year = {2021}, author = {Gao, G and Cao, J and Mi, L and Feng, D and Deng, Q and Sun, X and Zhang, H and Wang, Q and Wang, J}, title = {BdPUL12 depolymerizes β-mannan-like glycans into mannooligosaccharides and mannose, which serve as carbon sources for Bacteroides dorei and gut probiotics.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {664-674}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.172}, pmid = {34339781}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteroides/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Bifidobacterium adolescentis/growth & development/metabolism ; Galactose/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hydrolysis ; Lactobacillus helveticus/growth & development/metabolism ; Mannans/*metabolism ; Mannose/*metabolism ; Mannosidases/genetics/*metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; *Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria, including members of the Bacteroides genus, are known to digest dietary fibers in the gastrointestinal tract. The metabolism of complex carbohydrates is restricted to a specified subset of species and is likely orchestrated by polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) in these microorganisms. β-Mannans are plant cell wall polysaccharides that are commonly found in human nutrients. Here, we report the structural basis of a PUL cluster, BdPUL12, which controls β-mannan-like glycan catabolism in Bacteroides dorei. Detailed biochemical characterization and targeted gene disruption studies demonstrated that a key glycoside hydrolase, BdP12GH26, performs the initial attack on galactomannan or glucomannan likely via an endo-acting mode, generating mannooligosaccharides and mannose. Importantly, coculture assays showed that the B. dorei promoted the proliferation of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, likely by sharing mannooligosaccharides and mannose with these gut probiotics. Our findings provide new insights into carbohydrate metabolism in gut-inhabiting bacteria and lay a foundation for novel probiotic development.}, } @article {pmid34337322, year = {2021}, author = {Watson, WH and Bourque, KMF and Sullivan, JR and Miller, M and Buell, A and Kallins, MG and Curtis, NE and Pierce, SK and Blackman, E and Urato, S and Newcomb, JM}, title = {The Digestive Diverticula in the Carnivorous Nudibranch, Melibe leonina, Do Not Contain Photosynthetic Symbionts.}, journal = {Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {obab015}, pmid = {34337322}, issn = {2517-4843}, abstract = {A number of nudibranchs, including Melibe engeli and Melibe pilosa, harbor symbiotic photosynthetic zooxanthellae. Melibe leonina spends most of its adult life on seagrass or kelp, capturing planktonic organisms in the water column with a large, tentacle-lined oral hood that brings food to its mouth. M. leonina also has an extensive network of digestive diverticula, located just beneath its translucent integument, that are typically filled with pigmented material likely derived from ingested food. Therefore, the focus of this project was to test the hypothesis that M. leonina accumulates symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates in these diverticula. First, we conducted experiments to determine if M. leonina exhibits a preference for light, which would allow chloroplasts that it might be harboring to carry out photosynthesis. We found that most M. leonina preferred shaded areas and spent less time in direct sunlight. Second, we examined the small green circular structures in cells lining the digestive diverticula. Like chlorophyll, they exhibited autofluorescence when illuminated at 480 nm, and they were also about the same size as chloroplasts and symbiotic zooxanthellae. However, subsequent electron microscopy found no evidence of chloroplasts in the digestive diverticula of M. leonina; the structures exhibiting autofluorescence at 480 nm were most likely heterolysosomes, consistent with normal molluscan digestion. Third, we did not find evidence of altered oxygen consumption or production in M. leonina housed in different light conditions, suggesting the lack of any significant photosynthetic activity in sunlight. Fourth, we examined the contents of the diverticula, using HPLC, thin layer chromatography, and spectroscopy. The results of these studies indicate that the diverticula did not contain any chlorophyll, but rather harbored other pigments, such as astaxanthin, which likely came from crustaceans in their diet. Together, all of these data suggest that M. leonina does sequester pigments from its diet, but not for the purpose of symbiosis with photosynthetic zooxanthellae. Considering the translucent skin of M. leonina, the pigmented diverticula may instead provide camouflage.}, } @article {pmid34335652, year = {2021}, author = {Okuma, N and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Systemic Optimization of Legume Nodulation: A Shoot-Derived Regulator, miR2111.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {682486}, pmid = {34335652}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Long-distance signaling between the shoot and roots of land plants plays a crucial role in ensuring their growth and development in a fluctuating environment, such as with soil nutrient deficiencies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to contribute to such environmental adaptation via long-distance signaling since several miRNAs are transported between the shoot and roots in response to various soil nutrient changes. Leguminous plants adopt a shoot-mediated long-distance signaling system to maintain their mutualism with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia by optimizing the number of symbiotic organs and root nodules. Recently, the involvement and importance of shoot-derived miR2111 in regulating nodule numbers have become evident. Shoot-derived miR2111 can systemically enhance rhizobial infection, and its accumulation is quickly suppressed in response to rhizobial inoculation and high-concentration nitrate application. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the recent progress on the systemic optimization of nodulation in response to external environments, with a focus on systemic regulation via miR2111.}, } @article {pmid34335645, year = {2021}, author = {Andrino, A and Guggenberger, G and Kernchen, S and Mikutta, R and Sauheitl, L and Boy, J}, title = {Production of Organic Acids by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Their Contribution in the Mobilization of Phosphorus Bound to Iron Oxides.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {661842}, pmid = {34335645}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Most plants living in tropical acid soils depend on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis for mobilizing low-accessible phosphorus (P), due to its strong bonding by iron (Fe) oxides. The roots release low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) as a mechanism to increase soil P availability by ligand exchange or dissolution. However, little is known on the LMWOA production by AM fungi (AMF), since most studies conducted on AM plants do not discriminate on the LMWOA origin. This study aimed to determine whether AMF release significant amounts of LMWOAs to liberate P bound to Fe oxides, which is otherwise unavailable for the plant. Solanum lycopersicum L. plants mycorrhized with Rhizophagus irregularis were placed in a bicompartmental mesocosm, with P sources only accessible by AMF. Fingerprinting of LMWOAs in compartments containing free and goethite-bound orthophosphate (OP or GOE-OP) and phytic acid (PA or GOE-PA) was done. To assess P mobilization via AM symbiosis, P content, photosynthesis, and the degree of mycorrhization were determined in the plant; whereas, AM hyphae abundance was determined using lipid biomarkers. The results showing a higher shoot P content, along with a lower N:P ratio and a higher photosynthetic capacity, may be indicative of a higher photosynthetic P-use efficiency, when AM plants mobilized P from less-accessible sources. The presence of mono-, di-, and tricarboxylic LMWOAs in compartments containing OP or GOE-OP and phytic acid (PA or GOE-PA) points toward the occurrence of reductive dissolution and ligand exchange/dissolution reactions. Furthermore, hyphae grown in goethite loaded with OP and PA exhibited an increased content of unsaturated lipids, pointing to an increased membrane fluidity in order to maintain optimal hyphal functionality and facilitate the incorporation of P. Our results underpin the centrality of AM symbiosis in soil biogeochemical processes, by highlighting the ability of the AMF and accompanying microbiota in releasing significant amounts of LMWOAs to mobilize P bound to Fe oxides.}, } @article {pmid34335484, year = {2021}, author = {De Mandal, S and Panda, AK and Murugan, C and Xu, X and Senthil Kumar, N and Jin, F}, title = {Antimicrobial Peptides: Novel Source and Biological Function With a Special Focus on Entomopathogenic Nematode/Bacterium Symbiotic Complex.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {555022}, pmid = {34335484}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The rapid emergence of multidrug resistant microorganisms has become one of the most critical threats to public health. A decrease in the effectiveness of available antibiotics has led to the failure of infection control, resulting in a high risk of death. Among several alternatives, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) serve as potential alternatives to antibiotics to resolve the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens. These small proteins exhibit potent antimicrobial activity and are also an essential component of the immune system. Although several AMPs have been reported and characterized, studies associated with their potential medical applications are limited. This review highlights the novel sources of AMPs with high antimicrobial activities, including the entomopathogenic nematode/bacterium (EPN/EPB) symbiotic complex. Additionally, the AMPs derived from insects, nematodes, and marine organisms and the design of peptidomimetic antimicrobial agents that can complement the defects of therapeutic peptides have been used as a template.}, } @article {pmid34335304, year = {2021}, author = {Li, L and Jing, Q and Yan, S and Liu, X and Sun, Y and Zhu, D and Wang, D and Hao, C and Xue, D}, title = {Amadis: A Comprehensive Database for Association Between Microbiota and Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {697059}, pmid = {34335304}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract represents a symbiotic bioreactor that can mediate the interaction of the human host. The deployment and integration of multi-omics technologies have depicted a more complete image of the functions performed by microbial organisms. In addition, a large amount of data has been generated in a short time. However, researchers struggling to keep track of these mountains of information need a way to conveniently gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between microbiota and human diseases. To tackle this issue, we developed Amadis (http://gift2disease.net/GIFTED), a manually curated database that provides experimentally supported microbiota-disease associations and a dynamic network construction method. The current version of the Amadis database documents 20167 associations between 221 human diseases and 774 gut microbes across 17 species, curated from more than 1000 articles. By using the curated data, users can freely select and combine modules to obtain a specific microbe-based human disease network. Additionally, Amadis provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, searching and downloading. We hope it can serve as a useful and valuable resource for researchers exploring the associations between gastrointestinal microbiota and human diseases.}, } @article {pmid34333748, year = {2021}, author = {Li, R and Zeng, X and Bai, X and Qu, J and Wang, Z}, title = {Root colonization and rhizospheric community structure of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in BADH transgenic maize BZ-136 and its recipient under salt stress and neutral soil.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {46}, pages = {66409-66419}, pmid = {34333748}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Betaine-Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Salt Stress ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) transgenic maize has a capability to grow under drought and salt stress; the risk of planting BADH transgenic maize on symbiotic microorganisms remains problematic, however. A pot experiment was carried out to assess the impact of BADH transgenic maize BZ-136 on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization in root and community structure in rhizosphere soil compared with that of parental maize Zheng58 in neutral and saline-alkaline soil. Microscope observation found that BZ-136 only had a significantly reduced effect on AMF colonization at the elongation stage (9-14%). High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the AMF taxonomic composition kept consistency at the genus level between transgenic BZ-136 and non-transgenic parental Zheng58. NMDS analysis verified the slight difference in community structure between BZ-136 and Zheng58 presented an agrotype-dependent pattern. AMF community indices showed that BZ-136 had a higher richness at the flowering stage in saline-alkaline soil and had a higher diversity at the mature stage in neutral soil. Heatmap analysis also illuminated AMF community structure of transgenic maize at species level was similar to that of non-transgenic maize. In summary, cropping transgenic BADH maize has minor or transient effects on AMF colonization and rhizospheric soil AMF community structure, while agrotype has a stronger effect on AMF community structure.}, } @article {pmid34332628, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, PS and Shin, NR and Lee, JB and Kim, MS and Whon, TW and Hyun, DW and Yun, JH and Jung, MJ and Kim, JY and Bae, JW}, title = {Host habitat is the major determinant of the gut microbiome of fish.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {166}, pmid = {34332628}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Firmicutes/genetics ; Fishes ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Our understanding of the gut microbiota of animals is largely based on studies of mammals. To better understand the evolutionary basis of symbiotic relationships between animal hosts and indigenous microbes, it is necessary to investigate the gut microbiota of non-mammalian vertebrate species. In particular, fish have the highest species diversity among groups of vertebrates, with approximately 33,000 species. In this study, we comprehensively characterized gut bacterial communities in fish.

RESULTS: We analyzed 227 individual fish representing 14 orders, 42 families, 79 genera, and 85 species. The fish gut microbiota was dominated by Proteobacteria (51.7%) and Firmicutes (13.5%), different from the dominant taxa reported in terrestrial vertebrates (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes). The gut microbial community in fish was more strongly shaped by host habitat than by host taxonomy or trophic level. Using a machine learning approach trained on the microbial community composition or predicted functional profiles, we found that the host habitat exhibited the highest classification accuracy. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that the gut bacterial community of fish differs significantly from those of other vertebrate classes (reptiles, birds, and mammals).

CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data provide a reference for future studies of the gut microbiome of aquatic animals as well as insights into the relationship between fish and their gut bacteria, including the key role of host habitat and the distinct compositions in comparison with those of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid34332368, year = {2021}, author = {León-Barrios, M and Flores-Félix, JD and Pérez-Yépez, J and Ramirez-Bahena, MH and Pulido-Suárez, L and Igual, JM and Velázquez, E and Peix, Á}, title = {Definition of the novel symbiovar canariense within Mesorhizobium neociceri sp. nov., a new species of genus Mesorhizobium nodulating Cicer canariense in the "Caldera de Taburiente" National Park (La Palma, Canary Islands).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {126237}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126237}, pmid = {34332368}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; *Cicer/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; *Mesorhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Parks, Recreational ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; }, abstract = {Cicer canariense is a highly promiscuous wild chickpea nodulated by Mesorhizobium strains in La Palma Island located at Canary archipelago. Four of these strains, CCANP34, CCANP35[T], CCANP38 and CCANP95 belong to a group phylogenetically close to Mesorhizobium caraganae with 100% similarity values in the 16S rRNA gene. However, the genomes of the strains CCANP35[T] and M. caraganae LMG 24397[T] obtained in this work showed ANIb and dDDH values of 90.02% and 44.1%, respectively. These values are lower than those currently accepted for different bacterial species showing that the Canarian strains do not belong to the species M. caraganae. The Canarian strains also differ from M. caraganae in the amounts of several fatty acids and in several phenotypic traits. Based on the obtained results the Canarian strains belong to a novel species for which we propose the name Mesorhizobium neociceri sp. nov. and whose type strain is CCANP35[T]. The results of the phylogenetic analyses of nodC and nifH symbiotic genes showed that the Canarian strains represent a novel symbiovar within genus Mesorhizobium phylogenetically divergent to that encompassing M. caraganae. We propose the names canariense and caraganae for the symbiovars encompassing the strains of M. neociceri and M. caraganae, respectively.}, } @article {pmid34331006, year = {2021}, author = {Gauthier, J and Boulain, H and van Vugt, JJFA and Baudry, L and Persyn, E and Aury, JM and Noel, B and Bretaudeau, A and Legeai, F and Warris, S and Chebbi, MA and Dubreuil, G and Duvic, B and Kremer, N and Gayral, P and Musset, K and Josse, T and Bigot, D and Bressac, C and Moreau, S and Periquet, G and Harry, M and Montagné, N and Boulogne, I and Sabeti-Azad, M and Maïbèche, M and Chertemps, T and Hilliou, F and Siaussat, D and Amselem, J and Luyten, I and Capdevielle-Dulac, C and Labadie, K and Merlin, BL and Barbe, V and de Boer, JG and Marbouty, M and Cônsoli, FL and Dupas, S and Hua-Van, A and Le Goff, G and Bézier, A and Jacquin-Joly, E and Whitfield, JB and Vet, LEM and Smid, HM and Kaiser, L and Koszul, R and Huguet, E and Herniou, EA and Drezen, JM}, title = {Author Correction: Chromosomal scale assembly of parasitic wasp genome reveals symbiotic virus colonization.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {940}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-021-02480-9}, pmid = {34331006}, issn = {2399-3642}, } @article {pmid34330708, year = {2021}, author = {Schulte, CCM and Borah, K and Wheatley, RM and Terpolilli, JJ and Saalbach, G and Crang, N and de Groot, DH and Ratcliffe, RG and Kruger, NJ and Papachristodoulou, A and Poole, PS}, title = {Metabolic control of nitrogen fixation in rhizobium-legume symbioses.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {31}, pages = {}, pmid = {34330708}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Rhizobia induce nodule formation on legume roots and differentiate into bacteroids, which catabolize plant-derived dicarboxylates to reduce atmospheric N2 into ammonia. Despite the agricultural importance of this symbiosis, the mechanisms that govern carbon and nitrogen allocation in bacteroids and promote ammonia secretion to the plant are largely unknown. Using a metabolic model derived from genome-scale datasets, we show that carbon polymer synthesis and alanine secretion by bacteroids facilitate redox balance in microaerobic nodules. Catabolism of dicarboxylates induces not only a higher oxygen demand but also a higher NADH/NAD[+] ratio than sugars. Modeling and [13]C metabolic flux analysis indicate that oxygen limitation restricts the decarboxylating arm of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which limits ammonia assimilation into glutamate. By tightly controlling oxygen supply and providing dicarboxylates as the energy and electron source donors for N2 fixation, legumes promote ammonia secretion by bacteroids. This is a defining feature of rhizobium-legume symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34328968, year = {2021}, author = {Boco, SR and Pitt, KA and Melvin, SD}, title = {Ocean acidification impairs the physiology of symbiotic phyllosoma larvae of the lobster Thenus australiensis and their ability to detect cues from jellyfish.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {793}, number = {}, pages = {148679}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148679}, pmid = {34328968}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Cues ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Larva ; *Nephropidae ; Oceans and Seas ; *Seawater ; }, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) can alter the behaviour and physiology of marine fauna and impair their ability to interact with other species, including those in symbiotic and predatory relationships. Phyllosoma larvae of lobsters are symbionts to many invertebrates and often ride and feed on jellyfish, however OA may threaten interactions between phyllosomas and jellyfish. Here, we tested whether OA predicted for surface mid-shelf waters of Great Barrier Reef, Australia, under ∆ pH = -0.1 (pH ~7.9) and ∆pH = -0.3 (pH ~7.7) relative to the present pH (~8.0) (P) impaired the survival, moulting, respiration, and metabolite profiles of phyllosoma larvae of the slipper lobster Thenus australiensis, and the ability of phyllosomas to detect chemical cues of fresh jellyfish tissue. We discovered that OA was detrimental to survival of phyllosomas with only 20% survival under ∆pH = -0.3 compared to 49.2% and 45.3% in the P and ∆pH = -0.1 treatments, respectively. The numbers of phyllosomas that moulted in the P and ∆pH = -0.1 treatments were 40% and 34% higher, respectively, than those in the ∆pH = -0.3 treatment. Respiration rates varied between pH treatments, but were not consistent through time. Respiration rates in the ∆pH = -0.3 and ∆pH = -0.1 treatments were initially 40% and 22% higher, respectively, than in the P treatment on Day 2 and then rates varied to become 26% lower (∆pH = -0.3) and 17% (∆pH = -0.1) higher towards the end of the experiment. Larvae were attracted to jellyfish tissue in treatments P and ∆pH = -0.1 but avoided jellyfish at ∆pH = -0.3. Moreover, OA conditions under ∆pH = -0.1 and ∆pH = -0.3 levels reduced the relative abundances of 22 of the 34 metabolites detected in phyllosomas via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Our study demonstrates that the physiology and ability to detect jellyfish tissue by phyllosomas of the lobster T. australiensis may be impaired under ∆pH = -0.3 relative to the present conditions, with potential negative consequences for adult populations of this commercially important species.}, } @article {pmid34328945, year = {2021}, author = {Palazzo, Q and Prada, F and Steffens, T and Fermani, S and Samorì, C and Bernardi, G and Terrón-Sigler, A and Sparla, F and Falini, G and Goffredo, S}, title = {The skeleton of Balanophyllia coral species suggests adaptive traits linked to the onset of mixotrophy.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {795}, number = {}, pages = {148778}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148778}, pmid = {34328945}, issn = {1879-1026}, support = {249930/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Coral Reefs ; Phenotype ; Skeleton ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The diversity in the skeletal features of coral species is an outcome of their evolution, distribution and habitat. Here, we explored, from macro- to nano-scale, the skeletal structural and compositional characteristics of three coral species belonging to the genus Balanophyllia having different trophic strategies. The goal is to address whether the onset of mixotrophy influenced the skeletal features of B. elegans, B. regia, and B. europaea. The macroscale data suggest that the presence of symbiotic algae in B. europaea can lead to a surplus of energy input that increases its growth rate and skeletal bulk density, leading to larger and denser corals compared to the azooxanthellate ones, B. regia and B. elegans. The symbiosis would also explain the higher intra-skeletal organic matrix (OM) content, which is constituted by macromolecules promoting the calcification, in B. europaea compared to the azooxanthellate species. The characterization of the soluble OM also revealed differences between B. europaea and the azooxanthellate species, which may be linked to diverse macromolecular machineries responsible for skeletal biosynthesis and final morphology. Differently, the crystallographic features were homogenous among species, suggesting that the basic building blocks of skeletons remained a conserved trait in these related species, regardless of the trophic strategy. These results show changes in skeletal phenotype that could be triggered by the onset of mixotrophy, as a consequence of the symbiotic association, displaying remarkable plasticity of coral skeletons which repeatedly allowed this coral group to adapt to a range of changing environments throughout its geological history.}, } @article {pmid34328183, year = {2022}, author = {Koskimäki, JJ and Pohjanen, J and Kvist, J and Fester, T and Härtig, C and Podolich, O and Fluch, S and Edesi, J and Häggman, H and Pirttilä, AM}, title = {The meristem-associated endosymbiont Methylorubrum extorquens DSM13060 reprograms development and stress responses of pine seedlings.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {391-410}, pmid = {34328183}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Endophytes/physiology ; Meristem ; *Pinus/genetics ; *Pinus sylvestris ; Seedlings ; }, abstract = {Microbes living in plant tissues-endophytes-are mainly studied in crop plants where they typically colonize the root apoplast. Trees-a large carbon source with a high capacity for photosynthesis-provide a variety of niches for endophytic colonization. We have earlier identified a new type of plant-endophyte interaction in buds of adult Scots pine, where Methylorubrum species live inside the meristematic cells. The endosymbiont Methylorubrum extorquens DSM13060 significantly increases needle and root growth of pine seedlings without producing plant hormones, but by aggregating around host nuclei. Here, we studied gene expression and metabolites of the pine host induced by M. extorquens DSM13060 infection. Malic acid was produced by pine to potentially boost M. extorquens colonization and interaction. Based on gene expression, the endosymbiont activated the auxin- and ethylene (ET)-associated hormonal pathways through induction of CUL1 and HYL1, and suppressed salicylic and abscisic acid signaling of pine. Infection by the endosymbiont had an effect on pine meristem and leaf development through activation of GLP1-7 and ALE2, and suppressed flowering, root hair and lateral root formation by downregulation of AGL8, plantacyanin, GASA7, COW1 and RALFL34. Despite of systemic infection of pine seedlings by the endosymbiont, the pine genes CUL1, ETR2, ERF3, HYL, GLP1-7 and CYP71 were highly expressed in the shoot apical meristem, rarely in needles and not in stem or root tissues. Low expression of MERI5, CLH2, EULS3 and high quantities of ononitol suggest that endosymbiont promotes viability and protects pine seedlings against abiotic stress. Our results indicate that the endosymbiont positively affects host development and stress tolerance through mechanisms previously unknown for endophytic bacteria, manipulation of plant hormone signaling pathways, downregulation of senescence and cell death-associated genes and induction of ononitol biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid34327945, year = {2021}, author = {Kotova, TP and Lesnikov, AI}, title = {[SYMBIOSIS OF APITERAPY AND TOURIST - RECREATIONAL RESOURCES IN HEALTH TOURISM AS A FACTOR OF EFFECTIVE POST-COVIDAL HEALTH].}, journal = {Problemy sotsial'noi gigieny, zdravookhraneniia i istorii meditsiny}, volume = {29}, number = {Special Issue}, pages = {684-688}, doi = {10.32687/0869-866X-2021-29-s1-684-688}, pmid = {34327945}, issn = {0869-866X}, mesh = {Bashkiria ; *Beekeeping ; *COVID-19 ; Humans ; Russia ; *Tourism ; }, abstract = {The article discusses the possibilities and prospects of using apitherapy in health tourism in Bashkortostan. The features of the development of beekeeping in the republic and the prospects for the use of beekeeping products in the restoration of the immune system, improvement of the psychological state of the consequences of covid in the conditions of tourist and recreational centers of the region are considered. A health-improving tourist product with the use of apitherapy has been developed. The Bashkirsky Med brand is widely known not only in Russia, but also abroad. The list of measures for the development of beekeeping in the republic includes support for scientific developments in the field of apitherapy. The article examines apitourism as a promising type of tourism in Bashkortostan. It can become one of the most popular types of health tourism and attract not only Russian, but also foreign tourists.}, } @article {pmid34327789, year = {2022}, author = {Singavarapu, B and Beugnon, R and Bruelheide, H and Cesarz, S and Du, J and Eisenhauer, N and Guo, LD and Nawaz, A and Wang, Y and Xue, K and Wubet, T}, title = {Tree mycorrhizal type and tree diversity shape the forest soil microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {4236-4255}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15690}, pmid = {34327789}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Forests ; *Microbiota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {There is limited knowledge on how the association of trees with different mycorrhizal types shapes soil microbial communities in the context of changing tree diversity levels. We used arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree species as con- and heterospecific tree species pairs (TSPs), which were established in plots of three tree diversity levels including monocultures, two-species mixtures and multi-tree species mixtures in a tree diversity experiment in subtropical China. We found that the tree mycorrhizal type had a significant effect on fungal but not bacterial alpha diversity. Furthermore, only EcM but not AM TSPs fungal alpha diversity increased with tree diversity, and the differences between AM and EcM TSPs disappeared in multi-species mixtures. Tree mycorrhizal type, tree diversity and their interaction had significant effects on fungal community composition. Neither fungi nor bacteria showed any significant compositional variation in TSPs located in multi-species mixtures. Accordingly, the most influential taxa driving the tree mycorrhizal differences at low tree diversity were not significant in multi-tree species mixtures. Collectively, our results indicate that tree mycorrhizal type is an important factor determining the diversity and community composition of soil microbes, and higher tree diversity levels promote convergence of the soil microbial communities. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: More than 90% of terrestrial plants have symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi which could influence the coexisting microbiota. Systematic understanding of the individual and interactive effects of tree mycorrhizal type and tree species diversity on the soil microbiota is crucial for the mechanistic comprehension of the role of microbes in forest soil ecological processes. Our tree species pair (TSP) concept coupled with random sampling within and across the plots, allowed us the unbiased assessment of tree mycorrhizal type and tree diversity effects on the tree-tree interaction zone soil microbiota. Unlike in monocultures and two-species mixtures, we identified species-rich and converging fungal and bacterial communities in multi-tree species mixtures. Consequently, we recommend planting species-rich mixtures of EcM and AM trees, for afforestation and reforestation regimes. Specifically, our findings highlight the significance of tree mycorrhizal type in studying 'tree diversity - microbial diversity - ecosystem function' relationships.}, } @article {pmid34327560, year = {2021}, author = {Säle, V and Palenzuela, J and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Sánchez-Castro, I and da Silva, GA and Seitz, B and Sieverding, E and van der Heijden, MGA and Oehl, F}, title = {Ancient lineages of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide little plant benefit.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {559-576}, pmid = {34327560}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Almost all land plants form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Individual plants usually are colonized by a wide range of phylogenetically diverse AMF species. The impact that different AMF taxa have on plant growth is only partly understood. We screened 44 AMF isolates for their effect on growth promotion and nutrient uptake of leek plants (Allium porrum), including isolates that have not been tested previously. In particular, we aimed to test weather AMF lineages with an ancient evolutionary age differ from relatively recent lineages in their effects on leek plants. The AMF isolates that were tested covered 18 species from all five AMF orders, eight families, and 13 genera. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. A soil-sand mixture was used as substrate for the leek plants. Plant growth response to inoculation with AMF varied from - 19 to 232% and depended on isolate, species, and family identity. Species from the ancient families Archaeosporaceae and Paraglomeraceae tended to be less beneficial, in terms of stimulation plant growth and nutrient uptake, than species of Glomeraceae, Entrophosporaceae, and Diversisporaceae, which are considered phylogenetically more recent than those ancient families. Root colonization levels also depended on AMF family. This study indicates that plant benefit in the symbiosis between plants and AMF is linked to fungal identity and phylogeny and it shows that there are large differences in effectiveness of different AMF.}, } @article {pmid34327058, year = {2021}, author = {Yang, M and Shi, Z and Mickan, BS and Zhang, M and Cao, L}, title = {Alterations to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition is driven by warming at specific elevations.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11792}, pmid = {34327058}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Global warming can alter plant productivity, and community composition which has consequences for soil-plant associated microorganisms. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are distributed widely and form symbiotic relationships with more than 80% of vascular plants and play a key role in nutrient cycling processes at the ecosystem scale.

METHODS: A simulated warming experiment at multiple elevations (3,000, 3,500, 3,800, and 4,170 m) was conducted utilizing an in-situ open-top chamber (OTC) for exploring the effect of global warming on AMF community structure in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). This region has been identified as one of the most sensitive areas to climatic changes. Soil DNA was extracted and sequenced using next the Mi-Seq platform for diversity profiling.

RESULTS: AMF richness was higher under the simulated warming chamber, however this only occurred in the elevation of 3,500 m. Warming did not alter other AMF alpha diversity indices (e.g. Shannon, Ace, and Simpson evenness index). Glomus and Acaulospora were the dominate AMF genera as assessed through their relative abundance and occurrence in control and warming treatments at the different elevations.

CONCLUSION: Warming changed significantly AMF community. The effects of warming on AMF community structure varied depend on elevations. Moreover, the occurrences of AMF in different genera were also presented the different responses to warming in four elevations.}, } @article {pmid34324850, year = {2021}, author = {Ueno, AC and Gundel, PE and Ghersa, CM and Agathokleous, E and Martínez-Ghersa, MA}, title = {Seed-borne fungal endophytes constrain reproductive success of host plants under ozone pollution.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {111773}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2021.111773}, pmid = {34324850}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; *Lolium ; *Ozone/toxicity ; Seeds ; }, abstract = {Tropospheric ozone is among the global change factors that pose a threat to plants and microorganisms. Symbiotic microorganisms can assist plants to cope with stress, but their role in the tolerance of plants to ozone is poorly understood. Here, we subjected endophyte-symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants of Lolium multiflorum, an annual species widely distributed in temperate grasslands, to high and low (i.e., charcoal-filtered air) ozone levels at vegetative and reproductive phases. Exposure to high ozone reduced leaf photochemical efficiency and greenness in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants. However, ozone-induced oxidative damage at biochemical level (i.e., lipid peroxidation) was mostly detected in symbiotic plants. Ozone exposure at the vegetative phase did not affect the reproductive investment in seeds, indicating full recovery from stress. Ozone exposure at the reproductive phase reduced biomass and seed production only in symbiotic plants indicating a symbiont-associated cost. At low ozone, endophyte-symbiotic plants showed a steeper slope in the relationship between seed number and seed weight (i.e., a number-weight trade-off) compared to non-symbiotic plants. However, when plants were treated at the reproductive phase, ozone increased the imbalance between seed number and seed weight in both endophyte-symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants. Plants with endophytes at the reproductive stage produced fewer seeds, which were not compensated by increased seed weight. Thus, fungal mycelium growing within ovaries or ozone-induced antioxidant systems may result in costs that finally depress the fitness of plants. Despite ozone pollution could destabilize plant-endophyte mutualisms and render them dysfunctional, other endophyte-mediated benefits (e.g., resistance to herbivory, tolerance to drought) could over-compensate these losses and explain the high incidence of the symbiosis in nature.}, } @article {pmid34323726, year = {2021}, author = {Su, ZZ and Dai, MD and Zhu, JN and Liu, XH and Li, L and Zhu, XM and Wang, JY and Yuan, ZL and Lin, FC}, title = {Dark septate endophyte Falciphora oryzae-assisted alleviation of cadmium in rice.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {419}, number = {}, pages = {126435}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126435}, pmid = {34323726}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Cadmium/toxicity ; Endophytes/genetics ; *Oryza ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are the typical representatives of root endophytic fungi in heavy metal (HM)-contaminated environments. However, little is known about their roles in the HMs tolerance of hosts and the underlying mechanism. Here, we investigated the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of a DSE strain Falciphora oryzae in alleviating cadmium (Cd) toxicities in rice. It was found that F. oryzae possessed a capacity of accumulating Cd in its vacuoles and chlamydospores. During symbiosis, F. oryzae conferred improved Cd tolerance to rice, decreasing Cd accumulation in roots and translocation to shoots. F. oryzae alleviated Cd toxicity to rice by sequestering Cd in its vacuoles. Further application of F. oryzae as fertilizer in the field could reduce Cd content in rice grains. We identified a SNARE Syntaxin 1 gene through proteomics, which participated in Cd tolerance of F. oryzae by regulating chlamydospore formation and vacuole enlargement. This study provided novel insights into how the DSEs and their host plants combat Cd stress.}, } @article {pmid34323187, year = {2021}, author = {Ureña-Vacas, I and Burgos, EG and Divakar, PK and Gómez-Serranillos, MP}, title = {Dibenzofurans from Lichens - A Pharmacological Overview.}, journal = {Current topics in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {21}, number = {26}, pages = {2397-2408}, doi = {10.2174/1568026621666210728095214}, pmid = {34323187}, issn = {1873-4294}, mesh = {Animals ; Dibenzofurans/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus (mycobiont) and a green algae/- cyanobacterium (photobiont). Lichens are a source of secondary metabolites, most of them being exclusively for these species, among which dibenzofurans are found. Dibenzofurans are a small group (over 35 different identified compounds), being usnic acid the most studied. In the last 10 years, there has been a growing interest in the pharmacological activity of dibenzofurans. In this work, dibenzofurans isolated from lichens (alectosarmentin, condidymic acid, didymic acid, isousnic acid, isostrepsilic acid, usimines A-C and usnic acid) were reviewed, most of which showed antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. These findings provide future guidance for research on pharmacological activity of dibenzofurans.}, } @article {pmid34320191, year = {2021}, author = {Tsiknia, M and Skiada, V and Ipsilantis, I and Vasileiadis, S and Kavroulakis, N and Genitsaris, S and Papadopoulou, KK and Hart, M and Klironomos, J and Karpouzas, DG and Ehaliotis, C}, title = {Strong host-specific selection and over-dominance characterize arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonizers of coastal sand dune plants of the Mediterranean region.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab109}, pmid = {34320191}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Mediterranean Region ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Sand ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sand dunes of the Mediterranean region constitute drought-stressed, low-fertility ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are regarded as key components of their biota, that contribute to plant host adaptation and fitness. However, AMF community assembly rules in the roots of the psammophilous plants of coastal sand dunes have not been investigated. We studied the root colonizing AMF communities of four characteristic native plants of eastern Mediterranean coastal foredunes, in nine locations in Greece. Host-specificity (plant identity) was the major driver of AMF community assembly in the plant roots, while geographical distance between locations was not related to differences in the AMF communities. Additionally, colonizer AMF communities were characterized by over-dominance of a single operational taxanomic unit (OTUs), which was remarkably host-specific among locations. Wider dissimilarity in AMF communities was observed in small and disturbed (SD) sites compared to large and undisturbed (LU) sites, a trait that may be attributed to relaxed environmental filtering and facilitated AMF dispersal/immigration in SD sites from surrounding habitats. Overall, our results indicate that the assembly of root-colonizing AMF communities in the eastern Mediterranean sand dunes is characterized by strong biotic filtering (host identity), suggesting that co-adaptation processes may be more pronounced than previously proposed, under extreme environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid34318611, year = {2021}, author = {Basile, LA and Lepek, VC}, title = {Legume-rhizobium dance: an agricultural tool that could be improved?.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1897-1917}, pmid = {34318611}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; Vegetables ; }, abstract = {The specific interaction between rhizobia and legume roots leads to the development of a highly regulated process called nodulation, by which the atmospheric nitrogen is converted into an assimilable plant nutrient. This capacity is the basis for the use of bacterial inoculants for field crop cultivation. Legume plants have acquired tools that allow the entry of compatible bacteria. Likewise, plants can impose sanctions against the maintenance of nodules occupied by rhizobia with low nitrogen-fixing capacity. At the same time, bacteria must overcome different obstacles posed first by the environment and then by the legume. The present review describes the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the entire legume-rhizobium symbiotic process and the strategies and tools of bacteria for reaching the nitrogen-fixing state inside the nodule. Also, we revised different approaches to improve the nodulation process for a better crop yield.}, } @article {pmid34318549, year = {2021}, author = {Dastmalchi, M}, title = {Elusive partners: a review of the auxiliary proteins guiding metabolic flux in flavonoid biosynthesis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {108}, number = {2}, pages = {314-329}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15446}, pmid = {34318549}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Cannabinoids/biosynthesis ; Evolution, Molecular ; Flavonoids/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Humulus/metabolism ; Intramolecular Lyases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Ipomoea nil/genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Folding ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids are specialized metabolites widely distributed across the plant kingdom. They are involved in the growth and survival of plants, conferring the ability to filter ultra-violet rays, conduct symbiotic partnerships, and respond to stress. While many branches of flavonoid biosynthesis have been resolved, recent discoveries suggest missing auxiliary components. These overlooked elements can guide metabolic flux, enhance production, mediate stereoselectivity, transport intermediates, and exert regulatory functions. This review describes several families of auxiliary proteins from across the plant kingdom, including examples from specialized metabolism. In flavonoid biosynthesis, we discuss the example of chalcone isomerase-like (CHIL) proteins and their non-catalytic role. CHILs mediate the cyclization of tetraketides, forming the chalcone scaffold by interacting with chalcone synthase (CHS). Loss of CHIL activity leads to derailment of the CHS-catalyzed reaction and a loss of pigmentation in fruits and flowers. Similarly, members of the pathogenesis-related 10 (PR10) protein family have been found to differentially bind flavonoid intermediates, guiding the composition of anthocyanins. This role comes within a larger body of PR10 involvement in specialized metabolism, from outright catalysis (e.g., (S)-norcoclaurine synthesis) to controlling stereochemistry (e.g., enhancing cis-trans cyclization in catnip). Both CHILs and PR10s hail from larger families of ligand-binding proteins with a spectrum of activity, complicating the characterization of their enigmatic roles. Strategies for the discovery of auxiliary proteins are discussed, as well as mechanistic models for their function. Targeting such unanticipated components will be crucial in manipulating plants or engineering microbial systems for natural product synthesis.}, } @article {pmid34318342, year = {2021}, author = {Presley, SJ and Graf, J and Hassan, AF and Sjodin, AR and Willig, MR}, title = {Effects of Host Species Identity and Diet on the Biodiversity of the Microbiota in Puerto Rican Bats.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {9}, pages = {3526-3540}, pmid = {34318342}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Chiroptera ; Diet ; Hispanic or Latino ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Puerto Rico ; }, abstract = {Microbiota perform vital functions for their mammalian hosts, making them potential drivers of host evolution. Understanding effects of environmental factors and host characteristics on the composition and biodiversity of the microbiota may provide novel insights into the origin and maintenance of these symbiotic relationships. Our goals were to (1) characterize biodiversity of oral and rectal microbiota in bats from Puerto Rico; and (2) determine the effects of geographic location and host characteristics on that biodiversity. We collected bats and their microbiota from three sites, and used four metrics (species richness, Shannon diversity, Camargo evenness, Berger-Parker dominance) to characterize biodiversity. We quantified the relative importance of site, host sex, host species-identity, and host foraging-guild on biodiversity of the microbiota. Microbe biodiversity was highly variable among conspecifics. Geographical location exhibited consistent effects, whereas host sex did not. Within each host guild, host species exhibited consistent differences in biodiversity of oral microbiota and of rectal microbiota. Oral microbe biodiversity was indistinguishable between guilds, whereas rectal microbe biodiversity was significantly greater in carnivores than in herbivores. The high intraspecific and spatial variation in microbe biodiversity necessitate a relatively large number of samples to statistically isolate the effects of environmental or host characteristics on the microbiota. Species-specific biodiversity of oral microbiota suggests these communities are structured by direct interactions with the host immune system via epithelial receptors. In contrast, the number of microbial taxa that a host gut supports may be driven by host diet-diversity or composition.}, } @article {pmid34316539, year = {2021}, author = {Nwachukwu, CU and Aliyu, KI and Ewuola, EO}, title = {Growth indices, intestinal histomorphology, and blood profile of rabbits fed probiotics- and prebiotics-supplemented diets.}, journal = {Translational animal science}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {txab096}, pmid = {34316539}, issn = {2573-2102}, abstract = {In a 12-week feeding trial, 32 rabbits (Chinchilla × New Zealand White; 56 days old; 691 ± 1 g body weight) were used to investigate the effect of pro- and prebiotics as growth enhancer on the growth performance, intestinal mucosal development, hematological and serum biochemical responses of rabbits. The dietary Biotronic® prebiotics and Biovet®-YC probiotics were added at 400 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively. The rabbits were housed individually and randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (n = 8/group; 50:50 bucks to does) including a control diet (diet 1), diet 2 (control + Biotronic® prebiotics), diet 3 (control + Biovet®-YC probiotics) and diet 4 (control + symbiotics [Biotronic® prebiotics and Biovet®-YC probiotics]). Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were monitored. Five rabbits per treatment were used for organ assessment and intestinal histomorphology after feeding trial. Blood samples were collected for hematological and serum biochemical analysis. Results showed that supplementation of Biotronic® prebiotics and symbiotics in rabbit diet significantly (P < 0.05) increased final BW and ADG compared to Biovet®-YC probiotic and control diets. Kidney, lung, esophagus, gastro-intestinal tract, small and large intestines were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. Ileal mucosal assessment revealed that villus height (VH), villus width, villus density, crypt depth (CD), and VH:CD ratio of rabbits fed Biotronic® prebiotic and symbiotic diets were similar and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those rabbits fed control and Biovet®-YC probiotic diets. Packed cell volume of rabbits fed symbiotic and control diets was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed Biotronic® prebiotic and Biovet®-YC probiotic diets. This study suggests that Biotronic® prebiotics and its combination with Biovet®-YC probiotics are good alternative growth promoting feed additives in rabbit nutrition. They improved performance, intestinal development and blood profiles and aid feed digestion, nutrient absorption and utilization in rabbits.}, } @article {pmid34316013, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, WH and Han, YF and Liang, JD and Liang, ZQ}, title = {Taxonomic and phylogenetic characterizations reveal four new species of Simplicillium (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) from Guizhou, China.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {15300}, pmid = {34316013}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {China ; Hypocreales/classification/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Simplicillium species are commonly found from soil, seawater, rock surface, decayed wood, air and as symbiotic, endophytic, entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi. Minority insect-associated species was reported. Simplicillium coccinellidae, S. hymenopterorum, S. neolepidopterorum and S. scarabaeoidea were introduced as the newly insect-associated species. The phylogenetic analyses of two combined datasets (LSU + RPB1 + TEF and SSU + ITS + LSU) revealed that S. coccinellidae and S. hymenopterorum were both nested in an independent clade. S. neolepidopterorum and S. scarabaeoidea have a close relationship with S. formicidae and S. lepidopterorum, respectively. S. neolepidopterorum can be easily distinguished from S. formicidae by ellipsoidal to cylindrical, solitary conidia which occasionally gather in short imbricate chains. S. scarabaeoidea could be easily distinguished from S. lepodopterorum by having longer phialides and larger conidia. Based on the morphological and phylogenetic conclusion, we determine the four newly generated isolates as new species of Simplicillium and a new combination is proposed in the genus Leptobacillium.}, } @article {pmid34315820, year = {2021}, author = {Bosch, TCG}, title = {Taking a microscale look at symbiotic interactions-and why it matters.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {31}, pages = {}, pmid = {34315820}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid34314961, year = {2021}, author = {Fraccascia, L and Spagnoli, M and Riccini, L and Nastasi, A}, title = {Designing the biomethane production chain from urban wastes at the regional level: An application to the Rome Metropolitan Area.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {297}, number = {}, pages = {113328}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113328}, pmid = {34314961}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Biofuels ; Cities ; Italy ; Methane/analysis ; *Plants ; Rome ; }, abstract = {This paper proposes a methodology to design the biomethane production chain from MSW at the regional level and to assess the environmental and economic performance of the chain. In the design phase, the following parameters are considered: number and production capacity of biomethane plants, localization of plants, waste flows among municipalities and plants. The model is adopted to design the biomethane chain in the Rome Metropolitan Area (Italy). Several structures of production chain are designed and their performances are assessed. The economic factors mostly able to affect the performance of the chain are waste disposal tariff, biomethane selling price, and the economic incentive provided to biomethane producers. Their impacts are discussed through sensitivity analyses. Results show that the structure maximizing the economic performance has the worst environmental performance and vice versa. Hence, a new structure of the economic incentive is proposed, aimed at re-aligning economic and environmental performance.}, } @article {pmid34314895, year = {2021}, author = {Feng, Y and Wu, P and Liu, C and Peng, L and Wang, T and Wang, C and Tan, Q and Li, B and Ou, Y and Zhu, H and Yuan, S and Huang, R and Stacey, G and Zhang, Z and Cao, Y}, title = {Suppression of LjBAK1-mediated immunity by SymRK promotes rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {1935-1950}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2021.07.016}, pmid = {34314895}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/chemistry ; Lotus/immunology/*microbiology ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/immunology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {An important question in biology is how organisms can associate with different microbes that pose no threat (commensals), pose a severe threat (pathogens), and those that are beneficial (symbionts). The root nodule symbiosis serves as an important model system for addressing such questions in the context of plant-microbe interactions. It is now generally accepted that rhizobia can actively suppress host immune responses during the infection process, analogous to the way in which plant pathogens can evade immune recognition. However, much remains to be learned about the mechanisms by which the host recognizes the rhizobia as pathogens and how, subsequently, these pathways are suppressed to allow establishment of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. In this study, we found that SymRK (Symbiosis Receptor-like Kinase) is required for rhizobial suppression of plant innate immunity in Lotus japonicus. SymRK associates with LjBAK1 (BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-Associated receptor Kinase 1), a well-characterized positive regulator of plant innate immunity, and directly inhibits LjBAK1 kinase activity. Rhizobial inoculation enhances the association between SymRK and LjBAK1 in planta. LjBAK1 is required for the regulation of plant innate immunity and plays a negative role in rhizobial infection in L. japonicus. The data indicate that the SymRK-LjBAK1 protein complex serves as an intersection point between rhizobial symbiotic signaling pathways and innate immunity pathways, and support that rhizobia may actively suppress the host's ability to mount a defense response during the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34314418, year = {2021}, author = {Fontana, L and Fasano, A and Chong, YS and Vineis, P and Willett, WC}, title = {Transdisciplinary research and clinical priorities for better health.}, journal = {PLoS medicine}, volume = {18}, number = {7}, pages = {e1003699}, pmid = {34314418}, issn = {1549-1676}, support = {MR/S019669/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Chronic Disease/*prevention & control ; Delivery of Health Care ; Environmental Pollution ; Farms ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; *Interdisciplinary Research ; Investments ; *Life Style ; Science/economics ; }, abstract = {Modern medicine makes it possible for many people to live with multiple chronic diseases for decades, but this has enormous social, financial, and environmental consequences. Preclinical, epidemiological, and clinical trial data have shown that many of the most common chronic diseases are largely preventable with nutritional and lifestyle interventions that are targeting well-characterized signaling pathways and the symbiotic relationship with our microbiome. Most of the research priorities and spending for health are focused on finding new molecular targets for the development of biotech and pharmaceutical products. Very little is invested in mechanism-based preventive science, medicine, and education. We believe that overly enthusiastic expectations regarding the benefits of pharmacological research for disease treatment have the potential to impact and distort not only medical research and practice but also environmental health and sustainable economic growth. Transitioning from a primarily disease-centered medical system to a balanced preventive and personalized treatment healthcare system is key to reduce social disparities in health and achieve financially sustainable, universal health coverage for all. In this Perspective article, we discuss a range of science-based strategies, policies, and structural reforms to design an entire new disease prevention-centered science, educational, and healthcare system that maximizes both human and environmental health.}, } @article {pmid34313994, year = {2021}, author = {Formenti, F and Rinaldi, G and Cantacessi, C and Cortés, A}, title = {Helminth Microbiota Profiling Using Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing: From Sampling to Sequence Data Mining.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2369}, number = {}, pages = {263-298}, pmid = {34313994}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Data Mining ; Genes, rRNA ; *Helminths/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiont microbial communities play important roles in animal biology and are thus considered integral components of metazoan organisms, including parasitic worms (helminths). Nevertheless, the study of helminth microbiomes has thus far been largely overlooked, and symbiotic relationships between helminths and their microbiomes have been only investigated in selected parasitic worms. Over the past decade, advances in next-generation sequencing technologies, coupled with their increased affordability, have spurred investigations of helminth-associated microbial communities aiming at enhancing current understanding of their fundamental biology and physiology, as well as of host-microbe interactions. Using the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni as a key example of parasitic worms with complex life cycles involving multiple hosts, in this chapter we (1) provide an overview of protocols for sample collection and (2) outline an example workflow to characterize worm-associated microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics analyses of large-scale sequence data.}, } @article {pmid34313466, year = {2021}, author = {Bellabarba, A and Bacci, G and Decorosi, F and Aun, E and Azzarello, E and Remm, M and Giovannetti, L and Viti, C and Mengoni, A and Pini, F}, title = {Competitiveness for Nodule Colonization in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Combined In Vitro-Tagged Strain Competition and Genome-Wide Association Analysis.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e0055021}, pmid = {34313466}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Associations between leguminous plants and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are a classic example of mutualism between a eukaryotic host and a specific group of prokaryotic microbes. Although this symbiosis is in part species specific, different rhizobial strains may colonize the same nodule. Some rhizobial strains are commonly known as better competitors than others, but detailed analyses that aim to predict rhizobial competitive abilities based on genomes are still scarce. Here, we performed a bacterial genome-wide association (GWAS) analysis to define the genomic determinants related to the competitive capabilities in the model rhizobial species Sinorhizobium meliloti. For this, 13 tester strains were green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged and assayed versus 3 red fluorescent protein (RFP)-tagged reference competitor strains (Rm1021, AK83, and BL225C) in a Medicago sativa nodule occupancy test. Competition data and strain genomic sequences were employed to build a model for GWAS based on k-mers. Among the k-mers with the highest scores, 51 k-mers mapped on the genomes of four strains showing the highest competition phenotypes (>60% single strain nodule occupancy; GR4, KH35c, KH46, and SM11) versus BL225C. These k-mers were mainly located on the symbiosis-related megaplasmid pSymA, specifically on genes coding for transporters, proteins involved in the biosynthesis of cofactors, and proteins related to metabolism (e.g., fatty acids). The same analysis was performed considering the sum of single and mixed nodules obtained in the competition assays versus BL225C, retrieving k-mers mapped on the genes previously found and on vir genes. Therefore, the competition abilities seem to be linked to multiple genetic determinants and comprise several cellular components. IMPORTANCE Decoding the competitive pattern that occurs in the rhizosphere is challenging in the study of bacterial social interaction strategies. To date, the single-gene approach has mainly been used to uncover the bases of nodulation, but there is still a knowledge gap regarding the main features that a priori characterize rhizobial strains able to outcompete indigenous rhizobia. Therefore, tracking down which traits make different rhizobial strains able to win the competition for plant infection over other indigenous rhizobia will improve the strain selection process and, consequently, plant yield in sustainable agricultural production systems. We proved that a k-mer-based GWAS approach can efficiently identify the competition determinants of a panel of strains previously analyzed for their plant tissue occupancy using double fluorescent labeling. The reported strategy will be useful for detailed studies on the genomic aspects of the evolution of bacterial symbiosis and for an extensive evaluation of rhizobial inoculants.}, } @article {pmid34313464, year = {2021}, author = {Li, YX and Rao, YZ and Qi, YL and Qu, YN and Chen, YT and Jiao, JY and Shu, WS and Jiang, H and Hedlund, BP and Hua, ZS and Li, WJ}, title = {Deciphering Symbiotic Interactions of "Candidatus Aenigmarchaeota" with Inferred Horizontal Gene Transfers and Co-occurrence Networks.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e0060621}, pmid = {34313464}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {"Candidatus Aenigmarchaeota" ("Ca. Aenigmarchaeota") represents one of the earliest proposed evolutionary branches within the Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota (DPANN) superphylum. However, their ecological roles and potential host-symbiont interactions are still poorly understood. Here, eight metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed from hot spring ecosystems, and further in-depth comparative and evolutionary genomic analyses were conducted on these MAGs and other genomes downloaded from public databases. Although with limited metabolic capacities, we reported that "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota" in thermal environments harbor more genes related to carbohydrate metabolism than "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota" in nonthermal environments. Evolutionary analyses suggested that members from the Thaumarchaeota, Aigarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, and Korarchaeota (TACK) superphylum and Euryarchaeota contribute substantially to the niche expansion of "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota" via horizontal gene transfer (HGT), especially genes related to virus defense and stress responses. Based on co-occurrence network results and recent genetic exchanges among community members, we conjectured that "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota" may be symbionts associated with one MAG affiliated with the genus Pyrobaculum, though host specificity might be wide and variable across different "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota" organisms. This study provides significant insight into possible DPANN-host interactions and ecological roles of "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota." IMPORTANCE Recent advances in sequencing technology promoted the blowout discovery of super tiny microbes in the Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota (DPANN) superphylum. However, the unculturable properties of the majority of microbes impeded our investigation of their behavior and symbiotic lifestyle in the corresponding community. By integrating horizontal gene transfer (HGT) detection and co-occurrence network analysis on "Candidatus Aenigmarchaeota" ("Ca. Aenigmarchaeota"), we made one of the first attempts to infer their putative interaction partners and further decipher the potential functional and genetic interactions between the symbionts. We revealed that HGTs contributed by members from the Thaumarchaeota, Aigarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, and Korarchaeota (TACK) superphylum and Euryarchaeota conferred "Ca. Aenigmarchaeota" with the ability to survive under different environmental stresses, such as virus infection, high temperature, and oxidative stress. This study demonstrates that the interaction partners might be inferable by applying informatics analyses on metagenomic sequencing data.}, } @article {pmid34312721, year = {2021}, author = {Srivastava, R and Sirohi, P and Chauhan, H and Kumar, R}, title = {The enhanced phosphorus use efficiency in phosphate-deficient and mycorrhiza-inoculated barley seedlings involves activation of different sets of PHT1 transporters in roots.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {254}, number = {2}, pages = {38}, pmid = {34312721}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Hordeum/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Transcriptional activation of subfamily II PHT1 members in roots is associated with the enhanced phosphorus use efficiency and growth promotion of barley seedlings inoculated with Glomus species. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi symbiotic associations in cereal crops are known to regulate growth in cultivar-specific manner and induce phosphate (Pi) transporters (PHT1) in roots. In the present study, we observed that both AM colonization of roots by Glomus species and phosphate starvation enhanced phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) in barley seedlings. Our search for the full complement of PHT1 members in the recently sequenced barley genome identified six additional genes, totaling their number to 17. Both AM colonization and Pi starvation triggered activation of common as well as different PHT1s. Pi starvation led to the robust upregulation of HvPHT1;6.2/6.3 at 7d and weak activation of HvPHT1;1 in shoots at 3d time-point. In roots, only HvPHT1;1, HvPHT1;6.2/6.3, HvPHT1;7, HvPHT1;8, HvPHT1;11.2 and HvPHT12 were induced at least one of the time-points. AM colonization specifically upregulated HvPHT1;11, HvPHT1;11.2, HvPHT1;12 and HvPHT1;13.1/13.2, members belonging to subfamily II, in roots. Sucrose availability seems to be obligatory for the robust activation of HvPHT1;1 as unavailability of this metabolite generally weakened its upregulation under Pi starvation. Intriguingly, lack of sucrose supply also led to induction of HvPHT1;5, HvPHT1;8, and HvPHT1;11.2 in either roots or shoot or both. The mRNA levels of HvPHT1;5 and HvPHT1;11.2 were not severely affected under combined deficiency of Pi and sucrose. Taken together, this study not only identify additional PHT1 members in barley, but also ascertain their AM, Pi and sucrose-specific transcript accumulation. The beneficial role of AM fungi in the promotion of PUE and barley seedlings' growth is also demonstrated.}, } @article {pmid34311575, year = {2021}, author = {Nicoud, Q and Barrière, Q and Busset, N and Dendene, S and Travin, D and Bourge, M and Le Bars, R and Boulogne, C and Lecroël, M and Jenei, S and Kereszt, A and Kondorosi, E and Biondi, EG and Timchenko, T and Alunni, B and Mergaert, P}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Functions Required for Resistance to Antimicrobial NCR Peptides and Bacteroid Differentiation.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0089521}, pmid = {34311575}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Peptides/genetics/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes of the Medicago genus have a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and develop root nodules housing large numbers of intracellular symbionts. Members of the nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide (NCR) family induce the endosymbionts into a terminal differentiated state. Individual cationic NCRs are antimicrobial peptides that have the capacity to kill the symbiont, but the nodule cell environment prevents killing. Moreover, the bacterial broad-specificity peptide uptake transporter BacA and exopolysaccharides contribute to protect the endosymbionts against the toxic activity of NCRs. Here, we show that other S. meliloti functions participate in the protection of the endosymbionts; these include an additional broad-specificity peptide uptake transporter encoded by the yejABEF genes and lipopolysaccharide modifications mediated by lpsB and lpxXL, as well as rpoH1, encoding a stress sigma factor. Strains with mutations in these genes show a strain-specific increased sensitivity profile against a panel of NCRs and form nodules in which bacteroid differentiation is affected. The lpsB mutant nodule bacteria do not differentiate, the lpxXL and rpoH1 mutants form some seemingly fully differentiated bacteroids, although most of the nodule bacteria are undifferentiated, while the yejABEF mutants form hypertrophied but nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The nodule bacteria of all the mutants have a strongly enhanced membrane permeability, which is dependent on the transport of NCRs to the endosymbionts. Our results suggest that S. meliloti relies on a suite of functions, including peptide transporters, the bacterial envelope structures, and stress response regulators, to resist the aggressive assault of NCR peptides in the nodule cells. IMPORTANCE The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of legumes with rhizobium bacteria has a predominant ecological role in the nitrogen cycle and has the potential to provide the nitrogen required for plant growth in agriculture. The host plants allow the rhizobia to colonize specific symbiotic organs, the nodules, in large numbers in order to produce sufficient reduced nitrogen for the plants' needs. Some legumes, including Medicago spp., produce massively antimicrobial peptides to keep this large bacterial population in check. These peptides, known as NCRs, have the potential to kill the rhizobia, but in nodules, they rather inhibit the division of the bacteria, which maintain a high nitrogen-fixing activity. In this study, we show that the tempering of the antimicrobial activity of the NCR peptides in the Medicago symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is multifactorial and requires the YejABEF peptide transporter, the lipopolysaccharide outer membrane, and the stress response regulator RpoH1.}, } @article {pmid34311561, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, Z and Bokros, N and DeBolt, S and Yang, P and Xia, Y}, title = {Genome Sequence Resource of Bacillus sp. RRD69, a Beneficial Bacterial Endophyte Isolated from Switchgrass Plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {1320-1323}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-20-0222-A}, pmid = {34311561}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacillus/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Panicum ; Plant Development ; }, abstract = {We report here the genome sequence of Bacillus sp. RRD69, a plant-growth-promoting bacterial endophyte isolated from switchgrass plants grown on a reclaimed coal-mining site in Kentucky. RRD69 is predicted to contain 3,758 protein-coding genes, with a genome size of 3.715 Mbp and a 41.41% GC content.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34309771, year = {2022}, author = {Shimakawa, G and Shoguchi, E and Burlacot, A and Ifuku, K and Che, Y and Kumazawa, M and Tanaka, K and Nakanishi, S}, title = {Coral symbionts evolved a functional polycistronic flavodiiron gene.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {151}, number = {1}, pages = {113-124}, pmid = {34309771}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Photosynthesis in cyanobacteria, green algae, and basal land plants is protected against excess reducing pressure on the photosynthetic chain by flavodiiron proteins (FLV) that dissipate photosynthetic electrons by reducing O2. In these organisms, the genes encoding FLV are always conserved in the form of a pair of two-type isozymes (FLVA and FLVB) that are believed to function in O2 photo-reduction as a heterodimer. While coral symbionts (dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae) are the only algae to harbor FLV in photosynthetic red plastid lineage, only one gene is found in transcriptomes and its role and activity remain unknown. Here, we characterized the FLV genes in Symbiodiniaceae and found that its coding region is composed of tandemly repeated FLV sequences. By measuring the O2-dependent electron flow and P700 oxidation, we suggest that this atypical FLV is active in vivo. Based on the amino-acid sequence alignment and the phylogenetic analysis, we conclude that in coral symbionts, the gene pair for FLVA and FLVB have been fused to construct one coding region for a hybrid enzyme, which presumably occurred when or after both genes were inherited from basal green algae to the dinoflagellate. Immunodetection suggested the FLV polypeptide to be cleaved by a post-translational mechanism, adding it to the rare cases of polycistronic genes in eukaryotes. Our results demonstrate that FLV are active in coral symbionts with genomic arrangement that is unique to these species. The implication of these unique features on their symbiotic living environment is discussed.}, } @article {pmid34309404, year = {2021}, author = {Li, E and Tian, X and Zhao, R and Wang, Y and Wang, G}, title = {First Report of Enterobacter cloacae Causing Bulb Decay on Garlic in China.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-05-21-0972-PDN}, pmid = {34309404}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Enterobacter cloacae is a symbiotic bacterium, which is one of the species in intestinal microbiota in many humans and animals. In some cases, it causes harmful diseases in humans. More and more studies showed that E. cloacae caused disease on plants, such as macadamia, ginger, mulberry, onion, chili pepper and rice. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of crops with economic importance in the world. It is also widely grown in China. During 2018 to 2020, the naturally infected garlic bulbs from garlic fields in Kaifeng of Henan Province (34.55° N; 114.78° E) showed dry brown discoloration and rot symptoms. The diseased garlic seriously affected its edible value. Voucher specimens collected on June, 2019 were deposited in Plant Disease Laboratory of Tianjin Agricultural University under accession no. PATAU190620. To identify the causal agent of this disease, the bulb tissues of infected garlic were surface-disinfested in 0.6% sodium hypochlorite, dipped in75% ethanol, and then dipped in sterile distilled water. These bulbs were plated on LB medium and incubated at 37℃. A number of white colonies grew on the medium after plating for 16 h. All colonies were round, white, opaque, smooth, and gram-negative, which is a typical characteristic of Enterobacter. To confirm the initial identification of the isolated bacterium, the fragments of 16S rRNA gene and gyrA gene of 6 colonies were amplified, respectively. The PCR products were purified and sequenced. All 16S rRNA and gyrA sequences were identical to each other. The sequences of 16S rRNA gene and gyrA gene were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MW730711 and MW768876, respectively. BLAST searches were conducted using the sequences of 16S rRNA and gyrA. The results showed 99.72%, and 96.91% identity with the corresponding sequences of E. cloacae strain CBG15936 (CP046116.1), respectively. Phylogenetic trees were performed using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method of MAGA X based on the sequences of 16S rRNA gene and gyrA gene. Phylogenetic tree indicated that isolates are most likely E. cloacae. Pathogenicity tests were performed by puncturing garlic bulbs with a hypodermic needle, followed by dipping in bacterial suspension with the concentration of 2×108 CFU for 5 minutes. As control, the garlic bulbs were treated with sterile water. The inoculated and control were incubated at 30°C. 7 days after inoculation, brown discoloration and rot were developed on all inoculated garlic bulbs. No symptoms were observed in the control group.The symptoms were similar to that observed on the original diseased garlic bulbs. The garlic bulbs in inoculated and control were ten replicates in each independent biological experiments. The pathogenicity tests were conducted three times with similar results. The bacteria were re-isolated from the symptomatic diseased garlics and confirmed as E. cloacae by morphological and sequence analyses as above. The re-isolated bacteria were identified by biochemical and physiological characteristics using API 20E strips. The results of the identification were identical to those of the edible ginger strains and the chili pepper strains. As far as we know, this is the first report of bulb decay on garlic caused by E. cloacae. The results are of great significance not only for the management of garlic bulbs during postharvest handling and storage, but also for the further research of opportunistic human pathogens E. cloacae.}, } @article {pmid34309191, year = {2021}, author = {Kaup, M and Trull, S and Hom, EFY}, title = {On the move: sloths and their epibionts as model mobile ecosystems.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {96}, number = {6}, pages = {2638-2660}, pmid = {34309191}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; *Sloths ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sloths are unusual mobile ecosystems, containing a high diversity of epibionts living and growing in their fur as they climb slowly through the canopies of tropical forests. These epibionts include poorly studied algae, arthropods, fungi, and bacteria, making sloths likely reservoirs of unexplored biodiversity. This review aims to identify gaps and eliminate misconceptions in our knowledge of sloths and their epibionts, and to identify key questions to stimulate future research into the functions and roles of sloths within a broader ecological and evolutionary context. This review also seeks to position the sloth fur ecosystem as a model for addressing fundamental questions in metacommunity and movement ecology. The conceptual and evidence-based foundation of this review aims to serve as a guide for future hypothesis-driven research into sloths, their microbiota, sloth health and conservation, and the coevolution of symbioses in general.}, } @article {pmid34308025, year = {2021}, author = {Neiers, F and Saliou, JM and Briand, L and Robichon, A}, title = {Adaptive Variation of Buchnera Endosymbiont Density in Aphid Host Acyrthosiphon pisum Controlled by Environmental Conditions.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {6}, number = {28}, pages = {17902-17914}, pmid = {34308025}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The scarcity of transcriptional regulatory genes in Buchnera aphidicola, an obligate endosymbiont in aphids, suggests the stability of expressed gene patterns and metabolic pathways. This observation argues in favor of the hypothesis that this endosymbiont bacteria might contribute little to the host adaptation when aphid hosts are facing challenging fluctuating environment. Finding evidence for the increased expression or silenced genes involved in metabolic pathways under the pressure of stress conditions and/or a given environment has been challenging for experimenters with this bacterial symbiotic model. Transcriptomic data have shown that Buchnera gene expression changes are confined to a narrow range when the aphids face brutal environmental variations. In this report, we demonstrate that instead of manipulating individual genes, the conditions may act on the relative mass of endosymbiont corresponding to the needs of the host. The control of the fluctuating number of endosymbiont cells per individual host appears to be an unexpected regulatory modality that contributes to the adaptation of aphids to their environment. This feature may account for the success of the symbiotic advantages in overcoming the drastic changes in temperature and food supplies during evolution.}, } @article {pmid34307184, year = {2021}, author = {Li, Y and Zhang, Y and Wei, K and He, J and Ding, N and Hua, J and Zhou, T and Niu, F and Zhou, G and Shi, T and Zhang, L and Liu, Y}, title = {Review: Effect of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolite SCFAs on Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {577236}, pmid = {34307184}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota is regarded as the second human genome and forgotten organ, which is symbiotic with the human host and cannot live and exist alone. The gut microbiota performs multiple physiological functions and plays a pivotal role in host health and intestinal homeostasis. However, the gut microbiota can always be affected by various factors and among them, it is radiotherapy that results in gut microbiota dysbiosis and it is often embodied in a decrease in the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota, an increase in harmful bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria, thereby affecting many disease states, especially intestine diseases. Furthermore, gut microbiota can produce a variety of metabolites, among which short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are one of the most abundant and important metabolites. More importantly, SCFAs can be identified as second messengers to promote signal transduction and affect the occurrence and development of diseases. Radiotherapy can lead to the alterations of SCFAs-producing bacteria and cause changes in SCFAs, which is associated with a variety of diseases such as radiation-induced intestinal injury. However, the specific mechanism of its occurrence is not yet clear. Therefore, this review intends to emphasize the alterations of gut microbiota after radiotherapy and highlight the alterations of SCFAs-producing bacteria and SCFAs to explore the mechanisms of radiation-induced intestinal injury from the perspective of gut microbiota and its metabolite SCFAs.}, } @article {pmid34305992, year = {2021}, author = {Zou, K and Liu, X and Hu, Q and Zhang, D and Fu, S and Zhang, S and Huang, H and Lei, F and Zhang, G and Miao, B and Meng, D and Jiang, L and Liu, H and Yin, H and Liang, Y}, title = {Root Endophytes and Ginkgo biloba Are Likely to Share and Compensate Secondary Metabolic Processes, and Potentially Exchange Genetic Information by LTR-RTs.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {704985}, pmid = {34305992}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Ginkgo biloba is a pharmaceutical resource for terpenes and flavonoids. However, few insights discussed endophytes' role in Ginkgo, and whether genetic exchange happens between Ginkgo and endophytes remains unclear. Herein, functional gene profiles and repetitive sequences were analyzed to focus on these issues. A total of 25 endophyte strains were isolated from the Ginkgo root and distributed in 16 genera of 6 phyla. Significant morphological diversities lead to the diversity in the COG functional classification. KEGG mapping revealed that endophytic bacteria and fungi potentially synthesize chalcone, while endophytic fungi might also promote flavonoid derivatization. Both bacteria and fungi may facilitate the lignin synthesis. Aspergillus sp. Gbtc_1 exhibited the feasibility of regulating alcohols to lignans. Although Ginkgo and the endophytes have not observed the critical levopimaradiene synthase in ginkgolides synthesis, the upstream pathways of terpenoid precursors are likely intact. The MVK genes in Ginkgo may have alternative non-homologous copies or be compensated by endophytes in long-term symbiosis. Cellulomonas sp. Gbtc_1 became the only bacteria to harbor both MEP and MVA pathways. Endophytes may perform the mutual transformation of IPP and DMAPP in the root. Ginkgo and bacteria may lead to the synthesis and derivatization of the carotenoid pathway. The isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis seemed lost in the Ginkgo root community, but L-dopa is more probably converted into dopamine as an essential signal-transduction substance. So, endophytes may participate in the secondary metabolism of the Ginkgo in a shared or complementary manner. Moreover, a few endophytic sequences predicted as Ty3/Gypsy and Ty1/Copia superfamilies exhibited extremely high similarity to those of Ginkgo. CDSs in such endophytic LTR-RT sequences were also highly homologous to one Ginkgo CDS. Therefore, LTR-RTs may be a rare unit flowing between the Ginkgo host and endophytes to exchange genetic information. Collectively, this research effectively expanded the insight on the symbiotic relationship between the Ginkgo host and the endophytes in the root.}, } @article {pmid34305985, year = {2021}, author = {Pereira, EC and Vazquez de Aldana, BR and Arellano, JB and Zabalgogeazcoa, I}, title = {The Role of Fungal Microbiome Components on the Adaptation to Salinity of Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {695717}, pmid = {34305985}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Festuca rubra subsp. pruinosa is a perennial grass that inhabits sea cliffs, a habitat where salinity and low nutrient availability occur. These plants have a rich fungal microbiome, and particularly common are their associations with Epichloë festucae in aboveground tissues and with Fusarium oxysporum and Periconia macrospinosa in roots. In this study, we hypothesized that these fungi could affect the performance of F. rubra plants under salinity, being important complements for plant habitat adaptation. Two lines of F. rubra, each one consisting of Epichloë-infected and Epichloë-free clones, were inoculated with the root endophytes (F. oxysporum and P. macrospinosa) and subjected to a salinity treatment. Under salinity, plants symbiotic with Epichloë had lower Na[+] content than non-symbiotic plants, but this effect was not translated into plant growth. P. macrospinosa promoted leaf and root growth in the presence and absence of salinity, and F. oxysporum promoted leaf and root growth in the presence and absence of salinity, plus a decrease in leaf Na[+] content under salinity. The growth responses could be due to functions related to improved nutrient acquisition, while the reduction of Na[+] content might be associated with salinity tolerance and plant survival in the long term. Each of these three components of the F. rubra core mycobiome contributed with different functions, which are beneficial and complementary for plant adaptation to its habitat in sea cliffs. Although our results do not support an obvious role of Epichloë itself in FRP salt tolerance, there is evidence that Epichloë can interact with root endophytes, affecting host plant performance.}, } @article {pmid34305851, year = {2021}, author = {Yu, M and Wang, X and Yan, A}, title = {Microbial Profiles of Retail Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) From Guangdong Province, China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {689520}, pmid = {34305851}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Oysters are one of the main aquatic products sold in coastal areas worldwide and are popular among consumers because of their delicious taste and nutritional value. However, the microorganisms present in oysters may pose health risks to consumers. In this study, the microbial communities of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) collected from aquatic product markets in three cities (Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Jiangmen) of Guangdong Province, China, where raw oysters are popular, were investigated. The plate counts of viable bacteria in oysters collected in the three cities were all approximately 2 log colony-forming units/g. High-throughput sequencing analysis of the V3-V4 region of the 16Sribosomal DNA gene showed a high level of microbial diversity in oysters, as evidenced by both alpha and beta diversity analysis. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla of the microorganisms present in these samples. A variety of pathogenic bacteria, including the fatal foodborne pathogen Vibrio vulnificus, were found, and Vibrio was the dominant genus. Additionally, the relationship between other microbial species and pathogenic microorganisms may be mostly symbiotic in oysters. These data provide insights into the microbial communities of retail oysters in the Guangdong region and indicate a considerable risk related to the consumption of raw oysters.}, } @article {pmid34305842, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, JT and Shen, JP and Zhang, LM and Singh, BK and Delgado-Baquerizo, M and Hu, HW and Han, LL and Wei, WX and Fang, YT and He, JZ}, title = {Generalist Taxa Shape Fungal Community Structure in Cropping Ecosystems.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {678290}, pmid = {34305842}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fungi regulate nutrient cycling, decomposition, symbiosis, and pathogenicity in cropland soils. However, the relative importance of generalist and specialist taxa in structuring soil fungal community remains largely unresolved. We hypothesized that generalist fungi, which are adaptable to various environmental conditions, could potentially dominate the community and become the basis for fungal coexisting networks in cropping systems. In this study, we identified the generalist and habitat specialist fungi in cropland soils across a 2,200 kms environmental gradient, including three bioclimatic regions (subtropical, warm temperate, and temperate). A few fungal taxa in our database were classified as generalist taxa (~1%). These generalists accounted for >35% of the relative abundance of all fungal populations, and most of them are Ascomycota and potentially pathotrophic. Compared to the specialist taxa (5-17% of all phylotypes in three regions), generalists had a higher degree of connectivity and were often identified as hub within the network. Structural equation modeling provided further evidence that after accounting for spatial and climatic/edaphic factors, generalists had larger contributions to the fungal coexistence pattern than habitat specialists. Taken together, our study provided evidence that generalist taxa are crucial components for fungal community structure. The knowledge of generalists can provide important implication for understanding the ecological preference of fungal groups in cropland systems.}, } @article {pmid34305354, year = {2021}, author = {Chakkyarath, V and Shanmugam, A and Natarajan, J}, title = {Prioritization of potential drug targets and antigenic vaccine candidates against Klebsiella aerogenes using the computational subtractive proteome-driven approach.}, journal = {Journal of proteins and proteomics}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {201-211}, pmid = {34305354}, issn = {2524-4663}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Klebsiella aerogenes is a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterium that causes nosocomial infections. The organism showed resistance to most of the conventional antibiotics available. Because of the high resistance of the species, the treatment of K. aerogenes is difficult. These species are resistant to third-generation cephalosporins due to the production of chromosomal beta-lactams with cephalosporin activity. The lack of better treatment and the development of therapeutic resistance in hospitals hinders better/new broad-spectrum-based treatment against this pathogen. This study identifies potential drug targets/vaccine candidates through a computational subtractive proteome-driven approach. This method is used to predict proteins that are not homologous to humans and human symbiotic intestinal flora. The resultant proteome of K. aerogenes was further searched for proteins, which are essential, virulent, and determinants of antibiotic/drug resistance. Subsequently, their druggability properties were also studied. The data set was reduced based on its presence in the pathogen-specific metabolic pathways. The subtractive proteome analysis predicted 13 proteins as potential drug targets for K. aerogenes. Furthermore, these target proteins were annotated based on their spectrum of activity, cellular localization, and antigenicity properties, which ensured that they are potent candidates for broad-spectrum antibiotic and vaccine design. The results open up new opportunities for designing and manufacturing powerful antigenic vaccines against K. aerogenes and the detection and release of new and active drugs against K. aerogenes without altering the gut microbiome.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42485-021-00068-9.}, } @article {pmid34304501, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, X and Liu, H and Li, C}, title = {[Advances in the study of chronic sinusitis microbiology using 16SrRNA gene sequencing technology].}, journal = {Lin chuang er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Journal of clinical otorhinolaryngology, head, and neck surgery}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {658-661}, doi = {10.13201/j.issn.2096-7993.2021.07.019}, pmid = {34304501}, issn = {2096-7993}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; *Rhinitis ; *Sinusitis ; Technology ; }, abstract = {Traditional conventional bacterial culture techniques can cultivate fewer types of bacteria, aiming to isolate and identify specific pathogens, guide antibiotic treatment and eradicate pathogens.Macrogenomics techniques can simultaneously identify both cultured and uncultured bacteria in the flora, providing the possibility for the study of symbiotic flora. With the vigorous development of SrRNA and application of 16 gene sequencing technology, the microbial ecology research of chronic sinusitis (chronic rhinosinusitis,CRS) has once again become a hot topic.And the CRS view of microbial community composition and microbial diversity were presented. This review describes the use of 16 SrRNA gene sequencing in recent years advances in technical studies CRS microbial ecology.}, } @article {pmid34301876, year = {2021}, author = {Wilson, ACC}, title = {A new protein protects a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {30}, pages = {}, pmid = {34301876}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid34298445, year = {2021}, author = {Green, DW and Watson, JA and Ben-Nissan, B and Watson, GS and Stamboulis, A}, title = {Synthetic tissue engineering with smart, cytomimetic protocells.}, journal = {Biomaterials}, volume = {276}, number = {}, pages = {120941}, doi = {10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120941}, pmid = {34298445}, issn = {1878-5905}, mesh = {*Artificial Cells ; Biocompatible Materials ; Regenerative Medicine ; Tissue Engineering ; }, abstract = {Synthetic protocells are rudimentary origin-of-life versions of natural cell counterparts. Protocells are widely engineered to advance efforts and useful accepted outcomes in synthetic biology, soft matter chemistry and bioinspired materials chemistry. Protocells in collective symbiosis generate synthetic proto-tissues that display unprecedented autonomy and yield advanced materials with desirable life-like features for smart multi-drug delivery, micro bioreactors, renewable fuel production, environmental clean-up, and medicine. Current levels of protocell and proto-tissue functionality and adaptivity are just sufficient to apply them in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, where they animate biomaterials and increase therapeutic cell productivity. As of now, structural biomaterials for tissue engineering lack the properties of living biomaterials such as self-repair, stochasticity, cell synergy and the sequencing of molecular and cellular events. Future protocell-based biomaterials provide these core properties of living organisms, but excluding evolution. Most importantly, protocells are programmable for a broad array of cell functions and behaviors and collectively in consortia are tunable for multivariate functions. Inspired by upcoming designs of smart protocells, we review their developmental background and cover the most recently reported developments in this promising field of synthetic proto-biology. Our emphasis is on manufacturing proto-tissues for tissue engineering of organoids, stem cell niches and reprogramming and tissue formation through stages of embryonic development. We also highlight the exciting reported developments arising from fusing living cells and tissues, in a valuable hybrid symbiosis, with synthetic counterparts to bring about novel functions, and living tissue products for a new synthetic tissue engineering discipline.}, } @article {pmid34297052, year = {2021}, author = {Qiao, Y and Miao, S and Jin, J and Mathesius, U and Tang, C}, title = {Differential responses of the sunn4 and rdn1-1 super-nodulation mutants of Medicago truncatula to elevated atmospheric CO2.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {128}, number = {4}, pages = {441-452}, pmid = {34297052}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Morphogenesis ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nitrogen fixation in legumes requires tight control of carbon and nitrogen balance. Thus, legumes control nodule numbers via an autoregulation mechanism. 'Autoregulation of nodulation' mutants super-nodulate are thought to be carbon-limited due to the high carbon-sink strength of excessive nodules. This study aimed to examine the effect of increasing carbon supply on the performance of super-nodulation mutants.

METHODS: We compared the responses of Medicago truncatula super-nodulation mutants (sunn-4 and rdn1-1) and wild type to five CO2 levels (300-850 μmol mol-1). Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation were assessed in soil-grown plants at 18 and 42 d after sowing.

KEY RESULTS: Shoot and root biomass, nodule number and biomass, nitrogenase activity and fixed nitrogen per plant of all genotypes increased with increasing CO2 concentration and reached a maximum at 700 μmol mol-1. While the sunn-4 mutant showed strong growth retardation compared with wild-type plants, elevated CO2 increased shoot biomass and total nitrogen content of the rdn1-1 mutant up to 2-fold. This was accompanied by a 4-fold increase in nitrogen fixation capacity in the rdn1-1 mutant.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the super-nodulation phenotype per se did not limit growth. The additional nitrogen fixation capacity of the rdn1-1 mutant may enhance the benefit of elevated CO2 for plant growth and N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid34297042, year = {2021}, author = {Traubenik, S and Ferrari, M and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Translational regulation in pathogenic and beneficial plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {478}, number = {14}, pages = {2775-2788}, doi = {10.1042/BCJ20210066}, pmid = {34297042}, issn = {1470-8728}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plants are surrounded by a vast diversity of microorganisms. Limiting pathogenic microorganisms is crucial for plant survival. On the other hand, the interaction of plants with beneficial microorganisms promotes their growth or allows them to overcome nutrient deficiencies. Balancing the number and nature of these interactions is crucial for plant growth and development, and thus, for crop productivity in agriculture. Plants use sophisticated mechanisms to recognize pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms and genetic programs related to immunity or symbiosis. Although most research has focused on characterizing changes in the transcriptome during plant-microbe interactions, the application of techniques such as Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) and Ribosome profiling allowed examining the dynamic association of RNAs to the translational machinery, highlighting the importance of the translational level of control of gene expression in both pathogenic and beneficial interactions. These studies revealed that the transcriptional and the translational responses are not always correlated, and that translational control operates at cell-specific level. In addition, translational control is governed by cis-elements present in the 5'mRNA leader of regulated mRNAs, e.g. upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and sequence-specific motifs. In this review, we summarize and discuss the recent advances made in the field of translational control during pathogenic and beneficial plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid34295223, year = {2021}, author = {Mossad, O and Blank, T}, title = {Getting on in Old Age: How the Gut Microbiota Interferes With Brain Innate Immunity.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular neuroscience}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {698126}, pmid = {34295223}, issn = {1662-5102}, abstract = {The immune system is crucial for defending against various invaders, such as pathogens, cancer cells or misfolded proteins. With increasing age, the diminishing immune response, known as immunosenescence, becomes evident. Concomitantly, some diseases like infections, autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer, accumulate with age. Different cell types are part of the innate immunity response and produce soluble factors, cytokines, chemokines, and type I interferons. Improper maturation of innate immune cells or their dysfunction have been linked to numerous age-related diseases. In parallel to the occurrence of the many functional facets of the immune response, a symbiotic microbiota had been acquired. For the relevant and situation-dependent function of the immune system the microbiome plays an essential role because it fine-tunes the immune system and its responses during life. Nevertheless, how the age-related alterations in the microbiota are reflected in the innate immune system, is still poorly understood. With this review, we provide an up-to-date overview on our present understanding of the gut microbiota effects on innate immunity, with a particular emphasis on aging-associated changes in the gut microbiota and the implications for the brain innate immune response.}, } @article {pmid34294881, year = {2022}, author = {Szabó, G and Schulz, F and Manzano-Marín, A and Toenshoff, ER and Horn, M}, title = {Evolutionarily recent dual obligatory symbiosis among adelgids indicates a transition between fungus- and insect-associated lifestyles.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {247-256}, pmid = {34294881}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi ; *Hemiptera/microbiology ; Insecta ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Adelgids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Adelgidae) form a small group of insects but harbor a surprisingly diverse set of bacteriocyte-associated endosymbionts, which suggest multiple replacement and acquisition of symbionts over evolutionary time. Specific pairs of symbionts have been associated with adelgid lineages specialized on different secondary host conifers. Using a metagenomic approach, we investigated the symbiosis of the Adelges laricis/Adelges tardus species complex containing betaproteobacterial ("Candidatus Vallotia tarda") and gammaproteobacterial ("Candidatus Profftia tarda") symbionts. Genomic characteristics and metabolic pathway reconstructions revealed that Vallotia and Profftia are evolutionary young endosymbionts, which complement each other's role in essential amino acid production. Phylogenomic analyses and a high level of genomic synteny indicate an origin of the betaproteobacterial symbiont from endosymbionts of Rhizopus fungi. This evolutionary transition was accompanied with substantial loss of functions related to transcription regulation, secondary metabolite production, bacterial defense mechanisms, host infection, and manipulation. The transition from fungus to insect endosymbionts extends our current framework about evolutionary trajectories of host-associated microbes.}, } @article {pmid34294866, year = {2021}, author = {Chaturvedi, A and Cruz Corella, J and Robbins, C and Loha, A and Menin, L and Gasilova, N and Masclaux, FG and Lee, SJ and Sanders, IR}, title = {The methylome of the model arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, shares characteristics with early diverging fungi and Dikarya.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {901}, pmid = {34294866}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Epigenome ; Fungi/chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Early-diverging fungi (EDF) are distinct from Dikarya and other eukaryotes, exhibiting high N6-methyldeoxyadenine (6mA) contents, rather than 5-methylcytosine (5mC). As plants transitioned to land the EDF sub-phylum, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Glomeromycotina) evolved a symbiotic lifestyle with 80% of plant species worldwide. Here we show that these fungi exhibit 5mC and 6mA methylation characteristics that jointly set them apart from other fungi. The model AMF, R. irregularis, evolved very high levels of 5mC and greatly reduced levels of 6mA. However, unlike the Dikarya, 6mA in AMF occurs at symmetrical ApT motifs in genes and is associated with their transcription. 6mA is heterogeneously distributed among nuclei in these coenocytic fungi suggesting functional differences among nuclei. While far fewer genes are regulated by 6mA in the AMF genome than in EDF, most strikingly, 6mA methylation has been specifically retained in genes implicated in components of phosphate regulation; the quintessential hallmark defining this globally important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34293459, year = {2021}, author = {Jaye, K and Li, CG and Bhuyan, DJ}, title = {The complex interplay of gut microbiota with the five most common cancer types: From carcinogenesis to therapeutics to prognoses.}, journal = {Critical reviews in oncology/hematology}, volume = {165}, number = {}, pages = {103429}, doi = {10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103429}, pmid = {34293459}, issn = {1879-0461}, mesh = {Carcinogenesis ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Prognosis ; }, abstract = {The association between human gut microbiota and cancers has been an evolving field of biomedical research in recent years. The gut microbiota is composed of the microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal system that interact with the host to regulate behaviours and biochemical processes within the gut. This symbiotic physiological interaction between the gut and the microbiota plays a significant role in the modulation of gut homeostasis, in which perturbations to the microbiota, also known as dysbiosis can lead to the onset of diseases, including cancer. In this review, we analysed the current literature to understand the role of gut microbiota in the five most prevalent cancer types, namely colon (colorectal), lung, breast, prostate, and stomach cancers. Recent studies have observed the immunomodulatory and anti-tumoural effects of gut microbiota in cancers. Furthermore, gut microbial dysbiosis can induce the release of toxic metabolites and exhibit pro-tumoural effects in the host. The gut microbiota was observed to have clinical implications in each cancer type in addition to regulating the efficacy of standard chemotherapy and natural anticancer agents. However, further research is warranted to understand the complex role of gut microbiota in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognoses of cancer.}, } @article {pmid34292601, year = {2021}, author = {Ficano, N and Porder, S and McCulloch, LA}, title = {Tripartite legume-rhizobia-mycorrhizae relationship is influenced by light and soil nitrogen in Neotropical canopy gaps.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {102}, number = {11}, pages = {e03489}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3489}, pmid = {34292601}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants and their soil microbial symbionts influence ecosystem productivity and nutrient cycling, but the controls on these symbioses remain poorly understood. This is particularly true for plants in the Fabaceae family (hereafter legumes), which can associate with both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen (N) -fixing bacteria. Here we report results of the first manipulated field experiment to explore the abiotic and biotic controls of this tripartite symbiosis in Neotropical canopy gaps (hereafter gaps). We grew three species of Neotropical N-fixing legume seedlings under different light (gap-full light, gap-shadecloth, and understory) and soil nitrogen (20 g N·m[-2] ·yr[-1] vs. 0 g N·m[-2] ·yr[-1]) conditions across a lowland tropical forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We harvested the seedlings after 4 months of growth in the field and measured percent AMF root colonization (%AMF), nodule and seeding biomass, and seedling aboveground:belowground biomass ratios. Our expectation was that seedlings in gaps would grow larger and, as a result of higher light, invest more carbon in both AMF and N-fixing bacteria. Indeed, seedlings in gaps had higher total biomass, nodule biomass (a proxy for N-fixing bacteria investment) and rates of AMF root colonization, and the three were significantly positively correlated. However, we only found a significant positive effect of light availability on %AMF when seedlings were fertilized with N. Furthermore, when we statistically controlled for treatment, species, and site effects, we found %AMF and seedling biomass had a negative relationship. This was likely driven by the fact that seedlings invested relatively less in AMF as they increased in biomass (lower %AMF per gram of seedling). Taken together, these results challenge the long-held assumption that high light conditions universally increase carbon investment in AMF and demonstrate that this tripartite symbiosis is influenced by soil nutrient and light conditions.}, } @article {pmid34290715, year = {2021}, author = {Suárez, LJ and Arboleda, S and Angelov, N and Arce, RM}, title = {Oral Versus Gastrointestinal Mucosal Immune Niches in Homeostasis and Allostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {705206}, pmid = {34290715}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; *Allostasis ; Animals ; Antigen Presentation ; Bacterial Translocation/immunology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/physiology ; Cell Communication ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Epithelial Cells/immunology ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; Immunologic Surveillance/*immunology ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Junctions/physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology ; Microbiota ; Mouth Mucosa/cytology/*immunology ; Mucus/physiology ; Organ Specificity ; Saliva/immunology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Different body systems (epidermis, respiratory tract, cornea, oral cavity, and gastrointestinal tract) are in continuous direct contact with innocuous and/or potentially harmful external agents, exhibiting dynamic and highly selective interaction throughout the epithelia, which function as both a physical and chemical protective barrier. Resident immune cells in the epithelia are constantly challenged and must distinguish among antigens that must be either tolerated or those to which a response must be mounted for. When such a decision begins to take place in lymphoid foci and/or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues, the epithelia network of immune surveillance actively dominates both oral and gastrointestinal compartments, which are thought to operate in the same immune continuum. However, anatomical variations clearly differentiate immune processes in both the mouth and gastrointestinal tract that demonstrate a wide array of independent immune responses. From single vs. multiple epithelia cell layers, widespread cell-to-cell junction types, microbial-associated recognition receptors, dendritic cell function as well as related signaling, the objective of this review is to specifically contrast the current knowledge of oral versus gut immune niches in the context of epithelia/lymphoid foci/MALT local immunity and systemic output. Related differences in 1) anatomy 2) cell-to-cell communication 3) antigen capture/processing/presentation 4) signaling in regulatory vs. proinflammatory responses and 5) systemic output consequences and its relations to disease pathogenesis are discussed.}, } @article {pmid34290347, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, Y and Shi, W and Arredondo-Galeana, A and Mei, L and Demirel, YK}, title = {Understanding of remora's "hitchhiking" behaviour from a hydrodynamic point of view.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {14837}, pmid = {34290347}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships have developed through natural evolution. For example, that of the remora fish attached to the body of a shark. From the remora's perspective, this could be associated to an increased hydrodynamic efficiency in swimming and this needs to be investigated. To understand the remora's swimming strategy in the attachment state, a systematic study has been conducted using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, STAR-CCM + to analyse and compare the resistance characteristics of the remora in attached swimming conditions. Two fundamental questions are addressed: what is the effect of the developed boundary layer flow and the effect of the adverse pressure gradient on the remora's hydrodynamic characteristics? According to the results, the resistance of the remora can generally be halved when attached. Besides, the results have also demonstrated that the drag reduction rate increases with the developed boundary layer thickness and can be estimated using the boundary layer thickness ratio and velocity deficit. The paper demonstrates that the most frequent attachment locations are also the areas that provide the maximum drag reduction rate.}, } @article {pmid34289852, year = {2021}, author = {Le Ru, A and Ibarcq, G and Boniface, MC and Baussart, A and Muños, S and Chabaud, M}, title = {Image analysis for the automatic phenotyping of Orobanche cumana tubercles on sunflower roots.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {80}, pmid = {34289852}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The parasitic plant Orobanche cumana is one of the most important threats to sunflower crops in Europe. Resistant sunflower varieties have been developed, but new O. cumana races have evolved and have overcome introgressed resistance genes, leading to the recurrent need for new resistance methods. Screening for resistance requires the phenotyping of thousands of sunflower plants to various O. cumana races. Most phenotyping experiments have been performed in fields at the later stage of the interaction, requiring time and space. A rapid phenotyping screening method under controlled conditions would need less space and would allow screening for resistance of many sunflower genotypes. Our study proposes a phenotyping tool for the sunflower/O. cumana interaction under controlled conditions through image analysis for broomrape tubercle analysis at early stages of the interaction.

RESULTS: We optimized the phenotyping of sunflower/O. cumana interactions by using rhizotrons (transparent Plexiglas boxes) in a growth chamber to control culture conditions and Orobanche inoculum. We used a Raspberry Pi computer with a picamera for acquiring images of inoculated sunflower roots 3 weeks post inoculation. We set up a macro using ImageJ free software for the automatic counting of the number of tubercles. This phenotyping tool was named RhizOSun. We evaluated five sunflower genotypes inoculated with two O. cumana races and showed that automatic counting of the number of tubercles using RhizOSun was highly correlated with manual time-consuming counting and could be efficiently used for screening sunflower genotypes at the tubercle stage.

CONCLUSION: This method is rapid, accurate and low-cost. It allows rapid imaging of numerous rhizotrons over time, and it enables image tracking of all the data with time kinetics. This paves the way toward automatization of phenotyping in rhizotrons that could be used for other root phenotyping, such as symbiotic nodules on legumes.}, } @article {pmid34289638, year = {2021}, author = {Cai, Z and Li, H and Pu, S and Ke, J and Wang, D and Liu, Y and Chen, J and Guo, R}, title = {Development of autotrophic and heterotrophic consortia via immobilized microbial beads for chemical wastewater treatment, using PTA wastewater as an approach.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {281}, number = {}, pages = {131001}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131001}, pmid = {34289638}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Studies on the symbiosis of microalgae-bacteria have been accelerating as a mean for wastewater remediation. However, there were few reports about the microalgae-bacteria consortia for chemical wastewater treatment. The aim of the present study is to develop an autotrophic and heterotrophic consortium for chemical wastewater treatment and probe whether and how bacteria could benefit from the microalgae during the treatment process, using PTA wastewater as an approach. A process-dependent strategy was applied. First of all, the results showed that the sludge beads with the sludge concentration of 30 g/L were the optimal one with the COD removal rate at 84.8% but the ceiling effect occurred (COD removal rate < 90%) even several common reinforcement methods were applied. Additionally, by adding the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, a microalgae-activated sludge consortium was formed inside the immobilized beads, which provided better performance to shatter the ceiling effect. The COD remove rate was higher than 90%, regardless of the activated sludge was pre-culture or not. COD removal capacity could also be improved (COD removal rate > 92%) when LEDs light belt was offered as an advanced light condition. Biochemical assay and DNA analysis indicated that the microalgae could form an internal circulation of substances within the activated sludge and drove the microbial community to success and the corresponding gene functions, like metabolism and.}, } @article {pmid34287929, year = {2021}, author = {Wagner, MR}, title = {Prioritizing host phenotype to understand microbiome heritability in plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {232}, number = {2}, pages = {502-509}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17622}, pmid = {34287929}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Genotype ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots ; Plants/genetics ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Breeders and evolutionary geneticists have grappled with the complexity of the 'genotype-to-phenotype map' for decades. Now, recent studies highlight the relevance of this concept for understanding heritability of plant microbiomes. Because host phenotype is a more proximate cause of microbiome variation than host genotype, microbiome heritability varies across plant anatomy and development. Fine-scale variation of plant traits within organs suggests that the well-established concept of 'microbiome compartment' should be refined. Additionally, recent work shows that the balance of deterministic processes (including host genetic effects) vs stochastic processes also varies over time and space. Together, these findings suggest that re-centering plant phenotype - both as a predictor and a readout of microbiome function - will accelerate new insights into microbiome heritability.}, } @article {pmid34287008, year = {2021}, author = {Speare, L and Woo, M and Bultman, KM and Mandel, MJ and Wollenberg, MS and Septer, AN}, title = {Host-Like Conditions Are Required for T6SS-Mediated Competition among Vibrio fischeri Light Organ Symbionts.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e0128820}, pmid = {34287008}, issn = {2379-5042}, support = {R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/classification/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Osmolar Concentration ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Type VI Secretion Systems/classification/*metabolism ; Viscosity ; }, abstract = {Bacteria employ diverse competitive strategies to enhance fitness and promote their own propagation. However, little is known about how symbiotic bacteria modulate competitive mechanisms as they compete for a host niche. The bacterium Vibrio fischeri forms a symbiotic relationship with marine animals and encodes a type VI secretion system (T6SS), which is a contact-dependent killing mechanism used to eliminate competitors during colonization of the Euprymna scolopes squid light organ. Like other horizontally acquired symbionts, V. fischeri experiences changes in its physical and chemical environment during symbiosis establishment. Therefore, we probed both environmental and host-like conditions to identify ecologically relevant cues that control T6SS-dependent competition during habitat transition. Although the T6SS did not confer a competitive advantage for V. fischeri strain ES401 under planktonic conditions, a combination of both host-like pH and viscosity was necessary for T6SS competition. For ES401, high viscosity activates T6SS expression and neutral/acidic pH promotes cell-cell contact for killing, and this pH-dependent phenotype was conserved in the majority of T6SS-encoding strains examined. We also identified a subset of V. fischeri isolates that engaged in T6SS-mediated competition at high viscosity under both planktonic and host-like pH conditions. T6SS phylogeny revealed that strains with pH-dependent phenotypes cluster together to form a subclade within the pH-independent strains, suggesting that V. fischeri may have recently evolved to limit competition to the host niche. IMPORTANCE Bacteria have evolved diverse strategies to compete for limited space and resources. Because these mechanisms can be costly to use, their expression and function are often restricted to specific environments where the benefits outweigh the costs. However, little is known about the specific cues that modulate competitive mechanisms as bacterial symbionts transition between free-living and host habitats. Here, we used the bioluminescent squid and fish symbiont Vibrio fischeri to probe for host and environmental conditions that control interbacterial competition via the type VI secretion system. Our findings identify a new host-specific cue that promotes competition among many but not all V. fischeri isolates, underscoring the utility of studying multiple strains to reveal how competitive mechanisms may be differentially regulated among closely related populations as they evolve to fill distinct niches.}, } @article {pmid34286971, year = {2022}, author = {Di Lorenzo, F and Duda, KA and Lanzetta, R and Silipo, A and De Castro, C and Molinaro, A}, title = {A Journey from Structure to Function of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharides.}, journal = {Chemical reviews}, volume = {122}, number = {20}, pages = {15767-15821}, doi = {10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01321}, pmid = {34286971}, issn = {1520-6890}, mesh = {*Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry ; Cell Membrane ; *Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Symbiosis ; Sugars ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a crucial constituent of the outer membrane of most Gram-negative bacteria, playing a fundamental role in the protection of bacteria from environmental stress factors, in drug resistance, in pathogenesis, and in symbiosis. During the last decades, LPS has been thoroughly dissected, and massive information on this fascinating biomolecule is now available. In this Review, we will give the reader a third millennium update of the current knowledge of LPS with key information on the inherent peculiar carbohydrate chemistry due to often puzzling sugar residues that are uniquely found on it. Then, we will drive the reader through the complex and multifarious immunological outcomes that any given LPS can raise, which is strictly dependent on its chemical structure. Further, we will argue about issues that still remain unresolved and that would represent the immediate future of LPS research. It is critical to address these points to complete our notions on LPS chemistry, functions, and roles, in turn leading to innovative ways to manipulate the processes involving such a still controversial and intriguing biomolecule.}, } @article {pmid34286500, year = {2021}, author = {Dessì, A and Bosco, A and Pintus, R and Orrù, G and Fanos, V}, title = {Fusobacterium nucleatum and alteration of the oral microbiome: from pregnancy to SARS-COV-2 infection.}, journal = {European review for medical and pharmacological sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {13}, pages = {4579-4596}, doi = {10.26355/eurrev_202107_26251}, pmid = {34286500}, issn = {2284-0729}, mesh = {COVID-19/immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/immunology/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Humans ; Mouth/immunology/*microbiology ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The human being has evolved in close symbiosis with its own ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. After the intestinal microbiome, that of the oral cavity is the largest and most diversified. Its importance is reflected not only in local and systemic diseases, but also in pregnancy since it would seem to influence the placental microbiome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a literature review of articles published in PubMed about Fusobacterium Nucleatum and both its implications with systemic and oral health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, flavors perception and its interference in the oral-nasal mucosal immunity.

RESULTS: It is in maintaining the microbiome's homeostasis that the Fusobacterium nucleatum, an opportunistic periodontal pathogen of the oral cavity, plays a crucial role both as a bridge microorganism of the tongue biofilm, and in maintaining the balance between the different species in the oral-nasal mucosal immunity also by taste receptors interaction. It is also involved in the flavor perception and its detection in the oral microbiome of children from the first days of life suggests a possible physiological role. However, the dysbiosis can determine its pathogenicity with local and systemic consequences, including the pathogenesis of respiratory infections.

CONCLUSIONS: It is interesting to evaluate its possible correlation with Sars-CoV-2 and the consequences on the microflora of the oral cavity, both to promote a possible broad-spectrum preventive action, in favor of all subjects for whom, by promoting the eubiosis of the oral microbiome, a defensive action could be envisaged by the commensals themselves but, above all, for patients with specific comorbidities and therefore already prone to oral dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34285364, year = {2022}, author = {Tortorelli, G and Rautengarten, C and Bacic, A and Segal, G and Ebert, B and Davy, SK and van Oppen, MJH and McFadden, GI}, title = {Cell surface carbohydrates of symbiotic dinoflagellates and their role in the establishment of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {190-199}, pmid = {34285364}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae algae are often photosymbionts of reef-building corals. The establishment of their symbiosis resembles a microbial infection where eukaryotic pattern recognition receptors (e.g. lectins) are thought to recognize a specific range of taxon-specific microbial-associated molecular patterns (e.g. glycans). The present study used the sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana and three species of Symbiodiniaceae (the homologous Breviolum minutum, the heterologous-compatible Cladocopium goreaui and the heterologous-incompatible Fugacium kawagutii) to compare the surface glycomes of three symbionts and explore the role of glycan-lectin interactions in host-symbiont recognition and establishment of symbiosis. We identified the nucleotide sugars of the algal cells, then examined glycans on the cell wall of the three symbiont species with monosaccharide analysis, lectin array technology and fluorescence microscopy of the algal cell decorated with fluorescently tagged lectins. Armed with this inventory of possible glycan moieties, we then assayed the ability of the three Symbiodiniaceae to colonize aposymbiotic E. diaphana after modifying the surface of one of the two partners. The Symbiodiniaceae cell-surface glycome varies among algal species. Trypsin treatment of the alga changed the rate of B. minutum and C. goreaui uptake, suggesting that a protein-based moiety is an essential part of compatible symbiont recognition. Our data strongly support the importance of D-galactose (in particular β-D-galactose) residues in the establishment of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, and we propose a potential involvement of L-fucose, D-xylose and D-galacturonic acid in the early steps of this mutualism.}, } @article {pmid34283352, year = {2021}, author = {Xie, X and Li, X and Fan, H and He, W}, title = {Spatial analysis of production-living-ecological functions and zoning method under symbiosis theory of Henan, China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {48}, pages = {69093-69110}, pmid = {34283352}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; *City Planning ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Humans ; Spatial Analysis ; *Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {Land space is the carrier of human production, living activities, and ecological civilization construction. How to promote the orderly, moderate, and sustainable development and utilization of land space is a scientific problem to be solved. As a key element in China's spatial planning, the quantitative analysis of spatial pattern and functional zoning has become a focus of China's current development. Based on the analysis of land space symbiosis development, this study takes Henan province as the case study; appropriate indicators were selected from the perspective of "production-living-ecological" functions (PLEFs) index that was developed including three subsystems of the production function, living function, and ecological function. The entropy weight method and geographic information system (GIS) spatial method were used to analyze the PLEF status and spatial pattern in Henan province. The PLEF score showed a certain geographical pattern, where in the southwestern areas of Henan province have higher PLEFs than that in the northeastern areas. The PLEFs have an obvious positive correlation in the spatial distribution by spatial correlation analysis. In addition, this study designs a three-dimensional magic cube evaluation model to analyze the symbiotic function type of land space. The results indicated that the PLEFs of Henan province were classified into 13 symbiotic function types of areas, which can better reflect the spatial differentiation characteristics. Moreover, we proposed paths to promote the development and management of each type function area.}, } @article {pmid34281327, year = {2021}, author = {Inchingolo, AD and Cazzolla, AP and Di Cosola, M and Greco Lucchina, A and Santacroce, L and Charitos, IA and Topi, S and Malcangi, G and Hazballa, D and Scarano, A and Lorusso, F and Inchingolo, AM and Inchingolo, F and Dipalma, G}, title = {The integumentary system and its microbiota between health and disease.}, journal = {Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents}, volume = {35}, number = {2 Suppl. 1}, pages = {303-321}, doi = {10.23812/21-2supp1-30}, pmid = {34281327}, issn = {0393-974X}, mesh = {*COVID-19 ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Integumentary System ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the essential physiological functions of the skin microbiota in human health and diseases. The main characteristics of the normal microbiota in the different anatomical sites have been reported in relation to the main factors, such as the effect of age, on its composition and stability for the eubiosis condition. Moreover, the present overview analyzed the functions and composition and the correct functionality of the skin microbiota in the light of current knowledge. According to several evidence is important preserving the eubiosis of the commensal microbes of the microecosystem (symbiotic and pathogenic), and probiotics are able to counteract the conditions of dysbiosis. Also, it has been shown that there is a crosstalk between gut and skin microbiota that affects human health and is still being studied, and its relationship to the current pandemic SARS-CoV-2.}, } @article {pmid34278427, year = {2021}, author = {Adjavon, FJMA and Li, X and Hu, B and Dong, L and Zeng, H and Li, C and Hu, W}, title = {Adult House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Response to Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Associated Substrates and Potential Volatile Organic Compounds Identification.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {50}, number = {5}, pages = {1037-1044}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvab073}, pmid = {34278427}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diptera ; Female ; Larva ; *Muscidae ; Ovum ; Pupa ; Swine ; *Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), larvae are suspected to inhibit house flies, Musca domestica (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), seeking oviposition sites. However, the mechanisms regulating these interactions are not well known. In this study, a Y-tube olfactometer was used to determine whether black soldier fly eggs, larvae, puparia (without pupae inside), adult carcasses, or resulting frass of black soldier fly decrease attractiveness of adult house flies to an oviposition substrate (i.e., sugar and wheat bran diet, used as the control). Secondly, two symbiotic bacteria associated were isolated, identified, and tested for house fly attractiveness with a Y-tube olfactometer. Thirdly, volatile organic compounds produced by swine feed before and after black soldier fly, or house fly larval digestion were analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results indicate feed mixed with black soldier fly larval frass, and symbiotic bacteria, Paenalcaligenes sp. associated with black soldier fly, were less attractive to house flies than the control. However, another symbiotic bacterium Lysinibacillus sp. associated with black soldier fly pupae was attractive. In total, 52 volatile organic compounds were identified from treatments previously described. Quantitative differences in volatile profiles across treatments potentially explain the mechanism regulating house fly substrate choices in the presence, or absence, of black soldier fly larvae.}, } @article {pmid34278151, year = {2021}, author = {Hao, R and Huang, W and Jiu, B}, title = {Characteristics and the Model of Thermal Evolution and Gas Generation of Late Paleozoic Coal in the Qinshui Basin, Based on Hydrous Pyrolysis.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {6}, number = {27}, pages = {17660-17673}, pmid = {34278151}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The Qinshui basin is an important coal-accumulating basin in China, and its Late Paleozoic coal is an important source rock of coalbed methane in the basin. Its thermal evolution and gas generation characteristics determined the grade of coalbed methane resources, especially the coal measure free gas resources in the basin. Late Paleozoic coal samples were collected for organic geochemical analysis, a high-volatile bituminous coal was used for hydrous pyrolysis, to propose the thermal evolution characteristics, gas generation characteristics, thermal evolution, and free gas accumulation model, and the Ordos Basin is compared. The results show that the variation trends of various geochemical parameters are different with the increase in R o. Hydrous pyrolysis shows that the gas production potential of coal is excellent. The gases produced consist mainly of CH4, C2-, CO2, and H2. C2- is produced only before the simulated temperature of 550 °C, and oil is produced only before the temperature of 500 °C. The thermal evolution stages can be divided into the immature stage, symbiosis stage, wet gas stage, and dry gas stage, and the symbiosis stage can be divided into the preliminary stage and mainly gas stage. R o, T max, (2+3)MP/(1+9)MP, saturated+arene, V daf, and H/C can be used as indicators of the thermal evolution stages. On the plane, the distribution of thermal evolution stages of the Shanxi Formation and the Taiyuan Formation is very alike. The gas generating strength of the Taiyuan Formation is higher than that of the Shanxi Formation. The gas generating strength in the north of the Taiyuan Formation is higher, while that in the south of the Shanxi Formation is higher. The second gas generation stage has a good spatio-temporal configuration relationship with accumulation factors, and the gas production is large, which is beneficial to the enrichment of the coal measure free gas resources. Relatively, the Ordos Basin has better prospects for exploration and development.}, } @article {pmid34277149, year = {2021}, author = {Dang, BT and Truong, OT and Tran, SQ and Glenner, H}, title = {Comparative population genetics of swimming crab host (Portunus pelagicus) and common symbiotic barnacle (Octolasmis angulata) in Vietnam.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11671}, pmid = {34277149}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: By comparing spatial geographical structures of host populations with that of their symbionts light can be shed on their biological interactions, and the degree of congruence between host and symbiont phylogeographies should reflect their life histories and especially dispersal mechanisms.

METHODS: Here, we analyzed the genetic diversity and structure of a host, the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, and its symbiotic pedunculate barnacle Octolasmis angulata from six location sites representing three geographic regions (north, central and south) along the Vietnam coastline. High levels of congruence in their phylogeographic patterns were expected as they both undergo planktonic larval stages.

RESULTS: Based on the COI mtDNA markers, O. angulata populations showed higher genetic diversity in comparison with their host P. pelagicus (number of haplotype/individuals, haplotype and nucleotide diversity are 119/192, 0.991 ± 0.002 and 0.02; and 89/160, 0.913 ± 0.02 and 0.015, respectively). Pairwise Fst and AMOVA analyses showed a more pronounced population structure in the symbiotic barnacle than in its crab host. The DAPC analyses identified three genetic clusters. However, both haplotype networks and scatter plots supported connectivity of the host and the symbiotic barnacle throughout their distribution range, except for low subdivision of southern population. Isolation by distance were detected only for the symbiont O. angulata (R[2] = 0.332, P = 0.05), while dbMEM supported spatial structure of both partners, but only at MEM-1 (Obs. 0.2686, P < 0.01 and Obs. 0.2096, P < 0.01, respectively).}, } @article {pmid34276753, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, DK and Selosse, MA and Wu, L and Luo, Y and Shao, SC and Ruan, YL}, title = {Orchid Reintroduction Based on Seed Germination-Promoting Mycorrhizal Fungi Derived From Protocorms or Seedlings.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {701152}, pmid = {34276753}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Orchids are among the most endangered in the plant kingdom. Lack of endosperm in their seeds renders orchids to depend on nutrients provided by orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) for seed germination and seedling formation in the wild. OMF that parasitize in germination seeds is an essential element for orchid seedling formation, which can also help orchid reintroduction. Considering the limitations of the previous orchid reintroduction technology based on seed germination-promoting OMF (sgOMF) sourced from orchid roots, an innovative approach is proposed here in which orchid seeds are directly co-sown with sgOMF carrying ecological specificity from protocorms/seedlings. Based on this principle, an integrative and practical procedure concerning related ecological factors is further raised for re-constructing long-term and self-sustained orchid populations. We believe that this new approach will benefit the reintroduction of endangered orchids in nature.}, } @article {pmid34276736, year = {2021}, author = {Yu, YC and Dickstein, R and Longo, A}, title = {Structural Modeling and in planta Complementation Studies Link Mutated Residues of the Medicago truncatula Nitrate Transporter NPF1.7 to Functionality in Root Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {685334}, pmid = {34276736}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a complex and regulated process that takes place in root nodules of legumes and allows legumes to grow in soils that lack nitrogen. Nitrogen is mostly acquired from the soil as nitrate and its level in the soil affects nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The mechanism(s) by which legumes modulate nitrate uptake to regulate nodule symbiosis remain unclear. In Medicago truncatula, the MtNPF1.7 transporter has been shown to control nodulation, symbiosis, and root architecture. MtNPF1.7 belongs to the nitrate/peptide transporter family and is a symporter with nitrate transport driven by proton(s). In this study we combined in silico structural predictions with in planta complementation of the severely defective mtnip-1 mutant plants to understand the role of a series of distinct amino acids in the transporter's function. Our results support hypotheses about the functional importance of the ExxE(R/K) motif including an essential role for the first glutamic acid of the motif in proton(s) and possibly substrate transport. Results reveal that Motif A, a motif conserved among major facilitator transport (MFS) proteins, is essential for function. We hypothesize that it participates in intradomain packing of transmembrane helices and stabilizing one conformation during transport. Our results also question the existence of a putative TMH4-TMH10 salt bridge. These results are discussed in the context of potential nutrient transport functions for MtNPF1.7. Our findings add to the knowledge of the mechanism of alternative conformational changes as well as symport transport in NPFs and enhance our knowledge of the mechanisms for nitrate signaling.}, } @article {pmid34276696, year = {2021}, author = {Runge, S and Rosshart, SP}, title = {The Mammalian Metaorganism: A Holistic View on How Microbes of All Kingdoms and Niches Shape Local and Systemic Immunity.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {702378}, pmid = {34276696}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The field of microbiome research has developed rapidly over the past decades and has become a topic of major interest to basic, preclinical, and clinical research, the pharmaceutical industry as well as the general public. The microbiome is a complex and diverse ecosystem and defined as the collection of all host-associated microorganisms and their genes. It is acquired through vertical transmission and environmental exposure and includes microbes of all kingdoms: bacteria, archaea, prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, fungi, protozoa, and the meiofauna. These microorganisms co-evolved with their respective hosts over millions of years, thereby establishing a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship on all epithelial barriers. Thus, the microbiome plays a pivotal role in virtually every aspect of mammalian physiology, particularly in the development, homeostasis, and function of the immune system. Consequently, the combination of the host genome and the microbial genome, together referred to as the metagenome, largely drives the mammalian phenotype. So far, the majority of studies have unilaterally focused on the gastrointestinal bacterial microbiota. However, recent work illustrating the impact of viruses, fungi, and protozoa on host immunity urges us towards a holistic view of the mammalian microbiome and the appreciation for its non-bacterial kingdoms. In addition, the importance of microbiota on epithelial barriers other than the gut as well as their systemic effects via microbially-derived biologically active compounds is increasingly recognized. Here, we want to provide a brief but comprehensive overview of the most important findings and the current knowledge on how microbes of all kingdoms and microbial niches shape local and systemic immunity in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid34275747, year = {2021}, author = {Singh, J and Verma, PK}, title = {NSP1 allies with GSK3 to inhibit nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {999-1001}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.07.001}, pmid = {34275747}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salt stress reduces N2 fixation by causing a reduction in nodule number, nodule weight, and nitrogenase activity in legumes. Emerging evidence from He et al. now suggests that glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) phosphorylates nodulation signaling pathway 1 (NSP1) in response to salt stress, reducing its DNA-binding activity, and thereby causing a reduction in nodulation.}, } @article {pmid34274897, year = {2021}, author = {Gottshall, EY and Bryson, SJ and Cogert, KI and Landreau, M and Sedlacek, CJ and Stahl, DA and Daims, H and Winkler, M}, title = {Sustained nitrogen loss in a symbiotic association of Comammox Nitrospira and Anammox bacteria.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {117426}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2021.117426}, pmid = {34274897}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Ammonia ; Archaea ; Bacteria ; *Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The discovery of anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Anammox) and, more recently, aerobic bacteria common in many natural and engineered systems that oxidize ammonia completely to nitrate (Comammox) have significantly altered our understanding of the global nitrogen cycle. A high affinity for ammonia (Km(app),NH3 ≈ 63nM) and oxygen place Comammox Nitrospira inopinata, the first described isolate, in the same trophic category as organisms such as some ammonia-oxidizing archaea. However, N. inopinata has a relatively low affinity for nitrite (Km,NO2 ≈ 449.2μM) suggesting it would be less competitive for nitrite than other nitrite-consuming aerobes and anaerobes. We examined the ecological relevance of the disparate substrate affinities by coupling it with the Anammox bacterium Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans. Synthetic communities of the two were established in hydrogel granules in which Comammox grew in the aerobic outer layer to provide Anammox with nitrite in the inner anoxic core to form dinitrogen gas. This spatial organization was confirmed with FISH imaging, supporting a mutualistic or commensal relationship. The functional significance of interspecies spatial organization was informed by the hydrogel encapsulation format, broadening our limited understanding of the interplay between these two species. The resulting low nitrate formation and the competitiveness of Comammox over other aerobic ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizers sets this ecological cooperation apart and points to potential biotechnological applications. Since nitrate is an undesirable product of wastewater treatment effluents, the Comammox-Anammox symbiosis may be of economic and ecological importance to reduce nitrogen contamination of receiving waters.}, } @article {pmid34272861, year = {2021}, author = {Brancaccio, M and Tangherlini, M and Danovaro, R and Castellano, I}, title = {Metabolic Adaptations to Marine Environments: Molecular Diversity and Evolution of Ovothiol Biosynthesis in Bacteria.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34272861}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Methylhistidines/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ovothiols are sulfur-containing amino acids synthesized by marine invertebrates, protozoans, and bacteria. They act as pleiotropic molecules in signaling and protection against oxidative stress. The discovery of ovothiol biosynthetic enzymes, sulfoxide synthase OvoA and β-lyase OvoB, paves the way for a systematic investigation of ovothiol distribution and molecular diversification in nature. In this work, we conducted genomic and metagenomics data mining to investigate the distribution and diversification of ovothiol biosynthetic enzymes in Bacteria. We identified the bacteria endowed with this secondary metabolic pathway, described their taxonomy, habitat and biotic interactions in order to provide insight into their adaptation to specific environments. We report that OvoA and OvoB are mostly encountered in marine aerobic Proteobacteria, some of them establishing symbiotic or parasitic relationships with other organisms. We identified a horizontal gene transfer event of OvoB from Bacteroidetes living in symbiosis with Hydrozoa. Our search within the Ocean Gene Atlas revealed the occurrence of ovothiol biosynthetic genes in Proteobacteria living in a wide range of pelagic and highly oxygenated environments. Finally, we tracked the evolutionary history of ovothiol biosynthesis from marine bacteria to unicellular eukaryotes and metazoans. Our analysis provides new conceptual elements to unravel the evolutionary and ecological significance of ovothiol biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid34272801, year = {2021}, author = {Qiao, Z and Yates, TB and Shrestha, HK and Engle, NL and Flanagan, A and Morrell-Falvey, JL and Sun, Y and Tschaplinski, TJ and Abraham, PE and Labbé, J and Wang, ZY and Hettich, RL and Tuskan, GA and Muchero, W and Chen, JG}, title = {Towards engineering ectomycorrhization into switchgrass bioenergy crops via a lectin receptor-like kinase.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {2454-2468}, pmid = {34272801}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Lectins ; *Panicum/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Soil-borne microbes can establish compatible relationships with host plants, providing a large variety of nutritive and protective compounds in exchange for photosynthesized sugars. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the establishment of these beneficial relationships remain unclear. Our previous genetic mapping and whole-genome resequencing studies identified a gene deletion event of a Populus trichocarpa lectin receptor-like kinase gene PtLecRLK1 in Populus deltoides that was associated with poor-root colonization by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. By introducing PtLecRLK1 into a perennial grass known to be a non-host of L. bicolor, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), we found that L. bicolor colonizes ZmUbipro-PtLecRLK1 transgenic switchgrass roots, which illustrates that the introduction of PtLecRLK1 has the potential to convert a non-host to a host of L. bicolor. Furthermore, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses on inoculated-transgenic switchgrass roots revealed genes/proteins overrepresented in the compatible interaction and underrepresented in the pathogenic defence pathway, consistent with the view that pathogenic defence response is down-regulated during compatible interaction. Metabolomic profiling revealed that root colonization in the transgenic switchgrass was associated with an increase in N-containing metabolites and a decrease in organic acids, sugars, and aromatic hydroxycinnamate conjugates, which are often seen in the early steps of establishing compatible interactions. These studies illustrate that PtLecRLK1 is able to render a plant susceptible to colonization by the ectomycorrhizal fungus L. bicolor and shed light on engineering mycorrhizal symbiosis into a non-host to enhance plant productivity and fitness on marginal lands.}, } @article {pmid34272493, year = {2022}, author = {Arashida, H and Odake, H and Sugawara, M and Noda, R and Kakizaki, K and Ohkubo, S and Mitsui, H and Sato, S and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Evolution of rhizobial symbiosis islands through insertion sequence-mediated deletion and duplication.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {112-121}, pmid = {34272493}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Genomic Islands ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between organisms influences their evolution via adaptive changes in genome architectures. Immunity of soybean carrying the Rj2 allele is triggered by NopP (type III secretion system [T3SS]-dependent effector), encoded by symbiosis island A (SymA) in B. diazoefficiens USDA122. This immunity was overcome by many mutants with large SymA deletions that encompassed T3SS (rhc) and N2 fixation (nif) genes and were bounded by insertion sequence (IS) copies in direct orientation, indicating homologous recombination between ISs. Similar deletion events were observed in B. diazoefficiens USDA110 and B. japonicum J5. When we cultured a USDA122 strain with a marker gene sacB inserted into the rhc gene cluster, most sucrose-resistant mutants had deletions in nif/rhc gene clusters, similar to the mutants above. Some deletion mutants were unique to the sacB system and showed lower competitive nodulation capability, indicating that IS-mediated deletions occurred during free-living growth and the host plants selected the mutants. Among 63 natural bradyrhizobial isolates, 2 possessed long duplications (261-357 kb) harboring nif/rhc gene clusters between IS copies in direct orientation via homologous recombination. Therefore, the structures of symbiosis islands are in a state of flux via IS-mediated duplications and deletions during rhizobial saprophytic growth, and host plants select mutualistic variants from the resultant pools of rhizobial populations. Our results demonstrate that homologous recombination between direct IS copies provides a natural mechanism generating deletions and duplications on symbiosis islands.}, } @article {pmid34272286, year = {2021}, author = {Osvatic, JT and Wilkins, LGE and Leibrecht, L and Leray, M and Zauner, S and Polzin, J and Camacho, Y and Gros, O and van Gils, JA and Eisen, JA and Petersen, JM and Yuen, B}, title = {Global biogeography of chemosynthetic symbionts reveals both localized and globally distributed symbiont groups.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {29}, pages = {}, pmid = {34272286}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {S10 OD010786/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Autotrophic Processes ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Bivalvia/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the ocean, most hosts acquire their symbionts from the environment. Due to the immense spatial scales involved, our understanding of the biogeography of hosts and symbionts in marine systems is patchy, although this knowledge is essential for understanding fundamental aspects of symbiosis such as host-symbiont specificity and evolution. Lucinidae is the most species-rich and widely distributed family of marine bivalves hosting autotrophic bacterial endosymbionts. Previous molecular surveys identified location-specific symbiont types that "promiscuously" form associations with multiple divergent cooccurring host species. This flexibility of host-microbe pairings is thought to underpin their global success, as it allows hosts to form associations with locally adapted symbionts. We used metagenomics to investigate the biodiversity, functional variability, and genetic exchange among the endosymbionts of 12 lucinid host species from across the globe. We report a cosmopolitan symbiont species, Candidatus Thiodiazotropha taylori, associated with multiple lucinid host species. Ca. T. taylori has achieved more success at dispersal and establishing symbioses with lucinids than any other symbiont described thus far. This discovery challenges our understanding of symbiont dispersal and location-specific colonization and suggests both symbiont and host flexibility underpin the ecological and evolutionary success of the lucinid symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34272274, year = {2021}, author = {Kanso, EA and Lopes, RM and Strickler, JR and Dabiri, JO and Costello, JH}, title = {Teamwork in the viscous oceanic microscale.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {29}, pages = {}, pmid = {34272274}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 HL153622/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ciliophora/physiology ; Diatoms/cytology/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nutrients/analysis/metabolism ; *Oceans and Seas ; Phytoplankton/cytology/physiology ; Seawater/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nutrient acquisition is crucial for oceanic microbes, and competitive solutions to solve this challenge have evolved among a range of unicellular protists. However, solitary solutions are not the only approach found in natural populations. A diverse array of oceanic protists form temporary or even long-lasting attachments to other protists and marine aggregates. Do these planktonic consortia provide benefits to their members? Here, we use empirical and modeling approaches to evaluate whether the relationship between a large centric diatom, Coscinodiscus wailesii, and a ciliate epibiont, Pseudovorticella coscinodisci, provides nutrient flux benefits to the host diatom. We find that fluid flows generated by ciliary beating can increase nutrient flux to a diatom cell surface four to 10 times that of a still cell without ciliate epibionts. This cosmopolitan species of diatom does not form consortia in all environments but frequently joins such consortia in nutrient-depleted waters. Our results demonstrate that symbiotic consortia provide a cooperative alternative of comparable or greater magnitude to sinking for enhancement of nutrient acquisition in challenging environments.}, } @article {pmid34272133, year = {2021}, author = {Xuan, W and Khan, F and James, CD and Heimberger, AB and Lesniak, MS and Chen, P}, title = {Circadian regulation of cancer cell and tumor microenvironment crosstalk.}, journal = {Trends in cell biology}, volume = {31}, number = {11}, pages = {940-950}, pmid = {34272133}, issn = {1879-3088}, support = {P50 CA221747/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {CLOCK Proteins ; Carcinogenesis/metabolism ; *Circadian Clocks/genetics ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics ; Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Circadian rhythms regulate a remarkable variety of physiologic functions in living organisms. Circadian disruption is associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression through effects on cancer cell biological properties, including proliferation, DNA repair, apoptosis, metabolism, and stemness. Emerging evidence indicates that circadian clocks also play an influential role in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review outlines recent discoveries on how cancer cell clock components (including circadian clock and clock genes/proteins) regulate TME biology and, reciprocally, how TME clock components affect tumor growth, metastasis, and therapeutic response. An improved understanding of how clock components regulate the symbiosis between cancer cells and the TME will inform the development of novel clock-oriented therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy.}, } @article {pmid34268682, year = {2021}, author = {da Silva Rodrigues, DA and da Cunha, CCRF and do Espirito Santo, DR and de Barros, ALC and Pereira, AR and de Queiroz Silva, S and da Fonseca Santiago, A and de Cássia Franco Afonso, RJ}, title = {Removal of cephalexin and erythromycin antibiotics, and their resistance genes, by microalgae-bacteria consortium from wastewater treatment plant secondary effluents.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {47}, pages = {67822-67832}, pmid = {34268682}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria/genetics ; Cephalexin ; Erythromycin ; *Microalgae ; Wastewater/analysis ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Antibiotics have become a concern in the aquatic environments owing to the potential development of bacterial resistances. Thus, this study evaluated the removal of cephalexin (CEP) and erythromycin (ERY) from a local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, mediated by microalgae-bacteria consortium. Likewise, the removal of correlated antibiotics resistance genes blaTEM and ermB was also assessed. The incubation results showed that the added concentrations of selected antibiotics did not restrain the consortium growth. Moreover, CEP and ERY were almost completely removed after the cultivation period, reaching total removals of 96.54% and 92.38%, respectively. The symbiotic interaction between microalgae and bacteria plays a role in the kinetics removal of CEP and ERY. The abundance of blaTEM and ermB was reduced by 0.56 and 1.75 logs, respectively. Lastly, our results suggest that technology based on natural microalgae-bacteria consortium could be a potential alternative to improve the quality of WWTP effluents.}, } @article {pmid34268133, year = {2021}, author = {Renoz, F and Foray, V and Ambroise, J and Baa-Puyoulet, P and Bearzatto, B and Mendez, GL and Grigorescu, AS and Mahillon, J and Mardulyn, P and Gala, JL and Calevro, F and Hance, T}, title = {At the Gate of Mutualism: Identification of Genomic Traits Predisposing to Insect-Bacterial Symbiosis in Pathogenic Strains of the Aphid Symbiont Serratia symbiotica.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {660007}, pmid = {34268133}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Serratia ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic associations between insects and heritable bacterial symbionts are ubiquitous in nature. The aphid symbiont Serratia symbiotica is a valuable candidate for studying the evolution of bacterial symbiosis in insects because it includes a wide diversity of strains that reflect the diverse relationships in which bacteria can be engaged with insects, from pathogenic interactions to obligate intracellular mutualism. The recent discovery of culturable strains, which are hypothesized to resemble the ancestors of intracellular strains, provide an opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying bacterial symbiosis in its early stages. In this study, we analyzed the genomes of three of these culturable strains that are pathogenic to aphid hosts, and performed comparative genomic analyses including mutualistic host-dependent strains. All three genomes are larger than those of the host-restricted S. symbiotica strains described so far, and show significant enrichment in pseudogenes and mobile elements, suggesting that these three pathogenic strains are in the early stages of the adaptation to their host. Compared to their intracellular mutualistic relatives, the three strains harbor a greater diversity of genes coding for virulence factors and metabolic pathways, suggesting that they are likely adapted to infect new hosts and are a potential source of metabolic innovation for insects. The presence in their genomes of secondary metabolism gene clusters associated with the production of antimicrobial compounds and phytotoxins supports the hypothesis that S. symbiotia symbionts evolved from plant-associated strains and that plants may serve as intermediate hosts. Mutualistic associations between insects and bacteria are the result of independent transitions to endosymbiosis initiated by the acquisition of environmental progenitors. In this context, the genomes of free-living S. symbiotica strains provide a rare opportunity to study the inventory of genes held by bacterial associates of insects that are at the gateway to a host-dependent lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid34268130, year = {2021}, author = {Kee, SL and Tan, MJT}, title = {Friend, Not Foe: Unveiling Vector-Bacteria Symbiosis and Its Utility as an Arboviral Intervention Strategy in the Philippines.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {650277}, pmid = {34268130}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {*Aedes ; Animals ; Friends ; Humans ; Mosquito Vectors ; Philippines ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, } @article {pmid34268129, year = {2021}, author = {Hwang, SB and Chelliah, R and Kang, JE and Rubab, M and Banan-MwineDaliri, E and Elahi, F and Oh, DH}, title = {Role of Recent Therapeutic Applications and the Infection Strategies of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {614963}, pmid = {34268129}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {*Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy ; *Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Shiga Toxin ; Shiga Toxins ; *Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli ; }, abstract = {Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a global foodborne bacterial pathogen that is often accountable for colon disorder or distress. STEC commonly induces severe diarrhea in hosts but can cause critical illnesses due to the Shiga toxin virulence factors. To date, there have been a significant number of STEC serotypes have been evolved. STECs vary from nausea and hemorrhoid (HC) to possible lethal hemolytic-based uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Inflammation-based STEC is usually a foodborne illness with Shiga toxins (Stx 1 and 2) thought to be pathogenesis. The STEC's pathogenicity depends significantly on developing one or more Shiga toxins, which can constrain host cell protein synthesis leading to cytotoxicity. In managing STEC infections, antimicrobial agents are generally avoided, as bacterial damage and discharge of accumulated toxins are thought the body. It has also been documented that certain antibiotics improve toxin production and the development of these species. Many different groups have attempted various therapies, including toxin-focused antibodies, toxin-based polymers, synbiotic agents, and secondary metabolites remedies. Besides, in recent years, antibiotics' efficacy in treating STEC infections has been reassessed with some encouraging methods. Nevertheless, the primary role of synbiotic effectiveness (probiotic and prebiotic) against pathogenic STEC and other enteropathogens is less recognized. Additional studies are required to understand the mechanisms of action of probiotic bacteria and yeast against STEC infection. Because of the consensus contraindication of antimicrobials for these bacterial pathogens, the examination was focused on alternative remedy strategies for STEC infections. The rise of novel STEC serotypes and approaches employed in its treatment are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid34267736, year = {2021}, author = {Chanson, A and Moreau, CS and Duplais, C}, title = {Assessing Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Diversity of Specialized Metabolites in the Conserved Gut Symbionts of Herbivorous Turtle Ants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {678100}, pmid = {34267736}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cephalotes are herbivorous ants (>115 species) feeding on low-nitrogen food sources, and they rely on gut symbionts to supplement their diet by recycling nitrogen food waste into amino acids. These conserved gut symbionts, which encompass five bacterial orders, have been studied previously for their primary nitrogen metabolism; however, little is known about their ability to biosynthesize specialized metabolites which can play a role in bacterial interactions between communities living in close proximity in the gut. To evaluate the biosynthetic potential of their gut symbionts, we mine 14 cultured isolate genomes and gut metagenomes across 17 Cephalotes species to explore the biodiversity of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) producing specialized metabolites. The diversity of BGCs across Cephalotes phylogeny was analyzed using sequence similarity networking and BGC phylogenetic reconstruction. Our results reveal that the conserved gut symbionts involved in the nutritional symbiosis possess 80% of all the 233 BGCs retrieved in this work. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of BGCs reveals different patterns of distribution, suggesting different mechanisms of conservation. A siderophore BGC shows high similarity in a single symbiont across different ant host species, whereas a BGC encoding the production of non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs) found different symbionts within a single host species. Additionally, BGCs were abundant in four of the five bacterial orders of conserved symbionts co-occurring in the hindgut. However, one major symbiont localized alone in the midgut lack BGCs. Because the spatial isolation prevents direct interaction with other symbionts, this result supports the idea that BGCs are maintained in bacteria living in close proximity but are dispensable for an alone-living symbiont. These findings together pave the way for studying the mechanisms of BGC conservation and evolution in gut bacterial genomes associated with Cephalotes. This work also provides a genetic background for further study, aiming to characterize bacterial specialized metabolites and to understand their functional role in multipartite mutualisms between conserved gut symbionts and Cephalotes turtle ants.}, } @article {pmid34265499, year = {2021}, author = {Banasiewicz, J and Lisboa, BB and da Costa, PB and Schlindwein, G and Venter, SN and Steenkamp, ET and Vargas, LK and Passaglia, LMP and Stępkowski, T}, title = {Culture-independent assessment of the diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium communities in the Pampa and Atlantic Forest Biomes localities in southern Brazil.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {126228}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126228}, pmid = {34265499}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Forests ; *Lupinus/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The isolation of rhizobial strains from the root and stem nodules remains a commonly used method despite its limitations as it enables the identification of mainly dominant symbiotic groups within rhizobial communities. To overcome these limitations, we used genus-specific nifD primers in a culture-independent assessment of Bradyrhizobium communities inhabiting soils in southern Brazil. The majority of nifD sequences were generated from DNA isolated from tropical-lowland pasture soils, although some soil samples originated from the Campos de Cima da Serra volcanic plateau. In the nifD tree, all the bradyrhizobial sequences comprised 38 clades, including 18 new clades. The sequences generated in this study were resolved into 22 clades and 21 singletons. The nifD bradyrhizobial assemblage contained Azorhizobium and α-proteobacterial methylotrophic genera, suggesting that these genera may have acquired their nif loci from Bradyrhizobium donors. The most common in the lowland pasture soils subclade III.3D branch comprises the isolates of mainly an American origin. On the other hand, subclade III.4, which was earlier detected in Brazil among Bradyrhizobium isolates nodulating native lupins, appears more common in the Campos de Cima da Serra soils. The second-largest group, Clade XXXVIII, has not yet been reported in culture-dependent studies, while another common group called Clade I represents a symbiovar predominating in Australia. The identification of the diverse nifD Clade I haplotypes in the tropical-lowland pastures infested by Australian Acacia spp implies that the introduction of these legumes to southern Brazil has resulted in the dissemination of their bradyrhizobial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid34265147, year = {2022}, author = {Ossai, J and Khatabi, B and Nybo, SE and Kharel, MK}, title = {Renewed interests in the discovery of bioactive actinomycete metabolites driven by emerging technologies.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {132}, number = {1}, pages = {59-77}, pmid = {34265147}, issn = {1365-2672}, support = {R15 CA252830/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R15CA252830/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Actinobacteria/genetics ; *Biological Products ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Actinomycetes are prolific sources of bioactive molecules. Traditional workflows including bacterial isolation, fermentation, metabolite identification and structure elucidation have resulted in high rates of natural product rediscovery in recent years. Recent advancements in multi-omics techniques have uncovered cryptic gene clusters within the genomes of actinomycetes, potentially introducing vast resources for the investigation of bioactive molecules. While developments in culture techniques have allowed for the fermentation of difficult-to-culture actinomycetes, high-throughput metabolite screening has offered plenary tools to accelerate hits discovery. A variety of new bioactive molecules have been isolated from actinomycetes of unique environmental origins, such as endophytic and symbiotic actinomycetes. Synthetic biology and genome mining have also emerged as new frontiers for the discovery of bioactive molecules. This review covers the highlights of recent developments in actinomycete-derived natural product drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid34264019, year = {2022}, author = {Zhu, DT and Rao, Q and Zou, C and Ban, FX and Zhao, JJ and Liu, SS}, title = {Genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal metabolic complementarity between whiteflies and their symbionts.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {539-549}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12943}, pmid = {34264019}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Genomics ; *Halomonadaceae ; *Hemiptera/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Nutritional mutualism between insects and symbiotic bacteria is widespread. The various sap-feeding whitefly species within the Bemisia tabaci complex associate with the same obligate symbiont (Portiera) and multiple secondary symbionts. It is often assumed that some of the symbionts residing in the whiteflies play crucial roles in the nutritional physiology of their insect hosts. Although effort has been made to understand the functions of the whitefly symbionts, the metabolic complementarity offered by these symbionts to the hosts is not yet well understood. We examined two secondary symbionts, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, in two species of the B. tabaci whitefly complex, provisionally named as Asia II 3 and China 1. Genomic sequence analyses revealed that Arsenophonus and Wolbachia retained genes responsible for the biosynthesis of B vitamins. We then conducted transcriptomic surveys of the bacteriomes in these two species of whiteflies together with that in another species named MED of this whitefly complex previously reported. The analyses indicated that several key genes in B vitamin syntheses from the three whitefly species were identical. Our findings suggest that, similar to another secondary symbiont Hamiltonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia function in the nutrient provision of host whiteflies. Although phylogenetically distant species of symbionts are associated with their respective hosts, they have evolved and retained similar functions in biosynthesis of some B vitamins. Such metabolic complementarity between whiteflies and symbionts represents an important feature of their coevolution.}, } @article {pmid34263952, year = {2021}, author = {}, title = {Andrea Genre.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {4}, pages = {1316-1317}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17424}, pmid = {34263952}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid34263726, year = {2021}, author = {Xiao, Y and Li, W and Yang, X and Xu, P and Jin, M and Yuan, H and Zheng, W and Soberón, M and Bravo, A and Wilson, K and Wu, K}, title = {Rapid spread of a densovirus in a major crop pest following wide-scale adoption of Bt-cotton in China.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34263726}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {BB/P023444/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L026821/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacillus thuringiensis ; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins ; Baculoviridae ; China ; *Densovirus ; Endotoxins ; *Gossypium ; Hemolysin Proteins ; Insecta ; Insecticide Resistance ; *Insecticides ; Moths ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops have been widely planted and the effects of Bt-crops on populations of the target and non-target insect pests have been well studied. However, the effects of Bt-crops exposure on microorganisms that interact with crop pests have not previously been quantified. Here, we use laboratory and field data to show that infection of Helicoverpa armigera with a densovirus (HaDV2) is associated with its enhanced growth and tolerance to Bt-cotton. Moreover, field monitoring showed a much higher incidence of cotton bollworm infection with HaDV2 in regions cultivated with Bt-cotton than in regions without it, with the rate of densovirus infection increasing with increasing use of Bt-cotton. RNA-seq suggested tolerance to both baculovirus and Cry1Ac were enhanced via the immune-related pathways. These findings suggest that exposure to Bt-crops has selected for beneficial interactions between the target pest and a mutualistic microorganism that enhances its performance on Bt-crops under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid34262586, year = {2021}, author = {Cobos-Porras, L and Rubia, MI and Huertas, R and Kum, D and Dalton, DA and Udvardi, MK and Arrese-Igor, C and Larrainzar, E}, title = {Increased Ascorbate Biosynthesis Does Not Improve Nitrogen Fixation Nor Alleviate the Effect of Drought Stress in Nodulated Medicago truncatula Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {686075}, pmid = {34262586}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legume plants are able to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiotic relations with Rhizobium bacteria. This symbiosis is, however, affected by a number of abiotic constraints, particularly drought. One of the consequences of drought stress is the overproduction of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), leading to cellular damage and, ultimately, cell death. Ascorbic acid (AsA), also known as vitamin C, is one of the antioxidant compounds that plants synthesize to counteract this oxidative damage. One promising strategy for the improvement of plant growth and symbiotic performance under drought stress is the overproduction of AsA via the overexpression of enzymes in the Smirnoff-Wheeler biosynthesis pathway. In the current work, we generated Medicago truncatula plants with increased AsA biosynthesis by overexpressing MtVTC2, a gene coding for GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase. We characterized the growth and physiological responses of symbiotic plants both under well-watered conditions and during a progressive water deficit. Results show that increased AsA availability did not provide an advantage in terms of plant growth or symbiotic performance either under well-watered conditions or in response to drought.}, } @article {pmid34262549, year = {2021}, author = {Dial, CN and Eichinger, SJ and Foxall, R and Corcoran, CJ and Tischler, AH and Bolz, RM and Whistler, CA and Visick, KL}, title = {Quorum Sensing and Cyclic di-GMP Exert Control Over Motility of Vibrio fischeri KB2B1.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {690459}, pmid = {34262549}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacterial motility is critical for symbiotic colonization by Vibrio fischeri of its host, the squid Euprymna scolopes, facilitating movement from surface biofilms to spaces deep inside the symbiotic organ. While colonization has been studied traditionally using strain ES114, others, including KB2B1, can outcompete ES114 for colonization for a variety of reasons, including superior biofilm formation. We report here that KB2B1 also exhibits an unusual pattern of migration through a soft agar medium: whereas ES114 migrates rapidly and steadily, KB2B1 migrates slowly and then ceases migration. To better understand this phenomenon, we isolated and sequenced five motile KB2B1 suppressor mutants. One harbored a mutation in the gene for the cAMP receptor protein (crp); because this strain also exhibited a growth defect, it was not characterized further. Two other suppressors contained mutations in the quorum sensing pathway that controls bacterial bioluminescence in response to cell density, and two had mutations in the diguanylate cyclase (DGC) gene VF_1200. Subsequent analysis indicated that (1) the quorum sensing mutations shifted KB2B1 to a perceived low cell density state and (2) the high cell density state inhibited migration via the downstream regulator LitR. Similar to the initial point mutations, deletion of the VF_1200 DGC gene increased migration. Consistent with the possibility that production of the second messenger c-di-GMP inhibited the motility of KB2B1, reporter-based measurements of c-di-GMP revealed that KB2B1 produced higher levels of c-di-GMP than ES114, and overproduction of a c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase promoted migration of KB2B1. Finally, we assessed the role of viscosity in controlling the quorum sensing pathway using polyvinylpyrrolidone and found that viscosity increased light production of KB2B1 but not ES114. Together, our data indicate that while the two strains share regulators in common, they differ in the specifics of the regulatory control over downstream phenotypes such as motility.}, } @article {pmid34262176, year = {2021}, author = {Takeuchi, T and Miyauchi, E and Kanaya, T and Kato, T and Nakanishi, Y and Watanabe, T and Kitami, T and Taida, T and Sasaki, T and Negishi, H and Shimamoto, S and Matsuyama, A and Kimura, I and Williams, IR and Ohara, O and Ohno, H}, title = {Acetate differentially regulates IgA reactivity to commensal bacteria.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {595}, number = {7868}, pages = {560-564}, pmid = {34262176}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Acetates/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Colon/immunology ; Diet ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The balance between bacterial colonization and its containment in the intestine is indispensable for the symbiotic relationship between humans and their bacteria. One component to maintain homeostasis at the mucosal surfaces is immunoglobulin A (IgA), the most abundant immunoglobulin in mammals[1,2]. Several studies have revealed important characteristics of poly-reactive IgA[3,4], which is produced naturally without commensal bacteria. Considering the dynamic changes within the gut environment, however, it remains uncertain how the commensal-reactive IgA pool is shaped and how such IgA affects the microbial community. Here we show that acetate-one of the major gut microbial metabolites-not only increases the production of IgA in the colon, but also alters the capacity of the IgA pool to bind to specific microorganisms including Enterobacterales. Induction of commensal-reactive IgA and changes in the IgA repertoire by acetate were observed in mice monocolonized with Escherichia coli, which belongs to Enterobacterales, but not with the major commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, which suggests that acetate directs selective IgA binding to certain microorganisms. Mechanistically, acetate orchestrated the interactions between epithelial and immune cells, induced microbially stimulated CD4 T cells to support T-cell-dependent IgA production and, as a consequence, altered the localization of these bacteria within the colon. Collectively, we identified a role for gut microbial metabolites in the regulation of differential IgA production to maintain mucosal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid34262100, year = {2021}, author = {Vasan, S and Srivastava, D and Cahill, D and Singh, PP and Adholeya, A}, title = {Important innate differences in determining symbiotic responsiveness in host and non-hosts of arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {14444}, pmid = {34262100}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Exome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Genetic components that regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interactions in hosts and non-hosts are not completely known. Comparative transcriptomic analysis was combined with phylogenetic studies to identify the factors that distinguish AM host from non-host. Mycorrhized host, non-mycorrhized host and non-host cultivars of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were subjected to RNA seq analysis. The top 10 differentially expressed genes were subjected to extensive in silico phylogenetic analysis along with 10 more candidate genes that have been previously reported for AM-plant interactions. Seven distantly related hosts and four non-hosts were selected to identify structural differences in selected gene/protein candidates. The screened genes/proteins were subjected to MEME, CODEML and DIVERGE analysis to identify evolutionary patterns that differentiate hosts from non-hosts. Based on the results, candidate genes were categorized as highly influenced (SYMRK and CCaMK), moderately influenced and minimally influenced by evolutionary constraints. We propose that the amino acid and nucleotide changes specific to non-hosts are likely to correspond to aberrations in functionality towards AM symbiosis. This study paves way for future research aimed at understanding innate differences in genetic make-up of AM hosts and non-hosts, in addition to the theory of gene losses from the "AM-symbiotic toolkit".}, } @article {pmid34260583, year = {2021}, author = {Timoneda, A and Yunusov, T and Quan, C and Gavrin, A and Brockington, SF and Schornack, S}, title = {MycoRed: Betalain pigments enable in vivo real-time visualisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {e3001326}, pmid = {34260583}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Betalains/*metabolism ; Genes, Fungal ; Genetic Markers ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) are mutualistic interactions formed between soil fungi and plant roots. AM symbiosis is a fundamental and widespread trait in plants with the potential to sustainably enhance future crop yields. However, improving AM fungal association in crop species requires a fundamental understanding of host colonisation dynamics across varying agronomic and ecological contexts. To this end, we demonstrate the use of betalain pigments as in vivo visual markers for the occurrence and distribution of AM fungal colonisation by Rhizophagus irregularis in Medicago truncatula and Nicotiana benthamiana roots. Using established and novel AM-responsive promoters, we assembled multigene reporter constructs that enable the AM-controlled expression of the core betalain synthesis genes. We show that betalain colouration is specifically induced in root tissues and cells where fungal colonisation has occurred. In a rhizotron setup, we also demonstrate that betalain staining allows for the noninvasive tracing of fungal colonisation along the root system over time. We present MycoRed, a useful innovative method that will expand and complement currently used fungal visualisation techniques to advance knowledge in the field of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34260261, year = {2021}, author = {Ray, P and Guo, Y and Chi, MH and Krom, N and Boschiero, C and Watson, B and Huhman, D and Zhao, P and Singan, VR and Lindquist, EA and Yan, J and Adam, C and Craven, KD}, title = {Serendipita Fungi Modulate the Switchgrass Root Transcriptome to Circumvent Host Defenses and Establish a Symbiotic Relationship.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {1128-1142}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-21-0084-R}, pmid = {34260261}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Australia ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Panicum/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The fungal family Serendipitaceae encompasses root-associated lineages with endophytic, ericoid, orchid, and ectomycorrhizal lifestyles. Switchgrass is an important bioenergy crop for cellulosic ethanol production owing to high biomass production on marginal soils otherwise unfit for food crop cultivation. The aim of this study was to investigate the host plant responses to Serendipita spp. colonization by characterizing the switchgrass root transcriptome during different stages of symbiosis in vitro. For this, we included a native switchgrass strain, Serendipita bescii, and a related strain, S. vermifera, isolated from Australian orchids. Serendipita colonization progresses from thin hyphae that grow between root cells to, finally, the production of large, bulbous hyphae that fill root cells during the later stages of colonization. We report that switchgrass seems to perceive both fungi prior to physical contact, leading to the activation of chemical and structural defense responses and putative host disease resistance genes. Subsequently, the host defense system appears to be quenched and carbohydrate metabolism adjusted, potentially to accommodate the fungal symbiont. In addition, prior to contact, switchgrass exhibited significant increases in root hair density and root surface area. Furthermore, genes involved in phytohormone metabolism such as gibberellin, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid were activated during different stages of colonization. Both fungal strains induced plant gene expression in a similar manner, indicating a conserved plant response to members of this fungal order. Understanding plant responsiveness to Serendipita spp. will inform our efforts to integrate them into forages and row crops for optimal plant-microbe functioning, thus facilitating low-input, sustainable agricultural practices.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34259956, year = {2021}, author = {Mohanty, PC and Kushabaha, A and Mahendra, RS and Nayak, RK and Sahu, BK and Rao, EPR and Kumar, TS}, title = {Persistence of marine heat waves for coral bleaching and their spectral characteristics around Andaman coral reef.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {193}, number = {8}, pages = {491}, pmid = {34259956}, issn = {1573-2959}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Hot Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are fragile and endangered ecosystems in the tropical marine and coastal environment. Thermal stress due to marine heat waves (MHW) could cause significantly negative impacts on the health conditions, i.e., bleaching of the coral ecosystem. The current study is an attempt to quantify the intensity of coral bleaching in the Andaman region in recent decades using the intensity of marine heat wave (IMHW) estimated from satellite measured sea surface temperature (SST). A linear regression model was developed between IMHW and in situ observations of percent coral bleaching (PCB) which has the slope 7.767 (of IMHW unit) and intercept (- 141.7). Further, an attempt was also made to establish the relationship between PCB and the ratio between the remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) at 443 and 531 nm to upscale the percentage of coral bleaching at synoptic scales. A significant positive correlation between the PCB and band ratio index was found (R[2] = 0.72). This approach can be used for the operational monitoring of coral reef beaching in this region.}, } @article {pmid34259383, year = {2021}, author = {Dungan, AM and Bulach, D and Lin, H and van Oppen, MJH and Blackall, LL}, title = {Development of a free radical scavenging bacterial consortium to mitigate oxidative stress in cnidarians.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {2025-2040}, pmid = {34259383}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals are colonized by symbiotic microorganisms that profoundly influence the animal's health. One noted symbiont is a single-celled alga (in the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae), which provides the coral with most of its fixed carbon. Thermal stress increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Symbiodiniaceae during photosynthesis. ROS can both damage the algal symbiont's photosynthetic machinery and inhibit its repair, causing a positive feedback loop for the toxic accumulation of ROS. If not scavenged by the antioxidant network, excess ROS may trigger a signaling cascade ending with the coral host and algal symbiont disassociating in a process known as bleaching. We use Exaiptasia diaphana as a model for corals and constructed a consortium comprised of E. diaphana-associated bacteria capable of neutralizing ROS. We identified six strains with high free radical scavenging (FRS) ability belonging to the families Alteromonadaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae and Micrococcaceae. In parallel, we established a consortium of low FRS isolates consisting of genetically related strains. Bacterial whole genome sequences were used to identify key pathways that are known to influence ROS.}, } @article {pmid34258021, year = {2021}, author = {Foad, CMG and Whitmarsh, L and Hanel, PHP and Haddock, G}, title = {The limitations of polling data in understanding public support for COVID-19 lockdown policies.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {210678}, pmid = {34258021}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Opinion polls regarding policies designed to tackle COVID-19 have shown public support has remained high throughout the first year of the pandemic in most places around the world. However, there is a risk that headline support over-simplifies people's views. We carried out a two-wave survey with six-month interval on a public sample (N = 212) in the UK, examining the factors that underpin lockdown policy support. We find that the majority of people support most public health measures introduced, but that they also see significant side effects of these policies, and that they consider many of these side effects as unacceptable in a cost-benefit analysis. We also find that people judged the threat of COVID-19 via the magnitude of the policy response, and that they do not use their perception of the personal threat to themselves or close others to guide their support for policy. Polling data only offer one simple perspective and do not illustrate the ambivalence many people feel around lockdown policies. There is also a meaningful risk of public opinion and government policy forming a symbiotic relationship, which impacts upon how effectively such policies are implemented both now, and in relation to future threats.}, } @article {pmid34258001, year = {2021}, author = {Loch, JI and Jaskolski, M}, title = {Structural and biophysical aspects of l-asparaginases: a growing family with amazing diversity.}, journal = {IUCrJ}, volume = {8}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {514-531}, pmid = {34258001}, issn = {2052-2525}, abstract = {l-Asparaginases have remained an intriguing research topic since their discovery ∼120 years ago, especially after their introduction in the 1960s as very efficient antileukemic drugs. In addition to bacterial asparaginases, which are still used to treat childhood leukemia, enzymes of plant and mammalian origin are now also known. They have all been structurally characterized by crystallography, in some cases at outstanding resolution. The structural data have also shed light on the mechanistic details of these deceptively simple enzymes. Yet, despite all this progress, no better therapeutic agents have been found to beat bacterial asparaginases. However, a new option might arise with the discovery of yet another type of asparaginase, those from symbiotic nitrogen-fixing Rhizobia, and with progress in the protein engineering of enzymes with desired properties. This review surveys the field of structural biology of l-asparaginases, focusing on the mechanistic aspects of the well established types and speculating about the potential of the new members of this amazingly diversified family.}, } @article {pmid34257908, year = {2021}, author = {Schweinsberg, M and Gösser, F and Tollrian, R}, title = {The history, biological relevance, and potential applications for polyp bailout in corals.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {13}, pages = {8424-8440}, pmid = {34257908}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Corals have evolved a variety of stress responses to changing conditions, many of which have been the subject of scientific research. However, polyp bailout has not received widespread scientific attention, despite being described more than 80 years ago. Polyp bailout is a drastic response to acute stress in which coral colonies break down, with individual and patches of polyps detaching from the colony and the calcareous skeleton Polyps retain their symbiotic partners, have dispersal ability, and may undergo secondary settlement and calcification. Polyp bailout has been described worldwide in a variety of anthozoan species, especially in Scleractinia. It can be induced by multiple natural stressors, but also artificially. Little is known about the evolutionary and ecological potential and consequences of breaking down modularity, the dispersal ability, and reattachment of polyps resulting from polyp bailout. It has been shown that polyp bailout can be used as a model system, with promise for implementation in various research topics. To date, there has been no compilation of knowledge on polyp bailout, which prompted us to review this interesting stress response and provide a basis to discuss research topics and priorities for the future.}, } @article {pmid34256922, year = {2021}, author = {Husnik, F and Tashyreva, D and Boscaro, V and George, EE and Lukeš, J and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Bacterial and archaeal symbioses with protists.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {13}, pages = {R862-R877}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.049}, pmid = {34256922}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Archaea ; *Bacteria ; *Eukaryota ; *Prokaryotic Cells ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most of the genetic, cellular, and biochemical diversity of life rests within single-celled organisms - the prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) and microbial eukaryotes (protists). Very close interactions, or symbioses, between protists and prokaryotes are ubiquitous, ecologically significant, and date back at least two billion years ago to the origin of mitochondria. However, most of our knowledge about the evolution and functions of eukaryotic symbioses comes from the study of animal hosts, which represent only a small subset of eukaryotic diversity. Here, we take a broad view of bacterial and archaeal symbioses with protist hosts, focusing on their evolution, ecology, and cell biology, and also explore what functions (if any) the symbionts provide to their hosts. With the immense diversity of protist symbioses starting to come into focus, we can now begin to see how these systems will impact symbiosis theory more broadly.}, } @article {pmid34256539, year = {2021}, author = {Muniz-Pardos, B and Angeloudis, K and Guppy, FM and Keramitsoglou, I and Sutehall, S and Bosch, A and Tanisawa, K and Hosokawa, Y and Ash, GI and Schobersberger, W and Grundstein, AJ and Casa, DJ and Morrissey, MC and Yamasawa, F and Zelenkova, I and Racinais, S and Pitsiladis, Y}, title = {Wearable and telemedicine innovations for Olympic events and elite sport.}, journal = {The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness}, volume = {61}, number = {8}, pages = {1061-1072}, doi = {10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12752-5}, pmid = {34256539}, issn = {1827-1928}, mesh = {Athletes ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Sports ; *Telemedicine ; *Wearable Electronic Devices ; }, abstract = {Rapid advances in wearable technologies and real-time monitoring have resulted in major inroads in the world of recreational and elite sport. One such innovation is the application of real-time monitoring, which comprises a smartwatch application and ecosystem, designed to collect, process and transmit a wide range of physiological, biomechanical, bioenergetic and environmental data using cloud-based services. We plan to assess the impact of this wireless technology during Tokyo 2020, where this technology could help characterize the physiological and thermal strain experienced by an athlete, as well as determine future management of athletes during a medical emergency as a result of a more timely and accurate diagnosis. Here we describe some of the innovative technologies developed for numerous sports at Tokyo 2020 ranging from race walking (20 km and 50 km events), marathon, triathlon, road cycling (including the time trial event), mountain biking, to potentially team sports played outdoors. A more symbiotic relationship between sport, health and technology needs to be encouraged that harnesses the unique demands of elite sport (e.g., the need for unobtrusive devices that provide real-time feedback) and serves as medical and preventive support for the athlete's care. The implementation of such applications would be particularly welcome in the field of medicine (i.e., telemedicine applications) and the workplace (with particular relevance to emergency services, the military and generally workers under extreme environmental conditions). Laboratory and field-based studies are required in simulated scenarios to validate such emerging technologies, with the field of sport serving as an excellent model to understand and impact disease.}, } @article {pmid34256017, year = {2021}, author = {Sørensen, MES and Wood, AJ and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA}, title = {Rapid compensatory evolution can rescue low fitness symbioses following partner switching.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {17}, pages = {3721-3728.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.034}, pmid = {34256017}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/011151/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Chlorella/physiology ; *Paramecium/genetics ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Partner switching plays an important role in the evolution of symbiosis, enabling local adaptation and recovery from the breakdown of symbiosis. Because of intergenomic epistasis, partner-switched symbioses may possess novel combinations of phenotypes but may also exhibit low fitness due to their lack of recent coevolutionary history. Here, we examine the structure and mechanisms of intergenomic epistasis in the Paramecium-Chlorella symbiosis and test whether compensatory evolution can rescue initially low fitness partner-switched symbioses. Using partner-switch experiments coupled with metabolomics, we show evidence for intergenomic epistasis wherein low fitness is associated with elevated symbiont stress responses either in dark or high irradiance environments, potentially owing to mismatched light management traits between the host and symbiont genotypes. Experimental evolution under high light conditions revealed that an initially low fitness partner-switched non-native host-symbiont pairing rapidly adapted, gaining fitness equivalent to the native host-symbiont pairing in less than 50 host generations. Compensatory evolution took two alternative routes: either hosts evolved higher symbiont loads to mitigate for their new algal symbiont's poor performance, or the algal symbionts themselves evolved higher investment in photosynthesis and photoprotective traits to better mitigate light stress. These findings suggest that partner switching combined with rapid compensatory evolution can enable the recovery and local adaptation of symbioses in response to changing environments.}, } @article {pmid34255082, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, Y and Sun, J and Yang, Y and Lan, Y and Ip, JC and Wong, WC and Kwan, YH and Zhang, Y and Han, Z and Qiu, JW and Qian, PY}, title = {Genomic Signatures Supporting the Symbiosis and Formation of Chitinous Tube in the Deep-Sea Tubeworm Paraescarpia echinospica.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {38}, number = {10}, pages = {4116-4134}, pmid = {34255082}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Chitin ; Ecosystem ; Genomics ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Vestimentiferan tubeworms are iconic animals that present as large habitat-forming chitinized tube bushes in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems. They are gutless and depend entirely on their endosymbiotic sulfide-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria for nutrition. Information on the genomes of several siboglinid endosymbionts has improved our understanding of their nutritional supplies. However, the interactions between tubeworms and their endosymbionts remain largely unclear due to a paucity of host genomes. Here, we report the chromosome-level genome of the vestimentiferan tubeworm Paraescarpia echinospica. We found that the genome has been remodeled to facilitate symbiosis through the expansion of gene families related to substrate transfer and innate immunity, suppression of apoptosis, regulation of lysosomal digestion, and protection against oxidative stress. Furthermore, the genome encodes a programmed cell death pathway that potentially controls the endosymbiont population. Our integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses uncovered matrix proteins required for the formation of the chitinous tube and revealed gene family expansion and co-option as evolutionary mechanisms driving the acquisition of this unique supporting structure for deep-sea tubeworms. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the host's support system that has enabled tubeworms to establish symbiosis, thrive in deep-sea hot vents and cold seeps, and produce the unique chitinous tubes in the deep sea.}, } @article {pmid34254246, year = {2021}, author = {Qiu, L and Gao, W and Wang, Z and Li, B and Sun, W and Gao, P and Sun, X and Song, B and Zhang, Y and Kong, T and Lin, H}, title = {Citric acid and AMF inoculation combination-assisted phytoextraction of vanadium (V) by Medicago sativa in V mining contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {47}, pages = {67472-67486}, pmid = {34254246}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Citric Acid ; Medicago sativa ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Vanadium ; }, abstract = {The use of citric acid (CA) chelator to facilitate metal bioavailability is a promising approach for the phytoextraction of heavy metal contaminants. However, the role of the CA chelator associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on phytoextraction of vanadium (V) has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of CA chelator and AMF inoculation on growth performance and V phytoextraction of plants in V-contaminated soil. The experiment was performed via CA (at 0, 5, and 10 mM kg[-1] soil levels) application alone or in combination with AMF inoculation by Medicago sativa Linn. (M. sativa). Plant biomass, root mycorrhizal colonization, P and V accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activity in plants, and soil chemical speciation of V were evaluated. Results depicted (1) a marked decline in plant biomass and root mycorrhizal colonization in 5- and 10-mM CA treatments which were accompanied by a significant increased V accumulation in plant tissues. The effects could be attributed to the enhanced acid-soluble V fraction transferring from the reducible fraction. (2) The presence of CA significantly enhanced P acquisition while the P/V concentration ratio in plant shoots and roots decreased, owing to the increased V translocation from soil to plant. (3) In both CA-treated soil, AMF-plant symbiosis significantly improved dry weight (31.4-73.3%) and P content (37.3-122.5%) in shoots and roots of M. sativa. The combined treatments also showed markedly contribution in reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) content (12.8-16.2%) and higher antioxidants (SOD, POD, and CAT) activities in the leaves. This suggests their combination could promote growth performance and stimulate antioxidant response to alleviate V stress induced by CA chelator. (4) Taken together, 10 mM kg[-1] CA application and AMF inoculation combination exhibited a higher amount of extracted V both in plant shoots and roots. Thus, citric acid-AMF-plant symbiosis provides a novel remediation strategy for in situ V phytoextraction by M. sativa in V-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid34252763, year = {2021}, author = {Huo, L and Gao, R and Hou, X and Yu, X and Yang, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte colonization in Artemisia roots responds differently to environmental gradients in eastern and central China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {795}, number = {}, pages = {148808}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148808}, pmid = {34252763}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Artemisia ; Endophytes ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) are two types of root symbiotic fungi that enhance nutrient uptake by host plants and their resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, it remains unclear whether AMF and DSE are synergistic or antagonistic in the presence of host plants to environmental gradients, especially on large geographical scales. To determine the relationships between AMF and DSE and their adaptability on a regional scale, we measured AMF and DSE colonization in the roots of 1023 plants of different species within the Artemisia genus collected from 81 sites across central and eastern China. We used general linear mixed models to analyze the relationships between colonization, and temperature and precipitation conditions. We found no significant correlation between AMF and DSE. The AMF colonization rate followed a significant longitudinal trend, but there was no latitudinal pattern. DSE colonization did not follow any geographical pattern. The AMF colonization rate was positively correlated with temperature and precipitation, whereas it was not significantly correlated with soil. There was no significant correlation between DSE colonization and climate or soil. Our results suggest that AMF and DSE play independent roles in the response of Artemisia to the regional environment. Therefore, studies on mycorrhizal symbiosis should discern the differential responses between AMF and DSE to climate and soil when evaluating the adaptability of the two types of symbiosis on large geographical scales.}, } @article {pmid34250662, year = {2021}, author = {Espinosa-Gongora, C and Hansen, MJ and Bertelsen, MF and Bojesen, AM}, title = {Polar bear-adapted Ursidibacter maritimus are remarkably conserved after generations in captivity.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {18}, pages = {4497-4504}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16075}, pmid = {34250662}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Birds ; *Pasteurellaceae ; *Ursidae ; }, abstract = {Most species in the bacterial family of Pasteurellaceae colonize one specific host species. Vertebrates of very different evolutionary descent including fish, turtles, marsupials, eutherians and birds are colonized by different members of Pasteurellaceae. This one-to-one microbial-host species partnership makes Pasteurellaceae species valuable candidates to study biodiversity, bacterial-host co-evolution and host adaptation, and their widespread distribution across vertebrates provide the possibility to collect a wide array of data, where wildlife species are essential. However, obtaining samples from wild animals comes with logistic, technical and ethical challenges, and previous microbiota studies have led to the presumption that captive animals are poor models for microbial studies in wildlife. Here, we show that colonization of polar bears by Ursidibacter maritimus is unaffected by factors related to captivity, reflecting a deep symbiotic bond to the host. We argue that the study of ecological and evolutionary principles in captive wildlife is possible for host-adapted taxa such as those in the Pasteurellaceae family. Moreover, studying captive, often trained animals protects wild populations from the stress associated with obtaining samples.}, } @article {pmid34249070, year = {2021}, author = {Valderrama, R and Chaki, M and Begara-Morales, JC and Petrivalský, M and Barroso, JB}, title = {Editorial: Nitric Oxide in Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {705157}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2021.705157}, pmid = {34249070}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid34249034, year = {2021}, author = {Kaur, J and Sharma, J}, title = {Orchid Root Associated Bacteria: Linchpins or Accessories?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {661966}, pmid = {34249034}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Besides the plant-fungus symbiosis in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) plants, many endorhizal and rhizosphere bacteria (Root Associated Bacteria, or RAB) also enhance plant fitness, diversity, and coexistence among plants via bi- or tripartite interactions with plant hosts and mycorrhizal fungi. Assuming that bacterial associations are just as important for the obligate mycorrhizal plant family Orchidaceae, surprisingly little is known about the RAB associated with orchids. Herein, we first present the current, underwhelming state of RAB research including their interactions with fungi and the influence of holobionts on plant fitness. We then delineate the need for novel investigations specifically in orchid RAB ecology, and sketch out questions and hypotheses which, when addressed, will advance plant-microbial ecology. We specifically discuss the potential effects of beneficial RAB on orchids as: (1) Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), (2) Mycorrhization Helper Bacteria (MHB), and (3) constituents of an orchid holobiont. We further posit that a hologenomic view should be considered as a framework for addressing co-evolution of the plant host, their obligate Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi (OMF), and orchid RAB. We conclude by discussing implications of the suggested research for conservation of orchids, their microbial partners, and their collective habitats.}, } @article {pmid34248980, year = {2021}, author = {Emery, MA and Dimos, BA and Mydlarz, LD}, title = {Cnidarian Pattern Recognition Receptor Repertoires Reflect Both Phylogeny and Life History Traits.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {689463}, pmid = {34248980}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Cnidaria/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Databases, Genetic ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Immunity, Innate ; *Life History Traits ; Phylogeny ; *Proteome ; Proteomics ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are evolutionarily ancient and crucial components of innate immunity, recognizing danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and activating host defenses. Basal non-bilaterian animals such as cnidarians must rely solely on innate immunity to defend themselves from pathogens. By investigating cnidarian PRR repertoires we can gain insight into the evolution of innate immunity in these basal animals. Here we utilize the increasing amount of available genomic resources within Cnidaria to survey the PRR repertoires and downstream immune pathway completeness within 15 cnidarian species spanning two major cnidarian clades, Anthozoa and Medusozoa. Overall, we find that anthozoans possess prototypical PRRs, while medusozoans appear to lack these immune proteins. Additionally, anthozoans consistently had higher numbers of PRRs across all four classes relative to medusozoans, a trend largely driven by expansions in NOD-like receptors and C-type lectins. Symbiotic, sessile, and colonial cnidarians also have expanded PRR repertoires relative to their non-symbiotic, mobile, and solitary counterparts. Interestingly, cnidarians seem to lack key components of mammalian innate immune pathways, though similar to PRR numbers, anthozoans possess more complete immune pathways than medusozoans. Together, our data indicate that anthozoans have greater immune specificity than medusozoans, which we hypothesize to be due to life history traits common within Anthozoa. Overall, this investigation reveals important insights into the evolution of innate immune proteins within these basal animals.}, } @article {pmid34248916, year = {2021}, author = {Haskett, TL and Knights, HE and Jorrin, B and Mendes, MD and Poole, PS}, title = {A Simple in situ Assay to Assess Plant-Associative Bacterial Nitrogenase Activity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {690439}, pmid = {34248916}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Assessment of plant-associative bacterial nitrogen (N) fixation is crucial for selection and development of elite diazotrophic inoculants that could be used to supply cereal crops with nitrogen in a sustainable manner. Although diazotrophic bacteria possess diverse oxygen tolerance mechanisms, most require a sub 21% oxygen environment to achieve optimal stability and function of the N-fixing catalyst nitrogenase. Consequently, assessment of N fixation is routinely carried out on "free-living" bacteria grown in the absence of a host plant and such experiments may not accurately divulge activity in the rhizosphere where the availability and forms of nutrients such as carbon and N, which are key regulators of N fixation, may vary widely. Here, we present a modified in situ acetylene reduction assay (ARA), utilizing the model cereal barley as a host to comparatively assess nitrogenase activity in diazotrophic bacteria. The assay is rapid, highly reproducible, applicable to a broad range of diazotrophs, and can be performed with simple equipment commonly found in most laboratories that investigate plant-microbe interactions. Thus, the assay could serve as a first point of order for high-throughput identification of elite plant-associative diazotrophs.}, } @article {pmid34248889, year = {2021}, author = {Ji, L and Nasir, F and Tian, L and Chang, J and Sun, Y and Zhang, J and Li, X and Tian, C}, title = {Outbreaks of Root Rot Disease in Different Aged American Ginseng Plants Are Associated With Field Microbial Dynamics.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {676880}, pmid = {34248889}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) is a perennial plant that is cultivated for medicinal purposes. Unfortunately, outbreaks of root rot disease in American ginseng (AG) reduce yields and result in serious economic losses. Information on the dynamics of soil microbial communities associated with healthy and diseased AG of different ages is limited. The present study explored the differences in field soil microbial community structure, composition, interaction, and their predictive functions associated with healthy and diseased AG at different growth ages. Changes in soil physicochemical properties were also examined to determine the possible reasons for disease outbreaks. Results revealed that in different growth years, the genera of soil-borne pathogens, such as Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Sarocladium, and Fusarium, were increased in diseased AG soil samples in comparison with those in the healthy AG soil samples. In contrast, the abundance of some key and potentially beneficial microbes, such as Bacillus, Chaetomium, Dyella, Kaistobacter, Paenibacillus, Penicillium, and Trichoderma, was decreased. Additionally, as AG plants age, the relative abundance of symbiotic fungi tended to decrease, while the relative abundance of potential plant pathogenic fungi gradually increased. Various soil properties, such as available phosphorus, the ratio of total nitrogen to total phosphorus (N/P), and pH, were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with microbial community composition. Our findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the relationship among the root rot disease outbreaks in American ginseng as well as their corresponding soil microbial communities and soil physicochemical properties.}, } @article {pmid34248204, year = {2021}, author = {Wall, CB and Wallsgrove, NJ and Gates, RD and Popp, BN}, title = {Amino acid δ[13]C and δ[15]N analyses reveal distinct species-specific patterns of trophic plasticity in a marine symbiosis.}, journal = {Limnology and oceanography}, volume = {66}, number = {5}, pages = {2033-2050}, pmid = {34248204}, issn = {0024-3590}, abstract = {Compound-specific isotope analyses (CSIA) and multivariate "isotope fingerprinting" track biosynthetic sources and reveal trophic interactions in food webs. However, CSIA have not been widely applied in the study of marine symbioses. Here, we exposed a reef coral (Montipora capitata) in symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae algae to experimental treatments (autotrophy, mixotrophy, heterotrophy) to test for trophic shifts and amino acid (AA) sources using paired bulk (δ[13]C, δ[15]N) and AA-CSIA (δ[13]CAA, δ[15]NAA). Treatments did not influence carbon or nitrogen trophic proxies, thereby not supporting nutritional plasticity. Instead, hosts and symbionts consistently overlapped in essential- and nonessential-δ[13]CAA (11 of 13 amino acids) and trophic- and source-δ[15]NAA values (9 of 13 amino acids). Host and symbiont trophic-δ[15]NAA values positively correlated with a plankton end-member, indicative of trophic connections and dietary sources for trophic-AA nitrogen. However, mass balance of AA-trophic positions (TPGlx-Phe) revealed heterotrophic influences to be highly variable (1-41% heterotrophy). Linear discriminant analysis using M. capitata mean-normalized essential-δ[13]CAA with previously published values (Pocillopora meandrina) showed similar nutrition isotope fingerprints (Symbiodiniaceae vs. plankton) but revealed species-specific trophic strategies. Montipora capitata and Symbiodiniaceae shared identical AA-fingerprints, whereas P. meandrina was assigned to either symbiont or plankton nutrition. Thus, M. capitata was 100% reliant on symbionts for essential-δ[13]CAA and demonstrated autotrophic fidelity and contrasts with trophic plasticity reported in P. meandrina. While M. capitata AA may originate from host and/or symbiont biosynthesis, AA carbon is Symbiodiniaceae-derived. Together, AA-CSIA/isotope fingerprinting advances the study of coral trophic plasticity and are powerful tools in the study of marine symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34247164, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, Y and Dou, G and Wang, D and Yang, J and Zhang, Y and Garnett, JA and Chen, Y and Wang, Y and Xia, B}, title = {Comparative Microbial Profiles of Caries and Black Extrinsic Tooth Stain in Primary Dentition.}, journal = {Caries research}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {310-321}, doi = {10.1159/000517006}, pmid = {34247164}, issn = {1421-976X}, mesh = {Child, Preschool ; *Dental Caries/epidemiology ; Dental Caries Susceptibility ; *Dental Plaque ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tooth, Deciduous ; }, abstract = {Extrinsic black tooth stain (BS) is a common oral disease associated with lower caries experience in preschool children, although the microbiotic features contributing to the low risk of caries in this group remain elusive. In this study, we aimed at identifying the dominant bacteria in dental plaque to indicate the incidence of caries in the primary dentition. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on the clinical examination: group CF, children without pigment who had no caries lesions or restorations (n = 18); group CS, children who were diagnosed with severe early childhood caries (n = 17); and group BS, children with pigment (black extrinsic stain) without caries or restorations (n = 15). The total microbial genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing using an Illumina HiSeq platform. The differential dominant bacteria were determined using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). Co-occurrence network analysis was performed using sparse correlations for compositional data, calculation and functional features were predicted using PICRUSt. Interestingly, our results showed that the relative abundance of Pseudopropionibacterium, Actinomyces, Rothia, and Cardiobacterium was from high to low and that of Porphyromonas was low to high in the BS, CF, and CS groups, consistent with the clinical incidence of caries in the 3 groups. Moreover, an increased level of Selenomonas_3, Fusobacterium, and Leptotrichia was associated with high caries prevalence. We found that the interactions among genera in the BS and CS plaque communities are less complex than those in the CF communities at the taxon level. Functional features, including cofactor and vitamin metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, and translation, significantly increased in caries plaque samples. These bacterial competition- and commensalism-induced changes in microbiota would result in a change of their symbiotic function, finally affecting the balance of oral microflora.}, } @article {pmid34247067, year = {2021}, author = {Alvarenga, DO and Rousk, K}, title = {Indirect effects of climate change inhibit N2 fixation associated with the feathermoss Hylocomium splendens in subarctic tundra.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {795}, number = {}, pages = {148676}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148676}, pmid = {34247067}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Climate Change ; *Cyanobacteria ; Ecosystem ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Tundra ; }, abstract = {Mosses can be responsible for up to 100% of net primary production in arctic and subarctic tundra, and their associations with diazotrophic cyanobacteria have an important role in increasing nitrogen (N) availability in these pristine ecosystems. Predictions about the consequences of climate change in subarctic environments point to increased N mineralization in soil and higher litter deposition due to warming. It is not clear yet how these indirect climate change effects impact moss-cyanobacteria associations and N2 fixation. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of increased N and litter input on biological N2 fixation rates associated with the feathermoss Hylocomium splendens from a tundra heath. H. splendens samples were collected near Abisko, northern Sweden, from a field experiment with annual additions of ammonium chloride and dried birch litter and the combination of both for three years. Samples were analyzed for N2 fixation, cyanobacterial colonization, C and N content and pH. Despite the high N additions, no significant differences in moss N content were found. However, differences between treatments were observed in N2 fixation rates, cyanobacterial colonization and pH, with the combined ammonium+litter treatment causing a significant reduction in the number of branch-colonizing cyanobacteria and N2 fixation, and ammonium additions significantly lowering moss pH. A significant, positive relationship was found between N2 fixation rates, moss colonization by cyanobacteria and pH levels, showing a clear drop in N2 fixation rates at lower pH levels even if larger cyanobacterial populations were present. These results suggest that increased N availability and litter deposition resulting from climate change not only interferes with N2 fixation directly, but also acidifies moss microhabitats and reduces the abundance of associated cyanobacteria, which could eventually impact the N cycle in the Subarctic.}, } @article {pmid34246747, year = {2021}, author = {Eissa, AE and Attia, MM and Elgendy, MY and Ismail, GA and Sabry, NM and Prince, A and Mahmoud, MA and El-Demerdash, GO and Abdelsalam, M and Derwa, HIM}, title = {Streptococcus, Centrocestus formosanus and Myxobolus tilapiae concurrent infections in farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {105084}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105084}, pmid = {34246747}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cichlids ; *Fish Diseases ; *Myxobolus/genetics ; Spores, Bacterial ; *Streptococcal Infections/veterinary ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; }, abstract = {Stress triggered concurrent microbial/parasitic infections are prevalent in earthen pond based farmed Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. In the current study, a total of thirty five O. niloticus were collected from a commercial fish farm with a history of severe mortalities at Port Said, Egypt. Nile tilapia samples were subjected to bacteriological, parasitological and pathological examinations. Twenty one Enterococcus fecalis and 15 Streptococcus agalactiae isolates were presumptively identified utilizing the semi-automated API 20 Strept test kit. The identities of the retrieved bacteria were confirmed by the sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene. Moribund O. niloticus were found to be heavily infected by one or both of Centrocestus formosanus encysted metacercariae (EMC) and/or Myxobolus tilapiae spores presenting a unique form of synergistic and/or symbiotic relationship. The identities of both parasites were confirmed through morphological and molecular characterization. Variable circulatory, degenerative, necrotic and proliferative changes were also noticed in hematopoietic organs. Interestingly, multiple myxobolus spores and EMC were noticed in some histological sections. It was obvious that the current concurrent bacterial and parasitic infections are triggered by the deleterious effects of some stressing environmental conditions. The unfavorable climatic conditions (high temperature and high relative humidity) recorded at the surge of mortalities are probable predisposing stress factors.}, } @article {pmid34246029, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, B and Hu, S and Vymazal, J and Chen, Z}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in constructed wetlands with different substrates: Effects on the phytoremediation of ibuprofen and diclofenac.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {296}, number = {}, pages = {113217}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113217}, pmid = {34246029}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Diclofenac ; Ibuprofen ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) for the removal of ibuprofen (IBU) and diclofenac (DCF) in constructed wetlands (CWs) with four different substrates. Results showed that AMF colonization in adsorptive substrate (perlite, vermiculite, and biochar) systems was higher than that in sand systems. AMF enhanced the tolerance of Glyceria maxima to the stress of IBU and DCF by promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and the contents of soluble protein, while decreasing the contents of malondialdehyde and O2[•-]. The removal efficiencies of IBU and DCF were increased by 15%-18% and 25%-38% in adsorptive substrate systems compare to sand systems. Adsorptive substrates enhanced the accumulation of IBU and DCF in the rhizosphere and promoted the uptake of IBU and DCF by plant roots. AMF promoted the removal of IBU and DCF in sand systems but limited their reduction in adsorptive substrate systems. In all scenarios, the presence of AMF decreased the contents of CECs metabolites (2-OH IBU, CA IBU, and 4'-OH IBU) in the effluents and promoted the uptake of IBU by plant roots. Therefore, these results indicated that the addition of adsorptive substrates could enhance the removal of IBU and DCF in CWs. The role of AMF on the removal of IBU and DCF was influenced by CW substrate. These may provide useful information for the application of AMF in CWs to remove contaminants of emerging concern.}, } @article {pmid34245690, year = {2021}, author = {Koch, RA and Yoon, GM and Aryal, UK and Lail, K and Amirebrahimi, M and LaButti, K and Lipzen, A and Riley, R and Barry, K and Henrissat, B and Grigoriev, IV and Herr, JR and Aime, MC}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the reproductive structures of a basidiomycete fungus.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {17}, pages = {3905-3914.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.033}, pmid = {34245690}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) fixation is a driving force for the formation of symbiotic associations between N2-fixing bacteria and eukaryotes.[1] Limited examples of these associations are known in fungi, and none with sexual structures of non-lichenized species.[2-6] The basidiomycete Guyanagaster necrorhizus is a sequestrate fungus endemic to the Guiana Shield.[7] Like the root rot-causing species in its sister genera Armillaria and Desarmillaria, G. necrorhizus sporocarps fruit from roots of decaying trees (Figures 1A-1C),[8] and genome sequencing is consistent with observations that G. necrorhizus is a white-rotting decomposer. This species also represents the first documentation of an arthropod-dispersed sequestrate fungus. Numerous species of distantly related wood-feeding termites, which scavenge for N-rich food, feed on the mature spore-bearing tissue, or gleba, of G. necrorhizus. During feeding, mature spores adhere to termites for subsequent dispersal.[9] Using chemical assays, isotope analysis, and high-throughput sequencing, we show that the sporocarps harbor actively N2-fixing Enterobacteriaceae species and that the N content within fungal tissue increases with maturation. Untargeted proteomic profiling suggests that ATP generation in the gleba is accomplished via fermentation. The use of fermentation-an anaerobic process-indicates that the sporocarp environment is anoxic, likely an adaptation to protect the oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase enzyme. Sporocarps also have a thick outer covering, possibly to limit oxygen diffusion. The enriched N content within mature sporocarps may offer a dietary inducement for termites in exchange for spore dispersal. These results show that the flexible metabolic capacity of fungi may facilitate N2-fixing associations, as well as higher-level organismal associations.}, } @article {pmid34245449, year = {2021}, author = {Zilli, JÉ and de Moraes Carvalho, CP and de Matos Macedo, AV and de Barros Soares, LH and Gross, E and James, EK and Simon, MF and de Faria, SM}, title = {Nodulation of the neotropical genus Calliandra by alpha or betaproteobacterial symbionts depends on the biogeographical origins of the host species.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {2153-2168}, pmid = {34245449}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The neotropical genus Calliandra is of great importance to ecology and agroforestry, but little is known about its nodulation or its rhizobia. The nodulation of several species from two restricted diversity centres with native/endemic species (Eastern Brazil and North-Central America) and species widespread in South America, as well as their nodule structure and the molecular characterization of their rhizobial symbionts based on phylogeny of the 16S rRNA, recA and nodC gene, is reported herein. Species representative of different regions were grown in Brazilian soil, their nodulation observed, and their symbionts characterized. Calliandra nodules have anatomy that is typical of mimosoid nodules regardless of the microsymbiont type. The rhizobial symbionts differed according to the geographical origin of the species, i.e. Alphaproteobacteria (Rhizobium) were the exclusive symbionts from North-Central America, Betaproteobacteria (Paraburkholderia) from Eastern Brazil, and a mixture of both nodulated the widespread species. The symbiont preferences of Calliandra species are the result of the host co-evolving with the "local" symbiotic bacteria that thrive in the different edaphoclimatic conditions, e.g. the acidic soils of NE Brazil are rich in acid-tolerant Paraburkholderia, whereas those of North-Central America are typically neutral-alkaline and harbour Rhizobium. It is hypothesized that the flexibility of widespread species in symbiont choice has assisted in their wider dispersal across the neotropics.}, } @article {pmid34245357, year = {2021}, author = {Paulitsch, F and Dos Reis, FB and Hungria, M}, title = {Twenty years of paradigm-breaking studies of taxonomy and symbiotic nitrogen fixation by beta-rhizobia, and indication of Brazil as a hotspot of Paraburkholderia diversity.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {8}, pages = {4785-4803}, pmid = {34245357}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Brazil ; *Fabaceae ; Humans ; *Mimosa ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Twenty years ago, the first members of the genus Burkholderia capable of nodulating and fixing N2 during symbiosis with leguminous plants were reported. The discovery that β-proteobacteria could nodulate legumes represented a breakthrough event because, for over 100 years, it was thought that all rhizobia belonged exclusively to the α-Proteobacteria class. Over the past 20 years, efforts toward robust characterization of these bacteria with large-scale phylogenomic and taxonomic studies have led to the separation of clinically important and phytopathogenic members of Burkholderia from environmental ones, and the symbiotic nodulating species are now included in the genera Paraburkholderia and Trinickia. Paraburkholderia encompasses the vast majority of β-rhizobia and has been mostly found in South America and South Africa, presenting greater symbiotic affinity with native members of the families Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae, respectively. Being the main center of Mimosa spp. diversity, Brazil is also known as the center of symbiotic Paraburkholderia diversity. Of the 21 symbiotic Paraburkholderia species described to date, 11 have been isolated in Brazil, and others first isolated in different countries have also been found in this country. Additionally, besides the symbiotic N2-fixation capacity of some of its members, Paraburkholderia is considered rich in other beneficial interactions with plants and can promote growth through several direct and indirect mechanisms. Therefore, these bacteria can be considered biological resources employed as environmentally friendly alternatives that could reduce the agricultural dependence on agrochemical inputs.}, } @article {pmid34244138, year = {2021}, author = {Qiu, Y and Guo, L and Xu, X and Zhang, L and Zhang, K and Chen, M and Zhao, Y and Burkey, KO and Shew, HD and Zobel, RW and Zhang, Y and Hu, S}, title = {Warming and elevated ozone induce tradeoffs between fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi and stimulate organic carbon decomposition.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {28}, pages = {}, pmid = {34244138}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Climate warming and elevated ozone (eO3) are important climate change components that can affect plant growth and plant-microbe interactions. However, the resulting impact on soil carbon (C) dynamics, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remains unclear. Here, we show that warming, eO3, and their combination induce tradeoffs between roots and their symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and stimulate organic C decomposition in a nontilled soybean agroecosystem. While warming and eO3 reduced root biomass, tissue density, and AMF colonization, they increased specific root length and promoted decomposition of both native and newly added organic C. Also, they shifted AMF community composition in favor of the genus Paraglomus with high nutrient-absorbing hyphal surface over the genus Glomus prone to protection of soil organic C. Our findings provide deep insights into plant-microbial interactive responses to warming and eO3 and how these responses may modulate soil organic C dynamics under future climate change scenarios.}, } @article {pmid34243958, year = {2021}, author = {Blasco-Costa, I and Hayward, A and Poulin, R and Balbuena, JA}, title = {Next-generation cophylogeny: unravelling eco-evolutionary processes.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {36}, number = {10}, pages = {907-918}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2021.06.006}, pmid = {34243958}, issn = {1872-8383}, support = {BB/N020146/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Ecology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A fundamental question in evolutionary biology is how microevolutionary processes translate into species diversification. Cophylogeny provides an appropriate framework to address this for symbiotic associations, but historically has been primarily limited to unveiling patterns. We argue that it is essential to integrate advances from ecology and evolutionary biology into cophylogeny, to gain greater mechanistic insights and transform cophylogeny into a platform to advance understanding of interspecific interactions and diversification more widely. We discuss key directions, such as incorporating trait reconstruction and considering multiple scales of network organization, and highlight recent developments for implementation. A new quantitative framework is proposed to allow integration of relevant information, such as quantitative traits and assessment of the contribution of individual mechanisms to cophylogenetic patterns.}, } @article {pmid34242262, year = {2021}, author = {Khalvandi, M and Amerian, M and Pirdashti, H and Keramati, S}, title = {Does co-inoculation of mycorrhiza and Piriformospora indica fungi enhance the efficiency of chlorophyll fluorescence and essential oil composition in peppermint under irrigation with saline water from the Caspian Sea?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {e0254076}, pmid = {34242262}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Agricultural Irrigation ; Analysis of Variance ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Caspian Sea ; Chlorophyll/*analysis ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Droughts ; Electrolytes/metabolism ; Fluorescence ; Mentha piperita/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metabolome ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oils, Volatile/*analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Photochemical Processes ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Potassium/analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quantum Theory ; *Salinity ; Salt Stress ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Sodium/analysis ; Terpenes/analysis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with endophytic fungi are ecologically important for medicinal and aromatic plants. Endophytic fungi highly affect the quantity and quality of herbal products. In this study, a pot experiment was carried out in the greenhouse to investigate the interactive effects of Piriformospora indica and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) inoculation on the chlorophyll fluorescence, essential oil composition, and antioxidant enzymes of peppermint under saline condition. The results showed that Fo, YNPQ, YNO, and NPQ values were obviously increased under salinity conditions, while essential oil content, chlorophyll a and b, gs, Fm, Fv, ETR, ФPSII and Fv/Fm ratio decreased by increasing salinity. In addition, salt induced the excess Na+ uptake, whereas the opposite trend was observed for P and K+. The synergistic association of P. indica and AMF caused a considerable increase in the antioxidant ability, essential oil content, Fv/Fm ratio, ФPSII, and amount of P and K+ uptake in salt-stressed plants. The main peppermint oil constituents, menthol, menthone, and 1,8-cineole increased considerably in inoculated plants. Besides, the applied endophytic fungi positively enhanced the ability of peppermint to alleviate the negative effect of the salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid34241703, year = {2021}, author = {Bhoi, A and Yadu, B and Chandra, J and Keshavkant, S}, title = {Contribution of strigolactone in plant physiology, hormonal interaction and abiotic stresses.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {254}, number = {2}, pages = {28}, pmid = {34241703}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; *Lactones ; Plant Growth Regulators ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived molecules, which regulate various developmental and adaptation processes in plants. These are engaged in different aspects of growth such as development of root, leaf senescence, shoot branching, etc. Plants grown under nutrient-deficient conditions enhance SL production that facilitates root architecture and symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as a result increases nutrient uptake. The crosstalk of SLs with other phytohormones such as auxin, abscisic acid, cytokinin and gibberellins, in response to abiotic stresses indicates that SLs actively contribute to the regulatory systems of plant stress adaptation. In response to different environmental circumstances such as salinity, drought, heat, cold, heavy metals and nutrient deprivation, these SLs get accumulated in plant tissues. Strigolactones regulate multiple hormonal responsive pathways, which aids plants to surmount stressful environmental constraints as well as reduce negative impact on overall productivity of crops. The external application of SL analog GR24 for its higher bioaccumulation can be one of the possible approaches for establishing various abiotic stress tolerances in plants.}, } @article {pmid34240197, year = {2021}, author = {Gao, Z and Chen, Z and Cui, Y and Ke, M and Xu, H and Xu, Q and Chen, J and Li, Y and Huang, L and Zhao, H and Huang, D and Mai, S and Xu, T and Liu, X and Li, S and Guan, Y and Yang, W and Friml, J and Petrášek, J and Zhang, J and Chen, X}, title = {GmPIN-dependent polar auxin transport is involved in soybean nodule development.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {33}, number = {9}, pages = {2981-3003}, pmid = {34240197}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To overcome nitrogen deficiency, legume roots establish symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia that are fostered in specialized organs (nodules). Similar to other organs, nodule formation is determined by a local maximum of the phytohormone auxin at the primordium site. However, how auxin regulates nodule development remains poorly understood. Here, we found that in soybean, (Glycine max), dynamic auxin transport driven by PIN-FORMED (PIN) transporter GmPIN1 is involved in nodule primordium formation. GmPIN1 was specifically expressed in nodule primordium cells and GmPIN1 was polarly localized in these cells. Two nodulation regulators, (iso)flavonoids trigger expanded distribution of GmPIN1b to root cortical cells, and cytokinin rearranges GmPIN1b polarity. Gmpin1abc triple mutants generated with CRISPR-Cas9 showed the impaired establishment of auxin maxima in nodule meristems and aberrant divisions in the nodule primordium cells. Moreover, overexpression of GmPIN1 suppressed nodule primordium initiation. GmPIN9d, an ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana PIN2, acts together with GmPIN1 later in nodule development to acropetally transport auxin in vascular bundles, fine-tuning the auxin supply for nodule enlargement. Our findings reveal how PIN-dependent auxin transport modulates different aspects of soybean nodule development and suggest that the establishment of auxin gradient is a prerequisite for the proper interaction between legumes and rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid34239685, year = {2021}, author = {Lembicz, M and Miszalski, Z and Kornaś, A and Turnau, K}, title = {Cooling effect of fungal stromata in the Dactylis-Epichloë-Botanophila symbiosis.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {151-157}, pmid = {34239685}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {The stromata of Epichloë fungi are structures covering part of the stem of grasses. Under the fungal layer, still green tissues of the plant survive, although the development of the new leaves is inhibited. Stromata are the places where conidia and ascospores develop. Also, here Botanophila flies dine on mycelium, lay the eggs, defecate, and the larvae develop. The interaction of the three symbionts was analyzed concerning the organisms' adaptation to understand the differences in physiology and ecology of this microenvironment that support stable symbiosis spreading presently in Europe since the beginning of the XXI century. For analysis of the infrared radiation emitted by stromata, a high-resolution infrared camera FLIR E50 was used. The visualization of stromata temperature profiles was shown in the form of pseudo-colored (false) infrared images. The [13]C discrimination was used to characterize photosynthesis of the plant tissue enclosed within the stromata. The stromata had a substantially lower temperature than the green plant tissues. The difference reached ~5.6°C during midday hours, whereas it was smaller in the evening, reaching only ~3.6°C. The mycelium of Epichloë cultivated on agar showed about 2°C lower temperature in comparison to the surrounding. The plant tissues enclosed within the stroma were photosynthetically active, although this activity was of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) type and less involved in heat dissipation during the day. The stromata, built by fungal hyphae, on which fungal reproductive structures develop, form a cool shelter. This shelter provides a place for the larvae of Botanophila flies.}, } @article {pmid34857981, year = {2020}, author = {Scharhauser, F and Zimmermann, J and Ott, JA and Leisch, N and Gruber-Vodicka, HR}, title = {Morphology of obligate ectosymbionts reveals Paralaxus gen. nov.: A new circumtropical genus of marine stilbonematine nematodes.}, journal = {Zoologica scripta}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {379-394}, pmid = {34857981}, issn = {0300-3256}, abstract = {Stilbonematinae are a subfamily of conspicuous marine nematodes, distinguished by a coat of sulphur-oxidizing bacterial ectosymbionts on their cuticle. As most nematodes, the worm hosts have a relatively simple anatomy and few taxonomically informative characters, and this has resulted in numerous taxonomic reassignments and synonymizations. Recent studies using a combination of morphological and molecular traits have helped to improve the taxonomy of Stilbonematinae but also raised questions on the validity of several genera. Here, we describe a new circumtropically distributed genus Paralaxus (Stilbonematinae) with three species: Paralaxus cocos sp. nov., P. bermudensis sp. nov. and P. columbae sp. nov. We used single worm metagenomes to generate host 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) as well as symbiont 16S rRNA gene sequences. Intriguingly, COI alignments and primer matching analyses suggest that the COI is not suitable for PCR-based barcoding approaches in Stilbonematinae as the genera have a highly diverse base composition and no conserved primer sites. The phylogenetic analyses of all three gene sets, however, confirm the morphological assignments and support the erection of the new genus Paralaxus as well as corroborate the status of the other stilbonematine genera. Paralaxus most closely resembles the stilbonematine genus Laxus in overlapping sets of diagnostic features but can be distinguished from Laxus by the morphology of the genus-specific symbiont coat. Our re-analyses of key parameters of the symbiont coat morphology as character for all Stilbonematinae genera show that with amended descriptions, including the coat, highly reliable genus assignments can be obtained.}, } @article {pmid34752531, year = {2020}, author = {Kumar, J and Gudhoor, M and Ganachari, MS}, title = {Parallel Assessment of Chemotherapy Adherence and Supportive Therapy Adherence on Occurrence and Minimization of Adverse Drug Reactions Among Cancer Patients: A Clinical-Based Observational Study.}, journal = {The Journal of pharmacy technology : jPT : official publication of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {72-77}, pmid = {34752531}, issn = {8755-1225}, abstract = {Background: Cancer is a disease that is inevitably treated using chemotherapy, but the cytotoxic drugs used in the treatment have the potency to cause adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Thus, supportive therapy plays an essential role in managing the untoward effects of the cancer drugs in patients. This highlights the importance of medication adherence in managing the disease, mitigating and preventing the occurrence of chemotherapy-induced ADR without compromising the health status of the cancer population. Objective: To assess the adherence to chemotherapy and supportive therapy and to evaluate type and degree of causality of ADRs observed in cancer patients. Methods: On ethics committee approval, a 6-month observational study was conducted among recruited cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in a tertiary care hospital. Morisky Medication Adherence Measurement Scale-8 was employed to assess the medication adherence, and ADR causality was determined using Naranjo ADR Probability Scale. Results: Ninety cancer patients participated in the study, out of which females were 61.11%. Chemotherapy adherence in comparison to supportive drugs was observed to be more (21.11%). Twelve different combination of ADR were reported in the subjects with variability in the degree of causality assessment. Conclusion and Relevance: The distinction of adherence to the medication used in cancer management with marked level of ADR was well depicted in the study, implicating the necessity of prudent symbiotic practice of an oncology pharmacist, patient, and physician relationship in optimizing the quality of life of cancer patients by imparting vigilant efforts in medication adherence.}, } @article {pmid34908963, year = {2020}, author = {Barberis, N and Martino, G and Calaresi, D and Žvelc, G}, title = {Development of the Italian Version of the Test of Object Relations-Short Form.}, journal = {Clinical neuropsychiatry}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {24-33}, pmid = {34908963}, issn = {2385-0787}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a short form of the Test of Object Relations (TOR-SF), a self-report instrument that assesses object relations.

METHOD: Two separate studies were undertaken to accomplish this purpose. Study 1 aimed to select a reduced number of the items included in the Test of Object Relations, in order to develop a short form of the original instrument. Furthermore, the reliability and criterion validity of the instrument were examined. The primary purpose of Study 2 was to test, in a different sample, the factor structure of the TOR-SF and to examine the internal consistency, reliability, and concurrent validity using measures of attachment to mother, father, and friends.

RESULTS: The TOR-SF showed a good six-factor structure which represents the six subscales of the theoretical framework model (symbiotic merging, separation anxiety, narcissism, egocentricity, social isolation, and fear of engulfment). The six factors showed very good internal reliability and good criterion and concurrent validity. Results also supported the hierarchical three-factor model which, besides six sub-dimensions of object relations, includes three main dimensions (dependence, self-absorption, and alienation).

CONCLUSIONS: The short version of the TOR includes 18 items and is economical to use. Practical implications for object relations psychology are discussed.}, } @article {pmid34568751, year = {2020}, author = {Wilkes, TI and Warner, DJ and Edmonds-Brown, V and Davies, KG and Denholm, I}, title = {A comparison of methodologies for the staining and quantification of intracellular components of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the root cortex of two varieties of winter wheat.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {acmi000083}, pmid = {34568751}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are one of the most common fungal organisms to exist in symbiosis with terrestrial plants, facilitating the growth and maintenance of arable crops. Wheat has been studied extensively for AM fungal symbiosis using the carcinogen trypan blue as the identifying stain for fungal components, namely arbuscles, vesicles and hyphal structures. The present study uses Sheaffer blue ink with a lower risk as an alternative to this carcinogenic stain. Justification for this is determined by stained wheat root sections (n=120), with statistically significant increases in the observed abundance of intracellular root cortical fungal structures stained with Sheaffer blue ink compared to trypan blue for both Zulu (P=0.003) and Siskin (P=0.0003) varieties of winter wheat. This new alternative combines an improved quantification of intracellular fungal components with a lower hazard risk at a lower cost.}, } @article {pmid34664898, year = {2019}, author = {Yoshikawa, A and Nakazawa, S and Asakura, A}, title = {A Brief Description of Surface Structure and Composition of the Pseudo-Snail Shell Formed by a Sea Anemone Stylobates sp. Symbiotic with Hermit Crabs from the Deep-Sea Floor.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {284-293}, doi = {10.2108/zs180167}, pmid = {34664898}, issn = {0289-0003}, abstract = {Sea anemones belonging to the genera Adamsia and Stylobates have a remarkable symbiotic relationship with hermit crabs. These symbiotic sea anemones produce a shell-like structure, called a "carcinoecium," that covers and extends over the gastropod shell of the host hermit crab as hermit crabs grow. This structure has been described as "chitinous carcinoecium" or "chitinous coating." A previous study investigated carcinoecia of Stylobates aeneus, the results of which indicated that it contained at least 1.7% chitin, while the remaining components were unidentified. Moreover, the microscopic structure of a carcinoecium still remains to be detailed. We, therefore, conducted detailed observations using a stereoscopic microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the analyses of the chemical composition of carcinoecia produced by Stylobates sp. (apparently conspecific with Isadamsia sp. "J" reported in Uchida and Soyama, 2001) associated with a pagurid hermit crab Pagurodofleinia doederleini collected in the south of the Shima Peninsula, Mie, Honshu Island, Japan at a depth of 294-306 m. Our results indicate that carcinoecia of Stylobates sp. contain HCl-soluble components (13%), NaOH-soluble components (38%), chitin (11%) and unidentified remnants (39%). Additionally, our observations show that Stylobates sp. incorporates dark- and white-colored particles that could be sand and/or mud into the carcinoecium.}, } @article {pmid34285991, year = {2018}, author = {Reuter, C and Oelschlaeger, TA}, title = {Enhancement of Mucus Production in Eukaryotic Cells and Quantification of Adherent Mucus by ELISA.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e2879}, pmid = {34285991}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {The mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary tracts, and the surface of the eye harbor a resident microflora that lives in symbiosis with their host and forms a complex ecosystem. The protection of the vulnerable epithelium is primarily achieved by mucins that form a gel-like structure adherent to the apical cell surface. This mucus layer constitutes a physical and chemical barrier between the microbial flora and the underlying epithelium. Mucus is critical to the maintenance of a homeostatic relationship between the microbiota and its host. Subtle deviations from this dynamic interaction may result in major implications for health. The protocol in this article describes the procedures to grow low mucus-producing HT29 and high mucus-producing HT29-MTX-E12 cells, maintain cells and use them for mucus quantification by ELISA. Additionally, it is described how to assess the amount of secreted adherent mucus. This system can be used to study the protective effect of mucus, e.g., against bacterial toxins, to test the effect of different culture conditions on mucus production or to analyze diffusion of molecules through the mucus layer. Since the ELISA used in this protocol is available for different species and mucus proteins, also other cell types can be used.}, } @article {pmid34286009, year = {2018}, author = {Keymer, A and Huber, C and Eisenreich, W and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Tracking Lipid Transfer by Fatty Acid Isotopolog Profiling from Host Plants to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e2786}, pmid = {34286009}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Lipid transfer from host plants to arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi was hypothesized for several years because sequenced arbuscular mycorrhiza fungal genomes lack genes encoding cytosolic fatty acid synthase (Wewer et al., 2014 ; Rich et al., 2017). It was finally shown by two independent experimental approaches (Jiang et al., 2017 ; Keymer et al., 2017 ; Luginbuehl et al., 2017). One approach used a technique called isotopolog profiling (Keymer et al., 2017). Isotopologs are molecules, which differ only in their isotopic composition. For isotopolog profiling an organism is fed with a heavy isotope labelled precursor metabolite. Subsequently, the labelled isotopolog composition of metabolic products is analysed via mass spectrometry. The detected isotopolog pattern of the metabolite(s) of interest yields information about metabolic pathways and fluxes (Ahmed et al., 2014). The following protocol describes an experimental setup, which enables separate isotopolog profiling of fatty acids in plant roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and their associated fungal extraradical mycelium, to elucidate fluxes between both symbiotic organisms. We predict that this strategy can also be used to study metabolite fluxes between other organisms if the two interacting organisms can be physically separated.}, } @article {pmid34595259, year = {2017}, author = {Becquer, A and Torres-Aquino, M and Guernevé, CL and Amenc, LK and Trives-Segura, C and Staunton, S and Quiquampoix, H and Plassard, C}, title = {Establishing a Symbiotic Interface between Cultured Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Plants to Follow Fungal Phosphate Metabolism.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {7}, number = {20}, pages = {e2577}, pmid = {34595259}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {In ectomycorrhizal plants, the fungal cells colonize the roots of their host plant to create new organs called ectomycorrhizae. In these new organs, the fungal cells colonize the walls of the cortical cells, bathing in the same apoplasm as the plant cells in a space named the 'Hartig net', where exchanges between the two partners take place. Finally, the efficiency of ectomycorrhizal fungi to improve the phosphorus nutrition of their host plants will depend on the regulation of phosphate transfer from the fungal cells to plant cells in the Hartig net through as yet unknown mechanisms. In order to investigate these mechanisms, we developed an in vitro experimental device mimicking the common apoplasm of the ectomycorrhizae (the Hartig net) to study the phosphorus metabolism in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum when the fungal cells are associated or not with the plant cells of the host plant Pinus pinaster. This device can be used to monitor [32]Phosphate efflux from the fungus previously incubated with [32]P-orthophosphate.}, } @article {pmid34539030, year = {2015}, author = {Polisetti, S and Baig, N and Bible, A and Morrell-Falvey, J and Doktycz, M and Bohn, PW}, title = {Using Raman Spectroscopy and SERS for in-situ studies of rhizosphere bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering}, volume = {9550}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34539030}, issn = {0277-786X}, support = {R01 AI113219/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria colonize plant roots to form a symbiotic relationship with the plant and can play in important role in promoting plant growth. Raman spectroscopy is a useful technique to study these bacterial systems and the chemical signals they utilize to interact with the plant. We present a Raman study of Pantoea YR343 that was isolated from the rhizosphere of Populus deltoides (Eastern Cottonwood). Pantoea sp. YR343 produce yellowish carotenoid pigment that play a role in protection against UV radiation, in the anti-oxidative pathways and in membrane fluidity. Raman spectroscopy is used to non-invasively characterize the membrane bound carotenoids. The spectra collected from a mutant strain created by knocking out the crtB gene that encodes a phytoene synthase responsible for early stage of carotenoid biosynthesis, lack the carotenoid peaks. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy is being employed to detect the plant phytoharmone indoleacetic acid that is synthesized by the bacteria. This work describes our recent progress towards utilizing Raman spectroscopy as a label free, non-destructive method of studying plant-bacteria interactions in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid34798772, year = {2013}, author = {Aguado, MT and Nygren, A and Rouse, GW}, title = {Two apparently unrelated groups of symbiotic annelids, Nautiliniellidae and Calamyzidae (Phyllodocida, Annelida), are a clade of derived chrysopetalid polychaetes.}, journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {610-628}, doi = {10.1111/cla.12011}, pmid = {34798772}, issn = {1096-0031}, abstract = {Nautiliniellidae Miura and Laubier, 1989 is a small family of marine polychaetes with 20 currently described species in 11 genera, most of which are known to live symbiotically in the mantle cavity of bivalves, mainly from cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, while Calamyzidae (Hartmann-Schröder, 1971) including only one described species, Calamyzas amphictenicola Arwidsson 1932 lives as an ectoparasite on ampharetid polychaetes in Swedish waters. Nautiliniellidae and Calamyzidae have both been considered to belong to Phyllodocida, but the few phylogenetic studies including these taxa have found their positions unstable. The internal relationships within Nautiliniellidae are also poorly understood. Using molecular information from both nuclear and mitochondrial genes and morphological data we assessed the systematic placement of Nautiliniellidae (seven species; collected from Pacific hydrothermal vents and cold seeps and one from Atlantic waters) and Calamyzas amphictenicola. Our results show that C. amphictenicola and Nautiliniellidae formed a well-supported clade that is nested within Chrysopetalidae, a free-living group of polychaetes. The chrysopetalid genus Vigtorniella Kiseleva 1992; a bacterial mat grazer found at methane seeps, anoxic basins and whalefalls, formed a paraphyletic grade with respect to the Nautiliniellidae-Calamyzas clade. The internal relationships within the Nautiliniellidae-Calamyzas clade as well as the relationships with their hosts are also examined. As a result we synonymize Calamyzidae and Nautiliniellidae with Chrysopetalidae, with the last as the oldest available family-group name. Within Chrysopetalidae we refer to the subfamilies Chrysopetalinae Ehlers 1864; Dysponetinae Aguado, Nygren & Rouse, herein; and Calamyzinae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971. Calamyzinae contains C. amphictenicola, all taxa formerly in Nautiliniellidae, and the chrysopetalid genus Vigtorniella.}, } @article {pmid34239536, year = {2021}, author = {Hashimoto-Hill, S and Alenghat, T}, title = {Inflammation-Associated Microbiota Composition Across Domestic Animals.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {649599}, pmid = {34239536}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Domestic animals represent important resources for understanding shared mechanisms underlying complex natural diseases that arise due to both genetic and environmental factors. Intestinal inflammation, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a significant health challenge in humans and domestic animals. While the etiology of IBD is multifactorial, imbalance of symbiotic gut microbiota has been hypothesized to play a central role in disease pathophysiology. Advances in genomic sequencing and analytical pipelines have enabled researchers to decipher the composition of the intestinal microbiota during health and in the context of naturally occurring diseases. This review compiles microbiome genomic data across domestic species and highlights a common occurrence of gut microbiome dysbiosis during idiopathic intestinal inflammation in multiple species, including dogs, cats, horses, cows, and pigs. Current microbiome data obtained from animals with intestinal inflammation are mostly limited to taxonomical analyses in association with broad clinical phenotype. In general, a pathogen or pathosymbiont were not detected. Rather, functional potential of the altered microbiota has been suggested to be one of the key etiologic factors. Among the domestic species studied, canine analyses are currently the most advanced with incorporation of functional profiling of microbiota. Canine IBD parallels features of the disease in humans, thus canines represent a strong natural model for human IBD. While deeper analyses of metagenomic data, coupled with host molecular analyses are needed, comparative studies across domestic species can reveal shared microbial alterations and regulatory mechanisms that will improve our understanding of intestinal inflammation in both animals and humans.}, } @article {pmid34239533, year = {2021}, author = {Soto, MJ and López-Lara, IM and Geiger, O and Romero-Puertas, MC and van Dillewijn, P}, title = {Rhizobial Volatiles: Potential New Players in the Complex Interkingdom Signaling With Legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {698912}, pmid = {34239533}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Bacteria release a wide range of volatile compounds that play important roles in intermicrobial and interkingdom communication. Volatile metabolites emitted by rhizobacteria can promote plant growth and increase plant resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Rhizobia establish beneficial nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legume plants in a process starting with a chemical dialog in the rhizosphere involving various diffusible compounds. Despite being one of the most studied plant-interacting microorganisms, very little is known about volatile compounds produced by rhizobia and their biological/ecological role. Evidence indicates that plants can perceive and respond to volatiles emitted by rhizobia. In this perspective, we present recent data that open the possibility that rhizobial volatile compounds have a role in symbiotic interactions with legumes and discuss future directions that could shed light onto this area of investigation.}, } @article {pmid34239529, year = {2021}, author = {Peña Venegas, RA and Lee, SJ and Thuita, M and Mlay, DP and Masso, C and Vanlauwe, B and Rodriguez, A and Sanders, IR}, title = {The Phosphate Inhibition Paradigm: Host and Fungal Genotypes Determine Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization and Responsiveness to Inoculation in Cassava With Increasing Phosphorus Supply.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {693037}, pmid = {34239529}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {A vast majority of terrestrial plants are dependent on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for their nutrient acquisition. AMF act as an extension of the root system helping phosphate uptake. In agriculture, harnessing the symbiosis can potentially increase plant growth. Application of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis has been demonstrated to increase the yields of various crops. However, there is a paradigm that AMF colonization of roots, as well as the plant benefits afforded by inoculation with AMF, decreases with increasing phosphorus (P) supply in the soil. The paradigm suggests that when fertilized with sufficient P, inoculation of crops would not be beneficial. However, the majority of experiments demonstrating the paradigm were conducted in sterile conditions without a background AMF or soil microbial community. Interestingly, intraspecific variation in R. irregularis can greatly alter the yield of cassava even at a full application of the recommended P dose. Cassava is a globally important crop, feeding 800 million people worldwide, and a crop that is highly dependent on AMF for P uptake. In this study, field trials were conducted at three locations in Kenya and Tanzania using different AMF and cassava varieties under different P fertilization levels to test if the paradigm occurs in tropical field conditions. We found that AMF colonization and inoculation responsiveness of cassava does not always decrease with an increased P supply as expected by the paradigm. The obtained results demonstrate that maximizing the inoculation responsiveness of cassava is not necessarily only in conditions of low P availability, but that this is dependent on cassava and fungal genotypes. Thus, the modeling of plant symbiosis with AMF under different P levels in nature should be considered with caution.}, } @article {pmid34239527, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, Y and Chen, R}, title = {Nitrogen and Phosphorus Signaling and Transport During Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {683601}, pmid = {34239527}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the two predominant mineral elements, which are not only essential for plant growth and development in general but also play a key role in symbiotic N fixation in legumes. Legume plants have evolved complex signaling networks to respond to both external and internal levels of these macronutrients to optimize symbiotic N fixation in nodules. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) and nitrate (NO3 [-]) are the two major forms of P and N elements utilized by plants, respectively. Pi starvation and NO3 [-] application both reduce symbiotic N fixation via similar changes in the nodule gene expression and invoke local and long-distance, systemic responses, of which N-compound feedback regulation of rhizobial nitrogenase activity appears to operate under both conditions. Most of the N and P signaling and transport processes have been investigated in model organisms, such as Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, etc. We attempted to discuss some of these processes wherever appropriate, to serve as references for a better understanding of the N and P signaling and transport during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34238738, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Z and Xu, K and Zhou, H}, title = {[Characteristics of gut virome and microbiome in patients with stroke].}, journal = {Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University}, volume = {41}, number = {6}, pages = {862-869}, pmid = {34238738}, issn = {1673-4254}, mesh = {*Brain Ischemia ; Feces ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Stroke ; Virome ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in gut virome and microbiome between patients with stroke and healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: Fifteen patients with acute ischemic stroke treated in the Department of Neurology of Nanfang Hospital between February, 2014 and February, 2016 and 15 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were enrolled in this study. Virome sequencing and 16S rRNA sequencing were performed on stool samples of all the participants, and the composition and structures of the virome and microbiome were compared between the two groups.

OBJECTIVE: No significant difference was found in the overall diversity of virome between the stroke patients and the healthy volunteers (alpha diversity: P=0.320; beta diversity: P=0.169, R[2]=0.037), but virome composition differed significantly between the two groups. The relative abundance of Bacteroides phage B40_8 and Cronobacter phage CS01 increased significantly in patients with stroke. The structures and composition of the microbiome in patients with stroke also differed significantly from those of the healthy volunteers (alpha diversity: P=0.950; beta diversity: P=0.005, R[2]=0.117). The relative abundance of Megasphaera increased while that of Bifidobacterium decreased in patients with stroke. Correlation analysis showed that in the virome of stroke patients, the relative abundance of the phage preying Streptococcus was positively correlated with that of their hosts (r=0.550, P=0.036), while in the virome of healthy volunteers, the relative abundance of the phage preying Faecalibacterium (r=0.520, P=0.049), Bilophila (r=0.541, P=0.040) and Roseburia (r=0.526, P=0.046) were positively correlated with that of their respective hosts.

OBJECTIVE: Stroke patients have similar overall diversity of the virome to healthy volunteers but different virome composition and interaction patterns between the virome and microbiome. The gut microbiome also differs between stroke patients and healthy volunteers. The relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens increases but that of symbiotic bacteria decreases in stroke patients.}, } @article {pmid34237403, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, CX and Zhang, XZ}, title = {Bacteriophage-mediated modulation of microbiota for diseases treatment.}, journal = {Advanced drug delivery reviews}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {113856}, doi = {10.1016/j.addr.2021.113856}, pmid = {34237403}, issn = {1872-8294}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/pathogenicity/virology ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology/*therapy ; Bacteriophages/physiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Phage Therapy/*methods ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic microbiota is nowadays regarded as a human "invisible organ", its imbalance has been shown to be associated with many diseases. Besides, the progress of diseases can in turn change the internal structure of microbiota. Some diseases have shown their unique microbiota markers that may be potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, modulating microbiota may be a powerful strategy for diseases treatment. However, conventional microbiota modulation strategies lack selectivity and are suffer from side effects. In recent years, with the increasing challenge of antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage (phage) therapy has gradually presented its potential to treat drug-resistant infections. Phages are viruses that infect bacteria, with high selectivity for specific bacteria and almost no tropism for mammalian cells. Studies showed that phage-mediated precise modulation of microbiota has achieved great success in diseases treatment. Here, we briefly summarized the treatment strategies of phage-mediated modulation of microbiota, and discussed prospect of possible development in this field.}, } @article {pmid34236933, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez-Pazos, E and Certano, A and Gagne, J and Lebeuf, R and Siegel, N and Nguyen, N and Kennedy, PG}, title = {The slippery nature of ectomycorrhizal host specificity: Suillus fungi associated with novel pinoid (Picea) and abietoid (Abies) hosts.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {113}, number = {5}, pages = {891-901}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2021.1921525}, pmid = {34236933}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {*Abies ; Host Specificity ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Picea ; *Pinus ; }, abstract = {Suillus is among the best-known examples of an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal genus that demonstrates a high degree of host specificity. Currently recognized host genera of Suillus include Larix, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga, which all belong to the pinoid clade of the family Pinaceae. Intriguingly, Suillus sporocarps have been sporadically collected in forests in which known hosts from these genera are locally absent. To determine the capacity of Suillus to associate with alternative hosts in both the pinoid and abietoid clades of Pinaceae, we examined the host associations of two Suillus species (S. punctatipes and S. glandulosus) through field-based root tip sampling and seedling bioassays. Root tip collections underneath Suillus sporocarps were molecularly identified (fungi: nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 [ITS barcode]; plant: trnL) to assess the association with multiple hosts. The bioassays contained both single- and two-species treatments, including a primary (Larix or Pseudotsuga) and a secondary (Picea, Pinus, or Abies) host. For the S. punctatipes bioassay, an additional treatment in which the primary host was removed after 8 mo was included to assess the effect of primary host presence on longer-term ECM colonization. The field-based results confirmed that Suillus fungi were able to associate with Abies and Tsuga hosts, representing novel host genera for this genus. In the bioassays, colonization on the primary hosts was detected in both single- and two-species treatments, but no colonization was present when Picea and Abies hosts were grown alone. Removal of a primary host had no effect on percent ECM colonization, suggesting that primary hosts are not necessary for sustaining Suillus colonization once they are successfully established on secondary hosts. Collectively, our results indicate that host specificity is more flexible in this genus than previously acknowledged and help to explain the presence of Suillus in forests where recognized hosts are not present.}, } @article {pmid34236765, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, M and Feng, H and Xu, P and Xie, Q and Gao, J and Wang, Y and Zhang, X and Yang, J and Murray, JD and Sun, F and Wang, C and Wang, E and Yu, N}, title = {Phosphorylation of MtRopGEF2 by LYK3 mediates MtROP activity to regulate rhizobial infection in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {63}, number = {10}, pages = {1787-1800}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13148}, pmid = {34236765}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The formation of nitrogen-fixing no dules on legume roots requires the coordination of infection by rhizobia at the root epidermis with the initiation of cell divisions in the root cortex. During infection, rhizobia attach to the tip of elongating root hairs which then curl to entrap the rhizobia. However, the mechanism of root hair deformation and curling in response to symbiotic signals is still elusive. Here, we found that small GTPases (MtRac1/MtROP9 and its homologs) are required for root hair development and rhizobial infection in Medicago truncatula. Our results show that the Nod factor receptor LYK3 phosphorylates the guanine nucleotide exchange factor MtRopGEF2 at S73 which is critical for the polar growth of root hairs. In turn, phosphorylated MtRopGEF2 can activate MtRac1. Activated MtRac1 was found to localize at the tips of root hairs and to strongly interact with LYK3 and NFP. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that MtRac1, LYK3, and NFP form a polarly localized receptor complex that regulates root hair deformation during rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid34235554, year = {2022}, author = {Buysse, M and Binetruy, F and Leibson, R and Gottlieb, Y and Duron, O}, title = {Ecological Contacts and Host Specificity Promote Replacement of Nutritional Endosymbionts in Ticks.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {776-788}, pmid = {34235554}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Francisella ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Ticks ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with vitamin-provisioning microbes is essential for the nutrition of animals with some specialized feeding habits. While coevolution favors the interdependence between symbiotic partners, their associations are not necessarily stable: Recently acquired symbionts can replace ancestral symbionts. In this study, we demonstrate successful replacement by Francisella-like endosymbionts (-LE), a group of B-vitamin-provisioning endosymbionts, across tick communities driven by horizontal transfers. Using a broad collection of Francisella-LE-infected tick species, we determined the diversity of Francisella-LE haplotypes through a multi-locus strain typing approach and further characterized their phylogenetic relationships and their association with biological traits of their tick hosts. The patterns observed showed that Francisella-LE commonly transfer through similar ecological networks and geographic distributions shared among different tick species and, in certain cases, through preferential shuffling across congeneric tick species. Altogether, these findings reveal the importance of geographic, ecological, and phylogenetic proximity in shaping the replacement pattern in which new nutritional symbioses are initiated.}, } @article {pmid34234761, year = {2021}, author = {Ge, SX and Shi, FM and Pei, JH and Hou, ZH and Zong, SX and Ren, LL}, title = {Gut Bacteria Associated With Monochamus saltuarius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Their Possible Roles in Host Plant Adaptations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {687211}, pmid = {34234761}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Monochamus saltuarius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an important native pest in the pine forests of northeast China and a dispersing vector of an invasive species Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. To investigate the bacterial gut diversity of M. saltuarius larvae in different host species, and infer the role of symbiotic bacteria in host adaptation, we used 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics processing to obtain and compare the composition of the bacterial community and metabolites in the midguts of larvae feeding on three host tree species: Pinus koraiensis, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, and Pinus tabuliformis. Metabolomics in xylem samples from the three aforementioned hosts were also performed. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the predominant bacterial phyla in the larval gut. At the genus level, Klebsiella, unclassified_f__Enterobacteriaceae, Lactococcus, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia were most dominant in P. koraiensis and P. sylvestris var. mongolica feeders, while Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Dyella, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Mycobacterium were most dominant in P. tabuliformis feeders. Bacterial communities were similar in diversity in P. koraiensis and P. sylvestris var. mongolica feeders, while communities were highly diverse in P. tabuliformis feeders. Compared with the other two tree species, P. tabuliformis xylems had more diverse and abundant secondary metabolites, while larvae feeding on these trees had a stronger metabolic capacity for secondary metabolites than the other two host feeders. Correlation analysis of the association of microorganisms with metabolic features showed that dominant bacterial genera in P. tabuliformis feeders were more negatively correlated with plant secondary metabolites than those of other host tree feeders.}, } @article {pmid34234696, year = {2021}, author = {Ayalon, I and Benichou, JIC and Avisar, D and Levy, O}, title = {The Endosymbiotic Coral Algae Symbiodiniaceae Are Sensitive to a Sensory Pollutant: Artificial Light at Night, ALAN.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {695083}, pmid = {34234696}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Artificial Light at Night, ALAN, is a major emerging issue in biodiversity conservation, which can negatively impact both terrestrial and marine environments. Therefore, it should be taken into serious consideration in strategic planning for urban development. While the lion's share of research has dealt with terrestrial organisms, only a handful of studies have focused on the marine milieu. To determine if ALAN impacts the coral reef symbiotic algae, that are fundamental for sustainable coral reefs, we conducted a short experiment over a period of one-month by illuminating isolated Symbiodiniaceae cell cultures from the genera Cladocopium (formerly Clade C) and Durusdinium (formerly Clade D) with LED light. Cell cultures were exposed nightly to ALAN levels of 0.15 μmol quanta m[-2] s[-1] (∼4-5 lux) with three light spectra: blue, yellow and white. Our findings showed that even in very low levels of light at night, the photo-physiology of the algae's Electron Transport Rate (ETR), Non-Photochemical Quenching, (NPQ), total chlorophyll, and meiotic index presented significantly lower values under ALAN, primarily, but not exclusively, in Cladocopium cell cultures. The findings also showed that diverse Symbiodiniaceae types have different photo-physiology and photosynthesis performances under ALAN. We believe that our results sound an alarm for the probable detrimental effects of an increasing sensory pollutant, ALAN, on the eco-physiology of symbiotic corals. The results of this study point to the potential effects of ALAN on other organisms in marine ecosystem such as fish, zooplankton, and phytoplankton in which their biorhythms is entrained by natural light and dark cycles.}, } @article {pmid34234044, year = {2021}, author = {Yazaki, W and Shimasaki, T and Aoki, Y and Masuda, S and Shibata, A and Suda, W and Shirasu, K and Yazaki, K and Sugiyama, A}, title = {Nitrogen Deficiency-induced Bacterial Community Shifts in Soybean Roots.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {34234044}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen deficiency affects soybean growth and physiology, such as symbiosis with rhizobia; however, its effects on the bacterial composition of the soybean root microbiota remain unclear. A bacterial community analysis by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed nitrogen deficiency-induced bacterial community shifts in soybean roots with the marked enrichment of Methylobacteriaceae. The abundance of Methylobacteriaceae was low in the roots of field-grown soybean without symptoms of nitrogen deficiency. Although Methylobacteriaceae isolated from soybean roots under nitrogen deficiency did not promote growth or nodulation when inoculated into soybean roots, these results indicate that the enrichment of Methylobacteriaceae in soybean roots is triggered by nitrogen-deficiency stress.}, } @article {pmid34233442, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, MG and Yang, J and Jo, SK}, title = {Intestinal microbiota and kidney diseases.}, journal = {Kidney research and clinical practice}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {335-343}, pmid = {34233442}, issn = {2211-9132}, abstract = {Large microbial communities reside in the gut as an endogenous organ and interact with the host physiology through symbiotic relationships, affecting health. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques have made it possible to better understand these complex microbial communities and their effects on hosts. Animal and clinical studies have provided considerable evidence to show that the microbiota plays an important role in chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, nephrolithiasis, and kidney transplantation by altering the functions of the intestinal barrier, regulating local and systemic inflammation, controlling production of metabolic components, and affecting immune responses. Although the exact mechanism underlying the microbial shift and its impact on disease progression remains uncertain, the kidney-gut interaction clearly plays a significant role in onset and progression of kidney disease and, therefore, holds promise as a therapeutic target. Here, we review recent literature pertaining to the bidirectional relationship between microbes and humans in various kidney diseases and discuss the future direction of microbial research in nephrology.}, } @article {pmid34232724, year = {2021}, author = {Chiapello, M and Bosco, L and Ciuffo, M and Ottati, S and Salem, N and Rosa, C and Tavella, L and Turina, M}, title = {Complexity and Local Specificity of the Virome Associated with Tospovirus-Transmitting Thrips Species.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {95}, number = {21}, pages = {e0059721}, pmid = {34232724}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology/methods ; Genome, Viral ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Insect Vectors/*virology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/virology ; RNA Viruses/classification/genetics ; RNA, Viral ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity ; Thysanoptera/*virology ; Tospovirus/*classification/*genetics ; *Virome ; }, abstract = {Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips [WFT]) and Thrips tabaci (onion thrips [OT]) are insect species that greatly impact horticultural crops through direct damage and their efficient vectoring of tomato spotted wilt virus and iris yellow spot virus. In this study, we collected thrips of these species from 12 field populations in various regions in Italy. We also included one field population of Neohydatothrips variabilis (soybean thrips [ST]) from the United States. Total RNA data from high-throughput sequencing (HTS) were used to assemble the virome, and then we assigned putative viral contigs to each thrips sample by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Excluding plant and fungal viruses, we were able to identify 61 viral segments, corresponding to 41 viruses: 14 were assigned to WFT, 17 to OT, and 1 to ST; 9 viruses could not be assigned to any species based on our stringent criteria. All these viruses are putative representative of new species (with only the exception of a sobemo-like virus that is 100% identical to a virus recently characterized in ST) and some belong to new higher-ranking taxa. These additions to the viral phylogeny suggest previously undescribed evolutionary niches. Most of Baltimore's classes of RNA viruses were present (positive- and minus-strand and double-stranded RNA viruses), but only one DNA virus was identified in our collection. Repeated sampling in a subset of locations in 2019 and 2020 and further virus characterization in a subset of four thrips populations maintained in the laboratory allowed us to provide evidence of a locally persistent thrips core virome that characterizes each population. IMPORTANCE Harnessing the insect microbiome can result in new approaches to contain their populations or the damage they cause vectoring viruses of medical, veterinary, or agricultural importance. Persistent insect viruses are a neglected component of their microbiota. In this study, for the first time, we characterize the virome associated with the two model systems for tospovirus-transmitting thrips species, of utmost importance for the direct and indirect damage they cause to a number of different crops. The thrips virome characterized includes several novel viruses, which in some cases reveal previously undescribed clades. More importantly, some of the viruses we describe are part of a core virome that is specific and consistently present in distinct geographical locations monitored over the years, hinting at a possible mutualistic symbiotic relationship with their host.}, } @article {pmid34232528, year = {2021}, author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and McCutcheon, JP and Spribille, T}, title = {Lichen fungi do not depend on the alga for ATP production: A comment on Pogoda et al. (2018).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {17}, pages = {4155-4159}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16010}, pmid = {34232528}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate ; Fungi ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Lichens/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lichen fungi live in a symbiotic association with unicellular phototrophs and most have no known aposymbiotic stage. A recent study in Molecular Ecology postulated that some of them have lost mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and rely on their algal partners for ATP. This claim originated from an apparent lack of ATP9, a gene encoding one subunit of ATP synthase, from a few mitochondrial genomes. Here, we show that while these fungi indeed have lost the mitochondrial ATP9, each retain a nuclear copy of this gene. Our analysis reaffirms that lichen fungi produce their own ATP.}, } @article {pmid34232401, year = {2021}, author = {Shcherbakova, A and Strömstedt, AA and Göransson, U and Gnezdilov, O and Turanov, A and Boldbaatar, D and Kochkin, D and Ulrich-Merzenich, G and Koptina, A}, title = {Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Evernia prunastri extracts and their isolates.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {8}, pages = {129}, pmid = {34232401}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Antioxidants/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/growth & development ; Candida albicans/drug effects/growth & development ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Parmeliaceae/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed by a fungus and one or more photosynthetic partners which are usually alga or cyanobacterium. Their diverse and scarcely studied metabolites facilitate adaptability to extreme living conditions. We investigated Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., a widely distributed lichen, for its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. E. prunastri was sequentially extracted by hexane (Hex), dichloromethane (DCM) and acetonitrile (ACN) that were screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial (against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans) activities. The Hex extract possessed the highest antioxidant capacity (87 mg ascorbic acid/g extract) corresponding to the highest content of phenols (73 mg gallic acid/g extract). The DCM and Hex extracts were both active against S. aureus (MICs of 4 and 21 µg/ml, respectively) but were less active against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast. The ACN extract exhibited activity on both S. aureus (MIC 14 µg/ml) and C. albicans (MIC 38 µg/ml) and was therefore further fractionated by silica gel column chromatography. The active compound of the most potent fraction was subsequently characterized by [1]H and [13]C-NMR spectroscopy and identified as evernic acid. Structural similarity analyses were performed between compounds from E. prunastri and known antibiotics from different classes. The structural similarity was not present. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of E. prunastri extracts originate from multiple chemical compounds; besides usnic acid, most notably evernic acid and derivatives thereof. Evernic acid and its derivatives represent possible candidates for a new class of antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid34232326, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, H and Jin, Q and Luo, J and He, Y and Qian, S and Li, W}, title = {Synergistic Effects of Aquatic Plants and Cyanobacterial Blooms on the Nitrous Oxide Emission from Wetlands.}, journal = {Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology}, volume = {108}, number = {3}, pages = {579-584}, pmid = {34232326}, issn = {1432-0800}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Denitrification ; *Greenhouse Gases/analysis ; Nitrous Oxide/analysis/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Wetlands provide a habitat for the symbiosis of multiple plants and play a significant role in global N2O emissions. The metabolic traits and effects on microorganisms, which regulate the conversion of nitrogen to N2O, varies with plant species. The frequent occurrences of cyanobacterial blooms in wetlands can also have a positive or negative effect on denitrification, entangling N2O emissions. In situ observations of the Dongting Lake reveal that the fluxes in N2O emissions vary with the vegetation. Maximum emissions occurred in the mud flat, while the zone with the minimum emissions was populated with carex. In 210-day batch cultures, the addition of cyanobacteria synergistically enhanced N2O production during the degredation of phalaris and reed. The abundance of the nirS and nirK genes decreased over time except in the phalaris-algae group. To mitigate the N2O emissions from wetlands, the macrophyte communities need to be protected, and the cyanobacterial blooms need to be avoided by reducing the nitrogen pollution.}, } @article {pmid34230779, year = {2021}, author = {Wasdani, KP}, title = {Syndemic in a pandemic: An autoethnography of a COVID survivor.}, journal = {Gender, work, and organization}, volume = {28}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {605-611}, pmid = {34230779}, issn = {0968-6673}, abstract = {This paper provides my personal experience as a COVID-19 survivor during and postrecovery periods. The stigma that my children and I underwent exposed us to the fragility of a social system that we struggle with all through our life to remain a part of. My story revealed a strong symbiotic relationship between the disease (COVID-19) and the patient's low acceptance in society, primarily attributed to misinformation and xenophobia around the COVID-19. This autoethnography speaks for several other COVID survivors who met with the same fate of being discriminated against and stigmatized. As a COVID patient and survivor, the traumatic experience was creating a fear psychosis in me, the effect of which I presume will stay beyond COVID-19. This condition of a syndemic seems to linger and negatively affect my outlook toward society. If COVID survivors develop a syndemic condition in a pandemic situation, it will require significant efforts to reserve it or sometimes even become irreversible.}, } @article {pmid34230473, year = {2021}, author = {Pierella Karlusich, JJ and Pelletier, E and Lombard, F and Carsique, M and Dvorak, E and Colin, S and Picheral, M and Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Acinas, SG and Pepperkok, R and Karsenti, E and de Vargas, C and Wincker, P and Bowler, C and Foster, RA}, title = {Global distribution patterns of marine nitrogen-fixers by imaging and molecular methods.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {4160}, pmid = {34230473}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Imprinting/*methods ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics/physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/metabolism ; Seawater/*chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation has a critical role in marine primary production, yet our understanding of marine nitrogen-fixers (diazotrophs) is hindered by limited observations. Here, we report a quantitative image analysis pipeline combined with mapping of molecular markers for mining >2,000,000 images and >1300 metagenomes from surface, deep chlorophyll maximum and mesopelagic seawater samples across 6 size fractions (<0.2-2000 μm). We use this approach to characterise the diversity, abundance, biovolume and distribution of symbiotic, colony-forming and particle-associated diazotrophs at a global scale. We show that imaging and PCR-free molecular data are congruent. Sequence reads indicate diazotrophs are detected from the ultrasmall bacterioplankton (<0.2 μm) to mesoplankton (180-2000 μm) communities, while images predict numerous symbiotic and colony-forming diazotrophs (>20 µm). Using imaging and molecular data, we estimate that polyploidy can substantially affect gene abundances of symbiotic versus colony-forming diazotrophs. Our results support the canonical view that larger diazotrophs (>10 μm) dominate the tropical belts, while unicellular cyanobacterial and non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs are globally distributed in surface and mesopelagic layers. We describe co-occurring diazotrophic lineages of different lifestyles and identify high-density regions of diazotrophs in the global ocean. Overall, we provide an update of marine diazotroph biogeographical diversity and present a new bioimaging-bioinformatic workflow.}, } @article {pmid34229973, year = {2021}, author = {Brescia, P and Rescigno, M}, title = {The gut vascular barrier: a new player in the gut-liver-brain axis.}, journal = {Trends in molecular medicine}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {844-855}, doi = {10.1016/j.molmed.2021.06.007}, pmid = {34229973}, issn = {1471-499X}, mesh = {Brain ; *Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Liver ; }, abstract = {The intestinal barrier protects our body from external insults through specialized cells organized in a multilayered structure that evolved in symbiosis with the resident microbiota. A breach in the outer mucus and epithelium can be transmitted to the inner gut vascular barrier (GVB), leading to systemic dissemination of microbes or microbe-derived molecules. Several extraintestinal pathologies have been linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis that causes GVB leakage in their early phases. The consequent spreading of inflammatory stimuli to distant organs could be driven by later vascular barrier disruption at different sites, suggesting an interplay between anatomical barriers across the body. Thus, targeting the intestinal barrier holds promise for the prevention and/or therapy of several intestinal, metabolic, and neurological disorders.}, } @article {pmid34228196, year = {2022}, author = {de Menezes, GCA and Câmara, PEAS and Pinto, OHB and Convey, P and Carvalho-Silva, M and Simões, JC and Rosa, CA and Rosa, LH}, title = {Fungi in the Antarctic Cryosphere: Using DNA Metabarcoding to Reveal Fungal Diversity in Glacial Ice from the Antarctic Peninsula Region.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {647-657}, pmid = {34228196}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Ice ; }, abstract = {We assessed fungal diversity present in glacial from the Antarctic Peninsula using DNA metabarcoding through high-throughput sequencing (HTS). We detected a total of 353,879 fungal DNA reads, representing 94 genera and 184 taxa, in glacial ice fragments obtained from seven sites in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. The phylum Ascomycota dominated the sequence diversity, followed by Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium atrovenetum, Epicoccum nigrum, Pseudogymnoascus sp. 1, Pseudogymnoascus sp. 2, Phaeosphaeriaceae sp. and Xylaria grammica were the most dominant taxa, respectively. However, the majority of the fungal diversity comprised taxa of rare and intermediate relative abundance, predominately known mesophilic fungi. High indices of diversity and richness were calculated, along with moderate index of dominance, which varied among the different sampling sites. Only 26 (14%) of the total fungal taxa detected were present at all sampling sites. The identified diversity was dominated by saprophytic taxa, followed by known plant and animal pathogens and a low number of symbiotic fungi. Our data suggest that Antarctic glacial ice may represent a hotspot of previously unreported fungal diversity; however, further studies are required to integrate HTS and culture approaches to confirm viability of the taxa detected.}, } @article {pmid34227720, year = {2021}, author = {Gradoville, MR and Cabello, AM and Wilson, ST and Turk-Kubo, KA and Karl, DM and Zehr, JP}, title = {Light and depth dependency of nitrogen fixation by the non-photosynthetic, symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {4518-4531}, pmid = {34227720}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Pacific Ocean ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A is one of the most globally abundant marine dinitrogen (N2)-fixers, but cultures have not been available and its biology and ecology are poorly understood. We used cultivation-independent approaches to investigate how UCYN-A single-cell N2 fixation rates (NFRs) and nifH gene expression vary as a function of depth and photoperiod. Twelve-hour day/night incubations showed that UCYN-A only fixed N2 during the day. Experiments conducted using in situ arrays showed a light-dependence of NFRs by the UCYN-A symbiosis, with the highest rates in surface waters (5-45 m) and lower rates at depth (≥ 75 m). Analysis of NFRs versus in situ light intensity yielded a light saturation parameter (Ik) for UCYN-A of 44 μmol quanta m[-2] s[-1] . This is low compared with other marine diazotrophs, suggesting an ecological advantage for the UCYN-A symbiosis under low-light conditions. In contrast to cell-specific NFRs, nifH gene-specific expression levels did not vary with depth, indicating that light regulates N2 fixation by UCYN-A through processes other than transcription, likely including host-symbiont interactions. These results offer new insights into the physiology of the UCYN-A symbiosis in the subtropical North Pacific Ocean and provide clues to the environmental drivers of its global distributions.}, } @article {pmid34227211, year = {2021}, author = {Cabrera, JJ and Jiménez-Leiva, A and Tomás-Gallardo, L and Parejo, S and Casado, S and Torres, MJ and Bedmar, EJ and Delgado, MJ and Mesa, S}, title = {Dissection of FixK2 protein-DNA interaction unveils new insights into Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens lifestyles control.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {6194-6209}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15661}, pmid = {34227211}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; DNA/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {The FixK2 protein plays a pivotal role in a complex regulatory network, which controls genes for microoxic, denitrifying, and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing lifestyles in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Among the microoxic-responsive FixK2 -activated genes are the fixNOQP operon, indispensable for respiration in symbiosis, and the nnrR regulatory gene needed for the nitric-oxide dependent induction of the norCBQD genes encoding the denitrifying nitric oxide reductase. FixK2 is a CRP/FNR-type transcription factor, which recognizes a 14 bp-palindrome (FixK2 box) at the regulated promoters through three residues (L195, E196, and R200) within a C-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. Here, we mapped the determinants for discriminatory FixK2 -mediated regulation. While R200 was essential for DNA binding and activity of FixK2 , L195 was involved in protein-DNA complex stability. Mutation at positions 1, 3, or 11 in the genuine FixK2 box at the fixNOQP promoter impaired transcription activation by FixK2 , which was residual when a second mutation affecting the box palindromy was introduced. The substitution of nucleotide 11 within the NnrR box at the norCBQD promoter allowed FixK2 -mediated activation in response to microoxia. Thus, position 11 within the FixK2 /NnrR boxes constitutes a key element that changes FixK2 targets specificity, and consequently, it might modulate B. diazoefficiens lifestyle as nitrogen fixer or as denitrifier.}, } @article {pmid34225761, year = {2021}, author = {Reddy, SB and Nagy, N and Rönnberg, C and Chiodi, F and Lugaajju, A and Heuts, F and Szekely, L and Wahlgren, M and Persson, KEM}, title = {Direct contact between Plasmodium falciparum and human B-cells in a novel co-culture increases parasite growth and affects B-cell growth.}, journal = {Malaria journal}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {303}, pmid = {34225761}, issn = {1475-2875}, mesh = {B-Lymphocytes/*metabolism/parasitology ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/*parasitology ; Plasmodium falciparum/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum parasites cause malaria and co-exist in humans together with B-cells for long periods of time. Immunity is only achieved after repeated exposure. There has been a lack of methods to mimic the in vivo co-occurrence, where cells and parasites can be grown together for many days, and it has been difficult with long time in vitro studies.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A new method for growing P. falciparum in 5% CO2 with a specially formulated culture medium is described. This knowledge was used to establish the co-culture of live P. falciparum together with human B-cells in vitro for 10 days. The presence of B-cells clearly enhanced parasite growth, but less so when Transwell inserts were used (not allowing passage of cells or merozoites), showing that direct contact is advantageous. B-cells also proliferated more in presence of parasites. Symbiotic parasitic growth was verified using CESS cell-line and it showed similar results, indicating that B-cells are indeed the cells responsible for the effect. In malaria endemic areas, people often have increased levels of atypical memory B-cells in the blood, and in this assay it was demonstrated that when parasites were present there was an increase in the proportion of CD19 + CD20 + CD27 - FCRL4 + B-cells, and a contraction of classical memory B-cells. This effect was most clearly seen when direct contact between B-cells and parasites was allowed.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that P. falciparum and B-cells undoubtedly can affect each other when allowed to multiply together, which is valuable information for future vaccine studies.}, } @article {pmid34225637, year = {2022}, author = {Tripathi, AH and Negi, N and Gahtori, R and Kumari, A and Joshi, P and Tewari, LM and Joshi, Y and Bajpai, R and Upreti, DK and Upadhyay, SK}, title = {A Review of Anti-Cancer and Related Properties of Lichen-Extracts and Metabolites.}, journal = {Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {115-142}, doi = {10.2174/1871520621666210322094647}, pmid = {34225637}, issn = {1875-5992}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antioxidants/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are a composite consortium of a fungus and an alga. The symbiotic organisms are naturally equipped with distinct characteristics as compared to constituting organisms separately. Lichens, due to their peculiar anatomy and physiology, are the reservoir of more than 600 unique secondary metabolites, also known as 'lichen substances'. Since ancient times, many ethnic groups from various parts of the world have known about the applications of lichens as major provenance of food/fodder, medicine, dyes, spices, perfumes, etc. Lichen substances have shown impressive antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-tumor, and antiinflammatory activities under experimental conditions. Usnic acid, a well-known metabolite found in several species of lichens, possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. It also has significant antiproliferative potential, as revealed through testing in different cancer cell lines. Atranorin, Lecanoric acid, Norstictic acid, Lobaric acid, Stictic acid, Ramalin, Gyrophoric acid, Salazinic acid, Protolichesterinic, and Fumarprotocetraric acid are some of the other purified lichen-metabolites with potent anti-cancer activities.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents an overview of lichen-derived extracts and compounds showing anti-cancer (or related) properties.

METHOD: The review comprehends different studies (in vivo and in vitro) backing up the possibility of lichenextracts and metabolites towards their use as antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and Epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) -inhibiting agents.

RESULTS: Various studies carried out to date show that lichen-extracts and metabolites have a range of anti-cancer and related properties that include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and the potential of inhibition of cancer-associated EMT that is responsible for drug resistance and metastasis of cancer cells in a substantial proportion of cases.

CONCLUSION: Lichens are the repertoire of a plethora of lichen-metabolites with significant anti-cancer potential. However, some of the critical 'anti-cancer related' properties, such as the ability of EMT-inhibition and the potential of induction of apoptosis, are relatively less studied for several lichen compounds. Additionally, many lichen compounds need to be purified at a larger scale to explore their anti-cancer potential.}, } @article {pmid34225488, year = {2021}, author = {Chalasani, D and Basu, A and Pullabhotla, SVSRN and Jorrin, B and Neal, AL and Poole, PS and Podile, AR and Tkacz, A}, title = {Poor Competitiveness of Bradyrhizobium in Pigeon Pea Root Colonization in Indian Soils.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0042321}, pmid = {34225488}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {BB/N013387/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Cajanus/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; India ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pigeon pea, a legume crop native to India, is the primary source of protein for more than a billion people in developing countries. The plant can form symbioses with N2-fixing bacteria; however, reports of poor crop nodulation in agricultural soils abound. We report here a study of the bacterial community associated with pigeon pea, with a special focus on the symbiont population in different soils and vegetative and non-vegetative plant growth. Location with respect to the plant roots was determined to be the main factor controlling the bacterial community, followed by developmental stage and soil type. Plant genotype plays only a minor role. Pigeon pea roots have a reduced microbial diversity compared to the surrounding soil and select for Proteobacteria, especially for Rhizobium spp., during vegetative growth. While Bradyrhizobium, a native symbiont of pigeon pea, can be found associating with roots, its presence is dependent on plant variety and soil conditions. A combination of 16S rRNA gene amplicon survey, strain isolation, and co-inoculation with nodule-forming Bradyrhizobium spp. and non-N2-fixing Rhizobium spp. demonstrated that the latter is a much more successful colonizer of pigeon pea roots. Poor nodulation of pigeon pea in Indian soils may be caused by a poor Bradyrhizobium competitiveness against non-nodulating root colonizers such as Rhizobium. Hence, inoculant strain selection of symbionts for pigeon pea should be based not only on their nitrogen fixation potential but, more importantly, on their competitiveness in agricultural soils. IMPORTANCE Plant symbiosis with N2-fixing bacteria is a key to sustainable, low-input agriculture. While there are ongoing projects aiming to increase the yield of cereals using plant genetics and host-microbiota interaction engineering, the biggest potential lies in legume plants. Pigeon pea is a basic food source for a billion low-income people in India. Improving its interactions with N2-fixing rhizobia could dramatically reduce food poverty in India. Despite the Indian origin of this plant, pigeon pea nodulates only poorly in native soils. While there have been multiple attempts to select the best N2-fixing symbionts, there are no reliable strains available for geographically widespread use. In this article, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon, culturomics, and plant co-inoculation assays, we show that the native pigeon pea symbionts such as Bradyrhizobium spp. are able to nodulate their host, despite being poor competitors for colonizing roots. Hence, in this system, the establishment of effective symbiosis seems decoupled from microbial competition on plant roots. Thus, the effort of finding suitable symbionts should focus not only on their N2-fixing potential but also on their ability to colonize. Increasing pigeon pea yield is a low-hanging fruit to reduce world hunger and degradation of the environment through the overuse of synthetic fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid34221732, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, HK and Rosset, SL and Wang, LH and Chen, CS}, title = {The characteristics of host lipid body biogenesis during coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11652}, pmid = {34221732}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Intracellular lipid body (LB) biogenesis depends on the symbiosis between coral hosts and their Symbiodinaceae. Therefore, understanding the mechanism(s) behind LB biosynthesis in corals can portentially elucide the drivers of cellular regulation during endosymbiosis. This study assessed LB formation in the gastrodermal tissue layer of the hermatypic coral Euphyllia glabrescens. Diel rhythmicity in LB size and distribution was observed; solar irradiation onset at sunrise initiated an increase in LB formation, which continued throughout the day and peaked after sunset at 18:00. The LBs migrated from the area near the mesoglea to the gastrodermal cell border near the coelenteron. Micro-LB biogenesis occurred in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the host gastrodermal cells. A transcriptomic analysis of genes related to lipogenesis indicated that binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) plays a key role in metabolic signaling pathways. The diel rhythmicity of LB biogenesis was correlated with ER-localized BiP expression. BiP expression peaked during the period with the largest increase in LB formation, thereby indicating that the chaperoning reaction of abnormal protein folding inside the host ER is likely involved in LB biosynthesis. These findings suggest that the host ER, central to LB formation, potentially facilitates the regulation of endosymbiosis between coral hosts and Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid34221725, year = {2021}, author = {Cardenas, CR and Luo, AR and Jones, TH and Schultz, TR and Adams, RMM}, title = {Using an integrative taxonomic approach to delimit a sibling species, Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos sp. nov. (Formicidae: Attini: Attina).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11622}, pmid = {34221725}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The fungus-growing ant Mycetomoellerius (previously Trachymyrmex) zeteki (Weber 1940) has been the focus of a wide range of studies examining symbiotic partners, garden pathogens, mating frequencies, and genomics. This is in part due to the ease of collecting colonies from creek embankments and its high abundance in the Panama Canal region. The original description was based on samples collected on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. However, most subsequent studies have sampled populations on the mainland 15 km southeast of BCI. Herein we show that two sibling ant species live in sympatry on the mainland: Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos Cardenas, Schultz, & Adams and M. zeteki. This distinction was originally based on behavioral differences of workers in the field and on queen morphology (M. mikromelanos workers and queens are smaller and black while those of M. zeteki are larger and red). Authors frequently refer to either species as "M. cf. zeteki," indicating uncertainty about identity. We used an integrative taxonomic approach to resolve this, examining worker behavior, chemical profiles of worker volatiles, molecular markers, and morphology of all castes. For the latter, we used conventional taxonomic indicators from nine measurements, six extrapolated indices, and morphological characters. We document a new observation of a Diapriinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) parasitoid wasp parasitizing M. zeteki. Finally, we discuss the importance of vouchering in dependable, accessible museum collections and provide a table of previously published papers to clarify the usage of the name T. zeteki. We found that most reports of M. zeteki or M. cf. zeteki-including a genome-actually refer to the new species M. mikromelanos.}, } @article {pmid34220910, year = {2021}, author = {Vittozzi, Y and Nadzieja, M and Rogato, A and Radutoiu, S and Valkov, VT and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {The Lotus japonicus NPF3.1 Is a Nodule-Induced Gene That Plays a Positive Role in Nodule Functioning.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {688187}, pmid = {34220910}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing nodules are new organs formed on legume roots as a result of the beneficial interaction with the soil bacteria, rhizobia. Proteins of the nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family (NPF) are largely represented in the subcategory of nodule-induced transporters identified in mature nodules. The role of nitrate as a signal/nutrient regulating nodule functioning has been recently highlighted in the literature, and NPFs may play a central role in both the permissive and inhibitory pathways controlling N2-fixation efficiency. In this study, we present the characterization of the Lotus japonicus LjNPF3.1 gene. LjNPF3.1 is upregulated in mature nodules. Promoter studies show transcriptional activation confined to the cortical region of both roots and nodules. Under symbiotic conditions, Ljnpf3.1-knockout mutant's display reduced shoot development and anthocyanin accumulation as a result of nutrient deprivation. Altogether, LjNPF3.1 plays a role in maximizing the beneficial outcome of the root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34220903, year = {2021}, author = {Barghahn, S and Arnal, G and Jain, N and Petutschnig, E and Brumer, H and Lipka, V}, title = {Mixed Linkage β-1,3/1,4-Glucan Oligosaccharides Induce Defense Responses in Hordeum vulgare and Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {682439}, pmid = {34220903}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants detect conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and modified "self" molecules produced during pathogen infection [danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)] with plasma membrane-resident pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRR-mediated MAMP and/or DAMP perception activates signal transduction cascades, transcriptional reprogramming and plant immune responses collectively referred to as pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Potential sources for MAMPs and DAMPs are microbial and plant cell walls, which are complex extracellular matrices composed of different carbohydrates and glycoproteins. Mixed linkage β-1,3/1,4-glucan (β-1,3/1,4-MLG) oligosaccharides are abundant components of monocot plant cell walls and are present in symbiotic, pathogenic and apathogenic fungi, oomycetes and bacteria, but have not been detected in the cell walls of dicot plant species so far. Here, we provide evidence that the monocot crop plant H. vulgare and the dicot A. thaliana can perceive β-1,3/1,4-MLG oligosaccharides and react with prototypical PTI responses. A collection of Arabidopsis innate immunity signaling mutants and >100 Arabidopsis ecotypes showed unaltered responses upon treatment with β-1,3/1,4-MLG oligosaccharides suggesting the employment of a so far unknown and highly conserved perception machinery. In conclusion, we postulate that β-1,3/1,4-MLG oligosaccharides have the dual capacity to act as immune-active DAMPs and/or MAMPs in monocot and dicot plant species.}, } @article {pmid34220774, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, L and Xiao, Y and Wei, X and Pan, J and Duanmu, D}, title = {Highly Efficient CRISPR-Mediated Base Editing in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {686008}, pmid = {34220774}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobia are widespread gram-negative soil bacteria and indispensable symbiotic partners of leguminous plants that facilitate the most highly efficient biological nitrogen fixation in nature. Although genetic studies in Sinorhizobium meliloti have advanced our understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), the current methods used for genetic manipulations in Sinorhizobium meliloti are time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this study, we report the development of a few precise gene modification tools that utilize the CRISPR/Cas9 system and various deaminases. By fusing the Cas9 nickase to an adenine deaminase, we developed an adenine base editor (ABE) system that facilitated adenine-to-guanine transitions at one-nucleotide resolution without forming double-strand breaks (DSB). We also engineered a cytidine base editor (CBE) and a guanine base editor (GBE) that catalyze cytidine-to-thymine substitutions and cytidine-to-guanine transversions, respectively, by replacing adenine deaminase with cytidine deaminase and other auxiliary enzymes. All of these base editors are amenable to the assembly of multiple synthetic guide RNA (sgRNA) cassettes using Golden Gate Assembly to simultaneously achieve multigene mutations or disruptions. These CRISPR-mediated base editing tools will accelerate the functional genomics study and genome manipulation of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid34220730, year = {2021}, author = {Cai, X and Zhao, H and Liang, C and Li, M and Liu, R}, title = {Effects and Mechanisms of Symbiotic Microbial Combination Agents to Control Tomato Fusarium Crown and Root Rot Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {629793}, pmid = {34220730}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {This study evaluated the effects and underlying mechanisms of different combinations of plant symbiotic microbes, comprising arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and Trichoderma spp., on tomato Fusarium crown and root rot (TFCRR) resistance. A total of 54 treatments were applied in a greenhouse pot experiment to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings inoculated with or without Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri), Trichoderma virens l40012 (Tv), Trichoderma harzianum l40015 (Th), Bacillus subtilis PS1-3 (Bs), Pseudomonas fluorescens PS2-6 (Pf), and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Fo). The symbioses on the tomato root system were well developed, and the composite symbiont generated by AMF + Trichoderma spp. was observed for the first time. Compared with other treatments, Ri + Bs + Tv and Fm + Pf + Tv stimulated the greatest improvements in tomato growth and yield. The combination Ri + Pf + Th + Fo resulted in the strongest biocontrol effects on TFCRR, followed by the treatments Th + Pf + Fo and Ri + Th + Fo. Compared with the Fo treatment, most inoculation treatments improved photosynthetic performance and significantly increased defense enzyme activity in tomato plants, of which the treatment Ri + Pf + Th + Fo showed the highest enzyme activity. Metabolome analysis detected changes in a total of 1,266 metabolites. The number of up-regulated metabolites in tomato plants inoculated with Ri + Pf + Th and Ri + Pf + Th + Fo exceeded that of the Fo treatment, whereas the number of down-regulated metabolites showed the opposite trend. It is concluded that AMF + Trichoderma + PGPR is the most effective combination to promote resistance to TFCRR in tomato. The up-regulation and down-regulation of metabolites regulated by symbiotic microbial genes may be an important mechanism by which root symbiotic microorganisms promote plant growth, increase yield, and improve disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid34220242, year = {2021}, author = {Farssi, O and Saih, R and El Moukhtari, A and Oubenali, A and Mouradi, M and Lazali, M and Ghoulam, C and Bouizgaren, A and Berrougui, H and Farissi, M}, title = {Synergistic effect of Pseudomonas alkylphenolica PF9 and Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41 on Moroccan alfalfa population grown under limited phosphorus availability.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {3870-3879}, pmid = {34220242}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {This study looked at the synergistic effect of Pseudomonas alkylphenolica PF9 and Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41 on the Moroccan alfalfa population (Oued Lmaleh) grown under symbiotic nitrogen fixation and limited phosphorus (P) availability. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber and after two weeks of sowing, the young seedlings were inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41 alone or combined with a suspension of Pseudomonas alkylphenolica PF9. Then, the seedlings were submitted to limited available P (insoluble P using Ca3HPO4) versus a soluble P form (KH2PO4) at a final concentration of 250 μmol P·plant[-1]·week[-1]. After two months of P stress, the experiment was evaluated through some agro-physiological and biochemical parameters. The results indicated that the inoculation of alfalfa plants with Sinorhizobium strain alone or combined with Pseudomonas strain significantly (p < 0.001) improved the plant growth, the physiological and the biochemical traits focused in comparison to the uninoculated and P-stressed plants. For most sets of parameters, the improvement was more obvious in plants co-inoculated with both strains than in those inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41 alone. In fact, under limited P-availability, the co-inoculation with two strains significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced the growth of alfalfa plants evaluated by fresh and dry biomasses, plant height and leaf area. The results indicated also that the enhancement noted in plant growth was positively correlated with the shoot and root P contents. Furthermore, the incensement in plant P contents in response to bacterial inoculation improved cell membrane stability, reflected by low malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage (EL) contents, and photosynthetic-related parameters such as chlorophyll contents, the maximum quantum yield of PS II (Fv/Fm) and stomatal conductance (gs). Our findings suggest that Pseudomonas alkylphenolica PF9 can act synergistically with Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41 in promoting alfalfa growth under low-P availability.}, } @article {pmid34220232, year = {2021}, author = {Chekidhenkuzhiyil, J and Anas, A and Thomas, PA and Tharakan, B and Nair, S}, title = {Characterization of archaeal symbionts of sponges from the coral reef ecosystems of the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {3783-3788}, pmid = {34220232}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Sponges accommodate a diverse group of microorganisms with varied metabolic capabilities. The bacterial associates of sponges are widely studied while our understanding of archaeal counterparts is scanty. In the present study, we report the archaeal associates of two sponges, Pseudoceratina purpurea (NCBI barcode: KX454492) and Cinachyra sp. (NCBI barcode: KX454495), found in the coral reef ecosystems of Gulf of Mannar, India. Archaea in the water column was predominated by members of class Halobacteria of Phylum Euryarchaeota (97%) followed by a minor fraction (3%) of Nitrosopumilus sp. of phylum Thaumarchaeota. Interestingly, Thaumarchaeota was identified as the sole archaeal population associated with the two sponges studied, among which Nitrosopumilus sp. occuppied 80 and 100% of the sequences in the clone library of P. purpurea and Cinachyra sp. respectively. Other archaea found in the P. purpurea were Nitrososphaera (10%) and unclassified ones (10%). The study identified Nitrosopumilus sp. as a unique symbiotic archaeon of sponges, P. purpurea and Cinachyra sp. The existence of host driven factors in selecting specific associates from a diverse group of archaea in the environment may need further investigations.}, } @article {pmid34218028, year = {2021}, author = {Cao, Y and Tie, D and Zhao, JL and Wang, XB and Yi, JJ and Chai, YF and Wang, KF and Wang, ET and Yue, M}, title = {Diversity and distribution of Sophora davidii rhizobia in habitats with different irradiances and soil traits in Loess Plateau area of China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {126224}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126224}, pmid = {34218028}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Sophora/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To investigate the diversity and distribution of rhizobia associated with Sophora davidii in habitats with different light and soil conditions at the Loess Plateau, we isolated rhizobia from root nodules of this plant grown at 14 sites at forest edge or understory in Shaanxi Province. Based on PCR-RFLP and phylogenies of 16S rRNA gene, housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, recA), and symbiosis genes (nodC and nifH), a total of 271 isolates were identified as 16 Mesorhizobium genospecies, belonging to four nodC lineages, and three nifH lineages. The dominance of M. waimense in the forest edge and of M. amorphae/Mesorhizobium sp. X in the understory habitat evidenced the illumination as a possible factor to affect the diversity and biogeographic patterns of rhizobia. However, the results of Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) among the environmental factors and distribution of rhizobial genospecies illustrated that soil pH and contents of total phosphorus, total potassium and total organic carbon were the main determinants for the community structure of S. davidii rhizobia, while the illumination conditions and available P presented similar and minor effects. In addition, high similarity of nodC and nifH genes between Mesorhizobium robiniae and some S. davidii rhizobia under the forest of Robinia pseudoacacia might be evidence for symbiotic gene lateral transfer. These findings firstly brought an insight into the diversity and distribution of rhizobia associated with S. davidii, and revealed illumination conditions a possible factor with impacts less than the soil traits to drive the symbiosis association between rhizobia and their host legumes.}, } @article {pmid34217596, year = {2022}, author = {Belzer, C}, title = {Nutritional strategies for mucosal health: the interplay between microbes and mucin glycans.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {13-21}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2021.06.003}, pmid = {34217596}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant ; *Microbiota ; Milk, Human ; Mucins/analysis ; Polysaccharides ; }, abstract = {Many aspects of the mechanisms underlying the symbiosis between humans and gut microbes remain unknown and encompass some of the most intriguing questions in microbiome research. An important factor in this symbiosis is the interplay between microbes and human-produced glycans in mucin and breast milk. In this Opinion paper, I propose a synergy between the structural diversity of human mucin glycans and the enzymatic repertoire of the gut microbiome. The contribution of microbes to mucosal health is discussed, and the role of breast milk glycans in mucosal colonization by microbes is explained. The use of prebiotic mucin glycans in general, and specialized infant and medical nutrition in particular, should be considered as the field of interest to modulate the microbiota and improve mucosal health.}, } @article {pmid34216556, year = {2021}, author = {Gao, JP and Xu, P and Wang, M and Zhang, X and Yang, J and Zhou, Y and Murray, JD and Song, CP and Wang, E}, title = {Nod factor receptor complex phosphorylates GmGEF2 to stimulate ROP signaling during nodulation.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {16}, pages = {3538-3550.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.011}, pmid = {34216556}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Soybeans/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The establishment of the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legumes involves the Nod factor signaling pathway. Nod factor recognition occurs through two plant receptors, NFR1 and NFR5. However, the signal transduction mechanisms downstream of NFR1-NFR5-mediated Nod factor perception remain largely unknown. Here, we report that a small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase), GmROP9, and a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, GmGEF2, are involved in the soybean-rhizobium symbiosis. We show that GmNFR1α phosphorylates GmGEF2a at its N-terminal S86, which stimulates guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-to-GTP exchange to activate GmROP9 and that the active form of GmROP9 can associate with both GmNFR1α and GmNFR5α. We further show that a scaffold protein, GmRACK1, interacts with active GmROP9 and contributes to root nodule symbiosis. Collectively, our results highlight the symbiotic role of GmROP9-GmRACK1 and support the hypothesis that rhizobial signals promote the formation of a protein complex comprising GmNFR1, GmNFR5, GmROP9, and GmRACK1 for symbiotic signal transduction in soybean.}, } @article {pmid34215695, year = {2021}, author = {Uwizeye, C and Mars Brisbin, M and Gallet, B and Chevalier, F and LeKieffre, C and Schieber, NL and Falconet, D and Wangpraseurt, D and Schertel, L and Stryhanyuk, H and Musat, N and Mitarai, S and Schwab, Y and Finazzi, G and Decelle, J}, title = {Cytoklepty in the plankton: A host strategy to optimize the bioenergetic machinery of endosymbiotic algae.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {27}, pages = {}, pmid = {34215695}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Carbon Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; *Energy Metabolism ; Haptophyta/*metabolism ; Microalgae/cytology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plankton/*cytology ; Plastids/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbioses have shaped the evolutionary trajectory of life and remain ecologically important. Investigating oceanic photosymbioses can illuminate how algal endosymbionts are energetically exploited by their heterotrophic hosts and inform on putative initial steps of plastid acquisition in eukaryotes. By combining three-dimensional subcellular imaging with photophysiology, carbon flux imaging, and transcriptomics, we show that cell division of endosymbionts (Phaeocystis) is blocked within hosts (Acantharia) and that their cellular architecture and bioenergetic machinery are radically altered. Transcriptional evidence indicates that a nutrient-independent mechanism prevents symbiont cell division and decouples nuclear and plastid division. As endosymbiont plastids proliferate, the volume of the photosynthetic machinery volume increases 100-fold in correlation with the expansion of a reticular mitochondrial network in close proximity to plastids. Photosynthetic efficiency tends to increase with cell size, and photon propagation modeling indicates that the networked mitochondrial architecture enhances light capture. This is accompanied by 150-fold higher carbon uptake and up-regulation of genes involved in photosynthesis and carbon fixation, which, in conjunction with a ca.15-fold size increase of pyrenoids demonstrates enhanced primary production in symbiosis. Mass spectrometry imaging revealed major carbon allocation to plastids and transfer to the host cell. As in most photosymbioses, microalgae are contained within a host phagosome (symbiosome), but here, the phagosome invaginates into enlarged microalgal cells, perhaps to optimize metabolic exchange. This observation adds evidence that the algal metamorphosis is irreversible. Hosts, therefore, trigger and benefit from major bioenergetic remodeling of symbiotic microalgae with potential consequences for the oceanic carbon cycle. Unlike other photosymbioses, this interaction represents a so-called cytoklepty, which is a putative initial step toward plastid acquisition.}, } @article {pmid34212470, year = {2021}, author = {Iijima, K and Arai, H and Akishita, M and Endo, T and Ogasawara, K and Kashihara, N and Hayashi, YK and Yumura, W and Yokode, M and Ouchi, Y}, title = {Toward the development of a vibrant, super-aged society: The future of medicine and society in Japan.}, journal = {Geriatrics & gerontology international}, volume = {21}, number = {8}, pages = {601-613}, doi = {10.1111/ggi.14201}, pmid = {34212470}, issn = {1447-0594}, mesh = {Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; *Pharmaceutical Preparations ; *Quality of Life ; Societies ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: As Japan's population continues to age, it is estimated that the number of people aged ≥75 years will exceed 20 million by 2025. Furthermore, over the past 10 years, we have not reduced the difference between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. Therefore, the extension of healthy life expectancy and the development of a healthy society are the most urgent issues. In terms of medical care, the changing times have inevitably led to changes in disease structures and medical demands; therefore, the medical delivery system has had to be changed to meet these demands. As dementia rapidly increases, it is important to address "frailty," a condition in which people become more vulnerable to environmental factors as they age, and there is a need to provide services to older people, particularly the old-old, that emphasize quality of life in addition to medical care. To realize a super-aged society that will remain vigorous and vibrant for many years, we need to rethink the future of Japanese medicine and healthcare, and the state of society.

Disparity between healthy life expectancy and average life expectancy in the realization of a healthy society It is a challenge to build a society with a long and healthy life expectancy through comprehensive prevention and management of lifestyle-related diseases, as well as the elucidation of the factors that explain sex differences in healthy life expectancy, based on the recognition that lifestyle-related diseases in midlife are risk factors for frailty and dementia in old age. Challenges in medical care for building a super-aged and healthy society The challenges include promoting clinical guidelines suitable for older people, including lifestyle-related disease management, promoting comprehensive research on aging (basic research, clinical research and community collaboration research), and embodying a paradigm shift from "cure-seeking medical care" to "cure- and support-seeking medical care." Furthermore, the key to the future of integrated community care is the development of a comprehensive medical care system for older people in each region and the development of the next generation of medical personnel. Dissemination of frailty prevention measures in a super-aged society The concept of frailty encompasses the meaning of multifacetedness and reversibility; therefore, a comprehensive approach is required, including the renewal of conventional prevention activities in each region, such as the nutritional status of older people, physical activity including exercise, and various opportunities for social participation and participation conditions. Challenges of an unstable diet and undernutrition in older people According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of Japan, energy and protein intakes are low in Japanese people aged ≥75 years; particularly in people aged ≥80 years, low and insufficient intake of nutrients are prominent. Undernutrition in older people is increasing and is more pronounced in women. There are multiple factors behind this, including social factors, such as living alone, eating alone, poverty and other social factors, as well as problems with access to food security. Pharmacotherapy for older people: measures against polypharmacy In addition to the problems of adverse drug events, drug interactions, duplication of effects and the presence of drugs that "require particularly careful administration," it is also necessary to take measures against polypharmacy in older people, as well as medical economic issues, such as high drug costs and large amounts of remaining drugs. Barriers to this measure include multiple medical institution visits for each disease, lack of coordination between professions, and lack of understanding by patients and families. Role of local communities in a healthy society The decline in the working-age population is also a major challenge; however, we need to make a shift to use this declining birthrate and aging population as an opportunity rather than a crisis. As we look ahead to the coming of the 100-year age of life, we rethink the creation of a comprehensive society and community, and aim to create an age-free society where everyone can play an active role and live in peace, regardless of age.

CONTENTS OF THE PROPOSAL: In this report, we have put together a vision for the future of an aging Japanese society from a broader perspective of how the environment and local communities should be, rather than simply from the perspective of individual health. We aim to convey this proposal to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Cabinet Office, and various professional organizations. The paradigm shift from "cure-seeking medical care" to "cure- and support-seeking medical care" should be promoted for the development of a healthy society While further promoting pre-emptive medical care in the medical care for older people, the development of multidisciplinary medical guidelines appropriate for older people should be promoted at the same time. In addition, we should promote basic aging research, clinical research (including the long-term care field) and transitional research that cover regional areas. Furthermore, while promoting the paradigm shift from "cure-seeking medical care" to "cure- and support-seeking medical care," the development of various comprehensive medical treatment systems for older people and the strengthening of integrated community care systems should be promoted. Development of the next generation of medical personnel to comprehensively deal with geriatric care, including training geriatric specialists, should be promoted As the number of older people with multimorbidities and frailty rapidly increases in the future, we should promote the development of the next generation of medical personnel who can comprehensively handle medical care for older people, including training leading geriatricians in cooperation with multiple professions in the integrated community care system to provide sufficient medical care. Countermeasures for frailty in older people should be promoted from medical and community planning perspectives To address frailty, which requires comprehensive evaluation and intervention, the three pillars of frailty prevention (nutrition, exercise and social participation) should be incorporated and addressed as part of community development within each municipality, taking into account local characteristics. In particular, it is necessary to revise the way of thinking about nutrition management in older people and the guidelines of the societies in the field. In addition, it is important to strengthen industry-academia-government-private partnerships in each region, taking into account not only medical issues, but also social factors, and encourage the development of momentum in the entire region regarding measures against undernutrition in older people. Polypharmacy measures should be promoted in pharmacotherapy for older people It is necessary to promote cooperation between physicians and pharmacists, establish other multiprofessional cooperation systems, and develop medical and long-term care insurance systems to support this. It is also essential to change the public's mindset, and awareness-raising activities at all levels are required, including the enhancement of educational materials for medical caregivers and the general public. In addition, the economic impact of healthcare using big data should be timely clarified. Innovation in medical and urban planning perspectives should be promoted In the future, it will be necessary to modify and update multidisciplinary approaches such as social participation (e.g. participation in a salon) with a view to innovation in both medical care and community development, especially on the idea of a symbiotic community. In addition, industry-academia-government-private partnership is necessary, including all aforementioned, such as places where people can play an active role in the rest of their lives (such as employment), promotion of human connections, promotion of technology to support older people and support for daily life. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 601-613.}, } @article {pmid34212439, year = {2021}, author = {Wasilko, NP and Ceron, JS and Baker, ER and Cecere, AG and Wollenberg, MS and Miyashiro, TI}, title = {Vibrio fischeri imports and assimilates sulfate during symbiosis with Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {926-942}, pmid = {34212439}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK120509/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sulfur is in cellular components of bacteria and is, therefore, an element necessary for growth. However, mechanisms by which bacteria satisfy their sulfur needs within a host are poorly understood. Vibrio fischeri is a bacterial symbiont that colonizes, grows, and produces bioluminescence within the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, which provides an experimental platform for investigating sulfur acquisition in vivo. Like other γ-proteobacteria, V. fischeri fuels sulfur-dependent anabolic processes with intracellular cysteine. Within the light organ, the abundance of a ΔcysK mutant, which cannot synthesize cysteine through sulfate assimilation, is attenuated, suggesting sulfate import is necessary for V. fischeri to establish symbiosis. Genes encoding sulfate-import systems of other bacteria that assimilate sulfate were not identified in the V. fischeri genome. A transposon mutagenesis screen implicated YfbS as a sulfate importer. YfbS is necessary for growth on sulfate and in the marine environment. During symbiosis, a ΔyfbS mutant is attenuated and strongly expresses sulfate-assimilation genes, which is a phenotype associated with sulfur-starved cells. Together, these results suggest V. fischeri imports sulfate via YfbS within the squid light organ, which provides insight into the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria harvest sulfur in vivo.}, } @article {pmid34211487, year = {2021}, author = {de Borja Reis, AF and Moro Rosso, L and Purcell, LC and Naeve, S and Casteel, SN and Kovács, P and Archontoulis, S and Davidson, D and Ciampitti, IA}, title = {Environmental Factors Associated With Nitrogen Fixation Prediction in Soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {675410}, pmid = {34211487}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen (N)-fixation is the most important source of N for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], with considerable implications for sustainable intensification. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relevance of environmental factors driving N-fixation and to develop predictive models defining the role of N-fixation for improved productivity and increased seed protein concentration. Using the elastic net regularization of multiple linear regression, we analyzed 40 environmental factors related to weather, soil, and crop management. We selected the most important factors associated with the relative abundance of ureides (RAU) as an indicator of the fraction of N derived from N-fixation. The most relevant RAU predictors were N fertilization, atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and precipitation during early reproductive growth (R1-R4 stages), sowing date, drought stress during seed filling (R5-R6), soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil sulfate concentration before sowing. Soybean N-fixation ranged from 60 to 98% across locations and years (n = 95). The predictive model for RAU showed relative mean square error (RRMSE) of 4.5% and an R[2] value of 0.69, estimated via cross-validation. In addition, we built similar predictive models of yield and seed protein to assess the association of RAU and these plant traits. The variable RAU was selected as a covariable for the models predicting yield and seed protein, but with a small magnitude relative to the sowing date for yield or soil sulfate for protein. The early-reproductive period VPD affected all independent variables, namely RAU, yield, and seed protein. The elastic net algorithm successfully depicted some otherwise challenging empirical relationships to assess with bivariate associations in observational data. This approach provides inference about environmental variables while predicting N-fixation. The outcomes of this study will provide a foundation for improving the understanding of N-fixation within the context of sustainable intensification of soybean production.}, } @article {pmid34210277, year = {2021}, author = {Plett, KL and Bithell, SL and Dando, A and Plett, JM}, title = {Chickpea shows genotype-specific nodulation responses across soil nitrogen environment and root disease resistance categories.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {310}, pmid = {34210277}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cicer/*genetics ; Disease Resistance/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Ontology ; Genotype ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/metabolism ; *Soil ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Transcriptome/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ability of chickpea to obtain sufficient nitrogen via its symbiotic relationship with Mesorhizobium ciceri is of critical importance in supporting growth and grain production. A number of factors can affect this symbiotic relationship including abiotic conditions, plant genotype, and disruptions to host signalling/perception networks. In order to support improved nodule formation in chickpea, we investigated how plant genotype and soil nutrient availability affect chickpea nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. Further, using transcriptomic profiling, we sought to identify gene expression patterns that characterize highly nodulated genotypes.

RESULTS: A study involving six chickpea varieties demonstrated large genotype by soil nitrogen interaction effects on nodulation and further identified agronomic traits of genotypes (such as shoot weight) associated with high nodulation. We broadened our scope to consider 29 varieties and breeding lines to examine the relationship between soilborne disease resistance and the number of nodules developed and real-time nitrogen fixation. Results of this larger study supported the earlier genotype specific findings, however, disease resistance did not explain differences in nodulation across genotypes. Transcriptional profiling of six chickpea genotypes indicates that genes associated with signalling, N transport and cellular localization, as opposed to genes associated with the classical nodulation pathway, are more likely to predict whether a given genotype will exhibit high levels of nodule formation.

CONCLUSIONS: This research identified a number of key abiotic and genetic factors affecting chickpea nodule development and nitrogen fixation. These findings indicate that an improved understanding of genotype-specific factors affecting chickpea nodule induction and function are key research areas necessary to improving the benefits of rhizobial symbiosis in chickpea.}, } @article {pmid34209783, year = {2021}, author = {Badawy, AA and Alotaibi, MO and Abdelaziz, AM and Osman, MS and Khalil, AMA and Saleh, AM and Mohammed, AE and Hashem, AH}, title = {Enhancement of Seawater Stress Tolerance in Barley by the Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus ochraceus.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34209783}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Symbiotic plant-fungi interaction is a promising approach to alleviate salt stress in plants. Moreover, endophytic fungi are well known to promote the growth of various crop plants. Herein, seven fungal endophytes were screened for salt tolerance; the results revealed that Aspergillus ochraceus showed a great potentiality in terms of salt tolerance, up to 200 g L[-1]. The indole acetic acid (IAA) production antioxidant capacity and antifungal activity of A. ochraceus were evaluated, in vitro, under two levels of seawater stress, 15 and 30% (v/v; seawater/distilled water). The results illustrated that A. ochraceus could produce about 146 and 176 µg mL[-1] IAA in 15 and 30% seawater, respectively. The yield of IAA by A. ochraceus at 30% seawater was significantly higher at all tryptophan concentrations, as compared with that at 15% seawater. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extract of A. ochraceus (1000 µg mL[-1]) at 15 and 30% seawater was 95.83 ± 1.25 and 98.33 ± 0.57%, respectively. Crude extracts of A. ochraceus obtained at 15 and 30% seawater exhibited significant antifungal activity against F. oxysporum, compared to distilled water. The irrigation of barley plants with seawater (15 and 30%) caused notable declines in most morphological indices, pigments, sugars, proteins, and yield characteristics, while increasing the contents of proline, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. On the other hand, the application of A. ochraceus mitigated the harmful effects of seawater on the growth and physiology of barley plants. Therefore, this study suggests that the endophytic fungus A. ochraceus MT089958 could be applied as a strategy for mitigating the stress imposed by seawater irrigation in barley plants and, therefore, improving crop growth and productivity.}, } @article {pmid34209654, year = {2021}, author = {Maheswary, T and Nurul, AA and Fauzi, MB}, title = {The Insights of Microbes' Roles in Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34209654}, issn = {1999-4923}, abstract = {A diverse range of normal flora populates the human skin and numbers are relatively different between individuals and parts of the skin. Humans and normal flora have formed a symbiotic relationship over a period of time. With numerous disease processes, the interaction between the host and normal flora can be interrupted. Unlike normal wound healing, which is complex and crucial to sustaining the skin's physical barrier, chronic wounds, especially in diabetes, are wounds that fail to heal in a timely manner. The conditions become favorable for microbes to colonize and establish infections within the skin. These include secretions of various kinds of molecules, substances or even trigger the immune system to attack other cells required for wound healing. Additionally, the healing process can be slowed down by prolonging the inflammatory phase and delaying the wound repair process, which causes further destruction to the tissue. Antibiotics and wound dressings become the targeted therapy to treat chronic wounds. Though healing rates are improved, prolonged usage of these treatments could become ineffective or microbes may become resistant to the treatments. Considering all these factors, more studies are needed to comprehensively elucidate the role of human skin normal flora at the cellular and molecular level in a chronic injury. This article will review wound healing physiology and discuss the role of normal flora in the skin and chronic wounds.}, } @article {pmid34209355, year = {2021}, author = {Sarasan, V and Pankhurst, T and Yokoya, K and Sriskandarajah, S and McDiarmid, F}, title = {Preventing Extinction of a Critically Endangered Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. ochroleuca in Britain Using Symbiotic Seedlings for Reintroduction.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34209355}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The yellow early marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. ochroleuca) is critically endangered in the UK. Reintroduction of this threatened orchid to former haunts that have been restored is a long-term objective of this study. Identifying germination-specific mycorrhizal fungus lineages from closely related species is used as a method due to the extremely small number of plants left in the wild. A putative orchid mycorrhizal fungus of the family Tulasnellaceae, isolated from Dactylorhiza praetermissa, supported in vitro seed germination to produce reintroduction-ready seedlings. Reintroduced symbiotic seedlings survived over the winter months in the flooded reintroduction site (RS). The comparative soil analysis for key nutrients before reintroduction showed that phosphorus content in the RS is very low compared to the soil collected from the wild site (WS) where the last viable population exists. On the other hand, C:N ratio in the soil at the WS and RS were not significantly different. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever report on the reintroduction of symbiotic seedlings of a threatened orchid back to the wild in the UK.}, } @article {pmid34209315, year = {2021}, author = {Alotaibi, MO and Saleh, AM and Sobrinho, RL and Sheteiwy, MS and El-Sawah, AM and Mohammed, AE and AbdElgawad, H}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Mitigate Aluminum Toxicity and Regulate Proline Metabolism in Plants Grown in Acidic Soil.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34209315}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote plant growth and induce stress tolerance. Proline is reported to accumulate in mycorrhizal plants under stressful conditions, such as aluminum (Al) stress. However, the detailed changes induced in proline metabolism under AMF-plant symbiosis has not been studied. Accordingly, this work aimed to study how Al-stressed grass (barley) and legume (lotus) species respond to AMF inoculation at growth and biochemical levels. The associated changes in Al uptake and accumulation, the rate of photosynthesis, and the key enzymes and metabolites involved in proline biosynthesis and degradation pathways were studied. Soil contamination with Al induced Al accumulation in tissues of both species and, consequently, reduced plant growth and the rate of photosynthesis, while more tolerance was noticed in lotus. Inoculation with AMF significantly reduced Al accumulation and mitigated the negative impacts of Al on growth and photosynthesis in both species; however, these positive effects were more pronounced in barley plants. The mitigating action of AMF was associated with upregulation of proline biosynthesis through glutamate and ornithine pathways, more in lotus than in barley, and repression of its catabolism. The increased proline level in lotus was consistent with improved N metabolism (N level and nitrate reductase). Overall, this study suggests the role of AMF in mitigating Al stress, where regulation of proline metabolism is a worthy mechanism underlying this mitigating action.}, } @article {pmid34208843, year = {2021}, author = {Fresno Rueda, A and Samuel, R and St-Pierre, B}, title = {Investigating the Effects of a Phytobiotics-Based Product on the Fecal Bacterial Microbiome of Weaned Pigs.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34208843}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The transition to a solid diet, as well as environmental and social stress, have a direct impact on swine gut physiology during weaning, affecting host gastrointestinal functions, as well as resident symbiotic microbial communities. While plant-derived bioactive products, such as phytobiotics, have shown great potential to mitigate these challenges, providing benefits such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, their mechanisms of action remain largely unexplored. To gain more insight, a 21 day trial is conducted to investigate the effects of LiveXtract, a commercial plant-based product, using fecal samples as a proxy for gut bacteria in weaned pigs. High-throughput sequencing of amplicons targeting the V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene is used to determine bacterial composition at days 1 (pre-treatment), 4, 10, and 21 postweaning. Our results show that Lactobacillaceae and Peptostreptococcaceae are both higher in the supplemented group at D4 (p < 0.05), while Streptococcaceae are significantly lower in the treated group at D10 and D21. At D10, Erysipelotrichaceae are lower, and Veillonellaceae are higher in the treated samples than the control group (p < 0.05). Of the thirteen abundant Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) that have different representation between treated and control pigs (p < 0.05), six are predicted to be lactate producers (affiliation to Lactobacillus or Streptococcus), and one is predicted to be a lactate utilizer, based on its high identity to Megasphaera elsdenii. Together, these data suggest that phytobiotics may provide a favorable metabolic equilibrium between lactate production and utilization. Lactate is considered a critical microbial end product in gut environments, as it can inhibit pathogens or be metabolized to propionate for utilization by host cells.}, } @article {pmid34208762, year = {2021}, author = {Ntana, F and Bhat, WW and Johnson, SR and Jørgensen, HJL and Collinge, DB and Jensen, B and Hamberger, B}, title = {A Sesquiterpene Synthase from the Endophytic Fungus Serendipita indica Catalyzes Formation of Viridiflorol.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34208762}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*enzymology/metabolism ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Terpenes/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Interactions between plant-associated fungi and their hosts are characterized by a continuous crosstalk of chemical molecules. Specialized metabolites are often produced during these associations and play important roles in the symbiosis between the plant and the fungus, as well as in the establishment of additional interactions between the symbionts and other organisms present in the niche. Serendipita indica, a root endophytic fungus from the phylum Basidiomycota, is able to colonize a wide range of plant species, conferring many benefits to its hosts. The genome of S. indica possesses only few genes predicted to be involved in specialized metabolite biosynthesis, including a putative terpenoid synthase gene (SiTPS). In our experimental setup, SiTPS expression was upregulated when the fungus colonized tomato roots compared to its expression in fungal biomass growing on synthetic medium. Heterologous expression of SiTPS in Escherichia coli showed that the produced protein catalyzes the synthesis of a few sesquiterpenoids, with the alcohol viridiflorol being the main product. To investigate the role of SiTPS in the plant-endophyte interaction, an SiTPS-over-expressing mutant line was created and assessed for its ability to colonize tomato roots. Although overexpression of SiTPS did not lead to improved fungal colonization ability, an in vitro growth-inhibition assay showed that viridiflorol has antifungal properties. Addition of viridiflorol to the culture medium inhibited the germination of spores from a phytopathogenic fungus, indicating that SiTPS and its products could provide S. indica with a competitive advantage over other plant-associated fungi during root colonization.}, } @article {pmid34207774, year = {2021}, author = {Shavyrkina, NA and Budaeva, VV and Skiba, EA and Mironova, GF and Bychin, NV and Gismatulina, YA and Kashcheyeva, EI and Sitnikova, AE and Shilov, AI and Kuznetsov, PS and Sakovich, GV}, title = {Scale-Up of Biosynthesis Process of Bacterial Nanocellulose.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34207774}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a unique product of microbiological synthesis, having a lot of applications among which the most important is biomedicine. Objective complexities in scaling up the biosynthesis of BNC are associated with the nature of microbial producers for which BNC is not the target metabolite, therefore biosynthesis lasts long, with the BNC yield being small. Thus, the BNC scale-up problem has not yet been overcome. Here we performed biosynthesis of three scaled sheets of BNC (each having a surface area of 29,400 cm[2], a container volume of 441 L, and a nutrient medium volume of 260 L and characterized them. The static biosynthesis of BNC in a semisynthetic nutrient medium was scaled up using the Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 symbiotic culture. The experiment was run in duplicate. The BNC pellicle was removed once from the nutrient medium in the first experiment and twice in the second experiment, in which case the inoculum and glucose were not additionally added to the medium. The resultant BNC sheets were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, capillary viscosimetry, infrared spectroscopy, thermomechanical and thermogravimetric analyses. When the nutrient medium was scaled up from 0.1 to 260 L, the elastic modulus of BNC samples increased tenfold and the degree of polymerization 2.5-fold. Besides, we demonstrated that scaled BNC sheets could be removed at least twice from one volume of the nutrient medium, with the yield and quality of BNC remaining the same. Consequently, the world's largest BNC sheets 210 cm long and 140 cm wide, having a surface area of 29,400 cm[2] each (weighing 16.24 to 17.04 kg), have been obtained in which an adult with burns or vast wounds can easily be wrapped. The resultant sheets exhibit a typical architecture of cellulosic fibers that form a spatial 3D structure which refers to individual and extremely important characteristics of BNC. Here we thus demonstrated the scale-up of biosynthesis of BNC with improved properties, and this result was achieved by using the symbiotic culture.}, } @article {pmid34207734, year = {2021}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Fuentes-Romero, F and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Janczarek, M and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Rhizobial Exopolysaccharides: Genetic Regulation of Their Synthesis and Relevance in Symbiosis with Legumes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34207734}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; *Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil proteobacteria able to engage in a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with legumes that involves the rhizobial infection of roots and the bacterial invasion of new organs formed by the plant in response to the presence of appropriate bacterial partners. This interaction relies on a complex molecular dialogue between both symbionts. Bacterial N-acetyl-glucosamine oligomers called Nod factors are indispensable in most cases for early steps of the symbiotic interaction. In addition, different rhizobial surface polysaccharides, such as exopolysaccharides (EPS), may also be symbiotically relevant. EPS are acidic polysaccharides located out of the cell with little or no cell association that carry out important roles both in free-life and in symbiosis. EPS production is very complexly modulated and, frequently, co-regulated with Nod factors, but the type of co-regulation varies depending on the rhizobial strain. Many studies point out a signalling role for EPS-derived oligosaccharides in root infection and nodule invasion but, in certain symbiotic couples, EPS can be dispensable for a successful interaction. In summary, the complex regulation of the production of rhizobial EPS varies in different rhizobia, and the relevance of this polysaccharide in symbiosis with legumes depends on the specific interacting couple.}, } @article {pmid34207287, year = {2021}, author = {Ren, LY and Zhao, H and Liu, XL and Zong, TK and Qiao, M and Liu, SY and Liu, XY}, title = {Transcriptome Reveals Roles of Lignin-Modifying Enzymes and Abscisic Acid in the Symbiosis of Mycena and Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {34207287}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism ; Agaricales/genetics/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Dioxygenases/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gastrodia/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Germination ; Laccase/genetics/metabolism ; Lignin/genetics/*metabolism ; Peroxidases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Gastrodia elata is a well-known medicinal and heterotrophic orchid. Its germination, limited by the impermeability of seed coat lignin and inhibition by abscisic acid (ABA), is triggered by symbiosis with fungi such as Mycena spp. However, the molecular mechanisms of lignin degradation by Mycena and ABA biosynthesis and signaling in G. elata remain unclear. In order to gain insights into these two processes, this study analyzed the transcriptomes of these organisms during their dynamic symbiosis. Among the 25 lignin-modifying enzyme genes in Mycena, two ligninolytic class II peroxidases and two laccases were significantly upregulated, most likely enabling Mycena hyphae to break through the lignin seed coats of G. elata. Genes related to reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity in Mycena accounted for more than half of annotated genes, presumably contributing to symbiosis. After coculture, upregulated genes outnumbered downregulated genes in G. elata seeds, suggesting slightly increased biological activity, while Mycena hyphae had fewer upregulated than downregulated genes, indicating decreased biological activity. ABA biosynthesis in G. elata was reduced by the downregulated expression of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED-2), and ABA signaling was blocked by the downregulated expression of a receptor protein (PYL12-like). This is the first report to describe the role of NCED-2 and PYL12-like in breaking G. elata seed dormancy by reducing the synthesis and blocking the signaling of the germination inhibitor ABA. This study provides a theoretical basis for screening germination fungi to identify effective symbionts and for reducing ABA inhibition of G. elata seed germination.}, } @article {pmid34206769, year = {2021}, author = {Matos, A and Antunes, A}, title = {Symbiotic Associations in Ascidians: Relevance for Functional Innovation and Bioactive Potential.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34206769}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aquatic Organisms ; Biotechnology ; Symbiosis ; *Urochordata ; }, abstract = {Associations between different organisms have been extensively described in terrestrial and marine environments. These associations are involved in roles as diverse as nutrient exchanges, shelter or adaptation to adverse conditions. Ascidians are widely dispersed marine invertebrates associated to invasive behaviours. Studying their microbiomes has interested the scientific community, mainly due to its potential for bioactive compounds production-e.g., ET-73 (trabectedin, Yondelis), an anticancer drug. However, these symbiotic interactions embrace several environmental and biological functions with high ecological relevance, inspiring diverse biotechnological applications. We thoroughly reviewed microbiome studies (microscopic to metagenomic approaches) of around 171 hosts, worldwide dispersed, occurring at different domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya), to illuminate the functions and bioactive potential of associated organisms in ascidians. Associations with Bacteria are the most prevalent, namely with Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes phyla. The microbiomes of ascidians belonging to Aplousobranchia order have been the most studied. The integration of worldwide studies characterizing ascidians' microbiome composition revealed several functions including UV protection, bioaccumulation of heavy metals and defense against fouling or predators through production of natural products, chemical signals or competition. The critical assessment and characterization of these communities is extremely valuable to comprehend their biological/ecological role and biotechnological potential.}, } @article {pmid34206222, year = {2021}, author = {Shishido, TK and Wahlsten, M and Laine, P and Rikkinen, J and Lundell, T and Auvinen, P}, title = {Microbial Communities of Cladonia Lichens and Their Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Potentially Encoding Natural Products.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34206222}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Lichens have been widely used in traditional medicine, especially by indigenous communities worldwide. However, their slow growth and difficulties in the isolation of lichen symbionts and associated microbes have hindered the pharmaceutical utilisation of lichen-produced compounds. Advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques now permit detailed investigations of the complex microbial communities formed by fungi, green algae, cyanobacteria, and other bacteria within the lichen thalli. Here, we used amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and in silico metabolomics together with compound extractions to study reindeer lichens collected from Southern Finland. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of Cladonia species as sources of novel natural products. We compared the predicted biosynthetic pathways of lichen compounds from isolated genome-sequenced lichen fungi and our environmental samples. Potential biosynthetic genes could then be further used to produce secondary metabolites in more tractable hosts. Furthermore, we detected multiple compounds by metabolite analyses, which revealed connections between the identified biosynthetic gene clusters and their products. Taken together, our results contribute to metagenomic data studies from complex lichen-symbiotic communities and provide valuable new information for use in further biochemical and pharmacological studies.}, } @article {pmid34206173, year = {2021}, author = {Ceravolo, G and Macchia, T and Cuppari, C and Dipasquale, V and Gambadauro, A and Casto, C and Ceravolo, MD and Cutrupi, M and Calabrò, MP and Borgia, P and Piccolo, G and Mancuso, A and Albiero, R and Chimenz, R}, title = {Update on the Classification and Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Pediatric Cardiorenal Syndromes.}, journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34206173}, issn = {2227-9067}, abstract = {Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is defined as a disorder resulting from the abnormal interaction between the heart and kidney, in which acute or chronic dysfunction of one organ may lead to acute and/or chronic dysfunction of the other. The functional interplay between the heart and kidney is characterized by a complex bidirectional symbiotic interaction, regulated by a wide array of both genetic and environmental mechanisms. There are at least five known subtypes of CRS, based on the severity of clinical features and the degree of heart/renal failure. The fourth subtype (cardiorenal syndrome type 4 (CRS4)) is characterized by a primary chronic kidney disease (CKD), which in turn leads to a decreased cardiac function. Impairment of renal function is among the most important pathophysiological factors contributing to heart failure (HF) in the pediatric age group, and cardiovascular complications could be one of the most important causes of mortality in pediatric patients with advanced CKD. In this context, a loss of glomerular filtration rate directly correlates with both the progression of cardiovascular complications in CRS and the risk of HF. This review describes the interaction pathways between the heart and kidney and the recently identified pathophysiological mechanisms underlying pediatric CRS, with a special focus on CRS4, which encompasses both primary CKD and cardiovascular disease (CVD).}, } @article {pmid34206073, year = {2021}, author = {Kück, U and Stein, V}, title = {STRIPAK, a Key Regulator of Fungal Development, Operates as a Multifunctional Signaling Hub.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34206073}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The striatin-interacting phosphatases and kinases (STRIPAK) multi subunit complex is a highly conserved signaling complex that controls diverse developmental processes in higher and lower eukaryotes. In this perspective article, we summarize how STRIPAK controls diverse developmental processes in euascomycetes, such as fruiting body formation, cell fusion, sexual and vegetative development, pathogenicity, symbiosis, as well as secondary metabolism. Recent structural investigations revealed information about the assembly and stoichiometry of the complex enabling it to act as a signaling hub. Multiple organellar targeting of STRIPAK subunits suggests how this complex connects several signaling transduction pathways involved in diverse cellular developmental processes. Furthermore, recent phosphoproteomic analysis shows that STRIPAK controls the dephosphorylation of subunits from several signaling complexes. We also refer to recent findings in yeast, where the STRIPAK homologue connects conserved signaling pathways, and based on this we suggest how so far non-characterized proteins may functions as receptors connecting mitophagy with the STRIPAK signaling complex. Such lines of investigation should contribute to the overall mechanistic understanding of how STRIPAK controls development in euascomycetes and beyond.}, } @article {pmid34205374, year = {2021}, author = {Artuso, I and Turrini, P and Pirolo, M and Lugli, GA and Ventura, M and Visca, P}, title = {Phylogenomic Reconstruction and Metabolic Potential of the Genus Aminobacter.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34205374}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Aminobacter are metabolically versatile organisms thriving in both natural and anthropized terrestrial environments. To date, the taxonomy of this genus is poorly defined due to the unavailability of the genomic sequence of A. anthyllidis LMG 26462[T] and the presence of unclassified Aminobacter strains. Here, we determined the genome sequence of A. anthyllidis LMG 26462[T] and performed phylogenomic, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization analyses of 17 members of genus Aminobacter. Our results indicate that 16S rRNA-based phylogeny does not provide sufficient species-level discrimination, since most of the unclassified Aminobacter strains belong to valid Aminobacter species or are putative new species. Since some members of the genus Aminobacter can utilize certain C1 compounds, such as methylamines and methyl halides, a comparative genomic analysis was performed to characterize the genetic basis of some degradative/assimilative pathways in the whole genus. Our findings suggest that all Aminobacter species are heterotrophic methylotrophs able to generate the methylene tetrahydrofolate intermediate through multiple oxidative pathways of C1 compounds and convey it in the serine cycle. Moreover, all Aminobacter species carry genes implicated in the degradation of phosphonates via the C-P lyase pathway, whereas only A. anthyllidis LMG 26462[T] contains a symbiosis island implicated in nodulation and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid34205322, year = {2021}, author = {He, Y and Maltecca, C and Tiezzi, F}, title = {Potential Use of Gut Microbiota Composition as a Biomarker of Heat Stress in Monogastric Species: A Review.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34205322}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Heat stress is a current challenge for livestock production, and its impact could dramatically increase if global temperatures continue to climb. Exposure of agricultural animals to high ambient temperatures and humidity would lead to substantial economic losses because it compromises animal performance, productivity, health, and welfare. The gut microbiota plays essential roles in nutrient absorption, energy balance, and immune defenses through profound symbiotic interactions with the host. The homeostasis of those diverse gut microorganisms is critical for the host's overall health and welfare status and also is sensitive to environmental stressors, like heat stress, reflected in altered composition and functionality. This article aims to summarize the research progress on the interactions between heat stress and gut microbiome and discuss the potential use of the gut microbiota composition as a biomarker of heat stress in monogastric animal species. A comprehensive understanding of the gut microbiota's role in responding to or regulating physiological activities induced by heat stress would contribute to developing mitigation strategies.}, } @article {pmid34204572, year = {2021}, author = {Turroni, S and Petracci, E and Edefonti, V and Giudetti, AM and D'Amico, F and Paganelli, L and Giovannetti, G and Del Coco, L and Fanizzi, FP and Rampelli, S and Guerra, D and Rengucci, C and Bulgarelli, J and Tazzari, M and Pellegrini, N and Ferraroni, M and Nanni, O and Serra, P}, title = {Effects of a Diet Based on Foods from Symbiotic Agriculture on the Gut Microbiota of Subjects at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34204572}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; *Agriculture ; *Diet ; Diet, Healthy ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Italy ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome/*microbiology ; Metabolome ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Probiotics ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Diet is a major driver of gut microbiota variation and plays a role in metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome (MS). Mycorrhized foods from symbiotic agriculture (SA) exhibit improved nutritional properties, but potential benefits have never been investigated in humans. We conducted a pilot interventional study on 60 adults with ≥ 1 risk factors for MS, of whom 33 consumed SA-derived fresh foods and 27 received probiotics over 30 days, with a 15-day follow-up. Stool, urine and blood were collected over time to explore changes in gut microbiota, metabolome, and biochemical, inflammatory and immunologic parameters; previous dietary habits were investigated through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. The baseline microbiota showed alterations typical of metabolic disorders, mainly an increase in Coriobacteriaceae and a decrease in health-associated taxa, which were partly reversed after the SA-based diet. Improvements were observed in metabolome, MS presence (two out of six subjects no longer had MS) or components. Changes were more pronounced with less healthy baseline diets. Probiotics had a marginal, not entirely favorable, effect, although one out of three subjects no longer suffered from MS. These findings suggest that improved dietary patterns can modulate the host microbiota and metabolome, counteracting the risk of developing MS.}, } @article {pmid34203436, year = {2021}, author = {Vukelić, ID and Prokić, LT and Racić, GM and Pešić, MB and Bojović, MM and Sierka, EM and Kalaji, HM and Panković, DM}, title = {Effects of Trichoderma harzianum on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Fruit Quality of Tomato Plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {34203436}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Flavonoids/metabolism ; Fruit/microbiology ; Hypocreales/pathogenicity ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Trichoderma/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The beneficial role of fungi from the Trichoderma genus and its secondary metabolites in promoting plant growth, uptake and use efficiency of macronutrients and oligo/micro-nutrients, activation of plant secondary metabolism and plant protection from diseases makes it interesting for application in environmentally friendly agriculture. However, the literature data on the effect of Trichoderma inoculation on tomato fruit quality is scarce. Commercially used tomato cultivars were chosen in combination with indigenous Trichodrema species previously characterized on molecular and biochemical level, to investigate the effect of Trichoderma on photosynthetic characteristics and fruit quality of plants grown in organic system of production. Examined cultivars differed in the majority of examined parameters. Response of cultivar Gružanski zlatni to Trichoderma application was more significant. As a consequence of increased epidermal flavonols and decreased chlorophyll, the nitrogen balance index in leaves has decreased, indicating a shift from primary to secondary metabolism. The quality of its fruit was altered in the sense of increased total flavonoids content, decreased starch, increased Bioaccumulation Index (BI) for Fe and Cr, and decreased BI for heavy metals Ni and Pb. Higher expression of swolenin gene in tomato roots of more responsive tomato cultivar indicates better root colonization, which correlates with observed positive effects of Trichodrema.}, } @article {pmid34203298, year = {2021}, author = {Skiba, EA and Shavyrkina, NA and Budaeva, VV and Sitnikova, AE and Korchagina, AA and Bychin, NV and Gladysheva, EK and Pavlov, IN and Zharikov, AN and Lubyansky, VG and Semyonova, EN and Sakovich, GV}, title = {Biosynthesis of Bacterial Cellulose by Extended Cultivation with Multiple Removal of BC Pellicles.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {13}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {34203298}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {Extended cultivation with multiple removal of BC pellicles is proposed herein as a new biosynthetic process for bacterial cellulose (BC). This method enhances the BC surface area by 5-11 times per unit volume of the growth medium, improving the economic efficiency of biosynthesis. The resultant BC gel-films were thin, transparent, and congruent. The degree of polymerization (DP) and elastic modulus (EM) depended on the number of BC pellicle removals, vessel shape, and volume. The quality of BC from removals II-III to VII was better than from removal I. The process scale-up of 1:40 by volume increased DP by 1.5 times and EM by 5 times. A fact was established that the symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 was adaptable to exhausted growth medium: the medium was able to biosynthesize BC for 60 days, while glucose ran low at 24 days. On extended cultivation, DP and EM were found to decline by 39-64% and 57-65%, respectively. The BC gel-films obtained upon removals I-VI were successfully trialed in experimental tension-free hernioplasty.}, } @article {pmid34202392, year = {2021}, author = {Wethalawe, AN and Alwis, YV and Udukala, DN and Paranagama, PA}, title = {Antimicrobial Compounds Isolated from Endolichenic Fungi: A Review.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {34202392}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {*Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/therapeutic use ; *Lichens/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism, which is algae or cyanobacteria. Endolichenic fungi are a group of microfungi that resides asymptomatically within the thalli of lichens. Endolichenic fungi can be recognized as luxuriant metabolic artists that produce propitious bioactive secondary metabolites. More than any other time, there is a worldwide search for new antibiotics due to the alarming increase in microbial resistance against the currently available therapeutics. Even though a few antimicrobial compounds have been isolated from endolichenic fungi, most of them have moderate activities, implying the need for further structural optimizations. Recognizing this timely need and the significance of endolichenic fungi as a promising source of antimicrobial compounds, the activity, sources and the structures of 31 antibacterial compounds, 58 antifungal compounds, two antiviral compounds and one antiplasmodial (antimalarial) compound are summarized in this review. In addition, an overview of the common scaffolds and structural features leading to the corresponding antimicrobial properties is provided as an aid for future studies. The current challenges and major drawbacks of research related to endolichenic fungi and the remedies for them have been suggested.}, } @article {pmid34202141, year = {2021}, author = {Yuan, X and Zhang, X and Liu, X and Dong, Y and Yan, Z and Lv, D and Wang, P and Li, Y}, title = {Comparison of Gut Bacterial Communities of Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Reared on Different Host Plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {34202141}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Computational Biology/methods ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Lepidoptera/*microbiology ; Metagenomics/methods ; Plants/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Intestinal symbiotic bacteria have played an important role in the digestion, immunity detoxification, mating, and reproduction of insects during long-term coevolution. The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, is an important fruit tree pest worldwide. However, the composition of the G. molesta microbial community, especially of the gut microbiome, remains unclear. To explore the differences of gut microbiota of G. molesta when reared on different host plants, we determined the gut bacterial structure when G. molesta was transferred from an artificial diet to different host plants (apples, peaches, nectarines, crisp pears, plums, peach shoots) by amplicon sequencing technology. The results showed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are dominant in the gut microbiota of G. molesta. Plum-feeding G. molesta had the highest richness and diversity of gut microbiota, while apple-feeding G. molesta had the lowest. PCoA and PERMANOVA analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the gut microbiota structure of G. molesta on different diets. PICRUSt2 analysis indicated that most of the functional prediction pathways were concentrated in metabolic and cellular processes. Our results confirmed that gut bacterial communities of G. molesta can be influenced by host diets and may play an important role in host adaptation.}, } @article {pmid34202085, year = {2021}, author = {Ausborn, J and Shevtsova, NA and Danner, SM}, title = {Computational Modeling of Spinal Locomotor Circuitry in the Age of Molecular Genetics.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {34202085}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {R01 NS100928/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS112304/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS110550/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS115900/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS110550/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS115900/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS100928/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS118562/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS112304/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Feedback, Sensory ; *Genetic Association Studies ; Humans ; Interneurons/physiology ; *Locomotion ; *Models, Neurological ; Motor Neurons/*physiology ; Spinal Cord/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Neuronal circuits in the spinal cord are essential for the control of locomotion. They integrate supraspinal commands and afferent feedback signals to produce coordinated rhythmic muscle activations necessary for stable locomotion. For several decades, computational modeling has complemented experimental studies by providing a mechanistic rationale for experimental observations and by deriving experimentally testable predictions. This symbiotic relationship between experimental and computational approaches has resulted in numerous fundamental insights. With recent advances in molecular and genetic methods, it has become possible to manipulate specific constituent elements of the spinal circuitry and relate them to locomotor behavior. This has led to computational modeling studies investigating mechanisms at the level of genetically defined neuronal populations and their interactions. We review literature on the spinal locomotor circuitry from a computational perspective. By reviewing examples leading up to and in the age of molecular genetics, we demonstrate the importance of computational modeling and its interactions with experiments. Moving forward, neuromechanical models with neuronal circuitry modeled at the level of genetically defined neuronal populations will be required to further unravel the mechanisms by which neuronal interactions lead to locomotor behavior.}, } @article {pmid34201631, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, W and Chen, Y}, title = {Two-Step Measurement of Water-Energy-Food Symbiotic Coordination and Identification of Key Influencing Factors in the Yangtze River Basin.}, journal = {Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34201631}, issn = {1099-4300}, abstract = {With the intensification of people's production and life behaviors, the systemic risks of water, energy and food in the Yangtze River Basin have become increasingly prominent, which has become a bottleneck for sustainable development of social, economic and ecological in the basin. Therefore, studying the symbiotic coordination between water, energy and food is of great significance to promoting regional sustainable development. First, from the perspective of water-energy-food symbiosis, with the water-energy-food ecosystem conceptual model as the nexus, the two-step measurement model of the symbiotic index and the symbiotic level index is used to study the water-energy-food symbiosis of the Yangtze River. Then, we use the BP-DEMATEL-GTCW model to identify the key influencing factors that affect the symbiotic security of the water-energy-food ecosystem. In this research, it is found that the average value of the symbiotic degree of the water-energy-food ecosystem of the 11 provinces or municipalities in the Yangtze River Basin only reached the risk grade. It can also be seen from the identification results of key influencing factors that energy microsystem-related indicators have a greater impact on the symbiotic development of the entire WEF ecosystem. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to increasing energy sources and reducing expenditure. Relevant departments need to effectively develop primary energy production and expand energy-saving investment through multiple channels to expand energy self-sufficiency and ultimately promote the coordinated and effective development of water, energy and food in the Yangtze River Basin.}, } @article {pmid34201292, year = {2021}, author = {Rouina, H and Tseng, YH and Nataraja, KN and Uma Shaanker, R and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Arabidopsis Restricts Sugar Loss to a Colonizing Trichoderma harzianum Strain by Downregulating SWEET11 and -12 and Upregulation of SUC1 and SWEET2 in the Roots.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34201292}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Phosphate (Pi) availability has a strong influence on the symbiotic interaction between Arabidopsis and a recently described root-colonizing beneficial Trichoderma harzianum strain. When transferred to media with insoluble Ca3(PO4)2 as a sole Pi source, Arabidopsis seedlings died after 10 days. Trichoderma grew on the medium containing Ca3(PO4)2 and the fungus did colonize in roots, stems, and shoots of the host. The efficiency of the photosynthetic electron transport of the colonized seedlings grown on Ca3(PO4)2 medium was reduced and the seedlings died earlier, indicating that the fungus exerts an additional stress to the plant. Interestingly, the fungus initially alleviated the Pi starvation response and did not activate defense responses against the hyphal propagation. However, in colonized roots, the sucrose transporter genes SWEET11 and -12 were strongly down-regulated, restricting the unloading of sucrose from the phloem parenchyma cells to the apoplast. Simultaneously, up-regulation of SUC1 promoted sucrose uptake from the apoplast into the parenchyma cells and of SWEET2 sequestration of sucrose in the vacuole of the root cells. We propose that the fungus tries to escape from the Ca3(PO4)2 medium and colonizes the entire host. To prevent excessive sugar consumption by the propagating hyphae, the host restricts sugar availability in its apoplastic root space by downregulating sugar transporter genes for phloem unloading, and by upregulating transporter genes which maintain the sugar in the root cells.}, } @article {pmid34201139, year = {2021}, author = {Dreher, ML}, title = {A Comprehensive Review of Almond Clinical Trials on Weight Measures, Metabolic Health Biomarkers and Outcomes, and the Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34201139}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Biomarkers/*metabolism ; *Body Weight ; *Clinical Trials as Topic ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Health ; Humans ; Prunus dulcis/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {This comprehensive narrative review of 64 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 14 systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses provides an in-depth analysis of the effect of almonds on weight measures, metabolic health biomarkers and outcomes, and the colonic microbiota, with extensive use of figures and tables. Almonds are a higher energy-dense (ED) food that acts like a lower ED food when consumed. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of nut RCTs showed that almonds were the only nut that had a small but significant decrease in both mean body mass and fat mass, compared to control diets. The biological mechanisms for almond weight control include enhanced displacement of other foods, decreased macronutrient bioavailability for a lower net metabolizable energy (ME), upregulation of acute signals for reduced hunger, and elevated satiety and increased resting energy expenditure. The intake of 42.5 g/day of almonds significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), 10-year Framingham estimated coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) medical expenditures. Diastolic blood pressure (BP) was modestly but significantly lowered when almonds were consumed at >42.5 g/day or for >6 weeks. Recent RCTs suggest possible emerging health benefits for almonds such as enhanced cognitive performance, improved heart rate variability under mental stress, and reduced rate of facial skin aging from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) B radiation. Eight RCTs show that almonds can support colonic microbiota health by promoting microflora richness and diversity, increasing the ratio of symbiotic to pathogenic microflora, and concentrations of health-promoting colonic bioactives. Almonds are a premier healthy snack for precision nutrition diet plans.}, } @article {pmid34200661, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, S and Wang, Z and Zhou, H and Fu, Y and Feng, M and Cheng, X}, title = {High Co-Infection Rate of Trichomonas vaginalis and Candidatus Mycoplasma Girerdii in Gansu Province, China.}, journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34200661}, issn = {2227-9032}, abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is a flagellated protist parasite that infects the human urogenital tract. The symbiotic relationship between Tv and Mycoplasma hominis has been reported. Recent studies have identified a new Mycoplasma strain, Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii (Ca. M. girerdii), present in the vaginal secretions of women and have shown that this strain may be related to trichomoniasis. Here, we evaluated the presence of Tv, M. hominis and Ca. M. girerdii in 312 clinical samples from adult women diagnosed with vaginitis in Zhangye, Gansu province, China. Among these samples, 94, 153, and 48 were Tv, M. hominis and Ca. M. girerdii positive, respectively. Moreover, Tv was highly frequent in 17-30-year-old women in this region. Forty samples (83.3%) positive for Ca. M. girerdii were also positive for Tv. Six Tv isolates were successfully cultured, including five isolates that showed symbiotic relationships with Mycoplasma. This is the first report to evaluate the genetic characteristics of Ca. M. girerdii in China and may therefore provide insights into the effects of Ca. M. girerdii on the reproductive health of women.}, } @article {pmid34199553, year = {2021}, author = {Weiland-Bräuer, N}, title = {Friends or Foes-Microbial Interactions in Nature.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34199553}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Microorganisms are present in nearly every niche on Earth and mainly do not exist solely but form communities of single or mixed species. Within such microbial populations and between the microbes and a eukaryotic host, various microbial interactions take place in an ever-changing environment. Those microbial interactions are crucial for a successful establishment and maintenance of a microbial population. The basic unit of interaction is the gene expression of each organism in this community in response to biotic or abiotic stimuli. Differential gene expression is responsible for producing exchangeable molecules involved in the interactions, ultimately leading to community behavior. Cooperative and competitive interactions within bacterial communities and between the associated bacteria and the host are the focus of this review, emphasizing microbial cell-cell communication (quorum sensing). Further, metagenomics is discussed as a helpful tool to analyze the complex genomic information of microbial communities and the functional role of different microbes within a community and to identify novel biomolecules for biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid34199397, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, H and Ren, W and Zheng, Y and Li, Y and Zhu, M and Tang, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase Pb Uptake of Colonized and Non-Colonized Medicago truncatula Root and Deliver Extra Pb to Colonized Root Segment.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34199397}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish symbiosis and improve the lead (Pb) tolerance of host plants. The AM plants accumulate more Pb in roots than their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. However, the direct and long-term impact of AM fungi on plant Pb uptake has been rarely reported. In this study, AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) colonized and non-colonized roots of Medicago truncatula were separated by a split-root system, and their differences in responding to Pb application were compared. The shoot biomass accumulation and transpiration were increased after R. irregularis inoculation, whereas the biomass of both colonized and non-colonized roots was decreased. Lead application in the non-colonized root compartment increased the R. irregularis colonization rate and up-regulated the relative expressions of MtPT4 and MtBCP1 in the colonized root compartments. Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation increased Pb uptake in both colonized and non-colonized roots, and R. irregularis transferred Pb to the colonized root segment. The Pb transferred through the colonized root segment had low mobility and might be sequestrated and compartmented in the root by R. irregularis. The Pb uptake of roots might follow water flow, which is facilitated by MtPIP2. The quantification of Pb transfer via the mycorrhizal pathway and the involvement of MtPIP2 deserve further study.}, } @article {pmid34198192, year = {2021}, author = {Yoneyama, K and Brewer, PB}, title = {Strigolactones, how are they synthesized to regulate plant growth and development?.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {102072}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102072}, pmid = {34198192}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Lactones ; *Plant Development ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional plant metabolites working not only as allelochemicals in the rhizosphere, but also as a novel class of hormones regulating growth and development in planta. To date, more than 30 SLs have been characterized, but the reason why plants produce structurally diverse SLs and the details of their biosynthetic pathway remain elusive. Recent studies using transcriptomics and reverse genetic techniques have paved the way to clarify the entire biosynthetic pathway of structurally diverse SLs. In this review, we discuss how various SLs are synthesized and what SL structural diversity means for plant growth and development.}, } @article {pmid34198125, year = {2021}, author = {Schäfer, P}, title = {microRNAs - Game-changers in plant symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {153459}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153459}, pmid = {34198125}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*MicroRNAs ; Plant Immunity/*genetics/*physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; Plants/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid34198015, year = {2021}, author = {Graeff, JE and Leblond, JD}, title = {Sterol Composition of the Peridinioid Dinoflagellate Zooxanthella nutricula, A Symbiont of Polycystine Radiolarians.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {172}, number = {3}, pages = {125817}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2021.125817}, pmid = {34198015}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {*Dinoflagellida ; Sterols ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some dinoflagellates, such as Symbiodinium, are able to form symbiotic relationships with larger marine organisms. An important aspect of dinoflagellate symbiosis involves the exchange of lipids, namely sterols, from the symbiont to the host. Much research has explored the lipid biochemistry of the symbiotic relationship between cnidarians and Symbiodinium dinoflagellates. However, no research has addressed the sterol biochemistry of the symbiosis between radiolarians and dinoflagellates such as Zooxanthella nutricula. To this end, we have provided the first sterol characterization of Z. nutricula isolated from a spumellarian polycystine radiolarian. Fifteen sterols and one steroidal ketone were observed where the major sterol identified was C27 22-dehydrocholesterol, which does not tend to be a dominant sterol among dinoflagellates, including closely related peridinioid species in the genus Heterocapsa. However, C30 dinosterol and dinostanol were major sterols in both Z. nutricula and Heterocapsa spp., thus indicating common sterols between closely related taxa. Major sterols of the distantly related genus Symbiodinium, a symbiont of foraminifera and cnidarians, have included C27 cholesterol and C30 gorgosterol, whereas in Z. nutricula these sterols were minor and absent, respectively. Our results indicate potentially different sterol pools available to cnidarian and radiolarian symbiont hosts during their respective relationships with symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid34197846, year = {2021}, author = {Bull, L}, title = {On coevolution: Asymmetry in the NKCS model.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {104469}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104469}, pmid = {34197846}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Models, Genetic ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The NKCS model was introduced to explore coevolutionary systems, that is, systems in which multiple species are closely interconnected. The fitness landscapes of the species are coupled to a controllable amount, where the underlying properties of the individual landscapes are also controllable. Previous work has assumed symmetry with respect to the controlling parameters. This paper explores the effects of reducing that symmetry on the behaviour of the coevolutionary system, including varying genome complexity, the degree of landscape coupling, and the use of local learning. Significant changes in behaviour from the traditional model are seen across the parameter space. These findings are suggested as particularly pertinent to symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid34196799, year = {2021}, author = {Daskalopoulos, V and Polemis, E and Fryssouli, V and Kottis, L and Bandini, D and Dima, B and Zervakis, GI}, title = {Mallocybe heimii ectomycorrhizae with Cistus creticus and Pinus halepensis in Mediterranean littoral sand dunes - assessment of phylogenetic relationships to M. arenaria and M. agardhii.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {497-510}, pmid = {34196799}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Cistus ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Pinus ; Sand ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis appears extensively in the Northern Hemisphere, where Mediterranean ecosystems constitute an important ecological area of considerable biodiversity value. Littoral sand dunes are among high-risk habitats, and ectomycorrhizal lifestyle contributes significantly to supporting life in such regions. Mallocybe heimii (Bon) Matheny & Esteve-Rav. (Inocybaceae, Basidiomycota) and the very similar M. arenaria (Bon) Matheny & Esteve-Rav. grow in poor, usually sandy soils, in association with angiosperms or gymnosperms. Basidiomata originally identified under these names were collected from littoral sand dunes of Greece, and their morpho-anatomical characteristics were examined in conjunction with material derived from other European regions. Sequences from basidiomata and root tips corresponding to the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) were obtained and analyzed. Phylogenetic results demonstrated that material identified as M. heimii or M. arenaria form a single well-supported group, while M. agardhii (N. Lund) Matheny & Esteve-Rav. is confirmed to be distinct from M. arenaria (the latter was initially described as a variety of the former, i.e., I. agardhii var. arenaria Bon). A detailed tree of the genus Mallocybe was generated on the basis of concatenated ITS and LSU sequences, and relationships of selected taxa are discussed in the light of morphological and sequence data. In addition, the first morphotype descriptions of M. heimii ectomycorrhizae with Cistus creticus L. and Pinus halepensis Miller are hereby provided. Both morphotypes exhibited the typical characteristics of Inocybe/Mallocybe ectomycorrhizae; however, differences were noted, the most significant being the presence of clamps on mantle hyphae and the type of anastomoses.}, } @article {pmid34196707, year = {2021}, author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and Saary, P and Tingley, JP and Díaz-Escandón, D and Abbott, DW and Finn, RD and Spribille, T}, title = {Erratum to: Predicted Input of Uncultured Fungal Symbionts to a Lichen Symbiosis from Metagenome-Assembled Genomes.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evab129}, pmid = {34196707}, issn = {1759-6653}, } @article {pmid34196542, year = {2021}, author = {Duan, Y and Toplak, M and Hou, A and Brock, NL and Dickschat, JS and Teufel, R}, title = {A Flavoprotein Dioxygenase Steers Bacterial Tropone Biosynthesis via Coenzyme A-Ester Oxygenolysis and Ring Epoxidation.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {143}, number = {27}, pages = {10413-10421}, pmid = {34196542}, issn = {1520-5126}, mesh = {Burkholderia/*enzymology ; Coenzyme A/*metabolism ; Dioxygenases/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Molecular Structure ; Oxidative Stress ; Tropolone/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacterial tropone natural products such as tropolone, tropodithietic acid, or the roseobacticides play crucial roles in various terrestrial and marine symbiotic interactions as virulence factors, antibiotics, algaecides, or quorum sensing signals. We now show that their poorly understood biosynthesis depends on a shunt product from aerobic CoA-dependent phenylacetic acid catabolism that is salvaged by the dedicated acyl-CoA dehydrogenase-like flavoenzyme TdaE. Further characterization of TdaE revealed an unanticipated complex catalysis, comprising substrate dehydrogenation, noncanonical CoA-ester oxygenolysis, and final ring epoxidation. The enzyme thereby functions as an archetypal flavoprotein dioxygenase that incorporates both oxygen atoms from O2 into the substrate, most likely involving flavin-N5-peroxide and flavin-N5-oxide species for consecutive CoA-ester cleavage and epoxidation, respectively. The subsequent spontaneous decarboxylation of the reactive enzyme product yields tropolone, which serves as a key virulence factor in rice panicle blight caused by pathogenic edaphic Burkholderia plantarii. Alternatively, the TdaE product is most likely converted to more complex sulfur-containing secondary metabolites such as tropodithietic acid from predominant marine Rhodobacteraceae (e.g., Phaeobacter inhibens).}, } @article {pmid34196001, year = {2021}, author = {Mayerhofer, W and Schintlmeister, A and Dietrich, M and Gorka, S and Wiesenbauer, J and Martin, V and Gabriel, R and Reipert, S and Weidinger, M and Clode, P and Wagner, M and Woebken, D and Richter, A and Kaiser, C}, title = {Recently photoassimilated carbon and fungus-delivered nitrogen are spatially correlated in the ectomycorrhizal tissue of Fagus sylvatica.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {232}, number = {6}, pages = {2457-2474}, pmid = {34196001}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon ; *Fagus ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal plants trade plant-assimilated carbon for soil nutrients with their fungal partners. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not fully understood. Here we investigate the exchange of carbon for nitrogen in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis of Fagus sylvatica across different spatial scales from the root system to the cellular level. We provided [15] N-labelled nitrogen to mycorrhizal hyphae associated with one half of the root system of young beech trees, while exposing plants to a [13] CO2 atmosphere. We analysed the short-term distribution of [13] C and [15] N in the root system with isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and at the cellular scale within a mycorrhizal root tip with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). At the root system scale, plants did not allocate more [13] C to root parts that received more [15] N. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging, however, revealed a highly heterogenous, and spatially significantly correlated distribution of [13] C and [15] N at the cellular scale. Our results indicate that, on a coarse scale, plants do not allocate a larger proportion of photoassimilated C to root parts associated with N-delivering ectomycorrhizal fungi. Within the ectomycorrhizal tissue, however, recently plant-assimilated C and fungus-delivered N were spatially strongly coupled. Here, NanoSIMS visualisation provides an initial insight into the regulation of ectomycorrhizal C and N exchange at the microscale.}, } @article {pmid34191015, year = {2021}, author = {Heath-Heckman, E and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Leveraging Short-Read Sequencing to Explore the Genomics of Sepiolid Squid.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {61}, number = {5}, pages = {1753-1761}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icab152}, pmid = {34191015}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Decapodiformes/genetics ; Genomics ; Hawaii ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Due to their large size (∼3-5 Gb) and high repetitive content, the study of cephalopod genomes has historically been problematic. However, with the recent sequencing of several cephalopod genomes, including the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes), whole-genome studies of these molluscs are now possible. Of particular interest are the sepiolid or bobtail squids, many of which develop photophores in which bioluminescent bacterial symbionts reside. The variable presence of the symbiosis throughout the family allows us to determine regions of the genome that are under selection in symbiotic lineages, potentially providing a mechanism for identifying genes instrumental in the evolution of these mutualistic associations. To this end, we have used high-throughput sequencing to generate sequence from five bobtail squid genomes, four of which maintain symbioses with luminescent bacteria (E. hyllebergi, E. albatrossae, E. scolopes, and Rondeletiola minor), and one of which does not (Sepietta neglecta). When we performed K-mer based heterozygosity and genome size estimations, we found that the Euprymna genus has a higher predicted genome size than other bobtail squid (∼5 Gb as compared to ∼4 Gb) and lower genomic heterozygosity. When we analyzed the repetitive content of the genomes, we found that genomes in the genus Euprymna appear to have recently acquired a significant quantity of LINE elements that are not found in its sister genus Rondeletiola or the closely related Sepietta. Using Abyss-2.0 and then Chromosomer with the published E. scolopes genome as a reference, we generated E. hyllebergi and E. albatrossae genomes of 1.54-1.57 Gb in size, but containing over 78-81% of eukaryotic single-copy othologs. The data that we have generated will enable future whole-genome comparisons between these species to determine gene and regulatory content that differs between symbiotic and non-symbiotic lineages, as well as genes associated with symbiosis that are under selection.}, } @article {pmid34190607, year = {2021}, author = {Leonard, JM and Mitchell, J and Beinart, RA and Delaney, JA and Sanders, JG and Ellis, G and Goddard, EA and Girguis, PR and Scott, KM}, title = {Cooccurring Activities of Two Autotrophic Pathways in Symbionts of the Hydrothermal Vent Tubeworm Riftia pachyptila.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {17}, pages = {e0079421}, pmid = {34190607}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Autotrophic Processes ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Citric Acid Cycle ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology/parasitology ; Photosynthesis ; Polychaeta/*microbiology/physiology ; Sulfides/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genome and proteome data predict the presence of both the reductive citric acid cycle (rCAC; also called the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle) and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle (CBB) in "Candidatus Endoriftia persephonae," the autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacterial endosymbiont from the giant hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila. We tested whether these cycles were differentially induced by sulfide supply, since the synthesis of biosynthetic intermediates by the rCAC is less energetically expensive than that by the CBB. R. pachyptila was incubated under in situ conditions in high-pressure aquaria under low (28 to 40 μmol · h[-1]) or high (180 to 276 μmol · h[-1]) rates of sulfide supply. Symbiont-bearing trophosome samples excised from R. pachyptila maintained under the two conditions were capable of similar rates of CO2 fixation. Activities of the rCAC enzyme ATP-dependent citrate lyase (ACL) and the CBB enzyme 1,3-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) did not differ between the two conditions, although transcript abundances for ATP-dependent citrate lyase were 4- to 5-fold higher under low-sulfide conditions. δ[13]C values of internal dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pools were varied and did not correlate with sulfide supply rate. In samples taken from freshly collected R. pachyptila, δ[13]C values of lipids fell between those collected for organisms using either the rCAC or the CBB exclusively. These observations are consistent with cooccurring activities of the rCAC and the CBB in this symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Previous to this study, the activities of the rCAC and CBB in R. pachyptila had largely been inferred from "omics" studies of R. pachyptila without direct assessment of in situ conditions prior to collection. In this study, R. pachyptila was maintained and monitored in high-pressure aquaria prior to measuring its CO2 fixation parameters. Results suggest that ranges in sulfide concentrations similar to those experienced in situ do not exert a strong influence on the relative activities of the rCAC and the CBB. This observation highlights the importance of further study of this symbiosis and other organisms with multiple CO2-fixing pathways, which recent genomics and biochemical studies suggest are likely to be more prevalent than anticipated.}, } @article {pmid34189441, year = {2021}, author = {Conlon, BH and Gostinčar, C and Fricke, J and Kreuzenbeck, NB and Daniel, JM and Schlosser, MSL and Peereboom, N and Aanen, DK and de Beer, ZW and Beemelmanns, C and Gunde-Cimerman, N and Poulsen, M}, title = {Genome reduction and relaxed selection is associated with the transition to symbiosis in the basidiomycete genus Podaxis.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {102680}, pmid = {34189441}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Insights into the genomic consequences of symbiosis for basidiomycete fungi associated with social insects remain sparse. Capitalizing on viability of spores from centuries-old herbarium specimens of free-living, facultative, and specialist termite-associated Podaxis fungi, we obtained genomes of 10 specimens, including two type species described by Linnaeus >240 years ago. We document that the transition to termite association was accompanied by significant reductions in genome size and gene content, accelerated evolution in protein-coding genes, and reduced functional capacities for oxidative stress responses and lignin degradation. Functional testing confirmed that termite specialists perform worse under oxidative stress, while all lineages retained some capacity to cleave lignin. Mitochondrial genomes of termite associates were significantly larger; possibly driven by smaller population sizes or reduced competition, supported by apparent loss of certain biosynthetic gene clusters. Our findings point to relaxed selection that mirrors genome traits observed among obligate endosymbiotic bacteria of many insects.}, } @article {pmid34188781, year = {2021}, author = {Okuda, S and Shimada, Y and Tajima, Y and Yuza, K and Hirose, Y and Ichikawa, H and Nagahashi, M and Sakata, J and Ling, Y and Miura, N and Sugai, M and Watanabe, Y and Takeuchi, S and Wakai, T}, title = {Profiling of host genetic alterations and intra-tumor microbiomes in colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {19}, number = {}, pages = {3330-3338}, pmid = {34188781}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Some bacteria are symbiotic in tumor tissues, and metabolites of several bacterial species have been found to cause DNA damage. However, to date, the association between bacteria and host genetic alterations in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been fully investigated. We evaluated the association between the intra-tumor microbiome and host genetic alterations in 29 Japanese CRC patients. The tumor and non-tumor tissues were extracted from the patients, and 16S rRNA genes were sequenced for each sample. We identified enriched bacteria in tumor and non-tumor tissues. Some bacteria, such as Fusobacterium, which is already known to be enriched in CRC, were found to be enriched in tumor tissues. Interestingly, Bacteroides, which is also known to be enriched in CRC, was enriched in non-tumor tissues. Furthermore, it was shown that certain bacteria that often coexist within tumor tissue were enriched in the presence of a mutated gene or signal pathway with mutated genes in the host cells. Fusobacterium was associated with many mutated genes, as well as cell cycle-related pathways including mutated genes. In addition, the patients with a high abundance of Campylobacter were suggested to be associated with mutational signature 3 indicating failure of double-strand DNA break repairs. These results suggest that CRC development may be partly caused by DNA damage caused by substances released by bacterial infection. Taken together, the identification of distinct gut microbiome patterns and their host specific genetic alterations might facilitate targeted interventions, such as modulation of the microbiome in addition to anticancer agents or immunotherapy.}, } @article {pmid34188188, year = {2021}, author = {Hines, S and van der Zwan, T and Shiell, K and Shotton, K and Prithiviraj, B}, title = {Alkaline extract of the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum stimulates arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their endomycorrhization of plant roots.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {13491}, pmid = {34188188}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascophyllum/*chemistry ; Complex Mixtures/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Fungi/*growth & development ; *Medicago truncatula/growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (ANE) are well-established plant biostimulants that improve stress tolerance and crop vigour, while also having been shown to stimulate soil microbes. The intersection of these two stimulatory activities, and how they combine to enhance plant health, however, remains poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate: (1) the direct effect of ANE on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, and (2) whether ANE influences endomycorrhization in plants. ANE enhanced development of R. irregularis in vitro, showing greater spore germination, germ tube length, and hyphal branching. Greenhouse-grown Medicago truncatula drench-treated with ANE formed mycorrhizal associations faster (3.1-fold higher mycorrhization at week 4) and grew larger (29% greater leaf area by week 8) than control plants. Foliar applications of ANE also increased root colonization and arbuscular maturity, but did not appear to enhance plant growth. Nonetheless, following either foliar or drench application, M. truncatula genes associated with establishment of mycorrhizae were expressed at significantly higher levels compared to controls. These results suggest that ANE enhances mycorrhization through both direct stimulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus growth and through stimulation of the plant's accommodation of the symbiont, together promoting the establishment of this agriculturally vital plant-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34188180, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, Y and Cai, T and Ren, Z and Liu, Y and Yuan, M and Cai, Y and Yu, C and Shu, R and He, S and Li, J and Wong, ACN and Wan, H}, title = {Decline in symbiont-dependent host detoxification metabolism contributes to increased insecticide susceptibility of insects under high temperature.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {3693-3703}, pmid = {34188180}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster ; *Hemiptera ; Insecta ; Insecticide Resistance ; *Insecticides/toxicity ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The interactions between insects and their bacterial symbionts are shaped by a variety of abiotic factors, including temperature. As global temperatures continue to break high records, a great deal of uncertainty surrounds how agriculturally important insect pests and their symbionts may be affected by elevated temperatures, and its implications for future pest management. In this study, we examine the role of bacterial symbionts in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens response to insecticide (imidacloprid) under different temperature scenarios. Our results reveal that the bacterial symbionts orchestrate host detoxification metabolism via the CncC pathway to promote host insecticide resistance, whereby the symbiont-inducible CncC pathway acts as a signaling conduit between exogenous abiotic stimuli and host metabolism. However, this insect-bacterial partnership function is vulnerable to high temperature, which causes a significant decline in host-bacterial content. In particular, we have identified the temperature-sensitive Wolbachia as a candidate player in N. lugens detoxification metabolism. Wolbachia-dependent insecticide resistance was confirmed through a series of insecticide assays and experiments comparing Wolbachia-free and Wolbachia-infected N. lugens and also Drosophila melanogaster. Together, our research reveals elevated temperatures negatively impact insect-bacterial symbiosis, triggering adverse consequences on host response to insecticide (imidacloprid) and potentially other xenobiotics.}, } @article {pmid34186295, year = {2021}, author = {Hull, R and Choi, J and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Conditioning plants for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis through DWARF14-LIKE signalling.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {102071}, pmid = {34186295}, issn = {1879-0356}, support = {/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Oryza ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolutionarily ancient α/β hydrolase DWARF14-LIKE (D14L) is indispensable for the perception of beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the rhizosphere, and for a range of developmental processes. Variants of D14L recognise natural strigolactones and the smoke constituent karrikin, both classified as butenolides, and additional unknown ligand(s), critical for symbiosis and development. Recent advances in the understanding of downstream effects of D14L signalling include biochemical evidence for the degradation of the repressor SMAX1. Indeed, genetic removal of rice SMAX1 leads to the de-repression of symbiosis programmes and to the simultaneous increase in strigolactone production. As strigolactones are key to attraction of the fungus in the rhizosphere, the D14L signalling pathway appears to coordinate fungal stimulation and root symbiotic competency. Here, we discuss the possible integrative roles of D14L signalling in conditioning plants for AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34186004, year = {2021}, author = {Pires, DP and Melo, LDR and Azeredo, J}, title = {Understanding the Complex Phage-Host Interactions in Biofilm Communities.}, journal = {Annual review of virology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {73-94}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-091919-074222}, pmid = {34186004}, issn = {2327-0578}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Biofilms ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophages and bacterial biofilms are widely present in natural environments, a fact that has accelerated the evolution of phages and their bacterial hosts in these particular niches. Phage-host interactions in biofilm communities are rather complex, where phages are not always merely predators but also can establish symbiotic relationships that induce and strengthen biofilms. In this review we provide an overview of the main features affecting phage-biofilm interactions as well as the currently available methods of studying these interactions. In addition, we address the applications of phages for biofilm control in different contexts.}, } @article {pmid34183734, year = {2021}, author = {Ganugi, P and Masoni, A and Sbrana, C and Dell'Acqua, M and Pietramellara, G and Benedettelli, S and Avio, L}, title = {Genetic variability assessment of 127 Triticum turgidum L. accessions for mycorrhizal susceptibility-related traits detection.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {13426}, pmid = {34183734}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Fungi/physiology ; *Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tetraploidy ; Triticum/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Positive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-wheat plant symbiosis have been well discussed by research, while the actual role of the single wheat genotype in establishing this type of association is still poorly investigated. In this work, the genetic diversity of Triticum turgidum wheats was exploited to detect roots susceptibility to AMF and to identify genetic markers in linkage with chromosome regions involved in this symbiosis. A tetraploid wheat collection of 127 accessions was genotyped using 35K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and inoculated with the AMF species Funneliformis mosseae (F. mosseae) and Rhizoglomus irregulare (R. irregulare), and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted. Six clusters of genetically related accessions were identified, showing a different mycorrhizal colonization among them. GWAS revealed four significant quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis, located on chromosomes 1A, 2A, 2B and 6A. The results of this work enrich future breeding activities aimed at developing new grains on the basis of genetic diversity on low or high susceptibility to mycorrhization, and, possibly, maximizing the symbiotic effects.}, } @article {pmid34183413, year = {2021}, author = {Geier, B and Oetjen, J and Ruthensteiner, B and Polikarpov, M and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Liebeke, M}, title = {Connecting structure and function from organisms to molecules in small-animal symbioses through chemo-histo-tomography.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {27}, pages = {}, pmid = {34183413}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/cytology ; *Histological Techniques ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Mass Spectrometry ; Oligochaeta/cytology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {Our understanding of metabolic interactions between small symbiotic animals and bacteria or parasitic eukaryotes that reside within their bodies is extremely limited. This gap in knowledge originates from a methodological challenge, namely to connect histological changes in host tissues induced by beneficial and parasitic (micro)organisms to the underlying metabolites. We addressed this challenge and developed chemo-histo-tomography (CHEMHIST), a culture-independent approach to connect anatomic structure and metabolic function in millimeter-sized symbiotic animals. CHEMHIST combines chemical imaging of metabolites based on mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and microanatomy-based micro-computed X-ray tomography (micro-CT) on the same animal. Both high-resolution MSI and micro-CT allowed us to correlate the distribution of metabolites to the same animal's three-dimensional (3D) histology down to submicrometer resolutions. Our protocol is compatible with tissue-specific DNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization for the taxonomic identification and localization of the associated micro(organisms). Building CHEMHIST upon in situ imaging, we sampled an earthworm from its natural habitat and created an interactive 3D model of its physical and chemical interactions with bacteria and parasitic nematodes in its tissues. Combining MSI and micro-CT, we present a methodological groundwork for connecting metabolic and anatomic phenotypes of small symbiotic animals that often represent keystone species for ecosystem functioning.}, } @article {pmid34183048, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, D and Yu, P and Ye, M and Schwarz, C and Jiang, X and Alvarez, PJJ}, title = {Enhanced mutualistic symbiosis between soil phages and bacteria with elevated chromium-induced environmental stress.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {150}, pmid = {34183048}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Chromium ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbe-virus interactions have broad implications on the composition, function, and evolution of microbiomes. Elucidating the effects of environmental stresses on these interactions is critical to identify the ecological function of viral communities and understand microbiome environmental adaptation. Heavy metal-contaminated soils represent a relevant ecosystem to study the interplay between microbes, viruses, and environmental stressors.

RESULTS: Metagenomic analysis revealed that Cr pollution adversely altered the abundance, diversity, and composition of viral and bacterial communities. Host-phage linkage based on CRISPR indicated that, in soils with high Cr contamination, the abundance of phages associated with heavy metal-tolerant hosts increased, as did the relative abundance of phages with broad host ranges (identified as host-phage linkages across genera), which would facilitate transfection and broader distribution of heavy metal resistance genes in the bacterial community. Examining variations along the pollutant gradient, enhanced mutualistic phage-bacterium interactions were observed in the face of greater environmental stresses. Specifically, the fractions of lysogens in bacterial communities (identified by integrase genes within bacterial genomes and prophage induction assay by mitomycin-C) were positively correlated with Cr contamination levels. Furthermore, viral genomic analysis demonstrated that lysogenic phages under higher Cr-induced stresses carried more auxiliary metabolic genes regulating microbial heavy metal detoxification.

CONCLUSION: With the intensification of Cr-induced environmental stresses, the composition, replication strategy, and ecological function of the phage community all evolve alongside the bacterial community to adapt to extreme habitats. These result in a transformation of the phage-bacterium interaction from parasitism to mutualism in extreme environments and underscore the influential role of phages in bacterial adaptation to pollution-related stress and in related biogeochemical processes. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid34182451, year = {2021}, author = {Tayibi, S and Monlau, F and Marias, F and Thevenin, N and Jimenez, R and Oukarroum, A and Alboulkas, A and Zeroual, Y and Barakat, A}, title = {Industrial symbiosis of anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis: Performances and agricultural interest of coupling biochar and liquid digestate.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {793}, number = {}, pages = {148461}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148461}, pmid = {34182451}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biofuels ; Charcoal ; Methane ; *Pyrolysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The sustainability of the anaerobic digestion industry is closely related to proper digestate disposal. In this study, an innovative cascading biorefinery concept coupling anaerobic digestion and subsequent pyrolysis of the digestate was investigated with the aim of enhancing the energy recovery and improving the fertilizers from organic wastes. Continuous anaerobic co-digestion of quinoa residues with wastewater sludge (45/55% VS) exhibited good stability and a methane production of 219 NL CH4/kg VS. Subsequent pyrolysis of the solid digestate was carried out (at 500 °C, 1 h, and 10 °C/min), resulting in a products distribution of 40 wt% biochar, 36 wt% bio-oil, and 24 wt% syngas. The organic phase (OP) of bio-oil and syngas exhibited higher and lower heating values of 34 MJ/kg and 11.8 MJ/Nm[3], respectively. The potential synergy of coupling biochar with liquid digestate (LD) for agronomic purposes was investigated. Interestingly, coupling LD (at 170 kg N/ha) with biochar (at 25 tons/ha) improved the growth of tomato plants up to 25% compared to LD application alone. In parallel, co-application of biochar with LD significantly increased the ammonia volatilization (by 64%) compared to LD application alone, although their simultaneous use did not impact the C and N mineralization rates.}, } @article {pmid34181515, year = {2021}, author = {Pratte, BS and Thiel, T}, title = {Comparative genomic insights into culturable symbiotic cyanobacteria from the water fern Azolla.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34181515}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Chemotaxis/genetics ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Ferns/*microbiology ; Fimbriae, Bacterial ; Fresh Water ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genomics ; Nostoc/classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Species of the floating, freshwater fern Azolla form a well-characterized symbiotic association with the non-culturable cyanobacterium Nostoc azollae, which fixes nitrogen for the plant. However, several cyanobacterial strains have over the years been isolated and cultured from Azolla from all over the world. The genomes of 10 of these strains were sequenced and compared with each other, with other symbiotic cyanobacterial strains, and with similar strains that were not isolated from a symbiotic association. The 10 strains fell into three distinct groups: six strains were nearly identical to the non-symbiotic strain, Nostoc (Anabaena) variabilis ATCC 29413; three were similar to the symbiotic strain, Nostoc punctiforme, and one, Nostoc sp. 2RC, was most similar to non-symbiotic strains of Nostoc linckia. However, Nostoc sp. 2RC was unusual because it has three sets of nitrogenase genes; it has complete gene clusters for two distinct Mo-nitrogenases and an alternative V-nitrogenase. Genes for Mo-nitrogenase, sugar transport, chemotaxis and pili characterized all the symbiotic strains. Several of the strains infected the liverwort Blasia, including N. variabilis ATCC 29413, which did not originate from Azolla but rather from a sewage pond. However, only Nostoc sp. 2RC, which produced highly motile hormogonia, was capable of high-frequency infection of Blasia. Thus, some of these strains, which grow readily in the laboratory, may be useful in establishing novel symbiotic associations with other plants.}, } @article {pmid34181159, year = {2021}, author = {Sharma, A and Dev, K and Sourirajan, A and Choudhary, M}, title = {Isolation and characterization of salt-tolerant bacteria with plant growth-promoting activities from saline agricultural fields of Haryana, India.}, journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {99}, pmid = {34181159}, issn = {2090-5920}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Soil salinity has been one of the biggest hurdles in achieving better crop yield and quality. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are the symbiotic heterogeneous bacteria that play an important role in the recycling of plant nutrients through phytostimulation and phytoremediation. In this study, bacterial isolates were isolated from salt-polluted soil of Jhajjar and Panipat districts of Haryana, India. The potential salt-tolerant bacteria were screened for their PGPR activities such as phosphate solubilization, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), indole acetic acid (IAA) and ammonia production. The molecular characterization of potent isolates with salt tolerance and PGPR activity was done by 16S rDNA sequencing.

RESULTS: Eighteen soil samples from saline soils of Haryana state were screened for salt-tolerant bacteria. The bacterial isolates were analyzed for salt tolerance ranging from 2 to 10%. Thirteen isolates were found salt tolerant at varied salt concentrations. Isolates HB6P2 and HB6J2 showed maximum tolerance to salts at 10% followed by HB4A1, HB4N3 and HB8P1. All the salt-tolerant bacterial isolates showed HCN production with maximum production by HB6J2. Phosphate solubilization was demonstrated by three isolates viz., HB4N3, HB6P2 and HB6J2. IAA production was maximum in HB4A1 (15.89) and HB6P2 (14.01) and least in HB4N3 (8.91). Ammonia production was maximum in HB6P2 (12.3) and least in HB8P1 (6.2). Three isolates HB6J2, HB8P1 and HB4N3 with significant salt tolerance, and PGPR ability were identified through sequencing of amplified 16SrRNA gene and were found to be Bacillus paramycoides, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus pumilus, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from saline soil can be used to overcome the detrimental effects of salt stress on plants, with beneficial effects of physiological functions of plants such as growth and yield, and overcome disease resistance. Therefore, application of microbial inoculants to alleviate stresses and enhance yield in plants could be a low cost and environmental friendly option for the management of saline soil for better crop productivity.}, } @article {pmid34181110, year = {2021}, author = {Anslan, S and Sachs, M and Rancilhac, L and Brinkmann, H and Petersen, J and Künzel, S and Schwarz, A and Arndt, H and Kerney, R and Vences, M}, title = {Diversity and substrate-specificity of green algae and other micro-eukaryotes colonizing amphibian clutches in Germany, revealed by DNA metabarcoding.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {108}, number = {4}, pages = {29}, pmid = {34181110}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Eukaryota ; Phylogeny ; Ranidae ; }, abstract = {Amphibian clutches are colonized by diverse but poorly studied communities of micro-organisms. One of the most noted ones is the unicellular green alga, Oophila amblystomatis, but the occurrence and role of other micro-organisms in the capsular chamber surrounding amphibian clutches have remained largely unstudied. Here, we undertook a multi-marker DNA metabarcoding study to characterize the community of algae and other micro-eukaryotes associated with agile frog (Rana dalmatina) clutches. Samplings were performed at three small ponds in Germany, from four substrates: water, sediment, tree leaves from the bottom of the pond, and R. dalmatina clutches. Sampling substrate strongly determined the community compositions of algae and other micro-eukaryotes. Therefore, as expected, the frog clutch-associated communities formed clearly distinct clusters. Clutch-associated communities in our study were structured by a plethora of not only green algae, but also diatoms and other ochrophytes. The most abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in clutch samples were taxa from Chlamydomonas, Oophila, but also from Nitzschia and other ochrophytes. Sequences of Oophila "Clade B" were found exclusively in clutches. Based on additional phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA and of a matrix of 18 nuclear genes derived from transcriptomes, we confirmed in our samples the existence of two distinct clades of green algae assigned to Oophila in past studies. We hypothesize that "Clade B" algae correspond to the true Oophila, whereas "Clade A" algae are a series of Chlorococcum species that, along with other green algae, ochrophytes and protists, colonize amphibian clutches opportunistically and are often cultured from clutch samples due to their robust growth performance. The clutch-associated communities were subject to filtering by sampling location, suggesting that the taxa colonizing amphibian clutches can drastically differ depending on environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid34178568, year = {2021}, author = {Bhaktavalsala Suresh, A and Kilingar Nadumane, V}, title = {The metabolite 5-methyl-1,3-benzenediol and its derivative methyl-2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate from the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum with potent apoptotic and anti-angiogenesis effects.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {346}, pmid = {34178568}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Nature has been a rich resource of novel anticancer agents, one such source being lichens, which represent the symbiosis between algae and fungi with diverse range of secondary metabolites having therapeutic significance. With respect to this, the present study evaluates the in vitro apoptogenic profile of secondary metabolites from the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum towards cancer cell lines. Treatment with TLC-purified fraction 1 from P. tinctorum resulted in significant reduction in the cell viabilities of cancer cells with IC50 values ranging between 1.2 and 12.8 μg/ml. The potential anticancer effect of the bioactive fraction was further supported by Trypan blue cell viability, LDH and DNA fragmentation assays. At the cellular level, induction of apoptosis was confirmed through the activation of the caspase cascade and apoptotic cells accumulating in the Sub-G1 phase of cell cycle. Angiogenesis being one of the major characteristics needed for cancer growth, the ability of the lichen fraction to inhibit angiogenesis was checked through in ovo Yolk Sac Membrane (YSM) assay and was found to be significant. The study also verified the non-toxic nature of the bioactive fraction towards normal human peripheral lymphocytes. HPLC analysis and GC-MS characterisation of the bioactive fraction indicated the presence of 5-methyl-1,3-benzenediol and its derivative methyl-2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate.}, } @article {pmid34177853, year = {2021}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Tuovinen, V and Mwachala, G and Pellikka, P and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Complex Interaction Networks Among Cyanolichens of a Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {672333}, pmid = {34177853}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Interactions within lichen communities include, in addition to close mutualistic associations between the main partners of specific lichen symbioses, also more elusive relationships between members of a wider symbiotic community. Here, we analyze association patterns of cyanolichen symbionts in the tropical montane forests of Taita Hills, southern Kenya, which is part of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. The cyanolichen specimens analyzed represent 74 mycobiont taxa within the order Peltigerales (Ascomycota), associating with 115 different variants of the photobionts genus Nostoc (Cyanobacteria). Our analysis demonstrates wide sharing of photobionts and reveals the presence of several photobiont-mediated lichen guilds. Over half of all mycobionts share photobionts with other fungal species, often from different genera or even families, while some others are strict specialists and exclusively associate with a single photobiont variant. The most extensive symbiont network involves 24 different fungal species from five genera associating with 38 Nostoc photobionts. The Nostoc photobionts belong to two main groups, the Nephroma-type Nostoc and the Collema/Peltigera-type Nostoc, and nearly all mycobionts associate only with variants of one group. Among the mycobionts, species that produce cephalodia and those without symbiotic propagules tend to be most promiscuous in photobiont choice. The extent of photobiont sharing and the structure of interaction networks differ dramatically between the two major photobiont-mediated guilds, being both more prevalent and nested among Nephroma guild fungi and more compartmentalized among Peltigera guild fungi. This presumably reflects differences in the ecological characteristics and/or requirements of the two main groups of photobionts. The same two groups of Nostoc have previously been identified from many lichens in various lichen-rich ecosystems in different parts of the world, indicating that photobiont sharing between fungal species is an integral part of lichen ecology globally. In many cases, symbiotically dispersing lichens can facilitate the dispersal of sexually reproducing species, promoting establishment and adaptation into new and marginal habitats and thus driving evolutionary diversification.}, } @article {pmid34177848, year = {2021}, author = {Goyal, RK and Mattoo, AK and Schmidt, MA}, title = {Rhizobial-Host Interactions and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Crops Toward Agriculture Sustainability.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {669404}, pmid = {34177848}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) process makes legume crops self-sufficient in nitrogen (N) in sharp contrast to cereal crops that require an external input by N-fertilizers. Since the latter process in cereal crops results in a huge quantity of greenhouse gas emission, the legume production systems are considered efficient and important for sustainable agriculture and climate preservation. Despite benefits of SNF, and the fact that chemical N-fertilizers cause N-pollution of the ecosystems, the focus on improving SNF efficiency in legumes did not become a breeder's priority. The size and stability of heritable effects under different environment conditions weigh significantly on any trait useful in breeding strategies. Here we review the challenges and progress made toward decoding the heritable components of SNF, which is considerably more complex than other crop allelic traits since the process involves genetic elements of both the host and the symbiotic rhizobial species. SNF-efficient rhizobial species designed based on the genetics of the host and its symbiotic partner face the test of a unique microbiome for its success and productivity. The progress made thus far in commercial legume crops with relevance to the dynamics of host-rhizobia interaction, environmental impact on rhizobial performance challenges, and what collectively determines the SNF efficiency under field conditions are also reviewed here.}, } @article {pmid34177846, year = {2021}, author = {Tláskal, V and Pylro, VS and Žifčáková, L and Baldrian, P}, title = {Ecological Divergence Within the Enterobacterial Genus Sodalis: From Insect Symbionts to Inhabitants of Decomposing Deadwood.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {668644}, pmid = {34177846}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The bacterial genus Sodalis is represented by insect endosymbionts as well as free-living species. While the former have been studied frequently, the distribution of the latter is not yet clear. Here, we present a description of a free-living strain, Sodalis ligni sp. nov., originating from decomposing deadwood. The favored occurrence of S. ligni in deadwood is confirmed by both 16S rRNA gene distribution and metagenome data. Pangenome analysis of available Sodalis genomes shows at least three groups within the Sodalis genus: deadwood-associated strains, tsetse fly endosymbionts and endosymbionts of other insects. This differentiation is consistent in terms of the gene frequency level, genome similarity and carbohydrate-active enzyme composition of the genomes. Deadwood-associated strains contain genes for active decomposition of biopolymers of plant and fungal origin and can utilize more diverse carbon sources than their symbiotic relatives. Deadwood-associated strains, but not other Sodalis strains, have the genetic potential to fix N2, and the corresponding genes are expressed in deadwood. Nitrogenase genes are located within the genomes of Sodalis, including S. ligni, at multiple loci represented by more gene variants. We show decomposing wood to be a previously undescribed habitat of the genus Sodalis that appears to show striking ecological divergence.}, } @article {pmid34177840, year = {2021}, author = {Moreno-Pino, M and Ugalde, JA and Valdés, JH and Rodríguez-Marconi, S and Parada-Pozo, G and Trefault, N}, title = {Bacteria Isolated From the Antarctic Sponge Iophon sp. Reveals Mechanisms of Symbiosis in Sporosarcina, Cellulophaga, and Nesterenkonia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {660779}, pmid = {34177840}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Antarctic sponges harbor a diverse range of microorganisms that perform unique metabolic functions for nutrient cycles. Understanding how microorganisms establish functional sponge-microbe interactions in the Antarctic marine ecosystem provides clues about the success of these ancient animals in this realm. Here, we use a culture-dependent approach and genome sequencing to investigate the molecular determinants that promote a dual lifestyle in three bacterial genera Sporosarcina, Cellulophaga, and Nesterenkonia. Phylogenomic analyses showed that four sponge-associated isolates represent putative novel bacterial species within the Sporosarcina and Nesterenkonia genera and that the fifth bacterial isolate corresponds to Cellulophaga algicola. We inferred that isolated sponge-associated bacteria inhabit similarly marine sponges and also seawater. Comparative genomics revealed that these sponge-associated bacteria are enriched in symbiotic lifestyle-related genes. Specific adaptations related to the cold Antarctic environment are features of the bacterial strains isolated here. Furthermore, we showed evidence that the vitamin B5 synthesis-related gene, panE from Nesterenkonia E16_7 and E16_10, was laterally transferred within Actinobacteria members. Together, these findings indicate that the genomes of sponge-associated strains differ from other related genomes based on mechanisms that may contribute to the life in association with sponges and the extreme conditions of the Antarctic environment.}, } @article {pmid34177357, year = {2021}, author = {Leber, CA and Reyes, AJ and Biggs, JS and Gerwick, WH}, title = {Cyanobacteria-shrimp colonies in the Mariana Islands.}, journal = {Aquatic ecology}, volume = {55}, number = {2}, pages = {453-465}, pmid = {34177357}, issn = {1386-2588}, support = {R01 CA100851/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107550/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM067550/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria have multifaceted ecological roles on coral reefs. Moorena bouillonii, a chemically rich filamentous cyanobacterium, has been characterized as a pathogenic organism with an unusual ability to overgrow gorgonian corals, but little has been done to study its general growth habits or its unique association with the snapping shrimp Alpheus frontalis. Quantitative benthic surveys, and field and photographic observations were utilized to develop a better understanding of the ecology of these species, while growth experiments and nutrient analysis were performed to examine how this cyanobacterium may be benefiting from its shrimp symbiont. Colonies of M. bouillonii and A. frontalis displayed considerable habitat specificity in terms of occupied substrate. Although found to vary in abundance and density across survey sites and transects, M. bouillonii was consistently found to be thriving with A. frontalis within interstitial spaces on the reef. Removal of A. frontalis from cyanobacterial colonies in a laboratory experiment altered M. bouillonii pigmentation, whereas cyanobacteria-shrimp colonies in the field exhibited elevated nutrient levels compared to the surrounding seawater.}, } @article {pmid34177325, year = {2021}, author = {Kusaba, I and Nakao, T and Maita, H and Sato, S and Chijiiwa, R and Yamada, E and Arima, S and Kojoma, M and Ishimaru, K and Akashi, R and Suzuki, A}, title = {Mesorhizobium sp. J8 can establish symbiosis with Glycyrrhiza uralensis, increasing glycyrrhizin production.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {57-66}, pmid = {34177325}, issn = {1342-4580}, abstract = {Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is a medicinal plant that contains glycyrrhizin (GL), which has various pharmacological activities. Because licorice is a legume, it can establish a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. However, the effect of this symbiosis on GL production is unknown. Rhizobia were isolated from root nodules of Glycyrrhiza glabra, and a rhizobium that can form root nodules in G. uralensis was selected. Whole-genome analysis revealed a single circular chromosome of 6.7 Mbp. This rhizobium was classified as Mesorhizobium by phylogenetic analysis and was designated Mesorhizobium sp. J8. When G. uralensis plants grown from cuttings were inoculated with J8, root nodules formed. Shoot biomass and SPAD values of inoculated plants were significantly higher than those of uninoculated controls, and the GL content of the roots was 3.2 times that of controls. Because uninoculated plants from cuttings showed slight nodule formation, we grew plants from seeds in plant boxes filled with sterilized vermiculite, inoculated half of the seedlings with J8, and grew them with or without 100 µM KNO3. The SPAD values of inoculated plants were significantly higher than those of uninoculated plants. Furthermore, the expression level of the CYP88D6 gene, which is a marker of GL synthesis, was 2.5 times higher than in inoculated plants. These results indicate that rhizobial symbiosis promotes both biomass and GL production in G. uralensis.}, } @article {pmid34176151, year = {2021}, author = {Capistrant-Fossa, KA and Morrison, HG and Engelen, AH and Quigley, CTC and Morozov, A and Serrão, EA and Brodie, J and Gachon, CMM and Badis, Y and Johnson, LE and Hoarau, G and Abreu, MH and Tester, PA and Stearns, LA and Brawley, SH}, title = {The microbiome of the habitat-forming brown alga Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyceae) has similar cross-Atlantic structure that reflects past and present drivers[1].}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {6}, pages = {1681-1698}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13194}, pmid = {34176151}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Fucus ; *Microbiota ; North Carolina ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; }, abstract = {Latitudinal diversity gradients have provided many insights into species differentiation and community processes. In the well-studied intertidal zone, however, little is known about latitudinal diversity in microbiomes associated with habitat-forming hosts. We investigated microbiomes of Fucus vesiculosus because of deep understanding of this model system and its latitudinally large, cross-Atlantic range. Given multiple effects of photoperiod, we predicted that cross-Atlantic microbiomes of the Fucus microbiome would be similar at similar latitudes and correlate with environmental factors. We found that community structure and individual amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) showed distinctive latitudinal distributions, but alpha diversity did not. Latitudinal differentiation was mostly driven by ASVs that were more abundant in cold temperate to subarctic (e.g., Granulosicoccus_t3260, Burkholderia/Caballeronia/Paraburkholderia_t8371) or warm temperate (Pleurocapsa_t10392) latitudes. Their latitudinal distributions correlated with different humidity, tidal heights, and air/sea temperatures, but rarely with irradiance or photoperiod. Many ASVs in potentially symbiotic genera displayed novel phylogenetic biodiversity with differential distributions among tissues and regions, including closely related ASVs with differing north-south distributions that correlated with Fucus phylogeography. An apparent southern range contraction of F. vesiculosus in the NW Atlantic on the North Carolina coast mimics that recently observed in the NE Atlantic. We suggest cross-Atlantic microbial structure of F. vesiculosus is related to a combination of past (glacial-cycle) and contemporary environmental drivers.}, } @article {pmid34175219, year = {2021}, author = {Jacott, CN and Ridout, CJ and Murray, JD}, title = {Unmasking Mildew Resistance Locus O.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {1006-1013}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2021.05.009}, pmid = {34175219}, issn = {1878-4372}, support = {BB/L010305/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J014524/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011216/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P012574/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000PR9797/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Disease Resistance/genetics ; *Hordeum ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Loss of Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) in barley confers durable resistance to powdery mildew fungi, which has led to its wide deployment in agriculture. Although MLO is a susceptibility factor, it has become nearly synonymous with powdery mildew resistance. However, MLO has been recently implicated in colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and a fungal endophyte, confirming its importance for biotrophic interactions and in promoting symbiosis. Other MLO proteins are involved in essential sensory processes, particularly fertilization and thigmotropism. We propose external stimulus perception as a common theme in these interactions and consider a unified biochemical role, potentially relating to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium regulation, for MLOs across tissues and processes.}, } @article {pmid34174621, year = {2021}, author = {Srivastava, P and Abbassi, R and Yadav, AK and Garaniya, V and Lewis, T and Zhao, Y and Aminabhavi, T}, title = {Interrelation between sulphur and conductive materials and its impact on ammonium and organic pollutants removal in electroactive wetlands.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {419}, number = {}, pages = {126417}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126417}, pmid = {34174621}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; *Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Electricity ; Electrodes ; *Environmental Pollutants ; Sulfur ; Wastewater ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {This investigation is the first of its kind to evaluate the interrelation of sulphate (SO4[2-]) with conductive materials as well as their individual and synergetic effects on the removal of ammonium and organic pollutants in electroactive wetlands, also known as constructed wetland (CW) - microbial fuel cell (MFC). The role of MFC components in CW was investigated to treat the sulphate containing wastewater under a long-term operation without any toxicity build-up in the system. A comparative study was also performed between CW-MFC and CW, where sulphate containing wastewater (S-replete) and without sulphate wastewater (S-deplete) was assessed. The S-replete showed high NH4[+] removal than the S-deplete, and the requesnce of removal was: CW-MFC-replete>CW-MFC-deplete>CW-replete>CW-deplete. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was high in the case of CW-MFC-replete, and the sequence of removal was CW-MFC-replete>CW-MFC-deplete>CW-deplete>CW-replete. X-ray photon spectroscopic study indicates 0.84% sulphur accumulation in CW-MFC-replete and 2.49% in CW-replete, indicating high sulphur precipitation in CW without the MFC component. The high relative abundance of class Deltaproteobacteria (7.3%) in CW-MFC-replete along with increased microbial diversity (Shannon index=3.5) rationalise the symbiosis of sulphate reducing/oxidising microbes and its impact on the treatment performance and electrochemical activity.}, } @article {pmid34174490, year = {2021}, author = {Chikina, A and Matic Vignjevic, D}, title = {At the right time in the right place: How do luminal gradients position the microbiota along the gut?.}, journal = {Cells & development}, volume = {168}, number = {}, pages = {203712}, doi = {10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203712}, pmid = {34174490}, issn = {2667-2901}, support = {772487/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; *Microbiota ; Mucus ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal system is highly compartmentalized, where individual segments perform separate tasks to achieve common physiological goals. The gut luminal content, chyme, changes its chemical and physical properties as it passes through different intestinal segments. Together, the chyme composition, mucus, pH and oxygen gradients along the gut create a variety of highly distinct ecological niches that form, maintain and reinforce the symbiosis with the particular microbiota. Hosting different microbiota members at specific locations creates one of the most complex and sophisticated gradient - gradient of the local ecosystems that live and interact with each other, providing advantages and challenges to the host and creating our microbial self. Here, we discuss how intestinal luminal gradients are created and maintained in homeostasis, their role in a correct microbiota positioning, and their change upon inflammation and cancer.}, } @article {pmid34171572, year = {2021}, author = {Bosse, MA and Silva, MBD and Oliveira, NGRM and Araujo, MA and Rodrigues, C and Azevedo, JP and Reis, ARD}, title = {Physiological impact of flavonoids on nodulation and ureide metabolism in legume plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {166}, number = {}, pages = {512-521}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.06.007}, pmid = {34171572}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Flavonoids ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants from Fabaceae family (phylogenetic group composed by three subfamilies: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae) can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) by the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. These bacteria respond chemotactically to certain compounds released by plants such as sugars, amino acids and organic acids. Root secretion of isoflavonoids acts as inducers for nod genes in rhizobia and ABC transporters and ICHG (isoflavone conjugates hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase) at apoplast are related to the exudation of genistein and daidzein in soybean roots. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) occurs inside the nodule by the action of nitrogenase enzyme, which fixes N2 into NH3, which is converted into ureides (allantoin and allantoic acid). In this review, we bring together the latest findings on flavonoids biosynthesis and ureide metabolism in several legume plant species. We emphasize how flavonoids induce nod genes in rhizobia, affecting chemotaxis, nodulation, ureide production, growth and yield of legume plants. Mainly, isoflavonoids daidzein and genistein are responsible for nod genes activation in the rhizobia bacteria. Flavonoids also play an important role during nodule organogenesis by acting as auxin transporter inhibitors in root cells, especially in indeterminate nodules. The ureides are the main N transport form in tropical legumes and they are catabolized in leaves and other sink tissues to produce amino acids and proteins needed for plant growth and yield.}, } @article {pmid34168550, year = {2021}, author = {Fan, X and Liu, B and Zhou, J and Gu, X and Zhou, Y and Yang, Y and Guo, F and Wei, X and Wang, H and Si, N and Yang, J and Bian, B and Zhao, H}, title = {High-Fat Diet Alleviates Neuroinflammation and Metabolic Disorders of APP/PS1 Mice and the Intervention With Chinese Medicine.}, journal = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {658376}, pmid = {34168550}, issn = {1663-4365}, abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by the complex interaction of multiple mechanisms. Recent studies examining the effect of high-fat diet (HFD) on the AD phenotype have demonstrated a significant influence on both inflammation and cognition. However, different studies on the effect of high-fat diet on AD pathology have reported conflicting conclusions. To explore the involvement of HFD in AD, we investigated phenotypic and metabolic changes in an AD mouse model in response to HFD. The results indicated there was no significant effect on Aβ levels or contextual memory due to HFD treatment. Of note, HFD did moderate neuroinflammation, despite spurring inflammation and increasing cholesterol levels in the periphery. In addition, diet affected gut microbiota symbiosis, altering the production of bacterial metabolites. HFD created a favorable microenvironment for bile acid alteration and arachidonic acid metabolism in APP/PS1 mice, which may be related to the observed improvement in LXR/PPAR expression. Our previous research demonstrated that Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDD) significantly ameliorated impaired learning and memory. Furthermore, HLJDD may globally suppress inflammation and lipid accumulation to relieve cognitive impairment after HFD intervention. It was difficult to define the effect of HFD on AD progression because the results were influenced by confounding factors and biases. Although there was still obvious damage in AD mice treated with HFD, there was no deterioration and there was even a slight remission of neuroinflammation. Moreover, HLJDD represents a potential AD drug based on its anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects.}, } @article {pmid34165649, year = {2021}, author = {Yang, X and Yang, X and Yu, H and Na, L and Ghosh, T and McArthur, JB and Chou, TF and Dickson, P and Chen, X}, title = {A GH89 human α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (hNAGLU) homologue from gut microbe Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron capable of hydrolyzing heparosan oligosaccharides.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {94}, pmid = {34165649}, issn = {2191-0855}, support = {U01 GM125288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01GM125288/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Carbohydrate-Active enZYme (CAZY) GH89 family enzymes catalyze the cleavage of terminal α-N-acetylglucosamine from glycans and glycoconjugates. Although structurally and mechanistically similar to the human lysosomal α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (hNAGLU) in GH89 which is involved in the degradation of heparan sulfate in the lysosome, the reported bacterial GH89 enzymes characterized so far have no or low activity toward α-N-acetylglucosamine-terminated heparosan oligosaccharides, the preferred substrates of hNAGLU. We cloned and expressed several soluble and active recombinant bacterial GH89 enzymes in Escherichia coli. Among these enzymes, a truncated recombinant α-N-acetylglucosaminidase from gut symbiotic bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ∆22Bt3590 was found to catalyze the cleavage of the terminal α1-4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) from a heparosan disaccharide with high efficiency. Heparosan oligosaccharides with lengths up to decasaccharide were also suitable substrates. This bacterial α-N-acetylglucosaminidase could be a useful catalyst for heparan sulfate analysis.}, } @article {pmid34165624, year = {2021}, author = {Meyer, E and Betancur-Agudelo, M and Ventura, BS and Dos Anjos, KG and do Scarsanella, JA and Vieira, AS and Mendes, L and Stoffel, SCG and Munarini, A and Soares, CRFS and Lovato, PE}, title = {Mycorrhizal root colonization in maize fields is more affected by soil management and climate conditions than by plant genotype.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {7}, pages = {4609-4618}, pmid = {34165624}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Brazil ; *Genotype ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Weather ; *Zea mays/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {This work aims to characterize the arbuscular mycorrhizal association between maize genotypes and the effects of soil physical-chemical attributes on the symbiosis. A preliminary greenhouse assay evaluated five maize landraces and five conventional modern genotypes in non-sterile, low-P soil. Sixty days after sowing, we measured plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root dry biomass, root colonization structures, and shoot P concentration and total accumulation. In a second stage, a 2-year on-farm study evaluated how soil physical-chemical attributes in fields with three plant genotype groups affected the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis in a maize diversity microcenter in Southern Brazil. We collected soil and plant material in farms growing landrace, conventional modern genotypes, or genetically modified (GM) maize. There were five collection points at each group, and we measured mycorrhizal colonization, soil physicochemical attributes, and shoot phosphorus concentration. The greenhouse study showed that genotypes have different growth strategies for root production and shoot growth. No differences in mycorrhizal colonization rates occurred among landraces and modern maize genotypes in the low-P soil. The field study showed that soil and climate conditions had a more marked effect on mycorrhizal root colonization than plant genotype groups (landrace, conventional modern genotypes, or GM maize).}, } @article {pmid34165440, year = {2021}, author = {Barra, NG and Anhê, FF and Cavallari, JF and Singh, AM and Chan, DY and Schertzer, JD}, title = {Micronutrients impact the gut microbiota and blood glucose.}, journal = {The Journal of endocrinology}, volume = {250}, number = {2}, pages = {R1-R21}, doi = {10.1530/JOE-21-0081}, pmid = {34165440}, issn = {1479-6805}, support = {FDN-154295//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Blood Glucose/*drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology ; Diet ; Endocrine System/physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/*physiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glycemic Control ; Humans ; Insulin ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases/microbiology ; Micronutrients/*administration & dosage ; Obesity/microbiology ; Pregnancy ; Vitamins/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Micronutrients influence hormone action and host metabolism. Dietary minerals, trace elements, and vitamins can alter blood glucose and cellular glucose metabolism, and several micronutrients are associated with the risk and progression of type 2 diabetes. Dietary components, microbes, and host immune, endocrine, and metabolic responses all interact in the intestine. There has been a focus on macronutrients modifying the host-microbe relationship in metabolic disease. Micronutrients are positioned to alter host-microbe symbiosis that participates in host endocrine control of glucose metabolism. Minerals and trace elements can alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota, gut barrier function, compartmentalized metabolic inflammation, cellular glucose transport, and endocrine control of glucose metabolism, including insulin and thyroid hormones. Dietary vitamins also influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota and vitamins can be biotransformed by gut microbes. Host-microbe regulation of vitamins can alter immunity, lipid and glucose metabolism, and cell fate and function of pancreatic beta cells. Causal effects of micronutrients in host-microbe metabolism are still emerging, and the mechanisms linking dietary excess or deficiency of specific micronutrients to changes in gut microbes directly linked to metabolic disease risk are not yet clear. Dietary fiber, fat, protein, and carbohydrates are key dietary factors that impact how microbes participate in host glucose metabolism. It is possible that micronutrient and microbiota-derived factors also participate in host-microbe responses that tip the balance in the endocrine control of host glucose metabolism. Dietary micronutrients should be considered, tested, and controlled in pre-clinical and clinical studies investigating host-microbe factors in metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid34163515, year = {2021}, author = {Ratu, STN and Hirata, A and Kalaw, CO and Yasuda, M and Tabuchi, M and Okazaki, S}, title = {Multiple Domains in the Rhizobial Type III Effector Bel2-5 Determine Symbiotic Efficiency With Soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {689064}, pmid = {34163515}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii utilizes the type III effector Bel2-5 for nodulation in host plants in the absence of Nod factors (NFs). In soybean plants carrying the Rj4 allele, however, Bel2-5 causes restriction of nodulation by triggering immune responses. Bel2-5 shows similarity with XopD of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and possesses two internal repeat sequences, two ethylene (ET)-responsive element-binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) motifs, a nuclear localization signal (NLS), and a ubiquitin-like protease (ULP) domain, which are all conserved in XopD except for the repeat domains. By mutational analysis, we revealed that most of the putative domains/motifs in Bel2-5 were essential for both NF-independent nodulation and nodulation restriction in Rj4 soybean. The expression of soybean symbiosis- and defense-related genes was also significantly altered by inoculation with the bel2-5 domain/motif mutants compared with the expression upon inoculation with wild-type B. elkanii, which was mostly consistent with the phenotypic changes of nodulation in host plants. Notably, the functionality of Bel2-5 was mostly correlated with the growth inhibition effect of Bel2-5 expressed in yeast cells. The nodulation phenotypes of the domain-swapped mutants of Bel2-5 and XopD indicated that both the C-terminal ULP domain and upstream region are required for the Bel2-5-dependent nodulation phenotypes. These results suggest that Bel2-5 interacts with and modifies host targets via these multiple domains to execute both NF-independent symbiosis and nodulation restriction in Rj4 soybean.}, } @article {pmid34163511, year = {2021}, author = {Ayra, L and Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Lozano, L and Ramírez, M and Leija, A and Fuentes, SI and Girard, L and Valdés-López, O and Hernández, G}, title = {Control of the Rhizobia Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis by Common Bean MADS-Domain/AGL Transcription Factors.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {679463}, pmid = {34163511}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants MADS-domain/AGL proteins constitute a large transcription factor (TF) family that controls the development of almost every plant organ. We performed a phylogeny of (ca. 500) MADS-domain proteins from Arabidopsis and four legume species. We identified clades with Arabidopsis MADS-domain proteins known to participate in root development that grouped legume MADS-proteins with similar high expression in roots and nodules. In this work, we analyzed the role of AGL transcription factors in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) - Rhizobium etli N-fixing symbiosis. Sixteen P. vulgaris AGL genes (PvAGL), out of 93 family members, are expressed - at different levels - in roots and nodules. From there, we selected the PvAGL gene denominated PvFUL-like for overexpression or silencing in composite plants, with transgenic roots and nodules, that were used for phenotypic analysis upon inoculation with Rhizobium etli. Because of sequence identity in the DNA sequence used for RNAi-FUL-like construct, roots, and nodules expressing this construct -referred to as RNAi_AGL- showed lower expression of other five PvAGL genes highly expressed in roots/nodules. Contrasting with PvFUL-like overexpressing plants, rhizobia-inoculated plants expressing the RNAi_AGL silencing construct presented affection in the generation and growth of transgenic roots from composite plants, both under non-inoculated or rhizobia-inoculated condition. Furthermore, the rhizobia-inoculated plants showed decreased rhizobial infection concomitant with the lower expression level of early symbiotic genes and increased number of small, ineffective nodules that indicate an alteration in the autoregulation of the nodulation symbiotic process. We propose that the positive effects of PvAGL TF in the rhizobia symbiotic processes result from its potential interplay with NIN, the master symbiotic TF regulator, that showed a CArG-box consensus DNA sequence recognized for DNA binding of AGL TF and presented an increased or decreased expression level in roots from non-inoculated plants transformed with OE_FUL or RNAi_AGL construct, respectively. Our work contributes to defining novel transcriptional regulators for the common bean - rhizobia N-fixing symbiosis, a relevant process for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid34162916, year = {2021}, author = {van der Zande, RM and Mulders, YR and Bender-Champ, D and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, S}, title = {Asymmetric physiological response of a reef-building coral to pulsed versus continuous addition of inorganic nutrients.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {13165}, pmid = {34162916}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Calcification, Physiologic/drug effects ; Circadian Rhythm ; Phosphates/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Photosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs, especially those located near-shore, are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic, eutrophic conditions that are often chronic. Yet, corals under unperturbed conditions may frequently receive natural and usually temporary nutrient supplementation through biological sources such as fishes. We compared physiological parameters indicative of long- and short-term coral health (day and night calcification, fragment surface area, productivity, energy reserves, and tissue stoichiometry) under continuous and temporary nutrient enrichment. The symbiotic coral Acropora intermedia was grown for 7 weeks under continuously elevated (press) levels of ammonium (14 µmol L[-1]) and phosphate (10 µmol L[-1]) as separate and combined treatments, to discern the individual and interactive nutrient effects. Another treatment exposed A. intermedia twice-daily to an ammonium and phosphate pulse of the same concentrations as the press treatments to simulate natural biotic supplementation. Press exposure to elevated ammonium or phosphate produced mixed effects on physiological responses, with little interaction between the nutrients in the combined treatment. Overall, corals under press exposure transitioned resources away from calcification. However, exposure to nutrient pulses often enhanced physiological responses. Our findings indicate that while continuous nutrient enrichment may pose a threat to coral health, episodic nutrient pulses that resemble natural nutrient supplementation may significantly benefit coral health and physiology.}, } @article {pmid34162409, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Yang, F and Zhu, PF and Khan, A and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {Use of the rhizobial type III effector gene nopP to improve Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {66}, pmid = {34162409}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Protocols for Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation of the model legume Lotus japonicus have been established previously. However, little efforts were made in the past to quantify and improve the transformation efficiency. Here, we asked whether effectors (nodulation outer proteins) of the nodule bacterium Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 can promote hairy root transformation of L. japonicus. The co-expressed red fluorescent protein DsRed1 was used for visualization of transformed roots and for estimation of the transformation efficiency.

RESULTS: Strong induction of hairy root formation was observed when A. rhizogenes strain LBA9402 was used for L. japonicus transformation. Expression of the effector gene nopP in L. japonicus roots resulted in a significantly increased transformation efficiency while nopL, nopM, and nopT did not show such an effect. In nopP expressing plants, more than 65% of the formed hairy roots were transgenic as analyzed by red fluorescence emitted by co-transformed DsRed1. A nodulation experiment indicated that nopP expression did not obviously affect the symbiosis between L. japonicus and Mesorhizobium loti.

CONCLUSION: We have established a novel protocol for hairy root transformation of L. japonicus. The use of A. rhizogenes LBA9402 carrying a binary vector containing DsRed1 and nopP allowed efficient formation and identification of transgenic roots.}, } @article {pmid34161460, year = {2021}, author = {Santos, RS and Sousa-Souto, L}, title = {Nest refuse of Acromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) increases the plant vigor in Turnera subulata (Turneraceae).}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {83}, number = {}, pages = {e244732}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.244732}, pmid = {34161460}, issn = {1678-4375}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Ecosystem ; Plant Leaves ; Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Turnera ; }, abstract = {Some studies report the positive effect of organic residues from ant nests on soil properties and on the structure of the adjacent plant community in field experiments, but there is a gap about the effect on individual species. The purpose of the present study was to compare the soil nutrient content and the development of Turnera subulata Smith, an ornamental species, in the presence of the nest refuse (basically composed of fragments of grass leaves and the symbiotic fungus) produced by the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex balzani (Emery, 1890) or in control soil through a greenhouse pot experiment. The experiment was carried out with two treatments: control soil and soil with 25% of nest refuse. The plants were kept in 1L pots for 90 days. We evaluated the parameters: plant height, stem diameter, root length, number of leaves, dry weight of the root, dry and fresh aboveground biomass. Additionally, the relative chlorophyll content and leaf nutrients were used as nutritional parameters. As a result, plants that grew in the soil with nest refuse showed significant higher values of all parameters evaluated when compared to the control treatment (p < 0.001). We conclude that this biofertilizer contributed to the production of more vigorous plants, being able to act on the local dynamics of nutrients in the ecosystems where A. balzani occurs. As it is relatively abundant and easy to collect, the refuse of A. balzani has the potential to be used as an alternative substrate in the production of shortlife cycle plants.}, } @article {pmid34161373, year = {2021}, author = {Yamamoto, S and Saito, M and Tamura, A and Prawisuda, D and Mizutani, T and Yotsuyanagi, H}, title = {The human microbiome and COVID-19: A systematic review.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {e0253293}, pmid = {34161373}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; COVID-19/*microbiology ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology/virology ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Nasopharynx/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Human microbiotas are communities of microorganisms living in symbiosis with humans. They play an important role in the host immune response to respiratory viral infection. However, evidence on the human microbiome and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relationship is insufficient. The aim of this systematic literature review was to evaluate existing evidence on the association between the microbiome and COVID-19 in humans and summarize these data in the pandemic era.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review on the association between the microbiome and COVID-19 in humans by searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for articles in English published up to October 31, 2020. The results were analyzed qualitatively. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020195982).

RESULTS: Of the 543 articles identified by searching databases, 16 in line with the research objectives were eligible for qualitative review: eight sampled the microbiome using stool, four using nasopharyngeal or throat swab, three using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and one using lung tissue. Fecal microbiome dysbiosis and increased opportunistic pathogens were reported in COVID-19 patients. Several studies suggested the dysbiosis in the lung microbiome of COVID-19 patients with an abundance of opportunistic pathogens using lower respiratory tract samples. The association between COVID-19 severity and the human microbiome remains uncertain.

CONCLUSION: The human fecal and respiratory tract microbiome changed in COVID-19 patients with opportunistic pathogen abundance. Further research to elucidate the effect of alternation of the human microbiome in disease pathogenesis is warranted.}, } @article {pmid34161322, year = {2021}, author = {Yamagishi, JF and Saito, N and Kaneko, K}, title = {Adaptation of metabolite leakiness leads to symbiotic chemical exchange and to a resilient microbial ecosystem.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {e1009143}, pmid = {34161322}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biodiversity ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation ; Ecosystem ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities display remarkable diversity, facilitated by the secretion of chemicals that can create new niches. However, it is unclear why cells often secrete even essential metabolites after evolution. Based on theoretical results indicating that cells can enhance their own growth rate by leaking even essential metabolites, we show that such "leaker" cells can establish an asymmetric form of mutualism with "consumer" cells that consume the leaked chemicals: the consumer cells benefit from the uptake of the secreted metabolites, while the leaker cells also benefit from such consumption, as it reduces the metabolite accumulation in the environment and thereby enables further secretion, resulting in frequency-dependent coexistence of multiple microbial species. As supported by extensive simulations, such symbiotic relationships generally evolve when each species has a complex reaction network and adapts its leakiness to optimize its own growth rate under crowded conditions and nutrient limitations. Accordingly, symbiotic ecosystems with diverse cell species that leak and exchange many metabolites with each other are shaped by cell-level adaptation of leakiness of metabolites. Moreover, the resultant ecosystems with entangled metabolite exchange are resilient against structural and environmental perturbations. Thus, we present a theory for the origin of resilient ecosystems with diverse microbes mediated by secretion and exchange of essential chemicals.}, } @article {pmid34161289, year = {2021}, author = {Montero, H and Lee, T and Pucker, B and Ferreras-Garrucho, G and Oldroyd, G and Brockington, SF and Miyao, A and Paszkowski, U}, title = {A mycorrhiza-associated receptor-like kinase with an ancient origin in the green lineage.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {25}, pages = {}, pmid = {34161289}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oryza/*enzymology ; *Phylogeny ; Protein Domains ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are key cell signaling components. The rice ARBUSCULAR RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1 (OsARK1) regulates the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association postarbuscule development and belongs to an undefined subfamily of RLKs. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that ARK1 has an ancient paralogue in spermatophytes, ARK2 Single ark2 and ark1/ark2 double mutants in rice showed a nonredundant AM symbiotic function for OsARK2 Global transcriptomics identified a set of genes coregulated by the two RLKs, suggesting that OsARK1 and OsARK2 orchestrate symbiosis in a common pathway. ARK lineage proteins harbor a newly identified SPARK domain in their extracellular regions, which underwent parallel losses in ARK1 and ARK2 in monocots. This protein domain has ancient origins in streptophyte algae and defines additional overlooked groups of putative cell surface receptors.}, } @article {pmid34161284, year = {2021}, author = {Koga, R and Tanahashi, M and Nikoh, N and Hosokawa, T and Meng, XY and Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Host's guardian protein counters degenerative symbiont evolution.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {25}, pages = {}, pmid = {34161284}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Genome ; Heteroptera/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbioses significantly contribute to diverse organisms, where long-lasting associations tend to result in symbiont genome erosion, uncultivability, extinction, and replacement. How such inherently deteriorating symbiosis can be harnessed to stable partnership is of general evolutionary interest. Here, we report the discovery of a host protein essential for sustaining symbiosis. Plataspid stinkbugs obligatorily host an uncultivable and genome-reduced gut symbiont, Ishikawaella Upon oviposition, females deposit "capsules" for symbiont delivery to offspring. Within the capsules, the fragile symbiotic bacteria survive the harsh conditions outside the host until acquired by newborn nymphs to establish vertical transmission. We identified a single protein dominating the capsule content, which is massively secreted by female-specific intestinal organs, embedding the symbiont cells, and packaged into the capsules. Knockdown of the protein resulted in symbiont degeneration, arrested capsule production, symbiont transmission failure, and retarded nymphal growth, unveiling its essential function for ensuring symbiont survival and vertical transmission. The protein originated from a lineage of odorant-binding protein-like multigene family, shedding light on the origin of evolutionary novelty regarding symbiosis. Experimental suppression of capsule production extended the female's lifespan, uncovering a substantial cost for maintaining symbiosis. In addition to the host's guardian protein, the symbiont's molecular chaperone, GroEL, was overproduced in the capsules, highlighting that the symbiont's eroding functionality is compensated for by stabilizer molecules of host and symbiont origins. Our finding provides insight into how intimate host-symbiont associations can be maintained over evolutionary time despite the symbiont's potential vulnerability to degeneration and malfunctioning.}, } @article {pmid34161142, year = {2021}, author = {Bechtold, EK and Ryan, S and Moughan, SE and Ranjan, R and Nüsslein, K}, title = {Phyllosphere Community Assembly and Response to Drought Stress on Common Tropical and Temperate Forage Grasses.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {17}, pages = {e0089521}, pmid = {34161142}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Droughts ; Ecosystem ; Grassland ; *Microbiota ; Poaceae/classification/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Water/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Grasslands represent a critical ecosystem important for global food production, soil carbon storage, and water regulation. Current intensification and expansion practices add to the degradation of grasslands and dramatically increase greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Thus, new ways to sustain and improve their productivity are needed. Research efforts focus on the plant-leaf microbiome, or phyllosphere, because its microbial members impact ecosystem function by influencing pathogen resistance, plant hormone production, and nutrient availability through processes including nitrogen fixation. However, little is known about grassland phyllospheres and their response to environmental stress. In this study, globally dominant temperate and tropical forage grass species were grown in a greenhouse under current climate conditions and drought conditions that mimic future climate predictions to understand if (i) plant host taxa influence microbial community assembly, (ii) microbial communities respond to drought stress, and (iii) phyllosphere community changes correlate to changes in plant host traits and stress-response strategies. Community analysis using high-resolution sequencing revealed Gammaproteobacteria as the dominant bacterial class, which increased under severe drought stress on both temperate and tropical grasses while overall bacterial community diversity declined. Bacterial community diversity, structure, and response to drought were significantly different between grass species. This community dependence on plant host species correlated with differences in grass species traits, which became more defined under drought stress conditions, suggesting symbiotic evolutionary relationships between plant hosts and their associated microbial community. Further understanding these strategies and the functions microbes provide to plants will help us utilize microbes to promote agricultural and ecosystem productivity in the future. IMPORTANCE Globally important grassland ecosystems are at risk of degradation due to poor management practices compounded by predicted increases in severity and duration of drought over the next century. Finding new ways to support grassland productivity is critical to maintaining their ecological and agricultural benefits. Discerning how grassland microbial communities change in response to climate stress will help us understand how plant-microbe relationships may be useful to sustainably support grasslands in the future. In this study, phyllosphere community diversity and composition were significantly altered under drought conditions. The significance of our research is demonstrating how severe climate stress reduces bacterial community diversity, which previously was directly associated with decreased plant productivity. These findings guide future questions about functional plant-microbe interactions under stress conditions, greatly enhancing our understanding of how bacteria can increase food security by promoting grassland growth and resilience.}, } @article {pmid34159944, year = {2021}, author = {Kotelevska, NV and Boychenko, ON and Sidash, YV and Zaitsev, AV and Popovych, IY and Nikolyshyn, AK}, title = {ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ORAL BIOCENOSIS.}, journal = {Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)}, volume = {74}, number = {6}, pages = {1493-1498}, pmid = {34159944}, issn = {0043-5147}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Dental Caries/prevention & control ; Humans ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The aim: Calculate the antagonistic activity of representatives of the oral biotope.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The mathematical techniques used in biotechnology and dentistry. The calculations were carried out on the basis of the research data obtained by the investigators from Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy (UMSA) (Poltava).

RESULTS: Results: The paper shows that the oral biocenosis is a group of microorganisms that have similar characteristics within the group, but different outside. This may indicate to the relationships between the bacteria, existing within such groups. A graphical demonstration of the associates of the oral biotope with different DMF represents their growth phases depending on the intensity of dental caries. The different slope and phases of the logistic curve of their growth may indicate certain relationships arising between groups of microorganisms.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The symbiotic relationships within the oral biocenosis can be manifested by the antagonism, as indicated by the index of antagonistic activity, which in most cases can be calculated. Antagonistic activity can be determined more precisely, for which special techniques have been developed. Antagonistic activity of associates of biocenosis can serve as an indicator of the "conditionally pathogenic - pathogenic" transformation. Data on antagonistic activity can be used in oral hygiene activities and treatment of dental caries to impact the oral microbiocenosis. Data on antagonistic activity may have a predictive value.}, } @article {pmid34159734, year = {2021}, author = {Haselkorn, TS and Jimenez, D and Bashir, U and Sallinger, E and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE and DiSalvo, S}, title = {Novel Chlamydiae and Amoebophilus endosymbionts are prevalent in wild isolates of the model social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {708-719}, pmid = {34159734}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {*Amoeba ; Bacteria ; Bacteroidetes ; *Dictyostelium/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Amoebae interact with bacteria in multifaceted ways. Amoeba predation can serve as a selective pressure for the development of bacterial virulence traits. Bacteria may also adapt to life inside amoebae, resulting in symbiotic relationships. Indeed, particular lineages of obligate bacterial endosymbionts have been found in different amoebae. Here, we screened an extensive collection of Dictyostelium discoideum wild isolates for the presence of these bacterial symbionts using endosymbiont specific PCR primers. We find that these symbionts are surprisingly common, identified in 42% of screened isolates (N = 730). Members of the Chlamydiae phylum are particularly prevalent, occurring in 27% of the amoeba isolated. They are novel and phylogenetically distinct from other Chlamydiae. We also found Amoebophilus symbionts in 8% of screened isolates (N = 730). Antibiotic-cured amoebae behave similarly to their Chlamydiae or Amoebophilus-infected counterparts, suggesting that these endosymbionts do not significantly impact host fitness, at least in the laboratory. We found several natural isolates were co-infected with multiple endosymbionts, with no obvious fitness effect of co-infection under laboratory conditions. The high prevalence and novelty of amoeba endosymbiont clades in the model organism D. discoideum opens the door to future research on the significance and mechanisms of amoeba-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid34159702, year = {2021}, author = {Peris, D and Delclòs, X and Jordal, B}, title = {Origin and evolution of fungus farming in wood-boring Coleoptera - a palaeontological perspective.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {96}, number = {6}, pages = {2476-2488}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12763}, pmid = {34159702}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; *Coleoptera/genetics/microbiology ; Fungi/genetics ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Insect-fungus mutualism is one of the better-studied symbiotic interactions in nature. Ambrosia fungi are an ecological assemblage of unrelated fungi that are cultivated by ambrosia beetles in their galleries as obligate food for larvae. Despite recently increased research interest, it remains unclear which ecological factors facilitated the origin of fungus farming, and how it transformed into a symbiotic relationship with obligate dependency. It is clear from phylogenetic analyses that this symbiosis evolved independently many times in several beetle and fungus lineages. However, there is a mismatch between palaeontological and phylogenetic data. Herein we review, for the first time, the ambrosia system from a palaeontological perspective. Although largely ignored, families such as Lymexylidae and Bostrichidae should be included in the list of ambrosia beetles because some of their species cultivate ambrosia fungi. The estimated origin for some groups of ambrosia fungi during the Cretaceous concurs with a known high diversity of Lymexylidae and Bostrichidae at that time. Although potentially older, the greatest radiation of various ambrosia beetle lineages occurred in the weevil subfamilies Scolytinae and Platypodinae during the Eocene. In this review we explore the evolutionary relationship between ambrosia beetles, fungi and their host trees, which is likely to have persisted for longer than previously supposed.}, } @article {pmid34159693, year = {2021}, author = {Campana, S and Busch, K and Hentschel, U and Muyzer, G and de Goeij, JM}, title = {DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) identifies marine sponge-associated bacteria actively utilizing dissolved organic matter (DOM).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {4489-4504}, pmid = {34159693}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA ; Isotopes ; *Microbiota ; *Porifera ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sponges possess exceptionally diverse associated microbial communities and play a major role in (re)cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in marine ecosystems. Linking sponge-associated community structure with DOM utilization is essential to understand host-microbe interactions in the uptake, processing, and exchange of resources. We coupled, for the first time, DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing in a sponge holobiont to identify which symbiotic bacterial taxa are metabolically active in DOM uptake. Parallel incubation experiments with the sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus were amended with equimolar quantities of unlabelled ([12] C) and labelled ([13] C) DOM. Seven bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), belonging to the phyla PAUC34f, Proteobacteria, Poribacteria, Nitrospirae, and Chloroflexi, were identified as the first active consumers of DOM. Our results support the predictions that PAUC34f, Poribacteria, and Chloroflexi are capable of organic matter degradation through heterotrophic carbon metabolism, while Nitrospirae may have a potential mixotrophic metabolism. We present a new analytical application of DNA-SIP to detect substrate incorporation into a marine holobiont with a complex associated bacterial community and provide new experimental evidence that links the identity of diverse sponge-associated bacteria to the consumption of DOM.}, } @article {pmid34156296, year = {2021}, author = {Meng, Y and Zhang, X and Tang, D and Chen, X and Zhang, D and Chen, J and Fang, W}, title = {A Novel Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism Regulatory Cascade Is Implicated in Entomopathogenicity of the Fungus Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e0049921}, pmid = {34156296}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii can switch among parasitic, saprophytic, and symbiotic lifestyles in response to changing nutritional conditions, which is attributed to its extremely versatile metabolism. Here, we found that the Fus3-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the transcription factor regulator of nutrient selection 1 (RNS1) constitute a novel fungal cascade that regulates the degradation of insect cuticular lipids, proteins, and chitin to obtain nutrients for hyphal growth and enter the insect hemocoel for subsequent colonization. On the insect cuticle, Fus3-MAPK physically contacts and phosphorylates RNS1, which facilitates the entry of RNS1 into nuclei. The phosphorylated RNS1 binds to the DNA motif BM2 (ACCAGAC) in its own promoter to self-induce expression, which then activates the expression of genes for degrading cuticular proteins, chitin, and lipids. We further found that the Fus3-MAPK/RNS1 cascade also activates genes for utilizing complex and less-favored nitrogen and carbon sources (casein, colloid chitin, and hydrocarbons) that were not derived from insects, which is repressed by favored organic carbon and nitrogen nutrients, including glucose and glutamine. In conclusion, we discovered a novel regulatory cascade that controls fungal nitrogen and carbon metabolism and is implicated in the entomopathogenicity of M. robertsii. IMPORTANCE Penetration of the cuticle, the first physical barrier to pathogenic fungi, is the prerequisite for fungal infection of insects. In the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, we found that the Fus3-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the transcription factor regulator of nutrient selection 1 (RNS1) constitute a novel cascade that controls cuticle penetration by regulating degradation of cuticular lipids, proteins, and chitin to obtain nutrients for hyphal growth and entry into the insect hemocoel. In addition, during saprophytic growth, the Fus3-MAPK/RNS1 cascade also activates utilization of complex and less-favored carbon and nitrogen sources that are not derived from insects. The homologs of Fus3-MAPK and RNS1 are widely found in ascomycete filamentous fungi, including saprophytes and pathogens with diverse hosts, suggesting that the regulation of utilization of nitrogen and carbon sources by the Fus3-MAPK/RNS1 cascade could be widespread. Our work provides significant insights into regulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism in fungi and fungal pathogenesis in insects.}, } @article {pmid34156291, year = {2021}, author = {Sweet, M and Villela, H and Keller-Costa, T and Costa, R and Romano, S and Bourne, DG and Cárdenas, A and Huggett, MJ and Kerwin, AH and Kuek, F and Medina, M and Meyer, JL and Müller, M and Pollock, FJ and Rappé, MS and Sere, M and Sharp, KH and Voolstra, CR and Zaccardi, N and Ziegler, M and Peixoto, R}, title = {Insights into the Cultured Bacterial Fraction of Corals.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e0124920}, pmid = {34156291}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {P20 GM103430/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria associated with coral hosts are diverse and abundant, with recent studies suggesting involvement of these symbionts in host resilience to anthropogenic stress. Despite their putative importance, the work dedicated to culturing coral-associated bacteria has received little attention. Combining published and unpublished data, here we report a comprehensive overview of the diversity and function of culturable bacteria isolated from corals originating from tropical, temperate, and cold-water habitats. A total of 3,055 isolates from 52 studies were considered by our metasurvey. Of these, 1,045 had full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, spanning 138 formally described and 12 putatively novel bacterial genera across the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria phyla. We performed comparative genomic analysis using the available genomes of 74 strains and identified potential signatures of beneficial bacterium-coral symbioses among the strains. Our analysis revealed >400 biosynthetic gene clusters that underlie the biosynthesis of antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and other secondary metabolites. Moreover, we uncovered genomic features-not previously described for coral-bacterium symbioses-potentially involved in host colonization and host-symbiont recognition, antiviral defense mechanisms, and/or integrated metabolic interactions, which we suggest as novel targets for the screening of coral probiotics. Our results highlight the importance of bacterial cultures to elucidate coral holobiont functioning and guide the selection of probiotic candidates to promote coral resilience and improve holistic and customized reef restoration and rehabilitation efforts. IMPORTANCE Our paper is the first study to synthesize currently available but decentralized data of cultured microbes associated with corals. We were able to collate 3,055 isolates across a number of published studies and unpublished collections from various laboratories and researchers around the world. This equated to 1,045 individual isolates which had full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, after filtering of the original 3,055. We also explored which of these had genomes available. Originally, only 36 were available, and as part of this study, we added a further 38-equating to 74 in total. From this, we investigated potential genetic signatures that may facilitate a host-associated lifestyle. Further, such a resource is an important step in the selection of probiotic candidates, which are being investigated for promoting coral resilience and potentially applied as a novel strategy in reef restoration and rehabilitation efforts. In the spirit of open access, we have ensured this collection is available to the wider research community through the web site http://isolates.reefgenomics.org/ with the hope many scientists across the globe will ask for access to these cultures for future studies.}, } @article {pmid34154933, year = {2021}, author = {Ozakman, Y and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Nematode infection and antinematode immunity in Drosophila.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {37}, number = {11}, pages = {1002-1013}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2021.06.001}, pmid = {34154933}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/parasitology ; *Nematoda/genetics/microbiology ; *Nematode Infections/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis and Steinernema form mutualistic complexes with Gram-negative bacteria. These insect parasites have emerged as excellent research tools for studying nematode pathogenicity and elucidating the features that allow them to persist and multiply within the host. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of nematode infection and host antinematode processes will lead to the development of novel means for parasitic nematode control. Recent work has demonstrated the power of using the Drosophila infection model to identify novel parasitic nematode infection factors and elucidate the genetic and functional bases of host antinematode defense. Here, we aim to highlight the recent advances and address their contribution to the development of novel means for parasitic nematode control.}, } @article {pmid34154402, year = {2021}, author = {Comandatore, F and Radaelli, G and Montante, S and Sacchi, L and Clementi, E and Epis, S and Cafiso, A and Serra, V and Pajoro, M and Di Carlo, D and Floriano, AM and Stavru, F and Bandi, C and Sassera, D}, title = {Modeling the Life Cycle of the Intramitochondrial Bacterium "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii" Using Electron Microscopy Data.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0057421}, pmid = {34154402}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Microscopy, Electron/*methods ; Mitochondria/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {"Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii" is a Gram-negative bacterium that lives in strict intracellular symbiosis with the hard tick Ixodes ricinus, forming one of the most intriguing endosymbiosis described to date. The bacterium is capable of durably colonizing the host mitochondria, a peculiar tropism that makes "Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii" a very interesting tool to study the physiology of these cellular organelles. The interaction between the symbiont and the organelle has, however, been difficult to characterize. A parallelism with the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus has been drawn, suggesting the hypothesis that "Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii" could prey on mitochondria and consume them to multiply. We studied the life cycle of the bacterium within the host oocytes using a multidisciplinary approach, including electron microscopy, molecular biology, statistics, and systems biology. Our results were not coherent with a predatory-like behavior by "Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii" leading us to propose a novel hypothesis for its life cycle. Based on our results, we here present a novel model called the "mitochondrion-to-mitochondrion hypothesis." Under this model, the bacterium would be able to move from mitochondrion to mitochondrion, possibly within a mitochondrial network. We show that this model presents a good fit with quantitative electron microscopy data. IMPORTANCE Our results suggest that "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii," the intramitochondrial bacterium, does not invade mitochondria like predatory bacteria do but instead moves from mitochondrion to mitochondrion within the oocytes of Ixodes ricinus. A better understanding of the lifestyle of "Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii" will allow us to better define the role of this bacterial symbiont in the host physiology.}, } @article {pmid34153755, year = {2021}, author = {Yu, X and Yu, K and Liao, Z and Chen, B and Deng, C and Yu, J and Yao, Q and Qin, Z and Liang, J}, title = {Seasonal fluctuations in symbiotic bacteria and their role in environmental adaptation of the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa in high-latitude coral reef area of the South China Sea.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {792}, number = {}, pages = {148438}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148438}, pmid = {34153755}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bacteria/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {Coral-associated bacterial communities are paramount for coral ecosystems and holobiont health. However, the role of symbiotic bacteria in the adaptation of high-latitude corals to seasonal fluctuations remains underexplored. Therefore, we used 16S rRNA-based high-throughput sequencing to analyze the symbiotic bacterial diversity, composition, and core bacterial community in high-latitude coral and explored the seasonal fluctuation characteristics of symbiotic bacterial communities. We found that bacterial richness and α-diversity changed significantly across different seasons. Additionally, the community structure recombined seasonally, with different dominant bacterial phyla and genera in different seasons. However, the symbiotic bacterial community structures of Acropora pruinosa in winter and spring were similar. Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria in spring, autumn, and winter. In summer, the dominant bacterial taxa were Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria. Ralstonia was the dominant bacterial genus in spring and winter, whereas in autumn, BD1-7_clade was dominant. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified 20 abundant genera between the different groups. Core microbiome analysis revealed that 12 core bacterial operational taxonomic units were associated with A. pruinosa in all seasons, seven of which varied with the seasons, changing between dominant and rare. Distance-based redundancy and variation partitioning analyses revealed that sea surface temperature was the major contributor of variation in the microbial community structure. We hypothesized that the high diversity and abundance of symbiotic bacteria and the increase in Prosthecochloris abundance in coral in summer can help A. pruinosa maintain its physiological functions, ameliorating the negative physiological effects of the decrease in Symbiodiniaceae density under high-temperature stress. Thus, the rapid reorganization of the symbiotic bacterial community structure and core microflora in different seasons may allow the corals to adapt to large seasonal environmental fluctuations. In conclusion, seasonal variation of bacteria plays an important role in coral adaptation to large environmental fluctuations.}, } @article {pmid34150830, year = {2021}, author = {Ferreira, RLU and Sena-Evangelista, KCM and de Azevedo, EP and Pinheiro, FI and Cobucci, RN and Pedrosa, LFC}, title = {Selenium in Human Health and Gut Microflora: Bioavailability of Selenocompounds and Relationship With Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {685317}, pmid = {34150830}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {This review covers current knowledge of selenium in the dietary intake, its bioavailability, metabolism, functions, biomarkers, supplementation and toxicity, as well as its relationship with diseases and gut microbiota specifically on the symbiotic relationship between gut microflora and selenium status. Selenium is essential for the maintenance of the immune system, conversion of thyroid hormones, protection against the harmful action of heavy metals and xenobiotics as well as for the reduction of the risk of chronic diseases. Selenium is able to balance the microbial flora avoiding health damage associated with dysbiosis. Experimental studies have shown that inorganic and organic selenocompounds are metabolized to selenomethionine and incorporated by bacteria from the gut microflora, therefore highlighting their role in improving the bioavailability of selenocompounds. Dietary selenium can affect the gut microbial colonization, which in turn influences the host's selenium status and expression of selenoproteoma. Selenium deficiency may result in a phenotype of gut microbiota that is more susceptible to cancer, thyroid dysfunctions, inflammatory bowel disease, and cardiovascular disorders. Although the host and gut microbiota benefit each other from their symbiotic relationship, they may become competitors if the supply of micronutrients is limited. Intestinal bacteria can remove selenium from the host resulting in two to three times lower levels of host's selenoproteins under selenium-limiting conditions. There are still gaps in whether these consequences are unfavorable to humans and animals or whether the daily intake of selenium is also adapted to meet the needs of the bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34149963, year = {2021}, author = {Ponce, GE and Fuse, M and Chan, A and Connor, EF}, title = {The Localization of Phytohormones within the Gall-inducing Insect Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {Arthropod-plant interactions}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {375-385}, pmid = {34149963}, issn = {1872-8855}, support = {R25 GM048972/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The phytohormone production hypothesis suggests that organisms, including insects, induce galls by producing and secreting plant growth hormones. Auxins and cytokinins are classes of phytohormones that induce cell growth and cell division, which could contribute to the plant tissue proliferation which constitutes the covering gall. Bacteria, symbiotic with insects, may also play a part in gall induction by insects through the synthesis of phytohormones or other effectors. Past studies have shown that concentrations of cytokinins and auxins in gall-inducing insects are higher than in their host plants. However, these analyses have involved whole-body extractions. Using immunolocalization of cytokinin and auxin, in the gall inducing stage of Eurosta solidaginis, we found both phytohormones to localize almost exclusively to the salivary glands. Co-localization of phytohormone label with a nucleic acid stain in the salivary glands revealed the absence of Wolbachia sp., the bacterial symbiont of E. solidaginis, which suggests that phytohormone production is symbiont independent. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that phytohormones are synthesized in and secreted from the salivary glands of E. solidaginis into host-plant tissues for the purpose of manipulating the host plant.}, } @article {pmid34149768, year = {2021}, author = {Kalozoumis, P and Savvas, D and Aliferis, K and Ntatsi, G and Marakis, G and Simou, E and Tampakaki, A and Karapanos, I}, title = {Impact of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Inoculation and Grafting on Tolerance of Tomato to Combined Water and Nutrient Stress Assessed via Metabolomics Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {670236}, pmid = {34149768}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the current study, inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and grafting were tested as possible cultural practices that may enhance resilience of tomato to stress induced by combined water and nutrient shortage. The roots of tomato grown on perlite were either inoculated or not with PGPR, applying four different treatments. These were PGPR-T1, a mix of two Enterobacter sp. strains (C1.2 and C1.5); PGPR-T2, Paenibacillus sp. strain DN1.2; PGPR-T3, Enterobacter mori strain C3.1; and PGPR-T4, Lelliottia sp. strain D2.4. PGPR-treated plants were either self-grafted or grafted onto Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82 and received either full or 50% of their standard water, nitrogen, and phosphorus needs. The vegetative biomass of plants subjected to PGPR-T1 was not reduced when plants were cultivated under combined stress, while it was reduced by stress to the rest of the PGPR treatments. However, PGPR-T3 increased considerably plant biomass of non-stressed tomato plants than did all other treatments. PGPR application had no impact on fruit biomass, while grafting onto 'M82' increased fruit production than did self-grafting. Metabolomics analysis in tomato leaves revealed that combined stress affects several metabolites, most of them already described as stress-related, including trehalose, myo-inositol, and monopalmitin. PGPR inoculation with E. mori strain C3.1 affected metabolites, which are important for plant/microbe symbiosis (myo-inositol and monopalmitin). The rootstock M82 did not affect many metabolites in plant leaves, but it clearly decreased the levels of malate and D-fructose and imposed an accumulation of oleic acid. In conclusion, PGPR are capable of increasing tomato tolerance to combined stress. However, further research is required to evaluate more strains and refine protocols for their application. Metabolites that were discovered as biomarkers could be used to accelerate the screening process for traits such as stress tolerance to abiotic and/or abiotic stresses. Finally, 'M82' is a suitable rootstock for tomato, as it is capable of increasing fruit biomass production.}, } @article {pmid34149745, year = {2021}, author = {Halwani, M and Reckling, M and Egamberdieva, D and Omari, RA and Bellingrath-Kimura, SD and Bachinger, J and Bloch, R}, title = {Soybean Nodulation Response to Cropping Interval and Inoculation in European Cropping Systems.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {638452}, pmid = {34149745}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {To support the adaption of soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] cultivation across Central Europe, the availability of compatible soybean nodulating Bradyrhizobia (SNB) is essential. Little is known about the symbiotic potential of indigenous SNB in Central Europe and the interaction with an SNB inoculum from commercial products. The objective of this study was to quantify the capacity of indigenous and inoculated SNB strains on the symbiotic performance of soybean in a pot experiment, using soils with and without soybean history. Under controlled conditions in a growth chamber, the study focused on two main factors: a soybean cropping interval (time since the last soybean cultivation; SCI) and inoculation with commercial Bradyrhizobia strains. Comparing the two types of soil, without soybean history and with 1-4 years SCI, we found out that plants grown in soil with soybean history and without inoculation had significantly more root nodules and higher nitrogen content in the plant tissue. These parameters, along with the leghemoglobin content, were found to be a variable among soils with 1-4 years SCI and did not show a trend over the years. Inoculation in soil without soybean history showed a significant increase in a nodulation rate, leghemoglobin content, and soybean tissue nitrogen concentration. The study found that response to inoculation varied significantly as per locations in soil with previous soybean cultivation history. An inoculated soybean grown on loamy sandy soils from the location Müncheberg had significantly more nodules as well as higher green tissue nitrogen concentration compared with non-inoculated plants. No significant improvement in a nodulation rate and tissue nitrogen concentration was observed for an inoculated soybean grown on loamy sandy soils from the location Fehrow. These results suggest that introduced SNB strains remained viable in the soil and were still symbiotically competent for up to 4 years after soybean cultivation. However, the symbiotic performance of the SNB remaining in the soils was not sufficient in all cases and makes inoculation with commercial products necessary. The SNB strains found in the soil of Central Europe could also be promising candidates for the development of inoculants and already represent a contribution to the successful cultivation of soybeans in Central Europe.}, } @article {pmid34149656, year = {2021}, author = {Xue, H and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Niu, L and Wu, C and Gao, X and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Gut Bacterial Diversity in Different Life Cycle Stages of Adelphocoris suturalis (Hemiptera: Miridae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {670383}, pmid = {34149656}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacteria and insects have a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. Bacteria participate in several physiological processes such as reproduction, metabolism, and detoxification of the host. Adelphocoris suturalis is considered a pest by the agricultural industry and is now a major pest in cotton, posing a serious threat to agricultural production. As with many insects, various microbes live inside A. suturalis. However, the microbial composition and diversity of its life cycle have not been well-studied. To identify the species and community structure of symbiotic bacteria in A. suturalis, we used the HiSeq platform to perform high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region in the 16S rRNA of symbiotic bacteria found in A. suturalis throughout its life stages. Our results demonstrated that younger nymphs (1st and 2nd instar nymphs) have higher species richness. Proteobacteria (87.06%) and Firmicutes (9.43%) were the dominant phyla of A. suturalis. At the genus level, Erwinia (28.98%), Staphylococcus (5.69%), and Acinetobacter (4.54%) were the dominant bacteria. We found that the relative abundance of Erwinia was very stable during the whole developmental stage. On the contrary, the relative abundance of Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Corynebacterium showed significant dynamic changes at different developmental stages. Functional prediction of symbiotic bacteria mainly focuses on metabolic pathways. Our findings document symbiotic bacteria across the life cycle of A. suturalis, as well as differences in both the composition and richness in nymph and adult symbiotic bacteria. Our analysis of the bacteria in A. suturalis provides important information for the development of novel biological control strategies.}, } @article {pmid34149644, year = {2021}, author = {Ngashangva, N and Mukherjee, P and Sharma, KC and Kalita, MC and Indira, S}, title = {Analysis of Antimicrobial Peptide Metabolome of Bacterial Endophyte Isolated From Traditionally Used Medicinal Plant Millettia pachycarpa Benth.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {656896}, pmid = {34149644}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has posed a major health concern worldwide, and the addition of new antimicrobial agents is diminishing due to overexploitation of plants and microbial resources. Inevitably, alternative sources and new strategies are needed to find novel biomolecules to counter AMR and pandemic circumstances. The association of plants with microorganisms is one basic natural interaction that involves the exchange of biomolecules. Such a symbiotic relationship might affect the respective bio-chemical properties and production of secondary metabolites in the host and microbes. Furthermore, the discovery of taxol and taxane from an endophytic fungus, Taxomyces andreanae from Taxus wallachiana, has stimulated much research on endophytes from medicinal plants. A gram-positive endophytic bacterium, Paenibacillus peoriae IBSD35, was isolated from the stem of Millettia pachycarpa Benth. It is a rod-shaped, motile, gram-positive, and endospore-forming bacteria. It is neutralophilic as per Joint Genome Institute's (JGI) IMG system analysis. The plant was selected based on its ethnobotany history of traditional uses and highly insecticidal properties. Bioactive molecules were purified from P. peoriae IBSD35 culture broth using 70% ammonium sulfate and column chromatography techniques. The biomolecule was enriched to 151.72-fold and the yield percentage was 0.05. Peoriaerin II, a highly potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was isolated. LC-MS sequencing revealed that its N-terminal is methionine. It has four negatively charged residues (Asp + Glu) and a total number of two positively charged residues (Arg + Lys). Its molecular weight is 4,685.13 Da. It is linked to an LC-MS/MS inferred biosynthetic gene cluster with accession number A0A2S6P0H9, and blastp has shown it is 82.4% similar to fusaricidin synthetase of Paenibacillus polymyxa SC2. The 3D structure conformation of the BGC and AMP were predicted using SWISS MODEL homology modeling. Therefore, combining both genomic and proteomic results obtained from P. peoriae IBSD35, associated with M. pachycarpa Benth., will substantially increase the understanding of antimicrobial peptides and assist to uncover novel biological agents.}, } @article {pmid34147570, year = {2021}, author = {Lulamba, TE and Green, E and Serepa-Dlamini, MH}, title = {Genome assembly and annotation of Photorhabdus heterorhabditis strain ETL reveals genetic features involved in pathogenicity with its associated entomopathogenic nematode and anti-host effectors with biocontrol potential applications.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {795}, number = {}, pages = {145780}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.145780}, pmid = {34147570}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Biological Control Agents ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Photorhabdus/classification/*genetics/*pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; Strongyloidea/*microbiology ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genome sequences of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) bacteria and their functional analyses can lead to the genetic engineering of the bacteria for use as biocontrol agents. The bacterial symbiont Photorhabdus heterorhabditis strain ETL isolated from an insect pathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis zealandica strain ETL, collected in the northernmost region of South Africa was studied to reveal information that can be useful in the design of improvement strategies for both effective and liquid production method of EPN-based pesticides. The strain ETL genome was found closely related to the type strain genome of P. australis DSM 17,609 (~60 to 99.9% CDSs similarity), but closely related to the not yet genome-sequenced type strain, P. heterorhabditis. It has a genome size of 4,866,148 bp and G + C content of 42.4% similar to other Photorhabdus. It contains 4,351 protein coding genes (CDSs) of which, at least 84% are shared with the de facto type strain P. luminescens subsp. laumondii TTO1, and has 318 unknown CDSs and the genome has a higher degree of plasticity allowing it to adapt to different environmental conditions, and to be virulent against various insects; observed through genes acquired through horizontal gene transfer mechanisms, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, non-determined polyketide- and non-ribosomal peptide- synthase gene clusters, and many genes associated with uncharacterized proteins; which also justify the strain ETL's genes differences (quantity and quality) compared to P. luminescens subsp. laumondii TTO1. The protein coding sequences contained genes with both bio-engineering and EPNs mass production importance, of which numerous are uncharacterized.}, } @article {pmid34147187, year = {2021}, author = {Salas, A and Cabrera, JJ and Jiménez-Leiva, A and Mesa, S and Bedmar, EJ and Richardson, DJ and Gates, AJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {Bacterial nitric oxide metabolism: Recent insights in rhizobia.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {78}, number = {}, pages = {259-315}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ampbs.2021.05.001}, pmid = {34147187}, issn = {2162-5468}, support = {BB/S008942/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M00256X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Fabaceae ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a reactive gaseous molecule that has several functions in biological systems depending on its concentration. At low concentrations, NO acts as a signaling molecule, while at high concentrations, it becomes very toxic due to its ability to react with multiple cellular targets. Soil bacteria, commonly known as rhizobia, have the capacity to establish a N2-fixing symbiosis with legumes inducing the formation of nodules in their roots. Several reports have shown NO production in the nodules where this gas acts either as a signaling molecule which regulates gene expression, or as a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase and other plant and bacteria enzymes. A better understanding of the sinks and sources of NO in rhizobia is essential to protect symbiotic nitrogen fixation from nitrosative stress. In nodules, both the plant and the microsymbiont contribute to the production of NO. From the bacterial perspective, the main source of NO reported in rhizobia is the denitrification pathway that varies significantly depending on the species. In addition to denitrification, nitrate assimilation is emerging as a new source of NO in rhizobia. To control NO accumulation in the nodules, in addition to plant haemoglobins, bacteroids also contribute to NO detoxification through the expression of a NorBC-type nitric oxide reductase as well as rhizobial haemoglobins. In the present review, updated knowledge about the NO metabolism in legume-associated endosymbiotic bacteria is summarized.}, } @article {pmid34146923, year = {2021}, author = {Nazipi, S and Elberg, CL and Busck, MM and Lund, MB and Bilde, T and Schramm, A}, title = {The bacterial and fungal nest microbiomes in populations of the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {126222}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126222}, pmid = {34146923}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fungi/*classification ; *Microbiota ; Namibia ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Spiders/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Social spiders of the species Stegodyphus dumicola live in communal nests with hundreds of individuals and are characterized by extremely low species-wide genetic diversity. The lack of genetic diversity in combination with group living imposes a potential threat for infection by pathogens. We therefore proposed that specific microbial symbionts inhabiting the spider nests may provide antimicrobial defense. To compare the bacterial and fungal diversity in 17 nests from three different locations in Namibia, we used 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) sequencing. The nest microbiomes differed between geographically distinct spider populations and appeared largely determined by the local environment. Nevertheless, we identified a core microbiome consisting of four bacterial genera (Curtobacterium, Modestobacter, Sphingomonas, Massilia) and four fungal genera (Aureobasidium, Didymella, Alternaria, Ascochyta), which likely are selected from surrounding soil and plants by the nest environment. We did not find indications for a strain- or species-specific symbiosis in the nests. Isolation of bacteria and fungi from nest material retrieved a few bacterial strains with antimicrobial activity but a number of antimicrobial fungi, including members of the fungal core microbiome. The significance of antimicrobial taxa in the nest microbiome for host protection remains to be shown.}, } @article {pmid34146491, year = {2021}, author = {Miller, BW and Lim, AL and Lin, Z and Bailey, J and Aoyagi, KL and Fisher, MA and Barrows, LR and Manoil, C and Schmidt, EW and Haygood, MG}, title = {Shipworm symbiosis ecology-guided discovery of an antibiotic that kills colistin-resistant Acinetobacter.}, journal = {Cell chemical biology}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {1628-1637.e4}, pmid = {34146491}, issn = {2451-9448}, support = {R01 AI130255/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI148208/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM122521/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Colistin ; *Drug Discovery ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects ; Gammaproteobacteria/*drug effects ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; }, abstract = {Teredinibacter turnerae is an intracellular bacterial symbiont in the gills of wood-eating shipworms, where it is proposed to use antibiotics to defend itself and its animal host. Several biosynthetic gene clusters are conserved in T. turnerae and their host shipworms around the world, implying that they encode defensive compounds. Here, we describe turnercyclamycins, lipopeptide antibiotics encoded in the genomes of all sequenced T. turnerae strains. Turnercyclamycins are bactericidal against challenging Gram-negative pathogens, including colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Phenotypic screening identified the outer membrane as the likely target. Turnercyclamycins and colistin operate by similar cellular, although not necessarily molecular, mechanisms, but turnercyclamycins kill colistin-resistant A. baumannii, potentially filling an urgent clinical need. Thus, by exploring environments that select for the properties we require, we harvested the fruits of evolution to discover compounds with potential to target unmet health needs. Investigating the symbionts of shipworms is a powerful example of this principle.}, } @article {pmid34146435, year = {2021}, author = {Tiwari, M and Yadav, M and Singh, B and Pandey, V and Nawaz, K and Bhatia, S}, title = {Evolutionary and functional analysis of two-component system in chickpea reveals CaRR13, a TypeB RR, as positive regulator of symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {2415-2427}, pmid = {34146435}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {*Cicer/genetics/metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The critical role of cytokinin in early nodulation in legumes is well known. In our study, exogenous cytokinin application to roots of the important crop legume, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), led to the formation of pseudo-nodules even in the absence of rhizobia. Hence, a genome-wide analysis of the cytokinin signalling, two-component system (TCS) genes, was conducted in chickpea, Medicago and Cajanus cajan. The integrated phylogenetic, evolutionary and expression analysis of the TCS genes was carried out, which revealed that histidine kinases (HKs) were highly conserved, whereas there was diversification leading to neofunctionalization at the level of response regulators (RRs) especially the TypeB RRs. Further, the functional role of the CaHKs in nodulation was established by complementation of the sln1Δ mutant of yeast and cre1 mutants of (Medicago) which led to restoration of the nodule-deficient phenotype. Additionally, the highest expressing TypeB RR of chickpea, CaRR13, was functionally characterized. Its localization in the nucleus and its Y1H assay-based interaction with the promoter of the early nodulation gene CaNSP2 indicated its role as a transcription factor regulating early nodulation. Overexpression, RNAi lines and complementation of cre1 mutants with CaRR13 revealed its critical involvement as an important signalling molecule regulating early events of nodule organogenesis in chickpea.}, } @article {pmid34145391, year = {2021}, author = {Feng, X and Chu, X and Qian, Y and Henson, MW and Lanclos, VC and Qin, F and Barnes, S and Zhao, Y and Thrash, JC and Luo, H}, title = {Mechanisms driving genome reduction of a novel Roseobacter lineage.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {3576-3586}, pmid = {34145391}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Chlorophyll A ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Phytoplankton ; *Roseobacter/genetics ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Members of the marine Roseobacter group are key players in the global carbon and sulfur cycles. While over 300 species have been described, only 2% possess reduced genomes (mostly 3-3.5 Mbp) compared to an average roseobacter (>4 Mbp). These taxonomic minorities are phylogenetically diverse but form a Pelagic Roseobacter Cluster (PRC) at the genome content level. Here, we cultivated eight isolates constituting a novel Roseobacter lineage which we named 'CHUG'. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic read recruitment analyses showed that CHUG members are globally distributed and active in marine pelagic environments. CHUG members possess some of the smallest genomes (~2.6 Mb) among all known roseobacters, but they do not exhibit canonical features of typical bacterioplankton lineages theorized to have undergone genome streamlining processes, like higher coding density, fewer paralogues and rarer pseudogenes. While CHUG members form a genome content cluster with traditional PRC members, they show important differences. Unlike other PRC members, neither the relative abundances of CHUG members nor their relative gene expression levels are correlated with chlorophyll a concentration across the global samples. CHUG members cannot utilize most phytoplankton-derived metabolites or synthesize vitamin B12, a key metabolite mediating the roseobacter-phytoplankton interactions. This combination of features is evidence for the hypothesis that CHUG members may have evolved a free-living lifestyle decoupled from phytoplankton. This ecological transition was accompanied by the loss of signature genes involved in roseobacter-phytoplankton symbiosis, suggesting that relaxation of purifying selection owing to lifestyle shift is likely an important driver of genome reduction in CHUG.}, } @article {pmid34143179, year = {2021}, author = {Jang, SS and McINTYRE, L and Chan, M and Brown, PN and Finley, J and Chen, SX}, title = {Ethanol Concentration of Kombucha Teas in British Columbia, Canada.}, journal = {Journal of food protection}, volume = {84}, number = {11}, pages = {1878-1883}, doi = {10.4315/JFP-21-130}, pmid = {34143179}, issn = {1944-9097}, mesh = {Beverages/analysis ; British Columbia ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ethanol ; Female ; Fermentation ; Humans ; *Kombucha Tea/analysis ; Pregnancy ; Tea ; }, abstract = {ABSTRACT: Kombucha is a sweetened tea beverage fermented by bacterial and yeast cultures. Sweeteners, such as glucose, sucrose, fructose, and others are converted by yeasts into ethanol and then by Acetobacter and other bacterial species into a weak acetic acid solution that is diluted, flavored, and packaged into glass or aluminum cans for consumer consumption. Naturally, fermented kombucha contains 0 to 3% alcohol by volume (ABV). However, kombucha containing ethanol is concerning for pregnant women and young children for whom low levels of ethanol consumption (<3% ABV) create adverse medical outcomes. In the province of British Columbia (BC), Canadian beverages containing >1% ABV are regulated as liquor. This study assessed ethanol concentrations in kombucha collected from processors and purchased at retail venues in BC. Ethanol values were compared with the place of manufacture (country or province) and place of purchase (grocery stores, restaurants, farmers' markets, recreational centers, and processors). Ethanol (n = 684) levels were measured by using a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method with a detection limit of 0.0002% ABV for ethanol. Overall, teas contained mean and median ethanol of 0.77 and 0.62% ABV, respectively, ranging from nondetectable up to 3.62% ABV. Four kombucha teas (0.6%) made by BC processors tested over 3% ABV, and 31.5% of samples contained ethanol that exceeded the BC regulatory limits for nonalcoholic beverages of 1% ABV. Kombucha manufactured in BC had significantly higher mean ethanol values (1.16% ABV) in comparison to all other places of manufacture. Similarly, mean ethanol tea values obtained from BC processors (1.2% ABV) and restaurants (1.01% ABV) were significantly higher than those obtained at other retail venues. This study demonstrates the potential for alcohol harm to at-risk populations consuming kombucha teas sold in BC.}, } @article {pmid34142885, year = {2021}, author = {Silva, CBP and Elias-Oliveira, J and McCarthy, CG and Wenceslau, CF and Carlos, D and Tostes, RC}, title = {Ethanol: striking the cardiovascular system by harming the gut microbiota.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology}, volume = {321}, number = {2}, pages = {H275-H291}, pmid = {34142885}, issn = {1522-1539}, support = {K99 HL151889/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL149762/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 HL151889/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM118885/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alcohol Drinking/immunology/*physiopathology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Cardiovascular Diseases/immunology/*physiopathology/therapy ; Dysbiosis/immunology/*physiopathology/therapy ; Ethanol ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Ethanol consumption represents a significant public health problem, and excessive ethanol intake is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The mechanisms underlying the effects of ethanol on the cardiovascular system are complex and not fully comprehended. The gut microbiota and their metabolites are indispensable symbionts essential for health and homeostasis and therefore, have emerged as potential contributors to ethanol-induced cardiovascular system dysfunction. By mechanisms that are not completely understood, the gut microbiota modulates the immune system and activates several signaling pathways that stimulate inflammatory responses, which in turn, contribute to the development and progression of CVD. This review summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence on the effects of ethanol in the gut microbiota and discusses the mechanisms by which ethanol-induced gut dysbiosis leads to the activation of the immune system and cardiovascular dysfunction. The cross talk between ethanol consumption and the gut microbiota and its implications are detailed. In summary, an imbalance in the symbiotic relationship between the host and the commensal microbiota in a holobiont, as seen with ethanol consumption, may contribute to CVD. Therefore, manipulating the gut microbiota, by using antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation might prove a valuable opportunity to prevent/mitigate the deleterious effects of ethanol and improve cardiovascular health and risk prevention.}, } @article {pmid34142357, year = {2021}, author = {Rodríguez-Rodríguez, RM and Guimarães, AA and de Castro, JL and Siqueira, JO and Carneiro, MAC and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Rhizobia and endophytic bacteria isolated from rainforest fragments within an iron ore mining site of the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {52}, number = {3}, pages = {1461-1474}, pmid = {34142357}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; Brazil ; Endophytes/classification ; *Iron ; *Mining ; Phylogeny ; *Rainforest ; *Rhizobium/classification ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to isolate and evaluate the diversity of rhizobial and endophytic bacterial strains from undisturbed native rainforests within an iron ore mining site of the Serra Norte de Carajás in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon region to assess their biotechnological utility in reclamation of areas. Experiments were conducted to capture strains from samples of the soil of these forests at the sites Arenito II, Noroeste II, and Sul IV using Macroptilium atropurpureum and Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea as trap host plants. Only M. atropurpureum nodulated, and the different bacterial strains were isolated from its nodules. There was no difference in the number of nodules among the areas, but the Arenito II bacterial community was the most efficient, indicated by the aboveground biomass production and suitable shoot mass/root mass ratio. Fifty-two (52) bacterial isolates were obtained, distributed in five groups, including nodulating and endophytic bacteria: 32 from Arenito II, 12 from Noroeste II, and 8 from Sul IV. The nodulating Bradyrhizobium genus was common to the three areas, whereas Paraburkholderia was found only in Arenito II. The nodD1 gene was amplified in all the strains of both nodulating genera. Strains of the nodulating genus Methylobacterium were also isolated from the three areas; however, they did not nodulate the host of origin, and their nodD1 gene was not amplified. Endophytic strains were also isolated from the genera Paenibacillus, Pantoea, and Leifsonia in Arenito II, Leifsonia in Noroeste I, and Paenibacillus in Sul IV. The greater nodulation and rhizobial and endophytic bacterial diversity observed in Arenito II were probably due to the more suitable edaphic properties of the area. The isolated strains were incorporated in the collection of the Department of Soil Science of UFLA and will be investigated in relation to their symbiotic characteristics with native host plants, as well as their ability to perform other biological processes.}, } @article {pmid34141272, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, C and Miao, S and Yin, Y and Zhu, Y and Nabity, P and Bansal, R and Liu, C}, title = {Tripartite parasitic and symbiotic interactions as a possible mechanism of horizontal gene transfer.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {7018-7028}, pmid = {34141272}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Herbivory is a highly sophisticated feeding behavior that requires abilities of plant defense suppression, phytochemical detoxification, and plant macromolecule digestion. For plant-sucking insects, salivary glands (SGs) play important roles in herbivory by secreting and injecting proteins into plant tissues to facilitate feeding. Little is known on how insects evolved secretory SG proteins for such specialized functions. Here, we investigated the composition and evolution of secretory SG proteins in the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) and identified a group of secretory SG phospholipase C (PLC) genes with highest sequence similarity to the bacterial homologs. Further analyses demonstrated that they were most closely related to PLCs of Xenorhabdus, a genus of Gammaproteobacteria living in symbiosis with insect-parasitizing nematodes. These suggested that H. halys might acquire these PLCs from Xenorhabdus through the mechanism of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), likely mediated by a nematode during its parasitizing an insect host. We also showed that the original HGT event was followed by gene duplication and expansion, leading to functional diversification of the bacterial-origin PLC genes in H. halys. Thus, this study suggested that an herbivore might enhance adaptation through gaining genes from an endosymbiont of its parasite in the tripartite parasitic and symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid34141201, year = {2021}, author = {Christopher, Y and Wcislo, WT and Martínez-Luis, S and Hughes, WOH and Gerardo, NM and Fernández-Marín, H}, title = {Disease management in two sympatric Apterostigma fungus-growing ants for controlling the parasitic fungus Escovopsis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {6041-6052}, pmid = {34141201}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Antagonistic interactions between host and parasites are often embedded in networks of interacting species, in which hosts may be attacked by competing parasites species, and parasites may infect more than one host species. To better understand the evolution of host defenses and parasite counterdefenses in the context of a multihost, multiparasite system, we studied two sympatric species, of congeneric fungus-growing ants (Attini) species and their symbiotic fungal cultivars, which are attacked by multiple morphotypes of parasitic fungi in the genus, Escovopsis. To assess whether closely related ant species and their cultured fungi are evolving defenses against the same or different parasitic strains, we characterized Escovopsis that were isolated from colonies of sympatric Apterostigma dentigerum and A. pilosum. We assessed in vitro and in vivo interactions of these parasites with their hosts. While the ant cultivars are parasitized by similar Escovopsis spp., the frequency of infection by these pathogens differs between the two ant species. The ability of the host fungi to suppress Escovopsis growth, as well as ant defensive responses toward the parasites, differs depending on the parasite strain and on the host ant species.}, } @article {pmid34141185, year = {2021}, author = {Buser, CC and Jokela, J and Martin, OY}, title = {Scent of a killer: How could killer yeast boost its dispersal?.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {5809-5814}, pmid = {34141185}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Vector-borne parasites often manipulate hosts to attract uninfected vectors. For example, parasites causing malaria alter host odor to attract mosquitoes. Here, we discuss the ecology and evolution of fruit-colonizing yeast in a tripartite symbiosis-the so-called "killer yeast" system. "Killer yeast" consists of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast hosting two double-stranded RNA viruses (M satellite dsRNAs, L-A dsRNA helper virus). When both dsRNA viruses occur in a yeast cell, the yeast converts to lethal toxin‑producing "killer yeast" phenotype that kills uninfected yeasts. Yeasts on ephemeral fruits attract insect vectors to colonize new habitats. As the viruses have no extracellular stage, they depend on the same insect vectors as yeast for their dispersal. Viruses also benefit from yeast dispersal as this promotes yeast to reproduce sexually, which is how viruses can transmit to uninfected yeast strains. We tested whether insect vectors are more attracted to killer yeasts than to non‑killer yeasts. In our field experiment, we found that killer yeasts were more attractive to Drosophila than non-killer yeasts. This suggests that vectors foraging on yeast are more likely to transmit yeast with a killer phenotype, allowing the viruses to colonize those uninfected yeast strains that engage in sexual reproduction with the killer yeast. Beyond insights into the basic ecology of the killer yeast system, our results suggest that viruses could increase transmission success by manipulating the insect vectors of their host.}, } @article {pmid34140946, year = {2021}, author = {Williams, TJ and Allen, MA and Ivanova, N and Huntemann, M and Haque, S and Hancock, AM and Brazendale, S and Cavicchioli, R}, title = {Genome Analysis of a Verrucomicrobial Endosymbiont With a Tiny Genome Discovered in an Antarctic Lake.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {674758}, pmid = {34140946}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Organic Lake in Antarctica is a marine-derived, cold (-13∘C), stratified (oxic-anoxic), hypersaline (>200 gl[-1]) system with unusual chemistry (very high levels of dimethylsulfide) that supports the growth of phylogenetically and metabolically diverse microorganisms. Symbionts are not well characterized in Antarctica. However, unicellular eukaryotes are often present in Antarctic lakes and theoretically could harbor endosymbionts. Here, we describe Candidatus Organicella extenuata, a member of the Verrucomicrobia with a highly reduced genome, recovered as a metagenome-assembled genome with genetic code 4 (UGA-to-Trp recoding) from Organic Lake. It is closely related to Candidatus Pinguicocccus supinus (163,218 bp, 205 genes), a newly described cytoplasmic endosymbiont of the freshwater ciliate Euplotes vanleeuwenhoeki (Serra et al., 2020). At 158,228 bp (encoding 194 genes), the genome of Ca. Organicella extenuata is among the smallest known bacterial genomes and similar to the genome of Ca. Pinguicoccus supinus (163,218 bp, 205 genes). Ca. Organicella extenuata retains a capacity for replication, transcription, translation, and protein-folding while lacking any capacity for the biosynthesis of amino acids or vitamins. Notably, the endosymbiont retains a capacity for fatty acid synthesis (type II) and iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster assembly. Metagenomic analysis of 150 new metagenomes from Organic Lake and more than 70 other Antarctic aquatic locations revealed a strong correlation in abundance between Ca. Organicella extenuata and a novel ciliate of the genus Euplotes. Like Ca. Pinguicoccus supinus, we infer that Ca. Organicella extenuata is an endosymbiont of Euplotes and hypothesize that both Ca. Organicella extenuata and Ca. Pinguicocccus supinus provide fatty acids and Fe-S clusters to their Euplotes host as the foundation of a mutualistic symbiosis. The discovery of Ca. Organicella extenuata as possessing genetic code 4 illustrates that in addition to identifying endosymbionts by sequencing known symbiotic communities and searching metagenome data using reference endosymbiont genomes, the potential exists to identify novel endosymbionts by searching for unusual coding parameters.}, } @article {pmid34140936, year = {2021}, author = {Castelle, CJ and Méheust, R and Jaffe, AL and Seitz, K and Gong, X and Baker, BJ and Banfield, JF}, title = {Protein Family Content Uncovers Lineage Relationships and Bacterial Pathway Maintenance Mechanisms in DPANN Archaea.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {660052}, pmid = {34140936}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {DPANN are small-celled archaea that are generally predicted to be symbionts, and in some cases are known episymbionts of other archaea. As the monophyly of the DPANN remains uncertain, we hypothesized that proteome content could reveal relationships among DPANN lineages, constrain genetic overlap with bacteria, and illustrate how organisms with hybrid bacterial and archaeal protein sets might function. We tested this hypothesis using protein family content that was defined in part using 3,197 genomes including 569 newly reconstructed genomes. Protein family content clearly separates the final set of 390 DPANN genomes from other archaea, paralleling the separation of Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria from all other bacteria. This separation is partly driven by hypothetical proteins, some of which may be symbiosis-related. Pacearchaeota with the most limited predicted metabolic capacities have Form II/III and III-like Rubisco, suggesting metabolisms based on scavenged nucleotides. Intriguingly, the Pacearchaeota and Woesearchaeota with the smallest genomes also tend to encode large extracellular murein-like lytic transglycosylase domain proteins that may bind and degrade components of bacterial cell walls, indicating that some might be episymbionts of bacteria. The pathway for biosynthesis of bacterial isoprenoids is widespread in Woesearchaeota genomes and is encoded in proximity to genes involved in bacterial fatty acids synthesis. Surprisingly, in some DPANN genomes we identified a pathway for synthesis of queuosine, an unusual nucleotide in tRNAs of bacteria. Other bacterial systems are predicted to be involved in protein refolding. For example, many DPANN have the complete bacterial DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE system and many Woesearchaeota and Pacearchaeota possess bacterial group I chaperones. Thus, many DPANN appear to have mechanisms to ensure efficient protein folding of both archaeal and laterally acquired bacterial proteins.}, } @article {pmid34140555, year = {2021}, author = {Simbine, MG and Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Functional and genetic diversity of native rhizobial isolates nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in Mozambican soils.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {12747}, pmid = {34140555}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genetic Variation ; Mozambique ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Identification and symbiotic characterization of indigenous rhizobial isolates are the basis for inoculant formulations needed for sustainable grain legume production. This study screened for morpho-genetic diversity of indigenous cowpea nodulating rhizobia in farmers' fields across two contrasting agroecological zones of Northern Mozambique. The photosynthetic function induced by the isolates in their homologous cowpea was assessed. The results showed high genetic variability among the isolates based on morphology and ERIC-PCR fingerprinting. The trap cowpea genotype did not influence the diversity of isolates collected from the two different agroecologies, suggesting that the cowpea-rhizobia compatibility may be conserved at species level. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene assigned representative rhizobial isolates to species in the Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium genera, with some isolates showing high divergence from the known reference type strains. The isolates from both agroecologies highly varied in the number and biomass of nodules induced in the homologous cowpea, resulting in variable plant growth and photosynthetic activities. A total of 72% and 83% of the isolates collected from the agroecological zones 7 and 8 were respectively classified as highly effective candidates with > 80% relative effectiveness compared to plants fertilized with nitrate, indicating that elite native strains populated the studied soils. Moreover, the top 25% of high N2-fixing isolates from the two agroecologies recorded relative effectiveness ranging from 115 to 154%, values higher than the effectiveness induced by the commercial Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB756. These strains are considered as having potential for use in inoculant formulations. However, future studies should be done to assess the ecologically adaptive traits and symbiotic performance under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid34138639, year = {2021}, author = {Harris, JM and Jones, KM and Wang, D and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Focus on How Plants Engage With Beneficial Microorganisms While at the Same Time Restricting Pathogens.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {461}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-21-0060-FI}, pmid = {34138639}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants live in a world filled with microbes, and spend their lives engaged in the delicate dance of nurturing beneficial interactions while simultaneously reducing disease-causing interactions. How do plants engage with beneficial microorganisms while at the same time restricting pathogens? was recently selected in a crowd-sourced effort as the top, unanswered question in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions. Elaborating on this question and setting the stage for this focus issue, the Top10 review by Thoms, Liang and Haney examines the way multiple inputs are integrated to initiate programs of immunity or mutualistic symbiosis, and how this shapes the microbiome. This comprehensive review describes the current landscape of the field, focusing on the plant-microbe-soil continuum, but providing ideas for extending these concepts to leaves, where much of the research on immunity has centered. Other papers in this issue examine the simultaneous interaction of plants with beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms, as well as many diverse relationships with beneficial microbes that can improve plant health by increasing access to nutrients or by decreasing disease.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34137156, year = {2021}, author = {Kumar, P and Lee, JH and Lee, J}, title = {Diverse roles of microbial indole compounds in eukaryotic systems.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {96}, number = {6}, pages = {2522-2545}, pmid = {34137156}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; *Eukaryota ; Humans ; *Indoles/metabolism ; Prokaryotic Cells ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Indole and its derivatives are widespread across different life forms, functioning as signalling molecules in prokaryotes and with more diverse roles in eukaryotes. A majority of indoles found in the environment are attributed to bacterial enzymes converting tryptophan into indole and its derivatives. The involvement of indoles among lower organisms as an interspecies and intraspecies signal is well known, with many reports showing that inter-kingdom interactions involving microbial indole compounds are equally important as they influence defence systems and even the behaviour of higher organisms. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the functional properties of indole and indole derivatives in diverse eukaryotes. Furthermore, we discuss current perspectives on the role of microbial indoles in human diseases such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and cancers. Deciphering the function of indoles as biomarkers of metabolic state will facilitate the formulation of diet-based treatments and open unique therapeutic opportunities.}, } @article {pmid34136366, year = {2021}, author = {Ferronatto, AN and Rossi, R and Massochin Nunes Pinto, L and Garavaglia, J}, title = {Development of a freeze-dried symbiotic obtained from rice bran.}, journal = {Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {e00636}, pmid = {34136366}, issn = {2215-017X}, abstract = {This study aimed to assess the growth potential of L.acidophilus and L.plantarum in rice bran, a co-product from the food industry, and subsequently develop a freeze-dried symbiotic. Furthermore, phytochemicals and antioxidant properties were analysed. The growth was measured using growth kinetics over 72 h. The total phenolic compounds were analysed by the Folin-Ciocalteau method and antioxidant potential by DPPH and ABS methods. Freeze-drying process occurred using a pilot-scale equipment (Liotop LP510), verification and quantification of probiotics occurred through molecular analyses, as DNA extraction and qPCR. As a result, there was a good growth in rice bran (p = 0.04), suggesting its prebiotic potential. Rice bran also showed significant concentrations of phenolic compounds (3.69 mgEAG/mL ± 0.04) and antioxidant activity according ABTS (8.35 μmol ET/mL ± 0.106) and DPPH (24.71 μmol ET/mL ± 7.90) methods. The bacteria concentration decreased significantly when submitted to the freeze-drying process (p = 0.001), however, they remained by the minimum concentration required for a product to be considered a symbiotic. Therefore, it was concluded that rice bran and these analysed bacteria proved to be effective for a symbiotic formulation.}, } @article {pmid34136011, year = {2021}, author = {Vallet, M and Kaftan, F and Grabe, V and Ghaderiardakani, F and Fenizia, S and Svatoš, A and Pohnert, G and Wichard, T}, title = {A new glance at the chemosphere of macroalgal-bacterial interactions: In situ profiling of metabolites in symbiosis by mass spectrometry.}, journal = {Beilstein journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {1313-1322}, pmid = {34136011}, issn = {1860-5397}, abstract = {Symbiosis is a dominant form of life that has been observed numerous times in marine ecosystems. For example, macroalgae coexist with bacteria that produce factors that promote algal growth and morphogenesis. The green macroalga Ulva mutabilis (Chlorophyta) develops into a callus-like phenotype in the absence of its essential bacterial symbionts Roseovarius sp. MS2 and Maribacter sp. MS6. Spatially resolved studies are required to understand symbiont interactions at the microscale level. Therefore, we used mass spectrometry profiling and imaging techniques with high spatial resolution and sensitivity to gain a new perspective on the mutualistic interactions between bacteria and macroalgae. Using atmospheric pressure scanning microprobe matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation high-resolution mass spectrometry (AP-SMALDI-HRMS), low-molecular-weight polar compounds were identified by comparative metabolomics in the chemosphere of Ulva. Choline (2-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium) was only determined in the alga grown under axenic conditions, whereas ectoine (1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2-methyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid) was found in bacterial presence. Ectoine was used as a metabolic marker for localisation studies of Roseovarius sp. within the tripartite community because it was produced exclusively by these bacteria. By combining confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM) and AP-SMALDI-HRMS, we proved that Roseovarius sp. MS2 settled mainly in the rhizoidal zone (holdfast) of U. mutabilis. Our findings provide the fundament to decipher bacterial symbioses with multicellular hosts in aquatic ecosystems in an ecologically relevant context. As a versatile tool for microbiome research, the combined AP-SMALDI and cLSM imaging analysis with a resolution to level of a single bacterial cell can be easily applied to other microbial consortia and their hosts. The novelty of this contribution is the use of an in situ setup designed to avoid all types of external contamination and interferences while resolving spatial distributions of metabolites and identifying specific symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34135405, year = {2021}, author = {Takahashi, Y and Shiojiri, K and Yamawo, A}, title = {Aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis and soil nutrient concentrations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {12675}, pmid = {34135405}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Phenols/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Saponins/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Solidago/*physiology ; Soybeans/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Aboveground communication between plants is well known to change defense traits in leaves, but its effects on belowground plant traits and soil characteristics have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that aboveground plant-to-plant communication reduces root nodule symbiosis via induction of bactericidal chemical defense substances and changes the soil nutrient environment. Soybean plants were exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from damaged shoots of Solidago canadensis var. scabra, and leaf defense traits (total phenolics, saponins), root saponins, and root nodule symbiosis traits (number and biomass of root nodules) were measured. Soil C/N ratios and mineral concentrations were also measured to estimate the effects of resource uptake by the plants. We found that total phenolics were not affected. However, plants that received VOCs had higher saponin concentrations in both leaves and roots, and fewer root nodules than untreated plants. Although the concentrations of soil minerals did not differ between treatments, soil C/N ratio was significantly higher in the soil of communicated plants. Thus, the aboveground plant-to-plant communication led to reductions in root nodule symbiosis and soil nutrient concentrations. Our results suggest that there are broader effects of induced chemical defenses in aboveground plant organs upon belowground microbial interactions and soil nutrients, and emphasize that plant response based on plant-to-plant communications are a bridge between above- and below-ground ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid34134852, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, W and Luo, X and Zhang, AY and Ma, CY and Sun, K and Zhang, TT and Dai, CC}, title = {Jasmonate signaling restricts root soluble sugar accumulation and drives root-fungus symbiosis loss at flowering by antagonizing gibberellin biosynthesis.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {309}, number = {}, pages = {110940}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.110940}, pmid = {34134852}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbohydrates/genetics ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Phloem/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Sugars/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Jasmonate restricts accumulation of constitutive and fungus-induced root soluble sugars at flowering stage, and thus reduces root beneficial fungal colonization, but little is known about how these are achieved. To determine whether jasmonate-mediated depletion of soluble sugars is the result of direct phytohormonal cross-talk or indirect induced defensive secondary metabolism, we first profiled soluble sugar and tryptophan (Trp)-derived defensive secondary metabolites in the roots of wild-type and jasmonate signaling-impaired Arabidopsis thaliana at flowering upon a beneficial fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris inoculation. Next, jasmonate and gibberellin signaling were manipulated to determine the relationship between jasmonate and gibberellin, and to quantify the effects of these phytohormones on fungal colonization degree, soluble sugar accumulation, Trp-derived secondary metabolites production, and sugar source-sink transport and metabolism. Gibberellin complementation increased Ph. liquidambaris colonization and rescued jasmonate-dependent root soluble sugar depletion and phloem sugar transport and root invertase activity without influencing jasmonate-induced Trp-derived secondary metabolites production at flowering. Furthermore, jasmonate signaling antagonized gibberellin biosynthesis in Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated roots. Our results suggest a phytohormonal antagonism model that jasmonate signaling restricts root soluble sugar accumulation through antagonizing gibberellin biosynthesis rather than through promoting Trp-derived secondary metabolites production and thus drives beneficial fungal colonization decline at flowering.}, } @article {pmid34134631, year = {2021}, author = {Kaech, H and Dennis, AB and Vorburger, C}, title = {Triple RNA-Seq characterizes aphid gene expression in response to infection with unequally virulent strains of the endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {449}, pmid = {34134631}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Gene Expression ; RNA-Seq ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Secondary endosymbionts of aphids provide benefits to their hosts, but also impose costs such as reduced lifespan and reproductive output. The aphid Aphis fabae is host to different strains of the secondary endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa, which encode different putative toxins. These strains have very different phenotypes: They reach different densities in the host, and the costs and benefits (protection against parasitoid wasps) they confer to the host vary strongly.

RESULTS: We used RNA-Seq to generate hypotheses on why four of these strains inflict such different costs to A. fabae. We found different H. defensa strains to cause strain-specific changes in aphid gene expression, but little effect of H. defensa on gene expression of the primary endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. The highly costly and over-replicating H. defensa strain H85 was associated with strongly reduced aphid expression of hemocytin, a marker of hemocytes in Drosophila. The closely related strain H15 was associated with downregulation of ubiquitin-related modifier 1, which is related to nutrient-sensing and oxidative stress in other organisms. Strain H402 was associated with strong differential regulation of a set of hypothetical proteins, the majority of which were only differentially regulated in presence of H402.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that costs of different strains of H. defensa are likely caused by different mechanisms, and that these costs are imposed by interacting with the host rather than the host's obligatory endosymbiont B. aphidicola.}, } @article {pmid34132960, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, Q and Hu, S}, title = {Improved interactive inference approach for constructing a complex multi-industrial symbiosis network.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {39}, pages = {55401-55418}, pmid = {34132960}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; *Economic Development ; *Industry ; Social Change ; Workload ; }, abstract = {The development of industrial parks is an important avenue to promote economic growth in the context of modernization. Industrial symbiosis (IS), mainly characterized by the physical exchange of product, by-product, and waste, has been established worldwide in industrial parks for better economic, environmental, and resource-consuming performances. The suitable design of input-output matching builds the base of IS practice. This paper aims to table an improved constructing approach based on interactive inference processes for a complex multi-industrial symbiosis network (MISN). Interactive reasoning rules are simplified, material group reduction is introduced, and the multi-industrial stepwise constructing process is established. The proposed approach has been applied to an assumed district in Qaidam Circular Economy Experiment Area (QCEEA). Three new node information databases are collected. A MISN which is across four industries and includes 79 nodes is built through four steps of constructing and 22 rounds of interaction. Results and comparisons confirm its superiority on designing complex network with numerous resource- and non-resource-based nodes over previous methods. Specifically, this new approach reduces the amount of inference calculation, improves the construction efficiency, and can be utilized in non-resource industries. Preliminary discussions are made to the sequences of target industries when constructing a MISN and implicate which would lower manual workload of extra adjustment and supplement.}, } @article {pmid34132920, year = {2021}, author = {Meena, B and Anburajan, L and Nitharsan, K and Vinithkumar, NV and Dharani, G}, title = {Existence in cellulose shelters: industrial and pharmaceutical leads of symbiotic actinobacteria from ascidian Phallusia nigra, Andaman Islands.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {120}, pmid = {34132920}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/*enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Amylases/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Asparaginase/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Biodiversity ; Cellulase/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial ; Industrial Microbiology ; Islands ; Lipase/metabolism ; Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism ; Peptide Synthases/genetics ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The diversity of actinobacteria associated with marine ascidian Phallusia nigra from Andaman Islands was investigated. A total of 10 actinobacteria were isolated and based on the biochemical and molecular characterization, the isolates were assigned to 7 different actinobacterial genera. Eight putatively novel species belonging to genera Rhodococcus, Kineococcus, Kocuria, Janibacter, Salinispora and Arthrobacter were identified based on 16S rDNA sequence similarity with the NCBI database. The organic extracts of ten isolates displayed considerable bioactivity against test pathogens, which were Gram-positive and Gram-negative in nature. PCR-based screening for type I and type II polyketide synthases (PKS-I, PKS-II) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) revealed that, 10 actinobacterial isolates encoded at least one type of polyketide synthases biosynthesis gene. Majority of the isolates found to produce industrially important enzymes; amylase, protease, gelatinase, lipase, DNase, cellulase, urease, phosphatase and L-asparaginase. The present study emphasized that, ascidians are a prolific resource for novel bioactive actinobacteria with potential for novel drug discovery. This result expands the scope to functionally characterize the novel ascidian associated marine actinobacteria and their metabolites could be a source for the novel molecules of commercial interest.}, } @article {pmid34132846, year = {2022}, author = {Perera, IA and Abinandan, S and Subashchandrabose, SR and Venkateswarlu, K and Cole, N and Naidu, R and Megharaj, M}, title = {Extracellular Polymeric Substances Drive Symbiotic Interactions in Bacterial‒Microalgal Consortia.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {596-607}, pmid = {34132846}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The importance of several factors that drive the symbiotic interactions between bacteria and microalgae in consortia has been well realised. However, the implication of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) released by the partners remains unclear. Therefore, the present study focused on the influence of EPS in developing consortia of a bacterium, Variovorax paradoxus IS1, with a microalga, Tetradesmus obliquus IS2 or Coelastrella sp. IS3, all isolated from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. The bacterium increased the specific growth rates of microalgal species significantly in the consortia by enhancing the uptake of nitrate (88‒99%) and phosphate (92‒95%) besides accumulating higher amounts of carbohydrates and proteins. The EPS obtained from exudates, collected from the bacterial or microalgal cultures, contained numerous phytohormones, vitamins, polysaccharides and amino acids that are likely involved in interspecies interactions. The addition of EPS obtained from V. paradoxus IS1 to the culture medium doubled the growth of both the microalgal strains. The EPS collected from T. obliquus IS2 significantly increased the growth of V. paradoxus IS1, but there was no apparent change in bacterial growth when it was cultured in the presence of EPS from Coelastrella sp. IS3. These observations indicate that the interaction between V. paradoxus IS1 and T. obliquus IS2 was mutualism, while commensalism was the interaction between the bacterial strain and Coelastrella sp. IS3. Our present findings thus, for the first time, unveil the EPS-induced symbiotic interactions among the partners involved in bacterial‒microalgal consortia.}, } @article {pmid34130630, year = {2021}, author = {Fonseca-García, C and Nava, N and Lara, M and Quinto, C}, title = {An NADPH oxidase regulates carbon metabolism and the cell cycle during root nodule symbiosis in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {274}, pmid = {34130630}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; *Cell Cycle ; NADPH Oxidases/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*enzymology/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is a specific, coordinated interaction that results in the formation of a root nodule, where biological nitrogen fixation occurs. NADPH oxidases, or Respiratory Burst Oxidase Homologs (RBOHs) in plants, are enzymes that generate superoxide (O2 [•-]). Superoxide produces other reactive oxygen species (ROS); these ROS regulate different stages of mutualistic interactions. For example, changes in ROS levels are thought to induce ROS scavenging, cell wall remodeling, and changes in phytohormone homeostasis during symbiotic interactions. In common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), PvRbohB plays a key role in the early stages of nodulation.

RESULTS: In this study, to explore the role of PvRbohB in root nodule symbiosis, we analyzed transcriptomic data from the roots of common bean under control conditions (transgenic roots without construction) and roots with downregulated expression of PvRbohB (by RNA interference) non-inoculated and inoculated with R. tropici. Our results suggest that ROS produced by PvRBOHB play a central role in infection thread formation and nodule organogenesis through crosstalk with flavonoids, carbon metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin during the early stages of this process.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide important insight into the multiple roles of ROS in regulating rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34129964, year = {2021}, author = {Cheng, R and Xu, W and Wang, J and Tang, Z and Zhang, M}, title = {The outer membrane protein Amuc_1100 of Akkermansia muciniphila alleviates the depression-like behavior of depressed mice induced by chronic stress.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {566}, number = {}, pages = {170-176}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.06.018}, pmid = {34129964}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Akkermansia/physiology ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; Depression/etiology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Male ; Mice/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Stress, Psychological/complications ; }, abstract = {Akkermansia muciniphila is a symbiotic intestinal bacterium with a high medicinal value. Amuc_1100 is the outer membrane protein of A. muciniphila and plays an important role in the interaction between A. muciniphila and its host. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant activity of Amuc_1100 in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model. Amuc_1100 intervention ameliorated CUMS-induced depression-like behavior and CUMS-induced down-regulation of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or simply, 5-HT) in the serum and colon of mice. Microbial analysis of mouse feces showed that Amuc_1100 could improve the gut microbiota dysregulation induced by CUMS. In addition, Amuc_1100 intervention could also improve the down-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inflammation in the hippocampus induced by CUMS. These results suggest that Amuc_1100 has a good antidepressant effect, and the mechanism may be related to the improvement of gut microbiota, the up-regulation of the BDNF level, and the inhibition of the neuroinflammatory response.}, } @article {pmid34129444, year = {2021}, author = {Kerwin, AH and McAnulty, SJ and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Development of the Accessory Nidamental Gland and Associated Bacterial Community in the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid, Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {240}, number = {3}, pages = {205-218}, doi = {10.1086/713965}, pmid = {34129444}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri ; Animals ; *Decapodiformes ; Female ; Hawaii ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractThe Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, has a female reproductive organ called the accessory nidamental gland that contains a symbiotic bacterial consortium. These bacteria are deposited from the accessory nidamental gland into the squid's egg cases, where the consortium prevents microbial fouling. The symbiont community is environmentally transmitted and conserved across host populations, yet little is known about how the organ develops and is colonized by bacteria. In order to understand accessory nidamental gland development in E. scolopes, we characterized the gland during maturation by using histology and confocal and transmission electron microscopy. We found that an epithelial field formed first about four weeks after hatching, followed by the proliferation of numerous pores during what we hypothesize to be the initiation of bacterial recruitment (early development). Microscopy revealed that these pores were connected to ciliated invaginations that occasionally contained bacteria. During mid development, these epithelial fields expanded, and separate colonized tubules were observed below the epithelial layer that contained the pores and invaginations. During late development, the superficial epithelial fields appeared to regress as animals approached sexual maturity and were never observed in fully mature adults (about 2-3 months post-hatching), suggesting that they help facilitate bacterial colonization of the accessory nidamental gland. An analysis of 16S rRNA gene diversity in accessory nidamental glands from females of varying size showed that the bacterial community changed as the host approached sexual maturity, increasing in community evenness and shifting from a Verrucomicrobia-dominated to an Alphaproteobacteria-dominated consortium. Given the host's relationship with the well-characterized light organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri, our work suggests that the accessory nidamental gland of E. scolopes may have similar mechanisms to recruit bacteria from the environment. Understanding the developmental and colonization processes of the accessory nidamental gland will expand the use of E. scolopes as a model organism for studying bacterial consortia in marine symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34128329, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, K and Qian, PY and Zhang, T and Xu, Y and Zhang, R}, title = {Unique phage-bacterium interplay in sponge holobionts from the southern Okinawa Trough hydrothermal vent.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {675-683}, pmid = {34128329}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacteriophages/genetics/metabolism ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents harbour diverse and abundant animals and their symbiotic microorganisms, which together comprise holobionts. The interplay between bacterial members of holobionts and their viruses (phages) is important for maintaining these symbiotic systems; however, phage-bacterium interactions in deep-sea vent holobionts are not well understood. Marine sponges serve as good models for such studies and are used to unveil phage-bacterium interplay via metagenomic analysis. In three demosponges from deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields in the southern Okinawa Trough, the genomes of a diverse array of symbiotic bacteria, including 10 bacterial phyla, were found to lack intact prophages. Genes related to diverse anti-viral defence systems, for example, the restriction-modification and toxin-antitoxin systems, were abundant in the bacterial communities. We also detected phage genes that could complement or compensate host bacterial metabolism, indicating beneficial roles of phage infection. Our findings provide insight into phage-bacterium interplay in sponges from deep-sea hydrothermal vents.}, } @article {pmid34127666, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, J and Xu, Y and Qi, S and Zhou, J and Shi, W and Zhao, T and Liu, M}, title = {Ultrahigh energy-dissipation elastomers by precisely tailoring the relaxation of confined polymer fluids.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3610}, pmid = {34127666}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Energy-dissipation elastomers relying on their viscoelastic behavior of chain segments in the glass transition region can effectively suppress vibrations and noises in various fields, yet the operating frequency of those elastomers is difficult to control precisely and its range is narrow. Here, we report a synergistic strategy for constructing polymer-fluid-gels that provide controllable ultrahigh energy dissipation over a broad frequency range, which is difficult by traditional means. This is realized by precisely tailoring the relaxation of confined polymer fluids in the elastic networks. The symbiosis of this combination involves: elastic networks forming an elastic matrix that displays reversible deformation and polymer fluids reptating back and forth to dissipate mechanical energy. Using prototypical poly (n-butyl acrylate) elastomers, we demonstrate that the polymer-fluid-gels exhibit a controllable ultrahigh energy-dissipation property (loss factor larger than 0.5) with a broad frequency range (10[-2] ~ 10[8] Hz). Energy absorption of the polymer-fluid-gels is over 200 times higher than that of commercial damping materials under the same dynamic stress. Moreover, their modulus is quasi-stable in the operating frequency range.}, } @article {pmid34126770, year = {2021}, author = {Schalk, F and Gostinčar, C and Kreuzenbeck, NB and Conlon, BH and Sommerwerk, E and Rabe, P and Burkhardt, I and Krüger, T and Kniemeyer, O and Brakhage, AA and Gunde-Cimerman, N and de Beer, ZW and Dickschat, JS and Poulsen, M and Beemelmanns, C}, title = {The Termite Fungal Cultivar Termitomyces Combines Diverse Enzymes and Oxidative Reactions for Plant Biomass Conversion.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0355120}, pmid = {34126770}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Fungal ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Oxidative Stress ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/classification/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Macrotermitine termites have domesticated fungi in the genus Termitomyces as their primary food source using predigested plant biomass. To access the full nutritional value of lignin-enriched plant biomass, the termite-fungus symbiosis requires the depolymerization of this complex phenolic polymer. While most previous work suggests that lignocellulose degradation is accomplished predominantly by the fungal cultivar, our current understanding of the underlying biomolecular mechanisms remains rudimentary. Here, we provide conclusive omics and activity-based evidence that Termitomyces employs not only a broad array of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) but also a restricted set of oxidizing enzymes (manganese peroxidase, dye decolorization peroxidase, an unspecific peroxygenase, laccases, and aryl-alcohol oxidases) and Fenton chemistry for biomass degradation. We propose for the first time that Termitomyces induces hydroquinone-mediated Fenton chemistry (Fe[2+] + H2O2 + H[+] → Fe[3+] + [•]OH + H2O) using a herein newly described 2-methoxy-1,4-dihydroxybenzene (2-MH2Q, compound 19)-based electron shuttle system to complement the enzymatic degradation pathways. This study provides a comprehensive depiction of how efficient biomass degradation by means of this ancient insect's agricultural symbiosis is accomplished. IMPORTANCE Fungus-growing termites have optimized the decomposition of recalcitrant plant biomass to access valuable nutrients by engaging in a tripartite symbiosis with complementary contributions from a fungal mutualist and a codiversified gut microbiome. This complex symbiotic interplay makes them one of the most successful and important decomposers for carbon cycling in Old World ecosystems. To date, most research has focused on the enzymatic contributions of microbial partners to carbohydrate decomposition. Here, we provide genomic, transcriptomic, and enzymatic evidence that Termitomyces also employs redox mechanisms, including diverse ligninolytic enzymes and a Fenton chemistry-based hydroquinone-catalyzed lignin degradation mechanism, to break down lignin-rich plant material. Insights into these efficient decomposition mechanisms reveal new sources of efficient ligninolytic agents applicable for energy generation from renewable sources.}, } @article {pmid34126443, year = {2021}, author = {Luter, HM and Pineda, MC and Ricardo, G and Francis, DS and Fisher, R and Jones, R}, title = {Assessing the risk of light reduction from natural sediment resuspension events and dredging activities in an inshore turbid reef environment.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {170}, number = {}, pages = {112536}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112536}, pmid = {34126443}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Coral Reefs ; Geologic Sediments ; Physical Phenomena ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The reduction in benthic light from natural sediment resuspension events, dredging activities and clouds was quantified over multiple time periods (days to weeks) from a 3-year in-situ field study in the inshore turbid-zone coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef. The results were then used to examine the tolerance levels of three coral species and a sponge to light reduction and associated changes in spectral light quality (in conjunction with elevated sediment concentrations) in a 28-day laboratory-based study. All species survived the exposures but sub-lethal responses involving changes in pigmentation, lipids and lipid ratios were observed. A pocilloporid coral was the most sensitive taxon, with a 28-d EC10 value for bleaching (dissociation of the symbiosis) of 2.7 mol photons m[2] d[-1]. The possibility of such light reduction levels occurring naturally and/or during maintenance dredging activities was then examined using the 3-year in-situ field study as part of a risk assessment.}, } @article {pmid34126328, year = {2021}, author = {Simbine, MG and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Diverse symbiovars nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in highly adaptable agro-ecological zones in Mozambique.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {126220}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126220}, pmid = {34126328}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mozambique ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Vigna/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The presence of effective microsymbionts in the soil and their compatibility with the host plant are the key determinants to the N2 fixation process. In Sub-Saharan Africa, nitrogen fixation in locally adapted cowpea and the distribution of their symbiovars are not well understood. The Aim of the study was to assess the distribution and symbiotic phylogenetic position of cowpea microsymbionts. Root nodules were sampled from various cowpea genotypes planted in Agro-Ecological Zone 7 and 8 (AEZ 7 and AEZ 8). Root-nodule bacteria were isolated and their molecular characterization was conducted. Physicochemical properties of soil were recorded. Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) distribution patterns in rhizobial genomes resulted in genetically diverse rhizobial population in Northern Mozambique. Principal component analysis showed that location-specific soil environment determined the presence of particular microsymbionts. Based on 16S rRNA and symbiotic gene analysis many diverse symbiovars were found in Mozambican soils. With few discrepancies, the results further confirmed the coevolution of the nifH, nodD, nodC and nodY/K genes, which was indicative of natural events such as vertical/horizontal gene transfer. The results suggested that ecological and phylogenetic studies of the microsymbionts are necessary to better reflect symbiovar identification and the ecological adaptation of the cowpea-nodulating rhizobial community.}, } @article {pmid34125200, year = {2021}, author = {Haran, JP and Zeamer, A and Ward, DV and Dutta, P and Bucci, V and McCormick, BA}, title = {The Nursing Home Older Adult Gut Microbiome Composition Shows Time-dependent Dysbiosis and Is Influenced by Medication Exposures, Age, Environment, and Frailty.}, journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences}, volume = {76}, number = {11}, pages = {1930-1938}, pmid = {34125200}, issn = {1758-535X}, support = {K23 AG057790/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; 1R03AG056356-01/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK056754/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1R15AI112985-01A1/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aged ; Dysbiosis ; *Frailty ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Nursing Homes ; }, abstract = {Older adults in nursing homes (NHs) have increased frailty, medication, and antimicrobial exposures, all factors that are known to affect the composition of gut microbiota. Our objective was to define which factors have the greatest association with the NH resident gut microbiota, explore patterns of dysbiosis and compositional changes in gut microbiota over time in this environment. We collected serial stool samples from NH residents. Residents were assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool and Clinical Frailty Scale. Bacterial composition of resident stool samples was determined by metagenomic sequencing. We used mixed-effect random forest modeling to identify clinical covariates that associate with microbiota. We enrolled and followed 166 residents from 5 NHs collecting 512 stool samples and following 15 residents for > 1 year. Medications, particularly psychoactive and antihypertensive medications, had the greatest effect on the microbiota. Age and frailty also contributed, and were associated with increased and decreased diversity, respectively. The microbiota of residents who had lived in the NH for > 1 year were enriched in inflammatory and pathogenic species and reduced in anti-inflammatory and symbiotic species. We observed intraindividual stability of the microbiome among older adults who had lived in the NH already for >1 year followed with sample collections 1 year apart. Older adult NH gut microbiome is heavily influenced by medications, age, and frailty. This microbiome is influenced by the length of NH residency with dysbiosis becoming evident at 12 months, however, after this point there is demonstrated relative stability over time.}, } @article {pmid34124939, year = {2021}, author = {Baaziz, H and Compton, KK and Hildreth, SB and Helm, RF and Scharf, BE}, title = {McpT, a Broad-Range Carboxylate Chemoreceptor in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {203}, number = {17}, pages = {e0021621}, pmid = {34124939}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Carboxylic Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Chemotactic Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Chemotaxis ; Gene Deletion ; Glyoxylates/metabolism ; Ligands ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chemoreceptors enable the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti to detect and respond to specific chemicals released from their host plant alfalfa, which allows the establishment of a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. The periplasmic region (PR) of transmembrane chemoreceptors act as the sensory input module for chemotaxis systems via binding of specific ligands, either directly or indirectly. S. meliloti has six transmembrane and two cytosolic chemoreceptors. However, the function of only three of the transmembrane receptors have been characterized so far, with McpU, McpV, and McpX serving as general amino acid, short-chain carboxylate, and quaternary ammonium compound sensors, respectively. In the present study, we analyzed the S. meliloti chemoreceptor McpT. High-throughput differential scanning fluorimetry assays, using Biolog phenotype microarray plates, identified 15 potential ligands for McpT[PR], with the majority classified as mono-, di-, and tricarboxylates. S. meliloti exhibited positive chemotaxis toward seven selected carboxylates, namely, α-ketobutyrate, citrate, glyoxylate, malate, malonate, oxalate, and succinate. These carboxylates were detected in seed exudates of the alfalfa host. Deletion of mcpT resulted in a significant decrease of chemotaxis to all carboxylates except for citrate. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that McpT[PR] bound preferentially to the monocarboxylate glyoxylate and with lower affinity to the dicarboxylates malate, malonate, and oxalate. However, no direct binding was detected for the remaining three carboxylates that elicited an McpT-dependent chemotaxis response. Taken together, these results demonstrate that McpT is a broad-range carboxylate chemoreceptor that mediates chemotactic response via direct ligand binding and an indirect mechanism that needs to be identified. IMPORTANCE Nitrate pollution is one of the most widespread and challenging environmental problems that is mainly caused by the agricultural overapplication of nitrogen fertilizers. Biological nitrogen fixation by the endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti enhances the growth of its host Medicago sativa (alfalfa), which also efficiently supplies the soil with nitrogen. Establishment of the S. meliloti-alfalfa symbiosis relies on the early exchange and recognition of chemical signals. The present study contributes to the disclosure of this complex molecular dialogue by investigating the underlying mechanisms of carboxylate sensing in S. meliloti. Understanding individual steps that govern the S. meliloti-alfalfa molecular cross talk helps in the development of efficient, commercial bacterial inoculants that promote the growth of alfalfa, which is the most cultivated forage legume in the world, and improves soil fertility.}, } @article {pmid34124648, year = {2021}, author = {Hensel, F and Moor, M and Rieck, B}, title = {A Survey of Topological Machine Learning Methods.}, journal = {Frontiers in artificial intelligence}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {681108}, pmid = {34124648}, issn = {2624-8212}, abstract = {The last decade saw an enormous boost in the field of computational topology: methods and concepts from algebraic and differential topology, formerly confined to the realm of pure mathematics, have demonstrated their utility in numerous areas such as computational biology personalised medicine, and time-dependent data analysis, to name a few. The newly-emerging domain comprising topology-based techniques is often referred to as topological data analysis (TDA). Next to their applications in the aforementioned areas, TDA methods have also proven to be effective in supporting, enhancing, and augmenting both classical machine learning and deep learning models. In this paper, we review the state of the art of a nascent field we refer to as "topological machine learning," i.e., the successful symbiosis of topology-based methods and machine learning algorithms, such as deep neural networks. We identify common threads, current applications, and future challenges.}, } @article {pmid34124312, year = {2021}, author = {Rahnama, M and Fleetwood, DJ and Johnson, RD}, title = {Histological Methods to Detect Early-stage Plant Defense Responses during Artificial Inoculation of Lolium perenne with Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e4013}, pmid = {34124312}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Epichloë species form agriculturally important symbioses with many cool season grasses. To study these symbioses, such as the interaction of Epichloë festucae with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), host plants can be infected by artificial inoculation of etiolated seedlings. This inoculation is performed by placing mycelium into an incision in the meristem, as previously described by Latch and Christensen (1985). In recent years, this method has been broadly used to study this interaction at the molecular level using different Epichloë festucae mutants that can cause incompatible interactions. We have developed and adapted methods to study four of the most important host plant responses to infection, including cell death, callose deposition, lignin production, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, which are useful in defining the host response to infection at a very early time point.}, } @article {pmid34122419, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, JY and Zhou, JK and Pan, W}, title = {Immunometabolism: Towards a Better Understanding the Mechanism of Parasitic Infection and Immunity.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {661241}, pmid = {34122419}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology/metabolism/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes/*immunology/metabolism/parasitology ; Macrophages/*immunology/metabolism/parasitology ; Parasitic Diseases/*immunology/metabolism/parasitology ; Plasmodium/*immunology/physiology ; Schistosoma/*immunology/physiology ; Trypanosoma/*immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {As a relatively successful pathogen, several parasites can establish long-term infection in host. This "harmonious symbiosis" status relies on the "precise" manipulation of host immunity and metabolism, however, the underlying mechanism is still largely elusive. Immunometabolism is an emerging crossed subject in recent years. It mainly discusses the regulatory mechanism of metabolic changes on reprogramming the key transcriptional and post-transcriptional events related to immune cell activation and effect, which provides a novel insight for understanding how parasites regulate the infection and immunity in hosts. The present study reviewed the current research progress on metabolic reprogramming mechanism exploited by parasites to modulate the function in various immune cells, highlighting the future exploitation of key metabolites or metabolic events to clarify the underlying mechanism of anti-parasite immunity and design novel intervention strategies against parasitic infection.}, } @article {pmid34122359, year = {2021}, author = {Kaul, S and Choudhary, M and Gupta, S and Dhar, MK}, title = {Engineering Host Microbiome for Crop Improvement and Sustainable Agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {635917}, pmid = {34122359}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Dynamic consortium of microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, protists, viruses, and nematodes) colonizing multiple tissue types and coevolving conclusively with the host plant is designated as a plant microbiome. The interplay between plant and its microbial mutualists supports several agronomic functions, establishing its crucial role in plant beneficial activities. Deeper functional and mechanistic understanding of plant-microbial ecosystems will render many "ecosystem services" by emulating symbiotic interactions between plants, soil, and microbes for enhanced productivity and sustainability. Therefore, microbiome engineering represents an emerging biotechnological tool to directly add, remove, or modify properties of microbial communities for higher specificity and efficacy. The main goal of microbiome engineering is enhancement of plant functions such as biotic/abiotic stresses, plant fitness and productivities, etc. Various ecological-, biochemical-, and molecular-based approaches have come up as a new paradigm for disentangling many microbiome-based agromanagement hurdles. Furthermore, multidisciplinary approaches provide a predictive framework in achieving a reliable and sustainably engineered plant-microbiome for stress physiology, nutrient recycling, and high-yielding disease-resistant genotypes.}, } @article {pmid34121835, year = {2021}, author = {Ezeobiora, CE and Igbokwe, NH and Amin, DH and Mendie, UE}, title = {Endophytic microbes from Nigerian ethnomedicinal plants: a potential source for bioactive secondary metabolites-a review.}, journal = {Bulletin of the National Research Centre}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {103}, pmid = {34121835}, issn = {2522-8307}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endophytes are highly beneficial species of microbes that live in symbiosis with plant tissues in the setting. Endophytes are difficult to isolate in their natural environment, and they are understudied despite being a rich source of bioactive molecules. There are varieties of new infectious diseases emerging across the world, necessitating a constant and expanded search for newer and more efficient bioactive molecules. Nigeria is known for its biodiversity in ethnomedicinal plants, yet these plants are understudied for endophytic microbes harbouring novel bioactive molecules.

MAIN BODY: Endophytes are a source of novel organic natural molecules and are thought to be drug discovery frontiers. Endophyte research has contributed to the discovery of possible anticancer agents following the discovery of taxol. Endophyte research has contributed to the discovery of possible drug compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-Alzheimers disease and immunosuppressive properties among others. These breakthroughs provide hope for combating incurable diseases, drug resistance, the emergence of new infectious diseases, and other human health issues. Finding new medicines that may be effective candidates for treating newly emerging diseases in humans has a lot of promise. Most studies have been on fungi endophytes, with just a few reports on bacterial endophytes. The biology of endophytic bacteria and fungi, as well as endophytic microbes isolated from Nigerian medicinal plants, their isolation methods, identification by morphological and molecular methods, fermentation, purification, identification of bioactive compounds and biosynthetic gene clusters are all covered in this study.

CONCLUSION: In Nigeria, the sourcing and isolation of endophytes harboring biosynthetic gene clusters are still understudied, necessitating a rigorous quest for bioactive molecules in endophytes inhabiting various ethnomedicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid34120379, year = {2021}, author = {Song, YQ and Zhang, D and Chen, W and Dang, XX and Yang, H}, title = {Phylogenetic identification of symbiotic protists of five Chinese Reticulitermes species indicates a cospeciation of gut microfauna with host termites.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {5}, pages = {e12862}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12862}, pmid = {34120379}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Eukaryota/genetics ; *Isoptera ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic protists play important roles in the wood digestion of lower termites. Previous studies showed that termites generally possess host-specific flagellate communities. The genus Reticulitermes is particularly interesting because its unique assemblage of gut flagellates bears evidence for transfaunation. The gut fauna of Reticulitermes species in Japan, Europe, and North America had been investigated, but data on species in China are scarce. For the first time, we analyzed the phylogeny of protists in the hindgut of five Reticulitermes species in China. A total of 22 protist phylotypes were affiliated with the family Trichonymphidae, Teranymphidae, Trichomonadidae, and Holomastigotoididae (Phylum Parabasalia), and 45 protist phylotypes were affiliated with the family Pyrsonymphidae (Phylum Preaxostyla). The protist fauna of these five Reticulitermes species is similar to those of Reticulitermes species in other geographical regions. The topology of Trichonymphidae subtree was similar to that of Reticulitermes tree. All Preaxostyla clones were affiliated with the genera Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha (Order Oxymonadida) as in the other Reticulitermes species. The results of this study not only add to the existing information on the flagellates present in other Reticulitermes species but also offer the opportunity to test the hypotheses for the coevolution of symbiotic protists with their host termites.}, } @article {pmid34119907, year = {2021}, author = {Ilahi, H and Hsouna, J and Ellouze, W and Gritli, T and Chihaoui, SA and Barhoumi, F and Najib Elfeddy, M and Bachkouel, S and Ouahmane, L and Tambong, JT and Mnasri, B}, title = {Phylogenetic study of rhizobia nodulating pea (Pisum sativum) isolated from different geographic locations in Tunisia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {126221}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126221}, pmid = {34119907}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Peas/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Nodulated Pisum sativum plants showed the presence of native rhizobia in 16 out of 23 soil samples collected especially in northern and central Tunisia. A total of 130 bacterial strains were selected and three different ribotypes were revealed after PCR-RFLP analysis. Sequence analyses of rrs and four housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, dnaK and glnII) assigned 35 isolates to Rhizobium laguerreae, R. ruizarguesonis, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Ensifer meliloti and two putative genospecies. R. laguerreae was the most dominant species nodulating P. sativum with 63%. The isolates 21PS7 and 21PS15 were assigned to R. ruizarguesonis, and this is the first report of this species in Tunisia. Two putative new lineages were identified, since strains 25PS6, 10PS4 and 12PS15 clustered distinctly from known rhizobia species but within the R. leguminosarum complex (Rlc) with the most closely related species being R. indicum with 96.4% sequence identity. Similarly, strains 16PS2, 3PS9 and 3PS18 showed 97.4% and 97.6% similarity with R. sophorae and R. laguerreae, respectively. Based on 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS) fingerprinting, there was no clear association between the strains and their geographic locations. According to nodC and nodA phylogenies, strains of Rlc species and, interestingly, strain 8PS18 identified as E. meliloti, harbored the symbiotic genes of symbiovar viciae and clustered in two different clades showing heterogeneity within the symbiovar. All these strains nodulated and fixed nitrogen with pea plants. However, the strains belonging to A. radiobacter and the two remaining strains of E. meliloti were unable to nodulate P. sativum, suggesting that they were non-symbiotic strains. The results of this study further suggest that the Tunisian Rhizobium community is more diverse than previously reported.}, } @article {pmid34119743, year = {2021}, author = {Šečić, E and Kogel, KH and Ladera-Carmona, MJ}, title = {Biotic stress-associated microRNA families in plants.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {153451}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153451}, pmid = {34119743}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Plant Development/*genetics ; Plant Growth Regulators/*genetics ; *RNA, Plant ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants and animals utilize various regulatory mechanisms for control of gene expression during development in different tissues and cell types. About 30 years ago, a new mechanism of gene regulation, termed RNA interference (RNAi), was discovered and proved revolutionary for the mechanistic understanding of gene regulation. Noncoding RNAs, including short, 21-24 nucleotide (nt) long microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenously-generated from MIR genes, are key components of RNAi processes, by post-transcriptionally controlling transcripts with antisense complementarity through either translational repression or mRNA degradation. Since their discovery, important roles in regulation of ontogenetic development, cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in eukaryotes have been elucidated. In plants, miRNAs are known regulatory elements of basic endogenous functions and responses to the environmental stimuli. While the role of miRNAs in regulation of nutrient uptake, circadian clock and general response to abiotic stress is already well understood, a comprehensive understanding of their immune-regulatory roles in response to various biotic stress factors has not yet been achieved. This review summarizes the current understanding of the function of miRNAs and their targets in plants during interaction with microbial pathogens and symbionts. Additionally, we provide a consensus conclusion regarding the typical induction or repression response of conserved miRNA families to pathogenic and beneficial fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes, as well as an outlook of agronomic application of miRNAs in plants. Further investigation of plant miRNAs responsive to microbes, aided with novel sequencing and bioinformatics approaches for discovery and prediction in non-model organisms holds great potential for development of new forms of plant protection.}, } @article {pmid34118872, year = {2021}, author = {Nagae, S and Sato, K and Tanabe, T and Hasegawa, K}, title = {Symbiosis of the millipede parasitic nematodes Rhigonematoidea and Thelastomatoidea with evolutionary different origins.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {120}, pmid = {34118872}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods ; Japan/epidemiology ; *Nematoda/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: How various host-parasite combinations have been established is an important question in evolutionary biology. We have previously described two nematode species, Rhigonema naylae and Travassosinema claudiae, which are parasites of the xystodesmid millipede Parafontaria laminata in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Rhigonema naylae belongs to the superfamily Rhigonematoidea, which exclusively consists of parasites of millipedes. T. claudiae belongs to the superfamily Thelastomatoidea, which includes a wide variety of species that parasitize many invertebrates. These nematodes were isolated together with a high prevalence; however, the phylogenetic, evolutionary, and ecological relationships between these two parasitic nematodes and between hosts and parasites are not well known.

RESULTS: We collected nine species (11 isolates) of xystodesmid millipedes from seven locations in Japan, and found that all species were co-infected with the parasitic nematodes Rhigonematoidea spp. and Thelastomatoidea spp. We found that the infection prevalence and population densities of Rhigonematoidea spp. were higher than those of Thelastomatoidea spp. However, the population densities of Rhigonematoidea spp. were not negatively affected by co-infection with Thelastomatoidea spp., suggesting that these parasites are not competitive. We also found a positive correlation between the prevalence of parasitic nematodes and host body size. In Rhigonematoidea spp., combinations of parasitic nematode groups and host genera seem to be fixed, suggesting the evolution of a more specialized interaction between Rhigonematoidea spp. and their host. On the other hand, host preference of Thelastomatoidea spp. was not specific to any millipede species, indicating a non-intimate interaction between these parasites and their hosts.

CONCLUSIONS: The two nematode superfamilies, Rhigonematoidea and Thelastomatoidea, have phylogenetically distinct origins, and might have acquired xystodesmid millipede parasitism independently. Currently, the two nematodes co-parasitize millipedes without any clear negative impact on each other or the host millipedes. Our study provides an example of balanced complex symbioses among parasitic nematodes and between parasitic nematodes and host millipedes, which have been established over a long evolutionary history.}, } @article {pmid34118545, year = {2021}, author = {Qu, W and Zhang, C and Chen, X and Ho, SH}, title = {New concept in swine wastewater treatment: development of a self-sustaining synergetic microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (ABS) system to achieve environmental sustainability.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {418}, number = {}, pages = {126264}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126264}, pmid = {34118545}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biomass ; *Chlorella ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Swine ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Much attention has been paid to developing methods capable of synchronous removal of pollutants from swine wastewater. Due to the natural symbiotic interactions between microalgae and bacteria, the microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (ABS) system has been found to have potential for treating wastewater. However, the corresponding biological mechanisms in the ABS system and the role of dynamic microbial community evolution in pollutant removal systems remain poorly understood. Therefore, we investigate the potential of an ABS system for pollutant removal applications and analyze the bacterial consortium symbiotically combined with Chlorella sp. MA1 and Coelastrella sp. KE4. The NH4[+]-N and PO4[3-]-P removal efficiencies were significantly increased from 12.79% to 99.52% and 35.66% to 96.06% due to biotic interactions between the microalgae and bacteria. The abundance of bacterial taxa and genes related to oxidative stress, cell growth and nitrogen transfer were found to increase in response to photosynthesis, respiration and NH4[+]-N uptake. Furthermore, pathogen inactivation was induced via microalgae, co-driven by microbial succession under high dissolved oxygen conditions. In this microalgae-enhanced ABS system, the interactions between microalgae and bacteria are established for pathogens elimination and nitrogen cycling, verifying that the ABS system is an effective and environmentally sustainable swine wastewater treatment method.}, } @article {pmid34117904, year = {2021}, author = {Chernitsyna, SM and Khalzov, IA and Sitnikova, TY and Naumova, TV and Khabuev, AV and Zemskaya, TI}, title = {Microbial Communities Associated with Bentic Invertebrates of Lake Baikal.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {8}, pages = {3020-3031}, pmid = {34117904}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Geologic Sediments ; Invertebrates ; *Lakes ; Methane ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The first results of a study into the microbiomes of benthic invertebrates found in sites with seeps (containing methane, oil, or a combination of methane and mud) and an underwater low-temperature vent of Lake Baikal are presented. Microorganisms were detected in the intestine of an oligochaete from the cold methane seep using microscopy. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene libraries revealed that the highest diversity of microorganisms was found in the nematode microbiomes where the members of 11 phyla were identified. Some of the detected prokaryotes are methanogens, nitrifiers, and nitrogen fixators, while some are involved in the sulfur cycle. Methanotrophs were detected in the microbiomes of oligochaetes and chironomids. The microbiomes of nematodes, chironomids, and bathynellids are composed of members of the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla, which are related to the symbiotic bacteria found in insects and animals from other ecotopes. Microorganisms typically found in the water and sediments of Lake Baikal were also detected in the invertebrates microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid34117320, year = {2021}, author = {Britayev, TA and Martin, D}, title = {Behavioral traits and territoriality in the symbiotic scaleworm Ophthalmonoe pettiboneae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {12408}, pmid = {34117320}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Polychaeta/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Territoriality ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {Among marine invertebrates, polychaete worms form symbiotic associations showing a wide variety of host use patterns. Most commonly, they live solitary on hosts, likely resulting from territorial behavior, yet little is known of the precise nature of the involved interactions. Based on field and laboratory observations, we described the symbiotic association between Ophthalmonoe pettibonae and Chaetopterus cf. appendiculatus from Nhatrang Bay (Vietnam). Then, by experimentally manipulating the competitor-to-resource ratio, we analyzed symbiont behavior and we assessed whether the 1:1 uniform distribution observed in nature could be driven by agonistic territorial behavior. Hosts and symbiont populations had low densities, lacked size relationships and showed higher prevalence when denser. Symbiont behavior included territoriality, expressed through conspecific recognition and intraspecific aggressive interactions (pursuit and escaping, hiding, choosing position, aggressive fighting, and targeting a specific bite zone). Our experiments proved that territoriality led to host monopolization by a single symbiont, provided the first empirical evidence that symbiont body injuries were caused during territorial contests, and allowed us to first suggest that a marine symbiotic invertebrate may control a territory extending beyond its host, even including neighboring hosts. Overall, this is the first report of such a complex symbiotic behavior for an annelid polychaete.}, } @article {pmid34117290, year = {2021}, author = {Songwattana, P and Chaintreuil, C and Wongdee, J and Teulet, A and Mbaye, M and Piromyou, P and Gully, D and Fardoux, J and Zoumman, AMA and Camuel, A and Tittabutr, P and Teaumroong, N and Giraud, E}, title = {Publisher Correction: Identification of type III effectors modulating the symbiotic properties of Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ORS3257 with various Vigna species.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {12737}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-021-91376-z}, pmid = {34117290}, issn = {2045-2322}, } @article {pmid34117067, year = {2021}, author = {Muñoz-Gómez, SA and Kreutz, M and Hess, S}, title = {A microbial eukaryote with a unique combination of purple bacteria and green algae as endosymbionts.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {34117067}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Oxygenic photosynthesizers (cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae) have repeatedly become endosymbionts throughout evolution. In contrast, anoxygenic photosynthesizers (e.g., purple bacteria) are exceedingly rare as intracellular symbionts. Here, we report on the morphology, ultrastructure, lifestyle, and metagenome of the only "purple-green" eukaryote known. The ciliate Pseudoblepharisma tenue harbors green algae and hundreds of genetically reduced purple bacteria. The latter represent a new candidate species of the Chromatiaceae that lost known genes for sulfur dissimilation. The tripartite consortium is physiologically complex because of the versatile energy metabolism of each partner but appears to be ecologically specialized as it prefers hypoxic sediments. The emergent niche of this complex symbiosis is predicted to be a partial overlap of each partners' niches and may be largely defined by anoxygenic photosynthesis and possibly phagotrophy. This purple-green ciliate thus represents an extraordinary example of how symbiosis merges disparate physiologies and allows emergent consortia to create novel ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid34115160, year = {2021}, author = {Bosch, TCG}, title = {[The skin microbiome as a natural protection factor : Insights from basic research].}, journal = {Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete}, volume = {72}, number = {7}, pages = {563-569}, pmid = {34115160}, issn = {1432-1173}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; Skin ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A new generation of technologies is uncovering a large number of microorganisms that are closely associated with the skin. Any disturbance of the interaction between skin cells and colonizing microbes has deleterious consequences. The impoverishment of the diversity of microbiome has been progressing for decades as part of a modern, globalized lifestyle. In maintaining good health, the microbes living in and on the skin and other organs must also be taken into account in addition to genetic aspects. All epithelia, including the skin, are colonized with a large number of microbes.

OBJECTIVE: The function of the microbiome in the skin and other organs is described.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Basic research papers are discussed.

RESULTS: The microbiome of the skin is very important for maintaining healthy skin.

CONCLUSIONS: We need to understand our body as a multiorganismic metaorganism in order to be able to react intelligently to the challenges of a continually changing environment.}, } @article {pmid34110256, year = {2021}, author = {Webb, IUC and Xu, J and Sánchez-Cañizares, C and Karunakaran, R and Ramachandran, VK and Rutten, PJ and East, AK and Huang, WE and Watmough, NJ and Poole, PS}, title = {Regulation and Characterization of Mutants of fixABCX in Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {1167-1180}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-21-0037-R}, pmid = {34110256}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between Rhizobium leguminosarum and Pisum sativum requires tight control of redox balance in order to maintain respiration under the microaerobic conditions required for nitrogenase while still producing the eight electrons and sixteen molecules of ATP needed for nitrogen fixation. FixABCX, a cluster of electron transfer flavoproteins essential for nitrogen fixation, is encoded on the Sym plasmid (pRL10), immediately upstream of nifA, which encodes the general transcriptional regulator of nitrogen fixation. There is a symbiotically regulated NifA-dependent promoter upstream of fixA (PnifA1), as well as an additional basal constitutive promoter driving background expression of nifA (PnifA2). These were confirmed by 5'-end mapping of transcription start sites using differential RNA-seq. Complementation of polar fixAB and fixX mutants (Fix[-] strains) confirmed expression of nifA from PnifA1 in symbiosis. Electron microscopy combined with single-cell Raman microspectroscopy characterization of fixAB mutants revealed previously unknown heterogeneity in bacteroid morphology within a single nodule. Two morphotypes of mutant fixAB bacteroids were observed. One was larger than wild-type bacteroids and contained high levels of polyhydroxy-3-butyrate, a complex energy/reductant storage product. A second bacteroid phenotype was morphologically and compositionally different and resembled wild-type infection thread cells. From these two characteristic fixAB mutant bacteroid morphotypes, inferences can be drawn on the metabolism of wild-type nitrogen-fixing bacteroids.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34110067, year = {2021}, author = {Qin, Z and Yu, K and Chen, S and Chen, B and Liang, J and Yao, Q and Yu, X and Liao, Z and Deng, C and Liang, Y}, title = {Microbiome of juvenile corals in the outer reef slope and lagoon of the South China Sea: insight into coral acclimatization to extreme thermal environments.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {4389-4404}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15624}, pmid = {34110067}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Environmental conditions between the outer reef slope (ORS) and lagoon in tropical atolls are significantly different, but the variations of juvenile coral-microbiomes in the two environments and their relationship with coral thermal acclimatization are poorly understood. We explored this issue based on local water conditions and the microbiome of juvenile corals in the ORS and lagoon in the central South China Sea. Coral-symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae showed significant differences among coral species; Pocillopora verrucosa and Pachyseris rugosa in the ORS, and Acropora formosa in the lagoon were dominated by Durusdinium, but other corals were dominated by Cladocopium. Although A. formosa in the ORS were dominated by Cladocopium (C3u), they were dominated by Durusdinium (D1/D1a) and Cladocopium (C50) in the lagoon. Other coral species were both dominated by Cladocopium in the lagoon and ORS. The relative abundance of bacteria in the Deinococcus-Thermus was generally higher in the lagoon corals than in the ORS corals. Our study indicates that P. verrucosa, P. rugosa and Porites lutea may have high thermal tolerance based on the relatively high abundance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium and Thermus scotoductus. Likewise, A. formosa in the lagoon may acclimatize to the thermal environment based on a high relative abundance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium.}, } @article {pmid34110064, year = {2021}, author = {Afkhami, ME and Friesen, ML and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Multiple Mutualism Effects generate synergistic selection and strengthen fitness alignment in the interaction between legumes, rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {1824-1834}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13814}, pmid = {34110064}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nearly all organisms participate in multiple mutualisms, and complementarity within these complex interactions can result in synergistic fitness effects. However, it remains largely untested how multiple mutualisms impact eco-evolutionary dynamics in interacting species. We tested how multiple microbial mutualists-N-fixing bacteria and mycorrrhizal fungi-affected selection and heritability of traits in their shared host plant (Medicago truncatula), as well as fitness alignment between partners. Our results demonstrate for the first time that multiple mutualisms synergistically affect the selection and heritability of host traits and enhance fitness alignment between mutualists. Specifically, we found interaction with multiple microbial symbionts doubled the strength of natural selection on a plant architectural trait, resulted in 2- to 3-fold higher heritability of plant reproductive success, and more than doubled fitness alignment between N-fixing bacteria and plants. These findings show synergism generated by multiple mutualisms extends to key components of microevolutionary change, emphasising the importance of multiple mutualism effects on evolutionary trajectories.}, } @article {pmid34109033, year = {2021}, author = {Tilstra, A and Roth, F and El-Khaled, YC and Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Voolstra, CR and Wild, C}, title = {Relative abundance of nitrogen cycling microbes in coral holobionts reflects environmental nitrate availability.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {201835}, pmid = {34109033}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Recent research suggests that nitrogen (N) cycling microbes are important for coral holobiont functioning. In particular, coral holobionts may acquire bioavailable N via prokaryotic dinitrogen (N2) fixation or remove excess N via denitrification activity. However, our understanding of environmental drivers on these processes in hospite remains limited. Employing the strong seasonality of the central Red Sea, this study assessed the effects of environmental parameters on the proportional abundances of N cycling microbes associated with the hard corals Acropora hemprichii and Stylophora pistillata. Specifically, we quantified changes in the relative ratio between nirS and nifH gene copy numbers, as a proxy for seasonal shifts in denitrification and N2 fixation potential in corals, respectively. In addition, we assessed coral tissue-associated Symbiodiniaceae cell densities and monitored environmental parameters to provide a holobiont and environmental context, respectively. While ratios of nirS to nifH gene copy numbers varied between seasons, they revealed similar seasonal patterns in both coral species, with ratios closely following patterns in environmental nitrate availability. Symbiodiniaceae cell densities aligned with environmental nitrate availability, suggesting that the seasonal shifts in nirS to nifH gene abundance ratios were probably driven by nitrate availability in the coral holobiont. Thereby, our results suggest that N cycling in coral holobionts probably adjusts to environmental conditions by increasing and/or decreasing denitrification and N2 fixation potential according to environmental nitrate availability. Microbial N cycling may, thus, extenuate the effects of changes in environmental nitrate availability on coral holobionts to support the maintenance of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34108699, year = {2021}, author = {Mirhoseini, A and Goldie, A and Yazgan, M and Jiang, JW and Songhori, E and Wang, S and Lee, YJ and Johnson, E and Pathak, O and Nazi, A and Pak, J and Tong, A and Srinivasa, K and Hang, W and Tuncer, E and Le, QV and Laudon, J and Ho, R and Carpenter, R and Dean, J}, title = {A graph placement methodology for fast chip design.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {594}, number = {7862}, pages = {207-212}, pmid = {34108699}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {Chip floorplanning is the engineering task of designing the physical layout of a computer chip. Despite five decades of research[1], chip floorplanning has defied automation, requiring months of intense effort by physical design engineers to produce manufacturable layouts. Here we present a deep reinforcement learning approach to chip floorplanning. In under six hours, our method automatically generates chip floorplans that are superior or comparable to those produced by humans in all key metrics, including power consumption, performance and chip area. To achieve this, we pose chip floorplanning as a reinforcement learning problem, and develop an edge-based graph convolutional neural network architecture capable of learning rich and transferable representations of the chip. As a result, our method utilizes past experience to become better and faster at solving new instances of the problem, allowing chip design to be performed by artificial agents with more experience than any human designer. Our method was used to design the next generation of Google's artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, and has the potential to save thousands of hours of human effort for each new generation. Finally, we believe that more powerful AI-designed hardware will fuel advances in AI, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two fields.}, } @article {pmid34108667, year = {2021}, author = {Yuan, Z and Druzhinina, IS and Gibbons, JG and Zhong, Z and Van de Peer, Y and Rodriguez, RJ and Liu, Z and Wang, X and Wei, H and Wu, Q and Wang, J and Shi, G and Cai, F and Peng, L and Martin, FM}, title = {Divergence of a genomic island leads to the evolution of melanization in a halophyte root fungus.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {3468-3479}, pmid = {34108667}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; *Chenopodiaceae/microbiology ; Endophytes/genetics ; *Genomic Islands ; Melanins ; Pigmentation ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding how organisms adapt to extreme living conditions is central to evolutionary biology. Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) constitute an important component of the root mycobiome and they are often able to alleviate host abiotic stresses. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial association between the DSE Laburnicola rhizohalophila and its host, the native halophyte Suaeda salsa, using population genomics. Based on genome-wide Fst (pairwise fixation index) and Vst analyses, which compared the variance in allele frequencies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variants (CNVs), respectively, we found a high level of genetic differentiation between two populations. CNV patterns revealed population-specific expansions and contractions. Interestingly, we identified a ~20 kbp genomic island of high divergence with a strong sign of positive selection. This region contains a melanin-biosynthetic polyketide synthase gene cluster linked to six additional genes likely involved in biosynthesis, membrane trafficking, regulation, and localization of melanin. Differences in growth yield and melanin biosynthesis between the two populations grown under 2% NaCl stress suggested that this genomic island contributes to the observed differences in melanin accumulation. Our findings provide a better understanding of the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the adaptation to saline conditions of the L. rhizohalophila-S. salsa symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34107493, year = {2021}, author = {Gómez-Pérez, D and Chaudhry, V and Kemen, A and Kemen, E}, title = {Amyloid Proteins in Plant-Associated Microbial Communities.}, journal = {Microbial physiology}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {88-98}, doi = {10.1159/000516014}, pmid = {34107493}, issn = {2673-1673}, mesh = {Amyloid ; *Amyloidogenic Proteins ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Biofilms ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Amyloids have proven to be a widespread phenomenon rather than an exception. Many proteins presenting the hallmarks of this characteristic beta sheet-rich folding have been described to date. Particularly common are functional amyloids that play an important role in the promotion of survival and pathogenicity in prokaryotes. Here, we describe important developments in amyloid protein research that relate to microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions in the plant microbiome. Starting with biofilms, which are a broad strategy for bacterial persistence that is extremely important for plant colonization. Microbes rely on amyloid-based mechanisms to adhere and create a protective coating that shelters them from external stresses and promotes cooperation. Another strategy generally carried out by amyloids is the formation of hydrophobic surface layers. Known as hydrophobins, these proteins coat the aerial hyphae and spores of plant pathogenic fungi, as well as certain bacterial biofilms. They contribute to plant virulence through promoting dissemination and infectivity. Furthermore, antimicrobial activity is an interesting outcome of the amyloid structure that has potential application in medicine and agriculture. There are many known antimicrobial amyloids released by animals and plants; however, those produced by bacteria or fungi remain still largely unknown. Finally, we discuss amyloid proteins with a more indirect mode of action in their host interactions. These include virulence-promoting harpins, signaling transduction that functions through amyloid templating, and root nodule bacteria proteins that promote plant-microbe symbiosis. In summary, amyloids are an interesting paradigm for their many functional mechanisms linked to bacterial survival in plant-associated microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid34107000, year = {2021}, author = {Yang, L and Weiss, BL and Williams, AE and Aksoy, E and de Silva Orfano, A and Son, JH and Wu, Y and Vigneron, A and Karakus, M and Aksoy, S}, title = {Paratransgenic manipulation of a tsetse microRNA alters the physiological homeostasis of the fly's midgut environment.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {e1009475}, pmid = {34107000}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {R01 AI139525/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001863/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Genes, Insect ; Homeostasis/*physiology ; Insect Vectors/genetics/parasitology ; Intestines/*physiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Trypanosoma ; Trypanosomiasis, African/*parasitology ; Tsetse Flies/*genetics/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies are vectors of parasitic African trypanosomes, the etiological agents of human and animal African trypanosomoses. Current disease control methods include fly-repelling pesticides, fly trapping, and chemotherapeutic treatment of infected people and animals. Inhibiting tsetse's ability to transmit trypanosomes by strengthening the fly's natural barriers can serve as an alternative approach to reduce disease. The peritrophic matrix (PM) is a chitinous and proteinaceous barrier that lines the insect midgut and serves as a protective barrier that inhibits infection with pathogens. African trypanosomes must cross tsetse's PM in order to establish an infection in the fly, and PM structural integrity negatively correlates with trypanosome infection outcomes. Bloodstream form trypanosomes shed variant surface glycoproteins (VSG) into tsetse's gut lumen early during the infection establishment, and free VSG molecules are internalized by the fly's PM-producing cardia. This process results in a reduction in the expression of a tsetse microRNA (miR275) and a sequential molecular cascade that compromises PM integrity. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are critical in regulating many physiological processes. In the present study, we investigated the role(s) of tsetse miR275 by developing a paratransgenic expression system that employs tsetse's facultative bacterial endosymbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, to express tandem antagomir-275 repeats (or miR275 sponges). This system induces a constitutive, 40% reduction in miR275 transcript abundance in the fly's midgut and results in obstructed blood digestion (gut weights increased by 52%), a significant increase (p-value < 0.0001) in fly survival following infection with an entomopathogenic bacteria, and a 78% increase in trypanosome infection prevalence. RNA sequencing of cardia and midgut tissues from paratransgenic tsetse confirmed that miR275 regulates processes related to the expression of PM-associated proteins and digestive enzymes as well as genes that encode abundant secretory proteins. Our study demonstrates that paratransgenesis can be employed to study microRNA regulated pathways in arthropods that house symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34106824, year = {2021}, author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S}, title = {Bradyrhizobium septentrionale sp. nov. (sv. septentrionale) and Bradyrhizobium quebecense sp. nov. (sv. septentrionale) associated with legumes native to Canada possess rearranged symbiosis genes and numerous insertion sequences.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34106824}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Canada ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Gene Rearrangement ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribosome Subunits/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Six bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of soybean plants that had been inoculated with root-zone soil of legumes native to Canada were previously characterized and 1) placed in two novel lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium and 2) assigned to symbiovar septentrionale. Here we verified the taxonomic status of these strains using genomic and phenotypic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of five protein encoding partial gene sequences as well as 52 full length ribosome protein subunit gene sequences confirmed placement of the novel strains in two highly supported lineages distinct from named Bradyrhizobium species. The highest average nucleotide identity values of strains representing these two lineages relative to type strains of closest relatives were 90.7 and 92.3% which is well below the threshold value for bacterial species circumscription. The genomes of representative strains 1S1[T], 162S2 and 66S1MB[T] have sizes of 10598256, 10733150 and 9032145 bp with DNA G+C contents of 63.5, 63.4 and 63.8 mol%, respectively. These strains possess between one and three plasmids based on copy number of plasmid replication and segregation (repABC) genes. Novel strains also possess numerous insertion sequences, and, relative to reference strain Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110[T], exhibit inversion and fragmentation of nodulation (nod) and nitrogen-fixation (nif) gene clusters. Phylogenetic analyses of nodC and nifH gene sequences confirmed placement of novel strains in a distinct lineage corresponding to symbiovar septentrionale. Data for morphological, physiological and symbiotic characteristics complement the sequence-based results. The data presented here support the description of two new species for which the names Bradyrhizobium septentrionale sp. nov. (sv. septentrionale) and Bradyrhizobium quebecense sp. nov. (sv. septentrionale) are proposed, with 1S1[T] (=LMG 29930[T]=HAMBI 3676[T]) and 66S1MB[T] (=LMG 31547[T]=HAMBI 3720[T]) as type strains, respectively.}, } @article {pmid34102188, year = {2021}, author = {Chandel, V and Maru, S and Kumar, A and Kumar, A and Sharma, A and Rathi, B and Kumar, D}, title = {Role of monocarboxylate transporters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {}, pages = {119709}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119709}, pmid = {34102188}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Transport ; Glycolysis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology ; Humans ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*metabolism ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/metabolism/*pathology ; }, abstract = {Head and Neck tumors are metabolically highly altered solid tumors. Head and Neck cancer cells may utilise different metabolic pathways for energy production. Whereas, glycolysis is the major source coupled with oxidative phosphorylation in a metabolic symbiosis manner that results in the proliferation and metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer. The monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) constitute a family of 14 members among which MCT1-4 are responsible for transporting monocarboxylates such as l-lactate and pyruvate, and ketone bodies across the plasma membrane. Additionally, MCTs mediate absorption and distribution of monocarboxylates across the cell membrane. Head and Neck cancer cells are highly glycolytic in nature and generate significant amount of lactic acid in the extracellular environment. In such condition, MCTs play a critical role in the regulation of pH, and lactate shuttle maintenance. The intracellular lactate accumulation is harmful for the cells since it drastically lowers the intracellular pH. MCTs facilitate the export of lactate out of the cell. The lactate export mediated by MCTs is crucial for the cancer cells survival. Therefore, targeting MCTs is important and could be a potential therapeutic approach to control growth of the tumor.}, } @article {pmid34101885, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Z and Wu, W and Cui, L and Li, X and Kulyar, MF and Xiong, H and Zhou, N and Yin, H and Li, J and Li, X}, title = {Isolation, characterization, and interaction of lignin-degrading bacteria from rumen of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {8}, pages = {757-768}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202100068}, pmid = {34101885}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Buffaloes/*microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Microbial Interactions ; Ochrobactrum/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to isolate lignin-degrading bacteria from buffalo rumen and to explore their interactions further. Using lignin as the carbon source, three bacteria, B-04 (Ochrobactrum pseudintermedium), B-11 (Klebsiella pneumoniae), and B-45 (Bacillus sonorensis), which have shown lignin degradation potential, were successfully isolated and identified from the rumen fluid of buffalo by colony morphology, 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and biochemical and physiological analyses. The degradation rates of lignin were determined, and the maximum values were 4.86%, 11.1%, and 7.68% for B-04, B-11, and B-45, respectively. The maximum laccase activities were 0.65, 0.93, and 1.15 U/ml, while the maximum lignin peroxidase activities were 5.72, 8.29, and 18.69 U/ml, respectively. Pairwise interaction studies showed inhibitory interaction between B-04 and B-45, inhibitory interaction between B-04 and B-11, and symbiotic interaction between B-11 and B-45. This is the first report on the lignin degradation ability of bacteria isolated from the buffalo's rumen, which provides a new understanding for revealing the mechanism of roughage tolerance of buffalo.}, } @article {pmid34101488, year = {2021}, author = {Miller, DL and Smith, EA and Newton, ILG}, title = {A Bacterial Symbiont Protects Honey Bees from Fungal Disease.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0050321}, pmid = {34101488}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*physiology ; Animals ; Bees/*microbiology ; Fungi/*pathogenicity ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Larva/microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Mycoses/microbiology/*prevention & control ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungal pathogens, among other stressors, negatively impact the productivity and population size of honey bees, one of our most important pollinators (1, 2), in particular their brood (larvae and pupae) (3, 4). Understanding the factors that influence disease incidence and prevalence in brood may help us improve colony health and productivity. Here, we examined the capacity of a honey bee-associated bacterium, Bombella apis, to suppress the growth of fungal pathogens and ultimately protect bee brood from infection. Our results showed that strains of B. apis inhibit the growth of two insect fungal pathogens, Beauveria bassiana and Aspergillus flavus, in vitro. This phenotype was recapitulated in vivo; bee broods supplemented with B. apis were significantly less likely to be infected by A. flavus. Additionally, the presence of B. apis reduced sporulation of A. flavus in the few bees that were infected. Analyses of biosynthetic gene clusters across B. apis strains suggest antifungal candidates, including a type 1 polyketide, terpene, and aryl polyene. Secreted metabolites from B. apis alone were sufficient to suppress fungal growth, supporting the hypothesis that fungal inhibition is mediated by an antifungal metabolite. Together, these data suggest that B. apis can suppress fungal infections in bee brood via secretion of an antifungal metabolite. IMPORTANCE Fungi can play critical roles in host microbiomes (5-7), yet bacterial-fungal interactions are understudied. For insects, fungi are the leading cause of disease (5, 8). In particular, populations of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), an agriculturally and economically critical species, have declined in part due to fungal pathogens. The presence and prevalence of fungal pathogens in honey bees have far-reaching consequences, endangering other species and threatening food security (1, 2, 9). Our research highlights how a bacterial symbiont protects bee brood from fungal infection. Further mechanistic work could lead to the development of new antifungal treatments.}, } @article {pmid34099292, year = {2021}, author = {Yamamoto, E and Watanabe, R and Tooyama, E and Kimura, K}, title = {Effect of fumaric acid on the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus during yogurt fermentation.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {104}, number = {9}, pages = {9617-9626}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2021-20173}, pmid = {34099292}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Fermentation ; Fumarates ; *Lactobacillus delbrueckii ; Streptococcus thermophilus ; Yogurt ; }, abstract = {Yogurt is traditionally fermented by a symbiotic starter culture of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. These bacteria exchange metabolites with each other to meet their nutritional demands during protocooperation, resulting in a shorter fermentation time. In this study, we investigated whether fumaric acid functions as a symbiotic agent to promote the growth of Lb. bulgaricus by evaluating 8 strains of Lb. bulgaricus and 7 strains of Strep. thermophilus. All the tested Lb. bulgaricus strains metabolized the added fumaric acid into succinic acid during monoculture in milk, and 6 strains (75%) showed shorter fermentation time compared with the control. The addition of malic acid showed similar trends as that of fumaric acid, indicating that the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle was functioning in Lb. bulgaricus. All 7 Strep. thermophilus strains tested produced fumaric acid during monoculture in milk. Further, in Lb. bulgaricus 2038, the gene expression of fumarate reductase that converts fumaric acid to succinic acid, was higher in the coculture with Strep. thermophilus 1131 than in the monoculture. These findings indicate that fumaric acid produced by Strep. thermophilus can function as a symbiotic substance during yogurt fermentation to stimulate the growth of Lb. bulgaricus.}, } @article {pmid34098428, year = {2021}, author = {Sagonda, T and Adil, MF and Sehar, S and Rasheed, A and Joan, HI and Ouyang, Y and Shamsi, IH}, title = {Physio-ultrastructural footprints and iTRAQ-based proteomic approach unravel the role of Piriformospora indica-colonization in counteracting cadmium toxicity in rice.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {220}, number = {}, pages = {112390}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112390}, pmid = {34098428}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Oryza/*drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteomics ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Due to its immense capability to concentrate in rice grain and ultimately in food chain, cadmium (Cd) has become the cause of an elevated concern among agriculturists, scientists and the environmental activists. Symbiotic association of Piriformospora indica (P. indica) has been characterized as a potential aid in combating heavy metal stress in plants for sustainable crop production but our scant knowledge regarding ameliorative tendency of P. indica against Cd, specifically in rice, necessitates an in-depth investigation. This study aimed at elaborating the underlying mechanisms involved in P. indica-mediated tolerance against Cd stress in two rice genotypes, IR8 and ZX1H, varying in Cd accumulation pattern. Either colonized or un-inoculated with P. indica, seedlings of both genotypes were subjected to Cd stress. The results showed that P. indica colonization significantly supported plant biomass, photosynthetic attributes and chlorophyll contents in Cd stressed plants. P. indica colonization sustained chloroplast integrity and reduced Cd translocation (46% and 64%), significantly lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) content (11.3% and 50.4%) compared to uninoculated roots under Cd stress in IR8 and ZX1H, respectively. A genotypic difference was evident when a 2-fold enhancement in root peroxidase (POD) activity was recorded in P. indica colonized IR8 plants as compared to ZX1H. The root proteomic analysis was performed using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) and the results showed that P. indica alleviates Cd stress in rice via down-regulation of key glycolysis cycle enzymes in a bid to reduce energy consumption by the plants and possibly re-directing it to Cd defense response pathways; and up-regulation of glutamine synthetase, a key enzyme in the L-Arg-dependent pathway for nitric oxide (NO) production, which acts as a stress signaling molecule, thus conferring tolerance by reduction of NO-mediated modification of essential proteins in response to Cd stress. Conclusively, both the tested genotypes benefited from P. indica symbiosis at varying levels by an enhanced detoxification capacity and signaling efficiency in response to stress. Hence, a step forward towards the employment of an environmentally sound and self-renewing approach holding the hope for a healthy future.}, } @article {pmid34097340, year = {2021}, author = {Tokuda, G}, title = {Origin of symbiotic gut spirochetes as key players in the nutrition of termites.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {4092-4097}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15625}, pmid = {34097340}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Isoptera ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Spirochaetales/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termites harbour symbiotic spirochetes in their hindguts, which have long been considered treponemes, although they represent separate lines of descent from known species of Treponema. 'Termite gut treponemes' have a mutualistic relationship with the host termites with their physiological properties including CO2 -reductive acetogenesis, from which the resulting acetate fulfils most of the respiratory requirement of the host. Song and co-workers showed that a spirochetal isolate (strain RmG30) from a Madeira cockroach represents the earliest branching lineage of extremely diverse termite (Treponema) cluster I and was a simple homolactic fermenter, suggesting that CO2 -reductive acetogenesis exhibited by some members of termite cluster I originated via horizontal gene transfer. Phylogenomic and 16S rRNA sequence-based phylogenetic analyses indicated a deeply-branched sister clade containing termite cluster I was distinguishable as a family-level lineage. In this context, a new family, 'Termitinemataceae' has been proposed for this clade. Strain RmG30 has been designated as the type strain of Breznakiella homolactica gen. nov. sp. nov. named after John A. Breznak, an American microbiologist distinguished in termite gut microbiology. The study has posed important questions for the future, including the actual roles of the termite spirochetes in each termite lineage and the evolutionary process of their physiological properties.}, } @article {pmid34095855, year = {2021}, author = {Naissinger da Silva, M and Tagliapietra, BL and Flores, VDA and Pereira Dos Santos Richards, NS}, title = {In vitro test to evaluate survival in the gastrointestinal tract of commercial probiotics.}, journal = {Current research in food science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {320-325}, pmid = {34095855}, issn = {2665-9271}, abstract = {The search for functional foods grows constantly, and in this demand, the supply of industries that seek to produce and sell supplements also grows, as is the case of probiotics freely sold in pharmacies and supermarkets. Given a large number of foods with probiotic appeal and supplements sold without the need for a nutritional or medical prescription, this study came up to evaluate the viability of commercial probiotic cells, through in vitro gastrointestinal simulation and analyzing the information present in their labeling. Eleven commercial probiotic samples were analyzed, and viable cell counts were performed before and after in vitro simulation. These products usually use appealing labeling and induce the consumer to purchase these probiotics, which often do not offer the benefits described on the packaging. The results showed that only two samples had the initial concentration indicated on their labeling and four samples offered a concentration of 3 log CFU g[-1] in the ileum portion. All samples had a reduction in concentration during the gastrointestinal simulation, which varied from 1 to 4 log CFU g[-1], but most do not fulfill the offer of a probiotic supplement, and there should be more inspection and control over the commercialization of this product niche.}, } @article {pmid34095514, year = {2021}, author = {Threlfall, J and Blaxter, M}, title = {Launching the Tree of Life Gateway.}, journal = {Wellcome open research}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {125}, pmid = {34095514}, issn = {2398-502X}, abstract = {The Tree of Life Gateway uses Genome Note publications to announce the completion of genomes assembled by the Tree of Life programme, based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and involving numerous partner organisations and institutes. Tree of Life participates in the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which aims to sequence the genomes of all 70,000+ eukaryotic species in the Atlantic archipelago of Britain and Ireland, the Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project, which will sequence 1000 species involved in 500 symbioses between eukaryotic hosts and their microbial 'cobionts', and other initiatives, such as the Vertebrate Genome Project. These Genome Notes report the origins of ethically sourced samples used for sequencing, give the methods used to generate the sequence and use statistics and interactive figures to demonstrate the quality of the genome sequences. In addition to describing the production of these sequences, each Genome Note gives citeable credit to those who participated in producing the genome assembly and announces the availability of the data for reuse by all. It is through the use and reuse of this openly and publicly released data that we hope effective and lasting solutions to the ongoing biodiversity crisis can be found.}, } @article {pmid34095319, year = {2021}, author = {Chi, M and Ma, K and Wang, J and Ding, Z and Li, Y and Zhu, S and Liang, X and Zhang, Q and Song, L and Liu, C}, title = {The Immunomodulatory Effect of the Gut Microbiota in Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {5516035}, pmid = {34095319}, issn = {2314-7156}, mesh = {Bacterial Translocation/immunology ; Dysbiosis/*complications/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; *Immunomodulation ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Kidney/immunology/pathology ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota is a complex cluster composed of 100 trillion microorganisms, which holds a symbiotic relationship with the host under normal circumstances. Intestinal flora can facilitate the treatment of human metabolic dysfunctions and interact with the intestinal tract, which could influence intestinal tolerance, immunity, and sensitivity to inflammation. In recent years, significant interests have evolved on the association of intestinal microbiota and kidney diseases within the academic circle. Abnormal changes in intestinal microbiota, known as dysbiosis, can affect the integrity of the intestinal barrier, resulting in the bacterial translocation, production, and accumulation of dysbiotic gut-derived metabolites, such as urea, indoxyl sulfate (IS), and p-cresyl sulfate (PCS). These processes lead to the abnormal activation of immune cells; overproduction of antibodies, immune complexes, and inflammatory factors; and inflammatory cell infiltration that can directly or indirectly cause damage to the renal parenchyma. The aim of this review is to summarize the role of intestinal flora in the development and progression of several renal diseases, such as lupus nephritis, chronic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, and renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Further research on these mechanisms should provide insights into the therapeutic potential of regulating intestinal flora and intervening related molecular targets for the abovementioned nephropathy.}, } @article {pmid34093614, year = {2021}, author = {Soba, D and Aranjuelo, I and Gakière, B and Gilard, F and Pérez-López, U and Mena-Petite, A and Muñoz-Rueda, A and Lacuesta, M and Sanz-Saez, A}, title = {Soybean Inoculated With One Bradyrhizobium Strain Isolated at Elevated [CO2] Show an Impaired C and N Metabolism When Grown at Ambient [CO2].}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {656961}, pmid = {34093614}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max L.) future response to elevated [CO2] has been shown to differ when inoculated with B. japonicum strains isolated at ambient or elevated [CO2]. Plants, inoculated with three Bradyrhizobium strains isolated at different [CO2], were grown in chambers at current and elevated [CO2] (400 vs. 700 ppm). Together with nodule and leaf metabolomic profile, characterization of nodule N-fixation and exchange between organs were tested through [15]N2-labeling analysis. Soybeans inoculated with SFJ14-36 strain (isolated at elevated [CO2]) showed a strong metabolic imbalance, at nodule and leaf levels when grown at ambient [CO2], probably due to an insufficient supply of N by nodules, as shown by [15]N2-labeling. In nodules, due to shortage of photoassimilate, C may be diverted to aspartic acid instead of malate in order to improve the efficiency of the C source sustaining N2-fixation. In leaves, photorespiration and respiration were boosted at ambient [CO2] in plants inoculated with this strain. Additionally, free phytol, antioxidants, and fatty acid content could be indicate induced senescence due to oxidative stress and lack of nitrogen. Therefore, plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strain isolated at elevated [CO2] may have lost their capacity to form effective symbiosis at ambient [CO2] and that was translated at whole plant level through metabolic impairment.}, } @article {pmid34092740, year = {2021}, author = {Ramírez, MDA and España, M and Sekimoto, H and Okazaki, S and Yokoyama, T and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N}, title = {Genetic Diversity and Characterization of Symbiotic Bacteria Isolated from Endemic Phaseolus Cultivars Located in Contrasting Agroecosystems in Venezuela.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {34092740}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Venezuela ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris is a grain cultivated in vast areas of different countries. It is an excellent alternative to the other legumes in the Venezuelan diet and is of great agronomic interest due to its resistance to soil acidity, drought, and high temperatures. Phaseolus establishes symbiosis primarily with Rhizobium and Ensifer species in most countries, and this rhizobia-legume interaction has been studied in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. However, there is currently no evidence to show that rhizobia nodulate the endemic cultivars of P. vulgaris in Venezuela. Therefore, we herein investigated the phylogenetic diversity of plant growth-promoting and N2-fixing nodulating bacteria isolated from the root nodules of P. vulgaris cultivars in a different agroecosystem in Venezuela. In comparisons with other countries, higher diversity was found in isolates from P. vulgaris nodules, ranging from α- and β-proteobacteria. Some isolates belonging to several new phylogenetic lineages within Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer, and Mesorhizobium species were also specifically isolated at some topographical regions. Additionally, some isolates exhibited tolerance to high temperature, acidity, alkaline pH, salinity stress, and high Al levels; some of these characteristics may be related to the origin of the isolates. Some isolates showed high tolerance to Al toxicity as well as strong plant growth-promoting and antifungal activities, thereby providing a promising agricultural resource for inoculating crops.}, } @article {pmid34092178, year = {2021}, author = {Ye, HT and Luo, SQ and Yang, ZN and Wang, YS and Ding, Q and Wang, KF and Yang, SX and Wang, Y}, title = {Endophytic fungi stimulate the concentration of medicinal secondary metabolites in houttuynia cordata thunb.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {1929731}, pmid = {34092178}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Endophytes/*metabolism ; Houttuynia/*chemistry/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Hypocreales/metabolism ; Penicillium/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizome/*growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi usually establish a symbiotic relationship with the host plant and affect its growth. In order to evaluate the impact of endophytic fungi on the Chinese herbal medicinal plant Houttuynia cordata Thunb., three endophytes isolated from the rhizomes of H. cordata, namely Ilyonectria liriodendra (IL), unidentified fungal sp. (UF), and Penicillium citrinum (PC), were co-cultured individually with H. cordata in sterile soil for 60 days. Analysis of the results showed that the endophytes stimulated the host plant in different ways: IL increased the growth of rhizomes and the accumulation of most of the phenolics and volatiles, UF promoted the accumulation of the medicinal compounds afzelin, decanal, 2-undecanone, and borneol without influencing host plant growth, and PC increased the fresh weight, total leaf area and height of the plants, as well as the growth of the rhizomes, but had only a small effect on the concentration of major secondary metabolites. Our results proved that the endophytic fungi had potential practical value in terms of the production of Chinese herbal medicines, having the ability to improve the yield and accumulation of medicinal metabolites.}, } @article {pmid34090002, year = {2021}, author = {Fu, D and Rui, Y and Zevenbergen, C and Singh, RP}, title = {Nitrogen absorption efficiency and mechanism in Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - Canna indica symbiosis.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {282}, number = {}, pages = {130708}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130708}, pmid = {34090002}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Zingiberales ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and its symbiosis with Canna indica on nitrogen (N) absorption was investigated for the remediation of contaminated soil. Canna indica plants with rhizome and leaf integrity intact were collected in spring and autumn seasons. To maintain the ideal nutrient composition, Hoagland concentrated nutrient solution was diluted with deionized water and additional nutrient solution was added periodically. Treated root samples were observed with an optical microscope and the number of hyphae and intersections as well as inoculation status were examined. High-throughput sequencing experiment was conducted to quantify AMF inoculation. Alpha diversity study was used to characterize abundance and diversity of the symbiosis. Hydroponic experiments were conducted to explore the absorption effectiveness of AMF-Canna symbiosis under different NH4[+]-N and NO3[-]-N combinations. Hyphal colonization rate was only about 5.66 ± 1.08% in seedling stage in spring, but enhanced in the adult stage in autumn (53.89 ± 1.43%). Results revealed that AMF had no significant impact on NO3[-]-N absorption by Canna roots, however, absorption of NH4[+]-N was improved by 63% under low concentration. Results revealed that when NH4[+]-N and NO3[-]-N were applied combinedly in a 1:1 ratio, their respective absorption rates were enhanced to 99.63% and 99.50%. Compared with the case of NH4[+]-N as N source alone, synergistic effect of NH4[+]-N and NO3[-]-N significantly changed the absorption of NH4[+]-N by C. indica, but its correlation with AMF inoculation was still not significant. Current findings could enhance understanding for effective N uptake and resource recovery.}, } @article {pmid34089641, year = {2021}, author = {Delli Poggi, A and Pintus, G and Munsuri Rosado, J and Saus-Ortega, C and Batta, M and Brai, E and Tartaglini, D}, title = {[Assessment of the perceived quality of nursing care in internship departments: an observational study in a Spanish reality].}, journal = {Professioni infermieristiche}, volume = {74}, number = {1}, pages = {48-43}, doi = {10.7429/pi.2021.741048}, pmid = {34089641}, issn = {0033-0205}, mesh = {Attitude of Health Personnel ; Humans ; *Internship and Residency ; *Nursing Care ; *Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nursing students represent an important resource both for the patients and for the company organization; however, the impact of their presence on the quality of care is still underestimated.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an objective assessment of the quality of care perceived by the patient admitted to hospital departments where internships are held for nursing students.

METHOD: A descriptive observational study was conducted, recruiting a convenience sample made up of patients hospitalized in clinical departments where internships for nursing students of La Fe Hospital in Valencia (ES) are located.

RESULTS: 75 patients out of 160 hospitalized partecipated to the survey, with a response rate equal to 46.87%. Most patients believe that nurses have careless attitudes towards them (42.9%) even though there is a noticeable emotional support from nurses perceived by patients (90.1%). The degree of relationship and information perceived by patients (96%) suggests that nurses in most cases guaranteed confidentiality and the assistance time employed (70.5%) was perceived as longer than usual, defining a high opinion of patients about the treatment received.

CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that patients were very keen to be taken into consideration from a social and human point of view and not only from a clinical point of view, so much so that they claimed to perceive a careless attitude from nurses. Despite this, however, the perceived quality of nursing care by the patient was not affected. Regarding the presence of the trainee student, being the latter in the Spanish reality totally flanked by that of the nurse, almost in symbiosis, the degree of attention perceived by the patient in relation to the assistance provided does not vary.}, } @article {pmid34089010, year = {2021}, author = {Nyholm, SV and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {A lasting symbiosis: how the Hawaiian bobtail squid finds and keeps its bioluminescent bacterial partner.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {666-679}, pmid = {34089010}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Hawaii ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics/physiology ; Male ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {For more than 30 years, the association between the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri has been studied as a model system for understanding the colonization of animal epithelia by symbiotic bacteria. The squid-vibrio light-organ system provides the exquisite resolution only possible with the study of a binary partnership. The impact of this relationship on the partners' biology has been broadly characterized, including their ecology and evolutionary biology as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of symbiotic dynamics. Much has been learned about the factors that foster initial light-organ colonization, and more recently about the maturation and long-term maintenance of the association. This Review synthesizes the results of recent research on the light-organ association and also describes the development of new horizons for E. scolopes as a model organism that promises to inform biology and biomedicine about the basic nature of host-microorganism interactions.}, } @article {pmid34089008, year = {2021}, author = {Visick, KL and Stabb, EV and Ruby, EG}, title = {A lasting symbiosis: how Vibrio fischeri finds a squid partner and persists within its natural host.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {654-665}, pmid = {34089008}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hawaii ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As our understanding of the human microbiome progresses, so does the need for natural experimental animal models that promote a mechanistic understanding of beneficial microorganism-host interactions. Years of research into the exclusive symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri have permitted a detailed understanding of those bacterial genes underlying signal exchange and rhythmic activities that result in a persistent, beneficial association, as well as glimpses into the evolution of symbiotic competence. Migrating from the ambient seawater to regions deep inside the light-emitting organ of the squid, V. fischeri experiences, recognizes and adjusts to the changing environmental conditions. Here, we review key advances over the past 15 years that are deepening our understanding of these events.}, } @article {pmid34087380, year = {2021}, author = {Pappolla, MA and Perry, G and Fang, X and Zagorski, M and Sambamurti, K and Poeggeler, B}, title = {Indoles as essential mediators in the gut-brain axis. Their role in Alzheimer's disease.}, journal = {Neurobiology of disease}, volume = {156}, number = {}, pages = {105403}, doi = {10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105403}, pmid = {34087380}, issn = {1095-953X}, mesh = {Aging/genetics/*metabolism ; Alzheimer Disease/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Brain/*metabolism ; Brain-Gut Axis/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Indoles/*metabolism ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Neuroprotection/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia associated with aging. Due to the progressive aging of the population, AD is becoming a healthcare burden of unprecedented proportions. Twenty years ago, it was reported that some indole molecules produced by the gut microbiota possess essential biological activities, including neuroprotection and antioxidant properties. Since then, research has cemented additional characteristics of these substances, including anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and amyloid anti-aggregation features. Herein, we summarize the evidence supporting an integrated hypothesis that some of these substances can influence the age of onset and progression of AD and are central to the symbiotic relationship between intestinal microbes and the brain. Studies have shown that some of these substances' activities result from interactions with biologically conserved pathways and with genetic risk factors for AD. By targeting multiple pathologic mechanisms simultaneously, certain indoles may be excellent candidates to ameliorate neurodegeneration. We propose that management of the microbiota to induce a higher production of neuroprotective indoles (e.g., indole propionic acid) will promote brain health during aging. This area of research represents a new therapeutic paradigm that could add functional years of life to individuals who would otherwise develop dementia.}, } @article {pmid34086981, year = {2021}, author = {Shaw, AK and Naven Narayanan, and Stanton, DE}, title = {Let's move out together: a framework for the intersections between movement and mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {102}, number = {8}, pages = {e03419}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3419}, pmid = {34086981}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {*Pollination ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Movement is a widespread behavior across organisms and is driven in part by interspecific interactions. Generally, negative interspecific interactions (such as competition and natural enemies) are more often studied in the context of movement than positive interactions (mutualism). Mutualistic relationships are incredibly common, yet only a subset are studied in the context of movement (transportation mutualisms). Overall, the costs and benefits that an individual experiences are shaped both by their movement behavior and their mutualistic relationships, as well as the intersection between these. Here we argue that the intersection between movement behavior and mutualistic relationships is understudied, and we present a conceptual framework to synthesize the links between movement and mutualisms and give examples of species that exhibit each. Our framework serves both to highlight the ways that mutualism can shape movement (and vice versa) and to draw parallels across different organisms (enabling a more abstract perspective of these biological systems, complementing the system-focused perspective). Finally, we show how considering movement in light of mutualisms (and vice versa) presents a number of new research questions to be answered by each empirical and theoretical approach going forward.}, } @article {pmid34085297, year = {2021}, author = {Robbins, C and Cruz Corella, J and Aletti, C and Seiler, R and Mateus, ID and Lee, SJ and Masclaux, FG and Sanders, IR}, title = {Generation of unequal nuclear genotype proportions in Rhizophagus irregularis progeny causes allelic imbalance in gene transcription.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {5}, pages = {1984-2001}, pmid = {34085297}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Allelic Imbalance ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; Genotype ; *Glomeromycota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualisms with most plant species. The model AMF Rhizophagus irregularis is common in many ecosystems and naturally forms homokaryons and dikaryons. Quantitative variation in allele frequencies in clonally dikaryon offspring suggests they disproportionately inherit two distinct nuclear genotypes from their parent. This is interesting, because such progeny strongly and differentially affect plant growth. Neither the frequency and magnitude of this occurrence nor its effect on gene transcription are known. Using reduced representation genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and quantitative analysis tools, we show that progeny of homokaryons and dikaryons are qualitatively genetically identical to the parent. However, dikaryon progeny differ quantitatively due to unequal inheritance of nuclear genotypes. Allele frequencies of actively transcribed biallelic genes resembled the frequencies of the two nuclear genotypes. More biallelic genes showed transcription of both alleles than monoallelic transcription, but biallelic transcription was less likely with greater allelic divergence. Monoallelic transcription levels of biallelic genes were reduced compared with biallelic gene transcription, a finding consistent with genomic conflict. Given that genetic variation in R. irregularis is associated with plant growth, our results establish quantitative genetic variation as a future consideration when selecting AMF lines to improve plant production.}, } @article {pmid34084554, year = {2021}, author = {Huffmyer, AS and Johnson, CJ and Epps, AM and Lemus, JD and Gates, RD}, title = {Feeding and thermal conditioning enhance coral temperature tolerance in juvenile Pocillopora acuta.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {210644}, pmid = {34084554}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Scleractinian corals form the foundation of coral reefs by acquiring autotrophic nutrition from photosynthetic endosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) and use feeding to obtain additional nutrition, especially when the symbiosis is compromised (i.e. bleaching). Juvenile corals are vulnerable to stress due to low energetic reserves and high demand for growth, which is compounded when additional stressors occur. Therefore, conditions that favour energy acquisition and storage may enhance survival under stressful conditions. To investigate the influence of feeding on thermal tolerance, we exposed Pocillopora acuta juveniles to temperature (ambient, 27.4°C versus cool, 25.9°C) and feeding treatments (fed versus unfed) for 30 days post-settlement and monitored growth and physiology, followed by tracking survival under thermal stress. Feeding increased growth and resulted in thicker tissues and elevated symbiont fluorescence. Under high-temperature stress (31-60 days post-settlement; ca 30.1°C), corals that were fed and previously exposed to cool temperature had 33% higher survival than other treatment groups. These corals demonstrated reduced symbiont fluorescence, which may have provided protective effects under thermal stress. These results highlight that the impacts of feeding on coral physiology and stress tolerance are dependent on temperature and as oceans continue to warm, early life stages may experience shifts in feeding strategies to survive.}, } @article {pmid34083731, year = {2021}, author = {Kullapanich, C and Jandang, S and Palasuk, M and Viyakarn, V and Chavanich, S and Somboonna, N}, title = {First dynamics of bacterial community during development of Acropora humilis larvae in aquaculture.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {11762}, pmid = {34083731}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Larva/growth & development/*microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A symbiosis of bacterial community (sometimes called microbiota) play essential roles in developmental life cycle and health of coral, starting since a larva. For examples, coral bacterial holobionts function nitrogen fixation, carbon supply, sulfur cycling and antibiotic production. Yet, a study of the dynamic of bacteria associated coral larvae development is complicated owning to a vast diversity and culturable difficulty of bacteria; hence this type of study remains unexplored for Acropora humilis larvae in Thai sea. This study represented the first to utilize 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the timely bacterial compositions during successfully cultured and reared A. humilis larval transformation in aquaculture (gametes were collected from Sattahip Bay, Chonburi province, Thailand), from gamete spawning (0 h) and fertilization stage (1 h), to embryonic cleavage (8 h), round cell development (28, 39 and 41 h), and planula formation (48 h). The sequencing results as estimated by Good's coverage at genus level covered 99.65 ± 0.24% of total bacteria. While core phyla of bacteria were observed (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes), changes in bacterial population structures and differential predominant core bacterial orders were denoted for each larval developmental stage, from fertilization to embryonic cleavage and subsequently from the embryonic cleavage to round cell development (P = 0.007). For instances, Pseudoalteromonas and Oceanospirillales were found prevalent at 8 h, and Rhizobiales were at 48 h. The bacterial population structures from the round cell stage, particularly at 41 h, showed gradual drift towards those of the planula formation stage, suggesting microbial selection. Overall, this study provides preliminary insights into the dynamics of bacterial community and their potentially functional association (estimated from the bacterial compositions) during the developmental embryonic A. humilis in a cultivation system in Southeast Asia region.}, } @article {pmid34083727, year = {2021}, author = {Benedict, AB and Ghosh, P and Scott, SM and Griffitts, JS}, title = {A conserved rhizobial peptidase that interacts with host-derived symbiotic peptides.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {11779}, pmid = {34083727}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Models, Molecular ; Peptide Hydrolases/chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Rhizobium/*enzymology/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis, chemical signaling initiates rhizobial infection of root nodule tissue, where a large portion of the bacteria are endocytosed into root nodule cells to function in nitrogen-fixing organelles. These intracellular bacteria are subjected to an arsenal of plant-derived nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, which induce the physiological changes that accompany nitrogen fixation. NCR peptides drive these intracellular bacteria toward terminal differentiation. The bacterial peptidase HrrP was previously shown to degrade host-derived NCR peptides and give the bacterial symbionts greater fitness at the expense of host fitness. The hrrP gene is found in roughly 10% of Sinorhizobium isolates, as it is carried on an accessory plasmid. The objective of the present study is to identify peptidase genes in the core genome of S. meliloti that modulate symbiotic outcome in a manner similar to the accessory hrrP gene. In an overexpression screen of annotated peptidase genes, we identified one such symbiosis-associated peptidase (sap) gene, sapA (SMc00451). When overexpressed, sapA leads to a significant decrease in plant fitness. Its promoter is active in root nodules, with only weak expression evident under free-living conditions. The SapA enzyme can degrade a broad range of NCR peptides in vitro.}, } @article {pmid34083721, year = {2021}, author = {Guo, Y and Jud, W and Weikl, F and Ghirardo, A and Junker, RR and Polle, A and Benz, JP and Pritsch, K and Schnitzler, JP and Rosenkranz, M}, title = {Volatile organic compound patterns predict fungal trophic mode and lifestyle.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {673}, pmid = {34083721}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Fungi/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Fungi produce a wide variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which play central roles in the initiation and regulation of fungal interactions. Here we introduce a global overview of fungal VOC patterns and chemical diversity across phylogenetic clades and trophic modes. The analysis is based on measurements of comprehensive VOC profiles of forty-three fungal species. Our data show that the VOC patterns can describe the phyla and the trophic mode of fungi. We show different levels of phenotypic integration (PI) for different chemical classes of VOCs within distinct functional guilds. Further computational analyses reveal that distinct VOC patterns can predict trophic modes, (non)symbiotic lifestyle, substrate-use and host-type of fungi. Thus, depending on trophic mode, either individual VOCs or more complex VOC patterns (i.e., chemical communication displays) may be ecologically important. Present results stress the ecological importance of VOCs and serve as prerequisite for more comprehensive VOCs-involving ecological studies.}, } @article {pmid34083540, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, S and Luo, H}, title = {Dating Alphaproteobacteria evolution with eukaryotic fossils.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {3324}, pmid = {34083540}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics ; Eukaryota/*classification/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Fossils/history/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; History, Ancient ; Mitochondria/genetics/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Models, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsiales/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Elucidating the timescale of the evolution of Alphaproteobacteria, one of the most prevalent microbial lineages in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, is key to testing hypotheses on their co-evolution with eukaryotic hosts and Earth's systems, which, however, is largely limited by the scarcity of bacterial fossils. Here, we incorporate eukaryotic fossils to date the divergence times of Alphaproteobacteria, based on the mitochondrial endosymbiosis that mitochondria evolved from an alphaproteobacterial lineage. We estimate that Alphaproteobacteria arose ~1900 million years (Ma) ago, followed by rapid divergence of their major clades. We show that the origin of Rickettsiales, an order of obligate intracellular bacteria whose hosts are mostly animals, predates the emergence of animals for ~700 Ma but coincides with that of eukaryotes. This, together with reconstruction of ancestral hosts, strongly suggests that early Rickettsiales lineages had established previously underappreciated interactions with unicellular eukaryotes. Moreover, the mitochondria-based approach displays higher robustness to uncertainties in calibrations compared with the traditional strategy using cyanobacterial fossils. Further, our analyses imply the potential of dating the (bacterial) tree of life based on endosymbiosis events, and suggest that previous applications using divergence times of the modern hosts of symbiotic bacteria to date bacterial evolution might need to be revisited.}, } @article {pmid34083375, year = {2021}, author = {Chiu, CH and Paszkowski, U}, title = {How membrane receptors tread the fine balance between symbiosis and immunity signaling.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {34083375}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Immunity ; Models, Biological ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/immunology/microbiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid34083119, year = {2021}, author = {Zubeidat, K and Hovav, AH}, title = {Shaped by the epithelium - postnatal immune mechanisms of oral homeostasis.}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {42}, number = {7}, pages = {622-634}, doi = {10.1016/j.it.2021.05.006}, pmid = {34083119}, issn = {1471-4981}, mesh = {Animals ; Epithelium ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune System ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The first encounter of mucosal barriers with the microbiota initiates host-microbiota feedback loops instructing the tailored development of both the immune system and microbiota at each mucosal site. Once established, balanced immunological interactions enable symbiotic relationships with the microbiota in adult life. This process has been extensively investigated in the mammalian monolayer epithelium-covered intestine and lung mucosae; however, the postnatal mechanisms engaged by the oral mucosa to establish homeostasis are currently being discovered. Here, we discuss the early life dialogue between the oral mucosa and the microbiota, with particular emphasis on the central role the multilayer epithelium plays to protect the oral mucosa. These intricate and unique postnatal immunological processes shape oral homeostasis, which can potentially affect buccal and systemic health in adult life.}, } @article {pmid34081925, year = {2021}, author = {Das, MC and Devi, SD and Kumaria, S and Reed, BM}, title = {Looking for a way forward for the cryopreservation of orchid diversity.}, journal = {Cryobiology}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {1-14}, doi = {10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.05.004}, pmid = {34081925}, issn = {1090-2392}, mesh = {*Cryopreservation/methods ; Cryoprotective Agents ; *Orchidaceae ; Seeds ; Vitrification ; }, abstract = {The family Orchidaceae, with over 25,000 species, includes five subfamilies and nearly 700 genera. Loss of plants in the wild has resulted from clearing of forests and excessive collection for various purposes. Moreover, the requirement of symbiotic association during seed germination under natural conditions adds a certain level of difficulty in retaining the orchid resources in the wild. Cryopreservation is an important arena in conservation science due to its potential of storing genetic resources without altering the genetic makeup. Cryopreserved orchids are a very small percentage of the species, and are also not representative of most genera. Finding effective protocols for the various explant types is of prime importance in conserving orchid diversity. Seed is the most commonly stored and directly useful explant, and direct plunging in liquid nitrogen or PVS2 vitrification appear to be suitable for most tested species. The myriad of other species should be screened as they become available, with special emphasis on seed maturity and moisture content. Studies of protocorms and protocorm-like bodies mostly employ desiccation, PVS2 vitrification or encapsulation-dehydration. Pollinia are generally stored successfully following desiccation or slow cooling. There are too few examples of shoot tip cryopreservation to make a determination, however vitrification techniques are likely the most useful for a range of genera. A systematic and coordinated effort is needed to screen all available species in as many taxa as possible, initially with seed, protocorms and pollinia. It is a charge to the orchid research community to organize this effort and fill in the required data for the large number of untested taxa. In addition, providing stored samples to established orchid cryo collections would greatly increase preservation of these endangered treasures.}, } @article {pmid34081209, year = {2021}, author = {Dutra-Silva, L and Pereira, GE and Batista, LR and Matteoli, FP}, title = {Fungal diversity and occurrence of mycotoxin producing fungi in tropical vineyards.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {112}, pmid = {34081209}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Brazil ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/*genetics ; Farms ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycotoxins/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Soil Microbiology ; Tropical Climate ; Vitis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Grapevine cultivars are distributed worldwide, nevertheless the fermentation of its grape berries renders distinct wine products that are highly associated to the local fungal community. Despite the symbiotic association between wine and the fungal metabolism, impacting both the terroir and mycotoxin production, few studies have explored the vineyard ecosystem fungal community using both molecular marker sequencing and mycotoxin production assessment. In this study, we investigated the fungal community of three grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) in two tropical vineyards. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was performed on two biocompartments: grape berries (GB) and grapevine soil (GS); yielding a total of 578,495 fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 reads, which were used for taxonomic classification. GB and GS fungal communities were mainly constituted by Ascomycota phylum. GS harbors a significant richer and more diverse fungal community than GB. Among GB samples, Syrah grape berries exclusively shared fungal community included wine-associated yeasts (e.g. Saccharomycopsis vini) that may play key roles in wine terroir. Mycotoxin production assessment revealed the high potential of Aspergillus section Flavi and Penicillium section Citrina isolates to produce aflatoxin B1-B2 and citrinin, respectively. This is the first study to employ next-generation sequencing to investigate vineyard associated fungal community in Brazil. Our findings provide valuable insights on the available tools for fungal ecology assessment applied to food products emphasizing the coexistence between classical and molecular tools.}, } @article {pmid34079527, year = {2021}, author = {Arango, RA and Schoville, SD and Currie, CR and Carlos-Shanley, C}, title = {Experimental Warming Reduces Survival, Cold Tolerance, and Gut Prokaryotic Diversity of the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {632715}, pmid = {34079527}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Understanding the effects of environmental disturbances on insects is crucial in predicting the impact of climate change on their distribution, abundance, and ecology. As microbial symbionts are known to play an integral role in a diversity of functions within the insect host, research examining how organisms adapt to environmental fluctuations should include their associated microbiota. In this study, subterranean termites [Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)] were exposed to three different temperature treatments characterized as low (15°C), medium (27°C), and high (35°C). Results suggested that pre-exposure to cold allowed termites to stay active longer in decreasing temperatures but caused termites to freeze at higher temperatures. High temperature exposure had the most deleterious effects on termites with a significant reduction in termite survival as well as reduced ability to withstand cold stress. The microbial community of high temperature exposed termites also showed a reduction in bacterial richness and decreased relative abundance of Spirochaetes, Elusimicrobia, and methanogenic Euryarchaeota. Our results indicate a potential link between gut bacterial symbionts and termite's physiological response to environmental changes and highlight the need to consider microbial symbionts in studies relating to insect thermosensitivity.}, } @article {pmid34078610, year = {2021}, author = {Conti-Jerpe, IE and Thompson, PD and Wong, CWM and Oliveira, NL and Duprey, NN and Moynihan, MA and Baker, DM}, title = {Response to Comment on Trophic strategy and bleaching resistance in reef-building corals.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {23}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.abi8666}, pmid = {34078610}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Recently, we published a novel method used to assess the trophic niches of different coral species and demonstrated that their nutrition varied considerably, with some species highly dependent on their photosynthetic algal symbionts and others able to feed on plankton to meet energetic requirements. Adjustments to the use of this tool are necessary when it is applied to other scientific questions and symbiotic organisms. We respond to a comment highlighting a risk of bias in the methods, discuss suggested adjustments, and propose further refinements to improve method robustness.}, } @article {pmid34078452, year = {2021}, author = {Röthig, T and Puntin, G and Wong, JCY and Burian, A and McLeod, W and Baker, DM}, title = {Holobiont nitrogen control and its potential for eutrophication resistance in an obligate photosymbiotic jellyfish.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {127}, pmid = {34078452}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Cnidaria ; *Dinoflagellida ; Eutrophication ; Nitrogen ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine holobionts depend on microbial members for health and nutrient cycling. This is particularly evident in cnidarian-algae symbioses that facilitate energy and nutrient acquisition. However, this partnership is highly sensitive to environmental change-including eutrophication-that causes dysbiosis and contributes to global coral reef decline. Yet, some holobionts exhibit resistance to dysbiosis in eutrophic environments, including the obligate photosymbiotic scyphomedusa Cassiopea xamachana.

METHODS: Our aim was to assess the mechanisms in C. xamachana that stabilize symbiotic relationships. We combined labelled bicarbonate ([13]C) and nitrate ([15]N) with metabarcoding approaches to evaluate nutrient cycling and microbial community composition in symbiotic and aposymbiotic medusae.

RESULTS: C-fixation and cycling by algal Symbiodiniaceae was essential for C. xamachana as even at high heterotrophic feeding rates aposymbiotic medusae continuously lost weight. Heterotrophically acquired C and N were readily shared among host and algae. This was in sharp contrast to nitrate assimilation by Symbiodiniaceae, which appeared to be strongly restricted. Instead, the bacterial microbiome seemed to play a major role in the holobiont's DIN assimilation as uptake rates showed a significant positive relationship with phylogenetic diversity of medusa-associated bacteria. This is corroborated by inferred functional capacity that links the dominant bacterial taxa (~90 %) to nitrogen cycling. Observed bacterial community structure differed between apo- and symbiotic C. xamachana putatively highlighting enrichment of ammonium oxidizers and nitrite reducers and depletion of nitrogen-fixers in symbiotic medusae.

CONCLUSION: Host, algal symbionts, and bacterial associates contribute to regulated nutrient assimilation and cycling in C. xamachana. We found that the bacterial microbiome of symbiotic medusae was seemingly structured to increase DIN removal and enforce algal N-limitation-a mechanism that would help to stabilize the host-algae relationship even under eutrophic conditions. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid34078265, year = {2021}, author = {Alickovic, L and Johnson, KP and Boyd, BM}, title = {The reduced genome of a heritable symbiont from an ectoparasitic feather feeding louse.}, journal = {BMC ecology and evolution}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {108}, pmid = {34078265}, issn = {2730-7182}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Ischnocera ; *Parasites ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Feather feeding lice are abundant and diverse ectoparasites that complete their entire life cycle on an avian host. The principal or sole source of nutrition for these lice is feathers. Feathers appear to lack four amino acids that the lice would require to complete development and reproduce. Several insect groups have acquired heritable and intracellular bacteria that can synthesize metabolites absent in an insect's diet, allowing insects to feed exclusively on nutrient-poor resources. Multiple species of feather feeding lice have been shown to harbor heritable and intracellular bacteria. We expected that these bacteria augment the louse's diet with amino acids and facilitated the evolution of these diverse and specialized parasites. Heritable symbionts of insects often have small genomes that contain a minimal set of genes needed to maintain essential cell functions and synthesize metabolites absent in the host insect's diet. Therefore, we expected the genome of a bacterial endosymbiont in feather lice would be small, but encode pathways for biosynthesis of amino acids.

RESULTS: We sequenced the genome of a bacterial symbiont from a feather feeding louse (Columbicola wolffhuegeli) that parasitizes the Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) and used its genome to predict metabolism of amino acids based on the presence or absence of genes. We found that this bacterial symbiont has a small genome, similar to the genomes of heritable symbionts described in other insect groups. However, we failed to identify many of the genes that we expected would support metabolism of amino acids in the symbiont genome. We also evaluated other gene pathways and features of the highly reduced genome of this symbiotic bacterium.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the data collected in this study, it does not appear that this bacterial symbiont can synthesize amino acids needed to complement the diet of a feather feeding louse. Our results raise additional questions about the biology of feather chewing lice and the roles of symbiotic bacteria in evolution of diverse avian parasites.}, } @article {pmid34077686, year = {2021}, author = {Velayati, A and Kareem, I and Sedaghat, M and Sohrab, G and Nikpayam, O and Hedayati, M and Abhari, K and Hejazi, E}, title = {Does symbiotic supplementation which contains Bacillus Coagulans Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and fructooligosaccharide has favourite effects in patients with type-2 diabetes? A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.}, journal = {Archives of physiology and biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1080/13813455.2021.1928225}, pmid = {34077686}, issn = {1744-4160}, abstract = {This study aimed to determine the effect of Bacillus Coagulans symbiotic supplementation on metabolic factors and inflammation in patients with type-2 diabetes. In this clinical trial, 50 patients with type-2 diabetes were randomly assigned to the symbiotic (containing Bacillus Coagulans + Lactobacillus rhamnosus + Lactobacillus acidophilus and fructooligosaccharide) or placebo groups to receive one sachet daily for 12 weeks. Glycaemic Index, lipid profile, and hs-CRP were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), β-cell function (HOMA-β) (p <.05) and hs-CRP (p <.05) significantly declined in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. So, the current study indicated that Bacillus Coagulans symbiotic supplementation could improve metabolic factors and inflammation in patients with type-2 diabetes.}, } @article {pmid34077267, year = {2022}, author = {Liu, YN and Liu, CC and Zhu, AQ and Niu, KX and Guo, R and Tian, L and Wu, YN and Sun, B and Wang, B}, title = {OsRAM2 Function in Lipid Biosynthesis Is Required for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Rice.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {187-199}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-21-0097-R}, pmid = {34077267}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; Lipids ; *Oryza/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a mutualistic symbiosis formed between most land plants and Glomeromycotina fungi. During symbiosis, plants provide organic carbon to fungi in exchange for mineral nutrients. Previous legume studies showed that the required for arbuscular mycorrhization2 (RAM2) gene is necessary for transferring lipids from plants to AM fungi (AMF) and is also likely to play a "signaling" role at the root surface. To further explore RAM2 functions in other plant lineages, in this study, two rice (Oryza sativa) genes, OsRAM2 and OsRAM2L, were identified as orthologs of legume RAM2. Examining their expression patterns during symbiosis revealed that only OsRAM2 was strongly upregulated upon AMF inoculation. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis was then performed to obtain three Osram2 mutant lines (-1, -2, and -3). After inoculation by AMF Rhizophagus irregularis or Funneliformis mosseae, all of the mutant lines showed extremely low colonization rates and the rarely observed arbuscules were all defective, thus supporting a conserved "nutritional" role of RAM2 between monocot and dicot lineages. As for the signaling role, although the hyphopodia numbers formed by both AMF on Osram2 mutants were indeed reduced, their morphology showed no abnormality, with fungal hyphae invading roots successfully. Promoter activities further indicated that OsRAM2 was not expressed in epidermal cells below hyphopodia or outer cortical cells enclosing fungal hyphae but instead expressed exclusively in cortical cells containing arbuscules. Therefore, this suggested an indirect role of RAM2 rather than a direct involvement in determining the symbiosis signals at the root surface.[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2022.}, } @article {pmid34076776, year = {2021}, author = {Shchapova, E and Nazarova, A and Vasilyeva, U and Gurkov, A and Ostyak, A and Mutin, A and Adelshin, R and Belkova, N and Timofeyev, M}, title = {Cellular Immune Response of an Endemic Lake Baikal Amphipod to Indigenous Pseudomonas sp.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {463-471}, pmid = {34076776}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Amphipoda/*immunology/*microbiology ; Animals ; Hemocytes ; Hemolymph/cytology/microbiology ; *Immunity, Cellular ; Lakes ; Pseudomonas/*physiology ; Siberia ; }, abstract = {Studies of invertebrates have shown that the internal environment of crustaceans is not always sterile in normal conditions, and in many species, it can be populated by microorganisms even in the absence of any visible pathological processes in the body. This observation raises the question of whether genetically modified indigenous hemolymph microorganisms can be used for biotechnological purposes inside the crustacean either as local producers of some compounds or as sensors to physiological parameters. In this study, we tested the ability of the bacteria isolated from the hemolymph of the amphipod Eulimnogammarus verrucosus to hide from the cellular immune response of the host as the most important feature for their potential long-term application in vivo. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing revealed five common bacterial genera in all analyzed samples of the amphipod hemolymph, among which Pseudomonas is most easily subjected to genome modification and, thus, the most prospective for biotechnological application. Cultivation of Pseudomonas gave us a number of strains undoubtedly derived from the amphipod hemolymph, and one of them (belonging to the Pseudomonas fluorescens group) was chosen for further tests. The primary culture of amphipod hemocytes was used to analyze the immunogenicity of the strain and showed a pronounced reaction of the immune cells to a high amount of the bacteria within six hours. This result indicates that modulation of cellular immune response to metabolically active bacterial cells is not mandatory for the survival and wide distribution of these microorganisms in the hemolymph of numerous amphipod individuals.}, } @article {pmid34076270, year = {2021}, author = {Frangedakis, E and Waller, M and Nishiyama, T and Tsukaya, H and Xu, X and Yue, Y and Tjahjadi, M and Gunadi, A and Van Eck, J and Li, FW and Szövényi, P and Sakakibara, K}, title = {An Agrobacterium-mediated stable transformation technique for the hornwort model Anthoceros agrestis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {232}, number = {3}, pages = {1488-1505}, pmid = {34076270}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics ; *Anthocerotophyta ; *Embryophyta ; Glucuronidase ; Phylogeny ; RNA Editing ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Despite their key phylogenetic position and their unique biology, hornworts have been widely overlooked. Until recently there was no hornwort model species amenable to systematic experimental investigation. Anthoceros agrestis has been proposed as the model species to study hornwort biology. We have developed an Agrobacterium-mediated method for the stable transformation of A. agrestis, a hornwort model species for which a genetic manipulation technique was not yet available. High transformation efficiency was achieved by using thallus tissue grown under low light conditions. We generated a total of 274 transgenic A. agrestis lines expressing the β-glucuronidase (GUS), cyan, green, and yellow fluorescent proteins under control of the CaMV 35S promoter and several endogenous promoters. Nuclear and plasma membrane localization with multiple color fluorescent proteins was also confirmed. The transformation technique described here should pave the way for detailed molecular and genetic studies of hornwort biology, providing much needed insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying symbiosis, carbon-concentrating mechanism, RNA editing and land plant evolution in general.}, } @article {pmid34075098, year = {2021}, author = {Kropp, C and Le Corf, K and Relizani, K and Tambosco, K and Martinez, C and Chain, F and Rawadi, G and Langella, P and Claus, SP and Martin, R}, title = {The Keystone commensal bacterium Christensenella minuta DSM 22607 displays anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {11494}, pmid = {34075098}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Caco-2 Cells ; *Clostridiales ; *Colitis/chemically induced/metabolism/therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Male ; Mice ; }, abstract = {Christensenellaceae is a family of subdominant commensal bacteria found in humans. It is thought to play an important role in gut health by maintaining microbial symbiosis. Indeed, these bacteria occur at significantly lower levels or are absent in individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Here, we explored if type species Christensenella minuta (strain: DSM 22607) could have the potential to help treat IBDs. We assessed key properties displayed by the bacterium using a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays. We found that while C. minuta is a strict anaerobe, it is also oxygen tolerant. Additionally, we observed that the species produces high levels of acetate and moderate levels of butyrate. We performed deep phenotyping using Biolog microarrays. Using human intestinal cell lines, we discovered that C. minuta demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory activity, resulting in reduced levels of proinflammatory IL-8 cytokines via the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, C. minuta protected intestinal epithelial integrity in vitro. Finally, in two distinct animal models of acute colitis, C. minuta prevented intestinal damage, reduced colonic inflammation, and promoted mucosal healing. Together, these results indicate that C. minuta has potent immunomodulatory properties, underscoring its potential use in innovative microbiome-based IBD biotherapies.}, } @article {pmid34073758, year = {2021}, author = {Konstantinou, D and Popin, RV and Fewer, DP and Sivonen, K and Gkelis, S}, title = {Genome Reduction and Secondary Metabolism of the Marine Sponge-Associated Cyanobacterium Leptothoe.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34073758}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges form symbiotic relationships with diverse and abundant microbial communities. Cyanobacteria are among the most important members of the microbial communities that are associated with sponges. Here, we performed a genus-wide comparative genomic analysis of the newly described marine benthic cyanobacterial genus Leptothoe (Synechococcales). We obtained draft genomes from Le. kymatousa TAU-MAC 1615 and Le. spongobia TAU-MAC 1115, isolated from marine sponges. We identified five additional Leptothoe genomes, host-associated or free-living, using a phylogenomic approach, and the comparison of all genomes showed that the sponge-associated strains display features of a symbiotic lifestyle. Le. kymatousa and Le. spongobia have undergone genome reduction; they harbored considerably fewer genes encoding for (i) cofactors, vitamins, prosthetic groups, pigments, proteins, and amino acid biosynthesis; (ii) DNA repair; (iii) antioxidant enzymes; and (iv) biosynthesis of capsular and extracellular polysaccharides. They have also lost several genes related to chemotaxis and motility. Eukaryotic-like proteins, such as ankyrin repeats, playing important roles in sponge-symbiont interactions, were identified in sponge-associated Leptothoe genomes. The sponge-associated Leptothoe stains harbored biosynthetic gene clusters encoding novel natural products despite genome reduction. Comparisons of the biosynthetic capacities of Leptothoe with chemically rich cyanobacteria revealed that Leptothoe is another promising marine cyanobacterium for the biosynthesis of novel natural products.}, } @article {pmid34073734, year = {2021}, author = {Reuss, AM and Groos, D and Buchfelder, M and Savaskan, N}, title = {The Acidic Brain-Glycolytic Switch in the Microenvironment of Malignant Glioma.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34073734}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/*metabolism ; Brain Chemistry ; Brain Neoplasms/*metabolism/physiopathology ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; Glioma/*metabolism/physiopathology ; *Glycolysis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Malignant glioma represents a fatal disease with a poor prognosis and development of resistance mechanisms against conventional therapeutic approaches. The distinct tumor zones of this heterogeneous neoplasm develop their own microenvironment, in which subpopulations of cancer cells communicate. Adaptation to hypoxia in the center of the expanding tumor mass leads to the glycolytic and angiogenic switch, accompanied by upregulation of different glycolytic enzymes, transporters, and other metabolites. These processes render the tumor microenvironment more acidic, remodel the extracellular matrix, and create energy gradients for the metabolic communication between different cancer cells in distinct tumor zones. Escape mechanisms from hypoxia-induced cell death and energy deprivation are the result. The functional consequences are more aggressive and malignant behavior with enhanced proliferation and survival, migration and invasiveness, and the induction of angiogenesis. In this review, we go from the biochemical principles of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis over the glycolytic switch, regulated by the key transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, to other important metabolic players like the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs)1 and 4. We discuss the metabolic symbiosis model via lactate shuttling in the acidic tumor microenvironment and highlight the functional consequences of the glycolytic switch on glioma malignancy. Furthermore, we illustrate regulation by micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) and the connection between isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status and glycolytic metabolism. Finally, we give an outlook about the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the glycolytic switch and the relation to tumor immunity in malignant glioma.}, } @article {pmid34073515, year = {2021}, author = {Ramesh, C and Tulasi, BR and Raju, M and Thakur, N and Dufossé, L}, title = {Marine Natural Products from Tunicates and Their Associated Microbes.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34073515}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Biological Products/metabolism/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Urochordata/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Marine tunicates are identified as a potential source of marine natural products (MNPs), demonstrating a wide range of biological properties, like antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The symbiotic relationship between tunicates and specific microbial groups has revealed the acquisition of microbial compounds by tunicates for defensive purpose. For instance, yellow pigmented compounds, "tambjamines", produced by the tunicate, Sigillina signifera (Sluiter, 1909), primarily originated from their bacterial symbionts, which are involved in their chemical defense function, indicating the ecological role of symbiotic microbial association with tunicates. This review has garnered comprehensive literature on MNPs produced by tunicates and their symbiotic microbionts. Various sections covered in this review include tunicates' ecological functions, biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antitumor, and anticancer activities, metabolic origins, utilization of invasive tunicates, and research gaps. Apart from the literature content, 20 different chemical databases were explored to identify tunicates-derived MNPs. In addition, the management and exploitation of tunicate resources in the global oceans are detailed for their ecological and biotechnological implications.}, } @article {pmid34073040, year = {2021}, author = {Zeng, W and Liu, B and Wu, W and Zhang, S and Chen, Y and Li, Z}, title = {Collaborative Response of the Host and Symbiotic Lignocellulytic System to Non-Lethal Toxic Stress in Coptotermes formosanus Skiraki.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34073040}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Disturbing the lignocellulose digestive system of termites is considered to be a promising approach for termite control. The research on the tolerance mechanism of the termite lignocellulose digestive system to harmful environment conditions is limited. In this study, we keep Coptotermes formosanus Skiraki under a non-lethal toxic condition by feeding the termites with filter paper containing the kojic acid (a low toxic insecticide). The effects of low toxic stress on the activities and gene expressions of host/symbiotic originated lignocellulases, and on the symbiotic microbial community structure of C. formosanus were explored. Our result showed that the low toxic stress would lead to the synchronous decrease of cellulase and hemicellulase activities, and supplementary increase of corresponding gene expressions. The symbiotic community maintained its role as the main force in the lignocellulolytic system of C. formosanus. Meanwhile, a large number of rare taxa were significantly enriched by kojic acid treatment. These numerically inconspicuous bacterial populations might be responsible for the functions similar to phenoloxidase or insecticide detoxification and enable C. formosanus to tolerate the harmful environment. Overall, our data suggested that the digestive adaptation of C. formosanus to physiotoxic feeding is closely related to the triple collaboration of termites-flagellates-bacteria.}, } @article {pmid34073039, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, X and Ling, X and Guo, H and Zhu-Salzman, K and Ge, F and Sun, Y}, title = {Serratia symbiotica Enhances Fatty Acid Metabolism of Pea Aphid to Promote Host Development.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34073039}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/metabolism/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Serratia/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts associated with insects are often involved in host development and ecological adaptation. Serratia symbiotica, a common facultative endosymbiont harbored in pea aphids, improves host fitness and heat tolerance, but studies concerning the nutritional metabolism and impact on the aphid host associated with carrying Serratia are limited. In the current study, we showed that Serratia-infected aphids had a shorter nymphal developmental time and higher body weight than Serratia-free aphids when fed on detached leaves. Genes connecting to fatty acid biosynthesis and elongation were up-regulated in Serratia-infected aphids. Specifically, elevated expression of fatty acid synthase 1 (FASN1) and diacylglycerol-o-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) could result in accumulation of myristic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and arachidic acid in fat bodies. Impairing fatty acid synthesis in Serratia-infected pea aphids either by a pharmacological inhibitor or through silencing FASN1 and DGAT2 expression prolonged the nymphal growth period and decreased the aphid body weight. Conversely, supplementation of myristic acid (C14:0) to these aphids restored their normal development and weight gain. Our results indicated that Serratia promoted development and growth of its aphid host through enhancing fatty acid biosynthesis. Our discovery has shed more light on nutritional effects underlying the symbiosis between aphids and facultative endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid34072871, year = {2021}, author = {Masselin, A and Rousseau, A and Pradeau, S and Fort, L and Gueret, R and Buon, L and Armand, S and Cottaz, S and Choisnard, L and Fort, S}, title = {Optimizing Chitin Depolymerization by Lysozyme to Long-Chain Oligosaccharides.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34072871}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Acetylation ; Chitin/*chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Muramidase/*chemistry ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Chitin oligosaccharides (COs) hold high promise as organic fertilizers in the ongoing agro-ecological transition. Short- and long-chain COs can contribute to the establishment of symbiotic associations between plants and microorganisms, facilitating the uptake of soil nutrients by host plants. Long-chain COs trigger plant innate immunity. A fine investigation of these different signaling pathways requires improving the access to high-purity COs. Here, we used the response surface methodology to optimize the production of COs by enzymatic hydrolysis of water-soluble chitin (WSC) with hen egg-white lysozyme. The influence of WSC concentration, its acetylation degree, and the reaction time course were modelled using a Box-Behnken design. Under optimized conditions, water-soluble COs up to the nonasaccharide were formed in 51% yield and purified to homogeneity. This straightforward approach opens new avenues to determine the complex roles of COs in plants.}, } @article {pmid34072177, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, Y and Palaniveloo, K and Alias, SA and Sathiya Seelan, JS}, title = {Species Diversity and Secondary Metabolites of Sarcophyton-Associated Marine Fungi.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {34072177}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*chemistry ; Alternaria ; Amino Acids/chemistry ; Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*microbiology ; Anthraquinones/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Biological Assay ; Biological Products/chemistry/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Ketones/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soft corals are widely distributed across the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, with Sarcophyton being one of the most abundant genera. To date, there have been 50 species of identified Sarcophyton. These soft corals host a diverse range of marine fungi, which produce chemically diverse, bioactive secondary metabolites as part of their symbiotic nature with the soft coral hosts. The most prolific groups of compounds are terpenoids and indole alkaloids. Annually, there are more bio-active compounds being isolated and characterised. Thus, the importance of the metabolite compilation is very much important for future reference. This paper compiles the diversity of Sarcophyton species and metabolites produced by their associated marine fungi, as well as the bioactivity of these identified compounds. A total of 88 metabolites of structural diversity are highlighted, indicating the huge potential these symbiotic relationships hold for future research.}, } @article {pmid34071977, year = {2021}, author = {Azizi, NF and Kumar, MR and Yeap, SK and Abdullah, JO and Khalid, M and Omar, AR and Osman, MA and Mortadza, SAS and Alitheen, NB}, title = {Kefir and Its Biological Activities.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34071977}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kefir is a fermented beverage with renowned probiotics that coexist in symbiotic association with other microorganisms in kefir grains. This beverage consumption is associated with a wide array of nutraceutical benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects. Moreover, kefir can be adapted into different substrates which allow the production of new functional beverages to provide product diversification. Being safe and inexpensive, there is an immense global interest in kefir's nutritional potential. Due to their promising benefits, kefir and kefir-like products have a great prospect for commercialization. This manuscript reviews the therapeutic aspects of kefir to date, and potential applications of kefir products in the health and food industries, along with the limitations. The literature reviewed here demonstrates that there is a growing demand for kefir as a functional food owing to a number of health-promoting properties.}, } @article {pmid34071379, year = {2021}, author = {Ku, YS and Wang, Z and Duan, S and Lam, HM}, title = {Rhizospheric Communication through Mobile Genetic Element Transfers for the Regulation of Microbe-Plant Interactions.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34071379}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The transfer of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) has been known as a strategy adopted by organisms for survival and adaptation to the environment. The rhizosphere, where microbes and plants coexist, is a hotspot of MGE transfers. In this review, we discuss the classic mechanisms as well as novel mechanisms of MGE transfers in the rhizosphere. Both intra-kingdom and cross-kingdom MGE transfers will be addressed. MGE transfers could be ancient events which drove evolution or recurrent events which regulate adaptations. Recent findings on MGE transfers between plant and its interacting microbes suggest gene regulations brought forth by such transfers for symbiosis or defense mechanisms. In the natural environment, factors such as temperature and soil composition constantly influence the interactions among different parties in the rhizosphere. In this review, we will also address the effects of various environmental factors on MGE transfers in the rhizosphere. Besides environmental factors, plant root exudates also play a role in the regulation of MGE transfer among microbes in the rhizosphere. The potential use of microbes and plants for bioremediation will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid34071194, year = {2021}, author = {Szotkowski, M and Holub, J and Šimanský, S and Hubačová, K and Sikorová, P and Mariničová, V and Němcová, A and Márová, I}, title = {Bioreactor Co-Cultivation of High Lipid and Carotenoid Producing Yeast Rhodotorula kratochvilovae and Several Microalgae under Stress.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34071194}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The co-cultivation of red yeasts and microalgae works with the idea of the natural transport of gases. The microalgae produce oxygen, which stimulates yeast growth, while CO2 produced by yeast is beneficial for algae growth. Both microorganisms can then produce lipids. The present pilot study aimed to evaluate the ability of selected microalgae and carotenogenic yeast strains to grow and metabolize in co-culture. The effect of media composition on growth and metabolic activity of red yeast strains was assessed simultaneously with microalgae mixotrophy. Cultivation was transferred from small-scale co-cultivation in Erlenmeyer flasks to aerated bottles with different inoculation ratios and, finally, to a 3L bioreactor. Among red yeasts, the strain R. kratochvilovae CCY 20-2-26 was selected because of the highest biomass production on BBM medium. Glycerol is a more suitable carbon source in the BBM medium and urea was proposed as a compromise. From the tested microalgae, Desmodesmus sp. were found as the most suitable for co-cultivations with R. kratochvilovae. In all co-cultures, linear biomass growth was found (144 h), and the yield was in the range of 8.78-11.12 g/L of dry biomass. Lipids increased to a final value of 29.62-31.61%. The FA profile was quite stable with the UFA portion at about 80%. Around 1.98-2.49 mg/g CDW of carotenoids with torularhodine as the major pigment were produced, ubiquinone production reached 5.41-6.09 mg/g, and ergosterol yield was 6.69 mg/g. Chlorophyll production was very low at 2.11 mg/g. Pilot experiments have confirmed that carotenogenic yeasts and microalgae are capable of symbiotic co-existence with a positive impact om biomass growth and lipid metabolites yields.}, } @article {pmid34070926, year = {2021}, author = {Mandon, K and Nazaret, F and Farajzadeh, D and Alloing, G and Frendo, P}, title = {Redox Regulation in Diazotrophic Bacteria in Interaction with Plants.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34070926}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Plants interact with a large number of microorganisms that greatly influence their growth and health. Among the beneficial microorganisms, rhizosphere bacteria known as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria increase plant fitness by producing compounds such as phytohormones or by carrying out symbioses that enhance nutrient acquisition. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, either as endophytes or as endosymbionts, specifically improve the growth and development of plants by supplying them with nitrogen, a key macro-element. Survival and proliferation of these bacteria require their adaptation to the rhizosphere and host plant, which are particular ecological environments. This adaptation highly depends on bacteria response to the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), associated to abiotic stresses or produced by host plants, which determine the outcome of the plant-bacteria interaction. This paper reviews the different antioxidant defense mechanisms identified in diazotrophic bacteria, focusing on their involvement in coping with the changing conditions encountered during interaction with plant partners.}, } @article {pmid34070891, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, S and Zhang, C and Huang, Y and Chen, H and Yuan, S and Zhou, X}, title = {Characteristics and Research Progress of Legume Nodule Senescence.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34070891}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Delaying the nodule senescence of legume crops can prolong the time of nitrogen fixation and attenuate the lack of fertilizer in the later stage of legume crop cultivation, resulting in improved crop yield and reduced usage of nitrogen fertilizer. However, effective measures to delay the nodule senescence of legume crops in agriculture are relatively lacking. In the present review, we summarized the structural and physiological characteristics of nodule senescence, as well as the corresponding detection methods, providing technical support for the identification of nodule senescence phenotype. We then outlined the key genes currently known to be involved in the regulation of nodule senescence, offering the molecular genetic information for breeding varieties with delayed nodule senescence. In addition, we reviewed various abiotic factors affecting nodule senescence, providing a theoretical basis for the interaction between molecular genetics and abiotic factors in the regulation of nodule senescence. Finally, we briefly prospected research foci of nodule senescence in the future.}, } @article {pmid34070154, year = {2021}, author = {Minami, N and Tanaka, K and Sasayama, T and Kohmura, E and Saya, H and Sampetrean, O}, title = {Lactate Reprograms Energy and Lipid Metabolism in Glucose-Deprived Oxidative Glioma Stem Cells.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34070154}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Fast-growing tumors satisfy their bioenergetic needs by supplementing glucose with alternative carbon sources. Cancer stem cells are the most versatile and robust cells within malignant tumors. They avoid potentially lethal metabolic and other types of stress through flexible reprogramming of relevant pathways, but it has remained unclear whether alternative carbon sources are important for the maintenance of their tumor-propagating ability. Here we assessed the ability of glycolytic and oxidative murine glioma stem cells (GSCs) to grow in an ultralow glucose medium. Sphere formation assays revealed that exogenous lactate and acetate reversed the growth impairment of oxidative GSCs in such medium. Extracellular flux analysis showed that lactate supported oxygen consumption in these cells, whereas metabolomics analysis revealed that it increased the intracellular levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, ATP, and GTP as well as increased adenylate and guanylate charge. Lactate also reversed the depletion of choline apparent in the glucose-deprived cells as well as reprogrammed phospholipid and fatty acid biosynthesis. This metabolic reprogramming was associated with a more aggressive phenotype of intracranial tumors formed by lactate-treated GSCs. Our results thus suggest that lactate is an important alternative energetic and biosynthetic substrate for oxidative GSCs, and that it sustains their growth under conditions of glucose deprivation.}, } @article {pmid34069415, year = {2021}, author = {Espírito Santo, C and Caseiro, C and Martins, MJ and Monteiro, R and Brandão, I}, title = {Gut Microbiota, in the Halfway between Nutrition and Lung Function.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34069415}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Asthma/immunology ; Bacteria/classification ; Cystic Fibrosis ; Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Lung/*pathology ; Lung Diseases/immunology ; Metabolic Diseases ; Nutrients ; *Nutritional Status ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is often mentioned as a "forgotten organ" or "metabolic organ", given its profound impact on host physiology, metabolism, immune function and nutrition. A healthy diet is undoubtedly a major contributor for promoting a "good" microbial community that turns out to be crucial for a fine-tuned symbiotic relationship with the host. Both microbial-derived components and produced metabolites elicit the activation of downstream cascades capable to modulate both local and systemic immune responses. A balance between host and gut microbiota is crucial to keep a healthy intestinal barrier and an optimal immune homeostasis, thus contributing to prevent disease occurrence. How dietary habits can impact gut microbiota and, ultimately, host immunity in health and disease has been the subject of intense study, especially with regard to metabolic diseases. Only recently, these links have started to be explored in relation to lung diseases. The objective of this review is to address the current knowledge on how diet affects gut microbiota and how it acts on lung function. As the immune system seems to be the key player in the cross-talk between diet, gut microbiota and the lungs, involved immune interactions are discussed. There are key nutrients that, when present in our diet, help in gut homeostasis and lead to a healthier lifestyle, even ameliorating chronic diseases. Thus, with this review we hope to incite the scientific community interest to use diet as a valuable non-pharmacological addition to lung diseases management. First, we talk about the intestinal microbiota and interactions through the intestinal barrier for a better understanding of the following sections, which are the main focus of this article: the way diet impacts the intestinal microbiota and the immune interactions of the gut-lung axis that can explain the impact of diet, a key modifiable factor influencing the gut microbiota in several lung diseases.}, } @article {pmid34069253, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, ZY and Guan, JY and Cao, YR and Dai, XY and Storey, KB and Yu, DN and Zhang, JY}, title = {Mitogenome Analysis of Four Lamiinae Species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Gene Expression Responses by Monochamus alternatus When Infected with the Parasitic Nematode, Bursaphelenchus mucronatus.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34069253}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {We determined the mitochondrial gene sequence of Monochamus alternatus and three other mitogenomes of Lamiinae (Insect: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) belonging to three genera (Aulaconotus, Apriona and Paraglenea) to enrich the mitochondrial genome database of Lamiinae and further explore the phylogenetic relationships within the subfamily. Phylogenetic trees of the Lamiinae were built using the Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods and the monophyly of Monochamus, Anoplophora, and Batocera genera was supported. Anoplophora chinensis, An. glabripennis and Aristobia reticulator were closely related, suggesting they may also be potential vectors for the transmission of the pine wood pathogenic nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in addition to M. alternatus, a well-known vector of pine wilt disease. There is a special symbiotic relationship between M. alternatus and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. As the native sympatric sibling species of B. xylophilus, B. mucronatus also has a specific relationship that is often overlooked. The analysis of mitochondrial gene expression aimed to explore the effect of B. mucronatus on the energy metabolism of the respiratory chain of M. alternatus adults. Using RT-qPCR, we determined and analyzed the expression of eight mitochondrial protein-coding genes (COI, COII, COIII, ND1, ND4, ND5, ATP6, and Cty b) between M. alternatus infected by B. mucronatus and M. alternatus without the nematode. Expression of all the eight mitochondrial genes were up-regulated, particularly the ND4 and ND5 gene, which were up-regulated by 4-5-fold (p < 0.01). Since longicorn beetles have immune responses to nematodes, we believe that their relationship should not be viewed as symbiotic, but classed as parasitic.}, } @article {pmid34068952, year = {2021}, author = {Vicente-Díez, I and Blanco-Pérez, R and González-Trujillo, MDM and Pou, A and Campos-Herrera, R}, title = {Insecticidal Effect of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and the Cell-Free Supernatant from Their Symbiotic Bacteria against Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) Nymphs.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34068952}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is the primary vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Proteobacteria: Xanthomonadaceae) in Europe, a pest-disease complex of economically relevant crops such as olives, almonds, and grapevine, managed mainly through the use of broad-spectrum pesticides. Providing environmentally sound alternatives to reduce the reliance on chemical control is a primary challenge in the control of P. spumarius and, hence, in the protection of crops against the expansion of its associated bacterial pathogen. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are well-known biocontrol agents of soil-dwelling arthropods. Recent technological advances in field applications, including improvements in obtaining cell-free supernatant from their symbiotic bacteria, allow their successful implementation against aerial pests. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the efficacy of EPN applications against nymphal instars of P. spumarius. We tested four EPN species and the cell-free supernatant of their corresponding symbiotic bacteria: Steinernema feltiae-Xenorhabdus bovienii, S. carpocapsae-X. nematophila, S. riojaense-X. kozodoii, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora-Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii. First, we showed that 24 and 72 h exposure to the foam produced by P. spumarius nymphs did not affect S. feltiae virulence. The direct application of steinernematid EPNs provided promising results, reaching 90, 78, and 53% nymphal mortality rates after five days of exposure for S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, and S. riojaense, respectively. Conversely, the application of the cell-free supernatant from P. laumondii resulted in nymphal mortalities of 64%, significantly higher than observed for Xenorhabdus species after five days of exposure. Overall, we demonstrated the great potential of the application of specific EPNs and cell-free supernatant of their symbiont bacteria against P. spumarius nymphs, introducing new opportunities to develop them as biopesticides for integrated management practices or organic vineyard production.}, } @article {pmid34068887, year = {2021}, author = {Harrison, K and Curtin, C}, title = {Microbial Composition of SCOBY Starter Cultures Used by Commercial Kombucha Brewers in North America.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34068887}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Kombucha fermentation is initiated by transferring a solid-phase cellulosic pellicle into sweetened tea and allowing the microbes that it contains to initiate the fermentation. This pellicle, commonly referred to as a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), floats to the surface of the fermenting tea and represents an interphase environment, where embedded microbes gain access to oxygen as well as nutrients in the tea. To date, various yeast and bacteria have been reported to exist within the SCOBY, with little consensus as to which species are essential and which are incidental to Kombucha production. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing approaches to evaluate spatial homogeneity within a single commercial SCOBY and taxonomic diversity across a large number (n = 103) of SCOBY used by Kombucha brewers, predominantly in North America. Our results show that the most prevalent and abundant SCOBY taxa were the yeast genus Brettanomyces and the bacterial genus Komagataeibacter, through careful sampling of upper and lower SCOBY layers. This sampling procedure is critical to avoid over-representation of lactic acid bacteria. K-means clustering was used on metabarcoding data of all 103 SCOBY, delineating four SCOBY archetypes based upon differences in their microbial community structures. Fungal genera Zygosaccharomyces, Lachancea and Starmerella were identified as the major compensatory taxa for SCOBY with lower relative abundance of Brettanomyces. Interestingly, while Lactobacillacae was the major compensatory taxa where Komagataeibacter abundance was lower, phylogenic heat-tree analysis infers a possible antagonistic relationship between Starmerella and the acetic acid bacterium. Our results provide the basis for further investigation of how SCOBY archetype affects Kombucha fermentation, and fundamental studies of microbial community assembly in an interphase environment.}, } @article {pmid34068606, year = {2021}, author = {Hogg, RC and Hodgins, GA}, title = {Symbiosis or Sporting Tool? Competition and the Horse-Rider Relationship in Elite Equestrian Sports.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34068606}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The horse-rider relationship is fundamental to ethical equestrianism wherein equine health and welfare are prioritized as core dimensions of sporting success. Equestrianism represents a unique and important form of interspecies activity in which relationships are commonly idealized as central to sporting performance but have been largely unexplored in the sport psychology literature. Horse-rider relationships warrant particular consideration in the elite sporting context, given the tension between constructions of "partnership" between horse and rider, and the pragmatic pressures of elite sport on horse and rider and their relationship. The current study examined the link between sporting performance and the horse-rider relationship in an elite equestrian sporting context. Thirty-six international elite riders from eight countries and six equestrian disciplines participated in a single in-depth interview. A social constructionist, grounded theory methodology was used to analyze this data. The horse-rider relationship was positioned in three different ways in relation to elite sporting outcomes: as pivotal to success; non-essential to success; or as antithetical to success. Participants shifted between these positions, expressing nuanced, ambivalent attitudes that reflected their sporting discipline and their personal orientation to equestrianism. Competitive success was also defined in fluid terms, with participants differentiating between intrinsic and extrinsic markers of success. These findings suggest a complex and multifaceted connection between interspecies performance and relationships in elite sport. Where strong horse-rider relationships are antithetical to performance, a threat to the welfare and ethics of equestrian sport exists. Relevant sporting governing bodies must attend to this problem to ensure the centrality of animal welfare, wellbeing, and performance longevity to equestrian sports.}, } @article {pmid34067720, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, Y and Hou, W and Jin, J and Christensen, MJ and Gu, L and Cheng, C and Wang, J}, title = {Epichloë gansuensis Increases the Tolerance of Achnatherum inebrians to Low-P Stress by Modulating Amino Acids Metabolism and Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34067720}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {In the long-term evolutionary process, Achnatherum inebrians and seed-borne endophytic fungi, Epichloë gansuensis, formed a mutually beneficial symbiosis relationship, and Epichloë gansuensis has an important biological role in improving the tolerance of host grasses to abiotic stress. In this work, we first assessed the effects of Epichloë gansuensis on dry weight, the content of C, N, P and metal ions, and metabolic pathway of amino acids, and phosphorus utilization efficiency (PUE) of Achnatherum inebrians at low P stress. Our results showed that the dry weights, the content of alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, glutamine, glutamic acid, L-asparagine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, and tryptophan were higher in leaves of Epichloë gansuensis-infected (E+) Achnatherum inebrians than Epichloë gansuensis-uninfected (E-) Achnatherum inebrians at low P stress. Further, Epichloë gansuensis increased C content of roots compared to the root of E- plant at 0.01 mM P and 0.5 mM P; Epichloëgansuensis increased K content of leaves compared to the leaf of E- plant at 0.01 mM P and 0.5 mM P. Epichloëgansuensis reduced Ca content of roots compared to the root of E- plant at 0.01 mM P and 0.5 mM P; Epichloë gansuensis reduced the content of Mg and Fe in leaves compared to the leaf of E- plant at 0.01 mM P and 0.5 mM P. In addition, at low P stress, Epichloë gansuensis most probably influenced aspartate and glutamate metabolism; valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis in leaves; and arginine and proline metabolism; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism in roots. Epichloë gansuensis also affected the content of organic acid and stress-related metabolites at low P stress. In conclusion, Epichloë gansuensis improves Achnatherum inebrians growth at low P stress by regulating the metabolic pathway of amino acids, amino acids content, organic acid content, and increasing PUE.}, } @article {pmid34067621, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, S and Yu, T and Terrapon, N and Henrissat, B and Walker, ED}, title = {Genome Features of Asaia sp. W12 Isolated from the Mosquito Anopheles stephensi Reveal Symbiotic Traits.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34067621}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics ; Inositol/biosynthesis ; Intestines/microbiology ; Open Reading Frames ; Operon ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Asaia bacteria commonly comprise part of the microbiome of many mosquito species in the genera Anopheles and Aedes, including important vectors of infectious agents. Their close association with multiple organs and tissues of their mosquito hosts enhances the potential for paratransgenesis for the delivery of antimalaria or antivirus effectors. The molecular mechanisms involved in the interactions between Asaia and mosquito hosts, as well as Asaia and other bacterial members of the mosquito microbiome, remain underexplored. Here, we determined the genome sequence of Asaia strain W12 isolated from Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, compared it to other Asaia species associated with plants or insects, and investigated the properties of the bacteria relevant to their symbiosis with mosquitoes. The assembled genome of strain W12 had a size of 3.94 MB, the largest among Asaia spp. studied so far. At least 3585 coding sequences were predicted. Insect-associated Asaia carried more glycoside hydrolase (GH)-encoding genes than those isolated from plants, showing their high plant biomass-degrading capacity in the insect gut. W12 had the most predicted regulatory protein components comparatively among the selected Asaia, indicating its capacity to adapt to frequent environmental changes in the mosquito gut. Two complete operons encoding cytochrome bo3-type ubiquinol terminal oxidases (cyoABCD-1 and cyoABCD-2) were found in most Asaia genomes, possibly offering alternative terminal oxidases and allowing the flexible transition of respiratory pathways. Genes involved in the production of 2,3-butandiol and inositol have been found in Asaia sp. W12, possibly contributing to biofilm formation and stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid34067154, year = {2021}, author = {Eid, AM and Fouda, A and Abdel-Rahman, MA and Salem, SS and Elsaied, A and Oelmüller, R and Hijri, M and Bhowmik, A and Elkelish, A and Hassan, SE}, title = {Harnessing Bacterial Endophytes for Promotion of Plant Growth and Biotechnological Applications: An Overview.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34067154}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Endophytic bacteria colonize plants and live inside them for part of or throughout their life without causing any harm or disease to their hosts. The symbiotic relationship improves the physiology, fitness, and metabolite profile of the plants, while the plants provide food and shelter for the bacteria. The bacteria-induced alterations of the plants offer many possibilities for biotechnological, medicinal, and agricultural applications. The endophytes promote plant growth and fitness through the production of phytohormones or biofertilizers, or by alleviating abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. Strengthening of the plant immune system and suppression of disease are associated with the production of novel antibiotics, secondary metabolites, siderophores, and fertilizers such as nitrogenous or other industrially interesting chemical compounds. Endophytic bacteria can be used for phytoremediation of environmental pollutants or the control of fungal diseases by the production of lytic enzymes such as chitinases and cellulases, and their huge host range allows a broad spectrum of applications to agriculturally and pharmaceutically interesting plant species. More recently, endophytic bacteria have also been used to produce nanoparticles for medical and industrial applications. This review highlights the biotechnological possibilities for bacterial endophyte applications and proposes future goals for their application.}, } @article {pmid34066650, year = {2021}, author = {Bellido, E and de la Haba, P and Agüera, E}, title = {Physiological Alteration in Sunflower Plants (Helianthus annuus L.) Exposed to High CO2 and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34066650}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) in a CO2-enriched atmosphere (eCO2) were used herein to examine the developmental and physiological effects of biofertilization with mycorrhizae (Rhizophagus irregularis). The eCO2 environment stimulated colonization using R. irregularis mycorrhizal fungi, as compared to plants grown under ambient CO2 conditions (aCO2). This colonization promotes plant growth due to an increased nutrient content (P, K, Mg, and B), which favors a greater synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. Biofertilized plants (M) under eCO2 conditions have a higher concentration of carbon compounds in their leaves, as compared to non-biofertilized eCO2 plants (NM). The biofertilization (M) of sunflowers with R. irregularis decreased the C/N ratio, as compared to the NM plants, decreasing the hydrogen peroxide content and increasing the antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and APX). These results suggest that sunflower symbiosis with R. irregularis improves the absorption of N, while also decreasing the plant's oxidative stress. It may be concluded that biofertilization with mycorrhizae (R. irregularis) may potentially replace the chemical fertilization of sunflower plants (H. annuus L.), resulting in more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This information is essential to our understanding of the mechanisms influencing the C and N dynamic in future climate change scenarios, in which high CO2 levels are expected.}, } @article {pmid34065848, year = {2021}, author = {Lyu, D and Msimbira, LA and Nazari, M and Antar, M and Pagé, A and Shah, A and Monjezi, N and Zajonc, J and Tanney, CAS and Backer, R and Smith, DL}, title = {The Coevolution of Plants and Microbes Underpins Sustainable Agriculture.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34065848}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Terrestrial plants evolution occurred in the presence of microbes, the phytomicrobiome. The rhizosphere microbial community is the most abundant and diverse subset of the phytomicrobiome and can include both beneficial and parasitic/pathogenic microbes. Prokaryotes of the phytomicrobiome have evolved relationships with plants that range from non-dependent interactions to dependent endosymbionts. The most extreme endosymbiotic examples are the chloroplasts and mitochondria, which have become organelles and integral parts of the plant, leading to some similarity in DNA sequence between plant tissues and cyanobacteria, the prokaryotic symbiont of ancestral plants. Microbes were associated with the precursors of land plants, green algae, and helped algae transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments. In the terrestrial setting the phytomicrobiome contributes to plant growth and development by (1) establishing symbiotic relationships between plant growth-promoting microbes, including rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, (2) conferring biotic stress resistance by producing antibiotic compounds, and (3) secreting microbe-to-plant signal compounds, such as phytohormones or their analogues, that regulate aspects of plant physiology, including stress resistance. As plants have evolved, they recruited microbes to assist in the adaptation to available growing environments. Microbes serve themselves by promoting plant growth, which in turn provides microbes with nutrition (root exudates, a source of reduced carbon) and a desirable habitat (the rhizosphere or within plant tissues). The outcome of this coevolution is the diverse and metabolically rich microbial community that now exists in the rhizosphere of terrestrial plants. The holobiont, the unit made up of the phytomicrobiome and the plant host, results from this wide range of coevolved relationships. We are just beginning to appreciate the many ways in which this complex and subtle coevolution acts in agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid34065540, year = {2021}, author = {Guan, H and Liu, X and Mur, LAJ and Fu, Y and Wei, Y and Wang, J and He, W}, title = {Rethinking of the Roles of Endophyte Symbiosis and Mycotoxin in Oxytropis Plants.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34065540}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Plants in the Oxytropis genus can live with the endophytic fungi Alternaria sect. Undifilum. Swainsonine, the mycotoxin produced by the endophyte render the host plant toxic and this has been detrimental to grazing livestock in both China and U.S.A. Despite previous efforts, many questions remain to be solved, such as the transmission mode and life cycle of host-endophyte symbiont, the biosynthesis pathway of swainsonine, and in particular the ecological role and evolution of such symbiosis. In this review, we compile the literature to synthesize ideas on the diversity of the symbiosis and propagation of the endophyte. We further compare the previous work from both Alternaria sect. Undifilum and other swainsonine producing fungi to orchestrate a more comprehensive biosynthesis pathway of swainsonine. We also connect swainsonine biosynthesis pathway with that of its precursor, lysine, and link this to a potential role in modulating plant stress response. Based on this we hypothesize that this host-endophyte co-evolution originated from the needs for host plant to adapt for stress. Validation of this hypothesis will depend on future research on endophytic symbiosis in Oxytropis and help in better understanding the roles of plant-endophyte symbiosis in non-Poaceae species.}, } @article {pmid34065242, year = {2021}, author = {Sánchez, O and Arias, A}, title = {All That Glitters Is Not Gold: The Other Insects That Fall into the Asian Yellow-Legged Hornet Vespa velutina 'Specific' Traps.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34065242}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The introduction of invasive species is considered one of the major threats to the biodiversity conservation worldwide. In recent years, an Asian invasive species of wasp has set off alarms in Europe and elsewhere in the world, Vespa velutina. The Asian wasp was accidentally introduced in France around 2004 and shortly thereafter it was able to colonise practically all of Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula. The ecological and economic implications of V. velutina invasion and its high colonisation ability have triggered widespread trapping campaigns, usually supported by beekeepers and local governments, with the aim of diminishing its population and its negative impacts. Among the most used control methods are the capture traps, which use a sugary attractant to catch the invasive wasps. However, the species-specific selectivity and efficiency of these traps has been little studied. In this paper, we have analysed the specific identity of the unintentionally trapped insect species from northern Spain (covering one-year period), as well as we have assessed the provided ecosystem services by them. A total of 74 non-target taxa of insects were caught by the V. velutina studied traps, most of them correspond to the orders Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera, the dipterans being the most abundant group. Surprisingly, the most abundant trapped species was the invasive fly, Drosophila suzukii that represented the 36.07% of the total catches. Furthermore, we reported the first record of ectoparasitic mites of the genus Varroa on V. velutina, constituting a newly recorded symbiotic association. Hopefully, the provided information helps to develop new protocols and management tools to control this invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula and other temperate areas of western Europe and the Mediterranean basin.}, } @article {pmid34064362, year = {2021}, author = {Hettiarachchige, IK and Vander Jagt, CJ and Mann, RC and Sawbridge, TI and Spangenberg, GC and Guthridge, KM}, title = {Global Changes in Asexual Epichloë Transcriptomes during the Early Stages, from Seed to Seedling, of Symbiotum Establishment.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34064362}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Asexual Epichloë fungi are strictly seed-transmitted endophytic symbionts of cool-season grasses and spend their entire life cycle within the host plant. Endophyte infection can confer protective benefits to its host through the production of bioprotective compounds. Inversely, plants provide nourishment and shelter to the resident endophyte in return. Current understanding of the changes in global gene expression of asexual Epichloë endophytes during the early stages of host-endophyte symbiotum is limited. A time-course study using a deep RNA-sequencing approach was performed at six stages of germination, using seeds infected with one of three endophyte strains belonging to different representative taxa. Analysis of the most abundantly expressed endophyte genes identified that most were predicted to have a role in stress and defence responses. The number of differentially expressed genes observed at early time points was greater than those detected at later time points, suggesting an active transcriptional reprogramming of endophytes at the onset of seed germination. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed dynamic changes in global gene expression consistent with the developmental processes of symbiotic relationships. Expression of pathway genes for biosynthesis of key secondary metabolites was studied comprehensively and fuzzy clustering identified some unique expression patterns. Furthermore, comparisons of the transcriptomes from three endophyte strains in planta identified genes unique to each strain, including genes predicted to be associated with secondary metabolism. Findings from this study highlight the importance of better understanding the unique properties of individual endophyte strains and will serve as an excellent resource for future studies of host-endophyte interactions.}, } @article {pmid34063889, year = {2021}, author = {Pozo de la Hoz, J and Rivero, J and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Urrestarazu, M and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Mycorrhiza-Induced Resistance against Foliar Pathogens Is Uncoupled of Nutritional Effects under Different Light Intensities.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34063889}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The use of microbial inoculants, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, has great potential for sustainable crop management, which aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, one of the major challenges of their use in agriculture is the variability of the inoculation effects in the field, partly because of the varying environmental conditions. Light intensity and quality affect plant growth and defense, but little is known about their impacts on the benefits of mycorrhizal symbioses. We tested the effects of five different light intensities on plant nutrition and resistance to the necrotrophic foliar pathogen Botrytis cinerea in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal lettuce plants. Our results evidence that mycorrhiza establishment is strongly influenced by light intensity, both regarding the extension of root colonization and the abundance of fungal vesicles within the roots. Light intensity also had significant effects on plant growth, nutrient content, and resistance to the pathogen. The effect of the mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant growth and nutrient content depended on the light intensity, and mycorrhiza efficiently reduced disease incidence and severity under all light intensities. Thus, mycorrhiza-induced resistance can be uncoupled from mycorrhizal effects on plant nutrition. Therefore, mycorrhizal symbioses can be beneficial by providing biotic stress protection even in the absence of nutritional or growth benefits.}, } @article {pmid34063836, year = {2021}, author = {Shtark, O and Puzanskiy, R and Avdeeva, G and Yemelyanov, V and Shavarda, A and Romanyuk, D and Kliukova, M and Kirpichnikova, A and Tikhonovich, I and Zhukov, V and Shishova, M}, title = {Metabolic Alterations in Pisum sativum Roots during Plant Growth and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Development.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {34063836}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Intensive exchange of nutrients is a crucial part of the complex interaction between a host plant and fungi within arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. For the first time, the present study demonstrates how inoculation with AMF Rhizophagus irregularis affects the pea (Pisum sativum L.) root metabolism at key stages of plant development. These correspond to days 21 (vegetation), 42 (flowering initiation), and 56 (fruiting-green pod). Metabolome profiling was carried out by means of a state-of-the-art GC-MS technique. The content shifts revealed include lipophilic compounds, sugars, carboxylates, and amino acids. The metabolic alterations were principally dependent on the stage of plant development but were also affected by the development of AM fungi, a fact which highlights interaction between symbiotic partners. The comparison of the present data with the results of leaf metabolome profiling earlier obtained did not reveal common signatures of metabolic response to mycorrhization in leaves and roots. We supposed that the feedback for the development and symbiotic interaction on the part of the supraorganismic system (root + AM fungi) was the cause of the difference between the metabolic profile shift in leaf and root cells that our examination revealed. New investigations are required to expand our knowledge of metabolome plasticity of the whole organism and/or system of organisms, and such results might be put to use for the intensification of sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid34063669, year = {2021}, author = {Botía-Sánchez, M and Alarcón-Riquelme, ME and Galicia, G}, title = {B Cells and Microbiota in Autoimmunity.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {34063669}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Autoimmunity/genetics/*immunology ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology/pathology ; Cell Differentiation/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/genetics/immunology ; Inflammation/*genetics/immunology ; Interleukin-10/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Trillions of microorganisms inhabit the mucosal membranes maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the host's immune system. B cells are key players in this relationship because activated and differentiated B cells produce secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which binds commensals to preserve a healthy microbial ecosystem. Mounting evidence shows that changes in the function and composition of the gut microbiota are associated with several autoimmune diseases suggesting that an imbalanced or dysbiotic microbiota contributes to autoimmune inflammation. Bacteria within the gut mucosa may modulate autoimmune inflammation through different mechanisms from commensals ability to induce B-cell clones that cross-react with host antigens or through regulation of B-cell subsets' capacity to produce cytokines. Commensal signals in the gut instigate the differentiation of IL-10 producing B cells and IL-10 producing IgA+ plasma cells that recirculate and exert regulatory functions. While the origin of the dysbiosis in autoimmunity is unclear, compelling evidence shows that specific species have a remarkable influence in shaping the inflammatory immune response. Further insight is necessary to dissect the complex interaction between microorganisms, genes, and the immune system. In this review, we will discuss the bidirectional interaction between commensals and B-cell responses in the context of autoimmune inflammation.}, } @article {pmid34063150, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, S and Luo, X and Dong, X and Qiu, Y and Xu, C and He, X}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhization Enhances Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Accumulation in Vicia faba by Modulating Soil Nutrient Balance under Elevated CO2.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {34063150}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2), and their interaction on nutrient accumulation of leguminous plants and soil fertility is unknown. Plant growth, concentrations of tissue nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in 12-week-old nodulated faba bean (Vicia faba, inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. NM353), and nutrient use efficiency were thus assessed under ambient CO2 (410/460 ppm, daytime, 07:00 a.m.-19:00 p.m./nighttime, 19:00 p.m.-07:00 a.m.) and eCO2 (550/610 ppm) for 12 weeks with or without AM fungus of Funneliformis mosseae inoculation. eCO2 favored AMF root colonization and nodule biomass production. eCO2 significantly decreased shoot N, P and K concentrations, but generally increased tissue N, P and K accumulation and their use efficiency with an increased biomass production. Meanwhile, eCO2 enhanced C allocation into soil but showed no effects on soil available N, P, and K, while AM symbiosis increased accumulation of C, N, P, and K in both plant and soil though increased soil nutrient uptake under eCO2. Moreover, plant acquisition of soil NO3[-]-N and NH4[+]-N respond differently to AMF and eCO2 treatments. As a result, the interaction between AM symbiosis and eCO2 did improve plant C accumulation and soil N, P, and K uptake, and an alternative fertilization for legume plantation should be therefore taken under upcoming atmosphere CO2 rising. Future eCO2 studies should employ multiple AMF species, with other beneficial fungal or bacterial species, to test their interactive effects on plant performance and soil nutrient availability in the field, under other global change events including warming and drought.}, } @article {pmid34061893, year = {2021}, author = {Yamashita, H and Koike, K and Shinzato, C and Jimbo, M and Suzuki, G}, title = {Can Acropora tenuis larvae attract native Symbiodiniaceae cells by green fluorescence at the initial establishment of symbiosis?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {e0252514}, pmid = {34061893}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alveolata/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Fluorescence ; Larva/*physiology ; Phototaxis/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Most corals acquire symbiodiniacean symbionts from the surrounding environment to initiate symbiosis. The cell densities of Symbiodiniaceae in the environment are usually low, and mechanisms may exist by which new coral generations attract suitable endosymbionts. Phototaxis of suitable symbiodiniacean cells toward green fluorescence in corals has been proposed as one such mechanism. In the present study, we observed the phototaxis action wavelength of various strains of Symbiodiniaceae and the fluorescence spectra of aposymbiotic Acropora tenuis larvae at the time of endosymbiont uptake. The phototaxis patterns varied among the Symbiodiniaceae species and "native" endosymbionts-commonly found in Acropora juveniles present in natural environments; that is, Symbiodinium microadriaticum was attracted to blue light rather than to green light. Another native endosymbiont, Durusdinium trenchii, showed no phototaxis specific to any wavelength. Although the larvae exhibited green and broad orange fluorescence under blue-violet excitation light, the maximum green fluorescence peak did not coincide with that of the phototaxis action spectrum of S. microadriaticum. Rather, around the peak wavelength of larval green fluorescence, this native endosymbiont showed slightly negative phototaxis, suggesting that the green fluorescence of A. tenuis larvae may not play a role in the initial attraction of native endosymbionts. Conversely, broad blue larval fluorescence under UV-A excitation covered the maximum phototaxis action wavelength of S. microadriaticum. We also conducted infection tests using native endosymbionts and aposymbiotic larvae under red LED light that does not excite visible larval fluorescence. Almost all larvae failed to acquire S. microadriaticum cells, whereas D. trenchii cells were acquired by larvae even under red illumination. Thus, attraction mechanisms other than visible fluorescence might exist, at least in the case of D. trenchii. Our results suggest that further investigation and discussion, not limited to green fluorescence, would be required to elucidate the initial attraction mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid34061602, year = {2021}, author = {Ge, Y and Jing, Z and Diao, Q and He, JZ and Liu, YJ}, title = {Host Species and Geography Differentiate Honeybee Gut Bacterial Communities by Changing the Relative Contribution of Community Assembly Processes.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0075121}, pmid = {34061602}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Bees/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics/physiology ; Geography ; *Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Honeybee gut microbiota modulates the health and fitness of honeybees, the ecologically and economically important pollinators and honey producers. However, which processes drive the assembly and shift of honeybee gut microbiota remains unknown. To explore the patterns of honeybee gut bacterial communities across host species and geographical sites and the relative contribution of different processes (i.e., homogeneous selection, variable selection, homogeneous dispersal, dispersal limitation, and an undominated process) in driving the patterns, two honeybee species (Apis cerana and Apis mellifera) were sampled from five geographically distant sites along a latitudinal gradient, followed by gut bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The gut bacterial communities differed significantly between A. cerana and A. mellifera, which was driven by the interhost dispersal limitation associated with the long-term coevolution between hosts and their prokaryotic symbionts. A. mellifera harbored more diverse but less varied gut bacterial communities than A. cerana due to the dominant role of homogeneous selection in converging A. mellifera intestinal communities. For each honeybee species, the gut bacterial communities differed across geographical sites, with individuals from lower latitudes harboring higher diversity; also, there was significant decay of gut community similarity against geographic distance. The geographical variation of honeybee gut bacterial communities was mainly driven by an undominated process (e.g., stochastic drift) rather than variable selection or dispersal limitation. This study elucidates that variations in host and geography alter the relative contribution of different processes in assembling honeybee gut microbiota and, thus, provides insights into the mechanisms underlying honeybee gut microbial shifts across evolutionary time. IMPORTANCE Honeybees provide crucial pollination services and valuable apiarian products. The symbiotic intestinal communities facilitate honeybee health and fitness by promoting nutrient assimilation, detoxifying toxins, and resisting pathogens. Thus, understanding the processes that govern honeybee gut bacterial communities is imperative for better managing gut microbiota to improve honeybee health. However, little is known about the processes driving the assembly and shift of honeybee gut bacterial communities. This study quantitatively deciphers the relative importance of selection, dispersal, and undominated processes in governing the assembly of honeybee gut bacterial communities and explores how their relative importance varies across biological and spatial scales. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the maintenance and shift of honeybee gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid34061185, year = {2021}, author = {Garber, AI and Kupper, M and Laetsch, DR and Weldon, SR and Ladinsky, MS and Bjorkman, PJ and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {The Evolution of Interdependence in a Four-Way Mealybug Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {34061185}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {P50 AI150464/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Betaproteobacteria/genetics ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Hemiptera/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mealybugs are insects that maintain intracellular bacterial symbionts to supplement their nutrient-poor plant sap diets. Some mealybugs have a single betaproteobacterial endosymbiont, a Candidatus Tremblaya species (hereafter Tremblaya) that alone provides the insect with its required nutrients. Other mealybugs have two nutritional endosymbionts that together provision these same nutrients, where Tremblaya has gained a gammaproteobacterial partner that resides in its cytoplasm. Previous work had established that Pseudococcus longispinus mealybugs maintain not one but two species of gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts along with Tremblaya. Preliminary genomic analyses suggested that these two gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts have large genomes with features consistent with a relatively recent origin as insect endosymbionts, but the patterns of genomic complementarity between members of the symbiosis and their relative cellular locations were unknown. Here, using long-read sequencing and various types of microscopy, we show that the two gammaproteobacterial symbionts of P. longispinus are mixed together within Tremblaya cells, and that their genomes are somewhat reduced in size compared with their closest nonendosymbiotic relatives. Both gammaproteobacterial genomes contain thousands of pseudogenes, consistent with a relatively recent shift from a free-living to an endosymbiotic lifestyle. Biosynthetic pathways of key metabolites are partitioned in complex interdependent patterns among the two gammaproteobacterial genomes, the Tremblaya genome, and horizontally acquired bacterial genes that are encoded on the mealybug nuclear genome. Although these two gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts have been acquired recently in evolutionary time, they have already evolved codependencies with each other, Tremblaya, and their insect host.}, } @article {pmid34061138, year = {2021}, author = {Frosi, G and Ferreira-Neto, JRC and Bezerra-Neto, JP and Lima, LL and Morais, DAL and Pandolfi, V and Kido, EA and Maia, LC and Santos, MG and Benko-Iseppon, AM}, title = {Reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization of Cenostigma pyramidale roots under salt stress and mycorrhizal association.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {e20200424}, pmid = {34061138}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {Cenostigma pyramidale is a native legume of the Brazilian semiarid region which performs symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), being an excellent model for studying genes associated with tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses. In RT-qPCR approach, the use of reference genes is mandatory to avoid incorrect interpretation of the relative expression. This study evaluated the stability of ten candidate reference genes (CRGs) from C. pyramidale root tissues under salt stress (three collection times) and associated with AMF (three different times of salinity). The de novo transcriptome was obtained via RNA-Seq sequencing. Three algorithms were used to calculate the stability of CRGs under different conditions: (i) global (Salt, Salt+AMF, AMF and Control, and collection times), (ii) only non-inoculated plants, and (iii) AMF (only inoculated plants). HAG2, SAC1, aRP3 were the most stable CRGs for global and AMF assays, whereas HAG2, SAC1, RHS1 were the best for salt stress assay. This CRGs were used to validate the relative expression of two up-regulated transcripts in Salt2h (RAP2-3 and PIN8). Our study provides the first set of reference genes for C. pyramidale under salinity and AMF, supporting future researches on gene expression with this species.}, } @article {pmid34061031, year = {2021}, author = {Kaur, G and Iyer, LM and Burroughs, AM and Aravind, L}, title = {Bacterial death and TRADD-N domains help define novel apoptosis and immunity mechanisms shared by prokaryotes and metazoans.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {34061031}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {F38 LM000084/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; Z01 LM000084/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Apoptosis ; Bacteria/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; *Death Domain Superfamily ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microbial Viability ; Phylogeny ; Prokaryotic Cells/immunology/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; TNF Receptor-Associated Death Domain Protein/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Several homologous domains are shared by eukaryotic immunity and programmed cell-death systems and poorly understood bacterial proteins. Recent studies show these to be components of a network of highly regulated systems connecting apoptotic processes to counter-invader immunity, in prokaryotes with a multicellular habit. However, the provenance of key adaptor domains, namely those of the Death-like and TRADD-N superfamilies, a quintessential feature of metazoan apoptotic systems, remained murky. Here, we use sensitive sequence analysis and comparative genomics methods to identify unambiguous bacterial homologs of the Death-like and TRADD-N superfamilies. We show the former to have arisen as part of a radiation of effector-associated α-helical adaptor domains that likely mediate homotypic interactions bringing together diverse effector and signaling domains in predicted bacterial apoptosis- and counter-invader systems. Similarly, we show that the TRADD-N domain defines a key, widespread signaling bridge that links effector deployment to invader-sensing in multicellular bacterial and metazoan counter-invader systems. TRADD-N domains are expanded in aggregating marine invertebrates and point to distinctive diversifying immune strategies probably directed both at RNA and retroviruses and cellular pathogens that might infect such communities. These TRADD-N and Death-like domains helped identify several new bacterial and metazoan counter-invader systems featuring underappreciated, common functional principles: the use of intracellular invader-sensing lectin-like (NPCBM and FGS), transcription elongation GreA/B-C, glycosyltransferase-4 family, inactive NTPase (serving as nucleic acid receptors), and invader-sensing GTPase switch domains. Finally, these findings point to the possibility of multicellular bacteria-stem metazoan symbiosis in the emergence of the immune/apoptotic systems of the latter.}, } @article {pmid34060182, year = {2021}, author = {O'Brien, PA and Andreakis, N and Tan, S and Miller, DJ and Webster, NS and Zhang, G and Bourne, DG}, title = {Testing cophylogeny between coral reef invertebrates and their bacterial and archaeal symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {15}, pages = {3768-3782}, doi = {10.1111/mec.16006}, pmid = {34060182}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Coral Reefs ; Humans ; Invertebrates ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Marine invertebrates harbour a complex suite of bacterial and archaeal symbionts, a subset of which are probably linked to host health and homeostasis. Within a complex microbiome it can be difficult to tease apart beneficial or parasitic symbionts from nonessential commensal or transient microorganisms; however, one approach is to detect strong cophylogenetic patterns between microbial lineages and their respective hosts. We employed the Procrustean approach to cophylogeny (PACo) on 16S rRNA gene derived microbial community profiles paired with COI, 18S rRNA and ITS1 host phylogenies. Second, we undertook a network analysis to identify groups of microbes that were co-occurring within our host species. Across 12 coral, 10 octocoral and five sponge species, each host group and their core microbiota (50% prevalence within host species replicates) had a significant fit to the cophylogenetic model. Independent assessment of each microbial genus and family found that bacteria and archaea affiliated to Endozoicomonadaceae, Spirochaetaceae and Nitrosopumilaceae have the strongest cophylogenetic signals. Further, local Moran's I measure of spatial autocorrelation identified 14 ASVs, including Endozoicomonadaceae and Spirochaetaceae, whose distributions were significantly clustered by host phylogeny. Four co-occurring subnetworks were identified, each of which was dominant in a different host group. Endozoicomonadaceae and Spirochaetaceae ASVs were abundant among the subnetworks, particularly one subnetwork that was exclusively comprised of these two bacterial families and dominated the octocoral microbiota. Our results disentangle key microbial interactions that occur within complex microbiomes and reveal long-standing, essential microbial symbioses in coral reef invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid34059696, year = {2021}, author = {Arthikala, MK and Nanjareddy, K and Blanco, L and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Lara, M}, title = {Target of rapamycin, PvTOR, is a key regulator of arbuscule development during mycorrhizal symbiosis in Phaseolus.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {11319}, pmid = {34059696}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Organ Specificity ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Symbiosis ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a conserved central growth regulator in eukaryotes that has a key role in maintaining cellular nutrient and energy status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are mutualistic symbionts that assist the plant in increasing nutrient absorption from the rhizosphere. However, the role of legume TOR in AM fungal symbiosis development has not been investigated. In this study, we examined the function of legume TOR in the development and formation of AM fungal symbiosis. RNA-interference-mediated knockdown of TOR transcripts in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) hairy roots notably suppressed AM fungus-induced lateral root formation by altering the expression of root meristem regulatory genes, i.e., UPB1, RGFs, and sulfur assimilation and S-phase genes. Mycorrhized PvTOR-knockdown roots had significantly more extraradical hyphae and hyphopodia than the control (empty vector) roots. Strong promoter activity of PvTOR was observed at the site of hyphal penetration and colonization. Colonization along the root length was affected in mycorrhized PvTOR-knockdown roots and the arbuscules were stunted. Furthermore, the expression of genes induced by AM symbiosis such as SWEET1, VPY, VAMP713, and STR was repressed under mycorrhized conditions in PvTOR-knockdown roots. Based on these observations, we conclude that PvTOR is a key player in regulating arbuscule development during AM symbiosis in P. vulgaris. These results provide insight into legume TOR as a potential regulatory factor influencing the symbiotic associations of P. vulgaris and other legumes.}, } @article {pmid34058984, year = {2021}, author = {Medina Munoz, M and Brenner, C and Richmond, D and Spencer, N and Rio, RVM}, title = {The holobiont transcriptome of teneral tsetse fly species of varying vector competence.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {400}, pmid = {34058984}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {R01 AI118789/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Humans ; Transcriptome ; *Tsetse Flies/genetics ; Wigglesworthia/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tsetse flies are the obligate vectors of African trypanosomes, which cause Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis. Teneral flies (newly eclosed adults) are especially susceptible to parasite establishment and development, yet our understanding of why remains fragmentary. The tsetse gut microbiome is dominated by two Gammaproteobacteria, an essential and ancient mutualist Wigglesworthia glossinidia and a commensal Sodalis glossinidius. Here, we characterize and compare the metatranscriptome of teneral Glossina morsitans to that of G. brevipalpis and describe unique immunological, physiological, and metabolic landscapes that may impact vector competence differences between these two species.

RESULTS: An active expression profile was observed for Wigglesworthia immediately following host adult metamorphosis. Specifically, 'translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis' followed by 'coenzyme transport and metabolism' were the most enriched clusters of orthologous genes (COGs), highlighting the importance of nutrient transport and metabolism even following host species diversification. Despite the significantly smaller Wigglesworthia genome more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between interspecific isolates (n = 326, ~ 55% of protein coding genes) than between the corresponding Sodalis isolates (n = 235, ~ 5% of protein coding genes) likely reflecting distinctions in host co-evolution and adaptation. DEGs between Sodalis isolates included genes involved in chitin degradation that may contribute towards trypanosome susceptibility by compromising the immunological protection provided by the peritrophic matrix. Lastly, G. brevipalpis tenerals demonstrate a more immunologically robust background with significant upregulation of IMD and melanization pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: These transcriptomic differences may collectively contribute to vector competence differences between tsetse species and offers translational relevance towards the design of novel vector control strategies.}, } @article {pmid34058838, year = {2021}, author = {Noorifar, N and Savoian, MS and Ram, A and Lukito, Y and Hassing, B and Weikert, TW and Moerschbacher, BM and Scott, B}, title = {Chitin Deacetylases Are Required for Epichloë festucae Endophytic Cell Wall Remodeling During Establishment of a Mutualistic Symbiotic Interaction with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {1181-1192}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-20-0347-R}, pmid = {34058838}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Chitin ; *Epichloe/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Lolium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae forms a mutualistic symbiotic association with Lolium perenne. This biotrophic fungus systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of aerial tissues to form an endophytic hyphal network and also grows as an epiphyte. However, little is known about the cell wall-remodeling mechanisms required to avoid host defense and maintain intercalary growth within the host. Here, we use a suite of molecular probes to show that the E. festucae cell wall is remodeled by conversion of chitin to chitosan during infection of L. perenne seedlings, as the hyphae switch from free-living to endophytic growth. When hyphae transition from endophytic to epiphytic growth, the cell wall is remodeled from predominantly chitosan to chitin. This conversion from chitin to chitosan is catalyzed by chitin deacetylase. The genome of E. festucae encodes three putative chitin deacetylases, two of which (cdaA and cdaB) are expressed in planta. Deletion of either of these genes results in disruption of fungal intercalary growth in the intercellular spaces of plants infected with these mutants. These results establish that these two genes are required for maintenance of the mutualistic symbiotic interaction between E. festucae and L. perenne.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid34058098, year = {2021}, author = {Paredes, GF and Viehboeck, T and Lee, R and Palatinszky, M and Mausz, MA and Reipert, S and Schintlmeister, A and Maier, A and Volland, JM and Hirschfeld, C and Wagner, M and Berry, D and Markert, S and Bulgheresi, S and König, L}, title = {Anaerobic Sulfur Oxidation Underlies Adaptation of a Chemosynthetic Symbiont to Oxic-Anoxic Interfaces.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e0118620}, pmid = {34058098}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {P 28743/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Chemosynthetic symbioses occur worldwide in marine habitats, but comprehensive physiological studies of chemoautotrophic bacteria thriving on animals are scarce. Stilbonematinae are coated by thiotrophic Gammaproteobacteria. As these nematodes migrate through the redox zone, their ectosymbionts experience varying oxygen concentrations. However, nothing is known about how these variations affect their physiology. Here, by applying omics, Raman microspectroscopy, and stable isotope labeling, we investigated the effect of oxygen on "Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti." Unexpectedly, sulfur oxidation genes were upregulated in anoxic relative to oxic conditions, but carbon fixation genes and incorporation of [13]C-labeled bicarbonate were not. Instead, several genes involved in carbon fixation were upregulated under oxic conditions, together with genes involved in organic carbon assimilation, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and urea utilization. Furthermore, in the presence of oxygen, stress-related genes were upregulated together with vitamin biosynthesis genes likely necessary to withstand oxidative stress, and the symbiont appeared to proliferate less. Based on its physiological response to oxygen, we propose that "Ca. T. oneisti" may exploit anaerobic sulfur oxidation coupled to denitrification to proliferate in anoxic sand. However, the ectosymbiont would still profit from the oxygen available in superficial sand, as the energy-efficient aerobic respiration would facilitate carbon and nitrogen assimilation. IMPORTANCE Chemoautotrophic endosymbionts are famous for exploiting sulfur oxidization to feed marine organisms with fixed carbon. However, the physiology of thiotrophic bacteria thriving on the surface of animals (ectosymbionts) is less understood. One longstanding hypothesis posits that attachment to animals that migrate between reduced and oxic environments would boost sulfur oxidation, as the ectosymbionts would alternatively access sulfide and oxygen, the most favorable electron acceptor. Here, we investigated the effect of oxygen on the physiology of "Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti," a gammaproteobacterium which lives attached to marine nematodes inhabiting shallow-water sand. Surprisingly, sulfur oxidation genes were upregulated under anoxic relative to oxic conditions. Furthermore, under anoxia, the ectosymbiont appeared to be less stressed and to proliferate more. We propose that animal-mediated access to oxygen, rather than enhancing sulfur oxidation, would facilitate assimilation of carbon and nitrogen by the ectosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid34058025, year = {2021}, author = {McCulloch, LA and Porder, S}, title = {Light fuels while nitrogen suppresses symbiotic nitrogen fixation hotspots in neotropical canopy gap seedlings.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {5}, pages = {1734-1745}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17519}, pmid = {34058025}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Forests ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Seedlings ; Trees ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Mature neotropical lowland forests have relatively lower symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) rates compared with secondary forests. Canopy gap formation may create transient SNF hotspots in mature forests that increase overall SNF rates in these ecosystems, as canopy gaps are pervasive across the landscape and increasing in frequency. However, what environmental conditions are driving SNF upregulation in canopy gaps is unknown. In a field experiment to test these potential environmental controls on SNF, we grew 540 neotropical nitrogen-fixing legume seedlings (Pentaclethra macroloba, Zygia longifolia, and Stryphnodendron microstachyum) under manipulated light and soil nitrogen availability in canopy gaps and intact forests at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Seedling biomass, nodule biomass, and SNF (g N seedling[-1] h[-1]) were 4-, 17- and 42-fold higher, respectively, in canopy gaps than in the intact forest. Nitrogen additions decreased SNF, but light had a stronger positive effect. Upregulation of SNF in canopy gaps was driven by increased plant growth and not a disproportionate increased SNF allocation. These data provide evidence that canopy gap SNF hotspots are driven, in part, by light availability, demonstrating a potential driver of SNF spatial heterogeneity. This further suggests that canopy gap dynamics are important for understanding the biogeochemistry of neotropical forests.}, } @article {pmid34057345, year = {2021}, author = {Nishino, T and Hosokawa, T and Meng, XY and Koga, R and Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Environmental Acquisition of Gut Symbiotic Bacteria in the Saw-Toothed Stinkbug, Megymenum gracilicorne (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea: Dinidoridae).}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, pages = {213-222}, doi = {10.2108/zs200163}, pmid = {34057345}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Environmental Microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many plant-sucking stinkbugs possess a specialized symbiotic organ with numerous crypts in a posterior region of the midgut. In stinkbugs of the superfamily Pentatomoidea, specific γ-proteobacteria are hosted in the crypt cavities, which are vertically transmitted through host generations and essential for normal growth and survival of the host insects. Here we report the discovery of an exceptional gut symbiotic association in the saw-toothed stinkbug, Megymenum gracilicorne (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea: Dinidoridae), in which specific γ-proteobacterial symbionts are not transmitted vertically but acquired environmentally. Histological inspection identified a very thin and long midgut symbiotic organ with two rows of tiny crypts whose cavities harbor rod-shaped bacterial cells. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences from the symbiotic organs of field-collected insects revealed that (i) M. gracilicorne is stably associated with Pantoea-allied γ-proteobacteria within the midgut crypts, (ii) the symbiotic bacteria exhibit a considerable level of diversity across host individuals and populations, (iii) the major symbiotic bacteria represent an environmental bacterial lineage that was reported to be capable of symbiosis with the stinkbug Plautia stali, and (iv) the minor symbiotic bacteria also represent several bacterial lineages that were reported as cultivable symbionts of P. stali and other stinkbugs. The symbiotic bacteria were shown to be generally cultivable. Microbial inspection of ovipositing adult females and their eggs and nymphs uncovered the absence of stable vertical transmission of the symbiotic bacteria. Rearing experiments showed that symbiont-supplemented newborn nymphs exhibit improved survival, suggesting the beneficial nature of the symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid34056160, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, X and Li, Q and Xu, X and Ding, G and Guo, S and Li, B}, title = {Effects of the Endophytic Fungus MF23 on Dendrobium nobile Lindl. in an Artificial Primary Environment.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {6}, number = {15}, pages = {10047-10053}, pmid = {34056160}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The quality of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is related to its endophytic fungi. It has been reported that the mycorrhizal fungus MF23 helps to increase the content of dendrobine in Dendrobium, but few studies have explained the mechanism underlying this phenomenon. In a previous study, we verified the mechanism of symbiosis between MF23 and D. nobile on agar medium. The research carried out in this study on bark medium, similar to the natural environment, is of great importance because of its benefits for wide application. We found a significant effect, especially in the later period of cultivation, in which the highest dendrobine content in the experimental group was 0.147%, which is equivalent to 2.88 times that of the control group, and suggesting that MF23 promoted D. nobile in the natural environment, which verifies the application of the technique in field conditions. This result also implied that post-modification enzyme genes might play an important role in stimulating the biosynthesis of dendrobine.}, } @article {pmid34056015, year = {2020}, author = {Ghasemi, S and Safaie, N and Shahbazi, S and Shams-Bakhsh, M and Askari, H}, title = {The Role of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes in Antagonistic Traits of Trichoderma virens Against Rhizoctonia solani.}, journal = {Iranian journal of biotechnology}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {e2333}, pmid = {34056015}, issn = {1728-3043}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: High antagonistic ability of different Trichoderma species against a diverse range of plant pathogenic fungi has led them to be used as a biological fungicide in agriculture. They can also promote plant growth, fertility, resistance to stress, and absorption of nutrients. They are also opportunistic and symbiotic pathogens, which can lead to the activation of plant defense mechanisms.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this present study was to investigate possible enhancement of lytic enzymes production and biocontrol activity of T. virens against Rhizoctonia solani through gamma radiation and to find the relationship between changes in lytic enzyme production and antagonistic activity of T. virens.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dual culture conditions were used to evaluate the antagonistic effect of T. virens and its gamma mutants against R. solani. Then, their chitinase and cellulase activities were measured. For more detailed investigation of enzymes, densitometry pattern of the proteins was extracted from the T. virens wild-type and its mutants were obtained via SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS: The mutant T.vi M8, T. virens wild-type and mutant T.vi M20 strains showed the maximum antagonistic effects against the pathogen, respectively. Data showed that the mutant T. vi M8 reduced the growth of R. solani by 58 %. The mutants revealed significantly different (p<0.05) protein contents, chitinase and cellulase production (mg.mL[-1]) and activity (U.mL-1) compared to the wild-type strain. The highest extracellular protein production in the supernatant of chitinase and cellulase TFM was observed for the T.vi M11 and T.vi M17 strains, respectively. The T.vi M12 and wild-type strains secreted chitinase and cellulase significantly more than other strains did. Densitometry of SDS-PAGE gel bands indicated that both the amount and diversity of chitinase related proteins in the selected mutant (T. vi M8) were far higher than those of the wild-type. The diversity of molecular weight of proteins extracted from the T. virens M8 (20 proteins or bands) was very high compared to the wild-type (10 proteins) and mutant T.vi M15 (2 proteins).

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was a strong link between the diversity of various chitinase proteins and the antagonistic properties of the mutant M8.}, } @article {pmid34055983, year = {2021}, author = {Anwar, H and Iftikhar, A and Muzaffar, H and Almatroudi, A and Allemailem, KS and Navaid, S and Saleem, S and Khurshid, M}, title = {Biodiversity of Gut Microbiota: Impact of Various Host and Environmental Factors.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {5575245}, pmid = {34055983}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Air Pollution/adverse effects ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects ; *Biodiversity ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Food ; Fungi/classification/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*drug effects/*physiology ; Humans ; Probiotics/pharmacology ; Viruses/classification/drug effects ; Xenobiotics/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Human bodies encompass very important symbiotic and mutualistic relationships with tiny creatures known as microbiota. Trillions of these tiny creatures including protozoa, viruses, bacteria, and fungi are present in and on our bodies. They play important roles in various physiological mechanisms of our bodies. In return, our bodies provide them with the habitat and food necessary for their survival. In this review, we comprehend the gut microbial species present in various regions of the gut. We can get benefits from microbiota only if they are present in appropriate concentrations, as if their concentration is altered, it will lead to dysbiosis of microbiota which further contributes to various health ailments. The composition, diversity, and functionality of gut microbiota do not remain static throughout life as they keep on changing over time. In this review, we also reviewed the various biotic and abiotic factors influencing the quantity and quality of these microbiota. These factors serve a significant role in shaping the gut microbiota population.}, } @article {pmid34055665, year = {2021}, author = {Ren, Z and Liu, Q and Li, W and Wu, X and Dong, Y and Huang, Y}, title = {Profiling of Diagnostic Information of and Latent Susceptibility to Bacterial Keratitis From the Perspective of Ocular Bacterial Microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {645907}, pmid = {34055665}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; *Eye Infections, Bacterial ; Humans ; *Keratitis ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {The ocular surface possesses its own bacterial microbiota. Once given a chance, opportunistic pathogens within ocular microbiota may lead to corneal infection like bacterial keratitis (BK). To reveal the possible factor that makes people vulnerable to BK from the perspective of ocular bacterial microbiota, as well as to compare diagnostic information provided by high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing and bacterial culture, 20 patients with BK and 42 healthy volunteers were included. Conjunctival swabs and corneal scrapings collected from the diseased eyes of BK patients were subjected for both high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing and bacterial culture. Conjunctival swabs collected from the normal eyes of BK patients and healthy volunteers were sent only for sequencing. For identifying the pathogens causing BK, high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing presented a higher positive rate than bacterial culture (98.04% vs. 17.50%), with 92.11% reaching the genus level (including 10.53% down to the species level). However, none of the sequencing results was consistent with the cultural results. The sequencing technique appears to challenge culture, and could be a complement for pathogen identification. Moreover, compared to the eyes of healthy subjects, the ocular microbiota of three sample groups from BK patients contained significantly less Actinobacteria and Corynebacteria (determinate beneficial symbiotic bacteria), but significantly more Gammaproteobacteria, Pseudomonas, Bacteroides, and Escherichia-Shigella (common ocular pathogenic bacteria). Therefore, it is speculated that the imbalance of protective and aggressive bacteria in the ocular microbiota of healthy people may trigger susceptibility to BK. Based on this speculation, it seems promising to prevent and treat infectious oculopathy through regulating ocular microbiota.}, } @article {pmid34054789, year = {2021}, author = {Six, DL and Klepzig, KD}, title = {Context Dependency in Bark Beetle-Fungus Mutualisms Revisited: Assessing Potential Shifts in Interaction Outcomes Against Varied Genetic, Ecological, and Evolutionary Backgrounds.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {682187}, pmid = {34054789}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Context dependency occurs when biological interactions shift in sign or magnitude depending upon genetic, abiotic, and biotic context. Most models of mutualism address systems where interaction outcomes slide along a mutualism-antagonism continuum as environmental conditions vary altering cost-benefit relationships. However, these models do not apply to the many mutualisms that involve by-product benefits and others that do not have antagonistic alternate states. The ubiquity of such mutualisms indicates a need for different approaches and models to understand how environmental variability influences their strength, stability, and ecological roles. In this paper, we apply the concept of context dependency to mutualisms among bark beetles and fungi that span a variety of life strategies and exposures to environmental variability. Bark beetles and their mutualist fungi co-construct a niche based on by-product benefits that allows them to exist in a resource that is otherwise intractable or inaccessible. For the closest of these partnerships, this has resulted in some of the most influential agents of forest mortality in conifer forests worldwide. Understanding these symbioses is key to understanding their influence on forest structure and dynamics and responses to change. We found no evidence that bark beetle mutualisms change in sign as conditions vary, only in magnitude, and that the "closest" (and most environmentally influential) of these partnerships have evolved behaviors and mechanisms to reduce context-dependency and stabilize benefit delivery. The bark beetle-fungus symbioses most likely to slide along a mutualism-antagonism continuum are those involving loosely associated facultative symbionts that may provide benefits under some circumstances and that are horizontally transmitted by the beetle host. Additionally, some symbiotic fungi are never mutualists - these "third party" fungi are exploiters and may shift from commensalism to antagonism depending on environmental context. Our assessment indicates that a careful differentiation between bark beetle-fungus partnerships is crucial to understanding how they influence forests and respond to environmental variability.}, } @article {pmid34054757, year = {2021}, author = {Rocha, FYO and Negrisoli Júnior, AS and de Matos, GF and Gitahy, PM and Rossi, CN and Vidal, MS and Baldani, JI}, title = {Endophytic Bacillus Bacteria Living in Sugarcane Plant Tissues and Telchin licus licus Larvae (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae): The Symbiosis That May Open New Paths in the Biological Control.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {659965}, pmid = {34054757}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Bacillus can colonize endophytically and benefit several crops including the control of some pest orders. In view of the benefits provided by these microorganisms and in order to find out an efficient biotechnological control for the giant borer, our interest in studying the microorganisms in symbiosis with sugarcane and the giant borer has arisen, since there is no efficient chemical or biological control method for this pest. Therefore, endophytic Bacillus strains were isolated from three sugarcane niches (apoplast fluid, central internode cylinder and roots) and also from the giant borer larvae living inside sugarcane varieties grown in the Northeast region of Brazil. The taxonomical characterization (16S rRNA) of 157 Gram-positive isolates showed that 138 strains belonged to the Bacillus genus. The most representative species were phylogenetically closely related to B. megaterium (11.5%) followed by B. safensis (10.8%), B. cereus (8.9%), B. oleronius (8.9%), B. amyloliquefaciens (7.0%), and B. pacificus (6.4%). BOX-PCR analyses showed very distinct band pattern profiles suggesting a great diversity of Bacillus species within the sugarcane niches and the digestive tract, while the B. cereus group remained very closely clustered in the dendrogram. According to XRE biomarker analysis, eleven strains (FORCN005, 007, 008, 011, 012, 014, 067, 076, 092, 093, and 135) correspond to B. thuringiensis species. Additional studies using conserved genes (glp, gmk, pta, and tpi) indicated that most of these strains were phylogenetically closely related to B. thuringiensis and may be considered different subspecies. In conclusion, this study suggests that the culturable Bacillus species are greatly diversified within the plant niches and showed Bacillus species in the digestive tract of the giant borer for the first time. These results open new perspectives to understand the role and functions played by these microorganisms in symbiosis with this pest and also the possibility of developing an efficient biological control method for the giant borer using strains identified as the B. thuringiensis species.}, } @article {pmid34054322, year = {2021}, author = {Vishal, V and Munda, SS and Singh, G and Lal, S}, title = {Cataloguing the bacterial diversity in the active ectomycorrhizal zone of Astraeus from a dry deciduous forest of Shorea.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e63086}, pmid = {34054322}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {The plant microbiome has been considered one of the most researched areas of microbial biodiversity, yet very little information is available on the microbial communities prevailing in the mushroom's ectomycorrhizosphere. Ectomycorrhizal symbioses often result in the formation of a favourable niche which enables the thriving of various microbial symbionts where these symbionts endorse functions, such as quorum sensing, biofilm formation, volatile microbial compound (VOC) production, regulation of microbial gene expression, symbiosis and virulence. The identification of hidden uncultured microbial communities around the active ectomycorrhizal zone of Astraeus from dry deciduous sal forest of Jharkhand, India was carried out using MinION Oxford Nanopore sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons genes. High richness of Operational Taxonomic Units (1,905 OTUs) was observed. We recorded 25 distinct phyla. Proteobacteria (36%) was the most abundant phylum, followed by Firmicutes (28%), Actinobacteria (10%) and Bacteroidetes (6%), whereas Gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant class of bacterial communities in the active ectomycorrhizal zone. The ectomycorrhizosphere soil has abundant phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB). This is the first report of the ectomycorrhizosphere microbiome associated with Astraeus.}, } @article {pmid34052718, year = {2021}, author = {Olguín-Jacobson, C and Pitt, KA}, title = {Symbiotic microalgae do not increase susceptibility of zooxanthellate medusae (Cassiopea xamachana) to herbicides.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {236}, number = {}, pages = {105866}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105866}, pmid = {34052718}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Animals ; Atrazine ; Chlorophyll A ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Microalgae ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Scyphozoa/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Herbicides are among the most detected pesticides in coastal environments. Herbicides may impact non-target organisms, but invertebrates that have a symbiotic relationship with microalgae (zooxanthellae) may be particularly susceptible. How zooxanthellae influence the response of organisms to herbicides, however, remains untested. We exposed zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate Cassiopea xamachana medusae to environmentally relevant concentrations of the herbicide atrazine (0 µg L [-] [1], 7 µg L [-] [1] and 27 µg L [-] [1]) for 20 days. We hypothesised that atrazine would have adverse effects on the size, rate of bell contractions and, respiration of medusae, but that effects would be more severe in zooxanthellate than azooxanthellate medusae. We also predicted that photosynthetic efficiency, chlorophyll a (Chla) content and zooxanthellae density would decrease in zooxanthellate medusae exposed to atrazine. Both zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate medusae shrank, yet the size-specific respiration rates were not constant during the experiment. Photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellate medusae significantly decreased at 7 and 27 µgL[-1] atrazine, but atrazine did not affect the Chla content or zooxanthellae density. Our results showed that even though atrazine inhibited photosynthesis, zooxanthellae were not expelled from the host. We conclude that the presence of zooxanthellae did not increase the susceptibility of C. xamachana medusae to atrazine.}, } @article {pmid34052413, year = {2022}, author = {Dar, TUH and Dar, SA and Islam, SU and Mangral, ZA and Dar, R and Singh, BP and Verma, P and Haque, S}, title = {Lichens as a repository of bioactive compounds: an open window for green therapy against diverse cancers.}, journal = {Seminars in cancer biology}, volume = {86}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {1120-1137}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.05.028}, pmid = {34052413}, issn = {1096-3650}, mesh = {Humans ; *Lichens/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use/metabolism ; Apoptosis ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {Lichens, algae and fungi-based symbiotic associations, are sources of many important secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and anticancer agents. Wide range of experiments based on in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that lichens are a rich treasure of anti-cancer compounds. Lichen extracts and isolated lichen compounds can interact with all biological entities currently identified to be responsible for tumor development. The critical ways to control the cancer development include induction of cell cycle arrests, blocking communication of growth factors, activation of anti-tumor immunity, inhibition of tumor-friendly inflammation, inhibition of tumor metastasis, and suppressing chromosome dysfunction. Also, lichen-based compounds induce the killing of cells by the process of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis, that inturn positively modulates metabolic networks of cells against uncontrolled cell division. Many lichen-based compounds have proven to possess potential anti-cancer activity against a wide range of cancer cells, either alone or in conjunction with other anti-cancer compounds. This review primarily emphasizes on an updated account of the repository of secondary metabolites reported in lichens. Besides, we discuss the anti-cancer potential and possible mechanism of the most frequently reported secondary metabolites derived from lichens.}, } @article {pmid34052226, year = {2021}, author = {Maeda, I and Kudou, S and Iwai, S}, title = {Efficient isolation and cultivation of endosymbiotic Chlorella from Paramecium bursaria on agar plates by co-culture with yeast cells.}, journal = {Journal of microbiological methods}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {106254}, doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106254}, pmid = {34052226}, issn = {1872-8359}, mesh = {Chlorella/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Coculture Techniques/*methods ; Paramecium/*parasitology/physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Paramecium bursaria is a ciliate that harbors Chlorella-like unicellular green algae as endosymbionts. The relationship between the host P. bursaria and the endosymbiotic Chlorella is facultative; therefore, both partners can be cultured independently and re-combined to re-establish symbiosis, making this system suitable for studying algal endosymbiosis. However, despite many previous studies, cultivation of endosymbiotic Chlorella remains difficult, particularly on agar plates. Here we describe a simple agar plate method for efficiently isolating and culturing cells of the endosymbiotic alga Chlorella variabilis from an individual P. bursaria cell, by co-culturing them with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The co-culture with the yeast significantly improved the colony-forming efficiency of the alga on agar. Growth assays suggest that the main role of the co-cultured yeast cells is not to provide nutrients for the algal cells, but to protect the algal cells from some environmental stresses on the agar surface. Using the algal cells grown on the plates and a set of specially designed primers, direct colony PCR can be performed for screening of multiple endosymbiont clones isolated from a single host ciliate. These methods may provide a useful tool for studying endosymbiotic Chlorella species within P. bursaria and various other protists.}, } @article {pmid34051611, year = {2021}, author = {Rahimlou, S and Bahram, M and Tedersoo, L}, title = {Phylogenomics reveals the evolution of root nodulating alpha- and beta-Proteobacteria (rhizobia).}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {126788}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2021.126788}, pmid = {34051611}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Mimosa/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between legumes and nodulating Proteobacteria (so-called rhizobia) contributes greatly to nitrogen fixation in terrestrial ecosystems. Root nodulating Proteobacteria produce nodulation (Nod) factors during the initiation of rhizobial nodule organogenesis on the roots of legumes. Here, we screened the Nod factor production capacity of the previously reported nodule inducing Proteobacteria genera using their genome sequences and assessed the evolutionary history of symbiosis based on phylogenomics. Our analysis revealed 12 genera as potentially Nod factor producing taxa exclusively from alpha- and beta-Proteobacteria. Based on molecular clock analysis, we estimate that rhizobial nitrogen-fixing symbiosis appeared for the first time about 51 Mya (Eocene epoch) in Rhizobiaceae, and it was laterally transferred to multiple symbiotic taxa in alpha- and beta-Proteobacteria. Coevolutionary tests conducted for measuring the phylogenetic congruence between hosts and symbionts revealed only weak topological similarity between legumes and their bacterial symbionts. We conclude that frequent lateral transfer of symbiotic genes, facultative symbiotic nature of rhizobia, differential evolutionary processes of chromosome versus plasmids, and complex multispecies coevolutionary processes have shaped the rhizobia-host associations.}, } @article {pmid34051532, year = {2021}, author = {Gabriele, I and Race, M and Papirio, S and Esposito, G}, title = {Phytoremediation of pyrene-contaminated soils: A critical review of the key factors affecting the fate of pyrene.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {293}, number = {}, pages = {112805}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112805}, pmid = {34051532}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Humans ; Pyrenes ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {Soil contamination by pyrene has increased over the years due to human-related activities, urgently demanding for remediation approaches to ensure human and environment safety. Within this frame, phytoremediation has been successfully applied over the years due to its green and cost-effectiveness features. The scope of this review includes the main phytoremediation mechanisms correlated with the removal of pyrene from contaminated soils and sediments to highlight the impact of different parameters and the supplement of additives on the efficiency of the treatment. Soil organic matter (SOM), plant species, aging time, environmental parameters (pH, soil oxygenation, and temperature) and bioavailability are among the main parameters affecting pyrene removal through phytoremediation. Phytoextraction only accounts for a small part of the entire phytoremediation process, but the addition of surfactants and chelating agents in planted soils could increase pyrene accumulation in plant tissues by 20% as a consequence of the increased pyrene bioavailability. Rhizodegradation is the main phytoremediation mechanism involved due to the activity of bacteria capable of degrading pyrene in the root area. Inoculated-planted soil treatments have the potential to decrease pyrene accumulation in shoots and roots by approximately 30 and 40%, respectively, further stimulating the proliferation of pyrene-degrading bacteria in the rhizosphere. Plant-fungi symbiotic association results in an enhanced accumulation of pyrene in shoots and roots of plants as well as a higher biodegradation. Finally, pyrene removal from soil can be improved in the presence of amendments, such as natural non-ionic surfactants, biochar, and bacterial mixtures.}, } @article {pmid34051407, year = {2021}, author = {Wen, C and Li, Q and Lan, F and Li, X and Li, G and Yan, Y and Wu, G and Yang, N and Sun, C}, title = {Microbiota continuum along the chicken oviduct and its association with host genetics and egg formation.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {100}, number = {7}, pages = {101104}, pmid = {34051407}, issn = {1525-3171}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chickens ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; *Microbiota ; Oviducts ; Oviposition ; }, abstract = {The microbiota of female reproductive tract have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their effects on host fitness. However, the microbiota throughout the chicken oviduct and its symbiotic relationships with the host have not been well characterized. Here, we characterized the microbial composition of six segments of the reproductive tract, including the infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, vagina and cloaca, in pedigreed laying hens with phenotypes of egg quality and quantity. We found that the microbial diversity gradually increased along the reproductive tract from the infundibulum to the cloaca, and the microbial communities were distinct among the cloaca, vagina and four other oviductal segments. The magnum exhibited the lowest diversity, given that the lysozyme and other antimicrobial proteins are secreted at this location. The results of correlation estimated showed that the relationship between host genetic kinship and microbial distance was negligible. Additionally, the genetically related pairwise individuals did not exhibit a more similar microbial community than unrelated pairs. Although the egg might be directly contaminated with potential pathogenic bacteria during egg formation and oviposition, some microorganisms provide long-term benefits to the host. Among these, we observed that increased abundance of vaginal Staphylococcus and Ralstonia was significantly associated with darker eggshells. Meanwhile, vaginal Romboutsia could be used as a predictor for egg number. These findings provide insight into the nature of the chicken reproductive tract microbiota and highlight the effect of oviductal bacteria on the process of egg formation.}, } @article {pmid34050328, year = {2021}, author = {Tett, A and Pasolli, E and Masetti, G and Ercolini, D and Segata, N}, title = {Prevotella diversity, niches and interactions with the human host.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {585-599}, pmid = {34050328}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {U01 CA230551/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Autoimmune Diseases/microbiology ; Bacteroidaceae Infections/microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Prevotella/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The genus Prevotella includes more than 50 characterized species that occur in varied natural habitats, although most Prevotella spp. are associated with humans. In the human microbiome, Prevotella spp. are highly abundant in various body sites, where they are key players in the balance between health and disease. Host factors related to diet, lifestyle and geography are fundamental in affecting the diversity and prevalence of Prevotella species and strains in the human microbiome. These factors, along with the ecological relationship of Prevotella with other members of the microbiome, likely determine the extent of the contribution of Prevotella to human metabolism and health. Here we review the diversity, prevalence and potential connection of Prevotella spp. in the human host, highlighting how genomic methods and analysis have improved and should further help in framing their ecological role. We also provide suggestions for future research to improve understanding of the possible functions of Prevotella spp. and the effects of the Western lifestyle and diet on the host-Prevotella symbiotic relationship in the context of maintaining human health.}, } @article {pmid34049186, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, HW and Ma, CY and Xu, FJ and Lu, F and Zhang, W and Dai, CC}, title = {Root endophyte-enhanced peanut-rhizobia interaction is associated with regulation of root exudates.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {126765}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2021.126765}, pmid = {34049186}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics/*microbiology ; Biofilms ; Endophytes/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root exudates play a crucial role in the symbiosis between leguminous plants and rhizobia. Our previous studies have shown that a fungal endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris promotes peanut-rhizobia nodulation and nitrogen fixation, but the underlying mechanism are largely unknown. Here, we explore the role of peanut root exudates in Ph. liquidambaris-mediated nodulation enhancement. We first collected root exudates from Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated and un-inoculated peanuts and determined their effects on rhizobial growth, biofilm formation, chemotaxis, nodC gene expression, and peanut nodulation. Our results found a positive effect of Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated root exudates on these characteristics of rhizobia. Next, we compared the root exudates profile of Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated and un-inoculated plants and found that Ph. liquidambaris altered the concentrations of phenolic acids, flavonoids, organic acids and amino acids in root exudates. Furthermore, the rhizobial chemotaxis, growth and biofilm formation in response to the changed compounds at different concentrations showed that all of the test compounds induced rhizobial chemotactic behavior, and organic acids (citric acid and oxalic acid) and amino acid (glutamate, glycine and glutamine) at higher concentrations increased rhizobial growth and biofilm formation. Collectively, our results suggest that root exudates alterations contribute to Ph. liquidambaris-mediated peanut-rhizobia nodulation enhancement.}, } @article {pmid34046176, year = {2021}, author = {Schalk, F and Fricke, J and Um, S and Conlon, BH and Maus, H and Jäger, N and Heinzel, T and Schirmeister, T and Poulsen, M and Beemelmanns, C}, title = {GNPS-guided discovery of xylacremolide C and D, evaluation of their putative biosynthetic origin and bioactivity studies of xylacremolide A and B.}, journal = {RSC advances}, volume = {11}, number = {31}, pages = {18748-18756}, pmid = {34046176}, issn = {2046-2069}, abstract = {Targeted HRMS[2]-GNPS-based metabolomic analysis of Pseudoxylaria sp. X187, a fungal antagonist of the fungus-growing termite symbiosis, resulted in the identification of two lipopeptidic congeners of xylacremolides, named xylacremolide C and D, which are built from d-phenylalanine, l-proline and an acetyl-CoA starter unit elongated by four malonyl-CoA derived ketide units. The putative xya gene cluster was identified from a draft genome generated by Illumina and PacBio sequencing and RNAseq studies. Biological activities of xylacremolide A and B were evaluated and revealed weak histone deacetylase inhibitory (HDACi) and antifungal activities, as well as moderate protease inhibition activity across a panel of nine human, viral and bacterial proteases.}, } @article {pmid34044128, year = {2021}, author = {Di Menna, L and Busceti, CL and Ginerete, RP and D'Errico, G and Orlando, R and Alborghetti, M and Bruno, V and Battaglia, G and Fornai, F and Leoni, L and Rampioni, G and Visca, P and Monn, JA and Nicoletti, F}, title = {The bacterial quorum sensing molecule, 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone (PQS), inhibits signal transduction mechanisms in brain tissue and is behaviorally active in mice.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {170}, number = {}, pages = {105691}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105691}, pmid = {34044128}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*drug effects ; Brain/*drug effects/metabolism ; Cyclic AMP/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hydrolysis ; In Vitro Techniques ; Locomotion/drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Morris Water Maze Test/drug effects ; Motor Activity/drug effects ; Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates/*metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*metabolism ; Quinolones/metabolism/*pharmacology ; *Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Interkingdom communication between bacteria and host organisms is one of the most interesting research topics in biology. Quorum sensing molecules produced by Gram-negative bacteria, such as acylated homoserine lactones and quinolones, have been shown to interact with host cell receptors, stimulating innate immunity and bacterial clearance. To our knowledge, there is no evidence that these molecules influence CNS function. Here, we have found that low micromolar concentrations of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing autoinducer, 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone (PQS), inhibited polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in mouse brain slices, whereas four selected acylated homoserine lactones were inactive. PQS also inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in brain slices. We therefore focused on PQS in our study. Biochemical effects of PQS were not mediated by the bitter taste receptors, T2R4 and T2R16. Interestingly, submicromolar concentrations of PQS could be detected in the serum and brain tissue of adult mice under normal conditions. Levels increased in five selected brain regions after single i.p. injection of PQS (10 mg/kg), peaked after 15 min, and returned back to normal between 1 and 4 h. Systemically administered PQS reduced spontaneous locomotor activity, increased the immobility time in the forced swim test, and largely attenuated motor response to the psychostimulant, methamphetamine. These findings offer the first demonstration that a quorum sensing molecule specifically produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is centrally active and influences cell signaling and behavior. Quorum sensing autoinducers might represent new interkingdom signaling molecules between ecological communities of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms and the host CNS.}, } @article {pmid34044028, year = {2021}, author = {Tiwari, S and Kavitake, D and Devi, PB and Halady Shetty, P}, title = {Bacterial exopolysaccharides for improvement of technological, functional and rheological properties of yoghurt.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {183}, number = {}, pages = {1585-1595}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.05.140}, pmid = {34044028}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Bacteria/*chemistry ; Fermentation ; Food Industry ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*chemistry ; Rheology ; Viscosity ; Yogurt/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are known to have technological and functional applications in food industry including dairy based products such as yoghurt. Yoghurt is a widely consumed dairy based product due to pleasant taste and texture, as well as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. At the same time, structural, rheological and sensorial properties are important in the production of good quality yoghurt. Various natural hydrocolloids including EPS with stabilizing and texture enhancing properties could be useful in enhancing these desirable properties. Apart from that, EPS may enhance various other functional properties of yoghurt such as antioxidant and prebiotic potential. Based on its prebiotic property, symbiotic products could be developed by combining EPS and probiotic bacterial strains. EPS has potential to provide physical and micro structural stability, thereby enhancing the protein distribution and viscoelastic properties. Main focus of the present review is to provide an insight on the action of EPS as a functional hydrocolloid on the technological, rheological and functional properties of yoghurt and related products.}, } @article {pmid34043973, year = {2021}, author = {Iritani, D and Banks, JC and Webb, SC and Fidler, A and Horiguchi, T and Wakeman, KC}, title = {New gregarine species (Apicomplexa) from tunicates show an evolutionary history of host switching and suggest a problem with the systematics of Lankesteria and Lecudina.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {183}, number = {}, pages = {107622}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2021.107622}, pmid = {34043973}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Apicomplexa/*classification/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Urochordata/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Apicomplexa (sensu stricto) are a diverse group of obligate parasites to a variety of animal species. Gregarines have been the subject of particular interest due to their diversity, phylogenetically basal position, and more recently, their symbiotic relationships with their hosts. In the present study, four new species of marine eugregarines infecting ascidian hosts (Lankesteria kaiteriteriensis sp. nov., L. dolabra sp. nov., L. savignyii sp. nov., and L. pollywoga sp. nov.) were described using a combination of morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analysis using small subunit rDNA sequences suggested that gregarines that parasitize ascidians and polychaetes share a common origin as traditionally hypothesized by predecessors in the discipline. However, Lankesteria and Lecudina species did not form clades as expected, but were instead intermixed amongst each other and their respective type species in the phylogeny. These two major genera are therefore taxonomically problematic. We hypothesize that the continued addition of new species from polychaete and tunicate hosts as well as the construction of multigene phylogenies that include type-material will further dissolve the currently accepted distinction between Lankesteria and Lecudina. The species discovered and described in the current study add new phylogenetic and taxonomic data to the knowledge of marine gregarine parasitism in ascidian hosts.}, } @article {pmid34041587, year = {2021}, author = {Viju, N and Punitha, SMJ and Satheesh, S}, title = {An Analysis of Biosynthesis Gene Clusters and Bioactivity of Marine Bacterial Symbionts.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {7}, pages = {2522-2533}, pmid = {34041587}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria/genetics ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Drug Discovery ; Multigene Family ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic marine bacteria have a pivotal role in drug discovery due to the synthesis of diverse biologically potential compounds. The marine bacterial phyla proteobacteria, actinobacteria and firmicutes are commonly associated with marine macro organisms and frequently reported as dominant bioactive compound producers. They can produce biologically active compounds that possess antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antibiofilm and antifouling properties. Synthesis of these bioactive compounds is controlled by a set of genes of their genomes that is known as biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs). The development in the field of biotechnology and bioinformatics has uncovered the potential BGCs of the bacterial genome and its functions. Now-a-days researchers have focused their attention on the identification of potential BGCs for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds using advanced technology. This review highlights the marine bacterial symbionts and their BGCs which are responsible for the synthesis of bioactive compounds.}, } @article {pmid34040592, year = {2021}, author = {Shu, R and Hahn, DA and Jurkevitch, E and Liburd, OE and Yuval, B and Wong, AC}, title = {Sex-Dependent Effects of the Microbiome on Foraging and Locomotion in Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {656406}, pmid = {34040592}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {There is growing evidence that symbiotic microbes can influence multiple nutrition-related behaviors of their hosts, including locomotion, feeding, and foraging. However, how the microbiome affects nutrition-related behavior is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate clear sexual dimorphism in how the microbiome affects foraging behavior of a frugivorous fruit fly, Drosophila suzukii. Female flies deprived of their microbiome (axenic) were consistently less active in foraging on fruits than their conventional counterparts, even though they were more susceptible to starvation and starvation-induced locomotion was notably more elevated in axenic than conventional females. Such behavioral change was not observed in male flies. The lag of axenic female flies but not male flies to forage on fruits is associated with lower oviposition by axenic flies, and mirrored by reduced food seeking observed in virgin females when compared to mated, gravid females. In contrast to foraging intensity being highly dependent on the microbiome, conventional and axenic flies of both sexes showed relatively consistent and similar fruit preferences in foraging and oviposition, with raspberries being preferred among the fruits tested. Collectively, this work highlights a clear sex-specific effect of the microbiome on foraging and locomotion behaviors in flies, an important first step toward identifying specific mechanisms that may drive the modulation of insect behavior by interactions between the host, the microbiome, and food.}, } @article {pmid34038033, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, HJ and Ye, YX and Ye, ZX and Yan, XT and Wang, X and Wei, ZY and Chen, JP and Li, JM and Sun, ZT and Zhang, CX}, title = {Chromosome-level genome assembly of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {2423-2436}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13434}, pmid = {34038033}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Chromosomes ; Female ; Genome ; *Heteroptera/genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bean bug (Riptortus pedestris) causes great economic losses of soybeans by piercing and sucking pods and seeds. Although R. pedestris has become the focus of numerous studies associated with insect-microbe interactions, plant-insect interactions, and pesticide resistance, a lack of genomic resources has limited deeper insights. Here, we report the first R. pedestris genome at the chromosomal level using PacBio, Illumina, and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome was 1.080 Gb in size with a contig N50 of 2.882 Mb. More than 96.3% of the total genome bases were successfully anchored to six unique chromosomes. Genome resequencing of male and female individuals and chromosomic staining demonstrated that the sex chromosome system of R. pedestris is XO, and the shortest chromosome is the X chromosome. In total, 19,026 protein-coding genes were predicted, 18,745 of which were validated as being expressed. Temporospatial expression of R. pedestris genes in six tissues and 37 development stages revealed 4,657 and 7,793 genes mainly expressed in gonads and egg periods, respectively. Evolutionary analysis demonstrated that R. pedestris and Oncopeltus fasciatus formed a sister group and split ∼80 million years ago (Mya). Additionally, a 5.04 Mb complete genome of symbiotic Serratia marcescens Rip1 was assembled, and the virulence factors that account for successful colonization in the host midgut were identified. The high-quality R. pedestris genome provides a valuable resource for further research, as well as for the pest management of bug pests.}, } @article {pmid34037279, year = {2021}, author = {Bates, KA and Bolton, JS and King, KC}, title = {A globally ubiquitous symbiont can drive experimental host evolution.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {15}, pages = {3882-3892}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15998}, pmid = {34037279}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; *Microbiota ; *Nematoda ; *Parasites ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Organisms harbour myriad microbes which can be parasitic or protective against harm. The costs and benefits resulting from these symbiotic relationships can be context-dependent, but the evolutionary consequences to hosts of these transitions remain unclear. Here, we mapped the Leucobacter genus across 13,715 microbiome samples (163 studies) to reveal a global distribution as a free-living microbe or a symbiont of animals and plants. We showed that across geographically distant locations (South Africa, France, Cape Verde), Leucobacter isolates vary substantially in their virulence to an associated animal host, Caenorhabditis nematodes. We further found that multiple Leucobacter sequence variants co-occur in wild Caenorhabditis spp. which combined with natural variation in virulence provides real-world potential for Leucobacter community composition to influence host fitness. We examined this by competing C. elegans genotypes that differed in susceptibility to different Leucobacter species in an evolution experiment. One Leucobacter species was found to be host-protective against another, virulent parasitic species. We tested the impact of host genetic background and Leucobacter community composition on patterns of host-based defence evolution. We found host genotypes conferring defence against the parasitic species were maintained during infection. However, when hosts were protected during coinfection, host-based defences were nearly lost from the population. Overall, our results provide insight into the role of community context in shaping host evolution during symbioses.}, } @article {pmid34037236, year = {2021}, author = {Nouri, E and Surve, R and Bapaume, L and Stumpe, M and Chen, M and Zhang, Y and Ruyter-Spira, C and Bouwmeester, H and Glauser, G and Bruisson, S and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Phosphate Suppression of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Involves Gibberellic Acid Signaling.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {959-970}, pmid = {34037236}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Petunia/*physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants entertain a mutualistic symbiosis known as arbuscular mycorrhiza with fungi (Glomeromycota) that provide them with essential mineral nutrients, in particular phosphate (Pi), and protect them from biotic and abiotic stress. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis increases plant productivity and biodiversity and is therefore relevant for both natural plant communities and crop production. However, AM fungal populations suffer from intense farming practices in agricultural soils, in particular Pi fertilization. The dilemma between natural fertilization from AM symbiosis and chemical fertilization has raised major concern and emphasizes the need to better understand the mechanisms by which Pi suppresses AM symbiosis. Here, we test the hypothesis that Pi may interfere with AM symbiosis via the phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA) in the Solanaceous model systems Petunia hybrida and Nicotiana tabacum. Indeed, we find that GA is inhibitory to AM symbiosis and that Pi may cause GA levels to increase in mycorrhizal roots. Consistent with a role of endogenous GA as an inhibitor of AM development, GA-defective N. tabacum lines expressing a GA-metabolizing enzyme (GA methyltransferase-GAMT) are colonized more quickly by the AM fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare, and exogenous Pi is less effective in inhibiting AM colonization in these lines. Systematic gene expression analysis of GA-related genes reveals a complex picture, in which GA degradation by GA2 oxidase plays a prominent role. These findings reveal potential targets for crop breeding that could reduce Pi suppression of AM symbiosis, thereby reconciling the advantages of Pi fertilization with the diverse benefits of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid34036431, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, P and Feng, Y and Zou, Z and Cao, Y and Yuan, S}, title = {Critical role of cysteine-266 of SIE3 in regulating the ubiquitination and degradation of SIP1 transcription factor in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {253}, number = {6}, pages = {126}, pmid = {34036431}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Cysteine ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; }, abstract = {A conserved cysteine residue (C266)-mediated homo-dimerization of SIE3 is required for the ubiquitination and degradation of SIP1 transcription factor in Lotus japonicas CTLH/CRA/RING-containing proteins have been shown to possess E3-ligase activities and are crucial for the regulation of numerous cellular signaling pathways. In our previous studies, SIE3 (SymRK-Interacting E3 ubiquitin ligase), a CTLH/CRA/RING-containing protein from Lotus japonicus, has been shown to associate with both Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SymRK) and SIP1 (SymRK interacting protein 1) transcription factor, and ubiquitinate SymRK (Yuan et al. Plant Physiol 160 (1):106-117, 2012; Feng et al. Front Plant Sci 11: 795, 2020). Besides, we previously also demonstrated that the residue, cysteine-266 in the CRA (CT11-RanBPM) domain is required for homodimerization of SIE3 and cysteine-266 residue-mediated homodimerization is important for the symbiosic function of SIE3 (Feng et al. 2020). In this report, SIE3 was shown to induce the ubiquitination and degradation of SIP1. The cysteine-266 residue is essential for the E3-ligase activity and is highly conserved in the SIE3-like proteins. Our works refined the working model that homodimerization of SIE3 is required for ubiquitin-related degradation of SIP1 and found a conserved cysteine residue plays a key role in the activity of a plant dimeric E3 ligase.}, } @article {pmid34035924, year = {2021}, author = {Mansour, SR and Moustafa, MAA and Saad, BM and Hamed, R and Moustafa, AA}, title = {Impact of diet on human gut microbiome and disease risk.}, journal = {New microbes and new infections}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {100845}, pmid = {34035924}, issn = {2052-2975}, abstract = {The gut microbiome of humans comprises a diverse group of trillions of microorganisms including symbiotic organisms, opportunistic pathogens and commensal organisms. This microbiota plays a major role in digesting food; it also helps with absorbing and synthesizing some nutrients and releases their metabolites, which may deliver a variety of growth-promoting and growth-inhibiting factors that influence human health either directly or indirectly. The balance between microbial species, especially those responsible for the fermentation of different substrates within the microbial community, which are in the majority, depends on daily diet. Therefore, an unbalanced diet may lead to the progression and development of human diseases. These include metabolic and inflammatory disorders, cancer and depression, as well as infant health and longevity. We provide an overview of the effect of diet on the human microbiome and assess the related risk of disease development.}, } @article {pmid34034525, year = {2021}, author = {Quides, KW and Weisberg, AJ and Trinh, J and Salaheldine, F and Cardenas, P and Lee, HH and Jariwala, R and Chang, JH and Sachs, JL}, title = {Experimental evolution can enhance benefits of rhizobia to novel legume hosts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1951}, pages = {20210812}, pmid = {34034525}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Lotus/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes preferentially associate with and reward beneficial rhizobia in root nodules, but the processes by which rhizobia evolve to provide benefits to novel hosts remain poorly understood. Using cycles of in planta and in vitro evolution, we experimentally simulated lifestyles where rhizobia repeatedly interact with novel plant genotypes with which they initially provide negligible benefits. Using a full-factorial replicated design, we independently evolved two rhizobia strains in associations with each of two Lotus japonicus genotypes that vary in regulation of nodule formation. We evaluated phenotypic evolution of rhizobia by quantifying fitness, growth effects and histological features on hosts, and molecular evolution via genome resequencing. Rhizobia evolved enhanced host benefits and caused changes in nodule development in one of the four host-symbiont combinations, that appeared to be driven by reduced costs during symbiosis, rather than increased nitrogen fixation. Descendant populations included genetic changes that could alter rhizobial infection or proliferation in host tissues, but lack of evidence for fixation of these mutations weakens the results. Evolution of enhanced rhizobial benefits occurred only in a subset of experiments, suggesting a role for host-symbiont genotype interactions in mediating the evolution of enhanced benefits from symbionts.}, } @article {pmid34034516, year = {2021}, author = {Nanglu, K and Caron, JB}, title = {Symbiosis in the Cambrian: enteropneust tubes from the Burgess Shale co-inhabited by commensal polychaetes.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1951}, pages = {20210061}, pmid = {34034516}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; Biological Evolution ; Canada ; Fossils ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The in situ preservation of animal behaviour in the fossil record is exceedingly rare, but can lead to unique macroecological and macroevolutionary insights, especially regarding early representatives of major animal clades. We describe a new complex ecological relationship from the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale (Raymond Quarry, Canada). More than 30 organic tubes were recorded with multiple enteropneust and polychaete worms preserved within them. Based on the tubicolous nature of fossil enteropneusts, we suggest that they were the tube builders while the co-preserved polychaetes were commensals. These findings mark, to our knowledge, the first record of commensalism within Annelida and Hemichordata in the entire fossil record. The finding of multiple enteropneusts sharing common tubes suggests that either the tubes represent reproductive structures built by larger adults, and the enteropneusts commonly preserved within are juveniles, or these enteropneusts were living as a pseudo-colony without obligate attachment to each other, and the tube was built collaboratively. While neither hypothesis can be ruled out, gregarious behaviour was clearly an early trait of both hemichordates and annelids. Further, commensal symbioses in the Cambrian may be more common than currently recognized.}, } @article {pmid34032645, year = {2021}, author = {Champagne-Jorgensen, K and McVey Neufeld, KA}, title = {The Effect of Microbiota on Behaviour.}, journal = {Modern trends in psychiatry}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {58-67}, doi = {10.1159/000510417}, pmid = {34032645}, issn = {2504-0464}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Behavioral Symptoms/*microbiology ; *Brain/microbiology/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Mental Processes/physiology ; Psychophysiology ; }, abstract = {There is currently enormous interest in the impact of the intestinal microbiota on the development and function of the brain via activity of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. It has long been recognised that symbiotic microorganisms influence host behaviour, but in recent years evidence has accumulated that this can, in fact, be beneficial to the host. Indeed, substantial research has now demonstrated an influence of the intestinal microbiota on a wide range of mammalian behaviours. Here, we review what is currently known about the influence of intestinal microbiota on learning and memory, olfaction, social behaviours, and circadian processes. While work in animal models is compelling, further work is required to elucidate mechanisms whereby bacterial influence is occurring, as well as to determine the extent to which gut microbiota can influence similar phenotypes in humans.}, } @article {pmid34032563, year = {2021}, author = {Alvarenga, DO and Andreote, APD and Branco, LHZ and Delbaje, E and Cruz, RB and Varani, AM and Fiore, MF}, title = {Amazonocrinis nigriterrae gen. nov., sp. nov., Atlanticothrix silvestris gen. nov., sp. nov. and Dendronalium phyllosphericum gen. nov., sp. nov., nostocacean cyanobacteria from Brazilian environments.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.004811}, pmid = {34032563}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Brazil ; Cyanobacteria/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The cyanobacterial genus Nostoc is an important contributor to carbon and nitrogen bioavailability in terrestrial ecosystems and a frequent partner in symbiotic relationships with non-diazotrophic organisms. However, since this currently is a polyphyletic genus, the diversity of Nostoc-like cyanobacteria is considerably underestimated at this moment. While reviewing the phylogenetic placement of previously isolated Nostoc-like cyanobacteria originating from Brazilian Amazon, Caatinga and Atlantic forest samples, we detected 17 strains isolated from soil, freshwater, rock and tree surfaces presenting patterns that diverged significantly from related strains when ecological, morphological, molecular and genomic traits were also considered. These observations led to the identification of the evaluated strains as representative of three novel nostocacean genera and species: Amazonocrinis nigriterrae gen. nov., sp. nov.; Atlanticothrix silvestris gen. nov., sp. nov.; and Dendronalium phyllosphericum gen. nov., sp. nov., which are herein described according to the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. This finding highlights the great importance of tropical and equatorial South American ecosystems for harbouring an unknown microbial diversity in the face of the anthropogenic threats with which they increasingly struggle.}, } @article {pmid34032194, year = {2021}, author = {Zimmer, R}, title = {Post-termination self-analysis and the relinquishment of the psychoanalytic frame: thoughts on a fragment of self-analytic work following a traumatic termination.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {102}, number = {6}, pages = {1116-1137}, doi = {10.1080/00207578.2021.1904780}, pmid = {34032194}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Humans ; *Psychoanalysis ; *Psychoanalytic Therapy ; Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {Months following the traumatic termination of my analysis I engaged in self-analytic work in which I was able to rework the events of the termination and their significance in terms of my history. Fundamental differences between my self-analytic process and that of my formal analysis led me to consider how termination may affect the ensuing self-analytic process. In this paper, I look at aspects of termination that have to do with the dissolution of symbiotic ties with the analyst; I will try to show that relinquishment of the frame provides an impetus both for consolidation and reworking of an identification with the analyst, which may enable the analysand to develop a personal way of thinking about the unconscious that differs from that of the analyst. I further suggest that there are inevitable limitations to the analytic process which manifest in the development of irreducible bastions, and that the dissolution of the frame at termination provides an opportunity for self-analytic resolution of those bastions which may allow self-understanding beyond what could have been attained within the formal analytic setting. Finally, I offer some speculations on how these processes may have played out between Freud and Fliess in Freud's self-analysis.}, } @article {pmid34032017, year = {2021}, author = {Hussain, MZ and Yang, Z and Huang, Z and Jia, Q and Zhu, Y and Xia, Y}, title = {Recent Advances in Metal-Organic Frameworks Derived Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Applications in Energy and Environment.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {8}, number = {14}, pages = {e2100625}, pmid = {34032017}, issn = {2198-3844}, abstract = {Solar energy is a key sustainable energy resource, and materials with optimal properties are essential for efficient solar energy-driven applications in photocatalysis. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent platforms to generate different nanocomposites comprising metals, oxides, chalcogenides, phosphides, or carbides embedded in porous carbon matrix. These MOF derived nanocomposites offer symbiosis of properties like high crystallinities, inherited morphologies, controllable dimensions, and tunable textural properties. Particularly, adjustable energy band positions achieved by in situ tailored self/external doping and controllable surface functionalities make these nanocomposites promising photocatalysts. Despite some progress in this field, fundamental questions remain to be addressed to further understand the relationship between the structures, properties, and photocatalytic performance of nanocomposites. In this review, different synthesis approaches including self-template and external-template methods to produce MOF derived nanocomposites with various dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, or 3D), morphologies, chemical compositions, energy bandgaps, and surface functionalities are comprehensively summarized and analyzed. The state-of-the-art progress in the applications of MOF derived nanocomposites in photocatalytic water splitting for H2 generation, photodegradation of organic pollutants, and photocatalytic CO2 reduction are systemically reviewed. The relationships between the nanocomposite properties and their photocatalytic performance are highlighted, and the perspectives of MOF derived nanocomposites for photocatalytic applications are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid34031779, year = {2021}, author = {Watson, BM and Stein Lubrano, S}, title = {"Storming then Performing": Historical Non-Monogamy and Metamour Collaboration.}, journal = {Archives of sexual behavior}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {1225-1238}, pmid = {34031779}, issn = {1573-2800}, mesh = {Humans ; Qualitative Research ; *Sexual Behavior ; *Sexual Partners ; Social Norms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {We present the results of an investigation into the biographies, letters, and archives of approximately 50 well-known figures in Western intellectual and artistic history in the post-Enlightenment era. In this article, in the interest of space, we have limited our remarks to the biographies and partners of Virginia Woolf, Frida Kahlo, Max Weber, Edna St. Vincent Millay, William Moulton Marston, Erwin Schrodinger, and Victor Hugo. While some of these non-monogamous relationships are well known, some of the evidence of their existence has been ignored, misrecognized, or intentionally obscured. The results of this survey demonstrate that contemporary patterns of non-monogamies are deeply rooted in historical precedence. Our hope is that by outlining some of the themes in our historical findings we can help modern researchers better interpret their own quantitative and qualitative research. Additionally, we look particularly closely at relationships between metamours. A great deal of previous psychological and sexological research has focused on competitive behavior in sex and relationships, particularly competition between rivals. However, relatively little attention has been given to collaborative (or symbiotic) behavior. Our research has located a wealth of examples of metamours supporting one another in material, social, and psychological ways throughout their lives. Furthermore, we suggest that while our existing societal and social-scientific norms primarily focus on competitive sexual behaviors, much can be learnt from historically documented practices of consensual non-monogamy. These practices-however flawed-point to potentially emancipatory ways of living, loving and building relationships, families, and communities-as some contemporary research has demonstrated. Moreover, a future world might benefit from a turn to far more collaborative relationships-and such behavior is well within the realm of possibility.}, } @article {pmid34031036, year = {2021}, author = {Ludvik, DA and Bultman, KM and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Hybrid Histidine Kinase BinK Represses Vibrio fischeri Biofilm Signaling at Multiple Developmental Stages.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {203}, number = {15}, pages = {e0015521}, pmid = {34031036}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM008061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*enzymology/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; Histidine Kinase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and its exclusive light organ symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, provides a natural system in which to study host-microbe specificity and gene regulation during the establishment of a mutually beneficial symbiosis. Colonization of the host relies on bacterial biofilm-like aggregation in the squid mucus field. Symbiotic biofilm formation is controlled by a two-component signaling (TCS) system consisting of regulators RscS-SypF-SypG, which together direct transcription of the symbiosis polysaccharide Syp. TCS systems are broadly important for bacteria to sense environmental cues and then direct changes in behavior. Previously, we identified the hybrid histidine kinase BinK as a strong negative regulator of V. fischeri biofilm regulation, and here we further explore the function of BinK. To inhibit biofilm formation, BinK requires the predicted phosphorylation sites in both the histidine kinase (H362) and receiver (D794) domains. Furthermore, we show that RscS is not essential for host colonization when binK is deleted from strain ES114, and imaging of aggregate size revealed no benefit to the presence of RscS in a background lacking BinK. Strains lacking RscS still suffered in competition. Finally, we show that BinK functions to inhibit biofilm gene expression in the light organ crypts, providing evidence for biofilm gene regulation at later stages of host colonization. Overall, this study provides direct evidence for opposing activities of RscS and BinK and yields novel insights into biofilm regulation during the maturation of a beneficial symbiosis. IMPORTANCE Bacteria are often in a biofilm state, and transitions between planktonic and biofilm lifestyles are important for pathogenic, beneficial, and environmental microbes. The critical nature of biofilm formation during Vibrio fischeri colonization of the Hawaiian bobtail squid light organ provides an opportunity to study development of this process in vivo using a combination of genetic and imaging approaches. The current work refines the signaling circuitry of the biofilm pathway in V. fischeri, provides evidence that biofilm regulatory changes occur in the host, and identifies BinK as one of the regulators of that process. This study provides information about how bacteria regulate biofilm gene expression in an intact animal host.}, } @article {pmid34030971, year = {2021}, author = {Pirozzolo, I and Li, Z and Sepulveda, M and Alegre, ML}, title = {Influence of the microbiome on solid organ transplant survival.}, journal = {The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation}, volume = {40}, number = {8}, pages = {745-753}, pmid = {34030971}, issn = {1557-3117}, support = {R01 AI115716/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM109439/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI132898/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/*immunology ; Graft Rejection/*immunology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; *Organ Transplantation ; Transplantation Tolerance/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The microbiome is an environmental factor in intricate symbiotic relationship with its hosts' immune system, potentially shaping anticancer immunity, autoimmunity, and transplant responses. The focus of this review is to discuss recent findings tying the microbiota to transplant outcomes and alloimmunity. The microbiota changes dynamically following transplantation, but whether these changes affect transplant outcomes can be difficult to parse out. New data reveal effects of the microbiota locally, as well as systemically, depending on the mucosal/epithelial surface colonized, the specific commensal communities present and the nature of microbial-derived molecules produced. These complex interactions result in the microbiota potentially impacting transplantation at different levels, including modulation of donor and/or recipient cells, alterations in the priming and/or effector phases of the alloimmune response, availability or metabolism of immunosuppressive drugs, transplant fate or post-transplant complications.}, } @article {pmid34030298, year = {2021}, author = {Ishibashi, H and Takaichi, D and Takeuchi, I}, title = {Effects of the herbicide Irgarol 1051 on the transcriptome of hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {780}, number = {}, pages = {146542}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146542}, pmid = {34030298}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Herbicides/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Triazines ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs face multiple threats, including climate change, agricultural runoff, shipping activities, coastal development, and chemical pollutants. Irgarol 1051, a PSII herbicide, has been used as an antifouling booster since the previously used antibiofouling agent tributyltin (TBT) was banned worldwide. Although the mechanisms through which elevated temperatures cause coral bleaching have been reported, it remains unclear how PSII herbicides cause bleaching. Thus, in this study, we investigated the transcriptomes of Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates by RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying Irgarol-induced bleaching. Coral exposure to 10 μg/L Irgarol for 7 d affected coral body colour, specifically by an increase in their red, green, and blue (RGB) values; however, no such effect was observed in corals exposed to 1 μg/L Irgarol. RNA-Seq revealed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in corals and symbiotic dinoflagellates following Irgarol exposure. Coral DEGs encoded green fluorescent protein, blue-light-sensing photoreceptor (cryptochrome), chromoprotein, caspase 8, and nuclear receptors; DEGs in symbiotic dinoflagellates encoded light-harvesting proteins, photosystem II proteins, and heat shock proteins (i.e. HSP70 and HSP90), and ubiquitin. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that both Irgarol treatments disrupted various gene ontology terms, pathways, and protein interaction networks; these are different in corals (e.g. oxidative phosphorylation, metabolic pathway, transforming growth factor-β signalling pathway, adherens junction, and apoptosis) and symbiotic dinoflagellates (e.g. protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, metabolic pathway, and photosynthesis). Our data suggest that Irgarol disrupts the expression of various coral genes, thereby affecting various gene ontology terms, pathways, and protein interaction networks. Our study provides new insights into the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the bleaching effect of PSII herbicides, such as Irgarol, on corals and symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid34029789, year = {2021}, author = {Colombo, EA and Cooke, RF and Brandão, AP and Wiegand, JB and Schubach, KM and Sowers, CA and Duff, GC and Block, E and Gouvêa, VN}, title = {Performance, health, and physiological responses of newly received feedlot cattle supplemented with pre- and probiotic ingredients.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {100214}, doi = {10.1016/j.animal.2021.100214}, pmid = {34029789}, issn = {1751-732X}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Cattle ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; *Yeast, Dried ; }, abstract = {Nutritional strategies that optimize immunity of feedlot cattle are warranted due to increasing regulations with the use of feed-grade antimicrobials. This study evaluated physiological, health, and performance responses of cattle receiving a synbiotic supplement (yeast-derived prebiotic + Bacillus subtilis probiotic), which replaced feed-grade antimicrobials or were fed in conjunction with monensin during the initial 45 days in the feedlot. Angus-influenced steers (n = 256) were acquired from an auction facility on day -2, and transported (800 km) to the feedlot. Shrunk BW was recorded upon arrival (day -1). Steers were allocated to 1 of 18 pens (day 0), and pens were assigned to receive (n = 6/treatment) a free-choice diet containing: (1) monensin and tylosin (RT; 360 mg/steer daily from Rumensin and 90 mg/steer daily from Tylan; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN, USA), (2) yeast-derived ingredient and B. subtilis probiotic (CC; 18 g/steer daily of Celmanax and 28 g/steer daily of Certillus; Church and Dwight Co., Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA), or (3) monensin in addition to yeast-derived and B. subtilis ingredients (RCC) as in RT and CC. Steers were assessed for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and DMI daily. Steer BW was recorded on days 45 and 46, and averaged for final BW. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 17, 31, and 45. Feed intake was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in CC vs. RCC and RT during the initial 3 weeks upon feedlot arrival. No treatment differences were noted (P ≥ 0.41) for average daily gain, BW, and feed efficiency. Incidence of BRD did not differ (P = 0.77) between treatments (average 80.1%). A greater proportion (P ≤ 0.03) of RT steers diagnosed with BRD required a second antimicrobial treatment compared with CC and RCC (57.3, 37.3, and 38.6%, respectively). Removal of steers from the trial due to severe morbidity + mortality was greater (P = 0.02) in RT vs. CC (22.4 and 7.0%), and did not differ (P ≥ 0.16) among RCC (12.9%) vs. RT and CC. Plasma glucose concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.02) in CC vs. RCC and RT on day 7. Plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids were greater (P ≤ 0.02) in RT and RCC vs. CC on day 7, and in RT vs. CC on day 17. Steers receiving the synbiotic supplement had improved response to BRD treatment, suggesting heightened immunocompetence from partially enhanced metabolism and the nutraceutical effects of B. subtilis and yeast compounds.}, } @article {pmid34029441, year = {2021}, author = {Montgomery, K and Williams, TJ and Brettle, M and Berengut, JF and Ray, AE and Zhang, E and Zaugg, J and Hugenholtz, P and Ferrari, BC}, title = {Persistence and resistance: survival mechanisms of Candidatus Dormibacterota from nutrient-poor Antarctic soils.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {4276-4294}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15610}, pmid = {34029441}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Metagenome ; Nutrients ; Phylogeny ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {Candidatus Dormibacterota is an uncultured bacterial phylum found predominantly in soil that is present in high abundances within cold desert soils. Here, we interrogate nine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), including six new MAGs derived from soil metagenomes obtained from two eastern Antarctic sites. Phylogenomic and taxonomic analyses revealed these MAGs represent four genera and five species, representing two order-level clades within Ca. Dormibacterota. Metabolic reconstructions of these MAGs revealed the potential for aerobic metabolism, and versatile adaptations enabling persistence in the 'extreme' Antarctic environment. Primary amongst these adaptations were abilities to scavenge atmospheric H2 and CO as energy sources, as well as using the energy derived from H2 oxidation to fix atmospheric CO2 via the Calvin-Bassham-Benson cycle, using a RuBisCO type IE. We propose that these allow Ca. Dormibacterota to persist using H2 oxidation and grow using atmospheric chemosynthesis in terrestrial Antarctica. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed Ca. Dormibacterota to be coccoid cells, 0.3-1.4 μm in diameter, with some cells exhibiting the potential for a symbiotic or syntrophic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid34028829, year = {2021}, author = {Taylor, BN and Menge, DNL}, title = {Light, nitrogen supply, and neighboring plants dictate costs and benefits of nitrogen fixation for seedlings of a tropical nitrogen-fixing tree.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {5}, pages = {1758-1769}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17508}, pmid = {34028829}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Seedlings ; Soil ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {The ability to fix nitrogen may confer a competitive advantage or disadvantage to symbiotic nitrogen-fixing plants depending on the availability of soil nitrogen and energy to fuel fixation. Understanding these costs and benefits of nitrogen fixation is critical to predicting ecosystem dynamics and nutrient cycling. We grew inoculated (with symbiotic bacteria) and uninoculated seedlings of Pentaclethra macroloba (a nitrogen-fixing tree species) both in isolation and with Virola koschnyi (a nonfixing species) under gradients of light and soil nitrogen to assess how the ability to fix nitrogen and fixation activity affect growth, biomass allocation, and responses to neighboring plants. Inoculation itself did not provide a growth advantage to nitrogen fixers, regardless of nitrogen limitation status. Higher nitrogen fixation rates increased biomass growth similarly for nitrogen-limited and nitrogen-saturated fixers. Nodule production was offset by reduced fine-root biomass for inoculated nitrogen fixers, resulting in no change in total belowground allocation associated with nitrogen fixation. Under nitrogen-limited conditions, inoculated nitrogen fixers partially downregulated fixation in the presence of a nonfixing neighbor. These results suggest that nitrogen fixation can provide a growth advantage, even under nitrogen-saturated conditions, and that nitrogen fixers may reduce fixation rates to minimize facilitation of neighbors.}, } @article {pmid34028687, year = {2021}, author = {Foo, E}, title = {Application of Strigolactones to Plant Roots to Influence Formation of Symbioses.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2309}, number = {}, pages = {179-187}, pmid = {34028687}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Biological Assay ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*pharmacology ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Peas/*microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*drug effects/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones play a potent role in the rhizosphere as a signal to symbiotic microbes including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial bacteria. This chapter outlines guidelines for application of strigolactones to pea roots to influence symbiotic relationships, and includes careful consideration of type of strigolactones applied, solvent use, frequency of application and nutrient regime to optimize experimental conditions.}, } @article {pmid34028686, year = {2021}, author = {Torabi, S and Varshney, K and Villaécija-Aguilar, JA and Keymer, A and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Controlled Assays for Phenotyping the Effects of Strigolactone-Like Molecules on Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Development.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2309}, number = {}, pages = {157-177}, pmid = {34028686}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Biological Assay ; Brachypodium/growth & development/*microbiology ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*pharmacology ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Lotus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza is an ancient symbiosis between most land plants and fungi of the Glomeromycotina, in which the fungi provide mineral nutrients to the plant in exchange for photosynthetically fixed organic carbon. Strigolactones are important signals promoting this symbiosis, as they are exuded by plant roots into the rhizosphere to stimulate activity of the fungi. In addition, the plant karrikin signaling pathway is required for root colonization. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning root colonization by AM fungi, requires the use of plant mutants as well as treatments with different environmental conditions or signaling compounds in standardized cocultivation systems to allow for reproducible root colonization phenotypes. Here we describe how we set up and quantify arbuscular mycorrhiza in the model plants Lotus japonicus and Brachypodium distachyon under controlled conditions. We illustrate a setup for open pot culture as well as for closed plant tissue culture (PTC) containers, for plant-fungal cocultivation in sterile conditions. Furthermore, we explain how to harvest, store, stain, and image AM roots for phenotyping and quantification of different AM structures.}, } @article {pmid34028681, year = {2021}, author = {Bernabéu-Roda, LM and López-Ráez, JA and Soto, MJ}, title = {Analyzing the Effect of Strigolactones on the Motility Behavior of Rhizobia.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2309}, number = {}, pages = {91-103}, pmid = {34028681}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/chemical synthesis/*pharmacology ; Lactones/chemical synthesis/*pharmacology ; Movement/*drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, strigolactones (SLs) promote root nodule formation; however, the exact mechanism underlying this positive effect remains unknown. The recent finding that an SL receptor legume mutant shows a wild-type nodulation phenotype suggests that SLs influence the symbiosis by acting on the bacterial partner. In agreement with this, the application of the synthetic SL analog GR24 on the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti has been shown to stimulate swarming, a specialized bacterial surface motility, which could influence infection of legumes by Rhizobia. Surface motility assays for many bacteria, and particularly for Rhizobia, are challenging. The establishment of protocols to study bacterial surface motility is key to decipher the role of SLs as rhizosphere cues for rhizobacteria. In this chapter, we describe a set of protocols implemented to study the different types of motility exhibited by S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid34028679, year = {2021}, author = {Pouvreau, JB and Poulin, L and Huet, S and Delavault, P}, title = {Strigolactone-Like Bioactivity via Parasitic Plant Germination Bioassay.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2309}, number = {}, pages = {59-73}, pmid = {34028679}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Biological Assay ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Germination/*drug effects ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Orobanche/*drug effects/embryology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Seeds/*drug effects/embryology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are a class of plant hormones involved in shoot branching, growth of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and germination of parasitic plant seeds. Assaying new molecules or compound exhibiting strigolactone-like activities is therefore important but unfortunately time-consuming and hard to implement because of the extremely low concentrations at which they are active. Seeds of parasite plants are natural integrator of these hormones since they can perceive molecule concentrations in the picomolar to nanomolar range stimulating their germination. Here we describe a simple and inexpensive method to evaluate the activity of these molecules by scoring the germination of parasitic plant seeds upon treatment with these molecules. Up to four molecules can be assayed from a single 96-well plate by this method. A comparison of SL-like bioactivities between molecules is done by determining the EC50 and the maximum percentage of germination.}, } @article {pmid34028142, year = {2021}, author = {Moukarzel, R and Ridgway, HJ and Guerin-Laguette, A and Jones, EE}, title = {Grapevine rootstocks drive the community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in New Zealand vineyards.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {131}, number = {6}, pages = {2941-2956}, doi = {10.1111/jam.15160}, pmid = {34028142}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Farms ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; New Zealand ; Plant Roots ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are often regarded as non-specific symbionts, but some AMF communities show host preference in various ecosystems including vineyards. Grapevine plants are very responsive to AMF colonization. Although these fungi have potentially significant applications for sustainable agricultural ecosystems, there is a gap in knowledge regarding AMF-grapevine interactions worldwide and especially in New Zealand. This study focused on identifying AMF taxa colonizing grapevines in New Zealand vineyards and investigated the effect of grapevine rootstocks on AMF community diversity and composition.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and trap cultures were used to characterize the AMF communities. Grapevine roots from three vineyards and nine rootstocks were analysed by DGGE and used in trap cultures for AMF recovery. Trap cultures allowed the recovery of six AMF spore morphotypes that belonged to Ambispora sp., Claroideoglomus sp., Funneliformis sp. and Glomus sp. Bands excised, reamplified and sequenced from the DGGE were assigned to Glomus sp., Rhizophagus sp. and Claroideoglomus sp. The AMF community analyses demonstrated that rootstock significantly (P < 0·05) influenced the AMF community composition in all sites.

CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that for a comprehensive identification of AMF, both results from trap culture and molecular work were needed and that the rootstock cultivar was the main driver of the arbuscular mycorrhizal community colonizing the roots.

This study provides a firm foundation for future research exploring the beneficial use of AMF in enhancing grapevine production and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid34026824, year = {2021}, author = {Meseguer, S}, title = {MicroRNAs and tRNA-Derived Small Fragments: Key Messengers in Nuclear-Mitochondrial Communication.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {643575}, pmid = {34026824}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Mitochondria are not only important as energy suppliers in cells but also participate in other biological processes essential for cell growth and survival. They arose from α-proteobacterial predecessors through endosymbiosis and evolved transferring a large part of their genome to the host cell nucleus. Such a symbiotic relationship has been reinforced over time through increasingly complex signaling mechanisms between the host cell and mitochondria. So far, we do not have a complete view of the mechanisms that allow the mitochondria to communicate their functional status to the nucleus and trigger adaptive and compensatory responses. Recent findings place two classes of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and tRNA-derived small fragments, in such a scenario, acting as key pieces in the mitochondria-nucleus cross-talk. This review highlights the emerging roles and the interrelation of these sncRNAs in different signaling pathways between mitochondria and the host cell. Moreover, we describe in what way alterations of these complex regulatory mechanisms involving sncRNAs lead to diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In turn, these discoveries provide novel prognostic biomarker candidates and/or potential therapeutic targets.}, } @article {pmid34026033, year = {2021}, author = {Armstrong, AO and Armstrong, AJ and Bennett, MB and Richardson, AJ and Townsend, KA and Everett, JD and Hays, GC and Pederson, H and Dudgeon, CL}, title = {Mutualism promotes site selection in a large marine planktivore.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {5606-5623}, pmid = {34026033}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Mutualism is a form of symbiosis whereby both parties benefit from the relationship. An example is cleaning symbiosis, which has been observed in terrestrial and marine environments. The most recognized form of marine cleaning symbiosis is that of cleaner fishes and their clients.Cleaner species set up cleaning stations on the reef, and other species seek out their services. However, it is not well understood how the presence of cleaning stations influence movements of large highly mobile species. We examined the role of cleaning stations as a driver of movement and habitat use in a mobile client species.Here, we used a combination of passive acoustic telemetry and in-water surveys to investigate cleaning station attendance by the reef manta ray Mobula alfredi. We employed a novel approach in the form of a fine-scale acoustic receiver array set up around a known cleaning area and tagged 42 rays. Within the array, we mapped structural features, surveyed the distribution of cleaner wrasse, and observed the habitat use of the rays.We found manta ray space use was significantly associated with blue-streak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus distribution and hard coral substrate. Cleaning interactions dominated their habitat use at this site, taking precedence over other life history traits such as feeding and courtship.This study has demonstrated that cleaning symbiosis is a driver for highly mobile, and otherwise pelagic, species to visit inshore reef environments. We suggest that targeted and long-term use of specific cleaning stations reflects manta rays having a long-term memory and cognitive map of some shallow reef environments where quality cleaning is provided. We hypothesize that animals prefer cleaning sites in proximity to productive foraging regions.}, } @article {pmid34026032, year = {2021}, author = {Sinotte, VM and Conlon, BH and Seibel, E and Schwitalla, JW and de Beer, ZW and Poulsen, M and Bos, N}, title = {Female-biased sex allocation and lack of inbreeding avoidance in Cubitermes termites.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {5598-5605}, pmid = {34026032}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Sexually reproducing organisms face a strong selective pressure to find a mate and ensure reproduction. An important criterion during mate-selection is to avoid closely related individuals and subsequent potential fitness costs of resulting inbred offspring. Inbreeding avoidance can be active through kin recognition during mate choice, or passive through differential male and female-biased sex ratios, which effectively prevents sib-mating. In addition, sex allocation, or the resources allotted to male and female offspring, can impact mating and reproductive success. Here, we investigate mate choice, sex ratios, and sex allocation in dispersing reproductives (alates) from colonies of the termite Cubitermes tenuiceps. Termites have a short time to select a mate for life, which should intensify any fitness consequences of inbreeding. However, alates did not actively avoid inbreeding through mate choice via kin recognition based on genetic or environmental cues. Furthermore, the majority of colonies exhibited a female-biased sex ratio, and none exhibited a male-bias, indicating that differential bias does not reduce inbreeding. Sex allocation was generally female-biased, as females also were heavier, but the potential fitness effect of this costly strategy remains unclear. The bacterium Wolbachia, known in other insects to parasitically distort sex allocation toward females, was present within all alates. While Wolbachia is commonly associated with termites, parasitism has yet to be demonstrated, warranting further study of the nature of the symbiosis. Both the apparent lack of inbreeding avoidance and potential maladaptive sex allocation implies possible negative effects on mating and fitness.}, } @article {pmid34026006, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, L and Jiang, C and Wang, X and Feng, Q and Liu, X and Tang, Z and Sun, OJ}, title = {Nutrient trade-offs mediated by ectomycorrhizal strategies in plants: Evidence from an Abies species in subalpine forests.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {5281-5294}, pmid = {34026006}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is an evolutionary biological trait of higher plants for effective nutrient uptakes. However, little is known that how the formation and morphological differentiations of ECM roots mediate the nutrients of below- and aboveground plant tissues and the balance among nutrient elements across environmental gradients. Here, we investigated the effects of ECM foraging strategies on root and foliar N and P concentrations and N:P ratio Abies faxoniana under variations of climate and soil conditions.The ECM symbionts preferentially mediated P uptake under both N and P limitations. The uptake efficiency of N and P was primarily associated with the ECM root traits, for example, ECM root tip density, superficial area of ECM root tips, and the ratio of living to dead root tips, and was affected by the ECM proliferations and morphological differentiations. The tissue N and P concentrations were positively associated with the abundance of the contact exploration type and negatively with that of the short-distance exploration type.Our findings indicate that the nutritional status of both below- and aboveground plant tissues can be strongly affected by ECM symbiosis in natural environments. Variations in the ECM strategies in response to varying environmental conditions significantly influence plant nutrient uptakes and trade-offs.}, } @article {pmid34025691, year = {2021}, author = {Solovev, YV and Igolkina, AA and Kuliaev, PO and Sulima, AS and Zhukov, VA and Porozov, YB and Pidko, EA and Andronov, EE}, title = {Towards Understanding Afghanistan Pea Symbiotic Phenotype Through the Molecular Modeling of the Interaction Between LykX-Sym10 Receptor Heterodimer and Nod Factors.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {642591}, pmid = {34025691}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The difference in symbiotic specificity between peas of Afghanistan and European phenotypes was investigated using molecular modeling. Considering segregating amino acid polymorphism, we examined interactions of pea LykX-Sym10 receptor heterodimers with four forms of Nodulation factor (NF) that varied in natural decorations (acetylation and length of the glucosamine chain). First, we showed the stability of the LykX-Sym10 dimer during molecular dynamics (MD) in solvent and in the presence of a membrane. Then, four NFs were separately docked to one European and two Afghanistan dimers, and the results of these interactions were in line with corresponding pea symbiotic phenotypes. The European variant of the LykX-Sym10 dimer effectively interacts with both acetylated and non-acetylated forms of NF, while the Afghanistan variants successfully interact with the acetylated form only. We additionally demonstrated that the length of the NF glucosamine chain contributes to controlling the effectiveness of the symbiotic interaction. The obtained results support a recent hypothesis that the LykX gene is a suitable candidate for the unidentified Sym2 allele, the determinant of pea specificity toward Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains producing NFs with or without an acetylation decoration. The developed modeling methodology demonstrated its power in multiple searches for genetic determinants, when experimental detection of such determinants has proven extremely difficult.}, } @article {pmid34025663, year = {2021}, author = {Erturk-Hasdemir, D and Ochoa-Repáraz, J and Kasper, DL and Kasper, LH}, title = {Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis for the Control of CNS Inflammatory Demyelination: Immunomodulation by Bacteroides fragilis' Polysaccharide A.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {662807}, pmid = {34025663}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides fragilis/immunology ; Brain/*metabolism ; Demyelinating Diseases/*etiology/*metabolism/pathology ; *Disease Susceptibility ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/immunology ; *Feedback, Physiological ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between animals and their resident microorganisms has profound effects on host immunity. The human microbiota comprises bacteria that reside in the gastrointestinal tract and are involved in a range of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The gut microbiota's immunomodulatory effects extend to extraintestinal tissues, including the central nervous system (CNS). Specific symbiotic antigens responsible for inducing immunoregulation have been isolated from different bacterial species. Polysaccharide A (PSA) of Bacteroides fragilis is an archetypical molecule for host-microbiota interactions. Studies have shown that PSA has beneficial effects in experimental disease models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most widely used animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, in vitro stimulation with PSA promotes an immunomodulatory phenotype in human T cells isolated from healthy and MS donors. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the interactions between gut microbiota and the host in the context of CNS inflammatory demyelination, the immunomodulatory roles of gut symbionts. More specifically, we also discuss the immunomodulatory effects of B. fragilis PSA in the gut-brain axis and its therapeutic potential in MS. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the microbiota's impact on host physiology offers tremendous promise for discovering new therapies.}, } @article {pmid34025621, year = {2021}, author = {Landa, M and Turk-Kubo, KA and Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Henke, BA and Zehr, JP}, title = {Critical Role of Light in the Growth and Activity of the Marine N2-Fixing UCYN-A Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {666739}, pmid = {34025621}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The unicellular N2-fixing cyanobacteria UCYN-A live in symbiosis with haptophytes in the Braarudosphaera bigelowii lineage. Maintaining N2-fixing symbioses between two unicellular partners requires tight coordination of multiple biological processes including cell growth and division and, in the case of the UCYN-A symbiosis, N2 fixation of the symbiont and photosynthesis of the host. In this system, it is thought that the host photosynthesis supports the high energetic cost of N2 fixation, and both processes occur during the light period. However, information on this coordination is very limited and difficult to obtain because the UCYN-A symbiosis has yet to be available in culture. Natural populations containing the UCYN-A2 symbiosis were manipulated to explore the effects of alterations of regular light and dark periods and inhibition of host photosynthesis on N2 fixation (single cell N2 fixation rates), nifH gene transcription, and UCYN-A2 cell division (fluorescent in situ hybridization and nifH gene abundances). The results showed that the light period is critical for maintenance of regular patterns of gene expression, N2 fixation and symbiont replication and cell division. This study suggests a crucial role for the host as a producer of fixed carbon, rather than light itself, in the regulation and implementation of these cellular processes in UCYN-A.}, } @article {pmid34025590, year = {2021}, author = {You, Y and Aho, K and Lohse, KA and Schwabedissen, SG and Ledbetter, RN and Magnuson, TS}, title = {Biological Soil Crust Bacterial Communities Vary Along Climatic and Shrub Cover Gradients Within a Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {569791}, pmid = {34025590}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Numerous studies have examined bacterial communities in biological soil crusts (BSCs) associated with warm arid to semiarid ecosystems. Few, however, have examined bacterial communities in BSCs associated with cold steppe ecosystems, which often span a wide range of climate conditions and are sensitive to trends predicted by relevant climate models. Here, we utilized Illumina sequencing to examine BSC bacterial communities with respect to climatic gradients (elevation), land management practices (grazing vs. non-grazing), and shrub/intershrub patches in a cold sagebrush steppe ecosystem in southwestern Idaho, United States. Particular attention was paid to shifts in bacterial community structure and composition. BSC bacterial communities, including keystone N-fixing taxa, shifted dramatically with both elevation and shrub-canopy microclimates within elevational zones. BSC cover and BSC cyanobacteria abundance were much higher at lower elevation (warmer and drier) sites and in intershrub areas. Shrub-understory BSCs were significantly associated with several non-cyanobacteria diazotrophic genera, including Mesorhizobium and Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium. High elevation (wetter and colder) sites had distinct, highly diverse, but low-cover BSC communities that were significantly indicated by non-cyanobacterial diazotrophic taxa including families in the order Rhizobiales and the family Frankiaceae. Abiotic soil characteristics, especially pH and ammonium, varied with both elevation and shrub/intershrub level, and were strongly associated with BSC community composition. Functional inference using the PICRUSt pipeline identified shifts in putative N-fixing taxa with respect to both the elevational gradient and the presence/absence of shrub canopy cover. These results add to current understanding of biocrust microbial ecology in cold steppe, serving as a baseline for future mechanistic research.}, } @article {pmid34025160, year = {2021}, author = {Bibi, F and Naseer, MI and Azhar, EI}, title = {Assessing the diversity of bacterial communities from marine sponges and their bioactive compounds.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {5}, pages = {2747-2754}, pmid = {34025160}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria play vital roles in the survival and health of marine sponges. Sponges harbor rich, diverse and species-specific microbial communities. Symbiotic marine bacteria have increasingly been reported as promising source of bioactive compounds. A culturomics-based study was undertaken to study the diversity of bacteria from marine sponges and their antimicrobial potential. We have collected three sponge samples i.e. Acanthaster carteri, Rhytisma fulvum (soft coral) and Haliclona caerulea from north region (Obhur) of Red Sea, Jeddah Saudi Arabia. Total of 144 bacterial strains were isolated from three marine sponges using culture dependent method. Screening of isolated strains showed only 37 (26%) isolates as antagonists against oomycetes pathogens (P. ultimum and P. capsici). Among 37 antagonistic bacteria, only 19 bacterial strains exhibited antibacterial activity against human pathogens (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212). Four major classes of bacteria i.e γ-Proteobacteria, α-Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were recorded from three marine sponges where γ-Proteobacteria was dominant class. One potential bacterial strain Halomonas sp. EA423 was selected for identification of bioactive metabolites using GC and LC-MS analyses. Bioactive compounds Sulfamerazine, Metronidazole-OH and Ibuprofen are detected from culture extract of strain Halomonas sp. EA423. Overall, this study gives insight into composition and diversity of antagonistic bacterial community of marine sponges and coral from Red Sea and presence of active metabolites from potential strain. Our results showed that these diverse and potential bacterial communities further need to be studied to exploit their biotechnological significance.}, } @article {pmid34024446, year = {2021}, author = {Braseth, AL and Elliott, DE and Ince, MN}, title = {Parasitic Infections of the Gastrointestinal Track and Liver.}, journal = {Gastroenterology clinics of North America}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {361-381}, doi = {10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.011}, pmid = {34024446}, issn = {1558-1942}, support = {I01 BX002715/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Hygiene ; *Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Liver ; *Parasites ; *Parasitic Diseases/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; }, abstract = {Parasites have coevolved with humans. Several of them colonize the human body and establish a symbiotic relationship. Other parasites cause severe and lethal diseases. Prevalence of parasitic infections is decreased in highly industrialized countries, largely due to enforced hygienic practices. In contrast, parasites cause significant morbidity and mortality in parts of the world with barriers to effective public hygiene. Some parasites have emerged as potent pathogens in specific patient populations, such as immune suppressed individuals, regardless of sanitation. This article reviews common parasites encountered in clinical practice and, in the setting of host-parasite symbiosis, discusses their immune regulatory role.}, } @article {pmid34021824, year = {2021}, author = {Garcia, MVC and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Combining microorganisms in inoculants is agronomically important but industrially challenging: case study of a composite inoculant containing Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum for the soybean crop.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {71}, pmid = {34021824}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {The increasing global perception of the importance of microbial inoculants to promote productivity and sustainability in agriculture prompts the adoption of bio-inputs by the farmers. The utilization of selected elite strains of nitrogen-fixing and other plant-growth promoting microorganisms in single inoculants creates a promising market for composite inoculants. However, combining microorganisms with different physiological and nutritional needs requires biotechnological development. We report the development of a composite inoculant containing Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and Azospirillum brasilense for the soybean crop. Evaluation of use of carbon sources indicates differences between the microbial species, with Bradyrhizobium growing better with mannitol and glycerol, and Azospirillum with malic acid and maleic acid, allowing the design of a formulation for co-culture. Species also differ in their growth rates, and the best performance of both microorganisms occurred when Azospirillum was inoculated on the third day of growth of Bradyrhizobium. The composite inoculant developed was evaluated in five field trials performed in Brazil, including areas without and with naturalized populations of Bradyrhizobium. The composite inoculant resulted in symbiotic performance comparable to the application of the two microorganisms separately. In comparison to the single inoculation with Bradyrhizobium, co-inoculation resulted in average increases of 14.7% in grain yield and 16.4% in total N accumulated in the grains. The performance of the composite inoculant was similar or greater than that of the non-inoculated control receiving a high dose of N-fertilizer, indicating the importance of the development and validation of inoculants carrying multiple beneficial microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid34020937, year = {2021}, author = {Horváthová, T and Šustr, V and Chroňáková, A and Semanová, S and Lang, K and Dietrich, C and Hubáček, T and Ardestani, MM and Lara, AC and Brune, A and Šimek, M}, title = {Methanogenesis in the Digestive Tracts of the Tropical Millipedes Archispirostreptus gigas (Diplopoda, Spirostreptidae) and Epibolus pulchripes (Diplopoda, Pachybolidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {15}, pages = {e0061421}, pmid = {34020937}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Formates/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Methane/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/analysis ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Methanogens represent the final decomposition step in anaerobic degradation of organic matter, occurring in the digestive tracts of various invertebrates. However, factors determining their community structure and activity in distinct gut sections are still debated. In this study, we focused on the tropical millipede species Archispirostreptus gigas (Diplopoda, Spirostreptidae) and Epibolus pulchripes (Diplopoda, Pachybolidae), which release considerable amounts of methane. We aimed to characterize relationships between physicochemical parameters, methane production rates, and methanogen community structure in the two major gut sections, midgut and hindgut. Microsensor measurements revealed that both sections were strictly anoxic, with reducing conditions prevailing in both millipedes. Hydrogen concentration peaked in the anterior hindgut of E. pulchripes. In both species, the intestinal pH was significantly higher in the hindgut than in the midgut. An accumulation of acetate and formate in the gut indicated bacterial fermentation activities in the digestive tracts of both species. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed a prevalence of Methanobrevibacter spp. (Methanobacteriales), accompanied by a small fraction of so-far-unclassified "Methanomethylophilaceae" (Methanomassiliicoccales), in both species, which suggests that methanogenesis is mostly hydrogenotrophic. We conclude that anoxic conditions, negative redox potential, and bacterial production of hydrogen and formate promote gut colonization by methanogens. The higher activities of methanogens in the hindgut are explained by the higher pH of this compartment and their association with ciliates, which are restricted to this compartment and present an additional source of methanogenic substrates. IMPORTANCE Methane (CH4) is the second most important atmospheric greenhouse gas after CO2 and is believed to account for 17% of global warming. Methanogens are a diverse group of archaea and can be found in various anoxic habitats, including digestive tracts of plant-feeding animals. Termites, cockroaches, the larvae of scarab beetles, and millipedes are the only arthropods known to host methanogens and emit large amounts of methane. Millipedes are ranked as the third most important detritivores after termites and earthworms, and they are considered keystone species in many terrestrial ecosystems. Both methane-producing and non-methane-emitting species of millipedes have been observed, but what limits their methanogenic potential is not known. In the present study, we show that physicochemical gut conditions and the distribution of symbiotic ciliates are important factors determining CH4 emission in millipedes. We also found close similarities to other methane-emitting arthropods, which might be associated with their similar plant-feeding habits.}, } @article {pmid34020698, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, D and Hartman, R and Han, C and Zhou, CM and Couch, B and Malkamaki, M and Roginskaya, V and Van Houten, B and Mullett, SJ and Wendell, SG and Jurczak, MJ and Kang, J and Lee, J and Sowa, G and Vo, N}, title = {Lactate oxidative phosphorylation by annulus fibrosus cells: evidence for lactate-dependent metabolic symbiosis in intervertebral discs.}, journal = {Arthritis research & therapy}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {145}, pmid = {34020698}, issn = {1478-6362}, support = {R01 DK114012/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R33 ES025606/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD023402/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG044376/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Annulus Fibrosus/metabolism ; *Intervertebral Disc/metabolism ; *Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Rabbits ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc degeneration contributes to low back pain. The avascular intervertebral disc consists of a central hypoxic nucleus pulpous (NP) surrounded by the more oxygenated annulus fibrosus (AF). Lactic acid, an abundant end-product of NP glycolysis, has long been viewed as a harmful waste that acidifies disc tissue and decreases cell viability and function. As lactic acid is readily converted into lactate in disc tissue, the objective of this study was to determine whether lactate could be used by AF cells as a carbon source rather than being removed from disc tissue as a waste byproduct.

METHODS: Import and conversion of lactate to tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and amino acids in rabbit AF cells were measured by heavy-isotope ([13]C-lactate) tracing experiments using mass spectrometry. Levels of protein expression of lactate converting enzymes, lactate importer and exporter in NP and AF tissues were quantified by Western blots. Effects of lactate on proteoglycan ([35]S-sulfate) and collagen ([3]H-proline) matrix protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation (Seahorse XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer) in AF cells were assessed.

RESULTS: Heavy-isotope tracing experiments revealed that AF cells imported and converted lactate into TCA cycle intermediates and amino acids using in vitro cell culture and in vivo models. Addition of exogenous lactate (4 mM) in culture media induced expression of the lactate importer MCT1 and increased oxygen consumption rate by 50%, mitochondrial ATP-linked respiration by 30%, and collagen synthesis by 50% in AF cell cultures grown under physiologic oxygen (2-5% O2) and glucose concentration (1-5 mM). AF tissue highly expresses MCT1, LDH-H, an enzyme that preferentially converts lactate to pyruvate, and PDH, an enzyme that converts pyruvate to acetyl-coA. In contrast, NP tissue highly expresses MCT4, a lactate exporter, and LDH-M, an enzyme that preferentially converts pyruvate to lactate.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings support disc lactate-dependent metabolic symbiosis in which lactate produced by the hypoxic, glycolytic NP cells is utilized by the more oxygenated AF cells via oxidative phosphorylation for energy and matrix production, thus shifting the current research paradigm of viewing disc lactate as a waste product to considering it as an important biofuel. These scientifically impactful results suggest novel therapeutic targets in disc metabolism and degeneration.}, } @article {pmid34020587, year = {2021}, author = {Maire, J and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Microbiome characterization of defensive tissues in the model anemone Exaiptasia diaphana.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {152}, pmid = {34020587}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sea Anemones/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. This success relies on the coral's association with a wide range of microorganisms, including dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae that provide coral hosts with most of their organic carbon requirements. While bacterial associates have long been overlooked, research on these microorganisms is gaining traction, and deciphering bacterial identity and function is greatly enhancing our understanding of cnidarian biology. Here, we investigated bacterial communities in defensive tissues (acontia) of the coral model, the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. Acontia are internal filaments that are ejected upon detection of an external threat and release toxins to repel predators.

RESULTS: Using culturing techniques and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding we identified bacterial communities associated with acontia of four Great Barrier Reef-sourced E. diaphana genotypes. We show that bacterial communities are similar across genotypes, and dominated by Alteromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, and Saprospiraceae. By analyzing abundant amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) from metabarcoding data from acontia and comparing these to data from whole anemones, we identified five potentially important bacterial genera of the acontia microbiome: Vibrio, Sulfitobacter, Marivita, Alteromonas, and Lewinella. The role of these bacteria within the acontia remains uninvestigated but could entail assistance in defense processes such as toxin production.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into potential bacterial involvement in cnidarian defense tissues and highlights the need to study bacterial communities in individual compartments within a holobiont.}, } @article {pmid34019345, year = {2021}, author = {Shikh, EV and Makhova, AA and Astapovskiy, AA and Perkov, AV}, title = {[Prospects of probiotic strains of bifidobacteria and enterococcus in treatment and prevention of diseases in gastroenterology].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {90}, number = {2}, pages = {15-25}, doi = {10.33029/0042-8833-2021-90-2-15-25}, pmid = {34019345}, issn = {0042-8833}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium ; Enterococcus ; *Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Variability of the intestinal microbiota has been under close scientific study in recent years; more and more studies confirm specific changes in microbiota under certain pathologies. Enterococcus faecium and Bifidobacterium longum strains are naturally occurring symbiotic bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. The safety and efficacy profile of bifidobacteria, widely used as probiotics, has been thoroughly studied. Deviations in species composition, diversity, and relative abundance have been reported for some diseases. The aim of the research was to substantiate the need and to study the prospects for the inclusion of probiotics strains of bifidobacteria and enterococci in the complex therapy of gastroenterological diseases. Material and methods. The data from MEDLINE and PubMed-NCBI bibliographic databases have been analyzed in this review. Results and discussion. The published data indicate the positive effect of bifidobacteria on human health, starting from a direct effect inside the gastrointestinal tract, moving to modulating the immune system and, in general, the systemic effect of probiotics on the organism by changing the level of various mediators. Probiotic strains of Enterococcus faecium contribute to the preservation and growth of endogenous species of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Additional intake, as well as stimulation of the growth and activity of probiotic strains in the intestine can be considered as a potential approach to combating foodborne intestinal pathogens, to the treatment of lactase deficiency and irritable bowel syndrome. Conclusion. The inclusion of probiotics in the complex therapy of lactase deficiency, irritable bowel syndrome, as well as antibiotic-associated diarrhea is pathogenetically substantiated.}, } @article {pmid34017702, year = {2021}, author = {Shaki, O and Gupta, TP and Rai, SK}, title = {COVID-19 pandemic-Environmental perspective of COVID-19 and a primer for all of us.}, journal = {Journal of family medicine and primary care}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {48-55}, pmid = {34017702}, issn = {2249-4863}, abstract = {Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) spread worldwide has created a global pandemic. To reduce the transmission of the virus, the Indian government had imposed a countrywide lockdown on 24 Mar 2020 by suspending all public transport and industries temporarily resulting in loss of jobs in multiple sectors and looming threats to the nation economy. Lockdown on the opposite hand has removed pollutants from the air and thus improved air quality in many cities across the globe. The near-total shutdown of all economic activities except related to essential commodities like medicine and food was only allowed which resulted in the lowering of carbon emission and improvement in global warming and air pollution. This review article indented to bring important features of how the COVID-19 pandemic affects human civilization and the global environment. However, its epidemiology, symptom, possible prevention, and management will briefly describe. Authors have collected data from, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, WHO, and CDC (USA). Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a result of COVID- 19 infection. This virus is transmitted through close contact by respiratory droplets from one person to another. The majority of symptoms of COVID-19 are very much similar to any viral upper respiratory tract infection (Common Coryza). Any person with the slightest suspicion or has respiratory symptoms related to COVID-19 infection should wear a facemask, keep safe social distancing, observe cough/sneeze etiquettes. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a lesson to introspect the way humans are destroying the environment for their benefit. Whatever be the origin or cause, the occurrence of COVID-19 has made a foreground for us to improve the symbiotic relationship between humans, wildlife, and nature.}, } @article {pmid34017351, year = {2021}, author = {Compton, KK and Scharf, BE}, title = {Rhizobial Chemoattractants, the Taste and Preferences of Legume Symbionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {686465}, pmid = {34017351}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The development of host-microbe interactions between legumes and their cognate rhizobia requires localization of the bacteria to productive sites of initiation on the plant roots. This end is achieved by the motility apparatus that propels the bacterium and the chemotaxis system that guides it. Motility and chemotaxis aid rhizobia in their competitiveness for space, resources, and nodulation opportunities. Here, we examine studies on chemotaxis of three major model rhizobia, namely Sinorhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum, cataloging their range of attractant molecules and correlating this in the context of root and seed exudate compositions. Current research areas will be summarized, gaps in knowledge discussed, and future directions described.}, } @article {pmid34017318, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, G and Liu, X and Liu, W and Gao, K and Chen, X and Wang, ET and Zhao, Z and Du, W and Li, Y}, title = {Biodiversity and Geographic Distribution of Rhizobia Nodulating With Vigna minima.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {665839}, pmid = {34017318}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Vigna minima is a climbing annual plant widely distributed in barren wilderness, grass land, and shrub bush of China and other countries such as Japan. However, the rhizobia nodulating with this plant has never been systematically studied. In order to reveal the biodiversity of nodulating rhizobia symbiosis with V. minima, a total of 874 rhizobium isolates were obtained from root nodules of the plant spread in 11 sampling sites of Shandong Peninsula, China, and they were designated as 41 haplotypes in the genus Bradyrhizobium based upon recA sequence analyses. By multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of five housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB), the 41 strains representing different recA haplotypes were classified into nine defined species and nine novel genospecies. Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium ferriligni, and Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi were the predominant and universally distributed groups. The phylogeny of symbiotic genes of nodC and nifH showed similar topology and phylogenetic relationships, in which all the representative strains were classified into two clades grouped with strains nodulating with Vigna spp., demonstrating that Vigna spp. shared common nodulating groups in the natural environment. All the representative strains formed nodules with V. minima in a nodulation test performed in green house conditions. The correlation between V. minima nodulating rhizobia and soil characteristics analyzed by CANOCO indicates that available nitrogen, total nitrogen, and organic carbon in the soil samples were the main factors affecting the distribution of rhizobia isolated in this study. This study systematically uncovered the biodiversity and distribution characteristics of V. minima nodulating rhizobia for the first time, which provided novel information for the formation of the corresponding rhizobium community.}, } @article {pmid34016782, year = {2021}, author = {Rich, MK and Vigneron, N and Libourel, C and Keller, J and Xue, L and Hajheidari, M and Radhakrishnan, GV and Le Ru, A and Diop, SI and Potente, G and Conti, E and Duijsings, D and Batut, A and Le Faouder, P and Kodama, K and Kyozuka, J and Sallet, E and Bécard, G and Rodriguez-Franco, M and Ott, T and Bertrand-Michel, J and Oldroyd, GED and Szövényi, P and Bucher, M and Delaux, PM}, title = {Lipid exchanges drove the evolution of mutualism during plant terrestrialization.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {372}, number = {6544}, pages = {864-868}, doi = {10.1126/science.abg0929}, pmid = {34016782}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Fatty Acids/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Marchantia/*genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improves plant nutrition in most land plants, and its contribution to the colonization of land by plants has been hypothesized. Here, we identify a conserved transcriptomic response to AMF among land plants, including the activation of lipid metabolism. Using gain of function, we show the transfer of lipids from the liverwort Marchantia paleacea to AMF and its direct regulation by the transcription factor WRINKLED (WRI). Arbuscules, the nutrient-exchange structures, were not formed in loss-of-function wri mutants in M. paleacea, leading to aborted mutualism. Our results show the orthology of the symbiotic transfer of lipids across land plants and demonstrate that mutualism with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was present in the most recent ancestor of land plants 450 million years ago.}, } @article {pmid34014310, year = {2021}, author = {Nelsen, MP and Leavitt, SD and Heller, K and Muggia, L and Lumbsch, HT}, title = {Macroecological diversification and convergence in a clade of keystone symbionts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab072}, pmid = {34014310}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Chlorophyta ; Fungi ; *Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are classic models of symbiosis, and one of the most frequent nutritional modes among fungi. The ecologically and geographically widespread lichen-forming algal (LFA) genus Trebouxia is one of the best-studied groups of LFA and associates with over 7000 fungal species. Despite its importance, little is known about its diversification. We synthesized twenty years of publicly available data by characterizing the ecological preferences of this group and testing for time-variant shifts in climatic regimes over a distribution of trees. We found evidence for limited shifts among regimes, but that disparate lineages convergently evolved similar ecological tolerances. Early Trebouxia lineages were largely forest specialists or habitat generalists that occupied a regime whose extant members occur in moderate climates. Trebouxia then convergently diversified in non-forested habitats and expanded into regimes whose modern representatives occupy wet-warm and cool-dry climates. We rejected models in which climatic diversification slowed through time, suggesting climatic diversification is inconsistent with that expected under an adaptive radiation. In addition, we found that climatic and vegetative regime shifts broadly coincided with the evolution of biomes and associated or similar taxa. Together, our work illustrates how this keystone symbiont from an iconic symbiosis evolved to occupy diverse habitats across the globe.}, } @article {pmid34012428, year = {2021}, author = {Nazem-Bokaee, H and Hom, EFY and Warden, AC and Mathews, S and Gueidan, C}, title = {Towards a Systems Biology Approach to Understanding the Lichen Symbiosis: Opportunities and Challenges of Implementing Network Modelling.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {667864}, pmid = {34012428}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lichen associations, a classic model for successful and sustainable interactions between micro-organisms, have been studied for many years. However, there are significant gaps in our understanding about how the lichen symbiosis operates at the molecular level. This review addresses opportunities for expanding current knowledge on signalling and metabolic interplays in the lichen symbiosis using the tools and approaches of systems biology, particularly network modelling. The largely unexplored nature of symbiont recognition and metabolic interdependency in lichens could benefit from applying a holistic approach to understand underlying molecular mechanisms and processes. Together with 'omics' approaches, the application of signalling and metabolic network modelling could provide predictive means to gain insights into lichen signalling and metabolic pathways. First, we review the major signalling and recognition modalities in the lichen symbioses studied to date, and then describe how modelling signalling networks could enhance our understanding of symbiont recognition, particularly leveraging omics techniques. Next, we highlight the current state of knowledge on lichen metabolism. We also discuss metabolic network modelling as a tool to simulate flux distribution in lichen metabolic pathways and to analyse the co-dependence between symbionts. This is especially important given the growing number of lichen genomes now available and improved computational tools for reconstructing such models. We highlight the benefits and possible bottlenecks for implementing different types of network models as applied to the study of lichens.}, } @article {pmid34012104, year = {2021}, author = {Turnham, KE and Wham, DC and Sampayo, E and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Mutualistic microalgae co-diversify with reef corals that acquire symbionts during egg development.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {3271-3285}, pmid = {34012104}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Microalgae ; Pacific Ocean ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The application of molecular genetics has reinvigorated and improved how species are defined and investigated scientifically, especially for morphologically cryptic micro-organisms. Here we show how species recognition improves understanding of the ecology and evolution of mutualisms between reef-building corals and their mutualistic dinoflagellates (i.e. Symbiodiniaceae). A combination of genetic, ecological, and morphological evidence defines two sibling species of Cladocopium (formerly Symbiodinium Clade C), specific only to host corals in the common genus Pocillopora, which transmit their obligate symbionts during oogenesis. Cladocopium latusorum sp. nov. is symbiotic with P. grandis/meandrina while the smaller-celled C. pacificum sp. nov. associates with P. verrucosa. Both symbiont species form mutualisms with Pocillopora that brood their young. Populations of each species, like their hosts, are genetically well connected across the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean, indicating a capacity for long-range dispersal. A molecular clock approximates their speciation during the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene as Earth underwent cycles of precipitous cooling and warming; and corresponds to when their hosts were also diversifying. The long temporal and spatial maintenance of high host fidelity, as well as genetic connectivity across thousands of kilometers, indicates that distinct ecological attributes and close evolutionary histories will restrain the adaptive responses of corals and their specialized symbionts to rapid climate warming.}, } @article {pmid34011484, year = {2021}, author = {Xiao, J and Wei, X and Zhou, Y and Xin, Z and Miao, Y and Hou, H and Li, J and Zhao, D and Liu, J and Chen, R and Niu, L and Ma, G and Zhen, W and He, S and Wang, J and Wei, X and Dou, W and Sui, Z and Zhang, H and Xing, S and Shi, M and Huang, D}, title = {Genomes of 12 fig wasps provide insights into the adaptation of pollinators to fig syconia.}, journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {225-236}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2021.02.010}, pmid = {34011484}, issn = {1673-8527}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ficus ; Pollination ; Wasps ; }, abstract = {Figs and fig pollinators are one of the few classic textbook examples of obligate pollination mutualism. The specific dependence of fig pollinators on the relatively safe living environment with sufficient food sources in the enclosed fig syconia implies that they are vulnerable to habitat changes. However, there is still no extensive genomic evidence to reveal the evolutionary footprint of this long-term mutually beneficial symbiosis in fig pollinators. In fig syconia, there are also non-pollinator species. The non-pollinator species differ in their evolutionary and life histories from pollinators. We conducted comparative analyses on 11 newly sequenced fig wasp genomes and one previously published genome. The pollinators colonized the figs approximately 66.9 million years ago, consistent with the origin of host figs. Compared with non-pollinators, many more genes in pollinators were subject to relaxed selection. Seven genes were absent in pollinators in response to environmental stress and immune activation. Pollinators had more streamlined gene repertoires in the innate immune system, chemosensory toolbox, and detoxification system. Our results provide genomic evidence for the differentiation between pollinators and nonpollinators. The data suggest that owing to the long-term adaptation to the fig, some genes related to functions no longer required are absent in pollinators.}, } @article {pmid34011272, year = {2021}, author = {Haçariz, O and Viau, C and Karimian, F and Xia, J}, title = {The symbiotic relationship between Caenorhabditis elegans and members of its microbiome contributes to worm fitness and lifespan extension.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {364}, pmid = {34011272}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics/metabolism ; *Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Longevity ; *Microbiota ; Oxidative Stress ; Silicon Dioxide ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A healthy microbiome influences host physiology through a mutualistic relationship, which can be important for the host to cope with cellular stress by promoting fitness and survival. The mammalian microbiome is highly complex and attributing host phenotypes to a specific member of the microbiome can be difficult. The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans and its native microbiome, discovered recently, can serve as a more tractable, experimental model system to study host-microbiome interactions. In this study, we investigated whether certain members of C. elegans native microbiome would offer a benefit to their host and putative molecular mechanisms using a combination of phenotype screening, omics profiling and functional validation.

RESULTS: A total of 16 members of C. elegans microbiome were screened under chemically-induced toxicity. Worms grown with Chryseobacterium sp. CHNTR56 MYb120 or Comamonas sp. 12022 MYb131, were most resistant to oxidative chemical stress (SiO2 nanoparticles and juglone), as measured by progeny output. Further investigation showed that Chryseobacterium sp. CHNTR56 positively influenced the worm's lifespan, whereas the combination of both isolates had a synergistic effect. RNAseq analysis of young adult worms, grown with either isolate, revealed the enrichment of cellular detoxification mechanisms (glutathione metabolism, drug metabolism and metabolism of xenobiotics) and signaling pathways (TGF-beta and Wnt signaling pathways). Upregulation of cysteine synthases (cysl genes) in the worms, associated with glutathione metabolism, was also observed. Nanopore sequencing uncovered that the genomes of the two isolates have evolved to favor the specific route of the de novo synthesis pathway of vitamin B6 (cofactor of cysl enzymes) through serC or pdxA2 homologs. Finally, co-culture with vitamin B6 extended worm lifespan.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study indicates that certain colonizing members of C. elegans have genomic diversity in vitamin B6 synthesis and promote host fitness and lifespan extension. The regulation of host cellular detoxification genes (i.e. gst) along with cysl genes at the transcriptome level and the bacterium-specific vitamin B6 synthesis mechanism at the genome level are in an agreement with enhanced host glutathione-based cellular detoxification due to this interspecies relationship. C. elegans is therefore a promising alternative model to study host-microbiome interactions in host fitness and lifespan.}, } @article {pmid34009306, year = {2021}, author = {Brenner, AE and Muñoz-Leal, S and Sachan, M and Labruna, MB and Raghavan, R}, title = {Coxiella burnetii and Related Tick Endosymbionts Evolved from Pathogenic Ancestors.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34009306}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R03 AI123464/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03 AI133023/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R15 AI126385/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Argasidae/microbiology ; Coxiella/genetics ; *Coxiella burnetii/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Ticks ; }, abstract = {Both symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria in the family Coxiellaceae cause morbidity and mortality in humans and animals. For instance, Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) improve the reproductive success of ticks-a major disease vector, while Coxiella burnetii causes human Q fever, and uncharacterized coxiellae infect both animals and humans. To better understand the evolution of pathogenesis and symbiosis in this group of intracellular bacteria, we sequenced the genome of a CLE present in the soft tick Ornithodoros amblus (CLEOA) and compared it to the genomes of other bacteria in the order Legionellales. Our analyses confirmed that CLEOA is more closely related to C. burnetii, the human pathogen, than to CLEs in hard ticks, and showed that most clades of CLEs contain both endosymbionts and pathogens, indicating that several CLE lineages have evolved independently from pathogenic Coxiella. We also determined that the last common ancestorof CLEOA and C. burnetii was equipped to infect macrophages and that even though horizontal gene transfer (HGT) contributed significantly to the evolution of C. burnetii, most acquisition events occurred primarily in ancestors predating the CLEOA-C. burnetii divergence. These discoveries clarify the evolution of C. burnetii, which previously was assumed to have emerged when an avirulent tick endosymbiont recently gained virulence factors via HGT. Finally, we identified several metabolic pathways, including heme biosynthesis, that are likely critical to the intracellular growth of the human pathogen but not the tick symbiont, and show that the use of heme analog is a promising approach to controlling C. burnetii infections.}, } @article {pmid34008895, year = {2021}, author = {Ketchum, RN and Smith, EG and Vaughan, GO and McParland, D and Al-Mansoori, N and Burt, JA and Reitzel, AM}, title = {Unraveling the predictive role of temperature in the gut microbiota of the sea urchin Echinometra sp. EZ across spatial and temporal gradients.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {15}, pages = {3869-3881}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15990}, pmid = {34008895}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Sea Urchins ; Seasons ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Shifts in microbial communities represent a rapid response mechanism for host organisms to respond to changes in environmental conditions. Therefore, they are likely to be important in assisting the acclimatization of hosts to seasonal temperature changes as well as to variation in temperatures across a species' range. The Persian/Arabian Gulf is the world's warmest sea, with large seasonal fluctuations in temperature (20℃ - 37℃) and is connected to the Gulf of Oman which experiences more typical oceanic conditions (<32℃ in the summer). This system is an informative model for understanding how symbiotic microbial assemblages respond to thermal variation across temporal and spatial scales. Here, we elucidate the role of temperature on the microbial gut community of the sea urchin Echinometra sp. EZ and identify microbial taxa that are tightly correlated with the thermal environment. We generated two independent datasets with a high degree of geographic and temporal resolution. The results show that microbial communities vary across thermally variable habitats, display temporal shifts that correlate with temperature, and can become more disperse as temperatures rise. The relative abundances of several ASVs significantly correlate with temperature in both independent datasets despite the >300 km distance between the furthest sites and the extreme seasonal variations. Notably, over 50% of the temperature predictive ASVs identified from the two datasets belonged to the family Vibrionaceae. Together, our results identify temperature as a robust predictor of community-level variation and highlight specific microbial taxa putatively involved in the response to thermal environment.}, } @article {pmid34008873, year = {2021}, author = {Majerova, E and Carey, FC and Drury, C and Gates, RD}, title = {Preconditioning improves bleaching tolerance in the reef-building coral Pocillopora acuta through modulations in the programmed cell death pathways.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {14}, pages = {3560-3574}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15988}, pmid = {34008873}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Apoptosis ; Coral Reefs ; Hawaii ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals rely on intracellular algal symbionts to meet energetic demands. Increasing extreme weather driven by climate change often leads to disruption of this symbiosis and to coral death. Corals can better withstand stress after previous exposure to sublethal conditions, but the mechanisms for this resilience remain unclear. Here, we show that a three-day thermal preconditioning increases tolerance of acute heat stress through modulations in cell death pathways in the stony coral Pocillopora acuta. In preconditioned corals, the ratio of pro-survival (pa-Bcl-2 and pa-BI-1) to pro-death (pa-BAK and pa-BAX) gene expression increased and the corals underwent significantly less bleaching. When treated with Bcl-2 inhibitor, corals lost the improved thermal tolerance, suggesting an important role of programmed cell death in coral bleaching and acclimatization. During heat stress, the activity of acid phosphatase increased but caspase-3 did not, suggesting the involvement of autophagy/symbiophagy rather than apoptosis in this process. A similar shift in gene expression also occurs in thermally stressed corals that have been exposed to naturally higher temperatures during summer thermal maxima in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i, suggesting that corals can increase their resilience to realistic warming events during high-risk periods through alterations in cell signalling. These data suggest that programmed cell death pathways underly coral acclimatization and resilience and may be important for coral reef conservation and management.}, } @article {pmid34006656, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, HE and Dhall, A and Liu, Y and Bawazir, M and Koo, H and Hwang, G}, title = {Intervening in Symbiotic Cross-Kingdom Biofilm Interactions: a Binding Mechanism-Based Nonmicrobicidal Approach.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {34006656}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 DE025220/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE027970/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biofilms/*growth & development ; Candida albicans/*metabolism ; Dental Caries/microbiology ; Gingiva/cytology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes/microbiology ; Mannans/metabolism ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Streptococcus mutans/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Early childhood caries is a severe oral disease that results in aggressive tooth decay. Particularly, a synergistic association between a fungus, Candida albicans, and a cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, promotes the development of hard-to-remove and highly acidic biofilms, exacerbating the virulent damage. These interactions are largely mediated via glucosyltransferases (GtfB) binding to mannans on the cell wall of C. albicans Here, we present an enzymatic approach to target GtfB-mannan interactions in this cross-kingdom consortium using mannan-degrading exo- and endo-enzymes. These exo- and endo-enzymes are highly effective in reducing biofilm biomass without killing microorganisms, as well as alleviating the production of an acidic pH environment conducive to tooth decay. To corroborate these results, we present biophysical evidence using single-molecule atomic force microscopy, biofilm shearing, and enamel surface topography analyses. Data show a drastic decrease in binding forces of GtfB to C. albicans (∼15-fold reduction) following enzyme treatment. Furthermore, enzymatic activity disrupted biofilm mechanical stability and significantly reduced human tooth enamel demineralization without cytotoxic effects on gingival keratinocytes. Our results represent significant progress toward a novel nonbiocidal therapeutic intervention against pathogenic bacterial-fungal biofilms by targeting the interkingdom receptor-ligand binding interactions.IMPORTANCE Biofilm formation is a key virulence factor responsible for various infectious diseases. Particularly, interactions between a fungus, Candida albicans, and a bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, have been known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of dental caries. Although some antimicrobials have been applied to treat fungal-involved biofilm-associated diseases, these often lack targeting polymicrobial interactions. Furthermore, these may not be appropriate for preventive measures because these antimicrobials may disrupt ecological microbiota and/or induce the prevalence of drug resistance over time. By specifically targeting the interaction mechanism whereby mannoproteins on the C. albicans surface mediate the cross-kingdom interaction, we demonstrated that mannoprotein-degrading enzymes can effectively disrupt biofilm interactions without microbiocidal effects or causing cytotoxicity to human cells. This suggests a potential application as a targeted approach for intervening a pathogenic cross-kingdom biofilm associated with a costly and unresolved oral disease.}, } @article {pmid34006334, year = {2021}, author = {Cansado-Utrilla, C and Zhao, SY and McCall, PJ and Coon, KL and Hughes, GL}, title = {The microbiome and mosquito vectorial capacity: rich potential for discovery and translation.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {111}, pmid = {34006334}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {V011278/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; N013514/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/T001267/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R21 AI124452/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI138074/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI129507/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; BB/T001240/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; T32 AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32AI007414/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Culicidae ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Mosquito Vectors ; }, abstract = {Microbiome research has gained considerable interest due to the emerging evidence of its impact on human and animal health. As in other animals, the gut-associated microbiota of mosquitoes affect host fitness and other phenotypes. It is now well established that microbes can alter pathogen transmission in mosquitoes, either positively or negatively, and avenues are being explored to exploit microbes for vector control. However, less attention has been paid to how microbiota affect phenotypes that impact vectorial capacity. Several mosquito and pathogen components, such as vector density, biting rate, survival, vector competence, and the pathogen extrinsic incubation period all influence pathogen transmission. Recent studies also indicate that mosquito gut-associated microbes can impact each of these components, and therefore ultimately modulate vectorial capacity. Promisingly, this expands the options available to exploit microbes for vector control by also targeting parameters that affect vectorial capacity. However, there are still many knowledge gaps regarding mosquito-microbe interactions that need to be addressed in order to exploit them efficiently. Here, we review current evidence of impacts of the microbiome on aspects of vectorial capacity, and we highlight likely opportunities for novel vector control strategies and areas where further studies are required. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid34006192, year = {2021}, author = {Pauer, H and Teixeira, FL and Robinson, AV and Parente, TE and De Melo, MAF and Lobo, LA and Domingues, RMCP and Allen-Vercoe, E and Ferreira, RBR and Antunes, LCM}, title = {Bioactive small molecules produced by the human gut microbiome modulate Vibrio cholerae sessile and planktonic lifestyles.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1-19}, pmid = {34006192}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/*chemistry/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Feces/chemistry/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; *Metabolome ; Microbial Interactions ; Plankton/genetics/physiology ; Vibrio cholerae/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {Humans live in symbiosis with a diverse community of microorganisms, which has evolved to carry out many specific tasks that benefit the host, including protection against invading pathogens. Within the chemical diversity of the gastrointestinal tract, small molecules likely constitute chemical cues for the communication between the microbiota and pathogens. Therefore, we sought to investigate if molecules produced by the human gut microbiota show biological activity against the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae. To probe the effects of the gut metabolome on V. cholerae, we investigated its response to small-molecule extracts from human feces, from a complex bacterial community cultivated in vitro, and from culture supernatants of Enterocloster citroniae, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, and Bacteroides vulgatus. Using RNA sequencing, we determined the impact of the human gut metabolome on V. cholerae global gene expression. Among the genes downregulated in the presence of the fecal extract, the most overrepresented functional category was cell motility, which accounted for 39% of repressed genes. Repression of V. cholerae motility by the fecal extract was confirmed phenotypically, and E. citroniae extracts reproduced this phenotype. A complex in vitro microbial community led to increased motility, as did extracts from B. vulgatus, a species present in this community. Accordingly, mucin penetration was also repressed by fecal and E. citroniae extracts, suggesting that the phenotypes observed may have implications for host colonization. Together with previous studies, this work shows that small molecules from the gut metabolome may have a widespread, significant impact on microbe-microbe interactions established in the gut environment.}, } @article {pmid34006064, year = {2021}, author = {Bartella, AK and Kamal, M and Kuhnt, T and Hering, K and Halama, D and Pausch, NC and Lethaus, B}, title = {Mixed reality in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a symbiosis of virtual and augmented reality or a pointless technological gadget?.}, journal = {International journal of computerized dentistry}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {65-76}, pmid = {34006064}, issn = {1463-4201}, mesh = {*Augmented Reality ; Humans ; *Surgery, Oral ; Symbiosis ; Technology ; *Virtual Reality ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Mixed reality (MR) represents a new evolution in technological development that combines both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to create a blend of the physical and digital worlds. However, the potential role of MR in preoperative diagnostics in oral and maxillofacial surgery has not been scientifically investigated and remains generally unclear. This article presents a workflow that integrated MR in its scheme. It also evaluates the potential benefit of MR compared with its predecessors, VR and AR.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: MR technology was used to plan the surgical treatment of a clinical case with an extensive tumor of the left maxilla. A workflow proposal incorporating both the surgeon and radiation oncologist is presented based on this experience. A total of 10 examiners rated the usability and applicability of MR for daily routines.

RESULTS: MR showed good results during preoperative planning for a surgically extensive case in terms of displaying 3D structures and enhancing the physical and virtual interactions among the examiners. Previously described drawbacks of other VR/AR applications such as nausea and motion sickness were not observed with MR. However, MR seems to lack intraoperative usability, which is a drawback.

CONCLUSION: MR shows great potential in improving the preoperative assessment of 3D DICOM datasets and thus facilitating diagnostic measures. However, further improvements should be made to implement an MR workflow and incorporate it into the clinical treatment planning tree.}, } @article {pmid34003331, year = {2021}, author = {Rahal, S and Chekireb, D}, title = {Diversity of rhizobia and non-rhizobia endophytes isolated from root nodules of Trifolium sp. growing in lead and zinc mine site Guelma, Algeria.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {7}, pages = {3839-3849}, pmid = {34003331}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Algeria ; *Biodiversity ; *Endophytes/classification/drug effects/genetics ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity ; *Lead/toxicity ; Mining ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/drug effects/genetics ; Rhodotorula/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Trifolium/microbiology ; *Zinc/toxicity ; }, abstract = {High concentrations of heavy metals in mine soil disturb the interactions between legumes and microorganisms leading to select strains adapted to these specific conditions. In this work, we analyzed the diversity of fifty strains isolated from Trifolium sp. nodules growing on Pb-Zn mine soil, in the Northeastern of Algeria and highlighted their potential symbiotic traits. The phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a high bacterial diversity with a predominance of non-rhizobial endophytes. The identified isolates belong to the thirteen following genera Cupriavidus, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Roseomonas, Paracoccus, Frondihabitans, Microbacterium, Kocuria, Providencia, Micrococcus and Staphylococcus. Regarding rhizobial strains, only isolates affiliated to Rhizobium genus were obtained. The symbiotic gene nodC and the nitrogen fixation gene nifH present showed that Rhizobium isolates belonged to the symbiovar trifolii. In addition to bacterial, one yeast strain was isolated and identified as Rhodotorula mucilaginosa by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.}, } @article {pmid34003269, year = {2021}, author = {Baião, GC and Janice, J and Galinou, M and Klasson, L}, title = {Comparative Genomics Reveals Factors Associated with Phenotypic Expression of Wolbachia.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {34003269}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytoplasm/genetics ; Female ; Genomics ; Male ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a widespread, vertically transmitted bacterial endosymbiont known for manipulating arthropod reproduction. Its most common form of reproductive manipulation is cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), observed when a modification in the male sperm leads to embryonic lethality unless a compatible rescue factor is present in the female egg. CI attracts scientific attention due to its implications for host speciation and in the use of Wolbachia for controlling vector-borne diseases. However, our understanding of CI is complicated by the complexity of the phenotype, whose expression depends on both symbiont and host factors. In the present study, we perform a comparative analysis of nine complete Wolbachia genomes with known CI properties in the same genetic host background, Drosophila simulans STC. We describe genetic differences between closely related strains and uncover evidence that phages and other mobile elements contribute to the rapid evolution of both genomes and phenotypes of Wolbachia. Additionally, we identify both known and novel genes associated with the modification and rescue functions of CI. We combine our observations with published phenotypic information and discuss how variability in cif genes, novel CI-associated genes, and Wolbachia titer might contribute to poorly understood aspects of CI such as strength and bidirectional incompatibility. We speculate that high titer CI strains could be better at invading new hosts already infected with a CI Wolbachia, due to a higher rescue potential, and suggest that titer might thus be a relevant parameter to consider for future strategies using CI Wolbachia in biological control.}, } @article {pmid34002534, year = {2021}, author = {Hadchity, L and Lanois, A and Kiwan, P and Nassar, F and Givaudan, A and Khattar, ZA}, title = {AcrAB, the major RND-type efflux pump of Photorhabdus laumondii, confers intrinsic multidrug-resistance and contributes to virulence in insects.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {637-648}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12974}, pmid = {34002534}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Insecta ; *Photorhabdus/genetics/metabolism ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The resistance-nodulation-division (RND)-type efflux pumps AcrAB and MdtABC contribute to multidrug-resistance (MDR) in Gram-negative bacteria. Photorhabdus is a symbiotic bacterium of soil nematodes that also produces virulence factors killing insects by septicaemia. We previously showed that mdtA deletion in Photorhabdus laumondii TT01 resulted in no detrimental phenotypes. Here, we investigated the roles of the last two putative RND transporters in TT01 genome, AcrAB and AcrAB-like (Plu0759-Plu0758). Only ΔacrA and ΔmdtAΔacrA mutants were multidrug sensitive, even to triphenyltetrazolium chloride and bromothymol blue used for Photorhabdus isolation from nematodes on the nutrient bromothymol blue-triphenyltetrazolium chloride agar (NBTA) medium. Both mutants also displayed slightly attenuated virulence after injection into Spodoptera littoralis. Transcriptional analysis revealed intermediate levels of acrAB expression in vitro, in vivo and post-mortem, whereas its putative transcriptional repressor acrR was weakly expressed. Yet, plasmid-mediated acrR overexpression did not decrease acrAB transcript levels neither MDR in TT01 WT. While no pertinent mutations were detected in acrR of the same P. laumondii strain grown either on NBTA or nutrient agar, we suggest that AcrR-mediated repression of acrAB is not physiologically required under conditions tested. Finally, we propose that AcrAB is the primary RND-efflux pump, which is essential for MDR in Photorhabdus and may confer adaptive advantages during insect infection.}, } @article {pmid34002431, year = {2021}, author = {Karst, J and Wasyliw, J and Birch, JD and Franklin, J and Chang, SX and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Long-term nitrogen addition does not sustain host tree stem radial growth but doubles the abundance of high-biomass ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {27}, number = {17}, pages = {4125-4138}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.15713}, pmid = {34002431}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Biomass ; Forests ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; *Populus ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Global change has altered nitrogen availability in boreal forest soils. As ectomycorrhizal fungi play critical ecological functions, shifts in their abundance and community composition must be considered in the response of forests to changes in nitrogen availability. Furthermore, ectomycorrhizas are symbiotic, so the response of ectomycorrhizal fungi to nitrogen cannot be understood in isolation of their plant partners. Most previous studies, however, neglect to measure the response of host trees to nitrogen addition simultaneously with that of fungal communities. In addition to being one-sided, most of these studies have also been conducted in coniferous forests. Deciduous and "dual-mycorrhizal" tree species, namely those that form ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizas, have received little attention despite being widespread in the boreal forest. We applied nitrogen (30 kg ha[-1] year[-1]) for 13 years to stands dominated by aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and hypothesized that tree stem radial growth would increase, ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass would decrease, ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition would shift, and the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi would increase. Nitrogen addition initially increased stem radial growth of aspen, but it was not sustained at the time we characterized their mycorrhizas. After 13 years, the abundance of fungi possessing extramatrical hyphae, or "high-biomass" ectomycorrhizas, doubled. No changes occurred in ectomycorrhizal and AM fungal community composition, or in ecto- and AM abundance measured as root colonization. This dual-mycorrhizal tree species did not shift away from ectomycorrhizal fungal dominance with long-term nitrogen input. The unexpected increase in high-biomass ectomycorrhizal fungi with nitrogen addition may be due to increased carbon allocation to their fungal partners by growth-limited trees. Given the focus on conifers in past studies, reconciling results of plant-mycorrhizal fungal relationships in stands of deciduous trees may demand a broader view on the impacts of nitrogen addition on the structure and function of boreal forests.}, } @article {pmid34002375, year = {2021}, author = {Grieves, LA and Gloor, GB and Kelly, TR and Bernards, MA and MacDougall-Shackleton, EA}, title = {Preen gland microbiota of songbirds differ across populations but not sexes.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {9}, pages = {2202-2212}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13531}, pmid = {34002375}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Feathers ; Female ; Male ; *Microbiota ; *Passeriformes ; Sebaceous Glands ; *Songbirds ; }, abstract = {Metabolites produced by symbiotic microbes can affect the odour of their hosts, providing olfactory cues of identity, sex or other salient features. In birds, preen oil is a major source of body odour that differs between populations and sexes. We hypothesized that population and sex differences in preen oil chemistry reflect underlying differences in preen gland microbiota, predicting that these microbes also differ among populations and between the sexes. We further predicted that pairwise similarity in the community composition of preen gland microbiota would covary with that of preen oil chemical composition, consistent with the fermentation hypothesis for chemical recognition. We analysed preen oil chemistry and preen gland bacterial communities of song sparrows Melospiza melodia. Birds were sampled at sites for which population and sex differences in preen oil have been reported, and at a third site that has been less studied. Consistent with prior work in this system, we found population and sex differences in preen oil chemistry. By contrast, we found population differences but not sex differences in the community composition of preen gland microbes. Overall similarity in the community composition of preen gland microbiota did not significantly covary with that of preen oil chemistry. However, we identified a subset of six microbial genera that maximally correlated with preen oil composition. Although both preen gland microbiota and preen oil composition differ across populations, we did not observe an overall association between them that would implicate symbiotic microbes in mediating variation in olfactory cues associated with preen oil. Instead, certain subsets of microbes may be involved in mediating olfactory cues in birds, but experiments are required to test this.}, } @article {pmid34001275, year = {2021}, author = {Émie, AG and François-Étienne, S and Sidki, B and Nicolas, D}, title = {Microbiomes of clownfish and their symbiotic host anemone converge before their first physical contact.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {109}, pmid = {34001275}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Flavobacteriaceae ; *Microbiota ; *Perciformes ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: One of the most charismatic, and yet not completely resolved example of mutualistic interaction is the partnership of clownfish and its symbiotic sea anemone. The mechanism explaining this tolerance currently relies on the molecular mimicry of clownfish epithelial mucus, which could serve as camouflage, preventing the anemone's nematocysts' discharge. Resident bacteria are known as key drivers of epithelial mucus chemical signature in vertebrates. A recent study has proposed a restructuration of the skin microbiota in a generalist clown fish when first contacting its symbiotic anemone. We explored a novel hypothesis by testing the effect of remote interaction on epithelial microbiota restructuration in both partners.

METHODS: With metataxonomics, we investigated the epithelial microbiota dynamic of 18 pairs of percula clownfish (Amphiprion percula) and their symbiotic anemone Heteractis magnifica in remote interaction, physical interaction and control groups for both partners during a 4-week trial.

RESULTS: The Physical and Remote Interaction groups' results evidence gradual epithelial microbiota convergence between both partners when fish and anemone were placed in the same water system. This convergence occurred preceding any physical contact between partners, and was maintained during the 2-week interaction period in both contact groups. After the interaction period, community structure of both fish and anemone's epthelial community structures maintained the interaction signature 2 weeks after fish-anemone pairs' separation. Furthermore, the interaction signature persistence was observed both in the Physical and Remote Interaction groups, thus suggesting that water-mediated chemical communication between symbiotic partners was strong enough to shift the skin microbiota durably, even after the separation of fish-anemone pairs. Finally, our results suggest that fish-anemone convergent microbiota restructuration was increasingly associated with the parallel recruitment of three Flavobacteriaceae strains closely related to a tyrosinase-producing Cellulophaga tyrosinoxydans.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that bacterial community restructuration, in the acclimation process, does not only rely on direct physical contact. Furthermore, our results challenge, for the first time, the traditional unidirectional chemical camouflage hypothesis, as we argue that convergence of the epithelial microbiota of both partners may play essential roles in establishing mutual acceptance. Video abstract Fish-anemone symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid33999326, year = {2021}, author = {Landsittel, JA and Ermentrout, GB and Stiefel, KM}, title = {A computational model of the shrimp-goby escape and communication system.}, journal = {Journal of computational neuroscience}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {395-405}, pmid = {33999326}, issn = {1573-6873}, mesh = {Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Escape Reaction ; *Models, Neurological ; Neurons ; Swimming ; *Zebrafish ; }, abstract = {Fish escape from approaching threats via a stereotyped escape behavior. This behavior, and the underlying neural circuit organized around the Mauthner cell command neurons, have both been extensively investigated experimentally, mainly in two laboratory model organisms, the goldfish and the zebrafish. However, fish biodiversity is enormous, a number of variants of the basal escape behavior exist. In marine gobies (a family of small benthic fishes) which share burrows with alpheid shrimp, the escape behavior has likely been partially modified into a tactile communication system which allow the fish to communicate the approach of a predatory fish to the shrimp. In this communication system, the goby responds to intermediate-strength threats with a brief tail-flick which the shrimp senses with its antennae.We investigated the shrimp goby escape and communication system with computational models. We asked how the circuitry of the basal escape behavior could be modified to produce behavior akin to the shrimp-goby communication system. In a simple model, we found that mutual inhibitions between Mauthner cells can be tuned to produce an oscillatory response to intermediate strength inputs, albeit only in a narrow parameter range.Using a more detailed model, we found that two modifications of the fish locomotor system transform it into a model reproducing the shrimp goby behavior. These modifications are: 1. modifying the central pattern generator which drives swimming such that it is quiescent when receiving no inputs; 2. introducing a direct sensory input to this central pattern generator, bypassing the Mauthner cells.}, } @article {pmid33998505, year = {2021}, author = {Requena, T and Velasco, M}, title = {The human microbiome in sickness and in health.}, journal = {Revista clinica espanola}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {233-240}, doi = {10.1016/j.rceng.2019.07.018}, pmid = {33998505}, issn = {2254-8874}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The study of the human microbiome has led to an exceptional increase in the current understanding of the importance of microbiota for health throughout all stages of life. Human microbial colonization occurs in the skin, genitourinary system and, mainly, in the oral cavity and intestinal tract. In these locations, the human microbiota establishes a symbiotic relationship with the host and helps maintain physiological homeostasis. Lifestyle, age, diet and use of antibiotics are the main regulators of the composition and functionality of human microbiota. Recent studies have indicated the reduction in microbial diversity as one of the contributors to the development of diseases. In addition to phylogenetic diversity studies, further metagenomic studies are needed at the functional level of the human microbiome to improve our understanding of its involvement in human health.}, } @article {pmid33997399, year = {2021}, author = {Muindi, MM and Muthini, M and Njeru, EM and Maingi, J}, title = {Symbiotic efficiency and genetic characterization of rhizobia and non rhizobial endophytes associated with cowpea grown in semi-arid tropics of Kenya.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e06867}, pmid = {33997399}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is an important multipurpose legume crop grown in arid and semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The crop associates with a wide diversity of high ecological value rhizobia bacteria, improving biological soil fertility and crop production. Here, we evaluated the symbiotic efficiency (SE) and genetic diversity of native rhizobia isolated from root nodules of cowpea genotypes cultivated in semi-arid areas of lower Eastern Kenya. Rhizobia trapping and SE experiments were done in the greenhouse while genetic diversity was evaluated based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Twenty morphologically distinct isolates representing a total of 94 isolates were used for genetic analysis. After 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates closely resembled bacteria belonging to the genus Rhizobium, Paraburkholderia and non-rhizobial endophytes (Enterobacter, Strenotrophomonas and Pseudomonas). This study also reports for the first time the presence of an efficient native cowpea nodulating Beta-Rhizobia (Paraburkholderia phenoliruptrix BR3459a) in Africa. Symbiotic efficiency of the native rhizobia isolates varied (p < 0.0001) significantly. Remarkably, two isolates, M2 and M3 recorded higher SE of 82.49 % and 72.76 % respectively compared to the commercial strain Bradyrhizobium sp. USDA 3456 (67.68 %). Our results form an important step in the development of efficient microbial inoculum and sustainable food production.}, } @article {pmid33996285, year = {2021}, author = {Karimi, E and Geslain, E and Belcour, A and Frioux, C and Aïte, M and Siegel, A and Corre, E and Dittami, SM}, title = {Robustness analysis of metabolic predictions in algal microbial communities based on different annotation pipelines.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11344}, pmid = {33996285}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Animals, plants, and algae rely on symbiotic microorganisms for their development and functioning. Genome sequencing and genomic analyses of these microorganisms provide opportunities to construct metabolic networks and to analyze the metabolism of the symbiotic communities they constitute. Genome-scale metabolic network reconstructions rest on information gained from genome annotation. As there are multiple annotation pipelines available, the question arises to what extent differences in annotation pipelines impact outcomes of these analyses. Here, we compare five commonly used pipelines (Prokka, MaGe, IMG, DFAST, RAST) from predicted annotation features (coding sequences, Enzyme Commission numbers, hypothetical proteins) to the metabolic network-based analysis of symbiotic communities (biochemical reactions, producible compounds, and selection of minimal complementary bacterial communities). While Prokka and IMG produced the most extensive networks, RAST and DFAST networks produced the fewest false positives and the most connected networks with the fewest dead-end metabolites. Our results underline differences between the outputs of the tested pipelines at all examined levels, with small differences in the draft metabolic networks resulting in the selection of different microbial consortia to expand the metabolic capabilities of the algal host. However, the consortia generated yielded similar predicted producible compounds and could therefore be considered functionally interchangeable. This contrast between selected communities and community functions depending on the annotation pipeline needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting the results of metabolic complementarity analyses. In the future, experimental validation of bioinformatic predictions will likely be crucial to both evaluate and refine the pipelines and needs to be coupled with increased efforts to expand and improve annotations in reference databases.}, } @article {pmid33996132, year = {2021}, author = {Jenkins, BH and Maguire, F and Leonard, G and Eaton, JD and West, S and Housden, BE and Milner, DS and Richards, TA}, title = {Characterization of the RNA-interference pathway as a tool for reverse genetic analysis in the nascent phototrophic endosymbiosis, Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {210140}, pmid = {33996132}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Endosymbiosis was fundamental for the evolution of eukaryotic complexity. Endosymbiotic interactions can be dissected through forward- and reverse-genetic experiments, such as RNA-interference (RNAi). However, distinguishing small (s)RNA pathways in a eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiotic interaction is challenging. Here, we investigate the repertoire of RNAi pathway protein-encoding genes in the model nascent endosymbiotic system, Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella spp. Using comparative genomics and transcriptomics supported by phylogenetics, we identify essential proteome components of the small interfering (si)RNA, scan (scn)RNA and internal eliminated sequence (ies)RNA pathways. Our analyses reveal that copies of these components have been retained throughout successive whole genome duplication (WGD) events in the Paramecium clade. We validate feeding-induced siRNA-based RNAi in P. bursaria via knock-down of the splicing factor, u2af1, which we show to be crucial to host growth. Finally, using simultaneous knock-down 'paradox' controls to rescue the effect of u2af1 knock-down, we demonstrate that feeding-induced RNAi in P. bursaria is dependent upon a core pathway of host-encoded Dcr1, Piwi and Pds1 components. Our experiments confirm the presence of a functional, host-derived RNAi pathway in P. bursaria that generates 23-nt siRNA, validating the use of the P. bursaria-Chlorella spp. system to investigate the genetic basis of a nascent endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33995438, year = {2021}, author = {Salzman, S and Crook, D and Calonje, M and Stevenson, DW and Pierce, NE and Hopkins, R}, title = {Cycad-Weevil Pollination Symbiosis Is Characterized by Rapidly Evolving and Highly Specific Plant-Insect Chemical Communication.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {639368}, pmid = {33995438}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Coevolution between plants and insects is thought to be responsible for generating biodiversity. Extensive research has focused largely on antagonistic herbivorous relationships, but mutualistic pollination systems also likely contribute to diversification. Here we describe an example of chemically-mediated mutualistic species interactions affecting trait evolution and lineage diversification. We show that volatile compounds produced by closely related species of Zamia cycads are more strikingly different from each other than are other phenotypic characters, and that two distantly related pollinating weevil species have specialized responses only to volatiles from their specific host Zamia species. Plant transcriptomes show that approximately a fifth of genes related to volatile production are evolving under positive selection, but we find no differences in the relative proportion of genes under positive selection in different categories. The importance of phenotypic divergence coupled with chemical communication for the maintenance of this obligate mutualism highlights chemical signaling as a key mechanism of coevolution between cycads and their weevil pollinators.}, } @article {pmid33995430, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, Y and Wang, H and Lu, Z and Wen, L and Gu, Z and Zhang, X and Yu, G and Wang, H and Zhou, C and Han, L}, title = {Developmental Analysis of the GATA Factor HANABA TARANU Mutants in Medicago truncatula Reveals Their Roles in Nodule Formation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {616776}, pmid = {33995430}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Formation of nodules on legume roots results from symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria. Here, we identified two GATA transcription factors, MtHAN1 and MtHAN2, in Medicago truncatula, which are the homologs of HANABA TARANU (HAN) and HANABA TARANU LIKE in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our analysis revealed that MtHAN1 and MtHAN2 are expressed in roots and shoots including the root tip and nodule apex. We further show that MtHAN1 and MtHAN2 localize to the nucleus where they interact and that single and double loss-of-function mutants of MtHAN1 and MtHAN2 did not show any obvious phenotype in flower development, suggesting their role is different than their closest Arabidopsis homologues. Investigation of their symbiotic phenotypes revealed that the mthan1 mthan2 double mutant develop twice as many nodules as wild type, revealing a novel biological role for GATA transcription factors. We found that HAN1/2 transcript levels respond to nitrate treatment like their Arabidopsis counterparts. Global gene transcriptional analysis by RNA sequencing revealed different expression genes enriched for several pathways important for nodule development including flavonoid biosynthesis and phytohormones. In addition, further studies suggest that MtHAN1 and MtHAN2 are required for the expression of several nodule-specific cysteine-rich genes, which they may activate directly, and many peptidase and peptidase inhibitor genes. This work expands our knowledge of the functions of MtHANs in plants by revealing an unexpected role in legume nodulation.}, } @article {pmid33995307, year = {2021}, author = {Kulkarni, A and Pandey, A and Trainor, P and Carlisle, S and Chhilar, JS and Yu, W and Moon, A and Xu, J}, title = {Trained Immunity in Anopheles gambiae: Antibacterial Immunity Is Enhanced by Priming via Sugar Meal Supplemented With a Single Gut Symbiotic Bacterial Strain.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {649213}, pmid = {33995307}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {P20 GM103451/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI112786/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes have evolved an effective innate immune system. The mosquito gut accommodates various microbes, which play a crucial role in shaping the mosquito immune system during evolution. The resident bacteria in the gut microbiota play an essential role in priming basal immunity. In this study, we show that antibacterial immunity in Anopheles gambiae can be enhanced by priming via a sugar meal supplemented with bacteria. Serratia fonticola S1 and Enterobacter sp. Ag1 are gut bacteria in mosquitoes. The intrathoracic injection of the two bacteria can result in an acute hemocoelic infection in the naïve mosquitoes with mortality of ∼40% at 24 h post-infection. However, the Enterobacter orSerratia primed mosquitoes showed a better 24 h survival upon the bacterial challenge. The priming confers the protection with a certain degree of specificity, the Enterobacter primed mosquitoes had a better survival upon the Enterobacter but not Serratia challenge, and the Serratia primed mosquitoes had a better survival upon the Serratia but not Enterobacter challenge. To understand the priming-mediated immune enhancement, the transcriptomes were characterized in the mosquitoes of priming as well as priming plus challenges. The RNA-seq was conducted to profile 10 transcriptomes including three samples of priming conditions (native microbiota, Serratia priming, and Enterobacter priming), six samples of priming plus challenges with the two bacteria, and one sample of injury control. The three priming regimes resulted in distinctive transcriptomic profiles with about 60% of genes affected by both bacteria. Upon challenges, different primed mosquitoes displayed different transcriptomic patterns in response to different bacteria. When a primed cohort was challenged with a heterogenous bacterium, more responsive genes were observed than when challenged with a homogenous bacterium. As expected, many canonical immune genes were responsive to the priming and challenge, but much more non-immune genes with various functions were also responsive in the contexts, which implies that the prior priming triggers a delicately coordinated systemic regulation that results in an enhanced immunity against the subsequent challenge. Besides the participation of typical immune pathways, the transcriptome data suggest the involvement of lysosome and metabolism in the context. Overall, this study demonstrated a trained immunity via priming with bacteria in diet.}, } @article {pmid33993398, year = {2021}, author = {Yamato, M and Suzuki, T and Matsumoto, M and Shiraishi, T and Yukawa, T}, title = {Mycoheterotrophic seedling growth of Gentiana zollingeri, a photosynthetic Gentianaceae plant species, in symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {134}, number = {5}, pages = {921-931}, pmid = {33993398}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Gentiana ; *Gentianaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Seedlings ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We found mycoheterotrophic seedling growth (initial mycoheterotrophy) of Gentiana zollingeri, a spring-flowering photosynthetic species of Gentianaceae family. Small seeds (about 300 µm in length) were buried in a habitat by using seed packets, and development of the subterranean seedlings to form shoots, more than 3 cm in length, was observed in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the dark (i.e., underground of a field). Hyphal coils and their degenerations were observed in the root cortical cells of the subterranean seedlings as well as those of adult plants. Among the mycobionts identified on the basis of partial small subunit rDNA sequences, it was found that AM fungi of a lineage in Glomeraceae dominantly colonized, and the AM fungi were also dominant in adult individuals of G. zollingeri in three habitats separated one another by 17.2, 34.7, and 49.6 km. Though initial mycoheterotrophy in symbioses with AM fungi has been observed in some pteridophytes, this is the first study to demonstrate this type of symbiosis in a photosynthetic seed plant. The mycoheterotrophy means that an energy distribution occurs through the hyphal bridges of AM fungi among different photosynthetic seed plants, which may be important in constructing plant species diversity in some ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33992956, year = {2021}, author = {Dias, MAM and Bomfim, CSG and Rodrigues, DR and da Silva, AF and Santos, JCS and do Nascimento, TR and Martins, LMV and Dantas, BF and Ribeiro, PRA and de Freitas, ADS and Fernandes-Júnior, PI}, title = {Paraburkholderia spp. are the main rhizobial microsymbionts of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. in soils of the Brazilian tropical dry forests (Caatinga biome).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {126208}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126208}, pmid = {33992956}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Forests ; *Mimosa/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. is widespread in southern and central American drylands, but little information is available concerning its associated rhizobia. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize M. tenuiflora rhizobia from soils of the tropical dry forests (Caatinga) in Pernambuco State, Brazil, at the molecular and symbiotic levels. Soil samples of pristine Caatinga areas in four municipalities were used to grow M. tenuiflora. First, the bacteria from root nodules were subjected to nodC/nifH gene amplification, and the bacteria positive for both genes had the 16S rRNA gene sequenced. Then, ten strains were evaluated using recA, gyrB, and nodC gene sequences, and seven of them had their symbiotic efficiency assessed. Thirty-two strains were obtained and 22 of them were nodC/nifH positive. Twenty strains clustered within Paraburkholderia and two within Rhizobium by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The beta-rhizobia were similar to P. phenoliruptrix (12) and P. diazotrophica (8). Both alpha-rhizobia were closely related to R. miluonense. The recA + gyrB phylogenetic analysis clustered four and five strains within the P. phenoliruptrix and P. diazotrophica branches, respectively, but they were somewhat divergent to the 16S rRNA phylogeny. For Rhizobium sp. ESA 637, the recA + gyrB phylogeny clustered the strain with R. jaguaris. The nodC phylogeny indicated that ESA 626, ESA 629, and ESA 630 probably represented a new symbiovar branch. The inoculation assay showed high symbiotic efficiency for all tested strains. The results indicated high genetic diversity and efficiency of M. tenuiflora rhizobia in Brazilian drylands and included P. phenoliruptrix-like bacteria in the list of efficient beta-rhizobia in the Caatinga biome.}, } @article {pmid33992872, year = {2021}, author = {Tseng, ML and Negash, YT and Nagypál, NC and Iranmanesh, M and Tan, RR}, title = {A causal eco-industrial park hierarchical transition model with qualitative information: Policy and regulatory framework leads to collaboration among firms.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {292}, number = {}, pages = {112735}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112735}, pmid = {33992872}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; Hungary ; *Industry ; Models, Theoretical ; Policy ; }, abstract = {Eco-industrial parks promise to reduce environmental and social impacts and improve the economic performance of industrial parks. However, the transition from industrial parks to eco-industrial parks is still not well understood. This study contributes to developing valid hierarchical eco-industrial park transition attribute sets with qualitative information, as prior studies lack an exploration of the attributes in the transition of eco-industrial parks in Hungary. In nature, eco-industrial park transition attributes have causal and hierarchical interrelationships and are described with qualitative information. The assessment involves an analysis of the industrial symbiosis principles by using linguistic preferences. However, multiple attributes are involved in the assessment; therefore, this study proposes the Delphi method to develop a valid attribute set and applies fuzzy set theory to translate qualitative information into crisp values. The fuzzy decision-making trial evaluation laboratory method is used to visualize the attributes' causal interrelationships under uncertainties. The results indicate that the policy and regulatory framework leads to collaboration among firms in the eco-industrial park transition model. In practice, price reforms, management commitment, strategic planning, cognitive barriers and the integration of external information are the practical criteria for improvement. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid33991907, year = {2021}, author = {Malandrakis, AA and Kavroulakis, N and Avramidou, M and Papadopoulou, KK and Tsaniklidis, G and Chrysikopoulos, CV}, title = {Metal nanoparticles: Phytotoxicity on tomato and effect on symbiosis with the Fusarium solani FsK strain.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {787}, number = {}, pages = {147606}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147606}, pmid = {33991907}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Copper/toxicity ; Fusarium ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; *Metal Nanoparticles/toxicity ; *Nanoparticles ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; *Zinc Oxide/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The effect of copper (Cu-NPs, CuO-NPs), silver (Ag-NPs) and zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs) nanoparticles (NPs) on plant growth, physiological properties of tomato plants and their symbiotic relationships with the endophytic Fusarium solani FsK strain was investigated. Fungitoxicity tests revealed that the FsK strain was significantly more sensitive to Cu-NPs and ZnO-NPs than CuO-NPs and Ag-NPs both in terms of mycelial growth and spore germination. All NPs were more toxic to FsK compared to their bulk counterparts except for AgNO3, which was 8 to 9-fold more toxic than Ag-NPs. Apart from AgNO3, NPs and bulk counterparts did not affect the number of germinated tomato seeds even in higher concentrations, while root length was significantly reduced in a dose dependent way in most cases. Dry weight of tomato plants was also significantly reduced upon treatment with NPs and counterparts with most pronounced effects in the cases of AgNO3, Cu-NPs, ZnO-NPs, and ZnSO4. Root and shoot length of grown tomato plants was also affected by treatments while differences between NPs and bulk counterparts varied. A marked oxidative stress response was recorded in all cases of NPs/bulk counterparts as indicated by increased MDA and H2O2 levels of treated plants. Treated plants had significantly reduced chlorophyl-a and carotenoid levels compared to the untreated control. NPs and counterparts did not affect FsK colonization of roots indicating a possible shielding effect of tomato plants once the endophyte was established inside the roots. Vice versa, a possible alleviation of CuO-NPs, ZnO-NPs, and ZnSO4 toxicity was observed in the presence of FsK inside tomato roots in terms of plant dry weight. The results suggest that phytotoxicity of NPs in tomato treated plants should be considered before application and while both FsK and tomato are sensitive to NPs, their reciprocal benefits may extent to resistance towards these toxic agents.}, } @article {pmid33991880, year = {2021}, author = {Saha, S and Kurade, MB and Ha, GS and Lee, SS and Roh, HS and Park, YK and Jeon, BH}, title = {Syntrophic metabolism facilitates Methanosarcina-led methanation in the anaerobic digestion of lipidic slaughterhouse waste.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {335}, number = {}, pages = {125250}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125250}, pmid = {33991880}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Abattoirs ; Anaerobiosis ; Bioreactors ; Methane ; *Methanosarcina ; }, abstract = {Different inoculum to slaughterhouse waste (SHW) ratios (Ino/SHW) influences the digester performance, substrate utilization, and methane yield through microbial shift and their metabolic syntrophy. Acetoclastic Methanosarcina (68-87%) was dominant in the exponential phase, overpowering the initial abundance of Methanosaeta (86% of methanogens) in the SHW digesters. Positive interactions among acetogenic and acetate-oxidizing species of Clostridium (11%) with Methanosarcina (84% of methanogens) improved the methanogenic activity (292 mL g[-1] VSinitial d[-1]) and final VS utilization (90%) at the highest Ino/SHW loading. In contrast, significant improvement of methane yield (152% higher than the control) at the lowest Ino/SHW loading was attributed to strong syntrophy among Methanosaeta (24% of methanogens) and its exoelectrogenic partners, Bythopirellula (0.52%) and Mariniphaga (0.08%) and the acetogenic Cloacimonas (0.16%) and Longilinea (0.32%). These syntrophic interactions among the core microbiota induced major metabolic activities, including butanoate, glycine, serine and threonine, methane, propanoate, and pyruvate metabolism, and quorum sensing.}, } @article {pmid33991568, year = {2021}, author = {da Silva Costa, F and Júnio Pedroso Dias, R and Fonseca Rossi, M}, title = {Macroevolutionary analyses of ciliates associated with hosts support high diversification rates.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {51}, number = {11}, pages = {967-976}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.03.006}, pmid = {33991568}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {*Ciliophora/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ciliophora is a phylum that is comprised of extremely diverse microorganisms with regard to their morphology and ecology. They may be found in various environments, as free-living organisms or associated with metazoans. Such associations range from relationships with low metabolic dependence such as epibiosis, to more intimate relationships such as mutualism and parasitism. We know that symbiotic relationships occur along the whole phylogeny of the group, however, little is known about their evolution. Theoretical studies show that there are two routes for the development of parasitism, yet few authors have investigated the evolution of these characteristics using molecular tools. In the present study, we inferred a wide dated molecular phylogeny, based on the 18S rDNA gene, for the entire Ciliophora phylum, mapped life habits throughout the evolutionary time, and evaluated whether symbiotic relationships were linked to the variation in diversification rates and to the mode of evolution of ciliates. Our results showed that the last common ancestor for Ciliophora was likely a free-living organism, and that parasitism is a recent adaptation in ciliates, emerging more than once and independently via two distinct routes: (i) a free-living ciliate evolved into a mutualistic organism and, later, into a parasitic organism, and (ii) a free-living ciliate evolved directly into a parasitic organism. Furthermore, we have found a significant increase in the diversification rate of parasitic and mutualistic ciliates compared with their free-living conspecifics. The evolutionary success in different lineages of symbiont ciliates may be associated with many factors including type and colonization placement on their host, as well as physical and physiological conditions made available by the hosts.}, } @article {pmid33990706, year = {2021}, author = {Tao, J and Wang, S and Liao, T and Luo, H}, title = {Evolutionary origin and ecological implication of a unique nif island in free-living Bradyrhizobium lineages.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {3195-3206}, pmid = {33990706}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The alphaproteobacterial genus Bradyrhizobium has been best known as N2-fixing members that nodulate legumes, supported by the nif and nod gene clusters. Recent environmental surveys show that Bradyrhizobium represents one of the most abundant free-living bacterial lineages in the world's soils. However, our understanding of Bradyrhizobium comes largely from symbiotic members, biasing the current knowledge of their ecology and evolution. Here, we report the genomes of 88 Bradyrhizobium strains derived from diverse soil samples, including both nif-carrying and non-nif-carrying free-living (nod free) members. Phylogenomic analyses of these and 252 publicly available Bradyrhizobium genomes indicate that nif-carrying free-living members independently evolved from symbiotic ancestors (carrying both nif and nod) multiple times. Intriguingly, the nif phylogeny shows that the vast majority of nif-carrying free-living members comprise an independent cluster, indicating that horizontal gene transfer promotes nif expansion among the free-living Bradyrhizobium. Comparative genomics analysis identifies that the nif genes found in free-living Bradyrhizobium are located on a unique genomic island of ~50 kb equipped with genes potentially involved in coping with oxygen tension. We further analyze amplicon sequencing data to show that Bradyrhizobium members presumably carrying this nif island are widespread in a variety of environments. Given the dominance of Bradyrhizobium in world's soils, our findings have implications for global nitrogen cycles and agricultural research.}, } @article {pmid33990306, year = {2021}, author = {Ghosh, P and Adolphsen, KN and Yurgel, SN and Kahn, ML}, title = {Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419 Genes That Improve Symbiosis between Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 and Medicago truncatula Jemalong A17 and in Other Symbiosis Systems.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {15}, pages = {e0300420}, pmid = {33990306}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Lens Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/growth & development/microbiology ; Proteomics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Sinorhizobium/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Some soil bacteria, called rhizobia, can interact symbiotically with legumes, in which they form nodules on the plant roots, where they can reduce atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia, a form of nitrogen that can be used by growing plants. Rhizobium-plant combinations can differ in how successful this symbiosis is: for example, Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 forms a relatively ineffective symbiosis with Medicago truncatula Jemalong A17, but Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419 is able to support more vigorous plant growth. Using proteomic data from free-living and symbiotic S. medicae WSM419, we previously identified a subset of proteins that were not closely related to any S. meliloti Rm1021 proteins and speculated that adding one or more of these proteins to S. meliloti Rm1021 would increase its effectiveness on M. truncatula A17. Three genes, Smed_3503, Smed_5985, and Smed_6456, were cloned into S. meliloti Rm1021 downstream of the E. coli lacZ promoter. Strains with these genes increased nodulation and improved plant growth, individually and in combination with one another. Smed_3503, renamed iseA (increased symbiotic effectiveness), had the largest impact, increasing M. truncatula biomass by 61%. iseA homologs were present in all currently sequenced S. medicae strains but were infrequent in other Sinorhizobium isolates. Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 containing iseA led to more nodules on pea and lentil. Split-root experiments with M. truncatula A17 indicated that S. meliloti Rm1021 carrying the S. medicae iseA is less sensitive to plant-induced resistance to rhizobial infection, suggesting an interaction with the plant's regulation of nodule formation. IMPORTANCE Legume symbiosis with rhizobia is highly specific. Rhizobia that can nodulate and fix nitrogen on one legume species are often unable to associate with a different species. The interaction can be more subtle. Symbiotically enhanced growth of the host plant can differ substantially when nodules are formed by different rhizobial isolates of a species, much like disease severity can differ when conspecific isolates of pathogenic bacteria infect different cultivars. Much is known about bacterial genes essential for a productive symbiosis, but less is understood about genes that marginally improve performance. We used a proteomic strategy to identify Sinorhizobium genes that contribute to plant growth differences that are seen when two different strains nodulate M. truncatula A17. These genes could also alter the symbiosis between R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 and pea or lentil, suggesting that this approach identifies new genes that may more generally contribute to symbiotic productivity.}, } @article {pmid33989734, year = {2022}, author = {Kalia, VC and Patel, SKS and Cho, BK and Wood, TK and Lee, JK}, title = {Emerging applications of bacteria as antitumor agents.}, journal = {Seminars in cancer biology}, volume = {86}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {1014-1025}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.05.012}, pmid = {33989734}, issn = {1096-3650}, mesh = {Humans ; Quorum Sensing ; Bacteria ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy/etiology ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Bacteria are associated with the human body and colonize the gut, skin, and mucous membranes. These associations can be either symbiotic or pathogenic. In either case, bacteria derive more benefit from their host. The ability of bacteria to enter and survive within the human body can be exploited for human benefit. They can be used as a vehicle for delivering or producing bioactive molecules, such as toxins and lytic enzymes, and eventually for killing tumor cells. Clostridium and Salmonella have been shown to infect and survive within the human body, including in tumors. There is a need to develop genetic circuits, which enable bacterial cells to carry out the following activities: (i) escape the human immune system, (ii) invade tumors, (iii) multiply within the tumorous cells, (iv) produce toxins via quorum sensing at low cell densities, and (v) express suicide genes to undergo cell death or cell lysis after the tumor has been lysed. Thus, bacteria have the potential to be exploited as anticancer agents.}, } @article {pmid33989381, year = {2021}, author = {Dimond, JL and Nguyen, N and Roberts, SB}, title = {DNA methylation profiling of a cnidarian-algal symbiosis using nanopore sequencing.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {33989381}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Nanopore Sequencing ; DNA Methylation ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with protists is common among cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones and is associated with homeostatic and phenotypic changes in the host that could have epigenetic underpinnings, such as methylation of CpG dinucleotides. We leveraged the sensitivity to base modifications of nanopore sequencing to probe the effect of symbiosis with the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina on methylation in the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. We first validated the approach by comparison of nanopore-derived methylation levels with CpG depletion analysis of a published transcriptome, finding that high methylation levels are associated with CpG depletion as expected. Next, using reads generated exclusively from aposymbiotic anemones, a largely complete draft genome comprising 243 Mb was assembled. Reads from aposymbiotic and symbiotic sea anemones were then mapped to this genome and assessed for methylation using the program Nanopolish, which detects signal disruptions from base modifications as they pass through the nanopore. Based on assessment of 452,841 CpGs for which there was adequate read coverage (approximately 8% of the CpGs in the genome), symbiosis with E. marina was, surprisingly, associated with only subtle changes in the host methylome. However, we did identify one extended genomic region with consistently higher methylation among symbiotic individuals. The region was associated with a DNA polymerase zeta that is noted for its role in translesion synthesis, which opens interesting questions about the biology of this symbiosis. Our study highlights the power and relative simplicity of nanopore sequencing for studies of nucleic acid base modifications in non-model species.}, } @article {pmid33988698, year = {2021}, author = {Jensen, S and Frank, JA and Arntzen, MØ and Duperron, S and Vaaje-Kolstad, G and Hovland, M}, title = {Endozoicomonadaceae symbiont in gills of Acesta clam encodes genes for essential nutrients and polysaccharide degradation.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33988698}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Gills ; Norway ; Nutrients ; Polysaccharides ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gammaproteobacteria from the family Endozoicomonadaceae have emerged as widespread associates of dense marine animal communities. Their abundance in coral reefs involves symbiotic relationships and possibly host nutrition. We explored functions encoded in the genome of an uncultured Endozoicomonadaceae 'Candidatus Acestibacter aggregatus' that lives inside gill cells of large Acesta excavata clams in deep-water coral reefs off mid-Norway. The dominance and deep branching lineage of this symbiont was confirmed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenomic analysis from shotgun sequencing data. The 4.5 Mb genome binned in this study has a low GC content of 35% and is enriched in transposon and chaperone gene annotations indicating ongoing adaptation. Genes encoding functions potentially involved with the symbiosis include ankyrins, repeat in toxins, secretion and nutritional systems. Complete pathways were identified for the synthesis of eleven amino acids and six B-vitamins. A minimal chitinolytic machinery was indicated from a glycosyl hydrolase GH18 and a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase LPMO10. Expression of the latter was confirmed using proteomics. Signal peptides for secretion were identified for six polysaccharide degrading enzymes, ten proteases and three lipases. Our results suggest a nutritional symbiosis fuelled by enzymatic products from extracellular degradation processes.}, } @article {pmid33988274, year = {2021}, author = {Roy, J and van Duijnen, R and Leifheit, EF and Mbedi, S and Temperton, VM and Rillig, MC}, title = {Legacy effects of pre-crop plant functional group on fungal root symbionts of barley.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {e02378}, doi = {10.1002/eap.2378}, pmid = {33988274}, issn = {1051-0761}, mesh = {*Hordeum ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, a group of widespread fungal symbionts of crops, could be important in driving crop yield across crop rotations through plant-soil feedbacks (PSF). However, whether preceding crops have a legacy effect on the AM fungi of the subsequent crop is poorly known. We set up an outdoor mesocosm crop rotation experiment that consisted of a first phase growing either one of four pre-crops establishing AM and/or rhizobial symbiosis or not (spring barley, faba bean, lupine, canola), followed by an AM crop, winter barley. After the pre-crop harvest, carbon-rich organic substrates were applied to test whether it attenuated, accentuated or modified the effect of pre-crops. The pre-crop mycorrhizal status, but not its rhizobial status, affected the richness and composition of AM fungi, and this difference, in particular community composition, persisted and increased in the roots of winter barley. The effect of a pre-crop was driven by its single symbiotic group, not its mixed symbiotic group and/or by a crop-species-specific effect. This demonstrates that the pre-crop symbiotic group has lasting legacy effects on the AM fungal communities and may steer the AM fungal community succession across rotation phases. This effect was accentuated by sawdust amendment, but not wheat straw. Based on the previous observation of decreased crop yield after AM pre-crops, our findings suggest negative PSF at the level of the plant symbiotic group driven by a legacy effect of crop rotation history on AM fungal communities, and that a focus on crop symbiotic group offers additional understanding of PSF.}, } @article {pmid33987932, year = {2021}, author = {Hayward, A and Poulin, R and Nakagawa, S}, title = {A broadscale analysis of host-symbiont cophylogeny reveals the drivers of phylogenetic congruence.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {1681-1696}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13757}, pmid = {33987932}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {BB/N020146/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses exert substantial biological influence, with great evolutionary and ecological relevance for disease, major evolutionary transitions, and the structure and function of ecological communities. Yet, much remains unknown about the patterns and processes that characterise symbioses. A major unanswered question is the extent to which symbiont phylogenies mirror those of their hosts and if patterns differ for parasites and mutualists. Addressing this question offers fundamental insights into evolutionary processes, such as whether symbionts typically codiverge with their hosts or if diversity is generated via host switches. Here, we perform a meta-analysis of host-symbiont phylogenetic congruence, encompassing 212 host-symbiont cophylogenetic studies that include ~10,000 species. Our analysis supersedes previous qualitative assessments by utilising a quantitative framework. We show that symbiont phylogeny broadly reflects host phylogeny across biodiversity and life-history, demonstrating a general pattern of phylogenetic congruence in host-symbiont interactions. We reveal two key aspects of symbiont life-history that promote closer ties between hosts and symbionts: vertical transmission and mutualism. Mode of symbiosis and mode of transmission are intimately interlinked, but vertical transmission is the dominant factor. Given the pervasiveness of symbioses, these findings provide important insights into the processes responsible for generating and maintaining the Earth's rich biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid33987653, year = {2021}, author = {Feng, F and Zhan, H and Wan, Q and Wang, Y and Li, Y and Ge, J and Sun, X and Zhu, H and Yu, X}, title = {Rice recruits Sphingomonas strain HJY-rfp via root exudate regulation to increase chlorpyrifos tolerance and boost residual catabolism.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {15}, pages = {5673-5686}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab210}, pmid = {33987653}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Chlorpyrifos ; Endophytes ; Exudates and Transudates ; *Oryza ; Plant Roots ; *Sphingomonas ; }, abstract = {Inoculation with pollution-degrading endophytes boosts the catabolism of residual contaminants and promotes the pollution adaptation of host plants. We investigated the interaction pattern between Sphingomonas strain HJY-rfp, a chlorpyrifos-degrading endophytic bacterium, and rice (Oryza sativa) under pesticide stress using hydroponic cultivation. We observed a notable trend of endophytic root colonization in rice plants treated with 10 mg l-1 chlorpyrifos solution, and after 24 h the migration of HJY-rfp enhanced the chlorpyrifos degradation rate in leaves and stems by 53.36% and 40.81%, respectively. Critically, the rice root exudate profile (organic acids and amino acids) changed under chlorpyrifos stress, and variations in the contents of several components affected the chemotactic behaviour of HJY-rfp. HJY-rfp colonization dramatically activated defensive enzymes, which enabled efficient scavenging of reactive oxygen species, and led to 9.8%, 22.5%, and 41.9% increases in shoot length, fresh weight, and accumulation of total chlorophyll, respectively, in rice suffering from oxidative damage by chlorpyrifos. Endophytic colonization caused up-regulation of detoxification genes that have shown a significant positive correlation with chlorpyrifos degradation in vivo. Collectively, our results demonstrate that agrochemical stress causes plants to actively recruit specific symbiotic microbes to detoxify contaminants and survive better under pollution conditions.}, } @article {pmid33986997, year = {2021}, author = {Li, M and Chen, H and Wang, M and Zhong, Z and Wang, H and Zhou, L and Zhang, H and Li, C}, title = {A Toll-like receptor identified in Gigantidas platifrons and its potential role in the immune recognition of endosymbiotic methane oxidation bacteria.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11282}, pmid = {33986997}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria is an important ecological strategy for the deep-sea megafaunas including mollusks, tubeworms and crustacean to obtain nutrients in hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. How the megafaunas recognize symbionts and establish the symbiosis has attracted much attention. Bathymodiolinae mussels are endemic species in both hydrothermal vents and cold seeps while the immune recognition mechanism underlying the symbiosis is not well understood due to the nonculturable symbionts. In previous study, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pull-down assay was conducted in Gigantidas platifrons to screen the pattern recognition receptors potentially involved in the recognition of symbiotic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB). Consequently, a total of 208 proteins including GpTLR13 were identified. Here the molecular structure, expression pattern and immune function of GpTLR13 were further analyzed. It was found that GpTLR13 could bind intensively with the lipid A structure of LPS through surface plasmon resonance analysis. The expression alternations of GpTLR13 transcripts during a 28-day of symbiont-depletion assay were investigated by real-time qPCR. As a result, a robust decrease of GpTLR13 transcripts was observed accompanying with the loss of symbionts, implying its participation in symbiosis. In addition, GpTLR13 transcripts were found expressed exclusively in the bacteriocytes of gills of G. platifrons by in situ hybridization. It was therefore speculated that GpTLR13 may be involved in the immune recognition of symbiotic methane-oxidizing bacteria by specifically recognizing the lipid A structure of LPS. However, the interaction between GpTLR13 and symbiotic MOB was failed to be addressed due to the nonculturable symbionts. Nevertheless, the present result has provided with a promising candidate as well as a new approach for the identification of symbiont-related genes in Bathymodiolinae mussels.}, } @article {pmid33986321, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, S and Tordesillas, A and Pouragha, M and Bailey, J and Bondell, H}, title = {On local intrinsic dimensionality of deformation in complex materials.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {10216}, pmid = {33986321}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {27304C0002/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; 27306C0002/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {We propose a new metric called s-LID based on the concept of Local Intrinsic Dimensionality to identify and quantify hierarchies of kinematic patterns in heterogeneous media. s-LID measures how outlying a grain's motion is relative to its s nearest neighbors in displacement state space. To demonstrate the merits of s-LID over the conventional measure of strain, we apply it to data on individual grain motions in a set of deforming granular materials. Several new insights into the evolution of failure are uncovered. First, s-LID reveals a hierarchy of concurrent deformation bands that prevails throughout loading history. These structures vary not only in relative dominance but also spatial and kinematic scales. Second, in the nascent stages of the pre-failure regime, s-LID uncovers a set of system-spanning, criss-crossing bands: microbands for small s and embryonic-shearbands at large s, with the former being dominant. At the opposite extreme, in the failure regime, fully formed shearbands at large s dominate over the microbands. The novel patterns uncovered from s-LID contradict the common belief of a causal sequence where a subset of microbands coalesce and/or grow to form shearbands. Instead, s-LID suggests that the deformation of the sample in the lead-up to failure is governed by a complex symbiosis among these different coexisting structures, which amplifies and promotes the progressive dominance of the embryonic-shearbands over microbands. Third, we probed this transition from the microband-dominated regime to the shearband-dominated regime by systematically suppressing grain rotations. We found particle rotation to be an essential enabler of the transition to the shearband-dominated regime. When grain rotations are completely suppressed, this transition is prevented: microbands and shearbands coexist in relative parity.}, } @article {pmid33984469, year = {2021}, author = {Chow, LH and De Grave, S and Tsang, LM}, title = {Evolution of protective symbiosis in palaemonid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) with emphases on host spectrum and morphological adaptations.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {107201}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107201}, pmid = {33984469}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*genetics ; Animals ; *Host Specificity ; Palaemonidae/*classification/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Palaemonidae is the most speciose caridean shrimp family, with its huge biodiversity partially generated via symbiosis with various marine invertebrates. Previous studies have provided insights into the evolution of protective symbiosis in this family with evidence for frequent inter-phyla host switches, but the comprehensiveness of evolutionary pathways is hampered by the resolution of the previous phylogenetic trees as well as the taxon coverage. Furthermore, several critical issues related to the evolution of a symbiotic lifestyle, including the change in host spectrum and corresponding morphological adaptations, remain largely unresolved. We therefore performed a much extended phylogenetic comparative study on Palaemonidae, rooted in a comprehensive phylogeny reconstructed by a supermatrix-supertree approach based on a total of three mitochondrial and five nuclear markers. Ancestral state reconstruction of host associations revealed at least three independent evolutions into symbiosis, with potentially a drive to seek protection fuelling incipient symbiosis. Yet, most of the observed symbiotic species diversity was radiated from a single cnidarian associate. The evolution of mandibles and ambulatory dactyli suggests a general lack of correlation with host affiliation (except sponge endosymbionts), implying limited morphological adaptations following host switching, despite being putatively a major adaptive consequence of symbiosis. Our analyses of host spectrum, in terms of basic and taxonomic specificity, revealed no apparent phylogenetic signal but instead resolved a dynamic pattern attributable to frequent host switching. Uncoupling between host spectrum and the degree of morphological specialisation is the norm in palaemonids, suggesting that morphological characters are not fully in tune with host spectrum, in addition to host affiliation. This study demonstrates the complexity in the evolution of symbiosis, pointing to the presence of cryptic adaptations determining host spectrum and governing host switch diversification, and provides a clear direction for the evolutionary study of symbiosis in other marine symbiotic groups involving host switching.}, } @article {pmid33984069, year = {2021}, author = {Stevens, EJ and Bates, KA and King, KC}, title = {Host microbiota can facilitate pathogen infection.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {e1009514}, pmid = {33984069}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology/pathology ; *Biological Evolution ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Animals live in symbiosis with numerous microbe species. While some can protect hosts from infection and benefit host health, components of the microbiota or changes to the microbial landscape have the potential to facilitate infections and worsen disease severity. Pathogens and pathobionts can exploit microbiota metabolites, or can take advantage of a depletion in host defences and changing conditions within a host, to cause opportunistic infection. The microbiota might also favour a more virulent evolutionary trajectory for invading pathogens. In this review, we consider the ways in which a host microbiota contributes to infectious disease throughout the host's life and potentially across evolutionary time. We further discuss the implications of these negative outcomes for microbiota manipulation and engineering in disease management.}, } @article {pmid33983430, year = {2021}, author = {Minerdi, D and Maggini, V and Fani, R}, title = {Volatile organic compounds: from figurants to leading actors in fungal symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab067}, pmid = {33983430}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Fungi ; Symbiosis ; *Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis involving two (or more) prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic partners is extremely widespread in nature, and it has performed, and is still performing, a key role in the evolution of several biological systems. The interaction between symbiotic partners is based on the emission and perception of a plethora of molecules, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), synthesized by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic (micro)organisms. VOCs acquire increasing importance since they spread above and below ground and act as infochemicals regulating a very complex network. In this work we review what is known about the VOCs synthesized by fungi prior to and during the interaction(s) with their partners (either prokaryotic or eukaryotic) and their possible role(s) in establishing and maintaining the symbiosis. Lastly, we also describe the potential applications of fungal VOCs from different biotechnological perspectives, including medicinal, pharmaceutical and agronomical.}, } @article {pmid33982776, year = {2021}, author = {Courtois, P}, title = {Oral peroxidases: From antimicrobial agents to ecological actors (Review).}, journal = {Molecular medicine reports}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33982776}, issn = {1791-3004}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Biological Mimicry ; Humans ; Mouth/*enzymology/*microbiology ; Oral Hygiene/*methods ; Oxidants/metabolism ; Peroxidases/*pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Sialoperoxidase and myeloperoxidase are the two main peroxidase enzymes found in the oral cavity. Sialoperoxidase is present in salivary secretions and in the biofilms that line the oral surfaces, while myeloperoxidase is abundant in the dento‑gingival sulcus area. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oral peroxidases catalyze the oxidation of the pseudohalide anion thiocyanate (SCN[‑]) to hypothiocyanite (OSCN[‑]), a strong oxidant that serves an antimicrobial role. Furthermore, oral peroxidases consume bacteria‑produced H2O2 and could help inactivate toxic carcinogenic and genotoxic substances. Numerous in vitro studies have reported the antibacterial, antimycotic and antiviral role of peroxidases, suggesting possible applications in oral therapy. However, the use of oral hygiene products incorporating peroxidase systems has not yet been shown to be beneficial for the treatment or prevention of oral infections. This paradox reflects our incomplete knowledge of the physiological role of peroxidases in a complex environment, such as the oral region. While hygiene is crucial for restoring oral microbiota to a symbiotic state, there are no data to suggest that the addition of a peroxidase per se can create a dysbiotic state. Recent investigations have associated the presence of peroxidase activity with gram‑positive cocci microbial flora, and its insufficiency with dysbiosis has been linked to pathologies, such as caries, periodontitis or infections of the oral mucosa. Therefore, oxidants generated by oral peroxidases appear to be an essential ecological determinant for oral health through the selection of a symbiotic microbiota capable of resisting oxidative stress. The objective of the present review was to update the current knowledge of the physiological aspects and applications of oral peroxidases in clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid33982448, year = {2021}, author = {Li, N and Zhang, H and Bai, Z and Jiang, H and Yang, F and Sun, X and Lu, Z and Zhou, D}, title = {Soil exposure accelerates recovery of the gut microbiota in antibiotic-treated mice.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {616-625}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12959}, pmid = {33982448}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestines ; Mice ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Environmental exposure to low cleanliness prevents the occurrence of allergic diseases and increases the richness and diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Antibiotics are widely used in clinical infection therapy but destroy the balance of the gut microbiota. In this study, the effects of cleanliness of the living environment on the gut microbiota are evaluated after administration of antibiotics. The patterns of gut microbiota are compared before and after antibiotic treatment in mice living in a higher standard clean environment with those of mice living in an unclean environment. The results show that dust exposure prevents the reduction in gut microbiota diversity following antibiotic treatment in mice and impaired structural changes in the gut microbiota. Additionally, dust exposure accelerates the recovery of the gut microbiota, regardless of consumption of a high-fat or normal diet. An unsanitary environment can reduce the effects of antibiotics on intestinal microecology in mice. These findings provide insights into approaches for regulating antibiotic-induced symbiosis of the gut microbiota and preventing diseases.}, } @article {pmid33978026, year = {2021}, author = {Bertsch, P and Etter, D and Fischer, P}, title = {Transient in situ measurement of kombucha biofilm growth and mechanical properties.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {4015-4020}, doi = {10.1039/d1fo00630d}, pmid = {33978026}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Elasticity ; Fermentation ; Kombucha Tea/*microbiology ; Rheology ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional beverage obtained by the fermentation of sugared tea by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast which has recently re-emerged as a popular lifestyle product with potential health benefits. The characteristic feature of kombucha is the formation of a cellulosic biofilm due to the excretion of bacterial cellulose with high purity and crystallinity. Despite the growing industrial and technological interest in kombucha, current characterization techniques rely on the periodic sampling of tea broth or biofilm and ex situ analysis of its biochemical or microbial composition. Here, we use interfacial shear rheology (ISR) for the transient in situ determination of kombucha biofilm growth directly at the interface. ISR revealed that kombucha biofilm formation is a two step process with clearly distinguishable growth phases. The first phase can be attributed to the initial adsorption of bacteria at the air-water interface and shows great variability, probably due to varying bacteria content and composition. The second phase is initiated by bacterial cellulose excretion and shows astonishing reproducibility regarding onset and final mechanical properties. Hence, ISR qualifies as a new in situ characterization technique for kombucha biofilm growth and bacterial cellulose production.}, } @article {pmid33977441, year = {2021}, author = {Velasco-Rodríguez, Ó and Fil, M and García-Calvo, L and Kosalková, K and Barreiro, C}, title = {Microbial Isolation and Characterization of New Antibiotic-Producing Strains from Decayed Wood.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2296}, number = {}, pages = {43-57}, pmid = {33977441}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/*isolation & purification ; Wood/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial drug resistance is increasing over the last years, becoming one of the most important health concerns in the twenty-first century. It encourages the discovery of new antibiotics. Thus, novel antibiotics discovered by exploring different environments that previously have been left out of the scientific focus is a realistic opportunity. One of these habitats can be forest deadwood, which is a specific niche inside of the forest that provides shelter and nutrition to a great variety of organisms, such as fungi, bacteria, or saproxylic insects. Different studies have found the existence of complex antagonisms and symbiotic interactions among them, which points at decayed wood as a competitive environment. Besides, it is an interesting niche to look for new antibiotic producer microorganisms and active chemicals. This chapter describes isolation and screening methods of novel producers of antimicrobial compounds from decayed wood.}, } @article {pmid33976824, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, WK and Juniper, SK and Perez, M and Ju, SJ and Kim, SJ}, title = {Diversity and characterization of bacterial communities of five co-occurring species at a hydrothermal vent on the Tonga Arc.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {4481-4493}, pmid = {33976824}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Host-symbiont relationships in hydrothermal vent ecosystems, supported by chemoautotrophic bacteria as primary producers, have been extensively studied. However, the process by which densely populated co-occurring invertebrate hosts form symbiotic relationships with bacterial symbionts remains unclear. Here, we analyzed gill-associated symbiotic bacteria (gill symbionts) of five co-occurring hosts, three mollusks ("Bathymodiolus" manusensis, B. brevior, and Alviniconcha strummeri) and two crustaceans (Rimicaris variabilis and Austinograea alayseae), collected together at a single vent site in the Tonga Arc. We observed both different compositions of gill symbionts and the presence of unshared operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In addition, the total number of OTUs was greater for crustacean hosts than for mollusks. The phylogenetic relationship trees of gill symbionts suggest that γ-proteobacterial gill symbionts have coevolved with their hosts toward reinforcement of host specificity, while campylobacterial Sulfurovum species found across various hosts and habitats are opportunistic associates. Our results confirm that gill symbiont communities differ among co-occurring vent invertebrates and indicate that hosts are closely related with their gill symbiont communities. Considering the given resources available at a single site, differentiation of gill symbionts seems to be a useful strategy for obtaining nutrition and energy while avoiding competition among both hosts and gill symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33975972, year = {2021}, author = {Nicoud, Q and Lamouche, F and Chaumeret, A and Balliau, T and Le Bars, R and Bourge, M and Pierre, F and Guérard, F and Sallet, E and Tuffigo, S and Pierre, O and Dessaux, Y and Gilard, F and Gakière, B and Nagy, I and Kereszt, A and Zivy, M and Mergaert, P and Gourion, B and Alunni, B}, title = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 Nodulation of Aeschynomene afraspera Is Associated with Atypical Terminal Bacteroid Differentiation and Suboptimal Symbiotic Efficiency.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33975972}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Legume plants can form root organs called nodules where they house intracellular symbiotic rhizobium bacteria. Within nodule cells, rhizobia differentiate into bacteroids, which fix nitrogen for the benefit of the plant. Depending on the combination of host plants and rhizobial strains, the output of rhizobium-legume interactions varies from nonfixing associations to symbioses that are highly beneficial for the plant. Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 was isolated as a soybean symbiont, but it can also establish a functional symbiotic interaction with Aeschynomene afraspera In contrast to soybean, A. afraspera triggers terminal bacteroid differentiation, a process involving bacterial cell elongation, polyploidy, and increased membrane permeability, leading to a loss of bacterial viability while plants increase their symbiotic benefit. A combination of plant metabolomics, bacterial proteomics, and transcriptomics along with cytological analyses were used to study the physiology of USDA110 bacteroids in these two host plants. We show that USDA110 establishes a poorly efficient symbiosis with A. afraspera despite the full activation of the bacterial symbiotic program. We found molecular signatures of high levels of stress in A. afraspera bacteroids, whereas those of terminal bacteroid differentiation were only partially activated. Finally, we show that in A. afraspera, USDA110 bacteroids undergo atypical terminal differentiation hallmarked by the disconnection of the canonical features of this process. This study pinpoints how a rhizobium strain can adapt its physiology to a new host and cope with terminal differentiation when it did not coevolve with such a host.IMPORTANCE Legume-rhizobium symbiosis is a major ecological process in the nitrogen cycle, responsible for the main input of fixed nitrogen into the biosphere. The efficiency of this symbiosis relies on the coevolution of the partners. Some, but not all, legume plants optimize their return on investment in the symbiosis by imposing on their microsymbionts a terminal differentiation program that increases their symbiotic efficiency but imposes a high level of stress and drastically reduces their viability. We combined multi-omics with physiological analyses to show that the symbiotic couple formed by Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 and Aeschynomene afraspera, in which the host and symbiont did not evolve together, is functional but displays a low symbiotic efficiency associated with a disconnection of terminal bacteroid differentiation features.}, } @article {pmid33975971, year = {2021}, author = {Domínguez-Santos, R and Pérez-Cobas, AE and Cuti, P and Pérez-Brocal, V and García-Ferris, C and Moya, A and Latorre, A and Gil, R}, title = {Interkingdom Gut Microbiome and Resistome of the Cockroach Blattella germanica.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33975971}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Cockroaches are intriguing animals with two coexisting symbiotic systems, an endosymbiont in the fat body, involved in nitrogen metabolism, and a gut microbiome whose diversity, complexity, role, and developmental dynamics have not been fully elucidated. In this work, we present a metagenomic approach to study Blattella germanica populations not treated, treated with kanamycin, and recovered after treatment, both naturally and by adding feces to the diet, with the aim of better understanding the structure and function of its gut microbiome along the development as well as the characterization of its resistome.IMPORTANCE For the first time, we analyze the interkingdom hindgut microbiome of this species, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses. Network analysis reveals putative cooperation between core bacteria that could be key for ecosystem equilibrium. We also show how antibiotic treatments alter microbiota diversity and function, while both features are restored after one untreated generation. Combining data from B. germanica treated with three antibiotics, we have characterized this species' resistome. It includes genes involved in resistance to several broad-spectrum antibiotics frequently used in the clinic. The presence of genetic elements involved in DNA mobilization indicates that they can be transferred among microbiota partners. Therefore, cockroaches can be considered reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and potential transmission vectors.}, } @article {pmid33975964, year = {2021}, author = {Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {MicroRNA-Mediated Regulation of Initial Host Responses in a Symbiotic Organ.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33975964}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {One of the most important events in an animal's life history is the initial colonization by its microbial symbionts, yet little is known about this event's immediate impacts on the extent of host gene expression or the molecular mechanisms controlling it. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs that bind to target mRNAs, rapidly shaping gene expression by posttranscriptional control of mRNA translation and decay. Here, we show that, in the experimentally tractable binary squid-vibrio symbiosis, colonization of the light organ induces extensive changes in the miRNA transcriptome. Examination of the squid genome revealed the presence of evolutionarily conserved genes encoding elements essential for the production and processing of miRNAs. At 24 h postcolonization, 215 host miRNAs were detected in the light organ, 26 of which were differentially expressed in response to the symbionts. A functional enrichment analysis of genes potentially targeted by downregulation of certain miRNAs at the initiation of symbiosis revealed two major gene ontology (GO) term categories, neurodevelopment and tissue remodeling. This symbiont-induced downregulation is predicted to promote these activities in host tissues and is consistent with the well-described tissue remodeling that occurs at the onset of the association. Conversely, predicted targets of upregulated miRNAs, including the production of mucus, are consistent with attenuation of immune responses by symbiosis. Taken together, our data provide evidence that, at the onset of symbiosis, host miRNAs in the light organ drive alterations in gene expression that (i) orchestrate the symbiont-induced development of host tissues, and (ii) facilitate the partnership by dampening the immune response.IMPORTANCE Animals often acquire their microbiome from the environment at each generation, making the initial interaction of the partners a critical event in the establishment and development of a stable, healthy symbiosis. However, the molecular nature of these earliest interactions is generally difficult to study and poorly understood. We report that, during the initial 24 h of the squid-vibrio association, a differential expression of host miRNAs is triggered by the presence of the microbial partner. Predicted mRNA targets of these miRNAs were associated with regulatory networks that drive tissue remodeling and immune suppression, two major symbiosis-induced developmental outcomes in this and many other associations. These results implicate regulation by miRNAs as key to orchestrating the critical transcriptional responses that occur very early during the establishment of a symbiosis. Animals with more complex microbiota may have similar miRNA-driven responses as their association is initiated, supporting an evolutionary conservation of symbiosis-induced developmental mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid33974667, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, D and Chao, Y and Zhang, B and Wang, C and Qi, Y and Ente, M and Zhang, D and Li, K and Mok, KM}, title = {Effects of Gasterophilus pecorum infestation on the intestinal microbiota of the rewilded Przewalski's horses in China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {e0251512}, pmid = {33974667}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Antiparasitic Agents/therapeutic use ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; *Diptera/growth & development ; Feces/microbiology/parasitology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Horse Diseases/drug therapy/microbiology/*parasitology ; Horses/*microbiology/parasitology ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/drug therapy/microbiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Ivermectin/therapeutic use ; Lactobacillus/isolation & purification/physiology ; Larva ; Myiasis/drug therapy/microbiology/*veterinary ; Streptococcus/isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Horse botflies have been a threat to the Przewalski's horses in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve in Xinjiang of China since their reintroduction to the original range. As larvae of these parasites could infest the intestine of a horse for months, they could interact with and alter the structure and composition of its intestinal microbiota, affecting adversely its health. Nonetheless, there are no such studies on the rewilded Przewalski's horses yet. For the first time, this study characterizes the composition of the intestinal microbiota of 7 rewilded Przewalski's horses infected severely by Gasterophilus pecorum following and prior to their anthelmintic treatment. Bioinformatics analyses of the sequence data obtained by amplicon high throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes showed that G. pecorum infestation significantly increased the richness of the intestinal microbial community but not its diversity. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were found the dominant phyla as in other animals, and the parasitic infestation decreased the F/B ratio largely by over 50%. Large reduction in relative abundances of the two genera Streptococcus and Lactobacillus observed with G. pecorum infestation suggested possible changes in colic and digestion related conditions of the infected horses. Variations on the relative abundance of the genus groups known to be pathogenic or symbiotic showed that adverse impact of the G. pecorum infestation could be associated with reduction of the symbiotic genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that are probiotics and able to promote immunity against parasitic infection.}, } @article {pmid33973410, year = {2021}, author = {Fan, K and Wong-Bajracharya, J and Lin, X and Ni, M and Ku, YS and Li, MW and Tian, CF and Chan, TF and Lam, HM}, title = {Differentially expressed microRNAs that target functional genes in mature soybean nodules.}, journal = {The plant genome}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e20103}, doi = {10.1002/tpg2.20103}, pmid = {33973410}, issn = {1940-3372}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Soybeans/genetics ; }, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of biological functions in plants. To find out what roles miRNAs play in regulating symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], we identified high-confidence differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs from uninoculated roots (UR), rhizobium-inoculated roots (IR), and nodules (NODs) of soybean by robust small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq). Based on their predicted target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), the expression profiles of some of these DE miRNAs could be linked to nodule functions. In particular, several miRNAs associated with nutrient transportation genes were differentially expressed in IRs and mature NODs. MiR399b, specifically, was highly induced in IRs and NODs, as well as by inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation. In composite soybean plants overexpressing miR399b, PHOSPHATE2 (PHO2), a known target of miR399b that inhibits the activities of high-affinity Pi transporters, was strongly repressed. In addition, the overexpression of miR399b in the roots of transgenic composite plants significantly improved whole-plant Pi and ureide concentrations and the overall growth in terms of leaf node numbers and whole-plant dry weight. Our findings suggest that the induction of miR399b in NODs could enhance nitrogen fixation and soybean growth, possibly via improving Pi uptake to achieve a better Pi-nitrogen balance to promote SNF in nodules.}, } @article {pmid33973367, year = {2021}, author = {Upadhyay, PR and Ho, T and Abdel-Malek, ZA}, title = {Participation of keratinocyte- and fibroblast-derived factors in melanocyte homeostasis, the response to UV, and pigmentary disorders.}, journal = {Pigment cell & melanoma research}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {762-776}, pmid = {33973367}, issn = {1755-148X}, support = {I01 BX003668/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; P30 ES006096/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Fibroblasts/*metabolism/radiation effects ; *Homeostasis/radiation effects ; Humans ; Keratinocytes/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Melanocytes/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Pigmentation Disorders/*pathology ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Human epidermal melanocytes play a central role in sensing the environment and protecting the skin from the drastic effects of solar ultraviolet radiation and other environmental toxins or inflammatory agents. Melanocytes survive in the epidermis for decades, which subjects them to chronic environmental insults. Melanocytes have a poor self-renewal capacity; therefore, it is critical to ensure their survival with genomic stability. The function and survival of melanocytes is regulated by an elaborate network of paracrine factors synthesized mainly by epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. A symbiotic relationship exists between epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes on the one hand, and between melanocytes and dermal fibroblasts on the other hand. Melanocytes protect epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts from the damaging effects of solar radiation, and the latter cells synthesize biochemical mediators that maintain the homeostasis, and regulate the stress response of melanocytes. Disruption of the paracrine network results in pigmentary disorders, due to abnormal regulation of melanin synthesis, and compromise of melanocyte survival or genomic stability. This review provides an update of the current knowledge of keratinocyte- and fibroblast-derived paracrine factors and their contribution to melanocyte physiology, and how their abnormal production is involved in the pathogenesis of common pigmentary disorders.}, } @article {pmid33972675, year = {2021}, author = {Isozumi, N and Masubuchi, Y and Imamura, T and Mori, M and Koga, H and Ohki, S}, title = {Structure and antimicrobial activity of NCR169, a nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {9923}, pmid = {33972675}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/immunology/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/immunology/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plant Proteins/immunology/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Rhizosphere ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects ; }, abstract = {A model legume, Medicago truncatula, has over 600 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides required for symbiosis with rhizobia. Among them, NCR169, an essential factor for establishing symbiosis, has four cysteine residues that are indispensable for its function. However, knowledge of NCR169 structure and mechanism of action is still lacking. In this study, we solved two NMR structures of NCR169 caused by different disulfide linkage patterns. We show that both structures have a consensus C-terminal β-sheet attached to an extended N-terminal region with dissimilar features; one moves widely, whereas the other is relatively stapled. We further revealed that the disulfide bonds of NCR169 contribute to its structural stability and solubility. Regarding the function, one of the NCR169 oxidized forms could bind to negatively charged bacterial phospholipids. Furthermore, the positively charged lysine-rich region of NCR169 may be responsible for its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Sinorhizobium meliloti. This active region was disordered even in the phospholipid bound state, suggesting that the disordered conformation of this region is key to its function. Morphological observations suggested the mechanism of action of NCR169 on bacteria. The present study on NCR169 provides new insights into the structure and function of NCR peptides.}, } @article {pmid33972460, year = {2021}, author = {Denison, RF}, title = {Legume-imposed selection for more-efficient symbiotic rhizobia.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {33972460}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33970928, year = {2021}, author = {Schepers, MJ and Yelland, JN and Moran, NA and Taylor, DW}, title = {Isolation of the Buchnera aphidicola flagellum basal body complexes from the Buchnera membrane.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {e0245710}, pmid = {33970928}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R35 GM138348/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology ; Basal Bodies/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Buchnera/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Flagella/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Mass Spectrometry ; Membranes ; }, abstract = {Buchnera aphidicola is an intracellular bacterial symbiont of aphids and maintains a small genome of only 600 kbps. Buchnera is thought to maintain only genes relevant to the symbiosis with its aphid host. Curiously, the Buchnera genome contains gene clusters coding for flagellum basal body structural proteins and for flagellum type III export machinery. These structures have been shown to be highly expressed and present in large numbers on Buchnera cells. No recognizable pathogenicity factors or secreted proteins have been identified in the Buchnera genome, and the relevance of this protein complex to the symbiosis is unknown. Here, we show isolation of Buchnera flagellum basal body proteins from the cellular membrane of Buchnera, confirming the enrichment of flagellum basal body proteins relative to other proteins in the Buchnera proteome. This will facilitate studies of the structure and function of the Buchnera flagellum structure, and its role in this model symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33970535, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, H and Zhang, C and Cheng, P and Wang, Y and Liu, H and Wang, H and Wang, H and Gong, M}, title = {Differences in the intestinal microbiota between insecticide-resistant and -sensitive Aedes albopictus based on full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e1177}, pmid = {33970535}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Aedes/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/pharmacology ; Larva/microbiology ; Nitriles/*pharmacology ; Pyrethrins/*pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The intestinal symbiotic bacteria of Aedes albopictus play a potential role in host resistance to insecticides. In this study, we sequenced the full-length of 16S rRNA and analyzed the differences in the intestinal microbiota between deltamethrin-resistant and -sensitive Ae. albopictus. Symbiotic bacteria were cultured and analyzed using six types of culture media in aerobic and anaerobic environments. We found significant differences in the diversity and abundance of the intestinal microbiota of the two strains of Ae. albopictus. The symbiotic bacteria cultured in vitro were found to be mainly facultative anaerobes. The cultured bacteria such as Serratia oryzae and Acinetobacter junii may function to promote the development of insecticide resistance. This work indicates that intestinal bacteria may contribute to the enhancement of insecticide resistance of Ae. albopictus It also highlights the analytical advantage of full-length 16S rRNA sequencing to study the intestinal microbiota of mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid33966321, year = {2021}, author = {Shang, JY and Wu, Y and Huo, B and Chen, L and Wang, ET and Sui, Y and Chen, WF and Tian, CF and Chen, WX and Sui, XH}, title = {Potential of Bradyrhizobia inoculation to promote peanut growth and beneficial Rhizobacteria abundance.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {131}, number = {5}, pages = {2500-2515}, doi = {10.1111/jam.15128}, pmid = {33966321}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Arachis ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Plant Roots ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To investigate the effects of three symbiotic Bradyrhizobium strains on peanut growth and on rhizobacterial communities in flowering and harvest stages in an organic farm, also to evaluate the role of plant development in influencing peanut rhizobacterial microbiota and correlations among the inoculants, rhizobacterial communities and plant growth.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Peanut seeds were inoculated with three individual Bradyrhizobium strains, plant growth performance was measured in two developmental stages and rhizobacterial communities were analysed by Illumina sequencing of rpoB gene amplicons from peanut rhizosphere. The three bradyrhizobial inoculants significantly increased the nodule numbers and aboveground fresh weight of peanut plants regardless of the different growth stages, and the pod yields were increased to some extent and significantly positively correlated with Bradyrhizobium abundances in rhizosphere. Principal coordinate analysis indicated that the rhizobacterial communities were strongly influenced by the inoculation and peanut developmental stages. The bradyrhizobia inoculation increased relative abundances of potentially beneficial bacteria in peanut rhizosphere, and also altered rhizobacterial co-occurrence association networks and important network hub taxa. Similarly, plant development also significantly influenced the structure, composition and co-occurrence association networks of rhizobacterial communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Bradyrhizobial inoculants increased peanut growth and yields, they and plant development affected the assembly of peanut rhizobacterial communities.

Rhizobial inoculants improved the host plant performance that might also be associated with the dynamic changes in rhizobacterial community except enhancing the biological nitrogen fixation and helps to profoundly understand the mechanism how rhizobia inoculants improve plant growth and yields.}, } @article {pmid33966311, year = {2021}, author = {Pochon, X and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Miliolidium n. gen, a New Symbiodiniacean Genus Whose Members Associate with Soritid Foraminifera or Are Free-Living.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e12856}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12856}, pmid = {33966311}, issn = {1550-7408}, abstract = {The dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae comprises numerous divergent genera containing species whose ecologies range from endosymbiotic to free-living. While many associate with invertebrates including corals, sea anemones, jellyfish, giant clams, and flatworms, others occur within the cytoplasm of large protists, most notably benthic foraminifera in the sub-family Soritinae. Recent systematic revisions to the Symbiodiniaceae left out formal naming of some divergent lineages because each lacked a representative type species to erect new genus names. Here we provide genetic, morphological and ecological evidence to describe a new genus and species. Miliolidium n. gen. is closely related to the genus Durusdinium and contains several genetically divergent ecologically distinct lineages found in distant geographic locations indicating an Indo-Pacific wide distribution. One of these, Miliolidium leei n. sp., is represented by an isolate cultured from Amphisorus sp. originally collected in the Gulf of Eilat, northern Red Sea. Its peripheral chloroplast extensions are uniquely petal- or lobe-shaped, and cells possess a pyrenoid with three stalks connecting to chloroplasts, and without thylakoid intrusions. It is related to an isolate cultured from an azooxanthellate sponge from Palau and another that is commonly harbored by the soritid Marginopora vertebralis in shallow reef habitats from Guam. Research on Symbiodiniaceae diversity including free-living species in benthic habitats and those mutualistic with soritid foraminifera remains extremely limited as does our knowledge of their diversity, physiology, biogeography, and ecology.}, } @article {pmid33966095, year = {2022}, author = {Frare, R and Pascuan, C and Galindo-Sotomonte, L and McCormick, W and Soto, G and Ayub, N}, title = {Exploring the Role of the NO-Detoxifying Enzyme HmpA in the Evolution of Domesticated Alfalfa Rhizobia.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {2}, pages = {501-505}, pmid = {33966095}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Genomics ; Hempa ; Medicago sativa ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We have previously shown the extensive loss of genes during the domestication of alfalfa rhizobia and the high nitrous oxide emission associated with the extreme genomic instability of commercial inoculants. In the present note, we describe the molecular mechanism involved in the evolution of alfalfa rhizobia. Genomic analysis showed that most of the gene losses in inoculants are due to large genomic deletions rather than to small deletions or point mutations, a fact consistent with recurrent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at numerous locations throughout the microbial genome. Genetic analysis showed that the loss of the NO-detoxifying enzyme HmpA in inoculants results in growth inhibition and high DSB levels under nitrosative stress, and large genomic deletions in planta but not in the soil. Therefore, besides its known function in the effective establishment of the symbiosis, HmpA can play a critical role in the preservation of the genomic integrity of alfalfa rhizobia under host-derived nitrosative stress.}, } @article {pmid33965906, year = {2021}, author = {Fülöp, V and Demeter, J and Cseh, Á}, title = {[Significance and effects of prenatal and postnatal microbiome in the period of early individual development and options for interventional treatment].}, journal = {Orvosi hetilap}, volume = {162}, number = {19}, pages = {731-740}, doi = {10.1556/650.2021.32082}, pmid = {33965906}, issn = {1788-6120}, mesh = {*Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {Összefoglaló. A humán mikrobiom az emberi szervezetben és az emberi testfelszínen élő mikrobaközösségek összessége, amelyek többsége a gyomor-bél rendszerben él. Ezek a mikrobaközösségek számos és sokféle baktériumot tartalmaznak, gombákat, vírusokat, archeákat és protozoonokat. Ez a mikrobiális közösség, vagy mikrobiota, a gazdaszervezetben nagyrészt egymással kölcsönösségi viszonyban tenyészik, és gondoskodik a bélben a tápanyagok anyagcseréjéről, kalibrálja az anyagcsere-működést, tanítja az immunrendszert, fenntartja a közösség integritását, és véd a kórokozók ellen. A majdan megszületendő magzat a megfelelő tápanyagellátását az anyai véráramból kapja, és így az anyai szervezetben a mikrobiota indukálta baktériumkomponensek vagy metabolitok hatékonyan átvihetők a magzatba. Az anyai mikrobiális közösségek - ideértve a praenatalis bélrendszeri, hüvelyi, száj- és bőrmikrobiomot - a terhesség alatt valójában kifejezett változásokon mennek keresztül, amelyek befolyásolhatják az egészség megőrzését, és hozzájárulhatnak a közismert betegségek kialakulásához. A magzat nem steril, és immunológiai szempontból sem naiv, hanem az anya révén környezeti ingerek hatásaitól befolyásolva kölcsönhatásba lép az anyai immunrendszerrel. Számos anyai tényező - beleértve a hormonokat, a citokineket és a mikrobiomot - módosíthatja az intrauterin környezetet, ezáltal befolyásolva a magzati immunrendszer fejlődését. A fokozott stresszben élő anyák csecsemőinél nagyobb az allergia és a gyomor-bél rendszeri rendellenességek aránya. A várandós étrendje is befolyásolja a magzati mikrobiomot a méh közvetítésével. A bélflóránk, vagyis a mikrobiom, a belünkben élő mikrobák összessége és szimbiózisa, amelynek kényes egyensúlya már csecsemőkorban kialakul, és döntően meghatározza az intestinalis barrier és a bélasszociált immunrendszer működését. A probiotikumok szaporodásához szükséges prebiotikummal is befolyásolható a bélflóra. A pre- és a probiotikum kombinációja a szimbiotikum. Az anyatej a patogénekkel szemben protektív hatású, részben azáltal, hogy emeli a Bifidobacterium-számot az újszülött bélflórájában. A dysbiosis a kommenzális, egészséges bélflóra megváltozása. Ennek szerepét feltételezik funkcionális gastrointestinalis kórképekben, egyre több pszichiátriai és neurológiai kórképben is, mint az autizmus-spektrumzavar. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(19): 731-740. Summary. The human microbiome is the totality of microbe communities living in the human body and on the human body surface, most of which live in the gastrointestinal tract. These microbe communities contain many and varied bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and protozoa. This microbial community or microbiota in the host is largely reciprocal and takes care of nutrient metabolism in the gut, calibrates metabolism, teaches the immune system, maintains community integrity, and protects against pathogens. The fetus to be born is adequately supplied with nutrients from the maternal bloodstream, and thus microbial-induced bacterial components or metabolites can be efficiently transferred to the fetus in the maternal body. Maternal microbial communities, including prenatal intestinal, vaginal, oral, and dermal microbiomes, actually undergo pronounced changes during pregnancy that can affect health maintenance and contribute to the development of well-known diseases. The fetus is not sterile or immunologically naïve, but interacts with the maternal immune system through the effects of environmental stimuli through the mother. Many maternal factors, including hormones, cytokines, and the microbiome, can modify the intrauterine environment, thereby affecting the development of the fetal immune system. Infants of mothers under increased stress have higher rates of allergies and gastrointestinal disorders. The diet of the gravida also affects the fetal microbiome through the uterus. Our intestinal flora, or microbiome, is the totality and symbiosis of the microbes living in them, the delicate balance of which is established in infancy and decisively determines the functioning of the intestinal barrier and the intestinal associated immune system. The prebiotic required for the proliferation of probiotics can also affect the intestinal flora. The combination of pre- and probiotic is symbiotic. Breast milk has a protective effect against pathogens, in part by raising the number of Bifidobacteria in the intestinal flora of the newborn. Dysbiosis is a change in the commensal, healthy gut flora. Its role is hypothesized in functional gastrointestinal disorders, as well as in more and more psychiatric and neurological disorders such as the autism spectrum disorder. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(19): 731-740.}, } @article {pmid33965790, year = {2021}, author = {Sharma, R and Kumar Singh, P and Onteru, SK and Singh, D}, title = {Faecal microbiome analysis reveals Clostridiales and Bacteroidales as signature gut microbes during estrus of buffalo.}, journal = {Reproductive biology}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {100509}, doi = {10.1016/j.repbio.2021.100509}, pmid = {33965790}, issn = {2300-732X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*physiology ; Buffaloes/*microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Clostridiales/*physiology ; Estrus/*physiology ; Feces/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {The non-pathogenic intestinal microbes that conquer our intestines are not an accidental jumble of organisms, but rather a disparate community of microbes that coexist, and sustain a mutualistic and symbiotic relationship with the host. The gut microbiome has been shown to be influenced by animal physiology and vice versa. However, information is still scanty. The present study aimed to analyse the variation between faecal bacteria of three different stages (proestrus, estrus and postestrus) of the estrous cycle of Murrah buffalos. A phylogenetic study of buffalo faeces derived from three different stages of estrous cycle was conducted in order to compare the bacterial diversity among these three stages. We performed an exploratory microbiome analysis of buffalo faeces using 16S rRNA sequencing during these stages of the buffalo estrous cycle. A total of three bacterial phyla with six different bacterial orders and twenty-three different genera were identified among all the three comparative phases of the estrous cycle. Among them, the Clostridiales were found to be the most abundant, and Bacteroidales were present exclusive during the estrus phase. As faeces is a source of gut microbes and a non-invasive representative of the metabolic steroids and perceptible pheromones, the profiling of gut microbes during estrous cycle would provide clues towards the major microbes contributing to the perceptible pheromones during estrus stage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever report describing the faecal bacterial diversity during estrous cycle of any ruminant species. Although future studies are required to understand the role of Clostridiales and Bacteroidales in faecal pheromone metabolism.}, } @article {pmid33964051, year = {2021}, author = {Reich, HG and Kitchen, SA and Stankiewicz, KH and Devlin-Durante, M and Fogarty, ND and Baums, IB}, title = {Genomic variation of an endosymbiotic dinoflagellate (Symbiodinium 'fitti') among closely related coral hosts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {14}, pages = {3500-3514}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15952}, pmid = {33964051}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Caribbean Region ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Genomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms where hosts are coupled metabolically to their symbionts often exhibit high partner fidelity. Most reef-building coral species form obligate symbioses with a specific species of photosymbionts, dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae, despite needing to acquire symbionts early in their development from environmental sources. Three Caribbean acroporids (Acropora palmata, A. cervicornis and their F1 hybrid) are sympatric across much of their range, but often occupy different depth and light habitats. Throughout this range, both species and their hybrid associate with the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium 'fitti'. Because light (and therefore depth) influences the physiology of dinoflagellates, we investigated whether S. 'fitti' populations from each host taxon were differentiated genetically. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among S. 'fitti' strains were identified by aligning shallow metagenomic sequences of acroporid colonies sampled from across the Caribbean to a ~600-Mb draft assembly of the S. 'fitti' genome (from the CFL14120 A. cervicornis metagenome). Phylogenomic and multivariate analyses revealed that genomic variation among S. 'fitti' strains partitioned to each host taxon rather than by biogeographical origin. This is particularly noteworthy because the hybrid has a sparse fossil record and may be of relatively recent origin. A subset (37.6%) of the SNPs putatively under selection were nonsynonymous mutations predicted to alter protein efficiency. Differences in genomic variation of S. 'fitti' strains from each host taxon may reflect the unique selection pressures created by the microenvironments associated with each host. The nonrandom sorting among S. 'fitti' strains to different hosts could be the basis for lineage diversification via disruptive selection, leading to ecological specialization and ultimately speciation.}, } @article {pmid33962985, year = {2021}, author = {Francoeur, CB and May, DS and Thairu, MW and Hoang, DQ and Panthofer, O and Bugni, TS and Pupo, MT and Clardy, J and Pinto-Tomás, AA and Currie, CR}, title = {Burkholderia from Fungus Gardens of Fungus-Growing Ants Produces Antifungals That Inhibit the Specialized Parasite Escovopsis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {14}, pages = {e0017821}, pmid = {33962985}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {U19 AI142720/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/*metabolism ; *Ants ; Burkholderia/genetics/*metabolism ; Hypocreales/*growth & development ; Lipopeptides/*metabolism ; Microbiota ; Multigene Family ; Parasites/*growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Pyrrolnitrin/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Within animal-associated microbiomes, the functional roles of specific microbial taxa are often uncharacterized. Here, we use the fungus-growing ant system, a model for microbial symbiosis, to determine the potential defensive roles of key bacterial taxa present in the ants' fungus gardens. Fungus gardens serve as an external digestive system for the ants, with mutualistic fungi in the genus Leucoagaricus converting the plant substrate into energy for the ants. The fungus garden is host to specialized parasitic fungi in the genus Escovopsis. Here, we examine the potential role of Burkholderia spp. that occur within ant fungus gardens in inhibiting Escovopsis. We isolated members of the bacterial genera Burkholderia and Paraburkholderia from 50% of the 52 colonies sampled, indicating that members of the family Burkholderiaceae are common inhabitants in the fungus gardens of a diverse range of fungus-growing ant genera. Using antimicrobial inhibition bioassays, we found that 28 out of 32 isolates inhibited at least one Escovopsis strain with a zone of inhibition greater than 1 cm. Genomic assessment of fungus garden-associated Burkholderiaceae indicated that isolates with strong inhibition all belonged to the genus Burkholderia and contained biosynthetic gene clusters that encoded the production of two antifungals: burkholdine1213 and pyrrolnitrin. Organic extracts of cultured isolates confirmed that these compounds are responsible for antifungal activities that inhibit Escovopsis but, at equivalent concentrations, not Leucoagaricus spp. Overall, these new findings, combined with previous evidence, suggest that members of the fungus garden microbiome play an important role in maintaining the health and function of fungus-growing ant colonies. IMPORTANCE Many organisms partner with microbes to defend themselves against parasites and pathogens. Fungus-growing ants must protect Leucoagaricus spp., the fungal mutualist that provides sustenance for the ants, from a specialized fungal parasite, Escovopsis. The ants take multiple approaches, including weeding their fungus gardens to remove Escovopsis spores, as well as harboring Pseudonocardia spp., bacteria that produce antifungals that inhibit Escovopsis. In addition, a genus of bacteria commonly found in fungus gardens, Burkholderia, is known to produce secondary metabolites that inhibit Escovopsis spp. In this study, we isolated Burkholderia spp. from fungus-growing ants, assessed the isolates' ability to inhibit Escovopsis spp., and identified two compounds responsible for inhibition. Our findings suggest that Burkholderia spp. are often found in fungus gardens, adding another possible mechanism within the fungus-growing ant system to suppress the growth of the specialized parasite Escovopsis.}, } @article {pmid33962983, year = {2021}, author = {Schnabel, T and Sattely, E}, title = {Engineering Posttranslational Regulation of Glutamine Synthetase for Controllable Ammonia Production in the Plant Symbiont Azospirillum brasilense.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {14}, pages = {e0058221}, pmid = {33962983}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Azospirillum brasilense/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/*metabolism ; Pheophytins/metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Setaria Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen requirements for modern agriculture far exceed the levels of bioavailable nitrogen in most arable soils. As a result, the addition of nitrogen fertilizer is necessary to sustain productivity and yields, especially for cereal crops, the planet's major calorie suppliers. Given the unsustainability of industrial fertilizer production and application, engineering biological nitrogen fixation directly at the roots of plants has been a grand challenge for biotechnology. Here, we designed and tested a potentially broadly applicable metabolic engineering strategy for the overproduction of ammonia in the diazotrophic symbiont Azospirillum brasilense. Our approach is based on an engineered unidirectional adenylyltransferase (uAT) that posttranslationally modifies and deactivates glutamine synthetase (GS), a key regulator of nitrogen metabolism in the cell. We show that this circuit can be controlled inducibly, and we leveraged the inherent self-contained nature of our posttranslational approach to demonstrate that multicopy redundancy can improve strain evolutionary stability. uAT-engineered Azospirillum is capable of producing ammonia at rates of up to 500 μM h[-1] unit of OD600 (optical density at 600 nm)[-1]. We demonstrated that when grown in coculture with the model monocot Setaria viridis, these strains increase the biomass and chlorophyll content of plants up to 54% and 71%, respectively, relative to the wild type (WT). Furthermore, we rigorously demonstrated direct transfer of atmospheric nitrogen to extracellular ammonia and then plant biomass using isotopic labeling: after 14 days of cocultivation with engineered uAT strains, 9% of chlorophyll nitrogen in Setaria seedlings was derived from diazotrophically fixed dinitrogen, whereas no nitrogen was incorporated in plants cocultivated with WT controls. This rational design for tunable ammonia overproduction is modular and flexible, and we envision that it could be deployable in a consortium of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic diazotrophs for plant fertilization. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in modern agriculture. Free-living diazotrophs, such as Azospirillum, are common colonizers of cereal grasses and have the ability to fix nitrogen but natively do not release excess ammonia. Here, we used a rational engineering approach to generate ammonia-excreting strains of Azospirillum. Our design features posttranslational control of highly conserved central metabolism, enabling tunability and flexibility of circuit placement. We found that our strains promote the growth and health of the model grass S. viridis and rigorously demonstrated that in comparison to WT controls, our engineered strains can transfer nitrogen from [15]N2 gas to plant biomass. Unlike previously reported ammonia-producing mutants, our rationally designed approach easily lends itself to further engineering opportunities and has the potential to be broadly deployable.}, } @article {pmid33962316, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, FJ and Zhang, AY and Yu, YY and Sun, K and Tang, MJ and Zhang, W and Xie, XG and Dai, CC}, title = {Soil legacy of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita: The potassium-sequestering glomalin improves peanut (Arachis hypogaea) drought resistance and pod yield.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {249}, number = {}, pages = {126774}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2021.126774}, pmid = {33962316}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Arachis/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Crops, Agricultural/growth & development/physiology ; Droughts ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Potassium/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In agroecosystems, drought stress severely threatens crops development. Although potassium (K) is required in amounts by crops under drought stress, the mobilization and availablity of K are limited by the soil water status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form mutualistic associations with most crops and play direct or indirect roles in the host drought resistance. Considering that the glomalin generated by living AM fungal hyphae can sequester multiple minerals, however, the function of mineral-sequestering glomalin in the crop drought resistance remains unclear. In this study, peanuts cultivated in the sterilized soil with a history of AM fungi inoculation showed significantly enhanced leaf K accumulation, drought resistance and pod yield under drought stress. Through the collection of different types of mineral-sequestering glomalin from living AM fungal hyphae, the peanut drought resistance was improved only when K-sequestering glomalin was added. Moreover, we found that peanut root exudates could prime the dissociation of glomalin-bound K and further satisfy the K requirement of crops. Our study is the first report that K-sequestering glomalin could improve drought performance and peanut pod yield, and it helps us to understand the ecological importance of improving AM symbiosis to face agricultural challenges.}, } @article {pmid33961619, year = {2021}, author = {Sarkar, D and Landa, M and Bandyopadhyay, A and Pakrasi, HB and Zehr, JP and Maranas, CD}, title = {Elucidation of trophic interactions in an unusual single-cell nitrogen-fixing symbiosis using metabolic modeling.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {e1008983}, pmid = {33961619}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Single-Cell Analysis/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine nitrogen-fixing microorganisms are an important source of fixed nitrogen in oceanic ecosystems. The colonial cyanobacterium Trichodesmium and diatom symbionts were thought to be the primary contributors to oceanic N2 fixation until the discovery of the unusual uncultivated symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A (Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa). UCYN-A has atypical metabolic characteristics lacking the oxygen-evolving photosystem II, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the carbon-fixation enzyme RuBisCo and de novo biosynthetic pathways for a number of amino acids and nucleotides. Therefore, it is obligately symbiotic with its single-celled haptophyte algal host. UCYN-A receives fixed carbon from its host and returns fixed nitrogen, but further insights into this symbiosis are precluded by both UCYN-A and its host being uncultured. In order to investigate how this syntrophy is coordinated, we reconstructed bottom-up genome-scale metabolic models of UCYN-A and its algal partner to explore possible trophic scenarios, focusing on nitrogen fixation and biomass synthesis. Since both partners are uncultivated and only the genome sequence of UCYN-A is available, we used the phylogenetically related Chrysochromulina tobin as a proxy for the host. Through the use of flux balance analysis (FBA), we determined the minimal set of metabolites and biochemical functions that must be shared between the two organisms to ensure viability and growth. We quantitatively investigated the metabolic characteristics that facilitate daytime N2 fixation in UCYN-A and possible oxygen-scavenging mechanisms needed to create an anaerobic environment to allow nitrogenase to function. This is the first application of an FBA framework to examine the tight metabolic coupling between uncultivated microbes in marine symbiotic communities and provides a roadmap for future efforts focusing on such specialized systems.}, } @article {pmid33960903, year = {2021}, author = {Mecacci, G and Haselager, WFGP}, title = {Responsibility, Authenticity and the Self in the Case of Symbiotic Technology.}, journal = {AJOB neuroscience}, volume = {12}, number = {2-3}, pages = {196-198}, doi = {10.1080/21507740.2021.1904048}, pmid = {33960903}, issn = {2150-7759}, mesh = {*Self Concept ; *Social Behavior ; Technology ; }, } @article {pmid33960407, year = {2021}, author = {Antwis, R}, title = {A boom-or-bust approach-The 'Glass Cannon' hypothesis in host microbiomes.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {5}, pages = {1024-1026}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13500}, pmid = {33960407}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Ecology ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In Focus: Dunphy, CM, Vollmer, SV, Gouhier, TC. (2021) Host-microbial systems as glass cannons: Explaining microbiome stability in corals exposed to extrinsic perturbations. Journal of Animal Ecology, 90, 1044-1057. The importance of symbiotic microbial communities for the functioning of animal hosts is now well-documented; however, the interactions between host microbiomes and stress are less well-understood. Dunphy et al. used a common garden experiment to show that host-microbiomes vary in their resilience across different coral species. The authors then used mathematical modelling to provide novel evidence that species with microbiomes that are regulated by host processes are robust to perturbation from stressors, but that robustness comes at a higher cost to the host. Conversely, species with microbiomes that are regulated by microbial processes are generally much more resilient and cheaper to support, but when disrupted by external stressors, the communities break down entirely-these latter species are termed 'glass cannons'. This novel hypothesis has important implications for how host microbiomes function in a rapidly changing world that exposes animal hosts to multiple biotic and abiotic perturbations.}, } @article {pmid33958765, year = {2021}, author = {Gao, H and Bai, L and Jiang, Y and Huang, W and Wang, L and Li, S and Zhu, G and Wang, D and Huang, Z and Li, X and Cao, J and Jiang, L and Jacobs-Lorena, M and Zhan, S and Wang, S}, title = {A natural symbiotic bacterium drives mosquito refractoriness to Plasmodium infection via secretion of an antimalarial lipase.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {806-817}, pmid = {33958765}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {R01 AI031478/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051366/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/immunology/*microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; China ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Lipase/genetics/*immunology ; Malaria, Vivax/transmission ; Male ; Mosquito Vectors/immunology/*microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Plasmodium falciparum/physiology ; Plasmodium vivax/physiology ; Serratia/*enzymology/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The stalling global progress in the fight against malaria prompts the urgent need to develop new intervention strategies. Whilst engineered symbiotic bacteria have been shown to confer mosquito resistance to parasite infection, a major challenge for field implementation is to address regulatory concerns. Here, we report the identification of a Plasmodium-blocking symbiotic bacterium, Serratia ureilytica Su_YN1, isolated from the midgut of wild Anopheles sinensis in China that inhibits malaria parasites via secretion of an antimalarial lipase. Analysis of Plasmodium vivax epidemic data indicates that local malaria cases in Tengchong (Yunnan province, China) are significantly lower than imported cases and importantly, that the local vector A. sinensis is more resistant to infection by P. vivax than A. sinensis from other regions. Analysis of the gut symbiotic bacteria of mosquitoes from Yunnan province led to the identification of S. ureilytica Su_YN1. This bacterium renders mosquitoes resistant to infection by the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum or the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei via secretion of a lipase that selectively kills parasites at various stages. Importantly, Su_YN1 rapidly disseminates through mosquito populations by vertical and horizontal transmission, providing a potential tool for blocking malaria transmission in the field.}, } @article {pmid33958646, year = {2021}, author = {Shahid, M and Khan, MS and Syed, A and Marraiki, N and Elgorban, AM}, title = {Mesorhizobium ciceri as biological tool for improving physiological, biochemical and antioxidant state of Cicer aritienum (L.) under fungicide stress.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {9655}, pmid = {33958646}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*pharmacology ; Cicer/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Mesorhizobium/*drug effects ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds/*pharmacology ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects ; Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Fungicides among agrochemicals are consistently used in high throughput agricultural practices to protect plants from damaging impact of phytopathogens and hence to optimize crop production. However, the negative impact of fungicides on composition and functions of soil microbiota, plants and via food chain, on human health is a matter of grave concern. Considering such agrochemical threats, the present study was undertaken to know that how fungicide-tolerant symbiotic bacterium, Mesorhizobium ciceri affects the Cicer arietinum crop while growing in kitazin (KITZ) stressed soils under greenhouse conditions. Both in vitro and soil systems, KITZ imparted deleterious impacts on C. arietinum as a function of dose. The three-time more of normal rate of KITZ dose detrimentally but maximally reduced the germination efficiency, vigor index, dry matter production, symbiotic features, leaf pigments and seed attributes of C. arietinum. KITZ-induced morphological alterations in root tips, oxidative damage and cell death in root cells of C. arietinum were visible under scanning electron microscope (SEM). M. ciceri tolerated up to 2400 µg mL[-1] of KITZ, synthesized considerable amounts of bioactive molecules including indole-3-acetic-acid (IAA), 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, siderophores, exopolysaccharides (EPS), hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and solubilised inorganic phosphate even in fungicide-stressed media. Following application to soil, M. ciceri improved performance of C. arietinum and enhanced dry biomass production, yield, symbiosis and leaf pigments even in a fungicide-polluted environment. At 96 µg KITZ kg[-1] soil, M. ciceri maximally and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) augmented the length of plants by 41%, total dry matter by 18%, carotenoid content by 9%, LHb content by 21%, root N by 9%, shoot P by 11% and pod yield by 15% over control plants. Additionally, the nodule bacterium M. ciceri efficiently colonized the plant rhizosphere/rhizoplane and considerably decreased the levels of stressor molecules (proline and malondialdehyde) and antioxidant defence enzymes viz. ascorbate peroxidise (APX), guaiacol peroxidise (GPX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidises (POD) of C. arietinum plants when inoculated in soil. The symbiotic strain effectively colonized the plant rhizosphere/rhizoplane. Conclusively, the ability to endure higher fungicide concentrations, capacity to secrete plant growth modulators even under fungicide pressure, and inherent features to lower the level of proline and plant defence enzymes makes this M. ciceri as a superb choice for augmenting the safe production of C. arietinum even under fungicide-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid33957989, year = {2021}, author = {Doering, T and Wall, M and Putchim, L and Rattanawongwan, T and Schroeder, R and Hentschel, U and Roik, A}, title = {Towards enhancing coral heat tolerance: a "microbiome transplantation" treatment using inoculations of homogenized coral tissues.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {102}, pmid = {33957989}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbiome manipulation could enhance heat tolerance and help corals survive the pressures of ocean warming. We conducted coral microbiome transplantation (CMT) experiments using the reef-building corals, Pocillopora and Porites, and investigated whether this technique can benefit coral heat resistance while modifying the bacterial microbiome. Initially, heat-tolerant donors were identified in the wild. We then used fresh homogenates made from coral donor tissues to inoculate conspecific, heat-susceptible recipients and documented their bleaching responses and microbiomes by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding.

RESULTS: Recipients of both coral species bleached at lower rates compared to the control group when exposed to short-term heat stress (34 °C). One hundred twelve (Pocillopora sp.) and sixteen (Porites sp.) donor-specific bacterial species were identified in the microbiomes of recipients indicating transmission of bacteria. The amplicon sequence variants of the majority of these transmitted bacteria belonged to known, putatively symbiotic bacterial taxa of corals and were linked to the observed beneficial effect on the coral stress response. Microbiome dynamics in our experiments support the notion that microbiome community evenness and dominance of one or few bacterial species, rather than host-species identity, were drivers for microbiome stability in a holobiont context.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that coral recipients likely favor the uptake of putative bacterial symbionts, recommending to include these taxonomic groups in future coral probiotics screening efforts. Our study suggests a scenario where these donor-specific bacterial symbionts might have been more efficient in supporting the recipients to resist heat stress compared to the native symbionts present in the control group. These findings urgently call for further experimental investigation of the mechanisms of action underlying the beneficial effect of CMT and for field-based long-term studies testing the persistence of the effect. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid33957260, year = {2021}, author = {Sikorskaya, TV and Ermolenko, EV and Boroda, AV and Ginanova, TT}, title = {Physiological processes and lipidome dynamics in the soft coral Sinularia heterospiculata under experimental bleaching.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology}, volume = {255}, number = {}, pages = {110609}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110609}, pmid = {33957260}, issn = {1879-1107}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/immunology/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/immunology/*metabolism ; *Heat-Shock Response ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lipidomics ; }, abstract = {Coral polyps host intracellular symbiotic dinoflagellates (SD). The loss of SD (referred as bleaching) under stressful environmental conditions is the main reason of coral reef destruction, and therefore, intensively studied over the world. Lipids are the structural base of biomembranes and energy reserve of corals and are directly involved in the coral bleaching. In order to establish a relationship between coral tissue morphology, physiological processes and lipidome dynamics during bleaching, the soft coral Sinularia heterospiculata was exposed to experimental heat stress (33 °C) for 72 h. A chlorophyll content, structure of cells, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and molecular species of storage and structural lipids were analyzed. After 24 h of heat exposure, the level of ROS-positive SD cells did not increase, but the host tissues lost a significant part of SD. The removal of SD cells by exocytosis were suggested. Exocytosis was presumed to prevail at earlier stages of the soft coral bleaching. Symbiophagosomes with degenerative SD were observed in the stressed coral host cells. After 24 h, the content of phosphatidylinositols, which involved in apoptosis and autophagy, was significantly decreased. The innate immune response was triggered, and SD were digested by the coral host. After 48 h, a degradation of SD chloroplasts and a decrease in the specific monogalactosyldiacylglycerol molecular species were detected that confirmed a disruption of lipid biosynthesis in chloroplasts. At the end of coral bleaching, the appearance of oxidized phosphatidylethanolamines, indicating damage to the host membranes, and the degradation of the coral tissues were simultaneously observed. Thus, a switch between dominant mechanisms of the SD loss during bleaching of S. heterospiculata was found and proved by certain variations of the lipidomic profile. Lipidomic parameters may become indicators of physiological processes occurring in the symbiotic coral organism and may be used for assessing anthropogenic or natural destructive effects on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid33955029, year = {2021}, author = {Pilgrim, J and Siozios, S and Baylis, M and Venter, G and Garros, C and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Identifying potential candidate Culicoides spp. for the study of interactions with Candidatus Cardinium hertigii.}, journal = {Medical and veterinary entomology}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {501-506}, doi = {10.1111/mve.12517}, pmid = {33955029}, issn = {1365-2915}, support = {BB/M011186/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes ; *Ceratopogonidae ; Mosquito Vectors ; Phylogeny ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors responsible for the transmission of several viruses of veterinary importance. Previous screens of Culicoides have described the presence of the endosymbiont Candidatus Cardinium hertigii (Bacteroidetes). However, any impacts of this microbe on vectorial capacity, akin to those conferred by Wolbachia in mosquitoes, are yet to be uncovered and await a suitable system to study Cardinium-midge interactions. To identify potential candidate species to investigate these interactions, accurate knowledge of the distribution of the endosymbiont within Culicoides populations is needed. We used conventional and nested PCR assays to screen Cardinium infection in 337 individuals of 25 Culicoides species from both Palearctic and Afrotropical regions. Infections were observed in several vector species including C. imicola and the Pulicaris complex (C. pulicaris, C. bysta, C. newsteadi and C. punctatus) with varying prevalence. Phylogenetic analysis based on the Gyrase B gene grouped all new isolates within 'group C' of the genus, a clade that has to date been exclusively described in Culicoides. Through a comparison of our results with previous screens, we suggest C. imicola and C. sonorensis represent good candidates for onward study of Cardinium-midge interactions.}, } @article {pmid33954584, year = {2021}, author = {Thilakarathna, MS and Cope, KR}, title = {Split-root assays for studying legume-rhizobia symbioses, rhizodeposition, and belowground nitrogen transfer in legumes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {15}, pages = {5285-5299}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab198}, pmid = {33954584}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Split-root assays have been used widely in studies focused on understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms in legume-rhizobia symbioses, root nitrogen rhizodeposition, and belowground nitrogen transfer, and the effects of different biotic/abiotic factors on this symbiotic interaction. This assay allows a plant to have a root system that is physically divided into two distinct sections that are both still attached to a common shoot. Thus, each root section can be treated separately to monitor local and systemic plant responses. Different techniques are used to establish split-root assemblies, including double-pot systems, divided growth pouches, elbow root assembly, twin-tube systems, a single pot or chamber with a partition in the center, and divided agar plates. This review is focused on discussing the various types of split-root assays currently used in legume-based studies, and their associated advantages and limitations. Furthermore, this review also focuses on how split-root assays have been used for studies on nitrogen rhizodeposition, belowground nitrogen transfer, systemic regulation of nodulation, and biotic and abiotic factors affecting legume-rhizobia symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33953641, year = {2021}, author = {Ahmadi Badi, S and Tarashi, S and Fateh, A and Rohani, P and Masotti, A and Siadat, SD}, title = {From the Role of Microbiota in Gut-Lung Axis to SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis.}, journal = {Mediators of inflammation}, volume = {2021}, number = {}, pages = {6611222}, pmid = {33953641}, issn = {1466-1861}, mesh = {COVID-19/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the outbreak of a new viral respiratory infection. It has been demonstrated that the microbiota has a crucial role in establishing immune responses against respiratory infections, which are controlled by a bidirectional cross-talk, known as the "gut-lung axis." The effects of microbiota on antiviral immune responses, including dendritic cell (DC) function and lymphocyte homing in the gut-lung axis, have been reported in the recent literature. Additionally, the gut microbiota composition affects (and is affected by) the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), which is the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and contributes to regulate inflammation. Several studies demonstrated an altered microbiota composition in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, it has been shown that vaccine efficacy against viral respiratory infection is influenced by probiotics pretreatment. Therefore, the importance of the gut microbiota composition in the lung immune system and ACE2 expression could be valuable to provide optimal therapeutic approaches for SARS-CoV-2 and to preserve the symbiotic relationship of the microbiota with the host.}, } @article {pmid33953584, year = {2021}, author = {Yehualashet, AS and Yikna, BB}, title = {Microbial Ecosystem in Diabetes Mellitus: Consideration of the Gastrointestinal System.}, journal = {Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1841-1854}, pmid = {33953584}, issn = {1178-7007}, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota is established to be a crucial element in the control of human health, and keeping the symbiotic relationship between the human body and intestinal microbes will have paramount importance. A number of investigations illustrated that many chronic diseases are associated with intestinal micro-ecological disorders implying intestinal floras as an important component among the environmental factors, and perturbations in their composition are correlated with metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM). Increased evidence suggests that alterations in the gut microbial ecosystem have been involved in part in the pathogenesis of both type 1 and type 2 DM. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), derived from microbiota, have been studied for their potential action in modulating CNS, gut barrier axis, and the immune system as a promising mechanism for the observed protective effects on diabetes pathogenesis. Besides, the role of bile acid (BA) stimulated receptors to have a significant role in liver metabolism, and pathophysiology of liver-based metabolic diseases has also been investigated. In the current review, we will try to summarize the correlation between intestinal microbiota and diabetes considering the existing current evidence revealing the role of gut microbiota in onset and disease progression.}, } @article {pmid33953396, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, B and Kanai, MI and Oh, Y and Kyung, M and Kim, EK and Jang, IH and Lee, JH and Kim, SG and Suh, GSB and Lee, WJ}, title = {Response of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in Drosophila to amino acid deficit.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {593}, number = {7860}, pages = {570-574}, pmid = {33953396}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {R01 DK116294/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK106636/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids, Essential/*administration & dosage/deficiency ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Appetite ; *Brain-Gut Axis ; Drosophila/*physiology ; Enterocytes ; Female ; *Food Preferences ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Germ-Free Life ; Hunger ; Leucine ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A balanced intake of macronutrients-protein, carbohydrate and fat-is essential for the well-being of organisms. An adequate calorific intake but with insufficient protein consumption can lead to several ailments, including kwashiorkor[1]. Taste receptors (T1R1-T1R3)[2] can detect amino acids in the environment, and cellular sensors (Gcn2 and Tor)[3] monitor the levels of amino acids in the cell. When deprived of dietary protein, animals select a food source that contains a greater proportion of protein or essential amino acids (EAAs)[4]. This suggests that food selection is geared towards achieving the target amount of a particular macronutrient with assistance of the EAA-specific hunger-driven response, which is poorly understood. Here we show in Drosophila that a microbiome-gut-brain axis detects a deficit of EAAs and stimulates a compensatory appetite for EAAs. We found that the neuropeptide CNMamide (CNMa)[5] was highly induced in enterocytes of the anterior midgut during protein deprivation. Silencing of the CNMa-CNMa receptor axis blocked the EAA-specific hunger-driven response in deprived flies. Furthermore, gnotobiotic flies bearing an EAA-producing symbiotic microbiome exhibited a reduced appetite for EAAs. By contrast, gnotobiotic flies with a mutant microbiome that did not produce leucine or other EAAs showed higher expression of CNMa and a greater compensatory appetite for EAAs. We propose that gut enterocytes sense the levels of diet- and microbiome-derived EAAs and communicate the EAA-deprived condition to the brain through CNMa.}, } @article {pmid33952137, year = {2020}, author = {Zienert-Eilts, KJ}, title = {Destructive populism as "perverted containing": A psychoanalytical look at the attraction of Donald Trump.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {971-991}, doi = {10.1080/00207578.2020.1827955}, pmid = {33952137}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {*Federal Government ; Humans ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Mass Media ; Narcissism ; Personality ; *Politics ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; United States ; }, abstract = {The author examines the appearances and formation processes of destructive populist developments in the Western world from a psychoanalytical perspective, using the example of Donald Trump and his voters. She draws on the concepts of Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion, Herbert Rosenfeld and Otto Kernberg, which build on each other, and drafts the basic features of a psychoanalytic explanatory model of destructive populist social processes. She illustrates the phenomenon of the »destructive populist fit« between Trump and his followers by means of an analysis of Donald Trump's well-documented election campaigns in 2016 and 2020, supplemented by his actions during the COVID 19 crisis in 2020. On the psychoanalytical understanding of the effectiveness of his methods and the susceptibility of voters to destructive populism, she applies Bion's model of containing in conjunction with Herbert Rosenfeld's destructive narcissism and develops the concept of »perverted containing«: in the course of regression to a paranoid-schizoid level, aggressively destructive and omnipotent affects are idealised and the container function of democratic society is increasingly decomposed, distorted and finally twisted. Beta-elements are not detoxified and digested but, on the contrary, are fueled. This dynamic implies permanent escalation through ever new destructive-exciting acts in order to maintain the symbiotic-destructive fit in the mode of destructive narcissism.}, } @article {pmid33952016, year = {2021}, author = {Perelberg, RJ}, title = {The empty couch: Love and mourning in times of confinement.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {102}, number = {1}, pages = {16-30}, doi = {10.1080/00207578.2021.1882260}, pmid = {33952016}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Adult ; COVID-19/*prevention & control ; Countertransference ; Fantasy ; Female ; *Grief ; Humans ; *Love ; Mental Disorders/psychology/*therapy ; Pandemics ; *Physical Distancing ; Psychoanalytic Therapy/*methods ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Symbolism ; Telemedicine/*methods ; Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {This paper describes the psychoanalytic treatment of a woman patient during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the setting was profoundly disrupted and was transferred from in-person psychoanalysis to telephone sessions. Drawing on Bleger's formulations on the construction of the analytic frame and on André Green's on the function of the framing structure in the construction and elaboration of phantasy life, the case study shows how, in the absence of the physicality of the setting, the most primitive anxieties about the symbiotic relationship with the mother were expressed and contained in the transference and countertransference in the analysis. The author offers some considerations about the notion of "background of the uncanny", derived from Yolanda Gampel, which draws attention to the challenges when both patient and analyst are inserted into the same traumatic wider context. It is suggested that the production of an art object by the patient during this period represents a step in the elaboration of the work of mourning and towards symbolization.}, } @article {pmid33947914, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, M and Choi, DH and Park, MG}, title = {Cyanobiont genetic diversity and host specificity of cyanobiont-bearing dinoflagellate Ornithocercus in temperate coastal waters.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {9458}, pmid = {33947914}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Genetic Variation/*genetics ; Host Specificity/*genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Salinity ; Seawater ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in marine environments and play an important role as primary producers. Some cyanobacteria, the so-called cyanobionts (cyanobacterial symbionts), have a symbiotic relationship with unicellular organisms. Among these relationships, in particular, the nature (e.g., genetic diversity, host or cyanobiont specificity, and cyanobiont seasonality) of the cyanobiont-dinoflagellate host consortia remains poorly understood. In this study, 16S rDNA of cyanobionts in 138 single host cells isolated over four seasons from temperate waters were sequenced using the MiSeq platform. Genetic analysis of cyanobionts from the dinoflagellate host Ornithocercus revealed that three genetic types of Synechococcales cyanobionts occurred in a wide range of water temperatures (11-24 °C), and their distribution seemed to be closely associated with variations in salinity. Furthermore, a certain degree of host (or cyanobiont) specificity in cyanobionts (or the host) among Ornithocercus species as well as among other dinophysoid species (i.e. Amphisolenia, Citharistes, and Histioneis), was observed. In addition to the Synechococcales cyanobionts, this study identified OTU sequences affiliated with Vampirovibrionales and Chroococcidiopsidales in some Ornithocercus cells, suggesting that Ornithocercus species are an additional habitat for these bacterial groups.}, } @article {pmid33947806, year = {2021}, author = {Swain, TD and Lax, S and Gilbert, J and Backman, V and Marcelino, LA}, title = {A Phylogeny-Informed Analysis of the Global Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Interaction Network Reveals that Traits Correlated with Thermal Bleaching Are Specific to Symbiont Transmission Mode.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33947806}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The complex network of associations between corals and their dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) are the basis of coral reef ecosystems but are sensitive to increasing global temperatures. Coral-symbiont interactions are restricted by ecological and evolutionary determinants that constrain partner choice and influence holobiont response to environmental stress; however, little is known about how these processes shape thermal resilience of the holobiont. Here, we built a network of global coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations, mapped species traits (e.g., symbiont transmission mode and biogeography) and phylogenetic relationships of both partners onto the network, and assigned thermotolerance to both host and symbiont nodes. Using network analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods, we determined the contribution of species traits to thermal resilience of the holobiont, while accounting for evolutionary patterns among species. We found that the network shows nonrandom interactions among species, which are shaped by evolutionary history, symbiont transmission mode (horizontally transmitted [HT] or vertically transmitted [VT] corals) and biogeography. Coral phylogeny, but not Symbiodiniaceae phylogeny, symbiont transmission mode, or biogeography, was a good predictor of thermal resilience. Closely related corals have similar Symbiodiniaceae interaction patterns and bleaching susceptibilities. Nevertheless, the association patterns that explain increased host thermal resilience are not generalizable across the entire network but are instead unique to HT and VT corals. Under nonstress conditions, thermally resilient VT coral species associate with thermotolerant phylotypes and limit their number of unique symbionts and overall symbiont thermotolerance diversity, while thermally resilient HT coral species associate with a few host-specific symbiont phylotypes.IMPORTANCE Recent advances have revealed a complex network of interactions between coral and Symbiodiniaceae. Specifically, nonrandom association patterns, which are determined in part by restrictions imposed by symbiont transmission mode, increase the sensitivity of the overall network to thermal stress. However, little is known about the extent to which coral-Symbiodiniaceae network resistance to thermal stress is shaped by host and symbiont species phylogenetic relationships and host and symbiont species traits, such as symbiont transmission mode. We built a frequency-weighted global coral-Symbiodiniaceae network and used network analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods to show that evolutionary relatedness, but not transmission mode, predicts thermal resilience of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae holobiont. Consequently, thermal stress events could result in nonrandom pruning of susceptible lineages and loss of taxonomic diversity with catastrophic effects on community resilience to future events. Our results show that inclusion of the contribution of evolutionary and ecological processes will further our understanding of the fate of coral assemblages under climate change.}, } @article {pmid33947236, year = {2021}, author = {Díaz-Lora, S and Pérez-Contreras, T and Azcárate-García, M and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Martínez-Bueno, M and José Soler, J and Martín-Vivaldi, M}, title = {Cosmetic coloration of cross-fostered eggs affects paternal investment in the hoopoe (Upupa epops).}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1950}, pages = {20203174}, pmid = {33947236}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; *Birds ; *Egg Shell ; Female ; Male ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The signalling hypothesis suggests that avian eggshell coloration is a sexually selected female signal advertising her quality to its male partner, thereby stimulating his provisioning rate. This hypothesis has been tested for structural eggshell pigments, but not for cosmetic colorations, such as that produced by the uropygial secretion on eggshells. During the breeding season, female hoopoes (Upupa epops) host in their uropygial glands symbiotic bacteria. Females actively smear the eggshells with their secretion, protecting embryos from pathogenic trans-shell infections and changing eggshell coloration. Because the colour of the secretions is related to their antimicrobial potential, cosmetic eggshell coloration may act as a cue or even as a post-mating sexually selected signal if it affects male provisioning rates. To experimentally test this hypothesis, we cross-fostered already-smeared clutches between hoopoe nests, and quantified male feeding behaviour to females before and after the experiment. This approach allows disentanglement of the effects of female quality and of egg coloration on male investment. In accordance with the hypothesis, males adjusted their provisioning rate to the eggshell cosmetic coloration. This is, to our knowledge, the first experimental demonstration that egg colour stained with uropygial secretion could act as a post-mating sexual signal of female quality to males.}, } @article {pmid33947218, year = {2021}, author = {Hague, MTJ and Woods, HA and Cooper, BS}, title = {Pervasive effects of Wolbachia on host activity.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {20210052}, pmid = {33947218}, issn = {1744-957X}, support = {R35 GM124701/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; Locomotion ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbionts have diverse effects on the physiology, reproduction and fitness of their hosts. Maternally transmitted Wolbachia are one of the most common endosymbionts in nature, infecting about half of all insect species. We test the hypothesis that Wolbachia alter host behaviour by assessing the effects of 14 different Wolbachia strains on the locomotor activity of nine Drosophila host species. We find that Wolbachia alter the activity of six different host genotypes, including all hosts in our assay infected with wRi-like Wolbachia strains (wRi, wSuz and wAur), which have rapidly spread among Drosophila species in about the last 14 000 years. While Wolbachia effects on host activity were common, the direction of these effects varied unpredictably and sometimes depended on host sex. We hypothesize that the prominent effects of wRi-like Wolbachia may be explained by patterns of Wolbachia titre and localization within host somatic tissues, particularly in the central nervous system. Our findings support the view that Wolbachia have wide-ranging effects on host behaviour. The fitness consequences of these behavioural modifications are important for understanding the evolution of host-symbiont interactions, including how Wolbachia spread within host populations.}, } @article {pmid33946942, year = {2021}, author = {Ismail, MA and Amin, MA and Eid, AM and Hassan, SE and Mahgoub, HAM and Lashin, I and Abdelwahab, AT and Azab, E and Gobouri, AA and Elkelish, A and Fouda, A}, title = {Comparative Study between Exogenously Applied Plant Growth Hormones versus Metabolites of Microbial Endophytes as Plant Growth-Promoting for Phaseolus vulgaris L.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33946942}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Adenine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Biomass ; Brevibacillus/metabolism ; Crop Production/*methods ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Phaseolus/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Microbial endophytes organize symbiotic relationships with the host plant, and their excretions contain diverse plant beneficial matter such as phytohormones and bioactive compounds. In the present investigation, six bacterial and four fungal strains were isolated from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root plant, identified using molecular techniques, and their growth-promoting properties were reviewed. All microbial isolates showed varying activities to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and different hydrolytic enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, protease, pectinase, and xylanase. Six bacterial endophytic isolates displayed phosphate-solubilizing capacity and ammonia production. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate the promotion activity of the metabolites of the most potent endophytic bacterial (Bacillus thuringiensis PB2 and Brevibacillus agri PB5) and fungal (Alternaria sorghi PF2 and, Penicillium commune PF3) strains in comparison to two exogenously applied hormone, IAA, and benzyl adenine (BA), on the growth and biochemical characteristics of the P. vulgaris L. Interestingly, our investigations showed that bacterial and fungal endophytic metabolites surpassed the exogenously applied hormones in increasing the plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate and protein contents, antioxidant enzyme activity, endogenous hormones and yield traits. Our findings illustrate that the endophyte Brevibacillus agri (PB5) provides high potential as a stimulator for the growth and productivity of common bean plants.}, } @article {pmid33946807, year = {2021}, author = {Ivanov, D and Yaneva, G and Potoroko, I and Ivanova, DG}, title = {Contribution of Cyanotoxins to the Ecotoxicological Role of Lichens.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33946807}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Bacterial Toxins/*metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; *Ecotoxicology ; Lichens/*metabolism ; Nostoc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The fascinating world of lichens draws the attention of the researchers because of the numerous properties of lichens used traditionally and, in modern times, as a raw material for medicines and in the perfumery industry, for food and spices, for fodder, as dyes, and for other various purposes all over the world. However, lichens being widespread symbiotic entities between fungi and photosynthetic partners may acquire toxic features due to either the fungi, algae, or cyano-procaryotes producing toxins. By this way, several common lichens acquire toxic features. In this survey, recent data about the ecology, phytogenetics, and biology of some lichens with respect to the associated toxin-producing cyanoprokaryotes in different habitats around the world are discussed. Special attention is paid to the common toxins, called microcystin and nodularin, produced mainly by the Nostoc species. The effective application of a series of modern research methods to approach the issue of lichen toxicity as contributed by the cyanophotobiont partner is emphasized.}, } @article {pmid33946779, year = {2021}, author = {Tsyganova, AV and Brewin, NJ and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Structure and Development of the Legume-Rhizobial Symbiotic Interface in Infection Threads.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33946779}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Rhizobium/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Rhizosphere ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The intracellular infection thread initiated in a root hair cell is a unique structure associated with Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. It is characterized by inverted tip growth of the plant cell wall, resulting in a tunnel that allows invasion of host cells by bacteria during the formation of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule. Regulation of the plant-microbial interface is essential for infection thread growth. This involves targeted deposition of the cell wall and extracellular matrix and tight control of cell wall remodeling. This review describes the potential role of different actors such as transcription factors, receptors, and enzymes in the rearrangement of the plant-microbial interface and control of polar infection thread growth. It also focuses on the composition of the main polymers of the infection thread wall and matrix and the participation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the development of the infection thread. Mutant analysis has helped to gain insight into the development of host defense reactions. The available data raise many new questions about the structure, function, and development of infection threads.}, } @article {pmid33945798, year = {2021}, author = {Kaur, R and Shropshire, JD and Cross, KL and Leigh, B and Mansueto, AJ and Stewart, V and Bordenstein, SR and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Living in the endosymbiotic world of Wolbachia: A centennial review.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {879-893}, pmid = {33945798}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {F32 AI140694/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI143725/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Feminization ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Preventive Medicine ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*cytology/*physiology/*virology ; }, abstract = {The most widespread intracellular bacteria in the animal kingdom are maternally inherited endosymbionts of the genus Wolbachia. Their prevalence in arthropods and nematodes worldwide and stunning arsenal of parasitic and mutualistic adaptations make these bacteria a biological archetype for basic studies of symbiosis and applied outcomes for curbing human and agricultural diseases. Here, we conduct a summative, centennial analysis of living in the Wolbachia world. We synthesize literature on Wolbachia's host range, phylogenetic diversity, genomics, cell biology, and applications to filarial, arboviral, and agricultural diseases. We also review the mobilome of Wolbachia including phage WO and its essentiality to hallmark reproductive phenotypes in arthropods. Finally, the Wolbachia system is an exemplar for discovery-based science education using biodiversity, biotechnology, and bioinformatics lessons. As we approach a century of Wolbachia research, the interdisciplinary science of this symbiosis stands as a model for consolidating and teaching the integrative rules of endosymbiotic life.}, } @article {pmid33945788, year = {2021}, author = {Levy, S and Elek, A and Grau-Bové, X and Menéndez-Bravo, S and Iglesias, M and Tanay, A and Mass, T and Sebé-Pedrós, A}, title = {A stony coral cell atlas illuminates the molecular and cellular basis of coral symbiosis, calcification, and immunity.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {184}, number = {11}, pages = {2973-2987.e18}, pmid = {33945788}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {755876/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biomineralization/genetics/physiology ; Calcinosis/genetics/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Immunity/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Single-Cell Analysis/methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Stony corals are colonial cnidarians that sustain the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth: coral reefs. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the cell types and molecular pathways that underpin the biology of reef-building corals. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we define over 40 cell types across the life cycle of Stylophora pistillata. We discover specialized immune cells, and we uncover the developmental gene expression dynamics of calcium-carbonate skeleton formation. By simultaneously measuring the transcriptomes of coral cells and the algae within them, we characterize the metabolic programs involved in symbiosis in both partners. We also trace the evolution of these coral cell specializations by phylogenetic integration of multiple cnidarian cell type atlases. Overall, this study reveals the molecular and cellular basis of stony coral biology.}, } @article {pmid33942718, year = {2021}, author = {Pessotti, RC and Hansen, BL and Reaso, JN and Ceja-Navarro, JA and El-Hifnawi, L and Brodie, EL and Traxler, MF}, title = {Multiple lineages of Streptomyces produce antimicrobials within passalid beetle galleries across eastern North America.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {33942718}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R35 GM128849/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*analysis/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Fungi/drug effects ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Streptomyces/*chemistry/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some insects form symbioses in which actinomycetes provide defense against pathogens by making antimicrobials. The range of chemical strategies employed across these associations, and how these strategies relate to insect lifestyle, remains underexplored. We assessed subsocial passalid beetles of the species Odontotaenius disjunctus, and their frass (fecal material), which is an important food resource within their galleries, as a model insect/actinomycete system. Through chemical and phylogenetic analyses, we found that O. disjunctus frass collected across eastern North America harbored multiple lineages of Streptomyces and diverse antimicrobials. Metabolites detected in frass displayed synergistic and antagonistic inhibition of a fungal entomopathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae, and multiple streptomycete isolates inhibited this pathogen when co-cultivated directly in frass. These findings support a model in which the lifestyle of O. disjunctus accommodates multiple Streptomyces lineages in their frass, resulting in a rich repertoire of antimicrobials that likely insulates their galleries against pathogenic invasion.}, } @article {pmid33941888, year = {2021}, author = {Drew, GC and Budge, GE and Frost, CL and Neumann, P and Siozios, S and Yañez, O and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Transitions in symbiosis: evidence for environmental acquisition and social transmission within a clade of heritable symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {2956-2968}, pmid = {33941888}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bees ; Enterobacteriaceae ; *Gammaproteobacteria ; Male ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A dynamic continuum exists from free-living environmental microbes to strict host-associated symbionts that are vertically inherited. However, knowledge of the forces that drive transitions in symbiotic lifestyle and transmission mode is lacking. Arsenophonus is a diverse clade of bacterial symbionts, comprising reproductive parasites to coevolving obligate mutualists, in which the predominant mode of transmission is vertical. We describe a symbiosis between a member of the genus Arsenophonus and the Western honey bee. The symbiont shares common genomic and predicted metabolic properties with the male-killing symbiont Arsenophonus nasoniae, however we present multiple lines of evidence that the bee Arsenophonus deviates from a heritable model of transmission. Field sampling uncovered spatial and seasonal dynamics in symbiont prevalence, and rapid infection loss events were observed in field colonies and laboratory individuals. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation showed Arsenophonus localised in the gut, and detection was rare in screens of early honey bee life stages. We directly show horizontal transmission of Arsenophonus between bees under varying social conditions. We conclude that honey bees acquire Arsenophonus through a combination of environmental exposure and social contacts. These findings uncover a key link in the Arsenophonus clades trajectory from free-living ancestral life to obligate mutualism, and provide a foundation for studying transitions in symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid33941698, year = {2021}, author = {Savary, R and Barshis, DJ and Voolstra, CR and Cárdenas, A and Evensen, NR and Banc-Prandi, G and Fine, M and Meibom, A}, title = {Fast and pervasive transcriptomic resilience and acclimation of extremely heat-tolerant coral holobionts from the northern Red Sea.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {33941698}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Coral Reefs ; Heat-Shock Response/*genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Indian Ocean ; Microbiota/*genetics/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA-Seq/methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Corals from the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba exhibit extreme thermal tolerance. To examine the underlying gene expression dynamics, we exposed Stylophora pistillata from the Gulf of Aqaba to short-term (hours) and long-term (weeks) heat stress with peak seawater temperatures ranging from their maximum monthly mean of 27 °C (baseline) to 29.5 °C, 32 °C, and 34.5 °C. Corals were sampled at the end of the heat stress as well as after a recovery period at baseline temperature. Changes in coral host and symbiotic algal gene expression were determined via RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). Shifts in coral microbiome composition were detected by complementary DNA (cDNA)-based 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. In all experiments up to 32 °C, RNA-Seq revealed fast and pervasive changes in gene expression, primarily in the coral host, followed by a return to baseline gene expression for the majority of coral (>94%) and algal (>71%) genes during recovery. At 34.5 °C, large differences in gene expression were observed with minimal recovery, high coral mortality, and a microbiome dominated by opportunistic bacteria (including Vibrio species), indicating that a lethal temperature threshold had been crossed. Our results show that the S. pistillata holobiont can mount a rapid and pervasive gene expression response contingent on the amplitude and duration of the thermal stress. We propose that the transcriptomic resilience and transcriptomic acclimation observed are key to the extraordinary thermal tolerance of this holobiont and, by inference, of other northern Red Sea coral holobionts, up to seawater temperatures of at least 32 °C, that is, 5 °C above their current maximum monthly mean.}, } @article {pmid33941672, year = {2021}, author = {Westhoek, A and Clark, LJ and Culbert, M and Dalchau, N and Griffiths, M and Jorrin, B and Karunakaran, R and Ledermann, R and Tkacz, A and Webb, I and James, EK and Poole, PS and Turnbull, LA}, title = {Conditional sanctioning in a legume-Rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {33941672}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/J007749/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J014524/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011224/1/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; BB/N013387/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/T001801/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*metabolism/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes are high in protein and form a valuable part of human diets due to their interaction with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia. Plants house rhizobia in specialized root nodules and provide the rhizobia with carbon in return for nitrogen. However, plants usually house multiple rhizobial strains that vary in their fixation ability, so the plant faces an investment dilemma. Plants are known to sanction strains that do not fix nitrogen, but nonfixers are rare in field settings, while intermediate fixers are common. Here, we modeled how plants should respond to an intermediate fixer that was otherwise isogenic and tested model predictions using pea plants. Intermediate fixers were only tolerated when a better strain was not available. In agreement with model predictions, nodules containing the intermediate-fixing strain were large and healthy when the only alternative was a nonfixer, but nodules of the intermediate-fixing strain were small and white when the plant was coinoculated with a more effective strain. The reduction in nodule size was preceded by a lower carbon supply to the nodule even before differences in nodule size could be observed. Sanctioned nodules had reduced rates of nitrogen fixation, and in later developmental stages, sanctioned nodules contained fewer viable bacteria than nonsanctioned nodules. This indicates that legumes can make conditional decisions, most likely by comparing a local nodule-dependent cue of nitrogen output with a global cue, giving them remarkable control over their symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid33941076, year = {2021}, author = {Brinkrolf, K and Shukla, SP and Griep, S and Rupp, O and Heise, P and Goesmann, A and Heckel, DG and Vogel, H and Vilcinskas, A}, title = {Genomic analysis of novel Yarrowia-like yeast symbionts associated with the carrion-feeding burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {323}, pmid = {33941076}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/genetics ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Yarrowia/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mutualistic interactions with microbes can help insects adapt to extreme environments and unusual diets. An intriguing example is the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, which feeds and reproduces on small vertebrate carcasses. Its fungal microbiome is dominated by yeasts that potentially facilitate carcass utilization by producing digestive enzymes, eliminating cadaver-associated toxic volatiles (that would otherwise attract competitors), and releasing antimicrobials to sanitize the microenvironment. Some of these yeasts are closely related to the biotechnologically important species Yarrowia lipolytica.

RESULTS: To investigate the roles of these Yarrowia-like yeast (YLY) strains in more detail, we selected five strains from two different phylogenetic clades for third-generation sequencing and genome analysis. The first clade, represented by strain B02, has a 20-Mb genome containing ~ 6400 predicted protein-coding genes. The second clade, represented by strain C11, has a 25-Mb genome containing ~ 6300 predicted protein-coding genes, and extensive intraspecific variability within the ITS-D1/D2 rDNA region commonly used for species assignments. Phenotypic microarray analysis revealed that both YLY strains were able to utilize a diverse range of carbon and nitrogen sources (including microbial metabolites associated with putrefaction), and can grow in environments with extreme pH and salt concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS: The genomic characterization of five yeast strains isolated from N. vespilloides resulted in the identification of strains potentially representing new YLY species. Given their abundance in the beetle hindgut, and dominant growth on beetle-prepared carcasses, the analysis of these strains has revealed the genetic basis of a potential symbiotic relationship between yeasts and burying beetles that facilitates carcass digestion and preservation.}, } @article {pmid33940411, year = {2021}, author = {Pissarra, TCT and Sanches Fernandes, LF and Pacheco, FAL}, title = {Production of clean water in agriculture headwater catchments: A model based on the payment for environmental services.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {785}, number = {}, pages = {147331}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147331}, pmid = {33940411}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {This study aimed to present a payment for ecosystem services model that promotes a symbiotic coexistence between agriculture and clean water production. The model favors application to headwater catchments where clean water production is expected. However, the frequent invasion of these areas with intensive agriculture and livestock production systems affects water quality threatening the use of this resource, namely as drinking water. The proposed Agriculture for Clean Water Yield (ACWY) model reconciles agriculture with clean water production through the incentive approach, giving the farmers a financial compensation if they are willing to replace intensive by sustainable agriculture and livestock production systems, namely agro-forestry systems. The reconciliation through the incentive approach is justified because clean water and food are both vital goods for human survival. The compensation rises as function of increasing catchment water yield capacity and conversion costs. For example, landowners receive more if land conversion occurs in slopping than undulated landscapes. The model applied to Fazenda Glória watershed, composed of 19 headwater catchments (96.7 ha on average), proposed financial incentives in the range 218.73-576.5 US$/ha/year depending on the catchment's water yield capacity, which rise to 284.35-749.45 US$/ha/year if conversions occur in extreme vulnerable areas. The watershed, located in São Paulo state, Brazil, covers 18.4 km[2] and is the source of drinking water to 70,000 people living in Jaboticabal city. Monitoring is essential to assess the performance of ACWY and adjust the compensation dynamically. For instance, noteworthy improvements in water yields and water quality or land conversions performed in short periods can expect the most generous compensation. Two concerns about implementing the model in Fazenda Glória rely on the lack of political will in spite of existing federal and state legal support, as well as on the financial sources to make the model a real project.}, } @article {pmid33939942, year = {2021}, author = {Rodrigues Alves, DF and de Paiva Barros-Alves, S and de Almeida, AC and Cobo, VJ and Bauer, RT}, title = {Mating System of the Snapping Shrimp Synalpheus brevicarpus (Caridea, Alpheidae) Inhabiting Sponges Dysidea sp. (Demospongiae).}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {240}, number = {2}, pages = {132-143}, doi = {10.1086/713005}, pmid = {33939942}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; *Decapoda ; *Dysidea ; Female ; Male ; Reproduction ; Sex Characteristics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractThe lifestyle of symbiotic species in the genus Synalpheus can vary from pair living to eusocial. A pair-living social system commonly implies the adoption of a monogamous mating system. In this study, we used the symbiotic shrimp Synalpheus brevicarpus in association with the sponge Dysidea sp. to test the hypothesis that heterosexual pairs of symbiotic shrimps can adopt a monogamous mating system when living in association with a morphologically complex host. We collected a total of 40 sponges, which were inhabited by 76 shrimps: 41 males, 33 females, and 2 juveniles. Synalpheus brevicarpus is sexually dimorphic, with males displaying proportionately larger weaponry (snapping claws) and a smaller average body size than females. Sponges were more often inhabited by a pair of heterosexual shrimps than expected by chance. Larger sponges were inhabited by more than one pair of shrimps in which the sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1∶1. Pairs of heterosexual shrimps were recorded, with females carrying embryos in all stages of embryonic development. Our results indicate that S. brevicarpus is a pair-living shrimp with a monogamous social and mating system that may also guard spaces or areas within its sponge host. Our hypothesis of monogamy is supported by the observations on pair living, sex ratio, and sexual dimorphism in body size and weaponry in this species.}, } @article {pmid33939869, year = {2021}, author = {Marchese, P and Garzoli, L and Young, R and Allcock, L and Barry, F and Tuohy, M and Murphy, M}, title = {Fungi populate deep-sea coral gardens as well as marine sediments in the Irish Atlantic Ocean.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {4168-4184}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15560}, pmid = {33939869}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Ascomycota ; Atlantic Ocean ; Biodiversity ; Fungi/genetics ; Gardens ; Geologic Sediments ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Fungi populate deep Oceans in extreme habitats characterized by high hydrostatic pressure, low temperature and absence of sunlight. Marine fungi are potential major contributors to biogeochemical events, critical for marine communities and food web equilibrium under climate change conditions and a valuable source of novel extremozymes and small molecules. Despite their ecophysiological and biotechnological relevance, fungal deep-sea biodiversity has not yet been thoroughly characterized. In this study, we describe the culturable mycobiota associated with the deepest margin of the European Western Continental Shelf: sediments sampled at the Porcupine Bank and deep-water corals and sponges sampled in the Whittard Canyon. Eighty-seven strains were isolated, belonging to 43 taxa and mainly Ascomycota. Ten species and four genera were detected for the first time in the marine environment and a possible new species of Arachnomyces was isolated from sediments. The genera Cladosporium and Penicillium were the most frequent and detected on both substrates, followed by Candida and Emericellopsis. Our results showed two different fungal communities: sediment-associated taxa which were predominantly saprotrophic and animal-associated taxa which were predominantly symbiotic. This survey supports selective fungal biodiversity in the deep North Atlantic, encouraging further mycological studies on cold water coral gardens, often overexploited marine habitats.}, } @article {pmid33939347, year = {2022}, author = {Atefi, N and Fallahpour, M and Sharifi, S and Ghassemi, M and Roohaninasab, M and Goodarzi, A}, title = {Probiotic as an adjuvant therapy in chronic urticaria: a blinded randomized controlled clinical trial.}, journal = {European annals of allergy and clinical immunology}, volume = {54}, number = {3}, pages = {123-130}, doi = {10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.200}, pmid = {33939347}, issn = {1764-1489}, mesh = {Chronic Disease ; *Chronic Urticaria/drug therapy ; Histamine Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Omalizumab/therapeutic use ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; *Urticaria/diagnosis/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {Background. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common and treatment challenging disorder which may involve about 2% of normal population and in 50% do not respond properly even to the second line therapies. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a synbiotic (prebiotic + probiotic) named as LactoCare in treatment of CSU in the RCT for the first time. Methods. This blinded RCT conducted on 42 patients (21 patients in control antihistamine group and 21 in intervention antihistamine + probiotic group) with CSU during 8 weeks. The efficacy assessed by Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) and quality of life measured by Persian validated Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results. Before and after UAS7 score in control group was 35.33 ± 7.81 and 16.86 ± 13.54, respectively. There was 53% score reduction in control group. Before and after UAS7 score in intervention group was 32 ± 7.84 and 11 ± 11.41, respectively. There was 66% score reduction in intervention group. Improvement of DLQI in control and intervention group was 44% and 66%, respectively. At the end, UAS7 score reduction and DLQI improvement in both groups was statistically significant. Conclusions. Probiotics are effective, safe and satisfactory adjuvant therapy for CSU. Combination of probiotic and antihistamines had no statistically significant different efficacy than the antihistamine alone, based on UAS7 score. But Patients with combination therapy may experience higher reduction rate of itch, number of urticaria and total UAS7 score that is clinically of great value and is really practical by itself. Patients with combination therapy experienced more improvement of quality of life (DLQI).}, } @article {pmid33938896, year = {2021}, author = {Collins, AJ and Murugkar, PP and Dewhirst, FE}, title = {Establishing Stable Binary Cultures of Symbiotic Saccharibacteria from the Oral Cavity.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {170}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/62484}, pmid = {33938896}, issn = {1940-087X}, support = {R37 DE016937/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DE007327/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*pathogenicity ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many bacterial species cannot be cultured in the laboratory using standard methods, posing a significant barrier to studying the majority of microbial diversity on earth. Novel approaches are required to culture these uncultured bacteria so that investigators can effectively study their physiology and lifestyle using the powerful tools available in the laboratory. The Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) is one of the largest groups of uncultivated bacteria, comprising ~15% of the living diversity on earth. The first isolate of this group was a member of the Saccharibacteria phylum, 'Nanosynbacter lyticus' strain TM7x. TM7x is an unusually small bacterium that lives as a symbiont in direct contact with a bacterial host, Schaalia odontolytica, strain XH001. Taking advantage of the unusually small cell size and its lifestyle as a symbiotic organism, we developed a protocol to rapidly culture Saccharibacteria from dental plaque. This protocol will show how to filter a suspension of dental plaque through a 0.2 µm filter, then concentrate the collected Saccharibacteria cells and infect a culture of host organisms. The resulting coculture can be passaged as any normal bacterial culture and infection is confirmed by PCR. The resulting binary culture can be maintained in the laboratory and used for future experiments. While contamination is a possibility, the binary culture can be purified by either further filtering and reinfection of host, or by plating the binary culture and screening for infected colonies. We hope this protocol can be expanded to other sample types and environments, leading to the cultivation of many more species in the CPR.}, } @article {pmid33937616, year = {2021}, author = {Yu, D and Yang, Y and Long, J and Xu, W and Cai, Q and Wu, J and Cai, H and Zheng, W and Shu, XO}, title = {Long-term Diet Quality and Gut Microbiome Functionality: A Prospective, Shotgun Metagenomic Study among Urban Chinese Adults.}, journal = {Current developments in nutrition}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {nzab026}, pmid = {33937616}, issn = {2475-2991}, support = {S10 OD023680/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; UM1 CA173640/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; UM1 CA182910/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diet is known to affect human gut microbiome composition; yet, how diet affects gut microbiome functionality remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the diversity and abundance/presence of fecal microbiome metabolic pathways among individuals according to their long-term diet quality.

METHODS: In 2 longitudinal cohorts, we assessed participants' usual diets via repeated surveys during 1996-2011 and collected a stool sample in 2015-2018. Participants who maintained a healthy or unhealthy diet (i.e., stayed in the highest or lowest quintile of a healthy diet score throughout follow-up) were selected. Participants were excluded if they reported a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension; had diarrhea or constipation in the last 7 d; or used antibiotics in the last 6 mo before stool collection. Functional profiling of shotgun metagenomics was performed using HUMAnN2. Associations of dietary variables and 420 microbial metabolic pathways were evaluated via multivariable-adjusted linear or logistic regression models.

RESULTS: We included 144 adults (mean age = 64 y; 55% female); 66 had an unhealthy diet and 78 maintained a healthy diet. The healthy diet group had higher Shannon α-diversity indexes of microbial gene families and metabolic pathways (both P < 0.02), whereas β-diversity, as evaluated by Bray-Curtis distance, did not differ between groups (both P > 0.50). At P < 0.01 [false discovery rate (FDR) <0.15], the healthy diet group showed enriched pathways for vitamin and carrier biosynthesis (e.g., tetrahydrofolate, acetyl-CoA, and l-methionine) and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and increased degradation (or reduced biosynthesis) of certain sugars [e.g., cytidine monophosphate (CMP)-legionaminate, deoxythymidine diphosphate (dTDP)-l-rhamnose, and sucrose], nucleotides, 4-aminobutanoate, methylglyoxal, sulfate, and aromatic compounds (e.g., catechol and toluene). Meanwhile, several food groups were associated with the CMP-legionaminate biosynthesis pathway at FDR <0.05.

CONCLUSIONS: In a small longitudinal study of generally healthy, older Chinese adults, we found long-term healthy eating was associated with increased α-diversity of microbial gene families and metabolic pathways and altered symbiotic functions relevant to human nutrition and health.}, } @article {pmid33936153, year = {2021}, author = {Torres-Díaz, C and Valladares, MA and Acuña-Rodríguez, IS and Ballesteros, GI and Barrera, A and Atala, C and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Symbiotic Interaction Enhances the Recovery of Endangered Tree Species in the Fragmented Maulino Forest.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {663017}, pmid = {33936153}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Beneficial plant-associated microorganisms, such as fungal endophytes, are key partners that normally improve plant survival under different environmental stresses. It has been shown that microorganisms from extreme environments, like those associated with the roots of Antarctica plants, can be good partners to increase the performance of crop plants and to restore endangered native plants. Nothofagus alessandrii and N. glauca, are among the most endangered species of Chile, restricted to a narrow and/or limited distributional range associated mainly to the Maulino forest in Chile. Here we evaluated the effect of the inoculation with a fungal consortium of root endophytes isolated from the Antarctic host plant Colobanthus quitensis on the ecophysiological performance [photosynthesis, water use efficiency (WUE), and growth] of both endangered tree species. We also, tested how Antarctic root-fungal endophytes could affect the potential distribution of N. alessandrii through niche modeling. Additionally, we conducted a transplant experiment recording plant survival on 2 years in order to validate the model. Lastly, to evaluate if inoculation with Antarctic endophytes has negative impacts on native soil microorganisms, we compared the biodiversity of fungi and bacterial in the rhizospheric soil of transplanted individuals of N. alessandrii inoculated and non-inoculated with fungal endophytes. We found that inoculation with root-endophytes produced significant increases in N. alessandrii and N. glauca photosynthetic rates, water use efficiencies and cumulative growth. In N. alessandrii, seedling survival was significantly greater on inoculated plants compared with non-inoculated individuals. For this species, a spatial distribution modeling revealed that, inoculation with root-fungal endophytes could potentially increase the current distributional range by almost threefold. Inoculation with root-fungal endophytes, did not reduce native rhizospheric microbiome diversity. Our results suggest that the studied consortium of Antarctic root-fungal endophytes improve the ecophysiological performance as well as the survival of inoculated trees and can be used as a biotechnological tool for the restoration of endangered tree species.}, } @article {pmid33934615, year = {2021}, author = {Ganguly, P and Roy, D and Das, T and Kundu, A and Cartieaux, F and Ghosh, Z and DasGupta, M}, title = {The Natural Antisense Transcript DONE40 Derived from the lncRNA ENOD40 Locus Interacts with SET Domain Protein ASHR3 During Inception of Symbiosis in Arachis hypogaea.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {9}, pages = {1057-1070}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-20-0357-R}, pmid = {33934615}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; PR-SET Domains ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; *RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The long noncoding RNA ENOD40 is required for cortical cell division during root nodule symbiosis (RNS) of legumes, though it is not essential for actinorhizal RNS. Our objective was to understand whether ENOD40 was required for aeschynomenoid nodule formation in Arachis hypogaea. AhENOD40 express from chromosome 5 (chr5) (AhENOD40-1) and chr15 (AhENOD40-2) during symbiosis, and RNA interference of these transcripts drastically affected nodulation, indicating the importance of ENOD40 in A. hypogaea. Furthermore, we demonstrated several distinct characteristics of ENOD40. (i) Natural antisense transcript (NAT) of ENOD40 was detected from the AhENOD40-1 locus (designated as NAT-AhDONE40). (ii) Both AhENOD40-1 and AhENOD40-2 had two exons, whereas NAT-AhDONE40 was monoexonic. Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis indicated both sense and antisense transcripts to be present in both cytoplasm and nucleus, and their expression increased with the progress of symbiosis. (iii) RNA pull-down from whole cell extracts of infected roots at 4 days postinfection indicated NAT-AhDONE40 to interact with the SET (Su(var)3-9, enhancer of Zeste and Trithorax) domain containing absent small homeotic disc (ASH) family protein AhASHR3 and this interaction was further validated using RNA immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. (iv) Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicate deposition of ASHR3-specific histone marks H3K36me3 and H3K4me3 in both of the ENOD40 loci during the progress of symbiosis. ASHR3 is known for its role in optimizing cell proliferation and reprogramming. Because both ASHR3 and ENOD40 from legumes cluster away from those in actinorhizal plants and other nonlegumes in phylogenetic distance trees, we hypothesize that the interaction of DONE40 with ASHR3 could have evolved for adapting the nodule organogenesis program for legumes.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33932298, year = {2021}, author = {Yamasaki, Y and Sumioka, H and Takiguchi, M and Uemura, T and Kihara, Y and Shinya, T and Galis, I and Arimura, GI}, title = {Phytohormone-dependent plant defense signaling orchestrated by oral bacteria of the herbivore Spodoptera litura.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {5}, pages = {2029-2038}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17444}, pmid = {33932298}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Cyclopentanes ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Herbivory ; Larva ; Oxylipins ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; Spodoptera ; }, abstract = {A vast array of herbivorous arthropods live with symbiotic microorganisms. However, little is known about the nature and functional mechanism of bacterial effects on plant defense responses towards herbivores. We explored the role of microbes present in extracts of oral secretion (OS) isolated from larvae of Spodoptera litura, a generalist herbivore, in phytohormone signaling-dependent defense responses in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). In response to mechanical damage (MD) with application of bacteria-free OS (OS[-]) prepared by sterilization or filtration of OS, Arabidopsis leaves exhibited enhanced de novo synthesis of oxylipins, and induction of transcript abundance of the responsible genes, in comparison to those in leaves with MD + nonsterilized OS (OS[+]), indicating that OS bacteria serve as suppressors of these genes. By contrast, de novo synthesis/signaling of salicylic acid and signaling of abscisic acid were enhanced by OS bacteria. These signaling networks were cross-regulated by each other. Meta-analysis of OS bacteria identified 70 bacterial strains. Among them was Staphylococcus epidermidis, an anaerobic staphylococcus that was shown to contribute to the suppression/manipulation of phytohormone-dependent plant defense signaling. The presence of OS bacteria was consequently beneficial for S. litura larvae hosted by Brassicaceae.}, } @article {pmid33932029, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, D and Jacquemyn, H and Gomes, SIF and Vos, RA and Merckx, VSFT}, title = {Symbiont switching and trophic mode shifts in Orchidaceae.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {2}, pages = {791-800}, pmid = {33932029}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi are central to the biology of land plants. However, to what extent mycorrhizal shifts - broad evolutionary transitions in root-associated fungal symbionts - are related to changes in plant trophic modes remains poorly understood. We built a comprehensive DNA dataset of Orchidaceae fungal symbionts and a dated plant molecular phylogeny to test the hypothesis that shifts in orchid trophic modes follow a stepwise pattern, from autotrophy over partial mycoheterotrophy (mixotrophy) to full mycoheterotrophy, and that these shifts are accompanied by switches in fungal symbionts. We estimate that at least 17 independent shifts from autotrophy towards full mycoheterotrophy occurred in orchids, mostly through an intermediate state of partial mycoheterotrophy. A wide range of fungal partners was inferred to occur in the roots of the common ancestor of this family, including 'rhizoctonias', ectomycorrhizal, and wood- or litter-decaying saprotrophic fungi. Phylogenetic hypothesis tests further show that associations with ectomycorrhizal or saprotrophic fungi were most likely a prerequisite for evolutionary shifts towards full mycoheterotrophy. We show that shifts in trophic mode often coincided with switches in fungal symbionts, suggesting that the loss of photosynthesis selects for different fungal communities in orchids. We conclude that changes in symbiotic associations and ecophysiological traits are tightly correlated throughout the diversification of orchids.}, } @article {pmid33931141, year = {2021}, author = {Atriwal, T and Chawla, M and Hussain, A and Alajmi, MF and Abid, M}, title = {Reactive oxygen mediated apoptosis as a therapeutic approach against opportunistic Candida albicans.}, journal = {Advances in protein chemistry and structural biology}, volume = {125}, number = {}, pages = {25-49}, doi = {10.1016/bs.apcsb.2020.12.004}, pmid = {33931141}, issn = {1876-1631}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/*immunology ; Candida albicans/*immunology ; *Candidiasis/immunology/therapy ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; *Opportunistic Infections/immunology/therapy ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Candida albicans are polymorphic fungal species commonly occurs in a symbiotic association with the host's usual microflora. Certain specific changes in its usual microenvironment can lead to diseases ranging from external mucosal to severally lethal systemic infections like invasive candidiasis hospital-acquired fatal infection caused by different species of Candida. The patient acquired with this infection has a high mortality and morbidity rate, ranging from 40% to 60%. This is an ill-posed problem by its very nature. Hence, early diagnosis and management is a crucial part. Antifungal drug resistance against the first and second generation of antifungal drugs has made it difficult to treat such fatal diseases. After a few dormant years, recently, there has been a rapid turnover of identifying novel drugs with low toxicity to limit the problem of drug resistance. After an initial overview of related work, we examine specific prior work on how a change in oxidative stress can facilitate apoptosis in C. albicans. Subsequently, it was investigated that Candida spp. suppresses the production of ROS mediated host defense system. Here, we have reviewed possibly all the small molecule inhibitors, natural products, antimicrobial peptide, and some naturally derived semi-synthetic compounds which are known to influence oxidative stress, to generate a proper apoptotic response in C. albicans and thus might be a novel therapeutic approach to augment the current treatment options.}, } @article {pmid33930439, year = {2021}, author = {Flores, LS and Fernandes, HCM and Amaral, MA and Vainstein, MH}, title = {Symbiotic behaviour in the public goods game with altruistic punishment.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {524}, number = {}, pages = {110737}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110737}, pmid = {33930439}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Altruism ; Biological Evolution ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Game Theory ; *Punishment ; }, abstract = {Finding ways to overcome the temptation to exploit one another is still a challenge in behavioural sciences. In the framework of evolutionary game theory, punishing strategies are frequently used to promote cooperation in competitive environments. Here, we introduce altruistic punishers in the spatial public goods game. This strategy acts as a cooperator in the absence of defectors, otherwise it will punish all defectors in their vicinity while bearing a cost to do so. We observe three distinct behaviours in our model: i) in the absence of punishers, cooperators (who don't punish defectors) are driven to extinction by defectors for most parameter values; ii) clusters of punishers thrive by sharing the punishment costs when these are low; iii) for higher punishment costs, punishers, when alone, are subject to exploitation but in the presence of cooperators can form a symbiotic spatial structure that benefits both. This last observation is our main finding since neither cooperation nor punishment alone can survive the defector strategy in this parameter region and the specificity of the symbiotic spatial configuration shows that lattice topology plays a central role in sustaining cooperation. Results were obtained by means of Monte Carlo simulations on a square lattice and subsequently confirmed by a pairwise comparison of different strategies' payoffs in diverse group compositions, leading to a phase diagram of the possible states.}, } @article {pmid33930305, year = {2021}, author = {Liang, P and Schmitz, C and Lace, B and Ditengou, FA and Su, C and Schulze, E and Knerr, J and Grosse, R and Keller, J and Libourel, C and Delaux, PM and Ott, T}, title = {Formin-mediated bridging of cell wall, plasma membrane, and cytoskeleton in symbiotic infections of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {2712-2719.e5}, pmid = {33930305}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Actins ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Wall ; Formins ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Microtubules ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes have maintained the ability to associate with rhizobia to sustain the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS). In Medicago truncatula, the Nod factor (NF)-dependent intracellular root colonization by Sinorhizobium meliloti initiates from young, growing root hairs. They form rhizobial traps by physically curling around the symbiont.[1][,][2] Although alterations in root hair morphology like branching and swelling have been observed in other plants in response to drug treatments[3] or genetic perturbations,[4-6] full root hair curling represents a rather specific invention in legumes. The entrapment of the symbiont completes with its full enclosure in a structure called the "infection chamber" (IC),[1][,][2][,][7][,][8] from which a tube-like membrane channel, the "infection thread" (IT), initiates.[1][,][2][,][9] All steps of rhizobium-induced root hair alterations are aided by a tip-localized cytosolic calcium gradient,[10][,][11] global actin re-arrangements, and dense subapical fine actin bundles that are required for the delivery of Golgi-derived vesicles to the root hair tip.[7][,][12-14] Altered actin dynamics during early responses to NFs or rhizobia have mostly been shown in mutants that are affected in the actin-related SCAR/WAVE complex.[15-18] Here, we identified a polarly localized SYMBIOTIC FORMIN 1 (SYFO1) to be required for NF-dependent alterations in membrane organization and symbiotic root hair responses. We demonstrate that SYFO1 mediates a continuum between the plasma membrane and the cell wall that is required for the onset of rhizobial infections.}, } @article {pmid33930184, year = {2021}, author = {de Vries, J and Evers, JB and Kuyper, TW and van Ruijven, J and Mommer, L}, title = {Mycorrhizal associations change root functionality: a 3D modelling study on competitive interactions between plants for light and nutrients.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {231}, number = {3}, pages = {1171-1182}, pmid = {33930184}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Recent studies show that the variation in root functional traits can be explained by a two-dimensional trait framework, containing a 'collaboration' axis in addition to the classical fast-slow 'conservation' axis. This collaboration axis spans from thin and highly branched roots that employ a 'do-it-yourself' strategy to thick and sparsely branched roots that 'outsource' nutrient uptake to symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Here, we explore the functionality of this collaboration axis by quantifying how interactions with AMF change the impact of root traits on plant performance. To this end, we developed a novel functional-structural plant (FSP) modelling approach that simulates plants competing for light and nutrients in the presence or absence of AMF. Our simulation results support the notion that in the absence of AMF, plants rely on thin, highly branched roots for their nutrient uptake. The presence of AMF, however, promotes thick, unbranched roots as an alternative strategy for uptake of immobile phosphorus, but not for mobile nitrogen. This provides further support for a root trait framework that accommodates for the interactive effect of roots and AMF. Our modelling study offers unique opportunities to incorporate soil microbial interactions into root functionality as it integrates consequences of belowground trait expression.}, } @article {pmid33929720, year = {2021}, author = {Balbinot, RB and de Oliveira, JAM and Bernardi, DI and Polli, AD and Polonio, JC and Cabral, MRP and Zanqueta, ÉB and Endo, EH and Meneguello, JE and Cardoso, RF and Azevedo, JL and Dias Filho, BP and Nakamura, TU and do Carmo, MRB and Sarragiotto, MH and Pamphile, JA and Baldoqui, DC}, title = {Chromolaena laevigata (Asteraceae) as a source of endophytic non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus: chemical profile in different culture conditions and biological applications.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {52}, number = {3}, pages = {1201-1214}, pmid = {33929720}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Aflatoxins ; Aspergillus flavus/*chemistry/genetics ; Biological Products/*chemistry/pharmacology ; *Chromolaena/microbiology ; Endophytes ; }, abstract = {Endophytes are microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with their host. These microorganisms can produce a variety of secondary metabolites, some of which have inhibitory effects on pests and pathogens or even act to promote plant growth. Due to these characteristics, these microorganisms are used as sources of biologically active substances for a wide range of biotechnological applications. Based on that, the aim of this study was to evaluate the production of metabolites of the endophytic Aspergillus flavus CL7 isolated from Chromolaena laevigata, in four different cultivation conditions, and to determine the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiviral, and antioxidant potential of these extracts. The multiphasic approach used to identify this strain was based on morphology and ITS gene sequence analysis. The chemical investigation of A. flavus using potato dextrose and minimal medium, using both stationary and agitated methods, resulted in the isolation of kojic acid, α-cyclopiazonic acid, and 20,25-dihydroxyaflavinine. Another 18 compounds in these extracts were identified by UHPLC-HRMS/MS, of which dideacetyl parasiticolide A has been described for the first time from A. flavus. Aflatoxins, important chemomarkers of A. flavus, were not detected in any of the extracts, thus indicating that the CL7 strain is non-aflatoxigenic. The biological potential of all extracts was evaluated, and the best results were observed for the extract obtained using minimal medium against Trichophyton rubrum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.}, } @article {pmid33929663, year = {2021}, author = {Saroy, K and Garg, N}, title = {Relative effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhiza and polyamines in modulating ROS generation and ascorbate-glutathione cycle in Cajanus cajan under nickel stress.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {35}, pages = {48872-48889}, pmid = {33929663}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Cajanus ; Glutathione ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nickel ; Plant Roots ; Polyamines ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; }, abstract = {Nickel (Ni) is a fundamental micronutrient in plants but hampers plant growth and metabolism at elevated levels in the soil by inducing oxidative stress. In the recent years, use of polyamines (PAs) and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) have gained importance for their roles in enabling plants to withstand Ni toxicity. However, information about their comparative effectiveness in alleviating Ni stress is scanty. Therefore, the current study was designed to evaluate relative impacts of three PAs (Put, Spd, and Spm) and AM (Rhizoglomus intraradices) in reducing Ni uptake, ROS generation, and modulating antioxidant defense machinery in two pigeonpea genotypes (Pusa 2001-tolerant and AL 201-sensitive). Roots of Ni supplied plants accumulated significantly more Ni than the leaves, more in AL 201 than Pusa 2001, which was proportionate to reduced dry weights and enhanced oxidative burst. Although all the three PAs as well as AM inoculations upsurge plant growth by remarkably lowering Ni transport as well as the sequential oxidative burden, AM was most effective, followed by Put, Spd with least positive impact of Spm. The combined applications of AM and Put were able to strengthen antioxidant defense mechanisms, including those of ascorbate-glutathione cycle, most strongly when compared with + Spd + AM and + Spm + AM. Pusa 2001 was more responsive to PAs priming because of its proficiency to develop better effective mycorrhizal symbiosis with R. intraradices when compared with AL201. Hence, the results suggest use of combined applications of PAs (mainly Put) and R. intraradices as an effective strategy for mitigating Ni toxicity in pigeonpea genotypes.}, } @article {pmid33928951, year = {2021}, author = {Jorgenson, TD and Zareie, HM and Sarikaya, M and Overney, RM}, title = {Symbiotic assembly of peptide nano-mosaics at solid interfaces.}, journal = {Nanoscale}, volume = {13}, number = {16}, pages = {7735-7743}, doi = {10.1039/d0nr07208g}, pmid = {33928951}, issn = {2040-3372}, mesh = {*Graphite ; Nanotechnology ; *Peptides ; }, abstract = {The spontaneous co-organization of distinct biomolecules at interfaces enables many of Nature's hierarchical organizations involving both hard and soft materials. Engineering efforts to mimic such hybrid complexes rely on our ability to rationally structure biomolecules at inorganic interfaces. Control over the nanoscale structure of patterned biomolecules remains challenging due to difficulties in controlling the multifarious interactions involved. This work discusses binary peptide assembly as a means to fabricate biomolecular nano-mosaics at graphite surfaces with predictable structures. Distinct peptide-substrate interactions lead to divergent crystallographic growth directions, molecular scale immiscibility, and a symbiotic assembly phenomenon. We present a symbiotic assembly model that accurately predicts the binary assembly structure relying solely on the constituent peptide nucleation kinetics and molar fractions. The ability to tune such biomolecular nano-mosaic structures facilitates the bottom up fabrication of high-density, multifunctional interfaces for nanotechnology.}, } @article {pmid33928743, year = {2021}, author = {de Matos, GF and Rouws, LFM and Simões-Araújo, JL and Baldani, JI}, title = {Evolution and function of nitrogen fixation gene clusters in sugarcane associated Bradyrhizobium strains.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {6148-6162}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15533}, pmid = {33928743}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; *Saccharum ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium spp. are well known to mediate biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as microsymbionts inhabiting nodules on leguminous plants. However, they may also contribute to plant growth via free-living N2 fixation (FLNF) in association with non-legumes. Notably, several Bradyrhizobium strains from sugarcane roots display FLNF activity. Among them, Bradyrhizobium sacchari is a legume symbiotic species, whereas strains AG48 and M12 are non-symbiotic. In the present study, a phylogenomic approach was applied to study peculiarities of these and other Bradyrhizobium strains with respect to N fixation (nif) gene content in order to reveal genetic features that enable FNLF in Bradyrhizobium spp. All FLNF strains carry an ancestral 'non-symbiotic' nif-gene cluster (NSC). B. sacchari also contains a second 'symbiotic' nif-gene cluster (SC), a characteristic observed in only three of 156 evaluated genomes. B. sacchari stood out and presented a high level of sequence divergence between individual nif-gene homologues and we discuss scenarios for the evolutionary origin of these clusters. The transcript level of NSC nifH gene increased during FLNF, when compared to symbiotic conditions. The data suggest that sugarcane roots harbor diverse Bradyrhizobium spp. that are genetically adapted to a dynamic environment where leguminous and non-leguminous host plants are alternately available.}, } @article {pmid33927984, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, X and Guo, S and Chen, H and Zhang, Z and Li, X and Wang, W and Guo, L}, title = {Bioassay-guided isolation and characterization of antibacterial compound from Aspergillus fumigatus HX-1 associated with Clam.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {193}, pmid = {33927984}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {This study aimed to identify a symbiotic fungus strain HX-1 with anti-Vibrio harveyi activity and isolate and identify the active compound. The HX-1 strain was identified as Aspergillus fumigatus according to the morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis. The compound was isolated from the fermentation product of HX-1 strain through ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC techniques using an antibacterial-guided fractionation method. According to its physicochemical properties and spectral characteristics, the compound was identified as trypacidin having the same anti-V. harveyi activity as streptomycin sulfate, with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 31.25 µg/mL.}, } @article {pmid33927382, year = {2021}, author = {Jacobovitz, MR and Rupp, S and Voss, PA and Maegele, I and Gornik, SG and Guse, A}, title = {Dinoflagellate symbionts escape vomocytosis by host cell immune suppression.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {769-782}, pmid = {33927382}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {724715/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*immunology/*parasitology/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Alveolata comprises diverse taxa of single-celled eukaryotes, many of which are renowned for their ability to live inside animal cells. Notable examples are apicomplexan parasites and dinoflagellate symbionts, the latter of which power coral reef ecosystems. Although functionally distinct, they evolved from a common, free-living ancestor and must evade their host's immune response for persistence. Both the initial cellular events that gave rise to this intracellular lifestyle and the role of host immune modulation in coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis are poorly understood. Here, we use a comparative approach in the cnidarian endosymbiosis model Aiptasia, which re-establishes endosymbiosis with free-living dinoflagellates every generation. We find that uptake of microalgae is largely indiscriminate, but non-symbiotic microalgae are expelled by vomocytosis, while symbionts induce host cell innate immune suppression and form a lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1-positive niche. We demonstrate that exogenous immune stimulation results in symbiont expulsion and, conversely, inhibition of canonical Toll-like receptor signalling enhances infection of host animals. Our findings indicate that symbiosis establishment is dictated by local innate immune suppression, to circumvent expulsion and promote niche formation. This work provides insight into the evolution of the cellular immune response and key steps involved in mediating endosymbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid33926027, year = {2021}, author = {Huo, L and Zhu, J and Li, Z and Ma, M}, title = {A Hybrid Differential Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm for UAV Path Planning.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {33926027}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Computer Simulation ; }, abstract = {Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning is crucial in UAV mission fulfillment, with the aim of finding a satisfactory path within affordable time and moderate computation resources. The problem is challenging due to the complexity of the flight environment, especially in three-dimensional scenarios with obstacles. To solve the problem, a hybrid differential symbiotic organisms search (HDSOS) algorithm is proposed by combining the mutation strategy of differential evolution (DE) with the modified strategies of symbiotic organism search (SOS). The proposed algorithm preserves the local search capability of SOS, and at the same time has impressive global search ability. The concept of traction function is put forward and used to improve the efficiency. Moreover, a perturbation strategy is adopted to further enhance the robustness of the algorithm. Extensive simulation experiments and comparative study in two-dimensional and three-dimensional scenarios show the superiority of the proposed algorithm compared with particle swarm optimization (PSO), DE, and SOS algorithm.}, } @article {pmid33925267, year = {2021}, author = {Orellana, R and Arancibia, A and Badilla, L and Acosta, J and Arancibia, G and Escar, R and Ferrada, G and Seeger, M}, title = {Ecophysiological Features Shape the Distribution of Prophages and CRISPR in Sulfate Reducing Prokaryotes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33925267}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Sulfate reducing prokaryotes (SRP) are a phylogenetically and physiologically diverse group of microorganisms that use sulfate as an electron acceptor. SRP have long been recognized as key players of the carbon and sulfur cycles, and more recently, they have been identified to play a relevant role as part of syntrophic and symbiotic relations and the human microbiome. Despite their environmental relevance, there is a poor understanding about the prevalence of prophages and CRISPR arrays and how their distribution and dynamic affect the ecological role of SRP. We addressed this question by analyzing the results of a comprehensive survey of prophages and CRISPR in a total of 91 genomes of SRP with several genotypic, phenotypic, and physiological traits, including genome size, cell volume, minimum doubling time, cell wall, and habitat, among others. Our analysis discovered 81 prophages in 51 strains, representing the 56% of the total evaluated strains. Prophages are non-uniformly distributed across the SRP phylogeny, where prophage-rich lineages belonged to Desulfovibrionaceae and Peptococcaceae. Furthermore, our study found 160 CRISPR arrays in 71 SRP, which is more abundant and widely spread than previously expected. Although there is no correlation between presence and abundance of prophages and CRISPR arrays at the strain level, our analysis showed that there is a directly proportional relation between cellular volumes and number of prophages per cell. This result suggests that there is an additional selective pressure for strains with smaller cells to get rid of foreign DNA, such as prophages, but not CRISPR, due to less availability of cellular resources. Analysis of the prophage genes encoding viral structural proteins reported that 44% of SRP prophages are classified as Myoviridae, and comparative analysis showed high level of homology, but not synteny, among prophages belonging to the Family Desulfovibrionaceae. We further recovered viral-like particles and structures that resemble outer membrane vesicles from D. vulgaris str. Hildenborough. The results of this study improved the current understanding of dynamic interactions between prophages and CRISPR with their hosts in both cultured and hitherto-uncultured SRP strains, and how their distribution affects the microbial community dynamics in several sulfidogenic natural and engineered environments.}, } @article {pmid33924117, year = {2021}, author = {Demidko, DA and Demidko, NN and Mikhaylov, PV and Sultson, SM}, title = {Biological Strategies of Invasive Bark Beetles and Borers Species.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33924117}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The present study attempts to identify the biological characteristics of invasive (high-impact in the secondary area) bark beetles and borers species, contributing to their success in an invaded area. We selected 42 species based on the CABI website data on invasive species and information on the most studied regional faunas. Four groups of species with different invasion strategies were identified based on the cluster and factor analysis. The first one (inbred strategy) is characterized by flightless males, xylomycetophagy, low fecundity (~50 eggs), inbreeding, polyvoltinism, and polyphagy. Species with an aggressive strategy are poly- or monovoltine, feeds on a limited number of hosts, larval feeding on the inner bark, are often associated with phytopathogens, and produce aggregation pheromones. Representatives of the polyphagous strategy have a wide range of hosts, high fecundity (~150 eggs), larval feeding on wood, and their life cycle is at least a year long. For the intermediate strategy, the typical life cycle is from a year or less, medium fecundity, feed on inner bark tissues, mono- or oligophagy. Comparison with low-impact alien species showed that the most significant traits from the viewpoint of the potential danger of native plant species are high fecundity, polyvoltinism, presence of symbiotic plant pathogens, long-range or aggregation pheromones.}, } @article {pmid33924023, year = {2021}, author = {Bellés-Sancho, P and Lardi, M and Liu, Y and Hug, S and Pinto-Carbó, MA and Zamboni, N and Pessi, G}, title = {Paraburkholderia phymatum Homocitrate Synthase NifV Plays a Key Role for Nitrogenase Activity during Symbiosis with Papilionoids and in Free-Living Growth Conditions.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33924023}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Burkholderiaceae/*enzymology/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Likelihood Functions ; Metabolome ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Oxo-Acid-Lyases/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Homocitrate is an essential component of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase, the bacterial enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia. In nitrogen-fixing and nodulating alpha-rhizobia, homocitrate is usually provided to bacteroids in root nodules by their plant host. In contrast, non-nodulating free-living diazotrophs encode the homocitrate synthase (NifV) and reduce N2 in nitrogen-limiting free-living conditions. Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815 is a beta-rhizobial strain, which can enter symbiosis with a broad range of legumes, including papilionoids and mimosoids. In contrast to most alpha-rhizobia, which lack nifV, P. phymatum harbors a copy of nifV on its symbiotic plasmid. We show here that P. phymatum nifV is essential for nitrogenase activity both in root nodules of papilionoid plants and in free-living growth conditions. Notably, nifV was dispensable in nodules of Mimosa pudica despite the fact that the gene was highly expressed during symbiosis with all tested papilionoid and mimosoid plants. A metabolome analysis of papilionoid and mimosoid root nodules infected with the P. phymatum wild-type strain revealed that among the approximately 400 measured metabolites, homocitrate and other metabolites involved in lysine biosynthesis and degradation have accumulated in all plant nodules compared to uninfected roots, suggesting an important role of these metabolites during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33923980, year = {2021}, author = {Gasulla, F and Del Campo, EM and Casano, LM and Guéra, A}, title = {Advances in Understanding of Desiccation Tolerance of Lichens and Lichen-Forming Algae.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33923980}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations (holobionts) established between fungi (mycobionts) and certain groups of cyanobacteria or unicellular green algae (photobionts). This symbiotic association has been essential in the colonization of terrestrial dry habitats. Lichens possess key mechanisms involved in desiccation tolerance (DT) that are constitutively present such as high amounts of polyols, LEA proteins, HSPs, a powerful antioxidant system, thylakoidal oligogalactolipids, etc. This strategy allows them to be always ready to survive drastic changes in their water content. However, several studies indicate that at least some protective mechanisms require a minimal time to be induced, such as the induction of the antioxidant system, the activation of non-photochemical quenching including the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin, lipid membrane remodeling, changes in the proportions of polyols, ultrastructural changes, marked polysaccharide remodeling of the cell wall, etc. Although DT in lichens is achieved mainly through constitutive mechanisms, the induction of protection mechanisms might allow them to face desiccation stress in a better condition. The proportion and relevance of constitutive and inducible DT mechanisms seem to be related to the ecology at which lichens are adapted to.}, } @article {pmid33923826, year = {2021}, author = {Mutalipassi, M and Riccio, G and Mazzella, V and Galasso, C and Somma, E and Chiarore, A and de Pascale, D and Zupo, V}, title = {Symbioses of Cyanobacteria in Marine Environments: Ecological Insights and Biotechnological Perspectives.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33923826}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; *Bioprospecting ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; *Dietary Supplements ; *Drug Discovery ; *Ecosystem ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/*isolation & purification ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are a diversified phylum of nitrogen-fixing, photo-oxygenic bacteria able to colonize a wide array of environments. In addition to their fundamental role as diazotrophs, they produce a plethora of bioactive molecules, often as secondary metabolites, exhibiting various biological and ecological functions to be further investigated. Among all the identified species, cyanobacteria are capable to embrace symbiotic relationships in marine environments with organisms such as protozoans, macroalgae, seagrasses, and sponges, up to ascidians and other invertebrates. These symbioses have been demonstrated to dramatically change the cyanobacteria physiology, inducing the production of usually unexpressed bioactive molecules. Indeed, metabolic changes in cyanobacteria engaged in a symbiotic relationship are triggered by an exchange of infochemicals and activate silenced pathways. Drug discovery studies demonstrated that those molecules have interesting biotechnological perspectives. In this review, we explore the cyanobacterial symbioses in marine environments, considering them not only as diazotrophs but taking into consideration exchanges of infochemicals as well and emphasizing both the chemical ecology of relationship and the candidate biotechnological value for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.}, } @article {pmid33923032, year = {2021}, author = {Kitaeva, AB and Gorshkov, AP and Kirichek, EA and Kusakin, PG and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {General Patterns and Species-Specific Differences in the Organization of the Tubulin Cytoskeleton in Indeterminate Nodules of Three Legumes.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33923032}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Cytoskeleton/*physiology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism/microbiology ; Fabaceae/classification/*physiology ; Microtubules/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Tubulin/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The tubulin cytoskeleton plays an important role in establishing legume-rhizobial symbiosis at all stages of its development. Previously, tubulin cytoskeleton organization was studied in detail in the indeterminate nodules of two legume species, Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula. General as well as species-specific patterns were revealed. To further the understanding of the formation of general and species-specific microtubule patterns in indeterminate nodules, the tubulin cytoskeleton organization was studied in three legume species (Vicia sativa, Galega orientalis, and Cicer arietinum). It is shown that these species differ in the shape and size of rhizobial cells (bacteroids). Immunolocalization of microtubules revealed the universality of cortical and endoplasmic microtubule organization in the meristematic cells, infected cells of the infection zone, and uninfected cells in nodules of the three species. However, there are differences in the endoplasmic microtubule organization in nitrogen-fixing cells among the species, as confirmed by quantitative analysis. It appears that the differences are linked to bacteroid morphology (both shape and size).}, } @article {pmid33922997, year = {2021}, author = {Redman, RS and Kim, YO and Cho, S and Mercer, M and Rienstra, M and Manglona, R and Biaggi, T and Zhou, XG and Chilvers, M and Gray, Z and Rodriguez, RJ}, title = {A Symbiotic Approach to Generating Stress Tolerant Crops.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33922997}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Studies were undertaken to determine if fungal endophytes from plants in stressful habitats could be commercialized to generate climate resilient crop plants. Fungal endophytes were isolated from weedy rice plants and grasses from South Korea and the USA, respectively. Endophytes (Curvularia brachyspora and Fusarium asiaticum) from weedy rice plants from high salt or drought stressed habitats in South Korea conferred salt and drought stress tolerance to weedy rice and commercial varieties reflective of the habitats from which they were isolated. Fungal endophytes isolated from grasses in arid habitats of the USA were identified as Trichoderma harzianum and conferred drought and heat stress tolerance to monocots and eudicots. Two T. harzianum isolates were exposed to UV mutagenesis to derive strains resistant to fungicides in seed treatment plant protection packages. Three strains that collectively had resistance to commonly used fungicides were used for field testing. The three-strain mixture (ThSM3a) increased crop yields proportionally to the level of stress plants experienced with average yields up to 52% under high and 3-5% in low stress conditions. This study demonstrates fungal endophytes can be developed as viable commercial tools for rapidly generating climate resilient crops to enhance agricultural sustainability.}, } @article {pmid33921411, year = {2021}, author = {Hamida, RS and Ali, MA and Abdelmeguid, NE and Al-Zaban, MI and Baz, L and Bin-Meferij, MM}, title = {Lichens-A Potential Source for Nanoparticles Fabrication: A Review on Nanoparticles Biosynthesis and Their Prospective Applications.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33921411}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is a safe, eco-friendly, and relatively inexpensive alternative to conventional routes of NPs production. These methods require natural resources such as cyanobacteria, algae, plants, fungi, lichens, and naturally extracted biomolecules such as pigments, vitamins, polysaccharides, proteins, and enzymes to reduce bulk materials (the target metal salts) into a nanoscale product. Synthesis of nanomaterials (NMs) using lichen extracts is a promising eco-friendly, simple, low-cost biological synthesis process. Lichens are groups of organisms including multiple types of fungi and algae that live in symbiosis. Until now, the fabrication of NPs using lichens has remained largely unexplored, although the role of lichens as natural factories for synthesizing NPs has been reported. Lichens have a potential reducible activity to fabricate different types of NMs, including metal and metal oxide NPs and bimetallic alloys and nanocomposites. These NPs exhibit promising catalytic and antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. To the best of our knowledge, this review provides, for the first time, an overview of the main published studies concerning the use of lichen for nanofabrication and the applications of these NMs in different sectors. Moreover, the possible mechanisms of biosynthesis are discussed, together with the various optimization factors influencing the biological synthesis and toxicity of NPs.}, } @article {pmid33921294, year = {2021}, author = {Ingrosso, G and Saldi, S and Marani, S and Wong, AYW and Bertelli, M and Aristei, C and Zelante, T}, title = {Breakdown of Symbiosis in Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33921294}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Oral mucositis is an acute side effect of radiation therapy that is especially common with head and neck cancer treatment. In recent years, several studies have revealed the predisposing factors for mucositis, leading to the pre-treatment of patients to deter the development of opportunistic oral fungal infections. Although many clinical protocols already advise the use of probiotics to counteract inflammation and fungal colonization, preclinical studies are needed to better delineate the mechanisms by which a host may acquire benefits via co-evolution with oral microbiota, probiotics, and fungal commensals, such as Candida albicans, especially during acute inflammation. Here, we review the current understanding of radiation therapy-dependent oral mucositis in terms of pathology, prevention, treatment, and related opportunistic infections, with a final focus on the oral microbiome and how it may be important for future therapy.}, } @article {pmid33921242, year = {2021}, author = {Koltai, T and Reshkin, SJ and Carvalho, TMA and Cardone, RA}, title = {Targeting the Stromal Pro-Tumoral Hyaluronan-CD44 Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {33921242}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/*drug therapy/genetics/pathology ; Bromelains/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*drug therapy/genetics/pathology ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics ; Hyaluronan Synthases/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics ; Hyaluronic Acid/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics ; Hymecromone/therapeutic use ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics/pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pyridones/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies. Present-day treatments have not shown real improvements in reducing the high mortality rate and the short survival of the disease. The average survival is less than 5% after 5 years. New innovative treatments are necessary to curtail the situation. The very dense pancreatic cancer stroma is a barrier that impedes the access of chemotherapeutic drugs and at the same time establishes a pro-proliferative symbiosis with the tumor, thus targeting the stroma has been suggested by many authors. No ideal drug or drug combination for this targeting has been found as yet. With this goal in mind, here we have explored a different complementary treatment based on abundant previous publications on repurposed drugs. The cell surface protein CD44 is the main receptor for hyaluronan binding. Many malignant tumors show over-expression/over-activity of both. This is particularly significant in pancreatic cancer. The independent inhibition of hyaluronan-producing cells, hyaluronan synthesis, and/or CD44 expression, has been found to decrease the tumor cell's proliferation, motility, invasion, and metastatic abilities. Targeting the hyaluronan-CD44 pathway seems to have been bypassed by conventional mainstream oncological practice. There are existing drugs that decrease the activity/expression of hyaluronan and CD44: 4-methylumbelliferone and bromelain respectively. Some drugs inhibit hyaluronan-producing cells such as pirfenidone. The association of these three drugs has never been tested either in the laboratory or in the clinical setting. We present a hypothesis, sustained by hard experimental evidence, suggesting that the simultaneous use of these nontoxic drugs can achieve synergistic or added effects in reducing invasion and metastatic potential, in PDAC. A non-toxic, low-cost scheme for inhibiting this pathway may offer an additional weapon for treating pancreatic cancer.}, } @article {pmid33920692, year = {2021}, author = {Dosch, C and Manigk, A and Streicher, T and Tehel, A and Paxton, RJ and Tragust, S}, title = {The Gut Microbiota Can Provide Viral Tolerance in the Honey Bee.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33920692}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Adult honey bees host a remarkably consistent gut microbial community that is thought to benefit host health and provide protection against parasites and pathogens. Currently, however, we lack experimental evidence for the causal role of the gut microbiota in protecting the Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) against their viral pathogens. Here we set out to fill this knowledge gap by investigating how the gut microbiota modulates the virulence of a major honey bee viral pathogen, deformed wing virus (DWV). We found that, upon oral virus exposure, honey bee survival was significantly increased in bees with an experimentally established normal gut microbiota compared to control bees with a perturbed (dysbiotic) gut microbiota. Interestingly, viral titers were similar in bees with normal gut microbiota and dysbiotic bees, pointing to higher viral tolerance in bees with normal gut microbiota. Taken together, our results provide evidence for a positive role of the gut microbiota for honey bee fitness upon viral infection. We hypothesize that environmental stressors altering honey bee gut microbiota composition, e.g., antibiotics in beekeeping or pesticides in modern agriculture, could interact synergistically with pathogens, leading to negative effects on honey bee health and the epidemiology and impact of their viruses.}, } @article {pmid33920580, year = {2021}, author = {Kumar, KK and Dara, SK}, title = {Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes as Microbial Control Agents for Plant-Parasitic Nematodes.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {33920580}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Endophytes ; Fungi ; *Nematoda ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytes are symbiotic microorganisms that colonize plant tissues and benefit plants in multiple ways including induced systemic resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Endophytes can be sustainable alternatives to chemical nematicides and enhance plant health in a variety of cropping and natural environments. Several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the potential of multiple species of Fusarium and Bacillus against plant-parasitic nematodes in horticultural, agricultural, and fodder crops and in forestry. While there were efforts to commercialize some of the endophytes as bionematicides, a lack of good formulations with consistent field efficacy has been a major hurdle in commercializing endophytes for nematode control. Identification of efficacious and environmentally resilient strains, a thorough understanding of their modes of action, interactions with various biotic and abiotic factors, and developing strategies that improve their effectiveness are critical areas to advance the commercialization of bionematicides based on fungal and bacterial endophytes.}, } @article {pmid33918967, year = {2021}, author = {Islas-Flores, T and Galán-Vásquez, E and Villanueva, MA}, title = {Screening a Spliced Leader-Based Symbiodinium microadriaticum cDNA Library Using the Yeast-Two Hybrid System Reveals a Hemerythrin-Like Protein as a Putative SmicRACK1 Ligand.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33918967}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The dinoflagellate Symbiodiniaceae family plays a central role in the health of the coral reef ecosystem via the symbiosis that establishes with its inhabiting cnidarians and supports the host metabolism. In the last few decades, coral reefs have been threatened by pollution and rising temperatures which have led to coral loss. These events have raised interest in studying Symbiodiniaceae and their hosts; however, progress in understanding their metabolism, signal transduction pathways, and physiology in general, has been slow because dinoflagellates present peculiar characteristics. We took advantage of one of these peculiarities; namely, the post-transcriptional addition of a Dino Spliced Leader (Dino-SL) to the 5' end of the nuclear mRNAs, and used it to generate cDNA libraries from Symbiodinium microadriaticum. We compared sequences from two Yeast-Two Hybrid System cDNA Libraries, one based on the Dino-SL sequence, and the other based on the SMART technology (Switching Mechanism at 5' end of RNA Transcript) which exploits the template switching function of the reverse transcriptase. Upon comparison of the performance of both libraries, we obtained a significantly higher yield, number and length of sequences, number of transcripts, and better 5' representation from the Dino-SL based library than from the SMART library. In addition, we confirmed that the cDNAs from the Dino-SL library were adequately expressed in the yeast cells used for the Yeast-Two Hybrid System which resulted in successful screening for putative SmicRACK1 ligands, which yielded a putative hemerythrin-like protein.}, } @article {pmid33918806, year = {2021}, author = {Marcot, BG}, title = {EcoQBNs: First Application of Ecological Modeling with Quantum Bayesian Networks.}, journal = {Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33918806}, issn = {1099-4300}, abstract = {A recent advancement in modeling was the development of quantum Bayesian networks (QBNs). QBNs generally differ from BNs by substituting traditional Bayes calculus in probability tables with the quantum amplification wave functions. QBNs can solve a variety of problems which are unsolvable by, or are too complex for, traditional BNs. These include problems with feedback loops and temporal expansions; problems with non-commutative dependencies in which the order of the specification of priors affects the posterior outcomes; problems with intransitive dependencies constituting the circular dominance of the outcomes; problems in which the input variables can affect each other, even if they are not causally linked (entanglement); problems in which there may be >1 dominant probability outcome dependent on small variations in inputs (superpositioning); and problems in which the outcomes are nonintuitive and defy traditional probability calculus (Parrondo's paradox and the violation of the Sure Thing Principle). I present simple examples of these situations illustrating problems in prediction and diagnosis, and I demonstrate how BN solutions are infeasible, or at best require overly-complex latent variable structures. I then argue that many problems in ecology and evolution can be better depicted with ecological QBN (EcoQBN) modeling. The situations that fit these kinds of problems include noncommutative and intransitive ecosystems responding to suites of disturbance regimes with no specific or single climax condition, or that respond differently depending on the specific sequence of the disturbances (priors). Case examples are presented on the evaluation of habitat conditions for a bat species, representing state-transition models of a boreal forest under disturbance, and the entrainment of auditory signals among organisms. I argue that many current ecological analysis structures-such as state-and-transition models, predator-prey dynamics, the evolution of symbiotic relationships, ecological disturbance models, and much more-could greatly benefit from a QBN approach. I conclude by presenting EcoQBNs as a nascent field needing the further development of the quantum mathematical structures and, eventually, adjuncts to existing BN modeling shells or entirely new software programs to facilitate model development and application.}, } @article {pmid33918462, year = {2021}, author = {Lucidi, L and Pettorruso, M and Vellante, F and Di Carlo, F and Ceci, F and Santovito, MC and Di Muzio, I and Fornaro, M and Ventriglio, A and Tomasetti, C and Valchera, A and Gentile, A and Kim, YK and Martinotti, G and Fraticelli, S and Di Giannantonio, M and De Berardis, D}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Bipolar Disorder: An Overview on a Novel Biomarker for Diagnosis and Treatment.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {33918462}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Biomarkers ; Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis/*microbiology/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is the set of microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract of living creatures, establishing a bidirectional symbiotic relationship that is essential for maintaining homeostasis, for their growth and digestive processes. Growing evidence supports its involvement in the intercommunication system between the gut and the brain, so that it is called the gut-brain-microbiota axis. It is involved in the regulation of the functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS), behavior, mood and anxiety and, therefore, its implication in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this paper, we focused on the possible correlations between the gut microbiota and Bipolar Disorder (BD), in order to determine its role in the pathogenesis and in the clinical management of BD. Current literature supports a possible relationship between the compositional alterations of the intestinal microbiota and BD. Moreover, due to its impact on psychopharmacological treatment absorption, by acting on the composition of the microbiota beneficial effects can be obtained on BD symptoms. Finally, we discussed the potential of correcting gut microbiota alteration as a novel augmentation strategy in BD. Future studies are necessary to better clarify the relevance of gut microbiota alterations as state and disease biomarkers of BD.}, } @article {pmid33917768, year = {2021}, author = {Kononova, S and Litvinova, E and Vakhitov, T and Skalinskaya, M and Sitkin, S}, title = {Acceptive Immunity: The Role of Fucosylated Glycans in Human Host-Microbiome Interactions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {33917768}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Antigens, Bacterial/immunology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/immunology ; Cell Wall/immunology/metabolism ; Fucose ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Glycosylation ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology/metabolism ; *Immunity ; Immunoglobulins ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism ; *Microbiota/immunology ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The growth in the number of chronic non-communicable diseases in the second half of the past century and in the first two decades of the new century is largely due to the disruption of the relationship between the human body and its symbiotic microbiota, and not pathogens. The interaction of the human immune system with symbionts is not accompanied by inflammation, but is a physiological norm. This is achieved via microbiota control by the immune system through a complex balance of pro-inflammatory and suppressive responses, and only a disturbance of this balance can trigger pathophysiological mechanisms. This review discusses the establishment of homeostatic relationships during immune system development and intestinal bacterial colonization through the interaction of milk glycans, mucins, and secretory immunoglobulins. In particular, the role of fucose and fucosylated glycans in the mechanism of interactions between host epithelial and immune cells is discussed.}, } @article {pmid33916360, year = {2021}, author = {Gilden, R}, title = {Steve Oroszlan: A Personal Perspective.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33916360}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {HIV/*immunology ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Male ; *Narration ; Research/education/history ; *Retroviridae ; }, abstract = {My memories of Steve go back over 50 years. While precise dates are no longer in my memory bank, circumstances and emotions remain alive and easy to recall. These memories tell the story of a remarkable human being, a true practitioner of his craft always, faithful to the basic principles of scientific pursuit, with integrity, honesty, and enthusiasm well beyond the norm. We had a professional symbiotic relationship that lasted over 20 years, resulting in over 50 publications in scientific journals and meeting abstracts. During that time, our fortunes rose in tandem, and when it was time to go our separate ways, he was more than ready to flourish on his own. Our personal friendship remained constant, and we enjoyed sharing meals and stories with family and friends over the years. In retrospect, I take pride in having played a role in a portion of his remarkable scientific journey. A few key anecdotes will illustrate some aspects of this summary. By way of a disclaimer, this is not a comprehensive review of the vast field of viral oncology and the selection of references is intentionally narrow. No slight is intended to the many outstanding investigators that were our contemporaries and at times collaborators during the period from the early 70s to the mid-80s.}, } @article {pmid33915930, year = {2021}, author = {Szerencsés, B and Gácser, A and Endre, G and Domonkos, I and Tiricz, H and Vágvölgyi, C and Szolomajer, J and Howan, DHO and Tóth, GK and Pfeiffer, I and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Symbiotic NCR Peptide Fragments Affect the Viability, Morphology and Biofilm Formation of Candida Species.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {33915930}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*chemical synthesis/pharmacology ; Biofilms/drug effects ; Candida/*drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Fluconazole ; HaCaT Cells ; Humans ; Hyphae/drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins/*chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The increasing rate of fungal infections causes global problems not only in human healthcare but agriculture as well. To combat fungal pathogens limited numbers of antifungal agents are available therefore alternative drugs are needed. Antimicrobial peptides are potent candidates because of their broad activity spectrum and their diverse mode of actions. The model legume Medicago truncatula produces >700 nodule specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides in symbiosis and many of them have in vitro antimicrobial activities without considerable toxicity on human cells. In this work we demonstrate the anticandidal activity of the NCR335 and NCR169 peptide derivatives against five Candida species by using the micro-dilution method, measuring inhibition of biofilm formation with the XTT (2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide) assay, and assessing the morphological change of dimorphic Candida species by microscopy. We show that both the N- and C-terminal regions of NCR335 possess anticandidal activity as well as the C-terminal sequence of NCR169. The active peptides inhibit biofilm formation and the yeast-hypha transformation. Combined treatment of C. auris with peptides and fluconazole revealed synergistic interactions and reduced 2-8-fold the minimal inhibitory concentrations. Our results demonstrate that shortening NCR peptides can even enhance and broaden their anticandidal activity and therapeutic potential.}, } @article {pmid33915765, year = {2021}, author = {Quinn, CH and Beierle, AM and Beierle, EA}, title = {Artificial Tumor Microenvironments in Neuroblastoma.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {33915765}, issn = {2072-6694}, support = {5T32GM008361/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In the quest to advance neuroblastoma therapeutics, there is a need to have a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME). From extracellular matrix proteins to tumor associated macrophages, the TME is a robust and diverse network functioning in symbiosis with the solid tumor. Herein, we review the major components of the TME including the extracellular matrix, cytokines, immune cells, and vasculature that support a more aggressive neuroblastoma phenotype and encumber current therapeutic interventions. Contemporary treatments for neuroblastoma are the result of traditional two-dimensional culture studies and in vivo models that have been translated to clinical trials. These pre-clinical studies are costly, time consuming, and neglect the study of cofounding factors such as the contributions of the TME. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has become a novel approach to studying adult cancers and is just now incorporating portions of the TME and advancing to study pediatric solid. We review the methods of 3D bioprinting, how researchers have included TME pieces into the prints, and highlight present studies using neuroblastoma. Ultimately, incorporating the elements of the TME that affect neuroblastoma responses to therapy will improve the development of innovative and novel treatments. The use of 3D bioprinting to achieve this aim will prove useful in developing optimal therapies for children with neuroblastoma.}, } @article {pmid33915221, year = {2021}, author = {Pandkar, MR and Dhamdhere, SG and Shukla, S}, title = {Oxygen gradient and tumor heterogeneity: The chronicle of a toxic relationship.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer}, volume = {1876}, number = {1}, pages = {188553}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188553}, pmid = {33915221}, issn = {1879-2561}, mesh = {Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Communication ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; *Genetic Heterogeneity ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1/genetics/metabolism ; Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Hypoxia ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; Warburg Effect, Oncologic ; }, abstract = {The commencement of cancer is attributed to one or a few cells that become rogue and attain the property of immortality. The inception of distinct cancer cell clones during the hyperplastic and dysplastic stages of cancer progression is the utimate consequence of the dysregulated cellular pathways and the proliferative potential itself. Furthermore, a critical factor that adds a layer of complexity to this pre-existent intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is the foundation of an oxygen gradient, that is established due to the improper architecture of the tumor vasculature. Therefore, as a resultant effect, the poorly oxygenated regions thus formed and characterized as hypoxic, promote the emergence of aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer cell clones. The extraordinary property of the hypoxic cancer cells to exist harmoniously with cancerous and non-cancerous cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) further increases the intricacies of ITH. Here in this review, the pivotal influence of differential oxygen concentrations in shaping the ITH is thoroughly discussed. We also emphasize on the vitality of the interacting networks that govern the overall fate of oxygen gradient-dependent origin of tumor heterogeneity. Additionally, the implications of less-appreciated reverse Warburg effect, a symbiotic metabolic coupling, and the associated epigenetic regulation of rewiring of cancer metabolism in response to oxygen gradients, have been highlighted as critical influencers of ITH.}, } @article {pmid33914416, year = {2021}, author = {Wan, M and Liu, Z and Li, T and Chen, H and Wang, Q and Chen, T and Tao, Y and Mao, C}, title = {Zwitterion-Based Hydrogen Sulfide Nanomotors Induce Multiple Acidosis in Tumor Cells by Destroying Tumor Metabolic Symbiosis.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {60}, number = {29}, pages = {16139-16148}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202104304}, pmid = {33914416}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metabolism/*drug effects ; *Nanostructures ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Destruction of tumor metabolism symbiosis is an attractive cancer treatment method which targets tumor cells with little harm to normal cells. Yet, a single intervention strategy and poor penetration of the drug in tumor tissue result in limited effect. Herein, we propose a zero-waste zwitterion-based hydrogen sulfide (H2 S)-driven nanomotor based on the basic principle of reaction in human body. When loaded with monocarboxylic acid transporter inhibitor α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (α-CHCA), the nanomotor can move in tumor microenvironment and induce multiple acidosis of tumor cells and inhibit tumor growth through the synergistic effect of motion effect, driving force H2 S and α-CHCA. Given the good biosafety of the substrate and driving gas of this kind of nanomotor, as well as the limited variety of nanomotors currently available to move in the tumor microenvironment, this kind of nanomotor may provide a competitive candidate for the active drug delivery system of cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid33913577, year = {2021}, author = {Cardini, A and Pellegrino, E and Declerck, S and Calonne-Salmon, M and Mazzolai, B and Ercoli, L}, title = {Direct transfer of zinc between plants is channelled by common mycorrhizal network of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and evidenced by changes in expression of zinc transporter genes in fungus and plant.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {5883-5900}, pmid = {33913577}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The role that common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) play in plant-to-plant transfer of zinc (Zn) has not yet been investigated, despite the proved functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in crop Zn acquisition. Here, two autotrophic Medicago truncatula plants were linked by a CMN formed by Rhizophagus irregularis. Plants were grown in vitro in physically separated compartments (Donor-C and Receiver-C) and their connection ensured only by CMN. A symbiosis-defective mutant of M. truncatula was used as control in Receiver-C. Plants in both compartments were grown on Zn-free medium, and only the leaves of the donor plants were Zn fertilized. A direct transfer of Zn was demonstrated from donor leaves to receiver shoots mediated by CMN. Direct transfer of Zn was supported by changes in the expression of fungal genes, RiZRT1 and RiZnT1, and plant gene MtZIP2 in roots and MtNAS1 in roots and shoots of the receiver plants. Moreover, Zn transfer was supported by the change in expression of MtZIP14 gene in AM fungal colonized roots. This work is the first evidence of a direct Zn transfer from a donor to a receiver plant via CMN, and of a triggering of transcriptional regulation of fungal-plant genes involved in Zn transport-related processes.}, } @article {pmid33913354, year = {2021}, author = {Player, SD}, title = {Taking Care of Business: Privileging Private Sector Hospitals During the COVID Crisis.}, journal = {International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {305-310}, doi = {10.1177/00207314211012147}, pmid = {33913354}, issn = {1541-4469}, mesh = {COVID-19/*epidemiology ; Global Health ; Hospitals, Private/economics/*organization & administration ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; State Medicine/economics/*organization & administration ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {In the early days of the COVID crisis, many commentators argued that it presented opportunities for progressive change, notably toward redress of structural inequalities in health. As with the financial slump of 2008, however, such notions have proved almost ridiculously optimistic as it has been capital, through its near symbiosis with the state, that has been best able to respond, with the English government-the devolved nations adopted a markedly different approach-taking every opportunity to ensure the pandemic has proved a bonanza for private-sector healthcare interests. However, this has not just been about individual contracts in, for example, test and trace, vaccination, or personal protective equipment; the crisis has been used to both rescue the private acute market following 2 years of contracted revenues and to provide enormous stimulus for its future growth. This has required the support of several organizations acting in concert, including the NHS Confederation and the Royal Colleges. While the pandemic has served to illuminate such relationships, the author also argues that the oft-recurring governmental praise of the NHS needs to be matched by genuine investment in public hospitals.}, } @article {pmid33912211, year = {2021}, author = {Kang, Y and Kim, M and Shim, C and Bae, S and Jang, S}, title = {Potential of Algae-Bacteria Synergistic Effects on Vegetable Production.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {656662}, pmid = {33912211}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Modern agriculture has become heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers, which have caused environmental pollution and the loss of soil fertility and sustainability. Microalgae and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been identified as alternatives to chemical fertilizers for improving soil fertility. This is because of their biofertilizing properties, through the production of bioactive compounds (e.g., phytohormones, amino acids, and carotenoids) and their ability to inhibit plant pathogens. Although treatment based on a single species of microalgae or bacteria is commonly used in agriculture, there is growing experimental evidence suggesting that a symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria synergistically affects each other's physiological and metabolomic processes. Moreover, the co-culture/combination treatment of microalgae and bacteria is considered a promising approach in biotechnology for wastewater treatment and efficient biomass production, based on the advantage of the resulting synergistic effects. However, much remains unexplored regarding the microalgal-bacterial interactions for agricultural applications. In this review, we summarize the effects of microalgae and PGPB as biofertilizing agents on vegetable cultivation. Furthermore, we present the potential of the microalgae-PGPB co-culture/combination system for the environmentally compatible production of vegetables with improved quality.}, } @article {pmid33912198, year = {2020}, author = {Harman, G and Khadka, R and Doni, F and Uphoff, N}, title = {Benefits to Plant Health and Productivity From Enhancing Plant Microbial Symbionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {610065}, pmid = {33912198}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants exist in close association with uncountable numbers of microorganisms around, on, and within them. Some of these endophytically colonize plant roots. The colonization of roots by certain symbiotic strains of plant-associated bacteria and fungi results in these plants performing better than plants whose roots are colonized by only the wild populations of microbes. We consider here crop plants whose roots are inhabited by introduced organisms, referring to them as Enhanced Plant Holobionts (EPHs). EPHs frequently exhibit resistance to specific plant diseases and pests (biotic stresses); resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought, cold, salinity, and flooding; enhanced nutrient acquisition and nutrient use efficiency; increased photosynthetic capability; and enhanced ability to maintain efficient internal cellular functioning. The microbes described here generate effects in part through their production of Symbiont-Associated Molecular Patterns (SAMPs) that interact with receptors in plant cell membranes. Such interaction results in the transduction of systemic signals that cause plant-wide changes in the plants' gene expression and physiology. EPH effects arise not only from plant-microbe interactions, but also from microbe-microbe interactions like competition, mycoparasitism, and antibiotic production. When root and shoot growth are enhanced as a consequence of these root endophytes, this increases the yield from EPH plants. An additional benefit from growing larger root systems and having greater photosynthetic capability is greater sequestration of atmospheric CO2. This is transferred to roots where sequestered C, through exudation or root decomposition, becomes part of the total soil carbon, which reduces global warming potential in the atmosphere. Forming EPHs requires selection and introduction of appropriate strains of microorganisms, with EPH performance affected also by the delivery and management practices.}, } @article {pmid33912147, year = {2021}, author = {Szlufman, C and Shemesh, M}, title = {Role of Probiotic Bacilli in Developing Synbiotic Food: Challenges and Opportunities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {638830}, pmid = {33912147}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The human body is inhabited by a vast diversity of probiotic microorganisms that could positively affect human physiology. Besides, prebiotic food substances may induce symbiotic relationship among probiotic species through the successful establishment of commensal microbiota, whose connections with the host are multifaceted and multidirectional. As deliberated throughout this review, prebiotic and synbiotic foods contain the capability to stimulate numerous health characteristics in host organisms through various means. Predominantly, the normal microbiota fosters the digestion of food and may boost the innate and adaptive immune system's functionalities. Therefore, live probiotic bacteria, for instance, probiotic Bacilli obtained together with prebiotic food, can help stimulate healthiness in humans. Thus, we discuss how certain dietary fibers may preserve the probiotic efficacy by serving as the scaffold for probiotic Bacilli to colonize them through forming symbiotic interactions. The fibers can essentially promote protection by encapsulating probiotic Bacilli against various environmental and physical stresses that might kill the free-living bacterial cells. Besides, these fibers would serve as prebiotic substances that would eventually be utilized for the proliferation of probiotic cells. It is believed that applying this conceptual idea will provide a novel platform toward developing probiotic and synbiotic foods, as discussed in this review.}, } @article {pmid33911164, year = {2021}, author = {Gonçalves, CS and Catta-Preta, CMC and Repolês, B and Mottram, JC and De Souza, W and Machado, CR and Motta, MCM}, title = {Importance of Angomonas deanei KAP4 for kDNA arrangement, cell division and maintenance of the host-bacterium relationship.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {9210}, pmid = {33911164}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {200807/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cell Division ; Cell Nucleus ; *DNA Replication ; DNA, Kinetoplast/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Protozoan/*genetics/metabolism ; Mitochondria/*genetics/metabolism ; Protozoan Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Angomonas deanei coevolves in a mutualistic relationship with a symbiotic bacterium that divides in synchronicity with other host cell structures. Trypanosomatid mitochondrial DNA is contained in the kinetoplast and is composed of thousands of interlocked DNA circles (kDNA). The arrangement of kDNA is related to the presence of histone-like proteins, known as KAPs (kinetoplast-associated proteins), that neutralize the negatively charged kDNA, thereby affecting the activity of mitochondrial enzymes involved in replication, transcription and repair. In this study, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to delete both alleles of the A. deanei KAP4 gene. Gene-deficient mutants exhibited high compaction of the kDNA network and displayed atypical phenotypes, such as the appearance of a filamentous symbionts, cells containing two nuclei and one kinetoplast, and division blocks. Treatment with cisplatin and UV showed that Δkap4 null mutants were not more sensitive to DNA damage and repair than wild-type cells. Notably, lesions caused by these genotoxic agents in the mitochondrial DNA could be repaired, suggesting that the kDNA in the kinetoplast of trypanosomatids has unique repair mechanisms. Taken together, our data indicate that although KAP4 is not an essential protein, it plays important roles in kDNA arrangement and replication, as well as in the maintenance of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33911080, year = {2021}, author = {Moreira, D and Zivanovic, Y and López-Archilla, AI and Iniesto, M and López-García, P}, title = {Reductive evolution and unique predatory mode in the CPR bacterium Vampirococcus lugosii.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {2454}, pmid = {33911080}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) constitutes a large group of mostly uncultured bacterial lineages with small cell sizes and limited biosynthetic capabilities. They are thought to be symbionts of other organisms, but the nature of this symbiosis has been ascertained only for cultured Saccharibacteria, which are epibiotic parasites of other bacteria. Here, we study the biology and the genome of Vampirococcus lugosii, which becomes the first described species of Vampirococcus, a genus of epibiotic bacteria morphologically identified decades ago. Vampirococcus belongs to the CPR phylum Absconditabacteria. It feeds on anoxygenic photosynthetic gammaproteobacteria, fully absorbing their cytoplasmic content. The cells divide epibiotically, forming multicellular stalks whose apical cells can reach new hosts. The genome is small (1.3 Mbp) and highly reduced in biosynthetic metabolism genes, but is enriched in genes possibly related to a fibrous cell surface likely involved in interactions with the host. Gene loss has been continuous during the evolution of Absconditabacteria, and generally most CPR bacteria, but this has been compensated by gene acquisition by horizontal gene transfer and de novo evolution. Our findings support parasitism as a widespread lifestyle of CPR bacteria, which probably contribute to the control of bacterial populations in diverse ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33908803, year = {2021}, author = {Kang, S and Lumactud, R and Li, N and Bell, TH and Kim, HS and Park, SY and Lee, YH}, title = {Harnessing Chemical Ecology for Environment-Friendly Crop Protection.}, journal = {Phytopathology}, volume = {111}, number = {10}, pages = {1697-1710}, doi = {10.1094/PHYTO-01-21-0035-RVW}, pmid = {33908803}, issn = {0031-949X}, mesh = {*Crop Protection ; Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {Heavy reliance on synthetic pesticides for crop protection has become increasingly unsustainable, calling for robust alternative strategies that do not degrade the environment and vital ecosystem services. There are numerous reports of successful disease control by various microbes used in small-scale trials. However, inconsistent efficacy has hampered their large-scale application. A better understanding of how beneficial microbes interact with plants, other microbes, and the environment and which factors affect disease control efficacy is crucial to deploy microbial agents as effective and reliable pesticide alternatives. Diverse metabolites produced by plants and microbes participate in pathogenesis and defense, regulate the growth and development of themselves and neighboring organisms, help maintain cellular homeostasis under various environmental conditions, and affect the assembly and activity of plant and soil microbiomes. However, research on the metabolites associated with plant health-related processes, except antibiotics, has not received adequate attention. This review highlights several classes of metabolites known or suspected to affect plant health, focusing on those associated with biocontrol and belowground plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. The review also describes how new insights from systematic explorations of the diversity and mechanism of action of bioactive metabolites can be harnessed to develop novel crop protection strategies.}, } @article {pmid33906995, year = {2021}, author = {Mutatkar, RK}, title = {Tribal health & culture: Symbiotic model of One Health.}, journal = {The Indian journal of medical research}, volume = {153}, number = {3}, pages = {327-332}, doi = {10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_593_21}, pmid = {33906995}, issn = {0975-9174}, mesh = {Culture ; Demography ; Humans ; *One Health ; Socioeconomic Factors ; }, } @article {pmid33906778, year = {2022}, author = {Tarifa, MC and Piqueras, CM and Genovese, DB and Rubel, IA and Sica, MG and Brugnoni, LI}, title = {Symbiotic pectin microparticles with native Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) enhance Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans survival.}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {48-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2021.03.001}, pmid = {33906778}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {*Helianthus ; Inulin/chemistry ; Lactobacillus ; Pectins/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The synergistic effect of microencapsulation in pectin microgels and inulin extracted from native crops of Jerusalem artichoke (JAI) was evaluated as a natural strategy to increase the survival of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans F2 selected for its probiotic properties in Oncorhynchus mykiss. The strain was able to grow and ferment JAI in modified MRS broth, increasing cell population (∼+5 log units) with a net decrease in pH (6.2±0.2 to 4.0±0.5). Encapsulation of F2 in pectin microgels in the presence of JAI improved the survival of the strain not only during storage but also after exposure to simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Viable entrapped cells in the presence of the prebiotic were significantly higher (8.2-8.4log CFU/g) than without it (∼7.00log CFU/g) after 56 days at 4°C. These results encourage further implementation of these techniques for the formulation of functional feeds using natural alternative sources of inulin with greater viability on storage conditions and digestibility.}, } @article {pmid33906025, year = {2021}, author = {Martínez-Arias, C and Sobrino-Plata, J and Medel, D and Gil, L and Martín, JA and Rodríguez-Calcerrada, J}, title = {Stem endophytes increase root development, photosynthesis, and survival of elm plantlets (Ulmus minor Mill.).}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {153420}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153420}, pmid = {33906025}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Genotype ; Longevity/physiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Diseases/genetics ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/microbiology ; Seedlings/*physiology ; Ulmus/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Long-lived trees benefit from fungal symbiotic interactions in the adaptation to constantly changing environments. Previous studies revealed a core fungal endobiome in Ulmus minor which has been suggested to play a critical role in plant functioning. Here, we hypothesized that these core endophytes are involved in abiotic stress tolerance. To test this hypothesis, two core endophytes (Cystobasidiales and Chaetothyriales) were inoculated into in vitro U. minor plantlets, which were further subjected to drought. Given that elm genotypes resistant to Dutch elm disease (DED) tend to show higher abiotic stress tolerance than susceptible ones, we tested the endophyte effect on two DED-resistant and two DED-susceptible genotypes. Drought stress was moderate; endophyte presence attenuated stomata closure in response to drought in one genotype but this stress did not affect plant survival. In comparison, long-term in-vitro culture proved stressful to mock-inoculated plants, especially in DED-susceptible genotypes. Interestingly, no endophyte-inoculated plant died during the experiment, as compared to high mortality in mock-inoculated plants. In surviving plants, endophyte presence stimulated root and shoot growth, photosynthetic rates, antioxidant activity and molecular changes involving auxin-signaling. These changes and the observed endophyte stability in elm tissues throughout the experiment suggest endophytes are potential tools to improve survival and stress tolerance of DED-resistant elms in elm restoration programs.}, } @article {pmid33903348, year = {2021}, author = {Ott, JA and Pröts, P}, title = {emEubostrichopsis/em emjohnpearsei/em n. gen., n. sp., the first stilbonematid nematode (Nematoda, Desmodoridae) from the US West Coast.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4949}, number = {2}, pages = {zootaxa.4949.2.8}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4949.2.8}, pmid = {33903348}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromadorea/*classification/physiology ; Nematoda ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new genus of the marine Stilbonematinae (Nematoda, Desmodoridae) is described from the Pacific coast of the United States of America. The worms inhabit the sulfidic sediment among the roots of the surfgrass Phyllospadix sp. in the rocky intertidal. The ectosymbiotic coat is of a new type for Stilbonematinae. It consists of rod-shaped bacteria pointed at both poles densely attached with one pole to the host cuticle. This is the first report of this symbiotic nematode subfamily from the US West Coast.}, } @article {pmid33902857, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, H and Qi, Y and He, X and Xu, L and Zhang, W and Lv, X and Zhang, H and Yang, D and Zhu, Y and Liang, Z}, title = {Endophytic fungus Mucor circinelloides DF20 promote tanshinone biosynthesis and accumulation in Salvia miltiorrhiza root.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {307}, number = {}, pages = {110898}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.110898}, pmid = {33902857}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Abietanes/*biosynthesis ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Mucor/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development/metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza/*growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {As a traditional Chinese medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza rhizome is mainly used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Symbiosis of endophytic fungi with their host plants, is an effectively regulatory means to promote the growth and secondary metabolism of medicinal plants. Here, an endophytic fungus Mucor circinelloides DF20 was co-cultivated with the sterile seedlings of S. miltiorrhiza, to clarify the promoting mechanism on tanshinone biosynthesis and accumulation in S. miltiorrhiza root. The assay of promoting-growth activities in vitro showed that DF20 have the ability to produce IAA and siderophores. DF20 could significantly promote the biosynthesis and accumulation of tanshinones in the root of S. miltiorrhiza, especially the content of tanshinone ⅡA, reaching 4.630 ± 0.342 mg/g after 56 days of DF20 treatment, which is 22-fold of the control group. The result also showed that the hyphae of M. circunelloides DF20 mainly colonized in the root tissue interspace of S. miltiorrhiza, and a small amount of hyphae were located inside the cells. The results of florescent real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that DF20 colonization significantly increase the expression level of some key enzyme genes (DXS, DXR, HMGR, GGPPS) in tanshinone biosynthesis pathway, but the regulatory effect mainly occurred in the early stage of co-culture, while the expression level decreased in different degrees in the later stage. In conclusion, the endophytic fungus M. circunelloides DF20 can form an interaction relationship with its host, then to promote the biosynthesis and accumulation of tanshinones in root by upregulating the key enzyme genes expression levels of the biosynthesis pathway.}, } @article {pmid33901193, year = {2021}, author = {Olchowik, J and Suchocka, M and Jankowski, P and Malewski, T and Hilszczańska, D}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal community of urban linden trees in Gdańsk, Poland.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {e0237551}, pmid = {33901193}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Mycobiome/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*physiology ; Poland ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tilia/*microbiology ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The linden tree (Tilia spp.) is a popular tree for landscaping and urban environments in central and northwest European countries, and it is one of the most popular in cities in Poland. Ectomycorrhizal fungi form a symbiosis with many urban tree species and protect the host plant from heavy metals and against salinity. The aim of this study was to characterise the ECM fungal community of urban linden trees along the tree damage gradient. The study was performed on two sites located in the centre of the city of Gdańsk, in northern Poland. The vitality assessment of urban linden trees was made according to Roloff's classification. Tree damage classes were related to soil characteristics using principal component analysis. The five ectomycorrhizal fungal species were shared among all four tree damage classes, and Cenococcum geophilum was found to be the most abundant and frequent ectomycorrhizal fungal species in each class. Soil samples collected in the vicinity of trees belonging to the R0 class had significantly lower pH Na, Cl and Pb content than other soils. Our knowledge of ectomycorrhizal communities in urban areas is still limited, and these findings provide new insights into ectomycorrhizal distribution patterns in urban areas.}, } @article {pmid33899722, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, LT}, title = {More dynamical and more symbiotic: Cortico-striatal models of resolve, suppression, and routine habit.}, journal = {The Behavioral and brain sciences}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {e41}, doi = {10.1017/S0140525X20000928}, pmid = {33899722}, issn = {1469-1825}, mesh = {*Corpus Striatum ; *Habits ; Humans ; }, abstract = {I extend Ainslie's core claims with three cortico-striatal models that respectively subserve the key constructs of resolve, suppression, and routine habit. I show that these models suggest a more dynamical and symbiotic relation among the constructs: there are more ways they interact to reinforce willpower, and the temporal dimension of the interactions can often determine the effectiveness of the reinforcement.}, } @article {pmid33899717, year = {2021}, author = {Monterosso, JR}, title = {Present-state dependency in valuation of the future.}, journal = {The Behavioral and brain sciences}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {e50}, doi = {10.1017/S0140525X20000849}, pmid = {33899717}, issn = {1469-1825}, mesh = {*Behaviorism ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Ainslie's target article provides a map of distinct mechanisms relevant to self-control, potentially providing needed precision to the field. He also breaks new ground in characterizing the symbiotic relationship between suppression and resolve. In this commentary, I argue that one behaviorism-based feature of his framework, present-state independence, is unjustified and unnecessary for the broader claims of the theory.}, } @article {pmid33897748, year = {2021}, author = {Kirolinko, C and Hobecker, K and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Niebel, A and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Auxin Response Factor 2 (ARF2), ARF3, and ARF4 Mediate Both Lateral Root and Nitrogen Fixing Nodule Development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {659061}, pmid = {33897748}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) constitute a large family of transcription factors that mediate auxin-regulated developmental programs in plants. ARF2, ARF3, and ARF4 are post-transcriptionally regulated by the microRNA390 (miR390)/trans-acting small interference RNA 3 (TAS3) module through the action of TAS3-derived trans - acting small interfering RNAs (ta-siRNA). We have previously reported that constitutive activation of the miR390/TAS3 pathway promotes elongation of lateral roots but impairs nodule organogenesis and infection by rhizobia during the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis established between Medicago truncatula and its partner Sinorhizobium meliloti. However, the involvement of the targets of the miR390/TAS3 pathway, i.e., MtARF2, MtARF3, MtARF4a, and MtARF4b, in root development and establishment of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis remained unexplored. Here, promoter:reporter fusions showed that expression of both MtARF3 and MtARF4a was associated with lateral root development; however, only the MtARF4a promoter was active in developing nodules. In addition, up-regulation of MtARF2, MtARF3, and MtARF4a/b in response to rhizobia depends on Nod Factor perception. We provide evidence that simultaneous knockdown of MtARF2, MtARF3, MtARF4a, and MtARF4b or mutation in MtARF4a impaired nodule formation, and reduced initiation and progression of infection events. Silencing of MtARF2, MtARF3, MtARF4a, and MtARF4b altered mRNA levels of the early nodulation gene nodulation signaling pathway 2 (MtNSP2). In addition, roots with reduced levels of MtARF2, MtARF3, MtARF4a, and MtARF4b, as well as arf4a mutant plants exhibited altered root architecture, causing a reduction in primary and lateral root length, but increasing lateral root density. Taken together, our results suggest that these ARF members are common key players of the morphogenetic programs that control root development and the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules.}, } @article {pmid33897648, year = {2021}, author = {Billy, V and Lhotská, Z and Jirků, M and Kadlecová, O and Frgelecová, L and Parfrey, LW and Pomajbíková, KJ}, title = {Blastocystis Colonization Alters the Gut Microbiome and, in Some Cases, Promotes Faster Recovery From Induced Colitis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {641483}, pmid = {33897648}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Protists are a normal component of mammalian intestinal ecosystems that live alongside, and interact with, bacterial microbiota. Blastocystis, one of the most common intestinal eukaryotes, is reported as a pathogen that causes inflammation and disease, though health consequences likely vary depending on host health, the gut ecosystem, and genetic diversity. Accumulating evidence suggests that Blastocystis is by and large commensal. Blastocystis is more common in healthy individuals than those with immune mediated diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Blastocystis presence is also associated with altered composition and higher richness of the bacterial gut microbiota. It is not clear whether Blastocystis directly promotes a healthy gut and microbiome or is more likely to colonize and persist in a healthy gut environment. We test this hypothesis by measuring the effect of Blastocystis ST3 colonization on the health and microbiota in a rat experimental model of intestinal inflammation using the haptenizing agent dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). We experimentally colonized rats with Blastocystis ST3 obtained from a healthy, asymptomatic human donor and then induced colitis after 3 weeks (short term exposure experiment) or after 13 weeks (long term exposure experiment) and compared these colonized rats to a colitis-only control group. Across experiments Blastocystis ST3 colonization alters microbiome composition, but not richness, and induces only mild gut inflammation but no clinical symptoms. Our results showed no effect of short-term exposure to Blastocystis ST3 on gut inflammation following colitis induction. In contrast, long-term Blastocystis exposure appears to promote a faster recovery from colitis. There was a significant reduction in inflammatory markers, pathology 2 days after colitis induction in the colonized group, and clinical scores also improved in this group. Blastocystis colonization resulted in a significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and IL-1β relative gene expression, while expression of IFNγ and IL17re/17C were elevated. We obtained similar results in a previous pilot study. We further found that bacterial richness rebounded in rats colonized by Blastocystis ST3. These results suggest that Blastocystis sp. may alter the gut ecosystem in a protective manner and promote faster recovery from disturbance.}, } @article {pmid33897642, year = {2021}, author = {Costa, RM and Cárdenas, A and Loussert-Fonta, C and Toullec, G and Meibom, A and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Surface Topography, Bacterial Carrying Capacity, and the Prospect of Microbiome Manipulation in the Sea Anemone Coral Model Aiptasia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {637834}, pmid = {33897642}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Aiptasia is an emerging model organism to study cnidarian symbioses due to its taxonomic relatedness to other anthozoans such as stony corals and similarities of its microalgal and bacterial partners, complementing the existing Hydra (Hydrozoa) and Nematostella (Anthozoa) model systems. Despite the availability of studies characterizing the microbiomes of several natural Aiptasia populations and laboratory strains, knowledge on basic information, such as surface topography, bacterial carrying capacity, or the prospect of microbiome manipulation is lacking. Here we address these knowledge gaps. Our results show that the surface topographies of the model hydrozoan Hydra and anthozoans differ substantially, whereas the ultrastructural surface architecture of Aiptasia and stony corals is highly similar. Further, we determined a bacterial carrying capacity of ∼10[4] and ∼10[5] bacteria (i.e., colony forming units, CFUs) per polyp for aposymbiotic and symbiotic Aiptasia anemones, respectively, suggesting that the symbiotic status changes bacterial association/density. Microbiome transplants from Acropora humilis and Porites sp. to gnotobiotic Aiptasia showed that only a few foreign bacterial taxa were effective colonizers. Our results shed light on the putative difficulties of transplanting microbiomes between cnidarians in a manner that consistently changes microbial host association at large. At the same time, our study provides an avenue to identify bacterial taxa that exhibit broad ability to colonize different hosts as a starting point for cross-species microbiome manipulation. Our work is relevant in the context of microbial therapy (probiotics) and microbiome manipulation in corals and answers to the need of having cnidarian model systems to test the function of bacteria and their effect on holobiont biology. Taken together, we provide important foundation data to extend Aiptasia as a coral model for bacterial functional studies.}, } @article {pmid33893547, year = {2021}, author = {Ingraffia, R and Saia, S and Giovino, A and Amato, G and Badagliacca, G and Giambalvo, D and Martinelli, F and Ruisi, P and Frenda, AS}, title = {Addition of high C:N crop residues to a P-limited substrate constrains the benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis for wheat P and N nutrition.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {441-454}, pmid = {33893547}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Triticum ; }, abstract = {Many aspects concerning the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in plant nutrient uptake from organic sources remain unclear. Here, we investigated the contribution of AM symbiosis to N and P uptake by durum wheat after the addition of a high C:N biomass to a P-limited soil. Plants were grown in pots in the presence or absence of a multispecies AM inoculum, with (Org) or without (Ctr) the addition of [15]N-labelled organic matter (OM). A further treatment, in which [15]N was applied in mineral form (Ctr+N) in the same amount as that supplied in the Org treatment, was also included. Inoculation with AM had positive effects on plant growth in both control treatments (Ctr and Ctr+N), mainly linked to an increase in plant P uptake. The addition of OM, increasing the P available in the soil for the plants, resulted in a marked decrease in the contribution of AM symbiosis to plant growth and nutrient uptake, although the percentage of mycorrhization was higher in the Org treatment than in the controls. In addition, mycorrhization drastically reduced the recovery of [15]N from the OM added to the soil whereas it slightly increased the N recovery from the mineral fertiliser. This suggests that plants and AM fungi probably exert a differential competition for different sources of N available in the soil. On the whole, our results provide a contribution to a better understanding of the conditions under which AM fungi can play an effective role in mitigating the negative effects of nutritional stresses in plants.}, } @article {pmid33889142, year = {2021}, author = {Vega, FE and Emche, S and Shao, J and Simpkins, A and Summers, RM and Mock, MB and Ebert, D and Infante, F and Aoki, S and Maul, JE}, title = {Cultivation and Genome Sequencing of Bacteria Isolated From the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei), With Emphasis on the Role of Caffeine Degradation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {644768}, pmid = {33889142}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The coffee berry borer, the most economically important insect pest of coffee worldwide, is the only insect capable of feeding and reproducing solely on the coffee seed, a food source containing the purine alkaloid caffeine. Twenty-one bacterial species associated with coffee berry borers from Hawai'i, Mexico, or a laboratory colony in Maryland (Acinetobacter sp. S40, S54, S55, Bacillus aryabhattai, Delftia lacustris, Erwinia sp. S38, S43, S63, Klebsiella oxytoca, Ochrobactrum sp. S45, S46, Pantoea sp. S61, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. parafulva, and Pseudomonas sp. S30, S31, S32, S37, S44, S60, S75) were found to have at least one of five caffeine N-demethylation genes (ndmA, ndmB, ndmC, ndmD, ndmE), with Pseudomonas spp. S31, S32, S37, S60 and P. parafulva having the full complement of these genes. Some of the bacteria carrying the ndm genes were detected in eggs, suggesting possible vertical transmission, while presence of caffeine-degrading bacteria in frass, e.g., P. parafulva (ndmABCDE) and Bacillus aryabhattai (ndmA) could result in horizontal transmission to all insect life stages. Thirty-five bacterial species associated with the insect (Acinetobacter sp. S40, S54, S55, B. aryabhattai, B. cereus group, Bacillus sp. S29, S70, S71, S72, S73, D. lacustris, Erwinia sp. S38, S43, S59, S63, K. oxytoca, Kosakonia cowanii, Ochrobactrum sp. S45, S46, Paenibacillus sp. S28, Pantoea sp. S61, S62, P. aeruginosa, P. parafulva, Pseudomonas sp. S30, S31, S32, S37, S44, S60, S75, Stenotrophomonas sp. S39, S41, S48, S49) might contribute to caffeine breakdown using the C-8 oxidation pathway, based on presence of genes required for this pathway. It is possible that caffeine-degrading bacteria associated with the coffee berry borer originated as epiphytes and endophytes in the coffee plant microbiota.}, } @article {pmid33888793, year = {2021}, author = {Kosecka, M and Guzow-Krzemińska, B and Černajová, I and Škaloud, P and Jabłońska, A and Kukwa, M}, title = {New lineages of photobionts in Bolivian lichens expand our knowledge on habitat preferences and distribution of Asterochloris algae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {8701}, pmid = {33888793}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Bolivia ; Chlorophyta/classification/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Lichens/classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We studied the biodiversity of Asterochloris photobionts found in Bolivian lichens to better understand their global spatial distribution and adaptation strategies in the context of a worldwide phylogeny of the genus. Based on nuclear ITS rDNA, the chloroplast rbcL gene and the actin type I gene we reconstructed a phylogenetic tree that recovered nine new Asterochloris lineages, while 32 Bolivian photobiont samples were assigned to 12 previously recognized Asterochloris lineages. We also show that some previously discovered Asterochloris photobiont species and lineages may occur in a broader spectrum of climatic conditions, and mycobiont species and photobionts may show different preferences along an altitude gradient. To reveal general patterns of of mycobiont specificity towards the photobiont in Asterochloris, we tested the influence of climate, altitude, geographical distance and effects of symbiotic partner (mycobiont) at the species level of three genera of lichen forming fungi: Stereocaulon, Cladonia and Lepraria. Further, we compared the specificity of mycobionts towards Asterochloris photobionts in cosmopolitan, Neotropical, and Pantropical lichen forming fungi. Interestingly, cosmopolitan species showed the lowest specificity to their photobionts, but also the lowest haplotype diversity. Neotropical and Paleotropical mycobionts, however, were more specific.}, } @article {pmid33887480, year = {2021}, author = {Hosie, AM and Fromont, J and Munyard, K and Wilson, NG and Jones, DS}, title = {Surveying keratose sponges (Porifera, demospongiae, Dictyoceratida) reveals hidden diversity of host specialist barnacles (Crustacea, Cirripedia, Balanidae).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {161}, number = {}, pages = {107179}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107179}, pmid = {33887480}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; *Host Specificity ; *Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; Thoracica/*classification ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Sponges represent one of the most species-rich hosts for commensal barnacles yet host utilisation and diversity have not been thoroughly examined. This study investigated the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of sponge-inhabiting barnacles within a single, targeted host group, primarily from Western Australian waters. Specimens of the sponge order Dictyoceratida were surveyed and a total of 64 host morphospecies, representing four families, were identified as barnacle hosts during the study. Utilising molecular (COI, 12S) and morphological methods 42 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) of barnacles, representing Acasta, Archiacasta, Euacasta and Neoacasta were identified. Comparing inter- and intra-MOTU genetic distances showed a barcode gap between 2.5% and 5% for COI, but between 1% and 1.5% in the 12S dataset, thus demonstrating COI as a more reliable barcoding region. These sponge-inhabiting barnacles were demonstrated to show high levels of host specificity with the majority being found in a single sponge species (74%), a single genus (83%) or a single host family (93%). Phylogenetic relationships among the barnacles were reconstructed using mitochondrial (12S, COI) and nuclear (H3, 28S) markers. None of the barnacle genera were recovered as monophyletic. Euacasta was paraphyletic in relation to the remaining Acastinae genera, which were polyphyletic. Six well-supported clades of molecular operational taxonomic units, herein considered to represent species complexes, were recovered, but relationships between them were not well supported. These complexes showed differing patterns of host usage, though most were phylogenetically conserved with sister lineages typically occupying related hosts within the same genus or family of sponge. The results show that host specialists are predominant, and the dynamics of host usage have played a significant role in the evolutionary history of the Acastinae.}, } @article {pmid33886295, year = {2021}, author = {Ranjbar Jafarabadi, A and Mashjoor, S and Riyahi Bakhtiari, A and Cappello, T}, title = {Ecotoxico Linking of Phthalates and Flame-Retardant Combustion Byproducts with Coral Solar Bleaching.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {55}, number = {9}, pages = {5970-5983}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.0c08730}, pmid = {33886295}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Flame Retardants ; Indian Ocean ; Islands ; Phthalic Acids ; Plastics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Persian Gulf coral reefs are unique biota communities in the global sunbelts in being able to survive in multiple stressful fields during summertime (>36 °C). Despite the high-growth emerging health-hazard microplastic additive type of contaminants, its biological interactions with coral-algal symbiosis and/or its synergistic effects linked to solar-bleaching events remain unknown. This study investigated the bioaccumulation patterns of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and phthalate ester (PAE) pollutants in six genera of living/bleached corals in Larak Island, Persian Gulf, and their ambient abiotic matrixes. Results showed that the levels of ∑18PBDEs and ∑13PAEs in abiotic matrixes followed the order of SPMs > surface sediments > seawater, and the cnidarian POP-uptake patterns (soft corals > hard corals) were as follows: coral mucus (138.49 ± 59.98 and 71.57 ± 47.39 ng g[-1] dw) > zooxanthellae (82.05 ± 28.27 and 20.14 ± 12.65 ng g[-1] dw) ≥ coral tissue (66.26 ± 21.42 and 34.97 ± 26.10 ng g[-1] dw) > bleached corals (45.19 ± 8.73 and 13.83 ± 7.05 ng g[-1] dw) > coral skeleton (35.66 ± 9.58 and 6.47 ± 6.47 ng g[-1] dw, respectively). Overall, findings suggest that mucus checking is a key[/]facile diagnostic approach for fast detection of POP bioaccumulation (PB) in tropical corals. Although studied corals exhibited no consensus concerning hazardous levels of PB (log BSAF < 3.7), our bleaching evidence showed soft corals as the ultimate "summer winners" due to their flexibility/recovering ability.}, } @article {pmid33884699, year = {2021}, author = {Alemneh, AA and Zhou, Y and Ryder, MH and Denton, MD}, title = {Is phosphate solubilizing ability in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolated from chickpea linked to their ability to produce ACC deaminase?.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {131}, number = {5}, pages = {2416-2432}, doi = {10.1111/jam.15108}, pmid = {33884699}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {*Burkholderia ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/genetics ; *Cicer ; Phosphates ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Since most phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) also produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, we investigated if there was an association between these two plant growth-promoting properties under in vitro conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 841 bacterial isolates were obtained using selective and enrichment isolation methods. ACC deaminase was investigated using in vitro methods and by sequencing the acdS gene. The effect of ACC deaminase on P solubilization was investigated further using five efficient PSB. ACC deaminase production ability was found amongst a wide range of bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Burkholderia, Pseudomonas and Variovorax. The amount of ACC deaminase produced by PSB was significantly associated with the liberation of Pi from Ca-P when ACC was the sole N source. Ca-P solubilization was associated with the degree of acidification of the medium. Additionally, the P solubilization potential of PSB with (NH4)2 SO4 was determined by the type of carboxylates produced. An in-planta experiment was conducted using Burkholderia sp. 12F on chickpea cv. Genesis-863 in sand : vermiculite (1 : 1 v/v) amended with rock phosphate and inoculation of this efficient PSB significantly increased growth, nodulation and P uptake of chickpea fertilized with rock phosphate.

CONCLUSION: ACC deaminase activity influenced the capacity of PSB to solubilize P from Ca-P when ACC was the sole N source and Burkholderia sp. 12F promoted the chickpea-Mesorhizobium symbiosis.

ACC deaminase activity could enhance the P solubilizing activity of rhizobacteria that improve plant growth.}, } @article {pmid33884424, year = {2021}, author = {Rivero, J and Lidoy, J and Llopis-Giménez, Á and Herrero, S and Flors, V and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis primes the accumulation of antiherbivore compounds and enhances herbivore mortality in tomato.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {13}, pages = {5038-5050}, pmid = {33884424}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Fungi ; Herbivory ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Plant association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase their ability to overcome multiple stresses, but their impact on plant interactions with herbivorous insects is controversial. Here we show higher mortality of the leaf-chewer Spodoptera exigua when fed on tomato plants colonized by the AMF Funneliformis mosseae, evidencing mycorrhiza-induced resistance. In search of the underlying mechanisms, an untargeted metabolomic analysis through ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was performed. The results showed that mycorrhizal symbiosis had a very limited impact on the leaf metabolome in the absence of stress, but significantly modulated the response to herbivory in the damaged area. A cluster of over accumulated metabolites was identified in those leaflets damaged by S. exigua feeding in mycorrhizal plants, while unwounded distal leaflets responded similar to those from non-mycorrhizal plants. These primed-compounds were mostly related to alkaloids, fatty acid derivatives and phenylpropanoid-polyamine conjugates. The deleterious effect on larval survival of some of these compounds, including the alkaloid physostigmine, the fatty acid derivatives 4-oxododecanedioic acid and azelaic acid, was confirmed. Thus, our results evidence the impact of AMF on metabolic reprograming upon herbivory that leads to a primed accumulation of defensive compounds.}, } @article {pmid33883620, year = {2021}, author = {Efstathiadou, E and Ntatsi, G and Savvas, D and Tampakaki, AP}, title = {Genetic characterization at the species and symbiovar level of indigenous rhizobial isolates nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in Greece.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {8674}, pmid = {33883620}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Genotype ; Greece ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris (L.), commonly known as bean or common bean, is considered a promiscuous legume host since it forms nodules with diverse rhizobial species and symbiovars. Most of the common bean nodulating rhizobia are mainly affiliated to the genus Rhizobium, though strains belonging to Ensifer, Pararhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Burkholderia have also been reported. This is the first report on the characterization of bean-nodulating rhizobia at the species and symbiovar level in Greece. The goals of this research were to isolate and characterize rhizobia nodulating local common bean genotypes grown in five different edaphoclimatic regions of Greece with no rhizobial inoculation history. The genetic diversity of the rhizobial isolates was assessed by BOX-PCR and the phylogenetic affiliation was assessed by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of housekeeping and symbiosis-related genes. A total of fifty fast-growing rhizobial strains were isolated and representative isolates with distinct BOX-PCR fingerpriniting patterns were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. The strains were closely related to R. anhuiense, R. azibense, R. hidalgonense, R. sophoriradicis, and to a putative new genospecies which is provisionally named as Rhizobium sp. I. Most strains belonged to symbiovar phaseoli carrying the α-, γ-a and γ-b alleles of nodC gene, while some of them belonged to symbiovar gallicum. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that strains assigned to R. sophoriradicis and harbored the γ-b allele were found in European soils. All strains were able to re-nodulate their original host, indicating that they are true microsymbionts of common bean.}, } @article {pmid33883599, year = {2021}, author = {Sebastiana, M and Gargallo-Garriga, A and Sardans, J and Pérez-Trujillo, M and Monteiro, F and Figueiredo, A and Maia, M and Nascimento, R and Silva, MS and Ferreira, AN and Cordeiro, C and Marques, AP and Sousa, L and Malhó, R and Peñuelas, J}, title = {Metabolomics and transcriptomics to decipher molecular mechanisms underlying ectomycorrhizal root colonization of an oak tree.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {8576}, pmid = {33883599}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Quercus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizas are known to have a positive impact on plant growth and ability to resist major biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the metabolic alterations underlying mycorrhizal symbiosis are still understudied. By using metabolomics and transcriptomics approaches, cork oak roots colonized by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius were compared with non-colonized roots. Results show that compounds putatively corresponding to carbohydrates, organic acids, tannins, long-chain fatty acids and monoacylglycerols, were depleted in ectomycorrhizal cork oak colonized roots. Conversely, non-proteogenic amino acids, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and several putative defense-related compounds, including oxylipin-family compounds, terpenoids and B6 vitamers were induced in mycorrhizal roots. Transcriptomic analysis suggests the involvement of GABA in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis through increased synthesis and inhibition of degradation in mycorrhizal roots. Results from this global metabolomics analysis suggest decreases in root metabolites which are common components of exudates, and in compounds related to root external protective layers which could facilitate plant-fungal contact and enhance symbiosis. Root metabolic pathways involved in defense against stress were induced in ectomycorrhizal roots that could be involved in a plant mechanism to avoid uncontrolled growth of the fungal symbiont in the root apoplast. Several of the identified symbiosis-specific metabolites, such as GABA, may help to understand how ectomycorrhizal fungi such as P. tinctorius benefit their host plants.}, } @article {pmid33883280, year = {2021}, author = {Nechitaylo, TY and Sandoval-Calderón, M and Engl, T and Wielsch, N and Dunn, DM and Goesmann, A and Strohm, E and Svatoš, A and Dale, C and Weiss, RB and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Incipient genome erosion and metabolic streamlining for antibiotic production in a defensive symbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {33883280}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis ; Arthropod Antennae/metabolism ; Female ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Chaperones/metabolism ; *Pseudogenes ; Streptomyces/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Genome erosion is a frequently observed result of relaxed selection in insect nutritional symbionts, but it has rarely been studied in defensive mutualisms. Solitary beewolf wasps harbor an actinobacterial symbiont of the genus Streptomyces that provides protection to the developing offspring against pathogenic microorganisms. Here, we characterized the genomic architecture and functional gene content of this culturable symbiont using genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics in combination with in vitro assays. Despite retaining a large linear chromosome (7.3 Mb), the wasp symbiont accumulated frameshift mutations in more than a third of its protein-coding genes, indicative of incipient genome erosion. Although many of the frameshifted genes were still expressed, the encoded proteins were not detected, indicating post-transcriptional regulation. Most pseudogenization events affected accessory genes, regulators, and transporters, but "Streptomyces philanthi" also experienced mutations in central metabolic pathways, resulting in auxotrophies for biotin, proline, and arginine that were confirmed experimentally in axenic culture. In contrast to the strong A+T bias in the genomes of most obligate symbionts, we observed a significant G+C enrichment in regions likely experiencing reduced selection. Differential expression analyses revealed that-compared to in vitro symbiont cultures-"S. philanthi" in beewolf antennae showed overexpression of genes for antibiotic biosynthesis, the uptake of host-provided nutrients and the metabolism of building blocks required for antibiotic production. Our results show unusual traits in the early stage of genome erosion in a defensive symbiont and suggest tight integration of host-symbiont metabolic pathways that effectively grants the host control over the antimicrobial activity of its bacterial partner.}, } @article {pmid33881616, year = {2022}, author = {Kodama, Y and Sumita, H}, title = {The ciliate Paramecium bursaria allows budding of symbiotic Chlorella variabilis cells singly from the digestive vacuole membrane into the cytoplasm during algal reinfection.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {259}, number = {1}, pages = {117-125}, pmid = {33881616}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; Humans ; *Paramecium ; Reinfection ; Symbiosis ; Vacuoles ; }, abstract = {The ciliate Paramecium bursaria harbors several hundred symbiotic Chlorella spp. cells in the cytoplasm. Algal re-endosymbiosis can be artificially induced using alga-removed P. bursaria. During algal re-endosymbiosis, algae ingested into the host digestive vacuoles (DVs) avoid digestion by the host lysosomal enzymes and then escape into the cytoplasm by budding off of the DV membrane. The budded alga-enclosing DV membrane then differentiates into the symbiosome or perialgal vacuole (PV) membrane and is localized beneath the host cell cortex. In this study, we determined whether the PV membrane has the ability to recognize the symbiotic alga singly by eliminating other small microspheres in the same DV. To clarify the accuracy of the budding process, we mixed fluorescent-labeled microspheres of diameter 0.20 µm with isolated symbiotic algae during algal re-endosymbiosis. No fluorescence was observed from the PV membrane, as expected, and the budding DVs that enclosed both undigested and digested algae. Additionally, the algal re-endosymbiosis rate was significantly reduced in the presence of microspheres. These observations showed that the host P. bursaria allowed budding of the algae singly from the membranes of DVs without microspheres and this process required close contact between the DV membrane and the algal cell wall.}, } @article {pmid33880903, year = {2021}, author = {Carucci, L and Coppola, S and Luzzetti, A and Giglio, V and Vanderhoof, J and Berni Canani, R}, title = {The role of probiotics and postbiotics in modulating the gut microbiome-immune system axis in the pediatric age.}, journal = {Minerva pediatrics}, volume = {73}, number = {2}, pages = {115-127}, doi = {10.23736/S2724-5276.21.06188-0}, pmid = {33880903}, issn = {2724-5780}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/physiology ; Child, Preschool ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Humans ; Immune System/*physiology ; Immunity, Innate/physiology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The complex microbial community of the gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in driving development and function of the human immune system. This phenomenon is named the gut microbiome-immune system axis. When operating optimally, this axis influences both innate and adaptive immunity, which orchestrates the maintenance of crucial elements of host-microorganisms symbiosis, in a dialogue that modulates responses in the most beneficial way. Growing evidence reveals some environmental factors which can positively and negatively modulate the gut microbiome-immune system axis with consequences on the body health status. Several conditions which increasingly affect the pediatric age, such as allergies, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, arise from a failure of the gut microbiome-immune system axis. Prenatal or postnatal modulation of this axis through some interventional strategies (including diet, probiotics and postbiotics), may lead to a positive gene-environment interaction with improvement of immune-modulatory effects and final positive effect on human health. In particular probiotics and postbiotics exerting pleiotropic regulatory actions on the gut-microbiome-immune system axis provide an innovative preventive and therapeutic strategy for many pediatric conditions.}, } @article {pmid33879590, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, M and Willing, SE and Kim, HK and Schneewind, O and Missiakas, D}, title = {Peptidoglycan Contribution to the B Cell Superantigen Activity of Staphylococcal Protein A.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33879590}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI052474/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Peptidoglycan/*immunology/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/immunology/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell ; Staphylococcal Protein A/genetics/*immunology/*metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/*immunology ; Superantigens/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Staphylococcus aureus causes reiterative and chronic persistent infections. This can be explained by the formidable ability of this pathogen to escape immune surveillance mechanisms. Cells of S. aureus display the abundant staphylococcal protein A (SpA). SpA binds to immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules and coats the bacterial surface to prevent phagocytic uptake. SpA also binds and cross-links variable heavy 3 (VH3) idiotype (IgM) B cell receptors, promoting B cell expansion and the secretion of nonspecific VH3-IgM via a mechanism requiring CD4[+] T cell help. SpA binding to antibodies is mediated by the N-terminal Ig-binding domains (IgBDs). The so-called region X, uncharacterized LysM domain, and C-terminal LPXTG sorting signal for peptidoglycan attachment complete the linear structure of the protein. Here, we report that both the LysM domain and the LPXTG motif sorting signal are required for the B cell superantigen activity of SpA in a mouse model of infection. SpA molecules purified from staphylococcal cultures are sufficient to exert B cell superantigen activity and promote immunoglobulin secretion as long as they carry intact LysM and LPXTG motif domains with bound peptidoglycan fragments. The LysM domain binds the glycan chains of peptidoglycan fragments, whereas the LPXTG motif is covalently linked to wall peptides lacking glycan. These findings emphasize the complexity of SpA interactions with B cell receptors.IMPORTANCE The LysM domain is found in all kingdoms of life. While their function in mammals is not known, LysM domains of bacteria and their phage parasites are associated with enzymes that cleave or remodel peptidoglycan. Plants recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns such as chitin via receptors endowed with LysM-containing ectodomains. In plants, such receptors play equally important roles in defense and symbiosis signaling. SpA of S. aureus carries a LysM domain that binds glycan strands of peptidoglycan to influence defined B cell responses that divert pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses.}, } @article {pmid33879583, year = {2021}, author = {Perreau, J and Patel, DJ and Anderson, H and Maeda, GP and Elston, KM and Barrick, JE and Moran, NA}, title = {Vertical Transmission at the Pathogen-Symbiont Interface: Serratia symbiotica and Aphids.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33879583}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Endocytosis ; Female ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Ovary/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/genetics/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Serratia Infections/microbiology/transmission ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects possess beneficial bacterial symbionts that occupy specialized host cells and are maternally transmitted. As a consequence of their host-restricted lifestyle, these symbionts often possess reduced genomes and cannot be cultured outside hosts, limiting their study. The bacterial species Serratia symbiotica was originally characterized as noncultured strains that live as mutualistic symbionts of aphids and are vertically transmitted through transovarial endocytosis within the mother's body. More recently, culturable strains of S. symbiotica were discovered that retain a larger set of ancestral Serratia genes, are gut pathogens in aphid hosts, and are principally transmitted via a fecal-oral route. We find that these culturable strains, when injected into pea aphids, replicate in the hemolymph and are pathogenic. Unexpectedly, they are also capable of maternal transmission via transovarial endocytosis: using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strains, we observe that pathogenic S. symbiotica strains, but not Escherichia coli, are endocytosed into early embryos. Furthermore, pathogenic S. symbiotica strains are compartmentalized into specialized aphid cells in a fashion similar to that of mutualistic S. symbiotica strains during later stages of embryonic development. However, infected embryos do not appear to develop properly, and offspring infected by a transovarial route are not observed. Thus, cultured pathogenic strains of S. symbiotica have the latent capacity to transition to lifestyles as mutualistic symbionts of aphid hosts, but persistent vertical transmission is blocked by their pathogenicity. To transition into stably inherited symbionts, culturable S. symbiotica strains may need to adapt to regulate their titer, limit their pathogenicity, and/or provide benefits to aphids that outweigh their cost.IMPORTANCE Insects have evolved various mechanisms to reliably transmit their beneficial bacterial symbionts to the next generation. Sap-sucking insects, including aphids, transmit symbionts by endocytosis of the symbiont into cells of the early embryo within the mother's body. Experimental studies of this process are hampered by the inability to culture or genetically manipulate host-restricted, symbiotic bacteria. Serratia symbiotica is a bacterial species that includes strains ranging from obligate, heritable symbionts to gut pathogens. We demonstrate that culturable S. symbiotica strains, which are aphid gut pathogens, can be maternally transmitted. Cultured S. symbiotica therefore possesses a latent capacity for evolving a host-restricted lifestyle and can be used to understand the transition from pathogenicity to beneficial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33878945, year = {2021}, author = {Schiesser, S and Cox, RJ and Czechtizky, W}, title = {The powerful symbiosis between synthetic and medicinal chemistry.}, journal = {Future medicinal chemistry}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {941-944}, doi = {10.4155/fmc-2021-0062}, pmid = {33878945}, issn = {1756-8927}, mesh = {*Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Small Molecule Libraries/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; }, } @article {pmid33878920, year = {2021}, author = {Bodawatta, KH and Koane, B and Maiah, G and Sam, K and Poulsen, M and Jønsson, KA}, title = {Species-specific but not phylosymbiotic gut microbiomes of New Guinean passerine birds are shaped by diet and flight-associated gut modifications.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1949}, pages = {20210446}, pmid = {33878920}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; New Guinea ; *Passeriformes ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Animal hosts have evolved intricate associations with microbial symbionts, where both depend on each other for particular functions. In many cases, these associations lead to phylosymbiosis, where phylogenetically related species harbour compositionally more similar microbiomes than distantly related species. However, evidence for phylosymbiosis is either weak or lacking in gut microbiomes of flying vertebrates, particularly in birds. To shed more light on this phenomenon, we compared cloacal microbiomes of 37 tropical passerine bird species from New Guinea using 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing. We show a lack of phylosymbiosis and document highly variable microbiomes. Furthermore, we find that gut bacterial community compositions are species-specific and tend to be shaped by host diet but not sampling locality, potentially driven by the similarities in habitats used by individual species. We further show that flight-associated gut modifications, coupled with individual dietary differences, shape gut microbiome structure and variation, contributing to the lack of phylosymbiosis. These patterns indicate that the stability of symbiosis may depend on microbial functional diversity rather than taxonomic composition. Furthermore, the more variable and fluid host-microbe associations suggest probable disparities in the potential for coevolution between bird host species and microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33877468, year = {2021}, author = {Tokumoto, Y and Hashimoto, K and Soyano, T and Aoki, S and Iwasaki, W and Fukuhara, M and Nakagawa, T and Saeki, K and Yokoyama, J and Fujita, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Correction to: Assessment of Polygala paniculata (Polygalaceae) characteristics for evolutionary studies of legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {134}, number = {4}, pages = {885}, doi = {10.1007/s10265-021-01295-3}, pmid = {33877468}, issn = {1618-0860}, } @article {pmid33876478, year = {2021}, author = {Smith, AH and O'Connor, MP and Deal, B and Kotzer, C and Lee, A and Wagner, B and Joffe, J and Woloszynek, S and Oliver, KM and Russell, JA}, title = {Does getting defensive get you anywhere?-Seasonal balancing selection, temperature, and parasitoids shape real-world, protective endosymbiont dynamics in the pea aphid.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {2449-2472}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15906}, pmid = {33876478}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Genotype ; Peas ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; *Wasps/genetics ; }, abstract = {Facultative, heritable endosymbionts are found at intermediate prevalence within most insect species, playing frequent roles in their hosts' defence against environmental pressures. Focusing on Hamiltonella defensa, a common bacterial endosymbiont of aphids, we tested the hypothesis that such pressures impose seasonal balancing selection, shaping a widespread infection polymorphism. In our studied pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) population, Hamiltonella frequencies ranged from 23.2% to 68.1% across a six-month longitudinal survey. Rapid spikes and declines were often consistent across fields, and we estimated that selection coefficients for Hamiltonella-infected aphids changed sign within this field season. Prior laboratory research suggested antiparasitoid defence as the major Hamiltonella benefit, and costs under parasitoid absence. While a prior field study suggested these forces can sometimes act as counter-weights in a regime of seasonal balancing selection, our present survey showed no significant relationship between parasitoid wasps and Hamiltonella prevalence. Field cage experiments provided some explanation: parasitoids drove modest ~10% boosts to Hamiltonella frequencies that would be hard to detect under less controlled conditions. They also showed that Hamiltonella was not always costly under parasitoid exclusion, contradicting another prediction. Instead, our longitudinal survey - and two overwintering studies - showed temperature to be the strongest predictor of Hamiltonella prevalence. Matching some prior lab discoveries, this suggested that thermally sensitive costs and benefits, unrelated to parasitism, can shape Hamiltonella dynamics. These results add to a growing body of evidence for rapid, seasonal adaptation in multivoltine organisms, suggesting that such adaptation can be mediated through the diverse impacts of heritable bacterial endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid33875863, year = {2021}, author = {Drew, GC and Stevens, EJ and King, KC}, title = {Microbial evolution and transitions along the parasite-mutualist continuum.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {623-638}, pmid = {33875863}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics/physiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Parasites/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Virtually all plants and animals, including humans, are home to symbiotic microorganisms. Symbiotic interactions can be neutral, harmful or have beneficial effects on the host organism. However, growing evidence suggests that microbial symbionts can evolve rapidly, resulting in drastic transitions along the parasite-mutualist continuum. In this Review, we integrate theoretical and empirical findings to discuss the mechanisms underpinning these evolutionary shifts, as well as the ecological drivers and why some host-microorganism interactions may be stuck at the end of the continuum. In addition to having biomedical consequences, understanding the dynamic life of microorganisms reveals how symbioses can shape an organism's biology and the entire community, particularly in a changing world.}, } @article {pmid33872516, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, E and Zhu, Y and Liu, Z and Wei, T and Wang, P and Cheng, G}, title = {Interaction of Viruses with the Insect Intestine.}, journal = {Annual review of virology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {115-131}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-091919-100543}, pmid = {33872516}, issn = {2327-0578}, mesh = {Animals ; *DNA Viruses ; *Insecta ; Intestines ; }, abstract = {In nature, insects face a constant threat of infection by numerous exogeneous viruses, and their intestinal tracts are the predominant ports of entry. Insects can acquire these viruses orally during either blood feeding by hematophagous insects or sap sucking and foliage feeding by insect herbivores. However, the insect intestinal tract forms several physical and immunological barriers to defend against viral invasion, including cell intrinsic antiviral immunity, the peritrophic matrix and the mucin layer, and local symbiotic microorganisms. Whether an infection can be successfully established in the intestinal tract depends on the complex interactions between viruses and those barriers. In this review, we summarize recent progress on virus-intestinal tract interplay in insects, in which various underlying mechanisms derived from nutritional status, dynamics of symbiotic microorganisms, and virus-encoded components play intricate roles in the regulation of virus invasion in the intestinal tract, either directly or indirectly.}, } @article {pmid33872488, year = {2021}, author = {Kang, HM and Kang, JH}, title = {Effects of nasopharyngeal microbiota in respiratory infections and allergies.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental pediatrics}, volume = {64}, number = {11}, pages = {543-551}, pmid = {33872488}, issn = {2713-4148}, abstract = {The human microbiome, which consists of a collective cluster of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms living in the human body, plays a key role in host health and immunity. The human nasal cavity harbors commensal bacteria that suppress the colonization of opportunistic pathogens. However, dysbiosis of the nasal microbial community is associated with many diseases, such as acute respiratory infections including otitis media, sinusitis and bronchitis and allergic respiratory diseases including asthma. The nasopharyngeal acquisition of pneumococcus, which exists as a pathobiont in the nasal cavity, is the initial step in virtually all pneumococcal diseases. Although the factors influencing nasal colonization and elimination are not fully understood, the adhesion of opportunistic pathogens to nasopharyngeal mucosa receptors and the eliciting of immune responses in the host are implicated in addition to bacterial microbiota properties and colonization resistance dynamics. Probiotics or synbiotic interventions may show promising and effective roles in the adjunctive treatment of dysbiosis; however, more studies are needed to characterize how these interventions can be applied in clinical practice in the future.}, } @article {pmid33871224, year = {2021}, author = {Abenavoli, L and Procopio, AC and Scarpellini, E and Polimeni, N and Aquila, I and Larussa, T and Boccuto, L and Luzza, F}, title = {Gut microbiota and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.}, journal = {Minerva gastroenterology}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {339-347}, doi = {10.23736/S2724-5985.21.02896-5}, pmid = {33871224}, issn = {2724-5365}, mesh = {Adult ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract of the adult human represents the habitat of the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms, defined as the gut microbiota, which has more than 100 trillion microorganisms representing one of the most complex ecosystems. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by microorganisms begins at the time of birth. Contrary to what was previously hypothesized, a large number of fundamental functions for the host are attributed to the gut microbiota to date. Therefore, the gut microbiota does not represent a passive set of microbes hosted inside the human organism but plays a crucial role in the balance of the organism itself. An alteration of the microbiota is a phenomenon known as dysbiosis. The latter can be implicated in the development of complex liver diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this review was to describe the most interesting data linking the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with the gut microbiota and, therefore, to underline the importance of the microbiota itself, as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.}, } @article {pmid33868507, year = {2022}, author = {Nama, S and Saha, AK and Sharma, S}, title = {Performance up-gradation of Symbiotic Organisms Search by Backtracking Search Algorithm.}, journal = {Journal of ambient intelligence and humanized computing}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {5505-5546}, pmid = {33868507}, issn = {1868-5137}, abstract = {Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) algorithm is characterized based on the framework of relationships among the ecosystem species. Nevertheless, it is suffering from wasteful discovery, little productivity, and slack convergence rate. These deficiencies cause stagnation at the local optimum, which is hazardous in deciding the genuine optima of the optimization problem. Backtracking Search Algorithm (BSA) is likewise another streamlining method for comprehending the non-direct complex optimization problem. Consequently, in the current paper, an endeavor has been made toward the expulsion of the downsides from the traditional SOS by proposing a novel ensemble technique called e-SOSBSA to overhaul the degree of intensification and diversification. In e-SOSBSA, firstly, the mutation operator of BSA with the self-adaptive mutation rate is incorporated to produce a mutant of population and leap out from the local optima. Secondly, the crossover operator of BSA with the adaptive component of mixrate is incorporated to leverage the entire active search regions visited previously. The suggested e-SOSBSA has been tested with 20 classical benchmark functions, IEEE CEC2014, CEC2015, CEC2017, and the latest CEC 2020 test functions. Statistical analyses, convergence analysis, and diversity analysis are performed to show the stronger search capabilities of the proposed e-SOSBSA in contrast with the component algorithms and several state-of-the-art algorithms. Moreover, the proposed e-SOSBSA is applied to find the optimum value of the seven problems of engineering optimization. The numerical investigations and examinations show that the proposed e-SOSBSA can be profoundly viable in tackling real-world engineering optimization problems.}, } @article {pmid33868350, year = {2021}, author = {Niazian, M and Sadat-Noori, SA and Tohidfar, M and Mortazavian, SMM and Sabbatini, P}, title = {Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (BADH) vs. Flavodoxin (Fld): Two Important Genes for Enhancing Plants Stress Tolerance and Productivity.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {650215}, pmid = {33868350}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Abiotic stresses, mainly salinity and drought, are the most important environmental threats that constrain worldwide food security by hampering plant growth and productivity. Plants cope with the adverse effects of these stresses by implementing a series of morpho-physio-biochemical adaptation mechanisms. Accumulating effective osmo-protectants, such as proline and glycine betaine (GB), is one of the important plant stress tolerance strategies. These osmolytes can trigger plant stress tolerance mechanisms, which include stress signal transduction, activating resistance genes, increasing levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, protecting cell osmotic pressure, enhancing cell membrane integrity, as well as protecting their photosynthetic apparatus, especially the photosystem II (PSII) complex. Genetic engineering, as one of the most important plant biotechnology methods, helps to expedite the development of stress-tolerant plants by introducing the key tolerance genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of osmolytes into plants. Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) is one of the important genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of GB, and its introduction has led to an increased tolerance to a variety of abiotic stresses in different plant species. Replacing down-regulated ferredoxin at the acceptor side of photosystem I (PSI) with its isofunctional counterpart electron carrier (flavodoxin) is another applicable strategy to strengthen the photosynthetic apparatus of plants under stressful conditions. Heterologous expression of microbially-sourced flavodoxin (Fld) in higher plants compensates for the deficiency of ferredoxin expression and enhances their stress tolerance. BADH and Fld are multifunctional transgenes that increase the stress tolerance of different plant species and maintain their production under stressful situations by protecting and enhancing their photosynthetic apparatus. In addition to increasing stress tolerance, both BADH and Fld genes can improve the productivity, symbiotic performance, and longevity of plants. Because of the multigenic and complex nature of abiotic stresses, the concomitant delivery of BADH and Fld transgenes can lead to more satisfying results in desired plants, as these two genes enhance plant stress tolerance through different mechanisms, and their cumulative effect can be much more beneficial than their individual ones. The importance of BADH and Fld genes in enhancing plant productivity under stress conditions has been discussed in detail in the present review.}, } @article {pmid33867100, year = {2021}, author = {Pfister, JK and Kuester, JC and McDermott, K and Talbert, L and Schindler, CA}, title = {Living the Manatt report: Advancing the future of nursing through joint academic appointments.}, journal = {Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {422-425}, doi = {10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.05.004}, pmid = {33867100}, issn = {1532-8481}, mesh = {*Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; *Leadership ; Organizations ; }, abstract = {In 2016, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing published the Manatt Report which outlines recommendations to address the future of academic nursing. This report asserts that in order to influence the direction of healthcare, academic nursing needs to partner with academic health centers in leadership positions, embrace current clinical practice, and prioritize research. The following paper details the successful implementation of joint academic appointments between a college of nursing and a medical college. Joint appointments have formalized the role of clinician-educator, brought current clinical knowledge to academia, and allowed for protected academic time that is focused on enhancing the nursing curriculum. The development of joint appointments must be approached in a structured fashion ensuring a symbiotic relationship for all parties. This arrangement validates the commitment of both organizations to the education of future providers within the interdisciplinary team.}, } @article {pmid33866784, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, B and Liu, J and Sheng, Y and Shi, J and Dong, H}, title = {Disentangling Microbial Syntrophic Mechanisms for Hexavalent Chromium Reduction in Autotrophic Biosystems.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {55}, number = {9}, pages = {6340-6351}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.1c00383}, pmid = {33866784}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioreactors ; Chromium ; *Groundwater ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical ; }, abstract = {Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is one of the common heavy-metal contaminants in groundwater, and the availability of electron donors is considered to be a key parameter for Cr(VI) biotransformation. During the autotrophic remediation process, however, much remains to be illuminated about how complex syntrophic microbial communities couple Cr(VI) reduction with other elemental cycles. Two series of Cr(VI)-reducing groundwater bioreactors were independently amended by elemental sulfur and iron and inoculated with the same inoculum. After 160 days of incubation, both bioreactors showed similar archaea-dominating microbiota compositions, whereas a higher Cr(VI)-reducing rate and more methane production were detected in the Fe[0]-driven one. Metabolic reconstruction of 23 retrieved genomes revealed complex symbiotic relationships driving distinct elemental cycles coupled with Cr(VI) reduction in bioreactors. In both bioreactors, these Cr(VI) reducers were assumed to live in syntrophy with oxidizers of sulfur, iron, hydrogen, and volatile fatty acids and methane produced by carbon fixers and multitrophic methanogens, respectively. The significant difference in methane production was mainly due to the fact that the yielded sulfate greatly retarded acetoclastic methanogenesis in the S-bioreactor. These findings provide insights into mutualistic symbioses of carbon, sulfur, iron, and chromium metabolisms in groundwater systems and have implications for bioremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater.}, } @article {pmid33866557, year = {2021}, author = {Roubik, DW}, title = {Mutualism within a parasitism within a mutualism: the bees and coccids that inhabit Cecropia ant-plants.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {102}, number = {9}, pages = {e03367}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3367}, pmid = {33866557}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bees ; *Cecropia Plant/microbiology ; *Coccidia ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33866154, year = {2021}, author = {Lakshmikandan, M and Wang, S and Murugesan, AG and Saravanakumar, M and Selvakumar, G}, title = {Co-cultivation of Streptomyces and microalgal cells as an efficient system for biodiesel production and bioflocculation formation.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {332}, number = {}, pages = {125118}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125118}, pmid = {33866154}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Microalgae ; *Streptomyces ; }, abstract = {The phytohormone producing Streptomyces rosealbus MTTC 12,951 (S.R) and green microalga Chlorella vulgaris MSU-AGM 14 (C.V) were cultivated in co-culture system to evaluate exogenous hormonal activity. Biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and their precursors were quantitatively evaluated by employing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The concentration of IAA (0.72 ± 0.02 µg mL[-1]) was observed to be elevated in co-cultivation system due to symbiotic interaction between Streptomyces and microalgae. In exchange, microalgae produced adequate volume of tryptophan (Trp) to induce IAA biosynthesis. The Trp stress in late exponential phase encouraged lipid accumulation (175 ± 10 mg g[-1]). The bioflocculation property of microalgae ensures potential and economic viable harvesting process by reducing 148% input energy compared to conventional method. The overall results evidenced that C.V co-cultivation with S.R exhibits promotional behavior and serves as a promising cultivation process for microalgae in terms of cost efficiency and energy conservation.}, } @article {pmid33866043, year = {2021}, author = {Cusumano, A and Volkoff, AN}, title = {Influence of parasitoid-associated viral symbionts on plant-insect interactions and biological control.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {64-71}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2021.03.009}, pmid = {33866043}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Herbivory ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insecta/parasitology/*virology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Plants ; Polydnaviridae/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/virology ; }, abstract = {Insect parasitoids have evolved symbiotic interactions with several viruses and thousands of parasitoid species have established mutualistic associations with polydnaviruses (PDVs). While PDVs have often been described as virulence factors allowing development of immature parasitoids inside their herbivore hosts, there is increasing awareness that PDVs can affect plant-insect interactions. We review recent literature showing that PDVs alter not only host physiology, but also feeding patterns and composition of herbivore's oral secretions. In turn PDV-induced changes in herbivore phenotype affect plant responses to herbivory with consequences ranging from differential expression of plant defense-related genes to wider ecological effects across multiple trophic levels. In this opinion paper we also highlight important missing gaps to fully understand the role of PDVs and other parasitoid-associated viral symbionts in a plant-insect interaction perspective. Because PDVs negatively impact performance and survival of herbivore pests, we conclude arguing that PDV genomes offer potential opportunities for biological control.}, } @article {pmid33865833, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, P and Jia, Y and Wu, R and Chen, Z and Yan, R}, title = {Human gut bacterial β-glucuronidase inhibition: An emerging approach to manage medication therapy.}, journal = {Biochemical pharmacology}, volume = {190}, number = {}, pages = {114566}, doi = {10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114566}, pmid = {33865833}, issn = {1873-2968}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects/pharmacology ; Diarrhea/chemically induced ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*enzymology ; Glucuronidase/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/adverse effects/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Irinotecan/adverse effects/pharmacology ; Precision Medicine/*methods/trends ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Topoisomerase I Inhibitors/adverse effects/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial β-glucuronidase enzymes (BGUSs) are at the interface of host-microbial metabolic symbiosis, playing an important role in health and disease as well as medication outcomes (efficacy or toxicity) by deconjugating a large number of endogenous and exogenous glucuronides. In recent years, BGUSs inhibition has emerged as a new approach to manage diseases and medication therapy and attracted an increasing research interest. However, a growing body of evidence underlines great genetic diversity, functional promiscuity and varied inhibition propensity of BGUSs, which have posed big challenges to identifying BGUSs involved in a specific pathophysiological or pharmacological process and developing effective inhibition. In this article, we offered a general introduction of the function, in particular the physiological, pathological and pharmacological roles, of BGUSs and their taxonomic distribution in human gut microbiota, highlighting the structural features (active sites and adjacent loop structures) that affecting the protein-substrate (inhibitor) interactions. Recent advances in BGUSs-mediated deconjugation of drugs and carcinogens and the discovery and applications of BGUS inhibitors in management of medication therapy, typically, irinotecan-induced diarrhea and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-induced enteropathy, were also reviewed. At the end, we discussed the perspectives and the challenges of tailoring BGUS inhibition towards precision medicine.}, } @article {pmid33864943, year = {2021}, author = {Tavasolian, F and Inman, RD}, title = {Gut microbiota-microRNA interactions in ankylosing spondylitis.}, journal = {Autoimmunity reviews}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {102827}, doi = {10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102827}, pmid = {33864943}, issn = {1873-0183}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-B27 Antigen/genetics ; Humans ; *MicroRNAs/genetics ; *Spondylitis, Ankylosing/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disability that is part of the rheumatic disease group of spondyloarthropathies. AS commonly influences the joints of the axial skeleton. The contributions to AS pathogenesis of genetic susceptibility (particularly HLA-B27 and ERAP-1) and epigenetic modifications, like non-coding RNAs, as well as environmental factors, have been investigated over the last few years. But the fundamental etiology of AS remains elusive to date. The evidence summarized here indicates that in the immunopathogenesis of AS, microRNAs and the gut microbiome perform critical functions. We discuss significant advances in the immunological mechanisms underlying AS and address potential cross-talk between the gut microbiome and host microRNAs. This critical interaction implicates a co-evolutionary symbiotic link between host immunity and the gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33863703, year = {2021}, author = {Berasategui, A and Moller, AG and Weiss, B and Beck, CW and Bauchiero, C and Read, TD and Gerardo, NM and Salem, H}, title = {Symbiont Genomic Features and Localization in the Bean Beetle Callosobruchus maculatus.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {12}, pages = {e0021221}, pmid = {33863703}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Ovum/microbiology ; Staphylococcus/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A pervasive pest of stored leguminous products, the bean beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) associates with a simple bacterial community during adulthood. Despite its economic importance, little is known about the compositional stability, heritability, localization, and metabolic potential of the bacterial symbionts of C. maculatus. In this study, we applied community profiling using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to reveal a highly conserved bacterial assembly shared between larvae and adults. Dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, this community is localized extracellularly along the epithelial lining of the bean beetle's digestive tract. Our analysis revealed that only one species, Staphylococcus gallinarum (phylum Firmicutes), is shared across all developmental stages. Isolation and whole-genome sequencing of S. gallinarum from the beetle gut yielded a circular chromosome (2.8 Mb) and one plasmid (45 kb). The strain encodes complete biosynthetic pathways for the production of B vitamins and amino acids, including tyrosine, which is increasingly recognized as an important symbiont-supplemented precursor for cuticle biosynthesis in beetles. A carbohydrate-active enzyme search revealed that the genome codes for a number of digestive enzymes, reflecting the nutritional ecology of C. maculatus. The ontogenic conservation of the gut microbiota in the bean beetle, featuring a "core" community composed of S. gallinarum, may be indicative of an adaptive role for the host. In clarifying symbiont localization and metabolic potential, we further our understanding and study of a costly pest of stored products. IMPORTANCE From supplementing essential nutrients to detoxifying plant secondary metabolites and insecticides, bacterial symbionts are a key source of adaptations for herbivorous insect pests. Despite the pervasiveness and geographical range of the bean beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, the role of microbial symbioses in its natural history remains understudied. Here, we demonstrate that the bean beetle harbors a simple gut bacterial community that is stable throughout development. This community localizes along the insect's digestive tract and is largely dominated by Staphylococcus gallinarum. In elucidating symbiont metabolic potential, we highlight its possible adaptive significance for a widespread agricultural pest.}, } @article {pmid33863284, year = {2021}, author = {Averkina, IO and Harris, M and Asare, EO and Hourdin, B and Paponov, IA and Lillo, C}, title = {Pinpointing regulatory protein phosphatase 2A subunits involved in beneficial symbiosis between plants and microbes.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {183}, pmid = {33863284}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Protein Phosphatase 2/*genetics/metabolism ; Pseudomonas/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A (PP2A) expression is crucial for the symbiotic association between plants and various microbes, and knowledge on these symbiotic processes is important for sustainable agriculture. Here we tested the hypothesis that PP2A regulatory subunits, especially B'φ and B'θ, are involved in signalling between plants and mycorrhizal fungi or plant-growth promoting bacteria.

RESULTS: Treatment of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) with the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Azospirillum brasilense and Pseudomonas simiae indicated a role for the PP2A B'θ subunit in responses to PGPR. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi influenced B'θ transcript levels in soil-grown plants with canonical arbuscular mycorrhizae. In plant roots, transcripts of B'φ were scarce under all conditions tested and at a lower level than all other PP2A subunit transcripts. In transformed tomato plants with 10-fold enhanced B'φ expression, mycorrhization frequency was decreased in vermiculite-grown plants. Furthermore, the high B'φ expression was related to abscisic acid and gibberellic acid responses known to be involved in plant growth and mycorrhization. B'φ overexpressor plants showed less vigorous growth, and although fruits were normal size, the number of seeds per fruit was reduced by 60% compared to the original cultivar.

CONCLUSIONS: Expression of the B'θ gene in tomato roots is strongly influenced by beneficial microbes. Analysis of B'φ overexpressor tomato plants and established tomato cultivars substantiated a function of B'φ in growth and development in addition to a role in mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid33860891, year = {2021}, author = {Begum, N and Akhtar, K and Ahanger, MA and Iqbal, M and Wang, P and Mustafa, NS and Zhang, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve growth, essential oil, secondary metabolism, and yield of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) under drought stress conditions.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {33}, pages = {45276-45295}, pmid = {33860891}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Oils, Volatile ; Secondary Metabolism ; Tobacco ; }, abstract = {Drought is a major environmental threat limiting worldwide crop production. Drought stress affects the tobacco quality and yield; therefore, the current research studies were undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under drought stress on morphological and biochemical attributes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. variety Yunyan 87). AMF-inoculated and AMF-non-inoculated plants were maintained in a greenhouse and irrigated with a half-strength Hoagland solution (100 mL pot[-1]) once a week. At harvesting, the plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights, mycorrhizal colonization, and concentration of leaf photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic rate were measured. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and the principal component (PCA) analyses. The effect of root colonization significantly increased biomass production and essential oil accumulation. Results showed that drought at mild and severe stressed levels significantly affected tobacco growth by decreasing plant height, biomass, and a number of leaves. However, inoculation of AMF considerably increased plant height, fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll (a, b), total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content by 43.84, 40.87 and 49.76, 185.29, 325.60, 173.12, and 211.49%, respectively. Compared with non-inoculated plants, AMF inoculation significantly enhanced the essential oil yield and the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium with the increase of 257.36, 102.71, and 90.76, 62.32, and 84.51%, respectively, in mild drought + AMF-treated plants. Similarly, the antioxidant enzymatic activity, glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), and accumulation of phenols and flavonoids and osmolytes content were also significantly improved in inoculated plants under drought stress. Additionally, AMF inoculation significantly upregulated the lipoxygenase (LOX) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzymes by 197 and 298.44% under drought conditions. These findings depicted that the symbiotic association of AMF improved the overall growth pattern and secondary metabolism in tobacco plants under severe drought stress conditions and may be used as an approaching source of important drugs in the field of pharmacology.}, } @article {pmid33860570, year = {2021}, author = {Li, S and Li, Y and Chen, L and Zhang, C and Wang, F and Li, H and Wang, M and Wang, Y and Nan, F and Xie, D and Yan, J}, title = {Strigolactone mimic 2-nitrodebranone is highly active in Arabidopsis growth and development.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {107}, number = {1}, pages = {67-76}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15274}, pmid = {33860570}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*drug effects/*growth & development ; Arabidopsis Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism ; Co-Repressor Proteins/metabolism ; Furans/chemistry/pharmacology ; Germination/drug effects ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*pharmacology ; Hypocotyl/drug effects ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Orobanche/drug effects/growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Plant Weeds/drug effects/growth & development ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/metabolism ; Seeds/drug effects ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones play crucial roles in regulating plant architecture and development, as endogenous hormones, and orchestrating symbiotic interactions with fungi and parasitic plants, as components of root exudates. rac-GR24 is currently the most widely used strigolactone analog and serves as a reference compound in investigating the action of strigolactones. In this study, we evaluated a suite of debranones and found that 2-nitrodebranone (2NOD) exhibited higher biological activity than rac-GR24 in various aspects of plant growth and development in Arabidopsis, including hypocotyl elongation inhibition, root hair promotion and senescence acceleration. The enhanced activity of 2NOD in promoting AtD14-SMXL7 and AtD14-MAX2 interactions indicates that the molecular structure of 2NOD is a better match for the ligand perception site pocket of D14. Moreover, 2NOD showed lower activity than rac-GR24 in promoting Orobanche cumana seed germination, suggesting its higher ability to control plant architecture than parasitic interactions. In combination with the improved stability of 2NOD, these results demonstrate that 2NOD is a strigolactone analog that can specifically mimic the activity of strigolactones and that 2NOD exhibits strong potential as a tool for studying the strigolactone signaling pathway in plants.}, } @article {pmid33860546, year = {2021}, author = {Brandeis, M}, title = {Were eukaryotes made by sex?: Sex might have been vital for merging endosymbiont and host genomes giving rise to eukaryotes.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {e2000256}, doi = {10.1002/bies.202000256}, pmid = {33860546}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {I hypothesize that the appearance of sex facilitated the merging of the endosymbiont and host genomes during early eukaryote evolution. Eukaryotes were formed by symbiosis between a bacterium that entered an archaeon, eventually giving rise to mitochondria. This entry was followed by the gradual transfer of most bacterial endosymbiont genes into the archaeal host genome. I argue that the merging of the mitochondrial genes into the host genome was vital for the evolution of genuine eukaryotes. At the time this process commenced it was unprecedented and required a novel mechanism. I suggest that this mechanism was meiotic sex, and that its appearance might have been THE crucial step that enabled the evolution of proper eukaryotes from early endosymbiont containing proto-eukaryotes. Sex might continue to be essential today for keeping genome insertions in check. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/aVMvWMpomac.}, } @article {pmid33860421, year = {2021}, author = {El-Sayed, A and Aleya, L and Kamel, M}, title = {The link among microbiota, epigenetics, and disease development.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {23}, pages = {28926-28964}, pmid = {33860421}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; DNA Methylation ; Diet ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; *Metabolic Diseases ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The microbiome is a community of various microorganisms that inhabit or live on the skin of humans/animals, sharing the body space with their hosts. It is a sort of complex ecosystem of trillions of commensals, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms, including trillions of bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. The microbiota plays a role in the health and disease status of the host. Their number, species dominance, and viability are dynamic. Their long-term disturbance is usually accompanied by serious diseases such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or even cancer. While epigenetics is a term that refers to different stimuli that induce modifications in gene expression patterns without structural changes in the inherited DNA sequence, these changes can be reversible or even persist for several generations. Epigenetics can be described as cell memory that stores experience against internal and external factors. Results from multiple institutions have contributed to the role and close interaction of both microbiota and epigenetics in disease induction. Understanding the mechanisms of both players enables a better understanding of disease induction and development and also opens the horizon to revolutionary therapeutic approaches. The present review illustrates the roles of diet, microbiome, and epigenetics in the induction of several chronic diseases. In addition, it discusses the application of epigenetic data to develop diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutics and evaluate their safety for patients. Understanding the interaction among all these elements enables the development of innovative preventive/therapeutic approaches for disease control.}, } @article {pmid33860251, year = {2021}, author = {Ryss, AY and Polyanina, KS and Álvarez-Ortega, S and Subbotin, SA}, title = {Morphology, development stages, and phylogeny of the Rhabditolaimus ulmi (Nematoda: Diplogastridae), a phoront of the bark beetle Scolytus multistriatus from the elm Ulmus glabra Huds. in Northwest Russia.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {53}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {33860251}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {The nematode Rhabditolaimus ulmi was found in galleries, adults, and larvae of Scolytus multistriatus, the vector of the Dutch elm disease, in St. Petersburg parks. This nematode co-occurred with Bursaphelenchus ulmophilus, which is another phoretic partner of S. multistriatus. Nematodes were cultured on the fungus Botryotinia fuckeliana in potato sugar agar (PA) and used for morphological analyses of adults, juveniles, eggs, and dauers. Nematode females showed a didelphic female genital tract rather than a monoprodelphic gonad as reported in the original description. Male bursa peloderan, caudal papillae include three preanal pairs and one precloacal unpaired papillae; seven postanal papilla pairs, among which one is pore-like and possibly the phasmid homolog, one subdorsal, and a pair of three closely situated posteriorly at bursa alae. The juvenile stages differ in size and structure of their sexual primordia. Sex of juveniles may be identified from the third stage. The dauer juvenile is a phoretic third juvenile stage (DJ3), which enters and remains localized in the buccal cavity of beetle adults and last-instar larvae and also under the elytra and in the ovipositor's cavity of pupae and imagoes. The first molt J1-J2 occurred inside the eggshell. Adult females laid eggs in early stages of embryonic development or containing molted J2. The propagative non-phoretic J2 inside the egg and J3 have a long and well-developed median bulb. The phoretic dauer DJ3 has a small spherical bulb like the J1 juvenile within the egg. In a sterile fungal culture, the nematodes feed on both mycelium and their unidentified ecto-symbiotic bacteria, located on nematode surface coat and multiplying in PA. Diagnosis and tabular key to the Rhabditolaimus species are given. Phylogenetic analysis of the D2-D3 of 28S rRNA gene sequences resulted in the Bayesian consensus tree with the highly supported clade of the Rhabditolaimus species.}, } @article {pmid33859627, year = {2021}, author = {Sheik, CS and Badalamenti, JP and Telling, J and Hsu, D and Alexander, SC and Bond, DR and Gralnick, JA and Lollar, BS and Toner, BM}, title = {Novel Microbial Groups Drive Productivity in an Archean Iron Formation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {627595}, pmid = {33859627}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Deep subsurface environments are decoupled from Earth's surface processes yet diverse, active, and abundant microbial communities thrive in these isolated environments. Microbes inhabiting the deep biosphere face unique challenges such as electron donor/acceptor limitations, pore space/fracture network limitations, and isolation from other microbes within the formation. Of the few systems that have been characterized, it is apparent that nutrient limitations likely facilitate diverse microbe-microbe interactions (i.e., syntrophic, symbiotic, or parasitic) and that these interactions drive biogeochemical cycling of major elements. Here we describe microbial communities living in low temperature, chemically reduced brines at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, United States. The Soudan Iron mine intersects a massive hematite formation at the southern extent of the Canadian Shield. Fractured rock aquifer brines continuously flow from exploratory boreholes drilled circa 1960 and are enriched in deuterium compared to the global meteoric values, indicating brines have had little contact with surface derived waters, and continually degas low molecular weight hydrocarbons C1-C4. Microbial enrichments suggest that once brines exit the boreholes, oxidation of the hydrocarbons occur. Amplicon sequencing show these borehole communities are low in diversity and dominated by Firmicute and Proteobacteria phyla. From the metagenome assemblies, we recovered approximately thirty genomes with estimated completion over 50%. Analysis of genome taxonomy generally followed the amplicon data, and highlights that several of the genomes represent novel families and genera. Metabolic reconstruction shows two carbon-fixation pathways were dominant, the Wood-Ljungdahl (acetogenesis) and Calvin-Benson-Bassham (via RuBisCo), indicating that inorganic carbon likely enters into the microbial foodweb with differing carbon fractionation potentials. Interestingly, methanogenesis is likely driven by Methanolobus and suggests cycling of methylated compounds and not H2/CO2 or acetate. Furthermore, the abundance of sulfate in brines suggests cryptic sulfur cycling may occur, as we detect possible sulfate reducing and thiosulfate oxidizing microorganisms. Finally, a majority of the microorganisms identified contain genes that would allow them to participate in several element cycles, highlighting that in these deep isolated systems metabolic flexibility may be an important life history trait.}, } @article {pmid33859626, year = {2021}, author = {Grimm, M and Grube, M and Schiefelbein, U and Zühlke, D and Bernhardt, J and Riedel, K}, title = {The Lichens' Microbiota, Still a Mystery?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {623839}, pmid = {33859626}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lichens represent self-supporting symbioses, which occur in a wide range of terrestrial habitats and which contribute significantly to mineral cycling and energy flow at a global scale. Lichens usually grow much slower than higher plants. Nevertheless, lichens can contribute substantially to biomass production. This review focuses on the lichen symbiosis in general and especially on the model species Lobaria pulmonaria L. Hoffm., which is a large foliose lichen that occurs worldwide on tree trunks in undisturbed forests with long ecological continuity. In comparison to many other lichens, L. pulmonaria is less tolerant to desiccation and highly sensitive to air pollution. The name-giving mycobiont (belonging to the Ascomycota), provides a protective layer covering a layer of the green-algal photobiont (Dictyochloropsis reticulata) and interspersed cyanobacterial cell clusters (Nostoc spec.). Recently performed metaproteome analyses confirm the partition of functions in lichen partnerships. The ample functional diversity of the mycobiont contrasts the predominant function of the photobiont in production (and secretion) of energy-rich carbohydrates, and the cyanobiont's contribution by nitrogen fixation. In addition, high throughput and state-of-the-art metagenomics and community fingerprinting, metatranscriptomics, and MS-based metaproteomics identify the bacterial community present on L. pulmonaria as a surprisingly abundant and structurally integrated element of the lichen symbiosis. Comparative metaproteome analyses of lichens from different sampling sites suggest the presence of a relatively stable core microbiome and a sampling site-specific portion of the microbiome. Moreover, these studies indicate how the microbiota may contribute to the symbiotic system, to improve its health, growth and fitness.}, } @article {pmid33857759, year = {2021}, author = {Banasiewicz, J and Granada, CE and Lisboa, BB and Grzesiuk, M and Matuśkiewicz, W and Bałka, M and Schlindwein, G and Vargas, LK and Passaglia, LMP and Stępkowski, T}, title = {Diversity and phylogenetic affinities of Bradyrhizobium isolates from Pampa and Atlantic Forest Biomes.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {126203}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126203}, pmid = {33857759}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Forests ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Grassland ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this work, we investigated Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from soils collected from the rhizosphere of native and exotic legumes species inhabiting two ecoclimatic zones - asubtropical-lowland pasture (Pampa Biome) and a volcanic plateau covered by Araucaria Moist Forests (Atlantic Forest Biome). The rhizobial strains were isolated from the nodules of seven native and one exotic legume species used as rhizobium traps. Single-gene (recA, glnII, dnaK) and combined-gene MLSA analyses (dnaK-glnII-gyrB-recA-rpoB) revealed that nearly 85% of the isolates clustered in B. elkanii supergroup, while the remaining (except for two isolates) in B. japonicum supergroup, albeit, in most cases, separately from the type strains of Bradyrhizobium species. As a symbiotic gene marker, a portion of nifD gene was sequenced for 194 strains. In the nifD-tree, an American branch III.3D (104 isolates), was the most numerous among the isolates. A significant portion of the isolates clustered in American groups; subclade III.4 (40 strains), Clade VII (3 strains), and a new Clade XX (4 strains). Most of the remaining strains belonged to a pantropical III.3C branch (39 isolates). On the other hand, identification of isolates belonging, respectively, to Clade I and Clade II may result of spreading of the Australian (Clade I) and European (Clade II) bradyrhizobia following the introduction of their legume hosts. Our study indicated that the American groups predominated in the symbiotic Bradyrhizobium communities in southern Brazil. However, there is a significant component of exotic lineages, resulting from the dispersal of pantropical Fabaceae taxa and the introduction of exotic legumes.}, } @article {pmid33857536, year = {2021}, author = {Nakajima, T}, title = {Symbiogenesis is driven through hierarchical reorganization of an ecosystem under closed or semi-closed conditions.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {104427}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104427}, pmid = {33857536}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; Autotrophic Processes ; *Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Heterotrophic Processes ; *Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; *Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Ecosystems generate selective environments and function as sources of various metabolic systems for symbiogenesis. In this study, we have explored how symbiogenesis occurs in the living world, from a holistic perspective, by observing a long-term experimental culture of an ecosystem model (CET microcosm) and using related findings in laboratory and field studies of endosymbiosis between auto- (photo-) and heterotrophic organisms. The results obtained suggest that symbiogenesis can occur in the mature stages of semi-closed ecosystems and lead to a new ecosystem-oriented perspective of symbiogenesis. Symbiogenesis is an aspect of ecosystem evolution in which whole ecosystem dynamics generate selective conditions operating on the component species, favoring symbiotic associations among some of them. The development of symbiotic associations then modifies the organization and material/energy flow structure of the ecosystem, which, in turn, modifies their selective environments.}, } @article {pmid33857428, year = {2021}, author = {Moore, WM and Chan, C and Ishikawa, T and Rennie, EA and Wipf, HM and Benites, V and Kawai-Yamada, M and Mortimer, JC and Scheller, HV}, title = {Reprogramming sphingolipid glycosylation is required for endosymbiont persistence in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {11}, pages = {2374-2385.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.067}, pmid = {33857428}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glucosamine ; Glycosylation ; Inositol ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Sphingolipids ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant endosymbiosis relies on the development of specialized membranes that encapsulate the endosymbiont and facilitate nutrient exchange. However, the identity and function of lipids within these membrane interfaces is largely unknown. Here, we identify GLUCOSAMINE INOSITOL PHOSPHORYLCERAMIDE TRANSFERASE1 (GINT1) as a sphingolipid glycosyltransferase highly expressed in Medicago truncatula root nodules and roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and further demonstrate that this enzyme functions in the synthesis of N-acetyl-glucosamine-decorated glycosyl inositol phosphoryl ceramides (GIPCs) in planta. MtGINT1 expression was developmentally regulated in symbiotic tissues associated with the development of symbiosome and periarbuscular membranes. RNAi silencing of MtGINT1 did not affect overall root growth but strongly impaired nodulation and AM symbiosis, resulting in the senescence of symbiosomes and arbuscules. Our results indicate that, although M. truncatula root sphingolipidome predominantly consists of hexose-decorated GIPCs, local reprogramming of GIPC glycosylation by MtGINT1 is required for the persistence of endosymbionts within the plant cell.}, } @article {pmid33855719, year = {2021}, author = {U'Ren, JM and Zimmerman, NB}, title = {Oaks provide new perspective on seed microbiome assembly.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {4}, pages = {1293-1295}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17305}, pmid = {33855719}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Maternal Inheritance ; *Microbiota ; *Mycobiome ; *Quercus ; Seeds ; }, } @article {pmid33853950, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, C and He, J and Dai, H and Wang, G and Zhang, X and Wang, C and Shi, J and Chen, X and Wang, D and Wang, E}, title = {Discriminating symbiosis and immunity signals by receptor competition in rice.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {33853950}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/immunology/physiology ; Ascomycota/metabolism ; Chitin/immunology ; Chitosan/immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Oryza/*metabolism/physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Immunity/immunology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants encounter various microbes in nature and must respond appropriately to symbiotic or pathogenic ones. In rice, the receptor-like kinase OsCERK1 is involved in recognizing both symbiotic and immune signals. However, how these opposing signals are discerned via OsCERK1 remains unknown. Here, we found that receptor competition enables the discrimination of symbiosis and immunity signals in rice. On the one hand, the symbiotic receptor OsMYR1 and its short-length chitooligosaccharide ligand inhibit complex formation between OsCERK1 and OsCEBiP and suppress OsCERK1 phosphorylating the downstream substrate OsGEF1, which reduces the sensitivity of rice to microbe-associated molecular patterns. Indeed, OsMYR1 overexpression lines are more susceptible to the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, whereas Osmyr1 mutants show higher resistance. On the other hand, OsCEBiP can bind OsCERK1 and thus block OsMYR1-OsCERK1 heteromer formation. Consistently, the Oscebip mutant displayed a higher rate of mycorrhizal colonization at early stages of infection. Our results indicate that OsMYR1 and OsCEBiP receptors compete for OsCERK1 to determine the outcome of symbiosis and immunity signals.}, } @article {pmid33853946, year = {2021}, author = {Carrier, TJ and Leigh, BA and Deaker, DJ and Devens, HR and Wray, GA and Bordenstein, SR and Byrne, M and Reitzel, AM}, title = {Microbiome reduction and endosymbiont gain from a switch in sea urchin life history.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {33853946}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/physiology ; Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sea Urchins/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Animal gastrointestinal tracts harbor a microbiome that is integral to host function, yet species from diverse phyla have evolved a reduced digestive system or lost it completely. Whether such changes are associated with alterations in the diversity and/or abundance of the microbiome remains an untested hypothesis in evolutionary symbiosis. Here, using the life history transition from planktotrophy (feeding) to lecithotrophy (nonfeeding) in the sea urchin Heliocidaris, we demonstrate that the lack of a functional gut corresponds with a reduction in microbial community diversity and abundance as well as the association with a diet-specific microbiome. We also determine that the lecithotroph vertically transmits a Rickettsiales that may complement host nutrition through amino acid biosynthesis and influence host reproduction. Our results indicate that the evolutionary loss of a functional gut correlates with a reduction in the microbiome and the association with an endosymbiont. Symbiotic transitions can therefore accompany life history transitions in the evolution of developmental strategies.}, } @article {pmid33852872, year = {2021}, author = {Danneels, B and Viruel, J and Mcgrath, K and Janssens, SB and Wales, N and Wilkin, P and Carlier, A}, title = {Patterns of transmission and horizontal gene transfer in the Dioscorea sansibarensis leaf symbiosis revealed by whole-genome sequencing.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {2666-2673.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.049}, pmid = {33852872}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Dioscorea/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaves of the wild yam species Dioscorea sansibarensis display prominent forerunner or "drip" tips filled with extracellular bacteria of the species Orrella dioscoreae.[1] This species of yam is native to Madagascar and tropical Africa and reproduces mainly asexually through aerial bulbils and underground tubers, which also contain a small population of O. dioscoreae.[2][,][3] Despite apparent vertical transmission, the genome of O. dioscoreae does not show any of the hallmarks of genome erosion often found in hereditary symbionts (e.g., small genome size and accumulation of pseudogenes).[4-6] We investigated here the range and distribution of leaf symbiosis between D. sansibarensis and O. dioscoreae using preserved leaf samples from herbarium collections that were originally collected from various locations in Africa. We recovered DNA from the extracellular symbiont in all samples, showing that the symbiosis is widespread throughout continental Africa and Madagascar. Despite the degraded nature of this DNA, we constructed 17 symbiont genomes using de novo methods without relying on a reference. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses revealed that horizontal transmission of symbionts and horizontal gene transfer have shaped the evolution of the symbiont. These mechanisms could help explain lack of signs of reductive genome evolution despite an obligate host-associated lifestyle. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of D. sansibarensis based on plastid genomes revealed a strong geographical clustering of samples and provided evidence that the symbiosis originated at least 13 mya, earlier than previously estimated.[3].}, } @article {pmid33850043, year = {2021}, author = {Cui, WJ and Zhang, B and Zhao, R and Liu, LX and Jiao, J and Zhang, Z and Tian, CF}, title = {Lineage-Specific Rewiring of Core Pathways Predating Innovation of Legume Nodules Shapes Symbiotic Efficiency.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33850043}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The interkingdom coevolution innovated the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. The application of this nitrogen-fixing system in sustainable agriculture is usually impeded by incompatible interactions between partners. However, the progressive evolution of rhizobium-legume compatibility remains elusive. In this work, deletions of rhcV encoding a structural component of the type three secretion system allow related Sinorhizobium strains to nodulate a previously incompatible soybean cultivar (Glycine max). These rhcV mutants show low to medium to high symbiotic efficiency on the same cultivated soybean while being indistinguishable on wild soybean plants (Glycine soja). The dual pantranscriptomics reveals nodule-specific activation of core symbiosis genes of Sinorhizobium and Glycine genes associated with genome duplication events along the chronogram. Unexpectedly, symbiotic efficiency is in line with lineage-dependent transcriptional profiles of core pathways which predate the diversification of Fabaceae and Sinorhizobium. This is supported by further physiological and biochemical experiments. Particularly, low-efficiency nodules show disordered antioxidant activity and low-energy status, which restrict nitrogen fixation activity. Collectively, the ancient core pathways play a crucial role in optimizing the function of later-evolved mutualistic arsenals in the rhizobium-legume coevolution.IMPORTANCE Significant roles of complex extracellular microbiota in environmental adaptation of eukaryotes in ever-changing circumstances have been revealed. Given the intracellular infection ability, facultative endosymbionts can be considered pioneers within complex extracellular microbiota and are ideal organisms for understanding the early stage of interkingdom adaptation. This work reveals that the later innovation of key symbiotic arsenals and the lineage-specific network rewiring in ancient core pathways, predating the divergence of legumes and rhizobia, underline the progressive evolution of rhizobium-legume compatibility. This insight not only is significant for improving the application benefits of rhizobial inoculants in sustainable agriculture but also advances our general understanding of the interkingdom coevolution which is theoretically explored by all host-microbiota interactions.}, } @article {pmid33850041, year = {2021}, author = {Bent, SM and Miller, CA and Sharp, KH and Hansel, CM and Apprill, A}, title = {Differential Patterns of Microbiota Recovery in Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Corals following Antibiotic Disturbance.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33850041}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {P20 GM103430/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Microbial relationships are critical to coral health, and changes in microbiomes are often exhibited following environmental disturbance. However, the dynamics of coral-microbial composition and external factors that govern coral microbiome assembly and response to disturbance remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we investigated how antibiotic-induced disturbance affects the coral mucus microbiota in the facultatively symbiotic temperate coral Astrangia poculata, which occurs naturally with high (symbiotic) or low (aposymbiotic) densities of the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Breviolum psygmophilum We also explored how differences in the mucus microbiome of natural and disturbed A. poculata colonies affected levels of extracellular superoxide, a reactive oxygen species thought to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on coral health. Using a bacterial and archaeal small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequencing approach, we found that antibiotic exposure significantly altered the composition of the mucus microbiota but that it did not influence superoxide levels, suggesting that superoxide production in A. poculata is not influenced by the mucus microbiota. In antibiotic-treated A. poculata exposed to ambient seawater, mucus microbiota recovered to its initial state within 2 weeks following exposure, and six bacterial taxa played a prominent role in this reassembly. Microbial composition among symbiotic colonies was more similar throughout the 2-week recovery period than that among aposymbiotic colonies, whose microbiota exhibited significantly more interindividual variability after antibiotic treatment and during recovery. This work suggests that the A. poculata mucus microbiome can rapidly reestablish itself and that the presence of B. psygmophilum, perhaps by supplying nutrients, photosynthate, or other signaling molecules, exerts influence on this process.IMPORTANCE Corals are animals whose health is often maintained by symbiotic microalgae and other microorganisms, yet they are highly susceptible to environmental-related disturbances. Here, we used a known disruptor, antibiotics, to understand how the coral mucus microbial community reassembles itself following disturbance. We show that the Astrangia poculata microbiome can recover from this disturbance and that individuals with algal symbionts reestablish their microbiomes in a more consistent manner compared to corals lacking symbionts. This work is important because it suggests that this coral may be able to recover its mucus microbiome following disturbance, it identifies specific microbes that may be important to reassembly, and it demonstrates that algal symbionts may play a previously undocumented role in microbial recovery and resilience to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid33849527, year = {2021}, author = {González-Pech, RA and Stephens, TG and Chen, Y and Mohamed, AR and Cheng, Y and Shah, S and Dougan, KE and Fortuin, MDA and Lagorce, R and Burt, DW and Bhattacharya, D and Ragan, MA and Chan, CX}, title = {Comparison of 15 dinoflagellate genomes reveals extensive sequence and structural divergence in family Symbiodiniaceae and genus Symbiodinium.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {73}, pmid = {33849527}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {80NSSC19K0462/NASA/NASA/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Genome/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae are important photosynthetic symbionts in cnidarians (such as corals) and other coral reef organisms. Breakdown of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis due to environmental stress (i.e. coral bleaching) can lead to coral death and the potential collapse of reef ecosystems. However, evolution of Symbiodiniaceae genomes, and its implications for the coral, is little understood. Genome sequences of Symbiodiniaceae remain scarce due in part to their large genome sizes (1-5 Gbp) and idiosyncratic genome features.

RESULTS: Here, we present de novo genome assemblies of seven members of the genus Symbiodinium, of which two are free-living, one is an opportunistic symbiont, and the remainder are mutualistic symbionts. Integrating other available data, we compare 15 dinoflagellate genomes revealing high sequence and structural divergence. Divergence among some Symbiodinium isolates is comparable to that among distinct genera of Symbiodiniaceae. We also recovered hundreds of gene families specific to each lineage, many of which encode unknown functions. An in-depth comparison between the genomes of the symbiotic Symbiodinium tridacnidorum (isolated from a coral) and the free-living Symbiodinium natans reveals a greater prevalence of transposable elements, genetic duplication, structural rearrangements, and pseudogenisation in the symbiotic species.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results underscore the potential impact of lifestyle on lineage-specific gene-function innovation, genome divergence, and the diversification of Symbiodinium and Symbiodiniaceae. The divergent features we report, and their putative causes, may also apply to other microbial eukaryotes that have undergone symbiotic phases in their evolutionary history.}, } @article {pmid33848489, year = {2021}, author = {Nagy, LG and Kovács, GM}, title = {Mycology: Rediscovery of a lost model fungus highlights the origin of mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {R342-R344}, pmid = {33848489}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {758161/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Mycology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are the most frequent symbioses of land plants. By reisolating a long-lost fungus from nature, a new study cracks the genomics of an enigmatic fungal-cyanobacterial partnership and reestablishes a valuable model for understanding the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33848479, year = {2021}, author = {Malar C, M and Krüger, M and Krüger, C and Wang, Y and Stajich, JE and Keller, J and Chen, ECH and Yildirir, G and Villeneuve-Laroche, M and Roux, C and Delaux, PM and Corradi, N}, title = {The genome of Geosiphon pyriformis reveals ancestral traits linked to the emergence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {1578-1580}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.032}, pmid = {33848479}, issn = {1879-0445}, } @article {pmid33847999, year = {2021}, author = {Edwards, M and Lutty, GA}, title = {Bruch's Membrane and the Choroid in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1256}, number = {}, pages = {89-119}, pmid = {33847999}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; *Bruch Membrane ; Choroid ; Humans ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Visual Acuity ; *Wet Macular Degeneration ; }, abstract = {A healthy choroidal vasculature is necessary to support the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors, because there is a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between the components of the photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/Bruch's membrane (BrMb)/choriocapillaris (CC) complex. This relationship is compromised in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by the dysfunction or death of the choroidal vasculature. This chapter will provide a basic description of the human Bruch's membrane and choroidal anatomy and physiology and how they change in AMD.The choriocapillaris is the lobular, fenestrated capillary system of choroid. It lies immediately posterior to the pentalaminar Bruch's membrane (BrMb). The blood supply for this system is the intermediate blood vessels of Sattler's layer and the large blood vessels in Haller's layer.In geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry AMD, large confluent drusen form on BrMb, and hyperpigmentation (presumably dysfunction in RPE) appears to be the initial insult. The resorption of these drusen and loss of RPE (hypopigmentation) can be predictive for progression of GA. The death and dysfunction of CC and photoreceptors appear to be secondary events to loss in RPE. The loss of choroidal vasculature may be the initial insult in neovascular AMD (nAMD). We have observed a loss of CC with an intact RPE monolayer in nAMD, by making RPE hypoxic. These hypoxic cells then produce angiogenic substances like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which stimulate growth of new vessels from CC, resulting in choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Reduction in blood supply to the CC, often stenosis of intermediate and large blood vessels, is associated with CC loss.The polymorphisms in the complement system components are associated with AMD. In addition, the environment of the CC, basement membrane and intercapillary septa, is a proinflammatory milieu with accumulation of proinflammatory molecules like CRP and complement components during AMD. In this toxic milieu, CC die or become dysfunctional even early in AMD. The loss of CC might be a stimulus for drusen formation since the disposal system for retinal debris and exocytosed material from RPE would be limited. Ultimately, the photoreceptors die of lack of nutrients, leakage of serum components from the neovascularization, and scar formation.Therefore, the mutualistic symbiotic relationship of the photoreceptor/RPE/BrMb/CC complex is lost in both forms of AMD. Loss of this functionally integrated relationship results in death and dysfunction of all of the components in the complex.}, } @article {pmid33846444, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, WC and Choi, S and Jang, A and Son, K and Kim, Y}, title = {Structural comparison of Acinetobacter baumannii β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductases in fatty acid and aryl polyene biosynthesis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {7945}, pmid = {33846444}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Reductase/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Acinetobacter baumannii/*enzymology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Arginine/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Leucine/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; NADP/metabolism ; Polyenes/*metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Static Electricity ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Some Gram-negative bacteria harbor lipids with aryl polyene (APE) moieties. Biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs) for APE biosynthesis exhibit striking similarities with fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes. Despite their broad distribution among pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria, the detailed roles of the metabolic products of APE gene clusters are unclear. Here, we determined the crystal structures of the β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase ApeQ produced by an APE gene cluster from clinically isolated virulent Acinetobacter baumannii in two states (bound and unbound to NADPH). An in vitro visible absorption spectrum assay of the APE polyene moiety revealed that the β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase FabG from the A. baumannii FAS gene cluster cannot be substituted for ApeQ in APE biosynthesis. Comparison with the FabG structure exhibited distinct surface electrostatic potential profiles for ApeQ, suggesting a positively charged arginine patch as the cognate ACP-binding site. Binding modeling for the aryl group predicted that Leu185 (Phe183 in FabG) in ApeQ is responsible for 4-benzoyl moiety recognition. Isothermal titration and arginine patch mutagenesis experiments corroborated these results. These structure-function insights of a unique reductase in the APE BGC in comparison with FAS provide new directions for elucidating host-pathogen interaction mechanisms and novel antibiotics discovery.}, } @article {pmid33846347, year = {2021}, author = {Waters, SL and Schumacher, LJ and El Haj, AJ}, title = {Regenerative medicine meets mathematical modelling: developing symbiotic relationships.}, journal = {NPJ Regenerative medicine}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {24}, pmid = {33846347}, issn = {2057-3995}, support = {MR/K017047/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/R015635/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/T015489/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Successful progression from bench to bedside for regenerative medicine products is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach. What has not yet been fully recognised is the potential for quantitative data analysis and mathematical modelling approaches to support this process. In this review, we highlight the wealth of opportunities for embedding mathematical and computational approaches within all stages of the regenerative medicine pipeline. We explore how exploiting quantitative mathematical and computational approaches, alongside state-of-the-art regenerative medicine research, can lead to therapies that potentially can be more rapidly translated into the clinic.}, } @article {pmid33845886, year = {2021}, author = {Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Aubé, J and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Reveillaud, J}, title = {Niche partitioning in the Rimicaris exoculata holobiont: the case of the first symbiotic Zetaproteobacteria.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {87}, pmid = {33845886}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Decapoda ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Free-living and symbiotic chemosynthetic microbial communities support primary production and higher trophic levels in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The shrimp Rimicaris exoculata, which dominates animal communities along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, houses a complex bacterial community in its enlarged cephalothorax. The dominant bacteria present are from the taxonomic groups Campylobacteria, Desulfobulbia (formerly Deltaproteobacteria), Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and some recently discovered iron oxyhydroxide-coated Zetaproteobacteria. This epibiotic consortium uses iron, sulfide, methane, and hydrogen as energy sources. Here, we generated shotgun metagenomes from Rimicaris exoculata cephalothoracic epibiotic communities to reconstruct and investigate symbiotic genomes. We collected specimens from three geochemically contrasted vent fields, TAG, Rainbow, and Snake Pit, to unravel the specificity, variability, and adaptation of Rimicaris-microbe associations.

RESULTS: Our data enabled us to reconstruct 49 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the TAG and Rainbow vent fields, including 16 with more than 90% completion and less than 5% contamination based on single copy core genes. These MAGs belonged to the dominant Campylobacteria, Desulfobulbia, Thiotrichaceae, and some novel candidate phyla radiation (CPR) lineages. In addition, most importantly, two MAGs in our collection were affiliated to Zetaproteobacteria and had no close relatives (average nucleotide identity ANI < 77% with the closest relative Ghiorsea bivora isolated from TAG, and 88% with each other), suggesting potential novel species. Genes for Calvin-Benson Bassham (CBB) carbon fixation, iron, and sulfur oxidation, as well as nitrate reduction, occurred in both MAGs. However, genes for hydrogen oxidation and multicopper oxidases occurred in one MAG only, suggesting shared and specific potential functions for these two novel Zetaproteobacteria symbiotic lineages. Overall, we observed highly similar symbionts co-existing in a single shrimp at both the basaltic TAG and ultramafic Rainbow vent sites. Nevertheless, further examination of the seeming functional redundancy among these epibionts revealed important differences.

CONCLUSION: These data highlight microniche partitioning in the Rimicaris holobiont and support recent studies showing that functional diversity enables multiple symbiont strains to coexist in animals colonizing hydrothermal vents. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid33841792, year = {2021}, author = {Rossbach, S and Hume, BCC and Cárdenas, A and Perna, G and Voolstra, CR and Duarte, CM}, title = {Flexibility in Red Sea Tridacna maxima-Symbiodiniaceae associations supports environmental niche adaptation.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {3393-3406}, pmid = {33841792}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Giant clams (Tridacninae) are important members of Indo-Pacific coral reefs and among the few bivalve groups that live in symbiosis with unicellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae). Despite the importance of these endosymbiotic dinoflagellates for clam ecology, the diversity and specificity of these associations remain relatively poorly studied, especially in the Red Sea. Here, we used the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA gene region to investigate Symbiodiniaceae communities associated with Red Sea Tridacna maxima clams. We sampled five sites spanning 1,300 km (10° of latitude, from the Gulf of Aqaba, 29°N, to the Farasan Banks, 18°N) along the Red Sea's North-South environmental gradient. We detected a diverse and structured assembly of host-associated algae with communities demonstrating region and site-specificity. Specimens from the Gulf of Aqaba harbored three genera of Symbiodiniaceae, Cladocopium, Durusdinium, and Symbiodinium, while at all other sites clams associated exclusively with algae from the Symbiodinium genus. Of these exclusively Symbiodinium-associating sites, the more northern (27° and 22°) and more southern sites (20° and 18°) formed two separate groupings despite site-specific algal genotypes being resolved at each site. These groupings were congruent with the genetic break seen across multiple marine taxa in the Red Sea at approximately 19°, and along with our documented site-specificity of algal communities, contrasted the panmictic distribution of the T. maxima host. As such, our findings indicate flexibility in T. maxima-Symbiodiniaceae associations that may explain its relatively high environmental plasticity and offers a mechanism for environmental niche adaptation.}, } @article {pmid33841761, year = {2021}, author = {Bell, CA and Magkourilou, E and Urwin, PE and Field, KJ}, title = {The influence of competing root symbionts on below-ground plant resource allocation.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {2997-3003}, pmid = {33841761}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Plants typically interact with multiple above- and below-ground organisms simultaneously, with their symbiotic relationships spanning a continuum ranging from mutualism, such as with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to parasitism, including symbioses with plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN).Although research is revealing the patterns of plant resource allocation to mutualistic AMF partners under different host and environmental constraints, the root ecosystem, with multiple competing symbionts, is often ignored. Such competition is likely to heavily influence resource allocation to symbionts.Here, we outline and discuss the competition between AMF and PPN for the finite supply of host plant resources, highlighting the need for a more holistic understanding of the influence of below-ground interactions on plant resource allocation. Based on recent developments in our understanding of other symbiotic systems such as legume-rhizobia and AMF-aphid-plant, we propose hypotheses for the distribution of plant resources between contrasting below-ground symbionts and how such competition may affect the host.We identify relevant knowledge gaps at the physiological and molecular scales which, if resolved, will improve our understanding of the true ecological significance and potential future exploitation of AMF-PPN-plant interactions in order to optimize plant growth. To resolve these outstanding knowledge gaps, we propose the application of well-established methods in isotope tracing and nutrient budgeting to monitor the movement of nutrients between symbionts. By combining these approaches with novel time of arrival experiments and experimental systems involving multiple plant hosts interlinked by common mycelial networks, it may be possible to reveal the impact of multiple, simultaneous colonizations by competing symbionts on carbon and nutrient flows across ecologically important scales.}, } @article {pmid33841472, year = {2021}, author = {Decunta, FA and Pérez, LI and Malinowski, DP and Molina-Montenegro, MA and Gundel, PE}, title = {A Systematic Review on the Effects of Epichloë Fungal Endophytes on Drought Tolerance in Cool-Season Grasses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {644731}, pmid = {33841472}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symptomless fungal endophytes in the genus Epichloë are repeatedly mentioned to increase tolerance of cool-season grasses to a wide range of environmental stress factors, mainly drought. However, the generality of this idea is challenged because (i) most studies have been conducted on two economically important forage grasses {tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Dumort] and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)}, (ii) endophyte-mediated mechanisms and effects on plant responses to drought have shown to be highly variable across species, and that (iii) symbiosis incidence in plant populations occurring in extremely arid environments is usually low. We question this idea by reviewing the existing information about Epichloë fungal endophyte effects on drought tolerance in cool-season grasses. We combined standard review, vote counting, and calculation of effect sizes to synthesize the literature, identify information gaps, and guide future research. The total number of studies was higher for domesticated than for wild species, a ratio that was balanced when papers with data quality for effect size calculus were considered. After the drought, endophyte-infected plants accumulated more aboveground and belowground biomass than non-infected counterparts, while no effect on tillering was observed. However, these effects remained significant for wild (even on tillering) but not for domesticated species. Interestingly, despite the continuous effort in determining physiological mechanisms behind the endophyte effects, no studies evaluated plant fecundity as a measure of ecological fitness nor vital rates (such as survival) as to escalate individual-level variables to population. Together with the high variability in results, our work shows that generalizing a positive effect of fungal endophytes in plant tolerance to drought may be misleading. Future studies combining field surveys with manipulative experiments would allow us to unravel the role of fungal endophytes in plant adaptation by considering the evolutionary history of species and populations to the different ecological contexts.}, } @article {pmid33841027, year = {2021}, author = {El-Hamamsy, L and Bruno, B and Chessel-Lazzarotto, F and Chevalier, M and Roy, D and Zufferey, JD and Mondada, F}, title = {The symbiotic relationship between educational robotics and computer science in formal education.}, journal = {Education and information technologies}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {5077-5107}, pmid = {33841027}, issn = {1360-2357}, abstract = {Educational Robotics (ER) has the potential to provide significant benefits to education, provided an increase in outreach by transitioning from the extra-curricular initiatives in which ER has thrived to formal education. As Computer Science (CS) Education is undergoing curricular reforms worldwide, the present study addresses the case of a Digital Education reform that included ER as a means to teach core CS concepts. Approximately 350 teachers from the first four grades of primary school participated in a mandatory two-year continuing professional development (CPD) program. The first year of the program was dedicated to CS and introduced teachers to CS Unplugged (CSU) and Robotics Unplugged (RU) activities. As such, we analyse the interplay between these activities and focus on teachers' voluntary adoption of the proposed content in classrooms. This is complemented by an analysis of their perception and recommendation of ER. The findings highlight three main points. Firstly, ER benefits from the integration in the CS CPD, as this provides the necessary traction to introduce ER into teacher practices (the teachers freely devoted 2275 h to ER activities in their classrooms, over two years). Secondly, the presence of ER activities in the CS-CPD allows a higher proportion of teachers to adopt the CS content, as there are teachers that favour one type of activity over the other. Finally, the globally positive perception of ER registered in this study is relevant for two reasons: teachers were not voluntarily participating in the CPD, and results did not differ between pioneers and novices.}, } @article {pmid33840119, year = {2021}, author = {Laurenson, S and Villamizar, L and Ritchie, W and Scott, S and Mackay, M}, title = {Novel use of Kombucha consortium to reduce Escherichia coli in dairy shed effluent.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {101}, number = {14}, pages = {6143-6146}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.11250}, pmid = {33840119}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Escherichia coli/*growth & development ; Feces/*microbiology ; Fermentation ; Livestock ; Microbial Consortia ; Waste Management/*methods ; Yeasts/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Faecal contamination from dairy farm effluent is a major risk to water quality in New Zealand. In this experiment we have tested the efficacy of Kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), to reduce the concentration of Escherichia coli in dairy shed effluent (DSE).

RESULTS: Kombucha SCOBY was highly effective in lowering the number of E. coli colony forming units (CFUs) to levels that were undetectable. The decrease in CFUs occurred rapidly within 48 h of Kombucha SCOBY being inoculated to the effluent matrix and was accompanied by a corresponding decline in pH.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that Kombucha SCOBY was effective in reducing the abundance of E. coli in DSE due to its effect on solution pH. Further work is required to assess the practicality of treating DSE with Kombucha SCOBY within a farm environment where effluent management and climatic complexities are important. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid33839604, year = {2021}, author = {Salmi, A and Boulila, F}, title = {Heavy metals multi-tolerant Bradyrhizobium isolated from mercury mining region in Algeria.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {289}, number = {}, pages = {112547}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112547}, pmid = {33839604}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Algeria ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Mercury/toxicity ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Mining ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals accumulation in the environment has led to a decrease in the capacity of ecosystems to sustain life as human, animal and plant health is threatened. To remedy this problem, rhizoremediation has been suggested as a solution. Legumes and rhizobia symbiotic association has captivated attention due to its involvement in the restoration of heavy-metal-contaminated sites. Thus, the aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the strains nodulating Calicotome spinosa plant that naturally occurred in two Algerian mercury mines. Fifty-four bacterial strains were isolated, then grouped into sixteen distinct BOX-PCR patterns and were genetically identified as belonging to the Bradyrhizobium genus. The studied strains were able to induce nodules on Retama monosperma, R. reatam, Lupinus albus, while no nodulation was observed in Glycine max, their symbiotic capacity was confirmed by amplifying the nodC gene. The phylogenetic analysis based on the nodC has grouped this Bradyrhizobium strains to either symbiovar genistearum or retamae. The isolates revealed diversity in terms of NaCl; pH tolerance, and phosphate solubilization. Production of siderophores was negative for these strains. All the isolated Bradyrhizobium were tolerant to both Zn and Pb in contrast they were sensitive to Cu and Cd. Interestingly, 43% of strains were tolerant to high Hg levels. Hence, some strains displayed multiple tolerances to heavy metals. Therefore, this is the first time we identify Bradyrhizobium strains originating from a North African mercury mine. This study could help to select mercury and other heavy metal-tolerant rhizobia showing an interesting potential to be used as inoculants to remediate the heavy metal soil accumulation.}, } @article {pmid33838436, year = {2021}, author = {Bouhnik, O and Lamin, H and Alami, S and Bennis, M and Ouajdi, M and Bellaka, M and El Antry, S and Abbas, Y and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and El Idrissi, MM}, title = {The endemic Chamaecytisus albidus is nodulated by symbiovar genistearum of Bradyrhizobium in the Moroccan Maamora Forest.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {126197}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126197}, pmid = {33838436}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Forests ; Morocco ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Out of 54 isolates from root nodules of the Moroccan-endemic Chamaecytisus albidus plants growing in soils from the Maamora cork oak forest, 44 isolates formed nodules when used to infect their original host plant. A phenotypic analysis showed the metabolic diversity of the strains that used different carbohydrates and amino acids as sole carbon and nitrogen sources. The isolates grew on media with pH values ranging from 6 to 8. However, they did not tolerate high temperatures or drought and they did not grow on media with salt concentrations higher than 85 mM. REP-PCR fingerprinting grouped the strains into 12 clusters, of which representative strains were selected for ARDRA and rrs analyses. The rrs gene sequence analysis indicated that all 12 strains were members of the genus Bradyrhizobium and their phylogeny showed that they were grouped into two different clusters. Two strains from each group were selected for multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using atpD, recA, gyrB and glnII housekeeping genes. The inferred phylogenetic trees confirmed that the strains clustered into two divergent clusters. Strains CM55 and CM57 were affiliated to the B. canariense/B. lupini group, whereas strains CM61 and CM64 were regrouped within the B. cytisi/B. rifense lineage. The analysis of the nodC symbiotic gene affiliated the strains to the symbiovar genistearum. The strains were also able to nodulate Retama monosperma, Lupinus luteus and Cytisus monspessulanus, but not Phaseolus vulgaris or Glycine max. Inoculation tests with C. albidus showed that some strains could be exploited as efficient inocula that could be used to improve plant growth in the Maamora forest.}, } @article {pmid33838428, year = {2021}, author = {Ahmad, Z and Mosa, A and Zhan, L and Gao, B}, title = {Biochar modulates mineral nitrogen dynamics in soil and terrestrial ecosystems: A critical review.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {278}, number = {}, pages = {130378}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130378}, pmid = {33838428}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Charcoal ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Minerals ; *Nitrogen/analysis ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {Biochar, over the last two decades, has become the focal point of agro-environmental research given its unique functionality, cost-effectiveness and recyclability potentials. It has been studied intensively as an efficient scavenger for the decontamination of several organic and inorganic pollutants. However, the ability of biochar to modulate nitrogen (N) dynamics in soil and terrestrial ecosystems remains controversial. This work deliberates on the premise that biochar functionality enables maximizing N use efficiency by reducing the potential losses induced by volatilization/emission and runoff/leaching as well as stimulating available N inputs derived from symbiotic and nonsymbiotic biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and N mineralization/retention. For this purpose, we carried out a critical review on different intriguing dimensions surrounding the potentiality of biochar to modulate the complicated reactions of soil N cycle with emphasis on its pros and cons. Previous studies in the literature have shown contradictory results with a noticeable significant effect of biochar toward stimulating available N inputs and reducing its losses under short-term laboratory experimentations. However, long-term field investigations have indicated minimal or negative effects in this regard. Furthermore, some of the experimentations lack appropriate controls or fail to account for inputs or losses associated with biochar particles. It is thus of great importance to contextualise lab-scale experimentations based on real field data to provide a holistic approach for understanding the complicated reactions responsible for modulating N cycle in the charosphere. Additionally, biochar functionalization should be highlighted in the foreseeable research to develop fit-for-purpose forms tailored in agro-environmental applications.}, } @article {pmid33838413, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, S and Feng, X and Xue, H and Qiu, D and Huang, Z and Wang, N}, title = {Bioenergy generation and nitrogen removal in a novel ecological-microbial fuel cell.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {278}, number = {}, pages = {130450}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130450}, pmid = {33838413}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Denitrification ; Electricity ; Electrodes ; Nitrogen ; Wastewater ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {A novel ecological-microbial fuel cell (E-MFC) was constructed based on the mutualistic symbiosis relationship among wetland plants Ipomoea aquatic, benthic fauna Tubifex tubifex (T. tubifex) and microorganisms. The maximum power densities of sediment MFC (S-MFC), wetland plant MFC (WP-MFC) and E-MFC were 6.80 mW/m[2], 10.60 mW/m[2] and 15.59 mW/m[2], respectively. Ipomoea aquatic roots secreted organic matter as electricigens' fuel for electricity generation, while T. tubifex decomposed decaying leaves and roots into soluble organic matter and plant nutrients, forming a co-dependent and mutually beneficial system, which was conducive to bioelectricity production. The E-MFC obtained the highest nitrogen removal, and the removal efficiencies of NH4[+]-N and NO3[-]-N were 90.4% and 96.5%, respectively. Hydraulic retention time (HRT), cathodic aeration and T. tubifex abundance had significant effects on E-MFC power generation. The performeance boost of E-MFC was closely related to anodic microbial community change caused by the introduction of T. tubifex.}, } @article {pmid33837831, year = {2021}, author = {Joseph, R and Keyhani, NO}, title = {Fungal mutualisms and pathosystems: life and death in the ambrosia beetle mycangia.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {105}, number = {9}, pages = {3393-3410}, pmid = {33837831}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Hong Kong ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles and their microbial communities, housed in specialized structures termed mycangia, represent one of the oldest and most diverse systems of mutualism and parasitism described thus far. Comprised of core filamentous fungal members, but also including bacteria and yeasts, the mycangia represent a unique adaptation that allows beetles to store and transport their source of nutrition. Although perhaps the most ancient of "farmers," the nature of these interactions remains largely understudied, with the exception of a handful of emerging pathosystems, where the fungal partner acts as a potentially devastating tree pathogen. Such virulence is often seen during "invasions," where (invasive) beetles carrying the fungal symbiont/plant pathogen expand into new territories and presumably "naïve" trees. Here, we summarize recent findings on the phylogenetic relationships between beetles and their symbionts and advances in the developmental and genetic characterization of the mechanisms that underlie insect-fungal-plant interactions. Results on genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic aspects of these relationships are described. Although many members of the fungal Raffaelea-beetle symbiont genera are relatively harmless to host trees, specialized pathosystems including wilt diseases of laurel and oak, caused by specific subspecies (R. lauricola and R. quercus, in the USA and East Asia, respectively), have emerged as potent plant pathogens capable of killing healthy trees. With the development of genetic tools, coupled to biochemical and microscopic techniques, the ambrosia beetle-fungal symbiont is establishing itself as a unique model system to study the molecular determinants and mechanisms that underlie the convergences of symbioses, mutualism, parasitism, and virulence. KEY POINTS: • Fungal-beetle symbioses are diverse and ancient examples of microbial farming. • The mycangium is a specialized structure on insects that houses microbial symbionts. • Some beetle symbiotic fungi are potent plant pathogens vectored by the insect.}, } @article {pmid33836829, year = {2021}, author = {Dittmer, J and Brucker, RM}, title = {When your host shuts down: larval diapause impacts host-microbiome interactions in Nasonia vitripennis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {85}, pmid = {33836829}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Cold Temperature ; *Diapause ; Larva ; *Microbiota ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The life cycles of many insect species include an obligatory or facultative diapause stage with arrested development and low metabolic activity as an overwintering strategy. Diapause is characterised by profound physiological changes in endocrine activity, cell proliferation and nutrient metabolism. However, little is known regarding host-microbiome interactions during diapause, despite the importance of bacterial symbionts for host nutrition and development. In this work, we investigated (i) the role of the microbiome for host nutrient allocation during diapause and (ii) the impact of larval diapause on microbiome dynamics in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis, a model organism for host-microbiome interactions.

RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that the microbiome is essential for host nutrient allocation during diapause in N. vitripennis, as axenic diapausing larvae had consistently lower glucose and glycerol levels than conventional diapausing larvae, especially when exposed to cold temperature. In turn, microbiome composition was altered in diapausing larvae, potentially due to changes in the surrounding temperature, host nutrient levels and a downregulation of host immune genes. Importantly, prolonged larval diapause had a transstadial effect on the adult microbiome, with unknown consequences for host fitness. Notably, the most dominant microbiome member, Providencia sp., was drastically reduced in adults after more than 4 months of larval diapause, while potential bacterial pathogens increased in abundance.

CONCLUSION: This work investigates host-microbiome interactions during a crucial developmental stage, which challenges both the insect host and its microbial associates. The impact of diapause on the microbiome is likely due to several factors, including altered host regulatory mechanisms and changes in the host environment. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid33836430, year = {2021}, author = {Jia, Z and Luo, Y and Wang, D and Dinh, QN and Lin, S and Sharma, A and Block, EM and Yang, M and Gu, T and Pearlstein, AJ and Yu, H and Zhang, B}, title = {Nondestructive multiplex detection of foodborne pathogens with background microflora and symbiosis using a paper chromogenic array and advanced neural network.}, journal = {Biosensors & bioelectronics}, volume = {183}, number = {}, pages = {113209}, doi = {10.1016/j.bios.2021.113209}, pmid = {33836430}, issn = {1873-4235}, mesh = {*Biosensing Techniques ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Food Microbiology ; *Listeria monocytogenes ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Reproducibility of Results ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We have developed an inexpensive, standardized paper chromogenic array (PCA) integrated with a machine learning approach to accurately identify single pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, or Escherichia coli O157:H7) or multiple pathogens (either in multiple monocultures, or in a single cocktail culture), in the presence of background microflora on food. Cantaloupe, a commodity with significant volatile organic compound (VOC) emission and large diverse populations of background microflora, was used as the model food. The PCA was fabricated from a paper microarray via photolithography and paper microfluidics, into which 22 chromogenic dye spots were infused and to which three red/green/blue color-standard dots were taped. When exposed to VOCs emitted by pathogens of interest, dye spots exhibited distinguishable color changes and pattern shifts, which were automatically segmented and digitized into a ΔR/ΔG/ΔB database. We developed an advanced deep feedforward neural network with a learning rate scheduler, L2 regularization, and shortcut connections. After training on the ΔR/ΔG/ΔB database, the network demonstrated excellent performance in identifying pathogens in single monocultures, multiple monocultures, and in cocktail culture, and in distinguishing them from the background signal on cantaloupe, providing accuracy of up to 93% and 91% under ambient and refrigerated conditions, respectively. With its combination of speed, reliability, portability, and low cost, this nondestructive approach holds great potential to significantly advance culture-free pathogen detection and identification on food, and is readily extendable to other food commodities with complex microflora.}, } @article {pmid33835895, year = {2021}, author = {Lynn, KMT and Wingfield, MJ and Durán, A and Oliveira, LSS and de Beer, ZW and Barnes, I}, title = {Novel Fusarium mutualists of two Euwallacea species infesting Acacia crassicarpa in Indonesia.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {113}, number = {3}, pages = {536-558}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2021.1875708}, pmid = {33835895}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {*Acacia ; Animals ; *Fusarium/genetics ; Indonesia ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Several species in the Euwallacea fornicatus complex have emerged as important pests of woody plants globally, particularly in habitats where they are invasive aliens. These beetles live in obligate symbioses with fungi in the genus Fusarium. In this study, we identified Euwallacea spp. and their fungal mutualists that have emerged as pests of planted Acacia crassicarpa in Riau, Indonesia. Morphological identification and phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene confirmed that E. similis and E. perbrevis are the most abundant beetles infesting these trees. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses of their fungal mutualists revealed their nonspecific association with six Fusarium species. These included F. rekanum and five novel Fusarium mutualists within the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), four of which reside in the Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC). These new species are described here as F. akasia, F. awan, F. mekan, F. variasi, and F. warna.}, } @article {pmid33833660, year = {2021}, author = {Maiuolo, J and Gliozzi, M and Musolino, V and Carresi, C and Scarano, F and Nucera, S and Scicchitano, M and Oppedisano, F and Bosco, F and Ruga, S and Zito, MC and Macri, R and Palma, E and Muscoli, C and Mollace, V}, title = {The Contribution of Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis in the Development of Brain Disorders.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {616883}, pmid = {33833660}, issn = {1662-4548}, abstract = {Different bacterial families colonize most mucosal tissues in the human organism such as the skin, mouth, vagina, respiratory, and gastrointestinal districts. In particular, the mammalian intestine hosts a microbial community of between 1,000 and 1,500 bacterial species, collectively called "microbiota." Co-metabolism between the microbiota and the host system is generated and the symbiotic relationship is mutually beneficial. The balance that is achieved between the microbiota and the host organism is fundamental to the organization of the immune system. Scientific studies have highlighted a direct correlation between the intestinal microbiota and the brain, establishing the existence of the gut microbiota-brain axis. Based on this theory, the microbiota acts on the development, physiology, and cognitive functions of the brain, although the mechanisms involved have not yet been fully interpreted. Similarly, a close relationship between alteration of the intestinal microbiota and the onset of several neurological pathologies has been highlighted. This review aims to point out current knowledge as can be found in literature regarding the connection between intestinal dysbiosis and the onset of particular neurological pathologies such as anxiety and depression, autism spectrum disorder, and multiple sclerosis. These disorders have always been considered to be a consequence of neuronal alteration, but in this review, we hypothesize that these alterations may be non-neuronal in origin, and consider the idea that the composition of the microbiota could be directly involved. In this direction, the following two key points will be highlighted: (1) the direct cross-talk that comes about between neurons and gut microbiota, and (2) the degree of impact of the microbiota on the brain. Could we consider the microbiota a valuable target for reducing or modulating the incidence of certain neurological diseases?}, } @article {pmid33833268, year = {2021}, author = {Otero-Bravo, A and Sabree, ZL}, title = {Multiple concurrent and convergent stages of genome reduction in bacterial symbionts across a stink bug family.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {7731}, pmid = {33833268}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Heteroptera/classification/*microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/biosynthesis ; O Antigens/biosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Nutritional symbioses between bacteria and insects are prevalent and diverse, allowing insects to expand their feeding strategies and niches. A common consequence of long-term associations is a considerable reduction in symbiont genome size likely influenced by the radical shift in selective pressures as a result of the less variable environment within the host. While several of these cases can be found across distinct insect species, most examples provide a limited view of a single or few stages of the process of genome reduction. Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) contain inherited gamma-proteobacterial symbionts in a modified organ in their midgut and are an example of a long-term nutritional symbiosis, but multiple cases of new symbiont acquisition throughout the history of the family have been described. We sequenced the genomes of 11 symbionts of stink bugs with sizes that ranged from equal to those of their free-living relatives to less than 20%. Comparative genomics of these and previously sequenced symbionts revealed initial stages of genome reduction including an initial pseudogenization before genome reduction, followed by multiple stages of progressive degeneration of existing metabolic pathways likely to impact host interactions such as cell wall component biosynthesis. Amino acid biosynthesis pathways were retained in a similar manner as in other nutritional symbionts. Stink bug symbionts display convergent genome reduction events showing progressive changes from a free-living bacterium to a host-dependent symbiont. This system can therefore be used to study convergent genome evolution of symbiosis at a scale not previously available.}, } @article {pmid33833232, year = {2021}, author = {Nakamura, A and Kurihara, S and Takahashi, D and Ohashi, W and Nakamura, Y and Kimura, S and Onuki, M and Kume, A and Sasazawa, Y and Furusawa, Y and Obata, Y and Fukuda, S and Saiki, S and Matsumoto, M and Hase, K}, title = {Symbiotic polyamine metabolism regulates epithelial proliferation and macrophage differentiation in the colon.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {2105}, pmid = {33833232}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Differentiation/physiology ; Cell Proliferation/physiology ; Colitis/chemically induced/pathology ; Colon/*metabolism ; Dextran Sulfate/toxicity ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/*metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Homeostasis ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/growth & development/*metabolism ; Macrophages/cytology/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peptide Initiation Factors/*metabolism ; Putrescine/*metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota-derived metabolites have biological importance for the host. Polyamines, such as putrescine and spermidine, are produced by the intestinal microbiota and regulate multiple biological processes. Increased colonic luminal polyamines promote longevity in mice. However, no direct evidence has shown that microbial polyamines are incorporated into host cells to regulate cellular responses. Here, we show that microbial polyamines reinforce colonic epithelial proliferation and regulate macrophage differentiation. Colonisation by wild-type, but not polyamine biosynthesis-deficient, Escherichia coli in germ-free mice raises intracellular polyamine levels in colonocytes, accelerating epithelial renewal. Commensal bacterium-derived putrescine increases the abundance of anti-inflammatory macrophages in the colon. The bacterial polyamines ameliorate symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice. These effects mainly result from enhanced hypusination of eukaryotic initiation translation factor. We conclude that bacterial putrescine functions as a substrate for symbiotic metabolism and is further absorbed and metabolised by the host, thus helping maintain mucosal homoeostasis in the intestine.}, } @article {pmid33832042, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, PE and Shen, DN and Wu, YF}, title = {[Research progress in the interaction between Treponema denticola and microorganisms of subgingival plaque].}, journal = {Zhonghua kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Zhonghua kouqiang yixue zazhi = Chinese journal of stomatology}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {380-384}, doi = {10.3760/cma.j.cn112144-20200528-00305}, pmid = {33832042}, issn = {1002-0098}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Phylogeny ; *Porphyromonas gingivalis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Treponema denticola ; }, abstract = {Treponema denticola (Td) is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium closely related to the occurrence and development of periodontal disease and it accounts for a considerable proportion of mature plaque. As a later colonizer of the subgingival plaque biofilm, Td may have complex interactions with earlier and concurrent colonists including symbiotic relationship as while as synergistic or antagonistic effects under the regulation of quorum sensing molecules. Adhesin and coaggregation, mediated by a series of surface molecules, are the basis of the interaction. These interactions are ultimately manifested as gene expression changes in metabolism and virulence, in which are mainly metabolism changes with up- or down-regulation of multiple enzymes related to amino acid metabolism. This article reviews the related researches on the interaction between Td and microorganisms of subgingival plaque.}, } @article {pmid33831149, year = {2021}, author = {Pers, D and Hansen, AK}, title = {The boom and bust of the aphid's essential amino acid metabolism across nymphal development.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {33831149}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Essential ; Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Within long-term symbioses, animals integrate their physiology and development with their symbiont. In a model nutritional mutualism, aphids harbor the endosymbiont, Buchnera, within specialized bacteriocyte cells. Buchnera synthesizes essential amino acids (EAAs) and vitamins for their host, which are lacking from the aphid's plant sap diet. It is unclear if the aphid host differentially expresses aphid EAA metabolism pathways and genes that collaborate with Buchnera for the production of EAA and vitamins throughout nymphal development when feeding on plants. It is also unclear if aphid bacteriocytes are differentially methylated throughout aphid development as DNA methylation may play a role in gene regulation. By analyzing aphid gene expression, we determined that the bacteriocyte is metabolically more active in metabolizing Buchnera's EAAs and vitamins early in nymphal development compared to intermediate or later immature and adult lifestages. The largest changes in aphid bacteriocyte gene expression, especially for aphid genes that collaborate with Buchnera, occurred during the 3rd to 4th instar transition. During this transition, there is a huge shift in the bacteriocyte from a high energy "nutrient-consuming state" to a "recovery and growth state" where patterning and signaling genes and pathways are upregulated and differentially methylated, and de novo methylation is reduced as evidenced by homogenous DNA methylation profiles after the 2nd instar. Moreover, bacteriocyte number increased and Buchnera's titer decreased throughout aphid nymphal development. These data suggest in combination that bacteriocytes of older nymphal and adult lifestages depend less on the nutritional symbiosis compared to early nymphal lifestages.}, } @article {pmid33831033, year = {2021}, author = {Roger, LM and Reich, HG and Lawrence, E and Li, S and Vizgaudis, W and Brenner, N and Kumar, L and Klein-Seetharaman, J and Yang, J and Putnam, HM and Lewinski, NA}, title = {Applying model approaches in non-model systems: A review and case study on coral cell culture.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {e0248953}, pmid = {33831033}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development ; Cell Culture Techniques/*methods ; }, abstract = {Model systems approaches search for commonality in patterns underlying biological diversity and complexity led by common evolutionary paths. The success of the approach does not rest on the species chosen but on the scalability of the model and methods used to develop the model and engage research. Fine-tuning approaches to improve coral cell cultures will provide a robust platform for studying symbiosis breakdown, the calcification mechanism and its disruption, protein interactions, micronutrient transport/exchange, and the toxicity of nanoparticles, among other key biological aspects, with the added advantage of minimizing the ethical conundrum of repeated testing on ecologically threatened organisms. The work presented here aimed to lay the foundation towards development of effective methods to sort and culture reef-building coral cells with the ultimate goal of obtaining immortal cell lines for the study of bleaching, disease and toxicity at the cellular and polyp levels. To achieve this objective, the team conducted a thorough review and tested the available methods (i.e. cell dissociation, isolation, sorting, attachment and proliferation). The most effective and reproducible techniques were combined to consolidate culture methods and generate uncontaminated coral cell cultures for ~7 days (10 days maximum). The tests were conducted on scleractinian corals Pocillopora acuta of the same genotype to harmonize results and reduce variation linked to genetic diversity. The development of cell separation and identification methods in conjunction with further investigations into coral cell-type specific metabolic requirements will allow us to tailor growth media for optimized monocultures as a tool for studying essential reef-building coral traits such as symbiosis, wound healing and calcification at multiple scales.}, } @article {pmid33829985, year = {2021}, author = {Fields, B and Moffat, EK and Friman, VP and Harrison, E}, title = {The impact of intra-specific diversity in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33829985}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Medicago/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia - nitrogen-fixing, root-nodulating bacteria - play a critical role in both plant ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. Rhizobia form intracellular infections within legumes roots where they produce plant accessible nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen and thus reduce the reliance on industrial inputs. The rhizobia-legume symbiosis is often treated as a pairwise relationship between single genotypes, both in research and in the production of rhizobial inoculants. However in nature individual plants are infected by a high diversity of rhizobia symbionts. How this diversity affects productivity within the symbiosis is unclear. Here, we use a powerful statistical approach to assess the impact of diversity within the Rhizobium leguminosarum - clover symbiosis using a biodiversity-ecosystem function framework. Statistically, we found no significant impact of rhizobium diversity. However this relationship was weakly positive - rather than negative - indicating that there is no significant cost to increasing inoculant diversity. Productivity was influenced by the identity of the strains within an inoculant; strains with the highest individual performance showed a significant positive contribution within mixed inoculants. Overall, inoculant effectiveness was best predicted by the individual performance of the best inoculant member, and only weakly predicted by the worst performing member. Collectively, our data suggest that the Rhizobium leguminosarum - clover symbiosis displays a weak diversity-function relationship, but that inoculant performance can be improved through the inclusion of high performing strains. Given the wide environmental dependence of rhizobial inoculant quality, multi-strain inoculants could be highly successful as they increase the likelihood of including a strain well adapted to local conditions across different environments.}, } @article {pmid33829257, year = {2021}, author = {Gkizi, D and González Gil, A and Pardal, AJ and Piquerez, SJM and Sergaki, C and Ntoukakis, V and Tjamos, SE}, title = {The bacterial biocontrol agent Paenibacillus alvei K165 confers inherited resistance to Verticillium dahliae.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {12}, pages = {4565-4576}, pmid = {33829257}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {BB/J014532/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Gossypium ; *Paenibacillus/genetics ; Plant Diseases/genetics ; *Verticillium ; }, abstract = {The biocontrol agent Paenibacillus alvei K165 was previously shown to protect Arabidopsis thaliana plants against Verticillium dahliae. Here we show that K165 also confers inherited immune resistance to V. dahliae. By performing a histone acetyltransferases mutant screen, ChIP assays, and transcriptomic experiments, we were able to show that histone acetylation significantly contributes to the K165 biocontrol activity and establishment of inheritable resistance to V. dahliae. K165 treatment primed the expression of immune-related marker genes and the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene CAD3 through the function of histone acetyltransferases. Our results reveal that offspring of plants treated with K165 have primed immunity and enhanced lignification, both contributing towards the K165-mediated inherited immune resistance. Thus, our study paves the way for the use of biocontrol agents for the establishment of inheritable resistance to agronomically important pathogens.}, } @article {pmid33827771, year = {2021}, author = {Hwang, HJ and Patnaik, BB and Chung, JM and Sang, MK and Park, JE and Kang, SW and Park, SY and Jo, YH and Park, HS and Baliarsingh, S and Han, YS and Lee, JS and Lee, YS}, title = {De novo transcriptome sequencing of triton shell Charonia lampas sauliae: Identification of genes related to neurotoxins and discovery of genetic markers.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {100862}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2021.100862}, pmid = {33827771}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Markers ; Microsatellite Repeats ; *Neurotoxins ; Snails/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Charonia lampas sauliae (triton snails, triton shells or tritons; Mollusca, Caenogastropoda, Littorinimorpha, Ranellidae) is a marine species with a wide distribution. In Korea, this species is listed as vulnerable and is regionally protected as an endangered species. Here, we report the first comprehensive transcriptome dataset of C. lampas sauliae obtained using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. In total, 97.68% of raw read sequences were processed as clean reads. Of the 577,478 contigs obtained, 146,026 sequences were predicted to contain coding regions. About 89.34% of all annotated unigene sequences showed homologous matches to protein sequences in PANM DB (Protostome database). Further, about one-third of the unigene sequences were annotated using the UniGene, Swiss-Prot, Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) and Gene Ontology (GO) databases. In total, 190 enzymes were predicted under key metabolic pathways under stood through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database annotation. Repetitive elements such as long terminal repeats (LTRs), short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), and DNA elements were enriched in the unigene sequences. Among the identified transcripts were the channel proteins, some of which were blocked by tetrodotoxin, which is thought to be synthesized by symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the shells. In addition, conotoxin superfamily peptides, such as B-conotoxin, conotoxin superfamily T and alpha-conotoxin, were identified, which may have relevance to biomedical and evolutionary research. A transcriptome-wide search for polymorphic loci identified 21,568 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the unigene sequences. Most SSRs were dinucleotides, among which AC/GT was the dominant SSR type. The molecular and genetic resources revealed in this study could be utilized for investigations on the fitness of the species in the marine environment and sustainability in a changing habitat.}, } @article {pmid33827664, year = {2021}, author = {Nwaefuna, AE and Rumbold, K and Boekhout, T and Zhou, N}, title = {Bioethanolic yeasts from dung beetles: tapping the potential of extremophilic yeasts for improvement of lignocellulolytic feedstock fermentation.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {86}, pmid = {33827664}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {Bioethanol from abundant and inexpensive agricultural and industrial wastes possesses the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bioethanol as renewable fuel addresses elevated production costs, as well as food security concerns. Although technical advancements in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation have reduced the cost of production, one major drawback of this technology is that the pre-treatment process creates environmental stressors inhibitory to fermentative yeasts subsequently reducing bioethanol productivity. Robust fermentative yeasts with extreme stress tolerance remain limited. This review presents the potential of dung beetles from pristine and unexplored environments as an attractive source of extremophilic bioethanolic yeasts. Dung beetles survive on a recalcitrant lignocellulose-rich diet suggesting the presence of symbiotic yeasts with a cellulolytic potential. Dung beetles inhabiting extreme stress environments have the potential to harbour yeasts with the ability to withstand inhibitory environmental stresses typically associated with bioethanol production. The review further discusses established methods used to isolate bioethanolic yeasts, from dung beetles.}, } @article {pmid33827425, year = {2021}, author = {Park, CJ and Caimi, NA and Buecher, DC and Valdez, EW and Northup, DE and Andam, CP}, title = {Unexpected genomic, biosynthetic and species diversity of Streptomyces bacteria from bats in Arizona and New Mexico, USA.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {247}, pmid = {33827425}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Arizona ; *Chiroptera/genetics ; Genomics ; Multigene Family ; New Mexico ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Streptomyces/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria are ubiquitous in nature, yet most studies of its diversity have focused on free-living strains inhabiting diverse soil environments and those in symbiotic relationship with invertebrates.

RESULTS: We studied the draft genomes of 73 Streptomyces isolates sampled from the skin (wing and tail membranes) and fur surfaces of bats collected in Arizona and New Mexico. We uncovered large genomic variation and biosynthetic potential, even among closely related strains. The isolates, which were initially identified as three distinct species based on sequence variation in the 16S rRNA locus, could be distinguished as 41 different species based on genome-wide average nucleotide identity. Of the 32 biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) classes detected, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, siderophores, and terpenes were present in all genomes. On average, Streptomyces genomes carried 14 distinct classes of BGCs (range = 9-20). Results also revealed large inter- and intra-species variation in gene content (single nucleotide polymorphisms, accessory genes and singletons) and BGCs, further contributing to the overall genetic diversity present in bat-associated Streptomyces. Finally, we show that genome-wide recombination has partly contributed to the large genomic variation among strains of the same species.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides an initial genomic assessment of bat-associated Streptomyces that will be critical to prioritizing those strains with the greatest ability to produce novel antibiotics. It also highlights the need to recognize within-species variation as an important factor in genetic manipulation studies, diversity estimates and drug discovery efforts in Streptomyces.}, } @article {pmid33827007, year = {2021}, author = {Pozo, MJ and Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Vazquez de Aldana, BR and Martinez-Medina, A}, title = {Untapping the potential of plant mycobiomes for applications in agriculture.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {102034}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102034}, pmid = {33827007}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Endophytes ; Fungi ; *Mycobiome/genetics ; Plants/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-fungal interactions are widespread in nature, and their multiple benefits for plant growth and health have been amply demonstrated. Endophytic and epiphytic fungi can significantly increase plant resilience, improving plant nutrition, stress tolerance and defence. Although some of these interactions have been known for decades, the relevance of the plant mycobiome within the plant microbiome has been largely underestimated. Our limited knowledge of fungal biology and their interactions with plants in the broader phytobiome context has hampered the development of optimal biotechnological applications in agrosystems and natural ecosystems. Exciting recent technical and knowledge advances in the context of molecular and systems biology open a plethora of opportunities for developing this field of research.}, } @article {pmid33826977, year = {2021}, author = {Amirikhah, R and Etemadi, N and Sabzalian, MR and Nikbakht, A and Eskandari, A}, title = {Gamma radiation negatively impacted seed germination, seedling growth and antioxidant enzymes activities in tall fescue infected with Epichloë endophyte.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {216}, number = {}, pages = {112169}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112169}, pmid = {33826977}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Plants and their accompanying microorganisms growing in contaminated sites with long-lived gamma-emitting radionuclides may be affected by radiation stress. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of gamma radiation on symbiotic relationship between Epichloë endophyte and Festuca arundinacea plant along with the radio-sensitivity of a pair of clones of tall fescue with (E+) and without (E-) symbiotic Epichloë endophyte exposed to different doses of gamma radiation including 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, and 400 Gray (Gy) from a Cobalt-60 source. Both irradiated and non-irradiated seeds of each status were grown under controlled conditions. Seed germination indices, seedling growth and certain physiological criteria associated with plant responses to oxidative stress were examined. The results revealed that low doses (up to 75 Gy) of gamma radiation stimulated seed germination indices and seedling growth. However, high doses (100-400 Gy) significantly reduced the final germination percentage, germination rate index, coefficient of velocity of germination, and the seed reserve depletion percentage, and enhanced the mean germination time. Further, high doses of radiation reduced root and shoot lengths, root and shoot fresh weights, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (especially catalase and superoxide dismutase), and increased the content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the seedlings. The results showed that the endophyte was present in seeds after gamma ray irradiation. However, the presence of endophyte in seedlings started to be reduced significantly (18.45% reduction rather than the control) at 50 Gy of gamma radiation. High doses (100 Gy and above) dramatically declined the presence of endophyte down to zero in seedlings compared to the control. In this study, the E- clone had higher seed germination and seedling growth as well as lower H2O2 and MDA contents under radiation stress as compared with the E+ clone. Additionally, shoot tolerance index (STI) indicated more radiation tolerance in the E- clone. According to the results of the present study, it is concluded that biological impacts of gamma radiation stress and the harmful effects on endophyte viability may cause more radio-sensitivity and changes in the growth and physio-biochemical aspects of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid33826788, year = {2021}, author = {Alexeev, EE and Dowdell, AS and Henen, MA and Lanis, JM and Lee, JS and Cartwright, IM and Schaefer, REM and Ornelas, A and Onyiah, JC and Vögeli, B and Colgan, SP}, title = {Microbial-derived indoles inhibit neutrophil myeloperoxidase to diminish bystander tissue damage.}, journal = {FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {e21552}, pmid = {33826788}, issn = {1530-6860}, support = {P30 DK048520/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; F32 DK122741/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK103639/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA046934/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK050189/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD025020/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK104713/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK103712/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; I01 BX002182/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; R29 DK050189/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R37 DK050189/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095491/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Animals ; *Bystander Effect ; Colitis/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Halogenation ; Humans ; Indoles/*pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota ; Neutrophils/*enzymology ; Peroxidase/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Tyrosine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {During episodes of acute inflammation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are actively recruited to sites of inflammation or injury where they provide anti-microbial and wound-healing functions. One enzyme crucial for fulfilling these functions is myeloperoxidase (MPO), which generates hypochlorous acid from Cl[-] and hydrogen peroxide. The potential exists, however, that uncontrolled the extracellular generation of hypochlorous acid by MPO can cause bystander tissue damage and inhibit the healing response. Previous work suggests that the microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites 1H-indole and related molecules ("indoles") are protective during intestinal inflammation, although their precise mechanism of action is unclear. In the present work, we serendipitously discovered that indoles are potent and selective inhibitors of MPO. Using both primary human PMNs and recombinant human MPO in a cell-free system, we revealed that indoles inhibit MPO at physiologic concentrations. Particularly, indoles block the chlorinating activity of MPO, a reliable marker for MPO-associated tissue damage, as measured by coulometric-coupled HPLC. Further, we observed direct interaction between indoles and MPO using the established biochemical techniques microscale thermophoresis and STD-NMR. Utilizing a murine colitis model, we demonstrate that indoles inhibit bystander tissue damage, reflected in decreased colon 3-chlorotyrosine and pro-inflammatory chemokine expression in vivo. Taken together, these results identify microbiota-derived indoles that acts as endogenous immunomodulatory compounds through their actions on MPO, suggesting a symbiotic association between the gut microbiota and host innate immune system. Such findings offer exciting new targets for future pharmacological intervention.}, } @article {pmid33826745, year = {2021}, author = {Nishida, H and Nosaki, S and Suzuki, T and Ito, M and Miyakawa, T and Nomoto, M and Tada, Y and Miura, K and Tanokura, M and Kawaguchi, M and Suzaki, T}, title = {Different DNA-binding specificities of NLP and NIN transcription factors underlie nitrate-induced control of root nodulation.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {33}, number = {7}, pages = {2340-2359}, pmid = {33826745}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants produce nodules for nitrogen fixation; however, nodule production incurs an energy cost. Therefore, as an adaptive strategy, leguminous plants halt root nodule development when sufficient amounts of nitrogen nutrients, such as nitrate, are present in the environment. Although legume NODULE INCEPTION (NIN)-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) transcription factors have recently been identified, understanding how nodulation is controlled by nitrate, a fundamental question for nitrate-mediated transcriptional regulation of symbiotic genes, remains elusive. Here, we show that two Lotus japonicus NLPs, NITRATE UNRESPONSIVE SYMBIOSIS 1 (NRSYM1)/LjNLP4 and NRSYM2/LjNLP1, have overlapping functions in the nitrate-induced control of nodulation and act as master regulators for nitrate-dependent gene expression. We further identify candidate target genes of LjNLP4 by combining transcriptome analysis with a DNA affinity purification-seq approach. We then demonstrate that LjNLP4 and LjNIN, a key nodulation-specific regulator and paralog of LjNLP4, have different DNA-binding specificities. Moreover, LjNLP4-LjNIN dimerization underlies LjNLP4-mediated bifunctional transcriptional regulation. These data provide a basic principle for how nitrate controls nodulation through positive and negative regulation of symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid33825084, year = {2021}, author = {Cosme, M and Fernández, I and Declerck, S and van der Heijden, MGA and Pieterse, CMJ}, title = {A coumarin exudation pathway mitigates arbuscular mycorrhizal incompatibility in Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {106}, number = {4-5}, pages = {319-334}, pmid = {33825084}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Genes, Plant ; Genotype ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Scopoletin/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Overexpression of genes involved in coumarin production and secretion can mitigate mycorrhizal incompatibility in nonhost Arabidopsis plants. The coumarin scopoletin, in particular, stimulates pre-penetration development and metabolism in mycorrhizal fungi. Although most plants can benefit from mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, nonhost plant species such as the model Arabidopsis thaliana have acquired incompatibility. The transcriptional response of Arabidopsis to colonization by host-supported AM fungi switches from initial AM recognition to defense activation and plant growth antagonism. However, detailed functional information on incompatibility in nonhost-AM fungus interactions is largely missing. We studied interactions between host-sustained AM fungal networks of Rhizophagus irregularis and 18 Arabidopsis genotypes affected in nonhost penetration resistance, coumarin production and secretion, and defense (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene) and growth hormones (auxin, brassinosteroid, cytokinin, and gibberellin). We demonstrated that root-secreted coumarins can mitigate incompatibility by stimulating fungal metabolism and promoting initial steps of AM colonization. Moreover, we provide evidence that major molecular defenses in Arabidopsis do not operate as primary mechanisms of AM incompatibility nor of growth antagonism. Our study reveals that, although incompatible, nonhost plants can harbor hidden tools that promote initial steps of AM colonization. Moreover, it uncovered the coumarin scopoletin as a novel signal in the pre-penetration dialogue, with possible implications for the chemical communication in plant-mycorrhizal fungi associations.}, } @article {pmid33824498, year = {2021}, author = {Eshleman, EM and Alenghat, T}, title = {Epithelial sensing of microbiota-derived signals.}, journal = {Genes and immunity}, volume = {22}, number = {5-6}, pages = {237-246}, pmid = {33824498}, issn = {1476-5470}, support = {F32 AI147591/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK116868/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK114123/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK078392/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract harbors trillions of microbial species, collectively termed the microbiota, which establish a symbiotic relationship with the host. Decades of research have emphasized the necessity of microbial signals in the development, maturation, and function of host physiology. However, changes in the composition or containment of the microbiota have been linked to the development of several chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are in constant contact with the microbiota and are critical for maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Signals from the microbiota are directly sensed by IECs and influence intestinal health by calibrating immune cell responses and fortifying intestinal barrier function. IECs detect commensal microbes through engagement of common pattern recognition receptors or by sensing the production of microbial-derived metabolites. Deficiencies in these microbial-detecting pathways in IECs leads to impaired epithelial barrier function and altered intestinal homeostasis. This Review aims to highlight the pathways by which IECs sense microbiota-derived signals and the necessity of these detection pathways in maintaining epithelial barrier integrity.}, } @article {pmid33824212, year = {2021}, author = {Guo, S and Vance, TDR and Zahiri, H and Eves, R and Stevens, C and Hehemann, JH and Vidal-Melgosa, S and Davies, PL}, title = {Structural Basis of Ligand Selectivity by a Bacterial Adhesin Lectin Involved in Multispecies Biofilm Formation.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33824212}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Lectins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Ligands ; Marinomonas/chemistry/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; }, abstract = {Carbohydrate recognition by lectins governs critical host-microbe interactions. MpPA14 (Marinomonas primoryensis PA14 domain) lectin is a domain of a 1.5-MDa adhesin responsible for a symbiotic bacterium-diatom interaction in Antarctica. Here, we show that MpPA14 binds various monosaccharides, with l-fucose and N-acetylglucosamine being the strongest ligands (dissociation constant [Kd ], ∼150 μM). High-resolution structures of MpPA14 with 15 different sugars bound elucidated the molecular basis for the lectin's apparent binding promiscuity but underlying selectivity. MpPA14 mediates strong Ca[2+]-dependent interactions with the 3,4-diols of l-fucopyranose and glucopyranoses, and it binds other sugars via their specific minor isomers. Thus, MpPA14 only binds polysaccharides like branched glucans and fucoidans with these free end groups. Consistent with our findings, adhesion of MpPA14 to diatom cells was selectively blocked by l-fucose, but not by N-acetyl galactosamine. The MpPA14 lectin homolog present in a Vibrio cholerae adhesin was produced and was shown to have the same sugar binding preferences as MpPA14. The pathogen's lectin was unable to effectively bind the diatom in the presence of fucose, thus demonstrating the antiadhesion strategy of blocking infection via ligand-based antagonists.IMPORTANCE Bacterial adhesins are key virulence factors that are essential for the pathogen-host interaction and biofilm formation that cause most infections. Many of the adhesin-driven cell-cell interactions are mediated by lectins. Our study reveals for the first time the molecular basis underlying the binding selectivity of a common bacterial adhesin lectin from the marine bacterium Marinomonas primoryensis, homologs of which are found in both environmental and pathogenic species. The lectin-ligand interactions illustrated at the atomic level guided the identification of a ligand that serves as an inhibitor to block bacterium-host adhesion. With conventional bactericidal antibiotics losing their potency due to resistance, our work gives critical insight into an antiadhesion strategy to treat bacterial infections.}, } @article {pmid33824196, year = {2021}, author = {Bennett, GM and Heath-Heckman, E and Sogin, EM}, title = {Finding Needles in Haystacks and Inferring Their Function: Challenges and Successes in Beneficial Symbiosis Research.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33824196}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Symbioses between hosts and beneficial microbes are key drivers of biological innovation and diversity. While a range of systems have emerged that provide foundational insights into how symbioses function and evolve, we still have a limited understanding of the vast diversity of organisms that engage in such interactions. Recent advances in molecular tools, theory, and interdisciplinary approaches now permit researchers to expand our knowledge and to press forward the frontiers of symbiosis research. As described in a recent issue of mSystems, Myers and colleagues (K. N. Myers, D. Conn, and A. M. V. Brown, mSystems, 6:e01048-20, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.01048-20) conducted a genome skimming approach to understand the role of obligate beneficial symbionts in plant-parasitic dagger nematodes. Nematodes are extraordinarily abundant and key players in ecosystem function and health. However, they are difficult to harness in the lab. The approach used by Myers et al. ameliorates these challenges to illustrate a relatively complete picture of a poorly understood beneficial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33823812, year = {2021}, author = {Vera-Ponce León, A and Dominguez-Mirazo, M and Bustamante-Brito, R and Higareda-Alvear, V and Rosenblueth, M and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Functional genomics of a Spiroplasma associated with the carmine cochineals Dactylopius coccus and Dactylopius opuntiae.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {240}, pmid = {33823812}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Carmine ; Female ; Genomics ; *Hemiptera ; Male ; *Spiroplasma/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Spiroplasma is a widely distributed endosymbiont of insects, arthropods, and plants. In insects, Spiroplasma colonizes the gut, hemolymph, and reproductive organs of the host. Previous metagenomic surveys of the domesticated carmine cochineal Dactylopius coccus and the wild cochineal D. opuntiae reported sequences of Spiroplasma associated with these insects. However, there is no analysis of the genomic capabilities and the interaction of this Spiroplasma with Dactylopius.

RESULTS: Here we present three Spiroplasma genomes independently recovered from metagenomes of adult males and females of D. coccus, from two different populations, as well as from adult females of D. opuntiae. Single-copy gene analysis showed that these genomes were > 92% complete. Phylogenomic analyses classified these genomes as new members of Spiroplasma ixodetis. Comparative genome analysis indicated that they exhibit fewer genes involved in amino acid and carbon catabolism compared to other spiroplasmas. Moreover, virulence factor-encoding genes (i.e., glpO, spaid and rip2) were found incomplete in these S. ixodetis genomes. We also detected an enrichment of genes encoding the type IV secretion system (T4SS) in S. ixodetis genomes of Dactylopius. A metratranscriptomic analysis of D. coccus showed that some of these T4SS genes (i.e., traG, virB4 and virD4) in addition to the superoxide dismutase sodA of S. ixodetis were overexpressed in the ovaries.

CONCLUSION: The symbiont S. ixodetis is a new member of the bacterial community of D. coccus and D. opuntiae. The recovery of incomplete virulence factor-encoding genes in S. ixodetis of Dactylopius suggests that this bacterium is a non-pathogenic symbiont. A high number of genes encoding the T4SS, in the S. ixodetis genomes and the overexpression of these genes in the ovary and hemolymph of the host suggest that S. ixodetis use the T4SS to interact with the Dactylopius cells. Moreover, the transcriptional differences of S. ixodetis among the gut, hemolymph and ovary tissues of D. coccus indicate that this bacterium can respond and adapt to the different conditions (e.g., oxidative stress) present within the host. All this evidence proposes that there is a strong interaction and molecular signaling in the symbiosis between S. ixodetis and the carmine cochineal Dactylopius.}, } @article {pmid33819071, year = {2021}, author = {Chakraborty, S and Driscoll, HE and Abrahante, JE and Zhang, F and Fisher, RF and Harris, JM}, title = {Salt Stress Enhances Early Symbiotic Gene Expression in Medicago truncatula and Induces a Stress-Specific Set of Rhizobium-Responsive Genes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {8}, pages = {904-921}, pmid = {33819071}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {P20 GM103449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Salt Stress ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salt stress is a major agricultural concern inhibiting not only plant growth but also the symbiotic association between legume roots and the soil bacteria rhizobia. This symbiotic association is initiated by a molecular dialogue between the two partners, leading to the activation of a signaling cascade in the legume host and, ultimately, the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Here, we show that a moderate salt stress increases the responsiveness of early symbiotic genes in Medicago truncatula to its symbiotic partner, Sinorhizobium meliloti while, conversely, inoculation with S. meliloti counteracts salt-regulated gene expression, restoring one-third to control levels. Our analysis of early nodulin 11 (ENOD11) shows that salt-induced expression is dynamic, Nod-factor dependent, and requires the ionic but not the osmotic component of salt. We demonstrate that salt stimulation of rhizobium-induced gene expression requires NSP2, which functions as a node to integrate the abiotic and biotic signals. In addition, our work reveals that inoculation with S. meliloti succinoglycan mutants also hyperinduces ENOD11 expression in the presence or absence of salt, suggesting a possible link between rhizobial exopolysaccharide and the plant response to salt stress. Finally, we identify an accessory set of genes that are induced by rhizobium only under conditions of salt stress and have not been previously identified as being nodulation-related genes. Our data suggest that interplay of core nodulation genes with different accessory sets, specific for different abiotic conditions, functions to establish the symbiosis. Together, our findings reveal a complex and dynamic interaction between plant, microbe, and environment.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33818223, year = {2022}, author = {Lund, BD}, title = {Is academic research and publishing still leaving developing countries behind?.}, journal = {Accountability in research}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {224-231}, doi = {10.1080/08989621.2021.1913124}, pmid = {33818223}, issn = {1545-5815}, mesh = {*Developing Countries ; Humans ; *Publishing ; Research Personnel ; }, abstract = {In this short commentary, the author reflects on his experience working with researchers from developing nations and argues that it is the professional responsibility of those researchers privileged by conducting research in a developed, English-speaking nation to pursue collaboration with researchers in more disadvantageous positions. As noted in a recent article from Matthews et al., researchers from developing countries experience tremendous barriers to identifying collaborators and publishing in top research journals. This commentary notes that researchers from developed countries have both humanitarian and symbiotic rationales for seeking international collaborations with researchers from developing countries. These relationships support the growth of research fields and help deconstruct a western hemispheric hegemony present in much of existing research approaches and thought and publishing practices.}, } @article {pmid33816415, year = {2021}, author = {Banerjee, D and Meena, KS}, title = {COVID-19 as an "Infodemic" in Public Health: Critical Role of the Social Media.}, journal = {Frontiers in public health}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {610623}, pmid = {33816415}, issn = {2296-2565}, mesh = {COVID-19/*epidemiology ; *Communication ; Deception ; Health Literacy ; Humans ; Internet ; Pandemics ; *Public Health ; *Social Media ; }, abstract = {The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as a significant and global public health crisis. Besides the rising number of cases and fatalities, the outbreak has also affected economies, employment and policies alike. As billions are being isolated at their homes to contain the infection, the uncertainty gives rise to mass hysteria and panic. Amidst this, there has been a hidden epidemic of "information" that makes COVID-19 stand out as a "digital infodemic" from the earlier outbreaks. Repeated and detailed content about the virus, geographical statistics, and multiple sources of information can all lead to chronic stress and confusion at times of crisis. Added to this is the plethora of misinformation, rumor and conspiracy theories circulating every day. With increased digitalization, media penetration has increased with a more significant number of people aiding in the "information pollution." In this article, we glance at the unique evolution of COVID-19 as an "infodemic" in the hands of social media and the impact it had on its spread and public reaction. We then look at the ways forward in which the role of social media (as well as other digital platforms) can be integrated into social and public health, for a better symbiosis, "digital balance" and pandemic preparedness for the ongoing crisis and the future.}, } @article {pmid33815456, year = {2021}, author = {Pande, A and Mun, BG and Lee, DS and Khan, M and Lee, GM and Hussain, A and Yun, BW}, title = {NO Network for Plant-Microbe Communication Underground: A Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {658679}, pmid = {33815456}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mechanisms governing plant-microbe interaction in the rhizosphere attracted a lot of investigative attention in the last decade. The rhizosphere is not simply a source of nutrients and support for the plants; it is rather an ecosystem teeming with diverse flora and fauna including different groups of microbes that are useful as well as harmful for the plants. Plant-microbe interaction occurs via a highly complex communication network that involves sophisticated machinery for the recognition of friend and foe at both sides. On the other hand, nitric oxide (NO) is a key, signaling molecule involved in plant development and defense. Studies on legume-rhizobia symbiosis suggest the involvement of NO during recognition, root hair curling, development of infection threads, nodule development, and nodule senescence. A similar role of NO is also suggested in the case of plant interaction with the mycorrhizal fungi. Another, insight into the plant-microbe interaction in the rhizosphere comes from the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)/microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by the host plant and thereby NO-mediated activation of the defense signaling cascade. Thus, NO plays a major role in mediating the communication between plants and microbes in the rhizosphere. Interestingly, reports suggesting the role of silicon in increasing the number of nodules, enhancing nitrogen fixation, and also the combined effect of silicon and NO may indicate a possibility of their interaction in mediating microbial communication underground. However, the exact role of NO in mediating plant-microbe interaction remains elusive. Therefore, understanding the role of NO in underground plant physiology is very important, especially in relation to the plant's interaction with the rhizospheric microbiome. This will help devise new strategies for protection against phytopathogens and enhancing plant productivity by promoting symbiotic interaction. This review focuses on the role of NO in plant-microbe communication underground.}, } @article {pmid33815331, year = {2021}, author = {Dong, Y and Li, Y and He, P and Wang, Z and Fan, S and Zhang, Z and Zhang, X and Xu, Q}, title = {Gut Microbial Composition and Diversity in Four Ophiuroid Species: Divergence Between Suspension Feeder and Scavenger and Their Symbiotic Microbes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {645070}, pmid = {33815331}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Gut microbiota have important roles in the survival and adaptation of the host. Ophiuroids, as the worldwide dominant benthos, have ecological roles in benthic-pelagic coupling in the sea floor. However, little is known about the composition and diversity of their gut microbiota and its potential functions in benthic ecosystems. In present study, we preformed 16S rRNA sequencing and function analysis in four dominant species (Stegophiura sladeni, Ophiopholis mirabilis, Ophiura sarsii vadicola, and Ophiura kinbergi) with two feeding types (suspension feeding/herbivores and scavenger/carnivores) from the Yellow Sea, China. Results showed that 56 phyla and 569 genera of microbiota were identified among ophiuroid guts. Multivariate and diversity analyses showed that the ophiuroid gut microbiota were independent and have higher biodiversity to the sediment microbial in the Yellow Sea. Phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Tenericutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria, with more than 80% abundance among the four ophiuroid species. A comparison among the gut microbial compositions among four ophiuroids showed the similarity of two offshore carnivore ophiuroids (S. sladeni and O. sarsii vadicola) and variation in the dominant microbiota types of three nearshore ophiuroids (S. sladeni, O. mirabilis, and O. kinbergi). The functional analysis revealed the significant differences of the environment-related expression in S. sladeni gut microbiota between nearshore and offshore environments. The Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) functional annotation showed the significant divergence of metabolism pathways between two nearshore species, the herbivores O. mirabilis and carnivores S. sladeni, such as the Lipid metabolism, Carbohydrate metabolism, and Metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. The homolog search and phylogenetic analysis identified the first gut symbiotic Candidatus Hepatoplasma in S. sladeni with important roles for the nutrient metabolisms. Overall, our study reported the comprehensive data of ophiuroid gut microbiota, while the functional microbiome provides insight into the physiology and environmental adaptation in ophiuroids.}, } @article {pmid33813762, year = {2021}, author = {Ponz-Segrelles, G and Glasby, CJ and Helm, C and Beckers, P and Hammel, JU and Ribeiro, RP and Aguado, MT}, title = {Integrative anatomical study of the branched annelid Ramisyllis multicaudata (Annelida, Syllidae).}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {282}, number = {6}, pages = {900-916}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.21356}, pmid = {33813762}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; Nervous System ; *Polychaeta ; Reproduction ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {The sponge-dwelling Syllidae Ramisyllis multicaudata and Syllis ramosa are the only annelid species for which a branched body with one head and multiple posterior ends is known. In these species, the head is located deep within the sponge, and the branches extend through the canal system of their host. The morphology of these creatures has captivated annelid biologists since they were first discovered in the late XIXth century, and their external characteristics have been well documented. However, how their branched bodies fit within their symbiotic host sponges and how branches translate into internal anatomy has not been documented before. These features are crucially relevant for understanding the body of these animals, and therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate these aspects. In order to assess these questions, live observation, as wells as histology, immunohistochemistry, micro-computed tomography, and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used on specimens of R. multicaudata. By using these techniques, we show that the complex body of R. multicaudata specimens extends greatly through the canal system of their host sponges. We demonstrate that iterative external bifurcation of the body is accompanied by the bifurcation of the longitudinal organ systems that are characteristic of annelids. Additionally, we also highlight that the bifurcation process leaves an unmistakable fingerprint in the form of newly-described "muscle bridges." These structures theoretically allow one to distinguish original and derived branches at each bifurcation. Last, we characterize some of the internal anatomical features of the stolons (reproductive units) of R. multicaudata, particularly their nervous system. Here, we provide the first study of the internal anatomy of a branched annelid. This information is not only crucial to deepen our understanding of these animals and their biology, but it will also be key to inform future studies that try to explain how this morphology evolved.}, } @article {pmid33813285, year = {2021}, author = {Daveu, R and Laurence, C and Bouju-Albert, A and Sassera, D and Plantard, O}, title = {Symbiont dynamics during the blood meal of Ixodes ricinus nymphs differ according to their sex.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {101707}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101707}, pmid = {33813285}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Ixodes/growth & development/*microbiology ; Male ; Nymph/growth & development/microbiology ; Rickettsiales/*physiology ; Sex Factors ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ticks harbour rich and diverse microbiota and, among the microorganisms associated with them, endosymbionts are the subject of a growing interest due to their crucial role in the biology of their arthropod host. Midichloria mitochondrii is the main endosymbiont of the European tick Ixodes ricinus and is found in abundance in all I. ricinus females, while at a much lower density in males, where it is even absent in 56 % of the individuals. This endosymbiont is also known to increase in numbers after the blood meal of larvae, nymphs or females. Because of this difference in the prevalence of M. mitochondrii between the two sexes, surveying the density of these bacteria in nymphs that will become either females or males could help to understand the behaviour of Midichloria in its arthropod host. To this aim, we have set up an experimental design by building 3 groups of unfed nymphs based on their scutum and hypostome lengths. After engorgement, weighing and moulting of a subset of the nymphs, a significant difference in sex-ratio among the 3 groups was observed. In parallel, Midichloria load in individual nymphs was quantified by qPCR both before and after engorgement. No difference in either body mass or Midichloria load was observed at the unfed stage, but following engorgement, both features were significantly different between each size group. Our results demonstrate that symbiont dynamics during nymphal engorgement is different between the two sexes, resulting in a significantly higher Midichloria load in nymphs that will become females. The consequences of those findings on our understanding of the interplay between the endosymbiont and its arthropod host are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33812353, year = {2021}, author = {Igawa-Ueda, K and Ikuta, T and Tame, A and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Hongo, Y and Takaki, Y and Fujikura, K and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Symbiont Transmission onto the Cell Surface of Early Oocytes in the Deep-Sea Clam Phreagena okutanii.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {140-147}, doi = {10.2108/zs200129}, pmid = {33812353}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Female ; Gills/microbiology ; Oocytes/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with beneficial microorganisms endow a variety of host animals with adaptability to the environment. Stable transmission of symbionts across host generations is a key event in the maintenance of symbiotic associations through evolutionary time. However, our understanding of the mechanisms of symbiont transmission remains fragmentary. The deep-sea clam Phreagena okutanii harbors chemoautotrophic intracellular symbiotic bacteria in gill epithelial cells, and depends on these symbionts for nutrition. In this study, we focused on the association of these maternally transmitted symbionts with ovarian germ cells in juvenile female clams. First, we established a sex identification method for small P. okutanii individuals, and morphologically classified female germ cells observed in the ovary. Then, we investigated the association of the endosymbiotic bacteria with germ cells. We found that the symbionts were localized on the outer surface of the cell membrane of primary oocytes and not within the cluster of oogonia. Based on our findings, we discuss the processes and mechanisms of symbiont vertical transmission in P. okutanii.}, } @article {pmid33812123, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, H and Gong, W and Zeng, W and Chen, R and Lin, D and Li, G and Liang, H}, title = {Bacterial-algae biofilm enhance MABR adapting a wider COD/N ratios wastewater: Performance and mechanism.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {781}, number = {}, pages = {146663}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146663}, pmid = {33812123}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biofilms ; *Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Although membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is promising in nitrogen removal due to its counter-diffusion biofilms structure, it still cannot adapt a wider COD/N ratios wastewater. In this condition, expanding the MABR applicability range in different COD/N ratio wastewater is necessary. In this study, a bacterial-algae biofilm, instead of bacteria biofilm, supporting membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABAR) was constructed, and the performance was compared to MABR. Results showed that the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was promoted significantly in MABAR regardless of the COD/N ratio. Compared to MABR, effluent TN concentration in COD/N ratio of 2, 5, and 8 declined by 14.34 mg/L, 0.50 mg/L, and 12.10 mg/L, respectively. Nitrification inhibition test suggested that algae assimilation made an obvious contribution (at least 18.18 mg/L) to the NH4[+]-N removal in MABAR. Besides, redundancy analysis (RDA) indicates that MABAR has a negative correlation with Nitrospirae but is positively correlated with NH4[+]-N removal load. These results are consistent with the kinetics result that algae assimilation, instead of nitrification-denitrification, is responsible for the nitrogen removal in MABAR. Therefore, the change of nitrogen removal route further gave MABAR excellent adaptability and impact resistance to address wastewater with different COD/N ratios, which is conducive to its wide application.}, } @article {pmid33811864, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, S and Ji, B and Zhang, M and Gu, J and Ma, Y and Liu, Y}, title = {Tetracycline-induced decoupling of symbiosis in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {197}, number = {}, pages = {111095}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2021.111095}, pmid = {33811864}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Biomass ; Bioreactors ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; *Sewage ; Symbiosis ; Tetracycline/toxicity ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Tetracycline has been frequently detected in municipal wastewater due to its extended use for various purposes. This study investigated the influence of tetracycline on non-aerated microalgal-bacterial granular sludge cultivated for municipal wastewater treatment. It was found that ammonia-N removal rate decreased at the tetracycline concentrations of 1 and 10 mg/L. A mass balance on nitrogen further revealed that the observed ammonia-N removal could be mainly attributed to microalgal assimilation which was inhibited by tetracycline at the concentrations studied. In fact, reduced production of chlorophyll in microalgae was observed in the presence of tetracycline, leading to decreased ammonia-N removal rate. Meanwhile, decreased dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration at high tetracycline concentration also indicated inhibition of microalgae. Furthermore, the relative abundances of microalgae containing green algae and cyanobacteria were inhibited by tetracycline. The results gathered in this study indicated the tetracycline-induced decoupling of symbiosis in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge. It is expected that this study can shed lights on the behaviors of non-aerated microalgal-bacterial granules in response to the presence of tetracycline during municipal wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid33810561, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, R and Kim, W and Paguirigan, JA and Jeong, MH and Hur, JS}, title = {Establishment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation of Cladonia macilenta, a Model Lichen-Forming Fungus.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33810561}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Despite the fascinating biology of lichens, such as the symbiotic association of lichen-forming fungi (mycobiont) with their photosynthetic partners and their ability to grow in harsh habitats, lack of genetic tools manipulating mycobiont has hindered studies on genetic mechanisms underpinning lichen biology. Thus, we established an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system for genetic transformation of a mycobiont isolated from Cladonia macilenta. A set of combinations of ATMT conditions, such as input biomass of mycobiont, co-cultivation period with Agrobacterium cells, and incubation temperature, were tested to identify an optimized ATMT condition for the C. macilenta mycobiont. As a result, more than 10 days of co-cultivation period and at least 2 mg of input biomass of the mycobiont were recommended for an efficient ATMT, owing to extremely slow growth rate of mycobionts in general. Moreover, we examined T-DNA copy number variation in a total of 180 transformants and found that 88% of the transformants had a single copy T-DNA insertion. To identify precise T-DNA insertion sites that interrupt gene function in C. macilenta, we performed TAIL-PCR analyses for selected transformants. A hypothetical gene encoding ankyrin repeats at its C-terminus was interrupted by T-DNA insertion in a transformant producing dark-brown colored pigment. Although the identification of the pigment awaits further investigation, this proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility of use of ATMT in construction of a random T-DNA insertion mutant library in mycobionts for studying genetic mechanisms behind the lichen symbiosis, stress tolerance, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid33809525, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, P and Du, Z and Zhao, Q and Li, D and Shao, X and Li, H and Cai, W}, title = {Integrative Taxonomy of the Spinous Assassin Bug Genus Sclomina (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) Reveals Three Cryptic Species Based on DNA Barcoding and Morphological Evidence.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33809525}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Sclomina Stål, 1861 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) is endemic to China and Vietnam, with only two species, Sclomina erinacea Stål, 1861 and Sclomina guangxiensis Ren, 2001, characterized by spinous body and dentate abdominal connexivum. However, due to variable morphological characteristics, Sclomina erinacea, which is widely distributed in South China, is possibly a complex of cryptic species, and Sclomina guangxiensis was suspected to be an extreme group of the S. erinacea cline. In the present study, we conducted species delimitation and phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences of 307 Sclomina specimens collected from 30 sampling localities combined with morphological evidence. The result showed that all samples used in this study were identified as five species: Sclomina guangxiensis is a valid species, and Sclomina erinacea actually includes three cryptic species: Sclomina xingrensis P. Zhao and Cai sp. nov., Sclomina pallens P. Zhao and Cai sp. nov., and Sclomina parva P. Zhao and Cai sp. nov. In this paper, the genus Sclomina is systematically revised, and the morphological characteristics of the five species are compared, described, and photographed in detail. We elucidate the evolutionary history of Sclomina based on results of estimated divergence time. The body shape and coloration (green in nymph and brown in adult) of Sclomina match their environment and mimic the Rubus plants on which they live. The symbiotic relationship between Sclomina and spinous Rubus plants is presented and discussed.}, } @article {pmid33808890, year = {2021}, author = {Du, G and Shi, J and Zhang, J and Ma, Z and Liu, X and Yuan, C and Zhang, B and Zhang, Z and Harrison, MD}, title = {Exogenous Probiotics Improve Fermentation Quality, Microflora Phenotypes, and Trophic Modes of Fermented Vegetable Waste for Animal Feed.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33808890}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The fermentation of leaf vegetable waste to produce animal feed reduces the environmental impact of vegetable production and transforms leaf vegetable waste into a commodity. We investigated the effect of exogenous probiotics and lignocellulose enzymes on the quality and microbial community of fermented feed (FF) produced from cabbage waste. The addition of exogenous probiotics resulted in increased crude protein (CP) content (p < 0.05), better odor (moderate organic acid and ethanol, with low ammonia-N, p < 0.05), and a lower relative abundance (RA) of pathogens (below 0.4%, p < 0.05) in FF, compared to without. With the addition of exogenous probiotics, only Pediococcus and Saccharomyces were enriched and symbiotic in FF; these were the keystone taxa to reduce the abundance of aerobic, form-biofilms, and pathogenic microorganisms, resulting in an efficient anaerobic fermentation system characterized by facultative anaerobic and Gram-positive bacterial communities, and undefined saprotroph fungal communities. Thus, inoculation of vegetable waste fermentation with exogenous probiotics is a promising strategy to enhance the biotransformation of vegetable waste into animal feed.}, } @article {pmid33808048, year = {2021}, author = {Duan, X and Zhao, B and Jin, X and Cheng, X and Huang, S and Li, J}, title = {Antibiotic Treatment Decrease the Fitness of Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Larvae.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33808048}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria could increase the nutrient provision, regulate the physiological state, and promote immunity in their insect host. Honeybee larvae harbor plenty of bacteria in their gut, but their functions are not well studied. To determine their effect on honeybee larvae, the 1-day-old larvae were grafted on to 24-well plates from the comb and artificially reared in the lab. They were treated with penicillin-streptomycin to remove the gut symbiotic bacteria. Then, the 5-day-old larvae and the newly emerged adults were weighted. The developmental periods to pupae and eclosion were investigated, respectively. The bacterial amount, expression of developmental regulation genes (ecr and usp), nutrient metabolism genes (ilp1, ilp2, hex 70a, hex 70b, hex 70c, and hex 110), and immunity genes (apidaecin, abaecin, defensin-1, and hymenoptaecin) were determined by qRT-PCR. The result showed that the antibiotics-treated larvae have significantly lower body weights in the 5-day-old larvae and the emerged bees. The expression of ilp2 and hex 70c in 5-day-old larvae was down-regulated. The usp was down-regulated in 5-day-old larvae, but increased in 7-day-old larvae, which disturbed the normal developmental process and caused the extension of eclosion. Moreover, antibiotics treatment significantly decreased the expression of apidaecin and abaecin in 5-day-old larvae, and defensin-1 and hymenoptaecin in 7-day-old larvae, respectively. These results showed that antibiotics could weaken the nutrient metabolism, disturb the development process, and decrease the immune competence of honeybee larvae, indicating the vital roles of gut bacteria in bee larvae fitness, so the antibiotics should be avoided to control microbial disease in honeybee larvae.}, } @article {pmid33808003, year = {2021}, author = {Harata, G and Yoda, K and Wang, R and Miyazawa, K and Sato, M and He, F and Endo, A}, title = {Species- and Age/Generation-Dependent Adherence of Bifidobacterium bifidum to Human Intestinal Mucus In Vitro.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33808003}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Adhesion to intestinal mucus is the first event in the process by which intestinal microbes colonize the intestine. It plays a critical role in the initiation of interactions between gut microbes and host animals. Despite the importance, the adhesion properties of probiotics are generally characterized using porcine mucin; adhesion to human mucus has been poorly characterized. In the present study, human intestinal mucus samples were isolated from 114 fecal samples collected from healthy infants and adults. In initial screening, four out of the 13 beneficial microbes tested, including the type strain of Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. bifidum TMC3115, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12, showed strong adhesion abilities to human mucus. The type strain of B. bifidum and TMC3115 adhered more strongly to neonatal and infant mucus than to adult mucus, while L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis Bb12 adhered more strongly to adult mucus than to infant mucus. Similar results were obtained for ten additional strains of B. bifidum. In conclusion, age/generation-related differences were observed in the adhesion properties of B. bifidum and other strains. A deeper symbiotic relationship may exist between infants, particularly neonates, and B. bifidum based on its enhanced adhesion to neonatal intestinal mucus.}, } @article {pmid33806926, year = {2021}, author = {Greczek-Stachura, M and Leśnicka, PZ and Tarcz, S and Rautian, M and Możdżeń, K}, title = {Genetic Diversity of Symbiotic Green Algae of Paramecium bursaria Syngens Originating from Distant Geographical Locations.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33806926}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Paramecium bursaria (Ehrenberg 1831) is a ciliate species living in a symbiotic relationship with green algae. The aim of the study was to identify green algal symbionts of P. bursaria originating from distant geographical locations and to answer the question of whether the occurrence of endosymbiont taxa was correlated with a specific ciliate syngen (sexually separated sibling group). In a comparative analysis, we investigated 43 P. bursaria symbiont strains based on molecular features. Three DNA fragments were sequenced: two from the nuclear genomes-a fragment of the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region and a fragment of the gene encoding large subunit ribosomal RNA (28S rDNA), as well as a fragment of the plastid genome comprising the 3'rpl36-5'infA genes. The analysis of two ribosomal sequences showed the presence of 29 haplotypes (haplotype diversity Hd = 0.98736 for ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 and Hd = 0.908 for 28S rDNA) in the former two regions, and 36 haplotypes in the 3'rpl36-5'infA gene fragment (Hd = 0.984). The following symbiotic strains were identified: Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella variabilis, Chlorella sorokiniana and Micractinium conductrix. We rejected the hypotheses concerning (i) the correlation between P. bursaria syngen and symbiotic species, and (ii) the relationship between symbiotic species and geographic distribution.}, } @article {pmid33806858, year = {2021}, author = {Ruan, Y and Chen, K and Su, Y and Jiang, S and Xu, P and Murray, JD}, title = {A Root Tip-Specific Expressing Anthocyanin Marker for Direct Identification of Transgenic Tissues by the Naked Eye in Symbiotic Studies.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33806858}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The Agrobacterium rhizogenes hairy root transformation system is widely used in symbiotic studies of model legumes. It typically relies on fluorescent reporters, such as DsRed, for identification of transgenic roots. The MtLAP1 transcription factor has been utilized as a reporter system in Medicago truncatula based on production of anthocyanin pigment. Here, we describe a version of this reporter driven by a root-cap specific promoter for direct observation of anthocyanin accumulation in root tips, which allows the identification of transgenic hairy roots by the naked eye. Results from our analysis suggest that the reporter had no significant effects on nodulation of M. truncatula. This approach, by virtue of its strong and specific expression in root cap cells, greatly reduces false positives and false negatives, and its use of an easily scored visible pigment should allow greater versatility and efficiency in root biology studies.}, } @article {pmid33805015, year = {2021}, author = {Ávila-Gutiérrez, MJ and Aguayo-González, F and Lama-Ruiz, JR}, title = {Framework for the Development of Affective and Smart Manufacturing Systems Using Sensorised Surrogate Models.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {33805015}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {Human Factor strategy and management have been affected by the incorporation of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) of industry 4.0, whereby operator 4.0 has been configured to address the wide variety of cooperative activities and to support skills that operate in VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environments under the interaction with ubiquitous interfaces on real and virtual hybrid environments of cyber-physical systems. Current human Competences-Capacities that are supported by the technological enablers could result in a radically disempowered human factor. This means that in the processes of optimization and improvement of manufacturing systems from industry 4.0 to industry 5.0, it would be necessary to establish strategies for the empowerment of the human factor, which constitute symbiotic and co-evolutionary socio-technical systems through talent, sustainability, and innovation. This paper establishes a new framework for the design and development of occupational environments 5.0 for the inclusion of singularized operators 4.0, such as individuals with special capacities and talents. A case study for workers and their inclusion in employment is proposed. This model integrates intelligent and inclusive digital solutions in the current workspaces of organizations under digital transformation.}, } @article {pmid33803556, year = {2021}, author = {Vitale, P and Napolitano, R and Colella, F and Menna, C and Asprone, D}, title = {Cement-Matrix Composites Using CFRP Waste: A Circular Economy Perspective Using Industrial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33803556}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {This study aims to provide a mitigation strategy for reducing the economic and environmental impacts of carbon fiber wastes deriving from automotive industry. Recycling and reuse in the construction industry is proposed, according to an industrial symbiosis within a circular economy perspective. Specifically, the process consists of repurposing carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) scraps/waste into new cement-matrix composites, for which the resulting benefits, in terms of mechanical and environmental performance, are herein described. An experimental campaign, starting with a specific heat treatment of CFRP sheets and an accurate dimensional distribution analysis of the short carbon fibers, is presented. The influence of the fiber content and length on both the workability and the mechanical performance of cement-based carbon fiber reinforced mortars is also evaluated. A reduced amount of either sand or cement (up to 8% and 12.8% in volume, respectively) is also considered in the mix design of the fiber reinforced mortars and derives from the substitution of the sand or binder with an equivalent volume of CFRP fibers. The results show a satisfactory increase in compressive and flexural strength in the range 10-18% for the samples characterized by a volume fraction of fibers of approximately 4% and having a 2-5 mm length. Finally, a life cycle assessment (LCA, 14040/14044) was carried out to quantify the environmental burden reductions associated with the implementation of the proposed symbiotic scheme.}, } @article {pmid33803473, year = {2021}, author = {Slater, R and Frau, A and Hodgkinson, J and Archer, D and Probert, C}, title = {A Comparison of the Colonic Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compound Metabolome of Anoplocephala perfoliata Infected and Non-Infected Horses: A Pilot Study.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33803473}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Anoplocephala perfoliata is a common equine tapeworm associated with an increased risk of colic (abdominal pain) in horses. Identification of parasite and intestinal microbiota interactions have consequences for understanding the mechanisms behind parasite-associated colic and potential new methods for parasite control. A. perfoliata was diagnosed by counting of worms in the caecum post-mortem. Bacterial DNA was extracted from colonic contents and sequenced targeting of the 16S rRNA gene (V4 region). The volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolome of colonic contents was characterised using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Bacterial diversity (alpha and beta) was similar between tapeworm infected and non-infected controls. Some compositional differences were apparent with down-regulation of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the symbiotic families of Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae in the tapeworm-infected group. Overall tapeworm burden accounted for 7-8% of variation in the VOC profile (permutational multivariate analysis of variance). Integration of bacterial OTUs and VOCs demonstrated moderate to strong correlations indicating the potential of VOCs as markers for bacterial OTUs in equine colonic contents. This study has shown potential differences in the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of A. perfoliata infected and non-infected horses. This pilot study did not control for extrinsic factors including diet, disease history and stage of infection.}, } @article {pmid33803291, year = {2021}, author = {Cuffaro, B and Assohoun, ALW and Boutillier, D and Peucelle, V and Desramaut, J and Boudebbouze, S and Croyal, M and Waligora-Dupriet, AJ and Rhimi, M and Grangette, C and Maguin, E}, title = {Identification of New Potential Biotherapeutics from Human Gut Microbiota-Derived Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33803291}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The role of the gut microbiota in health and disease is well recognized and the microbiota dysbiosis observed in many chronic diseases became a new therapeutic target. The challenge is to get a better insight into the functionality of commensal bacteria and to use this knowledge to select live biotherapeutics as new preventive or therapeutic products. In this study, we set up a screening approach to evaluate the functional capacities of a set of 21 strains isolated from the gut microbiota of neonates and adults. For this purpose, we selected key biological processes involved in the microbiome-host symbiosis and known to impact the host physiology i.e., the production of short-chain fatty acids and the ability to strengthen an epithelial barrier (Caco-2), to induce the release of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine after co-culture with human immune cells (PBMC) or to increase GLP-1 production from STC-1 endocrine cell line. This strategy highlighted fifteen strains exhibiting beneficial activities among which seven strains combined several of them. Interestingly, this work revealed for the first time a high prevalence of potential health-promoting functions among intestinal commensal strains and identified several appealing novel candidates for the management of chronic diseases, notably obesity and inflammatory bowel diseases.}, } @article {pmid33803189, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, J and Alvarez, L and Bulgheresi, S and Cava, F and den Blaauwen, T}, title = {PBP4 Is Likely Involved in Cell Division of the Longitudinally Dividing Bacterium Candidatus Thiosymbion Oneisti.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33803189}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Peptidoglycan (PG) is essential for bacterial survival and maintaining cell shape. The rod-shaped model bacterium Escherichia coli has a set of seven endopeptidases that remodel the PG during cell growth. The gamma proteobacterium Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti is also rod-shaped and attaches to the cuticle of its nematode host by one pole. It widens and divides by longitudinal fission using the canonical proteins MreB and FtsZ. The PG layer of Ca. T. oneisti has an unusually high peptide cross-linkage of 67% but relatively short glycan chains with an average length of 12 disaccharides. Curiously, it has only two predicted endopeptidases, MepA and PBP4. Cellular localization of symbiont PBP4 by fluorescently labeled antibodies reveals its polar localization and its accumulation at the constriction sites, suggesting that PBP4 is involved in PG biosynthesis during septum formation. Isolated symbiont PBP4 protein shows a different selectivity for β-lactams compared to its homologue from E. coli. Bocillin-FL binding by PBP4 is activated by some β-lactams, suggesting the presence of an allosteric binding site. Overall, our data point to a role of PBP4 in PG cleavage during the longitudinal cell division and to a PG that might have been adapted to the symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid33802740, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, Z and Zhang, Q and Lin, Y and Hao, J and Wang, S and Zhang, J and Li, A}, title = {Taxonomic and Functional Characteristics of the Gill and Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Its Correlation with Intestinal Metabolites in NEW GIFT Strain of Farmed Adult Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33802740}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The gill and gastrointestinal tract are primary entry routes for pathogens. The symbiotic microbiota are essential to the health, nutrition and disease of fish. Though the intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) has been extensively studied, information on the mucosa-associated microbiota of this species, especially the gill and gastrointestinal mucosa-associated microbiota, is lacking. This study aimed to characterize the gill and gastrointestinal mucosa- and digesta-associated microbiota, as well as the intestinal metabolite profiles in the New Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (NEW GIFT) strain of farmed adult Nile tilapia by high-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomics. The diversity, structure, composition, and predicted function of gastrointestinal microbiota were significantly different across gastrointestinal regions and sample types (Welch t-test; p < 0.05). By comparing the mucosa- and digesta-associated microbiota, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed that Pelomonas, Ralstoniapickettii, Comamonadaceae, and Staphylococcus were significantly enriched in the mucosa-associated microbiota, whereas many bacterial taxa were significantly enriched in the digesta-associated microbiota, including Chitinophagaceae, Cetobacterium, CandidatusCompetibacter, Methyloparacoccus, and chloroplast (LDA score > 3.5). Furthermore, Undibacterium, Escherichia-Shigella, Paeniclostridium, and Cetobacterium were dominant in the intestinal contents and mucosae, whereas Sphingomonasaquatilis and Roseomonasgilardii were commonly found in the gill and stomach mucosae. The Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) analysis revealed that the predictive function of digesta-associated microbiota significantly differed from that of mucosa-associated microbiota (R = 0.8152, p = 0.0001). In addition, our results showed a significant interdependence between specific intestinal microbes and metabolites. Notably, the relative abundance values of several potentially beneficial microbes, including Undibacterium, Crenothrix, and Cetobacterium, were positively correlated with most intestinal metabolites, whereas the relative abundance values of some potential opportunistic pathogens, including Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium, Escherichia-Shigella, Paeniclostridium, Aeromonas, and Clostridiumsensustricto 1, were negatively correlated with most intestinal metabolites. This study revealed the characteristics of gill and gastrointestinal mucosa-associated and digesta-associated microbiota of farmed Nile tilapia and identified a close correlation between intestinal microbes and metabolites. The results serve as a basis for the effective application of targeted probiotics or prebiotics in the diet to regulate the nutrition and health of farmed tilapia.}, } @article {pmid33802617, year = {2021}, author = {Baluška, F and Miller, WB and Reber, AS}, title = {Biomolecular Basis of Cellular Consciousness via Subcellular Nanobrains.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33802617}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Biology ; Cell Membrane/*physiology ; Consciousness/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cells emerged at the very beginning of life on Earth and, in fact, are coterminous with life. They are enclosed within an excitable plasma membrane, which defines the outside and inside domains via their specific biophysical properties. Unicellular organisms, such as diverse protists and algae, still live a cellular life. However, fungi, plants, and animals evolved a multicellular existence. Recently, we have developed the cellular basis of consciousness (CBC) model, which proposes that all biological awareness, sentience and consciousness are grounded in general cell biology. Here we discuss the biomolecular structures and processes that allow for and maintain this cellular consciousness from an evolutionary perspective.}, } @article {pmid33801755, year = {2021}, author = {Baldelli, V and Scaldaferri, F and Putignani, L and Del Chierico, F}, title = {The Role of Enterobacteriaceae in Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33801755}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are a group of chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases with unknown etiology. There is a combination of well documented factors in their pathogenesis, including intestinal microbiota dysbiosis. The symbiotic microbiota plays important functions in the host, and the loss of beneficial microbes could favor the expansion of microbial pathobionts. In particular, the bloom of potentially harmful Proteobacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae, has been described as enhancing the inflammatory response, as observed in IBDs. Herein, we seek to investigate the contribution of Enterobacteriaceae to IBD pathogenesis whilst considering the continuous expansion of the literature and data. Despite the mechanism of their expansion still remaining unclear, their expansion could be correlated with the increase in nitrate and oxygen levels in the inflamed gut and with the bile acid dysmetabolism described in IBD patients. Furthermore, in several Enterobacteriaceae studies conducted at a species level, it has been suggested that some adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) play an important role in IBD pathogenesis. Overall, this review highlights the pivotal role played by Enterobacteriaceae in gut dysbiosis associated with IBD pathogenesis and progression.}, } @article {pmid33801218, year = {2021}, author = {Yamaguchi, T and Costabel, U and McDowell, A and Guzman, J and Uchida, K and Ohashi, K and Eishi, Y}, title = {Immunohistochemical Detection of Potential Microbial Antigens in Granulomas in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33801218}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {Sarcoidosis may have more than a single causative agent, including infectious and non-infectious agents. Among the potential infectious causes of sarcoidosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Propionibacterium acnes are the most likely microorganisms. Potential latent infection by both microorganisms complicates the findings of molecular and immunologic studies. Immune responses to potential infectious agents of sarcoidosis should be considered together with the microorganisms detected in sarcoid granulomas, because immunologic reactivities to infectious agents reflect current and past infection, including latent infection unrelated to the cause of the granuloma formation. Histopathologic data more readily support P. acnes as a cause of sarcoidosis compared with M. tuberculosis, suggesting that normally symbiotic P. acnes leads to granuloma formation in some predisposed individuals with Th1 hypersensitivity against intracellular proliferation of latent P. acnes, which may be triggered by certain host or drug-induced conditions. Detection of bacterial nucleic acids in granulomas does not necessarily indicate co-localization of the bacterial proteins in the granulomas. In the histopathologic diagnosis of sarcoidosis, M. tuberculosis-associated and P. acnes-associated sarcoidosis will possibly be differentiated in some patients by immunohistochemistry with appropriate antibodies that specifically react with mycobacterial and propionibacterial antigens, respectively, for each etiology-based diagnosis and potential antimicrobial intervention against sarcoidosis.}, } @article {pmid33800707, year = {2021}, author = {Barber, TM and Valsamakis, G and Mastorakos, G and Hanson, P and Kyrou, I and Randeva, HS and Weickert, MO}, title = {Dietary Influences on the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {33800707}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Appetite ; Autonomic Nervous System/embryology ; Brain/metabolism/*physiology ; *Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Fats ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Endotoxemia/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Incretins/metabolism ; Inflammation ; Intestines/*innervation/*physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/chemistry ; Permeability ; }, abstract = {Over unimaginable expanses of evolutionary time, our gut microbiota have co-evolved with us, creating a symbiotic relationship in which each is utterly dependent upon the other. Far from confined to the recesses of the alimentary tract, our gut microbiota engage in complex and bi-directional communication with their host, which have far-reaching implications for overall health, wellbeing and normal physiological functioning. Amongst such communication streams, the microbiota-gut-brain axis predominates. Numerous complex mechanisms involve direct effects of the microbiota, or indirect effects through the release and absorption of the metabolic by-products of the gut microbiota. Proposed mechanisms implicate mitochondrial function, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and autonomic, neuro-humeral, entero-endocrine and immunomodulatory pathways. Furthermore, dietary composition influences the relative abundance of gut microbiota species. Recent human-based data reveal that dietary effects on the gut microbiota can occur rapidly, and that our gut microbiota reflect our diet at any given time, although much inter-individual variation pertains. Although most studies on the effects of dietary macronutrients on the gut microbiota report on associations with relative changes in the abundance of particular species of bacteria, in broad terms, our modern-day animal-based Westernized diets are relatively high in fats and proteins and impoverished in fibres. This creates a perfect storm within the gut in which dysbiosis promotes localized inflammation, enhanced gut wall permeability, increased production of lipopolysaccharides, chronic endotoxemia and a resultant low-grade systemic inflammatory milieu, a harbinger of metabolic dysfunction and many modern-day chronic illnesses. Research should further focus on the colony effects of the gut microbiota on health and wellbeing, and dysbiotic effects on pathogenic pathways. Finally, we should revise our view of the gut microbiota from that of a seething mass of microbes to one of organ-status, on which our health and wellbeing utterly depends. Future guidelines on lifestyle strategies for wellbeing should integrate advice on the optimal establishment and maintenance of a healthy gut microbiota through dietary and other means. Although we are what we eat, perhaps more importantly, we are what our gut microbiota thrive on and they thrive on what we eat.}, } @article {pmid33800098, year = {2021}, author = {Marek, A and Pyzik, E and Stępień-Pyśniak, D and Dec, M and Jarosz, ŁS and Nowaczek, A and Sulikowska, M}, title = {Biofilm-Formation Ability and the Presence of Adhesion Genes in Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolates from Chicken Broilers.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33800098}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {The aim of the study was to analyze the biofilm-production capacity of 87 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains (CoNS) isolated from broiler chickens and to determine the occurrence of biofilm-associated genes. The biofilm production capacity of staphylococci was assessed using the microtiter plate method (MTP), and the frequency of genes was determined by PCR. The ability to form a biofilm in vitro was shown in 79.3% of examined strains. Strong biofilm capacity was demonstrated in 26.4% of strains, moderate capacity in 25.3%, weak capacity in 27.6%, and a complete lack of biofilm production capacity in 20.7% of strains. The icaAB gene responsible for the production of extracellular polysaccharide adhesins was detected in 6.9% of strains. The other four genes, i.e., bap (encoding biofilm-associated protein), atlE (encoding cell surface protein exhibiting vitronectin-binding activity), fbe (encoding fibrinogen-binding protein), and eno (encoding laminin-binding protein) were detected in 5.7%, 19.5%, 8%, and 70.1% of strains, respectively. Demonstration of genes that play a role in bacterial biofilm formation may serve as a genetic basis to distinguish between symbiotic and potentially invasive coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains.}, } @article {pmid33799841, year = {2021}, author = {Horvatić, D and Lipic, T}, title = {Human-Centric AI: The Symbiosis of Human and Artificial Intelligence.}, journal = {Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33799841}, issn = {1099-4300}, abstract = {Well-evidenced advances of data-driven complex machine learning approaches emerging within the so-called second wave of artificial intelligence (AI) fostered the exploration of possible AI applications in various domains and aspects of human life, practices, and society [...].}, } @article {pmid33799701, year = {2021}, author = {Takeuchi, R and Jimbo, M and Tanimoto, F and Iijima, M and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Harii, S and Nakano, Y and Yasumoto, K and Watabe, S}, title = {N-Acetyl-d-Glucosamine-Binding Lectin in Acropora tenuis Attracts Specific Symbiodiniaceae Cell Culture Strains.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33799701}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/*metabolism ; Lectins/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many corals establish symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae cells from surrounding environments, but very few Symbiodiniaceae cells exist in the water column. Given that the N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-binding lectin ActL attracts Symbiodiniaceae cells, we hypothesized that corals must attract Symbiodiniaceae cells using ActL to acquire them. Anti-ActL antibody inhibited acquisition of Symbiodiniaceae cells, and rearing seawater for juvenile Acropora tenuis contained ActL, suggesting that juvenile A. tenuis discharge ActL to attract these cells. Among eight Symbiodiniaceae cultured strains, ActL attracted NBRC102920 (Symbiodinium tridacnidorum) most strongly followed by CS-161 (Symbiodinium tridacnidorum), CCMP2556 (Durusdinium trenchii), and CCMP1633 (Breviolum sp.); however, it did not attract GTP-A6-Sy (Symbiodinium natans), CCMP421 (Effrenium voratum), FKM0207 (Fugacium sp.), and CS-156 (Fugacium sp.). Juvenile polyps of A. tenuis acquired limited Symbiodiniaceae cell strains, and the number of acquired Symbiodiniaceae cells in a polyp also differed from each other. The number of Symbiodiniaceae cells acquired by juvenile polyps of A. tenuis was correlated with the ActL chemotactic activity. Thus, ActL could be used to attract select Symbiodiniaceae cells and help Symbiodiniaceae cell acquisition in juvenile polyps of A. tenuis, facilitating establishment of symbiosis between A. tenuis and Symbiodiniaceae cells.}, } @article {pmid33798681, year = {2021}, author = {Ennis, CC and Haeffner, NN and Keyser, CD and Leonard, ST and Macdonald-Shedd, AC and Savoie, AM and Cronin, TJ and Veldsman, WP and Barden, P and Chak, STC and Baeza, JA}, title = {Comparative mitochondrial genomics of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps in the genus Synalpheus: Exploring differences between eusocial and non-eusocial species and insights into phylogenetic relationships in caridean shrimps.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {786}, number = {}, pages = {145624}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.145624}, pmid = {33798681}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Codon Usage ; Decapoda/*classification/genetics ; Genome Size ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genomics/*methods ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The genus Synalpheus is a cosmopolitan clade of marine shrimps found in most tropical regions. Species in this genus exhibit a range of social organizations, including pair-forming, communal breeding, and eusociality, the latter only known to have evolved within this genus in the marine realm. This study examines the complete mitochondrial genomes of seven species of Synalpheus and explores differences between eusocial and non-eusocial species considering that eusociality has been shown before to affect the strength of purifying selection in mitochondrial protein coding genes. The AT-rich mitochondrial genomes of Synalpheus range from 15,421 bp to 15,782 bp in length and comprise, invariably, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. A 648 bp to 994 bp long intergenic space is assumed to be the D-loop. Mitochondrial gene synteny is identical among the studied shrimps. No major differences occur between eusocial and non-eusocial species in nucleotide composition and codon usage profiles of PCGs and in the secondary structure of tRNA genes. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the complete concatenated PCG complement of 90 species supports the monophyly of the genus Synalpheus and its family Alpheidae. Moreover, the monophyletic status of the caridean families Alvinocaridae, Atyidae, Thoridae, Lysmatidae, Palaemonidae, and Pandalidae within caridean shrimps are fully or highly supported by the analysis. We therefore conclude that mitochondrial genomes contain sufficient phylogenetic information to resolve relationships at high taxonomic levels within the Caridea. Our analysis of mitochondrial genomes in the genus Synalpheus contributes to the understanding of the coevolution between genomic architecture and sociality in caridean shrimps and other marine organisms.}, } @article {pmid33798608, year = {2021}, author = {Corning, PA}, title = {"How" vs. "Why" questions in symbiogenesis, and the causal role of synergy.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {104417}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104417}, pmid = {33798608}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*physiology ; Lichens/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; *Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiosis, we now know, is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the natural world. And, in every case, there was an initial "genesis" - a "how" process that may have been at once unique to each situation and perhaps also shared a common set of facilitators. However, a full explanation of symbiogenesis also requires an answer to the "why" question, for natural selection is a stringent economizer. Something as contrarian as mutualistic cooperation between "differently named" organisms must also provide functional advantages for the participants that will be favored by natural selection (differential survival and reproduction). Enter the "Synergism Hypothesis" - the thesis that synergistic functional effects of various kinds are a common cause of cooperative relationships of all kinds in nature, including symbioses. When different organisms have complementary capabilities that are mutually beneficial and cannot otherwise be attained, the benefits derived from symbiotic cooperation will outweigh the costs. Among the many documented cases of symbiogenesis over time, lichens provide perhaps the most familiar, well-studied example, while the eukaryotes are often cited as a game-changer. The answer to the "why" question was, in each case, determinative for symbiogenesis.}, } @article {pmid33797764, year = {2021}, author = {Castro-Rodríguez, R and Escudero, V and Reguera, M and Gil-Díez, P and Quintana, J and Prieto, RI and Kumar, RK and Brear, E and Grillet, L and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Walker, EL and Smith, PMC and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula Yellow Stripe-Like7 encodes a peptide transporter participating in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {1908-1920}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14059}, pmid = {33797764}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Transport ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) proteins are a family of plant transporters that are typically involved in transition metal homeostasis. Three of the four YSL clades (I, II and IV) transport metals complexed with the non-proteinogenic amino acid nicotianamine or its derivatives. No such capability has been shown for any member of clade III, but the link between these YSLs and metal homeostasis could be masked by functional redundancy. We studied the role of the clade III YSL protein MtSYL7 in Medicago truncatula nodules. MtYSL7, which encodes a plasma membrane-bound protein, is mainly expressed in the pericycle and cortex cells of the root nodules. Yeast complementation assays revealed that MtSYL7 can transport short peptides. M. truncatula transposon insertion mutants with decreased expression of MtYSL7 had lower nitrogen fixation rates and showed reduced plant growth whether grown in symbiosis with rhizobia or not. YSL7 mutants accumulated more copper and iron in the nodules, which is likely to result from the increased expression of iron uptake and delivery genes in roots. Taken together, these data suggest that MtYSL7 plays an important role in the transition metal homeostasis of nodules and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid33796482, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, Z and Cheng, H and Cai, Z and Wei, Q and Li, J and Liang, J and Zhang, W and Yu, Z and Liu, D and Liu, L and Zhang, Z and Wang, K and Yang, L}, title = {Identification of Microbiome Etiology Associated With Drug Resistance in Pleural Empyema.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {637018}, pmid = {33796482}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; *Empyema, Pleural/drug therapy ; Humans ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Identification of the offending organism and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are crucial for treating empyema. Diagnosis of empyema is largely obscured by the conventional bacterial cultivation and PCR process that has relatively low sensitivity, leading to limited understanding of the etiopathogenesis, microbiology, and role of antibiotics in the pleural cavity. To expand our understanding of its pathophysiology, we have carried out a metagenomic snapshot of the pleural effusion from 45 empyema patients by Illumina sequencing platform to assess its taxonomic, and antibiotic resistome structure. Our results showed that the variation of microbiota in the pleural effusion is generally stratified, not continuous. There are two distinct microbiome clusters observed in the forty-five samples: HA-SA type and LA-SA type. The categorization is mostly driven by species composition: HA-SA type is marked by Staphylococcus aureus as the core species, with other enriched 6 bacteria and 3 fungi, forming a low diversity and highly stable microbial community; whereas the LA-SA type has a more diverse microbial community with a distinct set of bacterial species that are assumed to be the oral origin. The microbial community does not shape the dominant antibiotic resistance classes which were common in the two types, while the increase of microbial diversity was correlated with the increase in antibiotic resistance genes. The existence of well-balanced microbial symbiotic states might respond differently to pathogen colonization and drug intake. This study provides a deeper understanding of the pathobiology of pleural empyema and suggests that potential resistance genes may hinder the antimicrobial therapy of empyema.}, } @article {pmid33794743, year = {2021}, author = {R Cope, K and B Irving, T and Chakraborty, S and Ané, JM}, title = {Perception of lipo-chitooligosaccharides by the bioenergy crop Populus.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {1903758}, pmid = {33794743}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Populus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Populus sp. is a developing feedstock for second-generation biofuel production. To ensure its success as a sustainable biofuel source, it is essential to capitalize on the ability of Populus sp. to associate with beneficial plant-associated microbes (e.g., mycorrhizal fungi) and engineer Populus sp. to associate with non-native symbionts (e.g., rhizobia). Here, we review recent research into the molecular mechanisms that control ectomycorrhizal associations in Populus sp. with particular emphasis on the discovery that ectomycorrhizal fungi produce lipochitooligosaccharides capable of activating the common symbiosis pathway. We also present new evidence that lipo-chitooligosaccharides produced by both ectomycorrhizal fungi and various species of rhizobia that do not associate with Populus sp. can induce nuclear calcium spiking in the roots of Populus sp. Thus, we argue Populus sp. already possesses the molecular machinery necessary for perceiving rhizobia, and the next step in engineering symbiosis with rhizobia should be focused on inducing bacterial accommodation and nodule organogenesis. The gene Nodule INception is central to these processes, and several putative orthologs are present in Populus sp. Manipulating the promoters of these genes to match that of plants in the nitrogen-fixing clade may be sufficient to introduce nodulation in Populus sp.}, } @article {pmid33794297, year = {2021}, author = {McIlroy, D and Dufour, SC and Taylor, R and Nicholls, R}, title = {The role of symbiosis in the first colonization of the seafloor by macrobiota: Insights from the oldest Ediacaran biota (Newfoundland, Canada).}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {104413}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104413}, pmid = {33794297}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*physiology ; Autotrophic Processes ; *Biological Evolution ; Biota/*physiology ; Fossils ; Geologic Sediments ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Morphogenesis ; Newfoundland and Labrador ; *Symbiosis ; *Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {The earliest record of animal life comes from the Ediacaran of Newfoundland, including dm scale fossil organisms, most of which are inferred to have been epibenthic immotile eumetazoans. This work introduces the palaeobiology of the major fossil groups in the Newfoundland assemblages including strange fractal-like taxa and addresses some of biogeochemical challenges such as sulfide buildup that could most easily have been overcome by symbiogenesis. Specifically, the epibenthic reclining nature of some of the Ediacaran biota-with their fractal-like high surface area lower surfaces-are considered to have been well designed for gaining nutriment from chemosynthetic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. This view constitutes a shift away from the view that most of the biota were anomalously large osmotrophs.}, } @article {pmid33793938, year = {2021}, author = {Moreau, C and Gautrat, P and Frugier, F}, title = {Nitrate-induced CLE35 signaling peptides inhibit nodulation through the SUNN receptor and miR2111 repression.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {3}, pages = {1216-1228}, pmid = {33793938}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Nitrates/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/genetics ; RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume plants form nitrogen (N)-fixing symbiotic nodules when mineral N is limiting in soils. As N fixation is energetically costly compared to mineral N acquisition, these N sources, and in particular nitrate, inhibit nodule formation and N fixation. Here, in the model legume Medicago truncatula, we characterized a CLAVATA3-like (CLE) signaling peptide, MtCLE35, the expression of which is upregulated locally by high-N environments and relies on the Nodule Inception-Like Protein (NLP) MtNLP1. MtCLE35 inhibits nodule formation by affecting rhizobial infections, depending on the Super Numeric Nodules (MtSUNN) receptor. In addition, high N or the ectopic expression of MtCLE35 represses the expression and accumulation of the miR2111 shoot-to-root systemic effector, thus inhibiting its positive effect on nodulation. Conversely, ectopic expression of miR2111 or downregulation of MtCLE35 by RNA interference increased miR2111 accumulation independently of the N environment, and thus partially bypasses the nodulation inhibitory action of nitrate. Overall, these results demonstrate that the MtNLP1-dependent, N-induced MtCLE35 signaling peptide acts through the MtSUNN receptor and the miR2111 systemic effector to inhibit nodulation.}, } @article {pmid33793933, year = {2021}, author = {Dokwal, D and Romsdahl, TB and Kunz, DA and Alonso, AP and Dickstein, R}, title = {Phosphorus deprivation affects composition and spatial distribution of membrane lipids in legume nodules.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {4}, pages = {1847-1859}, pmid = {33793933}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/chemistry/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Membrane Lipids/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*deficiency ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In legumes, symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation (SNF) occurs in specialized organs called nodules after successful interactions between legume hosts and rhizobia. In a nodule, N-fixing rhizobia are surrounded by symbiosome membranes, through which the exchange of nutrients and ammonium occurs between bacteria and the host legume. Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient, and N2-fixing legumes have a higher requirement for P than legumes grown on mineral N. As in the previous studies, in P deficiency, barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) plants had impaired SNF activity, reduced growth, and accumulated less phosphate in leaves, roots, and nodules compared with the plants grown in P sufficient conditions. Membrane lipids in M. truncatula tissues were assessed using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Galactolipids were found to increase in P deficiency, with declines in phospholipids (PL), especially in leaves. Lower PL losses were found in roots and nodules. Subsequently, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging was used to spatially map the distribution of the positively charged phosphatidylcholine (PC) species in nodules in both P-replete and P-deficient conditions. Our results reveal heterogeneous distribution of several PC species in nodules, with homogeneous distribution of other PC classes. In P poor conditions, some PC species distributions were observed to change. The results suggest that specific PC species may be differentially important in diverse nodule zones and cell types, and that membrane lipid remodeling during P stress is not uniform across the nodule.}, } @article {pmid33793911, year = {2021}, author = {Wakabayashi, T and Ishiwa, S and Shida, K and Motonami, N and Suzuki, H and Takikawa, H and Mizutani, M and Sugimoto, Y}, title = {Identification and characterization of sorgomol synthase in sorghum strigolactone biosynthesis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {3}, pages = {902-913}, pmid = {33793911}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Lactones/*metabolism ; Sorghum/*metabolism ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), first identified as germination stimulants for root parasitic weeds, act as endogenous phytohormones regulating shoot branching and as root-derived signal molecules mediating symbiotic communications in the rhizosphere. Canonical SLs typically have an ABCD ring system and can be classified into orobanchol- and strigol-type based on the C-ring stereochemistry. Their simplest structures are 4-deoxyorobanchol (4DO) and 5-deoxystrigol (5DS), respectively. Diverse canonical SLs are chemically modified with one or more hydroxy or acetoxy groups introduced into the A- and/or B-ring of these simplest structures, but the biochemical mechanisms behind this structural diversity remain largely unexplored. Sorgomol in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a strigol-type SL with a hydroxy group at C-9 of 5DS. In this study, we characterized sorgomol synthase. Microsomal fractions prepared from a high-sorgomol-producing cultivar of sorghum, Sudax, were shown to convert 5DS to sorgomol. A comparative transcriptome analysis identified SbCYP728B subfamily as candidate genes encoding sorgomol synthase. Recombinant SbCYP728B35 catalyzed the conversion of 5DS to sorgomol in vitro. Substrate specificity revealed that the C-8bS configuration in the C-ring of 5DS stereoisomers was essential for this reaction. The overexpression of SbCYP728B35 in Lotus japonicus hairy roots, which produce 5DS as an endogenous SL, also resulted in the conversion of 5DS to sorgomol. Furthermore, SbCYP728B35 expression was not detected in nonsorgomol-producing cultivar, Abu70, suggesting that this gene is responsible for sorgomol production in sorghum. Identification of the mechanism modifying parental 5DS of strigol-type SLs provides insights on how plants biosynthesize diverse SLs.}, } @article {pmid33793909, year = {2021}, author = {Montiel, J and Reid, D and Grønbæk, TH and Benfeldt, CM and James, EK and Ott, T and Ditengou, FA and Nadzieja, M and Kelly, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {Distinct signaling routes mediate intercellular and intracellular rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {3}, pages = {1131-1147}, pmid = {33793909}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {834221/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Lotus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial infection of legume roots during the development of nitrogen-fixing root nodules can occur intracellularly, through plant-derived infection threads traversing cells, or intercellularly, via bacterial entry between epidermal plant cells. Although it is estimated that around 25% of all legume genera are intercellularly infected, the pathways and mechanisms supporting this process have remained virtually unexplored due to a lack of genetically amenable legumes that exhibit this form of infection. In this study, we report that the model legume Lotus japonicus is infected intercellularly by the IRBG74 strain, recently proposed to belong to the Agrobacterium clade of the Rhizobiaceae. We demonstrate that the resources available for L. japonicus enable insight into the genetic requirements and fine-tuning of the pathway governing intercellular infection in this species. Inoculation of L. japonicus mutants shows that Ethylene-responsive factor required for nodulation 1 (Ern1) and Leu-rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (RinRK1) are dispensable for intercellular infection in contrast to intracellular infection. Other symbiotic genes, including nod factor receptor 5 (NFR5), symbiosis receptor-like kinase (SymRK), Ca2+/calmodulin dependent kinase (CCaMK), exopolysaccharide receptor 3 (Epr3), Cyclops, nodule inception (Nin), nodulation signaling pathway 1 (Nsp1), nodulation signaling pathway 2 (Nsp2), cystathionine-β-synthase (Cbs), and Vapyrin are equally important for both entry modes. Comparative RNAseq analysis of roots inoculated with IRBG74 revealed a distinctive transcriptome response compared with intracellular colonization. In particular, several cytokinin-related genes were differentially regulated. Corroborating this observation, cyp735A and ipt4 cytokinin biosynthesis mutants were significantly affected in their nodulation with IRBG74, whereas lhk1 cytokinin receptor mutants formed no nodules. These results indicate a differential requirement for cytokinin signaling during intercellular rhizobial entry and highlight distinct modalities of inter- and intracellular infection mechanisms in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid33793849, year = {2021}, author = {Narayan, OP and Verma, N and Jogawat, A and Dua, M and Johri, AK}, title = {Sulfur transfer from the endophytic fungus Serendipita indica improves maize growth and requires the sulfate transporter SiSulT.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {1268-1285}, doi = {10.1093/plcell/koab006}, pmid = {33793849}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Axenic Culture ; Basidiomycota/metabolism/*physiology ; Biological Transport ; Chromates/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mutation ; Mycology/methods ; Phylogeny ; RNA Interference ; Sulfate Transporters/genetics/*metabolism ; Sulfates/metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Yeasts/genetics ; Zea mays/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A deficiency of the essential macronutrient sulfur leads to stunted plant growth and yield loss; however, an association with a symbiotic fungus can greatly improve nutrient uptake by the host plant. Here, we identified and functionally characterized a high-affinity sulfate transporter from the endophytic fungus Serendipita indica. SiSulT fulfills all the criteria expected of a functional sulfate transporter responding to sulfur limitation: SiSulT expression was induced when S. indica was grown under low-sulfate conditions, and heterologous expression of SiSulT complemented a yeast mutant lacking sulfate transport. We generated a knockdown strain of SiSulT by RNA interference to investigate the consequences of the partial loss of this transporter for the fungus and the host plant (maize, Zea mays) during colonization. Wild-type (WT) S. indica, but not the knockdown strain (kd-SiSulT), largely compensated for low-sulfate availability and supported plant growth. Colonization by WT S. indica also allowed maize roots to allocate precious resources away from sulfate assimilation under low-sulfur conditions, as evidenced by the reduction in expression of most sulfate assimilation genes. Our study illustrates the utility of the endophyte S. indica in sulfur nutrition research and offers potential avenues for agronomically sound amelioration of plant growth in low-sulfate environments.}, } @article {pmid33793381, year = {2021}, author = {Lin, P and Zhang, M and Wang, M and Li, Y and Liu, J and Chen, Y}, title = {Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus modulates defense-related genes expression in banana seedlings susceptible to wilt disease.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {1884782}, pmid = {33793381}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Biomass ; Disease Susceptibility ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Musa/genetics/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Seedlings/*genetics/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Banana as an important economic crop worldwide, often suffers from serious damage caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been considered as one of the promising plant biocontrol agents in preventing from root pathogens. This study examined the effect of AM fungal inoculation on plant growth and differential expressions of growth- and defense-related genes in banana seedlings. Tissue-cultured seedlings of Brazilian banana (Musa acuminate Cavendish cv. Brail) were inoculated with AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis, Ri), and developed good mycorrhizal symbiosis from 4 to 11 weeks after inoculation with an infection rate up to 71.7% of the roots system. Microbial abundance revealed that Ri abundance in banana roots was 1.85×10[6] copies/ml at 11 weeks after inoculaiton. Inoculation improved plant dry weights by 47.5, 124, and 129% for stem, leaf, and the whole plant, respectively, during phosphate depletion. Among a total of 1411 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained from the transcriptome data analysis, genes related to plant resistance (e.g. POD, PAL, PYR, and HBP-1b) and those related to plant growth (e.g. IAA, GH3, SAUR, and ARR8) were up-regulated in AM plants. This study demonstrates that AM fungus effectively promoted the growth of banana plants and induced defense-related genes which could help suppress wilt disease. The outcomes of this study form a basis for further study on the mechanism of banana disease resistance induced by AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid33791573, year = {2020}, author = {Fordyce, AJ and Ainsworth, TD and Leggat, W}, title = {Microalgae, a Boring Bivalve and a Coral-A Newly Described Association Between Two Coral Reef Bioeroders Within Their Coral Host.}, journal = {Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {obaa035}, pmid = {33791573}, issn = {2517-4843}, abstract = {Bioeroding organisms play an important part in shaping structural complexity and carbonate budgets on coral reefs. Species interactions between various bioeroders are an important area of study, as these interactions can affect net rates of bioerosion within a community and mediate how bioeroders respond to environmental change. Here we test the hypothesis that the biomass of endolithic bioeroding microalgae is positively associated with the presence of a macroboring bivalve. We compared the biomass and chlorophyll concentrations of microendolithic biofilms in branches of the coral Isopora palifera (Lamarck, 1816) that were or were not inhabited by a macroboring bivalve. Those branches with a macroborer present hosted ∼80% higher microbial biomass compared to adjacent branches from the same coral with no macroborer. Increased concentrations of chlorophyll b indicated that this was partly due to a greater abundance of green microalgae. This newly described association has important implications for the coral host as both the bivalve and the microalgae have been hypothesized as symbiotic.}, } @article {pmid33790299, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, L and Zhang, L and Deng, H and Li, H and Tang, W and Guan, L and Qiu, Y and Donovan, MJ and Chen, Z and Tan, W}, title = {In vivo activation of pH-responsive oxidase-like graphitic nanozymes for selective killing of Helicobacter pylori.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {2002}, pmid = {33790299}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Gastric Acid/metabolism ; Gastric Mucosa/*enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Graphite/*chemistry ; Helicobacter Infections/*enzymology/microbiology/therapy ; Helicobacter pylori/drug effects/*metabolism/physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mice ; Oxidoreductases/chemistry/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori infection is a major etiological factor in gastric diseases. However, clinical antibiotic therapy for H. pylori is limited by continuously decreased therapeutic efficacy and side effects to symbiotic bacteria. Herein, we develop an in vivo activatable pH-responsive graphitic nanozyme, PtCo@Graphene (PtCo@G), for selective treatment of H. pylori. Such nanozymes can resist gastric acid corrosion, exhibit oxidase-like activity to stably generate reactive oxygen species only in acidic gastric milieu and demonstrate superior selective bactericidal property. C18-PEGn-Benzeneboronic acid molecules are modified on PtCo@G, improving its targeting capability. Under acidic gastric pH, graphitic nanozymes show notable bactericidal activity toward H. pylori, while no bacterial killing is observed under intestinal conditions. In mouse model, high antibacterial capability toward H. pylori and negligible side effects toward normal tissues and symbiotic bacteria are achieved. Graphitic nanozyme displays the desired enzyme-like activities at corresponding physiological sites and may address critical issues in clinical treatment of H. pylori infections.}, } @article {pmid33790267, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, D and Wang, Q and Zhang, Z and Jing, G and Ma, M and Ma, F and Li, C}, title = {Silencing MdGH3-2/12 in apple reduces drought resistance by regulating AM colonization.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {84}, pmid = {33790267}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {Drought leads to reductions in plant growth and crop yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form symbioses with the roots of the most important crop species, alleviate drought stress in plants. In the present work, we identified 14 GH3 genes in apple (Malus domestica) and provided evidence that MdGH3-2 and MdGH3-12 play important roles during AM symbiosis. The expression of both MdGH3-2 and MdGH3-12 was upregulated during mycorrhization, and the silencing of MdGH3-2/12 had a negative impact on AM colonization. MdGH3-2/12 silencing resulted in the downregulation of five genes involved in strigolactone synthesis, and there was a corresponding change in root strigolactone content. Furthermore, we observed lower root dry weights in RNAi lines under AM inoculation conditions. Mycorrhizal transgenic plants showed greater sensitivity to drought stress than WT, as indicated by their higher relative electrolytic leakage and lower relative water contents, osmotic adjustment ability, ROS scavenging ability, photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll fluorescence values, and abscisic acid contents. Taken together, these data demonstrate that MdGH3-2/12 plays an important role in AM symbiosis and drought stress tolerance in apple.}, } @article {pmid33789092, year = {2021}, author = {Gutierrez Lopez, DE and Lashinger, LM and Weinstock, GM and Bray, MS}, title = {Circadian rhythms and the gut microbiome synchronize the host's metabolic response to diet.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, pages = {873-887}, doi = {10.1016/j.cmet.2021.03.015}, pmid = {33789092}, issn = {1932-7420}, support = {U01 DA043809/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AG060900/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology ; *Diet ; Energy Metabolism ; Feeding Behavior ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Obesity/metabolism/pathology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The molecular circadian clock and symbiotic host-microbe relationships both evolved as mechanisms that enhance metabolic responses to environmental challenges. The gut microbiome benefits the host by breaking down diet-derived nutrients indigestible by the host and generating microbiota-derived metabolites that support host metabolism. Similarly, cellular circadian clocks optimize organismal physiology to the environment by influencing the timing and coordination of metabolic processes. Host-microbe interactions are influenced by dietary quality and timing, as well as daily light/dark cycles that entrain circadian rhythms in the host. Together, the gut microbiome and the molecular circadian clock play a coordinated role in neural processing, metabolism, adipogenesis, inflammation, and disease initiation and progression. This review examines the bidirectional interactions between the circadian clock, gut microbiota, and host metabolic systems and their effects on obesity and energy homeostasis. Directions for future research and the development of therapies that leverage these systems to address metabolic disease are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid33789052, year = {2021}, author = {Mohr, JF and Baldeweg, F and Deicke, M and Morales-Reyes, CF and Hoffmeister, D and Wichard, T}, title = {Frankobactin Metallophores Produced by Nitrogen-Fixing Frankia Actinobacteria Function in Toxic Metal Sequestration.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {84}, number = {4}, pages = {1216-1225}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01291}, pmid = {33789052}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Copper/*metabolism ; Ferric Compounds/*metabolism ; Frankia/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A series of new metallophores, referred to as frankobactins, were extracted from cultures of the symbiotic and nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium Frankia sp. CH37. Structure elucidation revealed a 2-hydroxyphenyl-substituted oxazoline core and a chain composed of five proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic amino acids, suggesting nonribosomal peptide synthesis as the biosynthetic origin. By whole-genome sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and comparison with other Frankia strains, the genetic locus responsible for the biosynthesis was detected. Spectrophotometric titration of frankobactin with Fe(III) and Cu(II) and mass spectrometry established the 1:1 (metal:frankobactin) coordination. Uptake experiments suggested that frankobactin A1 (1) did not serve to recruit iron, but to detoxify Cu(II). As frankobactin A1 prevents the cellular entry of Cu(II), it could play a crucial role in the symbiosis of Frankia sp. and its host in the reclamation of copper-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid33787133, year = {2021}, author = {Pu, CJ and Li, PY and Luo, YZ and Zhou, XT and Shao, AJ and Chen, ML}, title = {[Effect of different fungicides on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {46}, number = {6}, pages = {1368-1373}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20201222.101}, pmid = {33787133}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {*Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provided is beneficial to Salvia miltiorrhiza for increasing yield, promoting the accumulation of active ingredients, and alleviating S. miltiorrhiza disease etc. However, the application of fungicides will affect the benefit of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and there is little research about it. This article study the effect of four different fungicides: carbendazim, polyoxin, methyl mopazine, and mancozeb on mycorrhiza benefit to S. miltiorrhiza by the infection intensity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the growth of S. miltiorrhiza, and the content of active ingredients. RESULTS:: showed that different fungicides had different effects. The application of mancozeb had the strongest inhibitory effect on the mycorrhizal benefit to S. miltiorrhiza. Mancozeb significantly reduced the mycorrhizal colonization and the beneficial effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and the accumulation of active components of S. miltiorrhiza. The application of polyoxin had no significant effect on mycorrhizal colonization. Instead, it had a synergistic effect with the mycorrhizal benefit to promoting the growth and accumulation of rosmarinic acid of S. miltiorrhiza. The inhibitory strengths of four fungicides are: mancozeb>thiophanate methyl, carbendazim>polyoxin. Therefore, we recommend applying biological fungicides polyoxin and avoid applying chemical fungicides mancozeb for disease control during mycorrhizal cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid33786972, year = {2021}, author = {Shang, J and Yao, YS and Zhu, XZ and Wang, L and Li, DY and Zhang, KX and Gao, XK and Wu, CC and Niu, L and Ji, JC and Luo, JY and Cui, JJ}, title = {Evaluation of sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor on Aphis gossypii via life table parameters and 16S rRNA sequencing.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {77}, number = {7}, pages = {3406-3418}, doi = {10.1002/ps.6385}, pmid = {33786972}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Humans ; Life Tables ; Pyridines ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sulfur Compounds/toxicity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aphis gossypii, a polyphagous and recurrent pest induced by pesticides, causes tremendous loss crop yields each year. Previous studies on the mechanism of pesticide-induced sublethal effects mainly focus on the gene level. The symbiotic bacteria are also important participants of this mechanism, but their roles in hormesis are still unclear.

RESULTS: In this study, life table parameters and 16S rRNA sequencing were applied to evaluate the sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor on adult A. gossypii after 24-h LC20 (6.96 mg L[-1]) concentration exposure. The results indicated that the LC20 of sulfoxaflor significantly reduced the finite rate of increase (λ) and net reproductive rate (R0) of parent generation (G0), and significantly increased mean generation time (T) of G1 and G2, but not of G3 and G4. Both reproductive period and fecundity of G1 and G2 were significantly higher than those of the control. Furthermore, our sequencing data revealed that more than 95% bacterial communities were dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria, in which the maximum proportion genus was the primary symbiont Buchnera and the facultative symbiont Arsenophonus. Compared to those of the control, the abundance and composition of symbiotic bacteria of A. gossypii for three successive generations (G0-G2) were changed after G0 A. gossypii was exposed to sulfoxaflor: the diversity of the bacterial community was decreased, but the abundance of Buchnera was increased (G0), while the abundance of Arsenophonus was decreased. Contrary to G0, G1 and G2 cotton aphid exhibited an increased relative abundance of Arsenophonus in the sublethal treatment group.

CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results provide an insight into the interactions among pesticide resistance, aphids, and symbionts, which will eventually help to better manage the resurgence of A. gossypii. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid33786860, year = {2021}, author = {Bueno, CG and Hiiesalu, I and Koorem, K}, title = {How and where do disturbances promote the establishment of nonnative mycorrhizal plants at high elevations?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {3}, pages = {883-885}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17274}, pmid = {33786860}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; }, } @article {pmid33785632, year = {2021}, author = {Comandatore, F and Damiani, C and Cappelli, A and Ribolla, PEM and Gasperi, G and Gradoni, F and Capelli, G and Piazza, A and Montarsi, F and Mancini, MV and Rossi, P and Ricci, I and Bandi, C and Favia, G}, title = {Phylogenomics Reveals that Asaia Symbionts from Insects Underwent Convergent Genome Reduction, Preserving an Insecticide-Degrading Gene.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33785632}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Ceratitis capitata/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Culicidae/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/pharmacology ; Male ; *Phylogeny ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mosquito microbiota is composed of several lineages of microorganisms whose ecological roles and evolutionary histories have yet to be investigated in depth. Among these microorganisms, Asaia bacteria play a prominent role, given their abundance in the gut, reproductive organs, and salivary glands of different mosquito species, while their presence has also been reported in several other insects. Notably, Asaia has great potential as a tool for the control of mosquito-borne diseases. Here, we present a wide phylogenomic analysis of Asaia strains isolated from different species of mosquito vectors and from different populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, an insect pest of worldwide economic importance. We show that phylogenetically distant lineages of Asaia experienced independent genome reductions, despite following a common pattern, characterized by the early loss of genes involved in genome stability. This result highlights the role of specific metabolic pathways in the symbiotic relationship between Asaia and the insect host. Finally, we discovered that all but one of the Asaia strains included in the study possess the pyrethroid hydrolase gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this gene is ancestral in Asaia, strongly suggesting that it played a role in the establishment of the symbiotic association between these bacteria and the mosquito hosts. We propose that this gene from the symbiont contributed to initial pyrethroid resistance in insects harboring Asaia, also considering the widespread production of pyrethrins by several plants.IMPORTANCE We have studied genome reduction within several strains of the insect symbiont Asaia isolated from different species/strains of mosquito and medfly. Phylogenetically distant strains of Asaia, despite following a common pattern involving the loss of genes related to genome stability, have undergone independent genome reductions, highlighting the peculiar role of specific metabolic pathways in the symbiotic relationship between Asaia and its host. We also show that the pyrethroid hydrolase gene is present in all the Asaia strains isolated except for the South American malaria vector Anopheles darlingi, for which resistance to pyrethroids has never been reported, suggesting a possible involvement of Asaia in determining resistance to insecticides.}, } @article {pmid33785618, year = {2021}, author = {Ledermann, R and Emmenegger, B and Couzigou, JM and Zamboni, N and Kiefer, P and Vorholt, JA and Fischer, HM}, title = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Requires Chemical Chaperones To Cope with Osmotic Stress during Soybean Infection.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33785618}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Diamino/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Betaine/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Soybeans/growth & development/*microbiology ; Trehalose/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {When engaging in symbiosis with legume hosts, rhizobia are confronted with environmental changes, including nutrient availability and stress exposure. Genetic circuits allow responding to these environmental stimuli to optimize physiological adaptations during the switch from the free-living to the symbiotic life style. A pivotal regulatory system of the nitrogen-fixing soybean endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens for efficient symbiosis is the general stress response (GSR), which relies on the alternative sigma factor σ[EcfG] However, the GSR-controlled process required for symbiosis has not been identified. Here, we demonstrate that biosynthesis of trehalose is under GSR control, and mutants lacking the respective biosynthetic genes otsA and/or otsB phenocopy GSR-deficient mutants under symbiotic and selected free-living stress conditions. The role of trehalose as a cytoplasmic chemical chaperone and stress protectant can be functionally replaced in an otsA or otsB mutant by introducing heterologous genetic pathways for biosynthesis of the chemically unrelated compatible solutes glycine betaine and (hydroxy)ectoine. Alternatively, uptake of exogenously provided trehalose also restores efficient symbiosis and tolerance to hyperosmotic and hyperionic stress of otsA mutants. Hence, elevated cytoplasmic trehalose levels resulting from GSR-controlled biosynthesis are crucial for B. diazoefficiens cells to overcome adverse conditions during early stages of host infection and ensure synchronization with root nodule development.IMPORTANCE The Bradyrhizobium-soybean symbiosis is of great agricultural significance and serves as a model system for fundamental research in bacterium-plant interactions. While detailed molecular insight is available about mutual recognition and early nodule organogenesis, our understanding of the host-imposed conditions and the physiology of infecting rhizobia during the transition from a free-living state in the rhizosphere to endosymbiotic bacteroids is currently limited. In this study, we show that the requirement of the rhizobial general stress response (GSR) during host infection is attributable to GSR-controlled biosynthesis of trehalose. Specifically, trehalose is crucial for an efficient symbiosis by acting as a chemical chaperone to protect rhizobia from osmostress during host infection.}, } @article {pmid33784420, year = {2021}, author = {Innis, T and Allen-Waller, L and Brown, KT and Sparagon, W and Carlson, C and Kruse, E and Huffmyer, AS and Nelson, CE and Putnam, HM and Barott, KL}, title = {Marine heatwaves depress metabolic activity and impair cellular acid-base homeostasis in reef-building corals regardless of bleaching susceptibility.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {2728-2743}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.15622}, pmid = {33784420}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {NIH T32/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; NIH T32/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Hawaii ; Homeostasis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ocean warming is causing global coral bleaching events to increase in frequency, resulting in widespread coral mortality and disrupting the function of coral reef ecosystems. However, even during mass bleaching events, many corals resist bleaching despite exposure to abnormally high temperatures. While the physiological effects of bleaching have been well documented, the consequences of heat stress for bleaching-resistant individuals are not well understood. In addition, much remains to be learned about how heat stress affects cellular-level processes that may be overlooked at the organismal level, yet are crucial for coral performance in the short term and ecological success over the long term. Here we compared the physiological and cellular responses of bleaching-resistant and bleaching-susceptible corals throughout the 2019 marine heatwave in Hawai'i, a repeat bleaching event that occurred 4 years after the previous regional event. Relative bleaching susceptibility within species was consistent between the two bleaching events, yet corals of both resistant and susceptible phenotypes exhibited pronounced metabolic depression during the heatwave. At the cellular level, bleaching-susceptible corals had lower intracellular pH than bleaching-resistant corals at the peak of bleaching for both symbiont-hosting and symbiont-free cells, indicating greater disruption of acid-base homeostasis in bleaching-susceptible individuals. Notably, cells from both phenotypes were unable to compensate for experimentally induced cellular acidosis, indicating that acid-base regulation was significantly impaired at the cellular level even in bleaching-resistant corals and in cells containing symbionts. Thermal disturbances may thus have substantial ecological consequences, as even small reallocations in energy budgets to maintain homeostasis during stress can negatively affect fitness. These results suggest concern is warranted for corals coping with ocean acidification alongside ocean warming, as the feedback between temperature stress and acid-base regulation may further exacerbate the physiological effects of climate change.}, } @article {pmid33782833, year = {2021}, author = {Reis, F and Magalhães, AP and Tavares, RM and Baptista, P and Lino-Neto, T}, title = {Bacteria could help ectomycorrhizae establishment under climate variations.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {395-401}, pmid = {33782833}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Droughts ; Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Quercus ; }, abstract = {Rhizosphere microbiome is one of the main sources of plant protection against drought. Beneficial symbiotic microorganisms, such as ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) and mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB), interact with each other for increasing or maintaining host plant fitness. This mutual support benefits all three partners and comprises a natural system for drought acclimation in plants. Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) tolerance to drought scenarios is widely known, but adaptation to climate changes has been a challenge for forest sustainability protection. In this work, ECMF and MHB communities from cork oak forests were cross-linked and correlated with climates. Cenococcum, Russula and Tuber were the most abundant ECMF capable of interacting with MHB (ECMF~MHB) genera in cork oak stands, while Bacillus, Burkholderia and Streptomyces were the most conspicuous MHB. Integrating all microbial data, two consortia Lactarius/Bacillaceae and Russula/Burkholderaceae have singled out but revealed a negative interaction with each other. Russula/Burkholderaceae might have an important role for cork oak forest sustainability in arid environments, which will be complemented by the lower drought adaptation of competitive Lactarius/Bacillaceae. These microbial consortia could play an essential role on cork oak forest resilience to upcoming climatic changes.}, } @article {pmid33782219, year = {2021}, author = {Jeong, M and Choi, DH and Cheon, WJ and Kim, JG}, title = {Pyrosequencing and Taxonomic Composition of the Fungal Community from Soil of Tricholoma matsutake in Gyeongju.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {686-695}, pmid = {33782219}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Agaricales/classification/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Fungi/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics ; Mycobiome/*genetics ; Pinus/microbiology ; Republic of Korea ; Seasons ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tricholoma matsutake is an ectomycorrhizal fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with the root of Pinus densiflora. Soil microbial communities greatly affect the growth of T. matsutake, however, few studies have examined the characteristics of these communities. In the present study, we analyzed soil fungal communities from Gyeongju and Yeongdeok using metagenomic pyrosequencing to investigate differences in fungal species diversity, richness, and taxonomic composition between the soil under T. matsutake fruiting bodies (Sample 2) and soil where the fairy ring of T. matsutake was no longer present (Sample 1). The same spot was investigated three times at intervals of four months to observe changes in the community. In the samples from Yeongdeok, the number of valid reads was lower than that at Gyeongju. The operational taxonomic units of most Sample 2 groups were less than those of Sample 1 groups, indicating that fungal diversity was low in the T. matsutakedominant soil. The soil under the T. matsutake fruiting bodies was dominated by more than 51% T. matsutake. From fall to the following spring, the ratio of T. matsutake decreased. Basidiomycota was the dominant phylum in most samples. G-F1-2, G-F2-2, and Y-F1-2 had the genera Tricholoma, Umbelopsis, Oidiodendron, Sagenomella, Cladophialophora, and Phialocephala in common. G-F1-1, G-F2-1, and Y-F1-1 had 10 genera including Umbelopsis and Sagenomella in common. From fall to the following spring, the amount of phyla Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota gradually decreased but that of phylum Ascomycota increased. We suggest that the genus Umbelopsis is positively related to T. matsutake.}, } @article {pmid33781857, year = {2021}, author = {Arora, V and Singh, G and O-Sullivan, I and Ma, K and Natarajan Anbazhagan, A and Votta-Velis, EG and Bruce, B and Richard, R and van Wijnen, AJ and Im, HJ}, title = {Gut-microbiota modulation: The impact of thegut-microbiotaon osteoarthritis.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {785}, number = {}, pages = {145619}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.145619}, pmid = {33781857}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gout/microbiology ; Humans ; Obesity/complications ; Osteoarthritis/complications/*diet therapy/*microbiology ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common medical conditions affecting > 300 million people globally which represents the formidable public health challenge. Despite its clinical and financial ramifications, there are currently no approved disease modifying OA drugs available and symptom palliation is the only alternative. Currently, the amount of data on the human intestinal microbiome is growing at a high rate, both in health and in various pathological conditions. With an increase in the amount of the accumulated data, there is an expanded understanding that the microbiome provides compelling evidence of a link between thegut microbiomeand development ofOA. The microbiota management tools of probiotics and/or prebiotics or symbiotic have been developed and indeed, commercialized over the past few decades with the expressed purpose of altering the microbiota within the gastrointestinal tract which could be a potentially novel intervention to tackle or prevent OA. However, the mechanisms how intestinal microbiota affects the OA pathogenesis are still not clear and further research targeting specific gut microbiota or its metabolites is still needed to advance OA treatment strategies from symptomatic management to individualized interventions of OA pathogenesis. This article provides an overview of the various preclinical and clinical studies using probiotics and prebiotics as plausible therapeutic options that can restore the gastrointestinal microbiota and its impact on the OA pathogenesis. May be in the near future the targeted alterations of gut microbiota may pave the way for developing new interventions to prevent and treat OA.}, } @article {pmid33780112, year = {2021}, author = {Wahdan, SFM and Reitz, T and Heintz-Buschart, A and Schädler, M and Roscher, C and Breitkreuz, C and Schnabel, B and Purahong, W and Buscot, F}, title = {Organic agricultural practice enhances arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in correspondence to soil warming and altered precipitation patterns.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {6163-6176}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15492}, pmid = {33780112}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Organic Agriculture ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Climate and agricultural practice interact to influence both crop production and soil microbes in agroecosystems. Here, we carried out a unique experiment in Central Germany to simultaneously investigate the effects of climates (ambient climate vs. future climate expected in 50-70 years), agricultural practices (conventional vs. organic farming), and their interaction on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inside wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) roots. AMF communities were characterized using Illumina sequencing of 18S rRNA gene amplicons. We showed that climatic conditions and agricultural practices significantly altered total AMF community composition. Conventional farming significantly affected the AMF community and caused a decline in AMF richness. Factors shaping AMF community composition and richness at family level differed greatly among Glomeraceae, Gigasporaceae and Diversisporaceae. An interactive impact of climate and agricultural practices was detected in the community composition of Diversisporaceae. Organic farming mitigated the negative effect of future climate and promoted total AMF and Gigasporaceae richness. AMF richness was significantly linked with nutrient content of wheat grains under both agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid33779265, year = {2021}, author = {Roy, S and Breakspear, A and Cousins, D and Torres-Jerez, I and Jackson, K and Kumar, A and Su, Y and Liu, CW and Krom, N and Udvardi, M and Xu, P and Murray, JD}, title = {Three Common Symbiotic ABC Subfamily B Transporters in Medicago truncatula Are Regulated by a NIN-Independent Branch of the Symbiosis Signaling Pathway.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {8}, pages = {939-951}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-21-0036-R}, pmid = {33779265}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters involved in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and nodulation have been identified. We describe three previously unreported ABC subfamily B transporters, named AMN1, AMN2, and AMN3 (ABCB for mycorrhization and nodulation), that are expressed early during infection by rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These ABCB transporters are strongly expressed in symbiotically infected tissues, including in root-hair cells with rhizobial infection threads and arbusculated cells. During nodulation, the expression of these genes is highly induced by rhizobia and purified Nod factors and is dependent on DMI3 but is not dependent on other known major regulators of infection, such as NIN, NSP1, or NSP2. During mycorrhization their expression is dependent on DMI3 and RAM1 but not on NSP1 and NSP2. Therefore, they may be commonly regulated through a distinct branch of the common symbiotic pathway. Mutants with exonic Tnt1-transposon insertions were isolated for all three genes. None of the single or double mutants showed any differences in colonization by either rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi, but the triple amn1 amn2 amn3 mutant showed an increase in nodule number. Further studies are needed to identify potential substrates of these transporters and understand their roles in these beneficial symbioses.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33777849, year = {2021}, author = {Gazzaniga, FS and Camacho, DM and Wu, M and Silva Palazzo, MF and Dinis, ALM and Grafton, FN and Cartwright, MJ and Super, M and Kasper, DL and Ingber, DE}, title = {Harnessing Colon Chip Technology to Identify Commensal Bacteria That Promote Host Tolerance to Infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {638014}, pmid = {33777849}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Colon ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Mice ; *Symbiosis ; Technology ; }, abstract = {Commensal bacteria within the gut microbiome contribute to development of host tolerance to infection, however, identifying specific microbes responsible for this response is difficult. Here we describe methods for developing microfluidic organ-on-a-chip models of small and large intestine lined with epithelial cells isolated from duodenal, jejunal, ileal, or colon organoids derived from wild type or transgenic mice. To focus on host-microbiome interactions, we carried out studies with the mouse Colon Chip and demonstrated that it can support co-culture with living gut microbiome and enable assessment of effects on epithelial adhesion, tight junctions, barrier function, mucus production, and cytokine release. Moreover, infection of the Colon Chips with the pathogenic bacterium, Salmonella typhimurium, resulted in epithelial detachment, decreased tight junction staining, and increased release of chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, and CCL20) that closely mimicked changes previously seen in mice. Symbiosis between microbiome bacteria and the intestinal epithelium was also recapitulated by populating Colon Chips with complex living mouse or human microbiome. By taking advantage of differences in the composition between complex microbiome samples cultured on each chip using 16s sequencing, we were able to identify Enterococcus faecium as a positive contributor to host tolerance, confirming past findings obtained in mouse experiments. Thus, mouse Intestine Chips may represent new experimental in vitro platforms for identifying particular bacterial strains that modulate host response to pathogens, as well as for investigating the cellular and molecular basis of host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid33777828, year = {2021}, author = {Li, C and Pi, G and Li, F}, title = {The Role of Intestinal Flora in the Regulation of Bone Homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {579323}, pmid = {33777828}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestines ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Intestinal flora located within the intestinal tract comprises a large number of cells, which are referred to as the second gene pool of the human body and form a complex symbiotic relationship with the host. The knowledge of the complex interaction between the intestinal flora and various life activities of the host is a novel and rapidly expanding field. Recently, many studies are being conducted on the relationship between the intestinal flora and bone homeostasis and indicate that the intestinal flora can regulate bone homeostasis via the host immune, metabolic, and endocrine systems. What's more, based on several clinical and preclinical pieces of evidence, changing the composition and function of the host intestinal flora through the application of probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation is being considered to be a potential novel target for the regulation of bone homeostasis. Here, we searched relevant literature and reviewed the role of the intestinal flora in the regulation of bone homeostasis and its modulating interventions.}, } @article {pmid33777534, year = {2021}, author = {Frankowiak, K and Roniewicz, E and Stolarski, J}, title = {Photosymbiosis in Late Triassic scleractinian corals from the Italian Dolomites.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e11062}, pmid = {33777534}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {During the Carnian, oligotrophic shallow-water regions of the western Tethys were occupied by small, coral-rich patch reefs. Scleractinian corals, which already contributed to the formation of the reef structure, owed their position most probably to the symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae). Using microstructural (regularity of growth increments) and geochemical (oxygen and carbon stable isotopes) criteria of zooxanthellae symbiosis, we investigated whether this partnership was widespread among Carnian scleractinians from the Italian Dolomites (locality Alpe di Specie). Although corals from this locality are renowned from excellent mineralogical preservation (aragonite), their skeletons were rigorously tested against traces of diagenesis Irrespective of their growth forms, well preserved skeletons of corals from the Dolomites, most frequently revealed regular growth bands (low values of coefficient of variation) typical of modern zooxanthellate corals. Paradoxically, some Carnian taxa (Thamnasteriomorpha frechi and Thamnasteriomorphasp.)with highly integrated thamnasterioid colonies which today are formed exclusively by zooxanthellate corals, showed irregular fine-scale growth bands (coefficient of variation of 40% and 41% respectively) that could suggest their asymbiotic status. However, similar irregular skeletal banding is known also in some modern agariciids (Leptoseris fragilis) which are symbiotic with zooxanthellae. This may point to a similar ecological adaptation of Triassic taxa with thamnasterioid colonies. Contrary to occasionally ambiguous interpretation of growth banding, all examined Carnian corals exhibited lack of distinct correlation between carbon (δ [13]C range between 0.81‰ and 5.81‰) and oxygen (δ [18]O values range between -4.21‰ and -1.06‰) isotope composition of the skeleton which is consistent with similar pattern in modern zooxanthellates. It is therefore highly likely, that Carnian scleractinian corals exhibited analogous ecological adaptations as modern symbiotic corals and that coral-algal symbiosis that spread across various clades of Scleractinia preceded the reef bloom at the end of the Triassic.}, } @article {pmid33777340, year = {2021}, author = {Alessandri, G and van Sinderen, D and Ventura, M}, title = {The genus bifidobacterium: From genomics to functionality of an important component of the mammalian gut microbiota running title: Bifidobacterial adaptation to and interaction with the host.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {19}, number = {}, pages = {1472-1487}, pmid = {33777340}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Members of the genus Bifidobacterium are dominant and symbiotic inhabitants of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Being vertically transmitted, bifidobacterial host colonization commences immediately after birth and leads to a phase of host infancy during which bifidobacteria are highly prevalent and abundant to then transit to a reduced, yet stable abundance phase during host adulthood. However, in order to reach and stably colonize their elective niche, i.e. the large intestine, bifidobacteria have to cope with a multitude of oxidative, osmotic and bile salt/acid stress challenges that occur along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Concurrently, bifidobacteria not only have to compete with the myriad of other gut commensals for nutrient acquisition, but they also require protection against bacterial viruses. In this context, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques, allowing large-scale comparative and functional genome analyses have helped to identify the genetic strategies that bifidobacteria have developed in order to colonize, survive and adopt to the highly competitive mammalian gastrointestinal environment. The current review is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview concerning the molecular strategies on which bifidobacteria rely to stably and successfully colonize the mammalian gut.}, } @article {pmid33777334, year = {2021}, author = {Radaic, A and Kapila, YL}, title = {The oralome and its dysbiosis: New insights into oral microbiome-host interactions.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {19}, number = {}, pages = {1335-1360}, pmid = {33777334}, issn = {2001-0370}, support = {R01 DE025225/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The oralome is the summary of the dynamic interactions orchestrated between the ecological community of oral microorganisms (comprised of up to approximately 1000 species of bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and protozoa - the oral microbiome) that live in the oral cavity and the host. These microorganisms form a complex ecosystem that thrive in the dynamic oral environment in a symbiotic relationship with the human host. However, the microbial composition is significantly affected by interspecies and host-microbial interactions, which in turn, can impact the health and disease status of the host. In this review, we discuss the composition of the oralome and inter-species and host-microbial interactions that take place in the oral cavity and examine how these interactions change from healthy (eubiotic) to disease (dysbiotic) states. We further discuss the dysbiotic signatures associated with periodontitis and caries and their sequalae, (e.g., tooth/bone loss and pulpitis), and the systemic diseases associated with these oral diseases, such as infective endocarditis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and head and neck/oral cancer. We then discuss current computational techniques to assess dysbiotic oral microbiome changes. Lastly, we discuss current and novel techniques for modulation of the dysbiotic oral microbiome that may help in disease prevention and treatment, including standard hygiene methods, prebiotics, probiotics, use of nano-sized drug delivery systems (nano-DDS), extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM) disruption, and host response modulators.}, } @article {pmid33777073, year = {2021}, author = {Gupta, S and Thokchom, SD and Kapoor, R}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Improves Photosynthesis and Restores Alteration in Sugar Metabolism in Triticum aestivum L. Grown in Arsenic Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {640379}, pmid = {33777073}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Contamination of agricultural soil by arsenic (As) is a serious menace to environmental safety and global food security. Symbiotic plant-microbe interaction, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), is a promising approach to minimize hazards of As contamination in agricultural soil. Even though the potential of AM fungi (AMF) in redeeming As tolerance and improving growth is well recognized, the detailed metabolic and physiological mechanisms behind such beneficial effects are far from being completely unraveled. The present study investigated the ability of an AM fungus, Rhizophagus intraradices, in mitigating As-mediated negative effects on photosynthesis and sugar metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum) subjected to three levels of As, viz., 0, 25, and 50 mg As kg[-1] of soil, supplied as sodium arsenate. As exposure caused significant decrease in photosynthetic pigments, Hill reaction activity, and gas exchange parameters such as net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration. In addition, As exposure also altered the activities of starch-hydrolyzing, sucrose-synthesizing, and sucrose-degrading enzymes in leaves. Colonization by R. intraradices not only promoted plant growth but also restored As-mediated impairments in plant physiology. The symbiosis augmented the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, enhanced Hill reaction activity, and improved leaf gas exchange parameters and water use efficiency of T. aestivum even at high dose of 50 mg As kg[-1] of soil. Furthermore, inoculation with R. intraradices also restored As-mediated alteration in sugar metabolism by modulating the activities of starch phosphorylase, α-amylase, β-amylase, acid invertase, sucrose synthase, and sucrose-phosphate synthase in leaves. This ensured improved sugar and starch levels in mycorrhizal plants. Overall, the study advocates the potential of R. intraradices in bio-amelioration of As-induced physiological disturbances in wheat plant.}, } @article {pmid33777019, year = {2021}, author = {Ness, S and Lin, S and Gordon, JR}, title = {Regulatory Dendritic Cells, T Cell Tolerance, and Dendritic Cell Therapy for Immunologic Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {633436}, pmid = {33777019}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {MOP53167//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/*methods ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases/*therapy ; *Immune Tolerance ; Mice ; Primates ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Dendritic cells (DC) are antigen-presenting cells that can communicate with T cells both directly and indirectly, regulating our adaptive immune responses against environmental and self-antigens. Under some microenvironmental conditions DC develop into anti-inflammatory cells which can induce immunologic tolerance. A substantial body of literature has confirmed that in such settings regulatory DC (DCreg) induce T cell tolerance by suppression of effector T cells as well as by induction of regulatory T cells (Treg). Many in vitro studies have been undertaken with human DCreg which, as a surrogate marker of antigen-specific tolerogenic potential, only poorly activate allogeneic T cell responses. Fewer studies have addressed the abilities of, or mechanisms by which these human DCreg suppress autologous effector T cell responses and induce infectious tolerance-promoting Treg responses. Moreover, the agents and properties that render DC as tolerogenic are many and varied, as are the cells' relative regulatory activities and mechanisms of action. Herein we review the most current human and, where gaps exist, murine DCreg literature that addresses the cellular and molecular biology of these cells. We also address the clinical relevance of human DCreg, highlighting the outcomes of pre-clinical mouse and non-human primate studies and early phase clinical trials that have been undertaken, as well as the impact of innate immune receptors and symbiotic microbial signaling on the immunobiology of DCreg.}, } @article {pmid33776981, year = {2021}, author = {Flatau, R and Segoli, M and Hawlena, H}, title = {Wolbachia Endosymbionts of Fleas Occur in All Females but Rarely in Males and Do Not Show Evidence of Obligatory Relationships, Fitness Effects, or Sex-Distorting Manipulations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {649248}, pmid = {33776981}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The widespread temporal and spatial persistence of endosymbionts in arthropod host populations, despite potential conflicts with their hosts and fluctuating environmental conditions, is puzzling. Here, we disentangled three main mechanisms that are commonly proposed to explain such persistence, namely, obligatory relationships, in which the host is fully dependent on its endosymbiont, fitness advantages conferred by the endosymbiont, and reproductive manipulations imposed by the endosymbiont. Our model system reflects an extreme case, in which the Wolbachia endosymbiont persists in all female flea hosts but rarely in male ones. We cured fleas of both sexes of Wolbachia but found no indications for either lower reproduction, offspring survival, or a change in the offspring sex ratio, compared to Wolbacia-infected fleas. These results do not support any of the suggested mechanisms. We highlight future directions to advance our understanding of endosymbiont persistence in fleas, as well as in other model systems, with extreme sex-differences in endosymbiont persistence. Insights from such studies are predicted to shed light on the evolution and ecology of arthropod-endosymbiont interactions in nature.}, } @article {pmid33776533, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez-Botello, AM and Simões, N}, title = {Sponge-dwelling fauna: a review of known species from the Northwest Tropical Atlantic coral reefs.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e63372}, pmid = {33776533}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Within tropical shallow-water coral reefs, marine sponges provide microhabitats for a wide range of fauna. Although there have been numerous studies and reports of symbiotic relationships amongst sponges and their associated fauna, those pieces of information are isolated and disconnected. For this reason, based on the available literature, we compiled a species-interaction dataset of coral reef marine sponge-associated fauna known to date.

NEW INFORMATION: We introduce a dataset that includes 67 literature items that report 101 species of sponge hosts clustered in 12 Orders having a host/guest interaction with 284 guest species from six Phyla present in the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic coral reefs. This dataset consists of two types of information: 1. Machine-readable data and 2. Human-readable data. These two types of coding improve the scope of the dataset and facilitate the link between machine platforms and human-friendly displays. We also created an interactive visualisation of the species-interactions dataset and of a dynamic Chord Diagram of the host-guest species connections to generate a user-friendly link between the user and the dataset.}, } @article {pmid33774874, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, H and Wang, M and Li, M and Lian, C and Zhou, L and Zhang, X and Zhang, H and Zhong, Z and Wang, H and Cao, L and Li, C}, title = {A glimpse of deep-sea adaptation in chemosynthetic holobionts: Depressurization causes DNA fragmentation and cell death of methanotrophic endosymbionts rather than their deep-sea Bathymodiolinae host.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {2298-2312}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15904}, pmid = {33774874}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Cell Death ; DNA Fragmentation ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; *Mytilidae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bathymodiolinae mussels are typical species in deep-sea cold seeps and hydrothermal vents and an ideal model for investigating chemosynthetic symbiosis and the influence of high hydrostatic pressure on deep-sea organisms. Herein, the potential influence of depressurization on DNA fragmentation and cell death in Bathymodiolinae hosts and their methanotrophic symbionts were surveyed using isobaric and unpressurized samples. As a hallmark of cell death, massive DNA fragmentation was observed in methanotrophic symbionts from unpressurized Bathymodiolinae while several endonucleases and restriction enzymes were upregulated. Additionally, genes involved in DNA repair, glucose/methane metabolism as well as two-component regulatory system were also differentially expressed in depressurized symbionts. DNA fragmentation and programmed cell death, however, were rarely detected in the host bacteriocytes owing to the orchestrated upregulation of inhibitor of apoptosis genes and downregulation of caspase genes. Meanwhile, diverse host immune recognition receptors were promoted during depressurization, probably enabling the regain of symbionts. When the holobionts were subjected to a prolonged acclimation at atmospheric pressure, alternations in both the DNA fragmentation and the expression atlas of aforesaid genes were continuously observed in symbionts, demonstrating the persistent influence of depressurization. Contrarily, the host cells demonstrated certain tolerance against depressurization stress as expression level of some immune-related genes returned to the basal level in isobaric samples. Altogether, the present study illustrates the distinct stress responses of Bathymodiolinae hosts and their methanotrophic symbionts against depressurization, which could provide further insight into the deep-sea adaptation of Bathymodiolinae holobionts while highlighting the necessity of using isobaric sampling methods in deep-sea research.}, } @article {pmid33773415, year = {2021}, author = {Tang, CC and Zhang, X and He, ZW and Tian, Y and Wang, XC}, title = {Role of extracellular polymeric substances on nutrients storage and transfer in algal-bacteria symbiosis sludge system treating wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {331}, number = {}, pages = {125010}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125010}, pmid = {33773415}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Nutrients ; *Sewage ; Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study reported the role and significance of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) on nutrients storage and transfer in an algal-bacteria symbiosis sludge (ABSS) system for wastewater treatment, and the novel algae-based sequencing batch suspended biofilm reactor (A-SBSBR, Ra) was selected as model of ABSS system. Results showed that compared to conventional SBSBR, the EPS of Ra performed better storage for NO2[-]-N, NO3[-]-N, total phosphorus and PO4[3-] -P, with increase ratios of 43.7%, 36.0%, 34.1% and 14.7% in sludge phase and 174.0%, 147.4%, 150.4% and 122.0% in biofilm phase, respectively. The analysis of mechanisms demonstrated that microalgae active transport and uptake for divalent cations could enhance their local concentrations around ABS flocs and partially neutralized negative charge of EPSs, and more anions related to nutrients were absorbed in EPSs. Moreover, O2 produced by microalgae photosynthesis enhanced bacteria activity and improved the production of EPSs in both sludge and biofilm phases.}, } @article {pmid33773254, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, Q and Wang, J and OuYang, S and Chen, L and Liu, M and Li, Y and Jiang, F}, title = {The exacerbation of mercury methylation by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA in a freshwater algae-bacteria symbiotic system throughout the lifetime of algae.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {415}, number = {}, pages = {125691}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125691}, pmid = {33773254}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Chlorella ; Fresh Water ; Geobacter ; *Mercury/analysis/toxicity ; Methylation ; *Methylmercury Compounds/toxicity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Mine-polluted wastewater with mercury (Hg) poses severe environmental pollution since Hg(II) can be converted to highly neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) under anaerobic conditions. Previous studies on Hg methylation have focused on aquatic sediments, but few have investigated the MeHg formation in water layers containing algae. In this study, we investigated the dynamic effect of algae on Hg methylation throughout the lifetime of algae. We found that Chlorella pyrenoidosa was a non-methylating alga and exhibited good tolerance to Hg stress (1-20 μg/L); thus Hg(II) could not inhibit the process of eutrophication. However, the presence of C. pyrenoidosa significantly enhanced the Hg methylation by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA. Compared to the control sample without algae, the MeHg production rate of algae-bacteria samples remarkably exacerbated by 62.3-188.3% with the algal growth period at cell densities of 1.5 × 10[6]-25 × 10[6] cells/mL. The increase of algal organic matter and thiols with the algal growth period resulted in the exacerbation of MeHg production. The Hg methylation was also enhanced with the presence of dead algae, of which the enhancement was ~62.4% lower than that with the presence of live algae. Accordingly, the potential mechanism of Hg methylation in a freshwater algae-bacteria symbiotic system throughout the algal lifetime was proposed.}, } @article {pmid33772983, year = {2021}, author = {Zardi, GI and Monsinjon, JR and McQuaid, CD and Seuront, L and Orostica, M and Want, A and Firth, LB and Nicastro, KR}, title = {Foul-weather friends: Modelling thermal stress mitigation by symbiotic endolithic microbes in a changing environment.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {2549-2560}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.15616}, pmid = {33772983}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Friends ; Humans ; *Mytilus ; Portugal ; Scotland ; }, abstract = {Temperature extremes are predicted to intensify with climate change. These extremes are rapidly emerging as a powerful driver of species distributional changes with the capacity to disrupt the functioning and provision of services of entire ecosystems, particularly when they challenge ecosystem engineers. The subsequent search for a robust framework to forecast the consequences of these changes mostly ignores within-species variation in thermal sensitivity. Such variation can be intrinsic, but can also reflect species interactions. Intertidal mussels are important ecosystem engineers that host symbiotic endoliths in their shells. These endoliths unexpectedly act as conditionally beneficial parasites that enhance the host's resistance to intense heat stress. To understand how this relationship may be altered under environmental change, we examined the conditions under which it becomes advantageous by reducing body temperature. We deployed biomimetic sensors (robomussels), built using shells of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) that were or were not infested by endoliths, at nine European locations spanning a temperature gradient across 22°of latitude (Orkney, Scotland to the Algarve, Portugal). Daily wind speed and solar radiation explained the maximum variation in the difference in temperature between infested and non-infested robomussels; the largest difference occurred under low wind speed and high solar radiation. From the robomussel data, we inferred body temperature differences between infested and non-infested mussels during known heatwaves that induced mass mortality of the mussel Mytilus edulis along the coast of the English Channel in summer 2018 to quantify the thermal advantage of endolith infestation during temperature extremes. Under these conditions, endoliths provided thermal buffering of between 1.7°C and 4.8°C. Our results strongly suggest that sustainability of intertidal mussel beds will increasingly depend on the thermal buffering provided by endoliths. More generally, this work shows that biomimetic models indicate that within-species thermal sensitivity to global warming can be modulated by species interactions, using an intertidal host-symbiont relationship as an example.}, } @article {pmid33771780, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, SD and Isbrandt, T and Lindqvist, LL and Larsen, TO and Gram, L}, title = {Holomycin, an Antibiotic Secondary Metabolite, Is Required for Biofilm Formation by the Native Producer Photobacterium galatheae S2753.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33771780}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Lactams/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Photobacterium/*physiology ; }, abstract = {While the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms are widely studied, it remains less well understood how antibiotics affect the physiology of the native producing organisms. Here, using a marine bacterium, Photobacterium galatheae S2753, that produces the antibiotic holomycin, we generated a holomycin-deficient strain by in-frame deletion of hlmE, the core gene responsible for holomycin production. Mass spectrometry analysis of cell extracts confirmed that the ΔhlmE strain did not produce holomycin and that the mutant was devoid of antibacterial activity. Biofilm formation of the ΔhlmE strain was significantly reduced compared to that of wild-type S2753 and was restored in an hlmE complementary mutant. Consistent with this, exogenous holomycin, but not its dimethylated and less antibacterial derivative, S,S'-dimethyl holomycin, restored the biofilm formation of the ΔhlmE strain. Furthermore, zinc starvation was found to be essential for both holomycin production and biofilm formation of S2753, although the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Collectively, these data suggest that holomycin promotes biofilm formation of S2753 via its ene-disulfide group. Lastly, the addition of holomycin at subinhibitory concentrations also enhanced the biofilms of four other Vibrionaceae strains. P. galatheae likely gains an ecological advantage from producing holomycin as both an antibiotic and a biofilm stimulator, which facilitates nutrition acquisition and protects P. galatheae from environmental stresses. Studying the function of antibiotic compounds in the native producer will shed light on their roles in nature and could point to novel bioprospecting strategies.IMPORTANCE Despite the societal impact of antibiotics, their ecological functions remain elusive and have mostly been studied by exposing nonproducing bacteria to subinhibitory concentrations. Here, we studied the effects of the antibiotic holomycin on its native producer, Photobacterium galatheae S2753, a Vibrionaceae bacterium. Holomycin provides a distinct advantage to S2753 both as an antibiotic and by enhancing biofilm formation in the producer. Vibrionaceae species successfully thrive in global marine ecosystems, where they play critical ecological roles as free-living, symbiotic, or pathogenic bacteria. Genome mining has demonstrated that many have the potential to produce several bioactive compounds, including P. galatheae To unravel the contribution of the microbial metabolites to the development of marine microbial ecosystems, better insight into the function of these compounds in the producing organisms is needed. Our finding provides a model to pursue this and highlights the ecological importance of antibiotics to the fitness of the producing organisms.}, } @article {pmid33770812, year = {2021}, author = {Bohannon, RW}, title = {2021 Carole B Lewis Distinguished Lecture Address to the APTA Geriatrics Membership at the Combined Sections Meeting, February 4, 2021: Research and Practice as Symbiotic Agonists.}, journal = {Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {63-67}, doi = {10.1519/JPT.0000000000000296}, pmid = {33770812}, issn = {2152-0895}, } @article {pmid33770603, year = {2021}, author = {Mbachu, O and Jenkins, G and Kaparaju, P and Pratt, C}, title = {The rise of artificial soil carbon inputs: Reviewing microplastic pollution effects in the soil environment.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {780}, number = {}, pages = {146569}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146569}, pmid = {33770603}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Carbon ; Ecosystem ; *Microplastics ; Plastics ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {The surge in the use of plastic materials, its poor handling and disposal have led to an increase in microplastic pollution in terrestrial environments. Microplastic pollution in soils is of concern due to potential influences on soil properties which play a critical role in plant growth and soil fertility. Moreover, the soil environment is a key nexus linking the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere, and thus represents a crucial conduit for pollutant migration from the anthroposphere. In this review we evaluate the effects of microplastics in the soil environment with a specific focus on physical properties and biological function in the rhizosphere. Our review reveals that agricultural sources, particularly plastic mulches and waste applications, represent the main source of soil microplastic inputs. Once in the soil environment, microplastic effects on soil properties are highly variable depending mainly on soil type and microplastic characteristics. Soil properties relating to erosion-risk (i.e., bulk density), structural integrity (i.e., aggregate stability, particularly micro-aggregate stability), and water-storage capacity (i.e., evaporation rate, desiccation) are generally adversely impacted by soil microplastic inputs. Soil microplastic effects on rhizosphere function (i.e., plant health and microbial activity) are remarkably varied with some studies revealing positive impacts, such as enhanced plant-symbiotic fungi associations, from soil plastic additions. However, all identified publications reported at least one detrimental MP-induced impact on plant responses. Finally, our review revealed associations between microplastic properties and soil functional parameters - in particular, polymer size and morphology control soil water-holding properties whereas polymer type influences plant response. These associations will be helpful in targeting future research directions on this important topic that intersects all of the Earth's spheres.}, } @article {pmid33770520, year = {2021}, author = {Filimonova, S}, title = {Female reproductive system and oogenesis in the mite Bakericheyla chanayi.}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {101047}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2021.101047}, pmid = {33770520}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Genitalia, Female ; *Mites ; Oocytes ; Oogenesis ; Ovary ; }, abstract = {The fine structure of the female reproductive system of a cheyletid mite Bakericheyla chanayi (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) is investigated for the first time. This system consists of an unpaired ovary, glandular oviduct, receptaculum seminis, long cuticle-lined vagina, and genital atrium terminating in the genital opening. A separate sperm access system has not been found. The receptaculum seminis opens into the distal oviduct region, where fertilization apparently takes place. The ovary contains clusters of oogonia (cystocytes), clustered early meiotic cells, a few growing previtellogenic oocytes, and 3 large nurse cells. The dorsal ovarian region is occupied by the clusters of bacteriocytes which harbor symbiotic bacteria. Oocytes undergo vitellogenesis in individual ovarian pouches, each connected to the corresponding nurse cell by an intercellular bridge. The fine structure of the bridge suggests transport between the interconnected cells in the course of vitellogenesis. The population of cystocytes was shown to be heterogenic. The electron-light cells enter meiosis and develop into the oocytes or nurse cells. The electron-dense cystocytes do not show meiotic transformation and probably give rise to the bacteriocytes. The early development of the nurse cells and oocytes is similar and accompanied by the blebbing of the nuclear envelope, appearance of nuage material and Balbiani bodies.}, } @article {pmid33768406, year = {2021}, author = {Upadhyay, A and Mohan, S}, title = {Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis Isolated from Heterorhabditis indica Infected Apple Root Borer (Dorysthenes huegelii) Suppresses Nematode Production in Galleria mellonella.}, journal = {Acta parasitologica}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {989-996}, pmid = {33768406}, issn = {1896-1851}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus subtilis ; *Malus ; *Moths ; *Nematoda ; *Photorhabdus ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Heterorhabdits indica successfully controlled apple root borer Dorysthenes huegelii in the orchards, but nematode-infected cadavers revealed the presence of non-symbiotic bacterial B. subtilis and B. licheniformis, and no subsequent generations of H. indica were produced (hampered recycling phenomenon). Intrigued, we tested the effect of the two Bacillus species on symbiotic association of H. indica-Photorhabdus luminescens.

METHODS: One-to-one competitive parallel line in vitro assays were carried out between P. luminescens and the two Bacillus spp., while in vivo H. indica development was studied on the test insect Galleria mellonella which were fed with Bacillus mixed diet, followed by nematode exposure.

RESULTS: Where P. luminescens was flanked by either of the two Bacillus species, only B. subtilis significantly suppressed its growth, while in reversed assays both the Bacillus growth was unaffected. Heterorhabditis indica was able to kill Galleria larvae pre-fed with the two Bacillus spp.; these cadavers did not develop the characteristic evenly distributed brick red coloration. Besides P. luminesecns, both Bacillus spp. were found to coexist in these cadavers. Development of hermaphrodites was not affected, but second-generation females, and final nematode progeny was reduced significantly. Monozenic lawns of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis did not support H. indica development.

CONCLUSION: These results show the reduced development of H. indica by the presence of the non-symbiotic bacteria in G. mellonella is likely to affect their ability to recycle in other insect larvae. Reduced recycling caused by non-symbiotic bacteria will reduce the overall long-term pest control benefits and have implications in the development of application strategies using entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as insect control agents.}, } @article {pmid33767818, year = {2021}, author = {Karamipour, N and Fathipour, Y and Mehrabadi, M}, title = {Removal of gut symbiotic bacteria negatively affects life history traits of the shield bug, Graphosoma lineatum.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {2515-2523}, pmid = {33767818}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The shield bug, Graphosoma lineatum (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae), harbors extracellular Pantoea-like symbiont in the enclosed crypts of the midgut. The symbiotic bacteria are essential for normal longevity and fecundity of this insect. In this study, life table analysis was used to assess the biological importance of the gut symbiont in G. lineatum. Considering vertical transmission of the bacterial symbiont through the egg surface contamination, we used surface sterilization of the eggs to remove the symbiont. The symbiont population was decreased in the newborn nymphs hatched from the surface-sterilized eggs (the aposymbiotic insects), and this reduction imposed strongly negative effects on the insect host. We found significant differences in most life table parameters between the symbiotic insects and the aposymbiotics. The intrinsic rate of increase in the control insects (0.080 ± 0.003 day[-1]) was higher than the aposymbiotic insects (0.045 ± 0.007 day[-1]). Also, the net reproductive and gross reproductive rates were decreased in the aposymbiotic insects (i.e., 20.770 ± 8.992 and 65.649 ± 27.654 offspring/individual, respectively), compared with the symbiotic insects (i.e., 115.878 ± 21.624 and 165.692 ± 29.058 offspring/individual, respectively). These results clearly show biological importance of the symbiont in G. lineatum.}, } @article {pmid33767751, year = {2021}, author = {Bankers, L and Dahan, D and Neiman, M and Adrian-Tucci, C and Frost, C and Hurst, GDD and King, KC}, title = {Invasive freshwater snails form novel microbial relationships.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {770-780}, pmid = {33767751}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Resident microbes (microbiota) can shape host organismal function and adaptation in the face of environmental change. Invasion of new habitats exposes hosts to novel selection pressures, but little is known about the impact on microbiota and the host-microbiome relationship (e.g., how rapidly new microbial associations are formed, whether microbes influence invasion success). We used high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing of New Zealand (native) and European (invasive) populations of the freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and found that while invaders do carry over some core microbial taxa from New Zealand, their microbial community is largely distinct. This finding highlights that invasions can result in the formation of novel host-microbiome relationships. We further show that the native microbiome is composed of fewer core microbes than the microbiome of invasive snails, suggesting that the microbiota is streamlined to a narrower set of core members. Furthermore, native snails exhibit relatively low alpha diversity but high inter-individual variation, whereas invasive snails have higher alpha diversity but are relatively similar to each other. Together, our findings demonstrate that microbiota comparisons across native and invasive populations can reveal the impact of a long coevolutionary history and specialization of microbes in the native host range, as well as new associations occurring after invasion. We lay essential groundwork for understanding how microbial relationships affect invasion success and how microbes may be utilized in the control of invasive hosts.}, } @article {pmid33766108, year = {2021}, author = {Keller-Costa, T and Lago-Lestón, A and Saraiva, JP and Toscan, R and Silva, SG and Gonçalves, J and Cox, CJ and Kyrpides, N and Nunes da Rocha, U and Costa, R}, title = {Metagenomic insights into the taxonomy, function, and dysbiosis of prokaryotic communities in octocorals.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {72}, pmid = {33766108}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Dysbiosis ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Metagenome/*genetics ; *Metagenomics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In octocorals (Cnidaria Octocorallia), the functional relationship between host health and its symbiotic consortium has yet to be determined. Here, we employed comparative metagenomics to uncover the distinct functional and phylogenetic features of the microbiomes of healthy Eunicella gazella, Eunicella verrucosa, and Leptogorgia sarmentosa tissues, in contrast with the microbiomes found in seawater and sediments. We further explored how the octocoral microbiome shifts to a pathobiome state in E. gazella.

RESULTS: Multivariate analyses based on 16S rRNA genes, Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs), Protein families (Pfams), and secondary metabolite-biosynthetic gene clusters annotated from 20 Illumina-sequenced metagenomes each revealed separate clustering of the prokaryotic communities of healthy tissue samples of the three octocoral species from those of necrotic E. gazella tissue and surrounding environments. While the healthy octocoral microbiome was distinguished by so-far uncultivated Endozoicomonadaceae, Oceanospirillales, and Alteromonadales phylotypes in all host species, a pronounced increase of Flavobacteriaceae and Alphaproteobacteria, originating from seawater, was observed in necrotic E. gazella tissue. Increased abundances of eukaryotic-like proteins, exonucleases, restriction endonucleases, CRISPR/Cas proteins, and genes encoding for heat-shock proteins, inorganic ion transport, and iron storage distinguished the prokaryotic communities of healthy octocoral tissue regardless of the host species. An increase of arginase and nitric oxide reductase genes, observed in necrotic E. gazella tissues, suggests the existence of a mechanism for suppression of nitrite oxide production by which octocoral pathogens may overcome the host's immune system.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to employ primer-less, shotgun metagenome sequencing to unveil the taxonomic, functional, and secondary metabolism features of prokaryotic communities in octocorals. Our analyses reveal that the octocoral microbiome is distinct from those of the environmental surroundings, is host genus (but not species) specific, and undergoes large, complex structural changes in the transition to the dysbiotic state. Host-symbiont recognition, abiotic-stress response, micronutrient acquisition, and an antiviral defense arsenal comprising multiple restriction endonucleases, CRISPR/Cas systems, and phage lysogenization regulators are signatures of prokaryotic communities in octocorals. We argue that these features collectively contribute to the stabilization of symbiosis in the octocoral holobiont and constitute beneficial traits that can guide future studies on coral reef conservation and microbiome therapy. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid33765508, year = {2021}, author = {Boubakri, H and Chihaoui, SA and Najjar, E and Gargouri, M and Barhoumi, F and Jebara, M}, title = {Genome-wide analysis and expression profiling of H-type Trx family in Phaseolus vulgaris revealed distinctive isoforms associated with symbiotic N2-fixing performance and abiotic stress response.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {260}, number = {}, pages = {153410}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153410}, pmid = {33765508}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genes, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; *Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phaseolus/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Thioredoxins (Trxs) are implicated in plant development and stress tolerance through redox regulation of target proteins. Trxs of Type h (Trxhs) constitute the largest and the most complicated cluster in the Trx family because of their unknown individual functions. Here, we identified and characterized the Phaseolus vulgaris Trxh family during development, mutualistic interactions and in response to abiotic stress. P. vulgaris (common bean) Trxh gene family (PvTrxh) encompasses 12 isoforms (PvTrxh1-h12), subdivided into 3 groups according to their amino acid sequence features. In silico RNA-seq -based expression analysis showed a differential expression of PvTrxh genes during development. RT-qPCR analysis of PvTrxh genes during nodule organogenesis revealed their highest expression in the nodule primordium (NP). Interestingly, in response to symbiosis, specific PvTrxh isoforms (PvTrxh3 and h5) were found to be highly upregulated compared to mock-inoculated plants. In addition, their expression patterns in the NP positively correlated with the symbiotic N2-fixing efficiency of the Rhizobium strain, as revealed by a number of symbiotic efficiency parameters (ARA, leghemoglobin content, biomass, and total soluble proteins), concomitantly with increased amounts of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). On the other hand, distinctive PvTrxh isoforms were found to be upregulated in plant leaves, where H2O2 amounts were elevated, in response to both salt and drought constraints. When exogenously applied, H2O2 upregulated specific PvTrxh isoforms in plant leaves and roots. These findings point to a specific, rather than redundant, function for Trxh proteins in common bean beside the association of distinctive Trxh isoforms with symbiosis and abiotic stress response.}, } @article {pmid33765191, year = {2021}, author = {Penner, S and Sapir, Y}, title = {Foliar Endophytic Fungi Inhabiting an Annual Grass Along an Aridity Gradient.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {5}, pages = {2080-2090}, pmid = {33765191}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Fungi ; Plants ; *Poaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic fungi are known to increase plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. Therefore, it is expected that along aridity gradients the diversity and composition of symbiotic fungal community will be associated with climate. We examined the diversity of foliar endophytic fungi, inhabiting an annual grass, growing in three different climates (arid, Mediterranean, and wet Mediterranean) along the Israeli aridity gradient. Among the identified endophyte taxa, some were unique to each site, some were common to the two sites located in the extremes of the gradient, but none was common to all sites. Although most fungal endophyte taxa identified were not related to stress adaptation, we detected two that are considered to benefit plants by mitigating stress: Cladosporium and Trichoderma. Cladosporium is highly osmotolerant, frequently found in saline environments. Trichoderma is a biocontrol agent, frequently found in mesic environments. These findings support the hypothesis that species composition of foliar endophytic fungi is associated with stress adaptation of plants.}, } @article {pmid33764826, year = {2021}, author = {Haran, JP and Ward, DV and Bhattarai, SK and Loew, E and Dutta, P and Higgins, A and McCormick, BA and Bucci, V}, title = {The high prevalence of Clostridioides difficile among nursing home elders associates with a dysbiotic microbiome.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1-15}, pmid = {33764826}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {K23 AG057790/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R03 AG056356/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asymptomatic Infections/*epidemiology ; Clostridioides difficile/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Clostridium Infections/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Male ; *Nursing Homes ; Prevalence ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Clostridioides difficile disproportionally affects the elderly living in nursing homes (NHs). Our objective was to explore the prevalence of C. difficile in NH elders, over time and to determine whether the microbiome or other clinical factors are associated with C. difficile colonization.We collected serial stool samples from NH residents. C. difficile prevalence was determined by quantitative polymerase-chain reaction detection of Toxin genes tcdA and tcdB; microbiome composition was determined by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We used mixed-effect random forest modeling machine to determine bacterial taxa whose abundance is associated with C. difficile prevalence while controlling for clinical covariates including demographics, medications, and past medical history.We enrolled 167 NH elders who contributed 506 stool samples. Of the 123 elders providing multiple samples, 30 (24.4%) elders yielded multiple samples in which C. difficile was detected and 78 (46.7%) had at least one C. difficile positive sample. Elders with C. difficile positive samples were characterized by increased abundances of pathogenic or inflammatory-associated bacterial taxa and by lower abundances of taxa with anti-inflammatory or symbiotic properties. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with lower prevalence of C. difficile (Odds Ratio 0.46; 95%CI, 0.22-0.99) and the abundance of bacterial species with known beneficial effects was higher in PPI users and markedly lower in elders with high C. difficile prevalence.C. difficile is prevalent among NH elders and a dysbiotic gut microbiome associates with C. difficile colonization status. Manipulating the gut microbiome may prove to be a key strategy in the reduction of C. difficile in the NH.}, } @article {pmid33764571, year = {2021}, author = {Peng, L and Shan, X and Yang, Y and Wang, Y and Druzhinina, IS and Pan, X and Jin, W and He, X and Wang, X and Zhang, X and Martin, FM and Yuan, Z}, title = {Facultative symbiosis with a saprotrophic soil fungus promotes potassium uptake in American sweetgum trees.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {8}, pages = {2793-2809}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14053}, pmid = {33764571}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Agaricales/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Liquidambar/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Sugars/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Yeasts/genetics ; }, abstract = {Several species of soil free-living saprotrophs can sometimes establish biotrophic symbiosis with plants, but the basic biology of this association remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate the symbiotic interaction between a common soil saprotroph, Clitopilus hobsonii (Agaricomycetes), and the American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). The colonized root cortical cells were found to contain numerous microsclerotia-like structures. Fungal colonization led to increased plant growth and facilitated potassium uptake, particularly under potassium limitation (0.05 mM K[+]). The expression of plant genes related to potassium uptake was not altered by the symbiosis, but colonized roots contained the transcripts of three fungal genes with homology to K[+] transporters (ACU and HAK) and channel (SKC). Heterologously expressed ChACU and ChSKC restored the growth of a yeast K[+] -uptake-defective mutant. Upregulation of ChACU transcript under low K[+] conditions (0 and 0.05 mM K[+]) compared to control (5 mM K[+]) was demonstrated in planta and in vitro. Colonized plants displayed a larger accumulation of soluble sugars under 0.05 mM K[+] than non-colonized plants. The present study suggests reciprocal benefits of this novel tree-fungus symbiosis under potassium limitation mainly through an exchange of additional carbon and potassium between both partners.}, } @article {pmid33764469, year = {2021}, author = {Pilgrim, J and Thongprem, P and Davison, HR and Siozios, S and Baylis, M and Zakharov, EV and Ratnasingham, S and deWaard, JR and Macadam, CR and Smith, MA and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Torix Rickettsia are widespread in arthropods and reflect a neglected symbiosis.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33764469}, issn = {2047-217X}, support = {BB/M011186/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; *Rickettsia/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rickettsia are intracellular bacteria best known as the causative agents of human and animal diseases. Although these medically important Rickettsia are often transmitted via haematophagous arthropods, other Rickettsia, such as those in the Torix group, appear to reside exclusively in invertebrates and protists with no secondary vertebrate host. Importantly, little is known about the diversity or host range of Torix group Rickettsia.

RESULTS: This study describes the serendipitous discovery of Rickettsia amplicons in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), a sequence database specifically designed for the curation of mitochondrial DNA barcodes. Of 184,585 barcode sequences analysed, Rickettsia is observed in ∼0.41% of barcode submissions and is more likely to be found than Wolbachia (0.17%). The Torix group of Rickettsia are shown to account for 95% of all unintended amplifications from the genus. A further targeted PCR screen of 1,612 individuals from 169 terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate species identified mostly Torix strains and supports the "aquatic hot spot" hypothesis for Torix infection. Furthermore, the analysis of 1,341 SRA deposits indicates that Torix infections represent a significant proportion of all Rickettsia symbioses found in arthropod genome projects.

CONCLUSIONS: This study supports a previous hypothesis that suggests that Torix Rickettsia are overrepresented in aquatic insects. In addition, multiple methods reveal further putative hot spots of Torix Rickettsia infection, including in phloem-feeding bugs, parasitoid wasps, spiders, and vectors of disease. The unknown host effects and transmission strategies of these endosymbionts make these newly discovered associations important to inform future directions of investigation involving the understudied Torix Rickettsia.}, } @article {pmid33761047, year = {2021}, author = {Ranger, CM and Dzurenko, M and Barnett, J and Geedi, R and Castrillo, L and Ethington, M and Ginzel, M and Addesso, K and Reding, ME}, title = {Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of an Ambrosia Beetle to Volatiles of its Nutritional Fungal Symbiont.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {47}, number = {4-5}, pages = {463-475}, pmid = {33761047}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; Benzoates/chemistry/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Ethanol/chemistry/metabolism ; Female ; Fusarium/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hexanols/chemistry/metabolism ; Insect Control ; Pentanols/chemistry/metabolism ; Pheromones/*chemistry/metabolism ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*chemistry/metabolism ; Weevils ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) cultivate their fungal symbiont within host substrates as the sole source of nutrition on which the larvae and adults must feed. To investigate a possible role for semiochemicals in this interaction, we characterized electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Xylosandrus germanus to volatiles associated with its fungal symbiont Ambrosiella grosmanniae. During still-air walking bioassays, X. germanus exhibited an arrestment response to volatiles of A. grosmanniae, but not antagonistic fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium brunneum, Trichoderma harzianum, the plant pathogen Fusarium proliferatum, or malt extract agar. Solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 2-phenylethanol, methyl benzoate and 3-methyl-1-butanol in emissions from A. grosmanniae; the latter two compounds were also detected in emissions from B. bassiana. Concentration-responses using electroantennography documented weak depolarizations to A. grosmanniae fungal volatiles, unlike the comparatively strong response to ethanol. When tested singly in walking bioassays, volatiles identified from A. grosmanniae elicited relatively weak arrestment responses, unlike the responses to ethanol. Xylosandrus germanus also exhibited weak or no long-range attraction to the fungal volatiles when tested singly during field trials in 2016-2018. None of the fungal volatiles enhanced attraction of X. germanus to ethanol when tested singly; in contrast, 2-phenylethanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol consistently reduced attraction to ethanol. Volatiles emitted by A. grosmanniae may represent short-range olfactory cues that could aid in distinguishing their nutritional fungal symbiont from other fungi, but these compounds are not likely to be useful as long-range attractants for improving detection or mass trapping tactics.}, } @article {pmid33761023, year = {2021}, author = {Clausi, M and Leone, D and Strano, A and Lizio, A and Rappazzo, G and Mulder, C and Conti, E}, title = {Effects of tetracycline on entomopathogenic nematodes and their bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {705-710}, pmid = {33761023}, issn = {1573-3017}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; Bacteria ; Humans ; *Moths ; *Rhabditida ; Tetracyclines ; }, abstract = {Among the new contaminants relevant for environment, one of the most significant roles is played by pharmaceuticals like antibiotic products for either human or veterinary use. Their presence could cause serious damage to bacteria and microfauna, like nematodes. Within the widely investigated nematodes, very little is known about the interaction between antibiotics and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). EPNs have been used for biological control of crops, due to their ability to penetrate arthropod pests and kill their hosts thanks to a complex symbiotic mechanism with specific gram-negative bacteria. Tetracycline is an antibiotic used in human and veterinary medicine, both for therapeutic purposes and for the growth of livestock. Since its action against gram-negative bacteria is documented, we verified in this study the survival, growth and pathogenicity of two species of EPNs, Steinernema vulcanicum and S. feltiae. All tests were performed with tetracycline in 1% ethanol solution and up to 300 mg/L. Apparently, this incubation did not harm the vitality of EPNs. Both S. vulcanicum as S. feltiae recovered their vitality and entomopathogenic ability after 48 h. Moreover, the latter EPN species did not grow nor reproduce in the hemolymph of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella, and their endosymbionts did not grow on MacConkey Agar. Our results suggest that the first EPN species has always retained all its abilities and that endosymbionts have acquired resistance to tetracycline, while experiments with the second EPN species provided some contrasting results in time that will require further investigations.}, } @article {pmid33761015, year = {2021}, author = {Horimai, Y and Misawa, H and Suzuki, K and Tateishi, Y and Furukawa, H and Yamanaka, T and Yamashita, S and Takayama, T and Fukuda, M and Yamada, A}, title = {Spore germination and ectomycorrhizae formation of Tricholoma matsutake on pine root systems with previously established ectomycorrhizae from a dikaryotic mycelial isolate of T. matsutake.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {335-347}, pmid = {33761015}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agaricales ; Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Pinus ; *Tricholoma ; }, abstract = {In vitro ectomycorrhizal synthesis of Tricholoma matsutake with host plants has been widely conducted to elucidate fungal symbiotic properties for future cultivation practices. Here, we report on the importance of basidiospore inocula for this fungus to provide ectomycorrhizal seedlings in vitro. Ectomycorrhizal pine seedlings synthesized in vitro with cultured mycelium of T. matsutake (isolate #45 or #84) in a 250-mL culture vessel (soil volume) were transplanted to a large 1-L culture vessel. Fresh basidiospores of this fungus were aseptically inoculated on the ectomycorrhizal root system. The ectomycorrhizal seedlings in the 1-L vessel were grown for 9 months, and some plants were further grown for 6 more months under non-aseptic conditions in 4.1-L jars. The ectomycorrhizal seedlings previously inoculated with isolate #84 in the 1-L vessel showed significant ectomycorrhizal biomass (mycorrhizal root length) after spore inoculation. The ectomycorrhizal seedlings in the 4.1-L vessel showed large shiro structures (> 10 cm in diameter). PCR amplification of intergenic spacer 1 of the rRNA gene and long terminal repeat retroelement of T. matsutake in ectomycorrhizal root tips in both the 1-L vessels and 4.1-L jars revealed the presence of amplicons of the previously inoculated culture isolate of T. matsutake and the new genet(s) that established via germination of the inoculated basidiospores. This is the first report that inoculated basidiospores of T. matsutake germinated and colonized the host root to generate ectomycorrhizae in vitro.}, } @article {pmid33760986, year = {2021}, author = {Feng, D and Neuweiler, I and Nogueira, R and Nackenhorst, U}, title = {Modeling of Symbiotic Bacterial Biofilm Growth with an Example of the Streptococcus-Veillonella sp. System.}, journal = {Bulletin of mathematical biology}, volume = {83}, number = {5}, pages = {48}, pmid = {33760986}, issn = {1522-9602}, mesh = {*Biofilms ; *Models, Biological ; *Streptococcus/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Veillonella/physiology ; }, abstract = {We present a multi-dimensional continuum mathematical model for modeling the growth of a symbiotic biofilm system. We take a dual-species namely, the Streptococcus-Veillonella sp. biofilm system as an example for numerical investigations. The presented model describes both the cooperation and competition between these species of bacteria. The coupled partial differential equations are solved by using an integrative finite element numerical strategy. Numerical examples are carried out for studying the evolution and distribution of the bio-components. The results demonstrate that the presented model is capable of describing the symbiotic behavior of the biofilm system. However, homogenized numerical solutions are observed locally. To study the homogenization behavior of the model, numerical investigations regarding on how random initial biomass distribution influences the homogenization process are carried out. We found that a smaller correlation length of the initial biomass distribution leads to faster homogenization of the solution globally, however, shows more fluctuated biomass profiles along the biofilm thickness direction. More realistic scenarios with bacteria in patches are also investigated numerically in this study.}, } @article {pmid33759450, year = {2021}, author = {Kawaharada, Y and Sandal, N and Gupta, V and Jin, H and Kawaharada, M and Taniuchi, M and Ruman, H and Nadzieja, M and Andersen, KR and Schneeberger, K and Stougaard, J and Andersen, SU}, title = {Natural variation identifies a Pxy gene controlling vascular organisation and formation of nodules and lateral roots in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {6}, pages = {2459-2473}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17356}, pmid = {33759450}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {268523/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Forward and reverse genetics using the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula have been instrumental in identifying the essential genes governing legume-rhizobia symbiosis. However, little information is known about the effects of intraspecific variation on symbiotic signalling. Here, we use quantitative trait locus sequencing (QTL-seq) to investigate the genetic basis of the differentiated phenotypic responses shown by the Lotus accessions Gifu and MG20 to inoculation with the Mesorhizobium loti exoU mutant that produces truncated exopolysaccharides. We identified through genetic complementation the Pxy gene as a component of this differential exoU response. Lotus Pxy encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase similar to Arabidopsis thaliana PXY, which regulates stem vascular development. We show that Lotus pxy insertion mutants displayed defects in root and stem vascular organisation, as well as lateral root and nodule formation. Our work links Pxy to de novo organogenesis in the root, highlights the genetic overlap between regulation of lateral root and nodule formation, and demonstrates that natural variation in Pxy affects nodulation signalling.}, } @article {pmid33758033, year = {2021}, author = {Khadempour, L and Kyle, JE and Webb-Robertson, BM and Nicora, CD and Smith, FB and Smith, RD and Lipton, MS and Currie, CR and Baker, ES and Burnum-Johnson, KE}, title = {From Plants to Ants: Fungal Modification of Leaf Lipids for Nutrition and Communication in the Leaf-Cutter Ant Fungal Garden Ecosystem.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33758033}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {P42 ES031009/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES022190/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P42 ES027704/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R21 HD084788/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Lipids are essential to all living organisms, as an energy source, as an important cellular structural component, and as a communication tool. In this study, we used global lipidomic methods to evaluate the lipids in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens. Leaf-cutter ants and their coevolved fungal cultivar, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, are a model mutualistic system. The fungus enzymatically digests fresh plant material that the ants cut and deliver, converting energy and nutrients from plants and providing them to the ants through specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia. Using combined liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and tandem mass spectrometry, we evaluated differences between the molecular species of lipids in the leaf-cutter ant fungal garden ecosystem. This lipidomic study characterized leaves that are fed to the gardens, gongylidia that are produced by the fungus to feed the ants, and spatially resolved regions of the fungal garden through stages of leaf degradation. Lipids containing alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) were enriched in leaves and the top of the gardens but not dominant in the middle or bottom regions. Gongylidia were dominated by lipids containing linoleic acid (18:2). To evaluate the communicative potential of the lipids in fungal gardens, we conducted a behavioral experiment that showed Atta leaf-cutter ants responded differently to 18:3 and 18:2 fatty acids, with aggression toward 18:3 and attraction for 18:2. This work demonstrates the role of lipids in both the transfer of energy and as an interkingdom communication tool in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens.IMPORTANCE In this work, we examined the role of lipids in the mutualism between leaf-cutter ants and fungus. These ants cut fresh leaf material, which they provide to their fungal cultivar, that converts energy and nutrients from the plants and provides it to the ants in specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia. This work constitutes the first example of a global lipidomics study of a symbiotic system and provides insights as to how the fungus modifies plant lipids into a usable source for the ants. Through a behavioral experiment, this work also demonstrates how lipids can be used as an interkingdom communication tool, in this case, as an attractant rather than as a repellant, which is more often seen.}, } @article {pmid33757157, year = {2021}, author = {Kwasniewski, W and Stupak, A and Kotarski, J and Gozdzicak-Jozefiak, A}, title = {Chaos and cancers. Theories concerning carcinogenesis.}, journal = {Ginekologia polska}, volume = {92}, number = {4}, pages = {318-321}, doi = {10.5603/GP.a2021.0003}, pmid = {33757157}, issn = {2543-6767}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Carcinogenesis/genetics ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Mutation ; *Neoplasms ; }, abstract = {One of the most intriguing problems in biomedical sciences is the theory explaining cancer formation. It is known that cancer is the result of many molecular processes, the presence of oncogenic factors and the loss of apoptosis of affected cells. We currently have hypotheses based on carcinogenesis because of a single cell gene mutation, i.e. somatic mutation theory (SMT), or disorders in tissue architecture and intercellular communication called (TOFT) Tissue Organization Field Theory. An attempt to combine these separate and compatible cause and effect pathways into one unified theory of cancer transformation is the theory of chaotic adaptation. The new interpretative model is the systemic-evolution theory of cancer (SETOC) which postulates disintegration between the symbiosis of "energy" and "information" in normal cells. There are also epidemiological studies confirming that some types of cancer arise from viral infection. So, let us ask the question, can one hypothesis explain all the features of cancer?}, } @article {pmid33757105, year = {2021}, author = {Anker, A and Grave, S}, title = {Opaepupu, a new genus and species of bivalve-associated shrimp (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) from Hawai'i.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4903}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4903.1.3}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4903.1.3}, pmid = {33757105}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; *Bivalvia ; *Decapoda ; Female ; Hawaii ; Male ; *Palaemonidae ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {A new palaemonid shrimp genus, Opaepupu gen. nov., is established to accommodate a new species of bivalve-associated shrimp, Opaepupu huna sp. nov. from Hawaii. A single mated pair, the female holotype and the male allotype, were found inside the trapezid bivalve Trapezium oblongum (Linnaeus, 1758) at a depth of 14 m in Kâne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i. The new genus is characterised by the rostrum being proximally broad, distally pointed, mid-dorsally carinate, and non-dentate; the anterolateral margin of the carapace without supraorbital, hepatic or epigastric teeth, but with a strong sharp antennal tooth; the sixth pleonite posteriorly unarmed; the telson medially depressed, with the dorsal surface armed with two pairs of submarginal cuspidate setae and with the posterior margin armed with two pairs of spiniform setae; the distolateral angle of the first article of the antennular peduncle without a sharp tooth; the mandible without a palp; the maxillular palp furnished with one long stiff seta dorsal to a small tooth-like extension; the first maxilliped without a palp; the third maxilliped not being operculate; the second pereiopods moderately robust, relatively slender, subequal, subsymmetrical, with simple teeth on the cutting edges of the fingers; the ambulatory pereiopods being slender, each ending in an elongate biunguiculate dactylus; and the uropodal exopod with a faint diaeresis and greatly reduced distolateral spiniform seta. The phylogenetic position of Opaepupu gen. nov. remains unclear, although it does not appear to be closely related to other bivalve-associated palaemonid genera.}, } @article {pmid33756374, year = {2021}, author = {Blanckaert, ACA and de Barros Marangoni, LF and Rottier, C and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Low levels of ultra-violet radiation mitigate the deleterious effects of nitrate and thermal stress on coral photosynthesis.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {112257}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112257}, pmid = {33756374}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Nitrates ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Reef ecosystems are under increasing pressure from global and local stressors. Rising seawater temperature and high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels are the main drivers of the disruption of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis (bleaching). Bleaching can also be exacerbated by nitrate contamination in coastal reefs. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we assessed the physiological and oxidative state of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis, maintained eight weeks in a crossed-factorial design including two temperatures (26 °C or 30 °C), and two nitrate (0.5 and 3 μM-enriched), and UVR (no UVR and 25/1.5 Wm[-2] UVA/B) levels. Nitrate enrichment, and high temperature, significantly impaired coral photosynthesis. However, UVR alleviated the nitrate and temperature-induced decrease in photosynthesis, by increasing the coral's antioxidant capacity. The present study contributes to our understanding of the combined effects of abiotic stressors on coral bleaching susceptibility. Such information is urgently needed to refine reef management strategies.}, } @article {pmid33756029, year = {2021}, author = {Zytynska, SE and Tighiouart, K and Frago, E}, title = {Benefits and costs of hosting facultative symbionts in plant-sucking insects: A meta-analysis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {2483-2494}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15897}, pmid = {33756029}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {BB/S010556/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Fertility ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many animals have evolved associations with symbiotic microbes that benefit the host through increased growth, lifespan, and survival. Some interactions are obligate (essential for survival) while others are facultative (usually beneficial but not essential). Not all individuals host all facultative symbionts in a population, and thus there is probably a trade-off between the cost of hosting these symbionts and the benefits they confer to the host. Plant-sucking insects have been one of the most important models to test these costs and benefits experimentally. This research is now moving beyond the description of symbiont effects towards understanding the mechanisms of action, and their role in the wider ecological community. We present a quantitative and systematic analysis of the published evidence exploring this question. We found that whitefly and true bugs experience benefits through increased growth and fecundity, whereas aphids experience costs to their fecundity but benefits through increased resistance to natural enemies. We also report the lack of data in some plant-sucking groups, and explore variation in effect strengths and directions across aphid host, symbiont and plant species thus highlighting the importance of considering the context dependency of these interactions.}, } @article {pmid33754552, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, W and Yin, YL and Li, SX and Wang, YQ and Wang, YL}, title = {The characteristics of soil fungal community in degraded alpine meadow in the Three Rivers Source Region, China.}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {32}, number = {3}, pages = {869-877}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202103.038}, pmid = {33754552}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Agaricales ; Ascomycota ; China ; Cladosporium ; Fusarium ; Grassland ; Hypocreales ; *Mycobiome ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Rivers ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {To clarify the variation of species composition, diversity, and functional structure of soil fungi community along alpine meadow degradation,we examined the characteristics and controlling factors of soil fungal communities in non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded, severely degraded and extremely degraded (black soil beach) alpine meadows at the Three Rivers Source Region, based on the high-throughput gene sequencing and FUNGuild functional prediction. The results showed that the dominant phyla in alpine meadow soil were Ascomycota, Basidiomycetes, and Mortierellomycota. Species composition of soil fungal community varied greatly in alpine meadow under different levels of degradation. The abundance of Cladosporium flabelliforme, Entoloma sodale, Hygrocybe conica, Inocybe sp. and Trichocladium opacum increased, while that of Gibberella tricincta and Dactylonectria macrodidyma decreased following grassland degradation. The meadow under severe degradation had higher soil fungal Chao1 index, while that under light degradation had lower Shannon index and Simpson index. The abundance of pathologic, symbiotic, and saprophytic types of fungi varied among different alpine meadows. Along with the grassland degradation, the abundance of soil symbiotic fungi decreased, while that of pathological fungi increased. The soil fungal community and functional compositions changed obviously with degradation in the alpine meadow. Plant aboveground biomass, soil water content, pH, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphate, total potassium and AN/AP (ratio of available nitrogen and available phosphorus) were the main driving factors for the variations in soil fungal community structure.}, } @article {pmid33753904, year = {2021}, author = {Jarzyniak, K and Banasiak, J and Jamruszka, T and Pawela, A and Di Donato, M and Novák, O and Geisler, M and Jasiński, M}, title = {Early stages of legume-rhizobia symbiosis are controlled by ABCG-mediated transport of active cytokinins.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {428-436}, pmid = {33753904}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Growing evidence has highlighted the essential role of plant hormones, notably, cytokinins (CKs), in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, both at early and late nodulation stages[1,2]. Despite numerous studies showing the central role of CK in nodulation, the importance of CK transport in the symbiosis is unknown. Here, we show the role of ABCG56, a full-size ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in the early stages of the nodulation. MtABCG56 is expressed in roots and nodules and its messenger RNA levels increase upon treatment with symbiotic bacteria, isolated Nod factor and CKs, accumulating within the epidermis and root cortex. MtABCG56 exports bioactive CKs in an ATP-dependent manner over the plasma membrane and its disruption results in an impairment of nodulation. Our data indicate that ABCG-mediated cytokinin transport is important for proper establishment of N-fixing nodules.}, } @article {pmid33753856, year = {2021}, author = {Hayashi, K and Yamamoto, Y and Tamura, M and Tokonami, S and Iida, T}, title = {Damage-free light-induced assembly of intestinal bacteria with a bubble-mimetic substrate.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {385}, pmid = {33753856}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Biomimetic Materials/*chemistry ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*radiation effects ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Lacticaseibacillus casei/*radiation effects ; *Lasers ; Microbial Viability ; Polystyrenes/*chemistry ; Quorum Sensing/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Rapid evaluation of functions in densely assembled bacteria is a crucial issue in the efficient study of symbiotic mechanisms. If the interaction between many living microbes can be controlled and accelerated via remote assembly, a cultivation process requiring a few days can be ommitted, thus leading to a reduction in the time needed to analyze the bacterial functions. Here, we show the rapid, damage-free, and extremely dense light-induced assembly of microbes over a submillimeter area with the "bubble-mimetic substrate (BMS)". In particular, we successfully assembled 10[4]-10[5] cells of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei), achieving a survival rate higher than 95% within a few minutes without cultivation process. This type of light-induced assembly on substrates like BMS, with the maintenance of the inherent functions of various biological samples, can pave the way for the development of innovative methods for rapid and highly efficient analysis of functions in a variety of microbes.}, } @article {pmid33753192, year = {2021}, author = {Yorifuji, M and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Kawasaki, T and Tsukamoto, T and Okada, W and Tamura, K and Nakamura, R and Inoue, M and Yamazaki, M and Harii, S}, title = {Unique environmental Symbiodiniaceae diversity at an isolated island in the northwestern Pacific.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {161}, number = {}, pages = {107158}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107158}, pmid = {33753192}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; *Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Islands ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae are intensively investigated as algal symbionts of corals and other invertebrates, underpinning coral reef ecosystems as primary producers. Diversity, including regional diversification, of free-living communities is less studied. In this study, an environmental Symbiodiniaceae community at an isolated island, Okinotori Island, Japan, was investigated to determine whether the community is endemic or common with other locations near continents and major ocean currents. Symbiotic algae in common corals at the island were the same type as those of the corals from other Japanese waters. In the environmental samples, genera Symbiodinium (formerly clade A), Cladocopium (clade C), Durusdinium (clade D), and clades F (including Freudenthalidium), G, and I, were identified through analysis of internal transcribed spacer region 2 of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (ITS2) sequences. Interestingly, some sequences found were genetically different from those of previously reported genera/clades. These unknown sequences were genetically included in the Symbiodiniaceae linage, but they were differentiated from the previously known nine clades. The sequences formed a cluster in the phylogenetic tree based on 28S nrDNA. These sequences were thus considered members of a novel clade in the family (clade J). In total, 120 kinds of ITS2 sequences were produced; while 10 were identical to previously reported sequences, the majority were highly divergent. These genetically unique Symbiodiniaceae types, including novel clade J, may have evolved in isolation and reflect the environmental characteristics of the Okinotori Island.}, } @article {pmid33752761, year = {2021}, author = {Grupstra, CGB and Rabbitt, KM and Howe-Kerr, LI and Correa, AMS}, title = {Fish predation on corals promotes the dispersal of coral symbionts.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {25}, pmid = {33752761}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbiomes of foundation (habitat-forming) species such as corals and sponges underpin the biodiversity, productivity, and stability of ecosystems. Consumers shape communities of foundation species through trophic interactions, but the role of consumers in dispersing the microbiomes of such species is rarely examined. For example, stony corals rely on a nutritional symbiosis with single-celled endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) to construct reefs. Most corals acquire Symbiodiniaceae from the environment, but the processes that make Symbiodiniaceae available for uptake are not resolved. Here, we provide the first comprehensive, reef-scale demonstration that predation by diverse coral-eating (corallivorous) fish species promotes the dispersal of Symbiodiniaceae, based on symbiont cell densities and community compositions from the feces of four obligate corallivores, three facultative corallivores, two grazer/detritivores as well as samples of reef sediment and water.

RESULTS: Obligate corallivore feces are environmental hotspots of Symbiodiniaceae cells: live symbiont cell concentrations in such feces are 5-7 orders of magnitude higher than sediment and water environmental reservoirs. Symbiodiniaceae community compositions in the feces of obligate corallivores are similar to those in two locally abundant coral genera (Pocillopora and Porites), but differ from Symbiodiniaceae communities in the feces of facultative corallivores and grazer/detritivores as well as sediment and water. Combining our data on live Symbiodiniaceae cell densities in feces with in situ observations of fish, we estimate that some obligate corallivorous fish species release over 100 million Symbiodiniaceae cells per 100 m[2] of reef per day. Released corallivore feces came in direct contact with coral colonies in the fore reef zone following 91% of observed egestion events, providing a potential mechanism for the transfer of live Symbiodiniaceae cells among coral colonies.

CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings show that fish predation on corals may support the maintenance of coral cover on reefs in an unexpected way: through the dispersal of beneficial coral symbionts in corallivore feces. Few studies examine the processes that make symbionts available to foundation species, or how environmental reservoirs of such symbionts are replenished. This work sets the stage for parallel studies of consumer-mediated microbiome dispersal and assembly in other sessile, habitat-forming species.}, } @article {pmid33751986, year = {2021}, author = {Lynch, KM and Wilkinson, S and Daenen, L and Arendt, EK}, title = {An update on water kefir: Microbiology, composition and production.}, journal = {International journal of food microbiology}, volume = {345}, number = {}, pages = {109128}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109128}, pmid = {33751986}, issn = {1879-3460}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/metabolism ; Beverages/*microbiology ; Edible Grain/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Fermented Foods/*microbiology ; Kefir/*microbiology ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Lactobacillales/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Water ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Water kefir is a sparkling, slightly acidic fermented beverage produced by fermenting a solution of sucrose, to which dried fruits have been added, with water kefir grains. These gelatinous grains are a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast embedded in a polysaccharide matrix. Lactic acid bacteria, yeast and acetic acid bacteria are the primary microbial members of the sugary kefir grain. Amongst other contributions, species of lactic acid bacteria produce the exopolysaccharide matrix from which the kefir grain is formed, while yeast assists the bacteria by a nitrogen source that can be assimilated. Exactly which species predominate within the grain microbiota, however, appears to be dependent on the geographical origin of the grains and the fermentation substrate and conditions. These factors ultimately affect the characteristics of the beverage produced in terms of aroma, flavour, and acidity, for example, but can also be controlled and exploited in the production of a beverage of desired characteristics. The production of water kefir has traditionally occurred on a small scale and the use of defined starter cultures is not commonly practiced. However, as water kefir increases in popularity as a beverage - in part because of consumer lifestyle trends and in part due to water kefir being viewed as a health drink with its purported health benefits - the need for a thorough understanding of the biology and dynamics of water kefir, and for defined and controlled production processes, will ultimately increase. The aim of this review is to provide an update into the current knowledge of water kefir.}, } @article {pmid33751713, year = {2021}, author = {Luo, Y and Li, T and Zhang, H and Liu, W and Zhang, X and Yan, J and Zhang, H and Li, X}, title = {Endogenous Symbiotic Li3 N/Cellulose Skin to Extend the Cycle Life of Lithium Anode.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {60}, number = {21}, pages = {11718-11724}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202017281}, pmid = {33751713}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {Nitrocellulose (NC) is proposed to stabilize the electrolytes for Li metal batteries. The nitro group of NC preferentially reacts with Li metal, and along with the cellulose skeleton is tightly wrapped on the surface, so that the polymer-inorganic double layer is formed on the Li surface. XPS profile analysis and corroborative cryo-environmental TEM reveal that the flexible outer layer of the bilayer is a C-O organic layer, while the dense inner layer is mainly composed of crystalline lithium oxide, lithium oxynitride, and lithium nitride. The Li deposition process was observed via in situ optical microscopy, which indicated that the NC-derived bilayer facilitates the uniform deposition of Li ions and inhibits the growth of dendrites. After the introduction of NC into the electrolyte, the cycle life of the Li battery is twice than that of the Li battery without NC at 1.0 and 3.0 mA cm[-2] .}, } @article {pmid33750295, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, W and Bai, X and Li, Y and Zhang, H and Hu, X}, title = {FixJ family regulator AcfR of Azorhizobium caulinodans is involved in symbiosis with the host plant.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {80}, pmid = {33750295}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Mutation ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A wide variety of bacterial adaptative responses to environmental conditions are mediated by signal transduction pathways. Two-component signal transduction systems are one of the predominant means used by bacteria to sense the signals of the host plant and adjust their interaction behaviour. A total of seven open reading frames have been identified as putative two-component response regulators in the gram-negative nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571. However, the biological functions of these response regulators in the symbiotic interactions between A. caulinodans ORS571 and the host plant Sesbania rostrata have not been elucidated to date.

RESULTS: In this study, we identified and investigated a two-component response regulator, AcfR, with a phosphorylatable N-terminal REC (receiver) domain and a C-terminal HTH (helix-turn-helix) LuxR DNA-binding domain in A. caulinodans ORS571. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AcfR possessed close evolutionary relationships with NarL/FixJ family regulators. In addition, six histidine kinases containing HATPase_c and HisKA domains were predicted to interact with AcfR. Furthermore, the biological function of AcfR in free-living and symbiotic conditions was elucidated by comparing the wild-type strain and the ΔacfR mutant strain. In the free-living state, the cell motility behaviour and exopolysaccharide production of the ΔacfR mutant were significantly reduced compared to those of the wild-type strain. In the symbiotic state, the ΔacfR mutant showed a competitive nodule defect on the stems and roots of the host plant, suggesting that AcfR can provide A. caulinodans with an effective competitive ability for symbiotic nodulation.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that AcfR, as a response regulator, regulates numerous phenotypes of A. caulinodans under the free-living conditions and in symbiosis with the host plant. The results of this study help to elucidate the involvement of a REC + HTH_LuxR two-component response regulator in the Rhizobium-host plant interaction.}, } @article {pmid33749411, year = {2022}, author = {Beyaz Coşkun, A and Sağdiçoğlu Celep, AG}, title = {Therapeutic modulation methods of gut microbiota and gut-liver axis.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {62}, number = {23}, pages = {6505-6515}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2021.1902263}, pmid = {33749411}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {Bile Acids and Salts ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Liver Diseases/therapy ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Liver diseases are considered global health problems that cause more than 1 million deaths each year. Due to the increase in the prevalence of liver diseases worldwide, studies on different treatment methods have increased. Some of these methods is diagnostic and therapeutic applications based on the examination of the intestinal and intestinal microbiota. In this study, research articles, systematic review and review in the literature were examined in order to determine gut-liver axis relationship and treatment methods for liver diseases with gut modulation methods. Studies related to the subject have been searched in Google Scholar and Pubmed databases. The keywords "liver disease" and "gut-liver axis" and "microbiota" and "gut modulation methods" or "probiotic" or "prebiotic" or "symbiotic" or "antibiotic" or "bile acid regulation" or "adsorbent" or "fecal microbiota transplantation" were used in the searches. Improvements have been achieved in biomarkers of liver diseases by providing intestinal modulation with probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic, antibiotic and adsorbents applications, bile acid regulation and fecal microbiota transplantation. In the results of experimental and clinical studies, it was seen that the therapeutic potential of the treatments performed by applying probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotics was higher.}, } @article {pmid33749365, year = {2021}, author = {Head, D and Marsh, PD and Devine, DA and Tenuta, LMA}, title = {In Silico Modeling of Hyposalivation and Biofilm Dysbiosis in Root Caries.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {100}, number = {9}, pages = {977-982}, pmid = {33749365}, issn = {1544-0591}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Computer Simulation ; *Dental Caries/etiology ; Dentin ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Root Caries ; *Tooth Demineralization ; *Xerostomia ; }, abstract = {Root caries progression is aggravated by hyposalivation, which can accelerate the conversion of a dental biofilm from having a symbiotic microbial relationship with the host (predominance of nonaciduric species) to a dysbiotic one (dominated by aciduric species). Using a mathematical model previously employed to investigate factors associated with biofilm dysbiosis, we systematically explored the deleterious effect of hyposalivation on the composition of the biofilm and the risk of root dentin demineralization. By varying the clearance half-times of sugar (i.e., readily fermented dietary carbohydrates), we simulated hyposalivation and investigated its effect on 1) the time that the biofilm pH spends below the minimum for dentin or enamel demineralization and 2) the conversion of the biofilm from a symbiotic to dysbiotic composition. The effect of increasing sugar clearance half-times on the time that the biofilm pH is below the threshold for demineralization was more pronounced for dentin than for enamel (e.g., increasing the clearance half-time from 2 to 6 min doubled the time that the biofilm pH was below the threshold for dentin demineralization). The effect on biofilm composition assessed at 50 d showed that the conversion from a symbiotic to a dysbiotic biofilm happened around a frequency of 6 sugar intakes per day when the clearance half-time was 2 min but only 3 sugar intakes per day when the clearance half-time was 6 min. Taken together, the results confirm the profound effect that prolonged sugar clearance has on the dynamics of dental biofilm composition and the subsequent risk of root caries. This in silico model should be applied to study how interventions that alter salivary clearance rates or modify biofilm pH can affect clinical conditions such as root caries.}, } @article {pmid33748472, year = {2021}, author = {Kalu, CM and Oduor Ogola, HJ and Selvarajan, R and Tekere, M and Ntushelo, K}, title = {Fungal and metabolome diversity of the rhizosphere and endosphere of Phragmites australis in an AMD-polluted environment.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e06399}, pmid = {33748472}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with rhizospheric microbial communities coupled with the production of metabolites are key adaptive mechanisms by metallophytes to overcome metal stress. However, little is known about pseudometallophyte Phragmites australis interactions with fungal community despite commonly being applied in wetland phytoremediation of acid mine drainage (AMD). In this study, fungal community diversity and metabolomes production by rhizosphere and root endosphere of P. australis growing under three different AMD pollution gradient were analyzed. Our results highlight the following: 1) Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were dominant phyla, but the diversity and richness of taxa were lower within AMD sites with Penicillium, Candida, Saccharomycetales, Vishniacozyma, Trichoderma, Didymellaceae, and Cladosporium being enriched in the root endosphere and rhizosphere in AMD sites than non-AMD site; 2) non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) of 73 metabolomes revealed spatially defined metabolite exudation by distinct root parts (rhizosphere vs endosphere) rather than AMD sites, with significant variability occurring within the rhizosphere correlating to pH, TDS, Fe, Cr, Cu and Zn content changes; 3) canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) confirmed specific rhizospheric fungal taxonomic changes are driven by pH, TDS, heavy metals, and stress-related metabolomes produced. This is the first report that gives a snapshot on the complex endophytic and rhizospheric fungal community structure and metabolites perturbations that may be key in the adaptability and metal phytoremediation by P. australis under AMD environment.}, } @article {pmid33747024, year = {2021}, author = {Pueyo, JJ and Quiñones, MA and Coba de la Peña, T and Fedorova, EE and Lucas, MM}, title = {Nitrogen and Phosphorus Interplay in Lupin Root Nodules and Cluster Roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {644218}, pmid = {33747024}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are two major plant nutrients, and their deficiencies often limit plant growth and crop yield. The uptakes of N or P affect each other, and consequently, understanding N-P interactions is fundamental. Their signaling mechanisms have been studied mostly separately, and integrating N-P interactive regulation is becoming the aim of some recent works. Lupins are singular plants, as, under N and P deficiencies, they are capable to develop new organs, the N2-fixing symbiotic nodules, and some species can also transform their root architecture to form cluster roots, hundreds of short rootlets that alter their metabolism to induce a high-affinity P transport system and enhance synthesis and secretion of organic acids, flavonoids, proteases, acid phosphatases, and proton efflux. These modifications lead to mobilization in the soil of, otherwise unavailable, P. White lupin (Lupinus albus) represents a model plant to study cluster roots and for understanding plant acclimation to nutrient deficiency. It tolerates simultaneous P and N deficiencies and also enhances uptake of additional nutrients. Here, we present the structural and functional modifications that occur in conditions of P and N deficiencies and lead to the organogenesis and altered metabolism of nodules and cluster roots. Some known N and P signaling mechanisms include different factors, including phytohormones and miRNAs. The combination of the individual N and P mechanisms uncovers interactive regulation pathways that concur in nodules and cluster roots. L. albus interlinks N and P recycling processes both in the plant itself and in nature.}, } @article {pmid33746962, year = {2021}, author = {Firmino, JP and Vallejos-Vidal, E and Balebona, MC and Ramayo-Caldas, Y and Cerezo, IM and Salomón, R and Tort, L and Estevez, A and Moriñigo, MÁ and Reyes-López, FE and Gisbert, E}, title = {Diet, Immunity, and Microbiota Interactions: An Integrative Analysis of the Intestine Transcriptional Response and Microbiota Modulation in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Fed an Essential Oils-Based Functional Diet.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {625297}, pmid = {33746962}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Allyl Compounds/administration & dosage ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Cymenes/administration & dosage ; Diet ; *Dietary Supplements ; Drug Combinations ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Regulatory Networks/drug effects ; Immunity, Innate/*drug effects/genetics ; Immunity, Mucosal/*drug effects/genetics ; Intestines/*drug effects/immunology/microbiology ; Oils, Volatile/*administration & dosage ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Ribotyping ; *Sea Bream/genetics/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Sulfides/administration & dosage ; Thymol/administration & dosage ; Transcriptome/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Essential oils (EOs) are promising alternatives to chemotherapeutics in animal production due to their immunostimulant, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, without associated environmental or hazardous side effects. In the present study, the modulation of the transcriptional immune response (microarray analysis) and microbiota [16S Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing] in the intestine of the euryhaline fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed a dietary supplementation of garlic, carvacrol, and thymol EOs was evaluated. The transcriptomic functional analysis showed the regulation of genes related to processes of proteolysis and inflammatory modulation, immunity, transport and secretion, response to cyclic compounds, symbiosis, and RNA metabolism in fish fed the EOs-supplemented diet. Particularly, the activation of leukocytes, such as acidophilic granulocytes, was suggested to be the primary actors of the innate immune response promoted by the tested functional feed additive in the gut. Fish growth performance and gut microbiota alpha diversity indices were not affected, while dietary EOs promoted alterations in bacterial abundances in terms of phylum, class, and genus. Subtle, but significant alterations in microbiota composition, such as the decrease in Bacteroidia and Clostridia classes, were suggested to participate in the modulation of the intestine transcriptional immune profile observed in fish fed the EOs diet. Moreover, regarding microbiota functionality, increased bacterial sequences associated with glutathione and lipid metabolisms, among others, detected in fish fed the EOs supported the metabolic alterations suggested to potentially affect the observed immune-related transcriptional response. The overall results indicated that the tested dietary EOs may promote intestinal local immunity through the impact of the EOs on the host-microbial co-metabolism and consequent regulation of significant biological processes, evidencing the crosstalk between gut and microbiota in the inflammatory regulation upon administration of immunostimulant feed additives.}, } @article {pmid33744928, year = {2021}, author = {Li, H and Schilderink, S and Cao, Q and Kulikova, O and Bisseling, T}, title = {Plant-specific histone deacetylases are essential for early and late stages of Medicago nodule development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {186}, number = {3}, pages = {1591-1605}, pmid = {33744928}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Histone Deacetylases/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Morphogenesis/genetics/physiology ; Plant Development/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legume and rhizobium species can establish a nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis. Previous studies have shown that several transcription factors that play a role in (lateral) root development are also involved in nodule development. Chromatin remodeling factors, like transcription factors, are key players in regulating gene expression. However, studies have not investigated whether chromatin remodeling genes that are essential for root development are also involved in nodule development. Here, we studied the role of Medicago (Medicago truncatula) histone deacetylases (MtHDTs) in nodule development. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) orthologs of HDTs have been shown to play a role in root development. MtHDT expression is induced in nodule primordia and is maintained in the nodule meristem and infection zone. Conditional, nodule-specific knockdown of MtHDT expression by RNAi blocks nodule primordium development. A few nodules may still form, but their nodule meristems are smaller, and rhizobial colonization of the cells derived from the meristem is markedly reduced. Although the HDTs are expressed during nodule and root development, transcriptome analyses indicate that HDTs control the development of each organ in a different manner. During nodule development, the MtHDTs positively regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase 1 (MtHMGR1). Decreased expression of MtHMGR1 is sufficient to explain the inhibition of primordium formation.}, } @article {pmid33744400, year = {2021}, author = {Lazcano, A and Peretó, J}, title = {Prokaryotic symbiotic consortia and the origin of nucleated cells: A critical review of Lynn Margulis hypothesis.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {104408}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104408}, pmid = {33744400}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Basal Bodies ; *Biological Evolution ; Cell Movement ; Centromere ; *Eukaryotic Cells ; Flagella ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genome, Plastid ; Microbial Consortia ; Organelles/genetics ; *Prokaryotic Cells ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The publication in the late 1960s of Lynn Margulis endosymbiotic proposal is a scientific milestone that brought to the fore of evolutionary discussions the issue of the origin of nucleated cells. Although it is true that the times were ripe, the timely publication of Lynn Margulis' original paper was the product of an intellectually bold 29-years old scientist, who based on the critical analysis of the available scientific information produced an all-encompassing, sophisticated narrative scheme on the origin of eukaryotic cells as a result of the evolution of prokaryotic consortia and, in bold intellectual stroke, put it all in the context of planetary evolution. A critical historical reassessment of her original proposal demonstrates that her hypothesis was not a simple archival outline of past schemes, but a renewed historical narrative of prokaryotic evolution and the role of endosymbiosis in the origin of eukaryotes. Although it is now accepted that the closest bacterial relatives of mitochondria and plastids are α-proteobacteria and cyanobacteria, respectively, comparative genomics demonstrates the mosaic character of the organelle genomes. The available evidence has completely refuted Margulis' proposal of an exogenous origin for eukaryotic flagella, the (9 + 2) basal bodies, and centromeres, but we discuss in detail the reasons that led her to devote considerable efforts to argue for a symbiotic origin of the eukaryotic motility. An analysis of the arguments successfully employed by Margulis in her persuasive advocacy of endosymbiosis, combined with the discussions of her flaws and the scientific atmosphere during the period in which she formulated her proposals, are critical for a proper appraisal of the historical conditions that shaped her theory and its acceptance.}, } @article {pmid33742043, year = {2021}, author = {Jägers, P and Wagner, L and Schütz, R and Mucke, M and Senen, B and Limmon, GV and Herlitze, S and Hellinger, J}, title = {Social signaling via bioluminescent blinks determines nearest neighbor distance in schools of flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {6431}, pmid = {33742043}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Animal Communication ; Animals ; Ecosystem ; Fishes/*physiology ; *Luminescence ; *Social Behavior ; Swimming ; }, abstract = {The schooling flashlight fish Anomalops katoptron can be found at dark nights at the water surface in the Indo-Pacific. Schools are characterized by bioluminescent blink patterns of sub-ocular light organs densely-packed with bioluminescent, symbiotic bacteria. Here we analyzed how blink patterns of A. katoptron are used in social interactions. We demonstrate that isolated specimen of A. katoptron showed a high motivation to align with fixed or moving artificial light organs in an experimental tank. This intraspecific recognition of A. katoptron is mediated by blinking light and not the body shape. In addition, A. katoptron adjusts its blinking frequencies according to the light intensities. LED pulse frequencies determine the swimming speed and the blink frequency response of A. katoptron, which is modified by light organ occlusion and not exposure. In the natural environment A. katoptron is changing its blink frequencies and nearest neighbor distance in a context specific manner. Blink frequencies are also modified by changes in the occlusion time and are increased from day to night and during avoidance behavior, while group cohesion is higher with increasing blink frequencies. Our results suggest that specific blink patterns in schooling flashlight fish A. katoptron define nearest neighbor distance and determine intraspecific communication.}, } @article {pmid33737691, year = {2021}, author = {Medkour, H and Castaneda, S and Amona, I and Fenollar, F and André, C and Belais, R and Mungongo, P and Muyembé-Tamfum, JJ and Levasseur, A and Raoult, D and Davoust, B and Mediannikov, O}, title = {Potential zoonotic pathogens hosted by endangered bonobos.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {6331}, pmid = {33737691}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology ; Encephalomyocarditis virus/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; *Endangered Species ; Feces/microbiology/parasitology/virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Mastadenovirus/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Pan paniscus/microbiology/parasitology/*virology ; Pan troglodytes/microbiology/parasitology/virology ; Parasites/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Few publications, often limited to one specific pathogen, have studied bonobos (Pan paniscus), our closest living relatives, as possible reservoirs of certain human infectious agents. Here, 91 stool samples from semicaptive bonobos and bonobos reintroduced in the wild, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were screened for different infectious agents: viruses, bacteria and parasites. We showed the presence of potentially zoonotic viral, bacterial or parasitic agents in stool samples, sometimes coinfecting the same individuals. A high prevalence of Human mastadenoviruses (HAdV-C, HAdV-B, HAdV-E) was observed. Encephalomyocarditis viruses were identified in semicaptive bonobos, although identified genotypes were different from those identified in the previous fatal myocarditis epidemic at the same site in 2009. Non-pallidum Treponema spp. including symbiotic T. succinifaciens, T. berlinense and several potential new species with unknown pathogenicity were identified. We detected DNA of non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium spp., Acinetobacter spp., Salmonella spp. as well as pathogenic Leptospira interrogans. Zoonotic parasites such as Taenia solium and Strongyloides stercoralis were predominantly present in wild bonobos, while Giardia lamblia was found only in bonobos in contact with humans, suggesting a possible exchange. One third of bonobos carried Oesophagostomum spp., particularly zoonotic O. stephanostomum and O. bifurcum-like species, as well as other uncharacterized Nematoda. Trypanosoma theileri has been identified in semicaptive bonobos. Pathogens typically known to be transmitted sexually were not identified. We present here the results of a reasonably-sized screening study detecting DNA/RNA sequence evidence of potentially pathogenic viruses and microorganisms in bonobo based on a noninvasive sampling method (feces) and focused PCR diagnostics.}, } @article {pmid33736378, year = {2021}, author = {Arcas-Pilz, V and Rufí-Salís, M and Parada, F and Gabarrell, X and Villalba, G}, title = {Assessing the environmental behavior of alternative fertigation methods in soilless systems: The case of Phaseolus vulgaris with struvite and rhizobia inoculation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {770}, number = {}, pages = {144744}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144744}, pmid = {33736378}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Cities ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Nitrogen/analysis ; *Phaseolus ; *Rhizobium ; Struvite ; }, abstract = {Urban agriculture, while being a promising solution to increase food sovereignty in cities, can lead to an unprecedented discharge of nutrient and fertilizer-related emissions into the urban environment. Especially relevant are nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), due to their contribution to marine and freshwater eutrophication. Therefore, alternative methods of fertilization need to be put into practice to avoid such impacts to the surrounding environment. Struvite, has been studied as a potential slow releasing fertilizer due to its high P content, while the bacteria rhizobium has been used to fix N directly from the atmosphere. Legumes, like the common bean are N-demanding crops capable of symbiosis with the bacteria rhizobium and have previously shown positive responses to fertilization with struvite. This study aims to analyze the environmental performance of plant production in hydroponic systems combining rhizobium inoculation and struvite (2 g, 5 g, 10 g, 20 g) irrigated with a N and P deficient nutrient solution, using life cycle analysis (LCA). The nutrient content of in- and out-going irrigation was analyzed as well as in plants and beans. The functional unit for the LCA was 1 kg of fresh beans. The results obtained indicate a yield reduction of 60% to 50% in comparison to the control which was irrigated with a full nutrient solution. The impacts from operational stage are less in all impact categories, where most significant reductions up to 69% and 59% are seen in marine-eutrophication and global warming respectively. Although the infrastructure does not change between treatments, its impacts increase due to the lower yields. We determine that below a 10% of the control yield, the alternative systems have more impact than the use of conventional mineral fertilizers in almost all impact categories, thus pointing to the importance of infrastructure to truly reduce environmental impacts for urban agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33736184, year = {2021}, author = {Kim, T and Lee, JCY and Kang, DH and Duprey, NN and Leung, KS and Archana, A and Baker, DM}, title = {Modification of fatty acid profile and biosynthetic pathway in symbiotic corals under eutrophication.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {771}, number = {}, pages = {145336}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145336}, pmid = {33736184}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Eutrophication ; Fatty Acids ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic corals receive energy not only by ingesting food (e.g. plankton, inorganic/organic matter, i.e. heterotrophy), but also by endosymbiosis, which supplies photosynthates (dissolved inorganic carbon, i.e. autotrophy). These two sources of energy have distinct fatty acid (FA) profiles, which can be used to differentiate corals by their primary feeding mode. FA profiles have been applied as biomarkers to evaluate the quality of nutrition in the midst of environmental change. However, species-specific responses of coral FA profiles and biosynthetic pathway under cultural eutrophication are still unknown. We collected two coral species (Acropora samoensis, Platygyra carnosa) from sites with different levels of eutrophication to test for variations in FA profiles. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed to identify FA profiles and quantify their concentration. Our main findings are threefold: 1) chronic eutrophication inhibits corals' ability to synthesize essential FA; 2) PUFA:SFA ratio and certain FA biomarkers or their pathway can be successfully utilized to determine the relative degree of autotrophy and heterotrophy in corals; 3) under eutrophication, different FA profiles of coral host tissue are attributed to different feeding strategies. Thus, our research provides significant new insights into the roles of FA as a risk assessment tool in coral reef ecosystems under the pressure of eutrophication.}, } @article {pmid33736123, year = {2021}, author = {Luo, J and Cheng, Y and Guo, L and Wang, A and Lu, M and Xu, L}, title = {Variation of gut microbiota caused by an imbalance diet is detrimental to bugs' survival.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {771}, number = {}, pages = {144880}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144880}, pmid = {33736123}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {Diet is an important factor in shaping and influencing both an insect's phenotype and gut bacterial community, which commonly establishes diversely symbiotic interactions with the host. Efforts to leverage the connection between diet, insects, and gut microbiome primarily focus on how diet alters insect's phenotype or gut microbial composition and relatively few studies have illuminated the link between the diet-induced insect phenotypic difference and variation of gut microbiota. Mirids bugs, Adelphocoris suturalis, are plant sap-feeding omnivores that sometimes complementarily prey on other insects, like aphids (the dietary regime is referred to hereafter as balanced diet). In this study, we found that an imbalanced diet (exclusive ingestion of aphids) induced significantly higher mortality in A. suturalis (86.66%). Further gut microbial community analysis showed that the dietary difference significantly changed both the abundance and composition of the bug's gut microbiome. Most notably, an abundance of entomopathogenic Serratia bacteria in the A. suturalis gut was positively correlated with the proportion of aphids in A. suturalis diet, and Serratia marcescens was found to transfer into the hemocoels of carnivorous bugs. Injection of S. marcescens to the hemocoels further confirmed its detrimental effect to the bugs. Collectively, our study suggests that the diet-altered variation of gut microbiota may be detrimental to host insect, advancing the knowledge of omnivorous insects' strategy in forage allocation of different foods.}, } @article {pmid33735494, year = {2021}, author = {Tanioka, R and Betriana, F and Locsin, RC}, title = {Treatise on the influence of theism, transhumanism, and posthumanism on nursing and rehabilitation healthcare practice.}, journal = {Nursing philosophy : an international journal for healthcare professionals}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {e12350}, doi = {10.1111/nup.12350}, pmid = {33735494}, issn = {1466-769X}, mesh = {Biomedical Enhancement/methods ; *Humanism ; Humans ; Nursing/*trends ; Rehabilitation/ethics/*trends ; Spiritualism/psychology ; }, abstract = {Reservations concerning the ontologies of theism, transhumanism and posthumanism compel an explicatory discourse on their influences on Nursing and rehabilitation healthcare. Key journals in Nursing and health sciences have recently devoted themed issues on intelligent machine technologies such as humanoid healthcare robots and other highly technological healthcare devices and practice initiatives. While the technological advance witnessed has been a cause for celebration, questions still remain that are focused on the epistemological concerns. The purpose of this article is to discuss theistic ontologies such as the Judeo-Christian, Shinto-Buddhist and Islamic religious belief systems on transhumanism and posthumanism in the assimilation of symbiotic technological beings in Nursing and rehabilitation healthcare practice. In view of the approaching technological singularity dominating arguments regarding the future of human beings, a treatise on Nursing and rehabilitation health care is positioned well within the realms of human care. Theism, transhumanism and posthumanism are directing discussions regarding human beings and healthcare processes. It is imperative that the beneficial effects of these discussions be acknowledged within the highly technological world of Nursing and rehabilitative healthcare.}, } @article {pmid33735409, year = {2021}, author = {Swamy, CT and Gayathri, D}, title = {High throughput sequencing study of foliose lichen-associated bacterial communities from India.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {2389-2397}, pmid = {33735409}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Lichens comprise highly diverse and complex microbial communities, the majority consisting of mycobiont, photobiont, Basidiomycetes yeast and bacteriobiont (internal bacterial communities). In this study, bacterial diversity of foliose lichen was reported. Next generation sequence (NGS) such as Illumina Sequencing (150*2) of 16S rRNA (V3 and V6 region) was used to delineate the bacterial communities associated with five foliose lichen samples. Bacterial sequences obtained from lichen samples suggested that, they harboured bacterial community with variable relative abundances. Among all bacterial communities, Alphaproteobacteria were dominant in all the tested lichen samples. The principal coordinate analysis, Venn and bar chart showed significant microbial changes between the different useful bacterial lineages across the lichens. The relative abundance of dominant and rare bacterial species found were varied, diverse, distinct and unique in each lichen. The Proteobacteria 48.19%, Actinobacteria 25.70%, Bacteroidetes 8.53%, Acidobacteria 9.36% and Chloroflexi 0.83% were predominant in all tested lichens. The present empirical study enhances the confirmed knowledge of bacterial diversity inevitably associated with lichens and is the first report on lichenized bacterial diversity and perhaps their potential possible role in lichen symbiosis in addition to phycobiont and mycobiont.}, } @article {pmid33734547, year = {2021}, author = {Kačar, D and Cañedo, LM and Rodríguez, P and González, EG and Galán, B and Schleissner, C and Leopold-Messer, S and Piel, J and Cuevas, C and de la Calle, F and García, JL}, title = {Identification of trans-AT polyketide clusters in two marine bacteria reveals cryptic similarities between distinct symbiosis factors.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {2509-2521}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15470}, pmid = {33734547}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Multigene Family ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics ; *Polyketides ; *Rhodobacteraceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Glutarimide-containing polyketides are known as potent antitumoral and antimetastatic agents. The associated gene clusters have only been identified in a few Streptomyces producers and Burkholderia gladioli symbiont. The new glutarimide-family polyketides, denominated sesbanimides D, E and F along with the previously known sesbanimide A and C, were isolated from two marine alphaproteobacteria Stappia indica PHM037 and Labrenzia aggregata PHM038. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1D and 2D homo and heteronuclear NMR analyses and ESI-MS spectrometry. All compounds exhibited strong antitumor activity in lung, breast and colorectal cancer cell lines. Subsequent whole genome sequencing and genome mining revealed the presence of the trans-AT PKS gene cluster responsible for the sesbanimide biosynthesis, described as sbn cluster. Strikingly, the modular architecture of downstream mixed type PKS/NRPS, SbnQ, revealed high similarity to PedH in pederin and Lab13 in labrenzin gene clusters, although those clusters are responsible for the production of structurally completely different molecules. The unexpected presence of SbnQ homologues in unrelated polyketide gene clusters across phylogenetically distant bacteria, raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary relationship between glutarimide-like and pederin-like pathways, as well as the functionality of their synthetic products.}, } @article {pmid33734015, year = {2021}, author = {Nagai, H and Yano, T}, title = {Selective autophagy tolerates symbiotic bacteria in the Drosophila intestine.}, journal = {Autophagy}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {1057-1058}, pmid = {33734015}, issn = {1554-8635}, mesh = {Animals ; *Autophagy ; Bacteria ; *Drosophila ; Homeostasis ; Macroautophagy ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; }, abstract = {Intestinal epithelium functions as a barrier to protect the host from environmental microbes. Defects in macroautophagy/autophagy combined with intestinal microbes cause a disruption of homeostasis of the tissue, which is associated with the etiology of Crohn disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. However, the molecular mechanism of how autophagy interacts with microbes in the pathology are mostly unrevealed. Our recent findings using Drosophila as a model system showed that autophagy in enterocytes suppresses a regenerative response triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS) secreted by the host epithelia toward commensal bacteria in the intestine. Without this suppression, accumulation of a receptor protein of selective autophagy, ref(2)P, continuously acts as a signaling platform to cause excessive regeneration via cytokine production by yki (yorkie) activation. This chronic response leads to the acceleration of age-dependent barrier dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and shorter lifespan. These results uncover a novel regulatory network linking commensal bacteria, autophagy, and gut homeostasis, represented by ROS, ref(2)P, and the hippo pathway.}, } @article {pmid33732941, year = {2021}, author = {Gudeta, K and Julka, JM and Kumar, A and Bhagat, A and Kumari, A}, title = {Vermiwash: An agent of disease and pest control in soil, a review.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e06434}, pmid = {33732941}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Vermiwash is a liquid extract produced from vermicompost in a medium where earthworms are richly populated. It comprises a massive decomposer bacteria count, mucus, vitamins, different bioavailable minerals, hormones, enzymes, different antimicrobial peptides, etc. This paper aimed to assess how these natural products in vermiwash suppressed the pathogen and pests. Thus, we have reviewed the importance of vermiwash/vermicompost in disease control, the mechanism of disease suppression, the components of vermiwash applied in disease suppression, and pest control to use the scientific facts in agriculture to enhance the productivity of the crops. The bioactive macromolecules from the skin secretion of earthworm, coelomic fluid, and mucus directly able to defend pathogenic soil microbes against the worm and thereby freed the environment from the disease. Earthworms establish symbiotic relations with microbes, produce an essential product that supports the growth of plants, and suppress plant's root disease. It is recomended that earthworm should be inoculated in an agricultural field, or prepare and apply its vermiwash/vermicompost as a spray or as additive bio-fertilizer in the soil to enhance the productivities of the crops.}, } @article {pmid33730534, year = {2021}, author = {Kuroda, M and Nagasaki, T and Koito, T and Hongo, Y and Yoshida, T and Maruyama, T and Tsuchida, S and Nemoto, S and Inoue, K}, title = {Possible Roles of Hypotaurine and Thiotaurine in the Vesicomyid Clam Phreagena okutanii.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {240}, number = {1}, pages = {34-40}, doi = {10.1086/712396}, pmid = {33730534}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia ; *Hydrogen Sulfide/toxicity ; Taurine/analogs & derivatives ; }, abstract = {AbstractVesicomyid clams, which inhabit deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps, are nutritionally dependent on symbiotic, chemoautotrophic bacteria that produce organic matter by using hydrogen sulfide. Vesicomyid clams absorb hydrogen sulfide from the foot and transport it in their hemolymph to symbionts in the gill. However, mechanisms to cope with hydrogen sulfide toxicity are not fully understood. Previous studies on vent-specific invertebrates, including bathymodiolin mussels, suggest that hypotaurine, a precursor of taurine, mitigates hydrogen sulfide toxicity by binding it to bisulfide ion, so as to synthesize thiotaurine. In this study, we cloned cDNAs from the vesicomyid clam Phreagena okutanii for the taurine transporter that transports hypotaurine into cells and for cysteine dioxygenase and cysteine-sulfinate decarboxylase, major enzymes involved in hypotaurine synthesis. Results of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction indicate that mRNAs of these three genes are most abundant in the foot, followed by the gill. However, hypotaurine and thiotaurine levels, measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, were low in the foot and high in the gill. In addition, thiotaurine was detected in hemolymph cells. Hypotaurine synthesized in the foot may be transported to the gill after binding to bisulfide ion, possibly by hemolymph cells.}, } @article {pmid33730185, year = {2021}, author = {Arab, DA and Lo, N}, title = {Evolutionary Rates are Correlated Between Buchnera Endosymbionts and the Mitochondrial Genomes of Their Aphid Hosts.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {89}, number = {4-5}, pages = {238-248}, pmid = {33730185}, issn = {1432-1432}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Bacteroidetes ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The evolution of bacterial endosymbiont genomes is strongly influenced by host-driven selection. Factors affecting host genome evolution will potentially affect endosymbiont genomes in similar ways. One potential outcome is correlations in molecular rates between the genomes of the symbiotic partners. Recently, we presented the first evidence of such correlations between the mitochondrial genomes of cockroaches and the genomes of their endosymbiont (Blattabacterium cuenoti). Here we investigate whether similar patterns are found in additional host-symbiont partners. We use partial genome data from multiple strains of the bacterial endosymbionts Buchnera aphidicola and Sulcia muelleri, and the mitochondrial genomes of their sap-feeding insect hosts. Both endosymbionts show phylogenetic congruence with the mitochondria of their hosts, a result that is expected due to their identical mode of inheritance. We compared root-to-tip distances and branch lengths of phylogenetically independent species pairs. Both analyses showed a highly significant correlation of molecular rates between the genomes of Buchnera and the mitochondrial genomes of their hosts. A similar correlation was detected between Sulcia and their hosts, but was not statistically significant. Our results indicate that evolutionary rate correlations between hosts and long-term symbionts may be a widespread phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid33728813, year = {2021}, author = {Mann, AJ and Davis, TS}, title = {Entomopathogenic fungi to control bark beetles: a review of ecological recommendations.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {77}, number = {9}, pages = {3841-3846}, doi = {10.1002/ps.6364}, pmid = {33728813}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Beauveria ; *Coleoptera ; Fungi ; Humans ; *Metarhizium ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plant Bark ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {There is considerable interest in applying entomopathogenic fungi as a biological control to limit insect populations due to their low environmental and human applicator impacts. However, despite many promising laboratory tests, there are few examples where these fungi were successfully applied to manage bark beetles. Here, we explore how environmental conditions unique to bark beetle habitats may have limited previous entomopathogenic fungus applications, including variable temperatures, ultraviolet light, bark beetle symbiotic microorganisms, tree phytochemicals, and cryptic bark beetle behaviors. Based on the existing literature, we provide a framework for interpreting the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi to bark beetles, with emphasis on both standardizing and improving laboratory approaches to enhance field applications. Our synthesis indicates that most previous laboratory evaluations are conducted under conditions that are not representative of actual bark beetle systems; this may render fungal isolates functionally non-pathogenic in field settings. We recommend that future studies place particular effort into understanding entomopathogen response to the presence of bark beetle symbiotic microorganisms, plant phytochemicals, and potential as a tree endophyte. Additionally, field application methods should aid entomopathogens in overcoming stressful conditions and allow the fungus to infect multiple bark beetle life stages. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid33725748, year = {2021}, author = {Chok, KC and Ng, KY and Koh, RY and Chye, SM}, title = {Role of the gut microbiome in Alzheimer's disease.}, journal = {Reviews in the neurosciences}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {767-789}, doi = {10.1515/revneuro-2020-0122}, pmid = {33725748}, issn = {2191-0200}, mesh = {*Alzheimer Disease ; Brain ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of individuals each year and this number is expected to significantly increase. The complicated microorganisms residing in human gut are closely associated with our health. Emerging evidence has suggested possible involvement of human gut microbiome in AD. Symbiotic gut microbiomes are known to maintain brain health by modulating host's barriers integrity, metabolic system, immune system, nervous system and endocrine system. However, in the event of gut dysbiosis and barriers disruption, gut pathobionts disrupt homeostasis of the metabolic system, immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system, resulting in deterioration of neurological functions and subsequently promoting development of AD. Multiple therapeutic approaches, such as fecal microbiome transplant, antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotic, and diet are discussed as potential treatment options for AD by manipulating the gut microbiome to reverse pathological alteration in the systems above.}, } @article {pmid33725554, year = {2021}, author = {Ye, L and Yang, P and Zeng, Y and Li, C and Jian, N and Wang, R and Huang, S and Yang, R and Wei, L and Zhao, H and Zheng, Q and Gao, H and Liu, J}, title = {Rhizobium symbiosis modulates the accumulation of arsenic in Medicago truncatula via nitrogen and NRT3.1-like genes regulated by ABA and linalool.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {415}, number = {}, pages = {125611}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125611}, pmid = {33725554}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Acyclic Monoterpenes ; Anion Transport Proteins/*genetics ; *Arsenic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) contamination is a worldwide problem and threatens human health. Here, we found that Rhizobium symbiosis can improve the tolerance to arsenate [As(V)], and a wild type R. meliloti Rm5038 symbiosis can significantly decrease the accumulation of As in Medicago truncatula shoots. The As content in plants could be decreased by nitrogen and the mutation of nitrate transporter NRT3.1. The expression of M. truncatula NRT3.1-like gene NRT3.1L1 could reverse the As(V)-tolerance phenotype of the Arabidopsis nrt3.1 mutant. Rm5038 symbiosis significantly increased the level of nitrogen in the shoot and reduced the expression of NRT3.1Ls in plants afflicted by As(V). The genetic analyses of aba2-1, pyr1/pyl1/2/4/5/8, and abi1-2/abi2-2/hab1-1/pp2ca-1 mutants revealed that abscisic acid (ABA) signaling regulates the tolerance of plants to As(V). ABA and linalool could promote the expression of NRT3.1Ls, however, their root biosynthesis was inhibited by ammonium, the first form of nitrogen fixed by Rhizobium symbiosis. Moreover, ABA and linalool may also control As and nitrate accumulation in Rhizobium symbionts via signaling pathways other than ammonia and NRT3.1Ls. Thus, Rhizobium symbiosis modulates the accumulation of As in plants via nitrogen and NRT3.1Ls regulated by ABA and linalool, which provides novel approaches to reduce As accumulation in legume crops.}, } @article {pmid33724950, year = {2021}, author = {Bilici, Z and Bouchareb, R and Sacak, T and Yatmaz, HC and Dizge, N}, title = {Recycling of TiO2-containing waste and utilization by photocatalytic degradation of a reactive dye solution.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {83}, number = {5}, pages = {1242-1249}, doi = {10.2166/wst.2020.606}, pmid = {33724950}, issn = {0273-1223}, mesh = {Catalysis ; *Hydrogen Peroxide ; Titanium ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Recently, the utilization of wastes, recovery of high value-added products from waste, and their use as raw materials in other industries with the logic of industrial symbiosis has become an important issue. In this study, removal efficiency of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) dye from aqueous solution was studied using TiO2 catalyst recycled from an industrial waste effluent. The recycling of TiO2 waste from a paints manufacturing industry was carried out by sintering the TiO2-containing waste. The catalyst usability of TiO2-containing powder was then investigated in the removal of RO16 dye by photocatalytic oxidation process. In photocatalytic oxidation studies, TiO2/UV and TiO2/UV/H2O2 processes were investigated, where the effect of annealing temperature, the effect of H2O2 concentration, and the adsorption and photocatalytic effects on RO16 dye removal were studied. The results showed that 100% RO16 removal was obtained for the 10 mg/L initial RO16 concentration using the TiO2 (1 g/L)/UV process. At high initial RO16 concentration (50 mg/L), 100% RO16 removal was achieved by adding 10 mM H2O2.}, } @article {pmid33724341, year = {2021}, author = {Hailu Gunnabo, A and Geurts, R and Wolde-Meskel, E and Degefu, T and Giller, KE and van Heerwaarden, J}, title = {Phylogeographic distribution of rhizobia nodulating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Ethiopia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33724341}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial ; Ethiopia ; *Phaseolus ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soilborne bacteria that form symbiotic relations with legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen. The nitrogen fixation potential depends on several factors such as the type of host and symbionts and on environmental factors that affect the distribution of rhizobia. We isolated bacteria nodulating common bean in Southern Ethiopia to evaluate their genetic diversity and phylogeography at nucleotide, locus (gene/haplotype) and species levels of genetic hierarchy. Phylogenetically, eight rhizobial genospecies (including previous collections) were determined that had less genetic diversity than found among reference strains. The limited genetic diversity of the Ethiopian collections was due to absence of many of the Rhizobium lineages known to nodulate beans. Rhizobium etli and Rhizobiumphaseoli were predominant strains of bean-nodulating rhizobia in Ethiopia. We found no evidence for a phylogeographic pattern in strain distribution. However, joint analysis of the current and previous collections revealed differences between the two collections at nucleotide level of genetic hierarchy. The differences were due to genospecies Rhizobium aethiopicum that was only isolated in the earlier collection.}, } @article {pmid33721795, year = {2021}, author = {Jin, Y and Xu, Y and Huang, Z and Zhou, Z and Wei, X}, title = {Metabolite pattern in root nodules of the actinorhizal plant Casuarina equisetifolia.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {112724}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112724}, pmid = {33721795}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Frankia ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Casuarina equisetifolia L. (Casuarinaceae), an actinorhizal plant, exhibits mutualistic symbiosis with Frankia and promotes nitrogen fixation in root nodules. While the exchange of metabolites between host plant and microsymbiont is well understood in legume symbioses, the situation in the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing Frankia and actinorhizal plants is less clear. In this study, a metabolomic approach was applied to root nodules of mature C. equisetifolia trees, leading to the identification of an undescribed taraxerane-type triterpenoid ester, 3-O-dihydrocoumaroyl β-taraxerol, along with twelve known compounds. An abundant component was tyramine with a content of 2.76 ± 0.315 mg/g FW in mature nodules. Tyramine specifically and abundantly accumulated in mature nitrogen-fixing nodules compared to senescent nodules, stems, leaves, and seeds. In addition, the potential function of tyramine was preliminarily examined and discussed.}, } @article {pmid33721328, year = {2021}, author = {Ueno, AC and Gundel, PE and Molina-Montenegro, MA and Ramos, P and Ghersa, CM and Martínez-Ghersa, MA}, title = {Getting ready for the ozone battle: Vertically transmitted fungal endophytes have transgenerational positive effects in plants.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {8}, pages = {2716-2728}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14047}, pmid = {33721328}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Biomass ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Lolium/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; *Ozone/pharmacology ; Seedlings/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ground-level ozone is a global air pollutant with high toxicity and represents a threat to plants and microorganisms. Although beneficial microorganisms can improve host performance, their role in connecting environmentally induced maternal plant phenotypes to progeny (transgenerational effects [TGE]) is unknown. We evaluated fungal endophyte-mediated consequences of maternal plant exposure to ozone on performance of the progeny under contrasting scenarios of the same factor (high and low) at two stages: seedling and young plant. With no variation in biomass, maternal ozone-induced oxidative damage in the progeny that was lower in endophyte-symbiotic plants. This correlated with an endophyte-mediated higher concentration of proline, a defence compound associated with stress control. Interestingly, ozone-induced TGE was not associated with reductions in plant survival. On the contrary, there was an overall positive effect on seedling survival in the presence of endophytes. The positive effect of maternal ozone increasing young plant survival was irrespective of symbiosis and only expressed under high ozone condition. Our study shows that hereditary microorganisms can modulate the capacity of plants to transgenerationally adjust progeny phenotype to atmospheric change.}, } @article {pmid33721277, year = {2021}, author = {Losi, A and Gärtner, W}, title = {A light life together: photosensing in the plant microbiota.}, journal = {Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {451-473}, pmid = {33721277}, issn = {1474-9092}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Fungi/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Light ; Microbiota/*radiation effects ; Photoreceptors, Microbial/chemistry/metabolism ; Phytochrome/chemistry/metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria and fungi of the plant microbiota can be phytopathogens, parasites or symbionts that establish mutually advantageous relationships with plants. They are often rich in photoreceptors for UVA-Visible light, and in many cases, they exhibit light regulation of growth patterns, infectivity or virulence, reproductive traits, and production of pigments and of metabolites. In addition to the light-driven effects, often demonstrated via the generation of photoreceptor gene knock-outs, microbial photoreceptors can exert effects also in the dark. Interestingly, some fungi switch their attitude towards plants in dependence of illumination or dark conditions in as much as they may be symbiotic or pathogenic. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the roles of light and photoreceptors in plant-associated bacteria and fungi aiming at the identification of common traits and general working ideas. Still, reports on light-driven infection of plants are often restricted to the description of macroscopically observable phenomena, whereas detailed information on the molecular level, e.g., protein-protein interaction during signal transduction or induction mechanisms of infectivity/virulence initiation remains sparse. As it becomes apparent from still only few molecular studies, photoreceptors, often from the red- and the blue light sensitive groups interact and mutually modulate their individual effects. The topic is of great relevance, even in economic terms, referring to plant-pathogen or plant-symbionts interactions, considering the increasing usage of artificial illumination in greenhouses, the possible light-regulation of the synthesis of plant-growth stimulating substances or herbicides by certain symbionts, and the biocontrol of pests by selected fungi and bacteria in a sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33720470, year = {2021}, author = {Nelsen, MP}, title = {Sharing and double-dating in the lichen world.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {1751-1754}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15884}, pmid = {33720470}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Fungi ; *Lichens/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Historic and modern efforts to understand lichen diversity and evolution have overwhelmingly concentrated on that of the fungal partner, which represents one of the most taxonomically diverse nutritional modes among the Fungi. But what about the algal and cyanobacterial symbionts? An explosion of studies on these cryptic symbionts over the past 20+ years has facilitated a richer understanding of their diversity, patterns of association, and the symbiosis itself. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Dal Forno et al. (2021) provide new insight into one of the most fascinating lichen symbioses. By sequencing cyanobacterial symbionts from over 650 specimens, they reveal the presence of overlooked cyanobacterial diversity, evidence for symbiont sharing among distantly related fungi, and utilize a comparative dating framework to demonstrate temporal discordance among interacting fungal and cyanobacterial lineages.}, } @article {pmid33718864, year = {2021}, author = {Maharjan, S and Alva, J and Cámara, C and Rubio, AG and Hernández, D and Delavaux, C and Correa, E and Romo, MD and Bonilla, D and Santiago, ML and Li, W and Cheng, F and Ying, G and Zhang, YS}, title = {Symbiotic Photosynthetic Oxygenation within 3D-Bioprinted Vascularized Tissues.}, journal = {Matter}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {217-240}, pmid = {33718864}, issn = {2590-2385}, support = {R21 EB026175/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL153857/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EB028143/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; K99 CA201603/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 EB025270/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS111039/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 CA201603/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM134036/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In this study, we present the photosynthetic oxygen (O2) supply to mammalian cells within a volumetric extracellular matrix-like construct, whereby a three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinted fugitive pattern encapsulating unicellular green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii), served as a natural photosynthetic O2-generator. The presence of bioprinted C. reinhardtii enhanced the viability and functionality of mammalian cells while reducing the hypoxic conditions within the tissues. We were able to subsequently endothelialize the hollow perfusable microchannels formed after enzymatic removal of the bioprinted C. reinhardtii-laden patterns from the matrices following the initial oxygenation period, to obtain biologically relevant vascularized mammalian tissue constructs. The feasibility of co-culture of C. reinhardtii with human cells, the printability and the enzymatic degradability of the fugitive bioink, as well as the exploration of C. reinhardtii as a natural, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable source of O2 would likely promote the development of engineered tissues, tissue models, and food for various applications.}, } @article {pmid33717457, year = {2021}, author = {Matthews, AE and Kellner, K and Seal, JN}, title = {Male-biased dispersal in a fungus-gardening ant symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {2307-2320}, pmid = {33717457}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {For nearly all organisms, dispersal is a fundamental life-history trait that can shape their ecology and evolution. Variation in dispersal capabilities within a species exists and can influence population genetic structure and ecological interactions. In fungus-gardening (attine) ants, co-dispersal of ants and mutualistic fungi is crucial to the success of this obligate symbiosis. Female-biased dispersal (and gene flow) may be favored in attines because virgin queens carry the responsibility of dispersing the fungi, but a paucity of research has made this conclusion difficult. Here, we investigate dispersal of the fungus-gardening ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis using a combination of maternally (mitochondrial DNA) and biparentally inherited (microsatellites) markers. We found three distinct, spatially isolated mitochondrial DNA haplotypes; two were found in the Florida panhandle and the other in the Florida peninsula. In contrast, biparental markers illustrated significant gene flow across this region and minimal spatial structure. The differential patterns uncovered from mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers suggest that most long-distance ant dispersal is male-biased and that females (and concomitantly the fungus) have more limited dispersal capabilities. Consequently, the limited female dispersal is likely an important bottleneck for the fungal symbiont. This bottleneck could slow fungal genetic diversification, which has significant implications for both ant hosts and fungal symbionts regarding population genetics, species distributions, adaptive responses to environmental change, and coevolutionary patterns.}, } @article {pmid33717199, year = {2021}, author = {Liberti, A and Natarajan, O and Atkinson, CGF and Sordino, P and Dishaw, LJ}, title = {Reflections on the Use of an Invertebrate Chordate Model System for Studies of Gut Microbial Immune Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {642687}, pmid = {33717199}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Ciona intestinalis/immunology/*microbiology ; Ecotoxicology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The functional ecology of the gastrointestinal tract impacts host physiology, and its dysregulation is at the center of various diseases. The immune system, and specifically innate immunity, plays a fundamental role in modulating the interface of host and microbes in the gut. While humans remain a primary focus of research in this field, the use of diverse model systems help inform us of the fundamental principles legislating homeostasis in the gut. Invertebrates, which lack vertebrate-style adaptive immunity, can help define conserved features of innate immunity that shape the gut ecosystem. In this context, we previously proposed the use of a marine invertebrate, the protochordate Ciona robusta, as a novel tractable model system for studies of host-microbiome interactions. Significant progress, reviewed herein, has been made to fulfill that vision. We examine and review discoveries from Ciona that include roles for a secreted immune effector interacting with elements of the microbiota, as well as chitin-rich mucus lining the gut epithelium, the gut-associated microbiome of adults, and the establishment of a large catalog of cultured isolates with which juveniles can be colonized. Also discussed is the establishment of methods to rear the animals germ-free, an essential technology for dissecting the symbiotic interactions at play. As the foundation is now set to extend these studies into the future, broadening our comprehension of how host effectors shape the ecology of these microbial communities in ways that establish and maintain homeostasis will require full utilization of "multi-omics" approaches to merge computational sciences, modeling, and experimental biology in hypothesis-driven investigations.}, } @article {pmid33717063, year = {2021}, author = {Cristofori, F and Dargenio, VN and Dargenio, C and Miniello, VL and Barone, M and Francavilla, R}, title = {Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Probiotics in Gut Inflammation: A Door to the Body.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {578386}, pmid = {33717063}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Diet ; Disease Susceptibility ; Dysbiosis ; Gastroenteritis/drug therapy/*etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology/metabolism ; Immunomodulation/*drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Life Style ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Hosting millions of microorganisms, the digestive tract is the primary and most important part of bacterial colonization. On one side, in cases of opportunistic invasion, the abundant bacterial population inside intestinal tissues may face potential health problems such as inflammation and infections. Therefore, the immune system has evolved to sustain the host-microbiota symbiotic relationship. On the other hand, to maintain host immune homeostasis, the intestinal microflora often exerts an immunoregulatory function that cannot be ignored. A field of great interest is the association of either microbiota or probiotics with the immune system concerning clinical uses. This microbial community regulates some of the host's metabolic and physiological functions and drives early-life immune system maturation, contributing to their homeostasis throughout life. Changes in gut microbiota can occur through modification in function, composition (dysbiosis), or microbiota-host interplays. Studies on animals and humans show that probiotics can have a pivotal effect on the modulation of immune and inflammatory mechanisms; however, the precise mechanisms have not yet been well defined. Diet, age, BMI (body mass index), medications, and stress may confound the benefits of probiotic intake. In addition to host gut functions (permeability and physiology), all these agents have profound implications for the gut microbiome composition. The use of probiotics could improve the gut microbial population, increase mucus-secretion, and prevent the destruction of tight junction proteins by decreasing the number of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). When LPS binds endothelial cells to toll-like receptors (TLR 2, 4), dendritic cells and macrophage cells are activated, and inflammatory markers are increased. Furthermore, a decrease in gut dysbiosis and intestinal leakage after probiotic therapy may minimize the development of inflammatory biomarkers and blunt unnecessary activation of the immune system. In turn, probiotics improve the differentiation of T-cells against Th2 and development of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10. The present narrative review explores the interactions between gut microflora/probiotics and the immune system starting from the general perspective of a biological plausibility to get to the in vitro and in vivo demonstrations of a probiotic-based approach up to the possible uses for novel therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid33717018, year = {2021}, author = {Aasfar, A and Bargaz, A and Yaakoubi, K and Hilali, A and Bennis, I and Zeroual, Y and Meftah Kadmiri, I}, title = {Nitrogen Fixing Azotobacter Species as Potential Soil Biological Enhancers for Crop Nutrition and Yield Stability.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {628379}, pmid = {33717018}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) refers to a microbial mediated process based upon an enzymatic "Nitrogenase" conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium readily absorbable by roots. N2-fixing microorganisms collectively termed as "diazotrophs" are able to fix biologically N2 in association with plant roots. Specifically, the symbiotic rhizobacteria induce structural and physiological modifications of bacterial cells and plant roots into specialized structures called nodules. Other N2-fixing bacteria are free-living fixers that are highly diverse and globally widespread in cropland. They represent key natural source of nitrogen (N) in natural and agricultural ecosystems lacking symbiotic N fixation (SNF). In this review, the importance of Azotobacter species was highlighted as both important free-living N2-fixing bacteria and potential bacterial biofertilizer with proven efficacy for plant nutrition and biological soil fertility. In addition, we described Azotobacter beneficial plant promoting traits (e.g., nutrient use efficiency, protection against phytopathogens, phytohormone biosynthesis, etc.). We shed light also on the agronomic features of Azotobacter that are likely an effective component of integrated plant nutrition strategy, which contributes positively to sustainable agricultural production. We pointed out Azotobacter based-biofertilizers, which possess unique characteristics such as cyst formation conferring resistance to environmental stresses. Such beneficial traits can be explored profoundly for the utmost aim to research and develop specific formulations based on inoculant Azotobacter cysts. Furthermore, Azotobacter species still need to be wisely exploited in order to address specific agricultural challenges (e.g., nutrient deficiencies, biotic and abiotic constraints) taking into consideration several variables including their biological functions, synergies and multi-trophic interactions, and biogeography and abundance distribution.}, } @article {pmid33716755, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, Z and Gong, C and Hu, Y and Zhong, J and Xia, J and Xie, W and Yang, X and Guo, Z and Wang, S and Wu, Q and Zhang, Y}, title = {Two Deoxythymidine Triphosphate Synthesis-Related Genes Regulate Obligate Symbiont Density and Reproduction in the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {574749}, pmid = {33716755}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) is essential for DNA synthesis and cellular growth in all organisms. Here, genetic capacity analysis of the pyrimidine pathway in insects and their symbionts revealed that dTTP is a kind of metabolic input in several host insect/obligate symbiont symbiosis systems, including Bemisia tabaci MED/Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum (hereafter Portiera). As such, the roles of dTTP on both sides of the symbiosis system were investigated in B. tabaci MED/Portiera. Dietary RNA interference (RNAi) showed that suppressing dTTP production significantly reduced the density of Portiera, significantly repressed the expression levels of horizontally transferred essential amino acid (EAA) synthesis-related genes, and significantly decreased the reproduction of B. tabaci MED adults as well as the hatchability of their offspring. Our results revealed the regulatory role of dTTP in B. tabaci MED/Portiera and showed that dTTP synthesis-related genes could be potential targets for controlling B. tabaci as well as other sucking pests.}, } @article {pmid33716612, year = {2021}, author = {Strieth, D and Di Nonno, S and Stiefelmaier, J and Kollmen, J and Geib, D and Ulber, R}, title = {Co-cultivation of diazotrophic terrestrial cyanobacteria and Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Engineering in life sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {3-4}, pages = {126-136}, pmid = {33716612}, issn = {1618-0240}, abstract = {Diazotrophic cyanobacteria are able to fix N2 from the atmosphere and release it as bioavailable nitrogen what other organisms can utilize. Thus, they could be used as living nitrogen supplier whereby the use of fertilizer could be reduced in agricultural industry what results in a decrease of laughing gas released during fertilizer production. The diazotroph cyanobacterium Desmonostoc muscorum (D. muscorum) was characterized in shake flasks cultivated in nitrogen-free and nitrogen-containing medium. Similar growth rates were reached in both cultivations and the release of ammonium by D. muscorum was detected under nitrogen depletion. Subsequently, D. muscorum was co-cultivated with Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) in nitrogen-free medium. Additionally, the plant was cultivated in nitrogen containing and nitrogen-free medium without D. muscorum as reference. A co-cultivation led to higher growth rates of the cyanobacterium and similar growth of A. thaliana with similar maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II compared to the growth of nitrogen containing medium. Further, accumulation of cyanobacterial cells around the roots of A. thaliana was detected, indicating a successfully induced artificial symbiosis. Based on these results, D. muscorum could be a promising cyanobacterium as living nitrogen supplier for plants.}, } @article {pmid33716243, year = {2021}, author = {Welmillage, SU and Zhang, Q and Sreevidya, VS and Sadowsky, MJ and Gyaneshwar, P}, title = {Inoculation of Mimosa Pudica with Paraburkholderia phymatum Results in Changes to the Rhizoplane Microbial Community Structure.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33716243}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Burkholderiaceae/classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Microbiota ; Mimosa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixing symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes contributes significant amounts of N to agricultural and natural environments. In natural soils, rhizobia compete with indigenous bacterial communities to colonize legume roots, which leads to symbiotic interactions. However, limited information is currently available on the effects of the rhizobial symbiont on the resident microbial community in the legume rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere, which is partly due to the presence of native nodulating rhizobial strains. In the present study, we used a symbiotic system comprised of Paraburkholderia phymatum and Mimosa pudica to examine the interaction of an inoculant strain with indigenous soil bacteria. The effects of a symbiont inoculation on the native bacterial community was investigated using high throughput sequencing and an analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The results obtained revealed that the inoculation induced significant alterations in the microbial community present in the rhizoplane+endosphere of the roots, with 13 different taxa showing significant changes in abundance. No significant changes were observed in the rhizospheric soil. The relative abundance of P. phymatum significantly increased in the rhizoplane+endosphere of the root, but significant decreased in the rhizospheric soil. While the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and root endosphere contained a wide diversity of bacteria, the nodules were predominantly colonized by P. phymatum. A network analysis revealed that the operational taxonomic units of Streptomyces and Phycicoccus were positively associated with P. phymatum as potential keystone taxa. Collectively, these results suggest that the success of an inoculated symbiont depends on its ability to colonize the roots in the face of competition by other soil bacteria. A more detailed understanding of the mechanisms by which an inoculated strain colonizes its plant host is crucial for realizing the full potential of microbial inoculants in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33715441, year = {2021}, author = {Cornwell, BH and Hernández, L}, title = {Genetic structure in the endosymbiont Breviolum 'muscatinei' is correlated with geographical location, environment and host species.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1946}, pages = {20202896}, pmid = {33715441}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {P30 CA093373/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD018223/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Structures ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals and cnidarians form symbioses with dinoflagellates across a wide range of habitats from the tropics to temperate zones. Notably, these partnerships create the foundation of coral reef ecosystems and are at risk of breaking down due to climate change. This symbiosis couples the fitness of the partners, where adaptations in one species can benefit the holobiont. However, the scales over which each partner can match their current-and future-environment are largely unknown. We investigated population genetic patterns of temperate anemones (Anthopleura spp.) and their endosymbiont Breviolum 'muscatinei', across an extensive geographical range to identify the spatial scales over which local adaptation is possible. Similar to previously published results, two solitary host species exhibited isolation by distance across hundreds of kilometres. However, symbionts exhibited genetic structure across multiple spatial scales, from geographical location to depth in the intertidal zone, and host species, suggesting that symbiont populations are more likely than their hosts to adaptively mitigate the impact of increasing temperatures.}, } @article {pmid33715440, year = {2021}, author = {Boyle, JA and Simonsen, AK and Frederickson, ME and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Priority effects alter interaction outcomes in a legume-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1946}, pages = {20202753}, pmid = {33715440}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Priority effects occur when the order of species arrival affects the final community structure. Mutualists often interact with multiple partners in different orders, but if or how priority effects alter interaction outcomes is an open question. In the field, we paired the legume Medicago lupulina with two nodulating strains of Ensifer bacteria that vary in nitrogen-fixing ability. We inoculated plants with strains in different orders and measured interaction outcomes. The first strain to arrive primarily determined plant performance and final relative abundances of rhizobia on roots. Plants that received effective microbes first and ineffective microbes second grew larger than plants inoculated with the same microbes in the opposite order. Our results show that mutualism outcomes can be influenced not just by partner identity, but by the interaction order. Furthermore, hosts receiving high-quality mutualists early can better tolerate low-quality symbionts later, indicating that priority effects may help explain the persistence of ineffective symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33715232, year = {2021}, author = {Katam, K and Tiwari, Y and Shimizu, T and Soda, S and Bhattacharyya, D}, title = {Start-up of a trickling photobioreactor for the treatment of domestic wastewater.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {93}, number = {9}, pages = {1690-1699}, doi = {10.1002/wer.1554}, pmid = {33715232}, issn = {1554-7531}, mesh = {Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; *Photobioreactors ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {A stand-alone trickling photobioreactor (TPBR) was seeded with activated sludge and microalgae to treat domestic wastewater. The TPBR was started-up at 12-h hydraulic retention time at room temperature with 12:12 h light:dark cycle. The light was provided by blue LED strips. The reactor has a total volume of 30 L and is divided into six segments. Each segment is 30 cm long and has a diameter of 15 cm. Each segment was packed with polyurethane foam sponge cubes (2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm[3]) with 40% occupancy. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (P) of domestic wastewater varied in the range of 164-256 mg/L, 84.4-133.8 mg/L, 34.2-55.6 mg/L, and 24.7-39.3 mg/L, respectively, during this period. The COD, TOC, TN, and P concentrations in the effluent after 45 days of operation were 30.24 ± 3.36 mg/L, 7.69 ± 0.09 mg/L, 16.67 ± 0.39 mg/L, and 17.48 ± 0.5 mg/L, respectively. The chlorophyll-to-biofilm biomass ratio increased during the experimental period. The above results indicate that the algal-bacterial symbiotic relationship is beneficial for carbon and nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Trickling photobioreactor works on natural ventilation and has low power requirements and a small footprint. The porous sponge media helped in immobilizing and subsequent harvesting of biomass. The reactor conditions favored the growth of diatoms (brown algae) over green algae.}, } @article {pmid33713347, year = {2021}, author = {Voshall, A and Christie, NTM and Rose, SL and Khasin, M and Van Etten, JL and Markham, JE and Riekhof, WR and Nickerson, KW}, title = {Sterol Biosynthesis in Four Green Algae: A Bioinformatic Analysis of the Ergosterol Versus Phytosterol Decision Point.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {4}, pages = {1199-1211}, pmid = {33713347}, issn = {1529-8817}, support = {K23 RR015535/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Chlorella ; Computational Biology ; Ergosterol ; Phylogeny ; *Phytosterols ; Sterols ; }, abstract = {Animals and fungi produce cholesterol and ergosterol, respectively, while plants produce the phytosterols stigmasterol, campesterol, and β-sitosterol in various combinations. The recent sequencing of many algal genomes allows the detailed reconstruction of the sterol metabolic pathways. Here, we characterized sterol synthesis in two sequenced Chlorella spp., the free-living C. sorokiniana, and symbiotic C. variabilis NC64A. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was included as an internal control and Coccomyxa subellipsoidea as a plant-like outlier. We found that ergosterol was the major sterol produced by Chlorella spp. and C. reinhardtii, while C. subellipsoidea produced the three phytosterols found in plants. In silico analysis of the C. variabilis NC64A, C. sorokiniana, and C. subellipsoidea genomes identified 22 homologs of sterol biosynthetic genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and C. reinhardtii. The presence of CAS1, CPI1, and HYD1 in the four algal genomes suggests the higher plant cycloartenol branch for sterol biosynthesis, confirming that algae and fungi use different pathways for ergosterol synthesis. Phylogenetic analysis for 40 oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) showed that the nine algal OSCs clustered with the cycloartenol cyclases, rather than the lanosterol cyclases, with the OSC for C. subellipsoidea positioned in between the higher plants and the eight other algae. With regard to why C. subellipsoidea produced phytosterols instead of ergosterol, we identified 22 differentially conserved positions where C. subellipsoidea CAS and A. thaliana CAS1 have one amino acid while the three ergosterol producing algae have another. Together, these results emphasize the position of the unicellular algae as an evolutionary transition point for sterols.}, } @article {pmid33713123, year = {2021}, author = {Arora, P and Kumar, A and A Vishwakarma, R and Riyaz-Ul-Hassan, S}, title = {A natural association of a yeast with Aspergillus terreus and its impact on the host fungal biology.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {368}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnab032}, pmid = {33713123}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {*Aspergillus/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; *Saccharomycetales/physiology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several fungi have been shown to harbor microorganisms that regulate the key components of fungal metabolism. We explored the symbiotic association of an endophyte, Aspergillus terreus, which led to the isolation of a yeast, Meyerozyma caribbica, as its symbiont. An axenic fungal culture, free of the symbiont, was developed to study the effect of this association on the endophytic fungus. The symbiotic yeast partner was found to play an important role in the adaptation of A. terreus to thermal as well as osmotic stress. Under these stress conditions, the symbiont enhanced the production of lovastatin and the growth of the host fungus. The symbiotic yeast was found to induce the expression of the global regulator gene, the key genes involved in the lovastatin biosynthetic pathway as well as those involved in general growth and development, under stress conditions, in the fungal partner. Analysis by PCR and fluorescent in situ hybridization microscopy indicated that the yeast may be present inside the hyphae of the fungus. However, a direct method like transmission electron microscopy may help to better understand the dynamics of this association, including the distribution of the yeast cells in/on the fungal hyphae and spores.}, } @article {pmid33709900, year = {2019}, author = {Klepa, MS and Ferraz Helene, LC and O'Hara, G and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium agreste sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium glycinis sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium diversitatis sp. nov., isolated from a biodiversity hotspot of the genus Glycine in Western Australia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33709900}, issn = {1466-5034}, abstract = {Strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium associated with agronomically important crops such as soybean (Glycine max) are increasingly studied; however, information about symbionts of wild Glycine species is scarce. Australia is a genetic centre of wild Glycine species and we performed a polyphasic analysis of three Bradyrhizobium strains-CNPSo 4010[T], CNPSo 4016[T], and CNPSo 4019[T]-trapped from Western Australian soils with Glycine clandestina, Glycine tabacina and Glycine max, respectively. The phylogenetic tree of the 16S rRNA gene clustered all strains into the Bradyrhizobium japonicum superclade; strains CNPSo 4010[T] and CNPSo 4016[T] had Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense CCBAU 10071[T] as the closest species, whereas strain CNPSo 4019[T] was closer to Bradyrhizobium liaoningense LMG 18230[T]. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with five housekeeping genes-dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB-confirmed the same clusters as the 16S rRNA phylogeny, but indicated low similarity to described species, with nucleotide identities ranging from 93.6 to 97.6% of similarity. Considering the genomes of the three strains, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were lower than 94.97 and 59.80 %, respectively, with the closest species. In the nodC phylogeny, strains CNPSo 4010[T] and CNPSo 4019[T] grouped with Bradyrhizobium zhanjiangense and Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense, respectively, while strain CNPSo 4016[T] was positioned separately from the all symbiotic Bradyrhizobium species. Other genomic (BOX-PCR), phenotypic and symbiotic properties were evaluated and corroborated with the description of three new lineages of Bradyrhizobium. We propose the names of Bradyrhizobium agreste sp. nov. for CNPSo 4010[T] (=WSM 4802[T]=LMG 31645[T]) isolated from Glycine clandestina, Bradyrhizobium glycinis sp. nov. for CNPSo 4016[T] (=WSM 4801[T]=LMG 31649[T]) isolated from Glycine tabacina and Bradyrhizobium diversitatis sp. nov. for CNPSo 4019[T] (=WSM 4799[T]=LMG 31650[T]) isolated from G. max.}, } @article {pmid33709229, year = {2021}, author = {Yang, ZW and Men, Y and Zhang, J and Liu, ZH and Luo, JY and Wang, YH and Li, WJ and Xie, Q}, title = {Evaluation of Sample Preservation Approaches for Better Insect Microbiome Research According to Next-Generation and Third-Generation Sequencing.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {971-980}, pmid = {33709229}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Insecta ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The microbial communities associated with insects play critical roles in many physiological functions such as digestion, nutrition, and defense. Meanwhile, with the development of sequencing technology, more and more studies begin to focus on broader biodiversity of insects and the corresponding mechanisms of insect microbial symbiosis, which need longer time collecting in the field. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of insect microbiome sample preservation approaches especially in different time durations or have assessed whether these approaches are appropriate for both next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation sequencing (TGS) technologies. Here, we used Tessaratoma papillosa (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae), an important litchi pest, as the model insect and adopted two sequencing technologies to evaluate the effect of four different preservation approaches (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), ethanol, air dried, and RNAlater). We found the samples treated by air dried method, which entomologists adopted for morphological observation and classical taxonomy, would get worse soon. RNAlater as the most expensive approaches for insect microbiome sample preservation did not suit for field works longer than 1 month. We recommended CTAB and ethanol as better preservatives in longer time field work for their effectiveness and low cost. Comparing with the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequenced by TGS, the V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequenced by NGS has a lower resolution trait and may misestimate the composition of microbial communities. Our results provided recommendations for suitable preservation approaches applied to insect microbiome studies based on two sequencing technologies, which can help researchers properly preserve samples in field works.}, } @article {pmid33708467, year = {2021}, author = {Kumar, R and Mukherjee, PK}, title = {Trichoderma virens Bys1 may competitively inhibit its own effector protein Alt a 1 to stabilize the symbiotic relationship with plant-evidence from docking and simulation studies.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {144}, pmid = {33708467}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The filamentous fungi Trichoderma spp. are widely used for plant growth promotion and disease control. They form stable symbiosis-like relationship with roots. Unlike plant pathogens and mycorrhizae, the molecular events leading to the development of this association is not well understood. Pathogens deploy effector proteins to suppress or evade plant defence. Indirect evidences suggest that Trichoderma spp. can also deploy effector-like proteins to suppress plant defence favouring colonization of roots. Here, using computer simulation, we provide evidence that Trichoderma virens may deploy analogues of host defence proteins to "neutralize" its own effector protein to minimize damage to host tissues, as one of the mechanisms to achieve a stable symbiotic relationship with plants. We provide evidence that T. virens Bys1 protein has a structure similar to plant PR5/thaumatin-like protein and can bind Alt a 1 with a very high affinity, which might lead to the inactivation of its own effector protein. We have, for the first time, predicted a fungal protein that is a competitive inhibitor of a fungal effector protein deployed by many pathogenic fungi to suppress plant defence, and this protein/gene can potentially be used to enhance plant defence through transgenic or other approaches.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02652-8.}, } @article {pmid33705534, year = {2021}, author = {Lim, SJ and Davis, B and Gill, D and Swetenburg, J and Anderson, LC and Engel, AS and Campbell, BJ}, title = {Gill microbiome structure and function in the chemosymbiotic coastal lucinid Stewartia floridana.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab042}, pmid = {33705534}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Bivalvia ; Gills ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lucinid bivalves harbor environmentally acquired, chemosynthetic, gammaproteobacterial gill endosymbionts. Lucinid gill microbiomes, which may contain other gammaproteobacterial and/or spirochete taxa, remain under-sampled. To understand inter-host variability of the lucinid gill microbiome, specifically in the bacterial communities, we analyzed the microbiome content of Stewartia floridana collected from Florida. Sampled gills contained a monospecific gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont expressing lithoautotrophic, mixotrophic, diazotrophic and C1 compound oxidation-related functions previously characterized in similar lucinid species. Another low-abundance Spirochaeta-like species in ∼72% of the sampled gills was most closely related to Spirochaeta-like species in another lucinid Phacoides pectinatus and formed a clade with known marine Spirochaeta symbionts. The spirochete expressed genes were involved in heterotrophy and the transport of sugars, amino acids, peptides and other substrates. Few muscular and neurofilament genes from the host and none from the gammaproteobacterial and spirochete symbionts were differentially expressed among quadrats predominantly covered with seagrass species or 80% bare sand. Our results suggest that spirochetes are facultatively associated with S. floridana, with potential scavenging and nutrient cycling roles. Expressed stress- and defense-related functions in the host and symbionts also suggest species-species communications, which highlight the need for further study of the interactions among lucinid hosts, their microbiomes and their environment.}, } @article {pmid33704553, year = {2021}, author = {Sochard, C and Dupont, C and Simon, JC and Outreman, Y}, title = {Secondary Symbionts Affect Foraging Capacities of Plant-Specialized Genotypes of the Pea Aphid.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {1009-1019}, pmid = {33704553}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Genotype ; Peas ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological specialization is widespread in animals, especially in phytophagous insects, which have often a limited range of host plant species. This host plant specialization results from divergent selection on insect populations, which differ consequently in traits like behaviors involved in plant use. Although recent studies highlighted the influence of symbionts on dietary breadth of their insect hosts, whether these microbial partners influence the foraging capacities of plant-specialized insects has received little attention. In this study, we used the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, which presents distinct plant-specialized lineages and several secondary bacterial symbionts, to examine the possible effects of symbionts on the different foraging steps from plant searching to host plant selection. In particular, we tested the effect of secondary symbionts on the aphid capacity (1) to explore habitat at long distance (estimated through the production of winged offspring), (2) to explore habitat at short distance, and (3) to select its host plant. We found that secondary symbionts had a variable influence on the production of winged offspring in some genotypes, with potential consequences on dispersal and survival. By contrast, symbionts influenced both short-distance exploration and host plant selection only marginally. The implication of symbionts' influence on insect foraging capacities is discussed.}, } @article {pmid33704532, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, D and Liu, Y and Su, Y and Wei, C}, title = {Bacterial Communities in Bacteriomes, Ovaries and Testes of three Geographical Populations of a Sap-Feeding Insect, Platypleura kaempferi (Hemiptera: Cicadidae).}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {5}, pages = {1778-1791}, pmid = {33704532}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Female ; *Hemiptera ; Male ; Ovary ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Testis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic associations between symbiotic bacteria and their insect hosts are widespread. The bacterial diversity and community composition within hosts may play an important role in shaping insect biology, ecology, and evolution. Here, we focused on the bacterial communities in bacteriomes, ovaries and testes of three representative populations of the cicada Platypleura kaempferi (Fabricius) using high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach combined with light microscopy and confocal imaging approach. The obligate symbiont Sulcia was detected in all the examined samples, which showed a relatively high abundance in most bacteriomes and ovaries. The unclassified OTUs formerly identified as an unclassified Rhizobiales bacterium was demonstrated to be the co-obligate symbiont Hodgkinia, which showed 100% infection rate in all the examined samples and had an especially high abundance in most bacteriomes and ovaries. Hodgkinia and Sulcia occupy the central and peripheral bacteriocytes of each bacteriome unit, respectively. Cluster analysis revealed that the bacterial communities in bacteriomes, ovaries and testes of Zhouzhi and Ningshan populations separated strongly from each other. Significant difference was also detected between the Yangling and Ningshan populations, but no significant difference was detected between the Yangling and Zhouzhi populations. This may be related to the difference of host plants and genetic differentiation of these populations. Our findings show that the bacterial communities can be influenced by the population differentiation of the host cicadas and/or the host plants of cicadas, which improve our understanding of the associations between the bacterial community and population differentiation of sap-feeding insects.}, } @article {pmid33693992, year = {2021}, author = {Wagle, AA and Isakadze, N and Nasir, K and Martin, SS}, title = {Strengthening the Learning Health System in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Time to Leverage Big Data and Digital Solutions.}, journal = {Current atherosclerosis reports}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {19}, pmid = {33693992}, issn = {1534-6242}, mesh = {Big Data ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology/prevention & control ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; *Learning Health System ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The past few decades have seen significant technologic innovation for the treatment and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The subsequent growing complexity of modern medicine, however, is causing fundamental challenges in our healthcare system primarily in the spheres of patient involvement, data generation, and timely clinical implementation. The Institute of Medicine advocated for a learning health system (LHS) in which knowledge generation and patient care are inherently symbiotic. The purpose of this paper is to review how the advances in technology and big data have been used to further patient care and data generation and what future steps will need to occur to develop a LHS in cardiovascular disease.

RECENT FINDINGS: Patient-centered care has progressed from technologic advances yielding resources like decision aids. LHS can also incorporate patient preferences by increasing and standardizing patient-reported information collection. Additionally, data generation can be optimized using big data analytics by developing large interoperable datasets from multiple sources to allow for real-time data feedback. Developing a LHS will require innovative technologic solutions with a patient-centered lens to facilitate symbiosis in data generation and clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid33693806, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, J and Gut, LJ}, title = {Impact of Background Fruit Odors on Attraction of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to Its Symbiotic Yeast.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33693806}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Assay/methods ; Blueberry Plants/physiology ; *Drosophila/microbiology/physiology ; Fruit/*physiology ; *Hanseniaspora ; *Odorants ; Prunus avium/physiology ; Rubus/physiology ; Saccharomycetales ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Background odors produced by plants in the environment can interfere with the response of insects to a point-releasing attractant, especially when their compositions overlap. In this study, a series of binary choice tests was conducted in a wind tunnel to investigate whether background odors emitted from cherry, blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry fruits would affect the level of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) attraction to its symbiotic yeast, Hanseniaspora uvarum (Niehaus) (Saccharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae). Whether an increase in the intensity of background odors would affect the attractiveness of H. uvarum to D. suzukii was also investigated, either by increasing the number of cherry or raspberry fruit per cup or by increasing the number of fruit cups surrounding the cup baited with the yeast. In wind tunnel assays, background fruit odors interfering with D. suzukii attraction to the yeast varied among fruit types. Raspberry odor inhibited the attractiveness of H. uvarum to the fly the most, followed by blackberry odor, whereas cherry and blueberry odors had no significant impact on the attraction. An increase in the intensity of odors by adding more cherry or raspberry fruit per cup did not increase the impact of fruit odor on the attraction; however, adding more raspberry cups around H. uvarum linearly decreased its attractiveness, suggesting that background host fruit abundance and likely increase in host odor may influence D. suzukii attraction to yeast odor depending on host species.}, } @article {pmid33693712, year = {2021}, author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and Saary, P and Tingley, JP and Díaz-Escandón, D and Abbott, DW and Finn, RD and Spribille, T}, title = {Predicted Input of Uncultured Fungal Symbionts to a Lichen Symbiosis from Metagenome-Assembled Genomes.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33693712}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Ascomycota/chemistry/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Cell Wall/chemistry ; Fungal Polysaccharides/metabolism ; *Genome, Fungal ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Secretome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Basidiomycete yeasts have recently been reported as stably associated secondary fungal symbionts of many lichens, but their role in the symbiosis remains unknown. Attempts to sequence their genomes have been hampered both by the inability to culture them and their low abundance in the lichen thallus alongside two dominant eukaryotes (an ascomycete fungus and chlorophyte alga). Using the lichen Alectoria sarmentosa, we selectively dissolved the cortex layer in which secondary fungal symbionts are embedded to enrich yeast cell abundance and sequenced DNA from the resulting slurries as well as bulk lichen thallus. In addition to yielding a near-complete genome of the filamentous ascomycete using both methods, metagenomes from cortex slurries yielded a 36- to 84-fold increase in coverage and near-complete genomes for two basidiomycete species, members of the classes Cystobasidiomycetes and Tremellomycetes. The ascomycete possesses the largest gene repertoire of the three. It is enriched in proteases often associated with pathogenicity and harbors the majority of predicted secondary metabolite clusters. The basidiomycete genomes possess ∼35% fewer predicted genes than the ascomycete and have reduced secretomes even compared with close relatives, while exhibiting signs of nutrient limitation and scavenging. Furthermore, both basidiomycetes are enriched in genes coding for enzymes producing secreted acidic polysaccharides, representing a potential contribution to the shared extracellular matrix. All three fungi retain genes involved in dimorphic switching, despite the ascomycete not being known to possess a yeast stage. The basidiomycete genomes are an important new resource for exploration of lifestyle and function in fungal-fungal interactions in lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33693611, year = {2021}, author = {Yu, WY and Peng, MH and Wang, JJ and Ye, WY and Li, YL and Zhang, T and Wang, AR and Zhang, DM and Wang, ZH and Lu, GD and Bao, JD}, title = {Microbial community associated with ectomycorrhizal Russula symbiosis and dominated nature areas in southern China.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {368}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnab028}, pmid = {33693611}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Basidiomycota ; *Biodiversity ; China ; Fungi/classification/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Russula griseocarnosa is one of the uncultivable important mycorrhizal edible fungi. Currently, there is a limited insight into the dynamic composition of the microbial communities associated with Russula. Here, the microbiota in the root and mycorrhizosphere from Russula-Fagaceae nature areas of Fujian province were identified by Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. First, we compared three types of fungal communities associated with Russula-Fagaceae root mycelia-running stage (stage-1), Russula sporocarping stage-2 (stage-2) and Russula-free Fagaceae root (stage-3). Fungal diversity negatively correlated with Russula. Russula, Tomentella and Lactarius were core EcM in Fagaceae roots. A total of eight genera, including Boletus, are likely a positive indicator of Russula sporocarp production in Russula-Fagaceae roots, while Tomentella and Elaphomyces for Russula symbiosis. Secondly, analysis of fungal and bacterial communities within rhizosphere soils from the three stages revealed six genera, including Dacryobolus and Acidocella, as possible indicator species associated with sporocarping in Russula. Elaphomyces, Tomentella, Sorangium, Acidicaldus, Acidobacterium and Haliangium occurred more frequently in the Russula rhizosphere. Furthermore, operational taxonomic unit (OTU) network analysis showed a positive correlation between Russula,Tomentella, Elaphomyces and Sorangium. Overall, our results revealed a relationship between micro-community and Russula, which may provide a new strategy for improving Russula symbiosis and sporocarp production.}, } @article {pmid33692660, year = {2020}, author = {Lai Benjamin, FL and Lu Rick, X and Hu, Y and Davenport, HL and Dou, W and Wang, EY and Radulovich, N and Tsao, MS and Sun, Y and Radisic, M}, title = {Recapitulating pancreatic tumor microenvironment through synergistic use of patient organoids and organ-on-a-chip vasculature.}, journal = {Advanced functional materials}, volume = {30}, number = {48}, pages = {}, pmid = {33692660}, issn = {1616-301X}, support = {R01 HL076485/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Tumor progression relies heavily on the interaction between the neoplastic epithelial cells and their surrounding stromal partners. This cell cross-talk affects stromal development, and ultimately the heterogeneity impacts drug efflux and efficacy. To mimic this evolving paradigm, we have micro-engineered a three-dimensional (3D) vascularized pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue in a tri-culture system composed of patient derived pancreatic organoids, primary human fibroblasts and endothelial cells on a perfusable InVADE platform situated in a 96-well plate. Uniquely, through synergistic engineering we combined the benefits of cellular fidelity of patient tumor derived organoids with the addressability of a plastic organ-on-a-chip platform. Validation of this platform included demonstrating the growth of pancreatic tumor organoids by monitoring the change in metabolic activity of the tissue. Investigation of tumor microenvironmental behavior highlighted the role of fibroblasts in symbiosis with patient organoid cells, resulting in a six-fold increase of collagen deposition and a corresponding increase in tissue stiffness in comparison to fibroblast free controls. The value of a perfusable vascular network was evident in drug screening, as perfusion of gemcitabine into a stiffened matrix did not show the dose-dependent effects on tumor viability as those under static conditions. These findings demonstrate the importance of studying the dynamic synergistic relationship between patient cells with stromal fibroblasts, in a 3D perfused vascular network, to accurately understand and recapitulate the tumor microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid33690897, year = {2021}, author = {Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Interactions of host-associated multispecies bacterial communities.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {86}, number = {1}, pages = {14-31}, doi = {10.1111/prd.12360}, pmid = {33690897}, issn = {1600-0757}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The oral microbiome comprises microbial communities colonizing biotic (epithelia, mucosa) and abiotic (enamel) surfaces. Different communities are associated with health (eg, immune development, pathogen resistance) and disease (eg, tooth loss and periodontal disease). Like any other host-associated microbiome, colonization and persistence of both beneficial and dysbiotic oral microbiomes are dictated by successful utilization of available nutrients and defense against host and competitor assaults. This chapter will explore these general features of microbe-host interactions through the lens of symbiotic (mutualistic and antagonistic/pathogenic) associations with nonmammalian animals. Investigations in such systems across a broad taxonomic range have revealed conserved mechanisms and processes that underlie the complex associations among microbes and between microbes and hosts.}, } @article {pmid33690884, year = {2021}, author = {Bastías, DA and Gianoli, E and Gundel, PE}, title = {Fungal endophytes can eliminate the plant growth-defence trade-off.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {6}, pages = {2105-2113}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17335}, pmid = {33690884}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A trade-off between growth and defence functions is commonly observed in plants. We propose that the association of plants with Epichloë fungal endophytes may eliminate this trade-off. This would be a consequence of the double role of these endophytes in host plants: the stimulation of plant growth hormones (e.g. gibberellins) and the fungal production of antiherbivore alkaloids. We put forward a model that integrates this dual effect of endophytes on plant growth and defence and test its predictions by means of meta-analysis of published literature. Our results support the notion that the enhanced plant resistance promoted by endophytes does not compromise plant growth. The limits and ecological benefits of this endophyte-mediated lack of plant growth-defence trade-off are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33688014, year = {2021}, author = {Zink, KE and Ludvik, DA and Lazzara, PR and Moore, TW and Mandel, MJ and Sanchez, LM}, title = {A Small Molecule Coordinates Symbiotic Behaviors in a Host Organ.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33688014}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {F31 CA236237/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM125943/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Diketopiperazines/metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Luminescence ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The lifelong relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and its microbial symbiont Vibrio fischeri represents a simplified model system for studying microbiome establishment and maintenance. The bacteria colonize a dedicated symbiotic light organ in the squid, from which bacterial luminescence camouflages the host in a process termed counterillumination. The squid host hatches without its symbionts, which must be acquired from the ocean amidst a diversity of nonbeneficial bacteria, such that precise molecular communication is required for initiation of the specific relationship. Therefore it is likely there are specialized metabolites used in the light organ microenvironment to modulate these processes. To identify small molecules that may influence the establishment of this symbiosis, we used imaging mass spectrometry to analyze metabolite production in V. fischeri with altered biofilm production, which correlates directly to colonization capability in its host. "Biofilm-up" and "biofilm-down" mutants were compared to a wild-type strain, and ions that were more abundantly produced by the biofilm-up mutant were detected. Using a combination of structural elucidation and synthetic chemistry, one such signal was determined to be a diketopiperazine, cyclo(d-histidyl-l-proline). This diketopiperazine modulated luminescence in V. fischeri and, using imaging mass spectrometry, was directly detected in the light organ of the colonized host. This work highlights the continued need for untargeted discovery efforts in host-microbe interactions and showcases the benefits of the squid-Vibrio system for identification and characterization of small molecules that modulate microbiome behaviors.IMPORTANCE The complexity of animal microbiomes presents challenges to defining signaling molecules within the microbial consortium and between the microbes and the host. By focusing on the binary symbiosis between Vibrio fischeri and Euprymna scolopes, we have combined genetic analysis with direct imaging to define and study small molecules in the intact symbiosis. We have detected and characterized a diketopiperazine produced by strong biofilm-forming V. fischeri strains that was detectable in the host symbiotic organ, and which influences bacterial luminescence. Biofilm formation and luminescence are critical for initiation and maintenance of the association, respectively, suggesting that the compound may link early and later development stages, providing further evidence that multiple small molecules are important in establishing these beneficial relationships.}, } @article {pmid33686539, year = {2021}, author = {Yano, Y and Niiranen, TJ}, title = {Gut Microbiome over a Lifetime and the Association with Hypertension.}, journal = {Current hypertension reports}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {15}, pmid = {33686539}, issn = {1534-3111}, mesh = {Cesarean Section ; Dysbiosis ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Hypertension ; *Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Microorganisms living within an ecosystem create microbial communities and play key roles in ecosystem functioning. During their lifespan, humans share their bodies with a variety of microorganisms. More than 10-100 trillion symbiotic microorganisms live on and within human beings, and the majority of these microorganisms populate the distal ileum and colon (referred to as the gut microbiota). Interactions between the gut microbiota and the host involve signaling via chemical neurotransmitters and metabolites, neuronal pathways, and the immune system. Hypertension is a complex and heterogeneous pathophenotype. A reductionist approach that assumes that all patients who have the same signs of a disease share a common disease mechanism and thus should be treated similarly is insufficient for optimal blood pressure management. Herein, we have highlighted the contribution of the gut microbiome to blood pressure regulation in humans.

RECENT FINDINGS: Gut dysbiosis-an imbalance in the composition and function of the gut microbiota-has been shown to be associated with hypertension. Gut dysbiosis occurs via environmental pressures, including caesarean section, antibiotic use, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes over a lifetime. This review highlights how gut dysbiosis may affect a host's blood pressure over a lifetime. The review also clarifies future challenges in studies of associations between the gut microbiome and hypertension.}, } @article {pmid33686095, year = {2021}, author = {Camara, A and Konate, S and Tidjani Alou, M and Kodio, A and Togo, AH and Cortaredona, S and Henrissat, B and Thera, MA and Doumbo, OK and Raoult, D and Million, M}, title = {Clinical evidence of the role of Methanobrevibacter smithii in severe acute malnutrition.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {5426}, pmid = {33686095}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dysbiosis/genetics/microbiology ; Feces/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mali ; *Methanobrevibacter/genetics/growth & development ; Severe Acute Malnutrition/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Gut microbial dysbiosis has been shown to be an instrumental factor in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and particularly, the absence of Methanobrevibacter smithii, a key player in energy harvest. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether this absence reflects an immaturity or a loss of the microbiota. In order to assess that, we performed a case-control study in Mali using a propensity score weighting approach. The presence of M. smithii was tested using quantitative PCR on faeces collected from SAM children at inclusion and at discharge when possible or at day 15 for controls. M. smithii was highly significantly associated with the absence of SAM, detected in 40.9% controls but only in 4.2% cases (p < 0.0001). The predictive positive value for detection of M. smithii gradually increased with age in controls while decreasing in cases. Among children providing two samples with a negative first sample, no SAM children became positive, while this proportion was 2/4 in controls (p = 0.0015). This data suggests that gut dysbiosis in SAM is not an immaturity but rather features a loss of M. smithii. The addition of M. smithii as a probiotic may thus represent an important addition to therapeutic approaches to restore gut symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33686090, year = {2021}, author = {Vroom, MM and Rodriguez-Ocasio, Y and Lynch, JB and Ruby, EG and Foster, JS}, title = {Modeled microgravity alters lipopolysaccharide and outer membrane vesicle production of the beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {NPJ microgravity}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {8}, pmid = {33686090}, issn = {2373-8065}, support = {F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Reduced gravity, or microgravity, can have a pronounced impact on the physiology of animals, but the effects on their associated microbiomes are not well understood. Here, the impact of modeled microgravity on the shedding of Gram-negative lipopolysaccharides (LPS) by the symbiotic bacterium Vibrio fischeri was examined using high-aspect ratio vessels. LPS from V. fischeri is known to induce developmental apoptosis within its symbiotic tissues, which is accelerated under modeled microgravity conditions. In this study, we provide evidence that exposure to modeled microgravity increases the amount of LPS released by the bacterial symbiont in vitro. The higher rates of shedding under modeled microgravity conditions are associated with increased production of outer-membrane vesicles (OMV), which has been previously correlated to flagellar motility. Mutants of V. fischeri defective in the production and rotation of their flagella show significant decreases in LPS shedding in all treatments, but levels of LPS are higher under modeled microgravity despite loss of motility. Modeled microgravity also appears to affect the outer-membrane integrity of V. fischeri, as cells incubated under modeled microgravity conditions are more susceptible to cell-membrane-disrupting agents. These results suggest that, like their animal hosts, the physiology of symbiotic microbes can be altered under microgravity-like conditions, which may have important implications for host health during spaceflight.}, } @article {pmid33684882, year = {2021}, author = {Krönauer, C and Radutoiu, S}, title = {Understanding Nod factor signalling paves the way for targeted engineering in legumes and non-legumes.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {102026}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102026}, pmid = {33684882}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes evolved LysM receptors for recognition of rhizobial Nod factors and initiation of signalling pathways for nodule organogenesis and infection. Intracellularly hosted bacteria are supplied with carbon resources in exchange for fixed nitrogen. Nod factor recognition is crucial for initial signalling, but is reiterated in growing roots initiating novel symbiotic events, and in developing primordia until symbiosis is well-established. Understanding how this signalling coordinates the entire process from cellular to plant level is key for de novo engineering in non-legumes and for improved efficiency in legumes. Here we discuss how recent studies bring new insights into molecular determinants of specificity and sensitivity in Nod factor signalling in legumes, and present some of the unknowns and challenges for engineering.}, } @article {pmid33684261, year = {2021}, author = {Tuovinen, V and Millanes, AM and Freire-Rallo, S and Rosling, A and Wedin, M}, title = {Tremella macrobasidiata and Tremella variae have abundant and widespread yeast stages in Lecanora lichens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {2484-2498}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15455}, pmid = {33684261}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Basidiomycota ; *Lichens ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dimorphism is a widespread feature of tremellalean fungi in general, but a little-studied aspect of the biology of lichen-associated Tremella. We show that Tremella macrobasidiata and Tremella variae have an abundant and widespread yeast stage in their life cycles that occurs in Lecanora lichens. Their sexual filamentous stage is restricted to a specific lichen: T. macrobasidiata only forms basidiomata on Lecanora chlarotera hymenia and T. variae only on Lecanora varia thalli. However, the yeast stage of T. macrobasidiata is less specific and can occur in L. varia lichens, whilst all life stages of T. variae may be specific to L. varia. Contrary to the hyphal stages, the yeasts are distributed across the thalli and hymenia of Lecanora lichens, and not limited to specimens with basidiomata. Tremella macrobasidiata was present in all studied L. chlarotera, and in 59% of L. varia specimens. Only in 8% of the L. varia thalli could none of the two Tremella species be detected. Our results indicate that lichen-associated Tremella may be much more abundant and widespread than previously assumed leading to skewed estimations about their distribution ranges and lichen specificity, and raise new questions about their biology, ecology and function in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33684227, year = {2021}, author = {Bompadre, MJ and Benavidez, M and Colombo, RP and Silvani, VA and Godeas, AM and Scotti, A and Pardo, AG and Fernández Bidondo, L}, title = {Mycorrhizal stress alleviation in Senecio bonariensis Hook & Arn growing in urban polluted soils.}, journal = {Journal of environmental quality}, volume = {50}, number = {3}, pages = {589-597}, doi = {10.1002/jeq2.20212}, pmid = {33684227}, issn = {1537-2537}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Senecio ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Loss of biodiversity and accumulation of contaminants in urban soils and water bodies cause serious issues in metropolitan areas. The Matanza-Riachuelo river basin (metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina) is one of the most environmentally degraded regions in the world. Senecio bonariensis Hook & Arn (Asteraceae) grows in the periodically flooded soils of this wetland. This plant concentrates potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in its tissues and establishes symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that collaborate with PTE phytostabilization in soils. The objective of this work was to evaluate tolerance and stress alleviation of AM-colonized S. bonariensis when transplanting and exposing to highly polluted environmental conditions of the river basin. Plants were initially inoculated with different AM strains and maintained in greenhouse conditions. After 6 mo, they were transplanted to the field. These plants showed a more equal distribution between shoot and root biomass production in comparison to field spontaneous S. bonaerensis plants. Plants in earlier contact with native soil inoculum showed positive correlation with phosphorus content and a significant increase of vesicle frequency. Plants belatedly contacted with native inoculum in the field (control) showed a higher catalase level that was positively correlated with the total colonization frequency and chlorophyll content. The ability to establish symbiosis with Rhizophagus intraradices (strain GC3), commonly used in the formulation of biofertilizers, was also analyzed. Plants inoculated with GC3 at the beginning of the assay showed lower colonization and were less efficient in the field. The preservation of spontaneous native plants with ornamental value and bioaugmentation of their associated microbiome can contribute to the stabilization of contaminants in soils.}, } @article {pmid33682663, year = {2020}, author = {Alexander, TW and Timsit, E and Amat, S}, title = {The role of the bovine respiratory bacterial microbiota in health and disease.}, journal = {Animal health research reviews}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {168-171}, doi = {10.1017/S1466252320000316}, pmid = {33682663}, issn = {1475-2654}, mesh = {Animals ; Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex/*microbiology ; Cattle ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Respiratory System/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Increased antimicrobial resistance in bovine respiratory bacterial pathogens poses a threat to the effective control and prevention of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). As part of continued efforts to develop antimicrobial alternatives to mitigate BRD, the microbial community residing within the respiratory tract of feedlot cattle has been increasingly studied using next-generation sequencing technologies. The mucosal surfaces of upper and lower respiratory tracts of cattle are colonized by a diverse and dynamic microbiota encompassing commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic bacteria. While a direct causal relationship between respiratory microbiota and the development of BRD in feedlot cattle has not been fully elucidated, increasing evidence suggests that the microbiota contributes to respiratory health by providing colonization resistance against pathogens and maintaining homeostasis. Certain management practices such as weaning, transportation, feed transition, and antibiotic application can disrupt the respiratory microbiota, potentially altering pathogen colonization. Microbiota-based approaches, including bacterial therapeutics that target restoring the normal respiratory microbiota, may provide new methods for mitigating BRD in feedlot cattle in place of antibiotics. In addition, the distinct bacterial respiratory microbial communities observed in BRD-affected and healthy feedlot cattle may allow for future application of microbiota-based techniques used in the diagnosis of BRD.}, } @article {pmid33681339, year = {2021}, author = {Grube, M}, title = {Lichens - growing greenhouses en miniature.}, journal = {Microbial cell (Graz, Austria)}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {65-68}, pmid = {33681339}, issn = {2311-2638}, } @article {pmid33680995, year = {2021}, author = {LeibundGut-Landmann, S and Dawson, TL}, title = {Editorial: Malassezia: A Skin Commensal Yeast Impacting Both Health and Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {659219}, doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2021.659219}, pmid = {33680995}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {*Malassezia ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Skin ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33680985, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, HE and Liu, Y and Dhall, A and Bawazir, M and Koo, H and Hwang, G}, title = {Synergism of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans Reinforces Biofilm Maturation and Acidogenicity in Saliva: An In Vitro Study.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {623980}, pmid = {33680985}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {R01 DE025220/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE027970/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; Child, Preschool ; *Dental Caries ; Humans ; Saliva ; *Streptococcus mutans ; }, abstract = {Early childhood caries, a virulent-form of dental caries, is painful, difficult, and costly to treat that has been associated with high levels of Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Candida albicans (Ca) in plaque-biofilms on teeth. These microorganisms appear to develop a symbiotic cross-kingdom interaction that amplifies the virulence of plaque-biofilms. Although biofilm studies reveal synergistic bacterial-fungal association, how these organisms modulate cross-kingdom biofilm formation and enhance its virulence in the presence of saliva remain largely unknown. Here, we compared the properties of Sm and Sm-Ca biofilms cultured in saliva by examining the biofilm structural organization and capability to sustain an acidic pH environment conducive to enamel demineralization. Intriguingly, Sm-Ca biofilm is rapidly matured and maintained acidic pH-values (~4.3), while Sm biofilm development was retarded and failed to create an acidic environment when cultured in saliva. In turn, the human enamel slab surface was severely demineralized by Sm-Ca biofilms, while there was minimal damage to the enamel surface by Sm biofilm. Interestingly, Sm-Ca biofilms exhibited an acidic environment regardless of their hyphal formation ability. Our data reveal the critical role of symbiotic interaction between S. mutans and C. albicans in human saliva in the context of pathogenesis of dental caries, which may explain how the cross-kingdom interaction contributes to enhanced virulence of plaque-biofilm in the oral cavity.}, } @article {pmid33679632, year = {2021}, author = {Lee, LH and Wong, SH and Chin, SF and Singh, V and Ab Mutalib, NS}, title = {Editorial: Human Microbiome: Symbiosis to Pathogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {605783}, pmid = {33679632}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid33679625, year = {2021}, author = {Bukovská, P and Rozmoš, M and Kotianová, M and Gančarčíková, K and Dudáš, M and Hršelová, H and Jansa, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Mediates Efficient Recycling From Soil to Plants of Nitrogen Bound in Chitin.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {574060}, pmid = {33679625}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, involving great majority of extant plant species including most crops, is heavily implicated in plant mineral nutrition, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, soil aggregate stabilization, as well as shaping soil microbiomes. The latter is particularly important for efficient recycling from soil to plants of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen (N) bound in organic forms. Chitin is one of the most widespread polysaccharides on Earth, and contains substantial amounts of N (>6% by weight). Chitin is present in insect exoskeletons and cell walls of many fungi, and can be degraded by many prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic microbes normally present in soil. However, the AM fungi seem not to have the ability to directly access N bound in chitin molecules, thus relying on microbes in their hyphosphere to gain access to this nutrient-rich resource in the process referred to as organic N mineralization. Here we show, using data from two pot experiments, both including root-free compartments amended with [15]N-labeled chitin, that AM fungi can channel substantial proportions (more than 20%) of N supplied as chitin into their plants hosts within as short as 5 weeks. Further, we show that overall N losses (leaching and/or volatilization), sometimes exceeding 50% of the N supplied to the soil as chitin within several weeks, were significantly lower in mycorrhizal as compared to non-mycorrhizal pots. Surprisingly, the rate of chitin mineralization and its N utilization by the AM fungi was at least as fast as that of green manure (clover biomass), based on direct [15]N labeling and tracing. This efficient N recycling from soil to plant, observed in mycorrhizal pots, was not strongly affected by the composition of AM fungal communities or environmental context (glasshouse or outdoors, additional mineral N supply to the plants or not). These results indicate that AM fungi in general can be regarded as a critical and robust soil resource with respect to complex soil processes such as organic N mineralization and recycling. More specific research is warranted into the exact molecular mechanisms and microbial players behind the observed patterns.}, } @article {pmid33678177, year = {2021}, author = {Rae, AE and Rolland, V and White, RG and Mathesius, U}, title = {New methods for confocal imaging of infection threads in crop and model legumes.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {24}, pmid = {33678177}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The formation of infection threads in the symbiotic infection of rhizobacteria in legumes is a unique, fascinating, and poorly understood process. Infection threads are tubes of cell wall material that transport rhizobacteria from root hair cells to developing nodules in host roots. They form in a type of reverse tip-growth from an inversion of the root hair cell wall, but the mechanism driving this growth is unknown, and the composition of the thread wall remains unclear. High resolution, 3-dimensional imaging of infection threads, and cell wall component specific labelling, would greatly aid in our understanding of the nature and development of these structures. To date, such imaging has not been done, with infection threads typically imaged by GFP-tagged rhizobia within them, or histochemically in thin sections.

RESULTS: We have developed new methods of imaging infection threads using novel and traditional cell wall fluorescent labels, and laser confocal scanning microscopy. We applied a new Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stain using rhodamine-123 to the labelling of whole cleared infected roots of Medicago truncatula; which allowed for imaging of infection threads in greater 3D detail than had previously been achieved. By the combination of the above method and a calcofluor-white counter-stain, we also succeeded in labelling infection threads and plant cell walls separately, and have potentially discovered a way in which the infection thread matrix can be visualized.

CONCLUSIONS: Our methods have made the imaging and study of infection threads more effective and informative, and present exciting new opportunities for future research in the area.}, } @article {pmid33678074, year = {2022}, author = {Arrieche, D and Ugarte, A and Salazar, F and Villamizar, JE and Rivero, N and Caballer, M and Llovera, L and Montañez, J and Taborga, L and Quintero, A}, title = {Reassignment of crispatene, isolation and chemical characterization of stachydrine, isolated from the marine mollusk Elysia crispata.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {36}, number = {15}, pages = {4013-4016}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2021.1895147}, pmid = {33678074}, issn = {1478-6427}, mesh = {Animals ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds ; *Gastropoda ; Mollusca/chemistry ; Proline/analogs & derivatives ; Pyrones ; }, abstract = {The molluscan genus Elysia Risso, 1818 (Sacoglossa) is composed of shell-less herbivore sea slugs. From these marine organisms, polyketides such as polypropynates have been isolated and showed cytotoxic, antibiotic, and antifungal, and antiviral properties. In this work, we reported the isolation, and structure elucidation of two compounds isolated from marine mollusk E. crispata. Both compounds isolated, crispatene (1) and stachydrine (2), were purified by HPLC. The chemical structure of compound (1) was reassigned through 1D and 2D NMR experiments and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS). On the other hand, this is the first time that compound (2) has been found in this species of mollusk or the marine environment, previously, (2) has only been found in terrestrial plants or bacteria in symbiosis with plants.}, } @article {pmid33677752, year = {2021}, author = {Nel, WJ and Wingfield, MJ and de Beer, ZW and Duong, TA}, title = {Ophiostomatalean fungi associated with wood boring beetles in South Africa including two new species.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {114}, number = {6}, pages = {667-686}, pmid = {33677752}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Ophiostomatales/genetics ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles are small wood inhabiting members of the Curculionidae that have evolved obligate symbioses with fungi. The fungal symbionts concentrate nutrients from within infested trees into a usable form for their beetle partners, which then utilize the fungi as their primary source of nutrition. Ambrosia beetle species associate with one or more primary symbiotic fungal species, but they also vector auxiliary symbionts, which may provide the beetle with developmental or ecological advantages. In this study we isolated and identified ophiostomatalean fungi associated with ambrosia beetles occurring in a native forest area in South Africa. Using a modified Bambara beetle trap, living ambrosia beetle specimens were collected and their fungal symbionts isolated. Four beetle species, three Scolytinae and one Bostrichidae, were collected. Five species of ophiostomatalean fungi were isolated from the beetles and were identified using both morphological characters and DNA sequence data. One of these species, Raffaelea sulphurea, was recorded from South Africa for the first time and two novel species were described as Ceratocystiopsis lunata sp. nov. and Raffaelea promiscua sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid33677701, year = {2021}, author = {Sheoran, S and Kumar, S and Kumar, P and Meena, RS and Rakshit, S}, title = {Nitrogen fixation in maize: breeding opportunities.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {134}, number = {5}, pages = {1263-1280}, pmid = {33677701}, issn = {1432-2242}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Fertilizers/*analysis ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Synthetic Biology/*methods ; Zea mays/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly versatile crop with huge demand of nitrogen (N) for its growth and development. N is the most essential macronutrient for crop production. Despite being the highest abundant element in the atmosphere (~ 78%), it is scarcely available for plant growth. To fulfil the N demand, commercial agriculture is largely dependent on synthetic fertilizers. Excessive dependence on inorganic fertilizers has created extensive ecological as well as economic problems worldwide. Hence, for a sustainable solution to nitrogenous fertilizer use, development of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in cereals will be the best alternative. BNF is a well-known mechanism in legumes where diazotrophs convert atmospheric nitrogen (N≡N) to plant-available form, ammonium (NH4[+]). From many decades, researchers have dreamt to develop a similar symbiotic partnership as in legumes to the cereal crops. A large number of endophytic diazotrophs have been found associated with maize. Elucidation of the genetic and molecular aspects of their interaction will open up new avenues to introgress BNF in maize breeding. With the advanced understanding of N-fixation process, researchers are at a juncture of breeding and engineering this symbiotic relationships in cereals. Different breeding, genetic engineering, omics, gene editing, and synthetic biology approaches will be discussed in this review to make BNF a reality in cereals. It will help to provide a road map to develop/improve the BNF in maize to an advance step for the sustainable production system to achieve the food and nutritional security.}, } @article {pmid33677636, year = {2021}, author = {Miao, SM and Zhang, YY and Cui, JL and Zhang, G}, title = {Species and geographic specificity between endophytic fungi and host supported by parasitic Cynomorium songaricum and its host Nitraria tangutorum distributed in desert.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {5}, pages = {2511-2519}, pmid = {33677636}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {China ; Cynomorium/classification/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; *Desert Climate ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Magnoliopsida/classification/genetics/*microbiology/parasitology ; *Mycobiome ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {This study was aimed to investigate whether host plant species and lifestyles, and environmental conditions in the desert affect endophytic fungi composition. Endophytic fungal communities from parasitic plant Cynomorium songaricum and its host Nitraria tangutorum were investigated from three sites including Tonggu Naoer, Xilin Gaole, and Guazhou in Tengger and Badain Jaran Deserts in China using the next-generation sequencing of a ribosomal RNA gene region. Similarity and difference in endophytic fungal composition from different geographic locations were evaluated through multivariate statistical analysis. It showed that plant genetics was a deciding factor affecting endophytic fungal composition even when C. songaricum and N. tangutorum grow together tightly. Not only that, the fungal composition was also greatly affected by the local environment and rainfall. However, the distribution and richness of fungal species indicated that the geographical distance exerted little influence on characterizing the fungal composition. Overall, the findings suggested that plant species, parasitic or non-parasitic lifestyles of the plant, and local environment strongly affected the number and diversity of the endophytic fungal species, which may provide valuable insights into the microbe ecology, symbiosis specificity, and the tripartite relationship among parasitic plant, host, and endophytic fungi, especially under desert environment.}, } @article {pmid33677415, year = {2021}, author = {Bhagooli, R and Mattan-Moorgawa, S and Kaullysing, D and Louis, YD and Gopeechund, A and Ramah, S and Soondur, M and Pilly, SS and Beesoo, R and Wijayanti, DP and Bachok, ZB and Monrás, VC and Casareto, BE and Suzuki, Y and Baker, AC}, title = {Chlorophyll fluorescence - A tool to assess photosynthetic performance and stress photophysiology in symbiotic marine invertebrates and seaplants.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {165}, number = {}, pages = {112059}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112059}, pmid = {33677415}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aquatic Organisms ; *Chlorophyll ; Chlorophyll A ; Fluorescence ; Fluorometry ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Chlorophyll a fluorescence is increasingly being used as a rapid, non-invasive, sensitive and convenient indicator of photosynthetic performance in marine autotrophs. This review presents the methodology, applications and limitations of chlorophyll fluorescence in marine studies. The various chlorophyll fluorescence tools such as Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (PAM) and Fast Repetition Rate (FRR) fluorometry used in marine scientific studies are discussed. Various commonly employed chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are elaborated. The application of chlorophyll fluorescence in measuring natural variations, stress, stress tolerance and acclimation/adaptation to changing environment in primary producers such as microalgae, macroalgae, seagrasses and mangroves, and marine symbiotic invertebrates, namely symbiotic sponges, hard corals and sea anemones, kleptoplastic sea slugs and giant clams is critically assessed. Stressors include environmental, biological, physical and chemical ones. The strengths, limitations and future perspectives of the use of chlorophyll fluorescence technique as an assessment tool in symbiotic marine organisms and seaplants are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33676239, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez, JC}, title = {Fungi of the human gut microbiota: Roles and significance.}, journal = {International journal of medical microbiology : IJMM}, volume = {311}, number = {3}, pages = {151490}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmm.2021.151490}, pmid = {33676239}, issn = {1618-0607}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis ; Fungi ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {It is becoming increasingly clear that fungi are important components of the gut microbiota. Fungi residing in the human intestine, for example, elicit the induction of T helper 17 cells, which are central orchestrators of protective immune responses. Likewise, fungal members of the intestinal microbiota have been shown to influence the immunological responses of the mammalian host by dampening or promoting local inflammatory responses. Here I review some of the latest developments regarding symbiotic fungi of the gastrointestinal tract and the consequences that fungal dysbiosis may have on human health. A major focus of the review is on the relationship between Candida albicans, the most prominent fungus inhabiting the human gut, and the mammalian host. Advances in the field underscore the need to further investigate the fungi that inhabit the human body to understand how the mixed array of microbes that constitute our microbiota contribute to health and disease.}, } @article {pmid33676036, year = {2021}, author = {Buitrago, G and Pickering, D and Ruscher, R and Cobos Caceres, C and Jones, L and Cooper, M and Van Waardenberg, A and Ryan, S and Miles, K and Field, M and Dredge, K and Daly, NL and Giacomin, PR and Loukas, A}, title = {A netrin domain-containing protein secreted by the human hookworm Necator americanus protects against CD4 T cell transfer colitis.}, journal = {Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {88-102}, doi = {10.1016/j.trsl.2021.02.012}, pmid = {33676036}, issn = {1878-1810}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*administration & dosage ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology/transplantation ; Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy/immunology/*prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Helminth Proteins/*administration & dosage/chemistry/genetics ; Hookworm Infections/metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors/chemistry ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Necator americanus/*chemistry ; Netrins/*administration & dosage/analysis ; Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationships shared between humans and their gastrointestinal parasites present opportunities to discover novel therapies for inflammatory diseases. A prime example of this phenomenon is the interaction of humans and roundworms such as the hookworm, Necator americanus. Epidemiological observations, animal studies and clinical trials using experimental human hookworm infection show that hookworms can suppress inflammation in a safe and well-tolerated way, and that the key to their immunomodulatory properties lies within their secreted proteome. Herein we describe the identification of 2 netrin domain-containing proteins from the N. americanus secretome, and explore their potential in treating intestinal inflammation in mouse models of ulcerative colitis. One of these proteins, subsequently named Na-AIP-1, was effective at suppressing disease when administered prophylactically in the acute TNBS-induced model of colitis. This protective effect was validated in the more robust CD4 T cell transfer model of chronic colitis, where prophylactic Na-AIP-1 reduced T-cell-dependent type-1 cytokine responses in the intestine and the associated intestinal pathology. Mechanistic studies revealed that depletion of CD11c+ cells abrogated the protective anticolitic effect of Na-AIP-1. Next generation sequencing of colon tissue in the T-cell transfer model of colitis revealed that Na-AIP-1 induced a transcriptomic profile associated with the downregulation of metabolic and signaling pathways involved in type-1 inflammation, notably TNF. Finally, co-culture of Na-AIP-1 with a human monocyte-derived M1 macrophage cell line resulted in significantly reduced secretion of TNF. Na-AIP-1 is now a candidate for clinical development as a novel therapeutic for the treatment of human inflammatory bowel diseases.}, } @article {pmid33675372, year = {2021}, author = {Varasteh, T and Tschoeke, D and Garcia, G and Lima, AS and Moreira, APB and Thompson, C and Thompson, F}, title = {Insights into the genomic repertoire of Aquimarina litoralis CCMR20, a symbiont of coral Mussismilia braziliensis.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {5}, pages = {2743-2746}, pmid = {33675372}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Brazil ; Coral Reefs ; Flavobacteriaceae/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Aquimarina litoralis CCMR20 originated from the coral Mussismilia braziliensis (Sebastião Gomes Reef, Brazil, summer 2010). To gain new insights into the genomic repertoire associated with symbioses, we obtained the genome sequence of this strains using Illumina sequencing. CCMR20 has a genome size of 6.3 Mb, 32.6%GC, and 5513 genes (37 tRNA and 4 rRNA). A more fine-grained examination of the gene repertoire of CCMR20 disclosed genes engaged with symbiosis (heterotrophic carbon metabolism, CAZymes, B-vitamins group, carotenoid pigment and antioxidant molecules production). Genomic evidence further expand the possible relevance of this symbiont in the health of Mussismilia holobiont.Whole Genome Shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GeneBank under the accession number WEKL00000000.}, } @article {pmid33675231, year = {2021}, author = {Bonhomme, M and Bensmihen, S and André, O and Amblard, E and Garcia, M and Maillet, F and Puech-Pagès, V and Gough, C and Fort, S and Cottaz, S and Bécard, G and Jacquet, C}, title = {Distinct genetic basis for root responses to lipo-chitooligosaccharide signal molecules from different microbial origins.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {10}, pages = {3821-3834}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erab096}, pmid = {33675231}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Chitin/analogs & derivatives ; Chitosan ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Lipopolysaccharides ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oligosaccharides ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) were originally found as symbiotic signals called Nod Factors (Nod-LCOs) controlling the nodulation of legumes by rhizobia. More recently, LCOs were also found in symbiotic fungi and, more surprisingly, very widely in the kingdom Fungi, including in saprophytic and pathogenic fungi. The LCO-V(C18:1, fucosylated/methyl fucosylated), hereafter called Fung-LCOs, are the LCO structures most commonly found in fungi. This raises the question of how legume plants such as Medicago truncatula can discriminate between Nod-LCOs and Fung-LCOs. To address this question, we performed a genome-wide association study on 173 natural accessions of M. truncatula, using a root branching phenotype and a newly developed local score approach. Both Nod-LCOs and Fung-LCOs stimulated root branching in most accessions, but the root responses to these two types of LCO molecules were not correlated. In addition, the heritability of the root response was higher for Nod-LCOs than for Fung-LCOs. We identified 123 loci for Nod-LCO and 71 for Fung-LCO responses, of which only one was common. This suggests that Nod-LCOs and Fung-LCOs both control root branching but use different molecular mechanisms. The tighter genetic constraint of the root response to Fung-LCOs possibly reflects the ancestral origin of the biological activity of these molecules.}, } @article {pmid33674909, year = {2021}, author = {Frew, A and Price, JN and Oja, J and Vasar, M and Öpik, M}, title = {Impacts of elevated atmospheric CO2 on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their role in moderating plant allometric partitioning.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {423-430}, pmid = {33674909}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (eCO2) effects on plants depend on several factors including plant photosynthetic physiology (e.g. C3, C4), soil nutrient availability and plants' co-evolved soil-dwelling fungal symbionts, namely arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Complicated interactions among these components will determine the outcomes for plants. Therefore, clearer understanding is needed of how plant growth and nutrient uptake, along with root-colonising AM fungal communities, are simultaneously impacted by eCO2. We conducted a factorial growth chamber experiment with a C3 and a C4 grass species (± AM fungi and ± eCO2). We found that eCO2 increased plant biomass allocation towards the roots, but only in plants without AM fungi, potentially associated with an eCO2-driven increase in plant nutrient requirements. Furthermore, our data suggest a difference in the identities of root-colonising fungal taxa between ambient CO2 and eCO2 treatments, particularly in the C4 grass species, although this was not statistically significant. As AM fungi are ubiquitous partners of grasses, their response to increasing atmospheric CO2 is likely to have important consequences for how grassland ecosystems respond to global change.}, } @article {pmid33674438, year = {2021}, author = {Mayhood, P and Mirza, BS}, title = {Soybean Root Nodule and Rhizosphere Microbiome: Distribution of Rhizobial and Nonrhizobial Endophytes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33674438}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Bacteria/genetics ; *Endophytes/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Soybean root nodules are known to contain a high diversity of both rhizobial endophytes and nonrhizobial endophytes (NREs). Nevertheless, the variation of these bacteria among different root nodules within single plants has not been reported. So far, it is unclear whether the selection of NREs among different root nodules within single plants is a random process or is strictly controlled by the host plant to favor a few specific NREs based on their beneficial influence on plant growth. As well, it is also unknown if the relative frequency of NREs within different root nodules is consistent or if it varies based on the location or size of a root nodule. We assessed the microbiomes of 193 individual soybean root nodules from nine plants using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains occurred in high abundance in all root nodules despite the presence of other soybean-compatible rhizobia, such as Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, and other species of Bradyrhizobium in soil. Nitrobacter and Tardiphaga were the two nonrhizobial genera that were uniformly detected within almost all root nodules, though they were in low abundance. DNA sequences related to other NREs that have frequently been reported, such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, and Variovorax species, were detected in a few nodules. Unlike for Bradyrhizobium, the low abundance and inconsistent occurrence of previously reported NREs among different root nodules within single plants suggest that these microbes are not preferentially selected as endophytes by host plants and most likely play a limited part in plant growth as endophytes.IMPORTANCE Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a valuable food crop that also contributes significantly to soil nitrogen by developing a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Bacterial endophytes (both rhizobial and nonrhizobial) are considered critical for the growth and resilience of the legume host. In the past, several studies have suggested that the selection of bacterial endophytes within root nodules can be influenced by factors such as soil pH, nutrient availability, host plant genotype, and bacterial diversity in soil. However, the influence of size or location of root nodules on the selection of bacterial endophytes within soybean roots is unknown. It is also unclear whether the selection of nonrhizobial endophytes within different root nodules of a single plant is a random process or is strictly regulated by the host. This information can be useful in identifying potential bacterial species for developing bioinoculants that can enhance plant growth and soil nitrogen.}, } @article {pmid33674142, year = {2021}, author = {Obeng, N and Bansept, F and Sieber, M and Traulsen, A and Schulenburg, H}, title = {Evolution of Microbiota-Host Associations: The Microbe's Perspective.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {29}, number = {9}, pages = {779-787}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2021.02.005}, pmid = {33674142}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbiota-host associations are ubiquitous in nature. They are often studied using a host-centered view, while microbes are assumed to have coevolved with hosts or colonize hosts as nonadapted entities. Both assumptions are often incorrect. Instead, many host-associated microbes are adapted to a biphasic life cycle in which they alternate between noncoadapted hosts and a free-living phase. Full appreciation of microbiota-host symbiosis thus needs to consider how microbes optimize fitness across this life cycle. Here, we evaluate the key stages of the biphasic life cycle and propose a new conceptual framework for microbiota-host interactions which includes an integrative measure of microbial fitness, related to the parasite fitness parameter R0, and which will help in-depth assessment of the evolution of these widespread associations.}, } @article {pmid33673612, year = {2021}, author = {Marzano, M and Fosso, B and Piancone, E and Defazio, G and Pesole, G and De Robertis, M}, title = {Stem Cell Impairment at the Host-Microbiota Interface in Colorectal Cancer.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33673612}, issn = {2072-6694}, support = {HomeoGUT No. 615735/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation is believed to result from the conversion of normal intestinal stem cells (ISCs) into cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Hence, CRC evolves through the multiple acquisition of well-established genetic and epigenetic alterations with an adenoma-carcinoma sequence progression. Unlike other stem cells elsewhere in the body, ISCs cohabit with the intestinal microbiota, which consists of a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The gut microbiota communicates closely with ISCs and mounting evidence suggests that there is significant crosstalk between host and microbiota at the ISC niche level. Metagenomic analyses have demonstrated that the host-microbiota mutually beneficial symbiosis existing under physiologic conditions is lost during a state of pathological microbial imbalance due to the alteration of microbiota composition (dysbiosis) and/or the genetic susceptibility of the host. The complex interaction between CRC and microbiota is at the forefront of the current CRC research, and there is growing attention on a possible role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of CRC through ISC niche impairment. Here we primarily review the most recent findings on the molecular mechanism underlying the complex interplay between gut microbiota and ISCs, revealing a possible key role of microbiota in the aberrant reprogramming of CSCs in the initiation of CRC. We also discuss recent advances in OMICS approaches and single-cell analyses to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and ISC/CSC niche biology leading to a desirable implementation of the current precision medicine approaches.}, } @article {pmid33672434, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, H and Chen, H and Ding, G and Li, K and Wang, Y}, title = {Proteomic Insight into the Symbiotic Relationship of Pinus massoniana Lamb and Suillus luteus towards Developing Al-Stress Resistance.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33672434}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Global warming significantly impacts forest range areas by increasing soil acidification or aluminum toxicity. Aluminum (Al) toxicity retards plant growth by inhibiting the root development process, hindering water uptake, and limiting the bioavailability of other essential micronutrients. Pinus massoniana (masson pine), globally recognized as a reforestation plant, is resistant to stress conditions including biotic and abiotic stresses. This resistance is linked to the symbiotic relationship with diverse ectomycorrhizal fungal species. In the present study, we investigated the genetic regulators as expressed proteins, conferring a symbiotic relationship between Al-stress resistance and Suillus luteus in masson pine. Multi-treatment trials resulted in the identification of 12 core Al-stress responsive proteins conserved between Al stress conditions with or without S. luteus inoculation. These proteins are involved in chaperonin CPN60-2, protein refolding and ATP-binding, Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase precursor, oxidation-reduction process, and metal ion binding, phosphoglycerate kinase 1, glycolytic process, and metabolic process. Furthermore, 198 Al responsive proteins were identified specifically under S. luteus-inoculation and are involved in gene regulation, metabolic process, oxidation-reduction process, hydrolase activity, and peptide activity. Chlorophyll a-b binding protein, endoglucanase, putative spermidine synthase, NADH dehydrogenase, and glutathione-S-transferase were found with a significant positive expression under a combined Al and S. luteus treatment, further supported by the up-regulation of their corresponding genes. This study provides a theoretical foundation for exploiting the regulatory role of ectomycorrhizal inoculation and associated genetic changes in resistance against Al stress in masson pine.}, } @article {pmid33672230, year = {2021}, author = {Shan, H and Wu, W and Sun, Z and Chen, J and Li, H}, title = {The Gut Microbiota of the Insect Infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) for the Light of Ecology and Evolution.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33672230}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The stinkbugs of the infraorder Pentatomomorpha are a group of important plant sap-feeding insects, which host diverse microorganisms. Some are located in their complex morphological midgut compartments, while some within the specialized bacteriomes of insect hosts. This perpetuation of symbioses through host generations is reinforced via the diverse routes of vertical transmission or environmental acquisition of the symbionts. These symbiotic partners, reside either through the extracellular associations in midgut or intracellular associations in specialized cells, not only have contributed nutritional benefits to the insect hosts but also shaped their ecological and evolutionary basis. The stinkbugs and gut microbe symbioses present a valuable model that provides insights into symbiotic interactions between agricultural insects and microorganisms and may become potential agents for insect pest management.}, } @article {pmid33671308, year = {2021}, author = {Koshy-Chenthittayil, S and Archambault, L and Senthilkumar, D and Laubenbacher, R and Mendes, P and Dongari-Bagtzoglou, A}, title = {Agent Based Models of Polymicrobial Biofilms and the Microbiome-A Review.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33671308}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {R01 DE013986/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM127909/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 EB024501/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01GM127909-01,1R011AI135128-01, 1U01EB024501-01, RO1DE013986/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome has been a focus of intense study in recent years. Most of the living organisms comprising the microbiome exist in the form of biofilms on mucosal surfaces lining our digestive, respiratory, and genito-urinary tracts. While health-associated microbiota contribute to digestion, provide essential nutrients, and protect us from pathogens, disturbances due to illness or medical interventions contribute to infections, some that can be fatal. Myriad biological processes influence the make-up of the microbiota, for example: growth, division, death, and production of extracellular polymers (EPS), and metabolites. Inter-species interactions include competition, inhibition, and symbiosis. Computational models are becoming widely used to better understand these interactions. Agent-based modeling is a particularly useful computational approach to implement the various complex interactions in microbial communities when appropriately combined with an experimental approach. In these models, each cell is represented as an autonomous agent with its own set of rules, with different rules for each species. In this review, we will discuss innovations in agent-based modeling of biofilms and the microbiota in the past five years from the biological and mathematical perspectives and discuss how agent-based models can be further utilized to enhance our comprehension of the complex world of polymicrobial biofilms and the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33670470, year = {2021}, author = {Eady, C}, title = {The Impact of Alkaloid-Producing Epichloë Endophyte on Forage Ryegrass Breeding: A New Zealand Perspective.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33670470}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Alkaloids/genetics/*metabolism/toxicity ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Endophytes/genetics/*metabolism ; Epichloe/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Herbivory ; *Livestock ; Lolium/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; New Zealand ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Reproduction, Asexual ; Secondary Metabolism ; Seeds/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For 30 years, forage ryegrass breeding has known that the germplasm may contain a maternally inherited symbiotic Epichloë endophyte. These endophytes produce a suite of secondary alkaloid compounds, dependent upon strain. Many produce ergot and other alkaloids, which are associated with both insect deterrence and livestock health issues. The levels of alkaloids and other endophyte characteristics are influenced by strain, host germplasm, and environmental conditions. Some strains in the right host germplasm can confer an advantage over biotic and abiotic stressors, thus acting as a maternally inherited desirable 'trait'. Through seed production, these mutualistic endophytes do not transmit into 100% of the crop seed and are less vigorous than the grass seed itself. This causes stability and longevity issues for seed production and storage should the 'trait' be desired in the germplasm. This makes understanding the precise nature of the relationship vitally important to the plant breeder. These Epichloë endophytes cannot be 'bred' in the conventional sense, as they are asexual. Instead, the breeder may modulate endophyte characteristics through selection of host germplasm, a sort of breeding by proxy. This article explores, from a forage seed company perspective, the issues that endophyte characteristics and breeding them by proxy have on ryegrass breeding, and outlines the methods used to assess the 'trait', and the application of these through the breeding, production, and deployment processes. Finally, this article investigates opportunities for enhancing the utilisation of alkaloid-producing endophytes within pastures, with a focus on balancing alkaloid levels to further enhance pest deterrence and improving livestock outcomes.}, } @article {pmid33669988, year = {2021}, author = {Shabbir, U and Arshad, MS and Sameen, A and Oh, DH}, title = {Crosstalk between Gut and Brain in Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Gut Microbiota Modulation Strategies.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33669988}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/*microbiology ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier/microbiology ; Brain/*microbiology ; Diet Therapy ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/psychology/*therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Permeability ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota (GM) represents a diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms and about 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells that dwell in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies suggest that the GM can influence the health of the host, and several factors can modify the GM composition, such as diet, drug intake, lifestyle, and geographical locations. Gut dysbiosis can affect brain immune homeostasis through the microbiota-gut-brain axis and can play a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The relationship between gut dysbiosis and AD is still elusive, but emerging evidence suggests that it can enhance the secretion of lipopolysaccharides and amyloids that may disturb intestinal permeability and the blood-brain barrier. In addition, it can promote the hallmarks of AD, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta formation, insulin resistance, and ultimately the causation of neural death. Poor dietary habits and aging, along with inflammatory responses due to dysbiosis, may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, GM modulation through diet, probiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation could represent potential therapeutics in AD. In this review, we discuss the role of GM dysbiosis in AD and potential therapeutic strategies to modulate GM in AD.}, } @article {pmid33669823, year = {2021}, author = {Saati-Santamaría, Z and Rivas, R and Kolařik, M and García-Fraile, P}, title = {A New Perspective of Pseudomonas-Host Interactions: Distribution and Potential Ecological Functions of the Genus Pseudomonas within the Bark Beetle Holobiont.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33669823}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Symbiosis between microbes and insects has been raised as a promising area for understanding biological implications of microbe-host interactions. Among them, the association between fungi and bark beetles has been generally recognized as essential for the bark beetle ecology. However, many works investigating bark beetle bacterial communities and their functions usually meet in a common finding: Pseudomonas is a broadly represented genus within this holobiont and it may provide beneficial roles to its host. Thus, we aimed to review available research on this microbe-host interaction and point out the probable relevance of Pseudomonas strains for these insects, in order to guide future research toward a deeper analysis of the importance of these bacteria for the beetle's life cycle.}, } @article {pmid33669446, year = {2021}, author = {Trinchera, A and Testani, E and Roccuzzo, G and Campanelli, G and Ciaccia, C}, title = {Agroecological Service Crops Drive Plant Mycorrhization in Organic Horticultural Systems.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33669446}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis represents a valuable tool for increasing plant nutrient uptake, affecting system biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity. Introduction of agroecological service crops (ASCs) in cropping systems may determine changes in weed community, that can affect the development of the mycorrhizal mycelial network in the rhizosphere, favoring or depressing the cash crop mycorrhization. Two no-till Mediterranean organic horticultural systems were considered: one located in central Italy, where organic melon was transplanted on four winter-cereals mulches (rye, spelt, barley, wheat), one located in southern Italy (Sicily), where barley (as catch crop) was intercropped in an organic young orange orchard, with the no tilled, unweeded systems taken as controls. Weed "Supporting Arbuscular Mycorrhiza" (SAM) trait, weed density and biodiversity indexes, mycorrhization of coexistent plants in the field, the external mycelial network on roots were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, crop P uptake, yield and quality were evaluated. We verified that cereals, used as green mulches or intercropped, may drive the weed selection in favor of the SAM species, and promote the mycelial network, thus significantly increasing the mycorrhization, the P uptake, the yield and quality traits of the cash crop. This is a relevant economic factor when introducing sustainable cropping practices and assessing the overall functionality of the agroecosystem.}, } @article {pmid33669391, year = {2021}, author = {Rosselli, R and La Porta, N and Muresu, R and Stevanato, P and Concheri, G and Squartini, A}, title = {Pangenomics of the Symbiotic Rhizobiales. Core and Accessory Functions Across a Group Endowed with High Levels of Genomic Plasticity.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33669391}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Pangenome analyses reveal major clues on evolutionary instances and critical genome core conservation. The order Rhizobiales encompasses several families with rather disparate ecological attitudes. Among them, Rhizobiaceae, Bradyrhizobiaceae, Phyllobacteriacreae and Xanthobacteriaceae, include members proficient in mutualistic symbioses with plants based on the bacterial conversion of N2 into ammonia (nitrogen-fixation). The pangenome of 12 nitrogen-fixing plant symbionts of the Rhizobiales was analyzed yielding total 37,364 loci, with a core genome constituting 700 genes. The percentage of core genes averaged 10.2% over single genomes, and between 5% to 7% were found to be plasmid-associated. The comparison between a representative reference genome and the core genome subset, showed the core genome highly enriched in genes for macromolecule metabolism, ribosomal constituents and overall translation machinery, while membrane/periplasm-associated genes, and transport domains resulted under-represented. The analysis of protein functions revealed that between 1.7% and 4.9% of core proteins could putatively have different functions.}, } @article {pmid33668704, year = {2021}, author = {Baldo, L and Werren, J}, title = {Evolutionary Genetics of Microbial Symbioses.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33668704}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Amoeba/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/*genetics/physiology ; Insecta/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is the living together of dissimilar organisms [...].}, } @article {pmid33668289, year = {2021}, author = {Wiewióra, B and Żurek, G}, title = {The Response of the Associations of Grass and Epichloë Endophytes to the Increased Content of Heavy Metals in the Soil.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33668289}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The rapid development of civilization increases the area of land exposed to the accumulation of toxic compounds, including heavy metals, both in water and soil. Endophytic fungi associated with many species of grasses are related to the resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses, which include heavy metals. This paper reviews different aspects of symbiotic interactions between grass species and fungal endophytes from the genera Epichloë with special attention paid to the elevated concentration of heavy metals in growing substrates. The evidence shows the high resistance variation of plant endophyte symbiosis on the heavy metals in soil outcome. The fungal endophytes confer high heavy metal tolerance, which is the key feature in its practical application with their host plants, i.e., grasses in phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid33667983, year = {2021}, author = {Teheran-Sierra, LG and Funnicelli, MIG and de Carvalho, LAL and Ferro, MIT and Soares, MA and Pinheiro, DG}, title = {Bacterial communities associated with sugarcane under different agricultural management exhibit a diversity of plant growth-promoting traits and evidence of synergistic effect.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {126729}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2021.126729}, pmid = {33667983}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Crops, Agricultural/growth & development ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Saccharum/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-associated microbiomes have been a target of interest for the prospection of microorganisms, which may be acting as effectors to increase agricultural productivity. For years, the search for beneficial microorganisms has been carried out from the characterization of functional traits of growth-promotion using tests with a few isolates. However, eventually, the expectations with positive results may not be realized when the evaluation is performed in association with plants. In our study, we accessed the cultivable sugarcane microbiome under two conditions of agronomic management: organic and conventional. From the use of a new customized culture medium, we recovered 944 endophytic and epiphytic bacterial communities derived from plant roots, stalks, leaves, and rhizospheric soil. This could be accomplished by using a large-scale approach, initially performing an in planta (Cynodon dactylon) screening process of inoculation to avoid early incompatibility. The inoculation was performed using the bacterial communities, considering that in this way, they could act synergistically. This process resulted in 38 candidate communities, 17 of which had higher Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilization activity and, were submitted to a new in planta test using Brachiaria ruziziensis and quantification of functional traits for growth-promotion and physiological tests. Enrichment analysis of selected communities has shown that they derived mainly from epiphytic populations of sugarcane stalks under conventional management. The sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 34 genera and 24 species distributed among the phylum Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. We also observed a network of genera in these communities where the genus Chryseobacterium stands out with a greater degree of interaction, indicating a possible direct or indirect role as a keystone taxon in communities with plant-growth promotion capacities. From the results achieved, we can conclude that the approach is useful in the recovery of a set of sugarcane bacterial communities and that there is, evidence of synergistic action providing benefits to plants, and that they are compatible with plants of the same family (Poaceae). Thus, we are reporting the beneficial bacterial communities identified as suitable candidates with rated potential to be exploited as bioinoculants for crops.}, } @article {pmid33666221, year = {2021}, author = {Fushinobu, S and Abou Hachem, M}, title = {Structure and evolution of the bifidobacterial carbohydrate metabolism proteins and enzymes.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {49}, number = {2}, pages = {563-578}, pmid = {33666221}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Aldehyde-Lyases/chemistry/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Bifidobacterium/classification/*enzymology/*metabolism ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/chemistry/metabolism ; *Protein Conformation ; Species Specificity ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Bifidobacteria have attracted significant attention because they provide health-promoting effects in the human gut. In this review, we present a current overview of the three-dimensional structures of bifidobacterial proteins involved in carbohydrate uptake, degradation, and metabolism. As predominant early colonizers of the infant's gut, distinct bifidobacterial species are equipped with a panel of transporters and enzymes specific for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Interestingly, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum possess lacto-N-biosidases with unrelated structural folds to release the disaccharide lacto-N-biose from HMOs, suggesting the convergent evolution of this activity from different ancestral proteins. The crystal structures of enzymes that confer the degradation of glycans from the mucin glycoprotein layer provide a structural basis for the utilization of this sustainable nutrient in the gastrointestinal tract. The utilization of several plant dietary oligosaccharides has been studied in detail, and the prime importance of oligosaccharide-specific ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in glycan utilisations by bifidobacteria has been revealed. The structural elements underpinning the high selectivity and roles of ABC transporter binding proteins in establishing competitive growth on preferred oligosaccharides are discussed. Distinct ABC transporters are conserved across several bifidobacterial species, e.g. those targeting arabinoxylooligosaccharide and α-1,6-galactosides/glucosides. Less prevalent transporters, e.g. targeting β-mannooligosaccharides, may contribute to the metabolic specialisation within Bifidobacterium. Some bifidobacterial species have established symbiotic relationships with humans. Structural studies of carbohydrate-utilizing systems in Bifidobacterium have revealed the interesting history of molecular coevolution with the host, as highlighted by the early selection of bifidobacteria by mucin and breast milk glycans.}, } @article {pmid33665152, year = {2021}, author = {Alsayegh, SY and Al-Ghouti, MA and Zouari, N}, title = {Study of bacterial interactions in reconstituted hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortia from a local collection, for the bioremediation of weathered oily-soils.}, journal = {Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {e00598}, pmid = {33665152}, issn = {2215-017X}, abstract = {To enhance the process of bacterial remediation of weathered hydrocarbons, the area of Dukhan, Qatar, was considered as a model for weathering processes. Self-purification by indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria showed low performance. Biostimulation/seeding using one or another of the indigenous bacteria improved the performance. Symbiosis between three strains dominating the soil; Bacillus sorensis D11, Bacillus cereus D12, and Pseudomonas stutzeri D13, was highly performant for removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the weathered soil. D11, the most sensitive, showed the highest performance when mixed with D12 or D13. D12, less performant than D11, was more active on diesel range organics (DRO: C10-C28), similar to D11. D13 showed a metabolic behavior close to commensal and co-metabolic ones. It was more active on hydrocarbons above C29. Combination of the three strains conducted to the removal of at least 80% of C10-C35 organics in the extract at concentrations of 31.1 mg/g TPH-DRO.}, } @article {pmid33665032, year = {2021}, author = {Dittami, SM and Arboleda, E and Auguet, JC and Bigalke, A and Briand, E and Cárdenas, P and Cardini, U and Decelle, J and Engelen, AH and Eveillard, D and Gachon, CMM and Griffiths, SM and Harder, T and Kayal, E and Kazamia, E and Lallier, FH and Medina, M and Marzinelli, EM and Morganti, TM and Núñez Pons, L and Prado, S and Pintado, J and Saha, M and Selosse, MA and Skillings, D and Stock, W and Sunagawa, S and Toulza, E and Vorobev, A and Leblanc, C and Not, F}, title = {A community perspective on the concept of marine holobionts: current status, challenges, and future directions.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e10911}, pmid = {33665032}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {U17 CE002001/CE/NCIPC CDC HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Host-microbe interactions play crucial roles in marine ecosystems. However, we still have very little understanding of the mechanisms that govern these relationships, the evolutionary processes that shape them, and their ecological consequences. The holobiont concept is a renewed paradigm in biology that can help to describe and understand these complex systems. It posits that a host and its associated microbiota with which it interacts, form a holobiont, and have to be studied together as a coherent biological and functional unit to understand its biology, ecology, and evolution. Here we discuss critical concepts and opportunities in marine holobiont research and identify key challenges in the field. We highlight the potential economic, sociological, and environmental impacts of the holobiont concept in marine biological, evolutionary, and environmental sciences. Given the connectivity and the unexplored biodiversity specific to marine ecosystems, a deeper understanding of such complex systems requires further technological and conceptual advances, e.g., the development of controlled experimental model systems for holobionts from all major lineages and the modeling of (info)chemical-mediated interactions between organisms. Here we propose that one significant challenge is to bridge cross-disciplinary research on tractable model systems in order to address key ecological and evolutionary questions. This first step is crucial to decipher the main drivers of the dynamics and evolution of holobionts and to account for the holobiont concept in applied areas, such as the conservation, management, and exploitation of marine ecosystems and resources, where practical solutions to predict and mitigate the impact of human activities are more important than ever.}, } @article {pmid33664722, year = {2021}, author = {Grogan, C and Bennett, M and Moore, S and Lampe, D}, title = {Novel Asaia bogorensis Signal Sequences for Plasmodium Inhibition in Anopheles stephensi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {633667}, pmid = {33664722}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R15 AI107735/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes vector many pathogens that cause human disease, such as malaria that is caused by parasites in the genus Plasmodium. Current strategies to control vector-transmitted diseases are hindered by mosquito and pathogen resistance, so research has turned to altering the microbiota of the vectors. In this strategy, called paratransgenesis, symbiotic bacteria are genetically modified to affect the mosquito's phenotype by engineering them to deliver antiplasmodial effector molecules into the midgut to kill parasites. One paratransgenesis candidate is Asaia bogorensis, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium colonizing the midgut, ovaries, and salivary glands of Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. However, common secretion signals from E. coli and closely related species do not function in Asaia. Here, we report evaluation of 20 native Asaia N-terminal signal sequences predicted from bioinformatics for their ability to mediate increased levels of antiplasmodial effector molecules directed to the periplasm and ultimately outside the cell. We tested the hypothesis that by increasing the amount of antiplasmodials released from the cell we would also increase parasite killing power. We scanned the Asaia bogorensis SF2.1 genome to identify signal sequences from extra-cytoplasmic proteins and fused these to the reporter protein alkaline phosphatase. Six signals resulted in significant levels of protein released from the Asaia bacterium. Three signals were successfully used to drive the release of the antimicrobial peptide, scorpine. Further testing in mosquitoes demonstrated that these three Asaia strains were able to suppress the number of oocysts formed after a blood meal containing P. berghei to a significantly greater degree than wild-type Asaia, although prevalence was not decreased beyond levels obtained with a previously isolated siderophore receptor signal sequence. We interpret these results to indicate that there is a maximum level of suppression that can be achieved when the effectors are constitutively driven due to stress on the symbionts. This suggests that simply increasing the amount of antiplasmodial effector molecules in the midgut is insufficient to create superior paratransgenic bacterial strains and that symbiont fitness must be considered as well.}, } @article {pmid33664532, year = {2021}, author = {Fernandez, F and Baker, DP and Fu, YC and Munoz, IG and Ford, KS}, title = {A Symbiosis of Access: Proliferating STEM PhD Training in the U.S. from 1920-2010.}, journal = {Minerva}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {79-98}, pmid = {33664532}, issn = {0026-4695}, support = {P2C HD041025/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Over the course of the 20[th] century, unprecedented growth in scientific discovery was fueled by broad growth in the number of university-based scientists. During this period the American undergraduate enrollment rate and number of universities with STEM graduate programs each doubled three times and the annual volume of new PhDs doubled six times. This generated the research capacity that allowed the United States to surpass early European-dominated science production and lead for the rest of the century. Here, we focus on origins in the organizational environment and institutional dynamics instead of conventional economic factors. We argue that three trends of such dynamics in the development of American higher education not often considered together-mass undergraduate education, decentralized founding of universities, and flexible mission charters for PhD training-form a process characterized by a term coined here: access symbiosis. Then using a 90-year data series on STEM PhD production and institutional development, we demonstrate the historical progression of these mutually beneficial trends. This access symbiosis in the U.S., and perhaps versions of it in other nations, is likely one critical component of the integration of higher education development with the growing global capacity for scientific discovery. These results are discussed in terms of the contributions of American universities to the Century of Science, recent international trends, and its future viability.}, } @article {pmid33664278, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, YJ and He, HP and Zhao, HM and Xian, YD and Guo, H and Liu, B and Xue, K}, title = {Microbiome diversity of cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) is associated with host alternation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {5260}, pmid = {33664278}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation/*genetics ; Gossypium/genetics/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Aphids are infected by a series of bacteria that can help them survive on specific host plants. However, the associations between aphids and these bacteria are not clear, and the bacterial communities in many aphid species are poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the bacterial communities of cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) on 2 representative winter host plants and transferred to 3 summer host plants by 16S rDNA sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Our results revealed that the bacterial communities varied among cotton aphids on hibiscus, cotton aphids on pomegranate, cotton aphids on cotton transferred from hibiscus, cotton aphids on muskmelon transferred from hibiscus, cotton aphids on cucumber transferred from hibiscus,. The diversity and richness of the bacterial communities were significantly higher in aphids on muskmelon and aphids on cucumber than in the other treatments. There were two main factors influencing the distribution of internal bacterial OTUs revealed by principal component analysis, including the differences among Punicaceae, Malvaceae and Cucurbitaceae. There were 28 bacterial communities with significant differences between two arbitrary treatments, which could be grouped into 6 main clusters depending on relative abundance. Moreover, our results indicated that in addition to the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera, with a dominant position (> 52%), A. gossypii also harbored 3 facultative endosymbiotic bacteria (Serratia, Arsenophonus, and Wolbachia) and 3 possibly symbiotic bacteria (Acinetobacter, Pantoea, and Flavobacterium). There were several correspondences between the symbiotic bacteria in cotton aphids and the specific host plants of the aphids. This study provides a better understanding of the interactions among symbiotic bacteria, aphids and host plants, suggesting that the selection pressure on aphid bacterial communities is likely to be exerted by the species of host plants.}, } @article {pmid33663953, year = {2021}, author = {Xuan, W and Lesniak, MS and James, CD and Heimberger, AB and Chen, P}, title = {Context-Dependent Glioblastoma-Macrophage/Microglia Symbiosis and Associated Mechanisms.}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {280-292}, pmid = {33663953}, issn = {1471-4981}, support = {K99 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA221747/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; *Brain Neoplasms/genetics ; *Glioblastoma/genetics ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Microglia ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal form of primary brain tumor in human adults. The impact of tumor-intrinsic alterations is not exclusively confined to cancer cells but can also be extended to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Glioblastoma-associated macrophages/microglia (GAMs) are a prominent type of immune cells that account for up to 50% of total cells in GBM. Emerging evidence suggests that context-dependent GBM-GAM symbiotic interactions are pivotal for tumor growth and progression. Here, we discuss how specific genetic alterations in GBM cells affect GAM biology and, reciprocally, how GAMs support GBM progression. We hypothesize that understanding context-dependent GBM-GAM symbiosis may reveal the molecular basis of GBM tumorigenesis and lead to novel candidate treatment approaches aiming to improve GBM patient outcomes.}, } @article {pmid33662869, year = {2021}, author = {Cheng, XF and Wu, HH and Zou, YN and Wu, QS and Kuča, K}, title = {Mycorrhizal response strategies of trifoliate orange under well-watered, salt stress, and waterlogging stress by regulating leaf aquaporin expression.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {27-35}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.02.026}, pmid = {33662869}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Aquaporins ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; *Poncirus/metabolism ; Salt Stress ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Aquaporins (AQPs) involved in water and small molecule transport respond to environmental stress, while it is not clear how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) regulate AQP expression. Here, we investigated the change in leaf water potential and expression level of four tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), six plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), and four nodin-26 like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) genes in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae under well-watered (WW), salt stress (SS), and waterlogging stress (WS). Root AMF colonization and soil hyphal length collectively were reduced by SS and WS. Under WW, inoculation with AMF gave diverse responses of AQPs: six AQPs up-regulated, three AQPs down-regulated, and five AQPs did not change. Such up-regulation of more AQPs under mycorrhization and WW partly accelerated water absorption, thereby, maintaining higher leaf water potential. However, under SS, all the fourteen AQPs were dramatically induced by AMF inoculation, which improved water permeability of membranes and stimulated water transport of the host. Under WS, AMF colonization almost did not induce or even down-regulated these AQPs expressions with three exceptions (PtTIP2;2, PtPIP1;1, and PtNIP1;2), thus, no change in leaf water potential. As a result, mycorrhizal plants under flooding may have an escape mechanism to reduce water absorption. It is concluded that AMF had different strategies in response to environmental stresses (e.g. SS and WS) by regulating leaf AQP expression in the host (e.g. trifoliate orange).}, } @article {pmid33660094, year = {2021}, author = {Onyango, CA and Glassom, D and MacDonald, A}, title = {De novo assembly of the transcriptome of scleractinian coral, Anomastraea irregularis and analyses of its response to thermal stress.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {2083-2092}, pmid = {33660094}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Ontology ; Heat-Shock Response/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Principal Component Analysis ; *Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rising seawater temperatures cause coral bleaching. The molecular responses of the coral holobiont under stress conditions, determine the success of the symbiosis. Anomastraea irregularis is a hard coral commonly found in the harsh intertidal zones of the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, where it thrives at the very margins of hard coral distribution in the Western Indian Ocean. To identify the possible molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying its resilience to heat stress, experimental and control nubbins were exposed to temperatures of 29 and 19 °C respectively for 24 h. The transcriptome was assembled de novo from 42.8 million quality controlled 63 bp paired-end short sequence reads obtained via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The assembly yielded 333,057 contigs (> 500 bp = 55,626, Largest = 6341 bp N50 = 747 bp). 1362 (1.23%) of the transcripts were significantly differentially expressed between heat stressed and control samples. Log fold change magnitudes among individual genes ranged from - 4.6 to 7.2. Overall, the heat stress response in the A. irregularis constituted a protective response involving up regulation of apoptosis and SUMOylation. Gene ontology (GO) analyses revealed that heat stress in the coral affected the metabolism, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, transport and cytoskeleton. This is the first study to produce a reference transcriptome of this coral species and analyze its response to heat stress. The assembled transcriptome also presents a valuable resource for further transcriptomic and genomic studies.}, } @article {pmid33659853, year = {2020}, author = {Romanov, DA and Zakharov, IA and Shaikevich, EV}, title = {Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and Rickettsia symbiotic bacteria in aphids (Aphidoidea).}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {673-682}, doi = {10.18699/VJ20.661}, pmid = {33659853}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Aphids are a diverse family of crop pests. Aphids formed a complex relationship with intracellular bacteria. Depending on the region of study, the species composition of both aphids and their facultative endosymbionts varies. The aim of the work was to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia symbionts in aphids collected in 2018-2019 in Moscow. For these purposes, 578 aphids from 32 collection sites were tested by PCR using specific primers. At least 21 species of aphids from 14 genera and four families were identified by barcoding method, of which 11 species were infected with endosymbionts. Rickettsia was found in six species, Wolbachia in two species, Spiroplasma in one species. The presence of Rickettsia in Impatientinum asiaticum, Myzus cerasi, Hyalopterus pruni, Eucallipterus tiliae, Chaitophorus tremulae and Wolbachia in Aphis pomi and C. tremulae has been described for the first time. A double infection with Rickettsia and Spiroplasma was detected in a half of pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) individuals. For the first time was found that six species of aphids are infected with Rickettsia that are genetically different from previously known. It was first discovered that A. pomi is infected with two Wolbachia strains, one of which belongs to supergroup B and is genetically close to Wolbachia from C. tremulae. The second Wolbachia strain from A. pomi belongs to the supergroup M, recently described in aphid species. Spiroplasma, which we observed in A. pisum, is genetically close to male killing Spiroplasma from aphids, ladybirds and moths. Both maternal inheritance and horizontal transmission are the pathways for the distribution of facultative endosymbiotic bacteria in aphids.}, } @article {pmid33659815, year = {2020}, author = {Afonin, AM and Leppyanen, IV and Kulaeva, OA and Shtark, OY and Tikhonovich, IA and Dolgikh, EA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {A high coverage reference transcriptome assembly of pea (Pisum sativum L.) mycorrhizal roots.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {331-339}, doi = {10.18699/VJ20.625}, pmid = {33659815}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is an ancient mutualistic symbiosis formed by 80-90 % of land plant species with the obligatorily biotrophic fungi that belong to the phylum Glomeromycota. This symbiosis is mutually beneficial, as AM fungi feed on plant photosynthesis products, in turn improving the efficiency of nutrient uptake from the environment. The garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), a widely cultivated crop and an important model for genetics, is capable of forming triple symbiotic systems consisting of the plant, AM fungi and nodule bacteria. As transcriptomic and proteomic approaches are being implemented for studying the mutualistic symbioses of pea, a need for a reference transcriptome of genes expressed under these specific conditions for increasing the resolution and the accuracy of other methods arose. Numerous transcriptome assemblies constructed for pea did not include mycorrhizal roots, hence the aim of the study to construct a reference transcriptome assembly of pea mycorrhizal roots. The combined transcriptome of mycorrhizal roots of Pisum sativum cv. Frisson inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis BEG144 was investigated, and for both the organisms independent transcriptomes were assembled (coverage 177x for pea and 45x for fungus). Genes specific to mycorrhizal roots were found in the assembly, their expression patterns were examined with qPCR on two pea cultivars, Frisson and Finale. The gene expression depended on the inoculation stage and on the pea cultivar. The investigated genes may serve as markers for early stages of inoculation in genetically diverse pea cultivars.}, } @article {pmid33659814, year = {2020}, author = {Turkovskaya, OV and Golubev, SN}, title = {The Collection of Rhizosphere Microorganisms: its importance for the study of associative plant-bacterium interactions.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {315-324}, doi = {10.18699/VJ20.623}, pmid = {33659814}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Microbial culture collections are very important components of biological science. They provide researchers with material for studies and preserve biological resources. One such collection is the Collection of Rhizosphere Microorganisms, kept at the Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saratov (IBPPM). Its activity is primarily directed toward the isolation and preservation of microorganisms from the plant root zone. The international research interest in microorganisms from this ecological niche is not waning, because they are very important for plant growth and development and, consequently, for plant breeding. The group of bacteria with properties of significance for plants has been given the name "plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria" (PGPR). This group includes nitrogen-fixing soil alpha-proteobacteria of the genus Azospirillum, which form the core of the IBPPM collection. First discovered by Brazilian scientists in the 1970s, azospirilla are now a universally recognized model object for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-bacterium interactions. The broad range of useful properties found in these microorganisms, including the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, production of phytohormones, solubilization of phosphates, control of pathogens, and formation of induced systemic resistance in the colonized plants, make these bacteria an all-purpose tool that has been used for several decades in basic and applied research. This article reviews the current state of Azospirillum research, with emphasis on the results obtained at the IBPPM. Scientific expeditions across the Saratov region undertaken by IBPPM microbiologists in the early 1980s formed the basis for the unique collection of members of this bacterial taxon. Currently, the collection has more than 160 Azospirillum strains and is one of the largest collections in Europe. The research conducted at the IBPPM is centered mostly on the Azospirillum structures involved in associative symbiosis with plants, primarily extracellular polysaccharide-containing complexes and lectins. The development of immunochemical methods contributed much to our understanding of the overall organization of the surface of rhizosphere bacteria. The extensive studies of the Azospirillum genome largely deepened our understanding of the role of the aforesaid bacterial structures, motility, and biofilms in the colonization of host plant roots. Of interest are also applied studies focusing on agricultural and environmental technologies and on the "green" synthesis of Au, Ag, and Se nanoparticles. The Collection of Rhizosphere Microorganisms continues to grow, being continually supplemented with newly isolated strains. The data presented in this article show the great importance of specialized microbial culture repositories, such as the IBPPM collection, for the development and maintenance of the microbial research base and for the effective solution of basic and applied tasks in microbiology.}, } @article {pmid33659795, year = {2020}, author = {Kryukov, AA and Gorbunova, AO and Machs, EM and Mikhaylova, YV and Rodionov, AV and Zhurbenko, PM and Yurkov, AP}, title = {Perspectives of using Illumina MiSeq for identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {158-167}, doi = {10.18699/VJ19.38-o}, pmid = {33659795}, issn = {2500-0462}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) form one of the most common symbiosis with the majority of land plants. AMF supply the plant with various mineral elements, primarily phosphorus, and improve the water supply. The search for the most effective AMF strains for symbiosis and the creation of microbial preparations on that basis is an important task for modern biology. Owing to the difficulties of cultivation without a host plant and their high genetic polymorphism, identifying AMF is very difficult. A high number of cryptic species often makes morphological identification unreliable. Recent years have seen a growth in the number of AMF biodiversity studies performed by modern NGS-based methods, Illumina MiSeq in particular. Currently, there are still many questions that remain for the identification of AМF. The most important are whether conservative or variable sequences should be used to select a marker for barcoding and whether universal primers or those specific to AMF should be used. In our work, we have successfully used universal primers ITS3 and ITS4 for the sequencing in Illumina MiSeq of the 5.8S rDNA - ITS2 region of the 35S rRNA genes, which contain both a conservative and variable regions. The molecular genetic approach for AMF identification was quite effective and allowed us to reliably identify eight of nine isolates to the species level: five isolates of Rhizophagus irregularis, and one isolate of R. invermaius, Paraglomus laccatum, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum, respectively. For all five R. irregularis isolates, high variability in the ITS region and the absence of ecotopic-related molecular characters in the ITS2 region were demonstrated. The NCBI data is still insufficient for accurate AMF identification of Acaulospora sp. isolates from the genus to the species level.}, } @article {pmid33658719, year = {2021}, author = {Graf, JS and Schorn, S and Kitzinger, K and Ahmerkamp, S and Woehle, C and Huettel, B and Schubert, CJ and Kuypers, MMM and Milucka, J}, title = {Anaerobic endosymbiont generates energy for ciliate host by denitrification.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {591}, number = {7850}, pages = {445-450}, pmid = {33658719}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; *Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Respiration ; Ciliophora/chemistry/cytology/*metabolism ; Citric Acid Cycle/genetics ; *Denitrification ; Electron Transport/genetics ; *Energy Metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Mitochondria ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are specialized eukaryotic organelles that have a dedicated function in oxygen respiration and energy production. They evolved about 2 billion years ago from a free-living bacterial ancestor (probably an alphaproteobacterium), in a process known as endosymbiosis[1,2]. Many unicellular eukaryotes have since adapted to life in anoxic habitats and their mitochondria have undergone further reductive evolution[3]. As a result, obligate anaerobic eukaryotes with mitochondrial remnants derive their energy mostly from fermentation[4]. Here we describe 'Candidatus Azoamicus ciliaticola', which is an obligate endosymbiont of an anaerobic ciliate and has a dedicated role in respiration and providing energy for its eukaryotic host. 'Candidatus A. ciliaticola' contains a highly reduced 0.29-Mb genome that encodes core genes for central information processing, the electron transport chain, a truncated tricarboxylic acid cycle, ATP generation and iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis. The genome encodes a respiratory denitrification pathway instead of aerobic terminal oxidases, which enables its host to breathe nitrate instead of oxygen. 'Candidatus A. ciliaticola' and its ciliate host represent an example of a symbiosis that is based on the transfer of energy in the form of ATP, rather than nutrition. This discovery raises the possibility that eukaryotes with mitochondrial remnants may secondarily acquire energy-providing endosymbionts to complement or replace functions of their mitochondria.}, } @article {pmid33658277, year = {2021}, author = {Murphy, R and Benndorf, R and de Beer, ZW and Vollmers, J and Kaster, AK and Beemelmanns, C and Poulsen, M}, title = {Comparative Genomics Reveals Prophylactic and Catabolic Capabilities of Actinobacteria within the Fungus-Farming Termite Symbiosis.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33658277}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Actinobacteria, one of the largest bacterial phyla, are ubiquitous in many of Earth's ecosystems and often act as defensive symbionts with animal hosts. Members of the phylum have repeatedly been isolated from basidiomycete-cultivating fungus-farming termites that maintain a monoculture fungus crop on macerated dead plant substrate. The proclivity for antimicrobial and enzyme production of Actinobacteria make them likely contributors to plant decomposition and defense in the symbiosis. To test this, we analyzed the prophylactic (biosynthetic gene cluster [BGC]) and metabolic (carbohydrate-active enzyme [CAZy]) potential in 16 (10 existing and six new genomes) termite-associated Actinobacteria and compared these to the soil-dwelling close relatives. Using antiSMASH, we identified 435 BGCs, of which 329 (65 unique) were similar to known compound gene clusters, while 106 were putatively novel, suggesting ample prospects for novel compound discovery. BGCs were identified among all major compound categories, including 26 encoding the production of known antimicrobial compounds, which ranged in activity (antibacterial being most prevalent) and modes of action that might suggest broad defensive potential. Peptide pattern recognition analysis revealed 823 (43 unique) CAZymes coding for enzymes that target key plant and fungal cell wall components (predominantly chitin, cellulose, and hemicellulose), confirming a substantial degradative potential of these bacteria. Comparison of termite-associated and soil-dwelling bacteria indicated no significant difference in either BGC or CAZy potential, suggesting that the farming termite hosts may have coopted these soil-dwelling bacteria due to their metabolic potential but that they have not been subject to genome change associated with symbiosis.IMPORTANCEActinobacteria have repeatedly been isolated in fungus-farming termites, and our genome analyses provide insights into the potential roles they may serve in defense and for plant biomass breakdown. These insights, combined with their relatively higher abundances in fungus combs than in termite gut, suggest that they are more likely to play roles in fungus combs than in termite guts. Up to 25% of the BGCs we identify have no similarity to known clusters, indicating a large potential for novel chemistry to be discovered. Similarities in metabolic potential of soil-dwelling and termite-associated bacteria suggest that they have environmental origins, but their consistent presence with the termite system suggests their importance for the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33658193, year = {2021}, author = {Suzuki, M and Sujino, T and Chiba, S and Harada, Y and Goto, M and Takahashi, R and Mita, M and Hamase, K and Kanai, T and Ito, M and Waldor, MK and Yasui, M and Sasabe, J}, title = {Host-microbe cross-talk governs amino acid chirality to regulate survival and differentiation of B cells.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33658193}, issn = {2375-2548}, support = {R01 AI042347/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Amino Acids/chemistry ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Dysbiosis ; *Ecosystem ; Immunoglobulin A/metabolism ; Intestines ; Mammals/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Organisms use l-amino acids (l-aa) for most physiological processes. Unlike other organisms, bacteria chiral-convert l-aa to d-configurations as essential components of their cell walls and as signaling molecules in their ecosystems. Mammals recognize microbe-associated molecules to initiate immune responses, but roles of bacterial d-amino acids (d-aa) in mammalian immune systems remain largely unknown. Here, we report that amino acid chirality balanced by bacteria-mammal cross-talk modulates intestinal B cell fate and immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. Bacterial d-aa stimulate M1 macrophages and promote survival of intestinal naïve B cells. Mammalian intestinal d-aa catabolism limits the number of B cells and restricts growth of symbiotic bacteria that activate T cell-dependent IgA class switching of the B cells. Loss of d-aa catabolism results in excessive IgA production and dysbiosis with altered IgA coating on bacteria. Thus, chiral conversion of amino acids is linked to bacterial recognition by mammals to control symbiosis with bacteria.}, } @article {pmid33655067, year = {2021}, author = {Fukuda, TTH and Helfrich, EJN and Mevers, E and Melo, WGP and Van Arnam, EB and Andes, DR and Currie, CR and Pupo, MT and Clardy, J}, title = {Specialized Metabolites Reveal Evolutionary History and Geographic Dispersion of a Multilateral Symbiosis.}, journal = {ACS central science}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {292-299}, pmid = {33655067}, issn = {2374-7943}, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants engage in a multilateral symbiosis: they cultivate a fungal garden as their primary food source and host symbiotic actinobacteria (Pseudonocardia spp.) that provide chemical defenses. The bacterial symbionts produce small specialized metabolites that protect the fungal garden from specific fungal pathogens (Escovopsis spp.), and in return, they are fed by the ant hosts. Multiple studies on the molecules underlying this symbiotic system have led to the discovery of a large number of structurally diverse antifungal molecules, but somewhat surprisingly no shared structural theme emerged from these studies. A large systematic study of Brazilian nests led to the discovery of the widespread production of a potent but overlooked antifungal agent, which we named attinimicin, by nearly two-thirds of all Pseudonocardia strains from multiple sites in Brazil. Here we report the structure of attinimicin, its putative biosynthetic gene cluster, and the evolutionary relationship between attinimicin and two related peptides, oxachelin A and cahuitamycin A. All three nonribosomal peptides are structural isomers with different primary peptide sequences. Attinimicin shows iron-dependent antifungal activity against specific environmental fungal parasites but no activity against the fungal cultivar. Attinimicin showed potent in vivo activity in a mouse Candida albicans infection model comparable to clinically used azole-containing antifungals. In situ detection of attinimicin in both ant nests and on worker ants supports an ecological role for attinimicin in protecting the fungal cultivar from pathogens. The geographic spread of the attinimicin biosynthetic gene cluster in Brazilian Pseudonocardia spp. marks attinimicin as the first specialized metabolite from ant-associated bacteria with broad geographic distribution.}, } @article {pmid33653943, year = {2021}, author = {Tolnai, E and Fauszt, P and Fidler, G and Pesti-Asboth, G and Szilagyi, E and Stagel, A and Konya, J and Szabo, J and Stundl, L and Babinszky, L and Remenyik, J and Biro, S and Paholcsek, M}, title = {Nutraceuticals Induced Changes in the Broiler Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiota.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33653943}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Effects of nutraceuticals on the intestinal microbiota are receiving increased attention; however, there are few studies investigating their effects on broiler meat production. The aim of this study was to implement feeding strategies and carry out a comprehensive trial examining the interplay between natural biologically active compounds such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, fermentable oligosaccharides, and synbiotics and the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. Our feeding program was applied to an intensive production system with a flock of 1,080 Ross 308 broilers. Aging induced significant changes through the feeding experiment. Nutraceuticals were shown to modulate broiler intestinal diversity and differentially enriched Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Campylobacter, and Streptococcus in the core microbiome during the different stages of broiler rearing. Additionally, they did not remarkably affect animal growth performance; nevertheless, a positive correlation was found between body weight and Corynebacteriales and Pseudomonadales Furthermore, a diet high in carotenoid, fermentable oligosaccharide, and anthocyanin contents affected the number of beneficial genera such as Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, Blautia, and Ruminococcus With this comprehensive trial, we revealed that nutraceuticals induced modulations in broiler gastrointestinal tract microbiota. We believe that plant-derived immunostimulants, recycled from plant food waste products, can supplement antibiotic-free broiler meat production.IMPORTANCE In this trial, nutraceuticals were manufactured from waste products of food industry processing of Hungarian red sweet pepper and sour cherry and incorporated into the diet of poultry to investigate their effects on broilers' growth and the broiler gastrointestinal tract microbiota. To avoid the generation of food waste products, we believe that this approach can be developed into a sustainable, green approach that can be implemented in commercial antibiotic-free poultry to provide safe and high-quality meat.}, } @article {pmid33653096, year = {2021}, author = {Ishigami, K and Jang, S and Itoh, H and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Insecticide resistance governed by gut symbiosis in a rice pest, Cletus punctiger, under laboratory conditions.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {20200780}, pmid = {33653096}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Heteroptera ; Humans ; Insecticide Resistance ; Laboratories ; *Oryza ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Resistance to toxins in insects is generally thought of as their own genetic trait, but recent studies have revealed that gut microorganisms could mediate resistance by detoxifying phytotoxins and man-made insecticides. By laboratory experiments, we here discovered a striking example of gut symbiont-mediated insecticide resistance in a serious rice pest, Cletus punctiger. The rice bug horizontally acquired fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia through oral infection and housed it in midgut crypts. Fenitrothion-degradation test revealed that the gut-colonizing Burkholderia retains a high degrading activity of the organophosphate compound in the insect gut. This gut symbiosis remarkably increased resistance against fenitrothion treatment in the host rice bug. Considering that many stinkbug pests are associated with soil-derived Burkholderia, our finding strongly supports that a number of stinkbug species could gain resistance against insecticide simply by acquiring insecticide-degrading gut bacteria.}, } @article {pmid33652230, year = {2021}, author = {Koonin, EV and Dolja, VV and Krupovic, M}, title = {The healthy human virome: from virus-host symbiosis to disease.}, journal = {Current opinion in virology}, volume = {47}, number = {}, pages = {86-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.coviro.2021.02.002}, pmid = {33652230}, issn = {1879-6265}, mesh = {Bacteriophages/classification/pathogenicity/physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; Virome/*physiology ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Virus Replication ; Viruses/classification/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Viruses are ubiquitous, essential components of any ecosystem, and of multicellular organism holobionts. Numerous viruses cause acute infection, killing the host or being cleared by immune system. In many other cases, viruses coexist with the host as symbionts, either temporarily or for the duration of the host's life. Apparently, virus-host relationships span the entire range from aggressive parasitism to mutualism. Here we attempt to delineate the healthy human virome, that is, the entirety of viruses that are present in a healthy human body. The bulk of the healthy virome consists of bacteriophages infecting bacteria in the intestine and other locations. However, a variety of viruses, such as anelloviruses and herpesviruses, and the numerous endogenous retroviruses, persist by replicating in human cells, and these are our primary focus. Crucially, the boundary between symbiotic and pathogenic viruses is fluid such that members of the healthy virome can become pathogens under changing conditions.}, } @article {pmid33652182, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, X and Fang, L and Beiyuan, J and Cui, Y and Peng, Q and Zhu, S and Wang, M and Zhang, X}, title = {Improvement of alfalfa resistance against Cd stress through rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi co-inoculation in Cd-contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {277}, number = {}, pages = {116758}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116758}, pmid = {33652182}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Cadmium/toxicity ; Fungi ; Medicago sativa ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; *Rhizobium ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are important symbiotic microbes that are advantageous to plants growing in metal-contaminated soil. However, it remains unclear how inoculated microbes affect rhizosphere microbial communities or whether subsequent changes in rhizosphere microbiomes contribute to improving plant resistance under metal stress. This study investigated the effects of rhizobia and AMF inoculation on alfalfa resistance to Cd stress. The response of rhizosphere microbial communities to inoculation and its role in increasing alfalfa' ability to cope with stress were further analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S and ITS rRNA genes. Results showed that single rhizobia or AMF inoculation significantly improved alfalfa resistance to Cd stress, while their co-inoculation resulted in the greatest overall improvement. Improved resistance was reflected by the significant mitigation of Cd-induced lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress caused by increases in antioxidant enzyme activities along with co-inoculation. Furthermore, co-inoculation significantly altered the rhizosphere microbial community structure by decreasing fungal community diversity and increasing bacterial community diversity. Results of partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) and variation partitioning analysis (VPA) showed that the rhizosphere bacterial community predominated over the fungal community with respected to improvements in resistance to Cd stress under the co-inoculation treatments. This improvement was specifically seen in the enrichment of certain key bacterial taxa (including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi) induced by the rhizobia and AMF co-inoculation, enhancing alfalfa' ability to uptake rhizosphere nutrients and reduce its release of photosynthetically-derived carbon (C) into soil. Our findings revealed that the co-inoculation of multiple symbiotic microbes can assist plants to effectively cope with Cd stress, providing a greater understanding of rhizosphere bacterial taxa in the microbe-induced phytomanagement.}, } @article {pmid33652061, year = {2021}, author = {Álvarez, J and Fernández Real, JM and Guarner, F and Gueimonde, M and Rodríguez, JM and Saenz de Pipaon, M and Sanz, Y}, title = {Gut microbes and health.}, journal = {Gastroenterologia y hepatologia}, volume = {44}, number = {7}, pages = {519-535}, doi = {10.1016/j.gastrohep.2021.01.009}, pmid = {33652061}, issn = {0210-5705}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Immune System/physiology ; Neurosecretory Systems/physiology ; }, abstract = {The human body is populated by myriads of microorganisms throughout its surface and in the cavities connected to the outside. The microbial colonisers of the intestine (microbiota) are a functional and non-expendable part of the human organism: they provide genes (microbiome) and additional functions to the resources of our species and participate in multiple physiological processes (somatic development, nutrition, immunity, etc.). Some chronic non-communicable diseases of developed society (atopias, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory diseases, cancer and some behaviour disorders) are associated with dysbiosis: loss of species richness in the intestinal microbiota and deviation from the ancestral microbial environment. Changes in the vertical transmission of the microbiome, the use of antiseptics and antibiotics, and dietary habits in industrialised society appear to be at the origin of dysbiosis. Generating and maintaining diversity in the microbiota is a new clinical target for health promotion and disease prevention.}, } @article {pmid33651291, year = {2021}, author = {Gerami, Z and Lakzian, A and Hemati, A and Amirifar, A and Asgari Lajayer, B and van Hullebusch, ED}, title = {Effect of cadmium on sorghum root colonization by glomeral fungi and its impact on total and easily extractable glomalin production.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {26}, pages = {34570-34583}, pmid = {33651291}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Cadmium/analysis ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; *Sorghum ; }, abstract = {Glomalin is a specific glycoprotein compound synthesized by glomeral fungi and its amount varies according to soil conditions. Due to the symbiosis of these fungi with a multitude of plants, a remarkable amount of glomalin is produced inside the hypha wall of these fungi. Furthermore, while increasing the symbiosis stability, glomalin plays a critical role in reducing the availability of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through their fixation. In this regard, soil contamination with PTEs such as cadmium (Cd) affects the glomalin production of mycorrhiza fungi. In order to investigate the effect of different levels of Cd on glomalin production of three species of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi in the presence of sorghum, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement and three repetitions. Factors include four levels of Cd (0, 5, 10, 20 milligrams per kilogram of soil) and second factor included these three types of mycorrhiza: Funneliformis mosseae (FM), Rhizophagus intraradices (RI), and Claroideoglomus etunicatum (CE). The results of this study showed that when increasing soil Cd concentration, shoot dry weight, root colonization percentage, total and easily extractable glomalin decreased while leaf proline concentration, shoot, and root Cd concentration increased. The presence of mycorrhiza in comparison with the control increased the dry weight of shoots and plant height. The results showed that mycorrhizal treatments increased total and easily extractable glomalin compared to the absence of mycorrhiza. Also, the highest amount of glomalin production was observed in two species of FM and CE. Complexation of Cd by total glomalin and easily extractable glomalin was higher in two species of FM and CE rather than RI. The results showed that the use of three species of mycorrhizae reduced the adverse effects of high levels of Cd. Also, the concentration of leaf proline, soluble sugars, shoot, and root Cd concentration was higher in presence of mycorrhizal fungal species than in plant not inoculated with mycorrhizal fungal species. This increase was significant in both FM and CE species. Finally, a notable positive correlation was also observed between glomalin measured by Bradford method and percentage of root colonization.}, } @article {pmid33650119, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, Z and Zhang, K and Wang, L and Su, Y and Wang, J and Song, T and Yang, X and Tang, J and Lin, S}, title = {Nitrogen availability improves the physiological resilience of coral endosymbiont Cladocopium goreaui to high temperature.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {4}, pages = {1187-1198}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13156}, pmid = {33650119}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The physiological response of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae to high temperature is believed to result in coral bleaching. However, the potential effect of nitrogen availability on heat acclimatization of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae is still unclear. In this study, physiological responses of Symbiodiniaceae Cladocopium goreaui to temperature and nitrogen nutrient stress conditions were investigated. Nitrogen deficiency caused significant declines in cell concentration and chlorophyll content per cell, but significant increases in nitric oxide synthase activity, caspase3 activation level, and cellular carbon content of C. goreaui at normal temperature. Algal cells under high temperature and nitrogen deficiency showed significant rises in Fv/Fm, catalase activity, and caspase3 activation level, but no significant changes in cell yield, cell size, chlorophyll content, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide synthase activity, and cellular contents of nitrogen and carbon, in comparison with those under normal temperature and nitrogen deficiency. Growth, chlorophyll, and nitrogen contents of algal cells under the high temperature and nitrogen-replete conditions were significantly higher than those under high temperature or nitrogen deficiency alone, whereas nitric oxide synthase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, carbon content, and caspase3 activation level exhibited opposite trends of variation. Transcriptomic and network analyses revealed ion transport and metabolic processes mainly involved in regulating these physiological activities under different temperature and nitrogen nutrient. The totality of results shows that high temperature activates stress responses, induces antioxidant capacity of apoptosis, and limits the growth rate of C. goreaui. Adequate nitrogen nutrient can improve the resilience of this Symbiodiniaceae against heat stress through repressed apoptosis, promoted ion transport, and optimized metabolism.}, } @article {pmid33649552, year = {2021}, author = {Emmett, BD and Lévesque-Tremblay, V and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Conserved and reproducible bacterial communities associate with extraradical hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {2276-2288}, pmid = {33649552}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Hyphae ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Extraradical hyphae (ERH) of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) extend from plant roots into the soil environment and interact with soil microbial communities. Evidence of positive and negative interactions between AMF and soil bacteria point to functionally important ERH-associated communities. To characterize communities associated with ERH and test controls on their establishment and composition, we utilized an in-growth core system containing a live soil-sand mixture that allowed manual extraction of ERH for 16S rRNA gene amplicon profiling. Across experiments and soils, consistent enrichment of members of the Betaproteobacteriales, Myxococcales, Fibrobacterales, Cytophagales, Chloroflexales, and Cellvibrionales was observed on ERH samples, while variation among samples from different soils was observed primarily at lower taxonomic ranks. The ERH-associated community was conserved between two fungal species assayed, Glomus versiforme and Rhizophagus irregularis, though R. irregularis exerted a stronger selection and showed greater enrichment for taxa in the Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. A distinct community established within 14 days of hyphal access to the soil, while temporal patterns of establishment and turnover varied between taxonomic groups. Identification of a conserved ERH-associated community is consistent with the concept of an AMF microbiome and can aid the characterization of facilitative and antagonistic interactions influencing the plant-fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33649428, year = {2021}, author = {Songwattana, P and Chaintreuil, C and Wongdee, J and Teulet, A and Mbaye, M and Piromyou, P and Gully, D and Fardoux, J and Zoumman, AMA and Camuel, A and Tittabutr, P and Teaumroong, N and Giraud, E}, title = {Identification of type III effectors modulating the symbiotic properties of Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ORS3257 with various Vigna species.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {4874}, pmid = {33649428}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {The Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ORS3257 is an elite strain recommended for cowpea inoculation in Senegal. This strain was recently shown to establish symbioses on some Aeschynomene species using a cocktail of Type III effectors (T3Es) secreted by the T3SS machinery. In this study, using a collection of mutants in different T3Es genes, we sought to identify the effectors that modulate the symbiotic properties of ORS3257 in three Vigna species (V. unguiculata, V. radiata and V. mungo). While the T3SS had a positive impact on the symbiotic efficiency of the strain in V. unguiculata and V. mungo, it blocked symbiosis with V. radiata. The combination of effectors promoting nodulation in V. unguiculata and V. mungo differed, in both cases, NopT and NopAB were involved, suggesting they are key determinants for nodulation, and to a lesser extent, NopM1 and NopP1, which are additionally required for optimal symbiosis with V. mungo. In contrast, only one effector, NopP2, was identified as the cause of the incompatibility between ORS3257 and V. radiata. The identification of key effectors which promote symbiotic efficiency or render the interaction incompatible is important for the development of inoculation strategies to improve the growth of Vigna species cultivated in Africa and Asia.}, } @article {pmid33649233, year = {2021}, author = {Jang, S and Mergaert, P and Ohbayashi, T and Ishigami, K and Shigenobu, S and Itoh, H and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Dual oxidase enables insect gut symbiosis by mediating respiratory network formation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33649233}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*growth & development ; Dual Oxidases/genetics/*metabolism ; *Heteroptera/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Intestines/enzymology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most animals harbor a gut microbiota that consists of potentially pathogenic, commensal, and mutualistic microorganisms. Dual oxidase (Duox) is a well described enzyme involved in gut mucosal immunity by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that antagonizes pathogenic bacteria and maintains gut homeostasis in insects. However, despite its nonspecific harmful activity on microorganisms, little is known about the role of Duox in the maintenance of mutualistic gut symbionts. Here we show that, in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, Duox-dependent ROS did not directly contribute to epithelial immunity in the midgut in response to its mutualistic gut symbiont, Burkholderia insecticola Instead, we found that the expression of Duox is tracheae-specific and its down-regulation by RNAi results in the loss of dityrosine cross-links in the tracheal protein matrix and a collapse of the respiratory system. We further demonstrated that the establishment of symbiosis is a strong oxygen sink triggering the formation of an extensive network of tracheae enveloping the midgut symbiotic organ as well as other organs, and that tracheal breakdown by Duox RNAi provokes a disruption of the gut symbiosis. Down-regulation of the hypoxia-responsive transcription factor Sima or the regulators of tracheae formation Trachealess and Branchless produces similar phenotypes. Thus, in addition to known roles in immunity and in the formation of dityrosine networks in diverse extracellular matrices, Duox is also a crucial enzyme for tracheal integrity, which is crucial to sustain mutualistic symbionts and gut homeostasis. We expect that this is a conserved function in insects.}, } @article {pmid33648533, year = {2021}, author = {Pilgrim, J and Siozios, S and Baylis, M and Venter, G and Garros, C and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Correction to: Cardinium symbiosis as a potential confounder of mtDNA based phylogeographic inference in Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a vector of veterinary viruses.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {128}, pmid = {33648533}, issn = {1756-3305}, } @article {pmid33647060, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Y and Wu, X and Wang, Z and Chen, T and Zhou, S and Chen, J and Pang, L and Ye, X and Shi, M and Huang, J and Chen, X}, title = {Symbiotic bracovirus of a parasite manipulates host lipid metabolism via tachykinin signaling.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {e1009365}, pmid = {33647060}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Digestive System/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics/*immunology ; Larva/metabolism/virology ; Lipid Metabolism/immunology/*physiology ; Parasites/pathogenicity/*virology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Signal Transduction/immunology/physiology ; Wasps/physiology/virology ; }, abstract = {Parasites alter host energy homeostasis for their own development, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely unknown. Here, we show that Cotesia vestalis, an endoparasitic wasp of Plutella xylostella larvae, stimulates a reduction of host lipid levels. This process requires excess secretion of P. xylostella tachykinin (PxTK) peptides from enteroendocrine cells (EEs) in the midgut of the parasitized host larvae. We found that parasitization upregulates PxTK signaling to suppress lipogenesis in midgut enterocytes (ECs) in a non-cell-autonomous manner, and the reduced host lipid level benefits the development of wasp offspring and their subsequent parasitic ability. We further found that a C. vestalis bracovirus (CvBV) gene, CvBV 9-2, is responsible for PxTK induction, which in turn reduces the systemic lipid level of the host. Taken together, these findings illustrate a novel mechanism for parasite manipulation of host energy homeostasis by a symbiotic bracovirus gene to promote the development and increase the parasitic efficiency of an agriculturally important wasp species.}, } @article {pmid33646482, year = {2021}, author = {Olivieri, E and Kariuki, E and Floriano, AM and Castelli, M and Tafesse, YM and Magoga, G and Kumsa, B and Montagna, M and Sassera, D}, title = {Multi-country investigation of the diversity and associated microorganisms isolated from tick species from domestic animals, wildlife and vegetation in selected african countries.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {427-448}, pmid = {33646482}, issn = {1572-9702}, mesh = {Africa ; Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; Animals, Wild ; Egypt/epidemiology ; *Rickettsia ; *Tick-Borne Diseases/epidemiology/veterinary ; }, abstract = {In many areas of Africa, recent studies highlighted the great impact of ticks on animal and human health throughout the continent. On the other hand, very limited information on the bacterial endosymbionts of the African ticks and their pattern of co-infections with other bacteria are found in literature, notwithstanding their pivotal role in tick survival and vector efficiency. Thus, we investigated the distribution of selected pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria in hard ticks collected from wild, domestic animals and from vegetation in various ecological zones in Africa and their co-occurrence in the same tick host. Overall, 339 hard ticks were morphologically identified as belonging to the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus. Molecular screening provided information on pathogens circulation in Africa, detecting spotted fever group rickettsiae, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia ruminantium, Borrelia garinii, Babesia spp., Theileria spp. and Coxiella burnetii. Furthermore, our work provides insights on the African scenario of tick-symbiont associations, revealing the presence of Coxiella, Francisella and Midichloria across multiple tick populations. Coxiella endosymbionts were the most prevalent microorganisms, and that with the broadest spectrum of hosts, being detected in 16 tick species. Francisella was highly prevalent among the Hyalomma species tested and correlated negatively with the presence of Coxiella, showing a potential competitive interaction. Interestingly, we detected a positive association of Francisella with Rickettsia in specimens of Hy. rufipes, suggesting a synergistic interaction between them. Finally, Midichloria was the most prevalent symbiont in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato from Egypt.}, } @article {pmid33646380, year = {2021}, author = {Saidi, S and Cherif-Silini, H and Chenari Bouket, A and Silini, A and Eshelli, M and Luptakova, L and Alenezi, FN and Belbahri, L}, title = {Improvement of Medicago sativa Crops Productivity by the Co-inoculation of Sinorhizobium meliloti-Actinobacteria Under Salt Stress.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {1344-1357}, pmid = {33646380}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria ; Bacteria ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Medicago sativa ; Salt Stress ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Biotic and abiotic stresses are severely limiting plant production and productivity. Of notable importance is salt stress that not only limits plant growth and survival, but affects the soil fertility and threatens agricultural ecosystems sustainability. The problem is exacerbated in fragile arid and semi-arid areas where high evaporation, low precipitation and the use of salty water for irrigation is accelerating soil salinization. Legumes, considered very nutritious foods for people and providing essential nutrients for ecosystems are a fundamental element of sustainable agriculture. They can restore soil health by their ability to fix nitrogen in a symbiotic interaction with the rhizobia of the soil. However, salt stress is severely limiting productivity and nitrogen fixation ability in legumes. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mainly actinobacteria promote plant growth by producing phytohormones, siderophores, antibiotics and antifungal compounds, solubilizing phosphate and providing antagonism to phytopathogenic microorganisms. In addition, actinobacteria have beneficial effects on nodulation and growth of legumes. In this study, actinobacteria isolated from different niches and having PGP activities were used in co-inoculation experiments with rhizobia in Medicago sativa plants rhizosphere submitted to salt stress. The results indicate that drought- and salinity-tolerant Actinobacteria with multiple PGP traits can potentially increase alfalfa growth under saline conditions, in the presence or absence of symbiotic rhizobial bacteria. Actinobacteria discovered in this study can, therefore, be suitable biofertilizers in the formulation of agricultural products improving plant development, health and productivity in saline soils, a necessary alternative for modern agriculture and sustainable development.}, } @article {pmid33646379, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, S and Li, C and Zhu, T and Jin, L and Deng, W and Zhao, K and He, Y and Li, G and Xiong, Y and Li, T and Li, B and Huang, Y and Zhang, H and Zou, L}, title = {Diversity and Composition of Gut Bacterial Community in Giant Panda with Anorexia.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {1358-1366}, pmid = {33646379}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Anorexia ; China ; Feces ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Ursidae ; }, abstract = {The giant panda (GP) is the most precious animal in China. Gastrointestinal tract disease, especially associated with dysbiosis of gut microbiota, is the leading cause of death in GPs. Here, we performed 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to investigate the gut microbiota of GPs having symptoms of anorexia. Results showed that gut microbiota of GP with anorexia had lower richness (Chao1 index) than the healthy GP. However, no significant differences in alpha diversity were observed. There is a significance in the microbial structure between anorexia and healthy GPs. The abundance of phylum Firmicutes (99.23% ± 7.1%), unidentified genus Clostridiales (24.75% ± 2.5%), was significantly higher in the subadult anorexia group (P < 0.01), and that of the unidentified genus Clostridiales (4.53% ± 1.2%) was also significantly higher in the adult anorexia group (P < 0.01). Weissella and Streptococcus were found to be decreased in both anorexia groups. The decreased abundance of Weissella (0.02% ± 0.0%, 0.08% ± 0.0%) and Streptococcus (73.89% ± 4.3%, 91.15% ± 7.6%) and increase in Clostridium may cause symptoms of anorexia in giant pandas. The correlation analysis indicated that there is a symbiotic relationship among Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Weissella, and Bacillus which are classified as probiotics (r > 0.6, P < 0.05). Importantly, a negative correlation has been found between Streptococcus and unidentified_Clostridium in two groups (r > 0.6, P < 0.05). Our results suggested that Streptococcus might be used as probiotics to control the growth of Clostridium causing the anorexia.}, } @article {pmid33645897, year = {2022}, author = {Pérez-Rodríguez, S and García-Aznar, JM and Gonzalo-Asensio, J}, title = {Microfluidic devices for studying bacterial taxis, drug testing and biofilm formation.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {395-414}, pmid = {33645897}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biofilms ; *Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; *Microfluidics/methods ; }, abstract = {Some bacteria have coevolved to establish symbiotic or pathogenic relationships with plants, animals or humans. With human association, the bacteria can cause a variety of diseases. Thus, understanding bacterial phenotypes at the single-cell level is essential to develop beneficial applications. Traditional microbiological techniques have provided great knowledge about these organisms; however, they have also shown limitations, such as difficulties in culturing some bacteria, the heterogeneity of bacterial populations or difficulties in recreating some physical or biological conditions. Microfluidics is an emerging technique that complements current biological assays. Since microfluidics works with micrometric volumes, it allows fine-tuning control of the test conditions. Moreover, it allows the recruitment of three-dimensional (3D) conditions, in which several processes can be integrated and gradients can be generated, thus imitating physiological 3D environments. Here, we review some key microfluidic-based studies describing the effects of different microenvironmental conditions on bacterial response, biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance. For this aim, we present different studies classified into six groups according to the design of the microfluidic device: (i) linear channels, (ii) mixing channels, (iii) multiple floors, (iv) porous devices, (v) topographic devices and (vi) droplet microfluidics. Hence, we highlight the potential and possibilities of using microfluidic-based technology to study bacterial phenotypes in comparison with traditional methodologies.}, } @article {pmid33643369, year = {2021}, author = {Castellani, LG and Luchetti, A and Nilsson, JF and Pérez-Giménez, J and Wegener, C and Schlüter, A and Pühler, A and Lagares, A and Brom, S and Pistorio, M and Niehaus, K and Torres Tejerizo, GA}, title = {Exopolysaccharide Characterization of Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83 and Its Role in the Symbiosis With Alfalfa.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {642576}, pmid = {33643369}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {One of the greatest inputs of available nitrogen into the biosphere occurs through the biological N2-fixation to ammonium as result of the symbiosis between rhizobia and leguminous plants. These interactions allow increased crop yields on nitrogen-poor soils. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are key components for the establishment of an effective symbiosis between alfalfa and Ensifer meliloti, as bacteria that lack EPS are unable to infect the host plants. Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83 is an acid-tolerant rhizobia strain capable of nodulating alfalfa but inefficient to fix nitrogen. Aiming to identify the molecular determinants that allow R. favelukesii to infect plants, we studied its EPS biosynthesis. LPU83 produces an EPS I identical to the one present in E. meliloti, but the organization of the genes involved in its synthesis is different. The main gene cluster needed for the synthesis of EPS I in E. meliloti, is split into three different sections in R. favelukesii, which probably arose by a recent event of horizontal gene transfer. A R. favelukesii strain devoided of all the genes needed for the synthesis of EPS I is still able to infect and nodulate alfalfa, suggesting that attention should be directed to other molecules involved in the development of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33643235, year = {2021}, author = {Storo, R and Easson, C and Shivji, M and Lopez, JV}, title = {Microbiome Analyses Demonstrate Specific Communities Within Five Shark Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {605285}, pmid = {33643235}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Profiles of symbiotic microbial communities ("microbiomes") can provide insight into the natural history and ecology of their hosts. Using high throughput DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 region, microbiomes of five shark species in South Florida (nurse, lemon, sandbar, Caribbean reef, and tiger) have been characterized for the first time. The microbiomes show species specific microbiome composition, distinct from surrounding seawater. Shark anatomical location (gills, teeth, skin, cloaca) affected the diversity of microbiomes. An in-depth analysis of teeth communities revealed species specific microbial communities. For example, the genus Haemophilus, explained 7.0% of the differences of the teeth microbiomes of lemon and Caribbean reef sharks. Lemon shark teeth communities (n = 11) contained a high abundance of both Vibrio (10.8 ± 26.0%) and Corynebacterium (1.6 ± 5.1%), genera that can include human pathogenic taxa. The Vibrio (2.8 ± 6.34%) and Kordia (3.1 ± 6.0%) genera and Salmonella enterica (2.6 ± 6.4%) were the most abundant members of nurse shark teeth microbial communities. The Vibrio genus was highly represented in the sandbar shark (54.0 ± 46.0%) and tiger shark (5.8 ± 12.3%) teeth microbiomes. The prevalence of genera containing potential human pathogens could be informative in shark bite treatment protocols and future research to confirm or deny human pathogenicity. We conclude that South Florida sharks host species specific microbiomes that are distinct from their surrounding environment and vary due to differences in microbial community composition among shark species and diversity and composition among anatomical locations. Additionally, when considering the confounding effects of both species and location, microbial community diversity and composition varies.}, } @article {pmid33641747, year = {2021}, author = {Bhattarai, K and Bhattarai, K and Kabir, ME and Bastola, R and Baral, B}, title = {Fungal natural products galaxy: Biochemistry and molecular genetics toward blockbuster drugs discovery.}, journal = {Advances in genetics}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {193-284}, doi = {10.1016/bs.adgen.2020.11.006}, pmid = {33641747}, issn = {0065-2660}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Biological Products/*chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cheminformatics/methods ; Drug Discovery ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Fungi/*genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Multigene Family ; Mycoses/microbiology/veterinary ; Mycotoxins/chemistry/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {Secondary metabolites synthesized by fungi have become a precious source of inspiration for the design of novel drugs. Indeed, fungi are prolific producers of fascinating, diverse, structurally complex, and low-molecular-mass natural products with high therapeutic leads, such as novel antimicrobial compounds, anticancer compounds, immunosuppressive agents, among others. Given that these microorganisms possess the extraordinary capacity to secrete diverse chemical scaffolds, they have been highly exploited by the giant pharma companies to generate small molecules. This has been made possible because the isolation of metabolites from fungal natural sources is feasible and surpasses the organic synthesis of compounds, which otherwise remains a significant bottleneck in the drug discovery process. Here in this comprehensive review, we have discussed recent studies on different fungi (pathogenic, non-pathogenic, commensal, and endophytic/symbiotic) from different habitats (terrestrial and marines), the specialized metabolites they biosynthesize, and the drugs derived from these specialized metabolites. Moreover, we have unveiled the logic behind the biosynthesis of vital chemical scaffolds, such as NRPS, PKS, PKS-NRPS hybrid, RiPPS, terpenoids, indole alkaloids, and their genetic mechanisms. Besides, we have provided a glimpse of the concept behind mycotoxins, virulence factor, and host immune response based on fungal infections.}, } @article {pmid33641171, year = {2021}, author = {Fraser, A and Clark, A}, title = {Damaged hardmen: Organized crime and the half-life of deindustrialization.}, journal = {The British journal of sociology}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {1062-1076}, doi = {10.1111/1468-4446.12828}, pmid = {33641171}, issn = {1468-4446}, mesh = {Adolescent ; *Crime ; Half-Life ; Humans ; *Industry ; Scotland ; }, abstract = {Despite frequent associations, deindustrialization features rarely in studies of organized crime, and organized crime is at best a spectral presence in studies of deindustrialization. By developing an original application of Linkon's concept of the "half-life," we present an empirical case for the symbiotic relationship between former sites of industry and the emergence of criminal markets. Based on a detailed case-study in the west of Scotland, an area long associated with both industry and crime, the paper interrogates the environmental, social, and cultural after-effects of deindustrialization at a community level. Drawing on 55 interviews with residents and service-providers in Tunbrooke, an urban community where an enduring criminal market grew in the ruins of industry, the paper elaborates the complex landscapes of identity, vulnerability, and harm that are embedded in the symbiosis of crime and deindustrialization. Building on recent scholarship, the paper argues that organized crime in Tunbrooke is best understood as an instance of "residual culture" grafted onto a fragmented, volatile criminal marketplace where the stable props of territorial identity are unsettled. The analysis allows for an extension of both the study of deindustrialization and organized crime, appreciating the "enduring legacies" of closure on young people, communal identity, and social relations in the twenty-first century.}, } @article {pmid33640986, year = {2021}, author = {Zhu, F and Ye, Q and Chen, H and Dong, J and Wang, T}, title = {Multigene editing reveals that MtCEP1/2/12 redundantly control lateral root and nodule number in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {10}, pages = {3661-3676}, pmid = {33640986}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Gene Editing ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Plant Roots/genetics ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The multimember CEP (C-terminally Encoded Peptide) gene family is a complex group that is involved in various physiological activities in plants. Previous studies demonstrated that MtCEP1 and MtCEP7 control lateral root formation or nodulation, but these studies were based only on gain of function or artificial miRNA (amiRNA)/RNAi approaches, never knockout mutants. Moreover, an efficient multigene editing toolkit is not currently available for Medicago truncatula. Our quantitative reverse transcription-PCR data showed that MtCEP1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13 were up-regulated under nitrogen starvation conditions and that MtCEP1, 2, 7, 9, and 12 were induced by rhizobial inoculation. Treatment with synthetic MtCEP peptides of MtCEP1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12 repressed lateral root emergence and promoted nodulation in the R108 wild type but not in the cra2 mutant. We optimized CRISPR/Cas9 [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9] genome editing system for M. truncatula, and thus created single mutants of MtCEP1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 and the double mutants Mtcep1/2C and Mtcep5/8C; however, these mutants did not exhibit significant differences from R108. Furthermore, a triple mutant Mtcep1/2/12C and a quintuple mutant Mtcep1/2/5/8/12C were generated and exhibited more lateral roots and fewer nodules than R108. Overall, MtCEP1, 2, and 12 were confirmed to be redundantly important in the control of lateral root number and nodulation. Moreover, the CRISPR/Cas9-based multigene editing protocol provides an additional tool for research on the model legume M. truncatula, which is highly efficient at multigene mutant generation.}, } @article {pmid33639022, year = {2021}, author = {Říhová, J and Batani, G and Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Martinů, J and Vácha, F and Nováková, E and Hypša, V}, title = {A new symbiotic lineage related to Neisseria and Snodgrassella arises from the dynamic and diverse microbiomes in sucking lice.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {2178-2196}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15866}, pmid = {33639022}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anoplura ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Neisseria ; *Neisseriaceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylogenetic diversity of symbiotic bacteria in sucking lice suggests that lice have a complex history of symbiont acquisition, loss, and replacement throughout their evolution. These processes have resulted in the establishment of different, phylogenetically distant bacteria as obligate mutualists in different louse groups. By combining metagenomics and amplicon screening across several populations of three louse species (members of the genera Polyplax and Hoplopleura) we describe a novel louse symbiont lineage related to Neisseria and Snodgrassella, and show its independent origin in the two louse genera. While the genomes of these symbionts are highly similar, their respective distributions and status within lice microbiomes indicate that they have different functions and history. In Hoplopleura acanthopus, the Neisseriaceae-related bacterium is a dominant obligate symbiont present across several host populations. In contrast, the Polyplax microbiomes are dominated by the obligate symbiont Legionella polyplacis, with the Neisseriaceae-related bacterium co-occurring only in some samples and with much lower abundance. The results thus support the view that compared to other exclusively blood feeding insects, Anoplura possess a unique capacity to acquire symbionts from diverse groups of bacteria.}, } @article {pmid33638901, year = {2021}, author = {Shah, AS and Wakelin, SA and Moot, DJ and Blond, C and Laugraud, A and Ridgway, HJ}, title = {Trifolium repens and T. subterraneum modify their nodule microbiome in response to soil pH.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {131}, number = {4}, pages = {1858-1869}, doi = {10.1111/jam.15050}, pmid = {33638901}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Trifolium ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The influence of soil edaphic factors on recruitment and composition of bacteria in the legume nodule is unknown. Typically, low (acidic) pH soils have a negative effect on the plant-rhizobia symbiosis and thereby reduce clover growth. However, the specific relationship between soil pH and the ecology of rhizobia is unknown, in either their free-living or nodule-inhabiting states. We used New Zealand pasture systems with soils of different pH, and white (WC) and subterranean (SC) clovers, to examine the relationship between soil pH and the diversity of bacteria that inhabit the nodules.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA) assessed the bacterial community in 5299 nodules recovered from both legume species grown in 47 soils of different edaphic (including pH) properties. Fewer nodules were formed on both clovers at low soil pH. As expected, rhizobia comprised ∼ 92% of the total reads in both clovers, however 28 non-rhizobia genera were also present. Soil pH influenced the community structure of bacteria within the nodule, and this was more evident in non-Rhizobium taxa than Rhizobium. Host strongly influenced the diversity of bacteria in the nodules. The alpha diversity of nodule microbiome in SC nodules was higher than in WC nodules and SC nodules also harbored a higher relative abundance of non-Rhizobium bacteria than WC. Beta diversity of Rhizobium and non-Rhizobium bacteria was influenced more by clover species rather than edaphic factors.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that these clover species modified their nodule biomes in response to pH-stress.

The non-Rhizobium bacteria may have some functional significance (such as improved clover persistence in low pH soils) in legume nodules.}, } @article {pmid33638021, year = {2021}, author = {Birol, D and Gunyar, OA}, title = {Investigation of presence of endofungal bacteria in Rhizopus spp. ısolated from the different food samples.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {5}, pages = {2269-2277}, pmid = {33638021}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Food Microbiology ; Humans ; Hyphae/*physiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Mycelium/chemistry ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizopus/genetics/*metabolism ; Serratia marcescens/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizopus species are opportunistic pathogens and cause infections which lead to deaths in individuals with the weakened immune system. Some strains of Rhizopus species have been detected to have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. The toxicity of the Rhizopus species is important. Because strains harbouring endofungal bacteria are able to produce secondary metabolites and if endofungal bacteria are released from mycelium, serious problems can occur. We aimed to investigate the presence of endofungal bacteria in Rhizopus species isolated from food samples. Rhizopus species were isolated from different food samples. The presence of endofungal bacteria in the Rhizopus isolates was investigated. Rhizopus strains containing the endofungal bacteria were identified through phenotypic and genotypic methods. Universal primers amplifying bacterial 16S rRNA region were used to amplify 1.2-1.5-kb fragment from fungal metagenomic DNA. Sequence analysis of PCR products amplified from fungal metagenomic DNA was made. Fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to visualize the presence of endofungal bacteria in fungal hyphae. According to our results, the Rhizopus strains is associated with Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Until now there is no evidence that Pseudomonas fluorescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified as endofungal. These species are opportunistic pathogen dangerous for humans. It is important for humans not only the presence of the fungi but also the presence of the endofungal bacteria in foods. Our work is important because it draws attention to the presence of endofungal bacteria in foods. Because there is danger releasing of a bacterium from the mycelium, it is likely to face sepsis or serious problems.}, } @article {pmid33638001, year = {2021}, author = {Shimamori, Y and Pramono, AK and Kitao, T and Suzuki, T and Aizawa, SI and Kubori, T and Nagai, H and Takeda, S and Ando, H}, title = {Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Phage SaGU1 that Infects Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates from Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {1267-1276}, pmid = {33638001}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Dermatitis, Atopic ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Japan ; Staphylococcus Phages/genetics ; *Staphylococcus aureus/genetics ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which colonizes healthy human skin, may cause diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Treatment for such AD cases involves antibiotic use; however, alternate treatments are preferred owing to the development of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to characterize the novel bacteriophage SaGU1 as a potential agent for phage therapy to treat S. aureus infections. SaGU1 that infects S. aureus strains previously isolated from the skin of patients with AD was screened from sewage samples in Gifu, Japan. Its genome was sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics tools, and the morphology, lytic activity, stability, and host range of the phage were determined. The SaGU1 genome was 140,909 bp with an average GC content of 30.2%. The viral chromosome contained 225 putative protein-coding genes and four tRNA genes, carrying neither toxic nor antibiotic resistance genes. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that SaGU1 belongs to the Myoviridae family. Stability tests showed that SaGU1 was heat-stable under physiological and acidic conditions. Host range testing revealed that SaGU1 can infect a broad range of S. aureus clinical isolates present on the skin of AD patients, whereas it did not kill strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, which are symbiotic resident bacteria on human skin. Hence, our data suggest that SaGU1 is a potential candidate for developing a phage therapy to treat AD caused by pathogenic S. aureus.}, } @article {pmid33635417, year = {2022}, author = {Zhao, L and Yang, L and Guo, Y and Xiao, J and Zhang, J and Xu, S}, title = {New Insights into Stroke Prevention and Treatment: Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular neurobiology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {455-472}, pmid = {33635417}, issn = {1573-6830}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; *Nervous System Diseases ; Risk Factors ; *Stroke/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {Stroke, a lethal neurological disease, accounts for a grave economic burden on society. Despite extensive basic and clinical studies on stroke prevention, a precise effective treatment approach for stroke at this stage remains unavailable. The majority of our body's gut microbiota plays a vital role in food digestion, immune regulation, and nervous system development, which is highly associated with the development of some diseases. Multiple clinical studies have documented variation in the composition of gut microbiota between stroke patients and healthy counterparts. Moreover, the intervention of intestinal symbiotic microorganisms via several mechanisms plays an active role in stroke prognosis. In the prevention and treatment of stroke, the gut microbiota gives off a seductive glow, this is a promising therapeutic target. This paper summarizes the current knowledge of stroke and gut microbiota, and systematically describes the possible mechanisms of interaction between stroke and gut microbiota, the relationship between stroke-related risk factors and gut microbiota, and the treatment of gut flora using microorganisms. Thus, it could valuably elucidate the correlation of gut microbiota with stroke incidence, providing stroke researchers with a new strategy for stroke prevention and treatment by regulating gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid33634321, year = {2021}, author = {Teoh, MC and Furusawa, G and Veera Singham, G}, title = {Multifaceted interactions between the pseudomonads and insects: mechanisms and prospects.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {5}, pages = {1891-1915}, pmid = {33634321}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Control Agents ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Vectors/classification/microbiology ; Insecta/classification/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Insects and bacteria are the most widespread groups of organisms found in nearly all habitats on earth, establishing diverse interactions that encompass the entire range of possible symbiotic associations from strict parasitism to obligate mutualism. The complexity of their interactions is instrumental in shaping the roles of insects in the environment, meanwhile ensuring the survival and persistence of the associated bacteria. This review aims to provide detailed insight on the multifaceted symbiosis between one of the most versatile bacterial genera, Pseudomonas (Gammaproteobacteria: Pseudomonadaceae) and a diverse group of insect species. The Pseudomonas engages with varied interactions with insects, being either a pathogen or beneficial endosymbiont, as well as using insects as vectors. In addition, this review also provides updates on existing and potential applications of Pseudomonas and their numerous insecticidal metabolites as biocontrol agents against pest insects for the improvement of integrated pest management strategies. Here, we have summarized several known modes of action and the virulence factors of entomopathogenic Pseudomonas strains essential for their pathogenicity against insects. Meanwhile, the beneficial interactions between pseudomonads and insects are currently limited to a few known insect taxa, despite numerous studies reporting identification of pseudomonads in the guts and haemocoel of various insect species. The vector-symbiont association between pseudomonads and insects can be diverse from strict phoresy to a role switch from commensalism to parasitism following a dose-dependent response. Overall, the pseudomonads appeared to have evolved independently to be either exclusively pathogenic or beneficial towards insects.}, } @article {pmid33633751, year = {2020}, author = {Aslam, M and Aslam, A and Sheraz, M and Ali, B and Ulhassan, Z and Najeeb, U and Zhou, W and Gill, RA}, title = {Lead Toxicity in Cereals: Mechanistic Insight Into Toxicity, Mode of Action, and Management.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {587785}, pmid = {33633751}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cereals are the major contributors to global food supply, accounting for more than half of the total human calorie requirements. Sustainable availability of quality cereal grains is an important step to address the high-priority issue of food security. High concentrations of heavy metals specifically lead (Pb) in the soil negatively affect biochemical and physiological processes regulating grain quality in cereals. The dietary intake of Pb more than desirable quantity via food chain is a major concern for humans, as it can predispose individuals to chronic health issues. In plant systems, high Pb concentrations can disrupt several key metabolic processes such as electron transport chain, cellular organelles integrity, membrane stability index, PSII connectivity, mineral metabolism, oxygen-evolving complex, and enzymatic activity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been recommended as an inexpensive strategy for remediating Pb-contaminated soils. A diverse group of Ascomycetes fungi, i.e., dark septate endophytes is successfully used for this purpose. A symbiotic relationship between endophytes and host cereal induces Pb tolerance by immobilizing Pb ions. Molecular and cellular modifications in plants under Pb-stressed environments are explained by transcription factor families such as bZIP, ERF, and GARP as a regulator. The role of metal tolerance protein (MTP), natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP), and heavy metal ATPase in decreasing Pb toxicity is well known. In the present review, we provided the contemporary synthesis of existing data regarding the effects of Pb toxicity on morpho-physiological and biochemical responses of major cereal crops. We also highlighted the mechanism/s of Pb uptake and translocation in plants, critically discussed the possible management strategies and way forward to overcome the menace of Pb toxicity in cereals.}, } @article {pmid33633723, year = {2020}, author = {Gorlé, N and Bauwens, E and Haesebrouck, F and Smet, A and Vandenbroucke, RE}, title = {Helicobacter and the Potential Role in Neurological Disorders: There Is More Than Helicobacter pylori.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {584165}, pmid = {33633723}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/microbiology ; Gastric Mucosa/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Helicobacter/*pathogenicity ; Helicobacter Infections/*complications ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases/*etiology/*microbiology ; Stomach/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Trillions of symbiotic microbial cells colonize our body, of which the larger part is present in the human gut. These microbes play an essential role in our health and a shift in the microbiome is linked to several diseases. Recent studies also suggest a link between changes in gut microbiota and neurological disorders. Gut microbiota can communicate with the brain via several routes, together called the microbiome-gut-brain axis: the neuronal route, the endocrine route, the metabolic route and the immunological route. Helicobacter is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria colonizing the stomach, intestine and liver. Several papers show the role of H. pylori in the development and progression of neurological disorders, while hardly anything is known about other Helicobacter species and the brain. We recently reported a high prevalence of H. suis in patients with Parkinson's disease and showed an effect of a gastric H. suis infection on the mouse brain homeostasis. Here, we discuss the potential role of H. suis in neurological disorders and how it may affect the brain via the microbiome-gut-brain axis.}, } @article {pmid33633710, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, A and Chen, X and Luo, S and Zou, Q and Xie, J and He, D and Li, X and Cheng, G}, title = {Rhizobium leguminosarum Glutathione Peroxidase Is Essential for Oxidative Stress Resistance and Efficient Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {627562}, pmid = {33633710}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Glutathione (GSH) plays a key role in regulating the cellular Redox Homeostasis, and appears to be essential for initiation and development of root nodules. Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) catalyzes the reduction of H2O2 and organic hydroperoxides by oxidation of GSH to oxidized GSH (GSSG), which in turn is reduced by glutathione reductase (GR). However, it has not been determined whether the Rhizobium leguminosarum Gpx or GR is required during symbiotic interactions with pea. To characterize the role of glutathione-dependent enzymes in the symbiotic process, single and double mutants were made in gpxA (encoding glutathione peroxidase) and gshR (encoding glutathione reductase) genes. All the mutations did not affect the rhizobial growth, but they increased the sensitivity of R. leguminosarum strains to H2O2. Mutant in GpxA had no effect on intracellular GSH levels, but can increase the expression of the catalase genes. The gshR mutant can induce the formation of normal nodules, while the gpxA single and double mutants exhibited a nodulation phenotype coupled to more than 50% reduction in the nitrogen fixation capacity, these defects in nodulation were characterized by the formation of ineffective nodules. In addition, the gpxA and gshR double mutant was severely impaired in rhizosphere colonization and competition. Quantitative proteomics using the TMT labeling method was applied to study the differential expression of proteins in bacteroids isolated from pea root nodules. A total of 27 differentially expressed proteins were identified in these root bacteroids including twenty down-regulated and seven up-regulated proteins. By sorting the down-regulated proteins, eight are transporter proteins, seven are dehydrogenase, deoxygenase, oxidase, and hydrolase. Moreover, three down-regulating proteins are directly involved in nodule process.}, } @article {pmid33631813, year = {2021}, author = {Müller, LM}, title = {PHO1 proteins mediate phosphate transport in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {1}, pages = {26-28}, pmid = {33631813}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Family ; *Medicago truncatula ; Phosphates ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33631809, year = {2021}, author = {Nguyen, NNT and Clua, J and Vetal, PV and Vuarambon, DJ and De Bellis, D and Pervent, M and Lepetit, M and Udvardi, M and Valentine, AJ and Poirier, Y}, title = {PHO1 family members transport phosphate from infected nodule cells to bacteroids in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {1}, pages = {196-209}, pmid = {33631809}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes play an important role in the soil nitrogen availability via symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Phosphate (Pi) deficiency severely impacts SNF because of the high Pi requirement of symbiosis. Whereas PHT1 transporters are involved in Pi uptake into nodules, it is unknown how Pi is transferred from the plant infected cells to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. We hypothesized that Medicago truncatula genes homologous to Arabidopsis PHO1, encoding a vascular apoplastic Pi exporter, are involved in Pi transfer to bacteroids. Among the seven MtPHO1 genes present in M. truncatula, we found that two genes, namely MtPHO1.1 and MtPHO1.2, were broadly expressed across the various nodule zones in addition to the root vascular system. Expressions of MtPHO1.1 and MtPHO1.2 in Nicotiana benthamiana mediated specific Pi export. Plants with nodule-specific downregulation of both MtPHO1.1 and MtPHO1.2 were generated by RNA interference (RNAi) to examine their roles in nodule Pi homeostasis. Nodules of RNAi plants had lower Pi content and a three-fold reduction in SNF, resulting in reduced shoot growth. Whereas the rate of 33Pi uptake into nodules of RNAi plants was similar to control, transfer of 33Pi from nodule cells into bacteroids was reduced and bacteroids activated their Pi-deficiency response. Our results implicate plant MtPHO1 genes in bacteroid Pi homeostasis and SNF via the transfer of Pi from nodule infected cells to bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid33631421, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, Y and Zhang, R and Jiang, KW and Qi, J and Hu, Y and Guo, J and Zhu, R and Zhang, T and Egan, AN and Yi, TS and Huang, CH and Ma, H}, title = {Nuclear phylotranscriptomics and phylogenomics support numerous polyploidization events and hypotheses for the evolution of rhizobial nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in Fabaceae.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {748-773}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2021.02.006}, pmid = {33631421}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polyploidy ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Fabaceae are the third largest angiosperm family, with 765 genera and ∼19 500 species. They are important both economically and ecologically, and global Fabaceae crops are intensively studied in part for their nitrogen-fixing ability. However, resolution of the intrasubfamilial Fabaceae phylogeny and divergence times has remained elusive, precluding a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Fabaceae. Here, we report a highly resolved phylogeny using >1500 nuclear genes from newly sequenced transcriptomes and genomes of 391 species, along with other datasets, for a total of 463 legumes spanning all 6 subfamilies and 333 of 765 genera. The subfamilies are maximally supported as monophyletic. The clade comprising subfamilies Cercidoideae and Detarioideae is sister to the remaining legumes, and Duparquetioideae and Dialioideae are successive sisters to the clade of Papilionoideae and Caesalpinioideae. Molecular clock estimation revealed an early radiation of subfamilies near the K/Pg boundary, marked by mass extinction, and subsequent divergence of most tribe-level clades within ∼15 million years. Phylogenomic analyses of thousands of gene families support 28 proposed putative whole-genome duplication/whole-genome triplication events across Fabaceae, including those at the ancestors of Fabaceae and five of the subfamilies, and further analyses supported the Fabaceae ancestral polyploidy. The evolution of rhizobial nitrogen-fixing nodulation in Fabaceae was probed by ancestral character reconstruction and phylogenetic analyses of related gene families and the results support the hypotheses of one or two switch(es) to rhizobial nodulation followed by multiple losses. Collectively, these results provide a foundation for further morphological and functional evolutionary analyses across Fabaceae.}, } @article {pmid33630651, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, D and Luo, Y and Zheng, X and Wang, X and Chou, M and Wei, G}, title = {TRAPPC13 Is a Novel Target of Mesorhizobium amorphae Type III Secretion System Effector NopP.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {511-523}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-20-0354-FI}, pmid = {33630651}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Mesorhizobium/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; *Robinia ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics ; }, abstract = {Similar to pathogenic bacteria, rhizobia can inject effector proteins into host cells directly to promote infection via the type III secretion system (T3SS). Nodulation outer protein P (NopP), a specific T3SS effector of rhizobia, plays different roles in the establishment of multiple rhizobia-legume symbiotic systems. Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 (GS0123), which infects Robinia pseudoacacia specifically, secretes several T3SS effectors, including NopP. Here, we demonstrate that NopP is secreted through T3SS-I of GS0123 during the early stages of infection, and its deficiency decreases nodule nitrogenase activity of R. pseudoacacia nodules. A trafficking protein particle complex subunit 13-like protein (TRAPPC13) has been identified as a NopP target protein in R. pseudoacacia roots by screening a yeast two-hybrid library. The physical interaction between NopP and TRAPPC13 is verified by bimolecular fluorescence complementation and coimmunoprecipitation assays. In addition, subcellular localization analysis reveals that both NopP and its target, TRAPPC13, are colocalized on the plasma membrane. Compared with GS0123-inoculated R. pseudoacacia roots, some genes associated with cell wall remodeling and plant innate immunity down-regulated in ΔnopP-inoculated roots at 36 h postinoculation. The results suggest that NopP in M. amorphae CCNWGS0123 acts in multiple processes in R. pseudoacacia during the early stages of infection, and TRAPPC13 could participate in the process as a NopP target.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33628078, year = {2021}, author = {González-Vallejo, NE and Amador-Carrillo, S}, title = {Assessment of Megadenus holothuricola Rosén, 1910 (Eulimidae), an endoparasite of Holothuria mexicana Ludwig, 1875 (Holothuriidae) in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the description a new species.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {1016}, number = {}, pages = {49-61}, pmid = {33628078}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {As part of a study on holothurians from the southern Gulf of Mexico, some Holothuria mexicana Ludwig, 1875 were obtained for gut analysis. In two of them, a couple of eulimids were located inside the main tube of the respiratory tree. They were identified as Megadenus holothuricola Rosén, 1910, described from the Bahamas Islands, based on five specimens attached to the respiratory tree of H. mexicana. The original description was brief with few details, the type material is lost, and the species has not been found again. In this contribution, this species is confirmed for Campeche Bay, Mexico. The adult shell is globular to conical, transparent, thin, and fragile. Megadenus smithi sp. nov. from Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific is described based on adult specimens. It differs from its congeneric species in its more robust shell, the pseudopallium does not cover the shell, and its short and contracted proboscis forms a thick disc. Further research on these eulimid parasites is now complicated in the southern Gulf of Mexico because of the holothurian population collapse due to over-exploitation of the fishery.}, } @article {pmid33627505, year = {2021}, author = {Fordyce, AJ and Ainsworth, TD and Leggat, W}, title = {Light Capture, Skeletal Morphology, and the Biomass of Corals' Boring Endoliths.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33627505}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; *Biomass ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; *Light ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {There is a growing interest in the endolithic microbial biofilms inhabiting skeletons of living corals because of their contribution to coral reef bioerosion and the reputed benefits they provide to live coral hosts. Here, we sought to identify possible correlations between coral interspecific patterns in skeletal morphology and variability in the biomass of, and chlorophyll concentrations within, the endolithic biofilm. We measured five morphological characteristics of five coral species and the biomasses/chlorophyll concentrations of their endolithic microbiome, and we compare interspecific patterns in these variables. We propose that the specific density of a coral's skeleton and its capacity for capturing and scattering incident light are the main correlates of endolithic microbial biomass. Our data suggest that the correlation between light capture and endolithic biomass is likely influenced by how the green microalgae (obligatory microborers) respond to skeletal variability. These results demonstrate that coral species differ significantly in their endolithic microbial biomass and that their skeletal structure could be used to predict these interspecific differences. Further exploring how and why the endolithic microbiome varies between coral species is vital in defining the role of these microbes on coral reefs, both now and in the future.IMPORTANCE Microbial communities living inside the skeletons of living corals play a variety of important roles within the coral meta-organism, both symbiotic and parasitic. Properly contextualizing the contribution of these enigmatic microbes to the life history of coral reefs requires knowledge of how these endolithic biofilms vary between coral species. To this effect, we measured differences in the morphology of five coral species and correlate these with variability in the biomass of the skeletal biofilms. We found that the density of the skeleton and its capacity to trap incoming light, as opposed to scattering it back into the surrounding water, both significantly correlated with skeletal microbial biomass. These patterns are likely driven by how dominant green microalgae in the endolithic niche, such as Ostreobium spp., are responding to the skeletal morphology. This study highlights that the structure of a coral's skeleton could be used to predict the biomass of its resident endolithic biofilm.}, } @article {pmid33627171, year = {2021}, author = {Bulman, CA and Chappell, L and Gunderson, E and Vogel, I and Beerntsen, B and Slatko, BE and Sullivan, W and Sakanari, JA}, title = {The Eagle effect in the Wolbachia-worm symbiosis.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {118}, pmid = {33627171}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Brugia malayi/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Doxycycline/pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Microfilariae/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Onchocerca/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Wolbachia/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) are two human neglected tropical diseases that cause major disabilities. Mass administration of drugs targeting the microfilarial stage has reduced transmission and eliminated these diseases in several countries but a macrofilaricidal drug that kills or sterilizes the adult worms is critically needed to eradicate the diseases. The causative agents of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are filarial worms that harbor the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. Because filarial worms depend on Wolbachia for reproduction and survival, drugs targeting Wolbachia hold great promise as a means to eliminate these diseases.

METHODS: To better understand the relationship between Wolbachia and its worm host, adult Brugia pahangi were exposed to varying concentrations of doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline and rifampicin in vitro and assessed for Wolbachia numbers and worm motility. Worm motility was monitored using the Worminator system, and Wolbachia titers were assessed by qPCR of the single copy gene wsp from Wolbachia and gst from Brugia to calculate IC50s and in time course experiments. Confocal microscopy was also used to quantify Wolbachia located at the distal tip region of worm ovaries to assess the effects of antibiotic treatment in this region of the worm where Wolbachia are transmitted vertically to the microfilarial stage.

RESULTS: Worms treated with higher concentrations of antibiotics had higher Wolbachia titers, i.e. as antibiotic concentrations increased there was a corresponding increase in Wolbachia titers. As the concentration of antibiotic increased, worms stopped moving and never recovered despite maintaining Wolbachia titers comparable to controls. Thus, worms were rendered moribund by the higher concentrations of antibiotics but Wolbachia persisted suggesting that these antibiotics may act directly on the worms at high concentration. Surprisingly, in contrast to these results, antibiotics given at low concentrations reduced Wolbachia titers.

CONCLUSION: Wolbachia in B. pahangi display a counterintuitive dose response known as the "Eagle effect." This effect in Wolbachia suggests a common underlying mechanism that allows diverse bacterial and fungal species to persist despite exposure to high concentrations of antimicrobial compounds. To our knowledge this is the first report of this phenomenon occurring in an intracellular endosymbiont, Wolbachia, in its filarial host.}, } @article {pmid33627070, year = {2021}, author = {Eckstein, S and Brehm, J and Seidel, M and Lechtenfeld, M and Heermann, R}, title = {Two novel XRE-like transcriptional regulators control phenotypic heterogeneity in Photorhabdus luminescens cell populations.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {63}, pmid = {33627070}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation/*genetics ; Insecta/microbiology ; Nematoda/microbiology ; *Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The insect pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens exists in two phenotypically different forms, designated as primary (1°) and secondary (2°) cells. Upon yet unknown environmental stimuli up to 50% of the 1° cells convert to 2° cells. Among others, one important difference between the phenotypic forms is that 2° cells are unable to live in symbiosis with their partner nematodes, and therefore are not able to re-associate with them. As 100% switching of 1° to 2° cells of the population would lead to a break-down of the bacteria's life cycle the switching process must be tightly controlled. However, the regulation mechanism of phenotypic switching is still puzzling.

RESULTS: Here we describe two novel XRE family transcriptional regulators, XreR1 and XreR2, that play a major role in the phenotypic switching process of P. luminescens. Deletion of xreR1 in 1° or xreR2 in 2° cells as well as insertion of extra copies of xreR1 into 2° or xreR2 into 1° cells, respectively, induced the opposite phenotype in either 1° or 2° cells. Furthermore, both regulators specifically bind to different promoter regions putatively fulfilling a positive autoregulation. We found initial evidence that XreR1 and XreR2 constitute an epigenetic switch, whereby XreR1 represses xreR2 expression and XreR2 self-reinforces its own gene by binding to XreR1.

CONCLUSION: Regulation of gene expression by the two novel XRE-type regulators XreR1 and XreR2 as well as their interplay represents a major regulatory process in phenotypic switching of P. luminescens. A fine-tuning balance between both regulators might therefore define the fate of single cells to convert from the 1° to the 2° phenotype.}, } @article {pmid33626152, year = {2021}, author = {Quilbé, J and Arrighi, JF}, title = {NSP2, a key symbiotic regulator in the spotlight.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {959-963}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa540}, pmid = {33626152}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Arachis ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33626077, year = {2021}, author = {Valencia-Giraldo, SM and Niño-Castro, A and López-Peña, A and Trejos-Vidal, D and Correa-Bueno, O and Montoya-Lerma, J}, title = {Immunity and survival response of Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae) workers to Metarhizium anisopliae infection: Potential role of their associated microbiota.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {e0247545}, pmid = {33626077}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Immunity, Innate/*physiology ; *Metarhizium ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Mycoses/immunology/*veterinary ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex are at constant risk of epizootics due to their dense living conditions and frequent social interactions between genetically related individuals. To help mitigate the risk of epizootics, these ants display individual and collective immune responses, including associations with symbiotic bacteria that can enhance their resistance to pathogenic infections. For example, Acromyrmex spp. harbor actinobacteria that control infection by Escovopsis in their fungal gardens. Although Atta spp. do not maintain symbiosis with protective actinobacteria, the evidence suggests that these insects are colonized by bacterial microbiota that may play a role in their defense against pathogens. The potential role of the bacterial microbiome of Atta workers in enhancing host immunity remains unexplored. We evaluated multiple parameters of the individual immunity of Atta cephalotes (Linnaeus, 1758) workers, including hemocyte count, encapsulation response, and the antimicrobial activity of the hemolymph in the presence or absence of bacterial microbiota. Experiments were performed on ants reared under standard conditions as well as on ants previously exposed to the entomopathogenic fungus Metharrizium anisopliae. Furthermore, the effects of the presence/absence of bacteria on the survival of workers exposed to M. anisopliae were evaluated. The bacterial microbiota associated with A. cephalotes workers does not modulate the number of hemocytes under control conditions or under conditions of exposure to the fungal pathogen. In addition, infection by M. anisopliae, but not microbiota, increases the encapsulation response. Similarly, the exposure of workers to this fungus led to increased hemolymph antimicrobial activity. Conversely, the removal of bacterial microbiota did not have a significant impact on the survival of workers with M. anisopliae. Our results suggest that the bacterial microbiota associated with the cuticle of A. cephalotes workers does not play a role as a modulator of innate immunity, either at baseline or after exposure to the entomopathogen M. anisopliae. Further, upon infection, workers rely on mechanisms of humoral immunity to respond to this threat. Overall, our findings indicate that the bacterial microbiota associated with A. cephalotes workers does not play a defensive role.}, } @article {pmid33624756, year = {2021}, author = {Baniya, A and DiGennaro, P}, title = {Genome announcement of Steinernema khuongi and its associated symbiont from Florida.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33624756}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Florida ; *Rhabditida ; Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {Citrus root weevil (Diaprepes abbreviates) causes significant yield loss in citrus, especially in Florida. A promising source of control for this pest is biological control agents, namely, native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) within the genus Steinernema. Two species of endemic EPN in Florida are S. diaparepesi, abundant within the central ridge, and S. khuongi, dominating the flatwood regions of the state. These citrus-growing regions differ significantly in their soil habitats, which impacts the potential success of biological control measures. Although the genome sequence of S. diaprepesi is currently available, the genome sequence of S. khuongi and identity of the symbiotic bacteria is still unknown. Understanding the genomic differences between these two nematodes and their favored habitats can inform successful biological control practices. Here, MiSeq libraries were used to simultaneously sequence and assemble the draft genome of S. khuongi and its associated symbionts. The final draft genome for S. khuongi has 8,794 contigs with a total length of ∼82 Mb, a largest contig of 428,226 bp, and N50 of 46 kb; its BUSCO scores indicate that it is > 86% complete. An associated bacterial genome was assembled with a total length of ∼3.5 Mb, a largest contig at 116,532 bp, and N50 of 17,487 bp. The bacterial genome encoded 3,721 genes, similar to other Xenorhabdus genomes. Comparative genomics identified the symbiotic bacteria of S. khuongi as Xenorhabdus poinarii. These new draft genomes of a host and symbiont can be used as a valuable tool for comparative genomics with other EPNs and its symbionts to understand host range and habitat suitability.}, } @article {pmid33624137, year = {2021}, author = {Hyun, HR and Yoon, H and Lyou, ES and Kim, JJ and Kwon, SY and Lee, TK}, title = {Short-Term Legacy Effects of Mercury Contamination on Plant Growth and nifH-Harboring Microbial Community in Rice Paddy Soil.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {932-941}, pmid = {33624137}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Mercury ; *Microbiota ; *Oryza ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {Methylmercury (MeHg), which is formed in rice paddy soil, exhibits strong neurotoxicity through bioaccumulation in the food chain. A few groups of microorganisms drive both mercury methylation and nitrogen fixation in the rhizosphere. Little is known about how the shifted soil microbial community by Hg contamination affects nitrogen fixation rate and plant growth in paddy soil. Here, we examined how stimulated short-term Hg amendment affects the nitrogen fixing microbial community and influences plant-microbe interactions. Soil was treated with low (0.2 mg/kg) and high (1.1 mg/kg) concentrations of Hg for 4 weeks; then, rice (Oryza sativa) was planted and grown for 12 weeks. The nitrogen-fixation rate and rice growth were measured. The diversity and structure of the microbial community were analyzed by sequencing the nifH gene before and after rice cultivation. Hg treatments significantly decreased the nitrogen fixation rate and dry weight of the rice plants. The structure of the nifH-harboring community was remarkably changed after rice cultivation depending on Hg treatments. Iron- or sulfate-reducing bacteria, including Desulfobacca, Desulfoporosimus, and Geobacter, were observed as legacy response groups; their abundances increased in the soil after Hg treatment. The high abundance of those groups were maintained in control, but the abundance drastically decreased after rice cultivation in the soil treated with Hg, indicating that symbiotic behavior of rice plants changes according to the legacy effects on Hg contamination. These results suggested that Hg contamination can persist in soil microbial communities, affecting their nitrogen-fixation ability and symbiosis with rice plants in paddy soil.}, } @article {pmid33620675, year = {2021}, author = {Castro, VMR and da Mota Silva, M and Prudêncio de Souza, ER and Guerra, AF and Riger, CJ and Laureano-Melo, R and Luchese, RH}, title = {Role of milk and honey in the tolerance of lactobacilli to oxidative stress.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {883-893}, pmid = {33620675}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; *Honey/analysis ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism/pharmacology ; Iron/analysis ; Lactobacillus/drug effects/*metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Membrane Lipids/metabolism ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; *Milk ; *Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Probiotics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the development of functional probiotic food, the carrier matrices should be carefully selected and optimized to ensure the highest levels of probiotic survival in the symbiotic food along storage. Because milk and honey food matrices are rich in antioxidant substances, the aim of the research was to evaluate their effect in protecting lactobacilli from reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Viability assays were performed with and without the addition of H2O2, in three different matrices: 0.9% peptone saline, 5% honey, or 12% reconstituted skim milk. The milk matrix provided protection for the Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DTA83 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus DTA76. However, this protective effect was not observed in the survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus La 5. Honey solution did not maintain the viability of probiotic microorganisms exposed to hydrogen peroxide and, on the contrary, caused a significant reduction in the population of L. rhamnosus DTA76 (p < 0.001). Lower membrane lipid peroxidation due to H2O2 exposure was observed in L. acidophilus La 5 and L. rhamnosus DTA76, but this marker showed no relation with viability. It was concluded: (i) lactobacilli from the Lacticaseibacillus genus were the ones that benefited most from the lactic environment; (ii) the absence of the protective effect of honey was possibly due to the presence of Fe[2+] which reacts with H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicals; and (iii) cell viability did not correlate with membrane lipid peroxidation, and it is not a good marker to evaluate this type of damage in cells of different microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid33619553, year = {2021}, author = {Gavrin, A and Loughlin, PC and Brear, E and Griffith, OW and Bedon, F and Suter Grotemeyer, M and Escudero, V and Reguera, M and Qu, Y and Mohd-Noor, SN and Chen, C and Osorio, MB and Rentsch, D and González-Guerrero, M and Day, DA and Smith, PMC}, title = {Soybean Yellow Stripe-like 7 is a symbiosome membrane peptide transporter important for nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {186}, number = {1}, pages = {581-598}, pmid = {33619553}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form a symbiosis with rhizobia that convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia and provide it to the plant in return for a carbon and nutrient supply. Nodules, developed as part of the symbiosis, harbor rhizobia that are enclosed in a plant-derived symbiosome membrane (SM) to form an organelle-like structure called the symbiosome. In mature nodules exchanges between the symbionts occur across the SM. Here we characterize Yellow Stripe-like 7 (GmYSL7), a Yellow stripe-like family member localized on the SM in soybean (Glycine max) nodules. It is expressed specifically in infected cells with expression peaking soon after nitrogenase becomes active. Unlike most YSL family members, GmYSL7 does not transport metals complexed with phytosiderophores. Rather, it transports oligopeptides of between four and 12 amino acids. Silencing GmYSL7 reduces nitrogenase activity and blocks infected cell development so that symbiosomes contain only a single bacteroid. This indicates the substrate of YSL7 is required for proper nodule development, either by promoting symbiosome development directly or by preventing inhibition of development by the plant. RNAseq of nodules where GmYSL7 was silenced suggests that the plant initiates a defense response against rhizobia with genes encoding proteins involved in amino acid export downregulated and some transcripts associated with metal homeostasis altered. These changes may result from the decrease in nitrogen fixation upon GmYSL7 silencing and suggest that the peptide(s) transported by GmYSL7 monitor the functional state of the bacteroids and regulate nodule metabolism and transport processes accordingly. Further work to identify the physiological substrate for GmYSL7 will allow clarification of this role.}, } @article {pmid33619093, year = {2021}, author = {Sieber, M and Traulsen, A and Schulenburg, H and Douglas, AE}, title = {On the evolutionary origins of host-microbe associations.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {33619093}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Environment ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many microorganisms with high prevalence in host populations are beneficial to the host and maintained by specialized transmission mechanisms. Although microbial promotion of host fitness and specificity of the associations undoubtedly enhance microbial prevalence, it is an open question whether these symbiotic traits are also a prerequisite for the evolutionary origin of prevalent microbial taxa. To address this issue, we investigate how processes without positive microbial effects on host fitness or host choice can influence the prevalence of certain microbes in a host population. Specifically, we develop a theoretical model to assess the conditions under which particular microbes can become enriched in animal hosts even when they are not providing a specific benefit to a particular host. We find increased prevalence of specific microbes in a host when both show some overlap in their lifecycles, and especially when both share dispersal routes across a patchy habitat distribution. Our results emphasize that host enrichment per se is not a reliable indicator of beneficial host-microbe interactions. The resulting increase in time spent associated with a host may nevertheless give rise to new selection conditions, which can favor microbial adaptations toward a host-associated lifestyle, and, thus, it could be the foundation for subsequent evolution of mutually beneficial coevolved symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33618710, year = {2021}, author = {Shah, S and Chand, K and Rekadwad, B and Shouche, YS and Sharma, J and Pant, B}, title = {A prospectus of plant growth promoting endophytic bacterium from orchid (Vanda cristata).}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {33618710}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Bacillus/classification/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A plant growth-promoting endophytic bacterium PVL1 isolated from the leaf of Vanda cristata has the ability to colonize with roots of plants and protect the plant. PVL1 was isolated using laboratory synthetic media. 16S rRNA gene sequencing method has been employed for identification before and after root colonization ability.

RESULTS: Original isolated and remunerated strain from colonized roots were identified as Bacillus spp. as per EzBiocloud database. The presence of bacteria in the root section of the plantlet was confirmed through Epifluorescence microscopy of colonized roots. The in-vitro plantlet colonized by PVL1 as well as DLMB attained higher growth than the control. PVL1 capable of producing plant beneficial phytohormone under in vitro cultivation. HPLC and GC-MS analysis suggest that colonized plants contain Indole Acetic Acid (IAA). The methanol extract of Bacillus spp., contains 0.015 μg in 1 μl concentration of IAA. PVL1 has the ability to produce antimicrobial compounds such as ethyl iso-allocholate, which exhibits immune restoring property. One-way ANOVA shows that results were statistically significant at P ≤ 0.05 level.

CONCLUSIONS: Hence, it has been concluded that Bacillus spp. PVL1 can promote plant growth through secretion of IAA during root colonization and ethyl iso-allocholate to protect plants from foreign infections. Thus, this study supports to support Koch's postulates of bacteria establishment.}, } @article {pmid33614268, year = {2021}, author = {Hall, C and Camilli, S and Dwaah, H and Kornegay, B and Lacy, C and Hill, MS and Hill, AL}, title = {Freshwater sponge hosts and their green algae symbionts: a tractable model to understand intracellular symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e10654}, pmid = {33614268}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In many freshwater habitats, green algae form intracellular symbioses with a variety of heterotrophic host taxa including several species of freshwater sponge. These sponges perform important ecological roles in their habitats, and the poriferan:green algae partnerships offers unique opportunities to study the evolutionary origins and ecological persistence of endosymbioses. We examined the association between Ephydatia muelleri and its chlorophyte partner to identify features of host cellular and genetic responses to the presence of intracellular algal partners. Chlorella-like green algal symbionts were isolated from field-collected adult E. muelleri tissue harboring algae. The sponge-derived algae were successfully cultured and subsequently used to reinfect aposymbiotic E. muelleri tissue. We used confocal microscopy to follow the fate of the sponge-derived algae after inoculating algae-free E. muelleri grown from gemmules to show temporal patterns of symbiont location within host tissue. We also infected aposymbiotic E. muelleri with sponge-derived algae, and performed RNASeq to study differential expression patterns in the host relative to symbiotic states. We compare and contrast our findings with work in other systems (e.g., endosymbiotic Hydra) to explore possible conserved evolutionary pathways that may lead to stable mutualistic endosymbioses. Our work demonstrates that freshwater sponges offer many tractable qualities to study features of intracellular occupancy and thus meet criteria desired for a model system.}, } @article {pmid33613473, year = {2020}, author = {Loh, HQ and Hervé, V and Brune, A}, title = {Metabolic Potential for Reductive Acetogenesis and a Novel Energy-Converting [NiFe] Hydrogenase in Bathyarchaeia From Termite Guts - A Genome-Centric Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {635786}, pmid = {33613473}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in the hindgut of higher termites is mediated by a diverse assemblage of bacteria and archaea. During a large-scale metagenomic study, we reconstructed 15 metagenome-assembled genomes of Bathyarchaeia that represent two distinct lineages in subgroup 6 (formerly MCG-6) unique to termite guts. One lineage (TB2; Candidatus Termitimicrobium) encodes all enzymes required for reductive acetogenesis from CO2 via an archaeal variant of the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, involving tetrahydromethanopterin as C1 carrier and an (ADP-forming) acetyl-CoA synthase. This includes a novel 11-subunit hydrogenase, which possesses the genomic architecture of the respiratory Fpo-complex of other archaea but whose catalytic subunit is phylogenetically related to and shares the conserved [NiFe] cofactor-binding motif with [NiFe] hydrogenases of subgroup 4 g. We propose that this novel Fpo-like hydrogenase provides part of the reduced ferredoxin required for CO2 reduction and is driven by the electrochemical membrane potential generated from the ATP conserved by substrate-level phosphorylation; the other part may require the oxidation of organic electron donors, which would make members of TB2 mixotrophic acetogens. Members of the other lineage (TB1; Candidatus Termiticorpusculum) are definitely organotrophic because they consistently lack hydrogenases and/or methylene-tetrahydromethanopterin reductase, a key enzyme of the archaeal Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Both lineages have the genomic capacity to reduce ferredoxin by oxidizing amino acids and might conduct methylotrophic acetogenesis using unidentified methylated compound(s). Our results indicate that Bathyarchaeia of subgroup 6 contribute to acetate formation in the guts of higher termites and substantiate the genomic evidence for reductive acetogenesis from organic substrates, possibly including methylated compounds, in other uncultured representatives of the phylum.}, } @article {pmid33612799, year = {2020}, author = {El-Sadawy, HA and Ramadan, MY and Abdel Megeed, KN and Ali, HH and El Sattar, SA and Elakabawy, LM}, title = {Biological control of Phlebotomus papatasi larvae by using entomopathogenic nematodes and its symbiotic bacterial toxins.}, journal = {Tropical biomedicine}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {288-302}, pmid = {33612799}, issn = {2521-9855}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Toxins ; Larva/parasitology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Phlebotomus/*parasitology ; *Photorhabdus ; Rhabditida/*pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi is an important disease-bearing vector. Five entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) - Steinernema carpocapsae DD136, Steinernema sp. (SII), S. carpocapsae all, S. abbasi, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HP88 - were applied as biocontrol agents against the late third instar larvae of P. papatasi. In addition, the effect of toxin complexes (TCs) of Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus luminescens laumondii bacteria was evaluated. Results revealed that S. carpocapsae DD136 was the most virulent species followed by Steinernema sp. (SII) and S. carpocapsae all where LC50 were 472, 565, 962 IJs/ml, respectively. Also, the crude TCs were slightly more active and toxic than their fractionated protein. Histopathological examination of infected larvae with H. bacteriophora HP88 showed negative effect on their midgut cells. In conclusion, EPNs with their symbiotic bacteria are more effective as biocontrol agents than the crude or fractionated TCs against sand fly larvae.}, } @article {pmid33612742, year = {2020}, author = {Abd Majid, MA and Khoo, JJ and Lim, FS and Khor, CS and Loong, SK and Low, VL and Lee, HY and AbuBakar, S}, title = {Bacterial profiling of head lice isolated from the Orang Asli: A first report in Malaysia.}, journal = {Tropical biomedicine}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {884-895}, doi = {10.47665/tb.37.4.884}, pmid = {33612742}, issn = {2521-9855}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Child ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ethnicity ; Female ; Humans ; Lice Infestations ; Malaysia ; Male ; Microbiota ; Pediculus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {This study was carried out to determine from bacterial profiling to the bacterial profiles of head lice among the Orang Asli communities. The head lice were collected from Orang Asli community volunteers. The surface sterilized head lice pools were subjected to genomic DNA extraction while next generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Six female and three male head lice identified as Pediculus humanus capitis were collected. A total of 111 368 number of NGS sequencing reads were recorded while another 223 bacterial taxa sequences were obtained. Symbiotic bacteria showed the highest number of reads, with Arsenophonus and Rhodococcus sequences being the most abundant genera in the female and male samples, respectively. The female head lice contained a more distinct microbial diversity. Amongst the pathogenic bacterial species sequences noted were the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptobacillus moniliformis, Haemophilus influenzae, Bordetella pertussis and Acinetobacter baumannii. The 16S rRNA genome sequencing revealed a number of rare and pathogenic bacterial species within the head lice of the Orang Asli. The socio-economic practices of the community which involved forest foraging and hunting, and their poor living conditions potentially facilitated the transmission of zoonotic bacterial pathogens, including those found within the head lice. Hence, there is the possibility that the head lice could serve as vectors for the transmission of pathogenic bacteria. This study highlighted the diverse microbial community found within the head lice's gut of the Orang Asli, with the detection of multiple rare and pathogenic bacteria capable of causing severe infections.}, } @article {pmid33612033, year = {2022}, author = {Gugushvili, A and Mckee, M}, title = {The COVID-19 pandemic and war.}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of public health}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {16-18}, pmid = {33612033}, issn = {1651-1905}, mesh = {Armed Conflicts ; *COVID-19 ; Government ; Humans ; *Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; }, abstract = {Could there be a symbiotic relationship between COVID-19 and conflict? On the one hand, circumstances associated with armed conflicts may give rise to greater spread of the virus, while, on the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic may create conditions for violence through heightened xenophobia and nationalism or may change the dynamics of existing conflicts. We illustrate this with the example of war in the South Caucasus, one of the hot spots of the pandemic. Elsewhere, COVID-19 may have reduced the intensity of conflicts in some places, but it also may have contributed to anti-government protests and communal violence. We call for greater emphasis on traditional public health measures in unstable settings coupled with actions to hasten the peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts.}, } @article {pmid33611117, year = {2021}, author = {Onat, B and Rosales-Solano, H and Ferrier, L and Pawliszyn, J}, title = {Identification of the metabolites regulated in soybean-Rhizobia symbiosis through solid phase microextraction coupled with LC-MS.}, journal = {Journal of chromatography. A}, volume = {1641}, number = {}, pages = {461934}, doi = {10.1016/j.chroma.2021.461934}, pmid = {33611117}, issn = {1873-3778}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Discriminant Analysis ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metabolome ; Principal Component Analysis ; Software ; Soil ; Solid Phase Microextraction/*methods ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Vitamins/metabolism ; alpha-Linolenic Acid/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes provide one of the uniquely nutrient-rich food sources to the population and are one of the primary field crops that play significant roles in agricultural sustainability. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum is necessary for the high yield of leguminous crops, i.e. soybean. Nodulation of soybean by Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a complex process that is essential for cultivation of these legumes and external stress factors, such as draught and soil acidity, that influence the nodulation and crop yield. Alterations in the nodule metabolites are known to identify the type of stress that mitigates nodulation and lowers crop yield. Current techniques aimed at understanding the metabolic activities in the symbiont, such as in the case of metabolic regulations in varying nodule growth phases, rely on exhaustive techniques based on the removal of nodules or other plant tissue. Aiming to capture a more in-depth, accurate profile of this system without quenching the metabolic activity in the nodules, or removing the nodules, a workflow was prepared for the metabolite sampling through in vivo solid phase microextraction in thin film format (TF-SPME). This technique was followed by LC-QTOF-MS instrumental analysis with subsequent metabolite annotation and reference standard validation. Our approach is unique in terms of eliminating the effects that arise due to analyte partition coefficients. We show that the symbiont undergoes metabolic regulations throughout the cultivation period, displaying the efficacy of TF-SPME as a non-exhaustive sampling method that can be used as a tool to investigate the metabolic alterations in nodules. These alterations would potentially fingerprint the environmental effects on soybean yield.}, } @article {pmid33611032, year = {2021}, author = {Li, J and Chen, B and Zhang, X and Hao, Z and Zhang, X and Zhu, Y}, title = {Arsenic transformation and volatilization by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis under axenic conditions.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {413}, number = {}, pages = {125390}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125390}, pmid = {33611032}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {*Arsenic ; Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; Volatilization ; }, abstract = {It is well known that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance plant arsenic (As) resistance by influencing As uptake, translocation, and speciation; however, As transformation and volatilization by an entire plant inoculated with AM fungus remains uninvestigated. In the present study, AM symbiosis of Rhizophagus irregularis with unbroken Medicago sativa was successfully established in vitro. Afterwards, five concentrations of arsenate were applied to the culture media. The results showed that AM inoculation could methylate inorganic As into dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), dimethylarsine (DMAsH), and trimethylarsine (TMAs), which were detected in the plants, media, or air. Volatile As, accounting for a small proportion of total organic As, appeared under high arsenate exposure, accompanied by remarkable upregulation of root RiMT-11, an arsenite methyltransferase gene in R. irregularis. In addition, AM colonization significantly increased arsenite percentages in plant tissues and external media. Regardless of As species, AM inoculation tended to release the transformed As into the environment rather than transfer them to plant tissues. Our present study, for the first time, comprehensively verified As methylation, volatilization, and reduction by AM fungus associated with the entire plant under absolute axenic conditions and gained a deeper insight into As metabolism in AM symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33610646, year = {2021}, author = {Goto, R and Takano, T and Eernisse, DJ and Kato, M and Kano, Y}, title = {Snails riding mantis shrimps: Ectoparasites evolved from ancestors living as commensals on the host's burrow wall.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {163}, number = {}, pages = {107122}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107122}, pmid = {33610646}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Invertebrates ; *Parasites ; Phylogeny ; Snails/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The molluscan class Gastropoda includes over 5,000 parasitic species whose evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Marine snails of the genus Caledoniella (Caledoniellidae) are obligate parasites that live on the abdominal surface of the gonodactylid mantis shrimps. They have highly modified morphological characteristics specialized to the ectoparasitic lifestyle that make it difficult to infer their close relatives, thereby posing a question about their current systematic position in the superfamily Vanikoroidea. In the present study, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using three nuclear and three mitochondrial gene sequences to unveil the phylogenetic position of these enigmatic snails. The resulting trees recovered Caledoniella in the superfamily Truncatelloidea and within a subclade of commensal species that live on the burrow wall of marine benthic invertebrates. More specifically, Caledoniella formed the sister clade to a commensal snail species living in mantis-shrimp burrows and they collectively were sister to Sigaretornus planus (formerly in the family Tornidae or Vitrinellidae), a commensal living in echiuran burrows. This topology suggests that the species of Caledoniella achieved their ectoparasitic mode of life through the following evolutionary pathway: (1) invasion into the burrows of benthic invertebrates, (2) specialization to mantis shrimps, and (3) colonization of the host body surface from the host burrow wall with the evolution of the parasitic nature. The final step is likely to have been accompanied by the acquisition of a sucker on the metapodium, the loss of the radula and operculum, and the formation of monogamous pair bonds. The present molecular phylogeny also suggested parallel evolution of planispiral shells in a subclade of Truncatelloidea and enabled us to newly redefine the families Caledoniellidae, Elachisinidae, Teinostomatidae, Tornidae and Vitrinellidae.}, } @article {pmid33610634, year = {2021}, author = {Ahuja, A and Kushwah, J and Mathur, C and Chauhan, K and Dutta, TK and Somvanshi, VS}, title = {Identification of Galtox, a new protein toxin from Photorhabdus bacterial symbionts of Heterorhabditis nematodes.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {194}, number = {}, pages = {53-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.02.011}, pmid = {33610634}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; India ; Moths ; *Nematoda ; *Photorhabdus ; Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {The Gram-negative bacteria Photorhabdus lives in a symbiotic relationship with the insect-pathogenic Heterorhabditis nematodes and produces numerous hydrolytic enzymes, secondary metabolites and protein toxins. Seven Photorhabdus strains were previously isolated from the Heterorhabditis nematodes collected from different geographical regions of India. The strains IARI-SGMG3, IARI-SGHR2, IARI-SGHR4, IARI-SGMS1 and IARI-SGGJ2 were identified as P. akhurstii, whereas IARI-SGLDK1 and IARI-SGHP1 were identified as P. laumondii subsp. laumondii and P. laumondii subsp. clarkeii, respectively. A new and previously unreported 35 kDa molecular weight protein toxin 'Galtox' was identified from these Photorhabdus strains. The nucleotide sequences of the toxin gene from seven Photorhabdus strains were PCR amplified, sequenced, cloned into pET protein expression vector, and the protein toxin was expressed and purified. The Galtox sequence from various strains showed variations in sequence and toxicity against Galleria mellonella. The injection of purified Galtox protein into the 4th instar larvae showed median lethal dose (LD50) values of 2.39-26.08 ng toxin/g G. mellonella bodyweight after 48 h. The protein injection killed the insects quickly and exhibited a median lethal time (LT50) of 12-60 h when injected at the rate of 3.1-31.2 ng toxin/g G. mellonella bodyweight. Galtox protein sequence analysis indicated similarity to several bacterial toxin-related protein domains, such as 6rgnA domain of Bordetella membrane targeting toxin BteA, 6gy6 domain of Xenorhabdus α-Xenorhabdolysins, 4mu6A and 4xa9a domains similar to effector protein LegC3 from Legionella pneumophila and 1cv8.1 domain of staphylococcal cysteine proteinase staphopain B. The mode of action of Galtox needs to be understood to enable its use for the management of agricultural insect-pests.}, } @article {pmid33609974, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, X and Meneses, YE and Stratton, J and Lau, SK and Subbiah, J}, title = {Integration of ozone with co-immobilized microalgae-activated sludge bacterial symbiosis for efficient on-site treatment of meat processing wastewater.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {285}, number = {}, pages = {112152}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112152}, pmid = {33609974}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Meat ; *Microalgae ; *Ozone ; Sewage ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Direct discharge of high concentration meat processing wastewater (MPW) into municipal sewage system will cause serious shock loading and reduce wastewater treatment efficiency, thus, efficient on-site pretreatment is usually required. Purpose of this study is to integrate ozone with microalgal biotreatment to achieve effective removal of both organic compounds and nutrients with one-step biodegradation and obtain high quality effluent dischargeable to municipal sewage system. Results showed that ozone pretreatment removed 35.0-90.2% color and inactivated 1.8-4.7 log CFU/mL bacteria in MPW. In post biotreatment using microalgae co-immobilized with activated sludge (ACS) bacteria, bacterial growth in ozone pretreated wastewater (7.1-8.1 log CFU/mL) were higher than non-pretreated control (6.0 log CFU/mL) due to enhanced biodegradability of wastewater pollutants. Algal biomass growth in wastewater pretreated with 0.5 (2489.3 mg/L) and 1 (2582.0 mg/L) minute's ozonation were improved and higher than control (2297.1 mg/L). Ozone pretreatment significantly improved nutrients removal. Following ozone pretreatment of 0.5 min, microalgal biotreatment removed 60.1% soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), 79.5% total nitrogen (TN) and 91.9% total phosphate (PO4[3-]) which were higher than control (34.4% sCOD, 63.4% TN, 77.6% total PO4[3-]). Treated effluent contained 342.3 mg/L sCOD, 28.8 mg/L TN, 9.9 mg/L total PO4[3-] and could be discharged into municipal sewage system. However, excessive ozone pretreatment displayed adverse impact on algal growth and sCOD removal. Therefore, integration of 0.5 min's ozone pretreatment with microalgae-based biotreatment is an efficient on-site treatment to simultaneously remove organic compounds and nutrients with one-step biodegradation.}, } @article {pmid33608716, year = {2021}, author = {Endo, I and Kobatake, M and Tanikawa, N and Nakaji, T and Ohashi, M and Makita, N}, title = {Anatomical patterns of condensed tannin in fine roots of tree species from a cool-temperate forest.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {128}, number = {1}, pages = {59-71}, pmid = {33608716}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Proanthocyanidins ; Trees ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Condensed tannin (CT) is an important compound in plant biological structural defence and for tolerance of herbivory and environmental stress. However, little is known of the role and location of CT within the fine roots of woody plants. To understand the role of CT in fine roots across diverse species of woody dicot, we evaluated the localization of CT that accumulated in root tissue, and examined its relationships with the stele and cortex tissue in cross-sections of roots in 20 tree species forming different microbial symbiotic groups (ectomycorrhiza and arbuscular mycorrhiza).

METHODS: In a cool-temperate forest in Japan, cross-sections of sampled roots in different branching order classes, namely, first order, second to third order, fourth order, and higher than fourth order (higher order), were measured in terms of the length-based ratios of stele diameter and cortex thickness to root diameter. All root samples were then stained with ρ-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde solution and we determined the ratio of localized CT accumulation area to the root cross-section area (CT ratio).

KEY RESULTS: Stele ratio tended to increase with increasing root order, whereas cortex ratio either remained unchanged or decreased with increasing order in all species. The CT ratio was significantly positively correlated to the stele ratio and negatively correlated to the cortex ratio in second- to fourth-order roots across species during the shift from primary to secondary root growth. Ectomycorrhiza-associated species mostly had a higher stele ratio and lower cortex ratio than arbuscular mycorrhiza-associated species across root orders. Compared with arbuscular mycorrhiza species, there was greater accumulation of CT in response to changes in the root order of ectomycorrhiza species.

CONCLUSIONS: Different development patterns of the stele, cortex and CT accumulation along the transition from root tip to secondary roots could be distinguished between different mycorrhizal associations. The CT in tissues in different mycorrhizal associations could help with root protection in specific branching orders during shifts in stele and cortex development before and during cork layer formation.}, } @article {pmid33608555, year = {2021}, author = {Lan, Y and Sun, J and Chen, C and Sun, Y and Zhou, Y and Yang, Y and Zhang, W and Li, R and Zhou, K and Wong, WC and Kwan, YH and Cheng, A and Bougouffa, S and Van Dover, CL and Qiu, JW and Qian, PY}, title = {Hologenome analysis reveals dual symbiosis in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent snail Gigantopelta aegis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {1165}, pmid = {33608555}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Snails/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Animals endemic to deep-sea hydrothermal vents often form obligatory symbioses with bacteria, maintained by intricate host-symbiont interactions. Most genomic studies on holobionts have not investigated both sides to similar depths. Here, we report dual symbiosis in the peltospirid snail Gigantopelta aegis with two gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts: a sulfur oxidiser and a methane oxidiser. We assemble high-quality genomes for all three parties, including a chromosome-level host genome. Hologenomic analyses reveal mutualism with nutritional complementarity and metabolic co-dependency, highly versatile in transporting and using chemical energy. Gigantopelta aegis likely remodels its immune system to facilitate dual symbiosis. Comparisons with Chrysomallon squamiferum, a confamilial snail with a single sulfur-oxidising gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont, show that their sulfur-oxidising endosymbionts are phylogenetically distant. This is consistent with previous findings that they evolved endosymbiosis convergently. Notably, the two sulfur-oxidisers share the same capabilities in biosynthesising nutrients lacking in the host genomes, potentially a key criterion in symbiont selection.}, } @article {pmid33608284, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez-Giménez, J and Iturralde, ET and Torres Tejerizo, G and Quelas, JI and Krol, E and Borassi, C and Becker, A and Estevez, JM and Lodeiro, AR}, title = {A Stringent-Response-Defective Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Strain Does Not Activate the Type 3 Secretion System, Elicits an Early Plant Defense Response, and Circumvents NH4NO3-Induced Inhibition of Nodulation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {33608284}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Fertilizers ; Kanamycin Resistance/genetics ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics ; Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Mutation ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Soybeans/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {When subjected to nutritional stress, bacteria modify their amino acid metabolism and cell division activities by means of the stringent response, which is controlled by the Rsh protein in alphaproteobacteria. An important group of alphaproteobacteria are the rhizobia, which fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with legume plants. Although nutritional stress is common for rhizobia while infecting legume roots, the stringent response has scarcely been studied in this group of soil bacteria. In this report, we obtained a mutant with a kanamycin resistance insertion in the rsh gene of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, the N2-fixing symbiont of soybean. This mutant was defective for type 3 secretion system induction, plant defense suppression at early root infection, and nodulation competition. Furthermore, the mutant produced smaller nodules, although with normal morphology, which led to lower plant biomass production. Soybean (Glycine max) genes GmRIC1 and GmRIC2, involved in autoregulation of nodulation, were upregulated in plants inoculated with the mutant under the N-free condition. In addition, when plants were inoculated in the presence of 10 mM NH4NO3, the mutant produced nodules containing bacteroids, and GmRIC1 and GmRIC2 were downregulated. The rsh mutant released more auxin to the culture supernatant than the wild type, which might in part explain its symbiotic behavior in the presence of combined N. These results indicate that the B. diazoefficiens stringent response integrates into the plant defense suppression and regulation of nodulation circuits in soybean, perhaps mediated by the type 3 secretion system.IMPORTANCE The symbiotic N2 fixation carried out between prokaryotic rhizobia and legume plants performs a substantial contribution to the N cycle in the biosphere. This symbiotic association is initiated when rhizobia infect and penetrate the root hairs, which is followed by the growth and development of root nodules, within which the infective rhizobia are established and protected. Thus, the nodule environment allows the expression and function of the enzyme complex that catalyzes N2 fixation. However, during early infection, the rhizobia find a harsh environment while penetrating the root hairs. To cope with this nuisance, the rhizobia mount a stress response known as the stringent response. In turn, the plant regulates nodulation in response to the presence of alternative sources of combined N in the surrounding medium. Control of these processes is crucial for a successful symbiosis, and here we show how the rhizobial stringent response may modulate plant defense suppression and the networks of regulation of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid33606747, year = {2021}, author = {Brown, R and Moore, L and Mani, A and Patel, S and Salinas, I}, title = {Effects of ploidy and salmonid alphavirus infection on the skin and gill microbiome of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {e0243684}, pmid = {33606747}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alphavirus/isolation & purification ; Alphavirus Infections/genetics/microbiology/*veterinary/virology ; Animals ; Aquaculture ; Diploidy ; Fish Diseases/*genetics/microbiology/*virology ; Gills/metabolism/microbiology/virology ; Microbiota ; Salmo salar/*genetics/microbiology/*virology ; Skin/metabolism/microbiology/virology ; Triploidy ; }, abstract = {The microbial communities that live in symbiosis with the mucosal surfaces of animals provide the host with defense strategies against pathogens. These microbial communities are largely shaped by the environment and the host genetics. Triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are being considered for aquaculture as they are reproductively sterile and thus cannot contaminate the natural gene pool. It has not been previously investigated how the microbiome of triploid salmon compares to that of their diploid counterparts. In this study, we compare the steady-state skin and gill microbiome of both diploid and triploid salmon, and determine the effects of salmonid alphavirus 3 experimental infection on their microbial composition. Our results show limited differences in the skin-associated microbiome between triploid and diploid salmon, irrespective of infection. In the gills, we observed a high incidence of the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Branchiomonas, with higher abundance in diploid compared to triploid control fish. Diploid salmon infected with SAV3 showed greater histopathological signs of epitheliocystis compared to controls, a phenomenon not observed in triploid fish. Our results indicate that ploidy can affect the alpha diversity of the gills but not the skin-associated microbial community. Importantly, during a natural outbreak of Branchiomonas sp. the gill microbiome of diploid Atlantic salmon became significantly more dominated by this pathogen than in triploid animals. Thus, our results suggest that ploidy may play a role on Atlantic salmon gill health and provide insights into co-infection with SAV3 and C. Branchiomonas in Atlantic salmon.}, } @article {pmid33606087, year = {2021}, author = {Dlamini, ST and Jaiswal, SK and Mohammed, M and Dakora, FD}, title = {Studies of Phylogeny, Symbiotic Functioning and Ecological Traits of Indigenous Microsymbionts Nodulating Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) in Eswatini.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {688-703}, pmid = {33606087}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium ; Eswatini ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; *Vigna ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial microsymbionts of grain legumes are ubiquitous in soils and exhibit a wide range of diversity with respect to colony morphology, genetic variability, biochemical characteristics, and phylogenetic relationships. This study assessed the phylogenetic positions of rhizobial microsymbionts of Bambara groundnut from Eswatini exhibiting variations in morpho-physiology, adaptive characteristics, and N2-fixing efficiency. The isolates' ERIC-PCR profiles revealed the presence of high genetic variation among them. These test isolates also exhibited differences in pH tolerance and IAA production. Multilocus sequence analysis based on the 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, gyrB, and recA gene sequences of representative test isolates closely aligned them to the type strains of Bradyrhizobium arachidis, B. manausense, B. guangdongense, B. elkanii, and B. pachyrhizi. However, some isolates showed a high divergence from the known reference type strains, indicating that they may represent species yet to be properly characterized and described. Functional characterization in the glasshouse revealed that most of the isolates from the contrasting Agro-ecologies of Eswatini were efficient in N2 fixation, and therefore elicited greater stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates in the homologous Bambara groundnut. Of the 75 isolates tested, 51% were more effective than the commercial Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB756, with relative symbiotic effectiveness ranging from 138 to 308%. The findings of this study indicated that the analysis of housekeeping genes and functional traits of Bambara-nodulating microsymbionts can provide a clear view for understanding and predicting rhizobial community structure across environmental gradients.}, } @article {pmid33604238, year = {2021}, author = {Quiles, A and Rigaud, T and Wattier, RA and Grabowski, M and Bacela Spychalska, K}, title = {Wide geographic distribution of overlooked parasites: Rare Microsporidia in Gammarus balcanicus, a species complex with a high rate of endemism.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {121-129}, pmid = {33604238}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {Parasites and other symbionts deeply influence host organisms, and no living organism can be considered to have evolved independent of its symbionts. The first step towards understanding symbiotic influences upon host organisms is a strong supporting knowledge of parasite/symbiont diversity. Parasites of freshwater amphipods are diverse, with Microsporidia being a major group. These intracellular parasites impact gammarid fitness in different ways, ranging from reduced fitness to increased fecundity. Many Microsporidia have been recorded using molecular data, with multiple taxa pending formal taxonomic description. While some parasites are common, others are known only through sporadic records of single infections. In this study, we focus on rare/sporadic microsporidian infections within Gammarus balcanicus, a host species complex with a high level of endemism. In addition to enriching our knowledge on Microsporidia parasite diversity in amphipod hosts, we test whether these symbionts are specific to G. balcanicus or if they are the same taxa infecting other gammarid species. Of 2231 hosts from 87 sites, we catalogued 29 sequences of "rare" Microsporidia clustering into 19 haplogroups. These haplogroups cluster into 11 lineages: four pre-described taxa (Cucumispora roeselum, C. ornata, C. dikerogammari and Enterocytospora artemiae) and seven 'Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units', which are known from previously published studies to infect other European amphipod species. Our study significantly widens the geographic range of these Microsporidia and expands the known spectrum of hosts infected. Our results suggest that these parasites are ancient infections of European gammarids. For some host-parasite systems, we hypothesize that the common parasite ancestors that infected the hosts' common ancestors, diversified alongside host diversification. For others, we observe Microsporidia taxa with wide host ranges that do not follow host phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid34113536, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, N and Van Dyke, TE}, title = {Periodontitis: a host mediated disruption of microbial homeostasis.}, journal = {Current oral health reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {3-11}, pmid = {34113536}, issn = {2196-3002}, support = {R01 DE025020/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In a prolific scientific career, Dr. Robert J. Genco dedicated himself to enriching our understanding of the pathogenesis of periodontitis. During a period of time in the 1970s and 1980s, when periodontitis was considered a classic infectious disease, Bob had the foresight to investigate and characterize the immune/inflammatory response in periodontitis, particularly Juvenile Periodontitis. His leadership in this area brought to the fore our appreciation of host-microbiome interactions that many years later (2008) culminated in the realization that periodontitis is a fundamental inflammatory disease. In this review, the question of how the host regulates the inflammatory response will be addressed in the context of how more recently-discovered pathways of resolution of inflammation play a role in disease pathogenesis.

RECENT FINDINGS: The host inflammatory response to commensal organisms creates excess inflammation in susceptible individuals and likely drives the dysbiosis of the oral microbiome observed in people with Periodontitis. In periodontal health, the oral microbiome is in balance with the host response. It is the loss of this symbiotic relationship with excess inflammation and microbiome dysbiosis that characterizes progressive disease. In recent years, the role of mediators of resolution of inflammation in the loss of balance and their potential use as therapeutics to restore homeostasis has extended our knowledge of how the host drives immune responses to affect oral dysbiosis.

SUMMARY: Dr. Genco provided the foundation for our ever-emerging understanding host-microbial interactions. The discovery of inflammation resolution pathways has furthered our knowledge in periodontal homeostasis. More studies are needed to understand how the host regulates the microbiome to fulfill the ultimate goal of more efficient therapeutics for periodontitis and related inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid34123271, year = {2020}, author = {Williams, DA and Pradhan, K and Paul, A and Olin, IR and Tuck, OT and Moulton, KD and Kulkarni, SS and Dube, DH}, title = {Metabolic inhibitors of bacterial glycan biosynthesis.}, journal = {Chemical science}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {1761-1774}, pmid = {34123271}, issn = {2041-6520}, support = {R15 GM109397/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The bacterial cell wall is a quintessential drug target due to its critical role in colonization of the host, pathogen survival, and immune evasion. The dense cell wall glycocalyx contains distinctive monosaccharides that are absent from human cells, and proper assembly of monosaccharides into higher-order glycans is critical for bacterial fitness and pathogenesis. However, the systematic study and inhibition of bacterial glycosylation enzymes remains challenging. Bacteria produce glycans containing rare deoxy amino sugars refractory to traditional glycan analysis, complicating the study of bacterial glycans and the creation of glycosylation inhibitors. To ease the study of bacterial glycan function in the absence of detailed structural or enzyme information, we crafted metabolic inhibitors based on rare bacterial monosaccharide scaffolds. Metabolic inhibitors were assessed for their ability to interfere with glycan biosynthesis and fitness in pathogenic and symbiotic bacterial species. Three metabolic inhibitors led to dramatic structural and functional defects in Helicobacter pylori. Strikingly, these inhibitors acted in a bacteria-selective manner. These metabolic inhibitors will provide a platform for systematic study of bacterial glycosylation enzymes not currently possible with existing tools. Moreover, their selectivity will provide a pathway for the development of novel, narrow-spectrum antibiotics to treat infectious disease. Our inhibition approach is general and will expedite the identification of bacterial glycan biosynthesis inhibitors in a range of systems, expanding the glycochemistry toolkit.}, } @article {pmid33814112, year = {2020}, author = {Chatterjee, K and Banerjee, S}, title = {Microbiome and motor neuron diseases.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {111-122}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.08.010}, pmid = {33814112}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Motor Neuron Disease ; Parkinson Disease ; }, abstract = {The microbiome is the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that share our body space (Medical and Health Genomics, 2016, page 15-28). The human gut is the location where the maximum number of microorganisms can be found. Among the different microorganisms they can be broadly classified into two groups: the beneficial and harmful. In the human gut there is always a balance between the beneficial and the opportunistic microorganism which maintains human health. However, if the balance is not maintained and homeostasis is disturbed, with an increase in opportunistic microorganisms, it may result in various diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, colorectal cancer, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases including motor neuron diseases. In the present chapter we discuss the role of gut bacteria in motor neuron diseases like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.}, } @article {pmid33814111, year = {2020}, author = {Kennedy, MS and Chang, EB}, title = {The microbiome: Composition and locations.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {1-42}, pmid = {33814111}, issn = {1878-0814}, support = {T32 GM007281/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The human body is home to a diverse and functionally important assemblage of symbiotic microbes that varies predictably over different spatial scales, both within and across body sites. The composition of these spatially distinct microbial consortia can be impacted by a variety of stochastic and deterministic forces, including dispersal from different source communities, and selection by regionally-specific host processes for the enrichment of physiologically significant taxa. In this chapter, we review the composition, function, and assembly of the healthy human gastrointestinal, skin, vaginal, and respiratory microbiomes, with special emphasis on the regional distribution of microbes throughout the gastrointestinal tract.}, } @article {pmid33654951, year = {2019}, author = {Muhammad, A and Habineza, P and Hou, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {Preparation of Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) Germ-free Larvae for Host-gut Microbes Interaction Studies.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {9}, number = {24}, pages = {e3456}, pmid = {33654951}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is a devastating pest of palm trees worldwide. RPW gut is colonized by diverse bacterial species which profoundly influence host development and nutritional metabolism. However, the molecular mechanisms behind the interactions between RPW and its gut microbiota remain mostly unknown. Antibiotics are usually employed to remove gut bacteria to investigate the impact of gut bacteria on insect fitness. However, administration of antibiotics cannot thoroughly remove gut bacteria for most insect species. Therefore, establishing germfree (GF) organisms is a powerful way to reveal the mutual interactions between gut bacteria and their insect hosts. Here, we describe a protocol to generate and maintain RPW GF larvae, being completely devoid of gut bacteria in laboratory. RPW GF larvae were established from the dechorionated fresh eggs which were reared on the sterilized artificial food under axenic conditions. The establishment of GF larvae set a solid foundation to deeply elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the interactions between RPW and its gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid34045768, year = {2019}, author = {Slankster, E and Lee, C and Hess, KM and Odell, S and Mathew, D}, title = {Effect of gut microbes on olfactory behavior of Drosophila melanogaster larva.}, journal = {Bios}, volume = {90}, number = {4}, pages = {227-238}, pmid = {34045768}, issn = {0005-3155}, support = {P20 GM103650/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between an animal and its gut microbiota is known to influence host neural function and behavior. The mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence brain function are not well understood. This study measures the impact of gut microbiota on olfactory behavior of Drosophila larvae and explores possible mechanisms by which gut microbiota communicate with neural circuits. The microbiota load in Drosophila larvae was altered by treating them with antibiotics or probiotics. Control larvae and larvae with altered microbiota loads were subjected to olfactory assays to analyze the chemotaxis response of larvae to odorants. Larvae treated with antibiotics had reduced microbiota load and exhibited reduced chemotaxis response toward odorants compared to control animals. This behavioral phenotype was partially rescued in larvae treated with probiotics that resulted in partial recovery of microbiota loads. Expression levels of several olfactory genes in larvae subjected to different treatments were analyzed. The results suggest that the expression of certain components of the GABA signaling pathway is sensitive to microbiota load. The study concludes that the microbiota influences homeostatic mechanisms in the host that control GABA production and GABA-receptor expression, which are known to impact host olfactory behavior. These results have implications for understanding the bidirectional communication between a host organism and its microbiota as well as for understanding the modulation of olfactory neuron function.}, } @article {pmid33945738, year = {2019}, author = {Lafarge, L}, title = {Termination and repetition: The dissolution of the frame.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {100}, number = {6}, pages = {1270-1285}, doi = {10.1080/00207578.2019.1642756}, pmid = {33945738}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Fantasy ; Humans ; Object Attachment ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Psychoanalytic Theory ; Psychoanalytic Therapy/*methods ; *Transference, Psychology ; Unconscious, Psychology ; }, abstract = {Beginning with Freud, analysts have observed that the pull to repeat is particularly strong as analysis approaches termination and that transferences that have come to light earlier in the analysis are revived and reworked at this time. It is also well known that primitive transferences, may make an appearance at the termination phase for what has been believed to be the first time. Drawing upon the work of Bleger, the author explores these primitve transferences and their relation to repetition. She argues that they are linked to the impending dissolution of the frame, and they are of two varieties, reflecting different levels of psychic experience. The upper level reflects symbiotic phantasies that have been invested in the frame; these have been repeated silently throughout the analysis in the daily operation of the analytic method and the arrangements of the analysis. The second, lower level, which involves somatic disturbance, disorganization, and loss of stable identity, is less clearly a repetition and less well elaborated in phantasy; this set of transferences reflects the disturbance of the deep structure of the setting, linked to bodily experiences of oneness with the early object. The author presents clinical material from the termination phase to illustrate the emergence of these two levels of primitive transference and the way they may be worked through.}, } @article {pmid33654814, year = {2019}, author = {Mindt, E and Wang, M and Schäfer, M and Halitschke, R and Baldwin, IT}, title = {Quantification of Blumenol Derivatives as Leaf Biomarkers for Plant-AMF Association.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {9}, number = {14}, pages = {e3301}, pmid = {33654814}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants are widespread among land plants and can be beneficial for both partners. The plant is provided with mineral nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, whereas it provides carbon resources for the fungus in return. Due to the large economic and environmental impact, efficient characterization methods are required to monitor and quantify plant-AMF colonization. Existing methods, based on destructive sampling and elaborate root tissue analysis, are of limited value for high-throughput (HTP) screening. Here we describe a detailed protocol for the HTP quantification of blumenol derivatives in leaves by a simple extraction procedure and sensitive liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis as accurate proxies of root AMF-associations in both model plants and economically relevant crops.}, } @article {pmid33791516, year = {2019}, author = {Escallón, C and Belden, LK and Moore, IT}, title = {The Cloacal Microbiome Changes with the Breeding Season in a Wild Bird.}, journal = {Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England)}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {oby009}, pmid = {33791516}, issn = {2517-4843}, abstract = {The symbiotic microbial communities, or "microbiomes," that reside on animals are dynamic, and can be affected by the behavior and physiology of the host. These communities provide many critical beneficial functions for their hosts, but they can also include potential pathogens. In birds, bacteria residing in the cloaca form a complex community, including both gut and sexually-transmitted bacteria. Transmission of cloacal bacteria among individuals is likely during the breeding season, when there is direct cloacal contact between individuals. In addition, the major energetic investment in reproduction can draw resources away from immune responses that might otherwise prevent the successful establishment of microbes. We assessed dynamic variation in the cloacal microbiome of free-living rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) through sequential breeding and non-breeding seasons. We found that the cloacal bacterial communities differed between the sexes when they were in breeding condition. Further, in males, but not in females, the bacterial community became more diverse with the onset of reproduction, and then decreased in diversity as males transitioned to non-breeding condition. Individuals sampled across sequential breeding seasons did not accumulate more bacterial taxa over seasons, but bacterial community composition did change. Our results suggest that the cloacal microbiome in birds is dynamic and, especially in males, responsive to breeding condition.}, } @article {pmid33873555, year = {2004}, author = {Juuti, JT and Jokela, S and Paulin, L and Timonen, S and Sen, R}, title = {Suillus bovinus glutamine synthetase gene organization, transcription and enzyme activities in the Scots pine mycorrhizosphere developed on forest humus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {164}, number = {2}, pages = {389-399}, pmid = {33873555}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Glutamine synthetase (GS) expression and activity is of central importance for cellular ammonium assimilation and recycling. Thus, a full characterization of this enzyme at the molecular level is of critical importance for a better understanding of nitrogen (N) assimilation in the mycorrhizal symbiosis. • Genomic and cDNA libraries of Suillus bovinus were constructed to isolate the GS gene, glnA, and corresponding cDNAs. The transcription initiation site was identified and transcription and enzyme activities were characterized in pure culture mycelium and mycorrhiza, and extramatrical mycelium samples harvested from Scots pine-Suillus bovinus microcosms grown on forest humus. • Pure culture mycelium, mycorrhiza and extramatrical mycelium all exhibited equivalent levels of GS transcription, translation and enzyme activities. However, levels of transcription and enzyme activity did not correlate as a large majority of detectable transcripts showed specific 5'-end truncation. • Our data suggest that GS is constitutively expressed and not directly affected by environmental conditions of the symbiotic N uptake. Any changes in the intracellular ammonium level are most likely handled by regulatory flexibility of GS at enzyme level.}, } @article {pmid33873477, year = {2004}, author = {Grunze, N and Willmann, M and Nehls, U}, title = {The impact of ectomycorrhiza formation on monosaccharide transporter gene expression in poplar roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {164}, number = {1}, pages = {147-155}, pmid = {33873477}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• By using degenerate primers, five putative poplar monosaccharide transporter genes were isolated from ectomycorrhizas by RT-PCR. The expression profiles of the three most strongly expressed ones are presented in detail. • Two transporter genes (PttMST1.2 and PttMST2.2) were down-regulated by ectomycorrhiza formation. However, PttMST3.1, which showed 10-times higher expression rates in noninfected roots than any other transporter gene, was up-regulated 12-fold in mycorrhizas. • While changes in PttMST1.2 and PttMST2.2 expression might be regulated by a fungal metabolite present in axenically grown hyphae, the strong increase of PttMST3.1 expression in mycorrhizas required active plant-fungus interaction. • Up-regulation of PttMST3.1 by mycorrhiza formation suggests that root cells are able to compete with fungal hyphae for hexoses from the common apoplast during symbiosis, redirecting the sugar-flux back into plant cells whenever the fungal partner does not supply sufficient mineral nutrients. Such a mechanism would enable the plant to link nutrient supply and fungal carbon support at a local level.}, } @article {pmid33873744, year = {2004}, author = {Pfeffer, PE and Douds, DD and Bücking, H and Schwartz, DP and Shachar-Hill, Y}, title = {The fungus does not transfer carbon to or between roots in an arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {3}, pages = {617-627}, pmid = {33873744}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Carbon transfer from fungus to plant in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has been reported, but its significance and even its existence have been called into question and the issue remains controversial. We investigated carbon movement from fungus to plant and from one mycorrhizal root system to another via a common AM fungal network in monoxenic cultures to avoid limitations of some previous studies. • [13] C and [14] C labeled substrates were supplied to functioning in vitro AM mycorrhizas between Ri T-DNA transformed carrot (Daucus carota) roots and Glomus intraradices to follow carbon movement into and between host and fungal metabolite pools. • Fungal triacylglycerol and trehalose were labeled when permeant substrates were supplied to the extraradical mycelium (ERM), but host-specific compounds in the roots did not become labeled. When labeled glucose was provided to a donor root system, label moved to recipient roots via a common AM fungal network but remained in fungal compounds. • We conclude that carbon flow in the AM symbiosis is normally unidirectional from plant to fungus and that while carbon is translocated by the fungus from one metabolically active root system to another, it remains within the intraradical mycelium (IRM).}, } @article {pmid33873734, year = {2004}, author = {Marmeisse, R and Guidot, A and Gay, G and Lambilliotte, R and Sentenac, H and Combier, JP and Melayah, D and Fraissinet-Tachet, L and Debaud, JC}, title = {Hebeloma cylindrosporum- a model species to study ectomycorrhizal symbiosis from gene to ecosystem.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {3}, pages = {481-498}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01148.x}, pmid = {33873734}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The basidiomycete Hebeloma cylindrosporum has been extensively studied with respect to mycorrhiza differentiation and metabolism and also to population dynamics. Its life cycle can be reproduced in vitro and it can be genetically transformed. Combined biochemical, cytological, genetical and molecular approaches led to the characterisation of mutant strains affected in mycorrhiza formation. These studies demonstrated the role of fungal auxin as a signal molecule in mycorrhiza formation and should allow the characterisation of essential fungal genes necessary to achieve a compatible symbiotic interaction. Random sequencing of cDNAs has identified numerous key functional genes which allowed dissection of essential nitrogen assimilation pathways. H. cylindrosporum also proved to be a remarkable model species to uncover the dynamics of natural populations of ectomycorrhizal fungi and the way in which they respond and adapt to anthropogenic disturbance of the forest ecosystem. Although studies on mycorrhiza differentiation and functioning and those on the population dynamics of H. cylindrosporum have been carried out independently, they are likely to converge in a renewed molecular ecophysiology which will envisage how ectomycorrhizal symbiosis functions under varying field conditions. Contents Summary 481 I. Introduction 482 II. Taxonomy, distribution, autecology, and host range of H. cylindrosporum 482 III. The Hebeloma cylindrosporum toolbox 483 IV. Mycorrhiza differentiation 486 V. Nutritional interactions 488 VI. Genetic diversity and dynamics of H. cylindrosporum populations in P. pinaster forest ecosystems 491 VII. Future directions 494 Acknowledgements 494 References 494.}, } @article {pmid33873628, year = {2004}, author = {González-Sama, A and Lucas, MM and De Felipe, MR and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {An unusual infection mechanism and nodule morphogenesis in white lupin (Lupinus albus).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {2}, pages = {371-380}, pmid = {33873628}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The infection of white lupin (Lupinus albus) roots and the early stages in organogenesis of the lupinoid nodule are characterized in detail in this work. • Immunolabelling of Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) ISLU16 and green fluorescent protein labelling of Mesorhizobium loti NZP2037, two strains that induce nodulation in L. albus, allowed us to monitor the infection and morphogenesis process. Light and transmission electron microscopy, low-temperature scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence and confocal microscopy were employed. • Rhizobia penetrated the root intercellularly at the junction between the root hair base and an adjacent epidermal cell. Bacteria invaded the subepidermal cortical cell immediately beneath the root hair through structurally altered cell wall regions. The newly infected cell divided repeatedly to form the central infected zone of the young nodule. Bacteria seemed to be equally distributed between the daughter cells. • A new mode of direct epidermal infection and an unusual morphogenesis for indeterminate nodules lead to the formation of the lupinoid nodule with unique characteristics.}, } @article {pmid33873620, year = {2004}, author = {Demchenko, K and Winzer, T and Stougaard, J and Parniske, M and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Distinct roles of Lotus japonicus SYMRK and SYM15 in root colonization and arbuscule formation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {2}, pages = {381-392}, pmid = {33873620}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The colonization of Lotus japonicus roots by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices was analysed in plant mutants affected in the symbiosis genes, SYM15 or SYMRK. SYMRK encodes an LRR receptor-like kinase that is, like the SYM15 gene, essential for both mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbioses. • Different colonization patterns were observed in growing vs meristematically arrested roots. • Three steps in the interaction were differentially impaired in the mutants: surface opening, where the anticlinal cell walls of two adjacent epidermal cells separate from each other in the vicinity of fungal hyphae; intracellular passage of hyphae through an exodermal cell and an adjacent cell of the outermost cortical layer; and arbuscule formation in cells of the two innermost cortical layers. • The combined results indicate that LjSYMRK is required for the intracellular passage through exodermis and outermost cortical cell layer whereas LjSYM15 is required for surface opening and arbuscule formation.}, } @article {pmid33873617, year = {2004}, author = {Turrini, A and Sbrana, C and Pitto, L and Ruffini Castiglione, M and Giorgetti, L and Briganti, R and Bracci, T and Evangelista, M and Nuti, MP and Giovannetti, M}, title = {The antifungal Dm-AMP1 protein from Dahlia merckii expressed in Solanum melongena is released in root exudates and differentially affects pathogenic fungi and mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {2}, pages = {393-403}, pmid = {33873617}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Transformed aubergine plants constitutively expressing the Dm-AMP1 antimicrobial defensin (from Dahlia merckii) were generated and characterized. • Transgenic plants were selected on kanamycin and screened by polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression of Dm-AMP1 in plant tissues and its release in root exudates were detected by Western blot analyses. Dm-AMP1 localization was performed by immunohistochemical experiments. • Dm-AMP1 expression ranged from 0.2% to 0.48% of total soluble proteins in primary transformants and from 0.16% to 0.66% in F2 plants. Transformed clones showed resistance to the pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, whose development on leaves was reduced by 36-100%, with respect to controls. The protein was released in root exudates of the transformed plants and was active in reducing the growth of the co-cultured pathogenic fungus Verticillium albo-atrum, whereas it did not interfere with recognition responses and symbiosis establishment by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. • Dm-AMP1 transformants may represent a useful model to study the interactions between genetically modified plants and pathogenic fungi or beneficial nontarget microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid33873615, year = {2004}, author = {Leake, JR and McKendrick, SL and Bidartondo, M and Read, DJ}, title = {Symbiotic germination and development of the myco-heterotroph Monotropa hypopitys in nature and its requirement for locally distributed Tricholoma spp.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {2}, pages = {405-423}, pmid = {33873615}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Germination and symbiotic development of the myco-heterotrophic plant Monotropa hypopitys were studied by sequential recovery of packets of seed buried in dune slacks in relation to distance from mature M. hypopitys and presence and absence of shoots of its autotrophic coassociate Salix repens. • Fungal associates of M. hypopitys growing under S. repens in the dune slacks, and under S. caprea and Pinus sylvestris at two other locations in the UK, were identified by molecular analysis. • While the earliest stage of germination could be found in the absence both of mature M. hypopitys, and S. repens, further development was dependent upon mycorrhizal colonisation, which was most common close to these plants. Molecular analysis showed that when growing with Salix, M. hypopitys associated with the Salix-specific ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma cingulatum, whereas under Pinus it was colonised by the closely related, Pinaceae-specific, T. terreum. • We establish the first definitive chronology of development of M. hypopitys and highlight its critical dependence upon, and specificity for, locally distributed Tricholoma species that link the myco-heterotroph to its autotrophic coassociates.}, } @article {pmid33873794, year = {2004}, author = {Casarin, V and Plassard, C and Hinsinger, P and Arvieu, JC}, title = {Quantification of ectomycorrhizal fungal effects on the bioavailability and mobilization of soil P in the rhizosphere of Pinus pinaster.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {1}, pages = {177-185}, pmid = {33873794}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• A differential effect of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis on soil P mobilization and host P nutrition is shown after culture of Pinus pinaster associated with Hebeloma cylindrosporum and Rhizopogon roseolus, poor and good oxalate/proton producers, respectively. • Plants were grown in minirhizoboxes with a thin layer of a Mediterranean soil with a low level of easily available P. This soil was supplemented, or not, with inorganic P and/or CaCO3 . The fungal efficiency on P mobilization and host mineral nutrition was quantified after a 3-month culture period. • R. roseolus had a strong effect on the mobilization of poorly available P, whereas H. cylindrosporum had no effect. However, CaCO3 suppressed the positive effect of R. roseolus. Hydroxyapatite had the greatest effect on growth and P nutrition of nonmycorrhizal plants. With soluble P addition, both ectomycorrhizal species improved shoot P concentrations. • The relationship between soil available P and shoot P concentrations enabled us to separate the fungal effects into two categories, the chemical actions and the soil exploration, explaining the positive effect of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis on P. pinaster P nutrition.}, } @article {pmid33873791, year = {2004}, author = {Krüger, A and Pescaron Kan-Berghöfer, T and Frettinger, P and Herrmann, S and Buscot, F and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Identification of premycorrhiza-related plant genes in the association between Quercus robur and Piloderma croceum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {163}, number = {1}, pages = {149-157}, pmid = {33873791}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• An in vitro system with micropropagated oaks (Quercus robur) and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Piloderma croceum, which is characterized by a delayed mycorrhiza formation, was used to identify plant transcripts upregulated in the premycorrhizal phase. • Complementary DNA (cDNA) populations of uninoculated roots and fungal mycelium were subtracted from a cDNA population of inoculated roots. Differential expression was confirmed by reverse Northern and 50 clones for different polypeptides were found to be up-regulated. Twenty-nine clones were investigated in more detail. • For approximately half of the cDNA fragments no homologies could be identified in databases. The residual fragments code for polypeptides with homologies to known proteins involved in signal perception and transmission, stress responses, metabolism and growth. • Since many of the identified genes have not yet been described in the context of symbiotic events, their potential roles during early phases of the recognition process are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33873767, year = {2004}, author = {Zimmermann, U and Schneider, H and Wegner, LH and Haase, A}, title = {Water ascent in tall trees: does evolution of land plants rely on a highly metastable state?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {162}, number = {3}, pages = {575-615}, pmid = {33873767}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The Cohesion Theory considers plant xylem as a 'vulnerable pipeline' isolated from the osmotically connected tissue cells, phloem and mycorrhizas living in symbiosis with plant roots. It is believed that water is pulled exclusively by transpiration-induced negative pressure gradients of several megapascals through continuous water columns from the roots to the foliage. Water under such negative pressures is extremely unstable, particularly given the hydrophobicity of the inner xylem walls and sap composition (lipids, proteins, mucopolysaccharides, etc.) that prevents the development of stable negative pressures larger than about -1 MPa. However, many plant physiologists still view the Cohesion Theory as the absolute and universal truth because clever wording from the proponents of this theory has concealed the recent breakdown of the Scholander pressure bomb (and other indirect methods) as qualified tools for measuring negative pressures in transpiring plants. Here we show that the arguments of the proponents of the Cohesion Theory are completely misleading. We further present an enormous bulk of evidence supporting the view that - depending on the species and ecophysiological context - many other forces, additional to low tensions, can be involved in water ascent and that water can be lifted by a series of watergates (like ships in staircase locks). Contents I. Introduction 576 II. Can water sustain negative pressures? 577 III. Negative xylem pressures of several megapascals: fact or mystery? 579 IV. The continuity of the xylem water columns: fact or hypothesis? 588 V. The 'Multi-Force' or 'Watergate' Theory 590 VI. Conclusions 604 Acknowledgements 605 References 605 Appendix 1 612 Appendix 2 613.}, } @article {pmid33873756, year = {2004}, author = {Bonkowski, M}, title = {Protozoa and plant growth: the microbial loop in soil revisited.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {162}, number = {3}, pages = {617-631}, pmid = {33873756}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {All nutrients that plants absorb have to pass a region of intense interactions between roots, microorganisms and animals, termed the rhizosphere. Plants allocate a great portion of their photosynthetically fixed carbon to root-infecting symbionts, such asmycorrhizal fungi; another part is released as exudates fuelling mainly free-living rhizobacteria. Rhizobacteria are strongly top-down regulated by microfaunal grazers, particularly protozoa. Consequently, beneficial effects of protozoa on plant growth have been assigned to nutrients released from consumed bacterial biomass, that is, the 'microbial loop'. In recent years however, the recognition of bacterial communication networks, the common exchange of microbial signals with roots and the fact that these signals are used to enhance the efflux of carbon from roots have revolutionized our view of rhizosphere processes. Most importantly, effects of rhizobacteria on root architecture seem to be driven in large by protozoan grazers. Protozoan effects on plant root systems stand in sharp contrast to effects of mycorrhizal fungi. Because the regulation of root architecture is a key determinant of nutrient- and water-use efficiency in plants, protozoa provide a model system that may considerably advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant growth and community composition.}, } @article {pmid33873722, year = {2004}, author = {De Grandcourt, A and Epron, D and Montpied, P and Louisanna, E and Béreau, M and Garbaye, J and Guehl, JM}, title = {Contrasting responses to mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus availability in seedlings of two tropical rainforest tree species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {161}, number = {3}, pages = {865-875}, pmid = {33873722}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• This work aimed at understanding the role of mycorrhizal status in phosphorus efficiency of tree seedlings in the tropical rainforest of French Guyana. • Mycorrhizal colonization, growth, phosphorus content, net photosynthesis and root respiration were determined on three occasions during a 9-month growth period for seedlings of two co-occurring species (Dicorynia guianensis and Eperua falcata) grown at three soil phosphorus concentrations, with or without inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizas. • Seedlings of both species were unable to absorb phosphorus in the absence of mycorrhizal association. Mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited coils that are specific of Paris-type mycorrhizae. Both species benefited from the mycorrhizal symbiosis in terms of phosphorus acquisition but the growth of E. falcata seedlings was unresponsive to this mycorrhizal improvement of phosphorus status, probably because of the combination of high seed mass and P reserves, with low growth rate. • The two species belong to two different functional groups regarding phosphorus acquisition, D. guianensis being an obligate mycotrophic species.}, } @article {pmid33873519, year = {2004}, author = {Adriaensen, K and Van Der Lelie, D and Van Laere, A and Vangronsveld, J and Colpaert, JV}, title = {A zinc-adapted fungus protects pines from zinc stress.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {161}, number = {2}, pages = {549-555}, pmid = {33873519}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Here we investigated zinc tolerance of ectomycorrhizal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings. An ectomycorrhizal genotype of Suillus bovinus, collected from a Zn-contaminated site and showing adaptive Zn tolerance in vitro, was compared with a nonadapted isolate from a nonpolluted area. • A dose-response experiment was performed. Dynamics of plant and fungal development, and phosphate and ammonium uptake capacity, were assessed under increasing Zn stress. Effects of Zn on transpiration, nutrient content and Zn accumulation were analysed. • Significant Zn-inoculation interaction effects were observed for several responses measured, including uptake rates of phosphate and ammonium; phosphorus, iron and Zn content in shoots; transpiration; biomass of external mycelia; and fungal biomass in roots. • The Zn-tolerant S. bovinus genotype was particularly efficient in protecting pines from Zn stress. The growth of a Zn-sensitive genotype from a normal wild-type population was inhibited at high Zn concentrations, and this isolate could not sustain the pines' acquisition of nutrients. This study shows that well adapted microbial root symbionts are a major component of the survival strategy of trees that colonize contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid33873513, year = {2004}, author = {Lammers, PJ}, title = {Symbiotic signaling: new functions for familiar proteins.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {161}, number = {2}, pages = {324-326}, pmid = {33873513}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid33873505, year = {2004}, author = {Martin, F and Tuskan, GA and DiFazio, SP and Lammers, P and Newcombe, G and Podila, GK}, title = {Symbiotic sequencing for the Populus mesocosm.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {161}, number = {2}, pages = {330-335}, pmid = {33873505}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid33873504, year = {2004}, author = {Sundaram, S and Brand, JH and Hymes, MJ and Hiremath, S and Podila, GK}, title = {Isolation and analysis of a symbiosis-regulated and Ras-interacting vesicular assembly protein gene from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {161}, number = {2}, pages = {529-538}, pmid = {33873504}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• A yeast two-hybrid library prepared from Laccaria bicolor × Pinus resinosa mycorrhizas was screened using a LbRAS clone, previously characterized, as a bait to isolate LbRAS interacting signaling-related genes from L. bicolor. • Using this method, a novel line of Ras-interacting yeast two-hybrid mycorrhizal (Rythm) clones were isolated and analysed for their symbiosis-regulation. One such clone identified (RythmA) had homology to Ap180-like vesicular proteins. • Sequence homology and parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis showed its relatedness to Ap180-like proteins from other systems. DNA analysis suggested that L. bicolor had one or two copies of the RythmA gene. • An RNA analysis showed that the expression of RythmA could be detected 36 h after interaction with the host, which follows the expression of Lbras. Immunolocalization of LbRAS near dolipore septum of the fungal cells in the Hartig net area suggests that RythmA protein may be involved in the transport of signaling proteins such as LbRAS.}, } @article {pmid33832180, year = {2003}, author = {Trudell, SA and Rygiewicz, PT and Edmonds, RL}, title = {Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope abundances support the myco-heterotrophic nature and host-specificity of certain achlorophyllous plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {160}, number = {2}, pages = {391-401}, pmid = {33832180}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Over 400 species of achlorophyllous vascular plants are thought to obtain all C from symbiotic fungi. Consequently, they are termed 'myco-heterotrophic.' However, direct evidence of myco-heterotrophy in these plants is limited. • During an investigation of the patterns of N and C stable isotopes of various ecosystem pools in two old-growth conifer forests, we sampled six species of myco-heterotrophic achlorophyllous plants to determine the ability of stable isotope ratios to provide evidence of myco-heterotrophy and host-specificity within these symbioses. • Dual-isotope signatures of the myco-heterotrophic plants differed from those of all other pools. They were most similar to the signatures of ectomycorrhizal fungi, and least like those of green plants. δ[15] N values of the myco-heterotrophic plants correlated strongly and positively with those of putative mycobionts. • Used in conjunction with other techniques, N and C stable isotope ratios can be used to demonstrate myco-heterotrophy and host-specificity in these plants when other ecosystem pools are well characterized. They also appear promising for estimating the degree of heterotrophy in photosynthetic, partially myco-heterotrophic plants.}, } @article {pmid33832169, year = {2003}, author = {Lambais, MR and Ríos-Ruiz, WF and Andrade, RM}, title = {Antioxidant responses in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {160}, number = {2}, pages = {421-428}, pmid = {33832169}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Degradation of reactive oxygen species in arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) may be an efficient mechanism to attenuate the activation of plant defenses. Here, we evaluated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol-peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) mycorrhizal roots at different conditions and stages of symbiosis development. • Bean plants were inoculated with Glomus clarum (Gc) or G. intraradices (Gi), under low (LP) and high P (HP) concentrations, and grown under glasshouse conditions. In a second experiment, bean seeds were treated with formononetin and inoculated with Gc under LP and HP conditions. The activities of SOD, GPX and CAT were evaluated. • SOD was induced only in roots colonized by Gc, at a late stage of the symbiosis development under LP, and at an early stage under HP. GPX was induced in roots colonized by Gc at an early time point and suppressed later under LP. In general, CAT was induced in roots colonized by Gc under LP. CAT activities in roots were dependent on P and formononetin treatment. • The possible roles of SOD, GPX and CAT in AM are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33873545, year = {2003}, author = {Carafa, A and Duckett, JG and Ligrone, R}, title = {Subterranean gametophytic axes in the primitive liverwort Haplomitrium harbour a unique type of endophytic association with aseptate fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {160}, number = {1}, pages = {185-197}, pmid = {33873545}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Haplomitrium, a primitive liverwort taxon with only remote affinities to other liverwort groups, develops root-like subterranean axes harbouring fungal endophytes. Here we report on the fungal association in H. gibbsiae and H. ovalifolium, using light and electron microscopy. • The epidermal cells of subterranean axes secrete abundant mucilage that harbours aseptate fungal hyphae. The fungus penetrates the epidermal cells and forms intracellular arbuscules invested by the host cytoplasm. Infection is restricted to epidermal cells in H. gibbsiae, whereas in H. ovalifolium the fungus also infects the cortical cells immediately adjacent, where it forms prominent swellings ('lumps'). In H. gibbsiae similar fungal swellings are formed in the epidermal cells along with arbuscules. In both species the lumps undergo cytoplasmic degeneration and collapse, showing a shorter lifespan than the arbuscules. • The fungal infection in Haplomitrium presents affinities with symbiotic associations with glomeromycotean fungi in higher plants (arbuscular mycorrhizas) and thalloid liverworts. However, the pattern of fungal morphogenesis in Haplomitrium has no precedent in bryophytes nor in higher plants. • Considering the Glomeromycota as the most ancient lineage of mycorrhizal fungi, and Haplomitrium as basal in land plant phylogenies, the association described here may be the most primitive land plant-fungal symbiosis documented to date.}, } @article {pmid33873360, year = {2003}, author = {Tsyganov, VE and Voroshilova, VA and Herrera-Cervera, JA and Sanjuan-Pinilla, JM and Borisov, AY and Tikhonovich, IA and Priefer, UB and Olivares, J and Sanjuan, J}, title = {Developmental downregulation of rhizobial genes as a function of symbiosome differentiation in symbiotic root nodules of Pisum sativum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {159}, number = {2}, pages = {521-530}, pmid = {33873360}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The expression of nodA and dctA genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae has been studied in mutant nodules of pea (Pisum sativum L.), blocked at the following developmental stages: infection thread development inside the nodule (Itn); infection droplet differentiation (Idd); bacteroid differentiation after endocytosis (Bad); and nodule persistence (Nop). • With the use of reporter fusions to these symbiotic bacterial genes it was shown that both nodA and dctA were expressed at all developmental stages, with a pattern similar to that of constitutive, symbiosis-unrelated genes. • As well as two constitutively expressed genes, both nodA and dctA genes seemed to be subjected to gradual downregulation in nodule bacteria, correlating with the stage of bacteroid differentiation reached. No such effect was observed for the symbiotic, oxygen-regulated fixN gene. The bacteroid development stage also appeared to be related to the ability of bacteria that have been subjected to endocytosis to resume free-living vegetative growth. • The results support the suggestion that bacteroid differentiation into a nitrogen-fixing, organelle-like form, is a gradual process involving several stages, each controlled by different plant genes.}, } @article {pmid33873685, year = {2003}, author = {Peter, M and Courty, PE and Kohler, A and Delaruelle, C and Martin, D and Tagu, D and Frey-Klett, P and Duplessis, S and Chalot, M and Podila, G and Martin, F}, title = {Analysis of expressed sequence tags from the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes Laccaria bicolor and Pisolithus microcarpus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {159}, number = {1}, pages = {117-129}, pmid = {33873685}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• In an effort to discover genes that are expressed in the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes Laccaria bicolor and Pisolithus microcarpus, and in P. microcarpus/Eucalyptus globulus ectomycorrhizas, we have sequenced 1519 and 1681 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from L. bicolor and P. microcarpus cDNA libraries. • Contig analysis resulted in 905 and 806 tentative consensus sequences (unique transcripts) in L. bicolor and P. microcarpus, respectively. For 36% of the ESTs, significant similarities to sequences in databases were detected. The most abundant transcripts showed no similarity to previously identified genes. Sequence redundancy analysis between different developmental stages indicated that several genes were differentially expressed in free-living mycelium and symbiotic tissues of P. microcarpus. • Based on sequence similarity, 11% of L. bicolor unique transcripts were also detected in P. microcarpus. Similarly, L. bicolor and P. microcarpus shared only a low proportion of common transcripts with other basidiomycetous fungi, such as Pleurotus ostreatus and Agaricus bisporus. Such a low proportion of shared transcripts between basidiomycetes suggests, on the one hand, that the variability of expressed transcripts in different fungi and fungal tissues is considerably high. On the other hand, it might reflect the low number of GenBank entries of basidiomycetous origin and stresses the necessity of an additional sequencing effort. • The present ESTs provide a valuable resource for future research on the development and functioning of ectomycorrhizas.}, } @article {pmid33873415, year = {2003}, author = {Repetto, O and Bestel-Corre, G and Dumas-Gaudot, E and Berta, G and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V and Gianinazzi, S}, title = {Targeted proteomics to identify cadmium-induced protein modifications in Glomus mosseae-inoculated pea roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {555-567}, pmid = {33873415}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) can increase plant tolerance to heavy metals. A targeted proteomic approach was used to determine the putative identity of some of the proteins induced/modulated by cadmium (Cd) and to analyse the impact of the mycorrhizal process. • The effect of Cd (100 mg Cd kg[-1] substrate) applied either at planting or 15 d later on two pea (Pisum sativum) genotypes, differing in sensitivity to Cd inoculated or not with the AM fungus Glomus mosseae, was studied at three levels: plant biomass production, development of G. mosseae and root differential protein display with one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1-DE and 2-DE) analyses. • Cd-induced growth inhibition was significantly alleviated by mycorrhiza in the Cd-sensitive genotype. The AM symbiosis modulated the expression of several proteins, identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, newly induced and upregulated or downregulated by Cd. • The protective effect of AM symbiosis towards Cd stress was observed in the Cd-sensitive genotype. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of proteomics to better understand the possible role of AM symbiosis in detoxification/response mechanisms towards Cd in pea plants.}, } @article {pmid33873410, year = {2003}, author = {Read, DJ and Perez-Moreno, J}, title = {Mycorrhizas and nutrient cycling in ecosystems - a journey towards relevance?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {475-492}, pmid = {33873410}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Progress towards understanding the extent to which mycorrhizal fungi are involved in the mobilization of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from natural substrates is reviewed here. While mycorrhiza research has emphasized the role of the symbiosis in facilitation of capture of these nutrients in ionic form, attention has shifted since the mid-1980s to analysing the mycorrhizal fungal abilities to release N and P from the detrital materials of microbial faunal and plant origins, which are the primary sources of these elements in terrestrial ecosystems. Ericoid, and some ectomycorrhizal fungi have the potential to be directly involved in attack both on structural polymers, which may render nutrients inaccessible, and in mobilization of N and P from the organic polymers in which they are sequestered. The advantages to the plant of achieving intervention in the microbial mobilization-immobilization cycles are stressed. While the new approaches may initially lack the precision achieved in studies of readily characterized ionic forms of N and P, they do provide insights of greater ecological relevance. The results support the hypothesis that selection has favoured ericoid and ectomycorrhizal systems with well developed saprotrophic capabilities in those ecosystems characterized by retention of N and P as organic complexes in the soil. The need for further investigation of the abilities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to intervene in nutrient mobilization processes is stressed.}, } @article {pmid33873405, year = {2003}, author = {Van Der Heijden, MGA and Wiemken, A and Sanders, IR}, title = {Different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter coexistence and resource distribution between co-occurring plant.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {569-578}, pmid = {33873405}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• It is often thought that the coexistence of plants and plant diversity is determined by resource heterogeneity of the abiotic environment. However, the presence and heterogeneity of biotic plant resources, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), could also affect plant species coexistence. • In this study, Brachypodium pinnatum and Prunella vulgaris were grown together in pots and biotic resource heterogeneity was simulated by inoculating these pots with one of three different AMF taxa, with a mixture of these three taxa, or pots remained uninoculated. • The AMF acted as biotic plant resources since the biomass of plants in pots inoculated with AMF was on average 11.8 times higher than uninoculated pots. The way in which the two plant species coexisted, and the distribution of phosphorus and nitrogen between the plant species, varied strongly depending on which AMF were present. The results showed that the composition of AMF communities determines how plant species coexist and to which plant species nutrients are allocated. • Biotic plant resources such as AMF should therefore be considered as one of the factors that determine how plant species coexist and how soil resources are distributed among co-occurring plant species.}, } @article {pmid33873404, year = {2003}, author = {Lerat, S and Lapointe, L and Gutjahr, S and Piché, Y and Vierheilig, H}, title = {Carbon partitioning in a split-root system of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants is fungal and plant species dependent.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {589-595}, pmid = {33873404}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Root carbon (C) partitioning in two host plant species colonized by one of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species was investigated. • Split-root systems of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) were inoculated on one side with one of three AM fungi. Leaves were labelled with [14] CO2 3 wk after inoculation. Plants were harvested 24 h later and the root systems from the mycorrhizal (M) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) sides were analysed separately for [14] C. • Partitioning of [14] C between M and NM sides varied depending on the fungal and host plant species used. Gigaspora rosea showed a strong C-sink capacity with both plant species, Glomus intraradices showed a strong C-sink capacity with barley, and Glomus mosseae did not affect [14] C partitioning. The C-sink strength of the M barley roots inoculated with G. rosea or G. intraradices was linearly correlated with the degree of colonization. • The use of three AM fungal and two plant species allowed us to conclude that C-sink strength of AM fungi depends on both partners involved in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33873399, year = {2003}, author = {Wolf, J and Johnson, NC and Rowland, DL and Reich, PB}, title = {Elevated CO2 and plant species richness impact arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore communities.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {579-588}, pmid = {33873399}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• We enumerated arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal spore communities for 3 yr as part of a long-term CO2 enrichment experiment at Cedar Creek, Minnesota, USA. Complete factorial combinations of two levels of CO2 and N, and 16 perennial plant species grown in monoculture and 16-species polyculture were arranged in a split-plot design. • In 1998-2000, spore communities were quantified under monocultures of eight plant species. In 2000, measurements were expanded to include monocultures and polycultures of all of the plant species. • Under plant monocultures, only Glomus clarum responded significantly to CO2 elevation out of 11 species present. This response was not detectable under plant polycultures. Glomus clarum was also significantly more abundant under plant polycultures. Nitrogen addition had small negative effects on AM fungal spore abundance and species richness in 2000. The interaction of CO2 and N did not affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore communities. • We show that CO2 enrichment and plant species richness impact arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community structure. These findings are important because altered symbiotic functioning may result.}, } @article {pmid33873395, year = {2003}, author = {Sen, R}, title = {The root-microbe-soil interface: new tools for sustainable plant production.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {391-394}, pmid = {33873395}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid33873702, year = {2003}, author = {Porcel, R and Barea, JM and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Antioxidant activities in mycorrhizal soybean plants under drought stress and their possible relationship to the process of nodule senescence.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {1}, pages = {135-143}, pmid = {33873702}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The mechanisms by which the mycorrhizal symbiosis protects soybean (Glycine max) plants against premature nodule senescence induced by drought stress is investigated here by evaluating the activity of a set of antioxidant enzymes in relation to nodule senescence. • Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity was determined in well watered or drought-stressed soybean plants inoculated with Bradyrrhizobium japonicum alone or in combination with Glomus mosseae . • In roots, only GR activity was higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal plants. The other antioxidant activities were similar, or lower (APX), in droughted, mycorrhizal plants than in the corresponding nonmycorrhizal ones. Similarly, in nodules, SOD, CAT and APX activities were lower in droughted, mycorrhizal plants than in nonmycorrhizal plants whereas, again, GR activity was higher in nodules from mycorrhizal plants. • We propose that the consistently higher GR activity in roots and nodules of mycorrhizal plants might have contributed to decreased oxidative damage to biomolecules, which are involved in premature nodule senescence. Additional drought-avoidance mechanisms induced by the AM symbiosis might also contribute to the lower oxidative stress in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid33873693, year = {2003}, author = {Cavagnaro, TR and Smith, FA and Ayling, SM and Smith, SE}, title = {Growth and phosphorus nutrition of a Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {157}, number = {1}, pages = {127-134}, pmid = {33873693}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Paris -type arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are reportedly the most common morphological type of AM; however, most research has focused on the Arum -type. Asphodelus fistulosus , a common weed in southern Australia, forms Paris -type AM when colonised by Glomus coronatum . It is often found in sites with low nutrient levels, and may therefore be dependent on its AM associations for growth and phosphorus (P) nutrition. • A. fistulosus was inoculated with G. coronatum and grown in pots containing a soil/sand mixture with P added to give five soil P concentrations. The plants were grown in a glasshouse and harvested 6 and 9 wk after planting, at which times growth, P nutrition and colonisation were measured. • At low soil P, A. fistulosus showed very marked positive responses to colonisation both in P uptake and growth; both responses decreased with increasing P supply. Colonisation was not greatly reduced by increasing P supply. • This study appears to be one of the first detailed investigations of P responses in a Paris -type AM, providing insight into what is reportedly the more common but less well studied morphological type of AM.}, } @article {pmid33873584, year = {2002}, author = {Nilsson, M and Bhattacharya, J and Rai, AN and Bergman, B}, title = {Colonization of roots of rice (Oryza sativa) by symbiotic Nostoc strains.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {156}, number = {3}, pages = {517-525}, pmid = {33873584}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The lack of nitrogen in agriculture, and negative environmental effects of fertilizers, have stimulated interest in creating artificial associations between N2 -fixing cyanobacteria and rice (Oryza sativa). • For the first time, numerous (57) Nostoc isolates from natural symbioses were screened for their ability to associate with rice. Successful colonizers were tested for N2 -fixation by acetylene reduction, and for their ability to adsorb to roots by chlorophyll a measurements. Paranodules were induced by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. And genetic fingerprints of the cyanobacteria were obtained for identification. Ultrastructural investigations were made by light and scanning electron microscopy. • Twenty-one symbiotic Nostoc isolates associated with rice roots, colonizing surfaces and intercellular spaces. Adsorption was high and appeared biphasic. The rates of N2 fixation by associated cyanobacteria were higher compared with those in free-living cyanobacteria. Paranodules were formed and colonized, but root growth was adversely affected. • Under laboratory conditions, artificial associations were created between one-third of the screened symbiotic cyanobacteria and rice. The agricultural potential for the association appears high since the cyanobacteria adsorb tightly and fix more N2 than when free-living.}, } @article {pmid33873280, year = {2002}, author = {Chabaud, M and Venard, C and Defaux-Petras, A and Bécard, G and Barker, DG}, title = {Targeted inoculation of Medicago truncatula in vitro root cultures reveals MtENOD11 expression during early stages of infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {156}, number = {2}, pages = {265-273}, pmid = {33873280}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• An in vitro targeted inoculation technique has been developed for studying the earliest stages of arbuscular endomycorrhizal (AM) infection of Medicago truncatula roots, and in particular the spatio-temporal expression of the early nodulin gene MtENOD11. • Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformed root explants were derived either from Myc [+] M. truncatula or from the infection-defective Myc [-] mutant TR26 (dmi2-2), both expressing the pMtENOD11-gusA fusion. The normal positive geotropism of these roots, coupled with the negative geotropism of Gigaspora germ tubes allowed oriented growth of the two symbiotic partners, facilitating the identification of initial fungal/root contacts. • Early infection events at the stage of appressoria and/or internal hyphae could be observed for over 50% of the inoculated explants, revealing that MtENOD11 is expressed transiently in both epidermal and cortical cells at sites of hyphal penetration in Myc [+] roots, but not in epidermal cells in contact with appressoria in Myc [-] roots. • We propose that a direct link exists between MtENOD11 gene expression and cellular events required for fungal penetration, thereby extending analogies between rhizobial and AM host root infection processes.}, } @article {pmid33873311, year = {2002}, author = {Berry, AM and Rasmussen, U and Bateman, K and Huss-Danell, K and Lindwall, S and Bergman, B}, title = {Arabinogalactan proteins are expressed at the symbiotic interface in root nodules of Alnus spp.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {155}, number = {3}, pages = {469-479}, pmid = {33873311}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• We have characterized the origin and distribution of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) at the symbiotic interface of dinitrogen (N 2)-fixing root nodules of Alnus spp. The interface between the host plant cell and the microsymbiont is an important zone for signaling and growth regulation during nodulation. Arabinogalactan proteins are glycoproteins that have adhesive properties, and, potentially, participate in cell wall assembly, direction of growth, and signaling cascades. These glycoproteins are expressed in several symbiotic systems in an infection-specific pattern, but their occurrence has not been examined in actinorhizal nodules. • To characterize AGP epitopes in Alnus root nodules, we have used immunogold localization with anti-AGP antibodies, correlated with other techniques. • Arabinogalactan proteins are abundant in the nodule-infected tissue. One AGP epitope (JIM4) is localized in pectin-rich cell walls, while another (JIM13) is found at the membrane-wall border along the symbiotic interface at the early infection stage, and in the host cytoplasm/vacuoles in mature, infected cells. • It is likely that AGPs play a significant role in Alnus root nodules, especially in early nodulation stages.}, } @article {pmid33873302, year = {2002}, author = {Miller, RM and Miller, SP and Jastrow, JD and Rivetta, CB}, title = {Mycorrhizal mediated feedbacks influence net carbon gain and nutrient uptake in Andropogon gerardii.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {155}, number = {1}, pages = {149-162}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2002.00429.x}, pmid = {33873302}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The carbon sink strength of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was investigated by comparing the growth dynamics of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Andropogon gerardii plants over a wide range of equivalent tissue phosphorus : nitrogen (P : N) ratios. • Host growth, apparent photosynthesis (Anet), net C gain (Cn) and P and N uptake were evaluated in sequential harvests of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal A. gerardii plants. Response curves were used to assess the effect of assimilate supply on the mycorrhizal symbiosis in relation to the association of C with N and P. • Mycorrhizal plants had higher Cn than nonmycorrhizal plants at equivalent shoot P : N ratios even though colonization did not affect plant dry mass. The higher Cn in mycorrhizal plants was related to both an increase in specific leaf area and enhanced photosynthesis. The additional carbon gain associated with the mycorrhizal condition was not allocated to root biomass. The Cn in the mycorrhizal plants was positively related to the proportion of active colonization in the roots. • The calculated difference between Cn values in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants, Cdiff , appeared to correspond to the sink strength of the AMF and was not an indirect result of enhanced nutrition in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid33873297, year = {2002}, author = {Selosse, MA and Bauer, R and Moyersoen, B}, title = {Basal hymenomycetes belonging to the Sebacinaceae are ectomycorrhizal on temperate deciduous trees.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {155}, number = {1}, pages = {183-195}, pmid = {33873297}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Heterobasidiomycetous species of the Sebacinaceae family, previously considered as saprophytes or parasites, are shown here to form ectomycorrhizas on temperate forest trees. • Ectomycorrhizas were collected under sebacinoid sporophores and near root systems of Neottia nidus-avis, an orchid symbiotic with sebacinoids. To identify the partners each ectomycorrhiza was submitted to amplification and sequencing of the plant and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and further investigated by light and electron microscopy whenever a sebacinoid ITS was found. • Molecular and microscopic analyses correlated well. Two sebacinoids of divergent rDNA sequences were demonstrated to form similar ectomycorrhizas, with a well-developed Hartig net and a hyphal mantle having thick-walled outer mantle hyphae. The ultrastructure of the septal pore (dolipore with imperforate caps) was typical for sebacinoids. In one case, intracellular colonization was seen. The ectomycorrhizal host range of these sebacinoids was not specific and included Betulaceae, Fagaceae and Tiliaceae. • Sebacinoids probably represent an overlooked ectomycorrhizal group and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis may be common among basal lineages of hymenomycetes.}, } @article {pmid33873290, year = {2002}, author = {Vrålstad, T and Myhre, E and Schumacher, T}, title = {Molecular diversity and phylogenetic affinities of symbiotic root-associated ascomycetes of the Helotiales in burnt and metal polluted habitats.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {155}, number = {1}, pages = {131-148}, pmid = {33873290}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The diversity and phylogenetic affinities of symbiotic root-associated ascomycetes of the Helotiales are reported here based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) nrDNA sequences. • Mycobionts were obtained from roots of ericoid plants and grasses and from Piceirhiza bicolorata ectomycorrhizas (pbECM) on conifers and hardwoods, predominantly in burnt and metal-polluted habitats. The mycobionts were sequenced through the ITS and compared with sequences of known helotialean taxa. • We recognized 132 fungal ITS-sequences with affinity to the Helotiales, of which 75% (54 different ITS-genotypes) grouped within the Hymenoscyphus ericae aggregate including Phialophora finlandia. This aggregate showed stronger affinity to members of the Hyaloscyphaceae and Dermateaceae than to Hymenoscyphus fructigenus (genus-type species; Helotiaceae). Most of the pbECM mycobionts grouped with P. finlandia, although some grouped with H. ericae. Two genotypes co-occurred in ericoid and ectomycorrhizal roots. • The H. ericae aggregate may be referable to a generic unit, and includes a diverse group of closely related, more or less darkly pigmented, root-associated ascomycetes where the borders between intra- and interspecific ITS-sequence variation, as well as different mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal root-symbioses, remains unclear.}, } @article {pmid33873287, year = {2002}, author = {Summerfield, TC and Galloway, DJ and Eaton-Rye, JJ}, title = {Species of cyanolichens from Pseudocyphellaria with indistinguishable ITS sequences have different photobionts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {155}, number = {1}, pages = {121-129}, pmid = {33873287}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Cyanobacteria were isolated from bipartite cyanolichen species of Pseudocyphellaria and the identity of the major photobionts established. The specificity of the cyanobacterial-fungal association was also examined. • Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences distinguished cyanobacterial and green algal isolates, and both 16S rRNA gene and tRNA[Leu] (UAA) intron sequences of isolates and lichen thalli identified candidate photobionts. In addition, the genetic diversity of both the cyanobiont and mycobiont was investigated using the comparison of tRNA[Leu] (UAA) intron sequences and ITS sequences, respectively. • The 16S rRNA gene sequences identified two species-specific photobionts with similar sequences; however, the tRNA[Leu] (UAA) intron sequences unambiguously discriminated between the two symbiotic cyanobacterial strains. Moreover, the fungal ITS sequences of the two corresponding lichens, Pseudocyphellaria crocata and Pseudocyphellaria neglecta, showed little variation. • The cyanobacterial-fungal associations of P. crocata and P. neglecta were specific for all samples. However, the similarity of the ITS sequences raised the possibility that they represent the same species and that their different morphology is influenced by the cyanobacterial symbiont.}, } @article {pmid33873467, year = {2002}, author = {Vallorani, L and Polidori, E and Sacconi, C and Agostini, D and Pierleoni, R and Piccoli, G and Zeppa, S and Stocchi, V}, title = {Biochemical and molecular characterization of NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {3}, pages = {779-790}, pmid = {33873467}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) from Tuber borchii was purified and the corresponding gene was cloned in order to elucidate the physiological role of the enzyme in this ectomycorrhizal fungus. • NADP-GDH was purified using an anion-exchange column followed by affinity chromatography. The complete gene was cloned from a 30-d-old-mycelium cDNA library and characterized. • T. borchii NADP-GDH appears to be physically and kinetically similar to those from other fungi and the deduced amino acid sequence of the gdh gene showed a significant similarity to other fungal NADP-dependent GDHs. Biochemical and Northern blotting analyses carried out with mycelia grown on different nitrogen sources clearly showed that the regulation of T. borchii NADP-GDH in response to different nitrogen sources was markedly different from the responses of the NADP-GDHs of other ascomycetes. Northern blotting analyses highlighted that the gdh gene was also expressed in the symbiotic phase. • The biochemical and molecular data suggest that the fungal NADP-GDH contributes to the primary nitrogen metabolism in the ectomycorrhizal tissues.}, } @article {pmid33873465, year = {2002}, author = {Uetake, Y and Kojima, T and Ezawa, T and Saito, M}, title = {Extensive tubular vacuole system in an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Gigaspora margarita.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {3}, pages = {761-768}, pmid = {33873465}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• A tubular vacuolar system is reported here for the first time in living hyphae of Gigaspora margarita, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, during various phases in the development of a symbiotic relationship with onion (Allium cepa) seedlings. • Germ tubes, extraradical hyphae and intercellular hyphae were labeled with Oregon Green 488 carboxylic acid diacetate and observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Emphasis was placed on the relationship between the shape of vacuoles and the presence of cytoplasmic streaming. • In germ tubes, labeled vacuoles showed a variety of profiles, including spherical and tubular (< 0.5 µm diameter), with various compositions of these shapes along the length of the germ tubes. The tubular vacuoles rarely interconnected with spherical vacuoles and often formed longitudinally oriented, elongated bundles. The tubular vacuolar system appeared to be associated with cytoplasmic streaming, whereas spherical vacuoles were not. Tubular vacuoles were observed in all regions of the germ tubes and were also observed in both extraradical and intercellular hyphae. • The results question the hypothesis that discrete vacuoles may be involved in the translocation of polyphosphate along hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid33873449, year = {2002}, author = {Charvet-Candela, V and Hitchin, S and Ernst, D and Sandermann, H and Marmeisse, R and Gay, G}, title = {Characterization of an Aux/IAA cDNA upregulated in Pinus pinaster roots in response to colonization by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {3}, pages = {769-777}, pmid = {33873449}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• In an attempt to determine whether fungal auxin affects host plant gene expression during mycorrhizal formation, an auxin upregulated cDNA, Pp-iaa88, was isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library made from auxin-treated Pinus pinaster roots. • Pp-iaa88 codes for a polypeptide that shares extensive homology to auxin-inducible Aux/IAA proteins, which are supposed to act as transcription factors. Cycloheximide did not inhibit auxin-induced mRNA accumulation, indicating that Pp-iaa88 upregulation is a primary (direct) auxin response. • The level of Pp-iaa88 transcripts in roots increased following inoculation with either an indoleacetic acid-overproducing mutant or a wild-type strain of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum. With both strains, mRNA accumulation was detectable as soon as fungal hyphae reached the root and it increased during differentiation of symbiotic structures. The kinetics of Pp-iaa88 transcript accumulation was closely connected with the dynamics of symbiosis establishment and was more rapid with the mutant than with the wild-type strain. • As a putative transcription factor expressed at the very early stages of symbiosis establishment, Pp-iaa88 could play a key role in mycorrhizal formation.}, } @article {pmid33873444, year = {2002}, author = {Podila, GK}, title = {Signaling in mycorrhizal symbioses - elegant mutants lead the way.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {3}, pages = {541-545}, pmid = {33873444}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid33873436, year = {2002}, author = {Balasubramanian, S and Kim, SJ and Podila, GK}, title = {Differential expression of a malate synthase gene during the preinfection stage of symbiosis in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {2}, pages = {517-527}, pmid = {33873436}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The ectomycorrhiza is a symbiotic organ formed between a filamentous fungus and a plant root, mainly tree roots. Root colonization involves significant shifts in gene expression resulting in metabolic and structural changes in the fungus, including growth toward the plant root, penetration and establishment of the symbiotic organ. • The preinfection stage of the association is crucial as changes that occur throughout mycorrhiza formation are set in motion. Using an in vitro system for identifying preinfection stage symbiosis-regulated genes from the Laccaria bicolor-Pinus resinosa interaction we have identified a malate synthase from L. bicolor (Lb-MS). • The glyoxylate pathway, of which malate synthase is an enzyme, acts as a tricarboxylic acid pathway bypass generating four-carbon compounds for biosynthesis. While it is anticipated that malate synthase would be a part of the genetic and metabolic machinery of any fungus, Lb-MS is of interest because it is symbiosis regulated. • Lb-MS is regulated through interaction between the fungus and the host, by glucose and by the presence of other carbon sources in the medium. Its proposed role in the symbiosis is in the utilization of two carbon compounds formed from catabolic processes in early interaction facilitating hyphal net growth.}, } @article {pmid33873433, year = {2002}, author = {Gobert, A and Plassard, C}, title = {Differential NO3 [-] dependent patterns of NO3 [-] uptake in Pinus pinaster, Rhizopogon roseolus and their ectomycorrhizal association.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {2}, pages = {509-516}, pmid = {33873433}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• A different NO3 [-] dependent pattern of NO3 [-] uptake at low [NO3 [-] ] (0-0.1 mM) is shown in Pinus pinaster and in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Rhizopogon roseolus. In ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, the fungal pattern is pre-eminent. • Net NO3 [-] uptake rates were deduced in plant and fungus from solution depletion measurements. Net NO3 [-] fluxes were estimated at the surface of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal short roots, using NO3 [-] selective microelectrodes. • In NO3 [-] starved seedlings, maximum NO3 [-] uptake rates were reached after 3 d of incubation in 0.05 mM NO3 [-] . In R. roseolus mycelia, NO3 [-] uptake rates did not change after withdrawing NO3 [-] for up to 7 d, or after adding NO3 [-] for 3 d. Net NO3 [-] fluxes in nonmycorrhizal short roots were increased twofold by a 3-d exposure to NO3 [-] whereas in ectomycorrhiza they were similar irrespective of the NO3 [-] pretreatment, but always higher than the fluxes measured in nonmycorrhizal roots. • Ectomycorrhiza have a greater capacity to use NO3 [-] than nonmycorrhizal short roots, whatever the NO3 [-] concentration in the solution. This may give mycorrhizal plants a greater ability to use fluctuating concentrations of NO3 [-] in the soil solution.}, } @article {pmid33873426, year = {2002}, author = {Shaul-Keinan, O and Gadkar, V and Ginzberg, I and Grünzweig, JM and Chet, I and Elad, Y and Wininger, S and Belausov, E and Eshed, Y and Atzmon, N and Ben-Tal, Y and Kapulnik, Y}, title = {Hormone concentrations in tobacco roots change during arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization with Glomus intraradices.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {154}, number = {2}, pages = {501-507}, pmid = {33873426}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Phytohormones are known to play a pivotal role in various developmental processes in plants and in arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) fungal-host symbiosis. This study focuses on characterizing the changes in the concentrations of auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) during the early stages of colonization by Glomus intraradices, using advanced analytical detection techniques. • High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis followed by radioimmunoassay detection revealed that AM colonization induced the accumulation of specific zeatin riboside-like and isopentenyl adenosine-like compounds in both roots and shoots. • Use of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique on the same developmental stage revealed that gibberellins (GA) of the earl-13-hydroxylation biosynthetic pathway (GA1 , GA8 , GA19 and GA20) were significantly more abundant in roots, but not shoots, of AM inoculated plants than in those of nonmycorrhizal plants. Indoleacetic acid concentrations (total and free) remained unaltered by AM colonization. • This study demonstrates that hormonal changes do occur during AM symbiosis with tobacco, before the fungal benefits manifest.}, } @article {pmid33862990, year = {2001}, author = {Batty, AL and Dixon, KW and Brundrett, M and Sivasithamparam, K}, title = {Constraints to symbiotic germination of terrestrial orchid seed in a mediterranean bushland.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {152}, number = {3}, pages = {511-520}, doi = {10.1046/j.0028-646X.2001.00277.x}, pmid = {33862990}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The dependence of seeds of terrestrial orchids on specific fungi for germination provides a means of locating these fungi in the wild and to investigate the role of appropriate fungi in the germination of orchid seed and development of seedlings under natural field conditions. • Seed baits, comprising orchid (Caladenia arenicola) seed enclosed in fine nylon mesh, were placed at sample points along four transects through two orchid populations in bushland in Western Australia. Seed germination was scored and compared with adult orchid plant distribution and soil factors. • A small fraction of available seed (< 1%) germinated to a stage of tuber formation where survival over the subsequent dry season would have been possible. Germination increased in the vicinity of adult C. arenicola plants, but other factors, such as soil potassium levels and presence of leaf litter, were also correlated with seed germination. • The measurement of the spatial variability in germination events within an orchid habitat demonstrated the availability of new recruitment sites. This information is required to assess the natural recruitment capacity and the potential for orchid reintroduction in natural habitats.}, } @article {pmid33853254, year = {2001}, author = {Redman, RS and Dunigan, DD and Rodriguez, RJ}, title = {Fungal symbiosis from mutualism to parasitism: who controls the outcome, host or invader?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {151}, number = {3}, pages = {705-716}, pmid = {33853254}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Plant symbiotic fungi are generally thought to express a single lifestyle that might increase (mutualism), decrease (parasitism), or have no influence (commensalism) on host fitness. However, data are presented here demonstrating that plant pathogenic Colletotrichum species are able to asymptomatically colonize plants and express nonpathogenic lifestyles. • Experiments were conducted in growth chambers and plant colonization was assessed by emergence of fungi from surface sterilized plant tissues. Expression of symbiotic lifestyles was assessed by monitoring the ability of fungi to confer disease resistance, drought tolerance and growth enhancement. • Several pathogenic Colletotrichum species expressed either mutualistic or commensal lifestyles in plants not known to be hosts. Mutualists conferred disease resistance, drought tolerance, and/or growth enhancement to host plants. Lifestyle-altered mutants expressing nonpathogenic lifestyles had greater host ranges than the parental wildtype isolate. Successive colonization studies indicated that the ability of a symbiont to colonize a plant was dependent on previous colonization events and the lifestyles expressed by the initial colonizing fungus. • The results indicate that the outcome of symbiosis is controlled by the plant's physiology.}, } @article {pmid33853246, year = {2001}, author = {Albus, U and Baier, R and Holst, O and Pühler, A and Niehaus, K}, title = {Suppression of an elicitor-induced oxidative burst reaction in Medicago sativa cell cultures by Sinorhizobium meliloti lipopolysaccharides.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {151}, number = {3}, pages = {597-606}, pmid = {33853246}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The biological activity of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti was analysed in cell cultures of the host plant Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and the nonhost plant Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). • LPS of S. meliloti were purified and chemically characterized. Alfalfa and tobacco suspension cell cultures responded to yeast elicitors with an alkalinization of the culture medium and the induction of an oxidative burst. This assay was used to study the biological activity of isolated LPS. • In alfalfa cell cultures the simultaneous addition of purified LPS of S. meliloti suppressed the elicitor induced alkalinization and oxidative burst reaction. Cell cultures of the nonhost tobacco reacted differently to the application of S. meliloti LPS. In these cell cultures, the S. meliloti LPS itself caused an alkalinization of the culture medium and an oxidative burst reaction. • S. meliloti LPS released from the bacterial surface might function as a specific signal molecule, promoting the symbiotic interaction and suppressing a pathogenic response in the host plant, alfalfa.}, } @article {pmid33873382, year = {2001}, author = {Martin, F and Duplessis, S and Ditengou, F and Lagrange, H and Voiblet, C and Lapeyrie, F}, title = {Developmental cross talking in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis: signals and communication genes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {151}, number = {1}, pages = {145-154}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00169.x}, pmid = {33873382}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Development of ectomycorrhizas involves multiple genes that are implicated in a complex series of interdependent, sequential steps. Current research into ectomycorrhiza development and functioning is aimed at understanding this plant-microbe interaction in a framework of the developmental and physiological processes that underlie colonization and morphogenesis. After a brief introduction to the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, the present article highlights recent work on the early signal exchange taking place between symbionts, and sketches the way functional genomics is altering our thinking about changes in gene expression during the early steps of the ectomycorrhiza development.}, } @article {pmid33873339, year = {2001}, author = {Bala, A and Giller, KE}, title = {Symbiotic specificity of tropical tree rhizobia for host legumes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {149}, number = {3}, pages = {495-507}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00059.x}, pmid = {33873339}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The host range and specificity is reported of a genetically diverse group of rhizobia isolated from nodules of Calliandra calothyrsus, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Sesbania sesban. • Nodule number and nitrogen content was measured in seedlings of herbaceous and woody legume species after inoculation with rhizobial strains isolated from tropical soils, to establish symbiotic effectiveness groups for rhizobial strains and their hosts. • Specificity for nodulation and N2 fixation varied greatly among the legumes. Symbionts of all four legumes exhibited a wide range of promiscuity and symbiotic effectiveness with isolates of S. sesban having the narrowest host range. N2 fixation varied greatly; although some strains fixed large amounts of N2 with more than one host, none was effective with all hosts. Rhizobial isolates of C. calothyrsus, G. sepium and L. leucocephala were able to effectively cross-nodulate each others' hosts as well as a number of other species. • The complex nature of cross-nodulation relationships between diverse rhizobial strains and legume hosts is highlighted. Host plants inoculated with effective rhizobial strains showed better nitrogen use efficiency than plants supplied solely with mineral nitrogen.}, } @article {pmid33873325, year = {2001}, author = {Larsen, J and Bødker, L}, title = {Interactions between pea root-inhabiting fungi examined using signature fatty acids.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {149}, number = {3}, pages = {487-493}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00049.x}, pmid = {33873325}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Interactions are investigated between the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus mosseae, and the root pathogen, Aphanomyces euteiches, on pea (Pisum sativum) roots, as arbuscular mycorrhiza are known to suppress a broad range of root pathogens. • Phospholipid (PLFA) and neutral lipid (NLFA) fatty acids were used as indicators of biomass and energy reserves, respectively, of A. euteiches and G. mosseae in inoculated roots of pot-grown pea seedlings. • Symbiosis between pea and G. mosseae had no effect on the severity of disease caused by A. euteiches, which decreased pea shoot and root dry weight. However, the presence of G. mosseae in pea roots reduced both biomass and energy reserves of A. euteiches, indicated by a reduction in PLFA 14 : 0 and both NLFAs 14 : 0 and 14 : 1ω9. Similarly, a reduction in PLFA and NLFA 16 : 1ω5 indicated reduced biomass and energy reserves of G. mosseae in A. euteiches-infected roots. • Signature fatty acids can be used to quantify biomass and energy reserves of G. mosseae and A. euteiches simultaneously, in pea root; this appears to be a promising method for studying interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and root pathogens in planta.}, } @article {pmid33873324, year = {2001}, author = {Tatsuhiro, E and Sally E, S and F, AS}, title = {Differentiation of polyphosphate metabolism between the extra- and intraradical hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {149}, number = {3}, pages = {555-563}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00040.x}, pmid = {33873324}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Regulation of polyphosphate metabolism is reported in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. • Marigold (Tagetes patula) plants inoculated with Glomus coronatum or Glomus etunicatum were grown in mesh bags. Exopolyphosphatase activity in extra- and intraradical hyphae was measured and characterized. The hyphae were stained with Neutral red to show acidic vacuoles in which polyphosphate synthesis might occur. • Exopolyphosphate activity was differently expressed between the extra- and intraradical hyphae, as indicated by different pH optima; high activity was observed at pH 5.0 in the intraradical hyphae of both fungal species. Km values were lower at neutral pH with long-chain polyphosphate, whereas acidic activity showed lower Km with short-chain polyphosphate. Both extra- and intradical hyphae had acidic vacuoles. Polyphosphate occurred in the hyphae of the high-P, but not the low-P treatment. By contrast, exopolyphosphatase activity and vacuolar acidity were relatively constant irrespective of polyphosphate status. • The fungi have at least two different exopolyphosphatase-type enzymes which are differently expressed between extra- and intraradical hyphae; polyphosphate accumulation might be a dynamic balance between synthesis and hydrolysis.}, } @article {pmid33853243, year = {2001}, author = {Tagu, D and De Bellis, R and Balestrini, R and De Vries, OMH and Piccoli, G and Stocchi, V and Bonfante, P and Martin, F}, title = {Immunolocalization of hydrophobin HYDPt-1 from the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Pisolithus tinctorius during colonization of Eucalyptus globulus roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {149}, number = {1}, pages = {127-135}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00009.x}, pmid = {33853243}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• The immunolocalization of one of the hydrophobins of Pisolithustinctorius (HYDPt-1) is reported. Hydrophobin proteins play key roles in adhesion and aggregation of fungal hyphae, and it is already known that formation of ectomycorrhizas on eucalypt roots enhances the accumulation of hydrophobin mRNAs in the mycelium of Pisolithus tinctorius. • Purification of SDS-insoluble proteins from the mycelium of P. tinctorius showed the presence of a 13 kDa polypeptide with properties of class I hydrophobin. • Polyconal antibodies were raised against a recombinant HYDPt-1 polypeptide, and these were used for immunofluorescence-coupled transmission electron microscopy. • HYDPt-1 is a cell wall protein located at the surface of the hyphae with no preferential accumulation in the fungal cells of the different tissues of the ectomycorrhiza (i.e. extraradical hyphae, mantle or Hartig net).}, } @article {pmid33853237, year = {2001}, author = {Cavagnaro, TR and Smith, FA and Lorimer, MF and Haskard, KA and Ayling, SM and Smith, SE}, title = {Quantitative development of Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizas formed between Asphodelus fistulosus and Glomus coronatum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {149}, number = {1}, pages = {105-113}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00001.x}, pmid = {33853237}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {• Arum- and Paris-type symbioses are the two main morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhiza. Here, the developmental time-course of the Paris-type association formed from colonization of Asphodelus fistulosus (onion weed) by Glomus coronatum is presented. • Development was monitored over 27 d. Root colonization was assessed using a modification of the magnified intersects technique (MIT), for investigating the interdependence (thus IMIT) of structures. • Hyphal and arbusculate coils were found predominantly in the outer and inner cortex of the root, respectively. The interdependence of external hyphae, hyphal coils and arbusculate coils was determined during the relatively slow development of the symbiosis. • The time required for development of Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizas is slower than for the Arum type, and both time and space influence the formation of hyphal coils. Use of IMIT for scoring colonization allows determination of the interdependence of different fungal structures, and thus the technique has potentially wide applications, such as in relating the presence of different structures to signals from molecular probes.}, } @article {pmid33853236, year = {2001}, author = {Bago, B and Pfeffer, P and Shachar-Hill, Y}, title = {Could the urea cycle be translocating nitrogen in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {149}, number = {1}, pages = {4-8}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00016.x}, pmid = {33853236}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid33863042, year = {2000}, author = {Smith, FA}, title = {Measuring the influence of mycorrhizas.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {148}, number = {1}, pages = {4-6}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2000.00751_148_1.x}, pmid = {33863042}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {'The view that nutrient acquisition by most plants growing in natural ecosystems is mediated by mycorrhiza-forming symbiotic fungi is now largely accepted' (Read, 2000). Is this bold claim really true for the whole suite of mineral nutrients that plants require? The case is strongest for nutrients that are not very mobile in soil, especially when present in growth-limiting amounts, and phosphate (P) is the classic example. Arbuscular mycorrhizas are by far the most widespread mycorrhizal symbioses, and the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to take up soil nutrients such as P and transfer them to the host plant is an area of intense research. However, there is great variation in the extent to which AM plants benefit in measurable terms from the symbiosis under a given set of environmental conditions, and a paper in this issue, by Koide et al., addresses this problem (Koide et al., pp. 163-168). The variability is especially apparent in the field, thus obscuring the possible roles of mycorrhizas in community structure and succession (Fitter, 1985; McGonigle, 1988).}, } @article {pmid33863029, year = {2000}, author = {Palmqvist, K}, title = {Tansley Review No. 117: Carbon economy in lichens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {148}, number = {1}, pages = {11-36}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00732.x}, pmid = {33863029}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Lichens are nutritionally specialized fungi (the mycobiont component) that derive carbon and in some cases nitrogen from algal or cyanobacterial photobionts. The mycobiont and photobiont live together in an integrated thallus, but they lack specific tissue for the transport of metabolites and resources between them. Carbon is acquired through photosynthesis in the photobiont, which is active when the lichen is wet and exposed to light. Lichen photosynthesis is limited primarily by water, light and nitrogen, but can also be constrained by slow diffusion of CO2 within the wet thallus. The assimilated carbon is exported from photobiont to mycobiont, which also predominates in terms of biomass, and apparently regulates the size of the photobiont population. It has therefore generally been assumed that most of the carbon is used for growth and maintenance of the fungal hyphae. However, the extent of photobiont respiration in relation to mycobiont respiration has seldom been quantified; neither do we know the pool sizes of various carbon sinks within lichens. Owing to this lack of fundamental data we do not know whether, or how, carbohydrate resources are regulated to maintain an optimal balance between energy input and expenditures in these symbiotic organisms. This review summarizes data on growth, carbon gain and carbon expenditures in lichens, with particular emphasis on factors determining the photosynthetic capacity of their photobionts. An attempt is made to introduce an economic analysis of lichen growth processes, a view that has often been adopted in studies of higher plants. Areas in which more data are needed for the construction of a model on 'lichen resource allocation patterns' are discussed. Contents Summary 11 I. INTRODUCTION 12 II. LICHEN BIONT CHARACTERISTICS 12 III. LICHEN GROWTH 13 IV. CARBON ACQUISITION 16 V. CARBON SINKS AND EXPENDITURES 28 VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS 30 Acknowledgements 31 References 31.}, } @article {pmid33862930, year = {2000}, author = {Rai, AN and Söderbäck, E and Bergman, B}, title = {Tansley Review No. 116: Cyanobacterium-plant symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {147}, number = {3}, pages = {449-481}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00720.x}, pmid = {33862930}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are an ancient, morphologically diverse group of prokaryotes with an oxygenic photosynthesis. Many cyanobacteria also possess the ability to fix N2 . Although well suited to an independent existence in nature, some cyanobacteria occur in symbiosis with a wide range of hosts (protists, animals and plants). Among plants, such symbioses have independently evolved in phylogenetically diverse genera belonging to the algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. These are N2 -fixing symbioses involving heterocystous cyanobacteria, particularly Nostoc, as cyanobionts (cyanobacterial partners). A given host species associates with only a particular cyanobiont genus but such specificity does not extend to the strain level. The cyanobiont is located under a microaerobic environment in a variety of host organs and tissues (bladder, thalli and cephalodia in fungi; cavities in gametophytes of hornworts and liverworts or fronds of the Azolla sporophyte; coralloid roots in cycads; stem glands in Gunnera). Except for fungi, the hosts form these structures ahead of the cyanobiont infection. The symbiosis lasts for one generation except in Azolla and diatoms, in which it is perpetuated from generation to generation. Within each generation, multiple fresh infections occur as new symbiotic tissues and organs develop. The symbioses are stable over a wide range of environmental conditions, and sensing-signalling between partners ensures their synchronized growth and development. The cyanobiont population is kept constant in relation to the host biomass through controlled initiation and infection, nutrient supply and cell division. In most cases, the partners have remained facultative, with the cyanobiont residing extracellularly in the host. However, in the water-fern Azolla and the freshwater diatom Rhopalodia the association is obligate. The cyanobionts occur intracellularly in diatoms, the fungus Geosiphon and the angiosperm Gunner a. Close cell-cell contact and the development of special structures ensure efficient nutrient exchange between the partners. The mobile nutrients are normal products of the donor cells, although their production is increased in symbiosis. Establishment of cyanobacterial-plant symbioses differs from chloroplast evolution. In these symbioses, the cyanobiont undergoes structural-functional changes suited to its role as provider of fixed N rather than fixed C, and the level of intimacy is far less than that of an organelle. This review provides an updated account of cyanobacterial-plant symbioses, particularly concerning developments during the past 10 yr. Various aspects of these symbioses such as initiation and development, symbiont diversity, recognition and signalling, structural-functional modifications, integration, and nutrient exchange are reviewed and discussed, as are evolutionary aspects and the potential uses of cyanobacterial-plant symbioses. Finally we outline areas that require special attention for future research. Not only will these provide information of academic interest but they will also help to improve the use of Azolla as green manure, to enable us to establish artificial N2 -fixing associations with cereals such as rice, and to allow the manipulation of free-living cyanobacteria for photobiological ammonia or hydrogen production or for use as biofertilizers. contents Summary 449 I. introduction 450 II. the partners 451 III. initiation and development of symbioses 458 IV. the symbioses 462 V. evolutionary aspects 472 VI. artificial symbioses 474 VII. future outlook and perspectives 475 Acknowledgements 477 References 477.}, } @article {pmid33862911, year = {2000}, author = {McKENDRICK, SL and Leake, JR and Read, DJ}, title = {Symbiotic germination and development of myco-heterotrophic plants in nature: transfer of carbon from ectomycorrhizal Salix repens and Betula pendula to the orchid Corallorhiza trifida through shared hyphal connections.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {145}, number = {3}, pages = {539-548}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00592.x}, pmid = {33862911}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Seedlings of the myco-heterotrophic orchid Corallorhiza trifida which had been germinated in the field in mesh bags developed hyphal links and mycorrhizas with Betula pendula and Salix repens, but not with Pinus sylvestris, when transplanted into soil microcosms. The fungus connecting the myco-heterotroph to Betula and Salix formed endomycorrhiza in the orchid with typical pelotons, but formed ectomycorrhizas with the autotrophs. The orchid plants, when linked to Betula and Salix by fungal hyphae, gained 6-14% in weight over 25-28 wk. In microcosms supporting P. sylvestris, and in control microcosms which lacked autotrophs, the Corallorhiza plants lost 13% of their weight over the same period. In the course of the 28-wk experimental period new Corallorhiza seedlings, in addition to those added as part of the experiment, appeared in the microcosms containing Salix and Betula but not in the Pinus microcosms. Shoots of Betula and Salix plants grown in association with Corallorhiza were fed with [14] CO2 , and the movement of the isotope was subsequently traced by a combination of digital autoradiography and tissue oxidation. Direct transfer of C from both autotrophs to the myco-heterotroph occurred in all cases where the associates had become connected by a shared fungal symbiont. Orchid seedlings lacking these hyphal connections, introduced to the microcosms as controls immediately before isotope feeding, failed to assimilate significant amounts of C. The results provide the first experimental confirmation that growth of Corallorhiza trifida can be sustained by supply of C received directly from an autotrophic partner through linked fungal mycelia.}, } @article {pmid33862904, year = {2000}, author = {McKENDRICK, SL and Leake, JR and Taylor, DL and Read, DJ}, title = {Symbiotic germination and development of myco-heterotrophic plants in nature: ontogeny of Corallorhiza trifida and characterization of its mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {145}, number = {3}, pages = {523-537}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00603.x}, pmid = {33862904}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The processes of symbiotic germination and seedling development were analysed in the myco-heterotrophic orchid Corallorhiza trifida, seeds of which were buried in 'packets' either adjacent to or at varying distances from adult plants in defined communities of ectomycorrhizal tree species. Germination occurred within eight months of burial under Betula-Alnus and within seven months under Salix repens. It was always associated with penetration of the suspensor by a clamp-forming mycorrhizal fungus. Four distinct developmental stages were defined and the rates of transition through these stages were plotted. There was no evidence of a relationship between extent of germination or rate of development and the presence of naturally distributed plants of C. trifida at the spatial scale of 1 m. The best germination and the most rapid rate of development of C. trifida seedlings occurred in a Salix repens community located at a considerable distance from any extant C. trifida population. Determination of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) RFLPs and of gene sequences of the fungi involved in symbiotic germination and growth of C. trifida, revealed them to belong exclusively to the Thelephora-Tomentella complex of the Thelephoraceae. These fungi are known also to be ectomycorrhizal associates of trees. It is hypothesized that the rate of growth of the C. trifida seedlings is determined by the ability of the fungal symbionts to transfer carbon from their ectomycorrhizal co-associates.}, } @article {pmid33862901, year = {2000}, author = {Read, D}, title = {Links between genetic and functional diversity - a bridge too far?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {145}, number = {3}, pages = {363-365}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00607.x}, pmid = {33862901}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The view that nutrient acquisition by most plants growing in natural ecosystems is mediated by mycorrhiza-forming symbiotic fungi is now largely accepted. With this perception comes the need to learn more about the identity of the organisms responsible for these key processes. Herein lies a challenge taken up by Vrålstad et al. on pp. 549-563 in this issue.}, } @article {pmid33862891, year = {1999}, author = {Michelsen, A and Graglia, E and Schmidt, IK and Jonasson, S and Sleep, D and Quarmby, C}, title = {Differential responses of grass and a dwarf shrub to long-term changes in soil microbial biomass C, N and P following factorial addition of NPK fertilizer, fungicide and labile carbon to a heath.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {143}, number = {3}, pages = {523-538}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00479.x}, pmid = {33862891}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Microbial immobilization may decrease the inorganic nutrient concentrations of the soil to the extent of affecting plant nutrient uptake and growth. We have hypothesized that graminoids with opportunistic nutrient-acquisition strategies are strongly influenced by nutrient limitation imposed by microbes, whereas growth forms such as dwarf shrubs are less affected by the mobilization-immobilization cycles in microbes. By adding NPK fertilizer, labile C (sugar) and fungicide (benomyl) over a 5 yr period in a fully factorial design, we aimed to manipulate the sink-source potential for nutrients in a non-acidic heath tundra soil. After 2 yr, N and P accumulated in the microbial biomass after fertilization with no change in microbial C, which suggests that nutrients did not limit microbial biomass growth. After 5 yr, microbial C was enhanced by 60% in plots with addition of labile C, which points to C-limitation of the microbial biomass. Microbial biomass N and P tended to increase following addition of labile C, by 10 and 25%, respectively. This caused decreased availability of NH4 [+] and P, showing close microbial control of nutrient availability. The most common graminoid, Festuca ovina, responded to fertilizer addition with a strong increase, and to labile C addition with a strong decrease in cover, providing the first direct field evidence that nutrient limitation imposed by immobilizing microbes can affect the growth of tundra plants. Also in support of our hypothesis, following addition of labile C the concentrations of N and K in leaves and that of N in roots of F. ovina decreased, whilst the demand of roots for P increased. In contrast, the most common dwarf shrub, Vaccinium uliginosum, was only slightly sensitive to changes in resource availability, showing no cover change after 4 yr addition of labile C and fertilizer, and little change in leaf nutrient concentrations. We suggest that the differential responses of the two growth forms are due to differences in storage and nutrient uptake pathways, with the dwarf shrub having large nutrient storage capacity and access to organic forms of N through its mycorrhizal association. While the fungicide had no effect on ericoid mycorrhizal colonization of roots or symbiotic function inferred from plant [15] N natural abundance, it decreased microbial biomass C and N after 2 yr. Throughout the fifth season, the availability of soil NO3 [-] and inorganic P was decreased with no change in microbial biomass C, N or P, suggesting a negative impact of benomyl on N and P mineralization.}, } @article {pmid33862924, year = {1999}, author = {Valverde, C and Wall, LG}, title = {Time course of nodule development in the Discaria trinervis (Rhamnaceae) -Frankia symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {141}, number = {2}, pages = {345-354}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00345.x}, pmid = {33862924}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The time course of initiation and development of root nodules was investigated in the South American actinorhizal shrub Discaria trinervis (Rhamnaceae). A local strain of Frankia (BCU110501) which was isolated from D. trinervis nodules, was used as inoculum. Inoculated seedlings were periodically studied under the light microscope after clearing with aqueous NaClO. In parallel, semithin and ultrathin sections were analysed by light and electron microscopy. Infection by Frankia BCU110501 involved intercellular penetration among epidermal and cortical root cells. Nodule primordia were detected from 6 d after inoculation, while bacteria were progressing through intercellular spaces of the outer layers of cortical cells. Invasion of host cells by the symbiont occurred 7-9 d after inoculation, and hypertrophy of the primordium cells was associated with Frankia penetration. Root hairs were not deformed during the early events of nodule formation. From 13 to 16 d after inoculation, the proximal cellular zone of the primordia behaved differently from the other tissues after NaClO treatment and remained darkly pigmented. At the same time, differentiation of Frankia vesicles started to occur inside already infected cells. By 16 d after inoculation, spherical vesicles of BCU110501 were homogeneously distributed in the host cells. These vesicles were septate and surrounded by void space. Frankia spores or sporangia were not observed in the nodule tissue. This study has clarified the mode of Frankia penetration in D. trinervis, one of the Rhamnaceae which also includes Ceanothus. The events involved in infection, nodule induction, host-cell infection and vesicle differentiation have been characterized and identified as time-segregated developmental processes in the ontogeny of D. trinervis root nodules.}, } @article {pmid33862916, year = {1999}, author = {Meijer, G and Leuchtmann, A}, title = {Multistrain infections of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum by its fungal endophyte Epichloë sylvatica.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {141}, number = {2}, pages = {355-368}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00332.x}, pmid = {33862916}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Endophytes of the genus Epichloë (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycota) are systemic symbionts of cool-season grasses. Their interactions with grass hosts may vary between mutualistic and pathogenic depending on the mode of endophyte reproduction. Sexual strains prevent flowering and seed set (choke disease) of the host and can be horizontally transmitted by ascospores, while asexual strains remain asymptomatic and are vertically transmitted through seeds. In Switzerland nearly all plants of Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P.B. are infected by Epichloë sylvatica Leuchtmann & Schardl, but choke symptoms are formed very rarely, and are restricted to particular locations and to a minority of plants at those locations. Earlier research has revealed that E. sylvatica is genetically differentiated into sexual and asexual subpopulations. Given the high level of infection and assuming horizontal transmission of sexual strains, multiple host infections have been predicted. In this study, 25 plants out of 63 examined by isozyme analysis were found to be infected by two or three different endophyte genotypes. In most cases endophyte genotypes appeared to be correlated with the symptom type of a particular tiller, suggesting that the fungal genome controls choke formation and that the sexual and asexual subpopulations are separated at the ramet (tiller) level rather than at the genet (plant) level. These conclusions were further supported by analyses with log-linear models of the population structure of E. sylvatica at four locations where choke symptoms were present. These analyses also revealed a geographic structure in the asexual subpopulation but not in the sexual subpopulation which could be caused by the different dispersal ranges of their propagules. The rare occurrence of sexually reproducing strains and the dominance of a single genotype in asymptomatic plant populations may be explained by the colonization history of B. sylvaticum and its endophyte in Switzerland.}, } @article {pmid33862961, year = {1998}, author = {Uetake, Y and Peterson, RL}, title = {Association between microtubules and symbiotic fungal hyphae in protocorm cells of the orchid species, Spiranthes sinensis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {140}, number = {4}, pages = {715-722}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00310.x}, pmid = {33862961}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Seeds of the orchid species, Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, were sterilized and germinated in vitro with the symbiotic fungus Ceratobasidium cornigerum (Bourdot) Rogers. Colonized embryos developed into protocorms and these were examined for changes in microtubule arrays, after initial invasion of fungal hyphae into embryos and during peloton formation and degradation. Methods utilized to detect microtubules included immunofluorescence combined with laser scanning confocal microscopy, conventional transmission electron microscopy combined with morphometric analysis, and immunogold labelling. Microtubules were regularly found in close association with intracellular hyphae and degraded hyphal masses. Cortical microtubules disappear during peloton formation but reappear in cells that show fungal lysis. With conventional transmission electron microscopy and immunogold labelling the microtubules associated with fungal hyphae and degenerated hyphal masses were located close to the perifungal membrane that separates fungal hyphae from protocorm cytoplasm.}, } @article {pmid33862958, year = {1998}, author = {Genre, A and Bonfante, P}, title = {Actin versus tubulin configuration in arbuscule-containing cells from mycorrhizal tobacco roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {140}, number = {4}, pages = {745-752}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00314.x}, pmid = {33862958}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The involvement of the cytoskeleton in symbiotic interactions such as arbuscular mycorrhizas has received little attention. In this paper, we examine the organization of actin in tobacco mycorrhizal roots and compare actin and tubulin patterns within arbuscule-containing cells. Our results show drastic reorganization of microfilaments and microtubules upon fungal infection and how those new cytoskeletal patterns relate to the host cytoplasm rearrangement and the intracellular fungal structures. Whereas in uninfected cells a network of cortical and perinuclear actin filaments was observed, in infected cells actin filaments closely follow the fungal branches and envelop the whole arbuscule in a dense coating network. Microtubules are less closely connected with the fungus surface. They run across the whole arbuscule mass, linking branches to each other and to the host cell cortex and nucleus. These major differences between the two cytoskeletal components are used to advance some suggestions concerning their contribution to structural functions in the plant-fungus interactions during the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33862952, year = {1998}, author = {Karabaghli-Degron, C and Sotta, B and Bonnet, M and Gay, G and LE Tacon, F}, title = {The auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) inhibits the stimulation of in vitro lateral root formation and the colonization of the tap-root cortex of Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {140}, number = {4}, pages = {723-733}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00307.x}, pmid = {33862952}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings were inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor ((Marie) Orton), strain S238 N, in axenic conditions. The presence of the fungus slowed tap-root elongation by 26% during the first 15 d after inoculation and then stimulated it by 136%. In addition, it multiplied in vitro lateral root formation by 4.3, the epicotyl growth of the seedlings by 8.4 and the number of needles by 2. These effects were maintained when the fungus was separated from the roots by a cellophane membrane preventing symbiosis establishment, thus suggesting that the fungus acted by non-nutritional effects. We tested the hypothesis that IAA produced by L. bicolor S238 N would be responsible for the stimulation of fungal induced rhizogenesis. We showed in previous work that L. bicolor S238 N can synthesize IAA in pure culture. Exogenous IAA supplies (100 and 500 μm) reproduced the stimulating effect of the fungus on root branching but inhibited root elongation. The presence of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) in the culture medium significantly depressed lateral root formation of inoculated seedlings. As TIBA had no significant effect on IAA released in the medium by L. bicolor S238 N, but counteracted the stimulation of lateral rhizogenesis induced by an exogenous supply of IAA, we suggest that TIBA inhibited the transport of fungal IAA in the root. Furthermore TIBA blocked the colonization of the main root cortex by L. bicolor S238 N and the formation of the Hartig net. These results specified the role of fungal IAA in the stimulation of lateral rhizogenesis and in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid33862843, year = {1998}, author = {Kreuzwieser, J and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Sulphate uptake and xylem loading of mycorrhizal beech roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {140}, number = {2}, pages = {319-329}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00266.x}, pmid = {33862843}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Beech nuts (Fagus sylvatica L.) were germinated and grown in soil inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria laccata or Paxillus involutus for 18-20 wk. The success of mycorrhizal infection was monitored by measuring the ergosterol contents of the mycorrhizas. Ergosterol levels ranged from 122±23 μg g[-1] d. wt (Laccaria mycorrhizas) to 94±36 μg g[-1] d. wt (Paxillus mycorrhizas), indicating that ectomycorrhizal symbiosis was established. In root incubation chambers, rates of sulphate uptake and the xylem loading of sulphate of excised mycorrhizas were investigated. Both types of mycorrhizas showed saturation kinetics in external sulphate concentrations from 2·5-1000 μmol l[-1] . Linearization of these kinetics revealed two phases with low apparent Km (Laccaria mycorrhizas: 15±3 μmol l[-1] ; Paxillus mycorrhizas: 13±3 μmol l[-1]) and Vmax (Laccaria mycorrhizas: 19±3 nmol h[-1] g[-1] f. wt; Paxillus mycorrhizas: 25±4 nmol h[-1] g[-1] f. wt) at low external sulphate concentrations and significantly higher kinetic constants at higher sulphate supplies. Relative xylem loading, i.e. the portion of sulphate loaded into the xylem that was taken up, remained constant over the entire concentration range investigated (c. 4-7% of the sulphate taken up). If trees were supplied for 72 h with different N and sulphur concentrations, both uptake of sulphate and relative xylem loading were unaffected by sulphur availability, but modulated by N supply. Nitrogen depletion diminished the rates of sulphate uptake in Laccaria and Paxillus mycorrhizas. In response to higher N availability combined with sulphur depletion, sulphate uptake of Laccaria mycorrhizas, but not of Paxillus mycorrhizas, increased. Organic compounds considered to be possible signals for the regulation of sulphate uptake were fed to excised mycorrhizas. l-Cysteine but not l-methionine and glutathione (γ-Glu-Cys-Gly) inhibited sulphate uptake of the two mycorrhizas and xylem loading of sulphate was stimulated rather than inhibited by l-Cys in both types. In Paxillus mycorrhizas glutathione had a similar effect. O-Acetyl-l-serine (OAS), a precursor of l-cysteine, stimulated sulphate uptake, but did not affect xylem loading. Apparently, OAS, generated in N metabolism, and l-cysteine, a product of assimilatory sulphate reduction, act as antagonists, together mediating regulation of sulphate uptake.}, } @article {pmid33757231, year = {1998}, author = {Rigottier-Gois, L and Turner, SL and Young, JPW and Amarger, N}, title = {Distribution of repC plasmid-replication sequences among plasmids and isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae from field populations.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {144}, number = {3}, pages = {771-780}, doi = {10.1099/00221287-144-3-771}, pmid = {33757231}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {The distribution of four classes of related plasmid replication genes (repC) within three field populations of Rhizobium leguminosarum in France, Germany and the UK was investigated using RFLP, PCR-RFLP and plasmid profile analysis. The results suggest that the four repC classes are compatible: when two or more different repC sequences are present in a strain they are usually associated with different plasmids. Furthermore, classical incompatibility studies in which a Tn5-labelled plasmid with a group IV repC sequence was transferred into field isolates by conjugation demonstrated that group IV sequences are incompatible with each other, but compatible with the other repC groups. This supports the idea that the different repC groups represent different incompatibility groups. The same field isolates were also screened for chromosomal (plac12) and symbiotic gene (nodD-F region) variation. Comparison of these and the plasmid data suggest that plasmid transfer does occur within field populations of R. leguminosarum but that certain plasmid-chromosome combinations are favoured.}, } @article {pmid33863081, year = {1997}, author = {Smith, FA and Smith, SE}, title = {Structural diversity in (vesicular)-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {137}, number = {3}, pages = {373-388}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00848.x}, pmid = {33863081}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {This review describes diversity in the structure of (vesicular)-arbuscutar (VA) mycorrhizas, i.e. endomycorrhizas formed by Glomalean fungi. In particular, we consider the extent in the plant kingdom of the two classes first described by Gallaud (1905). These are: (1) the Arum-type, defined on the basis of an extensive intercellular phase of hyphai growth in the root cortex and development of terminal arbuscules on intracellular hyphai branches; (2) the Paris-type, defined by the absence of the intercellular phase and presence of extensive intracellular hyphai coils. Arbuscules are intercalary structures on the coils. However, there have been many reports that in Paris-types arbuscules are relatively few in numbers, small, or absent altogether. A survey of the literature has revealed that Paris-types occur more frequently in the plant kingdom than Arum-types and predominate in ferns, gymnosperms and many wild angiosperms. The cultivated herbs that are the subject of much experimental work are mostly Arum-types. Although evidence is still limited, there are differences at the family level. In 41 angiosperm families there are records of only Poris-type VA mycorrhizas and in 30 families records of only Arum-types. Another 21 families have examples of both classes, or intermediates between them. Accordingly, we consider whether the original division into two classes is still useful. We conclude that it is when considering the physiology of the symbiosis and especially the issue of whether different fungus/host interfaces have specialized roles in transfer of inorganic nutrients and organic carbon between the partners, if there is no such specialization between hyphai coils and arbuscules, then the latter might not be necessary[1] for the function of Paris-types. This would account for reports of the infrequency or absence of arbuscules in this class. The control exerted on structures by the genomes of host and fungus, and possible reasons (anatomical and physiological) for the existence of the VA mycorrhizal structures, are discussed. The presence or absence of extensive intercellular spaces and differences in the wall structure of cortical cells might be particularly important in determining which type of VA mycorrhiza is formed. CONTENTS Summary 373 I. Introduction: Arum-types and Pom-types 374 II. Possible functional implications 375 III. Extent of the two classes in the plant kingdom 377 IV. Is the distinction between classes useful? 383 V. The structural basis 383 VI. The role of the fungal genome 384 VII. Physiology revisited 384 VIII. Conclusions 385 Acknowledgements 386 References 386.}, } @article {pmid33863070, year = {1997}, author = {}, title = {Reviews.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {137}, number = {3}, pages = {563-567}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1997.tb01248.x}, pmid = {33863070}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Book reviewed in this article: Plant Biochemistry. Ed. by P. M. DEY and J. B. HARBORNE. In VitroHaploid Production in Higher Plants-Volume 4: Cereals. By S. MOHAN JAIN, S. K. SOPORY and R. E. VEILLEUX. Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. By S. E. SMITH and D. J. READ. Principles and Practice of Managing Soilborne Plant Pathogens. Ed. by R. HALL. Turfgrass Diseases: Diagnosis and Management. By G. L. SCHUMANN and J. D. MacDONALD. Seaweed Ecology and Physiology. By C. S. LOBBAN and P. J. HARRISON.}, } @article {pmid33863182, year = {1997}, author = {Hacin, JI and Bohlool, BB and Singleton, PW}, title = {Partitioning of [14] C-labelled photosynthate to developing nodules and roots of soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {137}, number = {2}, pages = {257-265}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00812.x}, pmid = {33863182}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {A split-root growth system was used to study photosynthate partitioning to developing nodules and roots of soybean (Glycine max L., Merr). Opposite sides of the root systems were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum at 8 and 12 d after planting (early/delayed inoculation treatment) or, alternatively, only one side was inoculated 8 d after planting (early/uninoculated treatment). Plants were incubated with [14] CO2 at 24-h intervals from early inoculation until the onset of N2 fixation (acetylene reduction). After staining with Eriochrome black, root and nodule meristematic structures were excised under a dissecting microscope and their radioactivity determined by scintillation counting. The specific radioactivity of nodule structures increased with nodule development, and was as much as 4 times higher in early nodules than in roots and nodules on half-roots receiving delayed inoculation By the time that N2 fixation could be measured in the first mature nodules, the early inoculated half-root contained over 70% of the radioactivity recovered from the entire root systems of both early/delayed and early/uninotulated treatments. These results suggest that developing nodules create a strong sink for photosynthate, and that nodules and roots compete for current photosynthate. Early initiated nodules might develop at the expense of late initiated nodules, as well as at the expense of the roots themselves.}, } @article {pmid33863174, year = {1997}, author = {Hoffmann, E and Wallenda, T and Schaeffer, C and Hampp, R}, title = {Cyclic AMP, a possible regulator of glycolysis in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita muscaria.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {137}, number = {2}, pages = {351-356}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00798.x}, pmid = {33863174}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The amounts of cyclic AMP (cAMP), fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (F26BP), trehalose and glycogen were determined in cell suspension cultures of the ectomycorrhiza-forming fungus Amanita muscaria (L. ex Fr.) Hooker. For the assay of cAMF a protocol was developed that enabled the detection of as little as 50 fmol of this secondary messenger by an enzyme-linked immuno assay (EIA). Values varied from < 1 and up to 5 pmol cAMP mg[1] d. wt according to the age of the fungal culture. Typically, a transient increase in cAMP occurred after c. 4 d of culture of the fungus on glucose-containing medium. This increase (up to 100%) was followed by the start of the logarithmic growth phase, and by a more persistent increase in F26BP. In parallel, glucose in the medium started to decrease, whilst the amounts of fungal carbohydrates, especially the disaccharide trehalose, increased, From these data we assume that a high initial rate of glucose uptake caused an increase in the fungal pools of storage carbohydrates and, via activation of an adenylate cyclase, of cAMP. According to data reported for yeast cells this should enhance the formation of F26BP by phosphorylation of relevant enzymes. In animal and yeast cells an increase in the concentration of F26BP stimulates glycolysis by activation of the ATP-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFK). A. muscaria also possesses an F26BP activated PFK and, under conditions of symbiosis, host-derived carbohydrates are supplied mainly in the form of glucose. The implications of these findings to the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism of symbiotic plant root/fungus structures (ectomycorrhiza) are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33863013, year = {1997}, author = {Solaimanand, MZ and Saito, M}, title = {Use of sugars by intraradical hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi revealed by radiorespirometry.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {136}, number = {3}, pages = {533-538}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00757.x}, pmid = {33863013}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Evolution of [14] CO2 from onion roots and the intraradical hyphae of Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall was examined by radiorespirometry after addition of [14] C-labelled glucose or sucrose to mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal roots. In mycorrhizas, the respiration rate from glucose was about twice that from sucrose. The respiration rate from glucose in the mycorrhizas was much higher than that in the non-mycorrhizal roots, but no differences between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots were found in the respiration from sucrose. Intraradical hyphae were isolated from mycorrhizas by enzyme digestion and homogenization followed by Percoll® gradient centrifugation. The [14] C-labelled glucose, fructose or sucrose was added to the isolated hyphae and the subsequent evolution of [14] CO2 was measured. The hyphae mainly used glucose as a substrate for respiration. Although sucrose or fructose was utilized to some degree, the respiration rate from glucose was much higher than that from sucrose and fructose. This is the first direct evidence of use of glucose by the intraradical hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the symbiotic state.}, } @article {pmid33711878, year = {1997}, author = {Parveen, N and Webb, DT and Borthakur, D}, title = {The symbiotic phenotypes of exopolysaccharide-defective mutants of Rhizobium sp. strain TAL1145 do not differ on determinate- and indeterminate-nodulating tree legumes.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {143}, number = {6}, pages = {1959-1967}, doi = {10.1099/00221287-143-6-1959}, pmid = {33711878}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {Three classes of exopolysaccharide (EPS) defective mutants were isolated by Tn3Hogus -insertion mutagenesis of Rhizobium sp. strain TAL1145, which nodulates tree legumes. The class I and class III mutants produced 10-22% of the EPS produced by TAL1145 and appeared partially mucoid while the class II mutants formed small, opaque and non-mucoid colonies. Size-fractionation of the soluble EPSs made by these mutants in the culture supernatant indicated that the class I and the class III mutants produced reduced levels of both highland low-molecular-mass EPSs while the class II mutants lacked both these EPSs but produced a small amount of a medium-molecular-mass anthrone-reactive EPS. The succinyl and acetyl substituents observed in the TAL1145 EPS were absent in the EPS of the class II mutants. When examined under UV, the class I and class III mutants grown on Calcofluor-containing YEM agar showed dim blue fluorescence, compared to the bright blue fluorescence of the wild-type strain, whereas the class II mutants did not fluoresce. While the dim blue fluorescence of the class III mutants changed to yellow-green after 10 d, the fluorescence of the class I mutants did not change after prolonged incubation. Unlike the EPS-defective mutants of other rhizobia, these mutants did not show different symbiotic phenotypes on determinate- and indeterminate-nodulating tree legumes. The class I and the class III mutants formed small ineffective nodules on both types of legumes whereas the class II mutants formed normal nitrogen-fixing nodules on both types. The genes disrupted in the class I and class III mutants form a single complementation group while those disrupted in the class II mutants constitute another. All the three classes of EPS-defective mutants were located within a 10.8 kb region and complemented by two overlapping cosmids.}, } @article {pmid33863151, year = {1997}, author = {Perotto, S and Coisson, JD and Perugini, I and Cometti, V and Bonfante, P}, title = {Production of pectin-degrading enzymes by ericoid mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {135}, number = {1}, pages = {151-162}, doi = {10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00627.x}, pmid = {33863151}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Production of enzymes which degrade plant cell wall macromoleculea has been studied in relatively few ericoid fungal isolates, although these polymers arc a major component of the organic litter and an important source of nutrients for these fungi. Our aims were to investigate whether the ability to degrade the wall pectic component, only reported for one isolate, is a general feature of ericoid fungi. Of about 35 isolates from different geographic regions, all were capable of growing on pectin as the sole carbon source. Polygalacturonase (PG) activity was detected to a different degree in the culture filtrates and independently of the fungal growth rate. Solid and liquid isoelectric focusing allowed separation and identification of several polygalacturonase isoforms. Among the fungal isolates investigated, those from the northern hemisphere produced mostly acidic isoforms, whereas isolates from South Africa secreted more abundantly basic isoforms. However, purification and biochemical characterization of several PG isoforms from the different isolates revealed an optimal activity in the acidic pH range for all the PG enzymes tested. Polygalacturonase enzymes seem to be an important component of the enzymatic arsenal secreted by ericoid fungi during their saprotrophic life. In addition, they could also play a role during root colonization, since penetration across the plant cell wall is a prerequisite for the establishment of endomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33863203, year = {1996}, author = {Regvar, M and Gogala, N and Zalar, P}, title = {Effects of jasmonic acid on mycorrhizal Allium sativum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {134}, number = {4}, pages = {703-707}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb04936.x}, pmid = {33863203}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {In experiments on spruce we have shown that jasmonic acid (JA), a cyclopentanone fatty acid, influences the ectomycorrhizal formation: we therefore also applied it to an endomycorrhizal symbiosis. Garlic (Allium sativum (L.)) bulbs were potted into substrates inoculated or not with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and one half of the plants was foliar-treated with 5 μm JA. A synergistic effect of JA treatment and AMF inoculation on shoot length was found. Root growth of inoculated plants was accelerated especially when JA was applied. Either JA or AMF inoculation significantly enhanced bulb development. Mycorrhizal colonization was promoted and the development of arbuscules and vesicles was enhanced upon JA application.}, } @article {pmid33863201, year = {1996}, author = {Cairney, JWG and Burke, RM}, title = {Physiological heterogeneity within fungal mycelia: an important concept for a functional understanding of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {134}, number = {4}, pages = {685-695}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb04934.x}, pmid = {33863201}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Individual mycelia of filamentous fungi display considerable heterogeneity at the physiological level. Important physiological processes such as nutrient absorption, extracellular enzyme secretion and solute translocation occur differentially within an individual mycelium, and vary according to spatio-temporal changes in patterns of gene expression as the mycelium develops and senesces. In ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, gene expression appears to be strongly influenced by interaction with the soil environment and the host root. The ECM mycelium is thus a complex and dynamic entity wherein discrete regions display particular physiological attributes. Physiological heterogeneity is important in the overall functioning of the symbiosis. In the particular case of movement of phosphorus from soil to host root in the ECM symbiosis, heterogeneity might provide the driving force for the integrated processes of absorption, translocation and transfer. It is suggested that it is only by considering the sum of the seemingly disparate physiological processes within the heterogeneous mycelium that mycorrhizal functioning can be fully understood.}, } @article {pmid33863198, year = {1996}, author = {Théberge, MC and Prévost, D and Chalifour, FP}, title = {The effect of different temperatures on the fatty acid composition of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae in the faba bean symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {134}, number = {4}, pages = {657-664}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb04931.x}, pmid = {33863198}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Fatty acid composition was determined in cells of strains CBhS and CBp7 of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae grown at four temperatures (10, 15, 22 and 30°C), and in bacteroids and nodules formed with faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown at two day/night temperature regimes (22/15 and 15/10°C). Growth temperature markedly affected the fatty acid composition of free-living bacteria in both strains studied, and both showed similar variations at each temperature. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids increased significantly with lowering of temperature. The major fatty acid found in bacteria and bacteroids was cis-vaccenic (C18: 1[Δ11]), which comprised up to c. 78 (bacteria) and 56% (bacteroids) of total fatty acids. The presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic (C18:[Δ,9,12]) and linolenic (C18:3[Δ9,12,15]) acids) was noted only in bacteroids, indicating changes following the differentiation of bacteria into bacteroids in the nodules. The fatty acid composition of nodules was similar to that of bacteroids, although major differences were found in their proportions. The different day/night temperature regimes had contrasting effects in bacteroids and in nodules. In bacteroids of both strains, the proportions of stearic (C18:0) and linoleic (C18:[Δ9,12]) acids decreased at the lower temperature regime. In nodules, the proportion of stearic (C18:0) acid decreased, while that of linolenic (C18:3[Δ9,12,15]) acid increased at the lower temperature regime. However, those of cis-vaccenic (C18:1[Δ11]), linoleic (C18:[Δ9,12,15]) and palmitic (C16:0) acids increased or decreased depending on the rhizobial strain. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids increased with the lowering of temperatures in bacteroids of both strains, and varied in whole nodules depending on the strain. Strain CBp7 showed a greater symbiotic efficiency (dry matter yield) than strain CBh5 under both temperature regimes, but no relationship was found with the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids of bacteria, bacteroids or nodules.}, } @article {pmid33725798, year = {1996}, author = {Huerta-Zepeda, A and Durán, S and Du Pont, G and Calderón, J}, title = {Asparagine degradation in Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {142}, number = {5}, pages = {1071-1076}, doi = {10.1099/13500872-142-5-1071}, pmid = {33725798}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {The degradation of asparagine by Rhizobium etli involves asparaginase and aspartate ammonia-lyase (L-aspartase). The two enzymes were shown to be positively regulated by asparagine and negatively regulated by the carbon source. Asparaginase activity was not regulated by oxygen concentration or by nitrogen catabolite repression. Induction of both enzymes by asparagine enables R. etli to utilize asparagine as carbon source. Asparaginase may also be involved in maintaining the optimal balance between asparagine and aspartate. Aspartase was not involved in the utilization of aspartate or glutamate as carbon source. The presence of high levels of the two enzymes in R. etli bacteroids suggests that they may have a role in symbiosis between R. etli and Phaseolus vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid33725796, year = {1996}, author = {Wexler, M and Gordon, DM and Murphy, PJ}, title = {Genetic relationships among rhizopine-producing Rhizobium strains.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {142}, number = {5}, pages = {1059-1066}, doi = {10.1099/13500872-142-5-1059}, pmid = {33725796}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {Chromosomal and symbiosis-related genotypes of rhizopine-producing and non-producing isolates of Rhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum were examined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and RFLP. The distribution of rhizopine production in both species was found to be independent of host genotype. Conversely, rhizopine production was associated with particular symbiotic plasmid types. This association may explain the observed distribution of rhizopine production in R. leguminosarum and R. meliloti. Rhizopine synthesis (mos) genes showed greater sequence divergence than rhizopine catabolism (moc) genes in both R. meliloti and R. leguminosarum. Furthermore, mos and moc genes were less divergent in R. leguminosarum than R. meliloti, suggesting a more recent evolution in the former species.}, } @article {pmid33725784, year = {1996}, author = {Brelles-Mariño, G and Boiardi, JL}, title = {Nitrogen limitation of chemostat-grown Rhizobium etli elicits higher infection-thread formation in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {142}, number = {5}, pages = {1067-1070}, doi = {10.1099/13500872-142-5-1067}, pmid = {33725784}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {The symbiotic association between rhizobia and legume roots is a complex process involving many steps. An infection thread is a tubular structure of host origin formed during the infection of legume roots by rhizobia. Previous studies with batch cultures have reported that optimal attachment of rhizobia to root hairs coincides with nutrient limitation. In this study, the ability of chemostat-grown, nutrient-limited Rhizobium etli cells to form infection threads with its symbiotic partner Phaseolus vulgaris was investigated. Rhizobia were grown in a chemostat in synthetic media under C- or N-limiting conditions. Infection-thread formation was examined after inoculation of seedlings with a rhizobial cell suspension from each treatment. The number of infection threads was estimated by light microscopy after staining root sections with o-toluidine. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production was also measured, and the cellular content and electrophoretic pattern of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) determined semiquantitatively. N-limited cells showed a markedly higher infectivity (measured as infection-thread formation) than C-limited cells. With one of the two bean cultivars used, the number of infection threads produced by N-limited cells was higher than that produced by exponentially growing cells in batch cultures. The higher infectivity of N-limited cells was correlated with higher EPS production. Electrophoretic analysis of LPS showed that C- and N-limited cells shared a common profile but the relative concentration of short LPS forms differed.}, } @article {pmid33863139, year = {1996}, author = {Sukarno, N and Smith, FA and Smith, SE and Scott, ES}, title = {The effect of fungicides on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: II. The effects on area of interface and efficiency of P uptake and transfer to plant.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {132}, number = {4}, pages = {583-592}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01877.x}, pmid = {33863139}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Two experiments were conducted under controlled environmental conditions to determine the effects of the three fungicides, Benlate®. Aliette® and Ridomil®, on efficiency of P uptake from the soil and transfer across the living plant-fungal interface- of onion plants (Allium cepa L.) associated with Glomus sp. 'City Beach' (WUM 16), P applied to the soil did not apparently increase the rate of transfer (flux) of P to the plant via the fungal partner of the mytorrhiza. Benlate reduced P inflow and transfer across the interface in one of the experiments. The rate of P uptake per m living external hyphae was not affected but, as development of living external hyphae in the soil was reduced, the contribution of the fungus to P uptake was small. Aliette reduced growth of both shoots and roots, but apparently increased the accumulation of P in the tissues compared with controls. Ridomil reduced P inflow per m of root and P uptake per m living external hyphae, hut had no effect on the rate of P transfer across the interface. This led to a reduction in the overall contribution of the fungus to P nutrition.}, } @article {pmid33863136, year = {1996}, author = {Silvester, WB and Parsons, R and Watt, PW}, title = {Direct measurement of release and assimilation of ammonia in the Gunnera-Nostoc symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {132}, number = {4}, pages = {617-625}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01880.x}, pmid = {33863136}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {In Gunnera, Nostoc cells invade secretory tissue forming well defined symbiotic areas within the stems and are termed internal nodules (Silvester, 1976). Excised, but intact, internal stem Nostoc nodules taken from Gunnera magellanica show light-stimulated nitrogenase activity and release a small, but measurable, proportion of their current N2 fixation as NH3 into the external solution. When nodules are disrupted and Nostoc extracted anaerobically, 90% or more of the estimated N2 fixation is released from the Nostoc cells as NH3 into the surrounding medium. Use of [15] N2 confirmed that only 12% of N2 fixed is retained within the cells of Nostoc. The remaining 88% was identified as NH3 released outside the cells. Within the intact nodule system, [15] N2 uptake showed that 2-5% of recently fixed N2 remains within the Nostoc cells and up to 30% of extracellular N is in asparagine after 1 h. Evidence is presented that stimulation of nitrogenase by light in the intact Gunnera/Nostoc system produces more NH3 than can be assimilated by the host cells, resulting in significant NH3 accumulation.}, } @article {pmid33863134, year = {1996}, author = {Balaguer, L and Valladares, F and Ascaso, C and Barnes, JD and DE Los Rios, A and Manrique, E and Smith, EC}, title = {Potential effects of rising tropospheric concentrations of CO2 and O3 on green-algal lichens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {132}, number = {4}, pages = {641-652}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01882.x}, pmid = {33863134}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Pormelia sulcata Taylor was used as a model to examine the effects of elevated CO2 and/or O3 on green algal lichens. Thalli were exposed for 30 d in duplicate controlled-environment chambers to two atmospheric concentrations of CO2 ('ambient' [350μmol mol[-1] ] and 'elevated' [700μmol mol[-1] ] 24 h d[-1]) and two O3 regimes ('non-polluted' air [CF, < 5 nmol mol[-1] ] and 'polluted' air [15 nmol mol[-1] overnight rising to a midday maximum of 75 nmol mol[-1] ]), in a factorial design. Elevated CO2 , or elevated O3 depressed the light saturated rate of CO2 , assimilation Asat) measured at ambient CO2 , by 30% and 18%, respectively. However, despite this effect ultrastructure) studies revealed increased lipid storage in cells of the photobiont in response to CO2 -enrichment. Simultaneous exposure to elevated O3 reduced CO2 -induced lipid accumulation and reduced Asat in an additive manner. Gold-antibody labelling revealed that the decline in photosynthetic capacity induced by elevated CO2 and/or O3 was accompanied by a parallel decrease in the concentration of Rubiscoa in the algal pyrenoid (r= 0.93). Interestingly, differences in the amount of Rubisco protein were not correlated with changes in pyrenoid volume. Measurements of in vivo chlorophyll-fluorescence induction kinetics showed that the decline in Asat induced by elevated CO2 , and/or O2 , was not associated with significant changes in the photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS) II. Although the experimental conditions inevitably imposed some stress on the thalli, revealed as a significant decline in the efficiency of PS II photochemistry, and enhanced starch accumulation in the photobiont over the fornication period, the study shows that the green-algal lichen symbiosis might be influenced by future changes in atmospheric composition. Photosynthetic capacity, measured at ambient CO2 , was found to be reduced after a controlled 30 d exposure to elevated CO2 , and/or O3 and this effect was associated with a parallel decline in the amount of Rubisco in the pyrenoid of algal chloroplasts.}, } @article {pmid33863132, year = {1996}, author = {}, title = {Reviews.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {132}, number = {4}, pages = {677-679}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01885.x}, pmid = {33863132}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Books reviewed in this article: The Peroxisome: a Vital Organdie. By C. Masters and D. Crane Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation. Ed. by P. H. Graham, M. J. Sadowsky and C. P. Vance Structure and Function of Roots. Ed. by F. Baluška, M. Čamprová, O. Gašparí-Ková and P. W. Barlow Nuclear Techniques in Soil-Plant Studies for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Preservation. Biological Control: Benefits and Risks. Ed. by H. M.T. Hokkanen and J. M. Lynch Long-term Experiments in Agricultural and Ecological Sciences. Ed. by R. A. Leigh and A. E. Johnston.}, } @article {pmid33863061, year = {1996}, author = {Larsen, J and Thingstrup, I and Jakobsen, I and Rosendahl, S}, title = {Benomyl inhibits phosphorus transport but not fungal alkaline phosphatase activity in a Glomus-cucumber symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {132}, number = {1}, pages = {127-133}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb04518.x}, pmid = {33863061}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Short-term effects of benomyl on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus caledonium (Nicol. & Gerd.) Trappe and Gerdeman associated with Cucumis sativus L. were studied by measuring effects on fungal P transport and on fungal alkaline phosphatase activity. Mycorrhizal plants were grown in three compartment systems where nylon mesh was used to separate n root-free hyphal compartment (HC) and a root + hyphal compartment(RHC) from The main root compartment (RC). Non-mycorrhizal control plants were grown in similar growth units. After 6 wk benomyl was applied to the plants in three ways: as soil drenches to RHC or HC, or as u spray to the leaves. Benomyl was added in three concentrations. Equal amounts of [32] P and [33] P were added to the HC and to the RHC respectively, immediately after the application of benomyl. Plants were harvested 4-6 d later. Hyphal transport of [32] P from the HC was inhibited when benomyl was applied to the HC at 10 μg g[-1] soil, whereas the uptake of [32] P from RHC I roots + hyphae) was reduced only at the highest dose of application to the RHC (100 μ g g[-1] soil). In contrast to the marked reduction of benomyl on fungal P transport, the activity of fungal alkaline phosphatase inside the roots was unaffected by benomyl.}, } @article {pmid33657744, year = {1996}, author = {Vargas, C and Wu, G and Delgado, MJ and Poole, RK and Downie, JA}, title = {Identification of symbiosis-specific c-type cytochromes and a putative oxidase in bacteroids of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {142}, number = {1}, pages = {41-46}, doi = {10.1099/13500872-142-1-41}, pmid = {33657744}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {Covalently bound haem proteins and cytochromes were analysed in Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae free-living cells and nitrogen-fixing bacteroids isolated from pea nodules. Increased levels of spectroscopically detectable cytochrome c in bacteroids were correlated with the appearance of two proteins of Mr 30000 and 28000 that contained covalently bound haem. Conversely, bacteroids had undetectable levels of a periplasmic cytochrome c of M r 14000 that is normally present in free-living bacteria. Difference spectra confirmed that the terminal oxidases, cytochromes aa 3 and d, were absent, and photodissociation spectra revealed novel components that may be due to a bacteroid terminal oxidase.}, } @article {pmid33863117, year = {1995}, author = {Andersen, CP and Rygiewicz, PT}, title = {Allocation of carbon in mycorrhizal Pinus ponderosa seedlings exposed to ozone.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {131}, number = {4}, pages = {471-480}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb03084.x}, pmid = {33863117}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The effect of ozone on tree growth and metabolism has been studied widely. Despite the research emphasis, relatively little is known about how the below-ground component responds when shoots are exposed to ozone, even though evidence suggests that ozone can affect roots more than shoots. Undemanding how ozone affects carbohydrate allocation throughout the plant is essential to understanding the mechanisms of response to ozone. The purpose of this study was to follow the allocation and metabolism of carbon in a Pinus Ponderosa Laws.-Hebeloma crustuliniforme (Bull.: St. Amans) Quel seedling system under ozone stress. The hypothesis that ozone affects carbon transport below ground and overall sink strength of roots. similarly in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings was tested. To test the hypothesis, a unique culturing system was used to quantify carbon movement to all components of the symbiosis and to construct an overall budget for carbon for both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Fluxes of CO2 and carbon allocation were followed by measuring instantaneous CO2 flux and by [14] C labelling. Two experiments were conducted that differed in their total ozone exposure (39.3 ppm h in expt 1, and 58.1 ppm h in expt 2). Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased CO., assimilation rates (A) and A/R (R = shoot respiration) ratios in both experiments compared with non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Ozone exposure in expt 2 significantly decreased the A/R ratio (P < 0.003) in both mycorrhizal treatments. Below-ground respiration was significantly greater in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal seedlings in both experiments, and was not affected by ozone exposure, Intact, extramatrical hyphal respiration was lower by 33% in seedlings exposed to ozone, but differences were not statistically significant (P ≤ (0.167). Mycorrhizal seedling roots reached maximum respiratory [14] CO2 release rates c. 5 h and < 20 h earlier than non-mycorrhizal seedlings in expts 1 and 2, respectively, suggesting accelerated transport of [14] C below ground in mycorrhizal seedlings. Mycorrhizal seedlings also exhibited greater rates of [14] C release below ground than non-mycorrhizal controls. The maximum rate of respiratory release of [14] CO2 below ground was significantly reduced by exposure to ozone in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal treatments. Ozone significantly reduced [14] C activity in the fungus of mycorrhizal plants. This constitutes the first report of an ozone-induced reduction in carbon allocation to the fungal symbiont in a mycorrhizal association. The results suggest a substantial impact of ozone on the carbon balance of the mycorrhiza: however, there was no evidence to suggest that mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal ponderosa pine seedlings responded differently to ozone stress.}, } @article {pmid33874486, year = {1995}, author = {Sequerra, J and Capellano, A and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V and Moiroud, A}, title = {Ultrastructure of cortical root cells of Alnus incana infected by Penicillium nodositatum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {130}, number = {4}, pages = {545-555}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb04331.x}, pmid = {33874486}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Penicillium nodositatum Valla penetrates Alnus incana (L.) Moench roots through deformed root hairs. It then colonizes the cortical cells and induces the formation of myconodules which have structures similar to those of young actinorhizas. The ultrastructure of infected cortical cells has been compared with that of cells infected by pathogenic or symbiotic fungi as well as with that of cells infected by Frankia. Our observations show that an infected host cell shows few visible signs of resistance to the fungal invasion. As soon as P. nodositatum enters the cell, it is surrounded by a wall-like pecto-cellulosic matrix produced by the host cell. The host plasmalemma, invaginated around the endophyte, keeps its integrity as it does in symbiotic associations. At the beginning of the infection, the host cytoplasm and the fungus are intact but when the cell is completely invaded, the host cytoplasm becomes disorganized and subsequently the fungus also senesces, as in roots of Ericaceae infected by an endomycorrhizal fungus or as in older tissues of actinorhizas. P. nodositatum could survive the dead host cell by using its own reserves. Uninfected neighbouring host cells remain intact. P. nodositatum can be considered to behave as a neutral microsymbiont of A. incana, in a way similar to that of a compatible but ineffective Frankia strain.}, } @article {pmid33820122, year = {1995}, author = {Gao, WM and Yang, SS}, title = {A Rhizobium strain that nodulates and fixes nitrogen in association with alfalfa and soybean plants.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {141}, number = {8}, pages = {1957-1962}, doi = {10.1099/13500872-141-8-1957}, pmid = {33820122}, issn = {1465-2080}, abstract = {A Rhizobium meliloti strain that forms effective nodules on soybean (Glycine max) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is described. The strain, 042B, was isolated from root nodules of alfalfa in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. Experiments showed that strain 042B was able to nodulate soybean as effectively as Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110, a widely used inoculant strain. Under hydroponic conditions, both strains performed similarly in many respects such as time required for the appearance of nodules, total nitrogenase activity, plant top dry weight and total plant nitrogen. In soil pot experiments, total nitrogen, seed weight and seed nitrogen of soybean plants inoculated with strains 042B or USDA110 were much higher than those of the uninoculated control, but there were no differences between plants with strain 042B relative to strain USDA110. However, when strain 042B was the inoculant, the number of nodules was greater, but the nodules were smaller than those of strain USDA110. Results from ELISA showed that nodule occupancy of strain 042B in soybean ranged from 82-90% and that of strain USDA110 ranged from 78-86%. Strain 042B can grow in the presence of 5% (w/v) NaCl, at 42 °C, and at pH 10·7. Strain 042B was shown to have two large plasmids (molecular sizes 200 kb and > 1000 kb, respectively). The DNA G + C mol% of strain 042B was 63·6. The DNA level of homology between strain 042B and type-strain R. meliloti USDA1002 was 76%, while DNA homologies of strain 042B were 10% and 12% with R. fredii USDA205 and B. japonicum USDA6, respectively.}, } @article {pmid33874558, year = {1995}, author = {Gantar, M and Kerby, NW and Rowell, P and Obreht, Z and Scrimgeour, C}, title = {Colonization of wheat (Triticum vulgare L.) by N2 -fixing cyanobacteria: IV. Dark nitrogenase activity and effects of cyanobacteria on natural [15] N abundance in the plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {129}, number = {2}, pages = {337-343}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb04304.x}, pmid = {33874558}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Two cyanobacterial soil isolates, Nostoc 2S9B and Anabaena C5, that had previously been shown to form different types of association with the roots of wheat plants grown in liquid culture, were tested for heterotrophic nitrogenase activity and the ability to colonize the roots of plants grown in sand. Nostoc 2S9B showed substantial nitrogenase activity when associated with the roots of plants grown in liquid culture in medium free of combined N, even with the roots maintained and with assays performed in the dark (29 % of the rate shown by root-associated Nostoc 2S9B grown and assayed in the light). When grown heterotrophically in the dark, at the expense of fructose, free-living Nostoc 2S9B showed a similar nitrogenase activity to root-associated Nostoc 2S9B in the dark. In contrast, Anabaena C5 showed no nitrogenase activity in the dark, under these conditions. When three different wheat cultivars were grown in sand that had previously been surface-inoculated with Nostoc 2S9B or with the cultured symbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc LBG1, isolated from the bryophyte Anthoceros, there was colonization of the plant roots; there was no colonization of roots by Anabaena C5 under these conditions. Some increases in plant biomass and nitrogen content were observed, but these were dependent on the wheat cultivar and cyanobacterial inoculum used. Wheat plants grown in sand that had been pre-inoculated with Nostoc 2S9B, Nostoc LBG1 or Anabaena C5 in medium free of combined N had lower δ[15] N values in both roots and shoots than plants grown under identical conditions without a cyanobacterial inoculum. The observed [15] N/[14] N fractionation indicates that N2 fixed by the cyanobacteria contributed to the nitrogen economy of the wheat plants, irrespective of whether they were closely associated with the plant roots.}, } @article {pmid33874412, year = {1995}, author = {Lemoine, MC and Gollotte, A and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V}, title = {Localization of β (1-3) glucan in walls of the endomycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe and Acaulospora laevis Gerd. & Trappe during colonization of host roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {129}, number = {1}, pages = {97-105}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb03013.x}, pmid = {33874412}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Previous studies showed that cell walls of endomycorrhizal fungi belonging to the Acaulosporaceae and Glomaceae contain β (1-3) glucan polymers as well as chitin. Indirect immunolabelling with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies has been used to investigate the distribution of these structural polysaccharides in cell walls of Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe and Acaulospora laevis Gerd. & Trappe as they interact with pea and tobacco roots, respectively. The (l-3) glucans were detected in the walls of external hyphae, and of hyphal coils and intercellular hyphae developing in outer root tissues. The glucan component was alkali-insoluble but treatment with chitinase resulted in solubilization of most of the β(1-3) glucans from the fungal wall. A decrease in immunolabelling was associated with thinning out of the hyphal wall as the fungi colonized deeper in the host root, and β(1-3) glucans could not be detected in walls of intercellular hyphae or arbuscules in the parenchyma cortical tissue. The molecular configuration of cell walls of G. mosseae and A. laevis is discussed in relation to fungal morphogenesis and the symbiotic state in endomycorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid33874371, year = {1994}, author = {Garbaye, J}, title = {Tansley Review No. 76 Helper bacteria: a new dimension to the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {128}, number = {2}, pages = {197-210}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb04003.x}, pmid = {33874371}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The symbiotic establishment of mycorrhizal fungi on plant roots is affected in various ways by the other microorganisms of the rhizosphere, and more especially by bacteria. This review discusses the case of some of these bacteria which consistently promote mycorrhizal development, leading to the concept of 'mycorrhization' helper bacteria (MHBs). Examples of MHB evidence are given from the literature, with special reference to the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menzeisii Mirb. Franco) Laccaria laccata Scop, ex Fr. ectomycorrhizal combination which has been more extensively studied. The fungal specificity of some MHBs and the various mechanisms underlying their effect are discussed, considering five hypotheses: effects on the receptivity of the root, effects on the root-fungus recognition, effects on the fungal growth, modification of the rhizospheric soil, and effects on the germination of the fungal propagule. MHBs are then considered for their ecological and evolutionary implications, and examples of practical applications in forest nurseries are given: when added to the fungal inoculum, MHBs can improve the success of ectomycorrhizal inoculation of planting stocks with fungi selected for their outstanding growth stimulation after outplanting. The conclusion points out a number of fundamental questions which remain unanswered about mycorrhization helper bacteria and suggests some investigation priorities in this new field of mycorrhiza research. Contents Summary 197 I. Introduction 197 II. Evidence for helper bacteria 198 III. Fungus-specificity of MHBs 200 IV. Mechanisms underlying the MHB effect 201 V. Ecological and evolutionary implications of MHBs 205 VI. Practical applications of MHBs 206 VII. Conclusions and perspectives 208 Acknowledgements 208 References 208.}, } @article {pmid33874389, year = {1994}, author = {Masuhara, G and Katsuya, K}, title = {In situ and in vitro specificity between Rhizoctonia spp. and Spiranthes sinensis (Persoon) Ames, var. amoena (M. Bieberstein) Hara (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {127}, number = {4}, pages = {711-718}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb02974.x}, pmid = {33874389}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The relationships between the orchid Spiranthes sinensis (Persoon) Ames. var. amoena (M. Bieberstein) Hara and Rhizoctonia spp. were investigated in situ at germination and in adult plants, Seeds of the orchid placed in cotton gauze were buried at 210 sampling points in turf grassland, the orchid habitat (in situ germination). Eight weeks later, protocorm development of the orchid was confirmed at 67 of the 210 sampling points. Isolation of fungi from protocorms showed that in situ germination was induced mainly by Rhizoctonia rapens Bernard. Similarly, R. repens was the dominant mycorrhizal fungus isolated from roots of adult plants. The number of adult plants within a radius of either 30 or 50 cm of burial points did not influence seed germination. The distribution of Rhizoctonia spp. other than R. repens in the sample site was examined with a baiting method using buckwheat stems. Thirty-two isolates consisting of binucleate Rhizoctonia anastomosis group (AG)-A, AG-B, AG-G, and AG-1, R. solani Kuhn AG-4, Waitea circinata Warcup & Talbot, which anastomozed with WAG-O and WAG-Z, and a multinucteate Rhizoctonia sp. were isolated. Three AG-G isolates were obtained from the points at which protocorm development was induced by R. repens. Seeds of S. sinensis var. amoena were inoculated in vitro with these isolates to test for symbiotic germination. Most Rhizoctonia spp, not associated with the germination in situ induced seed germination in vitro. Seedlings which developed with these isolates in vitro were transferred to ex vitro conditions. New leaves developed and elongated as seedlings continued to grow for 3 months, The seed burial method enabled the clarification of the differences in orchid-fungal specificity in situ and in vitro. We concluded that the specificity between S. sinensis var. amoena and fungi in situ conditions was different to that in vitro.}, } @article {pmid33874520, year = {1994}, author = {Leake, JR}, title = {The biology of myco-heterotrophic ('saprophytic') plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {127}, number = {2}, pages = {171-216}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb04272.x}, pmid = {33874520}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {More than 400 species of vascular plants, in 87 genera, are acholophyllous and heterotrophic, but not directly parasitic upon autotrophs. They are usually, but incorrectly, described as 'saprophytes'since they are in fact nourished by means of specialized mycorrhizal associations. Although distributed world-wide, they are most abundant and show the greatest species-richness in the Neotropics and Palaeotropical regions. Their aerial parts range in size from a few centimetres to extensive liane types up to 40 m long. With few exceptions, their habitats are dense moist forests in which there is a surface accumulation of leaf litter, often in situations which are too shaded for autotrophic growth. Although the achlorophyllous mycorrhizal mode of life has evolved independently many times and in widely disparate taxonomic groups, such plants show strong convergent evolution in particular adaptations to their peculiar mode of life. Most prominant amongst these are reductions in the size of seed and embryo, and the lack of differentiation of the embryo at maturity. The number of seeds produced by each flower is typically very large and the shape, structure and surface features of seeds involving adaptation for wind dispersal show remarkable parallels in many species. Specific adaptations for zoochory are rare but well developed in a small number of genera, some of which produce scents like fungal fruit bodies or floral parts which mimic fungal sporocarps. Vegetative parts are often even more conspicuously reduced. Most myco-heterotrophs are entirely subterranean for most of their lives and these stages exhibit adaptations consistent with a change in function from organs of absorption to organs of storage, shown by the almost universal loss of root hairs, decrease in surface area as exhibited in short cylindric'vermiform'and tuberous roots or, in extreme cases, the complete suppression of roots and the formation of a swollen tuber or rhizome. Increased width of the root cortex often accommodates mycorrhizal infection and stores of carbohydrates and other materials obtained from the fungal symbiont. Mycorrhizal infection is confined to the below-ground parts of the plants but may be found there in modified stems as well as in roots. In many genera, stems are exceptionally slender and thread-like and their vascular tissues are either reduced to a single narrow cylinder of bicollateral bundles or, minimally, to four or six narrow bundles in the cortex. Secondary thickening is poorly developed in all but a tiny minority of species, lignification being confined to annular or, rarely, a few scalariform xylem vessels. Phloem is present in very small amounts and then mainly as parenchyma with sieve tubes frequently recorded as narrow and possibly with abherent sieve plates. Leaves are typically reduced to widely spaced achlorophyllous scales on the inflorescence axis. Occasionally, they are present only on underground rhizomes or tubers. The vascular supply to the leaf-scales, normally reduced to a single trace, may be absent. Vestigial stomata are sometimes found on leaves and, in a few species which retain traces of chlorophyll, on shoots but, in most fully heterotrophic species, stomata are absent from aerial parts. Since their seeds are very small and contain minimal reserve carbohydrates, the germination of myco-heterotrophs in nature would appear to depend upon infection by an appropriate symbiotic fungus at an early stage. The nature of the carbohydrates transferred from the fungus to the plants has not been determined. Once acquired from The fungal partner, most plants store carbon in a variety of forms, the most common of which is starch, although other compounds including glucomannan, fructan and calcium oxalate art important in some specks. Asexual reproduction is frequently important with root tubers, tubercles and rhizomes providing the means of vegetative spread. Nonetheless, all the angiospermous species recorded to date also reproduce sexually. Floral structures show varying degrees of reduction concomitant with myco-heterotrophy. Inflorescences are typically small, often with a single terminal flower, and the floral parts often show extreme simplification, with the production of unilocular or, more rarely, bilocular and trilocular ovaries. In some of the most highly adapted species, there is reduction of integumentary layers surrounding each ovule from the normal bitegmic condition to unitegmic or, occasionally, ategmic. With the principal exception of the Monotropaceae, placentation is typically trimerous and parietal. Flowers normally appear to be cross-pollinated and are brightly coloured. nectiferous, occasionally scented, and can demonstrate extreme morphological adaptations which attract insects as in the production of lone caudate tepals or fungus-mimicking structures. Much is still to be learned about the adaptive features and especially about the physiology of these plants and of their early developmental stages during which the essential associations with fungi are established. Similarly, studies of the taxonomy and physiology of most of their fungal partners are still in their infancy. Contents Summary 171 I. Introduction 172 II. Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of myco-heterotrophic plants 174 III. Distribution patterns 180 IV. Habitats 183 V. Embryology 185 VI. Characteristics of seeds 186 VII. Mycorrhizal infection 192 VIII. Morphologies of roots 196 IX. Characteristics of shoots 199 X. Carbon assimilation and storage by mycoheterotrophic plants 202 XI. Reproduction 208 XII. Mutualism or parasitistn? 210 XIII. Future directions for research in mycoheterotrophic plants 210 XIV. Conclusions 211 Acknowledgements 211 References 211.}, } @article {pmid33874408, year = {1994}, author = {Smith, SE and Dickson, S and Morris, C and Smith, FA}, title = {Transfer of phosphate from fungus to plant in VA mycorrhizas: calculation of the area of symbiotic interface and of fluxes of P from two different fungi to A Allium porrum L.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {127}, number = {1}, pages = {93-99}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb04262.x}, pmid = {33874408}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The aim of the work described in this paper was to calculate the fluxes of phosphate (P) across the intraradical interfaces between two vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe and Glomus sp.' City Beach'(WL'M 16)] and Allium porrum L. The inflows of P into roots via the fungi were calculated from inflows into mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants for four harvest periods up to 84 d. The areas of interface between intercellular hyphae and roots, and arbuscules and roots were calculated for the same harvest periods using image analysis of sections in which the fungus was stained with nitroblue tetrazolium. The imagination of the arbuscular interface was calculated using methods based on previously published data. The fungi colonized the roots to approximately the same extent (% infection), but G. mosseae produced more intercellular hyphae and arbuscules, and hence larger interfacial areas than Glomus sp. City Beach (WUM 16). Hyphal inflows were higher for Glomus sp. City Beach (WUM 16) than G. mosseae for all except the last harvest period, but because of the lower interfacial areas, fluxes via this fungus were higher (3-7-12-8 nmol m-[2] s-[1]) than for G, mosseae (0-8-3-2 nmol nmol m-[2] s-[1] . These fluxes are in the same range as values for P influx into plant cells and considerably larger than efflux from the fungal hyphae of ecto and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi measured in cultured mycelia. We conclude that enhanced efflux from the fungus must be essential for symbiotic phosphorus uptake by plants via VA mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid33874403, year = {1994}, author = {Roldan-Fajardo, BE}, title = {Effect of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal endophytes on the development of six wild plants colonizing a semi-arid area in south-east Spain.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {127}, number = {1}, pages = {115-121}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb04265.x}, pmid = {33874403}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) an six plant species that frequently grow in areas of Mediterranean climate in south-east Spain was studied. In semi-arid soils, the most abundant AMF was Glomus aggregation Schenck and Smith, followed by Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe. The vascular plant species studied were Dittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter (Asteraceae); Dactylis glomerata L., Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Cosson, and Slipa tenacissima L. (Poaceae); Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss., and Ulex parviflorus Pourret (Fabaceae). Legumes were studied with single and dual symbiosis (Rhizobium and AMF). In a greenhouse experiment, inoculated plants developed better than noninoculared controls, as shown by dry weight and tissue N and P content. Plants inoculated with G. aggregation grew better than plants inoculated with G. mosseae. For this reason G. aggregatum was chosen for a field experiment, in which this AM fungus increased shoot dry mass, shoot length, and percent survival after transplantation. The effects of soil microorganisms on development, survival and fertility of native plants, their influence on the effects of the erosion, and their importance in plant repopulation programmes are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33874456, year = {1993}, author = {Sagan, M and Messager, A and Duc, G}, title = {Specificity of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis obtained after mutagenesis in pea (Pisum sativum L.).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {125}, number = {4}, pages = {757-761}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03925.x}, pmid = {33874456}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Within a set of 13 induced symbiotic pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutants, two distinct mutated genes sym25 and sym26, selected for ineffective nodulation have been counteracted in their effect by Rhizobium strains 254 and 94 respectively, thereby establishing an N2 -fixing symbiosis. This suggests that mutagenesis can be a helpful tool in creating specificity systems such as those described in centres of origin and diversification of legume species.}, } @article {pmid33874446, year = {1993}, author = {Honegger, R}, title = {Developmental biology of lichens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {125}, number = {4}, pages = {659-677}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03916.x}, pmid = {33874446}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Lichen-forming fungi are a large, taxonomically diverse group of nutritional specialists which acquire fixed carbon from a population of minute green algal or cyanobacterial cells. Mycobionts of foliose or fruticose lichens differ from the rest of the fungi by expressing morphologically and anatomically complex symbiotic phenotypes. The extracellularly located photobiont cell population of these macrolichens is housed and controlled by the quantitatively predominant fungal partner which competes for space above ground, secures adequate illumination and facilitates gas exchange. This review summarizes data on the ontogeny, functional morphology, growth patterns and internal thalline differentiation of macrolichens. Contents Summary 659 I. Introduction 659 II. Establishment of the lichen symbiosis 662 III. Growth and cell turnover 669 IV. Outlook 674 Acknowledgements 674 References 674.}, } @article {pmid33874594, year = {1993}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Sbrana, C and Avio, L and Citernesi, AS and Logi, C}, title = {Differential hyphal morphogenesis in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during pre-infection stages.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {125}, number = {3}, pages = {587-593}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03907.x}, pmid = {33874594}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Roots of host plants elicit a local change in morphology in the hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, prior to the formation of appressoria. The elicited hyphae switch from their original branching pattern and apical dominance to differentiate in a new irregular, septate branching pattern with reduced inter-hyphal spacing. The extensive hyphal development associated with roots of host plants was shown to be due to the differential growth pattern described, and to precede the further cascade of events leading to appressorium formation and the development of a functional symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33874502, year = {1993}, author = {Tagu, D and Python, M and Crétin, C and Martin, F}, title = {Cloning symbiosis-related cDNAs from eucalypt ectomycorrhiza by PCR-assisted differential screening.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {125}, number = {2}, pages = {339-343}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03884.x}, pmid = {33874502}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {As part of a project to identify symbiosis-related genes, we report here a simple differential screening procedure for isolating up- and down-regulated fungal transcripts from a cDNA library of the developing Eucalyptus globulus-Pisolithus tinctorius mycorrhiza. cDNA inserts of randomly selected λZAP plaques were amplified by PCR and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR-amplified cDNA samples were then screened by Southern blotting, using radiolabelled-cDNA probes of high specific activity. We have applied this method to fungal transcripts that are differentially expressed in ectomycorrhizas during the early stages of development. We estimate that about 50 % of the fungal mRNA population is regulated by development of the symbiosis; several up- and down-regulated cDNAs have been isolated for further analysis.}, } @article {pmid33874619, year = {1993}, author = {Sukarno, N and Smith, SE and Scott, ES}, title = {The effect of fungicides on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: I. The effects on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {125}, number = {1}, pages = {139-147}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03872.x}, pmid = {33874619}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {This paper describes the effects of the fungicides Benlate, Aliette and Ridomil on plant growth and on mycorrhizal development in onion plants. An attempt was made to distinguish effects on plants from those on the fungus by making comparisons between mycorrhizal plants in the absence of added phosphorus and non-mycorrhizal equivalent size plants. Vital staining techniques were used to analyse the effects of the fungicides on the living fungus both within the root and in the soil. Benlate had no effect on shoot dry weight or root length of onion plants whereas a reduction in plant growth was observed following the application of Aliette or Ridomil, in comparison to control plants. Benlate had negative effects on the numbers of living internal hyphae, arbuscules, fungal-plant interface and living external hyphae in the soil. Aliette had no effect on the number of living intercellular hyphae and arbuscules. However, it markedly reduced the root length and the length of infected root per plant. These combined effects led to a reduction in the area of the interface between fungus and plant. The length of external hyphae per gram of soil was reduced following the application of Aliette, though not as severely as with Benlate. Ridomil had more complex effects on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis; treated plants showed a reduction in plant growth and also a reduction in all fungal parameters, namely the number of living intercellular hyphae, arbuscules and fungal-plant interface, the length of infected root and the development of external hyphae in the soil.}, } @article {pmid33874109, year = {1993}, author = {Wessels, JGH}, title = {Tansley Review No. 45 Wall growth, protein excretion and morphogenesis in fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {123}, number = {3}, pages = {397-413}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1993.tb03751.x}, pmid = {33874109}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {With the exception of the unicellular yeasts, fungi typically grow by means of hyphae that extend only at their apices and ramify into a mycelium. This mode of growth provides fungi with a certain mobility and the ability to invade dead and living organic substrata. They are thus the main decomposers of plant residues but they also have established intricate symbiotic relationships with plants, both mutualistic and parasitic. The process of apical growth of a hyphae requires the controlled expansion of the apical wall which must be transformed subsequently into a wall that resists turgor pressure and maintains the tubular shape of the hyphae. Although the driving force for hyphal extension is probably the turgor pressure, a subtle interplay between wall extension and cytoplasmic activity is necessary because only a precise gradient of wall-synthetic activity can maintain uniform wall thickness during expansion. Possibly, the presence in the plasma membrane of mechanico-sensitive proteins plays a role in conjunction with the cytoskeleton at the apex, particularly action. Although the major structural wall polysaccharides are probably manufactured directly on the expanding apical plasma membrane, proteins (and probably some wall components) are delivered to the growing surface by a continuous stream of exocytotic vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane, at the same time extending its surface. Our analyses of the chemistry of the fungal wall and its biosynthesis and assemblage have disclosed a simple mechanism (though complex in detail) that may explain the transition from a newly formed expandable wall at the apex to a more rigid wall at the base of the hyphal extension zone. Two individual wall polymers, chitin and β-glucan, extruded at the apex are modified within the domain of the wall. Among the modifications observed are the formation of covalent crosslinks between these two polymers and hydrogen bonds between the homologous polymer chains, leading to the formation of chitin microfibrils crosslinked to a glucan matrix. This process is thought to convert an initially plastic wall into a rigid wall as the polymers fall behind the advancing tip. We have called this the steady-state growth theory for apical wall extension because a steady-state amount of plastic wall is always maintained at the growing apex. Excretion of lytic enzymes is a vital process in filamentous fungi because, in nature, they thrive on organic polymers which must be degraded extracellularly. Such enzymes are also necessary for infection processes. Cytological data suggest that such enzymes are extruded by the vesicles that continuously fuse with the plasma membrane at the growing apex. We have shown that a large portion of the excreted enzymes indeed leaves the hypha at the growing apex but another portion may be retained by the wall and is slowly released into the medium. In relation to the steady-state growth theory we hypothesize that enzymes can pass the wall at the apex by bulk flow, that is, by being carried by the flow of plastic wall material, making pores in the wall less important than previously thought. Proteins excreted by filamentous fungi not only serve dissimilatory purposes but are also important for a variety of other activities of the whole mycelium, including morphogenesis. By cloning genes abundantly expressed during formation of aerial hyphae and fruit bodies, we have discovered a class of proteins, named hydrophobins, which are only produced when the mycelium has reached a certain stage of maturity. Whilst excreted by submerged hyphae as monomers into the medium, they self-assemble as insoluble complexes in the walls of emergent hyphae. In aerial hyphae a particular hydrophobin takes the form of rodlets which probably coat the hyphae with an impermeable layer. During fruit-body formation other hydrophobins are produced which may function in the aggregation of hyphae to form a multicellular tissue. Apart from such specific morphogenetic functions, the hydrophobins may play a general role in insulating hyphae from the environment, converting the differentiating structures into sinks for translocation of water and nutrients from the assimilating mycelium. CONTENTS Summary I. Introduction 398 II. The hyphal mode of growth 399 III. Biogenesis of the wall fabric 400 IV. Wall growth until rigidification occurs 402 V. Biogenesis of the wall and protein excretion 404 VI. A role for wall proteins in morphogenesis 407 References 410.}, } @article {pmid33874220, year = {1992}, author = {Chabot, S and Bel-Rhlid, R and Chênevert, R and Piché, Y}, title = {Hyphal growth promotion in vitro of the VA mycorrhizal fungus, Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, by the activity of structurally specific flavonoid compounds under CO2 -enriched conditions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {122}, number = {3}, pages = {461-467}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1992.tb00074.x}, pmid = {33874220}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Plant phenolic compounds are known to be inducers of virulence genes in plant-pathogen interactions such as those involving Agrobacterium, and flavonoids are known to be inducers or inhibitors of Nod genes in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. More recent studies suggest that some of these compounds act as molecular signals in the development of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM). The present study has shown that hyphal growth of the VAM fungus, Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, is affected by both stimulatory and inhibitory flavonoids, when applied at 10 μ together with an optimal carbon dioxide enrichment. Stimulatory compounds were all flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin and morin) and possessed at least one hydroxyl group on the B ring. Conversely, two isoflavones (biochanin A, and genistein), a single flavanone (hesperetin) and two compounds without any hydroxyl group on the B ring, galangin (flavonol) and chrysin (flavone), were all inhibitors of hyphal growth.}, } @article {pmid33874210, year = {1992}, author = {Bergman, B and Johansson, C and Söderbäck, E}, title = {The Nostoc-Gunnera symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {122}, number = {3}, pages = {379-400}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1992.tb00067.x}, pmid = {33874210}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Gunnera L. develops a complex and intimate symbiosis with N2 -fixing cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc, which renders the plant independent of combined nitrogen. The Nostoc-Gunnera symbiosis exhibits unique features compared to other cyanobacterial-plant symbioses: it is for example the only one that involves a flowering plant (angiosperm), the cyanobacterium infects specialized gland organs located on the stems of the host and once it has passed into the interior of the gland the cyanobacterium also enters the Gunnera cells where it starts to differentiate the highest frequency of heterocysts (the N2 -fixing cells) recorded in any cyanobacterial population. Gunnera has attracted scientific attention also for the following reasons: the genus has a peculiar geographic distribution of its subgenera and species in the Southern Hemisphere. It differs morphologically and anatomically from related plants and also shows an anomalous polystelic vascular system (polystely). This review gives an updated account of present knowledge concerning the Nostoc-Gunnera symbiosis. Emphasis will be on the development of the symbiotic tissue (the gland), the structure and function of the prokaryotic N2 -fixing cyanobacterium, the infection process and on the relationship between the pro- and eukaryotic partners prior to and following the establishment of symbiosis. CONTENTS Summary 379 I. Introduction 379 II. The Gunner a plant 380 III. The microsymbiont(s) 383 IV. The symbiosis 384 V. The gland 385 VI. The infection process 388 VII. Specificity 391 VIII. Impacts on the cyanobiont 392 IX. N2 fixation and release 393 X. Photosynthesis 396 XI. Concluding remarks 397 Acknowledgements 398 References 398.}, } @article {pmid33873995, year = {1992}, author = {Hirsch, AM}, title = {Developmental biology of legume nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {122}, number = {2}, pages = {211-237}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1992.tb04227.x}, pmid = {33873995}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Many legumes respond to Rhizobium inoculation by developing unique structures known as nodules on their roots. The development of a legume nodule in which rhizobia convert atmospheric N2 into ammonia is a finely tuned process. Gene expression from both partners of the symbiosis must be temporally and spatially coordinated. Exactly how this coordination takes place is an area of intense study. Nodule morphogenesis appears to be elicited by at least two distinct signals: one from Rhizobium, a product of the nod genes (Nod factor), and a second signal, which is generated within plant tissues after treatment with Nod factor. The identity of the second signal is unknown but changes in the balance of endogenous plant hormones or the sensitivity of plant tissues to these hormones are likely to be involved. These hormonal changes may be triggered by endogenous flavonoids produced by the root in response to inoculation with Rhizobium. There is some controversy as to whether the legume nodule is an organ sui generis or a highly derived lateral root. A resolution of this question may become more critical as attempts to induce nodules on non-legume hosts, such as rice or maize, increase in number and scope. CONTENTS Summary 211 I. Introduction 211 II. Nodule development 213 III. Nodule initiation 220 IV. The second signal for nodule morphogenesis: role for the plant hormones ? 225 V. Lateral root development 229 VI. Are nodules modified lateral roots ? 229 VII. Conclusions and future prospects 231 Acknowledgements and dedication 232 References 232.}, } @article {pmid33874329, year = {1991}, author = {Jones, MD and Durall, DM and Tinker, PB}, title = {Fluxes of carbon and phosphorus between symbionts in willow ectomycorrhizas and their changes with time.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {119}, number = {1}, pages = {99-106}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb01012.x}, pmid = {33874329}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {One way of viewing a mycorrhizal symbiosis is as a balance between the nutritional 'benefits' and carbon 'costs' to the phytobiont. Phosphorus acquisition efficiency (the amount of phosphorus taken up per unit of carbon allocated belowground) can be used as an indicator of this balance. In this study, phosphorus uptake and belowground carbon allocation were measured using ectomycorrhizal (M) (Thelephora terrestris (Ehrh.) Fr.) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) Salix viminalis L. cv. Bowles Hybrid. Following 50, 60, 85 or 98 d of growth in a gamma-irradiated soil/sand mixture containing 4 mg bicarbunate-extractable P kg[-1] , seven randomly-selected cuttings of each treatment were harvested and their P contents determined. Nine d prior to each harvest, the three median plants from the group of seven were pulse labelled with [14] C to determine the relative allocation of C aboveground and belowground. Mycorrhizal colonization of willow caused a two-fold increase in growth owing to substantially higher P uptake. Phosphorus inflow rates were almost three times as high for M root systems as for NM root systems over the interval up to the first harvest (3.2 × 10 [-12] and 1.2 × 10[12] mol m[-1] s-1, respectively). Over the interval from 50 to 98 d, inflows into M plants were 50% higher than into NM plants (1.4 × 10[12] and 0.9 × 10[-13] mol m[-1] s[-1] respectively). The M plants allocated about 25 times as much carbon belowground as the NM plants for both periods. The P acquisition efficiency was higher in M than in NM plants during the first interval (16% and 40% higher using two different calculation methods), whereas during the second interval it was higher in NM than in M plants (33% and 44% higher using the two different methods). Thus, ectomycorrhizas can be very effective in supplying P to their hosts even at an early stage of infection. Furthermore, it is suggested that a temporal separation exists in the maximal fluxes of P and C between the fungus and the host of the mycorrhizal association. The results are discussed in the context of the nutrient requirements and carbon economies of field-grown woody plants.}, } @article {pmid33874328, year = {1991}, author = {Huss-Danell, K}, title = {Influence of host (Alnus and Myrica) genotype on infectivity, N2 fixation, spore formation and hydrogenase activity in Frankia.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {119}, number = {1}, pages = {121-127}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb01015.x}, pmid = {33874328}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Nine species of Alnus, two of them represented by several provenances, and Myrica gale were inoculated with a 'local source' of Frankia. The inoculum is an effective (N2 -fixing), spore-Forming type of Frankia that lacks H, uptake (hydrogenase) activity in symbiosis with A. incana. Despite their wide geographical origin (Europe, China, North America) and their various taxonomie grouping within the genus, all Alnus species/provenances formed Infixing nodules. In all studied nodules Frankia had the phenotype Spore[+] . None of the studied symbioses had hydrogenase activity. The Frankia inoculum was infective also on M. gale, and gave effective nodules without hydrogenase activity. Unlike some other spore-forming types of symbiotic Frankia, all studied symbiotic phenotypes of the 'local source' of Frankia were thus stable characters not influenced by the various host genotypes included in the study.}, } @article {pmid33874175, year = {1991}, author = {Duckett, JG and Read, DJ}, title = {The use of the fluorescent dye, 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide, for selective staining of ascomycete fungi associated with liverwort rhizoids and ericoid mycorrhizal roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {118}, number = {2}, pages = {259-272}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb00976.x}, pmid = {33874175}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The lipophilic fluorochrome 3,3'dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodine [DiOC6 (3)], previously used to visualize mitochondria and ER in animal and plant tells, when applied at concentrations of 0.01-5 μg ml[-1] selectively stains ascomycetous hyphae in ericaeous roots and in the rhizoids of liverworts in the families Lepidoziaceae (both tropical and temperate species), Calypogeiaceae, Adelanthaceae, Cephaloziaceae and Cephaloziellaceae. Basidio-mycetes forming endophytic associations with liverworts and ectomycorrhizas in seed plants, are stained with DiOC6 (3) only at concentrations at and above 50 μg ml[-1] . VA mycorrhizal fungi in liverworts, pteridophytes and angiosperms fail to stain. Hyphae of the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus, Hymenoscyphus ericae, grown in axenic culture, are stained with much lower concentrations of DiOC6 (3) than are those of a range of ectomycorrhizal fungi, an orchid fungus and Oidiodendron griseum which has been reported occasionally to form ericoid mycorrhizal associations. In contrast to other fluorescent probes that recognize fungal wall components, DiOC6 (3) is a vital stain of fungal cytoplasm. Greater membrane permeability, compared to that in other fungi, is the likely basis for the selective staining of Hymenoscyphus ericae and the root and rhizoid-inhabiting ascomycetes with this dye. DiOC6 (3) offers a rapid means for identifying intracellular ascomycetous mycorrhizas and for determining the distribution of living hyphae within these associations.}, } @article {pmid33874316, year = {1991}, author = {Azcón, R and Rubio, R and Barea, JM}, title = {Selective interactions between different species of mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium meliloti strains, and their effects on growth, N2 -fixation ([15] N) and nutrition of Medicago sativa L.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {117}, number = {3}, pages = {399-404}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1991.tb00003.x}, pmid = {33874316}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Three isolates of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi, belonging to the species Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe, G. fasciculatum (Taxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd, and Trappe, and G. caledonium (Nicol. and Gerd.) Trappe and Gerd, were inoculated in dual combinations with six strains of Rhizobium meliloti with the aim of testing these combinations for functional compatibility with their common host plant, the legume Medicago sativa L. Symbiotic efficiency (promotion of plant growth and N and P nutrition) was found to be dependent on the particular combination of Rhizobium strain and Glomus species indicating selective and specific compatibilities between strains and isolates of the two types of microsymbiont, but also between them and the common host plant. Observed effects on plant growth were in general, though not always, related to the extent of VA mycorrhizal colonization. Although the different mycorrhizal and/or rhizobial treatments produced different effects on plant growth, the rate of nodule formation on M. sativa roots remained constant. Most mycorrhizal treatments increased the concentration and/or content of N in plant shoots but effectiveness was in the order: G. fasciculatum > G. mosseae > G. caledonium. In some cases, this increase in N-content may be a consequence of a P-mediated stimulation of N2 -fixation by VA mycorrhiza, as ascertained using [15] N. In other instances, however, the increase seems to reflect a VA mycorrhizal-mediated enhancement of N-uptake from soil. VA mycorrhizal inoculation decreased the concentration of Ca and Mg in plant shoots and a buffering effect of VA mycorrhiza in situations of nutrient excess in soil is proposed.}, } @article {pmid33874104, year = {1990}, author = {Huss-Danell, K and Bergman, B}, title = {Nitrogenase in Frankia from root nodules of Alnus incana (L.) Moench: immunolocalization of the Fe- and MoFe-proteins during vesicle differentiation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {443-455}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00530.x}, pmid = {33874104}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The localization of nitrogenase was studied in root nodules of Alnus incana (L.) Moench in symbiosis with a local source of Frankia. Nodules were fixed in glutaraldehyde and embedded in Epon or LR White. Ultrathin sections were examined by TEM after incubation with antisera against nitrogenase and gold-conjugated secondary antibodies. Antisera against dinitrogenase reductase (Fe-protein) from Rhodospirillum rubrum and dinitrogenase (MoFe-protein) from Azotobacter vinelandii were used. Immunogold label density in hyphae and in spores of Frankia was low and similar to that of plant tissue. Very young vesicles without septa showed a label density of Fe-protein similar to that of hyphae, while young vesicles with a few, usually non-transversing, septa had a significant but still low density of label. Mature vesicles, highly compartmentalised due to transversing septa, contained statistically significantly more Fe-protein label than all other cell types. Old degenerating vesicles always contained nitrogenase, about half as much as that of mature vesicles but often more than young vesicles. Similarly, MoFe label was not detected in hyphae, appeared in young but was greatest in mature vesicles. It is apparent that differentiation of vesicles reaches a certain stage of development prior to the onset of nitrogenase synthesis.}, } @article {pmid33874098, year = {1990}, author = {Wu, L and Lin, SL}, title = {Copper tolerance and copper uptake of Lotus purshianus (Benth.) Clem. & Clem. and its symbiotic Rhizobium loti derived from a copper mine waste population.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {531-539}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00537.x}, pmid = {33874098}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Lotus purshianus (Benth.) Clem, and Clem., growing on a copper mine waste in Northern California, exhibits copper tolerance. Effective nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) is seen in copper-enriched soils. When subcultured in liquid culture, Rhizobium loti isolated from root nodules of L. purshianus growing on the copper mine, showed considerably greater copper tolerance than did rhizobium isolated from plants growing in a nearby field. No difference was detected in either the pattern of copper uptake or concentration in plant tissue between tolerant and non-tolerant L. purshianus. However, a copper accumulation mechanism associated with copper tolerance was found in the symbiotic rhizobium. The successful colonization of copper enriched soil by this legume species is accomplished by the evolution of copper tolerance in both the legume plant and its symbiont. The copper tolerance of the plant and rhizobium may have evolved independently.}, } @article {pmid33874095, year = {1990}, author = {Raven, JA and Farquhar, GD}, title = {The influence of N metabolism and organic acid synthesis on the natural abundance of isotopes of carbon in plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {505-529}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00536.x}, pmid = {33874095}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {This paper relates the [13] C/[12] C ratio of C3 plant material relative to that of source CO2 to the N source for growth, the organic N content of the plant, and the extent of organic acid synthesis. The [13] C/[12] C ratio is quantified as Δ, defined as (δ[13] C substrate -δ[13] C product)/(1+δ[13] C product), where δ[13] C values of substrate or product (i.e. the samples) are defined as [[13] C/[12] C]sample ]/[([13] C/[12] C)standard ]-1. The computation is performed by relating differences in plant composition as a function of N nutrition and acid synthesis to the fraction of plant C which is acquired via Rubisco and via other carboxylases. The fractional contribution of the different carboxylases to C gain is then related, using the known isotopic fractionations exhibited by these carboxylases, in a model to predict the final Δ of the plant (relative to atmospheric CO2). Application of this approach to a 'typical' C3 land plant yields predictions of the decrease of Δ relative to a hypothetical case in which all C is fixed via Rubisco. The predicted decreases range from 0-24 %, for NH4 [+] assimilation (which always occurs in the roots) to 2-80%, for NO3 [-] assimilation in shoots with the organic acid salt which results from acid-base balance, plus any additional organic acid salts plus free acids for a plant with a basal C:N molar ratio in organic material of 15. Intermediate values are predicted for symbiotic growth with N2 , or where NO3 [-] assimilation in root or shoot is accompanied by some acid-base regulation via OH- loss to the root medium. Comparison with published data on the difference in Δ of Ricinus communis cultured with NH4 [+] or NO3 [-] shows that the measured influence of nitrogen source is in the right direction (NO3 [-] grown plants with a smaller Δ, i.e. a larger deviation from the value predicted for the absence of non-Rubisco carboxylations) to be explained by the observed difference in composition and hence fractional C contribution by the various carboxylases. However, the effect of N source on Δ is greater than that predicted by the model, i.e. a 2.1 % decrease as opposed to a 0.10 % decrease. It is likely that the major cause of the difference in δ[13] C of the plants grown on the two N sources is a change in the ratio of transport and biochemical conductances of leaf photosynthesis. Such a change is quantitatively consistent with the lower water use efficiency of NH4 [+] -grown plants. The predicted, and observed, changes in Δ as a function of N source are of the same magnitude as those found for C3 terrestrial species grown at different temperatures or photon flux densities, or in environments yielding different water use efficiencies by changing root water supply relative to shoot evaporation potential. Variations in N source should be added to the factors which might alter δ of plants growing in the field.}, } @article {pmid33874273, year = {1990}, author = {Henderson, JC and Davies, FT}, title = {Drought acclimation and the morphology of mycorrhizal Rosa hybrida L. cv. 'Ferdy' is independent of leaf elemental content.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {115}, number = {3}, pages = {503-510}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00477.x}, pmid = {33874273}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Rosa hybrida L. cv. 'Ferdy' is a low maintenance landscape plant which is considered drought resistant. To determine the effects of endomycorrhizae on plant water relations and growth, rooted cuttings of uniform size were established in containers under moderately high P fertilization. Vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhiza inoculated and noninoculated plants were placed under three water regimes: drought acclimated, non-acclimated and later exposed to drought, or non-stressed. Acclimated plants were conditioned by four 3-d and three 4-d drought cycles. Non-acclimated plants received water daily prior to a single 4-d drought cycles, and non-stressed plants were watered daily throughout the study. Under water deficits, non-acclimated plants had lower leaf water potentials (ΨL), transpiration rates (E) and stomatal conductances (g), than acclimated or non-stressed plants. Non-acclimated plants also had a greater leaf area, leaf number and shoot dry weight than acclimated plants, yet had a comparable leaf area ratio (LAR) and root-shoot ratio. Mycorrhizal plants had a higher E, than non-mycorrhizal plants, even though non-mycorrhizal plants were of comparable biomass (leaf area, shoot and root dry weight and LAR). However, the root-shoot ratio was greater with mycorrhizal plants which had fewer leaves (due to abscission), and lower cuticle and epicuticular wax weights than non-mycorrhizal plants. There was no affect of VA mycorrhiza on leaf osmotic potential (Ψn) stomatal density, leaf cell density, leaf area, or macronutrient uptake. Acclimation of this low-maintenance landscape rose cultivar to water deficits and the mechanism of drought avoidance via leaf abscission, were as beneficial to drought resistance as was mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33873959, year = {1990}, author = {Louis, I and Racette, S and Torrey, JG}, title = {Occurrence of cluster roots on Myrica cerifera L. (Myricaceae) in water culture in relation to phosphorus nutrition.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {115}, number = {2}, pages = {311-317}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00457.x}, pmid = {33873959}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {When Myrica cerifera was grown in a number of 1/1-strength Hoagland's solutions, each lacking one mineral nutrient, cluster roots formed only in solutions lacking phosphorus (P). In seedlings initially fertilized with various P concentrations, cluster root formation decreased with increasing P supply and was totally suppressed in solutions containing ≥ 1 mg P l[-1] . As total root weight did not vary significantly between P treatments, the proportion of the root system expressed as cluster roots or non-cluster roots varied with phosphorus supply. A similar response to increasing levels of foliar-applied P suggests that it may be internal P concentration in the plant that determines the initiation of cluster roots and not external P levels in the soil. Nitrogen, supplied as fixed dinitrogen or nitrate, did not have any effect on development of cluster roots and it appears that the capacity of actinorhizal plants to fix nitrogen by symbiotic association with a soil micro-organism is of no significance to cluster root formation. While abundant root hair development and extensive mycorrhizal mycelium distribution in the rhizosphere may represent more efficient morphological forms of improving plant P uptake, the significance of cluster roots in relation to P nutrition and the mechanisms involved in their development warrant further investigation.}, } @article {pmid33873948, year = {1990}, author = {Hamel, C and Fyles, H and Smith, DL}, title = {Measurement of development of endomycorrhizal mycelium using three different vital stains.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {115}, number = {2}, pages = {297-302}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00455.x}, pmid = {33873948}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The extraradical hyphae of Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith associated with a mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Saranac) and bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss. cv. Tempo) were tested for metabolic activity by three enzyme staining procedures. Mycorrhizal plants were grown for 6, 9 or 12 weeks and the vital staining methods were evaluated and compared at each date. Succinate dehydrogenase activity was assessed by the reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (nitro-BT), and NADH diaphorase activity by the reduction of indonitrotetrazolium (INT). Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis was used to assess the activity of esterases in the extraradical hyphae. Percentages of intraradical hyphae that were active in alfalfa and bromegrass were also determined after staining root samples with nitro-BT and chlorazol black E. The percentage of live intraradical infection declined with the maturing symbiosis. In contrast, no reduction with time in the percentage of extraradical hyphae that were metabolically active was shown by nitro-BT, suggesting a different turnover for extra- and intraradical hyphae. The FDA method gave the most precise estimates of enzyme activity (low SE) followed by the INT method, while the nitro-BT method was the least precise. Different percentages of extraradical hyphae that were metabolically active were obtained with the different methods. The nitro-BT assay deviated from the others as it did not show declining percentage of active extraradical hyphae as the symbiosis aged.}, } @article {pmid33873979, year = {1990}, author = {Raven, JA and Franco, AA and de Jesus, EL and Jacob-Neto, J}, title = {H[+] extrusion and organic-acid synthesis in N2 -fixing symbioses involving vascular plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {114}, number = {3}, pages = {369-389}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00405.x}, pmid = {33873979}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {An analysis of published data suggests that the N2 -fixing symbiotic vascular plants extrude more H[+] per unit N fixed than would be expected from data on the same genotypes growing on NH4 [+] if the plants had the same chemical composition when grown on the two N sources. The H[+] /N ratio with urea as the N source is similar to that with N2 . The higher H[+] /N ratio and higher organic acid/N ratio with N2 or urea as N source implies higher whole-plant energy and water costs per unit of biomass and, ultimately, inclusive fitness, produced. The rhizosphere acidification resulting from H[+] extrusion may serve to change rhizosphere pH to some 'optimal' value, and to increase the availability of such limiting resources as P, Mo and Fe which are especially needed in diazotrophy. Data in the literature are consistent with these possibilities in the few cases examined. Within the plant, data on xylem and phloem sap composition in conjunction with shoot composition, of diazotrophically-growing legumes suggest that shoot acid-base homoiostasis can be maintained via the import of appropriate solutes in the xylem and the export of appropriate solutes in the phloem. Acid-base regulation of the nodules in the absence of any H[+] exchange with their environment can also probably be explained in terms of the solutes supplied in the phloem and exported in the xylem. This conclusion is based on data in the literature on the composition of stem phloem sap and of xylem sap exuding from detached nodules of diazotrophic vascular plants. These considerations do not exclude the possibility of net H[+] efflux from nodules fixing N2 in contact with an aqueous medium. The limited data available are consistent with extrusion of some of the H[+] generated in nodules as an alternative to their neutralization by metabolism of organic anions entering in the phloem. Such H[+] extrusion by nodules could aid in their acquisition of Fe from the medium, albeit not always at a phase in the life or the nodule when there is a net requirement for Fe.}, } @article {pmid33874304, year = {1990}, author = {Smith, SE and Smith, FA}, title = {Structure and function of the interfaces in biotrophic symbioses as they relate to nutrient transport.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {1-38}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00370.x}, pmid = {33874304}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {In this review we compare the structure and function of the interfaces between symbionts in biotrophic associations. The emphasis is on biotrophic fungal parasites and on mycorrhizas, although necrotrophic parasitic associations and the Rhizobium/legume symbiosis are mentioned briefly. We take as a starting point the observations that in the parasitic associations nutrient transport is polarized towards the parasite, whereas in mutualistic associations it is bidirectional. The structure and function of the interfaces are then compared. An important common feature is that in nearly all cases the heterotrophic symbiont (whether mutualistic or parasitic) is located topologically outside the cytoplasm of the host cells, in an apoplastic compartment. This means that nutrient movements across the interface must involve transport into and out of this apoplastic region through membranes of both organisms. Basic principles of membrane transport in uninfected cells are briefly reviewed to set the scene for a discussion of transport mechanisms which may operate in parasitic and mycorrhizal symbioses. The presence and possible roles of ATPases associated with membranes at the interfaces are discussed. We conclude that cytochemical techniques (used to demonstrate the activity of these enzymes) need to he extended and complemented by biochemical and biophysical studies in order to confirm that the activity is due to transport ATPases. Nevertheless, the distribution of activity appears to he in accord with polarized transport mechanisms in some pathogens and with bidirectional transport in mycorrhizas. The absence of ATPases on many fungal membranes needs re-examination. We emphasize that transport mechanisms between mycorrhizal symbionts cannot be viewed simply as the exchange of carbon for phosphate. Additional features include provision for transport of carbon and nitrogen as amino acids or amides and for ions such as K[+] and H[+] involved in the maintenance of charge balance and pH regulation, processes which also occur in parasitic associations. Interplant transport of nutrients via mycorrhizal hyphae is discussed in the context of these complexities. Some suggestions for the directions of future work are made. CONTENTS Summary 1 I. Introduction 2 II. The availability of nutrients to the symbionts 3 III. Structure of interfaces between symbionts 4 IV. Identity of nutrients transferred: an overview 12 V. Membrane transport: basic principles 14 VI. Transport at the interface of biotrophic symbioses 15 VII. Regulation of pH in biotrophic symbioses 25 VIII. Conclusions: 26.}, } @article {pmid33874301, year = {1990}, author = {Yawney, WJ and Schultz, RC}, title = {Anatomy of a vesicular-arbuscular endomycorrhizal symbiosis between sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) and Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {47-57}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00372.x}, pmid = {33874301}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Microscopic analysis of infection development by Glomus in sugar maple roots revealed changes in the cortical cells similar to those reported by other workers using either herbaceous or woody plant hosts. Few cortical cells contained exclusively terminate hyphal structures. Instead, large intracellular hyphae entered and exited cortical cells while arbuscules formed from initiation points at various places on the intracellular hyphae. Intercellular hyphae were rare and vesicles were not observed. The beaded root morphology observed did not seem to influence the infection process. Beaded roots are formed from repeated constrictions in feeder roots due to major reductions in cell size. The relationship between the constrictions and moisture stress is discussed. The living arbuscule seemed to be the site of transfer between the host and endophyte, implying that the process is an active one.}, } @article {pmid33874296, year = {1990}, author = {Koide, RT and Li, M}, title = {On host regulation of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {59-74}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00373.x}, pmid = {33874296}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {We investigated mycorrhizal infections caused by Glomus elunicalum Becker & Gerd. in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants given small concentrations of phosphate. In pure sand given no additional phosphate, infection was only poorly developed. As phosphate availability was increased, the extent of infection also initially increased. We hypothesized that the extent of infection should be regulated by the nutritional status of the shoot. However, by performing a split-root experiment, we found that the root rather than the shoot was responsible for this regulation.}, } @article {pmid33874293, year = {1990}, author = {Boudarga, K and Lapeyrie, F and Dexheimer, J}, title = {A technique for dual vesicular-arbuscular endomycorrhizal/ectomycorrhizal infection of Eucalyptus in vitro.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {73-76}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00375.x}, pmid = {33874293}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {A few species of plant, including Eucalyptus, bear simultaneously on their root system and even on the same root apex, more than one symbiotic microorganism. The development of techniques allowing mixed inoculations is an essential prerequisite for the study of interactions between different symbionts. A simple in vitro technique for rapid synthesis of dual vesicular-arbuscular endomycorrhiza/ectomycorrhiza on a single root apex of Eucalyptus seedlings is described. This technique was derived from the paper-sandwich technique for synthesis of ectomycorrhizas, and was modified to render it compatible with endomycorrhizal infection. Electron microscopy observations of dual endomycorrhiza/ectomycorrhiza showed both symbioses coexisting on the same apex, with no obvious sign of antagonism.}, } @article {pmid33874291, year = {1990}, author = {Scheromm, P and Plassard, C and Salsac, L}, title = {Nitrate nutrition of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Soland in Ait.) ectomycorrhizal with Hebeloma cylindrosporum Romagn.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {93-98}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00378.x}, pmid = {33874291}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {In maritime pine seedlings (Pinus pinaster Soland in Ait.), nitrate absorption and reduction capacities were estimated by the incorporation of [15] N-labelled nitrogen. This method allowed us to work on the whole plant Without perturbing plant behaviour. For this purpose, xylem and phloem transports were quantified. After 48 h i nitrate nutrition, mycorrhizal symbiosis with Hebeloma cylindrosporum Romagn. modified neither nitrate accumulation nor absorption and reduction capacities of this anion. Xylem transport of reduced nitrogen was similar in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Only phloem transport was modified by mycorrhizal symbiosis. The intensity of the phloem transport in mycorrhizal pines was approximately twice that in non-mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid33874191, year = {1989}, author = {Aziz, T and Habte, M}, title = {Interaction of Glomus species and Vigna unguiculata in an oxisol subjected to simulated erosion.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {113}, number = {3}, pages = {353-357}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb02413.x}, pmid = {33874191}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {An experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to determine the effectiveness of three species of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi in an oxisol subjected to simulated erosion using cowpea [Vigtta unguiculata (L.) Walp, cv.'California Black Eye'] as an indicator host. Inoculation of the eroded soil resulted in increased VA mycorrhizal colonization of roots without enhancing shoot P concentration and dry matter yields. Inoculation of the uneroded soil, however, led to significant improvement in infection level as well as in symbiotic effectiveness. Based on the results of this study, it appears that the lack of expression of mycorrhizal effectivness in the eroded soil is a result of nutrient deficiency. The results thus suggest the importance of restoring lost nutrients before the benefits of VA mycorrhizal inoculation could be effectively exploited for a successful establishment of a mycorrhizal cowpea in eroded soils.}, } @article {pmid33874060, year = {1989}, author = {Rees, TAV and Shah, N and Stewart, GR}, title = {Glutamine synthetase isoforms in the green hydra symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {111}, number = {4}, pages = {621-623}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb02355.x}, pmid = {33874060}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The occurrence of glutamine synthetase isoforms in the green hydra symbiosis has been investigated using ion-exchange chromatography. There were three isoforms which were designated algal cytosolic, chloroplastic and host isoenzymes. Comparison of the proportions of algal isoforms from the intact association with those from nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-starved cultures of a Chlorella strain originally isolated from green hydra, suggests that symbionts in the intact association may be nitrogen-deficient.}, } @article {pmid33874059, year = {1989}, author = {Watanabe, I and Lin, C and Santiago-Ventura, T}, title = {Responses to high temperature of the Azolla-Anabaena association, determined in both the fern and in the cyanobacterium.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {111}, number = {4}, pages = {625-630}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb02356.x}, pmid = {33874059}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The responses to high temperature of the cyanobacterial symbiont and the host fern in tile Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis were studied by using Azolla strains with heterologous Anabaena azollae Strasburger of without Anabaena. At 26/18°C, symbiotic Azolla grew better than the corresponding Anabaena-free Azolla. A high temperature-sensitive species Azolla filiculoides Lamarck, produced smaller biomass under conditions of 37 °C (day)/29 °C (night) than the corresponding Anabaena-free Azolla grown in N-containing medium. A. filiculoides with Anabaena from temperature tolerant Azolla microphylla Kaulfuss was more effective at N2 fixation than A. filiculoides with homologous Anabaena. A microphylla with Anabaena from A. filiculoides grew more slowly and fixed less N2 than the strains with homologous Anabaena. In the presence of combined N at 37°/29 °C, A. microphylla grew better than A. filiculoides with Anabaena from A. microphylla. Tolerance of the Azolla-Anabaena association to high temperature is, therefore, determined both in the host fern and symbiont Anabaena.}, } @article {pmid33874056, year = {1989}, author = {Greitner, CS and Winner, WE}, title = {Effects of O3 on alder photosynthesis and symbiosis with Frankia.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {111}, number = {4}, pages = {647-656}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb02359.x}, pmid = {33874056}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Alnus serrulata (Aiton) Willdenow seedlings with and without root nodules formed by the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia were exposed to clean filtered air or ozone (O3) at 0.12 μl l[-1] for 27 d (approximately 164 h total exposure). Gas exchange measurements on leaves and transmission electron micrographs of root nodule cells were made to detect any O3 effects on the functioning of leaves and the root symbiont. Photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and internal CO2 , concentration were calculated for all plants in clean O3 -free air more than three weeks after the fumigations began. Significant positive correlations between photosynthesis and conductance were found for leaves of control nodulated and unnodulated alders and O3 -treated nodulated alders. There was a weak positive correlation between photosynthesis and conductance for unnodulated O3 -treated seedlings measured in clean air. When O3 -treated leaves were measured during fumigation with O3 , no positive correlation between photosynthesis and conductance was found for either nodulated or unnodulated seedlings. Photosynthetic rates of leaves having the highest stomatal conductance values were decreased by O3 for both nodulated and unnodulated plants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that after a 27 d exposure of shoots to O3 , host root cells of nodules from O3 -treated plants lacked organelles and showed extensive cytoplasmic breakdown. Hyphae and N2 -fixing vesicles of Frankia appeared normal. The Frankia endophyte seems to be more resistant to O3 than is the host root nodule cell. These results show that ambient levels of O3 may reduce photosynthesis and bring about associated degradation in rhizosphere symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33874007, year = {1989}, author = {Lines, CEM and Ratcliffe, RG and Rees, TAV and Southon, TE}, title = {A [13] C NMR study of photosynthate transport and metabolism in the lichen Xanthoria calcicola Oxner.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {447-456}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb00707.x}, pmid = {33874007}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {[13] C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied to the lichen Xanthoria calcicola Oxner. The in vivo spectra were poorly resolved and although the line-broadening effect of variations in the bulk magnetic susceptibility could be eliminated by spinning the sample at the magic angle, the spectra were still relatively Uninformative in comparison with the spectra of methanol extracts of the tissue. The synthesis of ribitol by the algal symbiont and its subsequent metabolism to mannitol by the fungus was followed using pulse-chase experiments. The fine structure in the spectra provided support for the role of the pentose phosphate pathway in the conversion of ribitol to mannitol. Preliminary experiments, in which the conditions of the pulse-chase experiment were altered, showed that the incorporation of [13] C into mannitol was reduced at a lower temperature, and in thalli of low moisture content, and was abolished by darkness.}, } @article {pmid33874002, year = {1989}, author = {Ligrone, R and Lopes, C}, title = {Cytology and development of a mycorrhiza-like infection in the gametophyte of Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dum. (Marchantiales, Hepatophyta).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {423-433}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb00705.x}, pmid = {33874002}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {An aseptate fungus associated with the gametophyte of the hepatic Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dum. was studied by light and electron microscopy. The fungus forms a highly branched mycelium external to the plant. Fungal hyphae colonize the smooth-walled rhizoids, through which they pass into the gametophyte parenchyma of the midrib. The fungus in the parenchyma is entirely intracellular. Vesicles are found in rhizoids and a few ventral layers of parenchyma cells. Prominent arbuscules develop in more internal cells from lateral branches of infecting hyphae that spread from cell to cell. Infected host cells show cytoplasmic proliferation, especially of ribosomes, Plastids and mitochondria, The arbuscules eventually degenerate leaving clumps of collapsed hyphae. Reinfection of cells with degenerate arbuscules was not observed. The ultrastructural and developmental characteristics of the fungus and its high cytological compatibility with the host are indicative of a well integrated symbiotic association similar to the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas of higher plants.}, } @article {pmid33874257, year = {1989}, author = {Sprent, JI}, title = {Which steps are essential for the formation of functional legume nodules?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {111}, number = {2}, pages = {129-153}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb00675.x}, pmid = {33874257}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Nodulation is reviewed in terms of the phenotypes proposed by Vincent (1980). Individual legumes may be infectible by one or more of the three bacterial genera (collectively known as rhizobia) Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, or Azorhizobium. The type of infection process by which rhizobia gain entry is largely governed by the host genotype. In addition to the widely studied root-hair pathway, infections may be associated with lateral root emergence or occur between root epidermal cells. The exact chemical and physical nature of the root hair/epidermal cell wall is likely to be a critical factor in determining whether infections can proceed. In addition to differing with species, wall composition may be influenced by soil chemical (e.g. Ca[2+]) and biotic factors (e.g. bacteria). Rhizobial features essential for infection include particular surface polysaccharides and the induction of nodulation genes by plant root exudates. Neither of these is likely to be a major barrier to the extension of nodulation to new hosts. Dissemination of rhizobia within developing nodules may be intercellular, via infection threads or by division of a small number of infected cells. All functional symbioses eventually have 'intracellular' bacteria, in the sense that rhizobia are geographically located within the boundary of the host cell walls. However, they remain extracellular in the sense that they are always confined by a membrane which is largely of host cell origin. In some genera they are also surrounded by infection thread walls, probably modified forms of 'invasive' infection thread walls, which allow differentiation of rhizobia into the nitrogen-fixing form. Thus, natural, functional, symbioses may (a) never involve a stage in which bacteria are confined within tubular infection threads or (b) never release bacteria from infection threads. These features are determined by host genotype. The one feature of legume nodules so far found never to vary is the stem-like character of a peripheral vascular system. This contrasts with the central vascular system of actinorhizas and the rhizobial-induced nodules on the Ulmaceous genus Parasponia. Although of great intrinsic interest, this character is unlikely to present an insurmountable barrier to the extension of nodulation to new species. Other features, such as the ability to produce haemoglobin are now known to the in the genetic makeup of many higher plants. The discovery of the wide range of nodule structures occurring in nature, together with work on mutant rhizobia which may bypass critical stages in the nodulation process, suggest various ways in which the extension of nodulation to non-nodulated legumes and to other (initially at least, dicotyledonous) plants may be engineered. CONTENTS Summary 129 I. Introduction 130 II. The symbionts 130 III. Stages in nodulation 132 IV. Stems and nodules 143 V. Prospects for finding/making new symbioses 144 VI. Conclusions 145 Acknowledgements 147 References 147.}, } @article {pmid33874169, year = {1988}, author = {Milligan, MJ and Williams, PG}, title = {The mycorrhizal relationship of multinucleate rhizoctonias from non-orchids with Microtis (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {108}, number = {2}, pages = {205-209}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1988.tb03697.x}, pmid = {33874169}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Multinucleate rhizoctonias isolated from the roots of non-orchid plants were used in symbiotic germination tests with seed of 18 orchid species from 10 genera. The rhizoctonias only stimulated germination of Microtis. Investigation of the natural mycosymbionts of adult Microtis failed to yield fungi similar to the original multinucleate rhizoctonias: 27 Microtis plants collected at seven sites in the Sydney region yielded 26 binucleate rhizoctonias tentatively identified as Tulasnella calospora (Boudier) Juel and one very slow growing multinucleate rhizoctonia tentatively identified as Sebacina vermifera Oberwinkler. Fungi closely resembling the original multinucleate rhizoctonias were isolated by baiting the soil with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) plants at three of the seven Microtis sites.}, } @article {pmid33873919, year = {1988}, author = {O'Hara, GW and Dilworth, MJ and Boonkerd, N and Parkpian, P}, title = {Iron-deficiency specifically limits nodule development in peanut inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {108}, number = {1}, pages = {51-57}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1988.tb00203.x}, pmid = {33873919}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Severely iron-deficient peanuts (Arachis hypogaaea L.) grown on calcareous soils in central Thailand failed to nodulate until given foliar iron applications. Glasshouse experiments were conducted on two cultivars (Tainan 9 and Robut 33-1) to identify which stage of the nodule symbiosis was most sensitive to iron-deficiency. Iron-deficiency did not limit growth of soil or rhizosphere populations of peanut liradyrhizobium. Similar numbers of root nodule initials formed in the roots of both control and iron-sprayed plants, showing that iron-deficiency did not directly affect root infection and nodule initiation. Plants sprayed with iron produced greater numbers of excisable nodules and carried a greater nodule mass than untreated plants. Five days after iron application, nodules on sprayed plants of CV. Tainan 9 contained 200-fold higher bacteroid numbers per unit weight and 14-fold higher concentrations of leghaemoglobain. The onset of nitrogenase activity was also delayed by iron deficiency in both cultivars. Tainan 9 appeared more sensitive to iron-deficiency than Robut 33-1 in terms of nodule mass produced, but both cultivars showed the same effect of iron-deficiency on nitrogenase activity per plant. It is concluded that the failure of the infecting rhizobia to obtain adequate amounts of iron from the plant results in arrested nodule development and a failure of nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid33873838, year = {1987}, author = {}, title = {Reviews.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {107}, number = {2}, pages = {479}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb00198.x}, pmid = {33873838}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Book reviewed in this article: The Use of the Oxygen Electrode and Fluorescence Probes in Simple Measurements of Photosynthesis. By David Walker with illustrations by Richard Walker. Secondary Metabolism in Plant Cell Cultures. Edited by P. Morris, A. H. Scragg, A. Stafford and M. W. Fowler. On the Economy of Plant Form and Function. Edited by Thomas J. Givnish. A Functional Biology of Crop Plants. By V. Gutschick. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation (a series of topical volumes in developmental biology). Edited by W. Henning and J. Reinert. Embryogenesis in Angiosperms: A Developmental and Experimental Study. By V. Raghavan. The Anatomy of Wood: Its Diversity and Variability. By K. Wilson and D. J. B. White. The Biology of Symbiosis. By D. C. Smith and A. E. Douglas. Chrysophytes: Aspects and Problems. Edited by Jørgen Kristiansen and Robert A. Andersen. Atlas Florae Europaeae, Distribution of Vascular Plants in Europe, Seven Caryophyllaceae (Silenoideae). Edited by Jaakko Jalas and Juha Suominen. Genera Graminum. Grasses of the World. By W. D. Clayton and S. A. Renvoize. Herbals. By Agnes Arber. Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. Edited by B. J. Berglund.}, } @article {pmid33874089, year = {1987}, author = {Barea, JM and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Azcón, R}, title = {VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA IMPROVE BOTH SYMBIOTIC N2 FIXATION AND N UPTAKE FROM SOIL AS ASSESSED WITH A [15] N TECHNIQUE UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {106}, number = {4}, pages = {717-725}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb00172.x}, pmid = {33874089}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {A technique using [15] N-labelled inorganic fertilizer was applied to estimate N2 fixation by the forage legume Hedysarum coronarium L. and to ascertain the role of vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizas in plant N nutrition throughout a growing season under field conditions. The absence of the specific Rhizobium for the forage legume in the test soil allowed us the use of [15] N methodology with the same legume as reference 'non-fixing' crop. At the first harvest, mycorrhizal inoculation behaved similarly to the phosphate addition in improving the percentage (70 %) and the total amount of N derived from fixation. But thereafter, mycorrhizal inoculation not only enhanced dry matter yield, N concentration and total N yield but also the amount of N derived from soil and from fixation, as compared with either phosphate-added or control plants. This indicated that mycorrhizas acted both by a P-mediated mechanism to improve N2 fixation and by enhancing N uptake from soil. The latter agrees with recent findings by others that VA mycorrhizal hyphae can translocate and assimilate ammonium, a fact of physiological and ecological interest.}, } @article {pmid33874086, year = {1987}, author = {}, title = {REVIEWS.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {106}, number = {4}, pages = {785-790}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb00179.x}, pmid = {33874086}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Books reviewed in this article: Techniques in Photomorphogenesis. Ed. by H. Smith and M. G. Holmes Reaction-Diffusion Equations and their Applications to Biology. By N. F. Britton Somaclonal Variations and Crop Improvement. Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology (Series). Ed. by J. Semal The Cytoskeleton: Cell Function and Organization (Journal of Cell Science, Supplement 5). Ed. by C. W. Lloyd, J. S. Hyams and R. M. Warn Membranes, Metabolism, and Dry Organisms. Ed. by A. Carl Leopold Water Fungi and Plants. Ed. by P. G. Ayres and L. Boddy The Rhizosphere. By E. A. Curl and B. Truelove Symbiosis. An Introduction to Biological Associations. By V. Ahmadjian and S. Paracer.}, } @article {pmid33873814, year = {1986}, author = {Kumar, AP and Perraju, BTVV and Singh, HN}, title = {CARBON NUTRITION AND THE REGULATION OF UPTAKE HYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN FREE-LIVING AND SYMBIOTIC ANABAENA CYCADEAE.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {115-120}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1986.tb00639.x}, pmid = {33873814}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Anabaena cycadeae was grown with N2 as nitrogen source, either photoautotrophically in light or with glucose as carbon source in darkness. The rate of growth was much slower in darkness but the heterocyst frequency was much the same; nitrogenase activity (on a chlorophyll basis) was about half that of light-grown cells. Light-grown organisms contained uptake hydrogenase activity but dark-grown organisms did not. The addition of glucose to light-grown organisms was followed by the disappearance of uptake hydrogenase activity over the following 48 hours and the disappearance was independent of light. Heterocyst frequency and nitrogenase activity were much less affected by glucose addition. A. cycadeae growing symbiotically in cycad roots had much higher heterocyst frequency and nitrogenase activity than the free-living form but no detectable uptake hydrogenase activity. It is suggested that the rate of supply of carbohydrate to the heterocyst controls the development of uptake hydrogenase activity and that the absence of this activity in the symbiotic cyanobacteria indicates that the organisms in the cycad roots have an ample supply of carbohydrate.}, } @article {pmid33874232, year = {1985}, author = {Ronald, P and Söderhäll, K}, title = {PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASE AND PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN MYCORRHIZAL AND NONMYCORRHIZAL SHORT ROOTS OF SCOTS PINE, PINUS SYLVESTRIS L.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {101}, number = {3}, pages = {487-494}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1985.tb02854.x}, pmid = {33874232}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Phenylalanine ammonia lyase was characterized in roots of Pinus sylvestris L. The Km for the pine root enzyme with phenylalanine as a substrate was l.2 ± 0.4 X 10[-4] M. The enzyme had a pH activity optimum of 9 and the subunit molecular weight was 70 to 72 kD as determined by Western blotting. Enzyme activity could be inhibited by D,L-2-aminooxy 3 phenylpropionic acid at 1 μ. Treatments with zymosan, pectinase, light or kinetin and naphthylacetic acid did not induce higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase or peroxidase activity in pine roots. No significant differences were observed in phenylalanine ammonia lyase or peroxidase activity in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal short roots in the P. sylvestris-L. laccata symbiosis 15 weeks after cultivation.}, } @article {pmid33874228, year = {1985}, author = {Reddell, P and Bowen, GD and Robson, AD}, title = {THE EFFECTS OF SOIL TEMPERATURE ON PLANT GROWTH, NODULATION AND NITROGEN FIXATION IN CASUARINA CUNNINGHAMIANA MIQ.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {101}, number = {3}, pages = {441-450}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1985.tb02850.x}, pmid = {33874228}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The effects of soil temperatures between 15 and 30°C on plant growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation in seedlings of Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. inoculated with Frankia from two different sources were examined. The optimum soil temperature for the growth of plants dependent on symbiotic nitrogen fixation was 25°C. Decreasing the soil temperature below 25°C markedly decreased plant growth that was reliant on symbiotically fixed nitrogen; effects on the growth of plants supplied with mineral nitrogen were much smaller. At 15°C there was no response in plant growth to inoculation after 148 d, whereas plants supplied with nitrogenous fertilizer were 10 times the weight of uninoculated plants. Nodulation was delayed at 15 and 20°C with nodules formed at 15°C fixing no nitrogen in these studies. The production of fewer nodules at 20°C than at 25°C was partly compensated by the production of larger nodules. Nodule growth at 20 to 30°C was a prime determinant of nitrogen fixed, with the exception of one Frankia at 20°C. The amount of nitrogen-fixed g[-1] nodule was the same for the two Frankia sources at 25 and 30°C, differences in effectiveness being due to nodule development. However, differences in the effectiveness of the two Frankia sources at 20°C were related to differences both in nodule development and in nitrogen-fixing ability. The absence of nitrogen fixation at 15°C would be expected to limit the natural distribution of Casuarina species reliant on symbiotically fixed nitrogen to areas where soil temperatures exceed 15°C for a major part of the potential growing season.}, } @article {pmid33603763, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, YH and Wang, H and Liu, M and Li, B and Chen, X and Ma, YT and Yan, ZY}, title = {Effects of Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Isolated on Root Biomass and Secondary Metabolites of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {617892}, pmid = {33603763}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMFs) are a group of soil-dwelling fungi that form symbiotic associations with plants, to mediate the secondary metabolism and production of active ingredients in aromatic and medicinal plants. Currently, there is little research on Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. inoculation with native AMFs and the concomitant effects on growth and secondary metabolites. In this study, S. miltiorrhiza was treated with eight AMFs, i.e., Glomus formosanum; Gl. tenebrosum; Septoglomus constrictum; Funneliformis geosporum; Rhizophagus manihotis; Ambispora gerdemanii; Acaulospora laevis; Ac. tuberculata, to investigate the influence of AMF inoculation on biomass and secondary production under greenhouse conditions in S. miltiorrhiza roots. The results showed that mycorrhiza formation rates were between 54.83 and 86.10%. Apart from Ac. laevis and Gl. tenebrosum treatment, the roots biomass of the other treatment groups was effectively increased, and the fresh and dry weight of the plant inoculated with Fu. geosporum were increased by 86.76 and 86.95%, respectively. Specifically, AMF treatments also impacted on phenolic acids production; inoculation with both Fu. geosporum or Ac. laevis significantly reduced total phenolic acids, whereas the other treatments effectively increased these levels, of which Gl. formosanum generated significant levels. Most AMF-plant symbiotic experiments facilitated phenolic acid accumulation in the secondary metabolites of S. miltiorrhiza (except Ac. laevis). This study showed that most native AMFs inoculation with S. miltiorrhiza promoted roots growth and increased secondary metabolites production (especially phenolic acids). Going forward, inoculation of native AMF is a promising method to improve the quality and yield of S. miltiorrhiza and should be considered during production.}, } @article {pmid33603147, year = {2021}, author = {Jahn, MT and Lachnit, T and Markert, SM and Stigloher, C and Pita, L and Ribes, M and Dutilh, BE and Hentschel, U}, title = {Lifestyle of sponge symbiont phages by host prediction and correlative microscopy.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {2001-2011}, pmid = {33603147}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteriophages/genetics ; Life Style ; *Microbiota ; Microscopy ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophages (phages) are ubiquitous elements in nature, but their ecology and role in animals remains little understood. Sponges represent the oldest known extant animal-microbe symbiosis and are associated with dense and diverse microbial consortia. Here we investigate the tripartite interaction between phages, bacterial symbionts, and the sponge host. We combined imaging and bioinformatics to tackle important questions on who the phage hosts are and what the replication mode and spatial distribution within the animal is. This approach led to the discovery of distinct phage-microbe infection networks in sponge versus seawater microbiomes. A new correlative in situ imaging approach ('PhageFISH-CLEM') localised phages within bacterial symbiont cells, but also within phagocytotically active sponge cells. We postulate that the phagocytosis of free virions by sponge cells modulates phage-bacteria ratios and ultimately controls infection dynamics. Prediction of phage replication strategies indicated a distinct pattern, where lysogeny dominates the sponge microbiome, likely fostered by sponge host-mediated virion clearance, while lysis dominates in seawater. Collectively, this work provides new insights into phage ecology within sponges, highlighting the importance of tripartite animal-phage-bacterium interplay in holobiont functioning. We anticipate that our imaging approach will be instrumental to further understanding of viral distribution and cellular association in animal hosts.}, } @article {pmid33602828, year = {2021}, author = {Delaux, PM and Schornack, S}, title = {Plant evolution driven by interactions with symbiotic and pathogenic microbes.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {371}, number = {6531}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/science.aba6605}, pmid = {33602828}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {BB/L014130/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Disease Resistance ; Fungi/growth & development/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Oomycetes/growth & development/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plants/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During 450 million years of diversification on land, plants and microbes have evolved together. This is reflected in today's continuum of associations, ranging from parasitism to mutualism. Through phylogenetics, cell biology, and reverse genetics extending beyond flowering plants into bryophytes, scientists have started to unravel the genetic basis and evolutionary trajectories of plant-microbe associations. Protection against pathogens and support of beneficial, symbiotic, microorganisms are sustained by a blend of conserved and clade-specific plant mechanisms evolving at different speeds. We propose that symbiosis consistently emerges from the co-option of protection mechanisms and general cell biology principles. Exploring and harnessing the diversity of molecular mechanisms used in nonflowering plant-microbe interactions may extend the possibilities for engineering symbiosis-competent and pathogen-resilient crops.}, } @article {pmid33602809, year = {2021}, author = {Delaby, M and Varesio, LM and Degeorges, L and Crosson, S and Viollier, PH}, title = {The DUF1013 protein TrcR tracks with RNA polymerase to control the bacterial cell cycle and protect against antibiotics.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {33602809}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI107159/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM131762/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Caulobacter crescentus/drug effects/*growth & development ; Cell Cycle/*drug effects ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; }, abstract = {How DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) acts on bacterial cell cycle progression during transcription elongation is poorly investigated. A forward genetic selection for Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle mutants unearthed the uncharacterized DUF1013 protein (TrcR, transcriptional cell cycle regulator). TrcR promotes the accumulation of the essential cell cycle transcriptional activator CtrA in late S-phase but also affects transcription at a global level to protect cells from the quinolone antibiotic nalidixic acid that induces a multidrug efflux pump and from the RNAP inhibitor rifampicin that blocks transcription elongation. We show that TrcR associates with promoters and coding sequences in vivo in a rifampicin-dependent manner and that it interacts physically and genetically with RNAP. We show that TrcR function and its RNAP-dependent chromatin recruitment are conserved in symbiotic Sinorhizobium sp. and pathogenic Brucella spp Thus, TrcR represents a hitherto unknown antibiotic target and the founding member of the DUF1013 family, an uncharacterized class of transcriptional regulators that track with RNAP during the elongation phase to promote transcription during the cell cycle.}, } @article {pmid33602495, year = {2021}, author = {Bosch, TCG and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Animal development in the microbial world: Re-thinking the conceptual framework.}, journal = {Current topics in developmental biology}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {399-427}, pmid = {33602495}, issn = {1557-8933}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/cytology ; Biofilms ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*cytology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrulation/*physiology ; Immune System/microbiology ; Male ; Ruminants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals have evolved within the framework of the microbes and are constantly exposed to diverse microbiota. This dominance of the microbial world is forcing all fields of biology to question some of their most basic premises, with developmental biology being no exception. While animals under laboratory conditions can develop and live without microbes, they are far from normal, and would not survive under natural conditions, where their fitness would be strongly compromised. Since much of the undescribed biodiversity on Earth is microbial, any consideration of animal development in the absence of the recognition of microbes will be incomplete. Here, we show that animal development may never have been autonomous, rather it requires transient or persistent interactions with the microbial world. We propose that to formulate a comprehensive understanding of embryogenesis and post-embryonic development, we must recognize that symbiotic microbes provide important developmental signals and contribute in significant ways to phenotype production. This offers limitless opportunities for the field of developmental biology to expand.}, } @article {pmid33602493, year = {2021}, author = {McFall-Ngai, M and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Animal development in the microbial world: The power of experimental model systems.}, journal = {Current topics in developmental biology}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {371-397}, pmid = {33602493}, issn = {1557-8933}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*embryology/*microbiology/physiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hydra/metabolism/*microbiology ; Light ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; }, abstract = {The development of powerful model systems has been a critical strategy for understanding the mechanisms underlying the progression of an animal through its ontogeny. Here we provide two examples that allow deep and mechanistic insight into the development of specific animal systems. Species of the cnidarian genus Hydra have provided excellent models for studying host-microbe interactions and how metaorganisms function in vivo. Studies of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous bacterial partner Vibrio fischeri have been used for over 30 years to understand the impact of a broad array of levels, from ecology to genomics, on the development and persistence of symbiosis. These examples provide an integrated perspective of how developmental processes work and evolve within the context of a microbial world, a new view that opens vast horizons for developmental biology research. The Hydra and the squid systems also lend an example of how profound insights can be discovered by taking advantage of the "experiments" that evolution had done in shaping conserved developmental processes.}, } @article {pmid33602335, year = {2021}, author = {Bodawatta, KH and Freiberga, I and Puzejova, K and Sam, K and Poulsen, M and Jønsson, KA}, title = {Flexibility and resilience of great tit (Parus major) gut microbiomes to changing diets.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {20}, pmid = {33602335}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gut microbial communities play important roles in nutrient management and can change in response to host diets. The extent of this flexibility and the concomitant resilience is largely unknown in wild animals. To untangle the dynamics of avian-gut microbiome symbiosis associated with diet changes, we exposed Parus major (Great tits) fed with a standard diet (seeds and mealworms) to either a mixed (seeds, mealworms and fruits), a seed, or a mealworm diet for 4 weeks, and examined the flexibility of gut microbiomes to these compositionally different diets. To assess microbiome resilience (recovery potential), all individuals were subsequently reversed to a standard diet for another 4 weeks. Cloacal microbiomes were collected weekly and characterised through sequencing the v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq.

RESULTS: Initial microbiomes changed significantly with the diet manipulation, but the communities did not differ significantly between the three diet groups (mixed, seed and mealworm), despite multiple diet-specific changes in certain bacterial genera. Reverting birds to the standard diet led only to a partial recovery in gut community compositions. The majority of the bacterial taxa that increased significantly during diet manipulation decreased in relative abundance after reversion to the standard diet; however, bacterial taxa that decreased during the manipulation rarely increased after diet reversal CONCLUSIONS: The gut microbial response and partial resilience to dietary changes support that gut bacterial communities of P. major play a role in accommodating dietary changes experienced by wild avian hosts. This may be a contributing factor to the relaxed association between microbiome composition and the bird phylogeny. Our findings further imply that interpretations of wild bird gut microbiome analyses from single-time point sampling, especially for omnivorous species or species with seasonally changing diets, should be done with caution. The partial community recovery implies that ecologically relevant diet changes (e.g., seasonality and migration) open up gut niches that may be filled by previously abundant microbes or replaced by different symbiont lineages, which has important implications for the integrity and specificity of long-term avian-symbiont associations.}, } @article {pmid33600864, year = {2021}, author = {Bahrami, A and Ayen, E and Razi, M and Behfar, M}, title = {Effects of atorvastatin and resveratrol against the experimental endometriosis; evidence for glucose and monocarboxylate transporters, neoangiogenesis.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {272}, number = {}, pages = {119230}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119230}, pmid = {33600864}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Animals ; Atorvastatin/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Endometriosis/*drug therapy ; Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2/metabolism ; Female ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 3/metabolism ; Glycolysis/drug effects/physiology ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Resveratrol/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symporters/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The current study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effects of atorvastatin (ATV) and resveratrol (RVT) in sole and simultaneous forms of administration against the symbiosis between glucose transporters 1 and 3 (GLUT-1 and GLUT-3), monocarboxylate transporters 1 a and 4 (MCT-1 and MCT-4) and neovascularization in ectopic endometrial tissue (EET). For this purpose, the experimental endometriosis was induced in 24 virgin female Wistar rats, and then the rats were divided into non-treated endometriosis-induced (ENDO-sole), AVT-treated (5 mg kg-1), RVT-treated (40 mg kg-1) and AVT +RVT-treated groups (n = 6 rats in each group). Following 28 days from the experimental endometriosis induction, the EETs were collected and the EETs size, neovascularization ratio, and expression levels of GLUT-1, GLUT-3, MCT-1, and MCT-4 were analyzed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The AVT and RVT sole and simultaneous-treated animals exhibited decreased EET sizes and neovascularization. Moreover, the mRNA levels of GLUT-1, GLUT-3, MCT-1, and MCT-4, as well as GLUT-1[+], GLUT-3[+], and MCT-4[+] cells distribution per mm[2] of tissue were decreased in AVT and RVT sole and simultaneous-treated groups. Our findings showed that the AVT and RVT, especially in the simultaneous form of administration, could decrease the neovascularization development in the EETs by suppressing the GLUTs (1 and 3) and MCTs (1 and 4) expressions. Therefore, it can be concluded that the simultaneous administration of AVT and RVT can inhibit the EET's establishment and development through suppressing glycolysis and neovascularization.}, } @article {pmid33598747, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, W and Bahadur, A and Sajjad, W and Wu, X and Zhang, G and Liu, G and Chen, T}, title = {Seasonal Variation in Fungal Community Composition Associated with Tamarix chinensis Roots in the Coastal Saline Soil of Bohai Bay, China.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {652-665}, pmid = {33598747}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bays ; China ; Fungi/genetics ; *Mycobiome ; Seasons ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Tamaricaceae ; }, abstract = {Coastal salinity typically alters the soil microbial communities, which subsequently affect the biogeochemical cycle of nutrients in the soil. The seasonal variation of the soil fungal communities in the coastal area, closely associated with plant population, is poorly understood. This study provides an insight into the fungal community's variations from autumn to winter and spring to summer at a well-populated area of salt-tolerant Tamarix chinensis and beach. The richness and diversity of fungal community were higher in the spring season and lower in the winter season, as showed by high throughput sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. Ascomycota was the predominant phylum reported in all samples across the region, and higher difference was reported at order level across the seasonal variations. The redundancy analysis suggested that the abundance and diversity of fungal communities in different seasons are mainly correlated to total organic carbon and total nitrogen. Additionally, the saprotrophic and pathotrophic fungi decreased while symbiotic fungi increased in the autumn season. This study provides a pattern of seasonal variation in fungal community composition that further broadens our limited understanding of how the density of the salt-tolerant T. chinensis population of the coastal saline soil could respond to their seasonal variations.}, } @article {pmid33597940, year = {2021}, author = {Fukuda, TTH and Pereira, CF and Melo, WGP and Menegatti, C and Andrade, PHM and Groppo, M and Lacava, PT and Currie, CR and Pupo, MT}, title = {Insights Into the Ecological Role of Pseudomonas spp. in an Ant-plant Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {621274}, pmid = {33597940}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In the myrmecophytic mutualistic relationship between Azteca ants and Cecropia plants both species receive protection and exchange nutrients. The presence of microorganisms in this symbiotic system has been reported, and the symbiotic role of some fungi involved in the myrmecophytic interactions has been described. In this work we focus on bacteria within this mutualism, conducting isolations and screening for antimicrobial activities, genome sequencing, and biochemical characterization. We show that Pantoea, Rhizobium, Methylobacterium, Streptomyces and Pseudomonas are the most common cultivable genera of bacteria. Interestingly, Pseudomonas spp. isolates showed potent activity against 83% of the pathogens tested in our antimicrobial activity assays, including a phytopathogenic fungus isolated from Cecropia samples. Given the predicted nitrogen limitations associated with the fungal patches within this myrmecophyte, we performed nitrogen fixation analyses on the bacterial isolates within the Proteobacteria and show the potential for nitrogen fixation in Pseudomonas strains. The genome of one Pseudomonas strain was sequenced and analyzed. The gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of cyclic lipodepsipeptides (CLPs) was identified, and we found mutations that may be related to the loss of function in the dual epimerization/condensation domains. The compound was isolated, and its structure was determined, corresponding to the antifungal viscosinamide. Our findings of diazotrophy and production of viscosinamide in multiple Pseudomonas isolates suggests that this bacterial genus may play an important role in the Cecropia-Azteca symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33597173, year = {2021}, author = {Keller, CM and Kendra, CG and Bruna, RE and Craft, D and Pontes, MH}, title = {Genetic Modification of Sodalis Species by DNA Transduction.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33597173}, issn = {2379-5042}, support = {R21 AI148774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteriophages/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/*genetics/*virology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Transduction, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophages (phages) are ubiquitous in nature. These viruses play a number of central roles in microbial ecology and evolution by, for instance, promoting horizontal gene transfer (HGT) among bacterial species. The ability of phages to mediate HGT through transduction has been widely exploited as an experimental tool for the genetic study of bacteria. As such, bacteriophage P1 represents a prototypical generalized transducing phage with a broad host range that has been extensively employed in the genetic manipulation of Escherichia coli and a number of other model bacterial species. Here we demonstrate that P1 is capable of infecting, lysogenizing, and promoting transduction in members of the bacterial genus Sodalis, including the maternally inherited insect endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius While establishing new tools for the genetic study of these bacterial species, our results suggest that P1 may be used to deliver DNA to many Gram-negative endosymbionts in their insect host, thereby circumventing a culturing requirement to genetically manipulate these organisms.IMPORTANCE A large number of economically important insects maintain intimate associations with maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria. Due to the inherent nature of these associations, insect endosymbionts cannot be usually isolated in pure culture or genetically manipulated. Here we use a broad-host-range bacteriophage to deliver exogenous DNA to an insect endosymbiont and a closely related free-living species. Our results suggest that broad-host-range bacteriophages can be used to genetically alter insect endosymbionts in their insect host and, as a result, bypass a culturing requirement to genetically alter these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid33596110, year = {2021}, author = {Benezech, C and Le Scornet, A and Gourion, B}, title = {Medicago-Sinorhizobium-Ralstonia: A Model System to Investigate Pathogen-Triggered Inhibition of Nodulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {499-503}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-20-0319-SC}, pmid = {33596110}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Ralstonia ; *Sinorhizobium ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How plants deal with beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms and how they can tolerate beneficial ones and face pathogens at the same time are questions that remain puzzling to plant biologists. Legume plants are good models to explore those issues, as their interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia results in a drastic and easy-to-follow phenotype of nodulation. Intriguingly, despite massive and chronic infection, legume defense reactions are essentially suppressed during the whole symbiotic process, raising a question about a potential negative effect of plant immune responses on the establishment of nodulation. In the present study, we used the model legume, Medicago truncatula, coinoculated with mutualistic and phytopathogenic bacteria, Sinorhizobium medicae and Ralstonia solanacearum, respectively. We show that the presence of R. solanacearum drastically inhibits the nodulation process. The type III secretion system of R. solanacearum, which is important for the inhibition of pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), strongly contributes to inhibit nodulation. Thus, our results question the negative effect of PTI on nodulation. By including a pathogenic bacterium in the interaction system, our study provides a new angle to address the influence of the biotic environment on the nodulation process.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33596109, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, W and Zhu, H and Wei, F and Zhou, D and Li, Y and Zhang, XX}, title = {Investigating the Involvement of Cytoskeletal Proteins MreB and FtsZ in the Origin of Legume-Rhizobial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {547-559}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-20-0299-FI}, pmid = {33596109}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Cytoskeletal Proteins ; *Fabaceae ; Mesorhizobium ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are rod-shaped bacteria that form nitrogen-fixing root nodules on leguminous plants; however, they don't carry MreB, a key determinant of rod-like cell shape. Here, we introduced an actin-like mreB homolog from a pseudomonad into Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R (a microsymbiont of Astragalus sinicus L.) and examined the molecular, cellular, and symbiotic phenotypes of the resultant mutant. Exogenous mreB caused an enlarged cell size and slower growth in laboratory medium. However, the mutant formed small, ineffective nodules on A. sinicus (Nod[+] Fix[-]), and rhizobial cells in the infection zone were unable to differentiate into bacteroids. RNA sequencing analysis also revealed minor effects of mreB on global gene expression in free-living cells but larger effects for cells grown in planta. Differentially expressed nodule-specific genes include cell cycle regulators such as the tubulin-like ftsZ1 and ftsZ2. Unlike the ubiquitous FtsZ1, an FtsZ2 homolog was commonly found in Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, and Mesorhizobium spp. but not in closely related nonsymbiotic species. Bacterial two-hybrid analysis revealed that MreB interacts with FtsZ1 and FtsZ2, which are targeted by the host-derived nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides. Significantly, MreB mutation D283A disrupted the protein-protein interactions and restored the aforementioned phenotypic defects caused by MreB in M. huakuii. Together, our data indicate that MreB is detrimental for modern rhizobia and its interaction with FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 causes the symbiotic process to cease at the late stage of bacteroid differentiation. These findings led to a hypothesis that loss of mreB in the common ancestor of members of Rhizobiales and subsequent acquisition of ftsZ2 are critical evolutionary steps leading to legume-rhizobial symbiosis.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33595738, year = {2021}, author = {Herring, J}, title = {Cooperative Equilibrium in Biosphere Evolution: Reconciling Competition and Cooperation in Evolutionary Ecology.}, journal = {Acta biotheoretica}, volume = {69}, number = {4}, pages = {629-641}, pmid = {33595738}, issn = {1572-8358}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Game Theory ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {As our understanding of biological evolution continues to deepen, tension still surrounds the relationship between competition and cooperation in the evolution of the biosphere, with rival viewpoints often associated with the Red Queen and Black Queen hypotheses respectively. This essay seeks to reconcile these viewpoints by integrating observations of some general trends in biosphere evolution with concepts from game theory. It is here argued that biodiversity and ecological cooperation are intimately related, and that both tend to cyclically increase over biological history; this is likely due to the greater relative stability of cooperation over competition as a means of long-term conflict resolution within ecosystems. By integrating this view of the biosphere with existing models such as Niche Game Theory, it may be argued that competition and cooperation in ecosystems coexist at equilibria which shift preferentially towards increasing cooperation over biological history. This potentially points to a state of "cooperative equilibrium" as a limit or endpoint in long-term biosphere evolution, such that Black Queen and Red Queen behavior dominate different phases in an evolutionary movement towards optimal cooperative stability in ecological networks. This concept, if accepted, may also bear implications for developing future mathematical models in evolutionary biology, as well as for resolving the perennial debate regarding the relative roles of conflict and harmony in nature.}, } @article {pmid33595384, year = {2021}, author = {Neish, AS}, title = {Preimmune Recognition and Response to Microbial Metabolites.}, journal = {Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {94-101}, pmid = {33595384}, issn = {1548-9221}, support = {R01 AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; Xenobiotics ; }, abstract = {It is now well understood that the eukaryotic host has evolved multiple mechanisms to monitor and respond to the diverse and biochemically active microbiota that thrives in a symbiotic fashion in the gut and other tissues. Generally, these mechanisms are based on traditional notions of innate and adaptive immune processes, which are mediated by recognition of, and response to, microbially derived macromolecules. Microbes themselves are metabolically active and contribute a vast array of small molecules, not present in germ-free model systems, with diverse putative and unknown biological function, and intensive work is ongoing to unravel their roles in physiological systems. Metazoans have evolved and maintain distinct gene regulatory networks to detect and respond to environmental, non-self-molecules (xenobiotics), and interestingly, recent investigation has shown that these pathways are operational in the detection and response to microbiota-derived small metabolites. These processes likely represent a general mechanism of host-microbe crosstalk, and they have clinical implications in drug and xenobiotic metabolism.}, } @article {pmid33594947, year = {2021}, author = {Karamoutsos, S and Tzevelekou, T and Christogerou, A and Grilla, E and Gypakis, A and Pérez Villarejo, L and Mantzavinos, D and Angelopoulos, GN}, title = {On the industrial symbiosis of alumina and iron/steel production: Suitability of ferroalumina as raw material in iron and steel making.}, journal = {Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA}, volume = {39}, number = {10}, pages = {1270-1276}, doi = {10.1177/0734242X21991906}, pmid = {33594947}, issn = {1096-3669}, mesh = {*Aluminum Oxide ; Industrial Waste/analysis ; Iron ; *Steel ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The biggest challenge for our society, in order to foster the sustainable circular economy, is the efficient recycling of wastes from industrial, commercial, domestic and other streams. The transition to a circular economy is the goal of the European Commission's Circular Economy Action, which was first launched in 2015. In 2020 the above action plan announced initiatives along the entire life cycle of the product, with the aim to make sustainable products the norm in the EU. Therefore, it is anticipated that the above action will result in an increase in Europe's economic competitiveness, sustainability, resource efficiency and resource security. Within this context, the suitability of ferroalumina as a raw material in the blast furnace is investigated. Ferroalumina is the product of the high-pressure filter press dewatering process of the Greek red mud generated during the production of alumina by means of the Bayer cycle. Ferroalumina is a low-cost raw material and its possible charging in the blast furnace and/or steelmaking aggregates is a step towards industrial symbiosis, where the wastes, namely by-products, of an industry or an industrial process, become the raw materials for another. In the present work the effect of ferroalumina addition as a raw material was examined by smelting ferroalumina, blast furnace-slag, lime and scrap at 1550°C in a graphite crucible and a constant slag basicity. The increase of the alumina content in the slag improves the desulfurization capacity. Moreover, the silicon exchange between slag and metal was examined. The results indicate that the alkalis' capacity of the slag increases with the addition of ferroalumina. The analysis of the finally obtained slag suggests that it could be suitable for utilization in slag-cement production.}, } @article {pmid33592359, year = {2021}, author = {Nagpal, S and Sharma, P and Sirari, A and Kumawat, KC and Wati, L and Gupta, SC and Mandahal, KS}, title = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as model legume for decoding the co-existence of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Mesorhizobium sp. as bio-fertilizer under diverse agro-climatic zones.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {126720}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2021.126720}, pmid = {33592359}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Endophytes/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Fertilizers ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/physiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Seeds/growth & development ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial co-inoculation strategy utilizes a combination of microbes to stimulate plant growth concomitant with an increased phytopathogen tolerance. In the present study, 15 endophytic bacterial isolates from rhizosphere and roots of wild chickpea accessions (Cicer pinnatifidum, C. judiacum, C. bijugum and C. reticulatum) were characterized for morphological, biochemical and physiological traits. Two promising isolates were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens strain LRE-2 (KR303708.1) and Pseudomonas argentinensis LPGPR-1 (JX239745.1) based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Biocompatibility of selected endophytes with Mesorhizobium sp. CH1233, a standard isolate used as a national check in All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) was assessed to develop functional combinations capable of producing Indole acetic acid, gibberellins, siderophores and improving seed vigour (in vitro). In vivo synergistic effect of promising combinations was further evaluated under national AICRP, (Chickpea) at two different agro-climatic zones [North-West plain (Ludhiana and Hisar) and Central zones (Sehore)] for three consecutive Rabi seasons (2015-18) to elucidate their effect on symbiotic, soil quality and yield parameters. On the pooled mean basis across locations over the years, combination of Mrh+LRE-2 significantly enhanced symbiotic, soil quality traits and grain yield over Mrh alone and highly positive correlation was obtained between the nodulation traits and grain yield. Superior B: C ratio (1.12) and additional income of Rs 6,505.18 ha[-1] was obtained by application of Mrh+LRE-2 over Mrh alone and un-inoculated control. The results demonstrate that dual combination of Mrh and Pseudomonas sp. from wild Cicer relatives can be exploited as a potential bio-fertilizer for increasing soil fertility and improving chickpea productivity under sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33592234, year = {2021}, author = {Cornet, L and Magain, N and Baurain, D and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Exploring syntenic conservation across genomes for phylogenetic studies of organisms subjected to horizontal gene transfers: A case study with Cyanobacteria and cyanolichens.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {107100}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107100}, pmid = {33592234}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genomics ; *Phylogeny ; *Synteny ; }, abstract = {Understanding the evolutionary history of symbiotic Cyanobacteria at a fine scale is essential to unveil patterns of associations with their hosts and factors driving their spatiotemporal interactions. As for bacteria in general, Horizontal Gene Transfers (HGT) are expected to be rampant throughout their evolution, which justified the use of single-locus phylogenies in macroevolutionary studies of these photoautotrophic bacteria. Genomic approaches have greatly increased the amount of molecular data available, but the selection of orthologous, congruent genes that are more likely to reflect bacterial macroevolutionary histories remains problematic. In this study, we developed a synteny-based approach and searched for Collinear Orthologous Regions (COR), under the assumption that genes that are present in the same order and orientation across a wide monophyletic clade are less likely to have undergone HGT. We searched sixteen reference Nostocales genomes and identified 99 genes, part of 28 COR comprising three to eight genes each. We then developed a bioinformatic pipeline, designed to minimize inter-genome contamination and processed twelve Nostoc-associated lichen metagenomes. This reduced our original dataset to 90 genes representing 25 COR, which were used to infer phylogenetic relationships within Nostocales and among lichenized Cyanobacteria. This dataset was narrowed down further to 71 genes representing 22 COR by selecting only genes part of one (largest) operon per COR. We found a relatively high level of congruence among trees derived from the 90-gene dataset, but congruence was only slightly higher among genes within a COR compared to genes across COR. However, topological congruence was significantly higher among the 71 genes part of one operon per COR. Nostocales phylogenies resulting from concatenation and species tree approaches based on the 90- and 71-gene datasets were highly congruent, but the most highly supported result was obtained when using synteny, collinearity, and operon information (i.e., 71-gene dataset) as gene selection criteria, which outperformed larger datasets with more genes.}, } @article {pmid33592192, year = {2021}, author = {Malar C, M and Krüger, M and Krüger, C and Wang, Y and Stajich, JE and Keller, J and Chen, ECH and Yildirir, G and Villeneuve-Laroche, M and Roux, C and Delaux, PM and Corradi, N}, title = {The genome of Geosiphon pyriformis reveals ancestral traits linked to the emergence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {1570-1577.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.058}, pmid = {33592192}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria ; Fungi/*genetics ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (subphylum Glomeromycotina)[1] are among the most prominent symbionts and form the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) with over 70% of known land plants.[2][,][3] AMS allows plants to efficiently acquire poorly soluble soil nutrients[4] and AMF to receive photosynthetically fixed carbohydrates. This plant-fungus symbiosis dates back more than 400 million years[5] and is thought to be one of the key innovations that allowed the colonization of lands by plants.[6] Genomic and genetic analyses of diverse plant species started to reveal the molecular mechanisms that allowed the evolution of this symbiosis on the host side, but how and when AMS abilities emerged in AMF remain elusive. Comparative phylogenomics could be used to understand the evolution of AMS.[7][,][8] However, the availability of genome data covering basal AMF phylogenetic nodes (Archaeosporales, Paraglomerales) is presently based on fragmentary protein coding datasets.[9]Geosiphon pyriformis (Archaeosporales) is the only fungus known to produce endosymbiosis with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Nostoc punctiforme) presumably representing the ancestral AMF state.[10-12] Unlike other AMF, it forms long fungal cells ("bladders") that enclose cyanobacteria. Once in the bladder, the cyanobacteria are photosynthetically active and fix nitrogen, receiving inorganic nutrients and water from the fungus. Arguably, G. pyriformis represents an ideal candidate to investigate the origin of AMS and the emergence of a unique endosymbiosis. Here, we aimed to advance knowledge in these questions by sequencing the genome of G. pyriformis, using a re-discovered isolate.}, } @article {pmid33591248, year = {2021}, author = {Gerth, M and Martinez-Montoya, H and Ramirez, P and Masson, F and Griffin, JS and Aramayo, R and Siozios, S and Lemaitre, B and Mateos, M and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Rapid molecular evolution of Spiroplasma symbionts of Drosophila.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33591248}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Amino Acid Substitution ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Drosophila/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; MutL Proteins/*genetics ; MutS Proteins/*genetics ; Mutation Rate ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spiroplasma/*classification/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Spiroplasma is a genus of Mollicutes whose members include plant pathogens, insect pathogens and endosymbionts of animals. Spiroplasma phenotypes have been repeatedly observed to be spontaneously lost in Drosophila cultures, and several studies have documented a high genomic turnover in Spiroplasma symbionts and plant pathogens. These observations suggest that Spiroplasma evolves quickly in comparison to other insect symbionts. Here, we systematically assess evolutionary rates and patterns of Spiroplasma poulsonii, a natural symbiont of Drosophila. We analysed genomic evolution of sHy within flies, and sMel within in vitro culture over several years. We observed that S. poulsonii substitution rates are among the highest reported for any bacteria, and around two orders of magnitude higher compared with other inherited arthropod endosymbionts. The absence of mismatch repair loci mutS and mutL is conserved across Spiroplasma, and likely contributes to elevated substitution rates. Further, the closely related strains sMel and sHy (>99.5 % sequence identity in shared loci) show extensive structural genomic differences, which potentially indicates a higher degree of host adaptation in sHy, a protective symbiont of Drosophila hydei. Finally, comparison across diverse Spiroplasma lineages confirms previous reports of dynamic evolution of toxins, and identifies loci similar to the male-killing toxin Spaid in several Spiroplasma lineages and other endosymbionts. Overall, our results highlight the peculiar nature of Spiroplasma genome evolution, which may explain unusual features of its evolutionary ecology.}, } @article {pmid33591189, year = {2021}, author = {Bae, M and Mevers, E and Pishchany, G and Whaley, SG and Rock, CO and Andes, DR and Currie, CR and Pupo, MT and Clardy, J}, title = {Chemical Exchanges between Multilateral Symbionts.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {1648-1652}, pmid = {33591189}, issn = {1523-7052}, support = {R01 GM034496/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI142720/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*chemistry ; Fungi/*chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Herein is a report on the molecular exchange occurring between multilateral symbiosis partners-a tit-for-tat exchange that led to the characterization of two new metabolites, conocandin B (fungal-derived) and dentigerumycin F (bacterial-derived). The structures were determined by NMR, mass spectrometry, genomic analysis, and chemical derivatizations. Conocandin B exhibits antimicrobial activity against both the bacterial symbionts of fungus-growing ant and human pathogenic strains by selectively inhibiting FabH, thus disrupting fatty acid biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid33590939, year = {2021}, author = {Siddiqui, ZS and Ali, F and Uddin, Z}, title = {Sustainable effect of a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti on nodulation and photosynthetic traits of four leguminous plants under low moisture stress environment.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {6}, pages = {714-724}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13463}, pmid = {33590939}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Cicer/*microbiology ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Soil ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sustainable effect of a nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti on nodulation and photosynthetic traits (phenomenological fluxes) in four leguminous plants species under low moisture stress (20-25% soil moisture content) environment was studied. Sinorhizobium meliloti was isolated from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) root nodules, and later, it was cultured and purified. Nodulation and photosynthetic ability in the presence of S. meliloti were tested in four leguminous plant species, that is, kidney bean (cv. lobia-2000), black bean (cv. NM-97), mung bean (cv. NM-2006) and chickpea (cv. Pb-2008). Plants of each species were grown in sterilized soil that was previously treated with 25 ml suspension containing S. meliloti at 41 × 10[6] CFU ml[-1] kg[-1] pot. One-month-old plants were subjected to low soil moisture stress conditions for 15 days, and soil moisture contents were maintained to 20-25% throughout the experimental period. The ability to fix nitrogen, nodule formation, and their subsequent effect on phenomenological fluxes in low moisture treated legumes were studied.}, } @article {pmid33590884, year = {2021}, author = {Larsen, T and Jefferson, C and Bartley, A and Strassmann, JE and Queller, DC}, title = {Inference of symbiotic adaptations in nature using experimental evolution.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {945-955}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14193}, pmid = {33590884}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Burkholderiaceae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Dictyostelium/*genetics/microbiology ; *Directed Molecular Evolution ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Microbes must adapt to the presence of other species, but it can be difficult to recreate the natural context for these interactions in the laboratory. We describe a method for inferring the existence of symbiotic adaptations by experimentally evolving microbes that would normally interact in an artificial environment without access to other species. By looking for changes in the fitness effects microbes adapted to isolation have on their partners, we can infer the existence of ancestral adaptations that were lost during experimental evolution. The direction and magnitude of trait changes can offer useful insight as to whether the microbes have historically been selected to help or harm one another in nature. We apply our method to the complex symbiosis between the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and two intracellular bacterial endosymbionts, Paraburkholderia agricolaris and Paraburkholderia hayleyella. Our results suggest P. hayleyella-but not P. agricolaris-has generally been selected to attenuate its virulence in nature, and that D. discoideum has evolved to antagonistically limit the growth of Paraburkholderia. The approach demonstrated here can be a powerful tool for studying adaptations in microbes, particularly when the specific natural context in which the adaptations evolved is unknown or hard to reproduce.}, } @article {pmid33590531, year = {2021}, author = {Ahn, HH and Kim, TJ}, title = {Three endogenous cellulases from termite, Reticulitermes speratus KMT001.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {106}, number = {3}, pages = {e21766}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21766}, pmid = {33590531}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulase/metabolism ; Cellulases/*genetics/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Insect ; Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism ; Isoptera/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Among termites, lower termites need symbiotic microorganisms in the digestive tract for digestion and cellulose metabolism. In this symbiotic relationship, the decomposition of cellulose is initiated by endoglucanase in termite salivary glands and completed by β-glycosidase of symbiotic microorganisms in the hindgut. The expression of β-glycosidase in lower termites has been reported in recent studies. The expression of two endoglucanases and one β-glycosidase gene related to cellulose degradation was identified in Reticulitermes speratus, a lower termite, through transcriptomic analysis. The proposed enzyme activities of three identified cellulose degradation genes were confirmed by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. In addition to the endoglucanase expressed in the salivary gland, additional endoglucanase and β-glycosidase genes suggest that R. speratus performs the overall cellulose digestion using its own enzymes at all stages.}, } @article {pmid33589668, year = {2021}, author = {Crosino, A and Moscato, E and Blangetti, M and Carotenuto, G and Spina, F and Bordignon, S and Puech-Pagès, V and Anfossi, L and Volpe, V and Prandi, C and Gobetto, R and Varese, GC and Genre, A}, title = {Extraction of short chain chitooligosaccharides from fungal biomass and their use as promoters of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {3798}, pmid = {33589668}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chitin/chemistry/genetics ; Chitosan ; Cunninghamella/genetics/*growth & development ; Hypocreales/genetics/*growth & development ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development ; Oligosaccharides/genetics ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Short chain chitooligosaccharides (COs) are chitin derivative molecules involved in plant-fungus signaling during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interactions. In host plants, COs activate a symbiotic signalling pathway that regulates AM-related gene expression. Furthermore, exogenous CO application was shown to promote AM establishment, with a major interest for agricultural applications of AM fungi as biofertilizers. Currently, the main source of commercial COs is from the shrimp processing industry, but purification costs and environmental concerns limit the convenience of this approach. In an attempt to find a low cost and low impact alternative, this work aimed to isolate, characterize and test the bioactivity of COs from selected strains of phylogenetically distant filamentous fungi: Pleurotus ostreatus, Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Trichoderma viride. Our optimized protocol successfully isolated short chain COs from lyophilized fungal biomass. Fungal COs were more acetylated and displayed a higher biological activity compared to shrimp-derived COs, a feature that-alongside low production costs-opens promising perspectives for the large scale use of COs in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33587771, year = {2021}, author = {Renahan, T and Lo, WS and Werner, MS and Rochat, J and Herrmann, M and Sommer, RJ}, title = {Nematode biphasic 'boom and bust' dynamics are dependent on host bacterial load while linking dauer and mouth-form polyphenisms.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {5102-5113}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15438}, pmid = {33587771}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Load ; *Coleoptera ; Ecosystem ; Mouth ; *Nematoda ; }, abstract = {Cross-kingdom interactions involve dynamic processes that shape terrestrial ecosystems and represent striking examples of co-evolution. The multifaceted relationships of entomopathogenic nematodes with their insect hosts and symbiotic bacteria are well-studied cases of co-evolution and pathogenicity. In contrast, microbial interactions in soil after the natural death of insects and other invertebrates are minimally understood. In particular, the turnover and succession of nematodes and bacteria during insect decay have not been well documented - although it represents a rich ecological niche with multiple species interactions. Here, we utilize developmentally plastic nematode Pristionchus pacificus and its associated scarab beetles as models. On La Réunion Island, we collected rhinoceros beetle Oryctes borbonicus, induced death, and placed carcasses in cages both on the island and in a mock-natural environment in the laboratory controlling for high spatial and temporal resolution. Investigating nematode population density and dispersal dynamics, we were able to connect two imperative plasticities, dauer and mouth form. We observed a biphasic 'boom and bust' dispersal dynamic of dauer larvae that corresponds to bacterial load on carcasses but not bacterial type. Strikingly, all post-dauer adults have the predatory mouth form, demonstrating novel intricate interactions on decaying insect hosts. Thus, ecologically relevant survival strategies incorporate critical plastic traits.}, } @article {pmid33587324, year = {2021}, author = {Ulus, G}, title = {Antiangiogenic properties of lichen secondary metabolites.}, journal = {Phytotherapy research : PTR}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {3046-3058}, doi = {10.1002/ptr.7023}, pmid = {33587324}, issn = {1099-1573}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Benzofurans/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Biological Products/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cyanobacteria/chemistry ; Emodin/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Fungi/chemistry ; Furans/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Phenylacetates/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Salicylates/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Xanthones/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms which are composed fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria. They produce a variety of characteristic secondary metabolites. Such substances have various biological properties including antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor activities. Angiogenesis, the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels, contributes to numerous diseases including cancer, arthritis, atherosclerosis, infectious, and immune disorders. Antiangiogenic therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of such diseases by inhibiting the new vessel formation. Technological advances have led to the development of various antiangiogenic agents and have made possible antiangiogenic therapy in many diseases associated with angiogenesis. Some lichens and their metabolites are used in the drug industry, but many have not yet been tested for their antiangiogenic effects. The cytotoxic and angiogenic capacities of lichen-derived small molecules have been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro experiments. Therefore, some of them may be used as antiangiogenic agents in the future. The secondary compounds of lichen whose antiangiogenic effect has been studied in the literature are usnic acid, barbatolic acid, vulpinic acid, olivetoric acid, emodin, secalonic acid D, and parietin. In this article, we review the antiangiogenic effects and cellular targets of these lichen-derived metabolites.}, } @article {pmid33587228, year = {2021}, author = {Matarrita-Carranza, B and Murillo-Cruz, C and Avendaño, R and Ríos, MI and Chavarría, M and Gómez-Calvo, ML and Tamayo-Castillo, G and Araya, JJ and Pinto-Tomás, AA}, title = {Streptomyces sp. M54: an actinobacteria associated with a neotropical social wasp with high potential for antibiotic production.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {114}, number = {4}, pages = {379-398}, pmid = {33587228}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria/genetics ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Hypocreales ; Phylogeny ; *Streptomyces/genetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces symbionts in insects have shown to be a valuable source of new antibiotics. Here, we report the genome sequence and the potential for antibiotic production of "Streptomyces sp. M54", an Actinobacteria associated with the eusocial wasp, Polybia plebeja. The Streptomyces sp. M54 genome is composed of a chromosome (7.96 Mb), and a plasmid (1.91 Kb) and harbors 30 biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites, of which only one third has been previously characterized. Growth inhibition bioassays show that this bacterium produces antimicrobial compounds that are active against Hirsutella citriformis, a natural fungal enemy of its host, and the human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Analyses through TLC-bioautography, LC-MS/MS and NMR allowed the identification of five macrocyclic ionophore antibiotics, with previously reported antibacterial, antitumor and antiviral properties. Phylogenetic analyses placed Streptomyces sp. M54 in a clade of other host-associated strains taxonomically related to Streptomyces griseus. Pangenomic and ANI analyses confirm the identity of one of its closest relatives as Streptomyces sp. LaPpAH-199, a strain isolated from an ant-plant symbiosis in Africa. In summary, our results suggest an insect-microbe association in distant geographic areas and showcase the potential of Streptomyces sp. M54 and related strains for the discovery of novel antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid33584873, year = {2021}, author = {Jensen, PD and Orfila, C}, title = {Mapping the production-consumption gap of an urban food system: an empirical case study of food security and resilience.}, journal = {Food security}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {551-570}, pmid = {33584873}, issn = {1876-4517}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Urban food systems are complex and increasingly recognised as not being sustainable, equitable or resilient. Though globalisation and lengthening of agrifood supply chains has brought many benefits, such as year-long availability of fresh produce and modernisation opportunities for some developing regions, they have increased reliance on food imports and reduced the food and nutrition resilience of many cities. This premise has been widely witnessed following recent financial, climatic and pandemic driven disruptions to food supplies. A greater understanding is thus needed of the lived reality of a modern city's ability to sustainably and equitably feed itself in a crisis situation or otherwise. In a changing world, such knowledge is valuable on a variety of strategic planning levels. Employing publically available data, the scale of food security and resilience, and options for their improvement, are holistically assessed through a case study spatial analysis of the urban food system of the city of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The case study found that the Leeds city region is home to a significant and diverse food production and provision system, but it is not food secure in terms of providing sufficient energy or macronutrients, or functioning in an equitable manner for all of its residents. Options for improving the performance of the system, including urban farming and industrial symbiosis, were found to be nuanced and would only be effective alongside a range of complimentary interventions as well as high levels of investment, multi-sector cooperation and strong governance. Though food system evolution and development are grounded in local context, the methods, general findings and circular economy focussed recommendations emanating from the case study, are widely applicable.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12571-021-01142-2.}, } @article {pmid33584624, year = {2021}, author = {Kazou, M and Grafakou, A and Tsakalidou, E and Georgalaki, M}, title = {Zooming Into the Microbiota of Home-Made and Industrial Kefir Produced in Greece Using Classical Microbiological and Amplicon-Based Metagenomics Analyses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {621069}, pmid = {33584624}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Kefir is a high nutritional fermented dairy beverage associated with a wide range of health benefits. It constitutes a unique symbiotic association, comprising mainly lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and occasionally acetic acid bacteria, which is strongly influenced by the geographical origin of the grains, the type of milk used, and the manufacture technology applied. Until recently, kefir microbiota has been almost exclusively studied by culture-dependent techniques. However, high-throughput sequencing, alongside omics approaches, has revolutionized the study of food microbial communities. In the present study, the bacterial, and yeast/fungal microbiota of four home-made samples (both grains and drinks), deriving from well spread geographical regions of Greece, and four industrial beverages, was elucidated by culture-dependent and -independent analyses. In all samples, classical microbiological analysis revealed varying populations of LAB and yeasts, ranging from 5.32 to 9.60 log CFU mL[-1] or g[-1], and 2.49 to 7.80 log CFU mL[-1] or g[-1], respectively, while in two industrial samples no yeasts were detected. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were absent from all the samples analyzed, whereas Enterobacteriaceae were detected in one of them. From a total of 123 isolates, including 91 bacteria and 32 yeasts, Lentilactobacillus kefiri, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Lactococcus lactis as well as Kluvyeromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the mostly identified bacterial and yeast species, respectively, in the home-made samples. On the contrary, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus along with Debaryomyces hansenii and K. marxianus were the main bacterial and yeast species, respectively, isolated from the industrial beverages. In agreement with the identification results obtained from the culture-dependent approaches, amplicon-based metagenomics analysis revealed that the most abundant bacterial genera in almost all home-made samples (both grains and drinks) were Lactobacillus and Lactococcus, while Saccharomyces, Kazachstania, and Kluvyeromyces were the predominant yeasts/fungi. On the other hand, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus as well as Kluvyeromyces and Debaryomyces dominated the bacterial and yeast/fungal microbiota, respectively, in the industrial beverages. This is the first report on the microbiota of kefir produced in Greece by a holistic approach combining classical microbiological, molecular, and amplicon-based metagenomics analyses.}, } @article {pmid33584615, year = {2021}, author = {Bünger, W and Sarkar, A and Grönemeyer, JL and Zielinski, J and Revermann, R and Hurek, T and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Root Nodule Rhizobia From Undomesticated Shrubs of the Dry Woodlands of Southern Africa Can Nodulate Angolan Teak Pterocarpus angolensis, an Important Source of Timber.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {611704}, pmid = {33584615}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Pterocarpus angolensis, a leguminous tree native to the dry woodlands of Southern Africa, provides valuable timber, but is threatened by land conversion and overharvesting while showing limited natural regeneration. Nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbionts that could improve establishment of young seedlings have not yet been described. Therefore, we investigated the ability of P. angolensis to form nodules with a diverse range of rhizobia. In drought-prone areas under climate change with higher temperatures, inoculants that are heat-tolerant and adapted to these conditions are likely to be of advantage. Sources of bacterial isolates were roots of P. angolensis from nurseries in the Kavango region, other shrubs from this area growing near Pterocarpus such as Indigofera rautanenii, Desmodium barbatum, Chamaecrista sp., or shrubs from drought-prone areas in Namaqualand (Wiborgia monoptera, Leobordea digitata) or Kalahari (Indigofera alternans). Only slight protrusions were observed on P. angolensis roots, from which a non-nodulating Microbacterium sp. was isolated. Rhizobia that were isolated from nodules of other shrubs were affiliated to Bradyrhizobium ripae WR4[T], Bradyrhizobium spp. (WR23/WR74/WR93/WR96), or Ensifer/Mesorhizobium (WR41/WR52). As many plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), nodule isolates produced siderophores and solubilized phosphate. Among them, only the Bradyrhizobium strains nodulated P. angolensis under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Isolates were further characterized by multilocus sequence analysis and were found to be distant from known Bradyrhizobium species. Among additional reference species tested for nodulation on P. angolensis, Bradyrhizobium vignae 7-2[T] and Bradyrhizobium namibiense 5-10[T] from the Kavango region of Namibia as well as Bradyrhizobium elkanii LMG6234[T] and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense LMG21728[T] induced nitrogen-fixing nodules, while Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110[T] and Bradyrhizobium tropiciagri SEMIA6148[T] did not. This suggests a broad microsymbiont range from Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. elkanii lineages. Phylogenetic analysis of nodC genes indicated that nodulating bradyrhizobia did not belong to a specific symbiovar. Also, for I. rautanenii and Wiborgia, nodule isolates B. ripae WR4[T] or Mesorhizobium sp. WR52, respectively, were authenticated. Characterization of symbionts inducing effective root nodules in P. angolensis and other shrubs from Subsahara Africa (SSA) give insights in their symbiotic partners for the first time and might help in future to develop bioinoculants for young seedlings in nurseries, and for reforestation efforts in Southern Africa.}, } @article {pmid33584566, year = {2020}, author = {Kumawat, KC and Sharma, P and Nagpal, S and Gupta, RK and Sirari, A and Nair, RM and Bindumadhava, H and Singh, S}, title = {Dual Microbial Inoculation, a Game Changer? - Bacterial Biostimulants With Multifunctional Growth Promoting Traits to Mitigate Salinity Stress in Spring Mungbean.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {600576}, pmid = {33584566}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil microbes play a vital role in improving plant growth, soil health, ameliorate biotic/abiotic stress and enhance crop productivity. The present study was aimed to investigate a coordinated effect of compatible consortium [salt tolerating Rhizobium and rhizobacterium with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase] in enhancing plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, symbiotic efficiency, nutrient acquisition, anti-oxidative enzymes, grain yield and associated profitability in spring mungbean. We identified a non-pathogenic compatible Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 (MH644039.1) and Enterococcus mundtii LSMRS-3 (MH644178.1) from salt affected areas of Punjab, India and the same were assessed to develop consortium biofertilizer based on salt tolerance, multifarious PGP traits, antagonistic defense activities and presence of nifH, acds, pqq, and ipdc genes. Indole Acetic acid (IAA), P-solubilization, biofilm formation, exo-polysaccharides, siderophore, salt tolerance, ACC deaminase activities were all found highly significant in dual inoculant (LSMR-32 + LSMRS-3) treatment compared to LSMR-32 alone. Under saline soil conditions, dual inoculant showed a higher seed germination, plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content and macro and micro-nutrient uptake, than un-inoculated control. However, symbiotic (nodulation, nodule biomass and leghaemoglobin content) and soil quality parameters (phosphatase and soil dehydrogenase enzymes) increased numerically with LSMR-32 + LSMRS-3 over Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 alone. Dual bacterial inoculation (LSMR-32 + LSMRS-3) increased the proline content (2.05 fold), anti-oxidative enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase (1.50 fold), catalase (1.43 fold) and peroxidase (3.88 folds) in contrast to control treatment. Decreased Na[+] accumulation and increased K[+] uptake resulted in favorable K[+]/Na[+] ratio through ion homeostasis. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 and Enterococcus mundtii LSMRS-3 significantly improved the grain yield by 8.92% and led to superior B: C ratio over Rhizobium sp. alone under salt stress. To best of our knowledge this is perhaps the first field report from Indian soils that largely describes dual inoculation of Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 and Enterococcus mundtii LSMRS-3 and the same can be considered as a game-changer approach to simultaneously induce salt tolerance and improve productivity in spring mungbean under saline stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid33583435, year = {2021}, author = {Pinho, RM and Maga, EA}, title = {DNA methylation as a regulator of intestinal gene expression.}, journal = {The British journal of nutrition}, volume = {126}, number = {11}, pages = {1611-1625}, doi = {10.1017/S0007114521000556}, pmid = {33583435}, issn = {1475-2662}, mesh = {*DNA Methylation ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression ; Intestines ; Nutrients ; }, abstract = {The intestinal tract is the entry gate for nutrients and symbiotic organisms, being in constant contact with external environment. DNA methylation is one of the keys to how environmental conditions, diet and nutritional status included, shape functionality in the gut and systemically. This review aims to summarise findings on the importance of methylation to gut development, differentiation and function. Evidence to date on how external factors such as diet, dietary supplements, nutritional status and microbiota modifications modulate intestinal function through DNA methylation is also presented.}, } @article {pmid33583434, year = {2021}, author = {Hudspith, M and Rix, L and Achlatis, M and Bougoure, J and Guagliardo, P and Clode, PL and Webster, NS and Muyzer, G and Pernice, M and de Goeij, JM}, title = {Subcellular view of host-microbiome nutrient exchange in sponges: insights into the ecological success of an early metazoan-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {44}, pmid = {33583434}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sponges are increasingly recognised as key ecosystem engineers in many aquatic habitats. They play an important role in nutrient cycling due to their unrivalled capacity for processing both dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) and the exceptional metabolic repertoire of their diverse and abundant microbial communities. Functional studies determining the role of host and microbiome in organic nutrient uptake and exchange, however, are limited. Therefore, we coupled pulse-chase isotopic tracer techniques with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) to visualise the uptake and translocation of [13]C- and [15]N-labelled dissolved and particulate organic food at subcellular level in the high microbial abundance sponge Plakortis angulospiculatus and the low microbial abundance sponge Halisarca caerulea.

RESULTS: The two sponge species showed significant enrichment of DOM- and POM-derived [13]C and [15]N into their tissue over time. Microbial symbionts were actively involved in the assimilation of DOM, but host filtering cells (choanocytes) appeared to be the primary site of DOM and POM uptake in both sponge species overall, via pinocytosis and phagocytosis, respectively. Translocation of carbon and nitrogen from choanocytes to microbial symbionts occurred over time, irrespective of microbial abundance, reflecting recycling of host waste products by the microbiome.

CONCLUSIONS: Here, we provide empirical evidence indicating that the prokaryotic communities of a high and a low microbial abundance sponge obtain nutritional benefits from their host-associated lifestyle. The metabolic interaction between the highly efficient filter-feeding host and its microbial symbionts likely provides a competitive advantage to the sponge holobiont in the oligotrophic environments in which they thrive, by retaining and recycling limiting nutrients. Sponges present a unique model to link nutritional symbiotic interactions to holobiont function, and, via cascading effects, ecosystem functioning, in one of the earliest metazoan-microbe symbioses. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid33583330, year = {2021}, author = {Badenhorst, CE and Goto, K and O'Brien, WJ and Sims, S}, title = {Iron status in athletic females, a shift in perspective on an old paradigm.}, journal = {Journal of sports sciences}, volume = {39}, number = {14}, pages = {1565-1575}, doi = {10.1080/02640414.2021.1885782}, pmid = {33583330}, issn = {1466-447X}, mesh = {*Athletes ; Estrogens/metabolism ; Female ; Hepcidins/metabolism ; Humans ; Iron/*metabolism ; Menstrual Cycle/*physiology ; Progesterone/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Iron deficiency is a common nutrient deficiency within athletes, with sport scientists and medical professionals recognizing that athletes require regular monitoring of their iron status during intense training periods. Revised considerations for athlete iron screening and monitoring have suggested that males get screened biannually during heavy training periods and females require screening biannually or quarterly, depending on their previous history of iron deficiency. The prevalence of iron deficiency in female athletes is higher than their male counterparts and is often cited as being a result of the presence of a menstrual cycle in the premenopausal years. This review has sought to revise our current understanding of female physiology and the interaction between primary reproductive hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) and iron homoeostasis in females. The review highlights an apparent symbiotic relationship between iron metabolism and the menstrual cycle that requires additional research as well as identifying areas of the menstrual cycle that may be primed for nutritional iron supplementation.}, } @article {pmid33582336, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, L and Wang, WX}, title = {Zinc source differentiation in hydrothermal vent mollusks: Insight from Zn isotope ratios.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {773}, number = {}, pages = {145653}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145653}, pmid = {33582336}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Gills ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Indian Ocean ; Isotopes ; Mollusca ; Zinc ; }, abstract = {Hydrothermal vent represents an extreme environment where metal-enriched fluids are in contact with chemosymbiotic animals. In the present study, Zn isotopic compositions were determined in multiple tissues of three dominant hydrothermal vent mollusks (the mussel Bathymodiolus marisindicus and two gastropods Chrysomallon squamiferum and Gigantopelta aegis) collected from a hydrothermal vent field (Southwest Indian Ridge in the Indian Ocean). We found approximately 1.78‰ differences in the δ[66]Zn values among the three vent mollusks despite of their similar range of Zn concentrations. The significant variation in the δ[66]Zn values was considered to be indicative of different Zn uptake sources among the three species as a result of their morphological adaptations. Zinc uptake associated with symbiotic activities may be more relevant in the vent gastropods, whereas Zn uptake from hydrothermal fluids during filter-feeding may also play a role in the vent mussels. However, no significant difference in δ[66]Zn values was observed among tissues of any of the mollusks, showing the absence of Zn isotope fractionation during internal Zn transport. Our results demonstrated that variable Zn uptake pathways existed among different hydrothermal vent mollusks and could be differentiated by determining the Zn isotopic compositions in their tissues. We also highlight that Zn isotope ratios can be used to track Zn sources to the vent mollusks.}, } @article {pmid33582326, year = {2021}, author = {Moreira, JCF and Brum, M and de Almeida, LC and Barrera-Berdugo, S and de Souza, AA and de Camargo, PB and Oliveira, RS and Alves, LF and Rosado, BHP and Lambais, MR}, title = {Asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere of the Amazon forest: Changing nitrogen cycle paradigms.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {773}, number = {}, pages = {145066}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145066}, pmid = {33582326}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Forests ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation is a key process for the maintenance of natural ecosystems productivity. In tropical forests, the contribution of asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF) to the nitrogen (N) input has been underestimated, even though few studies have shown that ANF may be as important as symbiotic nitrogen fixation in such environments. The inputs and abiotic modulators of ANF in the Amazon forest are not completely understood. Here, we determined ANF rates and estimated the N inputs from ANF in the phyllosphere, litter and rhizospheric soil of nine tree species in the Amazon forest over time, including an extreme drought period induced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Our data showed that ANF rates in the phyllosphere were 2.8- and 17.6-fold higher than in the litter and rhizospheric soil, respectively, and was highly dependent on tree taxon. Sampling time was the major factor modulating ANF in all forest compartments. At the driest period, ANF rates were approximately 1.8-fold and 13.1-fold higher than at periods with higher rainfall, before and after the extreme drought period, respectively. Tree species was a key modulator of ANF in the phyllosphere, as well as N and Vanadium concentrations. Carbon, molybdenum and vanadium concentrations were significant modulators of ANF in the litter. Based on ANF rates at the three sampling times, we estimated that the N input in the Amazon forest through ANF in the phyllosphere, litter and rhizospheric soil, was between 0.459 and 0.714 kg N ha[-1] yr[-1]. Our results highlight the importance of ANF in the phyllosphere for the N input in the Amazon forest, and suggest that changes in the patterns of ANF driven by large scale climatic events may impact total N inputs and likely alter forest productivity.}, } @article {pmid33581378, year = {2021}, author = {Sachla, AJ and Helmann, JD}, title = {Resource sharing between central metabolism and cell envelope synthesis.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {34-43}, pmid = {33581378}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {R35 GM122461/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Membrane ; *Cell Wall ; *Peptidoglycan ; }, abstract = {Synthesis of the bacterial cell envelope requires a regulated partitioning of resources from central metabolism. Here, we consider the key metabolic junctions that provide the precursors needed to assemble the cell envelope. Peptidoglycan synthesis requires redirection of a glycolytic intermediate, fructose-6-phosphate, into aminosugar biosynthesis by the highly regulated branchpoint enzyme GlmS. MurA directs the downstream product, UDP-GlcNAc, specifically into peptidoglycan synthesis. Other shared resources required for cell envelope synthesis include the isoprenoid carrier lipid undecaprenyl phosphate and amino acids required for peptidoglycan cross-bridges. Assembly of the envelope requires a sharing of limited resources between competing cellular pathways and may additionally benefit from scavenging of metabolites released from neighboring cells or the formation of symbiotic relationships with a host.}, } @article {pmid33580885, year = {2021}, author = {Ram, H and Sardar, S and Gandass, N}, title = {Vacuolar Iron Transporter (Like) proteins: Regulators of cellular iron accumulation in plants.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {171}, number = {4}, pages = {823-832}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13363}, pmid = {33580885}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Flowers/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Iron/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Vacuoles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Iron is not only important for plant physiology, but also a very important micronutrient in human diets. The vacuole is the main site for accumulation of excess amounts of various nutrients and toxic substances in plant cells. During the past decade, many Vacuolar Iron Transporter (VIT) and VIT-Like (VTL) genes have been identified and shown to play important roles in iron homeostasis in different plants. Furthermore, recent reports identified novel roles of these transporter genes in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legume crops as well as in the blue coloration of petals in flowers. The literature indicates their universal role in Fe transport across different tissues (grains, nodules, flowers) to different biological processes (cellular iron homeostasis, SNF, petal coloration) in different plants. Here, we have systematically reviewed different aspects, such as structure, molecular evolution, expression, and function of VIT/VTL proteins. This will help future studies aimed at functional analysis of VIT/VTL genes in other plant species, vacuolar transportation mechanisms, and iron biofortification at large.}, } @article {pmid33579688, year = {2021}, author = {Flynn, PJ and D'Amelio, CL and Sanders, JG and Russell, JA and Moreau, CS}, title = {Localization of bacterial communities within gut compartments across Cephalotes turtle ants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {33579688}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Microbial communities within the animal digestive tract often provide important functions for their hosts. The composition of eukaryotes' gut bacteria can be shaped by host diet, vertical bacterial transmission, and physiological variation within the digestive tract. In several ant taxa, recent findings have demonstrated that nitrogen provisioning by symbiotic bacteria makes up for deficiencies in herbivorous diets. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and qPCR, this study examined bacterial communities at a fine scale across one such animal group, the turtle ant genus Cephalotes We analyzed the composition and colonization density across four portions of the digestive tract to understand how bacterial diversity is structured across gut compartments, potentially allowing for specific metabolic functions of benefit to the host. In addition, we aimed to understand if caste differentiation or host relatedness influences the gut bacterial communities of Cephalotes ants. Microbial communities were found to vary strongly across Cephalotes gut compartments in ways that transcend both caste and host phylogeny. Despite this, caste and host phylogeny still have detectable effects. We demonstrated microbial community divergence across gut compartments, possibly due to the varying function of each gut compartment for digestion.IMPORTANCE Gut compartments play an important role in structuring the microbial community within individual ants. The gut chambers of the turtle ant digestive tract differ remarkably in symbiont abundance and diversity. Furthermore, caste type explains some variation in the microbiome composition. Finally, the evolutionary history of the Cephalotes species structures the microbiome in our study, which elucidates a trend in which related ants maintain related microbiomes, conceivably owing to co-speciation. Amazingly, gut compartment-specific signatures of microbial diversity, relative abundance, composition, and abundance have been conserved over Cephalotes evolutionary history, signifying that this symbiosis has been largely stable for over 50 million years.}, } @article {pmid33577649, year = {2021}, author = {Hane, M and Wijaya, HC and Nyon, YA and Sakihama, Y and Hashimoto, M and Matsuura, H and Hashidoko, Y}, title = {Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) produced by Paraburkholderia phenazinium CK-PC1 aids postgermination growth of Xyris complanata seedlings with germination induced by Penicillium rolfsii Y-1.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, pages = {77-84}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbaa060}, pmid = {33577649}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/*metabolism ; *Germination ; Kinetics ; Magnoliopsida/*drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Phenazines/metabolism/pharmacology ; Seedlings/*drug effects/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis of Penicillium rolfsii Y-1 is essential for the seed germination of Hawaii yellow-eyed grass (Xyris complanata). However, the local soil where the plants grow naturally often suppresses the radicle growth of the seedlings. This radicle growth was drastically restored by coinoculation of Paraburkholderia phenazinium isolate CK-PC1, which is a rhizobacterium of X. complanata. It was found that the isolate CK-PC1 produced phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA, 1) as a major metabolite. The biological effects of PCA (1) were investigated using the seeds of X. complanata and Mung bean (Vigna radiata) and it was uncovered that the symbiosis of the isolate CK-PC1was essential for the postgermination growth of X. complanata and the metabolite PCA (1) might partially contribute to promote the growth of the plants.}, } @article {pmid33577345, year = {2021}, author = {Tyerman, SD and McGaughey, SA and Qiu, J and Yool, AJ and Byrt, CS}, title = {Adaptable and Multifunctional Ion-Conducting Aquaporins.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {72}, number = {}, pages = {703-736}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-081720-013608}, pmid = {33577345}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aquaglyceroporins ; *Aquaporins/metabolism ; Ion Transport ; Plants/metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Aquaporins function as water and neutral solute channels, signaling hubs, disease virulence factors, and metabolon components. We consider plant aquaporins that transport ions compared to some animal counterparts. These are candidates for important, as yet unidentified, cation and anion channels in plasma, tonoplast, and symbiotic membranes. For those individual isoforms that transport ions, water, and gases, the permeability spans 12 orders of magnitude. This requires tight regulation of selectivity via protein interactions and posttranslational modifications. A phosphorylation-dependent switch between ion and water permeation in AtPIP2;1 might be explained by coupling between the gates of the four monomer water channels and the central pore of the tetramer. We consider the potential for coupling between ion and water fluxes that could form the basis of an electroosmotic transducer. A grand challenge in understanding the roles of ion transporting aquaporins is their multifunctional modes that are dependent on location, stress, time, and development.}, } @article {pmid33575599, year = {2020}, author = {Guyomar, C and Delage, W and Legeai, F and Mougel, C and Simon, JC and Lemaitre, C}, title = {MinYS: mine your symbiont by targeted genome assembly in symbiotic communities.}, journal = {NAR genomics and bioinformatics}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {lqaa047}, pmid = {33575599}, issn = {2631-9268}, abstract = {Most metazoans are associated with symbionts. Characterizing the effect of a particular symbiont often requires getting access to its genome, which is usually done by sequencing the whole community. We present MinYS, a targeted assembly approach to assemble a particular genome of interest from such metagenomic data. First, taking advantage of a reference genome, a subset of the reads is assembled into a set of backbone contigs. Then, this draft assembly is completed using the whole metagenomic readset in a de novo manner. The resulting assembly is output as a genome graph, enabling different strains with potential structural variants coexisting in the sample to be distinguished. MinYS was applied to 50 pea aphid resequencing samples, with variable diversity in symbiont communities, in order to recover the genome sequence of its obligatory bacterial symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. It was able to return high-quality assemblies (one contig assembly in 90% of the samples), even when using increasingly distant reference genomes, and to retrieve large structural variations in the samples. Because of its targeted essence, it outperformed standard metagenomic assemblers in terms of both time and assembly quality.}, } @article {pmid33570676, year = {2021}, author = {Aoki, T and Kawaguchi, M and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Akao, S and Ayabe, SI and Akashi, T}, title = {Mutants of Lotus japonicus deficient in flavonoid biosynthesis.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {134}, number = {2}, pages = {341-352}, pmid = {33570676}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {*Lotus/genetics ; *Mesorhizobium ; Mutation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Spatiotemporal features of anthocyanin accumulation in a model legume Lotus japonicus (Regel) K.Larsen were elucidated to develop criteria for the genetic analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis. Artificial mutants and wild accessions, with lower anthocyanin accumulation in the stem than the standard wild type (B-129 'Gifu'), were obtained by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis and from a collection of wild-grown variants, respectively. The loci responsible for the green stem of the mutants were named as VIRIDICAULIS (VIC). Genetic and chemical analysis identified two loci, namely, VIC1 and VIC2, required for the production of both anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins), and two loci, namely, VIC3 and VIC4, required for the steps specific to anthocyanin biosynthesis. A mutation in VIC5 significantly reduced the anthocyanin accumulation. These mutants will serve as a useful system for examining the effects of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins on the interactions with herbivorous pests, pathogenic microorganisms and nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria, Mesorhizobium loti.}, } @article {pmid33570561, year = {2021}, author = {He, X and Yuan, Z}, title = {Near-Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Dark Septate Endophyte Laburnicola rhizohalophila: A Model for Investigating Root-Fungus Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33570561}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; Chenopodiaceae ; *Chromosomes ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Genome ; Genome Size ; Nanopores ; Phylogeny ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Telomere ; }, abstract = {The novel DSE Laburnicola rhizohalophila (Pleosporales, Ascomycota) is frequently found in the halophytic seepweed (Suaeda salsa). In this article, we report a near-chromosome-level hybrid assembly of this fungus using a combination of short-read Illumina data to polish assemblies generated from long-read Nanopore data. The reference genome for L. rhizohalophila was assembled into 26 scaffolds with a total length of 64.0 Mb and a N50 length of 3.15 Mb. Of them, 17 scaffolds approached the length of intact chromosomes, and 5 had telomeres at one end only. A total of 10,891 gene models were predicted. Intriguingly, 27.5 Mb of repeat sequences that accounted for 42.97% of the genome was identified, and long terminal repeat retrotransposons were the most frequent known transposable elements, indicating that transposable element proliferation contributes to its increased genome size. BUSCO analyses using the Fungi_odb10 data set showed that 95.0% of genes were complete. In addition, 292 carbohydrate active enzymes, 33 secondary metabolite clusters, and 84 putative effectors were identified in silico. The resulting high-quality assembly and genome features are not only an important resource for further research on understanding the mechanism of root-fungi symbiotic interactions but will also contribute to comparative analyses of genome biology and evolution within Pleosporalean species.}, } @article {pmid33570022, year = {2021}, author = {Angelis-Dimakis, A and Arampatzis, G and Pieri, T and Solomou, K and Dedousis, P and Apostolopoulos, G}, title = {SWAN platform: A web-based tool to support the development of industrial solid waste reuse business models.}, journal = {Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {489-498}, doi = {10.1177/0734242X21989413}, pmid = {33570022}, issn = {1096-3669}, mesh = {Bulgaria ; Greece ; Industrial Waste ; Internet ; *Solid Waste ; *Waste Management ; }, abstract = {The SWAN platform is an integrated suite of online resources and tools for assessing industrial symbiotic opportunities based on solid industrial waste reuse. It has been developed as a digital solid waste reuse platform and is already applied in four countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and Cyprus). The SWAN platform integrates a database with the spatial and technical characteristics of industrial solid waste producers and potential consumers, populated with data from these countries. It also incorporates an inventory of commercially implemented best practices on solid industrial waste reuse. The role of the SWAN platform is to facilitate the development of novel business cases. Towards this end, decision support services, based on a suitable matching algorithm, are provided to the registered users, helping them to identify and assess potential novel business models, based on solid waste reuse, either for an individual industrial unit (source/potential receiver of solid waste) or a specific region.}, } @article {pmid33569073, year = {2020}, author = {Villar, I and Larrainzar, E and Milazzo, L and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Rubio, MC and Smulevich, G and Martínez, JI and Wilson, MT and Reeder, B and Huertas, R and Abbruzzetti, S and Udvardi, M and Becana, M}, title = {Corrigendum: A Plant Gene Encoding One-Heme and Two-Heme Hemoglobins With Extreme Reactivities Toward Diatomic Gases and Nitrite.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {637797}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2020.637797}, pmid = {33569073}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.600336.].}, } @article {pmid33568789, year = {2021}, author = {Zhou, W and Qi, D and Swaisgood, RR and Wang, L and Jin, Y and Wu, Q and Wei, F and Nie, Y}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria mediate volatile chemical signal synthesis in a large solitary mammal species.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {2070-2080}, pmid = {33568789}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Odorants ; Pheromones ; *Scent Glands ; *Ursidae ; }, abstract = {Mammalian chemosignals-or scent marks-are characterized by astounding chemical diversity, reflecting both complex biochemical pathways that produce them and rich information exchange with conspecifics. The microbiome of scent glands was thought to play prominent role in the chemical signal synthesis, with diverse microbiota metabolizing glandular products to produce odorants that may be used as chemosignals. Here, we use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and metagenomic shotgun sequencing to explore this phenomenon in the anogenital gland secretions (AGS) of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). We find that this gland contains a diverse community of fermentative bacteria with enzymes that support metabolic pathways (e.g., lipid degradation) for the productions of volatile odorants specialized for chemical communication. We found quantitative and qualitative differences in the microbiota between AGS and digestive tract, a finding which was mirrored by differences among chemical compounds that could be used for olfactory communication. Volatile chemical compounds were more diverse and abundant in AGS than fecal samples, and our evidence suggests that metabolic pathways have been specialized for the synthesis of chemosignals for communication. The panda's microbiome is rich with genes coding for enzymes that participate in the fermentation pathways producing chemical compounds commonly deployed in mammalian chemosignals. These findings illuminate the poorly understood phenomena involved in the role of symbiotic bacteria in the production of chemosignals.}, } @article {pmid33566183, year = {2021}, author = {Hatzikioseyian, A and Bhattarai, S and Cassarini, C and Esposito, G and Lens, PNL}, title = {Dynamic modeling of anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to sulfate reduction: role of elemental sulfur as intermediate.}, journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {855-874}, pmid = {33566183}, issn = {1615-7605}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/genetics ; Biotechnology/methods ; Gases ; *Geologic Sediments ; Hydrogen/*chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Industrial Microbiology/methods ; Kinetics ; Methane/*chemistry ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/*chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Pressure ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater ; Sulfates/*chemistry ; Sulfur/*chemistry ; Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {The process dynamics of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to sulfate reduction (SR), and the potential role of elemental sulfur as intermediate are presented in this paper. Thermodynamic screening and experimental evidence from the literature conclude that a prominent model to describe AOM-SR is based on the concept that anaerobic methane oxidation proceeds through the production of the intermediate elemental sulfur. Two microbial groups are involved in the process: (a) anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME-2) and (b) Desulfosarcina/Desulfococcus sulfur reducers cluster (DSS). In this work, a dynamic model was developed to explore the interactions between biotic and abiotic processes to simulate the microbial activity, the chemical composition and speciation of the liquid phase, and the gas phase composition in the reactor headspace. The model includes the microbial kinetics for the symbiotic growth of ANME-2 and DSS, mass transfer phenomena between the gas and liquid phase for methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide and acid-base reactions for bicarbonate, sulfide, and ammonium. A data set from batch experiments, running for 250 days in artificial seawater inoculated with sediment from Marine Lake Grevelingen (The Netherlands) was used to calibrate the model. The inherent characteristics of AOM-SR make the identification of the kinetic parameters difficult due to the high correlation between them. However, by meaningfully selecting a set of kinetic parameters, the model simulates successfully the experimental data for sulfate reduction and sulfide production. The model can be considered as the basic structure for simulating continuous flow three-phase engineered systems based on AOM-SR.}, } @article {pmid33565558, year = {2021}, author = {Crovesy, L and El-Bacha, T and Rosado, EL}, title = {Modulation of the gut microbiota by probiotics and symbiotics is associated with changes in serum metabolite profile related to a decrease in inflammation and overall benefits to metabolic health: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial in women with obesity.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {2161-2170}, doi = {10.1039/d0fo02748k}, pmid = {33565558}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {Adult ; Amino Acids/blood ; Bifidobacterium animalis ; Citric Acid/blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism ; *Obesity/diet therapy/metabolism ; *Oligosaccharides/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Probiotics/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Pyruvic Acid/blood ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Modulation of the gut microbiota may help in treating obesity by improving host metabolic health. We aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics or symbiotics on body weight and serum metabolite profile in women with obesity. A double-blind, parallel, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 32 adult women with body mass index ranging from 30 to 34.9 kg m-2. Volunteers followed a low-energy diet and were subjected to 8 weeks intervention: probiotic group (PG - Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70, n = 10), symbiotic group (SG - Bifidobacterium lactis UBBLa-70 and fructooligosaccharide, n = 11), or control group (CG - placebo, n = 11). Analyses of anthropometric variables, gut microbiota and serum metabolites by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were performed at baseline and after the intervention. Multivariate statistics showed that all groups presented a decrease in glycerol and increase in arginine, glutamine and 2-oxoisovalerate. Therefore, a low-energy diet per se promoted changes in the metabolite profile related to decreased inflammation and positive effects on body weight. SG presented unique changes in metabolites (increase in pyruvate and alanine and decrease in citrate and BCAA). Negative correlations between arginine and glutamine with fat mass were observed in the SG. PG presented a decrease in 1H NMR lipid signals and negative correlation between Verrucomicrobia and Firmicutes with (CH2)n lipids. Both probiotics and symbiotics promoted changes in metabolites related to improved metabolic health. Specific metabolite changes following symbiotic intervention might suggest some advantage in providing Bifidobacterium lactis in combination with fructooligosaccharide in a low-energy diet, rather than probiotics or diet alone. Clinical trial: NCT02505854.}, } @article {pmid33563832, year = {2021}, author = {Lindsey, ARI and Bhattacharya, T and Hardy, RW and Newton, ILG}, title = {Wolbachia and Virus Alter the Host Transcriptome at the Interface of Nucleotide Metabolism Pathways.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33563832}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P40 OD018537/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI144430/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI121849/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics/microbiology/virology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Male ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Microbial Interactions ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology ; Nucleotides/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Virus Diseases/virology ; Virus Replication ; Viruses/*pathogenicity ; Wolbachia/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted bacterium that manipulates arthropod and nematode biology in myriad ways. The Wolbachia strain colonizing Drosophila melanogaster creates sperm-egg incompatibilities and protects its host against RNA viruses, making it a promising tool for vector control. Despite successful trials using Wolbachia-transfected mosquitoes for dengue control, knowledge of how Wolbachia and viruses jointly affect insect biology remains limited. Using the Drosophila melanogaster model, transcriptomics and gene expression network analyses revealed pathways with altered expression and splicing due to Wolbachia colonization and virus infection. Included are metabolic pathways previously unknown to be important for Wolbachia-host interactions. Additionally, Wolbachia-colonized flies exhibit a dampened transcriptomic response to virus infection, consistent with early blocking of virus replication. Finally, using Drosophila genetics, we show that Wolbachia and expression of nucleotide metabolism genes have interactive effects on virus replication. Understanding the mechanisms of pathogen blocking will contribute to the effective development of Wolbachia-mediated vector control programs.IMPORTANCE Recently developed arbovirus control strategies leverage the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, which spreads in insect populations and blocks viruses from replicating. While this strategy has been successful, details of how this "pathogen blocking" works are limited. Here, we use a combination of virus infections, fly genetics, and transcriptomics to show that Wolbachia and virus interact at host nucleotide metabolism pathways.}, } @article {pmid33563820, year = {2021}, author = {Fukatsu, T}, title = {The Long and Winding Road for Symbiont and Yolk Protein to Host Oocyte.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33563820}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Egg Proteins ; Oocytes ; Symbiosis ; *Vitellogenins ; }, abstract = {Many insects are intimately associated with microbial symbionts, which are passed to developing oocytes in the maternal body for ensuring vertical transmission to the next generation. Previous studies uncovered that some symbionts utilize preexisting host's molecular and cellular machineries for targeting oocytes. For example, the major yolk protein vitellogenin (Vg) is massively produced in fat body cells, processed and transported to ovaries, and incorporated into developing oocytes via Vg receptor (VgR)-mediated endocytosis, and some symbiotic bacteria were reported to interact with Vg and migrate to oocytes by hitchhiking the VgR-mediated endocytotic mechanism. In a recent study, Mao et al. (mBio 12:e01142-20, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01142-20) reported that, in some leafhoppers, a considerable proportion of Vg is incorporated into symbiotic bacteria and translocated into oocytes by hitchhiking the symbiont's vertical transmission mechanism, uncovering the host's cooption of the symbiont's oocyte-targeting machineries and highlighting complicated trajectories toward host-symbiont coevolution and integration.}, } @article {pmid33563061, year = {2022}, author = {Palm, NM and Wesolowski, JC and Wu, JY and Srinivas, P}, title = {Implementation of a Leeches + Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Order Panel to Optimize Medicinal Leech Use at a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center.}, journal = {Journal of pharmacy practice}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {427-430}, doi = {10.1177/0897190021993683}, pmid = {33563061}, issn = {1531-1937}, mesh = {Academic Medical Centers ; *Aeromonas ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Leeches/microbiology ; *Leeching/adverse effects ; Tertiary Healthcare ; }, abstract = {Medicinal leech therapy promotes vascular flow and can be used to salvage grafts. Medicinal leeches have a symbiotic relationship with Aeromonas species and can therefore present a risk of bacterial transmission to patients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is warranted for the duration of leech therapy, however, an institutional evaluation of 40 patients receiving medicinal leech therapy demonstrated poor adherence with recommendations. An electronic medical record order panel for antimicrobial prophylaxis with medicinal leech therapy was implemented, leading to a subsequent improvement in adherence to prophylaxis use, including significant increases in the ordering of antibiotics and the appropriate timing of initiation in the subsequent 10 patients receiving medicinal leech therapy after panel implementation. Aeromonas infections were rare before and after panel implementation, and developed only in the patient subset with non-optimized prophylaxis.}, } @article {pmid33562148, year = {2021}, author = {Duarte, S and Nunes, L and Kržišnik, D and Humar, M and Jones, D}, title = {Influence of Zwitterionic Buffer Effects with Thermal Modification Treatments of Wood on Symbiotic Protists in Reticulitermes grassei Clément.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33562148}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The majority of thermal modification processes are at temperatures greater than 180 °C, resulting in a product with some properties enhanced and some diminished (e.g., mechanical properties). However, the durability of thermally modified wood to termite attack is recognised as low. Recent attempts at combining thermal modification with chemical modification, either prior to or directly after the thermal process, are promising. Buffers, although not influencing the reaction systems, may interact on exposure to certain conditions, potentially acting as promoters of biological changes. In this study, two zwitterionic buffers, bicine and tricine, chosen for their potential to form Maillard-type products with fragmented hemicelluloses/volatiles, were assessed with and without thermal modification for two wood species (spruce and beech), with subsequent evaluation of their effect against subterranean termites (Reticulitermes grassei Clément) and their symbiotic protists. The effect of the wood treatments on termites and their symbionts was visible after four weeks, especially for spruce treated with tricine and bicine and heat treatment (bicine HT), and for beech treated with bicine and bicine and heat treatment (bicine HT). The chemical behaviour of these substances should be further investigated when in contact with wood and also after heat treatment. This is the first study evaluating the effect of potential Maillard reactions with zwitterionic buffers on subterranean termite symbiotic fauna.}, } @article {pmid33559282, year = {2021}, author = {Pacaud, M and Colas, L and Brouard, S}, title = {Microbiota and immunoregulation: A focus on regulatory B lymphocytes and transplantation.}, journal = {American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {2341-2347}, doi = {10.1111/ajt.16522}, pmid = {33559282}, issn = {1600-6143}, mesh = {*B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Lymphocyte Activation ; *Microbiota ; T-Lymphocytes ; }, abstract = {The microbiota plays a major role in the regulation of the host immune functions thus establishing a symbiotic relationship that maintains immune homeostasis. Among immune cells, regulatory B cells (Bregs), which can inhibit effector T cell responses, may be involved in the intestinal homeostasis. Recent works suggest that the interaction between the microbiota and Bregs appears to be important to limit autoimmune diseases and help to maintain tolerance in transplantation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), recognized as major metabolites of the microbiota, seem to be involved in the generation of a pro-tolerogenic environment in the gut, particularly through the regulation of B cell differentiation, limiting mature B cells and promoting the function of Bregs. In this review, we show that this B cells-microbiota interaction may open a path toward new potential therapeutic applications not only for patients with autoimmune diseases but also in transplantation.}, } @article {pmid33558946, year = {2021}, author = {Sen, S and DasGupta, M}, title = {Involvement of Arachis hypogaea Jasmonate ZIM domain/TIFY proteins in root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {134}, number = {2}, pages = {307-326}, pmid = {33558946}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {*Arachis/genetics ; Cyclopentanes ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Oxylipins ; Plant Roots ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Jasmonate ZIM domain (JAZ) proteins are the key negative regulators of jasmonate signaling, an important integrator of plant-microbe relationships. Versatility of jasmonate signaling outcomes are maintained through the multiplicity of JAZ proteins and their definitive functionalities. How jasmonate signaling influences the legume-Rhizobium symbiotic relationship is still unclear. In Arachis hypogaea (peanut), a legume plant, one JAZ sub-family (JAZ1) gene and one TIFY sequence containing protein family member (TIFY8) gene show enhanced expression in the early stage and late stage of root nodule symbiosis (RNS) respectively. In plants, JAZ sub-family proteins belong to a larger TIFY family. Here, this study denotes the first attempt to reveal in planta interactions of downstream jasmonate signaling regulators through proteomics and mass spectrometry to find out the mode of jasmonate signaling participation in the RNS process of A. hypogaea. From 4-day old Bradyrhizobium-infected peanut roots, the JAZ1-protein complex shows its contribution towards the rhizobial entry, nodule development, autoregulation of nodulation and photo-morphogenesis during the early stage of symbiosis. From 30-day old Bradyrhizobium infected roots, the TIFY8-protein complex reveals repressor functionality of TIFY8, suppression of root jasmonate signaling, modulation of root circadian rhythm and nodule development. Cellular localization and expression level of the interaction partners during the nodulation process further substantiate the in planta interaction pairs. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the jasmonate functionality in RNS through modulation of nodule number and development, during the early stage and root circadian rhythm during the late stage of nodulation, through the protein complexes of JAZ1 and TIFY8 respectively in A. hypogaea.}, } @article {pmid33558756, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, B and Wang, M and Sun, Y and Zhao, P and Liu, C and Qing, K and Hu, X and Zhong, Z and Cheng, J and Wang, H and Peng, Y and Shi, J and Zhuang, L and Du, S and He, M and Wu, H and Liu, M and Chen, S and Wang, H and Chen, X and Fan, W and Tian, K and Wang, Y and Chen, Q and Wang, S and Dong, F and Yang, C and Zhang, M and Song, Q and Li, Y and Wang, X}, title = {Publisher Correction: Glycine max NNL1 restricts symbiotic compatibility with widely distributed bradyrhizobia via root hair infection.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {239}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-021-00872-7}, pmid = {33558756}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid33558688, year = {2021}, author = {Van Cauwenberghe, J and Santamaría, RI and Bustos, P and Juárez, S and Ducci, MA and Figueroa Fleming, T and Etcheverry, AV and González, V}, title = {Spatial patterns in phage-Rhizobium coevolutionary interactions across regions of common bean domestication.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {2092-2106}, pmid = {33558688}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Bacteriophages/genetics ; Domestication ; Mexico ; *Phaseolus ; *Rhizobium ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophages play significant roles in the composition, diversity, and evolution of bacterial communities. Despite their importance, it remains unclear how phage diversity and phage-host interactions are spatially structured. Local adaptation may play a key role. Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria, known as rhizobia, have been shown to locally adapt to domesticated common bean at its Mesoamerican and Andean sites of origin. This may affect phage-rhizobium interactions. However, knowledge about the diversity and coevolution of phages with their respective Rhizobium populations is lacking. Here, through the study of four phage-Rhizobium communities in Mexico and Argentina, we show that both phage and host diversity is spatially structured. Cross-infection experiments demonstrated that phage infection rates were higher overall in sympatric rhizobia than in allopatric rhizobia except for one Argentinean community, indicating phage local adaptation and host maladaptation. Phage-host interactions were shaped by the genetic identity and geographic origin of both the phage and the host. The phages ranged from specialists to generalists, revealing a nested network of interactions. Our results suggest a key role of local adaptation to resident host bacterial communities in shaping the phage genetic and phenotypic composition, following a similar spatial pattern of diversity and coevolution to that in the host.}, } @article {pmid33557932, year = {2021}, author = {Pilgrim, J and Siozios, S and Baylis, M and Venter, G and Garros, C and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Cardinium symbiosis as a potential confounder of mtDNA based phylogeographic inference in Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a vector of veterinary viruses.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {100}, pmid = {33557932}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {BB/M011186/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*transmission ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; Ceratopogonidae/*genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/*genetics ; Gene Flow ; Horses ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Mediterranean Region ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is an important Afrotropical and Palearctic vector of disease, transmitting viruses of animal health and economic significance including African horse sickness and bluetongue viruses. Maternally inherited symbiotic bacteria (endosymbionts) of arthropods can alter the frequency of COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) mitochondrial haplotypes (mitotypes) in a population, masking the true patterns of host movement and gene flow. Thus, this study aimed to assess the mtDNA structure of C. imicola in relation to infection with Candidatus Cardinum hertigii (Bacteroides), a common endosymbiont of Culicoides spp.

METHODS: Using haplotype network analysis, COI Sanger sequences from Cardinium-infected and -uninfected C. imicola individuals were first compared in a population from South Africa. The network was then extended to include mitotypes from a geographic range where Cardinium infection has previously been investigated.

RESULTS: The mitotype network of the South African population demonstrated the presence of two broad mitotype groups. All Cardinium-infected specimens fell into one group (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.00071) demonstrating a linkage disequilibrium between endosymbiont and mitochondria. Furthermore, by extending this haplotype network to include other C. imicola populations from the Mediterranean basin, we revealed mitotype variation between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean basins (EMB and WMB) mirrored Cardinium-infection heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the linkage disequilibrium of Cardinium and mitochondria reflects endosymbiont gene flow within the Mediterranean basin but may not assist in elucidating host gene flow. Subsequently, we urge caution on the single usage of the COI marker to determine population structure and movement in C. imicola and instead suggest the complementary utilisation of additional molecular markers.}, } @article {pmid33555513, year = {2021}, author = {Shendge, AK and Panja, S and Mandal, N}, title = {Tropical lichen, Dirinaria consimilis, induces ROS-mediated activation of MAPKs and triggers caspase cascade mediated apoptosis in brain and cervical cancer cells.}, journal = {Molecular and cellular biochemistry}, volume = {476}, number = {5}, pages = {2181-2192}, pmid = {33555513}, issn = {1573-4919}, mesh = {Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Ascomycota/*chemistry ; Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; Caspases/*metabolism ; Complex Mixtures/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/*metabolism ; Female ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lichens ; Neoplasm Proteins/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are the symbiotic association between photobiont algae and mycobiont fungi having diverse phytochemicals. However, they are still an underexplored natural resource for biological activities. In the present report, we have evaluated the anti-brain and anti-cervical cancer activity of tropical lichen, Dirinaria consimilis (DCME) through the cell viability assay, cell cycle analysis, annexin V-FLUOS staining, morphological analysis, ROS-induction mechanism, evaluation of antioxidant levels, and western blotting study. The WST-1-based cell viability assay showed the cytotoxic nature of DCME towards U87 (IC50-52.65 ± 1.04 µg/ml) and HeLa (IC50-77.60 ± 2.23 µg/ml) cells. Interestingly, DCME does not showed any toxicity towards non-malignant fibroblast cell line WI-38 (IC50-685.80 ± 19.51 µg/ml). Furthermore, the cell cycle analysis showed sub-G1 arrest (apoptosis), and annexin V-FLUOS staining showed an increase in early apoptosis population dose-dependently. Confocal-based morphological data confirmed the DNA condensation and fragmentation upon treatment. Furthermore, DCME treatment induces ROS and regulates the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, Catalase, GST, and GSH) in both U87 and HeLa cells. Finally, the western blotting data revealed the increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activation of Bid, Caspase-8, -9 and -3 along with degradation of PARP. Moreover, regulation of MAP kinases and activation of p53 was also observed upon DCME treatment. Herein, we first reported the anticancer activity of D. consimilis against brain and cervical cancer cells. Performed in-depth anticancer study revealed the ROS-mediated regulation of MAP kinases and activation of caspase cascade in U87 and HeLa cells upon DCME treatment.}, } @article {pmid33555369, year = {2021}, author = {Dou, W and Miao, Y and Xiao, J and Huang, D}, title = {Association of Wolbachia with Gene Expression in Drosophila Testes.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {805-817}, pmid = {33555369}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Male ; Testis ; Transcriptome ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a genus of intracellular symbiotic bacteria that are widely distributed in arthropods and nematodes. These maternally inherited bacteria regulate host reproductive systems in various ways to facilitate their vertical transmission. Since the identification of Wolbachia in many insects, the relationship between Wolbachia and the host has attracted great interest. Numerous studies have indicated that Wolbachia modifies a variety of biological processes in the host. Previous studies in Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) have demonstrated that Wolbachia can affect spermatid differentiation, chromosome deposition, and sperm activity in the early stages of spermatogenesis, leading to sperm dysfunction. Here, we explored the putative effect of Wolbachia in sperm maturation using transcriptomic approaches to compare gene expression in Wolbachia-infected and Wolbachia-free D. melanogaster adult testes. Our findings show that Wolbachia affects many biological processes in D. melanogaster adult testes, and most of the differentially expressed genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, lysosomal degradation, proteolysis, lipid metabolism, and immune response were upregulated in the presence of Wolbachia. In contrast, some genes that are putatively associated with cutin and wax biosynthesis and peroxisome pathways were downregulated. We did not find any differentially expressed genes that are predicted to be related to spermatogenesis in the datasets. This work provides additional information for understanding the Wolbachia-host intracellular relationships.}, } @article {pmid33555368, year = {2021}, author = {Grzesiak, J and Woltyńska, A and Zdanowski, MK and Górniak, D and Świątecki, A and Olech, MA and Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk, T}, title = {Metabolic fingerprinting of the Antarctic cyanolichen Leptogium puberulum-associated bacterial community (Western Shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {818-829}, pmid = {33555368}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Ascomycota ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bays ; *Lichens ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Lichens are presently regarded as stable biotopes, small ecosystems providing a safe haven for the development of a diverse and numerous microbiome. In this study, we conducted a functional diversity assessment of the microbial community residing on the surface and within the thalli of Leptogium puberulum, a eurytopic cyanolichen endemic to Antarctica, employing the widely used Biolog EcoPlates which test the catabolism of 31 carbon compounds in a colorimetric respiration assay. Lichen thalli occupying moraine ridges of differing age within a proglacial chronosequence, as well as those growing in sites of contrasting nutrient concentrations, were procured from the diverse landscape of the western shore of Admiralty Bay in Maritime Antarctica. The L. puberulum bacterial community catabolized photobiont- (glucose-containing carbohydrates) and mycobiont-specific carbon compounds (D-Mannitol). The bacteria also had the ability to process degradation products of lichen thalli components (D-cellobiose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine). Lichen thalli growth site characteristics had an impact on metabolic diversity and respiration intensity of the bacterial communities. While high nutrient contents in lichen specimens from "young" proglacial locations and in those from nitrogen enriched sites stimulated bacterial catabolic activity, in old proglacial locations and in nutrient-lacking sites, a metabolic activity restriction was apparent, presumably due to lichen-specific microbial control mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid33552032, year = {2020}, author = {Cappelli, A and Favia, G and Ricci, I}, title = {Wickerhamomyces anomalus in Mosquitoes: A Promising Yeast-Based Tool for the "Symbiotic Control" of Mosquito-Borne Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {621605}, pmid = {33552032}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The ascomycete yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus is a mutualistic symbiont of different insects, including diptera vectors of diseases. Although fungal symbioses have been so far poorly characterized, the topic is gaining attention as yeast-insect interactions can provide pivotal information on insect biology, such as their environmental adaptation or vectorial capability. We review the symbiosis between W. anomalus and mosquitoes, which implies nutritional and protective functions. Furthermore, we focus on antiplasmodial effects of W. anomalus in malaria vectors and discuss the yeast potential for the "symbiotic control" (SC) of mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs).}, } @article {pmid33550064, year = {2021}, author = {Balázs, HE and Schmid, CAO and Cruzeiro, C and Podar, D and Szatmari, PM and Buegger, F and Hufnagel, G and Radl, V and Schröder, P}, title = {Post-reclamation microbial diversity and functions in hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) contaminated soil in relation to spontaneous HCH tolerant vegetation.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {767}, number = {}, pages = {144653}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144653}, pmid = {33550064}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Hexachlorocyclohexane/analysis/toxicity ; Humans ; Lysobacter ; Mesorhizobium ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; Sphingomonadaceae ; }, abstract = {The toxicity, volatility and persistence of the obsolete organochlorine pesticide hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), makes reclamation of contaminated areas a priority for the health and welfare of neighboring human communities. Microbial diversity and functions and their relation to spontaneous vegetation in post-excavation situations, are essential indicators to consider in bioaugmentation or microbe-assisted phytoremediation strategies at field scale. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term HCH contamination on soil and plant-associated microbial communities, and whether contaminated soil has the potential to act as a bacterial inoculum in post-excavation bioremediation strategies. To scrutinize the role of vegetation, the potential nitrogen fixation of free-living and symbiotic diazotrophs of the legume Lotus tenuis was assessed as a measure of nutrient cycling functions in soil under HCH contamination. Potential nitrogen fixation was generally not affected by HCH, with the exception of lower nifH gene counts in excavated contaminated rhizospheres, most probably a short-term HCH effect on early bacterial succession in this compartment. HCH shaped microbial communities in long-term contaminated bulk soil, where we identified possible HCH tolerants such as Sphingomonas and Altererythrobacter. In L. tenuis rhizosphere, microbial community composition was additionally influenced by plant growth stage. Sphingobium and Massilia were the bacterial genera characteristic for HCH contaminated rhizospheres. Long-term HCH contamination negatively affected L. tenuis growth and development. However, root-associated bacterial community composition was driven solely by plant age, with negligible HCH effect. Results showed that L. tenuis acquired possible HCH tolerant bacteria such as the Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium clade, Sphingomonas, Massilia or Pantoea which could simultaneously offer plant growth promoting (PGP) benefits for the host. Finally, we identified an inoculum with possibly HCH tolerant, PGP bacteria transferred from the contaminated bulk soil to L. tenuis roots through the rhizosphere compartment, consisting of Mesorhizobium loti, Neorhizobium galegae, Novosphingobium lindaniclasticum, Pantoea agglomerans and Lysobacter bugurensis.}, } @article {pmid33549602, year = {2021}, author = {Baluška, F and Lyons, S}, title = {Archaeal Origins of Eukaryotic Cell and Nucleus.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {203}, number = {}, pages = {104375}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104375}, pmid = {33549602}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Actin Cytoskeleton ; Archaea/*cytology ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Biology ; *Cell Nucleus ; Cytoskeleton ; Eukaryota/*cytology ; *Mitochondria ; *Plastids ; *Symbiosis ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; Tubulin ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a major evolutionary force, especially at the cellular level. Here we discuss several older and new discoveries suggesting that besides mitochondria and plastids, eukaryotic nuclei also have symbiotic origins. We propose an archaea-archaea scenario for the evolutionary origin of the eukaryotic cells. We suggest that two ancient archaea-like cells, one based on the actin cytoskeleton and another one based on the tubulin-centrin cytoskeleton, merged together to form the first nucleated eukaryotic cell. This archaeal endosymbiotic origin of eukaryotic cells and their nuclei explains several features of eukaryotic cells which are incompatible with the currently preferred autogenous scenarios of eukaryogenesis.}, } @article {pmid33547798, year = {2021}, author = {Giesemann, P and Rasmussen, HN and Gebauer, G}, title = {Partial mycoheterotrophy is common among chlorophyllous plants with Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {127}, number = {5}, pages = {645-653}, pmid = {33547798}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Carbon ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Paris ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An arbuscular mycorrhiza is a mutualistic symbiosis with plants as carbon providers for fungi. However, achlorophyllous arbuscular mycorrhizal species are known to obtain carbon from fungi, i.e. they are mycoheterotrophic. These species all have the Paris type of arbuscular mycorrhiza. Recently, two chlorophyllous Paris-type species proved to be partially mycoheterotrophic. In this study, we explore the frequency of this condition and its association with Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhiza.

METHODS: We searched for evidence of mycoheterotrophy in all currently published 13C, 2H and 15N stable isotope abundance patterns suited for calculations of enrichment factors, i.e. isotopic differences between neighbouring Paris- and Arum-type species. We found suitable data for 135 plant species classified into the two arbuscular mycorrhizal morphotypes.

KEY RESULTS: About half of the chlorophyllous Paris-type species tested were significantly enriched in 13C and often also enriched in 2H and 15N, compared with co-occurring Arum-type species. Based on a two-source linear mixing model, the carbon gain from the fungal source ranged between 7 and 93 % with ferns > horsetails > seed plants. The seed plants represented 13 families, many without a previous record of mycoheterotrophy. The 13C-enriched chlorophyllous Paris-type species were exclusively herbaceous perennials, with a majority of them thriving on shady forest ground.

CONCLUSIONS: Significant carbon acquisition from fungi appears quite common and widespread among Paris-type species, this arbuscular mycorrhizal morphotype probably being a pre-condition for developing varying degrees of mycoheterotrophy.}, } @article {pmid33547790, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, M and Zhao, X and Li, X and Wu, X and Zhou, H and Gao, Y and Zhang, X and Zhou, F}, title = {Antagonistic Effects of Delia antiqua (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)-Associated Bacteria Against Four Phytopathogens.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {114}, number = {2}, pages = {597-610}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toab002}, pmid = {33547790}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Acinetobacter ; Actinobacteria ; Animals ; Ascomycota ; Bacteria ; *Diptera ; *Fusarium ; Plant Diseases ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have revealed multiple roles of insect-associated microbes such as lignin degradation, entomopathogen inhibition, and antibiotic production. These functions improve insect host fitness, and provide a novel source of discovering beneficial microbes for industrial and agricultural production. Previously published research found that in the symbiosis formed by the dipteran pest Delia antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) and its associated bacteria, the bacteria showed effective inhibition of one fungal entomopathogen, Beauveria bassiana. The antifungal activity of those associated bacteria indicates their potential to be used as biocontrol agents for fungal phytopathogens. In this study, we first isolated and identified bacteria associated with D. antiqua using a culture-dependent method. Second, we tested the antifungal activity of these bacteria against four phytopathogens including Fusarium moniliforme, Botryosphaeria dothidea, and two Fusarium oxysporum strains using the dual-culture method. In total, 74 species belonging to 30 genera, 23 families, eight classes, and four phyla were isolated and identified. Among those bacteria, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Morganella morganii, Arthrobacter sp. 3, and Acinetobacter guillouiae showed significant volatile inhibition activity against F. moniliforme, B. dothidea, and both F. oxysporum, respectively. Moreover, bacteria including Rhodococcus equi, Leucobacter aridicollis, Paenibacillus sp. 3, and Lampropedia sp. showed significant contact inhibition activity against F. moniliforme, B. dothidea, and both F. oxysporum. Our work provides a new source for discovering biocontrol agents against phytopathogens.}, } @article {pmid33547698, year = {2021}, author = {Chan, WY and Oakeshott, JG and Buerger, P and Edwards, OR and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Adaptive responses of free-living and symbiotic microalgae to simulated future ocean conditions.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {1737-1754}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.15546}, pmid = {33547698}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Climate Change ; Ecosystem ; *Microalgae/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {Marine microalgae are a diverse group of microscopic eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms capable of photosynthesis. They are important primary producers and carbon sinks but their physiology and persistence are severely affected by global climate change. Powerful experimental evolution technologies are being used to examine the potential of microalgae to respond adaptively to current and predicted future conditions, as well as to develop resources to facilitate species conservation and restoration of ecosystem functions. This review synthesizes findings and insights from experimental evolution studies of marine microalgae in response to elevated temperature and/or pCO2 . Adaptation to these environmental conditions has been observed in many studies of marine dinoflagellates, diatoms and coccolithophores. An enhancement in traits such as growth and photo-physiological performance and an increase in upper thermal limit have been shown to be possible, although the extent and rate of change differ between microalgal taxa. Studies employing multiple monoclonal replicates showed variation in responses among replicates and revealed the stochasticity of mutations. The work to date is already providing valuable information on species' climate sensitivity or resilience to managers and policymakers but extrapolating these insights to ecosystem- and community-level impacts continues to be a challenge. We recommend future work should include in situ experiments, diurnal and seasonal fluctuations, multiple drivers and multiple starting genotypes. Fitness trade-offs, stable versus plastic responses and the genetic bases of the changes also need investigating, and the incorporation of genome resequencing into experimental designs will be invaluable.}, } @article {pmid33547303, year = {2021}, author = {Quilbé, J and Lamy, L and Brottier, L and Leleux, P and Fardoux, J and Rivallan, R and Benichou, T and Guyonnet, R and Becana, M and Villar, I and Garsmeur, O and Hufnagel, B and Delteil, A and Gully, D and Chaintreuil, C and Pervent, M and Cartieaux, F and Bourge, M and Valentin, N and Martin, G and Fontaine, L and Droc, G and Dereeper, A and Farmer, A and Libourel, C and Nouwen, N and Gressent, F and Mournet, P and D'Hont, A and Giraud, E and Klopp, C and Arrighi, JF}, title = {Genetics of nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia uncovers mechanisms of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {829}, pmid = {33547303}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development ; Fabaceae/classification/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; *Genome, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Stems/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Among legumes (Fabaceae) capable of nitrogen-fixing nodulation, several Aeschynomene spp. use a unique symbiotic process that is independent of Nod factors and infection threads. They are also distinctive in developing root and stem nodules with photosynthetic bradyrhizobia. Despite the significance of these symbiotic features, their understanding remains limited. To overcome such limitations, we conduct genetic studies of nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia, supported by the development of a genome sequence for A. evenia and transcriptomic resources for 10 additional Aeschynomene spp. Comparative analysis of symbiotic genes substantiates singular mechanisms in the early and late nodulation steps. A forward genetic screen also shows that AeCRK, coding a receptor-like kinase, and the symbiotic signaling genes AePOLLUX, AeCCamK, AeCYCLOPS, AeNSP2, and AeNIN are required to trigger both root and stem nodulation. This work demonstrates the utility of the A. evenia model and provides a cornerstone to unravel mechanisms underlying the rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33545460, year = {2021}, author = {Jato-Espino, D and Ruiz-Puente, C}, title = {Bringing Facilitated Industrial Symbiosis and Game Theory together to strengthen waste exchange in industrial parks.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {771}, number = {}, pages = {145400}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145400}, pmid = {33545460}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Industrial Symbiosis (IS) provides an opportunity to foster resource exchange, whereby the wastes of some companies are used as the feed to others. However, putting IS into practice requires overcoming a series of obstacles such as mistrust and lack of information. In this context, this research proposed the coupling of Facilitated Industrial Symbiosis (FIS) and Game Theory (GT) to break down these barriers. On the one hand, the consideration of FIS entailed the incorporation of the figure of the facilitator into the IS process throughout six different steps, thereby improving the confidence between companies and their access to information about potential synergies. On the other hand, GT was implemented through utility functions that served to favor the achievement of agreements, since their application supported the identification of collective solutions optimizing the benefits of all the parties. The proposed approach was tested through a hypothetical industrial park involving ten companies with different interests and magnitudes. The stepwise examination of the results achieved in this case study emphasized the key role played by the facilitator and GT to foster the participation of companies in waste exchanges and maximize their benefits, respectively.}, } @article {pmid33545444, year = {2021}, author = {Song, S and Liu, Y and Wang, NR and Haney, CH}, title = {Mechanisms in plant-microbiome interactions: lessons from model systems.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {102003}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102003}, pmid = {33545444}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Microbiota/genetics ; Plant Development ; Plants/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The use of genetically tractable plant-microbe pairs has driven research in plant immunity and mutualistic symbiosis. Clear functional readouts for the outcomes of symbiosis or immunity have facilitated forward genetic screening and identification of signals, molecules and mechanisms that determine the outcome of these interactions. Plants also associate with beneficial microbial communities that form the microbiome. However, the complexity of the microbiome, combined with relatively subtle effects on plant growth and immunity, has impeded forward genetic screening to identify plant and bacterial genes that shape the microbiome. As a result, microbiome research has relied largely on reverse genetics approaches, based on what is known about plant nutrient uptake and immunity, to identify mechanisms in plant-microbiome research. Here we revisit the features of reductionist model systems that have made them so powerful for studying plant-microbe interactions, and how modeling microbiome research after these systems can propel discovery of novel mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid33545043, year = {2021}, author = {Kokkoris, V and Chagnon, PL and Yildirir, G and Clarke, K and Goh, D and MacLean, AM and Dettman, J and Stefani, F and Corradi, N}, title = {Host identity influences nuclear dynamics in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {1531-1538.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.035}, pmid = {33545043}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are involved in one of the most ecologically important symbioses on the planet, occurring within the roots of most land plants.[1] Knowledge of even basic elements of AM fungal biology is still poor, with the discovery that AMF may in fact have a sexual life cycle being only very recently reported.[2-5] AMF produce asexual spores that contain up to several thousand individual haploid nuclei[6] of either largely uniform genotypes (AMF homokaryons) or nuclei originating from two parental genotypes[2-5] (AMF dikaryons or heterokaryons). In contrast to the sexual dikaryons in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota,[7][,][8] in which pairs of nuclei coexist in single hyphal compartments, AMF dikaryons carry several thousand nuclei in a coenocytic mycelium. Here, we set out to better understand the dynamics of this unique multinucleate condition by combining molecular analyses with advanced microscopy and modeling. Herein, we report that select AMF dikaryotic strains carry the distinct nucleotypes in equal proportions to one another, whereas others show an unequal distribution of parental nucleotypes. In both cases, the relative proportions within a given strain are inherently stable. Simulation models suggest that AMF dikaryons may be maintained through nuclear cooperation dynamics. Remarkably, we report that these nuclear ratios shift dramatically in response to plant host identity, revealing a previously unknown layer of genetic complexity and dynamism within the intimate interactions that occur between the partners of a prominent terrestrial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33544161, year = {2021}, author = {Dreisbach, D and Petschenka, G and Spengler, B and Bhandari, DR}, title = {3D-surface MALDI mass spectrometry imaging for visualising plant defensive cardiac glycosides in Asclepias curassavica.}, journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}, volume = {413}, number = {8}, pages = {2125-2134}, pmid = {33544161}, issn = {1618-2650}, mesh = {Asclepias/*chemistry/physiology ; Cardiac Glycosides/*analysis ; Herbivory ; Plant Leaves/*chemistry/physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Mass spectrometry-based imaging (MSI) has emerged as a promising method for spatial metabolomics in plant science. Several ionisation techniques have shown great potential for the spatially resolved analysis of metabolites in plant tissue. However, limitations in technology and methodology limited the molecular information for irregular 3D surfaces with resolutions on the micrometre scale. Here, we used atmospheric-pressure 3D-surface matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (3D-surface MALDI MSI) to investigate plant chemical defence at the topographic molecular level for the model system Asclepias curassavica. Upon mechanical damage (simulating herbivore attacks) of native A. curassavica leaves, the surface of the leaves varies up to 700 μm, and cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) and other defence metabolites were exclusively detected in damaged leaf tissue but not in different regions of the same leaf. Our results indicated an increased latex flow rate towards the point of damage leading to an accumulation of defence substances in the affected area. While the concentration of cardiac glycosides showed no differences between 10 and 300 min after wounding, cardiac glycosides decreased after 24 h. The employed autofocusing AP-SMALDI MSI system provides a significant technological advancement for the visualisation of individual molecule species on irregular 3D surfaces such as native plant leaves. Our study demonstrates the enormous potential of this method in the field of plant science including primary metabolism and molecular mechanisms of plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress and symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid33544133, year = {2021}, author = {Ruiz, B and Frostegård, Å and Bruand, C and Meilhoc, E}, title = {Rhizobia: highways to NO.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {495-505}, doi = {10.1042/BST20200989}, pmid = {33544133}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The interaction between rhizobia and their legume host plants conduces to the formation of specialized root organs called nodules where rhizobia differentiate into bacteroids which fix atmospheric nitrogen to the benefit of the plant. This beneficial symbiosis is of importance in the context of sustainable agriculture as legumes do not require the addition of nitrogen fertilizer to grow. Interestingly, nitric oxide (NO) has been detected at various steps of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis where it has been shown to play multifaceted roles. Both bacterial and plant partners are involved in NO synthesis in nodules. To better understand the role of NO, and in particular the role of bacterial NO, at all steps of rhizobia-legumes interaction, the enzymatic sources of NO have to be elucidated. In this review, we discuss different enzymatic reactions by which rhizobia may potentially produce NO. We argue that there is most probably no NO synthase activity in rhizobia, and that instead the NO2- reductase nirK, which is part of the denitrification pathway, is the main bacterial source of NO. The nitrate assimilation pathway might contribute to NO production but only when denitrification is active. The different approaches to measure NO in rhizobia are also addressed.}, } @article {pmid33543986, year = {2021}, author = {Pankievicz, VCS and do Amaral, FP and Ané, JM and Stacey, G}, title = {Diazotrophic Bacteria and Their Mechanisms to Interact and Benefit Cereals.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {491-498}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-20-0316-FI}, pmid = {33543986}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Edible Grain ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) stimulate plant growth through diverse mechanisms. In addition to biological nitrogen fixation, diazotrophic PGPB can improve nutrient uptake efficiency from the soil, produce and release phytohormones to the host, and confer resistance against pathogens. The genetic determinants that drive the success of biological nitrogen fixation in nonlegume plants are understudied. These determinants include recognition and signaling pathways, bacterial colonization, and genotype specificity between host and bacteria. This review presents recent discoveries of how nitrogen-fixing PGPB interact with cereals and promote plant growth. We suggest adopting an experimental model system, such as the Setaria-diazotrophic bacteria association, as a reliable way to better understand the associated mechanisms and, ultimately, increase the use of PGPB inoculants for sustainable agriculture.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33543432, year = {2021}, author = {Nazipi, S and Vangkilde-Pedersen, SG and Busck, MM and Lund, DK and Marshall, IPG and Bilde, T and Lund, MB and Schramm, A}, title = {An antimicrobial Staphylococcus sciuri with broad temperature and salt spectrum isolated from the surface of the African social spider, Stegodyphus dumicola.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {114}, number = {3}, pages = {325-335}, pmid = {33543432}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Spiders ; Staphylococcus/genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Some social arthropods engage in mutualistic symbiosis with antimicrobial compound-producing microorganisms that provide protection against pathogens. Social spiders live in communal nests and contain specific endosymbionts with unknown function. Bacteria are also found on the spiders' surface, including prevalent staphylococci, which may have protective potential. Here we present the genomic and phenotypic characterization of strain i1, isolated from the surface of the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. Phylogenomic analysis identified i1 as novel strain of Staphylococcus sciuri within subgroup 2 of three newly defined genomic subgroups. Further phenotypic investigations showed that S. sciuri i1 is an extremophile that can grow at a broad range of temperatures (4 °C-45 °C), high salt concentrations (up to 27%), and has antimicrobial activity against closely related species. We identified a lactococcin 972-like bacteriocin gene cluster, likely responsible for the antimicrobial activity, and found it conserved in two of the three subgroups of S. sciuri. These features indicate that S. sciuri i1, though not a specific symbiont, is well-adapted to survive on the surface of social spiders and may gain a competitive advantage by inhibiting closely related species.}, } @article {pmid33542282, year = {2021}, author = {Golomidova, AK and Efimov, AD and Kulikov, EE and Kuznetsov, AS and Belalov, IS and Letarov, AV}, title = {O antigen restricts lysogenization of non-O157 Escherichia coli strains by Stx-converting bacteriophage phi24B.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {3035}, pmid = {33542282}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacteriophages/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Escherichia coli Infections/*genetics/virology ; Escherichia coli O157/genetics/virology ; Humans ; Lysogeny/*genetics ; O Antigens/*genetics/metabolism ; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli/genetics/virology ; }, abstract = {Acquisition of new prophages that are able to increase the bacterial fitness by the lysogenic conversion is believed to be an important strategy of bacterial adaptation to the changing environment. However, in contrast to the factors determining the range of bacteriophage lytic activity, little is known about the factors that define the lysogenization host range. Bacteriophage phi24B is the paradigmal model of Stx-converting phages, encoding the toxins of the Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC). This virus has been shown to lysogenize a wide range of E. coli strains that is much broader than the range of the strains supporting its lytic growth. Therefore, phages produced by the STEC population colonizing the small or large intestine are potentially able to lysogenize symbiotic E. coli in the hindgut, and these secondary lysogens may contribute to the overall patient toxic load and to lead to the emergence of new pathogenic STEC strains. We demonstrate, however, that O antigen effectively limit the lysogenization of the wild E. coli strains by phi24B phage. The lysogens are formed from the spontaneous rough mutants and therefore have increased sensitivity to other bacteriophages and to the bactericidal activity of the serum if compared to their respective parental strains.}, } @article {pmid33541886, year = {2021}, author = {McBee, D and Ravindran, A and Newkirk, H and Burrowes, B and Young, R and Gonzalez, C}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Podophage Paso.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33541886}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a nitrogen-fixing, Gram-negative bacterium that forms a symbiotic relationship with leguminous plants. This announcement describes the isolation and genome annotation of B. japonicum T7-like podophage Paso. Genomic analysis reveals genes that are associated with both the T5 and T7 modes of genomic DNA entry into the host.}, } @article {pmid33541575, year = {2021}, author = {Ungkulpasvich, U and Baramee, S and Uke, A and Kosugi, A}, title = {Symbiotic chitin degradation by a novel anaerobic thermophilic bacterium Hydrogenispora sp. UUS1-1 and the bacterium Tepidanaerobacter sp. GT38.}, journal = {Enzyme and microbial technology}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {109740}, doi = {10.1016/j.enzmictec.2020.109740}, pmid = {33541575}, issn = {1879-0909}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; *Chitinases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Chitin is the second most abundant organic compound in nature. Although mesophilic bacteria degrade insoluble chitin, there is a paucity of data describing degradation of insoluble chitin by anaerobic thermophilic bacteria. In this report, we screened cow manure compost for new chitin degradation systems, and identified a chitinolytic bacterial community (CBC) that showed high chitin degradation activity under thermophilic conditions, i.e., 1% (w/v) chitin powder degraded completely within 7 days at 60 °C. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the CBC was dominated by two bacterial genera from Hydrogenispora, an uncultured taxonomic group, and Tepidanaerobacter. Hydrogenispora were abundant in the early-to-mid stages of culturing with chitin, whereas the population of Tepidanaerobacter increased during the later stages of culturing. Strains UUS1-1 and GT38, which were isolated as pure cultures using the roll-tube method with colloidal chitin, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, and glucose as carbon sources, were found to be closely related to H. ethanolica and T. acetatoxydans, respectively. Strain UUS1-1 readily degraded chitin and is the first anaerobic thermophilic chitinolytic bacterium reported, whereas strain GT38 showed no chitinolytic activity. Based on phylogenetic analysis, UUS1-1 and GT38 should be classified as novel genera and species. Zymogram analysis revealed that UUS1-1 produces at least two chitinases with molecular weights of 150 and 40 kDa. A coculture of UUS1-1 and GT38 degraded crystalline chitin faster with lower accumulation of lactate compared with UUS1-1 alone, indicating that the strains maintained a symbiotic association through assimilation of organic acids in chitin degradation and that strain GT38 consumed end-products to reduce end-product inhibition and enhance the degradation of crystalline chitin.}, } @article {pmid33541447, year = {2021}, author = {Livadaras, I and Koidou, V and Pitsili, E and Moustaka, J and Vontas, J and Siden-Kiamos, I}, title = {Stably inherited transfer of the bacterial symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola from wild olive fruit flies Bactrocera oleae to a laboratory strain.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {379-384}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485321000031}, pmid = {33541447}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Crops, Agricultural ; Erwinia/*growth & development ; Insect Control ; Laboratories ; Olea ; Pest Control ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, the most serious pest of olives, requires the endosymbiotic bacteria Candidatus Erwinia dacicola in order to complete its development in unripe green olives. Hence a better understanding of the symbiosis of Ca. E. dacicola and its insect host may lead to new strategies for reduction of B. oleae and thus minimize its economic impact on olive production. Studies of this symbiosis are hampered as the bacterium cannot be grown in vitro and the established B. oleae laboratory populations, raised on artificial diets, are devoid of this bacterium. Here, we sought to develop a method to transfer the bacteria from wild samples to laboratory populations. We tested several strategies. Cohabitation of flies from the field with the laboratory line did not result in a stable transfer of bacteria. We provided the bacteria directly to the egg and also in the food of the larvae but neither approach was successful. However, a robust method for transfer of Ca. E. dacicola from wild larvae or adults to uninfected flies by transplantation to females was established. Single female lines were set up and the bacteria were successfully transmitted for at least three generations. These results open up the possibilities to study the interaction between the symbiont and the host under controlled conditions, in view of both understanding the molecular underpinnings of an exciting, unique in nature symbiotic relationship, as well as developing novel, innovative control approaches.}, } @article {pmid33540079, year = {2021}, author = {Teh, LSX and Poo, JST and Boo, MV and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Using glutamine synthetase 1 to evaluate the symbionts' potential of ammonia assimilation and their responses to illumination in five organs of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {255}, number = {}, pages = {110914}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.110914}, pmid = {33540079}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Ammonia/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bivalvia/metabolism/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/*metabolism ; *Light ; Organ Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-deficient symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) living inside the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, need to obtain nitrogen from the host. Glutamine synthetase 1 (GS1) is a cytosolic enzyme that assimilates ammonia into glutamine. We determined the transcript levels of zooxanthellal GS1 (Zoox-GS1), which represented comprehensively GS1 transcripts of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium, in five organs of T. squamosa. The outer mantle had significantly higher transcript level of Zoox-GS1 than the inner mantle, foot muscle, hepatopancreas and ctenidium, but the transcript ratios of Zoox-GS1 to zooxanthellal form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Zoox-rbcII), which represented the potential of ammonia assimilation relative to the phototrophic potential, were comparable among these five organs. Based on transcript ratios of Zoox-GS1 to zooxanthellal Urease (Zoox-URE), the outer mantle had the highest potential of urea degradation relative to ammonia assimilation among the five organs, probably because urea degradation could furnish CO2 and NH3 for photosynthesis and amino acid synthesis, respectively, in the symbionts therein. The protein abundance of Zoox-GS1 was upregulated in the outer mantle and the inner mantle during illumination. Zoox-GS1 could catalyze light-enhanced glutamine formation using ammonia absorbed from the host or ammonia released through urea degradation in the cytoplasm. The glutamine produced could be used to synthesize other nitrogenous compounds, including amino acids in the cytoplasm or in the plastid of the dinoflagellates. Some of the amino acids synthesized by the symbionts in the inner mantle and foot muscle could be donated to the host to support shell organic matrix formation and muscle production, respectively.}, } @article {pmid33539896, year = {2021}, author = {Albicoro, FJ and Draghi, WO and Martini, MC and Salas, ME and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Lozano, MJ and López, JL and Vacca, C and Cafiero, JH and Pistorio, M and Bednarz, H and Meier, D and Lagares, A and Niehaus, K and Becker, A and Del Papa, MF}, title = {The two-component system ActJK is involved in acid stress tolerance and symbiosis in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {329}, number = {}, pages = {80-91}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.01.006}, pmid = {33539896}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti genome codifies at least 50 response regulator (RR) proteins mediating different and, in many cases, unknown processes. RR-mutant library screening allowed us to identify genes potentially implicated in survival to acid conditions. actJ mutation resulted in a strain with reduced growth rate under mildly acidic conditions as well as a lower capacity to tolerate a sudden shift to lethal acidic conditions compared with the parental strain. Mutation of the downstream gene actK, which encodes for a histidine kinase, showed a similar phenotype in acidic environments suggesting a functional two-component system. Interestingly, even though nodulation kinetics, quantity, and macroscopic morphology of Medicago sativa nodules were not affected in actJ and actK mutants, ActK was required to express the wild-type nitrogen fixation phenotype and ActJK was necessary for full bacteroid development and nodule occupancy. The actJK regulatory system presented here provides insights into an evolutionary process in rhizobium adaptation to acidic environments and suggests that actJK-controlled functions are crucial for optimal symbiosis development.}, } @article {pmid33539353, year = {2021}, author = {Rutten, PJ and Steel, H and Hood, GA and Ramachandran, VK and McMurtry, L and Geddes, B and Papachristodoulou, A and Poole, PS}, title = {Multiple sensors provide spatiotemporal oxygen regulation of gene expression in a Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {e1009099}, pmid = {33539353}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L011484/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Histidine Kinase/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Operon/genetics ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Regulation by oxygen (O2) in rhizobia is essential for their symbioses with plants and involves multiple O2 sensing proteins. Three sensors exist in the pea microsymbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum Rlv3841: hFixL, FnrN and NifA. At low O2 concentrations (1%) hFixL signals via FxkR to induce expression of the FixK transcription factor, which activates transcription of downstream genes. These include fixNOQP, encoding the high-affinity cbb3-type terminal oxidase used in symbiosis. In free-living Rlv3841, the hFixL-FxkR-FixK pathway was active at 1% O2, and confocal microscopy showed hFixL-FxkR-FixK activity in the earliest stages of Rlv3841 differentiation in nodules (zones I and II). Work on Rlv3841 inside and outside nodules showed that the hFixL-FxkR-FixK pathway also induces transcription of fnrN at 1% O2 and in the earliest stages of Rlv3841 differentiation in nodules. We confirmed past findings suggesting a role for FnrN in fixNOQP expression. However, unlike hFixL-FxkR-FixK, Rlv3841 FnrN was only active in the near-anaerobic zones III and IV of pea nodules. Quantification of fixNOQP expression in nodules showed this was driven primarily by FnrN, with minimal direct hFixL-FxkR-FixK induction. Thus, FnrN is key for full symbiotic expression of fixNOQP. Without FnrN, nitrogen fixation was reduced by 85% in Rlv3841, while eliminating hFixL only reduced fixation by 25%. The hFixL-FxkR-FixK pathway effectively primes the O2 response by increasing fnrN expression in early differentiation (zones I-II). In zone III of mature nodules, near-anaerobic conditions activate FnrN, which induces fixNOQP transcription to the level required for wild-type nitrogen fixation activity. Modelling and transcriptional analysis indicates that the different O2 sensitivities of hFixL and FnrN lead to a nuanced spatiotemporal pattern of gene regulation in different nodule zones in response to changing O2 concentration. Multi-sensor O2 regulation is prevalent in rhizobia, suggesting the fine-tuned control this enables is common and maximizes the effectiveness of the symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33537345, year = {2020}, author = {Chiaradia, D and Tiseni, L and Xiloyannis, M and Solazzi, M and Masia, L and Frisoli, A}, title = {An Assistive Soft Wrist Exosuit for Flexion Movements With an Ergonomic Reinforced Glove.}, journal = {Frontiers in robotics and AI}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {595862}, pmid = {33537345}, issn = {2296-9144}, abstract = {Soft exosuits are a promising solution for the assistance and augmentation of human motor abilities in the industrial field, where the use of more symbiotic wearable robots can avoid excessive worker fatigue and improve the quality of the work. One of the challenges in the design of soft exosuits is the choice of the right amount of softness to balance load transfer, ergonomics, and weight. This article presents a cable-driven based soft wrist exosuit for flexion assistance with the use of an ergonomic reinforced glove. The flexible and highly compliant three-dimensional (3D)-printed plastic structure that is sewn on the glove allows an optimal force transfer from the remotely located motor to the wrist articulation and to preserve a high level of comfort for the user during assistance. The device is shown to reduce fatigue and the muscular effort required for holding and lifting loads in healthy subjects for weights up to 3 kg.}, } @article {pmid33537293, year = {2020}, author = {Chaudhary, T and Gera, R and Shukla, P}, title = {Deciphering the Potential of Rhizobium pusense MB-17a, a Plant Growth-Promoting Root Endophyte, and Functional Annotation of the Genes Involved in the Metabolic Pathway.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {617034}, pmid = {33537293}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are root endophytic bacteria used for growth promotion, and they have broader applications in enhancing specific crop yield as a whole. In the present study, we have explored the potential of Rhizobium pusense MB-17a as an endophytic bacterium isolated from the roots of the mung bean (Vigna radiata) plant. Furthermore, this bacterium was sequenced and assembled to reveal its genomic potential associated with plant growth-promoting traits. Interestingly, the root endophyte R. pusense MB-17a showed all essential PGPR traits which were determined by biochemical and PGPR tests. It was noted that this root endophytic bacterium significantly produced siderophores, indole acetic acid (IAA), ammonia, and ACC deaminase and efficiently solubilized phosphate. The maximum IAA and ammonia produced were observed to be 110.5 and 81 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the PGPR potential of this endophytic bacterium was also confirmed by a pot experiment for mung bean (V. radiata), whose results show a substantial increase in the plant's fresh weight by 76.1% and dry weight by 76.5% on the 60th day after inoculation of R. pusense MB-17a. Also, there is a significant enhancement in the nodule number by 66.1% and nodule fresh weight by 162% at 45th day after inoculation with 100% field capacity after the inoculation of R. pusense MB-17a. Besides this, the functional genomic annotation of R. pusense MB-17a determined the presence of different proteins and transporters that are responsible for its stress tolerance and its plant growth-promoting properties. It was concluded that the unique presence of genes like rpoH, otsAB, and clpB enhances the symbiosis process during adverse conditions in this endophyte. Through Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (RAST) analysis, the key genes involved in the production of siderophores, volatile compounds, indoles, nitrogenases, and amino acids were also predicted. In conclusion, the strain described in this study gives a novel idea of using such type of endophytes for improving plant growth-promoting traits under different stress conditions for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33537247, year = {2021}, author = {Cieri, M and Carrara, S and Colombo, P}, title = {Exceptional Symbiosis Between Tumors: A Case of Gastric Signet Ring Cell Metastasis in Chromophobe Carcinoma of the Kidney.}, journal = {Research and reports in urology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {45-48}, pmid = {33537247}, issn = {2253-2447}, abstract = {Tumor-to-tumor metastasis is the presence of a metastatic deposit within a second malignant primary, and its identification could be challenging, particularly when the latter malignancy has not yet been discovered. Renal cell carcinoma is one of the known recipients. Here we present a 52 years old woman who presented with a small nodule in the left kidney, which had a biphasic cell proliferation, chromophobe type, and signet-ring cell type for which we suggested to investigate the presence of a second tumor of gastrointestinal origin. We present this case for the rarity of its presentation, for the peculiar histological symbiosis we found between the two tumor entities, and for the challenging diagnosis due to the presence of an occult aggressive primary tumor.}, } @article {pmid33537050, year = {2020}, author = {Rauf, M and Awais, M and Ud-Din, A and Ali, K and Gul, H and Rahman, MM and Hamayun, M and Arif, M}, title = {Molecular Mechanisms of the 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) Deaminase Producing Trichoderma asperellum MAP1 in Enhancing Wheat Tolerance to Waterlogging Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {614971}, pmid = {33537050}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Waterlogging stress (WS) induces ethylene (ET) and polyamine (spermine, putrescine, and spermidine) production in plants, but their reprogramming is a decisive element for determining the fate of the plant upon waterlogging-induced stress. WS can be challenged by exploring symbiotic microbes that improve the plant's ability to grow better and resist WS. The present study deals with identification and application of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing fungal endophyte Trichoderma asperellum (strain MAP1), isolated from the roots of Canna indica L., on wheat growth under WS. MAP1 positively affected wheat growth by secreting phytohormones/secondary metabolites, strengthening the plant's antioxidant system and influencing the physiology through polyamine production and modulating gene expression. MAP1 inoculation promoted yield in comparison to non-endophyte inoculated waterlogged seedlings. Exogenously applied ethephon (ET synthesis inducer) and 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC; ET precursor) showed a reduction in growth, compared to MAP1-inoculated waterlogged seedlings, while amino-oxyacetic acid (AOA; ET inhibitor) application reversed the negative effect imposed by ET and ACC, upon waterlogging treatment. A significant reduction in plant growth rate, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance was noticed, while H2O2, MDA production, and electrolyte leakage were increased in non-inoculated waterlogged seedlings. Moreover, in comparison to non-inoculated waterlogged wheat seedlings, MAP1-inoculated waterlogged wheat exhibited antioxidant-enzyme activities. In agreement with the physiological results, genes associated with the free polyamine (PA) biosynthesis were highly induced and PA content was abundant in MAP1-inoculated seedlings. Furthermore, ET biosynthesis/signaling gene expression was reduced upon MAP1 inoculation under WS. Briefly, MAP1 mitigated the adverse effect of WS in wheat, by reprogramming the PAs and ET biosynthesis, which leads to optimal stomatal conductance, increased photosynthesis, and membrane stability as well as reduced ET-induced leaf senescence.}, } @article {pmid33537022, year = {2020}, author = {Haber, M and Burgsdorf, I and Handley, KM and Rubin-Blum, M and Steindler, L}, title = {Genomic Insights Into the Lifestyles of Thaumarchaeota Inside Sponges.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {622824}, pmid = {33537022}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sponges are among the oldest metazoans and their success is partly due to their abundant and diverse microbial symbionts. They are one of the few animals that have Thaumarchaeota symbionts. Here we compare genomes of 11 Thaumarchaeota sponge symbionts, including three new genomes, to free-living ones. Like their free-living counterparts, sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota can oxidize ammonia, fix carbon, and produce several vitamins. Adaptions to life inside the sponge host include enrichment in transposases, toxin-antitoxin systems and restriction modifications systems, enrichments previously reported also from bacterial sponge symbionts. Most thaumarchaeal sponge symbionts lost the ability to synthesize rhamnose, which likely alters their cell surface and allows them to evade digestion by the host. All but one archaeal sponge symbiont encoded a high-affinity, branched-chain amino acid transporter system that was absent from the analyzed free-living thaumarchaeota suggesting a mixotrophic lifestyle for the sponge symbionts. Most of the other unique features found in sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota, were limited to only a few specific symbionts. These features included the presence of exopolyphosphatases and a glycine cleavage system found in the novel genomes. Thaumarchaeota have thus likely highly specific interactions with their sponge host, which is supported by the limited number of host sponge species to which each of these symbionts is restricted.}, } @article {pmid33536938, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, J and Chen, J and Wang, S and Li, F and Fu, C and Wang, Y}, title = {Monoclonal Culture and Characterization of Symbiodiniaceae C1 Strain From the Scleractinian Coral Galaxea fascicularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {621111}, pmid = {33536938}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between cnidarian hosts and photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae (i.e., zooxanthellae) provides the energy foundation of coral reef ecosystems in oligotrophic waters. The structure of symbiont biota and the dominant species of algal symbiont partly shape the environmental adaptability of coral symbiotes. In this study, the algal symbiont cells were isolated from the tentacles of Galaxea fascicularis, a hermatypic coral with obvious differentiation in heat resistance, and were cultured in vitro with an improved L1 medium. An algal monoclonal cell line was established using separated algal culture drops and soft agar plating method, and named by GF19C1 as it was identified as Cladocopium sp. C1 (Symbiodiniaceae) based on its ITS1, ITS2, and the non-coding region of the plastid psbA minicircle (psbA [ncr]) sequences. Most GF19C1 cells were at the coccoid stage of the gymnodinioid, their markedly thickened (ca. two times) cell wall suggests that they developed into vegetative cysts and have sexual and asexual reproductive potential. The average diameter of GF19C1 cells decreased significantly, probably due to the increasing mitotic rate. The chloroplasts volume density of GF19C1 was significantly lower than that of their symbiotic congeners, while the surface area density of thylakoids relative to volumes of chloroplasts was not significantly changed. The volume fraction of vacuoles increased by nearly fivefold, but there was no significant change in mitochondria and accumulation bodies. Light-temperature orthogonal experiments showed that, GF19C1 growth preferred the temperature 25 ± 1°C (at which it is maintained post-isolation) rather than 28 ± 1°C under the light intensity of 42 ± 2 or 62 ± 2 μmol photons m[-2] s[-1], indicating an inertia for temperature adaptation. The optimum salinity for GF19C1 growth ranged between 28-32 ppt. The monoclonal culture techniques established in this study were critical to clarify the physiological and ecological characteristics of various algal symbiont species, and will be instrumental to further reveal the roles of algal symbionts in the adaptive differentiation of coral-zooxanthellae holobionts in future studies.}, } @article {pmid33536700, year = {2020}, author = {Muggia, L and Zalar, P and Azua-Bustos, A and González-Silva, C and Grube, M and Gunde-Cimerman, N}, title = {The beauty and the yeast: can the microalgae Dunaliella form a borderline lichen with Hortaea werneckii?.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {123-131}, pmid = {33536700}, issn = {0334-5114}, support = {818602/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Lichenized fungi usually develop complex, stratified morphologies through an intricately balanced living together with their algal partners, but several species are known to form only more or less loose associations with algae. These borderline lichens are still little explored although they could inform us about early stages of lichen evolution. We studied the association of the extremely halotolerant fungus Hortaea werneckii with the alga Dunaliella atacamensis, discovered in a cave in the Atacama Desert (Chile), and with D. salina, common inhabitant of saltern brines. D. atacamensis forms small colonies, in which cells of H. werneckii can be frequently observed, while such interaction has not been observed with D. salina. As symbiotic interactions between Dunaliella and Hortaea have not been reported, we performed a series of co-cultivation experiments to inspect whether these species could interact and develop more distinct lichen-like symbiotic structures. We set up co-cultures between axenic strains of Hortaea werneckii (isolated both from Mediterranean salterns and from the Atacama cave) and isolates of D. atacamensis (from the Atacama cave) and D. salina (isolated from Mediterranean salterns). Although we used different growth media and cultivation approaches, bright field and SEM microscopy analyses did not indicate any mutual effects in these experiments. We discuss the implications for fungal algal interactions along the transition from algal exploiters to lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33536497, year = {2021}, author = {Hoshina, R and Tsukii, Y and Harumoto, T and Suzaki, T}, title = {Characterization of a green Stentor with symbiotic algae growing in an extremely oligotrophic environment and storing large amounts of starch granules in its cytoplasm.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2865}, pmid = {33536497}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Chlorella/*physiology ; Ciliophora/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Japan ; Ponds/microbiology ; Starch/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {The genus Stentor is a relatively well-known ciliate owing to its lucid trumpet shape. Stentor pyriformis represents a green, short, and fat Stentor, but it is a little-known species. We investigated 124 ponds and wetlands in Japan and confirmed the presence of S. pyriformis at 23 locations. All these ponds were noticeably oligotrophic. With the improvement of oligotrophic culture conditions, we succeeded in long-term cultivation of three strains of S. pyriformis. The cytoplasm of S. piriformis contains a large number of 1-3 μm refractive granules that turn brown by Lugol's staining. The granules also show a typical Maltese-cross pattern by polarization microscopy, strongly suggesting that the granules are made of amylopectin-rich starch. By analyzing the algal rDNA, it was found that all S. pyriformis symbionts investigated in this study were Chlorella variabilis. This species is known as the symbiont of Paramecium bursaria and is physiologically specialized for endosymbiosis. Genetic discrepancies between C. variabilis of S. pyriformis and P. bursaria may indicate that algal sharing was an old incident. Having symbiotic algae and storing carbohydrate granules in the cytoplasm is considered a powerful strategy for this ciliate to withstand oligotrophic and cold winter environments in highland bogs.}, } @article {pmid33536483, year = {2021}, author = {Miyokawa, R and Kanaya, HJ and Itoh, TQ and Kobayakawa, Y and Kusumi, J}, title = {Immature symbiotic system between horizontally transmitted green algae and brown hydra.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2921}, pmid = {33536483}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Hydra/genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA-Seq ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Some strains of brown hydra (Hydra vulgaris) are able to harbor the green algae Chlorococcum in their endodermal epithelial cells as symbionts. However, the relationship between brown hydra and chlorococcum is considered to be incipient symbiosis because most artificially introduced symbionts are not stable and because symbiotic H. vulgaris strains are rare in the wild. In this study, we compared the gene expression levels of the newly established symbiotic hydra (strain 105G), the native symbiotic strain (J7), and their non-symbiotic polyps to determine what changes would occur at the early stage of the evolution of symbiosis. We found that both the 105G and J7 strains showed comparable expression patterns, exhibiting upregulation of lysosomal enzymes and downregulation of genes related to nematocyte development and function. Meanwhile, genes involved in translation and the respiratory chain were upregulated only in strain 105G. Furthermore, treatment with rapamycin, which inhibits translation activity, induced the degeneration of the symbiotic strains (105G and J7). This effect was severe in strain 105G. Our results suggested that evolving the ability to balance the cellular metabolism between the host and the symbiont is a key requirement for adapting to endosymbiosis with chlorococcum.}, } @article {pmid33535706, year = {2021}, author = {Vandana, UK and Rajkumari, J and Singha, LP and Satish, L and Alavilli, H and Sudheer, PDVN and Chauhan, S and Ratnala, R and Satturu, V and Mazumder, PB and Pandey, P}, title = {The Endophytic Microbiome as a Hotspot of Synergistic Interactions, with Prospects of Plant Growth Promotion.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33535706}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The plant root is the primary site of interaction between plants and associated microorganisms and constitutes the main components of plant microbiomes that impact crop production. The endophytic bacteria in the root zone have an important role in plant growth promotion. Diverse microbial communities inhabit plant root tissues, and they directly or indirectly promote plant growth by inhibiting the growth of plant pathogens, producing various secondary metabolites. Mechanisms of plant growth promotion and response of root endophytic microorganisms for their survival and colonization in the host plants are the result of complex plant-microbe interactions. Endophytic microorganisms also assist the host to sustain different biotic and abiotic stresses. Better insights are emerging for the endophyte, such as host plant interactions due to advancements in 'omic' technologies, which facilitate the exploration of genes that are responsible for plant tissue colonization. Consequently, this is informative to envisage putative functions and metabolic processes crucial for endophytic adaptations. Detection of cell signaling molecules between host plants and identification of compounds synthesized by root endophytes are effective means for their utilization in the agriculture sector as biofertilizers. In addition, it is interesting that the endophytic microorganism colonization impacts the relative abundance of indigenous microbial communities and suppresses the deleterious microorganisms in plant tissues. Natural products released by endophytes act as biocontrol agents and inhibit pathogen growth. The symbiosis of endophytic bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affects plant symbiotic signaling pathways and root colonization patterns and phytohormone synthesis. In this review, the potential of the root endophytic community, colonization, and role in the improvement of plant growth has been explained in the light of intricate plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid33535070, year = {2021}, author = {Boziki, M and Grigoriadis, N and Papaefthymiou, A and Doulberis, M and Polyzos, SA and Gavalas, E and Deretzi, G and Karafoulidou, E and Kesidou, E and Taloumtzis, C and Theotokis, P and Sofou, E and Katsinelos, P and Vardaka, E and Fludaras, I and Touloumtzi, M and Koukoufiki, A and Simeonidou, C and Liatsos, C and Kountouras, J}, title = {The trimebutine effect on Helicobacter pylori-related gastrointestinal tract and brain disorders: A hypothesis.}, journal = {Neurochemistry international}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {104938}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104938}, pmid = {33535070}, issn = {1872-9754}, mesh = {Brain Diseases/*drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Dysbiosis/drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Agents/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/physiology ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Helicobacter pylori/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome ; Trimebutine/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The localization of bacterial components and/or metabolites in the central nervous system may elicit neuroinflammation and/or neurodegeneration. Helicobacter pylori (a non-commensal symbiotic gastrointestinal pathogen) infection and its related metabolic syndrome have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system disorders, thus medications affecting the nervous system - gastrointestinal tract may shape the potential of Helicobacter pylori infection to trigger these pathologies. Helicobacter pylori associated metabolic syndrome, by impairing gut motility and promoting bacterial overgrowth and translocation, might lead to brain pathologies. Trimebutine maleate is a prokinetic drug that hastens gastric emptying, by inducing the release of gastrointestinal agents such as motilin and gastrin. Likewise, it appears to protect against inflammatory signal pathways, involved in inflammatory disorders including brain pathologies. Trimebutine maleate also acts as an antimicrobial agent and exerts opioid agonist effect. This study aimed to investigate a hypothesis regarding the recent advances in exploring the potential role of gastrointestinal tract microbiota dysbiosis-related metabolic syndrome and Helicobacter pylori in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal tract and brain diseases. We hereby proposed a possible neuroprotective role for trimebutine maleate by altering the dynamics of the gut-brain axis interaction, thus suggesting an additional effect of trimebutine maleate on Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens against these pathologies.}, } @article {pmid33534602, year = {2021}, author = {Thoms, D and Liang, Y and Haney, CH}, title = {Maintaining Symbiotic Homeostasis: How Do Plants Engage With Beneficial Microorganisms While at the Same Time Restricting Pathogens?.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {462-469}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-20-0318-FI}, pmid = {33534602}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Homeostasis ; *Microbiota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This article is part of the Top 10 Unanswered Questions in MPMI invited review series.That plants recruit beneficial microbes while simultaneously restricting pathogens is critical to their survival. Plants must exclude pathogens; however, most land plants are able to form mutualistic symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plants also associate with the complex microbial communities that form the microbiome. The outcome of each symbiotic interaction-whether a specific microbe is pathogenic, commensal, or mutualistic-relies on the specific interplay of host and microbial genetics and the environment. Here, we discuss how plants use metabolites as a gate to select which microbes can be symbiotic. Once present, we discuss how plants integrate multiple inputs to initiate programs of immunity or mutualistic symbiosis and how this paradigm may be expanded to the microbiome. Finally, we discuss how environmental signals are integrated with immunity to fine-tune a thermostat that determines whether a plant engages in mutualism, resistance to pathogens, and shapes associations with the microbiome. Collectively, we propose that the plant immune thermostat is set to select for and tolerate a largely nonharmful microbiome while receptor-mediated decision making allows plants to detect and dynamically respond to the presence of potential pathogens or mutualists.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33533861, year = {2021}, author = {Gutierrez, DMD and Sousa, GS and Figueiredo, AEB and Ribeiro, MNS and Diniz, CX and Nobre, GASS}, title = {Subjective life experiences of family caregivers of dependent older adults.}, journal = {Ciencia & saude coletiva}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {47-56}, doi = {10.1590/1413-81232020261.30402020}, pmid = {33533861}, issn = {1678-4561}, mesh = {Aged ; Brazil ; *Caregivers ; Family ; *Home Care Services ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Social Isolation ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to understand the subjective meanings attributed to home care by family caregivers of dependent older adults through a multicenter qualitative investigation that gathered 84 in-depth interviews with family caregivers from eight Brazilian locations. The hermeneutic-dialectic, theoretical, methodological framework was employed. The following categories emerged from the analysis: 1. Movements inhibiting emotions and feelings; 2. Presence of processes of symbiosis and emotional dependence in the older adult-relative relationship; 3. Contentment in caring for the dependent older adult; and 4. Giving up current and future life projects. The results reveal life experiences marked by symbiotic processes, emotional dependence, and psychic stress. Dependence causes suffering and feelings of despair, powerlessness, impatience, but also solidarity and empathy. Withdrawal from the job market, social depreciation of family caregiver's activity, social isolation, neglected self-care, and family conflicts impact caregivers' subjectivity. The elaboration of public policies must consider the social-affective life experiences of family caregivers of dependent older adults in order to include the care of those providing care.}, } @article {pmid33531407, year = {2021}, author = {Myers, KN and Conn, D and Brown, AMV}, title = {Essential Amino Acid Enrichment and Positive Selection Highlight Endosymbiont's Role in a Global Virus-Vectoring Pest.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33531407}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Host-associated microbes display remarkable convergence in genome repertoire resulting from selection to supplement missing host functions. Nutritional supplementation has been proposed in the verrucomicrobial endosymbiont Xiphinematobacter sp., which lives within a globally widespread group of plant-parasitic nematodes that vector damaging nepoviruses to plants. Only one genome sequence has been published from this symbiont, leaving unanswered questions about its diversity, host range, role, and selective pressures within its hosts. Because its hosts are exceptionally resistant to culturing, this symbiont is best studied through advanced genomic approaches. To analyze the role of Xiphinematobacter sp. in its host, sequencing was performed on nematode communities, and then genomes were extracted for comparative genomics, gene ontology enrichment tests, polymorphism analysis, de Bruijn-based genome-wide association studies, and tests of pathway- and site-specific selection on genes predicted play a role in the symbiosis. Results showed a closely clustered set of Xiphinematobacter isolates with reduced genomes of ∼917 kbp, for which a new species was proposed. Symbionts shared only 2.3% of genes with outgroup Verrucomicrobia, but comparative analyses showed high conservation of all 10 essential amino acid (EAA) biosynthesis pathways plus several vitamin pathways. These findings were supported by gene ontology enrichment tests and high polymorphisms in these pathways compared with background. Genome-wide association analysis confirmed high between-species fixation of alleles with significant functional enrichment for EAA and thiamine synthesis. Strong positive selection was detected on sites within these pathways, despite several being under increased purifying selection. Together, these results suggest that supplementation of EAAs missing in the host diet may drive this widespread symbiosis.IMPORTANCE Xiphinematobacter spp. are distinctly evolved intracellular symbionts in the phylum Verrucomicrobia, which includes the important human gut-associated microbe Akkermansia muciniphila and many highly abundant free-living soil microbes. Like Akkermansia sp., Xiphinematobacter sp. is obligately associated with the gut of its hosts, which in this case consists of a group of plant-parasitic nematodes that are among the top 10 most destructive species to global agriculture, by vectoring plant viruses. This study examined the hypothesis that the key to this symbiont's stable evolutionary association with its host is through provisioning nutrients that its host cannot make that may be lacking in the nematode's plant phloem diet, such as essential amino acids and several vitamins. The significance of our research is in demonstrating, using population genomics, the signatures of selective pressure on these hypothesized roles to ultimately learn how this independently evolved symbiont functionally mirrors symbionts of phloem-feeding insects.}, } @article {pmid33530627, year = {2021}, author = {Yakabe, K and Uchiyama, J and Akiyama, M and Kim, YG}, title = {Understanding Host Immunity and the Gut Microbiota Inspires the New Development of Vaccines and Adjuvants.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33530627}, issn = {1999-4923}, abstract = {Vaccinations improve the mortality and morbidity rates associated with several infections through the generation of antigen-specific immune responses. Adjuvants are often used together with vaccines to improve immunogenicity. However, the immune responses induced by most on-going vaccines and adjuvants approved for human use vary in individuals; this is a limitation that must be overcome to improve vaccine efficacy. Several reports have indicated that the symbiotic bacteria, particularly the gut microbiota, impact vaccine-mediated antigen-specific immune responses and promote the induction of nonspecific responses via the "training" of innate immune cells. Therefore, the interaction between gut microbiota and innate immune cells should be considered to ensure the optimal immunogenicity of vaccines and adjuvants. In this review, we first introduce the current knowledge on the immunological mechanisms of vaccines and adjuvants. Subsequently, we discuss how the gut microbiota influences immunity and highlight the relationship between gut microbes and trained innate immunity, vaccines, and adjuvants. Understanding these complex interactions will provide insights into novel vaccine approaches centered on the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid33529396, year = {2021}, author = {Esparza-Reynoso, S and Ruíz-Herrera, LF and Pelagio-Flores, R and Macías-Rodríguez, LI and Martínez-Trujillo, M and López-Coria, M and Sánchez-Nieto, S and Herrera-Estrella, A and López-Bucio, J}, title = {Trichoderma atroviride-emitted volatiles improve growth of Arabidopsis seedlings through modulation of sucrose transport and metabolism.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {1961-1976}, doi = {10.1111/pce.14014}, pmid = {33529396}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glucosyltransferases/genetics ; Hypocreales/*chemistry ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Exudates/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Pyrones/pharmacology ; Seedlings/growth & development/metabolism ; Sucrose/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Plants host a diverse microbiome and differentially react to the fungal species living as endophytes or around their roots through emission of volatiles. Here, using divided Petri plates for Arabidopsis-T. atroviride co-cultivation, we show that fungal volatiles increase endogenous sugar levels in shoots, roots and root exudates, which improve Arabidopsis root growth and branching and strengthen the symbiosis. Tissue-specific expression of three sucrose phosphate synthase-encoding genes (AtSPS1F, AtSPS2F and AtSPS3F), and AtSUC2 and SWEET transporters revealed that the gene expression signatures differ from those of the fungal pathogens Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata and that AtSUC2 is largely repressed either by increasing carbon availability or by perception of the fungal volatile 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one. Our data point to Trichoderma volatiles as chemical signatures for sugar biosynthesis and exudation and unveil specific modulation of a critical, long-distance sucrose transporter in the plant.}, } @article {pmid33529395, year = {2021}, author = {Brown, MEL and Whybrow, P and Kirwan, G and Finn, GM}, title = {Professional identity formation within longitudinal integrated clerkships: A scoping review.}, journal = {Medical education}, volume = {55}, number = {8}, pages = {912-924}, doi = {10.1111/medu.14461}, pmid = {33529395}, issn = {1365-2923}, mesh = {Canada ; *Career Choice ; *Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; United States ; }, abstract = {CONTEXT: Although the uptake of Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LICs) is increasing worldwide, and there are documented benefits to participation, there is a lack of conceptual evidence regarding how LICs exert many of their benefits, including their influence on the recruitment and retention of practitioners to underserved areas or specialties. Whilst career choice and professional identity development have been previously connected within medicine, what is known about the ways in which LICs influence identity remains unclear. A scoping review was conducted to explore current knowledge and map directions for future research.

METHOD: In 2020, the authors searched nine bibliographic databases for articles discussing identity within the context of LICs using a systematic search strategy. Two reviewers independently screened all articles against eligibility criteria and charted the data. Eligible articles were analysed by quantitative and qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS: 849 articles were identified following an extensive search. 131 articles were selected for full-text review, with 27 eligible for inclusion. Over half of all articles originated from the United States or Canada, and research most frequently explored identity development from sociocultural orientations. Qualitatively, four themes were identified: (a) The importance of contextual continuities; (b) Symbiotic relationship of responsibility and identity development; (c) Becoming a competent carer; and (d) Influence of LICs on career identity.

CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review adds weight to the supposition that participation in LICs facilitates identity development, namely through contextual continuities and the responsibility students assume as they become co-providers of patient care. There are suggestions that LICs encourage the development of an 'ethic of caring'. As little research compares comprehensive LICs with other clerkship models, it remains difficult to say to what degree identity formation is facilitated above and beyond other models. Future comparative research, and research exploring identity formation from diverse theoretical perspectives would add depth.}, } @article {pmid33528835, year = {2021}, author = {Molins, A and Moya, P and Muggia, L and Barreno, E}, title = {Thallus Growth Stage and Geographic Origin Shape Microalgal Diversity in Ramalina farinacea Lichen Holobionts.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {3}, pages = {975-987}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13140}, pmid = {33528835}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; *Lichens ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichen symbioses are microecosystems hosting many other living organisms besides the two major lichen symbionts (i.e., lichenized fungi [the mycobiont] and green microalgae or cyanobacteria [the photobiont]). Recent investigations evidenced that other fungi, non-photosynthetic bacteria, and microalgae co-inhabit within the lichen thalli, but their diversity and their roles are still underinvestigated. Here we present an ad hoc stratified sampling design and in-depth Illumina paired-end metabarcoding approach to explore microalgal diversity in lichen thalli of the model species Ramalina farinacea from different ecologies. Lichen thalli were surveyed according to three different sizes, and different thallus parts were considered for molecular, bioinformatics, and community diversity analyses. The results revealed that microalgal diversity strongly depends on the growth stage of the thalli, the geographic area, and the habitat type. The results also show that microalgal diversity does not vary along the thallus branches (lacinias)-that is, it does not correlate with the apical growth and founder effects-and that there is no balanced co-presence of two main photobionts as previously established in R. farinacea. The sampling design performed here minimizes bias in the assessment of photobiont diversity in lichens and is proposed to be reliable and applicable to further study microalgal diversity in lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33528098, year = {2021}, author = {Mizrahi, I and Jami, E}, title = {A method to the madness: Disentangling the individual forces that shape the rumen microbiome.}, journal = {EMBO reports}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {e52269}, pmid = {33528098}, issn = {1469-3178}, support = {640384/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; *Rumen ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rumen microbiome - a remarkable example of obligatory symbiosis with high ecological and social relevance.}, } @article {pmid33526611, year = {2021}, author = {Ledermann, R and Schulte, CCM and Poole, PS}, title = {How Rhizobia Adapt to the Nodule Environment.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {203}, number = {12}, pages = {e0053920}, pmid = {33526611}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {183901/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biological Evolution ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a phylogenetically diverse group of soil bacteria that engage in mutualistic interactions with legume plants. Although specifics of the symbioses differ between strains and plants, all symbioses ultimately result in the formation of specialized root nodule organs that host the nitrogen-fixing microsymbionts called bacteroids. Inside nodules, bacteroids encounter unique conditions that necessitate the global reprogramming of physiological processes and the rerouting of their metabolism. Decades of research have addressed these questions using genetics, omics approaches, and, more recently, computational modeling. Here, we discuss the common adaptations of rhizobia to the nodule environment that define the core principles of bacteroid functioning. All bacteroids are growth arrested and perform energy-intensive nitrogen fixation fueled by plant-provided C4-dicarboxylates at nanomolar oxygen levels. At the same time, bacteroids are subject to host control and sanctioning that ultimately determine their fitness and have fundamental importance for the evolution of a stable mutualistic relationship.}, } @article {pmid33525474, year = {2021}, author = {Valadares, RBS and Marroni, F and Sillo, F and Oliveira, RRM and Balestrini, R and Perotto, S}, title = {A Transcriptomic Approach Provides Insights on the Mycorrhizal Symbiosis of the Mediterranean Orchid Limodorum abortivum in Nature.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33525474}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The study of orchid mycorrhizal interactions is particularly complex because of the peculiar life cycle of these plants and their diverse trophic strategies. Here, transcriptomics has been applied to investigate gene expression in the mycorrhizal roots of Limodorum abortivum, a terrestrial mixotrophic orchid that associates with ectomycorrhizal fungi in the genus Russula. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying plant-fungus interactions in adult orchids in nature and in particular into the plant responses to the mycorrhizal symbiont(s) in the roots of mixotrophic orchids. Our results indicate that amino acids may represent the main nitrogen source in mycorrhizal roots of L. abortivum, as already suggested for orchid protocorms and other orchid species. The upregulation, in mycorrhizal L. abortivum roots, of some symbiotic molecular marker genes identified in mycorrhizal roots from other orchids as well as in arbuscular mycorrhiza, may mirror a common core of plant genes involved in endomycorrhizal symbioses. Further efforts will be required to understand whether the specificities of orchid mycorrhiza depend on fine-tuned regulation of these common components, or whether specific additional genes are involved.}, } @article {pmid33523848, year = {2021}, author = {Williams, A and Chiles, EN and Conetta, D and Pathmanathan, JS and Cleves, PA and Putnam, HM and Su, X and Bhattacharya, D}, title = {Metabolomic shifts associated with heat stress in coral holobionts.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33523848}, issn = {2375-2548}, support = {P30 CA072720/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Dipeptides ; Heat-Shock Response ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the response of the coral holobiont to environmental change is crucial to inform conservation efforts. The most pressing problem is "coral bleaching," usually precipitated by prolonged thermal stress. We used untargeted, polar metabolite profiling to investigate the physiological response of the coral species Montipora capitata and Pocillopora acuta to heat stress. Our goal was to identify diagnostic markers present early in the bleaching response. From the untargeted UHPLC-MS data, a variety of co-regulated dipeptides were found that have the highest differential accumulation in both species. The structures of four dipeptides were determined and showed differential accumulation in symbiotic and aposymbiotic (alga-free) populations of the sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida), suggesting the deep evolutionary origins of these dipeptides and their involvement in symbiosis. These and other metabolites may be used as diagnostic markers for thermal stress in wild coral.}, } @article {pmid33523787, year = {2021}, author = {Papaïx, J and Burdon, JJ and Walker, E and Barrett, LG and Thrall, PH}, title = {Metapopulation Structure Predicts Population Dynamics in the Cakile maritima-Alternaria brassicicola Host-Pathogen Interaction.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {197}, number = {2}, pages = {E55-E71}, doi = {10.1086/712248}, pmid = {33523787}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Alternaria/*physiology ; Brassicaceae/*microbiology ; Climate ; Ecosystem ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; New South Wales ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Population Dynamics ; Seed Dispersal ; }, abstract = {AbstractIn symbiotic interactions, spatiotemporal variation in the distribution or population dynamics of one species represents spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the landscape for the other. Such interdependent demographic dynamics result in situations where the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors in determining ecological processes is complicated to decipher. Using a detailed survey of three metapopulations of the succulent plant Cakile maritima and the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola located along the southeastern Australian coast, we developed a series of statistical analyses-namely, synchrony analysis, patch occupancy dynamics, and a spatially explicit metapopulation model-to understand how habitat quality, weather conditions, dispersal, and spatial structure determine metapopulation dynamics. Climatic conditions are important drivers, likely explaining the high synchrony among populations. Host availability, landscape features facilitating dispersal, and habitat conditions also impact the occurrence and spread of disease. Overall, we show that the collection of extensive data on host and pathogen population dynamics, in combination with spatially explicit epidemiological modeling, makes it possible to accurately predict disease dynamics-even when there is extreme variability in host population dynamics. Finally, we discuss the importance of genetic information for predicting demographic dynamics in this pathosystem.}, } @article {pmid33522840, year = {2021}, author = {Peng, L and Shan, X and Wang, Y and Martin, F and Vilgalys, R and Yuan, Z}, title = {Hybrid Genome Assembly and Gene Repertoire of the Root Endophyte Clitopilus hobsonii QYL-10 (Entolomataceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycetes).}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {711-714}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-20-0328-A}, pmid = {33522840}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Agaricales/genetics ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Endophytes/genetics ; }, abstract = {Clitopilus hobsonii (Entolomataceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycetes) is a common soil saprotroph. There is also evidence that C. hobsonii can act as a root endophyte benefitting tree growth. Here, we report the genome assembly of C. hobsonii QYL-10, isolated from ectomycorrhizal root tips of Quercus lyrata. The genome size is 36.93 Mb, consisting of 13 contigs (N50 = 3.3 Mb) with 49.2% GC content. Of them, 10 contigs approached the length of intact chromosomes, and three had telomeres at one end only. BUSCO analysis reported a completeness score of 98.4%, using Basidiomycota_odb10 lineage data. Combining ab-initio, RNA-seq data, and homology-based predictions, we identified 12,710 protein-coding genes. Approximately, 1.43 Mb of transposable elements (3.88% of the assembly), 36 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, and 361 genes encoding putative carbohydrate-active enzymes were identified. This genomic resource will allow functional studies aimed to characterize the symbiotic interactions between C. hobsonii and its host trees and will also provide a valuable foundation for further research on comparative genomics of the Entolomataceae.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33522603, year = {2021}, author = {Rai, S and Singh, DK and Kumar, A}, title = {Microbial, environmental and anthropogenic factors influencing the indoor microbiome of the built environment.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {4}, pages = {267-292}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.202000575}, pmid = {33522603}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {*Air Microbiology ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; Bacteria/classification ; *Built Environment ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Humidity ; Lighting ; *Microbiota ; Particulate Matter ; Seasons ; Smoking ; Sunlight ; Temperature ; Ventilation ; }, abstract = {A built environment is a human-made environment providing surroundings for human occupancy, activities, and settlement. It is supposed to safeguard humans from all undesirable and harmful pollutants; however, indoor concentrations of some pollutants are much greater than that of the outdoors. Bioaerosols infiltrate from the outdoors in addition to many indoor sources of bioaerosols including the use of various chemicals as well as activities like cooking, smoking, cleaning, or even normal movement. They are also associated with a number of serious health concerns. Various ecological factors associated with the generation, the persistence as well as the dispersal of these microbial components of indoor bioaerosols, are discussed in this review, that have not been considered all together till now. The factors like microbial taxa, environmental factors, and anthropogenic activities (human occupancy, activities, and impact of urbanization) are addressed in the review. Effects of both indoor environmental factors like architectural design, lighting, ventilation, temperature, humidity, indoor/outdoor ratio, particulate matter, indoor chemistry as well as outdoor environmental factors like geography, seasons, and meteorology on the microbial concentrations have been discussed. Efforts are underway to design selective pressures for microbes to create a healthy symbiotic built microbiome as the "right" indoor microbiome is a "healthy" indoor microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33521949, year = {2021}, author = {Quides, KW and Salaheldine, F and Jariwala, R and Sachs, JL}, title = {Dysregulation of host-control causes interspecific conflict over host investment into symbiotic organs.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {75}, number = {5}, pages = {1189-1200}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14173}, pmid = {33521949}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Lotus/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Mutation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial mutualists provide substantial benefits to hosts that feed back to enhance the fitness of the associated microbes. In many systems, beneficial microbes colonize symbiotic organs, specialized host structures that house symbionts and mediate resources exchanged between parties. Mutualisms are characterized by net benefits exchanged among members of different species, however, inequalities in the magnitude of these exchanges could result in evolutionary conflict, destabilizing the mutualism. We investigated joint fitness effects of root nodule formation, the symbiotic organ of legumes that house nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in planta. We quantified host and symbiont fitness parameters dependent on the number of nodules formed using near-isogenic Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium loti mutants, respectively. Empirically estimated fitness functions suggest that legume and rhizobia fitness is aligned as the number of nodules formed increases from zero until the host optimum is reached, a point where aligned fitness interests shift to diverging fitness interests between host and symbiont. However, fitness conflict was only inferred when analyzing wild-type hosts along with their mutants dysregulated for control over nodule formation. These data demonstrate that to avoid conflict, hosts must tightly regulate investment into symbiotic organs maximizing their benefit to cost ratio of associating with microbes.}, } @article {pmid33520590, year = {2021}, author = {Pashaei, E and Pashaei, E}, title = {Training Feedforward Neural Network Using Enhanced Black Hole Algorithm: A Case Study on COVID-19 Related ACE2 Gene Expression Classification.}, journal = {Arabian journal for science and engineering}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {3807-3828}, pmid = {33520590}, issn = {2193-567X}, abstract = {The aim of this paper is twofold. First, black hole algorithm (BHA) is proposed as a new training algorithm for feedforward neural networks (FNNs), since most traditional and metaheuristic algorithms for training FNNs suffer from the problem of slow coverage and getting stuck at local optima. BHA provides a reliable alternative to address these drawbacks. Second, complementary learning components and Levy flight random walk are introduced into BHA to result in a novel optimization algorithm (BHACRW) for the purpose of improving the FNNs' accuracy by finding optimal weights and biases. Four benchmark functions are first used to evaluate BHACRW's performance in numerical optimization problems. Later, the classification performance of the suggested models, using BHA and BHACRW for training FNN, is evaluated against seven various benchmark datasets: iris, wine, blood, liver disorders, seeds, Statlog (Heart), balance scale. Experimental result demonstrates that the BHACRW performs better in terms of mean square error (MSE) and accuracy of training FNN, compared to standard BHA and eight well-known metaheuristic algorithms: whale optimization algorithm (WOA), biogeography-based optimizer (BBO), gravitational search algorithm (GSA), genetic algorithm (GA), cuckoo search (CS), multiverse optimizer (MVO), symbiotic organisms search (SOS), and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Moreover, we examined the classification performance of the suggested approach on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene expression as a coronavirus receptor, which has been overexpressed in human rhinovirus-infected nasal tissue. Results demonstrate that BHACRW-FNN achieves the highest accuracy on the dataset compared to other classifiers.}, } @article {pmid33520564, year = {2021}, author = {Akagawa, S and Akagawa, Y and Yamanouchi, S and Kimata, T and Tsuji, S and Kaneko, K}, title = {Development of the gut microbiota and dysbiosis in children.}, journal = {Bioscience of microbiota, food and health}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {12-18}, pmid = {33520564}, issn = {2186-6953}, abstract = {The gut microbiota resides in the human gastrointestinal tract, where it plays an important role in maintaining host health. Recent advancements in next-generation sequencing methods have revealed the link between dysbiosis (imbalance of the normal gut microbiota) and several diseases, as this imbalance can disrupt the symbiotic relationship between the host and associated microbes. Establishment of the gut microbiota starts in utero or just after birth, and its composition dramatically changes to an adult-like composition by 3 years of age. Because dysbiosis during childhood may persist through adulthood, it is crucial to acquire a balanced gut microbiota in childhood. Therefore, current studies have focused on the factors affecting the infant gut microbiota. This review discusses recent findings, including those from our studies, on how various factors, including the delivery mode, feeding type, and administration of drugs, including antibiotics, can influence the infant gut microbiota. Here, we also address future approaches for the prevention and restoration of dysbiosis in children.}, } @article {pmid33519880, year = {2020}, author = {Torres, N and Yu, R and Kurtural, SK}, title = {Arbuscular Mycrorrhizal Fungi Inoculation and Applied Water Amounts Modulate the Response of Young Grapevines to Mild Water Stress in a Hyper-Arid Season.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {622209}, pmid = {33519880}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Several factors may affect the success of a replanting vineyard. Given the current environmental conditions, an optimized irrigation schedule would still be one of the most desirable tools to improve crop productivity and fruit quality. On the other hand, the symbiosis of grapevines with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a key component of the vineyard production systems improving the vine growth, nutrient uptake, and berry quality. The aim of this study was to characterize the response of Merlot grapevines to AMF inoculation and two different irrigation amounts in their first productive year. The experiment was conducted on 2-year Merlot grapevines inoculated with AMF (I) or not-inoculated (NI) and subjected to two irrigation amounts, full irrigated (FI), where the amount of water was enough to maintain expansive growth and half irrigated (HI) where plants received the half of the amount of water of FI plants. Water status, gas exchange parameters, growth, mineral content, berry composition, and mycorrhizal colonization were monitored through the season. AMF inoculation improved the grapevine vegetative growth, water status, and photosynthetic activity, especially when vines were subjected to HI irrigation; however, no effect was observed on the leaf mineral content, must pH, total soluble solids, or total acidity. The main effects were observed on the flavonoid composition of berry skins at harvest. Irrigation amounts and mycorrhizal inoculation modified cyanidin and peonidin derivatives whereas flavonol composition was mainly affected by irrigation treatments. A strong relationship between the mycorrhizal colonization rate of roots and total quercetins, cyanidins, and peonidins was found. Findings support the use of a mycorrhizal inoculum and a better water management in a hyper-arid growing season; however, these results may be affected by edaphoclimatic characteristics and living microbiota in vineyard soils, which should be taken into account before making the decision of inoculating the vineyard.}, } @article {pmid33519844, year = {2020}, author = {Tatsumi, C and Hyodo, F and Taniguchi, T and Shi, W and Koba, K and Fukushima, K and Du, S and Yamanaka, N and Templer, P and Tateno, R}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community in Roots and Nitrogen Uptake Patterns of Understory Trees Beneath Ectomycorrhizal and Non-ectomycorrhizal Overstory Trees.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {583585}, pmid = {33519844}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is an essential plant nutrient, and plants can take up N from several sources, including via mycorrhizal fungal associations. The N uptake patterns of understory plants may vary beneath different types of overstory trees, especially through the difference in their type of mycorrhizal association (arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM; or ectomycorrhizal, ECM), because soil mycorrhizal community and N availability differ beneath AM (non-ECM) and ECM overstory trees (e.g., relatively low nitrate content beneath ECM overstory trees). To test this hypothesis, we examined six co-existing AM-symbiotic understory tree species common beneath both AM-symbiotic black locust (non-ECM) and ECM-symbiotic oak trees of dryland forests in China. We measured AM fungal community composition of roots and natural abundance stable isotopic composition of N (δ[15]N) in plant leaves, roots, and soils. The root mycorrhizal community composition of understory trees did not significantly differ between beneath non-ECM and ECM overstory trees, although some OTUs more frequently appeared beneath non-ECM trees. Understory trees beneath non-ECM overstory trees had similar δ[15]N values in leaves and soil nitrate, suggesting that they took up most of their nitrogen as nitrate. Beneath ECM overstory trees, understory trees had consistently lower leaf than root δ[15]N, suggesting they depended on mycorrhizal fungi for N acquisition since mycorrhizal fungi transfer isotopically light N to host plants. Additionally, leaf N concentrations in the understory trees were lower beneath ECM than the non-ECM overstory trees. Our results show that, without large differences in root mycorrhizal community, the N uptake patterns of understory trees vary between beneath different overstory trees.}, } @article {pmid33519831, year = {2020}, author = {Arregui, G and Hipólito, P and Pallol, B and Lara-Dampier, V and García-Rodríguez, D and Varela, HP and Tavakoli Zaniani, P and Balomenos, D and Paape, T and Coba de la Peña, T and Lucas, MM and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {Mercury-Tolerant Ensifer medicae Strains Display High Mercuric Reductase Activity and a Protective Effect on Nitrogen Fixation in Medicago truncatula Nodules Under Mercury Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {560768}, pmid = {33519831}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mercury (Hg) is extremely toxic for all living organisms. Hg-tolerant symbiotic rhizobia have the potential to increase legume tolerance, and to our knowledge, the mechanisms underlying Hg tolerance in rhizobia have not been investigated to date. Rhizobial strains of Ensifer medicae, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii and Bradyrhizobium canariense previously isolated from severely Hg-contaminated soils showed different levels of Hg tolerance. The ability of the strains to reduce mercury Hg[2+] to Hg[0], a volatile and less toxic form of mercury, was assessed using a Hg volatilization assay. In general, tolerant strains displayed high mercuric reductase activity, which appeared to be inducible in some strains when grown at a sub-lethal HgCl2 concentration. A strong correlation between Hg tolerance and mercuric reductase activity was observed for E. medicae strains, whereas this was not the case for the B. canariense strains, suggesting that additional Hg tolerance mechanisms could be playing a role in B. canariense. Transcript abundance from merA, the gene that encodes mercuric reductase, was quantified in tolerant and sensitive E. medicae and R. leguminosarum strains. Tolerant strains presented higher merA expression than sensitive ones, and an increase in transcript abundance was observed for some strains when bacteria were grown in the presence of a sub-lethal HgCl2 concentration. These results suggest a regulation of mercuric reductase in rhizobia. Expression of merA genes and mercuric reductase activity were confirmed in Medicago truncatula nodules formed by a sensitive or a tolerant E. medicae strain. Transcript accumulation in nodules formed by the tolerant strain increased when Hg stress was applied, while a significant decrease in expression occurred upon stress application in nodules formed by the Hg-sensitive strain. The effect of Hg stress on nitrogen fixation was evaluated, and in our experimental conditions, nitrogenase activity was not affected in nodules formed by the tolerant strain, while a significant decrease in activity was observed in nodules elicited by the Hg-sensitive bacteria. Our results suggest that the combination of tolerant legumes with tolerant rhizobia constitutes a potentially powerful tool in the bioremediation of Hg-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid33519774, year = {2020}, author = {DeLong, EF}, title = {Exploring Marine Planktonic Archaea: Then and Now.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {616086}, pmid = {33519774}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In 1977, Woese and Fox leveraged molecular phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal RNAs and identified a new microbial domain of life on Earth, the Archaebacteria (now known as Archaea). At the time of their discovery, only one archaebacterial group, the strictly anaerobic methanogens, was known. But soon, other phenotypically unrelated microbial isolates were shown to belong to the Archaea, many originating from extreme habitats, including extreme halophiles, extreme thermophiles, and thermoacidophiles. Since most Archaea seemed to inhabit extreme or strictly anoxic habitats, it came as a surprise in 1992 when two new lineages of archaea were reported to be abundant in oxygen rich, temperate marine coastal waters and the deep ocean. Since that time, studies of marine planktonic archaea have revealed many more surprises, including their unexpected ubiquity, unusual symbiotic associations, unpredicted physiologies and biogeochemistry, and global abundance. In this Perspective, early work conducted on marine planktonic Archaea by my lab group and others is discussed in terms of the relevant historical context, some of the original research motivations, and surprises and discoveries encountered along the way.}, } @article {pmid33519741, year = {2020}, author = {Romano, A and Casazza, M and Gonella, F}, title = {Addressing Non-linear System Dynamics of Single-Strand RNA Virus-Host Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {600254}, pmid = {33519741}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Positive single-strand ribonucleic acid [(+)ssRNA] viruses can cause multiple outbreaks, for which comprehensive tailored therapeutic strategies are still missing. Virus and host cell dynamics are tightly connected, generating a complex dynamics that conveys in virion assembly to ensure virus spread in the body. Starting from the knowledge of relevant processes in (+ss)RNA virus replication, transcription, translation, virions budding and shedding, and their respective energy costs, we built up a systems thinking (ST)-based diagram of the virus-host interaction, comprehensive of stocks, flows, and processes as well-described in literature. In ST approach, stocks and flows are expressed by a proxy of the energy embedded and transmitted, respectively, whereas processes are referred to the energy required for the system functioning. In this perspective, healthiness is just a particular configuration, in which stocks relevant for the system (equivalent but not limited to proteins, RNA, DNA, and all metabolites required for the survival) are constant, and the system behavior is stationary. At time of infection, the presence of additional stocks (e.g., viral protein and RNA and all metabolites required for virion assembly and spread) confers a complex network of feedbacks leading to new configurations, which can evolve to maximize the virions stock, thus changing the system structure, output, and purpose. The dynamic trajectories will evolve to achieve a new stationary status, a phenomenon described in microbiology as integration and symbiosis when the system is resilient enough to the changes, or the system may stop functioning and die. Application of external driving forces, acting on processes, can affect the dynamic trajectories adding a further degree of complexity, which can be captured by ST approach, used to address these new configurations. Investigation of system configurations in response to external driving forces acting is developed by computational analysis based on ST diagrams, with the aim at designing novel therapeutic approaches.}, } @article {pmid33519732, year = {2020}, author = {Rosier, A and Beauregard, PB and Bais, HP}, title = {Quorum Quenching Activity of the PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022 Alters Nodulation Efficiency of Sinorhizobium meliloti on Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {596299}, pmid = {33519732}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have enormous potential for solving some of the myriad challenges facing our global agricultural system. Intense research efforts are rapidly moving the field forward and illuminating the wide diversity of bacteria and their plant beneficial activities. In the development of better crop solutions using these PGPR, producers are including multiple different species of PGPR in their formulations in a "consortia" approach. While the intention is to emulate more natural rhizomicrobiome systems, the aspect of bacterial interactions has not been properly regarded. By using a tri-trophic model of Medicago truncatula A17 Jemalong, its nitrogen (N)-fixing symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm8530, and the PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022, we demonstrate indirect influences between the bacteria affecting their plant growth-promoting activities. Co-cultures of UD1022 with Rm8530 significantly reduced Rm8530 biofilm formation and downregulated quorum sensing (QS) genes responsible for symbiotically active biofilm production. This work also identifies the presence and activity of a quorum quenching lactonase in UD1022 and proposes this as the mechanism for non-synergistic activity of this model "consortium." These interspecies interactions may be common in the rhizosphere and are critical to understand as we seek to develop new sustainable solutions in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33519727, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, G and Ahmad, F and Zhou, Q and Guo, M and Liang, S and Gaal, HA and Mo, J}, title = {Investigation of Physicochemical Indices and Microbial Communities in Termite Fungus-Combs.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {581219}, pmid = {33519727}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Termitomyces species are wild edible mushrooms that possess high nutritional value and a wide range of medicinal properties. However, the cultivation of these mushrooms is very difficult because of their symbiotic association with termites. In this study, we aimed to examine the differences in physicochemical indices and microbial communities between combs with Termitomyces basidiomes (CF) and combs without Termitomyces basidiomes (CNF). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID), some commercial kits, high-throughput sequencing of the 16s RNA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were used. Humidity, pH, and elements, i.e., Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, Ni, S, Ca, and Mg were higher while amino acids particularly alanine, tyrosine, and isoleucine were lower in CF as compared to CNF. The average contents of fatty acids were not significantly different between the two comb categories. The bacterial genera Alistipes, Burkholderia, Sediminibacterium, and Thermus were dominant in all combs. Brevibacterium, Brevundimonas, and Sediminibacterium were significantly more abundant in CF. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were also identified in combs. Termitomyces clypeatus, Termitomyces sp. Group3, and Termitomyces sp. were the most dominant species in combs. However, any single Termitomyces species was abundantly present in an individual comb.}, } @article {pmid33519632, year = {2020}, author = {Dias, SB and Diniz, JA and Konstantinidis, E and Savvidis, T and Zilidou, V and Bamidis, PD and Grammatikopoulou, A and Dimitropoulos, K and Grammalidis, N and Jaeger, H and Stadtschnitzer, M and Silva, H and Telo, G and Ioakeimidis, I and Ntakakis, G and Karayiannis, F and Huchet, E and Hoermann, V and Filis, K and Theodoropoulou, E and Lyberopoulos, G and Kyritsis, K and Papadopoulos, A and Depoulos, A and Trivedi, D and Chaudhuri, RK and Klingelhoefer, L and Reichmann, H and Bostantzopoulou, S and Katsarou, Z and Iakovakis, D and Hadjidimitriou, S and Charisis, V and Apostolidis, G and Hadjileontiadis, LJ}, title = {Assistive HCI-Serious Games Co-design Insights: The Case Study of i-PROGNOSIS Personalized Game Suite for Parkinson's Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {612835}, pmid = {33519632}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and games set a new domain in understanding people's motivations in gaming, behavioral implications of game play, game adaptation to player preferences and needs for increased engaging experiences in the context of HCI serious games (HCI-SGs). When the latter relate with people's health status, they can become a part of their daily life as assistive health status monitoring/enhancement systems. Co-designing HCI-SGs can be seen as a combination of art and science that involves a meticulous collaborative process. The design elements in assistive HCI-SGs for Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, in particular, are explored in the present work. Within this context, the Game-Based Learning (GBL) design framework is adopted here and its main game-design parameters are explored for the Exergames, Dietarygames, Emotional games, Handwriting games, and Voice games design, drawn from the PD-related i-PROGNOSIS Personalized Game Suite (PGS) (www.i-prognosis.eu) holistic approach. Two main data sources were involved in the study. In particular, the first one includes qualitative data from semi-structured interviews, involving 10 PD patients and four clinicians in the co-creation process of the game design, whereas the second one relates with data from an online questionnaire addressed by 104 participants spanning the whole related spectrum, i.e., PD patients, physicians, software/game developers. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify an adapted GBL framework with the most significant game-design parameters, which efficiently predict the transferability of the PGS beneficial effect to real-life, addressing functional PD symptoms. The findings of this work can assist HCI-SG designers for designing PD-related HCI-SGs, as the most significant game-design factors were identified, in terms of adding value to the role of HCI-SGs in increasing PD patients' quality of life, optimizing the interaction with personalized HCI-SGs and, hence, fostering a collaborative human-computer symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33518075, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, X and Hu, B and Huang, L and Cheng, L and Liu, H and Hu, J and Hu, S and Han, C and He, H and Kang, B and Xu, H and Zhang, R and Wang, J and Li, L}, title = {The differences in intestinal growth and microorganisms between male and female ducks.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {100}, number = {2}, pages = {1167-1177}, pmid = {33518075}, issn = {1525-3171}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ducks/growth & development/microbiology ; Female ; Intestine, Small/*growth & development/microbiology ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {There are great differences in physiological and biological functions between animals of different sexes. However, whether there is a consensus between sexes in duck intestinal development and microorganisms is still unknown. The current study used Nonghua ducks to estimate the effect of sex on the intestine by evaluating differences in intestinal growth indexes and microorganisms. The intestines of male and female ducks were sampled at 2, 5, and 10 wk from the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum. Then, the intestinal length and weight were measured, the morphology was observed with HE staining, and the intestinal content was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that male ducks have shorter intestinal lengths with higher relative weights/relative lengths. The values of jejunal villus height (VH)/crypt depth (CD) of female ducks were significantly higher at 2 wk, whereas the jejunal VH/CD was significantly lower at 10 wk. There was obvious separation of microorganisms in each intestinal segment of ducks of different sexes at the 3 time periods. The dominant phyla at different stages were Firmicutea, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. The duodenal Chao index at the genus level of male ducks was significantly higher at 10 wk than that of female ducks. Significantly different genera were found only in the jejunum, and the abundances of Escherichia_Shigella, Pseudomonas, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Sphingomonas, and Desulfovibrio in male ducks were higher than those in female ducks, whereas the abundance of Rothia was lower, and the abundance of viral infectious diseases, lipid metabolism, metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, parasitic infectious diseases, xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism, cardiovascular disease, and metabolism of other amino acids in male ducks were higher than that in female ducks, whereas gene folding, sorting and degradation pathways, and nucleotide metabolism were lower. This study provides a basic reference for the intestinal development and microbial symbiosis of ducks of different sexes.}, } @article {pmid33517220, year = {2021}, author = {Hosseyni Moghaddam, MS and Safaie, N and Soltani, J and Hagh-Doust, N}, title = {Desert-adapted fungal endophytes induce salinity and drought stress resistance in model crops.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {160}, number = {}, pages = {225-238}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.01.022}, pmid = {33517220}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/*physiology ; Desert Climate ; *Droughts ; Endophytes/*physiology ; *Salinity ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Abiotic stresses are among the most damaging and ever-increasing threats to crop production worldwide. Utilizing extreme-habitat-adapted symbiotic microorganisms is a well-known strategy to mitigate the destructive effects of abiotic stresses on agricultural products. Here, we show the effects of the inoculation of halotolerant endophytic fungi recovered from desert plants on drought and salinity stress tolerance in two model agricultural plants A Periconia and two Neocamarosporium species were selected for this study after an in vitro halotolerant assay. Then, a random block design with three factors including fungi, salinity, and drought treatments was used to investigate the ability of these endophytes to induce stress resistance in tomato and cucumber plants. Physiological markers including proline content and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase enzymes; as well as growth parameters and chlorophyll contents were assessed in all model plants. Fungal symbiosis increased chlorophyll concentration and plant growth, under all levels of salinity and drought stress. In model plants associated with P. macrospinosa significant increase in proline content and antioxidant enzymatic activities was observed under all levels of the salinity and drought stresses compared to the endophyte-free plants, while plants associated with the two Neocamarosporium species, indicated significant increasing proline content and antioxidant enzymatic activities only in high levels of the salinity and drought stresses. Our findings provide novel insights into the eco-physiological mechanisms of halotolerant fungal endophyte-mediated drought and salinity stress tolerance in cucumber and tomato plants, which signify the prospective applications of arid and saline habitat adapted endophytes in agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid33517050, year = {2021}, author = {Sreeharsha, RV and Venkata Mohan, S}, title = {Symbiotic integration of bioprocesses to design a self-sustainable life supporting ecosystem in a circular economy framework.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {326}, number = {}, pages = {124712}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124712}, pmid = {33517050}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Recycling ; }, abstract = {Climate change, resource depletion and unsustainable crop productivity are major challenges that mankind is currently facing. Natural ecosystems of earth's biosphere are becoming vulnerable and there is a need to design Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) which are ecologically engineered microcosms that could effectively deal with problems associated with urbanization and industrialization in a sustainable manner. The principles of BLSS could be integrated with waste fed biorefineries and solar energy to create a self-sustainable bioregenerative ecosystem (SSBE). Such engineered ecosystems will have potential to fulfil urban life essentials and climate change mitigation thus generating ecologically smart and resilient communities which can strengthen the global economy. This article provides a detailed overview on SSBE framework and its improvement in the contemporary era to achieve circular bioeconomy by means of effective resource recycling.}, } @article {pmid33514729, year = {2021}, author = {Duplais, C and Sarou-Kanian, V and Massiot, D and Hassan, A and Perrone, B and Estevez, Y and Wertz, JT and Martineau, E and Farjon, J and Giraudeau, P and Moreau, CS}, title = {Gut bacteria are essential for normal cuticle development in herbivorous turtle ants.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {676}, pmid = {33514729}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animal Shells/*growth & development ; Animals ; Ants/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Chitin/biosynthesis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/biosynthesis ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Across the evolutionary history of insects, the shift from nitrogen-rich carnivore/omnivore diets to nitrogen-poor herbivorous diets was made possible through symbiosis with microbes. The herbivorous turtle ants Cephalotes possess a conserved gut microbiome which enriches the nutrient composition by recycling nitrogen-rich metabolic waste to increase the production of amino acids. This enrichment is assumed to benefit the host, but we do not know to what extent. To gain insights into nitrogen assimilation in the ant cuticle we use gut bacterial manipulation, [15]N isotopic enrichment, isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and [15]N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to demonstrate that gut bacteria contribute to the formation of proteins, catecholamine cross-linkers, and chitin in the cuticle. This study identifies the cuticular components which are nitrogen-enriched by gut bacteria, highlighting the role of symbionts in insect evolution, and provides a framework for understanding the nitrogen flow from nutrients through bacteria into the insect cuticle.}, } @article {pmid33512733, year = {2021}, author = {Parker, BJ and Hrček, J and McLean, AHC and Brisson, JA and Godfray, HCJ}, title = {Intraspecific variation in symbiont density in an insect-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {1559-1569}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15821}, pmid = {33512733}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Fungi ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects host vertically transmitted microbes, which can confer benefits to their hosts but are costly to maintain and regulate. A key feature of these symbioses is variation: for example, symbiont density can vary among host and symbiont genotypes. However, the evolutionary forces maintaining this variation remain unclear. We studied variation in symbiont density using the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and the bacterium Regiella insecticola, a symbiont that can protect its host against fungal pathogens. We found that relative symbiont density varies both between two Regiella phylogenetic clades and among aphid "biotypes." Higher density symbiont infections are correlated with stronger survival costs, but variation in density has little effect on the protection Regiella provides against fungi. Instead, we found that in some aphid genotypes, a dramatic decline in symbiont density precedes the loss of a symbiont infection. Together, our data suggest that the optimal density of a symbiont infection is likely different from the perspective of aphid and microbial fitness. Regiella might prevent loss by maintaining high within-host densities, but hosts do not appear to benefit from higher symbiont numbers and may be advantaged by losing costly symbionts in certain environments. The standing variation in symbiont density observed in natural populations could therefore be maintained by antagonistic coevolutionary interactions between hosts and their symbiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid33511673, year = {2021}, author = {Valentini, V and Silvestri, V and Marraffa, F and Greco, G and Bucalo, A and Grassi, S and Gagliardi, A and Mazzotta, A and Ottini, L and Richetta, AG}, title = {Gut microbiome profile in psoriatic patients treated and untreated with biologic therapy.}, journal = {The Journal of dermatology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {786-793}, doi = {10.1111/1346-8138.15680}, pmid = {33511673}, issn = {1346-8138}, mesh = {Bacteroides ; Biological Therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {There are increasing data about the role of the gut microbiome in various autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated disease. Current treatment strategies in psoriasis include immunomodulating biologic agents. A variable response to this type of therapy has been reported in psoriatic patients. A possible effect of biologic therapy on the gut microbiome composition has been suggested, but data are still limited. The aim of this study was to compare the gut microbiome composition between psoriatic patients treated and untreated with biologic drugs in order to identify differences which may highlight the potential impact of the treatment on the gut microbiome. 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed on the fecal samples of 30 psoriatic patients with similar clinicopathological features, 10 of whom were undergoing biologic therapy and 20 not receiving systemic therapy. Alpha and beta diversity significantly differed between the two groups of patients. A reduced bacterial biodiversity in the group of treated patients compared with the group of untreated patients was observed. Differential relative abundances of key gut microbial communities, including Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides plebeius, were identified between the two groups of patients. This study showed that biologic therapy may have an impact on the composition of the gut microbiome of psoriatic patients. Gut microbiome composition could be used as an indicator of response to therapy and the modulation of the microbial composition could help to restore the intestinal symbiosis in psoriatic patients.}, } @article {pmid33510238, year = {2021}, author = {Kursa, O and Tomczyk, G and Sawicka-Durkalec, A and Giza, A and Słomiany-Szwarc, M}, title = {Bacterial communities of the upper respiratory tract of turkeys.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2544}, pmid = {33510238}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Respiratory Mucosa/*microbiology ; Turkeys/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The respiratory tracts of turkeys play important roles in the overall health and performance of the birds. Understanding the bacterial communities present in the respiratory tracts of turkeys can be helpful to better understand the interactions between commensal or symbiotic microorganisms and other pathogenic bacteria or viral infections. The aim of this study was the characterization of the bacterial communities of upper respiratory tracks in commercial turkeys using NGS sequencing by the amplification of 16S rRNA gene with primers designed for hypervariable regions V3 and V4 (MiSeq, Illumina). From 10 phyla identified in upper respiratory tract in turkeys, the most dominated phyla were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Differences in composition of bacterial diversity were found at the family and genus level. At the genus level, the turkey sequences present in respiratory tract represent 144 established bacteria. Several respiratory pathogens that contribute to the development of infections in the respiratory system of birds were identified, including the presence of Ornithobacterium and Mycoplasma OTUs. These results obtained in this study supply information about bacterial composition and diversity of the turkey upper respiratory tract. Knowledge about bacteria present in the respiratory tract and the roles they can play in infections can be useful in controlling, diagnosing and treating commercial turkey flocks.}, } @article {pmid33509981, year = {2021}, author = {Morin, E and Murat, C and Cichocki, N and De la Varga, H and Kohler, A and Xu, J and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, FM}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of the Black Truffles Tuber brumale Vittad. and Tuber indicum Cook & Massee.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33509981}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Tuber brumale and Tuber indicum (Pezizomycetes) are two edible black truffles establishing ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with trees and shrubs. T. brumale is ubiquitous in Europe, and T. indicum is mainly found in China. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of T. brumale and T. indicum.}, } @article {pmid33509844, year = {2021}, author = {Schmidt, K and Engel, P}, title = {Mechanisms underlying gut microbiota-host interactions in insects.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {224}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.207696}, pmid = {33509844}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insecta ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects are the most diverse group of animals and colonize almost all environments on our planet. This diversity is reflected in the structure and function of the microbial communities inhabiting the insect digestive system. As in mammals, the gut microbiota of insects can have important symbiotic functions, complementing host nutrition, facilitating dietary breakdown or providing protection against pathogens. There is an increasing number of insect models that are experimentally tractable, facilitating mechanistic studies of gut microbiota-host interactions. In this Review, we will summarize recent findings that have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiosis between insects and their gut microbiota. We will open the article with a general introduction to the insect gut microbiota and then turn towards the discussion of particular mechanisms and molecular processes governing the colonization of the insect gut environment as well as the diverse beneficial roles mediated by the gut microbiota. The Review highlights that, although the gut microbiota of insects is an active field of research with implications for fundamental and applied science, we are still in an early stage of understanding molecular mechanisms. However, the expanding capability to culture microbiomes and to manipulate microbe-host interactions in insects promises new molecular insights from diverse symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33507543, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, P and Jiang, H and Boeren, S and Dings, H and Kulikova, O and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {A nuclear-targeted effector of Rhizophagus irregularis interferes with histone 2B mono-ubiquitination to promote arbuscular mycorrhisation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {3}, pages = {1142-1155}, pmid = {33507543}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; Histones ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arguably, symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have the broadest host range of all fungi, being able to intracellularly colonise root cells in the vast majority of all land plants. This raises the question how AM fungi effectively deal with the immune systems of such a widely diverse range of plants. Here, we studied the role of a nuclear-localisation signal-containing effector from Rhizophagus irregularis, called Nuclear Localised Effector1 (RiNLE1), that is highly and specifically expressed in arbuscules. We showed that RiNLE1 is able to translocate to the host nucleus where it interacts with the plant core nucleosome protein histone 2B (H2B). RiNLE1 is able to impair the mono-ubiquitination of H2B, which results in the suppression of defence-related gene expression and enhanced colonisation levels. This study highlights a novel mechanism by which AM fungi can effectively control plant epigenetic modifications through direct interaction with a core nucleosome component. Homologues of RiNLE1 are found in a range of fungi that establish intimate interactions with plants, suggesting that this type of effector may be more widely recruited to manipulate host defence responses.}, } @article {pmid33502380, year = {2020}, author = {Vasconcelos, MW and Gomes, AM and Pinto, E and Ferreira, H and Vieira, EDF and Martins, AP and Santos, CS and Balázs, B and Kelemen, E and Hamann, KT and Williams, M and Iannetta, PPM}, title = {The Push, Pull, and Enabling Capacities Necessary for Legume Grain Inclusion into Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and Healthy Diets.}, journal = {World review of nutrition and dietetics}, volume = {121}, number = {}, pages = {193-211}, doi = {10.1159/000507498}, pmid = {33502380}, issn = {1662-3975}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods/*statistics & numerical data ; *Crops, Agricultural ; Diet, Healthy/*methods/*statistics & numerical data ; *Fabaceae ; Humans ; *Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {Legume grains are traditional crops that have been modernized as processed foods and animal protein alternatives in recent years. This modernization has largely been fueled by new technological developments driven by increased consumer demands for plant protein and gluten-free options. However, consumers must be mindful that legumes have other nutritional attributes besides protein that help achieve healthier diets, and recent evidence suggests that consuming 100 g of legume grains per day would promote nutrient-dense diets and could be a target level to harmonize international strategies for recommended daily allowances. The nutritional richness of legumes has been associated with a decrease in numerous disease risk factors and, given their long shelf life, legumes are excellent choices to combat food waste and may have a role to play in countries where cold storage is often a limitation in food preservation. Besides their inclusion in global diets, legumes should be included in sustainable cropping systems. The high number of edible species and cultivars available render them excellent contributors to biodiverse food and feed systems. Legume cultivation allows reducing environmental impacts by means of the ability of legumes to fix atmospheric nitrogen via a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making them natural fertilizers. Still, despite the well-known health, nutritional, and environmental benefits, legumes are underrepresented in global agri-food systems. Efforts must be made to make legumes more attractive to the farmer, the industry, and ultimately the consumer, and for this proper local, regional, national, and global policy frameworks must be in place. Here, the local scenario of legumes is showcased, and the most relevant push, pull, and enabling capacities required to achieve sustainable diversified agri-food systems with legumes are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33501296, year = {2020}, author = {Maniadakis, M and Hourdakis, E and Sigalas, M and Piperakis, S and Koskinopoulou, M and Trahanias, P}, title = {Time-Aware Multi-Agent Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in robotics and AI}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {503452}, pmid = {33501296}, issn = {2296-9144}, abstract = {Contemporary research in human-machine symbiosis has mainly concentrated on enhancing relevant sensory, perceptual, and motor capacities, assuming short-term and nearly momentary interaction sessions. Still, human-machine confluence encompasses an inherent temporal dimension that is typically overlooked. The present work shifts the focus on the temporal and long-lasting aspects of symbiotic human-robot interaction (sHRI). We explore the integration of three time-aware modules, each one focusing on a diverse part of the sHRI timeline. Specifically, the Episodic Memory considers past experiences, the Generative Time Models estimate the progress of ongoing activities, and the Daisy Planner devices plans for the timely accomplishment of goals. The integrated system is employed to coordinate the activities of a multi-agent team. Accordingly, the proposed system (i) predicts human preferences based on past experience, (ii) estimates performance profile and task completion time, by monitoring human activity, and (iii) dynamically adapts multi-agent activity plans to changes in expectation and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) performance. The system is deployed and extensively assessed in real-world and simulated environments. The obtained results suggest that building upon the unfolding and the temporal properties of team tasks can significantly enhance the fluency of sHRI.}, } @article {pmid33500597, year = {2021}, author = {Zimmermann, BL and Cardoso, GM and Bouchon, D and Pezzi, PH and Palaoro, AV and Araujo, PB}, title = {Supergroup F Wolbachia in terrestrial isopods: Horizontal transmission from termites?.}, journal = {Evolutionary ecology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {165-182}, pmid = {33500597}, issn = {0269-7653}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Horizontal transmission between distantly related species has been used to explain how Wolbachia infect multiple species at astonishing rates despite the selection for resistance. Recently, a terrestrial isopod species was found to be infected by an unusual strain of supergroup F Wolbachia. However, only Wolbachia of supergroup B is typically found in isopods. One possibility is that these isopods acquired the infection because of their recurrent contact with termites-a group with strong evidence of infection by supergroup F Wolbachia. Thus, our goals were: (1) check if the infection was an isolated case in isopods, or if it revealed a broader pattern; (2) search for Wolbachia infection in the termites within Brazil; and (3) look for evidence consistent with horizontal transmission between isopods and termites. We collected Neotroponiscus terrestrial isopods and termites along the Brazilian coastal Atlantic forest. We sequenced and identified the Wolbachia strains found in these groups using coxA, dnaA, and fpbA genes. We constructed phylogenies for both bacteria and host taxa and tested for coevolution. We found the supergroup F Wolbachia in other species and populations of Neotroponiscus, and also in Nasutitermes and Procornitermes termites. The phylogenies showed that, despite the phylogenetic distance between isopods and termites, the Wolbachia strains clustered together. Furthermore, cophylogenetic analyses showed significant jumps of Wolbachia between terrestrial isopods and termites. Thus, our study suggests that the horizontal transmission of supergroup F Wolbachia between termites and terrestrial isopods is likely. Our study also helps understanding the success and worldwide distribution of this symbiont.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version of this article (10.1007/s10682-021-10101-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.}, } @article {pmid33500354, year = {2021}, author = {Rädecker, N and Pogoreutz, C and Gegner, HM and Cárdenas, A and Roth, F and Bougoure, J and Guagliardo, P and Wild, C and Pernice, M and Raina, JB and Meibom, A and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Heat stress destabilizes symbiotic nutrient cycling in corals.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33500354}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Heat-Shock Response/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nutrients ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Recurrent mass bleaching events are pushing coral reefs worldwide to the brink of ecological collapse. While the symptoms and consequences of this breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis have been extensively characterized, our understanding of the underlying causes remains incomplete. Here, we investigated the nutrient fluxes and the physiological as well as molecular responses of the widespread coral Stylophora pistillata to heat stress prior to the onset of bleaching to identify processes involved in the breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis. We show that altered nutrient cycling during heat stress is a primary driver of the functional breakdown of the symbiosis. Heat stress increased the metabolic energy demand of the coral host, which was compensated by the catabolic degradation of amino acids. The resulting shift from net uptake to release of ammonium by the coral holobiont subsequently promoted the growth of algal symbionts and retention of photosynthates. Together, these processes form a feedback loop that will gradually lead to the decoupling of carbon translocation from the symbiont to the host. Energy limitation and altered symbiotic nutrient cycling are thus key factors in the early heat stress response, directly contributing to the breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis. Interpreting the stability of the coral holobiont in light of its metabolic interactions provides a missing link in our understanding of the environmental drivers of bleaching and may ultimately help uncover fundamental processes underpinning the functioning of endosymbioses in general.}, } @article {pmid33499978, year = {2020}, author = {Zanotti, AA and Gregoracci, GB and Capel, KCC and Kitahara, MV}, title = {Microbiome of the Southwestern Atlantic invasive scleractinian coral, Tubastraea tagusensis.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {29}, pmid = {33499978}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Commonly known as sun-coral, Tubastraea tagusensis is an azooxanthellate scleractinian coral that successfully invaded the Southwestern Atlantic causing significant seascape changes. Today it is reported to over 3500 km along the Brazilian coast, with several rocky shores displaying high substrate coverage. Apart from its singular invasiveness capacity, the documentation and, therefore, understanding of the role of symbiotic microorganisms in the sun-coral invasion is still scarce. However, in general, the broad and constant relationship between corals and microorganisms led to the development of co-evolution hypotheses. As such, it has been shown that the microbial community responds to environmental factors, adjustment of the holobiont, adapting its microbiome, and improving the hosts' fitness in a short space of time. Here we describe the microbial community (i.e. Bacteria) associated with sun-coral larvae and adult colonies from a locality displaying a high invasion development.

RESULTS: The usage of high throughput sequencing indicates a great diversity of Bacteria associated with T. tagusensis, with Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Firmicutes corresponding to the majority of the microbiome in all samples. However, T. tagusensis' microbial core consists of only eight genera for colonies, and, within them, three are also present in the sequenced larvae. Overall, the microbiome from colonies sampled at different depths did not show significant differences. The microbiome of the larvae suggests a partial vertical transfer of the microbial core in this species.

CONCLUSION: Although diverse, the microbiome core of adult Tubastraea tagusensis is composed of only eight genera, of which three are transferred from the mother colony to their larvae. The remaining bacteria genera are acquired from the seawater, indicating that they might play a role in the host fitness and, therefore, facilitate the sun-coral invasion in the Southwestern Atlantic.}, } @article {pmid33499977, year = {2020}, author = {Hartman, LM and van Oppen, MJH and Blackall, LL}, title = {Microbiota characterization of Exaiptasia diaphana from the Great Barrier Reef.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {10}, pmid = {33499977}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coral reefs have sustained damage of increasing scale and frequency due to climate change, thereby intensifying the need to elucidate corals' biological characteristics, including their thermal tolerance and microbial symbioses. The sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana, has proven an ideal coral model for many studies due to its close phylogenetic relationship and shared traits, such as symbiosis with algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae. However, established E. diaphana clonal lines are not available in Australia thus limiting the ability of Australian scientists to conduct research with this model. To help address this, the bacterial and Symbiodiniaceae associates of four Great Barrier Reef (GBR)-sourced E. diaphana genotypes established in laboratory aquaria and designated AIMS1-4, and from proxies of wild GBR E. diaphana were identified by metabarcoding of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and eukaryotic rRNA gene ITS2 region. The relationship between AIMS1-4 and their bacterial associates was investigated, as was bacterial community phenotypic potential. Existing data from two existing anemone clonal lines, CC7 and H2, were included for comparison.

RESULTS: Overall, 2238 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were observed in the AIMS1-4 bacterial communities, which were dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, together comprising > 90% relative abundance. Although many low abundance bacterial taxa varied between the anemone genotypes, the AIMS1-4 communities did not differ significantly. A significant tank effect was identified, indicating an environmental effect on the microbial communities. Bacterial community richness was lower in all lab-maintained E. diaphana compared to the wild proxies, suggesting a reduction in bacterial diversity and community phenotypic potential due to culturing. Seventeen ASVs were common to every GBR lab-cultured anemone, however five were associated with the Artemia feedstock, making their specific association to E. diaphana uncertain. The dominant Symbiodiniaceae symbiont in all GBR anemones was Breviolum minutum.

CONCLUSION: Despite differences in the presence and abundance of low abundance taxa, the bacterial communities of GBR-sourced lab-cultured E. diaphana are generally uniform and comparable to communities reported for other lab-cultured E. diaphana. The data presented here add to the global E. diaphana knowledge base and make an important contribution to the establishment of a GBR-sourced coral model organism.}, } @article {pmid33499954, year = {2020}, author = {Scheelings, TF and Moore, RJ and Van, TTH and Klaassen, M and Reina, RD}, title = {Microbial symbiosis and coevolution of an entire clade of ancient vertebrates: the gut microbiota of sea turtles and its relationship to their phylogenetic history.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {17}, pmid = {33499954}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbiota plays a critical role in host homeostasis and has been shown to be a major driving force in host evolution. However, our understanding of these important relationships is hampered by a lack of data for many species, and by significant gaps in sampling of the evolutionary tree. In this investigation we improve our understanding of the host-microbiome relationship by obtaining samples from all seven extant species of sea turtle, and correlate microbial compositions with host evolutionary history.

RESULTS: Our analysis shows that the predominate phyla in the microbiota of nesting sea turtles was Proteobacteria. We also demonstrate a strong relationship between the bacterial phyla SR1 and sea turtle phylogeny, and that sea turtle microbiotas have changed very slowly over time in accordance with their similarly slow phenotypic changes.

CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the most comprehensive microbiota studies to have been performed in a single clade of animals and further improves our knowledge of how microbial populations have influenced vertebrate evolution.}, } @article {pmid33499003, year = {2021}, author = {Donlon, NE and Power, R and Hayes, C and Davern, M and Reynolds, JV and Lysaght, J}, title = {Radiation and Immunotherapy in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers: The Current State of Play.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33499003}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Antigens/chemistry ; Biomarkers ; Cell Death ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose Fractionation, Radiation ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/immunology/*radiotherapy/*therapy ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/pharmacology ; Immunotherapy/*trends ; Inflammation ; Melanoma/pathology ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nucleotidyltransferases/chemistry ; Skin Neoplasms/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract/pathology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Radiotherapy remains one of the contemporary cornerstones of cancer treatment in the neoadjuvant, curative, adjuvant and palliative settings, either in isolation or as a multimodal approach. Moreover, recent advances in targeted immune checkpoint therapy have firmly established immunotherapy as the fourth pillar in cancer therapy alongside surgery, chemotherapy and notably radiotherapy. There is emerging evidence to suggest both radioresistance and reduced efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) are potentiated by the tumour microenvironment (TME) and in fact modulating aspects of this immunosuppressive milieu is instrumental to unlocking anti-tumour immunity. The response rates of Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) malignancies to ICB remains modest at 10-15%, compared to melanoma at 20-40%. Harnessing the effects of radiotherapy through remodelling of the TME using ICB as a radiosensitisor is an avenue showing promise. Here we explore the rationale behind combining radiotherapy with ICB, as a symbiotic relationship in shifting the balance in favour of anti-tumour immunity. We discuss the effects of radiotherapy on immunogenic cell death, the concept of the abscopal effect, the importance of the cGAS STING pathway, and their relevance in the context of the tumour microenvironment. Furthermore, dosing and timing of radiotherapy and ICB is now being evaluated for its synergistic effects on host tumour immunity, and we review the ongoing efforts and current available literature for single agent and dual agent ICB in combination multimodal therapy for both locally advanced operable and metastatic disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract.}, } @article {pmid33498783, year = {2021}, author = {Chaulagain, D and Frugoli, J}, title = {The Regulation of Nodule Number in Legumes Is a Balance of Three Signal Transduction Pathways.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33498783}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is a major determinant of plant growth and productivity and the ability of legumes to form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria allows legumes to exploit nitrogen-poor niches in the biosphere. But hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria comes with a metabolic cost, and the process requires regulation. The symbiosis is regulated through three signal transduction pathways: in response to available nitrogen, at the initiation of contact between the organisms, and during the development of the nodules that will host the rhizobia. Here we provide an overview of our knowledge of how the three signaling pathways operate in space and time, and what we know about the cross-talk between symbiotic signaling for nodule initiation and organogenesis, nitrate dependent signaling, and autoregulation of nodulation. Identification of common components and points of intersection suggest directions for research on the fine-tuning of the plant's response to rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid33498584, year = {2021}, author = {Hudson, D and Mace, W and Popay, A and Jensen, J and McKenzie, C and Cameron, C and Johnson, R}, title = {Genetic Manipulation of the Ergot Alkaloid Pathway in Epichloë festucae var. lolii and Its Effect on Black Beetle Feeding Deterrence.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33498584}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Endophytes/*genetics/metabolism ; Epichloe/*genetics/metabolism ; Ergot Alkaloids/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Ergotamines/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Herbivory ; Lolium/*microbiology/parasitology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes are filamentous fungi (family Clavicipitaceae) that live in symbiotic associations with grasses in the sub family Poöideae. In New Zealand, E. festucae var. lolii confers significant resistance to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) against insect and animal herbivory and is an essential component of pastoral agriculture, where ryegrass is a major forage species. The fungus produces in planta a range of bioactive secondary metabolites, including ergovaline, which has demonstrated bioactivity against the important pasture pest black beetle, but can also cause mammalian toxicosis. We genetically modified E. festucae var. lolii strain AR5 to eliminate key enzymatic steps in the ergovaline pathway to determine if intermediate ergot alkaloid compounds can still provide insecticidal benefits in the absence of the toxic end product ergovaline. Four genes (dmaW, easG, cloA, and lpsB) spanning the pathway were deleted and each deletion mutant was inoculated into five different plant genotypes of perennial ryegrass, which were later harvested for a full chemical analysis of the ergot alkaloid compounds produced. These associations were also used in a black beetle feeding deterrence study. Deterrence was seen with just chanoclavine present, but was cumulative as more intermediate compounds in the pathway were made available. Ergovaline was not detected in any of the deletion associations, indicating that bioactivity towards black beetle can be obtained in the absence of this mammalian toxin.}, } @article {pmid33498301, year = {2021}, author = {Lebov, JF and Bohannan, BJM}, title = {Msh Pilus Mutations Increase the Ability of a Free-Living Bacterium to Colonize a Piscine Host.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33498301}, issn = {2073-4425}, support = {P01 GM125576/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Fimbriae Proteins/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genetic Fitness ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva/microbiology ; Loss of Function Mutation ; *Mutation ; Sequence Deletion ; Shewanella/*genetics ; Zebrafish/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between animals and bacteria are ubiquitous. To better understand these relationships, it is essential to unravel how bacteria evolve to colonize hosts. Previously, we serially passaged the free-living bacterium, Shewanella oneidensis, through the digestive tracts of germ-free larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to uncover the evolutionary changes involved in the initiation of a novel symbiosis with a vertebrate host. After 20 passages, we discovered an adaptive missense mutation in the mshL gene of the msh pilus operon, which improved host colonization, increased swimming motility, and reduced surface adhesion. In the present study, we determined that this mutation was a loss-of-function mutation and found that it improved zebrafish colonization by augmenting S. oneidensis representation in the water column outside larvae through a reduced association with environmental surfaces. Additionally, we found that strains containing the mshL mutation were able to immigrate into host digestive tracts at higher rates per capita. However, mutant and evolved strains exhibited no evidence of a competitive advantage after colonizing hosts. Our results demonstrate that bacterial behaviors outside the host can play a dominant role in facilitating the onset of novel host associations.}, } @article {pmid33498277, year = {2021}, author = {Zeng, X and Ni, Z and Diao, H and Jiang, K and Hu, C and Shao, L and Huang, W}, title = {Root Endophytic Fungal Community and Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Patterns Differ among Bletilla Species (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33498277}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Orchids of the genus Bletilla are well-known ornamental plants and sources of traditional medicine in Asia that rely on the symbiotic relationship with root endophytic fungi throughout their whole life cycle. However, little is known about their fungal partners, infection pattern, and pathways of carbon gain. We investigated carbon and nitrogen stable isotope patterns in different organs of three Bletilla species, identified the root endophytic fungal community composition, and determined mycorrhizal colonization rates. The three Bletilla species were comprised by a polyphyletic group which belongs to different trophic modes, such as saprotroph, pathotroph, and symbiotroph; however, the dominant species and their abundances varied among Bletilla spp. Mycorrhizal infection rates also varied among Bletilla species, with B. striata (65% ± 25%) being significantly higher than those of B. formosana (35% ± 16%) and B. ochracea (22% ± 13%). Compared with surrounding autotrophic plants, all Bletilla spp. were significantly enriched in [13]C with B. striata to a significantly higher level than other two Bletilla species. Among different organs, stems had higher δ[13]C values, while leaves and flowers had higher δ[15]N and total N content values across all three species. Our results indicate that the symbiotic relationship of Bletilla and its root endophytic fungi is not strictly specific. Although mycorrhizal infection rates were highly variable, the three Bletilla species had the same infection pattern with hyphae penetrating the cortex cell by the pathway cell. Different Bletilla species have different strategies for C allocation among plant organs. These findings provide new insights into the ecological adaptation of orchids and will contribute to Bletilla germplasm conservation and sustainable utilization.}, } @article {pmid33497670, year = {2021}, author = {Barac, YD and Mulvihill, MS and Hartwig, MG}, title = {Increased Calculated Panel Reactive Antigen and Symbiosis: The Art of Living and Surviving Together.}, journal = {The Annals of thoracic surgery}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {681-682}, doi = {10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.10.076}, pmid = {33497670}, issn = {1552-6259}, mesh = {*Graft Rejection ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33497640, year = {2021}, author = {Hadfield, MG}, title = {Developmental Symbiosis: A Sponge Larva Needs Symbiotic Bacteria to Succeed on the Benthos.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {R88-R90}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.11.007}, pmid = {33497640}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Larva ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Settlement and metamorphosis of marine invertebrate larvae are processes of profound developmental, morphological, physiological and ecological change. That these processes in larvae of a marine sponge critically rely on products supplied by endosymbiotic bacteria signals the importance of developmental symbiosis among the most basal metazoans.}, } @article {pmid33497048, year = {2021}, author = {Darvishi, S and Rafraf, M and Asghari-Jafarabadi, M and Farzadi, L}, title = {Synbiotic Supplementation Improves Metabolic Factors and Obesity Values in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Independent of Affecting Apelin Levels: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo - Controlled Clinical Trial.}, journal = {International journal of fertility & sterility}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {51-59}, pmid = {33497048}, issn = {2008-076X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This research investigated the symbiotic supplement influences on serum glycemic indices and lipids as well as apelin rates and obesity values in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 68 obese or overweight patients (20-44 years old) with PCOS were enrolled to conduct a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 34 people in the synbiotic group received a synbiotic supplement and 34 people in the placebo group received placebo, daily for 8 weeks. Fasting blood specimens, anthropometric measurements and dietary intake data were gathered three times during the study. The information was analyzed by independent t test, paired t test, analysis of covariance and chi-square test.

RESULTS: Synbiotic supplementation significantly decreased serum fasting glucose (P=0.02), insulin (P=0.001), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (IR, P=0.001), weight (P=0.02), body mass index (BMI, P=0.02), waist circumference (WC, P=0.01), hip circumference (HC, P=0.02), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR, P=0.02) but significantly increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P=0.02) compared to the placebo. At the end of the trial, no significant differences were seen in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or apelin levels as well as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Synbiotic supplementation improved glycemic indices, lipid profile and obesity values in women with PCOS. These beneficial effects were not related with alterations in serum apelin levels (Registration number: IRCT20100408003664N19).}, } @article {pmid33495676, year = {2021}, author = {Rajput, S and Paliwal, D and Naithani, M and Kothari, A and Meena, K and Rana, S}, title = {COVID-19 and Gut Microbiota: A Potential Connection.}, journal = {Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {266-277}, pmid = {33495676}, issn = {0970-1915}, abstract = {Currently, world is facing a global outbreak causing a pandemic threat known as COVID-19. This infectious disease is triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Gut microbiota harbours multi species community with a strong impact on host immune homeostasis. However, our knowledge about this gut microbiota and its symbiotic relationship with immune activation in association with SARS-CoV-2 is limited. Unbalanced bacterial flora with too many opportunistic infections can shift immune system towards a cascade of inflammatory responses leading to multi organ damage. This review will highlight immune-regulation via various mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Diet has an unbelievable influence on gut microbiome that allows a new state of homeostasis to be reached through timing, frequency and duration of intake. This review article focuses on gut, lung microbiota and immunomodulation with specific attention on immune activation by gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid33494164, year = {2021}, author = {McNab, JM and Rodríguez, J and Karuso, P and Williamson, JE}, title = {Natural Products in Polyclad Flatworms.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33494164}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Platyhelminths/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Secondary Metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Marine invertebrates are promising sources of novel bioactive secondary metabolites, and organisms like sponges, ascidians and nudibranchs are characterised by possessing potent defensive chemicals. Animals that possess chemical defences often advertise this fact with aposematic colouration that potential predators learn to avoid. One seemingly defenceless group that can present bright colouration patterns are flatworms of the order Polycladida. Although members of this group have typically been overlooked due to their solitary and benthic nature, recent studies have isolated the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin from these mesopredators. This review considers the potential of polyclads as potential sources of natural products and reviews what is known of the activity of the molecules found in these animals. Considering the ecology and diversity of polyclads, only a small number of species from both suborders of Polycladida, Acotylea and Cotylea have been investigated for natural products. As such, confirming assumptions as to which species are in any sense toxic or if the compounds they use are biosynthesised, accumulated from food or the product of symbiotic bacteria is difficult. However, further research into the group is suggested as these animals often display aposematic colouration and are known to prey on invertebrates rich in bioactive secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid33492720, year = {2021}, author = {Gao, X and Niu, R and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Ji, J and Niu, L and Wu, C and Zhang, S and Luo, J and Cui, J}, title = {Characterization and comparison of the bacterial microbiota of Lysiphlebia japonica parasitioid wasps and their aphid host Aphis gosypii.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {77}, number = {6}, pages = {2710-2718}, doi = {10.1002/ps.6299}, pmid = {33492720}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Buchnera ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endosymbiotic bacteria have been reported to mediate interactions between parasitoids and their insect hosts. How parasitic wasps influence changes in host microbial communities and the relationship between them are of great importance to the study of host-parasitoid co-evolutionary and ecological interactions. However, these interactions remain largely unreported for interactions between Aphis gossypii and Lysiphlebia japonica.

RESULTS: In this study, we characterize the bacterial microbiota of L. japonica wasps at different developmental stages and monitor changes over time in the bacterial microbiota of their parasitized and nonparasitized aphid hosts, using metagenomic analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing data. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were the three most abundant bacterial phyla identified in L. japonica. We found that parasitism was associated with an increased abundance of Buchnera nutritional endosymbionts, but decreased abundance of Acinetobacter, Arsenophonus, Candidatus_Hamiltonella, and Pseudomonas facultative symbionts in aphid hosts. Functional analysis of enriched pathways of parasitized aphids showed significant differences in the 'transport and metabolism of carbohydrates' and 'amino acid, lipid, and coenzyme biosynthesis' pathways. Notably, the composition of symbiotic bacteria in wasp larvae was highly similar to that of their aphid hosts, especially the high abundance of Buchnera.

CONCLUSION: The results provide a conceptual framework for L. japonica interactions with A. gossypii in which the exchange of symbiotic microbes provides a means by which microbiota can potentially serve as evolutionary drivers of complex, multilevel interactions underlying the ecology and co-evolution of these hosts and parasites. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid33492496, year = {2021}, author = {Figura, T and Tylová, E and Jersáková, J and Vohník, M and Ponert, J}, title = {Fungal symbionts may modulate nitrate inhibitory effect on orchid seed germination.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {231-241}, pmid = {33492496}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrates ; *Orchidaceae ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many orchid species are threatened, while some disappear from their natural habitats without obvious reasons. Eutrophication has been suggested as a possible factor and nitrate, which is able to suppress non-symbiotic orchid seed germination even at very low concentrations, and could pose a serious threat for natural orchid populations. Early ontogenesis of all orchids entirely depends on orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis, and at this initial mycoheterotrophic stage, many terrestrial green orchids associate with polyphyletic fungal symbionts (i.e., mycobionts), collectively called "rhizoctonias." We asked whether these fungi might also have some non-nutritional roles, i.e., whether they might confer resistance to eutrophication. To test this hypothesis, we co-cultivated seeds of the terrestrial orchid Dactylorhiza majalis with five rhizoctonias (two Tulasnella, two Ceratobasidium and one Serendipita isolate) at various ecologically meaningful nitrate concentrations (0 to 100 mg/L). With the exception of one Tulasnella isolate, all mycobionts supported the growth of protocorms and formed orchid mycorrhiza, i.e., intracellular hyphal pelotons, in the protocorms. Nitrate suppressed asymbiotic, as well as symbiotic, seed germination in all but one fungal treatment; the seeds co-cultivated with one of the Ceratobasidium isolates were indeed insensitive to nitrate. We conclude that nitrates also negatively affect symbiotic orchid germination, depending on the available compatible mycobionts. Thus, eutrophication with nitrate may decrease the number of orchid mycobionts capable of supporting seed germination.}, } @article {pmid33490870, year = {2020}, author = {Newton, R and Amstutz, J and Patrick, JE}, title = {Biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis is altered in the presence of pesticides.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {acmi000175}, pmid = {33490870}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Bacillus subtilis uses swarming motility and biofilm formation to colonize plant roots and form a symbiotic relationship with the plant. Swarming motility and biofilm formation are group behaviours made possible through the use of chemical messengers. We investigated whether chemicals applied to plants would interfere with the swarming motility and biofilm-forming capabilities of B. subtilis in vitro. We hypothesized that pesticides could act as chemical signals that influence bacterial behaviour; this research investigates whether swarming motility and biofilm formation of B. subtilis is affected by the application of the commercial pesticides with the active ingredients of neem oil, pyrethrin, or malathion. The results indicate that all three pesticides inhibit biofilm formation. Swarming motility is not affected by the application of pyrethrin or malathion, but swarm expansion and pattern is altered in the presence of neem oil. Future studies to investigate the mechanism by which pesticides alter biofilm formation are warranted.}, } @article {pmid33489283, year = {2020}, author = {Seas, C and Chaverri, P}, title = {Response of psychrophilic plant endosymbionts to experimental temperature increase.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {201405}, pmid = {33489283}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Countless uncertainties remain regarding the effects of global warming on biodiversity, including the ability of organisms to adapt and how that will affect obligate symbiotic relationships. The present study aimed to determine the consequences of temperature increase in the adaptation of plant endosymbionts (endophytes) that grow better at low temperatures (psychrophilic). We isolated fungal endophytes from a high-elevation (paramo) endemic plant, Chusquea subtessellata. Initial growth curves were constructed at different temperatures (4-25°C). Next, experiments were carried out in which only the psychrophilic isolates were subjected to repeated increments in temperature. After the experiments, the final growth curves showed significantly slower growth than the initial curves, and some isolates even ceased to grow. While most studies suggest that the distribution of microorganisms will expand as temperatures increase because most of these organisms grow better at 25°C, the results from our experiments demonstrate that psychrophilic fungi were negatively affected by temperature increases. These outcomes raise questions concerning the potential adaptation of beneficial endosymbiotic fungi in the already threatened high-elevation ecosystems. Assessing the consequences of global warming at all trophic levels is urgent because many species on Earth depend on their microbial symbionts for survival.}, } @article {pmid33488560, year = {2020}, author = {Henriquez, FL and Mooney, R and Bandel, T and Giammarini, E and Zeroual, M and Fiori, PL and Margarita, V and Rappelli, P and Dessì, D}, title = {Paradigms of Protist/Bacteria Symbioses Affecting Human Health: Acanthamoeba species and Trichomonas vaginalis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {616213}, pmid = {33488560}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ever since the publication of the seminal paper by Lynn Margulis in 1967 proposing the theory of the endosymbiotic origin of organelles, the study of the symbiotic relationships between unicellular eukaryotes and prokaryotes has received ever-growing attention by microbiologists and evolutionists alike. While the evolutionary significance of the endosymbiotic associations within protists has emerged and is intensively studied, the impact of these relationships on human health has been seldom taken into account. Microbial endosymbioses involving human eukaryotic pathogens are not common, and the sexually transmitted obligate parasite Trichomonas vaginalis and the free-living opportunistic pathogen Acanthamoeba represent two unique cases in this regard, to date. The reasons of this peculiarity for T. vaginalis and Acanthamoeba may be due to their lifestyles, characterized by bacteria-rich environments. However, this characteristic does not fully explain the reason why no bacterial endosymbiont has yet been detected in unicellular eukaryotic human pathogens other than in T. vaginalis and Acanthamoeba, albeit sparse and poorly investigated examples of morphological identification of bacteria-like microorganisms associated with Giardia and Entamoeba were reported in the past. In this review article we will present the body of experimental evidences revealing the profound effects of these examples of protist/bacteria symbiosis on the pathogenesis of the microbial species involved, and ultimately their impact on human health.}, } @article {pmid33486575, year = {2021}, author = {Sudová, R and Rydlová, J and Čtvrtlíková, M and Kohout, P and Oehl, F and Voříšková, J and Kolaříková, Z}, title = {Symbiosis of isoetid plant species with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under aquatic versus terrestrial conditions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {273-288}, pmid = {33486575}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize the roots of numerous aquatic and wetland plants, but the establishment and functioning of mycorrhizal symbiosis in submerged habitats have received only little attention. Three pot experiments were conducted to study the interaction of isoetid plants with native AMF. In the first experiment, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis did not establish in roots of Isoëtes echinospora and I. lacustris, while Littorella uniflora roots were highly colonized. Shoot and root biomass of L. uniflora were, however, not affected by AMF inoculation, and only one of nine AMF isolates significantly increased shoot P concentration. In the second experiment, we compared colonization by three Glomus tetrastratosum isolates of different cultivation history and origin (aquatic versus terrestrial) and their effects on L. uniflora growth and phosphorus nutrition under submerged versus terrestrial conditions. The submerged cultivation considerably slowed, but did not inhibit mycorrhizal root colonization, regardless of isolate identity. Inoculation with any AMF isolate improved plant growth and P uptake under terrestrial, but not submerged conditions. In the final experiment, we compared the communities of AMF established in two cultivation regimes of trap cultures with lake sediments, either submerged on L. uniflora or terrestrial on Zea mays. After 2-year cultivation, we did not detect a significant effect of cultivation regime on AMF community composition. In summary, although submerged conditions do not preclude the development of functional AM symbiosis, the contribution of these symbiotic fungi to the fitness of their hosts seems to be considerably less than under terrestrial conditions.}, } @article {pmid33483589, year = {2021}, author = {Gauthier, J and Boulain, H and van Vugt, JJFA and Baudry, L and Persyn, E and Aury, JM and Noel, B and Bretaudeau, A and Legeai, F and Warris, S and Chebbi, MA and Dubreuil, G and Duvic, B and Kremer, N and Gayral, P and Musset, K and Josse, T and Bigot, D and Bressac, C and Moreau, S and Periquet, G and Harry, M and Montagné, N and Boulogne, I and Sabeti-Azad, M and Maïbèche, M and Chertemps, T and Hilliou, F and Siaussat, D and Amselem, J and Luyten, I and Capdevielle-Dulac, C and Labadie, K and Merlin, BL and Barbe, V and de Boer, JG and Marbouty, M and Cônsoli, FL and Dupas, S and Hua-Van, A and Le Goff, G and Bézier, A and Jacquin-Joly, E and Whitfield, JB and Vet, LEM and Smid, HM and Kaiser, L and Koszul, R and Huguet, E and Herniou, EA and Drezen, JM}, title = {Chromosomal scale assembly of parasitic wasp genome reveals symbiotic virus colonization.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {104}, pmid = {33483589}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; *Chromosomes, Insect ; Conserved Sequence ; *Genome, Insect ; Nudiviridae/genetics ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Receptors, Odorant/genetics ; Smell ; Symbiosis ; Synteny ; Wasps/*genetics/virology ; }, abstract = {Endogenous viruses form an important proportion of eukaryote genomes and a source of novel functions. How large DNA viruses integrated into a genome evolve when they confer a benefit to their host, however, remains unknown. Bracoviruses are essential for the parasitism success of parasitoid wasps, into whose genomes they integrated ~103 million years ago. Here we show, from the assembly of a parasitoid wasp genome at a chromosomal scale, that bracovirus genes colonized all ten chromosomes of Cotesia congregata. Most form clusters of genes involved in particle production or parasitism success. Genomic comparison with another wasp, Microplitis demolitor, revealed that these clusters were already established ~53 mya and thus belong to remarkably stable genomic structures, the architectures of which are evolutionary constrained. Transcriptomic analyses highlight temporal synchronization of viral gene expression without resulting in immune gene induction, suggesting that no conflicts remain between ancient symbiotic partners when benefits to them converge.}, } @article {pmid33482381, year = {2021}, author = {Hurt, C and Hultgren, K and Anker, A and Lemmon, AR and Moriarty Lemmon, E and Bracken-Grissom, H}, title = {First worldwide molecular phylogeny of the morphologically and ecologically hyperdiversified snapping shrimp genus Alpheus (Malacostraca: Decapoda).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {107080}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107080}, pmid = {33482381}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Decapoda/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Electron Transport Complex IV/classification/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hyperdiverse animal groups raise intriguing questions regarding the factors that generate and maintain their diversity. The snapping shrimp genus Alpheus (with >300 described species) is a spectacularly diversified group of decapod crustaceans that serves as an exemplary system for addressing evolutionary questions regarding morphological adaptations, symbiosis, cryptic diversity and molecular divergence. A lack of information regarding evolutionary relationships among species has limited investigations into the mechanisms that drive the diversification of Alpheus. Previous phylogenetic studies of Alpheus have been restricted in scope, while molecular datasets used for phylogenetic reconstructions have been based solely on mitochondrial and a handful of nuclear markers. Here we use an anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) approach to resolve phylogenetic relationships among species of Alpheus. The AHE method generated sequence data for 240 loci (>72,000 bp) for 65 terminal species that span the geographic, ecological and taxonomic diversity of Alpheus. Our resulting, well-supported phylogeny demonstrates a lack of monophyly for five out of seven morphologically defined species groups that have traditionally been used as a framework in Alpheus taxonomy. Our results also suggest that symbiotic associations with a variety of other animals have evolved independently in at least seven lineages in this genus. Our AHE phylogeny represents the most comprehensive phylogenetic treatment of Alpheus to date and will provide a useful evolutionary framework to further investigate questions, such as various modifications of the snapping claw and the role of habitat specialization and symbiosis in promoting speciation. Running head: PHYLOGENY OF THE SNAPPING SHRIMP GENUS ALPHEUS.}, } @article {pmid33481857, year = {2021}, author = {Niu, H and Pang, Z and Fallah, N and Zhou, Y and Zhang, C and Hu, C and Lin, W and Yuan, Z}, title = {Diversity of microbial communities and soil nutrients in sugarcane rhizosphere soil under water soluble fertilizer.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {e0245626}, pmid = {33481857}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Fertilizers ; *Microbial Consortia ; *Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Saccharum/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Solubility ; Water ; }, abstract = {The dynamics of soil microbial communities are important for plant health and productivity. Soil microbial communities respond differently to fertilization. Organic water soluble fertilizer is an effective soil improver, which can effectively improve soil nutrient status and adjust soil pH value. However, little is known about the effects of water soluble fertilizers on soil microbial community, and the combined effects on soil nutrients and sugarcane productivity. Therefore, this study sought to assess the effects of water soluble fertilizer (1,050 kg/hm2 (WS1), 1,650 kg/hm2 (WS2)) and mineral fertilizer (1,500 kg/hm2 (CK)) on the soil microbial community, soil nutrients and crop yield of sugarcane. The results showed that compared with CK, the application of water soluble fertilizers (WS1 and WS2) alleviated soil acidity, increased the OM, DOC, and AK contents in the soil, and further improved agronomic parameters and sugarcane yield. Both WS1 and WS2 treatments significantly increased the species richness of microorganisms, especially the enrichment of beneficial symbiotic bacteria such as Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes, which are more conducive to the healthy growth of plants. Furthermore, we found that soil nutrient contents were associated with soil microbial enrichment. These results indicate that water soluble fertilizer affects the enrichment of microorganisms by improving the nutrient content of the soil, thereby affecting the growth and yield of sugarcane. These findings therefore suggest that the utilization of water soluble fertilizer is an effective agriculture approach to improve soil fertility.}, } @article {pmid33481793, year = {2021}, author = {Caira, JN and Jensen, K}, title = {Electron microscopy reveals novel external specialized organs housing bacteria in eagle ray tapeworms.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {e0244586}, pmid = {33481793}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Borneo ; Cestoda/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/*ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nutritionally-based mutualisms with bacteria are known to occur in a wide array of invertebrate phyla, although less commonly in the Platyhelminthes. Here we report what appears to be a novel example of this type of association in two geographically disparate and phylogenetically distant species of tapeworms of eagle rays-the lecanicephalidean Elicilacunosus dharmadii off the island of Borneo and the tetraphyllidean Caulobothrium multispelaeum off Senegal. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the grooves and apertures on the outer surfaces of both tapeworms open into expansive cavities housing concentrations of bacteria. This led us to reject the original hypothesis that these structures, and their associated mucopolysaccharides, aid in attachment to the host mucosa. The cavities were found to be specialized in-foldings of the tapeworm body that were lined with particularly elongate filitriches. Given tapeworms lack a gut and employ filitriches to assist in nutrient absorption, enhanced nutrient uptake likely occurs in the cavities. Each tapeworm species appeared to host different bacterial monocultures; those in E. dharmadii were coccoid-like in form, while those in C. multispelaeum were bacillus-like. The presence of bacteria in a specialized structure of this nature suggests the structure is a symbiotic organ. Tapeworms are fully capable of obtaining their own nutrients, and thus the bacteria likely serve merely to supplement their diet. Given the bacteria were also extracellular, this structure is more consistent with a mycetome than a trophosome. To our knowledge, this is not only the first evidence of an external symbiotic organ of any type in a nutritionally-based mutualism, but also the first description of a mycetome in a group of invertebrates that lacks a digestive system. The factors that might account for the independent evolution of this unique association in these unrelated tapeworms are unclear-especially given that none of their closest relatives exhibit any evidence of the phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid33481706, year = {2022}, author = {Li, M and Chen, S and Chen, X and Zhang, Y and Wang, Y and Tian, Q}, title = {Symbiotic Graph Neural Networks for 3D Skeleton-Based Human Action Recognition and Motion Prediction.}, journal = {IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {3316-3333}, doi = {10.1109/TPAMI.2021.3053765}, pmid = {33481706}, issn = {1939-3539}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Humans ; Motion ; Neural Networks, Computer ; *Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Skeleton ; }, abstract = {3D skeleton-based action recognition and motion prediction are two essential problems of human activity understanding. In many previous works: 1) they studied two tasks separately, neglecting internal correlations; and 2) they did not capture sufficient relations inside the body. To address these issues, we propose a symbiotic model to handle two tasks jointly; and we propose two scales of graphs to explicitly capture relations among body-joints and body-parts. Together, we propose symbiotic graph neural networks, which contain a backbone, an action-recognition head, and a motion-prediction head. Two heads are trained jointly and enhance each other. For the backbone, we propose multi-branch multiscale graph convolution networks to extract spatial and temporal features. The multiscale graph convolution networks are based on joint-scale and part-scale graphs. The joint-scale graphs contain actional graphs, capturing action-based relations, and structural graphs, capturing physical constraints. The part-scale graphs integrate body-joints to form specific parts, representing high-level relations. Moreover, dual bone-based graphs and networks are proposed to learn complementary features. We conduct extensive experiments for skeleton-based action recognition and motion prediction with four datasets, NTU-RGB+D, Kinetics, Human3.6M, and CMU Mocap. Experiments show that our symbiotic graph neural networks achieve better performances on both tasks compared to the state-of-the-art methods.}, } @article {pmid33480342, year = {2021}, author = {Swallah, MS and Yu, H and Piao, C and Fu, H and Yakubu, Z and Sossah, FL}, title = {Synergistic Two-Way Interactions of Dietary Polyphenols and Dietary Components on the Gut Microbial Composition: Is There a Positive, Negative, or Neutralizing Effect in the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases?.}, journal = {Current protein & peptide science}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {313-327}, doi = {10.2174/1389203722666210122143840}, pmid = {33480342}, issn = {1875-5550}, mesh = {*Polyphenols ; }, abstract = {Polyphenol is an intricate bioactive molecule abundant in humans/animals' diet particularly plant foods, and has been evidenced in numerous reports with health-promoting functions, owing to its free radical scavenging properties and a broad spectrum of bioactivities. However, the beneficial functions are linked and restricted to bioavailability, which is dictated by the diversity of the gut microbiota. The human/animal's gut harbours a complex community of trillions of microbial species and their symbiotic relationship goes beyond mere aiding the host's digestive system, with important functions such as host nutrition and health by encouraging nutrient metabolism and absorption, regulation of the gastrointestinal development, protection against pathogens, maintenance of the gut mucosal barrier functions and host immune system. The disruption of the gut community (i.e., dysbiosis) is suggested to reflect several pathological processes, such as diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic-related comorbidities. Recent improvements in deep-sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have enabled a more complex understanding of the reciprocal interactions of dietary polyphenols and gut microbiota, as well as their metabolic impact. Hence this review seeks to discuss the two-way synergistic interactions of dietary polyphenols and dietary constituents on the gut microbial composition with an updated and pivotal finding from literature suggesting whether these interactions depict a positive, negative, or neutralizing effect in the prevention of metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid33479414, year = {2021}, author = {Ratu, STN and Teulet, A and Miwa, H and Masuda, S and Nguyen, HP and Yasuda, M and Sato, S and Kaneko, T and Hayashi, M and Giraud, E and Okazaki, S}, title = {Rhizobia use a pathogenic-like effector to hijack leguminous nodulation signalling.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2034}, pmid = {33479414}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Xanthomonas/genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Legume plants form a root-nodule symbiosis with rhizobia. This symbiosis establishment generally relies on rhizobium-produced Nod factors (NFs) and their perception by leguminous receptors (NFRs) that trigger nodulation. However, certain rhizobia hijack leguminous nodulation signalling via their type III secretion system, which functions in pathogenic bacteria to deliver effector proteins into host cells. Here, we report that rhizobia use pathogenic-like effectors to hijack legume nodulation signalling. The rhizobial effector Bel2-5 resembles the XopD effector of the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris and could induce nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean nfr mutant. The soybean root transcriptome revealed that Bel2-5 induces expression of cytokinin-related genes, which are important for nodule organogenesis and represses ethylene- and defense-related genes that are deleterious to nodulation. Remarkably, Bel2-5 introduction into a strain unable to nodulate soybean mutant affected in NF perception conferred nodulation ability. Our findings show that rhizobia employ and have customized pathogenic effectors to promote leguminous nodulation signalling.}, } @article {pmid33479184, year = {2021}, author = {Poff, KE and Leu, AO and Eppley, JM and Karl, DM and DeLong, EF}, title = {Microbial dynamics of elevated carbon flux in the open ocean's abyss.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33479184}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; Carbon/chemistry/*metabolism ; Carbon Cycle/*physiology ; Copepoda/*chemistry/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*chemistry/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Diatoms/*chemistry/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*chemistry/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Rhizaria/*chemistry/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Seasons ; Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In the open ocean, elevated carbon flux (ECF) events increase the delivery of particulate carbon from surface waters to the seafloor by severalfold compared to other times of year. Since microbes play central roles in primary production and sinking particle formation, they contribute greatly to carbon export to the deep sea. Few studies, however, have quantitatively linked ECF events with the specific microbial assemblages that drive them. Here, we identify key microbial taxa and functional traits on deep-sea sinking particles that correlate positively with ECF events. Microbes enriched on sinking particles in summer ECF events included symbiotic and free-living diazotrophic cyanobacteria, rhizosolenid diatoms, phototrophic and heterotrophic protists, and photoheterotrophic and copiotrophic bacteria. Particle-attached bacteria reaching the abyss during summer ECF events encoded metabolic pathways reflecting their surface water origins, including oxygenic and aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and proteorhodopsin-based photoheterotrophy. The abundances of some deep-sea bacteria also correlated positively with summer ECF events, suggesting rapid bathypelagic responses to elevated organic matter inputs. Biota enriched on sinking particles during a spring ECF event were distinct from those found in summer, and included rhizaria, copepods, fungi, and different bacterial taxa. At other times over our 3-y study, mid- and deep-water particle colonization, predation, degradation, and repackaging (by deep-sea bacteria, protists, and animals) appeared to shape the biotic composition of particles reaching the abyss. Our analyses reveal key microbial players and biological processes involved in particle formation, rapid export, and consumption, that may influence the ocean's biological pump and help sustain deep-sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33478393, year = {2021}, author = {Wu, T and Zou, R and Pu, D and Lan, Z and Zhao, B}, title = {Non-targeted and targeted metabolomics profiling of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) in response to its intercropping with Chinese chestnut.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {55}, pmid = {33478393}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Camellia sinensis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Crop Production/*methods ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism ; Tea/*standards ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Intercropping is often used in the tea producing areas where land resources are not so abundant, and the produced green tea is tasted more delicious through a tea-Chinese chestnut intercropping system according to the experience of indigenous farmers. The length and weight of tea leaf increase under this intercropping system and their root systems are stratified vertically and coordinate symbiosis. However, the delicacy mechanism under the intercropping is not fully understood.

RESULTS: Green tea from the Chinese chestnut-tea intercropping system established in the 1980s ranked highest compared with a pure tea plantation from the same region. Based on the non-targeted metabolomics, 100 differential metabolites were upregulated in the tea leaves from intercropping system relative to monoculture system. Twenty-one amino acids were upregulated and three downregulated in response to the intercropping based on the targeted metabolomics; half of the upregulated amino acids had positive effects on the tea taste. Levels of allantoic acid, sugars, sugar alcohols, and oleic acid were higher and less bitter flavonoids in the intercropping system than those in monoculture system. The upregulated metabolites could promote the quality of tea and its health-beneficial health effects. Flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism showed the greatest difference. Numerous pathways associated with amino acid metabolism altered, suggesting that the intercropping of Chinese chestnut-tea could greatly influence amino acid metabolism in tea plants.

CONCLUSIONS: These results enhance our understanding of the metabolic mechanisms by which tea quality is improved in the Chinese chestnut-tea intercropping system and demonstrate that there is great potential to improve tea quality at the metabolomic level by adopting such an intercropping system.}, } @article {pmid33477887, year = {2021}, author = {Lei, N and Kareem, M and Moon, SK and Ciaccio, EJ and Acharya, UR and Faust, O}, title = {Hybrid Decision Support to Monitor Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke Prevention.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33477887}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Algorithms ; *Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; *Stroke/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {In this paper, we discuss hybrid decision support to monitor atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention. Hybrid decision support takes the form of human experts and machine algorithms working cooperatively on a diagnosis. The link to stroke prevention comes from the fact that patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) have a fivefold increased stroke risk. Early diagnosis, which leads to adequate AF treatment, can decrease the stroke risk by 66% and thereby prevent stroke. The monitoring service is based on Heart Rate (HR) measurements. The resulting signals are communicated and stored with Internet of Things (IoT) technology. A Deep Learning (DL) algorithm automatically estimates the AF probability. Based on this technology, we can offer four distinct services to healthcare providers: (1) universal access to patient data; (2) automated AF detection and alarm; (3) physician support; and (4) feedback channels. These four services create an environment where physicians can work symbiotically with machine algorithms to establish and communicate a high quality AF diagnosis.}, } @article {pmid33475799, year = {2021}, author = {Bueno, CG and Gerz, M and Moora, M and Leon, D and Gomez-Garcia, D and de Leon, DG and Font, X and Al-Quraishy, S and Hozzein, WN and Zobel, M}, title = {Distribution of plant mycorrhizal traits along an elevational gradient does not fully mirror the latitudinal gradient.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {149-159}, pmid = {33475799}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The influence of mycorrhizal symbiosis on ecosystem processes depends on the mycorrhizal type and status of plants. Early research hypothesized that the proportion of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) species decreases and of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) species increases along increasing elevations and latitudes. However, there is very scarce information about this pattern along elevation gradients. We aimed to test this hypothesis and to describe the trends in plant mycorrhizal status by examining the Pyrenean mountain range (from 400 to 3400 m asl). The distribution of plant mycorrhizal types: AM, ECM, ERM, and non-mycorrhizal (NM) and status (obligately, OM, or facultatively, FM mycorrhizal plants, FM) were identified based on the Pyrenean Floristic Atlas and analyzed for climatic and edaphic drivers. The proportion of AM plants decreased slightly with elevation, while ECM species peaked at 1000 m asl. The proportion of ERM and NM plant species rose with increasing elevation. The proportion of FM species increased, and OM species decreased with increasing elevation. The change of AM and ECM species, and OM and FM species, along the elevational gradient, corresponds broadly to changes along the latitudinal gradient, driven by a combination of climatic and edaphic factors. Differently, the elevational occurrence of NM plant species is mainly driven only by climatic factors (low temperature) and that of ERM species by only edaphic factors (low pH). Large-scale macroecological studies (≥ 50 km grid cell) well reflect the effects of climate on the distribution of plant mycorrhizal traits, but local data (≤ 1 km grid cell) are needed to understand the effects of soil conditions and land use.}, } @article {pmid33474988, year = {2021}, author = {Perez, JL and Gunderman, RB}, title = {The Need for an Ecologic Understanding of Radiology Practice.}, journal = {AJR. American journal of roentgenology}, volume = {216}, number = {3}, pages = {844-846}, doi = {10.2214/AJR.20.22919}, pmid = {33474988}, issn = {1546-3141}, mesh = {*Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Engineering ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Models, Economic ; Models, Theoretical ; *Organizational Objectives ; Professional Practice ; Radiology/economics/*organization & administration ; Radiology Information Systems ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE. Many models have been used to understand radiology practice, including economics, engineering, and information technology. Each has advantages, but each also has drawbacks, failing to illuminate important aspects of radiologists' work. A model that offers additional insights is ecology. CONCLUSION. By looking at radiology practice through the ecologic concept of symbiosis, radiologists can gain new understanding and appreciation of aspects of their work that can render it more fruitful and sustainable.}, } @article {pmid33474511, year = {2021}, author = {María Lourdes, GC and Stéphane, D and Maryline, CS}, title = {Impact of increasing chromium (VI) concentrations on growth, phosphorus and chromium uptake of maize plants associated to the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e05891}, pmid = {33474511}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorhizal fungi (AMF) associated to plants may represent a promising phyto-remediation avenue due to the widely documented role of these fungi in alleviation of numerous abiotic (e.g. heavy metals) stresses. In the present work, it was the objective to study the dynamics of inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) and total Cr uptake by the plant-AMF associates Zea mays + R. irregularis MUCL 41833, under increasing (i.e. 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg L[-1]) concentrations of Cr(VI). The plant-AMF associates were grown in a circulatory semi-hydroponic cultivation system under greenhouse conditions. We demonstrated that Cr(VI) had an hormesis effect on root colonization of maize. Indeed, at 0.1 and 1 mg L[-1] Cr(VI), root colonization was increased by approximately 55% as compared to the control (i.e. in absence of Cr(VI) in the solution), while no difference was noticed at 10 mg L[-1] Cr(VI) (P ≤ 0.05). However, this did not result in an increased uptake of Pi by the AMF-colonized plants in presence of 0.1 mg L[-1] Cr(VI) as compared to the AMF control in absence of Cr(VI) (P ≤ 0.05). Conversely, the presence of 1 mg L[-1] Cr(VI) stimulated the Pi uptake by non-mycorrhizal plants, which absorbed 17% more Pi than their mycorrhizal counterparts (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, the non-mycorrhizal plants absorbed, in average, 8% more Cr(VI) than the mycorrhizal plants. Overall, our results prompt the hypothesis that in presence of AMF, the regulation of uptake of Cr(VI) and Pi by plant roots is done mostly by the fungus rather than the root cells. This regulated uptake of roots associated to AMF would indicate that the symbiosis could benefit the plants by providing a stable Pi uptake in a Cr(VI) polluted environment.}, } @article {pmid33472685, year = {2021}, author = {Jansma, J and El Aidy, S}, title = {Understanding the host-microbe interactions using metabolic modeling.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {33472685}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Computer Simulation ; Dysbiosis/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; }, abstract = {The human gut harbors an enormous number of symbiotic microbes, which is vital for human health. However, interactions within the complex microbiota community and between the microbiota and its host are challenging to elucidate, limiting development in the treatment for a variety of diseases associated with microbiota dysbiosis. Using in silico simulation methods based on flux balance analysis, those interactions can be better investigated. Flux balance analysis uses an annotated genome-scale reconstruction of a metabolic network to determine the distribution of metabolic fluxes that represent the complete metabolism of a bacterium in a certain metabolic environment such as the gut. Simulation of a set of bacterial species in a shared metabolic environment can enable the study of the effect of numerous perturbations, such as dietary changes or addition of a probiotic species in a personalized manner. This review aims to introduce to experimental biologists the possible applications of flux balance analysis in the host-microbiota interaction field and discusses its potential use to improve human health. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid33471549, year = {2021}, author = {Costa, SR and Ng, JLP and Mathesius, U}, title = {Interaction of Symbiotic Rhizobia and Parasitic Root-Knot Nematodes in Legume Roots: From Molecular Regulation to Field Application.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {470-490}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-20-0350-FI}, pmid = {33471549}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form two types of root organs in response to signals from microbes, namely, nodules and root galls. In the field, these interactions occur concurrently and often interact with each other. The outcomes of these interactions vary and can depend on natural variation in rhizobia and nematode populations in the soil as well as abiotic conditions. While rhizobia are symbionts that contribute fixed nitrogen to their hosts, parasitic root-knot nematodes (RKN) cause galls as feeding structures that consume plant resources without a contribution to the plant. Yet, the two interactions share similarities, including rhizosphere signaling, repression of host defense responses, activation of host cell division, and differentiation, nutrient exchange, and alteration of root architecture. Rhizobia activate changes in defense and development through Nod factor signaling, with additional functions of effector proteins and exopolysaccharides. RKN inject large numbers of protein effectors into plant cells that directly suppress immune signaling and manipulate developmental pathways. This review examines the molecular control of legume interactions with rhizobia and RKN to elucidate shared and distinct mechanisms of these root-microbe interactions. Many of the molecular pathways targeted by both organisms overlap, yet recent discoveries have singled out differences in the spatial control of expression of developmental regulators that may have enabled activation of cortical cell division during nodulation in legumes. The interaction of legumes with symbionts and parasites highlights the importance of a comprehensive view of root-microbe interactions for future crop management and breeding strategies.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33471433, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, J and Rasing, M and Zeng, T and Klein, J and Kulikova, O and Bisseling, T}, title = {NIN is essential for development of symbiosomes, suppression of defence and premature senescence in Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {1}, pages = {290-303}, pmid = {33471433}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {NIN (NODULE INCEPTION) is a transcription factor that plays a key role during root nodule initiation. However, its role in later nodule developmental stages is unclear. Both NIN mRNA and protein accumulated at the highest level in the proximal part of the infection zone in Medicago truncatula nodules. Two nin weak allele mutants, nin-13/16, form a rather normal nodule infection zone, whereas a fixation zone is not formed. Instead, a zone with defence responses and premature senescence occurred and symbiosome development gets arrested. Mutations in nin-13/16 resulted in a truncated NIN lacking the conserved PB1 domain. However, this did not cause the nodule phenotype as nin mutants expressing NINΔPB1 formed wild-type-like nodule. The phenotype is likely to be caused by reduced NIN mRNA levels in the cytoplasm. Transcriptome analyses of nin-16 nodules showed that expression levels of defence/senescence-related genes are markedly increased, whereas the levels of defence suppressing genes are reduced. Although defence/senescence seems well suppressed in the infection zone, the transcriptome is already markedly changed in the proximal part of infection zone. In addition to its function in infection and nodule organogenesis, NIN also plays a major role at the transition from infection to fixation zone in establishing a functional symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33468585, year = {2021}, author = {Swaney, MH and Kalan, LR}, title = {Living in Your Skin: Microbes, Molecules, and Mechanisms.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {89}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33468585}, issn = {1098-5522}, support = {R35 GM137828/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biomarkers ; Cell Communication ; Energy Metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Organ Specificity ; Skin/*microbiology ; *Skin Physiological Phenomena ; Wound Healing ; }, abstract = {Human skin functions as a physical, chemical, and immune barrier against the external environment while also providing a protective niche for its resident microbiota, known as the skin microbiome. Cooperation between the microbiota, host skin cells, and the immune system is responsible for maintenance of skin health, and a disruption to this delicate balance, such as by pathogen invasion or a breach in the skin barrier, may lead to impaired skin function. In this minireview, we describe the role of the microbiome in microbe, host, and immune interactions under distinct skin states, including homeostasis, tissue repair, and wound infection. Furthermore, we highlight the growing number of diverse microbial metabolites and products that have been identified to mediate these interactions, particularly those involved in host-microbe communication and defensive symbiosis. We also address the contextual pathogenicity exhibited by many skin commensals and provide insight into future directions in the skin microbiome field.}, } @article {pmid33467041, year = {2021}, author = {Ingersoll, JG}, title = {Observations on the Occurrence, Transmission and Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic Derived from Physics.}, journal = {Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33467041}, issn = {2079-9721}, abstract = {Three important observations derived from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could result in the development of novel approaches to deal with it and avoid or at least minimize the occurrence and impact of future outbreaks. First, the dramatic increase in pandemics in the past decade alone suggests that the current relationship of humans with the environment is quickly becoming unstable, with potentially catastrophic consequences. In order to reduce the toll in life and property, we would need to shift our emphasis from control of nature to a symbiosis with nature. This, then, can become the new framework for dealing effectively with environmental issues such as climate change, whereby properly applied medical science would provide the necessary impetus for action. Second, the existence of superspreaders of infection among populations in this pandemic requires that we develop objective tests, most likely of a genetic nature, to identify them rather than apply indiscriminate and draconian controls across the board. Not identifying superspreaders in a timely fashion could allow this pandemic to turn into a black swan event, with a catastrophic impact on society. Third, we need to refocus our efforts in dealing with this pandemic from the virus itself to the human hosts. An objective morbidity risk index can be developed such that most of us can go about our daily business without the fear of becoming seriously ill, while measures can be implemented to protect those who are most vulnerable to this virus. These observations point clearly to a need for a paradigm shift.}, } @article {pmid33466994, year = {2021}, author = {Ferrier-Pagès, C and Martinez, S and Grover, R and Cybulski, J and Shemesh, E and Tchernov, D}, title = {Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33466994}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The association between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates is one of the most well-known nutritional symbioses, but nowadays it is threatened by global changes. Nutritional exchanges are critical to understanding the performance of this symbiosis under stress conditions. Here, compound-specific δ[15]N and δ[13]C values of amino acids (δ[15]NAA and δ[13]CAA) were assessed in autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic holobionts as diagnostic tools to follow nutritional interactions between the partners. Contrary to what was expected, heterotrophy was mainly traced through the δ[15]N of the symbiont's amino acids (AAs), suggesting that symbionts directly profit from host heterotrophy. The trophic index (TP) ranged from 1.1 to 2.3 from autotrophic to heterotrophic symbionts. In addition, changes in TP across conditions were more significant in the symbionts than in the host. The similar δ[13]C-AAs signatures of host and symbionts further suggests that symbiont-derived photosynthates are the main source of carbon for AAs synthesis. Symbionts, therefore, appear to be a key component in the AAs biosynthetic pathways, and might, via this obligatory function, play an essential role in the capacity of corals to withstand environmental stress. These novel findings highlight important aspects of the nutritional exchanges in the coral-dinoflagellates symbiosis. In addition, they feature δ[15]NAA as a useful tool for studies regarding the nutritional exchanges within the coral-symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33466915, year = {2021}, author = {Dong, S and Dimopoulos, G}, title = {Antiviral Compounds for Blocking Arboviral Transmission in Mosquitoes.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33466915}, issn = {1999-4915}, support = {R01 AI141532/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI141532/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/drug effects/*virology ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Arbovirus Infections/drug therapy/*transmission/*virology ; Arboviruses/classification/*drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Discovery/methods ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Humans ; Mosquito Control/methods ; Mosquito Vectors/*virology ; Vector Borne Diseases/drug therapy/transmission/virology ; Virus Replication/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Mosquito-borne arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) such as the dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are important human pathogens that are responsible for significant global morbidity and mortality. The recent emergence and re-emergence of mosquito-borne viral diseases (MBVDs) highlight the urgent need for safe and effective vaccines, therapeutics, and vector-control approaches to prevent MBVD outbreaks. In nature, arboviruses circulate between vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors; therefore, disrupting the virus lifecycle in mosquitoes is a major approach for combating MBVDs. Several strategies were proposed to render mosquitoes that are refractory to arboviral infection, for example, those involving the generation of genetically modified mosquitoes or infection with the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. Due to the recent development of high-throughput screening methods, an increasing number of drugs with inhibitory effects on mosquito-borne arboviruses in mammalian cells were identified. These antivirals are useful resources that can impede the circulation of arboviruses between arthropods and humans by either rendering viruses more vulnerable in humans or suppressing viral infection by reducing the expression of host factors in mosquitoes. In this review, we summarize recent advances in small-molecule antiarboviral drugs in mammalian and mosquito cells, and discuss how to use these antivirals to block the transmission of MBVDs.}, } @article {pmid33462693, year = {2021}, author = {Zhao, X and Miao, R and Guo, M and Zhou, Y}, title = {Effects of Fire Phoenix (a genotype mixture of Fesctuca arundinecea L.) and Mycobacterium sp. on the degradation of PAHs and bacterial community in soil.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {20}, pages = {25692-25700}, pmid = {33462693}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Genotype ; *Mycobacterium/genetics ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {Phytomicrobial remediation technology of PAH-contaminated soils has drawn great attention due to its low-cost, eco-friendly, and effective characteristics, but the mechanism underlying the removal of PAHs by rhizosphere in wastewater-irrigated soil is so far not clear. To evaluate the dissipation of PAHs and the shifts of bacterial community structure under plant-microorganism symbiotic system in an agricultural soil, a rhizo-box experiment with Fire Phoenix (a genotype mixture of Fesctuca arundinecea L.) or/and inoculated Mycobacterium sp. was conducted for 60 days. The changes of bacterial community structure and the contents of PAHs were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The results showed that the removal rate of PAHs in phytomicrobial combined treatment was 53.7% after 60 days. The PAH-degraders were dominated by Microbacterium sp., Sphingomonas sp., Mycobacterium sp., and Flavobacterium sp. The plant of Fire Phoenix induced the appearance of Pseudomonas sp. and TM7 phylum sp. oral clone. The highest of bacterial diversity index was observed in unrhizosphere soils (MR-), rather than that in rhizosphere soils (MR+). In combination, phytomicrobial combined treatment of Fire Phoenix and Mycobacterium strain enhanced the removal rate of PAHs and changed the structure of bacterial community and bacterial diversity. Bacterial community has great effect on PAH degradation in PAH-contaminated soil from the wastewater-irrigated site. Our study can provide support information for PAH degradation enhancement by the synergetic effect of Fire Phoenix and Mycobacterium sp.}, } @article {pmid33462192, year = {2021}, author = {Rajkumar, R and Régio Brambilla, C and Veselinović, T and Bierbrier, J and Wyss, C and Ramkiran, S and Orth, L and Lang, M and Rota Kops, E and Mauler, J and Scheins, J and Neumaier, B and Ermert, J and Herzog, H and Langen, KJ and Binkofski, FC and Lerche, C and Shah, NJ and Neuner, I}, title = {Excitatory-inhibitory balance within EEG microstates and resting-state fMRI networks: assessed via simultaneous trimodal PET-MR-EEG imaging.}, journal = {Translational psychiatry}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {60}, pmid = {33462192}, issn = {2158-3188}, mesh = {Brain/diagnostic imaging ; *Brain Mapping ; Electroencephalography ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of neuronal activities and glucose energy metabolism is reflected in the generation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) signals. However, their association with the balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition (E/I-B), which is closely related to the activities of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the receptor availability (RA) of GABAA and mGluR5, remains unexplored. This research investigates these associations during the resting state (RS) condition using simultaneously recorded PET/MR/EEG (trimodal) data. The trimodal data were acquired from three studies using different radio-tracers such as, [[11]C]ABP688 (ABP) (N = 9), [[11]C]Flumazenil (FMZ) (N = 10) and 2-[[18]F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) (N = 10) targeted to study the mGluR5, GABAA receptors and glucose metabolism respectively. Glucose metabolism and neuroreceptor binding availability (non-displaceable binding potential (BPND)) of GABAA and mGluR5 were found to be significantly higher and closely linked within core resting-state networks (RSNs). The neuronal generators of EEG microstates and the fMRI measures were most tightly associated with the BPND of GABAA relative to mGluR5 BPND and the glucose metabolism, emphasising a predominance of inhibitory processes within in the core RSNs at rest. Changes in the neuroreceptors leading to an altered coupling with glucose metabolism may render the RSNs vulnerable to psychiatric conditions. The paradigm employed here will likely help identify the precise neurobiological mechanisms behind these alterations in fMRI functional connectivity and EEG oscillations, potentially benefitting individualised healthcare treatment measures.}, } @article {pmid33461337, year = {2021}, author = {Shan, X and Zhu, Y and Redman, R and Rodriguez, RJ and Yuan, Z}, title = {The Chromosome-Scale Genome Resource for Two Endophytic Fusarium species, F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {703-706}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-20-0205-A}, pmid = {33461337}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Chromosomes ; Endophytes/genetics ; *Fusarium/genetics ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Plant Diseases ; }, abstract = {Genus Fusarium (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) includes many economically important plant pathogens that cause devastating diseases of a wide range of crops and trees. Interestingly, there is increasing evidence that some Fusarium species also live as endophytes and benefit plant growth and stress tolerance. In this work, we sequence the whole genomes of endophytic F. culmorum and F. pseudograminearum, isolated from a coastal dunegrass (Leymus mollis), using long-read single-molecule real-time sequencing technology. Their genomes are assembled into four chromosomes and a mitochondrial genome with a total assembly size of 40.05 and 42.90 M, respectively. This resource should not only facilitate functional studies designed to better understand what makes the two Fusarium species such successful plant-beneficial fungi but should also reveal their genome evolution and adaptation.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33459999, year = {2021}, author = {Mazumdar, T and Teh, BS and Murali, A and Schmidt-Heck, W and Schlenker, Y and Vogel, H and Boland, W}, title = {Transcriptomics Reveal the Survival Strategies of Enterococcus mundtii in the Gut of Spodoptera littoralis.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {227-241}, pmid = {33459999}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Enterococcus/*physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Iron/metabolism ; Larva/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Spodoptera/*microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The complex interaction between a higher organism and its resident gut flora is a subject of immense interest in the field of symbiosis. Many insects harbor a complex community of microorganisms in their gut. Larvae of Spodoptera littoralis, a lepidopteran pest, house a bacterial community that varies both spatially (along the length of the gut) and temporally (during the insect's life cycle). To monitor the rapid adaptation of microbes to conditions in the gut, a GFP-tagged reporter strain of E. mundtii, a major player in the gut community, was constructed. After early-instar S. littoralis larvae were fed with the tagged microbes, these were recovered from the larval fore- and hindgut by flow cytometry. The fluorescent reporter confirmed the persistence of E. mundtii in the gut. RNA-sequencing of the sorted bacteria highlighted various strategies of the symbiont's survival, including upregulated pathways for tolerating alkaline stress, forming biofilms and two-component signaling systems for quorum sensing, and resisting oxidative stress. Although these symbionts depend on the host for amino acid and fatty acids, differential regulation among various metabolic pathways points to an enriched lysine synthesis pathway of E. mundtii in the hindgut of the larvae.}, } @article {pmid33455582, year = {2021}, author = {Goffredi, SK and Motooka, C and Fike, DA and Gusmão, LC and Tilic, E and Rouse, GW and Rodríguez, E}, title = {Mixotrophic chemosynthesis in a deep-sea anemone from hydrothermal vents in the Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {8}, pmid = {33455582}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Mexico ; Pacific Ocean ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Numerous deep-sea invertebrates, at both hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, have formed symbiotic associations with internal chemosynthetic bacteria in order to harness inorganic energy sources typically unavailable to animals. Despite success in nearly all marine habitats and their well-known associations with photosynthetic symbionts, Cnidaria remain one of the only phyla present in the deep-sea without a clearly documented example of dependence on chemosynthetic symbionts.

RESULTS: A new chemosynthetic symbiosis between the sea anemone Ostiactis pearseae and intracellular bacteria was discovered at ~ 3700 m deep hydrothermal vents in the southern Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California. Unlike most sea anemones observed from chemically reduced habitats, this species was observed in and amongst vigorously venting fluids, side-by-side with the chemosynthetic tubeworm Oasisia aff. alvinae. Individuals of O. pearseae displayed carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur tissue isotope values suggestive of a nutritional strategy distinct from the suspension feeding or prey capture conventionally employed by sea anemones. Molecular and microscopic evidence confirmed the presence of intracellular SUP05-related bacteria housed in the tentacle epidermis of O. pearseae specimens collected from 5 hydrothermally active structures within two vent fields ~ 2 km apart. SUP05 bacteria (Thioglobaceae) dominated the O. pearseae bacterial community, but were not recovered from other nearby anemones, and were generally rare in the surrounding water. Further, the specific Ostiactis-associated SUP05 phylotypes were not detected in the environment, indicating a specific association. Two unusual candidate bacterial phyla (the OD1 and BD1-5 groups) appear to associate exclusively with O. pearseae and may play a role in symbiont sulfur cycling.

CONCLUSION: The Cnidarian Ostiactis pearseae maintains a physical and nutritional alliance with chemosynthetic bacteria. The mixotrophic nature of this symbiosis is consistent with what is known about other cnidarians and the SUP05 bacterial group, in that they both form dynamic relationships to succeed in nature. The advantages gained by appropriating metabolic and structural resources from each other presumably contribute to their striking abundance in the Pescadero Basin, at the deepest known hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean.}, } @article {pmid33454544, year = {2021}, author = {Soyano, T and Liu, M and Kawaguchi, M and Hayashi, M}, title = {Leguminous nodule symbiosis involves recruitment of factors contributing to lateral root development.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {102000}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2020.102000}, pmid = {33454544}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes and several plant species in the monophyletic nitrogen-fixing clade produce root nodules that function as symbiotic organs and establish mutualistic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The modes of nodule organogenesis are distinct from those of lateral root development and also differ among different types of nodules formed in legumes and actinorhizal plants. It is considered that the evolution of new organs occurs through rearrangement of molecular networks interposed by certain neo-functionalized factors. Accumulating evidence has suggested that root nodule organogenesis involves root or lateral root developmental pathways. This review describes the current knowledge about the factors/pathways acquired by the common ancestor of the nitrogen-fixing clade in order to control nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid33453624, year = {2021}, author = {Ji, B and Zhu, L and Wang, S and Liu, Y}, title = {Temperature-effect on the performance of non-aerated microalgal-bacterial granular sludge process in municipal wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {282}, number = {}, pages = {111955}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.111955}, pmid = {33453624}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Sewage ; Temperature ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {This paper investigated the performance of non-aerated microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) process in municipal wastewater treatment at different temperatures. Results showed that the 70.5%, 81.9% and 86.1% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be removed at 15, 22 and 30 °C, respectively, indicating that a high temperature favored removal of organics due to promoted biomass growth. It was found that most of ammonia-N was removed via microbial assimilation by microalgae and bacteria in granules, with bacterial assimilation being dominant at the lower temperature. The phosphorus removal efficiency of 90.1% was achieved at 22 °C, with the presence of abundant Leptolyngbyales, a potential phosphorus accumulating alga. Chlorophyta grew much faster than Leptolyngbyales at 30 °C in microalgal-bacterial granules. It can be concluded that the contributions of microalgal and bacterial assimilations toward COD, ammonia and P removal appeared to be temperature-dependent, i.e. temperature could alter the symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria. This study would contribute to the application of non-aerated MBGS process in municipal wastewater treatment with seasonal variation of temperature.}, } @article {pmid33453317, year = {2021}, author = {Slijepcevic, P}, title = {Serial Endosymbiosis Theory: From biology to astronomy and back to the origin of life.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {202}, number = {}, pages = {104353}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104353}, pmid = {33453317}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Astronomy/methods/*trends ; *Biological Evolution ; Biology/methods/*trends ; Eukaryota/physiology ; Humans ; *Origin of Life ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Serial Endosymbiosis Theory, or SET, was conceived and developed by Lynn Margulis, to explain the greatest discontinuity in the history of life, the origin of eukaryotic cells. Some predictions of SET, namely the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, withstood the test of the most recent evidence from a variety of disciplines including phylogenetics, biochemistry, and cell biology. Even though some other predictions fared less well, SET remains a seminal theory in biology. In this paper, I focus on two aspects of SET. First, using the concept of "universal symbiogenesis", developed by Freeman Dyson to search for commonalities in astronomy and biology, I propose that SET can be extended beyond eukaryogenesis. The extension refers to the possibility that even prokaryotic organisms, themselves subject to the process of symbiogenesis in SET, could have emerged symbiotically. Second, I contrast a recent "viral eukaryogenesis" hypothesis, according to which the nucleus evolved from a complex DNA virus, with a view closer to SET, according to which the nucleus evolved through the interplay of the archaeal host, the eubacterial symbiont, and a non-LTR transposon, or telomerase. Viruses joined in later, through the process of viral endogenization, to shape eukaryotic chromosomes in the process of karyotype evolution. These two proposals based on SET are a testament to its longevity as a scientific theory.}, } @article {pmid33453107, year = {2021}, author = {Matamoros, MA and Becana, M}, title = {Molecular responses of legumes to abiotic stress: post-translational modifications of proteins and redox signaling.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {16}, pages = {5876-5892}, pmid = {33453107}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Legumes include several major crops that can fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic root nodules, thus reducing the demand for nitrogen fertilizers and contributing to sustainable agriculture. Global change models predict increases in temperature and extreme weather conditions. This scenario might increase plant exposure to abiotic stresses and negatively affect crop production. Regulation of whole plant physiology and nitrogen fixation in legumes during abiotic stress is complex, and only a few mechanisms have been elucidated. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and reactive sulfur species (RSS) are key players in the acclimation and stress tolerance mechanisms of plants. However, the specific redox-dependent signaling pathways are far from understood. One mechanism by which ROS, RNS, and RSS fulfil their signaling role is the post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins. Redox-based PTMs occur in the cysteine thiol group (oxidation, S-nitrosylation, S-glutathionylation, persulfidation), and also in methionine (oxidation), tyrosine (nitration), and lysine and arginine (carbonylation/glycation) residues. Unraveling PTM patterns under different types of stress and establishing the functional implications may give insight into the underlying mechanisms by which the plant and nodule respond to adverse conditions. Here, we review current knowledge on redox-based PTMs and their possible consequences in legume and nodule biology.}, } @article {pmid33452487, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, B and Wang, M and Sun, Y and Zhao, P and Liu, C and Qing, K and Hu, X and Zhong, Z and Cheng, J and Wang, H and Peng, Y and Shi, J and Zhuang, L and Du, S and He, M and Wu, H and Liu, M and Chen, S and Wang, H and Chen, X and Fan, W and Tian, K and Wang, Y and Chen, Q and Wang, S and Dong, F and Yang, C and Zhang, M and Song, Q and Li, Y and Wang, X}, title = {Glycine max NNL1 restricts symbiotic compatibility with widely distributed bradyrhizobia via root hair infection.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {73-86}, pmid = {33452487}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism/physiology ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Soybeans/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between soybean (Glycine max) and rhizobia is essential for efficient nitrogen fixation. Rhizobial effectors secreted through the type-III secretion system are key for mediating the interactions between plants and rhizobia, but the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, our genome-wide association study for nodule number identified G. max Nodule Number Locus 1 (GmNNL1), which encodes a new R protein. GmNNL1 directly interacts with the nodulation outer protein P (NopP) effector from Bradyrhizobium USDA110 to trigger immunity and inhibit nodulation through root hair infection. The insertion of a 179 bp short interspersed nuclear element (SINE)-like transposon into GmNNL1 leads to the loss of function of GmNNL1, enabling bradyrhizobia to successfully nodulate soybeans through the root hair infection route and enhancing nitrogen fixation. Our findings provide important insights into the coevolution of soybean-bradyrhizobia compatibility and offer a way to design new legume-rhizobia interactions for efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid33452473, year = {2021}, author = {Rouzé, H and Galand, PE and Medina, M and Bongaerts, P and Pichon, M and Pérez-Rosales, G and Torda, G and Moya, A and , and Raina, JB and Hédouin, L}, title = {Symbiotic associations of the deepest recorded photosynthetic scleractinian coral (172 m depth).}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {1564-1568}, pmid = {33452473}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between scleractinian corals and photosynthetic algae from the family Symbiodiniaceae underpins the health and productivity of tropical coral reef ecosystems. While this photosymbiotic association has been extensively studied in shallow waters (<30 m depth), we do not know how deeper corals, inhabiting large and vastly underexplored mesophotic coral ecosystems, modulate their symbiotic associations to grow in environments that receive less than 1% of surface irradiance. Here we report on the deepest photosymbiotic scleractinian corals collected to date (172 m depth), and use amplicon sequencing to identify the associated symbiotic communities. The corals, identified as Leptoseris hawaiiensis, were confirmed to host Symbiodiniaceae, predominantly of the genus Cladocopium, a single species of endolithic algae from the genus Ostreobium, and diverse communities of prokaryotes. Our results expand the reported depth range of photosynthetic scleractinian corals (0-172 m depth), and provide new insights on their symbiotic associations at the lower depth extremes of tropical coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid33450761, year = {2021}, author = {Ott, DS and Davis, TS and Mercado, JE}, title = {Interspecific variation in spruce constitutive and induced defenses in response to a bark beetle-fungal symbiont provides insight into traits associated with resistance.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {41}, number = {7}, pages = {1109-1121}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaa170}, pmid = {33450761}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Ophiostomatales ; *Picea ; Plant Bark ; }, abstract = {Differences in defensive traits of tree species may predict why some conifers are susceptible to bark beetle-fungal complexes and others are not. A symbiotic fungus (Leptographium abietinum (Peck) M.J. Wingf.) associated with the tree-killing bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) is phytopathogenic to host trees and may hasten tree decline during colonization by beetles, but defense responses of mature trees to the fungus have not been experimentally examined. To test the hypothesis that interspecific variation in spruce resistance is explained by defense traits we compared constitutive (bark thickness and constitutive resin ducts) and induced defenses (resin flow, monoterpene composition, concentration, phloem lesion formation and traumatic resin ducts) between two sympatric spruces: Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.-a susceptible host) and blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.-a resistant host) in response to fungal inoculation. Four central findings emerged: (i) blue spruce has thicker outer bark and thinner phloem than Engelmann spruce, which may restrict fungal access to phloem and result in less beetle-available resource overall; (ii) both spruce species induce monoterpenes in response to inoculation but blue spruce has higher constitutive monoterpene levels, induces monoterpenes more rapidly, and induces higher concentrations over a period of time consistent with spruce beetle attack duration; (iii) Engelmann and blue spruce differed in the monoterpenes they upregulated in response to fungal inoculation: blue spruce upregulated α-pinene, terpinolene and γ-terpinene, but Engelmann spruce upregulated 3-carene and linalool; and (iv) blue spruce has a higher frequency of constitutive resin ducts and produces more traumatic resin ducts in annual growth increments than Engelmann spruce, though Engelmann spruce produces more resin following aseptic wounding or fungal inoculation. These findings suggest that higher constitutive resin duct densities and monoterpene concentrations, as well as the ability to rapidly induce specific monoterpenes in response to L. abietinum inoculation, are phenotypic traits associated with hosts resistant to spruce beetle colonization.}, } @article {pmid33450718, year = {2021}, author = {Berger, F and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Factors affecting plant responsiveness to arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {101994}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2020.101994}, pmid = {33450718}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is an ancient, widespread symbiosis between most land plants and fungi of the Glomeromycotina, which receives increasing interest for agricultural application because it can promote plant growth and yield. The ability of plants to react to AM with changes in morphology and/or performance in terms of yield is called 'AM responsiveness'. Its amplitude depends on the plant- fungal genotype combination and the abiotic and biotic environment. A molecular understanding of AM responsiveness is key for enabling rational application of AM in agriculture, for example through targeted breeding of AM-optimised crops. However, the genetic and mechanistic underpinnings of AM responsiveness variation remain still unknown. Here, we review current knowledge on AM responsiveness, with a focus on agricultural crops, and speculate on mechanisms that may contribute to the variation in AM response.}, } @article {pmid33450310, year = {2021}, author = {Widyarman, AS and Udawatte, NS and Theodorea, CF and Apriani, A and Richi, M and Astoeti, TE and Seneviratne, CJ}, title = {Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride treatment enriches the symbiotic dental plaque microbiome in children.}, journal = {Journal of dentistry}, volume = {106}, number = {}, pages = {103582}, doi = {10.1016/j.jdent.2021.103582}, pmid = {33450310}, issn = {1879-176X}, mesh = {Calcium Phosphates ; Caseins ; Child ; *Dental Caries/drug therapy/prevention & control ; *Dental Plaque/drug therapy ; Firmicutes ; Fluorides/therapeutic use ; Gemella ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Phosphopeptides ; Prospective Studies ; Symbiosis ; Tooth Remineralization ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The dysbiotic oral microbiome plays a key role in the pathogenesis of caries in children. Topical application of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate containing fluoride (CPP-ACP/F) is an effective treatment modality for children with caries (CC). Hitherto the mechanism by which CPP-ACP/F modules the oral microbiome in CC has not been investigated. The study aimed to examine the CPP-ACP/F effect on the dental plaque microbiome of children group with caries.

METHODS: This preliminary prospective clinical cohort included 10 children with caries. The children received topical fluoride CPP-ACP/F once-a-week for one month. Plaque samples were collected before and after treatment and subjected to 16S rDNA-based next-generation-sequencing. Microbial composition, diversity and functional roles were analyzed in comparison to the clinical characteristics of cohort using standard bioinformatics tools.

RESULTS: CPP-ACP/F treatment modulated dysbiotic oral microbiome towards healthier community as the higher proportion of Proteobacteria and certain microbial protective species were enriched following CPP-ACP/F treatment. Despite overall uniformity of community structure in children with caries between the groups, some bacterial species were differentially represented in a statistically significant manner between pre- and post- treatments. Three bacterial species were found to be predictive of strongly sensitive to the CPP-ACP/F treatment, marked by decreased abundance of Lautropia mirabalis and increased abundance of Gemella haemolysans and Schwartzia succinivorans.

CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the current study, it could be concluded that the CPP-ACP/F varnish treatment modulated the microbial composition of the dental plaque microbiome towards symbiosis. These symbiotic changes may demonstrate the potential clinical significance of CPP-ACP/F varnish treatment.}, } @article {pmid33448399, year = {2020}, author = {}, title = {Liana T. Burghardt.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {1}, pages = {24-25}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16869}, pmid = {33448399}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid33448393, year = {2020}, author = {Lennon, S and Dolan, L}, title = {The New Phytologist Tansley Medal 2018 - Liana Burghardt and Jana Sperschneider.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16870}, pmid = {33448393}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; *Awards and Prizes ; *Botany ; }, } @article {pmid33447935, year = {2021}, author = {Lamin, H and Alami, S and Lamrabet, M and Bouhnik, O and Bennis, M and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and Missbah-El Idrissi, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium sp. sv. retamae nodulates Retama monosperma grown in a lead and zinc mine tailings in Eastern Morocco.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {639-649}, pmid = {33447935}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Lead/*metabolism ; Mining ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The aim of this work was to characterize and identify some bacteria isolated from the root nodules of Retama monosperma grown in Sidi Boubker lead and zinc mine tailings. Very few root nodules were obtained on the root nodules of R. monosperma grown in these soils. The three bacteria isolated from the root nodules were tolerant in vitro to different concentrations of heavy metals, including lead and zinc. The rep-PCR experiments showed that the three isolates have different molecular fingerprints and were considered as three different strains. The analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences proved their affiliation to the genus Bradyrhizobium. The analysis and phylogeny of the housekeeping genes atpD, glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB confirmed that the closest species was B. valentinum with similarity percentages of 95.61 to 95.82%. The three isolates recovered from the root nodules were slow-growing rhizobia capable to renodulate their original host plant in the presence of Pb-acetate. They were able to nodulate R. sphaerocarpa and Lupinus luteus also but not Glycine max or Phaseolus vulgaris. The phylogeny of the nodA and nodC nodulation genes as well as the nifH gene of the three strains showed that they belong to the symbiovar retamae of the genus Bradyrhizobium. The three strains isolated could be considered for use as inoculum for Retama plants before use in phytoremediation experiments.}, } @article {pmid33445801, year = {2021}, author = {Leppyanen, IV and Pavlova, OA and Vashurina, MA and Bovin, AD and Dolgikh, AV and Shtark, OY and Sendersky, IV and Dolgikh, VV and Tikhonovich, IA and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {LysM Receptor-Like Kinase LYK9 of Pisum Sativum L. May Regulate Plant Responses to Chitooligosaccharides Differing in Structure.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33445801}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Wall/metabolism/microbiology ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Hydrolysis ; Insecta/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; Peas/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Immunity/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Sf9 Cells ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {This study focused on the interactions of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants with phytopathogenic and beneficial fungi. Here, we examined whether the lysin-motif (LysM) receptor-like kinase PsLYK9 is directly involved in the perception of long- and short-chain chitooligosaccharides (COs) released after hydrolysis of the cell walls of phytopathogenic fungi and identified in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal exudates. The identification and analysis of pea mutants impaired in the lyk9 gene confirmed the involvement of PsLYK9 in symbiosis development with AM fungi. Additionally, PsLYK9 regulated the immune response and resistance to phytopathogenic fungi, suggesting its bifunctional role. The existence of co-receptors may provide explanations for the potential dual role of PsLYK9 in the regulation of interactions with pathogenic and AM fungi. Co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed that PsLYK9 and two proposed co-receptors, PsLYR4 and PsLYR3, can form complexes. Analysis of binding capacity showed that PsLYK9 and PsLYR4, synthesized as extracellular domains in insect cells, were able to bind the deacetylated (DA) oligomers CO5-DA-CO8-DA. Our results suggest that the receptor complex consisting of PsLYK9 and PsLYR4 can trigger a signal pathway that stimulates the immune response in peas. However, PsLYR3 seems not to be involved in the perception of CO4-5, as a possible co-receptor of PsLYK9.}, } @article {pmid33445528, year = {2021}, author = {Victorino, ÍMM and Voyron, S and Caser, M and Orgiazzi, A and Demasi, S and Berruti, A and Scariot, V and Bianciotto, V and Lumini, E}, title = {Metabarcoding of Soil Fungal Communities Associated with Alpine Field-Grown Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Inoculated with AM Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33445528}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Soil fungi strongly influence ecosystem structure and functioning, playing a key role in many ecological services as decomposers, plant mutualists and pathogens. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish mutualistic symbiotic associations with plant roots and act as biofertilizers by enhancing plant nutrients and water uptake. Information about the AMF association with Crocus sativus L. (saffron) and their impact on crop performances and spice quality has been increasing in recent years. Instead, there is still little data on the biodiversity of soil microbial communities associated with this crop in the Alpine environments. The aims of this study were to investigate the fungal communities of two Alpine experimental sites cultivated with saffron, and to rank the relative impact of two AMF inocula, applied to soil as single species (R = Rhizophagus intraradices, C. Walker & A. Schüßler) or a mixture of two species (M = R. intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae, C. Walker & A. Schüßler), on the resident fungal communities which might be influenced in their diversity and composition. We used Illumina MiSeq metabarcoding on nuclear ribosomal ITS2 region to characterize the fungal communities associated to Crocus sativus cultivation in two fields, located in the municipalities of Saint Christophe (SC) and Morgex (MG), (Aosta Valley, Italy), treated or not with AMF inocula and sampled for two consecutive years (Y1; Y2). Data analyses consistently indicated that Basidiomycota were particularly abundant in both sites and sampling years (Y1 and Y2). Significant differences in the distribution of fungal taxa assemblages at phylum and class levels between the two sites were also found. The main compositional differences consisted in significant abundance changes of OTUs belonging to Dothideomycetes and Leotiomycetes (Ascomycota), Agaricomycetes and Tremellomycetes (Basidiomycota), Mortierellomycetes and Mucoromycetes. Further differences concerned OTUs, of other classes, significantly represented only in the first or second year of sampling. Concerning Glomeromycota, the most represented genus was Claroideoglomus always detected in both sites and years. Other AMF genera such as Funneliformis, Septoglomus and Microdominikia, were retrieved only in MG site. Results highlighted that neither sites nor inoculation significantly impacted Alpine saffron-field fungal communities; instead, the year of sampling had the most appreciable influence on the resident communities.}, } @article {pmid33442219, year = {2021}, author = {Kasturi, S}, title = {Need of the hour: Structural heart intervention training for trainee surgeons in India.}, journal = {Indian journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {114-117}, pmid = {33442219}, issn = {0970-9134}, abstract = {Cardiothoracic surgery is on the verge of undergoing a major metamorphosis from being a conventional surgical branch to a technologically powered specialty with plenty of emphasis on learning the minimally invasive techniques, and a step forward is the advent of interventional techniques to treat most of the major cardiac ailments. Though the world of interventions has been traditionally dominated by the physicians, it is time we surgeons get ourselves actively involved in learning and performing these interventional procedures to stay relevant. This is not an attempt to disrupt the physician-surgeon harmony but to nurture a symbiotic relationship between the two specialties for advancement in cardiac science and technological growth, ultimately to benefit the patient. In this article, we discuss the Indian and the global scenario of the role of surgeons in the interventional arena and various training modalities available for surgeons to learn the art of cardiac interventions. We tried to understand the impediments in implementing interventional training for surgeons and also propose certain amendments to the way the future cardiothoracic surgeons are trained.}, } @article {pmid33441101, year = {2021}, author = {Rocha, EM and Marinotti, O and Serrão, DM and Correa, LV and Katak, RM and de Oliveira, JC and Muniz, VA and de Oliveira, MR and do Nascimento Neto, JF and Pessoa, MCF and Roque, RA and da Mota, AJ and Onorati, P and Souza-Neto, JA and Terenius, O and Tadei, WP}, title = {Culturable bacteria associated with Anopheles darlingi and their paratransgenesis potential.}, journal = {Malaria journal}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {40}, pmid = {33441101}, issn = {1475-2875}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brazil ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Malaria/transmission ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria remains a major public health problem in South America, mostly in the Amazon region. Among newly proposed ways of controlling malaria transmission to humans, paratransgenesis is a promising alternative. Paratransgenesis aims to inhibit the development of parasites within the vector through the action of genetically modified bacteria. The first step towards successful paratransgenesis in the Amazon is the identification of Anopheles darlingi symbiotic bacteria, which are transmitted vertically among mosquitoes, and are not pathogenic to humans.

METHODS: Culturable bacteria associated with An. darlingi and their breeding sites were isolated by conventional microbiological techniques. Isolated strains were transformed with a GFP expressing plasmid, pSPT-1-GFP, and reintroduced in mosquitoes by feeding. Their survival and persistence in the next generation was assessed by the isolation of fluorescent bacteria from eggs, larvae, pupae and adult homogenates.

RESULTS: A total of 179 bacterial strains were isolated from samples from two locations, Coari and Manaus. The predominant genera identified in this study were Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia, Bacillus, Elizabethkingia, Stenotrophomonas and Pantoea. Two isolated strains, Serratia-Adu40 and Pantoea-Ovo3, were successfully transformed with the pSPT-1-GFP plasmid and expressed GFP. The fluorescent bacteria fed to adult females were transferred to their eggs, which persisted in larvae and throughout metamorphosis, and were detected in adult mosquitoes of the next generation.

CONCLUSION: Serratia-Adu40 and Pantoea-Ovo3 are promising candidates for paratransgenesis in An. darlingi. Further research is needed to determine if these bacteria are vertically transferred in nature.}, } @article {pmid33436514, year = {2021}, author = {Fagorzi, C and Bacci, G and Huang, R and Cangioli, L and Checcucci, A and Fini, M and Perrin, E and Natali, C and diCenzo, GC and Mengoni, A}, title = {Nonadditive Transcriptomic Signatures of Genotype-by-Genotype Interactions during the Initiation of Plant-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33436514}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Rhizobia are ecologically important, facultative plant-symbiotic microbes. In nature, there is a large variability in the association of rhizobial strains and host plants of the same species. Here, we evaluated whether plant and rhizobial genotypes influence the initial transcriptional response of rhizobium following perception of a host plant. RNA sequencing of the model rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti exposed to root exudates or luteolin (an inducer of nod genes, involved in the early steps of symbiotic interaction) was performed on a combination of three S. meliloti strains and three alfalfa varieties as host plants. The response to root exudates involved hundreds of changes in the rhizobium transcriptome. Of the differentially expressed genes, 35% were influenced by the strain genotype, 16% were influenced by the plant genotype, and 29% were influenced by strain-by-host plant genotype interactions. We also examined the response of a hybrid S. meliloti strain in which the symbiotic megaplasmid (∼20% of the genome) was mobilized between two of the above-mentioned strains. Dozens of genes were upregulated in the hybrid strain, indicative of nonadditive variation in the transcriptome. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that transcriptional responses of rhizobia upon perception of legumes are influenced by the genotypes of both symbiotic partners and their interaction, suggesting a wide spectrum of genetic determinants involved in the phenotypic variation of plant-rhizobium symbiosis.IMPORTANCE A sustainable way for meeting the need of an increased global food demand should be based on a holobiont perspective, viewing crop plants as intimately associated with their microbiome, which helps improve plant nutrition, tolerance to pests, and adverse climate conditions. However, the genetic repertoire needed for efficient association with plants by the microbial symbionts is still poorly understood. The rhizobia are an exemplary model of facultative plant symbiotic microbes. Here, we evaluated whether genotype-by-genotype interactions could be identified in the initial transcriptional response of rhizobium perception of a host plant. We performed an RNA sequencing study to analyze the transcriptomes of different rhizobial strains elicited by root exudates of three alfalfa varieties as a proxy of an early step of the symbiotic interaction. The results indicated strain- and plant variety-dependent variability in the observed transcriptional changes, providing fundamentally novel insights into the genetic basis of rhizobium-plant interactions. Our results provide genetic insights and perspective to aid in the exploitation of natural rhizobium variation for improvement of legume growth in agricultural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33436507, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, H and Beier, N and Boedeker, C and Sztajer, H and Henke, P and Neumann-Schaal, M and Mansky, J and Rohde, M and Overmann, J and Petersen, J and Klawonn, F and Kucklick, M and Engelmann, S and Tomasch, J and Wagner-Döbler, I}, title = {Dinoroseobacter shibae Outer Membrane Vesicles Are Enriched for the Chromosome Dimer Resolution Site dif.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33436507}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are universally produced by prokaryotes and play important roles in symbiotic and pathogenic interactions. They often contain DNA, but a mechanism for its incorporation is lacking. Here, we show that Dinoroseobacter shibae, a dinoflagellate symbiont, constitutively secretes OMVs containing DNA. Time-lapse microscopy captured instances of multiple OMV production at the septum during cell division. DNA from the vesicle lumen was up to 22-fold enriched for the region around the terminus of replication (ter). The peak of coverage was located at dif, a conserved 28-bp palindromic sequence required for binding of the site-specific tyrosine recombinases XerC/XerD. These enzymes are activated at the last stage of cell division immediately prior to septum formation when they are bound by the divisome protein FtsK. We suggest that overreplicated regions around the terminus have been repaired by the FtsK-dif-XerC/XerD molecular machinery. The vesicle proteome was clearly dominated by outer membrane and periplasmic proteins. Some of the most abundant vesicle membrane proteins were predicted to be required for direct interaction with peptidoglycan during cell division (LysM, Tol-Pal, Spol, lytic murein transglycosylase). OMVs were 15-fold enriched for the saturated fatty acid 16:00. We hypothesize that constitutive OMV secretion in D. shibae is coupled to cell division. The footprint of the FtsK-dif-XerC/XerD molecular machinery suggests a novel potentially highly conserved route for incorporation of DNA into OMVs. Clearing the division site from small DNA fragments might be an important function of vesicles produced during exponential growth under optimal conditions.IMPORTANCE Gram-negative bacteria continually form vesicles from their outer membrane (outer membrane vesicles [OMVs]) during normal growth. OMVs frequently contain DNA, and it is unclear how DNA can be shuffled from the cytoplasm to the OMVs. We studied OMV cargo in Dinoroseobacter shibae, a symbiont of dinoflagellates, using microscopy and a multi-omics approach. We found that vesicles formed during undisturbed exponential growth contain DNA which is enriched for genes around the replication terminus, specifically, the binding site for an enzyme complex that is activated at the last stage of cell division. We suggest that the enriched genes are the result of overreplication which is repaired by their excision and excretion via membrane vesicles to clear the divisome from waste DNA.}, } @article {pmid33436431, year = {2021}, author = {Deehan, M and Lin, W and Blum, B and Emili, A and Frydman, H}, title = {Intracellular Density of Wolbachia Is Mediated by Host Autophagy and the Bacterial Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Gene cifB in a Cell Type-Dependent Manner in Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33436431}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Autophagy/*genetics/physiology ; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cytoplasm/*microbiology ; Cytosol ; Drosophila Proteins ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics/immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; Male ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Autophagy is an intracellular degradation pathway involved in innate immunity. Pathogenic bacteria have evolved several mechanisms to escape degradation or exploit autophagy to acquire host nutrients. In the case of endosymbionts, which often have commensal or mutualistic interactions with the host, autophagy is not well characterized. We utilized tissue-specific autophagy mutants to determine if Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted obligate endosymbiont of Drosophila melanogaster, is regulated by autophagy in somatic and germ line cell types. Our analysis revealed core autophagy proteins Atg1 and Atg8 and a selective autophagy-specific protein Ref(2)p negatively regulate Wolbachia in the hub, a male gonad somatic cell type. Furthermore, we determined that the Wolbachia effector protein, CifB, modulates autophagy-Wolbachia interactions, identifying a new host-related pathway which these bacterial proteins interact with. In the female germ line, the cell type necessary for inheritance of Wolbachia through vertical transmission, we discovered that bulk autophagy mediated by Atg1 and Atg8 positively regulates Wolbachia density, whereas Ref(2)p had no effect. Global metabolomics of fly ovaries deficient in germ line autophagy revealed reduced lipid and carbon metabolism, implicating metabolites from these pathways as positive regulators of Wolbachia Our work provides further understanding of how autophagy affects bacteria in a cell type-dependent manner.IMPORTANCE Autophagy is a eukaryotic intracellular degradation pathway which can act as an innate immune response to eliminate pathogens. Conversely, pathogens can evolve proteins which modulate the autophagy pathway to subvert degradation and establish an infection. Wolbachia, a vertically transmitted obligate endosymbiont which infects up to 40% of insect species, is negatively regulated by autophagy in whole animals, but the specific molecular mechanism and tissue which govern this interaction remain unknown. Our studies use cell type-specific autophagy mutants to reveal that Wolbachia is negatively regulated by selective autophagy in the soma, while nonselective autophagy positively regulates Wolbachia in the female germ line. These data provide evidence that cell type can drive different basal autophagy programs which modulate intracellular microbes differently. Additionally, we identified that the Wolbachia effector CifB acts in the selective autophagy pathway to aid in intracellular bacterial survival, providing a new function for CifB beyond its previously identified role in reproductive manipulation.}, } @article {pmid33436058, year = {2021}, author = {Flores, P and Alvarado, A and Lankin, G and Lax, P and Prodan, S and Aballay, E}, title = {Morphological, molecular and ecological characterization of a native isolate of Steinernema feltiae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) from southern Chile.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {45}, pmid = {33436058}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Chile ; Female ; Larva/parasitology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; Moths/parasitology ; Pest Control, Biological ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhabditida/anatomy & histology/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Rhabditida Infections/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Steinernema feltiae is an entomopathogenic nematode used in biological control programs with a global distribution. Populations of this species show phenotypic plasticity derived from local adaptation and vary in different traits, such as location and host penetration. The aim of this work was to describe a Chilean isolate of this nematode species, using integrative approaches.

METHODS: Nematode morphological and morphometric studies were conducted along with molecular analysis of nuclear genes. The symbiotic bacterium was also identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Some ecological characteristics were described, including the temperature requirements for the nematode life cycle and the effect of soil water content for optimal reproduction.

RESULTS: Morphometric characterization revealed a large intra-specific variability. The isolate identity was also corroborated with the analysis of nuclear genes. Based on the 16S gene, its symbiont bacteria, Xenorhabdus bovienii, was identified. The lowest, optimal and highest temperatures found to limit the infestation and reproduction on Galleria mellonella were 10, 20 and 30 °C, respectively; the emergence from the host larvae occurred approximately 10 days after inoculation. Differences were observed in offspring, and 120 infective juveniles (IJ)/larva was the most prolific dose at 20 °C. The soil water content did not affect the number of IJ invaders, penetration efficacy and IJ emergence time or offspring per larva, but it caused a delay in achieving full mortality at the permanent wilting point with respect to saturation and field capacity.

CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, a Chilean isolate of S. feltiae is described in detail considering morphological, molecular and ecological aspects. The isolate was shown to be efficient in soil containing water, with optimal temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 °C for host infestation and production of an abundant offspring; these characteristics would allow its potential use as control agents in a wide geographical area of the country.}, } @article {pmid33435432, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, R and Luo, S and Clarke, BB and Belanger, FC}, title = {The Epichloë festucae Antifungal Protein Efe-AfpA Is also a Possible Effector Protein Required for the Interaction of the Fungus with Its Host Grass Festuca rubra subsp. rubra.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33435432}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra) is a commercially important low-maintenance turfgrass and is often naturally infected with the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae. Epichloë spp. are endophytes of several cool-season grass species, often conferring insect resistance to the grass hosts due to the production of toxic alkaloids. In addition to insect resistance, a unique feature of the strong creeping red fescue/E. festucae symbiosis is the endophyte-mediated disease resistance to the fungal pathogen Clarireedia jacksonii, the causal agent of dollar spot disease. Such disease resistance is not a general feature of other grass/ Epichloë interactions. E. festucae isolates infecting red fescue have an antifungal protein gene Efe-afpA, whereas most other Epichloë spp. do not have a similar gene. The uniqueness of this gene suggests it may, therefore, be a component of the unique disease resistance seen in endophyte-infected red fescue. Here, we report the generation of CRISPR-Cas9 Efe-afpA gene knockouts with the goal of determining if absence of the protein in endophyte-infected Festuca rubra leads to disease susceptibility. However, it was not possible to infect plants with the knockout isolates, although infection was possible with the wild type E. festucae and with complemented isolates. This raises the interesting possibility that, in addition to having antifungal activity, the protein is required for the symbiotic interaction. The antifungal protein is a small secreted protein with high expression in planta relative to its expression in culture, all characteristics consistent with effector proteins. If Efe-AfpA is an effector protein it must be specific to certain interactions, since most Epichloë spp. do not have such a gene in their genomes.}, } @article {pmid33435396, year = {2021}, author = {Yang, CY and Chen, TW and Lu, WL and Liang, SS and Huang, HD and Tseng, CP and Tarng, DC}, title = {Synbiotics Alleviate the Gut Indole Load and Dysbiosis in Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33435396}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Adenine ; Aged ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dysbiosis/blood/*complications ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism ; Humans ; Indican/blood ; Indoles/*metabolism ; Kidney/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/blood/*complications ; *Synbiotics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has long been known to cause significant digestive tract pathology. Of note, indoxyl sulfate is a gut microbe-derived uremic toxin that accumulates in CKD patients. Nevertheless, the relationship between gut microbiota, fecal indole content, and blood indoxyl sulfate level remains unknown. In our study, we established an adenine-induced CKD rat model, which recapitulates human CKD-related gut dysbiosis. Synbiotic treatment in CKD rats showed a significant reduction in both the indole-producing bacterium Clostridium and fecal indole amount. Furthermore, gut microbiota diversity was reduced in CKD rats but was restored after synbiotic treatment. Intriguingly, in our end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients, the abundance of indole-producing bacteria, Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Clostridium, is similar to that of healthy controls. Consistently, the fecal indole tends to be higher in the ESKD patients, but the difference did not achieve statistical significance. However, the blood level of indoxyl sulfate was significantly higher than that of healthy controls, implicating that under an equivalent indole production rate, the impaired renal excretion contributes to the accumulation of this notorious uremic toxin. On the other hand, we did identify two short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, were reduced in ESKD patients as compared to the healthy controls. This may contribute to gut dysbiosis. We also identified that three genera Fusobacterium, Shewanella, and Erwinia, in the ESKD patients but not in the healthy controls. Building up gut symbiosis to treat CKD is a novel concept, but once proved effective, it will provide an additional treatment strategy for CKD patients.}, } @article {pmid33435359, year = {2021}, author = {Louro, R and Natário, B and Santos-Silva, C}, title = {Morphological Characterization of the In Vitro Mycorrhizae Formed between Four Terfezia Species (Pezizaceae) with Cistus salviifolius and Cistus ladanifer-Towards Desert Truffles Production in Acid Soils.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33435359}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Terfezia species are obligate symbiotic partners of several xerophytic host plants, mainly belonging to the Cistaceae. Yet, their mycorrhizal associations with members of the genus Cistus remain poorly characterized and their potential application in desert truffle cultivation remains unexplored. This work provides the first anatomic descriptions of the mycorrhizae formed in vitro by four Terfezia species (i.e., T. arenaria; T. extremadurensis; T. fanfani, T. pini) with C. ladanifer and C. salviifolius, two of the most widespread and common Cistus species in acidic soils. All the tested associations resulted in the formation of ectomycorrhizae with well-developed Hartig net, but with a varying degree of mantle development. Our results also demonstrate that all the experimented Terfezia-Cistus combinations expressed high mycorrhization rates. Moreover, the present work shows that C. salviifolius and C. ladanifer are suitable plant hosts for Terfezia species, including some that are, to date, known to be only associated with annual herbs or tree species. This new evidence might aid in broadening the number of situations whereby Terfezia spp. can be cultivated in acid soils.}, } @article {pmid33434824, year = {2021}, author = {Saravanan, A and Kumar, PS and Varjani, S and Jeevanantham, S and Yaashikaa, PR and Thamarai, P and Abirami, B and George, CS}, title = {A review on algal-bacterial symbiotic system for effective treatment of wastewater.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {271}, number = {}, pages = {129540}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129540}, pmid = {33434824}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Carbon ; Photosynthesis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Industrialization, urbanization and other anthropogenic activities releases different organic and inorganic toxic chemicals into the environment which prompted the water contamination in the environment. Different physical and chemical techniques have been employed to treat the contaminated wastewater, among them biological wastewater treatment using algae has been studied extensively to overwhelm the constraints related to the usually utilized wastewater treatment techniques. The presence of bacterial biota in the wastewater will form a bond with algae and act as a natural water purification system. The removal efficiency of single algae systems was very low in contrast with that of algal-bacterial systems. Heterotrophic microorganisms separate natural organic matter that is discharged by algae as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and discharges CO2 that the algae can take up for photosynthesis. Algae bacteria associations offer an exquisite answer for tertiary and scrape medicines because of the capacity of micro-algae to exploit inorganic compounds for their development. Furthermore, for their ability to evacuate noxious contaminants, in this way, it does not prompt optional contamination. The present review contribute the outline of algae-bacteria symbiotic relationship and their applications in the wastewater treatment. The role of algae and bacteria in the wastewater treatment have been elucidated in this review. Moreover, the efforts have been imparted the importance of alage-bacteria consortium and its applications for various pollutant removal from the environment.}, } @article {pmid33434644, year = {2021}, author = {Recorbet, G and Calabrese, S and Balliau, T and Zivy, M and Wipf, D and Boller, T and Courty, PE}, title = {Proteome adaptations under contrasting soil phosphate regimes of Rhizophagus irregularis engaged in a common mycorrhizal network.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {147}, number = {}, pages = {103517}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103517}, pmid = {33434644}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungi/*genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/analysis/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Proteome ; Proteomics ; Soil/*chemistry ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {For many plants, their symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi plays a key role in the acquisition of mineral nutrients such as inorganic phosphate (Pi), in exchange for assimilated carbon. To study gene regulation and function in the symbiotic partners, we and others have used compartmented microcosms in which the extra-radical mycelium (ERM), responsible for mineral nutrient supply for the plants, was separated by fine nylon nets from the associated host roots and could be harvested and analysed in isolation. Here, we used such a model system to perform a quantitative comparative protein profiling of the ERM of Rhizophagus irregularis BEG75, forming a common mycorrhizal network (CMN) between poplar and sorghum roots under a long-term high- or low-Pi fertilization regime. Proteins were extracted from the ERM and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This workflow identified a total of 1301 proteins, among which 162 displayed a differential amount during Pi limitation, as monitored by spectral counting. Higher abundances were recorded for proteins involved in the mobilization of external Pi, such as secreted acid phosphatase, 3',5'-bisphosphate nucleotidase, and calcium-dependent phosphotriesterase. This was also the case for intracellular phospholipase and lysophospholipases that are involved in the initial degradation of phospholipids from membrane lipids to mobilize internal Pi. In Pi-deficient conditions. The CMN proteome was especially enriched in proteins assigned to beta-oxidation, glyoxylate shunt and gluconeogenesis, indicating that storage lipids rather than carbohydrates are fuelled in ERM as the carbon source to support hyphal growth and energy requirements. The contrasting pattern of expression of AM-specific fatty acid biosynthetic genes between the two plants suggests that in low Pi conditions, fatty acid provision to the fungal network is mediated by sorghum roots but not by poplar. Loss of enzymes involved in arginine synthesis coupled to the mobilization of proteins involved in the breakdown of nitrogen sources such as intercellular purines and amino acids, support the view that ammonium acquisition by host plants through the mycorrhizal pathway may be reduced under low-Pi conditions. This proteomic study highlights the functioning of a CMN in Pi limiting conditions, and provides new perspectives to study plant nutrient acquisition as mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid33433925, year = {2021}, author = {Wendlandt, CE and Helliwell, E and Roberts, M and Nguyen, KT and Friesen, ML and von Wettberg, E and Price, P and Griffitts, JS and Porter, SS}, title = {Decreased coevolutionary potential and increased symbiont fecundity during the biological invasion of a legume-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {731-747}, doi = {10.1111/evo.14164}, pmid = {33433925}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Genotype ; Introduced Species ; Medicago/genetics/*microbiology ; Rhizobium ; Sinorhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although most invasive species engage in mutualism, we know little about how mutualism evolves as partners colonize novel environments. Selection on cooperation and standing genetic variation for mutualism traits may differ between a mutualism's invaded and native ranges, which could alter cooperation and coevolutionary dynamics. To test for such differences, we compare mutualism traits between invaded- and native-range host-symbiont genotype combinations of the weedy legume, Medicago polymorpha, and its nitrogen-fixing rhizobium symbiont, Ensifer medicae, which have coinvaded North America. We find that mutualism benefits for plants are indistinguishable between invaded- and native-range symbioses. However, rhizobia gain greater fitness from invaded-range mutualisms than from native-range mutualisms, and this enhancement of symbiont fecundity could increase the mutualism's spread by increasing symbiont availability during plant colonization. Furthermore, mutualism traits in invaded-range symbioses show lower genetic variance and a simpler partitioning of genetic variance between host and symbiont sources, compared to native-range symbioses. This suggests that biological invasion has reduced mutualists' potential to respond to coevolutionary selection. Additionally, rhizobia bearing a locus (hrrP) that can enhance symbiotic fitness have more exploitative phenotypes in invaded-range than in native-range symbioses. These findings highlight the impacts of biological invasion on the evolution of mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid33433325, year = {2021}, author = {Schiøtt, M and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Proteomics reveals synergy between biomass degrading enzymes and inorganic Fenton chemistry in leaf-cutting ant colonies.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {33433325}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/enzymology/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Iron/chemistry ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic partnership between leaf-cutting ants and fungal cultivars processes plant biomass via ant fecal fluid mixed with chewed plant substrate before fungal degradation. Here we present a full proteome of the fecal fluid of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants, showing that most proteins function as biomass degrading enzymes and that ca. 85% are produced by the fungus and ingested, but not digested, by the ants. Hydrogen peroxide producing oxidoreductases were remarkably common in the proteome, inspiring us to test a scenario in which hydrogen peroxide reacts with iron to form reactive oxygen radicals after which oxidized iron is reduced by other fecal-fluid enzymes. Our biochemical assays confirmed that these so-called Fenton reactions do indeed take place in special substrate pellets, presumably to degrade plant cell wall polymers. This implies that the symbiotic partnership manages a combination of oxidative and enzymatic biomass degradation, an achievement that surpasses current human bioconversion technology.}, } @article {pmid33432140, year = {2021}, author = {Gilbert, C and Tang, TC and Ott, W and Dorr, BA and Shaw, WM and Sun, GL and Lu, TK and Ellis, T}, title = {Living materials with programmable functionalities grown from engineered microbial co-cultures.}, journal = {Nature materials}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {691-700}, pmid = {33432140}, issn = {1476-4660}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/genetics/*growth & development ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Biological systems assemble living materials that are autonomously patterned, can self-repair and can sense and respond to their environment. The field of engineered living materials aims to create novel materials with properties similar to those of natural biomaterials using genetically engineered organisms. Here, we describe an approach to fabricating functional bacterial cellulose-based living materials using a stable co-culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and bacterial cellulose-producing Komagataeibacter rhaeticus bacteria. Yeast strains can be engineered to secrete enzymes into bacterial cellulose, generating autonomously grown catalytic materials and enabling DNA-encoded modification of bacterial cellulose bulk properties. Alternatively, engineered yeast can be incorporated within the growing cellulose matrix, creating living materials that can sense and respond to chemical and optical stimuli. This symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast is a flexible platform for the production of bacterial cellulose-based engineered living materials with potential applications in biosensing and biocatalysis.}, } @article {pmid33432136, year = {2021}, author = {Ren, FR and Sun, X and Wang, TY and Yan, JY and Yao, YL and Li, CQ and Luan, JB}, title = {Pantothenate mediates the coordination of whitefly and symbiont fitness.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {1655-1667}, pmid = {33432136}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Escherichia coli ; *Hemiptera ; Symbiosis ; *Vitamin B Complex ; }, abstract = {Intracellular symbionts in insects often have reduced genomes. Host acquisition of genes from bacteria is an important adaptation that supports symbionts. However, the function of horizontally transferred genes in insect symbiosis remains largely unclear. The primary symbiont Portiera housed in bacteriocytes lacks pantothenate synthesis genes: panB and panC, which is presumably complemented by a fused gene panB-panC (hereafter panBC) horizontally transferred from bacteria in Bemisia tabaci MEAM1. We found panBC in many laboratory cultures, and species of B. tabaci shares a common evolutionary origin. We demonstrated that complementation with whitefly panBC rescued E. coli pantothenate gene knockout mutants. Portiera elimination decreased the pantothenate level and PanBC abundance in bacteriocytes, and reduced whitefly survival and fecundity. Silencing PanBC decreased the Portiera titer, reduced the pantothenate level, and decreased whitefly survival and fecundity. Supplementation with pantothenate restored the symbiont titer, PanBC level, and fitness of RNAi whiteflies. These data suggest that pantothenate synthesis requires cooperation and coordination of whitefly PanBC expression and Portiera. This host-symbiont co-regulation was mediated by the pantothenate level. Our findings demonstrated that pantothenate production, by the cooperation of a horizontally acquired, fused bacteria gene and Portiera, facilitates the coordination of whitefly and symbiont fitness. Thus, this study extends our understanding on the basis of complex host-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid33431596, year = {2021}, author = {Marangoni, LFB and Rottier, C and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Symbiont regulation in Stylophora pistillata during cold stress: an acclimation mechanism against oxidative stress and severe bleaching.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {224}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.235275}, pmid = {33431596}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Cold-Shock Response ; Coral Reefs ; Oxidative Stress ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Widespread coral bleaching and mortality, leading to coral reef decline, have been mainly associated with climate-change-driven increases in sea surface temperature. However, bleaching and mortality events have also been related to decreases in sea surface temperature, with cold stress events (e.g. La Niña events) being expected to increase in frequency or intensity as a result of a changing climate. Cold stress creates physiological symptoms in symbiotic reef-building corals similar to those observed when they are heat stressed, and the biochemical mechanisms underpinning cold stress in corals have been suggested to be related to an oxidative stress condition. However, up to now, this hypothesis had not been tested. This study assessed how short and long cold excursions in seawater temperature affect the physiology and biochemical processes related to oxidative stress in the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata We provide, for the first time, direct evidence that the mechanisms underpinning cold stress and bleaching are related to the production of reactive oxygen species, and that rapid expulsion of a significant proportion of the symbiont population by the host during cooling conditions is an acclimation mechanism to avoid oxidative stress and, ultimately, severe bleaching. Furthermore, this study is one of the first to show that upwelling conditions (short-term cold stress+nutrient enrichment) can provoke a more severe oxidative stress condition in corals than cold stress alone.}, } @article {pmid33430332, year = {2021}, author = {Goyal, RK and Schmidt, MA and Hynes, MF}, title = {Molecular Biology in the Improvement of Biological Nitrogen Fixation by Rhizobia and Extending the Scope to Cereals.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33430332}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The contribution of biological nitrogen fixation to the total N requirement of food and feed crops diminished in importance with the advent of synthetic N fertilizers, which fueled the "green revolution". Despite being environmentally unfriendly, the synthetic versions gained prominence primarily due to their low cost, and the fact that most important staple crops never evolved symbiotic associations with bacteria. In the recent past, advances in our knowledge of symbiosis and nitrogen fixation and the development and application of recombinant DNA technology have created opportunities that could help increase the share of symbiotically-driven nitrogen in global consumption. With the availability of molecular biology tools, rapid improvements in symbiotic characteristics of rhizobial strains became possible. Further, the technology allowed probing the possibility of establishing a symbiotic dialogue between rhizobia and cereals. Because the evolutionary process did not forge a symbiotic relationship with the latter, the potential of molecular manipulations has been tested to incorporate a functional mechanism of nitrogen reduction independent of microbes. In this review, we discuss various strategies applied to improve rhizobial strains for higher nitrogen fixation efficiency, more competitiveness and enhanced fitness under unfavorable environments. The challenges and progress made towards nitrogen self-sufficiency of cereals are also reviewed. An approach to integrate the genetically modified elite rhizobia strains in crop production systems is highlighted.}, } @article {pmid33430207, year = {2021}, author = {Kruk, M and Trząskowska, M and Ścibisz, I and Pokorski, P}, title = {Application of the "SCOBY" and Kombucha Tea for the Production of Fermented Milk Drinks.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33430207}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {For the production of fermented milk drinks, cultures of microorganisms other than traditionally applied can be used. Such possibilities are created by the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), which is used to produce kombucha. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of using kombucha and the SCOBY for fermented milk drink products. The drinks were developed with a lactose-free variant and traditional milk. For the analysis of the obtained beverages, microbiological methods (CFU method), chemical methods (pH method and HPLC method) and the quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) sensory method were used. As a result of the research, a recipe and the fermentation parameters for fermented milk drinks were developed. In the developed lactose milk drinks, the average lactose content was 4.25 g/100 g. In lactose-free milk drinks, the average glucose content was 2.26 g/100 g. Lactic acid in both types of products was at the highest average level of 0.68 g/100 g. The products had a characteristic pH value for fermented milk drinks and a very good microbiological quality, which followed the FAO/WHO guidelines. Drinks also had a typical sensory profile for this products group. However, slight sensory defects were detected. The developed fermented milk drinks have a potential health-promoting value, thanks to the content of active microflora and organic acids, which have a confirmed positive effect on the human body. The drinks produced require further testing to optimize their cost of production, possible health benefits and sensory quality.}, } @article {pmid33430009, year = {2021}, author = {Badji, CA and Sol-Mochkovitch, Z and Fallais, C and Sochard, C and Simon, JC and Outreman, Y and Anton, S}, title = {Alarm Pheromone Responses Depend on Genotype, but Not on the Presence of Facultative Endosymbionts in the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33430009}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Aphids use an alarm pheromone, E-β farnesene (EBF), to warn conspecifics of potential danger. The antennal sensitivity and behavioural escape responses to EBF can be influenced by different factors. In the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, different biotypes are adapted to different legume species, and within each biotype, different genotypes exist, which can carry or not Hamiltonella defensa, a bacterial symbiont that can confer protection against natural enemies. We investigate here the influence of the aphid genotype and symbiotic status on the escape behaviour using a four-way olfactometer and antennal sensitivity for EBF using electroantennograms (EAGs). Whereas the investigated three genotypes from two biotypes showed significantly different escape and locomotor behaviours in the presence of certain EBF doses, the infection with H. defensa did not significantly modify the escape behaviour and only marginally influenced the locomotor behaviour at high doses of EBF. Dose-response curves of EAG amplitudes after stimulation with EBF differed significantly between aphid genotypes in correlation with behavioural differences, whereas antennal sensitivity to EBF did not change significantly as a function of the symbiotic status. The protective symbiont H. defensa does thus not modify the olfactory sensitivity to the alarm pheromone. How EBF sensitivity is modified between genotypes or biotypes remains to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid33429236, year = {2021}, author = {Torres-Franco, AF and Zuluaga, M and Hernández-Roldán, D and Leroy-Freitas, D and Sepúlveda-Muñoz, CA and Blanco, S and Mota, CR and Muñoz, R}, title = {Assessment of the performance of an anoxic-aerobic microalgal-bacterial system treating digestate.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {270}, number = {}, pages = {129437}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129437}, pmid = {33429236}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Denitrification ; Food ; *Microalgae ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; *Refuse Disposal ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The performance of an anoxic-aerobic microalgal-bacterial system treating synthetic food waste digestate at 10 days of hydraulic retention time via nitrification-denitrification under increasing digestate concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 100% (v/v) was assessed during Stages I, II and III, respectively. The system supported adequate treatment without external CO2 supplementation since sufficient inorganic carbon in the digestate was available for autotrophic growth. High steady-state Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) removal efficiencies of 85-96% and 73-84% were achieved in Stages I and II. Similarly, PO4[3-]-P removals of 81 ± 15% and 58 ± 4% were recorded during these stages. During Stage III, the average influent concentrations of 815 ± 35 mg TOC·L[-1], 610 ± 23 mg TN·L[-1], and 46 ± 11 mg PO4[3-]-P·L[-1] induced O2 limiting conditions, resulting in TOC, TN and PO4[3-]-P removals of 85 ± 3%, 73 ± 3%, and 28 ± 16%, respectively. Digestate concentrations of 25% and 50% favored nitrification-denitrification mechanisms, whereas the treatment of undiluted digestate resulted in higher ammonia volatilization and hampered nitrification-denitrification. In Stages I and II, the microalgal community was dominated by Chlorella vulgaris and Cryptomonas sp., whereas Pseudoanabaena sp. was more abundant during Stage III. Illumina sequencing revealed the presence of carbon and nitrogen transforming bacteria, with dominances of the genera Gemmata, Azospirillum, and Psychrobacter during Stage I, II, and III, respectively. Finally, the high settleability of the biomass (98% of suspended solids removal in the settler) and average C (42%), N (7%), P (0.2%), and S (0.4%) contents recovered in the biomass confirmed its potential for agricultural applications, contributing to a closed-cycle management of food waste.}, } @article {pmid33428287, year = {2021}, author = {Corbin, C and Jones, JE and Chrostek, E and Fenton, A and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Thermal sensitivity of the Spiroplasma-Drosophila hydei protective symbiosis: The best of climes, the worst of climes.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {5}, pages = {1336-1344}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15799}, pmid = {33428287}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Drosophila ; *Spiroplasma/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {The outcome of natural enemy attack in insects is commonly influenced by the presence of protective symbionts in the host. The degree to which protection functions in natural populations, however, will depend on the robustness of the phenotype and symbiosis to variation in the abiotic environment. We studied the impact of a key environmental parameter-temperature-on the efficacy of the protective effect of the symbiont Spiroplasma on its host Drosophila hydei, against attack by the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina heterotoma. In addition, we investigated the thermal sensitivity of the symbiont's vertical transmission, which may be a key determinant of the ability of the symbiont to persist. We found that vertical transmission was more robust than previously considered, with Spiroplasma being maintained at 25°C, at 18°C and with 18/15°C diurnal cycles, with rates of segregational loss only increasing at 15°C. Protection against wasp attack was ablated before symbiont transmission was lost, with the symbiont failing to rescue the fly host at 18°C. We conclude that the presence of a protective symbiosis in natural populations cannot be simply inferred from the presence of a symbiont whose protective capacity has been tested under narrow controlled conditions. More broadly, we argue that the thermal environment is likely to represent an important determinant of the evolutionary ecology of defensive symbioses in natural environments, potentially driving seasonal, latitudinal and altitudinal variation in symbiont frequency.}, } @article {pmid33425785, year = {2020}, author = {Li, H and Zang, Y and Wang, C and Li, H and Fan, A and Han, C and Xue, F}, title = {The Interaction Between Microorganisms, Metabolites, and Immune System in the Female Genital Tract Microenvironment.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {609488}, pmid = {33425785}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Female ; *Genitalia, Female ; Humans ; Immune System ; *Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The female reproductive tract microenvironment includes microorganisms, metabolites, and immune components, and the balance of the interactions among them plays an important role in maintaining female reproductive tract homeostasis and health. When any one of the reproductive tract microorganisms, metabolites, or immunity is out of balance, it will affect the other two, leading to the occurrence and development of diseases and the appearance of corresponding symptoms and signs, such as infertility, miscarriage, premature delivery, and gynecological tumors caused by infectious diseases of the reproductive tract. Nutrients in the female reproductive tract provide symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms with a source of nutrients for their own reproduction and utilization. At the same time, this interaction with the host forms a variety of metabolites. Changes in metabolites in the host reproductive tract are related not only to the interaction between the host and microbiota under dysbiosis but also to changes in host immunity or the environment, all of which will participate in the pathogenesis of diseases and lead to disease-related phenotypes. Microorganisms and their metabolites can also interact with host immunity, activate host immunity, and change the host immune status and are closely related to persistent genital pathogen infections, aggravation of infectious diseases, severe pregnancy outcomes, and even gynecological cancers. Therefore, studying the interaction between microorganisms, metabolites, and immunity in the reproductive tract cannot only reveal the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to inflammation of the reproductive tract, adverse pregnancy outcomes and tumorigenesis but also provide a basis for further research on the diagnosis and treatment of targets.}, } @article {pmid33424822, year = {2020}, author = {Goldstein, SL and Klassen, JL}, title = {Pseudonocardia Symbionts of Fungus-Growing Ants and the Evolution of Defensive Secondary Metabolism.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {621041}, pmid = {33424822}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Actinobacteria belonging to the genus Pseudonocardia have evolved a close relationship with multiple species of fungus-growing ants, where these bacteria produce diverse secondary metabolites that protect the ants and their fungal mutualists from disease. Recent research has charted the phylogenetic diversity of this symbiosis, revealing multiple instances where the ants and Pseudonocardia have formed stable relationships in which these bacteria are housed on specific regions of the ant's cuticle. Parallel chemical and genomic analyses have also revealed that symbiotic Pseudonocardia produce diverse secondary metabolites with antifungal and antibacterial bioactivities, and highlighted the importance of plasmid recombination and horizontal gene transfer for maintaining these symbiotic traits. Here, we propose a multi-level model for the evolution of Pseudonocardia and their secondary metabolites that includes symbiont transmission within and between ant colonies, and the potentially independent movement and diversification of their secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes. Because of their well-studied ecology and experimental tractability, Pseudonocardia symbionts of fungus-growing ants are an especially useful model system to understand the evolution of secondary metabolites, and also comprise a significant source of novel antibiotic and antifungal agents.}, } @article {pmid33424811, year = {2020}, author = {Thongprem, P and Evison, SEF and Hurst, GDD and Otti, O}, title = {Transmission, Tropism, and Biological Impacts of Torix Rickettsia in the Common Bed Bug Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {608763}, pmid = {33424811}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The torix group of Rickettsia have been recorded from a wide assemblage of invertebrates, but details of transmission and biological impacts on the host have rarely been established. The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a hemipteran insect which lives as an obligatory hematophagous pest of humans and is host to a primary Wolbachia symbiont and two facultative symbionts, a BEV-like symbiont, and a torix group Rickettsia. In this study, we first note the presence of a single Rickettsia strain in multiple laboratory bed bug isolates derived from Europe and Africa. Importantly, we discovered that the Rickettsia has segregated in two laboratory strains, providing infected and uninfected isogenic lines for study. Crosses with these lines established transmission was purely maternal. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis indicates Rickettsia infection in oocytes, bacteriomes, and other somatic tissues. We found no evidence that Rickettsia infection was associated with sex ratio distortion activity, but Rickettsia infected individuals developed from first instar to adult more slowly. The impact of Rickettsia on fecundity and fertility resulted in infected females producing fewer fertile eggs. However, we could not find any evidence for cytoplasmic incompatibility associated with Rickettsia presence. These data imply the existence of an unknown benefit to C. lectularius carrying Rickettsia that awaits further research.}, } @article {pmid33424808, year = {2020}, author = {Doremus, MR and Stouthamer, CM and Kelly, SE and Schmitz-Esser, S and Hunter, MS}, title = {Cardinium Localization During Its Parasitoid Wasp Host's Development Provides Insights Into Cytoplasmic Incompatibility.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {606399}, pmid = {33424808}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arthropods harbor heritable intracellular symbionts that may manipulate host reproduction to favor symbiont transmission. In cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), the symbiont sabotages the reproduction of infected males such that high levels of offspring mortality result when they mate with uninfected females. In crosses with infected males and infected females, however (the "rescue" cross), normal numbers of offspring are produced. A common CI-inducing symbiont, Cardinium hertigii, causes variable levels of CI mortality in the parasitoid wasp, Encarsia suzannae. Previous work correlated CI-induced mortality with male development time in this system, although the timing of Cardinium CI-induction and the relationship between development time and CI mortality was not well understood. Here, using a combination of crosses, manipulation of development time, and fluorescence microscopy, we identify the localization and the timing of the CI-induction step in the Cardinium-E. suzannae system. Antibiotic treatment of adult Cardinium-infected males did not reduce the mortality associated with the CI phenotype, suggesting that CI-alteration occurs prior to adulthood. Our results suggest that the alteration step occurs during the pupal period, and is limited by the duration of pupal development: 1) Encarsia produces most sperm prior to adulthood, 2) FISH localization of Cardinium in testes showed an association with sperm nuclei throughout spermatogenesis but not with mature sperm, and 3) two methods of prolonging the pupal period (cool temperatures and the juvenile hormone analog methoprene) both caused greater CI mortality, suggesting the degree of alteration is limited by the duration of the pupal stage. Based on these results, we compare two models for potential mechanisms of Cardinium sperm modification in the context of what is known about analogous mechanisms of Wolbachia, a more extensively studied CI-inducing symbiont.}, } @article {pmid33424333, year = {2021}, author = {Sayara, T and Khayat, S and Saleh, J and Van Der Steen, P}, title = {Evaluation of the effect of reaction time on nutrients removal from secondary effluent of wastewater: Field demonstrations using algal-bacterial photobioreactors.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {504-511}, pmid = {33424333}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Real field demonstrations to assess the removal efficiency of nutrients and organic matter from domestic wastewater were carried out using algal-bacterial photobioreactors. The reactors which consisted of three basins of 200 L were fed with secondary effluent of domestic wastewater and operated under natural day light/dark cycles. The results demonstrated that reaction time (RT) has a substantial role on the whole process performance. Whereas inoculation with nitrifiers affected the process only in some aspects. The enhancement in the dissolved oxygen production rate (1.15 mg O2. L[-1].h[-1]) was in alignment with growing higher algal biomass concentrations due to the increase in RT. COD removal rates were significantly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing the RT, and removal rates of 27%, 46% and 50% were obtained under RTs of 2, 3 and 4hrs. respectively. Meanwhile, 30%, 84% and 95% of the phosphorus was removed under the same studied RTs. No significant effect was recorded due to the addition of nitrifying bacteria on the removal of both COD and phosphorus. Ammonium (NH4 [+]-N) removal rates were also increased with increasing RT and by the addition of nitrifiers, such that removal rates of 13%, 21% and 31% were obtained in basins inoculated with nitrifiers, but 11%, 14% and 19.5% were obtained in non-inoculated basins under RT of 2, 3, and 4 hrs. respectively. These results provide some new insights into algal-bacterial symbiosis systems under real field conditions which could be helpful for further process development.}, } @article {pmid33424158, year = {2020}, author = {Ramadurai, S and Balasundaram, U}, title = {Rhizomicrobiomics of Caesalpinia bonducella, a wonder plant for PCOS treatment.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {12}, pages = {2453-2463}, pmid = {33424158}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Plant and rhizobacterial interactions contribute partly to a plant's medicinal properties and are well studied through metagenomics. In this study, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and ITS meta-sequencing were performed using the genomic DNA obtained from the rhizosphere of Caesalpinia bonducella-a medicinal shrub widely used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Of the 665 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) obtained from 16S rDNA sequencing, 23.9% comprised of microbes that increase the therapeutic value of plants (Bacillus, Paenibacillus), 6.4% belonged to stress and drought tolerant microbes (Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Serratia), 8% belonged to plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria-predominantly Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes and the remaining were the microbes performing various other functions. Alpha diversity indexing by GAIA-metagenomics tool revealed the presence of a highly diverse group of microbes in the rhizosphere of C. bonducella; Chao.1 index (665), Shannon Weiner index (3.53), Simpson index (0.83) and Fisher index (106.13). The highly diverse microbes lingering around the roots of C. bonducella could possibly be due to a strong symbiotic association with the plant; root exudates nourish the microbes and the microbes in turn enrich the medicinal value of the plant.}, } @article {pmid33423360, year = {2021}, author = {Gong, Z and Han, GZ}, title = {Flourishing in water: the early evolution and diversification of plant receptor-like kinases.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {106}, number = {1}, pages = {174-184}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15157}, pmid = {33423360}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Plant Immunity/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) play significant roles in mediating innate immunity and development of plants. The evolution of plant RLKs has been characterized by extensive variation in copy numbers and domain configurations. However, much remains unknown about the origin, evolution, and early diversification of plant RLKs. Here, we perform phylogenomic analyses of RLKs across plants (Archaeplastida), including embryophytes, charophytes, chlorophytes, prasinodermophytes, glaucophytes, and rhodophytes. We identify the presence of RLKs in all the streptophytes (land plants and charophytes), nine out of 18 chlorophytes, one prasinodermophyte, and one glaucophyte, but not in rhodophytes. Interestingly, the copy number of RLKs increased drastically in streptophytes after the split of the clade of Mesostigmatophyceae and Chlorokybophyceae and other streptophytes. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses suggest RLKs from charophytes form diverse distinct clusters, and are dispersed along the diversity of land plant RLKs, indicating that RLKs have extensively diversified in charophytes and charophyte RLKs seeded the major diversity of land plant RLKs. We identify at least 81 and 76 different kinase-associated domains for charophyte and land plant RLKs, 23 of which are shared, suggesting that RLKs might have evolved in a modular fashion through frequent domain gains or losses. We also detect signatures of positive selection for many charophyte RLK groups, indicating potential functions in host-microbe interaction. Taken together, our findings provide significant insights into the early evolution and diversification of plant RLKs and the ancient evolution of plant-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33423098, year = {2021}, author = {Basbuga, S and Basbuga, S and Yayla, F and Mahmoud, AM and Can, C}, title = {Diversity of rhizobial and non-rhizobial bacteria nodulating wild ancestors of grain legume crop plants.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {207-218}, pmid = {33423098}, issn = {1618-1905}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fabaceae/classification/*microbiology ; Genotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Turkey ; }, abstract = {Chickpeas, lentils, and peas are the oldest grain legume species that spread to other regions after their first domestication in Fertile Crescent, and they could reveal the rhizobial evolution in relation to the microsymbionts of wild species in this region. This study investigated the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of the nodule-forming rhizobial bacteria recovered from Pisum sativum subsp., Cicer pinnatifidum, and Lens culinaris subsp. orientalis exhibiting natural distribution in the Gaziantep province of Turkey. PCA analyses of rhizobial isolates, which were tested to be highly resistant to stress conditions, showed that especially pH and salt concentrations had an important effect on these bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA determined that these wild species were nodulated by at least 7 groups including Rhizobium and non-Rhizobium. The largest group comprised of Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium sp. while R. pusense, which was previously determined as non-symbiotic species, was found to nodulate C. pinnatifidum and L. culinaris subsp. orientalis. In recent studies, Klebsiella sp., which is stated to be able to nodulate different species, strong evidences have been obtained in present study exhibiting that Klebsiella sp. can nodulate C. pinnatifidum and Pseudomonas sp. was able to nodulate C. pinnatifidum and P. sativum subsp. Additionally, L. culinaris subsp. orientalis unlike other plant species, was nodulated by Burkholderia sp. and Serratia sp. associated isolates. Some isolates could not be characterized at the species level since the 16S rRNA sequence similarity rate was low and the fact that they were in a separate group supported with high bootstrap values in the phylogenetic tree may indicate that these isolates could be new species. The REP-PCR fingerprinting provided results supporting the existence of new species nodulating wild ancestors.}, } @article {pmid33421678, year = {2021}, author = {Corduneanu, A and Mihalca, AD and Sándor, AD and Hornok, S and Malmberg, M and Viso, NP and Bongcam-Rudloff, E}, title = {The heart microbiome of insectivorous bats from Central and South Eastern Europe.}, journal = {Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {101605}, doi = {10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101605}, pmid = {33421678}, issn = {1878-1667}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chiroptera ; Europe, Eastern ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Host associated microbiome not only may affect the individual health-status or provide insights into the species- or group specific bacterial communities but may act as early warning signs in the assessment of zoonotic reservoirs, offering clues to predict, prevent and control possible episodes of emerging zoonoses. Bats may be carriers and reservoirs of multiple pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, showing in the same time robust immunity against many of them. The microbiota plays a fundamental role on the induction, training and function of the host immune system and the immune system has largely evolved in order to maintain the symbiotic relationship of the host with these diverse microbes. Thus, expanding our knowledge on bat-associated microbiome it can be usefully in understanding bats' outstanding immune capacities. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of different bacterial communities in heart tissue of insectivorous bats, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Rhinoplophus hipposideros, from Central and Eastern Europe using high-throughput sequencing of variable regions of the 16S rRNA. In addition, species-specific PCRs were used to validate the presence of the vector-borne pathogens Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. In this study we identified a wide variety of bacterial groups, with the most abundant phyla being Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The results showed that at individual level, the year or location had no effect on the diversity and composition of the microbiome, however host species determined both structure and abundance of the bacterial community. We report the presence of vector-borne bacteria Bartonella spp. in samples of N. noctula and indications of Rickettsia spp. in R. hipposideros. Our results provide a first insight into the bacterial community found in heart tissue of bats from Central and South Eastern Europe.}, } @article {pmid33420126, year = {2021}, author = {Vishnyakov, AE and Karagodina, NP and Lim-Fong, G and Ivanov, PA and Schwaha, TF and Letarov, AV and Ostrovsky, AN}, title = {First evidence of virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {33420126}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Bryozoa/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/*virology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Microbiota ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; *Symbiosis ; Virion/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Bacteriophage communities associated with humans and vertebrate animals have been extensively studied, but the data on phages living in invertebrates remain scarce. In fact, they have never been reported for most animal phyla. Our ultrastructural study showed for the first time a variety of virus-like particles (VLPs) and supposed virus-related structures inside symbiotic bacteria in two marine species from the phylum Bryozoa, the cheilostomes Bugula neritina and Paralicornia sinuosa. We also documented the effect of VLPs on bacterial hosts: we explain different bacterial 'ultrastructural types' detected in bryozoan tissues as stages in the gradual destruction of prokaryotic cells caused by viral multiplication during the lytic cycle. We speculate that viruses destroying bacteria regulate symbiont numbers in the bryozoan hosts, a phenomenon known in some insects. We develop two hypotheses explaining exo- and endogenous circulation of the viruses during the life-cycle of B. neritina. Finally, we compare unusual 'sea-urchin'-like structures found in the collapsed bacteria in P. sinuosa with so-called metamorphosis associated contractile structures (MACs) formed in the cells of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea which are known to trigger larval metamorphosis in a polychaete worm.}, } @article {pmid33419942, year = {2021}, author = {Azargoshasb, S and Houwing, KHM and Roos, PR and van Leeuwen, SI and Boonekamp, M and Mazzone, E and Bauwens, K and Dell'Oglio, P and van Leeuwen, FWB and van Oosterom, MN}, title = {Optical Navigation of the Drop-In γ-Probe as a Means to Strengthen the Connection Between Robot-Assisted and Radioguided Surgery.}, journal = {Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine}, volume = {62}, number = {9}, pages = {1314-1317}, pmid = {33419942}, issn = {1535-5667}, mesh = {Laparoscopy ; *Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; }, abstract = {With translation of the Drop-In γ-probe, radioguidance has advanced into laparoscopic robot-assisted surgery. Global-positioning-system-like navigation can further enhance the symbiosis between nuclear medicine and surgery. Therefore, we developed a fluorescence-video-based tracking method that integrates the Drop-In with navigated robotic surgery. Methods: Fluorescent markers, integrated into the Drop-In, were automatically detected using a daVinci Firefly laparoscope. Subsequently, a declipseSPECT-navigation platform calculated the Drop-In location within the surgical field. Using a phantom (n = 3), we pursued robotic navigation on SPECT/CT, whereas intraoperative feasibility was validated during porcine surgery (n = 4). Results: Video-based tracking allowed for navigation of the Drop-In toward all lesions detected on SPECT/CT (external iliac and common iliac artery regions). Augmented-reality visualization in the surgical console indicated the distance to these lesions in real time, confirmed by the Drop-In readout. Porcine surgery underlined the feasibility of the concept. Conclusion: Optical navigation of the Drop-In probe provides a next step toward connecting nuclear medicine with robotic surgery.}, } @article {pmid33419736, year = {2021}, author = {Shore, A and Day, RD and Stewart, JA and Burge, CA}, title = {Dichotomy between Regulation of Coral Bacterial Communities and Calcification Physiology under Ocean Acidification Conditions.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33419736}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) threatens the growth and function of coral reef ecosystems. A key component to coral health is the microbiome, but little is known about the impact of OA on coral microbiomes. A submarine CO2 vent at Maug Island in the Northern Mariana Islands provides a natural pH gradient to investigate coral responses to long-term OA conditions. Three coral species (Pocillopora eydouxi, Porites lobata, and Porites rus) were sampled from three sites where the mean seawater pH is 8.04, 7.98, and 7.94. We characterized coral bacterial communities (using 16S rRNA gene sequencing) and determined pH of the extracellular calcifying fluid (ECF) (using skeletal boron isotopes) across the seawater pH gradient. Bacterial communities of both Porites species stabilized (decreases in community dispersion) with decreased seawater pH, coupled with large increases in the abundance of Endozoicomonas, an endosymbiont. P. lobata experienced a significant decrease in ECF pH near the vent, whereas P. rus experienced a trending decrease in ECF pH near the vent. In contrast, Pocillopora exhibited bacterial community destabilization (increases in community dispersion), with significant decreases in Endozoicomonas abundance, while its ECF pH remained unchanged across the pH gradient. Our study shows that OA has multiple consequences on Endozoicomonas abundance and suggests that Endozoicomonas abundance may be an indicator of coral response to OA. We reveal an interesting dichotomy between two facets of coral physiology (regulation of bacterial communities and regulation of calcification), highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to understanding coral health and function in a changing ocean.IMPORTANCE Ocean acidification (OA) is a consequence of anthropogenic CO2 emissions that is negatively impacting marine ecosystems such as coral reefs. OA affects many aspects of coral physiology, including growth (i.e., calcification) and disrupting associated bacterial communities. Coral-associated bacteria are important for host health, but it remains unclear how coral-associated bacterial communities will respond to future OA conditions. We document changes in coral-associated bacterial communities and changes to calcification physiology with long-term exposure to decreases in seawater pH that are environmentally relevant under midrange IPCC emission scenarios (0.1 pH units). We also find species-specific responses that may reflect different responses to long-term OA. In Pocillopora, calcification physiology was highly regulated despite changing seawater conditions. In Porites spp., changes in bacterial communities do not reflect a breakdown of coral-bacterial symbiosis. Insights into calcification and host-microbe interactions are critical to predicting the health and function of different coral taxa to future OA conditions.}, } @article {pmid33419600, year = {2021}, author = {White, SJ and Barello, S and Cao di San Marco, E and Colombo, C and Eeckman, E and Gilligan, C and Graffigna, G and Jirasevijinda, T and Mosconi, P and Mullan, J and Rehman, SU and Rubinelli, S and Vegni, E and Krystallidou, D}, title = {Critical observations on and suggested ways forward for healthcare communication during COVID-19: pEACH position paper.}, journal = {Patient education and counseling}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {217-222}, pmid = {33419600}, issn = {1873-5134}, mesh = {*COVID-19 ; *Health Communication ; Health Literacy ; Health Personnel/*psychology ; Health Promotion/*methods ; Humans ; Pandemics ; *Public Health Practice ; *SARS-CoV-2 ; *Telemedicine ; Uncertainty ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Communication in healthcare has influenced and been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this position paper, we share observations based on the latest available evidence and experiential knowledge that have emerged during the pandemic, with a specific focus on policy and practice.

METHODS: This is a position paper that presents observations relating to policy and practice in communication in healthcare related to COVID-19.

RESULTS: Through our critical observations as experts in the field of healthcare communication, we share our stance how healthcare communication has occured during the pandemic and suggest possible ways of improving policy and professional practice. We make recommendations for policy makers, healthcare providers, and communication experts while also highlighting areas that merit further investigation regarding healthcare communication in times of healthcare crises.

CONCLUSION: We have witnessed an upheaval of healthcare practice and the development of policy on-the-run. To ensure that policy and practice are evidence-based, person-centred, more inclusive and equitable, we advocate for critical reflection on this symbiotic relationship between COVID-19 and the central role of communication in healthcare.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This paper provides a summary of the key areas for development in communication in healthcare during COVID-19. It offers recommendations for improvement and a call to review policies and practice to build resilience and inclusive and equitable responsiveness in communication in healthcare.}, } @article {pmid33419376, year = {2020}, author = {Dolgikh, AV and Rudaya, ES and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Identification of BELL Transcription Factors Involved in Nodule Initiation and Development in the Legumes Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33419376}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Single three-amino acid loop extension (TALE) homeodomain proteins, including the KNOTTED-like (KNOX) and BEL-like (BELL) families in plants, usually work as heterodimeric transcription factor complexes to regulate different developmental processes, often via effects on phytohormonal pathways. Nitrogen-fixing nodule formation in legumes is regulated by different families of homeodomain transcription factors. Whereas the role of KNOX transcription factors in the control of symbiosis was studied early, BELL transcription factors have received less attention. Here, we report the identification and expression analysis of BELL genes in the legume plants Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum, which are involved in regulating symbiosis initiation and development. A more precise analysis was performed for the most significantly upregulated PsBELL1-2 gene in pea. We found that the PsBELL1-2 transcription factor could be a potential partner of PsKNOX9. In addition, we showed that PsBELL1-2 can interact with the PsDELLA1 (LA) protein-regulator of the gibberellin pathway, which has a previously demonstrated important role in symbiosis development.}, } @article {pmid33419044, year = {2021}, author = {Inácio da Silva, LM and Dezordi, FZ and Paiva, MHS and Wallau, GL}, title = {Systematic Review of Wolbachia Symbiont Detection in Mosquitoes: An Entangled Topic about Methodological Power and True Symbiosis.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33419044}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that naturally infects several arthropods and nematode species. Wolbachia gained particular attention due to its impact on their host fitness and the capacity of specific Wolbachia strains in reducing pathogen vector and agricultural pest populations and pathogens transmission. Despite the success of mosquito/pathogen control programs using Wolbachia-infected mosquito release, little is known about the abundance and distribution of Wolbachia in most mosquito species, a crucial knowledge for planning and deployment of mosquito control programs and that can further improve our basic biology understanding of Wolbachia and host relationships. In this systematic review, Wolbachia was detected in only 30% of the mosquito species investigated. Fourteen percent of the species were considered positive by some studies and negative by others in different geographical regions, suggesting a variable infection rate and/or limitations of the Wolbachia detection methods employed. Eighty-three percent of the studies screened Wolbachia with only one technique. Our findings highlight that the assessment of Wolbachia using a single approach limited the inference of true Wolbachia infection in most of the studied species and that researchers should carefully choose complementary methodologies and consider different Wolbachia-mosquito population dynamics that may be a source of bias to ascertain the correct infectious status of the host species.}, } @article {pmid33418397, year = {2021}, author = {Diao, F and Dang, Z and Xu, J and Ding, S and Hao, B and Zhang, Z and Zhang, J and Wang, L and Guo, W}, title = {Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on ion homeostasis and salt tolerance-related gene expression in halophyte Suaeda salsa under salt treatments.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {245}, number = {}, pages = {126688}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2020.126688}, pmid = {33418397}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Chenopodiaceae/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression ; *Homeostasis ; Ions/analysis/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Salt Tolerance/drug effects/*genetics ; Salt-Tolerant Plants ; Sodium/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Halophytes can remove large quantities of salts from saline soils, so their importance in ecology has received increasing attention. Preliminary studies have shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve the salt tolerance of halophytes. However, few studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms and effects of AM fungi in halophytes under different salt conditions. A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae inoculation on growth, nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis and the expression of salt tolerance-related genes in Suaeda salsa under 0, 100, 200 and 400 mM NaCl. The results showed that F. mosseae promoted the growth of S. salsa and increased the shoot Ca[2+] and Mg[2+] concentrations under no-salt condition and high-salt condition. In addition, AM fungi increased the K[+] concentration and maintained a high K[+]/Na[+] ratio at 400 mM NaCl, while AM fungi decreased the K[+] concentration and reduced the K[+]/Na[+] ratio at 0 mM NaCl. AM fungi downregulated the expression of SsNHX1 in shoots and the expression of SsSOS1 in roots at 400 mM NaCl. These effects may decrease the compartmentation of Na[+] into leaf vacuoles and restrict Na[+] transport from roots to shoots, leading to an increase in root Na[+] concentration. AM symbiosis upregulated the expression of SsSOS1 in shoots and downregulated the expression of SsSOS1 and SsNHX1 in roots at 100 mM NaCl. However, regulation of the genes (SsNHX1, SsSOS, SsVHA-B and SsPIP) was not significantly different with AM symbiosis at 0 mM or 200 mM NaCl. The results revealed that AM symbiosis might induce diverse modulation strategies in S. salsa, depending on external Na[+] concentrations. These findings suggest that AM fungi may play significant ecological roles in the phytoremediation of salinized ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33418289, year = {2021}, author = {Akbar, S and Huang, J and Zhou, Q and Gu, L and Sun, Y and Zhang, L and Lyu, K and Yang, Z}, title = {Elevated temperature and toxic Microcystis reduce Daphnia fitness and modulate gut microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {271}, number = {}, pages = {116409}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116409}, pmid = {33418289}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Daphnia ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Life History Traits ; *Microcystis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota has been increasingly recognized to regulate host fitness, which in turn is dependent on stability of community structure and composition. Many biotic and abiotic factors have been demonstrated to shape gut microbiota of cladocerans. However, the interactive effects of these variables on cladocerans fitness due to alteration of gut microbiota and their linkage with life history parameters are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the responses of Daphnia magna gut microbiota to the combined effects of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa and high temperature and its associations with fitness. We found that under good food regime, the temperature has no effect on the composition of the gut microbiota, whereas under high proportion of toxic M. aeruginosa and high temperature conditions, D. magna lost their symbionts. High proportion of toxic M. aeruginosa and high temperature had synergistically negative effects on D. magna performance due to altered gut microbiota. The high abundance of symbiotic Comamonadaceae and good food increased D. magna fitness. The present study illustrates that understanding life history strategies in response to multiple stressors related to changes in the gut microbiota diversity and composition requires integrated approaches that incorporate multiple linked traits and tether them to one another.}, } @article {pmid33418189, year = {2021}, author = {Song, T and Sun, N and Dong, L and Cai, H}, title = {Enhanced alkali tolerance of rhizobia-inoculated alfalfa correlates with altered proteins and metabolic processes as well as decreased oxidative damage.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {159}, number = {}, pages = {301-311}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.12.021}, pmid = {33418189}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Alkalies/toxicity ; *Medicago sativa/drug effects/microbiology ; *Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Proteomics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Alkaline salt is one of the most devastating environmental factors limiting alfalfa productivity, however, the mechanisms underlying adaptation of alfalfa to alkaline remain unclear. Our aim is to investigate proteomic and metabolomic differences in growth and root of alfalfa under alkaline salt in Rhizobium-alfalfa symbiotic relationships.

METHODS: Rhizobium-inoculated and non-inoculated alfalfa plants were treated with 200 mmol/L NaHCO3 to investigate physiological, metabolic, and proteomic responses of root-nodule symbiosis under alkaline-induced stress, using an integrated approach combining metabolome and proteome analysis with measurements of physiological parameters.

RESULTS: The improved tolerance to alkalinity was observed in RI-plants compared with NI-plants. RI-plants accumulated more proline and MDH, and had higher antioxidant activity and relatively high RWC but low MDA content and low Na[+]/K[+] ratio. The stress-related genes (P5CS, GST13, H[+]-Ppase, NADP-Me, SDH, and CS) were actively upregulated in RI plants under alkaline stress. In RI-plants, damage caused by alkaline stress was mainly alleviated by decreasing oxidative damage, enhancing the organic acid and amino acid metabolic processes, and scavenging harmful ROS by activating the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: We revealed distinct proteins and metabolites related to alkali tolerance in RI-plants compared to NI-plants. Alkali tolerance of rhizobia-inoculated alfalfa was enhanced by altered proteins and metabolic processes as well as decreased oxidative damage.}, } @article {pmid33418155, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, Y and Liu, Y and Jiao, D and Lu, C and Lou, Y and Li, N and Wang, G and Wang, H}, title = {Synthesis and release of fatty acids under the interaction of Ulva pertusa and Heterosigma akashiwo by stable isotope analysis.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {210}, number = {}, pages = {111852}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111852}, pmid = {33418155}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Carbon Isotopes/analysis/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/analysis/*metabolism ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Seawater/chemistry ; Stramenopiles/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Ulva/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis of marine algae is inevitable in the marine environment, and species may occur interaction on the growth. In this study, the macroalgae Ulva pertusa and marine microalgae Heterosigma akashiwo were selected as target species to study the interaction mechanism between them. After the 8 days of co-cultivation, the inhibition on growth was observed for both of U. pertusa and H. akashiwo. Eight fatty acids in U. pertusa was detected, with the significant decrease in contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) especially for C18:2, C18:3n-3 and C18:3n-6. Twelve fatty acids in H. akashiwo was detected, with the significant change for PUFAs. PUFA concentrations in the co-culture group were less than those in the mono-culture. Meanwhile the principal component analysis was conducted to insight into the interaction between U. pertusa and H. akashiwo by fatty acids content and carbon stable isotope ratio of fatty acids (δ[13]CFAs). Fatty acid content could not distinguish mono and co-culture. However, δ[13]CFAs could distinguish not only the culture time of algae, but also the living environment of algae. In addition, this study combined fatty acids content and δ[13]CFAs to explore the release of fatty acids by algae into the seawater. The C18:3n-3 was identified as the allelochemical released by U. pertusa to inhibit the growth of H. akashiwo. The ratio of δ[13]CFAs in seawater decreased. This study provides a theoretical basis for the symbiosis of marine algae, and a new method of compound-specific stable carbon isotopes was used to better explore the metabolism of fatty acids in algae.}, } @article {pmid33417825, year = {2021}, author = {Scharf, ME and Peterson, BF}, title = {A Century of Synergy in Termite Symbiosis Research: Linking the Past with New Genomic Insights.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {23-43}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-022420-074746}, pmid = {33417825}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Entomology/*history ; Genomics ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Isoptera/genetics/microbiology/*parasitology ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termites have long been studied for their symbiotic associations with gut microbes. In the late nineteenth century, this relationship was poorly understood and captured the interest of parasitologists such as Joseph Leidy; this research led to that of twentieth-century biologists and entomologists including Cleveland, Hungate, Trager, and Lüscher. Early insights came via microscopy, organismal, and defaunation studies, which led to descriptions of microbes present, descriptions of the roles of symbionts in lignocellulose digestion, and early insights into energy gas utilization by the host termite. Focus then progressed to culture-dependent microbiology and biochemical studies of host-symbiont complementarity, which revealed specific microhabitat requirements for symbionts and noncellulosic mechanisms of symbiosis (e.g., N2 fixation). Today, knowledge on termite symbiosis has accrued exponentially thanks to omic technologies that reveal symbiont identities, functions, and interdependence, as well as intricacies of host-symbiont complementarity. Moving forward, the merging of classical twentieth-century approaches with evolving omic tools should provide even deeper insights into host-symbiont interplay.}, } @article {pmid33417080, year = {2021}, author = {Ogura-Tsujita, Y and Yukawa, T and Kinoshita, A}, title = {Evolutionary histories and mycorrhizal associations of mycoheterotrophic plants dependent on saprotrophic fungi.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {134}, number = {1}, pages = {19-41}, pmid = {33417080}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Carbon ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycoheterotrophic plants (MHPs) are leafless, achlorophyllous, and completely dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for their carbon supply. Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a mutualistic association with fungi that is undertaken by the majority of land plants, but mycoheterotrophy represents a breakdown of this mutualism in that plants parasitize fungi. Most MHPs are associated with fungi that are mycorrhizal with autotrophic plants, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Although these MHPs gain carbon via the common mycorrhizal network that links the surrounding autotrophic plants, some mycoheterotrophic lineages are associated with saprotrophic (SAP) fungi, which are free-living and decompose leaf litter and wood materials. Such MHPs are dependent on the forest carbon cycle, which involves the decomposition of wood debris and leaf litter, and have a unique biology and evolutionary history. MHPs associated with SAP fungi (SAP-MHPs) have to date been found only in the Orchidaceae and likely evolved independently at least nine times within that family. Phylogenetically divergent SAP Basidiomycota, mostly Agaricales but also Hymenochaetales, Polyporales, and others, are involved in mycoheterotrophy. The fungal specificity of SAP-MHPs varies from a highly specific association with a single fungal species to a broad range of interactions with multiple fungal orders. Establishment of symbiotic culture systems is indispensable for understanding the mechanisms underlying plant-fungus interactions and the conservation of MHPs. Symbiotic culture systems have been established for many SAP-MHP species as a pure culture of free-living SAP fungi is easier than that of biotrophic AM or ECM fungi. Culturable SAP-MHPs are useful research materials and will contribute to the advancement of plant science.}, } @article {pmid33415800, year = {2021}, author = {Qin, M and Chen, J and Xu, S and Jiang, L and Qiao, G}, title = {Microbiota associated with Mollitrichosiphum aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Greenideinae): diversity, host species specificity and phylosymbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {2184-2198}, pmid = {33415800}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Host Specificity ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic association is universal in nature, and an array of symbionts play a crucial part in host life history. Aphids and their diverse symbionts have become a good model system to study insect-symbiont interactions. Previous symbiotic diversity surveys have mainly focused on a few aphid clades, and the relative importance of different factors regulating microbial community structure is not well understood. In this study, we collected 65 colonies representing eight species of the aphid genus Mollitrichosiphum from different regions and plants in southern China and Nepal and characterized their microbial compositions using Illumina sequencing of the V3 - V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. We evaluated how microbiota varied across aphid species, geography and host plants and the correlation between microbial community structure and host aphid phylogeny. Heritable symbionts dominated the microbiota associated with Mollitrichosiphum, and multiple infections of secondary symbionts were prevalent. Ordination analyses and statistical tests highlighted the contribution of aphid species in shaping the structures of bacterial, symbiont and secondary symbiont communities. Moreover, we observed a significant correlation between Mollitrichosiphum aphid phylogeny and microbial community composition, providing evidence for a pattern of phylosymbiosis between natural aphid populations and their microbial associates.}, } @article {pmid33414346, year = {2021}, author = {Alex, A and Pratheepa, V and Martins, J and Antunes, A}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Six Vibrio Strains Isolated from the Atlantic Intertidal Marine Sponge Ophlitaspongia papilla.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33414346}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report here the genome sequences of six Vibrio strains isolated from an Atlantic intertidal marine sponge, Ophlitaspongia papilla Genome mining and comparative genomics will assist in deciphering the bioactive potential of the symbiotic microbes and molecular mechanisms of sponge-microbial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33413404, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, H and Cao, Y and Guo, J and Xu, X and Long, Q and Song, L and Xian, M}, title = {Study on the isoprene-producing co-culture system of Synechococcus elongates-Escherichia coli through omics analysis.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {33413404}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Butadienes/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Escherichia coli/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Hemiterpenes/*metabolism ; *Metabolome ; Proteome/*analysis/metabolism ; Synechococcus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The majority of microbial fermentations are currently performed in the batch or fed-batch manner with the high process complexity and huge water consumption. The continuous microbial production can contribute to the green sustainable development of the fermentation industry. The co-culture systems of photo-autotrophic and heterotrophic species can play important roles in establishing the continuous fermentation mode for the bio-based chemicals production.

RESULTS: In the present paper, the co-culture system of Synechococcus elongates-Escherichia coli was established and put into operation stably for isoprene production. Compared with the axenic culture, the fermentation period of time was extended from 100 to 400 h in the co-culture and the isoprene production was increased to eightfold. For in depth understanding this novel system, the differential omics profiles were analyzed. The responses of BL21(DE3) to S. elongatus PCC 7942 were triggered by the oxidative pressure through the Fenton reaction and all these changes were linked with one another at different spatial and temporal scales. The oxidative stress mitigation pathways might contribute to the long-lasting fermentation process. The performance of this co-culture system can be further improved according to the fundamental rules discovered by the omics analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: The isoprene-producing co-culture system of S. elongates-E. coli was established and then analyzed by the omics methods. This study on the co-culture system of the model S. elongates-E. coli is of significance to reveal the common interactions between photo-autotrophic and heterotrophic species without natural symbiotic relation, which could provide the scientific basis for rational design of microbial community.}, } @article {pmid33411968, year = {2021}, author = {Gomes, AL and Revermann, R and Meller, P and Gonçalves, FMP and Aidar, MPM and Lages, F and Finckh, M}, title = {Functional traits and symbiotic associations of geoxyles and trees explain the dominance of detarioid legumes in miombo ecosystems.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {2}, pages = {510-520}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17168}, pmid = {33411968}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Africa ; Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae ; Forests ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {The miombo region in Africa is covered by a mosaic of woodlands and geoxylic grasslands and is subject to disturbances such as fires, frost and drought, and low nutrient availability. The dominance of Fabaceae Detarioideae species in miombo ecosystems is remarkable but little understood. We therefore compared plant functional traits (PFTs) of common woody species of the Angolan plateau, grouped by life form (trees, geoxyles), lineage (Fabaceae: Detarioideae, non-Detarioideae) and symbiont association (ectomycorrhiza, rhizobia). PFTs reflect group-specific adaptations to prevalent environmental conditions. To analyse the impact of environmental drivers, we selected PFTs reflecting ecophysiological aspects of leaf morphology, nutrient content and water transport. Traits were measured following standardized protocols. We found differences in key PFTs between trees and geoxyles reflecting both life form-specific adaptations to environmental conditions and lineage-specific strategies to cope with environmental stresses. We interpret higher leaf thickness and higher wood density of geoxyles as responses to harsher open environments. Fabaceae in general and ectomycorrhizal species showed better nutrient status. Symbiotic associations of detarioid legumes with ectomycorrhiza show specific advantages for phosphorous uptake as compared to Rhizobia-associated Fabaceae and to non-Fabaceae and thus may be crucial for the stunning dominance of Detarioideae in miombo landscapes.}, } @article {pmid33408228, year = {2021}, author = {Renelies-Hamilton, J and Germer, K and Sillam-Dussès, D and Bodawatta, KH and Poulsen, M}, title = {Disentangling the Relative Roles of Vertical Transmission, Subsequent Colonizations, and Diet on Cockroach Microbiome Assembly.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33408228}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Cockroaches/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Diet ; Host Specificity ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Microbiota/*genetics/physiology ; Ovum/drug effects/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {A multitude of factors affect the assemblies of complex microbial communities associated with animal hosts, with implications for community flexibility, resilience, and long-term stability; however, their relative effects have rarely been deduced. Here, we use a tractable lab model to quantify the relative and combined effects of parental transmission (egg case microbiome present/reduced), gut inocula (cockroach versus termite gut provisioned), and varying diets (matched or unmatched with gut inoculum source) on gut microbiota structure of hatchlings of the omnivorous cockroach Shelfordella lateralis using 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) amplicon sequencing. We show that the presence of a preexisting bacterial community via vertical transmission of microbes on egg cases reduces subsequent microbial invasion, suggesting priority effects that allow initial colonizers to take a strong hold and which stabilize the microbiome. However, subsequent inoculation sources more strongly affect ultimate community composition and their ecological networks, with distinct host-taxon-of-origin effects on which bacteria establish. While this is so, communities respond flexibly to specific diets in ways that consequently impact predicted community functions. In conclusion, our findings suggest that inoculations drive communities toward different stable states depending on colonization and extinction events, through ecological host-microbe relations and interactions with other gut bacteria, while diet in parallel shapes the functional capabilities of these microbiomes. These effects may lead to consistent microbial communities that maximize the extended phenotype that the microbiota provides the host, particularly if microbes spend most of their lives in host-associated environments.IMPORTANCE When host fitness is dependent on gut microbiota, microbial community flexibility and reproducibility enhance host fitness by allowing fine-tuned environmental tracking and sufficient stability for host traits to evolve. Our findings lend support to the importance of vertically transmitted early-life microbiota as stabilizers, through interactions with potential colonizers, which may contribute to ensuring that the microbiota aligns within host fitness-enhancing parameters. Subsequent colonizations are driven by microbial composition of the sources available, and we confirm that host-taxon-of-origin affects stable subsequent communities, while communities at the same time retain sufficient flexibility to shift in response to available diets. Microbiome structure is thus the result of the relative impact and combined effects of inocula and fluctuations driven by environment-specific microbial sources and digestive needs. These affect short-term community structure on an ecological time scale but could ultimately shape host species specificities in microbiomes across evolutionary time, if environmental conditions prevail.}, } @article {pmid33407428, year = {2021}, author = {Farhat, S and Le, P and Kayal, E and Noel, B and Bigeard, E and Corre, E and Maumus, F and Florent, I and Alberti, A and Aury, JM and Barbeyron, T and Cai, R and Da Silva, C and Istace, B and Labadie, K and Marie, D and Mercier, J and Rukwavu, T and Szymczak, J and Tonon, T and Alves-de-Souza, C and Rouzé, P and Van de Peer, Y and Wincker, P and Rombauts, S and Porcel, BM and Guillou, L}, title = {Rapid protein evolution, organellar reductions, and invasive intronic elements in the marine aerobic parasite dinoflagellate Amoebophrya spp.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {33407428}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Protozoan/*analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*cytology/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Introns/physiology ; Organelles/*physiology ; Protozoan Proteins/*analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dinoflagellates are aquatic protists particularly widespread in the oceans worldwide. Some are responsible for toxic blooms while others live in symbiotic relationships, either as mutualistic symbionts in corals or as parasites infecting other protists and animals. Dinoflagellates harbor atypically large genomes (~ 3 to 250 Gb), with gene organization and gene expression patterns very different from closely related apicomplexan parasites. Here we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two early-diverging and co-occurring parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya strains, to shed light on the emergence of such atypical genomic features, dinoflagellate evolution, and host specialization.

RESULTS: We sequenced, assembled, and annotated high-quality genomes for two Amoebophrya strains (A25 and A120), using a combination of Illumina paired-end short-read and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION long-read sequencing approaches. We found a small number of transposable elements, along with short introns and intergenic regions, and a limited number of gene families, together contribute to the compactness of the Amoebophrya genomes, a feature potentially linked with parasitism. While the majority of Amoebophrya proteins (63.7% of A25 and 59.3% of A120) had no functional assignment, we found many orthologs shared with Dinophyceae. Our analyses revealed a strong tendency for genes encoded by unidirectional clusters and high levels of synteny conservation between the two genomes despite low interspecific protein sequence similarity, suggesting rapid protein evolution. Most strikingly, we identified a large portion of non-canonical introns, including repeated introns, displaying a broad variability of associated splicing motifs never observed among eukaryotes. Those introner elements appear to have the capacity to spread over their respective genomes in a manner similar to transposable elements. Finally, we confirmed the reduction of organelles observed in Amoebophrya spp., i.e., loss of the plastid, potential loss of a mitochondrial genome and functions.

CONCLUSION: These results expand the range of atypical genome features found in basal dinoflagellates and raise questions regarding speciation and the evolutionary mechanisms at play while parastitism was selected for in this particular unicellular lineage.}, } @article {pmid33406726, year = {2021}, author = {Day, DA and Smith, PMC}, title = {Iron Transport across Symbiotic Membranes of Nitrogen-Fixing Legumes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33406726}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteroides/*physiology ; Biological Transport ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Iron/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Organelles/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Iron is an essential nutrient for the legume-rhizobia symbiosis and nitrogen-fixing bacteroids within root nodules of legumes have a very high demand for the metal. Within the infected cells of nodules, the bacteroids are surrounded by a plant membrane to form an organelle-like structure called the symbiosome. In this review, we focus on how iron is transported across the symbiosome membrane and accessed by the bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid33406434, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, P and Hsu, WH and Han, J and Xia, Y and DePinho, RA}, title = {Cancer Stemness Meets Immunity: From Mechanism to Therapy.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {108597}, pmid = {33406434}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {R01 CA231360/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA117969/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; 8808.0/CRI_/Cancer Research Institute/United States ; R01 CA225955/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 CA240896/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA221747/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Cell Communication ; Cell Plasticity ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells/immunology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms/*physiopathology/*therapy ; *Neoplastic Stem Cells ; *Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are self-renewing cells that facilitate tumor initiation, promote metastasis, and enhance cancer therapy resistance. Transcriptomic analyses across many cancer types have revealed a prominent association between stemness and immune signatures, potentially implying a biological interaction between such hallmark features of cancer. Emerging experimental evidence has substantiated the influence of CSCs on immune cells, including tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and T cells, in the tumor microenvironment and, reciprocally, the importance of such immune cells in sustaining CSC stemness and its survival niche. This review covers the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiotic interactions between CSCs and immune cells and how such heterotypic signaling maintains a tumor-promoting ecosystem and informs therapeutic strategies intercepting this co-dependency.}, } @article {pmid33406151, year = {2021}, author = {Chevignon, G and Foray, V and Pérez-Jiménez, MM and Libro, S and Chung, M and Foster, JM and Landmann, F}, title = {Dual RNAseq analyses at soma and germline levels reveal evolutionary innovations in the elephantiasis-agent Brugia malayi, and adaptation of its Wolbachia endosymbionts.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e0008935}, pmid = {33406151}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Brugia malayi/*genetics ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; *Carisoprodol ; Elephantiasis/*genetics ; Elephantiasis, Filarial/genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Genome ; *Germ Cells ; Humans ; Oogenesis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Brugia malayi is a human filarial nematode responsible for elephantiasis, a debilitating condition that is part of a broader spectrum of diseases called filariasis, including lymphatic filariasis and river blindness. Almost all filarial nematode species infecting humans live in mutualism with Wolbachia endosymbionts, present in somatic hypodermal tissues but also in the female germline which ensures their vertical transmission to the nematode progeny. These α-proteobacteria potentially provision their host with essential metabolites and protect the parasite against the vertebrate immune response. In the absence of Wolbachia wBm, B. malayi females become sterile, and the filarial nematode lifespan is greatly reduced. In order to better comprehend this symbiosis, we investigated the adaptation of wBm to the host nematode soma and germline, and we characterized these cellular environments to highlight their specificities. Dual RNAseq experiments were performed at the tissue-specific and ovarian developmental stage levels, reaching the resolution of the germline mitotic proliferation and meiotic differentiation stages. We found that most wBm genes, including putative effectors, are not differentially regulated between infected tissues. However, two wBm genes involved in stress responses are upregulated in the hypodermal chords compared to the germline, indicating that this somatic tissue represents a harsh environment to which wBm have adapted. A comparison of the B. malayi and C. elegans germline transcriptomes reveals a poor conservation of genes involved in the production of oocytes, with the filarial germline proliferative zone relying on a majority of genes absent from C. elegans. The first orthology map of the B. malayi genome presented here, together with tissue-specific expression enrichment analyses, indicate that the early steps of oogenesis are a developmental process involving genes specific to filarial nematodes, that likely result from evolutionary innovations supporting the filarial parasitic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid33405366, year = {2020}, author = {Kong, Y and Han, L and Liu, X and Wang, H and Wen, L and Yu, X and Xu, X and Kong, F and Fu, C and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Zhou, C}, title = {The nodulation and nyctinastic leaf movement is orchestrated by clock gene LHY in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {62}, number = {12}, pages = {1880-1895}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12999}, pmid = {33405366}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {*Circadian Rhythm ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Transcription Factors/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {As sessile organisms, plants perceive, respond, and adapt to the environmental changes for optimal growth and survival. The plant growth and fitness are enhanced by circadian clocks through coordination of numerous biological events. In legume species, nitrogen-fixing root nodules were developed as the plant organs specialized for symbiotic transfer of nitrogen between microsymbiont and host. Here, we report that the endogenous circadian rhythm in nodules is regulated by MtLHY in legume species Medicago truncatula. Loss of function of MtLHY leads to a reduction in the number of nodules formed, resulting in a diminished ability to assimilate nitrogen. The operation of the 24-h rhythm in shoot is further influenced by the availability of nitrogen produced by the nodules, leading to the irregulated nyctinastic leaf movement and reduced biomass in mtlhy mutants. These data shed new light on the roles of MtLHY in the orchestration of circadian oscillator in nodules and shoots, which provides a mechanistic link between nodulation, nitrogen assimilation, and clock function.}, } @article {pmid33405258, year = {2021}, author = {Hoang, DM and Levy, EI and Vandenplas, Y}, title = {The impact of Caesarean section on the infant gut microbiome.}, journal = {Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {60-67}, doi = {10.1111/apa.15501}, pmid = {33405258}, issn = {1651-2227}, mesh = {Cesarean Section/adverse effects ; Dysbiosis ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Prebiotics ; Pregnancy ; *Probiotics ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {AIM: Description of the impact of caesarean section on the infant gut microbiome, infant health and solutions to restore the dysbiosis.

METHODS: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant articles. Only articles published in English were selected. Separate searches were performed for each topic. We selected 60 articles published between 1999 and 2019 by extracting subject headings and key words of interest for this topic.

RESULTS: Caesarean section is an obstetrical procedure that is increasing in prevalence worldwide. On top of the maternal and neonatal risks that this procedure carries, it also induces a dysbiosis of the infant intestinal microbiome possibly challenging the health outcome for the infant. Antibiotics administered during Caesarean deliveries contribute to the development of the gut microbiome. Nonetheless, breastfeeding and several interventions such as vaginal seeding and supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics may contribute to the restoration of the dysbiosis.

CONCLUSION: Caesarean section is associated with the development of an imbalance of the infant gut microbiome. Long-term consequences of this imbalance are debated. Besides breastfeeding, other strategies to restore this dysbiosis need further studies before they can be recommended.}, } @article {pmid33404820, year = {2021}, author = {Leiva, D and Fernández-Mendoza, F and Acevedo, J and Carú, M and Grube, M and Orlando, J}, title = {The Bacterial Community of the Foliose Macro-lichen Peltigera frigida Is More than a Mere Extension of the Microbiota of the Subjacent Substrate.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {4}, pages = {965-976}, pmid = {33404820}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Lichens ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Lichens host highly diverse microbial communities, with bacteria being one of the most explored groups in terms of their diversity and functioning. These bacteria could partly originate from symbiotic propagules developed by many lichens and, perhaps more commonly and depending on environmental conditions, from different sources of the surroundings. Using the narrowly distributed species Peltigera frigida as an object of study, we propose that bacterial communities in these lichens are different from those in their subjacent substrates, even if some taxa might be shared. Ten terricolous P. frigida lichens and their substrates were sampled from forested sites in the Coyhaique National Reserve, located in an understudied region in Chile. The mycobiont identity was confirmed using partial 28S and ITS sequences. Besides, 16S fragments revealed that mycobionts were associated with the same cyanobacterial haplotype. From both lichens and substrates, Illumina 16S amplicon sequencing was performed using primers that exclude cyanobacteria. In lichens, Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum (37%), whereas soil substrates were dominated by Acidobacteriota (39%). At lower taxonomic levels, several bacterial groups differed in relative abundance among P. frigida lichens and their substrates, some of them being highly abundant in lichens but almost absent in substrates, like Sphingomonas (8% vs 0.2%), and others enriched in lichens, as an unassigned genus of Chitinophagaceae (10% vs 2%). These results reinforce the idea that lichens would carry some components of their microbiome when propagating, but they also could acquire part of their bacterial community from the substrates.}, } @article {pmid33404502, year = {2021}, author = {Hinzke, T and Kleiner, M and Meister, M and Schlüter, R and Hentschker, C and Pané-Farré, J and Hildebrandt, P and Felbeck, H and Sievert, SM and Bonn, F and Völker, U and Becher, D and Schweder, T and Markert, S}, title = {Bacterial symbiont subpopulations have different roles in a deep-sea symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {33404502}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila hosts a single 16S rRNA phylotype of intracellular sulfur-oxidizing symbionts, which vary considerably in cell morphology and exhibit a remarkable degree of physiological diversity and redundancy, even in the same host. To elucidate whether multiple metabolic routes are employed in the same cells or rather in distinct symbiont subpopulations, we enriched symbionts according to cell size by density gradient centrifugation. Metaproteomic analysis, microscopy, and flow cytometry strongly suggest that Riftia symbiont cells of different sizes represent metabolically dissimilar stages of a physiological differentiation process: While small symbionts actively divide and may establish cellular symbiont-host interaction, large symbionts apparently do not divide, but still replicate DNA, leading to DNA endoreduplication. Moreover, in large symbionts, carbon fixation and biomass production seem to be metabolic priorities. We propose that this division of labor between smaller and larger symbionts benefits the productivity of the symbiosis as a whole.}, } @article {pmid33402818, year = {2020}, author = {Gunawardana, D}, title = {An in silico Study of Two Transcription Factors Controlling Diazotrophic Fates of the Azolla Major Cyanobiont Trichormus azollae.}, journal = {Bioinformatics and biology insights}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1177932220977490}, pmid = {33402818}, issn = {1177-9322}, abstract = {The cyanobiont Trichormus azollae lives symbiotically within fronds of the genus Azolla, and assimilates atmospheric nitrogen upon N-limitation, which earmarks this symbiosis to be a valuable biofertilizer in rice cultivation, among many other benefits that also include carbon sequestration. Therefore, studying the regulation of nitrogen fixation in Trichormus azollae is of great importance and benefit, especially the two topmost rungs of regulation, the NtcA and HetR transcription factors that are able to regulate the expression of myriads of downstream genes. Bioinformatics tools were used to zoom in on the NtcA and HetR transcription factors from Trichormus azollae to elaborate on what makes this particular cyanobiont different from other symbiotic as well as more distinct counterparts, in their commitment to nitrogen fixation. The utility of Azolla plants in tropical agriculture in particular merits the "top down N-regulation" by cyanobiont as a significant niche area of study, to make sense of superior N-fixing capabilities. The Trichormus azollae NtcA sequence was found as a phylogenetic outlier to horizontally infecting cyanobionts, which points to a distinct identity compared to symbiotic counterparts. There were borderline (60%-70%) levels of acceptable bootstrap support for the phylogenetic position of the Azolla cyanobiont's NtcA protein compared to other cyanobionts. Furthermore, the NtcA global nitrogen regulator in the Azolla cyanobiont has an extra cysteine at position 128, in addition to two other more conspicuous cysteines (positions, 157 and 164). A simulated homology model of the NtcA protein from Trichormus azollae, points to a single unique cysteine (Cysteine-128) as a key residue at the center of a lengthy C-helix, which forms a coiled-coil interface, through likely disulfide bond formation. Three cysteine (Cysteines: 128, 157, 164) architecture is exclusively found in Trichormus azollae and is absent in other cyanobacteria. A separate proline to alanine mutation in position 97-again exclusive to Trichormus azollae-appears to influence the flexibility of effector binding domain (EBD) to 2-oxoglutarate. The Trichormus azollae HetR sequence was found outside of horizontally-infecting cyanobiont sequences that formed a common clade, with the exception of the cyanobiont from the genus Cycas that formed one line of descent with the Trichormus azollae counterpart. Five (out of 6) serines predicted to be phosphorylated in the Trichormus azollae HetR sequence, are conserved in the Nostoc punctiforme counterpart, showcasing that phosphorylation is likley conserved in both vertically-transmitted and horizontally-acquired cyanobionts. A key Serine-127, within a conserved motif TSLTS, although conserved in heterocystous subsection IV and V cyanobacteria, are mutated in subsection III cyanobacteria that form trichomes but are unable to form heterocysts. I conclude that the NtcA protein from Trichormus azollae to be strategically divergent at specific amino acids that gives it an advantage in function as a 2-oxoglutarate-mediated transcription factor. The Trichormus azollae HetR transcription factor appears to possess parallel functionality to horizontally acquired counterparts. Especially Cysteine-128 in the NtcA transcription factor of the Azolla cyanobiont is an interesting proposition for future structure-function studies.}, } @article {pmid33402066, year = {2021}, author = {Epstein, B and Tiffin, P}, title = {Comparative genomics reveals high rates of horizontal transfer and strong purifying selection on rhizobial symbiosis genes.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {288}, number = {1942}, pages = {20201804}, pmid = {33402066}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genomics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal transfer (HT) alters the repertoire of symbiosis genes in rhizobial genomes and may play an important role in the on-going evolution of the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. To gain insight into the extent of HT of symbiosis genes with different functional roles (nodulation, N-fixation, host benefit and rhizobial fitness), we conducted comparative genomic and selection analyses of the full-genome sequences from 27 rhizobial genomes. We find that symbiosis genes experience high rates of HT among rhizobial lineages but also bear signatures of purifying selection (low Ka : Ks). HT and purifying selection appear to be particularly strong in genes involved in initiating the symbiosis (e.g. nodulation) and in genome-wide association candidates for mediating benefits provided to the host. These patterns are consistent with rhizobia adapting to the host environment through the loss and gain of symbiosis genes, but not with host-imposed positive selection driving divergence of symbiosis genes through recurring bouts of positive selection.}, } @article {pmid33401672, year = {2021}, author = {Yoshida, GJ}, title = {The Harmonious Interplay of Amino Acid and Monocarboxylate Transporters Induces the Robustness of Cancer Cells.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33401672}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {There is a growing body of evidence that metabolic reprogramming contributes to the acquisition and maintenance of robustness associated with malignancy. The fine regulation of expression levels of amino acid and monocarboxylate transporters enables cancer cells to exhibit the metabolic reprogramming that is responsible for therapeutic resistance. Amino acid transporters characterized by xCT (SLC7A11), ASCT2 (SLC1A5), and LAT1 (SLC7A5) function in the uptake and export of amino acids such as cystine and glutamine, thereby regulating glutathione synthesis, autophagy, and glutaminolysis. CD44 variant, a cancer stem-like cell marker, stabilizes the xCT antiporter at the cellular membrane, and tumor cells positive for xCT and/or ASCT2 are susceptible to sulfasalazine, a system Xc(-) inhibitor. Inhibiting the interaction between LAT1 and CD98 heavy chain prevents activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 by glutamine and leucine. mTOR signaling regulated by LAT1 is a sensor of dynamic alterations in the nutrient tumor microenvironment. LAT1 is overexpressed in various malignancies and positively correlated with poor clinical outcome. Metabolic reprogramming of glutamine occurs often in cancer cells and manifests as ASCT2-mediated glutamine addiction. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) mediate metabolic symbiosis, by which lactate in cancer cells under hypoxia is exported through MCT4 and imported by MCT1 in less hypoxic regions, where it is used as an oxidative metabolite. Differential expression patterns of transporters cause functional intratumoral heterogeneity leading to the therapeutic resistance. Therefore, metabolic reprogramming based on these transporters may be a promising therapeutic target. This review highlights the pathological function and therapeutic targets of transporters including xCT, ASCT2, LAT1, and MCT.}, } @article {pmid33400553, year = {2021}, author = {Li, J and Lu, Z and Yang, Y and Hou, J and Yuan, L and Chen, G and Wang, C and Jia, S and Feng, X and Zhu, S}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Symbiotic Mechanism of Ustilago esculenta-Induced Gall Formation of Zizania latifolia.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {168-185}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-20-0126-R}, pmid = {33400553}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota/drug effects/pathogenicity ; Cell Wall/drug effects ; Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Poaceae/drug effects/genetics ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome/genetics ; Triazoles/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Zizania latifolia is a perennial aquatic vegetable, whose symbiosis with the fungus Ustilago esculenta (member of Basidiomycota, class Ustilaginaceae) results in the establishment of swollen gall formations. Here, we analyzed symbiotic relations of Z. latifolia and U. esculenta, using a triadimefon (TDF) treatment and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). Specifically, accurately identify the whole growth cycle of Z. latifolia. Microstructure observations showed that the presence of U. esculenta could be clearly observed after gall formation but was absent after the TDF treatment. A total of 17,541 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, based on the transcriptome. According to gene ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway results, plant hormone signal transduction, and cell wall-loosening factors were all significantly enriched due to U. esculenta infecting Z. latifolia; relative expression levels of hormone-related genes were identified, of which downregulation of indole 3-acetic acid (IAA)-related DEGs was most pronounced in JB_D versus JB_B. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that IAA, zeatin+trans zeatin riboside, and gibberellin 3 were increased under U. esculenta infection. Based on our results, we proposed a hormone-cell wall loosening model to study the symbiotic mechanism of gall formation after U. esculenta infects Z. latifolia. Our study thus provides a new perspective for studying the physiological and molecular mechanisms of U. esculenta infection of Z. latifolia causing swollen gall formations as well as a theoretical basis for enhancing future yields of cultivated Z. latifolia.[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. 2021.}, } @article {pmid33398963, year = {2020}, author = {Xiong, J and Ma, L and Huang, S and Li, X and Wang, H}, title = {[Molecular ecological network reveals the response of metallurgical microorganisms to energy substrates].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {12}, pages = {2674-2684}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.200385}, pmid = {33398963}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {*Acidithiobacillus/genetics ; Iron ; Minerals ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sulfur ; }, abstract = {By analyzing the shift of microbial communities under different iron/sulfur ratios, the response of metallurgical microorganisms to energy substrates was investigated based on molecular ecological networks. High-throughput sequencing of microbial samples from different domesticated batches was conducted to analyze the changes in community composition, alpha and beta diversity. Based on the molecular ecological network, the interactions between microorganisms under different iron/sulfur ratios were explored. Keystones were identified to analyze the community response to energy substrates. In the process of domestication based on different energy substrates, the dominant species in the in iron-rich and sulfur-less community were Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. ferriphilus. A. thiooxidans accounted for up to 90% in the sulfur-rich and iron-less community after 3 domesticating batches. The results of alpha and beta diversity analysis show that the domestication process of sulfur-rich and iron-less substrates reduced the diversity of microbial communities. Molecular ecological network analysis shows that the keystones were all rare species with low abundance. During the domestication by sulfur-rich and iron-less energy substrates, the bacterial species had a closer symbiotic relationship and the community was more stable. Through this domestication experiment, the impact of different energy substrates on microbial aggregation was clarified. Domesticating metallurgical microorganisms by using sulfur-rich and iron-less energy substrates made the microbial colonies to be more stable, which was conducive to the oxidation of iron and sulfur, promoting the dissolution of sulfide minerals. Our findings provide a reference for the directional domestication of metallurgical microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid33397700, year = {2021}, author = {Cohen, JJ and Eichinger, SJ and Witte, DA and Cook, CJ and Fidopiastis, PM and Tepavčević, J and Visick, KL}, title = {Control of Competence in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33397700}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA/metabolism ; Trans-Activators/genetics ; Transformation, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Vibrio species, including the squid symbiont Vibrio fischeri, become competent to take up DNA under specific conditions. For example, V. fischeri becomes competent when grown in the presence of chitin oligosaccharides or upon overproduction of the competence regulatory factor TfoX. While little is known about the regulatory pathway(s) that controls V. fischeri competence, this microbe encodes homologs of factors that control competence in the well-studied V. cholerae To further develop V. fischeri as a genetically tractable organism, we evaluated the roles of some of these competence homologs. Using TfoX-overproducing cells, we found that competence depends upon LitR, the homolog of V. cholerae master quorum-sensing and competence regulator HapR, and upon homologs of putative pilus genes that in V. cholerae facilitate DNA uptake. Disruption of genes for negative regulators upstream of LitR, namely, the LuxO protein and the small RNA (sRNA) Qrr1, resulted in increased transformation frequencies. Unlike LitR-controlled light production, however, competence did not vary with cell density under tfoX overexpression conditions. Analogous to the case with V. cholerae, the requirement for LitR could be suppressed by loss of the Dns nuclease. We also found a role for the putative competence regulator CytR. Finally, we determined that transformation frequencies varied depending on the TfoX-encoding plasmid, and we developed a new dual tfoX and litR overexpression construct that substantially increased the transformation frequency of a less genetically tractable strain. By advancing the ease of genetic manipulation of V. fischeri, these findings will facilitate the rapid discovery of genes involved in physiologically relevant processes, such as biofilm formation and host colonization.IMPORTANCE The ability of bacteria to take up DNA (competence) and incorporate foreign DNA into their genomes (transformation) permits them to rapidly evolve and gain new traits and/or acquire antibiotic resistances. It also facilitates laboratory-based investigations into mechanisms of specific phenotypes, such as those involved in host colonization. Vibrio fischeri has long been a model for symbiotic bacterium-host interactions as well as for other aspects of its physiology, such as bioluminescence and biofilm formation. Competence of V. fischeri can be readily induced upon overexpression of the competence factor TfoX. Relatively little is known about the V. fischeri competence pathway, although homologs of factors known to be important in V. cholerae competence exist. By probing the importance of putative competence factors that control transformation of V. fischeri, this work deepens our understanding of the competence process and advances our ability to genetically manipulate this important model organism.}, } @article {pmid33396868, year = {2020}, author = {Charlton, A and Garzarella, J and Jandeleit-Dahm, KAM and Jha, JC}, title = {Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Renal and Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33396868}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered major drivers in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including renal and cardiovascular disease. A symbiotic relationship also appears to exist between oxidative stress and inflammation. Several emerging therapies target these crucial pathways, to alleviate the burden of the aforementioned diseases. Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, a pathological state which not only leads to direct cellular damage but also an inflammatory cascade that further perpetuates tissue injury. Emerging therapeutic strategies tackle these pathways in a variety of ways, from increasing antioxidant defenses (antioxidants and Nrf2 activators) to reducing ROS production (NADPH oxidase inhibitors and XO inhibitors) or inhibiting the associated inflammatory pathways (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, lipoxins, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and AT-1 receptor antagonists). This review summarizes the mechanisms by which oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to and perpetuate diabetes associated renal and cardiovascular disease along with the therapeutic strategies which target these pathways to provide reno and cardiovascular protection in the setting of diabetes.}, } @article {pmid33392418, year = {2021}, author = {Lagomarsino, VN and Kostic, AD and Chiu, IM}, title = {Mechanisms of microbial-neuronal interactions in pain and nociception.}, journal = {Neurobiology of pain (Cambridge, Mass.)}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {100056}, pmid = {33392418}, issn = {2452-073X}, support = {DP2 AT009499/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI130019/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Nociceptor sensory neurons innervate barrier tissues that are constantly exposed to microbial stimuli. During infection, pathogenic microorganisms can breach barrier surfaces and produce pain by directly activating nociceptors. Microorganisms that live in symbiotic relationships with their hosts, commensals and mutualists, have also been associated with pain, but the molecular mechanisms of how symbionts act on nociceptor neurons to modulate pain remain largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss the known molecular mechanisms of how microbes directly interact with sensory afferent neurons affecting nociception in the gut, skin and lungs. We will touch on how bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens signal to the host to inflict or suppress pain. We will also discuss recent studies examining how gut symbionts affect pain. Specifically, we will discuss how gut symbionts may interact with sensory afferent neurons either directly, through secretion of metabolites or neurotransmitters, or indirectly,through first signaling to epithelial cells or immune cells, to regulate visceral, neuropathic and inflammatory pain. While this area of research is still in its infancy, more mechanistic studies to examine microbial-sensory neuron crosstalk in nociception may allow us to develop new therapies for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.}, } @article {pmid33391669, year = {2020}, author = {Parker, ES and Moczek, AP}, title = {Don't stand so close to me: Microbiota-facilitated enemy release dynamics in introduced Onthophagus taurus dung beetles.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {24}, pages = {13640-13648}, pmid = {33391669}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Microbial symbionts can influence their hosts in stunningly diverse ways. Emerging research suggests that an underappreciated facet of these relationships is the influence microbes can have on their host's responses to novel, or stressful, environmental conditions. We sought to address these and related questions in populations resulting from the recent introduction and subsequent rapid range expansion of Onthophagus taurus dung beetles. Specifically, we manipulated both microbial communities and rearing temperature to detect signatures of developmental and life history differentiation in response to the local thermal conditions in two populations derived from the southern most (Florida) and northern most (Michigan) extremes of the exotic Eastern U.S. range of O. taurus. We then sought to determine the contributions, if any, of host-associated microbiota to this differentiation. We found that when reared under common garden conditions individuals from Florida and Michigan populations differed significantly in developmental performance measures and life history traits, consistent with population divergence. At the same time, and contrary to our predictions, we failed to find support for the hypothesis that animals perform better if reared at temperatures that match their location of origin and that performance differences may be mediated by host-associated microbiota. Instead, we found that microbiome swapping across host populations improved developmental performance in both populations, consistent with enemy release dynamics. We discuss the implications of our results for our understanding of the rapid spread of exotic O. taurus through the Eastern United States and the significance of symbiosis in host responses to novel environmental conditions more broadly.}, } @article {pmid33391331, year = {2020}, author = {Bonfante, P and Lanfranco, L and Salvioli di Fossalunga, A and Ghignone, S and Volpe, V and Fiorilli, V and Perotto, S and Balestrini, R and Genre, A}, title = {Editorial: Proceedings of iMMM 2019 - International Molecular Mycorrhiza Meeting.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {627988}, pmid = {33391331}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid33391311, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, F and Yi, M and Liu, X and Shen, Y and Li, J and Wang, H and Yang, D and Sun, Z}, title = {Symbiotic Performances of Three Mesorhizobium huakuii Strains Inoculated to Chinese Milk Vetch Varieties.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {599400}, pmid = {33391311}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In this experiment, 4 varieties of Chinese milk vetch (Xinyang, Minzi No. 6, Minzi 8487711, and Shishou) were used as host plants and inoculated with 3 strains of rhizobium (CCBAU 2609, M. h 93, and 7653R). The differences in their morphology, yield, and nodule characteristics at different growth stages were studied and the reasons for these differences were analyzed to explore the exclusivity between different varieties of Chinese milk vetch and strains of rhizobium. Results showed no significant difference in plant height and whole-plant dry weight at seedling stage under different treatments but significant differences in these characteristics at full flowering stage. The results indicated that Minzi 8487711 and Shishou were significantly better than the other varieties. During the whole growth period, the growth indexes and nodule characteristics of the 4 varieties inoculated with strain 7653R were better than those of the varieties inoculated with other strains. At full flowering stage, compared with that of the control group, the biomasses of Xinyang, Minzi No.6, Minzi 8487711, and Shishou had increased by 2.04, 2.84, 1.56, and 2.69-fold, respectively, and nitrogenase activities increased by 3.82, 9.60, 6.21, and 15.18%, respectively. Significant differences in the exclusivity between varieties and strains were observed. Minzi No.6-7653R and Shishou variety-7653R had the strongest exclusivity. The results showed that 7653R was a broad-spectrum and high-efficiency rhizobium strain. 7653R is recommended to be used in combination with Chinese milk vetch varieties, such as Minzi 8487711 and Shishou, to obtain advantages in yield and nitrogen fixation in production.}, } @article {pmid33391213, year = {2020}, author = {von Friesen, LW and Riemann, L}, title = {Nitrogen Fixation in a Changing Arctic Ocean: An Overlooked Source of Nitrogen?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {596426}, pmid = {33391213}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean on Earth, yet estimated to play a substantial role as a global carbon sink. As climate change is rapidly changing fundamental components of the Arctic, it is of local and global importance to understand and predict consequences for its carbon dynamics. Primary production in the Arctic Ocean is often nitrogen-limited, and this is predicted to increase in some regions. It is therefore of critical interest that biological nitrogen fixation, a process where some bacteria and archaea termed diazotrophs convert nitrogen gas to bioavailable ammonia, has now been detected in the Arctic Ocean. Several studies report diverse and active diazotrophs on various temporal and spatial scales across the Arctic Ocean. Their ecology and biogeochemical impact remain poorly known, and nitrogen fixation is so far absent from models of primary production in the Arctic Ocean. The composition of the diazotroph community appears distinct from other oceans - challenging paradigms of function and regulation of nitrogen fixation. There is evidence of both symbiotic cyanobacterial nitrogen fixation and heterotrophic diazotrophy, but large regions are not yet sampled, and the sparse quantitative data hamper conclusive insights. Hence, it remains to be determined to what extent nitrogen fixation represents a hitherto overlooked source of new nitrogen to consider when predicting future productivity of the Arctic Ocean. Here, we discuss current knowledge on diazotroph distribution, composition, and activity in pelagic and sea ice-associated environments of the Arctic Ocean. Based on this, we identify gaps and outline pertinent research questions in the context of a climate change-influenced Arctic Ocean - with the aim of guiding and encouraging future research on nitrogen fixation in this region.}, } @article {pmid33391195, year = {2020}, author = {Deka, D and Sonowal, S and Chikkaputtaiah, C and Velmurugan, N}, title = {Symbiotic Associations: Key Factors That Determine Physiology and Lipid Accumulation in Oleaginous Microorganisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {555312}, pmid = {33391195}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiosis naturally provides an opportunity for microorganisms to live together by mutual or one-way benefit. In symbiotic relationships, the microorganisms usually overcome the limitations of being free-living. Understanding the symbiotic relationships of oleaginous microorganisms provides potential route for the sustainable production of microbial-based alternative fuels. So far, several studies have been conducted in oleaginous microorganisms for the production of alternative fuels. However, some oleaginous microorganisms require high quantity of nutrients for their growth, and high level of energy and chemicals for harvest and separation of lipid bodies. Symbiotic associations can successfully be applied to address these issues. Of symbiotic associations, lichens and selective species of oleaginous endosymbiotic mucoromycotina have received substantial interest as better models to study the evolutionary relationships as well as single-cell oil production. Construction of artificial lichen system composed of cyanobacteria and oleaginous yeast has been achieved for sustainable production of lipids with minimum energy demand. Recently, endosymbiotic mucoromycotina species have been recognized as potential sources for biofuels. Studies found that endohyphal bacterium influences lipid profiling in endosymbiotic mucoromycotina species. Studies on the genetic factors related to oleaginous characteristics of endosymbiotic mucoromycotina species are scarce. In this regard, this review summarizes the different forms of symbiotic associations of oleaginous microorganisms and how symbiotic relationships are impacting the lipid formation in microorganisms. Further, the review also highlights the importance of evolutionary relationships and benefits of co-culturing (artificial symbiosis) approaches for sustainable production of biofuels.}, } @article {pmid33391192, year = {2020}, author = {Klarenberg, IJ and Keuschnig, C and Warshan, D and Jónsdóttir, IS and Vilhelmsson, O}, title = {The Total and Active Bacterial Community of the Chlorolichen Cetraria islandica and Its Response to Long-Term Warming in Sub-Arctic Tundra.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {540404}, pmid = {33391192}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lichens are traditionally defined as a symbiosis between a fungus and a green alga and or a cyanobacterium. This idea has been challenged by the discovery of bacterial communities inhabiting the lichen thalli. These bacteria are thought to contribute to the survival of lichens under extreme and changing environmental conditions. How these changing environmental conditions affect the lichen-associated bacterial community composition remains unclear. We describe the total (rDNA-based) and potentially metabolically active (rRNA-based) bacterial community of the lichen Cetaria islandica and its response to long-term warming using a 20-year warming experiment in an Icelandic sub-Arctic tundra. 16S rRNA and rDNA amplicon sequencing showed that the orders Acetobacterales (of the class Alphaproteobacteria) and Acidobacteriales (of the phylum Acidobacteria) dominated the bacterial community. Numerous amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) could only be detected in the potentially active community but not in the total community. Long-term warming led to increases in relative abundance of bacterial taxa on class, order and ASV level. Warming altered the relative abundance of ASVs of the most common bacterial genera, such as Granulicella and Endobacter. The potentially metabolically active bacterial community was also more responsive to warming than the total community. Our results suggest that the bacterial community of the lichen C. islandica is dominated by acidophilic taxa and harbors disproportionally active rare taxa. We also show for the first time that climate warming can lead to shifts in lichen-associated bacterial community composition.}, } @article {pmid33391190, year = {2020}, author = {Yi, T and Lei, L and He, L and Yi, J and Li, L and Dai, L and Hong, Y}, title = {Symbiotic Fungus Affected the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Resistance to Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {522164}, pmid = {33391190}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is a notorious Rutaceae plant pest. Frequent and extensive use of pesticides has resulted in severe insecticide resistance in ACP populations. Fully understanding the mechanism of ACP resistance to pesticides is vital for us to control or delay the development of resistance. Therefore, we compared the difference in resistance to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam between Hunan (Yongzhou, Chenzhou) and Guangdong (Guangzhou) ACP populations and analyzed the correlations between the resistance level and genes and symbiotic fungi. The results showed that the resistance of the Guangdong ACP population to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam was lower than that of Hunan ACP population, and the relative expression of genes associated with P450 mono-oxygenase and acetylcholinesterase was significantly lower in the Guangdong ACP population than in Hunan ACP population. The differences of mean relative abundances of four symbiotic bacteria among three populations were marginally significant; however, the mean relative abundance of 16 fungi among three populations was significantly different, and positive linear correlations were observed between the resistance level and two fungi (Aspergillus niger and Aureobasidium pullulans) and two genes (CYP4C70 and CYP4DB1). Negative correlations were only observed between the resistance level and two fungi (Golubevia pallescens and Acremonium sclerotigenum). Moreover, four fungi were unique to the Chenzhou population which was the highest resistance to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. These findings suggested the P450 mono-oxygenase and symbiotic fungi together affected ACP resistance to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. In the future, we may use environmental G. pallescens and A. sclerotigenum to control or delay ACP resistance.}, } @article {pmid33390964, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, B and Ye, D and Luo, L and Liu, W and Peng, K and Shu, X and Gu, W and Wang, X and Xiang, C and Jiang, M}, title = {Adhesive Bacteria in the Terminal Ileum of Children Correlates With Increasing Th17 Cell Activation.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {588560}, pmid = {33390964}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Humans and symbiotic bacteria are interdependent and co-evolved for millions of years. These bacteria communicate with human hosts in the gut in a contact-independent metabolite. Because most intestinal bacteria are non-adhesive, they do not penetrate the mucus layer and are not directly in contact with epithelial cells (ECs). Here, we found that there are adhesive bacteria attached to the Children's terminal ileum. And we compared the immune factors of non-adhesive bacteria in the children ileum with adhesive bacteria as well. Stimulated Th17 cell associated with adherent bacteria in the ileum ECs. SIgA responses are similar to those roles in mouse experiments. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that the expression of SAA1, IL-2, IL-17A, foxp3, RORγt, TGFβ, and protein increased in Th17 cells. Finally, we used 16S rRNA genes 454 pyrosequencing to analyze the differences in bacterial communities between adhesive and non-adhesive bacteria in the ileum. Ileum with adherent bacteria demonstrated increased mucosa-related bacteria, such as Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Veillonella, Butyricimonas, and Prevotella. We believe that adhesive bacteria in children's terminal ileum associated with an increased Th17 cell activation and luminal secretory IgA. Adhesive bacteria very closely adhere to terminal ileum of children. They may play important role in human gut immunity and Crohn's disease.}, } @article {pmid33389542, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, T and Cao, X and Wang, X and Chi, M and Li, L and Yao, N}, title = {Selection of suitable reference genes for quantitative real time PCR in different Tulasnella isolates and orchid-fungus symbiotic germination system.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {527-538}, pmid = {33389542}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Flowers/genetics/growth & development ; Fruit/genetics/growth & development ; Germination/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Orchidaceae/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Reference Standards ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Under natural conditions, mycorrhizal symbiosis accompanies nearly the entire life cycle of orchids from seed germination through to flowering and fruiting. Tulasnella-like orchid mycorrhizal fungi are the most common mycorrhizal fungi found in association with orchid species. Presently suitable reference genes have not been systematically selected for the quantification of gene expression via Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). We evaluated 12 candidate Tulasnella genes in nine different Tulasnella isolates and in the Dendrobium-fungal symbiotic germination associations followed by statistical analysis using the programs Bestkeeper, geNorm, and Normfinder to analyze the expression stability of the individual genes. The results showed that the EF2, UBC, and PP2A genes had the highest rankings with relatively stable expression levels across the different genotypes and during the symbiotic seed germination process by the three programs, and may be suitable for RT-qPCR normalization. Furthermore, the gene encoding C-5 Sterol desaturase (C5SD) was selected to verify the reliability of EF2, UBC, and PP2A expression during the Tulasnella-Dendrobium symbiotic seed germination process. This study is the first systematic exploration of optimal reference genes for gene expression studies during the colonization of orchid seeds by the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella.}, } @article {pmid33389061, year = {2021}, author = {Kodama, Y and Miyazaki, S}, title = {Autolysis of Chlorella variabilis in Starving Paramecium bursaria Help the Host Cell Survive Against Starvation Stress.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {2}, pages = {558-565}, pmid = {33389061}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; Darkness ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; *Paramecium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiosis between Paramecium bursaria and Chlorella spp. is mutualistic. Symbiotic algae localize beneath the host Paramecium cell cortex compete for their attachment sites with preexisting organelle trichocysts. To examine the relationship between P. bursaria trichocysts and their symbiotic algae, algae-bearing or alga-free P. bursaria were starved for several days and the changes in the number of Chlorella sp. and presence or absence of trichocysts were evaluated. We conducted an indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with an anti-trichocyst monoclonal antibody against P. bursaria cells. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that under starvation and darkness conditions, the immunofluorescence of trichocysts in alga-free P. bursaria decreased much faster than that in the normal algae-bearing P. bursaria. In the latter case, our observations proposed the possibility that the nutrition obtained from symbiotic algal digestion may promote trichocysts synthesis. This algal digestion mechanism may permit host P. bursaria cells to survive for a longer time under starvation condition. To the best of our knowledge, this may be a new benefit that host P. bursaria gain from harboring symbiotic algae.}, } @article {pmid33388854, year = {2021}, author = {Chouvenc, T and Šobotník, J and Engel, MS and Bourguignon, T}, title = {Termite evolution: mutualistic associations, key innovations, and the rise of Termitidae.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {78}, number = {6}, pages = {2749-2769}, pmid = {33388854}, issn = {1420-9071}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Fossils ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Isoptera/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termites are a clade of eusocial wood-feeding roaches with > 3000 described species. Eusociality emerged ~ 150 million years ago in the ancestor of modern termites, which, since then, have acquired and sometimes lost a series of adaptive traits defining of their evolution. Termites primarily feed on wood, and digest cellulose in association with their obligatory nutritional mutualistic gut microbes. Recent advances in our understanding of termite phylogenetic relationships have served to provide a tentative timeline for the emergence of innovative traits and their consequences on the ecological success of termites. While all "lower" termites rely on cellulolytic protists to digest wood, "higher" termites (Termitidae), which comprise ~ 70% of termite species, do not rely on protists for digestion. The loss of protists in Termitidae was a critical evolutionary step that fostered the emergence of novel traits, resulting in a diversification of morphology, diets, and niches to an extent unattained by "lower" termites. However, the mechanisms that led to the initial loss of protists and the succession of events that took place in the termite gut remain speculative. In this review, we provide an overview of the key innovative traits acquired by termites during their evolution, which ultimately set the stage for the emergence of "higher" termites. We then discuss two hypotheses concerning the loss of protists in Termitidae, either through an externalization of the digestion or a dietary transition. Finally, we argue that many aspects of termite evolution remain speculative, as most termite biological diversity and evolutionary trajectories have yet to be explored.}, } @article {pmid33387790, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, D and Wang, Q and Zou, Y and Ma, M and Jing, G and Ma, F and Li, C}, title = {Silencing MdGH3-2/12 in apple reduces cadmium resistance via the regulation of AM colonization.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {269}, number = {}, pages = {129407}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129407}, pmid = {33387790}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Cadmium/toxicity ; *Malus/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form a symbiotic relationship with most terrestrial plant roots, promote plant growth, and heavy metal (HM) tolerance and thus plays a crucial role in phytoremediation. However, research on the relationship between colonization level and HM tolerance is limited. In this study, apple (Malus domestica) Gretchen Hagen3 genes MdGH3-2/12 silencing plants were treated with four AMF and Cd combination treatments to determine AMF colonization levels, biomass, Cd accumulation, photosynthesis, fluorescence, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant substance accumulation, and Cd uptake, transport and detoxification gene expression levels. Results indicate the greater sensitivity of transgenic plants under AMF inoculation and Cd treatment compared with wild type (WT) via lower AMF colonization levels, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic parameters, and the accumulation and clearance homeostasis of ROS, as well as lower detoxification expression levels and higher Cd uptake and transport expression levels. Our study essentially demonstrates that MdGH3-2/12 plays an important role in Cd stress tolerance by regulating AM colonization in apple.}, } @article {pmid33387717, year = {2021}, author = {Qiu, L and Wu, J and Du, W and Nafees, M and Yin, Y and Ji, R and Banwart, SA and Guo, H}, title = {Response of soil bacterial communities to sulfadiazine present in manure: Protection and adaptation mechanisms of extracellular polymeric substances.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {408}, number = {}, pages = {124887}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124887}, pmid = {33387717}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; Biofilms ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; *Manure ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Sulfadiazine ; }, abstract = {Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play a dominant role in protective biofilms. However, studies exploring the underlying protective mechanism of EPS have mainly focused on activated sludge, whereas their positive roles in protecting soil microbes from environmental stress have not been elucidated. In this study, we revealed the response of soil bacterial communities to various dosages of sulfadiazine (SDZ) present in manure, with a special emphasis on the role of EPS. Sequencing analysis showed that the bacterial community demonstrated stronger symbiotic relationships and weaker competitive interaction patterns to cope with disturbance induced by SDZ. EPS was mainly composed of tyrosine-like and tryptophan-like substances, and moreover, carboxyl, hydroxyl and ether groups were the main functional groups. An adaptation mechanism, namely the enhanced secretion of tryptophan-like substances, could help alleviate the SDZ stress effectively in the biofilms occurring in soil that experienced long-term manure application. Furthermore, the existence of EPS weakened the accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil. Our results for the first time systematically uncover the joint action of biofilm tolerance and ARGs in resisting SDZ stress, which enhances understanding of the protective role of EPS and the underlying mechanisms governing biofilm functions in soil environments.}, } @article {pmid33387090, year = {2021}, author = {Albornos, L and Casado-Del-Castillo, V and Martín, I and Díaz-Mínguez, JM and Labrador, E and Dopico, B}, title = {Specific tissue proteins 1 and 6 are involved in root biology during normal development and under symbiotic and pathogenic interactions in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {253}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {33387090}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Fusarium/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {ST1 and ST6 are possibly involved in primary and lateral root and symbiotic nodule development, but only ST6 participates in the interaction with hemibiotrophic fungi. Specific tissue (ST) proteins have been shown to be involved in several processes related to plant nutritional status, development, and responses to biotic agents. In particular, ST1 and ST6 are mainly expressed in roots throughout plant development. Here, we analyze where and how the expression of the genes encoding both proteins are modulated in the legume model plant Medicago truncatula in response to the plant developmental program, nodulation induced by a beneficial nitrogen-fixing bacterium (Sinorhizobium meliloti) and the defense response triggered by a pathogenic hemibiotrophic fungus (Fusarium oxysporum). Gene expression results show that ST1 and ST6 participate in the vasculature development of both primary and lateral roots, although only ST6 is related to meristem activity. ST1 and ST6 clearly display different roles in the biotic interactions analyzed, where ST1 is activated in response to a N2-fixing bacterium and ST6 is up-regulated after inoculation with F. oxysporum. The role of ST1 and ST6 in the nodulation process may be related to nodule organogenesis rather than to the establishment of the interaction itself, and an increase in ST6 correlates with the activation of the salicylic acid signaling pathway during the infection and colonization processes. These results further support the role of ST6 in response to hemibiotrophic fungi. This research contributes to the understanding of the complex network that controls root biology and strengthens the idea that ST proteins are involved in several processes such as primary and lateral root development, nodule organogenesis, and the plant-microbe interaction.}, } @article {pmid33386853, year = {2021}, author = {Ho-Pl Garo, T and Huertas, RL and Tamayo-Navarrete, MAI and Blancaflor, E and Gavara, N and Garc A-Garrido, JM}, title = {A Novel Putative Microtubule-Associated Protein Is Involved in Arbuscule Development during Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Formation.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {62}, number = {2}, pages = {306-320}, pmid = {33386853}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Genes, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Microtubules/metabolism/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The formation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis requires plant root host cells to undergo major structural and functional reprogramming to house the highly branched AM fungal structure for the reciprocal exchange of nutrients. These morphological modifications are associated with cytoskeleton remodelling. However, molecular bases and the role of microtubules (MTs) and actin filament dynamics during AM formation are largely unknown. In this study, the tomato tsb (tomato similar to SB401) gene, belonging to a Solanaceae group of genes encoding MT-associated proteins (MAPs) for pollen development, was found to be highly expressed in root cells containing arbuscules. At earlier stages of mycorrhizal development, tsb overexpression enhanced the formation of highly developed and transcriptionally active arbuscules, while tsb silencing hampers the formation of mature arbuscules and represses arbuscule functionality. However, at later stages of mycorrhizal colonization, tsb overexpressing (OE) roots accumulate fully developed transcriptionally inactive arbuscules, suggesting that the collapse and turnover of arbuscules might be impaired by TSB accumulation. Imaging analysis of the MT cytoskeleton in cortex root cells OE tsb revealed that TSB is involved in MT bundling. Taken together, our results provide unprecedented insights into the role of novel MAP in MT rearrangements throughout the different stages of the arbuscule life cycle.}, } @article {pmid33386621, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, M and Su, H and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Shoot-derived miR2111 controls legume root and nodule development.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {1627-1641}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13992}, pmid = {33386621}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; *Multigene Family ; Phenotype ; Phloem/genetics ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development ; Soybeans/*genetics/*growth & development ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Legumes control their nodule numbers through the autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Rhizobia infection stimulates the production of root-derived CLE peptide hormones that are translocated to the shoot where they regulate a new signal. We used soybean to demonstrate that this shoot-derived signal is miR2111, which is transported via phloem to the root where it targets transcripts of Too Much Love (TML), a negative regulator of nodulation. Shoot perception of rhizobia-induced CLE peptides suppresses miR2111 expression, resulting in TML accumulation in roots and subsequent inhibition of nodule organogenesis. Feeding synthetic mature miR2111 via the petiole increased nodule numbers per plant. Likewise, elevating miR2111 availability by over-expression promoted nodulation, while target mimicry of TML induced the opposite effect on nodule development in wild-type plants and alleviated the supernodulating and stunted root growth phenotypes of AON-defective mutants. Additionally, in non-nodulating wild-type plants, ectopic expression of miR2111 significantly enhanced lateral root emergence with a decrease in lateral root length and average root diameter. In contrast, hairy roots constitutively expressing the target mimic construct exhibited reduced lateral root density. Overall, these findings demonstrate that miR2111 is both the critical shoot-to-root factor that positively regulates root nodule development and also acts to shape root system architecture.}, } @article {pmid33384681, year = {2020}, author = {Rodríguez, S and Correa-Galeote, D and Sánchez-Pérez, M and Ramírez, M and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Zamorano-Sánchez, D and Hernández, G and Valdés-López, O and Girard, L}, title = {A Novel OmpR-Type Response Regulator Controls Multiple Stages of the Rhizobium etli - Phaseolus vulgaris N2-Fixing Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {615775}, pmid = {33384681}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {OmpR, is one of the best characterized response regulators families, which includes transcriptional regulators with a variety of physiological roles including the control of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). The Rhizobium etli CE3 genome encodes 18 OmpR-type regulators; the function of the majority of these regulators during the SNF in common bean, remains elusive. In this work, we demonstrated that a R. etli mutant strain lacking the OmpR-type regulator RetPC57 (ΔRetPC57), formed less nodules when used as inoculum for common bean. Furthermore, we observed reduced expression level of bacterial genes involved in Nod Factors production (nodA and nodB) and of plant early-nodulation genes (NSP2, NIN, NF-YA and ENOD40), in plants inoculated with ΔRetPC57. RetPC57 also contributes to the appropriate expression of genes which products are part of the multidrug efflux pumps family (MDR). Interestingly, nodules elicited by ΔRetPC57 showed increased expression of genes relevant for Carbon/Nitrogen nodule metabolism (PEPC and GOGAT) and ΔRetPC57 bacteroids showed higher nitrogen fixation activity as well as increased expression of key genes directly involved in SNF (hfixL, fixKf, fnrN, fixN, nifA and nifH). Taken together, our data show that the previously uncharacterized regulator RetPC57 is a key player in the development of the R. etli - P. vulgaris symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33384333, year = {2021}, author = {Geddes, BA and Kearsley, JVS and Huang, J and Zamani, M and Muhammed, Z and Sather, L and Panchal, AK and diCenzo, GC and Finan, TM}, title = {Minimal gene set from Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti pSymA required for efficient symbiosis with Medicago.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {118}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33384333}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Reduction of N2 gas to ammonia in legume root nodules is a key component of sustainable agricultural systems. Root nodules are the result of a symbiosis between leguminous plants and bacteria called rhizobia. Both symbiotic partners play active roles in establishing successful symbiosis and nitrogen fixation: while root nodule development is mostly controlled by the plant, the rhizobia induce nodule formation, invade, and perform N2 fixation once inside the plant cells. Many bacterial genes involved in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis are known, and there is much interest in engineering the symbiosis to include major nonlegume crops such as corn, wheat, and rice. We sought to identify and combine a minimal bacterial gene complement necessary and sufficient for symbiosis. We analyzed a model rhizobium, Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti, using a background strain in which the 1.35-Mb symbiotic megaplasmid pSymA was removed. Three regions representing 162 kb of pSymA were sufficient to recover a complete N2-fixing symbiosis with alfalfa, and a targeted assembly of this gene complement achieved high levels of symbiotic N2 fixation. The resulting gene set contained just 58 of 1,290 pSymA protein-coding genes. To generate a platform for future synthetic manipulation, the minimal symbiotic genes were reorganized into three discrete nod, nif, and fix modules. These constructs will facilitate directed studies toward expanding the symbiosis to other plant partners. They also enable forward-type approaches to identifying genetic components that may not be essential for symbiosis, but which modulate the rhizobium's competitiveness for nodulation and the effectiveness of particular rhizobia-plant symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33383302, year = {2021}, author = {Alberoni, D and Favaro, R and Baffoni, L and Angeli, S and Di Gioia, D}, title = {Neonicotinoids in the agroecosystem: In-field long-term assessment on honeybee colony strength and microbiome.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {762}, number = {}, pages = {144116}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144116}, pmid = {33383302}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Insecticides/toxicity ; Neonicotinoids/toxicity ; Nitro Compounds/toxicity ; Pollen ; }, abstract = {Bees can be severely affected by various plant protection products (PPP). Among these, neonicotinoid insecticides are of concern as they have been shown to be responsible for extensive honeybee colonies death when released into the environment. Also, sublethal neonicotinoid doses contaminating single honeybees and their colonies (e.g. through contaminated pollen) are responsible for honeybees physiological alterations with probable implication also on microbiome functionality. Honeybees show symbiotic interactions with specific gut bacteria that can enhance the adult host performances. Among the known mechanisms, the modulation of the immune system, the degradation of recalcitrant secondary plant metabolites, pollen digestion, and hormonal signaling, are the most important functional benefits for the host honeybee. To date, few research efforts have aimed at revealing the impact of PPP on the gut microbial community of managed and wild honeybees. The majority of the existing literature relays on cage or semifield tests of short duration for research investigating neonicotinoids-gut microbiome interactions. This research wanted to unravel the impact of two neonicotinoids (i.e. imidacloprid and thiacloprid) in natural field conditions up to 5 weeks of exposure. A long-term impact of neonicotinoids on gut microbial community of honeybees was observed. The alterations affected several microbial genera and species such as Frischella spp., lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, whose shifting is implicated in intestinal dysbiosis. Long-term impact leading to dysbiosis was detected in case of exposure to imidacloprid, whereas thiacloprid exposure stimulated temporary dysbiosis. Moreover, the microbial diversity was significantly reduced in neonicotinoid-treated groups. Overall, the reported results support a compromised functionality of the gut microbial community, that might reflect a lower efficiency in the ecosystemic functionality of honeybees.}, } @article {pmid33382741, year = {2020}, author = {Peter, C and Thoms, S and Koch, F and Sartoris, FJ and Bickmeyer, U}, title = {Effects of sponge-derived Ageladine A on the photosynthesis of different microalgal species and strains.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {e0244095}, pmid = {33382741}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agelas/*microbiology ; Animals ; Microalgae/classification/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*drug effects ; Pyrroles/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Fluorescent natural compounds have been identified in several marine hosts of microalgae. Their prevalence, and the energy the host is expending on their synthesis, suggests an important, yet poorly understood ecological role. It has been suggested that some of these natural products may enhance the photosynthesis of microbial symbionts. In this study, the effect of Ageladine A (Ag A), a pH-dependent fluorophore found in sponges of the genus Agelas, on the photosynthesis of nine microalgal species and strains was examined. The data showed that the variety of effects of Ag A additions differed between species, and even strains within a species. While in one strain of Synechococcus sp., the presence of Ag A increased gross photosynthesis under UV light exposure, it decreased in another. And while in the chlorophyte T. chuii overall metabolic activity was greatly reduced under all forms of lighting, photosynthesis in T. lutea was positively affected by the addition of Ag A. The variety of effects of Ag A on photosynthesis observed in this study indicate a complex interaction of Ag A with microalgal cells and suggests that a host may be able to shape its own symbiotic microbiome with self-produced natural products.}, } @article {pmid33380911, year = {2020}, author = {Hohman, MH and Vincent, AG and Anderson, SR and Ducic, Y and Cochran, S}, title = {Avoiding Complications in Functional and Aesthetic Rhinoplasty.}, journal = {Seminars in plastic surgery}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {260-264}, pmid = {33380911}, issn = {1535-2188}, abstract = {Historically, nasoseptal surgery favoring functional considerations has compromised aesthetic ones, and vice versa, but modern techniques have evolved that allow symbiotic achievement of both goals. Nasoseptal surgery is among the most commonly performed plastic surgical procedures in the United States, and while it is generally well tolerated, there are a few surgical and aesthetic complications of which to be aware. Herein, we review surgical techniques that improve the nasal airway and nasal aesthetics in a top-down approach with a discussion of possible ensuing complications.}, } @article {pmid33378160, year = {2020}, author = {Vargason, AM and Anselmo, AC}, title = {Evaluation of Surface Modified Live Biotherapeutic Products for Oral Delivery.}, journal = {ACS biomaterials science & engineering}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {33378160}, issn = {2373-9878}, support = {R35 GM137898/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), including symbiotic and genetically engineered bacteria, are a promising class of emerging therapeutics that are widely investigated both preclinically and clinically for their oral delivery to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. One emergent delivery strategy involves the direct functionalization of LBP surfaces through noncovalent or covalent modifications to control LBP interactions with the GI microenvironment, thereby improving their viability, attachment, or therapeutic effect. However, unlike other therapeutic modalities, LBPs are living organisms which present two unique challenges for surface modifications: (1) this approach can directly interfere with key LBP biological processes (e.g., colonization, metabolite secretion) and (2) modification can be variable due to the dynamic nature of LBP surfaces. Collectively, these factors remain uncharacterized as they relate to the oral delivery of LBPs. Herein, we leverage our previously reported surface modification platform, which enables LBP surface-presentation of targeting ligands, to broadly evaluate and characterize surface modifications on LBPs. Specifically, we evaluate how LBP growth affects the dilution of surface-presented targeting ligands and the subsequent loss of specific target attachment over time. Next, we describe key surface modification parameters (e.g., concentration, residence time) that can be optimized to facilitate LBP target attachment. We then characterize how bioconjugation influences the suitability of LBPs for oral delivery by evaluating their growth, viability, storage, toxicity against mammalian cells, and in vivo colonization. Broadly, we describe key parameters that influence the performance of surface modified LBPs and subsequently outline an experimental pipeline for characterizing and evaluating their suitability for oral delivery.}, } @article {pmid33377234, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, G and Yang, J and Chen, X and Zhao, D and Zhou, X and Zhang, Y and Wang, X and Zhao, J}, title = {Phospholipase D- and phosphatidic acid-mediated phospholipid metabolism and signaling modulate symbiotic interaction and nodulation in soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {106}, number = {1}, pages = {142-158}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15152}, pmid = {33377234}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Phosphatidic Acids/*metabolism ; Phospholipase D/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic rhizobium-legume interactions, such as root hair curling, rhizobial invasion, infection thread expansion, cell division and proliferation of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids, and nodule formation, involve extensive membrane synthesis, lipid remodeling and cytoskeleton dynamics. However, little is known about these membrane-cytoskeleton interfaces and related genes. Here, we report the roles of a major root phospholipase D (PLD), PLDα1, and its enzymatic product, phosphatidic acid (PA), in rhizobium-root interaction and nodulation. PLDα1 was activated and the PA content transiently increased in roots after rhizobial infection. Levels of PLDα1 transcript and PA, as well as actin and tubulin cytoskeleton-related gene expression, changed markedly during root-rhizobium interactions and nodule development. Pre-treatment of the roots of soybean seedlings with n-butanol suppressed the generation of PLD-derived PA, the expression of early nodulation genes and nodule numbers. Overexpression or knockdown of GmPLDα1 resulted in changes in PA levels, glycerolipid profiles, nodule numbers, actin cytoskeleton dynamics, early nodulation gene expression and hormone levels upon rhizobial infection compared with GUS roots. The transcript levels of cytoskeleton-related genes, such as GmACTIN, GmTUBULIN, actin capping protein 1 (GmCP1) and microtubule-associating protein (GmMAP1), were modified in GmPLDα1-altered hairy roots compared with those of GUS roots. Phosphatidic acid physically bound to GmCP1 and GmMAP1, which could be related to cytoskeletal changes in rhizobium-infected GmPLDα1 mutant roots. These data suggest that PLDα1 and PA play important roles in soybean-rhizobium interaction and nodulation. The possible underlying mechanisms, including PLDα1- and PA-mediated lipid signaling, membrane remodeling, cytoskeleton dynamics and related hormone signaling, are discussed herein.}, } @article {pmid33376575, year = {2021}, author = {Bergmann, KC and Krause, L and Hiller, J and Becker, S and Kugler, S and Tapparo, M and Pfaar, O and Zuberbier, T and Kramer, MF and Guethoff, S and Graessel, A}, title = {First evaluation of a symbiotic food supplement in an allergen exposure chamber in birch pollen allergic patients.}, journal = {The World Allergy Organization journal}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {100494}, pmid = {33376575}, issn = {1939-4551}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjunctivitis is the most common immune disease worldwide, but still largely underestimated, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Dysbiosis and reduced microbial diversity is linked to the development of allergies, and the immunomodulatory effects of pro- and prebiotics might be used to counteract microbiome dysbiosis in allergy. Adequate symbiotic (multi-strain pro-, plus prebiotic) supplementation can be suggested as a complementary approach in the management of allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of the daily intake of a symbiotic food supplement (combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04 with Fructo-Oligosaccharides) for 4 months in birch pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients were investigated for the first time in an allergen exposure chamber (AEC) allowing standardised, reproducible pollen exposure before and after intake.

METHODS: Eligible patients were exposed to birch pollen (8000 pollen/m³ for 120 min) at the GA[2]LEN AEC, at baseline (V1) and final visit (V3) outside the season. The Total Symptom Score (TSS) and the scores for nose, eye, bronchial system, and others were evaluated every 10 min during exposure. Other secondary endpoints were the changes in well-being, Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF), lung function parameters, and safety. Co-primary endpoints were differences in Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and TSS after 120 min of exposure between both visits. Temporal evolution of symptom scores were analysed in an exploratory way using linear mixed effects models.

RESULTS: 27 patients (mean age 45 years, 15% male) completed the study. Both co-primary endpoints showed significant improvement after intake of the symbiotic. Median TNSS and TSS were decreased 50% and 80% at 120 min (adjusted p-value = 0.025 and p < 0.01 respectively).All four symptom scores and the personal well-being, improved to a clinically relevant extent over time, visible by a weaker increase in symptoms during 120 min of the final birch pollen exposure. No relevant differences were observed for PNIF, PEF, and spirometry. There were no airway obstructions or lung restrictions before and after both exposures. Late phase reactions after exposure were reduced after V3, documenting a better birch pollen tolerability of the patients. The safety and tolerability profile of the symbiotic food supplement was excellent, no adverse events (AEs) were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: This first evaluation of a symbiotic food supplement in an AEC in rhinoconjunctivitis patients with or without asthma induced by birch pollen revealed a significant beneficial effect, harnessing significant improvements of symptoms and well-being while maintaining an excellent safety and tolerability profile.}, } @article {pmid33375202, year = {2020}, author = {Meštrović, T and Matijašić, M and Perić, M and Čipčić Paljetak, H and Barešić, A and Verbanac, D}, title = {The Role of Gut, Vaginal, and Urinary Microbiome in Urinary Tract Infections: From Bench to Bedside.}, journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33375202}, issn = {2075-4418}, abstract = {The current paradigm of urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogenesis takes into account the contamination of the periurethral space by specific uropathogens residing in the gut, which is followed by urethral colonization and pathogen ascension to the urinary bladder. Consequently, studying the relationship between gut microbiota and the subsequent development of bacteriuria and UTI represents an important field of research. However, the well-established diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm for urinary tract infections (UTIs) has come into question with the discovery of a multifaceted, symbiotic microbiome in the healthy urogenital tract. More specifically, emerging data suggest that vaginal dysbiosis may result in Escherichia coli colonization and prompt recurrent UTIs, while urinary microbiome perturbations may precede the development of UTIs and other pathologic conditions of the urinary system. The question is whether these findings can be exploited for risk reduction and treatment purposes. This review aimed to appraise the three aforementioned specific microbiomes regarding their potential influence on UTI development by focusing on the recent studies in the field and assessing the potential linkages between these different niches, as well as evaluating the state of translational research for novel therapeutic and preventative approaches.}, } @article {pmid33374981, year = {2020}, author = {Rubin, JA and Görres, JH}, title = {Potential for Mycorrhizae-Assisted Phytoremediation of Phosphorus for Improved Water Quality.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33374981}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*isolation & purification ; *Water Quality ; }, abstract = {During this 6th Great Extinction, freshwater quality is imperiled by upland terrestrial practices. Phosphorus, a macronutrient critical for life, can be a concerning contaminant when excessively present in waterways due to its stimulation of algal and cyanobacterial blooms, with consequences for ecosystem functioning, water use, and human and animal health. Landscape patterns from residential, industrial and agricultural practices release phosphorus at alarming rates and concentrations threaten watershed communities. In an effort to reconcile the anthropogenic effects of phosphorus pollution, several strategies are available to land managers. These include source reduction, contamination event prevention and interception. A total of 80% of terrestrial plants host mycorrhizae which facilitate increased phosphorus uptake and thus removal from soil and water. This symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants facilitates a several-fold increase in phosphorus uptake. It is surprising how little this relationship has been encouraged to mitigate phosphorus for water quality improvement. This paper explores how facilitating this symbiosis in different landscape and land-use contexts can help reduce the application of fertility amendments, prevent non-point source leaching and erosion, and intercept remineralized phosphorus before it enters surface water ecosystems. This literature survey offers promising insights into how mycorrhizae can aid ecological restoration to reconcile humans' damage to Earth's freshwater. We also identify areas where research is needed.}, } @article {pmid33374129, year = {2020}, author = {Sijilmassi, B and Filali-Maltouf, A and Boulahyaoui, H and Kricha, A and Boubekri, K and Udupa, S and Kumar, S and Amri, A}, title = {Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Symbiotic Efficiency of Selected Rhizobia Strains Nodulating Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33374129}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {A total of 14 Rhizobium strains were isolated from lentil accessions grown at the ICARDA experimental research station at Marchouch in Morocco and used for molecular characterization and symbiotic efficiency assessment. Individual phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene, house-keeping genes rpoB, recA, and gyrB, and symbiotic genes nodD and nodA along with Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) of the concatenated genes (16S rRNA-rpoB-recA-gyrB) was carried out for the identification and clustering of the isolates. The symbiotic efficiency of the strains was assessed on three Moroccan lentil cultivars (Bakria, Chakkouf, and Zaria) based on the number of nodules, plant height, plant dry weight, and total nitrogen content in leaves. The results showed that the individual phylogenetic analysis clustered all the strains into Rhizobium laguerreae and Rhizobium leguminosarum with sequence similarity ranging from 94 to 100%, except one strain which clustered with Mesorhizobium huakuii with sequence similarity of 100%. The MLSA of the concatenated genes and the related percentages of similarity clustered these strains into two groups of Rhizobium species, with one strain as a new genospecies when applying the threshold of 96%. For symbiotic efficiency, the Bakria variety showed the best association with 10 strains compared to its non-inoculated control (p-value ≤ 0.05), followed by Chakkouf and Zaria. The present study concluded that the genetic diversity and the symbiotic efficiency of Rhizobium strains appeared to be mainly under the control of the lentil genotypes.}, } @article {pmid33373523, year = {2021}, author = {Fisher, JF and Mobashery, S}, title = {β-Lactams against the Fortress of the Gram-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Bacterium.}, journal = {Chemical reviews}, volume = {121}, number = {6}, pages = {3412-3463}, pmid = {33373523}, issn = {1520-6890}, support = {R01 AI104987/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Cephalosporins/pharmacology ; Drug Discovery ; Enzyme Inhibitors/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; Penicillins/pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Staphylococcus aureus/*chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; beta-Lactams/metabolism/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The biological diversity of the unicellular bacteria-whether assessed by shape, food, metabolism, or ecological niche-surely rivals (if not exceeds) that of the multicellular eukaryotes. The relationship between bacteria whose ecological niche is the eukaryote, and the eukaryote, is often symbiosis or stasis. Some bacteria, however, seek advantage in this relationship. One of the most successful-to the disadvantage of the eukaryote-is the small (less than 1 μm diameter) and nearly spherical Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. For decades, successful clinical control of its infection has been accomplished using β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins and the cephalosporins. Over these same decades S. aureus has perfected resistance mechanisms against these antibiotics, which are then countered by new generations of β-lactam structure. This review addresses the current breadth of biochemical and microbiological efforts to preserve the future of the β-lactam antibiotics through a better understanding of how S. aureus protects the enzyme targets of the β-lactams, the penicillin-binding proteins. The penicillin-binding proteins are essential enzyme catalysts for the biosynthesis of the cell wall, and understanding how this cell wall is integrated into the protective cell envelope of the bacterium may identify new antibacterials and new adjuvants that preserve the efficacy of the β-lactams.}, } @article {pmid33372378, year = {2021}, author = {Ishikawa, KH and Bueno, MR and Kawamoto, D and Simionato, MRL and Mayer, MPA}, title = {Lactobacilli postbiotics reduce biofilm formation and alter transcription of virulence genes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.}, journal = {Molecular oral microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {92-102}, doi = {10.1111/omi.12330}, pmid = {33372378}, issn = {2041-1014}, mesh = {Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans/genetics ; Biofilms ; Ecosystem ; *Lactobacillus/genetics ; *Probiotics ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Periodontitis is characterized by a dysbiotic microbial community and treatment strategies include the reestablishment of symbiosis by reducing pathogens abundance. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) is frequently associated with rapidly progressing periodontitis. Since the oral ecosystem may be affected by metabolic end-products of bacteria, we evaluated the effect of soluble compounds released by probiotic lactobacilli, known as postbiotics, on Aa biofilm and expression of virulence-associated genes. Cell-free pH-neutralized supernatants (CFS) of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr32, L. rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5, and L. acidophilus NCFM were tested against a fimbriated clinical isolate of Aa JP2 genotype (1 × 10[7] CFU/well) on biofilm formation for 24 hr, and early and mature preformed biofilms (2 and 24 hr). Lactobacilli CFS partially reduced Aa viable counts and biofilms biomass, but did not affect the number of viable non-adherent bacteria, except for LA5 CFS. Furthermore, LA5 CFS and, in a lesser extent HN001 CFS, influenced Aa preformed biofilms. Lactobacilli postbiotics altered expression profile of Aa in a strain-specific fashion. Transcription of cytolethal distending toxin (cdtB) and leukotoxin (ltxA) was downregulated by CFS of LA5 and LR32 CFS. Although all probiotics produced detectable peroxide, transcription of katA was downregulated by lactobacilli CFS. Transcription of dspB was abrogated by LR32 and NCFM CFS, but increased by HN001, whereas expression of pgA was not affected by any postbiotic. Our data indicated the potential of postbiotics from lactobacilli, especially LA5, to reduce colonization levels of Aa and to modulate the expression of virulence factors implicated in evasion of host defenses.}, } @article {pmid33372311, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, B and Liu, J and Zhao, C and Sun, S and Xu, J and Zhao, Y}, title = {Induction of vitamin B12 to purify biogas slurry and upgrade biogas using co-culture of microalgae and fungi.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {93}, number = {8}, pages = {1254-1262}, doi = {10.1002/wer.1504}, pmid = {33372311}, issn = {1554-7531}, mesh = {Biofuels ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Chlorophyll A ; Coculture Techniques ; Fungi ; *Microalgae ; Vitamin B 12 ; }, abstract = {Different gradient concentrations of vitamin B12 (0, 10, 100, 1,000 ng L[-1]) were used in the symbiosis system (Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum or Chlorella vulgaris-Pleurotus ostreatus) to assess their effect on simultaneous purification of biogas and removal of nutrients in biogas slurry using co-culture of microalgae and fungi. When B12 was added to the symbiosis system, biomass growth, intracellular carbonic anhydrase activity (CA), chlorophyll a content (CHL-a), photosynthetic characteristics of the two cultivation system, and removal efficiency of nutrients in biogas slurry and CO2 in biogas were significantly higher than those in the control group. The optimal concentration of B12 was determined to be 100 ng L[-1] considering the removal efficiency of nutrients and CO2 . Maximum mean chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and CO2 removal efficiencies were 75.98 ± 6.26%, 78.46 ± 6.21%, 80.21 ± 6.83% and 61.08 ± 5.21% in Chlorella vulgaris-Ganoderma lucidum, respectively. This study showed the potential of microalgae and fungi symbiosis system with B12 addition for nutrient removal and biogas upgrading. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Vitamin B12 had positive effects on algal-fungal pellets growth. The optimal vitamin B12 concentration was 100 ng L[-1] . The highest CO2 remove rate was 61.08% by G. lucidum/C. vulgaris pellets. Vitamin B12 significantly improved photosynthetic performance of pellets.}, } @article {pmid33372193, year = {2021}, author = {Hoare, A and Wang, H and Meethil, A and Abusleme, L and Hong, BY and Moutsopoulos, NM and Marsh, PD and Hajishengallis, G and Diaz, PI}, title = {A cross-species interaction with a symbiotic commensal enables cell-density-dependent growth and in vivo virulence of an oral pathogen.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {1490-1504}, pmid = {33372193}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {R01 DE015254/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE023967/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01DE015254/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biofilms ; Mice ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; *Veillonella ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Recent studies describe in detail the shifts in composition of human-associated polymicrobial communities from health to disease. However, the specific processes that drive the colonization and overgrowth of pathogens within these communities remain incompletely understood. We used in vitro culture systems and a disease-relevant mouse model to show that population size, which determines the availability of an endogenous diffusible small molecule, limits the growth, colonization, and in vivo virulence of the human oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. This bacterial pathogen overcomes the requirement for an endogenous cue by utilizing a cell-density dependent, growth-promoting, soluble molecule provided by the symbiotic early colonizer Veillonella parvula, but not produced by other commensals tested. Our work shows that exchange of cell-density-dependent diffusible cues between specific early and late colonizing species in a polymicrobial community drives microbial successions, pathogen colonization and disease development, representing a target process for manipulation of the microbiome towards the healthy state.}, } @article {pmid33370318, year = {2020}, author = {Kamali, S and Mehraban, A}, title = {Effects of Nitroxin and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the agro-physiological traits and grain yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) under drought stress conditions.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {e0243824}, pmid = {33370318}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agricultural Irrigation ; Analysis of Variance ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Electrolytes/metabolism ; *Fertilizers ; Meteorological Concepts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Seasons ; Seeds/*growth & development ; Solubility ; Sorghum/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The use of bio-fertilizers in agro-ecosystems is considered to have the potential to improve plant growth in extreme environments featuring water shortages. However, while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and bacteria bio-fertilizers have been used in other plants to enhance stress tolerance, little is known about their symbiotic effect on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) growth under drought stress conditions. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the inoculation of sorghum with Nitroxin and Glomus mosseae and their interaction effects on the agro-physiological characteristics and grain yield of sorghum under drought stress conditions. Nitroxin is a bio-fertilizer that consists of a mixture of Azospirillum and Azotobacter bacteria. The results showed that co-inoculation of sorghum seeds with Nitroxin and AMF improved the chlorophyll (a, b and total) content, soluble proteins, water use efficiency) WUE(, relative water content (RWC), nitrogen (N) content in the plant, AMF spore density, proline content, grain yield, panicle length, the number of panicles per plant, grain number per panicle, 1000-grain weight and decreased the electrolyte leakage and water saturation deficit (WSD) in drought stress and non-stress conditions. Under drought stress conditions, there was a 27% increase in grain yield under the synergistic effects of bacteria and fungi compared to the non-application of these microorganisms. The results of this experiment show that Nitroxin and AMF bio-fertilizers can mitigate the negative effects of stress on plants in drought stress conditions by increasing the amount of photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins and osmotic regulation and decreasing electrolyte leakage. We found that the combination of bacteria and AMF for sorghum growth and yield increment is a promising method to cope with the stress caused by drought.}, } @article {pmid33369646, year = {2021}, author = {Ghahremani, M and MacLean, AM}, title = {Home sweet home: how mutualistic microbes modify root development to promote symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {7}, pages = {2275-2287}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa607}, pmid = {33369646}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Microbial Interactions ; *Plant Roots ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Post-embryonic organogenesis has uniquely equipped plants to become developmentally responsive to their environment, affording opportunities to remodel organism growth and architecture to an extent not possible in other higher order eukaryotes. It is this developmental plasticity that makes the field of plant-microbe interactions an exceptionally fascinating venue in which to study symbiosis. This review article describes the various ways in which mutualistic microbes alter the growth, development, and architecture of the roots of their plant hosts. We first summarize general knowledge of root development, and then examine how association of plants with beneficial microbes affects these processes. Working our way inwards from the epidermis to the pericycle, this review dissects the cell biology and molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions in a tissue-specific manner. We examine the ways in which microbes gain entry into the root, and modify this specialized organ for symbiont accommodation, with a particular emphasis on the colonization of root cortical cells. We present significant advances in our understanding of root-microbe interactions, and conclude our discussion by identifying questions pertinent to root endosymbiosis that at present remain unresolved.}, } @article {pmid33368645, year = {2021}, author = {Okude, M and Matsuo, J and Yamazaki, T and Saito, K and Furuta, Y and Nakamura, S and Thapa, J and Okubo, T and Higashi, H and Yamaguchi, H}, title = {Distribution of amoebal endosymbiotic environmental chlamydia Neochlamydia S13 via amoebal cytokinesis.}, journal = {Microbiology and immunology}, volume = {65}, number = {3}, pages = {115-124}, doi = {10.1111/1348-0421.12871}, pmid = {33368645}, issn = {1348-0421}, mesh = {*Amoeba/microbiology ; *Chlamydiales ; *Cytokinesis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We previously isolated a symbiotic environmental amoeba, harboring an environmental chlamydia, Neochlamydia S13. Interestingly, this bacterium failed to survive outside of host cells and was immediately digested inside other amoebae, indicating bacterial distribution via cytokinesis. This may provide a model for understanding organelle development and chlamydial pathogenesis and evolution; therefore, we assessed our hypothesis of Neochlamydia S13 distribution via cytokinesis by comparative analysis with other environmental Chlamydiae (Protochlamydia R18 and Parachlamydia Bn9). Dual staining with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and phalloidin revealed that the progeny of Neochlamydia S13 and Protochlamydia R18 existed in both daughter cells with a contractile ring on the verge of separation. However, in contrast to other environmental Chlamydiae, little Neochlamydia S13 16S ribosomal DNA was amplified from the culture supernatant. Interestingly, Neochlamydia S13 failed to infect aposymbiotic amoebae, indicating an intimate interaction with the host cells. Furthermore, its infectious rates in cultures expanded from a single amoeba were always maintained at 100%, indicating distribution via cytokinesis. We concluded that unlike other environmental Chlamydiae, Neochlamydia S13 has a unique ability to divide its progeny only via host amoebal cytokinesis. This may be a suitable model to elucidate the mechanism of cell organelle distribution and of chlamydial pathogenesis and evolution.}, } @article {pmid33367760, year = {2021}, author = {Jedelská, T and Luhová, L and Petřivalský, M}, title = {Nitric oxide signalling in plant interactions with pathogenic fungi and oomycetes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {848-863}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa596}, pmid = {33367760}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Fungi ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Nitric Oxide ; *Oomycetes ; Plant Diseases ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive nitrogen species have emerged as crucial signalling and regulatory molecules across all organisms. In plants, fungi, and fungi-like oomycetes, NO is involved in the regulation of multiple processes during their growth, development, reproduction, responses to the external environment, and biotic interactions. It has become evident that NO is produced and used as a signalling and defence cue by both partners in multiple forms of plant interactions with their microbial counterparts, ranging from symbiotic to pathogenic modes. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of NO in plant-pathogen interactions, focused on biotrophic, necrotrophic, and hemibiotrophic fungi and oomycetes. Actual advances and gaps in the identification of NO sources and fate in plant and pathogen cells are discussed. We review the decisive role of time- and site-specific NO production in germination, oriented growth, and active penetration by filamentous pathogens of the host tissues, as well in pathogen recognition, and defence activation in plants. Distinct functions of NO in diverse interactions of host plants with fungal and oomycete pathogens of different lifestyles are highlighted, where NO in interplay with reactive oxygen species governs successful plant colonization, cell death, and establishment of resistance.}, } @article {pmid33367688, year = {2021}, author = {Lo, BC and Chen, GY and Núñez, G and Caruso, R}, title = {Gut microbiota and systemic immunity in health and disease.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {197-209}, pmid = {33367688}, issn = {1460-2377}, support = {P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095782/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK121504/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK122812/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Central Nervous System/immunology ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Immune System/*immunology ; *Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/immunology/microbiology ; Liver/immunology ; Lung/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine is colonized by trillions of microorganisms that have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship. Although the influence of the gut microbiota on intestinal physiology and immunity is well known, mounting evidence suggests a key role for intestinal symbionts in controlling immune cell responses and development outside the gut. Although the underlying mechanisms by which the gut symbionts influence systemic immune responses remain poorly understood, there is evidence for both direct and indirect effects. In addition, the gut microbiota can contribute to immune responses associated with diseases outside the intestine. Understanding the complex interactions between the gut microbiota and the host is thus of fundamental importance to understand both immunity and human health.}, } @article {pmid33367261, year = {2020}, author = {Lin, J and Frank, M and Reid, D}, title = {No Home without Hormones: How Plant Hormones Control Legume Nodule Organogenesis.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {1}, number = {5}, pages = {100104}, pmid = {33367261}, issn = {2590-3462}, mesh = {Cytokinins/physiology ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/physiology ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires the coordination of both nodule development and infection events. Despite the evolution of a variety of anatomical structures, nodule organs serve a common purpose in establishing a localized area that facilitates efficient nitrogen fixation. As in all plant developmental processes, the establishment of a new nodule organ is regulated by plant hormones. During nodule initiation, regulation of plant hormone signaling is one of the major targets of symbiotic signaling. We review the role of major developmental hormones in the initiation of the nodule organ and argue that the manipulation of plant hormones is a key requirement for engineering nitrogen fixation in non-legumes as the basis for improved food security and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid33366677, year = {2020}, author = {Scioli, JA and Plouviez, S and Felder, DL}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of the symbiotic infaunal snapping shrimp Leptalpheus forceps (Decapoda, Alpheidae).}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {629-630}, pmid = {33366677}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {The snapping shrimp Leptalpheus forceps (family Alpheidae) has a unique natural history as an infaunal symbiont of larger burrowing crustaceans. The mitogenome of L. forceps was sequenced, the first for a symbiotic representative of the family and the first for a species outside of the genus Alpheus. The complete mitogenome was 15,463 bp in length and included 13 protein-coding genes, 12 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs. The gene order matched all known alpheid mitogenomes. Similar to other caridean mitogenomes, the nucleotide composition was A + T biased (62%). A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis of caridean mitogenomes strongly supported monophyly of the family Alpheidae.}, } @article {pmid33364583, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, H and Zhang, H and Zhong, Z and Sun, Y and Wang, M and Chen, H and Zhou, L and Cao, L and Lian, C and Li, C}, title = {Molecular analyses of the gill symbiosis of the bathymodiolin mussel Gigantidas platifrons.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {101894}, pmid = {33364583}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Although the deep-sea bathymodiolin mussels have been intensively studied as a model of animal-bacteria symbiosis, it remains challenging to assess the host-symbiont interactions due to the complexity of the symbiotic tissue-the gill. Using cold-seep mussel Gigantidas platifrons as a model, we isolated the symbiont harboring bacteriocytes and profiled the transcriptomes of the three major parts of the symbiosis-the gill, the bacteriocyte, and the symbiont. This breakdown of the complex symbiotic tissue allowed us to characterize the host-symbiont interactions further. Our data showed that the gill's non-symbiotic parts play crucial roles in maintaining and protecting the symbiosis; the bacteriocytes supply the symbiont with metabolites, control symbiont population, and shelter the symbiont from phage infection; the symbiont dedicates to the methane oxidation and energy production. This study demonstrates that the bathymodiolin symbiosis interacts at the tissue, cellular, and molecular level, maintaining high efficiency and harmonic chemosynthetic micro niche.}, } @article {pmid33364458, year = {2020}, author = {Xue, J and Ajuwon, KM and Fang, R}, title = {Mechanistic insight into the gut microbiome and its interaction with host immunity and inflammation.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {421-428}, pmid = {33364458}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {The intestinal tract is a host to 100 trillion of microbes that have co-evolved with mammals over the millennia. These commensal organisms are critical to the host survival. The roles that symbiotic microorganisms play in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients have been clearly demonstrated. Additionally, commensals are indispensable in regulating host immunity. This is evidenced by the poorly developed gut immune system of germ-free mice, which can be corrected by transplantation of specific commensal bacteria. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism of host-microbial interaction have provided the basis for this interaction. This paper reviews some of these key studies, with a specific focus on the effect of the microbiome on the immune organ development, nonspecific immunity, specific immunity, and inflammation.}, } @article {pmid33361196, year = {2020}, author = {Leo, V and Tran, E and Morona, R}, title = {Polysaccharide co-polymerase WzzB/WzzE chimeras reveal transmembrane 2 region of WzzB is important for interaction with WzyB.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {203}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33361196}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {The ability of bacteria to synthesise complex polysaccharide chains at a controlled number of repeating units has wide implications for a range of biological activities that include: symbiosis, biofilm formation and immune system avoidance. Complex polysaccharide chains such as the O antigen (Oag) component of lipopolysaccharide and the enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) are synthesised by the most common polysaccharide synthesis pathway used in bacteria, known as the Wzy-dependent pathway. The Oag and ECA are polymerized into chains via the inner membrane proteins WzyB and WzyE, respectively, while the respective co-polymerases WzzB and WzzE modulate the number of repeat units in the chains or "the modal length" of the polysaccharide via a hypothesised interaction. Our data shows for the first time "cross-talk" between Oag and ECA synthesis in that WzzE is able to partially regulate Oag modal length via a potential interaction with WzyB. To investigate this, one or both of the transmembrane regions (TM1 and TM2) of WzzE and WzzB were swapped creating six chimera proteins. Several chimeric proteins showed significant increases Oag modal length control, while others reduced control. Additionally, co-purification experiments show an interaction between WzyB and WzzB for the first time without the use of a chemical cross-linker, and a novel interaction between WzyB and WzzE. These results suggest the TM2 region of Wzz proteins plays a critical role in Oag and ECA modal length control, presumably via the interaction with respective Wzy proteins, thus providing insight into the complex mechanism underlying the control of polysaccharide biosynthesis.ImportanceBacteria synthesise complex polysaccharide chains at a controlled number of repeating units, this has wide implications for a range of bacterial activities involved in virulence. Examples of complex polysaccharide chains include, the O antigen (Oag) component of lipopolysaccharide and the enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), both of these examples are predominantly synthesised by their own independent Wzy-dependent pathway. Our data show for the first time "cross-talk" between Oag and ECA synthesis and identifies novel physical protein-protein interactions between proteins in these systems. These findings further the understanding of how the system functions to control polysaccharide chain length which has great implications for novel biotechnologies and/or the combat of bacterial diseases.}, } @article {pmid33360287, year = {2021}, author = {Ghorbani, A and Tafteh, M and Roudbari, N and Pishkar, L and Zhang, W and Wu, C}, title = {Piriformospora indica augments arsenic tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa) by immobilizing arsenic in roots and improving iron translocation to shoots.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {209}, number = {}, pages = {111793}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111793}, pmid = {33360287}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Arsenic/metabolism/*toxicity ; Basidiomycota/metabolism/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Oryza/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) toxicity can be a hazardous threat to sustainable agriculture and human health. Piriformospora indica (P. indica), as a beneficial endophytic fungus, is involved in the plant tolerance to stressful conditions. Here, the biochemical and molecular responses of rice plants to As (50 μM) phytotoxicity and P. indica inoculation as well as the role of P. indica in improving rice adaptation to As stress were evaluated. The results showed that As stress reduced chlorophylls content, chlorophyll fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm), electron transport rate (ETR) and growth. However, P. indica restored chlorophyll content and growth. P. indica decreased the contents of methylglyoxal and malondialdehyde by improving the activity of enzymes involved in the glyoxalase pathway and modulating the redox state of the ascorbic acid-glutathione cycle, and consequently, increased the plant tolerance to As toxicity. P. indica, by downregulating Lsi2 expression (involved in As translocation to the shoot) and upregulating PCS1 and PCS2 expression (involved in As sequestration in vacuoles), immobilized As in the roots and reduced damage to photosynthetic organs. P. indica increased iron (Fe) accumulation in the shoot under As toxicity by upregulating the expression of IRO2, YSL2 and FRDL1 genes. The results of the present study augmented our knowledge in using P. indica symbiosis in improving the tolerance of rice plants against As toxicity for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33359013, year = {2021}, author = {He, C and Gao, H and Wang, H and Guo, Y and He, M and Peng, Y and Wang, X}, title = {GSK3-mediated stress signaling inhibits legume-rhizobium symbiosis by phosphorylating GmNSP1 in soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {488-502}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2020.12.015}, pmid = {33359013}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*enzymology/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Phosphorylation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/*enzymology/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish symbiotic associations with rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation. This process is highly regulated by various abiotic stresses, but the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we discovered that the glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)-like kinase, GmSK2-8, plays an important role in inhibiting symbiotic signaling and nodule formation in soybean (Glycine max) under salt stress. We found that GmSK2-8 is strongly induced in soybean under high-salt conditions, while GmSK2-8 could interact with two G. max Nodulation Signaling Pathway 1 (GmNSP1) proteins, GmNSP1a and GmNSP1b; these key transcription factors are essential for rhizobial infection, nodule initiation, and symbiotic gene expression in soybean. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GmSK2-8 phosphorylates the LHRI domain of GmNSP1a, inhibits its binding to the promoters of symbiotic genes, and thus suppresses nodule formation under salt stress. Knockdown of GmSK2-8 and its close homologs also resulted in reduced plant sensitivity to salt stress during nodule formation. Taken together, our findings indicate that GSK3-like kinases directly regulate the activities of GmNSP1s to mediate salt-inhibited legume-rhizobium symbiosis, providing novel targets for improving symbiotic nitrogen fixation under environmental stress conditions in soybean and possibly other legumes.}, } @article {pmid33358560, year = {2021}, author = {Gautrat, P and Laffont, C and Frugier, F and Ruffel, S}, title = {Nitrogen Systemic Signaling: From Symbiotic Nodulation to Root Acquisition.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {392-406}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2020.11.009}, pmid = {33358560}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant nutrient acquisition is tightly regulated by resource availability and metabolic needs, implying the existence of communication between roots and shoots to ensure their integration at the whole-plant level. Here, we focus on systemic signaling pathways controlling nitrogen (N) nutrition, achieved both by the root import of mineral N and, in legume plants, through atmospheric N fixation by symbiotic bacteria inside dedicated root nodules. We explore features conserved between systemic pathways repressing or enhancing symbiotic N fixation and the regulation of mineral N acquisition by roots, as well as their integration with other environmental factors, such as phosphate, light, and CO2 availability.}, } @article {pmid33356903, year = {2021}, author = {Pérez-Rodríguez, F and González-Prieto, JM and Vera-Núñez, JA and Ruiz-Medrano, R and Peña-Cabriales, JJ and Ruiz-Herrera, J}, title = {Wide distribution of the Ustilago maydis-bacterium endosymbiosis in naturally infected maize plants.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {1855016}, pmid = {33356903}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zea mays/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {We have previously described that laboratory strains of Ustilago maydis, a fungal pathogen of maize and its ancestor teosinte, harbor an intracellular bacterium that enables the fungus to fix nitrogen. However, it is not clear whether other strains isolated from nature also harbor endosymbiotic bacteria, and whether these fix nitrogen for its host. In the present study, we isolated U. maydis strains from naturally infected maize. All the isolated strains harbored intracellular bacteria as determined by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, and some of them showed capacity to fix nitrogen. That these are truly bacterial endosymbionts were shown by the fact that, after thorough treatments with CuSO4 followed by serial incubations with antibiotics, the aforementioned bacterial gene was still amplified in treated fungi. In all, these data support the notion that U. maydis-bacterium endosymbiosis is a general phenomenon in this species.}, } @article {pmid33355984, year = {2021}, author = {Wayland, S and Coker, S and Maple, M}, title = {The human approach to supportive interventions: The lived experience of people who care for others who suicide attempt.}, journal = {International journal of mental health nursing}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {667-682}, doi = {10.1111/inm.12829}, pmid = {33355984}, issn = {1447-0349}, mesh = {*Caregivers ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Mental Health ; *Suicide, Attempted ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {There is currently limited information about the impact and experiences of a suicide attempt on the well-being of a person providing care before, during, or after the attempt. Scant evidence available suggests that providing care has a profound impact on the support person or carers' own physical and psychological health; they may experience adverse health, financial, and functional outcomes, collectively described as 'caregiver burden'. This project sought to understand insights into the experience of providing care for someone who has previously attempted suicide. The larger study was designed in three phases consisting of an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and a follow-up survey. This paper reports the qualitative findings of the interviews which were thematically analysed. Two symbiotic themes emerged: the lived experience of caring and the impact of engagement and support from the healthcare system. The authors concluded that that the carer position is a multidimensional role involving informal agreements and situational or time-based support. Further, awareness of this shifting relationship needs to be embedded in the provision of care by health professionals following a suicide attempt. Recommendations for enhanced health system response are proposed.}, } @article {pmid33355923, year = {2021}, author = {Lofgren, LA and Nguyen, NH and Vilgalys, R and Ruytinx, J and Liao, HL and Branco, S and Kuo, A and LaButti, K and Lipzen, A and Andreopoulos, W and Pangilinan, J and Riley, R and Hundley, H and Na, H and Barry, K and Grigoriev, IV and Stajich, JE and Kennedy, PG}, title = {Comparative genomics reveals dynamic genome evolution in host specialist ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {230}, number = {2}, pages = {774-792}, pmid = {33355923}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {S10 OD016290/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/genetics ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Pinus ; Specialization ; }, abstract = {While there has been significant progress characterizing the 'symbiotic toolkit' of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, how host specificity may be encoded into ECM fungal genomes remains poorly understood. We conducted a comparative genomic analysis of ECM fungal host specialists and generalists, focusing on the specialist genus Suillus. Global analyses of genome dynamics across 46 species were assessed, along with targeted analyses of three classes of molecules previously identified as important determinants of host specificity: small secreted proteins (SSPs), secondary metabolites (SMs) and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Relative to other ECM fungi, including other host specialists, Suillus had highly dynamic genomes including numerous rapidly evolving gene families and many domain expansions and contractions. Targeted analyses supported a role for SMs but not SSPs or GPCRs in Suillus host specificity. Phylogenomic-based ancestral state reconstruction identified Larix as the ancestral host of Suillus, with multiple independent switches between white and red pine hosts. These results suggest that like other defining characteristics of the ECM lifestyle, host specificity is a dynamic process at the genome level. In the case of Suillus, both SMs and pathways involved in the deactivation of reactive oxygen species appear to be strongly associated with enhanced host specificity.}, } @article {pmid33355157, year = {2021}, author = {Hill, Y and Colombi, E and Bonello, E and Haskett, T and Ramsay, J and O'Hara, G and Terpolilli, J}, title = {Evolution of diverse effective N2-fixing microsymbionts of Cicer arietinum following horizontal transfer of the Mesorhizobium ciceri CC1192 symbiosis integrative and conjugative element.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33355157}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria capable of forming N2-fixing symbioses with legumes, with highly effective strains often selected in agriculture as inoculants to maximize symbiotic N2 fixation. When rhizobia in the genus Mesorhizobium have been introduced with exotic legumes into farming systems, horizontal transfer of symbiosis Integrative and Conjugative Elements (ICEs) from the inoculant strain to soil bacteria has resulted in the evolution of ineffective N2-fixing rhizobia that are competitive for nodulation with the target legume. In Australia, Cicer arietinum (chickpea) has been inoculated since the 1970's with Mesorhizobium ciceri sv. ciceri CC1192, a highly effective strain from Israel. Although the full genome sequence of this organism is available, little is known about the mobility of its symbiosis genes and the diversity of cultivated C. arietinum-nodulating organisms. Here, we show the CC1192 genome harbors a 419-kb symbiosis ICE (ICEMcSym[1192]) and a 648-kb repABC-type plasmid pMC1192 carrying putative fix genes. We sequenced the genomes of 11 C. arietinum nodule isolates from a field site exclusively inoculated with CC1192 and showed they were diverse unrelated Mesorhizobium carrying ICEMcSym[1192], indicating they had acquired the ICE by environmental transfer. No exconjugants harboured pMc1192 and the plasmid was not essential for N2 fixation in CC1192. Laboratory conjugation experiments confirmed ICEMcSym[1192] is mobile, integrating site-specifically within the 3' end of one of the four ser-tRNA genes in the R7ANS recipient genome. Strikingly, all ICEMcSym[1192] exconjugants were as efficient at fixing N2 with C. arietinum as CC1192, demonstrating ICE transfer does not necessarily yield ineffective microsymbionts as previously observed.Importance Symbiotic N2 fixation is a key component of sustainable agriculture and in many parts of the world legumes are inoculated with highly efficient strains of rhizobia to maximise fixed N2 inputs into farming systems. Symbiosis genes for Mesorhizobium spp. are often encoded chromosomally within mobile gene clusters called Integrative and Conjugative Elements or ICEs. In Australia, where all agricultural legumes and their rhizobia are exotic, horizontal transfer of ICEs from inoculant Mesorhizobium strains to native rhizobia has led to the evolution of inefficient strains that outcompete the original inoculant, with the potential to render it ineffective. However, the commercial inoculant strain for Cicer arietinum (chickpea), M. ciceri CC1192, has a mobile symbiosis ICE (ICEMcSym[1192]) which can support high rates of N2 fixation following either environmental or laboratory transfer into diverse Mesorhizobium backgrounds, demonstrating ICE transfer does not necessarily yield ineffective microsymbionts as previously observed.}, } @article {pmid33355113, year = {2021}, author = {Ebert, KM and Arnold, WG and Ebert, PR and Merritt, DJ}, title = {Hindgut microbiota reflects different digestive strategies in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33355113}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Gut microbes play an important role in the biology and evolution of insects. Australian native dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) present an opportunity to study gut microbiota in an evolutionary context as they come from two distinct phylogenetic lineages and some species in each lineage have secondarily adapted to alternative or broader diets. In this study, we characterised the hindgut bacterial communities found in 21 species of dung beetles across two lineages using 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that gut microbial diversity was more dependent on host phylogeny and gut morphology than specific dietary preferences or environment. In particular, gut microbial diversity was highest in the endemic, flightless genus Cephalodesmius that feeds on a broad range of composted organic matter. The hindgut of Cephalodesmius harbours a highly conserved core set of bacteria suggesting that the bacteria are symbiotic. Symbiosis is supported by the persistence of the core microbiota across isolated beetle populations and between species in the genus. A co-evolutionary relationship is supported by the expansion of the hindgut to form a fermentation chamber and the fermentative nature of the core microbes. In contrast, Australian species of the widespread dung beetle genus Onthophagus, specialise on a single food resource such as dung or fungus, exhibit minimal food processing behaviour, have a short, narrow hindgut and a variable gut microbiota with relatively few core bacterial taxa. A conserved, complex gut microbiota is hypothesised to be unnecessary for this highly mobile genus.IMPORTANCE Dung beetles are a very important part of an ecosystem because of their role in the removal and decomposition of vertebrate dung. It has been suspected that symbiotic gut bacteria facilitate this role, a hypothesis that we have explored with high throughput barcoding. We found that differences in hindgut morphology had the greatest effect on the bacterial community composition. Species with a hindgut fermentation chamber harboured a distinctly different hindgut community compared to those species with a narrow, undifferentiated hindgut. Diet and phylogeny were also associated with differences in gut community. Further understanding of the relationships between dung beetles and their gut microbes will provide insights into the evolution of their behaviours and how gut communities contribute to their fitness.}, } @article {pmid33355107, year = {2021}, author = {Petersen, JM and Yuen, B}, title = {The symbiotic 'all-rounders': Partnerships between marine animals and chemosynthetic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33355107}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation is a widespread metabolic trait in certain types of microorganisms called diazotrophs. Bioavailable nitrogen is limited in various habitats on land and in the sea, and accordingly, a range of plant, animal, and single-celled eukaryotes have evolved symbioses with diverse diazotrophic bacteria, with enormous economic and ecological benefits. Until recently, all known nitrogen-fixing symbionts were heterotrophs such as nodulating rhizobia, or photoautotrophs such as cyanobacteria. In 2016, the first chemoautotrophic nitrogen-fixing symbionts were discovered in a common family of marine clams, the Lucinidae. Chemosynthetic nitrogen-fixing symbionts use the chemical energy stored in reduced sulfur compounds to power carbon and nitrogen fixation, making them metabolic 'all-rounders' with multiple functions in the symbiosis. This distinguishes them from heterotrophic symbionts that require a source of carbon from their host, and their chemosynthetic metabolism distinguishes them from photoautotrophic symbionts that produce oxygen, a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase. In this review, we consider evolutionary aspects of this discovery, by comparing strategies that have evolved for hosting intracellular nitrogen-fixing symbionts in plants and animals. The symbiosis between lucinid clams and chemosynthetic nitrogen-fixing bacteria also has important ecological impacts, as they form a nested symbiosis with endangered marine seagrasses. Notably, nitrogen fixation by lucinid symbionts may help support seagrass health by providing a source of nitrogen in seagrass habitats. These discoveries were enabled by new techniques for understanding the activity of microbial populations in natural environments. However, an animal (or plant) host represents a diverse landscape of microbial niches due to its structural, chemical, immune and behavioural properties. In future, methods that resolve microbial activity at the single cell level will provide radical new insights into the regulation of nitrogen fixation in chemosynthetic symbionts, shedding new light on the evolution of nitrogen-fixing symbioses in contrasting hosts and environments.}, } @article {pmid33354208, year = {2020}, author = {Disamantiaji, AP and Izza, EF and Soelaeman, MF and Sembiring, T and Louisa, M}, title = {Probiotics in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis for Children: A Case-Based Review.}, journal = {Dermatology research and practice}, volume = {2020}, number = {}, pages = {4587459}, pmid = {33354208}, issn = {1687-6105}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis or eczema is one of the most common dermatologic problems, especially in children. Several studies have hypothesized that alteration of gut-colonizing microbes might have induced and conditioned the development of the disease. Thus, modulation of microbial diversity and abundance might help alleviate symptoms and conditions for patients. Given the ability of commensal and symbiotic microorganisms in modulating the immune system, probiotics administration has been studied in previous research in the management of eczema. However, until today, there are conflicting results between studies making inconclusive recommendations towards probiotics supplementation in the management of atopic dermatitis. This case-based review was done to assess and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics supplementation in the management of eczema in children.

METHOD: An electronic database search was conducted in PubMed-NCBI, Cochrane, EBSCO, ProQuest, and SCOPUS in March 2020. Individual studies and reviews were then gathered for screening using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included studies were then critically appraised for their validity and importance.

RESULT: A total of 5 studies, all of which were RCTs, were included in this review. Out of all the studies included, 4 showed no clinically significant improvements in using probiotics in the management of eczema in children as they did not pass the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of eczema severity as determined by SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis).

CONCLUSION: Supplementation of probiotics in the management of eczema in children does not show a clinically relevant difference vs. standard treatment in reducing eczema severity.}, } @article {pmid33353519, year = {2020}, author = {Rose, A and Titus, BM and Romain, J and Vondriska, C and Exton, DA}, title = {Multiple cleaner species provide simultaneous services to coral reef fish clients.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {20200723}, pmid = {33353519}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region ; *Coral Reefs ; Fishes ; Humans ; *Perciformes ; Pilot Projects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cleaning symbioses on tropical coral reefs are typically documented between two species: a single client fish and one or more conspecific cleaners. However, multiple cleaner species living sympatrically in the Caribbean have been anecdotally reported to simultaneously clean the same client. Nothing is known about the patterns and processes driving these interactions, which may differ from those involving a single cleaner species. Here, we used remote underwater videography on three reefs in Honduras to record simultaneous cleaning interactions involving Pederson's cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) and cleaner gobies (Elacatinus spp.). A pilot study on adjacent shrimp and goby stations found interactions were always initiated by shrimp. A larger, multi-year dataset shows cleaner gobies joined 28% of all interactions initiated at A. pedersoni cleaning stations with cleaner gobies residing nearby. Client body size significantly predicted simultaneous cleaning interactions, with 45% of interactions simultaneous for clients greater than 20 cm total body length compared with only 8% for clients less than 20 cm. We also found that simultaneous cleaning interactions lasted over twice as long as shrimp-only interactions. We propose these novel multi-species interactions to be an ideal model system to explore broader questions about coexistence, niche overlap and functional redundancy among sympatric cleaner species.}, } @article {pmid33353122, year = {2020}, author = {Belimov, AA and Shaposhnikov, AI and Syrova, DS and Kichko, AA and Guro, PV and Yuzikhin, OS and Azarova, TS and Sazanova, AL and Sekste, EA and Litvinskiy, VA and Nosikov, VV and Zavalin, AA and Andronov, EE and Safronova, VI}, title = {The Role of Symbiotic Microorganisms, Nutrient Uptake and Rhizosphere Bacterial Community in Response of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genotypes to Elevated Al Concentrations in Soil.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33353122}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Aluminium being one of the most abundant elements is very toxic for plants causing inhibition of nutrient uptake and productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of microbial consortium consisting of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), rhizobia and PGPR for counteracting negative effects of Al toxicity on four pea genotypes differing in Al tolerance. Pea plants were grown in acid soil supplemented with AlCl3 (pHKCl = 4.5) or neutralized with CaCO3 (pHKCl = 6.2). Inoculation increased shoot and/or seed biomass of plants grown in Al-supplemented soil. Nodule number and biomass were about twice on roots of Al-treated genotypes after inoculation. Inoculation decreased concentrations of water-soluble Al in the rhizosphere of all genotypes grown in Al-supplemented soil by about 30%, improved N2 fixation and uptake of fertilizer [15]N and nutrients from soil, and increased concentrations of water-soluble nutrients in the rhizosphere. The structure of rhizospheric microbial communities varied to a greater extent depending on the plant genotype, as compared to soil conditions and inoculation. Thus, this study highlights the important role of symbiotic microorganisms and the plant genotype in complex interactions between the components of the soil-microorganism-plant continuum subjected to Al toxicity.}, } @article {pmid33352781, year = {2020}, author = {Khoshkhatti, N and Eini, O and Koolivand, D and Pogiatzis, A and Klironomos, JN and Pakpour, S}, title = {Differential Response of Mycorrhizal Plants to Tomato bushy stunt virus and Tomato mosaic virus Infection.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33352781}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) are important economic pathogens in tomato fields. Rhizoglomus irregulare is a species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus that provides nutrients to host plants. To understand the effect of R. irregulare on the infection by TBSV/ToMV in tomato plants, in a completely randomized design, five treatments, including uninfected control plants without AM fungi (C), uninfected control plants with AM fungi (M) TBSV/ToMV-infected plants without AM fungi (V), TBSV/ToMV-infected plants before mycorrhiza (VM) inoculation, and inoculated plants with mycorrhiza before TBSV/ToMV infection (MV), were studied. Factors including viral RNA accumulation and expression of Pathogenesis Related proteins (PR) coding genes including PR1, PR2, and PR3 in the young leaves were measured. For TBSV, a lower level of virus accumulation and a higher expression of PR genes in MV plants were observed compared to V and VM plants. In contrast, for ToMV, a higher level of virus accumulation and a lower expression of PR genes in MV plants were observed as compared to V and VM plants. These results indicated that mycorrhizal symbiosis reduces or increases the viral accumulation possibly via the regulation of PR genes in tomato plants.}, } @article {pmid33351288, year = {2021}, author = {Abdel-Gaber, R and Alajmi, R and Haddadi, R and El-Ashram, S}, title = {The phylogenetic position of Arhaphe deviatica within Hemipteran insects: A potential model species for eco-devo studies of symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution}, volume = {336}, number = {1}, pages = {73-78}, doi = {10.1002/jez.b.23019}, pmid = {33351288}, issn = {1552-5015}, mesh = {Animals ; Heteroptera/*genetics/*growth & development ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insecta is known to be the most diverse group of species, exhibiting numerous forms of endosymbiotic associations. Molecular techniques have provided significant indicators for insect-microbe interactions. The present study aimed to register one of the true bugs of pentatomomorpha and clarify its taxonomic position through phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene region. A maximum likelihood analysis retrieved a generally well-supported phylogeny based on Tamura 3-parameter model. Based on the partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences, a phylogenetic study of suborder Heteroptera relationships within Hemipteras' order was constructed. Sequences of 221 bases of the 3' end of the gene from 28 species within 16 families were analyzed. This analysis and bootstrap confidence revealed two major clades comprising four suborders within Hemiptera, with a close relationship between Heteroptera + (Sternorrhyncha + (Auchenorrhycha + Coleorrhyncha)). Infraorder Pentatomomorpha is forming a sister group with a substantial bootstrap value to Cimicomorpha. Pyrrhocoroidea forms a sister relationship with Lygaeoidea + Coreoidea. There is a close relationship between Largidae and Pyrrhocoridae within Pyrrhocoroidea. The results show that the present species is firmly embedded in the genus Arhaphe with 94.35% sequence resemblance to its congeners. Besides, the recovered hemipteran species considered a potential model group for studying different symbionts. We propose both phylogenetic and ecological evolutionary developmental biology viewpoints for a more synthetic understanding of insect populations' molecular evolution.}, } @article {pmid33350014, year = {2021}, author = {Lukito, Y and Lee, K and Noorifar, N and Green, KA and Winter, DJ and Ram, A and Hale, TK and Chujo, T and Cox, MP and Johnson, LJ and Scott, B}, title = {Regulation of host-infection ability in the grass-symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae by histone H3K9 and H3K36 methyltransferases.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {2116-2131}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15370}, pmid = {33350014}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Epichloe/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Histones/genetics ; Methyltransferases/genetics ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have identified key genes that control the symbiotic interaction between Epichloë festucae and Lolium perenne. Here we report on the identification of specific E. festucae genes that control host infection. Deletion of setB, which encodes a homologue of the H3K36 histone methyltransferase Set2/KMT3, reduced histone H3K36 trimethylation and led to severe defects in colony growth and hyphal development. The E. festucae ΔclrD mutant, which lacks the gene encoding the homologue of the H3K9 methyltransferase KMT1, displays similar developmental defects. Both mutants are completely defective in their ability to infect L. perenne. Alleles that complement the culture and plant phenotypes of both mutants also complement the histone methylation defects. Co-inoculation of either ΔsetB or ΔclrD with the wild-type strain enables these mutants to colonize the host. However, successful colonization by the mutants resulted in death or stunting of the host plant. Transcriptome analysis at the early infection stage identified four fungal candidate genes, three of which encode small-secreted proteins, that are differentially regulated in these mutants compared to wild type. Deletion of crbA, which encodes a putative carbohydrate binding protein, resulted in significantly reduced host infection rates by E. festucae.}, } @article {pmid33348476, year = {2021}, author = {Nyanzi, R and Jooste, PJ and Buys, EM}, title = {Invited review: Probiotic yogurt quality criteria, regulatory framework, clinical evidence, and analytical aspects.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {1-19}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2020-19116}, pmid = {33348476}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Beverages/analysis ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Milk ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*standards ; Yogurt/*standards ; }, abstract = {Yogurt is a milk-based product manufactured by lactic acid fermentation enabled by symbiotic yogurt cultures. Yogurt is largely considered to be a health product, and it is employed to deliver probiotics and prebiotics to the consumer. However, not all yogurts are probiotic, neither are they all functional products. There is increasing demand for health-promoting beverages, which is prompting the dairy industry to develop functional probiotic yogurts to meet the demand. However, there seems to be a scarcity of reviews providing critical information on regulatory frameworks in regions of the world, clinical trial outcomes, and methodological approaches for enumerating multiprobiotic strains in yogurt. This review, relating to functional probiotic yogurt, covers the newest information on the topic for the period mostly between 2014 and 2019. Conformance to regulations is paramount and hence, global regulatory frameworks for probiotic yogurt and prebiotic and nonprebiotic ingredients included in yogurt are reviewed. The paper emphasizes the need for convincing clinical trial outcomes that provide the dairy industry with an opportunity to market products with substantiated beneficial claims. The paper also discusses probiotic strains in functional yogurt, which is required to have population levels above the recommended therapeutic minimum during shelf life. The multiprobiotic species added to yogurt may present challenges relating to methodological and analytical approaches needed to determine viability of each strain contained in such yogurt. Hence, the review also presents the pros and cons of the culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches for the enumeration of probiotic cells in yogurt. The review is arguably valuable to the dairy industry, functional food developers, related scientists, and researchers, as well as policy makers.}, } @article {pmid33348186, year = {2021}, author = {Fan, YV and Varbanov, PS and Klemeš, JJ and Romanenko, SV}, title = {Urban and industrial symbiosis for circular economy: Total EcoSite Integration.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {279}, number = {}, pages = {111829}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111829}, pmid = {33348186}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Environment ; Industry ; *Refuse Disposal ; Solid Waste/analysis ; Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal Facilities ; *Waste Management ; }, abstract = {The paper presents an extension of Pinch Analysis and namely, Total Site Process Integration. It benefits from up to date developments and introduction of Total EcoSite Integration for urban and industrial symbiosis. An important development is Pinch Analysis for Solid Waste Integration which is a crucial step for the symbiosis in a circular economy. As the potential EcoSites are usually extensive and cover various units, a methodology based on clusters has been used. The solution has been supported by graphical tools using the analogy with already implemented extensions of Pinch Analysis. The results of a demonstration case study revealed the potential of the novel approach. The identified integrated design increased the energy recovered from the solid waste by 11.39 MWh/d and diverted 2 t/d of the waste from the landfill, benefiting both the urban and industrial site. The proposed approach is also capable of minimising the requirement of energy-intensive thermal drying for waste whenever the process allowed, subsequently offer a solution with lower environmental footprint and cost. For future work, a even more comprehensive case study can be conducted by considering the other forms of the waste, recovery process and drying approaches.}, } @article {pmid33347631, year = {2021}, author = {Tiwari, M and Pandey, V and Singh, B and Bhatia, S}, title = {Dynamics of miRNA mediated regulation of legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {1279-1291}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13983}, pmid = {33347631}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume nodules is important in soils with low nitrogen availability. The initiation and sustainability of symbiosis require cellular reprogramming that involves the miRNA-mediated inhibition or activation of specific nodulation genes. The high-throughput sequencing of small RNA libraries has identified miRNAs and their targets, which are the major players in the post-transcriptional gene regulation (PTGS) of the different stages of legume-rhizobia symbiosis ranging from bacterial colonization and organogenesis to symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Here, we present an overview of information obtained from the miRNA libraries from nodulating tissues that have been sequenced to date. The functional analysis of miRNAs has revealed roles in phytohormone homeostasis and spatio-temporal regulation, as well as the mobility of miRNAs and their functions in shoot to root signalling that affects diverse functions, including bacterial entry, meristem division and differentiation, nitrogen fixation and senescence. Furthermore, small RNA fragments of rhizobial origin repress complementary plant mRNAs. We also consider the roles of miRNAs in determinate or indeterminate nodules. Taken together, this overview confirms that miRNAs are master regulators of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33346086, year = {2020}, author = {Eun Kang, J and Ciampi, A and Hijri, M}, title = {SeSaMe: Metagenome Sequence Classification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-associated Microorganisms.}, journal = {Genomics, proteomics & bioinformatics}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {601-612}, pmid = {33346086}, issn = {2210-3244}, mesh = {Fungi ; Metagenome ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Sesamum ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant root symbionts that play key roles in plant growth and soil fertility. They are obligate biotrophic fungi that form coenocytic multinucleated hyphae and spores. Numerous studies have shown that diverse microorganisms live on the surface of and inside their mycelia, resulting in a metagenome when whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data are obtained from sequencing AMF cultivated in vivo. The metagenome contains not only the AMF sequences, but also those from associated microorganisms. In this study, we introduce a novel bioinformatics program, Spore-associated Symbiotic Microbes (SeSaMe), designed for taxonomic classification of short sequences obtained by next-generation DNA sequencing. A genus-specific usage bias database was created based on amino acid usage and codon usage of a three consecutive codon DNA 9-mer encoding an amino acid trimer in a protein secondary structure. The program distinguishes between coding sequence (CDS) and non-CDS, and classifies a query sequence into a genus group out of 54 genera used as reference. The mean percentages of correct predictions of the CDS and the non-CDS test sets at the genus level were 71% and 50% for bacteria, 68% and 73% for fungi (excluding AMF), and 49% and 72% for AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis), respectively. SeSaMe provides not only a means for estimating taxonomic diversity and abundance but also the gene reservoir of the reference taxonomic groups associated with AMF. Therefore, it enables users to study the symbiotic roles of associated microorganisms. It can also be applicable to other microorganisms as well as soil metagenomes. SeSaMe is freely available at www.fungalsesame.org.}, } @article {pmid33346085, year = {2020}, author = {Eun Kang, J and Ciampi, A and Hijri, M}, title = {SeSaMe PS Function: Functional Analysis of the Whole Metagenome Sequencing Data of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Genomics, proteomics & bioinformatics}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {613-623}, pmid = {33346085}, issn = {2210-3244}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; Codon ; Codon Usage ; DNA, Bacterial ; DNA, Fungal ; *Metagenome ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study, we introduce a novel bioinformatics program, Spore-associated Symbiotic Microbes Position-specific Function (SeSaMe PS Function), for position-specific functional analysis of short sequences derived from metagenome sequencing data of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The unique advantage of the program lies in databases created based on genus-specific sequence properties derived from protein secondary structure, namely amino acid usages, codon usages, and codon contexts of 3-codon DNA 9-mers. SeSaMe PS Function searches a query sequence against reference sequence database, identifies 3-codon DNA 9-mers with structural roles, and creates a comparative dataset containing the codon usage biases of the 3-codon DNA 9-mers from 54 bacterial and fungal genera. The program applies correlation principal component analysis in conjunction with K-means clustering method to the comparative dataset. 3-codon DNA 9-mers clustered as a sole member or with only a few members are often structurally and functionally distinctive sites that provide useful insights into important molecular interactions. The program provides a versatile means for studying functions of short sequences from metagenome sequencing and has a wide spectrum of applications. SeSaMe PS Function is freely accessible at www.fungalsesame.org.}, } @article {pmid33345523, year = {2020}, author = {Li, JJ and Zeng, M}, title = {[Ecological significance of arbuscular mycorrhiza on plant rhizosphere stress].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {3216-3226}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202009.039}, pmid = {33345523}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In recent years, Chinese scientists have made remarkable achievements in on mycorrhizal molecular biology, nutrition, taxonomy, and ecology, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) having been mostly studied. AMF can form symbiotic relationship with roots of most terrestrial plants, promote plant growth and development, improve plant stress resistance, maintain ecological balance, and protect ecological environment. This review mainly introduced the ecological function and mechanism of AMF in plant rhizosphere stress from the aspects of abiotic (drought stress, heavy metal pollution, saline-alkali stress) and biotic stresses (pathogenic bacteria and nematode infection). We proposed the remaining deficiencies and research prospects in this field to provide refe-rence for future research of AMF.}, } @article {pmid33345492, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, LL and Feng, QH and Sun, JX}, title = {[Differentiation of ectomycorrhizal morphology in Abies faxoniana along an elevation gradient in a subalpine forest of western Sichuan Province, China].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {2911-2922}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202009.040}, pmid = {33345492}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Abies ; China ; Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi are an important group of symbiotic fungi beneficial to plant growth and their environmental adaptation. An explicit clarification of the trait of ectomycorrhizal fungi would facilitate our understanding of plant responses to environmental change. We set up sampling plots at five elevations (2850, 3000, 3194, 3413, 3593 m) in the Balong Mountain within the Wolong Nature Reserve of Sichuan Province, and collected cubic soil samples (10 cm×10 cm×10 cm) from those plots by point centered quarter method. Based on examination of the morphological types and diversity of ectomycorrhizal roots of Abies faxoniana in each soil sample, we examined the variations in morphological traits of ectomycorrhizal roots of A. faxoniana along the elevational gra-dient and the effects of soil environmental factors. Results showed that: 1) The major ectomycorrhizae of A. faxoniana in Wolong Nature Reserve was orange or yellow in color, with smooth mantle and no or few extensional hyphae, and cylindric or inflated root tips. This type of ectomycorrhizae occurred with highest rate of colonization (12.4%) in the study area. 2) With the increases of elevation, the morphological diversity of ectomycorrhizae in A. faxoniana declined and the morphological types per cubic soil sample significantly decreased. 3) There were significant differences between the ectomycorrhizae of contact exploration type (CE) and short distance exploration type (SDE) at different elevations, while the colonization rate of CE increased significantly with elevation. 4) Soil factors drove the variations of ectomycorrhizal morphology in A. faxoniana along the elevational gradient. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil total nitrogen (TN), soil temperature (Ts), soil water content (SWC), pH, soil acid phosphatase (ACP) and soil total phosphorus (TP) had significant effects on ectomycorrhizal morphology in A. faxoniana, among which TN and Ts being the greatest and explaining 5.4% and 4.9% of the total variations. Our results clari-fied the variations in the occurrence of ectomycorrhizal morphology in A. faxoniana along elevational gradient, which provided scientific evidence for further studying the mechanisms underlying the responses to environmental changes in mycorrhizal strategy in coniferous species of subalpine forests.}, } @article {pmid33343680, year = {2020}, author = {Aoussar, N and Laasri, FE and Bourhia, M and Manoljovic, N and Mhand, RA and Rhallabi, N and Ullah, R and Shahat, AA and Noman, OM and Nasr, FA and Almarfadi, OM and El Mzibri, M and Vasiljević, P and Benbacer, L and Mellouki, F}, title = {Phytochemical Analysis, Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Lichens.}, journal = {Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM}, volume = {2020}, number = {}, pages = {8104538}, pmid = {33343680}, issn = {1741-427X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens present a complex symbiotic relationship between a filamentous fungus, photoautotrophic partner (algae or cyanobacteria), and bacterial community. The Objective of the Study. This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of acetone extracts of Moroccan Evernia prunastri (E. prunastri), Ramalina farinacea (R. farinacea), and Pseudevernia furfuracea (P. furfuracea). Materials and Methods. The phytochemical analysis was carried out by HPLC-UV. The cytotoxic effect was assessed on human prostate cancer (22RV1), human colon carcinoma (HT-29), human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2), and Hamster ovarian cancer (CHO) cells lines by WST1 assay. The antioxidant power was assessed by DPPH and FRAP assays. The antibacterial effect was obtained using the broth microdilution method.

RESULTS: The findings of phytochemical analysis showed that the lichens studied possess interesting bioactive molecules such as physodalic acid, evernic acid, and usnic acid, as well as protocetraric acid. According to the American National Cancer Institute guidelines, the WST-1 test showed that all crude extracts did not show significant cytotoxic effects against all concerous cell lines, and IC50 values ranged from 42.30 to 140.24 µg/mL. Regarding the antioxidant activity, P. furfuracea extract showed the highest free-radical-scavenging ability (IC50 = 498.40 µg/mL). The most potent antibacterial extract was recorded for P. furfuracea extract with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.039 to 0.31 mg/mL.

CONCLUSION: In this research work, we report that the studied lichen extracts exhibit an important biological effect, supporting that lichens represent a hopeful source of original natural products for the research of new bioactive molecules having a pharmaceutical interest.}, } @article {pmid33343546, year = {2020}, author = {Tan, WC and Muhialdin, BJ and Meor Hussin, AS}, title = {Influence of Storage Conditions on the Quality, Metabolites, and Biological Activity of Soursop (Annona muricata. L.) Kombucha.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {603481}, pmid = {33343546}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Kombucha is a slightly alcoholic beverage produced using sugared tea via fermentation using the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). This study aimed to optimize the production of soursop kombucha and determine the effects of different storage conditions on the quality, metabolites, and biological activity. The response surface method (RSM) results demonstrated that the optimum production parameters were 300 ml soursop juice, 700 ml black tea, and 150 g sugar and 14 days fermentation at 28°C. The storage conditions showed significant (P < 0.05) effects on the antioxidant activity including the highest antioxidant activity for the sample stored for 14 days at 25°C in light and the highest total phenolic content (TPC) for the sample stored for 7 days at 4°C in the dark. No significant effects were observed on the antimicrobial activity of soursop kombucha toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The microbial population was reduced from the average of 10[6] CFU/ml before the storage to 10[4] CFU/ml after the storage at 4 and 25°C in dark and light conditions. The metabolites profiling demonstrated significant decline for the sucrose, acetic acid, gluconic acid, and ethanol, while glucose was significantly increased. The storage conditions for 21 days at 25°C in the dark reduced 98% of ethanol content. The novel findings of this study revealed that prolonged storage conditions have high potential to improve the quality, metabolites content, biological activity, and the Halal status of soursop kombucha.}, } @article {pmid33343128, year = {2020}, author = {Karanth, P}, title = {From Aphasia and Allied disorders to Autism Spectrum Disorders - A Mutualistic Symbiotic Relationship. (A Five Decade Long Journey in Neuro-Communication Disorders).}, journal = {Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology}, volume = {23}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {S63-S66}, pmid = {33343128}, issn = {0972-2327}, abstract = {The study of aphasia and the range of allied disorders, that accompany it has provided a rich source of clinical information providing insights in to the complexities of the human brain and how it affects the functioning of the individual, as well as how it influences his experiencing of the world; subsequently verified by more rigorous scientific research. An attempt is made here to document similar clinical insights in to the experiences of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), now known to have atypical neuro development; on the basis of clinical observations and self-reports of these children, vetted by the author's long standing experience of working with those with neurogenic communication disorders, both adult and child. As with the aphasias, these clinical documentations and insights could lead to more carefully controlled research, paving the way for better understanding and interventional support for those with ASD.}, } @article {pmid33341944, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, Y and Wang, M and Mur, LAJ and Shen, Q and Guo, S}, title = {The cross-kingdom roles of mineral nutrient transporters in plant-microbe relations.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {171}, number = {4}, pages = {771-784}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13318}, pmid = {33341944}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Minerals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; *Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The regulation of plant physiology by plant mineral nutrient transporter (MNT) is well understood. Recently, the extensive characterization of beneficial and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions has defined the roles for MNTs in such relationships. In this review, we summarize the roles of diverse nutrient transporters in the symbiotic or pathogenic relationships between plants and microorganisms. In doing so, we highlight how MNTs of plants and microbes can act in a coordinated manner. In symbiotic relationships, MNTs play key roles in the establishment of the interaction between the host plant and rhizobium or mycorrhizae as well in the subsequent coordinated transport of nutrients. Additionally, MNTs may also regulate the colonization or degeneration of symbiotic microorganisms by reflecting the nutrient status of the plant and soil. This allows the host plant obtain nutrients from the soil in the most optimal manner. With pathogenic-interactions, MNTs influence pathogen proliferation, the efficacy of the host's biochemical defense and related signal transduction mechanisms. We classify the MNT effects in plant-pathogen interactions as either indirect by influencing the nutrient status and fitness of the pathogen, or direct by initiating host defense mechanisms. While such observations indicate the fundamental importance of MNTs in governing the interactions with a range of microorganisms, further work is needed to develop an integrative understanding of their functions.}, } @article {pmid33339507, year = {2020}, author = {Nikolouli, K and Augustinos, AA and Stathopoulou, P and Asimakis, E and Mintzas, A and Bourtzis, K and Tsiamis, G}, title = {Genetic structure and symbiotic profile of worldwide natural populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata.}, journal = {BMC genetics}, volume = {21}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {128}, pmid = {33339507}, issn = {1471-2156}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Ceratitis capitata/*genetics/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genetics, Population ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest of worldwide economic importance and a model for the development of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for fruit flies of the Tephritidae family (Diptera). SIT relies on the effective mating of laboratory-reared strains and natural populations, and therefore requires an efficient mass-rearing system that will allow for the production of high-quality males. Adaptation of wild flies to an artificial laboratory environment can be accompanied by negative effects on several life history traits through changes in their genetic diversity and symbiotic communities. Such changes may lead to reduced biological quality and mating competitiveness in respect to the wild populations. Profiling wild populations can help understand, and maybe reverse, deleterious effects accompanying laboratory domestication thus providing insects that can efficiently and effectively support SIT application.

RESULTS: In the present study, we analyzed both the genetic structure and gut symbiotic communities of natural medfly populations of worldwide distribution, including Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The genetic structure of 408 individuals from 15 distinct populations was analyzed with a set of commonly used microsatellite markers. The symbiotic communities of a subset of 265 individuals from 11 populations were analyzed using the 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing of single individuals (adults). Genetic differentiation was detected among geographically distant populations while adults originated from neighboring areas were genetically closer. Alpha and beta diversity of bacterial communities pointed to an overall reduced symbiotic diversity and the influence of the geographic location on the bacterial profile.

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis revealed differences both in the genetic profile and the structure of gut symbiotic communities of medfly natural populations. The genetic analysis expanded our knowledge to populations not analyzed before and our results were in accordance with the existing scenarios regarding this species expansion and colonization pathways. At the same time, the bacterial communities from different natural medfly populations have been characterized, thus broadening our knowledge on the microbiota of the species across its range. Genetic and symbiotic differences between natural and laboratory populations must be considered when designing AW-IPM approaches with a SIT component, since they may impact mating compatibility and mating competitiveness of the laboratory-reared males. In parallel, enrichment from wild populations and/or symbiotic supplementation could increase rearing productivity, biological quality, and mating competitiveness of SIT-important laboratory strains.}, } @article {pmid33339499, year = {2020}, author = {Cai, Z and Guo, Q and Yao, Z and Zheng, W and Xie, J and Bai, S and Zhang, H}, title = {Comparative genomics of Klebsiella michiganensis BD177 and related members of Klebsiella sp. reveal the symbiotic relationship with Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {BMC genetics}, volume = {21}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {138}, pmid = {33339499}, issn = {1471-2156}, mesh = {Animals ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Klebsiella/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bactrocera dorsalis is a destructive polyphagous and highly invasive insect pest of tropical and subtropical species of fruit and vegetable crops. The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been used for decades to control insect pests of agricultural, veterinary, and human health importance. Irradiation of pupae in SIT can reduce the ecological fitness of the sterile insects. Our previous study has shown that a gut bacterial strain BD177 that could restore ecological fitness by promoting host food intake and metabolic activities.

RESULTS: Using long-read sequence technologies, we assembled the complete genome of K. michiganensis BD177 strain. The complete genome of K. michiganensis BD177 comprises one circular chromosome and four plasmids with a GC content of 55.03%. The pan-genome analysis was performed on 119 genomes (strain BD177 genome and 118 out of 128 published Klebsiella sp. genomes since ten were discarded). The pan-genome includes a total of 49305 gene clusters, a small number of 858 core genes, and a high number of accessory (10566) genes. Pan-genome and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis showed that BD177 is more similar to the type strain K. michiganensis DSM2544, while away from the type strain K. oxytoca ATCC13182. Comparative genome analysis with 21 K. oxytoca and 12 K. michiganensis strains, identified 213 unique genes, several of them related to amino acid metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism in BD177 genome.

CONCLUSIONS: Phylogenomics analysis reclassified strain BD177 as a member of the species K. michiganensis. Comparative genome analysis suggested that K. michiganensis BD177 has the strain-specific ability to provide three essential amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine) and two vitamins B (folate and riboflavin) to B. dorsalis. The clear classification status of BD177 strain and identification of unique genetic characteristics may contribute to expanding our understanding of the symbiotic relationship of gut microbiota and B. dorsalis.}, } @article {pmid33337985, year = {2021}, author = {Mei, Y and Liu, CY and Li, SH and Guerin-Laguette, A and Xiao, YJ and Tang, P and Wan, SP and Bonito, G and Wang, Y}, title = {Phlebopus roseus, a new edible bolete from China, is associated with insects and plants.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {113}, number = {1}, pages = {33-42}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2020.1816781}, pmid = {33337985}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Agaricales/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; *Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; China ; Classification ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Eriobotrya/microbiology ; Hemiptera ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Tumors/microbiology ; RNA Polymerase II/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phlebopus roseus is described as new based on collections from southwest China. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and portions of nuclear 28S rDNA (28S), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and the largest and second largest subunits of RNA polymerase II (rpb1, rpb2) support P. roseus as a novel species in the genus Phlebopus (Boletinellaceae, Boletales). The new species resembles P. portentosus but differs from it in that mature basidiomata have a bright rose-red-colored stipe and a radiate tubular hymenophore with nested pores. Despite extensive searching, P. roseus has only been found at four sites within a 24-hectare orchard dominated by Eriobotrya japonica, which is agriculturally important given its fruit production (loquats). Therefore, this species appears to be endemic and geographically restricted. The ecology of this bolete is also unique. In line with the trophic behavior of other species in the Boletinellaceae, our observations indicate that P. roseus forms a symbiotic association with the scale insect Coccus hesperidum, identified through sequence analysis of its mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region, to form fungus-insect galls that develop on roots of E. japonica trees. Phlebopus roseus is an edible mushroom species and is collected from the type location by farmers and sold commercially in limited quantities at local markets alongside P. portentosus and other fungi.}, } @article {pmid33332711, year = {2021}, author = {Sgard, C and Bier, JC and Peigneux, P}, title = {Gesturing helps memory encoding in aMCI.}, journal = {Journal of neuropsychology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {396-409}, doi = {10.1111/jnp.12238}, pmid = {33332711}, issn = {1748-6653}, mesh = {Aged ; *Cognitive Dysfunction/complications ; Gestures ; Humans ; *Memory, Episodic ; Mental Recall ; Neuropsychological Tests ; }, abstract = {Encoding in episodic memory is a step often impaired in patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). However, procedural memory processes are still relatively preserved. In line with previous research on the enactment effect, we investigated the potential benefit of encoding words combined with imitative gestures on episodic memory. Based on the Grober and Buschke's free/cued recall procedure, we developed the Symbiosis test in which 13 patients with aMCI and 16 healthy elderly participants learned 32 words belonging to 16 different semantic categories either in a verbal encoding (A) or a bimodal (B; verbal and motor imitation) condition, using a blocked ABBA/BAAB procedure. Overall, memory retrieval was better in healthy participants than in patients with aMCI, and better for cued retrieval in the bimodal encoding (gesture cues) than the verbal encoding (category cues) condition, but there was no interaction effect between group and encoding conditions. These results show that performing concomitant gestures can enhance cued episodic memory retrieval in patients with aMCI and in healthy elderly controls. The Symbiosis test broadens the scope of the enactment effect, from action phrases to isolated words learning in patients with aMCI. Future work should investigate how bimodal encoding provides novel perspectives for memory rehabilitation in patients with aMCI.}, } @article {pmid33332645, year = {2021}, author = {Eichmann, R and Richards, L and Schäfer, P}, title = {Hormones as go-betweens in plant microbiome assembly.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {105}, number = {2}, pages = {518-541}, pmid = {33332645}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The interaction of plants with complex microbial communities is the result of co-evolution over millions of years and contributed to plant transition and adaptation to land. The ability of plants to be an essential part of complex and highly dynamic ecosystems is dependent on their interaction with diverse microbial communities. Plant microbiota can support, and even enable, the diverse functions of plants and are crucial in sustaining plant fitness under often rapidly changing environments. The composition and diversity of microbiota differs between plant and soil compartments. It indicates that microbial communities in these compartments are not static but are adjusted by the environment as well as inter-microbial and plant-microbe communication. Hormones take a crucial role in contributing to the assembly of plant microbiomes, and plants and microbes often employ the same hormones with completely different intentions. Here, the function of hormones as go-betweens between plants and microbes to influence the shape of plant microbial communities is discussed. The versatility of plant and microbe-derived hormones essentially contributes to the creation of habitats that are the origin of diversity and, thus, multifunctionality of plants, their microbiota and ultimately ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33331270, year = {2020}, author = {Balt, J and Uehara, O and Abiko, Y and Jamyanjav, B and Jav, S and Nagasawa, T and Mori, M and Horie, Y and Fujita, M and Lennikov, A and Ohta, T and Hiraoka, M and Iwata, D and Namba, K and Ohno, S and Kitaichi, N}, title = {Alteration of oral flora in Mongolian patients with Behçet's disease: a multicentre study.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental rheumatology}, volume = {38 Suppl 127}, number = {5}, pages = {80-85}, pmid = {33331270}, issn = {0392-856X}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Behcet Syndrome/diagnosis ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Saliva ; *Stomatitis, Aphthous ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Behçet's disease (BD) is characterised by repeated acute inflammatory attacks with aphthous ulcers of the oral mucosa, uveitis of the eyes, skin symptoms, and genital ulcers. Although its aetiology is still unknown, there is evidence of the involvement of oral bacteria in systemic diseases. Various types of oral bacteria may be involved in the development and progression of BD. The present study investigated alterations in the oral flora of patients with BD in Mongolia. We collected saliva samples from the Mongolian BD group and healthy control (HC) group, and the oral flora were analysed using next-generation sequencer (NGS).

METHODS: DNA was extracted from the unstimulated saliva samples from the 47 BD and 48 HC subjects. The DNA was amplified from the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA using PCR, and the data were acquired using NGS. Based on the obtained data, we analysed the alpha diversity, beta diversity, and bacterial taxonomy of the salivary flora.

RESULTS: Beta diversity differed significantly between the BD and HC flora, but no significant differences were observed in alpha diversity. We found that the proportions of three genera - an S24-7 family unknown species, a mitochondria family unknown species, and Akkermansia species associated with IL-10 production - were significantly lower in the BD than in the HC group.

CONCLUSIONS: The reduced proportions of the S24-7 family and symbiotic Akkermansia species may be key phenomena in the oral flora of patients with BD.}, } @article {pmid33329684, year = {2020}, author = {Sawa, S and Sato, MH and Favery, B}, title = {Editorial: Developmental Modification Under Biotic Interactions in Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {619804}, pmid = {33329684}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid33329665, year = {2020}, author = {Villar, I and Larrainzar, E and Milazzo, L and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Rubio, MC and Smulevich, G and Martínez, JI and Wilson, MT and Reeder, B and Huertas, R and Abbruzzetti, S and Udvardi, M and Becana, M}, title = {A Plant Gene Encoding One-Heme and Two-Heme Hemoglobins With Extreme Reactivities Toward Diatomic Gases and Nitrite.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {600336}, pmid = {33329665}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In plants, symbiotic hemoglobins act as carriers and buffers of O2 in nodules, whereas nonsymbiotic hemoglobins or phytoglobins (Glbs) are ubiquitous in tissues and may perform multiple, but still poorly defined, functions related to O2 and/or nitric oxide (NO). Here, we have identified a Glb gene of the model legume Medicago truncatula with unique properties. The gene, designated MtGlb1-2, generates four alternative splice forms encoding Glbs with one or two heme domains and 215-351 amino acid residues. This is more than double the size of any hemoglobin from plants or other organisms described so far. A combination of molecular, cellular, biochemical, and biophysical methods was used to characterize these novel proteins. RNA-sequencing showed that the four splice variants are expressed in plant tissues. MtGlb1-2 is transcriptionally activated by hypoxia and its expression is further enhanced by an NO source. The gene is preferentially expressed in the meristems and vascular bundles of roots and nodules. Two of the proteins, bearing one or two hemes, were characterized using mutants in the distal histidines of the hemes. The Glbs are extremely reactive toward the physiological ligands O2, NO, and nitrite. They show very high O2 affinities, NO dioxygenase activity (in the presence of O2), and nitrite reductase (NiR) activity (in the absence of O2) compared with the hemoglobins from vertebrates and other plants. We propose that these Glbs act as either NO scavengers or NO producers depending on the O2 tension in the plant tissue, being involved in the fast and fine tuning of NO concentration in the cytosol in response to sudden changes in O2 availability.}, } @article {pmid33329491, year = {2020}, author = {Moreno-Ruiz, D and Lichius, A and Turrà, D and Di Pietro, A and Zeilinger, S}, title = {Chemotropism Assays for Plant Symbiosis and Mycoparasitism Related Compound Screening in Trichoderma atroviride.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {601251}, pmid = {33329491}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Trichoderma atroviride is a mycoparasitic fungus used as biological control agent to protect plants against fungal pathogens. Successful biocontrol is based on the perception of signals derived from both the plant symbiont and the fungal prey. Here, we applied three different chemotropic assays to study the chemosensing capacity of T. atroviride toward compounds known or suspected to play a role in the mycoparasite/plant or host/prey fungal interactions and to cover the complete spectrum of T. atroviride developmental stages. Purified compounds, including nutrients, the fungal secondary metabolite 6-amyl-α-pyrone (6-pentyl-α-pyrone, 6-PP) and the plant oxylipin 13-(s)-HODE, as well as culture supernatants derived from fungal preys, including Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum, were used to evaluate chemotropic responses of conidial germlings, microcolonies and fully differentiated mycelia. Our results show that germlings respond preferentially to compounds secreted by plant roots and T. atroviride itself than to compounds secreted by prey fungi. With the progression of colony development, host plant cues and self-generated signaling compounds remained the strongest chemoattractants. Nevertheless, mature hyphae responded differentially to certain prey-derived signals. Depending on the fungal prey species, chemotropic responses resulted in either increased or decreased directional colony extension and hyphal density at the colony periphery closest to the test compound source. Together these findings suggest that chemotropic sensing during germling development is focused on plant association and colony network formation, while fungal prey recognition develops later in mature hyphae of fully differentiated mycelium. Furthermore, the morphological alterations of T. atroviride in response to plant host and fungal prey compounds suggest the presence of both positive and negative chemotropism. The presented assays will be useful for screening of candidate compounds, and for evaluating their impact on the developmental spectrum of T. atroviride and other related species alike. Conidial germlings proved particularly useful for simple and rapid compound screening, whereas more elaborate microscopic analysis of microcolonies and fully differentiated mycelia was essential to understand process-specific responses, such as plant symbiosis and biocontrol.}, } @article {pmid33329456, year = {2020}, author = {Walker, L and Lagunas, B and Gifford, ML}, title = {Determinants of Host Range Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {585749}, pmid = {33329456}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Leguminous plants possess the almost unique ability to enter symbiosis with soil-resident, nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia. During this symbiosis, the bacteria physically colonize specialized organs on the roots of the host plant called nodules, where they reduce atmospheric nitrogen into forms that can be assimilated by the host plant and receive photosynthates in return. In order for nodule development to occur, there is extensive chemical cross-talk between both parties during the formative stages of the symbiosis. The vast majority of the legume family are capable of forming root nodules and typically rhizobia are only able to fix nitrogen within the context of this symbiotic association. However, many legume species only enter productive symbiosis with a few, or even single rhizobial species or strains, and vice-versa. Permitting symbiosis with only rhizobial strains that will be able to fix nitrogen with high efficiency is a crucial strategy for the host plant to prevent cheating by rhizobia. This selectivity is enforced at all stages of the symbiosis, with partner choice beginning during the initial communication between the plant and rhizobia. However, it can also be influenced even once nitrogen-fixing nodules have developed on the root. This review sets out current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms employed by both parties to influence host range during legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33329448, year = {2020}, author = {Mollah, MMI and Roy, MC and Choi, DY and Hasan, MA and Al Baki, MA and Yeom, HS and Kim, Y}, title = {Variations of Indole Metabolites and NRPS-PKS Loci in Two Different Virulent Strains of Xenorhabdus hominickii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {583594}, pmid = {33329448}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU1 is known to be an entomopathogenic bacterium symbiotic to nematode Steinernema monticolum. Another bacterial strain X. hominickii DY1 was isolated from a local population of S. monticolum. This bacterial strain X. hominickii DY1 was found to exhibit high insecticidal activities against lepidopteran and coleopteran species after hemocoelic injection. However, these two X. hominickii strains exhibited significant variations in insecticidal activities, with ANU1 strain being more potent than DY1 strain. To clarify their virulence difference, bacterial culture broths of these two strains were compared for secondary metabolite compositions. GC-MS analysis revealed that these two strains had different compositions, including pyrrolopyrazines, piperazines, cyclopeptides, and indoles. Some of these compounds exhibited inhibitory activities against phospholipase A2 to block eicosanoid biosynthesis and induce significant immunosuppression. They also exhibited significant insecticidal activities after oral feeding, with indole derivatives being the most potent. More kinds of indole derivatives were detected in the culture broth of ANU1 strain. To investigate variations in regulation of secondary metabolite production, expression level of leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp), a global transcription factor, was compared. ANU1 strain exhibited significantly lower Lrp expression level than DY1 strain. To assess genetic variations associated with secondary metabolite synthesis, bacterial loci encoding non-ribosomal protein synthase and polyketide synthase (NRPS-PKS) were compared. Three NRPS and four PKS loci were predicted from the genome of X. hominickii. The two bacterial strains exhibited genetic variations (0.12∼0.67%) in amino acid sequences of these NRPS-PKS. Most NRPS-PKS genes exhibited high expression peaks at stationary phase of bacterial growth. However, their expression levels were significantly different between the two strains. These results suggest that differential virulence of the two bacterial strains is caused by the difference in Lrp expression level, leading to difference in the production of indole compounds and other NRPS-PKS-associated secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid33329441, year = {2020}, author = {Li, R and Feng, Y and Chen, H and Zhang, C and Huang, Y and Chen, L and Hao, Q and Cao, D and Yuan, S and Zhou, X}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequencing of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens 113-2 and Comparative Genomic Analysis Provide Molecular Insights Into Species Specificity and Host Specificity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {576800}, pmid = {33329441}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the present study, we sequenced the complete genome of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens 113-2. The genomic characteristics of six selected rhizobial strains (two fast-growing rhizobia, two medium-slow-growing rhizobia and two slow-growing rhizobia) with four different legume hosts were analyzed by comparative genomic analysis. Genomes of B. diazoefficiens 113-2 and B. diazoefficiens USDA110 were found to share a large synteny blocks and a high ANI value, supporting 113-2 as a strain of B. diazoefficiens. 5,455 singletons and 11,656 clusters were identified among the six rhizobia genomes, and most of the pair-wise comparisons clusters were shared by the two genomes of strains in the same genus. Similar genus-specific gene numbers in the assigned COG functional terms were present in the two strains of the same genus, while the numbers were decreased with the increase of growth rate in most of the COG terms. KEGG pathway analysis of B. diazoefficiens 113-2 suggested that the rhizobial genes in ABC transporters and Two-Component system were mainly species-specific. Besides, the candidate genes related to secretion system and surface polysaccharides biosynthesis in the genomes of the six strains were explored and compared. 39 nodulation gene families, 12 nif gene families and 10 fix gene families in the genomes of these six strains were identified, and gene classes in most of gene families and the types and total gene numbers of gene families were substantially different among these six genomes. We also performed synteny analyses for above-mentioned nod, nif, and fix gene groupings, and selected NodW, NolK, NoeJ, NifB, FixK, and FixJ gene families to perform phylogeny analyses. Our results provided valuable molecular insights into species specificity and host specificity. The genetic information responsible for host specificity will play important roles in expanding the host range of rhizobia among legumes, which might provide new clues for the understanding of the genetic determinants of non-legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33329418, year = {2020}, author = {Gonella, E and Orrù, B and Marasco, R and Daffonchio, D and Alma, A}, title = {Disruption of Host-Symbiont Associations for the Symbiotic Control and Management of Pentatomid Agricultural Pests-A Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {547031}, pmid = {33329418}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The family Pentatomidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) includes several invasive stink bug species capable to attack a large number of wild and cultivated plants, causing several damages to different crops. Pentatomids rely on obligate symbiotic associations with bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, mainly of the genus Pantoea. A distinctive trait of these associations is the transmission route: during oviposition, females smear egg masses with symbiont-containing secretions, which are ingested by newly hatched nymphs, allowing the symbiont to pass through their digestive tract and establish in the crypts of the posterior midgut. Preventing newborns from orally acquiring symbionts seriously affects their fitness and survival. This symbiont inheritance process can be manipulated to develop innovative pest control measures by sterilization of egg masses prior to nymph hatching. This review summarizes the recent knowledge advances concerning the gut primary symbionts of pentatomids, with a specific focus on the most troubling pest species for agriculture. Current understanding of host colonization dynamics in pentatomids is presented, as well as the phenotypic effects determined in different insect species by the alteration of vertical transmission. Details on the current knowledge on the whole bacterial communities accompanying primary symbionts are analyzed. The recent research exploiting the perturbation of symbiont acquisition by pentatomid nymphs is discussed, by considering published work on laboratory and field trials with several active substances. These translational strategies are presently regarded as promising for limiting the populations of many important pentatomid pests in a sustainable way.}, } @article {pmid33329024, year = {2020}, author = {Kirk, AL and Clowez, S and Lin, F and Grossman, AR and Xiang, T}, title = {Transcriptome Reprogramming of Symbiodiniaceae Breviolum minutum in Response to Casein Amino Acids Supplementation.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {574654}, pmid = {33329024}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae can live freely in ocean waters or form a symbiosis with a variety of cnidarians including corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish. Trophic plasticity of Symbiodiniaceae is critical to its ecological success as it moves between environments. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these trophic shifts in Symbiodiniaceae are still largely unknown. Using Breviolum minutum strain SSB01 (designated SSB01) as a model, we showed that Symbiodiniaceae go through a physiological and transcriptome reprogramming when the alga is grown with the organic nitrogen containing nutrients in hydrolyzed casein, but not with inorganic nutrients. SSB01 grows at a much faster rate and maintains stable photosynthetic efficiency when supplemented with casein amino acids compared to only inorganic nutrients or seawater. These physiological changes are driven by massive transcriptome changes in SSB01 supplemented with casein amino acids. The levels of transcripts encoding proteins involved in altering DNA conformation such as DNA topoisomerases, histones, and chromosome structural components were all significantly changed. Functional enrichment analysis also revealed processes involved in translation, ion transport, generation of second messengers, and phosphorylation. The physiological and molecular changes that underlie in vitro trophic transitions in Symbiodiniaceae can serve as an orthogonal platform to further understand the factors that impact the Symbiodiniaceae lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid33327916, year = {2021}, author = {Rajanala, K and Kumar, N and Chamallamudi, MR}, title = {Modulation of Gut-Brain Axis by Probiotics: A Promising Anti-depressant Approach.}, journal = {Current neuropharmacology}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {990-1006}, pmid = {33327916}, issn = {1875-6190}, mesh = {Brain ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Nervous System Diseases ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The human digestive system is embedded with trillions of microbes of various species and genera. These organisms serve several purposes in the human body and exist in symbiosis with the host. Their major role is involved in the digestion and conversion of food materials into many useful substrates for the human body. Apart from this, the gut microbiota also maintains healthy communication with other body parts, including the brain. The connection between gut microbiota and the brain is termed as gut-brain axis (GBA), and these connections are established by neuronal, endocrine and immunological pathways. Thus, they are involved in neurophysiology and neuropathology of several diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression, and autism. There are several food supplements such as prebiotics and probiotics that modulate the composition of gut microbiota. This article provides a review about the role of gut microbiota in depression and supplements such as probiotics that are useful in the treatment of depression.}, } @article {pmid33326050, year = {2021}, author = {Fiack, S and Koch-Gromus, U and Kuhn, J and Lübbing-Raukohl, C}, title = {[Medicine and media-symbiosis or conflict?].}, journal = {Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {1-2}, doi = {10.1007/s00103-020-03262-0}, pmid = {33326050}, issn = {1437-1588}, mesh = {Germany ; *Medicine ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33325846, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Z and Kuan, YH and Mu, X and Miao, Z and Wu, C and Liao, WT}, title = {Ramsey interferometry through coherent A[2]Πu-X[2]Σg+-B[2]Σu+ coupling and population transfer in N2+ air laser.}, journal = {Optics letters}, volume = {45}, number = {24}, pages = {6587-6590}, doi = {10.1364/OL.401800}, pmid = {33325846}, issn = {1539-4794}, abstract = {Motivated by the hot debate on the mechanism of laser-like emission at 391 nm from N2 gas irradiated by a strong 800 nm pump laser and a weak 400 nm seed laser, we theoretically study the temporal profile, optical gain, and modulation of the 391 nm signal from N2+. Our calculation sheds light on the long standing controversy on whether population inversion is indispensable for optical gain and show the Ramsey fringes of the emission intensity at 391 nm formed by additionally injecting another 800 nm pump or 400 nm seed, which provides strong evidence for the coherence driven modulation of transition dipole moment and population transfer between the A[2]Πu(ν=2)-X[2]Σg+ states and the B[2]Σu+(ν=0)-X[2]Σg+ states. Our results show that the 391 nm optical gain is susceptible to the population inversion within N2+ states manipulated by the Ramsey technique and thus clearly reveal their symbiosis. This study reveals not only the physical picture of producing N2+ population inversion but also versatile control of the N2+ air laser.}, } @article {pmid33324490, year = {2020}, author = {Sutela, S and Forgia, M and Vainio, EJ and Chiapello, M and Daghino, S and Vallino, M and Martino, E and Girlanda, M and Perotto, S and Turina, M}, title = {The virome from a collection of endomycorrhizal fungi reveals new viral taxa with unprecedented genome organization.}, journal = {Virus evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {veaa076}, pmid = {33324490}, issn = {2057-1577}, abstract = {Mutualistic plant-associated fungi are recognized as important drivers in plant evolution, diversity, and health. The discovery that mycoviruses can take part and play important roles in symbiotic tripartite interactions has prompted us to study the viromes associated with a collection of ericoid and orchid mycorrhizal (ERM and ORM, respectively) fungi. Our study, based on high-throughput sequencing of transcriptomes (RNAseq) from fungal isolates grown in axenic cultures, revealed in both ERM and ORM fungi the presence of new mycoviruses closely related to already classified virus taxa, but also new viruses that expand the boundaries of characterized RNA virus diversity to previously undescribed evolutionary trajectories. In ERM fungi, we provide first evidence of a bipartite virus, distantly related to narnaviruses, that splits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) palm domain into two distinct proteins, encoded by each of the two segments. Furthermore, in one isolate of the ORM fungus Tulasnella spp. we detected a 12 kb genomic fragment coding for an RdRP with features of bunyavirus-like RdRPs. However, this 12 kb genomic RNA has the unique features, for Bunyavirales members, of being tri-cistronic and carrying ORFs for the putative RdRP and putative nucleocapsid in ambisense orientation on the same genomic RNA. Finally, a number of ORM fungal isolates harbored a group of ambisense bicistronic viruses with a genomic size of around 5 kb, where we could identify a putative RdRP palm domain that has some features of plus strand RNA viruses; these new viruses may represent a new lineage in the Riboviria, as they could not be reliably assigned to any of the branches in the recently derived monophyletic tree that includes most viruses with an RNA genome.}, } @article {pmid33324484, year = {2020}, author = {Bejaoui, S and Poulsen, M}, title = {The impact of early life antibiotic use on atopic and metabolic disorders: Meta-analyses of recent insights.}, journal = {Evolution, medicine, and public health}, volume = {2020}, number = {1}, pages = {279-289}, pmid = {33324484}, issn = {2050-6201}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The impact of antibiotics use early in life on later-in-life morbidities has received substantial attention as explanations for atopic and metabolic disorders with a surge as modern lifestyle diseases. The objective of this study was to perform meta-analyses to determine if antibiotics administration during the first 2 years of infant life is associated with increased risks of atopic or metabolic disorders later in life.

METHODOLOGY: We screened more than 100 English-language prospective and retrospective studies published between January 2002 and March 2020 and assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. We performed overall and subgroup meta-analyses on 31 high-quality comparable studies on atopic and 23 on metabolic disorders, involving more than 3.5 million children.

RESULTS: Antibiotic exposure prenatally and during the first 2 years of life significantly impacts the risk of developing atopic and metabolic disorders. Exposure during the first 6 months of life appears most critical, consistent with this being the time when the microbiome is most susceptible to irreversible perturbations. The presence of dose-response associations and stronger impacts of broad- than narrow-spectrum antibiotics further point to effects being mediated by microbiota-induced changes.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings support that antibiotics use is a mismatch to modernity that can negatively affect the symbiotic associations we rely on for proper immune function and metabolism. Improving our understanding of these associations, the underlying proximate mechanisms and the impact of antibiotics use on future human-symbiont evolution will be important to improve human health.

LAY SUMMARY: The use of antibiotics in infancy has been suggested to increase the risks of atopic and metabolic disorders later in life. Through meta-analyses of more than 100 studies of >3.5 million children, we confirm these risks, and show that patterns are consistent with effects being due to microbiota-driven changes.}, } @article {pmid33324385, year = {2020}, author = {Mironov, T and Sabaneyeva, E}, title = {A Robust Symbiotic Relationship Between the Ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum and the Bacterium Ca. Trichorickettsia Mobilis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {603335}, pmid = {33324385}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Close reciprocal interactions in symbiotic systems have suggested the holobiont concept, in which the host and its microbiota are considered as a single entity. Ciliates are known for their ability to form symbiotic associations with prokaryotes. Relationships between the partners in such systems vary from mutualism to parasitism and differ significantly in their robustness. We assessed the viability of the ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum and its ability to maintain its intranuclear endosymbiont Ca. Trichorickettsia mobilis (Rickettsiaceae) after treatment with antibiotics characterized by different mode of action, such as ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline. The presence of endosymbionts in the host cell was determined by means of living cell observations made using differential interference contrast or fluorescence in situ hybridization with the species-specific oligonucleotide probe (FISH). Administration of antibiotics traditionally used in treatments of rickettsioses, tetracycline and chloramphenicol, depending on the concentration used and the ciliate strain treated, either caused death of both, infected and control cells, or did not affect the ability of the host to maintain the intranuclear endosymbiont. The surviving cells always manifested motile bacteria in the macronucleus. Streptomycin treatment never led to the loss of endosymbionts in any of the four infected strains, and nearly all ciliates remained viable. Ampicillin treatment never caused host cell death, but resulted in formation of filamentous and immobile oval bacterial forms. Under repeated ampicillin treatments, a part of endosymbionts was registered in the host cytoplasm, as evidenced both by FISH and transmission electron microscopy. Endosymbionts located in the host cytoplasm were enclosed in vacuoles, apparently, corresponding to autophagosomes. Nevertheless, the bacteria seemed to persist in this compartment and might cause relapse of the infection. Although the antibiotic sensitivity profile of Trichorickettsia seems to resemble that of other representatives of Rickettsiaceae, causative agents of severe diseases in humans, neither of the antibiotic treatments used in this study resulted in an aposymbiotic cell line, apparently, due to the protists' sensitivity to tetracyclines, the drugs of preference in rickettsiosis treatment. The observed robustness of this symbiotic system makes it a good model for further elaboration of the holobiont concept.}, } @article {pmid33323676, year = {2021}, author = {Na, H and Jo, SW and Do, JM and Kim, IS and Yoon, HS}, title = {Production of Algal Biomass and High-Value Compounds Mediated by Interaction of Microalgal Oocystis sp. KNUA044 and Bacterium Sphingomonas KNU100.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {387-397}, pmid = {33323676}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Biofuels/microbiology ; Biomass ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Culture Media ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid/analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis ; Fatty Acids/biosynthesis ; Fucose/biosynthesis ; Industrial Microbiology/*methods ; Lipids/biosynthesis ; Microalgae/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Microbial Interactions ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Republic of Korea ; Sphingomonas/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {There is growing interest in the production of microalgae-based, high-value by-products as an emerging green biotechnology. However, a cultivation platform for Oocystis sp. has yet to be established. We therefore examined the effects of bacterial culture additions on the growth and production of valuable compounds of the microalgal strain Oocystis sp. KNUA044, isolated from a locally adapted region in Korea. The strain grew only in the presence of a clear supernatant of Sphingomonas sp. KNU100 culture solution and generated 28.57 mg/l/d of biomass productivity. Protein content (43.9 wt%) was approximately two-fold higher than carbohydrate content (29.4 wt%) and lipid content (13.9 wt%). Oocystis sp. KNUA044 produced the monosaccharide fucose (33 μg/mg and 0.94 mg/l/d), reported here for the first time. Fatty acid profiling showed high accumulation (over 60%) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) compared to saturated (29.4%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (9.9%) under the same culture conditions. Of these PUFAs, the algal strain produced the highest concentration of linolenic acid (C18:3 ω3; 40.2%) in the omega-3 family and generated eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 ω3; 6.0%), also known as EPA. Based on these results, we suggest that the application of Sphingomonas sp. KNU100 for strain-dependent cultivation of Oocystis sp. KNUA044 holds future promise as a bioprocess capable of increasing algal biomass and high-value bioactive by-products, including fucose and PUFAs such as linolenic acid and EPA.}, } @article {pmid33323417, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, J and Chai, X and Zhang, L and George, TS and Wang, F and Feng, G}, title = {Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Cocolonizing on a Single Plant Root System Recruit Distinct Microbiomes.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33323417}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Plant roots are usually colonized by various arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species, which vary in morphological, physiological, and genetic traits. This colonization constitutes the mycorrhizal nutrient uptake pathway (MP) and supplements the pathway through roots. Simultaneously, the extraradical hyphae of each AM fungus is associated with a community of bacteria. However, whether the community structure and function of the microbiome on the extraradical hyphae differ between AM fungal species remains unknown. In order to understand the community structure and the predicted functions of the microbiome associated with different AM fungal species, a split-root compartmented rhizobox cultivation system, which allowed us to inoculate two AM fungal species separately in two root compartments, was used. We inoculated two separate AM fungal species combinations, (i) Funneliformis mosseae and Gigaspora margarita and (ii) Rhizophagus intraradices and G. margarita, on a single root system of cotton. The hyphal exudate-fed, active microbiome was measured by combining [13]C-DNA stable isotope probing with MiSeq sequencing. We found that different AM fungal species, which were simultaneously colonizing a single root system, hosted active microbiomes that were distinct from one another. Moreover, the predicted potential functions of the different microbiomes were distinct. We conclude that the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal component of the system is responsible for the recruitment of distinct microbiomes in the hyphosphere. The potential significance of the predicted functions of the microbial ecosystem services is discussed.IMPORTANCE Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form tight symbiotic relationships with the majority of terrestrial plants and play critical roles in plant P acquisition, adding a further dimension of complexity. The plant-AM fungus-bacterium system is considered a continuum, with the bacteria colonizing not only the plant roots, but also the associated mycorrhizal hyphal network, known as the hyphosphere microbiome. Plant roots are usually colonized by different AM fungal species which form an independent phosphorus uptake pathway from the root pathway, i.e., the mycorrhizal pathway. The community structure and function of the hyphosphere microbiome of different AM species are completely unknown. In this novel study, we found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi cocolonizing on single plant roots recruit their own specific microbiomes, which should be considered in evaluating plant microbiome form and function. Our findings demonstrate the importance of understanding trophic interactions in order to gain insight into the plant-AM fungus-bacterium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33323415, year = {2020}, author = {Burgos, HL and Burgos, EF and Steinberger, AJ and Suen, G and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Multiplexed Competition in a Synthetic Squid Light Organ Microbiome Using Barcode-Tagged Gene Deletions.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33323415}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R25 GM086262/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Beneficial symbioses between microbes and their eukaryotic hosts are ubiquitous and have widespread impacts on host health and development. The binary symbiosis between the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and its squid host Euprymna scolopes serves as a model system to study molecular mechanisms at the microbe-animal interface. To identify colonization factors in this system, our lab previously conducted a global transposon insertion sequencing (INSeq) screen and identified over 300 putative novel squid colonization factors in V. fischeri To pursue mechanistic studies on these candidate genes, we present an approach to quickly generate barcode-tagged gene deletions and perform high-throughput squid competition experiments with detection of the proportion of each strain in the mixture by barcode sequencing (BarSeq). Our deletion approach improves on previous techniques based on splicing by overlap extension PCR (SOE-PCR) and tfoX-based natural transformation by incorporating a randomized barcode that results in unique DNA sequences within each deletion scar. Amplicon sequencing of the pool of barcoded strains before and after colonization faithfully reports on known colonization factors and provides increased sensitivity over colony counting methods. BarSeq enables rapid and sensitive characterization of the molecular factors involved in establishing the Vibrio-squid symbiosis and provides a valuable tool to interrogate the molecular dialogue at microbe-animal host interfaces.IMPORTANCE Beneficial microbes play essential roles in the health and development of their hosts. However, the complexity of animal microbiomes and general genetic intractability of their symbionts have made it difficult to study the coevolved mechanisms for establishing and maintaining specificity at the microbe-animal host interface. Model symbioses are therefore invaluable for studying the mechanisms of beneficial microbe-host interactions. Here, we present a combined barcode-tagged deletion and BarSeq approach to interrogate the molecular dialogue that ensures specific and reproducible colonization of the Hawaiian bobtail squid by Vibrio fischeri The ability to precisely manipulate the bacterial genome, combined with multiplex colonization assays, will accelerate the use of this valuable model system for mechanistic studies of how environmental microbes-both beneficial and pathogenic-colonize specific animal hosts.}, } @article {pmid33323078, year = {2020}, author = {Lyndby, NH and Rädecker, N and Bessette, S and Søgaard Jensen, LH and Escrig, S and Trampe, E and Kühl, M and Meibom, A}, title = {Amoebocytes facilitate efficient carbon and nitrogen assimilation in the Cassiopea-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1941}, pages = {20202393}, pmid = {33323078}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds ; Animals ; Anthozoa ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nutrients ; Photosynthesis ; Scyphozoa/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea engages in symbiosis with photosynthetic microalgae that facilitate uptake and recycling of inorganic nutrients. By contrast to most other symbiotic cnidarians, algal endosymbionts in Cassiopea are not restricted to the gastroderm but are found in amoebocyte cells within the mesoglea. While symbiont-bearing amoebocytes are highly abundant, their role in nutrient uptake and cycling in Cassiopea remains unknown. By combining isotopic labelling experiments with correlated scanning electron microscopy, and Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) imaging, we quantified the anabolic assimilation of inorganic carbon and nitrogen at the subcellular level in juvenile Cassiopea medusae bell tissue. Amoebocytes were clustered near the sub-umbrella epidermis and facilitated efficient assimilation of inorganic nutrients. Photosynthetically fixed carbon was efficiently translocated between endosymbionts, amoebocytes and host epidermis at rates similar to or exceeding those observed in corals. The Cassiopea holobionts efficiently assimilated ammonium, while no nitrate assimilation was detected, possibly reflecting adaptation to highly dynamic environmental conditions of their natural habitat. The motile amoebocytes allow Cassiopea medusae to distribute their endosymbiont population to optimize access to light and nutrients, and transport nutrition between tissue areas. Amoebocytes thus play a vital role for the assimilation and translocation of nutrients in Cassiopea, providing an interesting new model for studies of metabolic interactions in photosymbiotic marine organisms.}, } @article {pmid33322411, year = {2020}, author = {Bombin, A and Cunneely, O and Eickman, K and Bombin, S and Ruesy, A and Su, M and Myers, A and Cowan, R and Reed, L}, title = {Influence of Lab Adapted Natural Diet and Microbiota on Life History and Metabolic Phenotype of Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33322411}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota can help its host to overcome nutritional challenges, which is consistent with a holobiont theory of evolution. Our project investigated the effects produced by the microbiota community, acquired from the environment and horizontal transfer, on metabolic traits related to obesity. The study applied a novel approach of raising Drosophila melanogaster, from ten wild-derived genetic lines on naturally fermented peaches, preserving genuine microbial conditions. Larvae raised on the natural and standard lab diets were significantly different in every tested phenotype. Frozen peach food provided nutritional conditions similar to the natural ones and preserved key microbial taxa necessary for survival and development. On the peach diet, the presence of parental microbiota increased the weight and development rate. Larvae raised on each tested diet formed microbial communities distinct from each other. The effect that individual microbial taxa produced on the host varied significantly with changing environmental and genetic conditions, occasionally to the degree of opposite correlations.}, } @article {pmid33322342, year = {2020}, author = {Flores-Félix, JD and Carro, L and Cerda-Castillo, E and Squartini, A and Rivas, R and Velázquez, E}, title = {Analysis of the Interaction between Pisum sativum L. and Rhizobium laguerreae Strains Nodulating This Legume in Northwest Spain.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33322342}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Pisum sativum L. (pea) is one of the most cultivated grain legumes in European countries due to the high protein content of its seeds. Nevertheless, the rhizobial microsymbionts of this legume have been scarcely studied in these countries. In this work, we analyzed the rhizobial strains nodulating the pea in a region from Northwestern Spain, where this legume is widely cultivated. The isolated strains were genetically diverse, and the phylogenetic analysis of core and symbiotic genes showed that these strains belong to different clusters related to R. laguerreae sv. viciae. Representative strains of these clusters were able to produce cellulose and cellulases, which are two key molecules in the legume infection process. They formed biofilms and produced acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), which are involved in the quorum sensing regulation process. They also exhibited several plant growth promotion mechanisms, including phosphate solubilization, siderophore, and indole acetic acid production and symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation. All strains showed high symbiotic efficiency on pea plants, indicating that strains of R. laguerreae sv. viciae are promising candidates for the biofertilization of this legume worldwide.}, } @article {pmid33321616, year = {2021}, author = {Pillai, MM and Tran, HN and Sathishkumar, G and Manimekalai, K and Yoon, J and Lim, D and Noh, I and Bhattacharyya, A}, title = {Symbiotic culture of nanocellulose pellicle: A potential matrix for 3D bioprinting.}, journal = {Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {111552}, doi = {10.1016/j.msec.2020.111552}, pmid = {33321616}, issn = {1873-0191}, mesh = {*Bioprinting ; Cellulose ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds ; }, abstract = {Nanocellulose pellicle is produced as a byproduct during the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast in kombucha. It shows good mechanical strength, biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. However, it has limited application in tissue engineering due to its low processability. In this work, bacterial cellulose-based sustainable kombucha (KBC) sheet has been produced and it was acid-treated to partially hydrolyse. This controlled process improves its extrusion and shape formation ability. The physical, functional and biological properties were studied to assess its potential as a 3D printed scaffold. Two different cell lines (Human dermal fibroblast cells and mouse osteoblast cells) were used to study the cytocompatibility. Both the cell types showed good attachment, growth and proliferation on the pure and treated KBC. They attained almost full confluence within 3 days. This study indicates that the controlled partial hydrolysis of KBC can make it suitable for 3D printing retaining its mechanical strength and cytocompatibility. This sustainable microbial biopolymer shows the possibility to be used as a bioink for 3D bioprinting.}, } @article {pmid33321224, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, C and Jia, H}, title = {Biogenesis and maintenance of the apicoplast in model apicomplexan parasites.}, journal = {Parasitology international}, volume = {81}, number = {}, pages = {102270}, doi = {10.1016/j.parint.2020.102270}, pmid = {33321224}, issn = {1873-0329}, mesh = {Apicomplexa/*physiology ; Apicoplasts/*physiology ; *Organelle Biogenesis ; }, abstract = {The apicoplast is a non-photosynthetic relict plastid of Apicomplexa that evolved from a secondary symbiotic system. During its evolution, most of the genes derived from its alga ancestor were lost. Only genes involved in several valuable metabolic pathways, such as the synthesis of isoprenoid precursors, heme, and fatty acids, have been transferred to the host genome and retained to help these parasites adapt to a complex life cycle and various living environments. The biological function of an apicoplast is essential for most apicomplexan parasites. Considering their potential as drug targets, the metabolic functions of this symbiotic organelle have been intensively investigated through computational and biological means. Moreover, we know that not only organellar metabolic functions are linked with other organelles, but also their biogenesis processes have developed and evolved to tailor their biological functions and proper inheritance. Several distinct features have been found in the biogenesis process of apicoplasts. For example, the apicoplast borrows a dynamin-related protein (DrpA) from its host to implement organelle division. The autophagy system has also been repurposed for linking the apicoplast and centrosome during replication and the division process. However, many vital questions remain to be answered about how these parasites maintain and properly inherit this symbiotic organelle. Here we review our current knowledge about its biogenesis process and discuss several critical questions remaining to be answered in this field.}, } @article {pmid33320473, year = {2020}, author = {Zamłyńska, K}, title = {[Structures of rhizobial lipopolysaccharides and their role in symbiosis process].}, journal = {Postepy biochemii}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {49-61}, doi = {10.18388/pb.2020_316}, pmid = {33320473}, issn = {0032-5422}, mesh = {Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*chemistry/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharides synthesized by rhizobia have a various structure. Differences are observed in lipid A (considered as the most conservative part of LPS), in the core region, and in the O-specific polysaccharide. Lipids A may have different compositions of the sugar backbone and the acylation pattern. The core region of rhizobia mainly consists of hexoses, uronic acids, N-acetylquinohozamine, and Kdo, but has no heptose region typical for enterobacteria. The O-PSs may have a different structure even among strains of the same species. They are built of various monosaccharides and are often hydrophobic. An appropriate structure of LPS domains is required for establishment of an effective symbiosis between bacteria and their plant host. Changes in the structure of LPS (most often caused by mutations) resulted in a decrease in efficiency or failure of atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Complete LPS protects symbiotic bacteria penetrating plant cells and determines the proper organization and maturation of symbiosomes.}, } @article {pmid33320181, year = {2021}, author = {Thomès, L and Lescure, A}, title = {Mosaic Evolution of the Phosphopantothenate Biosynthesis Pathway in Bacteria and Archaea.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33320181}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Archaea/*enzymology/genetics ; Bacteria/*enzymology/genetics ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Coenzyme A/*biosynthesis ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Bacterial ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phosphopantothenate is a precursor to synthesis of coenzyme A, a molecule essential to many metabolic pathways. Organisms of the archaeal phyla were shown to utilize a different phosphopantothenate biosynthetic pathway from the eukaryotic and bacterial one. In this study, we report that symbiotic bacteria from the group Candidatus poribacteria present enzymes of the archaeal pathway, namely pantoate kinase and phosphopantothenate synthetase, mirroring what was demonstrated for Picrophilus torridus, an archaea partially utilizing the bacterial pathway. Our results not only support the ancient origin of the coenzyme A pathway in the three domains of life but also highlight its complex and dynamic evolution. Importantly, this study helps to improve protein annotation for this pathway in the C. poribacteria group and other related organisms.}, } @article {pmid33319803, year = {2020}, author = {Rosa, LH and da Silva, TH and Ogaki, MB and Pinto, OHB and Stech, M and Convey, P and Carvalho-Silva, M and Rosa, CA and Câmara, PEAS}, title = {DNA metabarcoding uncovers fungal diversity in soils of protected and non-protected areas on Deception Island, Antarctica.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {21986}, pmid = {33319803}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; *Biodiversity ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Fungi/*classification/*genetics ; *Islands ; Satellite Communications ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {We assessed soil fungal diversity at two sites on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica using DNA metabarcoding analysis. The first site was a relatively undisturbed area, and the second was much more heavily impacted by research and tourism. We detected 346 fungal amplicon sequence variants dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota and Chytridiomycota. We also detected taxa belonging to the rare phyla Mucoromycota and Rozellomycota, which have been difficult to detect in Antarctica by traditional isolation methods. Cladosporium sp., Pseudogymnoascus roseus, Leotiomycetes sp. 2, Penicillium sp., Mortierella sp. 1, Mortierella sp. 2, Pseudogymnoascus appendiculatus and Pseudogymnoascus sp. were the most dominant fungi. In addition, 440,153 of the total of 1,214,875 reads detected could be classified only at the level of Fungi. In both sampling areas the DNA of opportunistic, phytopathogenic and symbiotic fungi were detected, which might have been introduced by human activities, transported by birds or wind, and/or represent resident fungi not previously reported from Antarctica. Further long-term studies are required to elucidate how biological colonization in the island may be affected by climatic changes and/or other anthropogenic influences.}, } @article {pmid33319429, year = {2021}, author = {Neuenkamp, L and Zobel, M and Koorem, K and Jairus, T and Davison, J and Öpik, M and Vasar, M and Moora, M}, title = {Light availability and light demand of plants shape the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in their roots.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {426-437}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13656}, pmid = {33319429}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {*Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants involved in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis trade photosynthetically derived carbon for fungal-provided soil nutrients. However, little is known about how plant light demand and ambient light conditions influence root-associating AM fungal communities. We conducted a manipulative field experiment to test whether plants' shade-tolerance influences their root AM fungal communities in open and shaded grassland sites. We found similar light-dependent shifts in AM fungal community structure for experimental bait plant roots and the surrounding soil. Yet, deviation from the surrounding soil towards lower AM fungal beta-diversity in the roots of shade-intolerant plants in shade suggested preferential carbon allocation to specific AM fungi in conditions where plant-assimilated carbon available to fungi was limited. We conclude that favourable environmental conditions widen the plant biotic niche, as demonstrated here with optimal light availability reducing plants' selectivity for specific AM fungi, and promote compatibility with a larger number of AM fungal taxa.}, } @article {pmid33319107, year = {2020}, author = {Nathan, J and Kannan, RR}, title = {Antiangiogenic molecules from marine actinomycetes and the importance of using zebrafish model in cancer research.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e05662}, pmid = {33319107}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Blood vessel sprouting from pre-existing vessels or angiogenesis plays a significant role in tumour progression. Development of novel biomolecules from marine natural sources has a promising role in drug discovery specifically in the area of antiangiogenic chemotherapeutics. Symbiotic actinomycetes from marine origin proved to be potent and valuable sources of antiangiogenic compounds. Zebrafish represent a well-established model for small molecular screening and employed to study tumour angiogenesis over the last decade. Use of zebrafish has increased in the laboratory due to its various advantages like rapid embryo development, optically transparent embryos, large clutch size of embryos and most importantly high genetic conservation comparable to humans. Zebrafish also shares similar physiopathology of tumour angiogenesis with humans and with these advantages, zebrafish has become a popular model in the past decade to study on angiogenesis related disorders like diabetic retinopathy and cancer. This review focuses on the importance of antiangiogenic compounds from marine actinomycetes and utility of zebrafish in cancer angiogenesis research.}, } @article {pmid33317774, year = {2021}, author = {Ullah, J and Khanum, Z and Khan, IA and Khalid, AN and Musharraf, SG and Ali, A}, title = {Metaproteomics reveals the structural and functional diversity of Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W. Mann. Microbiota.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {125}, number = {1}, pages = {32-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2020.10.001}, pmid = {33317774}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/cytology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Proteomics ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Metaproteomics is a strategy to understand the taxonomy, functionality and metabolic pathways of the microbial communities. The relationship among the symbiotic microbiota in the entire lichen thallus, Dermatocarpon miniatum, was evaluated using the metaproteomic approach. Proteomic profiling using one-dimensional SDS-PAGE followed by LC-MS/MS analysis resulted in a total of 138 identified proteins via Mascot search against UniRef100 and Swiss-Prot databases. In addition to the fungal and algal partners, D. miniatum proteome encompasses proteins from prokaryotes, which is a multifarious community mainly dominated by cyanobacteria and proteobacteria. While proteins assigned to fungus were the most abundant (55 %), followed by protists (16 %), bacterial (13 %), plant (11 %), and viral (1 %) origin, whereas 4 % remained undefined. Various proteins were assigned to the different lichen symbionts by using Gene Ontology (GO) terms, e.g. fungal proteins involved in the oxidation-reduction process, protein folding and glycolytic process, while protists and bacterial proteins were involved in photosynthetic electron transport in photosystem II (PS II), ATP synthesis coupled proton transport, and carbon fixation. The presence of bacterial communities extended the traditional concept of fungal-algal lichen symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid33317323, year = {2021}, author = {Peixoto, RS and Harkins, DM and Nelson, KE}, title = {Advances in Microbiome Research for Animal Health.}, journal = {Annual review of animal biosciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {289-311}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-animal-091020-075907}, pmid = {33317323}, issn = {2165-8110}, mesh = {Animals ; *Animals, Domestic ; *Animals, Wild ; Anthozoa ; Behavior, Animal ; Biodiversity ; COVID-19/transmission/veterinary/virology ; *Human-Animal Interaction ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Seafood ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbiomes contribute in many ways to the homeostasis of the metaorganism. The microbiome's contributions range from helping to provide nutrition and aiding growth, development, and behavior to protecting against pathogens and toxic compounds. Here we summarize the current knowledge of the diversity and importance of the microbiome to animals, using representative examples of wild and domesticated species. We demonstrate how the beneficial ecological roles of animal-associated microbiomes can be generally grouped into well-defined main categories and how microbe-based alternative treatments can be applied to mitigate problems for both economic and conservation purposes and to provide crucial knowledge about host-microbiota symbiotic interactions. We suggest a Customized Combination of Microbial-Based Therapies to promote animal health and contribute to the practice of sustainable husbandry. We also discuss the ecological connections and threats associated with animal biodiversity loss, microorganism extinction, and emerging diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.}, } @article {pmid33317200, year = {2020}, author = {Pujasatria, GC and Miura, C and Kaminaka, H}, title = {In Vitro Symbiotic Germination: A Revitalized Heuristic Approach for Orchid Species Conservation.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33317200}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {As one of the largest families of flowering plants, Orchidaceae is well-known for its high diversity and complex life cycles. Interestingly, such exquisite plants originate from minute seeds, going through challenges to germinate and establish in nature. Alternatively, orchid utilization as an economically important plant gradually decreases its natural population, therefore, driving the need for conservation. As with any conservation attempts, broad knowledge is required, including the species' interaction with other organisms. All orchids establish mycorrhizal symbiosis with certain lineages of fungi to germinate naturally. Since the whole in situ study is considerably complex, in vitro symbiotic germination study is a promising alternative. It serves as a tool for extensive studies at morphophysiological and molecular levels. In addition, it provides insights before reintroduction into its natural habitat. Here we reviewed how mycorrhiza contributes to orchid lifecycles, methods to conduct in vitro study, and how it can be utilized for conservation needs.}, } @article {pmid33317178, year = {2020}, author = {Tsyganov, VE and Tsyganova, AV}, title = {Symbiotic Regulatory Genes Controlling Nodule Development in Pisum sativum L.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33317178}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Analyses of natural variation and the use of mutagenesis and molecular-biological approaches have revealed 50 symbiotic regulatory genes in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Studies of genomic synteny using model legumes, such as Medicago truncatula Gaertn. and Lotus japonicus (Regel) K. Larsen, have identified the sequences of 15 symbiotic regulatory genes in pea. These genes encode receptor kinases, an ion channel, a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, transcription factors, a metal transporter, and an enzyme. This review summarizes and describes mutant alleles, their phenotypic manifestations, and the functions of all identified symbiotic regulatory genes in pea. Some examples of gene interactions are also given. In the review, all mutant alleles in genes with identified sequences are designated and still-unidentified symbiotic regulatory genes of great interest are considered. The identification of these genes will help elucidate additional components involved in infection thread growth, nodule primordium development, bacteroid differentiation and maintenance, and the autoregulation of nodulation. The significance of symbiotic mutants of pea as extremely fruitful genetic models for studying nodule development and for comparative cell biology studies of legume nodules is clearly demonstrated. Finally, it is noted that many more sequences of symbiotic regulatory genes remain to be identified. Transcriptomics approaches and genome-wide sequencing could help address this challenge.}, } @article {pmid33316994, year = {2020}, author = {Baranova, AA and Chistov, AA and Tyurin, AP and Prokhorenko, IA and Korshun, VA and Biryukov, MV and Alferova, VA and Zakalyukina, YV}, title = {Chemical Ecology of Streptomyces albidoflavus Strain A10 Associated with Carpenter Ant Camponotus vagus.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33316994}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Antibiotics produced by symbiotic microorganisms were previously shown to be of crucial importance for ecological communities, including ants. Previous works on ant-actinobacteria symbiosis are mainly focused on farming ants, which use antifungal microbial secondary metabolites to control pathogens in their fungal gardens. In this work, we studied microorganisms associated with carpenter ant Camponotus vagus. Pronounced antifungal activity of isolated actinobacteria strain A10 was found to be facilitated by biosynthesis of the antimycin A complex, consisting of small hydrophobic depsipeptides with high antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. The actinomycete strain A10 was identified as Streptomyces albidoflavus. We studied the antagonistic activity of strain A10 against several entomopathogenic microorganisms. The antifungal activity of this strain potentially indicates a defensive symbiosis with the host ant, producing antimycins to protect carpenter ants against infections. The nature of this ant-microbe association however remains to be established.}, } @article {pmid33316984, year = {2020}, author = {Jacob, EM and Borah, A and Pillai, SC and Kumar, DS}, title = {Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Emergence of New Trends in Lifestyle and Nanomedicine as the Modern Tool for Pharmacotherapy.}, journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33316984}, issn = {2079-4991}, abstract = {The human intestine, which harbors trillions of symbiotic microorganisms, may enter into dysbiosis when exposed to a genetic defect or environmental stress. The naissance of chronic inflammation due to the battle of the immune system with the trespassing gut bacteria leads to the rise of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Though the genes behind the scenes and their link to the disease are still unclear, the onset of IBD occurs in young adults and has expanded from the Western world into the newly industrialized countries. Conventional drug deliveries depend on a daily heavy dosage of immune suppressants or anti-inflammatory drugs targeted for the treatment of two types of IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), which are often associated with systemic side effects and adverse toxicities. Advances in oral delivery through nanotechnology seek remedies to overcome the drawbacks of these conventional drug delivery systems through improved drug encapsulation and targeted delivery. In this review, we discuss the association of genetic factors, the immune system, the gut microbiome, and environmental factors like diet in the pathogenesis of IBD. We also review the various physiological concerns required for oral delivery to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and new strategies in nanotechnology-derived, colon-targeting drug delivery systems.}, } @article {pmid33316299, year = {2021}, author = {Sukhoverkhov, AV and Gontier, N}, title = {Non-genetic inheritance: Evolution above the organismal level.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {104325}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104325}, pmid = {33316299}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Humans ; Inheritance Patterns/*physiology ; *Models, Theoretical ; Phenotype ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {The article proposes to further develop the ideas of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis by including into evolutionary research an analysis of phenomena that occur above the organismal level. We demonstrate that the current Extended Synthesis is focused more on individual traits (genetically or non-genetically inherited) and less on community system traits (synergetic/organizational traits) that characterize transgenerational biological, ecological, social, and cultural systems. In this regard, we will consider various communities that are made up of interacting populations, and for which the individual members can belong to the same or to different species. Examples of communities include biofilms, ant colonies, symbiotic associations resulting in holobiont formation, and human societies. The proposed model of evolution at the level of communities revises classic theorizing on the major transitions in evolution by analyzing the interplay between community/social traits and individual traits, and how this brings forth ideas of top-down regulations of bottom-up evolutionary processes (collaboration of downward and upward causation). The work demonstrates that such interplay also includes reticulate interactions and reticulate causation. In this regard, we exemplify how community systems provide various non-genetic 'scaffoldings', 'constraints', and 'affordances' for individual and sociocultural evolutionary development. Such research complements prevailing models that focus on the vertical transmission of heritable information, from parent to offspring, with research that instead focusses on horizontal, oblique and even reverse information transmission, going from offspring to parent. We call this reversed information transfer the 'offspring effect' to contrast it from the 'parental effect'. We argue that the proposed approach to inheritance is effective for modelling cumulative and distributed developmental process and for explaining the biological origins and evolution of language.}, } @article {pmid33315317, year = {2020}, author = {Jarzyniak, K}, title = {[The role of cytokinins in Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis].}, journal = {Postepy biochemii}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {229-238}, doi = {10.18388/pb.2020_343}, pmid = {33315317}, issn = {0032-5422}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants have a unique ability to form associations with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial species. An exchange of specific signaling molecules between host and microsymbiont constitutes the first step required both for bacterial infection and the formation of new, root-derived organs, called nodules. Since these two events occur in different root tissues, namely in the rhizodermis and in the underlying cortical cells, their strict regulation and coordination have to exist. An essential role of plant hormones, especially cytokinins, in the modulation of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis has been widely postulated. Activation of the cytokinin signaling pathway in the root cortex, by an unknown signal, is thought to be a key event of the infection process. As a consequence bioactive cytokinins are biosynthesized in the root susceptible zone, and they are a part of a positive feedback loop to trigger cortical cell division and sustain nodule organogenesis. Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying events that occur in the inner layers of the root is one of the key challenges emerging in the study of symbiotic processes.}, } @article {pmid33315312, year = {2020}, author = {Jarzyniak, K}, title = {[Role of ABCG transporters in modulation of symbiotic interactions].}, journal = {Postepy biochemii}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {239-244}, doi = {10.18388/pb.2020_349}, pmid = {33315312}, issn = {0032-5422}, mesh = {ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G/*metabolism ; Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Plants/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {ABC proteins, which include ABCG transporters, form one of the largest and most evolutionarily conserved protein families found in all systematic groups. Their function is associated with the active transport of several structurally and functionally unrelated compounds across cell membranes. All members of this protein family have a characteristic domain organization, which quantity and orientation determine their division and classification into subfamilies. ABCGs are recognized as being crucial for plant development as well as interactions with the environment. However, researchers have only just begun to discover the role of ABCG transporters as important modulators of symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33314850, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, SM and Chang, W and Song, FQ}, title = {[Mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the oxidative stress to the host plants under salt stress: A review].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {3589-3596}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202010.040}, pmid = {33314850}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Salt Stress ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil salinization induced by the dual effects of natural environment and human activities is a serious ecological problem globally. Salinization caused osmotic imbalance, ion stress, oxidative damage, and other hazards to plants, leading to retard, reduce biomass and even total crop failure. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a group of beneficial microorganism with wide distribution. AMF can form symbiotic relationship with most plant roots, with ecological significance in various stressed ecosystems. Because of the highly effective antioxidative system in symbionts, AMF could improve plant anti-oxidative response under salt stress and enhance their tolerance to salt stress. Here, we reviewed the research progress of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in improing plant antioxidative mechanism, including oxidative damage, osmotic regulation, antio-xidant mechanism and bioactive molecules. Finally, research prospects were proposed to provide theoritical support for improving plant salt tolerance by mycorrhizal biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid33314845, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, X and Liu, T and Kong, XQ and Chen, JQ and Chen, LD and Huang, S and Sun, SJ}, title = {[Effects of sawdust dosage on the diversity and community structure of bacteria associated with the hyphae of Pleurotus eryngii].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {3547-3553}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202010.036}, pmid = {33314845}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; Humans ; *Hyphae ; Pleurotus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Some fungi engage symbiosis with bacteria, which can effectively promote the metabolism and growth of fungi. The diversity and community structure of bacteria can reflect the growth and substrate utilization of fungi. In this study, we analyzed the effects of different sawdust dosages on the community structure and diversity of bacteria associated with the hyphae of Pleurotus eryngii using high-throughput sequencing technology (HST) based on PCR-amplified 16S rRNA V3-V4 fragments. The results showed that the high-quality sequences from five groups of mycelia samples were clustered into 25 phyla, 52 classes, 114 orders, 199 families, and 406 genera. Proteobacteria (35.0%-85.9%) and Firmicutes (6.5%-38.4%) were the most abundant bacterial phyla, while Acinetobacter (14.8%-71.6%) and Pseudomonas (1.7%-22.3%) were the dominant symbiotic genera. Compared with the mycelia grown on the complete culture medium, sawdust addition could increase the diversity of bacteria coexisting with P. eryngii mycelia, and change the community structure of 10 dominant phyla and 9 dominant genera. P. eryngii cultivated in substrate containing 5 g sawdust had the fastest mycelium growth rate, thick mycelia, and neatly edges. Furthermore, judging from the abundance and diversity, Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus became the dominant genera, which were positively correlated with the mycelia growth vigour. Sawdust, as an important carbon source, could affect the growth and development of P. eryngii and the community structure and diversity of bacteria coexisting with mycelia. This study would lay a theoretical foundation for exploring the molecular mechanism of sawdust and mycelium symbiosis affecting the growth and development of P. eryngii.}, } @article {pmid33314556, year = {2021}, author = {Kumar, N and Galli, M and Dempsey, D and Imani, J and Moebus, A and Kogel, KH}, title = {NPR1 is required for root colonization and the establishment of a mutualistic symbiosis between the beneficial bacterium Rhizobium radiobacter and barley.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {2102-2115}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15356}, pmid = {33314556}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; Ascomycota ; *Basidiomycota ; *Hordeum ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Non-expressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) is a key regulator of plant innate immunity and systemic disease resistance. The model for NPR1 function is based on experimental evidence obtained largely from dicots; however, this model does not fit all aspects of Poaceae family, which includes major crops such as wheat, rice and barley. In addition, there is little scientific data on NPR1's role in mutualistic symbioses. We assessed barley (Hordeum vulgare) HvNPR1 requirement during the establishment of mutualistic symbiosis between barley and beneficial Alphaproteobacterium Rhizobium radiobacter F4 (RrF4). Upon RrF4 root-inoculation, barley NPR1-knockdown (KD-hvnpr1) plants lost the typical spatiotemporal colonization pattern and supported less bacterial multiplication. Following RrF4 colonization, expression of salicylic acid marker genes were strongly enhanced in wild-type roots; whereas in comparison, KD-hvnpr1 roots exhibited little to no induction. Both basal and RrF4-induced root-initiated systemic resistance against virulent Blumeria graminis were impaired in leaves of KD-hvnpr1. Besides these immune-related differences, KD-hvnpr1 plants displayed higher root and shoot biomass than WT. However, RrF4-mediated growth promotion was largely compromised in KD-hvnpr1. Our results demonstrate a critical role for HvNPR1 in establishing a mutualistic symbiosis between a beneficial bacterium and a cereal crop.}, } @article {pmid33312017, year = {2020}, author = {Tiwari, S and Avchar, R and Arora, R and Lanjekar, V and Dhakephalkar, PK and Dagar, SS and Baghela, A}, title = {Xylanolytic and Ethanologenic Potential of Gut Associated Yeasts from Different Species of Termites from India.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {501-511}, pmid = {33312017}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Xylophagous termites are capable of degrading lignocellulose by symbiotic gut microorganisms along with the host's indigenous enzymes. Therefore, the termite gut might be a potential niche to obtain natural yeasts with celluloytic, xylanolytic and ethanologenic traits required for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we cultured 79 yeasts from three different termites viz. Coptotermes heimi, Odontotermes javanicus and Odontotermes obesus. After suitable screening methods, we identified 53 yeasts, which belonged to 10 genera and 16 different species of both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeasts. Most yeasts in the present study represent their first-ever isolation from the termite gut. Representative strains of identified yeasts were evaluated for their cellulolytic, xylanolytic, and ethanologenic abilities. None of the isolates showed cellulase activity; 22 showed xylanolytic activity, while six produced substantial quantities of ethanol. Among xylanolytic cultures, Pseudozyma hubeiensis STAG 1.7 and Hannaella pagnoccae STAG 1.14 produced 1.31 and 1.17 IU of xylanase. Among ethanologenic yeasts, the strains belonging to genera Candida and Kodamaea produced high amount of ethanol. Overall, highest ethanol level of 4.42 g/L was produced by Candida tropicalis TS32 using 1% glucose, which increased up to 22.92 g/L at 35 °C, pH 4.5 with 5% glucose. Fermentation of rice straw hydrolysate gave 8.95 g/l of ethanol with a yield of 0.42 g/g using the strain TS32. Our study highlights the gut of wood-feeding termites as a potential source of diverse yeasts that would be useful in the production of xylanase and bioethanol.}, } @article {pmid33310352, year = {2021}, author = {Hei, Y and Zhang, H and Tan, N and Zhou, Y and Wei, X and Hu, C and Liu, Y and Wang, L and Qi, J and Gao, JM}, title = {Antimicrobial activity and biosynthetic potential of cultivable actinomycetes associated with Lichen symbiosis from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {244}, number = {}, pages = {126652}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2020.126652}, pmid = {33310352}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/chemistry/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Biodiversity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Lichens/*microbiology/physiology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Actinobacteria that inhabit lichen symbionts are considered a promising yet previously underexplored source of novel compounds. Here, for the first time, we conducted a comprehensive investigation with regard to strain isolation and identification of lichen-associated actinobacteria from Tibet Plateau, antimicrobial activity screening, biosynthetic genes detection, bioactive metabolites identification and activity prediction. A large number of culturable actinomycetes were isolated from lichens around Qinghai Lake, in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Twenty-seven strains with distinct morphological characteristics were preliminarily studied. 16S rRNA gene identification showed that 13 strains were new species. The PCR-screening of specific biosynthetic genes indicated that these 27 isolates had abundant intrinsic biosynthetic potential. The antimicrobial activity experiment screened out some potential biological control antagonistic bacteria. The metabolites of 13 strains of Streptomyces with antibacterial activity were analyzed by LC-HRMS, and further 18 compounds were identified by NMR and / or LC-HRMS. The identified compounds were mainly pyrrolidine and indole derivatives, as well as anthracyclines. Seven compounds were identified with less biological activity, then predicted and evaluated their biological activity. The predicted results showed that compound 2 had excellent inhibitory activity on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Overall, the results indicate actinobacteria isolated from unexploited plateau lichen are promising sources of biological active metabolite, which could provide important bioactive compounds as potential antibiotic drugs.}, } @article {pmid33309968, year = {2021}, author = {Grabovich, MY and Gureeva, MV and Dubinina, GA}, title = {The role of the "Thiodendron" consortium in postulating the karyomastigont chimaera of the endosymbiosis theory by Lynn Margulis.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {104322}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104322}, pmid = {33309968}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/*metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Eukaryota/*metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Spirochaeta/*metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiosis theory of the origin of eukaryotic cell was first proposed more than a hundred years ago. In the second half of the 20th century, Lynn Margulis suggested a new interpretation of the origin of the nucleus in modern eukaryotes. The background was the study of the consortium "Thiodendron", a symbiotic bacterial community, which includes anaerobic aerotolerant motile spirochaetes and sulfidogenic bacteria (sulfidogens) of vibrioid form with a fermentation type of metabolism. Spirochaetes supply sulfidogens with metabolites (pyruvate and, probably, organic nitrogenous products of cell lysis) and get hydrogen sulfide from sulfidogens that helps to maintain a low redox potential. At low oxygen concentrations, spirochaetes are able to assimilate glucose more efficiently. Margulis hypothesized about the symbiotic origin of the nucleus by adding the bacterium Spirochaeta to the Thermoplasma-like archaea. She considered the "Thiodendron"-like consortium to be an intermediate stage in evolution. According to Margulis, the conversion of carbohydrates and the oxidation of Н2S to S[0] by the bacterium provided the archaea with electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration, as shown for modern thermoplasmas and products saturated with carbon. The use of carbon sources increased by attaching the floating bacterium to the archaea. More efficient microaerobic oxidation of glucose pre-adapted the spirochaetes for association with Thermoplasma. However, modern "Thiodendron"-like consortia are not in stable symbiosis and a sulfidogenic component of the consortium is capable for fermentation, rather than anaerobic respiration, which makes the theory by Margulis disputable.}, } @article {pmid33309942, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, X and Feng, H and Wang, Y and Wang, M and Xie, X and Chang, H and Wang, L and Qu, J and Sun, K and He, W and Wang, C and Dai, C and Chu, Z and Tian, C and Yu, N and Zhang, X and Liu, H and Wang, E}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis modulates the rhizosphere microbiota to promote rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {503-516}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2020.12.002}, pmid = {33309942}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Microbiota/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants establish symbioses with mutualistic fungi, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and bacteria, such as rhizobia, to exchange key nutrients and thrive. Plants and symbionts have coevolved and represent vital components of terrestrial ecosystems. Plants employ an ancestral AM signaling pathway to establish intracellular symbioses, including the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, in their roots. Nevertheless, the relationship between the AM and rhizobial symbioses in native soil is poorly understood. Here, we examined how these distinct symbioses affect root-associated bacterial communities in Medicago truncatula by performing quantitative microbiota profiling (QMP) of 16S rRNA genes. We found that M. truncatula mutants that cannot establish AM or rhizobia symbiosis have an altered microbial load (quantitative abundance) in the rhizosphere and roots, and in particular that AM symbiosis is required to assemble a normal quantitative root-associated microbiota in native soil. Moreover, quantitative microbial co-abundance network analyses revealed that AM symbiosis affects Rhizobiales hubs among plant microbiota and benefits the plant holobiont. Through QMP of rhizobial rpoB and AM fungal SSU rRNA genes, we revealed a new layer of interaction whereby AM symbiosis promotes rhizobia accumulation in the rhizosphere of M. truncatula. We further showed that AM symbiosis-conditioned microbial communities within the M. truncatula rhizosphere could promote nodulation in different legume plants in native soil. Given that the AM and rhizobial symbioses are critical for crop growth, our findings might inform strategies to improve agricultural management. Moreover, our work sheds light on the co-evolution of these intracellular symbioses during plant adaptation to native soil conditions.}, } @article {pmid33309355, year = {2021}, author = {Yamamoto, E and Watanabe, R and Ichimura, T and Ishida, T and Kimura, K}, title = {Effect of lactose hydrolysis on the milk-fermenting properties of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus 2038 and Streptococcus thermophilus 1131.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {1454-1464}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2020-19244}, pmid = {33309355}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Bioreactors ; *Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Lactase/metabolism ; Lactobacillus delbrueckii/*metabolism ; Lactose/analysis/*metabolism ; Milk/chemistry ; Probiotics ; Streptococcus thermophilus/*metabolism ; Yogurt/analysis/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Yogurt is a well-known nutritious and probiotic food and is traditionally fermented from milk using the symbiotic starter culture of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. However, yogurt consumption may cause health problems in lactose-intolerant individuals, and the demand for lactose-free yogurt has been increasing. The standard method to prepare lactose-free yogurt is to hydrolyze milk by lactase; however, this process has been reported to influence the fermentation properties of starter strains. This study aimed to investigate the fermentation properties of an industrial starter culture of L. bulgaricus 2038 and S. thermophilus 1131 in lactose-hydrolyzed milk and to examine the metabolic changes induced by glucose utilization. We found that the cell number of L. bulgaricus 2038, exopolysaccharide concentration, and viscosity in the coculture of L. bulgaricus 2038 and S. thermophilus 1131 was significantly increased in lactose-hydrolyzed milk compared with that in unhydrolyzed milk. Although the cell number of S. thermophilus 1131 showed no difference, production of formic acid and reduction of dissolved oxygen were enhanced in lactose-hydrolyzed milk. Further, in lactose-hydrolyzed milk, S. thermophilus 1131 was found to have increased the expression of NADH oxidase, which is responsible for oxygen reduction. These results indicated that glucose utilization promoted S. thermophilus 1131 to rapidly reduce the dissolved oxygen amount and produce a high concentration of formic acid, presumably resulting in the increased cell number of L. bulgaricus 2038 in the coculture. Our study provides basic information on the metabolic changes in starter strains in lactose-hydrolyzed milk, and demonstrates that lactose-free yogurt with increased cell number of L. bulgaricus can be prepared without delay in fermentation and decrease in the cell number of S. thermophilus.}, } @article {pmid33309324, year = {2021}, author = {Burkart, GM and Brandizzi, F}, title = {A Tour of TOR Complex Signaling in Plants.}, journal = {Trends in biochemical sciences}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {417-428}, pmid = {33309324}, issn = {0968-0004}, support = {R01 GM101038/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM136637/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Plants/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Sirolimus ; *TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To identify the appropriate times for growth and development, organisms must sense and process information about the availability of nutrients, energy status, and environmental cues. For sessile eukaryotes such as plants, integrating such information can be critical in life or death decisions. For nearly 30 years, the conserved phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKKs) target of rapamycin (TOR) has been established as a central hub for integrating external and internal metabolic cues. Despite the functional conservation across eukaryotes, the TOR complex has evolved specific functional and mechanistic features in plants. Here, we present recent findings on the plant TOR complex that highlight the conserved and unique nature of this critical growth regulator and its role in multiple aspects of plant life.}, } @article {pmid33308758, year = {2020}, author = {Arrona-Rivera, AE and Sanchez-Godoy, FD and Fuente-Martinez, B and Hernandez-Velasco, X}, title = {First report of Boydaia falconis (Trombidiformes: Ereynetidae: Speleognathinae) in a Merlin (Falco columbarius) (Falconiformes: Falconidae) in Veracruz, Mexico.}, journal = {Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports}, volume = {22}, number = {}, pages = {100480}, doi = {10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100480}, pmid = {33308758}, issn = {2405-9390}, mesh = {Animals ; Bird Diseases/*parasitology ; *Falconiformes/parasitology ; Mexico ; Mite Infestations/*veterinary ; *Mites ; }, abstract = {The report presented herein documents the finding of mites in the nares of a Merlin (Falco columbarius) (Linnaeus, 1758; Falconiformes: Falconidae) during its capture for identification and ringing at the conservation reserve area in the municipality of Cansaburro, state of Veracruz, Mexico.The mites were collected from the nostril of the bird and identified as Boydaia falconis (Fain, 1956; Trombidiformes: Ereynetidae: Speleognathinae). There are few records of nasal mites in Faconiforms in North America. This is the first report of Boydaia falconis in falconiform hosts from Mexico. Further study is required on these mites to aid in our understanding of the biology, ecology and symbiotic relationships of speleognathine nasal mites.}, } @article {pmid33308015, year = {2021}, author = {Schertzer, JD and Lam, TKT}, title = {Peripheral and central regulation of insulin by the intestine and microbiome.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism}, volume = {320}, number = {2}, pages = {E234-E239}, pmid = {33308015}, issn = {1522-1555}, mesh = {Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Central Nervous System/drug effects/*physiology ; Endocrinology/history ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/physiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Homeostasis/physiology ; Humans ; Insulin/administration & dosage/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance/physiology ; Intestines/drug effects/*physiology ; Leptin/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Microbiota/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Blood glucose and insulin homeostasis is disrupted during the progression of type 2 diabetes. Insulin levels and action are regulated by both peripheral and central responses that involve the intestine and microbiome. The intestine and its microbiota process nutrients and generate molecules that influence blood glucose and insulin. Peripheral insulin regulation is regulated by gut-segment-dependent nutrient sensing and microbial factors such as short-chain fatty acids and bile acids that engage G-protein-coupled receptors. Innate immune sensing of gut-derived bacterial cell wall components and lipopolysaccharides also alter insulin homeostasis. These bacterial metabolites and postbiotics influence insulin secretion and insulin clearance in part by altering endocrine responses such as glucagon-like peptide-1. Gut-derived bacterial factors can promote inflammation and insulin resistance, but other postbiotics can be insulin sensitizers. In parallel, activation of small intestinal sirtuin 1 increases insulin sensitivity by reversing high fat-induced hypothalamic insulin resistance through a gut-brain neuronal axis, whereas high fat-feeding alters small intestinal microbiome and increases taurochenodeoxycholic acid in the plasma and the dorsal vagal complex to induce insulin resistance. In summary, emerging evidence indicates that intestinal molecular signaling involving nutrient sensing and the host-microbe symbiosis alters insulin homeostasis and action. Gut-derived host endocrine and paracrine factors as well as microbial metabolites act on the liver, pancreas, and the brain, and in parallel on the gut-brain neuronal axis. Understanding common nodes of peripheral and central insulin homeostasis and action may reveal new ways to target the intestinal host-microbe relationship in obesity, metabolic disease, and type 2 diabetes.}, } @article {pmid33306279, year = {2021}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Moreno-De Castro, N and Pérez-Montaño, F}, title = {One door closes, another opens: when nodulation impairment with natural hosts extends rhizobial host-range.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {1837-1841}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15353}, pmid = {33306279}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Host Specificity ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiosis is the best-understood plant-microbe association. The high degree of specificity observed in this relationship is supported by a complex exchange of signals between the two components of the symbiosis. Findings reported in last years indicate that multiple molecular mechanisms, such as the production of a particular set of nodulation factors at a very specific concentration or a suitable arsenal of effectors secreted through the type III secretion system, have been adjusted during evolution to ensure and optimize the recognition of specific rhizobial strains by its legume host. Qualitative or quantitative changes in the production of these symbiotic molecular determinants are detrimental for nodulation with its natural host but, in some cases, can also result beneficial for the rhizobium since it extends the nodulation host-range to other legumes. Potential repercussion of the extension in the nodulation host-range of rhizobia is discussed.}, } @article {pmid33306193, year = {2020}, author = {Rammitsu, K and Yukawa, T and Yamashita, Y and Isshiki, S and Ogura-Tsujita, Y}, title = {The mycorrhizal community of the epiphytic orchid Thrixspermum japonicum is strongly biased toward a single Ceratobasidiaceae fungus, despite a wide range of fungal partners.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {107}, number = {12}, pages = {1654-1662}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1575}, pmid = {33306193}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota/genetics ; Japan ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Orchids depend primarily on mycorrhizal fungi to obtain nutrients throughout their life cycle. Epiphytic orchids account for 69% of orchid diversity. The unstable availability of water and nutrients in their arboreal habitats often results in severe water and nutrient stresses. Consequently, mycorrhizal associations may be important for the survival of epiphytic orchids, but our understanding thereof remains limited. Here, we investigated the mycorrhizal community in a single epiphytic orchid species, using more samples than in any previous study.

METHODS: We assessed the mycorrhizal communities of Thrixspermum japonicum, one of the most common epiphytic orchids in the temperate region of Japan. In total, 144 individuals were collected from 28 host tree species at 20 sites across 1300 km. The mycorrhizal fungi were identified based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences and assigned operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on 97% sequence similarity.

RESULTS: We obtained 24 OTUs; 9 belonged to the Ceratobasidiaceae and 15 to the Tulasnellaceae. These OTUs are widely distributed throughout the phylogenetic trees of the two fungal families. However, a single Ceratobasidiaceae OTU accounted for 49.7% of all fungal sequences and was predominant in samples from 15 host tree species and 12 sites.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results imply that despite having a broad range of mycorrhizal partners, T. japonicum was predominantly associated with a single fungal taxon at most of the sites among the host-tree species investigated. These findings contribute to elucidating mycorrhizal symbiosis in epiphytic habitats.}, } @article {pmid33305497, year = {2021}, author = {Mu, R and Jia, Y and Ma, G and Liu, L and Hao, K and Qi, F and Shao, Y}, title = {Advances in the use of microalgal-bacterial consortia for wastewater treatment: Community structures, interactions, economic resource reclamation, and study techniques.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {93}, number = {8}, pages = {1217-1230}, doi = {10.1002/wer.1496}, pmid = {33305497}, issn = {1554-7531}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biomass ; *Microalgae ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The rise in living standards has generated a demand for higher aquatic environmental quality. The microalgal community and the surrounding organic molecules, environmental factors, and microorganisms, such as bacteria, are together defined as the phycosphere. The bacteria in the phycosphere can form consortia with microalgae through various forms of interaction. The study of the species in these consortia and their relative proportions is of great significance in determining the species and strains of stable algae that can be used in sewage treatment. This article summarizes the following topics: the interactions between microalgae and bacteria that are required to establish consortia; how symbiosis between algae and bacteria is established; microalgal competition with bacteria through inhibition and anti-inhibition strategies; the influence of environmental factors on microalgal-bacterial aggregates, such as illumination conditions, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and nutrient levels; the application of algal-bacterial aggregates to enhance biomass production and nutrient reuse; and techniques for studying the community structure and interactions of algal-bacterial consortia, such as microscopy, flow cytometry, and omics. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Community structures in microalgal-bacterial consortia in wastewater treatment. Interactions between algae and bacteria in wastewater treatment. Effects of ecological factors on the algal-bacterial community in wastewater treatment. Economically recycling resources from algal-bacterial consortia based on wastewater. Technologies for studying microalgal-bacterial consortia in wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid33304528, year = {2020}, author = {Shu, L and Qian, X and Brock, DA and Geist, KS and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Loss and resiliency of social amoeba symbiosis under simulated warming.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {23}, pages = {13182-13189}, pmid = {33304528}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Anthropogenic global change is increasingly raising concerns about collapses of symbiotic interactions worldwide. Therefore, understanding how climate change affects symbioses remains a challenge and demands more study. Here, we look at how simulated warming affects the social ameba Dictyostelium discoideum and its relationship with its facultative bacterial symbionts, Paraburkholderia hayleyella and Paraburkholderia agricolaris. We cured and cross-infected ameba hosts with different symbionts. We found that warming significantly decreased D. discoideum's fitness, and we found no sign of local adaptation in two wild populations. Experimental warming had complex effects on these symbioses with responses determined by both symbiont and host. Neither of these facultative symbionts increases its hosts' thermal tolerance. The nearly obligate symbiont with a reduced genome, P. hayleyella, actually decreases D. discoideum's thermal tolerance and even causes symbiosis breakdown. Our study shows how facultative symbioses may have complex responses to global change.}, } @article {pmid33304504, year = {2020}, author = {Danks, MA and Simpson, N and Elliott, TF and Paine, CET and Vernes, K}, title = {Modeling mycorrhizal fungi dispersal by the mycophagous swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {23}, pages = {12920-12928}, pmid = {33304504}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Despite the importance of mammal-fungal interactions, tools to estimate the mammal-assisted dispersal distances of fungi are lacking. Many mammals actively consume fungal fruiting bodies, the spores of which remain viable after passage through their digestive tract. Many of these fungi form symbiotic relationships with trees and provide an array of other key ecosystem functions. We present a flexible, general model to predict the distance a mycophagous mammal would disperse fungal spores. We modeled the probability of spore dispersal by combining animal movement data from GPS telemetry with data on spore gut-retention time. We test this model using an exemplar generalist mycophagist, the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). We show that swamp wallabies disperse fungal spores hundreds of meters-and occasionally up to 1,265 m-from the point of consumption, distances that are ecologically significant for many mycorrhizal fungi. In addition to highlighting the ecological importance of swamp wallabies as dispersers of mycorrhizal fungi in eastern Australia, our simple modeling approach provides a novel and effective way of empirically describing spore dispersal by a mycophagous animal. This approach is applicable to the study of other animal-fungi interactions in other ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33304460, year = {2020}, author = {Jiao, J and Tian, CF}, title = {Ancestral zinc-finger bearing protein MucR in alpha-proteobacteria: A novel xenogeneic silencer?.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {18}, number = {}, pages = {3623-3631}, pmid = {33304460}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {The MucR/Ros family protein is conserved in alpha-proteobacteria and characterized by its zinc-finger motif that has been proposed as the ancestral domain from which the eukaryotic C2H2 zinc-finger structure evolved. In the past decades, accumulated evidences have revealed MucR as a pleiotropic transcriptional regulator that integrating multiple functions such as virulence, symbiosis, cell cycle and various physiological processes. Scattered reports indicate that MucR mainly acts as a repressor, through oligomerization and binding to multiple sites of AT-rich target promoters. The N-terminal region and zinc-finger bearing C-terminal region of MucR mediate oligomerization and DNA-binding, respectively. These features are convergent to those of xenogeneic silencers such as H-NS, MvaT, Lsr2 and Rok, which are mainly found in other lineages. Phylogenetic analysis of MucR homologs suggests an ancestral origin of MucR in alpha- and delta-proteobacteria. Multiple independent duplication and lateral gene transfer events contribute to the diversity and phyletic distribution of MucR. Finally, we posed questions which remain unexplored regarding the putative roles of MucR as a xenogeneic silencer and a general manager in balancing adaptation and regulatory integration in the pangenome context.}, } @article {pmid33303659, year = {2020}, author = {Mead, OL and Gueidan, C}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of an Australian Strain of the Lichen-Forming Fungus Endocarpon pusillum (Hedwig).}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {9}, number = {50}, pages = {}, pmid = {33303659}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {The cosmopolitan lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum (Hedwig) has previously been used as a model for the study of symbiosis and drought resistance. Here, we present the annotated genome of the Australian strain Endocarpon pusillum EPUS1.4. This genome sequence provides additional information on the ability of this species to produce secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid33300250, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, WF and Wang, ET and Ji, ZJ and Zhang, JJ}, title = {Recent development and new insight of diversification and symbiosis specificity of legume rhizobia: mechanism and application.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {131}, number = {2}, pages = {553-563}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14960}, pmid = {33300250}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {Currently, symbiotic rhizobia (sl., rhizobium) refer to the soil bacteria in α- and β-Proteobacteria that can induce root and/or stem nodules on some legumes and a few of nonlegumes. In the nodules, rhizobia convert the inert dinitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3) and supply them as nitrogen nutrient to the host plant. In general, this symbiotic association presents specificity between rhizobial and leguminous species, and most of the rhizobia use lipochitooligosaccharides, so called Nod factor (NF), for cooperating with their host plant to initiate the formation of nodule primordium and to inhibit the plant immunity. Besides NF, effectors secreted by type III secretion system (T3SS), exopolysaccharides and many microbe-associated molecular patterns in the rhizobia also play important roles in nodulation and immunity response between rhizobia and legumes. However, the promiscuous hosts like Glycine max and Sophora flavescens can nodulate with various rhizobial species harbouring diverse symbiosis genes in different soils, meaning that the nodulation specificity/efficiency might be mainly determined by the host plants and regulated by the soil conditions in a certain cases. Based on previous studies on rhizobial application, we propose a '1+n-N' model to promote the function of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in agricultural practice, where '1' refers to appreciate rhizobium; '+n' means the addition of multiple trace elements and PGPR bacteria; and '-N' implies the reduction of chemical nitrogen fertilizer. Finally, open questions in the SNF field are raised to future think deeply and researches.}, } @article {pmid33300204, year = {2021}, author = {Akamatsu, A and Nagae, M and Nishimura, Y and Romero Montero, D and Ninomiya, S and Kojima, M and Takebayashi, Y and Sakakibara, H and Kawaguchi, M and Takeda, N}, title = {Endogenous gibberellins affect root nodule symbiosis via transcriptional regulation of NODULE INCEPTION in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {105}, number = {6}, pages = {1507-1520}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15128}, pmid = {33300204}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gibberellins/*pharmacology ; Lotus/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria establish root nodule symbiosis, which is orchestrated by several plant hormones. Exogenous addition of biologically active gibberellic acid (GA) is known to inhibit root nodule symbiosis. However, the precise role of GA has not been elucidated because of the trace amounts of these hormones in plants and the multiple functions of GAs. Here, we found that GA signaling acts as a key regulator in a long-distance negative-feedback system of root nodule symbiosis called autoregulation of nodulation (AON). GA biosynthesis is activated during nodule formation in and around the nodule vascular bundles, and bioactive GAs accumulate in the nodule. In addition, GA signaling induces expression of the symbiotic transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) via a cis-acting region on the NIN promoter. Mutants with deletions of this cis-acting region have increased susceptibility to rhizobial infection and reduced GA-induced CLE-RS1 and CLE-RS2 expression, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of GAs occurs through AON. This is supported by the GA-insensitive phenotypes of an AON-defective mutant of HYPERNODULATION ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION1 (HAR1) and a reciprocal grafting experiment. Thus, endogenous GAs induce NIN expression via its GA-responsive cis-acting region, and subsequently the GA-induced NIN activates the AON system to regulate nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid33299183, year = {2021}, author = {Dong, W and Zhu, Y and Chang, H and Wang, C and Yang, J and Shi, J and Gao, J and Yang, W and Lan, L and Wang, Y and Zhang, X and Dai, H and Miao, Y and Xu, L and He, Z and Song, C and Wu, S and Wang, D and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {An SHR-SCR module specifies legume cortical cell fate to enable nodulation.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {589}, number = {7843}, pages = {586-590}, pmid = {33299183}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/cytology/metabolism ; *Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; *Cell Lineage ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/embryology/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes, unlike other plants, have the ability to establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. It has been theorized that a unique property of legume root cortical cells enabled the initial establishment of rhizobial symbiosis[1-3]. Here we show that a SHORTROOT-SCARECROW (SHR-SCR) stem cell program in cortical cells of the legume Medicago truncatula specifies their distinct fate. Regulatory elements drive the cortical expression of SCR, and stele-expressed SHR protein accumulates in cortical cells of M. truncatula but not Arabidopsis thaliana. The cortical SHR-SCR network is conserved across legume species, responds to rhizobial signals, and initiates legume-specific cortical cell division for de novo nodule organogenesis and accommodation of rhizobia. Ectopic activation of SHR and SCR in legumes is sufficient to induce root cortical cell division. Our work suggests that acquisition of the cortical SHR-SCR module enabled cell division coupled to rhizobial infection in legumes. We propose that this event was central to the evolution of rhizobial endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33299088, year = {2021}, author = {Malard, F and Dore, J and Gaugler, B and Mohty, M}, title = {Introduction to host microbiome symbiosis in health and disease.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {547-554}, pmid = {33299088}, issn = {1935-3456}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*therapy ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease/*prevention & control ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Nutrition Therapy ; Precision Medicine ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Humans share a core intestinal microbiome and yet human microbiome differs by genes, species, enterotypes (ecology), and gene count (microbial diversity). Achievement of microbiota metagenomic analysis has revealed that the microbiome gene count is a key stratifier of health in several immune disorders and clinical conditions. We review here the progress of the metagenomic pipeline analysis, and how this has allowed us to define the host-microbe symbiosis associated with a healthy status. The link between host-microbe symbiosis disruption, the so-called dysbiosis and chronic diseases or iatrogenic conditions is highlighted. Finally, opportunities to use microbiota modulation, with specific nutrients and/or live microbes, as a target for personalized nutrition and therapy for the maintenance, preservation, or restoration of host-microbe symbiosis are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33297962, year = {2020}, author = {Granado-Rodríguez, S and Bolaños, L and Reguera, M}, title = {MtNIP5;1, a novel Medicago truncatula boron diffusion facilitator induced under deficiency.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {552}, pmid = {33297962}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Aquaporins/*genetics/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Boron/*metabolism ; Diffusion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes comprise important crops that offer major agronomic benefits, including the capacity of establishing symbiosis with rhizobia, fixing atmospheric N2. It has been proven that legumes are particularly susceptible to boron (B) stress, which leads to important yield penalties. Boron (B) deficiency or toxicity in plants causes the inhibition of growth and an altered development. Under such conditions, the participation of two distinct protein families (the major intrinsic protein family MIP and the Boron transporter family BOR) is required to minimize detrimental effects caused by B stress. However, in legumes, little is known about the transport mechanisms responsible for B uptake and distribution, especially under deficiency.

RESULTS: A Medicago truncatula protein, MtNIP5;1 (Medtr1g097840) (homologous to the Arabidopsis thaliana AtNIP5;1) was identified as a novel legume B transporter involved in B uptake under deficiency. Further analyses revealed that this M. truncatula aquaporin expression was boron-regulated in roots, being induced under deficiency and repressed under toxicity. It localizes at the plasma membrane of root epidermal cells and in nodules, where B plays pivotal roles in symbiosis. Furthermore, the partial complementation of the nip5;1-1 A. thaliana mutant phenotype under B deficiency supports a functional role of MtNIP5;1 as a B transporter in this legume model plant.

CONCLUSIONS: The results here presented support a functional role of MtNIP5;1 in B uptake under deficiency and provides new insights into B transport mechanisms in legume species.}, } @article {pmid33297950, year = {2020}, author = {Bos, N and Guimaraes, L and Palenzuela, R and Renelies-Hamilton, J and Maccario, L and Silue, SK and Koné, N'A and Poulsen, M}, title = {You don't have the guts: a diverse set of fungi survive passage through Macrotermes bellicosus termite guts.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {163}, pmid = {33297950}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {771349//H2020 European Research Council/International ; VKR10101//Villum Fonden/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; *Fungi/classification/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Monoculture farming poses significant disease challenges, but fungus-farming termites are able to successfully keep their monoculture crop free from contamination by other fungi. It has been hypothesised that obligate gut passage of all plant substrate used to manure the fungal symbiont is key to accomplish this. Here we refute this hypothesis in the fungus-farming termite species Macrotermes bellicosus.

RESULTS: We first used ITS amplicon sequencing to show that plant substrate foraged on by termite workers harbour diverse fungal communities, which potentially could challenge the farming symbiosis. Subsequently, we cultivated fungi from dissected sections of termite guts to show that fungal diversity does not decrease during gut passage. Therefore, we investigated if healthy combs harboured these undesirable fungal genera, and whether the presence of workers affected fungal diversity within combs. Removal of workers led to a surge in fungal diversity in combs, implying that termite defences must be responsible for the near-complete absence of other fungi in functioning termite gardens.

CONCLUSIONS: The rapid proliferation of some of these fungi when colonies are compromised indicates that some antagonists successfully employ a sit-and-wait strategy that allows them to remain dormant until conditions are favourable. Although this strategy requires potentially many years of waiting, it prevents these fungi from engaging in an evolutionary arms race with the termite host, which employs a series of complementary behavioural and chemical defences that may prove insurmountable.}, } @article {pmid33297665, year = {2020}, author = {Li, MJ and Shao, DT and Chen, R and Wang, SM and Wei, WW}, title = {[Progress in research of Fusobacterium nucleatum and upper gastrointestinal cancer].}, journal = {Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi}, volume = {41}, number = {11}, pages = {1938-1941}, doi = {10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20191102-00776}, pmid = {33297665}, issn = {0254-6450}, mesh = {*Fusobacterium nucleatum ; *Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/microbiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {With the development of multi-omics and high throughput sequencing technology, studies have shown that the disorder of microbiota is related to various cancers. Nevertheless, the research on the relationship between upper digestive tract cancer or precancerous lesions and gastrointestinal microecology is still less. Fusobacterium nucleatum, one of the oral symbiotic bacteria, is also an opportunistic pathogen, which can promote the formation of tumor microenvironment and can be used as a new biomarker for the early detection and early diagnosis of cancer. In this study, by searching CNKI, Wanfang data, PubMed and Embase databases, it was found that the abundance of F. nucleatum in cancer tissues is higher than that in paracancerous tissues and associated with poor prognosis. The research of relationship between F. nucleatum and precancerous lesions needs to be carried out urgently. In addition, the types of specimens, sequencing technology, strain subtypes, carcinogenic mechanism and other directions still need to be explored.}, } @article {pmid33297297, year = {2020}, author = {Hosseinalizadeh Nobarinezhad, M and Wallace, LE}, title = {Fine-Scale Patterns of Genetic Structure in the Host Plant Chamaecrista fasciculata (Fabaceae) and Its Nodulating Rhizobia Symbionts.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33297297}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In natural plant populations, a fine-scale spatial genetic structure (SGS) can result from limited gene flow, selection pressures or spatial autocorrelation. However, limited gene flow is considered the predominant determinant in the establishment of SGS. With limited dispersal ability of bacterial cells in soil and host influence on their variety and abundance, spatial autocorrelation of bacterial communities associated with plants is expected. For this study, we collected genetic data from legume host plants, Chamaecrista fasciculata, their Bradyrhizobium symbionts and rhizosphere free-living bacteria at a small spatial scale to evaluate the extent to which symbiotic partners will have similar SGS and to understand how plant hosts choose among nodulating symbionts. We found SGS across all sampled plants for both the host plants and nodulating rhizobia, suggesting that both organisms are influenced by similar mechanisms structuring genetic diversity or shared habitat preferences by both plants and microbes. We also found that plant genetic identity and geographic distance might serve as predictors of nodulating rhizobia genetic identity. Bradyrhizobium elkanii was the only type of rhizobia found in nodules, which suggests some level of selection by the host plant.}, } @article {pmid33297293, year = {2020}, author = {Sontowski, R and Gerth, M and Richter, S and Gruppe, A and Schlegel, M and van Dam, NM and Bleidorn, C}, title = {Infection Patterns and Fitness Effects of Rickettsia and Sodalis Symbionts in the Green Lacewing Chrysoperla carnea.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33297293}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Endosymbionts are widely distributed in insects and can strongly affect their host ecology. The common green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) is a neuropteran insect which is widely used in biological pest control. However, their endosymbionts and their interactions with their hosts have not been very well studied. Therefore, we screened for endosymbionts in natural and laboratory populations of Ch. carnea using diagnostic PCR amplicons. We found the endosymbiont Rickettsia to be very common in all screened natural and laboratory populations, while a hitherto uncharacterized Sodalis strain was found only in laboratory populations. By establishing lacewing lines with no, single or co-infections of Sodalis and Rickettsia, we found a high vertical transmission rate for both endosymbionts (>89%). However, we were only able to estimate these numbers for co-infected lacewings. Sodalis negatively affected the reproductive success in single and co-infected Ch. carnea, while Rickettsia showed no effect. We hypothesize that the fitness costs accrued by Sodalis infections might be more tolerable in the laboratory than in natural populations, as the latter are also prone to fluctuating environmental conditions and natural enemies. The economic and ecological importance of lacewings in biological pest control warrants a more profound understanding of its biology, which might be influenced by symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33296393, year = {2020}, author = {Słowiński, J and Surmik, D and Duda, P and Zatoń, M}, title = {Assessment of serpulid-hydroid association through the Jurassic: A case study from the Polish Basin.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {e0242924}, pmid = {33296393}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Fossils ; Hydrozoa/*physiology ; Poland ; Polychaeta/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The coexistence of sessile, tube-dwelling polychaetes (serpulids) and hydroids, has been investigated. Serpulid tubes bearing traces after hydroids are derived from different stratigraphic intervals spanning the Middle and Upper Jurassic, the rocks of which represent the diverse paleoenvironments of the Polish Basin. Although fossil colonial hydroids classified under the species Protulophila gestroi are a commonly occurring symbiont of these polychaetes during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, they seem to be significantly less frequent during the Jurassic and limited to specific paleoenvironments. The hydroids described here are represented by traces after a thin stolonal network with elongated polyp chambers that open to the outer polychaete tube's surface with small, more or less subcircular apertures. Small chimney-like bulges around openings are an effect of the incorporation of the organism by in vivo embedment (bioclaustration) within the outer layers of the calcareous tube of the serpulid host. Considering the rich collection of well-preserved serpulid tubes (>3000 specimens), the frequency of bioclaustrated hydroids is very low, with an infestation percentage of only 0.6% (20 cases). It has been noticed that only specimens of the genus Propomatoceros from the Upper Bajocian, Lower Bathonian, Middle Bathonian, and Callovian have been found infested. However, the majority of bioclaustrated hydroids (17 cases) have been recorded in the Middle Bathonian serpulid species Propomatoceros lumbricalis coming from a single sampled site. Representatives of other genera are not affected, which is congruent with previous reports indicating that Protulophila gestroi was strongly selective in the choice of its host. A presumably commensal relationship is compared with the recent symbiosis between the hydroids of the genus Proboscidactyla and certain genera of sabellid polychaetes.}, } @article {pmid33295865, year = {2020}, author = {Lefoulon, E and Clark, T and Guerrero, R and Cañizales, I and Cardenas-Callirgos, JM and Junker, K and Vallarino-Lhermitte, N and Makepeace, BL and Darby, AC and Foster, JM and Martin, C and Slatko, BE}, title = {Diminutive, degraded but dissimilar: Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes do not conform to a single paradigm.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33295865}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Animals ; Databases, Genetic ; Evolution, Molecular ; Filarioidea/*microbiology ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Wolbachia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are alpha-proteobacteria symbionts infecting a large range of arthropod species and two different families of nematodes. Interestingly, these endosymbionts are able to induce diverse phenotypes in their hosts: they are reproductive parasites within many arthropods, nutritional mutualists within some insects and obligate mutualists within their filarial nematode hosts. Defining Wolbachia 'species' is controversial and so they are commonly classified into 17 different phylogenetic lineages, termed supergroups, named A-F, H-Q and S. However, available genomic data remain limited and not representative of the full Wolbachia diversity; indeed, of the 24 complete genomes and 55 draft genomes of Wolbachia available to date, 84 % belong to supergroups A and B, exclusively composed of Wolbachia from arthropods. For the current study, we took advantage of a recently developed DNA-enrichment method to produce four complete genomes and two draft genomes of Wolbachia from filarial nematodes. Two complete genomes, wCtub and wDcau, are the smallest Wolbachia genomes sequenced to date (863 988 bp and 863 427 bp, respectively), as well as the first genomes representing supergroup J. These genomes confirm the validity of this supergroup, a controversial clade due to weaknesses of the multilocus sequence typing approach. We also produced the first draft Wolbachia genome from a supergroup F filarial nematode representative (wMhie), two genomes from supergroup D (wLsig and wLbra) and the complete genome of wDimm from supergroup C. Our new data confirm the paradigm of smaller Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes containing low levels of transposable elements and the absence of intact bacteriophage sequences, unlike many Wolbachia from arthropods, where both are more abundant. However, we observe differences among the Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes: no global co-evolutionary pattern, strong synteny between supergroup C and supergroup J Wolbachia, and more transposable elements observed in supergroup D Wolbachia compared to the other supergroups. Metabolic pathway analysis indicates several highly conserved pathways (haem and nucleotide biosynthesis, for example) as opposed to more variable pathways, such as vitamin B biosynthesis, which might be specific to certain host-symbiont associations. Overall, there appears to be no single Wolbachia-filarial nematode pattern of co-evolution or symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid33295132, year = {2021}, author = {Farnelid, H and Turk-Kubo, K and Zehr, JP}, title = {Cell sorting reveals few novel prokaryote and photosynthetic picoeukaryote associations in the oligotrophic ocean.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {1469-1480}, pmid = {33295132}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Haptophyta/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oceans and Seas ; Pacific Ocean ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater ; *Synechococcus ; }, abstract = {Close associations between single-celled marine organisms can have a central role in biogeochemical processes and are of great interest for understanding the evolution of organisms. The global significance of such associations raises the question of whether unidentified associations are yet to be discovered. In this study, fluorescence-activated cell sorted photosynthetic picoeukayote (PPE) populations and single cells were analysed by sequencing of 16S rRNA genes in the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Samples were collected during two cruises, spanning depths near the deep chlorophyll maximum, where the abundance of PPEs was highest. The association between the widespread and significant nitrogen (N2)-fixing cyanobacterium, UCYN-A and its prymnesiophyte host was prevalent in both population and single-cell sorts. Several bacterial sequences, affiliating with previously described symbiotic taxa were detected but their detection was rare and not well replicated, precluding identification of novel tightly linked species-specific associations. Similarly, no enrichment of dominant seawater taxa such as Prochlorococcus, SAR11 or Synechococcus was observed suggesting that these were not systematically ingested by the PPE in this study. The results indicate that apart from the UCYN-A symbiosis, similar tight species-specific associations with PPEs are unusual in the oligotrophic ocean.}, } @article {pmid33294522, year = {2020}, author = {Shaikhutdinov, N and Gogoleva, N and Gusev, O and Shagimardanova, E}, title = {Microbiota composition data of imago and larval stage of the anhydrobiotic midge.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {33}, number = {}, pages = {106527}, pmid = {33294522}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {The ability of larvae of a non-biting midge Polypedilum vanderplanki (Chironomidae) to withstand complete desiccation is a remarkable natural example of adaptation to extreme environment. In anhydrobiosis the larvae lose up to 99.2% of water and stay in a dry form until rainfall in natural environment or up to several decades in laboratory maintaining ability to restore activity soon after rehydration [1]. In the desiccated state, the larvae tolerate a variety of abiotic stresses, including high radiation exposure (7000Gry of [60]Co gamma rays) [2]. Such a cross-resistance to desiccation and ionizing radiation is a characteristic of many anhydrobiotic organisms and believed to be based on similar molecular mechanisms. Microorganisms associated with the anhydrobiotic midge can also sustain desiccation and thus be radiation-resistant because desiccation-resistant prokaryotes are shown to be cross-resistant to ionizing radiation [3]. Microorganisms inhabiting larvae of the anhydrobiotic midge can also sustain desiccation and probably can sustain high doses of ionizing radiation. Therefore, it would be of interest to analyze the taxonomic and functional composition of microbiome of the anhydrobiotic midge. Sequencing data for the total DNA of anhydrobiotic organisms, which also contain reads derived from symbiotic microorganisms provide a promising opportunity to identify microorganisms with remarkable adaptation. It is known that at least some protective genes, such as late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes appeared in the genome of the midge by probable horizontal gene transfer from bacteria [1]. We performed shotgun sequencing of imago and larvae DNA samples using HiSeq 2000 and Genome Analyzer IIX System platforms. To assess microbiome diversity specific to anhydrobiotic midges, we analyzed Pool-seq data of the natural population of imago and Pool-seq data of final instar larvae. Data has been deposited in NCBI BioProject repository at NCBI under the accession number PRJNA659554 and consists of raw sequence data.}, } @article {pmid33294403, year = {2020}, author = {Patel, P and Patel, B and Amaresan, N and Joshi, B and Shah, R and Krishnamurthy, R}, title = {Isolation and characterization of Lactococcus garvieae from the fish gut for in vitro fermentation with carbohydrates from agro-industrial waste.}, journal = {Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {e00555}, pmid = {33294403}, issn = {2215-017X}, abstract = {This study focused on agro-industrial waste such as fruit peels by extracting prebiotics as a carbon source for lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Four strains of LAB were selected from Oreochromis niloticus (B2 and B3) and Nemipterus japonicas (R4 and R5), and identified as Lactococcus garvieae through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The analysis of probiotic characteristics revealed that all four strains were able to tolerate sodium chloride (up to 7 %), bile salt (up to 3 %), and broad range of pH (2-9). Further, analysis of polysaccharide contents in the agro-industrial waste materials such as peels of pineapple, orange, lemon, sugarcane, pomegranate, and sweet lemon revealed that the concentration ranged from 3.91-163.85 mg/g. It was observed that orange peels (20.38-140.99 mg/g), sweet lemon peels (22.03-161.93 mg/g), and pomegranate peels (38.19-163.85 mg/g) yielded maximum indigestible polysaccharide. Evaluation of synbiotic combination of probiotic and prebiotic revealed that L. garvieae strains had better fermentation efficiency with orange, sweet lemon, and pineapple compared to lemon, sugarcane, and pomegranate. In nutshell, different types of agro-industrial waste evaluated in this research were found to be a cheap and fermentable carbon sources for LAB. Further study should be conducted to analyze this symbiotic combination as feed supplements for fish in aquaculture as well as various fermentation industries.}, } @article {pmid33294363, year = {2020}, author = {Ingram, BA and McCowan, C and Bradley, T and Pinder, AM}, title = {First record of an aquatic oligochaete infesting fish.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {248-251}, pmid = {33294363}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {This case represents the first documented report of aquatic oligochaetes (Pristina aequiseta) infesting fish. Oligochaetes are common and ubiquitous in aquatic environments, but parasitic (and symbiotic) species are extremely rare with a few species occurring in frogs. During a disease surveillance project, live oligochaetes were observed in fresh preparations of gills of the Australian freshwater Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) that had been reared in a recirculating aquaculture system. Large numbers of oligochaetes were also found in detritus from the biofiltration system of the tanks. In autopsied fish, patches of filaments showed marked and diffuse hyperplasia, goblet cell metaplasia and mainly mononuclear infiltrate. This infestation may have caused sufficient damage to compromise the health of the fish and even death, considering that heightened mortality had occurred prior to their discovery. This infestation was considered not a case of parasitism but rather an opportunistic colonisation event triggered by a number of factors including the presence of a large population of P. aequiseta within the recirculating aquaculture system and unhealthy (or stressed) fish that could not ward off infestation.}, } @article {pmid33292570, year = {2020}, author = {Del Rio-Bermudez, C and Medrano, IH and Yebes, L and Poveda, JL}, title = {Towards a symbiotic relationship between big data, artificial intelligence, and hospital pharmacy.}, journal = {Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {75}, pmid = {33292570}, issn = {2052-3211}, abstract = {The digitalization of health and medicine and the growing availability of electronic health records (EHRs) has encouraged healthcare professionals and clinical researchers to adopt cutting-edge methodologies in the realms of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics to exploit existing large medical databases. In Hospital and Health System pharmacies, the application of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to access and analyze the unstructured, free-text information captured in millions of EHRs (e.g., medication safety, patients' medication history, adverse drug reactions, interactions, medication errors, therapeutic outcomes, and pharmacokinetic consultations) may become an essential tool to improve patient care and perform real-time evaluations of the efficacy, safety, and comparative effectiveness of available drugs. This approach has an enormous potential to support share-risk agreements and guide decision-making in pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) Committees.}, } @article {pmid33292476, year = {2020}, author = {Banfill, CR and Wilson, ACC and Lu, HL}, title = {Further evidence that mechanisms of host/symbiont integration are dissimilar in the maternal versus embryonic Acyrthosiphon pisum bacteriome.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {33292476}, issn = {2041-9139}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Host/symbiont integration is a signature of evolutionarily ancient, obligate endosymbioses. However, little is known about the cellular and developmental mechanisms of host/symbiont integration at the molecular level. Many insects possess obligate bacterial endosymbionts that provide essential nutrients. To advance understanding of the developmental and metabolic integration of hosts and endosymbionts, we track the localization of a non-essential amino acid transporter, ApNEAAT1, across asexual embryogenesis in the aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Previous work in adult bacteriomes revealed that ApNEAAT1 functions to exchange non-essential amino acids at the A. pisum/Buchnera aphidicola symbiotic interface. Driven by amino acid concentration gradients, ApNEAAT1 moves proline, serine, and alanine from A. pisum to Buchnera and cysteine from Buchnera to A. pisum. Here, we test the hypothesis that ApNEAAT1 is localized to the symbiotic interface during asexual embryogenesis.

RESULTS: During A. pisum asexual embryogenesis, ApNEAAT1 does not localize to the symbiotic interface. We observed ApNEAAT1 localization to the maternal follicular epithelium, the germline, and, in late-stage embryos, to anterior neural structures and insect immune cells (hemocytes). We predict that ApNEAAT1 provisions non-essential amino acids to developing oocytes and embryos, as well as to the brain and related neural structures. Additionally, ApNEAAT1 may perform roles related to host immunity.

CONCLUSIONS: Our work provides further evidence that the embryonic and adult bacteriomes of asexual A. pisum are not equivalent. Future research is needed to elucidate the developmental time point at which the bacteriome reaches maturity.}, } @article {pmid33291146, year = {2021}, author = {Ivory, R and Delaney, E and Mangan, D and McCleary, BV}, title = {Determination of Ethanol Concentration in Kombucha Beverages: Single-Laboratory Validation of an Enzymatic Method, First Action Method 2019.08.}, journal = {Journal of AOAC International}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {422-430}, pmid = {33291146}, issn = {1944-7922}, mesh = {Beverages/analysis ; *Ethanol/analysis ; Fermentation ; *Laboratories ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tea ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea drink. It is marketed as a functional beverage based on its proposed health benefits. Kombucha is produced by fermenting tea using a "symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast" (SCOBY). Kombucha is marketed as a non-alcoholic beverage, however due to the production process employed, there is a high possibility that the Kombucha products will contain low levels of ethanol. Kombucha is sold in a raw and unpasteurized form and, if kept at temperatures above 4 °C, the possibility exists that it will continue to ferment, producing ethanol. This possibility of continued fermentation may lead to an increase in ethanol content from levels below 0.5%ABV at time of production to higher levels at time of consumption. Thus, there is a potential for levels rising to greater than 0.5%ABV, the threshold for certification as a non-alcoholic beverage. It is essential that Kombucha manufacturers have the capacity to accurately and quickly test for ethanol in their products. The Ethanol Assay Kit is an enzymatic test kit developed by Megazyme for the determination of ethanol in a variety of samples. The kit has been validated in a single laboratory for use with Kombucha fermented drinks, fruit juices, and low-alcohol beer samples. The commercially available Ethanol Assay Kit (Megazyme catalogue no. K-ETOH) contains all components required for the analysis. Quantification is based on the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase and further oxidation of acetaldehyde by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase with conversion of NAD+ to NADH. The single laboratory validation (SLV) outlined in this document was performed on a sample set of eight different commercial Kombucha products purchased in Ireland, a set of five Cerilliant aqueous ethanol solutions, two BCR low-alcohol beer reference materials, two alcohol-free beer samples, and two fruit juice samples against SMPR 2016.001 (1). Parameters examined during the validation included Working range, Selectivity, Limit of Detection (LOD), Limit of Quantification (LOQ), Trueness (bias), Precision (reproducibility and repeatability), Robustness, and Stability. The Ethanol Assay is a robust, quick and easy method for the measurement of ethanol in Kombucha. Our data suggests this method is also reliable for similar matrices, such as low-alcohol beer and fruit juice. The assay meets all requirements set out in in AOAC SMPR 2016.001.}, } @article {pmid33290681, year = {2020}, author = {Bedgood, SA and Mastroni, SE and Bracken, MES}, title = {Flexibility of nutritional strategies within a mutualism: food availability affects algal symbiont productivity in two congeneric sea anemone species.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1940}, pages = {20201860}, pmid = {33290681}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; *Environment ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses are common, especially in nutrient-poor environments where an association between hosts and symbionts can allow the symbiotic partners to persist and collectively out-compete non-symbiotic species. Usually these mutualisms are built on an intimate transfer of energy and nutrients (e.g. carbon and nitrogen) between host and symbiont. However, resource availability is not consistent, and the benefit of the symbiotic association can depend on the availability of resources to mutualists. We manipulated the diets of two temperate sea anemone species in the genus Anthopleura in the field and recorded the responses of sea anemones and algal symbionts in the family Symbiodiniaceae to our treatments. Algal symbiont density, symbiont volume and photosynthetic efficiency of symbionts responded to changes in sea anemone diet, but the responses depended on the species of sea anemone. We suggest that temperate sea anemones and their symbionts can respond to changes in anemone diet, modifying the balance between heterotrophy and autotrophy in the symbiosis. Our data support the hypothesis that symbionts are upregulated or downregulated based on food availability, allowing for a flexible nutritional strategy based on external resources.}, } @article {pmid33288705, year = {2020}, author = {Ribeiro Lopes, M and Parisot, N and Gaget, K and Huygens, C and Peignier, S and Duport, G and Orlans, J and Charles, H and Baatsen, P and Jousselin, E and Da Silva, P and Hens, K and Callaerts, P and Calevro, F}, title = {Evolutionary novelty in the apoptotic pathway of aphids.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {51}, pages = {32545-32556}, pmid = {33288705}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Aphids/*cytology/*physiology ; Apoptosis/*physiology ; Caspases/chemistry/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Eye/cytology/pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome, Insect ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins/metabolism ; Insect Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protein Domains ; }, abstract = {Apoptosis, a conserved form of programmed cell death, shows interspecies differences that may reflect evolutionary diversification and adaptation, a notion that remains largely untested. Among insects, the most speciose animal group, the apoptotic pathway has only been fully characterized in Drosophila melanogaster, and apoptosis-related proteins have been studied in a few other dipteran and lepidopteran species. Here, we studied the apoptotic pathway in the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, an insect pest belonging to the Hemiptera, an earlier-diverging and distantly related order. We combined phylogenetic analyses and conserved domain identification to annotate the apoptotic pathway in A. pisum and found low caspase diversity and a large expansion of its inhibitory part, with 28 inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs). We analyzed the spatiotemporal expression of a selected set of pea aphid IAPs and showed that they are differentially expressed in different life stages and tissues, suggesting functional diversification. Five IAPs are specifically induced in bacteriocytes, the specialized cells housing symbiotic bacteria, during their cell death. We demonstrated the antiapoptotic role of these five IAPs using heterologous expression in a tractable in vivo model, the Drosophila melanogaster developing eye. Interestingly, IAPs with the strongest antiapoptotic potential contain two BIR and two RING domains, a domain association that has not been observed in any other species. We finally analyzed all available aphid genomes and found that they all show large IAP expansion, with new combinations of protein domains, suggestive of evolutionarily novel aphid-specific functions.}, } @article {pmid33288170, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, H and Wang, C and Guo, M}, title = {Autogenic successions of bacteria and fungi in kefir grains from different origins when sub-cultured in goat milk.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {138}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {109784}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109784}, pmid = {33288170}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Animals ; Asia ; Bacteria/genetics ; China ; *Cultured Milk Products ; Europe ; Fungi/genetics ; Goats ; *Kefir ; Kluyveromyces ; Lactobacillus ; Milk ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Saccharomycetales ; United States ; }, abstract = {Kefir grains are a unique symbiotic association of different microbiota, including a variety of bacterial and fungal species. The microbiota in kefir grains is strongly influenced by the geographical origin and sub-culturing environment. After sub-culturing in goat milk for 2 to 4 months, amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS1 region) was applied for the identification of bacterial and fungal autogenic succession of three kefir grains collected from China (CN, Asia), Germany (DE, Europe) and United States of America (USA, America). Taxonomic analysis displayed three main bacterial and fungal species in kefir grains from different origins during sub-culturing process (Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Lactobacillus kefiri for bacteria, Kazachstania unispora, Kluyveromyces marxianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for fungi). Based on the results of beta diversity analysis, microbiota in kefir grains from CN and DE would be stable when sub-cultured in goat milk for more than three months. Differently, a highly microbial stability has been found for the sample from USA during the whole sub-culturing process. These results helped to understand the composition and stability of microbiota in kefir grains when sub-cultured in goat milk.}, } @article {pmid33287282, year = {2020}, author = {Zorin, EA and Afonin, AM and Kulaeva, OA and Gribchenko, ES and Shtark, OY and Zhukov, VA}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis of Alternative Splicing Events Induced by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (Rhizophagus irregularis) in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Roots.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33287282}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Alternative splicing (AS), a process that enables formation of different mRNA isoforms due to alternative ways of pre-mRNA processing, is one of the mechanisms for fine-tuning gene expression. Currently, the role of AS in symbioses formed by plants with soil microorganisms is not fully understood. In this work, a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza was performed using RNAseq and following bioinformatic analysis. AS profiles of mycorrhizal and control roots were highly similar, intron retention accounting for a large proportion of the observed AS types (67%). Using three different tools (SUPPA2, DRIMSeq and IsoformSwitchAnalyzeR), eight genes with AS events specific for mycorrhizal roots of pea were identified, among which four were annotated as encoding an apoptosis inhibitor protein, a serine/threonine-protein kinase, a dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase, and a pre-mRNA-splicing factor ATP-dependent RNA helicase DEAH1. In pea mycorrhizal roots, the isoforms of these four genes with preliminary stop codons leading to a truncated ORFs were up-regulated. Interestingly, two of these four genes demonstrating mycorrhiza-specific AS are related to the process of splicing, thus forming parts of the feedback loops involved in fine-tuning of gene expression during mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid33287185, year = {2020}, author = {Ahn, H and Seol, D and Cho, S and Kim, H and Kwak, W}, title = {Enhanced Symbiotic Characteristics in Bacterial Genomes with the Disruption of rRNA Operon.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33287185}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Ribosomal RNA is an indispensable molecule in living organisms that plays an essential role in protein synthesis. Especially in bacteria, 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNAs are usually co-transcribed as operons. Despite the positive effects of rRNA co-transcription on growth and reproduction rate, a recent study revealed that bacteria with unlinked rRNA operons are more widespread than expected. However, it is still unclear why the rRNA operon is broken. Here, we explored rRNA operon linkage status in 15,898 bacterial genomes and investigated whether they have common features or lifestyles; 574 genomes were found to have unlinked rRNA operons and tended to be phylogenetically conserved. Most of them were symbionts and showed enhanced symbiotic genomic features such as reduced genome size and high adenine-thymine (AT) content. In an eggNOG-mapper analysis, they were also found to have significantly fewer genes than rRNA operon-linked bacteria in the "transcription" and "energy production and conversion in metabolism" categories. These genomes also tend to decrease RNases related to the synthesis of ribosomes and tRNA processing. Based on these results, the disruption of the rRNA operon seems to be one of the tendencies associated with the characteristics of bacteria requiring a low dynamic range.}, } @article {pmid33283960, year = {2021}, author = {Sun, X and Yang, J and Zheng, M and Zhang, X}, title = {Artificial construction of the biocoenosis of deep-sea ecosystem via seeping methane.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {1186-1198}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15347}, pmid = {33283960}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; *Biota ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; *Ecosystem ; Methane/analysis/*metabolism ; Oceans and Seas ; *Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Viruses/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea ecosystems, such as cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, have high biomass, even though they are located in the benthic zone, where no sunlight is present to provide energy for organism proliferation. Based on the coexistence of the reduced gases and chemoautotrophic microbes, it is inferred that the energy from the reduced gases supports the biocoenosis of deep-sea ecosystems. However, there is no direct evidence to support this deduction. Here, we developed and placed a biocoenosis generator, a device that continuously seeped methane, on the 1000-m deep-sea floor of the South China Sea to artificially construct a deep-sea ecosystem biocoenosis. The results showed that microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, appeared in the biocoenosis generator first, followed by jellyfish and Gammaridea arthropods, indicating that a biocoenosis had been successfully constructed in the deep sea. Anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea, which shared characteristics with the archaea of natural deep-sea cold seeps, acted as the first electron acceptors of the emitted methane; then, the energy in the electrons was transferred to downstream symbiotic archaea and bacteria and finally to animals. Nitrate-reducing bacteria served as partners to complete anaerobic oxidation of methane process. Further analysis revealed that viruses coexisted with these organisms during the origin of the deep-sea biocoenosis. Therefore, our study mimics a natural deep-sea ecosystem and provides the direct evidence to show that the chemical energy of reduced organic molecules, such as methane, supports the biocoenosis of deep-sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33283865, year = {2020}, author = {Fagorzi, C and Ilie, A and Decorosi, F and Cangioli, L and Viti, C and Mengoni, A and diCenzo, GC}, title = {Symbiotic and Nonsymbiotic Members of the Genus Ensifer (syn. Sinorhizobium) Are Separated into Two Clades Based on Comparative Genomics and High-Throughput Phenotyping.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {2521-2534}, pmid = {33283865}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Microarray Analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Sinorhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium-legume symbioses serve as paradigmatic examples for the study of mutualism evolution. The genus Ensifer (syn. Sinorhizobium) contains diverse plant-associated bacteria, a subset of which can fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes. To gain insights into the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), and interkingdom mutualisms more generally, we performed extensive phenotypic, genomic, and phylogenetic analyses of the genus Ensifer. The data suggest that SNF likely emerged several times within the genus Ensifer through independent horizontal gene transfer events. Yet, the majority (105 of 106) of the Ensifer strains with the nodABC and nifHDK nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes were found within a single, monophyletic clade. Comparative genomics highlighted several differences between the "symbiotic" and "nonsymbiotic" clades, including divergences in their pangenome content. Additionally, strains of the symbiotic clade carried 325 fewer genes, on average, and appeared to have fewer rRNA operons than strains of the nonsymbiotic clade. Initial characterization of a subset of ten Ensifer strains identified several putative phenotypic differences between the clades. Tested strains of the nonsymbiotic clade could catabolize 25% more carbon sources, on average, than strains of the symbiotic clade, and they were better able to grow in LB medium and tolerate alkaline conditions. On the other hand, the tested strains of the symbiotic clade were better able to tolerate heat stress and acidic conditions. We suggest that these data support the division of the genus Ensifer into two main subgroups, as well as the hypothesis that pre-existing genetic features are required to facilitate the evolution of SNF in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid33281845, year = {2020}, author = {Feng, Z and Liu, X and Zhu, H and Yao, Q}, title = {Responses of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis to Abiotic Stress: A Lipid-Centric Perspective.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {578919}, pmid = {33281845}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are one of the most important soil microbial resources that help host plants cope with various abiotic stresses. Although a tremendous number of studies have revealed the responses of AM fungi to abiotic stress and their beneficial effects transferred to host plants, little work has focused on the role of lipid metabolism in AM fungi under abiotic stress conditions. AM fungi contain a large amount of lipids in their biomass, including phospholipids (PLs) in their hyphal membranes and neutral lipids (NLs) in their storage structures (e.g., vesicles and spores). Recently, lipid transfer from plants to AM fungi has been suggested to be indispensable for the establishment of AM symbiosis, and extraradical hyphae are capable of directly taking up lipids from the environment. This experimental evidence highlights the importance of lipids in AM symbiosis. Moreover, abiotic stress reduces lipid transfer to AM fungi and promotes arbuscule collapse as well as the hydrolysis and conversion of PLs to NLs in collapsed arbuscules. Overall, this knowledge encourages us to rethink the responses of AM symbiosis to abiotic stress from a lipid-centric perspective. The present review provides current and comprehensive knowledge on lipid metabolism in AM fungi, especially in response to various abiotic stresses. A regulatory role of abscisic acid (ABA), which is considered a "stress hormone," in lipid metabolism and in the resulting consequences is also proposed.}, } @article {pmid33281793, year = {2020}, author = {Miao, YH and Xiao, JH and Huang, DW}, title = {Distribution and Evolution of the Bacteriophage WO and Its Antagonism With Wolbachia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {595629}, pmid = {33281793}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis system comprising eukaryotic hosts, intracellular bacterium Wolbachia, and temperate bacteriophages WO is widely spread through nearly half the number of arthropod species. The relationships between the three components of the system are extremely intricate. Even though the bacteriophage WO can have diverse influences on the ecology and evolution of Wolbachia, little is known about the distribution and evolution of the phages. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that in infected fig wasps (Ceratosolen solmsi, Kradibia gibbosae, and Wiebesia pumilae), the genomes of all the Wolbachia strains had only one cryptic WO prophage, which contained defects in the genomic structural modules. This phenomenon was contrary to the widely accepted understanding that Wolbachia with cryptic prophages usually possesses at least one intact WO prophage consisting of gene sequences of the head, baseplate, and tail modules, through which the prophage could form intact virions. In addition to the genetic structure features, the phylogenetic relationships of WO and Wolbachia also revealed that bacteriophage WO can horizontally spread among a certain genus or a group of insect hosts, nearly free from the restriction of the affiliation of Wolbachia. Combined with the vertical transmission along with Wolbachia, the wide spread of WO phages can be explained. Furthermore, the gender preference and functional module preference for transcriptional activity of the genes in cryptic WOs implied the antagonized coevolutionary pattern between WO prophages and their Wolbachia hosts.}, } @article {pmid33281765, year = {2020}, author = {Rahaman, MS and Siraj, MA and Sultana, S and Seidel, V and Islam, MA}, title = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Biological Potential of Fungal Endophytes From Plants of the Sundarbans Mangrove.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {570855}, pmid = {33281765}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Sundarbans forest in Bangladesh is the world's largest mangrove. It is a unique ecosystem where living organisms face extreme challenges to compete for survival. Such competition results in the production of bioactive molecules which are useful for agriculture and human health. In this study, eighty fungal endophytes from nine mangrove plants growing in a region, as yet unexplored, of the Sundarbans were isolated by surface sterilisation and pure culture techniques. Among the eighty isolates subjected to a preliminary antimicrobial screening using an agar plug diffusion assay, only fifteen showed some promising activity. These were subsequently identified by polymerase chain reaction of their ITS gene. Extracts prepared from the identified isolates were screened for antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Their total polyphenol and flavonoid content and their FRAP value were also determined. All endophytes are reported for the first time in the plants under investigation.}, } @article {pmid33280579, year = {2020}, author = {Stonik, VA and Makarieva, TN and Shubina, LK}, title = {Antibiotics from Marine Bacteria.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {85}, number = {11}, pages = {1362-1373}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297920110073}, pmid = {33280579}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/therapeutic use ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry/growth & development ; Bacteria/*chemistry/growth & development ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review discusses main directions and results of the studies on antibiotics produced by bacteria living in the marine environment. In recent years many obligate marine species and strains were studied, diverse metabolites were isolated, and their chemical structures were elucidated. Among them here were natural compounds toxic against tumor cells, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and malaria plasmodial species; these compounds often had no analogues among the natural products of terrestrial origin. Some isolated compounds form a basis of active ingredients in medicinal preparations used in clinic practice, while others are under different stages of preclinical or clinical studies. Much attention has been paid in recent years to producers of marine-derived antibiotics isolated from the deep-sea habitats, from the surface of marine invertebrates and algae, as well as from symbiotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid33279568, year = {2021}, author = {Kowallik, KV and Martin, WF}, title = {The origin of symbiogenesis: An annotated English translation of Mereschkowsky's 1910 paper on the theory of two plasma lineages.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {199}, number = {}, pages = {104281}, pmid = {33279568}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Animals ; *Autotrophic Processes ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/genetics/*metabolism ; Eukaryota/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Russia ; *Symbiosis ; Translating ; }, abstract = {In 1910, the Russian biologist Konstantin Sergejewitch Mereschkowsky (Константин Сергеевич Мережковский, in standard transliterations also written as Konstantin Sergeevič Merežkovskij and Konstantin Sergeevich Merezhkovsky) published a notable synthesis of observations and inferences concerning the origin of life and the origin of nucleated cells. His theory was based on physiology and leaned heavily upon the premise that thermophilic autotrophs were ancient. The ancestors of plants and animals were inferred as ancestrally mesophilic anucleate heterotrophs (Monera) that became complex and diverse through endosymbiosis. He placed a phylogenetic root in the tree of life among anaerobic autotrophic bacteria that lack chlorophyll. His higher level classification of all microbes and macrobes in the living world was based upon the presence or absence of past endosymbiotic events. The paper's primary aim was to demonstrate that all life forms descend from two fundamentally distinct organismal lineages, called mykoplasma and amoeboplasma, whose very nature was so different that, in his view, they could only have arisen independently of one another and at different times during Earth history. The mykoplasma arose at a time when the young Earth was still hot, it later gave rise to cyanobacteria, which in turn gave rise to plastids. The product of the second origin of life, the amoeboplasma, arose after the Earth had cooled and autotrophs had generated substrates for heterotrophic growth. Lineage diversification of that second plasma brought forth, via serial endosymbioses, animals (one symbiosis) and then plants (two symbioses, the second being the plastid). The paper was published in German, rendering it inaccessible to many interested scholars. Here we translate the 1910 paper in full and briefly provide some context.}, } @article {pmid33279381, year = {2021}, author = {Freire, M and Nelson, KE and Edlund, A}, title = {The Oral Host-Microbial Interactome: An Ecological Chronometer of Health?.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {551-561}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2020.11.004}, pmid = {33279381}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology/physiology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Periodontal Diseases/immunology/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An increasing number of studies reveal that host-microbial interactome networks are coordinated, impacting human health and disease. Recently, several lines of evidence have revealed associations between the acquisition of a complex microbiota and adaptive immunity, supporting that host-microbiota symbiotic relationships have evolved as a means to maintain homeostasis where the role of the microbiota is to promote and educate the immune system. Here, we hypothesize an oral host-microbial interactome that could serve as an ecological chronometer of health and disease, with specific focus on caries, periodontal diseases, and cancer. We also review the current state of the art on the human oral microbiome and its correlations with host innate immunity, and host cytokine control, with the goal of using this information for disease prediction and designing novel treatments for local and systemic dysbiosis. In addition, we discuss new insights into the role of novel host-microbial signals as potential biomarkers, and their relevance for the future of precision dentistry and medicine.}, } @article {pmid33278908, year = {2020}, author = {Kirkpatrick, AW and Hamilton, DR and McKee, JL and MacDonald, B and Pelosi, P and Ball, CG and Roberts, D and McBeth, PB and Cocolini, F and Ansaloni, L and Peireira, B and Sugrue, M and Campbell, MR and Kimball, EJ and Malbrain, MLNG and Roberts, D}, title = {Do we have the guts to go? The abdominal compartment, intra-abdominal hypertension, the human microbiome and exploration class space missions.}, journal = {Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie}, volume = {63}, number = {6}, pages = {E581-E593}, pmid = {33278908}, issn = {1488-2310}, mesh = {Abdomen/physiopathology ; Animals ; Critical Illness ; Dysbiosis/etiology/*physiopathology/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension/etiology/*physiopathology/prevention & control ; Models, Animal ; Multiple Organ Failure/etiology/*physiopathology/prevention & control ; *Space Flight ; Weightlessness/*adverse effects ; }, abstract = {Humans are destined to explore space, yet critical illness and injury may be catastrophically limiting for extraterrestrial travel. Humans are superorganisms living in symbiosis with their microbiomes, whose genetic diversity dwarfs that of humans. Symbiosis is critical and imbalances are associated with disease, occurring within hours of serious illness and injury. There are many characteristics of space flight that negatively influence the microbiome, especially deep space itself, with its increased radiation and absence of gravity. Prolonged weightlessness causes many physiologic changes that are detrimental; some resemble aging and will adversely affect the ability to tolerate critical illness or injury and subsequent treatment. Critical illness-induced intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) may induce malperfusion of both the viscera and microbiome, with potentially catastrophic effects. Evidence from animal models confirms profound IAH effects on the gut, namely ischemia and disruption of barrier function, mechanistically linking IAH to resultant organ dysfunction. Therefore, a pathologic dysbiome, space-induced immune dysfunction and a diminished cardiorespiratory reserve with exacerbated susceptibility to IAH, imply that a space-deconditioned astronaut will be vulnerable to IAH-induced gut malperfusion. This sets the stage for severe gut ischemia and massive biomediator generation in an astronaut with reduced cardiorespiratory/immunological capacity. Fortunately, experiments in weightless analogue environments suggest that IAH may be ameliorated by conformational abdominal wall changes and a resetting of thoracoabdominal mechanics. Thus, review of the interactions of physiologic changes with prolonged weightlessness and IAH is required to identify appropriate questions for planning exploration class space surgical care.}, } @article {pmid33277272, year = {2021}, author = {Zou, Q and Zhou, Y and Cheng, G and Peng, Y and Luo, S and Wu, H and Yan, C and Li, X and He, D}, title = {Antioxidant ability of glutaredoxins and their role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33277272}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Glutaredoxins (Grx) are redoxin family proteins that reduce disulfides and mixed disulfides between glutathione and proteins. Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. Viciae 3841 contains three genes coding for glutaredoxins: RL4289 (grxA) codes for a dithiolic glutaredoxin, RL2615 (grxB) codes for a monothiol glutaredoxin, while RL4261 (grxC) codes for a glutaredoxin-like NrdH protein. We generated mutants interrupted in one, two, or three glutaredoxin genes. These mutants had no obvious differences in growth phenotypes from the wild type RL3841. However, while a mutant of grxC did not affect the antioxidant or symbiotic capacities of R. leguminosarum, grxA-derived or grxB mutants decreased antioxidant and nitrogen fixation capacities. Furthermore, grxA mutants were severely impaired in rhizosphere colonization, and formed smaller nodules with defects of bacteroid differentiation, whereas nodules induced by grxB mutants contained abnormally thick cortices and prematurely senescent bacteroids. The grx triple mutant had the greatest defect in antioxidant and symbiotic capacities of R. leguminosarum and quantitative proteomics revealed it had 56 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated proteins relative to wildtype. Of these proteins, twenty-eight are involved in transporter activity, twenty are related to stress response and virulence, and sixteen are involved in amino acid metabolism. Overall, R. leguminosarum glutaredoxins behave as antioxidant proteins mediating root nodule symbiosis.IMPORTANCE Glutaredoxin catalyzes glutathionylation/deglutathionylation reactions, protects SH-groups from oxidation and restores functionally active thiols. Three glutaredoxins exist in R. leguminosarum and their properties were investigated in free-living bacteria and during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. All the glutaredoxins were necessary for oxidative stress defense. Dithiol GrxA affects nodulation and nitrogen fixation of bacteroids by altering deglutathionylation reactions, monothiol GrxB is involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation by regulating Fe-S cluster biogenesis, and GrxC may participate in symbiosis by an unknown mechanism. Proteome analysis provides clues to explain the differences between the grx triple mutant and wild-type nodules.}, } @article {pmid33277267, year = {2021}, author = {Elston, KM and Perreau, J and Maeda, GP and Moran, NA and Barrick, JE}, title = {Engineering a Culturable Serratia symbiotica Strain for Aphid Paratransgenesis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33277267}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Aphids are global agricultural pests and important models for bacterial symbiosis. To date, none of the native symbionts of aphids have been genetically manipulated, which limits our understanding of how they interact with their hosts. Serratia symbiotica CWBI-2.3[T] is a culturable, gut-associated bacterium isolated from the black bean aphid. Closely related Serratia symbiotica strains are facultative aphid endosymbionts that are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring during embryogenesis. We demonstrate that CWBI-2.3[T] can be genetically engineered using a variety of techniques, plasmids, and gene expression parts. Then, we use fluorescent protein expression to track the dynamics with which CWBI-2.3[T] colonizes the guts of multiple aphid species, and we measure how this bacterium affects aphid fitness. Finally, we show that we can induce heterologous gene expression from engineered CWBI-2.3[T] in living aphids. These results inform the development of CWBI-2.3[T] for aphid paratransgenesis, which could be used to study aphid biology and enable future agricultural technologies.IMPORTANCE Insects have remarkably diverse and integral roles in global ecosystems. Many harbor symbiotic bacteria, but very few of these bacteria have been genetically engineered. Aphids are major agricultural pests and an important model system for the study of symbiosis. This work describes methods for engineering a culturable aphid symbiont, Serratia symbiotica CWBI-2.3[T] These approaches and genetic tools could be used in the future to implement new paradigms for the biological study and control of aphids.}, } @article {pmid33274397, year = {2021}, author = {Bien, T and Hambleton, EA and Dreisewerd, K and Soltwisch, J}, title = {Molecular insights into symbiosis-mapping sterols in a marine flatworm-algae-system using high spatial resolution MALDI-2-MS imaging with ion mobility separation.}, journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}, volume = {413}, number = {10}, pages = {2767-2777}, pmid = {33274397}, issn = {1618-2650}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry/physiology ; Ion Mobility Spectrometry/methods ; Platyhelminths/*chemistry/physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Sterols/*analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Waminoa sp. acoel flatworms hosting Symbiodiniaceae and the related Amphidinium dinoflagellate algae are an interesting model system for symbiosis in marine environments. While the host provides a microhabitat and safety, the algae power the system by photosynthesis and supply the worm with nutrients. Among these nutrients are sterols, including cholesterol and numerous phytosterols. While it is widely accepted that these compounds are produced by the symbiotic dinoflagellates, their transfer to and fate within the sterol-auxotrophic Waminoa worm host as well as their role in its metabolism are unknown. Here we used matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging combined with laser-induced post-ionization and trapped ion mobility spectrometry (MALDI-2-TIMS-MSI) to map the spatial distribution of over 30 different sterol species in sections of the symbiotic system. The use of laser post-ionization crucially increased ion yields and allowed the recording of images with a pixel size of 5 μm. Trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) helped with the tentative assignment of over 30 sterol species. Correlation with anatomical features of the worm, revealed by host-derived phospholipid signals, and the location of the dinoflagellates, revealed by chlorophyll a signal, disclosed peculiar differences in the distribution of different sterol species (e.g. of cholesterol versus stigmasterol) within the receiving host. These findings point to sterol species-specific roles in the metabolism of Waminoa beyond a mere source of energy. They also underline the value of the MALDI-2-TIMS-MSI method to future research in the spatially resolved analysis of sterols.}, } @article {pmid33273496, year = {2020}, author = {Silva, FJ and Muñoz-Benavent, M and García-Ferris, C and Latorre, A}, title = {Blattella germanica displays a large arsenal of antimicrobial peptide genes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {21058}, pmid = {33273496}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome, Insect ; Phylogeny ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Protein Domains ; }, abstract = {Defence systems against microbial pathogens are present in most living beings. The German cockroach Blattella germanica requires these systems to adapt to unhealthy environments with abundance of pathogenic microbes, in addition to potentially control its symbiotic systems. To handle this situation, four antimicrobial gene families (defensins, termicins, drosomycins and attacins) were expanded in its genome. Remarkably, a new gene family (blattellicins) emerged recently after duplication and fast evolution of an attacin gene, which is now encoding larger proteins with the presence of a long stretch of glutamines and glutamic acids. Phylogenetic reconstruction, within Blattellinae, suggests that this duplication took place before the divergence of Blattella and Episymploce genera. The latter harbours a long attacin gene (pre-blattellicin), but the absence of the encoded Glx-region suggests that this element evolved recently in the Blattella lineage. A screening of AMP gene expression in available transcriptomic SR projects of B. germanica showed that, while some AMPs are expressed during almost the whole development, others are restricted to shorter periods. Blattellicins are highly expressed only in adult females. None of the available SR tissue projects could be associated with blattellicins' expression, suggesting that it takes place in other tissues, maybe the gut.}, } @article {pmid33272799, year = {2021}, author = {Biancari, L and Cerrotta, C and Menéndez, AI and Gundel, PE and Martínez-Ghersa, MA}, title = {Episodes of high tropospheric ozone reduce nodulation, seed production and quality in soybean (Glycine max (L.) merr.) on low fertility soils.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {269}, number = {}, pages = {116117}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116117}, pmid = {33272799}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Humans ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Ozone/toxicity ; Seeds ; Soil ; *Soybeans ; }, abstract = {Driven by human activities, air pollution and soil degradation are threatening food production systems. Rising ozone in the troposphere can affect several physiological processes in plants and their interaction with symbiotic microorganisms. Plant responses to ozone may depend on both soil fertility and the ontogenetic stage in which they are exposed. In this work, we studied the effects of ozone episodes and soil fertility on soybean plants. We analysed soybean plant responses in the production of aboveground and belowground biomass, structural and functional attributes of rhizobia, and seed production and quality. The experiment was performed with plants grown in two substrates with different fertility (commercial soil, and soil diluted (50%, v/v) with sand). Plants were exposed to acute episodes of ozone during vegetative and reproductive stages. We observed that ozone significantly reduced belowground biomass (≈25%), nodule biomass (≈30%), and biological nitrogen fixation (≈21%). Plants exposed to ozone during reproductive stage growing in soil with reduced fertility had lower seed production (≈10% lower) and seed protein (≈12% lower). These responses on yield and quality can be explained by the observed changes in belowground biomass and nitrogen fixation. The negative impact of ozone on the symbiotic interaction with rhizobia, seed production and quality in soybean plants were greater in soils with reduced fertility. Our results indicate that food security could be at risk in the future if trends in ozone concentration and soil degradation processes continue to increase.}, } @article {pmid33272789, year = {2021}, author = {Muñoz-Benavent, M and Pérez-Cobas, AE and García-Ferris, C and Moya, A and Latorre, A}, title = {Insects' potential: Understanding the functional role of their gut microbiome.}, journal = {Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis}, volume = {194}, number = {}, pages = {113787}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113787}, pmid = {33272789}, issn = {1873-264X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Insecta ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {The study of insect-associated microbial communities is a field of great importance in agriculture, principally because of the role insects play as pests. In addition, there is a recent focus on the potential of the insect gut microbiome in areas such as biotechnology, given some microorganisms produce molecules with biotechnological and industrial applications, and also in biomedicine, since some bacteria and fungi are a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). To date, most studies aiming to characterize the role of the gut microbiome of insects have been based on high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and/or metagenomics. However, recently functional approaches such as metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics and metabolomics have also been employed. Besides providing knowledge about the taxonomic distribution of microbial populations, these techniques also reveal their functional and metabolic capabilities. This information is essential to gain a better understanding of the role played by microbes comprising the microbial communities in their hosts, as well as to indicate their possible exploitation. This review provides an overview of how far we have come in characterizing insect gut functionality through omics, as well as the challenges and future perspectives in this field.}, } @article {pmid33271364, year = {2021}, author = {de Paula, GT and Menezes, C and Pupo, MT and Rosa, CA}, title = {Stingless bees and microbial interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {41-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.11.006}, pmid = {33271364}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Bees/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Nesting Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; Viruses ; Yeasts/physiology ; }, abstract = {Stingless bees (Meliponini) are a monophyletic group of eusocial insects inhabiting tropical and subtropical regions. These insects represent the most abundant and diversified group of corbiculate bees. Meliponini mostly rely on fermentation by symbiont microbes to preserve honey and transform pollen in stored food. Bee nests harbor diverse microbiota that includes bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, and viruses. These microorganisms may interact with the bees through symbiotic relationships, or they may act as food for the insects, or produce biomolecules that aid in the biotransformation of bee products, such as honey and bee bread. Certain microbial species can also produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit opportunistic bee pathogens.}, } @article {pmid33271360, year = {2021}, author = {Bridges, CM and Gage, DJ}, title = {Development and application of aerobic, chemically defined media for Dysgonomonas.}, journal = {Anaerobe}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {102302}, doi = {10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102302}, pmid = {33271360}, issn = {1095-8274}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; *Culture Media ; DNA, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Hemin/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Minerals/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Vitamins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Members of Dysgonomonas are Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic coccobacilli originally described in relation to their isolation from stool and wounds of human patients (CDC group DF-3). More recently, Dysgonomonas have been found to be widely distributed in terrestrial environments and are particularly enriched in insect systems. Their prevalence in xylophagous insects such as termites and wood-feeding cockroaches, as well as in soil-fed microbial fuel cells, elicit interest in lignocellulose degradation and biofuel production, respectively. Their occurrence in mosquito and fruit fly have implications relating to symbiosis, host immunology and developmental biology. Additionally, their presence in termite, mosquito and nematode present novel opportunities for pest and vector control. Currently, the absolute growth requirements of Dysgonomonas are unknown, and they are commonly cultured under anaerobic conditions on complex media containing blood, peptones, tryptones, and yeast, plant or meat extracts. Restrictive and undefined culturing conditions preclude physiological and genetic studies, and thus further understanding of their metabolic potential. Here we describe the requirements for growth of termite-derived Dysgonomonas isolates and create parallel complex, defined and minimal media that permit vigorous and reliable aerobic growth. Furthermore, we show that these media can be used to easily enrich for Dysgonomonas isolates from densely-colonized and microbially-diverse environmental samples.}, } @article {pmid33266512, year = {2020}, author = {Fu, N and Li, J and Wang, M and Ren, L and Luo, Y}, title = {Genes Identification, Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Analysis of Laccases from Amylostereum areolatum Provides Molecular Basis of Laccase Bound to Lignin.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {33266512}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*enzymology/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Laccase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Ligands ; Lignin/metabolism ; *Models, Molecular ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Wasps/microbiology ; }, abstract = {An obligate mutualistic relationship exists between the fungus Amylostereum areolatum and woodwasp Sirex noctilio. The fungus digests lignin in the host pine, providing essential nutrients for the growing woodwasp larvae. However, the functional properties of this symbiosis are poorly described. In this study, we identified, cloned, and characterized 14 laccase genes from A. areolatum. These genes encoded proteins of 508 to 529 amino acids and contained three typical copper-oxidase domains, necessary to confer laccase activity. Besides, we performed molecular docking and dynamics simulation of the laccase proteins in complex with lignin compounds (monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers). AaLac2, AaLac3, AaLac6, AaLac8, and AaLac10 were found that had low binding energies with all lignin model compounds tested and three of them could maintain stability when binding to these compounds. Among these complexes, amino acid residues ALA, GLN, LEU, PHE, PRO, and SER were commonly present. Our study reveals the molecular basis of A. areolatum laccases interacting with lignin, which is essential for understanding how the fungus provides nutrients to S. noctilio. These findings might also provide guidance for the control of S. noctilio by informing the design of enzyme mutants that could reduce the efficiency of lignin degradation.}, } @article {pmid33266163, year = {2020}, author = {Flegar, M and Serdar, M and Londono-Zuluaga, D and Scrivener, K}, title = {Regional Waste Streams as Potential Raw Materials for Immediate Implementation in Cement Production.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {33266163}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {There is an urgent need to apply available technologies to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. One of the possible solutions that can be implemented immediately is the industrial symbiosis between the waste-producing industries on the one hand and the cement industry, which consumes enormous amounts of raw materials for its production, on the other. In order for the industry to accelerate the use of these available materials and technologies, the potential of these materials must be disclosed. The present study shows a systematic approach to assess the potential of waste materials, by-products, and other raw materials available in the South East Europe that can be used in cement production. Their evaluation included the analysis of their availability, their chemical and physical properties, their chemical reactivity, and their contribution to the mortar's strength. Based on the results and the analyses carried out, a recommendation for immediate use in the construction sector is given for each of the materials collected.}, } @article {pmid33264074, year = {2020}, author = {Haelewaters, D and Kasson, MT}, title = {Animal-associated fungi: Editorial.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {112}, number = {6}, pages = {1045-1047}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2020.1841469}, pmid = {33264074}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Of 1882 fungal species described in 2019, only 3.5% were animal-associated. This percentage is representative of the poor understanding we have of this group of fungi, which are ephemeral, sometimes inconspicuous, and difficult to access, while often requiring specialized methods for their study. Following a two-session symposium on animal-associated fungi during the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of America, this special issue presents the work of 61 researchers in 16 countries. Twelve articles cover animal-associated fungi among Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Neocallimastigomycota-describing 29 new species, presenting new evolutionary hypotheses, and unearthing new ecological data.}, } @article {pmid33263889, year = {2020}, author = {Kloc, M and Uosef, A and Elshawwaf, M and Abdelshafy, AAA and Elsaid, KMK and Kubiak, JZ and Ghobrial, RM}, title = {The Macrophages and Intestinal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {605-616}, pmid = {33263889}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity ; Macrophages/immunology/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal tract is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms and houses the largest pool of macrophages in the human body. Being a part of the innate immune system, the macrophages, the professional phagocytes, vigorously respond to the microbial and dietary antigens present in the intestine. Because such a robust immune response poses the danger to the survival of the non-harmful and beneficial gut microbiota, the macrophages developed mechanisms of recognition and hyposensitivity toward the non-harmful/beneficial inhabitants of the gut. We will discuss the evolution and identity of some of these mechanisms in the following chapter.}, } @article {pmid33263888, year = {2020}, author = {Keane, JM and Joyce, SA and Gahan, CGM and Hyland, NP and Houston, A}, title = {Microbial Metabolites as Molecular Mediators of Host-Microbe Symbiosis in Colorectal Cancer.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {581-603}, pmid = {33263888}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between the gut microbiota and the host has been identified as an integral part of normal human physiology and physiological development. Research in germ-free or gnotobiotic animals has demonstrated the importance of this symbiosis in immune, vascular, hepatic, respiratory and metabolic systems. Disruption of the microbiota can also contribute to disease, and the microbiota has been implicated in numerous intestinal and extra-intestinal pathologies including colorectal cancer. Interactions between host and microbiota can occur either directly or indirectly, via microbial-derived metabolites. In this chapter, we focus on two major products of microbial metabolism, short-chain fatty acids and bile acids, and their role in colorectal cancer. Short-chain fatty acids are the products of microbial fermentation of complex carbohydrates and confer protection against cancer risk, while bile acids are compounds which are endogenous to the host, but undergo microbial modification in the large intestine leading to alterations in their bioactivity. Lastly, we discuss the ability of microbial modulation to mediate cancer risk and the potential to harness this ability as a prophylactic or therapeutic treatment in colorectal cancer.}, } @article {pmid33263884, year = {2020}, author = {Szklarzewicz, T and Michalik, A and Michalik, K}, title = {The Diversity of Symbiotic Systems in Scale Insects.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {469-495}, pmid = {33263884}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Female ; Fungi ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most scale insects, like many other plant sap-sucking hemipterans, harbor obligate symbionts of bacterial or fungal origin, which synthesize and provide the host with substances missing in their restricted diet. Histological, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses have revealed that scale insects differ in the type of symbionts, the localization of symbionts in the host body, and the mode of transmission of symbionts from one generation to the next. Symbiotic microorganisms may be distributed in the cells of the fat body, midgut epithelium, inside the cells of other symbionts, or the specialized cells of a mesodermal origin, termed bacteriocytes. In most scale insects, their symbiotic associates are inherited transovarially, wherein the mode of transmission may have a different course-the symbionts may invade larval ovaries containing undifferentiated germ cells or ovaries of adult females containing vitellogenic or choriogenic oocytes.}, } @article {pmid33263883, year = {2020}, author = {Eleftherianos, I and Heryanto, C}, title = {Molecular Regulators of Entomopathogenic Nematode-Bacterial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {453-468}, pmid = {33263883}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Insecta/parasitology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes are parasitic organisms with an exceptional capacity to infect rapidly and efficiently a wide range of insect species. Their distinct pathogenic properties have established entomopathogenic nematodes as supreme biocontrol agents of insects as well as excellent models to simulate and dissect the molecular and physiological bases of conserved strategies employed by parasitic nematodes that cause infectious diseases in humans. The extreme infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes is due in part to the presence of certain species of Gram-negative bacteria that live in mutualistic symbiosis during the infective juvenile stage, which forms the central part of the nematode life cycle. Both nematodes and their mutualistic bacteria are capable of interfering and undermining several aspects of the insect host innate immune system during the infection process. The mutualistic bacteria are also able to modulate other biological functions in their nematode host including growth, development, and reproduction. In this review, we will focus our attention on the mutualistic relationship between entomopathogenic nematodes and their associated bacteria to discuss the nature and distinct characteristics of the regulatory mechanisms, and their molecular as well as physiological components that control this specific biological partnership.}, } @article {pmid33263881, year = {2020}, author = {Valdés-López, O and Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Sánchez-Correa, MDS}, title = {Early Molecular Dialogue Between Legumes and Rhizobia: Why Are They So Important?.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {409-419}, pmid = {33263881}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobia symbiosis has a considerable ecological relevance because it replenishes the soil with fixed-nitrogen (e.g., ammonium) for other plants. Because of this benefit to the environment, the exploitation of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis can contribute to the development of the lower input, sustainable agriculture, thereby, reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to understand the different levels of regulation of this symbiosis to enhance its nitrogen-fixation efficiency. A different line of evidence attests to the relevance of early molecular events in the establishment of a successful symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. In this chapter, we will review the early molecular signaling in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. We will focus on the early molecular responses that are crucial for the recognition of the rhizobia as a potential symbiont.}, } @article {pmid33263880, year = {2020}, author = {Shen, D and Bisseling, T}, title = {The Evolutionary Aspects of Legume Nitrogen-Fixing Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {387-408}, pmid = {33263880}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis can sustain the development of the host plants under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Such symbiosis occurs only in a clade of angiosperms known as the nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC). It has long been proposed that root nodule symbiosis evolved several times (in parallel) in the NFC. Two recent phylogenomic studies compared the genomes of nodulating and related non-nodulating species across the four orders of the NFC and found that genes essential for nodule formation are lost or pseudogenized in the non-nodulating species. As these symbiosis genes are specifically involved in the symbiotic interaction, it means that the presence of pseudogenes and the loss of symbiosis genes strongly suggest that their ancestor, which still had functional genes, most likely had a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These findings agree with the hypothesis that nodulation evolved once at the common ancestor of the NFC, and challenge the hypothesis of parallel evolution. In this chapter, we will cover the current understandings on actinorhizal-type and legume nodule development, and discuss the evolution of the legume nodule type.}, } @article {pmid33263878, year = {2020}, author = {Maruyama, S and Kim, E}, title = {Evolution of Photosynthetic Eukaryotes; Current Opinion, Perplexity, and a New Perspective.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {337-351}, pmid = {33263878}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; *Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; }, abstract = {The evolution of eukaryotic photosynthesis marked a major transition for life on Earth, profoundly impacting the atmosphere of the Earth and evolutionary trajectory of an array of life forms. There are about ten lineages of photosynthetic eukaryotes, including Chloroplastida, Rhodophyta, and Cryptophyta. Mechanistically, eukaryotic photosynthesis arose via a symbiotic merger between a host eukaryote and either a cyanobacterial or eukaryotic photosymbiont. There are, however, many aspects of this major evolutionary transition that remain unsettled. The field, so far, has been dominated by proposals formulated following the principle of parsimony, such as the Archaeplastida hypothesis, in which a taxonomic lineage is often conceptually recognized as an individual cell (or a distinct entity). Such an assumption could lead to confusion or unrealistic interpretation of discordant genomic and phenotypic data. Here, we propose that the free-living ancestors to the plastids may have originated from a diversified lineage of cyanobacteria that were prone to symbioses, akin to some modern-day algae such as the Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates and Chlorella-related algae that associate with a number of unrelated host eukaryotes. This scenario, which assumes the plurality of ancestral form, better explains relatively minor but important differences that are observed in the genomes of modern-day eukaryotic algal species. Such a non-typological (or population-aware) way of thinking seems to better-model empirical data, such as discordant phylogenies between plastid and host eukaryote genes.}, } @article {pmid33263876, year = {2020}, author = {Kaczanowski, S}, title = {Symbiotic Origin of Apoptosis.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {253-280}, pmid = {33263876}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota ; Mitochondria/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The progress of evolutionary biology has revealed that symbiosis played a basic role in the evolution of complex eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Mitochondria are actually simplified endosymbiotic bacteria currently playing the role of cellular organelles. Mitochondrial domestication occurred at the very beginning of eukaryotic evolution. Mitochondria have two different basic functions: they produce energy using oxidative respiration, and they initiate different forms of apoptotic programmed/regulated cell death. Apoptotic programmed cell death may have different cytological forms. Mechanisms of apoptotic programmed cell death exist even in the unicellular organisms, and they play a basic role in the development of complex multicellular organisms, such as fungi, green plants, and animals. Multicellularity was independently established many times among eukaryotes. There are indications that apoptotic programmed cell death is a trait required for the establishment of multicellularity. Regulated cell death is initiated by many different parallel biochemical pathways. It is generally accepted that apoptosis evolved during mitochondrial domestication. However, there are different hypothetical models of the origin of apoptosis. The phylogenetic studies of my group indicate that apoptosis probably evolved during an evolutionary arms race between host ancestral eukaryotic predators and ancestral prey mitochondria (named protomitochondria). Protomitochondrial prey produced many different toxins as a defense against predators. From these toxins evolved extant apoptotic factors. There are indications that aerobic respiration and apoptosis co-evolved and are functionally linked in extant organisms. Perturbations of apoptosis and oxidative respiration are frequently observed during neoplastic transition. Our group showed that perturbations of apoptosis in yeasts also cause perturbations of oxidative respiration.}, } @article {pmid33263875, year = {2020}, author = {Blackstone, NW}, title = {Chemiosmosis, Evolutionary Conflict, and Eukaryotic Symbiosis.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {237-251}, pmid = {33263875}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/*microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Osmosis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiosis, in which individuals of different species cooperate and both benefit, has long been an evolutionary puzzle. Why should individuals of two different species cooperate? In this case, as in all others, cooperation is not automatic, but rather requires the mediation of evolutionary conflicts. In chemiosmosis, redox reactions produce a trans-membrane "proton-motive force" that powers energy-requiring reactions in most organisms. Chemiosmosis may also have a role in conflict mediation. Chemiosmosis rapidly produces considerable amounts of products, increasing the risk of end-product inhibition and the formation of dangerous by-products, such as reactive oxygen species. While several mechanisms can modulate chemiosmosis, potential negative effects can also be ameliorated by simply dispersing excess product into the environment. This "free lunch you are forced to make" can attract individuals of other species leading to groups, in which other organisms share the products that are released into the environment by the chemiosmotic cell or organism. Since the time of Darwin, evolutionary biology has recognized that groups are the key to the evolution of cooperation. With many small groups, chance associations of cooperators can arise, even if cooperation is selected against at the individual level. Groups of cooperators can then outcompete groups of defectors, which do not cooperate. Indeed, numerous symbioses may have arisen in this way, perhaps most notably the symbioses of host cells and chemiosmotic bacteria that gave rise to the eukaryotic cell. Other examples in which one partner relies on chemiosmotic products supplied by the other include lichens, corals or other metazoans and dinoflagellates, sap-feeding insects, and plant-rhizobia and plant-mycorrhiza interactions. More problematic are cases of gut microbiomes-for instance, those of termites, ruminants, and even human beings. Under some but not all circumstances, chemiosmosis can be co-opted into punishing defectors and enforcing cooperation, thus leading to mutualistic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33263871, year = {2020}, author = {Russell, SL and Castillo, JR}, title = {Trends in Symbiont-Induced Host Cellular Differentiation.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {137-176}, pmid = {33263871}, issn = {0080-1844}, support = {K99 GM135583/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; *Cell Differentiation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria participate in a wide diversity of symbiotic associations with eukaryotic hosts that require precise interactions for bacterial recognition and persistence. Most commonly, host-associated bacteria interfere with host gene expression to modulate the immune response to the infection. However, many of these bacteria also interfere with host cellular differentiation pathways to create a hospitable niche, resulting in the formation of novel cell types, tissues, and organs. In both of these situations, bacterial symbionts must interact with eukaryotic regulatory pathways. Here, we detail what is known about how bacterial symbionts, from pathogens to mutualists, control host cellular differentiation across the central dogma, from epigenetic chromatin modifications, to transcription and mRNA processing, to translation and protein modifications. We identify four main trends from this survey. First, mechanisms for controlling host gene expression appear to evolve from symbionts co-opting cross-talk between host signaling pathways. Second, symbiont regulatory capacity is constrained by the processes that drive reductive genome evolution in host-associated bacteria. Third, the regulatory mechanisms symbionts exhibit correlate with the cost/benefit nature of the association. And, fourth, symbiont mechanisms for interacting with host genetic regulatory elements are not bound by native bacterial capabilities. Using this knowledge, we explore how the ubiquitous intracellular Wolbachia symbiont of arthropods and nematodes may modulate host cellular differentiation to manipulate host reproduction. Our survey of the literature on how infection alters gene expression in Wolbachia and its hosts revealed that, despite their intermediate-sized genomes, different strains appear capable of a wide diversity of regulatory manipulations. Given this and Wolbachia's diversity of phenotypes and eukaryotic-like proteins, we expect that many symbiont-induced host differentiation mechanisms will be discovered in this system.}, } @article {pmid33263870, year = {2020}, author = {Schrallhammer, M and Potekhin, A}, title = {Epidemiology of Nucleus-Dwelling Holospora: Infection, Transmission, Adaptation, and Interaction with Paramecium.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {105-135}, pmid = {33263870}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/*microbiology ; *Holosporaceae/genetics ; Paramecium/genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The chapter describes the exceptional symbiotic associations formed between the ciliate Paramecium and Holospora, highly infectious bacteria residing in the host nuclei. Holospora and Holospora-like bacteria (Alphaproteobacteria) are characterized by their ability for vertical and horizontal transmission in host populations, a complex biphasic life cycle, and pronounced preference for host species and colonized cell compartment. These bacteria are obligate intracellular parasites; thus, their metabolic repertoire is dramatically reduced. Nevertheless, they perform complex interactions with the host ciliate. We review ongoing efforts to unravel the molecular adaptations of these bacteria to their unusual lifestyle and the host's employment in the symbiosis. Furthermore, we summarize current knowledge on the genetic and genomic background of Paramecium-Holospora symbiosis and provide insights into the ecological and evolutionary consequences of this interaction. The diversity and occurrence of symbioses between ciliates and Holospora-like bacteria in nature is discussed in connection with transmission modes of symbionts, host specificity and compatibility of the partners. We aim to summarize 50 years of research devoted to these symbiotic systems and conclude trying to predict some perspectives for further studies.}, } @article {pmid33263868, year = {2020}, author = {Christensen, S and Serbus, LR}, title = {Gene Transfer Agents in Symbiotic Microbes.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {25-76}, pmid = {33263868}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Prokaryotes commonly undergo genome reduction, particularly in the case of symbiotic bacteria. Genome reductions tend toward the energetically favorable removal of unnecessary, redundant, or nonfunctional genes. However, without mechanisms to compensate for these losses, deleterious mutation and genetic drift might otherwise overwhelm a population. Among the mechanisms employed to counter gene loss and share evolutionary success within a population, gene transfer agents (GTAs) are increasingly becoming recognized as important contributors. Although viral in origin, GTA particles package fragments of their "host" genome for distribution within a population of cells, often in a synchronized manner, rather than selfishly packaging genes necessary for their spread. Microbes as diverse as archaea and alpha-proteobacteria have been known to produce GTA particles, which are capable of transferring selective advantages such as virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. In this review, we discuss the various types of GTAs identified thus far, focusing on a defined set of symbiotic alpha-proteobacteria known to carry them. Drawing attention to the predicted presence of these genes, we discuss their potential within the selective marine and terrestrial environments occupied by mutualistic, parasitic, and endosymbiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid33263867, year = {2020}, author = {Ryan, F}, title = {Viral Symbiosis in the Origins and Evolution of Life with a Particular Focus on the Placental Mammals.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {3-24}, pmid = {33263867}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Embryonic Development ; *Eutheria ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {Advances in understanding over the last decade or so highlight the need for a reappraisal of the role of viruses in relation to the origins and evolution of cellular life, as well as in the homeostasis of the biosphere on which all of life depends. The relevant advances have, in particular, revealed an important contribution of viruses to the evolution of the placental mammals, while also contributing key roles to mammalian embryogenesis, genomic evolution, and physiology. Part of this reappraisal will include the origins of viruses, a redefinition of their quintessential nature, and a suggestion as to how we might view viruses in relation to the tree of life.}, } @article {pmid33262856, year = {2020}, author = {Astrop, TI and Park Boush, L and Weeks, SC}, title = {Testing Weissman's Lineage Selection Model for the Maintenance of Sex: The Evolutionary Dynamics of Clam Shrimp Reproduction over Geologic Time.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {e34}, pmid = {33262856}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {One of the most perplexing questions within evolutionary biology is: "why are there so many methods of reproduction?" Contemporary theories assume that sexual reproduction should allow long term survival as dispersal and recombination of genetic material provides a population of organisms with the ability to adapt to environmental change. One of the most frustrating aspects of studying the evolution of reproductive systems is that we have not yet been able to utilize information locked within the fossil record to assess breeding system evolution in deep time. While the fossil record provides us with information on an organism's living environment, as well as some aspects of its ecology, the preservation of biological interactions (reproduction, feeding, symbiosis, communication) is exceedingly rare. Using both information from extant taxa uncovered by a plethora of biological and ecological studies and the rich representation of the Spinicaudata (Branchiopoda: Crustacea) throughout the fossil record (from the Devonian to today), we address two hypotheses of reproductive evolutionary theory: (1) that unisexual species should be short lived and less speciose than their outcrossing counterparts and (2) that androdioecy (mixtures of males and hermaphrodites) is an unstable, transitionary system that should not persist over long periods of time. We find no evidence of all-unisexual spinicaudatan taxa (clam shrimp) in the fossil record, but do find evidence of both androdioecious and dioecious clam shrimp. We find that clades with many androdioecious species are less speciose but persist longer than their mostly dioecious counterparts. These data suggest that all-unisexual lineages likely do not persist long whereas mixtures of unisexual and sexual breeding can persist for evolutionarily long periods but tend to produce fewer species than mostly sexual breeding.}, } @article {pmid33262843, year = {2020}, author = {Hirose, E and Nozawa, Y}, title = {Latitudinal Difference in the Species Richness of Photosymbiotic Ascidians Along the East Coast of Taiwan.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {e19}, pmid = {33262843}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {Some didemnid ascidians harbor cyanobacterial symbionts, and this is the only obligate photosymbiosis system known in chordates. These photosymbiotic ascidians are found only in tropical and subtropical waters, probably because the photosymbionts are vulnerable to low temperatures. We surveyed the photosymbiotic ascidian fauna along the east coast of Taiwan. The present and previous reports recorded 13 species in Taiwan, and the species richness and composition is different in five areas along the east coast. Along the middle-east, southeast, and south coasts, five or more species have been recorded, whereas only one species has been found along the northeast coast, and no species have been recorded on the north coast. This gap in the species richness is probably related to the Kuroshio Current, which travels from south to north along the east coast of Taiwan but changes to an easterly direction off the northeast coast. Increases in water temperature due to global warming could cause northward expansion of the distribution ranges of these ascidians in the future. Hence, the photosymbiotic ascidian fauna could be an environmental indicator in subtropical, shallow water, and the present study provides a basic dataset that illustrates the current status of photosymbiotic ascidians in Taiwan.}, } @article {pmid33261217, year = {2020}, author = {Caradus, JR and Johnson, LJ}, title = {Epichloë Fungal Endophytes-From a Biological Curiosity in Wild Grasses to an Essential Component of Resilient High Performing Ryegrass and Fescue Pastures.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33261217}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The relationship between Epichloë endophytes found in a wide range of temperate grasses spans the continuum from antagonistic to mutualistic. The diversity of asexual mutualistic types can be characterised by the types of alkaloids they produce in planta. Some of these are responsible for detrimental health and welfare issues of ruminants when consumed, while others protect the host plant from insect pests and pathogens. In many temperate regions they are an essential component of high producing resilient tall fescue and ryegrass swards. This obligate mutualism between fungus and host is a seed-borne technology that has resulted in several commercial products being used with high uptake rates by end-user farmers, particularly in New Zealand and to a lesser extent Australia and USA. However, this has not happened by chance. It has been reliant on multi-disciplinary research teams undertaking excellent science to understand the taxonomic relationships of these endophytes, their life cycle, symbiosis regulation at both the cellular and molecular level, and the impact of secondary metabolites, including an understanding of their mammalian toxicity and bioactivity against insects and pathogens. Additionally, agronomic trials and seed biology studies of these microbes have all contributed to the delivery of robust and efficacious products. The supply chain from science, through seed companies and retailers to the end-user farmer needs to be well resourced providing convincing information on the efficacy and ensuring effective quality control to result in a strong uptake of these Epichloë endophyte technologies in pastoral agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33261054, year = {2020}, author = {Molnár, A and Such, N and Farkas, V and Pál, L and Menyhárt, L and Wágner, L and Husvéth, F and Dublecz, K}, title = {Effects of Wheat Bran and Clostridium butyricum Supplementation on Cecal Microbiota, Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentration, pH and Histomorphometry in Broiler Chickens.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33261054}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Feed additives that can improve intestinal health and maintain a diverse and resilient intestinal microbiota of poultry are of great importance. Thus, the current study investigated the effects of a single strain butyric acid-producing Clostridium (C. butyricum) with (symbiotic) or without wheat bran supplementation on cecal microbiota composition and gut health characteristics of broiler chickens. In total, 384 male Ross 308 day-old chickens were divided into four dietary treatment groups and fed ad libitum until day 37 of life. Cecal samples were taken for Illumina sequencing and pH and short-chain fatty acid analyses, as well as for histological analysis at the end of the experimental period. Neither of the supplemented diets improved chicken growth performance. Caecum was dominated by the members of Bacteroidetes phyla followed by Firmicutes in each dietary group. At the genus level, Bacteroides, Oscillospira, Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus and Streptococcus genera exceeded 1% relative abundance. Dietary treatment influenced the relative abundance of the Akkermansia genus, which had a lower relative abundance in the C. butyricum group than in the other groups and in the symbiotic group compared to the wheat bran supplemented group. Dietary treatment also altered cecal crypt depth and had a trend to modify the cecal fermentation profile. Additive effects of wheat bran and C. butyricum supplementation were not detected. Our results suggest that Akkermansia muciniphila colonization in chicken can be influenced by diet composition.}, } @article {pmid33260452, year = {2020}, author = {Lattos, A and Giantsis, IA and Karagiannis, D and Theodorou, JA and Michaelidis, B}, title = {Gut Symbiotic Microbial Communities in the IUCN Critically Endangered Pinna nobilis Suffering from Mass Mortalities, Revealed by 16S rRNA Amplicon NGS.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33260452}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Mass mortality events due to disease outbreaks have recently affected almost every healthy population of fan mussel, Pinna nobilis in Mediterranean Sea. The devastating mortality of the species has turned the interest of the research towards the causes of these events. After the haplosporidan infestation and the infection by Mycobacterium sp., new emerging pathogens have arisen based on the latest research. In the present study, a metagenomic approach of 16S rRNA next generation sequencing (NGS) was applied in order to assess the bacterial diversity within the digestive gland of diseased individuals as well as to carry out geographical correlations among the biodiversity of microbiome in the endangered species Pinna nobilis. The specimens originated from the mortalities occurred in 2019 in the region of Greece. Together with other bacterial genera, the results confirmed the presence of Vibrio spp., assuming synergistic effects in the mortality events of the species. Alongside with the presence of Vibrio spp., numerous bacterial genera were detected as well, including Aliivibrio spp., Photobacterium spp., Pseudoalteromonas spp., Psychrilyobacter spp. and Mycoplasma spp. Bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma were in high abundance particularly in the sample originated from Limnos island representing the first time recorded in Pinna nobilis. In conclusion, apart from exclusively the Haplosporidan and the Mycobacterium parasites, the presence of potentially pathogenic bacterial taxa detected, such as Vibrio spp., Photobactrium spp. and Alivibrio spp. lead us to assume that mortality events in the endangered Fan mussel, Pinna nobilis, may be attributed to synergistic effects of more pathogens.}, } @article {pmid33260415, year = {2020}, author = {Astegno, A and Conter, C and Bertoldi, M and Dominici, P}, title = {Structural Insights into the Heme Pocket and Oligomeric State of Non-Symbiotic Hemoglobins from Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33260415}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*chemistry/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Heme/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; }, abstract = {Non-symbiotic hemoglobins AHb1 and AHb2 from Arabidopsis thaliana are hexacoordinate heme-proteins that likely have different biological roles, in view of diverse tissue localization, expression pattern, and ligand binding properties. Herein, we expand upon previous biophysical studies on these isoforms, focusing on their oligomeric states and circular dichroism (CD) characteristics. We found that AHb1 exists in solution in a concentration-dependent monomer-dimer equilibrium, while AHb2 is present only as a monomer. The quaternary structure of AHb1 affects its degree of hexacoordination with the formation of the dimer that enhances pentacoordination. Accordingly, the mutant of a conserved residue within the dimeric interface, AHb1-T45A, which is mostly monomeric in solution, has an equilibrium that is shifted toward a hexacoordinate form compared to the wild-type protein. CD studies further support differences in the globin's structure and heme moiety. The Soret CD spectra for AHb2 are opposite in sense to those for AHb1, reflecting different patterns of heme-protein side chain contacts in the two proteins. Moreover, the smaller contribution of the heme to the near-UV CD in AHb2 compared to AHb1 suggests a weaker heme-protein association in AHb2. Our data corroborate the structural diversity of AHb1 and AHb2 and confirm the leghemoglobin-like structural properties of AHb2.}, } @article {pmid33258195, year = {2021}, author = {Moreno, JC and Mi, J and Alagoz, Y and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Plant apocarotenoids: from retrograde signaling to interspecific communication.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {105}, number = {2}, pages = {351-375}, pmid = {33258195}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Cell Communication ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/metabolism ; Lactones/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/physiology ; Plants/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Carotenoids are isoprenoid compounds synthesized by all photosynthetic and some non-photosynthetic organisms. They are essential for photosynthesis and contribute to many other aspects of a plant's life. The oxidative breakdown of carotenoids gives rise to the formation of a diverse family of essential metabolites called apocarotenoids. This metabolic process either takes place spontaneously through reactive oxygen species or is catalyzed by enzymes generally belonging to the CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE family. Apocarotenoids include the phytohormones abscisic acid and strigolactones (SLs), signaling molecules and growth regulators. Abscisic acid and SLs are vital in regulating plant growth, development and stress response. SLs are also an essential component in plants' rhizospheric communication with symbionts and parasites. Other apocarotenoid small molecules, such as blumenols, mycorradicins, zaxinone, anchorene, β-cyclocitral, β-cyclogeranic acid, β-ionone and loliolide, are involved in plant growth and development, and/or contribute to different processes, including arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis, abiotic stress response, plant-plant and plant-herbivore interactions and plastid retrograde signaling. There are also indications for the presence of structurally unidentified linear cis-carotene-derived apocarotenoids, which are presumed to modulate plastid biogenesis and leaf morphology, among other developmental processes. Here, we provide an overview on the biology of old, recently discovered and supposed plant apocarotenoid signaling molecules, describing their biosynthesis, developmental and physiological functions, and role as a messenger in plant communication.}, } @article {pmid33258052, year = {2021}, author = {Tenzin, J and Hirunpunth, R and Satjarak, A and Peerakietkhajorn, S}, title = {Bacteria Associated with Echinodorus cordifolius and Lepironia articulata Enhance Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater.}, journal = {Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology}, volume = {106}, number = {2}, pages = {377-384}, pmid = {33258052}, issn = {1432-0800}, mesh = {*Alismataceae ; Bacteria ; Nitrogen ; *Phosphorus ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Phytoremediation and bioremediation are eco-friendly methods of wastewater treatment that are widely used throughout the world to reduce anthropogenic water contamination. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of symbiotic bacteria in phytoremediation using two aquatic plants, Echinodorus cordifolius and Lepironia articulata, that were tested in sterilized and unsterilized groups. The results showed that unsterilized plants removed more phosphate, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite than the sterilized plants. In untreated and unsterilized E. cordifolius groups, the dominant bacterium was Calothrix (46.90 and 49.69%, respectively), which was higher than in the sterilized E. cordifolius group (38.88%). In untreated and unsterilized groups of L. articulata, Clostridium was a dominant bacterium. The proportion of Clostridium was much lower in the sterilized L. articulata group (1.31%) than in the untreated (13.71%) and unsterilized (49.02%) groups. Our results suggested that root-associated bacteria in E. cordifolius and L. articulata were effective in the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen from domestic wastewater.}, } @article {pmid33257574, year = {2020}, author = {Sánchez-García, M and Ryberg, M and Khan, FK and Varga, T and Nagy, LG and Hibbett, DS}, title = {Fruiting body form, not nutritional mode, is the major driver of diversification in mushroom-forming fungi.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {51}, pages = {32528-32534}, pmid = {33257574}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {With ∼36,000 described species, Agaricomycetes are among the most successful groups of Fungi. Agaricomycetes display great diversity in fruiting body forms and nutritional modes. Most have pileate-stipitate fruiting bodies (with a cap and stalk), but the group also contains crust-like resupinate fungi, polypores, coral fungi, and gasteroid forms (e.g., puffballs and stinkhorns). Some Agaricomycetes enter into ectomycorrhizal symbioses with plants, while others are decayers (saprotrophs) or pathogens. We constructed a megaphylogeny of 8,400 species and used it to test the following five hypotheses regarding the evolution of morphological and ecological traits in Agaricomycetes and their impact on diversification: 1) resupinate forms are plesiomorphic, 2) pileate-stipitate forms promote diversification, 3) the evolution of gasteroid forms is irreversible, 4) the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis promotes diversification, and 5) the evolution of ECM symbiosis is irreversible. The ancestor of Agaricomycetes was a saprotroph with a resupinate fruiting body. There have been 462 transitions in the examined morphologies, including 123 origins of gasteroid forms. Reversals of gasteroid forms are highly unlikely but cannot be rejected. Pileate-stipitate forms are correlated with elevated diversification rates, suggesting that this morphological trait is a key to the success of Agaricomycetes. ECM symbioses have evolved 36 times in Agaricomycetes, with several transformations to parasitism. Across the entire 8,400-species phylogeny, diversification rates of ectomycorrhizal lineages are no greater than those of saprotrophic lineages. However, some ECM lineages have elevated diversification rates compared to their non-ECM sister clades, suggesting that the evolution of symbioses may act as a key innovation at local phylogenetic scales.}, } @article {pmid33257562, year = {2020}, author = {Martinson, VG and Gawryluk, RMR and Gowen, BE and Curtis, CI and Jaenike, J and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Multiple origins of obligate nematode and insect symbionts by a clade of bacteria closely related to plant pathogens.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {50}, pages = {31979-31986}, pmid = {33257562}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/microbiology/*parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; Pectobacterium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pseudogenes/genetics ; Rhabditida/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbioses involving intracellular bacteria have transformed eukaryotic life, from providing aerobic respiration and photosynthesis to enabling colonization of previously inaccessible niches, such as feeding on xylem and phloem, and surviving in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. A major challenge in the study of obligate symbioses is to understand how they arise. Because the best studied obligate symbioses are ancient, it is especially challenging to identify early or intermediate stages. Here we report the discovery of a nascent obligate symbiosis in Howardula aoronymphium, a well-studied nematode parasite of Drosophila flies. We have found that Haoronymphium and its sister species harbor a maternally inherited intracellular bacterial symbiont. We never find the symbiont in nematode-free flies, and virtually all nematodes in the field and the laboratory are infected. Treating nematodes with antibiotics causes a severe reduction in fly infection success. The association is recent, as more distantly related insect-parasitic tylenchid nematodes do not host these endosymbionts. We also report that the Howardula nematode symbiont is a member of a widespread monophyletic group of invertebrate host-associated microbes that has independently given rise to at least four obligate symbioses, one in nematodes and three in insects, and that is sister to Pectobacterium, a lineage of plant pathogenic bacteria. Comparative genomic analysis of this group, which we name Candidatus Symbiopectobacterium, shows signatures of genome erosion characteristic of early stages of symbiosis, with the Howardula symbiont's genome containing over a thousand predicted pseudogenes, comprising a third of its genome.}, } @article {pmid33257260, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, B and Flemetakis, E and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Pedospheric Microbial Nitric Oxide Production Challenges Root Symbioses.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {104-107}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2020.11.007}, pmid = {33257260}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent studies indicate that a multitude of microbial processes are involved in nitric oxide production and consumptions in the pedosphere. Due to its dual function as a toxic metabolite and signaling compound, we speculate that this pedospheric nitric oxide of microbial origin can significantly interact with mycorrhizal symbioses and symbiotic nitrogen fixation of legumes.}, } @article {pmid33255636, year = {2020}, author = {Kumar, H and Collado, MC and Wopereis, H and Salminen, S and Knol, J and Roeselers, G}, title = {The Bifidogenic Effect Revisited-Ecology and Health Perspectives of Bifidobacterial Colonization in Early Life.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33255636}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Extensive microbial colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract starts after parturition. There are several parallel mechanisms by which early life microbiome acquisition may proceed, including early exposure to maternal vaginal and fecal microbiota, transmission of skin associated microbes, and ingestion of microorganisms present in breast milk. The crucial role of vertical transmission from the maternal microbial reservoir during vaginal delivery is supported by the shared microbial strains observed among mothers and their babies and the distinctly different gut microbiome composition of caesarean-section born infants. The healthy infant colon is often dominated by members of the keystone genus Bifidobacterium that have evolved complex genetic pathways to metabolize different glycans present in human milk. In exchange for these host-derived nutrients, bifidobacteria's saccharolytic activity results in an anaerobic and acidic gut environment that is protective against enteropathogenic infection. Interference with early-life microbiota acquisition and development could result in adverse health outcomes. Compromised microbiota development, often characterized by decreased abundance of Bifidobacterium species has been reported in infants delivered prematurely, delivered by caesarean section, early life antibiotic exposure and in the case of early life allergies. Various microbiome modulation strategies such as probiotic, prebiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics have been developed that are able to generate a bifidogenic shift and help to restore the microbiota development. This review explores the evolutionary ecology of early-life type Bifidobacterium strains and their symbiotic relationship with humans and discusses examples of compromised microbiota development in which stimulating the abundance and activity of Bifidobacterium has demonstrated beneficial associations with health.}, } @article {pmid33255180, year = {2020}, author = {Paço, A and da-Silva, JR and Torres, DP and Glick, BR and Brígido, C}, title = {Exogenous ACC Deaminase Is Key to Improving the Performance of Pasture Legume-Rhizobial Symbioses in the Presence of a High Manganese Concentration.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {33255180}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Manganese (Mn) toxicity is a very common soil stress around the world, which is responsible for low soil fertility. This manuscript evaluates the effect of the endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. Q1 on different rhizobial-legume symbioses in the absence and presence of Mn toxicity. Three legume species, Cicer arietinum (chickpea), Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover), and Medicago polymorpha (burr medic) were used. To evaluate the role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase produced by strain Q1 in these interactions, an ACC deaminase knockout mutant of this strain was constructed and used in those trials. The Q1 strain only promoted the symbiotic performance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii ATCC 14480[T] and Ensifer meliloti ATCC 9930[T], leading to an increase of the growth of their hosts in both conditions. Notably, the acdS gene disruption of strain Q1 abolished the beneficial effect of this bacterium as well as causing this mutant strain to act deleteriously in those specific symbioses. This study suggests that the addition of non-rhizobia with functional ACC deaminase may be a strategy to improve the pasture legume-rhizobial symbioses, particularly when the use of rhizobial strains alone does not yield the expected results due to their difficulty in competing with native strains or in adapting to inhibitory soil conditions.}, } @article {pmid33255179, year = {2020}, author = {De Martinis, M and Ginaldi, L and Allegra, A and Sirufo, MM and Pioggia, G and Tonacci, A and Gangemi, S}, title = {The Osteoporosis/Microbiota Linkage: The Role of miRNA.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {33255179}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bone and Bones/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Osteogenesis/*genetics ; Osteoporosis/*genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Small Untranslated/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Hundreds of trillions of bacteria are present in the human body in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with the host. A stable dynamic equilibrium exists in healthy individuals between the microbiota, host organism, and environment. Imbalances of the intestinal microbiota contribute to the determinism of various diseases. Recent research suggests that the microbiota is also involved in the regulation of the bone metabolism, and its alteration may induce osteoporosis. Due to modern molecular biotechnology, various mechanisms regulating the relationship between bone and microbiota are emerging. Understanding the role of microbiota imbalances in the development of osteoporosis is essential for the development of potential osteoporosis prevention and treatment strategies through microbiota targeting. A relevant complementary mechanism could be also constituted by the permanent relationships occurring between microbiota and microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are a set of small non-coding RNAs able to regulate gene expression. In this review, we recapitulate the physiological and pathological meanings of the microbiota on osteoporosis onset by governing miRNA production. An improved comprehension of the relations between microbiota and miRNAs could furnish novel markers for the identification and monitoring of osteoporosis, and this appears to be an encouraging method for antagomir-guided tactics as therapeutic agents.}, } @article {pmid33254825, year = {2021}, author = {Riaz, M and Kamran, M and Fang, Y and Wang, Q and Cao, H and Yang, G and Deng, L and Wang, Y and Zhou, Y and Anastopoulos, I and Wang, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-induced mitigation of heavy metal phytotoxicity in metal contaminated soils: A critical review.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {402}, number = {}, pages = {123919}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123919}, pmid = {33254825}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis/toxicity ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The heavy metal pollution is a worldwide problem and has received a serious concern for the ecosystem and human health. In the last decade, remediation of the agricultural polluted soil has attracted great attention. Phytoremediation is one of the technologies that effectively alleviate heavy metal toxicity, however, this technique is limited to many factors contributing to low plant growth rate and nature of metal toxicities. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) assisted alleviation of heavy metal phytotoxicity is a cost-effective and environment-friendly strategy. AMF have a symbiotic relationship with the host plant. The bidirectional exchange of resources is a hallmark and also a functional necessity in mycorrhizal symbiosis. During the last few years, a significant progress in both physiological and molecular mechanisms regarding roles of AMF in the alleviation of heavy metals (HMs) toxicities in plants, acquisition of nutrients, and improving plant performance under toxic conditions of HMs has been well studied. This review summarized the current knowledge regarding AMF assisted remediation of heavy metals and some of the strategies used by mycorrhizal fungi to cope with stressful environments. Moreover, this review provides the information of both molecular and physiological responses of mycorrhizal plants as well as AMF to heavy metal stress which could be helpful for exploring new insight into the mechanisms of HMs remediation by utilizing AMF.}, } @article {pmid33254656, year = {2020}, author = {Swart, E and Goodall, T and Kille, P and Spurgeon, DJ and Svendsen, C}, title = {The earthworm microbiome is resilient to exposure to biocidal metal nanoparticles.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {267}, number = {}, pages = {115633}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115633}, pmid = {33254656}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Metal Nanoparticles/toxicity ; *Microbiota ; *Oligochaeta ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Environmental pollution can disrupt the interactions between animals and their symbiotic bacteria, which can lead to adverse effects on the host even in the absence of direct chemical toxicity. It is therefore crucial to understand how environmental pollutants affect animal microbiomes, especially for those chemicals that are designed to target microbes. Here, we study the effects of two biocidal nanoparticles (NPs) (Ag and CuO) on the soil bacterial community and the resident gut microbiome of the earthworm Eisenia fetida over a 28-day period using metabarcoding techniques. Exposures to NPs were conducted following OECD test guidelines and effects on earthworm reproduction and juvenile biomass were additionally recorded in order to compare effects on the host to effects on microbiomes. By employing a full concentration series, we were able to link pollutants to microbiome effects in high resolution. Multivariate analysis, differential abundance analysis and species sensitivity distribution analysis showed that Ag-NPs are more toxic to soil bacteria than CuO-NPs. In contrast to the strong effects of CuO-NPs and Ag-NPs on the soil bacterial community, the earthworm gut microbiome is largely resilient to exposure to biocidal NPs. Despite this buffering effect, CuO-NPs did negatively affect the relative abundance of some earthworm symbionts, including 'Candidatus Lumbricincola'. Changes in the soil bacterial community and the earthworm microbiome occur at total copper concentrations often found or modelled to occur in agricultural fields, demonstrating that soil bacterial communities and individual taxa in the earthworm microbiome may be at risk from environmental copper exposure including in nanomaterial form.}, } @article {pmid33254523, year = {2020}, author = {Benny, S and Mishra, R and Manojkumar, MK and Aneesh, TP}, title = {From Warburg effect to Reverse Warburg effect; the new horizons of anti-cancer therapy.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {110216}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110216}, pmid = {33254523}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {*Glycolysis ; Humans ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/therapy ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {An old ideology of killing the cancer cells by starving them is the underlying concept of the Warburg effect. It is the process of aerobic glycolysis exhibited by the cancer cells irrespective of anaerobic glycolysis or mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation following by their healthy counterparts. Dr Otto Heinrich Warburg proposed this abnormal metabolic behaviour of tumour cells in 1920. This phenomenon illustrates the metabolic switching in tumour cells from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis triggered by an injury to the mitochondrial respiration. A modernised perspective of the Warburg hypothesis termed the Reverse Warburg effect introduced in 2009, with a two-compartment model describing the metabolic symbiosis between cancer cells and its neighbouring stromal cells or cancer-associated fibroblasts. This theory is elucidating the aerobic glycolysis occurring in cancer-associated fibroblasts which leads to the generation and deposition of the lactate in tumour microenvironment along with its significance. The transportation of lactate to and from the cancer cell and extracellular space is facilitated by the lactate transporters called monocarboxylate transporters. This lactate generated irrespective of the hypoxic or aerobic conditions acts as a primary metabolic fuel for the cancer cells. Besides, it will create a tumour microenvironment that is favouring the progression and metastasis of malignancy through several means. Overall, the lactate produced through this metabolic reprogramming is supporting and worsening the conditions of cancer. The concept of the Reverse Warburg effect proposes a new anti-cancer treatment modality by preventing the generation and transport of lactate through the inhibition of monocarboxylate transporters and in turn, defeating the cancer disease by arresting the cancer cells along with silencing tumour microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid33254468, year = {2021}, author = {Okurowska, K and Karunakaran, E and Al-Farttoosy, A and Couto, N and Pandhal, J}, title = {Adapting the algal microbiome for growth on domestic landfill leachate.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {319}, number = {}, pages = {124246}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124246}, pmid = {33254468}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {We aimed to improve algal growth rate on leachate by optimising the algal microbiome. An algal-bacterial consortium was enriched from landfill leachate and subjected to 24 months of adaptive laboratory evolution, increasing the growth rate of the dominant algal strain, Chlorella vulgaris, almost three-fold to 0.2 d[-1]. A dramatic reduction in nitrate production suggested a shift in biological utilisation of ammoniacal-N, supported by molecular 16S rRNA taxonomic analyses, where Nitrosomonas numbers were not detected in the adapted consortium. A PICRUSt approach predicted metagenomic functional content and revealed a high number of sequences belonging to bioremediation pathways, including degradation of aromatic compounds, benzoate and naphthalene, as well as pathways known to be involved in algal-bacterial symbiosis. This study enhances our understanding of beneficial mechanisms in algal-bacterial associations in complex effluents, and ultimately enables the bottom-up design of optimised algal microbiomes for exploitation within industry.}, } @article {pmid33253317, year = {2020}, author = {Coffman, KA and Burke, GR}, title = {Genomic analysis reveals an exogenous viral symbiont with dual functionality in parasitoid wasps and their hosts.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {e1009069}, pmid = {33253317}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Entomopoxvirinae/*genetics/physiology ; Female ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; *Genomics ; Male ; Poxviridae/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virus Replication/genetics ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {Insects are known to host a wide variety of beneficial microbes that are fundamental to many aspects of their biology and have substantially shaped their evolution. Notably, parasitoid wasps have repeatedly evolved beneficial associations with viruses that enable developing wasps to survive as parasites that feed from other insects. Ongoing genomic sequencing efforts have revealed that most of these virus-derived entities are fully integrated into the genomes of parasitoid wasp lineages, representing endogenous viral elements (EVEs) that retain the ability to produce virus or virus-like particles within wasp reproductive tissues. All documented parasitoid EVEs have undergone similar genomic rearrangements compared to their viral ancestors characterized by viral genes scattered across wasp genomes and specific viral gene losses. The recurrent presence of viral endogenization and genomic reorganization in beneficial virus systems identified to date suggest that these features are crucial to forming heritable alliances between parasitoid wasps and viruses. Here, our genomic characterization of a mutualistic poxvirus associated with the wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, known as Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV), has uncovered the first instance of beneficial virus evolution that does not conform to the genomic architecture shared by parasitoid EVEs with which it displays evolutionary convergence. Rather, DlEPV retains the exogenous viral genome of its poxvirus ancestor and the majority of conserved poxvirus core genes. Additional comparative analyses indicate that DlEPV is related to a fly pathogen and contains a novel gene expansion that may be adaptive to its symbiotic role. Finally, differential expression analysis during virus replication in wasps and fly hosts demonstrates a unique mechanism of functional partitioning that allows DlEPV to persist within and provide benefit to its parasitoid wasp host.}, } @article {pmid33252650, year = {2021}, author = {Nasir, F and Bahadur, A and Lin, X and Gao, Y and Tian, C}, title = {Novel insights into host receptors and receptor-mediated signaling that regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {5}, pages = {1546-1557}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa538}, pmid = {33252650}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Oryza/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {More than 80% of land plant species benefit from symbiotic partnerships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which assist in nutrient acquisition and enhance the ability of host plants to adapt to environmental constraints. Host-generated plasma membrane-residing receptor-like kinases and the intracellular α/β-hydrolase DWARF14-LIKE, a putative karrikin receptor, detect the presence of AM fungi before physical contact between the host and fungus. Detection induces appropriate symbiotic responses, which subsequently enables a favorable environment for AM symbiosis to occur. To prevent hyper-colonization and maintain a mutually beneficial association, the host plant precisely monitors and controls AM colonization by receptor-like kinases, such as SUPER NUMERIC NODULES. Previous studies have elucidated how host plant receptors and receptor-mediated signaling regulate AM symbiosis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The identification of a rice CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE 1 interaction partner, MYC FACTOR RECEPTOR 1, and new insights into DWARF14-LIKE receptor- and SUPER NUMERIC NODULES receptor-mediated signaling have expanded our understanding of how host plant receptors and their corresponding signals regulate AM symbiosis. This review summarizes these and other recent relevant findings. The identified receptors and/or their signaling components could be manipulated to engineer crops with improved agronomic traits by conferring the ability to precisely control AM colonization.}, } @article {pmid33251846, year = {2022}, author = {Rashidinejad, A and Bahrami, A and Rehman, A and Rezaei, A and Babazadeh, A and Singh, H and Jafari, SM}, title = {Co-encapsulation of probiotics with prebiotics and their application in functional/synbiotic dairy products.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {62}, number = {9}, pages = {2470-2494}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2020.1854169}, pmid = {33251846}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {Dairy Products ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Oral administration of live probiotics along with prebiotics has been suggested with numerous beneficial effects for several conditions including certain infectious disorders, diarrheal illnesses, some inflammatory bowel diseases, and most recently, irritable bowel syndrome. Though, delivery of such viable bacteria to the host intestine is a major challenge, due to the poor survival of the ingested probiotic bacteria during the gastric transit, especially within the stomach where the pH is highly acidic. Although microencapsulation has been known as a promising approach for improving the viability of probiotics in the human digestive tract, the success rate is not satisfactory. For this reason, co-encapsulation of probiotics with probiotics has been practised as a novel alternative approach for further improvement of the oral delivery of viable probiotics toward their targeted release in the host intestine. This paper discusses the co-encapsulation technologies used for delivery of probiotics toward better stability and viability, as well the incorporation of co-encapsulated probiotics and prebiotics in functional/synbiotic dairy foods. The common encapsulation technologies (and the materials) used for this purpose, the stability and survival of co-encapsulated probiotics in the food, and the release behavior of the co-encapsulated probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract have also been explained. Most studies reported a significant improvement particularly in the viability of bacteria associated with the presence of prebiotics. Nevertheless, the previous research has mostly been carried out in the simulated digestion, meaning that future systematic research is to be carried out to investigate the efficacy of the co-encapsulation on the survival of the bacteria in the gut in vivo.}, } @article {pmid33250866, year = {2020}, author = {Taboada-Castro, H and Castro-Mondragón, JA and Aguilar-Vera, A and Hernández-Álvarez, AJ and van Helden, J and Encarnación-Guevara, S}, title = {RhizoBindingSites, a Database of DNA-Binding Motifs in Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Inferred Using a Footprint Discovery Approach.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {567471}, pmid = {33250866}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Basic knowledge of transcriptional regulation is needed to understand the mechanisms governing biological processes, i.e., nitrogen fixation by Rhizobiales bacteria in symbiosis with leguminous plants. The RhizoBindingSites database is a computer-assisted framework providing motif-gene-associated conserved sequences potentially implicated in transcriptional regulation in nine symbiotic species. A dyad analysis algorithm was used to deduce motifs in the upstream regulatory region of orthologous genes, and only motifs also located in the gene seed promoter with a p-value of 1e-4 were accepted. A genomic scan analysis of the upstoream sequences with these motifs was performed. These predicted binding sites were categorized according to low, medium and high homology between the matrix and the upstream regulatory sequence. On average, 62.7% of the genes had a motif, accounting for 80.44% of the genes per genome, with 19613 matrices (a matrix is a representation of a motif). The RhizoBindingSites database provides motif and gene information, motif conservation in the order Rhizobiales, matrices, motif logos, regulatory networks constructed from theoretical or experimental data, a criterion for selecting motifs and a guide for users. The RhizoBindingSites database is freely available online at rhizobindingsites.ccg.unam.mx.}, } @article {pmid33250506, year = {2021}, author = {Tanaka, D and Ohnishi, KI and Watanabe, S and Suzuki, S}, title = {Isolation of cellulase-producing Microbulbifer sp. from marine teleost blackfish (Girella melanichthys) intestine and the enzyme characterization.}, journal = {The Journal of general and applied microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {47-53}, doi = {10.2323/jgam.2020.05.001}, pmid = {33250506}, issn = {1349-8037}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellobiose/metabolism ; Cellulase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/*enzymology/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestines/microbiology ; Molecular Weight ; Perciformes/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Sodium Chloride ; }, abstract = {Most animals cannot digest cellulose but have symbiotic microbes that degrade the matrix polysaccharides of plant matter. Herbivorous and omnivorous marine fish are similarly expected to rely on symbiotic microbes, but reports to date on cellulase-producing bacteria in fish intestines are limited. Here, we report the isolation of new cellulase-producing bacteria from the marine omnivorous teleost, blackfish (Girella melanichthys), and the characterization of cellulase activity. Three strains of cellulase-producing bacteria sp. were isolated from the hindgut of wild G. melanichthys. The strains of cellulase-producing bacteria grew in medium with artificial seawater but not in NaCl alone. Growth was optimum at 20-35°C, but there was no growth at 40°C, suggesting adaptation in a marine environment at a low temperature. Isolates were identified to Microbulbifer sp., among which GL-2 strain produced a high enzyme activity. The GL-2 strain was further used for enzyme characterization with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the substrate. Maximum activity of the cellulase was observed at 60°C, and activity was more than 30% at 20°C, while commercial cellulase Enthiron showed an optimum activity at 50°C and 17% activity at 20°C. Hydrolytic products by GL-2 cellulase were cellobiose but not glucose, suggesting a deficiency of β-glucosidase activity. Active gel electrophoresis containing CMC showed five bands, suggesting several cellulolytic enzymes. The GL-2 strain and its enzyme are potential probiotics for aquaculture fish and the industrial production of cellobiose.}, } @article {pmid33249664, year = {2021}, author = {Porro, B and Zamoum, T and Mallien, C and Hume, BCC and Voolstra, CR and Röttinger, E and Furla, P and Forcioli, D}, title = {Horizontal acquisition of Symbiodiniaceae in the Anemonia viridis (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) species complex.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {391-405}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15755}, pmid = {33249664}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {All metazoans are in fact holobionts, resulting from the association of several organisms, and organismal adaptation is then due to the composite response of this association to the environment. Deciphering the mechanisms of symbiont acquisition in a holobiont is therefore essential to understanding the extent of its adaptive capacities. In cnidarians, some species acquire their photosynthetic symbionts directly from their parents (vertical transmission) but may also acquire symbionts from the environment (horizontal acquisition) at the adult stage. The Mediterranean snakelocks sea anemone, Anemonia viridis (Forskål, 1775), passes down symbionts from one generation to the next by vertical transmission, but the capacity for such horizontal acquisition is still unexplored. To unravel the flexibility of the association between the different host lineages identified in A. viridis and its Symbiodiniaceae, we genotyped both the animal hosts and their symbiont communities in members of host clones in five different locations in the North Western Mediterranean Sea. The composition of within-host-symbiont populations was more dependent on the geographical origin of the hosts than their membership to a given lineage or even to a given clone. Additionally, similarities in host-symbiont communities were greater among genets (i.e. among different clones) than among ramets (i.e. among members of the same given clonal genotype). Taken together, our results demonstrate that A. viridis may form associations with a range of symbiotic dinoflagellates and suggest a capacity for horizontal acquisition. A mixed-mode transmission strategy in A. viridis, as we posit here, may help explain the large phenotypic plasticity that characterizes this anemone.}, } @article {pmid33249612, year = {2021}, author = {Tanticharakunsiri, W and Mangmool, S and Wongsariya, K and Ochaikul, D}, title = {Characteristics and upregulation of antioxidant enzymes of kitchen mint and oolong tea kombucha beverages.}, journal = {Journal of food biochemistry}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {e13574}, doi = {10.1111/jfbc.13574}, pmid = {33249612}, issn = {1745-4514}, mesh = {*Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Beverages/analysis ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; *Mentha ; Tea ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a healthy traditional beverage which is made by fermenting products with a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. In present study, leaves of kitchen mint (Mentha cordifolia Opiz. Ex Fresen) and leaves of oolong tea (Camellia sinensis) were fermented in kombucha formula. After fermentation, titratable acidity contents and ethanol of kitchen mint, oolong tea, and mixtures of oolong tea and kitchen mint kombucha samples gradually increased with a period of fermentation time. At day 14 of fermentation, phenolic compounds and flavonoids were increased in all kombucha samples. The numbers of acetic acid bacteria and yeast in kombucha had gradually raised during 7-14 days of fermentation. DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities of these kombucha increased over a period of fermentation time and shown the highest antioxidant capacity on day 14 of fermentation. In addition, all kombucha samples exhibited the antioxidant effects by attenuating H2 O2 -induced ROS production, increasing mRNA expression of catalase, glutathione reductase (GRe), and Mn-SOD, and inducing GRe enzymatic activity in HEK-293 cells. Kombucha beverage can be used as the healthy beverages for attenuation of oxidative stress in many diseases.}, } @article {pmid33248899, year = {2021}, author = {Santander, C and Aroca, R and Cartes, P and Vidal, G and Cornejo, P}, title = {Aquaporins and cation transporters are differentially regulated by two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi strains in lettuce cultivars growing under salinity conditions.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {396-409}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.11.025}, pmid = {33248899}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Aquaporins/genetics ; Cation Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Cations ; Chile ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lettuce/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Salinity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim was to identify the effects of AM symbiosis on the expression patterns of genes associated with K[+] and Na[+] compartmentalization and translocation and on K[+]/Na[+] homeostasis in some lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivars as well as the effects of the relative abundance of plant AQPs on plant water status. Two AM fungi species (Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus lamellosum) isolated from the hyper-arid Atacama Desert (northern Chile) were inoculated to two lettuce cultivars (Grand Rapids and Lollo Bionda), and watered with 0 and 60 mM NaCl. At 60 days of plant growth, the AM symbiotic development, biomass production, nutrient content (Pi, Na[+], K[+]), physiological parameters, gene expressions of ion channels and transporters (NHX and HKT1), and aquaporins proteins abundance (phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated) were evaluated. Salinity increased the AM root colonization by both inocula. AM lettuce plants showed an improved growth, increased relative water content and improved of K/Na ratio in root. In Grand Rapids cultivar, the high efficiency of photosystem II was higher than Lollo Bionda cultivar; on the contrary, stomatal conductance was higher in Lollo Bionda. Nevertheless, both parameters were increased by AM colonization. In the same way, LsaHKT1;1, LsaHKT1;6, LsaNHX2, LsaNHX4, LsaNHX6 and LsaNHX8 genes and aquaporins PIP2 were up-regulated differentially by both AM fungi. The improved plant growth was closely related to a higher water status due to increased PIP2 abundance, as well as to the upregulation of LsaNHX gene expression, which concomitantly improved plant nutrition and K[+]/Na[+] homeostasis maintenance.}, } @article {pmid33246955, year = {2020}, author = {Cooke, I and Ying, H and Forêt, S and Bongaerts, P and Strugnell, JM and Simakov, O and Zhang, J and Field, MA and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M and Bell, SC and Bourne, DG and van Oppen, MJ and Ragan, MA and Miller, DJ}, title = {Genomic signatures in the coral holobiont reveal host adaptations driven by Holocene climate change and reef specific symbionts.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {6}, number = {48}, pages = {}, pmid = {33246955}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Genetic signatures caused by demographic and adaptive processes during past climatic shifts can inform predictions of species' responses to anthropogenic climate change. To identify these signatures in Acropora tenuis, a reef-building coral threatened by global warming, we first assembled the genome from long reads and then used shallow whole-genome resequencing of 150 colonies from the central inshore Great Barrier Reef to inform population genomic analyses. We identify population structure in the host that reflects a Pleistocene split, whereas photosymbiont differences between reefs most likely reflect contemporary (Holocene) conditions. Signatures of selection in the host were associated with genes linked to diverse processes including osmotic regulation, skeletal development, and the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis. Our results suggest that adaptation to post-glacial climate change in A. tenuis has involved selection on many genes, while differences in symbiont specificity between reefs appear to be unrelated to host population structure.}, } @article {pmid33246688, year = {2021}, author = {Yao, Y and Zhou, X and Hadiatullah, H and Zhang, J and Zhao, G}, title = {Determination of microbial diversities and aroma characteristics of Beitang shrimp paste.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {344}, number = {}, pages = {128695}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128695}, pmid = {33246688}, issn = {1873-7072}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea/*chemistry/metabolism ; Electronic Nose ; Enterococcaceae/genetics/isolation & purification ; Firmicutes/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Food Microbiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/metabolism ; Seafood/*analysis/microbiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Beitang shrimp paste (BSP) is fermented by different parts of shrimp, such as the head (H), meat (M), or the whole shrimp (S and W). Microbial communities of BSP were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the phyla level and Tetragenococcus at the genus level. However, the microbial diversity of M was the lowest than the others. Non-dominant bacterial communities were presented by a mutual symbiotic model in BSP fermentation. Tetragenococcus, Halanaerobium, Streptococcus, and Brevundimonas were positively correlated with the biosynthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, and metabolic cofactors; Marinilactibacillus and Pseudomonas might be the main contributors to inorganic sulfides, nitrogen oxides, and long-chain alkanes in BSP; Psychrobacter was closely related to the ester characteristics of methyl palmitoleate and methyl hexadecanoate in H. Halanaerobium and Streptococcus promoted the production of pyrazines in S. Tetragenococcus was positively correlated with acetic acid, decanoic acid, and palmitic acid that improved the sour aroma of M. The relationship between bacteria and aroma formation under different raw materials was expected to improve the quality of BSP.}, } @article {pmid33246175, year = {2021}, author = {Doifode, T and Giridharan, VV and Generoso, JS and Bhatti, G and Collodel, A and Schulz, PE and Forlenza, OV and Barichello, T}, title = {The impact of the microbiota-gut-brain axis on Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {164}, number = {}, pages = {105314}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105314}, pmid = {33246175}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Brain ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that comprises of more than 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells. The microbiota, the gut, and the brain form an association, 'the microbiota-gut-brain axis,' and synchronize the gut with the central nervous system and modify the behavior and brain immune homeostasis. The bidirectional communication between gut and brain occurs via the immune system, the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system, and microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), proteins, and tryptophan metabolites. Recent studies have implicated the gut microbiota in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we present an overview of gut microbiota, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, SCFA, tryptophan, bacterial composition, besides age-related changes in gut microbiota composition, the microbiota-gut-brain axis pathways, the role of gut metabolites in amyloid-beta clearance, and gut microbiota modulation from experimental and clinical AD models. Understanding the role of the microbiota may provide new targets for treatment to delay the onset, progression, or reverse AD, and may help in reducing the prevalence of AD.}, } @article {pmid33245793, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, H and Li, Y and Zhang, K and Li, M and Fu, S and Tian, Y and Qin, T and Li, X and Zhong, Y and Liao, H}, title = {miR169c-NFYA-C-ENOD40 modulates nitrogen inhibitory effects in soybean nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {6}, pages = {3377-3392}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17115}, pmid = {33245793}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor ; Ecosystem ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume crops contribute a great portion of clean nitrogen (N) to agro-ecosystems through symbiotic N2 fixation in the nodule; however, the nodulation is always inhibited by high N availability which is known as the N inhibitory effect through largely unknown mechanisms. We functionally investigated miR169c-GmNFYA-C-GmENOD40 under multiple N conditions in soybean (Glycine max) (ENOD, Early Nodulin; NFYA, Nuclear Factor-Y Subunit A). We elucidated their regulatory roles in soybean nodulation through analyzing expression patterns, micro-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) interactions, phenotypes of transgenic soybean plants and genetic interactions. We found that miR169c expression was induced by high N, whereas its target GmNFYA-C was preferentially expressed in nodules and induced by rhizobium inoculation. Overexpression of miR169c inhibited nodulation through targeting 3'-UTR of GmNFYA-C, whereas knockout miR169c through CRISPR-cas9 promoted nodulation. However, overexpression of GmNFYA-C promoted soybean nodulation through facilitating rhizobium infection and increasing the expression of symbiotic signaling gene GmENOD40. Besides, GmNFYA-C directly induced the expression of GmENOD40. In addition, overexpression of GmNFYA-C without the target site of miR169c partially attenuated the inhibitory effect of high N on soybean nodulation. We discovered a new regulatory pathway involving the miR169c-NFYA-C-ENOD40 module that regulates soybean nodulation in response to N availability. This pathway provides substantial new insights into the mechanisms underlying the N inhibitory effect on nodulation.}, } @article {pmid33245329, year = {2020}, author = {Hammond, JA and Gordon, EA and Socarras, KM and Chang Mell, J and Ehrlich, GD}, title = {Beyond the pan-genome: current perspectives on the functional and practical outcomes of the distributed genome hypothesis.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {2437-2455}, pmid = {33245329}, issn = {1470-8752}, support = {P41 RR006009/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI080935/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DC002148/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK082316/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Ecology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genomics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Biology ; Multigene Family ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {The principle of monoclonality with regard to bacterial infections was considered immutable prior to 30 years ago. This view, espoused by Koch for acute infections, has proven inadequate regarding chronic infections as persistence requires multiple forms of heterogeneity among the bacterial population. This understanding of bacterial plurality emerged from a synthesis of what-were-then novel technologies in molecular biology and imaging science. These technologies demonstrated that bacteria have complex life cycles, polymicrobial ecologies, and evolve in situ via the horizontal exchange of genic characters. Thus, there is an ongoing generation of diversity during infection that results in far more highly complex microbial communities than previously envisioned. This perspective is based on the fundamental tenet that the bacteria within an infecting population display genotypic diversity, including gene possession differences, which result from horizontal gene transfer mechanisms including transformation, conjugation, and transduction. This understanding is embodied in the concepts of the supragenome/pan-genome and the distributed genome hypothesis (DGH). These paradigms have fostered multiple researches in diverse areas of bacterial ecology including host-bacterial interactions covering the gamut of symbiotic relationships including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. With regard to the human host, within each of these symbiotic relationships all bacterial species possess attributes that contribute to colonization and persistence; those species/strains that are pathogenic also encode traits for invasion and metastases. Herein we provide an update on our understanding of bacterial plurality and discuss potential applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccinology based on perspectives provided by the DGH with regard to the evolution of pathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid33244313, year = {2020}, author = {Pan, H and Pierson, LS and Pierson, EA}, title = {PcsR2 Is a LuxR-Type Regulator That Is Upregulated on Wheat Roots and Is Unique to Pseudomonas chlororaphis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {560124}, pmid = {33244313}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {LuxR solos are common in plant-associated bacteria and increasingly recognized for playing important roles in plant-microbe interkingdom signaling. Unlike the LuxR-type transcriptional regulators of prototype LuxR/LuxI quorum sensing systems, luxR solos do not have a LuxI-type autoinducer synthase gene associated with them. LuxR solos in plant-pathogenic bacteria are important for virulence and in plant endosymbionts contribute to symbiosis. In the present study, we characterized an atypical LuxR solo, PcsR2, in the biological control species Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84 that is highly conserved among sequenced P. chlororaphis strains. Unlike most LuxR solos in the plant-associated bacteria characterized to date, pcsR2 is not associated with a proline iminopeptidase gene and the protein has an atypical N-terminal binding domain. We created a pcsR2 deletion mutant and used quantitative RT-PCR to show that the expression of pcsR2 and genes in the operon immediately downstream was upregulated ∼10-fold when the wild type strain was grown on wheat roots compared to planktonic culture. PcsR2 was involved in upregulation. Using a GFP transcriptional reporter, we found that expression of pcsR2 responded specifically to root-derived substrates as compared to leaf-derived substrates but not to endogenous AHLs. Compared to the wild type, the mutant was impaired in the ability to utilize root carbon and nitrogen sources in wheat root macerate and to colonize wheat roots. Phenazine production and most biofilm traits previously shown to be correlated with phenazine production also were diminished in the mutant. Gene expression of several of the proteins in the phenazine regulatory network including PhzR, Pip (phenazine inducing protein) and RpeA/RpeB were reduced in the mutant, and overexpression of these genes in trans restored phenazine production in the mutant to wild-type levels, indicating PcsR2 affects the activity of the these regulatory genes upstream of RpeA/RpeB via an undetermined mechanism. Our results indicate PcsR2 upregulates the expression of the adjacent operon in response to unknown wheat root-derived signals and belongs to a novel subfamily of LuxR-type transcriptional regulators found in sequenced P. chlororaphis strains.}, } @article {pmid33244276, year = {2020}, author = {Baldacci, F and Baldacci, M and Bertini, M}, title = {Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 + Lactose, A Symbiotic Long-Lasting Vaginal Approach to Improve Women's Health.}, journal = {International journal of women's health}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1099-1104}, pmid = {33244276}, issn = {1179-1411}, abstract = {The proposal to restore vaginal microbiota using biotherapeutic agents ended with controversial results. Vaginal microbiota modifications from eubiosis to dysbiosis (desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, "aerobic vaginitis") and pathobiosis have recently been demonstrated to have a pivotal role in women's clinical health. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and its related women's pathology seem to be "the most common vaginal infections" in women; the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommended treatment for this pathology: metronidazole, clyndamicin or other well known treatment such as dequalinium chloride, unfortunately, has been demonstrated to fail in control of this infection and especially in its recurrence rates. A long-lasting vaginal approach with a symbiotic drug (Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 + lactose) (NORMOGIN™) has demonstrated on a large sample of women enrolled in clinical trials (more than 3000 patients) not only to be able to significantly reduce the BV recurrences, after the CDC standard of care administration, but also to control the vaginal pathobiosis pathway, restoring the physiological eubiosis from dysbiosis. These results are really very encouraging and clearly demonstrate that a symbiotic long-lasting vaginal application of a selected Lactobacillus population plus a prebiotic could be helpful if added to the recommended standard of care.}, } @article {pmid33244079, year = {2020}, author = {Chacón-Orozco, JG and Bueno, CJ and Shapiro-Ilan, DI and Hazir, S and Leite, LG and Harakava, R}, title = {Antifungal activity of Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp. against the soybean pathogenic Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {20649}, pmid = {33244079}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/*pharmacology ; Ascomycota/*drug effects ; Germination/drug effects ; Mycelium/drug effects ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*physiology ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Volatile Organic Compounds/pharmacology ; Xenorhabdus/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, causes white mold disease and infects a broad spectrum of host plants (> 500), including soybean with yield losses of up to 70%. Biological control is a potential alternative for management of this severe plant pathogen, and relative to chemical fungicides, provides broad benefits to the environment, farmers and consumers. The symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes, Xenorhabdus spp. and Photorhabdus spp., are characterized by the production of antimicrobial compounds, which could serve as potential sources for new bio-fungicides. The objectives of this study were to assess cell-free supernatants (CFS) of 16 strains of these bacteria cultures on S. sclerotiorum mycelium growth; assess the volatiles of X. szentirmaii cultures on the fungus mycelium and sclerotium inhibition; and evaluate the X. szentirmaii cultures as well as their CFS on the protection of soybean seeds against the white mold disease. Among the 16 strains, the CFS of X. szentirmaii showed the highest fungicidal effect on growth of S. sclerotiorum. The CFS of X. szentirmaii inhibited > 98% of fungus growth from mycelium and sclerotia, whereas the volatiles generated by the bacterium culture inhibited to 100% of fungus growth and 100% of sclerotia production. The bacterial culture diluted to 33% in water and coated on soybean seeds inhibited S. sclerotiorum and protected soybean plants, allowing 78.3% of seed germination and 56.6% of plant development. Our findings indicate potential for a safe and novel control method for S. sclerotiorum in soybean. Moreover, this is the first study to indicate that volatile organic compounds from Xenorhabdus spp. can be used in plant disease suppression.}, } @article {pmid33243641, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, B and Hu, S and Chen, Z and Vymazal, J}, title = {Employ of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for pharmaceuticals ibuprofen and diclofenac removal in mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {409}, number = {}, pages = {124524}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124524}, pmid = {33243641}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Diclofenac ; Fungi ; Ibuprofen ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Plant Roots ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization on the growth of wetland plants (Glyceria maxima), and treatment performance in constructed wetlands (CWs) under the stress of pharmaceuticals ibuprofen (IBU) and diclofenac (DCF). Results showed that the growth of G. maxima was significantly increased by AMF colonization. AMF significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and soluble protein content in wetland plants, but the contents of malondialdehyde and O2[•-] were reduced. The removal efficiencies of TOC, PO4[3-]-P, NH4[+]-N, and TN were increased in AMF+ treatments by 6%, 11%, 15% and 11%, respectively. AMF increased the removal efficiencies of IBU and DCF by 6-14% and 2-21%, respectively, and reduced the content of their metabolites (2-OH IBU, CA IBU and 4'-OH DCF) in the effluent. Besides, the presence of AMF increased the contents of IBU and DCF in plant roots, while decreased their transportation to shoots. AMF symbiosis decreased the contents of IBU metabolites (2-OH IBU and CA IBU) but increased the contents of DCF metabolite (4'-OH DCF) in the roots of the host plant. In conclusion, these results indicated that AMF plays a promising role in CWs for emerging pollutants removal.}, } @article {pmid33242081, year = {2020}, author = {Maity, S and Ambatipudi, K}, title = {Mammary microbial dysbiosis leads to the zoonosis of bovine mastitis: a One-Health perspective.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa241}, pmid = {33242081}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Infections/veterinary ; Cattle ; Dysbiosis/veterinary ; Female ; Humans ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; *Mastitis, Bovine ; Milk ; }, abstract = {Bovine mastitis is a prototypic emerging and reemerging bacterial disease that results in cut-by-cut torture to animals, public health and the global economy. Pathogenic microbes causing mastitis have overcome a series of hierarchical barriers resulting in the zoonotic transmission from bovines to humans either by proximity or remotely through milk and meat. The disease control is challenging and has been attributed to faulty surveillance systems to monitor their emergence at the human-animal interface. The complex interaction between the pathogens, the hidden pathobionts and commensals of the bovine mammary gland that create a menace during mastitis remains unexplored. Here, we review the zoonotic potential of these pathogens with a primary focus on understanding the interplay between the host immunity, mammary ecology and the shift from symbiosis to dysbiosis. We also address the pros and cons of the current management strategies and the extent of the success in implementing the One-Health approach to keep these pathogens at bay.}, } @article {pmid33240603, year = {2020}, author = {Aichelman, HE and Barshis, DJ}, title = {Adaptive divergence, neutral panmixia, and algal symbiont population structure in the temperate coral Astrangia poculata along the Mid-Atlantic United States.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e10201}, pmid = {33240603}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Astrangia poculata is a temperate scleractinian coral that exists in facultative symbiosis with the dinoflagellate alga Breviolum psygmophilum across a range spanning the Gulf of Mexico to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Our previous work on metabolic thermal performance of Virginia (VA) and Rhode Island (RI) populations of A. poculata revealed physiological signatures of cold (RI) and warm (VA) adaptation of these populations to their respective local thermal environments. Here, we used whole-transcriptome sequencing (mRNA-Seq) to evaluate genetic differences and identify potential loci involved in the adaptive signature of VA and RI populations. Sequencing data from 40 A. poculata individuals, including 10 colonies from each population and symbiotic state (VA-white, VA-brown, RI-white, and RI-brown), yielded a total of 1,808 host-associated and 59 algal symbiont-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) post filtration. Fst outlier analysis identified 66 putative high outlier SNPs in the coral host and 4 in the algal symbiont. Differentiation of VA and RI populations in the coral host was driven by putatively adaptive loci, not neutral divergence (Fst = 0.16, p = 0.001 and Fst = 0.002, p = 0.269 for outlier and neutral SNPs respectively). In contrast, we found evidence of neutral population differentiation in B. psygmophilum (Fst = 0.093, p = 0.001). Several putatively adaptive host loci occur on genes previously associated with the coral stress response. In the symbiont, three of four putatively adaptive loci are associated with photosystem proteins. The opposing pattern of neutral differentiation in B. psygmophilum, but not the A. poculata host, reflects the contrasting dynamics of coral host and algal symbiont population connectivity, dispersal, and gene by environment interactions.}, } @article {pmid33239996, year = {2020}, author = {Mao, A and Sun, C and Katsube, T and Wang, B}, title = {A Minireview on Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Radiosusceptibility.}, journal = {Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {1559325820963859}, pmid = {33239996}, issn = {1559-3258}, abstract = {Gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host and plays a key role in modulating many important biological processes and functions of the host, such as metabolism, inflammation, immune and stress response. It is becoming increasingly apparent that GI microbiota is susceptible to a wide range of environmental factors and insults, for examples, geographic location of birth, diet, use of antibiotics, and exposure to radiation. Alterations in GI microbiota link to various diseases, including radiation-induced disorders. In addition, GI microbiota composition could be used as a biomarker to estimate radiosusceptibility and radiation health risk in the host. In this minireview, we summarized the documented studies on radiation-induced alterations in GI microbiota and the relationship between GI microbiota and radiosusceptibility of the host, and mainly discussed the possible mechanisms underlying GI microbiota influencing the outcome of radiation response in humans and animal models. Furthermore, we proposed that GI microbiota manipulation may be used to reduce radiation injury and improve the health of the host.}, } @article {pmid33236822, year = {2021}, author = {Mortezaee, K}, title = {Redox tolerance and metabolic reprogramming in solid tumors.}, journal = {Cell biology international}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {273-286}, doi = {10.1002/cbin.11506}, pmid = {33236822}, issn = {1095-8355}, mesh = {*Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Fibroblasts/cytology/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Tumor cells need to cope with the host environment for survival and keep growing in hard conditions. This suggests that tumors must acquire characteristics more potent than what is seen for normal tissue cells, without which they are condemned to disruption. For example, cancer cells have more potent redox tolerance compared with normal cells, which is due to their high adaptation to an oxidative crisis. In addition, increased demand for bioenergetics and biosynthesis can cause a rise in nutrient uptake in tumors. Utilizing nutrients in low nutrient conditions suggests that tumors are also equipped with adaptive metabolic processes. Switching the metabolic demands toward glucose consumption upon exposure to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, or changing toward using other sources when there is an overconsumption of glucose in the tumor area are examples of fitness metabolic systems in tumors. In fact, cancer cells in cooperation with their nearby stroma (in a process called metabolic coupling) can reprogram their metabolic systems in their favor. This suggests the high importance of stroma for meeting the metabolic demands of a growing tumor, an example in this context is the metabolic symbiosis between cancer-associated fibroblasts with cancer cells. The point is that redox tolerance and metabolic reprogramming are interrelated, and that, without a doubt, disruption of redox tolerance systems by transient exposure to either oxidative or antioxidative loading, or targeting metabolic rewiring by modulation of tumor glucose availability, controlling tumor/stroma interactions, etc. can be effective from a therapeutic standpoint.}, } @article {pmid33236502, year = {2021}, author = {Ahmad, F and Yang, GY and Liang, SY and Zhou, QH and Gaal, HA and Mo, JC}, title = {Multipartite symbioses in fungus-growing termites (Blattodea: Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) for the degradation of lignocellulose.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {1512-1529}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12890}, pmid = {33236502}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; *Fungi ; *Isoptera ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites are among the most successful herbivorous animals and improve crop productivity and soil fertility. A range of symbiotic organisms can be found inside their nests. However, interactions of termites with these symbionts are poorly understood. This review provides detailed information on the role of multipartite symbioses (between termitophiles, termites, fungi, and bacteria) in fungus-growing termites for lignocellulose degradation. The specific functions of each component in the symbiotic system are also discussed. Based on previous studies, we argue that the enzymatic contribution from the host, fungus, and bacteria greatly facilitates the decomposition of complex polysaccharide plant materials. The host-termitophile interaction protects the termite nest from natural enemies and maintains the stability of the microenvironment inside the colony.}, } @article {pmid33235281, year = {2020}, author = {Gorman, LM and Wilkinson, SP and Kitchen, SA and Oakley, CA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Phylogenetic analysis of cell-cycle regulatory proteins within the Symbiodiniaceae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {20473}, pmid = {33235281}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Animals ; Cell Cycle Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Cnidaria/*parasitology ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In oligotrophic waters, cnidarian hosts rely on symbiosis with their photosynthetic dinoflagellate partners (family Symbiodiniaceae) to obtain the nutrients they need to grow, reproduce and survive. For this symbiosis to persist, the host must regulate the growth and proliferation of its symbionts. One of the proposed regulatory mechanisms is arrest of the symbiont cell cycle in the G1 phase, though the cellular mechanisms involved remain unknown. Cell-cycle progression in eukaryotes is controlled by the conserved family of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their partner cyclins. We identified CDKs and cyclins in different Symbiodiniaceae species and examined their relationship to homologs in other eukaryotes. Cyclin proteins related to eumetazoan cell-cycle-related cyclins A, B, D, G/I and Y, and transcriptional cyclin L, were identified in the Symbiodiniaceae, alongside several alveolate-specific cyclin A/B proteins, and proteins related to protist P/U-type cyclins and apicomplexan cyclins. The largest expansion of Symbiodiniaceae cyclins was in the P/U-type cyclin groups. Proteins related to eumetazoan cell-cycle-related CDKs (CDK1) were identified as well as transcription-related CDKs. The largest expansion of CDK groups was, however, in alveolate-specific groups which comprised 11 distinct CDK groups (CDKA-J) with CDKB being the most widely distributed CDK protein. As a result of its phylogenetic position, conservation across Symbiodiniaceae species, and the presence of the canonical CDK motif, CDKB emerged as a likely candidate for a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cdc28/Pho85-like homolog in Symbiodiniaceae. Similar to cyclins, two CDK-groups found in Symbiodiniaceae species were solely associated with apicomplexan taxa. A comparison of Breviolum minutum CDK and cyclin gene expression between free-living and symbiotic states showed that several alveolate-specific CDKs and two P/U-type cyclins exhibited altered expression in hospite, suggesting that symbiosis influences the cell cycle of symbionts on a molecular level. These results highlight the divergence of Symbiodiniaceae cell-cycle proteins across species. These results have important implications for host control of the symbiont cell cycle in novel cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33234022, year = {2021}, author = {Jones, RM and Neish, AS}, title = {Gut Microbiota in Intestinal and Liver Disease.}, journal = {Annual review of pathology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {251-275}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-pathol-030320-095722}, pmid = {33234022}, issn = {1553-4014}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis/complications/immunology/pathology ; *Gastrointestinal Diseases/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology ; *Liver Diseases/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {It is known that the gut microbiota, the numerically vast and taxonomically diverse microbial communities that thrive in a symbiotic fashion within our alimentary tract, can affect the normal physiology of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Further, disturbances of the microbiota community structure from both endogenous and exogenous influences as well as the failure of host responsive mechanisms have been implicated in a variety of disease processes. Mechanistically, alterations in intestinal permeability and dysbiosis of the microbiota can result in inflammation, immune activation, and exposure to xenobiotic influences. Additionally, the gut and liver are continually exposed to small molecule products of the microbiota with proinflammatory, gene regulatory, and oxidative properties. Long-term coevolution has led to tolerance and incorporation of these influences into normal physiology and homeostasis; conversely, changes in this equilibrium from either the host or the microbial side can result in a wide variety of immune, inflammatory, metabolic, and neoplastic intestinal and hepatic disorders.}, } @article {pmid33233239, year = {2020}, author = {Hernández-Granados, MJ and Franco-Robles, E}, title = {Postbiotics in human health: Possible new functional ingredients?.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {137}, number = {}, pages = {109660}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109660}, pmid = {33233239}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Fatty Acids, Volatile ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota is a set of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and have a symbiotic relationship with the host. These microorganisms are involved in the regulation of many host metabolic pathways and are related to the host's immune and neurological responses. Probiotic beneficial bacteria and their mechanisms have been extensively studied. However, the health effects of its metabolites or structural components, such as functional ingredients on health have been less explored. Postbiotics can be classified as structural, such as peptides, teichoic acids and plasmalogens. They can also be classified; as well as the metabolites generated by the microbiota; these are short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), vitamins and enzymes. Studies with other types of postbiotics, mainly derived from Lactobacillus, have demonstrated their immunological effects by raising mucin levels and, promoting the development of claudin and occluding. They have also demonstrated decreasing several interleukins of immunological interest. Furthermore, recognized as possible functional ingredients compared to other biotics, they have a longer shelf life and an excellent potential to develop fermented products, being a very good alternative to generate foods with specific health effects. The objective of this review is to describe the characteristics and mechanisms of action of different postbiotics, as well as to present the benefits found in in vitro, clinical trials and in the food industry, proposing them as possible new functional ingredients.}, } @article {pmid33233042, year = {2020}, author = {Xi, M and Li, J and Hao, G and An, X and Song, Y and Wei, H and Ge, W}, title = {Stachyose increases intestinal barrier through Akkermansia muciniphila and reduces gut inflammation in germ-free mice after human fecal transplantation.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {137}, number = {}, pages = {109288}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109288}, pmid = {33233042}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {*Akkermansia ; Animals ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Oligosaccharides ; Verrucomicrobia ; }, abstract = {Early life is a crucial period for the development of the intestinal microbiota and is related to the body's immunity. Yet research is lacking regarding the effect of stachyose on infants gut microbiomes at this stage and the mechanism is not clear. Therefore, in this experiment, feces samples collected from infants were transplanted into germ-free mice, to explore the effect of stachyose on the intestinal microbiota and host gut barrier. We found that stachyose promoted the relative abundance of A. muciniphila in human feces; enhanced the symbiotic relationships of A. muciniphila; increased the short-chain fatty acid level, and secretory immunoglobulin A level; reduced the levels of lipopolysaccharide, IL-1, IL-17 and TNF-α through downregulated the expression of NF-κB; increased expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) and goblet cell through A. muciniphila. The intake of stachyose is conducive to promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and enhancing the intestinal barrier in germ-free mice. This research provides a theoretical basis for the use of prebiotics to improve intestinal microbiota and barrier in humans.}, } @article {pmid33232849, year = {2021}, author = {Youseif, SH and Abd El-Megeed, FH and Mohamed, AH and Ageez, A and Veliz, E and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Diverse Rhizobium strains isolated from root nodules of Trifolium alexandrinum in Egypt and symbiovars.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {126156}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126156}, pmid = {33232849}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Egypt ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Berseem clover (T. alexandrinum) is the main forage legume crop used as animal feed in Egypt. Here, eighty rhizobial isolates were isolated from root nodules of berseem clover grown in different regions in Egypt and were grouped by RFLP-16S rRNA ribotyping. Representative isolates were characterized using phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA, rpoB, glnA, pgi, and nodC genes. We also investigated the performance of these isolates using phenotypic tests and nitrogen fixation efficiency assays. The majority of strains (<90%) were closely related to Rhizobium aegyptiacum and Rhizobium aethiopicum and of the remaining strains, six belonged to the Rhizobium leguminosarum genospecies complex and only one strain was assigned to Agrobacterium fabacearum. Despite their heterogeneous chromosomal background, most of the strains shared nodC gene alleles corresponding to symbiovar trifolii. Some of the strains closely affiliated to R. aegyptiacum and R. aethiopicum had superior nodulation and nitrogen fixation capabilities in berseem clover, compared to the commercial inoculant (Okadein®) and N-added treatments. R. leguminosarum strain NGB-CR 17 that harbored a nodC allele typical of symbiovar viciae, was also able to form an effective symbiosis with clover. Two strains with nodC alleles of symbiovar trifolii, R. aegyptiacum strains NGB-CR 129 and 136, were capable of forming effective nodules in Phaseolus vulgaris in axenic greenhouse conditions. This adds the symbiovar trifolii which is well-established in the Egyptian soils to the list of symbiovars that form nodules in P. vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid33231729, year = {2021}, author = {Li, Q and Kuo, YW and Lin, KH and Huang, W and Deng, C and Yeh, KW and Chen, SP}, title = {Piriformospora indica colonization increases the growth, development, and herbivory resistance of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.).}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {339-350}, pmid = {33231729}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Endophytes ; Herbivory ; Ipomoea batatas/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Spodoptera/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica symbiosis promoted the growth and photosynthesis, and simultaneously enhanced the resistance against insect herbivory by regulating sporamin-dependent defense in sweet potato. Piriformospora indica (P. indica), a versatile endophytic fungus, promotes the growth and confers resistance against multiple stresses by root colonization in plant hosts. In this study, the effects of P. indica colonization on the growth, physiological change, and herbivore resistance of leaf-vegetable sweet potato cultivar were investigated. P. indica symbiosis significantly improved the biomass in both above- and under-ground parts of sweet potato plants. In comparison with the non-colonized plants, the content of photosynthetic pigments and the efficiency of photosynthesis were increased in P. indica-colonized sweet potato plants. Further investigation showed that the activity of catalase was enhanced in both leaves and roots of sweet potato plants after colonization, but ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were not enhanced. Furthermore, the interaction between P. indica and sweet potato plants also showed the biological function in jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated defense. The plants colonized by P. indica had greatly increased JA accumulation and defense gene expressions, including IbNAC1, IbbHLH3, IbpreproHypSys, and sporamin, leading to elevated trypsin inhibitory activity, which was consistent with a reduced Spodoptera litura performance when larvae fed on the leaves of P. indica-colonized sweet potato plants. The root symbiosis of P. indica is helpful for the plant promoting growth and development and has a strong function as resistance inducers against herbivore attack in sweet potato cultivation by regulating sporamin-dependent defense.}, } @article {pmid33231304, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, M and Bruisson, S and Bapaume, L and Darbon, G and Glauser, G and Schorderet, M and Reinhardt, D}, title = {VAPYRIN attenuates defence by repressing PR gene induction and localized lignin accumulation during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of Petunia hybrida.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {6}, pages = {3481-3496}, pmid = {33231304}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lignin ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Petunia/genetics ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The intimate association of host and fungus in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can potentially trigger induction of host defence mechanisms against the fungus, implying that successful symbiosis requires suppression of defence. We addressed this phenomenon by using AM-defective vapyrin (vpy) mutants in Petunia hybrida, including a new allele (vpy-3) with a transposon insertion close to the ATG start codon. We explore whether abortion of fungal infection in vpy mutants is associated with the induction of defence markers, such as cell wall alterations, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), defence hormones and induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. We show that vpy mutants exhibit a strong resistance against intracellular colonization, which is associated with the generation of cell wall appositions (papillae) with lignin impregnation at fungal entry sites, while no accumulation of defence hormones, ROS or callose was observed. Systematic analysis of PR gene expression revealed that several PR genes are induced in mycorrhizal roots of the wild-type, and even more in vpy plants. Some PR genes are induced exclusively in vpy mutants. Our results suggest that VPY is involved in avoiding or suppressing the induction of a cellular defence syndrome that involves localized lignin deposition and PR gene induction.}, } @article {pmid33230954, year = {2020}, author = {Straub, C and Annison, H}, title = {The mental health impact of parole on families of indeterminate-sentenced prisoners in England and Wales.}, journal = {Criminal behaviour and mental health : CBMH}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {341-349}, doi = {10.1002/cbm.2184}, pmid = {33230954}, issn = {1471-2857}, mesh = {England ; Female ; Humans ; Mental Health/*statistics & numerical data ; Prisoners/*psychology/*statistics & numerical data ; Prisons/organization & administration ; Time Factors ; Wales ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), was created in England and Wales in 2003. After its abolition in 2012, many IPP-prisoners have become stuck in the prison system, facing considerable problems of sentence progression. The extant literature makes clear that the uncertainty and hopelessness caused by the indeterminacy of the IPP sentence are compounded by the negative impacts experienced by families and others providing support to people serving these sentences.

AIMS: The mental strains caused for family members by the IPP sentence were examined. Of particular interest is the role and weight of the parole process experience, and its potential mental and physiological health impact on families.

METHODS: This article draws on findings from two qualitative research projects conducted with families of prisoners serving the IPP sentence in England and Wales. Their experiences will be examined by reference to literature on the mental health impact of indeterminate sentences on prisoners and their families and the wider literature on the symbiotic harms of imprisonment for families. The aim was to add to this by focusing on families' experiences of cumulative stress caused by the sentence.

FINDINGS: We demonstrate that the IPP parole process exerts specific weight and mental strains on family members occupying the negative end of the stress spectrum. Drawing on a body of neuroscientific, neuroendocrinological and criminological literature, we argue that these mental health impacts on families may represent a public health risk in need of practical and policy mitigation.

IMPLICATIONS: There is a pressing need for recognition of what are often hidden symbiotic harms experienced by families of people sentenced to IPP. Families require more information as well as considerably greater practical and emotional support on an institutional and communal level.}, } @article {pmid33230166, year = {2020}, author = {Maziarz, M and Broughton, RK and Casacci, LP and Dubiec, A and Maák, I and Witek, M}, title = {Thermal ecosystem engineering by songbirds promotes a symbiotic relationship with ants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {20330}, pmid = {33230166}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Forests ; *Hot Temperature ; Nesting Behavior/*physiology ; Poland ; Songbirds/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nesting birds can act as thermal ecosystem engineers by providing warm habitats that may attract arthropods to colonise the nest structure. This cohabitation of birds and nest-dwelling invertebrates may foster symbiotic relationships between them, but evidence is lacking. We investigated whether ants are attracted to bird nests by the heat generated by the hosts, and/or the nests' structural insulation properties, to raise their broods (larvae and/or pupae) in advantageous thermal conditions. We found that the endothermic activity of birds within their nests created 'heat islands', with thermal conditions potentially promoting the survival and development of ant larvae in cool environments. We experimentally confirmed that the presence of heat within bird nests, and not the structure itself, attracted the ants to colonise the nests. As ants might benefit from exploiting warm bird nests, this may be a previously overlooked commensal, mutualistic or parasitic relationship which may be ecologically significant and globally widespread among various nesting birds and reproducing ants. Similar interspecific interactions may exist with other arthropods that reproduce in avian and mammalian nests. Further research is needed to reveal the nature of these relationships between such taxa, and to understand the role of warm-blooded animals as thermal ecosystem engineers.}, } @article {pmid33230111, year = {2020}, author = {Daguerre, Y and Basso, V and Hartmann-Wittulski, S and Schellenberger, R and Meyer, L and Bailly, J and Kohler, A and Plett, JM and Martin, F and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {The mutualism effector MiSSP7 of Laccaria bicolor alters the interactions between the poplar JAZ6 protein and its associated proteins.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {20362}, pmid = {33230111}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Editing ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Laccaria/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Populus/*metabolism ; Protein Interaction Maps/genetics ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Despite the pivotal role of jasmonic acid in the outcome of plant-microorganism interactions, JA-signaling components in roots of perennial trees like western balsam poplar (Populus trichocarpa) are poorly characterized. Here we decipher the poplar-root JA-perception complex centered on PtJAZ6, a co-repressor of JA-signaling targeted by the effector protein MiSSP7 from the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor during symbiotic development. Through protein-protein interaction studies in yeast we determined the poplar root proteins interacting with PtJAZ6. Moreover, we assessed via yeast triple-hybrid how the mutualistic effector MiSSP7 reshapes the association between PtJAZ6 and its partner proteins. In the absence of the symbiotic effector, PtJAZ6 interacts with the transcription factors PtMYC2s and PtJAM1.1. In addition, PtJAZ6 interacts with it-self and with other Populus JAZ proteins. Finally, MiSSP7 strengthens the binding of PtJAZ6 to PtMYC2.1 and antagonizes PtJAZ6 homo-/heterodimerization. We conclude that a symbiotic effector secreted by a mutualistic fungus may promote the symbiotic interaction through altered dynamics of a JA-signaling-associated protein-protein interaction network, maintaining the repression of PtMYC2.1-regulated genes.}, } @article {pmid33229539, year = {2020}, author = {Hu, H and Zakharov, PN and Peterson, OJ and Unanue, ER}, title = {Cytocidal macrophages in symbiosis with CD4 and CD8 T cells cause acute diabetes following checkpoint blockade of PD-1 in NOD mice.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {49}, pages = {31319-31330}, pmid = {33229539}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI114551/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK058177/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acute Disease ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*immunology/pathology ; Female ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/pathology ; Macrophages/*immunology/pathology ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Autoimmune diabetes is one of the complications resulting from checkpoint blockade immunotherapy in cancer patients, yet the underlying mechanisms for such an adverse effect are not well understood. Leveraging the diabetes-susceptible nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model, we phenocopy the diabetes progression induced by programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 blockade and identify a cascade of highly interdependent cellular interactions involving diabetogenic CD4 and CD8 T cells and macrophages. We demonstrate that exhausted CD8 T cells are the major cells that respond to PD-1 blockade producing high levels of IFN-γ. Most importantly, the activated T cells lead to the recruitment of monocyte-derived macrophages that become highly activated when responding to IFN-γ. These macrophages acquire cytocidal activity against β-cells via nitric oxide and induce autoimmune diabetes. Collectively, the data in this study reveal a critical role of macrophages in the PD-1 blockade-induced diabetogenesis, providing new insights for the understanding of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy in cancer and infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid33229197, year = {2021}, author = {Li, K and Hao, Z and Du, J and Gao, Y and Yang, S and Zhou, Y}, title = {Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron relieves colon inflammation by activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor and modulating CD4[+]T cell homeostasis.}, journal = {International immunopharmacology}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {107183}, doi = {10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107183}, pmid = {33229197}, issn = {1878-1705}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*metabolism ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Colitis/immunology/metabolism/microbiology/*therapy ; Colon/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; *Probiotics ; Propionates/metabolism ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a form of nonspecific chronic intestinal inflammation associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis. Modulating the composition of the intestinal flora may be a viable means of alleviating such inflammatory pathology. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. thetaiotaomicron) is a symbiotic intestinal microbe that has been associated with IBD, although the mechanistic basis for this association remains to be clarified. In this present study, we determined that B. thetaiotaomicron can alleviate colonic inflammation through mechanisms associated with the modulation of tryptophan metabolism and T cell subsets within inflamed intestinal tissues. Specifically, we found that B. thetaiotaomicron promotes the preferential differentiation of anti-inflammatory Treg/Th2 cells while suppressing the relative differentiation of pro-inflammatory Th1/Th17 cells, thereby decreasing inflammation within the colon. At a molecular level, B. thetaiotaomicron treatment was linked to altered CpG methylation within the Foxp3 promoter that was associated with enhanced Treg cell functionality. In a murine dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis model system, B. thetaiotaomicron increased the levels of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands indole metabolites-indole acetic acid (IAA) and indole propionic acid (IPA), thereby increasing AHR activation that is related to changes of transcription factor expression profiles within T cells. In summary, our data suggest that B. thetaiotaomicron can activate AHR and modulate CD4[+] T cell differentiation profiles in a murine DSS colitis model system, suggesting that this bacterium may be of therapeutic relevance for the treatment of IBD.}, } @article {pmid33227379, year = {2021}, author = {Agafonov, VA and Negrobov, VV and Igamberdiev, AU}, title = {Symbiogenesis as a driving force of evolution: The legacy of Boris Kozo-Polyansky.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {199}, number = {}, pages = {104302}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104302}, pmid = {33227379}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; Eukaryota/cytology/*metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Organelles/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We analyze evolutionary views of Boris Kozo-Polyansky (1890-1957) who was the first who formulated the symbiotic theory of evolution as a concept in his book, Symbiogenesis: A New Principle of Evolution (1924). Later, starting from 1967, Lynn Margulis independently formulated and further developed the concept of symbiogenesis. Although the ideas on the symbiotic origin of chloroplasts and mitochondria appeared earlier, the book of Kozo-Polyansky presented symbiogenesis as the main factor of complexification in the course of evolution, not only in relation to the origin of eukaryotic cell. Kozo-Polyansky incorporated the ideas of symbiogenesis into a broader paradigm that anticipated the important concepts of the modern Extended Evolutionary Synthesis such as the idea of net of life, the evolutionary role of apoptosis, the ideas of punctuated equilibrium, and the concept of metasystem transition.}, } @article {pmid33227264, year = {2021}, author = {Kobayashi, R and Yamaguchi, S and Iwasa, Y}, title = {Optimal control of root nodulation - Prediction of life history theory of a mutualistic system.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {510}, number = {}, pages = {110544}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2020.110544}, pmid = {33227264}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Life History Traits ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes produce root nodules containing symbiotic rhizobial bacteria that convert atmospheric molecular nitrogen into ammonia or related nitrogenous compounds. The host plant supplies photosynthetic products to root nodules forming a mutualistic system. Legumes have physiological mechanisms for regulating nodule production with chemical signals produced in leaves, called the autoregulation of nodulation. In this paper, we discuss the optimal number of root nodules that maximizes the performance of the host plant. Here, we study two models. In the stationary plant model, the acquired photosynthetic products minus cost and loss are used for reproduction. In the growing plant model, the excess material is invested to produce leaves, roots, and root nodules, resulting in the exponential growth of the whole plant. The analysis shows that having root nodules is beneficial to the plant for a high leaf nitrogen content, faster plant growth rate, a short leaf longevity, a low root/shoot ratio, and low soil nutrient concentration. We discuss the long-distance control of nodulation-autoregulation and dependence on the environmental conditions of terrestrial plants considering these results.}, } @article {pmid33227009, year = {2020}, author = {Guilhot, R and Fellous, S and Cohen, JE}, title = {Yeast facilitates the multiplication of Drosophila bacterial symbionts but has no effect on the form or parameters of Taylor's law.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {e0242692}, pmid = {33227009}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*growth & development ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Larva/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Yeasts/classification/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Interactions between microbial symbionts influence their demography and that of their hosts. Taylor's power law (TL)-a well-established relationship between population size mean and variance across space and time-may help to unveil the factors and processes that determine symbiont multiplications. Recent studies suggest pervasive interactions between symbionts in Drosophila melanogaster. We used this system to investigate theoretical predictions regarding the effects of interspecific interactions on TL parameters. We assayed twenty natural strains of bacteria in the presence and absence of a strain of yeast using an ecologically realistic set-up with D. melanogaster larvae reared in natural fruit. Yeast presence led to a small increase in bacterial cell numbers; bacterial strain identity largely affected yeast multiplication. The spatial version of TL held among bacterial and yeast populations with slopes of 2. However, contrary to theoretical prediction, the facilitation of bacterial symbionts by yeast had no detectable effect on TL's parameters. These results shed new light on the nature of D. melanogaster's symbiosis with yeast and bacteria. They further reveal the complexity of investigating TL with microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid33226700, year = {2021}, author = {Buduneli, N}, title = {Environmental factors and periodontal microbiome.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, pages = {112-125}, doi = {10.1111/prd.12355}, pmid = {33226700}, issn = {1600-0757}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontal Diseases ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory, multifactorial diseases where the major triggering factors for disease onset are bacteria and their toxins, but the major part of tissue destruction occurs as a result of host response towards the periodontal microbiome. Periodontal microbiome consists of a wide range of microorganisms including obligate and facultative anaerobes. In health, there is a dynamic balance between the host, environment, and the microbiome. Environmental factors, mainly tobacco smoking and psychological stress, disrupt the symbiotic relationship. Tobacco smoke and its components alter the bacterial surface and functions such as growth. Psychological stressors and stress hormones may affect the outcome of an infection by changing the virulence factors and/or host response. This review aims to provide currently available data on the effects of the major environmental factors on the periodontal microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33226500, year = {2021}, author = {Walther, C and Zumbülte, S and Faerber, CM and Wierichs, RJ and Meyer-Lueckel, H and Conrads, G and Henne, K and Esteves-Oliveira, M}, title = {Analysis of relative bacterial activity and lactate dehydrogenase gene expression of caries-associated bacteria in a site-specific natural biofilm: an ex vivo study.}, journal = {Clinical oral investigations}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {3669-3679}, pmid = {33226500}, issn = {1436-3771}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Biofilms ; *Dental Caries ; Dental Caries Susceptibility ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; *L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Streptococcus mutans/genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Detecting bacterial activity is considered a promising approach to monitor shifts from symbiosis to dysbiosis in oral microbiome. The present study aimed at investigating both the relative bacterial activity and the lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) gene expression of caries-associated bacteria in a site-specific natural biofilm.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty subjects (age, mean ± SE: 30.1 ± 1.4) were allocated to two groups: caries-free subjects (CF) or caries-active subjects (CA). CF presented one sound surface (CFS, n = 30). CA presented two donor sites: a cavitated caries lesion (CAC, n = 30) and a sound reference surface (CAS, n = 30). Real-time quantitative PCR (q-PCR) on species or genus level and total bacteria was performed targeting the 16S gene, the 16S rRNA, the ldh gene, and the ldh mRNA (increasing 16S ribosomal RNA copy numbers can function as an indicator of increased energy metabolism). As the 16S rRNA abundance represents the number of ribosomes, while the 16S gene abundance represents the number of genomes, the quotient of the relative abundances functions as a measure for the relative bacterial activity (%).

RESULTS: Both lactobacilli and S. mutans showed the highest relative bacterial activity in CAC ((mean ± SE) 218 ± 60% and 61 ± 16%, respectively) and the lowest values for both sound reference surfaces (69 ± 48%; 8 ± 3%). Significant differences were found between CAC and CAS as well as between CAC and CFS for both lactobacilli and S. mutans (p < 0.05). The ldh gene expression of lactobacilli and S. mutans only showed moderate values in CAC (1.90E+03 ± 2.11E+03; 2.08E+04 ± 4.44E+04 transcripts/μl) and CFS (2.04E+03 ± 2.74E+03; 8.16E+03 ± 6.64E+03 transcripts/μl); consequently no significant differences were detected.

Caries-associated bacteria (lactobacilli and S. mutans) showed the highest relative bacterial activity in plaque of cavitated lesions, the lowest in sound surfaces, allowing the detection of a significant activity shift in health and disease for caries-active patients. However, no significant differences in ldh gene expression could be determined.}, } @article {pmid33226466, year = {2021}, author = {Yadav, A and Singh, RP and Singh, AL and Singh, M}, title = {Identification of genes involved in phosphate solubilization and drought stress tolerance in chickpea symbiont Mesorhizobium ciceri Ca181.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {3}, pages = {1167-1174}, pmid = {33226466}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Cicer/*microbiology ; Droughts ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chickpea plant root colonizing bacteria Mesorhizobium ciceri Ca181 promotes plant growth and development through symbiotic association with root nodules. The potentially beneficial effects on plants generated due to this bacterium are mineral nutrient solubilization, abiotic stress tolerance, and nitrogen-fixation, though the molecular mechanisms underlying these probiotic capacities are still largely unknown. Hence, this study aims to describe the molecular mechanism of M. ciceri Ca181 in drought stress tolerance and phosphorus solubilization. Here we have developed the transposon inserted mutant library of strain Ca181 and further screened it to identify the phosphorous solubilization and PEG-induced drought stress tolerance defective mutants, respectively. Resultantly, a total of four and three mutants for phosphorous solubilization and drought stress tolerance were screened and identified. Consequently, Southern blot confirmation was done for the cross verification of insertions and stability in the genome. Through the sequencing of each mutant, the interrupted gene was confirmed, and the finding revealed that the production of gluconic acid is necessary for phosphorus solubilization, while otsA, Auc, and Usp genes were involved in the mechanism of drought stress tolerance in M. ciceri Ca181.}, } @article {pmid33226302, year = {2021}, author = {Nouwen, N and Arrighi, JF and Gully, D and Giraud, E}, title = {RibBX of Bradyrhizobium ORS285 Plays an Important Role in Intracellular Persistence in Various Aeschynomene Host Plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {88-99}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-20-0209-R}, pmid = {33226302}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Bradyrhizobium/enzymology/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Intracellular Space/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium ORS285 forms a nitrogen-fixating symbiosis with both Nod factor (NF)-dependent and NF-independent Aeschynomene spp. The Bradyrhizobium ORS285 ribBA gene encodes for a putative bifunctional enzyme with 3,4-dihydroxybutanone phosphate (3,4-DHBP) synthase and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cyclohydrolase II activities, catalyzing the initial steps in the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway. In this study, we show that inactivating the ribBA gene does not cause riboflavin auxotrophy under free-living conditions and that, as shown for RibBAs from other bacteria, the GTP cyclohydrolase II domain has no enzymatic activity. For this reason, we have renamed the annotated ribBA as ribBX. Because we were unable to identify other ribBA or ribA and ribB homologs in the genome of Bradyrhizobium ORS285, we hypothesize that the ORS285 strain can use unconventional enzymes or an alternative pathway for the initial steps of riboflavin biosynthesis. Inactivating ribBX has a drastic impact on the interaction of Bradyrhizobium ORS285 with many of the tested Aeschynomene spp. In these Aeschynomene spp., the ORS285 ribBX mutant is able to infect the plant host cells but the intracellular infection is not maintained and the nodules senesce early. This phenotype can be complemented by reintroduction of the 3,4-DHBP synthase domain alone. Our results indicate that, in Bradyrhizobium ORS285, the RibBX protein is not essential for riboflavin biosynthesis under free-living conditions and we hypothesize that its activity is needed to sustain riboflavin biosynthesis under certain symbiotic conditions.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33224901, year = {2020}, author = {Govender, Y and Chan, T and Yamamoto, HS and Budnik, B and Fichorova, RN}, title = {The Role of Small Extracellular Vesicles in Viral-Protozoan Symbiosis: Lessons From Trichomonasvirus in an Isogenic Host Parasite Model.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {591172}, pmid = {33224901}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {R56 AI091889/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RC1 AI086788/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Extracellular Vesicles ; Female ; Humans ; *Parasites ; Symbiosis ; *Totiviridae ; *Trichomonas vaginalis ; }, abstract = {The protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), exclusively adapted to the human genital tract, is one of the most common sexually transmitted pathogens. Adding to the complexity of the host-pathogen interactions, the parasite harbors TV-specific endosymbiont viruses (Trichomonasvirus, TVV). It was reported that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) released by TV play a role in host immunity; however, the role of the viral endosymbiosis in this process remained unknown. We hypothesized that the virus may offer evolutionary benefit to its protozoan host at least in part by altering the immunomodulatory properties of sEVs spreading from the site of infection to non-infected immune effector cells. We infected human vaginal epithelial cells, the natural host of the parasite, with TV natively harboring TVV and an isogenic derivative of the parasite cured from the viral infection. sEVs were isolated from vaginal cell culture 24 h post TV infection and from medium where the isogenic TV strains were cultured in the absence of the human host. sEVs from TVV-negative but not TVV-positive parasites cultured alone caused NF-κB activation and increase of IL-8 and RANTES expression by uterine endocervical cells, which provide innate immune defense at the gate to the upper reproductive tract. Similarly, mononuclear leukocytes increased their IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α output in response to sEVs from virus-negative, but not isogenic virus-positive parasites, the latter exosomes being immunosuppressive in comparison to TV medium control. The same phenomenon of suppressed immunity induced by the TVV-positive compared to TVV-negative phenotype was seen when stimulating the leukocytes with sEVs originating from infected vaginal cultures. In addition, the sEVs from the TVV-positive infection phenotype suppressed immune signaling of a toll-like receptor ligand derived from mycoplasma, another frequent TV symbiont. Quantitative comparative proteome analysis of the secreted sEVs from virus-positive versus virus-negative TV revealed differential expression of two functionally uncharacterized proteins and five proteins involved in Zn binding, protein binding, electron transfer, transferase and catalytic activities. These data support the concept that symbiosis with viruses may provide benefit to the protozoan parasite by exploiting sEVs as a vehicle for inter-cellular communications and modifying their protein cargo to suppress host immune activation.}, } @article {pmid33223597, year = {2020}, author = {Pichler, G and Stöggl, W and Trippel, D and Candotto Carniel, F and Muggia, L and Ametrano, CG and Çimen, T and Holzinger, A and Tretiach, M and Kranner, I}, title = {Phytohormone release by three isolated lichen mycobionts and the effects of indole-3-acetic acid on their compatible photobionts.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {95-108}, pmid = {33223597}, issn = {0334-5114}, support = {I 1951/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 32092/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Evidence is emerging that phytohormones represent key inter-kingdom signalling compounds supporting chemical communication between plants, fungi and bacteria. The roles of phytohormones for the lichen symbiosis are poorly understood, particularly in the process of lichenization, i.e. the key events which lead free-living microalgae and fungi to recognize each other, make physical contact and start developing a lichen thallus. Here, we studied cellular and extracellularly released phytohormones in three lichen mycobionts, Cladonia grayi, Xanthoria parietina and Tephromela atra, grown on solid medium, and the effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on their respective photobionts, Asterochloris glomerata, Trebouxia decolorans, Trebouxia sp. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) we found that mycobionts produced IAA, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). IAA represented the most abundant phytohormone produced and released by all mycobionts, whereas SA was released by X. parietina and T. atra, and JA was released by C. grayi only. With a half-life of 5.2 days, IAA degraded exponentially in solid BBM in dim light. When IAA was exogenously offered to the mycobionts' compatible photobionts at "physiological" concentrations (as released by their respective mycobionts and accumulated in the medium over seven days), the photobionts' water contents increased up to 4.4%. Treatment with IAA had no effects on the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, dry mass, and the contents of photosynthetic pigments and α-tocopherol of the photobionts. The data presented may be useful for designing studies aimed at elucidating the roles of phytohormones in lichens.}, } @article {pmid33220679, year = {2020}, author = {Nilsson, JF and Castellani, LG and Draghi, WO and Mogro, EG and Wibberg, D and Winkler, A and Hansen, LH and Schlüter, A and Pühler, A and Kalinowski, J and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Pistorio, M}, title = {Global transcriptome analysis of Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83 in response to acid stress.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa235}, pmid = {33220679}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acids/toxicity ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Acidic environments naturally occur worldwide and inappropriate agricultural management may also cause acidification of soils. Low soil pH values are an important barrier in the plant-rhizobia interaction. Acidic conditions disturb the establishment of the efficient rhizobia usually used as biofertilizer. This negative effect on the rhizobia-legume symbiosis is mainly due to the low acid tolerance of the bacteria. Here, we describe the identification of relevant factors in the acid tolerance of Rhizobium favelukesii using transcriptome sequencing. A total of 1924 genes were differentially expressed under acidic conditions, with ∼60% underexpressed. Rhizobium favelukesii acid response mainly includes changes in the energy metabolism and protein turnover, as well as a combination of mechanisms that may contribute to this phenotype, including GABA and histidine metabolism, cell envelope modifications and reverse proton efflux. We confirmed the acid-sensitive phenotype of a mutant in the braD gene, which showed higher expression under acid stress. Remarkably, 60% of the coding sequences encoded in the symbiotic plasmid were underexpressed and we evidenced that a strain cured for this plasmid featured an improved performance under acidic conditions. Hence, this work provides relevant information in the characterization of genes associated with tolerance or adaptation to acidic stress of R. favelukesii.}, } @article {pmid33220182, year = {2021}, author = {Song, H and Hewitt, OH and Degnan, SM}, title = {Arginine Biosynthesis by a Bacterial Symbiont Enables Nitric Oxide Production and Facilitates Larval Settlement in the Marine-Sponge Host.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {433-437.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.051}, pmid = {33220182}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Arginine/biosynthesis ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Citrulline/metabolism ; Larva/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis ; Porifera/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Seawater/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Larval settlement and metamorphosis are regulated by nitric oxide (NO) signaling in a wide diversity of marine invertebrates.[1-10] It is thus surprising that, in most invertebrates, the substrate for NO synthesis-arginine-cannot be biosynthesized but instead must be exogenously sourced.[11] In the sponge Amphimedon queenslandica, vertically inherited proteobacterial symbionts in the larva are able to biosynthesize arginine.[12][,][13] Here, we test the hypothesis that symbionts provide arginine to the sponge host so that nitric oxide synthase expressed in the larva can produce NO, which regulates metamorphosis,[8] and the byproduct citrulline (Figure 1). First, we find support for an arginine-citrulline biosynthetic loop in this sponge larval holobiont by using stable isotope tracing. In symbionts, incorporated [13]C-citrulline decreases as [13]C-arginine increases, consistent with the use of exogenous citrulline for arginine synthesis. In contrast, [13]C-citrulline accumulates in larvae as [13]C-arginine decreases, demonstrating the uptake of exogenous arginine and its conversion to NO and citrulline. Second, we show that, although Amphimedon larvae can derive arginine directly from seawater, normal settlement and metamorphosis can occur in artificial sea water lacking arginine. Together, these results support holobiont complementation of the arginine-citrulline loop and NO biosynthesis in Amphimedon larvae, suggesting a critical role for bacterial symbionts in the development of this marine sponge. Given that NO regulates settlement and metamorphosis in diverse animal phyla[1-10] and arginine is procured externally in most animals,[11] we propose that symbionts might play an equally critical regulatory role in this essential life cycle transition in other metazoans.}, } @article {pmid33219668, year = {2021}, author = {Shin, J and Marx, H and Richards, A and Vaneechoutte, D and Jayaraman, D and Maeda, J and Chakraborty, S and Sussman, M and Vandepoele, K and Ané, JM and Coon, J and Roy, S}, title = {A network-based comparative framework to study conservation and divergence of proteomes in plant phylogenies.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {e3}, pmid = {33219668}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Proteome/genetics/*metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; Species Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Comparative functional genomics offers a powerful approach to study species evolution. To date, the majority of these studies have focused on the transcriptome in mammalian and yeast phylogenies. Here, we present a novel multi-species proteomic dataset and a computational pipeline to systematically compare the protein levels across multiple plant species. Globally we find that protein levels diverge according to phylogenetic distance but is more constrained than the mRNA level. Module-level comparative analysis of groups of proteins shows that proteins that are more highly expressed tend to be more conserved. To interpret the evolutionary patterns of conservation and divergence, we develop a novel network-based integrative analysis pipeline that combines publicly available transcriptomic datasets to define co-expression modules. Our analysis pipeline can be used to relate the changes in protein levels to different species-specific phenotypic traits. We present a case study with the rhizobia-legume symbiosis process that supports the role of autophagy in this symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid33219377, year = {2021}, author = {Huo, H and Wang, X and Liu, Y and Chen, J and Wei, G}, title = {A Nod factor- and type III secretion system-dependent manner for Robinia pseudoacacia to establish symbiosis with Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {817-835}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaa160}, pmid = {33219377}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Robinia ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics ; }, abstract = {Under nitrogen-limiting conditions, symbiotic nodulation promotes the growth of legume plants via the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia by rhizobia in root nodules. The rhizobial Nod factor (NF) and type III secretion system (T3SS) are two key signaling pathways for establishing the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. However, whether NF signaling is involved in the nodulation of Robinia pseudoacacia and Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123, and its symbiotic differences compared with T3SS signaling remain unclear. Therefore, to elucidate the function of NF signaling in nodulation, we mutated nodC in M. amorphae CCNWGS0123, which aborted NF synthesis. Compared with the plants inoculated with the wild type strain, the plants inoculated with the NF-deficient strain exhibited shorter shoots with etiolated leaves. These phenotypic characteristics were similar to those of the plants inoculated with the T3SS-deficient strain, which served as a Nod- (non-effective nodulation) control. The plants inoculated with both the NF- and T3SS-deficient strains formed massive root hair swellings, but no normal infection threads were detected. Sections of the nodules showed that inoculation with the NF- and T3SS-deficient strains induced small, white bumps without any rhizobia inside. Analyzing the accumulation of 6 plant hormones and the expression of 10 plant genes indicated that the NF- and T3SS-deficient strains activated plant defense reactions while suppressing plant symbiotic signaling during the perception and nodulation processes. The requirement for NF signaling appeared to be conserved in two other leguminous trees that can establish symbiosis with M. amorphae CCNWGS0123. In contrast, the function of the T3SS might differ among species, even within the same subfamily (Faboideae). Overall, this work demonstrated that nodulation of R. pseudoacacia and M. amorphae CCNWGS0123 was both NF and T3SS dependent.}, } @article {pmid33219283, year = {2020}, author = {Binet, MN and Marchal, C and Lipuma, J and Geremia, RA and Bagarri, O and Candaele, B and Fraty, D and David, B and Perigon, S and Barbreau, V and Mouhamadou, B}, title = {Plant health status effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula intermedia infected by Phytoplasma in France.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {20305}, pmid = {33219283}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agriculture ; France ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Lavandula/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Phytoplasma/*pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {We investigated root communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in relation to lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lavandin (Lavandula intermedia) health status from organic and conventional fields affected by Phytoplasma infection. The intensity of root mycorrhizal colonization was significantly different between diseased and healthy plants and was higher in the latter regardless of agricultural practice. This difference was more pronounced in lavender. The root AMF diversity was influenced by the plant health status solely in lavender and only under the conventional practice resulting in an increase in the AMF abundance and richness. The plant health status did not influence the distribution of root AMF communities in lavandin unlike its strong impact in lavender in both agricultural practices. Finally, among the most abundant molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), four different MOTUs for each plant species were significantly abundant in the roots of healthy lavender and lavandin in either agricultural practice. Our study demonstrated that the plant health status influences root colonization and can influence the diversity and distribution of root AMF communities. Its effects vary according to plant species, can be modified by agricultural practices and allow plants to establish symbiosis with specific AMF species.}, } @article {pmid33218450, year = {2020}, author = {Nishitani, G and Shiromoto, M and Sato-Okoshi, W and Ishikawa, A}, title = {Molecular approach for analysis of in situ feeding by the dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans.}, journal = {Harmful algae}, volume = {99}, number = {}, pages = {101928}, doi = {10.1016/j.hal.2020.101928}, pmid = {33218450}, issn = {1878-1470}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ciliophora ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; Japan ; Phytoplankton ; }, abstract = {The red tide forming heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans is common in temperate to tropical waters around the world. Understanding the in situ prey of N. scintillans is essential for elucidating its role in marine microbial food webs. In this study, we applied two polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based cloning techniques, a predator-specific restriction enzyme, and a blocking primer. The PCR of nuclear 18S rDNA was performed on single N. scintillans cells that were collected from Ishinomaki Bay, Japan, in May 2018. The maximum detection rates of non-Noctiluca sequences were 56% using the restriction enzyme method and 87% with the blocking primer method, representing a broad taxonomic range of organisms, including diatom, dinoflagellate, bolidophyte, haptophyte, euglenophyte, green algae, golden algae, ciliate, heliozoa, copepod, brown seaweed, sponge, bivalve, and polychaete. The diverse DNA was probably ingested by N. scintillans directly or indirectly through secondary predation or ingestion of marine snow or detritus containing many organisms. The application of molecular approaches to various species may reveal undiscovered interactions within the phytoplankton community, including prey-predator, or symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid33218179, year = {2020}, author = {Tavarini, S and Clemente, C and Bender, C and Angelini, LG}, title = {Health-Promoting Compounds in Stevia: The Effect of Mycorrhizal Symbiosis, Phosphorus Supply and Harvest Time.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {25}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {33218179}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Glycosides/analysis ; *Health ; Linear Models ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*pharmacology ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Secondary Metabolism/drug effects ; Stevia/*chemistry/drug effects/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {This work aimed to establish the synergic role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis, phosphorus (P) fertilization and harvest time on the contents of stevia secondary metabolites. Consequently, steviol glycosides (SVglys) concentration and profile, total phenols and flavonoids as well as antioxidant assays, have been assessed in inoculated and no-inoculated plants, grown with or without P supply and collected at different growth stages(69, 89 and 123 days after transplanting).The obtained results suggest that the synthesis of stevia secondary metabolites is induced and/or modulated by all the investigated variability factors. In particular, AMF symbiosis promoted total SVglys content and positively influenced the concentration of some minor compounds (steviolbioside, dulcoside A and rebaudioside B), indicating a clear effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on SVglys biosynthetic pathway. Interestingly, only the mycorrhizal plants were able to synthesize rebaudioside B. In addition, P supply provided the highest levels of total phenols and flavonoids at leaf level, together with the maximum in vitro antioxidant activities (FRAP and ORAC). Finally, the harvest time carried out during the full vegetative phase enhanced the entire composition of the phytocomplex (steviolbioside, dulcoside A, stevioside, rebaudioside A, B, C. total phenols and flavonoids). Moreover, polyphenols and SVglys appeared to be the main contributors to the in vitro antioxidant capacity, while only total phenols mostly contributed to the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA). These findings provide original information about the role played by AMF in association with P supply, in modulating the accumulation of bioactive compounds during stevia growth. At the cultivation level, the control of these preharvest factors, together with the most appropriate harvest time, can be used as tools for improving the nutraceutical value of raw material, with particular attention to its exploitation as functional ingredient for food and dietary supplements and cosmetics.}, } @article {pmid33218080, year = {2020}, author = {Zofia, NŁ and Aleksandra, Z and Tomasz, B and Martyna, ZD and Magdalena, Z and Zofia, HB and Tomasz, W}, title = {Effect of Fermentation Time on Antioxidant and Anti-Ageing Properties of Green Coffee Kombucha Ferments.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {25}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {33218080}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Biphenyl Compounds/chemistry ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Coffee/*chemistry ; Collagenases/metabolism ; *Fermentation/drug effects ; Fibroblasts/metabolism ; Flavonoids/analysis ; Fluorescence ; HaCaT Cells ; Humans ; Intracellular Space/metabolism ; Kinetics ; *Kombucha Tea ; Limit of Detection ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Oxazines/metabolism ; Pancreatic Elastase/metabolism ; Phenols/analysis ; Picrates/chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Skin/drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Time Factors ; Water Loss, Insensible/drug effects ; Xanthenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Kombucha, also known as the Manchurian mushroom, is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, the so-called SCOBY. This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of the ferments obtained from green coffee beans after different fermentation times with kombucha. Results for the ferments were compared to the green coffee extract that was not fermented. In this study, the antioxidant potential of obtained ferments was analyzed by assessing the scavenging of external and intracellular free radicals and the assessment of superoxide dismutase activity. Cytotoxicity of ferments on keratinocyte and fibroblast cell lines was assessed as well as anti-aging properties by determining their ability to inhibit the activity of collagenase and elastase enzymes. In addition, the composition of the obtained ferments and the extract was determined, as well as their influence on skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after application of samples on the skin. It has been shown that the fermentation time has a positive effect on the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties. The highest values were recorded for the tested samples after 28 days of fermentation. After 14 days of the fermentation process, it was observed that the analyzed ferments were characterized by low cytotoxicity to keratinocytes and fibroblasts. On the other hand, the short fermentation time of 7 days had a negative effect on the properties of the analyzed ferments. The obtained results indicate that both green coffee extracts and ferments can be an innovative ingredient of cosmetic products.}, } @article {pmid33218033, year = {2020}, author = {Motoyama, T}, title = {Secondary Metabolites of the Rice Blast Fungus Pyricularia oryzae: Biosynthesis and Biological Function.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {33218033}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; *Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant pathogenic fungi produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites with unique and complex structures. However, most fungal secondary metabolism genes are poorly expressed under laboratory conditions. Moreover, the relationship between pathogenicity and secondary metabolites remains unclear. To activate silent gene clusters in fungi, successful approaches such as epigenetic control, promoter exchange, and heterologous expression have been reported. Pyricularia oryzae, a well-characterized plant pathogenic fungus, is the causal pathogen of rice blast disease. P. oryzae is also rich in secondary metabolism genes. However, biosynthetic genes for only four groups of secondary metabolites have been well characterized in this fungus. Biosynthetic genes for two of the four groups of secondary metabolites have been identified by activating secondary metabolism. This review focuses on the biosynthesis and roles of the four groups of secondary metabolites produced by P. oryzae. These secondary metabolites include melanin, a polyketide compound required for rice infection; pyriculols, phytotoxic polyketide compounds; nectriapyrones, antibacterial polyketide compounds produced mainly by symbiotic fungi including endophytes and plant pathogens; and tenuazonic acid, a well-known mycotoxin produced by various plant pathogenic fungi and biosynthesized by a unique NRPS-PKS enzyme.}, } @article {pmid33216794, year = {2020}, author = {Garcia, K and Guerrero-Galán, C and Frank, HER and Haider, MZ and Delteil, A and Conéjéro, G and Lambilliotte, R and Fizames, C and Sentenac, H and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {Fungal Shaker-like channels beyond cellular K+ homeostasis: A role in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between Hebeloma cylindrosporum and Pinus pinaster.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {e0242739}, pmid = {33216794}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Hebeloma/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Pinus/microbiology/physiology ; Potassium/metabolism ; Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels/*biosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Potassium (K+) acquisition, translocation and cellular homeostasis are mediated by various membrane transport systems in all organisms. We identified and described an ion channel in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum (HcSKC) that harbors features of animal voltage-dependent Shaker-like K+ channels, and investigated its role in both free-living hyphae and symbiotic conditions. RNAi lines affected in the expression of HcSKC were produced and used for in vitro mycorrhizal assays with the maritime pine as host plant, under standard or low K+ conditions. The adaptation of H. cylindrosporum to the downregulation of HcSKC was analyzed by qRT-PCR analyses for other K+-related transport proteins: the transporters HcTrk1, HcTrk2, and HcHAK, and the ion channels HcTOK1, HcTOK2.1, and HcTOK2.2. Downregulated HcSKC transformants displayed greater K+ contents at standard K+ only. In such conditions, plants inoculated with these transgenic lines were impaired in K+ nutrition. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that the reduced expression of HcSKC modifies the pool of fungal K+ available for the plant and/or affects its symbiotic transfer to the roots. Our study reveals that the maintenance of K+ transport in H. cylindrosporum, through the regulation of HcSKC expression, is required for the K+ nutrition of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid33214764, year = {2020}, author = {Pagano, MC and Miransari, M and Corrêa, EJA and Duarte, NF and Yelikbayev, BK}, title = {Genomic Research Favoring Higher Soybean Production.}, journal = {Current genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {481-490}, pmid = {33214764}, issn = {1389-2029}, abstract = {Interest in the efficient production of soybean, as one of the most important crop plants, is significantly increasing worldwide. Soybean symbioses, the most important biological process affecting soybean yield and protein content, were revitalized due to the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Similar to many crop species, soybean can establish symbiotic associations with the soil bacteria rhizobia, and with the soil fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and other beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms are often applied as biofertilizers. Microbial interactions may importantly affect soybean production and plant health by activating different genomic pathways in soybean. Genomic research is an important tool, which may be used to elucidate and enhance the mechanisms controlling such actions and interactions. This review presents the available details on the genomic research favoring higher soybean production. Accordingly, new technologies applied to plant rhizosphere and symbiotic microbiota, root-plant endophytes, and details about the genetic composition of soybean inoculant strains are highlighted. Such details may be effectively used to enhance soybean growth and yield, under different conditions, including stress, resulting in a more sustainable production.}, } @article {pmid33214705, year = {2021}, author = {Qiu, X and Macchietto, MG and Liu, X and Lu, Y and Ma, Y and Guo, H and Saqui-Salces, M and Bernlohr, DA and Chen, C and Shen, S and Chen, X}, title = {Identification of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites regulated by an antimicrobial peptide lipocalin 2 in high fat diet-induced obesity.}, journal = {International journal of obesity (2005)}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {143-154}, pmid = {33214705}, issn = {1476-5497}, support = {R01 DK123042/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Lipocalin-2/*metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Obesity/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), as an antimicrobial peptide is expressed in intestine, and the upregulation of intestinal Lcn2 has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease. However, the role of Lcn2 in shaping gut microbiota during diet-induced obesity (DIO) remains unknown. We found that short-term high fat diet (HFD) feeding strongly stimulates intestinal Lcn2 expression and secretion into the gut lumen. As the HFD feeding prolongs, fecal Lcn2 levels turn to decrease. Lcn2 deficiency accelerates the development of HFD-induced intestinal inflammation and microbiota dysbiosis. Moreover, Lcn2 deficiency leads to the remodeling of microbiota-derived metabolome, including decreased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and SCFA-producing microbes. Most importantly, we have identified Lcn2-targeted bacteria and microbiota-derived metabolites that potentially play roles in DIO and metabolic dysregulation. Correlation analyses suggest that Lcn2-targeted Dubosiella and Angelakisella have a novel role in regulating SCFAs production and obesity. Our results provide a novel mechanism involving Lcn2 as an antimicrobial host factor in the control of gut microbiota symbiosis during DIO.}, } @article {pmid33214187, year = {2021}, author = {Durán, D and Albareda, M and García, C and Marina, AI and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Palacios, JM}, title = {Proteome Analysis Reveals a Significant Host-Specific Response in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Endosymbiotic Cells.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {100009}, pmid = {33214187}, issn = {1535-9484}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Lens Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Proteome ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is a beneficial interaction in which the bacterium converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and delivers it to the plant in exchange for carbon compounds. This symbiosis implies the adaptation of bacteria to live inside host plant cells. In this work, we apply RP-LC-MS/MS and isobaric tags as relative and absolute quantitation techniques to study the proteomic profile of endosymbiotic cells (bacteroids) induced by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae strain UPM791 in legume nodules. Nitrogenase subunits, tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, and stress-response proteins are among the most abundant from over 1000 rhizobial proteins identified in pea (Pisum sativum) bacteroids. Comparative analysis of bacteroids induced in pea and in lentil (Lens culinaris) nodules revealed the existence of a significant host-specific differential response affecting dozens of bacterial proteins, including stress-related proteins, transcriptional regulators, and proteins involved in the carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. A mutant affected in one of these proteins, homologous to a GntR-like transcriptional regulator, showed a symbiotic performance significantly impaired in symbiosis with pea but not with lentil plants. Analysis of the proteomes of bacteroids isolated from both hosts also revealed the presence of different sets of plant-derived nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides, indicating that the endosymbiotic bacteria find a host-specific cocktail of chemical stressors inside the nodule. By studying variations of the bacterial response to different plant cell environments, we will be able to identify specific limitations imposed by the host that might give us clues for the improvement of rhizobial performance.}, } @article {pmid33213856, year = {2021}, author = {Shitaoka, R and Ishibashi, H and Takeuchi, I}, title = {Thermal tolerance of the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis elucidated by RGB analysis and expression of heat shock proteins in coral and symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {111812}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111812}, pmid = {33213856}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Japan ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Increased seawater temperature has resulted in mass coral bleaching events globally. Acropora tenuis, the dominant hermatypic coral species in southern Japan, was exposed to four temperature treatments [28 °C, 30 °C, 32 °C, and >32 (=33.3 °C)] for 7 d. The coral colour was converted to R (red), G (green), and B (blue) values, each ranging from 0 (darkest) to 255 (brightest). RGB values exposed to 28 °C and 30 °C decreased slightly, whereas those exposed to 32 °C increased significantly after day 3-6, and those exposed to 33.3 °C changed to white within 2 d. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed no significant changes in heat shock proteins in Acropora and symbiotic dinoflagellates at 28 °C and 30 °C after a 7 d exposure. Our findings revealed that 30 °C, higher than the mean temperature of the warmest month in southern Japan, was an inhabitable temperature for A. tenuis.}, } @article {pmid33213664, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, X and Jia, T and Zhang, H and Ju, Y and Zhang, Y}, title = {Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Evidence of the Nanoscale Structural Jump in Medium-Rank Tectonic Coal.}, journal = {Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {636-645}, doi = {10.1166/jnn.2021.18452}, pmid = {33213664}, issn = {1533-4899}, abstract = {Coal is a pressure-sensitive organic rock. The effect of tectonism on the structural evolution of medium-rank coal has been confirmed by the change in the crystal state of tectonic coal, but the organic molecular level response has not been reported. In this paper, three sets of medium-rank tectonic coals and symbiotic nontectonic coals were selected. The distributions of their functional groups and their molecular structure evolution were assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and their structural parameters were determined from the curve-fitting analysis. The nanoscale structural jump characteristics and mechanisms of medium-rank tectonic coal were revealed. Compared with symbiotic nontectonic coal, tectonism accelerated the exfoliation of side chains (groups) in the macromolecular structure, enlarged the aromatic system, and removed the unstable groups such as associative hydrogen bonds at first, which indicated that the molecular structure of tectonic coal was affected by nanoscale deformation, showing obvious advanced evolution characteristics. For the fat coal, the removal of side chains (groups) during the formation of tectonic coal makes the aromatic ring condensation obvious. For the coking coal, the formation of tectonic coal is dominated by cycloaliphatic dehydrogenation and aromatization, accompanied by the condensation of the aromatic rings. The tectonic coal formed from lean coal shows obvious aromatization characteristics. The molecular depolymerization and chemical tailoring caused by tectonism promotes the removal of hydrophobic side chains (groups) and activates some polar structure sites in coal. It is considered that the nanoscale structural jump of medium-rank tectonic coal is the result of the competition between the aromatic system and aliphatic structures.}, } @article {pmid33213067, year = {2020}, author = {Swarnalakshmi, K and Yadav, V and Tyagi, D and Dhar, DW and Kannepalli, A and Kumar, S}, title = {Significance of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Grain Legumes: Growth Promotion and Crop Production.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33213067}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Grain legumes are an important component of sustainable agri-food systems. They establish symbiotic association with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, thus reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. Several other free-living microbial communities (PGPR-plant growth promoting rhizobacteria) residing in the soil-root interface are also known to influence biogeochemical cycles and improve legume productivity. The growth and function of these microorganisms are affected by root exudate molecules secreted in the rhizosphere region. PGPRs produce the chemicals which stimulate growth and functions of leguminous crops at different growth stages. They promote plant growth by nitrogen fixation, solubilization as well as mineralization of phosphorus, and production of phytohormone(s). The co-inoculation of PGPRs along with rhizobia has shown to enhance nodulation and symbiotic interaction. The recent molecular tools are helpful to understand and predict the establishment and function of PGPRs and plant response. In this review, we provide an overview of various growth promoting mechanisms of PGPR inoculations in the production of leguminous crops.}, } @article {pmid33211293, year = {2021}, author = {Akpinar, A and Cansev, A and Isleyen, M}, title = {Effects of the lichen Peltigera canina on Cucurbita pepo spp. pepo grown in soil contaminated by DDTs.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {14576-14585}, pmid = {33211293}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Cucurbita ; *Lichens ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; }, abstract = {Lichens consisting of a symbiotic association of green algae or cyanobacteria and fungi are found in a variety of environmental conditions worldwide. Terricolous lichens, located in soils, affect the living and lifeless environment of the soil due to their effective secondary metabolite and enzymatic content. Terricolous lichens can increase the biological, chemical, and physical usefulness of soil. However, their effects in ensuring the bioavailability of contaminated soil are not known, especially on soil pollution caused by DDTs (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT). This research focuses on the effect of terricolous lichens on zucchini (Cucurbita pepo spp. pepo) grown in soil contaminated by DDTs, utilizing their secondary metabolite and enzymatic contents. Firstly, Peltigera canina, a terricolous lichen species, was added to soil contaminated by DDTs as powdered and intact thallus. After lichen addition to soil, zucchini was planted in. The oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme activities of zucchini were measured. According to the results, P. canina treatments have a positive effect on the growth and development of zucchini, although oxidative stress was observed. Also, it was determined that powdered application had more effective results than intact thallus application.}, } @article {pmid33211006, year = {2020}, author = {Ramírez-Flores, MR and Perez-Limon, S and Li, M and Barrales-Gamez, B and Albinsky, D and Paszkowski, U and Olalde-Portugal, V and Sawers, RJ}, title = {The genetic architecture of host response reveals the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizae to maize cultivation.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {33211006}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {Impact of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on maize performance (Nº 62, 2016-2018)//La Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO), Mexico/International ; Ph.D. scholarship//Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), Mexico/International ; Hatch Appropriations under Project #PEN04734 and Accession #1021929//U.S. Department of Agriculture/International ; Engineering the Nitrogen Symbiosis for Africa (ENSA)//Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)/International ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous in cultivated soils, forming symbiotic relationships with the roots of major crop species. Studies in controlled conditions have demonstrated the potential of AMF to enhance the growth of host plants. However, it is difficult to estimate the actual benefit in the field, not least because of the lack of suitable AMF-free controls. Here we implement a novel strategy using the selective incorporation of AMF-resistance into a genetic mapping population to evaluate maize response to AMF. We found AMF to account for about one-third of the grain production in a medium input field, as well as to affect the relative performance of different plant genotypes. Characterization of the genetic architecture of the host response indicated a trade-off between mycorrhizal dependence and benefit. We identified several QTL linked to host benefit, supporting the feasibility of breeding crops to maximize profit from symbiosis with AMF.}, } @article {pmid33210234, year = {2021}, author = {Abdulsalam, O and Wagner, K and Wirth, S and Kunert, M and David, A and Kallenbach, M and Boland, W and Kothe, E and Krause, K}, title = {Phytohormones and volatile organic compounds, like geosmin, in the ectomycorrhiza of Tricholoma vaccinum and Norway spruce (Picea abies).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {173-188}, pmid = {33210234}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Abies ; Agaricales ; *Mycorrhizae ; Naphthols ; Norway ; *Picea ; Plant Growth Regulators ; *Tricholoma ; *Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizospheric habitat contains a diverse pool of organisms, including the host plant, mycorrhizal fungi, and other rhizospheric microorganisms. Different signaling molecules may influence the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Here, we investigated the potential of the basidiomycete Tricholoma vaccinum to produce communication molecules for the interaction with its coniferous host, Norway spruce (Picea abies). We focused on the production of volatile organic compounds and phytohormones in axenic T. vaccinum cultures, identified the potential biosynthesis genes, and investigated their expression by RNA-Seq analyses. T. vaccinum released volatiles not usually associated with fungi, like limonene and β-barbatene, and geosmin. Using stable isotope labeling, the biosynthesis of geosmin was elucidated. The geosmin biosynthesis gene ges1 of T. vaccinum was identified, and up-regulation was scored during mycorrhiza, while a different regulation was seen with mycorrhizosphere bacteria. The fungus also released the volatile phytohormone ethylene and excreted salicylic and abscisic acid as well as jasmonates into the medium. The tree excreted the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid, and its biosynthesis intermediate, indole-3-acetamide, as well as salicylic acid with its root exudates. These compounds could be shown for the first time in exudates as well as in soil of a natural ectomycorrhizospheric habitat. The effects of phytohormones present in the mycorrhizosphere on hyphal branching of T. vaccinum were assessed. Salicylic and abscisic acid changed hyphal branching in a concentration-dependent manner. Since extensive branching is important for mycorrhiza establishment, a well-balanced level of mycorrhizospheric phytohormones is necessary. The regulation thus can be expected to contribute to an interkingdom language.}, } @article {pmid33209293, year = {2020}, author = {Melo Clavijo, J and Frankenbach, S and Fidalgo, C and Serôdio, J and Donath, A and Preisfeld, A and Christa, G}, title = {Identification of scavenger receptors and thrombospondin-type-1 repeat proteins potentially relevant for plastid recognition in Sacoglossa.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {21}, pages = {12348-12363}, pmid = {33209293}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Functional kleptoplasty is a photosymbiotic relationship, in which photosynthetically active chloroplasts serve as an intracellular symbiont for a heterotrophic host. Among Metazoa, functional kleptoplasty is only found in marine sea slugs belonging to the Sacoglossa and recently described in Rhabdocoela worms. Although functional kleptoplasty has been intensively studied in Sacoglossa, the fundamentals of the specific recognition of the chloroplasts and their subsequent incorporation are unknown. The key to ensure the initiation of any symbiosis is the ability to specifically recognize the symbiont and to differentiate a symbiont from a pathogen. For instance, in photosymbiotic cnidarians, several studies have shown that the host innate immune system, in particular scavenger receptors (SRs) and thrombospondin-type-1 repeat (TSR) protein superfamily, is playing a major role in the process of recognizing and differentiating symbionts from pathogens. In the present study, SRs and TSRs of three Sacoglossa sea slugs, Elysia cornigera, Elysia timida, and Elysia chlorotica, were identified by translating available transcriptomes into potential proteins and searching for receptor specific protein and/or transmembrane domains. Both receptors classes are highly diverse in the slugs, and many new domain arrangements for each receptor class were found. The analyses of the gene expression of these three species provided a set of species-specific candidate genes, that is, SR-Bs, SR-Es, C-type lectins, and TSRs, that are potentially relevant for the recognition of kleptoplasts. The results set the base for future experimental studies to understand if and how these candidate receptors are indeed involved in chloroplast recognition.}, } @article {pmid33208159, year = {2020}, author = {Li, S and He, Y and Zhang, H and Zheng, R and Xu, R and Liu, Q and Tang, S and Ke, X and Huang, M}, title = {Formulation of traditional Chinese medicine and its application on intestinal flora of constipated rats.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {212}, pmid = {33208159}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Animals ; Constipation/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Compounding ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology ; Firmicutes/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Lactobacillus/*drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microbial Interactions ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; }, abstract = {In this study, the self-extracted constipation treatment of traditional Chinese medicine extracts was applied to constipated rats. To explore the mechanism and role of the Chinese medicine for the treatment of constipation, the 16S rRNA sequencing and qRT-PCR technology were used to analyze the intestinal flora. We found that the relative abundance of Firmicutes with constipation was significantly higher accounted for 86.7%, while the gut microbiota was significantly changed after taking a certain dose of Chinese medicine, greatly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus accounted for 23.1%, enhanced the symbiotic relationships of Lactobacillus with other intestinal flora. The total copies of intestinal bacteria in the constipated rats decreased after taking the traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, this study results provides a theoretical basis for the treatment and understand the mechanism and effect of traditional Chinese medicine on rate constipation.}, } @article {pmid33207834, year = {2020}, author = {Wilkes, TI and Warner, DJ and Edmonds-Brown, V and Davies, KG}, title = {Species-Specific Interactions of Bacillus Innocula and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Symbiosis with Winter Wheat.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33207834}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish close interactions with host plants, an estimated 80% of vascular plant species. The host plant receives additional soil bound nutrients that would otherwise not be available. Other components of the microbiome, such as rhizobacteria, may influence interactions between AM fungi and the host plant. Within a commercial arable crop selected rhizobacteria in combination with AM fungi may benefit crop yields. The precise nature of interactions between rhizobacteria and AM fungi in a symbiotic relationship overall requires greater understanding. The present study aims to assess this relationship by quantifying: (1) AM fungal intracellular root structures (arbuscules) and soil glomalin as an indicator of AM fungal growth; and (2) root length and tiller number as a measure of crop growth, in response to inoculation with one of three species of Bacillus: B. amyloliquefaciences, B. pumilis, or B. subtilis. The influence of soil management, conventional (CT) or zero tillage (ZT) was a further variable evaluated. A significant (p < 0.0001) species-specific impact on the number of quantifiable AM fungal arbuscules was observed. The inoculation of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) with B. amyloliquefaciences had a positive impact on AM fungal symbiosis, as indicated by an average of 3226 arbuscules per centimetre of root tissue. Bacillus subtilis increased root length significantly (p < 0.01) but decreased fungal symbiosis (p < 0.01). The inoculation of field soils altered the concentration of glomalin, an indicator of AM fungal growth, significantly (p < 0.00001) for each tillage treatment. The greatest increase was associated with B. amyloliquefaciences for both CT (p < 0.0001) and ZT (p < 0.00001). Bacillus subtilis reduced measured glomalin significantly in both tillage treatments (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.00001 for CT and ZT respectively). The interaction between rhizobacteria and AM fungi is variable, being beneficial or detrimental depending on species. This relationship was evident in both tillage treatments and has important implications for maximizing symbiosis in the crop plant-microbiome present in agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid33206386, year = {2021}, author = {Pradhan, D and Bertin, D and Sinclair, TR and Nogueira, MA and Livingston, D and Carter, T}, title = {Microsphere stem blockage as a screen for nitrogen-fixation drought tolerance in soybean.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {172}, number = {2}, pages = {1376-1381}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13281}, pmid = {33206386}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Droughts ; Microspheres ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Soybeans/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixation of soybean (Glycine max [Merr.] L) commonly decreases in response to soil drying in advance of other plant processes. While a few soybean lines express nitrogen-fixation drought tolerance, breeding for genetic variation is hampered by laborious phenotyping procedures. The objective of this research was to explore the potential of an initial screen for nitrogen-fixation drought-tolerant genotypes based on a possible relationship with xylem-vessel diameter. The hypothesis was that nitrogen-fixation drought tolerance might result from fewer, large-diameter xylem vessels in the stem that are vulnerable to disrupted flow as water deficit develops. The disrupted flow could cause nitrogen products to accumulate in nodules resulting in negative feedback on nitrogen-fixation rate. The proposed screen involved exposing de-rooted shoots to a suspension containing microspheres (45-53 μm diameter) and recording the decrease in transpiration rate as a result of microsphere xylem-blockage. Two soybean populations were tested. One population was progeny derived from mating of two parents with high and low nitrogen-fixation drought sensitivity. A high correlation (R[2] = 0.68; P < 0.001) was found in this population between decreasing transpiration rate resulting from the microsphere treatment and increasing sensitivity of nitrogen-fixation to soil drying. The second tested population consisted of 16 genotypes, most of which had been previously identified in germplasm screens as expressing nitrogen-fixation drought tolerance. Nearly half of the lines in this second population were identified in the screen as showing minimum blockage of transpiration when exposed to the microspheres. Overall, these results showed the potential of using the microsphere screen to identify candidate genotypes expressing nitrogen-fixation drought tolerance.}, } @article {pmid33204029, year = {2021}, author = {Kumar, PR and Moore, JA and Bowles, KM and Rushworth, SA and Moncrieff, MD}, title = {Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in cutaneous melanoma.}, journal = {British journal of cancer}, volume = {124}, number = {1}, pages = {115-123}, pmid = {33204029}, issn = {1532-1827}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Melanoma/*metabolism/*pathology ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; *Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Skin Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The Warburg effect in tumour cells is associated with the upregulation of glycolysis to generate ATP, even under normoxic conditions and the presence of fully functioning mitochondria. However, scientific advances made over the past 15 years have reformed this perspective, demonstrating the importance of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as well as glycolysis in malignant cells. The metabolic phenotypes in melanoma display heterogeneic dynamism (metabolic plasticity) between glycolysis and OXPHOS, conferring a survival advantage to adapt to harsh conditions and pathways of chemoresistance. Furthermore, the simultaneous upregulation of both OXPHOS and glycolysis (metabolic symbiosis) has been shown to be vital for melanoma progression. The tumour microenvironment (TME) has an essential supporting role in promoting progression, invasion and metastasis of melanoma. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the TME show a symbiotic relationship with melanoma, protecting tumour cells from apoptosis and conferring chemoresistance. With the significant role of OXPHOS in metabolic plasticity and symbiosis, our review outlines how mitochondrial transfer from MSCs to melanoma tumour cells plays a key role in melanoma progression and is the mechanism by which melanoma cells regain OXPHOS capacity even in the presence of mitochondrial mutations. The studies outlined in this review indicate that targeting mitochondrial trafficking is a potential novel therapeutic approach for this highly refractory disease.}, } @article {pmid33203910, year = {2020}, author = {Ottaviani, A and Eid, R and Zoccola, D and Pousse, M and Dubal, JM and Barajas, E and Jamet, K and Lebrigand, K and Lapébie, P and Baudoin, C and Giraud-Panis, MJ and Rouan, A and Beauchef, G and Guéré, C and Vié, K and Barbry, P and Tambutté, S and Gilson, E and Allemand, D}, title = {Longevity strategies in response to light in the reef coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {19937}, pmid = {33203910}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology/radiation effects ; *Coral Reefs ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; *Light ; *Longevity ; *Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Aging is a multifactorial process that results in progressive loss of regenerative capacity and tissue function while simultaneously favoring the development of a large array of age-related diseases. Evidence suggests that the accumulation of senescent cells in tissue promotes both normal and pathological aging. Oxic stress is a key driver of cellular senescence. Because symbiotic long-lived reef corals experience daily hyperoxic and hypoxic transitions, we hypothesized that these long-lived animals have developed specific longevity strategies in response to light. We analyzed transcriptome variation in the reef coral Stylophora pistillata during the day-night cycle and revealed a signature of the FoxO longevity pathway. We confirmed this pathway by immunofluorescence using antibodies against coral FoxO to demonstrate its nuclear translocation. Through qPCR analysis of nycthemeral variations of candidate genes under different light regimens, we found that, among genes that were specifically up- or downregulated upon exposure to light, human orthologs of two "light-up" genes (HEY1 and LONF3) exhibited anti-senescence properties in primary human fibroblasts. Therefore, these genes are interesting candidates for counteracting skin aging. We propose a large screen for other light-up genes and an investigation of the biological response of reef corals to light (e.g., metabolic switching) to elucidate these processes and identify effective interventions for promoting healthy aging in humans.}, } @article {pmid33203688, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, F and Xu, L and Wu, X and Zhao, X and Liu, M and Zhang, X}, title = {Symbiotic Bacterium-Derived Organic Acids Protect Delia antiqua Larvae from Entomopathogenic Fungal Infection.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {33203688}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Colonization resistance, i.e., the protective effects of associated microbiota for the animal host against pathogen infection, has been studied widely over the last 100 years. However, few molecules mediating colonization resistance have been identified. In the symbiosis formed by Delia antiqua and its associated microbes, six bacteria protect larvae from infection with the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana, providing an ideal model to investigate the chemical mechanism for colonization resistance. Subsequently using this symbiotic system, we first compared effects of the six bacterial species, and one control bacterium (Klebsiella oxytoca) that showed no antifungal effects, on B. bassiana and its infection of D. antiqua Second, metabolomic profiles of the six bacteria and K. oxytoca were compared to identify candidate metabolites that may prevent infection. Third, the concentrations of candidate metabolites in situ from axenic and nonaxenic larvae were determined. Finally, effects of artificial metabolite cocktails on B. bassiana and its infection of D. antiqua larvae were determined. Results showed that compared to K. oxytoca, the six bacteria produced a metabolite cocktail showing inhibitory effects on conidial germination, mycelial growth of B. bassiana, and fungal infection. Our work revealed novel molecules that mediate colonization resistance, which could help in developing chemical mechanisms of colonization resistance. Moreover, this work may aid in discovery and expansion of new bioactive antibiotics, promoting development of prophylactic and therapeutic approaches for treating infectious diseases.IMPORTANCE The protection of associated microbiota for their animal hosts against pathogen infection has been studied widely over the last 100 years. However, how those microbes protect the animal host remains unclear. In former studies, body surface microbes of one insect, Delia antiqua, protected the insect larvae from infection with the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana By comparing the metabolites produced by microbes that protect the insect and microbes that cannot protect the insect, the question of how the microbes protect the insect is answered. It turns out that body surface bacteria produce a metabolite cocktail that inhibits colonization of B. bassiana and consequently protects the insect. This work reveals novel molecules with antifungal activity, which may aid in discovery and expansion of new prophylactic and therapeutic natural chemicals for treating infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid33202242, year = {2020}, author = {Jackson, R and Henry, LM and Wurm, Y}, title = {Evolution: The Legacy of Endosymbiosis in Ants.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {22}, pages = {R1385-R1387}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.023}, pmid = {33202242}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic partnership with Blochmannia bacteria is thought to underpin the ecological success of carpenter ants. Disentangling the molecular interactions between the mutualistic partners supports an old hypothesis that many other ants also had similar symbioses and lost them.}, } @article {pmid33202046, year = {2020}, author = {Bisagni, F}, title = {The landscapes of minus. Hatred, adolescence and the paradoxes of growth.}, journal = {The Journal of analytical psychology}, volume = {65}, number = {5}, pages = {818-838}, doi = {10.1111/1468-5922.12631}, pmid = {33202046}, issn = {1468-5922}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology ; Female ; *Hate ; Humans ; Jungian Theory ; Male ; Psychoanalysis ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {This paper explores Bion's theory of links, L, H, K (Love, Hate and Knowledge) and their minus counterparts, -L, -H, -K, which are not conceivable as simply opposite to or as a lack of L, H, K. Rather, they correspond to a way of experiencing Love, Hatred and Knowledge in terms of absoluteness, and in terms of a radical impossibility of acknowledging loss, relativeness and absence. The theory of links is also examined in its evolution towards the conceptualization of three types of container/contained configurations (commensal, symbiotic and parasitic). These Bionian models are compared and referred to the way Jung articulates the coexistence of 'good' and 'evil', and the paradoxical nature of mental functioning in relation to the individuation process. The images taken from the Rosarium Philosophorum, particularly the Fons Mercurialis, examined by Jung in 'The psychology of the transference' (1946), are explored in the paper. Theory is examined with a particular focus on the adolescent mind and its dramatic phenomenology. Two excerpts taken from the analytic work with a mid-adolescent female patient and a late-adolescent male patient are presented to describe minus-Hate as a form of absolute love, and minus-Love as a form of absolute hatred.}, } @article {pmid33201434, year = {2021}, author = {Ci, D and Tang, Z and Ding, H and Cui, L and Zhang, G and Li, S and Dai, L and Qin, F and Zhang, Z and Yang, J and Xu, Y}, title = {The synergy effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis and exogenous calcium on bacterial community composition and growth performance of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in saline alkali soil.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {51-63}, pmid = {33201434}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Alkalies/analysis ; Arachis/*growth & development/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizosphere ; Salinity ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Peanut (Arachis hypogaea. L) is an important oil seed crop. Both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis and calcium (Ca[2+]) application can ameliorate the impact of saline soil on peanut production, and the rhizosphere bacterial communities are also closely correlated with peanut salt tolerance; however, whether AMF and Ca[2+] can withstand high-salinity through or partially through modulating rhizosphere bacterial communities is unclear. Here, we used the rhizosphere bacterial DNA from saline alkali soil treated with AMF and Ca[2+] alone or together to perform high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Taxonomic analysis revealed that AMF and Ca[2+] treatment increased the abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level. The nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sphingomonas was the dominant genus in these soils at the genus level, and the soil invertase and urease activities were also increased after AMF and Ca[2+] treatment, implying that AMF and Ca[2+] effectively improved the living environment of plants under salt stress. Moreover, AMF combined with Ca[2+] was better than AMF or Ca[2+] alone at altering the bacterial structure and improving peanut growth in saline alkali soil. Together, AMF and Ca[2+] applications are conducive to peanut salt adaption by regulating the bacterial community in saline alkali soil.}, } @article {pmid33200405, year = {2021}, author = {Akan, S}, title = {"Symbiotic" or "synbiotic"? Response to "Quality and microbial properties of symbiotic bread produced by straight dough and frozen part-baking methods".}, journal = {Journal of texture studies}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {137-138}, doi = {10.1111/jtxs.12569}, pmid = {33200405}, issn = {1745-4603}, mesh = {*Bread ; *Flour ; Freezing ; }, } @article {pmid33200348, year = {2021}, author = {Paparokidou, C and Leake, JR and Beerling, DJ and Rolfe, SA}, title = {Phosphate availability and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with Pinus sylvestris have independent effects on the Paxillus involutus transcriptome.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {69-83}, pmid = {33200348}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phosphates ; *Pinus ; *Pinus sylvestris/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Many plant species form symbioses with ectomycorrhizal fungi, which help them forage for limiting nutrients in the soil such as inorganic phosphate (Pi). The transcriptional responses to symbiosis and nutrient-limiting conditions in ectomycorrhizal fungal hyphae, however, are largely unknown. An artificial system was developed to study ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Paxillus involutus growth in symbiosis with its host tree Pinus sylvestris at different Pi concentrations. RNA-seq analysis was performed on P. involutus hyphae growing under Pi-limiting conditions, either in symbiosis or alone. We show that Pi starvation and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis have an independent effect on the P. involutus transcriptome. Notably, low Pi availability induces expression of newly identified putative high-affinity Pi transporter genes, while reducing the expression of putative organic acid transporters. Additionally, low Pi availability induces a close transcriptional interplay between P and N metabolism. GTP-related signalling was found to have a positive effect in the maintenance of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, whereas multiple putative cytochrome P450 genes were found to be downregulated, unlike arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We provide the first evidence of global transcriptional changes induced by low Pi availability and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in the hyphae of P. involutus, revealing both similarities and differences with better-characterized arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid33200347, year = {2021}, author = {de Oliveira, IF and Simeone, MLF and de Guimarães, CC and Garcia, NS and Schaffert, RE and de Sousa, SM}, title = {Sorgoleone concentration influences mycorrhizal colonization in sorghum.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {259-264}, pmid = {33200347}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Benzoquinones ; Edible Grain ; Fungi ; Lipids ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Sorghum ; }, abstract = {The association between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and sorghum, the fifth most cultivated cereal in the world and a staple food for many countries, is relevant to improving phosphorus (P) absorption. The importance of root exudation as a signal for the symbiosis has been shown for several species, but a complete understanding of the signaling molecules involved in the mycorrhizal symbiosis signaling pathway has not yet been elucidated. In this context, we investigated the effect of sorgoleone, one of the most studied allelochemicals and a predominant compound of root exudates in sorghum, on AMF colonization and consequently P uptake and plant growth on a sorghum genotype. The sorghum genotype P9401 presents low endogenous sorgoleone content, and when it was inoculated with Rhizophagus clarus together with 5 and 10 µM sorgoleone, mycorrhizal colonization was enhanced. A significant enhancement of mycorrhizal colonization and an increase of P content and biomass were observed when R. clarus was inoculated together with 20 µM sorgoleone. Thus, our results indicate that sorgoleone influences mycorrhizal colonization, but the mechanisms by which it does so still need to be revealed.}, } @article {pmid33199286, year = {2021}, author = {Chavez-Dozal, A and Soto, W and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Identification of a Transcriptomic Network Underlying the Wrinkly and Smooth Phenotypes of Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {203}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33199286}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Oxidative Stress ; *Phenotype ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri is a cosmopolitan marine bacterium that oftentimes displays different colony morphologies, switching from a smooth to a wrinkly phenotype in order to adapt to changes in the environment. This wrinkly phenotype has also been associated with increased biofilm formation, an essential characteristic for V. fischeri to adhere to substrates, to suspended debris, and within the light organs of sepiolid squids. Elevated levels of biofilm formation are correlated with increased microbial survival of exposure to environmental stressors and the ability to expand niche breadth. Since V. fischeri has a biphasic life history strategy between its free-living and symbiotic states, we were interested in whether the wrinkly morphotype demonstrated differences in its expression profile in comparison to the naturally occurring and more common smooth variant. We show that genes involved in major biochemical cascades, including those involved in protein sorting, oxidative stress, and membrane transport, play a role in the wrinkly phenotype. Interestingly, only a few unique genes are specifically involved in macromolecule biosynthesis in the wrinkly phenotype, which underlies the importance of other pathways utilized for adaptation under the conditions in which Vibrio bacteria are producing this change in phenotype. These results provide the first comprehensive analysis of the complex form of genetic activation that underlies the diversity in morphologies of V. fischeri when switching between two different colony morphotypes, each representing a unique biofilm ecotype.IMPORTANCE The wrinkly bacterial colony phenotype has been associated with increased squid host colonization in V. fischeri The significance of our research is in identifying the genetic mechanisms that are responsible for heightened biofilm formation in V. fischeri This report also advances our understanding of gene regulation in V. fischeri and brings to the forefront a number of previously overlooked genetic networks. Several loci that were identified in this study were not previously known to be associated with biofilm formation in V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid33197827, year = {2021}, author = {de Souza Campos, PM and Borie, F and Cornejo, P and Meier, S and López-Ráez, JA and López-Garcia, Á and Seguel, A}, title = {Wheat root trait plasticity, nutrient acquisition and growth responses are dependent on specific arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and plant genotype interactions.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {153297}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153297}, pmid = {33197827}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Triticum/*genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to examine how interactions at both plant genotype and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus species levels affected the expression of root traits and the subsequent effect on plant nutrition and growth. We used two wheat cultivars with contrasting phosphorus (P) acquisition efficiencies (Tukan and Crac) and two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices and Claroideoglomus claroideum). Plant growth, as well as morphological and architectural root traits, were highly dependent on the myco-symbiotic partner in the case of the less P-acquisition efficient cultivar Tukan, with mycorrhizal responses ranging from -45 to 54 % with respect to non-mycorrhizal plants. Meanwhile, these responses were between only -7 and 5 % in the P-acquisition efficient cultivar Crac. The AM fungal species produced contrasting mechanisms in the improvement of plant nutrition and root trait responses. Colonization by R. intraradices increased Ca accumulation, regardless of the cultivar, but reduced root growth on Tukan plants. On the other hand, C. claroideum increased P content in both cultivars, with a concomitant increase in root growth and diffusion-based nutrient acquisition by Tukan. Moreover, plants in symbiosis with R. intraradices showed greater organic acid concentration in their rhizosphere compared to C. claroideum-colonized plants, especially Tukan (24 and 35 % more citrate and oxalate, respectively). Our results suggest that the responses in plant-AM fungal interactions related to nutrient dynamics are highly influenced at the fungus level and also by intra-specific variations in root traits at the genotype level, while growth responses related to improved nutrition depend on plant intrinsic acquisition efficiency.}, } @article {pmid33196142, year = {2021}, author = {Higuchi, T and Tanaka, K and Shirai, K and Yuyama, I and Mezaki, T and Takahata, N and Sano, Y}, title = {Sulfur assimilation in corals with aposymbiotic and symbiotic zooxanthellae.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {98-103}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12908}, pmid = {33196142}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Seawater ; Sulfur ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although sulfate ions are the main form of sulfur in the ocean, there is limited knowledge on their use by living organisms. Stable isotope labelling and NanoSIMS analysis were used in this study to clarify how sulfate, in seawater, is assimilated by corals and zooxanthellae at the cellular level. Aposymbiotic and symbiotic coral juveniles from the genus Acropora were incubated for 2 days in filtered seawater with [34] S-labelled sulfate. Further, the labelled corals were incubated for additional 2 days in natural seawater. Mapping of sulfur isotopes ([34] S/[32] S) showed that the 'hotspots' were enriched in [34] S on a sub-micro level and were heterogeneously distributed in the coral soft tissues. Specifically, [34] S hotspots were found in both the symbiotic zooxanthellae and coral host tissues. In aposymbiotic corals, [34] S was detected in the tissues, indicating that the host corals directly assimilated the sulfate ions without any aid from the zooxanthellae. Even after 2 days in normal seawater, the [34] S label was clearly seen in both symbiotic and aposymbiotic corals, indicating that the assimilated sulfur was retained for at least 2 days.}, } @article {pmid33194832, year = {2020}, author = {Wood, TE and Aksoy, E and Hachani, A}, title = {From Welfare to Warfare: The Arbitration of Host-Microbiota Interplay by the Type VI Secretion System.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {587948}, pmid = {33194832}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {19867/VAC_/Versus Arthritis/United Kingdom ; MR/M023230/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacterial Proteins ; *Microbiota ; Negotiating ; Symbiosis ; *Type VI Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {The health of mammals depends on a complex interplay with their microbial ecosystems. Compartments exposed to external environments such as the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract accommodate the gut microbiota, composed by a wide range of bacteria. The gut microbiome confers benefits to the host, including expansion of metabolic potential and the development of an immune system that can robustly protect from external and internal insults. The cooperation between gut microbiome and host is enabled in part by the formation of partitioned niches that harbor diverse bacterial phyla. Bacterial secretion systems are commonly employed to manipulate the composition of these local environments. Here, we explore the roles of the bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS), present in ~25% of gram-negative bacteria, including many symbionts, in the establishment and perturbation of bacterial commensalism, and symbiosis in host mucosal sites. This versatile apparatus drives bacterial competition, although in some cases can also interfere directly with host cells and facilitate nutrient acquisition. In addition, some bacterial pathogens cause disease when their T6SS leads to dysbiosis and subverts host immune responses in defined animal models. This review explores our knowledge of the T6SS in the context of the "host-microbiota-pathogen" triumvirate and examines contexts in which the importance of this secretion system may be underappreciated.}, } @article {pmid33194431, year = {2020}, author = {Qu, YF and Wu, YQ and Zhao, YT and Lin, LH and Du, Y and Li, P and Li, H and Ji, X}, title = {The invasive red-eared slider turtle is more successful than the native Chinese three-keeled pond turtle: evidence from the gut microbiota.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e10271}, pmid = {33194431}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The mutualistic symbiosis between the gut microbial communities (microbiota) and their host animals has attracted much attention. Many factors potentially affect the gut microbiota, which also varies among host animals. The native Chinese three-keeled pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii) and the invasive red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) are two common farm-raised species in China, with the latter generally considered a more successful species. However, supporting evidence from the gut microbiota has yet to be collected.

METHODS: We collected feces samples from these two turtle species raised in a farm under identical conditions, and analyzed the composition and relative abundance of the gut microbes using bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing on the Roach/454 platform.

RESULTS: The gut microbiota was mainly composed of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes at the phylum level, and Porphyromonadaceae, Bacteroidaceae and Lachnospiraceae at the family level in both species. The relative abundance of the microbes and gene functions in the gut microbiota differed between the two species, whereas alpha or beta diversity did not. Microbes of the families Bacteroidaceae, Clostridiaceae and Lachnospiraceae were comparatively more abundant in C. reevesii, whereas those of the families Porphyromonadaceae and Fusobacteriaceae were comparatively more abundant in T. s. elegans. In both species the gut microbiota had functional roles in enhancing metabolism, genetic information processing and environmental information processing according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. The potential to gain mass is greater in T. s. elegans than in C. reevesii, as revealed by the fact that the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was lower in the former species. The percentage of human disease-related functional genes was lower in T. s. elegans than in C. reevesii, presumably suggesting an enhanced potential to colonize new habitats in the former species.}, } @article {pmid33194344, year = {2020}, author = {Peng, SE and Moret, A and Chang, C and Mayfield, AB and Ren, YT and Chen, WU and Giordano, M and Chen, CS}, title = {A shift away from mutualism under food-deprived conditions in an anemone-dinoflagellate association.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9745}, pmid = {33194344}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis between anthozoans and intra-gastrodermal dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae is the functional basis of all coral reef ecosystems, with the latter providing up to 95% of their fixed photosynthate to their hosts in exchange for nutrients. However, recent studies of sponges, jellyfish, and anemones have revealed the potential for this mutualistic relationship to shift to parasitism under stressful conditions. Over a period of eight weeks, we compared the physiological conditions of both inoculated and aposymbiotic anemones (Exaiptasia pallida) that were either fed or starved. By the sixth week, both fed groups of anemones were significantly larger than their starved counterparts. Moreover, inoculated and starved anemones tended to disintegrate into "tissue balls" within eight weeks, and 25% of the samples died; in contrast, starved aposymbiotic anemones required six months to form tissue balls, and no anemones from this group died. Our results show that the dinoflagellates within inoculated anemones may have posed a fatal metabolic burden on their hosts during starvation; this may be because of the need to prioritize their own metabolism and nourishment at the expense of their hosts. Collectively, our study reveals the potential of this dynamic symbiotic association to shift away from mutualism during food-deprived conditions.}, } @article {pmid33193996, year = {2020}, author = {Maire, J and Chouaia, B and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Endosymbiosis morphological reorganization during metamorphosis diverges in weevils.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {184-188}, pmid = {33193996}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Virtually all animals associate with beneficial symbiotic bacteria. Whether and how these associations are modulated across a host's lifecycle is an important question in disentangling animal-bacteria interactions. We recently reported a case of complete morphological reorganization of symbiosis during metamorphosis of the cereal weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. In this model, the bacteriome, a specialized organ that houses the intracellular bacterium Sodalis pierantonius, undergoes a two-phase remodeling program synchronously driven by host and endosymbiont, resulting in a localization shift and the formation of multiple new bacteriomes. Here, we provide comparative data in a closely-related coleopteran, the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, which is associated with the ancestral endosymbiont Nardonella. Using cell imaging experiments, we show that the red pal weevil bacteriome remains unchanged during metamorphosis, hence contrasting with what we reported in the cereal weevil S. oryzae. These findings highlight the complexity and divergence of host-symbiont interactions and their intertwining with host development, even in closely-related species. Abbreviations: DAPI: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; FISH: Fluorescence in situ hybridization; T3SS: Type III secretion system.}, } @article {pmid33193716, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, A and Ku, YS and Contador, CA and Lam, HM}, title = {The Impacts of Domestication and Agricultural Practices on Legume Nutrient Acquisition Through Symbiosis With Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {583954}, pmid = {33193716}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Legumes are unique among plants as they can obtain nitrogen through symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia that form root nodules in the host plants. Therefore they are valuable crops for sustainable agriculture. Increasing nitrogen fixation efficiency is not only important for achieving better plant growth and yield, but it is also crucial for reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizer. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are another group of important beneficial microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with legumes. AMF can promote host plant growth by providing mineral nutrients and improving the soil ecosystem. The trilateral legume-rhizobia-AMF symbiotic relationships also enhance plant development and tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. It is known that domestication and agricultural activities have led to the reduced genetic diversity of cultivated germplasms and higher sensitivity to nutrient deficiencies in crop plants, but how domestication has impacted the capability of legumes to establish beneficial associations with rhizospheric microbes (including rhizobia and fungi) is not well-studied. In this review, we will discuss the impacts of domestication and agricultural practices on the interactions between legumes and soil microbes, focusing on the effects on AMF and rhizobial symbioses and hence nutrient acquisition by host legumes. In addition, we will summarize the genes involved in legume-microbe interactions and studies that have contributed to a better understanding of legume symbiotic associations using metabolic modeling.}, } @article {pmid33193551, year = {2020}, author = {Cibils-Stewart, X and Powell, JR and Popay, AJ and Lattanzi, FA and Hartley, SE and Johnson, SN}, title = {Reciprocal Effects of Silicon Supply and Endophytes on Silicon Accumulation and Epichloë Colonization in Grasses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {593198}, pmid = {33193551}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cool season grasses associate asymptomatically with foliar Epichloë endophytic fungi in a symbiosis where Epichloë spp. protects the plant from a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, many grass species can accumulate large quantities of silicon (Si), which also alleviates a similar range of stresses. While Epichloë endophytes may improve uptake of minerals and nutrients, their impact on Si is largely unknown. Likewise, the effect of Si availability on Epichloë colonization remains untested. To assess the bidirectional relationship, we grew tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) hydroponically with or without Si. Grasses were associated with five different Epichloë endophyte strains [tall fescue: AR584 or wild type (WT); perennial ryegrass: AR37, AR1, or WT] or as Epichloë-free controls. Reciprocally beneficial effects were observed for tall fescue associations. Specifically, Epichloë presence increased Si concentration in the foliage of tall fescue by at least 31%, regardless of endophyte strain. In perennial ryegrass, an increase in foliar Si was observed only for plants associated with the AR37. Epichloë promotion of Si was (i) independent of responses in plant growth, and (ii) positively correlated with endophyte colonization, which lends support to an endophyte effect independent of their impacts on root growth. Moreover, Epichloë colonization in tall fescue increased by more than 60% in the presence of silicon; however, this was not observed in perennial ryegrass. The reciprocal benefits of Epichloë-endophytes and foliar Si accumulation reported here, especially for tall fescue, might further increase grass tolerance to stress.}, } @article {pmid33193538, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, Z and Huang, W and Qin, E and Liu, S and Liu, H and Grennan, AK and Liu, H and Qin, R}, title = {Comprehensive Identification and Expression Profiling of Circular RNAs During Nodule Development in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {587185}, pmid = {33193538}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by legume nodules provides an abundant nitrogen source for plants, and understanding this process is key for developing green agriculture. Circular RNA (circRNA), a type of endogenous RNA produced by reverse splicing of mRNA precursors, plays important regulatory roles in plants at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the relationship between circRNAs and legume-rhizobium is unknown. Here, we performed comprehensive identification and expression profiling of circRNAs during nodulation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) compared to uninoculated roots of corresponding ages by constructing circRNA-seq and mRNA-seq libraries. We identified 8,842 high-confident circRNAs, 3,448 of which were specifically produced during symbiosis, with the highest number at the nitrogen-fixing stage. Significantly, more circRNAs were derived from exons than from intergenic regions or introns in all samples. The lengths and GC contents of the circRNAs were similar in roots and nodules. However, circRNAs showed specific spatiotemporal expression patterns during nodule and root development. GO and other functional annotation of parental genes of differentially expressed circRNAs indicated their potential involvement in different biological processes. The expression of major circRNAs during symbiosis is independent of parental genes' expression to a certain degree, while expression of the remaining minor circRNAs showed positive correlation to parental genes. Functional annotation of the targeted mRNAs in the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network showed that circRNAs may be involved in transmembrane transport and positive regulation of kinase activity during nodulation and nitrogen fixation as miRNA sponges. Our comprehensive analysis of the expression profile of circRNAs and their potential functions suggests that circRNAs may function as new post-transcriptional regulators in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33193505, year = {2020}, author = {Shao, SC and Luo, Y and Jacquemyn, H}, title = {Co-Cultures of Mycorrhizal Fungi Do Not Increase Germination and Seedling Development in the Epiphytic Orchid Dendrobium nobile.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {571426}, pmid = {33193505}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Orchids are highly dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination and subsequent growth to a seedling as they provide essential carbon, water, and mineral nutrients to developing seeds. Although there is mounting evidence that orchid seeds are often colonized by multiple fungi simultaneously, most in vitro germination experiments focus on mycorrhizal monocultures and little is known about how mycorrhizal assemblages affect seed germination and growth of seedlings. In this study, we compared the effects of mycorrhizal monocultures and co-cultures on seed germination and seedling growth of the epiphytic orchid Dendrobium nobile. In situ baiting was used to isolate mycorrhizal fungi from protocorms for germination experiments. Germination experiments were conducted under two light regimes for 90 days. In total, five fungal strains were isolated from protocorms of D. nobile, indicating that the species was not highly specific to its fungal partners. Four strains (JC-01, JC-02, JC-04, and JC-05) belonged to the Serendipitaceae and one (JC-03) to the Tulasnellaceae. In vitro germination experiments showed that germination percentages were higher under light-dark conditions than under complete dark conditions, supporting previous findings that light facilitates germination in epiphytic orchids. While all strains were able to induce protocorm formation and growth into the seedling stage, large differences between fungal strains were observed. Co-cultures did not result in significantly higher seed germination percentages and seedling development than monocultures. Taken together, these results demonstrate that effects of fungal assemblages are not predictable from those of component species, and that more work is needed to better understand the role of fungal assemblages determining seed germination and subsequent growth under natural conditions.}, } @article {pmid33193501, year = {2020}, author = {Forte, FP and Schmid, J and Dijkwel, PP and Nagy, I and Hume, DE and Johnson, RD and Simpson, WR and Monk, SM and Zhang, N and Sehrish, T and Asp, T}, title = {Fungal Endophyte Colonization Patterns Alter Over Time in the Novel Association Between Lolium perenne and Epichloë Endophyte AR37.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {570026}, pmid = {33193501}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Infection of the pasture grass Lolium perenne with the seed-transmitted fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae enhances its resilience to biotic and abiotic stress. Agricultural benefits of endophyte infection can be increased by generating novel symbiotic associations through inoculating L. perenne with selected Epichloë strains. Natural symbioses have coevolved over long periods. Thus, artificial symbioses will probably not have static properties, but symbionts will coadapt over time improving the fitness of the association. Here we report for the first time on temporal changes in a novel association of Epichloë strain AR37 and the L. perenne cultivar Grasslands Samson. Over nine generations, a seed maintenance program had increased the endophyte seed transmission rates to > 95% (from an initial 76%). We observed an approximately fivefold decline in endophyte biomass concentration in vegetative tissues over time (between generations 2 and 9). This indicates strong selection pressure toward reducing endophyte-related fitness costs by reducing endophyte biomass, without compromising the frequency of endophyte transmission to seed. We observed no obvious changes in tillering and only minor transcriptomic changes in infected plants over time. Functional analysis of 40 plant genes, showing continuously decreasing expression over time, suggests that adaptation of host metabolism and defense mechanisms are important for increasing the fitness of this association, and possibly fitness of such symbioses in general. Our results indicate that fitness of novel associations is likely to improve over time and that monitoring changes in novel associations can assist in identifying key features of endophyte-mediated enhancement of host fitness.}, } @article {pmid33193494, year = {2020}, author = {Varga, T and Hixson, KK and Ahkami, AH and Sher, AW and Barnes, ME and Chu, RK and Battu, AK and Nicora, CD and Winkler, TE and Reno, LR and Fakra, SC and Antipova, O and Parkinson, DY and Hall, JR and Doty, SL}, title = {Endophyte-Promoted Phosphorus Solubilization in Populus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {567918}, pmid = {33193494}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Phosphorus is one of the essential nutrients for plant growth, but it may be relatively unavailable to plants because of its chemistry. In soil, the majority of phosphorus is present in the form of a phosphate, usually as metal complexes making it bound to minerals or organic matter. Therefore, inorganic phosphate solubilization is an important process of plant growth promotion by plant associated bacteria and fungi. Non-nodulating plant species have been shown to thrive in low-nutrient environments, in some instances by relying on plant associated microorganisms called endophytes. These microorganisms live within the plant and help supply nutrients for the plant. Despite their potential enormous environmental importance, there are a limited number of studies looking at the direct molecular impact of phosphate solubilizing endophytic bacteria on the host plant. In this work, we studied the impact of two endophyte strains of wild poplar (Populus trichocarpa) that solubilize phosphate. Using a combination of x-ray imaging, spectroscopy methods, and proteomics, we report direct evidence of endophyte-promoted phosphorus uptake in poplar. We found that the solubilized phosphate may react and become insoluble once inside plant tissue, suggesting that endophytes may aid in the re-release of phosphate. Using synchrotron x-ray fluorescence spectromicroscopy, we visualized the nutrient phosphorus inside poplar roots inoculated by the selected endophytes and found the phosphorus in both forms of organic and inorganic phosphates inside the root. Tomography-based root imaging revealed a markedly different root biomass and root architecture for poplar samples inoculated with the phosphate solubilizing bacteria strains. Proteomics characterization on poplar roots coupled with protein network analysis revealed novel proteins and metabolic pathways with possible involvement in endophyte enriched phosphorus uptake. These findings suggest an important role of endophytes for phosphorus acquisition and provide a deeper understanding of the critical symbiotic associations between poplar and the endophytic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid33193283, year = {2020}, author = {An, JS and Hong, SH and Somers, E and Lee, J and Kim, BY and Woo, D and Kim, SW and Hong, HJ and Jo, SI and Shin, J and Oh, KB and Oh, DC}, title = {Lenzimycins A and B, Metabolites With Antibacterial Properties From Brevibacillus sp. Associated With the Dung Beetle Onthophagus lenzii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {599911}, pmid = {33193283}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms associated with insects can produce a wide array of metabolic products, which provide an opportunity for the discovery of useful natural products. Selective isolation of bacterial strains associated with the dung beetle, Onthophagus lenzii, identified two strains, of which the antibiotic-producing Brevibacillus sp. PTH23 inhibited the growth of Bacillus sp. CCARM 9248, which is most closely related to the well-known entomopathogen, Bacillus thuringiensis. A comprehensive chemical investigation based on antibiotic activity discovered two new antibiotics, named lenzimycins A and B (1-2), which inhibited growth of Bacillus sp. CCARM 9248. The [1]H and [13]C NMR, MS, MS/MS, and IR analyses elucidated the structures of 1 and 2, which comprised a novel combination of fatty acid (12-methyltetradecanoic acid), glycerol, sulfate, and N-methyl ethanolamine. Furthermore, the acid hydrolysis of 1 revealed the absolute configuration of 12-methyltetradecanoic acid as 12S by comparing its optical rotation value with authentic (R)- and (S)-12-methyltetradecanoic acid. In addition to inhibition of Bacillus sp. CCARM 9248, lenzimycins A and B were found to inhibit the growth of some human pathogenic bacteria, including Enterococcus faecium and certain strains of Enterococcus faecalis. Furthermore, the present study elucidated that lenzimycins A and B activated a reporter system designed to detect the bacterial cell envelope stress, thereby indicating an activity against the integrity of the bacterial cell wall.}, } @article {pmid33193277, year = {2020}, author = {Hassan, B and Siddiqui, JA and Xu, Y}, title = {Vertically Transmitted Gut Bacteria and Nutrition Influence the Immunity and Fitness of Bactrocera dorsalis Larvae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {596352}, pmid = {33193277}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacterial communities that colonize the digestive tract of tephritid fruit flies interact with nutrient intake to improve the flies' fitness and immunity. Some bacterial species consistently inhabit the tephritid guts and are transmitted to the next generation vertically. These species contribute significantly to some aspects of their host's physiology. In the current study, we examined the role of four vertically transmitted bacteria (Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Providencia) on the fitness parameters and immunity of Bactrocera dorsalis larvae that were fed a nutritionally manipulated diet. For this purpose, eggs were collected from axenic, gnotobiotic, and symbiotic adult flies, and larvae were reared on four types of diets in which carbohydrate and/or protein contents were reduced and then compared with larvae raised on a control diet. The diet and bacterial interactions significantly affected the fitness and immunity of B. dorsalis. Larvae of axenic flies grew slower and displayed weaker immune-based responses (PO activity, antibacterial activity, survival) than larvae of gnotobiotic and symbiotic flies. Overall, larvae reared on the low-protein diet grew slower than those reared on the control or low-carbohydrate diets. Survival, PO activity, and antibacterial activity were significantly lower in the hemolymph of larvae reared on low-protein diets. Our results also revealed that the levels of hemolymph protein, glucose, trehalose, and triglyceride in larvae from axenic flies were significantly lower than those in larvae of the symbiotic group after they fed on most of the tested diets. These results strongly infer that diet and vertically transmitted bacteria are both essential contributors to the fitness and immunity of B. dorsalis.}, } @article {pmid33193249, year = {2020}, author = {Hirota, B and Meng, XY and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Bacteriome-Associated Endosymbiotic Bacteria of Nosodendron Tree Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nosodendridae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {588841}, pmid = {33193249}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The family Nosodendridae is a small group of tree sap beetles with only 91 described species representing three genera from the world. In 1930s, bacteria-harboring symbiotic organs, called bacteriomes, were briefly described in a European species Nosodendron fasciculare. Since then, however, no studies have been conducted on the nosodendrid endosymbiosis for decades. Here we investigated the bacteriomes and the endosymbiotic bacteria of Nosodendron coenosum and Nosodendron asiaticum using molecular phylogenetic and histological approaches. In adults and larvae, a pair of slender bacteriomes were found along both sides of the midgut. The bacteriomes consisted of large bacteriocytes at the center and flat sheath cells on the surface. Fluorescence in situ hybridization detected preferential localization of the endosymbiotic bacteria in the cytoplasm of the bacteriocytes. In reproductive adult females, the endosymbiotic bacteria were also detected at the infection zone in the ovarioles and on the surface of growing oocytes, indicating vertical symbiont transmission via ovarial passage. Transmission electron microscopy unveiled bizarre structural features of the bacteriocytes, whose cytoplasm exhibited degenerate cytology with deformed endosymbiont cells. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nosodendrid endosymbionts formed a distinct clade in the Bacteroidetes. The nosodendrid endosymbionts were the most closely related to the bacteriome endosymbionts of bostrichid powderpost beetles and also allied to the bacteriome endosymbionts of silvanid grain beetles, uncovering an unexpected endosymbiont relationship across the unrelated beetle families Nosodendridae, Bostrichidae and Silvanidae. Host-symbiont co-evolution and presumable biological roles of the endosymbiotic bacteria are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33193213, year = {2020}, author = {Compton, KK and Hildreth, SB and Helm, RF and Scharf, BE}, title = {An Updated Perspective on Sinorhizobium meliloti Chemotaxis to Alfalfa Flavonoids.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {581482}, pmid = {33193213}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between leguminous plants and their cognate rhizobia allows for the fixation of gaseous dinitrogen into bioavailable ammonia. The perception of host-derived flavonoids is a key initial step for the signaling events that must occur preceding the formation of the nitrogen-fixing organ. Past work investigating chemotaxis - the directed movement of bacteria through chemical gradients - of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Rhizobium leguminosarum, and Rhizobium meliloti discovered chemotaxis to various organic compounds, but focused on chemotaxis to flavonoids because of their relevance to the symbiosis biochemistry. The current work sought to replicate and further examine Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti chemotaxis to the flavonoids previously thought to act as the principal attractant molecules prior to the initial signaling stage. Exudate from germinating alfalfa seedlings was analyzed for composition and quantities of different flavonoid compounds using mass spectrometry. The abundance of four prevalent flavonoids in germinating alfalfa seed exudates (SEs) was at a ratio of 200:5:5:1 for hyperoside, luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, and chrysoeriol. Using quantitative chemotaxis capillary assays, we did not detect chemotaxis of motile S. meliloti cells to these, and two other flavonoids identified in seed exudates. In support of these findings, the flavonoid fraction of seed exudates was found to be an insignificant attractant relative to the more hydrophilic fraction. Additionally, we observed that cosolvents commonly used to dissolve flavonoids confound the results. We propose that the role flavonoids play in S. meliloti chemotaxis is insignificant relative to other components released by alfalfa seeds.}, } @article {pmid33193196, year = {2020}, author = {Cano, I and Ryder, D and Webb, SC and Jones, BJ and Brosnahan, CL and Carrasco, N and Bodinier, B and Furones, D and Pretto, T and Carella, F and Chollet, B and Arzul, I and Cheslett, D and Collins, E and Lohrmann, KB and Valdivia, AL and Ward, G and Carballal, MJ and Villalba, A and Marigómez, I and Mortensen, S and Christison, K and Kevin, WC and Bustos, E and Christie, L and Green, M and Feist, SW}, title = {Cosmopolitan Distribution of Endozoicomonas-Like Organisms and Other Intracellular Microcolonies of Bacteria Causing Infection in Marine Mollusks.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {577481}, pmid = {33193196}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Intracellular microcolonies of bacteria (IMC), in some cases developing large extracellular cysts (bacterial aggregates), infecting primarily gill and digestive gland, have been historically reported in a wide diversity of economically important mollusk species worldwide, sometimes associated with severe lesions and mass mortality events. As an effort to characterize those organisms, traditionally named as Rickettsia or Chlamydia-like organisms, 1950 specimens comprising 22 mollusk species were collected over 10 countries and after histology examination, a selection of 99 samples involving 20 species were subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed Endozoicomonadaceae sequences in all the mollusk species analyzed. Geographical differences in the distribution of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and a particular OTU associated with pathology in king scallop (OTU_2) were observed. The presence of Endozoicomonadaceae sequences in the IMC was visually confirmed by in situ hybridization (ISH) in eight selected samples. Sequencing data also indicated other symbiotic bacteria. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of those OTUs revealed a novel microbial diversity associated with molluskan IMC infection distributed among different taxa, including the phylum Spirochetes, the families Anaplasmataceae and Simkaniaceae, the genera Mycoplasma and Francisella, and sulfur-oxidizing endosymbionts. Sequences like Francisella halioticida/philomiragia and Candidatus Brownia rhizoecola were also obtained, however, in the absence of ISH studies, the association between those organisms and the IMCs were not confirmed. The sequences identified in this study will allow for further molecular characterization of the microbial community associated with IMC infection in marine mollusks and their correlation with severity of the lesions to clarify their role as endosymbionts, commensals or true pathogens.}, } @article {pmid33193189, year = {2020}, author = {Acuña-Rodríguez, IS and Galán, A and Torres-Díaz, C and Atala, C and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Fungal Symbionts Enhance N-Uptake for Antarctic Plants Even in Non-N Limited Soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {575563}, pmid = {33193189}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant-fungi interactions have been identified as fundamental drivers of the plant host performance, particularly in cold environments where organic matter degradation rates are slow, precisely for the capacity of the fungal symbiont to enhance the availability of labile nitrogen (N) in the plant rhizosphere. Nevertheless, these positive effects appear to be modulated by the composition and amount of the N pool in the soil, being greater when plant hosts are growing where N is scarce as is the case of Antarctic soils. Nevertheless, in some coastal areas of this continent, seabirds and marine mammal colonies exert, through their accumulated feces and urine a strong influence on the edaphic N content surrounding their aggregation points. To evaluate if the fungal symbionts (root endophytes), associated to the only two Antarctic vascular plants Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, act as N-uptake enhancers, even in such N-rich conditions as those found around animal influence, we assessed, under controlled conditions, the process of N mineralization in soil by the accumulation of NH4 [+] in the rizhosphere and the biomass accumulation of plants with (E+) and without (E-) fungal symbionts. Complementarily, taking advantage of the isotopic N-fractionation that root-fungal symbionts exert on organic N molecules during its acquisition process, we also determined if endophytes actively participate in the Antarctic plants N-uptake, when inorganic N is not a limiting factor, by estimating the δ[15]N isotopic signatures in leaves. Overall, symbiotic interaction increased the availability of NH4 [+] in the rhizosphere of both species. As expected, the enhanced availability of inorganic N resulted in a higher final biomass in E + compared with E- plants of both species. In addition, we found that the positive role of fungal symbionts was also actively linked to the process of N-uptake in both species, evidenced by the contrasting δ[15]N signatures present in E+ (-0.4 to -2.3‰) relative to E- plants (2.7-3.1‰). In conclusion, despite being grown under rich N soils, the two Antarctic vascular plants showed that the presence of root-fungal endophytes, furthermore enhanced the availability of inorganic N sources in the rhizosphere, has a positive impact in their biomass, remarking the active participation of these endophytes in the N-uptake process for plants inhabiting the Antarctic continent.}, } @article {pmid33193157, year = {2020}, author = {Sunita, K and Mishra, I and Mishra, J and Prakash, J and Arora, NK}, title = {Secondary Metabolites From Halotolerant Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria for Ameliorating Salinity Stress in Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {567768}, pmid = {33193157}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil salinization has emerged as one of the prime environmental constraints endangering soil quality and agricultural productivity. Anthropogenic activities coupled with rapid pace of climate change are the key drivers of soil salinity resulting in degradation of agricultural lands. Increasing levels of salt not only impair structure of soil and its microbial activity but also restrict plant growth by causing harmful imbalance and metabolic disorders. Potential of secondary metabolites synthesized by halotolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (HT-PGPR) in the management of salinity stress in crops is gaining importance. A wide array of secondary metabolites such as osmoprotectants/compatible solutes, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from HT-PGPR have been reported to play crucial roles in ameliorating salinity stress in plants and their symbiotic partners. In addition, HT-PGPR and their metabolites also help in prompt buffering of the salt stress and act as biological engineers enhancing the quality and productivity of saline soils. The review documents prominent secondary metabolites from HT-PGPR and their role in modulating responses of plants to salinity stress. The review also highlights the mechanisms involved in the production of secondary metabolites by HT-PGPR in saline conditions. Utilizing the HT-PGPR and their secondary metabolites for the development of novel bioinoculants for the management of saline agro-ecosystems can be an important strategy in the future.}, } @article {pmid33191496, year = {2021}, author = {Maruyama, S and Weis, VM}, title = {Limitations of Using Cultured Algae to Study Cnidarian-Algal Symbioses and Suggestions for Future Studies.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {30-38}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13102}, pmid = {33191496}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cnidaria ; *Dinoflagellida ; Nutrients ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Much of our understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying cnidarian-algal symbiosis comes from studying the biological differences between the partners when they are engaged in symbiosis and when they are isolated from one another. When comparing the in hospite and ex hospite states in Symbiodiniaceae, the in hospite state is represented by algae sampled from hosts, and the ex hospite state is commonly represented by cultured algae. The use of cultured algae in this comparison may introduce nutrition as a confounding variable because, while hosts are kept in nutrient-depleted conditions, culture media is nutrient rich and designed to facilitate algal growth. In this perspective, we reexamine how nutrition may be a confounding variable in studies that compare the biology of Symbiodiniaceae in hospite and in culture. We also suggest several innovations in experimental design to strengthen the comparison of the two lifestyles, including the adoption of nutritional controls, alternatives to culture for the representation of Symbiodiniaceae ex hospite, and the adoption of several proteomic approaches to find novel Symbiodiniaceae genes important for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33189975, year = {2021}, author = {Mohamed, AYA and Welles, L and Siggins, A and Healy, MG and Brdjanovic, D and Rada-Ariza, AM and Lopez-Vazquez, CM}, title = {Effects of substrate stress and light intensity on enhanced biological phosphorus removal in a photo-activated sludge system.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {116606}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2020.116606}, pmid = {33189975}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; *Phosphorus ; *Sewage ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Photo-activated sludge (PAS) systems are an emerging wastewater treatment technology where microalgae provide oxygen to bacteria without the need for external aeration. There is limited knowledge on the optimal conditions for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in systems containing a mixture of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and microalgae. This research aimed to study the effects of substrate composition and light intensity on the performance of a laboratory-scale EBPR-PAS system. Initially, a model-based design was developed to study the effect of organic carbon (COD), inorganic carbon (HCO3) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) in nitrification deprived conditions on phosphorus (P) removal. Based on the mathematical model, two different synthetic wastewater compositions (COD:HCO3:NH4-N: 10:20:1 and 10:10:4) were examined at a light intensity of 350 µmol m[-2] sec[-1]. Add to this, the performance of the system was also investigated at light intensities: 87.5, 175, and 262.5 µmol m[-2] sec[-1] for short terms. Results showed that wastewater having a high level of HCO3 and low level of NH4-N (ratio of 10:20:1) favored only microalgal growth, and had poor P removal due to a shortage of NH4-N for PAOs growth. However, lowering the HCO3 level and increasing the NH4-N level (ratio of 10:10:4) balanced PAOs and microalgae symbiosis, and had a positive influence on P removal. Under this mode of operation, the system was able to operate without external aeration and achieved a net P removal of 10.33 ±1.45 mg L[-1] at an influent COD of 100 mg L[-1]. No significant variation was observed in the reactor performance for different light intensities, indicating the EBPR-PAS system can be operated at low light intensities with a positive influence on P removal.}, } @article {pmid33189450, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, G and Wang, L and Ma, F and Yang, D and You, Y}, title = {Earthworm and arbuscular mycorrhiza interactions: Strategies to motivate antioxidant responses and improve soil functionality.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {272}, number = {}, pages = {115980}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115980}, pmid = {33189450}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants ; Cadmium/toxicity ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; *Oligochaeta ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) act synergistically in the rhizosphere and may increase host plant tolerance to Cd. However, mechanisms by which earthworm-AMF-plant partnerships counteract Cd phytotoxicity are unknown. Thus, we evaluated individual and interactive effects of these soil organisms on photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity, and essential nutrient uptake by Solanum nigrum, as well as on soil quality following Cd exposure (0-120 mg kg[-1]). Decreases in biomass and photosynthetic activity, as well as nutrient imbalances were observed in Cd-stressed plants; however, the addition of AMF and earthworms reversed these effects. Cd exposure increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, whereas inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices decreased those. Soil enzymatic activity decreased by 15-60% with increasing Cd concentrations. However, Cd-mediated toxicity was partially reversed by soil organisms. Earthworms and AMF ameliorated soil quality based on soil enzyme activity. At 120 mg kg[-1] Cd, the urease, catalase, and acid phosphatase activities were 1.6-, 1.4-, and 1.2-fold higher, respectively, in soils co-incubated with earthworms and AMF than in uninoculated soil. Cd inhibited shoot Fe and Ca phytoaccumulation, whereas AMF and earthworms normalized the status of essential elements in plants. Cd detoxification by earthworm-AMF-S. nigrum symbiosis was manifested by increases in plant biomass accumulation (22-117%), chlorophyll content (17-63%), antioxidant levels (SOD 10-18%, POD 9-25%, total polyphenols 17-22%, flavonoids 15-29%, and glutathione 7-61%). It also ameliorated the photosynthetic capacity, and macro- and micronutrient statuses of plants; markedly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (20-27%), superoxide anion (29-36%), and hydrogen peroxide (19-30%); and upregulated the transcription level of FeSOD. Thus, the combined action of earthworms and AMF feasibly enhances metal tolerance of hyperaccumulating plants and improves the quality of polluted soil.}, } @article {pmid33188641, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, X and Geng, Q and Zhang, H and Bian, C and Chen, HYH and Jiang, D and Xu, X}, title = {Global negative effects of nutrient enrichment on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {5}, pages = {2957-2969}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17077}, pmid = {33188641}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Despite widespread anthropogenic nutrient enrichment, it remains unclear how nutrient enrichment influences plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis and ecosystem multifunctionality at the global scale. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the worldwide effects of nutrient enrichment on AMF and plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality using data of field experiments from 136 papers. Our analyses showed that nutrient addition simultaneously decreased AMF diversity and abundance belowground and plant diversity aboveground at the global scale. The decreases in AMF diversity and abundance associated with nutrient addition were more pronounced with increasing experimental duration, mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). Nutrient addition-induced changes in soil pH and available phosphorus (P) predominantly regulated the responses of AMF diversity and abundance. Furthermore, AMF diversity correlated with ecosystem multifunctionality under nutrient addition worldwide. Our findings identify the negative effects of nutrient enrichment on AMF and plant diversity and suggest that AMF diversity is closely linked with ecosystem function. This study offers an important advancement in our understanding of plant-AMF interactions and their likely responses to ongoing global change.}, } @article {pmid33188629, year = {2021}, author = {Guo, D and Zhang, X and Shi, Y and Cui, B and Fan, J and Ji, B and Yuan, J}, title = {Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge process outperformed aerobic granular sludge process in municipal wastewater treatment with less carbon dioxide emissions.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {13616-13623}, pmid = {33188629}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bioreactors ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {The aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process and microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) process were comparably applied for municipal wastewater treatment in sequencing batch reactors with a height to diameter ratio of eight. For morphological appearances, the yellow aerobic granules were strip-shaped (4.0 mm × 0.62 mm) while the green microalgal-bacterial granules were elliptical-shaped (2.0 mm × 0.75 mm). The dominated rod-shaped bacteria (e.g., Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes) and the slender configuration might be associated with the strip shape of aerobic granules under weak acid conditions. The nutrients removal performances by MBGS process were generally slightly better than AGS process. In addition, nutrients removal mechanisms were identified to elucidate how organics, ammonia, and phosphorus were removed by AGS process and MBGS process, respectively. Mass balance calculation estimated that MBGS process appeared to achieve much less CO2 emission (5.8%) compared with AGS process (44.4%). Overall, it proved that MBGS process, with the merits of potentially low energy cost, limited CO2 emission, and excellent performance, showed more prospects in municipal wastewater treatment than AGS process.}, } @article {pmid33188003, year = {2021}, author = {Oliver, JD and Price, LD and Burkhardt, NY and Heu, CC and Khoo, BS and Thorpe, CJ and Kurtti, TJ and Munderloh, UG}, title = {Growth Dynamics and Antibiotic Elimination of Symbiotic Rickettsia buchneri in the Tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33188003}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI049424/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI081690/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Ciprofloxacin/*pharmacology ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rickettsia/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rickettsia buchneri is the principal symbiotic bacterium of the medically significant tick Ixodes scapularis This species has been detected primarily in the ovaries of adult female ticks and is vertically transmitted, but its tissue tropism in other life stages and function with regard to tick physiology is unknown. In order to determine the function of R. buchneri, it may be necessary to produce ticks free from this symbiont. We quantified the growth dynamics of R. buchneri naturally occurring in I. scapularis ticks throughout their life cycle and compared it with bacterial growth in ticks in which symbiont numbers were experimentally reduced or eliminated. To eliminate the bacteria, we exposed ticks to antibiotics through injection and artificial membrane feeding. Both injection and membrane feeding of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin were effective at eliminating R. buchneri from most offspring of exposed females. Because of its effectiveness and ease of use, we have determined that injection of ciprofloxacin into engorged female ticks is an efficient means of clearing R. buchneri from the majority of progeny.IMPORTANCE This paper describes the growth of symbiotic Rickettsia buchneri within Ixodes scapularis through the life cycle of the tick and provides methods to eliminate R. buchneri from I. scapularis ticks.}, } @article {pmid33187995, year = {2021}, author = {Fidopiastis, PM and Mariscal, V and McPherson, JM and McAnulty, S and Dunn, A and Stabb, EV and Visick, KL}, title = {Vibrio fischeri Amidase Activity Is Required for Normal Cell Division, Motility, and Symbiotic Competence.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33187995}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Amidohydrolases/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Biofilms ; Cell Division ; Mutation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {N-Acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidases are periplasmic hydrolases that cleave the amide bond between N-acetylmuramic acid and alanine in peptidoglycan (PG). Unlike many Gram-negative bacteria that encode redundant periplasmic amidases, Vibrio fischeri appears to encode a single protein that is homologous to AmiB of Vibrio cholerae We screened a V. fischeri transposon mutant library for strains altered in biofilm production and discovered a biofilm-overproducing strain with an insertion in amiB (VF_2326). Further characterization of biofilm enhancement suggested that this phenotype was due to the overproduction of cellulose, and it was dependent on the bcsA cellulose synthase. Additionally, the amiB mutant was nonmotile, perhaps due to defects in its ability to septate during division. The amidase mutant was unable to compete with the wild type for the colonization of V. fischeri's symbiotic host, the squid Euprymna scolopes In single-strain inoculations, host squid inoculated with the mutant eventually became colonized but with a much lower efficiency than in squid inoculated with the wild type. This observation was consistent with the pleiotropic effects of the amiB mutation and led us to speculate that motile suppressors of the amiB mutant were responsible for the partially restored colonization. In culture, motile suppressor mutants carried point mutations in a single gene (VF_1477), resulting in a partial restoration of wild-type motility. In addition, these point mutations reversed the effect of the amiB mutation on cellulosic biofilm production. These data are consistent with V. fischeri AmiB possessing amidase activity; they also suggest that AmiB suppresses cellulosic biofilm formation but promotes successful host colonization.IMPORTANCE Peptidoglycan (PG) is a critical microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) that is sloughed by cells of V. fischeri during symbiotic colonization of squid. Specifically, this process induces significant remodeling of a specialized symbiotic light organ within the squid mantle cavity. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the loss of ciliated epithelium in patients with whooping cough due to the production of PG monomers by Bordetella pertussis Furthermore, PG processing machinery can influence susceptibility to antimicrobials. In this study, we report roles for the V. fischeri PG amidase AmiB, including the beneficial colonization of squid, underscoring the urgency to more deeply understand PG processing machinery and the downstream consequences of their activities.}, } @article {pmid33187223, year = {2020}, author = {Shelomi, M and Chen, MJ}, title = {Culturing-Enriched Metabarcoding Analysis of the Oryctes rhinoceros Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33187223}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Wood-feeding insects should have a source of enzymes like cellulases to digest their food. These enzymes can be produced by the insect, or by microbes living in the wood and/or inside the insect gut. The coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, is a pest whose digestive microbes are of considerable interest. This study describes the compartments of the O. rhinoceros gut and compares their microbiomes using culturing-enriched metabarcoding. Beetle larvae were collected from a coconut grove in southern Taiwan. Gut contents from the midgut and hindgut were plated on nutrient agar and selective carboxymethylcellulose agar plates. DNA was extracted from gut and fat body samples and 16S rDNA metabarcoding performed to identify unculturable bacteria. Cellulase activity tests were performed on gut fluids and microbe isolates. The midgut and hindgut both showed cellulolytic activity. Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter koseri, and the cellulolytic fungus Candida xylanilytica were cultured from both gut sections in most larvae. Metabarcoding did not find Bacillus cereus, and found that either Citrobacter koseri or Paracoccus sp. were the dominant gut microbes in any given larva. No significant differences were found between midgut and hindgut microbiomes. Bacillus cereus and Citrobacter koseri are common animal gut microbes frequently found in Oryctes rhinoceros studies while Candida xylanilytica and the uncultured Paracoccus sp. had not been identified in this insect before. Some or all of these may well have digestive functions for the beetle, and are most likely acquired from the diet, meaning they may be transient commensalists rather than obligate mutualists. Broader collection efforts and tests with antibiotics will resolve ambiguities in the beetle-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid33186449, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, C and Velandia, K and Kwon, CT and Wulf, KE and Nichols, DS and Reid, JB and Foo, E}, title = {The role of CLAVATA signalling in the negative regulation of mycorrhizal colonization and nitrogen response of tomato.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {5}, pages = {1702-1713}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa539}, pmid = {33186449}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Solanum lycopersicum/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants form mutualistic nutrient-acquiring symbioses with microbes, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The formation of these symbioses is costly, and plants employ a negative feedback loop termed autoregulation of mycorrhizae (AOM) to limit formation of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). We provide evidence for the role of one leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (FAB), a hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase enzyme (FIN), and additional evidence for one receptor-like protein (SlCLV2) in the negative regulation of AM formation in tomato. Reciprocal grafting experiments suggest that the FAB gene acts locally in the root, while the SlCLV2 gene may act in both the root and the shoot. External nutrients including phosphate and nitrate can also strongly suppress AM formation. We found that FAB and FIN are required for nitrate suppression of AM but are not required for the powerful suppression of AM colonization by phosphate. This parallels some of the roles of legume homologues in the autoregulation of the more recently evolved symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria leading to nodulation. This deep homology in the symbiotic role of these genes suggests that in addition to the early signalling events that lead to the establishment of AM and nodulation, the autoregulation pathway might also be considered part of the common symbiotic toolkit that enabled plants to form beneficial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33185936, year = {2021}, author = {Plett, KL and Kohler, A and Lebel, T and Singan, VR and Bauer, D and He, G and Ng, V and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Plett, JM and Anderson, IC}, title = {Intra-species genetic variability drives carbon metabolism and symbiotic host interactions in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {2004-2020}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15320}, pmid = {33185936}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; Carbon ; Ecosystem ; *Eucalyptus ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are integral to boreal and temperate forest ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling. ECM fungi, however, originate from diverse saprotrophic lineages and the impacts of genetic variation across species, and especially within a given ECM species, on function and interactions with the environment is not well understood. Here, we explore the extent of intra-species variation between four isolates of the ECM fungus Pisolithus microcarpus, in terms of gene regulation, carbon metabolism and growth, and interactions with a host, Eucalyptus grandis. We demonstrate that, while a core response to the host is maintained by all of the isolates tested, they have distinct patterns of gene expression and carbon metabolism, resulting in the differential expression of isolate-specific response pathways in the host plant. Together, these results highlight the importance of using a wider range of individuals within a species to understand the broader ecological roles of ECM fungi and their host interactions.}, } @article {pmid33185681, year = {2021}, author = {Yoshioka, Y and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Zayasu, Y and Tada, I and Kanda, M and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E and Shinzato, C}, title = {Whole-Genome Transcriptome Analyses of Native Symbionts Reveal Host Coral Genomic Novelties for Establishing Coral-Algae Symbioses.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33185681}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Duplication ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Genome ; Genomics ; Larva ; Photosynthesis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals and photosynthetic, endosymbiotic algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae establish mutualistic relationships that are fundamental to coral biology, enabling coral reefs to support a vast diversity of marine species. Although numerous types of Symbiodiniaceae occur in coral reef environments, Acropora corals select specific types in early life stages. In order to study molecular mechanisms of coral-algal symbioses occurring in nature, we performed whole-genome transcriptomic analyses of Acropora tenuis larvae inoculated with Symbiodinium microadriaticum strains isolated from an Acropora recruit. In order to identify genes specifically involved in symbioses with native symbionts in early life stages, we also investigated transcriptomic responses of Acropora larvae exposed to closely related, nonsymbiotic, and occasionally symbiotic Symbiodinium strains. We found that the number of differentially expressed genes was largest when larvae acquired native symbionts. Repertoires of differentially expressed genes indicated that corals reduced amino acid, sugar, and lipid metabolism, such that metabolic enzymes performing these functions were derived primarily from S. microadriaticum rather than from A. tenuis. Upregulated gene expression of transporters for those metabolites occurred only when coral larvae acquired their natural symbionts, suggesting active utilization of native symbionts by host corals. We also discovered that in Acropora, genes for sugar and amino acid transporters, prosaposin-like, and Notch ligand-like, were upregulated only in response to native symbionts, and included tandemly duplicated genes. Gene duplications in coral genomes may have been essential to establish genomic novelties for coral-algae symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33185350, year = {2020}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Kuzmin, MD and Perunova, NB and Ivanova, EV and Bekpergenova, AV and Bondarenko, TA}, title = {[Characterization of the microbiota and cytokine profile of sperm plasma in men with chronic bacterial prostatitis].}, journal = {Urologiia (Moscow, Russia : 1999)}, volume = {}, number = {5}, pages = {67-72}, pmid = {33185350}, issn = {1728-2985}, mesh = {Cytokines ; Humans ; *Infertility, Male ; Male ; *Microbiota ; *Prostatitis ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: One of the leading causes of the occurrence of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) in men is infection, microecological disorders of the urogenital tract and cytokine-mediated mechanisms of inflammation of the prostate gland, which actualizes a comprehensive study of the clinical and bacteriological features of CBP from the perspective of a symbiotic approach in the framework of a new scientific field - "infectious symbiology".

OBJECTIVE: to study the characteristics of spermogram, microbiota, and the cytokine profile in men with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) and CBP complicated by infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive study of patients with CBP and CBP complicated by infertility, in comparison with conditionally healthy individuals, was conducted. Species identification of microorganisms was carried out according to biochemical characteristics and the genetic method (sequencing of strains). The biological properties of the microbiota were evaluated: growth properties, biofilm formation, antipeptide activity against the cytokines IL-10, RAIL-1, TNF-, INF- and IL-17 (8 parameters). Immunological parameters of sperm plasma included 13 parameters: the content of cytokines TNF-, INF-, Rail, interleukins (IL) -1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 17, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, lactoferrin and lysozyme. To evaluate sperm plasma, the following quantities were determined: ejaculate volume, pH, sperm plasma liquefaction, total sperm count, sperm count per 1 ml, motility, number of progressively motile, non-progressive motile and motionless spermatozoa, number of round cells, white blood cells, spermatogenesis cells, erythrocytes, erythrocytes, cells, sperm agglutination and aggregation (16 parameters in total). The results are statistically processed.

RESULTS: Data were obtained on changes in biofilm formation, antipeptide activity of microbiota (especially pronounced in corynebacteria), sperm plasma cytokine profile (increased TNF , IL-2, 6, 17), as well as IgA and lactoferrin, which can be used to build a prognostic model of reproductive pathology tract of men and their fertile activity.

CONCLUSION: The study of the antipeptide activity of microbiota in combination with the cytokine profile of ejaculate allows us to recommend them as a "biotarget" for diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic measures for chronic prostatitis in men, which contribute to solving the medical and social problem of preventing male infertility and contributes to the development of health-saving technologies with incorporating elements of personalized medicine.}, } @article {pmid33184570, year = {2020}, author = {Braunberger, P}, title = {Symbiosis and survival: Xanthoria elegans.}, journal = {Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l'Academie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {256-259}, pmid = {33184570}, issn = {1719-8429}, } @article {pmid33184315, year = {2020}, author = {Kagawa, O and Uchida, S and Yamazaki, D and Osawa, Y and Ito, S and Chiba, S and , }, title = {Citizen science via social media revealed conditions of symbiosis between a marine gastropod and an epibiotic alga.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {19647}, pmid = {33184315}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animal Shells/*physiology ; Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Citizen Science/*methods ; Ecosystem ; Gastropoda/*physiology ; *Heat-Shock Response ; *Social Media ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Environmental factors promote symbiosis, but its mechanism is not yet well understood. The alga Pseudocladophora conchopheria grows only on the shell of an intertidal gastropod Lunella correensis, and these species have a close symbiotic relationship which the alga reduces heat stress of the gastropod. In collaboration with general public, we investigated how environmental conditions alter the symbiotic interaction between the alga and the gastropod. Information about the habitats of each gastropod and images of shells was obtained from the Japanese and Korean coasts via social media. We constructed the hierarchical Bayesian model using the data. The results indicated that the proportion of shell area covered by P. conchopheria increased as the substrate size utilized by the gastropod increased. Meanwhile, temperature did not affect the proportion of P. conchopheria on the shell. These suggested that the alga provides no benefits for the gastropod on small substrates because gastropod can reduce the heat stress by diving into the small sediment. Further, the gastropod's cost incurred by growing the alga on the shell seems to be low as the algae can grow even in cooler places where no benefits of heat resistance for gastropods. Different environments can yield variable conditions in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33183625, year = {2021}, author = {Skiba, EА and Gladysheva, EK and Golubev, DS and Budaeva, VV and Aleshina, LА and Sakovich, GV}, title = {Self-standardization of quality of bacterial cellulose produced by Medusomyces gisevii in nutrient media derived from Miscanthus biomass.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {252}, number = {}, pages = {117178}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117178}, pmid = {33183625}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Bacteria/chemistry ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Cellulose/*biosynthesis ; Culture Media/*chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Poaceae/*chemistry ; Saccharomycetales/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) was synthesized from biomass of Miscanthus grown in West Siberia. Miscanthus biomass was pretreated at atmospheric pressure with 4 wt.% solutions of HNO3 and NaOH in one and two stages. The effect of four methods of the pretreatment of the feedstock on BC yield and properties was examined. The resultant pulps were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with commercial CelloLux-A and BrewZyme BGX enzymes. Biosynthesis of BC was run under static and non-sterile conditions using Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12. The two-stage pretreatment of Miscanthus biomass gave a 20 % increase in BC production compared to the single-stage pretreatment. The resultant BC exhibited a high crystallinity index (88-93 %) and an extraordinarily high content of allomorph Iα (99-100 %), irrespective of the pretreatment method; therefore, it has been revealed for the first time that the Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 symbiotic culture is capable of self-standardization against the quality of produced BC.}, } @article {pmid33183238, year = {2020}, author = {Yuan, S and Ke, D and Li, R and Li, X and Wang, L and Chen, H and Zhang, C and Huang, Y and Chen, L and Hao, Q and Yang, H and Cao, D and Chen, S and Guo, W and Shan, Z and Yang, Z and Zhang, X and Qiu, D and Guan, Y and Zhou, X}, title = {Genome-wide survey of soybean papain-like cysteine proteases and their expression analysis in root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {517}, pmid = {33183238}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Cysteine Proteases/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics/physiology ; Papain/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium ; Soybeans/*genetics/physiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs) are a large class of proteolytic enzymes and play important roles in root nodule symbiosis (RNS), while the whole-genome studies of PLCP family genes in legume are quite limited, and the roles of Glycine max PLCPs (GmPLCPs) in nodulation, nodule development and senescence are not fully understood.

RESULTS: In the present study, we identified 97 GmPLCPs and performed a genome-wide survey to explore the expansion of soybean PLCP family genes and their relationships to RNS. Nineteen paralogous pairs of genomic segments, consisting of 77 GmPLCPs, formed by whole-genome duplication (WGD) events were identified, showing a high degree of complexity in duplication. Phylogenetic analysis among different species showed that the lineage differentiation of GmPLCPs occurred after family expansion, and large tandem repeat segment were specifically in soybean. The expression patterns of GmPLCPs in symbiosis-related tissues and nodules identified RNS-related GmPLCPs and provided insights into their putative symbiotic functions in soybean. The symbiotic function analyses showed that a RNS-related GmPLCP gene (Glyma.04G190700) really participate in nodulation and nodule development.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings improved our understanding of the functional diversity of legume PLCP family genes, and provided insights into the putative roles of the legume PLCPs in nodulation, nodule development and senescence.}, } @article {pmid33182634, year = {2020}, author = {Andreason, SA and Shelby, EA and Moss, JB and Moore, PJ and Moore, AJ and Simmons, AM}, title = {Whitefly Endosymbionts: Biology, Evolution, and Plant Virus Interactions.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33182634}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are sap-feeding global agricultural pests. These piercing-sucking insects have coevolved with intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria that help to supplement their nutrient-poor plant sap diets with essential amino acids and carotenoids. These obligate, primary endosymbionts have been incorporated into specialized organs called bacteriomes where they sometimes coexist with facultative, secondary endosymbionts. All whitefly species harbor the primary endosymbiont Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum and have a variable number of secondary endosymbionts. The secondary endosymbiont complement harbored by the cryptic whitefly species Bemisia tabaci is particularly complex with various assemblages of seven different genera identified to date. In this review, we discuss whitefly associated primary and secondary endosymbionts. We focus on those associated with the notorious B. tabaci species complex with emphasis on their biological characteristics and diversity. We also discuss their interactions with phytopathogenic begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae), which are transmitted exclusively by B. tabaci in a persistent-circulative manner. Unraveling the complex interactions of these endosymbionts with their insect hosts and plant viruses could lead to advancements in whitefly and whitefly transmitted virus management.}, } @article {pmid33182359, year = {2020}, author = {Ripken, C and Khalturin, K and Shoguchi, E}, title = {Response of Coral Reef Dinoflagellates to Nanoplastics under Experimental Conditions Suggests Downregulation of Cellular Metabolism.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33182359}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plastic products contribute heavily to anthropogenic pollution of the oceans. Small plastic particles in the microscale and nanoscale ranges have been found in all marine ecosystems, but little is known about their effects upon marine organisms. In this study, we examine changes in cell growth, aggregation, and gene expression of two symbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, Symbiodinium tridacnidorum (clade A3), and Cladocopium sp. (clade C) under exposure to 42-nm polystyrene beads. In laboratory experiments, the cell number and aggregation were reduced after 10 days of nanoplastic exposure at 0.01, 0.1, and 10 mg/L concentrations, but no clear correlation with plastic concentration was observed. Genes involved in dynein motor function were upregulated when compared to control conditions, while genes related to photosynthesis, mitosis, and intracellular degradation were downregulated. Overall, nanoplastic exposure led to more genes being downregulated than upregulated and the number of genes with altered expression was larger in Cladocopium sp. than in S. tridacnidorum, suggesting different sensitivity to nano-plastics between species. Our data show that nano-plastic inhibits growth and alters aggregation properties of microalgae, which may negatively affect the uptake of these indispensable symbionts by coral reef organisms.}, } @article {pmid33181990, year = {2021}, author = {Ramin, E and Bestuzheva, K and Gargalo, CL and Ramin, D and Schneider, C and Ramin, P and Flores-Alsina, X and Andersen, MM and Gernaey, KV}, title = {Incremental design of water symbiosis networks with prior knowledge: The case of an industrial park in Kenya.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {751}, number = {}, pages = {141706}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141706}, pmid = {33181990}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Industrial parks have a high potential for recycling and reusing resources such as water across companies by creating symbiosis networks. In this study, we introduce a mathematical optimization framework for the design of water network integration in industrial parks formulated as a large-scale standard mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem. The novelty of our approach relies on i) developing a multi-level incremental optimization framework for water network synthesis, ii) including prior knowledge of water demand growth and projected water scarcity to evaluate the significance of water-saving solutions, iii) incorporating a comprehensive formulation of the water network synthesis problem including multiple pollutants and different treatment units and iv) performing a multi-objective optimization of the network including freshwater savings and relative cost of the network. The significance of the proposed optimization framework is illustrated by applying it to an existing industrial park in a water-scarce region in Kenya. Firstly, we illustrated the benefits of including prior knowledge to prevent an over-design of the network at the early stages. In the case study, we achieved a more flexible and expandable water network with 36% lower unit cost at the early stage and 15% lower unit cost at later stages for overall maximum freshwater savings of 25%. Secondly, multi-objective analysis suggests an optimum freshwater savings of 14% to reduce the unit cost of the network by half. Moreover, the significance of symbiosis networks is highlighted by showing that intra-company connections can only achieve a maximum freshwater savings of 17% with significantly higher unit cost (+45%). Finally, we showed that the values of symbiosis connectivity index in the Pareto front correspond to higher freshwater savings, indicating the significant role of the symbiosis network in the industrial park under study. This is the first study, where all the above elements have been taken into account simultaneously for the design of a water reuse network.}, } @article {pmid33178395, year = {2020}, author = {Ruiz, MA and Junior, RLK and Piron-Ruiz, L and Saran, PS and Castiglioni, L and de Quadros, LG and Pinho, TS and Burt, RK}, title = {Medical, ethical, and legal aspects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Crohn's disease in Brazil.}, journal = {World journal of stem cells}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {1113-1123}, pmid = {33178395}, issn = {1948-0210}, abstract = {Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of CD is unknown; however, genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors could play an essential role in the onset and establishment of the disease. CD results from immune dysregulation due to loss of the healthy symbiotic relationship between host and intestinal flora and or its antigens. It affects both sexes equally with a male to female ratio of 1.0, and its onset can occur at any age, but the diagnosis is most commonly observed in the range of 20 to 40 years of age. CD diminishes quality of life, interferes with social activities, traumatizes due to the stigma of incontinence, fistulae, strictures, and colostomies, and in severe cases, affects survival when compared to the general population. Symptoms fluctuate between periods of remission and activity in which complications such as fistulas, strictures, and the need for bowel resection, surgery, and colostomy implantation make up the most severe aspects of the disease. CD can be progressive and the complications recurrent despite treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biological agents. However, over time many patients become refractory without treatment alternatives, and in this scenario, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has emerged as a potential treatment option. The rationale for the use of HSCT for CD is anchored in animal studies and human clinical trials where HSCT could reset a patient's immune system by eliminating disease-causing effector cells and upon immune recovery increase regulatory and suppressive immune cells. Autologous HSCT using a non-myeloablative regimen of cyclophosphamide and anti-thymocyte globulin without CD34+ selection has been to date the most common transplant conditioning regimen adopted. In this review we will address the current situation regarding CD treatment with HSCT and emphasize the medical, ethical, and legal aspects that permeate the procedure in Brazil.}, } @article {pmid33178254, year = {2020}, author = {Tahayori, B}, title = {Prokaryote-Eukaryote Symbiosis to Produce RNA-Based Therapeutics.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {583464}, pmid = {33178254}, issn = {1664-8021}, } @article {pmid33178165, year = {2020}, author = {Bengoa, AA and Dardis, C and Gagliarini, N and Garrote, GL and Abraham, AG}, title = {Exopolysaccharides From Lactobacillus paracasei Isolated From Kefir as Potential Bioactive Compounds for Microbiota Modulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {583254}, pmid = {33178165}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbiota coexists in true symbiosis with the host playing pivotal roles as a key element for well-being and health. Exopolysaccharides from lactic acid bacteria are an alternative as novel potential prebiotics that increase microbiota diversity. Considering this, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the capacity of the EPS produced by two L. paracasei strains isolated from kefir grains, to be metabolized in vitro by fecal microbiota producing short chain fatty acids. For this purpose, fecal samples from healthy children were inoculated in a basal medium with EPS and incubated in anaerobiosis at 37°C for 24, 48, and 72 h. DGGE profiles and the production of SCFA after fermentation were analyzed. Additionally, three selected samples were sequenced by mass sequencing analysis using Ion Torrent PGM. EPS produced by L. paracasei CIDCA 8339 (EPS8339) and CIDCA 83124 (EPS83124) are metabolized by fecal microbiota producing a significant increase in SCFA. EPS8339 fermentation led to an increment of propionate and butyrate, while fermentation of EPS83124 increased butyrate levels. Both EPS led to a profile of SCFA different from the ones obtained with inulin or glucose fermentation. DGGE profiles of 72 h fermentation demonstrated that both EPS showed a different band profile when compared to the controls; EPS profiles grouped in a cluster that have only 65% similarity with glucose or inulin profiles. Mass sequencing analysis demonstrated that the fermentation of EPS8339 leads to an increase in the proportion of the genera Victivallis, Acidaminococcus and Comamonas and a significant drop in the proportion of enterobacteria. In the same direction, the fermentation of EPS83124 also resulted in a marked reduction of Enterobacteriaceae with a significant increase in the genus Comamonas. It was observed that the changes in fecal microbiota and SCFA profile exerted by both polymers are different probably due to differences in their structural characteristics. It can be concluded that EPS synthesized by both L. paracasei strains, could be potentially used as bioactive compound that modify the microbiota increasing the production of propionic and butyric acid, two metabolites highly associated with beneficial effects both at the gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal level.}, } @article {pmid33177615, year = {2020}, author = {Koshiba, S and Motoike, IN and Saigusa, D and Inoue, J and Aoki, Y and Tadaka, S and Shirota, M and Katsuoka, F and Tamiya, G and Minegishi, N and Fuse, N and Kinoshita, K and Yamamoto, M}, title = {Identification of critical genetic variants associated with metabolic phenotypes of the Japanese population.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {662}, pmid = {33177615}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Asian People/*genetics ; Female ; Genetic Variation/*genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Japan ; Male ; Metabolome/*genetics ; Multienzyme Complexes/genetics ; Orotate Phosphoribosyltransferase/genetics ; Orotidine-5'-Phosphate Decarboxylase/genetics ; Phenotype ; Prospective Studies ; }, abstract = {We performed a metabolome genome-wide association study for the Japanese population in the prospective cohort study of Tohoku Medical Megabank. By combining whole-genome sequencing and nontarget metabolome analyses, we identified a large number of novel associations between genetic variants and plasma metabolites. Of the identified metabolite-associated genes, approximately half have already been shown to be involved in various diseases. We identified metabolite-associated genes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics, some of which are from intestinal microorganisms, indicating that the identified genetic variants also markedly influence the interaction between the host and symbiotic bacteria. We also identified five associations that appeared to be female-specific. A number of rare variants that influence metabolite levels were also found, and combinations of common and rare variants influenced the metabolite levels more profoundly. These results support our contention that metabolic phenotyping provides important insights into how genetic and environmental factors provoke human diseases.}, } @article {pmid33177277, year = {2020}, author = {Goto, S and Ohbayashi, T and Takeshita, K and Sone, T and Matsuura, Y and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {A Peptidoglycan Amidase Mutant of Burkholderia insecticola Adapts an L-form-like Shape in the Gut Symbiotic Organ of the Bean Bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33177277}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Amidohydrolases/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Burkholderia/*cytology/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/physiology ; Heteroptera/microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Peptidoglycan/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial cell shapes may be altered by the cell cycle, nutrient availability, environmental stress, and interactions with other organisms. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris possesses a symbiotic bacterium, Burkholderia insecticola, in its midgut crypts. This symbiont is a typical rod-shaped bacterium under in vitro culture conditions, but changes to a spherical shape inside the gut symbiotic organ of the host insect, suggesting the induction of morphological alterations in B. insecticola by host factors. The present study revealed that a deletion mutant of a peptidoglycan amidase gene (amiC), showing a filamentous chain form in vitro, adapted a swollen L-form-like cell shape in midgut crypts. Spatiotemporal observations of the ΔamiC mutant in midgut crypts revealed the induction of swollen cells, particularly prior to the molting of insects. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying in vivo-specific morphological alterations, the symbiont was cultured under 13 different conditions and its cell shape was examined. Swollen cells, similar to symbiont cells in midgut crypts, were induced when the mutant was treated with fosfomycin, an inhibitor of peptidoglycan precursor biosynthesis. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that the Burkholderia symbiont in midgut crypts is under the control of the host insect via a cell wall-attacking agent.}, } @article {pmid33177190, year = {2020}, author = {Masson, F and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Growing Ungrowable Bacteria: Overview and Perspectives on Insect Symbiont Culturability.}, journal = {Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR}, volume = {84}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {33177190}, issn = {1098-5557}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Biological Evolution ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects are often involved in endosymbiosis, that is, the housing of symbiotic microbes within their tissues or within their cells. Endosymbionts are a major driving force in insects' evolution, because they dramatically affect their host physiology and allow them to adapt to new niches, for example, by complementing their diet or by protecting them against pathogens. Endosymbiotic bacteria are, however, fastidious and therefore difficult to manipulate outside of their hosts, especially intracellular species. The coevolution between hosts and endosymbionts leads to alterations in the genomes of endosymbionts, limiting their ability to cope with changing environments. Consequently, few insect endosymbionts are culturable in vitro and genetically tractable, making functional genetics studies impracticable on most endosymbiotic bacteria. However, recently, major progress has been made in manipulating several intracellular endosymbiont species in vitro, leading to astonishing discoveries on their physiology and the way they interact with their host. This review establishes a comprehensive picture of the in vitro tractability of insect endosymbiotic bacteria and addresses the reason why most species are not culturable. By compiling and discussing the latest developments in the design of custom media and genetic manipulation protocols, it aims at providing new leads to expand the range of tractable endosymbionts and foster genetic research on these models.}, } @article {pmid33172703, year = {2021}, author = {Izadi, P and Izadi, P and Eldyasti, A}, title = {Towards mainstream deammonification: Comprehensive review on potential mainstream applications and developed sidestream technologies.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {279}, number = {}, pages = {111615}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111615}, pmid = {33172703}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Ammonia ; *Ammonium Compounds ; *Bioreactors ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Technology ; Wastewater/analysis ; }, abstract = {Deammonification (partial nitritation-anammox) process is a favorable and innovative process, for treatment of nitrogen-rich wastewater due to decreased oxygen and carbon requirements at very high nitrogen loadings. The bacterial groups responsible for this process are anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria in symbiosis with ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) which have an active role in development of nitrogen removal biotechnology in wastewater. Development and operation of sidestream deammonification processes has augmented since the initial full-scale systems, yet there are several aspects which mandate additional investigation and deliberation by the practitioners, to reach the operating perspective, set for the facility. Process technologies for treatment of streams with high ammonia concentrations continue to emerge, correspondingly, further investigation towards feasibility of applying the deammonification concept, in the mainstream treatment process is required. Mainstream deammonification can potentially improve the process of achieving more sustainable and energy-neutral municipal wastewater treatment, however feasible applications are not accessible yet. This critical review focuses on a comprehensive assessment of the worldwide lab-scale, pilot-scale and full-scale sidestream applications as well as identifying the major issues obstructing the implementation of mainstream processes, in addition to the designs, operational factors and technology advancements at both novel and/or conventional levels. This review aims to provide a novel and broad overview of the status and challenges of both sidestream and mainstream deammonification technologies and installations worldwide to assess the global perspectives on deammonification research in the recent years. The different configurations, crucial factors and overall trends in the development of deammonification research are discussed and conclusively, the future needs for feasible applications are critically reviewed.}, } @article {pmid33171804, year = {2020}, author = {Giovannetti, L and Viti, C}, title = {Editorial for the Special Issue: Macro and Microorganism Interactions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33171804}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The knowledge of symbiotic, parasitic, and commensal interactions between macro and microorganisms is fundamental to explaining their coexistence, ecology, and productivity [...].}, } @article {pmid33171605, year = {2020}, author = {Paraschiv, M and Isaia, G}, title = {Disparity of Phoresy in Mesostigmatid Mites upon Their Specific Carrier Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33171605}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Ips typographus Linnaeus, 1758, the most important pest of Norway spruce (Picea abies Linnaeus, 1753) from Eurasia has damaged, in the last decades, a large area of forest in Romania. Associations between beetles and their symbiotic fungi are well known compared to beetle-mite relationships. The objectives of the study are to determine: (i) the diversity of mites species associated with I. typographus in a local outbreak from Central Romania; (ii) the mite's preferences concerning the body parts of their carriers; and (iii) how phoresy changes during seasonal flight activity of the host. A total of 7896 adult I. typographus were analyzed and six mite species (both adults and immature stages) were found: Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus Berlese,1920, Proctolaelaps fiseri Samsinak, 1960, Trichouropoda polytricha Vitzthum, 1923, Histiostoma piceae Scheucher, 1957, Uroobovella ipidis Vitzthum, 1923, and Uroobovella vinicolora Vitzthum, 1926. Most mites were observed under the carriers' elytra (46.8%), while 26.7% and 25.8% were seen on the thorax and elytral declivities, respectively. Mite phoresy peaked in the spring corresponding to the dispersal flight of the carrier. A smaller peak in phoresy occurred in the summer during the second beetle generation.}, } @article {pmid33171385, year = {2020}, author = {Paulitsch, F and Delamuta, JRM and Ribeiro, RA and da Silva Batista, JS and Hungria, M}, title = {Phylogeny of symbiotic genes reveals symbiovars within legume-nodulating Paraburkholderia species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {126151}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126151}, pmid = {33171385}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mimosa/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Paraburkholderia are capable of establishing symbiotic relationships with plants belonging to the Fabaceae (=Leguminosae) family and fixing the atmospheric nitrogen in specialized structures in the roots called nodules, in a process known as biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). In the nodulation and BNF processes several bacterial symbiotic genes are involved, but the relations between symbiotic, core genes and host specificity are still poorly studied and understood in Paraburkholderia. In this study, eight strains of nodulating nitrogen-fixing Paraburkholderia isolated in Brazil, together with described species and other reference strains were used to infer the relatedness between core (16S rDNA, recA) and symbiotic (nod, nif, fix) genes. The diversity of genes involved in the nodulation (nodAC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) abilities was investigated. Only two groups, one containing three Paraburkholderia species symbionts of Mimosa, and another one with P. ribeironis strains presented similar phylogenetic patterns in the analysis of core and symbiotic genes. In three other groups events of horizontal gene transfer of symbiotic genes were detected. Paraburkholderia strains with available genomes were used in the complementary analysis of nifHDK and fixABC and confirmed well-defined phylogenetic positions of symbiotic genes. In all analyses of nod, nif and fix genes the strains were distributed into five clades with high bootstrap support, allowing the proposal of five symbiovars in nodulating nitrogen-fixing Paraburkholderia, designated as mimosae, africana, tropicalis, atlantica and piptadeniae. Phylogenetic inferences within each symbiovar are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33171105, year = {2020}, author = {Saha, S and Basak, B and Hwang, JH and Salama, ES and Chatterjee, PK and Jeon, BH}, title = {Microbial Symbiosis: A Network towards Biomethanation.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {968-984}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2020.03.012}, pmid = {33171105}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/physiology ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Lipids ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Polysaccharides ; Sewage/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Biomethanation through anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most reliable energy harvesting process to achieve waste-to-energy. Microbial communities, including hydrolytic and fermentative bacteria, syntrophic bacteria, and methanogenic archaea, and their interspecies symbioses allow complex metabolisms for the volumetric reduction of organic waste in AD. However, heterogeneity in organic waste induces community shifts in conventional anaerobic digesters treating sewage sludge at wastewater treatment plants globally. Assessing the metabolic roles of individual microbial species in syntrophic communities remains a challenge, but such information has important implications for microbially enhanced energy recovery. This review focuses on the alterations in digester microbiome and intricate interspecies networks during substrate variation, symbiosis among the populations, and their implications for biomethanation to aid stable operation in real-scale digesters.}, } @article {pmid33168733, year = {2020}, author = {Cleves, PA and Krediet, CJ and Lehnert, EM and Onishi, M and Pringle, JR}, title = {Insights into coral bleaching under heat stress from analysis of gene expression in a sea anemone model system.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {46}, pages = {28906-28917}, pmid = {33168733}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P30 DK116074/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD025212/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Apoptosis/genetics ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Gene Expression/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation/genetics ; Heat-Shock Response/*genetics/physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Models, Biological ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Loss of endosymbiotic algae ("bleaching") under heat stress has become a major problem for reef-building corals worldwide. To identify genes that might be involved in triggering or executing bleaching, or in protecting corals from it, we used RNAseq to analyze gene-expression changes during heat stress in a coral relative, the sea anemone Aiptasia. We identified >500 genes that showed rapid and extensive up-regulation upon temperature increase. These genes fell into two clusters. In both clusters, most genes showed similar expression patterns in symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones, suggesting that this early stress response is largely independent of the symbiosis. Cluster I was highly enriched for genes involved in innate immunity and apoptosis, and most transcript levels returned to baseline many hours before bleaching was first detected, raising doubts about their possible roles in this process. Cluster II was highly enriched for genes involved in protein folding, and most transcript levels returned more slowly to baseline, so that roles in either promoting or preventing bleaching seem plausible. Many of the genes in clusters I and II appear to be targets of the transcription factors NFκB and HSF1, respectively. We also examined the behavior of 337 genes whose much higher levels of expression in symbiotic than aposymbiotic anemones in the absence of stress suggest that they are important for the symbiosis. Unexpectedly, in many cases, these expression levels declined precipitously long before bleaching itself was evident, suggesting that loss of expression of symbiosis-supporting genes may be involved in triggering bleaching.}, } @article {pmid33168581, year = {2020}, author = {Reddy, SSK and Chao, S}, title = {Academic collaborations with industry: lessons for the future.}, journal = {Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {1305-1308}, doi = {10.1136/jim-2020-001636}, pmid = {33168581}, issn = {1708-8267}, mesh = {Big Data ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Drug Discovery ; Humans ; *Industry ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; *Universities ; }, abstract = {Academic centers and industry partners have had love-hate relationships for more than a century. Despite many examples of socially beneficial collaborations between academia and industry, it has become increasingly difficult to find an arrangement where neither clinicians/researchers working with industry nor industry itself is demonized. Regardless, we must incentivize innovation. Preclinical research is primarily funded by the government, whereas 70% of clinical research is supported by industry. Due to external political pressure and industry's concern about lack of control over content, industry's support of continuing medical education (CME) has shrunk to 10% from 40% and has led to diversion of funding to non-CME events. Despite scrutiny of clinical faculty members' interactions with industry, corporate philanthropy is much sought after by academic institutions. Developing new therapeutics requires both academia and industry to transparently and ethically partner with creation of innovative start-ups, sharing of non-proprietary clinical trial data, and in postmarketing surveillance. The search continues for truly symbiotic relationships between academia and industry.}, } @article {pmid33167465, year = {2020}, author = {Tokgöz, S and Lakshman, DK and Ghozlan, MH and Pinar, H and Roberts, DP and Mitra, A}, title = {Soybean Nodule-Associated Non-Rhizobial Bacteria Inhibit Plant Pathogens and Induce Growth Promotion in Tomato.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33167465}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The root nodules are a unique environment formed on legume roots through a highly specific symbiotic relationship between leguminous plants and nodule-inducing bacteria. Previously, Rhizobia were presumed to be the only group of bacteria residing within nodules. However, recent studies discovered diverse groups of bacteria within the legume nodules. In this report soybean nodule-associated bacteria were studied in an effort to identify beneficial bacteria for plant disease control and growth promotion. Analysis of surface-sterilized single nodules showed bacterial diversity of the nodule microbiome. Five hundred non-rhizobial colonies from 10 nodules, 50 colonies per nodule, were tested individually against the tomato wilt causing bacterial pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) for inhibition of pathogen growth. From the initial screening, 54 isolates were selected based on significant growth inhibition of Cmm. These isolates were further tested in vitro on another bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) and two fungal pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Bacterial metabolites were extracted from 15 selected isolates with ethanol and tested against pathogen Cmm and Pst. These isolates were identified by using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Pseudomonas spp. were the dominant soybean nodule-associated non-rhizobial bacterial group. Several isolates imparted significant protection against pathogens and/or plant growth promotion on tomato seedlings. The most promising nodule-associated bacterial isolate that suppressed both Cmm and Pst in vitro and Pst in tomato seedlings was identified as a Proteus species. Isolation and identification of beneficial nodule-associated bacteria established the foundation for further exploration of potential nodule-associated bacteria for plant protection and growth promotion.}, } @article {pmid33166751, year = {2021}, author = {Sikorskaya, TV and Efimova, KV and Imbs, AB}, title = {Lipidomes of phylogenetically different symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {112579}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112579}, pmid = {33166751}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Ecosystem ; Lipidomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The structural base of all membranes of symbiotic dinoflagellates (SD) is composed of glycolipids and betaine lipids, whereas triacylglycerols (TG) constitute an energy reserve and are involved in biosynthesis of glycolipids. Since data on the SD lipidome and the host's influence on symbionts' lipidome are scanty, we analyzed and compared the lipidomes of SD isolated from the zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa and the alcyonarian Sinularia heterospiculata. A sequencing of nuclear gene regions showed that both cnidarians hosted the dinoflagellates Cladocopium sp. (subclades C1 and C3), but the zoantharian also contained the dinoflagellates Durusdinium trenchii (clade D). The presence of the thermotolerant D. trenchii resulted in a higher unsaturation of mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDG and DGDG), but a lower unsaturation of sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). The same features were earlier described for same SD from a reef-building coral. Hence, the profile of glycolipid molecules, which form SD thylakoid membranes, seems to be species-specific and does not depend on the host's taxonomic position. In contrast, the betaine lipid molecular species profile of diacylglyceryl-3-O-carboxyhydroxymethylcholine (DGCC), which forms SD cell membranes, can be influenced by the host. The profiles of the TG molecular species from freshly isolated SD have been determined for the first time. These molecular species can be divided on the basis of the acyl group in sn-2 position. The TG with 16:0 acyl group in sn-2 position may enrich total TG of a cnidarian colony and originate from SD cytoplasm. In contrast, TG 18:3/18:4/18:3 may be biosynthetically related with DGDG and concentrated in SD plastoglobules. Our data may be useful for further investigations of natural and technogenic variations in microalgal lipids and symbiont-host interactions in marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33166735, year = {2021}, author = {Koszewicz, M and Jaroch, J and Brzecka, A and Ejma, M and Budrewicz, S and Mikhaleva, LM and Muresanu, C and Schield, P and Somasundaram, SG and Kirkland, CE and Avila-Rodriguez, M and Aliev, G}, title = {Dysbiosis is one of the risk factor for stroke and cognitive impairment and potential target for treatment.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {164}, number = {}, pages = {105277}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105277}, pmid = {33166735}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins ; Cognitive Dysfunction/*etiology/prevention & control ; Dysbiosis/*complications/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/*etiology/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {More than 50 million people have various forms of cognitive impairment basically caused by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cerebrovascular diseases as well as stroke. Often these conditions coexist and exacerbate one another. The damaged area in post-stroke dementia may lead to neurodegenerative lesions. Gut microbiome functions like an endocrine organ by generating bioactive metabolites that can directly or indirectly impact human physiology. An alteration in the composition and function of intestinal flora, i.e. gut dysbiosis, is implicated in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. Additionally, gut dysbiosis may accelerate the progression of cognitive impairment. Dysbiosis may result from obesity; metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders, Lack of physical activity is associated with dysbiosis as well. These may coexist in various patterns in older people, enhancing the risk, incidence, and progression of cerebrovascular lesions, neurodegenerative disorders, and cognitive impairment, creating a vicious circle. Recently, it has been reported that several metabolites produced by gut microbiota (e.g., trimethylamine/trimethylamine N-oxide, short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids) may be linked to neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. New treatment modalities, including prebiotic and probiotics, may normalize the gut microbiota composition, change the brain-gut barrier, and decrease the risk of the pathology development. Fecal microbiota transplantation, sometimes in combination with other methods, is used for remodeling and replenishing the symbiotic gut microbiome. This promising field of research is associated with basic findings of bidirectional communication between body organs and gut microbiota that creates new possibilities of pharmacological treatments of many clinical conditions. The authors present the role of gut microbiota in physiology, and the novel therapeutic targets in modulation of intestinal microbiota Personalized therapies based on their personal genome make up could offer benefits by modulating microbiota cross-talk with brain and cardiovascular system. A healthy lifestyle, including pre and probiotic nutrition is generally recommended. Prevention may also be enhanced by correcting gut dysbiosis resulting a reduced risk of post-stroke cognitive impairment including dementia.}, } @article {pmid33166203, year = {2021}, author = {Schweiger, R and Padilla-Arizmendi, F and Nogueira-López, G and Rostás, M and Lawry, R and Brown, C and Hampton, J and Steyaert, JM and Müller, C and Mendoza-Mendoza, A}, title = {Insights into Metabolic Changes Caused by the Trichoderma virens-Maize Root Interaction.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {524-537}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-20-0081-R}, pmid = {33166203}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Hypocrea ; Plant Roots ; *Trichoderma ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {The interactions of crops with root-colonizing endophytic microorganisms are highly relevant to agriculture, because endophytes can modify plant resistance to pests and increase crop yields. We investigated the interactions between the host plant Zea mays and the endophytic fungus Trichoderma virens at 5 days postinoculation grown in a hydroponic system. Wild-type T. virens and two knockout mutants, with deletion of the genes tv2og1 or vir4 involved in specialized metabolism, were analyzed. Root colonization by the fungal mutants was lower than that by the wild type. All fungal genotypes suppressed root biomass. Metabolic fingerprinting of roots, mycelia, and fungal culture supernatants was performed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. The metabolic composition of T. virens-colonized roots differed profoundly from that of noncolonized roots, with the effects depending on the fungal genotype. In particular, the concentrations of several metabolites derived from the shikimate pathway, including an amino acid and several flavonoids, were modulated. The expression levels of some genes coding for enzymes involved in these pathways were affected if roots were colonized by the ∆vir4 genotype of T. virens. Furthermore, mycelia and fungal culture supernatants of the different T. virens genotypes showed distinct metabolomes. Our study highlights the fact that colonization by endophytic T. virens leads to far-reaching metabolic changes, partly related to two fungal genes. Both metabolites produced by the fungus and plant metabolites modulated by the interaction probably contribute to these metabolic patterns. The metabolic changes in plant tissues may be interlinked with systemic endophyte effects often observed in later plant developmental stages.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33165962, year = {2021}, author = {Blackstone, NW and Gutterman, JU}, title = {Can natural selection and druggable targets synergize? Of nutrient scarcity, cancer, and the evolution of cooperation.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {e2000160}, doi = {10.1002/bies.202000160}, pmid = {33165962}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Nutrients ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the dawn of molecular biology, cancer therapy has focused on druggable targets. Despite some remarkable successes, cell-level evolution remains a potent antagonist to this approach. We suggest that a deeper understanding of the breakdown of cooperation can synergize the evolutionary and druggable-targets approaches. Complexity requires cooperation, whether between cells of different species (symbiosis) or between cells of the same organism (multicellularity). Both forms of cooperation may be associated with nutrient scarcity, which in turn may be associated with a chemiosmotic metabolism. A variety of examples from modern organisms supports these generalities. Indeed, mammalian cancers-unicellular, glycolytic, and fast-replicating-parallel these examples. Nutrient scarcity, chemiosmosis, and associated signaling may favor cooperation, while under conditions of nutrient abundance a fermentative metabolism may signal the breakdown of cooperation. Manipulating this metabolic milieu may potentiate the effects of targeted therapeutics. Specific opportunities are discussed in this regard, including avicins, a novel plant product.}, } @article {pmid33162321, year = {2021}, author = {Dhara, V and Kudva, A and Chithra, A and Rajan, J and Singh, A}, title = {Reconstruction of buccal mucosa: A minimalist symbiotic approach with local flaps.}, journal = {Oral oncology}, volume = {114}, number = {}, pages = {105081}, doi = {10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105081}, pmid = {33162321}, issn = {1879-0593}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa/pathology/*surgery ; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/*methods ; Surgical Flaps/*surgery ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Buccal mucosa defects following resection of premalignant or malignant lesions require adequate reconstruction. Both locoregional and microvascular flaps have been extensively used based on operator and patient factors. This paper focuses on the outcomes of a simplified approach for reconstruction of large buccal mucosa defects with posterior extent using a combination of two loco regional flaps.

METHOD: A combination of buccal fat pad graft and nasolabial flap was used to reconstruct large defects spanning the buccal mucosa extending to the soft palate or retromolar trigone areas. Post operative outcomes were noted in patients who underwent reconstruction using this combination technique.

RESULT: This paper highlights the favourable results and ease of technique with this combination of flaps, i.e complete coverage of large buccal mucosa defects extending to critical areas such as soft palate, retromolar trigone or tonsillar pillars; avoiding sophisticated free flaps. Satisfactory healing with adequate functional and esthetic outcomes were seen.

CONCLUSION: Defects post ablation of buccal mucosa lesions, larger than 5 cm × 5 cm, can be reconstructed using double local flaps. Buccal fat pad and nasolabial flaps heal excellently with nil morbidities and their combination provides a simple and an economical alternative option for reconstructive surgeons.}, } @article {pmid33161742, year = {2020}, author = {Martin, K and Johnston, L and Archer, N}, title = {Oral conditions in the community patient: part 2-systemic complications of poor oral health.}, journal = {British journal of community nursing}, volume = {25}, number = {11}, pages = {532-536}, doi = {10.12968/bjcn.2020.25.11.532}, pmid = {33161742}, issn = {1462-4753}, mesh = {Humans ; *Mouth Diseases/complications/diagnosis/epidemiology ; *Nurses/statistics & numerical data ; *Oral Health/statistics & numerical data ; Quality of Life ; }, abstract = {Oral health has a symbiotic relationship with general health, with oral disease recognised to have an adverse effect on the overall systemic health of a patient. Deterioration in oral health has been shown to have an impact on the severity of chronic systemic diseases, nutrition, hydration and psychological and social wellbeing. Part 1 of this mini-series explored the common oral conditions that community patients may present with, and the role of the nursing team in aiding the prevention, diagnosis and management of these conditions. Following on from that, this article discusses the links between oral and general health, and preservation of a patient's quality of life. This article also aims to support nurses' knowledge on how to assess the oral health needs of patients, support oral care provision, how to access acute and elective dental services and signpost to additional supportive resources.}, } @article {pmid33161526, year = {2021}, author = {Jakubczyk, K and Gutowska, I and Antoniewicz, J and Janda, K}, title = {Evaluation of Fluoride and Selected Chemical Parameters in Kombucha Derived from White, Green, Black and Red Tea.}, journal = {Biological trace element research}, volume = {199}, number = {9}, pages = {3547-3552}, pmid = {33161526}, issn = {1559-0720}, mesh = {Beverages/analysis ; Fermentation ; *Fluorides ; Polyphenols ; *Tea ; }, abstract = {Kombucha dates back thousands of years and is reported to have originated in East Asia. It is produced by fermenting tea with added sugar using SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Its health benefits can be attributed to the metabolites produced during the fermentation process. Valuable ingredients of this fermented tea beverage include acetic acid, glucuronic acid, vitamins, enzymes, sugars and polyphenols. Tea, and consequently kombucha, contains numerous minerals, and one of them is fluoride. Under physiological conditions, fluoride plays a significant role in hard tissue mineralisation processes. However, even at low concentrations with long-term exposure, fluorides may accumulate in the body and cause a range of detrimental effects. Kombucha is traditionally brewed with black tea, but these days it is becoming increasingly popular to use other types of tea to make it, which may significantly affect its composition and health-promoting effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the fluoride content in kombucha beverages derived from black, green, white and red tea. Fluoride content was measured at different time points during fermentation. The potentiometric method was used to determine the content of fluoride ions. It was demonstrated that kombucha is a major dietary source of fluoride (0.42-0.93 mg/L) and that the type of tea used has a significant effect on its chemical composition. Therefore, it recommended to make the beverage with white or red tea, due to the lowest fluoride content and ensure food safety.Graphical Abstract.}, } @article {pmid33161357, year = {2020}, author = {Efstathiadou, E and Savvas, D and Tampakaki, AP}, title = {Genetic diversity and phylogeny of indigenous rhizobia nodulating faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Greece.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {126149}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126149}, pmid = {33161357}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Greece ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity and phylogeny of fast-growing rhizobia isolated from root nodules of Vicia faba grown in different geographical regions of Greece were assessed. Although Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae is the most common symbiont of Vicia spp. in European soils, there is no available information on native rhizobia nodulating faba bean in Greece. Seventy bacterial strains were isolated and grouped into sixteen distinct profiles based on BOX-PCR fingerprinting. The phylogenetic affiliation was further defined by sequence analysis of the rrs and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of three housekeeping genes (recA, atpD and gyrB). Fifty-eight isolates were affiliated with recently described genospecies gsF-2, represented by R. laguerreae FB206[T], whereas six isolates were closely related to gsB and two isolates might belong to gsA. Two isolates assigned to R. hidalgonense and another two non-nodulating strains could not be assigned to any validly defined species and possibly belong to a new rhizobial lineage. Interestingly, R. laguerreae strains were commonly found at all sampling sites, suggesting that they could be the main symbionts of faba beans in Greek soils. According to the phylogenies of two symbiosis-related genes (nodC and nifH), all nodulating isolates belonged to symbiovar (sv.) viciae harboring four distinct nodC gene haplotypes and they were grouped into two clades together with strains assigned to R. laguerreae and genospecies of R. leguminosarum isolated from other countries and continents. This is the first report that R. hidalgonense strains belong to sv. viciae. No correlation was observed between the nodC haplotypes, geographic origin and chromosomal background of the isolates in the study.}, } @article {pmid33161208, year = {2020}, author = {Taerum, SJ and Jasso-Selles, DE and Hileman, JT and De Martini, F and Mizumoto, N and Gile, GH}, title = {Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia) symbionts of the termite Paraneotermes simplicicornis.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {125742}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125742}, pmid = {33161208}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Parabasalidea/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The desert dampwood termite Paraneotermes simplicicornis harbors several species of obligately symbiotic protists that support its nutrition by fermenting lignocellulose. Among them are three morphotypes with the dexiotropic spiraling flagellar bands characteristic of Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia). The largest morphotype, characterized by an elongated cell apex with axial columella and internally positioned spiraling flagellar bands, was previously described as Spirotrichonympha polygyra. A smaller morphotype, with similarly internalized flagellar bands but a more rounded posterior without a protruding axostyle, was previously reported but not named. The smallest morphotype has surface flagellar bands and can attach to other protist cells by its apex. In this study, we combine light microscopy of live specimens and 18S rRNA gene sequencing of individually isolated cells to better understand the diversity of symbionts in P. simplicicornis. We found that S. polygyra branches distantly from true Spirotrichonympha, which are associated with Reticulitermes termites. Thus, we propose the new genus Cuppa to accommodate C. polygyra n. comb. (type species) and the similar but smaller morphotype Cuppa taenia n. sp. The undescribed smallest morphotype can be excluded from all previously described Spirotrichonymphea genera by molecular and behavioral evidence, so we propose Fraterculus simplicicornis n. gen., n. sp., to accommodate this organism.}, } @article {pmid33160036, year = {2021}, author = {Zheng, N and Li, SH and Dong, B and Sun, W and Li, HR and Zhang, YL and Li, P and Fang, ZW and Chen, CM and Han, XY and Li, B and Zhang, SY and Xu, M and Zhang, GX and Xin, Y and Ma, YF and Wan, XY and Yan, QL}, title = {Comparison of the gut microbiota of short-term and long-term medical workers and non-medical controls: a cross-sectional analysis.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {1285-1292}, doi = {10.1016/j.cmi.2020.10.033}, pmid = {33160036}, issn = {1469-0691}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dysbiosis ; Feces ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Health Personnel ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The hospital environment has been implicated in the enrichment and exchange of pathogens and antibiotic resistance, but its potential in shaping the symbiotic microbial community of hospital staff is unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the alteration of the gut microbiome in medical workers compared to non-medical controls.

METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) and other departments of a centre in north-eastern China. Faecal samples of 175 healthy medical workers-short-term (1-3 months) workers (n = 80) and long-term (>1 year) workers (n = 95)-and 80 healthy non-medical controls were analysed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The hospital environmental samples (n = 9) were also analysed.

RESULTS: The gut microbiomes of medical workers exhibited marked deviations in diversity and alteration in microbial composition and function. Short-term workers showed significantly higher abundances of taxa such as Lactobacillus, Butyrivibrio, Clostridiaceae, Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Dialister, Bifidobacterium, Odoribacter, and Desulfovibrio and lower abundances of Bacteroides and Blautia than the controls. Long-term workers showed higher abundances of taxa such as Dialister, Veillonella, Clostridiaceae, Clostridium, Bilophila, Desulfovibrio, Pseudomonas, and Akkermansia and lower abundances of Bacteroides and Coprococcus than the controls. The medical workers' department (ICU versus non-ICU) and position (resident doctor versus nursing staff) also impacted their gut microbiome. Compared with the non-ICU workers, workers in the ICU showed a significant increase in the abundances of Dialister, Enterobacteriaceae, Phascolarctobacterium, Pseudomonas, Veillonella, and Streptococcus and a marked depletion of Faecalibacterium, Blautia, and Coprococcus. In contrast with the nursing staff, the resident doctors showed a significant increase in Erysipelotrichaceae and Clostridium and a decrease in Bacteroides, Blautia, and Ruminococcus in the gut microbiome. Moreover, we found that the microbiota of hospital environments potentially correlated with the workers' gut microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated structural changes in the gut microbial community of medical workers.}, } @article {pmid33159824, year = {2021}, author = {Locsin, RC and Pepito, JA and Juntasopeepun, P and Constantino, RE}, title = {Transcending human frailties with technological enhancements and replacements: Transhumanist perspective in nursing and healthcare.}, journal = {Nursing inquiry}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {e12391}, doi = {10.1111/nin.12391}, pmid = {33159824}, issn = {1440-1800}, mesh = {*Humanism ; Humans ; Machine Learning/trends ; Nursing Theory ; Self-Help Devices/*psychology/trends ; }, abstract = {As human beings age, they become weak, fragile, and feeble. It is a slowly progressing yet complex syndrome in which old age or some disabilities are not prerequisites; neither does loss of human parts lead to frailty among the physically fit older persons. This paper aims to describe the influences of transhumanist perspectives on human-technology enhancements and replacements in the transcendence of human frailties, including those of older persons, in which technology is projected to deliver solutions toward transcending these frailties. Through technologies including genetic screening and other technological manipulations, intelligent machines and augmented humans improve, maintain, and remedy human-linked susceptibilities. Furthermore, other technologies replace parts fabricated through inorganic-mechanical processes such as 3D-printing. Advancing technologies are reaching the summit of technological sophistication contributing to the transhumanist views of being human in a technological world. Technologies enhance the transcendence of human frailties as essential expressions of the symbiosis between human beings and technology in a transcendental world.}, } @article {pmid33159597, year = {2021}, author = {Miyamoto, Y and Danilov, AV and Bryanin, SV}, title = {The dominance of Suillus species in ectomycorrhizal fungal communities on Larix gmelinii in a post-fire forest in the Russian Far East.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {55-66}, pmid = {33159597}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Asia, Eastern ; *Fires ; Forests ; *Larix ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Russia ; }, abstract = {Wildfires can negatively affect ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal communities. However, potential shifts in community structures due to wildfires have rarely been evaluated in the forests of eastern Eurasia, where surface fires are frequent. We investigated EM fungal communities in a Larix gmelinii-dominated forest that burned in 2003 in Zeya, in the Russian Far East. A total of 120 soil samples were collected from burned and adjacent unburned forest sites. The EM fungal root tips were morphotyped and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were obtained for fungal identification. We detected 147 EM fungal operational taxonomic units, and EM fungal richness was 25% lower at the burned site than at the unburned site. EM fungal composition was characterized by the occurrence of disturbance-adapted fungi (Amphinema and Wilcoxina) at the burned site and late-successional fungi (Lactarius, Russula and Cortinarius) at the unburned site. These findings suggest that the EM fungal communities did not recover to pre-fire levels 16 years after the fire. Suillus species were the dominant EM fungi on L. gmelinii, with greater richness and frequency at the burned site. Both Larix and Suillus exhibit adaptive traits to quickly colonize fire-disturbed habitats. Frequent surface fires common to eastern Eurasia are likely to play important roles in maintaining Larix forests, concomitantly with their closely associated EM fungi.}, } @article {pmid33158898, year = {2021}, author = {Jiang, Y and Brandt, BW and Buijs, MJ and Cheng, L and Exterkate, RAM and Crielaard, W and Deng, DM}, title = {Manipulation of Saliva-Derived Microcosm Biofilms To Resemble Dysbiotic Subgingival Microbiota.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {33158898}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Butyric Acid/metabolism ; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology ; Gingiva/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/genetics/physiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Saliva/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Periodontitis is a highly prevalent oral inflammatory disease triggered by dysbiotic subgingival microbiota. For the development of microbiome modulators that can reverse the dysbiotic state and reestablish a health-associated microbiota, a high-throughput in vitro multispecies biofilm model is needed. Our aim is to establish a model that resembles a dysbiotic subgingival microbial biofilm by incorporating the major periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis into microcosm biofilms cultured from pooled saliva of healthy volunteers. The biofilms were grown for 3, 7, and 10 days and analyzed for their microbial composition by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing as well as measurement of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) activity and butyric acid production. The addition of P. gingivalis increased its abundance in saliva-derived microcosm biofilms from 2.7% on day 3 to >50% on day 10, which significantly reduced the Shannon diversity but did not affect the total number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The P. gingivalis-enriched biofilms displayed altered microbial composition as revealed by principal-component analysis and reduced interactions among microbial species. Moreover, these biofilms exhibited enhanced DPP4 activity and butyric acid production. In conclusion, by adding P. gingivalis to saliva-derived microcosm biofilms, we established an in vitro pathogen-enriched dysbiotic microbiota which resembles periodontitis-associated subgingival microbiota in terms of increased P. gingivalis abundance and higher DPP4 activity and butyric acid production. This model may allow for investigating factors that accelerate or hinder a microbial shift from symbiosis to dysbiosis and for developing microbiome modulation strategies.IMPORTANCE In line with the new paradigm of the etiology of periodontitis, an inflammatory disorder initiated by dysbiotic subgingival microbiota, novel therapeutic strategies have been proposed targeting reversing dysbiosis and restoring host-compatible microbiota rather than eliminating the biofilms unselectively. Thus, appropriate laboratory models are required to evaluate the efficacy of potential microbiome modulators. In the present study, we used the easily obtainable saliva as an inoculum, spiked the microcosm biofilms with the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, and obtained a P. gingivalis-enriched microbiota, which resembles the in vivo pathogen-enriched subgingival microbiota in severe periodontitis. This biofilm model circumvents the difficulties encountered when using subgingival plaque as the inoculum and achieves microbiota in a dysbiotic state in a controlled and reproducible manner, which is required for high-throughput and large-scale evaluation of strategies that can potentially modulate microbial ecology.}, } @article {pmid33158887, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, Y and Queller, DC and Tian, Y and Zhang, S and Yan, Q and He, Z and He, Z and Wu, C and Wang, C and Shu, L}, title = {The Ecology and Evolution of Amoeba-Bacterium Interactions.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33158887}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Amoeba/*physiology ; Bacteria ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Microbial Interactions ; }, abstract = {Amoebae are protists that have complicated relationships with bacteria, covering the whole spectrum of symbiosis. Amoeba-bacterium interactions contribute to the study of predation, symbiosis, pathogenesis, and human health. Given the complexity of their relationships, it is necessary to understand the ecology and evolution of their interactions. In this paper, we provide an updated review of the current understanding of amoeba-bacterium interactions. We start by discussing the diversity of amoebae and their bacterial partners. We also define three types of ecological interactions between amoebae and bacteria and discuss their different outcomes. Finally, we focus on the implications of amoeba-bacterium interactions on human health, horizontal gene transfer, drinking water safety, and the evolution of symbiosis. In conclusion, amoeba-bacterium interactions are excellent model systems to investigate a wide range of scientific questions. Future studies should utilize advanced techniques to address research gaps, such as detecting hidden diversity, lack of amoeba genomes, and the impacts of amoeba predation on the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33158453, year = {2020}, author = {Van de Guchte, M and Burz, SD and Cadiou, J and Wu, J and Mondot, S and Blottière, HM and Doré, J}, title = {Alternative stable states in the intestinal ecosystem: proof of concept in a rat model and a perspective of therapeutic implications.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {153}, pmid = {33158453}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Dextran Sulfate/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/genetics ; Inflammation/chemically induced/microbiology ; Intestines/drug effects/*microbiology/pathology ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rats ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chronic immune-mediated diseases are rapidly expanding and notoriously difficult to cure. Altered relatively stable intestinal microbiota configurations are associated with several of these diseases, and with a possible pre-disease condition (more susceptible to disease development) of the host-microbiota ecosystem. These observations are reminiscent of the behavior of an ecosystem with alternative stable states (different stable configurations that can exist under identical external conditions), and we recently postulated that health, pre-disease and disease represent such alternative states. Here, our aim was to examine if alternative stable states indeed exist in the intestinal ecosystem.

RESULTS: Rats were exposed to varying concentrations of DSS in order to create a wide range of mildly inflammatory conditions, in a context of diet-induced low microbiota diversity. The consequences for the intestinal microbiota were traced by 16S rRNA gene profiling over time, and inflammation of the distal colon was evaluated at sacrifice, 45 days after the last DSS treatment. The results provide the first formal experimental proof for the existence of alternative stable states in the rat intestinal ecosystem, taking both microbiota and host inflammatory status into consideration. The alternative states are host-microbiota ecosystem states rather than independent and dissociated microbiota and host states, and inflammation can prompt stable state-transition. Based on these results, we propose a conceptual model providing new insights in the interplay between host inflammatory status and microbiota status. These new insights call for innovative therapeutic strategies to cure (pre-)disease.

CONCLUSIONS: We provide proof of concept showing the existence of alternative stable states in the rat intestinal ecosystem. We further propose a model which, if validated in humans, will support innovative diagnosis, therapeutic strategy, and monitoring in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. This model provides a strong rationale for the application of combinatorial therapeutic strategies, targeting host and microbiota rather than only one of the two in chronic immune-mediated diseases. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid33158267, year = {2020}, author = {Gorshkov, AP and Tsyganova, AV and Vorobiev, MG and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {The Fungicide Tetramethylthiuram Disulfide Negatively Affects Plant Cell Walls, Infection Thread Walls, and Symbiosomes in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Symbiotic Nodules.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33158267}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In Russia, tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD) is a fungicide widely used in the cultivation of legumes, including the pea (Pisum sativum). Application of TMTD can negatively affect nodulation; nevertheless, its effect on the histological and ultrastructural organization of nodules has not previously been investigated. In this study, the effect of TMTD at three concentrations (0.4, 4, and 8 g/kg) on nodule development in three pea genotypes (laboratory lines Sprint-2 and SGE, and cultivar 'Finale') was examined. In SGE, TMTD at 0.4 g/kg reduced the nodule number and shoot and root fresh weights. Treatment with TMTD at 8 g/kg changed the nodule color from pink to green, indicative of nodule senescence. Light and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed negative effects of TMTD on nodule structure in each genotype. 'Finale' was the most sensitive cultivar to TMTD and Sprint-2 was the most tolerant. The negative effects of TMTD on nodules included the appearance of a senescence zone, starch accumulation, swelling of cell walls accompanied by a loss of electron density, thickening of the infection thread walls, symbiosome fusion, and bacteroid degradation. These results demonstrate how TMTD adversely affects nodules in the pea and will be useful for developing strategies to optimize fungicide use on legume crops.}, } @article {pmid33156451, year = {2021}, author = {Fritsche, Y and Lopes, ME and Selosse, MA and Stefenon, VM and Guerra, MP}, title = {Serendipita restingae sp. nov. (Sebacinales): an orchid mycorrhizal agaricomycete with wide host range.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {1-15}, pmid = {33156451}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota/genetics ; Host Specificity ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Serendipitaceae family was erected in 2016 to accommodate the Sebacinales 'group B' clade, which contains peculiar species of cultivable root-associated fungi involved in symbiotic associations with a wide range of plant species. Here we report the isolation of a new Serendipita species which was obtained from protocorms of the terrestrial orchid Epidendrum fulgens cultivated in a greenhouse. This species is described based on phylogenetic analysis and on its microscopic and ultrastructural features in pure culture and in association with the host's protocorms. Its genome size was estimated using flow cytometry, and its capacity to promote the germination of E. fulgens seeds and to associate with roots of Arabidopsis thaliana was also investigated. Serendipita restingae sp. nov. is closely related to Serendipita sp. MAFF305841, isolated from Microtis rara (Orchidaceae), from which it differs by 14.2% in the ITS region and by 6.5% in the LSU region. It produces microsclerotia formed of non-monilioid hyphae, a feature that was not reported for the Sebacinales hitherto. Serendipita restingae promoted the germination of E. fulgens seeds, forming typical mycorrhizal pelotons within protocorm cells. It was also able to colonize the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana under in vitro conditions. Arabidopsis plants grown in association with S. restingae increased their biomass more than fourfold. Serendipita restingae is the first Serendipitaceae species described for the Americas.}, } @article {pmid33155054, year = {2021}, author = {Tsiknia, M and Tsikou, D and Papadopoulou, KK and Ehaliotis, C}, title = {Multi-species relationships in legume roots: From pairwise legume-symbiont interactions to the plant - microbiome - soil continuum.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa222}, pmid = {33155054}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Microbiota ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic relationships of legume plants with, either bacteria (like rhizobia) or fungi (like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi), have been investigated intensively, usually as bi-partite interactions. However, diverse symbiotic interactions take place simultaneously or sequentially under field conditions. Their collective, but not additive, contribution to plant growth and performance remains hard to predict, and appears to be furthermore affected by crop species and genotype, non-symbiotic microbial interactions and environmental variables. The challenge is: (i) to unravel the complex overlapping mechanisms that operate between the microbial symbionts as well as between them, their hosts and the rhizosphere (ii) to understand the dynamics of the respective mechanisms in evolutionary and ecological terms. The target for agriculture, food security and the environment, is to use this insight as a solid basis for developing new integrated technologies, practices and strategies for the efficient use of beneficial microbes in legumes and other plants. We review recent advances in our understanding of the symbiotic interactions in legumes roots brought about with the aid of molecular and bioinformatics tools. We go through single symbiont-host interactions, proceed to tripartite symbiont-host interactions, appraise interactions of symbiotic and associative microbiomes with plants in the root-rhizoplane-soil continuum of habitats and end up by examining attempts to validate community ecology principles in the legume-microbe-soil biosystem.}, } @article {pmid33153292, year = {2022}, author = {Egea, MB and Santos, DCD and Oliveira Filho, JG and Ores, JDC and Takeuchi, KP and Lemes, AC}, title = {A review of nondairy kefir products: their characteristics and potential human health benefits.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {1536-1552}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2020.1844140}, pmid = {33153292}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {Beverages ; Bifidobacterium ; Fermentation ; Humans ; *Kefir ; *Lactobacillales ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {Functional foods are foods that, in addition to having nutrients, contain in their composition ingredients that act specifically on body functions associated with the control and reduction of the risk of developing some diseases. In this sense, kefir, a group of microorganisms in symbiosis, mainly yeasts and lactic acid bacteria, stands out. The trend of ingesting kefir has been focused on the development of products that serve specific consumers, such as those who are lactose-intolerant, vegans and vegetarians, and consumers in general who seek to combine the consumption of functional products with the improvement of their health and lifestyle. This overview provides an insight into kefir, presenting the technological process to produce a nondairy beverage and evidence of the benefits of its use to reduce the risk of disease. We also discuss regulatory aspects of products fermented using kefir. Until now, the use of kefir (isolated microorganism, kefiran, or fermented product) has demonstrated the potential to promote an increase in the number of bifidobacteria in the colon and an increase in the glycemic control while reducing the blood cholesterol and balancing the intestinal microbiota, which helps in reducing constipation and diarrhea, improving intestinal permeability, and stimulating and balancing the immune system. However, the literature still has gaps that need to be clarified, such as the consumption dose of kefir or its products to cause some health benefit.}, } @article {pmid33152013, year = {2020}, author = {Jerbi, M and Labidi, S and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A and Chaar, H and Ben Jeddi, F}, title = {Higher temperatures and lower annual rainfall do not restrict, directly or indirectly, the mycorrhizal colonization of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under rainfed conditions.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {e0241794}, pmid = {33152013}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Hordeum/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rain ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Temperature ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Whereas the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant growth improvement has been well described in agroecosystems, little is known about the effect of environmental factors on AMF root colonization status of barley, the fourth most important cereal crop all over the world. In order to understand the influence of environmental factors, such as climatic and soil physico-chemical properties, on the spontaneous mycorrhizal ability of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), a field investigation was conducted in 31 different sites in sub-humid, upper and middle semi-arid areas of Northern Tunisia. Mycorrhizal root colonization of H. vulgare varied considerably among sites. Principal component analysis showed that barley mycorrhization is influenced by both climatic and edaphic factors. A partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) revealed that 39% (R[2]) of the total variation in AMF mycorrhizal rate of barley roots was mainly explained by chemical soil properties and climatic characteristics. Whereas barley root mycorrhizal rates were inversely correlated with soil organic nitrogen (ON), available phosphorus amounts (P), altitude (Z), average annual rainfall (AAR), they were directly correlated with soil pH and temperature. Our results indicated that AMF root colonization of barley was strongly related to climatic characteristics than chemical soil properties. The current study highlights the importance of the PLS-SEM to understand the interactions between climate, soil properties and AMF symbiosis of barley in field conditions.}, } @article {pmid33151753, year = {2020}, author = {Starzak, DE and Quinnell, RG and Cook, CB and Davy, SK}, title = {Influence of Symbiont Species on the Glycerol and Glucose Pools in a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {239}, number = {2}, pages = {143-151}, doi = {10.1086/710349}, pmid = {33151753}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida ; Glucose ; Glycerol ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AbstractSymbiotic dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae release mobile compounds (e.g., glucose, glycerol, amino acids, and lipids) to their host's tissues. Little is known about how different symbionts affect quantitative and qualitative differences in these compounds. We tested how symbiont identity affects glycerol and glucose pools in the tissues of the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida ("Aiptasia"). We infected symbiont-free anemones with three different symbiotic dinoflagellates: Breviolum minutum isolated from our Aiptasia stock, B. minutum isolated from a different Aiptasia population, and the free-living Effrenium voratum. We measured free glycerol and glucose levels in host tissues under photosynthetic conditions, as well as metabolite release by these algae when freshly isolated from Aiptasia and incubated in a host tissue homogenate. Anemone tissues containing the stock B. minutum accumulated glycerol at a higher symbiont cell-specific rate than those containing the alternative B. minutum or E. voratum (e.g., at 9 h of light incubation: stock B. minutum, 4.05 × 10[-5] nmol per algal cell; alternative B. minutum, 0.90 × 10[-5] nmol per algal cell; E. voratum: 1.14 × 10[-5] nmol per algal cell). All symbiotic hosts accumulated glucose between 1 and 12 h of light incubation. At 12 h, the symbiont cell-specific glucose content was 6-fold higher in anemone tissues that contained stock B. minutum than in those containing the alternative B. minutum (1.73 × 10[-6] vs. 0.30 × 10[-6] nmol per algal cell, respectively). All freshly isolated algae released glycerol and glucose when incubated in host homogenate except E. voratum, which did not release glycerol. These trends mirrored those in hospite. Our results suggest that, on an algal cell-specific basis, B. minutum isolated from the same Aiptasia stock provided better nutritional support to the host than did the two other algae, though this was not reflected in colonization success, highlighting the underlying complexity of host-symbiont recognition and symbiosis establishment in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate partnership.}, } @article {pmid33150981, year = {2021}, author = {Assailly, C and Bridot, C and Saumonneau, A and Lottin, P and Roubinet, B and Krammer, EM and François, F and Vena, F and Landemarre, L and Alvarez Dorta, D and Deniaud, D and Grandjean, C and Tellier, C and Pascual, S and Montembault, V and Fontaine, L and Daligault, F and Bouckaert, J and Gouin, SG}, title = {Polyvalent Transition-State Analogues of Sialyl Substrates Strongly Inhibit Bacterial Sialidases*.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {3142-3150}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202004672}, pmid = {33150981}, issn = {1521-3765}, mesh = {Catalytic Domain/drug effects ; Neuraminidase/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/cytology/drug effects/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial sialidases (SA) are validated drug targets expressed by common human pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Vibrio cholerae, or Clostridium perfringens. Noncovalent inhibitors of bacterial SA capable of reaching the submicromolar level are rarely reported. In this work, multi- and polyvalent compounds are developed, based on the transition-state analogue 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic (DANA). Poly-DANA inhibits the catalytic activity of SA from S. pneumoniae (NanA) and the symbiotic microorganism B. thetaiotaomicron (BtSA) at the picomolar and low nanomolar levels (expressed in moles of molecules and of DANA, respectively). Each DANA grafted to the polymer surpasses the inhibitory potential of the monovalent analogue by more than four orders of magnitude, which represents the highest multivalent effect reported so far for an enzyme inhibition. The synergistic interaction is shown to operate exclusively in the catalytic domain, and not in the flanked carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). These results offer interesting perspectives for the multivalent inhibition of other SA families lacking a CBM, such as viral, parasitic, or human SA.}, } @article {pmid33150498, year = {2021}, author = {Pino-Bodas, R and Stenroos, S}, title = {Global Biodiversity Patterns of the Photobionts Associated with the Genus Cladonia (Lecanorales, Ascomycota).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {173-187}, pmid = {33150498}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics ; Biodiversity ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; *Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The diversity of lichen photobionts is not fully known. We studied here the diversity of the photobionts associated with Cladonia, a sub-cosmopolitan genus ecologically important, whose photobionts belong to the green algae genus Asterochloris. The genetic diversity of Asterochloris was screened by using the ITS rDNA and actin type I regions in 223 specimens and 135 species of Cladonia collected all over the world. These data, added to those available in GenBank, were compiled in a dataset of altogether 545 Asterochloris sequences occurring in 172 species of Cladonia. A high diversity of Asterochloris associated with Cladonia was found. The commonest photobiont lineages associated with this genus are A. glomerata, A. italiana, and A. mediterranea. Analyses of partitioned variation were carried out in order to elucidate the relative influence on the photobiont genetic variation of the following factors: mycobiont identity, geographic distribution, climate, and mycobiont phylogeny. The mycobiont identity and climate were found to be the main drivers for the genetic variation of Asterochloris. The geographical distribution of the different Asterochloris lineages was described. Some lineages showed a clear dominance in one or several climatic regions. In addition, the specificity and the selectivity were studied for 18 species of Cladonia. Potentially specialist and generalist species of Cladonia were identified. A correlation was found between the sexual reproduction frequency of the host and the frequency of certain Asterochloris OTUs. Some Asterochloris lineages co-occur with higher frequency than randomly expected in the Cladonia species.}, } @article {pmid33147604, year = {2021}, author = {Euring, D and Janz, D and Polle, A}, title = {Wood properties and transcriptional responses of poplar hybrids in mixed cropping with the nitrogen-fixing species Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {865-881}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaa144}, pmid = {33147604}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Nitrogen ; *Populus/genetics ; *Robinia/genetics ; Wood ; Xylem/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cultivation of fast-growing tree species is often confined to marginal land. Mixed cropping with Robinia pseudoacacia, a legume tree species that forms a symbiosis with N2-fixing bacteria, has been proposed to be a measure to improve soil fertility and to achieve beneficial effects on the cocultivated tree species. The goal of our study was to examine the influence of a Robinia mixture on wood chemistry, anatomy and gene expression in poplar. We hypothesized that annual wood growth is stimulated in species mixtures due to the positive effects of Robinia on nitrogen availability and complementary resource use. Alternatively, we hypothesized that competition, especially for water, has negative effects on the wood growth of poplar. We used two commercial biomass clones, Hybride 275 (H275, Populus trichocarpa × Populus maximowiczii) and Max1 (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii), which were planted at two locations with contrasting soil fertility in monoculture or mixed plots with Robinia to investigate the annual wood increment, wood nitrogen and δ13C, wood anatomy (length, cell wall thickness, lumina and frequencies of fibers and vessels) and transcriptional profiles in the developing xylem of 4-year-old stems. In a mixture with Robinia, the annual stem increment was reduced, nitrogen in wood was enhanced, δ13C in wood was decreased, vessel and fiber frequencies were increased and fiber lengths and fiber lumina were decreased. Transcriptional profiles showed stronger differences between the genotypes and sites than between mono and mixed cultivation. The transcriptional abundances of only one gene (the putative nitrate transporter, NRT1.2) and one gene ontology term ('immune system process') were significantly enriched in wood-forming tissues in response to the mixture, irrespective of the poplar genotype and growth location. Weighted gene coexpression network analyses extracted gene modules that linked wood nitrogen mainly to vessel traits and wood δ13C with fiber traits. Collectively, molecular and anatomical changes in poplar wood suggest beneficial effects on the water and N supply in response to the mixture with Robinia. These alterations may render poplars less drought-susceptible. However, these benefits are accompanied by a reduced wood increment, emphasizing that other critical factors, presumably light competition or allelopathic effects, overrule a potential growth stimulation.}, } @article {pmid33146594, year = {2021}, author = {Osyczka, P and Lenart-Boroń, A and Boroń, P and Rola, K}, title = {Lichen-forming fungi in postindustrial habitats involve alternative photobionts.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {113}, number = {1}, pages = {43-55}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2020.1813486}, pmid = {33146594}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Ascomycota/physiology ; *Chlorophyta/classification/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Algal ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Environmental Pollution ; Genotype ; *Lichens/physiology ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycobionts of many lichen genera appear to demonstrate strong selectivity in the choice of algal partner. The biological properties of a photobiont and its availability in an environment significantly determine the habitat requirements of lichens. Flexibility in photobiont choice extends the ecological amplitude of lichens; therefore, it may constitute an important adaptive strategy for colonization of extreme habitats. The photobiont inventory of the three epigeic lichens most resistant to soil pollution, i.e., Cladonia cariosa, C. rei, and the hyperaccumulator Diploschistes muscorum, was examined to verify whether and to what extent algal composition depends on the type of habitat and substrate enrichment with heavy metals. Photobionts Asterochloris and Trebouxia were identified in the studied lichen species; however, the presence of Trebouxia was directly related to anthropogenic sites with technogenic substrates, and the proportion of lichen specimens with these algae clearly depended on the level of heavy-metal soil pollution and the habitat type. The total number of algal haplotypes increased with increasing soil pollution, and the richness was associated more with soil pollution than with a given lichen species. Additionally, a large number of lichen individuals bearing multiple algal genotypes at polluted sites were recorded. Although Cladonia lichens were previously thought to be restricted to Asterochloris, they are able to start the relichenization process with Trebouxia under specific habitat conditions and to establish a stable association with these algae when colonization of disturbed sites takes place. Comparative analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences revealed as many as 13 haplotypes of Trebouxia, and phylogenetic analysis grouped them into two different clades. Such a high level of genetic diversity indicates that Trebouxia is well adapted to metal pollution and could be an alternative photosynthetic partner for certain lichens, especially in polluted sites.}, } @article {pmid33144822, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, Z and Sun, Z}, title = {From Globalization to Regionalization: The United States, China, and the Post-Covid-19 World Economic Order.}, journal = {Journal of Chinese political science}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {69-87}, pmid = {33144822}, issn = {1874-6357}, abstract = {The Covid-19 pandemic has intensified the debate among optimists, pessimists, and centrists about whether the world economic order is undergoing a fundamental change. While optimists foresee the continuation of economic globalization after the pandemic, pessimists expect localization instead of globalization, given the pandemic's structural negative consequence on the world economy. By contrast, the centrists anticipate a "U-shaped" recovery, where Covid-19 will not kill globalization but slow it down. The three existing perspectives on Covid-19's impact on the economic globalization are not without merit, but they do not take sufficient temporal distance from the ongoing issue. This article suggests employing the historical perspective to expand the time frame by examining the rise and fall of economic globalization before and after the 2008 global financial crisis. The authors argue that economic globalization has been in transition since the 2008 financial crisis, and one important but not exclusive factor to explain this change is the evolving US-China economic relationship, from symbiotic towards increasingly competitive. The economic restructuring in US and China has begun after both countries weathered the 2008 crisis and gained momentum since the outbreak of trade war and Covid-19. The article investigates this trend by distinguishing different types of production activities, and the empirical results confirm that localization and regionalization have been filling the vacuum of economic globalization in retreat in the last decade.}, } @article {pmid33143657, year = {2020}, author = {Luo, Y and Wang, Z and He, Y and Li, G and Lv, X and Zhuang, L}, title = {High-throughput sequencing analysis of the rhizosphere arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community composition associated with Ferula sinkiangensis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {335}, pmid = {33143657}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ferula/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ferula sinkiangensis is an increasingly endangered medicinal plant. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are symbiotic microorganisms that live in the soil wherein they enhance nutrient uptake, stress resistance, and pathogen defense in host plants. While such AMF have the potential to contribute to the cultivation of Ferula sinkiangensis, the composition of AMF communities associated with Ferula sinkiangensis and the relationship between these fungi and other pertinent abiotic factors still remains to be clarified.

RESULTS: Herein, we collected rhizosphere and surrounding soil samples at a range of depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) and a range of slope positions (bottom, middle, top). These samples were then subjected to analyses of soil physicochemical properties and high-throughput sequencing (Illumina MiSeq). We determined that Glomus and Diversispora species were highly enriched in all samples. We further found that AMF diversity and richness varied significantly as a function of slope position, with this variation primarily being tied to differences in relative Glomus and Diversispora abundance. In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between soil depth and overall AMF composition, although some AMF species were found to be sensitive to soil depth. Many factors significantly affected AMF community composition, including organic matter content, total nitrogen, total potassium, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available potassium, total dissolvable salt levels, pH, soil water content, and slope position. We further determined that Shannon diversity index values in these communities were positively correlated with total phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen levels, and pH values (P < 0.05), whereas total phosphorus, total dissolvable salt levels, and pH were positively correlated with Chao1 values (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: In summary, our data revealed that Glomus and Diversispora are key AMF genera found within Ferula sinkiangensis rhizosphere soil. These fungi are closely associated with specific environmental and soil physicochemical properties, and these soil sample properties also differed significantly as a function of slope position (P < 0.05). Together, our results provide new insights regarding the relationship between AMF species and Ferula sinkiangensis, offering a theoretical basis for further studies of their development.}, } @article {pmid33143304, year = {2020}, author = {Goicoechea, N}, title = {Mycorrhizal Fungi as Bioprotectors of Crops Against Verticillium Wilt-A Hypothetical Scenario Under Changing Environmental Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33143304}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The association that many crops can establish with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in soils can enhance the resistance of the host plants against several pathogens, including Verticillium spp. The increased resistance of mycorrhizal plants is mainly due to the improved nutritional and water status of crops and to enhanced antioxidant metabolism and/or increased production of secondary metabolites in the plant tissues. However, the effectiveness of AMF in protecting their host plants against Verticillium spp. may vary depending on the environmental factors. Some environmental factors, such as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the availability of soil water and the air and soil temperatures, are predicted to change drastically by the end of the century. The present paper discusses to what extent the climate change may influence the role of AMF in protecting crops against Verticillium-induced wilt, taking into account the current knowledge about the direct and indirect effects that the changing environment can exert on AMF communities in soils and on the symbiosis between crops and AMF, as well as on the development, incidence and impact of diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens.}, } @article {pmid33143295, year = {2020}, author = {Ling, J and Guan, H and Liu, L and Tao, J and Li, J and Dong, J and Zhang, S}, title = {The Diversity, Composition, and Putative Functions of Gill-Associated Bacteria of Bathymodiolin Mussel and Vesicomyid Clam from Haima Cold Seep, South China Sea.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33143295}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The Haima cold seep, which is one of the two active cold seeps in the South China Sea, is known for its great ecological importance. The seep bivalves are assumed to depend mainly on their bacterial symbiosis for survival and growth. However, information on the bacterial diversity, composition, and putative function of gill-associated of dominant dwelling animals in Haima cold seep remain elusive. Herein, we adopted a high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, and function prediction methods (Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa (FAPROTAX) and Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICURUSTs)) to purposely illustrate the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, composition, and putative functions of the symbionts in bathymodiolin mussel Gigantidas haimaensis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae: Gigantidas) and vesicomyid clam Archivesica marissinica (Bivalvia: Glossoidea: Vesicomyidae). The predominant microbes of both species were Proteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria on the phylum and class level, respectively. The taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of gill microbial communities in G. haimaensis were significantly different from those in A. marissinica (p < 0.05). Nine functional groups, including seven carbon-related biogeochemical groups, were identified through the FAPROTAX analysis. However, the most dominant groups for G. haimaensis and A. marissinica were both chemoheterotrophic. G. haimaensis and A. marissinica shared many pathways, however, 16 obtained Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologous groups (42.11%) significantly differed between the two species (p < 0.05). These findings would provide insight into the functions of microbes in the element cycling and energy flow as well as the host-symbiont relationship of bivalves in the Haima cold seep environment.}, } @article {pmid33143245, year = {2020}, author = {Ben-Laouane, R and Baslam, M and Ait-El-Mokhtar, M and Anli, M and Boutasknit, A and Ait-Rahou, Y and Toubali, S and Mitsui, T and Oufdou, K and Wahbi, S and Meddich, A}, title = {Potential of Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Rhizobia, and/or Green Compost as Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Enhancers under Salinity.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33143245}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Salinity is one of the devastating abiotic stresses that cause reductions in agricultural production. The increased salinization affects alfalfa growth, metabolism, and rhizobium capacity for symbiotic N2 fixation negatively. This study was undertaken to investigate the efficiency of green compost (C; made from green waste), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (M; field-sourced native consortium), and/or rhizobium (R; a salt-tolerant rhizobium strain) individually or in combination as an effective strategy to improve alfalfa productivity under non-saline and high-saline (120 mM NaCl) conditions. In addition, we aimed to understand the agro-physiological and metabolic basis as well as glomalin content in the soil of biofertilizers-induced salt tolerance in alfalfa. Here, we show that mycorrhizal infection was enhanced after MR inoculation, while C application decreased it significantly. Salinity reduced growth, physiological functioning, and protein concentration, but the antioxidant system has been activated. Application of the selected biofertilizers, especially C alone or combined with M and/or R improved alfalfa tolerance. The tri-combination CMR mitigated the negative effects of high salinity by stimulating plant growth, roots and nodules dry matters, mineral uptake (P, N, and K), antioxidant system, synthesis of compatible solutes, and soil glomalin content, sustaining photosynthesis-related performance and decreasing Na[+] and Cl[-] accumulation, lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, and electrolyte leakage.}, } @article {pmid33143227, year = {2020}, author = {Petrushin, I and Belikov, S and Chernogor, L}, title = {Cooperative Interaction of Janthinobacterium sp. SLB01 and Flavobacterium sp. SLB02 in the Diseased Sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {33143227}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Cooperative Behavior ; *Ecosystem ; Flavobacterium/*physiology ; Lakes ; Oxalobacteraceae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endemic freshwater sponges (demosponges, Lubomirskiidae) dominate in Lake Baikal, Central Siberia, Russia. These sponges are multicellular filter-feeding animals that represent a complex consortium of many species of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In recent years, mass disease and death of Lubomirskia baicalensis has been a significant problem in Lake Baikal. The etiology and ecology of these events remain unknown. Bacteria from the families Flavobacteriaceae and Oxalobacteraceae dominate the microbiomes of diseased sponges. Both species are opportunistic pathogens common in freshwater ecosystems. The aim of our study was to analyze the genomes of strains Janthinobacterium sp. SLB01 and Flavobacterium sp. SLB02, isolated from diseased sponges to identify the reasons for their joint dominance. Janthinobacterium sp. SLB01 attacks other cells using a type VI secretion system and suppresses gram-positive bacteria with violacein, and regulates its own activity via quorum sensing. It produces floc and strong biofilm by exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and PEP-CTERM/XrtA protein expression. Flavobacterium sp. SLB02 utilizes the fragments of cell walls produced by polysaccharides. These two strains have a marked difference in carbohydrate acquisition. We described a possible means of joint occupation of the ecological niche in the freshwater sponge microbial community. This study expands the understanding of the symbiotic relationship of microorganisms with freshwater Baikal sponges.}, } @article {pmid33142812, year = {2020}, author = {Genitsaris, S and Stefanidou, N and Leontidou, K and Matsi, T and Karamanoli, K and Mellidou, I}, title = {Bacterial Communities in the Rhizosphere and Phyllosphere of Halophytes and Drought-Tolerant Plants in Mediterranean Ecosystems.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33142812}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The aim of the study was to investigate the bacterial community diversity and structure by means of 16S rRNA gene high-throughput amplicon sequencing, in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of halophytes and drought-tolerant plants in Mediterranean ecosystems with different soil properties. The locations of the sampled plants included alkaline, saline-sodic soils, acidic soils, and the volcanic soils of Santorini Island, differing in soil fertility. Our results showed high bacterial richness overall with Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria dominating in terms of OTUs number and indicated that variable bacterial communities differed depending on the plant's compartment (rhizosphere and phyllosphere), the soil properties and location of sampling. Furthermore, a shared pool of generalist bacterial taxa was detected independently of sampling location, plant species, or plant compartment. We conclude that the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of native plants in stressed Mediterranean ecosystems consist of common bacterial assemblages contributing to the survival of the plant, while at the same time the discrete soil properties and environmental pressures of each habitat drive the development of a complementary bacterial community with a distinct structure for each plant and location. We suggest that this trade-off between generalist and specialist bacterial community is tailored to benefit the symbiosis with the plant.}, } @article {pmid33142139, year = {2020}, author = {Soares, MO and Matos, E and Lucas, C and Rizzo, L and Allcock, L and Rossi, S}, title = {Microplastics in corals: An emergent threat.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {161}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {111810}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111810}, pmid = {33142139}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Microplastics ; Plastics ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {This article seeks to present a summary of knowledge and thus improve awareness of microplastic impacts on corals. Recent research suggests that microplastics have a variety of species-specific impacts. Among them, a reduced growth, a substantial decrease of detoxifying and immunity enzymes, an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, high production of mucus, reduction of fitness, and negative effects on coral-Symbiodiniaceae relationships have been highlighted in recent papers. In addition to this, tissue necrosis, lower fertilization success, alteration of metabolite profiles, energetic costs, decreased skeletal growth and calcification, and coral bleaching have been observed under significant concentrations of microplastics. Furthermore, impairment of feeding performance and food intake, changes in photosynthetic performance and increased exposure to contaminants, pathogens and other harmful compounds have also been found. In conclusion, microplastics may cause a plethora of impacts on corals in shallow, mesophotic, and deep-sea zones at different latitudes; underlining an emerging threat globally.}, } @article {pmid33141992, year = {2021}, author = {Fujise, L and Suggett, DJ and Stat, M and Kahlke, T and Bunce, M and Gardner, SG and Goyen, S and Woodcock, S and Ralph, PJ and Seymour, JR and Siboni, N and Nitschke, MR}, title = {Unlocking the phylogenetic diversity, primary habitats, and abundances of free-living Symbiodiniaceae on a coral reef.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {343-360}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15719}, pmid = {33141992}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae form mutualistic symbioses with marine invertebrates such as reef-building corals, but also inhabit reef environments as free-living cells. Most coral species acquire Symbiodiniaceae horizontally from the surrounding environment during the larval and/or recruitment phase, however the phylogenetic diversity and ecology of free-living Symbiodiniaceae on coral reefs is largely unknown. We coupled environmental DNA sequencing and genus-specific qPCR to resolve the community structure and cell abundances of free-living Symbiodiniaceae in the water column, sediment, and macroalgae and compared these to coral symbionts. Sampling was conducted at two time points, one of which coincided with the annual coral spawning event when recombination between hosts and free-living Symbiodiniaceae is assumed to be critical. Amplicons of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region were assigned to 12 of the 15 Symbiodiniaceae genera or genera-equivalent lineages. Community compositions were separated by habitat, with water samples containing a high proportion of sequences corresponding to coral symbionts of the genus Cladocopium, potentially as a result of cell expulsion from in hospite populations. Sediment-associated Symbiodiniaceae communities were distinct, potentially due to the presence of exclusively free-living species. Intriguingly, macroalgal surfaces displayed the highest cell abundances of Symbiodiniaceae, suggesting a key role for macroalgae in ensuring the ecological success of corals through maintenance of a continuum between environmental and symbiotic populations of Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid33141816, year = {2020}, author = {Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Bongrand, C and Essock-Burns, T and Wu, L and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {The noncoding small RNA SsrA is released by Vibrio fischeri and modulates critical host responses.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {e3000934}, pmid = {33141816}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103466/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics/immunology/*physiology ; Immunity, Innate/genetics/physiology ; Mutation ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Small Untranslated/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The regulatory noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs) of bacteria are key elements influencing gene expression; however, there has been little evidence that beneficial bacteria use these molecules to communicate with their animal hosts. We report here that the bacterial sRNA SsrA plays an essential role in the light-organ symbiosis between Vibrio fischeri and the squid Euprymna scolopes. The symbionts load SsrA into outer membrane vesicles, which are transported specifically into the epithelial cells surrounding the symbiont population in the light organ. Although an SsrA-deletion mutant (ΔssrA) colonized the host to a normal level after 24 h, it produced only 2/10 the luminescence per bacterium, and its persistence began to decline by 48 h. The host's response to colonization by the ΔssrA strain was also abnormal: the epithelial cells underwent premature swelling, and host robustness was reduced. Most notably, when colonized by the ΔssrA strain, the light organ differentially up-regulated 10 genes, including several encoding heightened immune-function or antimicrobial activities. This study reveals the potential for a bacterial symbiont's sRNAs not only to control its own activities but also to trigger critical responses promoting homeostasis in its host. In the absence of this communication, there are dramatic fitness consequences for both partners.}, } @article {pmid33141350, year = {2021}, author = {Hakim, S and Imran, A and Mirza, MS}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity analysis reveals Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense and Ensifer aridi as major symbionts of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) in Pakistan.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {311-324}, pmid = {33141350}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Pakistan ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The present study was carried out to evaluate the diversity of rhizobia associated with nodules of mung bean in Pakistan, because this information is necessary for inoculum development. Based on sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene of thirty-one bacteria, 11 were assigned to genus Bradyrhizobium, 17 to Ensifer, and 3 to Rhizobium. Phylogenetic analyses on the basis of 16S-23S ITS region, atpD, recA, nifH, and nodA of representative strains revealed that B. yuanmingense is the predominant species distributed throughout different mung bean-growing areas. Among the fast-growing rhizobia, Ensifer aridi was predominant in Faisalabad, Layyah, and Rawalpindi, while E. meliloti in Thal desert. Sequence variations and phylogeny of nifH and nodA genes suggested that these genes might have been co-evolved with the housekeeping genes and maintained by vertical gene transfer in rhizobia detected in the present study. Host infectivity assay revealed the successful nodulation of host by rhizobia related to genera Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer and Rhizobium. Among all, Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer spp. inoculation exhibited a significantly higher number of nodules (11-34 nodules plant[-1]) and nitrogenase activity (nodule ARA 60-110 μmol g[-1] h[-1]). Contrary to the previous studies, our data reveal that B. yuanmingense and E. aridi are predominant species forming effective nodules in mung bean in Pakistan. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the effective symbiosis of E. aridi, E. meliloti, and Rhizobium pusense with mung bean. The diversity of rhizobia in different habitats revealed in the present study will contribute towards designing site-specific inocula for mung bean.}, } @article {pmid33139881, year = {2020}, author = {Neubacher, N and Tobias, NJ and Huber, M and Cai, X and Glatter, T and Pidot, SJ and Stinear, TP and Lütticke, AL and Papenfort, K and Bode, HB}, title = {Symbiosis, virulence and natural-product biosynthesis in entomopathogenic bacteria are regulated by a small RNA.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {1481-1489}, pmid = {33139881}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {758212/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Insecta/microbiology ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Photorhabdus/genetics/pathogenicity/*physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus species have mutualistic associations with nematodes and an entomopathogenic stage[1,2] in their life cycles. In both stages, numerous specialized metabolites are produced that have roles in symbiosis and virulence[3,4]. Although regulators have been implicated in the regulation of these specialized metabolites[3,4], how small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are involved in this process is not clear. Here, we show that the Hfq-dependent sRNA, ArcZ, is required for specialized metabolite production in Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus. We discovered that ArcZ directly base-pairs with the mRNA encoding HexA, which represses the expression of specialized metabolite gene clusters. In addition to specialized metabolite genes, we show that the ArcZ regulon affects approximately 15% of all transcripts in Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus. Thus, the ArcZ sRNA is crucial for specialized metabolite production in Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus species and could become a useful tool for metabolic engineering and identification of commercially relevant natural products.}, } @article {pmid33138825, year = {2020}, author = {Belizário, JE and Sircili, MP}, title = {Novel biotechnological approaches for monitoring and immunization against resistant to antibiotics Escherichia coli and other pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {BMC veterinary research}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {420}, pmid = {33138825}, issn = {1746-6148}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/immunology ; Bacterial Infections/immunology ; *Biotechnology ; Chickens ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli/genetics/*immunology ; Escherichia coli Infections/immunology/veterinary ; Escherichia coli Vaccines/immunology ; Humans ; Probiotics ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {The application of next-generation molecular, biochemical and immunological methods for developing new vaccines, antimicrobial compounds, probiotics and prebiotics for zoonotic infection control has been fundamental to the understanding and preservation of the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans. With increasing rates of antibiotic use, resistant bacterial infections have become more difficult to diagnose, treat, and eradicate, thereby elevating the importance of surveillance and prevention programs. Effective surveillance relies on the availability of rapid, cost-effective methods to monitor pathogenic bacterial isolates. In this opinion article, we summarize the results of some research program initiatives for the improvement of live vaccines against avian enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli using virulence factor gene deletion and engineered vaccine vectors based on probiotics. We also describe methods for the detection of pathogenic bacterial strains in eco-environmental headspace and aerosols, as well as samples of animal and human breath, based on the composition of volatile organic compounds and fatty acid methyl esters. We explain how the introduction of these low-cost biotechnologies and protocols will provide the opportunity to enhance co-operation between networks of resistance surveillance programs and integrated routine workflows of veterinary and clinical public health microbiology laboratories.}, } @article {pmid33138319, year = {2020}, author = {Boilard, A and Dubé, CE and Gruet, C and Mercière, A and Hernandez-Agreda, A and Derome, N}, title = {Defining Coral Bleaching as a Microbial Dysbiosis within the Coral Holobiont.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33138319}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Coral microbiomes are critical to holobiont health and functioning, but the stability of host-microbial interactions is fragile, easily shifting from eubiosis to dysbiosis. The heat-induced breakdown of the symbiosis between the host and its dinoflagellate algae (that is, "bleaching"), is one of the most devastating outcomes for reef ecosystems. Yet, bleaching tolerance has been observed in some coral species. This review provides an overview of the holobiont's diversity, explores coral thermal tolerance in relation to their associated microorganisms, discusses the hypothesis of adaptive dysbiosis as a mechanism of environmental adaptation, mentions potential solutions to mitigate bleaching, and suggests new research avenues. More specifically, we define coral bleaching as the succession of three holobiont stages, where the microbiota can (i) maintain essential functions for holobiont homeostasis during stress and/or (ii) act as a buffer to mitigate bleaching by favoring the recruitment of thermally tolerant Symbiodiniaceae species (adaptive dysbiosis), and where (iii) environmental stressors exceed the buffering capacity of both microbial and dinoflagellate partners leading to coral death.}, } @article {pmid33138055, year = {2020}, author = {Laidoudi, Y and Levasseur, A and Medkour, H and Maaloum, M and Ben Khedher, M and Sambou, M and Bassene, H and Davoust, B and Fenollar, F and Raoult, D and Mediannikov, O}, title = {An Earliest Endosymbiont, Wolbachia massiliensis sp. nov., Strain PL13 from the Bed Bug (Cimex hemipterus), Type Strain of a New Supergroup T.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {33138055}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Bedbugs/*microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic Wolbachia are the most sophisticated mutualistic bacterium among all insect-associated microbiota. Wolbachia-insect relationship fluctuates from the simple facultative/parasitic to an obligate nutritional-mutualistic association as it was the case of the bedbug-Wolbachia from Cimexlectularius. Understanding this association may help in the control of associated arthropods. Genomic data have proven to be reliable tools in resolving some aspects of these symbiotic associations. Although, Wolbachia appear to be fastidious or uncultivated bacteria which strongly limited their study. Here we proposed Drosophila S2 cell line for the isolation and culture model to study Wolbachia strains. We therefore isolated and characterized a novel Wolbachia strain associated with the bedbug Cimexhemipterus, designated as wChem strain PL13, and proposed Wolbachiamassiliensis sp. nov. strain wChem-PL13 a type strain of this new species from new supergroup T. Phylogenetically, T-supergroup was close to F and S-supergroups from insects and D-supergroup from filarial nematodes. We determined the 1,291,339-bp genome of wChem-PL13, which was the smallest insect-associated Wolbachia genomes. Overall, the wChem genome shared 50% of protein coding genes with the other insect-associated facultative Wolbachia strains. These findings highlight the diversity of Wolbachia genotypes as well as the Wolbachia-host relationship among Cimicinae subfamily. The wChem provides folate and riboflavin vitamins on which the host depends, while the bacteria had a limited translation mechanism suggesting its strong dependence to its hosts. However, the clear-cut distinction between mutualism and parasitism of the wChem in C. hemipterus cannot be yet ruled out.}, } @article {pmid33137653, year = {2021}, author = {Ryan, DG and Frezza, C and O'Neill, LA}, title = {TCA cycle signalling and the evolution of eukaryotes.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {72-88}, pmid = {33137653}, issn = {1879-0429}, support = {109443/Z/15/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; MC_UU_12022/6/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Phylogeny ; Prokaryotic Cells ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A major question remaining in the field of evolutionary biology is how prokaryotic organisms made the leap to complex eukaryotic life. The prevailing theory depicts the origin of eukaryotic cell complexity as emerging from the symbiosis between an α-proteobacterium, the ancestor of present-day mitochondria, and an archaeal host (endosymbiont theory). A primary contribution of mitochondria to eukaryogenesis has been attributed to the mitochondrial genome, which enabled the successful internalisation of bioenergetic membranes and facilitated remarkable genome expansion. It has also been postulated that a key contribution of the archaeal host during eukaryogenesis was in providing 'archaeal histones' that would enable compaction and regulation of an expanded genome. Yet, how the communication between the host and the symbiont evolved is unclear. Here, we propose an evolutionary concept in which mitochondrial TCA cycle signalling was also a crucial player during eukaryogenesis enabling the dynamic control of an expanded genome via regulation of DNA and histone modifications. Furthermore, we discuss how TCA cycle remodelling is a common evolutionary strategy invoked by eukaryotic organisms to coordinate stress responses and gene expression programmes, with a particular focus on the TCA cycle-derived metabolite itaconate.}, } @article {pmid33136520, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Y and Skelton, J and Adams, S and Hattori, Y and Smith, ME and Hulcr, J}, title = {The Ambrosia Beetle Sueus niisimai (Scolytinae: Hyorrhynchini) is Associated with the Canker Disease Fungus Diatrypella japonica (Xylariales).}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {104}, number = {12}, pages = {3143-3150}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-03-20-0482-RE}, pmid = {33136520}, issn = {0191-2917}, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Disease ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases ; Southeastern United States ; *Weevils ; *Xylariales ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles in the subtribe Hyorrhynchini are one example of an entire ambrosia beetle lineage whose fungi have never been studied. Here, we identify one dominant fungus associated with a widespread Asian hyorrhynchine beetle Sueus niisimai. This fungus was consistently isolated from beetle galleries from multiple collections. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS rDNA and β-tubulin sequences identified the primary fungal symbiont as Diatrypella japonica Higuchi, Nikaido & Hattori (Diatrypaceae, Xylariales, Sordariomycetes), which was recently described as a pathogen of sycamore (Platanus spp.) in Japan. To assess the invasion potential of this beetle-fungus interaction into the U.S., we have investigated the pathogenicity of two D. japonica strains on four species of healthy landscape trees native to the southeastern United States. Only Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) responded with lesions significantly greater than the control inoculations, but there was no observable dieback or tree mortality. Although disease symptoms were not as prominent as in previous studies of the same fungus in Japan, routine reisolation from the inoculation point suggests that this species is capable of colonizing healthy sapwood of several tree species. Our study shows that the geographical area of its distribution is broader in Asia and potentially includes many hosts of its polyphagous vector. We conclude that the Sueus-Diatrypella symbiosis has high invasion potential but low damage potential, at least on young trees during the growing season.}, } @article {pmid33133783, year = {2020}, author = {Sarmiento-López, LG and López-Meyer, M and Sepúlveda-Jiménez, G and Cárdenas, L and Rodríguez-Monroy, M}, title = {Photosynthetic performance and stevioside concentration are improved by the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Stevia rebaudiana under different phosphate concentrations.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e10173}, pmid = {33133783}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {In plants, phosphorus (P) uptake occurs via arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and through plant roots. The phosphate concentration is known to affect colonization by AM fungi, and the effect depends on the plant species. Stevia rebaudiana plants are valuable sources of sweetener compounds called steviol glycosides (SGs), and the principal components of SGs are stevioside and rebaudioside A. However, a detailed analysis describing the effect of the phosphate concentration on the colonization of AM fungi in the roots and the relationship of these factors to the accumulation of SGs and photochemical performance has not been performed; such an analysis was the aim of this study. The results indicated that low phosphate concentrations (20 and 200 µM KH2PO4) induced a high percentage of colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis in the roots of S. rebaudiana, while high phosphate concentrations (500 and 1,000 µM KH2PO4) reduced colonization. The morphology of the colonization structure is a typical Arum-type mycorrhiza, and a mycorrhiza-specific phosphate transporter was identified. Colonization with low phosphate concentrations improved plant growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid concentration, and photochemical performance. The transcription of the genes that encode kaurene oxidase and glucosyltransferase (UGT74G1) was upregulated in colonized plants at 200 µM KH2PO4, which was consistent with the observed patterns of stevioside accumulation. In contrast, at 200 µM KH2PO4, the transcription of UGT76G1 and the accumulation of rebaudioside A were higher in noncolonized plants than in colonized plants. These results indicate that a low phosphate concentration improves mycorrhizal colonization and modulates the stevioside and rebaudioside A concentration by regulating the transcription of the genes that encode kaurene oxidase and glucosyltransferases, which are involved in stevioside and rebaudioside A synthesis in S. rebaudiana.}, } @article {pmid33132546, year = {2020}, author = {Sriram, RD and Subrahmanian, E}, title = {Transforming Health Care through Digital Revolutions.}, journal = {Journal of the Indian Institute of Science}, volume = {100}, number = {4}, pages = {753-772}, pmid = {33132546}, issn = {0970-4140}, abstract = {The Internet, which has spanned several networks in a broad range of domains, is having a significant impact on every aspect of our lives. The next generation of networks will utilize a wide variety of resources with significant sensing capabilities. Such networks will extend beyond physically linked computers to include multimodal-information from biological, cognitive, semantic, and social networks. This paradigm shift will involve symbiotic networks of smart medical devices, and smart phones or mobile personal computing and communication devices. These devices-and the network-will be constantly sensing, monitoring, and interpreting the environment; this is sometimes referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). We are also witnessing considerable interest in the "Omics" paradigm, which can be viewed as the study of a domain in a massive scale, at different levels of abstraction, in an integrative manner. The IoT revolution, combined with the Omics revolution (genomics and socio-omics or social networks) and artificial intelligence resurgence, will have significant implications for the way health care is delivered in the United States. After discussing a vision for health care in the future, we introduce the P9 health care concept, followed by a discussion of a framework for smart health care. Then, we present a case study and research directions, followed by examples of ongoing work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).}, } @article {pmid33131352, year = {2021}, author = {Haque, M and Islam, S and Sheikh, MA and Dhingra, S and Uwambaye, P and Labricciosa, FM and Iskandar, K and Charan, J and Abukabda, AB and Jahan, D}, title = {Quorum sensing: a new prospect for the management of antimicrobial-resistant infectious diseases.}, journal = {Expert review of anti-infective therapy}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {571-586}, doi = {10.1080/14787210.2021.1843427}, pmid = {33131352}, issn = {1744-8336}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/drug therapy/microbiology ; Drug Development ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Nanostructures ; Quorum Sensing/*drug effects ; Virulence/drug effects ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Quorum-sensing (QS) is a microbial cell-to-cell communication system that utilizes small signaling molecules to mediates interactions between cross-kingdom microorganisms, including Gram-positive and -negative microbes. QS molecules include N-acyl-homoserine-lactones (AHLs), furanosyl borate, hydroxyl-palmitic acid methylester, and methyl-dodecanoic acid. These signaling molecules maintain the symbiotic relationship between a host and the healthy microbial flora and also control various microbial virulence factors. This manuscript has been developed based on published scientific papers.

AREAS COVERED: Furanones, glycosylated chemicals, heavy metals, and nanomaterials are considered QS inhibitors (QSIs) and are therefore capable of inhibiting the microbial QS system. QSIs are currently being considered as antimicrobial therapeutic options. Currently, the low speed at which new antimicrobial agents are being developed impairs the treatment of drug-resistant infections. Therefore, QSIs are currently being studied as potential interventions targeting QS-signaling molecules and quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes to reduce microbial virulence.

EXPERT OPINION: QSIs represent a novel opportunity to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, no clinical trials have been conducted thus far assessing their efficacy. With the recent advancements in technology and the development of well-designed clinical trials aimed at targeting various components of the, QS system, these agents will undoubtedly provide a useful alternative to treat infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid33130897, year = {2021}, author = {Peng, Z and Chen, H and Tan, L and Shu, H and Varshney, RK and Zhou, Z and Zhao, Z and Luo, Z and Chitikineni, A and Wang, L and Maku, J and López, Y and Gallo, M and Zhou, H and Wang, J}, title = {Natural polymorphisms in a pair of NSP2 homoeologs can cause loss of nodulation in peanut.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {1104-1118}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa505}, pmid = {33130897}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Arachis/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis in legumes is achieved through nitrogen-fixing root nodules, and these are important for sustainable agriculture. The molecular mechanisms underlying development of root nodules in polyploid legume crops are largely understudied. Through map-based cloning and QTL-seq approaches, we identified a pair of homoeologous GRAS transcription factor genes, Nodulation Signaling Pathway 2 (AhNSP2-B07 or Nb) and AhNSP2-A08 (Na), controlling nodulation in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), an allotetraploid legume crop, which exhibited non-Mendelian and Mendelian inheritance, respectively. The segregation of nodulation in the progeny of Nananbnb genotypes followed a 3:1 Mendelian ratio, in contrast to the 5:3~1:1 non-Mendelian ratio for nanaNbnb genotypes. Additionally, a much higher frequency of the nb allele (13%) than the na allele (4%) exists in the peanut germplasm collection, suggesting that Nb is less essential than Na in nodule organogenesis. Our findings reveal the genetic basis of naturally occurred non-nodulating peanut plants, which can be potentially used for nitrogen fixation improvement in peanut. Furthermore, the results have implications for and provide insights into the evolution of homoeologous genes in allopolyploid species.}, } @article {pmid33130893, year = {2021}, author = {Fedorova, EE and Coba de la Peña, T and Lara-Dampier, V and Trifonova, NA and Kulikova, O and Pueyo, JJ and Lucas, MM}, title = {Potassium content diminishes in infected cells of Medicago truncatula nodules due to the mislocation of channels MtAKT1 and MtSKOR/GORK.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {1336-1348}, pmid = {33130893}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Potassium ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia establish a symbiotic relationship with legumes that results in the formation of root nodules, where bacteria encapsulated by a membrane of plant origin (symbiosomes), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Nodules are more sensitive to ionic stresses than the host plant itself. We hypothesize that such a high vulnerability might be due to defects in ion balance in the infected tissue. Low temperature SEM (LTSEM) and X-ray microanalysis of Medicago truncatula nodules revealed a potassium (K[+]) decrease in symbiosomes and vacuoles during the life span of infected cells. To clarify K[+] homeostasis in the nodule, we performed phylogenetic and gene expression analyses, and confocal and electron microscopy localization of two key plant Shaker K[+] channels, AKT1 and SKOR/GORK. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the genome of some legume species, including the Medicago genus, contained one SKOR/GORK and one AKT1 gene copy, while other species contained more than one copy of each gene. Localization studies revealed mistargeting and partial depletion of both channels from the plasma membrane of M. truncatula mature nodule-infected cells that might compromise ion transport. We propose that root nodule-infected cells have defects in K[+] balance due to mislocation of some plant ion channels, as compared with non-infected cells. The putative consequences are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33130852, year = {2021}, author = {Ahmad, MZ and Zhang, Y and Zeng, X and Li, P and Wang, X and Benedito, VA and Zhao, J}, title = {Isoflavone malonyl-CoA acyltransferase GmMaT2 is involved in nodulation of soybean by modifying synthesis and secretion of isoflavones.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {1349-1369}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa511}, pmid = {33130852}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics/*physiology ; *Isoflavones ; Malonyl Coenzyme A/genetics/*physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Soybeans/enzymology/genetics ; }, abstract = {Malonyl-CoA:flavonoid acyltransferases (MaTs) modify isoflavones, but only a few have been characterized for activity and assigned to specific physiological processes. Legume roots exude isoflavone malonates into the rhizosphere, where they are hydrolyzed into isoflavone aglycones. Soybean GmMaT2 was highly expressed in seeds, root hairs, and nodules. GmMaT2 and GmMaT4 recombinant enzymes used isoflavone 7-O-glucosides as acceptors and malonyl-CoA as an acyl donor to generate isoflavone glucoside malonates. GmMaT2 had higher activity towards isoflavone glucosides than GmMaT4. Overexpression in hairy roots of GmMaT2 and GmMaT4 produced more malonyldaidzin, malonylgenistin, and malonylglycitin, and resulted in more nodules than control. However, only GmMaT2 knockdown (KD) hairy roots showed reduced levels of malonyldaidzin, malonylgenistin, and malonylglycitin, and, likewise, reduced nodule numbers. These were consistent with the up-regulation of only GmMaT2 by rhizobial infection, and higher expression levels of early nodulation genes in GmMaT2- and GmMaT4-overexpressing roots, but lower only in GmMaT2-KD roots compared with control roots. Higher malonyl isoflavonoid levels in transgenic hairy roots were associated with higher levels of isoflavones in root exudates and more nodules, and vice versa. We suggest that GmMaT2 participates in soybean nodulation by catalyzing isoflavone malonylation and affecting malonyl isoflavone secretion for activation of Nod factor and nodulation.}, } @article {pmid33129085, year = {2021}, author = {Park, JH and Chandrasekhar, K and Jeon, BH and Jang, M and Liu, Y and Kim, SH}, title = {State-of-the-art technologies for continuous high-rate biohydrogen production.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {320}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {124304}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124304}, pmid = {33129085}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Bioreactors ; Fermentation ; *Hydrogen ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Dark fermentation is a technically feasible technology for achieving carbon dioxide-free hydrogen production. This review presents the current findings on continuous hydrogen production using dark fermentation. Several operational strategies and reactor configurations have been suggested. The formation of attached mixed-culture microorganisms is a typical prerequisite for achieving high production rate, hydrogen yield, and resilience. To date, fixed-bed reactors and dynamic membrane bioreactors yielded higher biohydrogen performance than other configurations. The symbiosis between H2-producing bacteria and biofilm-forming bacteria was essential to avoid washout and maintain the high loading rates and hydrogenic metabolic flux. Recent research has initiated a more in-depth comparison of microbial community changes during dark fermentation, primarily with computational science techniques based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing investigations. Future techno-economic analysis of dark fermentative biohydrogen production and perspectives on unraveling mitigation mechanisms induced by attached microorganisms in dark fermentation processes are further discussed.}, } @article {pmid33127817, year = {2021}, author = {Goddard-Dwyer, M and López-Legentil, S and Erwin, PM}, title = {Microbiome Variability across the Native and Invasive Ranges of the Ascidian Clavelina oblonga.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33127817}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Brazil ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Florida ; *Introduced Species ; Italy ; *Microbiota ; North Carolina ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater ; South Carolina ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; Urochordata/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ascidians are prolific colonizers of new environments and possess a range of well-studied features that contribute to their successful spread, but the role of their symbiotic microbial communities in their long-term establishment is mostly unknown. In this study, we utilized next-generation amplicon sequencing to provide a comprehensive description of the microbiome in the colonial ascidian Clavelina oblonga and examined differences in the composition, diversity, and structure of symbiont communities in the host's native and invasive ranges. To identify host haplotypes, we sequenced a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). C. oblonga harbored a diverse microbiome spanning 42 bacterial and three archaeal phyla. Colonies in the invasive range hosted significantly less diverse symbiont communities and exhibited lower COI haplotype diversity than colonies in the native range. Differences in microbiome structure were also detected across colonies in the native and invasive range, driven largely by novel bacteria representing symbiont lineages with putative roles in nitrogen cycling. Variability in symbiont composition was also observed among sites within each range. Together, these data suggest that C. oblonga hosts a dynamic microbiome resulting from (i) reductions in symbiont diversity due to founder effects in host populations and (ii) environmental selection of symbiont taxa in response to new habitats within a range. Further investigation is required to document the mechanisms behind these changes and to determine how changes in microbiome structure relate to holobiont function and the successful establishment of C. oblonga worldwide.IMPORTANCE Nonnative species destabilize coastal ecosystems and microbial symbionts may facilitate their spread by enhancing host survival and fitness. However, we know little of the microorganisms that live inside invasive species and whether they change as the host spreads to new areas. In this study, we investigated the microbial communities of an introduced ascidian (Clavelina oblonga) and tracked symbiont changes across locations within the host's native and invasive ranges. Ascidians in the invasive range had less-diverse microbiomes, as well as lower host haplotype diversity, suggesting that specific colonies reach new locations and carry select symbionts from native populations (i.e., founder effects). Further, ascidians in the invasive range hosted a different composition of symbionts, including microbes with the potential to aid in processes related to invasion success (e.g., nutrient cycling). We conclude that the putative functionality and observed flexibility of this introduced ascidian microbiome may represent an underappreciated factor in the successful establishment of nonnative species in new environments.}, } @article {pmid33127381, year = {2020}, author = {Hashiguchi, H and Tsukamoto, Y and Ogawa, M and Tashima, Y and Takeuchi, H and Nakamura, M and Kawashima, H and Fujishiro, M and Okajima, T}, title = {Glycoproteomic analysis identifies cryptdin-related sequence 1 as O-glycosylated protein modified with α1,2-fucose in the small intestine.}, journal = {Archives of biochemistry and biophysics}, volume = {695}, number = {}, pages = {108653}, doi = {10.1016/j.abb.2020.108653}, pmid = {33127381}, issn = {1096-0384}, mesh = {Animals ; Fucose/*metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Intestine, Small/*metabolism ; Mice ; Paneth Cells/*metabolism ; Protein Precursors/*metabolism ; *Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The modification of galactose with α1,2-fucose is involved in symbiosis with intestinal bacteria and elimination of pathogenic bacteria. It is postulated that α1,2-fucosylated mucin secreted from goblet cells is involved in defending an organism against infections, but the detailed molecular mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. It was previously reported that Paneth cells of the small intestine were positive for UEA-1 lectin staining. However, glycoproteins in Paneth cells carrying α1,2-fucose have not yet been identified. Glycoproteomic analysis of ileal lysates identified 3212 O-linked and 2962 N-linked glycopeptides. In particular, cryptdin-related sequence 1 (CRS1) expressed in Paneth cells was found to be α1,2-fucosylated. Unlike other antimicrobial α-defensin proteins, CRS1 contains unique Thr residues, which are modified with O-glycans, with 3HexNAc2Hex1Fuc1NeuAc being the main glycoform. Identification of α1,2-fucose on the O-glycans of CRS1 expressed in Paneth cells will pave the way for a mechanistic understanding of α1,2-fucose-dependent symbiosis with intestinal bacteria and elimination of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine.}, } @article {pmid33126720, year = {2020}, author = {Lebedeva, M and Azarakhsh, M and Yashenkova, Y and Lutova, L}, title = {Nitrate-Induced CLE Peptide Systemically Inhibits Nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33126720}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Legume plants form nitrogen-fixing nodules in symbiosis with soil bacteria rhizobia. The number of symbiotic nodules is controlled at the whole-plant level with autoregulation of nodulation (AON), which includes a shoot-acting CLV1-like receptor kinase and mobile CLE (CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION-related) peptides that are produced in the root in response to rhizobia inoculation. In addition to rhizobia-induced CLE peptides, nitrate-induced CLE genes have been identified in Lotus japonicus and Glycine max, which inhibited nodulation when overexpressed. However, nitrate-induced CLE genes that systemically suppress nodulation in AON-dependent manner have not been identified in Medicago truncatula. Here, we found that MtCLE35 expression is activated by both rhizobia inoculation and nitrate treatment in M. truncatula, similarly to L. japonicus CLE genes. Moreover, we found that MtCLE35 systemically suppresses nodulation in AON-dependent manner, suggesting that MtCLE35 may mediate nitrate-induced inhibition of nodulation in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid33126699, year = {2020}, author = {Egamberdieva, D and Ma, H and Alimov, J and Reckling, M and Wirth, S and Bellingrath-Kimura, SD}, title = {Response of Soybean to Hydrochar-Based Rhizobium Inoculation in Loamy Sandy Soil.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33126699}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Hydrochar is rich in nutrients and may provide a favorable habitat or shelter for bacterial proliferation and survival. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the efficiency of a hydrochar-based rhizobial inoculant (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) on the symbiotic performance of soybean under both greenhouse and field conditions. There were positive and significant effects of hydrochar-based inoculation on the root and shoot growth of soybean as compared to uninoculated plants grown under irrigated and drought conditions. The drought stress significantly inhibited the symbiotic performance of rhizobia with soybean. Soybean inoculated with hydrochar-based B. japonicum produced twofold more nodules under drought stress conditions as compared to plants inoculated with a commercial preparation/inoculant carrier B. japonicum (HISTICK). The N concentration of inoculated plants with hydrochar-based B. japonicum was by 31% higher than that of un-inoculated plants grown in pots and by 22% for HISTICK. Furthermore, the soybean treated with hydrochar-based B. japonicum showed higher grain yield of 29% under irrigated conditions and 40% higher under rainfed condition compared to un-inoculated plants. In conclusion, the obtained results proved the potential of hydrochar-based B. japonicum inoculant for soybean in terms of increased symbiotic performance and agronomic traits, especially under rainfed conditions.}, } @article {pmid33124078, year = {2021}, author = {Van't Padje, A and Werner, GDA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Mycorrhizal fungi control phosphorus value in trade symbiosis with host roots when exposed to abrupt 'crashes' and 'booms' of resource availability.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {5}, pages = {2933-2944}, pmid = {33124078}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Accidents, Traffic ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological market theory provides a conceptual framework to analyse trade strategies in symbiotic partnerships. A key prediction of biological market theory is that individuals can influence resource value - meaning the amount a partner is willing to pay for it - by mediating where and when it is traded. The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, characterised by roots and fungi trading phosphorus and carbon, shows many features of a biological market. However, it is unknown if or how fungi can control phosphorus value when exposed to abrupt changes in their trade environment. We mimicked an economic 'crash', manually severing part of the fungal network (Rhizophagus irregularis) to restrict resource access, and an economic 'boom' through phosphorus additions. We quantified trading strategies over a 3-wk period using a recently developed technique that allowed us to tag rock phosphate with fluorescing quantum dots of three different colours. We found that the fungus: compensated for resource loss in the 'crash' treatment by transferring phosphorus from alternative pools closer to the host root (Daucus carota); and stored the surplus nutrients in the 'boom' treatment until root demand increased. By mediating from where, when and how much phosphorus was transferred to the host, the fungus successfully controlled resource value.}, } @article {pmid33123749, year = {2021}, author = {Fernández Di Pardo, A and Mancini, M and Cravero, V and Gil-Cardeza, ML}, title = {Diagnose of Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Communities Associated to Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis and var. sylvestris.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {190-197}, pmid = {33123749}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Cynara ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cynara cardunculus L. is a perennial species with high potential for bioenergy production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMF) is probably the terrestrial symbiosis most extended on earth. It presence in roots and soils improves plant nutrition and soil quality. Indigenous AMF have developed a variety of modifications to survive in their habitat and thus could serve as potential inoculants for the implantation of plant species in the respective AMF soil habitat. This work aimed to diagnose the status of the AMF symbiosis associated to two cardoon cultivars after a year of growth in a saline soil and in a conventional farming soil. For that purpose we determined AMF parameters in 4 rhizospheric soils and in roots of the cardoon varieties. We found that: (1) the rhizosphere of C. cardunculus var. altilis positively influenced the extraradical mycelium development in the saline soil, (2) the inorganic fertilization history of the conventional farming soil could have had a negative effect on the AMF community and, (3) the intraradical mycelium (IRM) development was extremely low. Our diagnosis suggests that, in order to improve the positive effects of AMF on cardoon growth and soil quality, efforts should be focused on the development of the IRM. In a boarder sense, the implementation of a diagnosis of indigenous AMF communities as a general agronomic practice could become an useful tool to farmers that are willing to potentiate the benefits of AMF on plant growth and soil quality.}, } @article {pmid33121407, year = {2021}, author = {Biswasroy, P and Pradhan, D and Sahu, DK and Sahu, A and Ghosh, G and Rath, G}, title = {Recent Advances in Clinical Utility of Probiotics in Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical biotechnology}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {1559-1573}, doi = {10.2174/1389201021666201029154239}, pmid = {33121407}, issn = {1873-4316}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/drug therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Diseases/drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Clinically, probiotics have a significant role in nutrition, immune function, and maintenance of gut homeostasis. Unfortunately, the widespread use of antibiotics disrupts the symbiotic balance of gut microbiota, leading to the development of several gastrointestinal disorders. A recent study suggesting a combination of appropriate probiotics and prebiotics through its ability to fix dysbiosis issues has emerged as a potential alternative to treat various pathological conditions of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT). Evidenced-based clinical research suggests that probiotic's effectiveness depends on several factors including strain, dose, host immune system, underlying pathology, and duration of therapy. Moreover, the microflora enriched medium reinforces the host defense against chemical and microbial challenges. However, the limited information available to understand the molecular basis by which probiotic maintains the gut homeostasis. The objective of this review to emphasize recent clinical outcomes and possible mechanisms involved in probiotic action to combat the GIT disorders.}, } @article {pmid33121045, year = {2020}, author = {Zamai, L}, title = {Unveiling Human Non-Random Genome Editing Mechanisms Activated in Response to Chronic Environmental Changes: I. Where Might These Mechanisms Come from and What Might They Have Led To?.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33121045}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {APOBEC Deaminases/metabolism ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; *Environment ; *Gene Editing ; *Genome, Human ; Humans ; Mutation/genetics ; }, abstract = {This article challenges the notion of the randomness of mutations in eukaryotic cells by unveiling stress-induced human non-random genome editing mechanisms. To account for the existence of such mechanisms, I have developed molecular concepts of the cell environment and cell environmental stressors and, making use of a large quantity of published data, hypothesised the origin of some crucial biological leaps along the evolutionary path of life on Earth under the pressure of natural selection, in particular, (1) virus-cell mating as a primordial form of sexual recombination and symbiosis; (2) Lamarckian CRISPR-Cas systems; (3) eukaryotic gene development; (4) antiviral activity of retrotransposon-guided mutagenic enzymes; and finally, (5) the exaptation of antiviral mutagenic mechanisms to stress-induced genome editing mechanisms directed at "hyper-transcribed" endogenous genes. Genes transcribed at their maximum rate (hyper-transcribed), yet still unable to meet new chronic environmental demands generated by "pollution", are inadequate and generate more and more intronic retrotransposon transcripts. In this scenario, RNA-guided mutagenic enzymes (e.g., Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like enzymes, APOBECs), which have been shown to bind to retrotransposon RNA-repetitive sequences, would be surgically targeted by intronic retrotransposons on opened chromatin regions of the same "hyper-transcribed" genes. RNA-guided mutagenic enzymes may therefore "Lamarkianly" generate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and gene copy number variations (CNV), as well as transposon transposition and chromosomal translocations in the restricted areas of hyper-functional and inadequate genes, leaving intact the rest of the genome. CNV and SNP of hyper-transcribed genes may allow cells to surgically explore a new fitness scenario, which increases their adaptability to stressful environmental conditions. Like the mechanisms of immunoglobulin somatic hypermutation, non-random genome editing mechanisms may generate several cell mutants, and those codifying for the most environmentally adequate proteins would have a survival advantage and would therefore be Darwinianly selected. Non-random genome editing mechanisms represent tools of evolvability leading to organismal adaptation including transgenerational non-Mendelian gene transmission or to death of environmentally inadequate genomes. They are a link between environmental changes and biological novelty and plasticity, finally providing a molecular basis to reconcile gene-centred and "ecological" views of evolution.}, } @article {pmid33120157, year = {2021}, author = {da Silva Fonseca, J and Mies, M and Paranhos, A and Taniguchi, S and Güth, AZ and Bícego, MC and Marques, JA and Fernandes de Barros Marangoni, L and Bianchini, A}, title = {Isolated and combined effects of thermal stress and copper exposure on the trophic behavior and oxidative status of the reef-building coral Mussismilia harttii.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {268}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {115892}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115892}, pmid = {33120157}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Copper/toxicity ; Coral Reefs ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Global warming and local disturbances such as pollution cause several impacts on coral reefs. Among them is the breakdown of the symbiosis between host corals and photosynthetic symbionts, which is often a consequence of oxidative stress. Therefore, we investigated if the combined effects of thermal stress and copper (Cu) exposure change the trophic behavior and oxidative status of the reef-building coral Mussismilia harttii. Coral fragments were exposed in a mesocosm system to three temperatures (25.0, 26.6 and 27.3 °C) and three Cu concentrations (2.9, 5.4 and 8.6 μg L[-1]). Samples were collected after 4 and 12 days of exposure. We then (i) performed fatty acid analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify changes in stearidonic acid and docosapentaenoic acid (autotrophy markers) and cis-gondoic acid (heterotrophy marker), and (ii) assessed the oxidative status of both host and symbiont through analyses of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Our findings show that trophic behavior was predominantly autotrophic and remained unchanged under individual and combined stressors for both 4- and 12-day experiments; for the latter, however, there was an increase in the heterotrophy marker. Results also show that 4 days was not enough to trigger changes in LPO or TAC for both coral and symbiont. However, the 12-day experiment showed a reduction in symbiont LPO associated with thermal stress alone, and the combination of stressors increased their TAC. For the coral, the isolated effects of increase in Cu and temperature led to an increase in LPO. The effects of combined stressors on trophic behavior and oxidative status were not much different than those from the isolated effects of each stressor. These findings highlight that host and symbionts respond differently to stress and are relevant as they show the physiological response of individual holobiont compartments to both global and local stressors.}, } @article {pmid33118266, year = {2021}, author = {Mashiguchi, K and Seto, Y and Yamaguchi, S}, title = {Strigolactone biosynthesis, transport and perception.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {105}, number = {2}, pages = {335-350}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.15059}, pmid = {33118266}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis/*metabolism/physiology ; Plants/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that regulate diverse developmental processes and environmental responses. They are also known to be root-derived chemical signals that regulate symbiotic and parasitic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and root parasitic plants, respectively. Since the discovery of the hormonal function of SLs in 2008, there has been much progress in the SL research field. In particular, a number of breakthroughs have been achieved in our understanding of SL biosynthesis, transport and perception. The discovery of the hormonal function of SL was quite valuable not only as the identification of a new class of plant hormones, but also as the discovery of the long-sought-after SL biosynthetic and response mutants. These mutants in several plant species provided us the genetic resources to address fundamental questions regarding SL biosynthesis and perception. Such mutants were further characterized later, and biochemical analyses of these genetically identified factors have uncovered the outline of SL biosynthesis and perception so far. Moreover, new genes involved in SL transport have been discovered through reverse genetic analyses. In this review, we summarize recent advances in SL research with a focus on biosynthesis, transport and perception.}, } @article {pmid33118170, year = {2021}, author = {Marqués-Gálvez, JE and Miyauchi, S and Paolocci, F and Navarro-Ródenas, A and Arenas, F and Pérez-Gilabert, M and Morin, E and Auer, L and Barry, KW and Kuo, A and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, FM and Kohler, A and Morte, A}, title = {Desert truffle genomes reveal their reproductive modes and new insights into plant-fungal interaction and ectendomycorrhizal lifestyle.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {5}, pages = {2917-2932}, pmid = {33118170}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; *Cistaceae ; Life Style ; *Mycorrhizae ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Desert truffles are edible hypogeous fungi forming ectendomycorrhizal symbiosis with plants of Cistaceae family. Knowledge about the reproductive modes of these fungi and the molecular mechanisms driving the ectendomycorrhizal interaction is lacking. Genomes of the highly appreciated edible desert truffles Terfezia claveryi Chatin and Tirmania nivea Trappe have been sequenced and compared with other Pezizomycetes. Transcriptomes of T. claveryi × Helianthemum almeriense mycorrhiza from well-watered and drought-stressed plants, when intracellular colonizations is promoted, were investigated. We have identified the fungal genes related to sexual reproduction in desert truffles and desert-truffles-specific genomic and secretomic features with respect to other Pezizomycetes, such as the expansion of a large set of gene families with unknown Pfam domains and a number of species or desert-truffle-specific small secreted proteins differentially regulated in symbiosis. A core set of plant genes, including carbohydrate, lipid-metabolism, and defence-related genes, differentially expressed in mycorrhiza under both conditions was found. Our results highlight the singularities of desert truffles with respect to other mycorrhizal fungi while providing a first glimpse on plant and fungal determinants involved in ecto to endo symbiotic switch that occurs in desert truffle under dry conditions.}, } @article {pmid33117398, year = {2020}, author = {Pirr, S and Viemann, D}, title = {Host Factors of Favorable Intestinal Microbial Colonization.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {584288}, pmid = {33117398}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Gut microbial colonization starts with birth and initiates a complex process between the host and the microbiota. Successful co-development of both establishes a symbiotic mutual relationship and functional homeostasis, while alterations thereof predispose the individual life-long to inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Multiple data have been provided how colonizing microbes induce a reprogramming and maturation of immunity by providing crucial instructing information to the newborn immune system. Less is known about what host factors have influence on the interplay between intestinal immunity and the composition of the gut microbial ecology. Here we review existing evidence regarding host factors that contribute to a favorable development of the gut microbiome and thereby successful maturation of gut mucosal immunity.}, } @article {pmid33117320, year = {2020}, author = {Cannicci, S and Fratini, S and Meriggi, N and Bacci, G and Iannucci, A and Mengoni, A and Cavalieri, D}, title = {To the Land and Beyond: Crab Microbiomes as a Paradigm for the Evolution of Terrestrialization.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {575372}, pmid = {33117320}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The transition to terrestrial environments by formerly aquatic species has occurred repeatedly in many animal phyla and lead to the vast diversity of extant terrestrial species. The differences between aquatic and terrestrial habitats are enormous and involved remarkable morphological and physiological changes. Convergent evolution of various traits is evident among phylogenetically distant taxa, but almost no information is available about the role of symbiotic microbiota in such transition. Here, we suggest that intertidal and terrestrial brachyuran crabs are a perfect model to study the evolutionary pathways and the ecological role of animal-microbiome symbioses, since their transition to land is happening right now, through a number of independent lineages. The microorganisms colonizing the gut of intertidal and terrestrial crabs are expected to play a major role to conquer the land, by reducing water losses and permitting the utilization of novel food sources. Indeed, it has been shown that the microbiomes hosted in the digestive system of terrestrial isopods has been critical to digest plant items, but nothing is known about the microbiomes present in the gut of truly terrestrial crabs. Other important physiological regulations that could be facilitated by microbiomes are nitrogen excretion and osmoregulation in the new environment. We also advocate for advances in comparative and functional genomics to uncover physiological aspects of these ongoing evolutionary processes. We think that the multidisciplinary study of microorganisms associated with terrestrial crabs will shed a completely new light on the biological and physiological processes involved in the sea-land transition.}, } @article {pmid33117317, year = {2020}, author = {Cárdenas, A and Ye, J and Ziegler, M and Payet, JP and McMinds, R and Vega Thurber, R and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Coral-Associated Viral Assemblages From the Central Red Sea Align With Host Species and Contribute to Holobiont Genetic Diversity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {572534}, pmid = {33117317}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Coral reefs are highly diverse marine ecosystems increasingly threatened on a global scale. The foundation species of reef ecosystems are stony corals that depend on their symbiotic microalgae and bacteria for aspects of their metabolism, immunity, and environmental adaptation. Conversely, the function of viruses in coral biology is less well understood, and we are missing an understanding of the diversity and function of coral viruses, particularly in understudied regions such as the Red Sea. Here we characterized coral-associated viruses using a large metagenomic and metatranscriptomic survey across 101 cnidarian samples from the central Red Sea. While DNA and RNA viral composition was different across coral hosts, biological traits such as coral life history strategy correlated with patterns of viral diversity. Coral holobionts were broadly associated with Mimiviridae and Phycodnaviridae that presumably infect protists and algal cells, respectively. Further, Myoviridae and Siphoviridae presumably target members of the bacterial phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, whereas Hepadnaviridae and Retroviridae might infect the coral host. Genes involved in bacterial virulence and auxiliary metabolic genes were common among the viral sequences, corroborating a contribution of viruses to the holobiont's genetic diversity. Our work provides a first insight into Red Sea coral DNA and RNA viral assemblages and reveals that viral diversity is consistent with global coral virome patterns.}, } @article {pmid33117302, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, Y and Jiang, L and Gong, S and Guo, M and Yuan, X and Zhou, G and Lei, X and Zhang, Y and Yuan, T and Lian, J and Qian, P and Huang, H}, title = {Impact of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Symbiosis Establishment and Gene Expression Profiles in Recruits of Reef Coral Acropora intermedia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {532447}, pmid = {33117302}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The onset of symbiosis and the early development of most broadcast spawning corals play pivotal roles in recruitment success, yet these critical early stages are threatened by multiple stressors. However, molecular mechanisms governing these critical processes under ocean warming and acidification are still poorly understood. The present study investigated the interactive impact of elevated temperature (∼28.0°C and ∼30.5°C) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (∼600 and ∼1,200 μatm) on early development and the gene expression patterns in juvenile Acropora intermedia over 33 days. The results showed that coral survival was >89% and was unaffected by high temperature, pCO2, or the combined treatment. Notably, high temperature completely arrested successful symbiosis establishment and the budding process, whereas acidification had a negligible effect. Moreover, there was a positive exponential relationship between symbiosis establishment and budding rates (y = 0.0004e[6.43x], R = 0.72, P < 0.0001), which indicated the importance of symbiosis in fueling asexual budding. Compared with corals at the control temperature (28°C), those under elevated temperature preferentially harbored Durusdinium spp., despite unsuccessful symbiosis establishment. In addition, compared to the control, 351 and 153 differentially expressed genes were detected in the symbiont and coral host in response to experimental conditions, respectively. In coral host, some genes involved in nutrient transportation and tissue fluorescence were affected by high temperature. In the symbionts, a suite of genes related to cell growth, ribosomal proteins, photosynthesis, and energy production was downregulated under high temperatures, which may have severely hampered successful cell proliferation of the endosymbionts and explains the failure of symbiosis establishment. Therefore, our results suggest that the responses of symbionts to future ocean conditions could play a vital role in shaping successful symbiosis in juvenile coral.}, } @article {pmid33116335, year = {2020}, author = {Mayers, CG and Harrington, TC and Masuya, H and Jordal, BH and McNew, DL and Shih, HH and Roets, F and Kietzka, GJ}, title = {Patterns of coevolution between ambrosia beetle mycangia and the Ceratocystidaceae, with five new fungal genera and seven new species.}, journal = {Persoonia}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {41-66}, pmid = {33116335}, issn = {0031-5850}, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles farm specialised fungi in sapwood tunnels and use pocket-like organs called mycangia to carry propagules of the fungal cultivars. Ambrosia fungi selectively grow in mycangia, which is central to the symbiosis, but the history of coevolution between fungal cultivars and mycangia is poorly understood. The fungal family Ceratocystidaceae previously included three ambrosial genera (Ambrosiella, Meredithiella, and Phialophoropsis), each farmed by one of three distantly related tribes of ambrosia beetles with unique and relatively large mycangium types. Studies on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary histories of these three genera were expanded with the previously unstudied ambrosia fungi associated with a fourth mycangium type, that of the tribe Scolytoplatypodini. Using ITS rDNA barcoding and a concatenated dataset of six loci (28S rDNA, 18S rDNA, tef1-α, tub, mcm7, and rpl1), a comprehensive phylogeny of the family Ceratocystidaceae was developed, including Inodoromyces interjectus gen. & sp. nov., a non-ambrosial species that is closely related to the family. Three minor morphological variants of the pronotal disk mycangium of the Scolytoplatypodini were associated with ambrosia fungi in three respective clades of Ceratocystidaceae: Wolfgangiella gen. nov., Toshionella gen. nov., and Ambrosiella remansi sp. nov. Closely-related species that are not symbionts of ambrosia beetles are accommodated by Catunica adiposa gen. & comb. nov. and Solaloca norvegica gen. & comb. nov. The divergent morphology of the ambrosial genera and their phylogenetic placement among non-ambrosial genera suggest three domestication events in the Ceratocystidaceae. Estimated divergence dates for the ambrosia fungi and mycangia suggest that Scolytoplatypodini mycangia may have been the first to acquire Ceratocystidaceae symbionts and other ambrosial fungal genera emerged shortly after the evolution of new mycangium types. There is no evidence of reversion to a non-ambrosial lifestyle in the mycangial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33115723, year = {2020}, author = {Tidjani Alou, M and Naud, S and Khelaifia, S and Bonnet, M and Lagier, JC and Raoult, D}, title = {State of the Art in the Culture of the Human Microbiota: New Interests and Strategies.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology reviews}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {33115723}, issn = {1098-6618}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Culture Media/*chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The last 5 years have seen a turning point in the study of the gut microbiota with a rebirth of culture-dependent approaches to study the gut microbiota. High-throughput methods have been developed to study bacterial diversity with culture conditions aimed at mimicking the gut environment by using rich media such as YCFA (yeast extract, casein hydrolysate, fatty acids) and Gifu anaerobic medium in an anaerobic workstation, as well as media enriched with rumen and blood and coculture, to mimic the symbiosis of the gut microbiota. Other culture conditions target phenotypic and metabolic features of bacterial species to facilitate their isolation. Preexisting technologies such as next-generation sequencing and flow cytometry have also been utilized to develop innovative methods to isolate previously uncultured bacteria or explore viability in samples of interest. These techniques have been applied to isolate CPR (Candidate Phyla Radiation) among other, more classic approaches. Methanogenic archaeal and fungal cultures present different challenges than bacterial cultures. Efforts to improve the available systems to grow archaea have been successful through coculture systems. For fungi that are more easily isolated from the human microbiota, the challenge resides in the identification of the isolates, which has been approached by applying matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry technology to fungi. Bacteriotherapy represents a nonnegligible avenue in the future of medicine to correct dysbiosis and improve health or response to therapy. Although great strides have been achieved in the last 5 years, efforts in bacterial culture need to be sustained to continue deciphering the dark matter of metagenomics, particularly CPR, and extend these methods to archaea and fungi.}, } @article {pmid33112469, year = {2021}, author = {Hrbáčková, M and Luptovčiak, I and Hlaváčková, K and Dvořák, P and Tichá, M and Šamajová, O and Novák, D and Bednarz, H and Niehaus, K and Ovečka, M and Šamaj, J}, title = {Overexpression of alfalfa SIMK promotes root hair growth, nodule clustering and shoot biomass production.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {767-784}, pmid = {33112469}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cluster Analysis ; *Medicago sativa/genetics ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; *Plant Proteins/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and legumes have developed complex mutualistic mechanism that allows to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Signalling by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) seems to be involved in this symbiotic interaction. Previously, we reported that stress-induced MAPK (SIMK) shows predominantly nuclear localization in alfalfa root epidermal cells. Nevertheless, SIMK is activated and relocalized to the tips of growing root hairs during their development. SIMK kinase (SIMKK) is a well-known upstream activator of SIMK. Here, we characterized production parameters of transgenic alfalfa plants with genetically manipulated SIMK after infection with Sinorhizobium meliloti. SIMKK RNAi lines, causing strong downregulation of both SIMKK and SIMK, showed reduced root hair growth and lower capacity to form infection threads and nodules. In contrast, constitutive overexpression of GFP-tagged SIMK promoted root hair growth as well as infection thread and nodule clustering. Moreover, SIMKK and SIMK downregulation led to decrease, while overexpression of GFP-tagged SIMK led to increase of biomass in above-ground part of plants. These data suggest that genetic manipulations causing downregulation or overexpression of SIMK affect root hair, nodule and shoot formation patterns in alfalfa, and point to the new biotechnological potential of this MAPK.}, } @article {pmid33108796, year = {2020}, author = {de Oca, UG and Oceguera-Figueroa, A}, title = {Molecular Phylogeny of Thelastomatoidea (Nematoda) with the Description of a New Genus and Two New Species of Hystrignathidae Associated with Bess Beetles (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {106}, number = {5}, pages = {679-688}, doi = {10.1645/20-40}, pmid = {33108796}, issn = {1937-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; Coleoptera/microbiology/*parasitology ; DNA, Helminth/chemistry ; Mexico ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Phylogeny ; Spirurina/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Bess beetles (Passalidae) display important roles in forestall ecosystems, particularly in energy extraction from dead wood. These organisms maintain complex biological interactions with their gut symbiotic communities, including bacteria, protists, and metazoans. Very little is known about symbionts since most of the species of Passalidae haven't been studied from a parasitological point of view. Here we describe a new genus and 2 new species of nematodes of the family Hystrignathidae associated with 2 beetle species of the tribe Proculini collected in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. Tuhmai garciaprietoi n. gen., n. sp., found in Vindex agnoscendus is characterized by the presence of an unarmed cervical cuticle, a subcylindrical procorpus and a conspicuous isthmus, a monodelphic-prodelphic reproductive system, and a short subulate tail. Urbanonema osorioi n. sp., found in Verres hageni mainly differs from other species of Urbanonema by the number and disposition of cervical spines, as well as by a subulate tail. For each new taxon, we describe the external and internal morphology, and we generated molecular data (nuclear ribosomal DNA) to place the new taxa in a phylogenetic context.}, } @article {pmid33108676, year = {2021}, author = {Prigot-Maurice, C and de Cerqueira De Araujo, A and Beltran-Bech, S and Braquart-Varnier, C}, title = {Immune priming depends on age, sex and Wolbachia in the interaction between Armadillidium vulgare and Salmonella.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {256-269}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13721}, pmid = {33108676}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Isopoda/*immunology ; Male ; Salmonella enterica/*physiology ; Sex Factors ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The protection conferred by a first infection upon a second pathogenic exposure (i.e. immune priming) is an emergent research topic in the field of invertebrate immunity. Immune priming has been demonstrated in various species, but little is known about the intrinsic factors that may influence this immune process. In this study, we tested whether age, gender and the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia affect the protection resulting from immune priming in A. vulgare against S. enterica. We firstly primed young and old, symbiotic and asymbiotic males and females, either with a non-lethal low dose of S. enterica, LB broth or without injection (control). Seven days post-injection, we performed a LD50 injection of S. enterica in all individuals and we monitored their survival rates. We demonstrated that survival capacities depend on these three factors: young and old asymbiotic individuals (males and females) expressed immune priming (S. enterica-primed individuals survived better than LB-primed and non-primed), with a general decline in the strength of protection in old females, but not in old males, compared to young. When Wolbachia is present, the immune priming protection was observed in old, but not in young symbiotic individuals, even if the Wolbachia load on entire individuals is equivalent regardless to age. Our overall results showed that the immune priming protection in A. vulgare depends on individuals' states, highlighting the need to consider these factors both in mechanistical and evolutionary studies focusing on invertebrate's immunity.}, } @article {pmid33106084, year = {2020}, author = {Harris, JM and Balint-Kurti, P and Bede, JC and Day, B and Gold, S and Goss, EM and Grenville-Briggs, LJ and Jones, KM and Wang, A and Wang, Y and Mitra, RM and Sohn, KH and Alvarez, ME}, title = {What are the Top 10 Unanswered Questions in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions?.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {1354-1365}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-20-0229-CR}, pmid = {33106084}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; *Plants/genetics/microbiology ; *Research/trends ; }, abstract = {This article is part of the Top 10 Unanswered Questions in MPMI invited review series.The past few decades have seen major discoveries in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions. As the result of technological and intellectual advances, we are now able to answer questions at a level of mechanistic detail that we could not have imagined possible 20 years ago. The MPMI Editorial Board felt it was time to take stock and reassess. What big questions remain unanswered? We knew that to identify the fundamental, overarching questions that drive our research, we needed to do this as a community. To reach a diverse audience of people with different backgrounds and perspectives, working in different areas of plant-microbe interactions, we queried the more than 1,400 participants at the 2019 International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions meeting in Glasgow. This group effort resulted in a list of ten, broad-reaching, fundamental questions that influence and inform our research. Here, we introduce these Top 10 unanswered questions, giving context and a brief description of the issues. Each of these questions will be the subject of a detailed review in the coming months. We hope that this process of reflecting on what is known and unknown and identifying the themes that underlie our research will provide a framework to use going forward, giving newcomers a sense of the mystery of the big questions and inspiring new avenues and novel insights.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33105830, year = {2020}, author = {Shahbazi, R and Yasavoli-Sharahi, H and Alsadi, N and Ismail, N and Matar, C}, title = {Probiotics in Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections and Neuroinflammatory Disorders.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {25}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {33105830}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Betacoronavirus/drug effects/pathogenicity/physiology ; Brain/immunology ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/immunology/microbiology/*therapy/virology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Influenza, Human/immunology/microbiology/*therapy/virology ; Lung/immunology ; Mental Disorders/immunology/microbiology/*therapy ; Microbial Consortia/immunology ; Multiple Sclerosis/immunology/microbiology/*therapy ; Orthomyxoviridae/drug effects/pathogenicity/physiology ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/immunology/microbiology/*therapy/virology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Respiratory Tract Infections/immunology/microbiology/*therapy ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Inflammation is a biological response to the activation of the immune system by various infectious or non-infectious agents, which may lead to tissue damage and various diseases. Gut commensal bacteria maintain a symbiotic relationship with the host and display a critical function in the homeostasis of the host immune system. Disturbance to the gut microbiota leads to immune dysfunction both locally and at distant sites, which causes inflammatory conditions not only in the intestine but also in the other organs such as lungs and brain, and may induce a disease state. Probiotics are well known to reinforce immunity and counteract inflammation by restoring symbiosis within the gut microbiota. As a result, probiotics protect against various diseases, including respiratory infections and neuroinflammatory disorders. A growing body of research supports the beneficial role of probiotics in lung and mental health through modulating the gut-lung and gut-brain axes. In the current paper, we discuss the potential role of probiotics in the treatment of viral respiratory infections, including the COVID-19 disease, as major public health crisis in 2020, and influenza virus infection, as well as treatment of neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and other mental illnesses.}, } @article {pmid33105680, year = {2020}, author = {Primo, E and Bogino, P and Cossovich, S and Foresto, E and Nievas, F and Giordano, W}, title = {Exopolysaccharide II Is Relevant for the Survival of Sinorhizobium meliloti under Water Deficiency and Salinity Stress.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {25}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {33105680}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Salt Stress/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Water ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium of great agricultural importance because of its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) roots. We looked into the involvement of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in its survival when exposed to different environmental stressors, as well as in bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-substrate interactions. The strains used were wild-type Rm8530 and two strains that are defective in the biosynthesis of EPS II: wild-type Rm1021, which has a non-functional expR locus, and mutant Rm8530 expA. Under stress by water deficiency, Rm8530 remained viable and increased in number, whereas Rm1021 and Rm8530 expA did not. These differences could be due to Rm8530's ability to produce EPS II. Survival experiments under saline stress showed that viability was reduced for Rm1021 but not for Rm8530 or Rm8530 expA, which suggests the existence of some regulating mechanism dependent on a functional expR that is absent in Rm1021. The results of salinity-induced stress assays regarding biofilm-forming capacity (BFC) and autoaggregation indicated the protective role of EPS II. As a whole, our observations demonstrate that EPS play major roles in rhizobacterial survival.}, } @article {pmid33105635, year = {2020}, author = {Virolle, C and Goldlust, K and Djermoun, S and Bigot, S and Lesterlin, C}, title = {Plasmid Transfer by Conjugation in Gram-Negative Bacteria: From the Cellular to the Community Level.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {33105635}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Biofilms/*growth & development ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*genetics ; F Factor/*genetics/physiology ; Fimbriae, Bacterial/metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacterial conjugation, also referred to as bacterial sex, is a major horizontal gene transfer mechanism through which DNA is transferred from a donor to a recipient bacterium by direct contact. Conjugation is universally conserved among bacteria and occurs in a wide range of environments (soil, plant surfaces, water, sewage, biofilms, and host-associated bacterial communities). Within these habitats, conjugation drives the rapid evolution and adaptation of bacterial strains by mediating the propagation of various metabolic properties, including symbiotic lifestyle, virulence, biofilm formation, resistance to heavy metals, and, most importantly, resistance to antibiotics. These properties make conjugation a fundamentally important process, and it is thus the focus of extensive study. Here, we review the key steps of plasmid transfer by conjugation in Gram-negative bacteria, by following the life cycle of the F factor during its transfer from the donor to the recipient cell. We also discuss our current knowledge of the extent and impact of conjugation within an environmentally and clinically relevant bacterial habitat, bacterial biofilms.}, } @article {pmid33105490, year = {2021}, author = {Basyal, B and Emery, SM}, title = {An arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus alters switchgrass growth, root architecture, and cell wall chemistry across a soil moisture gradient.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {251-258}, pmid = {33105490}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cell Wall ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Panicum ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The abiotic environment can dictate the relative costs and benefits of plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbioses. While the effects of varying light or soil nutrient conditions are well studied, outcomes of plant-AMF interactions along soil moisture gradients are not fully understood. It is predicted that mycorrhizal associations may become parasitic in extreme soil moisture conditions. Under low soil moisture stress, costs of maintaining a mycorrhizal symbiont may outweigh benefits for the host plant, whereas under high soil moisture stress, the host plant may not need the symbiont. In a factorial growth chamber study, we investigated the effects of a plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus symbiosis along a soil moisture gradient on growth, cell wall chemistry, and root architecture of a biofuel crop, Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Regardless of soil moisture conditions, we found an increase in the number of tillers, number of leaves, root biomass, and amount of cellulose and hemicellulose in response to root colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. The fungus also increased aboveground biomass and changed several root architectural traits, but only under low soil moisture conditions, indicating a reduction in benefits of the mycorrhizal association under high soil moisture. Results from this study indicate that an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus can increase some key measures of plant growth and cell wall chemistry regardless of soil moisture conditions but is most beneficial in low soil moisture conditions.}, } @article {pmid33102249, year = {2020}, author = {Deng, Z and Luo, XM and Liu, J and Wang, H}, title = {Quorum Sensing, Biofilm, and Intestinal Mucosal Barrier: Involvement the Role of Probiotic.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {538077}, pmid = {33102249}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Intestinal Mucosa ; *Probiotics ; *Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {The intestine is a particularly dynamic environment in which the host constantly interacts with trillions of symbiotic bacteria called the microbiota. Using quorum sensing (QS) communication, bacteria can coordinate their social behavior and influence host cell activities in a non-invasive manner. Nowadays, a large amount of research has greatly spurred the understanding of how bacterial QS communication regulates bacterial cooperative behaviors due to coexistence and host-microbe interactions. In this review, we discuss bacterial QS in the gut and its role in biofilm formation. As a biological barrier, the mucosal immune system can effectively prevent pathogenic microorganisms and other immunogenic components from entering the internal environment of the host. We focus on the relationship between biofilm and intestinal mucosal immunity, and how probiotic bacteria may regulate them. This review is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new techniques including probiotics targeting the intestinal barrier function, thereby improving gut health.}, } @article {pmid33101237, year = {2020}, author = {Grubbs, KJ and Surup, F and Biedermann, PHW and McDonald, BR and Klassen, JL and Carlson, CM and Clardy, J and Currie, CR}, title = {Cycloheximide-Producing Streptomyces Associated With Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xyleborus affinis Fungus-Farming Ambrosia Beetles.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {562140}, pmid = {33101237}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes help a myriad of insects acquire nutrients. Recent work suggests that insects also frequently associate with actinobacterial symbionts that produce molecules to help defend against parasites and predators. Here we explore a potential association between Actinobacteria and two species of fungus-farming ambrosia beetles, Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xyleborus affinis. We isolated and identified actinobacterial and fungal symbionts from laboratory reared nests, and characterized small molecules produced by the putative actinobacterial symbionts. One 16S rRNA phylotype of Streptomyces (XylebKG-1) was abundantly and consistently isolated from the galleries and adults of X. saxesenii and X. affinis nests. In addition to Raffaelea sulphurea, the symbiont that X. saxesenii cultivates, we also repeatedly isolated a strain of Nectria sp. that is an antagonist of this mutualism. Inhibition bioassays between Streptomyces griseus XylebKG-1 and the fungal symbionts from X. saxesenii revealed strong inhibitory activity of the actinobacterium toward the fungal antagonist Nectria sp. but not the fungal mutualist R. sulphurea. Bioassay guided HPLC fractionation of S. griseus XylebKG-1 culture extracts, followed by NMR and mass spectrometry, identified cycloheximide as the compound responsible for the observed growth inhibition. A biosynthetic gene cluster putatively encoding cycloheximide was also identified in S. griseus XylebKG-1. The consistent isolation of a single 16S phylotype of Streptomyces from two species of ambrosia beetles, and our finding that a representative isolate of this phylotype produces cycloheximide, which inhibits a parasite of the system but not the cultivated fungus, suggests that these actinobacteria may play defensive roles within these systems.}, } @article {pmid33101234, year = {2020}, author = {Hosomi, K and Shibata, N and Shimoyama, A and Uto, T and Nagatake, T and Tojima, Y and Nishino, T and Takeyama, H and Fukase, K and Kiyono, H and Kunisawa, J}, title = {Lymphoid Tissue-Resident Alcaligenes Establish an Intracellular Symbiotic Environment by Creating a Unique Energy Shift in Dendritic Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {561005}, pmid = {33101234}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lymphoid-tissue-resident commensal bacteria (LRCs), including Alcaligenes faecalis, are present in intestinal lymphoid tissue including the Peyer's patches (PPs) of mammals and modulate the host immune system. Although LRCs can colonize within dendritic cells (DCs), the mechanisms through which LRCs persist in DCs and the symbiotic relationships between LRCs and DCs remain to be investigated. Here, we show an intracellular symbiotic system in which the LRC Alcaligenes creates a unique energy shift in DCs. Whereas DCs showed low mitochondrial respiration when they were co-cultured with Escherichia coli, DCs carrying A. faecalis maintained increased mitochondrial respiration. Furthermore, E. coli induced apoptosis of DCs but A. faecalis did not. Regarding an underlying mechanism, A. faecalis-unlike E. coli-did not induce intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production in DCs due to the low activity of its lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Therefore, A. faecalis, an example of LRCs, may persist within intestinal lymphoid tissue because they elicit little NO production in DCs. In addition, the symbiotic DCs exhibit characteristic physiologic changes, including a low rate of apoptosis and increased mitochondrial respiration.}, } @article {pmid33101227, year = {2020}, author = {Hapeshi, A and Healey, JRJ and Mulley, G and Waterfield, NR}, title = {Temperature Restriction in Entomopathogenic Bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {548800}, pmid = {33101227}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Temperature plays an important role in bacteria-host interactions and can be a determining factor for host switching. In this study we sought to investigate the reasons behind growth temperature restriction in the entomopathogenic enterobacterium Photorhabdus. Photorhabdus has a complex dual symbiotic and pathogenic life cycle. The genus consists of 19 species but only one subgroup, previously all classed together as Photorhabdus asymbiotica, have been shown to cause human disease. These clinical isolates necessarily need to be able to grow at 37°C, whilst the remaining species are largely restricted to growth temperatures below 34°C and are therefore unable to infect mammalian hosts. Here, we have isolated spontaneous mutant lines of Photorhabdus laumondii DJC that were able to grow up to 36-37°C. Following whole genome sequencing of 29 of these mutants we identified a single gene, encoding a protein with a RecG-like helicase domain that for the majority of isolates contained single nucleotide polymorphisms. Importantly, provision of the wild-type allele of this gene in trans restored the temperature restriction, confirming the mutations are recessive, and the dominant effect of the protein product of this gene. The gene appears to be part of a short three cistron operon, which we have termed the Temperature Restricting Locus (TRL). Transcription reporter strains revealed that this operon is induced upon the switch from 30 to 36°C, leading to replication arrest of the bacteria. TRL is absent from all of the human pathogenic species so far examined, although its presence is not uniform in different strains of the Photorhabdus luminescens subgroup. In a wider context, the presence of this gene is not limited to Photorhabdus, being found in phylogenetically diverse proteobacteria. We therefore suggest that this system may play a more fundamental role in temperature restriction in diverse species, relating to as yet cryptic aspects of their ecological niches and life cycle requirements.}, } @article {pmid33101225, year = {2020}, author = {Blanton, AG and Peterson, BF}, title = {Symbiont-Mediated Insecticide Detoxification as an Emerging Problem in Insect Pests.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {547108}, pmid = {33101225}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Pesticide use is prevalent with applications from the backyard gardener to large-scale agriculture and combatting pests in homes and industrial settings. Alongside the need to control unwanted pests comes the selective pressure generated by sustained pesticide use has become a concern leading to environmental contamination, pest resistance, and, thus, reduced pesticide efficacy. Despite efforts to improve the environmental impact and reduce off-target effects, chemical pesticides are relied on and control failures are costly. Though pesticide resistance mechanisms vary, one pattern that has recently emerged is symbiont-mediated detoxification within insect pests. The localization within the insect host, the identity of the symbiotic partner, and the stability of the associations across different systems vary. The diversity of insects and ecological settings linked to this phenomenon are broad. In this mini-review, we summarize the recent trend of insecticide detoxification modulated by symbiotic associations between bacteria and insects, as well as highlight the implications for pesticide development, pest management strategies, and pesticide bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid33099632, year = {2021}, author = {Chan, M and Sy, H and Finley, J and Robertson, J and Brown, PN}, title = {Determination of Ethanol Content in Kombucha Using Headspace Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry Detection: Single-Laboratory Validation.}, journal = {Journal of AOAC International}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {122-128}, pmid = {33099632}, issn = {1944-7922}, mesh = {Canada ; Child ; *Ethanol/analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; *Laboratories ; Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Kombucha is a fermented beverage made with tea, sugar, and a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast that is usually marketed as a non-alcoholic beverage. Products must contain <0.5% and <1.1% alcohol by volume in the United States and Canada respectively to be classified as non-alcoholic products. Prior studies have found that Kombucha beverages can become very acidic and may contain levels of alcohol above 1% which can be a potential health risk to children and the developing fetus during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Given the public safety concerns and legal requirements associated with the level of alcohol within Kombucha beverages, there is a need for accurate and reliable methods. Herein we describe the validation of a sensitive, rapid, and simple Headspace Gas Chromatographic method with mass spectrometric detection for determining ethanol in Kombucha.

METHODS: Method performance characteristics measured included linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) as per AOAC International guideline Appendix K Part 1. Performance was evaluated against the AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirements 2016.001 for determination of ethanol in Kombucha.

RESULTS: The linear dynamic range for this method was confirmed over the range of 0.025 to 2.47% ABV. The LOD and LOQ were determined to be 0.0002% and 0.002% ABV, respectively. With a spike recovery of 102% for accuracy and precision of RSDr ≤ 4% the method met the SMPR requirements within the analytical range.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this validation study demonstrated the method is fit for the purpose of quantifying ethanol in Kombucha and is suitable for rapid and easy integration by laboratories to ensure that regulatory requirements are met.}, } @article {pmid33099225, year = {2021}, author = {Noël, A and Garnier, A and Clément, M and Rouaud, I and Sauvager, A and Bousarghin, L and Vásquez-Ocmín, P and Maciuk, A and Tomasi, S}, title = {Lichen-associated bacteria transform antibacterial usnic acid to products of lower antibiotic activity.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {112535}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112535}, pmid = {33099225}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Benzofurans/pharmacology ; *Lichens ; Streptomyces ; }, abstract = {Lichens are specific symbiotic organisms harboring various microorganisms in addition to the two classic partners (algae or cyanobacterium and fungus). Although lichens produce many antibiotic compounds such as (+)-usnic acid, their associated microorganisms possess the ability to colonize an environment where antibiosis exists. Here, we have studied the behavior of several lichen-associated bacterial strains in the presence of (+)-usnic acid, a known antibiotic lichen compound. The effect of this compound was firstly evaluated on the growth and metabolism of three bacteria, thus showing its ability to inhibit Gram-positive bacteria. This inhibition was not thwarted with the usnic acid producer strain Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus. The biotransformation of this lichen metabolite was also studied. An ethanolamine derivative of (+)-usnic acid with low antibiotic activity was highlighted with chemical profiling, using HPLC-UV combined with low resolution mass spectrometry. These findings highlight the way in which some strains develop resistance mechanisms. A methylated derivative of (+)-usnic acid was annotated using the molecular networking method, thus showing the interest of this computer-based approach in biotransformation studies.}, } @article {pmid33098675, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, S and Cheng, B and Gu, B and Sheng, T and Tu, J and Shao, Y and Qi, K and Zhou, D}, title = {Evaluation of the probiotic and functional potential of Lactobacillus agilis 32 isolated from pig manure.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {9-19}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13422}, pmid = {33098675}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis/*physiology ; Cecum/microbiology ; Diarrhea/microbiology ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli/pathogenicity ; Escherichia coli Infections/*microbiology ; Jejunum/microbiology ; Lactobacillus/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Manure/*microbiology ; Probiotics/*metabolism ; Swine ; }, abstract = {Escherichia coli is a symbiotic bacterium in humans and animals and an important pathogen of humans and animals. Prevention and suppression of E. coli infection is of great concern. In this study, we isolated a strain of Lactobacillus agilis 32 from pig manure and evaluated its biological characteristics, and found that its bacterial survival rate was 25% after 4 h of treatment at pH 2, and under the condition of 0·5% bile concentration, its survival rate exceeds 30%. In addition, L. agilis 32 has a cell surface hydrophobicity of 77·8%, and exhibits 67·1% auto-aggregation and 63·2% aggregation with Enterotoxigenic E. coli 10 (ETEC 10). FITC fluorescence labelling showed that the fluorescence intensity of cecum was significantly higher than that of duodenum, jejunum or colon (P < 0·05), but no significant difference from ileum. Lactobacillus agilis 32 bacterial culture and CFS showed average inhibition zone diameters of 14·2 and 15·4 mm respectively. Lactobacillus agilis 32 CFS treatment can significantly reduce the pathogenicity of ETEC 10. These results show that L. agilis 32 is an active and potential probiotic, and it has a good antibacterial effect on ETEC10, which provides basic research for probiotics to prevent and treat intestinal diarrhoea pathogen infection.}, } @article {pmid33098658, year = {2021}, author = {Palmer, TM and Riginos, C and Milligan, PD and Hays, BR and Pietrek, AG and Maiyo, NJ and Mutisya, S and Gituku, B and Musila, S and Carpenter, S and Goheen, JR}, title = {Frenemy at the gate: Invasion by Pheidole megacephala facilitates a competitively subordinate plant ant in Kenya.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {102}, number = {2}, pages = {e03230}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3230}, pmid = {33098658}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {*Acacia ; Animals ; *Ants ; Herbivory ; Kenya ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological invasions can lead to the reassembly of communities and understanding and predicting the impacts of exotic species on community structure and functioning are a key challenge in ecology. We investigated the impact of a predatory species of invasive ant, Pheidole megacephala, on the structure and function of a foundational mutualism between Acacia drepanolobium and its associated acacia-ant community in an East African savanna. Invasion by P. megacephala was associated with the extirpation of three extrafloral nectar-dependent Crematogaster acacia ant species and strong increases in the abundance of a competitively subordinate and locally rare acacia ant species, Tetraponera penzigi, which does not depend on host plant nectar. Using a combination of long-term monitoring of invasion dynamics, observations and experiments, we demonstrate that P. megacephala directly and indirectly facilitates T. penzigi by reducing the abundance of T. penzigi's competitors (Crematogaster spp.), imposing recruitment limitation on these competitors, and generating a landscape of low-reward host plants that favor colonization and establishment by the strongly dispersing T. penzigi. Seasonal variation in use of host plants by P. megacephala may further increase the persistence of T. penzigi colonies in invaded habitat. The persistence of the T. penzigi-A. drepanolobium symbiosis in invaded areas afforded host plants some protection against herbivory by elephants (Loxodonta africana), a key browser that reduces tree cover. However, elephant damage on T. penzigi-occupied trees was higher in invaded than in uninvaded areas, likely owing to reduced T. penzigi colony size in invaded habitats. Our results reveal the mechanisms underlying the disruption of this mutualism and suggest that P. megacephala invasion may drive long-term declines in tree cover, despite the partial persistence of the ant-acacia symbiosis in invaded areas.}, } @article {pmid33098438, year = {2021}, author = {Gunnabo, AH and van Heerwaarden, J and Geurts, R and Wolde-Meskel, E and Degefu, T and Giller, KE}, title = {Phylogeography and Symbiotic Effectiveness of Rhizobia Nodulating Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {703-716}, pmid = {33098438}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Cicer ; DNA, Bacterial ; Ethiopia ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhizobium ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) used to be considered a restrictive host that nodulated and fixed nitrogen only with Mesorhizobium ciceri and M. mediterraneum. Recent analysis revealed that chickpea can also establish effective symbioses with strains of several other Mesorhizobium species such as M. loti, M. haukuii, M. amorphae, M. muleiense, etc. These strains vary in their nitrogen fixation potential inviting further exploration. We characterized newly collected mesorhizobial strains isolated from various locations in Ethiopia to evaluate genetic diversity, biogeographic structure and symbiotic effectiveness. Symbiotic effectiveness was evaluated in Leonard Jars using a locally released chickpea cultivar "Nattoli". Most of the new isolates belonged to a clade related to M. plurifarium, with very few sequence differences, while the total collection of strains contained three additional mesorhizobial genospecies associated with M. ciceri, M. abyssinicae and an unidentified Mesorhizobium species isolated from a wild host in Eritrea. The four genospecies identified represented a subset of the eight major Mesorhizobium clades recently reported for Ethiopia based on metagenomic data. All Ethiopian strains had nearly identical symbiotic genes that grouped them in a single cluster with M. ciceri, M. mediterraneum and M. muleiense, but not with M. plurifarium. Some phylogeographic structure was observed, with elevation and geography explaining some of the genetic differences among strains, but the relation between genetic identity and symbiotic effectiveness was observed to be weak.}, } @article {pmid33097853, year = {2021}, author = {Jackrel, SL and Yang, JW and Schmidt, KC and Denef, VJ}, title = {Host specificity of microbiome assembly and its fitness effects in phytoplankton.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {774-788}, pmid = {33097853}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Host Specificity ; *Microbiota ; Phytoplankton ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insights into symbiosis between eukaryotic hosts and their microbiomes have shifted paradigms on what determines host fitness, ecology, and behavior. Questions remain regarding the roles of host versus environment in shaping microbiomes, and how microbiome composition affects host fitness. Using a model system in ecology, phytoplankton, we tested whether microbiomes are host-specific, confer fitness benefits that are host-specific, and remain conserved in time in their composition and fitness effects. We used an experimental approach in which hosts were cleaned of bacteria and then exposed to bacterial communities from natural environments to permit recruitment of microbiomes. We found that phytoplankton microbiomes consisted of a subset of taxa recruited from these natural environments. Microbiome recruitment was host-specific, with host species explaining more variation in microbiome composition than environment. While microbiome composition shifted and then stabilized over time, host specificity remained for dozens of generations. Microbiomes increased host fitness, but these fitness effects were host-specific for only two of the five species. The shifts in microbiome composition over time amplified fitness benefits to the hosts. Overall, this work solidifies the importance of host factors in shaping microbiomes and elucidates the temporal dynamics of microbiome compositional and fitness effects.}, } @article {pmid33097518, year = {2021}, author = {Soukup, P and Větrovský, T and Stiblik, P and Votýpková, K and Chakraborty, A and Sillam-Dussès, D and Kolařík, M and Odriozola, I and Lo, N and Baldrian, P and Šobotník, J and Bourguignon, T}, title = {Termites Are Associated with External Species-Specific Bacterial Communities.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33097518}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {All termites have established a wide range of associations with symbiotic microbes in their guts. Some termite species are also associated with microbes that grow in their nests, but the prevalence of these associations remains largely unknown. Here, we studied the bacterial communities associated with the termites and galleries of three wood-feeding termite species by using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We found that the compositions of bacterial communities among termite bodies, termite galleries, and control wood fragments devoid of termite activities differ in a species-specific manner. Termite galleries were enriched in bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to Rhizobiales and Actinobacteria, which were often shared by several termite species. The abundance of several bacterial OTUs, such as Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, and Staphylococcus, was reduced in termite galleries. Our results demonstrate that both termite guts and termite galleries harbor unique bacterial communities.IMPORTANCE As is the case for all ecosystem engineers, termites impact their habitat by their activities, potentially affecting bacterial communities. Here, we studied three wood-feeding termite species and found that they influence the composition of the bacterial communities in their surrounding environment. Termite activities have positive effects on Rhizobiales and Actinobacteria abundance and negative effects on the abundance of several ubiquitous genera, such as Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, and Staphylococcus Our results demonstrate that termite galleries harbor unique bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid33097512, year = {2021}, author = {Correa-García, S and Rheault, K and Tremblay, J and Séguin, A and Yergeau, E}, title = {Soil Characteristics Constrain the Response of Microbial Communities and Associated Hydrocarbon Degradation Genes during Phytoremediation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {33097512}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Forests ; Fungi/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Phenanthrenes/*metabolism ; *Populus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizodegradation is a promising cleanup technology where microorganisms degrade soil contaminants in the rhizosphere. A symbiotic relationship is expected to occur between plant roots and soil microorganisms in contaminated soils that enhances natural microbial degradation. However, little is known about how different initial microbiotas influence the rhizodegradation outcome. Recent studies have hinted that soil initial diversity has a determining effect on the outcome of contaminant degradation. To test this, we either planted (P) or not (NP) balsam poplars (Populus balsamifera) in two soils of contrasting diversity (agricultural and forest) that were contaminated or not with 50 mg kg[-1] of phenanthrene (PHE). The DNA from the rhizosphere of the P and the bulk soil of the NP pots was extracted and the bacterial genes encoding the 16S rRNA, the PAH ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase alpha subunits (PAH-RHDα) of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and the fungal ITS region were sequenced to characterize the microbial communities. The abundances of the PAH-RHDα genes were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Plant presence had a significant effect on PHE degradation only in the forest soil, whereas both NP and P agricultural soils degraded the same amount of PHE. Fungal communities were mainly affected by plant presence, whereas bacterial communities were principally affected by the soil type, and upon contamination the dominant PAH-degrading community was similarly constrained by soil type. Our results highlight the crucial importance of soil microbial and physicochemical characteristics in the outcome of rhizoremediation.IMPORTANCE Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a group of organic contaminants that pose a risk to ecosystems' health. Phytoremediation is a promising biotechnology with the potential to restore PAH-contaminated soils. However, some limitations prevent it from becoming the remediation technology of reference, despite being environmentally friendlier than mainstream physicochemical alternatives. Recent reports suggest that the original soil microbial diversity is the key to harnessing the potential of phytoremediation. Therefore, this study focused on determining the effect of two different soil types in the fate of phenanthrene (a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) under balsam poplar remediation. Poplar increased the degradation of phenanthrene in forest, but not in agricultural soil. The fungi were affected by poplars, whereas total bacteria and specific PAH-degrading bacteria were constrained by soil type, leading to different degradation patterns between soils. These results highlight the importance of performing preliminary microbiological studies of contaminated soils to determine whether plant presence could improve remediation rates or not.}, } @article {pmid33096259, year = {2020}, author = {Li, M and Liu, H and Guo, Y and Chen, F and Zi, X and Fan, R and Li, H and Cai, Y and He, C and Lu, Z and Zhao, X}, title = {Single symbiotic cell transcriptome sequencing of coral.}, journal = {Genomics}, volume = {112}, number = {6}, pages = {5305-5312}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.10.019}, pmid = {33096259}, issn = {1089-8646}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA-Seq ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Zooxanthellae and coral can form an intracellular symbiotic system. Yet, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying this symbiosis. In this study, we characterized the symbiosis based on analyses of gene expression at the single-cell level. Among 9110 single coral cells, we identified 4871 symbiotic cells based on the detection of both coral and zooxanthellae gene transcripts within a single cell. Using the bioinformatics tool Seurat, symbiotic cells were further clustered into five groups, 52 genes exhibited differential expression between groups. We proposed an index called the "symbiosis index", to indicate the degree of gene expression of both species in a single symbiotic cell. Interestingly, the index differed distinctly among the five groups. The symbiosis index was highly correlated with the expression of the coral gene gfas1.m1.6761 (ANKRD40), which encodes ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 40 and is involved in DNA replication (r = 0.76). Two metabolism-related genes, DAGLA and betaGlu, were highly expressed in cells with a high symbiosis index. Four zooxanthellae genes, PRPF19, ATRN, aAA-ATPases and AK812-SmicGene44833, exhibited substantial changes in expression levels when zooxanthellae lived within coral. A trajectory analysis suggested that cells with a higher symbiosis index may be derived from those with a lower index during coral colony development. Taken together, our results provide evidence for zooxanthellae residing within coral, forming a symbiotic system. The symbiosis index is an effective indicator of different cell groups, with lineage relationships among groups. Additionally, we identified specific genes that exhibit expression changes in the symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid33096058, year = {2021}, author = {Bojko, J and Burgess, AL and Baker, AG and Orr, CH}, title = {Invasive Non-Native Crustacean Symbionts: Diversity and Impact.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {107482}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2020.107482}, pmid = {33096058}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Crustacea/*parasitology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Introduced Species ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Invasive non-native species (INNS) pose a risk as vectors of parasitic organisms (Invasive Parasites). Introducing invasive parasites can result in ecological disturbances, leading to biodiversity loss and native species illness/mortality, but occasionally can control INNS limiting their impact. Risks to human health and the economy are also associated with INNS and invasive parasites; however, we understand little about the diversity of symbiotic organisms co-invading alongside INNS. This lack of clarity is an important aspect of the 'One Health' prerogative, which aims to bridge the gap between human, wildlife, and ecosystem health. To explore symbiont diversity associated with the invasive crustacean group (including: crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, amphipod, isopod, copepod, barnacle, other) (n = 323) derived from 1054 aquatic invertebrates classed as INNS across databases, we compile literature (year range 1800-2017) from the native and invasive range to provide a cumulative symbiont profile for each species. Our search indicated that 31.2% of INN crustaceans were known to hold at least one symbiont, whereby the remaining 68.8% had no documented symbionts. The symbiont list mostly consisted of helminths (27% of the known diversity) and protists (23% of the known diversity), followed by bacteria (12%) and microsporidians (12%). Carcinus maenas, the globally invasive and extremely well-studied green crab, harboured the greatest number of symbionts (n = 72). Additional screening is imperative to become more informed on invasive symbiont threats. We reveal that few studies provide truly empirical data that connect biodiversity loss with invasive parasites and suggest that dedicated studies on available systems will help to provide vital case studies. Despite the lack of empirical data, co-invasive parasites of invasive invertebrates appear capable of lowering local biodiversity, especially by causing behavioural change and mortality in native species. Alternatively, several invasive parasites appear to protect ecosystems by controlling the impact and population size of their invasive host. We provide a protocol that could be followed to explore symbiont diversity in invasive groups as part of our case studies. The consequence of limited parasite screening of INNS, in addition to the impacts invasive parasites impart on local ecologies, are explored throughout the review. We conclude in strong support of the 'One Health' prerogative and further identify a need to better explore disease in invasion systems, many of which are accountable for economic, human health and ecological diversity impacts.}, } @article {pmid33095004, year = {2020}, author = {Li, K and Xing, R and Liu, S and Li, P}, title = {Chitin and Chitosan Fragments Responsible for Plant Elicitor and Growth Stimulator.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {68}, number = {44}, pages = {12203-12211}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.0c05316}, pmid = {33095004}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Chitin/*chemistry/metabolism ; Chitosan/*chemistry/metabolism ; Crop Production ; Crops, Agricultural/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chitin and chitosan are natural polysaccharides with huge application potential in agriculture, such as promoting plant growth, eliciting plant resistance against biotic and abiotic stress, and activating symbiotic signaling between plants and beneficial microorganisms. Chitin and chitosan offer a sustainable alternative for future crop production. The bioactivities of chitin and chitosan closely depend on their structural factors, including molecular size, degree of acetylation, and pattern of acetylation. It is of great significance to identify the key fragments in chitin and chitosan chains that are responsible for these agricultural bioactivities. Herein, we review the recent progress in the structure-function relationship of chitin and chitosan in the field of agriculture application. The preparation of chitin and chitosan fragments and their action mode for plant protection and growth are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid33093798, year = {2020}, author = {Sharma, M and Sudheer, S and Usmani, Z and Rani, R and Gupta, P}, title = {Deciphering the Omics of Plant-Microbe Interaction: Perspectives and New Insights.}, journal = {Current genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {343-362}, pmid = {33093798}, issn = {1389-2029}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Plants do not grow in isolation, rather they are hosts to a variety of microbes in their natural environments. While, few thrive in the plants for their own benefit, others may have a direct impact on plants in a symbiotic manner. Unraveling plant-microbe interactions is a critical component in recognizing the positive and negative impacts of microbes on plants. Also, by affecting the environment around plants, microbes may indirectly influence plants. The progress in sequencing technologies in the genomics era and several omics tools has accelerated in biological science. Studying the complex nature of plant-microbe interactions can offer several strategies to increase the productivity of plants in an environmentally friendly manner by providing better insights. This review brings forward the recent works performed in building omics strategies that decipher the interactions between plant-microbiome. At the same time, it further explores other associated mutually beneficial aspects of plant-microbe interactions such as plant growth promotion, nitrogen fixation, stress suppressions in crops and bioremediation; as well as provides better insights on metabolic interactions between microbes and plants through omics approaches. It also aims to explore advances in the study of Arabidopsis as an important avenue to serve as a baseline tool to create models that help in scrutinizing various factors that contribute to the elaborate relationship between plants and microbes. Causal relationships between plants and microbes can be established through systematic gnotobiotic experimental studies to test hypotheses on biologically derived interactions.

CONCLUSION: This review will cover recent advances in the study of plant-microbe interactions keeping in view the advantages of these interactions in improving nutrient uptake and plant health.}, } @article {pmid33093662, year = {2021}, author = {Morais, LH and Schreiber, HL and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {The gut microbiota-brain axis in behaviour and brain disorders.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {241-255}, pmid = {33093662}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Brain/microbiology/pathology ; Brain Diseases/*microbiology/*pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In a striking display of trans-kingdom symbiosis, gut bacteria cooperate with their animal hosts to regulate the development and function of the immune, metabolic and nervous systems through dynamic bidirectional communication along the 'gut-brain axis'. These processes may affect human health, as certain animal behaviours appear to correlate with the composition of gut bacteria, and disruptions in microbial communities have been implicated in several neurological disorders. Most insights about host-microbiota interactions come from animal models, which represent crucial tools for studying the various pathways linking the gut and the brain. However, there are complexities and manifest limitations inherent in translating complex human disease to reductionist animal models. In this Review, we discuss emerging and exciting evidence of intricate and crucial connections between the gut microbiota and the brain involving multiple biological systems, and possible contributions by the gut microbiota to neurological disorders. Continued advances from this frontier of biomedicine may lead to tangible impacts on human health.}, } @article {pmid33093112, year = {2020}, author = {Batstone, RT and O'Brien, AM and Harrison, TL and Frederickson, ME}, title = {Experimental evolution makes microbes more cooperative with their local host genotype.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {370}, number = {6515}, pages = {476-478}, doi = {10.1126/science.abb7222}, pmid = {33093112}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Advances in microbiome science require a better understanding of how beneficial microbes adapt to hosts. We tested whether hosts select for more-cooperative microbial strains with a year-long evolution experiment and a cross-inoculation experiment designed to explore how nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) adapt to legumes. We paired the bacterium Ensifer meliloti with one of five Medicago truncatula genotypes that vary in how strongly they "choose" bacterial symbionts. Independent of host choice, E. meliloti rapidly adapted to its local host genotype, and derived microbes were more beneficial when they shared evolutionary history with their host. This local adaptation was mostly limited to the symbiosis plasmids, with mutations in putative signaling genes. Thus, cooperation depends on the match between partner genotypes and increases as bacteria adapt to their local host.}, } @article {pmid33093110, year = {2020}, author = {Bergstrom, K and Shan, X and Casero, D and Batushansky, A and Lagishetty, V and Jacobs, JP and Hoover, C and Kondo, Y and Shao, B and Gao, L and Zandberg, W and Noyovitz, B and McDaniel, JM and Gibson, DL and Pakpour, S and Kazemian, N and McGee, S and Houchen, CW and Rao, CV and Griffin, TM and Sonnenburg, JL and McEver, RP and Braun, J and Xia, L}, title = {Proximal colon-derived O-glycosylated mucus encapsulates and modulates the microbiota.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {370}, number = {6515}, pages = {467-472}, pmid = {33093110}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {R01 HD083418/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK101674/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103441/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK085025/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK085691/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; IK2 CX001717/CX/CSRD VA/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Colon/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glycosylation ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mucin-2/genetics/*metabolism ; Mucus/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Colon mucus segregates the intestinal microbiota from host tissues, but how it organizes to function throughout the colon is unclear. In mice, we found that colon mucus consists of two distinct O-glycosylated entities of Muc2: a major form produced by the proximal colon, which encapsulates the fecal material including the microbiota, and a minor form derived from the distal colon, which adheres to the major form. The microbiota directs its own encapsulation by inducing Muc2 production from proximal colon goblet cells. In turn, O-glycans on proximal colon-derived Muc2 modulate the structure and function of the microbiota as well as transcription in the colon mucosa. Our work shows how proximal colon control of mucin production is an important element in the regulation of host-microbiota symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33092221, year = {2020}, author = {Marczak, M and Wójcik, M and Żebracki, K and Turska-Szewczuk, A and Talarek, K and Nowak, D and Wawiórka, L and Sieńczyk, M and Łupicka-Słowik, A and Bobrek, K and Romańczuk, M and Koper, P and Mazur, A}, title = {PssJ Is a Terminal Galactosyltransferase Involved in the Assembly of the Exopolysaccharide Subunit in Rhizobium Leguminosarum bv. Trifolii.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {33092221}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Galactose/chemistry/metabolism ; Galactosyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii produces exopolysaccharide (EPS) composed of glucose, glucuronic acid, and galactose residues at a molar ratio 5:2:1. A majority of genes involved in the synthesis, modification, and export of exopolysaccharide are located in the chromosomal Pss-I region. In the present study, a ΔpssJ deletion mutant was constructed and shown to produce EPS lacking terminal galactose in the side chain of the octasaccharide subunit. The lack of galactose did not block EPS subunit translocation and polymerization. The in trans delivery of the pssJ gene restored the production of galactose-containing exopolysaccharide. The mutant was compromised in several physiological traits, e.g., motility and biofilm production. An impact of the pssJ mutation and changed EPS structure on the symbiotic performance was observed as improper signaling at the stage of molecular recognition, leading to formation of a significant number of non-infected empty nodules. Terminal galactosyltransferase PssJ was shown to display a structure typical for the GT-A class of glycosyltransferases and interact with other GTs and Wzx/Wzy system proteins. The latter, together with PssJ presence in soluble and membrane protein fractions indicated that the protein plays its role at the inner membrane interface and as a component of a larger complex.}, } @article {pmid33092135, year = {2020}, author = {Sakamoto, JM and Silva Diaz, GE and Wagner, EA}, title = {Bacterial Communities of Ixodes scapularis from Central Pennsylvania, USA.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33092135}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Native microbiota represent a potential resource for biocontrol of arthropod vectors. Ixodes scapularis is mostly inhabited by the endosymbiotic Rickettsia buchneri, but the composition of bacterial communities varies with life stage, fed status, and/or geographic location. We compared bacterial community diversity among I. scapularis populations sampled within a small geographic range in Central Pennsylvania. We collected and extracted DNA from ticks and sequenced amplicons of the eubacterial 16S rRNA gene from individuals and pooled samples. We then used taxon-specific PCR and/or qPCR to confirm the abundance or infection frequency of select pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria. Bacterial communities were more diverse in pools of males than females and the most abundant taxon was Rickettsia buchneri followed by Coxiellaceae (confirmed by sequencing as an unknown Rickettsiella species). High Rickettsiella titers in pools were likely due to a few heavily infected males. We determined that the infection frequency of Borrelia burgdorferi ranged from 20 to 75%. Titers of Anaplasma phagocytophilum were significantly different between sexes. Amplicon-based bacterial 16S sequencing is a powerful tool for establishing the baseline community diversity and focusing hypotheses for targeted experiments, but care should be taken not to overinterpret data based on too few individuals. We identified intracellular bacterial candidates that may be useful as targets for manipulation.}, } @article {pmid33092035, year = {2020}, author = {Engl, T and Schmidt, THP and Kanyile, SN and Klebsch, D}, title = {Metabolic Cost of a Nutritional Symbiont Manifests in Delayed Reproduction in a Grain Pest Beetle.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33092035}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Animals engage in a plethora of mutualistic interactions with microorganisms that can confer various benefits to their host but can also incur context-dependent costs. The sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis harbors nutritional, intracellular Bacteroidetes bacteria that supplement precursors for the cuticle synthesis and thereby enhance desiccation resistance of its host. Experimental elimination of the symbiont impairs cuticle formation and reduces fitness under desiccation stress but does not disrupt the host's life cycle. For this study, we first demonstrated that symbiont populations showed the strongest growth at the end of metamorphosis and then declined continuously in males, but not in females. The symbiont loss neither impacted the development time until adulthood nor adult mortality or lifespan. Furthermore, lifetime reproduction was not influenced by the symbiont presence. However, symbiotic females started to reproduce almost two weeks later than aposymbiotic ones. Thus, symbiont presence incurs a metabolic and context-dependent fitness cost to females, probably due to a nutrient allocation trade-off between symbiont growth and sexual maturation. The O. surinamensis symbiosis thereby represents an experimentally amenable system to study eco-evolutionary dynamics under variable selection pressures.}, } @article {pmid33090749, year = {2020}, author = {Kidaj, D and Krysa, M and Susniak, K and Matys, J and Komaniecka, I and Sroka-Bartnicka, A}, title = {Biological activity of Nod factors.}, journal = {Acta biochimica Polonica}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {435-440}, doi = {10.18388/abp.2020_5353}, pmid = {33090749}, issn = {1734-154X}, mesh = {Cytoskeleton/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Membrane Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Plant Cells/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Protein Isoforms/biosynthesis/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Chemically, the Nod factors (NFs) are lipochitooligosaccharides, produced mainly by bacteria of the Rhizobium genus. They are the main signaling molecules involved in the initiation of symbiosis between rhizobia and legume plants. Nod factors affect plant tissues at very low concentrations, even as low as 10-12 mol/L. They induce root hair deformation, cortical cell division, and root nodules' formation in the host plant. At the molecular level, the cytoskeleton is reorganized and expression of genes encoding proteins called nodulins is induced in response to Nod factors in the cell. Action of Nod factors is highly specific because it depends on the structure of a particular Nod factor involved, as well as the plant receptor reacting with it.}, } @article {pmid33089988, year = {2020}, author = {Hopper, CP and De La Cruz, LK and Lyles, KV and Wareham, LK and Gilbert, JA and Eichenbaum, Z and Magierowski, M and Poole, RK and Wollborn, J and Wang, B}, title = {Role of Carbon Monoxide in Host-Gut Microbiome Communication.}, journal = {Chemical reviews}, volume = {120}, number = {24}, pages = {13273-13311}, doi = {10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00586}, pmid = {33089988}, issn = {1520-6890}, support = {R01 DK119202/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Carbon Monoxide/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nature is full of examples of symbiotic relationships. The critical symbiotic relation between host and mutualistic bacteria is attracting increasing attention to the degree that the gut microbiome is proposed by some as a new organ system. The microbiome exerts its systemic effect through a diverse range of metabolites, which include gaseous molecules such as H2, CO2, NH3, CH4, NO, H2S, and CO. In turn, the human host can influence the microbiome through these gaseous molecules as well in a reciprocal manner. Among these gaseous molecules, NO, H2S, and CO occupy a special place because of their widely known physiological functions in the host and their overlap and similarity in both targets and functions. The roles that NO and H2S play have been extensively examined by others. Herein, the roles of CO in host-gut microbiome communication are examined through a discussion of (1) host production and function of CO, (2) available CO donors as research tools, (3) CO production from diet and bacterial sources, (4) effect of CO on bacteria including CO sensing, and (5) gut microbiome production of CO. There is a large amount of literature suggesting the "messenger" role of CO in host-gut microbiome communication. However, much more work is needed to begin achieving a systematic understanding of this issue.}, } @article {pmid33089655, year = {2021}, author = {Gargouri, M and Bates, PD and Declerck, S}, title = {Combinatorial reprogramming of lipid metabolism in plants: a way towards mass-production of bio-fortified arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculants.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {31-34}, pmid = {33089655}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {*Agricultural Inoculants ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics ; Lipid Metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the most ancient, widespread and functionally important symbioses on Earth that help feed the world. Yet, mass-production of clean (i.e. in vitro produced), safe and robust inoculum at affordable costs remains a critical challenge. Very recently, Luginbuehl et al. (2017) found that plants supply lipids to the symbiotic partner, thus 'providing the AMF with a robust source of carbon for their metabolic needs'. Hence, engineering plants for enhanced delivery of lipids to AMF could represent an innovative avenue to produce a novel generation of high-quality and cost-effective bio-fortified AMF inoculants for application in agro-ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid33088201, year = {2020}, author = {Suzuki, M and Numazaki, R and Nakagawa, T and Shibuya, N and Kaku, H}, title = {Cytoplasmic interaction of LysM receptors contributes to the formation of symbiotic receptor complex.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {359-362}, pmid = {33088201}, issn = {1342-4580}, abstract = {Receptor complex formation at the cell surface is a key step to initiate downstream signaling but the contribution of this process for the regulation of the direction of downstream responses is not well understood. In the plant-microbe interactions, while CERK1, an Arabidopsis LysM-RLK, mediates chitin-induced immune responses, NFR1, a Lotus homolog of CERK1, regulates the symbiotic process with rhizobial bacteria through the recognition of Nod factors. Concerning the mechanistic insight of the regulation of such apparently opposite biological responses by the structurally related RLKs, Nakagawa et al. previously showed that the addition of YAQ sequence, conserved in NFR1 and other symbiotic LysM-RLKs, to the kinase domain of CERK1 switched downstream responses from defense to symbiosis using a set of chimeric receptors, NFR1-CERK1s. These results indicated that such a subtle difference in the cytoplasmic domain of LysM-RLKs could determine the direction of host responses from defense to symbiosis. On the other hand, it is still not understood how such structural differences in the cytoplasmic domains determine the direction of host responses. We here analyzed the interaction between chimeric NFR1s and NFR5, a partner receptor of NFR1, by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) of these proteins transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. These results indicated that the cytoplasmic interaction between the LysM-RLKs is important for the symbiotic receptor complex formation and the YAQ containing region of NFR1 contributes to trigger symbiotic signaling through the successful formation of NFR1/NFR5 complex.}, } @article {pmid33087470, year = {2020}, author = {Mason, RAB and Wall, CB and Cunning, R and Dove, S and Gates, RD}, title = {High light alongside elevated PCO2 alleviates thermal depression of photosynthesis in a hard coral (Pocillopora acuta).}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {223}, number = {Pt 20}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.223198}, pmid = {33087470}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon Dioxide ; Chlorophyll A ; Coral Reefs ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis ; Seawater ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The absorbtion of human-emitted CO2 by the oceans (elevated PCO2) is projected to alter the physiological performance of coral reef organisms by perturbing seawater chemistry (i.e. ocean acidification). Simultaneously, greenhouse gas emissions are driving ocean warming and changes in irradiance (through turbidity and cloud cover), which have the potential to influence the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs. Here, we explored whether physiological impacts of elevated PCO2 on a coral-algal symbiosis (Pocillopora acuta-Symbiodiniaceae) are mediated by light and/or temperature levels. In a 39 day experiment, elevated PCO2 (962 versus 431 µatm PCO2) had an interactive effect with midday light availability (400 versus 800 µmol photons m[-2] s[-1]) and temperature (25 versus 29°C) on areal gross and net photosynthesis, for which a decline at 29°C was ameliorated under simultaneous high-PCO2 and high-light conditions. Light-enhanced dark respiration increased under elevated PCO2 and/or elevated temperature. Symbiont to host cell ratio and chlorophyll a per symbiont increased at elevated temperature, whilst symbiont areal density decreased. The ability of moderately strong light in the presence of elevated PCO2 to alleviate the temperature-induced decrease in photosynthesis suggests that higher substrate availability facilitates a greater ability for photochemical quenching, partially offsetting the impacts of high temperature on the photosynthetic apparatus. Future environmental changes that result in moderate increases in light levels could therefore assist the P. acuta holobiont to cope with the 'one-two punch' of rising temperatures in the presence of an acidifying ocean.}, } @article {pmid33087060, year = {2020}, author = {Chiu, YL and Shikina, S and Yoshioka, Y and Shinzato, C and Chang, CF}, title = {De novo transcriptome assembly from the gonads of a scleractinian coral, Euphyllia ancora: molecular mechanisms underlying scleractinian gametogenesis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {732}, pmid = {33087060}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Female ; Gametogenesis/genetics ; Gonads ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sexual reproduction of scleractinians has captured the attention of researchers and the general public for decades. Although extensive ecological data has been acquired, underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, to better understand mechanisms underlying gametogenesis, we isolated ovaries and testes at different developmental phases from a gonochoric coral, Euphyllia ancora, and adopted a transcriptomic approach to reveal sex- and phase-specific gene expression profiles. In particular, we explored genes associated with oocyte development and maturation, spermiogenesis, sperm motility / capacitation, and fertilization.

RESULTS: 1.6 billion raw reads were obtained from 24 gonadal samples. De novo assembly of trimmed reads, and elimination of contigs derived from symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) and other organisms yielded a reference E. ancora gonadal transcriptome of 35,802 contigs. Analysis of 4 developmental phases identified 2023 genes that were differentially expressed during oogenesis and 678 during spermatogenesis. In premature/mature ovaries, 631 genes were specifically upregulated, with 538 in mature testes. Upregulated genes included those involved in gametogenesis, gamete maturation, sperm motility / capacitation, and fertilization in other metazoans, including humans. Meanwhile, a large number of genes without homology to sequences in the SWISS-PROT database were also observed among upregulated genes in premature / mature ovaries and mature testes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that scleractinian gametogenesis shares many molecular characteristics with that of other metazoans, but it also possesses unique characteristics developed during cnidarian and/or scleractinian evolution. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to create a gonadal transcriptome assembly from any scleractinian. This study and associated datasets provide a foundation for future studies regarding gametogenesis and differences between male and female colonies from molecular and cellular perspectives. Furthermore, our transcriptome assembly will be a useful reference for future development of sex-specific and/or stage-specific germ cell markers that can be used in coral aquaculture and ecological studies.}, } @article {pmid33087056, year = {2020}, author = {Gichuhi, J and Khamis, F and Van den Berg, J and Mohamed, S and Ekesi, S and Herren, JK}, title = {Influence of inoculated gut bacteria on the development of Bactrocera dorsalis and on its susceptibility to the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {321}, pmid = {33087056}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {107372/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Kenya ; Lactococcus lactis/isolation & purification ; Metarhizium/genetics ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Providencia/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic interactions between insects and bacteria have been associated with a vast variety of physiological, ecological and evolutionary consequences for the host. A wide range of bacterial communities have been found in association with the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), an important pest of cultivated fruit in most regions of the world. We evaluated the diversity of gut bacteria in B. dorsalis specimens from several populations in Kenya and investigated the roles of individual bacterial isolates in the development of axenic (germ-free) B. dorsalis fly lines and their responses to the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae.

RESULTS: We sequenced 16S rRNA to evaluate microbiomes and coupled this with bacterial culturing. Bacterial isolates were mono-associated with axenic B. dorsalis embryos. The shortest embryonic development period was recorded in flies with an intact gut microbiome while the longest period was recorded in axenic fly lines. Similarly, larval development was shortest in flies with an intact gut microbiome, in addition to flies inoculated with Providencia alcalifaciens. Adult B. dorsalis flies emerging from embryos that had been mono-associated with a strain of Lactococcus lactis had decreased survival when challenged with a standard dosage of M. anisopliae ICIPE69 conidia. However, there were no differences in survival between the germ-free lines and flies with an intact microbiome.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings will contribute to the selection of probiotics used in artificial diets for B. dorsalis rearing and the development of improved integrated pest management strategies based on entomopathogenic fungi.}, } @article {pmid33086184, year = {2021}, author = {Tang, J and Wu, Z and Wan, L and Cai, W and Chen, S and Wang, X and Luo, J and Zhou, Z and Zhao, J and Lin, S}, title = {Differential enrichment and physiological impacts of ingested microplastics in scleractinian corals in situ.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {404}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {124205}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124205}, pmid = {33086184}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; China ; Ecosystem ; Microplastics ; Plastics/toxicity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Microplastics are emerging contaminants and widespread in the ocean, but their impacts on coral reef ecosystems are poorly understood, and in situ study is still lacking. In the present study, the distribution patterns of microplastics in the environment and inhabiting organisms were investigated along the east coast of Hainan Island, South China Sea, and the physiological impacts of the microplastics on scleractinian corals were analyzed. We documented average microplastic concentrations of 14.90 particlesL[-1] in seawater, 343.04 particleskg[-1] in sediment, 4.97 particlescm[-2] in corals, and 0.67-3.12 particlescm[-1] in Tridacnidae, Trochidae and fish intestines. Further analysis revealed that the characteristics of microplastics in the organisms were different from those in the environment, indicating preferential enrichment in the organisms. Furthermore, there was an obvious correlation between microplastic concentration and symbiotic density in corals. Furthermore, caspase3 activity was significantly positively correlated with the microplastic content in the small-polyp coral Pocillopora damicornis, but the large-polyp coral Galaxea fascicularis showed higher tolerance to microplastics. Taken together, our results suggest that microplastics are selectively enriched in corals and other reef-dwellers, in which they exact differential stress (apoptotic) effects, with the potential to impact the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis and alter the coral community structure.}, } @article {pmid33085023, year = {2020}, author = {Stone, LBL and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {The multifunctional lifestyles of Metarhizium: evolution and applications.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {23}, pages = {9935-9945}, pmid = {33085023}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; Insecta ; Life Style ; *Metarhizium/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genus Metarhizium is comprised of a diverse group of common soil fungi that exhibit multifunctional lifestyles with varying degrees of saprotrophic, endophytic, and insect pathogenic modes of nutrient acquisition. The transcriptome of these species is modulated to reflect immediate needs of the fungus and availability of resources-a form of transcriptional plasticity that allows for physiological adaptation to environments with diverse and dynamic exploitable nutrient sources. In this review, we discuss the endophytic, insect pathogenic lifestyles of Metarhizium spp., including their symbiotic interface, origins, and evolution, and agricultural applications. Isotope labeling experiments have demonstrated that a mutually beneficial exchange of limiting nutrients occurs between the fungus and its host plant, with nitrogen derived via insect pathogenesis being translocated from Metarhizium to host plants in exchange for fixed carbon in the form of photosynthate. Thus, the endophytic and entomopathogenic abilities of Metarhizium spp. are not exclusive of one another, but rather are interdependent and reciprocal in nature. Although endophytic, insect pathogenic fungi (EIPF) could certainly have evolved from insect pathogenic fungi, phylogenomic evidence indicates that this genus is more closely related to plant-associated fungi than animal pathogens, suggesting that Metarhizium evolved from a lineage of plant symbionts, which subsequently acquired genes for insect pathogenesis. Entomopathogenicity may have been an adaptive trait, allowing for procurement of insect-derived nitrogen that could be translocated to host plants and bartered for fixed carbon, thereby improving the stability of fungal-plant symbioses. Given their ability to simultaneously parasitize soil insects, including a number of pests of agriculturally important crops, as well as promote plant health, growth, and productivity, Metarhizium spp. are considered promising alternatives to the chemical pesticides and fertilizers that have wreaked havoc on the health and integrity of ecosystems. KEY POINTS: • Metarhizium is a fungus that is an insect pathogen as well as a plant symbiont. • The genus Metarhizium has specialist and generalist insect pathogens. • Metarhizium is phylogenetically most closely related to plant endophytes.}, } @article {pmid33084749, year = {2020}, author = {Maldonado, GC and Moura, MMS and Skinner, LF and AraÚjo, FV}, title = {Evaluation of wood degradation rates by Teredinidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in two ecologically distinct areas, and temperature and salinity influences on the cellulolytic activity of associated bacteria.}, journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias}, volume = {92}, number = {suppl 2}, pages = {e20180970}, doi = {10.1590/0001-3765202020180970}, pmid = {33084749}, issn = {1678-2690}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Bivalvia ; Brazil ; Gills ; Salinity ; Temperature ; *Wood ; }, abstract = {Teredinidae (shipworms) is a family of marine wood-boring bivalves that has an important role in the degradation of wood through its symbiotic relationship with cellulolytic bacteria. To evaluate the rate of degradation of wood by teredinids in two sites with different oceanographic conditions in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, artificial structures composed of pine wood sheets were immersed in the ocean for three months at Arraial do Cabo in an area under the influence of upwelling, and at Ilha Grande Bay under tropical and oligotrophic influences. After the immersion period, teredinids were removed from the collectors, identified, and counted. Wood consumption by the teredinids was quantified by comparing the dry weights of the collectors before and after immersion. Associated bacteria were isolated and their cellulolytic activities evaluated at different temperatures and salinities. Two Teredinidae species were recorded: Bankia gouldi and Lyrodus floridanus. The highest wood degradation rate and enzymatic activities of the isolated bacterial strains were recorded at Arraial do Cabo, suggesting that upwelling influenced the activities of those species.}, } @article {pmid33083488, year = {2020}, author = {Gunathilaka, N and Ranasinghe, K and Amarasinghe, D and Rodrigo, W and Mallawarachchi, H and Chandrasena, N}, title = {Molecular Characterization of Culturable Aerobic Bacteria in the Midgut of Field-Caught Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex gelidus, and Mansonia annulifera Mosquitoes in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2020}, number = {}, pages = {8732473}, pmid = {33083488}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Bacteria, Aerobic/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Culex/microbiology ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Sri Lanka ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Larval and adult mosquito stages harbor different extracellular microbes exhibiting various functions in their digestive tract including host-parasite interactions. Midgut symbiotic bacteria can be genetically exploited to express molecules within the vectors, altering vector competency and potential for disease transmission. Therefore, identification of mosquito gut inhabiting microbiota is of ample importance before developing novel vector control strategies that involve modification of vectors.

METHOD: Adult mosquitoes of Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex gelidus, and Mansonia annulifera were collected from selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in the Gampaha district of Sri Lanka. Midgut lysates of the field-caught non-blood-fed female mosquitoes were cultured in Plate Count Agar medium, and Prokaryotic 16S ribosomal RNA partial genes of the isolated bacteria colonies were amplified followed by DNA sequencing. Diversity indices were used to assess the diversity and richness of the bacterial isolates in three mosquito species. The distribution pattern of bacterial isolates between different mosquito species was assessed by Distance-Based Redundancy Analysis (dbRDA).

RESULTS: A total of 20 bacterial species (Staphylococcus pasteuri, Bacillus megaterium, Staphylococcus cohnii, Pantoea dispersa, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Bacillus aquimaris, Staphylococcus arlettae, Staphylococcus sciuri, Staphylococcus warneri, Moraxella osloensis, Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella michiganensis, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptomyces sp., Bacillus niacin, Cedecea neteri, Micrococcus luteus, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, and Bacillus licheniformis) were identified. All of these species belonged to three phyla, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, out of which phylum Firmicutes (71.1%) was the most prominent. The least number of species was recorded from Actinobacteria. The relative distribution of midgut microbes in different mosquito species differed significantly among mosquito species (Chi-square, χ [2] = 486.091; df = 36; P ≤ 0.001). Midgut microbiota of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. gelidus indicated a similarity of 21.51%, while Ma. annulifera shared a similarity of 6.92% with the cluster of above two species. The gut microbiota of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was also significantly more diverse and more evenly distributed compared to Ma. annulifera. Simpson's diversity, Margalef's diversity, and Menhinick's diversity indices were higher in Cx. gelidus. Of the recorded species, P. dispersa and strains of nonpathogenic species in Bacillaceae family (B. megaterium, B. niacini, B. licheniformis, and L. sphaericus) can be recommended as potential candidates for paratransgenesis.

CONCLUSION: The relative distribution of midgut microbes in different mosquito species differed significantly among the three studied adult mosquito species. The present data strongly encourage further investigations to explore the potential usage of these microbes through paratransgenic approach for novel eco-friendly vector control strategies.}, } @article {pmid33083143, year = {2020}, author = {Pyle, AE and Johnson, AM and Villareal, TA}, title = {Isolation, growth, and nitrogen fixation rates of the Hemiaulus-Richelia (diatom-cyanobacterium) symbiosis in culture.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e10115}, pmid = {33083143}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Nitrogen fixers (diazotrophs) are often an important nitrogen source to phytoplankton nutrient budgets in N-limited marine environments. Diazotrophic symbioses between cyanobacteria and diatoms can dominate nitrogen-fixation regionally, particularly in major river plumes and in open ocean mesoscale blooms. This study reports the successful isolation and growth in monocultures of multiple strains of a diatom-cyanobacteria symbiosis from the Gulf of Mexico using a modified artificial seawater medium. We document the influence of light and nutrients on nitrogen fixation and growth rates of the host diatom Hemiaulus hauckii Grunow together with its diazotrophic endosymbiont Richelia intracellularis Schmidt, as well as less complete results on the Hemiaulus membranaceus-R. intracellularis symbiosis. The symbioses rates reported here are for the joint diatom-cyanobacteria unit. Symbiont diazotrophy was sufficient to support both the host diatom and cyanobacteria symbionts, and the entire symbiosis replicated and grew without added nitrogen. Maximum growth rates of multiple strains of H. hauckii symbioses in N-free medium with N2 as the sole N source were 0.74-0.93 div d[-1]. Growth rates followed light saturation kinetics in H. hauckii symbioses with a growth compensation light intensity (EC) of 7-16 µmol m[-2]s[-1]and saturation light level (EK) of 84-110 µmol m[-2]s[-1]. Nitrogen fixation rates by the symbiont while within the host followed a diel pattern where rates increased from near-zero in the scotophase to a maximum 4-6 h into the photophase. At the onset of the scotophase, nitrogen-fixation rates declined over several hours to near-zero values. Nitrogen fixation also exhibited light saturation kinetics. Maximum N2 fixation rates (84 fmol N2 heterocyst[-1]h[-1]) in low light adapted cultures (50 µmol m[-2]s[-]1) were approximately 40-50% of rates (144-154 fmol N2 heterocyst[-1]h[-1]) in high light (150 and 200 µmol m[-2]s[-1]) adapted cultures. Maximum laboratory N2 fixation rates were ~6 to 8-fold higher than literature-derived field rates of the H. hauckii symbiosis. In contrast to published results on the Rhizosolenia-Richelia symbiosis, the H. hauckii symbiosis did not use nitrate when added, although ammonium was consumed by the H. hauckii symbiosis. Symbiont-free host cell cultures could not be established; however, a symbiont-free H. hauckii strain was isolated directly from the field and grown on a nitrate-based medium that would not support DDA growth. Our observations together with literature reports raise the possibility that the asymbiotic H. hauckii are lines distinct from an obligately symbiotic H. hauckii line. While brief descriptions of successful culture isolation have been published, this report provides the first detailed description of the approaches, handling, and methodologies used for successful culture of this marine symbiosis. These techniques should permit a more widespread laboratory availability of these important marine symbioses.}, } @article {pmid33082280, year = {2020}, author = {Khakisahneh, S and Zhang, XY and Nouri, Z and Wang, DH}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Host Thermoregulation in Response to Ambient Temperature Fluctuations.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33082280}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Ambient temperature (Ta) is an important factor in shaping phenotypic plasticity. Plasticity is generally beneficial for animals in adapting to their environments. Gut microbiota are crucial in regulating host physiological and behavioral processes. However, whether the gut microbiota play a role in regulating host phenotypic plasticity under the conditions of repeated fluctuations in environmental factors has rarely been examined. We used intermittent Ta acclimations to test the hypothesis that the plasticity of gut microbiota confers on the host a metabolic adaptation to Ta fluctuations. Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were acclimated to intermittent 5°C to 23°C, 37°C to 23°C or 23°C to 23°C conditions for 3 cycles (totally 3 months). Intermittent Ta acclimations induced variations in resting metabolic rate (RMR), serum thyroid hormones, and core body temperature (Tb). We further identified that the β-diversity of the microbial community varied with Ta and showed diverse responses during the 3 cycles. Some specific bacteria were more sensitive to Ta and were associated with host dynamic metabolic plasticity during Ta acclimations. In addition, depletion of gut microbiota in antibiotic-treated gerbils impaired metabolic plasticity, particularly at low Ta , whereas supplementation with propionate as an energy resource improved the inhibited thermogenic capacity and increased the survival rate in the cold. These findings demonstrate that both gut microbiota and their host were more adaptive after repeated acclimations, and dynamic gut microbiota and their metabolites may confer host plasticity in thermoregulation in response to Ta fluctuations. It also implies that low Ta is a crucial cue in driving symbiosis between mammals and their gut microbiota during evolution.IMPORTANCE Whether gut microbiota play a role in regulating host phenotypic plasticity in small mammals living in seasonal environments has rarely been examined. The present study, through an intermittent temperature acclimation model, indicates that both gut microbiota and their host were more adaptive after repeated acclimations. It also demonstrates that dynamic gut microbiota confer host plasticity in thermoregulation in response to intermittent temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, low temperature seems to be a crucial cue in driving the symbiosis between mammals and their gut microbiota during evolution.}, } @article {pmid33081703, year = {2020}, author = {Duplouy, A and Pranter, R and Warren-Gash, H and Tropek, R and Wahlberg, N}, title = {Towards unravelling Wolbachia global exchange: a contribution from the Bicyclus and Mylothris butterflies in the Afrotropics.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {319}, pmid = {33081703}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Africa ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Geography ; Lepidoptera/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phylogenetically closely related strains of maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria are often found in phylogenetically divergent, and geographically distant insect host species. The interspecies transfer of the symbiont Wolbachia has been thought to have occurred repeatedly, facilitating its observed global pandemic. Few ecological interactions have been proposed as potential routes for the horizontal transfer of Wolbachia within natural insect communities. These routes are however likely to act only at the local scale, but how they may support the global distribution of some Wolbachia strains remains unclear.

RESULTS: Here, we characterize the Wolbachia diversity in butterflies from the tropical forest regions of central Africa to discuss transfer at both local and global scales. We show that numerous species from both the Mylothris (family Pieridae) and Bicyclus (family Nymphalidae) butterfly genera are infected with similar Wolbachia strains, despite only minor interclade contacts across the life cycles of the species within their partially overlapping ecological niches. The phylogenetic distance and differences in resource use between these genera rule out the role of ancestry, hybridization, and shared host-plants in the interspecies transfer of the symbiont. Furthermore, we could not identify any shared ecological factors to explain the presence of the strains in other arthropod species from other habitats, or even ecoregions.

CONCLUSION: Only the systematic surveys of the Wolbachia strains from entire species communities may offer the material currently lacking for understanding how Wolbachia may transfer between highly different and unrelated hosts, as well as across environmental scales.}, } @article {pmid33081639, year = {2020}, author = {Morelli, AM and Ravera, S and Panfoli, I}, title = {The aerobic mitochondrial ATP synthesis from a comprehensive point of view.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {200224}, pmid = {33081639}, issn = {2046-2441}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/*biosynthesis ; Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Intracellular Membranes/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Myelin Sheath/metabolism ; *Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Oxidative Stress ; Prokaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Protons ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Most of the ATP to satisfy the energetic demands of the cell is produced by the F1Fo-ATP synthase (ATP synthase) which can also function outside the mitochondria. Active oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) was shown to operate in the photoreceptor outer segment, myelin sheath, exosomes, microvesicles, cell plasma membranes and platelets. The mitochondria would possess the exclusive ability to assemble the OxPhos molecular machinery so to share it with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and eventually export the ability to aerobically synthesize ATP in true extra-mitochondrial districts. The ER lipid rafts expressing OxPhos components is indicative of the close contact of the two organelles, bearing different evolutionary origins, to maximize the OxPhos efficiency, exiting in molecular transfer from the mitochondria to the ER. This implies that its malfunctioning could trigger a generalized oxidative stress. This is consistent with the most recent interpretations of the evolutionary symbiotic process whose necessary prerequisite appears to be the presence of the internal membrane system inside the eukaryote precursor, of probable archaeal origin allowing the engulfing of the α-proteobacterial precursor of mitochondria. The process of OxPhos in myelin is here studied in depth. A model is provided contemplating the biface arrangement of the nanomotor ATP synthase in the myelin sheath.}, } @article {pmid33080083, year = {2021}, author = {Dal Forno, M and Lawrey, JD and Sikaroodi, M and Gillevet, PM and Schuettpelz, E and Lücking, R}, title = {Extensive photobiont sharing in a rapidly radiating cyanolichen clade.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {1755-1776}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15700}, pmid = {33080083}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; *Lichens/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have uncovered remarkable diversity in Dictyonema s.lat. basidiolichens, here recognized as subtribe Dictyonemateae. This group includes five genera and 148 species, but hundreds more await description. The photobionts of these lichens belong to Rhizonema, a recently resurrected cyanobacterial genus known by a single species. To further investigate photobiont diversity within Dictyonemateae, we generated 765 new cyanobacterial sequences from 635 specimens collected from 18 countries. The ITS barcoding locus supported the recognition of 200 mycobiont (fungal) species among these samples, but the photobiont diversity was comparatively low. Our analyses revealed three main divisions of Rhizonema, with two repeatedly recovered as monophyletic (proposed as new species), and the third mostly paraphyletic. The paraphyletic lineage corresponds to R. interruptum and partnered with mycobionts from all five genera in Dictyonemateae. There was no evidence of photobiont-mycobiont co-speciation, but one of the monophyletic lineages of Rhizonema appears to partner predominantly with one of the two major clades of Cora (mycobiont) with samples collected largely from the northern Andes. Molecular clock estimations indicate the Rhizonema species are much older than the fungal species in the Dictyonemateae, suggesting that these basidiolichens obtained their photobionts from older ascolichen lineages and the photobiont variation in extant lineages of Dictyonemateae is the result of multiple photobiont switches. These results support the hypothesis of lichens representing "fungal farmers," in which diverse mycobiont lineages associate with a substantially lower diversity of photobionts by sharing those photobionts best suited for the lichen symbiosis among multiple and often unrelated mycobiont lineages.}, } @article {pmid33079520, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, J and Cheng, C and Shang, S and Gao, W and Zeng, P and Jiang, S}, title = {Flexible, Reusable SERS Substrate Derived from ZIF-67 by Adjusting LUMO and HOMO and Its Application in Identification of Bacteria.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {12}, number = {44}, pages = {49452-49463}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.0c15754}, pmid = {33079520}, issn = {1944-8252}, mesh = {Escherichia coli/*isolation & purification ; Particle Size ; *Quantum Theory ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Staphylococcus aureus/*isolation & purification ; Surface Properties ; Zeolites/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Conventionally, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-active materials mainly include nanosized noble metals, semiconductors, or the complex of both, most of which are limited in practical applications because of their symbiotic materials, complex and difficult to control fabrication processes, and reuse and sampling challenges. To address these issues, novel SERS substrates have been developed in this study by anchoring zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) and derivatives of ZIF-67 to cotton fabric. The designed SERS substrates show extraordinary flexibility, an excellent enhancement factor, and reusable performance. By adjusting the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and highest occupied molecular orbital of ZIF-67 through a doping process with different metal ions, the substrates exhibit a high enhancement factor of 6.07 × 10[6] and a low limit of detection of 10[-8] M, as well as reusability resulting from photocatalysis. The enhancement process is studied based on charge transfer resonance, interband transition resonance, ground state charge transfer, and the light coupling effect. The results contribute to the approaches in designing SERS substrates by using ZIFs as unique SERS-active materials, and provide new insights into the development of novel SERS-active materials, along with promoting the use of SERS detection in the real world by improving the flexibility of substrates.}, } @article {pmid33079241, year = {2020}, author = {Ori, F and Leonardi, M and Faccio, A and Sillo, F and Iotti, M and Pacioni, G and Balestrini, R}, title = {Synthesis and ultrastructural observation of arbutoid mycorrhizae of black truffles (Tuber melanosporum and T. aestivum).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {715-723}, pmid = {33079241}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Ericaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Seedlings ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbutus unedo (the strawberry tree) is a Mediterranean shrub which forms arbutoid mycorrhizae with a variety of Asco- and Basidiomycetes. After the discovery of the mycorrhizal symbiosis between A. unedo and Tuber borchii, in this study, arbutoid mycorrhizae were synthetized in greenhouse with Tuber aestivum and Tuber melanosporum. Six months after inoculation, both species colonized the roots of all inoculated A. unedo seedlings, but mature mycorrhizae were only observed after 12 months. Ultrastructure analysis of Tuber arbutoid mycorrhizae was described for the first time, showing, as observed in typical endosymbiosis, a rearrangement of host cells and the creation of an interface compartment with both truffle species. Immunolabelling experiments suggested that pectins are not present in the interface matrix surrounding the intracellular hyphae. Thus, the ability to establish symbiosis with A. unedo seems to be a common feature in the genus Tuber, opening up the possibility to use this plant for mycorrhization with valuable truffles. This could represent an important economic opportunity in Mediterranean areas by combining the production of truffles, edible fruits and valued honey.}, } @article {pmid33078786, year = {2020}, author = {Rao, J and Yang, Y and Pan Bei, H and Tang, CY and Zhao, X}, title = {Antibacterial nanosystems for cancer therapy.}, journal = {Biomaterials science}, volume = {8}, number = {24}, pages = {6814-6824}, doi = {10.1039/d0bm01537g}, pmid = {33078786}, issn = {2047-4849}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; *Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria ; *Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; }, abstract = {Bacteria and cancer cells share a unique symbiotic relationship in the process of cancer development and treatment. It has been shown that certain bacteria can mediate cancer and thrive inside cancerous tissues. Moreover, during cancer treatment, microbial infections have been shown to impair the therapeutic efficacy and lead to serious complications. In the past decades, the application of antibiotics has achieved great success in fighting numerous bacteria but the administration route, low localization effects and related drug resistance limit the further utilization of antibiotics. Recently, advances in nanotechnology have made a significant impact in the medical field, which enhance the drug solubility and can target lesion sites, and some nanomaterials can even be applied as the therapeutic agent itself. In this review, we introduce anti-bacterial nanosystems for cancer therapy in the aspects of spontaneous and triggered anti-bacterial action, and our notions, as well as proposed research directions for the further development of this field, are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33078663, year = {2020}, author = {Vardakis, JC and Chou, D and Guo, L and Ventikos, Y}, title = {Exploring neurodegenerative disorders using a novel integrated model of cerebral transport: Initial results.}, journal = {Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine}, volume = {234}, number = {11}, pages = {1223-1234}, pmid = {33078663}, issn = {2041-3033}, mesh = {Brain ; Central Nervous System ; *Glymphatic System ; Humans ; *Neurodegenerative Diseases ; }, abstract = {The neurovascular unit (NVU) underlines the complex and symbiotic relationship between brain cells and the cerebral vasculature, and dictates the need to consider both neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases under the same mechanistic umbrella. Importantly, unlike peripheral organs, the brain was thought not to contain a dedicated lymphatics system. The glymphatic system concept (a portmanteau of glia and lymphatic) has further emphasized the importance of cerebrospinal fluid transport and emphasized its role as a mechanism for waste removal from the central nervous system. In this work, we outline a novel multiporoelastic solver which is embedded within a high precision, subject specific workflow that allows for the co-existence of a multitude of interconnected compartments with varying properties (multiple-network poroelastic theory, or MPET), that allow for the physiologically accurate representation of perfused brain tissue. This novel numerical template is based on a six-compartment MPET system (6-MPET) and is implemented through an in-house finite element code. The latter utilises the specificity of a high throughput imaging pipeline (which has been extended to incorporate the regional variation of mechanical properties) and blood flow variability model developed as part of the VPH-DARE@IT research platform. To exemplify the capability of this large-scale consolidated pipeline, a cognitively healthy subject is used to acquire novel, biomechanistically inspired biomarkers relating to primary and derivative variables of the 6-MPET system. These biomarkers are shown to capture the sophisticated nature of the NVU and the glymphatic system, paving the way for a potential route in deconvoluting the complexity associated with the likely interdependence of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. The present study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, that casts and implements the 6-MPET equations in a 3D anatomically accurate brain geometry.}, } @article {pmid33075657, year = {2021}, author = {van Capelleveen, G and Amrit, C and Zijm, H and Yazan, DM and Abdi, A}, title = {Toward building recommender systems for the circular economy: Exploring the perils of the European Waste Catalogue.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {277}, number = {}, pages = {111430}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111430}, pmid = {33075657}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Commerce ; Comprehension ; *Semantics ; }, abstract = {The growth in the number of industries aiming at more sustainable business processes is driving the use of the European Waste Catalogue (EWC). For example, the identification of industrial symbiosis opportunities, in which a user-generated item description has to be annotated with exactly one EWC tag from an a priori defined tag ontology. This study aims to help researchers understand the perils of the EWC when building a recommender system based on natural language processing techniques. We experiment with semantic enhancement (an EWC thesaurus) and the linguistic contexts of words (learned by Word2vec) for detecting term vector similarity in addition to direct term matching algorithms, which often fail to detect an identical term in the short text generated by users. Our in-depth analysis provides an insight into why the different recommenders were unable to generate a correct annotation and motivates a discussion on the current design of the EWC system.}, } @article {pmid33075447, year = {2021}, author = {Evrensel, A and Tarhan, KN}, title = {Emerging role of Gut-microbiota-brain axis in depression and therapeutic implication.}, journal = {Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry}, volume = {106}, number = {}, pages = {110138}, doi = {10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110138}, pmid = {33075447}, issn = {1878-4216}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/immunology/*metabolism ; Brain-Gut Axis/*physiology ; Depression/diet therapy/immunology/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The human body can be considered a superorganism in which it's eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic microorganisms coexist. Almost every organ system of the body lives a symbiotic life with these commensal bacteria. Intestinal microbiota has an important role in shaping, organizing and maintaining mental functions from as early as the intrauterine period. Microbiota-based approaches are becoming more prominent in understanding and treating the etiopathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders, especially depression. Antidepressant drugs, which are the first-line option in the treatment of depression today, also contain antimicrobial and immunomodulatory mechanisms of action. Treatment options for directly modifying the microbiota composition include prebiotics, probiotics (psychobiotics) and fecal microbiota transplantation. There are few preclinical and clinical studies on the efficacy and reliability of these treatment options in depression. This article will review pertinent studies on the role of intestinal microbiota in depression and discuss the treatment potential of altering ones gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33072291, year = {2020}, author = {Sepahvand, V and Brown, BL and Gholamifard, A}, title = {Host specificity and microhabitat preference of symbiotic copepods (Cyclopoida: Clausiididae) associated with ghost shrimps (Decapoda: Callichiridae, Callianideidae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {19}, pages = {10709-10718}, pmid = {33072291}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {We examined the host specificity of two ectosymbiotic Clausidium Kossman, 1874 copepods (Cyclopoida: Clausiididae) on two co-occurrence species of host ghost shrimps. Our results revealed that both species of symbiotic copepod demonstrated extremely high host specificity. Moreover, within a single host shrimp species, each symbiont species displayed strong spatial patterns in microhabitat selection on their hosts' bodies. Clausidium persiaensis Sepahvand & Kihara, 2017, was only found on the host Callianidea typa Milne Edwards, 1837 and almost exclusively within the host shrimp gill chamber, while C. iranensis Sepahvand, Kihara, & Boxshall, 2019 was only found on the host Neocallichirus jousseaumei (Nobili, 1904) and showed extremely strong preferences for the chelae and anterior walking legs. We also found that while the number of symbionts tends to increase with the host size, the two host species differed in the degree of symbiont infestation, with large C. typa hosting approximately 7× as many symbionts as the similarly sized N. jousseaumeia. The mechanisms resulting in the observed differences in infestation levels and microhabitat preferences of clausidium copepods among their hosts, including differences in physiology, burrowing pattern, and host grooming behavior should be further investigated.}, } @article {pmid33072112, year = {2020}, author = {Fine, N and Tasevski, N and McCulloch, CA and Tenenbaum, HC and Glogauer, M}, title = {The Neutrophil: Constant Defender and First Responder.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {571085}, pmid = {33072112}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*immunology ; Extracellular Traps/*metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Mucous Membrane/*immunology ; Neutrophils/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The role of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in biology is often recognized during pathogenesis associated with PMN hyper- or hypo-functionality in various disease states. However, in the vast majority of cases, PMNs contribute to resilience and tissue homeostasis, with continuous PMN-mediated actions required for the maintenance of health, particularly in mucosal tissues. PMNs are extraordinarily well-adapted to respond to and diminish the damaging effects of a vast repertoire of infectious agents and injurious processes that are encountered throughout life. The commensal biofilm, a symbiotic polymicrobial ecosystem that lines the mucosal surfaces, is the first line of defense against pathogenic strains that might otherwise dominate, and is therefore of critical importance for health. PMNs regularly interact with the commensal flora at the mucosal tissues in health and limit their growth without developing an overt inflammatory reaction to them. These PMNs exhibit what is called a para-inflammatory phenotype, and have reduced inflammatory output. When biofilm growth and makeup are disrupted (i.e., dysbiosis), clinical symptoms associated with acute and chronic inflammatory responses to these changes may include pain, erythema and swelling. However, in most cases, these responses indicate that the immune system is functioning properly to re-establish homeostasis and protect the status quo. Defects in this healthy everyday function occur as a result of PMN subversion by pathological microbial strains, genetic defects or crosstalk with other chronic inflammatory conditions, including cancer and rheumatic disease, and this can provide some avenues for therapeutic targeting of PMN function. In other cases, targeting PMN functions could worsen the disease state. Certain PMN-mediated responses to pathogens, for example Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), might lead to undesirable symptoms such as pain or swelling and tissue damage/fibrosis. Despite collateral damage, these PMN responses limit pathogen dissemination and more severe damage that would otherwise occur. New data suggests the existence of unique PMN subsets, commonly associated with functional diversification in response to particular inflammatory challenges. PMN-directed therapeutic approaches depend on a greater understanding of this diversity. Here we outline the current understanding of PMNs in health and disease, with an emphasis on the positive manifestations of tissue and organ-protective PMN-mediated inflammation.}, } @article {pmid33072048, year = {2020}, author = {Guo, DJ and Singh, RK and Singh, P and Li, DP and Sharma, A and Xing, YX and Song, XP and Yang, LT and Li, YR}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Enterobacter roggenkampii ED5, a Nitrogen Fixing Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacterium With Biocontrol and Stress Tolerance Properties, Isolated From Sugarcane Root.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {580081}, pmid = {33072048}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sugarcane is the leading economic crop in China, requires huge quantities of nitrogen in the preliminary plant growth stages. However, the use of an enormous amount of nitrogen fertilizer increases the production price, and have detrimental results on the environment, causes severe soil and water pollution. In this study, a total of 175 endophytic strains were obtained from the sugarcane roots, belonging to five different species, i.e., Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum barberi, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum spontaneum, and Saccharum sinense. Among these, only 23 Enterobacter strains were chosen based on nitrogen fixation, PGP traits, hydrolytic enzymes production, and antifungal activities. Also, all selected strains were showed diverse growth range under different stress conditions, i.e., pH (5-10), temperature (20-45°C), and NaCl (7-12%) and 14 strains confirmed positive nifH, and 12 strains for acdS gene amplification, suggested that these strains could fix nitrogen along with stress tolerance properties. Out of 23 selected strains, Enterobacter roggenkampii ED5 was the most potent strain. Hence, this strain was further selected for comprehensive genome analysis, which includes a genome size of 4,702,851 bp and 56.05% of the average G + C content. Genome annotations estimated 4349 protein-coding with 83 tRNA and 25 rRNA genes. The CDSs number allocated to the KEGG, COG, and GO database were 2839, 4028, and 2949. We recognized a total set of genes that are possibly concerned with ACC deaminase activity, siderophores and plant hormones production, nitrogen and phosphate metabolism, symbiosis, root colonization, biofilm formation, sulfur assimilation and metabolism, along with resistance response toward a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. E. roggenkampii ED5 strain was also a proficient colonizer in sugarcane (variety GT11) and enhanced growth of sugarcane under the greenhouse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first information on the whole-genome sequence study of endophytic E. roggenkampii ED5 bacterium associated with sugarcane root. And, our findings proposed that identification of predicted genes and metabolic pathways might describe this strain an eco-friendly bioresource to promote sugarcane growth by several mechanisms of actions under multi-stresses.}, } @article {pmid33072023, year = {2020}, author = {Dias, T and Pimentel, V and Cogo, AJD and Costa, R and Bertolazi, AA and Miranda, C and de Souza, SB and Melo, J and Carolino, M and Varma, A and Eutrópio, F and Olivares, FL and Ramos, AC and Cruz, C}, title = {The Free-Living Stage Growth Conditions of the Endophytic Fungus Serendipita indica May Regulate Its Potential as Plant Growth Promoting Microbe.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {562238}, pmid = {33072023}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Serendipita indica (former Piriformospora indica) is a non-obligate endophytic fungus and generally a plant growth and defence promoter with high potential to be used in agriculture. However, S. indica may switch from biotrophy to saprotrophy losing its plant growth promoting traits. Our aim was to understand if the free-living stage growth conditions (namely C availability) regulate S. indica's phenotype, and its potential as plant-growth-promoting-microbe (PGPM). We grew S. indica in its free-living stage under increasing C availabilities (2-20 g L[-1] of glucose or sucrose). We first characterised the effect of C availability during free-living stage growth on fungal phenotype: colonies growth and physiology (plasma membrane proton pumps, stable isotopic signatures, and potential extracellular decomposing enzymes). The effect of the C availability during the free-living stage of the PGPM was evaluated on wheat. We observed that C availability during the free-living stage regulated S. indica's growth, ultrastructure and physiology, resulting in two distinct colony phenotypes: compact and explorer. The compact phenotype developed at low C, used peptone as the major C and N source, and displayed higher decomposing potential for C providing substrates; while the explorer phenotype developed at high C, used glucose and sucrose as major C sources and casein and yeast extract as major N sources, and displayed higher decomposing potential for N and P providing substrates. The C availability, or the C/N ratio, during the free-living stage left a legacy to the symbiosis stage, regulating S. indica's potential to promote plant growth: wheat growth promotion by the explorer phenotype was ± 40% higher than that by the compact phenotype. Our study highlights the importance of considering microbial ecology in designing PGPM/biofertilizers. Further studies are needed to test the phenotypes under more extreme conditions, and to understand if the in vitro acquired characteristics persist under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid33071999, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, Y and Liu, L and Singh, RP and Meng, C and Ma, S and Jing, C and Li, Y and Zhang, C}, title = {Nodule and Root Zone Microbiota of Salt-Tolerant Wild Soybean in Coastal Sand and Saline-Alkali Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {2178}, pmid = {33071999}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil salinization limits crop growth and yield in agro-ecosystems worldwide by reducing soil health and altering the structure of microbial communities. Salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) alleviate plant salinity stress. Wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.) is unique in agricultural ecosystems owing to its ability to grow in saline-alkali soils and fix atmospheric nitrogen via symbiotic interactions with diverse soil microbes. However, this rhizosphere microbiome and the nodule endosymbionts have not been investigated to identify PGPR. In this study, we investigated the structural and functional rhizosphere microbial communities in saline-alkali soil from the Yellow River Delta and coastal soil in China, as well as wild soybean root nodule endosymbionts. To reveal the composition of the microbial ecosystem, we performed 16S rRNA and nifH gene amplicon sequencing on root nodules and root zones under different environmental conditions. In addition, we used culture-independent methods to examine the root bacterial microbiome of wild soybean. For functional characterization of individual members of the microbiome and their impact on plant growth, we inoculated isolates from the root microbiome with wild soybean and observed nodulation. Sinorhizobium/Ensifer accounted for 97% of the root nodule microbiome, with other enriched members belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes; the genera Sphingomonas, Microbacterium, Arthrobacter, Nocardioides, Streptomyces, Flavobacterium, Flavisolibacter, and Pseudomonas; and the family Enterobacteriaceae. Compared to saline-alkali soil from the Yellow River Delta, coastal soil was highly enriched for soybean nodules and displayed significant differences in the abundance and diversity of β-proteobacteria, δ-proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Overall, the wild soybean root nodule microbiome was dominated by nutrient-providing Sinorhizobium/Ensifer and was enriched for bacterial genera that may provide salt resistance. Thus, this reductionist experimental approach provides an avenue for future systematic and functional studies of the plant root microbiome.}, } @article {pmid33071821, year = {2020}, author = {Goulet, TL and Erill, I and Ascunce, MS and Finley, SJ and Javan, GT}, title = {Conceptualization of the Holobiont Paradigm as It Pertains to Corals.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {566968}, pmid = {33071821}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Corals' obligate association with unicellular dinoflagellates, family Symbiodiniaceae form the foundation of coral reefs. For nearly a century, researchers have delved into understanding the coral-algal mutualism from multiple levels of resolution and perspectives, and the questions and scope have evolved with each iteration of new techniques. Advances in genetic technologies not only aided in distinguishing between the multitude of Symbiodiniaceae but also illuminated the existence and diversity of other organisms constituting the coral microbiome. The coral therefore is a meta-organism, often referred to as the coral holobiont. In this review, we address the importance of including a holistic perspective to understanding the coral holobiont. We also discuss the ramifications of how different genotypic combinations of the coral consortium affect the holobiont entity. We highlight the paucity of data on most of the coral microbiome. Using Symbiodiniaceae data, we present evidence that the holobiont properties are not necessarily the sum of its parts. We then discuss the consequences of the holobiont attributes to the fitness of the holobiont and the myriad of organisms that contribute to it. Considering the complexity of host-symbiont genotypic combinations will aid in our understanding of coral resilience, robustness, acclimation, and/or adaptation in the face of environmental change and increasing perturbations.}, } @article {pmid33071611, year = {2020}, author = {Agrahari, RK and Singh, P and Koyama, H and Panda, SK}, title = {Plant-microbe Interactions for Sustainable Agriculture in the Post-genomic Era.}, journal = {Current genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {168-178}, pmid = {33071611}, issn = {1389-2029}, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions are both symbiotic and antagonistic, and the knowledge of both these interactions is equally important for the progress of agricultural practice and produce. This review gives an insight into the recent advances that have been made in the plant-microbe interaction study in the post-genomic era and the application of those for enhancing agricultural production. Adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and marker assisted selection of resistant genes in plants, equipped with cloning and recombination techniques, has progressed the techniques for the development of resistant plant varieties by leaps and bounds. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of both plants and microbes have made the selection of desirable traits in plants and manipulation of the genomes of both plants and microbes effortless and less time-consuming. Stress tolerance in plants has been shown to be accentuated by association of certain microorganisms with the plant, the study and application of the same have helped develop stress-resistant varieties of crops. Beneficial microbes associated with plants are being extensively used for the development of microbial consortia that can be applied directly to the plants or the soil. Next-generation sequencing approaches have made it possible to identify the function of microbes associated in the plant microbiome that are both culturable and non-culturable, thus opening up new doors and possibilities for the use of these huge resources of microbes that can have a potential impact on agriculture.}, } @article {pmid33071106, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, C and Li, X and Wu, L and Wu, G and Wang, P and Peng, Y and Huang, S and Yang, Z and Dai, W and Ge, L and Lyu, Y and Wang, L and Zhang, A}, title = {The effect of different dietary structure on gastrointestinal dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy and epilepsy based on gut microbiota.}, journal = {Brain & development}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {192-199}, doi = {10.1016/j.braindev.2020.09.013}, pmid = {33071106}, issn = {1872-7131}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Cerebral Palsy/complications/*microbiology ; Child ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Diet/methods ; Epilepsy/complications/*microbiology ; Feces/chemistry/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) difficulties are very common among children with cerebral palsy (CP) and comorbid epilepsy. GI function is influenced by dietary structure on gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to compare gut microbiota differences in two dietary groups of this population and examine whether such differences are related to GI dysfunction.

METHODS: Forty children with CP and epilepsy were recruited from a social welfare center, including 23 consuming a fluid diet (liquid diet group) and 17 consuming a normal diet (general diet group). Bacterial DNA was extracted from feces, the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified from the DNA, and high-throughput sequencing of the amplified sequences was performed. Microbe prevalence levels were compared on multiple phylogenic levels.

RESULTS: Gut microbial populations differed substantially between the liquid diet group and general diet group. The only two phyla that differed significantly between the two groups were Bacteroidetes (p = 0.034) and Actinobacteria (p = 0.013). Regarding representation of genera, Prevotella species were selectively predominant in the general diet group (25.849% vs. 3.612% in the liquid diet group, p < 0.001), while Bifidobacterium species were selectively predominant in the liquid diet group (24.929% vs. 12.947% in the general diet group, p = 0.013). The gut microbiota of children in the general diet group contained more butyric acid-producing microbiota which was also common in healthy people (e.g. Lachnoclostridium, Dorea, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Coprococcus). The gut microbiota of children in liquid diet group however, were rich in symbiotic pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Collinsella, Alistipes, and Eggerthella).

CONCLUSION: The gut microbiota of children with CP and epilepsy consuming a liquid diet had elevated levels of symbiotic pathogens and diminished intestinal barrier protection bacteria, relative to a general diet group. These differences in bacterial microbiota were associated with GI dysfunction symptoms.}, } @article {pmid33070723, year = {2020}, author = {Natan, E and Fitak, RR and Werber, Y and Vortman, Y}, title = {Correction to 'Symbiotic magnetic sensing: raising evidence and beyond'.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1813}, pages = {20200348}, doi = {10.1098/rstb.2020.0348}, pmid = {33070723}, issn = {1471-2970}, } @article {pmid33070356, year = {2021}, author = {Creed, RP and Skelton, J and Farrell, KJ and Brown, BL}, title = {Strong effects of a mutualism on freshwater community structure.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {102}, number = {2}, pages = {e03225}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3225}, pmid = {33070356}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Fresh Water ; North Carolina ; South Carolina ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Numerous mutualisms have been described from terrestrial and marine communities and many of these mutualisms have significant effects on community structure and function. In contrast, there are far fewer examples of mutualisms from freshwater habitats and there is no evidence that any mutualism has community-wide or ecosystem-level consequences. Northern hemisphere crayfish are host to a variety of ectosymbiotic worms called branchiobdellidans. The association between some of these "crayfish worms" and their hosts is a mutualism. The outcome of the association is context dependent and can be influenced by host size, symbiont number, and the environment. Here we document in two experiments that the mutualism between crayfish and these worms alters the effect of crayfish on stream community structure and sediment deposition, an important ecosystem variable. We enclosed crayfish stocked with 0 worms and intermediate (3-6) and high worm densities (12) in cages in streams in Boone, North Carolina and Clemson, South Carolina, United States. At both locations, there was a negative relationship between initial worm density and final macroinvertebrate abundance. There was a significant effect of worm treatment on macroinvertebrate community structure in both the Boone and Clemson experiments. In Boone, there were effects on both overall macroinvertebrate abundance and community composition, whereas in Clemson, changes to community structure were primarily driven by changes in total abundance. There was a negative relationship between benthic sediment volume and initial worm density in both experiments, primarily later in the experiments, though these effects were influenced by sediment deposition rates. Our results are the first to demonstrate strong effects of a mutualism on freshwater communities. Both members of this mutualism are found throughout the northern hemisphere, so similar impacts may occur in many other waterways. Given that various species in addition to crayfish function as keystone species and ecosystem engineers in freshwater systems throughout the world, mutualisms involving these strongly interacting species may be as important to the structure and functioning of freshwater systems as comparable mutualisms in marine and terrestrial systems.}, } @article {pmid33070212, year = {2021}, author = {Xu, S and Jiang, L and Qiao, G and Chen, J}, title = {Diversity of bacterial symbionts associated with Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphidinae) revealed by 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {784-794}, pmid = {33070212}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Buchnera/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids are known to be associated with a variety of symbiotic bacteria. To improve our knowledge of the bacterial diversity of polyphagous aphids, in the present study, we investigated the microbiota of the cosmopolitan agricultural pest Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Ninety-two aphid samples collected from different host plants in various regions of China were examined using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. We comprehensively characterized the symbiont diversity of M. persicae and assessed the variations in aphid-associated symbiont communities. We detected a higher diversity of symbionts than has been previously observed. M. persicae hosted the primary endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola and seven secondary symbionts, among which Wolbachia was the most prevalent and Rickettsia, Arsenophonus, and Spiroplasma were reported for the first time. Ordination analyses and statistical tests revealed that the symbiont flora associated with M. persicae did not change with respect to host plant or geography, which may be due to frequent migrations between different aphid populations. These findings will advance our knowledge of the microbiota of polyphagous insects and will enrich our understanding of assembly of host-microbiome systems.}, } @article {pmid33070076, year = {2020}, author = {Kalli, S and Araya-Cloutier, C and de Bruijn, WJC and Chapman, J and Vincken, JP}, title = {Induction of promising antibacterial prenylated isoflavonoids from different subclasses by sequential elicitation of soybean.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {112496}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112496}, pmid = {33070076}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Fabaceae ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; *Isoflavones/pharmacology ; Seedlings ; Soybeans ; }, abstract = {Elicited soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill, Leguminosae) seedlings can produce prenylated isoflavonoids from different subclasses, namely pterocarpans (glyceollins), isoflavones and coumestans. These prenylated isoflavonoids serve as defence compounds and can possess antimicrobial activity. Recently, we showed that priming with reactive oxygen species (ROS) specifically stimulated the production of glyceollins in Rhizopus spp.-elicited soybean seedlings (ROS + R). In this study, we achieved diversification of the inducible subclasses of prenylated isoflavonoids in soybean, by additional stimulation of two prenylated isoflavones and one prenylated coumestan. This was achieved by using a combination of the relatively long-lived ROS representative, H2O2, with AgNO3 prior to microbial elicitation. Microbial elicitation was performed with a live preparation of either a phytopathogenic fungus, Rhizopus spp. or a symbiotic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. B. subtilis induced 30% more prenylated isoflavones than Rhizopus spp. in (H2O2 + AgNO3)-treated seedlings, without significantly compromising the total levels of glyceollins, compared to (ROS + R)-treated seedlings. The most abundant prenylated isoflavone induced was 6-prenyl daidzein, which constituted 60% of the total isoflavones. The prenylated coumestan, phaseol, was also induced in the (H2O2 + AgNO3)-treated and microbially elicited seedlings. Based on previously developed quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, 6-prenyl daidzein and phaseol were predicted to be promising antibacterials. Overall, we show that treatment with H2O2 and AgNO3 prior to microbial elicitation leads to the production of promising antibacterial isoflavonoids from different subclasses. Extracts rich in prenylated isoflavonoids may potentially be applied as natural antimicrobial agents.}, } @article {pmid33068168, year = {2020}, author = {Rodrigues, TF and Bender, FR and Sanzovo, AWS and Ferreira, E and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Impact of pesticides in properties of Bradyrhizobium spp. and in the symbiotic performance with soybean.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {11}, pages = {172}, doi = {10.1007/s11274-020-02949-5}, pmid = {33068168}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Pesticides/*adverse effects ; Soybeans/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has great economic and nutritional importance mainly due to its high protein content. All plant's N needs can be met by the symbiosis with elite Bradyrhizobium strains applied as inoculants to the seeds at sowing time; however, the increasing use of pesticides in seed treatments can impair the contribution of the biological nitrogen fixation. In this study, we report decreases in cell survival of two strains, B. japonicum SEMIA 5079 and B. elkanii SEMIA 587 in seeds inoculated and treated with StandakTop™, composed of the fungicides pyraclostrobin and thiophanate-methyl and the insecticide fipronil, the pesticides most used in soybean seed treatment in several countries. Cell death was enhanced with the time of exposure to the pesticides, and B. elkanii was less tolerant, with almost no detectable viable cells after 15 days. Change in colony morphology with smaller colonies was observed in the presence of the pesticides, being more drastic with the time of exposure, and attributed to an adaptive response towards survival in the presence of the abiotic stress. However, morphological changes were reversible after elimination of the stressing agent and symbiotic performance under controlled greenhouse conditions was similar between strains that had been or not exposed to the pesticides. In addition, no changes in DNA profiles (BOX-PCR) of both strains were observed after the contact with the pesticides. In two field experiments, impacting effects of the pesticides were observed mainly on the total N accumulated in grains of plants relying on both N2-fixation and N-fertilizer. Our data indicate that StandakTop® affects parameters never reported before, including colony morphology of Bradyrhizobium spp. and N metabolism and/or N remobilization to soybean grains.}, } @article {pmid33068149, year = {2020}, author = {Mabaso, N and Tinarwo, P and Abbai, N}, title = {Lack of association between Mycoplasma hominis and Trichomonas vaginalis symbiosis in relation to metronidazole resistance.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {119}, number = {12}, pages = {4197-4204}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-020-06930-x}, pmid = {33068149}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Adult ; Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology ; *Drug Resistance ; Female ; Humans ; Metronidazole/*pharmacology ; Mycoplasma hominis/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests ; Pregnancy ; South Africa/epidemiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/epidemiology/microbiology/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/drug effects/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Resistance mechanisms of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole are still not well understood. It has been shown that Mycoplasma hominis has the ability to establish an endosymbiotic relationship with T. vaginalis. This study investigated the association between T. vaginalis and M. hominis symbiosis in relation to metronidazole resistance. This study included 362 pregnant women from the King Edward VIII hospital in South Africa. The women provided self-collected vaginal swabs for the diagnosis of T. vaginalis by culture. Metronidazole susceptibility using the broth-microdilution assay was performed. Detection of the 16S rRNA from M. hominis using T. vaginalis genomic DNA as the template was performed. All statistical analysis was conducted in R statistical computing software. A total of 21 culture positive isolates were obtained resulting in a prevalence of 5.8% for T. vaginalis in the study population. Under anaerobic incubation, 52.4% (11/21) of the isolates were susceptible to metronidazole (MIC ≤ 1 μg/ml). Intermediate resistance (MIC of 2 μg/ml) and full resistance (4 μg/ml) was observed in 38.1% (8/21) and 9.5% (2/21) of the isolates, respectively. The majority of the isolates 95% (19/20) were susceptible to metronidazole under aerobic conditions. Only one isolate had a MIC of 50 μg/ml. M. hominis was shown to be present in 85.7% (18/21) of the T. vaginalis isolates. However, there was no significant association between metronidazole susceptibility and T. vaginalis-M. hominis symbiosis. This study provides evidence of emerging metronidazole resistance in T. vaginalis. However, these resistance profiles were not associated with M. hominis symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33067828, year = {2021}, author = {Mens, C and Hastwell, AH and Su, H and Gresshoff, PM and Mathesius, U and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Characterisation of Medicago truncatula CLE34 and CLE35 in nitrate and rhizobia regulation of nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {5}, pages = {2525-2534}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17010}, pmid = {33067828}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrates ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form a symbiosis with atmospheric nitrogen (N2)-fixing soil rhizobia, resulting in new root organs called nodules that enable N2 -fixation. Nodulation is a costly process that is tightly regulated by the host through autoregulation of nodulation (AON) and nitrate-dependent regulation of nodulation. Both pathways require legume-specific CLAVATA/ESR-related (CLE) peptides. Nitrogen-induced nodulation-suppressing CLE peptides have not previously been investigated in Medicago truncatula, for which only rhizobia-induced MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 have been characterised. Here, we report on novel peptides MtCLE34 and MtCLE35 in nodulation control. The nodulation-suppressing CLE peptides of five legume species were classified into three clades based on sequence homology and phylogeny. This approached identified MtCLE34 and MtCLE35 and four new CLE peptide orthologues of Pisum sativum. Whereas MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 are induced by rhizobia, MtCLE34 and MtCLE35 respond to both rhizobia and nitrate. MtCLE34 was identified as a pseudogene lacking a functional CLE-domain. MtCLE35 was found to inhibit nodulation in a SUNN- and RDN1-dependent manner via overexpression analysis. Together, our findings indicate that MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 have a specific role in AON, while MtCLE35 regulates nodule numbers in response to both rhizobia and nitrate. MtCLE34 likely had a similar role to MtCLE35, but its function was lost due to a premature nonsense mutation.}, } @article {pmid33067391, year = {2020}, author = {Koch, EJ and Bongrand, C and Bennett, BD and Lawhorn, S and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Pende, M and Vadiwala, K and Dodt, HU and Raible, F and Goldman, W and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {The cytokine MIF controls daily rhythms of symbiont nutrition in an animal-bacterial association.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {44}, pages = {27578-27586}, pmid = {33067391}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; I 2972/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P 30035/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; Chitin/metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/*physiology ; Female ; Hemocytes/metabolism ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors/*metabolism ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Peptidoglycan/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The recent recognition that many symbioses exhibit daily rhythms has encouraged research into the partner dialogue that drives these biological oscillations. Here we characterized the pivotal role of the versatile cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in regulating a metabolic rhythm in the model light-organ symbiosis between Euprymna scolopes and Vibrio fischeri As the juvenile host matures, it develops complex daily rhythms characterized by profound changes in the association, from gene expression to behavior. One such rhythm is a diurnal shift in symbiont metabolism triggered by the periodic provision of a specific nutrient by the mature host: each night the symbionts catabolize chitin released from hemocytes (phagocytic immune cells) that traffic into the light-organ crypts, where the population of V. fischeri cells resides. Nocturnal migration of these macrophage-like cells, together with identification of an E. scolopes MIF (EsMIF) in the light-organ transcriptome, led us to ask whether EsMIF might be the gatekeeper controlling the periodic movement of the hemocytes. Western blots, ELISAs, and confocal immunocytochemistry showed EsMIF was at highest abundance in the light organ. Its concentration there was lowest at night, when hemocytes entered the crypts. EsMIF inhibited migration of isolated hemocytes, whereas exported bacterial products, including peptidoglycan derivatives and secreted chitin catabolites, induced migration. These results provide evidence that the nocturnal decrease in EsMIF concentration permits the hemocytes to be drawn into the crypts, delivering chitin. This nutritional function for a cytokine offers the basis for the diurnal rhythms underlying a dynamic symbiotic conversation.}, } @article {pmid33066093, year = {2020}, author = {Waters, JK and Mawhinney, TP and Emerich, DW}, title = {Nitrogen Assimilation and Transport by Ex Planta Nitrogen-Fixing Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Bacteroids Is Modulated by Oxygen, Bacteroid Density and l-Malate.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {33066093}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Alanine/metabolism ; Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Malates/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires the transfer of fixed organic nitrogen compounds from the symbiotic bacteria to a host plant, yet the chemical nature of the compounds is in question. Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens bacteroids were isolated anaerobically from soybean nodules and assayed at varying densities, varying partial pressures of oxygen, and varying levels of l-malate. Ammonium was released at low bacteroid densities and high partial pressures of oxygen, but was apparently taken up at high bacteroid densities and low partial pressures of oxygen in the presence of l-malate; these later conditions were optimal for amino acid excretion. The ratio of partial pressure of oxygen/bacteroid density of apparent ammonium uptake and of alanine excretion displayed an inverse relationship. Ammonium uptake, alanine and branch chain amino acid release were all dependent on the concentration of l-malate displaying similar K0.5 values of 0.5 mM demonstrating concerted regulation. The hyperbolic kinetics of ammonium uptake and amino acid excretion suggests transport via a membrane carrier and also suggested that transport was rate limiting. Glutamate uptake displayed exponential kinetics implying transport via a channel. The chemical nature of the compounds released were dependent upon bacteroid density, partial pressure of oxygen and concentration of l-malate demonstrating an integrated metabolism.}, } @article {pmid33066069, year = {2020}, author = {Pan, X and Wang, X and Zhang, F}, title = {New Insights into Cockroach Control: Using Functional Diversity of Blattella germanica Symbionts.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33066069}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Insects have close symbiotic relationships with several microbes, which extends the limited metabolic networks of most insects. Using symbiotic microorganisms for the biological control of pests and insect-borne diseases has become a promising direction. Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattaria: Blattidae) is a public health pest worldwide, which is difficult to control because of its strong reproductive ability, adaptability, and resistance to insecticides. In this paper, the diverse biological functions (nutrition, reproductive regulation, insecticide resistance, defense, and behavior) of symbionts were reviewed, and new biological control strategies on the basis of insect-symbiont interaction were proposed. We highlight new directions in B. germanica control, such as suppressing cockroach population using Wolbachia or paratransgenes, and combining fungal insecticides with synergistic agents to enhance insecticidal efficacy.}, } @article {pmid33064903, year = {2021}, author = {Hoysted, GA and Bidartondo, MI and Duckett, JG and Pressel, S and Field, KJ}, title = {Phenology and function in lycopod-Mucoromycotina symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {5}, pages = {2389-2394}, doi = {10.1111/nph.17009}, pmid = {33064903}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid33064769, year = {2020}, author = {Pons, S and Fournier, S and Chervin, C and Bécard, G and Rochange, S and Frei Dit Frey, N and Puech Pagès, V}, title = {Phytohormone production by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {e0240886}, pmid = {33064769}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chromatography, Gas ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cytokinins/analysis/metabolism ; Ethylenes/analysis/metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Gibberellins/analysis/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/analysis/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*analysis/metabolism ; Spores, Fungal/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction between most land plants and fungi of the glomeromycotina subphylum. The initiation, development and regulation of this symbiosis involve numerous signalling events between and within the symbiotic partners. Among other signals, phytohormones are known to play important roles at various stages of the interaction. During presymbiotic steps, plant roots exude strigolactones which stimulate fungal spore germination and hyphal branching, and promote the initiation of symbiosis. At later stages, different plant hormone classes can act as positive or negative regulators of the interaction. Although the fungus is known to reciprocally emit regulatory signals, its potential contribution to the phytohormonal pool has received little attention, and has so far only been addressed by indirect assays. In this study, using mass spectrometry, we analyzed phytohormones released into the medium by germinated spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. We detected the presence of a cytokinin (isopentenyl adenosine) and an auxin (indole-acetic acid). In addition, we identified a gibberellin (gibberellin A4) in spore extracts. We also used gas chromatography to show that R. irregularis produces ethylene from methionine and the α-keto γ-methylthio butyric acid pathway. These results highlight the possibility for AM fungi to use phytohormones to interact with their host plants, or to regulate their own development.}, } @article {pmid33063404, year = {2021}, author = {Sallinger, E and Robeson, MS and Haselkorn, TS}, title = {Characterization of the bacterial microbiomes of social amoebae and exploration of the roles of host and environment on microbiome composition.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {126-142}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15279}, pmid = {33063404}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Amoeba/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Host Specificity ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As predators of bacteria, amoebae select for traits that allow bacteria to become symbionts by surviving phagocytosis and exploiting the eukaryotic intracellular environment. Soil-dwelling social amoebae can help us answer questions about the natural ecology of these amoeba-bacteria symbioses along the pathogen-mutualist spectrum. Our objective was to characterize the natural bacterial microbiome of phylogenetically and morphologically diverse social amoeba species using next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons directly from amoeba fruiting bodies. We found six phyla of amoeba-associated bacteria: Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Chlamydiae, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. The most common associates of amoebae were classified to order Chlamydiales and genus Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia. These bacteria were present in multiple amoeba species across multiple locations. While there was substantial intraspecific variation, there was some evidence for host specificity and differentially abundant taxa between different amoeba hosts. Amoebae microbiomes were distinct from the microbiomes of their soil habitat, and soil pH affected amoeba microbiome diversity. Alpha-diversity was unsurprisingly lower in amoebae samples compared with soil, but beta-diversity between amoebae samples was higher than between soil samples. Further exploration of social amoebae microbiomes may help us understand the roles of bacteria, host, and environment on symbiotic interactions and microbiome formation in basal eukaryotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid33062385, year = {2020}, author = {Abd El-Rahman, TMA and Tharwat, NA and Abo El-Souad, SMS and El-Beih, AA and El-Diwany, AI}, title = {Biological activities and variation of symbiotic fungi isolated from Coral reefs collected from Red Sea in Egypt.}, journal = {Mycology}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {243-255}, pmid = {33062385}, issn = {2150-1203}, abstract = {Ten specimens of coral reefs were collected from the Red Sea in the Ein El-Sukhna region. Fungal isolation was done using two media, Dextrose Yeast Extract Agar (DYA) and Rose Bengal Agar (RBA). The morphological traits identified 18 fungal isolates belonging to the phyla Ascomycota, Mucoromycota and Deuteromycota. Five genera in three orders have been isolated: Eutrotiales (Aspergillus, Penicillium and Byssochlamys), Mucorales (Rhizopus) and Moniliales (Curvularia). The heat mapping clustering of the isolated fungi declared that Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most frequently isolate fungi in coral reefs. It was found that A. fumigatus colonised eight coral samples with 80% colonisation rate. Moreover, about 50% of the isolated fungal species were specific to one coral reef only such as A.candidus and A.carneus isolated from Isophyllastrea rigida only, A.japonicus and A.ochraceopetaliformis from Glaxaea fascicularis, A.niger van Tieghem from Porites astreoides, A.sydowii, A.terreus and P.waksmanii from Cladocora arbuscula, P.janthinellum from Pterogorgia guadalupensis and Curvularia tuberculata, Byssochlamys spectabilis and Rhizopus oryzae from Acropora humilis. Biological activities (antimicrobial, antioxidant antiradical and cytotoxicity) of the most predominant fungal species were investigated. The antimicrobial activity of coral fungal filtrates were investigated against six pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli ATCC11775, Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC19424, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC10145, Streptococcus faecalis ATCC19433, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus ATCC25923, Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC6633 and two pathogenic yeast including Candida albicans ATCC7102 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC22019. Most of these fungal filtrates exhibited moderate to high antibacterial activities against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, however it showed relatively low bioactivity towards the pathogenic Candida species. Investigating the free radical scavenging activity using DPPH reagent showed low to moderate bioactivities. The highest cytotoxic activity against liver cancer cell line Hep-G2 with an IC50 values of 18.8 µg/ml was exhibited by Aspergillus ochraceopetaliformis MN083316 and a metabolomics study was done on the ethyl acetate extract of this strain using LC-ESI-MS fingerprints leading to the isolation and purification of compound 1. Using 1D and 2D NMR techniques compound 1 was identified as ditryptophenaline. Compound 1 exhibited a strong antimicrobial, antioxidant activities as well as cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 and HEPG2 with IC50 values of 5.8 and 7.6 mmole, respectively. The objective of this study, isolation of Coral-reef associated fungi and studying their biological activities to produce the most active secondary metabolite which might possess a novel biological activity.}, } @article {pmid33061482, year = {2020}, author = {Tang, W and Zhu, H and Feng, Y and Guo, R and Wan, D}, title = {The Impact of Gut Microbiota Disorders on the Blood-Brain Barrier.}, journal = {Infection and drug resistance}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {3351-3363}, pmid = {33061482}, issn = {1178-6973}, abstract = {The gut microbiota is symbiotic with the human host and has been extensively studied in recent years resulting in increasing awareness of the effects of the gut microbiota on human health. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for the effects of gut microbes on the integrity of the cerebral blood-brain barrier (BBB), focusing on the pathogenic impact of gut microbiota disorders. Based on our description and summarization of the effects of the gut microbiota and its metabolites on the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems and related signaling pathways and the resulting destruction of the BBB, we suggest that regulating and supplementing the intestinal microbiota as well as targeting immune cells and inflammatory mediators are required to protect the BBB.}, } @article {pmid33060828, year = {2021}, author = {Metcalfe, KS and Murali, R and Mullin, SW and Connon, SA and Orphan, VJ}, title = {Experimentally-validated correlation analysis reveals new anaerobic methane oxidation partnerships with consortium-level heterogeneity in diazotrophy.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {377-396}, pmid = {33060828}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/genetics ; Costa Rica ; Geologic Sediments ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Methane ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Archaeal anaerobic methanotrophs ("ANME") and sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria ("SRB") form symbiotic multicellular consortia capable of anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM), and in so doing modulate methane flux from marine sediments. The specificity with which ANME associate with particular SRB partners in situ, however, is poorly understood. To characterize partnership specificity in ANME-SRB consortia, we applied the correlation inference technique SparCC to 310 16S rRNA amplicon libraries prepared from Costa Rica seep sediment samples, uncovering a strong positive correlation between ANME-2b and members of a clade of Deltaproteobacteria we termed SEEP-SRB1g. We confirmed this association by examining 16S rRNA diversity in individual ANME-SRB consortia sorted using flow cytometry and by imaging ANME-SRB consortia with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) microscopy using newly-designed probes targeting the SEEP-SRB1g clade. Analysis of genome bins belonging to SEEP-SRB1g revealed the presence of a complete nifHDK operon required for diazotrophy, unusual in published genomes of ANME-associated SRB. Active expression of nifH in SEEP-SRB1g within ANME-2b-SEEP-SRB1g consortia was then demonstrated by microscopy using hybridization chain reaction (HCR-) FISH targeting nifH transcripts and diazotrophic activity was documented by FISH-nanoSIMS experiments. NanoSIMS analysis of ANME-2b-SEEP-SRB1g consortia incubated with a headspace containing CH4 and [15]N2 revealed differences in cellular [15]N-enrichment between the two partners that varied between individual consortia, with SEEP-SRB1g cells enriched in [15]N relative to ANME-2b in one consortium and the opposite pattern observed in others, indicating both ANME-2b and SEEP-SRB1g are capable of nitrogen fixation, but with consortium-specific variation in whether the archaea or bacterial partner is the dominant diazotroph.}, } @article {pmid33059667, year = {2020}, author = {Doering, JA and Booth, T and Wiersma, YF and Piercey-Normore, MD}, title = {How do genes flow? Identifying potential dispersal mode for the semi-aquatic lichen Dermatocarpon luridum using spatial modelling and photobiont markers.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {56}, pmid = {33059667}, issn = {1472-6785}, support = {CGS-M//Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/International ; Discovery//Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/International ; }, mesh = {Gene Flow ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; *Lichens/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Landscape genetics is an interdisciplinary field that combines tools and techniques from population genetics with the spatially explicit principles from landscape ecology. Spatial variation in genotypes is used to test hypotheses about how landscape pattern affects dispersal in a wide range of taxa. Lichens, symbiotic associations between mycobionts and photobionts, are an entity for which little is known about their dispersal mechanism. Our objective was to infer the dispersal mechanism in the semi-aquatic lichen Dermatocarpon luridum using spatial models and the spatial variation of the photobiont, Diplosphaera chodatii. We sequenced the ITS rDNA and the β-actin gene regions of the photobiont and mapped the haplotype spatial distribution in Payuk Lake. We subdivided Payuk Lake into subpopulations and applied four spatial models based on the topography and hydrology to infer the dispersal mechanism.

RESULTS: Genetic variation corresponded with the topography of the lake and the net flow of water through the waterbody. A lack of isolation-by-distance suggests high gene flow or dispersal within the lake. We infer the dispersal mechanism in D. luridum could either be by wind and/or water based on the haplotype spatial distribution of its photobiont using the ITS rDNA and β-actin markers.

CONCLUSIONS: We inferred that the dispersal mechanism could be either wind and/or water dispersed due to the conflicting interpretations of our landscape hypotheses. This is the first study to use spatial modelling to infer dispersal in semi-aquatic lichens. The results of this study may help to understand lichen dispersal within aquatic landscapes, which can have implications in the conservation of rare or threatened lichens.}, } @article {pmid33059155, year = {2020}, author = {Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Normand, P and Pawlowski, K and Fernandez, MP and Wibberg, D and Kalinowski, J and Brachmann, A and Berckx, F and Lee, N and Blom, J and Pozzi, AC and Fournier, P and Bethencourt, L and Dubost, A and Abrouk, D and Sellstedt, A}, title = {Candidatus Frankia nodulisporulans sp. nov., an Alnus glutinosa-infective Frankia species unable to grow in pure culture and able to sporulate in-planta.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {126134}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126134}, pmid = {33059155}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; France ; Frankia/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sweden ; }, abstract = {We describe a new Frankia species, for three non-isolated strains obtained from Alnus glutinosa in France and Sweden, respectively. These strains can nodulate several Alnus species (A. glutinosa, A. incana, A. alnobetula), they form hyphae, vesicles and sporangia in the root nodule cortex but have resisted all attempts at isolation in pure culture. Their genomes have been sequenced, they are significantly smaller than those of other Alnus-infective species (5Mb instead of 7.5Mb) and are very closely related to one another (ANI of 100%). The name Candidatus Frankia nodulisporulans is proposed. The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene and draft genome sequences reported in this study for AgTrS, AgUmASt1 and AgUmASH1 are MT023539/LR778176/LR778180 and NZ_CADCWS000000000.1/CADDZU010000001/CADDZW010000001, respectively.}, } @article {pmid33056670, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, IH and Boxshall, GA}, title = {A revision of the family Archinotodelphyidae Lang, 1949 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Oithonida), with the recognition of 15 new species.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4801}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4801.1.1}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4801.1.1}, pmid = {33056670}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Copepoda ; }, abstract = {The family Archinotodelphyidae Lang, 1949 is reviewed. Only the type genus, Archinotodelphys Lang, 1949, is accepted as valid and the genus Pararchinotodelphys Lang, 1949 is recognized as its junior subjective synonym. The two species formerly placed in the latter genus are transferred to the type genus as Archinotodelphys gurneyi (Illg, 1955) comb. nov. and A. phallusiae (Hansen, 1923) comb. nov. The species A. polynesiensis Monniot, 1986 was regarded as highly variable by Monniot (1986) but here we separate out his material from the host Herdmania momus (Savigny, 1816) which we recognise as a distinct species, A. momus sp. nov. Another 14 new species are described for the first time, from material collected at numerous localities across the global ocean. The new species are: A. curtus sp. nov. from Styela sp., A. illgi sp. nov. from an unknown host, A. hexasetosus sp. nov. from Molgula platybranchia Monniot C., 1970, A. cinctus sp. nov. from Bathystyeloides enderbyanus (Michaelsen, 1904), A. antarcticus sp. nov. from Molgula pedunculata (Herdman, 1881), A. monnioti sp. nov. from Pareugyrioides galatheae Millar, 1959 (type host) and P. digitus Monniot C., 1997, A. bimerus sp. nov. from an unidentified species of the family Molgulidae, A. longiseta sp. nov. from Styela sigma Hartmeyer, 1912, A. reductus sp. nov. from Pyura gangelion (Savigny, 1816), A. elegans sp. nov. from Polycarpa argentata (Sluiter, 1898), A. rostralis sp. nov. from Polycarpa nigricans Heller, 1878, A. longicaudatus sp. nov. from Microcosmus longicloa Monniot C. Monniot F., 1991, A. nudus sp. nov. from a Polycarpa sp., and A. unisetosus sp. nov. from an unidentified phlebobranch ascidian host. A key to species is provided.}, } @article {pmid33056606, year = {2020}, author = {Prakash, S and Marimuthu, N}, title = {Notes on some crinoid associated decapod crustaceans (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Central Indian Ocean.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4766}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4766.1.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4766.1.4}, pmid = {33056606}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; *Decapoda ; Indian Ocean ; }, abstract = {Decapod crustaceans symbiotic with echinoderms (sea stars, brittle stars, feather stars, basket stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins) possess remarkable diversification in the Indo-Pacific. In the present study, seven species of decapod crustaceans symbiotic with crinoids are recorded based on collections from selected Islands (Agatti, Amini, Bangaram, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy) of Lakshadweep Archipelago. Of these decapods, five caridean shrimps (Alpheidae: Synalpheus carinatus (de Man, 1888), S. comatularum (Haswell, 1882), S. stimpsonii (de Man, 1888); Palaemonidae: Palaemonella pottsi (Borradaile, 1915), Pontoniopsis comanthi (Borradaile, 1915), one brachyuran crab [Pilumnidae: Permanotus purpureus (Gordon, 1934)] and one squat lobster [Galatheidae: Allogalathea elegans (Adams White, 1848)] were identified. The caridean shrimps have associated with the crinoids Comaster multifidus (Müller, 1841), Phanogenia gracilis (Hartlaub, 1893), P. distincta (Carpenter, 1888), P. multibrachiata (Carpenter, 1888) and Stephanometra indica (Smith, 1876). The brachyuran crab was observed in association with the crinoid Phanogenia gracilis whereas the squat lobsters were associated with Stephanometra tenuipinna (Hartlaub, 1890) and S. indica. Except S. stimpsonii and P. purpureus, all other species were recorded for the first time from India. Here, we provide details on morphology, distribution, habitat, and hosts for all species. We recommend further exploration of the sub-shallow coral reef areas of Lakshadweep as there will be many species that certainly remain to be discovered.}, } @article {pmid33056527, year = {2020}, author = {Neves, K}, title = {A new species of the shrimp genus Typton Costa, 1844 (Malacostraca, Decapoda, Palaemonidae) from the Cabo Verde Archipelago.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4768}, number = {2}, pages = {zootaxa.4768.2.7}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4768.2.7}, pmid = {33056527}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; Cabo Verde ; *Decapoda ; *Palaemonidae ; }, abstract = {A new species of sponge-dwelling palaemonid shrimp of the genus Typton Costa, 1844 is described based on specimens collected in Enseada de Corais da Matiota, São Vicente Island, Cabo Verde. Typton anaramosae sp. nov., is the twentieth species known in this genus and is morphologically most similar to T. prionurus from the western Atlantic and T. granulosus and T. serratus from the eastern Pacific, all four sharing the serrated distal part of the outer margin of the uropodal exopod and the absence of a median tooth on the posterodorsal margin of the sixth pleonite. The more specific features, which distinguish the new species from its related congeners are discussed.}, } @article {pmid33056332, year = {2020}, author = {Fregulia, P and Cedrola, F and Dias, RJP and D'Agosto, M}, title = {Checklist of Cycloposthiidae species (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida), with a brief review on taxonomy, morphology and hosts.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4821}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4821.1.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4821.1.4}, pmid = {33056332}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Ciliophora ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The family Cycloposthiidae include 69 species, distributed in 17 genera, all of them described in symbiotic association with various mammalian host species. The taxonomic classification of the family is confused because of its broad diagnosis and absence of synapomorphies. To validate taxa and eliminate synonyms, the present work performed a brief taxonomic review of Cycloposthiidae, compiling morphological characterization, host records, and geographic location data. According to our review, the family should be instead, composed of 13 genera and 66 species; it was observed that the currently in use taxonomic characters do not reflect evolutionary divergence; and that the broad host range of Cycloposthiidae may be linked to cortex characteristics of these organisms or because of the fact that they do not constitute a monophyletic group. Thus, the performance of more molecular phylogenetic studies, including more cycloposthiid representatives and as well as the use of recent morphological techniques would be necessary to clarify the taxonomy of the group.}, } @article {pmid33055833, year = {2020}, author = {Theil, EP and Felder, DL}, title = {Phylogeny of the genus Austinixa Heard amp; Manning, 1997, inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear molecular markers, with descriptions of three new species and redescription of Austinixa felipensis (Glassell, 1935) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4778}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4778.1.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4778.1.4}, pmid = {33055833}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Brachyura ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {We used the mitochondrial 16S-NADH1 complex, mitochondrial 12S, and nuclear histone 3 genes to examine evolutionary relationships among members of the genus Austinixa Heard Manning, 1997, and their relationships to other pinnotherids. The monophyly of Austinixa was confirmed by maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and maximum parsimony analyses. Clades recovered on the basis of molecular data agreed with current morphology-based taxonomy at species rank. Morphological characters presently used to distinguish species of Austinixa are not synapomorphic at higher levels and therefore cannot be used to infer cladistic relationships among them. High genetic and morphological intraspecific variation was observed, consistent with patterns of restricted gene flow likely attributable to climatic and geographic history, physical characteristics of contemporary habitats, and host-related constraints on the symbiotic life styles of Austinixa spp. Molecular and morphological characters warrant description of three new species, herein named and illustrated: Austinixa cuestai sp. nov., from Pacific waters of Panama and Nicaragua; Austinixa artankeri sp. nov., from the Caribbean waters of Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela; and Austinixa roblesi sp. nov., from Belize and Panama. All three species inhabit intertidal zones, as do their congeners. To facilitate comparisons and augment the very limited original description, a redescription of the Pacific species Austinixa felipensis (Glassell, 1935) is provided on the basis of paratypes labelled by Glassell and more recently collected topoptypic specimens.}, } @article {pmid33055756, year = {2020}, author = {Anker, A and Al-Kandari, M and DE Grave, S}, title = {On two species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 from Kuwait, one of them new to science (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4780}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4780.1.3}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4780.1.3}, pmid = {33055756}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; *Decapoda ; Kuwait ; }, abstract = {The alpheid genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 is reported from Kuwait for the first time, with two species. One species, Salmoneus ikaros sp. nov., is described based on a single specimen from Failaka Island, extracted from the burrow of the callianassid ghost-shrimp Balsscallichirus masoomi (Tirmizi, 1970), together with the host. The new species is characterised by its peculiar eyes, which together with other characters separate it from all previously described species of Salmoneus. The second species, Salmoneus gracilipes Miya, 1972, is reported from Kuwait based on three specimens from two different localities and different habitats. Two specimens were found under coral rocks at a depth of about 7 m off Kubbar Island, whereas the third specimen was extracted from the burrow of the echiuran worm, Listriolobus cf. brevirostris Chen Yeh, 1958, at the type locality of S. ikaros sp. nov. at Failaka Island. Material identified as S. gracilipes from across its wide distribution range appears to be morphologically heterogeneous, possibly containing more than one species, and thus will need further studies.}, } @article {pmid33055733, year = {2020}, author = {Farias, A and Neves, EG and Johnsson, R}, title = {Two new species of Cryptopontius Giesbrecht, 1899 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Artotrogidae) associated with invertebrates from Northeastern Brazil.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4810}, number = {3}, pages = {zootaxa.4810.3.5}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4810.3.5}, pmid = {33055733}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; *Copepoda ; Environment ; }, abstract = {Cryptopontius is the most species-rich genus in the family Artotrogidae with 25 species, being recorded in almost all oceans, except in the Arctic. However only three species of this genus have been recorded from the Brazilian coast, all of them along the coast of Pernambuco state. This study describes two new species of the genus. Cryptopontius phyllogorgius sp. nov. differs from other species by having 9-segmented antennule, and nine elements on the third exopodal segment of leg 4. Cryptopontius pentadikos sp. nov. differs from its congeners by having five expressed antennulary segments proximal to fused ancestral IX-XII, two setae on second endopodal segment of leg 1, eight elements on third exopodal segment of leg 1 and the free segment of leg 5 with two setae. A key to species of the genus Cryptopontius is provided.}, } @article {pmid33054730, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, S and Li, F and Xu, X and Liu, Y and Kong, X and Chen, J and Liu, T and Chen, L}, title = {Study on the community structure and function of symbiotic bacteria from different growth and developmental stages of Hypsizygus marmoreus.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {311}, pmid = {33054730}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Agaricales/genetics/*growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/growth & development ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Plants/microbiology ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic bacteria associated with edible fungi are valuable microbial resources worthy of in-depth exploration. It is important to analyze the community structure and succession of symbiotic bacteria in mushrooms. This can assist in the isolation of growth-promoting strains that have an essential relationship with the cultivation cycle as well as the agronomic traits and yields of fruiting bodies.

RESULTS: In all of the samples from cultivation bags of Hypsizygus marmoreus, 34 bacterial phyla were detected. Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial phylum (78.85%). The genus Serratia showed an exponential increase in abundance in samples collected from the cultivation bags in the mature period, reaching a peak abundance of 55.74% and the dominant symbiotic flora. The most predominant strain was Serratia odorifera HZSO-1, and its abundance increased with the amount of hyphae of H. marmoreus. Serratia odorifera HZSO-1 could reside in the hyphae of H. marmoreus, promote growth and development, shorten the fruiting cycle by 3-4 days, and further increase the fruiting body yield by 12%.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is a pioneering demonstration of the community structure of the symbiotic microbiota and bacteria-mushroom interaction in the growth and development of edible fungi. This work lays a theoretical foundation to improve the industrial production of mushrooms with symbiotic bacteria as assisting agents.}, } @article {pmid33053824, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, SH and You, HS and Kang, HG and Kang, SS and Hyun, SH}, title = {Association between Altered Blood Parameters and Gut Microbiota after Synbiotic Intake in Healthy, Elderly Korean Women.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33053824}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Aged ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Biomarkers/*blood ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Longitudinal Studies ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; *Synbiotics ; Women ; }, abstract = {Synbiotics intake can alter the composition of intestinal microbes beneficially. We aimed to detect the changes in the intestinal microbiomes of 37 healthy elderly Korean women after the intake of a synbiotic drink. This was a longitudinal study controlled with a temporal series, including a control period of 3 weeks before intake, synbiotic intake for 3 weeks, and a washout period of 3 weeks. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed by sequencing the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA. Physical fecal activity increased with improvement in fecal shape. Thirty intestinal bacterial taxa were observed to change only after the intake period. In particular, Ellagibacter appeared only after ingestion. In addition, the abundance of Terrisporobacter showed a positive correlation with C-reactive protein, triglyceride. Lachnospiraceae_uc, Eubacterium_g5, and Blautia had a positive correlation with creatinine, whereas PAC001100_g had a negative correlation with creatinine. Short-term (3 weeks) intake of symbiotic organisms changes the composition of the gut microbiota in healthy elderly Korean women.}, } @article {pmid33053643, year = {2020}, author = {Baquiran, JIP and Nada, MAL and Campos, CLD and Sayco, SLG and Cabaitan, PC and Rosenberg, Y and Ayalon, I and Levy, O and Conaco, C}, title = {The Prokaryotic Microbiome of Acropora digitifera is Stable under Short-Term Artificial Light Pollution.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33053643}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Corals harbor a great diversity of symbiotic microorganisms that play pivotal roles in host nutrition, reproduction, and development. Changes in the ocean environment, such as increasing exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN), may alter these relationships and result in a decline in coral health. In this study, we examined the microbiome associated with gravid specimens of the reef-building coral Acropora digitifera. We also assessed the temporal effects of ALAN on the coral-associated microbial community using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 hypervariable region. The A. digitifera microbial community was dominated by phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Exposure to ALAN had no large-scale effect on the coral microbiome, although taxa affiliated with Rhodobacteraceae, Caulobacteraceae, Burkholderiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were significantly enriched in corals subjected to ALAN. We further noted an increase in the relative abundance of the family Endozoicomonadaceae (Endozoicomonas) as the spawning period approached, regardless of light treatment. These findings highlight the stability of the A. digitifera microbial community under short-term artificial light pollution and provide initial insights into the response of the collective holobiont to ALAN.}, } @article {pmid33052081, year = {2021}, author = {Alshehri, D and Saadah, O and Mosli, M and Edris, S and Alhindi, R and Bahieldin, A}, title = {Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease: Current therapies and potential for microbiota-modulating therapeutic approaches.}, journal = {Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {270-283}, pmid = {33052081}, issn = {1840-4812}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/*complications ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*etiology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {There is a growing body of evidence reinforcing the unique connections between the host microbiome, health, and diseases. Due to the extreme importance of the symbiotic relationship between the intestinal microbiome and the host, it is not surprising that any alteration in the gut microbiota would result in various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD is a chronic, relapsing-remitting condition that is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, compromised quality of life, and costly medical care. Dysbiosis is believed to exacerbate the progression of IBD. One of the currently used treatments for IBD are anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs, representing a biologic therapy that is reported to have an impact on the gut microbiota composition. The efficacy of anti-TNF agents is hindered by the possibility of non-response, which occurs in 10-20% of treated patients, and secondary loss of response, which occurs in up to 30% of treated patients. This underscores the need for novel therapies and studies that evaluate the role of the gut microbiota in these conditions. The success of any therapeutic strategy for IBD depends on our understanding of the interactions that occur between the gut microbiota and the host. In this review, the health and disease IBD-associated microbiota patterns will be discussed, in addition to the effect of currently used therapies for IBD on the gut microbiota composition, as well as new therapeutic approaches that can be used to overcome the current treatment constraints.}, } @article {pmid33051774, year = {2021}, author = {Knudsen, L and Brandenberger, C and Ochs, M}, title = {Stereology as the 3D tool to quantitate lung architecture.}, journal = {Histochemistry and cell biology}, volume = {155}, number = {2}, pages = {163-181}, pmid = {33051774}, issn = {1432-119X}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Lung/*ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; }, abstract = {Stereology is the method of choice for the quantitative assessment of biological objects in microscopy. It takes into account the fact that, in traditional microscopy such as conventional light and transmission electron microscopy, although one has to rely on measurements on nearly two-dimensional sections from fixed and embedded tissue samples, the quantitative data obtained by these measurements should characterize the real three-dimensional properties of the biological objects and not just their "flatland" appearance on the sections. Thus, three-dimensionality is a built-in property of stereological sampling and measurement tools. Stereology is, therefore, perfectly suited to be combined with 3D imaging techniques which cover a wide range of complementary sample sizes and resolutions, e.g. micro-computed tomography, confocal microscopy and volume electron microscopy. Here, we review those stereological principles that are of particular relevance for 3D imaging and provide an overview of applications of 3D imaging-based stereology to the lung in health and disease. The symbiosis of stereology and 3D imaging thus provides the unique opportunity for unbiased and comprehensive quantitative characterization of the three-dimensional architecture of the lung from macro to nano scale.}, } @article {pmid33051376, year = {2020}, author = {Bernard, C and Lannes, R and Li, Y and Bapteste, É and Lopez, P}, title = {Rich Repertoire of Quorum Sensing Protein Coding Sequences in CPR and DPANN Associated with Interspecies and Interkingdom Communication.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33051376}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The bacterial candidate phyla radiation (CPR) and the archaeal DPANN superphylum are two novel lineages that have substantially expanded the tree of life due to their large phylogenetic diversity. Because of their ultrasmall size, reduced genome, and lack of core biosynthetic capabilities, most CPR and DPANN members are predicted to be sustained through their interactions with other species. How the few characterized CPR and DPANN symbionts achieve these critical interactions is, however, poorly understood. Here, we conducted an in silico analysis on 2,597 CPR/DPANN genomes to test whether these ultrasmall microorganisms might encode homologs of reference proteins involved in the synthesis and/or the detection of 26 different types of communication molecules (quorum sensing [QS] signals), since QS signals are well-known mediators of intra- and interorganismic relationships. We report the discovery of 5,693 variants of QS proteins distributed across 63 CPR and 6 DPANN phyla and associated with 14 distinct types of communication molecules, most of which were characterized as interspecies QS signals.IMPORTANCE The selection of predicted genes for interspecies communication within the CPR and DPANN genomes sheds some light onto the underlying mechanisms supporting their inferred symbiotic lifestyle. Also, considering the lack of core pathways such as the de novo synthesis of nucleotides or amino acids in the CPR and DPANN lineages, the persistence of these genes highlights how determinant social traits can be for the survival of some microorganisms. Finally, the considerable number of variants of QS proteins identified among the 69 CPR and DPANN phyla substantially expands our knowledge of prokaryotic communication across the tree of life and suggests that the multiplicity of "dialects" in the microbial world is probably larger than previously appreciated.}, } @article {pmid33050851, year = {2020}, author = {Kurakin, GF and Samoukina, AM and Potapova, NA}, title = {Bacterial and Protozoan Lipoxygenases Could be Involved in Cell-to-Cell Signaling and Immune Response Suppression.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {85}, number = {9}, pages = {1048-1071}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297920090059}, pmid = {33050851}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*enzymology ; *Biological Evolution ; *Cell Communication ; Humans ; Immunity/*immunology ; Lipoxygenases/*metabolism ; Protozoan Proteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lipoxygenases are found in animals, plants, and fungi, where they are involved in a wide range of cell-to-cell signaling processes. The presence of lipoxygenases in a number of bacteria and protozoa has been also established, but their biological significance remains poorly understood. Several hypothetical functions of lipoxygenases in bacteria and protozoa have been suggested without experimental validation. The objective of our study was evaluating the functions of bacterial and protozoan lipoxygenases by evolutionary and taxonomic analysis using bioinformatics tools. Lipoxygenase sequences were identified and examined using BLAST, followed by analysis of constructed phylogenetic trees and networks. Our results support the theory on the involvement of lipoxygenases in the formation of multicellular structures by microorganisms and their possible evolutionary significance in the emergence of multicellularity. Furthermore, we observed association of lipoxygenases with the suppression of host immune response by parasitic and symbiotic bacteria including dangerous opportunistic pathogens.}, } @article {pmid33050511, year = {2020}, author = {Shelly, A and Gupta, P and Ahuja, R and Srichandan, S and Meena, J and Majumdar, T}, title = {Impact of Microbiota: A Paradigm for Evolving Herd Immunity against Viral Diseases.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33050511}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Betacoronavirus/immunology ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology/transmission ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Herd ; Immunity, Heterologous ; Immunity, Innate ; *Microbiota/immunology ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology/transmission ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Vaccination ; Virus Diseases/epidemiology/*immunology/*microbiology/transmission ; }, abstract = {Herd immunity is the most critical and essential prophylactic intervention that delivers protection against infectious diseases at both the individual and community level. This process of natural vaccination is immensely pertinent to the current context of a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection around the globe. The conventional idea of herd immunity is based on efficient transmission of pathogens and developing natural immunity within a population. This is entirely encouraging while fighting against any disease in pandemic circumstances. A spatial community is occupied by people having variable resistance capacity against a pathogen. Protection efficacy against once very common diseases like smallpox, poliovirus or measles has been possible only because of either natural vaccination through contagious infections or expanded immunization programs among communities. This has led to achieving herd immunity in some cohorts. The microbiome plays an essential role in developing the body's immune cells for the emerging competent vaccination process, ensuring herd immunity. Frequency of interaction among microbiota, metabolic nutrients and individual immunity preserve the degree of vaccine effectiveness against several pathogens. Microbiome symbiosis regulates pathogen transmissibility and the success of vaccination among different age groups. Imbalance of nutrients perturbs microbiota and abrogates immunity. Thus, a particular population can become vulnerable to the infection. Intestinal dysbiosis leads to environmental enteropathy (EE). As a consequence, the generation of herd immunity can either be delayed or not start in a particular cohort. Moreover, disparities of the protective response of many vaccines in developing countries outside of developed countries are due to inconsistencies of healthy microbiota among the individuals. We suggested that pan-India poliovirus vaccination program, capable of inducing herd immunity among communities for the last 30 years, may also influence the inception of natural course of heterologous immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, this anamnestic recall is somewhat counterintuitive, as antibody generation against original antigens of SARS-CoV-2 will be subdued due to original antigenic sin.}, } @article {pmid33049039, year = {2020}, author = {Santos-Garcia, D and Mestre-Rincon, N and Ouvrard, D and Zchori-Fein, E and Morin, S}, title = {Portiera Gets Wild: Genome Instability Provides Insights into the Evolution of Both Whiteflies and Their Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {2107-2124}, pmid = {33049039}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Acidosis ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA Polymerase III/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomic Instability ; Halomonadaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) are a superfamily of small phloem-feeding insects. They rely on their primary endosymbionts "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" to produce essential amino acids not present in their diet. Portiera has been codiverging with whiteflies since their origin and therefore reflects its host's evolutionary history. Like in most primary endosymbionts, the genome of Portiera stays stable across the Aleyrodidae superfamily after millions of years of codivergence. However, Portiera of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci has lost the ancestral genome order, reflecting a rare event in the endosymbiont evolution: the appearance of genome instability. To gain a better understanding of Portiera genome evolution, identify the time point in which genome instability appeared and contribute to the reconstruction of whitefly phylogeny, we developed a new phylogenetic framework. It targeted five Portiera genes and determined the presence of the DNA polymerase proofreading subunit (dnaQ) gene, previously associated with genome instability, and two alternative gene rearrangements. Our results indicated that Portiera gene sequences provide a robust tool for studying intergenera phylogenetic relationships in whiteflies. Using these new framework, we found that whitefly species from the Singhiella, Aleurolobus, and Bemisia genera form a monophyletic tribe, the Aleurolobini, and that their Portiera exhibit genome instability. This instability likely arose once in the common ancestor of the Aleurolobini tribe (at least 70 Ma), drawing a link between the appearance of genome instability in Portiera and the switch from multibacteriocyte to a single-bacteriocyte mode of inheritance in this tribe.}, } @article {pmid33047414, year = {2020}, author = {Stoy, KS and Gibson, AK and Gerardo, NM and Morran, LT}, title = {A need to consider the evolutionary genetics of host-symbiont mutualisms.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {1656-1668}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13715}, pmid = {33047414}, issn = {1420-9101}, support = {R35 GM137975/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Coevolution/*genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Recombination, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Despite the ubiquity and importance of mutualistic interactions, we know little about the evolutionary genetics underlying their long-term persistence. As in antagonistic interactions, mutualistic symbioses are characterized by substantial levels of phenotypic and genetic diversity. In contrast to antagonistic interactions, however, we, by and large, do not understand how this variation arises, how it is maintained, nor its implications for future evolutionary change. Currently, we rely on phenotypic models to address the persistence of mutualistic symbioses, but the success of an interaction almost certainly depends heavily on genetic interactions. In this review, we argue that evolutionary genetic models could provide a framework for understanding the causes and consequences of diversity and why selection may favour processes that maintain variation in mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid33047320, year = {2021}, author = {Gebauer, G and Clemens, S}, title = {Stealing sugar from the honey fungus.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {17-19}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13909}, pmid = {33047320}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Carbon ; Fungi ; *Gastrodia ; *Honey ; *Orchidaceae ; Resource Allocation ; Sucrose ; Sugars ; Theft ; }, abstract = {This article comments on: GeSUT4 mediates sucrose import at the symbiotic interface for carbon allocation of heterotrophic Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae).}, } @article {pmid33046698, year = {2020}, author = {Miyauchi, S and Kiss, E and Kuo, A and Drula, E and Kohler, A and Sánchez-García, M and Morin, E and Andreopoulos, B and Barry, KW and Bonito, G and Buée, M and Carver, A and Chen, C and Cichocki, N and Clum, A and Culley, D and Crous, PW and Fauchery, L and Girlanda, M and Hayes, RD and Kéri, Z and LaButti, K and Lipzen, A and Lombard, V and Magnuson, J and Maillard, F and Murat, C and Nolan, M and Ohm, RA and Pangilinan, J and Pereira, MF and Perotto, S and Peter, M and Pfister, S and Riley, R and Sitrit, Y and Stielow, JB and Szöllősi, G and Žifčáková, L and Štursová, M and Spatafora, JW and Tedersoo, L and Vaario, LM and Yamada, A and Yan, M and Wang, P and Xu, J and Bruns, T and Baldrian, P and Vilgalys, R and Dunand, C and Henrissat, B and Grigoriev, IV and Hibbett, D and Nagy, LG and Martin, FM}, title = {Large-scale genome sequencing of mycorrhizal fungi provides insights into the early evolution of symbiotic traits.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {5125}, pmid = {33046698}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/physiology ; *Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi are mutualists that play crucial roles in nutrient acquisition in terrestrial ecosystems. Mycorrhizal symbioses arose repeatedly across multiple lineages of Mucoromycotina, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. Considerable variation exists in the capacity of mycorrhizal fungi to acquire carbon from soil organic matter. Here, we present a combined analysis of 135 fungal genomes from 73 saprotrophic, endophytic and pathogenic species, and 62 mycorrhizal species, including 29 new mycorrhizal genomes. This study samples ecologically dominant fungal guilds for which there were previously no symbiotic genomes available, including ectomycorrhizal Russulales, Thelephorales and Cantharellales. Our analyses show that transitions from saprotrophy to symbiosis involve (1) widespread losses of degrading enzymes acting on lignin and cellulose, (2) co-option of genes present in saprotrophic ancestors to fulfill new symbiotic functions, (3) diversification of novel, lineage-specific symbiosis-induced genes, (4) proliferation of transposable elements and (5) divergent genetic innovations underlying the convergent origins of the ectomycorrhizal guild.}, } @article {pmid33045991, year = {2020}, author = {Ji, L and Zhang, Y and Yang, Y and Yang, L and Yang, N and Zhang, D}, title = {Long-term effects of mixed planting on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the roots and soils of Juglans mandshurica plantations.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {304}, pmid = {33045991}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {China ; Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Juglans/growth & development/*microbiology ; Larix/growth & development/*microbiology ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Establishing mixed plantations is an effective way to improve soil fertility and increase forest productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate symbiotic fungi that can promote mineral nutrient absorption and regulate intraspecific and interspecific competition in plants. However, the effects of mixed plantations on the community structure and abundance of AM fungi are still unclear. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to investigate the AM fungal community in the roots and soils of pure and mixed plantations (Juglans mandshurica × Larix gmelinii). The objective of this study is to compare the differential responses of the root and rhizosphere soil AM fungal communities of Juglans mandshurica to long-term mixed plantation management.

RESULTS: Glomus and Paraglomus were the dominant genera in the root samples, accounting for more than 80% of the sequences. Compared with that in the pure plantation, the relative abundance of Glomus was higher in the mixed plantation. Glomus, Diversispora and Paraglomus accounted for more than 85% of the sequences in the soil samples. The relative abundances of Diversispora and an unidentified genus of Glomeromycetes were higher and lower in the pure plantation, respectively. The Root_P samples (the roots in the pure plantation) had the highest number of unique OTUs (operational taxonomic units), which belonged mainly to an unidentified genus of Glomeromycetes, Paraglomus, Glomus and Acaulospora. The number of unique OTUs detected in the soil was lower than that in the roots. In both the root and soil samples, the forest type did not have a significant effect on AM fungal diversity, but the Sobs value and the Shannon, Chao1 and Ace indices of AM fungi in the roots were significantly higher than those in the soil.

CONCLUSIONS: Mixed forest management had little effect on the AM fungal community of Juglans mandshurica roots and significantly changed the community composition of the soil AM fungi, but not the diversity.}, } @article {pmid33043803, year = {2021}, author = {Robledo, M and García-Tomsig, NI and Matia-González, AM and García-Rodríguez, FM and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Synthetase of the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine from nitrogen-fixing α-rhizobia can bind functionally diverse RNA species.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {1111-1123}, pmid = {33043803}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Methionine Adenosyltransferase/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; RNA, Bacterial/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Small Untranslated/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; S-Adenosylmethionine/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/*genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Function of bacterial small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) and overall RNA metabolism is largely shaped by a vast diversity of RNA-protein interactions. However, in non-model bacteria with defined non-coding transcriptomes the sRNA interactome remains almost unexplored. We used affinity chromatography to capture proteins associated in vivo with MS2-tagged trans-sRNAs that regulate nutrient uptake (AbcR2 and NfeR1) and cell cycle (EcpR1) mRNAs by antisense-based translational inhibition in the nitrogen-fixing α-rhizobia Sinorhizobium meliloti. The three proteomes were rather distinct, with that of EcpR1 particularly enriched in cell cycle-related enzymes, whilst sharing several transcription/translation-related proteins recurrently identified associated with sRNAs. Strikingly, MetK, the synthetase of the major methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, was reliably recovered as a binding partner of the three sRNAs, which reciprocally co-immunoprecipitated with a FLAG-tagged MetK variant. Induced (over)expression of the trans-sRNAs and MetK depletion did not influence canonical riboregulatory traits, `for example, protein titration or sRNA stability, respectively. An in vitro filter assay confirmed binding of AbcR2, NfeR1 and EcpR1 to MetK and further revealed interaction of the protein with other non-coding and coding transcripts but not with the 5S rRNA. These findings uncover a broad specificity for RNA binding as an unprecedented feature of this housekeeping prokaryotic enzyme.}, } @article {pmid33043410, year = {2020}, author = {Vohník, M}, title = {Ericoid mycorrhizal symbiosis: theoretical background and methods for its comprehensive investigation.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {671-695}, pmid = {33043410}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Ericaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite decades of intensive research (especially from 1970s to 1990s), the ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) hair root is still largely terra incognita and this simplified guide is intended to revive and promote the study of its mycobiota. Basic theoretical knowledge on the ErM symbiosis is summarized, followed by practical advices on Ericaceae root sample collection and handling, microscopic observations and photo-documentation of root fungal colonization, mycobiont isolation, maintenance and identification and resynthesis experiments with ericoid plants. The necessity of a proper selection of the root material and its surface sterilization prior to mycobiont isolation is stressed, together with the need of including suitable control treatments in inoculation experiments. The culture-dependent approach employing plating of single short (~ 2 mm) hair root segments on nutrient media is substantiated as a useful tool for characterization of Ericaceae root-associated fungal communities; it targets living mycelium and provides metabolically active cultures that can be used in physiological experiments and taxonomic studies, thus providing essential reference material for culture-independent approaches. On the other hand, it is stressed that not every mycobiont isolated from an ericoid hair root necessarily represent an ErM fungus. Likewise, not every intracellular hyphal coil formed in the Ericaceae rhizodermis necessarily represents the ErM symbiosis. Taxonomy of the most important ericoid mycobionts is updated, mutualism in the ErM symbiosis is briefly discussed from the mycobiont perspective, and some interesting lines of possible future research are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid33042514, year = {2020}, author = {Roux, N and Salis, P and Lee, SH and Besseau, L and Laudet, V}, title = {Anemonefish, a model for Eco-Evo-Devo.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {20}, pmid = {33042514}, issn = {2041-9139}, abstract = {Anemonefish, are a group of about 30 species of damselfish (Pomacentridae) that have long aroused the interest of coral reef fish ecologists. Combining a series of original biological traits and practical features in their breeding that are described in this paper, anemonefish are now emerging as an experimental system of interest for developmental biology, ecology and evolutionary sciences. They are small sized and relatively easy to breed in specific husbandries, unlike the large-sized marine fish used for aquaculture. Because they live in highly structured social groups in sea anemones, anemonefish allow addressing a series of relevant scientific questions such as the social control of growth and sex change, the mechanisms controlling symbiosis, the establishment and variation of complex color patterns, and the regulation of aging. Combined with the use of behavioral experiments, that can be performed in the lab or directly in the wild, as well as functional genetics and genomics, anemonefish provide an attractive experimental system for Eco-Evo-Devo.}, } @article {pmid33042172, year = {2020}, author = {Razinger, J and Praprotnik, E and Schroers, HJ}, title = {Bioaugmentation of Entomopathogenic Fungi for Sustainable Agriotes Larvae (Wireworms) Management in Maize.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {535005}, pmid = {33042172}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soil microorganisms influence biotic and abiotic stress tolerance of crops. Most interactions between plant symbiotic and non-symbiotic soil microorganisms and plants occur in the rhizosphere and are sustained through plant exudation/rhizodeposition. Bioaugmentation, i.e., the introduction or amplification of certain plant beneficial microbes (e.g., entomopathogenic fungi) into the rhizosphere, could contribute to controlling insect crop pests and replacing chemical, environmentally unfriendly insecticides. Wireworms, the soil-burrowing larval stages of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are major pests of crops including maize, wheat and potatoes, worldwide. Alternative strategies for controlling wireworms are needed because several chemical pesticides used successfully in the past are being phased out because of their ecotoxicity. Therefore, virulence to Agriotes lineatus L. wireworms and plant beneficial traits of entomopathogenic fungi were investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Tested taxa included environmentally retrieved Metarhizium brunneum Petch. (two strains), M. robertsii Bisch., Rehner & Humber (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), and Beauveria brongniartii (Sacc.) Petch. and commercially formulated B. bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. (Cordycipitaceae) and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner 1915 var. kurstaki. In-house reared larvae were dipped in conidial suspension, and maize and wheat seeds were coated with fungal conidia. Metarhizium brunneum strains 1154 and 1868 significantly increased wireworm mortality. Fungi were significantly more often re-isolated from maize than wheat rhizoplanes in laboratory assays. The strains tested were rarely isolated as endophytes. Metarhizium brunneum strain 1154 stimulated wheat growth, while M. robertsii 1880 stimulated maize growth, whereas M. brunneum 1868 and others did not affect root or shoot length or plant biomass significantly in laboratory settings. Metarhizium brunneum strain 1868, re-isolated most often from maize rhizoplane, caused the highest wireworm mortality. It was further evaluated whether M. brunneum 1868 can protect maize varieties FeroXXY, LG 34.90 and Chapalu from wireworm damage and promote plant growth at field conditions. Plants of all three varieties stemming from seeds treated with conidia of M. brunneum 1868 showed significantly less wireworm damage 3 to 4 weeks after sowing (5- to 6-leaf stage) resulting in a significantly higher initial maize stand. However, only in the variety LG 34.90 a significant increase of the maize stand was observed at harvest time.}, } @article {pmid33042063, year = {2020}, author = {Rosier, BT and Moya-Gonzalvez, EM and Corell-Escuin, P and Mira, A}, title = {Isolation and Characterization of Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria as Potential Probiotics for Oral and Systemic Health.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {555465}, pmid = {33042063}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Recent evidence indicates that the reduction of salivary nitrate by oral bacteria can contribute to prevent oral diseases, as well as increase systemic nitric oxide levels that can improve conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. The objective of the current manuscript was to isolate nitrate-reducing bacteria from the oral cavity of healthy donors and test their in vitro probiotic potential to increase the nitrate-reduction capacity (NRC) of oral communities. Sixty-two isolates were obtained from five different donors of which 53 were confirmed to be nitrate-reducers. Ten isolates were selected based on high NRC as well as high growth rates and low acidogenicity, all being Rothia species. The genomes of these ten isolates confirmed the presence of nitrate- and nitrite reductase genes, as well as lactate utilization genes, and the absence of antimicrobial resistance, mobile genetic elements and virulence genes. The pH at which most nitrate was reduced differed between strains. However, acidic pH 6 always stimulated the reduction of nitrite compared to neutral pH 7 or slightly alkaline pH 7.5 (p < 0.01). We tested the effect of six out of 10 isolates on in vitro oral biofilm development in the presence or absence of 6.5 mM nitrate. The integration of the isolates into in vitro communities was confirmed by Illumina sequencing. The NRC of the bacterial communities increased when adding the isolates compared to controls without isolates (p < 0.05). When adding nitrate (prebiotic treatment) or isolates in combination with nitrate (symbiotic treatment), a smaller decrease in pH derived from sugar metabolism was observed (p < 0.05), which for some symbiotic combinations appeared to be due to lactate consumption. Interestingly, there was a strong correlation between the NRC of oral communities and ammonia production even in the absence of nitrate (R = 0.814, p < 0.01), which indicates that bacteria involved in these processes are related. As observed in our study, individuals differ in their NRC. Thus, some may have direct benefits from nitrate as a prebiotic as their microbiota naturally reduces significant amounts, while others may benefit more from a symbiotic combination (nitrate + nitrate-reducing probiotic). Future clinical studies should test the effects of these treatments on oral and systemic health.}, } @article {pmid33042042, year = {2020}, author = {Sharma, MP and Grover, M and Chourasiya, D and Bharti, A and Agnihotri, R and Maheshwari, HS and Pareek, A and Buyer, JS and Sharma, SK and Schütz, L and Mathimaran, N and Singla-Pareek, SL and Grossman, JM and Bagyaraj, DJ}, title = {Deciphering the Role of Trehalose in Tripartite Symbiosis Among Rhizobia, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Legumes for Enhancing Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {509919}, pmid = {33042042}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Drought is a critical factor limiting the productivity of legumes worldwide. Legumes can enter into a unique tripartite symbiotic relationship with root-nodulating bacteria of genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, or Sinorhizobium and colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Rhizobial symbiosis provides nitrogen necessary for growth. AMF symbiosis enhances uptake of diffusion-limited nutrients such as P, Zn, Cu, etc., and also water from the soil via plant-associated fungal hyphae. Rhizobial and AMF symbioses can act synergistically in promoting plant growth and fitness, resulting in overall yield benefits under drought stress. One of the approaches that rhizobia use to survive under stress is the accumulation of compatible solutes, or osmolytes, such as trehalose. Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide and an osmolyte reported to accumulate in a range of organisms. High accumulation of trehalose in bacteroids during nodulation protects cells and proteins from osmotic shock, desiccation, and heat under drought stress. Manipulation of trehalose cell concentrations has been directly correlated with stress response in plants and other organisms, including AMF. However, the role of this compound in the tripartite symbiotic relationship is not fully explored. This review describes the biological importance and the role of trehalose in the tripartite symbiosis between plants, rhizobia, and AMF. In particular, we review the physiological functions and the molecular investigations of trehalose carried out using omics-based approaches. This review will pave the way for future studies investigating possible metabolic engineering of this biomolecule for enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants.}, } @article {pmid33041180, year = {2021}, author = {Rosset, SL and Oakley, CA and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Suggett, DJ and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {The Molecular Language of the Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {320-333}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2020.08.005}, pmid = {33041180}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/*physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; Signal Transduction/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis is of huge importance as it underpins the success of coral reefs, yet we know very little about how the host cnidarian and its dinoflagellate endosymbionts communicate with each other to form a functionally integrated unit. Here, we review the current knowledge of interpartner molecular signaling in this symbiosis, with an emphasis on lipids, glycans, reactive species, biogenic volatiles, and noncoding RNA. We draw upon evidence of these compounds from recent omics-based studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and discuss the signaling roles that they play in other, better-studied symbioses. We then consider how improved knowledge of interpartner signaling might be used to develop solutions to the coral reef crisis by, for example, engineering more thermally resistant corals.}, } @article {pmid33040738, year = {2020}, author = {Brown, JJ and Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Poosakkannu, A and Batani, G and Schmidt, JO and Roachell, W and Zima, J and Hypša, V and Nováková, E}, title = {Ontogeny, species identity, and environment dominate microbiome dynamics in wild populations of kissing bugs (Triatominae).}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {146}, pmid = {33040738}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/*classification/*microbiology ; Chagas Disease/parasitology ; Female ; Male ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Triatominae/*classification/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Kissing bugs (Triatominae) are blood-feeding insects best known as the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Considering the high epidemiological relevance of these vectors, their biology and bacterial symbiosis remains surprisingly understudied. While previous investigations revealed generally low individual complexity but high among-individual variability of the triatomine microbiomes, any consistent microbiome determinants have not yet been identified across multiple Triatominae species.

METHODS: To obtain a more comprehensive view of triatomine microbiomes, we investigated the host-microbiome relationship of five Triatoma species sampled from white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula) nests in multiple locations across the USA. We applied optimised 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding with a novel 18S rRNA gene blocking primer to a set of 170 T. cruzi-negative individuals across all six instars.

RESULTS: Triatomine gut microbiome composition is strongly influenced by three principal factors: ontogeny, species identity, and the environment. The microbiomes are characterised by significant loss in bacterial diversity throughout ontogenetic development. First instars possess the highest bacterial diversity while adult microbiomes are routinely dominated by a single taxon. Primarily, the bacterial genus Dietzia dominates late-stage nymphs and adults of T. rubida, T. protracta, and T. lecticularia but is not present in the phylogenetically more distant T. gerstaeckeri and T. sanguisuga. Species-specific microbiome composition, particularly pronounced in early instars, is further modulated by locality-specific effects. In addition, pathogenic bacteria of the genus Bartonella, acquired from the vertebrate hosts, are an abundant component of Triatoma microbiomes.

CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to demonstrate deterministic patterns in microbiome composition among all life stages and multiple Triatoma species. We hypothesise that triatomine microbiome assemblages are produced by species- and life stage-dependent uptake of environmental bacteria and multiple indirect transmission strategies that promote bacterial transfer between individuals. Altogether, our study highlights the complexity of Triatominae symbiosis with bacteria and warrant further investigation to understand microbiome function in these important vectors. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid33040612, year = {2021}, author = {Chaturvedi, R and Favas, PJC and Pratas, J and Varun, M and Paul, MS}, title = {Harnessing Pisum sativum-Glomus mosseae symbiosis for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with lead, cadmium, and arsenic.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {279-290}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2020.1812507}, pmid = {33040612}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {*Arsenic ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium ; Fungi ; Lead ; Peas ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study investigates the impact of Glomus mosseae on heavy metal(loid) (HM) uptake efficiency of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants along with physiological and biochemical parameters. Plants were grown in soil spiked with HMs (Pb and As: 50 and 100 mg kg[-1]; Cd: 25 and 50 mg kg[-1]) and a multi-metal(loid) (Mm: Pb + Cd + As) combination, inoculated/non-inoculated with G. mosseae. A dose-dependent increase in HM accumulation was observed in plants upon harvest at 60 days. Plant growth, concentration of photosynthetic pigments, total nitrogen, and carbohydrates reduced, whereas enzymatic [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)] and non-enzymatic (proline and total phenolics) antioxidants increased upon HM stress. Inoculation with G. mosseae led to an increase in plant growth, concentration of photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate, nitrogen, and defence antioxidants (whereas proline decreased) which was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). This symbiosis can be applied for onsite remediation of Pb and Cd contaminated soil by virtue of accumulation efficiency and adaptive response of pea plants inoculated with G. mosseae. Since the amount of HMs in edible parts exceeded the maximum permissible limits recommended by FAO/WHO, pea must not be cultivated in HM-contaminated soil for agricultural purpose due to associated toxicity. Novelty statement To our knowledge, phytoremediation potential of Pea in synchronization with Glomus mosseae has not been evaluated previously. This study highlights: • Pea-AMF symbiosis can be applied for Pb and/or Cd phytoremediation. • Target Hazard Quotient >1 for Pb, Cd and As; caution to food chain exposure required. • Nonenzymatic (proline, TPC) and enzymatic (CAT, SOD, APX) antioxidants play a key role in ROS detoxification.}, } @article {pmid33040471, year = {2021}, author = {Frisan, T}, title = {Co- and polymicrobial infections in the gut mucosa: The host-microbiota-pathogen perspective.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {e13279}, pmid = {33040471}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofilms ; *Coinfection ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Infections in humans occur in the context of complex niches where the pathogen interacts with both the host microenvironment and immune response, and the symbiotic microbial community. The polymicrobial nature of many human infections adds a further layer of complexity. The effect of co- or polymicrobial infections can result in enhanced severity due to pathogens cooperative interaction or reduced morbidity because one of the pathogens affects the fitness of the other(s). In this review, the concept of co-infections and polymicrobial interactions in the context of the intestinal mucosa is discussed, focusing on the interplay between the host, the microbiota and the pathogenic organisms. Specifically, we will examine examples of pathogen-cooperative versus -antagonistic behaviour during co- and polymicrobial infections. We discuss: the infection-induced modulation of the host microenvironment and immune responses; the direct modulation of the microorganism's fitness; the potentiation of inflammatory/carcinogenic conditions by polymicrobial biofilms; and the promotion of co-infections by microbial-induced DNA damage. Open questions in this very exciting field are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid33039925, year = {2020}, author = {Marco-Jiménez, F and Borrás, S and Garcia-Dominguez, X and D'Auria, G and Vicente, JS and Marin, C}, title = {Roles of host genetics and sperm microbiota in reproductive success in healthy rabbit.}, journal = {Theriogenology}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {416-423}, doi = {10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.09.028}, pmid = {33039925}, issn = {1879-3231}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Fertility/genetics ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Rabbits ; Semen ; *Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; }, abstract = {Although the effects of sperm microbiota and sperm quality have been described previously, recent studies provide evidence that female genital modifications triggered by seminal components could be of significant importance to identify some disturbances associated with fertility. So, sperm microbiota could play a key role in sperm quality, contributing to fertilisation. To understand how sperm microbiota diversity is influenced by the host genetics, the symbiotic bacteria in four inbred lines raised in the same animal facility and their effects on sperm quality and fertility were analysed. Forty healthy rabbits from four selected Spanish commercial lines were used in this research (three based on litter performance, designated A, V and LP, and one selected for daily body weight gain, called R). Significant variations in the seminal concentration, morphology and some motion parameters were found among inbred lines, but sperm motility and viability were similar among inbred lines. After mating, inbred lines selected for litter size had the same fertility rate, significantly higher than inbred line selected for body weight (82 ± 3.3%, 79 ± 3.5% and 89 ± 4.5% versus 61 ± 3.7%, for the A, V and LP vs R lines, respectively, p < 0.05). Bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes were identified in sperm microbiota. At genus level, the bacterial community composition in the sperm microbiota was influenced by host genetics. A total of 35, 16, 34, and 51 genera were accurately detected in the A, V, LP, and R lines, respectively. Moreover, Enhydrobacter, Ferruginibacter, Myroides Paracoccus, Rheinheimera, Tepidiphilus, Tetradesmus obliquus and Thauera genera were present only in the inbred lines selected for litter size. Moreover, the discriminant analysis revealed Lysinibacillus and Flavobacterium genera as potential biomarkers for fertility. Thus, these two genera may play a key role in fertility. Our results demonstrated the existence of a rabbit inbred line-specific variation in bacterial occurrence in sperm microbiota. Moreover, fertility differentials among inbred lines that were not predicted by routine semen analysis could be partly explained by the symbiotic state of the semen microbiota.}, } @article {pmid33039078, year = {2020}, author = {Martin, JM and Tremblay, B and Karlowicz, K}, title = {Community health education re-envisioned: The value of partnership with the local food bank.}, journal = {Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing}, volume = {36}, number = {5}, pages = {417-423}, doi = {10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.01.009}, pmid = {33039078}, issn = {1532-8481}, mesh = {*Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate ; Health Education ; Humans ; Learning ; Schools ; *Students, Nursing ; }, abstract = {Baccalaureate-prepared nurses must be prepared to fulfill expanding role and skill expectations in community settings to improve population health. The use of non-traditional community clinical sites provides opportunities for students to learn and use a broad skill set such as leadership, communication, research, teaching, project management, and critical thinking. Students explore utilization of epidemiological systems and nursing theories to assist groups and communities to meet their nursing and community health needs. An example of a successful non-traditional partnership was established between our school and the regional food bank. This symbiotic relationship provides two-way benefits: students are afforded some flexibility and creativity in completion of required course assignments, and the food bank gains additional workers to help accomplish their strategic goals. It is a community health clinical resource that is accessible to schools of nursing in every community.}, } @article {pmid33038621, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, J and Lei, Z and Wei, Y and Wang, Q and Tian, C and Shimizu, K and Zhang, Z and Adachi, Y and Lee, DJ}, title = {Behavior of algal-bacterial granular sludge in a novel closed photo-sequencing batch reactor under no external O2 supply.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {318}, number = {}, pages = {124190}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124190}, pmid = {33038621}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bacteria ; *Bioreactors ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; *Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {Algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AB-AGS) as a symbiosis system possesses high potential for being operated without external O2 supply. In this study, a novel lab-scale closed photo-sequencing batch reactor (PSBR) was developed for AB-AGS operation under successively open (Phase Ⅰ) and closed (Phase Ⅱ) conditions. Results show that AB-AGS maintained almost 100% of organics removal, exhibiting higher removals of phosphate (63 ± 20%), K[+] (19 ± 12%) and Mg[2+] (26 ± 12%), and higher chlorophylls content during Phase II. Meanwhile, only O2 besides N2 was detectable in the headspace of PSBR. The change of granular structure and faster algae growth during Phase Ⅱ may contribute to the increase of microbial activity and phosphorus bioavailability, in which lower extracellular polymeric substances content may account for low biomass retention. Results from this closed PSBR imply that AB-AGS has the potential to reduce some greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 emission.}, } @article {pmid33038511, year = {2021}, author = {Scardaci, R and Varese, F and Manfredi, M and Marengo, E and Mazzoli, R and Pessione, E}, title = {Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415 responds to norepinephrine by altering protein profiles and phenotypic characters.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {231}, number = {}, pages = {104003}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2020.104003}, pmid = {33038511}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Enterococcus ; *Enterococcus faecium ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; *Probiotics ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The long-term established symbiosis between gut microbiota and humans is based upon a dynamic equilibrium that, if unbalanced, could lead to the development of diseases. Despite the huge amount of data concerning the microbiota-gut-brain-axis, little information is available on what happens at the molecular level in bacteria, when exposed to human signals. In the present study, the physiological effects exerted by norepinephrine (NE), a human hormone present in significant amounts in the host gut, were analyzed using the commensal/probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium NCIMB10415 as a target. The aim was to compare the protein profiles of treated and untreated bacteria and relating these proteome patterns to some phenotypic modifications important for bacteria-host interaction. Actually, to date, only pathogens have been considered. Combining a gel-free/label-free proteomic analysis with the evaluation of bile salts resistance, biofilm formation and autoaggregation ability (as well as with the bacterial growth kinetics), allowed to detect changes induced by NE treatment on all the tested probiotic properties. Furthermore, exposure to the bioactive molecule increased the abundance of proteins related to stress response and to host-microbe interaction, such as moonlight proteins involved in adhesion and immune stimulation. The results of this investigation demonstrated that, not only pathogens, but also commensal gut bacteria are affected by host-derived hormones, underlining the importance of a correct cross-signalling in the maintenance of gut homeostasis. SIGNIFICANCE: The crucial role played by the human gut microbiota in ensuring host homeostasis and health is definitively ascertained as suggested by the holobiome concept. The present research was intended to shed light on the endocrinological perturbations possibly affecting microbiota. The microbial model used in this study belongs to Enterococcus faecium species, whose controversial role as gut commensal and opportunistic pathogen in the gut ecosystem is well recognized. The results obtained in the present investigation clearly demonstrate that E. faecium NCIMB10415 can sense and respond to norepinephrine, a human hormone abundant at the gut level, by changing protein profiles and physiology, inducing changes that could favor survival and colonization of the host tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first proteomic report concerning the impact of a human hormone on a commensal/probiotic bacterium, since previous research has focused on exploring the effects of neuroendocrine molecules on growth and virulence of pathogenic species.}, } @article {pmid33036205, year = {2020}, author = {Man, AWC and Zhou, Y and Xia, N and Li, H}, title = {Involvement of Gut Microbiota, Microbial Metabolites and Interaction with Polyphenol in Host Immunometabolism.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33036205}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Antioxidants ; Chronic Disease ; Dietary Supplements ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; Metabolic Diseases/*etiology/immunology/metabolism/*prevention & control ; *Polyphenols/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Immunological and metabolic processes are inextricably linked and important for maintaining tissue and organismal health. Manipulation of cellular metabolism could be beneficial to immunity and prevent metabolic and degenerative diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Maintenance of a normal metabolism depends on symbiotic consortium of gut microbes. Gut microbiota contributes to certain xenobiotic metabolisms and bioactive metabolites production. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites have been shown to be involved in inflammatory activation of macrophages and contribute to metabolic diseases. Recent studies have focused on how nutrients affect immunometabolism. Polyphenols, the secondary metabolites of plants, are presented in many foods and beverages. Several studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols. Many clinical trials and epidemiological studies have also shown that long-term consumption of polyphenol-rich diet protects against chronic metabolic diseases. It is known that polyphenols can modulate the composition of core gut microbiota and interact with the immunometabolism. In the present article, we review the mechanisms of gut microbiota and its metabolites on immunometabolism, summarize recent findings on how the interaction between microbiota and polyphenol modulates host immunometabolism, and discuss future research directions.}, } @article {pmid33035453, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, X and Wang, G and Zhang, S and Chen, S and Wang, Y and Wen, P and Ma, X and Shi, Y and Qi, R and Yang, Y and Liao, Z and Lin, J and Lin, J and Xu, X and Chen, X and Xu, X and Deng, F and Zhao, L and Lee, YL and Wang, R and Chen, XY and Lin, YR and Zhang, J and Tang, H and Chen, J and Ming, R}, title = {Genomes of the Banyan Tree and Pollinator Wasp Provide Insights into Fig-Wasp Coevolution.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {183}, number = {4}, pages = {875-889.e17}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2020.09.043}, pmid = {33035453}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Female ; Ficus/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Pollination/*physiology ; Segmental Duplications, Genomic/genetics ; Sex Chromosomes/genetics ; Trees/*genetics ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Banyan trees are distinguished by their extraordinary aerial roots. The Ficus genus includes species that have evolved a species-specific mutualism system with wasp pollinators. We sequenced genomes of the Chinese banyan tree, F. microcarpa, and a species lacking aerial roots, F. hispida, and one wasp genome coevolving with F. microcarpa, Eupristina verticillata. Comparative analysis of the two Ficus genomes revealed dynamic karyotype variation associated with adaptive evolution. Copy number expansion of auxin-related genes from duplications and elevated auxin production are associated with aerial root development in F. microcarpa. A male-specific AGAMOUS paralog, FhAG2, was identified as a candidate gene for sex determination in F. hispida. Population genomic analyses of Ficus species revealed genomic signatures of morphological and physiological coadaptation with their pollinators involving terpenoid- and benzenoid-derived compounds. These three genomes offer insights into and genomic resources for investigating the geneses of aerial roots, monoecy and dioecy, and codiversification in a symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid33032576, year = {2020}, author = {Diller, M and Johnson, E and Hicks, A and Hogan, WR}, title = {A realism-based approach to an ontological representation of symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {BMC medical informatics and decision making}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {258}, pmid = {33032576}, issn = {1472-6947}, support = {UL1 TR001427/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; U24 GM110707/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM101151/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biological Ontologies ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic interactions that occur between humans and organisms in our environment have a tremendous impact on our health. Recently, there has been a surge in interest in understanding the complex relationships between the microbiome and human health and host immunity against microbial pathogens, among other things. To collect and manage data about these interactions and their complexity, scientists will need ontologies that represent symbiotic interactions as they occur in reality.

METHODS: We began with two papers that reviewed the usage of 'symbiosis' and related terms in the biology and ecology literature and prominent textbooks. We then analyzed several prominent standard terminologies and ontologies that contain representations of symbiotic interactions, to determine if they appropriately defined 'symbiosis' and related terms according to current scientific usage as identified by the review papers. In the process, we identified several subtypes of symbiotic interactions, as well as the characteristics that differentiate them, which we used to propose textual and axiomatic definitions for each subtype of interaction. To both illustrate how to use the ontological representations and definitions we created and provide additional quality assurance on key definitions, we carried out a referent tracking analysis and representation of three scenarios involving symbiotic interactions among organisms.

RESULTS: We found one definition of 'symbiosis' in an existing ontology that was consistent with the vast preponderance of scientific usage in biology and ecology. However, that ontology changed its definition during the course of our work, and discussions are ongoing. We present a new definition that we have proposed. We also define 34 subtypes of symbiosis. Our referent tracking analysis showed that it is necessary to define symbiotic interactions at the level of the individual, rather than at the species level, due to the complex nature in which organisms can go from participating in one type of symbiosis with one organism to participating in another type of symbiosis with a different organism.

CONCLUSION: As a result of our efforts here, we have developed a robust representation of symbiotic interactions using a realism-based approach, which fills a gap in existing biomedical ontologies.}, } @article {pmid33031708, year = {2021}, author = {Gonçalves, HV and Oki, Y and Bordignon, L and Ferreira, MC and Dos Santos, JE and Tameirão, LBS and Santos, FR and Kalapothakis, E and Fernandes, GW}, title = {Endophytic fungus diversity in soybean plants submitted to conditions of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {290-300}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2020-0261}, pmid = {33031708}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*analysis ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/microbiology ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Mycobiome ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Soybeans/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Global climatic changes can have drastic impacts on plant species, including severe consequences for the agricultural species productivity. Many of these species present important mutualisms with endophytic fungi that positively influence their performance. The present study evaluated whether the increases in CO2 and temperature predicted for the year 2100 may cause changes in foliar carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations in soybean (Glycine max) and, consequently, the interactions with its endophytic fungi. The effects of elevated CO2 and temperature were evaluated in four treatments in open-top chambers: (i) control, (ii) increased temperature, (iii) increased CO2, and (iv) increased CO2 and temperature. Increased atmospheric CO2 resulted in decreased foliar N concentration, while increased temperature increased it. A total of 16 taxa of endophytic fungi were identified based on sequencing internal transcribed spacer regions of rRNA subunits. Increased atmospheric CO2 and temperature were observed to potentially modify the endophytic mycobiota of soybean plants. The results suggest that the fungi species substitution is a consequence of changes in foliar N concentration and C/N ratio. Predicted climatic changes shall affect the relationships between plant and endophytes, which in turn, will affect the performance and resistance of soybean, one of the most important crops in the world.}, } @article {pmid33031424, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, WD and Yao, WL and He, WH and Li, JF and Wu, XP and Chen, ZH and Liu, L and Wang, WH}, title = {Bacterial community analysis on the different mucosal immune inductive sites of gastrointestinal tract in Bactrian camels.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {e0239987}, pmid = {33031424}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Camelus ; Fibrobacter/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Lymphoid Tissue/immunology/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbial communities colonize the mucosal immune inductive sites could be captured by hosts, which could initiate the mucosal immune responses. The aggregated lymphoid nodule area (ALNA) and the ileal Payer's patches (PPs) in Bactrian camels are both the mucosal immune inductive sites of the gastrointestinal tract. Here, the bacteria community associated with the ALNA and ileal PPs were analyzed using of 16S rDNA-Illumina Miseq sequencing. The mutual dominant bacterial phyla at the two sites were the Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria, and the mutual dominant genus in both sits was Prevotella. The abundances of the Fibrobacter, Campylobacter and RFP12 were all higher in ALNA than in ileal PPs. While, the abundances of the 5-7N15, Clostridium, and Escherichia were all higher in ileal PPs than in ALNA. The results suggested that the host's intestinal microenvironment is selective for the symbiotic bacteria colonizing the corresponding sites, on the contrary, the symbiotic bacteria could impact on the physiological functions of this local site. In ALNA and ileal PPs of Bactrian camel, the bacteria which colonized different immune inductive sites have the potential to stimulate different immune responses, which is the result of the mutual selection and adaptation between microbial communities and their host.}, } @article {pmid33029225, year = {2020}, author = {Mansour, S and Swanson, E and Pesce, C and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Thomas, WK and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences for the Frankia sp. strains CgS1, CcI156 and CgMI4, Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Isolated from Casuarina sp. in Egypt.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {84-88}, pmid = {33029225}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {Frankia sp. strains CgS1, CcI156 and CgMI4 were isolated from Casuarina glauca and C. cunninghamiana nodules. Here, we report the 5.26-, 5.33- and 5.20-Mbp draft genome sequences of Frankia sp. strains CgS1, CcI156 and CgMI4, respectively. Analysis of the genome revealed the presence of high numbers of secondary metabolic biosynthetic gene clusters.}, } @article {pmid33028252, year = {2020}, author = {Jeon, YJ and Gil, CH and Won, J and Jo, A and Kim, HJ}, title = {Symbiotic microbiome Staphylococcus aureus from human nasal mucus modulates IL-33-mediated type 2 immune responses in allergic nasal mucosa.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {301}, pmid = {33028252}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Corynebacterium/growth & development ; Cytokines/genetics/immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterobacter aerogenes/growth & development ; Epithelial Cells/immunology/microbiology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-33/genetics/immunology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Micrococcus luteus/growth & development ; Mucus/immunology/microbiology ; Nasal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Ovalbumin/administration & dosage ; Primary Cell Culture ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic/chemically induced/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development/*immunology ; Staphylococcus epidermidis/growth & development/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The host-microbial commensalism can shape the innate immune responses in respiratory mucosa and nasal microbiome also modulates front-line immune mechanism in the nasal mucosa. Inhaled allergens encounter the host immune system first in the nasal mucosa, and microbial characteristics of nasal mucus directly impact the mechanisms of initial allergic responses in nasal epithelium. However, the roles of the nasal microbiome in allergic nasal mucosa remain uncertain. We sought to determine the distribution of nasal microbiomes in allergic nasal mucosa and elucidate the interplay between nasal microbiome Staphylococcus species and Th2 cytokines in allergic rhinitis (AR) models.

RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus (AR-SA) and S. epidermidis (AR-SE) were isolated from the nasal mucosa of patients with AR. The influence of nasal microbiome Staphylococcus species on allergic nasal mucosa was also tested with in vitro and in vivo AR models. Pyrosequencing data showed that colonization by S. epidermidis and S. aureus was more dominant in nasal mucus of AR subjects. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-33 and TSLP were significantly higher in AR nasal epithelial (ARNE) cells which were cultured from nasal mucosa of AR subjects, and exposure of ARNE cells to AR-SA reduced IL-33 mRNA and secreted protein levels. Particularly, ovalbumin-driven AR mice inoculated with AR-SA by intranasal delivery exhibited significantly reduced IL-33 in their nasal mucosa. In the context of these results, allergic symptoms and Th2 cytokine levels were significantly downregulated after intranasal inoculation of AR-SA in vivo AR mice.

CONCLUSION: Colonization by Staphylococcus species was more dominant in allergic nasal mucosa, and nasal commensal S. aureus from subjects with AR mediates anti-allergic effects by modulating IL-33-dependent Th2 inflammation. The results demonstrate the role of host-bacterial commensalism in shaping human allergic inflammation.}, } @article {pmid33025575, year = {2021}, author = {Clowez, S and Renicke, C and Pringle, JR and Grossman, AR}, title = {Impact of Menthol on Growth and Photosynthetic Function of Breviolum Minutum (Dinoflagellata, Dinophyceae, Symbiodiniaceae) and Interactions with its Aiptasia Host.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {245-257}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13081}, pmid = {33025575}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida ; Menthol ; Photosynthesis ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Environmental change, including global warming and chemical pollution, can compromise cnidarian-(e.g., coral-) dinoflagellate symbioses and cause coral bleaching. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate these symbioses will inform strategies for sustaining healthy coral-reef communities. A model system for corals is the symbiosis between the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida (common name Aiptasia) and its dinoflagellate partners (family Symbiodiniaceae). To complement existing studies of the interactions between these organisms, we examined the impact of menthol, a reagent often used to render cnidarians aposymbiotic, on the dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum, both in culture and in hospite. In both environments, the growth and photosynthesis of this alga were compromised at either 100 or 300 µM menthol. We observed reduction in PSII and PSI functions, the abundances of reaction-center proteins, and, at 300 µM menthol, of total cellular proteins. Interestingly, for free-living algae exposed to 100 µM menthol, an initial decline in growth, photosynthetic activities, pigmentation, and protein abundances reversed after 5-15 d, eventually approaching control levels. This behavior was observed in cells maintained in continuous light, but not in cells experiencing a light-dark regimen, suggesting that B. minutum can detoxify menthol or acclimate and repair damaged photosynthetic complexes in a light- and/or energy-dependent manner. Extended exposures of cultured algae to 300 µM menthol ultimately resulted in algal death. Most symbiotic anemones were also unable to survive this menthol concentration for 30 d. Additionally, cells impaired for photosynthesis by pre-treatment with 300 µM menthol exhibited reduced efficiency in re-populating the anemone host.}, } @article {pmid33025061, year = {2021}, author = {Boraks, A and Plunkett, GM and Doro, TM and Alo, F and Sam, C and Tuiwawa, M and Ticktin, T and Amend, AS}, title = {Scale-Dependent Influences of Distance and Vegetation on the Composition of Aboveground and Belowground Tropical Fungal Communities.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {4}, pages = {874-883}, pmid = {33025061}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics ; *Mycobiome ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Fungi provide essential ecosystem services and engage in a variety of symbiotic relationships with trees. In this study, we investigate the spatial relationship of trees and fungi at a community level. We characterized the spatial dynamics for above- and belowground fungi using a series of forest monitoring plots, at nested spatial scales, located in the tropical South Pacific, in Vanuatu. Fungal communities from different habitats were sampled using metagenomic analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS1 region. Fungal communities exhibited strong distance-decay of similarity across our entire sampling range (3-110,000 m) and also at small spatial scales (< 50 m). Unexpectedly, this pattern was inverted at an intermediate scale (3.7-26 km). At large scales (80-110 km), belowground and aboveground fungal communities responded inversely to increasing geographic distance. Aboveground fungal community turnover (beta diversity) was best explained, at all scales, by geographic distance. In contrast, belowground fungal community turnover was best explained by geographic distance at small scales and tree community composition at large scales. Fungal communities from various habitats respond differently to the influences of habitat and geographic distance. At large geographic distances (80-110 km), community turnover for aboveground fungi is better explained by spatial distance, whereas community turnover for belowground fungi is better explained by plant community turnover. Future syntheses of spatial dynamics among fungal communities must explicitly consider geographic scale to appropriately contextualize community turnover.}, } @article {pmid33024226, year = {2020}, author = {Majumder, R and Sutcliffe, B and Taylor, PW and Chapman, TA}, title = {Fruit host-dependent fungal communities in the microbiome of wild Queensland fruit fly larvae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {16550}, pmid = {33024226}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/isolation & purification/physiology ; Australia ; Candida/isolation & purification/physiology ; Fruit/*microbiology ; Hanseniaspora/isolation & purification/physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Larva/*microbiology ; Mycobiome/*physiology ; Penicillium/isolation & purification/physiology ; Pichia/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; Zygosaccharomyces/isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), the Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), is a highly polyphagous tephritid fly that is widespread in Eastern Australia. Qfly physiology is closely linked with its fungal associates, with particular relationship between Qfly nutrition and yeast or yeast-like fungi. Despite animal-associated fungi typically occurring in multi-species communities, Qfly studies have predominately involved the culture and characterisation of single fungal isolates. Further, only two studies have investigated the fungal communities associated with Qfly, and both have used culture-dependant techniques that overlook non-culturable fungi and hence under-represent, and provide a biased interpretation of, the overall fungal community. In order to explore a potentially hidden fungal diversity and complexity within the Qfly mycobiome, we used culture-independent, high-throughput Illumina sequencing techniques to comprehensively, and holistically characterized the fungal community of Qfly larvae and overcome the culture bias. We collected larvae from a range of fruit hosts along the east coast of Australia, and all had a mycobiome dominated by ascomycetes. The most abundant fungal taxa belonged to the genera Pichia (43%), Candida (20%), Hanseniaspora (10%), Zygosaccharomyces (11%) and Penicillium (7%). We also characterized the fungal communities of fruit hosts, and found a strong degree of overlap between larvae and fruit host communities, suggesting that these communities are intimately inter-connected. Our data suggests that larval fungal communities are acquired from surrounding fruit flesh. It is likely that the physiological benefits of Qfly exposure to fungal communities is primarily due to consumption of these fungi, not through syntrophy/symbiosis between fungi and insect 'host'.}, } @article {pmid33024051, year = {2020}, author = {Motoki, K and Watsuji, TO and Takaki, Y and Takai, K and Iwasaki, W}, title = {Metatranscriptomics by In Situ RNA Stabilization Directly and Comprehensively Revealed Episymbiotic Microbial Communities of Deep-Sea Squat Lobsters.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33024051}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Shinkaia crosnieri is an invertebrate that inhabits an area around deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Okinawa Trough in Japan by harboring episymbiotic microbes as the primary nutrition. To reveal physiology and phylogenetic composition of the active episymbiotic populations, metatranscriptomics is expected to be a powerful approach. However, this has been hindered by substantial perturbation (e.g., RNA degradation) during time-consuming retrieval from the deep sea. Here, we conducted direct metatranscriptomic analysis of S. crosnieri episymbionts by applying in situ RNA stabilization equipment. As expected, we obtained RNA expression profiles that were substantially different from those obtained by conventional metatranscriptomics (i.e., stabilization after retrieval). The episymbiotic community members were dominated by three orders, namely, Thiotrichales, Methylococcales, and Campylobacterales, and the Campylobacterales members were mostly dominated by the Sulfurovum genus. At a finer phylogenetic scale, the episymbiotic communities on different host individuals shared many species, indicating that the episymbionts on each host individual are not descendants of a few founder cells but are horizontally exchanged. Furthermore, our analysis revealed the key metabolisms of the community: two carbon fixation pathways, a formaldehyde assimilation pathway, and utilization of five electron donors (sulfide, thiosulfate, sulfur, methane, and ammonia) and two electron accepters (oxygen and nitrate/nitrite). Importantly, it was suggested that Thiotrichales episymbionts can utilize intercellular sulfur globules even when sulfur compounds are not usable, possibly also in a detached and free-living state.IMPORTANCE Deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems remain mysterious. To depict in detail the enigmatic life of chemosynthetic microbes, which are key primary producers in these ecosystems, metatranscriptomic analysis is expected to be a promising approach. However, this has been hindered by substantial perturbation (e.g., RNA degradation) during time-consuming retrieval from the deep sea. In this study, we conducted direct metatranscriptome analysis of microbial episymbionts of deep-sea squat lobsters (Shinkaia crosnieri) by applying in situ RNA stabilization equipment. Compared to conventional metatranscriptomics (i.e., RNA stabilization after retrieval), our method provided substantially different RNA expression profiles. Moreover, we discovered that S. crosnieri and its episymbiotic microbes constitute complex and resilient ecosystems, where closely related but various episymbionts are stably maintained by horizontal exchange and partly by their sulfur storage ability for survival even when sulfur compounds are not usable, likely also in a detached and free-living state.}, } @article {pmid33024036, year = {2020}, author = {Hague, MTJ and Caldwell, CN and Cooper, BS}, title = {Pervasive Effects of Wolbachia on Host Temperature Preference.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {33024036}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM124701/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; *Body Temperature ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Cytoplasm/microbiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/*physiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Male ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbionts can modify a range of ecologically important host traits, including behavior. About half of all insect species are infected with maternally transmitted Wolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont known to alter host reproduction, nutrient acquisition, and virus susceptibility. Here, we broadly test the hypothesis that Wolbachia modifies host behavior by assessing the effects of eight different Wolbachia strains on the temperature preference of six Drosophila melanogaster subgroup species. Four of the seven host genotypes infected with A-group Wolbachia strains (wRi in Drosophila simulans, wHa in D. simulans, wSh in Drosophila sechellia, and wTei in Drosophila teissieri) prefer significantly cooler temperatures relative to uninfected genotypes. Contrastingly, when infected with divergent B-group wMau, Drosophila mauritiana prefers a warmer temperature. For most strains, changes to host temperature preference do not alter Wolbachia titer. However, males infected with wSh and wTei tend to experience an increase in titer when shifted to a cooler temperature for 24 h, suggesting that Wolbachia-induced changes to host behavior may promote bacterial replication. Our results indicate that Wolbachia modifications to host temperature preference are likely widespread, which has important implications for insect thermoregulation and physiology. Understanding the fitness consequences of these Wolbachia effects is crucial for predicting evolutionary outcomes of host-symbiont interactions, including how Wolbachia spreads to become common.IMPORTANCE Microbes infect a diversity of species, influencing the performance and fitness of their hosts. Maternally transmitted Wolbachia bacteria infect most insects and other arthropods, making these bacteria some of the most common endosymbionts in nature. Despite their global prevalence, it remains mostly unknown how Wolbachia influence host physiology and behavior to proliferate. We demonstrate pervasive effects of Wolbachia on Drosophila temperature preference. Most hosts infected with A-group Wolbachia prefer cooler temperatures, whereas the one host species infected with divergent B-group Wolbachia prefers warmer temperatures, relative to uninfected genotypes. Changes to host temperature preference generally do not alter Wolbachia abundance in host tissues, but for some A-group strains, adult males have increased Wolbachia titer when shifted to a cooler temperature. This suggests that Wolbachia-induced changes to host behavior may promote bacterial replication. Our results help elucidate the impact of endosymbionts on their hosts amid the global Wolbachia pandemic.}, } @article {pmid33022256, year = {2020}, author = {Sogin, EM and Leisch, N and Dubilier, N}, title = {Chemosynthetic symbioses.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {19}, pages = {R1137-R1142}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.050}, pmid = {33022256}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Eukaryotic Cells/*microbiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and eukaryotic hosts can be found almost everywhere in the ocean, from shallow-water seagrass beds and coral reef sediments to the deep sea. Yet no one knew these existed until 45 years ago, when teeming communities of animals were found thriving at hydrothermal vents two and a half kilometers below the sea surface. The discovery of these lightless ecosystems revolutionized our understanding of the energy sources that fuel life on Earth. Animals thrive at vents because they live in a nutritional symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria that grow on chemical compounds gushing out of the vents, such as sulfide and methane, which animals cannot use on their own. The symbionts gain energy from the oxidation of these reduced substrates to fix CO2 and other simple carbon compounds into biomass, which is then transferred to the host. By associating with chemosynthetic bacteria, animals and protists can thrive in environments in which there is not enough organic carbon to support their nutrition, including oligotrophic habitats like coral reefs and seagrass meadows. Chemosymbioses have evolved repeatedly and independently in multiple lineages of marine invertebrates and bacteria, highlighting the strong selective advantage for both hosts and symbionts in forming these associations. Here, we provide a brief overview of chemosynthesis and how these symbioses function. We highlight some of the current research in this field and outline several promising avenues for future research.}, } @article {pmid33021882, year = {2021}, author = {Perry, BJ and Ferguson, S and Laugraud, A and Wakelin, SA and Reeve, W and Ronson, CW}, title = {Complete Genome Sequences of Trifolium spp. Inoculant Strains Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii TA1 and CC275e: Resources for Genomic Study of the Rhizobium-Trifolium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {131-134}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-20-0220-A}, pmid = {33021882}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii strains TA1 and CC275e are nitrogen-fixing microsymbionts of Trifolium spp. and have been used as commercial inoculant strains for clovers in pastoral agriculture in Australia and New Zealand. Here we present the complete genome sequences of both strains, resolving their multipartite genome structures and allowing for future studies using genomic approaches.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid33021711, year = {2021}, author = {Shan, H and Liu, Y and Luan, J and Liu, S}, title = {New insights into the transovarial transmission of the symbiont Rickettsia in whiteflies.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {64}, number = {7}, pages = {1174-1186}, pmid = {33021711}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Oocytes/*microbiology ; Oogenesis ; Rickettsia/*pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiont transmission via eggs to future host generations has been recognized as the main strategy for its persistence in insect hosts; however, the mechanisms for transmission have yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe the dynamic locations of Rickettsia in the ovarioles and eggs during oogenesis and embryogenesis in a globally significant pest whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Field populations of the whitefly have a high prevalence of Rickettsia, and in all Rickettsia-infected individuals, the bacterium distributes in the body cavity of the host, especially in the midgut, fat body, hemocytes, hemolymph, and near bacteriocytes. The distribution of Rickettsia was subjected to dynamic changes in the ovary during oogenesis, and our ultrastructural observations indicated that the bacteria infect host ovarioles during early developmental stages via two routes: (i) invasion of the tropharium by endocytosis and then transmission into vitellarium via nutritive cord and (ii) entry into vitellarium by hijacking bacteriocyte translocation. Most of the Rickettsia are degraded in the oocyte cytoplasm in late-stage oogenesis. However, a few reside beneath the vitelline envelope of mature eggs, spread into the embryo, and proliferate during embryogenesis to sustain high-fidelity transmission to the next generation. Our findings provide novel insights into the maternal transmission underpinning the persistence and spread of insect symbionts.}, } @article {pmid33020252, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, G and Putkaradze, N and Bohnacker, S and Jonczyk, R and Fida, T and Hoffmann, T and Bernhardt, R and Härtl, K and Schwab, W}, title = {Six Uridine-Diphosphate Glycosyltransferases Catalyze the Glycosylation of Bioactive C13-Apocarotenols.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {184}, number = {4}, pages = {1744-1761}, pmid = {33020252}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Glycosylation ; Glycosyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Mentha piperita/*genetics/*metabolism ; Tobacco/*genetics/*metabolism ; Uridine Diphosphate/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {C13-apocarotenoids (norisoprenoids) are carotenoid-derived oxidation products that perform important physiological functions in plants. Although their biosynthetic pathways have been extensively studied, their metabolism including glycosylation remains poorly understood. Candidate uridine-diphosphate glycosyltransferase genes (UGTs) were selected based on their high transcript abundance in comparison with other UGTs in vegetative tissues of Nicotiana benthamiana and peppermint (Mentha × piperita), as these tissues are rich sources of apocarotenoid glucosides. Hydroxylated C13-apocarotenol substrates were produced by P450-catalyzed biotransformation and microbial/plant enzyme systems were established for the synthesis of glycosides. Natural substrates were identified by physiological aglycone libraries prepared from isolated plant glycosides. In total, we identified six UGTs that catalyze the glucosylation of C13-apocarotenols, where Glc is bound either to the cyclohexene ring or the butane side chain. MpUGT86C10 is a superior novel enzyme that catalyzes the glucosylation of allelopathic 3-hydroxy-α-damascone, 3-oxo-α-ionol, 3-oxo-7,8-dihydro-α-ionol (Blumenol C), and 3-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-β-ionol, whereas a germination test demonstrated the higher phytotoxic potential of a norisoprenoid glucoside in comparison to its aglycone. Glycosylation of C13-apocarotenoids has several functions in plants, including increased allelopathic activity of the aglycone, facilitating exudation by roots and allowing symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The results enable in-depth analysis of the roles of glycosylated norisoprenoid allelochemicals, the physiological functions of apocarotenoids during arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, and the associated maintenance of carotenoid homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid33019595, year = {2020}, author = {Santacroce, L and Charitos, IA and Ballini, A and Inchingolo, F and Luperto, P and De Nitto, E and Topi, S}, title = {The Human Respiratory System and its Microbiome at a Glimpse.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {33019595}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {The recent COVID-19 pandemic promoted efforts to better understand the organization of the respiratory microbiome and its evolution from birth to adulthood and how it interacts with external pathogens and the host immune system. This review aims to deepen understanding of the essential physiological functions of the resident microbiome of the respiratory system on human health and diseases. First, the general characteristics of the normal microbiota in the different anatomical sites of the airways have been reported in relation to some factors such as the effect of age, diet and others on its composition and stability. Second, we analyze in detail the functions and composition and the correct functionality of the microbiome in the light of current knowledge. Several studies suggest the importance of preserving the micro-ecosystem of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microbes of the respiratory system, and, more recently, its relationship with the intestinal microbiome, and how it also leads to the maintenance of human health, has become better understood.}, } @article {pmid33017407, year = {2020}, author = {Tang, F and Qian, Z}, title = {Leveraging interdependencies among platform and complementors in innovation ecosystem.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {e0239972}, pmid = {33017407}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Commerce ; Economic Competition ; *Ecosystem ; *Models, Theoretical ; }, abstract = {In the platform-based innovation ecosystem, the symbiotic evolution and interaction between the participating entities have drawn extensive attention. However, there is a lack of understanding of the co-specialization and co-innovation among members of the innovation ecosystem. This paper addresses this gap. In this paper, the collaborative innovation between a platform firm and different kinds of complementors, and its effects on the performance of the innovation ecosystem are simulated through an improved NK model. The result shows that the co-innovation performance between generalist complementors and the platform firm is generally outperformed than that between the specialist complementors and the platform firm. As the interdependencies between the complementary components get stronger, the innovation performance of the innovation ecosystem influenced by the interaction between different types of complementors and platform firms tend to be an inverted U-shape.}, } @article {pmid33016489, year = {2020}, author = {Geretharan, T and Jeyakumar, P and Bretherton, M and Anderson, CWN}, title = {Fluorine and white clover: Assessing fluorine's impact on Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Journal of environmental quality}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {987-999}, doi = {10.1002/jeq2.20089}, pmid = {33016489}, issn = {1537-2537}, mesh = {Fluorine ; New Zealand ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum ; Symbiosis ; *Trifolium ; }, abstract = {The soil fluorine (F) concentration in New Zealand agricultural soils has increased with time as a direct result of the widespread application of phosphate fertilizer to land. Elevated soil F concentrations may potentially harm soil microorganisms, which are important for nutrient cycling and soil formation. Rhizobium leguminosarum is a N2 -fixing soil bacterium that is a fundamental component in New Zealand legume-based pastoral farming. Any impact of F on Rhizobium leguminosarum would have an adverse effect on New Zealand pasture production. In this study, F toxicity to Rhizobium leguminosarum was examined as a first step to develop F guideline values for New Zealand agricultural soils. Bottle-based experiments were conducted to examine the effect of the F[-] ion on Rhizobium-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) symbiosis by observing nodule morphology and growth. Results indicate that the F[-] concentration that causes 10% inhibition of Rhizobium respiration (IC10) for F[-] toxicity to Rhizobium leguminosarum was >100 mg F[-] L[-1] . Significant morphological changes occurred when Rhizobium was exposed to F concentrations of 500 and 1000 mg L[-1] . Both light and transmission electron micrographs confirmed that the Rhizobium leguminosarum-white clover interaction was not influenced by F[-] concentrations >100 mg L[-1] . The toxic F[-] concentration for Rhizobium leguminosarum determined in this study is orders of magnitude higher than the F[-] concentration in New Zealand agriculture soils under "normal conditions." There appears to be no indication of imminent risk of soil F to Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, } @article {pmid33016310, year = {2020}, author = {Bamba, M and Aoki, S and Kajita, T and Setoguchi, H and Watano, Y and Sato, S and Tsuchimatsu, T}, title = {Massive rhizobial genomic variation associated with partner quality in Lotus-Mesorhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa202}, pmid = {33016310}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Genomics ; *Lotus ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Variation in partner quality is commonly observed in diverse cooperative relationships, despite the theoretical prediction that selection favoring high-quality partners should eliminate such variation. Here, we investigated how genetic variation in partner quality could be maintained in the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium bacteria. We reconstructed de novo assembled full-genome sequences from nine rhizobial symbionts, finding massive variation in the core genome and the similar symbiotic islands, indicating recent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the symbiosis islands into diverse Mesorhizobium lineages. A cross-inoculation experiment using 9 sequenced rhizobial symbionts and 15 L. japonicus accessions revealed extensive quality variation represented by plant growth phenotypes, including genotype-by-genotype interactions. Variation in quality was not associated with the presence/absence variation in known symbiosis-related genes in the symbiosis island; rather, it showed significant correlation with the core genome variation. Given the recurrent HGT of the symbiosis islands into diverse Mesorhizobium strains, local Mesorhizobium communities could serve as a major source of variation for core genomes, which might prevent variation in partner quality from fixing, even in the presence of selection favoring high-quality partners. These findings highlight the novel role of HGT of symbiosis islands in maintaining partner quality variation in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33014373, year = {2020}, author = {Kohama, N and Kawasaki, H and Kukinaka, C and Goda, H and Rahman, MM}, title = {Identifying the challenges to successfully teaching about genetic diversity among Japanese junior high school students.}, journal = {SAGE open medicine}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2050312120960656}, pmid = {33014373}, issn = {2050-3121}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Creating a diverse and inclusive symbiotic society is specified in the sustainable development goals. In a symbiotic society, support for those who need, it is called "reasonable support." However, it is unclear in the classroom that many children understand "reasonable" as a consideration to support children with special needs. The aim of this study is to identify the actual understanding of junior high school students and the challenges related to genetic diversity through school health teachers in readiness for developing a symbiotic society.

METHODS: A focus group interview was conducted for five school health teachers working in public junior high schools to identify the perspectives of their feeling about the current understanding of children in regard to genetics and diversity. Participants were recruited who agreed to engage voluntarily in this research. A qualitative descriptive design was used in this study.

RESULTS: The results of the analysis revealed three categories consisting of 67 codes and 10 subcategories. Three categories were identified: I-understanding the heterogeneity and diversity of children's ambivalent minds; II-limitation of school health teachers' involvement in genetics and diversity-related issues; and III-importance for children to understand heterogeneity and diversity to build life skills.

CONCLUSIONS: School health teachers remarked on the limitations of learning and teaching genetics and diversity. They paid attention to the flexibility of a child. It suggests that the purpose of genetic education is to develop children's life skills with the flexibility to live in the future. There is a need to consider new genetic education for school health teachers and students to learn about diversity.}, } @article {pmid33014021, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, J and Yu, X and Qin, Q and Dinkins, RD and Zhu, H}, title = {The Impacts of Domestication and Breeding on Nitrogen Fixation Symbiosis in Legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {00973}, pmid = {33014021}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Legumes are the second most important family of crop plants. One defining feature of legumes is their unique ability to establish a nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. Since domestication from their wild relatives, crop legumes have been under intensive breeding to improve yield and other agronomic traits but with little attention paid to the belowground symbiosis traits. Theoretical models predict that domestication and breeding processes, coupled with high-input agricultural practices, might have reduced the capacity of crop legumes to achieve their full potential of nitrogen fixation symbiosis. Testing this prediction requires characterizing symbiosis traits in wild and breeding populations under both natural and cultivated environments using genetic, genomic, and ecological approaches. However, very few experimental studies have been dedicated to this area of research. Here, we review how legumes regulate their interactions with soil rhizobia and how domestication, breeding and agricultural practices might have affected nodulation capacity, nitrogen fixation efficiency, and the composition and function of rhizobial community. We also provide a perspective on how to improve legume-rhizobial symbiosis in sustainable agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid33013954, year = {2020}, author = {Berger, A and Boscari, A and Horta Araújo, N and Maucourt, M and Hanchi, M and Bernillon, S and Rolin, D and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Plant Nitrate Reductases Regulate Nitric Oxide Production and Nitrogen-Fixing Metabolism During the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1313}, pmid = {33013954}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrate reductase (NR) is the first enzyme of the nitrogen reduction pathway in plants, leading to the production of ammonia. However, in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia, atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is directly reduced to ammonia by the bacterial nitrogenase, which questions the role of NR in symbiosis. Next to that, NR is the best-characterized source of nitric oxide (NO) in plants, and NO is known to be produced during the symbiosis. In the present study, we first surveyed the three NR genes (MtNR1, MtNR2, and MtNR3) present in the Medicago truncatula genome and addressed their expression, activity, and potential involvement in NO production during the symbiosis between M. truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti. Our results show that MtNR1 and MtNR2 gene expression and activity are correlated with NO production throughout the symbiotic process and that MtNR1 is particularly involved in NO production in mature nodules. Moreover, NRs are involved together with the mitochondrial electron transfer chain in NO production throughout the symbiotic process and energy regeneration in N2-fixing nodules. Using an in vivo NMR spectrometric approach, we show that, in mature nodules, NRs participate also in the regulation of energy state, cytosolic pH, carbon and nitrogen metabolism under both normoxia and hypoxia. These data point to the importance of NR activity for the N2-fixing symbiosis and provide a first explanation of its role in this process.}, } @article {pmid33013799, year = {2020}, author = {Chakraborty, A and Modlinger, R and Ashraf, MZ and Synek, J and Schlyter, F and Roy, A}, title = {Core Mycobiome and Their Ecological Relevance in the Gut of Five Ips Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {568853}, pmid = {33013799}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bark beetles are destructive forest pests considering their remarkable contribution to forest depletion. Their association with fungi is useful against the challenges of survival on the noxious and nutritionally limited substrate, i.e., conifer tissues. Fungal symbionts help the beetles in nutrient acquisition and detoxification of toxic tree secondary metabolites. Although gut is the prime location for food digestion and detoxification, limited information is available on gut-mycobiome of bark beetles. The present study screened the gut-mycobiont from six bark beetles (five Ips and one non-Ips) from Scolytinae subfamily using high-throughput sequencing and explored their putative role in symbiosis with the host insect. Results revealed the predominance of four fungal classes- Sordariomycetes, Saccharomycetes, Eurothiomycetes, and Dothidomycetes in all bark beetles. Apart from these, Agaricomycetes, Leothiomycetes, Incertae sedis Basidiomycota, Tremellomycetes, Lecanoromycetes, and Microbotryomycetes were also documented in different beetles. Five Ips bark beetles share a consortium of core fungal communities in their gut tissues consisting of 47 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 19 fungal genera. The majority of these core fungal genera belong to the phylum Ascomycota. LEfSe analysis revealed a set of species-specific fungal biomarkers in bark beetles. The present study identified the gut mycobiont assemblage in bark beetles and their putative ecological relevance. An enriched understanding of bark beetle-fungal symbiosis is not only filling the existing knowledge gap in the field but may also unleash an unforeseen potential for future bark beetle management.}, } @article {pmid33013724, year = {2020}, author = {Beam, JP and Becraft, ED and Brown, JM and Schulz, F and Jarett, JK and Bezuidt, O and Poulton, NJ and Clark, K and Dunfield, PF and Ravin, NV and Spear, JR and Hedlund, BP and Kormas, KA and Sievert, SM and Elshahed, MS and Barton, HA and Stott, MB and Eisen, JA and Moser, DP and Onstott, TC and Woyke, T and Stepanauskas, R}, title = {Ancestral Absence of Electron Transport Chains in Patescibacteria and DPANN.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1848}, pmid = {33013724}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Recent discoveries suggest that the candidate superphyla Patescibacteria and DPANN constitute a large fraction of the phylogenetic diversity of Bacteria and Archaea. Their small genomes and limited coding potential have been hypothesized to be ancestral adaptations to obligate symbiotic lifestyles. To test this hypothesis, we performed cell-cell association, genomic, and phylogenetic analyses on 4,829 individual cells of Bacteria and Archaea from 46 globally distributed surface and subsurface field samples. This confirmed the ubiquity and abundance of Patescibacteria and DPANN in subsurface environments, the small size of their genomes and cells, and the divergence of their gene content from other Bacteria and Archaea. Our analyses suggest that most Patescibacteria and DPANN in the studied subsurface environments do not form specific physical associations with other microorganisms. These data also suggest that their unusual genomic features and prevalent auxotrophies may be a result of ancestral, minimal cellular energy transduction mechanisms that lack respiration, thus relying solely on fermentation for energy conservation.}, } @article {pmid33013369, year = {2020}, author = {Ingelfinger, R and Henke, M and Roser, L and Ulshöfer, T and Calchera, A and Singh, G and Parnham, MJ and Geisslinger, G and Fürst, R and Schmitt, I and Schiffmann, S}, title = {Unraveling the Pharmacological Potential of Lichen Extracts in the Context of Cancer and Inflammation With a Broad Screening Approach.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1322}, pmid = {33013369}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Lichen-forming fungi are symbiotic organisms that synthesize unique natural products with potential for new drug leads. Here, we explored the pharmacological activity of six lichen extracts (Evernia prunastri, Pseudevernia furfuracea, Umbilicaria pustulata, Umbilicaria crustulosa, Flavoparmelia caperata, Platismatia glauca) in the context of cancer and inflammation using a comprehensive set of 11 functional and biochemical in vitro screening assays. We assayed intracellular Ca[2+] levels and cell migration. For cancer, we measured tumor cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis, as well as the angiogenesis-associated proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs). Targeting inflammation, we assayed leukocyte adhesion onto ECs, EC adhesion molecule expression, as well as nitric oxide production and prostaglandin (PG)E2 synthesis in leukocytes. Remarkably, none of the lichen extracts showed any detrimental influence on the viability of ECs. We showed for the first time that extracts of F. caperata induce Ca[2+] signaling. Furthermore, extracts from E. prunastri, P. furfuracea, F. caperata, and P. glauca reduced cell migration. Interestingly, F. caperata extracts strongly decreased tumor cell survival. The proliferation of ECs was significantly reduced by E. prunastri, P. furfuracea, and F. caperata extracts. The extracts did not inhibit the activity of inflammatory processes in ECs. However, the pro-inflammatory activation of leukocytes was inhibited by extracts from E. prunastri, P. furfuracea, F. caperata, and P. glauca. After revealing the potential biological activities of lichen extracts by an array of screening tests, a correlation analysis was performed to evaluate particular roles of abundant lichen secondary metabolites, such as atranorin, physodic acid, and protocetraric acid as well as usnic acid in various combinations. Overall, some of the lichen extracts tested in this study exhibit significant pharmacological activity in the context of inflammation and/or cancer, indicating that the group lichen-forming fungi includes promising members for further testing.}, } @article {pmid33012965, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, J and Zheng, K}, title = {The effect of adaptive behavior on risk propagation in industrial symbiosis networks.}, journal = {Physics letters. A}, volume = {384}, number = {36}, pages = {126915}, pmid = {33012965}, issn = {0375-9601}, abstract = {The complex symbiotic relationship in the industrial symbiosis network (ISN) may cause new risks for firms. In view of this problem, previous studies mainly regard the ISN as a static system, without considering the adaptive behavior of firms. This paper establishes a risk propagation model of the ISN based on the change of firm state, proposes four kinds of reconnection strategies to model the adaptive behavior, and uses numerical simulation to investigate the effect of adaptive behavior on risk propagation. The results demonstrate that all the reconnection strategies play an inhibitory role in the risk propagation. Therein, the effectiveness of PP strategy is the best, followed by RR strategy, and DP (SP) strategy. In any case, the effect of reconnection strategies on risk propagation will improve with the increase of the disconnection probability and network resilience. Additionally, the more decentralized weight distribution will weaken the inhibition of adaptive behavior on risk propagation.}, } @article {pmid33012868, year = {2020}, author = {Rishi, P and Thakur, K and Vij, S and Rishi, L and Singh, A and Kaur, IP and Patel, SKS and Lee, JK and Kalia, VC}, title = {Diet, Gut Microbiota and COVID-19.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {420-429}, pmid = {33012868}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Worldwide, millions of individuals have been affected by the prevailing SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, a robust immune system remains indispensable, as an immunocompromised host status has proven to be fatal. In the absence of any specific antiviral drug/vaccine, COVID-19 related drug repurposing along with various other non-pharmacological measures coupled with lockdown have been employed to combat this infection. In this context, a plant based rich fiber diet, which happens to be consumed by a majority of the Indian population, appears to be advantageous, as it replenishes the host gut microbiota with beneficial microbes thereby leading to a symbiotic association conferring various health benefits to the host including enhanced immunity. Further, implementation of the lockdown which has proven to be a good non-pharmacological measure, seems to have resulted in consumption of home cooked healthy diet, thereby enriching the beneficial microflora in the gut, which might have resulted in better prognosis of COVID-19 patients in India in comparison to that observed in the western countries.}, } @article {pmid33011965, year = {2020}, author = {Riccio, P and Rossano, R}, title = {The human gut microbiota is neither an organ nor a commensal.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {594}, number = {20}, pages = {3262-3271}, doi = {10.1002/1873-3468.13946}, pmid = {33011965}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Biotransformation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The recent explosive increase in the number of works on gut microbiota has been accompanied by the spread of rather vague or improper definitions, chosen more for common use than for experimental evidence. Among them are those defining the human gut microbiota as an organ of our body or as a commensal. But, is the human gut microbiota an organ or a commensal? Here, we address this issue to spearhead a reflection on the real roles of the human gut microbiota in our life. Actually, the misuse of the vocabulary used to describe the properties and functions of the gut microbiota may generate confusion and cause misunderstandings both in the scientific community and among the general public.}, } @article {pmid33011742, year = {2021}, author = {Taylor, JA and Palladino, G and Wemheuer, B and Steinert, G and Sipkema, D and Williams, TJ and Thomas, T}, title = {Phylogeny resolved, metabolism revealed: functional radiation within a widespread and divergent clade of sponge symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {503-519}, pmid = {33011742}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Humans ; Metagenome ; *Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between bacteria and sponges has arguably the longest evolutionary history for any extant metazoan lineage, yet little is known about bacterial evolution or adaptation in this process. An example of often dominant and widespread bacterial symbionts of sponges is a clade of uncultured and uncharacterised Proteobacteria. Here we set out to characterise this group using metagenomics, in-depth phylogenetic analyses, metatranscriptomics, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation microscopy. We obtained five metagenome-assembled-genomes (MAGs) from different sponge species that, together with a previously published MAG (AqS2), comprise two families within a new gammaproteobacterial order that we named [U]Tethybacterales. Members of this order share a heterotrophic lifestyle but vary in their predicted ability to use various carbon, nitrogen and sulfur sources, including taurine, spermidine and dimethylsulfoniopropionate. The deep branching of the [U]Tethybacterales within the Gammaproteobacteria and their almost exclusive presence in sponges suggests they have entered a symbiosis with their host relatively early in evolutionary time and have subsequently functionally radiated. This is reflected in quite distinct lifestyles of various species of [U]Tethybacterales, most notably their diverse morphologies, predicted substrate preferences, and localisation within the sponge tissue. This study provides new insight into the evolution of metazoan-bacteria symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33011226, year = {2021}, author = {Chan, JWJ and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Illumination enhances the protein abundance of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca[2+]-ATPases-like transporter in the ctenidium and whitish inner mantle of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, to augment exogenous Ca[2+] uptake and shell formation, respectively.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {251}, number = {}, pages = {110811}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110811}, pmid = {33011226}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animal Shells/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Animals ; Biological Transport/radiation effects ; Bivalvia/genetics/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation/radiation effects ; Light ; Lighting ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {The fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, can perform light-enhanced shell formation, aided by its symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, Durusdinium), which are able to donate organic nutrients to the host. During light-enhanced shell formation, increased Ca[2+] transport from the hemolymph through the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle to the extrapallial fluid, where calcification occurs, is necessary. Additionally, there must be increased absorption of exogenous Ca[2+] from the surrounding seawater, across the epithelial cells of the ctenidium (gill) into the hemolymph, to supply sufficient Ca[2+] for light-enhanced shell formation. When Ca[2+] moves across these epithelial cells, the low intracellular Ca[2+] concentration must be maintained. Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca[2+]-ATPase (SERCA) regulates the intracellular Ca[2+] concentration by pumping Ca[2+] into the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) and Golgi apparatus. Indeed, the ctenidium and inner mantle of T. squamosa, expressed a homolog of SERCA (SERCA-like transporter) that consists of 3009 bp, encoding 1002 amino acids of 110.6 kDa. SERCA-like-immunolabeling was non-uniform in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of ctenidial filaments, and that of the shell-facing epithelial cells of the inner mantle. Importantly, the protein abundance of SERCA-like increased significantly in the ctenidium and the inner mantle of T. squamosa after 12 h and 6 h, respectively, of light exposure. This would increase the capacity of pumping Ca[2+] into the endoplasmic reticulum and avert a possible surge in the cytosolic Ca[2+] concentration in epithelial cells of the ctenidial filaments during light-enhanced Ca[2+] absorption, and in cells of the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle during light-enhanced shell formation.}, } @article {pmid33011084, year = {2021}, author = {Reinhardt, D and Roux, C and Corradi, N and Di Pietro, A}, title = {Lineage-Specific Genes and Cryptic Sex: Parallels and Differences between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Fungal Pathogens.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {111-123}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2020.09.006}, pmid = {33011084}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Fungi ; Genome, Fungal ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) live as obligate root symbionts on almost all land plants. They have long been regarded as ancient asexuals that have propagated clonally for millions of years. However, genomic studies in Rhizophagus irregularis and other AMF revealed many features indicative of sex. Surprisingly, comparative genomics of conspecific isolates of R. irregularis revealed an unexpected interstrain diversity, suggesting that AMF carry a high number of lineage-specific (LS) genes. Intriguingly, cryptic sex and LS genomic regions have previously been reported in a number of fungal pathogens of plants and humans. Here, we discuss these genomic similarities and highlight their potential relevance for AMF adaptation to the environment and for symbiotic functioning.}, } @article {pmid33008816, year = {2020}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Dickerson, JC and McMillan, WO and Fierer, N}, title = {Heliconius Butterflies Host Characteristic and Phylogenetically Structured Adult-Stage Microbiomes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {33008816}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Butterflies/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) are diverse and ecologically important, yet we know little about how they interact with microbes as adults. Due to metamorphosis, the form and function of their adult-stage microbiomes might be very different from those of microbiomes in the larval stage (caterpillars). We studied adult-stage microbiomes of Heliconius and closely related passion-vine butterflies (Heliconiini), which are an important model system in evolutionary biology. To characterize the structure and dynamics of heliconiine microbiomes, we used field collections of wild butterflies, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantitative PCR, and shotgun metagenomics. We found that Heliconius butterflies harbor simple and abundant bacterial communities that are moderately consistent among conspecific individuals and over time. Heliconiine microbiomes also exhibited a strong signal of the host phylogeny, with a major distinction between Heliconius and other butterflies. These patterns were largely driven by differing relative abundances of bacterial phylotypes shared among host species and genera, as opposed to the presence or absence of host-specific phylotypes. We suggest that the phylogenetic structure in heliconiine microbiomes arises from conserved host traits that differentially filter microbes from the environment. While the relative importance of different traits remains unclear, our data indicate that pollen feeding (unique to Heliconius) is not a primary driver. Using shotgun metagenomics, we also discovered trypanosomatids and microsporidia to be prevalent in butterfly guts, raising the possibility of antagonistic interactions between eukaryotic parasites and colocalized gut bacteria. Our discovery of characteristic and phylogenetically structured microbiomes provides a foundation for tests of adult-stage microbiome function, a poorly understood aspect of lepidopteran biology.IMPORTANCE Many insects host microbiomes with important ecological functions. However, the prevalence of this phenomenon is unclear because in many insect taxa, microbiomes have been studied in only part of the life cycle, if at all. A prominent example is butterflies and moths, in which the composition and functional role of adult-stage microbiomes are largely unknown. We comprehensively characterized microbiomes in adult passion-vine butterflies. Butterfly-associated bacterial communities are generally abundant in guts, consistent within populations, and composed of taxa widely shared among hosts. More closely related butterflies harbor more similar microbiomes, with the most dramatic shift in microbiome composition occurring in tandem with a suite of ecological and life history traits unique to the genus Heliconius Butterflies are also frequently infected with previously undescribed eukaryotic parasites, which may interact with bacteria in important ways. These findings advance our understanding of butterfly biology and insect-microbe interactions generally.}, } @article {pmid33008461, year = {2020}, author = {Pascelli, C and Laffy, PW and Botté, E and Kupresanin, M and Rattei, T and Lurgi, M and Ravasi, T and Webster, NS}, title = {Viral ecogenomics across the Porifera.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {144}, pmid = {33008461}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Genomics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; Viruses/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Viruses directly affect the most important biological processes in the ocean via their regulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic populations. Marine sponges form stable symbiotic partnerships with a wide diversity of microorganisms and this high symbiont complexity makes them an ideal model for studying viral ecology. Here, we used morphological and molecular approaches to illuminate the diversity and function of viruses inhabiting nine sponge species from the Great Barrier Reef and seven from the Red Sea.

RESULTS: Viromic sequencing revealed host-specific and site-specific patterns in the viral assemblages, with all sponge species dominated by the bacteriophage order Caudovirales but also containing variable representation from the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus families Mimiviridae, Marseilleviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Ascoviridae, Iridoviridae, Asfarviridae and Poxviridae. Whilst core viral functions related to replication, infection and structure were largely consistent across the sponge viromes, functional profiles varied significantly between species and sites largely due to differential representation of putative auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) and accessory genes, including those associated with herbicide resistance, heavy metal resistance and nylon degradation. Furthermore, putative AMGs varied with the composition and abundance of the sponge-associated microbiome. For instance, genes associated with antimicrobial activity were enriched in low microbial abundance sponges, genes associated with nitrogen metabolism were enriched in high microbial abundance sponges and genes related to cellulose biosynthesis were enriched in species that host photosynthetic symbionts.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the diverse functional roles that viruses can play in marine sponges and are consistent with our current understanding of sponge ecology. Differential representation of putative viral AMGs and accessory genes across sponge species illustrate the diverse suite of beneficial roles viruses can play in the functional ecology of these complex reef holobionts. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid33008049, year = {2020}, author = {Kosolapova, AO and Antonets, KS and Belousov, MV and Nizhnikov, AA}, title = {Biological Functions of Prokaryotic Amyloids in Interspecies Interactions: Facts and Assumptions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {33008049}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amyloid/*genetics ; Amyloidosis/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Humans ; Prokaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Toxins, Biological/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Amyloids are fibrillar protein aggregates with an ordered spatial structure called "cross-β". While some amyloids are associated with development of approximately 50 incurable diseases of humans and animals, the others perform various crucial physiological functions. The greatest diversity of amyloids functions is identified within prokaryotic species where they, being the components of the biofilm matrix, function as adhesins, regulate the activity of toxins and virulence factors, and compose extracellular protein layers. Amyloid state is widely used by different pathogenic bacterial species in their interactions with eukaryotic organisms. These amyloids, being functional for bacteria that produce them, are associated with various bacterial infections in humans and animals. Thus, the repertoire of the disease-associated amyloids includes not only dozens of pathological amyloids of mammalian origin but also numerous microbial amyloids. Although the ability of symbiotic microorganisms to produce amyloids has recently been demonstrated, functional roles of prokaryotic amyloids in host-symbiont interactions as well as in the interspecies interactions within the prokaryotic communities remain poorly studied. Here, we summarize the current findings in the field of prokaryotic amyloids, classify different interspecies interactions where these amyloids are involved, and hypothesize about their real occurrence in nature as well as their roles in pathogenesis and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid33006801, year = {2021}, author = {Chakraborty, K and Kizhakkekalam, VK and Joy, M}, title = {Macrocyclic polyketides with siderophore mode of action from marine heterotrophic Shewanella algae: Prospective anti-infective leads attenuate drug-resistant pathogens.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {130}, number = {5}, pages = {1552-1570}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14875}, pmid = {33006801}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Polyketides/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Rhodophyta/microbiology ; Shewanella/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Siderophores/biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Biotechnological and chemical characterization of previously undescribed homologous siderophore-type macrocyclic polyketides from heterotrophic Shewanella algae Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) 12715 affiliated with Rhodophycean macroalga Hypnea valentiae of marine origin, with significant anti-infective potential against drug-resistant pathogens.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The heterotrophic bacterial strain in symbiotic association with intertidal macroalga H. valentiae was isolated to homogeneity in a culture-dependent method and screened for bioactivities by spot-over-lawn assay. The bacterial organic extract was purified and characterized by extensive chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, respectively, and was assessed for antibacterial activities with disc diffusion and microtube dilution methods. The macrocyclic polyketide compounds exhibited wide-spectrum of anti-infective potential against clinically significant vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREfs), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia with minimum inhibitory concentration of about 1-3 µg ml[-1] , insomuch as the antibiotics chloramphenicol and ampicillin were active at ≥6·25 µg ml[-1] . The studied compounds unveiled Fe[3+] chelating activity, which designated that their prospective anti-infective activities against the pathogens could be due to their siderophore mechanism of action. In support of that, the bacterium exhibited siderophore production on bioassay involving the cast upon culture agar plate, and the presence of siderophore biosynthetic gene (≈1000 bp) (MF 981936) further corroborated the inference. In silico molecular modelling with penicillin-binding protein (PBP2a) coded by mecA genes of MRSA (docking score -11·68 to -12·69 kcal mol[-1]) verified their in vitro antibacterial activities. Putative biosynthetic pathway of macrocyclic polyketides through stepwise decarboxylative condensation initiated by malonate-acyl carrier protein further validated their structural and molecular attributes.

CONCLUSIONS: The studied siderophore-type macrocyclic polyketides from S. algae MTCC 12715 with significant anti-infective potential could be considered as promising candidates for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications, especially against emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens.

This study exhibited the heterotrophic bacteria in association with intertidal macroalga as propitious biological resources to biosynthesize novel antibacterial agents.}, } @article {pmid33005311, year = {2020}, author = {Jung, J and Kim, JS and Taffner, J and Berg, G and Ryu, CM}, title = {Archaea, tiny helpers of land plants.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {18}, number = {}, pages = {2494-2500}, pmid = {33005311}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Archaea are members of most microbiomes. While archaea are highly abundant in extreme environments, they are less abundant and diverse in association with eukaryotic hosts. Nevertheless, archaea are a substantial constituent of plant-associated ecosystems in the aboveground and belowground phytobiome. Only a few studies have investigated the role of archaea in plant health and its potential symbiosis in ecosystems. This review discusses recent progress in identifying how archaea contribute to plant traits such as growth, adaptation to abiotic stresses, and immune activation. We synthesized the most recent functional and molecular data on archaea, including root colonization and the volatile emission to activate plant systemic immunity. These data represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of plant-microbiota interactions.}, } @article {pmid33004433, year = {2020}, author = {Mathers, TC and Mugford, ST and Hogenhout, SA and Tripathi, L}, title = {Genome Sequence of the Banana Aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Its Symbionts.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {4315-4321}, pmid = {33004433}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {BB/R01227X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P012574/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; *Babuvirus ; *Buchnera ; *Musa ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major pest of cultivated bananas (Musa spp., order Zingiberales), primarily due to its role as a vector of Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), the most severe viral disease of banana worldwide. Here, we generated a highly complete genome assembly of P. nigronervosa using a single PCR-free Illumina sequencing library. Using the same sequence data, we also generated complete genome assemblies of the P. nigronervosa symbiotic bacteria Buchnera aphidicola and Wolbachia To improve our initial assembly of P. nigronervosa we developed a k-mer based deduplication pipeline to remove genomic scaffolds derived from the assembly of haplotigs (allelic variants assembled as separate scaffolds). To demonstrate the usefulness of this pipeline, we applied it to the recently generated assembly of the aphid Myzus cerasi, reducing the duplication of conserved BUSCO genes by 25%. Phylogenomic analysis of P. nigronervosa, our improved M. cerasi assembly, and seven previously published aphid genomes, spanning three aphid tribes and two subfamilies, reveals that P. nigronervosa falls within the tribe Macrosiphini, but is an outgroup to other Macrosiphini sequenced so far. As such, the genomic resources reported here will be useful for understanding both the evolution of Macrosphini and for the study of P. nigronervosa. Furthermore, our approach using low cost, high-quality, Illumina short-reads to generate complete genome assemblies of understudied aphid species will help to fill in genomic black spots in the diverse aphid tree of life.}, } @article {pmid33002237, year = {2020}, author = {Davies, SW and Moreland, KN and Wham, DC and Kanke, MR and Matz, MV}, title = {Cladocopium community divergence in two Acropora coral hosts across multiple spatial scales.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {23}, pages = {4559-4572}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15668}, pmid = {33002237}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many broadly-dispersing corals acquire their algal symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) "horizontally" from their environment upon recruitment. Horizontal transmission could promote coral fitness across diverse environments provided that corals can associate with divergent algae across their range and that these symbionts exhibit reduced dispersal potential. Here we quantified community divergence of Cladocopium algal symbionts in two coral host species (Acropora hyacinthus, Acropora digitifera) across two spatial scales (reefs on the same island, and between islands) across the Micronesian archipelago using microsatellites. We find that both hosts associated with a variety of multilocus genotypes (MLG) within two genetically distinct Cladocopium lineages (C40, C21), confirming that Acropora coral hosts associate with a range of Cladocopium symbionts across this region. Both C40 and C21 included multiple asexual lineages bearing identical MLGs, many of which spanned host species, reef sites within islands, and even different islands. Both C40 and C21 exhibited moderate host specialization and divergence across islands. In addition, within every island, algal symbiont communities were significantly clustered by both host species and reef site, highlighting that coral-associated Cladocopium communities are structured across small spatial scales and within hosts on the same reef. This is in stark contrast to their coral hosts, which never exhibited significant genetic divergence between reefs on the same island. These results support the view that horizontal transmission could improve local fitness for broadly dispersing Acropora coral species.}, } @article {pmid33002000, year = {2020}, author = {Sorroche, F and Morales, V and Mouffok, S and Pichereaux, C and Garnerone, AM and Zou, L and Soni, B and Carpéné, MA and Gargaros, A and Maillet, F and Burlet-Schiltz, O and Poinsot, V and Polard, P and Gough, C and Batut, J}, title = {The ex planta signal activity of a Medicago ribosomal uL2 protein suggests a moonlighting role in controlling secondary rhizobial infection.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {e0235446}, pmid = {33002000}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Coinfection/prevention & control ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We recently described a regulatory loop, which we termed autoregulation of infection (AOI), by which Sinorhizobium meliloti, a Medicago endosymbiont, downregulates the root susceptibility to secondary infection events via ethylene. AOI is initially triggered by so-far unidentified Medicago nodule signals named signal 1 and signal 1' whose transduction in bacteroids requires the S. meliloti outer-membrane-associated NsrA receptor protein and the cognate inner-membrane-associated adenylate cyclases, CyaK and CyaD1/D2, respectively. Here, we report on advances in signal 1 identification. Signal 1 activity is widespread as we robustly detected it in Medicago nodule extracts as well as in yeast and bacteria cell extracts. Biochemical analyses indicated a peptidic nature for signal 1 and, together with proteomic analyses, a universally conserved Medicago ribosomal protein of the uL2 family was identified as a candidate signal 1. Specifically, MtRPuL2A (MtrunA17Chr7g0247311) displays a strong signal activity that requires S. meliloti NsrA and CyaK, as endogenous signal 1. We have shown that MtRPuL2A is active in signaling only in a non-ribosomal form. A Medicago truncatula mutant in the major symbiotic transcriptional regulator MtNF-YA1 lacked most signal 1 activity, suggesting that signal 1 is under developmental control. Altogether, our results point to the MtRPuL2A ribosomal protein as the candidate for signal 1. Based on the Mtnf-ya1 mutant, we suggest a link between root infectiveness and nodule development. We discuss our findings in the context of ribosomal protein moonlighting.}, } @article {pmid33001863, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Y and Toothaker, JM and Ben-Simon, S and Ozeri, L and Schweitzer, R and McCourt, BT and McCourt, CC and Werner, L and Snapper, SB and Shouval, DS and Khatib, S and Koren, O and Agnihorti, S and Tseng, G and Konnikova, L}, title = {In utero human intestine harbors unique metabolome, including bacterial metabolites.}, journal = {JCI insight}, volume = {5}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {33001863}, issn = {2379-3708}, support = {T32 AI089443/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001863/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA047904/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Child ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Female ; Fetus/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; *Metabolome ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial colonization through the establishment of the intestinal microbiome is critical to many intestinal functions, including nutrient metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, and immune regulation. Recent studies suggest that education of intestinal immunity may be ongoing in utero. However, the drivers of this process are unknown. The microbiome and its byproducts are one potential source. Whether a fetal intestinal microbiome exists is controversial, and whether microbially derived metabolites are present in utero is unknown. Here, we aimed to determine whether bacterial DNA and microbially derived metabolites can be detected in second trimester human intestinal samples. Although we were unable to amplify bacterial DNA from fetal intestines, we report a fetal metabolomic intestinal profile with an abundance of bacterially derived and host-derived metabolites commonly produced in response to microbiota. Though we did not directly assess their source and function, we hypothesize that these microbial-associated metabolites either come from the maternal microbiome and are vertically transmitted to the fetus to prime the fetal immune system and prepare the gastrointestinal tract for postnatal microbial encounters or are produced locally by bacteria that were below our detection threshold.}, } @article {pmid33000311, year = {2021}, author = {Silva-Lima, AW and Froes, AM and Garcia, GD and Tonon, LAC and Swings, J and Cosenza, CAN and Medina, M and Penn, K and Thompson, JR and Thompson, CC and Thompson, FL}, title = {Mussismilia braziliensis White Plague Disease Is Characterized by an Affected Coral Immune System and Dysbiosis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {795-806}, pmid = {33000311}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Dysbiosis ; Immune System ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Infectious diseases are one of the major drivers of coral reef decline worldwide. White plague-like disease (WPL) is a widespread disease with a complex etiology that infects several coral species, including the Brazilian endemic species Mussismilia braziliensis. Gene expression profiles of healthy and WPL-affected M. braziliensis were analyzed in winter and summer seasons. The de novo assembly of the M. braziliensis transcriptome from healthy and white plague samples produced a reference transcriptome containing 119,088 transcripts. WPL-diseased samples were characterized by repression of immune system and cellular defense processes. Autophagy and cellular adhesion transcripts were also repressed in WPL samples, suggesting exhaustion of the coral host defenses. Seasonal variation leads to plasticity in transcription with upregulation of intracellular signal transduction, apoptosis regulation, and oocyte development in the summer. Analysis of the active bacterial rRNA indicated that Pantoea bacteria were more abundant in WPL corals, while Tistlia, Fulvivirga, and Gammaproteobacteria Ga0077536 were more abundant in healthy samples. Cyanobacteria proliferation was also observed in WPL, mostly in the winter. These results indicate a scenario of dysbiosis in WPL-affected M. braziliensis, with the loss of potentially symbiotic bacteria and proliferation of opportunistic microbes after the start of the infection process.}, } @article {pmid32999061, year = {2020}, author = {Sugiura, Y and Akiyama, R and Tanaka, S and Yano, K and Kameoka, H and Marui, S and Saito, M and Kawaguchi, M and Akiyama, K and Saito, K}, title = {Myristate can be used as a carbon and energy source for the asymbiotic growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {41}, pages = {25779-25788}, pmid = {32999061}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/*metabolism ; Hyphae/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Myristates/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, forming symbiotic associations with land plants, are obligate symbionts that cannot complete their natural life cycle without a host. The fatty acid auxotrophy of AM fungi is supported by recent studies showing that lipids synthesized by the host plants are transferred to the fungi, and that the latter lack genes encoding cytosolic fatty acid synthases. Therefore, to establish an asymbiotic cultivation system for AM fungi, we tried to identify the fatty acids that could promote biomass production. To determine whether AM fungi can grow on medium supplied with fatty acids or lipids under asymbiotic conditions, we tested eight saturated or unsaturated fatty acids (C12 to C18) and two β-monoacylglycerols. Only myristate (C14:0) led to an increase in the biomass of Rhizophagus irregularis, inducing extensive hyphal growth and formation of infection-competent secondary spores. However, such spores were smaller than those generated symbiotically. Furthermore, we demonstrated that R. irregularis can take up fatty acids in its branched hyphae and use myristate as a carbon and energy source. Myristate also promoted the growth of Rhizophagus clarus and Gigaspora margarita Finally, mixtures of myristate and palmitate accelerated fungal growth and induced a substantial change in fatty acid composition of triacylglycerol compared with single myristate application, although palmitate was not used as a carbon source for cell wall biosynthesis in this culture system. Our findings demonstrate that myristate boosts the asymbiotic growth of AM fungi and can also serve as a carbon and energy source.}, } @article {pmid32999026, year = {2020}, author = {Mirzakhanyan, Y and Gershon, PD}, title = {Structure-Based Deep Mining Reveals First-Time Annotations for 46 Percent of the Dark Annotation Space of the 9,671-Member Superproteome of the Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {94}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {32999026}, issn = {1098-5514}, support = {R01 GM134144/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007319/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ankyrins/genetics ; Cytoplasm/virology ; DNA Viruses/*classification/*genetics ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Genome, Viral ; Giant Viruses/*genetics ; Mimiviridae/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Proteome/*genetics ; Vaccinia/genetics ; Viral Proteins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {We conducted an exhaustive search for three-dimensional structural homologs to the proteins of 20 key phylogenetically distinct nucleocytoplasmic DNA viruses (NCLDV). Structural matches covered 429 known protein domain superfamilies, with the most highly represented being ankyrin repeat, P-loop NTPase, F-box, protein kinase, and membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) repeat. Domain superfamily diversity correlated with genome size, but a diversity of around 200 superfamilies appeared to correlate with an abrupt switch to paralogization. Extensive structural homology was found across the range of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II subunits and their associated basal transcription factors, with the coordinated gain and loss of clusters of subunits on a virus-by-virus basis. The total number of predicted endonucleases across the 20 NCLDV was nearly quadrupled from 36 to 132, covering much of the structural and functional diversity of endonucleases throughout the biosphere in DNA restriction, repair, and homing. Unexpected findings included capsid protein-transcription factor chimeras; endonuclease chimeras; enzymes for detoxification; antimicrobial peptides and toxin-antitoxin systems associated with symbiosis, immunity, and addiction; and novel proteins for membrane abscission and protein turnover.IMPORTANCE We extended the known annotation space for the NCLDV by 46%, revealing high-probability structural matches for fully 45% of the 9,671 query proteins and confirming up to 98% of existing annotations per virus. The most prevalent protein families included ankyrin repeat- and MORN repeat-containing proteins, many of which included an F-box, suggesting extensive host cell modulation among the NCLDV. Regression suggested a minimum requirement for around 36 protein structural superfamilies for a viable NCLDV, and beyond around 200 superfamilies, genome expansion by the acquisition of new functions was abruptly replaced by paralogization. We found homologs to herpesvirus surface glycoprotein gB in cytoplasmic viruses. This study provided the first prediction of an endonuclease in 10 of the 20 viruses examined; the first report in a virus of a phenolic acid decarboxylase, proteasomal subunit, or cysteine knot (defensin) protein; and the first report of a prokaryotic-type ribosomal protein in a eukaryotic virus.}, } @article {pmid32997661, year = {2020}, author = {Goncu, B and Sevgi, E and Kizilarslan Hancer, C and Gokay, G and Ozten, N}, title = {Differential anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of lichen species on human prostate carcinoma cells.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e0238303}, pmid = {32997661}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; *Apoptosis ; *Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; }, abstract = {Lichens are stable symbiotic associations between fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria that have different biological activities. Around 60% of anti-cancer drugs are derived from natural resources including plants, fungi, sea creatures, and lichens. This project aims to identify the apoptotic effects and proliferative properties of extracts of Bryoria capillaris (Ach.) Brodo & D.Hawksw, Cladonia fimbriata (L.) Fr., Evernia divaricata (L.) Ach., Hypogymnia tubulosa (Schaer.) Hav., Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., and Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex Wigg. lichen species on prostate cancer cells. Lichen extracts were performed by ethanol, methanol, and acetone separately by using the Soxhlet apparatus and the effects of the extracts on cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were measured with the utilization of MTT, LDH assay, Annexin V assay, and Western Blot. Findings of our study revealed a positive correlation between the elevation of cell sensitivity and the increase in the treatment doses of the extract in that higher doses applied reverberate to higher cell sensitivity. A similar correlation was also identified between cell sensitivity elevation and the duration of the treatment. Evidence in our study have shown the existence of an anti-proliferative effect in the extracts of Bryoria capillaris, Evernia divaricata (L.) Ach., Hypogymnia tubulosa (Schaer.) Hav., Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., and Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex Wigg., while a similar effect was not observed in the extracts of Cladonia fimbriata. Evernia divaricata induced anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in PC-3 cells, which induced apoptotic cell death by both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Hypogymnia tubulosa has been shown to have anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in all extractions methods and our findings identified that both the percentage of the apoptotic cells and apoptotic protein expressions recorded an increase at lower treatment concentrations. Although Lobaria pulmonaria is known to have significant cytotoxic effects, we did not observe a decrease in cell proliferation. Indeed, proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein expression levels have shown an increase in all extracts, while Usnea florida exhibited apoptosis induction and slight proliferation reduction in extract treatments with lower concentrations. We tested 18 extracts of six lichen species during our study. Of these, Evernia divaricata and Hypogymnia tubulosa demonstrated significant apoptotic activity on prostate cancer cells including at low concentrations, which implies that it is worth pursuing the biologically active lead compounds of these extracts on prostate cancer in vitro. Further corroboratory studies are needed to validate the relative potential of these extracts as anti-metastatic and anti-tumorigenic agents.}, } @article {pmid32996595, year = {2021}, author = {Reich, HG and Tu, WC and Rodriguez, IB and Chou, Y and Keister, EF and Kemp, DW and LaJeunesse, TC and Ho, TY}, title = {Iron Availability Modulates the Response of Endosymbiotic Dinoflagellates to Heat Stress.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {3-13}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13078}, pmid = {32996595}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Heat-Shock Response ; Iron ; Oceans and Seas ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Warming and nutrient limitation are stressors known to weaken the health of microalgae. In situations of stress, access to energy reserves can minimize physiological damage. Because of its widespread requirements in biochemical processes, iron is an important trace metal, especially for photosynthetic organisms. Lowered iron availability in oceans experiencing rising temperatures may contribute to the thermal sensitivity of reef-building corals, which rely on mutualisms with dinoflagellates to survive. To test the influence of iron concentration on thermal sensitivity, the physiological responses of cultured symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Breviolum; family Symbiodiniaceae) were evaluated when exposed to increasing temperatures (26 to 30°C) and iron concentrations ranging from replete (500 pM Fe') to limiting (50 pM Fe') under a diurnal light cycle with saturating radiance. Declines in photosynthetic efficiency at elevated temperatures indicated sensitivity to heat stress. Furthermore, five times the amount of iron was needed to reach exponential growth during heat stress (50 pM Fe' at 26-28°C vs. 250 pM Fe' at 30°C). In treatments where exponential growth was reached, Breviolum psygmophilum grew faster than B.minutum, possibly due to greater cellular contents of iron and other trace metals. The metal composition of B.psygmophilum shifted only at the highest temperature (30°C), whereas changes in B.minutum were observed at lower temperatures (28°C). The influence of iron availability in modulating each alga's response to thermal stress suggests the importance of trace metals to the health of coral-algal mutualisms. Ultimately, a greater ability to acquire scarce metals may improve the tolerance of corals to physiological stressors and contribute to the differences in performance associated with hosting one symbiont species over another.}, } @article {pmid32995943, year = {2020}, author = {McGuiness, PN and Reid, JB and Foo, E}, title = {Brassinosteroids play multiple roles in nodulation of pea via interactions with ethylene and auxin.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {252}, number = {4}, pages = {70}, doi = {10.1007/s00425-020-03478-z}, pmid = {32995943}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Brassinosteroids/metabolism ; *Ethylenes/metabolism ; *Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Peas/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A comprehensive analysis of the role of brassinosteroids in nodulation, including their interactions with auxin and ethylene revealed that brassinosteroids inhibit infection, promote nodule initiation but do not influence nodule organogenesis or function. Nodulation, the symbiosis between legumes and rhizobial bacteria, is regulated by a suite of hormones including brassinosteroids. Previous studies have found that brassinosteroids promote nodule number by inhibiting ethylene biosynthesis. In this study, we examined the influence of brassinosteroids on the various stages of infection and nodule development. We utilise pea mutants, including brassinosteroid mutants lk, lka and lkb, the ethylene insensitive ein2 mutant and the lk ein2 double mutant, along with transgenic lines expressing the DR5::GUS auxin activity marker to investigate how brassinosteroids interact with ethylene and auxin during nodulation. We show that brassinosteroids inhibit the early stages of nodulation, including auxin accumulation, root hair deformation and infection thread formation, and demonstrate that infection thread formation is regulated by brassinosteroids in an ethylene independent manner. In contrast, brassinosteroids appear to act as promoters of nodule initiation through both an ethylene dependent and independent pathway. Although brassinosteroids positively influence the ultimate number of nodules formed, we found that brassinosteroid-deficiency did not influence nodule structure including the vascular pattern of auxin activity or nitrogen-fixation capacity. These findings suggest that brassinosteroids are negative regulators of infection but positive regulators of nodule initiation. Furthermore, brassinosteroids do not appear to be essential for nodule organogenesis or function. Given the influence of brassinosteroids on discreet stages of nodulation but not nodule function, manipulation of brassinosteroids may be an interesting avenue for future research on the optimisation of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid32995702, year = {2020}, author = {Bürger, M and Chory, J}, title = {In-silico analysis of the strigolactone ligand-receptor system.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {e00263}, pmid = {32995702}, issn = {2475-4455}, support = {R01 GM052413/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM094428/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM122604/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a diverse class of butenolide-bearing plant hormones associated with several processes of major agricultural concern. SLs initiate symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, cause germination of crop-devastating parasitic plants, and inhibit shoot branching in vascular plants. SLs are perceived by dual receptor-hydrolase proteins, and capturing the intact ligand inside the receptor remains a key challenge for structural biologists. In addition, many discovered SLs are hard to obtain and too unstable to work with. In a computer-based approach, we investigated the interaction of 20 different SL molecules with nine crystal structures of SL receptors. Our results suggest an important role of the active site for ligand binding and orientation, and that the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica has developed both promiscuous and type-specific SL receptors as part of its host recognition strategy.}, } @article {pmid32994291, year = {2020}, author = {Lu, Y and Jiang, J and Zhao, H and Han, X and Xiang, Y and Zhou, W}, title = {Clade-Specific Sterol Metabolites in Dinoflagellate Endosymbionts Are Associated with Coral Bleaching in Response to Environmental Cues.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32994291}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Cnidarians cannot synthesize sterols (which play essential roles in growth and development) de novo but often use sterols acquired from endosymbiotic dinoflagellates. While sterol availability can impact the mutualistic interaction between coral host and algal symbiont, the biosynthetic pathways (in the dinoflagellate endosymbionts) and functional roles of sterols in these symbioses are poorly understood. In this study, we found that itraconazole, which perturbs sterol metabolism by inhibiting the sterol 14-demethylase CYP51 in dinoflagellates, induces bleaching of the anemone Heteractis crispa and that bleaching perturbs sterol metabolism of the dinoflagellate. While Symbiodiniaceae have clade-specific sterol metabolites, they share features of the common sterol biosynthetic pathway but with distinct architecture and substrate specificity features of participating enzymes. Tracking sterol profiles and transcripts of enzymes involved in sterol biosynthesis across time in response to different environmental cues revealed similarities and idiosyncratic features of sterol synthesis in the endosymbiont Breviolum minutum Exposure of algal cultures to high levels of light, heat, and acidification led to alterations in sterol synthesis, including blocks through downregulation of squalene synthase transcript levels accompanied by marked growth reductions.IMPORTANCE These results indicate that sterol metabolites in Symbiodiniaceae are clade specific, that their biosynthetic pathways share architectural and substrate specificity features with those of animals and plants, and that environmental stress-specific perturbation of sterol biosynthesis in dinoflagellates can impair a key mutualistic partnership for healthy reefs.}, } @article {pmid32993496, year = {2020}, author = {Kono, M and Kon, Y and Ohmura, Y and Satta, Y and Terai, Y}, title = {In vitro resynthesis of lichenization reveals the genetic background of symbiosis-specific fungal-algal interaction in Usnea hakonensis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {671}, pmid = {32993496}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/metabolism ; Genes, Fungal ; Genes, Plant ; Microbiological Techniques ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Parmeliaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiosis is central to ecosystems and has been an important driving force of the diversity of life. Close and long-term interactions are known to develop cooperative molecular mechanisms between the symbiotic partners and have often given them new functions as symbiotic entities. In lichen symbiosis, mutualistic relationships between lichen-forming fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria produce unique features that make lichens adaptive to a wide range of environments. Although the morphological, physiological, and ecological uniqueness of lichens has been described for more than a century, the genetic mechanisms underlying this symbiosis are still poorly known.

RESULTS: This study investigated the fungal-algal interaction specific to the lichen symbiosis using Usnea hakonensis as a model system. The whole genome of U. hakonensis, the fungal partner, was sequenced by using a culture isolated from a natural lichen thallus. Isolated cultures of the fungal and the algal partners were co-cultured in vitro for 3 months, and thalli were successfully resynthesized as visible protrusions. Transcriptomes of resynthesized and natural thalli (symbiotic states) were compared to that of isolated cultures (non-symbiotic state). Sets of fungal and algal genes up-regulated in both symbiotic states were identified as symbiosis-related genes.

CONCLUSION: From predicted functions of these genes, we identified genetic association with two key features fundamental to the symbiotic lifestyle in lichens. The first is establishment of a fungal symbiotic interface: (a) modification of cell walls at fungal-algal contact sites; and (b) production of a hydrophobic layer that ensheaths fungal and algal cells;. The second is symbiosis-specific nutrient flow: (a) the algal supply of photosynthetic product to the fungus; and (b) the fungal supply of phosphorous and nitrogen compounds to the alga. Since both features are widespread among lichens, our result may indicate important facets of the genetic basis of the lichen symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32993486, year = {2020}, author = {Koch, TL and Grimmelikhuijzen, CJP}, title = {A comparative genomics study of neuropeptide genes in the cnidarian subclasses Hexacorallia and Ceriantharia.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {666}, pmid = {32993486}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Animals ; Multigene Family ; Neuropeptides/chemistry/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Protein Precursors/chemistry/genetics ; Sea Anemones/classification/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nervous systems originated before the split of Proto- and Deuterostomia, more than 600 million years ago. Four animal phyla (Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, Porifera) diverged before this split and studying these phyla could give us important information on the evolution of the nervous system. Here, we have annotated the neuropeptide preprohormone genes of twenty species belonging to the subclass Hexacorallia or Ceriantharia (Anthozoa: Cnidaria), using thirty-seven publicly accessible genome or transcriptome databases. Studying hexacorals is important, because they are versatile laboratory models for development (e.g., Nematostella vectensis) and symbiosis (e.g., Exaiptasia diaphana) and also are prominent reef-builders.

RESULTS: We found that each hexacoral or ceriantharian species contains five to ten neuropeptide preprohormone genes. Many of these preprohormones contain multiple copies of immature neuropeptides, which can be up to 50 copies of identical or similar neuropeptide sequences. We also discovered preprohormones that only contained one neuropeptide sequence positioned directly after the signal sequence. Examples of them are neuropeptides that terminate with the sequence RWamide (the Antho-RWamides). Most neuropeptide sequences are N-terminally protected by pyroglutamyl (pQ) or one or more prolyl residues, while they are C-terminally protected by an amide group. Previously, we isolated and sequenced small neuropeptides from hexacorals that were N-terminally protected by an unusual L-3-phenyllactyl group. In our current analysis, we found that these N-phenyllactyl-peptides are derived from N-phenylalanyl-peptides located directly after the signal sequence of the preprohormone. The N-phenyllactyl- peptides appear to be confined to the hexacorallian order Actiniaria and do not occur in other cnidarians. On the other hand, (1) the neuropeptide Antho-RFamide (pQGRFamide); (2) peptides with the C-terminal sequence GLWamide; and (3) tetrapeptides with the X1PRX2amide consensus sequence (most frequently GPRGamide) are ubiquitous in Hexacorallia.

CONCLUSIONS: We found GRFamide, GLWamide, and X1PRX2amide peptides in all tested Hexacorallia. Previously, we discovered these three neuropeptide classes also in Cubozoa, Scyphozoa, and Staurozoa, indicating that these neuropeptides originated in the common cnidarian ancestor and are evolutionarily ancient. In addition to these ubiquitous neuropeptides, other neuropeptides appear to be confined to specific cnidarian orders or subclasses.}, } @article {pmid32993305, year = {2021}, author = {Guarner, F}, title = {[Symbiosis in the human gastrointestinal tract].}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {37}, number = {Spec No2}, pages = {34-37}, doi = {10.20960/nh.03354}, pmid = {32993305}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The human body is a planet populated by myriads of microorganisms all over its surface and in cavities connected to the outside. Experimental and clinical research is showing that microbial colonizers are a functional and essential part of the human organism. The microbial ecosystem, which is housed in the gastrointestinal tract, provides a "metagenome": genes and additional functions to the genetic resources of the species, which are involved in multiple physiological processes (somatic development, nutrition, immunity, etc.). The human intestine houses lymphoid structures specialized in the induction and regulation of adaptive immunity, and the interaction of the intestinal microbiota with the immune system of the digestive mucosa plays a key role for the individual's homeostasis with the outside world. Some chronic non-communicable inflammatory diseases in developed society are associated with dysbiosis: loss of species richness in the gut microbiota and deviation from the ancestral microbial environment. Generating and maintaining diversity in the gut microbiota is a new clinical goal for health promotion and disease prevention.}, } @article {pmid32993063, year = {2020}, author = {Martins, F and Gonçalves, LG and Pojo, M and Serpa, J}, title = {Take Advantage of Glutamine Anaplerosis, the Kernel of the Metabolic Rewiring in Malignant Gliomas.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {32993063}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Central Nervous System/drug effects/*metabolism ; Glioma/*drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Glutamine/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Humans ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a key role in the metabolism of proliferating cells including neoplastic cells. In the central nervous system (CNS), glutamine metabolism is particularly relevant, because the glutamine-glutamate cycle is a way of controlling the production of glutamate-derived neurotransmitters by tightly regulating the bioavailability of the amino acids in a neuron-astrocyte metabolic symbiosis-dependent manner. Glutamine-related metabolic adjustments have been reported in several CNS malignancies including malignant gliomas that are considered 'glutamine addicted'. In these tumors, glutamine becomes an essential amino acid preferentially used in energy and biomass production including glutathione (GSH) generation, which is crucial in oxidative stress control. Therefore, in this review, we will highlight the metabolic remodeling that gliomas undergo, focusing on glutamine metabolism. We will address some therapeutic regimens including novel research attempts to target glutamine metabolism and a brief update of diagnosis strategies that take advantage of this altered profile. A better understanding of malignant glioma cell metabolism will help in the identification of new molecular targets and the design of new therapies.}, } @article {pmid32992840, year = {2020}, author = {Mun, SK and Kang, KY and Jang, HY and Hwang, YH and Hong, SG and Kim, SJ and Cho, HW and Chang, DJ and Hur, JS and Yee, ST}, title = {Atraric Acid Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells and Mouse Models.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {32992840}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Ascomycota/*chemistry ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Female ; Hydroxybenzoates/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Shock, Septic/chemically induced/*drug therapy ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Lichens, composite organisms resulting from the symbiotic association between the fungi and algae, produce a variety of secondary metabolites that exhibit pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of the secondary metabolite atraric acid produced by Heterodermia hypoleuca. The results confirmed that atraric acid could regulate induced pro-inflammatory cytokine, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, induced nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Meanwhile, atraric acid downregulated the expression of phosphorylated IκB, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signaling pathway to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Based on these results, the anti-inflammatory effect of atraric acid during LPS-induced endotoxin shock in a mouse model was confirmed. In the atraric acid treated-group, cytokine production was decreased in the peritoneum and serum, and each organ damaged by LPS-stimulation was recovered. These results indicate that atraric acid has an anti-inflammatory effect, which may be the underlying molecular mechanism involved in the inactivation of the ERK/NFκB signaling pathway, demonstrating its potential therapeutic value for treating inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid32991877, year = {2020}, author = {Xian, Y and Lv, X and Xie, M and Xiao, F and Kong, C and Ren, Y}, title = {Physiological function and regulatory signal of intestinal type 3 innate lymphoid cell(s).}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {262}, number = {}, pages = {118504}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118504}, pmid = {32991877}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Animals ; Antigen Presentation/immunology ; Cytokines/immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Secretagogues/immunology ; }, abstract = {Of the three groups of innate lymphoid cells, the type 3 innate lymphoid cell(s) (ILC3) include the subgroup of enteric ILC3 that participates in many physiological functions of the organism, such as promoting the repair of damaged mucosa, maintaining the homeostasis of gut symbiotic microorganisms, and presenting specific antigens. ILC3 also includes splenic and decidual ILC3. Like other physiological processes in the organism, enteric ILC3 functions are precisely regulated at the endogenous and exogenous levels. However, there has been no review on the physiological functions and regulatory signals of intestinal ILC3. In this paper, based on the current research on the physiological functions of enteric ILC3 in animals and the human, we summarize the signals that regulate cytokine secretion, antigen presentation and the quantity of ILC3 under normal intestinal conditions. We discuss for the first time the classification of the promoting mechanism of secretagogues of ILC3 into direct and indirect types. We also propose that ILC3 can promote intestinal homeostasis, and intestinal homeostasis can ensure the physiological phenotype of ILC3. If homeostasis is disturbed, ILC3 may participate in intestinal pathological changes. Therefore, regulating ILC3 and maintaining intestinal homeostasis are critical to the body.}, } @article {pmid32990949, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, M and Jia, N and Li, X and Liu, R and Xie, Q and Murray, JD and Downie, JA and Xie, F}, title = {CERBERUS is critical for stabilization of VAPYRIN during rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {3}, pages = {1684-1700}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16973}, pmid = {32990949}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {CERBERUS (also known as LIN) and VAPYRIN (VPY) are essential for infection of legumes by rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Medicago truncatula LIN (MtLIN) was reported to interact with MtVPY, but the significance of this interaction is unclear and the function of VPY in Lotus japonicus has not been studied. We demonstrate that CERBERUS has auto-ubiquitination activity in vitro and is localized within distinct motile puncta in L. japonicus root hairs and in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. CERBERUS colocalized with the trans-Golgi network/early endosome markers. In L. japonicus, two VPY orthologs (LjVPY1 and LjVPY2) were identified. CERBERUS interacted with and colocalized with both LjVPY1 and LjVPY2. Co-expression of CERBERUS with LjVPY1 or LjVPY2 in N. benthamiana led to increased protein levels of LjVPY1 and LjVPY2, which accumulated as mobile punctate bodies in the cytoplasm. Conversely, LjVPY2 protein levels decreased in cerberus roots after rhizobial inoculation. Mutant analysis indicates that LjVPY1 and LjVPY2 are required for rhizobial infection and colonization by AMF. Our data suggest that CERBERUS stabilizes LjVPY1 and LjVPY2 within the trans-Golgi network/early endosome, where they might function to regulate endocytic trafficking and/or the formation or recycling of signaling complexes during rhizobial and AMF symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32990642, year = {2020}, author = {Krol, E and Schäper, S and Becker, A}, title = {Cyclic di-GMP signaling controlling the free-living lifestyle of alpha-proteobacterial rhizobia.}, journal = {Biological chemistry}, volume = {401}, number = {12}, pages = {1335-1348}, doi = {10.1515/hsz-2020-0232}, pmid = {32990642}, issn = {1437-4315}, mesh = {Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous bacterial second messenger which has been associated with a motile to sessile lifestyle switch in many bacteria. Here, we review recent insights into c-di-GMP regulated processes related to environmental adaptations in alphaproteobacterial rhizobia, which are diazotrophic bacteria capable of fixing nitrogen in symbiosis with their leguminous host plants. The review centers on Sinorhizobium meliloti, which in the recent years was intensively studied for its c-di-GMP regulatory network.}, } @article {pmid32990534, year = {2021}, author = {Muddukrishnaiah, K and Akilandeswari, K and Prasad, S and Shilpa, VP}, title = {Biologically Active Antimicrobial Compounds from Marine Microorganisms (2005-2019).}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical biotechnology}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {1046-1060}, doi = {10.2174/1389201021666200929123040}, pmid = {32990534}, issn = {1873-4316}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Cross Infection/drug therapy ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Seawater ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The increase in contagious diseases like nosocomial infections, urinary tract infections, and meningitis has led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance urgently needs new antimicrobial medication with new modes of action. Some of the antibiotics present in the market have been obtained from terrestrial plants, or extracted semisynthetically from materials which can be fermented.

METHODS: Marine microorganisms account for approximately 80% of sea biomass. They are essential for the survival and well-being of aquatic habitats due to their indispensable contribution to biogeochemical cycles and biological processes. In marine ecosystems, microorganisms live as microbial communities in seawater, where symbiotic relationships are formed, and their ecological functions are fulfilled.

RESULTS: Marine microorganisms remain the largest, most diverse and most exciting source of structurally and functionally complex antimicrobial agents. They are extremely involved in their structure and functions. Enormous biological wealth lies in marine habitats. These microorganisms are potential sources of novel antimicrobial compounds to combat the most infectious diseases like nosocomial infections, and urinary tract infections.

CONCLUSION: This study deals with biologically active antimicrobial compounds taken from marine microorganism source, which was reported between the years 2005 and 2019. This review highlights their chemical groups, their bioactivities and sources. Marine microorganism exploitation techniques have also been reported by the authors.}, } @article {pmid32989245, year = {2021}, author = {Van't Padje, A and Oyarte Galvez, L and Klein, M and Hink, MA and Postma, M and Shimizu, T and Kiers, ET}, title = {Temporal tracking of quantum-dot apatite across in vitro mycorrhizal networks shows how host demand can influence fungal nutrient transfer strategies.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {435-449}, pmid = {32989245}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Apatites ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi function as conduits for underground nutrient transport. While the fungal partner is dependent on the plant host for its carbon (C) needs, the amount of nutrients that the fungus allocates to hosts can vary with context. Because fungal allocation patterns to hosts can change over time, they have historically been difficult to quantify accurately. We developed a technique to tag rock phosphorus (P) apatite with fluorescent quantum-dot (QD) nanoparticles of three different colors, allowing us to study nutrient transfer in an in vitro fungal network formed between two host roots of different ages and different P demands over a 3-week period. Using confocal microscopy and raster image correlation spectroscopy, we could distinguish between P transfer from the hyphae to the roots and P retention in the hyphae. By tracking QD-apatite from its point of origin, we found that the P demands of the younger root influenced both: (1) how the fungus distributed nutrients among different root hosts and (2) the storage patterns in the fungus itself. Our work highlights that fungal trade strategies are highly dynamic over time to local conditions, and stresses the need for precise measurements of symbiotic nutrient transfer across both space and time.}, } @article {pmid32989090, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, J and Wang, L and Yang, W and Wang, L and Fu, Q and Song, L}, title = {IgIT-Mediated Signaling Inhibits the Antimicrobial Immune Response in Oyster Hemocytes.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {205}, number = {9}, pages = {2402-2413}, doi = {10.4049/jimmunol.2000294}, pmid = {32989090}, issn = {1550-6606}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*immunology ; Crassostrea/immunology ; Hemocytes/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Immunoglobulins/*immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/immunology ; Ostreidae/*immunology ; RNA, Messenger/immunology ; Signal Transduction/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The long-term evolutionary interaction between the host and symbiotic microbes determines their cooperative relationship. It is well known that the symbiotic microbes have evolved various mechanisms to either benefit or exploit the mammalian host immune system to maintain homeostasis. However, the strategies employed by the symbiotic microbes to overcome host immune responses in invertebrates are still not clear. In the current study, the hemolymph microbes in oyster Crassostrea gigas were found to be able to directly bind an oyster Ig superfamily member (IgSF) (designated as CgIgIT) to inhibit the immune responses of hemocytes. The mRNA transcripts of CgIgIT in hemocytes increased significantly after the stimulation with hemolymph microbes. CgIgIT was found to be located on the hemocyte membrane and it was able to directly bind the hemolymph microbes and polysaccharides via its three Ig domains and recruited the protein tyrosine phosphatase CgSHP2 through its ITIM. The recruited CgSHP2 inhibited the activities of CgERK, CgP38 and CgJNK proteins to reduce the productions of dual oxidase 2 (CgDuox2) and defensin 2 (CgDef2), which eventually protected the hemolymph microbes from CgDuox2/CgDef2-mediated elimination. Collectively, the results suggest that the oyster IgIT-SHP2 signaling pathway can recognize bacteria capable of residing in oyster hemolymph and inhibit innate immune responses, which contributes to the maintenance, colonization, and survival of hemolymph microbes.}, } @article {pmid32988416, year = {2020}, author = {Brown, SP and Grillo, MA and Podowski, JC and Heath, KD}, title = {Soil origin and plant genotype structure distinct microbiome compartments in the model legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {139}, pmid = {32988416}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/anatomy & histology/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Models, Biological ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the genetic and environmental factors that structure plant microbiomes is necessary for leveraging these interactions to address critical needs in agriculture, conservation, and sustainability. Legumes, which form root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, have served as model plants for understanding the genetics and evolution of beneficial plant-microbe interactions for decades, and thus have added value as models of plant-microbiome interactions. Here we use a common garden experiment with 16S rRNA gene amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing to study the drivers of microbiome diversity and composition in three genotypes of the model legume Medicago truncatula grown in two native soil communities.

RESULTS: Bacterial diversity decreased between external (rhizosphere) and internal plant compartments (root endosphere, nodule endosphere, and leaf endosphere). Community composition was shaped by strong compartment × soil origin and compartment × plant genotype interactions, driven by significant soil origin effects in the rhizosphere and significant plant genotype effects in the root endosphere. Nevertheless, all compartments were dominated by Ensifer, the genus of rhizobia that forms root nodule symbiosis with M. truncatula, and additional shotgun metagenomic sequencing suggests that the nodulating Ensifer were not genetically distinguishable from those elsewhere in the plant. We also identify a handful of OTUs that are common in nodule tissues, which are likely colonized from the root endosphere.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate strong host filtering effects, with rhizospheres driven by soil origin and internal plant compartments driven by host genetics, and identify several key nodule-inhabiting taxa that coexist with rhizobia in the native range. Our results set the stage for future functional genetic experiments aimed at expanding our pairwise understanding of legume-rhizobium symbiosis toward a more mechanistic understanding of plant microbiomes. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid32988404, year = {2020}, author = {Freudenthal, JA and Pfaff, S and Terhoeven, N and Korte, A and Ankenbrand, MJ and Förster, F}, title = {A systematic comparison of chloroplast genome assembly tools.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {254}, pmid = {32988404}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {*Genome, Chloroplast ; Genomics/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chloroplasts are intracellular organelles that enable plants to conduct photosynthesis. They arose through the symbiotic integration of a prokaryotic cell into an eukaryotic host cell and still contain their own genomes with distinct genomic information. Plastid genomes accommodate essential genes and are regularly utilized in biotechnology or phylogenetics. Different assemblers that are able to assess the plastid genome have been developed. These assemblers often use data of whole genome sequencing experiments, which usually contain reads from the complete chloroplast genome.

RESULTS: The performance of different assembly tools has never been systematically compared. Here, we present a benchmark of seven chloroplast assembly tools, capable of succeeding in more than 60% of known real data sets. Our results show significant differences between the tested assemblers in terms of generating whole chloroplast genome sequences and computational requirements. The examination of 105 data sets from species with unknown plastid genomes leads to the assembly of 20 novel chloroplast genomes.

CONCLUSIONS: We create docker images for each tested tool that are freely available for the scientific community and ensure reproducibility of the analyses. These containers allow the analysis and screening of data sets for chloroplast genomes using standard computational infrastructure. Thus, large scale screening for chloroplasts within genomic sequencing data is feasible.}, } @article {pmid32987347, year = {2020}, author = {Li, X and Chertow, M and Guo, S and Johnson, E and Jiang, D}, title = {Estimating non-hazardous industrial waste generation by sector, location, and year in the United States: A methodological framework and case example of spent foundry sand.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {118}, number = {}, pages = {563-572}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.056}, pmid = {32987347}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {*Hazardous Waste ; Industrial Waste ; Industry ; Sand ; United States ; *Waste Management ; }, abstract = {Non-hazardous industrial waste (NHIW), primarily consisting of manufacturing process residues, has long been overlooked in waste reporting, regulation, and reuse. Limited information about NHIW generation with spatial and sectoral details has impeded the systematization of reuse efforts to move towards a resource-efficient economy. In this article, we develop a methodological framework that makes the best use of fragmented and limited observational data to infer the confidence intervals of NHIW generation by sector, location, and year across the United States. The framework decomposes the quantity of NHIW into two factors: the activity level (economic output) and the waste intensity factor (waste tonnage generated per unit of output). It statistically infers the probability distribution of the waste intensity factor and extrapolates waste tonnages to the entire country. In our demonstrative application of the method, we provide an updated estimate for spent foundry sand and find that its total amount in the United States decreased from 2.2-7.1 million tons in 2004 to 1.4-4.7 million tons in 2014. The spatial distribution, however, was highly uneven, with over 90% of the waste generated in 10% of the counties, indicating great variations in reuse potentials and benefits among regions. Our methodological framework makes a significant departure from existing estimations that usually rely on averaging limited observations or expert judgments biased by subjectivity. Detailing spatial and sectoral distributions and temporal trends in NHIW generation and reuse benefits, our study could inform more systematic strategies on waste and materials management to build a circular economy.}, } @article {pmid32987152, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, Q and Yung, WS and Wang, Z and Lam, HM}, title = {The histone modification H3K4me3 marks functional genes in soybean nodules.}, journal = {Genomics}, volume = {112}, number = {6}, pages = {5282-5294}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.09.052}, pmid = {32987152}, issn = {1089-8646}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Histone Code ; Histones/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; RNA-Seq ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation in legumes requires the development of specialized organs called root nodules. Here we characterized the high-confidence transcriptome and genome-wide patterns of H3K4me3 marks in soybean roots and mature nodules symbiotic with Sinorhizobium fredii. Changes in H3K4me3 levels were positively associated with the transcription levels of functional genes in the nodules. The up-regulation of H3K4me3 levels was not only present in leghaemoglobin and nodulin-related genes, but also in genes involved in nitrogen and carbon metabolic pathways. In addition, genes regulating the transmembrane transport of metal ions, phosphates, sulphates, peptides, and sugars were differentially modified. On the contrary, a loss of H3K4me3 marks was found in several key transcription factor genes and was correlated with the down-regulation of the defense-related network in nodules, which could contribute to nodule maintenance. All these findings demonstrate massive reprogramming of gene expressions via alterations in H3K4me3 levels in the genes in mature soybean nodules.}, } @article {pmid32985595, year = {2020}, author = {Campo, S and San Segundo, B}, title = {Systemic induction of phosphatidylinositol-based signaling in leaves of arbuscular mycorrhizal rice plants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {15896}, pmid = {32985595}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Fungi/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oryza/*metabolism/microbiology ; Phosphatidylinositols/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants form beneficial associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which improves mineral nutrition, mainly phosphorus, in the host plant in exchange for photosynthetically fixed carbon. Most of our knowledge on the AM symbiosis derives from dicotyledonous species. We show that inoculation with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae stimulates growth and increases Pi content in leaves of rice plants (O. sativa, cv Loto, ssp japonica). Although rice is a host for AM fungi, the systemic transcriptional responses to AM inoculation, and molecular mechanisms underlying AM symbiosis in rice remain largely elusive. Transcriptomic analysis identified genes systemically regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice plants, including genes with functions associated with the biosynthesis of phospholipids and non-phosphorus lipids (up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively). A coordinated regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of phospholipids and inositol polyphosphates, and genes involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling (jasmonic acid, ethylene) occurs in leaves of mycorrhizal rice. Members of gene families playing a role in phosphate starvation responses and remobilization of Pi were down-regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice. These results demonstrated that the AM symbiosis is accompanied by systemic transcriptional responses, which are potentially important to maintain a stable symbiotic relationship in rice plants.}, } @article {pmid32985530, year = {2020}, author = {Carradec, Q and Poulain, J and Boissin, E and Hume, BCC and Voolstra, CR and Ziegler, M and Engelen, S and Cruaud, C and Planes, S and Wincker, P}, title = {A framework for in situ molecular characterization of coral holobionts using nanopore sequencing.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {15893}, pmid = {32985530}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Coral Reefs ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nanopore Sequencing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Molecular characterization of the coral host and the microbial assemblages associated with it (referred to as the coral holobiont) is currently undertaken via marker gene sequencing. This requires bulky instruments and controlled laboratory conditions which are impractical for environmental experiments in remote areas. Recent advances in sequencing technologies now permit rapid sequencing in the field; however, development of specific protocols and pipelines for the effective processing of complex microbial systems are currently lacking. Here, we used a combination of 3 marker genes targeting the coral animal host, its symbiotic alga, and the associated bacterial microbiome to characterize 60 coral colonies collected and processed in situ, during the Tara Pacific expedition. We used Oxford Nanopore Technologies to sequence marker gene amplicons and developed bioinformatics pipelines to analyze nanopore reads on a laptop, obtaining results in less than 24 h. Reef scale network analysis of coral-associated bacteria reveals broadly distributed taxa, as well as host-specific associations. Protocols and tools used in this work may be applicable for rapid coral holobiont surveys, immediate adaptation of sampling strategy in the field, and to make informed and timely decisions in the context of the current challenges affecting coral reefs worldwide.}, } @article {pmid32984974, year = {2021}, author = {Banuelos, J and Martínez-Romero, E and Montaño, NM and Camargo-Ricalde, SL}, title = {Folates in legume root nodules.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {171}, number = {3}, pages = {447-452}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.13218}, pmid = {32984974}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Folic Acid ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proteomics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Folates are multifunctional metabolites in plants that are essential for cell division, nucleic acids and amino acid synthesis. During symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, these cofactors are needed for de novo purine biosynthesis, meaning that changes in the folate pools could directly affect the flow of fixed nitrogen to the plant. Its role related to symbiotic nitrogen fixation has not been yet explored, but recent data suggest a relevant role during the first steps. Transcriptomic, metabolomic and proteomic analyses indicate that folates are accumulated in symbiotic plant tissue, as they are involved, not only in de novo purines biosynthesis, but in nitrogen translocation, endoreduplication and phytohormones biosynthesis. Understanding the possible implication of folate pools during the nitrogen fixation and assimilation, might aid for new engineering targets, in relation to the two transformylations or the production of glycine by serine hydroxymethyltransferase during the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway. In this review, we intend to deliver and discuss the available evidence that support a relevant role of folates during the symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32984478, year = {2020}, author = {Hassen, AI and Pierneef, R and Swanevelder, ZH and Bopape, FL}, title = {Microbial and functional diversity of Cyclopia intermedia rhizosphere microbiome revealed by analysis of shotgun metagenomics sequence data.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {106288}, pmid = {32984478}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Cyclopia spp., commonly referred to as honeybush due to the honey scented flowers, are indigenous legumes mainly growing in the Cape Floristic Region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Dozens of species, including Cyclopia intermedia, C. subternata, C. plicata, C. genistoides are used to make the well-known, popular and widely enjoyed beverage called 'honeybush tea'. In the past, most rhizosphere microbial studies associated with Cyclopia spp. focused mainly on the taxonomy and diversity of the root nodule associated symbiotic nitrogen fixing rhizobia. The work presented here is the first report on the microbial and functional diversity of rhizosphere microbiome associated with Cyclopia intermedia. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing was performed on the rhizosphere soil sample collected from this Cyclopia sp. using illumina Hiseq 2500 platform which resulted in an α- diversity of 312 species. Analysis of the metagenome sequence using the Metagenomic analysis server (MG-RAST) indicated that bacteria constitute the dominant domain followed by Eukaryota, Archaea and other sequences derived from fungi and viruses. Functional diversity of the metagenome based on analysis using the Cluster Orthologous Group (COG) method showed metabolism as the most important function in the community. The raw sequence data is uploaded in FASTQ format on MG-RAST server with ID mgm4855911.3 which can be accessed at http://www.mg-rast.org/linkin.cgi?project=mgp90368. The data on the microbial and functional diversity of the rhizosphere community of Cyclopia intermedia generates a baseline information about the microbial ecology of this indigenous legume. The microbial profile data can also be used as indicators of soil health characteristic of the rhizosphere of this important legume.}, } @article {pmid32984355, year = {2020}, author = {Li, J and Xue, H and Ma, Q and He, X and Ma, L and Shi, B and Sun, S and Yao, X}, title = {Heterogeneity of CD4[+]CD25[+]Foxp3[+]Treg TCR β CDR3 Repertoire Based on the Differences of Symbiotic Microorganisms in the Gut of Mice.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {576445}, pmid = {32984355}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Gut microbes play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases. The diversity of intestinal microorganisms affected by the living environment, regulate the immune function of peripheral immune organs and local tissues. In the study, the diversity of intestinal microorganisms of Germ-free (GF), Specific Pathogen-free (SPF), and Clean (CL) BALB/c mice were conducted by 16S rDNA sequencing. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to analysis the composition and characterization of TCR β chain CDR3 repertoires in Regulatory T cells (Treg) in intestine and spleen of GF, SPF, and CL mice, so as to investigate the effects of differential composition of intestinal microorganisms on the CD4[+]CD25[+]Foxp3[+]Treg TCR β CDR3 repertoire of intestine and spleen. We observed that GF, SPF, and CL mice have different gut microorganism composition, and the abundance and quantity of microorganisms are positively correlated with the level of feeding environment. Interestingly, incomplete structure of spleen and small intestine in GF mice was found. Moreover, a significant difference in the usage of high frequency unique CDR3 amino acid sequences was detected in the intestinal Treg TCRβ CDR3 repertoire among GF, SPF and CL mice, and there were a greater heterogeneity in the usage frequency of TRBV, TRBJ, and TRBV-TRBJ combinations gene segments. However, the effect of different feeding environment on the mice Treg TCRβ CDR3 repertoire of spleen was weak, implying that the different composition of intestinal microbiota may primarily affect the diversity of the local Treg TCRβ CDR3 repertoire and does not alter the overall properties of the circulating immune system. These results provide basic data to further analyze the mechanism of gut microbes regulating the intestinal mucosal immune system.}, } @article {pmid32979167, year = {2020}, author = {Nivedita, and Gazara, RK and Khan, S and Iqrar, S and Ashrafi, K and Abdin, MZ}, title = {Comparative transcriptome profiling of rice colonized with beneficial endophyte, Piriformospora indica, under high salinity environment.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {47}, number = {10}, pages = {7655-7673}, doi = {10.1007/s11033-020-05839-z}, pmid = {32979167}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Oryza/*microbiology ; *Salinity ; *Salt Tolerance ; }, abstract = {The salinity stress tolerance in plants has been studied enormously, reflecting its agronomic relevance. Despite the extensive research, limited success has been achieved in relation to the plant tolerance mechanism. The beneficial interaction between Piriformospora indica and rice could essentially improve the performance of the plant during salt stress. In this study, the transcriptomic data between P. indica treated and untreated rice roots were compared under control and salt stress conditions. Overall, 661 salt-responsive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected with 161 up- and 500 down-regulated genes in all comparison groups. Gene ontology analyses indicated the DEGs were mainly enriched in "auxin-activated signaling pathway", "water channel activity", "integral component of plasma membrane", "stress responses", and "metabolic processes". Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the DEGs were primarily related to "Zeatin biosynthesis", "Fatty acid elongation", "Carotenoid biosynthesis", and "Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites". Particularly, genes related to cell wall modifying enzymes (e.g. invertase/pectin methylesterase inhibitor protein and arabinogalactans), phytohormones (e.g. Auxin-responsive Aux/IAA gene family, ent-kaurene synthase, and 12-oxophytodienoate reductase) and receptor-like kinases (e.g. AGC kinase and receptor protein kinase) were induced in P. indica colonized rice under salt stress condition. The differential expression of these genes implies that the coordination between hormonal crosstalk, signaling, and cell wall dynamics contributes to the higher growth and tolerance in P. indica-inoculated rice. Our results offer a valuable resource for future functional studies on salt-responsive genes that should improve the resilience and adaptation of rice against salt stress.}, } @article {pmid32978812, year = {2021}, author = {Shrestha, A and Zhong, S and Therrien, J and Huebert, T and Sato, S and Mun, T and Andersen, SU and Stougaard, J and Lepage, A and Niebel, A and Ross, L and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Lotus japonicus Nuclear Factor YA1, a nodule emergence stage-specific regulator of auxin signalling.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {3}, pages = {1535-1552}, pmid = {32978812}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Organogenesis of legume root nodules begins with the nodulation factor-dependent stimulation of compatible root cells to initiate divisions, signifying an early nodule primordium formation event. This is followed by cellular differentiation, including cell expansion and vascular bundle formation, and we previously showed that Lotus japonicus NF-YA1 is essential for this process, presumably by regulating three members of the SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH (STY) transcription factor gene family. In this study, we used combined genetics, genomics and cell biology approaches to characterize the role of STY genes during root nodule formation and to test a hypothesis that they mediate nodule development by stimulating auxin signalling. We show here that L. japonicus STYs are required for nodule emergence. This is attributed to the NF-YA1-dependent regulatory cascade, comprising STY genes and their downstream targets, YUCCA1 and YUCCA11, involved in a local auxin biosynthesis at the post-initial cell division stage. An analogous NF-YA1/STY regulatory module seems to operate in Medicago truncatula in association with the indeterminate nodule patterning. Our data define L. japonicus and M. truncatula NF-YA1 genes as important nodule emergence stage-specific regulators of auxin signalling while indicating that the inductive stage and subsequent formation of early nodule primordia are mediated through an independent mechanism(s).}, } @article {pmid32978315, year = {2020}, author = {Bailey, GF and Coelho, JC and Poole, AZ}, title = {Differential expression of Exaiptasia pallida GIMAP genes upon induction of apoptosis and autophagy suggests a potential role in cnidarian symbiosis and disease.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {223}, number = {Pt 21}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.229906}, pmid = {32978315}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics ; Autophagy/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida ; Ecosystem ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs, one of the world's most productive and diverse ecosystems, are currently threatened by a variety of stressors that result in increased prevalence of both bleaching and disease. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in these responses is critical to mitigate future damage to the reefs. One group of genes that is potentially involved in cnidarian immunity and symbiosis is GTPases of immunity associated proteins (GIMAP). In vertebrates, this family of proteins is involved in regulating the fate of developing lymphocytes and interacts with proteins involved in apoptosis and autophagy. As apoptosis, autophagy and immunity have previously been shown to be involved in cnidarian symbiosis and disease, the goal of this research was to determine the role of cnidarian GIMAPs in these processes using the anemone Exaiptasia pallida To do so, GIMAP genes were characterized in the E. pallida genome and changes in gene expression were measured using qPCR in response to chemical induction of apoptosis, autophagy and treatment with the immune stimulant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in both aposymbiotic and symbiotic anemones. The results revealed four GIMAP-like genes in E. pallida, referred to as Ep_GIMAPs Induction of apoptosis and autophagy resulted in a general downregulation of Ep_GIMAPs, but no significant changes were observed in response to LPS treatment. This indicates that Ep_GIMAPs may be involved in the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy, and therefore could play a role in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Overall, these results increase our knowledge on the function of GIMAPs in a basal metazoan.}, } @article {pmid32975913, year = {2020}, author = {Christensen, DG and Tepavčević, J and Visick, KL}, title = {Genetic Manipulation of Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Current protocols in microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {e115}, pmid = {32975913}, issn = {1934-8533}, support = {R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics ; Animals ; Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA, Fungal ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; *Genetic Techniques ; Plasmids ; Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri is a nonpathogenic organism related to pathogenic Vibrio species. The bacterium has been used as a model organism to study symbiosis in the context of its association with its host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes. The genetic tractability of this bacterium has facilitated the mapping of pathways that mediate interactions between these organisms. The protocols included here describe methods for genetic manipulation of V. fischeri. Following these protocols, the researcher will be able to introduce linear DNA via transformation to make chromosomal mutations, to introduce plasmid DNA via conjugation and subsequently eliminate unstable plasmids, to eliminate antibiotic resistance cassettes from the chromosome, and to randomly or specifically mutagenize V. fischeri with transposons. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Transformation of V. fischeri with linear DNA Basic Protocol 2: Plasmid transfer into V. fischeri via conjugation Support Protocol 1: Removing FRT-flanked antibiotic resistance cassettes from the V. fischeri genome Support Protocol 2: Eliminating unstable plasmids from V. fischeri Alternate Protocol 1: Introduction of exogenous DNA using a suicide plasmid Alternate Protocol 2: Site-specific transposon insertion using a suicide plasmid Alternate Protocol 3: Random transposon mutagenesis using a suicide plasmid.}, } @article {pmid32975515, year = {2020}, author = {Shropshire, JD and Leigh, B and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Symbiont-mediated cytoplasmic incompatibility: what have we learned in 50 years?.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32975515}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R01 AI143725/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AI140694/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; IOS1456778//National Science Foundation/International ; DGE144519//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/genetics/*physiology ; *Cytoplasm/genetics/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Male ; *Reproduction/genetics/physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Ubiquitins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is the most common symbiont-induced reproductive manipulation. Specifically, symbiont-induced sperm modifications cause catastrophic mitotic defects in the fertilized embryo and ensuing lethality in crosses between symbiotic males and either aposymbiotic females or females harboring a different symbiont strain. However, if the female carries the same symbiont strain, then embryos develop properly, thereby imparting a relative fitness benefit to symbiont-transmitting mothers. Thus, CI drives maternally-transmitted bacteria to high frequencies in arthropods worldwide. In the past two decades, CI experienced a boom in interest due to its (i) deployment in worldwide efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases, (ii) causation by bacteriophage genes, cifA and cifB, that modify sexual reproduction, and (iii) important impacts on arthropod speciation. This review serves as a gateway to experimental, conceptual, and quantitative themes of CI and outlines significant gaps in understanding CI's mechanism that are ripe for investigation from diverse subdisciplines in the life sciences.}, } @article {pmid32975356, year = {2020}, author = {Klinges, G and Maher, RL and Vega Thurber, RL and Muller, EM}, title = {Parasitic 'Candidatus Aquarickettsia rohweri' is a marker of disease susceptibility in Acropora cervicornis but is lost during thermal stress.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {5341-5355}, pmid = {32975356}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Disease Resistance ; Disease Susceptibility/*microbiology ; Genotype ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Hot Temperature ; Microbiota/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Holobiont phenotype results from a combination of host and symbiont genotypes as well as from prevailing environmental conditions that alter the relationships among symbiotic members. Corals exemplify this concept, where shifts in the algal symbiont community can lead to some corals becoming more or less thermally tolerant. Despite linkage between coral bleaching and disease, the roles of symbiotic bacteria in holobiont resistance and susceptibility to disease remains less well understood. This study thus characterizes the microbiome of disease-resistant and -susceptible Acropora cervicornis coral genotypes (hereafter referred to simply as 'genotypes') before and after high temperature-mediated bleaching. We found that the intracellular bacterial parasite 'Ca. Aquarickettsia rohweri' was strikingly abundant in disease-susceptible genotypes. Disease-resistant genotypes, however, had notably more diverse and even communities, with correspondingly low abundances of 'Ca. Aquarickettsia'. Bleaching caused a dramatic reduction of 'Ca. Aquarickettsia' within disease-susceptible corals and led to an increase in bacterial community dispersion, as well as the proliferation of opportunists. Our data support the hypothesis that 'Ca. Aquarickettsia' species increase coral disease risk through two mechanisms: (i) the creation of host nutritional deficiencies leading to a compromised host-symbiont state and (ii) the opening of niche space for potential pathogens during thermal stress.}, } @article {pmid32974582, year = {2020}, author = {Eydoux, L and Farrer, EC}, title = {Does salinity affect lifestyle switching in the plant pathogen Fusarium solani?.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {acmi000114}, pmid = {32974582}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes that live within plant hosts can exhibit a range in function from mutualistic to pathogenic, but the reason for this lifestyle switching remains largely unknown. Here we tested whether environmental stress, specifically salinity, is a factor that can trigger lifestyle switching in a fungus mainly known as a pathogen, Fusarium solani. F. solani was isolated from roots of Phragmites australis (common reed) in saline coastal marshes of Louisiana, USA, and we used Oryza sativa (rice) as a model organism from wetland environments to test the symbiont lifestyle. We plated rice seeds on control plates or plates with F. solani at three levels of salinity (0, 8 and 16 p.p.t.), then assessed germination and seedling growth after 20 days. Salinity strongly reduced percentage germination, slowed the timing of germination and reduced growth of rice. F. solani slowed germination, and it also caused a minor increase in root growth at medium salinity and a minor decrease in root growth at high salinity. Overall, despite being a common pathogen in other crop species (peas, beans, potatoes and many types of cucurbits), we found little evidence that F. solani has a strong pathogenic lifestyle in rice and we found weak evidence that pathogenicity may increase slightly with elevated salinity. These results have implications for both crops and native plant health in the future as soil salinization increases worldwide.}, } @article {pmid32974544, year = {2019}, author = {Nascimento, FX and Glick, BR and Rossi, MJ}, title = {Isolation and characterization of novel soil- and plant-associated bacteria with multiple phytohormone-degrading activities using a targeted methodology.}, journal = {Access microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {7}, pages = {e000053}, pmid = {32974544}, issn = {2516-8290}, abstract = {Ethylene (ET), salicylic acid (SA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are important phytohormones regulating plant growth and development, as well as plant-microbe interactions. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) naturally associate with plants and facilitate plant growth through a variety of mechanisms, including the ability to modulate the concentrations of these phytohormones in planta. Importantly, the wide presence of phytohormone degradation mechanisms amongst symbiotic and other soil- and plant-associated bacteria indicates that the ability to modulate phytohormone concentrations plays an important role in bacterial colonization and plant-growth promotion abilities. Obtaining phytohormone-degrading bacteria is therefore key for the development of novel solutions aiming to increase plant growth and protection. In this paper, we report an optimized targeted methodology and the consequent isolation of novel soil- and plant-associated bacteria, including rhizospheric, endophytic and phyllospheric strains, with the ability to degrade the phytohormones, SA and IAA, as well as the ET precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). By using an optimized targeted methodology, we rapidly isolated diverse soil- and plant-associated bacteria presenting phytohormone-degrading abilities from several plants, plant tissues and environments, without the need for prior extensive and laborious isolation and maintenance of large numbers of isolates. The developed methodology facilitates PGPB research, especially in developing countries. Here, we also report, for the first time, the isolation of bacterial strains able to concomitantly catabolize three phytohormones (SA, IAA and ACC). Ultimately, the described targeted methodology and the novel phytohormone-degrading bacteria obtained in this work may be useful tools for future plant-microbe interaction studies, and in the development of new inoculant formulations for agriculture and biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid32974256, year = {2020}, author = {Duperron, S and Halary, S and Gallet, A and Marie, B}, title = {Microbiome-Aware Ecotoxicology of Organisms: Relevance, Pitfalls, and Challenges.}, journal = {Frontiers in public health}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {407}, pmid = {32974256}, issn = {2296-2565}, mesh = {*Ecotoxicology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Over the last 15 years, the advent of high-throughput "omics" techniques has revealed the multiple roles and interactions occurring among hosts, their microbial partners and their environment. This microbiome revolution has radically changed our views of biology, evolution, and individuality. Sitting at the interface between a host and its environment, the microbiome is a relevant yet understudied compartment for ecotoxicology research. Various recent works confirm that the microbiome reacts to and interacts with contaminants, with consequences for hosts and ecosystems. In this paper, we thus advocate for the development of a "microbiome-aware ecotoxicology" of organisms. We emphasize its relevance and discuss important conceptual and technical pitfalls associated with study design and interpretation. We identify topics such as functionality, quantification, temporality, resilience, interactions, and prediction as major challenges and promising venues for microbiome research applied to ecotoxicology.}, } @article {pmid32972090, year = {2020}, author = {Tanaka, H and Sodeyama, F and Kohtsuka, H}, title = {A New Species of Ostracod (Crustacea) Associated with a Feather Star: First Report of Ostracoda from Crinoidea.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {496-503}, doi = {10.2108/zs200032}, pmid = {32972090}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Echinodermata/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We describe Obesostoma crinophilum sp. nov. (Ostracoda: Podocopida: Paradoxostomatidae) obtained from the body surface of the feather star Antedon serrata A. H. Clark, 1908 (Crinoidea: Comatulida: Antedonidae). This is the first report of Ostracoda associated with Crinoidea. None of the highly specialized appendages and/or carapace that are related to a commensal lifestyle were observed in O. crinophilum sp. nov. Therefore, the relationship between O. crinophilum sp. nov. and A. serrata must be transient rather than obligatory. However, O. crinophilum sp. nov. has a more developed hook-like distal claw on the antenna in comparison with four previously known Obesostoma species. The relatively well-developed distal claw of the antenna in O. crinophilum sp. nov. should indicate its intimate association with feather stars, though the feeding habit is still unknown.}, } @article {pmid32972080, year = {2020}, author = {Noda, T and Okude, G and Meng, XY and Koga, R and Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Bacteriocytes and Blattabacterium Endosymbionts of the German Cockroach Blattella germanica, the Forest Cockroach Blattella nipponica, and Other Cockroach Species.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {399-410}, doi = {10.2108/zs200054}, pmid = {32972080}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*physiology ; Cockroaches/*cytology/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cockroaches are commonly found in human residences and notorious as hygienic and nuisance pests. Notably, however, no more than 30 cockroach species are regarded as pests, while the majority of 4,500 cockroaches in the world are living in forest environments with little relevance to human life. Why some cockroaches have exceptionally adapted to anthropic environments and established pest status is of interest. Here we investigated the German cockroach Blattella germanica, which is a cosmopolitan pest species, and the forest cockroach Blattella nipponica, which is a wild species closely related to B. germanica. In contrast to easy rearing of B. germanica, laboratory rearing of B. nipponica was challenging-several trials enabled us to keep the insects for up to three months. We particularly focused on the distribution patterns of specialized cells, bacteriocytes, for harboring endosymbiotic Blattabacterium, which has been suggested to contribute to host's nitrogen metabolism and recycling, during the postembryonic development of the insects. The bacteriocytes were consistently localized to visceral fat bodies filling the abdominal body cavity, where a number of single bacteriocytes were scattered among the adipocytes, throughout the developmental stages in both females and males. The distribution patterns of the bacteriocytes were quite similar between B. germanica and B. nipponica, and also among other diverse cockroach species, plausibly reflecting the highly conserved cockroach-Blattabacterium symbiotic association over evolutionary time. Our study lays a foundation to experimentally investigate the origin and the processes of urban pest evolution, on account of possible involvement of microbial associates.}, } @article {pmid32972037, year = {2020}, author = {Pandya, S and Ghayvat, H and Sur, A and Awais, M and Kotecha, K and Saxena, S and Jassal, N and Pingale, G}, title = {Pollution Weather Prediction System: Smart Outdoor Pollution Monitoring and Prediction for Healthy Breathing and Living.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {20}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {32972037}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {*Air Pollution/analysis ; Bayes Theorem ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; India ; Particulate Matter/analysis ; *Weather ; }, abstract = {Air pollution has been a looming issue of the 21st century that has also significantly impacted the surrounding environment and societal health. Recently, previous studies have conducted extensive research on air pollution and air quality monitoring. Despite this, the fields of air pollution and air quality monitoring remain plagued with unsolved problems. In this study, the Pollution Weather Prediction System (PWP) is proposed to perform air pollution prediction for outdoor sites for various pollution parameters. In the presented research work, we introduced a PWP system configured with pollution-sensing units, such as SDS021, MQ07-CO, NO2-B43F, and Aeroqual Ozone (O3). These sensing units were utilized to collect and measure various pollutant levels, such as PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, and O3, for 90 days at Symbiosis International University, Pune, Maharashtra, India. The data collection was carried out between the duration of December 2019 to February 2020 during the winter. The investigation results validate the success of the presented PWP system. In the conducted experiments, linear regression and artificial neural network (ANN)-based AQI (air quality index) predictions were performed. Furthermore, the presented study also found that the customized linear regression methodology outperformed other machine-learning methods, such as linear, ridge, Lasso, Bayes, Huber, Lars, Lasso-lars, stochastic gradient descent (SGD), and ElasticNet regression methodologies, and the customized ANN regression methodology used in the conducted experiments. The overall AQI values of the air pollutants were calculated based on the summation of the AQI values of all the presented air pollutants. In the end, the web and mobile interfaces were developed to display air pollution prediction values of a variety of air pollutants.}, } @article {pmid32970846, year = {2021}, author = {Roche, MD and Pearse, IS and Bialic-Murphy, L and Kivlin, SN and Sofaer, HR and Kalisz, S}, title = {Negative effects of an allelopathic invader on AM fungal plant species drive community-level responses.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {102}, number = {1}, pages = {e03201}, pmid = {32970846}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {*Allelopathy ; Brassicaceae/*chemistry ; Introduced Species ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mechanisms causing invasive species impact are rarely empirically tested, limiting our ability to understand and predict subsequent changes in invaded plant communities. Invader disruption of native mutualistic interactions is a mechanism expected to have negative effects on native plant species. Specifically, disruption of native plant-fungal mutualisms may provide non-mycorrhizal plant invaders an advantage over mycorrhizal native plants. Invasive Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) produces secondary chemicals toxic to soil microorganisms including mycorrhizal fungi, and is known to induce physiological stress and reduce population growth rates of native forest understory plant species. Here, we report on a 11-yr manipulative field experiment in replicated forest plots testing if the effects of removal of garlic mustard on the plant community support the mutualism disruption hypothesis within the entire understory herbaceous community. We compare community responses for two functional groups: the mycorrhizal vs. the non-mycorrhizal plant communities. Our results show that garlic mustard weeding alters the community composition, decreases community evenness, and increases the abundance of understory herbs that associate with mycorrhizal fungi. Conversely, garlic mustard has no significant effects on the non-mycorrhizal plant community. Consistent with the mutualism disruption hypothesis, our results demonstrate that allelochemical producing invaders modify the plant community by disproportionately impacting mycorrhizal plant species. We also demonstrate the importance of incorporating causal mechanisms of biological invasion to elucidate patterns and predict community-level responses.}, } @article {pmid32970802, year = {2020}, author = {Li, TP and Zha, SS and Zhou, CY and Gong, JT and Zhu, YX and Zhang, X and Xi, Z and Hong, XY}, title = {Newly introduced Cardinium endosymbiont reduces microbial diversity in the rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa194}, pmid = {32970802}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; Female ; *Hemiptera ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms in invertebrates play vital roles in host ecology and evolution. Cardinium, a common intracellular symbiont, is transinfected into the important agricultural pest Nilaparvata lugens (rice brown planthopper) to regulate its reproduction, but how this impacts its microbial community is unknown. Here, we characterized the bacterial microbiota from N. lugens, with or without Cardinium, at different developmental stages and in various adult tissues using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene sequencing. Upon infection with Cardinium, we found that microbial diversity in the different developmental stages of N. lugens (especially females), and in female midguts and male testes, was lower than that in the uninfected control. There was a negative correlation between Cardinium and most related genera and between Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Although the microbial structure varied during Cardinium infection, Acinetobacter spp. were a core microbiome genus. The Cardinium infection enhanced the relative density of midgut-associated Acinetobacter spp., with both bacteria exhibiting tissue-specific tropism. In addition, this infection caused the changes of main microbial functions in N. lugens. These results offer insights into the effects of alien (i.e. newly introduced from other organism) Cardinium infection on N. lugens-associated microbiotas, aiding in the development of transinfected endosymbionts for pest control.}, } @article {pmid32970520, year = {2020}, author = {Cao, Y and Jiang, G and Li, M and Fang, X and Zhu, D and Qiu, W and Zhu, J and Yu, D and Xu, Y and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {Glutaredoxins Play an Important Role in the Redox Homeostasis and Symbiotic Capacity of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {1381-1393}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-20-0098-R}, pmid = {32970520}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics ; *Glutaredoxins/genetics/metabolism ; *Homeostasis/genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Glutaredoxin (GRX) plays an essential role in the control of the cellular redox state and related pathways in many organisms. There is limited information on GRXs from the model nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacterium Azorhizobium caulinodans. In the present work, we identified and performed functional analyses of monothiol and dithiol GRXs in A. caulinodans in the free-living state and during symbiosis with Sesbania rostrata. Our data show that monothiol GRXs may be very important for bacterial growth under normal conditions and in response to oxidative stress due to imbalance of the redox state in grx mutants of A. caulinodans. Functional redundancies were also observed within monothiol and dithiol GRXs in terms of different physiological functions. The changes in catalase activity and iron content in grx mutants were assumed to favor the maintenance of bacterial resistance against oxidants, nodulation, and N2 fixation efficiency in this bacterium. Furthermore, the monothiol GRX12 and dithiol GRX34 play a collective role in symbiotic associations between A. caulinodans and Sesbania rostrata. Our study provided systematic evidence that further investigations are required to understand the importance of glutaredoxins in A. caulinodans and other rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid32970113, year = {2020}, author = {Roret, T and Alloing, G and Girardet, JM and Perrot, T and Dhalleine, T and Couturier, J and Frendo, P and Didierjean, C and Rouhier, N}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti YrbA binds divalent metal cations using two conserved histidines.}, journal = {Bioscience reports}, volume = {40}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {32970113}, issn = {1573-4935}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Cations, Divalent/*metabolism ; Circular Dichroism ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Histidine/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Metals/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium forming symbiotic nodules with the legume Medicago truncatula. S. meliloti possesses two BolA-like proteins (BolA and YrbA), the function of which is unknown. In organisms where BolA proteins and monothiol glutaredoxins (Grxs) are present, they contribute to the regulation of iron homeostasis by bridging a [2Fe-2S] cluster into heterodimers. A role in the maturation of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) proteins is also attributed to both proteins. In the present study, we have performed a structure-function analysis of SmYrbA showing that it coordinates diverse divalent metal ions (Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) using His32 and His67 residues, that are also used for Fe-S cluster binding in BolA-Grx heterodimers. It also possesses the capacity to form heterodimers with the sole monothiol glutaredoxin (SmGrx2) present in this species. Using cellular approaches analyzing the metal tolerance of S. meliloti mutant strains inactivated in the yrbA and/or bolA genes, we provide evidence for a connection of YrbA with the regulation of iron homeostasis. The mild defects in M. truncatula nodulation reported for the yrbA bolA mutant as compared with the stronger defects in nodule development previously observed for a grx2 mutant suggest functions independent of SmGrx2. These results help in clarifying the physiological role of BolA-type proteins in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32968931, year = {2020}, author = {Herrera-Rus, I and Pastor, JE and Juan, R}, title = {Fungal colonization associated with phenological stages of a photosynthetic terrestrial temperate orchid from the Southern Iberian Peninsula.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {133}, number = {6}, pages = {807-825}, doi = {10.1007/s10265-020-01225-9}, pmid = {32968931}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota/genetics ; DNA, Fungal ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophytes, both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal, are involved in the development of the life cycle of orchids, providing potential beneficial relationships. Here, we assess the succession of changes in the diversity of fungal symbionts associated with a terrestrial temperate orchid species, Anacamptis morio subsp. champagneuxii, over three phenological stages: developed leaves but no stem elongation, flowering, and fruiting. Fungi endophyte associated with roots were obtained by culture in sterile conditions. A total of 18 morphotypes-one Mortierellomycota, two Basidiomycota and 15 Ascomycota-were differentiated, and were also characterized using PCR and DNA sequencing techniques. Only three of the 18 OTUs are shared among the three phenological stages examined: Westerdykella sp., a member of Ceratobasidiaceae, and Fusarium oxysporum, representing a relative abundance of between 28% (fruiting) to 41% (flowering). Our research confirmed that fungal symbionts varied among the different phenological stages examined, the peak of endophyte diversity appearing in the flowering stage. The availability of a diverse mycobiota seems to be important for the survival of orchid plants because it may cover particular physiological needs, and knowledge concerning this mycobiota is of special relevance in the establishment of reliable conservation programmes.}, } @article {pmid32968213, year = {2021}, author = {Nelson, C and Giraldo-Silva, A and Garcia-Pichel, F}, title = {A symbiotic nutrient exchange within the cyanosphere microbiome of the biocrust cyanobacterium, Microcoleus vaginatus.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {282-292}, pmid = {32968213}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; *Microbiota ; Nutrients ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microcoleus vaginatus plays a prominent role as both primary producer and pioneer in biocrust communities from dryland soils. And yet, it cannot fix dinitrogen, essential in often nitrogen-limited drylands. But a diazotroph-rich "cyanosphere" has been described in M. vaginatus, hinting that there exists a C for N exchange between the photoautotroph and heterotrophic diazotrophs. We provide evidence for this by establishing such a symbiosis in culture and by showing that it is selective and dependent on nitrogen availability. In natural populations, provision of nitrogen resulted in loss of diazotrophs from the cyanosphere of M. vaginatus compared to controls, but provision of phosphorus did not. Co-culturing of pedigreed cyanosphere diazotroph isolates with axenic M. vaginatus resulted in copious growth in C and N-free medium, but co-culture with non-cyanosphere diazotrophs or other heterotrophs did not. Unexpectedly, bundle formation in M. vaginatus, diacritical to the genus but not seen in axenic culture, was restored in vitro by imposed nitrogen limitation or, even more strongly, by co-culture with diazotrophic partners, implicating this trait in the symbiosis. Our findings provide direct evidence for a symbiotic relationship between M. vaginatus and its cyanosphere and help explain how it can be a global pioneer in spite of its genetic shortcomings.}, } @article {pmid32968175, year = {2020}, author = {Shao, M and Sun, C and Liu, X and Wang, X and Li, W and Wei, X and Li, Q and Ju, J}, title = {Upregulation of a marine fungal biosynthetic gene cluster by an endobacterial symbiont.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {527}, pmid = {32968175}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Alcaligenes faecalis/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms/*genetics ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multigene Family/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Fungal-bacterial associations are present in nature, playing important roles in ecological, evolutionary and medicinal processes. Here we report a fungus-bacterial symbiont from marine sediment. The bacterium lives inside the fungal mycelium yet is robust enough to survive independent of its host; the independently grown bacterium can infect the fungal host in vitro and continue to grow progenitively. The bacterial symbiont modulates the fungal host to biosynthesize a polyketide antimicrobial, spiromarmycin. Spiromarmycin appears to endow upon the symbiont pair a protective/defensive means of warding off competitor organisms, be they prokaryotic or eukaryotic microorganisms. Genomic analyses revealed the spiromarmycin biosynthetic machinery to be encoded, not by the bacterium, but rather the fungal host. This unique fungal-bacterial symbiotic relationship and the molecule/s resulting from it dramatically expand our knowledge of marine microbial diversity and shed important insights into endosymbionts and fungal-bacterial relationships.}, } @article {pmid32966595, year = {2021}, author = {Ho-Plágaro, T and Morcillo, RJL and Tamayo-Navarrete, MI and Huertas, R and Molinero-Rosales, N and López-Ráez, JA and Macho, AP and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {DLK2 regulates arbuscule hyphal branching during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {1}, pages = {548-562}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16938}, pmid = {32966595}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {D14 and KAI2 receptors enable plants to distinguish between strigolactones (SLs) and karrikins (KARs), respectively, in order to trigger appropriate environmental and developmental responses. Both receptors are related to the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) formation and are members of the RsbQ-like family of α,β-hydrolases. DLK2 proteins, whose function remains unknown, constitute a third clade from the RsbQ-like protein family. We investigated whether the tomato SlDLK2 is a new regulatory component in the AM symbiosis. Genetic approaches were conducted to analyze SlDLK2 expression and to understand SlDLK2 function in AM symbiosis. We show that SlDLK2 expression in roots is AM-dependent and is associated with cells containing arbuscules. SlDLK2 ectopic expression arrests arbuscule branching and downregulates AM-responsive genes, even in the absence of symbiosis; while the opposite effect was observed upon SlDLK2 silencing. Moreover, SlDLK2 overexpression in Medicago truncatula roots showed the same altered phenotype observed in tomato roots. Interestingly, SlDLK2 interacts with DELLA, a protein that regulates arbuscule formation/degradation in AM roots. We propose that SlDLK2 is a new component of the complex plant-mediated mechanism regulating the life cycle of arbuscules in AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32965531, year = {2020}, author = {Adedeji, AA and Babalola, OO}, title = {Secondary metabolites as plant defensive strategy: a large role for small molecules in the near root region.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {252}, number = {4}, pages = {61}, doi = {10.1007/s00425-020-03468-1}, pmid = {32965531}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/chemistry/microbiology/parasitology ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The roles of plant roots are not merely limited to the provision of mechanical support, nutrients and water, but also include more specific roles, such as the capacity to secrete diverse chemical substances. These metabolites are actively secreted in the near root and play specific and significant functions in plant defense and communication. In this review, we detail the various preventive roles of these powerful substances in the rhizosphere with a perspective as to how plants recruit microbes as a preventive measure against other pathogenic microbes, also, briefly about how the rhizosphere can repel insect pests, and how these chemical substances alter microbial dynamics and enhance symbiotic relationships. We also highlight the need for more research in this area to detail the mode of action and quantification of these compounds in the environment and their roles in some important biological processes in microorganisms and plants.}, } @article {pmid32963970, year = {2020}, author = {Khalifeh, S and Esmaili, K and Khodashenas, SR and Khalifeh, V}, title = {Estimation of nonlinear parameters of the type 5 Muskingum model using SOS algorithm.}, journal = {MethodsX}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {101040}, pmid = {32963970}, issn = {2215-0161}, abstract = {The Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm (SOS) is used as an algorithm based on the social behavior of Symbiotic Organisms in optimization of Non-linear 5 model parameters for flood routing. The data used in this article is 4 day observations from 30 November 2008 to 3 December 2008, which is located between the Molasani, and Ahwaz station on the Karun River. The time series data used included river inflow, storage volume, and river outflow. The results of the developed model with the Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm (SOS) were compared with the other Evolutionary algorithms including Genetic Algorithm (GA, and Harmony Search Algorithm (HS). The analysis showed that the best solutions achieved from the objective function by the SOS, GA, and HS algorithms were 143052.02, 143252.35, and 142952.45, respectively. The processes of these datasets determined that the SOS algorithm was premiere to GA, and HS algorithms on the optimal flood routing river problem.•In this article applied the Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm for Estimation of nonlinear parameters of the Muskingum hydrologic model of the Karun River located in Iran.•This method can be useful for managers of water, and wastewater companies, water resource facilities for predicting the flood process downstream of the rivers.•The present algorithm performs better than the other algorithms in the discussion of the optimization of Nonlinear 5 parameters of Muskingum model in flood routing.}, } @article {pmid32961808, year = {2020}, author = {Salcedo-Porras, N and Umaña-Diaz, C and Bitencourt, ROB and Lowenberger, C}, title = {The Role of Bacterial Symbionts in Triatomines: An Evolutionary Perspective.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32961808}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Insects have established mutualistic symbiotic interactions with microorganisms that are beneficial to both host and symbiont. Many insects have exploited these symbioses to diversify and expand their ecological ranges. In the Hemiptera (i.e., aphids, cicadas, and true bugs), symbioses have established and evolved with obligatory essential microorganisms (primary symbionts) and with facultative beneficial symbionts (secondary symbionts). Primary symbionts are usually intracellular microorganisms found in insects with specialized diets such as obligate hematophagy or phytophagy. Most Heteroptera (true bugs), however, have gastrointestinal (GI) tract extracellular symbionts with functions analogous to primary endosymbionts. The triatomines, are vectors of the human parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. A description of their small GI tract microbiota richness was based on a few culturable microorganisms first described almost a century ago. A growing literature describes more complex interactions between triatomines and bacteria with properties characteristic of both primary and secondary symbionts. In this review, we provide an evolutionary perspective of beneficial symbioses in the Hemiptera, illustrating the context that may drive the evolution of symbioses in triatomines. We highlight the diversity of the triatomine microbiota, bacterial taxa with potential to be beneficial symbionts, the unique characteristics of triatomine-bacteria symbioses, and the interactions among trypanosomes, microbiota, and triatomines.}, } @article {pmid32961677, year = {2020}, author = {Wilker, J and Humphries, S and Rosas-Sotomayor, JC and Cerna, MG and Torkamaneh, D and Edwards, M and Navabi, A and Pauls, KP}, title = {Genetic Diversity, Nitrogen Fixation, and Water Use Efficiency in a Panel of Honduran Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces and Modern Genotypes.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32961677}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) provides critical nutrition and a livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers worldwide. Beans engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with Rhizobia. Honduran hillside farmers farm marginal land and utilize few production inputs; therefore, bean varieties with high SNF capacity and environmental resiliency would be of benefit to them. We explored the diversity for SNF, agronomic traits, and water use efficiency (WUE) among 70 Honduran landrace, participatory bred (PPB), and conventionally bred bean varieties (HON panel) and 6 North American check varieties in 3 low-N field trials in Ontario, Canada and Honduras. Genetic diversity was measured with a 6K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and phenotyping for agronomic, SNF, and WUE traits was carried out. STRUCTURE analysis revealed two subpopulations with admixture between the subpopulations. Nucleotide diversity was greater in the landraces than the PPB varieties across the genome, and multiple genomic regions were identified where population genetic differentiation between the landraces and PPB varieties was evident. Significant differences were found between varieties and breeding categories for agronomic traits, SNF, and WUE. Landraces had above average SNF capacity, conventional varieties showed higher yields, and PPB varieties performed well for WUE. Varieties with the best SNF capacity could be used in further participatory breeding efforts.}, } @article {pmid32961487, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, YH and Gu, CX and Li, GZ and Han, AH and Hao, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus-mediated amelioration of NO2-induced phytotoxicity in tomato.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {111350}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111350}, pmid = {32961487}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen Dioxide/*toxicity ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) negatively affects plant (crop) growth and development, as well the yield and quality in some regions or environments. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF)-mediated amelioration of NO2-induced plant damage has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. This study explored the beneficial effect of AMF symbiosis on tomato plant responses to NO2 at physiology, biochemistry, and gene expression, with an emphasis on nitrate metabolism, antioxidative defense, and photosynthetic performance. Pot-grown plants were used in the experiments, which were performed in laboratory from February to November 2019. NO2 fumigation with a dose of 10 ± 1 ppm was carried out after 50 d of plant growth, and data were collected following 8 h of fumigation. NO2 fumigation (+NO2) and AMF inoculation (+AMF), alone and especially in combination (NO2 + AMF), increased the gene expression of nitrate- and nitrite reductase, and their enzymatic activity in leaves, such as by 61%, 27%, and 126% for the activity of nitrate reductase, and by 95%, 37%, and 188% for nitrite reductase, respectively, in +NO2, +AMF, and AMF + NO2 plants relative the control (-NO2, -AMF) levels. Following NO2 exposure, +AMF leaves displayed stronger activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase, and higher content of glutathione and ratio of its reduced form to oxidized form, as compared with -AMF ones. Correspondingly, lesser oxidative damage was detected in +AMF than in -AMF plants, as indicated by the contents of H2O2 and malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage, also by in situ visualization for the formation of H2O2, superoxide anion, and dead cells. The increased antioxidative capacity in +AMF plants was correlated with enhanced expression of antioxidation-related genes. Exposure to NO2 substantially impaired photosynthetic processes in both + AMF and -AMF plants, but an obvious mitigation was observed in the former than in the latter. For example, the total chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity were 18%, 27%, 26%, and 40% higher, respectively, in +AMF than in -AMF plants under NO2 stress. The differential photosynthetic performance was also revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. We analyzed the expression patterns of some genes related to photosynthesis and carbon metabolisms, and found that all of them exclusively presented a higher expression level in +AMF plants relative to -AMF ones under NO2 stress. Taken together, this study provided evidence that AMF symbiosis played a positively regulatory role in host plant responses to NO2, probably by increasing leaf nitrate metabolism and antioxidative defense, and maintaining the photosynthetic efficiency to some extent, wherein the transcription regulation might be a main target.}, } @article {pmid32958525, year = {2020}, author = {Pinto, D and Trink, A and Sorbellini, E and Giuliani, G and Rinaldi, F}, title = {'Omics' approaches for studying the microbiome in Alopecia areata.}, journal = {Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research}, volume = {68}, number = {7}, pages = {1292-1294}, pmid = {32958525}, issn = {1708-8267}, mesh = {Alopecia Areata/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genomics ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Scalp/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Nowadays, the involvement of the microbiome in human health and many human diseases, including that strictly related to the scalphas been brought to the light. Indeed, more recently, authors highlighted the presence of a significant microbial shift both in nonscarring (Androgenetic alopecia and Alopecia areata) and scarring Alopecias. The advent of novel technologies together with the effort of many scientists in the microbiome field could provide in the nearest future a clearest framework about the strict relationship between human healthiness and symbiotic microorganism resident on different ecosystem of our body. In this view, the use of Omics approaches has to be considered as no longer negligible when studying the microbiome implication in human health and disease.}, } @article {pmid32957914, year = {2020}, author = {Dang, H and Zhang, T and Li, G and Mu, Y and Lv, X and Wang, Z and Zhuang, L}, title = {Root-associated endophytic bacterial community composition and structure of three medicinal licorices and their changes with the growing year.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {291}, pmid = {32957914}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ammonia/pharmacology ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes/physiology ; Firmicutes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Flavanones/biosynthesis/isolation & purification ; Flavonoids/*biosynthesis/classification/isolation & purification ; Glucosides/biosynthesis/isolation & purification ; Glycyrrhiza/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/drug effects/genetics ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Rhizome/metabolism/*microbiology ; Seasons ; Secondary Metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The dried roots and rhizomes of medicinal licorices are widely used worldwide as a traditional medicinal herb, which are mainly attributed to a variety of bioactive compounds that can be extracted from licorice root. Endophytes and plants form a symbiotic relationship, which is an important source of host secondary metabolites.

RESULTS: In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing technology and high-performance liquid chromatography to explore the composition and structure of the endophytic bacterial community and the content of bioactive compounds (glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin and total flavonoids) in different species of medicinal licorices (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Glycyrrhiza inflata) and in different planting years (1-3 years). Our results showed that the contents of the bioactive compounds in the roots of medicinal licorices were not affected by the species, but were significantly affected by the main effect growing year (1-3) (P < 0.05), and with a trend of stable increase in the contents observed with each growing year. In 27 samples, a total of 1,979,531 effective sequences were obtained after quality control, and 2432 effective operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained at 97% identity. The phylum Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and the genera unified-Rhizobiaceae, Pseudomonas, Novosphingobium, and Pantoea were significantly dominant in the 27 samples. Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) showed that the content of total flavonoids explained the differences in composition and distribution of endophytic bacterial communities in roots of cultivated medicinal liquorices to the greatest extent. Total soil salt was the most important factor that significantly affected the endophytic bacterial community in soil factors, followed by ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Among the leaf nutrition factors, leaf water content had the most significant effect on the endophytic bacterial community, followed by total phosphorus and total potassium.

CONCLUSIONS: This study not only provides information on the composition and distribution of endophytic bacteria in the roots of medicinal licorices, but also reveals the influence of abiotic factors on the community of endophytic bacteria and bioactive compounds, which provides a reference for improving the quality of licorice.}, } @article {pmid32956757, year = {2021}, author = {Lin, YE and Wang, HL and Lu, KH and Huang, YJ and Panyod, S and Liu, WT and Yang, SH and Chen, MH and Lu, YS and Sheen, LY}, title = {Water extract of Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. Alleviates the depression-like behaviors in acute- and chronic mild stress-induced rodent models via anti-inflammatory action.}, journal = {Journal of ethnopharmacology}, volume = {265}, number = {}, pages = {113395}, doi = {10.1016/j.jep.2020.113395}, pmid = {32956757}, issn = {1872-7573}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Antidepressive Agents/administration & dosage/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Armillaria/*chemistry ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; Depression/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Inflammation/drug therapy/pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin/metabolism ; Stress, Psychological/drug therapy/physiopathology ; Swimming ; Water ; }, abstract = {ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. (AM) is an edible mushroom that has been reported as treatment for several neurological disorders, such as dizziness and epilepsy in Asia. Importantly, AM shares a symbiotic relationship with Gastrodia elata Blume (GE), a medicinal herb with antidepressant-like properties. Researchers believe that AM may possess pharmacological properties similar to GE due to their symbiosis, however, few studies have investigated the pharmacological effect of AM.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to explore the potential of AM as an antidepressant in forced-swimming test (FST) and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) rodent models and investigate its possible underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were orally administrated with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight (bw) water extract of AM (WAM) for 28 and 35 consecutive days prior to the FST and UCMS protocols, respectively. The cerebral serotonin (5-HT) and the metabolites in the frontal cortex of rats were measured. The brain was dissected and the blood was collected to investigate the levels of inflammatory-related signaling pathway.

RESULTS: All doses of WAM reduced the immobility time in the FST without disturbing autonomic locomotion. All doses of WAM prevented stress-induced abnormal behaviors in the UCMS model, including decreased sucrose preference and hypoactivity. 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw WAM attenuated the stress-induced increases in IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum and cerebrum. 1000 mg/kg bw WAM alleviated brain inflammation by reducing the protein expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1.

CONCLUSION: WAM exhibited acute and chronic antidepressant-like effects, and may result from the anti-inflammatory actions. Therefore, the development of AM as a dietary therapy or adjuvant for depression treatment should be considered.}, } @article {pmid32956455, year = {2021}, author = {Ip, JC and Xu, T and Sun, J and Li, R and Chen, C and Lan, Y and Han, Z and Zhang, H and Wei, J and Wang, H and Tao, J and Cai, Z and Qian, PY and Qiu, JW}, title = {Host-Endosymbiont Genome Integration in a Deep-Sea Chemosymbiotic Clam.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {502-518}, pmid = {32956455}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {EP-C-18-007/EPA/EPA/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/physiology ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/genetics ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Immune System ; Phylogeny ; Piscirickettsiaceae/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria has enabled many deep-sea invertebrates to thrive at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, but most previous studies on this mutualism have focused on the bacteria only. Vesicomyid clams dominate global deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. They differ from most deep-sea symbiotic animals in passing their symbionts from parent to offspring, enabling intricate coevolution between the host and the symbiont. Here, we sequenced the genomes of the clam Archivesica marissinica (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae) and its bacterial symbiont to understand the genomic/metabolic integration behind this symbiosis. At 1.52 Gb, the clam genome encodes 28 genes horizontally transferred from bacteria, a large number of pseudogenes and transposable elements whose massive expansion corresponded to the timing of the rise and subsequent divergence of symbiont-bearing vesicomyids. The genome exhibits gene family expansion in cellular processes that likely facilitate chemoautotrophy, including gas delivery to support energy and carbon production, metabolite exchange with the symbiont, and regulation of the bacteriocyte population. Contraction in cellulase genes is likely adaptive to the shift from phytoplankton-derived to bacteria-based food. It also shows contraction in bacterial recognition gene families, indicative of suppressed immune response to the endosymbiont. The gammaproteobacterium endosymbiont has a reduced genome of 1.03 Mb but retains complete pathways for sulfur oxidation, carbon fixation, and biosynthesis of 20 common amino acids, indicating the host's high dependence on the symbiont for nutrition. Overall, the host-symbiont genomes show not only tight metabolic complementarity but also distinct signatures of coevolution allowing the vesicomyids to thrive in chemosynthesis-based ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32956411, year = {2020}, author = {Spahr, E and Kasson, MT and Kijimoto, T}, title = {Micro-computed tomography permits enhanced visualization of mycangia across development and between sexes in Euwallacea ambrosia beetles.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e0236653}, pmid = {32956411}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Female ; Larva/anatomy & histology/growth & development/ultrastructure ; Male ; Pupa/anatomy & histology/growth & development/ultrastructure ; Sex Characteristics ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis can facilitate the development of specialized organs in the host body to maintain relationships with beneficial microorganisms. To understand the developmental and genetic mechanisms by which such organs develop, it is critical to first investigate the morphology and developmental timing of these structures during the onset of host development. We utilized micro-computed tomography (μCT) to describe the morphology and development of mycangia, a specialized organ, in the Asian ambrosia beetle species Euwallacea validus which maintains a mutualistic relationship with the Ascomycete fungus, Fusarium oligoseptatum. We scanned animals in larval, pupal and adult life stages and identified that mycangia develop during the late pupal stage. Here we reconcile preliminary evidence and provide additional morphological data for a second paired set of structures, including the superior, medial mycangia and an inferior, lateral pair of pouch-like structures, in both late-stage pupae and adult female beetles. Furthermore, we report the possible development of rudimentary, or partially developed pairs of medial mycangia in adult male beetles which has never been reported for any male Xyleborini. Our results illustrate the validity of μCT in observing soft tissues and the complex nature of mycangia morphology and development.}, } @article {pmid32953252, year = {2020}, author = {Kang, Z and Zou, J and Huang, Y and Zhang, X and Ye, L and Zhang, B and Zhang, X and Li, X}, title = {Tuber melanosporum shapes nirS-type denitrifying and ammonia-oxidizing bacterial communities in Carya illinoinensis ectomycorrhizosphere soils.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9457}, pmid = {32953252}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: NirS-type denitrifying bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) play a key role in the soil nitrogen cycle, which may affect the growth and development of underground truffles. We aimed to investigate nirS-type denitrifying bacterial and AOB community structures in the rhizosphere soils of Carya illinoinensis seedlings inoculated with the black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) during the early symbiotic stage.

METHODS: The C. illinoinensis seedlings inoculated with or without T. melanosporum were cultivated in a greenhouse for six months. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology was used to analyze nirS-type denitrifying bacterial and AOB community structures in the rhizosphere soils of these seedlings. Additionally, the soil properties were determined.

RESULTS: The results indicated that the abundance and diversity of AOB were significantly reduced due to the inoculation of T. melanosporum, while these of nirS-type denitrifying bacteria increased significantly. Proteobacteria were the dominant bacterial groups, and Rhodanobacter, Pseudomonas, Nitrosospira and Nitrosomonas were the dominant classified bacterial genera in all the soil samples. Pseudomonas was the most abundant classified nirS-type denitrifying bacterial genus in ectomycorrhizosphere soils whose relative abundance could significantly increase after T. melanosporum inoculation. A large number of unclassified nirS-type denitrifying bacteria and AOB were observed. Moreover, T. melanosporum inoculation had little effect on the pH, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 - -N) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH 4 + -N) contents in ectomycorrhizosphere soils. Overall, our results showed that nirS-type denitrifying bacterial and AOB communities in C. illinoinensis rhizosphere soils were significantly affected by T. melanosporum on the initial stage of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, without obvious variation of soil N contents.}, } @article {pmid32953071, year = {2020}, author = {Griffin, LH and Reed, LK}, title = {Effect of gut microbiota on α-amanitin tolerance in Drosophila tripunctata.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {17}, pages = {9419-9427}, pmid = {32953071}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The bacterial gut microbiota of many animals is known to be important for many physiological functions including detoxification. The selective pressures imposed on insects by exposure to toxins may also be selective pressures on their symbiotic bacteria, who thus may contribute to the mechanism of toxin tolerance for the insect. Amatoxins are a class of cyclopeptide mushroom toxins that primarily act by binding to RNA polymerase II and inhibiting transcription. Several species of mycophagous Drosophila are tolerant to amatoxins found in mushrooms of the genus Amanita, despite these toxins being lethal to most other known eukaryotes. These species can tolerate amatoxins in natural concentrations to utilize toxic mushrooms as larval hosts, but the mechanism by which these species are tolerant remains unknown. Previous data have shown that a local population of D. tripunctata exhibits significant genetic variation in toxin tolerance. This study assesses the potential role of the microbiome in α-amanitin tolerance in six wild-derived strains of Drosophila tripunctata. Normal and antibiotic-treated samples of six strains were reared on diets with and without α-amanitin, and then scored for survival from the larval stage to adulthood and for development time to pupation. Our results show that a substantial reduction in bacterial load does not influence toxin tolerance in this system, while confirming genotype and toxin-specific effects on survival are independent of the microbiome composition. Thus, we conclude that this adaptation to exploit toxic mushrooms as a host is likely intrinsic to the fly's genome and not a property of their microbiome.}, } @article {pmid32950909, year = {2020}, author = {Anderson, K and Blair, A}, title = {Why we need to care about the care: A longitudinal study linking the quality of residential dementia care to residents' quality of life.}, journal = {Archives of gerontology and geriatrics}, volume = {91}, number = {}, pages = {104226}, doi = {10.1016/j.archger.2020.104226}, pmid = {32950909}, issn = {1872-6976}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Residential dementia care staff are often the most important people in a resident's social world. It is a symbiotic relationship and the work can involve highly emotional interactions as well as physical and technical demands. This study focused on narrowing down the most useful targets for intervention in quality of care (QOC) in order to improve quality of life (QOL) for people with dementia in residential care.

METHOD: Over six months we followed: 247 older adults with dementia from 12 residential care facilities, their families/care partners (n = 225), managers (n = 12) and staff (n = 232). Facilities ranged from 10 to 137 beds, located across remote, rural and metropolitan areas.

MEASURES: Staff surveys, family member and resident interviews, resident file audits, live resident and staff observations and organisational audits.

RESULTS: The QOC provided had an immediate impact on resident's pain, depression, QOL scale score, Body Mass Index, ease/engagement with staff, and food and fluid intake. This influence was still evident six months later, with baseline QOC leading to improved ease and engagement with staff, QOL scores, and fluid intake. Restraint use featured heavily as a predictor of poor outcomes for residents. QOC did not significantly impact agitated behaviours, frailty, nor physical/verbal expressions of well-being.

CONCLUSIONS: What staff do and the way they do it has a real and lasting impact on the QOL of residents. The most useful targets for improving QOL are: eradicating physical restraint and supporting and upskilling care staff so that they treat and interact empathetically and humanely with residents.}, } @article {pmid32949007, year = {2021}, author = {Shastry, RP and Rekha, PD}, title = {Bacterial cross talk with gut microbiome and its implications: a short review.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {15-24}, pmid = {32949007}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Immunomodulation ; Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Human gut microbiota exists in a complicated symbiotic relationship which postulates to impact health and disease conditions on the host. Interestingly, the gut microbiome shows different mechanisms to regulate host physiology and metabolism including cell-to-cell communications. But microbiota imbalance is characterized to change in the host normal functioning and lead to the development and progression of major human diseases. Therefore, the direct cross talk through the microbial metabolites or peptides suggests the evidence of host health and disease. Recent reports highlight the adaptation signals/small molecules promoting microbial colonization which allows modulating immunity of host and leads to pathogen colonization. Moreover, quorum sensing peptides are also evident in the involvement of host disease conditions. Here, we review the current understanding of the gut microbiota cross talk with mammalian cells through metabolites and peptides. These studies are providing insight into the prediction of signature molecules which significantly provide information for the understanding of the interaction for precision medicine applications.}, } @article {pmid32948820, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Y and Williams, M and Harvey, THP and Wei, F and Zhao, Y and Guo, J and Gabbott, S and Fletcher, T and Hou, X and Cong, P}, title = {Symbiotic fouling of Vetulicola, an early Cambrian nektonic animal.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {517}, pmid = {32948820}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Biota/genetics/*physiology ; China/epidemiology ; Ecosystem ; Fossils ; Paleontology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Here, we report the earliest fossil record to our knowledge of surface fouling by aggregates of small vermiform, encrusting and annulated tubular organisms associated with a mobile, nektonic host, the enigmatic Cambrian animal Vetulicola. Our material is from the exceptionally preserved early Cambrian (Epoch 2, Age 3), Chengjiang biota of Yunnan Province, southwest China, a circa 518 million-year old marine deposit. Our data show that symbiotic fouling relationships between species formed a component of the diversification of animal-rich ecosystems near the beginning of the Phanerozoic Eon, suggesting an early escalation of intimate ecologies as part of the Cambrian animal radiation.}, } @article {pmid32947777, year = {2020}, author = {Cantamessa, S and Massa, N and Gamalero, E and Berta, G}, title = {Phytoremediation of a Highly Arsenic Polluted Site, Using Pteris vittata L. and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32947777}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Phytoremediation is a promising green technique for the restoration of a polluted environment, but there is often a gap between lab and field experiments. The fern, Pteris vittata L., can tolerate a high soil arsenic concentration and rapidly accumulate the metalloid in its fronds. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are mutualistic fungi that form a symbiosis with most land plants' roots, improve their growth, and induce stress tolerance. This paper reports the results obtained using P. vittata inoculated with AMF, to extract Arsenic (As) from an industrial site highly contaminated also by other pollutants. Two experiments have been performed. In the first one, AMF colonized ferns were grown for two years under controlled conditions in soil coming from the metallurgic site. Positive effects on plant health and As phytoextraction and accumulation were detected. Then, considering these results, we performed a three year in situ experiment in the industrial site, to assess the remediation of As at two different depths. Our results show that the colonization of P. vittata with AMF improved the remediation process of As with a significant impact on the depth 0-0.2 m.}, } @article {pmid32947656, year = {2020}, author = {Kullu, B and Patra, DK and Acharya, S and Pradhan, C and Patra, HK}, title = {AM fungi mediated bioaccumulation of hexavalent chromium in Brachiaria mutica-a mycorrhizal phytoremediation approach.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {258}, number = {}, pages = {127337}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127337}, pmid = {32947656}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Bioaccumulation ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Brachiaria/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chromium/analysis/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plants/metabolism ; Poaceae/metabolism ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The experiment was designed to evaluate the roles of Rhizophagus irregularis on chlorophyll fluorescence and chromium bioaccumulation in a grass species (Brachiaria mutica) by supplementing Cr[+6] at different concentrations. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) association facilitated lessening of chromium level in contaminated soil and enhanced chromium bioavailability in Brachiaria mutica. The mycorrhizal inoculated increased the chlorophyll (0.925 mg/g), carotenoid (0.127 mg/g), protein (2.883 mg/g), proline (0.889 mg/g) contents and activities of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase. The mycorrhizal inoculated plants also showed enhanced overall photosynthetic performance (PIϕ = 2.473) and enhanced PS-II to PS-I electron transport as evident from yield parameter (0.712) and TR0/RC (2.419) for 60 mg/kg Cr[+6] treatment. The observations suggest that AMF association could defend the plants from chromium stress by elevating the number of antioxidants in plants. Rhizophagus irregularis was found to maintain a successful symbiotic relationship with Brachiaria mutica in chromium contaminated soil. The observations recommended that Rhizophagus irregularis in association with Brachiaria mutica would be an innovative approach for decontamination of Cr[+6].}, } @article {pmid32944788, year = {2021}, author = {Li, Z and Wang, X and Di, D and Pan, R and Gao, Y and Xiao, C and Li, B and Wei, J and Liu, K and Qiu, Y and Ma, Z}, title = {Comparative analysis of the pulmonary microbiome in healthy and diseased pigs.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {296}, number = {1}, pages = {21-31}, pmid = {32944788}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {Animals ; Bordetella/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Enterococcus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Haemophilus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lactobacillus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Lactococcus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Lung/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Pasteurella/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Respiratory Tract Infections/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Streptococcus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Swine/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The lungs possess an effective antimicrobial system and a strong ability to eliminate microorganisms in healthy organisms, and were once considered sterile. With the development of culture-independent sequencing technology, the richness and diversity of porcine lung microbiota have been gaining attention. In order to study the relationship between lung microbiota and porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), the lung microbiota in healthy and diseased swine bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were analyzed and compared using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. The predominant microbial communities of healthy and diseased swine were similar at the phylum level, mainly composed of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Tenericutes, and Bacteroidetes. However, the bacterial taxonomic communities of healthy and diseased swine differed at the genus level. The higher relative abundances of Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus genera in healthy swine might provide more benefits for lung health, while the enhanced richness of Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Pasteurella, and Bordetella genera in diseased swine might be closely related to pathogen invasion and the occurrence of respiratory disease. In conclusion, the observed differences in the richness and diversity of lung microbiota can provide novel insights into their relationship with PRDC. Analyses of swine lung microbiota communities might produce an effective strategy for the control and prevention of respiratory tract infections.}, } @article {pmid32944158, year = {2020}, author = {Kin, LX and Butler, CA and Slakeski, N and Hoffmann, B and Dashper, SG and Reynolds, EC}, title = {Metabolic cooperativity between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {1808750}, pmid = {32944158}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola are proteolytic periodontopathogens that co-localize in polymicrobial subgingival plaque biofilms, display in vitro growth symbiosis and synergistic virulence in animal models of disease. These symbioses are underpinned by a range of metabolic interactions including cooperative hydrolysis of glycine-containing peptides to produce free glycine, which T. denticola uses as a major energy and carbon source.

OBJECTIVE:  To characterize the P. gingivalis gene products essential for these interactions. Methods: The P. gingivalis transcriptome exposed to cell-free T. denticola conditioned medium was determined using RNA-seq. P. gingivalis proteases potentially involved in hydrolysis of glycine-containing peptides were identified using a bioinformatics approach.

RESULTS:  One hundred and thirty-twogenes displayed differential expression, with the pattern of gene expression consistent with succinate cross-feeding from T. denticola to P. gingivalis and metabolic shifts in the P. gingivalis folate-mediated one carbon superpathway. Interestingly, no P. gingivalis proteases were significantly up-regulated. Three P. gingivalis proteases were identified as candidates and inactivated to determine their role in the release of free glycine. P. gingivalis PG0753 and PG1788 but not PG1605 are involved in the hydrolysis of glycine-containing peptides, making free glycine available for T. denticola utilization.

CONCLUSION:  Collectively these metabolic interactions help to partition resources and engage synergistic interactions between these two species.}, } @article {pmid32942912, year = {2020}, author = {Tichá, M and Illésová, P and Hrbáčková, M and Basheer, J and Novák, D and Hlaváčková, K and Šamajová, O and Niehaus, K and Ovečka, M and Šamaj, J}, title = {Tissue culture, genetic transformation, interaction with beneficial microbes, and modern bio-imaging techniques in alfalfa research.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {8}, pages = {1265-1280}, doi = {10.1080/07388551.2020.1814689}, pmid = {32942912}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {Biotechnology/*methods ; Electroporation ; Medicago sativa/genetics ; Microbiota ; Microscopy/*methods ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics ; Symbolism ; Tissue Culture Techniques/*methods ; *Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Current research needs to be more focused on agronomical plants to effectively utilize the knowledge obtained from model plant species. Efforts to improve legumes have long employed common breeding tools. Recently, biotechnological approaches facilitated the development of improved legumes with new traits, allowing them to withstand climatic changes and biotic stress. Owing to its multiple uses and profits, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has become a prominent forage crop worldwide. This review provides a comprehensive research summary of tissue culture-based genetic transformation methods, which could be exploited for the development of transgenic alfalfa with agronomically desirable traits. Moreover, advanced bio-imaging approaches, including cutting-edge microscopy and phenotyping, are outlined here. Finally, characterization and the employment of beneficial microbes should help to produce biotechnologically improved and sustainable alfalfa cultivars.}, } @article {pmid32942237, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, X and Mi, W and Ito, H and Kawagoshi, Y}, title = {Probing the dynamics of three freshwater Anammox genera at different salinity levels in a partial nitritation and Anammox sequencing batch reactor treating landfill leachate.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {319}, number = {}, pages = {124112}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124112}, pmid = {32942237}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Fresh Water ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Salinity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical ; }, abstract = {Partial nitritation/Anammox was applied to treat NaCl-amended landfill leachate. The reactor established robust nitrogen removal of 85.7 ± 2.4% with incremental salinity from 0.61% to 3.10% and achieved 0.91-1.05 kg N/m[3]/d at salinity of 2.96%-3.10%. Microbial community analysis revealed Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, and denitrifiers occupied 4.1%, <0.2% and 10.9%, respectively. Salinity variations impelled the dynamics of Anammox bacteria. Jettenia shifted to Brocadia and Kuenenia at salinity of 0.61%-0.81%. Kuenenia outcompeted Brocadia and occupied 51.5% and 50.9% at salinity of 1.48%-1.54% and 2.96%-3.10%, respectively. High nitrite affinity and fast growth rate were proposed as key factors fostering Brocadia overgrew Jettenia. Functionalities of sodium-motive-force facilitated energy generation and intracellular osmotic pressure equilibrium regulation crucially determined Kuenenia's dominance at elevated salinity. Co-occurrence network further manifested beneficial symbiotic relationships boosted Kuenenia's preponderance. Knowledge gleaned deepen understanding on survival niches of freshwater Anammox genera at saline environments and lead to immediate benefits to its applications treating relevant wastewaters.}, } @article {pmid32940717, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, ZL and Pan, HB and Wu, W and Li, MY and Yu, XP}, title = {The gut bacterial flora associated with brown planthopper is affected by host rice varieties.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {203}, number = {1}, pages = {325-333}, pmid = {32940717}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Oryza/classification/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota plays vital roles in the development, evolution and environmental adaptation of the host insects. The brown planthopper (BPH) is one of the most destructive pests of rice, but little is known about its gut microbiota. In this study, we investigated the gut bacterial communities in two BPH populations feeding on susceptible and resistant rice varieties by high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Our results revealed that the gut bacterial communities in BPH were species diverse. A total of 29 phyla and 367 genera were captured, with Proteobacteria and Acinetobacter being the most prominent phylum and genus, respectively. Comparative analysis showed that significant differences in the profile of gut bacterial communities existed between the two BPH populations. The species richness detected in the population feeding on the resistant rice variety was significantly higher than that in the population rearing on the susceptible rice variety. Although the most dominant gut bacteria at all taxonomic levels showed no significant differences between the two BPH populations, the relative abundances of two subdominant phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) and two subdominant classes (Bacteroidia and Clostridia) were significantly different. FAPROTAX analysis further indicated that host rice varieties might induce changes of the gut bacterial flora in BPH, as significant differences in five metabolism-related functional categories (fermentation, methylotrophy, xylanolysis, nitrate reduction and ureolysis) were detected between the two BPH populations. Our results are informative for studies which focused on the interactions between BPH and its symbiotic microbes and could also provide the basis of future BPH biological management.}, } @article {pmid32940277, year = {2020}, author = {Kale, N and Nandi, S and Patil, A and Patil, Y and Banerjee, S and Khandare, J}, title = {Nanocarrier anticancer drug-conjugates cause higher cellular deformations: culpable for mischief.}, journal = {Biomaterials science}, volume = {8}, number = {20}, pages = {5729-5738}, doi = {10.1039/d0bm00923g}, pmid = {32940277}, issn = {2047-4849}, mesh = {*Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; *Nanoparticles ; *Nanotubes, Carbon ; }, abstract = {Here we report nanocarrier-anticancer drug conjugates culpable for cellular deformations, critically evidenced through image-based analysis as a measure of karyoplasmic ratio (KR) and nuclear surface area (NSA). Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were coordinated additionally with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) to evaluate the symbiotic influence, and further conjugated to Dox for evaluating the cellular kinetics and for measuring cell deformations. Cellular entry kinetics of the CNT (CNT-Dox and CNT-Cys-Fe3O4-Dox) nanocarriers and their efficiency in nuclear localization were evaluated using cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. Of note, the Dox-bound nanocarriers showed significantly enhanced cell toxicity over the free form of the drug. CNT-Dox and CNT-Cys-Fe3O4-Dox influx occurred within 4 hours, while maximum cellular retention of Dox was observed for CNT-Dox at 24 h. However, the highest KR (∼0.51) was observed for CNT-Dox within 8 hours indicating similar cellular deformations using nanocarrier anticancer drug-conjugates to that of free Dox (KR ∼0.50) at 4 hours. In addition, we observed increased NSA at 4 h in Dox treatment whereas in the case of the Dox conjugated nanocarrier, increased NSA was noted at 8 h treatment. At 8 h exposure of HeLa cells with Dox conjugates, we observed that the cells fall into distinct regions of the morphospace with respect to KR and NSA. Conclusively, nano delivery systems considered for clinical and biomedical translations must take into account the possible negative influences imparting higher cellular deformations and secondary adverse effects over the free form of the drug.}, } @article {pmid32937935, year = {2020}, author = {Vilcinskas, A and Schwabe, M and Brinkrolf, K and Plarre, R and Wielsch, N and Vogel, H}, title = {Larvae of the Clothing Moth Tineola bisselliella Maintain Gut Bacteria that Secrete Enzyme Cocktails to Facilitate the Digestion of Keratin.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32937935}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The evolutionary success of insects is promoted by their association with beneficial microbes that enable the utilization of unusual diets. The synanthropic clothing moth Tineola bisselliella provides an intriguing example of this phenomenon. The caterpillars of this species have adapted to feed on keratin-rich diets such as feathers and wool, which cannot be digested by most other animals and are resistant to common digestive enzymes. Inspired by the hypothesis that this ability may be conferred by symbiotic microbes, we utilized a simple assay to detect keratinase activity and a method to screen gut bacteria for candidate enzymes, which were isolated from feather-fed larvae. The isolation of DNA from keratin-degrading bacterial strains followed by de novo genome sequencing resulted in the identification of a novel bacterial strain related to Bacillus sp. FDAARGOS_235. Genome annotation identified 20 genes with keratinase domains. Proteomic analysis of the culture supernatant from this gut bacterium grown in non-nutrient buffer supplemented with feathers revealed several candidate enzymes potentially responsible for keratin degradation, including a thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase and multiple proteases. Our results suggest that the unusual diet of T. bisselliella larvae promotes their association with keratinolytic microorganisms and that the ability of larvae to feed on keratin can at least partially be attributed to bacteria that produce a cocktail of keratin-degrading enzymes.}, } @article {pmid32936397, year = {2021}, author = {He, C and Liu, Y and Ye, S and Yin, S and Gu, J}, title = {Changes of intestinal microflora of breast cancer in premenopausal women.}, journal = {European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {503-513}, pmid = {32936397}, issn = {1435-4373}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis/*microbiology/pathology ; Butyrates/metabolism/pharmacology ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism/pharmacology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; *Premenopause ; Propionates/metabolism/pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; }, abstract = {Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. More than half of breast cancer patients are not menopausal at the time of diagnosis. The occurrence and development of premenopausal breast cancer are affected by many factors. Intestinal flora, especially SCFA-producing bacteria, participates in the development of various tumors, and there is a lack of in-depth research in premenopausal breast cancer patients. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing, targeted metabolomics, and cell culture methods to analyze the changes in the intestinal flora and metabolites of premenopausal breast cancer patients. In addition, we treated breast cancer cells with significantly altered propionate and butyrate in vitro to examine their effects on cell activity. This study followed STROBE guidelines. We found that compared with healthy premenopausal women, the composition and symbiosis of intestinal flora in patients with premenopausal breast cancer changed significantly. The abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria was significantly reduced, and the key SCFA-producing enzymes were also significantly reduced. Pediococcus and Desulfovibrio could distinguish premenopausal breast cancer patients from normal premenopausal women. The related propionate and butyrate had a certain ability to inhibit breast cancer cell viability in vitro. As SCFA-producing bacteria, Pediococcus and Desulfovibrio showed potential reference value for the diagnosis of premenopausal breast cancer. The ability of propionate and butyrate to inhibit breast cancer cell lines in vitro suggests that the relevant SCFA receptor may be a new target for the treatment of premenopausal breast cancer.}, } @article {pmid32934356, year = {2021}, author = {Herrera, M and Klein, SG and Campana, S and Chen, JE and Prasanna, A and Duarte, CM and Aranda, M}, title = {Temperature transcends partner specificity in the symbiosis establishment of a cnidarian.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {141-153}, pmid = {32934356}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Hawaii ; Hot Temperature ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral reef research has predominantly focused on the effect of temperature on the breakdown of coral-dinoflagellate symbioses. However, less is known about how increasing temperature affects the establishment of new coral-dinoflagellate associations. Inter-partner specificity and environment-dependent colonization are two constraints proposed to limit the acquisition of more heat tolerant symbionts. Here, we investigated the symbiotic dynamics of various photosymbionts in different host genotypes under "optimal" and elevated temperature conditions. To do this, we inoculated symbiont-free polyps of the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida originating from Hawaii (H2), North Carolina (CC7), and the Red Sea (RS) with the same mixture of native symbiont strains (Breviolum minutum, Symbiodinium linucheae, S. microadriaticum, and a Breviolum type from the Red Sea) at 25 and 32 °C, and assessed their ITS2 composition, colonization rates, and PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm). Symbiont communities across thermal conditions differed significantly for all hosts, suggesting that temperature rather than partner specificity had a stronger effect on symbiosis establishment. Overall, we detected higher abundances of more heat resistant Symbiodiniaceae types in the 32 °C treatments. Our data further showed that PSII photophysiology under elevated temperature improved with thermal pre-exposure (i.e., higher Fv/Fm), yet, this effect depended on host genotype and was influenced by active feeding as photochemical efficiency dropped in response to food deprivation. These findings highlight the role of temperature and partner fidelity in the establishment and performance of symbiosis and demonstrate the importance of heterotrophy for symbiotic cnidarians to endure and recover from stress.}, } @article {pmid32934115, year = {2020}, author = {Ibarra-Juarez, LA and Burton, MAJ and Biedermann, PHW and Cruz, L and Desgarennes, D and Ibarra-Laclette, E and Latorre, A and Alonso-Sánchez, A and Villafan, E and Hanako-Rosas, G and López, L and Vázquez-Rosas-Landa, M and Carrion, G and Carrillo, D and Moya, A and Lamelas, A}, title = {Evidence for Succession and Putative Metabolic Roles of Fungi and Bacteria in the Farming Mutualism of the Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborus affinis.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32934115}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The bacterial and fungal community involved in ambrosia beetle fungiculture remains poorly studied compared to the famous fungus-farming ants and termites. Here we studied microbial community dynamics of laboratory nests, adults, and brood during the life cycle of the sugarcane shot hole borer, Xyleborus affinis We identified a total of 40 fungal and 428 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), from which only five fungi (a Raffaelea fungus and four ascomycete yeasts) and four bacterial genera (Stenotrophomonas, Enterobacter, Burkholderia, and Ochrobactrum) can be considered the core community playing the most relevant symbiotic role. Both the fungal and bacterial populations varied significantly during the beetle's life cycle. While the ascomycete yeasts were the main colonizers of the gallery early on, the Raffaelea and other filamentous fungi appeared after day 10, at the time when larval hatching happened. Regarding bacteria, Stenotrophomonas and Enterobacter dominated overall but decreased in foundresses and brood with age. Finally, inferred analyses of the putative metabolic capabilities of the bacterial microbiome revealed that they are involved in (i) degradation of fungal and plant polymers, (ii) fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and (iii) essential amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin provisioning. Overall, our results suggest that yeasts and bacteria are more strongly involved in supporting the beetle-fungus farming symbiosis than previously thought.IMPORTANCE Ambrosia beetles farm their own food fungi within tunnel systems in wood and are among the three insect lineages performing agriculture (the others are fungus-farming ants and termites). In ambrosia beetles, primary ambrosia fungus cultivars have been regarded essential, whereas other microbes have been more or less ignored. Our KEGG analyses suggest so far unknown roles of yeasts and bacterial symbionts, by preparing the tunnel walls for the primary ambrosia fungi. This preparation includes enzymatic degradation of wood, essential amino acid production, and nitrogen fixation. The latter is especially exciting because if it turns out to be present in vivo in ambrosia beetles, all farming animals (including humans) are dependent on atmospheric nitrogen fertilization of their crops. As previous internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding approaches failed on covering the primary ambrosia fungi, our 18S metabarcoding approach can also serve as a template for future studies on the ambrosia beetle-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32934088, year = {2020}, author = {Francoeur, CB and Khadempour, L and Moreira-Soto, RD and Gotting, K and Book, AJ and Pinto-Tomás, AA and Keefover-Ring, K and Currie, CR}, title = {Bacteria Contribute to Plant Secondary Compound Degradation in a Generalist Herbivore System.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32934088}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 GM007133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI142720/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agaricales/metabolism ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Fungi/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Herbivory ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Proteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Herbivores must overcome a variety of plant defenses, including coping with plant secondary compounds (PSCs). To help detoxify these defensive chemicals, several insect herbivores are known to harbor gut microbiota with the metabolic capacity to degrade PSCs. Leaf-cutter ants are generalist herbivores, obtaining sustenance from specialized fungus gardens that act as external digestive systems and which degrade the diverse collection of plants foraged by the ants. There is in vitro evidence that certain PSCs harm Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants, suggesting a role for the Proteobacteria-dominant bacterial community present within fungus gardens. In this study, we investigated the ability of symbiotic bacteria present within fungus gardens of leaf-cutter ants to degrade PSCs. We cultured fungus garden bacteria, sequenced the genomes of 42 isolates, and identified genes involved in PSC degradation, including genes encoding cytochrome P450 enzymes and genes in geraniol, cumate, cinnamate, and α-pinene/limonene degradation pathways. Using metatranscriptomic analysis, we showed that some of these degradation genes are expressed in situ Most of the bacterial isolates grew unhindered in the presence of PSCs and, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we determined that isolates from the genera Bacillus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas degrade α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, or linalool. Using a headspace sampler, we show that subcolonies of fungus gardens reduced α-pinene and linalool over a 36-h period, while L. gongylophorus strains alone reduced only linalool. Overall, our results reveal that the bacterial communities in fungus gardens play a pivotal role in alleviating the effect of PSCs on the leaf-cutter ant system.IMPORTANCE Leaf-cutter ants are dominant neotropical herbivores capable of deriving energy from a wide range of plant substrates. The success of leaf-cutter ants is largely due to their external gut, composed of key microbial symbionts, specifically, the fungal mutualist L. gongylophorus and a consistent bacterial community. Both symbionts are known to have critical roles in extracting energy from plant material, yet comparatively little is known about their roles in the detoxification of plant secondary compounds. In this study, we assessed if the bacterial communities associated with leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens can degrade harmful plant chemicals. We identify plant secondary compound detoxification in leaf-cutter ant gardens as a process that depends on the degradative potential of both the bacterial community and L. gongylophorus Our findings suggest that the fungus garden and its associated microbial community influence the generalist foraging abilities of the ants, underscoring the importance of microbial symbionts in plant substrate suitability for herbivores.}, } @article {pmid32933648, year = {2020}, author = {Zhao, W and Xu, J}, title = {Visible and invisible hands intertwined: State-market symbiotic interactions and changing income inequality in urban China.}, journal = {Social science research}, volume = {91}, number = {}, pages = {102450}, doi = {10.1016/j.ssresearch.2020.102450}, pmid = {32933648}, issn = {1096-0317}, mesh = {China ; *Employment ; Humans ; *Income ; Socioeconomic Factors ; }, abstract = {Analyzing the restructured political economy in 21st-century urban China, this project develops a "symbiotic interaction" model and reconceptualizes the state-market relationship to appreciate the changing inequality patterns. As the state and market have formed a long-term, intimate relationship, dynamic state policies interact with the fragmented labor market to redefine a set of socioeconomic capitals and statuses in affecting income inequality. Drawing empirical evidence from the Chinese General Social Survey 2003 and 2013 data, this paper employs linear and unconditional quantile regressions to compare income disparity patterns along both temporal and socio-spatial dimensions. The findings show that multiple key factors, including human capital (e.g., college education), political capital (e.g., party membership), occupational status (e.g., self-employment), and organizational type (e.g., state-owned enterprise), have all changed their economic returns over time and also played different roles for various earning groups. These findings suggest that we should conduct substantive institutional analyses of the evolving state-market relationship and their interplay to achieve a deeper understanding of the reshuffled stratification order in contemporary China. The proposed analytical framework also has broad implications in the research of other transitional economies.}, } @article {pmid32932820, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, Z and Liu, H and Huang, W and Yi, L and Qin, E and Yang, T and Wang, J and Qin, R}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Regulation of RWP-RK Gene Family in the Nitrogen-Fixing Clade.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32932820}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {RWP-RK is a plant-specific family of transcription factors, involved in nitrate response, gametogenesis, and nodulation. However, genome-wide characterization, phylogeny, and the regulation of RWP-RK genes in the nodulating and non-nodulating plant species of nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC) are widely unknown. Therefore, we identified a total of 292 RWP-RKs, including 278 RWP-RKs from 25 NFC species and 14 RWP-RKs from the outgroup, Arabidopsis thaliana. We classified the 292 RWP-RKs in two subfamilies: the NIN-like proteins (NLPs) and the RWP-RK domain proteins (RKDs). The transcriptome and phylogenetic analysis of RWP-RKs suggested that, compared to RKD genes, the NLP genes were just upregulated in nitrate response and nodulation. Moreover, nodule-specific NLP genes of some nodulating NFC species may have a common ancestor (OG0002084) with AtNLP genes in A. thaliana. Further, co-expression networks of A.thaliana under N-starvation and N-supplementation conditions revealed that there is a higher correlation between expression of AtNLP genes and symbiotic genes during N-starvation. In P. vulgaris, we confirmed that N-starvation stimulated nodulation by regulating expression of PvNLP2, closely related to AtNLP6 and AtNLP7 with another common origin (OG0004041). Taken together, we concluded that different origins of the NLP genes involved in both N-starvation response and specific expression of nodulation would contribute to the evolution of nodulation in NFC plant species. Our results shed light on the phylogenetic relationships of NLP genes and their differential regulation in nitrate response of A. thaliana and nodulation of NFC.}, } @article {pmid32929496, year = {2021}, author = {Wanke, A and Malisic, M and Wawra, S and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Unraveling the sugar code: the role of microbial extracellular glycans in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {15-35}, pmid = {32929496}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Oomycetes ; Plants ; Polysaccharides ; *Sugars ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To defend against microbial invaders but also to establish symbiotic programs, plants need to detect the presence of microbes through the perception of molecular signatures characteristic of a whole class of microbes. Among these molecular signatures, extracellular glycans represent a structurally complex and diverse group of biomolecules that has a pivotal role in the molecular dialog between plants and microbes. Secreted glycans and glycoconjugates such as symbiotic lipochitooligosaccharides or immunosuppressive cyclic β-glucans act as microbial messengers that prepare the ground for host colonization. On the other hand, microbial cell surface glycans are important indicators of microbial presence. They are conserved structures normally exposed and thus accessible for plant hydrolytic enzymes and cell surface receptor proteins. While the immunogenic potential of bacterial cell surface glycoconjugates such as lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycan has been intensively studied in the past years, perception of cell surface glycans from filamentous microbes such as fungi or oomycetes is still largely unexplored. To date, only few studies have focused on the role of fungal-derived cell surface glycans other than chitin, highlighting a knowledge gap that needs to be addressed. The objective of this review is to give an overview on the biological functions and perception of microbial extracellular glycans, primarily focusing on their recognition and their contribution to plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid32929207, year = {2020}, author = {Martin, BC and Middleton, JA and Fraser, MW and Marshall, IPG and Scholz, VV and Hausl, B and Schmidt, H}, title = {Cutting out the middle clam: lucinid endosymbiotic bacteria are also associated with seagrass roots worldwide.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {2901-2905}, pmid = {32929207}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bivalvia ; Ecosystem ; Geologic Sediments ; *Hydrocharitaceae ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Seagrasses and lucinid bivalves inhabit highly reduced sediments with elevated sulphide concentrations. Lucinids house symbiotic bacteria (Ca. Thiodiazotropha) capable of oxidising sediment sulphide, and their presence in sediments has been proposed to promote seagrass growth by decreasing otherwise phytotoxic sulphide levels. However, vast and productive seagrass meadows are present in ecosystems where lucinids do not occur. Hence, we hypothesised that seagrasses themselves host these sulphur-oxidising Ca. Thiodiazotropha that could aid their survival when lucinids are absent. We analysed newly generated and publicly available 16S rRNA gene sequences from seagrass roots and sediments across 14 seagrass species and 10 countries and found that persistent and colonising seagrasses across the world harbour sulphur-oxidising Ca. Thiodiazotropha, regardless of the presence of lucinids. We used fluorescence in situ hybridisation to visually confirm the presence of Ca. Thiodiazotropha on roots of Halophila ovalis, a colonising seagrass species with wide geographical, water depth range, and sedimentary sulphide concentrations. We provide the first evidence that Ca. Thiodiazotropha are commonly present on seagrass roots, providing another mechanism for seagrasses to alleviate sulphide stress globally.}, } @article {pmid32927611, year = {2020}, author = {Peruzzo, R and Costa, R and Bachmann, M and Leanza, L and Szabò, I}, title = {Mitochondrial Metabolism, Contact Sites and Cellular Calcium Signaling: Implications for Tumorigenesis.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32927611}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Mitochondria are organelles that are mainly involved in the generation of ATP by cellular respiration. In addition, they modulate several intracellular functions, ranging from cell proliferation and differentiation to cell death. Importantly, mitochondria are social and can interact with other organelles, such as the Endoplasmic Reticulum, lysosomes and peroxisomes. This symbiotic relationship gives advantages to both partners in regulating some of their functions related to several aspects of cell survival, metabolism, sensitivity to cell death and metastasis, which can all finally contribute to tumorigenesis. Moreover, growing evidence indicates that modulation of the length and/or numbers of these contacts, as well as of the distance between the two engaged organelles, impacts both on their function as well as on cellular signaling. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the field of contacts and communication between mitochondria and other intracellular organelles, focusing on how the tuning of mitochondrial function might impact on both the interaction with other organelles as well as on intracellular signaling in cancer development and progression, with a special focus on calcium signaling.}, } @article {pmid32927572, year = {2020}, author = {Dao, G and Wang, S and Wang, X and Chen, Z and Wu, Y and Wu, G and Lu, Y and Liu, S and Hu, H}, title = {Enhanced Scenedesmus sp. growth in response to gibberellin secretion by symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {740}, number = {}, pages = {140099}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140099}, pmid = {32927572}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll A ; Gibberellins ; *Microalgae ; *Scenedesmus ; }, abstract = {Microalgae usually co-exist with bacteria, which may influence the microalgal growth, in aquatic environment. In this study, thirteen strains that can promote microalgal growth were isolated from Scenedesmus sp. LX1 culture. Additional results showed that these strains could secrete gibberellin (GA), which is a phytohormones, promoting the growth and metabolism of the Scenedesmus sp. LX1. Low concentration (0.1 mg L[-1]) of GA can increase the microalgae biomass by 51% after 4 days. GA could enhance the photosynthetic activity by increasing the photosynthetic pigment content, such as culture after 2 h with low GA concentration (0.1 mg L[-1]), chlorophyll a and β-carotene increased from 0.59 μg per 10[6] cells to 0.72 μg per 10[6] cells and from 0.20 μg per 10[6] cells to 0.38 μg per 10[6] cells, respectively. In addition, GA could also stimulate the dehydrogenase activity, ATP accumulation, and carbonic anhydrase activity to increase the metabolic activity of the microalgae. Interestingly, the microalgae can selectively enhance the bacterial GA secretion in turn, indicating that there was a specific feedback regulation mechanism between the microalgae and the bacteria. The results of this study show a new mechanism of symbiotic-bacteria that enhances microalgal growth. It's a great significance to understand the microalgal growth and water bloom in aquatic environment.}, } @article {pmid32926791, year = {2021}, author = {Li, H and Young, SE and Poulsen, M and Currie, CR}, title = {Symbiont-Mediated Digestion of Plant Biomass in Fungus-Farming Insects.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {297-316}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-040920-061140}, pmid = {32926791}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Fungi ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Feeding on living or dead plant material is widespread in insects. Seminal work on termites and aphids has provided profound insights into the critical nutritional role that microbes play in plant-feeding insects. Some ants, beetles, and termites, among others, have evolved the ability to use microbes to gain indirect access to plant substrate through the farming of a fungus on which they feed. Recent genomic studies, including studies of insect hosts and fungal and bacterial symbionts, as well as metagenomics and proteomics, have provided important insights into plant biomass digestion across insect-fungal mutualisms. Not only do advances in understanding of the divergent and complementary functions of complex symbionts reveal the mechanism of how these herbivorous insects catabolize plant biomass, but these symbionts also represent a promising reservoir for novel carbohydrate-active enzyme discovery, which is of considerable biotechnological interest.}, } @article {pmid32926145, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, YW and Hess, J and Slot, JC and Pringle, A}, title = {De Novo Gene Birth, Horizontal Gene Transfer, and Gene Duplication as Sources of New Gene Families Associated with the Origin of Symbiosis in Amanita.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {2168-2182}, pmid = {32926145}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amanita/*genetics ; *Gene Duplication ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {By introducing novel capacities and functions, new genes and gene families may play a crucial role in ecological transitions. Mechanisms generating new gene families include de novo gene birth, horizontal gene transfer, and neofunctionalization following a duplication event. The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is a ubiquitous mutualism and the association has evolved repeatedly and independently many times among the fungi, but the evolutionary dynamics enabling its emergence remain elusive. We developed a phylogenetic workflow to first understand if gene families unique to ECM Amanita fungi and absent from closely related asymbiotic species are functionally relevant to the symbiosis, and then to systematically infer their origins. We identified 109 gene families unique to ECM Amanita species. Genes belonging to unique gene families are under strong purifying selection and are upregulated during symbiosis, compared with genes of conserved or orphan gene families. The origins of seven of the unique gene families are strongly supported as either de novo gene birth (two gene families), horizontal gene transfer (four), or gene duplication (one). An additional 34 families appear new because of their selective retention within symbiotic species. Among the 109 unique gene families, the most upregulated gene in symbiotic cultures encodes a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, an enzyme capable of downregulating the synthesis of the plant hormone ethylene, a common negative regulator of plant-microbial mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid32925935, year = {2020}, author = {Jensen, RE and Cabral, C and Enkegaard, A and Steenberg, T}, title = {Influence of the plant interacting entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on parasitoid host choice-behavior, development, and plant defense pathways.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e0238943}, pmid = {32925935}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Beauveria/metabolism/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Plant Immunity/immunology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Inoculating plants with entomopathogenic fungi may influence plant nutrient uptake and growth, and herbivore performance. Knowledge is limited concerning the effects of this symbiosis on higher trophic levels. We examined how fungal treatment of faba bean seeds with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana influenced the choice-behavior and development of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani. We also sampled plant material for analysis of changes in expression of genes related to plant defense pathways. While parasitoids were compatible with plants inoculated with B. bassiana initially (66 vs. 65% parasitization on inoculated and control plants, respectively; similar development times of parasitoids: 9.2 days), the emergence of adult parasitoids originating from aphids on fungus treated plants was significantly lower (67 vs. 76%, respectively). We also found that the defense response changed, similar to induced systemic resistance, when plants were treated with B. bassiana, similarly to what has been found for other plant symbiotic microorganisms. These novel findings show that although the application of entomopathogenic fungi to plants can alter the plants' defense against herbivores, it may also have an impact on beneficial insects, so their function and use should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.}, } @article {pmid32924906, year = {2020}, author = {Ardpairin, J and Muangpat, P and Sonpom, S and Dumidae, A and Subkrasae, C and Tandhavanant, S and Thanwisai, A and Vitta, A}, title = {A survey of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria in agricultural areas of northern Thailand.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {e192}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X20000735}, pmid = {32924906}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Animals ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Moths ; Nematoda/classification/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Soil/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Thailand ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema and Heterorhabditis and their symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, have been successfully used for the control of insect pests. The objectives of this study were to survey the EPNs and symbiotic bacteria in the agricultural areas of the Phitsanulok province, Thailand, and to study the association between the soil parameters and presence of EPNs. We collected 200 soil samples from 40 soil sites in agricultural areas (field crops, horticulture crops and forest). The prevalence of EPNs was 8.0% (16/200). Fifteen of the EPN isolates were molecularly identified (based on 28S ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacer regions) as Steinernema siamkayai. Seven isolates of Xenorhabdus stockiae were identified using recombinase A sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the Steinernema and Xenorhabdus isolates were closely related to S. siamkayai (Indian strain) and X. stockiae (Thai strain), respectively. Significantly more EPNs were recovered from loam than from clay. Although the association between soil parameters (pH, temperature and moisture) and the presence of EPNs was not statistically significant, the elevation levels of the soil sites with and without EPNs were found to be different. Moreover, statistical comparisons between the agricultural areas revealed no significant differences. Therefore, we concluded that S. siamkayai is associated with X. stockiae in agricultural areas and that there is no association between the soil parameters of agricultural areas and presence of EPNs, except for soil texture and the elevation. Steinernema siamkayai may be applied as a biocontrol agent in agricultural areas.}, } @article {pmid32924896, year = {2020}, author = {Gonçalves, WG and Fernandes, KM and Silva, APA and Gonçalves, DG and Fiaz, M and Serrão, JE}, title = {Ultrastructure of the Bacteriocytes in the Midgut of the Carpenter ant Camponotus rufipes: Endosymbiont Control by Autophagy.}, journal = {Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {1236-1244}, doi = {10.1017/S1431927620024484}, pmid = {32924896}, issn = {1435-8115}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Autophagy ; Bacteria ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The carpenter ant Camponotus rufipes has intracellular bacteria in bacteriocytes scattered in the midgut epithelium, which have different amounts of endosymbionts, according to the developmental stages. However, there are no detailed data about the midgut cells in adult workers. The present work aimed to evaluate the morphology and cellular events that coordinate the abundance of endosymbionts in the midgut cells in C. rufipes workers. The midgut epithelium has digestive cells, bacteriocytes, and cells with intermediate morphology. The latter is similar to bacteriocytes, due to the abundance of endosymbionts, and similar to digestive cells, due to their microvilli. The digestive and intermediate cells are rich in autophagosomes and autolysosomes, both with bacteria debris in the lumen. These findings suggest that midgut cells of C. rufipes control the endosymbiont level by the autophagy pathway.}, } @article {pmid32924759, year = {2020}, author = {Han, F and He, X and Chen, W and Gai, H and Bai, X and He, Y and Takeshima, K and Ohwada, T and Wei, M and Xie, F}, title = {Involvement of a Novel TetR-Like Regulator (BdtR) of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens in the Efflux of Isoflavonoid Genistein.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {12}, pages = {1411-1423}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-20-0243-R}, pmid = {32924759}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genistein/pharmacology ; *Soybeans/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A wide variety of leguminous plant-released (iso)flavonoids, such as genistein, are potential inducers of the nodulation (nod) genes of endosymbiotic rhizobia for the production of Nod factors, which are vital signaling molecules for triggering the symbiotic process. However, these (iso)flavonoids are generally thought to be toxic to the bacterial partner to varying degrees. Here, a novel TetR-like regulator gene of the soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, bdtR (systematic designation blr7023), was characterized. It was found to be rapidly and preferentially induced by genistein, and its mutation resulted in significantly increased expression of the neighboring bll7019-bll7021 genes, encoding a multidrug resistance efflux pump system, in the absence of this isoflavonoid. Then, the transcriptional start site of BdtR was determined, and it was revealed that BdtR acted as a transcriptional repressor of the above efflux system through the binding of an AT-rich operator, which could be completely prevented by genistein. In addition, the ΔbdtR deletion mutant strain showed higher accumulation of extracellular genistein and became less susceptible to the isoflavonoid. In contrast, the inactivation of BdtR led to the significantly decreased induction of a nodulation gene (nodY) independent of the expression of nodD1 and nodW and to much weaker nodulation competitiveness. Taken together, the results show that BdtR plays an early sensing role in maintaining the intracellular homeostasis of genistein, helping to alleviate its toxic effect on this bacterium by negatively regulating neighboring genes encoding an efflux pump system while being essentially required for nodule occupancy competitiveness.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.}, } @article {pmid32924275, year = {2021}, author = {Bartlow, AW and Agosta, SJ}, title = {Phoresy in animals: review and synthesis of a common but understudied mode of dispersal.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {96}, number = {1}, pages = {223-246}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12654}, pmid = {32924275}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arthropods ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phoresy is a type of interaction in which one species, the phoront, uses another species, the dispersal host, for transportation to new habitats or resources. Despite being a widespread behaviour, little is known about the ecology and evolution of phoresy. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive review of phoretic dispersal in animals and to bring renewed attention to this subject. We surveyed literature published between 1900 and 2020 to understand the extent of known higher-level taxonomic diversity (phyla, classes, and orders) and functional aspects of animals that use phoretic dispersal. Species dispersing phoretically have been observed in at least 13 animal phyla, 25 classes, and 60 orders. The majority of known phoronts are arthropods (Phylum Euarthropoda) in terrestrial habitats, but phoronts also occur in freshwater and marine environments. Marine phoronts may be severely under-represented in the literature due to the relative difficulty of studying these systems. Phoronts are generally small with low mobility and use habitats or resources that are ephemeral and/or widely dispersed. Many phoronts are also parasites. In general, animals that engage in phoresy use a wide variety of morphological and behavioural traits for locating, attaching to, and detaching from dispersal hosts, but the exact mechanisms behind these activities are largely unknown. In addition to diversity, we discuss the evolution of phoresy including the long-standing idea that it can be a precursor to parasitism and other forms of symbioses. Finally, we suggest several areas of future research to improve our understanding of phoresy and its ecological and evolutionary significance.}, } @article {pmid32922812, year = {2020}, author = {Wei, X and Chen, J and Zhang, C and Liu, H and Zheng, X and Mu, J}, title = {Ericoid mycorrhizal fungus enhances microcutting rooting of Rhododendron fortunei and subsequent growth.}, journal = {Horticulture research}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {140}, pmid = {32922812}, issn = {2662-6810}, abstract = {Adventitious root (AR) formation is a unique feature of plant reproduction and plays a vital role in crop production as many horticultural and forestry plants are propagated through cuttings. A growing number of reports have shown that microbes, particularly mycorrhizal fungi are able to promote AR formation, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. This study established an in vitro culture system and investigated AR formation in microcuttings of Rhododendron fortunei Lindl. inoculated with Oidiodendron maius Barron Om19, an ericoid mycorrhizal fungus strain. Hormones and precursors involved in the biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in Om19 mycelium were analyzed. Om19 was able to produce a large quantity of tryptophan (Trp) and also indole-3-pyruvate (IPA) and IAA, indicating that IAA biosynthesis in Om19 could be through a Trp-dependent pathway. After inoculation of Om19, ARs were quickly formed in microcuttings. Symbiosis related genes were activated in ARs, and Om19 effectively colonized the roots. YUC3, a key gene in plant biosynthesis of IAA and genes involved in nitrogen (N) uptake and metabolism, phosphorus (P) uptake were highly upregulated. Plants absorbed significantly greater quantity of mineral nutrients, and their growth was substantially enhanced compared to the control plants without Om19 inoculation. A working model for Om19 enhanced AR formation was proposed. The rapid formation of ARs in cuttings could be due in part to the induction of IAA biosynthesized by Om19 and also attributed to Trp catalyzed biosynthesis of IAA in plants. AR formation, in turn, provided Om19 preferred sites for colonization. Our study suggested that in addition to promoting AR formation, Om19 could potentially be used as a new biofertilizer for enhancing production of ericaceous plants, such as blueberry, cranberry, and rhododendron.}, } @article {pmid32922760, year = {2020}, author = {Li, S and Mao, Y and Zhou, F and Yang, H and Shi, Q and Meng, B}, title = {Gut microbiome and osteoporosis: a review.}, journal = {Bone & joint research}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {524-530}, pmid = {32922760}, issn = {2046-3758}, abstract = {Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic metabolic bone disease characterized by the decrease of bone tissue per unit volume under the combined action of genetic and environmental factors, which leads to the decrease of bone strength, makes the bone brittle, and raises the possibility of bone fracture. However, the exact mechanism that determines the progression of OP remains to be underlined. There are hundreds of trillions of symbiotic bacteria living in the human gut, which have a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with the human body that helps to maintain human health. With the development of modern high-throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms, there has been growing evidence that the gut microbiome may play an important role in the programming of bone metabolism. In the present review, we discuss the potential mechanisms of the gut microbiome in the development of OP, such as alterations of bone metabolism, bone mineral absorption, and immune regulation. The potential of gut microbiome-targeted strategies in the prevention and treatment of OP was also evaluated. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(8):524-530.}, } @article {pmid32919546, year = {2020}, author = {Higashi, B and Mariano, TB and de Abreu Filho, BA and Gonçalves, RAC and de Oliveira, AJB}, title = {Effects of fructans and probiotics on the inhibition of Klebsiella oxytoca and the production of short-chain fatty acids assessed by NMR spectroscopy.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {248}, number = {}, pages = {116832}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116832}, pmid = {32919546}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; Fermentation/physiology ; Fructans/*analysis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Klebsiella oxytoca/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/physiology/ultrastructure ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/*methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Prebiotics/*analysis ; Probiotics/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Generally, the selection of fructans prebiotics and probiotics for the formulation of a symbiotic has been based on arbitrary considerations and in vitro tests that fail to take into account competitiveness and other interactions with autochthonous members of the intestinal microbiota. However, such analyzes may be a valuable step in the development of the symbiotic. The present study, therefore, aims to investigate the effect of lactobacilli strains and fructans (prebiotic compounds) on the growth of the intestinal competitor Klebsiella oxytoca, and to assess the correlation with short-chain fatty acids production. The short-chain fatty acids formed in the fermentation of the probiotic/prebiotic combination were investigated using NMR spectroscopy, and the inhibitory activities were assessed by agar diffusion and co-culture methods. The results showed that Lactobacillus strains can inhibit K. oxytoca, and that this antagonism is influenced by the fructans source and probably associated with organic acid production.}, } @article {pmid32919228, year = {2020}, author = {Okubo, N and Tamura-Nakano, M and Watanabe, T}, title = {Experimental observation of microplastics invading the endoderm of anthozoan polyps.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {105125}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105125}, pmid = {32919228}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Endoderm ; Microplastics ; Plastics/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are being degraded worldwide by land reclamation and environmental factors, such as high seawater temperature, resulting in mass bleaching events. In addition, microplastics disturb the formation of coral-algae symbiotic relationships in primary polyps. In our experiments, we observed this effect in the bleached primary polyp Seriatopora caliendrum that lost its symbiont Symbiodiniaceae as a result of high water temperature. There was a higher incorporation of microspheres into bleached corals than in healthy ones. To understand the interference in symbiosis, we used the sea anemone Exaiptasia (as an anthozoan model organism) and fed it with microspheres. TEM results suggested the incorporation of microspheres and symbionts from the same phagocytosis zones in the mesenterial filament and endocytosis by the cells. In the tentacles, microspheres were in the same cell layer as the symbionts. These results suggest that microplastics occupy the spaces inhabited by Symbiodiniaceae, thereby hindering their symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid32918931, year = {2021}, author = {Vieira, CS and Figueiredo, MB and Moraes, CDS and Pereira, SB and Dyson, P and Mello, CB and Castro, DP and Azambuja, P}, title = {Azadirachtin interferes with basal immunity and microbial homeostasis in the Rhodnius prolixus midgut.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {114}, number = {}, pages = {103864}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2020.103864}, pmid = {32918931}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Chagas Disease/*immunology ; Drosophila Proteins/metabolism ; Ecdysone/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunity, Innate ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Insect Vectors/*physiology ; Insecticides/*administration & dosage ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Limonins/*administration & dosage ; Molting ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Rhodnius/*physiology ; Serratia marcescens ; Signal Transduction ; Trypanosoma cruzi/*physiology ; Trypanosoma rangeli/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhodnius prolixus is an insect vector of two flagellate parasites, Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi, the latter being the causative agent of Chagas disease in Latin America. The R. prolixus neuroendocrine system regulates the synthesis of the steroid hormone ecdysone, which is essential for not only development and molting but also insect immunity. Knowledge for how this modulates R. prolixus midgut immune responses is essential for understanding interactions between the vector, its parasites and symbiotic microbes. In the present work, we evaluated the effects of ecdysone inhibition on R. prolixus humoral immunity and homeostasis with its microbiota, using the triterpenoid natural product, azadirachtin. Our results demonstrated that azadirachtin promoted a fast and lasting inhibitory effect on expression of both RpRelish, a nuclear factor kappa B transcription factor (NF-kB) component of the IMD pathway, and several antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. On the other hand, RpDorsal, encoding the equivalent NF-kB transcription factor in the Toll pathway, and the defC AMP gene were upregulated later in azadirachtin treated insects. The treatment also impacted on proliferation of Serratia marcescens, an abundant commensal bacterium. The simultaneous administration of ecdysone and azadirachtin in R. prolixus blood meals counteracted the azadirachtin effects on insect molting and also on expression of RpRelish and AMPs genes. These results support the direct involvement of ecdysone in regulation of the IMD pathway in the Rhodnius prolixus gut.}, } @article {pmid32918685, year = {2021}, author = {Bi, Y and Guo, Y and Sun, H}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in soils underlying moss biocrusts in coal mining subsidence areas.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {3484-3493}, pmid = {32918685}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; *Coal Mining ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The potentially symbiotic mycorrhizal associations dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have become a new topic in bioremediation research in response to global change. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play an important role in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. However, AM fungal diversity in the soils underlying moss biocrusts in coal mining subsidence areas remains poorly understood. Here, samples of the soil underlying moss biocrusts in an area inoculated with an AM fungus (AM-BS) and an uninoculated area (CK-BS) plus soil samples from an uninoculated bare area (CK-NBS) were collected from the subsidence area of Shendong Daliuta mine at Yulin, northwest China. AM fungal community diversity indices were maximum in AM-BS, intermediate in CK-BS, and minimum in CK-NBS (P < 0.05). In addition, redundancy analysis (RDA) indicates that the importance of moss biocrust to soil properties followed the sequence: soil water content (SWC) > glomalin-related soil protein (TG) > available phosphorus (Olsen-P) > soil organic matter (SOM) > easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EEG) > pH > available nitrogen (alkali-N). SWC, alkali-N, Olsen-P, and SOM were significantly related to the abundance of Glomus and Claroideoglomus, and TG, EEG, and pH were positively related to Diversisipora. In summary, inoculation with the exotic AM fungus and moss biocrust cover created a eutrophic microhabitat for AM fungi in the soils underlying moss biocrusts in the coal mining subsidence area.}, } @article {pmid32918570, year = {2020}, author = {Viswanath, G and Sekar, J and Ramalingam, PV}, title = {Detection of Diverse N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone Signalling Molecules Among Bacteria Associated with Rice Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {11}, pages = {3480-3491}, pmid = {32918570}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Acinetobacter ; *Acyl-Butyrolactones ; Aeromonas ; Chromobacterium ; *Oryza ; Quorum Sensing ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium ; Rhizosphere ; Serratia ; }, abstract = {Bacterial communities communicate, regulate and coordinate their cooperative activities and physiological process by releasing, sensing and responding to small diffusible signal molecules such as acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), auto-inducing oligo-peptides (AIPs) and autoinducer-2, a process referred to as Quorum sensing (QS). The QS mediated communication in rhizosphere associated bacterial communities significantly influence traits governing plant-microbe interactions. This study aimed to identify AHL-mediated QS signals in bacterial communities associated with rice rhizosphere using two AHL biosensors reporter strains Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 (pZLR4). Approximately 375 bacterial isolates isolated from rice rhizosphere and screened using both the biosensors, detected 49 (13%) AHL positive isolates. The BOX-Polymerase Chain reaction (BOX-PCR) fingerprinting profiles of the 49 AHL positive isolates represented 11 distinct cluster groups. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis identified 11 different species affiliated to two different phyla; predominantly γ-proteobacteria, representing 5 genera and 1 genus in α-proteobacteria. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis detected diverse AHL profiles among the 11 AHL positive isolates with both substituted and unsubstituted acyl side chains of C4, C6 and C8 carbon. Further, AHL production in Acinetobacter lactucae, Aeromonas popoffii, Serratia oryzae, and Rhizobium wuzhouense is being reported for the first time. Detection of diverse AHLs from different groups of rhizobacteria associated with rice indicates that these signalling molecules may be involved in the regulation of rhizobacterial behaviour and symbiotic plant-microbe interactions. Future research on the role of AHLs in trans-kingdom communication particularly plant-microbe interaction using synthetic microbial community will enable in evaluating and developing potential plant specific bioproducts.}, } @article {pmid32917931, year = {2020}, author = {Budnick, JA and Sheehan, LM and Ginder, MJ and Failor, KC and Perkowski, JM and Pinto, JF and Kohl, KA and Kang, L and Michalak, P and Luo, L and Heindl, JE and Caswell, CC}, title = {A central role for the transcriptional regulator VtlR in small RNA-mediated gene regulation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {14968}, pmid = {32917931}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {1R15GM135933-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; RNA-Seq ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) are the most common type of transcriptional regulators in prokaryotes and function by altering gene expression in response to environmental stimuli. In the class Alphaproteobacteria, a conserved LTTR named VtlR is critical to the establishment of host-microbe interactions. In the mammalian pathogen Brucella abortus, VtlR is required for full virulence in a mouse model of infection, and VtlR activates the expression of abcR2, which encodes a small regulatory RNA (sRNA). In the plant symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, the ortholog of VtlR, named LsrB, is involved in the symbiosis of the bacterium with alfalfa. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a close relative of both B. abortus and S. meliloti, and this bacterium is the causative agent of crown gall disease in plants. In the present study, we demonstrate that VtlR is involved in the ability of A. tumefaciens to grow appropriately in artificial medium, and an A. tumefaciens vtlR deletion strain is defective in motility, biofilm formation, and tumorigenesis of potato discs. RNA-sequencing analyses revealed that more than 250 genes are dysregulated in the ∆vtlR strain, and importantly, VtlR directly controls the expression of three sRNAs in A. tumefaciens. Taken together, these data support a model in which VtlR indirectly regulates hundreds of genes via manipulation of sRNA pathways in A. tumefaciens, and moreover, while the VtlR/LsrB protein is present and structurally conserved in many members of the Alphaproteobacteria, the VtlR/LsrB regulatory circuitry has diverged in order to accommodate the unique environmental niche of each organism.}, } @article {pmid32917256, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, CY and Chen, CK and Chen, YY and Fang, A and Shaw, GT and Hung, CM and Wang, D}, title = {Maternal gut microbes shape the early-life assembly of gut microbiota in passerine chicks via nests.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {129}, pmid = {32917256}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Aging ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn/*microbiology ; Female ; Finches/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Male ; *Nesting Behavior ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Knowledge is growing on how gut microbiota are established, but the effects of maternal symbiotic microbes throughout early microbial successions in birds remain elusive. In this study, we examined the contributions and transmission modes of maternal microbes into the neonatal microbiota of a passerine, the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), based on fostering experiments.

RESULTS: Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we found that zebra finch chicks raised by their biological or foster parents (the society finch Lonchura striata domestica) had gut microbial communities converging with those of the parents that reared them. Moreover, source-tracking models revealed high contribution of zebra finches' oral cavity/crop microbiota to their chicks' early gut microbiota, which were largely replaced by the parental gut microbiota at later stages. The results suggest that oral feeding only affects the early stage of hatchling gut microbial development.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that passerine chicks mainly acquire symbionts through indirect maternal transmission-passive environmental uptake from nests that were smeared with the intestinal and cloacal microbes of parents that raised them. Gut microbial diversity was low in hand-reared chicks, emphasizing the importance of parental care in shaping the gut microbiota. In addition, several probiotics were found in chicks fostered by society finches, which are excellent foster parents for other finches in bird farms and hosts of brood parasitism by zebra finches in aviaries; this finding implies that avian species that can transfer probiotics to chicks may become selectively preferred hosts of brood parasitism in nature. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid32916942, year = {2020}, author = {Martinson, VG}, title = {Rediscovering a Forgotten System of Symbiosis: Historical Perspective and Future Potential.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32916942}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While the majority of symbiosis research is focused on bacteria, microbial eukaryotes play important roles in the microbiota and as pathogens, especially the incredibly diverse Fungi kingdom. The recent emergence of widespread pathogens in wildlife (bats, amphibians, snakes) and multidrug-resistant opportunists in human populations (Candida auris) has highlighted the importance of better understanding animal-fungus interactions. Regardless of their prominence there are few animal-fungus symbiosis models, but modern technological advances are allowing researchers to utilize novel organisms and systems. Here, I review a forgotten system of animal-fungus interactions: the beetle-fungus symbioses of Drugstore and Cigarette beetles with their symbiont Symbiotaphrina. As pioneering systems for the study of mutualistic symbioses, they were heavily researched between 1920 and 1970, but have received only sporadic attention in the past 40 years. Several features make them unique research organisms, including (1) the symbiont is both extracellular and intracellular during the life cycle of the host, and (2) both beetle and fungus can be cultured in isolation. Specifically, fungal symbionts intracellularly infect cells in the larval and adult beetle gut, while accessory glands in adult females harbor extracellular fungi. In this way, research on the microbiota, pathogenesis/infection, and mutualism can be performed. Furthermore, these beetles are economically important stored-product pests found worldwide. In addition to providing a historical perspective of the research undertaken and an overview of beetle biology and their symbiosis with Symbiotaphrina, I performed two analyses on publicly available genomic data. First, in a preliminary comparative genomic analysis of the fungal symbionts, I found striking differences in the pathways for the biosynthesis of two B vitamins important for the host beetle, thiamine and biotin. Second, I estimated the most recent common ancestor for Drugstore and Cigarette beetles at 8.8-13.5 Mya using sequence divergence (CO1 gene). Together, these analyses demonstrate that modern methods and data (genomics, transcriptomes, etc.) have great potential to transform these beetle-fungus systems into model systems again.}, } @article {pmid32916931, year = {2020}, author = {Pereira, AC and Ramos, B and Reis, AC and Cunha, MV}, title = {Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria: Molecular and Physiological Bases of Virulence and Adaptation to Ecological Niches.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32916931}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are paradigmatic colonizers of the total environment, circulating at the interfaces of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. Their striking adaptive ecology on the interconnection of multiple spheres results from the combination of several biological features related to their exclusive hydrophobic and lipid-rich impermeable cell wall, transcriptional regulation signatures, biofilm phenotype, and symbiosis with protozoa. This unique blend of traits is reviewed in this work, with highlights to the prodigious plasticity and persistence hallmarks of NTM in a wide diversity of environments, from extreme natural milieus to microniches in the human body. Knowledge on the taxonomy, evolution, and functional diversity of NTM is updated, as well as the molecular and physiological bases for environmental adaptation, tolerance to xenobiotics, and infection biology in the human and non-human host. The complex interplay between individual, species-specific and ecological niche traits contributing to NTM resilience across ecosystems are also explored. This work hinges current understandings of NTM, approaching their biology and heterogeneity from several angles and reinforcing the complexity of these microorganisms often associated with a multiplicity of diseases, including pulmonary, soft-tissue, or milliary. In addition to emphasizing the cornerstones of knowledge involving these bacteria, we identify research gaps that need to be addressed, stressing out the need for decision-makers to recognize NTM infection as a public health issue that has to be tackled, especially when considering an increasingly susceptible elderly and immunocompromised population in developed countries, as well as in low- or middle-income countries, where NTM infections are still highly misdiagnosed and neglected.}, } @article {pmid32915849, year = {2020}, author = {Pan, XX and Yuan, MQ and Xiang, SY and Ma, YM and Zhou, M and Zhu, YY and Yang, MZ}, title = {The symbioses of endophytic fungi shaped the metabolic profiles in grape leaves of different varieties.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e0238734}, pmid = {32915849}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Metabolome ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Vitis/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi produce many novel bioactive metabolites that are directly used as drugs or that function as the precursor structures of other chemicals. The metabolic shaping of endophytes on grape cells was reported previously. However, there are no reports on the interactions and metabolic impact of endophyte symbiosis on in vitro vine leaves, which may be examined under well-controlled conditions that are more representative of the natural situation of endophytes within grapevines. The present study used an in vitro leaf method to establish endophyte symbiosis of grapevines and analyze the effects on the metabolic profiles of grape leaves from two different cultivars, 'Rose honey' (RH) and 'Cabernet sauvignon' (CS). The effects of endophytic fungi on the metabolic profiles of grape leaves exhibited host selectivity and fungal strain specificity. Most of the endophytic fungal strains introduced novel metabolites into the two varieties of grape leaves according to the contents of the detected metabolites and composition of metabolites. Strains RH49 and MDR36, with high or moderate symbiosis rates, triggered an increased response in terms of the detected metabolites, and the strains MDR1 and MDR33 suppressed the detected metabolites in CS and RH leaves despite having strong or moderate symbiosis ability. However, the strain RH12 significantly induced the production of novel metabolites in RH leaves due to its high symbiosis ability and suppression of metabolites in CS leaves.}, } @article {pmid32913204, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, XW and Li, LH}, title = {An early gall-inducing parasitic wasp adversely affects the fitness of its host Ficus tree but not the pollinator.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {14941}, pmid = {32913204}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ficus/*parasitology/physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Oviposition ; Pollination ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*parasitology/physiology ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The fig tree-fig pollinator mutualism is one of the most tightly knit symbiotic systems. The research on the ecology of non-pollinators which exploit the mutualism without providing services to the host is very limited and conclusions about the role they play in the maintenance of this mutualism are full of contradictions. The non-pollinating fig wasps species are highly diverse in their feeding habit and ecological function, which may result in different consequences on the mutualism. Sycophaga testacea is an early-ovipositing galler hosted by Ficus racemosa, which is a potencial competitor to the pollinators as they use the same female flowers in the fig as their ovipositing sites. In this study, we investigate the effect of S. testacea on the production of both pollinator and fig tree with a field control experiment. Seed production is decreased significantly when the figs were parasitized, while the offspring production of the pollinator is not significantly affected, which indicates that this galler species has a harmful effect on the fitness of its host fig tree but not the pollinator. The overall development ratio of the galls is decreased significantly when the figs were parasitized, and we found that the intrinsic low development ratio of S. testacea is responsible for the decrease in the overall development ratio.}, } @article {pmid32912146, year = {2020}, author = {Košuthová, A and Bergsten, J and Westberg, M and Wedin, M}, title = {Species delimitation in the cyanolichen genus Rostania.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {115}, pmid = {32912146}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {2016-03589//Vetenskapsrådet/International ; 2016-207 4.3//Swedish Taxonomy Initiative (Svenska Artprojektet) administered by the Swedish Species Information center (ArtDatabanken)/International ; SLU.dha.2019.4.3-48//Swedish Taxonomy Initiative (Svenska Artprojektet) administered by the Swedish Species Information center (ArtDatabanken)/International ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genetic Markers ; *Genetic Speciation ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Models, Genetic ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigate species limits in the cyanobacterial lichen genus Rostania (Collemataceae, Peltigerales, Lecanoromycetes). Four molecular markers (mtSSU rDNA, β-tubulin, MCM7, RPB2) were sequenced and analysed with two coalescent-based species delimitation methods: the Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent model (GMYC) and a Bayesian species delimitation method (BPP) using a multispecies coalescence model (MSC), the latter with or without an a priori defined guide tree.

RESULTS: Species delimitation analyses indicate the presence of eight strongly supported candidate species. Conclusive correlation between morphological/ecological characters and genetic delimitation could be found for six of these. Of the two additional candidate species, one is represented by a single sterile specimen and the other currently lacks morphological or ecological supporting evidence.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Rostania includes a minimum of six species: R. ceranisca, R. multipunctata, R. occultata 1, R. occultata 2, R. occultata 3, and R. occultata 4,5,6. Three distinct Nostoc morphotypes occur in Rostania, and there is substantial correlation between these morphotypes and Rostania thallus morphology.}, } @article {pmid32911673, year = {2020}, author = {Emery, RJN and Kisiala, A}, title = {The Roles of Cytokinins in Plants and Their Response to Environmental Stimuli.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32911673}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Cytokinins (CKs) are adenine-derived, small-molecule plant growth regulators that control aspects of almost all plant growth and development processes. Internally, CKs play significant roles in plant cell division, nutrient allocation, and photosynthetic performance, and they are also detection and signaling agents for plant responses to the environmental challenges. CK functions in plant metabolism include plant adaptations to various abiotic stresses as well as their regulatory role in plant interactions with biotic components of the environment. Interestingly, CK biosynthesis is not exclusive to plants. New genetic and chemical approaches have revealed that both beneficial (symbiotic microorganisms) and detrimental (pathogenic bacteria, fungi, or insects) non-plant biota can secrete these phytohormones to purposefully modify plant metabolism. Therefore, while many open questions remain about how CKs are actively utilized by plants and plant-interacting organisms, CK roles should be seen more broadly, as signaling molecules for which effects range from within cells to as far as interkingdom relationships. The papers in this Special Issue highlight several aspects of CK biosynthesis, metabolism, and functions within plants and among plant-associated organisms, typifying the extensive range of roles played by these signaling molecules. The collection of papers represents new examples for CK researchers to consider advancing the growing range of topics related to how CKs mediate responses to many kinds of environmental stimuli and stresses.}, } @article {pmid32911146, year = {2021}, author = {Yuan, H and Huang, S and Yuan, J and You, Y and Zhang, Y}, title = {Characteristics of microbial denitrification under different aeration intensities: Performance, mechanism, and co-occurrence network.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {754}, number = {}, pages = {141965}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141965}, pmid = {32911146}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Bioreactors ; *Denitrification ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Nitrates ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to explore how dissolved oxygen (DO) affected the characteristics and mechanisms of denitrification in mixed bacterial consortia. We analyzed denitrification efficiency, intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), relative expression of functional genes, and potential co-occurrence network of microorganisms. Results showed that the total nitrogen (TN) removal rates at different aeration intensities (0.00, 0.25, 0.63, and 1.25 L/(L·min)) were 0.93, 1.45, 0.86, and 0.53 mg/(L·min), respectively, which were higher than previously reported values for pure culture. The optimal aeration intensity was 0.25 L/(L·min), at which the maximum NADH accumulation rate and highest relative abundance of napA, nirK, and nosZ were achieved. With increased aeration intensity, the amount of electron flux to nitrate decreased and nitrate assimilation increased. On one hand, nitrate reduction was primarily inhibited by oxygen through competition for electron donors of a certain single strain. On the other hand, oxygen was consumed rapidly by bacteria by stimulating carbon metabolism to create an optimal denitrification niche for denitrifying microorganisms. Denitrification was performed via inter-genus cooperation (competitive interactions and symbiotic relationships) between keystone taxa (Azoarcus, Paracoccus, Thauera, Stappia, and Pseudomonas) and other heterotrophic bacteria (OHB) in aeration reactors. However, in the non-aeration case, which was primarily carried out based on intra-genus syntrophy within genus Propionivibrio, the co-occurrence network constructed the optimal niche contributing to the high TN removal efficiency. Overall, this study enhanced our knowledge about the molecular ecological mechanisms of aerobic denitrification in mixed bacterial consortia and has theoretical guiding significance for further practical application.}, } @article {pmid32910884, year = {2021}, author = {McLachlan, JW and Becquer, A and Haling, RE and Simpson, RJ and Flavel, RJ and Guppy, CN}, title = {Intrinsic root morphology determines the phosphorus acquisition efficiency of five annual pasture legumes irrespective of mycorrhizal colonisation.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {156-170}, doi = {10.1071/FP20007}, pmid = {32910884}, issn = {1445-4416}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Fertilizers ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous in agroecosystems and form symbiotic associations that contribute to the phosphorus (P) acquisition of many plants. The impact of mycorrhizas is most pronounced in P-deficient soil and commonly involves modifications to the root morphology of colonised plants. However, the consequences of mycorrhizal colonisation on root acclimation responses to P stress are not well described. Five annual pasture legumes, with differing root morphologies, were grown to determine the effect of mycorrhizal colonisation on shoot yield, root morphology and P uptake. Micro-swards of each legume were established in pots filled with a topsoil layer that had been amended with five rates of P fertiliser. The topsoil overlaid a low-P subsoil that mimicked the stratification of P that occurs under pasture. Mycorrhizal colonisation improved P acquisition and shoot yield in the low-P soil treatments, but did not reduce the critical external P requirement of the legumes for near-maximum yield. The yield responses of the mycorrhizal plants were associated with reduced dry matter allocation to topsoil roots, which meant that the P acquisition benefit associated with mycorrhizal colonisation was not additive in the P-deficient soil. The contribution of the mycorrhizal association to P acquisition was consistent among the legumes when they were compared at an equivalent level of plant P stress, and was most pronounced below a P stress index of ~0.5. The intrinsic root morphology of the legumes determined their differences in P-acquisition efficiency irrespective of mycorrhizal colonisation.}, } @article {pmid32910750, year = {2020}, author = {Pozzi, ACM and Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Schwob, G and Bautista-Guerrero, HH and Bethencourt, L and Fournier, P and Dubost, A and Abrouk, D and Normand, P and Fernandez, MP}, title = {Proposal of 'Candidatus Frankia alpina', the uncultured symbiont of Alnus alnobetula and A. incana that forms spore-containing nitrogen-fixing root nodules.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {10}, pages = {5453-5459}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.004433}, pmid = {32910750}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Frankia/*classification ; Magnoliopsida/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The members of the genus Frankia are, with a few exceptions, a group of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic actinobacteria that nodulate mostly woody dicotyledonous plants belonging to three orders, eight families and 23 genera of pioneer dicots. These bacteria have been characterized phylogenetically and grouped into four molecular clusters. One of the clusters, cluster 1 contains strains that induce nodules on Alnus spp. (Betulaceae), Myrica spp., Morella spp. and Comptonia spp. (Myricaceae) that have global distributions. Some of these strains produce not only hyphae and vesicles, as other cluster 1 strains do, but also numerous sporangia in their host symbiotic tissues, hence their phenotype being described as spore-positive (Sp+). While Sp+ strains have resisted repeated attempts at cultivation, their genomes have recently been characterized and found to be different from those of all described species, being markedly smaller than their phylogenetic neighbours. We thus hereby propose to create a 'Candidatus Frankia alpina' species for some strains present in nodules of Alnus alnobetula and A. incana that grow in alpine environments at high altitudes or in subarctic environments at high latitudes.}, } @article {pmid32908591, year = {2020}, author = {Rossbacher, S and Vorburger, C}, title = {Prior adaptation of parasitoids improves biological control of symbiont-protected pests.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {1868-1876}, pmid = {32908591}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {There is increasing demand for sustainable pest management to reduce harmful effects of pesticides on the environment and human health. For pest aphids, biological control with parasitoid wasps provides a welcome alternative, particularly in greenhouses. However, aphids are frequently infected with the heritable bacterial endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa, which increases resistance to parasitoids and thereby hampers biological control. Using the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) and its main parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum, we tested whether prior adaptation of parasitoids can improve the control of symbiont-protected pests. We had parasitoid lines adapted to two different strains of H. defensa by experimental evolution, as well as parasitoids evolved on H. defensa-free aphids. We compared their ability to control caged aphid populations comprising 60% unprotected and 40% H. defensa-protected aphids, with both H. defensa strains present in the populations. Parasitoids that were not adapted to H. defensa had virtually no effect on aphid population dynamics compared to parasitoid-free controls, but one of the adapted lines and a mixture of both adapted lines controlled aphids successfully, strongly benefitting plant growth. Selection by parasitoids altered aphid population composition in a very specific manner. Aphid populations became dominated by H. defensa-protected aphids in the presence of parasitoids, and each adapted parasitoid line selected for the H. defensa strain it was not adapted to. This study shows, for the first time, that prior adaptation of parasitoids improves biological control of symbiont-protected pests, but the high specificity of parasitoid counter-resistance may represent a challenge for its implementation.}, } @article {pmid32908210, year = {2020}, author = {Sharma, A and Im, SH}, title = {Special issue on the human microbiome: from symbiosis to therapy.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {52}, number = {9}, pages = {1361-1363}, pmid = {32908210}, issn = {2092-6413}, mesh = {Disease Management ; Disease Susceptibility ; Dysbiosis ; *Homeostasis ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid32906741, year = {2020}, author = {Jain, SS and Afiq-Rosli, L and Feldman, B and Levy, O and Phua, JW and Wainwright, BJ and Huang, D}, title = {Homogenization of Endosymbiont Communities Hosted by Equatorial Corals during the 2016 Mass Bleaching Event.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32906741}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Thermal stress drives the bleaching of reef corals, during which the endosymbiotic relationship between Symbiodiniaceae microalgae and the host breaks down. The endosymbiont communities are known to shift in response to environmental disturbances, but how they respond within and between colonies during and following bleaching events remains unclear. In 2016, a major global-scale bleaching event hit countless tropical reefs. Here, we investigate the relative abundances of Cladocopium LaJeunesse & H.J.Jeong, 2018 and Durusdinium LaJeunesse, 2018 within and among Pachyseris speciosa colonies in equatorial Singapore that are known to host both these Symbiodiniaceae clades. Bleached and unbleached tissues from bleaching colonies, as well as healthy colonies, during and following the bleaching event were sampled and analyzed for comparison. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were separately amplified and quantified using a SYBR Green-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method and Illumina high-throughput sequencing. We found Cladocopium to be highly abundant relative to Durusdinium. The relative abundance of Durusdinium, known to be thermally tolerant, was highest in post-bleaching healthy colonies, while bleached and unbleached tissues from bleaching colonies as well as tissue from healthy colonies during the event had depressed proportions of Durusdinium. Given the importance of Durusdinium for thermal tolerance and stress response, it is surprising that bleached tissue showed limited change over healthy tissue during the bleaching event. Moreover, colonies were invariably dominated by Cladocopium during bleaching, but a minority of colonies were Durusdinium-dominant during non-bleaching times. The detailed characterization of Symbiodiniaceae in specific colonies during stress and recovery will provide insights into this crucial symbiosis, with implications for their responses during major bleaching events.}, } @article {pmid32905946, year = {2020}, author = {Mu, X and Zhang, S and Han, B and Hua, Z and Fu, D and Li, P}, title = {Impacts of water flow on epiphytic microbes and nutrients removal in constructed wetlands dominated by Vallisneria natans with decreasing temperature.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {318}, number = {}, pages = {124058}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124058}, pmid = {32905946}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Hydrocharitaceae ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen ; Nutrients ; Temperature ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {The mechanisms behind water flow on contaminant removal by a submerged macrophyte-biofilm complex in surface flow wetlands remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, water flow (2.02 ~ 2.12 or 4.06 ~ 4.5 L s[-1]; hydraulic retention time, 7d) significantly enhanced NH4[+]-N and COD but inhibited TN and TP removal compared to the static ones. No more than 30% of TN and TP were assimilated by V. natans-biofilm complex in wetland system. Water flow remarkably affected alpha-diversity of microbial community in epiphytic biofilm. As revealed by beta-diversity analysis, turnover played greater contribution to the total dissimilarity than nestedness. Network analyses revealed that the microbial interactions including predation, symbiosis and competition in epiphytic biofilms were much more intensive in the Sept.- Oct. than the Nov.-Dec group. Redundancy and Mantel correlation analyses revealed that temperature played a key role in determining microbial community structure, especially for bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32905753, year = {2020}, author = {Laventie, BJ and Jenal, U}, title = {Surface Sensing and Adaptation in Bacteria.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {}, pages = {735-760}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-012120-063427}, pmid = {32905753}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Cyclic GMP/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Surface Properties ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria thrive both in liquids and attached to surfaces. The concentration of bacteria on surfaces is generally much higher than in the surrounding environment, offering bacteria ample opportunity for mutualistic, symbiotic, and pathogenic interactions. To efficiently populate surfaces, they have evolved mechanisms to sense mechanical or chemical cues upon contact with solid substrata. This is of particular importance for pathogens that interact with host tissue surfaces. In this review we discuss how bacteria are able to sense surfaces and how they use this information to adapt their physiology and behavior to this new environment. We first survey mechanosensing and chemosensing mechanisms and outline how specific macromolecular structures can inform bacteria about surfaces. We then discuss how mechanical cues are converted to biochemical signals to activate specific cellular processes in a defined chronological order and describe the role of two key second messengers, c-di-GMP and cAMP, in this process.}, } @article {pmid32903638, year = {2020}, author = {Ding, PH and Yang, MX and Wang, NN and Jin, LJ and Dong, Y and Cai, X and Chen, LL}, title = {Porphyromonas gingivalis-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Its Downstream Interleukin-1β Release Depend on Caspase-4.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1881}, pmid = {32903638}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Background: Oral commensals contribute to microbe-host symbiosis in periodontal homeostasis, and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) as the keystone pathogen critically accounts for the shift of symbiosis to dysbiosis and periodontal destruction. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is significantly involved in periodontal diseases, and notably P. gingivalis enables to modulate the induction and expression of NLRP3. Whereas, the exact mechanism by which NLRP3 inflammasome is regulated in response to commensal and pathogenic bacteria remains unclear. Methods: To examine the expression of IL-1β and NLRPs inflammasome in tissues with severe chronic periodontitis, and further investigate how Caspase-4-dependent non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome pathways functioned during the interactions of Streptococcus mitis (S. mitis) and P. gingivalis with human THP-1 cells. Results: IL-1β and NLRP3, NLRP6, NLRP12, and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasomes are highly expressed in gingival tissues with severe chronic periodontitis. In human THP-1 cells, P. gingivalis activates the synthesis and secretion of IL-1β to higher levels than S. mitis. Importantly, NLRP3-, Caspase-1-, and Caspase-4-siRNA knockdown THP-1 cells treated with P. gingivalis exhibited a lower expression level of IL-1β as compared to the control cells. In addition, silencing of either CASP4 or CASP1 can lead to a concurrent or reciprocal decrease in the expression of the other. Of note, the IL-1β induction is not affected in the S. mitis-treated THP-1 cells with the silence of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and Caspase-4 genes. Conclusion: NLRP3/Caspase-4 and NLRP3/Caspase-1 dependent IL-1β production may crucially contribute to the dysregulated immuno-inflammatory response in periodontal pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid32901954, year = {2020}, author = {Shi, H and Kraft, J and Guo, M}, title = {Physicochemical and microstructural properties and probiotic survivability of symbiotic almond yogurt alternative using polymerized whey protein as a gelation agent.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {85}, number = {10}, pages = {3450-3458}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.15431}, pmid = {32901954}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Fermentation ; Gels/chemistry/metabolism ; Inulin/chemistry/metabolism ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*growth & development/metabolism ; Lactobacillus delbrueckii/*growth & development/metabolism ; Microbial Viability ; Pectins/chemistry/metabolism ; Polymerization ; Probiotics/*chemistry ; Prunus dulcis/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Streptococcus thermophilus/*growth & development/metabolism ; Viscosity ; Whey Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Yogurt/*analysis/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A plain symbiotic almond yogurt-like product was formulated and developed using a plant-based starter YF-L02 (Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Bifidobacterium animalis) and inulin; 0.6% polymerized whey protein (PWP), 0.3% pectin, and 0.05% xanthan gum were optimized for the formula of the almond yogurt alternative. Two groups with/without calcium citrate and vitamin D2 were prepared and analyzed for chemical composition, changes in pH, viscosity, and probiotic survivability during storage at 4 °C for 10 weeks. The results showed that (1) over 10 weeks storage, the differences in the pH, viscosity, and probiotic survivability between the control and the fortified samples were not significant (P > 0.05); (2) the pH of both yogurt samples decreased 0.2 units while their viscosity slightly increased during storage; (3) the populations of L. paracasei and B. animalis remained above 10[6] cfu/g during the storage, whereas the population of L. acidophilus decreased dramatically during the first 4 weeks, especially the control group; (4) the microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing a compact and denser gel structure formed by 0.6% PWP with the presence of 0.3% pectin and 0.05% xanthan gum. In conclusion, PWP might be a proper gelation agent for the formulation of symbiotic almond yogurt alternative. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, polymerized whey protein was used as a gelation agent to formulate symbiotic almond yogurt alternatives with comparable physical texture and probiotic survivability to dairy yogurt during storage. This technology may be used for the development of plant-based fermented foods.}, } @article {pmid32901761, year = {2020}, author = {Martínez-Ocaña, J and Maravilla, P and Olivo-Díaz, A}, title = {Interaction between human mucins and parasite glycoproteins: the role of lectins and glycosidases in colonization by intestinal protozoa.}, journal = {Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {e64}, pmid = {32901761}, issn = {1678-9946}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cryptosporidiosis/parasitology ; *Cryptosporidium/parasitology ; Entamoeba/pathogenicity ; *Glycoproteins/metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Lectins ; *Mucins ; *Parasites/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Intestinal mucins are the first line of defense against microorganisms. Although knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the establishment of intestinal protozoa is limited, there is evidence that these parasites produce lectin-like molecules and glycosidases, that exert both, constitutive and secretory functions, promoting the establishment of these microorganisms. In the present review, we analyse the main interactions between mucins of the host intestine and the four main protozoan parasites in humans and their implications in intestinal colonization. There are lectin-like molecules that contain complex oligosaccharide structures and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), mannose and sialic acid as main components, which are excreted/secreted by Giardia intestinalis, and recognized by the host using mannose-binding lectins (MBL). Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium spp. express the lectin galactose/N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, which facilitates their adhesion to cells. In Cryptosporidium, the glycoproteins gp30, gp40/15 and gp900 and the glycoprotein lectin CpClec are involved in protozoan adhesion to intestinal cells, forming an adhesion-attack complex. G. intestinalis and E. histolytica can also produce glycosidases such as β-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase, α-d-glucosidase, β-d-galactosidase, β-l-fucosidase, α-N-acetyl-d-galactosaminidase and β-mannosidase. In Blastocystis, α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose, GlcNAc, α-D-fucose, chitin and sialic acid that have been identified on their surface. Fucosidases, hexosaminidases and polygalacturonases, which may be involved in the mucin degradation process, have also been described in the Blastocystis secretoma. Similarly, symbiotic coexistence with the intestinal microbiota promotes the survival of parasites facilitating cell invasion and nutrients obtention. Furthermore, it is necessary to identify and characterize more glycosidases, which have been only partially described by in silico analyses of the parasite genome.}, } @article {pmid32900931, year = {2020}, author = {Wheatley, RM and Ford, BL and Li, L and Aroney, STN and Knights, HE and Ledermann, R and East, AK and Ramachandran, VK and Poole, PS}, title = {Lifestyle adaptations of Rhizobium from rhizosphere to symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {38}, pages = {23823-23834}, pmid = {32900931}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/N013387/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {By analyzing successive lifestyle stages of a model Rhizobium-legume symbiosis using mariner-based transposon insertion sequencing (INSeq), we have defined the genes required for rhizosphere growth, root colonization, bacterial infection, N2-fixing bacteroids, and release from legume (pea) nodules. While only 27 genes are annotated as nif and fix in Rhizobium leguminosarum, we show 603 genetic regions (593 genes, 5 transfer RNAs, and 5 RNA features) are required for the competitive ability to nodulate pea and fix N2 Of these, 146 are common to rhizosphere growth through to bacteroids. This large number of genes, defined as rhizosphere-progressive, highlights how critical successful competition in the rhizosphere is to subsequent infection and nodulation. As expected, there is also a large group (211) specific for nodule bacteria and bacteroid function. Nodule infection and bacteroid formation require genes for motility, cell envelope restructuring, nodulation signaling, N2 fixation, and metabolic adaptation. Metabolic adaptation includes urea, erythritol and aldehyde metabolism, glycogen synthesis, dicarboxylate metabolism, and glutamine synthesis (GlnII). There are 17 separate lifestyle adaptations specific to rhizosphere growth and 23 to root colonization, distinct from infection and nodule formation. These results dramatically highlight the importance of competition at multiple stages of a Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32900905, year = {2020}, author = {Hamada, M and Satoh, N and Khalturin, K}, title = {A Reference Genome from the Symbiotic Hydrozoan, Hydra viridissima.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {3883-3895}, pmid = {32900905}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chlorella/genetics ; Genome ; Humans ; *Hydra/genetics ; *Hydrozoa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Various Hydra species have been employed as model organisms since the 18[th] century. Introduction of transgenic and knock-down technologies made them ideal experimental systems for studying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in regeneration, body-axis formation, senescence, symbiosis, and holobiosis. In order to provide an important reference for genetic studies, the Hydra magnipapillata genome (species name has been changed to H. vulgaris) was sequenced a decade ago (Chapman et al., 2010) and the updated genome assembly, Hydra 2.0, was made available by the National Human Genome Research Institute in 2017. While H. vulgaris belongs to the non-symbiotic brown hydra lineage, the green hydra, Hydra viridissima, harbors algal symbionts and belongs to an early diverging clade that separated from the common ancestor of brown and green hydra lineages at least 100 million years ago (Schwentner and Bosch 2015; Khalturin et al., 2019). While interspecific interactions between H. viridissima and endosymbiotic unicellular green algae of the genus Chlorella have been a subject of interest for decades, genomic information about green hydras was nonexistent. Here we report a draft 280-Mbp genome assembly for Hydra viridissima strain A99, with a scaffold N50 of 1.1 Mbp. The H. viridissima genome contains an estimated 21,476 protein-coding genes. Comparative analysis of Pfam domains and orthologous proteins highlights characteristic features of H. viridissima, such as diversification of innate immunity genes that are important for host-symbiont interactions. Thus, the H. viridissima assembly provides an important hydrozoan genome reference that will facilitate symbiosis research and better comparisons of metazoan genome architectures.}, } @article {pmid32900811, year = {2020}, author = {Lastovetsky, OA and Krasnovsky, LD and Qin, X and Gaspar, ML and Gryganskyi, AP and Huntemann, M and Clum, A and Pillay, M and Palaniappan, K and Varghese, N and Mikhailova, N and Stamatis, D and Reddy, TBK and Daum, C and Shapiro, N and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Woyke, T and Pawlowska, TE}, title = {Molecular Dialogues between Early Divergent Fungi and Bacteria in an Antagonism versus a Mutualism.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32900811}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Antibiosis/*genetics ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Burkholderia/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Rhizopus/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Fungal-bacterial symbioses range from antagonisms to mutualisms and remain one of the least understood interdomain interactions despite their ubiquity as well as ecological and medical importance. To build a predictive conceptual framework for understanding interactions between fungi and bacteria in different types of symbioses, we surveyed fungal and bacterial transcriptional responses in the mutualism between Rhizopus microsporus (Rm) (ATCC 52813, host) and its Mycetohabitans (formerly Burkholderia) endobacteria versus the antagonism between a nonhost Rm (ATCC 11559) and Mycetohabitans isolated from the host, at two time points, before and after partner physical contact. We found that bacteria and fungi sensed each other before contact and altered gene expression patterns accordingly. Mycetohabitans did not discriminate between the host and nonhost and engaged a common set of genes encoding known as well as novel symbiosis factors. In contrast, responses of the host versus nonhost to endobacteria were dramatically different, converging on the altered expression of genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. On the basis of the observed patterns, we formulated a set of hypotheses describing fungal-bacterial interactions and tested some of them. By conducting ROS measurements, we confirmed that nonhost fungi increased production of ROS in response to endobacteria, whereas host fungi quenched their ROS output, suggesting that ROS metabolism contributes to the nonhost resistance to bacterial infection and the host ability to form a mutualism. Overall, our study offers a testable framework of predictions describing interactions of early divergent Mucoromycotina fungi with bacteria.IMPORTANCE Animals and plants interact with microbes by engaging specific surveillance systems, regulatory networks, and response modules that allow for accommodation of mutualists and defense against antagonists. Antimicrobial defense responses are mediated in both animals and plants by innate immunity systems that owe their functional similarities to convergent evolution. Like animals and plants, fungi interact with bacteria. However, the principles governing these relations are only now being discovered. In a study system of host and nonhost fungi interacting with a bacterium isolated from the host, we found that bacteria used a common gene repertoire to engage both partners. In contrast, fungal responses to bacteria differed dramatically between the host and nonhost. These findings suggest that as in animals and plants, the genetic makeup of the fungus determines whether bacterial partners are perceived as mutualists or antagonists and what specific regulatory networks and response modules are initiated during each encounter.}, } @article {pmid32900513, year = {2020}, author = {Formiga, F and Tarazona-Santabalbina, FJ}, title = {[Diabetes and COVID-19 in the elderly, harmful symbiosis].}, journal = {Revista espanola de geriatria y gerontologia}, volume = {55}, number = {6}, pages = {315-316}, pmid = {32900513}, issn = {1578-1747}, mesh = {Aged ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism ; COVID-19/complications/*epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus/*epidemiology/etiology/prevention & control ; Glucocorticoids/adverse effects ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Prevalence ; *SARS-CoV-2 ; Virus Internalization ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; }, } @article {pmid32899961, year = {2020}, author = {Amadei, SS and Notario, V}, title = {A Significant Question in Cancer Risk and Therapy: Are Antibiotics Positive or Negative Effectors? Current Answers and Possible Alternatives.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32899961}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Cancer is predominantly considered as an environmental disease caused by genetic or epigenetic alterations induced by exposure to extrinsic (e.g., carcinogens, pollutants, radiation) or intrinsic (e.g., metabolic, immune or genetic deficiencies). Over-exposure to antibiotics, which is favored by unregulated access as well as inappropriate prescriptions by physicians, is known to have led to serious health problems such as the rise of antibiotic resistance, in particular in poorly developed countries. In this review, the attention is focused on evaluating the effects of antibiotic exposure on cancer risk and on the outcome of cancer therapeutic protocols, either directly acting as extrinsic promoters, or indirectly, through interactions with the human gut microbiota. The preponderant evidence derived from information reported over the last 10 years confirms that antibiotic exposure tends to increase cancer risk and, unfortunately, that it reduces the efficacy of various forms of cancer therapy (e.g., chemo-, radio-, and immunotherapy alone or in combination). Alternatives to the current patterns of antibiotic use, such as introducing new antibiotics, bacteriophages or enzybiotics, and implementing dysbiosis-reducing microbiota modulatory strategies in oncology, are discussed. The information is in the end considered from the perspective of the most recent findings on the tumor-specific and intracellular location of the tumor microbiota, and of the most recent theories proposed to explain cancer etiology on the notion of regression of the eukaryotic cells and systems to stages characterized for a lack of coordination among their components of prokaryotic origin, which is promoted by injuries caused by environmental insults.}, } @article {pmid32897848, year = {2020}, author = {Rejili, M and Off, K and Brachmann, A and Marín, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium hipponense sp. nov., isolated from Lupinus angustifolius growing in the northern region of Tunisia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {10}, pages = {5539-5550}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.004445}, pmid = {32897848}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Strain aSej3[T] was isolated from a root nodule of a Lupinus angustifolius plant growing in Bizerte, Tunisia. 16S rRNA gene analysis placed this strain within the genus Bradyrhizobium. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) including three housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB and recA) grouped aSej3[T] together with Bradyrhizobium rifense CTAW71[T], Bradyrhizobium cytisi CTAW11[T], Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense RITF806[T], Bradyrhizobium lupini USDA 3051[T] and Bradyrhizobium canariense BTA-1[T]. MLSA with five housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) revealed that this strain shares less than 93.5 % nucleotide identity with other type strains. Genome sequencing and inspection revealed a genome size of 8.83 Mbp with a G+C content of 62.8 mol%. Genome-wide average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were below 87.5 and 36.2 %, respectively, when compared to described Bradyrhizobium species. Strain aSej3[T] nodulated L. angustifolius plants under axenic conditions and its nodC gene clustered within the genistearum symbiovar. Altogether, the phylogenetic data and the chemotaxonomic characteristics of this strain support that aSej3[T] represents a new species for which we propose the name Bradyrhizobium hipponense sp. nov. with the type strain aSej3[T] (=DSM 108913[T]=LMG 31020[T]).}, } @article {pmid32897841, year = {2020}, author = {Koch, RA and Liu, J and Brann, M and Jumbam, B and Siegel, N and Aime, MC}, title = {Marasmioid rhizomorphs in bird nests: Species diversity, functional specificity, and new species from the tropics.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {112}, number = {6}, pages = {1086-1103}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2020.1788892}, pmid = {32897841}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Agaricales/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; *Birds ; *Genetic Variation ; Nesting Behavior ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {In tropical and subtropical rainforests, vegetative fungal rhizomorphs from the Marasmiineae are routinely used as construction material in bird nests. Because rhizomorphs seldom produce mushrooms within nests, the fungal species involved remain largely unknown. In turn, this limitation has prevented us from resolving broader questions such as whether specific fungal species are selected by birds for different functional roles (i.e., attachment, or parasite control). To fill some of these gaps, we collected 74 rhizomorph-containing bird nests from the Neo- and Afrotropics and used nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) sequences to discriminate between rhizomorph-forming species. In total we recovered 25 Marasmiineae species used by birds in nest construction, none of which were shared between the Neotropics and the Afrotropics. We also collected Marasmiineae basidiomes in the vicinity of nests and used ITS sequences to match these sporulating morphs with nest rhizomorphs for nine species. Basidiomes from an additional five species were found fruiting from rhizomorphs incorporated within bird nests. Finally, an additional six species were putatively identified based on publicly available sequence data. Rhizomorphs of five species were found to be utilized almost exclusively as lining material in nests. Lining material comes in direct contact with nestlings and is hypothesized to play a role in parasite control. Rhizomorphs from 10 species were used to attach and anchor nests to substrates; we matched six of those to fruiting litter trap-forming species collected in the understory. Litter traps hold large quantities of fallen litter material, suggesting that birds may preferentially use rhizomorphs that are adapted to bearing heavy loads for nest attachment. Finally, we describe two species of Marasmius-M. neocrinis-equi, sp. nov., and M. nidus-avis, sp. nov.-that are commonly found associated with bird nests and show that rhizomorph production is common across the genus.}, } @article {pmid32895142, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, F and Cui, Q and Zeng, Y and Chen, P}, title = {[Gut microbiota-an important contributor to liver diseases].}, journal = {Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {595-600}, pmid = {32895142}, issn = {1673-4254}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines ; Liver ; *Liver Diseases ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota constitute a complicated but manifold ecosystem, in which specific symbiotic relationships are formed among various bacteria. To maintain a steady state, the gastrointestinal tract and the liver form a close anatomical and functional two-way, interconnected network through the portal circulation. "Gut-liver axis" plays a key role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Accumulating evidence indicates that gut microbiota can influence the liver pathophysiology directly or indirectly via a variety of signal pathways. In a pathological state where an ecological imbalance occurs at the compositional and functional levels, gut microbes would interact with the host immune system and other type of cells to cause liver steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, which in turn give rise to the development of such liver diseases as alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and acute liver failure, to name a few. Studies have shown that microorganisms, such as prebiotics and probiotics, can improve the prognosis of certain diseases, which open a new era of treating liver diseases with bacteria. There are many unknowns and hidden values in the gut microbiome. To explore the pathophysiological mechanism of various complex diseases and develop scientific and effective clinical treatment strategies, efforts should be made to obtain insights into how certain intestinal microbiota participates in the occurrence and progression of liver diseases. As the connection between gut microbiota and liver diseases at both the acute and chronic phases was not elaborated in previously published review articles, herein we discuss the association between gut microbiota and both acute and chronic liver injury. The anatomical structure of the liver enables it to form a close network with the gut microbiota, which is an important mediator in the regulation of the hepatic physiological and pathological functions.}, } @article {pmid32894786, year = {2020}, author = {Lenhart, PA and White, JA}, title = {Endosymbionts facilitate rapid evolution in a polyphagous herbivore.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {33}, number = {10}, pages = {1507-1511}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13697}, pmid = {32894786}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology ; *Herbivory ; Robinia ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba ; }, abstract = {Maternally transmitted bacterial symbionts can be important mediators of the interactions between insect herbivores and their foodplants. These symbionts are often facultative (present in some host individuals but not others) and can have large effects on their host's phenotype, thus giving rise to heritable variation upon which selection can act. In the cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora), it has been established that the facultative endosymbiont Arsenophonus improves aphid performance on black locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) but not on fava (Vicia faba). Here, we tested whether this fitness differential translated into contemporaneous evolution of aphid populations associated with the different plants. In a laboratory study lasting 16 weeks, we found that the frequency of Arsenophonus-infected individuals significantly increased over time for aphid populations on black locust but declined for aphid populations on fava. By the end of the experiment, Arsenophonus infection was >3× more common on black locust than fava, which is comparable to previously described infection frequencies in natural field populations. Our results clearly demonstrate that aphid populations with mixed facultative symbiont infection status can rapidly evolve in response to the selective environments imposed by different host plants. This selection differential may be a sufficient explanation for the global association between Arsenophonus-infected cowpea aphids and black locust trees, without invoking additional assortative mechanisms. Because the aphid and plant originate from different parts of the world, we further hypothesize that Arsenophonus infection may have acted as a preadaptation that has promoted functional specialization of infected aphids on a novel host plant.}, } @article {pmid32894045, year = {2020}, author = {Shu, H and Luo, Z and Peng, Z and Wang, J}, title = {The application of CRISPR/Cas9 in hairy roots to explore the functions of AhNFR1 and AhNFR5 genes during peanut nodulation.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {417}, pmid = {32894045}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Arachis/*genetics ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/*genetics ; Crops, Agricultural/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Peanut is an important legume crop growing worldwide. With the published allotetraploid genomes, further functional studies of the genes in peanut are very critical for crop improvement. CRISPR/Cas9 system is emerging as a robust tool for gene functional study and crop improvement, which haven't been extensively utilized in peanut yet. Peanut plant forms root nodules to fix nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia. In model legumes, the response of plants to rhizobia is initiated by Nod factor receptors (NFRs). However, information about the function of NFRs in peanut is still limited. In this study, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 tool in peanut hairy root transformation system to explore the function of NFR genes.

RESULTS: We firstly identified four AhNFR1 genes and two AhNFR5 genes in cultivated peanut (Tifrunner). The gene expression analysis showed that the two AhNFR1 and two AhNFR5 genes had high expression levels in nodulating (Nod+) line E5 compared with non-nodulating (Nod-) line E4 during the process of nodule formation, suggesting their roles in peanut nodulation. To further explore their functions in peanut nodulation, we applied CRISPR technology to create knock-out mutants of AhNFR1 and AhNFR5 genes using hairy root transformation system. The sequencing of these genes in transgenic hairy roots showed that the selected AhNFR1 and AhNFR5 genes were successfully edited by the CRISPR system, demonstrating its efficacy for targeted mutation in allotetraploid peanut. The mutants with editing in the two AhNFR5 genes showed Nod- phenotype, whereas mutants with editing in the two selected AhNFR1 genes could still form nodules after rhizobia inoculation.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that CRISPR-Cas9 could be used in peanut hairy root transformation system for peanut functional genomic studies, specifically on the gene function in roots. By using CRISPR-Cas9 targeting peanut AhNFR genes in hairy root transformation system, we validated the function of AhNFR5 genes in nodule formation in peanut.}, } @article {pmid32893261, year = {2020}, author = {Djedidi, S and Yokoyama, T and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Risal, CP and Abdelly, C and Sekimoto, H}, title = {Author's Correction: Stress Tolerance and Symbiotic and Phylogenic Features of Root Nodule Bacteria Associated with Medicago Species in Different Bioclimatic Regions of Tunisia.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME10138e}, pmid = {32893261}, issn = {1347-4405}, } @article {pmid32892833, year = {2020}, author = {Hellebois, T and Tsevdou, M and Soukoulis, C}, title = {Functionalizing and bio-preserving processed food products via probiotic and synbiotic edible films and coatings.}, journal = {Advances in food and nutrition research}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {161-221}, doi = {10.1016/bs.afnr.2020.06.004}, pmid = {32892833}, issn = {1043-4526}, mesh = {*Edible Films ; *Food Handling ; Food Packaging ; *Food Preservation ; *Functional Food ; Humans ; *Probiotics ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Edible films and coatings constitute an appealing concept of innovative, cost-effective, sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solution for food industry applications. Edible packaging needs to comply with several technological pre-requisites such as mechanical durability, low permeability to water vapor and gases, good optical properties, low susceptibility to chemical or microbiological alterations and neutral sensory profile. Over the past few years, functionalization of edible films and coatings via the inclusion of bioactive compounds (antioxidants, micronutrients, antimicrobials, natural coloring and pigmentation agents) and beneficial living microorganisms has received much attention. As for living microorganisms, probiotic bacterial cells, primarily belonging to the Lactobacilli or Bifidobacteria genera, have been exploited to impart bespoke health and biopreservation benefits to processed food. Given that the health benefit conferring and biopreservation potential of probiotics is dependent on several extrinsic and intrinsic parameters, the development of probiotic and synbiotic edible packaging concepts is a quite challenging task. In the present chapter, we aimed at a timely overview of the technological advances in the field of probiotic, symbiotic and synbiotic edible films and coatings. The individual or combined effects of intrinsic (matrix composition and physical state, pH, dissolved oxygen, water activity, presence of growth stimulants or inhibitors) and extrinsic (film forming method, food processing, storage time and conditions, exposure to gastrointestinal conditions) factors on maintaining the biological activity of probiotic cells were addressed. Moreover, the impact of living cells inclusion on the mechanical, physicochemical and barrier properties of the edible packaging material as well as on the shelf-life and quality of the coated or wrapped food products, were duly discussed.}, } @article {pmid32891049, year = {2020}, author = {Ranjbar Jafarabadi, A and Dashtbozorg, M and Raudonytė-Svirbutavičienė, E and Riyahi Bakhtiari, A}, title = {Biomonitoring of perylene in symbiotic reef and non-reef building corals and species-specific responses in the Kharg and Larak coral reefs (Persian Gulf, Iran): Bioaccumulation and source identification.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {267}, number = {}, pages = {115476}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115476}, pmid = {32891049}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bioaccumulation ; Biological Monitoring ; Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; Iran ; Islands ; *Perylene ; }, abstract = {In this study, coral soft tissue, skeleton and zooxanthellae, as well as their ambient sediment and seawater were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with a special focus on perylene. Samples were collected from two different environments: the Kharg Island, which is affected by numerous anthropogenic stressors and Larak Island, which is mainly used for recreational and fishing activities and is characterized by dense vegetation. The heaviest loadings of PAHs were observed on Kharg Island, yet higher concentrations of perylene were detected on Larak Island and it was identified as the prevailing compound in this area. Pyrogenic perylene sources were prevailing on Kharg Island, whereas the perylene on Larak Island was determined to be of natural origin. After analyzing the biological samples, higher perylene concentrations were observed in zooxanthellae than in tissue and skeleton. The lowest and the highest perylene loadings were found in the tissue and skeleton of Platygyra daedalea and Porites lutea, respectively. This applies to both reefs. We found that perylene distribution in the corals and their ambient environment follows an irregular pattern, demonstrating remarkable effects from the local inputs. The lipid content in the coral tissue and the location of the coral colony were deduced to be the main factors affecting perylene distribution in corals. On Larak Island, a significant correlation between perylene loadings in sediment and corals was observed. On Kharg Island, a strong interaction between the water column and the corals was detected. The symbiotic relationship between the corals and zooxanthellae might play the most significant role in bioconcentration and bioaccumulation of perylene. Due to the insolubility of PAHs, they could be transferred through a food chain to zooxanthellae and eventually deposited in the coral bodies.}, } @article {pmid32890948, year = {2021}, author = {Garg, N and Cheema, A}, title = {Relative roles of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in establishing a correlation between soil properties, carbohydrate utilization and yield in Cicer arietinum L. under As stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {111196}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111196}, pmid = {32890948}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Arsenates ; Arsenic/*toxicity ; Arsenites ; Biomass ; Carbohydrates ; Cicer/metabolism/*physiology ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Accumulation of As (metalloid) degrades soil by negatively affecting the activities of soil enzymes, which in turn reduce growth and yield of the inhabiting plant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can impart metalloid tolerance in plants by secreting glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) which binds with As or inertly adsorb in the extraradical mycelial surface. However, profitable use of AM requires selection of the most efficient combination of host plant and fungal species. The current study, therefore designed to study the efficacy of 3 a.m. fungal species: Rhizoglomus intraradices (Ri), Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Claroideoglomus claroideum (Cc) in imparting arsenate As(V) and arsenite As(III) stress tolerance in Cicer arietinum (chickpea) genotypes (G) - relatively metalloid tolerant- HC 3 and sensitive- C 235. Roots were found to be more severly affected as compared to shoots which resulted into a major decline in uptake of nutrients, chlorophyll concentrations and yield with As(III) inducing more toxic effects than As(V). HC 3 established more effective mycorrhizal symbiosis and was able to extract higher nutrients from the soil than C 235. Ri was most beneficial in improving plant biomass, carbohydrate utilization and productivity followed by Fm and Cc which could be due to its capability to initiate highest percent colonization and least metalloid uptake in roots through higher glomalin production in the soil. Moreover, Ri was highly efficient in improving soil enzymes activities-phosphatases (PHAs), β-glucosidase (BGA) and invertase (INV), thereby, imparting metalloid tolerance in chickpea genotypes. The results suggested use of Ri-chickpea symbiosis as a promising strategy for ameliorating As stress in chickpea.}, } @article {pmid32890873, year = {2021}, author = {Li, T and Chen, X and Lin, S}, title = {Physiological and transcriptomic responses to N-deficiency and ammonium: Nitrate shift in Fugacium kawagutii (Symbiodiniaceae).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {753}, number = {}, pages = {141906}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141906}, pmid = {32890873}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Nitrates ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae are the source of essential coral symbionts of reef building corals. The growth and density of endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae within the coral host is dependent on nutrient availability, yet little is known about how Symbiodiniaceae respond to the dynamics of the nutrients, including switch between different chemical forms and changes in abundance. In this study, we investigated physiological, cytometric, and transcriptomic responses in Fugacium kawagutii to nitrogen (N)-nutrient deficiency and different chemical N forms (nitrate and ammonium) in batch culture conditions. We mainly found that ammonium was consumed faster than nitrate when provided separately, and was preferentially utilized over nitrate when both N compounds were supplied at 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1 molarity ratios. Besides, N-deficiency caused decreases in growth, energy production, antioxidative capacity and investment in photosynthate transport but increased energy consumption. Growing on ammonium produced a similar cell yield as nitrate, but with a reduced investment in nutrient transport and assimilation; yet at high concentrations ammonium exhibited inhibitory effects. These findings together have important implications in N-nutrient regulation of coral symbiosis. In addition, we identified ten highly and stably expressed genes as candidate reference genes, which will be potentially useful for gene expression studies in the future.}, } @article {pmid32888486, year = {2020}, author = {Gavrin, A and Rey, T and Torode, TA and Toulotte, J and Chatterjee, A and Kaplan, JL and Evangelisti, E and Takagi, H and Charoensawan, V and Rengel, D and Journet, EP and Debellé, F and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Terauchi, R and Braybrook, S and Schornack, S}, title = {Developmental Modulation of Root Cell Wall Architecture Confers Resistance to an Oomycete Pathogen.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {21}, pages = {4165-4176.e5}, pmid = {32888486}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {R21 AT003396/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; BB.L002884.1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Actins/metabolism ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Disease Resistance/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Medicago truncatula ; Mutation ; Phytophthora/*pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/cytology/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The cell wall is the primary interface between plant cells and their immediate environment and must balance multiple functionalities, including the regulation of growth, the entry of beneficial microbes, and protection against pathogens. Here, we demonstrate how API, a SCAR2 protein component of the SCAR/WAVE complex, controls the root cell wall architecture important for pathogenic oomycete and symbiotic bacterial interactions in legumes. A mutation in API results in root resistance to the pathogen Phytophthora palmivora and colonization defects by symbiotic rhizobia. Although api mutant plants do not exhibit significant overall growth and development defects, their root cells display delayed actin and endomembrane trafficking dynamics and selectively secrete less of the cell wall polysaccharide xyloglucan. Changes associated with a loss of API establish a cell wall architecture with altered biochemical properties that hinder P. palmivora infection progress. Thus, developmental stage-dependent modifications of the cell wall, driven by SCAR/WAVE, are important in balancing cell wall developmental functions and microbial invasion.}, } @article {pmid32888254, year = {2021}, author = {Bai, S and Yao, Z and Raza, MF and Cai, Z and Zhang, H}, title = {Regulatory mechanisms of microbial homeostasis in insect gut.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {286-301}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12868}, pmid = {32888254}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Homeostasis ; Insecta/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Insects live in incredibly complex environments. The intestinal epithelium of insects is in constant contact with microorganisms, some of which are beneficial and some harmful to the host. Insect gut health and function are maintained through multidimensional mechanisms that can proficiently remove foreign pathogenic microorganisms while effectively maintaining local symbiotic microbial homeostasis. The basic immune mechanisms of the insect gut, such as the dual oxidase-reactive oxygen species (Duox-ROS) system and the immune deficiency (Imd)-signaling pathway, are involved in the maintenance of microbial homeostasis. This paper reviews the role of physical defenses, the Duox-ROS and Imd signaling pathways, the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway, and intestinal symbiotic flora in the homeostatic maintenance of the insect gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid32887805, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, F and Deng, J and Chen, H and Liu, P and Zheng, L and Ye, Q and Li, R and Brault, M and Wen, J and Frugier, F and Dong, J and Wang, T}, title = {A CEP Peptide Receptor-Like Kinase Regulates Auxin Biosynthesis and Ethylene Signaling to Coordinate Root Growth and Symbiotic Nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {9}, pages = {2855-2877}, pmid = {32887805}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Peptide/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Serine/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Because of the large amount of energy consumed during symbiotic nitrogen fixation, legumes must balance growth and symbiotic nodulation. Both lateral roots and nodules form on the root system, and the developmental coordination of these organs under conditions of reduced nitrogen (N) availability remains elusive. We show that the Medicago truncatula COMPACT ROOT ARCHITECTURE2 (MtCRA2) receptor-like kinase is essential to promote the initiation of early symbiotic nodulation and to inhibit root growth in response to low N. C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE (MtCEP1) peptides can activate MtCRA2 under N-starvation conditions, leading to a repression of YUCCA2 (MtYUC2) auxin biosynthesis gene expression, and therefore of auxin root responses. Accordingly, the compact root architecture phenotype of cra2 can be mimicked by an auxin treatment or by overexpressing MtYUC2, and conversely, a treatment with YUC inhibitors or an MtYUC2 knockout rescues the cra2 root phenotype. The MtCEP1-activated CRA2 can additionally interact with and phosphorylate the MtEIN2 ethylene signaling component at Ser[643] and Ser[924], preventing its cleavage and thereby repressing ethylene responses, thus locally promoting the root susceptibility to rhizobia. In agreement with this interaction, the cra2 low nodulation phenotype is rescued by an ein2 mutation. Overall, by reducing auxin biosynthesis and inhibiting ethylene signaling, the MtCEP1/MtCRA2 pathway balances root and nodule development under low-N conditions.}, } @article {pmid32885507, year = {2020}, author = {Wall, CB and Egan, CP and Swift, SIO and Hynson, NA}, title = {Three decades post-reforestation has not led to the reassembly of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with remnant primary forests.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {21}, pages = {4234-4247}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15624}, pmid = {32885507}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Forests ; Hawaii ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The negative effects of deforestation can potentially be ameliorated through ecological restoration. However, reforestation alone may not reassemble the same ecological communities or functions as primary forests. In part, this failure may be owed to forest ecosystems inherently involving complex interactions among guilds of organisms. Plants, which structure forest food webs, rely on intimate associations with symbiotic microbes such as root-inhabiting mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we leverage a large-scale reforestation project on Hawai'i Island underway for over three decades to assess whether arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities have concurrently been restored. The reference ecosystem for this restoration project is a remnant montane native Hawaiian forest that provides critical habitat for endangered birds. We sampled soils from 12 plots within remnant and restored forest patches and characterized AM fungal communities using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. While some AM fungal community metrics were comparable between remnant and restored forest (e.g. species richness), other key characteristics were not. Specifically, community membership and the identity of AM fungal keystone species differed between the two habitat types, as well as the primary environmental factors influencing community composition. Remnant forest AM fungal communities were strongly associated with soil chemical properties, especially pH, while restored forest communities were influenced by the spatial proximity to remnant forests. We posit that combined, these differences in soil AM fungal communities could be negatively affecting the recruitment of native plant hosts and that future restoration efforts should consider plant-microbe interactions as an important facet of forest health.}, } @article {pmid32884717, year = {2020}, author = {Sabidi, S and Koh, SP and Abd Shukor, S and Adzni Sharifudin, S and Sew, YS}, title = {Safety assessment of fermented jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) pulp and leaves in Sprague-Dawley rats.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {4370-4378}, pmid = {32884717}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {Fermented jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) extracts were produced using pure symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) under controlled fermentation process. Both female and male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administrated with 4,000 mg/kg of fermented jackfruit pulp and leaves extracts for 28 consecutive days. Body weight of rats was recorded at 1-week interval until necropsy day. There was no mortality reported along the experiment with no significant differences (p > .05) record among organ histopathology and blood biochemical parameters in treated groups when compared to control group. Interestingly, there were significant differences (p < .05) in the lower body weight gained of treated rats groups as opposed to control group, indicating the potential anti-obesity effect of fermented jackfruit extracts. In conclusion, no toxicity symptoms were observed in 28 days oral administration toxicity study of fermented jackfruit pulp and leaves extracts in Sprague-Dawley rats for both sexes.}, } @article {pmid32884655, year = {2020}, author = {Duplouy, A and Minard, G and Saastamoinen, M}, title = {The gut bacterial community affects immunity but not metabolism in a specialist herbivorous butterfly.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {16}, pages = {8755-8769}, pmid = {32884655}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Plant tissues often lack essential nutritive elements and may contain a range of secondary toxic compounds. As nutritional imbalance in food intake may affect the performances of herbivores, the latter have evolved a variety of physiological mechanisms to cope with the challenges of digesting their plant-based diet. Some of these strategies involve living in association with symbiotic microbes that promote the digestion and detoxification of plant compounds or supply their host with essential nutrients missing from the plant diet. In Lepidoptera, a growing body of evidence has, however, recently challenged the idea that herbivores are nutritionally dependent on their gut microbial community. It is suggested that many of the herbivorous Lepidopteran species may not host a resident microbial community, but rather a transient one, acquired from their environment and diet. Studies directly testing these hypotheses are however scarce and come from an even more limited number of species.By coupling comparative metabarcoding, immune gene expression, and metabolomics analyses with experimental manipulation of the gut microbial community of prediapause larvae of the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia, L.), we tested whether the gut microbial community supports early larval growth and survival, or modulates metabolism or immunity during early stages of development.We successfully altered this microbiota through antibiotic treatments and consecutively restored it through fecal transplants from conspecifics. Our study suggests that although the microbiota is involved in the up-regulation of an antimicrobial peptide, it did not affect the life history traits or the metabolism of early instars larvae.This study confirms the poor impact of the microbiota on diverse life history traits of yet another Lepidoptera species. However, it also suggests that potential eco-evolutionary host-symbiont strategies that take place in the gut of herbivorous butterfly hosts might have been disregarded, particularly how the microbiota may affect the host immune system homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid32884654, year = {2020}, author = {Hugo, H and Cristaldo, PF and DeSouza, O}, title = {Nonaggressive behavior: A strategy employed by an obligate nest invader to avoid conflict with its host species.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {16}, pages = {8741-8754}, pmid = {32884654}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In addition to its builders, termite nests are known to house a variety of secondary opportunistic termite species so-called inquilines, but little is known about the mechanisms governing the maintenance of these symbioses. In a single nest, host and inquiline colonies are likely to engage in conflict due to nestmate discrimination, and an intriguing question is how both species cope with each other in the long term. Evasive behaviour has been suggested as one of the mechanisms reducing the frequency of host-inquiline encounters, yet, the confinement imposed by the nests' physical boundaries suggests that cohabiting species would eventually come across each other. Under these circumstances, it is plausible that inquilines would be required to behave accordingly to secure their housing. Here, we show that once inevitably exposed to hosts individuals, inquilines exhibit nonthreatening behaviours, displaying hence a less threatening profile and preventing conflict escalation with their hosts. By exploring the behavioural dynamics of the encounter between both cohabitants, we find empirical evidence for a lack of aggressiveness by inquilines towards their hosts. Such a nonaggressive behaviour, somewhat uncommon among termites, is characterised by evasive manoeuvres that include reversing direction, bypassing and a defensive mechanism using defecation to repel the host. The behavioural adaptations we describe may play an important role in the stability of cohabitations between host and inquiline termite species: by preventing conflict escalation, inquilines may improve considerably their chances of establishing a stable cohabitation with their hosts.}, } @article {pmid32884646, year = {2020}, author = {Kloock, A and Bonsall, MB and King, KC}, title = {Evolution and maintenance of microbe-mediated protection under occasional pathogen infection.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {16}, pages = {8634-8642}, pmid = {32884646}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Every host is colonized by a variety of microbes, some of which can protect their hosts from pathogen infection. However, pathogen presence naturally varies over time in nature, such as in the case of seasonal epidemics. We experimentally coevolved populations of Caenorhabditis elegans worm hosts with bacteria possessing protective traits (Enterococcus faecalis), in treatments varying the infection frequency with pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus every host generation, alternating host generations, every fifth host generation, or never. We additionally investigated the effect of initial pathogen presence at the formation of the defensive symbiosis. Our results show that enhanced microbe-mediated protection evolved during host-protective microbe coevolution when faced with rare infections by a pathogen. Initial pathogen presence had no effect on the evolutionary outcome of microbe-mediated protection. We also found that protection was only effective at preventing mortality during the time of pathogen infection. Overall, our results suggest that resident microbes can be a form of transgenerational immunity against rare pathogen infection.}, } @article {pmid32882488, year = {2021}, author = {Rola, K and Lenart-Boroń, A and Boroń, P and Osyczka, P}, title = {Heavy-metal pollution induces changes in the genetic composition and anatomical properties of photobionts in pioneer lichens colonising post-industrial habitats.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {750}, number = {}, pages = {141439}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141439}, pmid = {32882488}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Environmental Pollution ; *Lichens ; *Metals, Heavy ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Certain lichens are effective colonisers of polluted sites. However, little is known about the tolerance of photobionts and the degree of mycobiont selectivity to photobionts relative to metal pollution. The present study recognises the genetic and anatomical diversity of Asterochloris photobionts in epigeic lichens, i.e. Cladonia cariosa, C. rei, and Diploschistes muscorum, in relation to a wide spectrum of soil pollution. In accordance with phylogenetic analysis, photobionts were clustered in 7 moderately- to well-supported clades, including 19 haplotypes. The mycobionts of all studied lichens demonstrated a low level of selectivity and were capable of associating with various Asterochloris lineages. This tendency was also expressed by the frequent (~25%) occurrence of multiple algal genotypes in a single thallus. This indicates that identified Asterochloris lineages are generally tolerant to heavy-metal pollution, and the low level of selectivity of mycobionts enables them to select the most suitable and/or available partner. The trend of increasing incidence of certain Asterochloris lineages and decreasing frequency of others along with increasing soil pollution was observed. This proves the superior adaptation of some photobionts to polluted sites. Such symbiotic plasticity constitute an adaptive feature necessary for the successful colonisation. High number of haplotypes at polluted sites could be the result of multiple introduction events from different areas during the initial stages of spontaneous succession. Regardless of the genetic pattern, Asterochloris cells were considerably smaller, and the density and compaction of cells in the algal layer were higher, in lichen specimens from polluted sites, indicating that photobiont characteristics may be closely dependent on heavy-metal pollution.}, } @article {pmid32877919, year = {2021}, author = {Berger, A and Boscari, A and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Nitrate reductases and hemoglobins control nitrogen-fixing symbiosis by regulating nitric oxide accumulation.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {873-884}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa403}, pmid = {32877919}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Fabaceae ; Hemoglobins ; *Nitrate Reductases ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The interaction between legumes and rhizobia leads to the establishment of a symbiotic relationship between plant and bacteria. This is characterized by the formation of a new organ, the nodule, which facilitates the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) by nitrogenase through the creation of a hypoxic environment. Nitric oxide (NO) accumulates at each stage of the symbiotic process. NO is involved in defense responses, nodule organogenesis and development, nitrogen fixation metabolism, and senescence induction. During symbiosis, either successively or simultaneously, NO regulates gene expression, modulates enzyme activities, and acts as a metabolic intermediate in energy regeneration processes via phytoglobin-NO respiration and the bacterial denitrification pathway. Due to the transition from normoxia to hypoxia during nodule formation, and the progressive presence of the bacterial partner in the growing nodules, NO production and degradation pathways change during the symbiotic process. This review analyzes the different source and degradation pathways of NO, and highlights the role of nitrate reductases and hemoproteins of both the plant and bacterial partners in the control of NO accumulation.}, } @article {pmid32877528, year = {2021}, author = {Shinzato, C and Khalturin, K and Inoue, J and Zayasu, Y and Kanda, M and Kawamitsu, M and Yoshioka, Y and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Satoh, N}, title = {Eighteen Coral Genomes Reveal the Evolutionary Origin of Acropora Strategies to Accommodate Environmental Changes.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {16-30}, pmid = {32877528}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Climate Change ; *Fossils ; Genome ; }, abstract = {The genus Acropora comprises the most diverse and abundant scleractinian corals (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) in coral reefs, the most diverse marine ecosystems on Earth. However, the genetic basis for the success and wide distribution of Acropora are unknown. Here, we sequenced complete genomes of 15 Acropora species and 3 other acroporid taxa belonging to the genera Montipora and Astreopora to examine genomic novelties that explain their evolutionary success. We successfully obtained reasonable draft genomes of all 18 species. Molecular dating indicates that the Acropora ancestor survived warm periods without sea ice from the mid or late Cretaceous to the Early Eocene and that diversification of Acropora may have been enhanced by subsequent cooling periods. In general, the scleractinian gene repertoire is highly conserved; however, coral- or cnidarian-specific possible stress response genes are tandemly duplicated in Acropora. Enzymes that cleave dimethlysulfonioproprionate into dimethyl sulfide, which promotes cloud formation and combats greenhouse gasses, are the most duplicated genes in the Acropora ancestor. These may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from algal symbionts belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae, or from coccolithophores, suggesting that although functions of this enzyme in Acropora are unclear, Acropora may have survived warmer marine environments in the past by enhancing cloud formation. In addition, possible antimicrobial peptides and symbiosis-related genes are under positive selection in Acropora, perhaps enabling adaptation to diverse environments. Our results suggest unique Acropora adaptations to ancient, warm marine environments and provide insights into its capacity to adjust to rising seawater temperatures.}, } @article {pmid32877525, year = {2021}, author = {Ma, X and Li, X and Ludewig, U}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization outcompetes root hairs in maize under low phosphorus availability.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {127}, number = {1}, pages = {155-166}, pmid = {32877525}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An increase in root hair length and density and the development of arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis are two alternative strategies of most plants to increase the root-soil surface area under phosphorus (P) deficiency. Across many plant species, root hair length and mycorrhization density are inversely correlated. Root architecture, rooting density and physiology also differ between species. This study aims to understand the relationship among root hairs, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, plant growth, P acquisition and mycorrhizal-specific Pi transporter gene expression in maize.

METHODS: Using nearly isogenic maize lines, the B73 wild type and the rth3 root hairless mutant, we quantified the effect of root hairs and AMF infection in a calcareous soil under P deficiency through a combined analysis of morphological, physiological and molecular factors.

KEY RESULTS: Wild-type root hairs extended the rhizosphere for acid phosphatase activity by 0.5 mm compared with the rth3 hairless mutant, as measured by in situ zymography. Total root length of the wild type was longer than that of rth3 under P deficiency. Higher AMF colonization and mycorrhiza-induced phosphate transporter gene expression were identified in the mutant under P deficiency, but plant growth and P acquisition were similar between mutant and the wild type. The mycorrhizal dependency of maize was 33 % higher than the root hair dependency.

CONCLUSIONS: The results identified larger mycorrhizal dependency than root hair dependency under P deficiency in maize. Root hairs and AMF inoculation are two alternative ways to increase Pi acquisition under P deficiency, but these two strategies compete with each other.}, } @article {pmid32876913, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, S and Xu, W and Gao, Y and Chen, X and Luo, ZH}, title = {Fungal diversity in deep-sea sediments from Magellan seamounts environment of the western Pacific revealed by high-throughput Illumina sequencing.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {58}, number = {10}, pages = {841-852}, doi = {10.1007/s12275-020-0198-x}, pmid = {32876913}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycobiome/*genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {There are lots of seamounts globally whose primary production is disproportionally greater than the surrounding areas. Compared to other deep-sea environments, however, the seamounts environment is relatively less explored for fungal diversity. In the present study, we explored the fungal community structure in deep-sea sediments from four different stations of the Magellan seamounts environment by using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS1 region. A total of 1,897,618 ITS1 sequences were obtained. Among these sequences, fungal ITS1 sequences could be clustered into 1,662 OTUs. The majority of these sequences belonged to Ascomycota. In the genera level, the most abundant genus was Mortierella (4.79%), which was reported as a common fungal genus in soil and marine sediments, followed by Umbelopsis (3.80%), Cladosporium (2.98%), Saccharomycopsis (2.53%), Aspergillus (2.42%), Hortaea (2.36%), Saitozyma (2.20%), Trichoderma (2.12%), Penicillium (2.11%), Russula (1.86%), and Verticillium (1.40%). Most of these recovered genera belong to Ascomycota. The Bray-Curtis analysis showed that there was 37 to 85% dissimilarity of fungal communities between each two sediment samples. The Principal coordinates analysis clearly showed variations in the fungal community among different sediment samples. These results suggested that there was a difference in fungal community structures not only among four different sampling stations but also for different layers at the same station. The depth and geographical distance significantly affect the fungal community, and the effect of depth and geographical distance on the structure of the fungal community in the Magellan seamounts is basically same. Most of the fungi were more or less related to plants, these plant parasitic/symbiotic/endophytic fungi constitute a unique type of seamounts environmental fungal ecology, different from other marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32876713, year = {2020}, author = {Saha, I and Datta, S and Biswas, D}, title = {Exploring the Role of Bacterial Extracellular Polymeric Substances for Sustainable Development in Agriculture.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {11}, pages = {3224-3239}, pmid = {32876713}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Bacteria ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Fertilizers ; Soil ; *Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {The incessant need to increase crop yields has led to the development of many chemical fertilizers containing NPK (nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium) which can degrade soil health in the long term. In addition, these fertilizers are often leached into nearby water bodies causing algal bloom and eutrophication. Bacterial secondary metabolites exuded into the extracellular space, termed extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have gained commercial significance because of their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and renewability. In many habitats, bacterial communities faced with adversity will adhere together by production of EPS which also serves to bond them to surfaces. Typically, hygroscopic, EPS retain moisture in desiccating conditions and modulate nutrient exchange. Many plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) combat harsh environmental conditions like salinity, drought, and attack of pathogens by producing EPS. The adhesive nature of EPS promotes soil aggregation and restores moisture thus combating soil erosion and promoting soil fertility. In addition, these molecules play vital roles in maintaining symbiosis and nitrogen fixation thus enhancing sustainability. Thus, along with other commercial applications, EPS show promising avenues for improving agricultural productivity thus helping to address land scarcity as well as minimizing environmental pollution.}, } @article {pmid32876380, year = {2021}, author = {Shi, T and Niu, G and Kvitt, H and Zheng, X and Qin, Q and Sun, D and Ji, Z and Tchernov, D}, title = {Untangling ITS2 genotypes of algal symbionts in zooxanthellate corals.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {137-152}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13250}, pmid = {32876380}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/*genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Genotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Collectively called zooxanthellae, photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae are typical endosymbionts that unequivocally mediate coral responses to environmental changes. Symbiodiniaceae are genetically diverse, encompassing at least nine phylogenetically distinct genera (clades A-I). The ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region is commonly utilized for determining Symbiodiniaceae diversity within clades. However, ITS2 is often inadvertently interpreted together with the tailing part of the ribosomal RNA genes (5.8S and 28S or equivalent), leading to unresolved taxonomy and equivocal annotations. To overcome this hurdle, we mined in GenBank and expert reference databases for ITS2 sequences of Symbiodiniaceae having explicit boundaries with adjacent rRNAs. We profiled a Hidden Markov Model of the ITS2-proximal 5.8S-28S rRNA interaction, which was shown to facilitate the delimitation of Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 from GenBank, while considerably reducing sequence ambiguity and redundancy in reference databases. The delineation of ITS2 sequences unveiled intra-clade sequence diversity and inter-clade secondary structure conservation. We compiled the clean data into a non-redundant database that archives the largest number of Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 sequences known to date with definite genotype/subclade representations and well-defined secondary structures. This database provides a fundamental reference catalog for consistent and precise genotyping of Symbiodiniaceae and a tool for automated annotation of user-supplied sequences.}, } @article {pmid32876070, year = {2020}, author = {Khalmuratova, I and Choi, DH and Woo, JR and Jeong, MJ and Oh, Y and Kim, YG and Lee, IJ and Choo, YS and Kim, JG}, title = {Diversity and Plant Growth-Promoting Effects of Fungal Endophytes Isolated from Salt-Tolerant Plants.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {1680-1687}, pmid = {32876070}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Alternaria ; Ascomycota ; Basidiomycota ; Biodiversity ; Chenopodiaceae ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Fungi/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Gibberellins ; Oryza ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plumbaginaceae ; Republic of Korea ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophytes are symbiotic microorganisms that are often found in asymptomatic plants. This study describes the genetic diversity of the fungal endophytes isolated from the roots of plants sampled from the west coast of Korea. Five halophytic plant species, Limonium tetragonum, Suaeda australis, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda glauca Bunge, and Phragmites australis, were collected from a salt marsh in Gochang and used to isolate and identify culturable, root-associated endophytic fungi. The fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 was used as the DNA barcode for the classification of these specimens. In total, 156 isolates of the fungal strains were identified and categorized into 23 genera and two phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), with Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes as the predominant classes. The genus Alternaria accounted for the largest number of strains, followed by Cladosporium and Fusarium. The highest diversity index was obtained from the endophytic fungal group associated with the plant P. australis. Waito-C rice seedlings were treated with the fungal culture filtrates to analyze their plant growth-promoting capacity. A bioassay of the Sm-3-7-5 fungal strain isolated from S. maritima confirmed that it had the highest plant growth-promoting capacity. Molecular identification of the Sm-3-7-5 strain revealed that it belongs to Alternaria alternata and is a producer of gibberellins. These findings provided a fundamental basis for understanding the symbiotic interactions between plants and fungi.}, } @article {pmid32873761, year = {2020}, author = {Bennett, BD and Essock-Burns, T and Ruby, EG}, title = {HbtR, a Heterofunctional Homolog of the Virulence Regulator TcpP, Facilitates the Transition between Symbiotic and Planktonic Lifestyles in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32873761}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Chemotaxis/genetics ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Luminescence ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {The bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri forms a mutually beneficial symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, in which the bacteria, housed inside a specialized light organ, produce light used by the squid in its nocturnal activities. Upon hatching, E. scolopes juveniles acquire V. fischeri from the seawater through a complex process that requires, among other factors, chemotaxis by the bacteria along a gradient of N-acetylated sugars into the crypts of the light organ, the niche in which the bacteria reside. Once inside the light organ, V. fischeri transitions into a symbiotic, sessile state in which the quorum-signaling regulator LitR induces luminescence. In this work we show that expression of litR and luminescence are repressed by a homolog of the Vibrio cholerae virulence factor TcpP, which we have named HbtR. Further, we demonstrate that LitR represses genes involved in motility and chemotaxis into the light organ and activates genes required for exopolysaccharide production.IMPORTANCE TcpP homologs are widespread throughout the Vibrio genus; however, the only protein in this family described thus far is a V. cholerae virulence regulator. Here, we show that HbtR, the TcpP homolog in V. fischeri, has both a biological role and regulatory pathway completely unlike those in V. cholerae Through its repression of the quorum-signaling regulator LitR, HbtR affects the expression of genes important for colonization of the E. scolopes light organ. While LitR becomes activated within the crypts and upregulates luminescence and exopolysaccharide genes and downregulates chemotaxis and motility genes, it appears that HbtR, upon expulsion of V. fischeri cells into seawater, reverses this process to aid the switch from a symbiotic to a planktonic state. The possible importance of HbtR to the survival of V. fischeri outside its animal host may have broader implications for the ways in which bacteria transition between often vastly different environmental niches.}, } @article {pmid32873646, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, Y and Wei, X and Bian, Z and Wei, J and Xu, JR}, title = {Coregulation of dimorphism and symbiosis by cyclic AMP signaling in the lichenized fungus Umbilicaria muhlenbergii.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {38}, pages = {23847-23858}, pmid = {32873646}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Chlorophyta/metabolism/physiology ; Cyclic AMP/*metabolism ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Hyphae/cytology/metabolism ; *Lichens ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Umbilicaria muhlenbergii is the only known dimorphic lichenized fungus that grows in the hyphal form in lichen thalli but as yeast cells in axenic cultures. However, the regulation of yeast-to-hypha transition and its relationship to the establishment of symbiosis are not clear. In this study, we show that nutrient limitation and hyperosmotic stress trigger the dimorphic change in U. muhlenbergii Contact with algal cells of its photobiont Trebouxia jamesii induced pseudohyphal growth. Treatments with the cAMP diphosphoesterase inhibitor IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) induced pseudohyphal/hyphal growth and resulted in the differentiation of heavily melanized, lichen cortex-like structures in culture, indicating the role of cAMP signaling in regulating dimorphism. To confirm this observation, we identified and characterized two Gα subunits UmGPA2 and UmGPA3 Whereas deletion of UmGPA2 had only a minor effect on pseudohyphal growth, the ΔUmgpa3 mutant was defective in yeast-to-pseudohypha transition induced by hyperosmotic stress or T. jamesii cells. IBMX treatment suppressed the defect of ΔUmgpa3 in pseudohyphal growth. Transformants expressing the UmGPA3[G45V] or UmGPA3[Q208L] dominant active allele were enhanced in the yeast-to-pseudohypha transition and developed pseudohyphae under conditions noninducible to the wild type. Interestingly, T. jamesii cells in close contact with pseudohyphae of UmGPA3[G45V] and UmGPA3[Q208L] transformants often collapsed and died after coincubation for over 72 h, indicating that improperly regulated pseudohyphal growth due to dominant active mutations may disrupt the initial establishment of symbiotic interaction between the photobiont and mycobiont. Taken together, these results show that the cAMP-PKA pathway plays a critical role in regulating dimorphism and symbiosis in U. muhlenbergii.}, } @article {pmid32873628, year = {2020}, author = {Müller, LM and Campos-Soriano, L and Levesque-Tremblay, V and Bravo, A and Daniels, DA and Pathak, S and Park, HJ and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Constitutive Overexpression of RAM1 Leads to an Increase in Arbuscule Density in Brachypodium distachyon.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {184}, number = {3}, pages = {1263-1272}, pmid = {32873628}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Brachypodium/*genetics/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a mutually beneficial association of plants and fungi of the subphylum Glomeromycotina. Endosymbiotic AM fungi colonize the inner cortical cells of the roots, where they form branched hyphae called arbuscules that function in nutrient exchange with the plant. To support arbuscule development and subsequent bidirectional nutrient exchange, the root cortical cells undergo substantial transcriptional reprogramming. REDUCED ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA1 (RAM1), previously studied in several dicot plant species, is a major regulator of this cortical cell transcriptional program. Here, we generated ram1 mutants and RAM1 overexpressors in a monocot, Brachypodium distachyon. The AM phenotypes of two ram1 lines revealed that RAM1 is only partly required to enable arbuscule development in B. distachyon Transgenic lines constitutively overexpressing BdRAM1 showed constitutive expression of AM-inducible genes even in the shoots. Following inoculation with AM fungi, BdRAM1-overexpressing plants showed higher arbuscule densities relative to controls, indicating the potential to manipulate the relative proportion of symbiotic interfaces via modulation of RAM1 However, the overexpressors also show altered expression of hormone biosynthesis genes and aberrant growth patterns, including stunted bushy shoots and poor seed set. While these phenotypes possibly provide additional clues about the scope of influence of BdRAM1, they also indicate that directed approaches to increase the density of symbiotic interfaces will require a more focused, potentially cell type specific manipulation of transcription factor gene expression.}, } @article {pmid32873208, year = {2020}, author = {Leftwich, PT and Edgington, MP and Chapman, T}, title = {Transmission efficiency drives host-microbe associations.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1934}, pages = {20200820}, pmid = {32873208}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {BB/K000489/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 110117/Z/15/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sequencing technologies have fuelled a rapid rise in descriptions of microbial communities associated with hosts, but what is often harder to ascertain is the evolutionary significance of these symbioses. Here, we review the role of vertical (VT), horizontal (HT), environmental acquisition and mixed modes of transmission (MMT), in the establishment of animal host-microbe associations. We then model four properties of gut microbiota proposed as key to promoting animal host-microbe relationships: modes of transmission, host reproductive mode, host mate choice and host fitness. We found that: (i) MMT led to the highest frequencies of host-microbe associations, and that some environmental acquisition or HT of microbes was required for persistent associations to form unless VT was perfect; (ii) host reproductive mode (sexual versus asexual) and host mate choice (for microbe carriers versus non-carriers) had little impact on the establishment of host-microbe associations; (iii) host mate choice did not itself lead to reproductive isolation, but could reinforce it; and (iv) changes in host fitness due to host-microbe associations had a minimal impact upon the formation of co-associations. When we introduced a second population, into which host-microbe carriers could disperse but in which environmental acquisition did not occur, highly efficient VT was required for host-microbe co-associations to persist. Our study reveals that transmission mode is of key importance in establishing host-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid32873201, year = {2020}, author = {Pandharikar, G and Gatti, JL and Simon, JC and Frendo, P and Poirié, M}, title = {Aphid infestation differently affects the defences of nitrate-fed and nitrogen-fixing Medicago truncatula and alters symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1934}, pages = {20201493}, pmid = {32873201}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Salicylic Acid ; Serratia ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes can meet their nitrogen requirements through root nodule symbiosis, which could also trigger plant systemic resistance against pests. The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, a legume pest, can harbour different facultative symbionts (FS) influencing various traits of their hosts. It is therefore worth determining if and how the symbionts of the plant and the aphid modulate their interaction. We used different pea aphid lines without FS or with a single one (Hamiltonella defensa, Regiella insecticola, Serratia symbiotica) to infest Medicago truncatula plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti (symbiotic nitrogen fixation, SNF) or supplemented with nitrate (non-inoculated, NI). The growth of SNF and NI plants was reduced by aphid infestation, while aphid weight (but not survival) was lowered on SNF compared to NI plants. Aphids strongly affected the plant nitrogen fixation depending on their symbiotic status, suggesting indirect relationships between aphid- and plant-associated microbes. Finally, all aphid lines triggered expression of Pathogenesis-Related Protein 1 (PR1) and Proteinase Inhibitor (PI), respective markers for salicylic and jasmonic pathways, in SNF plants, compared to only PR1 in NI plants. We demonstrate that the plant symbiotic status influences plant-aphid interactions while that of the aphid can modulate the amplitude of the plant's defence response.}, } @article {pmid32873199, year = {2020}, author = {Brückner, A and Kaltenpoth, M and Heethoff, M}, title = {De novo biosynthesis of simple aromatic compounds by an arthropod (Archegozetes longisetosus).}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1934}, pages = {20201429}, pmid = {32873199}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/enzymology/metabolism ; Fungi ; Mites/*physiology ; Organic Chemicals ; Polyketide Synthases/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ability to synthesize simple aromatic compounds is well known from bacteria, fungi and plants, which all share an exclusive biosynthetic route-the shikimic acid pathway. Some of these organisms further evolved the polyketide pathway to form core benzenoids via a head-to-tail condensation of polyketide precursors. Arthropods supposedly lack the ability to synthesize aromatics and instead rely on aromatic amino acids acquired from food, or from symbiotic microorganisms. The few studies purportedly showing de novo biosynthesis via the polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway failed to exclude endosymbiotic bacteria, so their results are inconclusive. We investigated the biosynthesis of aromatic compounds in defence secretions of the oribatid mite Archegozetes longisetosus. Exposing the mites to a diet containing high concentrations of antibiotics removed potential microbial partners but did not affect the production of defensive benzenoids. To gain insights into benzenoid biosynthesis, we fed mites with stable-isotope labelled precursors and monitored incorporation with mass spectrometry. Glucose, malonic acid and acetate, but not phenylalanine, were incorporated into the benzenoids, further evidencing autogenous biosynthesis. Whole-transcriptome sequencing with hidden Markov model profile search of protein domain families and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed a putative PKS domain similar to an actinobacterial PKS, possibly indicating a horizontal gene transfer.}, } @article {pmid32872729, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, SM and Song, IH}, title = {The clinical impact of gut microbiota in chronic kidney disease.}, journal = {The Korean journal of internal medicine}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {1305-1316}, pmid = {32872729}, issn = {2005-6648}, support = {//Dankook University/International ; }, mesh = {Dysbiosis/*etiology/microbiology/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Kidney ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Gut microorganisms play critical roles in both maintaining host homeostasis and the development of diverse diseases. Gut dysbiosis, an alteration of the composition and function of gut microorganisms, is commonly seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD itself contributes to a disruption of the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the host, while the resulting gut dysbiosis may play a part in stage progression of CKD. This bidirectional relationship supports the concept that the gut microbiota is considered a novel focus for the pathogenesis and management of CKD. This article examines the interaction between the gut microbiota and the kidney, the mutual effects of dysbiosis and CKD, and possible treatment options to restore gut eubiosis, and reduce CKD progression and its related complications.}, } @article {pmid32872625, year = {2020}, author = {Nicoletti, R and Di Vaio, C and Cirillo, C}, title = {Endophytic Fungi of Olive Tree.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32872625}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {In addition to the general interest connected with investigations on biodiversity in natural contexts, more recently the scientific community has started considering occurrence of endophytic fungi in crops in the awareness of the fundamental role played by these microorganisms on plant growth and protection. Crops such as olive tree, whose management is more and more frequently based on the paradigm of sustainable agriculture, are particularly interested in the perspective of a possible applicative employment, considering that the multi-year crop cycle implies a likely higher impact of these symbiotic interactions. Aspects concerning occurrence and effects of endophytic fungi associated with olive tree (Olea europaea) are revised in the present paper.}, } @article {pmid32872546, year = {2020}, author = {Sindi, A and Badsha, MB and Ünlü, G}, title = {Bacterial Populations in International Artisanal Kefirs.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32872546}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Artisanal kefir is a traditional fermented dairy product made using kefir grains. Kefir has documented natural antimicrobial activity and health benefits. A typical kefir microbial community includes lactic acid bacteria (LAB), acetic acid bacteria, and yeast among other species in a symbiotic matrix. In the presented work, the 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to reveal bacterial populations and elucidate the diversity and abundance of LAB species in international artisanal kefirs from Fusion Tea, Britain, the Caucuses region, Ireland, Lithuania, and South Korea. Bacterial species found in high abundance in most artisanal kefirs included Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, Lentilactobacillus kefiri,Lactobacillus ultunensis, Lactobacillus apis, Lactobacillus gigeriorum, Gluconobacter morbifer, Acetobacter orleanensis, Acetobacter pasteurianus, Acidocella aluminiidurans, and Lactobacillus helveticus. Some of these bacterial species are LAB that have been reported for their bacteriocin production capabilities and/or health promoting properties.}, } @article {pmid32872298, year = {2020}, author = {Theopold, U and Dziedziech, A and Hyrsl, P}, title = {Special Issue: Insects, Nematodes, and Their Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32872298}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {This special issue contains articles that add to the ever-expanding toolbox of insect pathogenic nematodes (entomopathogenic nematodes; EPNs) as well articles that provide new insights into the mutualistic interaction between EPNs and their hosts. The study of natural infection models such as EPNs allows detailed insight into micro- and macro-evolutionary dynamics of innate immune reactions, including known but also emerging branches of innate immunity. Additional new insights into the kinetics of EPN infections are gained by increased spatiotemporal resolution of advanced transcriptome studies and live imaging.}, } @article {pmid32869422, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, M and Zhou, Z and Zhao, P and Luo, Y and Ye, Q and Zhang, K and Song, L and Mo, J}, title = {Effects of human disturbance activities and environmental change factors on terrestrial nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {6203-6217}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.15328}, pmid = {32869422}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Humans ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen (N) fixation plays an important role in terrestrial N cycling and represents a key driver of terrestrial net primary productivity (NPP). Despite the importance of N fixation in terrestrial ecosystems, our knowledge regarding the controls on terrestrial N fixation remains poor. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis (based on 852 observations from 158 studies) of N fixation across three types of ecosystems with different status of disturbance (no management, restoration [previously disturbed], and disturbance [currently disturbed]) and in response to multiple environmental change factors (warming, elevated carbon dioxide [CO2 ], increased precipitation, increased drought, increased N deposition, and their combinations). We explored the mechanisms underlying the changes in N fixation by examining the variations in soil physicochemical properties (bulk density, texture, moisture, and pH), plant and microbial characteristics (dominant plant species numbers, plant coverage, and soil microbial biomass), and soil resources (total carbon, total N, total phosphorus (P), inorganic N, and inorganic P). Human disturbance inhibited non-symbiotic N fixation but not symbiotic N fixation. Terrestrial N fixation was stimulated by warming (+152.7%), elevated CO2 (+19.6%), and increased precipitation (+73.1%) but inhibited by increased drought (-30.4%), N deposition (-31.0%), and combinations of available multiple environmental change factors (-14.5%), the extents of which varied among biomes and ecosystem compartments. Human disturbance reduced the N fixation responses to environmental change factors, which was associated with the changes in soil physicochemical properties (2%-56%, p < .001) and the declines in plant and microbial characteristics (3%-49%, p ≤ .003) and soil resources (6%-48%, p ≤ .03). Overall, our findings reveal for the first time the effects of multiple environmental change factors on terrestrial N fixation and indicate the role of human disturbance activities in inhibiting N fixation, which can improve our understanding, modeling, and prediction of terrestrial N budgets, NPP, and ecosystem feedbacks under global change scenarios.}, } @article {pmid32867243, year = {2020}, author = {Balestrini, R and Brunetti, C and Chitarra, W and Nerva, L}, title = {Photosynthetic Traits and Nitrogen Uptake in Crops: Which Is the Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi?.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32867243}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are root symbionts that provide mineral nutrients to the host plant in exchange for carbon compounds. AM fungi positively affect several aspects of plant life, improving nutrition and leading to a better growth, stress tolerance, and disease resistance and they interact with most crop plants such as cereals, horticultural species, and fruit trees. For this reason, they receive expanding attention for the potential use in sustainable and climate-smart agriculture context. Although several positive effects have been reported on photosynthetic traits in host plants, showing improved performances under abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and extreme temperature, the involved mechanisms are still to be fully discovered. In this review, some controversy aspects related to AM symbiosis and photosynthesis performances will be discussed, with a specific focus on nitrogen acquisition-mediated by AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid32867236, year = {2020}, author = {Cegłowska, M and Szubert, K and Wieczerzak, E and Kosakowska, A and Mazur-Marzec, H}, title = {Eighteen New Aeruginosamide Variants Produced by the Baltic Cyanobacterium Limnoraphis CCNP1324.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32867236}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cyanobactins are a large family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified cyanopeptides (RiPPs). Thus far, over a hundred cyanobactins have been detected in different free-living and symbiotic cyanobacteria. The majority of these peptides have a cyclic structure. The occurrence of linear cyanobactins, aeruginosamides and virenamide, has been reported sporadically and in few cyanobacterial taxa. In the current work, the production of cyanobactins by Limnoraphis sp. CCNP1324, isolated from the brackish water Baltic Sea, has been studied for the first time. In the strain, eighteen new aeruginosamide (AEG) variants have been detected. These compounds are characterized by the presence of prenyl and thiazole groups. A common element of AEGs produced by Limnoraphis sp. CCNP1324 is the sequence of the three C-terminal residues containing proline, pyrrolidine and methyl ester of thiazolidyne-4-carboxylic acid (Pro-Pyr-TzlCOOMe) or thiazolidyne-4-carboxylic acid (Pro-Pyr-TzlCOOH). The aeruginosamides with methylhomotyrosine (MeHTyr[1]) and with the unidentified N-terminal amino acids showed strong cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cells (T47D).}, } @article {pmid32866324, year = {2021}, author = {Lamin, H and Alami, S and Bouhnik, O and Bennis, M and Benkritly, S and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and Missbah-El Idrissi, M}, title = {Identification of the endosymbionts from Sulla spinosissima growing in a lead mine tailings in Eastern Morocco as Mesorhizobium camelthorni sv. aridi.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {130}, number = {3}, pages = {948-959}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14834}, pmid = {32866324}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Lead/*metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*physiology ; *Mining ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To identify the bacteria nodulating Sulla spinosissima growing profusely in a lead and zinc mine tailings in Eastern Morocco.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In all, 32 rhizobial cultures, isolated from root nodules of S. spinosissima growing in soils of the mining site, were tolerant to different heavy metals. The ERIC-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting analysis clustered the isolates into seven different groups, and the analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences of four selected representative strains, showed they were related to different species of the genus Mesorhizobium. The atpD, glnII and recA housekeeping genes analysis confirmed the affiliation of the four representative strains to Mesorhizobium camelthorni CCNWXJ40-4[T] , with similarity percentages varying from 96·30 to 98·30%. The sequences of the nifH gene had 97·33-97·78% similarities with that of M. camelthorni CCNWXJ40-4[T] ; however, the nodC phylogeny of the four strains diverged from the type and other reference strains of M. camelthorni and formed a separated cluster. The four strains nodulate also Astragalus gombiformis and A. armatus but did not nodulate A. boeticus, Vachellia gummifera, Prosopis chilensis, Cicer arietinum, Lens culinaris, Medicago truncatula, Lupinus luteus or Phaseolus vulgaris.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on similarities of the nodC symbiotic gene and differences in the host range, the strains isolated from S. spinosissima growing in soils of the Sidi Boubker mining site may form a different symbiovar within Mesorhizobium for which the name aridi is proposed.

In this work, we show that strains of M. camelthorni species nodulating S. spinosissima in the arid area of Eastern Morocco constitute a distinct phylogenetic clade of nodulation genes; we named symbiovar aridi, which encompasses also mesorhizobia from other Mediterranean desert legumes.}, } @article {pmid32866211, year = {2020}, author = {Hossfeld, DJ and Ling, L and Cohen, CS}, title = {Experimental investigation of tidal and freshwater influence on Symbiodiniaceae abundance in Anthopleura elegantissima.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {e0238361}, pmid = {32866211}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Fresh Water ; Hot Temperature ; San Francisco ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The San Francisco Bay outflow creates a tidally influenced low-salinity plume that affects adjacent coastal sites. In the study region, Anthopleura elegantissima (Cnidaria; Anthozoa) hosts a single symbiont, the dinoflagellate Breviolum muscatinei. Salinity, temperature, and aerial stress induce a bleaching response similar to corals where symbionts are expelled, causing further energetic stress. Using field observations of environmental conditions and symbiont abundance at sites on a gradient of exposure to estuarine outflow, along with a fully crossed multifactorial lab experiment, we tested for changes in symbiont abundance in response to various combinations of three stressors. Lab experiments were designed to mimic short term outflow events with low salinity, high temperature, and aerial exposure treatments. The lab aerial exposure treatment was a statistically significant factor in suppressing symbiont repopulation (ANOVA, p = .017). In the field, symbiont density decreased with increasing tidal height at the site closest to freshwater outflow (ANOVA, p = .007), suggesting that aerial exposure may affect symbiont density more than sea surface temperature and salinity. Unanticipated documentation of survival in 9 months of sand burial and subsequent repopulation of symbionts is reported as a six-month extension to past observations, exemplifying strong tolerance to environmental insult in this Cnidarian mutualism. The study of this symbiosis is useful in examining predicted changes in ocean conditions in tidepool communities and considering relative sources of stress.}, } @article {pmid32865563, year = {2020}, author = {Luo, Y and Liu, D and Jiao, S and Liu, S and Wang, X and Shen, X and Wei, G}, title = {Identification of Robinia pseudoacacia target proteins responsive to Mesorhizobium amphore CCNWGS0123 effector protein NopT.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {22}, pages = {7347-7363}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa405}, pmid = {32865563}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Mesorhizobium ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; *Robinia/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodulation outer proteins secreted via type 3 secretion systems are involved in the process of symbiosis between legume plants and rhizobia. To study the function of NopT in symbiosis, we mutated nopT in Mesorhizobium amphore CCNWGS0123 (GS0123), which can nodulate black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). The nopT mutant induced higher levels of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in the roots of R. pseudoacacia compared with wild-type GS0123. The ΔnopT mutant induced higher disease-resistant gene expression 72 hours post-inoculation (hpi), whereas GS0123 induced higher disease-resistant gene expression earlier, at 36 hpi. Compared with the nopT mutant, GS0123 induced the up-regulation of most genes at 36 hpi and the down-regulation of most genes at 72 hpi. Proteolytically active NopT_GS0123 induced hypersensitive responses when expressed transiently in tobacco leaves (Nicotiana benthamiana). Two NopT_GS0123 targets in R. pseudoacacia were identified, ATP-citrate synthase alpha chain protein 2 and hypersensitive-induced response protein. Their interactions with NopT_GS0123 triggered resistance by the plant immune system. In conclusion, NopT_GS0123 inhibited the host plant immune system and had minimal effect on nodulation in R. pseudoacacia. Our results reveal the underlying molecular mechanism of NopT function in plant-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid32862323, year = {2020}, author = {Keller, J and Delcros, P and Libourel, C and Cabello-Hurtado, F and Aïnouche, A}, title = {DELLA family duplication events lead to different selective constraints in angiosperms.}, journal = {Genetica}, volume = {148}, number = {5-6}, pages = {243-251}, doi = {10.1007/s10709-020-00102-6}, pmid = {32862323}, issn = {1573-6857}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Duplication ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Magnoliopsida/classification/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Gibberellic acid (GA) is a major plant hormone involved in several biological processes from the flowering to the symbiosis with microorganisms. Thus, the GA regulation is crucial for plant biology. This regulation occurs via the DELLA proteins that belong to the GRAS transcription factor family. DELLA proteins are characterised by a DELLA N-terminal and a GRAS C-terminal domains. It is well known that DELLA activity appears after the bryophytes divergence and then evolved in the vascular plant lineages. Here we present the phylogeny of DELLA across 75 species belonging to various lineages from algae, liverworts and angiosperms. Our study confirmed two main duplication events, the first occurring before the angiosperms divergence and the other specific to the eudicots lineage. Comparative analysis of DELLA subclades in angiosperms revealed the loss in Poaceae and strong alteration in other species of the DELLA functional domain in the DELLA2 clade. In addition, molecular evolution analysis suggests that each of the clades (named DELLA1.1, DELLA1.2 and DELLA2) evolved differently but copies of each subclade are under strong purifying selection. This also suggests that, although the DELLA functional domain is altered in DELLA2, DELLA2 orthologs are still functional and operate in a different way compared to DELLA1 copies. In angiosperms, additional duplication events occurred and led to duplicate copies in species, genus or family such as in the Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae. This duplication led to the formation of additional paralogs in the DELLA1.2 subclade (DELLA1.2.1 and DELLA1.2.2). Interestingly, both copies appeared to be under relaxing selection revealing different evolutionary fate of the DELLA duplicated copies.}, } @article {pmid32859597, year = {2020}, author = {Li, L and Wang, M and Li, L and Du, Z and Sun, Y and Wang, X and Zhang, X and Li, C}, title = {Endosymbionts of Metazoans Dwelling in the PACManus Hydrothermal Vent: Diversity and Potential Adaptive Features Revealed by Genome Analysis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {32859597}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gastropoda/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; Mytilidae/*microbiology ; Pacific Ocean ; Papua New Guinea ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities are dominated by invertebrates, namely, bathymodiolin mussels, siboglinid tubeworms, and provannid snails. Symbiosis is considered key to successful colonization by these sedentary species in such extreme environments. In the PACManus vent fields, snails, tubeworms, and mussels each colonized a niche with distinct geochemical characteristics. To better understand the metabolic potentials and genomic features contributing to host-environment adaptation, we compared the genomes of the symbionts of Bathymodiolus manusensis, Arcovestia ivanovi, and Alviniconcha boucheti sampled at PACManus, and we discuss their environmentally adaptive features. We found that B. manusensis and A. ivanovi are colonized by Gammaproteobacteria from distinct clades, whereas endosymbionts of B. manusensis feature high intraspecific heterogeneity with differing metabolic potentials. A. boucheti harbored three novel Epsilonproteobacteria symbionts, suggesting potential species-level diversity of snail symbionts. Genome comparisons revealed that the relative abundance of gene families related to low-pH homeostasis, metal resistance, oxidative stress resistance, environmental sensing/responses, and chemotaxis and motility was the highest in A. ivanovi's symbiont, followed by symbionts of the vent-mouth-dwelling snail A. boucheti, and was relatively low in the symbiont of the vent-periphery-dwelling mussel B. manusensis, which is consistent with their environmental adaptations and host-symbiont interactions. Gene families classified as encoding host interaction/attachment, virulence factors/toxins, and eukaryotic-like proteins were most abundant in symbionts of mussels and least abundant in those of snails, indicating that these symbionts may differ in their host colonization strategies. Comparison of Epsilonproteobacteria symbionts to nonsymbionts demonstrated that the expanded gene families in symbionts were related to vitamin B12 synthesis, toxin-antitoxin systems, methylation, and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, suggesting that these are vital to symbiont establishment and development in EpsilonproteobacteriaIMPORTANCE Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are dominated by several invertebrate species. The establishment of symbiosis has long been thought to be the key to successful colonization by these sedentary species in such harsh environments. However, the relationships between symbiotic bacteria and their hosts and their role in environmental adaptations generally remain unclear. In this paper, we show that the distribution of three host species showed characteristic niche partitioning in the Manus Basin, giving us the opportunity to understand how they adapt to their particular habitats. This study also revealed three novel genomes of symbionts from the snails of A. boucheti Combined with a data set on other ectosymbiont and free-living bacteria, genome comparisons for the snail endosymbionts pointed to several genetic traits that may have contributed to the lifestyle shift of Epsilonproteobacteria into the epithelial cells. These findings could increase our understanding of invertebrate-endosymbiont relationships in deep-sea ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32859113, year = {2020}, author = {Labudda, M and Różańska, E and Gietler, M and Fidler, J and Muszyńska, E and Prabucka, B and Morkunas, I}, title = {Cyst Nematode Infection Elicits Alteration in the Level of Reactive Nitrogen Species, Protein S-Nitrosylation and Nitration, and Nitrosoglutathione Reductase in Arabidopsis thaliana Roots.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32859113}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are redox molecules important for plant defense against pathogens. The aim of the study was to determine whether the infection by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii disrupts RNS balance in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. For this purpose, measurements of nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO[-]), protein S-nitrosylation and nitration, and nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) in A. thaliana roots from 1 day to 15 days post-inoculation (dpi) were performed. The cyst nematode infection caused generation of NO and ONOO[-] in the infected roots. These changes were accompanied by an expansion of S-nitrosylated and nitrated proteins. The enzyme activity of GSNOR was decreased at 3 and 15 dpi and increased at 7 dpi in infected roots, whereas the GSNOR1 transcript level was enhanced over the entire examination period. The protein content of GSNOR was increased in infected roots at 3 dpi and 7 dpi, but at 15 dpi, did not differ between uninfected and infected roots. The protein of GSNOR was detected in plastids, mitochondria, cytoplasm, as well as endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic membranes. We postulate that RNS metabolism plays an important role in plant defense against the beet cyst nematode and helps the fine-tuning of the infected plants to stress sparked by phytoparasitic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid32858792, year = {2020}, author = {Valadares, RBS and Perotto, S and Lucheta, AR and Santos, EC and Oliveira, RM and Lambais, MR}, title = {Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Indicate Metabolic Changes and Reduced Defense Responses in Mycorrhizal Roots of Oeceoclades maculata (Orchidaceae) Collected in Nature.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32858792}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Orchids form endomycorrhizal associations with fungi mainly belonging to basidiomycetes. The molecular events taking place in orchid mycorrhiza are poorly understood, although the cellular changes necessary to accommodate the fungus and to control nutrient exchanges imply a modulation of gene expression. Here, we used proteomics and transcriptomics to identify changes in the steady-state levels of proteins and transcripts in the roots of the green terrestrial orchid Oeceoclades maculata. When mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots from the same individuals were compared, 94 proteins showed differential accumulation using the label-free protein quantitation approach, 86 using isobaric tagging and 60 using 2D-differential electrophoresis. After de novo assembly of transcriptomic data, 11,179 plant transcripts were found to be differentially expressed, and 2175 were successfully annotated. The annotated plant transcripts allowed the identification of up- and down-regulated metabolic pathways. Overall, proteomics and transcriptomics revealed, in mycorrhizal roots, increased levels of transcription factors and nutrient transporters, as well as ethylene-related proteins. The expression pattern of proteins and transcripts involved in plant defense responses suggested that plant defense was reduced in O. maculata mycorrhizal roots sampled in nature. These results expand our current knowledge towards a better understanding of the orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis in adult plants under natural conditions.}, } @article {pmid32858775, year = {2020}, author = {Lindsay, EC and Metcalfe, NB and Llewellyn, MS}, title = {The potential role of the gut microbiota in shaping host energetics and metabolic rate.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {89}, number = {11}, pages = {2415-2426}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13327}, pmid = {32858775}, issn = {1365-2656}, support = {BB/P001203/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; Fishes ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is increasingly recognized that symbiotic microbiota (especially those present in the gut) have important influences on the functioning of their host. Here, we review the interplay between this microbial community and the growth, metabolic rate and nutritional energy harvest of the host. We show how recent developments in experimental and analytical methods have allowed much easier characterization of the nature, and increasingly the functioning, of the gut microbiota. Manipulation studies that remove or augment gut microorganisms or transfer them between hosts have allowed unprecedented insights into their impact. Whilst much of the information to date has come from studies of laboratory model organisms, recent studies have used a more diverse range of host species, including those living in natural conditions, revealing their ecological relevance. The gut microbiota can provide the host with dietary nutrients that would be otherwise unobtainable, as well as allow the host flexibility in its capacity to cope with changing environments. The composition of the gut microbial community of a species can vary seasonally or when the host moves between environments (e.g. fresh and sea water in the case of migratory fish). It can also change with host diet choice, metabolic rate (or demands) and life stage. These changes in gut microbial community composition enable the host to live within different environments, adapt to seasonal changes in diet and maintain performance throughout its entire life history, highlighting the ecological relevance of the gut microbiota. Whilst it is evident that gut microbes can underpin host metabolic plasticity, the causal nature of associations between particular microorganisms and host performance is not always clear unless a manipulative approach has been used. Many studies have focussed on a correlative approach by characterizing microbial community composition, but there is now a need for more experimental studies in both wild and laboratory-based environments, to reveal the true role of gut microbiota in influencing the functioning of their hosts, including its capacity to tolerate environmental change. We highlight areas where these would be particularly fruitful in the context of ecological energetics.}, } @article {pmid32858771, year = {2020}, author = {Kenkel, CD and Mocellin, VJL and Bay, LK}, title = {Global gene expression patterns in Porites white patch syndrome: Disentangling symbiont loss from the thermal stress response in reef-building coral.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {20}, pages = {3907-3920}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15608}, pmid = {32858771}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Chlorophyll A ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The mechanisms resulting in the breakdown of the coral symbiosis once the process of bleaching has been initiated remain unclear. Distinguishing the process of symbiont loss from the thermal stress response may shed light on the cellular and molecular pathways involved in each process. This study examined physiological changes and global gene expression patterns associated with white patch syndrome (WPS) in Porites lobata, which manifests in localized bleaching independent of thermal stress. In addition, a meta-analysis of global gene expression studies in other corals and anemones was used to contrast differential regulation as a result of disease and thermal stress from patterns correlated with symbiotic state. Symbiont density, chlorophyll a content, holobiont productivity, instant calcification rate, and total host protein content were uniformly reduced in WPS relative to healthy tissue. While expression patterns associated with WPS were secondary to fixed effects of source colony, specific functional enrichments combined with a lack of immune regulation suggest that the viral infection putatively giving rise to this condition affects symbiont rather than host cells. Expression in response to WPS also clustered independently of patterns in white syndrome impacted A. hyacinthus, further supporting a distinct aetiology of this syndrome. Expression patterns in WPS-affected tissues were significantly correlated with prior studies that examined short-term thermal stress responses independent of symbiotic state, suggesting that the majority of expression changes reflect a nonspecific stress response. Across studies, the magnitude and direction of expression change among particular functional enrichments suggests unique responses to stressor duration and highlights distinct responses to bleaching in an anemone model.}, } @article {pmid32856070, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, D and Wang, Q and Jing, G and Ma, M and Li, C and Ma, F}, title = {Overexpression of MdIAA24 improves apple drought resistance by positively regulating strigolactone biosynthesis and mycorrhization.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {134-146}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaa109}, pmid = {32856070}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Droughts ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Lactones ; *Malus ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plant species have the ability to establish a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These fungi penetrate into root cortical cells and form branched structures (known as arbuscules) for nutrient exchange. We cloned the MdIAA24 from apple (Malus domestica) following its up-regulation during AM symbiosis. Results demonstrate the positive impact of the overexpression (OE) of MdIAA24 in apple on AM colonization. We observed the strigolactone (SL) synthesis genes, including MdD27, MdCCD7, MdCCD8a, MdCCD8b and MdMAXa, to be up-regulated in the OE lines. Thus, the OE lines exhibited both a higher SL content and colonization rate. Furthermore, we observed that the OE lines were able to maintain better growth parameters under AM inoculation conditions. Under drought stress with the AM inoculation, the OE lines were less damaged, which was demonstrated by a higher relative water content, a lower relative electrolytic leakage, a greater osmotic adjustment, a higher reactive oxygen species scavenging ability, an improved gas exchange capacity and an increased chlorophyll fluorescence performance. Our findings demonstrate that the OE of MdIAA24 in apple positively regulates the synthesis of SL and the formation of arbuscules as a drought stress coping mechanism.}, } @article {pmid32854603, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, X and Li, K and Luo, HM and Han, S and Liu, Q and Tan, G and Li, R and Li, F}, title = {The occurrence of Pea enation mosaic virus 1 and Pea enation mosaic virus 2 from disease-affected pea fields in China.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-05-20-1123-PDN}, pmid = {32854603}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an economically important legume crop that is commonly used as dry beans, fresh peas, pods and shoots (Guo et al. 2009). Pea enation mosaic is an important virus disease of pea caused by two viruses in an obligate symbiosis, pea enation mosaic virus 1 (PEMV-1, Enamovirus, Luteoviridae) and pea enation mosaic virus 2 (PEMV-2, Umbravirus, Tombusviridae) (Hema et al. 2014). In November 2019, foliar yellow mosaic and vein enations symptoms were observed from pea plants in five fields of Honghe autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, China. Incidence of symptomatic plants ranged from 20 to 40% and was distributed in both small and large fields. Leaves with typical virus-like symptoms were collected from five symptomatic pea plants in two fields and used for total RNA extraction. The five extracts of equimolar quantities were pooled into a sample and subjected to High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) by Illumina HiSeq system. Analyses of raw RNA reads were performed using CLC Genomics Workbench 12 (Qiagen). A total of 60,009,746 RNA reads were obtained from the sample, and de novo assembly of the reads using the CLC Genomics generated 88,105 contigs. BLASTN searches revealed the presence of contigs with high similarities to PEMV-1, PEMV-2, Pea seed-borne mosaic virus, and Bean yellow mosaic virus. To confirm the presence of PEMV-1 and PEMV-2 in the samples, two virus-specific primer pairs were designed based on the contig sequences obtained by HTS in this study. Primer pairs PEMV-1F/PEMV-1R (5'-ATGCCGACTAGATCGAAATC-3'/5'-TCAGAGGGAGGCATTCATTA-3') that flank the cp gene of PEMV-1 and PEMV-2F/PEMV-2R (5'-ATGACGATAATCATTAATG-3'/5'-TCACCCGTAGTGAGAGGCA-3') that target the ORF3 region of PEMV-2 were used to amplify the two viruses in RT-PCR. DNA fragments of the expected sizes (PEMV-1, 570 bp; PEMV-2, 693 bp) were amplified from all five samples. The RT-PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the 570-bp amplicon (MT481989) shared the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 98.95% with PEMV-1 (Z48507), while the 693-bp fragment (MT481990) had the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 97.4% with PEMV-2 isolate JKI (MK948534). One gram of the symptomatic leaves from each of the five plants was homogenized with 5 mL of 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS buffer), pH 7.0. Each of the resulted saps was used to inoculate onto five healthy pea seedlings. A total of 25 healthy pea seedlings were inoculated, and 16 inoculated plants developed yellowing and mottling at 10 days post inoculation (dpi); no symptoms were observed on control plants inoculated only with PBS buffer. The formation of the typical enation was observed along the veins of lower side of the symptomatic leaves of the inoculated plants at 30 dpi. PEMV-1 and PEMV-2 infection were confirmed by RT-PCR assays using the specific primer pairs described above. Although the presence of the pea enation mosaic virus complex was suspected in China based on symptomatology (Brunt et al. 1997), to our knowledge, this is the first molecular confirmation of PEMV-1 and PEMV-2 occurrence in China. The co-infection of PEMV-1 and PEMV-2 usually cause severe yield losses; therefore, integration of detection and control measures is important in pea production regions where the two viruses occurred.}, } @article {pmid32854423, year = {2020}, author = {Hida, T and Kamiya, T and Kawakami, A and Ogino, J and Sohma, H and Uhara, H and Jimbow, K}, title = {Elucidation of Melanogenesis Cascade for Identifying Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approach of Pigmentary Disorders and Melanoma.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {32854423}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Melanins/metabolism ; Melanocytes/cytology/metabolism ; Melanoma/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor/*metabolism ; Pigmentation Disorders/drug therapy/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Melanogenesis is the biological and biochemical process of melanin and melanosome biosynthesis. Melanin is formed by enzymic reactions of tyrosinase family proteins that convert tyrosine to form brown-black eumelanin and yellow-red pheomelanin within melanosomal compartments in melanocytes, following the cascades of events interacting with a series of autocrine and paracrine signals. Fully melanized melanosomes are delivered to keratinocytes of the skin and hair. The symbiotic relation of a melanocyte and an associated pool of keratinocytes is called epidermal melanin unit (EMU). Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) plays a vital role in melanocyte development and differentiation. MITF regulates expression of numerous pigmentation genes for promoting melanocyte differentiation, as well as fundamental genes for maintaining cell homeostasis. Diseases involving alterations of EMU show various forms of pigmentation phenotypes. This review introduces four major topics of melanogenesis cascade that include (1) melanocyte development and differentiation, (2) melanogenesis and intracellular trafficking for melanosome biosynthesis, (3) melanin pigmentation and pigment-type switching, and (4) development of a novel therapeutic approach for malignant melanoma by elucidation of melanogenesis cascade.}, } @article {pmid32854186, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, J and Yan, B and Tang, Y and Xing, Y and Li, Y and Zhou, D and Guo, S}, title = {Symbiotic and Asymbiotic Germination of Dendrobium officinale (Orchidaceae) Respond Differently to Exogenous Gibberellins.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {32854186}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/drug effects/*growth & development ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Germination ; Gibberellins/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development ; Orchidaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Seeds/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Seeds of almost all orchids depend on mycorrhizal fungi to induce their germination in the wild. The regulation of this symbiotic germination of orchid seeds involves complex crosstalk interactions between mycorrhizal establishment and the germination process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gibberellins (GAs) on the symbiotic germination of Dendrobium officinale seeds and its functioning in the mutualistic interaction between orchid species and their mycobionts. To do this, we used liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer to quantify endogenous hormones across different development stages between symbiotic and asymbiotic germination of D. officinale, as well as real-time quantitative PCR to investigate gene expression levels during seed germination under the different treatment concentrations of exogenous gibberellic acids (GA3). Our results showed that the level of endogenous GA3 was not significantly different between the asymbiotic and symbiotic germination groups, but the ratio of GA3 and abscisic acids (ABA) was significantly higher during symbiotic germination than asymbiotic germination. Exogenous GA3 treatment showed that a high concentration of GA3 could inhibit fungal colonization in the embryo cell and decrease the seed germination rate, but did not significantly affect asymbiotic germination or the growth of the free-living fungal mycelium. The expression of genes involved in the common symbiotic pathway (e.g., calcium-binding protein and calcium-dependent protein kinase) responded to the changed concentrations of exogenous GA3. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GA3 is probably a key signal molecule for crosstalk between the seed germination pathway and mycorrhiza symbiosis during the orchid seed symbiotic germination.}, } @article {pmid32854122, year = {2021}, author = {Menegatti, C and Fukuda, TTH and Pupo, MT}, title = {Chemical Ecology in Insect-microbe Interactions in the Neotropics.}, journal = {Planta medica}, volume = {87}, number = {1-02}, pages = {38-48}, doi = {10.1055/a-1229-9435}, pmid = {32854122}, issn = {1439-0221}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Brazil ; Fungi ; *Insecta ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Small molecules frequently mediate symbiotic interactions between microorganisms and their hosts. Brazil harbors the highest diversity of insects in the world; however, just recently, efforts have been directed to deciphering the chemical signals involved in the symbioses of microorganisms and social insects. The current scenario of natural products research guided by chemical ecology is discussed in this review. Two groups of social insects have been prioritized in the studies, fungus-farming ants and stingless bees, leading to the identification of natural products involved in defensive and nutritional symbioses. Some of the compounds also present potential pharmaceutical applications as antimicrobials, and this is likely related to their ecological roles. Microbial symbioses in termites and wasps are suggested promising sources of biologically active small molecules. Aspects related to public policies for insect biodiversity preservation are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid32853463, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, R and Gols, R and Harvey, JA and Reichelt, M and Gershenzon, J and Pandit, SS and Vassão, DG}, title = {Detoxification of plant defensive glucosinolates by an herbivorous caterpillar is beneficial to its endoparasitic wasp.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {20}, pages = {4014-4031}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15613}, pmid = {32853463}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Glucosinolates ; Herbivory ; Larva ; *Moths ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Plant chemical defences impact not only herbivores, but also organisms in higher trophic levels that prey on or parasitize herbivores. While herbivorous insects can often detoxify plant chemicals ingested from suitable host plants, how such detoxification affects endoparasitoids that use these herbivores as hosts is largely unknown. Here, we used transformed plants to experimentally manipulate the major detoxification reaction used by Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth) to deactivate the glucosinolate defences of its Brassicaceae host plants. We then assessed the developmental, metabolic, immune, and reproductive consequences of this genetic manipulation on the herbivore as well as its hymenopteran endoparasitoid Diadegma semiclausum. Inhibition of P. xylostella glucosinolate metabolism by plant-mediated RNA interference increased the accumulation of the principal glucosinolate activation products, the toxic isothiocyanates, in the herbivore, with negative effects on its growth. Although the endoparasitoid manipulated the excretion of toxins by its insect host to its own advantage, the inhibition of herbivore glucosinolate detoxification slowed endoparasitoid development, impaired its reproduction, and suppressed the expression of genes of a parasitoid-symbiotic polydnavirus that aids parasitism. Therefore, the detoxification of plant glucosinolates by an herbivore lowers its toxicity as a host and benefits the parasitoid D. semiclausum at multiple levels.}, } @article {pmid32853430, year = {2020}, author = {Mohamed, AR and Andrade, N and Moya, A and Chan, CX and Negri, AP and Bourne, DG and Ying, H and Ball, EE and Miller, DJ}, title = {Dual RNA-sequencing analyses of a coral and its native symbiont during the establishment of symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {20}, pages = {3921-3937}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15612}, pmid = {32853430}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; RNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Despite the ecological significance of the mutualistic relationship between Symbiodiniaceae and reef-building corals, the molecular interactions during establishment of this relationship are not well understood. This is particularly true of the transcriptional changes that occur in the symbiont. In the current study, a dual RNA-sequencing approach was used to better understand transcriptional changes on both sides of the coral-symbiont interaction during the colonization of Acropora tenuis by a compatible Symbiodiniaceae strain (Cladocopium goreaui; ITS2 type C1). Comparison of transcript levels of the in hospite symbiont 3, 12, 48 and 72 hr after exposure to those of the same strain in culture revealed that extensive and generalized down-regulation of symbiont gene expression occurred during the infection process. Included in this "symbiosis-derived transcriptional repression" were a range of stress response and immune-related genes. In contrast, a suite of symbiont genes implicated in metabolism was upregulated in the symbiotic state. The coral data support the hypothesis that immune-suppression and arrest of phagosome maturation play important roles during the establishment of compatible symbioses, and additionally imply the involvement of some SCRiP family members in the colonization process. Consistent with previous ecological studies, the transcriptomic data suggest that active translocation of metabolites to the host may begin early in the colonization process, and thus that the mutualistic relationship can be established at the larval stage. This dual RNA-sequencing study provides insights into the transcriptomic remodelling that occurs in C. goreaui during transition to a symbiotic lifestyle and the novel coral genes implicated in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32849748, year = {2020}, author = {Stefani, F and Dupont, S and Laterrière, M and Knox, R and Ruan, Y and Hamel, C and Hijri, M}, title = {Similar Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in 31 Durum Wheat Cultivars (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) Under Field Conditions in Eastern Canada.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1206}, pmid = {32849748}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Wheat is among the important crops harnessed by humans whose breeding efforts resulted in a diversity of genotypes with contrasting traits. The goal of this study was to determine whether different old and new cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) recruit specific arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities from indigenous AM fungal populations of soil under field conditions. A historical set of five landraces and 26 durum wheat cultivars were field cultivated in a humid climate in Eastern Canada, under phosphorus-limiting conditions. To characterize the community of AMF inhabiting bulk soil, rhizosphere, and roots, MiSeq amplicon sequencing targeting the 18S rRNA gene (SSU) was performed on total DNAs using a nested PCR approach. Mycorrhizal colonization was estimated using root staining and microscope observations. A total of 317 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified as belonging to Glomeromycota. The core AM fungal community (i.e., ASVs present in > 50% of the samples) in the soil, rhizosphere, and root included 29, 30, and 29 ASVs, respectively. ASVs from the genera Funneliformis, Claroideoglomus, and Rhizophagus represented 37%, 18.6%, and 14.7% of the sequences recovered in the rarefied dataset, respectively. The two most abundant ASVs had sequence homology with the 18S sequences from well-identified herbarium cultures of Funneliformis mosseae BEG12 and Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198, while the third most abundant ASV was assigned to the genus Paraglomus. Cultivars showed no significant difference of the percentage of root colonization ranging from 57.8% in Arnautka to 84.0% in AC Navigator. Cultivars were generally associated with similar soil, rhizosphere, and root communities, but the abundance of F. mosseae, R. irregularis, and Claroideoglomus sp. sequences varied in Eurostar, Golden Ball, and Wakooma. Although these results were obtained in one field trial using a non-restricted pool of durum wheat and at the time of sampling, that may have filtered the community in biotopes. The low genetic variation between durum wheat cultivars for the diversity of AM symbiosis at the species level suggests breeding resources need not be committed to leveraging plant selective influence through the use of traditional methods for genotype development.}, } @article {pmid32849727, year = {2020}, author = {Reinprecht, Y and Schram, L and Marsolais, F and Smith, TH and Hill, B and Pauls, KP}, title = {Effects of Nitrogen Application on Nitrogen Fixation in Common Bean Production.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1172}, pmid = {32849727}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The nitrogen fixing ability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in association with rhizobia is often characterized as poor compared to other legumes, and nitrogen fertilizers are commonly used in bean production to achieve high yields, which in general inhibits nitrogen fixation. In addition, plants cannot take up all the nitrogen applied to the soil as a fertilizer leading to runoff and groundwater contamination. The overall objective of this work is to reduce use of nitrogen fertilizer in common bean production. This would be a major advance in profitability for the common bean industry in Canada and would significantly improve the ecological footprint of the crop. In the current work, 22 bean genotypes [including recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the Mist × Sanilac population and a non-nodulating mutant (R99)] were screened for their capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen under four nitrogen regimes. The genotypes were evaluated in replicated field trials on N-poor soils over three years for the percent nitrogen derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa), yield, and a number of yield-related traits. Bean genotypes differed for all analyzed traits, and the level of nitrogen significantly affected most of the traits, including %Ndfa and yield in all three years. In contrast, application of rhizobia significantly affected only few traits, and the effect was inconsistent among the years. Nitrogen application reduced symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) to various degrees in different bean genotypes. This variation suggests that SNF in common bean can be improved through breeding and selection for the ability of bean genotypes to fix nitrogen in the presence of reduced fertilizer levels. Moreover, genotypes like RIL_38, RIL_119, and RIL_131, being both high yielding and good nitrogen fixers, have potential for simultaneous improvement of both traits. However, breeding advancement might be slow due to an inconsistent correlation between these traits.}, } @article {pmid32849571, year = {2020}, author = {Benjelloun, F and Quillay, H and Cannou, C and Marlin, R and Madec, Y and Fernandez, H and Chrétien, F and Le Grand, R and Barré-Sinoussi, F and Nugeyre, MT and Menu, E}, title = {Activation of Toll-Like Receptors Differentially Modulates Inflammation in the Human Reproductive Tract: Preliminary Findings.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1655}, pmid = {32849571}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles/*pharmacology ; Immunity, Mucosal/drug effects ; Inflammation Mediators/*metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects/immunology/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/*pharmacology ; Lymphocytes/*drug effects/immunology/metabolism ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/*pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Poly I-C/*pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors/*agonists/metabolism ; Uterus/*drug effects/immunology/metabolism ; Vagina/*drug effects/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The female reproductive tract (FRT) is the main site of entry of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize pathogenic motifs are widely expressed in the FRT. TLR stimulation induces immune activation and local production of inflammatory mediators. In the FRT, this response should also be compatible with reproductive functions and symbiosis with host microbiota. With a view to develop efficient mucosal vaccines to prevent STI acquisition, the role of TLR ligands in the FRT needs to be explored. We have therefore investigated the cytokine profiles of the different compartments of the FRT (vagina, endocervix, ectocervix, and uterus) before and after stimulation of mononuclear cells from human tissue specimens. The comparison with PBMCs allowed us to highlight the FRT specificities. We first characterized the main immune cell populations in each compartment and observed that their distribution was different through the compartments. The CD45[+] cells represented a maximum of 11% in the FRT in contrast to 96% in PBMCs. We identified two main populations among the CD45[+] cells in the four compartments of the FRT: CD3[+] T cells (CD4[+] and CD8[+]) and CD14[+] APCs. B cell populations (CD19[+]) were much less frequent than T cells in all the FRT regions and were equally distributed. NK CD56[+] cells were detected in all compartments and were more abundant in the uterus. Stimulation of the mononuclear cells was then performed with TLR agonists: R848 for TLR7/8, Poly I:C for TLR3, LPS for TLR4 and ODN CpG for TLR9. Cytokine levels in unstimulated cultures of cells isolated from all FRT compartments were higher than in cultures of unstimulated PBMCs. In contrast, after stimulation with TLR agonists, cytokine responses induced by TLR agonists were moderate in the FRT and significantly lower than in PBMCs. These responses were varied with different TLR ligands and FRT compartments. The cytokine profile induced by TLR activation in the FRT supports the role of these tissues in genital anti-microbial immunity and in the control of inflammation while allowing maintenance of its reproductive function.}, } @article {pmid32849442, year = {2020}, author = {Busck, MM and Settepani, V and Bechsgaard, J and Lund, MB and Bilde, T and Schramm, A}, title = {Microbiomes and Specific Symbionts of Social Spiders: Compositional Patterns in Host Species, Populations, and Nests.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1845}, pmid = {32849442}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Social spiders have remarkably low species-wide genetic diversities, potentially increasing the relative importance of microbial symbionts for host fitness. Here we explore the bacterial microbiomes of three species of social Stegodyphus (S. dumicola, S. mimosarum, and S. sarasinorum), within and between populations, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The microbiomes of the three spider species were distinct but shared similarities in membership and structure. This included low overall diversity (Shannon index 0.5-1.7), strong dominance of single symbionts in individual spiders (McNaughton's dominance index 0.68-0.93), and a core microbiome (>50% prevalence) consisting of 5-7 specific symbionts. The most abundant and prevalent symbionts were classified as Chlamydiales, Borrelia, and Mycoplasma, all representing novel, presumably Stegodyphus-specific lineages. Borrelia- and Mycoplasma-like symbionts were localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the spider midgut. The microbiomes of individual spiders were highly similar within nests but often very different between nests from the same population, with only the microbiome of S. sarasinorum consistently reflecting host population structure. The weak population pattern in microbiome composition renders microbiome-facilitated local adaptation unlikely. However, the retention of specific symbionts across populations and species may indicate a recurrent acquisition from environmental vectors or an essential symbiotic contribution to spider phenotype.}, } @article {pmid32849422, year = {2020}, author = {Burns, JA and Kerney, R and Duhamel, S}, title = {Heterotrophic Carbon Fixation in a Salamander-Alga Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1815}, pmid = {32849422}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The unique symbiosis between a vertebrate salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, and unicellular green alga, Oophila amblystomatis, involves multiple modes of interaction. These include an ectosymbiotic interaction where the alga colonizes the egg capsule, and an intracellular interaction where the alga enters tissues and cells of the salamander. One common interaction in mutualist photosymbioses is the transfer of photosynthate from the algal symbiont to the host animal. In the A. maculatum-O. amblystomatis interaction, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether the algae in the egg capsule transfer chemical energy captured during photosynthesis to the developing salamander embryo. In experiments where we took care to separate the carbon fixation contributions of the salamander embryo and algal symbionts, we show that inorganic carbon fixed by A. maculatum embryos reaches 2% of the inorganic carbon fixed by O. amblystomatis algae within an egg capsule after 2 h in the light. After 2 h in the dark, inorganic carbon fixed by A. maculatum embryos is 800% of the carbon fixed by O. amblystomatis algae within an egg capsule. Using photosynthesis inhibitors, we show that A. maculatum embryos and O. amblystomatis algae compete for available inorganic carbon within the egg capsule environment. Our results confirm earlier studies suggesting a role of heterotrophic carbon fixation during vertebrate embryonic development. Our results also show that the considerable capacity of developing A. maculatum embryos for inorganic carbon fixation precludes our ability to distinguish any minor role of photosynthetically transferred carbon from algal symbionts to host salamanders using bicarbonate introduced to the egg system as a marker.}, } @article {pmid33404552, year = {2020}, author = {Huisman, R and Geurts, R}, title = {A Roadmap toward Engineered Nitrogen-Fixing Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant communications}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {100019}, pmid = {33404552}, issn = {2590-3462}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/microbiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Breeding/*methods ; Plant Development ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In the late 19[th] century, it was discovered that legumes can establish a root nodule endosymbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Soon after, the question was raised whether it is possible to transfer this trait to non-leguminous crops. In the past century, an ever-increasing amount of knowledge provided unique insights into the cellular, molecular, and genetic processes controlling this endosymbiosis. In addition, recent phylogenomic studies uncovered several genes that evolved to function specifically to control nodule formation and bacterial infection. However, despite this massive body of knowledge, the long-standing objective to engineer the nitrogen-fixing nodulation trait on non-leguminous crop plants has not been achieved yet. In this review, the unsolved questions and engineering strategies toward nitrogen-fixing nodulation in non-legume plants are discussed and highlighted.}, } @article {pmid33456099, year = {2019}, author = {Vanlauwe, B and Hungria, M and Kanampiu, F and Giller, KE}, title = {The role of legumes in the sustainable intensification of African smallholder agriculture: Lessons learnt and challenges for the future.}, journal = {Agriculture, ecosystems & environment}, volume = {284}, number = {}, pages = {106583}, pmid = {33456099}, issn = {0167-8809}, abstract = {Grain legumes play a key role in smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), in relation to food and nutrition security and income generation. Moreover, because of their N2-fixation capacity, such legumes can also have a positive influence on soil fertility. Notwithstanding many decades of research on the agronomy of grain legumes, their N2-fixation capacity, and their contribution to overall system productivity, several issues remain to be resolved to realize fully the benefits of grain legumes. In this paper we highlight major lessons learnt and expose key knowledge gaps in relation to grain legumes and their contributions to farming system productivity. The symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia forms the basis for its benefits and biological N2-fixation (BNF) relies as much on the legume genotype as on the rhizobial strains. As such, breeding grain legumes for BNF deserves considerably more attention. Even promiscuous varieties usually respond to inoculation, and as African soils contain a huge pool of unexploited biodiversity with potential to contribute elite rhizobial strains, strain selection should go hand-in-hand with legume breeding for N2-fixation. Although inoculated strains can outcompete indigenous strains, our understanding of what constitutes a good competitor is rudimentary, as well as which factors affect the persistence of inoculated rhizobia, which in its turn determines whether a farmer needs to re-inoculate each and every season. Although it is commonly assumed that indigenous rhizobia are better adapted to local conditions than elite strains used in inoculants, there is little evidence that this is the case. The problems of delivering inoculants to smallholders through poorly-developed supply chains in Africa necessitates inoculants based on sterile carriers with long shelf life. Other factors critical for a well-functioning symbiosis are also central to the overall productivity of grain legumes. Good agronomic practices, including the use of phosphorus (P)-containing fertilizer, improve legume yields though responses to inputs are usually very variable. In some situations, a considerable proportion of soils show no response of legumes to applied inputs, often referred to as non-responsive soils. Understanding the causes underlying this phenomenon is limited and hinders the uptake of legume agronomy practices. Grain legumes also contribute to the productivity of farming systems, although such effects are commonly greater in rotational than in intercropping systems. While most cropping systems allow for the integration of legumes, intercropped legumes provide only marginal benefits to associated crops. Important rotational benefits have been shown for most grain legumes though those with the highest N accumulation and lowest N harvest index appear to demonstrate higher residual benefits. N balance estimates often results in contradictory observations, mostly caused by the lack of understanding of belowground contributions of legumes to the N balance. Lastly, the ultimate condition for increased uptake of grain legumes by smallholder farmers lies in the understanding of how legume technologies and management practices can be tailored to the enormous diversity of agroecologies, farming systems, and smallholder farms in SSA. In conclusion, while research on grain legumes has revealed a number of important insights that will guide realization of the full potential of such legumes to the sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems in SSA, many research challenges remain to be addressed to realize the full potential of BNF in these systems.}, } @article {pmid33319962, year = {2019}, author = {Togawa, Y and Shinji, J and Fukatsu, T and Miura, T}, title = {Development of Cerata in the Cladobranchian Sea Slug Pteraeolidia semperi (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Nudibranchia).}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {36}, number = {5}, pages = {387-394}, doi = {10.2108/zs190057}, pmid = {33319962}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastropoda/*growth & development ; Morphogenesis ; }, abstract = {Cladobranchian sea slugs are characterized by a number of dorsal projections, called "cerata," which are presumably involved in such biological functions as kleptocnidal defense, gas exchange, and symbiotic photosynthesis. Here, we investigated the developmental pattern of ceras formation in a cladobranchian, Pteraeolidia semperi, using field-collected individuals at various postembryonic developmental stages. As the body length increased, the total number of cerata increased in a logistic manner, up to 280 per individual. On the dorsal side of the body, the cerata exhibited a conspicuous formation of repeated, laterally-paired clusters, or rows, along the antero-posterior axis of the animals. As the body length increased, the number of ceras rows increased in a logistic manner, reaching a plateau at around 15 rows per individual. Two types of ceras clusters were observed: well-developed ceras clusters forming a glove-like structure with a basal bulge, which tended to be found in larger animals and at the anterior body region, and less-developed ceras clusters without the bulge, which tended to be found in smaller animals and at the posterior body region. Statistical and simulation analyses suggested that bulge formation underlies increased ceras number, even after the plateaued formation of new ceras rows. These results indicate that, in the postembryonic development of P. semperi, the increase of dorsal cerata entails the following processes: (i) increase of the number of ceras rows, (ii) formation of the basal bulge in each ceras cluster, and (iii) increase of the number of cerata per ceras cluster.}, } @article {pmid32864300, year = {2019}, author = {Golonka, R and Yeoh, BS and Vijay-Kumar, M}, title = {Dietary Additives and Supplements Revisited: The Fewer, the Safer for Liver and Gut Health.}, journal = {Current pharmacology reports}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {303-316}, pmid = {32864300}, issn = {2198-641X}, support = {R01 CA219144/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The supplementation of dietary additives into processed foods has exponentially increased in the past few decades. Similarly, the incidence rates of various diseases, including metabolic syndrome, gut dysbiosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, have been elevating. Current research reveals that there is a positive association between food additives and these pathophysiological diseases. This review highlights the research published within the past 5 years that elucidate and update the effects of dietary supplements on liver and intestinal health.

RECENT FINDINGS: Some of the key findings include: enterocyte dysfunction of fructose clearance causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); non-caloric sweeteners are hepatotoxic; dietary emulsifiers instigate gut dysbiosis and hepatocarcinogenesis; and certain prebiotics can induce cholestatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in gut dysbiotic mice. Overall, multiple reports suggest that the administration of purified, dietary supplements could cause functional damage to both the liver and gut.

SUMMARY: The extraction of bioactive components from natural resources was considered a brilliant method to modulate human health. However, current research highlights that such purified components may negatively affect individuals with microbiotal dysbiosis, resulting in a deeper break of the symbiotic relationship between the host and gut microbiota, which can lead to repercussions on gut and liver health. Therefore, ingestion of these dietary additives should not go without some caution!}, } @article {pmid33224472, year = {2018}, author = {Feranchuk, S and Belkova, N and Chernogor, L and Potapova, U and Belikov, S}, title = {The signs of adaptive mutations identified in the chloroplast genome of the algae endosymbiont of Baikal sponge.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1405}, pmid = {33224472}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Monitoring and investigating the ecosystem of the great lakes provide a thorough background when forecasting the ecosystem dynamics at a greater scale. Nowadays, changes in the Baikal lake biota require a deeper investigation of their molecular mechanisms. Understanding these mechanisms is especially important, as the endemic Baikal sponge disease may cause a degradation of the littoral ecosystem of the lake.

METHODS: The chloroplast genome fragment for the algae endosymbiont of the Baikal sponge was assembled from metagenomic sequencing data. The distributions of the polymorphic sites were obtained separately for the genome fragments from healthy, diseased and dead sponge tissues.

RESULTS: The distribution of polymorphic sites allows for the detection of the signs of extensive mutations in the chloroplasts isolated from the diseased sponge tissues. Additionally, the comparative analysis of chloroplast genome sequences suggests that the symbiotic algae from Baikal sponge is close to the Choricystis genus of unicellular algae.

CONCLUSIONS: Mutations observed in the chloroplast genome could be interpreted as signs of rapid adaptation processes in the symbiotic algae. The development of sponge disease is still expanding in Baikal, but an optimistic prognoses regarding a development of the disease is nevertheless considered.}, } @article {pmid32855643, year = {2018}, author = {Koch, EJ and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Model systems for the study of how symbiotic associations between animals and extracellular bacterial partners are established and maintained.}, journal = {Drug discovery today. Disease models}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {3-12}, pmid = {32855643}, issn = {1740-6757}, support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {This contribution describes the current state of experimental model development and use as a strategy for gaining insight into the form and function of certain types of host-microbe associations. Development of quality models for the study of symbiotic systems will be critical not only to facilitate an understanding of mechanisms underlying symbiosis, but also for providing insights into how drug development can promote healthy animal-microbe interactions as well as the treatment of pathogenic infections. Because of the growing awareness over the last decade of the importance of symbiosis in biology, a number of model systems has emerged to examine how these partnerships are maintained within and across generations of the host. The focus here will be upon host-bacterial symbiotic systems that, as in humans, (i) are acquired from the environment each generation, or horizontally transmitted, and (ii) are defined by interactions at the interface of their cellular boundaries, i.e., extracellular symbiotic associations. As with the use of models in other fields of biology where complexity is daunting (e.g., developmental biology or brain circuitry), each model has its strengths and weaknesses, i.e., no one model system will provide easy access to all the questions defining what is conserved in cell-cell interactions in symbiosis and what creates diversity within such partnerships. Rather, as discussed here, the more models explored, the richer our understanding of these associations is likely to be.}, } @article {pmid33601813, year = {2018}, author = {El-Sadawy, HA and El Namaky, AH and Hafez, EE and Baiome, BA and Ahmed, AM and Ashry, HM and Ayaad, TH}, title = {Silver nanoparticles enhance the larvicidal toxicity of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus bacterial toxins: an approach to control the filarial vector, Culex pipiens.}, journal = {Tropical biomedicine}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {392-407}, pmid = {33601813}, issn = {2521-9855}, abstract = {Mosquito-control is still based mostly on chemical insecticides which are toxic and cause environmental deprivation. This study investigates synthesizing silver bio-nanoparticles (AgNPs) from nematode-symbiotic bacterial toxin complexes as an alternative larvicidal bioinsecticide agent against Culex pipiens larvae. Five species/strains of nematode-symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus indica, Xenorhabdus spp., Photorhabdus luminescens laumondii HP88, Photorhabdus luminescens akhurstii HRM1 and Photorhabdus luminescens akhurstii HS1 were used. AgNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis. Larvae were initially exposed to descending concentrations (300, 150, 75, 37.5 and 18.75 µg/ml) of each of the five bacterial toxins (as positive controls) or to the bio-AgNPs synthesized from the same bacterial toxins (200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.12 and 1.5 µg/ml) for 48 hours. Results of toxicity bioassays showed that mortality of treated larvae was concentration-dependent, toxins from X. indica, P. luminescens laumondii HP88 and P. luminescens akhurstii HS1 showed LC50 of 29, 28 and 2002 µg/ml, respectively. While, toxins from P. luminescens akhurstii HRM1 and Xenorhabdus sp. showed LC50 of 199, 318 µg/ml, respectively. Bio-AgNPs synthesized from, X. indica or Xenorhabdus sp. toxins have significantly increased their larvicidal activities (LC50 of 1.6, 3.7 µg/ml) at 48h post-treatment. Moreover, bio-AgNPs synthesized from P. luminescens laumondii HP88, P. luminescens akhurstii HRM1 or P. luminescens akhurstii HS1 toxins significantly increased their larvicidal activities (LC50 of 2.1, 1.5, 13.9 µg/ml, respectively) at 48h post treatment. In conclusion, the highest larval toxicity was observed when larvae were treated with bio-AgNPs synthesized from P. luminescens akhurstii HRM1 and X. indica, followed by P. luminescens laumondii HP88 and Xenorhabdus sp. Subsequently, data of the present study suggest these bio-AgNPs toxin complexes as potentially effective bio-control candidates in the battle against mosquito. However, testing other types of bio-synthesized nanomaterials, and their synergistic combinations against different mosquito species still under investigation.}, } @article {pmid33490518, year = {2018}, author = {Brigham, LM and Allende, LM and Shipley, BR and Boyd, KC and Higgins, TJ and Kelly, N and Anderson Stewart, CR and Keepers, KG and Pogoda, CS and Lendemer, JC and Tripp, EA and Kane, NC}, title = {Genomic insights into the mitochondria of 11 eastern North American species of Cladonia.}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {508-512}, pmid = {33490518}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {Cladonia is among the most species-rich genera of lichens globally. Species in this lineage, commonly referred to as reindeer lichens, are ecologically important in numerous regions worldwide. In some locations, species of Cladonia can comprise the dominant groundcover, and are a major food source for caribou and other mammals. Additionally, many species are known to produce substances with antimicrobial properties or other characteristics with potentially important medical applications. This exceptional morphological and ecological variation contrasts sharply with the limited molecular divergence often observed among species. As a new resource to facilitate ongoing and future studies of these important species, we analyse here the sequences of 11 Cladonia mitochondrial genomes, including new mitochondrial genome assemblies and annotations representing nine species: C. apodocarpa, C. caroliniana, C. furcata, C. leporina, C. petrophila, C. peziziformis, C. robbinsii, C. stipitata, and C. subtenuis. These 11 genomes varied in size, intron content, and complement of tRNAs. Genes annotated within these mitochondrial genomes include 15 protein-coding genes, the large and small ribosomal subunits (mtLSU and mtSSU), and 23-26 tRNAs. All Cladonia mitochondrial genomes contained atp9, an important energy transport gene that has been lost evolutionarily in some lichen mycobiont mitochondria. Using a concatenated alignment of five mitochondrial genes (nad2, nad4, cox1, cox2, and cox3), a Bayesian phylogeny of relationships among species was inferred and was consistent with previously published phylogenetic relationships, highlighting the utility of these regions in reconstructing phylogenetic history.}, } @article {pmid33474154, year = {2018}, author = {Funk, ER and Adams, AN and Spotten, SM and Van Hove, RA and Whittington, KT and Keepers, KG and Pogoda, CS and Lendemer, JC and Tripp, EA and Kane, NC}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genomes of five lichenized fungi in the genus Usnea (Ascomycota: Parmeliaceae).}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {305-308}, pmid = {33474154}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {Known colloquially as 'Old Man's Beard', Usnea is a genus of lichenized Ascomycete fungi characterized by having a fruticose growth form and cartilaginous central axis. The complete mitochondrial genomes of Usnea halei, U. mutabilis, U. subfusca, U. subgracilis, and U. subscabrosa were sequenced using Illumina data and then assembled de novo. These mitogenomes ranged in size from 52,486 bp (U. subfusca) to 94,464 bp (U. subgracilis). All were characterized by having high levels of intronic and intergenic variation, such as ORFs that encode proteins with homology to two homing endonuclease types, LAGLIDADG and GIY-YIG. Genes annotated within these mitogenomes include 14 protein-coding genes, the large and small ribosomal subunits (LSU and SSU), and 23-26 tRNAs. Notably, the atp9 gene was absent from each genome. Genomic synteny was highly conserved across the five species. Five conserved mitochondrial genes (nad2, nad4, cox1, cox2, and cox3) were used to infer a best estimate maximum likelihood phylogeny among these five Usnea and other relatives, which yielded relationships consistent with prior published phylogenies.}, } @article {pmid33490486, year = {2017}, author = {Lee, SH and Oh, TK and Shin, MH}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of Echinoecus nipponicus Miyake, 1939 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Pilumnidae), a symbiont of sea urchins.}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {38-39}, pmid = {33490486}, issn = {2380-2359}, abstract = {The mitochondrial genome of a crab symbiotic with sea urchins, Echinoecus nipponicus, was completely sequenced for the first time. The total mitogenome length of E. nipponicus was 16,173 bp including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic tree confirmed that E. nipponicus belonged to the subsection Heterotremata within Brachyura. This is the first record of the complete mitogenome for the subfamily Eumedoninae.}, } @article {pmid33445287, year = {2017}, author = {Drachuk, I and Harbaugh, S and Geryak, R and Kaplan, DL and Tsukruk, VV and Kelley-Loughnane, N}, title = {Immobilization of Recombinant E. coli Cells in a Bacterial Cellulose-Silk Composite Matrix To Preserve Biological Function.}, journal = {ACS biomaterials science & engineering}, volume = {3}, number = {10}, pages = {2278-2292}, doi = {10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00367}, pmid = {33445287}, issn = {2373-9878}, abstract = {Strategies for the encapsulation of cells for the design of cell-based sensors require efficient immobilization procedures while preserving biological activity of the reporter cells. Here, we introduce an immobilization technique that relies upon the symbiotic relationship between two bacterial strains: cellulose-producing Gluconacetobacter xylinus cells; and recombinant Escherichia coli cells harboring recombinase-based dual-color synthetic riboswitch (RS), as a model for cell-based sensor. Following sequential coculturing of recombinant cells in the cellulose matrix, final immobilization of E. coli cells was completed after reconstituted silk fibroin (SF) protein was added to a "living membrane" generating the composite bacterial cellulose-silk fibroin (BC-SF) scaffold. By controlling incubation parameters for both types of cells, as well as the conformations in SF secondary structure, a variety of robust composite scaffolds were prepared ranging from opaque to transparent. The properties of the scaffolds were compared in terms of porosity, water capacity, distribution of recombinant cells within the scaffolds matrix, onset of cells activation, and ability to protect recombinant function of cells against UV irradiation. The closer-fitted microstructure of transparent BC-SF scaffolds resulted in leakage-free encapsulation of recombinant cells with preserved RS function because of a combination of several parameters that closely matched properties of a biofilm environment. Along with proper elasticity, fine porosity, capacity to retain the water, and ability of SF to absorb UV light, the composite hydrogel material provided necessary conditions to form confined cell colonies that modified cell metabolism and enhanced cell resilience to the stresses induced by encapsulation.}, } @article {pmid33552846, year = {2017}, author = {Polania, J and Poschenrieder, C and Rao, I and Beebe, S}, title = {Root traits and their potential links to plant ideotypes to improve drought resistance in common bean.}, journal = {Theoretical and experimental plant physiology}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {143-154}, pmid = {33552846}, issn = {2197-0025}, abstract = {Drought stress limits growth and yield of crops, particularly under smallholder production systems with minimal use of inputs and edaphic limitations such as nitrogen (N) deficiency. The development of genotypes adapted to these conditions through genetic improvement is an important strategy to address this limitation. The identification of morpho-physiological traits associated with drought resistance contributes to increasing the efficiency of breeding programs. A set of 36 bean genotypes belonging to the Middle American gene pool was evaluated. A greenhouse study using soil cylinders was conducted to determine root vigor traits (total root length and fine root production) under drought stress. Two field trials were conducted to determinate grain yield, symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) ability and other shoot traits under drought stress. Field data on grain yield and other shoot traits measured under drought were related with the greenhouse data on root traits under drought conditions to test the relationships between shoot traits and root traits. Response of root vigor to drought stress appeared to be related with ideotypes of water use (water savers and water spenders). The water spender ideotypes presented deeper root system, while the water saver ideotypes showed a relatively shallower root system. Increase in SNF ability under drought stress was associated with greater values of mean root diameter while greater acquisition of N from soil was associated with finer root system. We identified seven common bean lines (SEA 15, NCB 280, SCR 16, SMC 141, BFS 29, BFS 67 and SER 119) that showed greater root vigor under drought stress in the greenhouse and higher values of grain yield under drought stress in the field. These lines could serve as parents for improving drought resistance in common bean.}, } @article {pmid33603248, year = {2015}, author = {Homburger, SA and Drits-Esser, D and Malone, M and Stark, LA}, title = {Microbes As Friends, Not Foes: Shifting the Focus from Pathogenesis to Symbiosis.}, journal = {The American biology teacher}, volume = {77}, number = {9}, pages = {659-668}, pmid = {33603248}, issn = {0002-7685}, support = {R25 AI095212/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Until about two decades ago, the standard method of studying a microbe was to isolate it, grow it in culture, stain it, and examine it under a microscope. Today, new genomic tools are helping expand our view of the microbial world. Instead of viewing them as "germs" to be eliminated, we are beginning to perceive our microbes as an extension of ourselves - an important organ with unique functions essential to our well-being. Scientists even came up with a new term, "microbiome," to define our microbes' genes as an important counterpart to our human genome. With new information about the human microbiome comes the challenge of shifting biology students' focus from casting microbes as pathogens toward appreciating microbes as symbionts. "The Human Microbiome," a curriculum supplement produced by the Genetic Science Learning Center, emphasizes that microbes living in and on our bodies perform neutral and beneficial functions, that human microbiota form thriving ecosystems, and that disruptions to our microbial ecosystems may have consequences. In this article, we describe the curriculum materials, provide strategies for incorporating this cutting-edge topic into biology classrooms, list connections to the Next Generation Science Standards, and report on recent research testing the curriculum supplement's effectiveness for student learning.}, } @article {pmid33228264, year = {2015}, author = {Dhanapal, AP and Ray, JD and Singh, SK and Hoyos-Villegas, V and Smith, JR and Purcell, LC and King, CA and Fritschi, FB}, title = {Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Diverse Soybean Genotypes Reveals Novel Markers for Nitrogen Traits.}, journal = {The plant genome}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {eplantgenome2014.11.0086}, doi = {10.3835/plantgenome2014.11.0086}, pmid = {33228264}, issn = {1940-3372}, abstract = {Nitrogen is a primary plant nutrient that plays a major role in achieving maximum economic yield. Insufficient availability most often limits soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] crop growth. Symbiotic N2 fixation in soybean is highly sensitive to limited water availability, and breeding for reduced N2 fixation sensitivity to drought is considered an important objective to improve yields under drought. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with N traits. A collection of 373 diverse soybean genotypes were grown in four field environments (2 yr and two locations) and characterized for N derived from atmosphere (Ndfa), N concentration ([N]), and C/N ratio. The population structure of 373 soybean genotypes was assessed based on 31,145 SNPs and genome-wide association analysis using a unified mixed model identified SNPs associated with Ndfa, [N], and C/N ratio. Although the Ndfa, [N], and C/N ratio values were significantly different between the two locations in both years, results were consistent among genotypes across years and locations. While numerous SNPs were identified by association analysis for each trait in only one of the four environments, 17, 19, and 24 SNPs showed a significant association with Ndfa, [N], and C/N ratio, respectively, in at least two environments as well as with the average across all four environments. These markers represent an important resource for pyramiding favorable alleles for drought tolerance and for identifying extremes for comparative physiological studies.}, } @article {pmid33365125, year = {2015}, author = {Coventry, BJ and Henneberg, M}, title = {The Immune System and Responses to Cancer: Coordinated Evolution.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {552}, pmid = {33365125}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {This review explores the incessant evolutionary interaction and co-development between immune system evolution and somatic evolution, to put it into context with the short, over 60-year, detailed human study of this extraordinary protective system. Over millions of years, the evolutionary development of the immune system in most species has been continuously shaped by environmental interactions between microbes, and aberrant somatic cells, including malignant cells. Not only has evolution occurred in somatic cells to adapt to environmental pressures for survival purposes, but the immune system and its function has been successively shaped by those same evolving somatic cells and microorganisms through continuous adaptive symbiotic processes of progressive simultaneous immunological and somatic change to provide what we observe today. Indeed, the immune system as an environmental influence has also shaped somatic and microbial evolution. Although the immune system is tuned to primarily controlling microbiological challenges for combatting infection, it can also remove damaged and aberrant cells, including cancer cells to induce long-term cures. Our knowledge of how this occurs is just emerging. Here we consider the connections between immunity, infection and cancer, by searching back in time hundreds of millions of years to when multi-cellular organisms first began. We are gradually appreciating that the immune system has evolved into a truly brilliant and efficient protective mechanism, the importance of which we are just beginning to now comprehend. Understanding these aspects will likely lead to more effective cancer and other therapies.}, } @article {pmid33412713, year = {2014}, author = {Jayabalan, R and Malbaša, RV and Lončar, ES and Vitas, JS and Sathishkumar, M}, title = {A Review on Kombucha Tea-Microbiology, Composition, Fermentation, Beneficial Effects, Toxicity, and Tea Fungus.}, journal = {Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {538-550}, doi = {10.1111/1541-4337.12073}, pmid = {33412713}, issn = {1541-4337}, abstract = {Fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic acid bacteria and yeast (tea fungus) yields kombucha tea which is consumed worldwide for its refreshing and beneficial properties on human health. Important progress has been made in the past decade concerning research findings on kombucha tea and reports claiming that drinking kombucha can prevent various types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, promote liver functions, and stimulate the immune system. Considering the widespread reports on kombucha, we recognized the need to review and update the research conducted in relation to kombucha tea, its products and tea fungus. Existing reports have suggested that the protective effects of kombucha tea are as good as those of black tea, however, more studies on kombucha tea and its composition are needed before final conclusions can be made.}, } @article {pmid32921817, year = {2009}, author = {Røy, H and Vopel, K and Huettel, M and Jørgensen, BB}, title = {Sulfide assimilation by ectosymbionts of the sessile ciliate, Zoothamnium niveum.}, journal = {Marine biology}, volume = {156}, number = {4}, pages = {669-677}, pmid = {32921817}, issn = {0025-3162}, abstract = {We investigated the constraints on sulfide uptake by bacterial ectosymbionts on the marine peritrich ciliate Zoothamnium niveum by a combination of experimental and numerical methods. Protists with symbionts were collected on large blocks of mangrove-peat. The blocks were placed in a flow cell with flow adjusted to in situ velocity. The water motion around the colonies was then characterized by particle tracking velocimetry. This shows that the feather-shaped colony of Z. niveum generates a unidirectional flow of seawater through the colony with no recirculation. The source of the feeding current was the free-flowing water although the size of the colonies suggests that they live partly submerged in the diffusive boundary layer. We showed that the filtered volume allows Z. niveum to assimilate sufficient sulfide to sustain the symbiosis at a few micromoles per liter in ambient concentration. Numerical modeling shows that sulfide oxidizing bacteria on the surfaces of Z. niveum can sustain 100-times higher sulfide uptake than bacteria on flat surfaces, such as microbial mats. The study demonstrates that the filter feeding zooids of Z. niveum are preadapted to be prime habitats for sulfide oxidizing bacteria due to Z. niveum's habitat preference and due to the feeding current. Z. niveum is capable of exploiting low concentrations of sulfide in near norm-oxic seawater. This links its otherwise dissimilar habitats and makes it functionally similar to invertebrates with thiotrophic symbionts in filtering organs.}, } @article {pmid32849381, year = {2020}, author = {Bañuelos-Vazquez, LA and Cazares, D and Rodríguez, S and Cervantes-De la Luz, L and Sánchez-López, R and Castellani, LG and Tejerizo, GT and Brom, S}, title = {Transfer of the Symbiotic Plasmid of Rhizobium etli CFN42 to Endophytic Bacteria Inside Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1752}, pmid = {32849381}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Conjugative transfer is one of the mechanisms allowing diversification and evolution of bacteria. Rhizobium etli CFN42 is a bacterial strain whose habitat is the rhizosphere and is able to form nodules as a result of the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic relationship it may establish with the roots of Phaseolus vulgaris. R. etli CFN42 contains one chromosome and six large plasmids (pRet42a - pRet42f). Most of the genetic information involved in the establishment of the symbiosis is localized on plasmid pRet42d, named as the symbiotic plasmid (pSym). This plasmid is able to perform conjugation, using pSym encoded transfer genes controlled by the RctA/RctB system. Another plasmid of CFN42, pRet42a, has been shown to perform conjugative transfer not only in vitro, but also on the surface of roots and inside nodules, using other rhizobia as recipients. In addition to the rhizobia involved in the formation of nodules, these structures have been shown to contain endophytic bacteria from different genera and species. In this work, we have explored the conjugative transfer of the pSym (pRet42d) from R. etli CFN42 to endophytic bacteria as putative recipients, using as donor a CFN42 derivative labeled with GFP in the pRet42d and RFP in the chromosome. We were able to isolate some transconjugants, which inherit the GFP, but not the RFP marker. Some of them were identified, analyzed and evaluated for their ability to nodulate. We found transconjugants from genera such as Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, and Bacillus, among others. Although all the transconjugants carried the GFP marker, and nod, fix, and nif genes from pRet42d, not all were able to nodulate. Ultrastructure microscopy analysis showed some differences in the structure of the nodules of one of the transconjugants. A replicon of the size of pRet42d (371 Kb) could not be visualized in the transconjugants, suggesting that the pSym or a segment of the plasmid is integrated in the chromosome of the recipients. These findings strengthen the proposal that nodules constitute a propitious environment for exchange of genetic information among bacteria, in addition to their function as structures where nitrogen fixation and assimilation takes place.}, } @article {pmid32847793, year = {2020}, author = {Rahi, P and Giram, P and Chaudhari, D and diCenzo, GC and Kiran, S and Khullar, A and Chandel, M and Gawari, S and Mohan, A and Chavan, S and Mahajan, B}, title = {Rhizobium indicum sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of pea (Pisum sativum) cultivated in the Indian trans-Himalayas.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {126127}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126127}, pmid = {32847793}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, rRNA ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; India ; Peas/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Three strains of rhizobia isolated from effective root nodules of pea (Pisum sativum L.) collected from the Indian trans-Himalayas were characterized using 16S rRNA, atpD and recA genes. Phylogeny of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that the newly isolated strains were members of the genus Rhizobium with ≥99.9% sequence similarity to the members within the "Rhizobium leguminosarum" group. Phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated sequences of atpD and recA gene, and 92 core genes extracted from the genome sequences indicated that strains JKLM 12A2[T] and JKLM 13E are grouped as a separate clade closely related to R. laguerreae FB206[T]. In contrast, the strain JKLM 19E was placed with "R. hidalgonense" FH14[T]. Whole-genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) values were 97.6% within strains JKLM 12A2[T] and JKLM 13E, and less than 94% with closely related species. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 81.45 within the two strains and less than 54.8% to closely related species. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1w7c in summed feature 8, C14:0 3OH/C16:1 iso I in summed feature 2, and C18:0. The DNA G+C content of JKLM 12A2[T] and JKLM 13E was 60.8mol%. The data on genomic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic characteristics indicates that the strains JKLM 12A2[T] and JKLM 13E represent a novel species, Rhizobium indicum sp. nov. The type strain is JKLM 12A2[T] (= MCC 3961[T]=KACC 21380[T]=JCM 33658[T]). However, the strain JKLM 19E represents a member of "R. hidalgonense" and the symbiovar viciae.}, } @article {pmid32847791, year = {2020}, author = {Ji, ZJ and Wu, ZY and Chen, WF and Wang, ET and Yan, H and Cui, QG and Zhang, JX and Wang, L and Ma, SJ}, title = {Physiological and symbiotic variation of a long-term evolved Rhizobium strain under alkaline condition.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {126125}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126125}, pmid = {32847791}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Biological Evolution ; Caragana/microbiology ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Physiological variation and adaptation of the long-term evolved rhizobia to alkaline environments where no host plant existence and the stability of their symbiotic properties when they are reinoculated to legume host remain unclear. A highly effective N2-fixing Rhizobium yanglingense strain CCBAU 01603 was used as the ancestral strain and was cultured continuously with/without addition of extra alkaline reagent (KOH) in laboratory conditions for approximately 500 generations. Total 60 evolved clones obtained were checked for their adaptation to higher alkaline pH level and inoculated to their host plant Caragana microphylla to evaluate their symbiotic efficiencies. Most of the evolved clones showed increased adaptation to higher alkaline pH but all of them decreased symbiotic efficiencies, resulting in the formation of irregular root nodules with lower nitrogenase activity, production of abnormal bacteroids, and accumulation more starch grains in uninfected nodule cells. Further demonstration of lower symbiotic efficiencies came from the down-regulated expression of genes related to nitrogen fixation in the bacteroids by transcriptome comparison. In addition, genes related to transporters and other diverse functions were up- or down-regulated in the evolved clones in free-living conditions (like yjiS gene) or in symbiotic situations, demonstrating the significant variations in cellular physiology and symbiosis. Our study revealed that the enhancement of alkaline adaptation but loss of symbiotic efficiencies of the evolved clones had happened during the long-term evolution in alkaline environments where no selective pressures from host plant, offering new insight into the molecular mechanism and direction of rhizobial evolution in nature.}, } @article {pmid32847777, year = {2020}, author = {Shao, S and Chen, M and Liu, W and Hu, X and Wang, ET and Yu, S and Li, Y}, title = {Long-term monoculture reduces the symbiotic rhizobial biodiversity of peanut.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {126101}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126101}, pmid = {32847777}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Long-term monoculture (LTM) decreases the yield and quality of peanut, even resulting in changes in the microbial community. However, the effect of LTM on peanut rhizobial communities has still not been elucidated. In this study, we isolated and characterized peanut rhizobia from 6 sampling plots with different monoculture cropping durations. The community structure and diversity index for each sampling site were analyzed, and the correlations between a peanut rhizobium and soil characteristics were evaluated to clarify the effects on peanut rhizobial communities. The competitive abilities among representative strains were also analyzed. A total of 283 isolates were obtained from 6 sampling plots. Nineteen recA haplotypes were defined and were grouped into 8 genospecies of Bradyrhizobium, with B. liaoningense and B. ottawaense as the dominant groups in each sample. The diversity indexes of the rhizobial community decreased, and the dominant groups of B. liaoningense and B. ottawaense were enriched significantly with extended culture duration. Available potassium (AK), available phosphorus (AP), available nitrogen (AN), total nitrogen (TN) and organic carbon (OC) gradually increased with increasing monoculture duration. OC, TN, AP and AK were the main soil characteristics affecting the distribution of rhizobial genospecies in the samples. A competitive nodulation test indicated that B. liaoningense presented an excellent competitive ability, which was congruent with its high isolation frequency. This study revealed that soil characteristics and the competitive ability of rhizobia shape the symbiotic rhizobial community and provides information on community formation and the biogeographic properties of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid32846974, year = {2020}, author = {Maquia, IS and Fareleira, P and Videira E Castro, I and Brito, DRA and Soares, R and Chaúque, A and Ferreira-Pinto, MM and Lumini, E and Berruti, A and Ribeiro, NS and Marques, I and Ribeiro-Barros, AI}, title = {Mining the Microbiome of Key Species from African Savanna Woodlands: Potential for Soil Health Improvement and Plant Growth Promotion.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32846974}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {(1) Aims: Assessing bacterial diversity and plant-growth-promoting functions in the rhizosphere of the native African trees Colophospermum mopane and Combretum apiculatum in three landscapes of the Limpopo National Park (Mozambique), subjected to two fire regimes. (2) Methods: Bacterial communities were identified through Illumina Miseq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicons, followed by culture dependent methods to isolate plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Plant growth-promoting traits of the cultivable bacterial fraction were further analyzed. To screen for the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the promiscuous tropical legume Vigna unguiculata was used as a trap host. The taxonomy of all purified isolates was genetically verified by 16S rRNA gene Sanger sequencing. (3) Results: Bacterial community results indicated that fire did not drive major changes in bacterial abundance. However, culture-dependent methods allowed the differentiation of bacterial communities between the sampled sites, which were particularly enriched in Proteobacteria with a wide range of plant-beneficial traits, such as plant protection, plant nutrition, and plant growth. Bradyrhizobium was the most frequent symbiotic bacteria trapped in cowpea nodules coexisting with other endophytic bacteria. (4) Conclusion: Although the global analysis did not show significant differences between landscapes or sites with different fire regimes, probably due to the fast recovery of bacterial communities, the isolation of PGPB suggests that the rhizosphere bacteria are driven by the plant species, soil type, and fire regime, and are potentially associated with a wide range of agricultural, environmental, and industrial applications. Thus, the rhizosphere of African savannah ecosystems seems to be an untapped source of bacterial species and strains that should be further exploited for bio-based solutions.}, } @article {pmid32846963, year = {2020}, author = {Bazghaleh, N and Prashar, P and Woo, S and Vandenberg, A}, title = {Effects of Lentil Genotype on the Colonization of Beneficial Trichoderma Species and Biocontrol of Aphanomyces Root Rot.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32846963}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Trichoderma species are opportunistic plant symbionts that are common in the root and rhizosphere ecosystems. Many Trichoderma species may enhance plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and disease resistance, and for these reasons, they are widely used in agriculture as biofertilizers or biocontrol agents. Host plant genotype and other microorganisms, such as root pathogens, may influence the efficacy of Trichoderma inoculants. Aphanomyces euteiches is an important soil-borne oomycete in western Canada that causes root rot in legume crops such as lentil and pea, and there is not yet any significantly resistant varieties or effective treatments available to control the disease. In this study, the composition of root-associated fungal communities and the abundance of Trichoderma species, T. harzianum strain T-22 and T. virens strain G41, was determined in the roots of eight Lens genotypes based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing, both in the presence and the absence of the root rot pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. Biocontrol effects of T. harzianum on A. euteiches was also examined. Significant genotypic variations were observed in the composition of root-associated fungal communities and the abundance of the different Trichoderma species in the lentil roots. The presence of A. euteiches altered the composition of Trichoderma found associated to the lentil genotypes. Biocontrol of A. euteiches by T. harzianum T22 species was observed in vitro and positive correlations between the abundance of Trichoderma and plant root and shoot biomass were observed in vivo. These findings revealed that lentil genotype and infection by the phytopathogen A. euteiches greatly influenced the colonization of root-associated fungi and the abundance of the Trichoderma species, as well as the effect on plant growth promotion. The multipartite interactions observed among lentil genotypes, Trichoderma species and A. euteiches suggest possibilities to select compatible host-beneficial microbe combinations in lentil breeding programs and to develop application strategies to harness the beneficial effects of Trichoderma inoculants in sustainable crop production systems.}, } @article {pmid32846637, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, X and Li, X and Xu, Z and Liu, Q and Peng, Z and Zhu, Y and Hong, J and Lu, W and Cui, J and Xiao, L}, title = {The distinct microbial community in Aurelia coerulea polyps versus medusae and its dynamics after exposure to [60]Co-γ radiation.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {109843}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2020.109843}, pmid = {32846637}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Animals ; Gamma Rays ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Scyphozoa ; }, abstract = {Radiation (e.g., nuclear leakage) is a common harmful factor in the ocean that potentially affects the microbial community in nearby benthic hosts such as jellyfish polyps, which is essential for the maintenance of jellyfish populations and high-quality medusae. After comparison with the microbial community of medusae, the effect of [60]Co-γ on the microbial community in Aurelia coerulea polyps was dynamically tested using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results suggested that Proteobacteria (76.19 ± 3.24%), Tenericutes (12.93 ± 3.20%) and Firmicutes (8.33 ± 1.06%) are most abundant in medusae, while Proteobacteria (29.49 ± 2.29%), Firmicutes (46.25 ± 5.59%), and Bacteroidetes (20.16 ± 2.65%) are the top three phyla in polyps. After [60]Co-γ radiation, the proportion of Proteobacteria increased from 29.49 ± 2.29% to 59.40 ± 3.09% over 5 days, while that of Firmicutes decreased from 46.25 ± 5.59% to 13.58 ± 3.74%. At the class level, Gammaproteobacteria continually increased during the 5 days after radiation exposure, whereas Bacilli declined, followed by partial recovery, and Alphaproteobacteria and Flavobacteriia remained almost unchanged. Intriguingly, Staphylococcus from Firmicutes and three other genera, Rhodobacter, Vibrio, and Methylophaga, from Proteobacteria greatly overlapped according to their KEGG functions. It is concluded that the microbial community in A. coerulea polyps is distinct from that in the medusae and is greatly affected by [60]Co-γ exposure, with a growth (0-3 d) period and a redistribution (3-5 d) period. The dynamic change in the microbial community is probably an important self-defense process in response to external interference that is regulated by the host's physiological characteristics and the intense interspecific competition among symbiotic microbes with similar functions and functional redundancies.}, } @article {pmid32845909, year = {2020}, author = {Bañuelos-Vazquez, LA and Castellani, LG and Luchetti, A and Romero, D and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Brom, S}, title = {Role of plant compounds in the modulation of the conjugative transfer of pRet42a.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {e0238218}, pmid = {32845909}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Conjugation, Genetic/*genetics ; DNA Helicases/genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/chemistry/microbiology ; Phytochemicals/*pharmacology ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Quorum Sensing/physiology ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {One of the most studied mechanisms involved in bacterial evolution and diversification is conjugative transfer (CT) of plasmids. Plasmids able to transfer by CT often encode beneficial traits for bacterial survival under specific environmental conditions. Rhizobium etli CFN42 is a Gram-negative bacterium of agricultural relevance due to its symbiotic association with Phaseolus vulgaris through the formation of Nitrogen-fixing nodules. The genome of R. etli CFN42 consists of one chromosome and six large plasmids. Among these, pRet42a has been identified as a conjugative plasmid. The expression of the transfer genes is regulated by a quorum sensing (QS) system that includes a traI gene, which encodes an acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) synthase and two transcriptional regulators (TraR and CinR). Recently, we have shown that pRet42a can perform CT on the root surface and inside nodules. The aim of this work was to determine the role of plant-related compounds in the CT of pRet42a. We found that bean root exudates or root and nodule extracts induce the CT of pRet42a in the plant rhizosphere. One possibility is that these compounds are used as nutrients, allowing the bacteria to increase their growth rate and reach the population density leading to the activation of the QS system in a shorter time. We tested if P. vulgaris compounds could substitute the bacterial AHL synthesized by TraI, to activate the conjugation machinery. The results showed that the transfer of pRet42a in the presence of the plant is dependent on the bacterial QS system, which cannot be substituted by plant compounds. Additionally, individual compounds of the plant exudates were evaluated; among these, some increased and others decreased the CT. With these results, we suggest that the plant could participate at different levels to modulate the CT, and that some compounds could be activating genes in the conjugation machinery.}, } @article {pmid32845829, year = {2020}, author = {Perry, BJ and Sullivan, JT and Colombi, E and Murphy, RJT and Ramsay, JP and Ronson, CW}, title = {Symbiosis islands of Loteae-nodulating Mesorhizobium comprise three radiating lineages with concordant nod gene complements and nodulation host-range groupings.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32845829}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Fucosyltransferases/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing/*methods ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium is a genus of soil bacteria, some isolates of which form an endosymbiotic relationship with diverse legumes of the Loteae tribe. The symbiotic genes of these mesorhizobia are generally carried on integrative and conjugative elements termed symbiosis islands (ICESyms). Mesorhizobium strains that nodulate Lotus spp. have been divided into host-range groupings. Group I (GI) strains nodulate L. corniculatus and L. japonicus ecotype Gifu, while group II (GII) strains have a broader host range, which includes L. pedunculatus. To identify the basis of this extended host range, and better understand Mesorhizobium and ICESym genomics, the genomes of eight Mesorhizobium strains were completed using hybrid long- and short-read assembly. Bioinformatic comparison with previously sequenced mesorhizobia genomes indicated host range was not predicted by Mesorhizobium genospecies but rather by the evolutionary relationship between ICESym symbiotic regions. Three radiating lineages of Loteae ICESyms were identified on this basis, which correlate with Lotus spp. host-range grouping and have lineage-specific nod gene complements. Pangenomic analysis of the completed GI and GII ICESyms identified 155 core genes (on average 30.1 % of a given ICESym). Individual GI or GII ICESyms carried diverse accessory genes with an average of 34.6 % of genes unique to a given ICESym. Identification and comparative analysis of NodD symbiotic regulatory motifs - nod boxes - identified 21 branches across the NodD regulons. Four of these branches were associated with seven genes unique to the five GII ICESyms. The nod boxes preceding the host-range gene nodZ in GI and GII ICESyms were disparate, suggesting regulation of nodZ may differ between GI and GII ICESyms. The broad host-range determinant(s) of GII ICESyms that confer nodulation of L. pedunculatus are likely present amongst the 53 GII-unique genes identified.}, } @article {pmid32845249, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, J}, title = {Is Artificial Intelligence Better Than Human Clinicians in Predicting Patient Outcomes?.}, journal = {Journal of medical Internet research}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {e19918}, pmid = {32845249}, issn = {1438-8871}, mesh = {Artificial Intelligence/*standards ; Humans ; Physicians/*standards ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {In contrast with medical imaging diagnostics powered by artificial intelligence (AI), in which deep learning has led to breakthroughs in recent years, patient outcome prediction poses an inherently challenging problem because it focuses on events that have not yet occurred. Interestingly, the performance of machine learning-based patient outcome prediction models has rarely been compared with that of human clinicians in the literature. Human intuition and insight may be sources of underused predictive information that AI will not be able to identify in electronic data. Both human and AI predictions should be investigated together with the aim of achieving a human-AI symbiosis that synergistically and complementarily combines AI with the predictive abilities of clinicians.}, } @article {pmid32844083, year = {2020}, author = {Maciá-Vicente, JG and Piepenbring, M and Koukol, O}, title = {Brassicaceous roots as an unexpected diversity hot-spot of helotialean endophytes.}, journal = {IMA fungus}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {32844083}, issn = {2210-6340}, abstract = {A high number of fungal strains were isolated from roots of Brassicaceae species collected across western and southern Europe, resulting in an unexpectedly rich collection of Cadophora species. These isolates enable us to present a new and comprehensive view of the ecological, morphological, and phylogenetic traits of root-inhabiting members of this helotialean genus. We provide phylogenetic placement of all of our isolates based on a four-gene dataset, analyze their phenotypic traits in relation to their phylogenetic relationships, and infer the potential distribution ranges of the species by sequence comparisons with available databases. We consider seven well supported phylogenetic lineages as species new to science. Six further lineages probably also represent new species but remain undescribed due to the lack of diagnostic morphological characters. Our results show that Cadophora, as currently circumscribed, is paraphyletic and encompasses a broad spectrum of morphologies and lifestyles. Among the new species, only two (C. ferruginea and C. constrictospora) form phialides and conidia typical of Cadophora, three species (C. echinata, C. gamsii and C. variabilis) produce chains of swollen hyphal segments that may function as holoblastic conidia, and one species (C. fascicularis) produces chains of holoblastic ramoconidia and conidia. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis suggests that phialidic conidiogenesis evolved several times in Cadophora s. lat. from a putatively holoblastic common ancestor. Most Cadophora lineages are rare as estimated from the availability of sequence data, in spite of having relatively wide distribution ranges, whereas five lineages may represent endemic relationships given their restricted distributions. Our dataset, probably the most comprehensive available for Cadophora, nevertheless shows knowledge gaps concerning the phylogenetic relationships within this genus and highlights a need for further investigation.}, } @article {pmid32843548, year = {2020}, author = {Hansen, BL and Pessotti, RC and Fischer, MS and Collins, A and El-Hifnawi, L and Liu, MD and Traxler, MF}, title = {Cooperation, Competition, and Specialized Metabolism in a Simplified Root Nodule Microbiome.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32843548}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R35 GM128849/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Brevibacillus/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbiomes associated with various plant structures often contain members with the potential to make specialized metabolites, e.g., molecules with antibacterial, antifungal, or siderophore activities. However, when and where microbes associated with plants produce specialized metabolites, and the potential role of these molecules in mediating intramicrobiome interactions, is not well understood. Root nodules of legume plants are organs devoted to hosting symbiotic bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen and have recently been shown to harbor a relatively simple accessory microbiome containing members with the ability to produce specialized metabolites in vitro On the basis of these observations, we sought to develop a model nodule microbiome system for evaluating specialized microbial metabolism in planta Starting with an inoculum derived from field-grown Medicago sativa nodules, serial passaging through gnotobiotic nodules yielded a simplified accessory community composed of four members: Brevibacillus brevis, Paenibacillus sp., Pantoea agglomerans, and Pseudomonas sp. Some members of this community exhibited clear cooperation in planta, while others were antagonistic and capable of disrupting cooperation between other partners. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-imaging mass spectrometry, we found that metabolites associated with individual taxa had unique distributions, indicating that some members of the nodule community were spatially segregated. Finally, we identified two families of molecules produced by B. brevisin planta as the antibacterial tyrocidines and a novel set of gramicidin-type molecules, which we term the britacidins. Collectively, these results indicate that in addition to nitrogen fixation, legume root nodules are likely also sites of active antimicrobial production.}, } @article {pmid32843546, year = {2020}, author = {Pearson, CR and Tindall, SN and Herman, R and Jenkins, HT and Bateman, A and Thomas, GH and Potts, JR and Van der Woude, MW}, title = {Acetylation of Surface Carbohydrates in Bacterial Pathogens Requires Coordinated Action of a Two-Domain Membrane-Bound Acyltransferase.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32843546}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {PG/16/5/31912/BHF_/British Heart Foundation/United Kingdom ; BB/M011151/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Acetylation ; Acyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Computer Simulation ; Models, Molecular ; Salmonella enterica/*enzymology/genetics ; Substrate Specificity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Membrane bound acyltransferase-3 (AT3) domain-containing proteins are implicated in a wide range of carbohydrate O-acyl modifications, but their mechanism of action is largely unknown. O-antigen acetylation by AT3 domain-containing acetyltransferases of Salmonella spp. can generate a specific immune response upon infection and can influence bacteriophage interactions. This study integrates in situ and in vitro functional analyses of two of these proteins, OafA and OafB (formerly F2GtrC), which display an "AT3-SGNH fused" domain architecture, where an integral membrane AT3 domain is fused to an extracytoplasmic SGNH domain. An in silico-inspired mutagenesis approach of the AT3 domain identified seven residues which are fundamental for the mechanism of action of OafA, with a particularly conserved motif in TMH1 indicating a potential acyl donor interaction site. Genetic and in vitro evidence demonstrate that the SGNH domain is both necessary and sufficient for lipopolysaccharide acetylation. The structure of the periplasmic SGNH domain of OafB identified features not previously reported for SGNH proteins. In particular, the periplasmic portion of the interdomain linking region is structured. Significantly, this region constrains acceptor substrate specificity, apparently by limiting access to the active site. Coevolution analysis of the two domains suggests possible interdomain interactions. Combining these data, we propose a refined model of the AT3-SGNH proteins, with structurally constrained orientations of the two domains. These findings enhance our understanding of how cells can transfer acyl groups from the cytoplasm to specific extracellular carbohydrates.IMPORTANCE Acyltransferase-3 (AT3) domain-containing membrane proteins are involved in O-acetylation of a diverse range of carbohydrates across all domains of life. In bacteria they are essential in processes including symbiosis, resistance to antimicrobials, and biosynthesis of antibiotics. Their mechanism of action, however, is poorly characterized. We analyzed two acetyltransferases as models for this important family of membrane proteins, which modify carbohydrates on the surface of the pathogen Salmonella enterica, affecting immunogenicity, virulence, and bacteriophage resistance. We show that when these AT3 domains are fused to a periplasmic partner domain, both domains are required for substrate acetylation. The data show conserved elements in the AT3 domain and unique structural features of the periplasmic domain. Our data provide a working model to probe the mechanism and function of the diverse and important members of the widespread AT3 protein family, which are required for biologically significant modifications of cell-surface carbohydrates.}, } @article {pmid32842927, year = {2020}, author = {Horak, RD and Leonard, SP and Moran, NA}, title = {Symbionts shape host innate immunity in honeybees.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1933}, pages = {20201184}, pmid = {32842927}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; *Immunity, Innate ; Microbiota ; Neisseriaceae/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the health of many animals. Honeybees are no exception, as they host a core microbiome that affects their nutrition and immune function. However, the relationship between the honeybee immune system and its gut symbionts is poorly understood. Here, we explore how the beneficial symbiont Snodgrassella alvi affects honeybee immune gene expression. We show that both live and heat-killed S. alvi protect honeybees from the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens and lead to the expression of host antimicrobial peptides. Honeybee immune genes respond differently to live S. alvi compared to heat-killed S. alvi, the latter causing a more extensive immune expression response. We show a preference for Toll pathway upregulation over the Imd pathway in the presence of both live and heat-killed S. alvi. Finally, we find that live S. alvi aids in clearance of S. marcescens from the honeybee gut, supporting a potential role for the symbiont in colonization resistance. Our results show that colonization by the beneficial symbiont S. alvi triggers a replicable honeybee immune response. These responses may benefit the host and the symbiont, by helping to regulate gut microbial members and preventing overgrowth or invasion by opportunists.}, } @article {pmid32841350, year = {2020}, author = {Castro-Rodríguez, R and Abreu, I and Reguera, M and Novoa-Aponte, L and Mijovilovich, A and Escudero, V and Jiménez-Pastor, FJ and Abadía, J and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Álvarez-Fernández, A and Küpper, H and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {The Medicago truncatula Yellow Stripe1-Like3 gene is involved in vascular delivery of transition metals to root nodules.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {22}, pages = {7257-7269}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa390}, pmid = {32841350}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation carried out in legume root nodules requires transition metals. These nutrients are delivered by the host plant to the endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria living within the nodule cells, a process in which vascular transport is essential. As members of the Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) family of metal transporters are involved in root to shoot transport, they should also be required for root to nodule metal delivery. The genome of the model legume Medicago truncatula encodes eight YSL proteins, four of them with a high degree of similarity to Arabidopsis thaliana YSLs involved in long-distance metal trafficking. Among them, MtYSL3 is a plasma membrane protein expressed by vascular cells in roots and nodules and by cortical nodule cells. Reducing the expression level of this gene had no major effect on plant physiology when assimilable nitrogen was provided in the nutrient solution. However, nodule functioning was severely impaired, with a significant reduction of nitrogen fixation capabilities. Further, iron and zinc accumulation and distribution changed. Iron was retained in the apical region of the nodule, while zinc became strongly accumulated in the nodule veins in the ysl3 mutant. These data suggest a role for MtYSL3 in vascular delivery of iron and zinc to symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32840024, year = {2020}, author = {Sizikov, S and Burgsdorf, I and Handley, KM and Lahyani, M and Haber, M and Steindler, L}, title = {Characterization of sponge-associated Verrucomicrobia: microcompartment-based sugar utilization and enhanced toxin-antitoxin modules as features of host-associated Opitutales.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {4669-4688}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15210}, pmid = {32840024}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sugars/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Toxin-Antitoxin Systems/*genetics ; Verrucomicrobia/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the phylum Verrucomicrobia are ubiquitous in marine environments and can be found as free-living organisms or as symbionts of eukaryotic hosts. Little is known about host-associated Verrucomicrobia in the marine environment. Here we reconstructed two genomes of symbiotic Verrucomicrobia from bacterial metagenomes derived from the Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis and three genomes from strains that we isolated from offshore seawater of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Phylogenomic analysis of these five strains indicated that they are all members of Verrucomicrobia subdivision 4, order Opitutales. We compared these novel sponge-associated and seawater-isolated genomes to closely related Verrucomicrobia. Genomic analysis revealed that Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia microcompartment gene clusters are enriched in the genomes of symbiotic Opitutales including sponge symbionts but not in free-living ones. We hypothesize that in sponge symbionts these microcompartments are used for degradation of l-fucose and l-rhamnose, which are components of algal and bacterial cell walls and therefore may be found at high concentrations in the sponge tissue. Furthermore, we observed an enrichment of toxin-antitoxin modules in symbiotic Opitutales. We suggest that, in sponges, verrucomicrobial symbionts utilize these modules as a defence mechanism against antimicrobial activity deriving from the abundant microbial community co-inhabiting the host.}, } @article {pmid32839879, year = {2021}, author = {Noskov, YA and Kabilov, MR and Polenogova, OV and Yurchenko, YA and Belevich, OE and Yaroslavtseva, ON and Alikina, TY and Byvaltsev, AM and Rotskaya, UN and Morozova, VV and Glupov, VV and Kryukov, VY}, title = {A Neurotoxic Insecticide Promotes Fungal Infection in Aedes aegypti Larvae by Altering the Bacterial Community.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {493-505}, pmid = {32839879}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Antibiosis/drug effects ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Load ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Ivermectin/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Larva/microbiology ; Metarhizium/*physiology ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Mosquito Control ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria have a significant impact on the formation of defensive mechanisms against fungal pathogens and insecticides. The microbiome of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has been well studied; however, there are no data on the influence of insecticides and pathogenic fungi on its structure. The fungus Metarhizium robertsii and a neurotoxic insecticide (avermectin complex) interact synergistically, and the colonization of larvae with hyphal bodies is observed after fungal and combined (conidia + avermectins) treatments. The changes in the bacterial communities (16S rRNA) of Ae. aegypti larvae under the influence of fungal infection, avermectin toxicosis, and their combination were studied. In addition, we studied the interactions between the fungus and the predominant cultivable bacteria in vitro and in vivo after the coinfection of the larvae. Avermectins increased the total bacterial load and diversity. The fungus decreased the diversity and insignificantly increased the bacterial load. Importantly, avermectins reduced the relative abundance of Microbacterium (Actinobacteria), which exhibited a strong antagonistic effect towards the fungus in in vitro and in vivo assays. The avermectin treatment led to an increased abundance of Chryseobacterium (Flavobacteria), which exerted a neutral effect on mycosis development. In addition, avermectin treatment led to an elevation of some subdominant bacteria (Pseudomonas) that interacted synergistically with the fungus. We suggest that avermectins change the bacterial community to favor the development of fungal infection.}, } @article {pmid32839546, year = {2020}, author = {Utter, DR and He, X and Cavanaugh, CM and McLean, JS and Bor, B}, title = {The saccharibacterium TM7x elicits differential responses across its host range.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {3054-3067}, pmid = {32839546}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {F32 DE025548/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE020102/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE026186/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; K99 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinomyces/genetics ; Bacteria ; *Host Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Host range is a fundamental component of symbiotic interactions, yet it remains poorly characterized for the prevalent yet enigmatic subcategory of bacteria/bacteria symbioses. The recently characterized obligate bacterial epibiont Candidatus Nanosynbacter lyticus TM7x with its bacterial host Actinomyces odontolyticus XH001 offers an ideal system to study such a novel relationship. In this study, the host range of TM7x was investigated by coculturing TM7x with various related Actinomyces strains and characterizing their growth dynamics from initial infection through subsequent co-passages. Of the twenty-seven tested Actinomyces, thirteen strains, including XH001, could host TM7x, and further classified into "permissive" and "nonpermissive" based on their varying initial responses to TM7x. Ten permissive strains exhibited growth/crash/recovery phases following TM7x infection, with crash timing and extent dependent on initial TM7x dosage. Meanwhile, three nonpermissive strains hosted TM7x without a growth-crash phase despite high TM7x dosage. The physical association of TM7x with all hosts, including nonpermissive strains, was confirmed by microscopy. Comparative genomic analyses revealed distinguishing genomic features between permissive and nonpermissive hosts. Our results expand the concept of host range beyond a binary to a wider spectrum, and the varying susceptibility of Actinomyces strains to TM7x underscores how small genetic differences between hosts can underly divergent selective trajectories.}, } @article {pmid32836173, year = {2020}, author = {Exley, AR and Rantell, K and McBlane, J}, title = {Clinical development of cell therapies for cancer: The regulators' perspective.}, journal = {European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)}, volume = {138}, number = {}, pages = {41-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejca.2020.07.006}, pmid = {32836173}, issn = {1879-0852}, mesh = {Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/*methods ; Clinical Protocols ; *Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Intersectoral Collaboration ; Neoplasms/*therapy ; }, abstract = {Novel cell therapies for haematological malignancies and solid tumours address pressing clinical need while offering potentially paradigm shifts in efficacy. However, innovative development risks outflanking information on statutory frameworks, regulatory guidelines and their working application. Meeting this challenge, regulators offer wide-ranging expertise and experience in confidential scientific and regulatory advice. We advocate early incorporation of regulatory perspectives to support strategic development of clinical programmes. We examine critical issues and key advances in clinical oncology trials to highlight practical approaches to optimising the clinical development of cell therapies. We recommend early consideration of collaborative networks, early-access schemes, reducing bias in single-arm trials, adaptive trials, clinical end-points supporting risk/benefit and cost/benefit analyses, companion diagnostics, real-world data and common technical issues. This symbiotic approach between developers and regulators should reduce development risk, safely expedite marketing authorisation, and promote early, wider availability of potentially transformative cell therapies for cancer.}, } @article {pmid32836119, year = {2020}, author = {da Silva Rodrigues, DA and da Cunha, CCRF and Freitas, MG and de Barros, ALC and E Castro, PBN and Pereira, AR and de Queiroz Silva, S and da Fonseca Santiago, A and de Cássia Franco Afonso, RJ}, title = {Biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole by microalgae-bacteria consortium in wastewater treatment plant effluents.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {749}, number = {}, pages = {141441}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141441}, pmid = {32836119}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; Bacteria ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Humans ; *Microalgae ; Sulfamethoxazole/toxicity ; Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has been commonly detected in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents. SMX and other antibiotics can be considered as environmental contaminants of emerging concern. Due to their toxicity effects and their potential for the development of bacterial resistance their presence in aquatic compartment becomes a threat to human health. This study evaluated the bioremediation of SMX in WWTP effluents using a tertiary treatment composed by microalgae-bacteria consortium under low intensity artificial LED illumination, and also the assessment of sulfonamide resistance gene (sul1). The removal of SMX from WWTP effluents were 54.34 ± 2.35%, in which the microalgae-bacteria consortium improves the removal performance of SMX. The main process of SMX removal can be attributed to the symbiotic biodegradation by bacteria due to the increase of oxygen released by the microalgae photosynthetic process. Therefore, the microalgae-bacteria consortium used in this study, demonstrated to be a promising alternative for bioremediation of SMX, with potential for removal others contaminants from wastewater effluent. However, the residual SMX and the relative abundance of antibiotics resistance genes (ARG) found in this study suggest that SMX contributes to selective pressure for ARG maintenance and proliferation in WWTP effluent. Thus, further studies to removal ARG from WWTP effluent are needed.}, } @article {pmid32836047, year = {2020}, author = {Ma, L and Wang, WX}, title = {Subcellular metal distribution in two deep-sea mollusks: Insight of metal adaptation and detoxification near hydrothermal vents.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {266}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {115303}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115303}, pmid = {32836047}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Gills ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Metallothionein ; Metals ; *Mytilidae ; }, abstract = {In this study, we determined the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb and As and their subcellular distributions within the tissues of mussels (Bathymodiolus marisindicus) and snails (Gigantopelta aegis) from two hydrothermal vent regions, i.e., Tiancheng and Longqi, at Southwest Indian Ridge. Mussels collected from the two venting regions showed comparable concentrations for Ni and Pb, but Cu, Zn, Cd and As concentrations were significantly different in mussel gills between the two vent regions. Similar ranges of metal concentrations were found in the snails as those in the mussels, but most of the metals were mainly accumulated in the viscera, except for Ni. Similar subcellular partitioning of Cu, Zn and Cd was documented in different mussel tissues, with cellular debris (50%) being the predominant fraction, followed by equivalent values in other fractions. Lead was distributed in both cellular debris and metal-rich granules (MRG) fraction, whereas Ni was predominantly distributed in MRG (90%). Arsenic was mainly partitioned in cellular debris and metallothionein-like protein. However, deep-sea snails displayed elevated subcellular partitioning of Cu in the organelles (up to 60%) and may be more susceptible to Cu stress than the mussels. Our results demonstrated the metal-specificity of detoxification strategies in these deep-sea hydrothermal vent mollusks, and the mussels may be more adaptable to high metal exposures than the snails at hydrothermal vent.}, } @article {pmid32834906, year = {2020}, author = {Li, M and Chen, H and Wang, M and Zhong, Z and Zhou, L and Li, C}, title = {Identification and characterization of endosymbiosis-related immune genes in deep-sea mussels Gigantidas platifrons.}, journal = {Journal of oceanology and limnology}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {1292-1303}, pmid = {32834906}, issn = {2523-3521}, abstract = {Deep-sea mussels of the subfamily Bathymodiolinae are common and numerically dominant species widely distributed in cold seeps and hydrothermal vents. During long-time evolution, deep-sea mussels have evolved to be well adapted to the local environment of cold seeps and hydrothermal vents by various ways, especially by establishing endosymbiosis with chemotrophic bacteria. However, biological processes underlying the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis between host mussels and symbionts are largely unclear. In the present study, Gigantidas platifrons genes possibly involved in the symbiosis with methane oxidation symbionts were identified and characterized by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pull-down and in situ hybridization. Five immune related proteins including Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), integrin, vacuolar sorting protein (VSP), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and leucine-rich repeat (LRR-1) were identified by LPS pull-down assay. These five proteins were all conserved in either molecular sequences or functional domains and known to be key molecules in host immune recognition, phagocytosis, and lysosome-mediated digestion. Furthermore, in situ hybridization of LRR-1, TLR2 and VSP genes was conducted to investigate their expression patterns in gill tissues of G. platifrons. Consequently, LRR-1, TLR2, and VSP genes were found expressed exclusively in the bacteriocytes of G. platifrons. Therefore, it was suggested that TLR2, integrin, VSP, MMP1, and LRR-1 might be crucial molecules in the symbiosis between G. platifrons and methane oxidation bacteria by participating in symbiosis-related immune processes.}, } @article {pmid32831146, year = {2020}, author = {Wada, N and Yuasa, H and Kajitani, R and Gotoh, Y and Ogura, Y and Yoshimura, D and Toyoda, A and Tang, SL and Higashimura, Y and Sweatman, H and Forsman, Z and Bronstein, O and Eyal, G and Thongtham, N and Itoh, T and Hayashi, T and Yasuda, N}, title = {A ubiquitous subcuticular bacterial symbiont of a coral predator, the crown-of-thorns starfish, in the Indo-Pacific.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {123}, pmid = {32831146}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; Male ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; *Predatory Behavior ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Starfish/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Population outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci sensu lato; COTS), a primary predator of reef-building corals in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, are a major threat to coral reefs. While biological and ecological knowledge of COTS has been accumulating since the 1960s, little is known about its associated bacteria. The aim of this study was to provide fundamental information on the dominant COTS-associated bacteria through a multifaceted molecular approach.

METHODS: A total of 205 COTS individuals from 17 locations throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean were examined for the presence of COTS-associated bacteria. We conducted 16S rRNA metabarcoding of COTS to determine the bacterial profiles of different parts of the body and generated a full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence from a single dominant bacterium, which we designated COTS27. We performed phylogenetic analysis to determine the taxonomy, screening of COTS27 across the Indo-Pacific, FISH to visualize it within the COTS tissues, and reconstruction of the bacterial genome from the hologenome sequence data.

RESULTS: We discovered that a single bacterium exists at high densities in the subcuticular space in COTS forming a biofilm-like structure between the cuticle and the epidermis. COTS27 belongs to a clade that presumably represents a distinct order (so-called marine spirochetes) in the phylum Spirochaetes and is universally present in COTS throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The reconstructed genome of COTS27 includes some genetic traits that are probably linked to adaptation to marine environments and evolution as an extracellular endosymbiont in subcuticular spaces.

CONCLUSIONS: COTS27 can be found in three allopatric COTS species, ranging from the northern Red Sea to the Pacific, implying that the symbiotic relationship arose before the speciation events (approximately 2 million years ago). The universal association of COTS27 with COTS and nearly mono-specific association at least with the Indo-Pacific COTS provides a useful model system for studying symbiont-host interactions in marine invertebrates and may have applications for coral reef conservation. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid32830039, year = {2020}, author = {Pastawan, V and Suganuma, S and Mizuno, K and Wang, L and Tani, A and Mitsui, R and Nakamura, K and Shimada, M and Hayakawa, T and Fitriyanto, NA and Nakagawa, T}, title = {Regulation of lanthanide-dependent methanol oxidation pathway in the legume symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium sp. strain Ce-3.}, journal = {Journal of bioscience and bioengineering}, volume = {130}, number = {6}, pages = {582-587}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.07.012}, pmid = {32830039}, issn = {1347-4421}, mesh = {Alcohol Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism/physiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Lanthanoid Series Elements/*metabolism ; Methanol/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lanthanide (Ln)-dependent XoxF-type methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) genes can be found in bacteria that are not believed to be methylotrophs, and studies on their methylotrophic pathways and their use of Ln are now emerging. Ln-dependent methanol utilization in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain Ce-3, which belongs to the Bradyrhizobium elkanii superclade (clade II), was investigated in this study. Strain Ce-3 was able to grow in a media containing methanol as a sole carbon source and light Ln (L-Ln, i.e., La[3+], Ce[3+], Pr[3+], and Nd[3+]), whereas the strain did not show any growth with Ca[2+] or the heavy Ln, Sm[3+]. We found that the uptake of L-Ln is enhanced mainly by methanol and L-Ln species, and the strain incorporates each L-Ln species evenly into the cell. The genome of strain Ce-3 encodes the xox cluster for Ln-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (xoxF) and the enzymes participating in the methanol oxidation pathway (xoxG, fldA, and gfaA) and regulation (xoxR), but the gene encoding formate dehydrogenase (FDH) was not found in the cluster. MDH, formaldehyde dehydrogenase, and FDH activities were induced by methanol/Ln. Moreover, expression of the genes on the xox cluster was upregulated by methanol/Ln. Based on these results, we concluded that strain Ce-3 possesses a complete L-Ln-dependent methanol oxidation pathway, which is dissimilar to plant phyllospheric bacteria, Methylobacterium species, with a transport system for L-Ln species.}, } @article {pmid32828650, year = {2021}, author = {Bosshart, PD and Charles, RP and Garibsingh, RA and Schlessinger, A and Fotiadis, D}, title = {SLC16 Family: From Atomic Structure to Human Disease.}, journal = {Trends in biochemical sciences}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {28-40}, doi = {10.1016/j.tibs.2020.07.005}, pmid = {32828650}, issn = {0968-0004}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Humans ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*chemistry/genetics ; Protein Conformation ; Symporters/*chemistry/genetics ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {The solute carrier 16 (SLC16) family represents a diverse group of membrane proteins mediating the transport of monocarboxylates across biological membranes. Family members show a variety of functional roles ranging from nutrient transport and intracellular pH regulation to thyroid hormone homeostasis. Changes in the expression levels and transport function of certain SLC16 transporters are manifested in severe health disorders including cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. L-Lactate-transporting SLC16 family members play essential roles in the metabolism of certain tumors and became validated drug targets. This review illuminates the SLC16 family under a new light using structural information obtained from a SLC16 homolog. Furthermore, the role of these transporters in cancer metabolism and how their inhibition can contribute to anticancer therapy are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32827089, year = {2021}, author = {Maher, AMD and Asaiyah, M and Quinn, S and Burke, R and Wolff, H and Bode, HB and Griffin, CT}, title = {Competition and Co-existence of Two Photorhabdus Symbionts with a Nematode Host.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {1}, pages = {223-239}, pmid = {32827089}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {16/RI/3399/SFI_/Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthraquinones/metabolism ; Grassland ; Luminescent Measurements ; Photorhabdus/growth & development/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism/physiology ; Strongyloidea/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus spp. (Enterobacteriales: Morganellaceae) occur exclusively as symbionts of Heterorhabditis nematodes for which they provide numerous services, including killing insects and providing nutrition and defence within the cadavers. Unusually, two species (Photorhabdus cinerea and Photorhabdus temperata) associate with a single population of Heterorhabditis downesi at a dune grassland site. Building on previous work, we investigated competition between these two Photorhabdus species both at the regional (between insects) and local (within insect) level by trait comparison and co-culture experiments. There was no difference between the species with respect to supporting nematode reproduction and protection of cadavers against invertebrate scavengers, but P. cinerea was superior to P. temperata in several traits: faster growth rate, greater antibacterial and antifungal activity and colonisation of a higher proportion of nematodes in co-culture. Moreover, where both bacterial symbionts colonised single nematode infective juveniles, P. cinerea tended to dominate in numbers. Differences between Photorhabdus species were detected in the suite of secondary metabolites produced: P. temperata produced several compounds not produced by P. cinerea including anthraquinone pigments. Bioluminescence emitted by P. temperata also tended to be brighter than that from P. cinerea. Bioluminescence and pigmentation may protect cadavers against scavengers that rely on sight. We conclude that while P. cinerea may show greater local level (within-cadaver) competitive success, co-existence of the two Photorhabdus species in the spatially heterogeneous environment of the dunes is favoured by differing specialisations in defence of the cadaver against differing locally important threats.}, } @article {pmid32827049, year = {2020}, author = {de Oliveira, BFR and Carr, CM and Dobson, ADW and Laport, MS}, title = {Harnessing the sponge microbiome for industrial biocatalysts.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {19}, pages = {8131-8154}, pmid = {32827049}, issn = {1432-0614}, support = {SSPC-3, 12/RC/2275_2/SFI_/Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; SSPC-2, 12/RC/2275/SFI_/Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Biotechnology ; Fungi ; *Microbiota ; Prospective Studies ; }, abstract = {Within the marine sphere, host-associated microbiomes are receiving growing attention as prolific sources of novel biocatalysts. Given the known biocatalytic potential of poriferan microbial inhabitants, this review focuses on enzymes from the sponge microbiome, with special attention on their relevant properties and the wide range of their potential biotechnological applications within various industries. Cultivable bacterial and filamentous fungal isolates account for the majority of the enzymatic sources. Hydrolases, mainly glycoside hydrolases and carboxylesterases, are the predominant reported group of enzymes, with varying degrees of tolerance to alkaline pH and growing salt concentrations being common. Prospective areas for the application of these microbial enzymes include biorefinery, detergent, food and effluent treatment industries. Finally, alternative strategies to identify novel biocatalysts from the sponge microbiome are addressed, with an emphasis on modern -omics-based approaches that are currently available in the enzyme research arena. By providing this current overview of the field, we hope to not only increase the appetite of researchers to instigate forthcoming studies but also to stress how basic and applied research can pave the way for new biocatalysts from these symbiotic microbial communities in a productive fashion. KEY POINTS: • The sponge microbiome is a burgeoning source of industrial biocatalysts. • Sponge microbial enzymes have useful habitat-related traits for several industries. • Strategies are provided for the future discovery of microbial enzymes from sponges.}, } @article {pmid32826956, year = {2020}, author = {Kishimoto, M and Baird, AH and Maruyama, S and Minagawa, J and Takahashi, S}, title = {Loss of symbiont infectivity following thermal stress can be a factor limiting recovery from bleaching in cnidarians.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {3149-3152}, pmid = {32826956}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Increases in seawater temperature can cause coral bleaching through loss of symbiotic algae (dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae). Corals can recover from bleaching by recruiting algae into host cells from the residual symbiont population or from the external environment. However, the high coral mortality that often follows mass-bleaching events suggests that recovery is often limited in the wild. Here, we examine the effect of pre-exposure to heat stress on the capacity of symbiotic algae to infect cnidarian hosts using the Aiptasia (sea-anemone)-Symbiodiniaceae model system. We found that the symbiont strain Breviolum sp. CS-164 (ITS2 type B1), both free-living and in symbiosis, loses the capacity to infect the host following exposure to heat stress. This loss of infectivity is reversible, however, a longer exposure to heat stress increases the time taken for reversal. Under the same experimental conditions, the loss of infectivity was not observed in another strain Breviolum psygmophilum CCMP2459 (ITS2 type B2). Our results suggest that recovery from bleaching can be limited by the loss of symbiont infectivity following exposure to heat stress.}, } @article {pmid32825559, year = {2020}, author = {Chénard, T and Prévost, K and Dubé, J and Massé, E}, title = {Immune System Modulations by Products of the Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Vaccines}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32825559}, issn = {2076-393X}, abstract = {The gut microbiota, which consists of all bacteria, viruses, fungus, and protozoa living in the intestine, and the immune system have co-evolved in a symbiotic relationship since the origin of the immune system. The bacterial community forming the microbiota plays an important role in the regulation of multiple aspects of the immune system. This regulation depends, among other things, on the production of a variety of metabolites by the microbiota. These metabolites range from small molecules to large macro-molecules. All types of immune cells from the host interact with these metabolites resulting in the activation of different pathways, which result in either positive or negative responses. The understanding of these pathways and their modulations will help establish the microbiota as a therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of a variety of immune-related diseases.}, } @article {pmid32824905, year = {2020}, author = {Bubica Bustos, LM and Ueno, AC and Di Leo, TD and Crocco, CD and Martínez-Ghersa, MA and Molina-Montenegro, MA and Gundel, PE}, title = {Maternal Exposure to Ozone Modulates the Endophyte-Conferred Resistance to Aphids in Lolium multiflorum Plants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32824905}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Plants are challenged by biotic and abiotic stress factors and the incidence of one can increase or decrease resistance to another. These relations can also occur transgenerationally. For instance, progeny plants whose mothers experienced herbivory can be more resistant to herbivores. Certain fungal endophytes that are vertically transmitted endow plants with alkaloids and resistance to herbivores. However, endophyte-symbiotic plants exposed to the oxidative agent ozone became susceptible to aphids. Here, we explored whether this effect persists transgenerationally. We exposed Lolium multiflorum plants with and without fungal endophyte Epichloë occultans to ozone (120 or 0 ppb), and then, challenged the progeny with aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi). The endophyte was the main factor determining the resistance to aphids, but its importance diminished in plants with ozone history. This negative ozone effect on the endophyte-mediated resistance was apparent on aphid individual weights. Phenolic compounds in seeds were increased by the symbiosis and diminished by the ozone. The endophyte effect on phenolics vanished in progeny plants while the negative ozone effect persisted. Independently of ozone, the symbiosis increased the plant biomass (≈24%). Although ozone can diminish the importance of endophyte symbiosis for plant resistance to herbivores, it would be compensated by host growth stimulation.}, } @article {pmid32824704, year = {2020}, author = {Kaur, S and Suseela, V}, title = {Unraveling Arbuscular Mycorrhiza-Induced Changes in Plant Primary and Secondary Metabolome.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32824704}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is among the most ubiquitous plant mutualists that enhance plant growth and yield by facilitating the uptake of phosphorus and water. The countless interactions that occur in the rhizosphere between plants and its AMF symbionts are mediated through the plant and fungal metabolites that ensure partner recognition, colonization, and establishment of the symbiotic association. The colonization and establishment of AMF reprogram the metabolic pathways of plants, resulting in changes in the primary and secondary metabolites, which is the focus of this review. During initial colonization, plant-AMF interaction is facilitated through the regulation of signaling and carotenoid pathways. After the establishment, the AMF symbiotic association influences the primary metabolism of the plant, thus facilitating the sharing of photosynthates with the AMF. The carbon supply to AMF leads to the transport of a significant amount of sugars to the roots, and also alters the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Apart from the nutrient exchange, the AMF imparts abiotic stress tolerance in host plants by increasing the abundance of several primary metabolites. Although AMF initially suppresses the defense response of the host, it later primes the host for better defense against biotic and abiotic stresses by reprogramming the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Additionally, the influence of AMF on signaling pathways translates to enhanced phytochemical content through the upregulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway, which improves the quality of the plant products. These phytometabolome changes induced by plant-AMF interaction depends on the identity of both plant and AMF species, which could contribute to the differential outcome of this symbiotic association. A better understanding of the phytochemical landscape shaped by plant-AMF interactions would enable us to harness this symbiotic association to enhance plant performance, particularly under non-optimal growing conditions.}, } @article {pmid32824636, year = {2020}, author = {Huang, SP and Zhou, LC and Wen, B and Wang, P and Zhu, GP}, title = {Biochemical Characterization and Crystal Structure of a Novel NAD[+]-Dependent Isocitrate Dehydrogenase from Phaeodactylum tricornutum.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {32824636}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Allosteric Regulation ; Allosteric Site ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Diatoms/*enzymology ; EF Hand Motifs ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase/*chemistry/metabolism ; Isocitrates/chemistry/metabolism ; NAD/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum originated from a series of secondary symbiotic events and has been used as a model organism for studying diatom biology. A novel type II homodimeric isocitrate dehydrogenase from P. tricornutum (PtIDH1) was expressed, purified, and identified in detail through enzymatic characterization. Kinetic analysis showed that PtIDH1 is NAD[+]-dependent and has no detectable activity with NADP[+]. The catalytic efficiency of PtIDH1 for NAD[+] is 0.16 μM[-1]·s[-1] and 0.09 μM[-1]·s[-1] in the presence of Mn[2+] and Mg[2+], respectively. Unlike other bacterial homodimeric NAD-IDHs, PtIDH1 activity was allosterically regulated by the isocitrate. Furthermore, the dimeric structure of PtIDH1 was determined at 2.8 Å resolution, and each subunit was resolved into four domains, similar to the eukaryotic homodimeric NADP-IDH in the type II subfamily. Interestingly, a unique and novel C-terminal EF-hand domain was first defined in PtIDH1. Deletion of this domain disrupted the intact dimeric structure and activity. Mutation of the four Ca[2+]-binding sites in the EF-hand significantly reduced the calcium tolerance of PtIDH1. Thus, we suggest that the EF-hand domain could be involved in the dimerization and Ca[2+]-coordination of PtIDH1. The current report, on the first structure of type II eukaryotic NAD-IDH, provides new information for further investigation of the evolution of the IDH family.}, } @article {pmid32824605, year = {2020}, author = {Sontowski, R and van Dam, NM}, title = {Functional Variation in Dipteran Gut Bacterial Communities in Relation to Their Diet, Life Cycle Stage and Habitat.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32824605}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {True flies and mosquitos (Diptera) live in habitats and consume diets that pose specific demands on their gut bacterial communities (GBCs). Due to diet specializations, dipterans may have highly diverse and species-specific GBCs. Dipterans are also confronted with changes in habitat and food sources over their lifetime, especially during life history processes (molting, metamorphosis). This may prevent the development of a constant species- or diet-specific GBC. Some dipterans are vectors of several human pathogens (e.g., malaria), which interact with GBCs. In this review, we explore the dynamics that shape GBC composition in some Diptera species on the basis of published datasets of GBCs. We thereby focus on the effects of diet, habitats, and life cycle stages as sources of variation in GBC composition. The GBCs reported were more stage-specific than species- or diet-specific. Even though the presence of GBCs has a large impact on the performance of their hosts, the exact functions of GBCs and their interactions with other organisms are still largely unknown, mainly due to the low number of studies to date. Increasing our knowledge on dipteran GBCs will help to design pest management strategies for the reduction of insecticide resistance, as well as for human pathogen control.}, } @article {pmid32823761, year = {2020}, author = {Dally, M and Lalzar, M and Belausov, E and Gottlieb, Y and Coll, M and Zchori-Fein, E}, title = {Cellular Localization of Two Rickettsia Symbionts in the Digestive System and within the Ovaries of the Mirid Bug, Macrolophous pygmaeus.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32823761}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts in arthropods are common, vary in their effects, and can dramatically influence the outcome of biological control efforts. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae), a key component of biological control programs, is mainly predaceous but may also display phytophagy. M. pygmaeus hosts symbiotic Wolbachia, which induce cytoplasmic incompatibility, and two Rickettsia species, R. bellii and R. limoniae, which are found in all individuals tested. To test possible involvement of the two Rickettsia species in the feeding habits of M. pygmaeus, we first showed that the microbiome of the insect is dominated by these three symbionts, and later described the distribution pattern of the two Rickettsia species in its digestive system. Although both Rickettsia species were located in certain gut bacteriocyes, in caeca and in Malpighian tubules of both sexes, each species has a unique cellular occupancy pattern and specific distribution along digestive system compartments. Infrequently, both species were found in a cell. In females, both Rickettsia species were detected in the germarium, the apical end of the ovarioles within the ovaries, but not in oocytes. Although the cause for these Rickettsia distribution patterns is yet unknown, it is likely linked to host nutrition while feeding on prey or plants.}, } @article {pmid32823633, year = {2020}, author = {Casertano, M and Menna, M and Imperatore, C}, title = {The Ascidian-Derived Metabolites with Antimicrobial Properties.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32823633}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {Among the sub-phylum of Tunicate, ascidians represent the most abundant class of marine invertebrates, with 3000 species by heterogeneous habitat, that is, from shallow water to deep sea, already reported. The chemistry of these sessile filter-feeding organisms is an attractive reservoir of varied and peculiar bioactive compounds. Most secondary metabolites isolated from ascidians stand out for their potential as putative therapeutic agents in the treatment of several illnesses like microbial infections. In this review, we present and discuss the antibacterial activity shown by the main groups of ascidian-derived products, such as sulfur-containing compounds, meroterpenes, alkaloids, peptides, furanones, and their derivatives. Moreover, the direct evidence of a symbiotic association between marine ascidians and microorganisms shed light on the real producers of many extremely potent marine natural compounds. Hence, we also report the antibacterial potential, joined to antifungal and antiviral activity, of metabolites isolated from ascidian-associate microorganisms by culture-dependent methods.}, } @article {pmid32823564, year = {2020}, author = {Wisselink, M and Aanen, DK and van 't Padje, A}, title = {The Longevity of Colonies of Fungus-Growing Termites and the Stability of the Symbiosis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32823564}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The agricultural mutualistic symbiosis between macrotermitine termites and Termitomyces fungi is obligate for both partners. The termites provide a protective growth environment for the fungus by cultivating it inside their colony and providing it with foraged plant material. The termites use the fungus for plant substrate degradation, and the production of asexual fruiting bodies for nourishment and re-inoculation of the fungus garden. The termite colony can reach an age of up to several decades, during which time it is believed that a single fungal monoculture is asexually propagated by the offspring of a single founding royal pair. The termite-fungus mutualism has a long evolutionary history dating back more than 30 million years. Both on the time-scale of a termite colony lifespan and that of the mutualistic symbiosis, questions arise about stability. We address the physical stability of the mound, the termite colony and the monoculture fungal garden during a colony's lifetime. On the long-term evolutionary scale, we address the stability of the symbiosis, where horizontal transmission of the symbiotic fungus raises the question of how the mutualistic interaction between host and symbiont persists over generations.}, } @article {pmid32823202, year = {2020}, author = {Scharf, ME}, title = {Challenges and physiological implications of wood feeding in termites.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {79-85}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.07.007}, pmid = {32823202}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/physiology ; Isoptera/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wood/*chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Termites are fascinating insects for a number of reasons, one of which being their specialization on diets of wood lignocellulose. The goal of this review is to consider stress-inducing characteristics of wood and apparent molecular-physiological adaptations in termite guts to overcome these stressors. Defensive factors present in wood include extractive secondary plant metabolites, lignin and related phenolics, crystalline cellulose, and low nitrogen content. Molecular-physiological adaptations of the termite gut to deal with these factors include robust detoxification and antioxidant machinery, the production of a peritrophic matrix and a wide range of cellulases from host and symbiotic sources, and creation of niches available to nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbionts. Considering termite gut physiology and symbioses in the context of stress-response has applied implications. These outcomes can include development of efficient biomass breakdown strategies, protection of microbes during industrial processing applications, and safeguarding wooden structures from termite damage.}, } @article {pmid32822826, year = {2020}, author = {Jena, BC and Das, CK and Bharadwaj, D and Mandal, M}, title = {Cancer associated fibroblast mediated chemoresistance: A paradigm shift in understanding the mechanism of tumor progression.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer}, volume = {1874}, number = {2}, pages = {188416}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188416}, pmid = {32822826}, issn = {1879-2561}, mesh = {Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/*metabolism ; *Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {One of the undeniable issues with cancer eradication is the evolution of chemoresistance in due course of treatment, and the mechanisms of chemoresistance have been the subject of extensive research for several years. The efficacy of chemotherapy is hindered by cancer epithelium, mostly in a cell-autonomous mechanism. However, recently the valid experimental evidence showed that the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME) is equivalently responsible for the induction of chemoresistance. Of the verities of cells in the tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major cellular component of TME and act as a key regulator in the acquisition of cancer chemoresistance by providing a protective niche to the cancer cells against the anti-cancer drugs. Moreover, the symbiotic relationship between the tumor and CAFs to obtain key resources such as growth factors and nutrients for optimal tumor growth and proliferation favors the chemoresistance phenotype. Here, in this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of our knowledge of the role of the CAFs in inducing chemoresistance and tumor progression. We also further delineated the emerging events leading to the CAF origins and activation of normal fibroblasts to CAFs. Along with this, we also discuss the novel area of research confined to the CAF targeted therapies of cancer. The identification of CAF-specific markers may allow unveiling new targets and avenues for blunting or reverting the detrimental pro-tumorigenic potential of CAFs in the foreseeable future.}, } @article {pmid32820199, year = {2020}, author = {Moya, P and Molins, A and Chiva, S and Bastida, J and Barreno, E}, title = {Symbiotic microalgal diversity within lichenicolous lichens and crustose hosts on Iberian Peninsula gypsum biocrusts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {14060}, pmid = {32820199}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Calcium Sulfate ; Ecosystem ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Lichens/*physiology ; Microalgae/*classification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Soil ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study analyses the interactions among crustose and lichenicolous lichens growing on gypsum biocrusts. The selected community was composed of Acarospora nodulosa, Acarospora placodiiformis, Diploschistes diacapsis, Rhizocarpon malenconianum and Diplotomma rivas-martinezii. These species represent an optimal system for investigating the strategies used to share phycobionts because Acarospora spp. are parasites of D. diacapsis during their first growth stages, while in mature stages, they can develop independently. R. malenconianum is an obligate lichenicolous lichen on D. diacapsis, and D. rivas-martinezii occurs physically close to D. diacapsis. Microalgal diversity was studied by Sanger sequencing and 454-pyrosequencing of the nrITS region, and the microalgae were characterized ultrastructurally. Mycobionts were studied by performing phylogenetic analyses. Mineralogical and macro- and micro-element patterns were analysed to evaluate their influence on the microalgal pool available in the substrate. The intrathalline coexistence of various microalgal lineages was confirmed in all mycobionts. D. diacapsis was confirmed as an algal donor, and the associated lichenicolous lichens acquired their phycobionts in two ways: maintenance of the hosts' microalgae and algal switching. Fe and Sr were the most abundant microelements in the substrates but no significant relationship was found with the microalgal diversity. The range of associated phycobionts are influenced by thallus morphology.}, } @article {pmid32818149, year = {2020}, author = {Kaplan, F and Shapiro-Ilan, D and Schiller, KC}, title = {Dynamics of entomopathogenic nematode foraging and infectivity in microgravity.}, journal = {NPJ microgravity}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {20}, pmid = {32818149}, issn = {2373-8065}, abstract = {Microgravity is a unique environment to elucidate host-parasite biology. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), model parasites, kill host insects with mutualistic bacteria and provide environmentally friendly pest control. It is unknown how microgravity affects a multistep insect invasion by parasites with mutualistic bacteria. EPNs respond directionally to electromagnetic cues and their sinusoidal locomotion is affected by various physical factors. Therefore, we expected microgravity to impact EPN functionality. Microgravity experiments during space flight on the International Space Station (ISS) indicated that EPNs successfully emerged from consumed insect host cadavers, moved through soil, found and infected bait insects in a manner equivalent to Earth controls. However, nematodes that developed entirely in space, from the egg stage, died upon return to Earth, unlike controls in microgravity and on Earth. This agricultural biocontrol experiment in space gives insight to long-term space flight for symbiotic organisms, parasite biology, and the potential for sustainable crop protection in space.}, } @article {pmid32817434, year = {2020}, author = {Herrera, P and Schuster, L and Wentrup, C and König, L and Kempinger, T and Na, H and Schwarz, J and Köstlbacher, S and Wascher, F and Zojer, M and Rattei, T and Horn, M}, title = {Molecular causes of an evolutionary shift along the parasitism-mutualism continuum in a bacterial symbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {35}, pages = {21658-21666}, pmid = {32817434}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amoeba/metabolism/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Chlamydia/*genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Parasites/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with microbes is a ubiquitous phenomenon with a massive impact on all living organisms, shaping the world around us today. Theoretical and experimental studies show that vertical transmission of symbionts leads to the evolution of mutualistic traits, whereas horizontal transmission facilitates the emergence of parasitic features. However, these studies focused on phenotypic data, and we know little about underlying molecular changes at the genomic level. Here, we combined an experimental evolution approach with infection assays, genome resequencing, and global gene expression analysis to study the effect of transmission mode on an obligate intracellular bacterial symbiont. We show that a dramatic shift in the frequency of genetic variants, coupled with major changes in gene expression, allow the symbiont to alter its position in the parasitism-mutualism continuum depending on the mode of between-host transmission. We found that increased parasitism in horizontally transmitted chlamydiae residing in amoebae was a result of processes occurring at the infectious stage of the symbiont's developmental cycle. Specifically, genes involved in energy production required for extracellular survival and the type III secretion system-the symbiont's primary virulence mechanism-were significantly up-regulated. Our results identify the genomic and transcriptional dynamics sufficient to favor parasitic or mutualistic strategies.}, } @article {pmid32817106, year = {2020}, author = {Lebov, JF and Schlomann, BH and Robinson, CD and Bohannan, BJM}, title = {Phenotypic Parallelism during Experimental Adaptation of a Free-Living Bacterium to the Zebrafish Gut.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32817106}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 GM007413/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P01 GM125576/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007759/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; Biofilms/growth & development ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Shewanella/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Zebrafish/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Although animals encounter a plethora of bacterial species throughout their lives, only a subset colonize vertebrate digestive tracts, and these bacteria can profoundly influence the health and development of their animal hosts. However, our understanding of how bacteria initiate symbioses with animal hosts remains underexplored, and this process is central to the assembly and function of gut bacterial communities. Therefore, we used experimental evolution to study a free-living bacterium as it adapts to a novel vertebrate host by serially passaging replicate populations of Shewanella oneidensis through the intestines of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). After approximately 200 bacterial generations, isolates from evolved populations improved their ability to colonize larval zebrafish during competition against their unpassaged ancestor. Genome sequencing revealed unique sets of mutations in the two evolved isolates exhibiting the highest mean competitive fitness. One isolate exhibited increased swimming motility and decreased biofilm formation compared to the ancestor, and we identified a missense mutation in the mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin pilus operon that is sufficient to increase fitness and reproduce these phenotypes. The second isolate exhibited enhanced swimming motility but unchanged biofilm formation, and here the genetic basis for adaptation is less clear. These parallel enhancements in motility and fitness resemble the behavior of a closely related Shewanella strain previously isolated from larval zebrafish and suggest phenotypic convergence with this isolate. Our results demonstrate that adaptation to the zebrafish gut is complex, with multiple evolutionary pathways capable of improving colonization, but that motility plays an important role during the onset of host association.IMPORTANCE Although animals encounter many bacterial species throughout their lives, only a subset colonize vertebrate digestive tracts, and these bacteria can profoundly influence the health and development of their animal hosts. We used experimental evolution to study a free-living bacterium as it adapts to a novel vertebrate host by serially passaging replicate populations of Shewanella oneidensis through the intestines of larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results demonstrate that adaptation to the zebrafish gut is complex, with multiple evolutionary pathways capable of improving colonization, but that motility plays an important role during the onset of host association.}, } @article {pmid32816086, year = {2020}, author = {Khan, F and Tabassum, N and Anand, R and Kim, YM}, title = {Motility of Vibrio spp.: regulation and controlling strategies.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {19}, pages = {8187-8208}, pmid = {32816086}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Flagella ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; *Vibrio cholerae/genetics ; *Vibrio parahaemolyticus ; }, abstract = {Flagellar motility in bacteria is a highly regulated and complex cellular process that requires high energy investment for movement and host colonization. Motility plays an important role in the lifestyle of Vibrio spp. in the aquatic environment and during host colonization. Flagellar motility in vibrios is associated with several cellular processes, such as movement, colonization, adhesion, biofilm formation, and virulence. The transcription of all flagella-related genes occurs hierarchically and is regulated positively or negatively by several transcription factors and regulatory proteins. The flagellar regulatory hierarchy is well studied in Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Here, we compared the regulatory cascade and molecules involved in the flagellar motility of V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus in detail. The evolutionary relatedness of the master regulator of the polar and lateral flagella in different Vibrio species is also discussed. Although they can form symbiotic associations of some Vibrio species with humans and aquatic organisms can be harmed by several species of Vibrio as a result of surface contact, characterized by flagellar movement. Thus, targeting flagellar motility in pathogenic Vibrio species is considered a promising approach to control Vibrio infections. This approach, along with the strategies for controlling flagellar motility in different species of Vibrio using naturally derived and chemically synthesized compounds, is discussed in this review. KEY POINTS: • Vibrio species are ubiquitous and distributed across the aquatic environments. • The flagellar motility is responsible for the chemotactic movement and initial colonization to the host. • The transition from the motile into the biofilm stage is one of the crucial events in the infection. • Several signaling pathways are involved in the motility and formation of biofilm. • Attenuation of motility by naturally derived or chemically synthesized compounds could be a potential treatment for preventing Vibrio biofilm-associated infections.}, } @article {pmid32816035, year = {2020}, author = {Gohar, D and Pent, M and Põldmaa, K and Bahram, M}, title = {Bacterial community dynamics across developmental stages of fungal fruiting bodies.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa175}, pmid = {32816035}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; Bacteria/genetics ; Basidiomycota ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; *Mycobiome ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence suggest that bacteria form diverse communities in various eukaryotic hosts, including fungi. However, little is known about their succession and the functional potential at different host development stages. Here we examined the effect of fruiting body parts and developmental stages on the structure and potential function of fungus-associated bacterial communities. Using high-throughput sequencing, we characterized bacterial communities and their associated potential functions in fruiting bodies from ten genera belonging to four major mushroom-forming orders and three different developmental stages of a model host species Cantharellus cibarius. Our results demonstrate that bacterial community structure differs between internal and external parts of the fruiting body but not between inner tissues. The structure of the bacterial communities showed significant variation across fruiting body developmental stages. We provide evidence that certain functional groups, such as those related to nitrogen fixation, persist in fruiting bodies during the maturation, but are replaced by putative parasites/pathogens afterwards. These data suggest that bacterial communities inhabiting fungal fruiting bodies may play important roles in their growth and development.}, } @article {pmid32815986, year = {2020}, author = {Loudon, AH and Kurtz, A and Esposito, E and Umile, TP and Minbiole, KPC and Parfrey, LW and Sheafor, BA}, title = {Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) have characteristic skin microbiota that may be shaped by cutaneous skin peptides and the environment.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa168}, pmid = {32815986}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura ; *Chytridiomycota ; *Microbiota ; Peptides ; Ranidae ; Skin ; }, abstract = {Global amphibian declines due to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) have led to questions about how amphibians defend themselves against skin diseases. A total of two amphibian defense mechanisms are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a component of amphibian innate immune defense and symbiotic skin bacteria, which can act in synergy. We characterized components of these factors in four populations of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) to investigate their role in disease defense. We surveyed the ability of their AMPs to inhibit Bd, skin bacterial community composition, skin metabolite profiles and presence and intensity of Bd infection. We found that AMPs from R. luteiventris inhibited Bd in bioassays, but inhibition did not correlate with Bd intensity on frogs. R. luteiventris had two prevalent and abundant core bacteria: Rhizobacter and Chryseobacterium. Rhizobacter relative abundance was negatively correlated with AMP's ability to inhibit Bd, but was not associated with Bd status itself. There was no relationship between metabolites and Bd. Bacterial communities and Bd differ by location, which suggests a strong environmental influence. R. luteiventris are dominated by consistent core bacteria, but also house transient bacteria that are site specific. Our emergent hypothesis is that host control and environmental factors shape the microbiota on R. luteiventris.}, } @article {pmid32815126, year = {2021}, author = {Yoshida, A and Ikegami, A}, title = {Genetic Transformation of Fusobacterium nucleatum.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2210}, number = {}, pages = {43-50}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0939-2_5}, pmid = {32815126}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology ; Fusobacterium Infections/microbiology ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/*genetics ; Humans ; Mouth/microbiology ; Transformation, Genetic/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Fusobacterium nucleatum is a human periodontal pathogen that causes opportunistic infections. It has been implicated in preterm birth and has as a pathogen of colorectal cancer. However, it is a common member of the oral microbiota and can have a symbiotic relationship with its hosts. To date, studies of F. nucleatum have been hindered by a lack of effective genetic tools, and the transformation of F. nucleatum has not been investigated. In this chapter, protocols for the transformation of F. nucleatum strain 12230 using sonoporation are presented. We also include a genetic complementation protocol for a F. nucleatum knockout mutant.}, } @article {pmid32815006, year = {2020}, author = {Tanaka, N and Kitazawa, T and Mitani, S and Suzuka, T and Kadoya, Y and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Anesthetic management using a combination of anterior quadratus lumborum block and erector spinae plane block for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: two case reports.}, journal = {JA clinical reports}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {65}, pmid = {32815006}, issn = {2363-9024}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: There has been increasing attention regarding quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) as effective truncal blocks. There have been reports of combined QLB and ESPB usage in hip surgery resulting in a symbiotic increase in effectiveness. However, there have been no reports regarding robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN), which requires multiple port holes ranging from near the xiphoid process to below the umbilicus. We hypothesized that the combined use of QLB and ESPB was an option for anesthesia and analgesia during RAPN.

CASE PRESENTATION: Anterior QLB and ESPB were applied to two patients undergoing scheduled RAPN. With intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, the post-surgery numerical rating scale scores were < 3/10 at rest and < 5/10 upon movement, throughout the perioperative time.

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of QLB and ESPB could be an option for the postoperative analgesia in RAPN.}, } @article {pmid32814865, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, F and Wickham, JD and Cao, Q and Lu, M and Sun, J}, title = {An invasive beetle-fungus complex is maintained by fungal nutritional-compensation mediated by bacterial volatiles.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {2829-2842}, pmid = {32814865}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Ophiostomatales ; *Pinus ; Symbiosis ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms between symbiotic microbes and animals have been well documented, and nutritional relationships provide the foundation for maintaining beneficial associations. The well-studied mutualism between bark beetles and their fungi has become a classic model system in the study of symbioses. Despite the nutritional competition between bark beetles and beneficial fungi in the same niche due to poor nutritional feeding substrates, bark beetles still maintain mutualistic associations with beneficial fungi over time. The mechanism behind this phenomenon, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated the bark beetle Dendroctonus valens LeConte relies on the symbiotic bacterial volatile ammonia, as a nitrogen source, to regulate carbohydrate metabolism of its mutualistic fungus Leptographium procerum to alleviate nutritional competition, thereby maintaining the stability of the bark beetle-fungus mutualism. Ammonia significantly reduces competition of L. procerum for carbon resources for D. valens larval growth and increases fungal growth. Using stable isotope analysis, we show the fungus breakdown of phloem starch into D-glucose by switching on amylase genes only in the presence of ammonia. Deletion of amylase genes interferes with the conversion of starch to glucose. The acceleration of carbohydrate consumption and the conversion of starch into glucose benefit this invasive beetle-fungus complex. The nutrient consumption-compensation strategy mediated by tripartite beetle-fungus-bacterium aids the maintenance of this invasive mutualism under limited nutritional conditions, exacerbating its invasiveness with this competitive nutritional edge.}, } @article {pmid32813997, year = {2020}, author = {Nelson, P and May, G}, title = {Defensive Symbiosis and the Evolution of Virulence.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {196}, number = {3}, pages = {333-343}, doi = {10.1086/709962}, pmid = {32813997}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {AbstractA microbiome rife with enemies of the host should cause selection for defensive traits in symbionts, yet such complex environments are also predicted to select for greater symbiont virulence. Why then do we so often observe defensive mutualists that protect hosts while causing little to no damage? To address this question, we build a symbiont-centered model that incorporates the evolution of two independent symbiont traits: defense and virulence. Virulence is modeled as a continuous trait spanning parasitism (positive virulence) and mutualism (negative virulence), thus accounting for the entire range of direct effects that symbionts have on host mortality. Defense is modeled as a continuous trait that ameliorates the costs to the host associated with infection by a deleterious parasite. We show that the evolution of increased defense in one symbiont may lead to the evolution of lower virulence in both symbionts and even facilitate pathogens evolving to mutualism. However, results are context dependent, and when defensive traits are costly, the evolution of greater defense may also lead to the evolution of greater virulence, breaking the common expectation that defensive symbionts are necessarily mutualists toward the host.}, } @article {pmid32812361, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, T and Dai, Q and Chen, H and Zhang, Z and Dai, Q and Gu, X and Yang, X and Yang, Z and Zhu, L}, title = {Geographic pattern of antibiotic resistance genes in the metagenomes of the giant panda.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {186-197}, pmid = {32812361}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metagenome ; *Ursidae/genetics ; }, abstract = {The rise in infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a serious public health problem worldwide. The gut microbiome of animals is a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the correlation between the gut microbiome of wild animals and ARGs remains controversial. Here, based on the metagenomes of giant pandas (including three wild populations from the Qinling, Qionglai and Xiaoxiangling Mountains, and two major captive populations from Yaan and Chengdu), we investigated the potential correlation between the constitution of the gut microbiome and the composition of ARGs across the different geographic locations and living environments. We found that the types of ARGs were correlated with gut microbiome composition. The NMDS cluster analysis using Jaccard distance of the ARGs composition of the gut microbiome of wild giant pandas displayed a difference based on geographic location. Captivity also had an effect on the differences in ARGs composition. Furthermore, we found that the Qinling population exhibited profound dissimilarities of both gut microbiome composition and ARGs (the highest proportion of Clostridium and vancomycin resistance genes) when compared to the other wild and captive populations studies, which was supported by previous giant panda whole-genome sequencing analysis. In this study, we provide an example of a potential consensus pattern regarding host population genetics, symbiotic gut microbiome and ARGs. We revealed that habitat isolation impacts the ARG structure in the gut microbiome of mammals. Therefore, the difference in ARG composition between giant panda populations will provide some basic information for their conservation and management, especially for captive populations.}, } @article {pmid32812134, year = {2021}, author = {Haghmorad, D and Yazdanpanah, E and Sadighimoghaddam, B and Yousefi, B and Sahafi, P and Ghorbani, N and Rashidy-Pour, A and Kokhaei, P}, title = {Kombucha ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through activation of Treg and Th2 cells.}, journal = {Acta neurologica Belgica}, volume = {121}, number = {6}, pages = {1685-1692}, pmid = {32812134}, issn = {2240-2993}, mesh = {Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/*diet therapy/*immunology/metabolism ; Female ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; *Kombucha Tea ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/metabolism ; Th2 Cells/*immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Kombucha is produced by the fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. This research was designed to reveal the therapeutic impact and the molecular and cellular processes determining the effect of kombucha on MS alleviation in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The EAE was induced using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55) peptide emulsified in CFA and injected subcutaneously over two flank areas in C57BL/6 mice. In addition, pertussis toxin was injected intraperitoneally and repeated 48 h later. Treatment groups were received three different doses of kombucha (K1: low dose, K2: medium dose and K3: high dose) to obtain a maximum protection. Clinical scores and other criteria were followed daily for the 25 days. At the end of the course, T-helper-related cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-4, and TGF-β) were measured through ELISA. Moreover, nitric oxide (NO) concentration in spinal cord tissue was detected. The severity of disease on the peak of disease in K1, K2, and K3 groups were 3.4 ± 0.18 and 2.6 ± 0.18 and 2 ± 0.14 respectively, compared to the CTRL group with 4.5 ± 0.19 (p < 0.001). Kombucha increased production of interleukin IL-4 (K1 = 95 ± 5, K2 = 110 ± 10, K3 = 115 ± 5 and CTRL = 65 ± 5; p < 0.05) and TGF-β (K1 = 1750 ± 80, K2 = 2050 ± 65, K3 = 2200 ± 75 and CTRL = 850 ± 85; p < 0.001) but concurrently resulted in a remarkable reduction in the production of IFN-γ (K1 = 950 ± 70, K2 = 890 ± 65, K3 = 850 ± 85 and CTRL = 3850 ± 115; p < 0.001) and IL-17 (K1 = 1250 ± 75, K2 = 1050 ± 90, K3 = 970 ± 80 and CTRL = 6450 ± 125; p < 0.001). Moreover, NO concentration in spinal cord tissue in the treatment groups was significantly less than the control group (K1: 35.42 ± 2.1, K2 = 31.21 ± 2.2, K3 = 28.24 ± 2.6 and CTRL = 45.25 ± 2.7; p < 0.05). These results supported that kombucha could reduce the severity of disease in an EAE model through motivating polarization of CD4[+] T cells by induction of IL-4 and TGF-β as well as inhibition of IFN-γ and IL-17.}, } @article {pmid32811753, year = {2020}, author = {Duron, O and Gottlieb, Y}, title = {Convergence of Nutritional Symbioses in Obligate Blood Feeders.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {36}, number = {10}, pages = {816-825}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2020.07.007}, pmid = {32811753}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Insecta/classification/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Operon/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with intracellular or gut bacteria is essential for the nutrition of animals with an obligate blood-feeding habit. Divergent bacterial lineages have independently evolved functional interactions with obligate blood feeders, but all converge to an analogous biochemical feature: the provisioning of B vitamins. Although symbionts and blood feeders coevolved interdependently for millions of years we stress that their associations are not necessarily stable. Ancestral symbionts can be replaced by recently acquired bacteria with similar biochemical features, a dynamic that emerges through a combination of phylogenetic and ecological constraints. Specifically, we highlight the lateral transfer of a streamlined biotin (B7 vitamin) operon, and conjecture that its extensive spread across bacterial lineages may drive the emergence of novel nutritional symbioses with blood feeders.}, } @article {pmid32810578, year = {2020}, author = {Ballard, JWO and Towarnicki, SG}, title = {Mitochondria, the gut microbiome and ROS.}, journal = {Cellular signalling}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {109737}, doi = {10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109737}, pmid = {32810578}, issn = {1873-3913}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this review, we discuss the connections between mitochondria and the gut microbiome provided by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We examine the mitochondrion as an endosymbiotic organelle that is a hub for energy production, signaling, and cell homeostasis. Maintaining a diverse gut microbiome is generally associated with organismal fitness, intestinal health and resistance to environmental stress. In contrast, gut microbiome imbalance, termed dysbiosis, is linked to a reduction in organismal well-being. ROS are essential signaling molecules but can be damaging when present in excess. Increasing ROS levels have been shown to influence human health, homeostasis of gut cells, and the gastrointestinal microbial community's biodiversity. Reciprocally, gut microbes can affect ROS levels, mitochondrial homeostasis, and host health. We propose that mechanistic understanding of the suite of bi-directional interactions between mitochondria and the gut microbiome will facilitate innovative interdisciplinary studies examining evolutionary divergence and provide novel treatments and therapeutics for disease. GLOSS: In this review, we focus on the nexus between mitochondria and the gut microbiome provided by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria are a cell organelle that is derived from an ancestral alpha-proteobacteria. They generate around 80% of the adenosine triphosphate that an organism needs to function and release a range of signaling molecules essential for cellular homeostasis. The gut microbiome is a suite of microorganisms that are commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic to their host. ROS are one predominant group of essential signaling molecules that can be harmful in excess. We suggest that the mitochondria- microbiome nexus is a frontier of research that has cross-disciplinary benefits in understanding genetic divergence and human well-being.}, } @article {pmid32809024, year = {2020}, author = {Kucuk, RA}, title = {Gut Bacteria in the Holometabola: A Review of Obligate and Facultative Symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32809024}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Holometabola/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The diversity and ecological variety of Holometabola foregrounds a wide array of dynamic symbiotic relationships with gut-dwelling bacteria. A review of the literature highlights that holometabolous insects rely on both obligate bacteria and facultative bacteria living in their guts to satisfy a number of physiological needs. The driving forces behind these differing relationships can be hypothesized through the scrutiny of bacterial associations with host gut morphology, and transmission of bacteria within a given host taxon. Our knowledge of the evolution of facultative or obligate symbiotic bacteria in holometabolan systems is further enhanced by an assessment of the various services the bacteria provide, including nutrition, immune system health, and development. The diversity of Holometabola can thus be examined through an assessment of known bacterial partnerships within the orders of Holometabola.}, } @article {pmid32806491, year = {2020}, author = {Li, S and De Mandal, S and Xu, X and Jin, F}, title = {The Tripartite Interaction of Host Immunity-Bacillus thuringiensis Infection-Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32806491}, issn = {2072-6651}, support = {31972345//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/*immunology/*microbiology ; Biological Control Agents/pharmacology ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Immunity ; Insecta/*immunology ; Microbial Interactions ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins/immunology ; }, abstract = {Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an important cosmopolitan bacterial entomopathogen, which produces various protein toxins that have been expressed in transgenic crops. The evolved molecular interaction between the insect immune system and gut microbiota is changed during the Bt infection process. The host immune response, such as the expression of induced antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the melanization response, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), varies with different doses of Bt infection. Moreover, B. thuringiensis infection changes the abundance and structural composition of the intestinal bacteria community. The activated immune response, together with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, also has an important effect on Bt pathogenicity and insect resistance to Bt. In this review, we attempt to clarify this tripartite interaction of host immunity, Bt infection, and gut microbiota, especially the important role of key immune regulators and symbiotic bacteria in the Bt killing activity. Increasing the effectiveness of biocontrol agents by interfering with insect resistance and controlling symbiotic bacteria can be important steps for the successful application of microbial biopesticides.}, } @article {pmid32806415, year = {2020}, author = {Fang, L and Ju, W and Yang, C and Jin, X and Liu, D and Li, M and Yu, J and Zhao, W and Zhang, C}, title = {Exogenous application of signaling molecules to enhance the resistance of legume-rhizobium symbiosis in Pb/Cd-contaminated soils.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {265}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {114744}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114744}, pmid = {32806415}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Cadmium ; Lead ; *Rhizobium ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Being signaling molecules, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can mediate a wide range of physiological processes caused by plant metal toxicity. Moreover, legume-rhizobium symbiosis has gained increasing attention in mitigating heavy metal stress. However, systematic regulatory mechanisms used for the exogenous application of signaling molecules to alter the resistance of legume-rhizobium symbiosis under metal stress are currently unknown. In this study, we examined the exogenous effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as an NO donor additive and sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) as a H2S donor additive on the phytotoxicity and soil quality of alfalfa (Medicago sativa)-rhizobium symbiosis in lead/cadmium (Pb/Cd)-contaminated soils. Results showed that rhizobia inoculation markedly promoted alfalfa growth by increasing chlorophyll content, fresh weight, and plant height and biomass. Compared to the inoculated rhizobia treatment alone, the addition of NO and H2S significantly reduced the bioaccumulation of Pb and Cd in alfalfa-rhizobium symbiosis, respectively, thus avoiding the phytotoxicity caused by the excessive presence of metals. The addition of signaling molecules also alleviated metal-induced phytotoxicity by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and inhibiting the level of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Also, signaling molecules improved soil nutrient cycling, increased soil enzyme activities, and promoted rhizosphere bacterial community diversity. Both partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) and variation partitioning analysis (VPA) identified that using signaling molecules can improve plant growth by regulating major controlling variables (i.e., soil enzymes, soil nutrients, and microbial diversity/plant oxidative damage) in legume-rhizobium symbiosis. This study offers integrated insight that confirms that the exogenous application of signaling molecules can enhance the resistance of legume-rhizobium symbiosis under metal toxicity by regulating the biochemical response of the plant-soil system, thereby minimizing potential health risks.}, } @article {pmid32804606, year = {2020}, author = {Wasai-Hara, S and Minamisawa, K and Cloutier, S and Bromfield, ESP}, title = {Strains of Bradyrhizobium cosmicum sp. nov., isolated from contrasting habitats in Japan and Canada possess photosynthesis gene clusters with the hallmark of genomic islands.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {9}, pages = {5063-5074}, pmid = {32804606}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Canada ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genomic Islands ; Japan ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Photosynthesis/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The taxonomic status of two previously characterized Bradyrhizobium strains (58S1[T] and S23321) isolated from contrasting habitats in Canada and Japan was verified by genomic and phenotypic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of five and 27 concatenated protein-encoding core gene sequences placed both strains in a highly supported lineage distinct from named species in the genus Bradyrhizobium with Bradyrhizobium betae as the closest relative. Average nucleotide identity values of genome sequences between the test and reference strains were between 84.5 and 94.2 %, which is below the threshold value for bacterial species circumscription. The complete genomes of strains 58S1[T] and S23321 consist of single chromosomes of 7.30 and 7.23 Mbp, respectively, and do not have symbiosis islands. The genomes of both strains have a G+C content of 64.3 mol%. Present in the genome of these strains is a photosynthesis gene cluster (PGC) containing key photosynthesis genes. A tRNA gene and its partial tandem duplication were found at the boundaries of the PGC region in both strains, which is likely the hallmark of genomic island insertion. Key nitrogen-fixation genes were detected in the genomes of both strains, but nodulation and type III secretion system genes were not found. Sequence analysis of the nitrogen fixation gene, nifH, placed 58S1[T] and S23321 in a novel lineage distinct from described Bradyrhizobium species. Data for phenotypic tests, including growth characteristics and carbon source utilization, supported the sequence-based analyses. Based on the data presented here, a novel species with the name Bradyrhizobium cosmicum sp. nov. is proposed with 58S1[T] (=LMG 31545[T]=HAMBI 3725[T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid32804513, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, XQ and Bai, L and Sun, HB and Yang, C and Cai, BY}, title = {Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Revealed the Effect of Funneliformis mosseae in Soybean Roots Differential Expression Genes and Proteins.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {3631-3643}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00017}, pmid = {32804513}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Proteomics ; *Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Glycine max is easily infected with root rot in continuous cropping systems, which can severely affect crop yield. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can reduce the incidence of root rot and increase plant height and biomass indices. However, the molecular changes that occur during soybean symbiosis with AMF remain largely unknown. To better understand the molecular mechanism underlying soybean symbiosis with AMF, we performed transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to explore the changes in protein expression during a high-incidence period (79 days) in asymbiotic and symbiotic plants and to identify the key proteins that regulate the mechanism of soybean symbiosis with AMF. A total of 10 104 genes were identified in the CK-vs-F comparison, and 11 562 genes were significantly differentially expressed in the AF group compared with the F group. A total of 9488 proteins were identified, with 256 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the CK-vs-F comparison and 651 DEPs in the F-vs-AF comparison. Key pathways and DEPs were found to be involved in processes associated with "phenylalanine metabolism", "plant hormone signal transduction", "plant-pathogen interaction", and "metabolic pathways". The expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), calcium-dependent protein kinase (CPK), and other defense-related proteins was upregulated by Funneliformis mosseae, indicating that inoculation promotes the development of soybean and increases disease resistance. Our results suggest that symbiosis promotes the growth and development of soybean and increases disease resistance. This study provides new insight into the molecular basis of the mechanism by which AMF affect plant disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid32802912, year = {2019}, author = {Summers, JK and Vivian, DN and Summers, JT}, title = {The Role of Interaction with Nature in Childhood Development: An Under-Appreciated Ecosystem Service.}, journal = {Psychology and behavioral sciences (New York, N.Y. 2012)}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {142-150}, pmid = {32802912}, issn = {2328-7845}, support = {EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/United States ; }, abstract = {Humans depend on the vital services provided by natural ecosystems. Regrettably, some individuals believe these ecosystem services are free; and therefore, have no value. An under-appreciated service provided by ecosystems is strengthening childhood development through interaction with nature to enhance childhood cognitive and physical development. The development of a child's physical and cognitive abilities is complex with studies indicating multiple determinants and varied time scales. Childhood development is the product of many natural, social and built environmental attributes. While the impacts of social and built environments on childhood development are clearly described in the scientific literature, the role of natural environment is less clear. Even though people do not pay for this ecosystem service in a conventional sense, the loss of this service can result in a significant cost to humans through slower cognitive and physical development in children. Deprivation of these exposures to natural ecosystems can diminish a child's development and eventually their underlying quality of life. While the impact of nature on childhood development is understood by most child developmental psychologists, this impact is under-appreciated by non-social scientists studying the contributions of ecosystem services in society. The complicated and symbiotic interactions of natural ecosystems, their services and childhood development are poorly acknowledged in the ecological literature. In this article, the important role of natural ecosystems and their services in childhood cognitive and physical development are examined through an examination of studies assessing this childhood development-ecosystem service connection.}, } @article {pmid32801549, year = {2020}, author = {Jonova, S and Ilgaza, A and Zolovs, M and Balins, A}, title = {Impact of inulin and yeast containing synbiotic on calves' productivity and greenhouse gas production.}, journal = {Veterinary world}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {1017-1024}, pmid = {32801549}, issn = {0972-8988}, abstract = {AIM: The research aimed to determine the impact of synbiotic: 6 g of prebiotic inulin and 5 g of probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 1026 on calves' productivity and greenhouse gas (GHG) production.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was conducted with 10 Holstein Friesian and Red Holstein (Bos taurus L.) crossbreed calves of mean age 33±6 days and initial body weight 73.4±12.75 kg. We added the synbiotic into the diet of five dairy crossbreed calves (SynG) and five calves in control group (CoG) received non-supplemented diet. The duration of the experiment was 56 days. The weight of calves and amount of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the rumen were determined on day 1, 28, and 56. On day 56, three calves from each group were slaughtered. Meat samples were assessed for some indicators of meat quality. The main methanogens were detected in the rumen fluid and feces.

RESULTS: The weight gain during the whole experiment period of 56 days was higher in the SynG (62.6±13.75 kg) compared to CoG (36.8±7.98 kg) calves (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the levels of protein (%), fat (unsaturated and saturated - %), and cholesterol (mg/100 g) in meat samples from both groups. At the end of the experiment, the amount of CH4 in calves' rumen in CoG was higher (Me=792.06 mg/m[3], interquartile range [IQR] 755.06-873.59) compared to SynG (Me=675.41 mg/m[3], IQR 653.46-700.50) group (p<0.01). The values for CO2 were also increased in CoG (Me=4251.28 mg/m[3], IQR 4045.58-4426.25) compared to SynG (Me=3266.06 mg/m[3], IQR 1358.98-4584.91) group (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in the calves' weight and certain methanogen species in rumen liquid and feces on the 56[th] day of the experiment. Significantly higher results in the parameter total prokaryotes (V3) (bacteria+archaea) in rumen fluid were in SynG, whereas significantly higher results in the parameter total methanogens Met630/803 in rumen fluid were in CoG, p<0.05.

CONCLUSION: The main results showed that the synbiotic can increase the daily weight gain in calves and decrease the amount of GHG in rumen but does not impact different methanogen species in rumen liquid and feces and meat protein, fat, and cholesterol levels.}, } @article {pmid32801177, year = {2020}, author = {Pilgrim, J and Siozios, S and Baylis, M and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Tissue Tropisms and Transstadial Transmission of a Rickettsia Endosymbiont in the Highland Midge, Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {32801177}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {BBS/E/I/00001701/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011186/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M012441/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ceratopogonidae/*microbiology ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tropism ; }, abstract = {Rickettsia is a genus of intracellular bacteria which can manipulate host reproduction and alter sensitivity to natural enemy attack in a diverse range of arthropods. The maintenance of Rickettsia endosymbionts in insect populations can be achieved through both vertical and horizontal transmission routes. For example, the presence of the symbiont in the follicle cells and salivary glands of Bemisia whiteflies allows Belli group Rickettsia transmission via the germ line and plants, respectively. However, the transmission routes of other Rickettsia bacteria, such as those in the Torix group of the genus, remain underexplored. Through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) screening, this study describes the pattern of Torix Rickettsia tissue tropisms in the highland midge, Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Of note is the high intensity of infection of the ovarian suspensory ligament, suggestive of a novel germ line targeting strategy. Additionally, localization of the symbiont in tissues of several developmental stages suggests transstadial transmission is a major route for ensuring maintenance of Rickettsia within C. impunctatus populations. Aside from providing insights into transmission strategies, the presence of Rickettsia bacteria in the fat body of larvae indicates potential host fitness and vector capacity impacts to be investigated in the future.IMPORTANCE Microbial symbionts of disease vectors have garnered recent attention due to their ability to alter vectorial capacity. Their consideration as a means of arbovirus control depends on symbiont vertical transmission, which leads to spread of the bacteria through a population. Previous work has identified a Rickettsia symbiont present in several species of biting midges (Culicoides spp.), which transmit bluetongue and Schmallenberg arboviruses. However, symbiont transmission strategies and host effects remain underexplored. In this study, we describe the presence of Rickettsia in the ovarian suspensory ligament of Culicoides impunctatus Infection of this organ suggests the connective tissue surrounding developing eggs is important for ensuring vertical transmission of the symbiont in midges and possibly other insects. Additionally, our results indicate Rickettsia localization in the fat body of Culicoides impunctatus As the arboviruses spread by midges often replicate in the fat body, this location implies possible symbiont-virus interactions to be further investigated.}, } @article {pmid32798693, year = {2020}, author = {Chew, SF and Koh, CZY and Hiong, KC and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Ip, YK}, title = {The fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) increases the protein abundance of the host's copper-zinc superoxide dismutase in the colorful outer mantle, but not the whitish inner mantle, during light exposure.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {110791}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110791}, pmid = {32798693}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/metabolism/*physiology/radiation effects ; *Color ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism/physiology ; *Light ; Photosynthesis ; Proteins/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The colorful outer mantle of giant clams contains abundance of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) and iridocytes, and has direct exposure to light. In light, photosynthesizing dinoflagellates produce O2, and the host cells in the outer mantle would be confronted with hyperoxia-related oxidative stress. In comparison, the whitish inner mantle contains few symbiotic dinoflagellates and no iridocytes. It is involved in shell formation, and is shaded from light. CuZnSOD is a cytosolic enzyme that scavenges intracellular O2[-]. We had obtained from the outer mantle of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, the complete cDNA coding sequence of a host-derived copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), which comprised 462 bp and encoded for 154 amino acids with a calculated MW of 15.6 kDa. CuZnSOD was expressed strongly in the outer mantle, ctenidium, hepatopancreas and kidney. The transcript level of CuZnSOD remained unchanged in the outer mantle during light exposure, but the protein abundance of CuZnSOD increased ~3-fold after exposure to light for 6 or 12 h. By contrast, 12 h of light exposure had no significant effects on the gene and protein expression levels of CuZnSOD/CuZnSOD in the inner mantle. Hence, the increased expression of CuZnSOD in the outer mantle of T. squamosa was probably a host's response to ameliorate oxidative stress related to photosynthesis in the symbionts, and not simply due to increased metabolic rate in the host cells. Evidently, the host clam must possess light- or O2-responsive anti-oxidative defenses in order to align with the light-dependent photosynthetic activity of its symbionts.}, } @article {pmid32798273, year = {2020}, author = {Luo, Q and Zheng, N and Jiang, L and Wang, T and Zhang, P and Liu, Y and Zheng, P and Wang, W and Xie, G and Chen, L and Li, D and Dong, P and Yuan, X and Shen, L}, title = {Lipid accumulation in macrophages confers protumorigenic polarization and immunity in gastric cancer.}, journal = {Cancer science}, volume = {111}, number = {11}, pages = {4000-4011}, pmid = {32798273}, issn = {1349-7006}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lipidomics ; Macrophage Activation/genetics/*immunology ; Macrophages/*immunology/*metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Phagocytosis ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms/*etiology/*metabolism/pathology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics/immunology ; Tumor-Associated Macrophages/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {Heterotypic interactions between tumor cells and macrophages can enable tumor progression and hold potential for the development of therapeutic interventions. However, the communication between tumors and macrophages and its mechanism are poorly understood. Here, we find that tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) from tumor-bearing mice have high amounts of lipid as compared to macrophages from tumor-free mice. TAM also present high lipid content in clinical human gastric cancer patients. Functionally, TAM with high lipid levels are characterized by polarized M2-like profiling, and exhibit decreased phagocytic potency and upregulated programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, blocking anti-tumor T cell responses to support their immunosuppressive function. Mechanistically, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis identifies the specific PI3K pathway enriched within lipid-laid TAM. Lipid accumulation in TAM is mainly caused by increased uptake of extracellular lipids from tumor cells, which leads to the upregulated expression of gamma isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K-γ) polarizing TAM to M2-like profiling. Correspondingly, a preclinical gastric cancer model is used to show pharmacological targeting of PI3K-γ in high-lipid TAM with a selective inhibitor, IPI549. IPI549 restores the functional activity of macrophages and substantially enhances the phagocytosis activity and promotes cytotoxic-T-cell-mediated tumor regression. Collectively, this symbiotic tumor-macrophage interplay provides a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer patients through targeting PI3K-γ in lipid-laden TAM.}, } @article {pmid32797459, year = {2021}, author = {Ribeiro Lopes, M and Simonet, P and Duport, G and Gaget, K and Balmand, S and Sugio, A and Simon, JC and Parisot, N and Calevro, F}, title = {Isolation of Insect Bacteriocytes as a Platform for Transcriptomic Analyses.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2170}, number = {}, pages = {185-198}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0743-5_13}, pmid = {32797459}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Over the past few decades, various techniques have been developed and optimized for the accurate measurement of RNA abundance in cells or tissues. These methods have been instrumental in gaining insight in complex systems such as host-symbiont associations. The pea aphid model has recently emerged as a powerful and experimentally tractable system for studying symbiotic relationships and it is the subject of a growing number of molecular studies. Nevertheless, the lack of standardized protocols for the collection of bacteriocytes, the specialized host cells harboring the symbionts, has limited its use. This chapter provides a simple, step-by-step dissection protocol for the rapid isolation of aphid bacteriocytes. We then describe an adapted protocol for efficient extraction and purification of bacteriocyte RNA that can be used for most downstream transcriptomic analyses.}, } @article {pmid32797185, year = {2020}, author = {Nakabachi, A and Piel, J and Malenovský, I and Hirose, Y}, title = {Comparative Genomics Underlines Multiple Roles of Profftella, an Obligate Symbiont of Psyllids: Providing Toxins, Vitamins, and Carotenoids.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {1975-1987}, pmid = {32797185}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Hemolysin Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Mutation Rate ; Polyketides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Vitamins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Insecta: Hemiptera: Psylloidea), a serious pest of citrus species worldwide, harbors vertically transmitted intracellular mutualists, Candidatus Profftella armatura (Profftella_DC, Gammaproteobacteria: Burkholderiales) and Candidatus Carsonella ruddii (Carsonella_DC, Gammaproteobacteria: Oceanospirillales). Whereas Carsonella_DC is a typical nutritional symbiont, Profftella_DC is a unique defensive symbiont with organelle-like features, including intracellular localization within the host, perfect infection in host populations, vertical transmission over evolutionary time, and drastic genome reduction down to much less than 1 Mb. Large parts of the 460-kb genome of Profftella_DC are devoted to genes for synthesizing a polyketide toxin; diaphorin. To better understand the evolution of this unusual symbiont, the present study analyzed the genome of Profftella_Dco, a sister lineage to Profftella_DC, using Diaphorina cf. continua, a host psyllid congeneric with D. citri. The genome of coresiding Carsonella (Carsonella_Dco) was also analyzed. The analysis revealed nearly perfect synteny conservation in these genomes with their counterparts from D. citri. The substitution rate analysis further demonstrated genomic stability of Profftella which is comparable to that of Carsonella. Profftella_Dco and Profftella_DC shared all genes for the biosynthesis of diaphorin, hemolysin, riboflavin, biotin, and carotenoids, underlining multiple roles of Profftella, which may contribute to stabilizing symbiotic relationships with the host. However, acyl carrier proteins were extensively amplified in polyketide synthases DipP and DipT for diaphorin synthesis in Profftella_Dco. This level of acyl carrier protein augmentation, unprecedented in modular polyketide synthases of any known organism, is not thought to influence the polyketide structure but may improve the synthesis efficiency.}, } @article {pmid32797092, year = {2020}, author = {Medina Munoz, M and Spencer, N and Enomoto, S and Dale, C and Rio, RVM}, title = {Quorum sensing sets the stage for the establishment and vertical transmission of Sodalis praecaptivus in tsetse flies.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {e1008992}, pmid = {32797092}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {R01 AI118789/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U54 GM104942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis/genetics ; Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/pathogenicity ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/genetics/microbiology ; Insecta/genetics ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tsetse Flies/*genetics/microbiology ; Virulence Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacterial virulence factors facilitate host colonization and set the stage for the evolution of parasitic and mutualistic interactions. The Sodalis-allied clade of bacteria exhibit striking diversity in the range of both plant and animal feeding insects they inhabit, suggesting the appropriation of universal molecular mechanisms that facilitate establishment. Here, we report on the infection of the tsetse fly by free-living Sodalis praecaptivus, a close relative of many Sodalis-allied symbionts. Key genes involved in quorum sensing, including the homoserine lactone synthase (ypeI) and response regulators (yenR and ypeR) are integral for the benign colonization of S. praecaptivus. Mutants lacking ypeI, yenR and ypeR compromised tsetse survival as a consequence of their inability to repress virulence. Genes under quorum sensing, including homologs of the binary insecticidal toxin PirAB and a putative symbiosis-promoting factor CpmAJ, demonstrated negative and positive impacts, respectively, on tsetse survival. Taken together with results obtained from experiments involving weevils, this work shows that quorum sensing virulence suppression plays an integral role in facilitating the establishment of Sodalis-allied symbionts in diverse insect hosts. This knowledge contributes to the understanding of the early evolutionary steps involved in the formation of insect-bacterial symbiosis. Further, despite having no established history of interaction with tsetse, S. praecaptivus can infect reproductive tissues, enabling vertical transmission through adenotrophic viviparity within a single host generation. This creates an option for the use of S. praecaptivus in the biocontrol of insect disease vectors via paratransgenesis.}, } @article {pmid32796538, year = {2020}, author = {Stepien, KM and Roncaroli, F and Turton, N and Hendriksz, CJ and Roberts, M and Heaton, RA and Hargreaves, I}, title = {Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Lysosomal Storage Disorders: A Review.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32796538}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {Mitochondrial dysfunction is emerging as an important contributory factor to the pathophysiology of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). The cause of mitochondrial dysfunction in LSDs appears to be multifactorial, although impaired mitophagy and oxidative stress appear to be common inhibitory mechanisms shared amongst these heterogeneous disorders. Once impaired, dysfunctional mitochondria may impact upon the function of the lysosome by the generation of reactive oxygen species as well as depriving the lysosome of ATP which is required by the V-ATPase proton pump to maintain the acidity of the lumen. Given the reported evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in LSDs together with the important symbiotic relationship between these two organelles, therapeutic strategies targeting both lysosome and mitochondrial dysfunction may be an important consideration in the treatment of LSDs. In this review we examine the putative mechanisms that may be responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction in reported LSDs which will be supplemented with morphological and clinical information.}, } @article {pmid32796103, year = {2020}, author = {Nelsen, MP and Lücking, R and Boyce, CK and Lumbsch, HT and Ree, RH}, title = {The macroevolutionary dynamics of symbiotic and phenotypic diversification in lichens.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {35}, pages = {21495-21503}, pmid = {32796103}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Lichens/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are evolutionarily pervasive and play fundamental roles in structuring ecosystems, yet our understanding of their macroevolutionary origins, persistence, and consequences is incomplete. We traced the macroevolutionary history of symbiotic and phenotypic diversification in an iconic symbiosis, lichens. By inferring the most comprehensive time-scaled phylogeny of lichen-forming fungi (LFF) to date (over 3,300 species), we identified shifts among symbiont classes that broadly coincided with the convergent evolution of phylogenetically or functionally similar associations in diverse lineages (plants, fungi, bacteria). While a relatively recent loss of lichenization in Lecanoromycetes was previously identified, our work instead suggests lichenization was abandoned far earlier, interrupting what had previously been considered a direct switch between trebouxiophycean and trentepohlialean algal symbionts. Consequently, some of the most diverse clades of LFF are instead derived from nonlichenized ancestors and re-evolved lichenization with Trentepohliales algae, a clade that also facilitated lichenization in unrelated lineages of LFF. Furthermore, while symbiont identity and symbiotic phenotype influence the ecology and physiology of lichens, they are not correlated with rates of lineage birth and death, suggesting more complex dynamics underly lichen diversification. Finally, diversification patterns of LFF differed from those of wood-rotting and ectomycorrhizal taxa, likely reflecting contrasts in their fundamental biological properties. Together, our work provides a timeline for the ecological contributions of lichens, and reshapes our understanding of symbiotic persistence in a classic model of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32795355, year = {2020}, author = {Ronai, I and Greslehner, GP and Boem, F and Carlisle, J and Stencel, A and Suárez, J and Bayir, S and Bretting, W and Formosinho, J and Guerrero, AC and Morgan, WH and Prigot-Maurice, C and Rodeck, S and Vasse, M and Wallis, JM and Zacks, O}, title = {"Microbiota, symbiosis and individuality summer school" meeting report.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {117}, pmid = {32795355}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Biomedical Research ; Europe ; Health ; Humans ; *Individuality ; *Interdisciplinary Studies ; *Microbiota ; *Schools ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How does microbiota research impact our understanding of biological individuality? We summarize the interdisciplinary summer school on "Microbiota, symbiosis and individuality: conceptual and philosophical issues" (July 2019), which was supported by a European Research Council starting grant project "Immunity, DEvelopment, and the Microbiota" (IDEM). The summer school centered around interdisciplinary group work on four facets of microbiota research: holobionts, individuality, causation, and human health. The conceptual discussion of cutting-edge empirical research provided new insights into microbiota and highlights the value of incorporating into meetings experts from other disciplines, such as philosophy and history of science. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid32794072, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, F and Xin, C and Liu, J and Ran, Z and Zhao, C and Song, Z}, title = {Interactions between invasive fungi and symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {9}, pages = {137}, doi = {10.1007/s11274-020-02913-3}, pmid = {32794072}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Bacillus/physiology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Enterococcus faecalis/physiology ; Fungi/drug effects/*physiology ; Lactobacillus/physiology ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/physiology ; Staphylococcus/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Infection rates and mortality associated with the invasive fungi Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus are increasing rapidly in prevalence. Meanwhile, screening pressure brought about by traditional antifungal drugs has induced an increase in drug resistance of invasive fungi, which creates a great challenge for the preservation of physical health. Development of new drugs and novel strategies are therefore important to meet these growing challenges. Recent studies have confirmed that the dynamic balance of microorganisms in the body is correlated with the occurrence of infectious diseases. This discovery of interactions between bacteria and fungi provides innovative insight for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. However, different invasive fungi and symbiotic bacteria interact with each other through various ways and targets, leading to different effects on their growth, morphology, and virulence. And the mechanism and implication of these interactions remains largely unknown. The present review aims to summarize the research progress into the interaction between invasive fungi and symbiotic bacteria with a focus on the anti-fungal mechanisms of symbiotic bacteria, providing a new strategy against drug-resistant fungal infections.}, } @article {pmid32793164, year = {2020}, author = {Guevara-Rozo, S and Hussain, A and Cale, JA and Klutsch, JG and Rajabzadeh, R and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Nitrogen and Ergosterol Concentrations Varied in Live Jack Pine Phloem Following Inoculations With Fungal Associates of Mountain Pine Beetle.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1703}, pmid = {32793164}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bark beetles form symbiotic associations with multiple species of fungi that supplement their metabolic needs. However, the relative contributions of each symbiont to the nutrition of bark beetles have been largely unexplored. Thus, we evaluated the ability of three fungal symbionts of mountain pine beetle to concentrate nitrogen and produce ergosterol while infecting phloem of a novel host jack pine. Ergosterol was used as proxy to determine the fungal biomass (hyphal density) in the current study. We inoculated 80 trees in two forest stands with one of the three fungal species or a non-fungal (control) agar. Six weeks later, we collected phloem from the necrotic lesions induced by the fungi, uninfected tissues adjacent to lesions, and non-inoculated control trees. We found that nutritional contributions varied with fungal species. Nitrogen in lesions was higher in trees inoculated with Ophiostoma montium or control trees, relative to Grosmannia clavigera or Leptographium longiclavatum. Furthermore, concentrations of ergosterol were higher in O. montium lesions compared to other tissues or treatments. These results suggest that O. montium differs from G. clavigera and L. longiclavatum in terms of acquiring nitrogen from host tissues and producing ergosterol.}, } @article {pmid32793161, year = {2020}, author = {Ziegler, A and Gilligan, AM and Dillon, JG and Pernet, B}, title = {Schizasterid Heart Urchins Host Microorganisms in a Digestive Symbiosis of Mesozoic Origin.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1697}, pmid = {32793161}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {RL5 GM118978/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; TL4 GM118980/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 GM118979/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Because of their lifestyles, abundance, and feeding habits, infaunal marine deposit feeders have a significant impact on the ocean floor. As these animals also ingest microorganisms associated with their sediment and seawater diet, their digestive tract usually contains a diverse array of bacteria. However, while most of these microorganisms are transients, some may become part of a resident gut microbiome, in particular when sheltered from the main flow of digesta in specialized gut compartments. Here, we provide an in-depth analysis of the structure and contents of the intestinal caecum (IC), a hindgut diverticulum found exclusively in schizasterid heart urchins (Echinoidea: Spatangoida: Schizasteridae). Based on specimens of Brisaster townsendi, in addition to various other schizasterid taxa, our structural characterization of the IC shows that the organ is a highly specialized gut compartment with unique structural properties. Next generation sequencing shows that the IC contains a microbial population composed predominantly of Bacteroidales, Desulfobacterales, and Spirochaetales. The microbiome of this gut compartment is significantly different in composition and lower in diversity than the microbial population in the sediment-filled main digestive tract. Inferences on the function and evolution of the IC and its microbiome suggest that this symbiosis plays a distinct role in host nutrition and that it evolved at least 66 million years ago during the final phase of the Mesozoic.}, } @article {pmid32790880, year = {2021}, author = {Frangedakis, E and Shimamura, M and Villarreal, JC and Li, FW and Tomaselli, M and Waller, M and Sakakibara, K and Renzaglia, KS and Szövényi, P}, title = {The hornworts: morphology, evolution and development.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {229}, number = {2}, pages = {735-754}, pmid = {32790880}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {R25 GM107760/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Anthocerotophyta/genetics ; *Bryophyta/genetics ; *Embryophyta/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Extant land plants consist of two deeply divergent groups, tracheophytes and bryophytes, which shared a common ancestor some 500 million years ago. While information about vascular plants and the two of the three lineages of bryophytes, the mosses and liverworts, is steadily accumulating, the biology of hornworts remains poorly explored. Yet, as the sister group to liverworts and mosses, hornworts are critical in understanding the evolution of key land plant traits. Until recently, there was no hornwort model species amenable to systematic experimental investigation, which hampered detailed insight into the molecular biology and genetics of this unique group of land plants. The emerging hornwort model species, Anthoceros agrestis, is instrumental in our efforts to better understand not only hornwort biology but also fundamental questions of land plant evolution. To this end, here we provide an overview of hornwort biology and current research on the model plant A. agrestis to highlight its potential in answering key questions of land plant biology and evolution.}, } @article {pmid32790260, year = {2020}, author = {Shipelin, VA and Shumakova, AA and Musaeva, AD and Trushina, EN and Mustafina, OK and Markova, YM and Bykova, IB and Masyutin, AG and Gmoshinsky, IV and Khotimchenko, SA}, title = {[Peroral toxicological assessment of bentonite nanoclay used in the food industry].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {89}, number = {3}, pages = {71-85}, doi = {10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10031}, pmid = {32790260}, issn = {0042-8833}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bentonite/*adverse effects/pharmacology ; *Food Industry ; Nanostructures/*adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; }, abstract = {Bentonite nanoclay (NC) manufactured from the natural sedimentary mineral bentonite contains more than 90% montmorillonite. Currently, it is widely used in food industry as processed aids - adsorbents for the purification of vegetable oils and beverages. Clay minerals have also applications as food additives and components in composite package materials. In vitro studies have shown that various forms of NC exerted cytotoxicity in many cell lines, whereas in vivo evidence of NC oral toxicity is contradictory. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the acute oral toxicity of NC and to evaluate its toxicological characteristics in a subacute 92-day experiment on Wistar rats with a daily oral administration in doses of 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg body weight (bw). Material and methods. The NC acute toxicity was evaluated in 8 male and 8 female rats with the initial bw 236±10 and 203± 10 g, respectively. NC was administered as an aqueous dispersion intragastrically at a dose of 5 g/kg bw. On the 14th day (end of the experiment), an autopsy of the chest and abdominal organs was performed. The subacute experiment was carried out on 64 male rats with an average initial bw of 117±7 g. During the experiment the levels of anxiety and memory function were evaluated using the test "Conditional reflex of passive avoidance". On the 90th day of the experiment, diurnal urinary excretion of creatinine and selenium was evaluated. At the end of the experiment, the integral parameters, the state of the intestinal wall permeability were assessed. Hematological and biochemical parameters were examined in blood, the content of non-protein thiols and the number of cells in apoptosis were determined in liver, and the state of cultivated microbiome populations was studied in cecum. Results. The results of the determination of NC acute toxicity showed the absence of rat's mortality and specific pathological changes in the internal organs at a dose as large as 5000 mg/kg bw, which allowed attributing NC to the V hazard class. Nevertheless, under the conditions of the 92-day experiment, NC caused some adverse biological effects on rat's organism. So, even at an NC dose of 1 mg/kg bw, there was a sharp inhibition of the symbiotic bifidobacterium growth, an increase in platelet count, in LDL and the LDL/HDL ratio, together with the presence of hypertriglyceridemia. At a dose of 10 mg/kg bw, an increase in spleen mass and a decrease in the de Ritis coefficient (AsAT/AlAT) were established. At a dose of 100 mg/kg bw there were shifts in the leukocyte blood count, an excessive enterococci growth in the cecum, significantly increased animal bw, along with the decrease of AsAT/AlAT and the level of serum nitrogen metabolites, indirectly indicating inhibition of catabolic processes. However, at the highest dose of NC, intestinal absorption of the protein antigen - ovalbumin, was apparently completely blocked. Conclusion. The data obtained have shown that NC has potentially adverse effects on the rats mainly at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw, nevertheless, its NOAEL in the 92-day daily oral exposure experiment is probably less than 1 mg/kg bw.}, } @article {pmid32789571, year = {2020}, author = {Pavlinec, Ž and Zupičić, IG and Oraić, D and Petani, B and Mustać, B and Mihaljević, Ž and Beck, R and Zrnčić, S}, title = {Assessment of predominant bacteria in noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) collected in the Eastern Adriatic Sea.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {192}, number = {9}, pages = {581}, doi = {10.1007/s10661-020-08541-6}, pmid = {32789571}, issn = {1573-2959}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Bivalvia ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Mediterranean Sea ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Vibrio ; }, abstract = {Noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) is an endemic species and the largest known bivalve in the Mediterranean Sea. By filtering large amounts of water, they maintain a high percentage of organic matter, hence playing an important role in the marine ecosystem. The ecological community of pen shells is impressive, and there are numerous microorganisms present in its soft tissues. Since this species is highly endangered due to recently described mass mortalities throughout the Mediterranean, this study was aimed at finding out more about its microbiome. In this study, we identified the predominant bacterial populations of specimens collected at three separate locations along the Eastern Adriatic coast. The predominant bacteria were isolated and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to identify eight different bacterial genera: Aestuariibacter sp., Aliivibrio sp., Alteromonas sp., Marinobacter sp., Pseudoalteromonas sp., Rubritalea sp., Thalassospira sp. and the Vibrio splendidus clade. The identified genera are ubiquitous in the marine environment and have previously been described as both beneficial symbionts and potential pathogens in other molluscs. There was a clear difference in the predominant bacterial populations between northern and southern sampling sites, which could be linked to water temperature. These findings indicate the need for expanded sampling over a longer time period, since more exhaustive research would provide information vital to the conservation of this critically endangered species.}, } @article {pmid32788812, year = {2020}, author = {Spribille, T and Fryday, AM and Pérez-Ortega, S and Svensson, M and Tønsberg, T and Ekman, S and Holien, H and Resl, P and Schneider, K and Stabentheiner, E and Thüs, H and Vondrák, J and Sharman, L}, title = {Lichens and associated fungi from Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska.}, journal = {Lichenologist (London, England)}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {61-181}, pmid = {32788812}, issn = {0024-2829}, abstract = {Lichens are widely acknowledged to be a key component of high latitude ecosystems. However, the time investment needed for full inventories and the lack of taxonomic identification resources for crustose lichen and lichenicolous fungal diversity have hampered efforts to fully gauge the depth of species richness in these ecosystems. Using a combination of classical field inventory and extensive deployment of chemical and molecular analysis, we assessed the diversity of lichens and associated fungi in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (USA), a mixed landscape of coastal boreal rainforest and early successional low elevation habitats deglaciated after the Little Ice Age. We collected nearly 5000 specimens and found a total of 947 taxa, including 831 taxa of lichen-forming and 96 taxa of lichenicolous fungi together with 20 taxa of saprotrophic fungi typically included in lichen studies. A total of 98 species (10.3% of those detected) could not be assigned to known species and of those, two genera and 27 species are described here as new to science: Atrophysma cyanomelanos gen. et sp. nov., Bacidina circumpulla, Biatora marmorea, Carneothele sphagnicola gen. et sp. nov., Cirrenalia lichenicola, Corticifraga nephromatis, Fuscidea muskeg, Fuscopannaria dillmaniae, Halecania athallina, Hydropunctaria alaskana, Lambiella aliphatica, Lecania hydrophobica, Lecanora viridipruinosa, Lecidea griseomarginata, L. streveleri, Miriquidica gyrizans, Niesslia peltigerae, Ochrolechia cooperi, Placynthium glaciale, Porpidia seakensis, Rhizocarpon haidense, Sagiolechia phaeospora, Sclerococcum fissurinae, Spilonema maritimum, Thelocarpon immersum, Toensbergia blastidiata and Xenonectriella nephromatis. An additional 71 'known unknown' species are cursorily described. Four new combinations are made: Lepra subvelata (G. K. Merr.) T. Sprib., Ochrolechia minuta (Degel.) T. Sprib., Steineropsis laceratula (Hue) T. Sprib. & Ekman and Toensbergia geminipara (Th. Fr.) T. Sprib. & Resl. Thirty-eight taxa are new to North America and 93 additional taxa new to Alaska. We use four to eight DNA loci to validate the placement of ten of the new species in the orders Baeomycetales, Ostropales, Lecanorales, Peltigerales, Pertusariales and the broader class Lecanoromycetes with maximum likelihood analyses. We present a total of 280 new fungal DNA sequences. The lichen inventory from Glacier Bay National Park represents the second largest number of lichens and associated fungi documented from an area of comparable size and the largest to date in North America. Coming from almost 60°N, these results again underline the potential for high lichen diversity in high latitude ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32788407, year = {2020}, author = {Bayer, K and Busch, K and Kenchington, E and Beazley, L and Franzenburg, S and Michels, J and Hentschel, U and Slaby, BM}, title = {Microbial Strategies for Survival in the Glass Sponge Vazella pourtalesii.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32788407}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Few studies have explored the microbiomes of glass sponges (Hexactinellida). The present study seeks to elucidate the composition of the microbiota associated with the glass sponge Vazella pourtalesii and the functional strategies of the main symbionts. We combined microscopic approaches with metagenome-guided microbial genome reconstruction and amplicon community profiling toward this goal. Microscopic imaging revealed that the host and microbial cells appeared within dense biomass patches that are presumably syncytial tissue aggregates. Based on abundances in amplicon libraries and metagenomic data, SAR324 bacteria, Crenarchaeota, Patescibacteria, and Nanoarchaeota were identified as abundant members of the V. pourtalesii microbiome; thus, their genomic potentials were analyzed in detail. A general pattern emerged in that the V. pourtalesii symbionts had very small genome sizes, in the range of 0.5 to 2.2 Mb, and low GC contents, even below those of seawater relatives. Based on functional analyses of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), we propose two major microbial strategies: the "givers," namely, Crenarchaeota and SAR324, heterotrophs and facultative anaerobes, produce and partly secrete all required amino acids and vitamins. The "takers," Nanoarchaeota and Patescibacteria, are anaerobes with reduced genomes that tap into the microbial community for resources, e.g., lipids and DNA, likely using pilus-like structures. We posit that the existence of microbial cells in sponge syncytia together with the low-oxygen conditions in the seawater environment are factors that shape the unique compositional and functional properties of the microbial community associated with V. pourtalesii IMPORTANCE We investigated the microbial community of V. pourtalesii that forms globally unique, monospecific sponge grounds under low-oxygen conditions on the Scotian Shelf, where it plays a key role in its vulnerable ecosystem. The microbial community was found to be concentrated within biomass patches and is dominated by small cells (<1 μm). MAG analyses showed consistently small genome sizes and low GC contents, which is unusual compared to known sponge symbionts. These properties, as well as the (facultatively) anaerobic metabolism and a high degree of interdependence between the dominant symbionts regarding amino acid and vitamin synthesis, are likely adaptations to the unique conditions within the syncytial tissue of their hexactinellid host and the low-oxygen environment.}, } @article {pmid32788054, year = {2020}, author = {Triviño, V and Suárez, J}, title = {Holobionts: Ecological communities, hybrids, or biological individuals? A metaphysical perspective on multispecies systems.}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {84}, number = {}, pages = {101323}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsc.2020.101323}, pmid = {32788054}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Biota ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Metaphysics ; *Microbiota ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Holobionts are symbiotic assemblages composed by a macrobe host (animal or plant) plus its symbiotic microbiota. In recent years, the ontological status of holobionts has created a great amount of controversy among philosophers and biologists: are holobionts biological individuals or are they rather ecological communities of independent individuals that interact together? Chiu and Eberl have recently developed an eco-immunity account of the holobiont wherein holobionts are neither biological individuals nor ecological communities, but hybrids between a host and its microbiota. According to their account, the microbiota is not a proper part of the holobiont. Yet, it should be regarded as a set of scaffolds that support the individuality of the host. In this paper, we approach Chiu and Eberl's account from a metaphysical perspective and argue that, contrary to what the authors claim, the eco-immunity account entails that the microorganisms that compose the host's microbiota are proper parts of the holobiont. Second, we argue that by claiming that holobionts are hybrids, and therefore, not biological individuals, the authors seem to be assuming a controversial position about the ontology of hybrids, which are conventionally characterized as a type of biological individual. In doing so, our paper aligns with the contemporary tendency to incorporate metaphysical resources to shed light on current biological debates and builds on that to provide additional support to the consideration of holobionts as biological individuals from an eco-immunity perspective.}, } @article {pmid32784912, year = {2020}, author = {Bojarski, B and Kot, B and Witeska, M}, title = {Antibacterials in Aquatic Environment and Their Toxicity to Fish.}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32784912}, issn = {1424-8247}, abstract = {Antibacterial agents are commonly present in aquatic environment at low concentrations. Terrestrial animal farms, human medicine and aquaculture are main sources of water contamination with antibacterials. Antibiotics were proved to be directly toxic to fish causing oxidative stress, general stress response, histopathological lesions, hematological, metabolic, and reproductive disorders, as well as immunosuppressive and genotoxic effects. Environmentally realistic low concentrations of antibiotics also disturb aquatic bacterial communities causing alterations in fish symbiotic microbiota and induce emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria by exerting selective pressure on spread of antibiotic-resistance genes.}, } @article {pmid32784849, year = {2020}, author = {Furtak, K and Gawryjołek, K and Gałązka, A and Grządziel, J}, title = {The Response of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) to Separate and Mixed Inoculations with Rhizobium leguminosarum and Azospirillum brasilense in Presence of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {17}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {32784849}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {*Azospirillum brasilense ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/toxicity ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; *Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to evaluate the impact of co-inoculation Rhizobium sp. and Azospirillum sp. on plant (Trifolium pratense L.) growth in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination (anthracene, phenanthrene, and pyrene). Eight strains from the genus Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii were selected for biotest analysis. Two methods of inoculation were used in the chamber experiment: (1) R. leguminosarum alone and (2) a combined inoculant (R. leguminosarum and Azospirillum brasilense). For comparison, non-contaminated controls were also used. The results demonstrated that co-inoculation of plants with Rhizobium and Azospirillum resulted in more root and shoot biomass than in plants inoculated with R. leguminosarum alone. The results indicated that application of a co-inoculation of bacteria from Rhizobium and Azospirillum species had a positive effect on clover nodulation and growth under the condition of PAH contamination.}, } @article {pmid32783800, year = {2020}, author = {Teulet, A and Gully, D and Rouy, Z and Camuel, A and Koebnik, R and Giraud, E and Lassalle, F}, title = {Phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary dynamics of nod and T3SS genes in the genus Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32783800}, issn = {2057-5858}, support = {MR/N010760/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genomics ; Multigene Family ; Peptide Hydrolases/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium are abundant soil bacteria and the major symbiont of legumes. The recent availability of Bradyrhizobium genome sequences provides a large source of information for analysis of symbiotic traits. In this study, we investigated the evolutionary dynamics of the nodulation genes (nod) and their relationship with the genes encoding type III secretion systems (T3SS) and their effectors among bradyrhizobia. Based on the comparative analysis of 146 Bradyrhizobium genome sequences, we identified six different types of T3SS gene clusters. The two predominant cluster types are designated RhcIa and RhcIb and both belong to the RhcI-T3SS family previously described in other rhizobia. They are found in 92/146 strains, most of them also containing nod genes. RhcIa and RhcIb gene clusters differ in the genes they carry: while the translocon-encoding gene nopX is systematically found in strains containing RhcIb, the nopE and nopH genes are specifically conserved in strains containing RhcIa, suggesting that these last two genes might functionally substitute nopX and play a role related to effector translocation. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that bradyrhizobia simultaneously gained nod and RhcI-T3SS gene clusters via horizontal transfer or subsequent vertical inheritance of a symbiotic island containing both. Sequence similarity searches for known Nop effector proteins in bradyrhizobial proteomes revealed the absence of a so-called core effectome, i.e. that no effector is conserved among all Bradyrhizobium strains. However, NopM and SUMO proteases were found to be the main effector families, being represented in the majority of the genus. This study indicates that bradyrhizobial T3SSs might play a more significant symbiotic role than previously thought and provides new candidates among T3SS structural proteins and effectors for future functional investigations.}, } @article {pmid32783083, year = {2021}, author = {Prosdocimi, F and José, MV and de Farias, ST}, title = {The Theory of Chemical Symbiosis: A Margulian View for the Emergence of Biological Systems (Origin of Life).}, journal = {Acta biotheoretica}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {67-78}, pmid = {32783083}, issn = {1572-8358}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; *Models, Theoretical ; *Origin of Life ; Peptide Fragments/chemistry/*metabolism ; Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; RNA/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The theory of chemical symbiosis (TCS) suggests that biological systems started with the collaboration of two polymeric molecules existing in early Earth: nucleic acids and peptides. Chemical symbiosis emerged when RNA-like nucleic acid polymers happened to fold into 3D structures capable to bind amino acids together, forming a proto peptidyl-transferase center. This folding catalyzed the formation of quasi-random small peptides, some of them capable to bind this ribozyme structure back and starting to form an initial layer that would produce the larger subunit of the ribosome by accretion. TCS suggests that there is no chicken-and-egg problem into the emergence of biological systems as RNAs and peptides were of equal importance to the origin of life. Life has initially emerged when these two macromolecules started to interact in molecular symbiosis. Further, we suggest that life evolved into progenotes and cells due to the emergence of new layers of symbiosis. Mutualism is the strongest force in biology, capable to create novelties by emergent principles; on which the whole is bigger than the sum of the parts. TCS aims to apply the Margulian view of biology into the origins of life field.}, } @article {pmid32781906, year = {2020}, author = {Vreeburg, SME and de Ruijter, NCA and Zwaan, BJ and da Costa, RR and Poulsen, M and Aanen, DK}, title = {Asexual and sexual reproduction are two separate developmental pathways in a Termitomyces species.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {20200394}, pmid = {32781906}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; *Termitomyces ; }, abstract = {Although mutualistic symbioses per definition are beneficial for interacting species, conflict may arise if partners reproduce independently. We address how this reproductive conflict is regulated in the obligate mutualistic symbiosis between fungus-growing termites and Termitomyces fungi. Even though the termites and their fungal symbiont disperse independently to establish new colonies, dispersal is correlated in time. The fungal symbiont typically forms mushrooms a few weeks after the colony has produced dispersing alates. It is thought that this timing is due to a trade-off between alate and worker production; alate production reduces resources available for worker production. As workers consume the fungus, reduced numbers of workers will allow mushrooms to 'escape' from the host colony. Here, we test a specific version of this hypothesis: the typical asexual structures found in all species of Termitomyces-nodules-are immature stages of mushrooms that are normally harvested by the termites at a primordial stage. We refute this hypothesis by showing that nodules and mushroom primordia are macro- and microscopically different structures and by showing that in the absence of workers, primordia do, and nodules do not grow out into mushrooms. It remains to be tested whether termite control of primordia formation or of primordia outgrowth mitigates the reproductive conflict.}, } @article {pmid32780698, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, X and Zhu, L and Wu, Y and Yang, Y}, title = {Symbiotic Attention for Egocentric Action Recognition with Object-centric Alignment.}, journal = {IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence}, volume = {PP}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1109/TPAMI.2020.3015894}, pmid = {32780698}, issn = {1939-3539}, abstract = {In this paper, we propose to tackle egocentric action recognition by suppressing background distractors and enhancing action-relevant interactions. The existing approaches usually utilize two independent branches to recognize egocentric actions, i.e., a verb branch and a noun branch. However, the mechanism to suppress distracting objects and exploit local human-object correlations is missing. To this end, we introduce two extra sources of information, i.e., the candidate objects' spatial location and their discriminative features, to enable concentration on the occurring interactions. We design a Symbiotic Attention withObject-centric featureAlignmentframework (SAOA) to provide meticulous reasoning between the actor and the environment. First, we introduce an object-centric feature alignment method to inject the local object features to the verb branch and noun branch. Second, we propose a symbiotic attention mechanism to encourage the mutual interaction between the two branches and select the most action-relevant candidates for classification. The framework benefits from the communication among the verb branch, the noun branch, and the local object information. Experiments based on different backbones and modalities demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. Notably, our framework achieves the state-of-the-art on the largest egocentric video dataset.}, } @article {pmid32778137, year = {2020}, author = {Ghahvechi Khaligh, F and Vahedi, M and Chavshin, AR}, title = {Identification of symbiotic bacteria in the midgut of the medically important mosquito, Culiseta longiareolata (Diptera: Culicidae).}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {378}, pmid = {32778137}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Culicidae ; Iran ; Larva ; Mosquito Vectors ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The potential use of symbiotic bacteria for the control of mosquito-borne diseases has attracted the attention of scientists over the past few years. Culiseta longiareolata is among the medically important mosquitoes that transmit a wide range of vector-borne diseases worldwide. However, no extensive studies have been done on the identification of its symbiotic bacteria. Given the role of this species in the transmission of some important diseases and its widespread presence in different parts of the world, including northwestern parts and the West Azerbaijan Province in Iran, a knowledge about the symbiotic bacteria of this species may provide a valuable tool for the biological control of this mosquito. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to isolate and identify the cultivable isolates bacterial symbionts of Culiseta longiareolata using 16S rRNA fragment analysis.

RESULTS: The midguts of 42 specimens of Cs. longiareolata were dissected, and the bacteria were cultured on agar plates. After the purification of the bacterial colonies, 16srRNA region amplification and gene sequence analysis were performed, and the sequences were confirmed by biochemical methods. In the present study, 21 isolates belonging to the genera Acinetobacter, Aerococcus, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Carnobacterium, Klebsiella, Morganella, Pseudomonas, Shewanella and Staphylococcus were identified.}, } @article {pmid32775899, year = {2020}, author = {Gu, Y and Wu, J and Wang, X and Liu, W and Yan, S}, title = {Producing "Symbiotic" Reduced Graphene Oxide/Mn3O4 Nanocomposites Directly from Converting Graphite for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {5}, number = {30}, pages = {18975-18986}, pmid = {32775899}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Almost all existing methods for preparing reduced graphene oxide/Mn3O4 (RGO/Mn3O4) composites are based on the synthetized graphene or graphene oxides (GO), which make them complicated and high-cost processes. Here, we reported a new method, which is able to convert graphite directly to RGO/Mn3O4 composites. Thus, it is simpler, more economical, and productive. The structure of RGO/Mn3O4 inheriting intermediate product GO/MnO2 composites that are formed by the present method is a novel three-dimensional "multilayer steamed bread" nanostructure, which constitutes mutually beneficial "symbiosis". The nano-Mn3O4 supports the space between RGO layers and further to the combination of RGO to self-assemble into large-sized (>40 μm) nanocomposites. Meanwhile, the formed Mn3O4 particles were small (60 × 10 nm[2]) in diameter and distributed homogeneously without the use of any template and surfactant. Because the structure and nanosize of composite cause the excellent electrochemical properties, RGO/Mn3O4 electrodes deliver an enhanced specific capacitance of 438.7 F/g at 0.3 A/g and outstanding cyclic stability (77.5% of its initial capacitance is retained after 1000 cycles).}, } @article {pmid32775175, year = {2020}, author = {Chang, R and Duong, TA and Taerum, SJ and Wingfield, MJ and Zhou, X and de Beer, ZW}, title = {Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with mites phoretic on bark beetles in Qinghai, China.}, journal = {IMA fungus}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {15}, pmid = {32775175}, issn = {2210-6340}, abstract = {Bark beetle galleries are complex ecosystems where many microbes and other arthropods co-exist with the beetles. Fungi isolated from these galleries are often referred to as 'beetle associates', but the nature of these associations are poorly understood. The possibility that many of these fungi might in fact be mite associates is often overlooked. Several recent studies explored the diversity of fungi from conifer-infesting bark beetles and their galleries in China, but only one study considered phoretic mites and their fungi from conifer-infesting bark beetles in Yunnan, southwestern China. We studied the mites and fungi from galleries of four spruce-infesting bark beetle species in the high altitude forests of Qinghai province, western China. Mites were identified based on morphological characteristics, and fungi based on DNA sequences of four gene regions. In total, 173 mite individuals were collected belonging to 18 species in 11 genera. A total of 135 fungal isolates were obtained from the mites, representing 14 taxa from the Ophiostomatales. The most frequently isolated fungus was Ophiostoma nitidum, which represented 23.5% of the total isolates. More fungal species were found from fewer mites and bark beetle species than from the study in Yunnan. Although we could not elucidate the exact nature of interactions between mites and their fungi, our results re-enforce that these organisms should not be ignored in pest risk assessments of bark beetles, that often focus only on the beetles and their fungi. Three new species are described: Grosmannia zekuensis, O. manchongi, and O. kunlunense spp. nov., and our data revealed that O. typographi, recently described from China, is a synonym of O. ainoae.}, } @article {pmid32772859, year = {2020}, author = {Turney, PD}, title = {Symbiosis Promotes Fitness Improvements in the Game of Life.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {338-365}, doi = {10.1162/artl_a_00326}, pmid = {32772859}, issn = {1530-9185}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; *Mutation ; Origin of Life ; *Reproduction ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We present a computational simulation of evolving entities that includes symbiosis with shifting levels of selection. Evolution by natural selection shifts from the level of the original entities to the level of the new symbiotic entity. In the simulation, the fitness of an entity is measured by a series of one-on-one competitions in the Immigration Game, a two-player variation of Conway's Game of Life. Mutation, reproduction, and symbiosis are implemented as operations that are external to the Immigration Game. Because these operations are external to the game, we can freely manipulate the operations and observe the effects of the manipulations. The simulation is composed of four layers, each layer building on the previous layer. The first layer implements a simple form of asexual reproduction, the second layer introduces a more sophisticated form of asexual reproduction, the third layer adds sexual reproduction, and the fourth layer adds symbiosis. The experiments show that a small amount of symbiosis, added to the other layers, significantly increases the fitness of the population. We suggest that the model may provide new insights into symbiosis in biological and cultural evolution.}, } @article {pmid32772728, year = {2020}, author = {Amobonye, A and Bhagwat, P and Pandey, A and Singh, S and Pillai, S}, title = {Biotechnological potential of Beauveria bassiana as a source of novel biocatalysts and metabolites.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {1019-1034}, doi = {10.1080/07388551.2020.1805403}, pmid = {32772728}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {*Beauveria/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Biopolymers ; Biotechnology ; Chitinases ; Fungal Proteins ; Lipase ; Peptide Hydrolases ; }, abstract = {Beauveria bassiana though widely perceived as an entomopathogenic fungus has also been found in nature to be endophytic. As entomopathogens, the life cycle of different B. bassiana strains are organized and adapted as pathogens to their invertebrate hosts while as endophytes they maintain a symbiotic relationship with their plant hosts. To fulfill these aforementioned ecological roles, this fungus secretes an array of enzymes as well as secondary metabolites, which all have significant biological roles. Basically, chitinases, lipases and proteases are considered to be the most important of all the enzymes produced by B. bassiana. However, studies have also shown their ability to produce other vital enzymes which include amylase, asparaginase, cellulase, galactosidase etc. Previous reports on this filamentous fungus have laid more emphasis on its entomopathogenicity, its endophytism and its highly acclaimed application in the biological control of pests. This review, however, is the first to fully assess the enzyme-secreting potential of this entomopathogenic fungus and its use as a novel source of several industrial biocatalysts and other important biochemicals. This article highlights the inherent properties of the fungus to degrade various biopolymers as well as its relative safety for human use. Some of the important factors have raised the possibilities of exploitation for industrial production and as safe hosts for gene expression.}, } @article {pmid32772675, year = {2020}, author = {Hawkes, CV and Bull, JJ and Lau, JA}, title = {Symbiosis and stress: how plant microbiomes affect host evolution.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190590}, pmid = {32772675}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {R01 GM122079/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Genotype ; *Microbiota ; Phenotype ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena/genetics ; Plants/genetics/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Existing paradigms for plant microevolution rarely acknowledge the potential impacts of diverse microbiomes on evolutionary processes. Many plant-associated microorganisms benefit the host via access to resources, protection from pathogens, or amelioration of abiotic stress. In doing so, they alter the plant's perception of the environment, potentially reducing the strength of selection acting on plant stress tolerance or defence traits or altering the traits that are the target of selection. We posit that the microbiome can affect plant microevolution via (1) manipulation of plant phenotypes in ways that increase plant fitness under stress and (2) direct microbial responses to the environment that benefit the plant. Both mechanisms might favour plant genotypes that attract or stimulate growth of the most responsive microbial populations or communities. We provide support for these scenarios using infectious disease and quantitative genetics models. Finally, we discuss how beneficial plant-microbiome associations can evolve if traditional mechanisms maintaining cooperation in pairwise symbioses, namely partner fidelity, partner choice and fitness alignment, also apply to the interactions between plants and diverse foliar and soil microbiomes. To understand the role of the plant microbiome in host evolution will require a broad ecological understanding of plant-microbe interactions across both space and time. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32772672, year = {2020}, author = {van Oppen, MJH and Medina, M}, title = {Coral evolutionary responses to microbial symbioses.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190591}, pmid = {32772672}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Global Warming ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review explores how microbial symbioses may have influenced and continue to influence the evolution of reef-building corals (Cnidaria; Scleractinia). The coral holobiont comprises a diverse microbiome including dinoflagellate algae (Dinophyceae; Symbiodiniaceae), bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses, but here we focus on the Symbiodiniaceae as knowledge of the impact of other microbial symbionts on coral evolution is scant. Symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae has extended the coral's metabolic capacity through metabolic handoffs and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and has contributed to the ecological success of these iconic organisms. It necessitated the prior existence or the evolution of a series of adaptations of the host to attract and select the right symbionts, to provide them with a suitable environment and to remove disfunctional symbionts. Signatures of microbial symbiosis in the coral genome include HGT from Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria, gene family expansions, and a broad repertoire of oxidative stress response and innate immunity genes. Symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae has permitted corals to occupy oligotrophic waters as the algae provide most corals with the majority of their nutrition. However, the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis is sensitive to climate warming, which disrupts this intimate relationship, causing coral bleaching, mortality and a worldwide decline of coral reefs. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32772668, year = {2020}, author = {Natan, E and Fitak, RR and Werber, Y and Vortman, Y}, title = {Symbiotic magnetic sensing: raising evidence and beyond.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190595}, pmid = {32772668}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Magnetic Phenomena ; *Sensation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The identity of a magnetic sensor in animals remains enigmatic. Although the use of the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation in animals across a broad taxonomic range has been well established over the past five decades, the identity of the magnetic-sensing organ and its structure and/or apparatus within such animals remains elusive-'a sense without a receptor'. Recently, we proposed that symbiotic magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) may serve as the underlying mechanism behind a magnetic sense in animals-'the symbiotic magnetic-sensing hypothesis'. Since we first presented this hypothesis, both criticism and support have been raised accordingly. Here we address the primary criticisms and discuss the plausibility of such a symbiosis, supported by preliminary findings demonstrating the ubiquity of MTB DNA in general, and specifically in animal samples. We also refer to new supporting findings, and discuss host adaptations that could be driven by such a symbiosis. Finally, we suggest the future research directions required to confirm or refute the possibility of symbiotic magnetic-sensing. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32772667, year = {2020}, author = {Popkes, M and Valenzano, DR}, title = {Microbiota-host interactions shape ageing dynamics.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190596}, pmid = {32772667}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; *Aging ; Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Immunity/physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Occupying the interface between host and environment, host-associated microbes play fundamental roles in nutrient absorption, essential metabolite synthesis, development of the immune system, defence against pathogens and pathogenesis. Microbiota composition and function is rather stable during adulthood, while it dramatically changes during early development, frailty and disease. Ageing is associated with progressive decrease of homeostasis, often resulting in disruption of the physiological balance between host and commensal microbes, ultimately leading to dysbiosis and host demise. Generally, high microbial diversity is associated with health and a youthful state, while low individual microbial diversity and larger inter-individual microbial diversity is associated with ageing and disease states. Different species are equipped with species-specific commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microbial communities. How and whether the specific host-microbiota consortia co-evolved with host physiology to ensure homeostasis and promote individual fitness remains an open question. In this essay, we propose that the evolution of vertebrate-specific immune adaptations may have enabled the establishment of highly diverse, species-specific commensal microbial communities. We discuss how the maintenance of intact immune surveillance mechanisms, which allow discrimination between commensal and pathogenic bacteria, fail during ageing and lead to the onset of known ageing-related diseases. We discuss how host-microbiota interactions are key to maintaining homeostasis despite external perturbations, but also how they affect a range of host-specific ageing-related phenotypes. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32772666, year = {2020}, author = {Gerardo, NM and Hoang, KL and Stoy, KS}, title = {Evolution of animal immunity in the light of beneficial symbioses.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190601}, pmid = {32772666}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Immunity, Innate ; Invertebrates/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Vertebrates/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Immune system processes serve as the backbone of animal defences against pathogens and thus have evolved under strong selection and coevolutionary dynamics. Most microorganisms that animals encounter, however, are not harmful, and many are actually beneficial. Selection should act on hosts to maintain these associations while preventing exploitation of within-host resources. Here, we consider how several key aspects of beneficial symbiotic associations may shape host immune system evolution. When host immunity is used to regulate symbiont populations, there should be selection to evolve and maintain targeted immune responses that recognize symbionts and suppress but not eliminate symbiont populations. Associating with protective symbionts could relax selection on the maintenance of redundant host-derived immune responses. Alternatively, symbionts could facilitate the evolution of host immune responses if symbiont-conferred protection allows for persistence of host populations that can then adapt. The trajectory of immune system evolution will likely differ based on the type of immunity involved, the symbiont transmission mode and the costs and benefits of immune system function. Overall, the expected influence of beneficial symbiosis on immunity evolution depends on how the host immune system interacts with symbionts, with some interactions leading to constraints while others possibly relax selection on immune system maintenance. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32772665, year = {2020}, author = {Chomicki, G and Werner, GDA and West, SA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Compartmentalization drives the evolution of symbiotic cooperation.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190602}, pmid = {32772665}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Humans ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrio/physiology ; }, abstract = {Across the tree of life, hosts have evolved mechanisms to control and mediate interactions with symbiotic partners. We suggest that the evolution of physical structures that allow hosts to spatially separate symbionts, termed compartmentalization, is a common mechanism used by hosts. Such compartmentalization allows hosts to: (i) isolate symbionts and control their reproduction; (ii) reward cooperative symbionts and punish or stop interactions with non-cooperative symbionts; and (iii) reduce direct conflict among different symbionts strains in a single host. Compartmentalization has allowed hosts to increase the benefits that they obtain from symbiotic partners across a diversity of interactions, including legumes and rhizobia, plants and fungi, squid and Vibrio, insects and nutrient provisioning bacteria, plants and insects, and the human microbiome. In cases where compartmentalization has not evolved, we ask why not. We argue that when partners interact in a competitive hierarchy, or when hosts engage in partnerships which are less costly, compartmentalization is less likely to evolve. We conclude that compartmentalization is key to understanding the evolution of symbiotic cooperation. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32772661, year = {2020}, author = {Douglas, AE}, title = {Housing microbial symbionts: evolutionary origins and diversification of symbiotic organs in animals.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {375}, number = {1808}, pages = {20190603}, pmid = {32772661}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Invertebrates/genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In many animal hosts, microbial symbionts are housed within specialized structures known as symbiotic organs, but the evolutionary origins of these structures have rarely been investigated. Here, I adopt an evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) approach, specifically to apply knowledge of the development of symbiotic organs to gain insights into their evolutionary origins and diversification. In particular, host genetic changes associated with evolution of symbiotic organs can be inferred from studies to identify the host genes that orchestrate the development of symbiotic organs, recognizing that microbial products may also play a key role in triggering the developmental programme in some associations. These studies may also reveal whether higher animal taxonomic groups (order, class, phylum, etc.) possess a common genetic regulatory network for symbiosis that is latent in taxa lacking symbiotic organs, and activated at the origination of symbiosis in different host lineages. In this way, apparent instances of convergent evolution of symbiotic organs may be homologous in terms of a common genetic blueprint for symbiosis. Advances in genetic technologies, including reverse genetic tools and genome editing, will facilitate the application of evo-devo approaches to investigate the evolution of symbiotic organs in animals. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.}, } @article {pmid32771743, year = {2021}, author = {Subramanian, SG and Nair, S and DasGupta, S}, title = {Evaporation mediated translation and encapsulation of an aqueous droplet atop a viscoelastic liquid film.}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {581}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {334-349}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2020.07.123}, pmid = {32771743}, issn = {1095-7103}, abstract = {HYPOTHESIS: Viscoelastic liquids could be used as potential substrates in the microfluidics paradigm. The theoretical and experimental investigation of an evaporating aqueous droplet, over a viscoelastic liquid substrate, could provide a fundamental perspective of the complex interplay amongst capillarity, viscosity, and elasticity, resulting in a wide array of intriguing dynamics, which could be important in several microscale processes.

EXPERIMENTS: The evaporation dynamics of a water droplet atop an un-crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane film (polymeric liquid substrate) are examined using an optical goniometer and a laser scanning confocal microscopy, to discern the interfaces. The recorded videos were analyzed to estimate the contact angles, velocities, and other parameters of relevance.

FINDINGS: The viscoelasticity of the film, in conjunction with evaporation, triggered a self-propulsion in the droplet, leading to crumpling of the polymeric film, and finally culminating in the encapsulation of the water drop by the polymer. The evaporation caused a dynamic variation in both the radius and contact angle of the droplet. The physics of the hitherto unreported phenomena is explained via the development of a semi-analytical model, considering all the relevant forces. We postulate that this symbiotic and self-sustained dynamics would pave the path towards the comprehension of micro-swimmers and surface encapsulation, to name a few.}, } @article {pmid32771152, year = {2020}, author = {Sanmartín, N and Sánchez-Bel, P and Pastor, V and Pastor-Fernández, J and Mateu, D and Pozo, MJ and Cerezo, M and Flors, V}, title = {Root-to-shoot signalling in mycorrhizal tomato plants upon Botrytis cinerea infection.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {298}, number = {}, pages = {110595}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110595}, pmid = {32771152}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Botrytis/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Plant Shoots/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is restricted in roots, but it also improves shoot responses against leaf challenges, a phenomenon known as Mycorrhiza-Induced Resistance (MIR). This study focuses on mycorrhizal root signals that may orchestrate shoot defence responses. Metabolomic analysis of non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants upon Botrytis cinerea infection showed that roots rearrange their metabolome mostly in response to the symbiosis, whereas in shoots a stronger impact of the infection is observed. Specific clusters of compounds in shoots and roots display a priming profile suggesting an implication in the enhanced resistance observed in mycorrhizal plants. Among the primed pathways in roots, lignans showed the highest number of hits followed by oxocarboxylic acids, compounds of the amino acid metabolism, and phytohormones. The lignan yatein was present at higher concentrations in roots, root efflux and leaves of mycorrhizal plants This lignan displayed in vitro antimicrobial activity against B. cinerea and it was also functional protecting tomato plants. Besides, several JA defence-related genes were upregulated in mycorrhizal roots regardless of the pathogen infection, whereas PIN-II was primed in roots of mycorrhizal infected plants. These observations suggest that the enhanced resistance in shoots during MIR may be coordinated by lignans and oxylipins with the participation of roots.}, } @article {pmid32770272, year = {2021}, author = {Thongprem, P and Davison, HR and Thompson, DJ and Lorenzo-Carballa, MO and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Incidence and Diversity of Torix Rickettsia-Odonata Symbioses.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {1}, pages = {203-212}, pmid = {32770272}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Female ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Odonata/*microbiology ; Ovary/microbiology ; Rickettsia/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Rickettsia Infections/*transmission ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Heritable microbes are an important component of invertebrate biology, acting both as beneficial symbionts and reproductive parasites. Whilst most previous research has focussed on the 'Wolbachia pandemic', recent work has emphasised the importance of other microbial symbionts. In this study, we present a survey of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) for torix group Rickettsia, following previous research indicating that this clade can be common in other aquatic insect groups. PCR assays were used to screen a broad range of odonates from two continents and revealed 8 of 76 species tested were infected with Rickettsia. We then conducted further deeper screening of UK representatives of the Coenagrionidae damselfly family, revealing 6 of 8 UK coenagrionid species to be positive for torix Rickettsia. Analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences supported multiple establishments of symbiosis in the group. Some strains were shared between UK coenagrionid species that shared mtDNA barcodes, indicating a likely route for mitochondrial introgression between sister species. There was also evidence of coinfecting Rickettsia strains in two species. FISH analysis indicated Rickettsia were observed in the ovarioles, consistent with heritable symbiosis. We conclude that torix Rickettsia represent an important associate of odonates, being found in a broad range of species from both Europe and South America. There is evidence that coinfection can occur, vertical transmission is likely, and that symbiont movement following hybridisation may underpin the lack of 'barcoding gap' between well-established species pairs in the genus. Future work should establish the biological significance of the symbioses observed.}, } @article {pmid32770130, year = {2020}, author = {Daval, D and Guyot, F and Bolotov, IN and Vikhrev, IV and Kondakov, AV and Lyubas, AA and Bychkov, AY and Yapaskurt, VO and Cabié, M and Pokrovsky, OS}, title = {Symbiotic cooperation between freshwater rock-boring bivalves and microorganisms promotes silicate bioerosion.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {13385}, pmid = {32770130}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Bioerosion is a process with a high socio-economic impact that contributes to coastal retreat, and likely to increase with climate change. Whereas limestone bioerosion is well explained by a combination of mechanical and chemical pathways, the bioerosion mechanisms of silicates, which are harder and chemically more resistant, remain elusive. Here we investigated the interface between siltstone and freshwater rock-boring bivalves Lignopholas fluminalis (Bivalvia: Pholadidae). Remains of a microbial biofilm were observed only in the poorly consolidated part of the rock within the macroborings created by bivalves. Secondary Mn-bearing minerals identified in the biofilm suggest that microbes promoted silicate rock weathering by dissolving Mn-rich chlorites. Moreover, hard mineral debris found in a biofilm attached to the shells likely contributed to the abrasion of the rock substrate. Thus, beyond the classical view of chemical and/or mechanical action(s) of macroborers, silicate bioerosion may also be facilitated by an unexpected synergistic association between macro- and microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid32769554, year = {2020}, author = {Pruinelli, L and Farag, A and Looman, W and McKechnie, AC and Monsen, KA and Van Gelderen, S and Dunn-Lopez, K}, title = {The Symbiotic Collaboration Between Family Nursing and Data Science.}, journal = {Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN}, volume = {38}, number = {8}, pages = {375-380}, pmid = {32769554}, issn = {1538-9774}, mesh = {Cooperative Behavior ; Data Science/*methods/trends ; Family Nursing/*methods/trends ; Humans ; }, } @article {pmid32768683, year = {2020}, author = {Chikoti, YF and Supriadi, and Duangkhet, M and Chungopast, S and Tajima, S and Ma, JF and Nomura, M}, title = {Effect of ferritin on nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus nodules under various iron concentrations.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {252}, number = {}, pages = {153247}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153247}, pmid = {32768683}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ferritins/*metabolism ; Iron/*administration & dosage ; Lotus/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the nitrogen fixation process, iron plays a vital role by being part of many symbiotic proteins, such as nitrogenase and leghemoglobin, in an active symbiosis. Excess or insufficient iron in active nitrogen fixation negatively affects the entire process. In Lotus japonicus nodules, ferritin is expressed at the initial stages of nodule development and increases at the nodule senescence stage to mobilize iron release during that stage. In this study, we investigated the effects of overexpressing and suppressing ferritin on nitrogen fixation. Acetylene reduction activity revealed that nitrogen fixation is affected by the overexpression of ferritin at high iron concentrations, but at low iron concentrations, higher nitrogen fixation was observed in ferritin-suppressed plants. qRT-PCR data indicated that suppression of ferritin in nodules induces antioxidant genes, such as superoxide dismutase, dehydroascorbate reductase and ascorbate peroxidase, to detoxify reactive oxygen species. Our data suggest that suppressing ferritin in the nodules is effective for higher nitrogen fixation under iron deficient conditions. Overaccumulated ferritin in nodule is effective under the higher iron conditions, such as senescence state.}, } @article {pmid32767713, year = {2021}, author = {Liang, BB and Wang, WJ and Fan, XX and Kurakov, AV and Liu, YF and Song, FQ and Chang, W}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can ameliorate salt stress in Elaeagnus angustifolia by improving leaf photosynthetic function and ultrastructure.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {23 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {232-241}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13164}, pmid = {32767713}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*Elaeagnaceae ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; Salt Stress ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form symbiosis with Elaeagnus angustifolia, allowing this species to tolerate salt stress. However, the physiological mechanism through which AMF improve E. angustifolia tolerance is still unclear. In this study, we examined E. angustifolia inoculated with AMF Rhizophagus irregularis (M) or inactivated inoculum (NM) under 0 and 300 mM NaCl stress for the determination of photosynthetic gas exchange, pigment content, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant capacity and chloroplast ultrastructural in leaves. Photosynthetic gas exchange parameters in the leaves of M and NM decreased significantly under salt stress, while the M treatment significantly reduced the effect of salt stress compared with NM. Various chlorophyll components in the M treatment were two- to three-fold higher than in NM, together with a much more complex chloroplast structure and higher number of plastoglobules. The total flavonoid and proline content in leaves of M increased significantly, while the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly under salt stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence data also showed good PSII function in the M treatment, together with salt stress reduction of photochemical reactions and sharp enhancements in non-photosynthetic quenching (NPQ). AMF inoculation ameliorated the inhibition on the actual PSII efficiency (ФPSII) and the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) by 10-15%. Our results clearly demonstrate that R. irregularis can improve the salt tolerance of plants by improving leaf photosynthetic performance, PSII function, antioxidant capacity and leaf chloroplast ultrastructure, and that E. angustifolia inoculated with AMF could enhance saline soil rehabilitation.}, } @article {pmid32766253, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, X and Wang, M and Wang, M and Yao, L and Li, X and Dong, H and Li, M and Sun, T and Liu, X and Liu, Y and Xu, Y}, title = {Role of Proton-Coupled Monocarboxylate Transporters in Cancer: From Metabolic Crosstalk to Therapeutic Potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {651}, pmid = {32766253}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), representing the first four isoforms of the SLC16A gene family, mainly participate in the transport of lactate, pyruvate, and other monocarboxylates. Cancer cells exhibit a metabolic shift from oxidative metabolism to an enhanced glycolytic phenotype, leading to a higher production of lactate in the cytoplasm. Excessive accumulation of lactate threatens the survival of cancer cells, and the overexpression of proton-coupled MCTs observed in multiple types of cancer facilitates enhanced export of lactate from highly glycolytic cancer cells. Proton-coupled MCTs not only play critical roles in the metabolic symbiosis between hypoxic and normoxic cancer cells within tumors but also mediate metabolic interaction between cancer cells and cancer-associated stromal cells. Of the four proton-coupled MCTs, MCT1 and MCT4 are the predominantly expressed isoforms in cancer and have been identified as potential therapeutic targets in cancer. Therefore, in this review, we primarily focus on the roles of MCT1 and MCT4 in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells under hypoxic and nutrient-deprived conditions. Additionally, we discuss how MCT1 and MCT4 serve as metabolic links between cancer cells and cancer-associated stromal cells via transport of crucial monocarboxylates, as well as present emerging opportunities and challenges in targeting MCT1 and MCT4 for cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid32765565, year = {2020}, author = {Ichihashi, Y and Hakoyama, T and Iwase, A and Shirasu, K and Sugimoto, K and Hayashi, M}, title = {Common Mechanisms of Developmental Reprogramming in Plants-Lessons From Regeneration, Symbiosis, and Parasitism.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1084}, pmid = {32765565}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Most plants are exquisitely sensitive to their environment and adapt by reprogramming post-embryonic development. The systematic understanding of molecular mechanisms regulating developmental reprogramming has been underexplored because abiotic and biotic stimuli that lead to reprogramming of post-embryonic development vary and the outcomes are highly species-specific. In this review, we discuss the diversity and similarities of developmental reprogramming processes by summarizing recent key findings in reprogrammed development: plant regeneration, nodule organogenesis in symbiosis, and haustorial formation in parasitism. We highlight the potentially shared molecular mechanisms across the different developmental programs, especially a core network module mediated by the AUXIN RESPONSIVE FACTOR (ARF) and the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) family of transcription factors. This allows us to propose a new holistic concept that will provide insights into the nature of plant development, catalyzing the fusion of subdisciplines in plant developmental biology.}, } @article {pmid32765547, year = {2020}, author = {López-Lozano, NE and Echeverría Molinar, A and Ortiz Durán, EA and Hernández Rosales, M and Souza, V}, title = {Bacterial Diversity and Interaction Networks of Agave lechuguilla Rhizosphere Differ Significantly From Bulk Soil in the Oligotrophic Basin of Cuatro Cienegas.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1028}, pmid = {32765547}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Due to the environmental conditions presented in arid zones, it is expected to have a high influence of deterministic processes over the community assemblages. Symbiotic interactions with microorganisms could increase colonization and survival of plants in difficult conditions, independent of the plants physiological and morphological characteristics. In this context, the microbial communities associated to plants that inhabit these types of areas can be a good model to understand the community assembly processes. We investigated the influence of stochastic and deterministic processes in the assemblage of rhizosphere microbial communities of Agave lechuguilla and bulk soil on the Cuatro Cienegas Basin, a site known for its oligotrophic conditions. We hypothesize that rhizospheric microbial communities of A. lechuguilla differ from those of bulk soil as they differ in physicochemical properties of soil and biotic interactions, including not only the plant, but also their microbial co-occurrence networks, it is expected that microbial species usually critical for plant growth and health are more common in the rhizosphere, whereas in the bulk soil microbial species related to the resistance to abiotic stress are more abundant. In order to confirm this hypothesis, 16S rRNA gene was sequenced by Illumina from rhizospheric and bulk soil samples in two seasons, also the physicochemical properties of the soil were determined. Our results showed differences in bacterial diversity, community composition, potential functions, and interaction networks between the rhizosphere samples and the ones from bulk soil. Although community structure arises from a complex interplay between deterministic and stochastic forces, our results suggest that A. lechuguilla recruits specific rhizospheric microbes with functional traits that benefits the plant through growth promotion and nutrition. This selection follows principally a deterministic process that shapes the rhizospheric microbial communities, directed by the plant modifications around the roots but also subjected to the influence of other environmental variables, such as seasonality and soil properties. Interestingly, keystone taxa in the interactions networks, not necessarily belong to the most abundant taxonomic groups, but they have an important role by their functional traits and keeping the connections on the community network.}, } @article {pmid32765521, year = {2020}, author = {Le Bloa, S and Boidin-Wichlacz, C and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Rosa, RD and Cuvillier-Hot, V and Durand, L and Methou, P and Pradillon, F and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Tasiemski, A}, title = {Antimicrobial Peptides and Ectosymbiotic Relationships: Involvement of a Novel Type IIa Crustin in the Life Cycle of a Deep-Sea Vent Shrimp.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1511}, pmid = {32765521}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Anostraca/*physiology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/*metabolism/*pharmacokinetics ; Arthropod Proteins/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/*physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Life Cycle Stages ; Oceans and Seas ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic shrimp Rimicaris exoculata dominates the macrofauna inhabiting the active smokers of the deep-sea mid Atlantic ridge vent fields. We investigated the nature of the host mechanisms controlling the vital and highly specialized ectosymbiotic community confined into its cephalothoracic cavity. R. exoculata belongs to the Pleocyemata, crustacean brooding eggs, usually producing Type I crustins. Unexpectedly, a novel anti-Gram-positive type II crustin was molecularly identified in R. exoculata. Re-crustin is mainly produced by the appendages and the inner surfaces of the cephalothoracic cavity, embedding target epibionts. Symbiosis acquisition and regulating mechanisms are still poorly understood. Yet, symbiotic communities were identified at different steps of the life cycle such as brooding stage, juvenile recruitment and molt cycle, all of which may be crucial for symbiotic acquisition and control. Here, we show a spatio-temporal correlation between the production of Re-crustin and the main ectosymbiosis-related life-cycle events. Overall, our results highlight (i) a novel and unusual AMP sequence from an extremophile organism and (ii) the potential role of AMPs in the establishment of vital ectosymbiosis along the life cycle of deep-sea invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid32765457, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, Y and Bellich, B and Hug, S and Eberl, L and Cescutti, P and Pessi, G}, title = {The Exopolysaccharide Cepacian Plays a Role in the Establishment of the Paraburkholderia phymatum - Phaseolus vulgaris Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1600}, pmid = {32765457}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum is a rhizobial strain that belongs to the beta-proteobacteria, a group known to form efficient nitrogen-fixing symbioses within root nodules of several legumes, including the agriculturally important common bean. The establishment of the symbiosis requires the exchange of rhizobial and plant signals such as lipochitooligosaccharides (Nod factors), polysaccharides, and flavonoids. Inspection of the genome of the competitive rhizobium P. phymatum revealed the presence of several polysaccharide biosynthetic gene clusters. In this study, we demonstrate that bceN, a gene encoding a GDP-D-mannose 4,6-dehydratase, which is involved in the production of the exopolysaccharide cepacian, an important component of biofilms produced by closely related opportunistic pathogens of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), is required for efficient plant colonization. Wild-type P. phymatum was shown to produce cepacian while a bceN mutant did not. Additionally, the bceN mutant produced a significantly lower amount of biofilm and formed less root nodules compared to the wild-type strain with Phaseolus vulgaris as host plant. Finally, expression of the operon containing bceN was induced by the presence of germinated P. vulgaris seeds under nitrogen limiting conditions suggesting a role of this polysaccharide in the establishment of this ecologically important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32765184, year = {2020}, author = {Xie, ML and Wei, TZ and Fu, YP and Li, D and Qi, LL and Xing, PJ and Cheng, GH and Ji, RQ and Li, Y}, title = {Three new species of Cortinarius subgenus Telamonia (Cortinariaceae, Agaricales) from China.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {91-109}, pmid = {32765184}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Cortinarius is an important ectomycorrhizal genus that forms a symbiotic relationship with certain trees, shrubs and herbs. Recently, we began studying Cortinarius in China and here we describe three new species of Cortinarius subg. Telamonia based on morphological and ecological characteristics, together with phylogenetic analyses. Cortinarius laccariphyllus sp. nov. (section Colymbadini) is associated with broadleaf trees, with strongly hygrophanous basidiomata, special Laccaria-like lamellae and white and extremely sparse universal veil. Cortinarius neotorvus sp. nov. (section Telamonia) is associated with broadleaf trees and is easily confused with C. torvus, but can be distinguished by the colour of the fresh basidiomes and the stipe usually somewhat tapering towards the base. Cortinarius subfuscoperonatus sp. nov. (section Fuscoperonati) is associated with coniferous trees, with subglobose to broadly ellipsoid spores and is closely related to C. fuscoperonatus. A key to the new species and similar species in sections Colymbadini, Telamonia and Fuscoperonati is provided.}, } @article {pmid32764065, year = {2020}, author = {Bozsoki, Z and Gysel, K and Hansen, SB and Lironi, D and Krönauer, C and Feng, F and de Jong, N and Vinther, M and Kamble, M and Thygesen, MB and Engholm, E and Kofoed, C and Fort, S and Sullivan, JT and Ronson, CW and Jensen, KJ and Blaise, M and Oldroyd, G and Stougaard, J and Andersen, KR and Radutoiu, S}, title = {Ligand-recognizing motifs in plant LysM receptors are major determinants of specificity.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {369}, number = {6504}, pages = {663-670}, doi = {10.1126/science.abb3377}, pmid = {32764065}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Chitin/chemistry ; Ligands ; Lotus/*enzymology ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry ; Protein Domains ; Protein Kinases/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Plants evolved lysine motif (LysM) receptors to recognize and parse microbial elicitors and drive intracellular signaling to limit or facilitate microbial colonization. We investigated how chitin and nodulation (Nod) factor receptors of Lotus japonicus initiate differential signaling of immunity or root nodule symbiosis. Two motifs in the LysM1 domains of these receptors determine specific recognition of ligands and discriminate between their in planta functions. These motifs define the ligand-binding site and make up the most structurally divergent regions in cognate Nod factor receptors. An adjacent motif modulates the specificity for Nod factor recognition and determines the selection of compatible rhizobial symbionts in legumes. We also identified how binding specificities in LysM receptors can be altered to facilitate Nod factor recognition and signaling from a chitin receptor, advancing the prospects of engineering rhizobial symbiosis into nonlegumes.}, } @article {pmid32764052, year = {2020}, author = {Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {Specificity in legume nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {369}, number = {6504}, pages = {620-621}, doi = {10.1126/science.abd3857}, pmid = {32764052}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid32763248, year = {2020}, author = {Blow, F and Bueno, E and Clark, N and Zhu, DT and Chung, SH and Güllert, S and Schmitz, RA and Douglas, AE}, title = {B-vitamin nutrition in the pea aphid-Buchnera symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {126}, number = {}, pages = {104092}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104092}, pmid = {32763248}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/metabolism/microbiology ; Buchnera/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Pantothenic Acid/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vitamin B Complex/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Various insects that utilize vitamin-deficient diets derive a supplementary supply of these micronutrients from their symbiotic microorganisms. Here, we tested the inference from genome annotation that the symbiotic bacterium Buchnera aphidicola in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum provides the insect with vitamins B2 and B5 but no other B-vitamins. Contrary to expectation, aphid survival over five days of larval development on artificial diets individually lacking each B-vitamin not synthesized by Buchnera was not significantly reduced, despite significantly lower carcass B1, B3, B6 and B7 concentrations in the aphids on diets lacking each of these B-vitamins than on the vitamin-complete diet. Aphid survival was, however, significantly reduced on diet containing low concentrations (≤0.2 mM) or no pantothenate (B5). Complementary transcriptome analysis revealed low abundance of the sense-transcript, but high abundance of the antisense transcript, of the Buchnera gene panC encoding the enzyme mediating the terminal reaction in pantothenate synthesis. We hypothesize that metabolic constraints or antisense transcripts may reduce Buchnera-mediated production of pantothenate, resulting in poor aphid performance on pantothenate-free diets. The discrepancy between predictions from genome data and empirical data illustrates the need for physiological study to test functional inferences made from genome annotations.}, } @article {pmid32761878, year = {2020}, author = {Uebanso, T and Shimohata, T and Mawatari, K and Takahashi, A}, title = {Functional Roles of B-Vitamins in the Gut and Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Molecular nutrition & food research}, volume = {64}, number = {18}, pages = {e2000426}, doi = {10.1002/mnfr.202000426}, pmid = {32761878}, issn = {1613-4133}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/physiology ; Humans ; Vitamin B Complex/pharmacokinetics/pharmacology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota produce hundreds of bioactive compounds, including B-vitamins, which play significant physiological roles in hosts by supporting the fitness of symbiotic species and suppressing the growth of competitive species. B-vitamins are also essential to the host and certain gut bacterium. Although dietary B-vitamins are mainly absorbed from the small intestine, excess B-vitamins unable to be absorbed in the small intestine are supplied to the distal gut. In addition, B-vitamins are supplied from biosynthesis by distal gut microbiota. B-vitamins in the distal colon may perform many important functions in the body. They act as 1) nutrients for a host and their microbiota, 2) regulators of immune cell activity, 3) mediators of drug efficacy, 4) supporters of survival, or the fitness of certain bacterium, 5) suppressors of colonization by pathogenic bacteria, and 6) modulators of colitis. Insights into basic biophysical principles, including the bioavailability of B-vitamins and their derivatives in the distal gut are still not fully elucidated. Here, the function of single B-vitamin in the distal gut including their roles in relation to bacteria are briefly reviewed. The prospect of extending analytical methods to better understand the role of B-vitamins in the gut is also explored.}, } @article {pmid32761263, year = {2020}, author = {Beyramienanlou, H and Vahed, H}, title = {A robust effect of the defect on the switching behavior in carbon-based molecular device.}, journal = {Journal of molecular modeling}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {223}, doi = {10.1007/s00894-020-04491-5}, pmid = {32761263}, issn = {0948-5023}, abstract = {In this paper, we investigate the effects of spin-dependent electron and defect in the carbon-based molecular device. Our proposed molecular device is designed by two carbon chains, which is bonded to a defect. The defect topology includes pentagonal and octagonal carbon rings, which is put between two zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR). The spin effect and switching symbiosis are shown in this carbon-based device. By switching of the orientation of the defect in two states (S1/S2 states) relative to the two electrodes, the full spin effect is shown. Also, we report the obvious negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior in our proposed molecular device. The results suggest that the proposed composition significantly affects the ratio of current and voltage, which the maximum peak of current (S2 state) is lower than 0.0022 μA and could have a potential application in the next generation of molecular circuits.}, } @article {pmid32760525, year = {2020}, author = {Laihonen, M and Saikkonen, K and Helander, M and Tammaru, T}, title = {Insect oviposition preference between Epichloë-symbiotic and Epichloë-free grasses does not necessarily reflect larval performance.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {14}, pages = {7242-7249}, pmid = {32760525}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Variation in plant communities is likely to modulate the feeding and oviposition behavior of herbivorous insects, and plant-associated microbes are largely ignored in this context. Here, we take into account that insects feeding on grasses commonly encounter systemic and vertically transmitted (via seeds) fungal Epichloë endophytes, which are regarded as defensive grass mutualists. Defensive mutualism is primarily attributable to alkaloids of fungal origin. To study the effects of Epichloë on insect behavior and performance, we selected wild tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and red fescue (Festuca rubra) as grass-endophyte models. The plants used either harbored the systemic endophyte (E+) or were endophyte-free (E-). As a model herbivore, we selected the Coenonympha hero butterfly feeding on grasses as larvae. We examined both oviposition and feeding preferences of the herbivore as well as larval performance in relation to the presence of Epichloë endophytes in the plants. Our findings did not clearly support the female's oviposition preference to reflect the performance of her offspring. First, the preference responses depended greatly on the grass-endophyte symbiotum. In F. arundinacea, C. hero females preferred E+ individuals in oviposition-choice tests, whereas in F. rubra, the endophytes may decrease exploitation, as both C. hero adults and larvae preferred E- grasses. Second, the endophytes had no effect on larval performance. Overall, F. arundinacea was an inferior host for C. hero larvae. However, the attraction of C. hero females to E+ may not be maladaptive if these plants constitute a favorable oviposition substrate for reasons other than the plants' nutritional quality. For example, rougher surface of E+ plant may physically facilitate the attachment of eggs, or the plants offer greater protection from natural enemies. Our results highlight the importance of considering the preference of herbivorous insects in studies involving the endophyte-symbiotic grasses as host plants.}, } @article {pmid32759215, year = {2020}, author = {La Cono, V and Messina, E and Rohde, M and Arcadi, E and Ciordia, S and Crisafi, F and Denaro, R and Ferrer, M and Giuliano, L and Golyshin, PN and Golyshina, OV and Hallsworth, JE and La Spada, G and Mena, MC and Merkel, AY and Shevchenko, MA and Smedile, F and Sorokin, DY and Toshchakov, SV and Yakimov, MM}, title = {Symbiosis between nanohaloarchaeon and haloarchaeon is based on utilization of different polysaccharides.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {33}, pages = {20223-20234}, pmid = {32759215}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal ; Genome, Archaeal ; Genomics ; Halobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Nanoarchaeota/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nano-sized archaeota, with their small genomes and limited metabolic capabilities, are known to associate with other microbes, thereby compensating for their own auxotrophies. These diminutive and yet ubiquitous organisms thrive in hypersaline habitats that they share with haloarchaea. Here, we reveal the genetic and physiological nature of a nanohaloarchaeon-haloarchaeon association, with both microbes obtained from a solar saltern and reproducibly cultivated together in vitro. The nanohaloarchaeon Candidatus Nanohalobium constans LC1Nh is an aerotolerant, sugar-fermenting anaerobe, lacking key anabolic machinery and respiratory complexes. The nanohaloarchaeon cells are found physically connected to the chitinolytic haloarchaeon Halomicrobium sp. LC1Hm. Our experiments revealed that this haloarchaeon can hydrolyze chitin outside the cell (to produce the monosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine), using this beta-glucan to obtain carbon and energy for growth. However, LC1Hm could not metabolize either glycogen or starch (both alpha-glucans) or other polysaccharides tested. Remarkably, the nanohaloarchaeon's ability to hydrolyze glycogen and starch to glucose enabled growth of Halomicrobium sp. LC1Hm in the absence of a chitin. These findings indicated that the nanohaloarchaeon-haloarchaeon association is both mutualistic and symbiotic; in this case, each microbe relies on its partner's ability to degrade different polysaccharides. This suggests, in turn, that other nano-sized archaeota may also be beneficial for their hosts. Given that availability of carbon substrates can vary both spatially and temporarily, the susceptibility of Halomicrobium to colonization by Ca Nanohalobium can be interpreted as a strategy to maximize the long-term fitness of the host.}, } @article {pmid32758760, year = {2020}, author = {Cini, A and Meriggi, N and Bacci, G and Cappa, F and Vitali, F and Cavalieri, D and Cervo, R}, title = {Gut microbial composition in different castes and developmental stages of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {745}, number = {}, pages = {140873}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140873}, pmid = {32758760}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Europe ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Introduced Species ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Social insects are successful animal invaders. Their survival and success, and in some cases also their impact on invaded ecosystem functioning, is often mediated by symbiosis with microorganisms. Here, we report a comprehensive comparative characterization of the gut microbial communities of different castes and developmental stages of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax. The species recently colonized Europe, becoming a high ecological and economic concern, as it threatens pollinator survival and competes with native hornet species. We used targeted meta-genomics to describe the yeasts and bacteria gut communities of individuals of different reproductive phenotypes (workers and future queens), life stages (larvae, newly emerged individuals and adults) and colony non-living samples (nest paper and larval faeces). Bacilli, Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria were the most abundant classes of bacteria, and Saccharomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Tremellomycetes and Eurotiomycetes were the most represented yeast classes. We found that the microbial compositions significantly differ across developmental stages and castes, with yeast and bacterial communities switching in frequency and abundance during ontogeny and according to reproductive phenotype. Moreover, the gut microbial communities poorly mirror those found in the nest, suggesting that hornets possess a specific microbial signature. Our results provide the first metagenomic resource of the microbiome of V. velutina in Europe and suggest the importance of considering life stages, reproductive phenotypes and nest influence in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of social insect microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid32756503, year = {2020}, author = {Yan, Z and Cao, J and Fan, Q and Chao, H and Guan, X and Zhang, Z and Duanmu, D}, title = {Dephosphorylation of LjMPK6 by Phosphatase LjPP2C is Involved in Regulating Nodule Organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {32756503}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*genetics ; Organogenesis/*genetics ; Phosphorylation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development ; Protein Phosphatase 2C/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development ; }, abstract = {The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) LjMPK6 is a phosphorylation target of SIP2, a MAPK kinase that interacts with SymRK (symbiosis receptor-like kinase) for regulation of legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Both LjMPK6 and SIP2 are required for nodulation in Lotus japonicus. However, the dephosphorylation of LjMPK6 and its regulatory components in nodule development remains unexplored. By yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified a type 2C protein phosphatase, LjPP2C, that specifically interacts with and dephosphorylates LjMPK6 in vitro. Physiological and biochemical assays further suggested that LjPP2C phosphatase is required for dephosphorylation of LjMPK6 in vivo and for fine-tuning nodule development after rhizobial inoculation. A non-phosphorylatable mutant variant LjMPK6 (T224A Y226F) could mimic LjPP2C functioning in MAPK dephosphorylation required for nodule development in hairy root transformed plants. Collectively, our study demonstrates that interaction with LjPP2C phosphatase is required for dephosphorylation of LjMPK6 to fine tune nodule development in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid32753671, year = {2020}, author = {Wouters, J and Kalender-Atak, Z and Minnoye, L and Spanier, KI and De Waegeneer, M and Bravo González-Blas, C and Mauduit, D and Davie, K and Hulselmans, G and Najem, A and Dewaele, M and Pedri, D and Rambow, F and Makhzami, S and Christiaens, V and Ceyssens, F and Ghanem, G and Marine, JC and Poovathingal, S and Aerts, S}, title = {Robust gene expression programs underlie recurrent cell states and phenotype switching in melanoma.}, journal = {Nature cell biology}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {986-998}, pmid = {32753671}, issn = {1476-4679}, support = {C588/A19167/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; C8216/A6129/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; C588/A10721/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Melanoma/*genetics/pathology ; Phenotype ; RNA, Neoplasm ; RNA-Seq ; SOXE Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Melanoma cells can switch between a melanocytic and a mesenchymal-like state. Scattered evidence indicates that additional intermediate state(s) may exist. Here, to search for such states and decipher their underlying gene regulatory network (GRN), we studied 10 melanoma cultures using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) as well as 26 additional cultures using bulk RNA-seq. Although each culture exhibited a unique transcriptome, we identified shared GRNs that underlie the extreme melanocytic and mesenchymal states and the intermediate state. This intermediate state is corroborated by a distinct chromatin landscape and is governed by the transcription factors SOX6, NFATC2, EGR3, ELF1 and ETV4. Single-cell migration assays confirmed the intermediate migratory phenotype of this state. Using time-series sampling of single cells after knockdown of SOX10, we unravelled the sequential and recurrent arrangement of GRNs during phenotype switching. Taken together, these analyses indicate that an intermediate state exists and is driven by a distinct and stable 'mixed' GRN rather than being a symbiotic heterogeneous mix of cells.}, } @article {pmid32753587, year = {2020}, author = {Rush, TA and Puech-Pagès, V and Bascaules, A and Jargeat, P and Maillet, F and Haouy, A and Maës, AQ and Carriel, CC and Khokhani, D and Keller-Pearson, M and Tannous, J and Cope, KR and Garcia, K and Maeda, J and Johnson, C and Kleven, B and Choudhury, QJ and Labbé, J and Swift, C and O'Malley, MA and Bok, JW and Cottaz, S and Fort, S and Poinsot, V and Sussman, MR and Lefort, C and Nett, J and Keller, NP and Bécard, G and Ané, JM}, title = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides as regulatory signals of fungal growth and development.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {3897}, pmid = {32753587}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {T32 GM007133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/growth & development ; Basidiomycota/growth & development ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; Chitosan ; Ecology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Fungi/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are signaling molecules produced by rhizobial bacteria that trigger the nodulation process in legumes, and by some fungi that also establish symbiotic relationships with plants, notably the arbuscular and ecto mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we show that many other fungi also produce LCOs. We tested 59 species representing most fungal phyla, and found that 53 species produce LCOs that can be detected by functional assays and/or by mass spectroscopy. LCO treatment affects spore germination, branching of hyphae, pseudohyphal growth, and transcription in non-symbiotic fungi from the Ascomycete and Basidiomycete phyla. Our findings suggest that LCO production is common among fungi, and LCOs may function as signals regulating fungal growth and development.}, } @article {pmid32752238, year = {2020}, author = {Mayfield, AB}, title = {Proteomic Signatures of Corals from Thermodynamic Reefs.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32752238}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Unlike most parts of the world, coral reefs of Taiwan's deep south have generally been spared from climate change-induced degradation. This has been linked to the oceanographically unique nature of Nanwan Bay, where intense upwelling occurs. Specifically, large-amplitude internal waves cause shifts in temperature of 6-9 °C over the course of several hours, and the resident corals not only thrive under such conditions, but they have also been shown to withstand multi-month laboratory incubations at experimentally elevated temperatures. To gain insight into the sub-cellular basis of acclimation to upwelling, proteins isolated from reef corals (Seriatopora hystrix) featured in laboratory-based reciprocal transplant studies in which corals from upwelling and non-upwelling control reefs (<20 km away) were exposed to stable or variable temperature regimes were analyzed via label-based proteomics (iTRAQ). Corals exposed to their "native" temperature conditions for seven days (1) demonstrated highest growth rates and (2) were most distinct from one another with respect to their protein signatures. The latter observation was driven by the fact that two Symbiodiniaceae lipid trafficking proteins, sec1a and sec34, were marginally up-regulated in corals exposed to their native temperature conditions. Alongside the marked degree of proteomic "site fidelity" documented, this dataset sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying acclimatization to thermodynamically extreme conditions in situ.}, } @article {pmid32752090, year = {2020}, author = {Belimov, AA and Shaposhnikov, AI and Azarova, TS and Makarova, NM and Safronova, VI and Litvinskiy, VA and Nosikov, VV and Zavalin, AA and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Microbial Consortium of PGPR, Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Makes Pea Mutant SGECd[t] Comparable with Indian Mustard in Cadmium Tolerance and Accumulation.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32752090}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most widespread and toxic soil pollutants that inhibits plant growth and microbial activity. Polluted soils can be remediated using plants that either accumulate metals (phytoextraction) or convert them to biologically inaccessible forms (phytostabilization). The phytoremediation potential of a symbiotic system comprising the Cd-tolerant pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutant SGECd[t] and selected Cd-tolerant microorganisms, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Variovorax paradoxus 5C-2, nodule bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae RCAM1066, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp. 1Fo, was evaluated in comparison with wild-type pea SGE and the Cd-accumulating plant Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) VIR263. Plants were grown in pots in sterilized uncontaminated or Cd-supplemented (15 mg Cd kg[-1]) soil and inoculated or not with the microbial consortium. Cadmium significantly inhibited growth of uninoculated and particularly inoculated SGE plants, but had no effect on SGECd[t] and decreased shoot biomass of B. juncea. Inoculation with the microbial consortium more than doubled pea biomass (both genotypes) irrespective of Cd contamination, but had little effect on B. juncea biomass. Cadmium decreased nodule number and acetylene reduction activity of SGE by 5.6 and 10.8 times, whereas this decrease in SGECd[t] was 2.1 and 2.8 times only, and the frequency of mycorrhizal structures decreased only in SGE roots. Inoculation decreased shoot Cd concentration and increased seed Cd concentration of both pea genotypes, but had little effect on Cd concentration of B. juncea. Inoculation also significantly increased concentration and/or accumulation of nutrients (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, S, and Zn) by Cd-treated pea plants, particularly by the SGECd[t] mutant. Shoot Cd concentration of SGECd[t] was twice that of SGE, and the inoculated SGECd[t] had approximately similar Cd accumulation capacity as compared with B. juncea. Thus, plant-microbe systems based on Cd-tolerant micro-symbionts and plant genotypes offer considerable opportunities to increase plant HM tolerance and accumulation.}, } @article {pmid32751534, year = {2020}, author = {Moustakas, M and Bayçu, G and Sperdouli, I and Eroğlu, H and Eleftheriou, EP}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Enhances Photosynthesis in the Medicinal Herb Salvia fruticosa by Improving Photosystem II Photochemistry.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32751534}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {We investigated the influence of Salvia fruticosa colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis on photosynthetic function by using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analysis to evaluate the light energy use in photosystem II (PSII) of inoculated and non-inoculated plants. We observed that inoculated plants used significantly higher absorbed energy in photochemistry (ΦPSII) than non-inoculated and exhibited significant lower excess excitation energy (EXC). However, the increased ΦPSII in inoculated plants did not result in a reduced non-regulated energy loss in PSII (ΦNO), suggesting the same singlet oxygen ([1]O2) formation between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. The increased ΦPSII in inoculated plants was due to an increased efficiency of open PSII centers to utilize the absorbed light (Fv'/Fm') due to a decreased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) since there was no difference in the fraction of open reaction centers (qp). The decreased NPQ in inoculated plants resulted in an increased electron-transport rate (ETR) compared to non-inoculated. Yet, inoculated plants exhibited a higher efficiency of the water-splitting complex on the donor side of PSII as revealed by the increased Fv/Fo ratio. A spatial heterogeneity between the leaf tip and the leaf base for the parameters ΦPSII and ΦNPQ was observed in both inoculated and non-inoculated plants, reflecting different developmental zones. Overall, our findings suggest that the increased ETR of inoculated S. fruticosa contributes to increased photosynthetic performance, providing growth advantages to inoculated plants by increasing their aboveground biomass, mainly by increasing leaf biomass.}, } @article {pmid32750353, year = {2020}, author = {McKenna, D}, title = {Evolution: Symbiotic Microbes Mediate Host Range of Herbivorous Beetles.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {15}, pages = {R893-R896}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.089}, pmid = {32750353}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new study characterizes the evolution of metabolic interactions between herbivorous tortoise beetles and their obligate bacterial symbionts. Expansion of symbiont metabolic range is shown to alter beetle metabolism of plant tissues and is implicated in broadening the diversity of plants eaten.}, } @article {pmid32750158, year = {2020}, author = {Suseela, V and Tharayil, N and Orr, G and Hu, D}, title = {Chemical plasticity in the fine root construct of Quercus spp. varies with root order and drought.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {6}, pages = {1835-1851}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16841}, pmid = {32750158}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Quercus ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Fine roots of trees exhibit varying degree of plasticity to adapt to environmental stress. Although the morphological and physiological plasticity of roots has been well studied, less known are the accompanying changes in the chemical composite (chemical plasticity) of fine roots, which regulates both root function and soil carbon sequestration. We investigated the changes in quantity, composition and localization of phenolic compounds in fine root orders of Quercus alba and Quercus rubra subjected to drought stress. In both species the total quantity of lignins varied only by root orders, where the distal (first and second) root orders had lower lignin compared to higher orders. Despite a lower lignin content, the distal root orders had higher content of guaiacyl lignin and bound phenolics that would provide a greater meshing of lignocellulosic matrix, and thus a higher tissue integrity. Unlike lignins, drought altered the quantity and composition of tannins. In Q. alba, the ellagitannins decreased in the distal root orders exposed to drought, while the fiber-bound condensed tannnins increased. The lower content of ellagitannins with antimicrobial properties under drought reveals an adaptive response by fine roots to promote symbiotic association, as evidenced by the higher colonization of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Our study revealed that, when exposed to drought, the composition of heteropolymers are strategically varied across fine root orders, so as to provide a greater root function without compromising the tissue protection.}, } @article {pmid32750052, year = {2020}, author = {Lao, A and Cabezas, H and Orosz, Á and Friedler, F and Tan, R}, title = {Socio-ecological network structures from process graphs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {e0232384}, pmid = {32750052}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Computer Graphics ; Computer Heuristics ; *Ecosystem ; Food Chain ; Heuristics ; Humans ; Mathematical Concepts ; Models, Biological ; Systems Biology ; Systems Theory ; }, abstract = {We propose a process graph (P-graph) approach to develop ecosystem networks from knowledge of the properties of the component species. Originally developed as a process engineering tool for designing industrial plants, the P-graph framework has key advantages over conventional ecological network analysis techniques based on input-output models. A P-graph is a bipartite graph consisting of two types of nodes, which we propose to represent components of an ecosystem. Compartments within ecosystems (e.g., organism species) are represented by one class of nodes, while the roles or functions that they play relative to other compartments are represented by a second class of nodes. This bipartite graph representation enables a powerful, unambiguous representation of relationships among ecosystem compartments, which can come in tangible (e.g., mass flow in predation) or intangible form (e.g., symbiosis). For example, within a P-graph, the distinct roles of bees as pollinators for some plants and as prey for some animals can be explicitly represented, which would not otherwise be possible using conventional ecological network analysis. After a discussion of the mapping of ecosystems into P-graph, we also discuss how this framework can be used to guide understanding of complex networks that exist in nature. Two component algorithms of P-graph, namely maximal structure generation (MSG) and solution structure generation (SSG), are shown to be particularly useful for ecological network analysis. These algorithms enable candidate ecosystem networks to be deduced based on current scientific knowledge on the individual ecosystem components. This method can be used to determine the (a) effects of loss of specific ecosystem compartments due to extinction, (b) potential efficacy of ecosystem reconstruction efforts, and (c) maximum sustainable exploitation of human ecosystem services by humans. We illustrate the use of P-graph for the analysis of ecosystem compartment loss using a small-scale stylized case study, and further propose a new criticality index that can be easily derived from SSG results.}, } @article {pmid32748037, year = {2020}, author = {Ashour, DS and Othman, AA}, title = {Parasite-bacteria interrelationship.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {119}, number = {10}, pages = {3145-3164}, pmid = {32748037}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Arthropods/microbiology ; Bacterial Infections/*complications ; Filarioidea/*microbiology ; Humans ; Parasites/microbiology ; Parasitic Diseases/*complications ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Schistosoma haematobium/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/microbiology/parasitology/pathology ; Wolbachia/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Parasites and bacteria have co-evolved with humankind, and they interact all the time in a myriad of ways. For example, some bacterial infections result from parasite-dwelling bacteria as in the case of Salmonella infection during schistosomiasis. Other bacteria synergize with parasites in the evolution of human disease as in the case of the interplay between Wolbachia endosymbiont bacteria and filarial nematodes as well as the interaction between Gram-negative bacteria and Schistosoma haematobium in the pathogenesis of urinary bladder cancer. Moreover, secondary bacterial infections may complicate several parasitic diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis and malaria, due to immunosuppression of the host during parasitic infections. Also, bacteria may colonize the parasitic lesions; for example, hydatid cysts and skin lesions of ectoparasites. Remarkably, some parasitic helminths and arthropods exhibit antibacterial activity usually by the release of specific antimicrobial products. Lastly, some parasite-bacteria interactions are induced as when using probiotic bacteria to modulate the outcome of a variety of parasitic infections. In sum, parasite-bacteria interactions involve intricate processes that never cease to intrigue the researchers. However, understanding and exploiting these interactions could have prophylactic and curative potential for infections by both types of pathogens.}, } @article {pmid32747300, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, X and Mao, Y and Guo, M and Yu, H and Hao, L and Hua, Q and Lu, Z and Hong, M and An, F}, title = {Enhancement of anti-acne effect of Scutellaria baicalensis extract by fermentation with symbiotic fungus Penicillium decumbens.}, journal = {Journal of bioscience and bioengineering}, volume = {130}, number = {5}, pages = {457-463}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.06.008}, pmid = {32747300}, issn = {1347-4421}, mesh = {Acne Vulgaris/*drug therapy/metabolism/*microbiology/pathology ; *Fermentation ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism ; Interleukin-8/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory responses stimulated by Propionibacterium acnes have been shown to be major etiological factors in the pathogenesis of acne. Scutellaria baicalensis, a popular traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, primary component analysis and primary effective component analysis were conducted. The results showed that wogonin (1.15 mg/g S. baicalensis extract) possessed better anti-acne effects than wogonoside (8.71 mg/g S. baicalensis extract) in inhibiting the up-regulation of IL-1β and IL-8 level caused by P. acnes via inactivation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. To enhance the anti-acne effects of S. baicalensis extract, an environmentally friendly and healthy plant fermentation strategy was used to efficiently convert glycoside-type constituents into bioactive aglycone. S. baicalensis extract was fermented by symbiotic fungus Penicillium decumbens f3-1 to transform wogonoside into wogonin with a conversion rate of 91.0% after 4 days. Fermented S. baicalensis extract (FSE) showed higher potential anti-acne effects than non-fermented S. baicalensis extract (NSE) by inhibiting the up-regulation of IL-1β and IL-8. Thus, P. decumbens-fermented S. baicalensis Extract may be used for developing new anti-acne cosmetic ingredients.}, } @article {pmid32746782, year = {2020}, author = {Pecoraro, L and Wang, X and Venturella, G and Gao, W and Wen, T and Gafforov, Y and Gupta, VK}, title = {Molecular evidence supports simultaneous association of the achlorophyllous orchid Chamaegastrodia inverta with ectomycorrhizal Ceratobasidiaceae and Russulaceae.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {236}, pmid = {32746782}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Endangered Species ; Hyphae/classification/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Achlorophyllous orchids are mycoheterotrophic plants, which lack photosynthetic ability and associate with fungi to acquire carbon from different environmental sources. In tropical latitudes, achlorophyllous forest orchids show a preference to establish mycorrhizal relationships with saprotrophic fungi. However, a few of them have been recently found to associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi and there is still much to be learned about the identity of fungi associated with tropical orchids. The present study focused on mycorrhizal diversity in the achlorophyllous orchid C. inverta, an endangered species, which is endemic to southern China. The aim of this work was to identify the main mycorrhizal partners of C. inverta in different plant life stages, by means of morphological and molecular methods.

RESULTS: Microscopy showed that the roots of analysed C. inverta samples were extensively colonized by fungal hyphae forming pelotons in root cortical cells. Fungal ITS regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, from DNA extracted from fungal mycelia isolated from orchid root samples, as well as from total root DNA. Molecular sequencing and phylogenetic analyses showed that the investigated orchid primarily associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi belonging to a narrow clade within the family Ceratobasidiaceae, which was previously detected in a few fully mycoheterotrophic orchids and was also found to show ectomycorrhizal capability on trees and shrubs. Russulaceae fungal symbionts, showing high similarity with members of the ectomycorrhizal genus Russula, were also identified from the roots of C. inverta, at young seedling stage. Ascomycetous fungi including Chaetomium, Diaporthe, Leptodontidium, and Phomopsis genera, and zygomycetes in the genus Mortierella were obtained from orchid root isolated strains with unclear functional role.

CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first assessment of root fungal diversity in the rare, cryptic and narrowly distributed Chinese orchid C. inverta. Our results provide new insights on the spectrum of orchid-fungus symbiosis suggesting an unprecedented mixed association between the studied achlorophyllous forest orchid and ectomycorrhizal fungi belonging to Ceratobasidiaceae and Russulaceae. Ceratobasidioid fungi as dominant associates in the roots of C. inverta represent a new record of the rare association between the identified fungal group and fully mycoheterotrophic orchids in nature.}, } @article {pmid32745665, year = {2020}, author = {Guindo, CO and Drancourt, M and Grine, G}, title = {Digestive tract methanodrome: Physiological roles of human microbiota-associated methanogens.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {104425}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104425}, pmid = {32745665}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Methanogens are the archaea most commonly found in humans, in particular in the digestive tract and are an integral part of the digestive microbiota. They are present in humans from the earliest moments of life and represent the only known source of methane production to date. They are notably detected in humans by microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, molecular biology including PCR-sequencing, metagenomics, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and culture. Methanogens present in the human digestive tract play major roles, in particular the use of hydrogen from the fermentation products of bacteria, thus promoting digestion. They are also involved in the transformation of heavy metals and in the use of trimethylamine produced by intestinal bacteria, thus preventing major health problems, in particular cardiovascular diseases. Several pieces of evidence suggest their close physical contacts with bacteria support symbiotic metabolism. Their imbalance during dysbiosis is associated with many pathologies in humans, particularly digestive tract diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colonic polyposis, and colorectal cancer. There is a huge deficit of knowledge and partially contradictory information concerning human methanogens, so much remains to be done to fully understand their physiological role in humans. It is necessary to develop new methods for the identification and culture of methanogens from clinical samples. This will permit to isolate new methanogens species as well as their phenotypic characterization, to explore their genome by sequencing and to study the population dynamics of methanogens by specifying in particular their exact role within the complex flora associated with the mucous microbiota of human.}, } @article {pmid32744154, year = {2020}, author = {East, L and Heaslip, V and Jackson, D}, title = {The symbiotic relationship of vulnerability and resilience in nursing.}, journal = {Contemporary nurse}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {14-22}, doi = {10.1080/10376178.2019.1670709}, pmid = {32744154}, issn = {1839-3535}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological/*classification ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Care/*psychology ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Occupational Stress/*psychology ; Resilience, Psychological/*classification ; *Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {Background: Whilst the terms vulnerability and resilience are commonly used within professional nursing discourses, they are often poorly understood. Vulnerability is often framed negatively and linked to being at risk of harm, whilst resilience is often perceived as the ability to withstand challenges. Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore resilience and vulnerability; re-positioning them within the context of contemporary professional nursing practice. Design: Discussion paper. Method: Drawing upon historical and contemporary international literature, both concepts are de-constructed and then re-constructed, examining them from the position of patient care as well as from the perspective of nurses and the nursing profession. Conclusion: Resilience and vulnerability have an interdependent relationship as resilience comes into play in situations of vulnerability. Yet, contrary to the popular discourse they are multi-faceted, complex phenomena based on factors such as individual circumstances, supports, and resources.}, } @article {pmid32741527, year = {2020}, author = {Vavougios, GD and Zarogiannis, SG and Krogfelt, KA and Stamoulis, G and Gourgoulianis, KI}, title = {Epigenetic regulation of apoptosis via the PARK7 interactome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells donated by tuberculosis patients vs. healthy controls and the response to treatment: A systems biology approach.}, journal = {Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)}, volume = {123}, number = {}, pages = {101938}, doi = {10.1016/j.tube.2020.101938}, pmid = {32741527}, issn = {1873-281X}, mesh = {*Apoptosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Databases, Genetic ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/*enzymology/microbiology/pathology ; Longitudinal Studies ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*pathogenicity ; Protein Deglycase DJ-1/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Signal Transduction ; *Systems Biology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome ; Tuberculosis/blood/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The aims of our study were to determine for the first time differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched molecular pathways involving the PARK7 interactome in PBMCs donated from tuberculosis patients.

METHODS: Data on a previously reconstructed PARK7 interactome (Vavougios et al., 2017) from datasets GDS4966 (Case-Control) and GDS4781 (Treatment Series) were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Gene Enrichment analysis was performed via the STRING algorithm and the GeneTrail2 software.

RESULTS: 17 and 22 PARK7 interactores were determined as DEGs in the active TB vs HD and Treatment Series subset analyses, correspondingly, associated with significantly enriched pathways (FDR <0.05) involving p53 and PTEN mediated, stress responsive apoptosis regulation pathways. The treatment subset was characterized by the emergence of an additional layer of transcriptional regulation mediated by polycomb proteins among others, as well as TLR-mediated and cytokine survival signaling. Finally, the enrichment of a Parkinson's disease signature including PARK7 interactors was determined by its differential regulation both in the exploratory analyses (FDR = 0.024), as well as the confirmatory analyses (FDR = 1.81e[-243]).

CONCLUSIONS: Our in silico analysis revealed for the first time the role of PARK7's interactome in regulating the epigenetics of the PBMC lifecycle and Mtb symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32739749, year = {2020}, author = {Li, L and Liu, W and Liang, T and Ma, F}, title = {The adsorption mechanisms of algae-bacteria symbiotic system and its fast formation process.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {315}, number = {}, pages = {123854}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123854}, pmid = {32739749}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Adsorption ; *Bacteria ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; }, abstract = {The formation process of the algae-bacteria symbiotic system (ABSS) was analyzed, and the formation adsorption conditions were optimized. The role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), specific surface area and zeta potential in adsorption mechanisms were assessed and proposed. The results showed the dry weight of the ABSS and adsorption efficiency of microalgae reached the highest under the conditions of 25 °C, pH 6.0, 160 rpm and CaCl2 2.0 mg/mL. The process of the ABSS formation could be mainly divided into the fast stage and slow stage. The roles of EPS, specific surface area and zeta potential accounted for 84.22%, 5.17% and 10.61% of the adsorption capacity, respectively. EPS dominated the formation of the ABSS. The results indicated that mycelial pellets were biosorption materials and had the characteristics of chemical materials.}, } @article {pmid32739479, year = {2021}, author = {Chattopadhyay, I and Nandi, D and Nag, A}, title = {The pint- sized powerhouse: Illuminating the mighty role of the gut microbiome in improving the outcome of anti- cancer therapy.}, journal = {Seminars in cancer biology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {98-111}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.07.012}, pmid = {32739479}, issn = {1096-3650}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*administration & dosage ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Cancer persists as a major health catastrophe and a leading cause of widespread mortality across every nation. Research of several decades has increased our understanding of the pivotal pathways and key players of the host during tumor development and progression, which has enabled generation of precision therapeutics with improved efficacy. Despite such tremendous advancements in our combat against this fatal disease, a majority of the cancer patients suffer from poor tumor- free survival owing to the increased incidence of recurrent tumor. This is primarily due to the development of resistance against contemporary anti- cancer strategies. Recent studies have pointed towards the involvement of the human symbiotic gut microbiota in regulating the outcome of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It does so primarily by modulating the metabolism of the drugs and host immune response, thereby enhancing the efficacy and ameliorating the toxicity. The interactions between the therapeutic agents, microbial community and host immunity may provide a new avenue for the clinical management of cancer. In addition, consumption of dietary pro-, pre- and synbiotics has been recognized to confer protection against tumor genesis and also promote improved response to traditional tumor suppressive strategies. Naturally, the use of various combinatorial regimes containing dietary supplements that improve the gut microbiome in amalgamation with conventional cancer treatment methods may significantly augment the therapeutic outcome of cancer patients and circumnavigate the resistance mechanisms that confound traditional therapies. In this review, we have summarized the role of the gut microbiome, which is the largest assembly of commensals within the human body, in regulating the efficacy and toxicity of various existing anti- cancer therapies including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery. Furthermore, we have discussed how novel strategies integrating the application of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and antibiotics in combination with the aforementioned anti- cancer modules manipulate the gut microbiota and, therefore, augment their therapeutic outcome. Together, such innovative anti- tumorigenic approaches may prove highly effective in improving the prognosis of cancer patients.}, } @article {pmid32738587, year = {2020}, author = {Bowden, GD and Reis, PM and Rogers, MB and Bone Relat, RM and Brayton, KA and Wilson, SK and Di Genova, BM and Knoll, LJ and Nepveux V, FJ and Tai, AK and Ramadhar, TR and Clardy, J and O'Connor, RM}, title = {A conserved coccidian gene is involved in Toxoplasma sensitivity to the anti-apicomplexan compound, tartrolon E.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Drugs and drug resistance}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, pmid = {32738587}, issn = {2211-3207}, support = {R21 AT009174/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antiparasitic Agents/*pharmacology ; Cryptosporidiosis ; Cryptosporidium ; Cryptosporidium parvum ; Drug Resistance/*genetics ; Humans ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Sarcocystis ; Toxoplasma/*drug effects/*genetics ; }, abstract = {New treatments for the diseases caused by apicomplexans are needed. Recently, we determined that tartrolon E (trtE), a secondary metabolite derived from a shipworm symbiotic bacterium, has broad-spectrum anti-apicomplexan parasite activity. TrtE inhibits apicomplexans at nM concentrations in vitro, including Cryptosporidium parvum, Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis neurona, Plasmodium falciparum, Babesia spp. and Theileria equi. To investigate the mechanism of action of trtE against apicomplexan parasites, we examined changes in the transcriptome of trtE-treated T. gondii parasites. RNA-Seq data revealed that the gene, TGGT1_272370, which is broadly conserved in the coccidia, is significantly upregulated within 4 h of treatment. Using bioinformatics and proteome data available on ToxoDB, we determined that the protein product of this tartrolon E responsive gene (trg) has multiple transmembrane domains, a phosphorylation site, and localizes to the plasma membrane. Deletion of trg in a luciferase-expressing T. gondii strain by CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in a 68% increase in parasite resistance to trtE treatment, supporting a role for the trg protein product in the response of T. gondii to trtE treatment. Trg is conserved in the coccidia, but not in more distantly related apicomplexans, indicating that this response to trtE may be unique to the coccidians, and other mechanisms may be operating in other trtE-sensitive apicomplexans. Uncovering the mechanisms by which trtE inhibits apicomplexans may identify shared pathways critical to apicomplexan parasite survival and advance the search for new treatments.}, } @article {pmid32737540, year = {2020}, author = {Geetha Thanuja, K and Annadurai, B and Thankappan, S and Uthandi, S}, title = {Non-rhizobial endophytic (NRE) yeasts assist nodulation of Rhizobium in root nodules of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.).}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {10}, pages = {2739-2749}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-020-01983-z}, pmid = {32737540}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Candida glabrata/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Candida tropicalis/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; Endophytes/classification/*isolation & purification ; Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Pyrroles/analysis ; Quinolines/analysis ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Vigna/*microbiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The signal orchestration between legumes and the rhizobia attribute to symbiotic nitrogen fixation through nodule formation. Root nodules serve as a nutrient-rich reservoir and harbor diverse microbial communities. However, the existence of non-rhizobial endophytes (NRE) and their role inside the root nodules are being explored; there is no evidence on yeast microflora inhabiting nodule niche. This study focused on unraveling the presence of yeast in the root nodules and their possible function in either nodulation or signal exchange. From the root nodules of blackgram, two yeast strains were isolated and identified as Candida glabrata VYP1 and Candida tropicalis VYW1 based on 18S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogeny. These strains possessed plant growth-promoting traits viz., IAA, ACC deaminase, siderophore, ammonia, and polyamine production. The functional capacity of endophytic yeast strains, and their interaction with Rhizobium sp. was further unveiled via profiling volatile organic compounds (VOC). Among the VOCs, α-glucopyranoside and pyrroloquinoline pitches a pivotal role in activating lectin pathways and phosphorous metabolism. Further, lectin pathways are crucial for nodulating bacterium, and our study showed that these endophytic yeasts assist nodulation by Rhizobium sp. via activating the nod factors. The plant growth-promoting traits of NRE yeast strains coupled with their metabolite production, could recruit them as potential drivers in the plant-microbe interaction.}, } @article {pmid32737132, year = {2020}, author = {Nishiyama, K and Takaki, T and Sugiyama, M and Fukuda, I and Aiso, M and Mukai, T and Odamaki, T and Xiao, JZ and Osawa, R and Okada, N}, title = {Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Bifidobacterium longum Export Mucin-Binding Proteins.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {32737132}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bifidobacterium longum/genetics/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Extracellular Vesicles/*metabolism ; Mucins/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Extracellular proteins are important factors in host-microbe interactions; however, the specific factors that enable bifidobacterial adhesion and survival in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are not fully characterized. Here, we discovered that Bifidobacterium longum NCC2705 cultured in bacterium-free supernatants of human fecal fermentation broth released a myriad of particles into the extracellular environment. The aim of this study was to characterize the physiological properties of these extracellular particles. The particles, approximately 50 to 80 nm in diameter, had high protein and double-stranded DNA contents, suggesting that they were extracellular vesicles (EVs). A proteomic analysis showed that the EVs primarily consisted of cytoplasmic proteins with crucial functions in essential cellular processes. We identified several mucin-binding proteins by performing a biomolecular interaction analysis of phosphoketolase, GroEL, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), phosphoglycerate kinase, transaldolase (Tal), and heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20). The recombinant GroEL and Tal proteins showed high binding affinities to mucin. Furthermore, the immobilization of these proteins on microbeads affected the permanence of the microbeads in the murine GI tract. These results suggest that bifidobacterial exposure conditions that mimic the intestine stimulate B. longum EV production. The resulting EVs exported several cytoplasmic proteins that may have promoted B. longum adhesion. This study improved our understanding of the Bifidobacterium colonization strategy in the intestinal microbiome.IMPORTANCEBifidobacterium is a natural inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Morphological observations revealed that extracellular appendages of bifidobacteria in complex microbial communities are important for understanding its adaptations to the GI tract environment. We identified dynamic extracellular vesicle (EV) production by Bifidobacterium longum in bacterium-free fecal fermentation broth that was strongly suggestive of differing bifidobacterial extracellular appendages in the GI tract. In addition, export of the adhesive moonlighting proteins mediated by EVs may promote bifidobacterial colonization. This study provides new insight into the roles of EVs in bifidobacterial colonization processes as these bacteria adapt to the GI environment.}, } @article {pmid32736314, year = {2020}, author = {Bass, D and Del Campo, J}, title = {Microeukaryotes in animal and plant microbiomes: Ecologies of disease?.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {125719}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125719}, pmid = {32736314}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Disease ; Eukaryota/*classification ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Plants/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Studies of animal and plant microbiomes are burgeoning, but the majority of these focus on bacteria and rarely include microeukaryotes other than fungi. However, there is growing evidence that microeukaryotes living on and in larger organisms (e.g. plants, animals, macroalgae) are diverse and in many cases abundant. We present here a new combination of 'anti-metazoan' primers: 574*f-UNonMet_DB that amplify a wide diversity of microeukaryotes including some groups that are difficult to amplify using other primer combinations. While many groups of microeukaryotic parasites are recognised, myriad other microeukaryotes are associated with hosts as previously unknown parasites (often genetically divergent so difficult to amplify using standard PCR primers), opportunistic parasites, commensals, and other ecto- and endo-symbionts, across the 'symbiotic continuum'. These fulfil a wide range of roles from pathogenesis to mutually beneficial symbioses, but mostly their roles are unknown and likely fall somewhere along this spectrum, with the potential to switch the nature of their interactions with the host under different conditions. The composition and dynamics of host-associated microbial communities are also increasingly recognised as important moderators of host health. This 'pathobiome' approach to understanding disease is beginning to supercede a one-pathogen-one-disease paradigm, which cannot sufficiently explain many disease scenarios.}, } @article {pmid32735254, year = {2020}, author = {Nie, M and Huang, SW}, title = {Symbiotic quadratic soliton mode-locked non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators.}, journal = {Optics letters}, volume = {45}, number = {15}, pages = {4184-4187}, doi = {10.1364/OL.398265}, pmid = {32735254}, issn = {1539-4794}, abstract = {We analytically and numerically unveil the existence condition of symbiotic solitons in doubly resonant non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators. Resonant signal and idler with terahertz comb bandwidth and femtosecond pulse duration in the mid-infrared are attainable through this symbiotic soliton mode-locking technique. The group velocity mismatches between the three interacting waves are the dominant cause of the symbiotic soliton perturbation, and their effects are numerically investigated in detail. The principle can be applied to commonly used mid-infrared material platforms, making it a competitive ultrashort pulse and broadband comb source architecture.}, } @article {pmid32733526, year = {2020}, author = {Costa, SR and Chin, S and Mathesius, U}, title = {Infection of Medicago truncatula by the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne javanica Does Not Require Early Nodulation Genes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1050}, pmid = {32733526}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Because of the developmental similarities between root nodules induced by symbiotic rhizobia and root galls formed by parasitic nematodes, we investigated the involvement of nodulation genes in the infection of Medicago truncatula by the root knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne javanica. We found that gall formation, including giant cell formation, pericycle and cortical cell division, as well as egg laying, occurred successfully in the non-nodulating mutants nfp1 (nod factor perception1), nin1 (nodule inception1) and nsp2 (nodulation signaling pathway2) and the cytokinin perception mutant cre1 (cytokinin receptor1). Gall and egg formation were significantly reduced in the ethylene insensitive, hypernodulating mutant skl (sickle), and to a lesser extent, in the low nodulation, abscisic acid insensitive mutant latd/nip (lateral root-organ defective/numerous infections and polyphenolics). Despite its supernodulation phenotype, the sunn4 (super numeric nodules4) mutant, which has lost the ability to autoregulate nodule numbers, did not form excessive numbers of galls. Co-inoculation of roots with nematodes and rhizobia significantly reduced nodule numbers compared to rhizobia-only inoculated roots, but only in the hypernodulation mutant skl. Thus, this effect is likely to be influenced by ethylene signaling, but is not likely explained by resource competition between galls and nodules. Co-inoculation with rhizobia also reduced gall numbers compared to nematode-only infected roots, but only in the wild type. Therefore, the protective effect of rhizobia on nematode infection does not clearly depend on nodule number or on Nod factor signaling. Our study demonstrates that early nodulation genes that are essential for successful nodule development are not necessary for nematode-induced gall formation, that gall formation is not under autoregulation of nodulation control, and that ethylene signaling plays a positive role in successful RKN parasitism in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid32733506, year = {2020}, author = {Nazari, M and Smith, DL}, title = {A PGPR-Produced Bacteriocin for Sustainable Agriculture: A Review of Thuricin 17 Characteristics and Applications.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {916}, pmid = {32733506}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {A wide range of prokaryotes produce and excrete bacteriocins (proteins with antimicrobial activity) to reduce competition from closely related strains. Application of bacteriocins is of great importance in food industries, while little research has been focused on the agricultural potential of bacteriocins. A number of bacteriocin producing bacteria are members of the phytomicrobiome, and some strains are plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Thuricin 17 is a single small peptide with a molecular weight of 3.162 kDa, a subclass IId bacteriocin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis NEB17, isolated from soybean nodules. It is either cidal or static to a wide range of prokaryotes. In this way, it removes key competition from the niche space of the producer organism. B. thuringiensis NEB17 was isolated from soybean root nodules, and thus is a member of the phytomicrobiome. Interestingly, thuricin 17 is not active against a wide range of rhizobial strains involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation with legumes or against other PGPR. In addition, it stimulates plant growth, particularly in the presence of abiotic stresses. The stresses it assists with include key ones associated with climate change (drought, high temperature, and soil salinity). Hence, in the presence of stress, it increases the size of the overall niche space, within plant roots, for B. thuringiensis NEB17. Through its anti-microbial activity, it could also enhance plant growth via control of specific plant pathogens. None of the isolated bacteriocins have been examined as broadly as thuricin 17 on plant growth promotion. Thus, this review focuses on the effect of thuricin 17 as a microbe to plant signal that assists crop plants in managing stress and making agricultural systems more climate change resilient.}, } @article {pmid32733401, year = {2020}, author = {Pasqualetti, C and Szokoli, F and Rindi, L and Petroni, G and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {The Obligate Symbiont "Candidatus Megaira polyxenophila" Has Variable Effects on the Growth of Different Host Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1425}, pmid = {32733401}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {"Candidatus Megaira polyxenophila" is a recently described member of Rickettsiaceae which comprises exclusively obligate intracellular bacteria. Interestingly, these bacteria can be found in a huge diversity of eukaryotic hosts (protist, green algae, metazoa) living in marine, brackish or freshwater habitats. Screening of amplicon datasets revealed a high frequency of these bacteria especially in freshwater environments, most likely associated to eukaryotic hosts. The relationship of "Ca. Megaira polyxenophila" with their hosts and their impact on host fitness have not been studied so far. Even less is known regarding the responses of these intracellular bacteria to potential stressors. In this study, we used two phylogenetically close species of the freshwater ciliate Paramecium, Paramecium primaurelia and Paramecium pentaurelia (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) naturally infected by "Ca. Megaira polyxenophila". In order to analyze the effect of the symbiont on the fitness of these two species, we compared the growth performance of both infected and aposymbiotic paramecia at different salinity levels in the range of freshwater and oligohaline brackish water i.e., at 0, 2, and 4.5 ppt. For the elimination of "Ca. Megaira polyxenophila" we established an antibiotic treatment to obtain symbiont-free lines and confirmed its success by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The population and infection dynamics during the growth experiment were observed by cell density counts and FISH. Paramecia fitness was compared applying generalized additive mixed models. Surprisingly, both infected Paramecium species showed higher densities under all salinity concentrations. The tested salinity concentrations did not significantly affect the growth of any of the two species directly, but we observed the loss of the endosymbiont after prolonged exposure to higher salinity levels. This experimental data might explain the higher frequency of "Ca. M. polyxenophila" in freshwater habitats as observed from amplicon data.}, } @article {pmid32733173, year = {2019}, author = {Moran, NA and Ochman, H and Hammer, TJ}, title = {Evolutionary and ecological consequences of gut microbial communities.}, journal = {Annual review of ecology, evolution, and systematics}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {451-475}, pmid = {32733173}, issn = {1543-592X}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Animals are distinguished by having guts: organs that must extract nutrients from food while barring invasion by pathogens. Most guts are colonized by non-pathogenic microorganisms, but the functions of these microbes, or even the reasons why they occur in the gut, vary widely among animals. Sometimes these microorganisms have co-diversified with hosts; sometimes they live mostly elsewhere in the environment. Either way, gut microorganisms often benefit hosts. Benefits may reflect evolutionary "addiction" whereby hosts incorporate gut microorganisms into normal developmental processes. But benefits often include novel ecological capabilities; for example, many metazoan clades exist by virtue of gut communities enabling new dietary niches. Animals vary immensely in their dependence on gut microorganisms, from lacking them entirely, to using them as food, to obligate dependence for development, nutrition, or protection. Many consequences of gut microorganisms for hosts can be ascribed to microbial community processes and the host's ability to shape these processes.}, } @article {pmid32732998, year = {2020}, author = {Wong, JEMM and Gysel, K and Birkefeldt, TG and Vinther, M and Muszyński, A and Azadi, P and Laursen, NS and Sullivan, JT and Ronson, CW and Stougaard, J and Andersen, KR}, title = {Structural signatures in EPR3 define a unique class of plant carbohydrate receptors.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {3797}, pmid = {32732998}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Folding ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Receptor-mediated perception of surface-exposed carbohydrates like lipo- and exo-polysaccharides (EPS) is important for non-self recognition and responses to microbial associated molecular patterns in mammals and plants. In legumes, EPS are monitored and can either block or promote symbiosis with rhizobia depending on their molecular composition. To establish a deeper understanding of receptors involved in EPS recognition, we determined the structure of the Lotus japonicus (Lotus) exopolysaccharide receptor 3 (EPR3) ectodomain. EPR3 forms a compact structure built of three putative carbohydrate-binding modules (M1, M2 and LysM3). M1 and M2 have unique βαββ and βαβ folds that have not previously been observed in carbohydrate binding proteins, while LysM3 has a canonical βααβ fold. We demonstrate that this configuration is a structural signature for a ubiquitous class of receptors in the plant kingdom. We show that EPR3 is promiscuous, suggesting that plants can monitor complex microbial communities though this class of receptors.}, } @article {pmid32731311, year = {2020}, author = {Benoist, R and Capdevielle-Dulac, C and Chantre, C and Jeannette, R and Calatayud, PA and Drezen, JM and Dupas, S and Le Rouzic, A and Le Ru, B and Moreau, L and Van Dijk, E and Kaiser, L and Mougel, F}, title = {Quantitative trait loci involved in the reproductive success of a parasitoid wasp.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {18}, pages = {3476-3493}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15567}, pmid = {32731311}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Phenotype ; *Polydnaviridae/genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics ; Reproduction/genetics ; *Wasps/genetics ; }, abstract = {Dissecting the genetic basis of intraspecific variations in life history traits is essential to understand their evolution, notably for potential biocontrol agents. Such variations are observed in the endoparasitoid Cotesia typhae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), specialized on the pest Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Previously, we identified two strains of C. typhae that differed significantly for life history traits on an allopatric host population. To investigate the genetic basis underlying these phenotypic differences, we used a quantitative trait locus (QTL) approach based on restriction site-associated DNA markers. The characteristic of C. typhae reproduction allowed us generating sisters sharing almost the same genetic content, named clonal sibship. Crosses between individuals from the two strains were performed to generate F2 and F8 recombinant CSS. The genotypes of 181 clonal sibships were determined as well as the phenotypes of the corresponding 4,000 females. Informative markers were then used to build a high-quality genetic map. These 465 markers spanned a total length of 1,300 cM and were organized in 10 linkage groups which corresponded to the number of C. typhae chromosomes. Three QTLs were detected for parasitism success and two for offspring number, while none were identified for sex ratio. The QTLs explained, respectively, 27.7% and 24.5% of the phenotypic variation observed. The gene content of the genomic intervals was investigated based on the genome of C. congregata and revealed 67 interesting candidates, as potentially involved in the studied traits, including components of the venom and of the symbiotic virus (bracovirus) shown to be necessary for parasitism success in related wasps.}, } @article {pmid32731255, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, SE and Hashimoto-Hill, S and Woo, V and Eshleman, EM and Whitt, J and Engleman, L and Karns, R and Denson, LA and Haslam, DB and Alenghat, T}, title = {Microbiota-derived metabolite promotes HDAC3 activity in the gut.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {586}, number = {7827}, pages = {108-112}, pmid = {32731255}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {F32 AI147591/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK078392/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK114123/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK116868/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Histone Deacetylases/*metabolism ; Humans ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/enzymology/metabolism/pathology ; Intestines/cytology/*enzymology/*microbiology/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Organoids/enzymology/metabolism/pathology ; Phytic Acid/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The coevolution of mammalian hosts and their beneficial commensal microbes has led to development of symbiotic host-microbiota relationships[1]. Epigenetic machinery permits mammalian cells to integrate environmental signals[2]; however, how these pathways are fine-tuned by diverse cues from commensal bacteria is not well understood. Here we reveal a highly selective pathway through which microbiota-derived inositol phosphate regulates histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) activity in the intestine. Despite the abundant presence of HDAC inhibitors such as butyrate in the intestine, we found that HDAC3 activity was sharply increased in intestinal epithelial cells of microbiota-replete mice compared with germ-free mice. This divergence was reconciled by the finding that commensal bacteria, including Escherichia coli, stimulated HDAC activity through metabolism of phytate and production of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3). Both intestinal exposure to InsP3 and phytate ingestion promoted recovery following intestinal damage. Of note, InsP3 also induced growth of intestinal organoids derived from human tissue, stimulated HDAC3-dependent proliferation and countered butyrate inhibition of colonic growth. Collectively, these results show that InsP3 is a microbiota-derived metabolite that activates a mammalian histone deacetylase to promote epithelial repair. Thus, HDAC3 represents a convergent epigenetic sensor of distinct metabolites that calibrates host responses to diverse microbial signals.}, } @article {pmid32730346, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, B and Ma, M and Li, Y and Zheng, L}, title = {Analysis on the stability and evolutionary trend of the symbiosis system in the supply chain of fresh agricultural products.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e0236334}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0236334}, pmid = {32730346}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Agriculture/economics ; Blueberry Plants/growth & development ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Farmers ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In order to increase the stability of fresh agricultural product supply chain, farmers and enterprises need to evolve into a symbiotic system of supply chain. At the present stage, symbiotic relations and evolutionary trends in a symbiotic system for fresh agricultural product supply chains lack quantitative methods for determining symbiotic criteria. In the sense of quantification -oriented criteria, symbiotic systems for fresh agricultural product supply chains are defined, and an improved stationary state analysis method is proposed. Three key steps in this method are quantifying a symbiotic energy model with an evaluation model of ecological carrying capacity, setting up a system evolution model based on the logistic growth function, and verifying the symbiotic system's singularity and phase transition boundary by Lyapunov indirect method. MATLAB numerical simulation shows that types of singularity and the phase transition boundary of symbiotic system are divided effectively. And in both conditions, infinite exponential growth and convergence to steady state, the mutualism mode is the optimal choice for the symbiotic system we defined, symbiotic relations between farmers and cooperative companies are stable and long-term at this time. Those conclusions provide a reference approach to enhance the overall prospective benefits to the fresh agricultural products supply chain.}, } @article {pmid32730262, year = {2020}, author = {Nguyen, PL and van Baalen, M}, title = {On the difficult evolutionary transition from the free-living lifestyle to obligate symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e0235811}, pmid = {32730262}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Models, Biological ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbiosis evolved from free-living individuals most likely via the intermediate stage of facultative symbiosis. However, why should facultative symbionts, who can live independently but also benefit from their partners if these are available, give up this best of both worlds? Using the adaptive dynamics approach, we analyse a simple model, focusing on one partner of the symbiosis, to gain more insight into the selective forces that make individuals forgo the ability to reproduce in the free-living state. Our results suggest that, similar to the parasitism-mutualism continuum, the free-living way of life and obligate symbiosis are two extremes of a continuum of the ability to reproduce independently of a partner. More importantly, facultative symbiosis should be the rule as for many parameter combinations completely giving up independent reproduction or adopting a pure free-living strategy is not so easy. We also show that if host encounter comes at a cost, individuals that put more effort into increasing the chances to meet with their partners are more likely to give up the ability to reproduce independently. Finally, our model does not specify the ecological interactions between hosts and symbionts but we discuss briefly how the ecological nature of an interaction can influence the transition from facultative to obligate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32728495, year = {2020}, author = {Roodi, D and Millner, JP and McGill, C and Johnson, RD and Jauregui, R and Card, SD}, title = {Methylobacterium, a major component of the culturable bacterial endophyte community of wild Brassica seed.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9514}, pmid = {32728495}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants are commonly colonized by a wide diversity of microbial species and the relationships created can range from mutualistic through to parasitic. Microorganisms that typically form symptomless associations with internal plant tissues are termed endophytes. Endophytes associate with most plant species found in natural and managed ecosystems. They are extremely important plant partners that provide improved stress tolerance to the host compared with plants that lack this symbiosis. Plant domestication has reduced endophyte diversity and therefore the wild relatives of many crop species remain untapped reservoirs of beneficial microbes. Brassica species display immense diversity and consequently provide the greatest assortment of products used by humans from a single plant genus important for agriculture, horticulture, bioremediation, medicine, soil conditioners, composting crops, and in the production of edible and industrial oils. Many endophytes are horizontally transmitted, but some can colonize the plant's reproductive tissues, and this gives these symbionts an efficient mechanism of propagation via plant seed (termed vertical transmission).

METHODS: This study surveyed 83 wild and landrace Brassica accessions composed of 14 different species with a worldwide distribution for seed-originating bacterial endophytes. Seed was stringently disinfected, sown within sterile tissue culture pots within a sterile environment and incubated. After approximately 1-month, direct isolation techniques were used to recover bacterial endophytes from roots and shoots of symptomless plants. Bacteria were identified based on the PCR amplification of partial 16S rDNA gene sequences and annotated using the BLASTn program against the NCBI rRNA database. A diversity index was used as a quantitative measure to reflect how many different bacterial species there were in the seed-originating microbial community of the Brassica accessions sampled.

RESULTS: Bacterial endophytes were recovered from the majority of the Brassica accessions screened. 16S rDNA gene sequencing identified 19 different bacterial species belonging to three phyla, namely Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria with the most frequently isolated species being Methylobacterium fujisawaense, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila and Pseudomonas lactis. Methylobacterium was the dominant genus composing 56% of the culturable isolated bacterial community and was common in 77% of accessions possessing culturable bacterial endophytes. Two selected isolates of Methylobacterium significantly promoted plant growth when inoculated into a cultivar of oilseed rape and inhibited the growth of the pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans in dual culture. This is the first report that investigates the seed-originating endophytic microorganisms of wild Brassica species and highlights the Brassica microbiome as a resource for plant growth promoting bacteria and biological control agents.}, } @article {pmid32728081, year = {2020}, author = {Lassaletta, JM}, title = {Spotting trends in organocatalysis for the next decade.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {3787}, pmid = {32728081}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {After two decades of steady growing, symbiotic merger of organocatalysis with emerging electrochemical and photochemical tools are envisioned as hot topics in the coming decade. Here, these trends are discussed in parallel to the implementation of artificial intelligence-based technologies, which anticipate a paradigm shift in catalyst design.}, } @article {pmid32728044, year = {2021}, author = {Boyrie, L and Moreau, C and Frugier, F and Jacquet, C and Bonhomme, M}, title = {A linkage disequilibrium-based statistical test for Genome-Wide Epistatic Selection Scans in structured populations.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {126}, number = {1}, pages = {77-91}, pmid = {32728044}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Genetics, Population ; Genome, Human ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; *Linkage Disequilibrium ; *Racial Groups/genetics ; }, abstract = {The quest for signatures of selection using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data has proven efficient to uncover genes involved in conserved and/or adaptive molecular functions, but none of the statistical methods were designed to identify interacting alleles as targets of selective processes. Here, we propose a statistical test aimed at detecting epistatic selection, based on a linkage disequilibrium (LD) measure accounting for population structure and heterogeneous relatedness between individuals. SNP-based ([Formula: see text]) and window-based ([Formula: see text]) statistics fit a Student distribution, allowing to test the significance of correlation coefficients. As a proof of concept, we use SNP data from the Medicago truncatula symbiotic legume plant and uncover a previously unknown gene coadaptation between the MtSUNN (Super Numeric Nodule) receptor and the MtCLE02 (CLAVATA3-Like) signaling peptide. We also provide experimental evidence supporting a MtSUNN-dependent negative role of MtCLE02 in symbiotic root nodulation. Using human HGDP-CEPH SNP data, our new statistical test uncovers strong LD between SLC24A5 (skin pigmentation) and EDAR (hairs, teeth, sweat glands development) world-wide, which persists after correction for population structure and relatedness in Central South Asian populations. This result suggests that epistatic selection or coselection could have contributed to the phenotypic make-up in some human populations. Applying this approach to genome-wide SNP data will facilitate the identification of coadapted gene networks in model or non-model organisms.}, } @article {pmid32727975, year = {2020}, author = {Greetatorn, T and Hashimoto, S and Maeda, T and Fukudome, M and Piromyou, P and Teamtisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Kawaguchi, M and Uchiumi, T and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Mechanisms of Rice Endophytic Bradyrhizobial Cell Differentiation and Its Role in Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32727975}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle/genetics ; Endophytes ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Mutation ; *Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/genetics ; Oryza/chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. strain SUTN9-2 is a symbiotic and endophytic diazotrophic bacterium found in legume and rice plants and has the potential to promote growth. The present results revealed that SUTN9-2 underwent cell enlargement, increased its DNA content, and efficiently performed nitrogen fixation in response to rice extract. Some factors in rice extract induced the expression of cell cycle and nitrogen fixation genes. According to differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the transcriptomic analysis, SUTN9-2 was affected by rice extract and the deletion of the bclA gene. The up-regulated DEGs encoding a class of oxidoreductases, which act with oxygen atoms and may have a role in controlling oxygen at an appropriate level for nitrogenase activity, followed by GroESL chaperonins are required for the function of nitrogenase. These results indicate that following its exposure to rice extract, nitrogen fixation by SUTN9-2 is induced by the collective effects of GroESL and oxidoreductases. The expression of the sensitivity to antimicrobial peptides transporter (sapDF) was also up-regulated, resulting in cell differentiation, even when bclA (sapDF) was mutated. This result implies similarities in the production of defensin-like antimicrobial peptides (DEFs) by rice and nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides in legume plants, which affect bacterial cell differentiation.}, } @article {pmid32726935, year = {2020}, author = {Esberg, A and Haworth, S and Kuja-Halkola, R and Magnusson, PKE and Johansson, I}, title = {Heritability of Oral Microbiota and Immune Responses to Oral Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32726935}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Maintaining a symbiotic oral microbiota is essential for oral and dental health, and host genetic factors may affect the composition or function of the oral microbiota through a range of possible mechanisms, including immune pathways. The study included 836 Swedish twins divided into separate groups of adolescents (n = 418) and unrelated adults (n = 418). Oral microbiota composition and functions of non-enzymatically lysed oral bacteria samples were evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and functional bioinformatics tools in the adolescents. Adaptive immune responses were assessed by testing for serum IgG antibodies against a panel of common oral bacteria in adults. In the adolescents, host genetic factors were associated with both the detection and abundance of microbial species, but with considerable variation between species. Host genetic factors were associated with predicted microbiota functions, including several functions related to bacterial sucrose, fructose, and carbohydrate metabolism. In adults, genetic factors were associated with serum antibodies against oral bacteria. In conclusion, host genetic factors affect the composition of the oral microbiota at a species level, and host-governed adaptive immune responses, and also affect the concerted functions of the oral microbiota as a whole. This may help explain why some people are genetically predisposed to the major dental diseases of caries and periodontitis.}, } @article {pmid32725784, year = {2020}, author = {Ip, YK and Teng, GCY and Boo, MV and Poo, JST and Hiong, KC and Kim, H and Wong, WP and Chew, SF}, title = {Symbiodiniaceae Dinoflagellates Express Urease in Three Subcellular Compartments and Upregulate its Expression Levels in situ in Three Organs of a Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa) During Illumination.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {6}, pages = {1696-1711}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13053}, pmid = {32725784}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Lighting ; Symbiosis ; Urease ; }, abstract = {Giant clams harbor three genera of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium) as extracellular symbionts (zooxanthellae). While symbiotic dinoflagellates can synthesize amino acids to benefit the host, they are nitrogen-deficient. Hence, the host must supply them with nitrogen including urea, which can be degraded to ammonia and carbon dioxide by urease (URE). Here, we report three complete coding cDNA sequences of URE, one for each genus of dinoflagellate, obtained from the colorful outer mantle of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. The outer mantle had higher transcript level of Tridacna squamosa zooxanthellae URE (TSZURE) than the whitish inner mantle, foot muscle, hepatopancreas, and ctenidium. TSZURE was immunolocalized strongly and atypically in the plastid, moderately in the cytoplasm, and weakly in the cell wall and plasma membrane of symbiotic dinoflagellates. In the outer mantle, illumination upregulated the protein abundance of TSZURE, which could enhance urea degradation in photosynthesizing dinoflagellates. The urea-nitrogen released could then augment synthesis of amino acids to be shared with the host for its general needs. Illumination also enhanced gene and protein expression levels of TSZURE/TSZURE in the inner mantle and foot muscle, which contain only small quantities of symbiotic dinoflagellate, have no iridocyte, and lack direct exposure to light. With low phototrophic potential, dinoflagellates in the inner mantle and foot muscle might need to absorb carbohydrates in order to assimilate the urea-nitrogen into amino acids. Amino acids donated by dinoflagellates to the inner mantle and the foot muscle could be used especially for synthesis of organic matrix needed for light-enhanced shell formation and muscle protein, respectively.}, } @article {pmid32725723, year = {2021}, author = {Liu, W and Wang, J and Zhang, HY and Yang, YC and Kang, RX and Bai, P and Fu, H and Chen, LR and Gao, YP and Tan, EK}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria attenuate Drosophila oviposition repellence to alkaline through acidification.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {403-414}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12857}, pmid = {32725723}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Insect Repellents/*chemistry ; *Oviposition ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metazoans harbor a wealth of symbionts that are ever-changing the environment by taking up resources and/or excreting metabolites. One such common environmental modification is a change in pH. Conventional wisdom holds that symbionts facilitate the survival and production of their hosts in the wild, but this notion lacks empirical evidence. Here, we report that symbiotic bacteria in the genus Enterococcus attenuate the oviposition avoidance of alkaline environments in Drosophila. We studied the effects of alkalinity on oviposition preference for the first time, and found that flies are robustly disinclined to oviposit on alkali-containing substrates. This innate repulsion to alkaline environments is explained, in part, by the fact that alkalinity compromises the health and lifespan of both offspring and parent Drosophila. Enterococcus dramatically diminished or even completely reversed the ovipositional avoidance of alkalinity in Drosophila. Mechanistically, Enterococcus generate abundant lactate during fermentation, which neutralizes the residual alkali in an egg-laying substrate. In conclusion, Enterococcus protects Drosophila from alkali stress by acidifying the ovipositional substrate, and ultimately improves the fitness of the Drosophila population. Our results demonstrate that symbionts are profound factors in the Drosophila ovipositional decision, and extend our understanding of the intimate interactions between Drosophila and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid32724040, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, H and Zhou, L and Wei, J and Tang, Q and Zou, Y and Tang, J and Xu, H}, title = {Cover crops and chicken grazing in a winter fallow field improve soil carbon and nitrogen contents and decrease methane emissions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {12607}, pmid = {32724040}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Using symbiotic farming methods [cover crops and chicken grazing (+ C)] in a winter fallow field, we found that the soil organic matter and total nitrogen of the + C treatment were 5.2% and 26.6% higher, respectively, than those of a treatment with cover crops and no chicken grazing (- C). The annual rice grain yield of the + C treatment was 3.8% higher than that of the - C treatment and 12.3% higher than that of the bare fallow field (CK), while the annual CH4 emissions of the + C treatment were 26.9% lower than those of the - C treatment and 10.6% lower than those of the CK treatment. The 100-year global warming potential of the + C treatment was 6.2% lower than that of the - C treatment. Therefore, the use of winter cover crops and chicken grazing in a winter fallow field was effective at reducing CH4 emissions and significantly improving soil nutrients and rice yield.}, } @article {pmid32723830, year = {2020}, author = {Maire, J and Parisot, N and Galvao Ferrarini, M and Vallier, A and Gillet, B and Hughes, S and Balmand, S and Vincent-Monégat, C and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Spatial and morphological reorganization of endosymbiosis during metamorphosis accommodates adult metabolic requirements in a weevil.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {32}, pages = {19347-19358}, pmid = {32723830}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Endophytes/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Female ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial intracellular symbiosis (endosymbiosis) is widespread in nature and impacts many biological processes. In holometabolous symbiotic insects, metamorphosis entails a complete and abrupt internal reorganization that creates a constraint for endosymbiont transmission from larvae to adults. To assess how endosymbiosis copes-and potentially evolves-throughout this major host-tissue reorganization, we used the association between the cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae and the bacterium Sodalis pierantonius as a model system. S. pierantonius are contained inside specialized host cells, the bacteriocytes, that group into an organ, the bacteriome. Cereal weevils require metabolic inputs from their endosymbiont, particularly during adult cuticle synthesis, when endosymbiont load increases dramatically. By combining dual RNA-sequencing analyses and cell imaging, we show that the larval bacteriome dissociates at the onset of metamorphosis and releases bacteriocytes that undergo endosymbiosis-dependent transcriptomic changes affecting cell motility, cell adhesion, and cytoskeleton organization. Remarkably, bacteriocytes turn into spindle cells and migrate along the midgut epithelium, thereby conveying endosymbionts to midgut sites where future mesenteric caeca will develop. Concomitantly, endosymbiont genes encoding a type III secretion system and a flagellum apparatus are transiently up-regulated while endosymbionts infect putative stem cells and enter their nuclei. Infected cells then turn into new differentiated bacteriocytes and form multiple new bacteriomes in adults. These findings show that endosymbiosis reorganization in a holometabolous insect relies on a synchronized host-symbiont molecular and cellular "choreography" and illustrates an adaptive feature that promotes bacteriome multiplication to match increased metabolic requirements in emerging adults.}, } @article {pmid32723798, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, L and Xiang, M and Zhu, W and Zhang, M and Chen, H and Huang, J and Chen, Y and Chang, Q and Jiang, J and Zhu, L}, title = {The Behavior of Amphibians Shapes Their Symbiotic Microbiomes.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32723798}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Seasonal dynamics in symbiotic microbiomes have been investigated in a number of vertebrates and are mainly caused by changes in the diet (in the gut microbiome) or the living environment (in the skin microbiome). Most amphibian microbiome studies focus on the skin, whereas internal microbiome structure and dynamics are often overlooked. The present study investigated the seasonal dynamics in three types of symbiotic microbiomes (the skin, stomach, and gut) across four wild frog species, belonging to different families, in May and October. The frogs harbored more water source microbes in May than in October. On the contrary, the frogs harbored more soil source microbes in October than in May. The frog species investigated tend to live in a water environment in May to maintain body surface humidity at high environmental temperatures and to breed. In October, these four species prefer to live on the land, as the environmental temperature decreases, to prepare for hibernation in caves or under stones. Thus, seasonal changes in the wild amphibian symbiotic microbiome may be caused by the difference in microbe transmission from their living environment due to specific behaviors. This study demonstrated that the behavior and living environment of wild amphibians shape their symbiotic microbiome externally (on the skin) and internally (in the stomach and gut). We revealed the potential association between specific behaviors in poikilothermic animals and host symbiotic microbiomes.IMPORTANCE Understanding the interactions between host behavior and microbiome dynamics remains an outstanding priority in the field of microbial ecology. Here, we provide the reader with a simple example of how the behavior and living environment of wild amphibians shape their symbiotic microbiome externally (on the skin) and internally (in the stomach and gut).}, } @article {pmid32723477, year = {2020}, author = {Fang, H and Labandeira, CC and Ma, Y and Zheng, B and Ren, D and Wei, X and Liu, J and Wang, Y}, title = {Lichen mimesis in mid-Mesozoic lacewings.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32723477}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {31970383//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 31770022//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 5192002//Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality/International ; 19530050144//Capacity Building for Sci-Tech Innovation - Fundamental Scientific Research Funds/International ; IRT-17R75//Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University/International ; IDHT20180518//Support Project of High Level Teachers in Beijing Municipal Universities/International ; 31730087//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 028175534000//Graduate Student Program for International Exchange and Joint Supervision at Capital Normal University/International ; 41688103//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 028185511700//Graduate Student Program for International Exchange and Joint Supervision at Capital Normal University/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Mimicry ; Fossils/*anatomy & histology ; Insecta/*anatomy & histology/classification/physiology ; *Lichens ; }, abstract = {Animals mimicking other organisms or using camouflage to deceive predators are vital survival strategies. Modern and fossil insects can simulate diverse objects. Lichens are an ancient symbiosis between a fungus and an alga or a cyanobacterium that sometimes have a plant-like appearance and occasionally are mimicked by modern animals. Nevertheless, lichen models are almost absent in fossil record of mimicry. Here, we provide the earliest fossil evidence of a mimetic relationship between the moth lacewing mimic Lichenipolystoechotes gen. nov. and its co-occurring fossil lichen model Daohugouthallus ciliiferus. We corroborate the lichen affinity of D. ciliiferus and document this mimetic relationship by providing structural similarities and detailed measurements of the mimic's wing and correspondingly the model's thallus. Our discovery of lichen mimesis predates modern lichen-insect associations by 165 million years, indicating that during the mid-Mesozoic, the lichen-insect mimesis system was well established and provided lacewings with highly honed survival strategies.}, } @article {pmid32722489, year = {2020}, author = {Herrera, H and Sanhueza, T and Martiarena, R and Valadares, R and Fuentes, A and Arriagada, C}, title = {Mycorrhizal Fungi Isolated from Native Terrestrial Orchids from Region of La Araucanía, Southern Chile.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32722489}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal interactions of orchids are influenced by several environmental conditions. Hence, knowledge of mycorrhizal fungi associated with orchids inhabiting different ecosystems is essential to designing recovery strategies for threatened species. This study analyzes the mycorrhizal associations of terrestrial orchids colonizing grassland and understory in native ecosystems of the region of La Araucanía in southern Chile. Mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from peloton-containing roots and identified based on the sequence of the ITS region. Their capacities for seed germination were also investigated. We detected Tulasnella spp. and Ceratobasidium spp. in the pelotons of the analyzed orchids. Additionally, we showed that some Ceratobasidium isolates effectively induce seed germination to differing degrees, unlike Tulasnella spp., which, in most cases, fail to achieve protocorm growth. This process may underline a critical step in the life cycle of Tulasnella-associated orchids, whereas the Ceratobasidium-associated orchids were less specific for fungi and were effectively germinated with mycorrhizal fungi isolated from adult roots.}, } @article {pmid32721312, year = {2020}, author = {Genc, O and Kurt, A and Yazan, DM and Erdis, E}, title = {Circular eco-industrial park design inspired by nature: An integrated non-linear optimization, location, and food web analysis.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {270}, number = {}, pages = {110866}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110866}, pmid = {32721312}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Food Analysis ; *Food Chain ; Industry ; }, abstract = {Industrial symbiosis (IS) is one of the alternative ways of using natural resources in industrial processes. Eco-industrial parks (EIPs), as commonly known areas of IS practices, increase resource efficacy and reduce environmental effects by implementing waste/by product exchanges among tenant plants. Although there is an increasing but limited number of EIPs around the world, their circularity is not ensured due to high dynamic market and business conditions. This paper aims at offering an innovative design approach for EIPs taking into account the potential waste exchanges between the plants potentially to be co-located within EIPs with the goal of eliminating adverse impacts of market and business dynamicity. To this end, first an analysis of an existing IS database is conducted and the sectors potentially to be co-located are identified. Second, inspired by natural eco-systems, the food web (FW) metrics are defined to measure the potential EIPs' circularity. Third, a non-linear optimization method, namely branch and bound algorithm, is adopted to decide which plants should be included in the EIP designs to maximize the cyclicity of the networks. Lastly, a location analysis is conducted in order to co-locate the plants and to minimize the operational costs of implementing and running the EIPs. The use of this integrated approach is illustrated in a scenario analysis for four theoretical EIPs, two taking the construction industry as an anchor industry and two considering the random inclusion of various industries that can exchange wastes with the constructions industry. These EIPs' FW metric values are compared with the biological FW averages of natural ecosystems. The results support the method's ability to design sustainable and circular EIPs and point out practical implications for practitioners and policy-makers. The study is a seminal one integrating three methodologies for the first time to design IS networks in the form of EIPs.}, } @article {pmid32720111, year = {2020}, author = {Bednaříková, M and Váczi, P and Lazár, D and Barták, M}, title = {Photosynthetic performance of Antarctic lichen Dermatocarpon polyphyllizum when affected by desiccation and low temperatures.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {145}, number = {2}, pages = {159-177}, doi = {10.1007/s11120-020-00773-4}, pmid = {32720111}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Antarctic Regions ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Cold Temperature ; Dehydration ; Desiccation ; Lichens/*physiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Water/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that are well adapted to desiccation/rehydration cycles. Over the last decades, the physiological background of their photosynthetic response-specifically activation of the protective mechanism during desiccation-has been studied at the level of photosystem II of the lichen photobiont by means of several biophysical methods. In our study, the effects of desiccation and low temperatures on chlorophyll fluorescence and spectral reflectance parameters were investigated in Antarctic chlorolichen Dermatocarpon polyphyllizum. Lichen thalli were collected from James Ross Island, Antarctica, and following transfer to a laboratory, samples were fully hydrated and exposed to desiccation at temperatures of 18, 10, and 4 °C. During the desiccation process, the relative water content (RWC) was measured gravimetrically and photosynthetic parameters related to the fast transient of chlorophyll fluorescence (OJIP) were measured repeatedly. Similarly, the change in spectral reflectance parameters (e.g., NDVI, PRI, G, NPCI) was monitored during thallus dehydration. The dehydration-response curves showed a decrease in a majority of the OJIP-derived parameters (e.g., maximum quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry: FV/FM, and performance index: PI in D. polyphyllizum, which were more apparent at RWCs below 20%. The activation of protective mechanisms in severely dehydrated thalli was documented by increased thermal dissipation (DI0/RC) and its quantum yield (Phi_D0). Low temperature accelerated these processes. An analysis of the OJIP shape reveals the presence of K-bands (300 μs), and L-bands (80 μs), which can be attributed to dehydration-induced stress. Spectral reflectance indices decreased in a majority of cases with an RWC decrease and were positively related to the OJIP-derived parameters: FV/FM (capacity of photosynthetic processes in PSII), Phi_E0 (effectiveness of electron transport), and PI_tot (total performance index), which was more apparent in NDVI. A negative relation was found for NPCI. These indices could be used in follow-up ecophysiological photosynthetic studies of lichens that are undergoing rehydration/dehydration cycles.}, } @article {pmid32715724, year = {2021}, author = {Stacchiotti, V and Rezzi, S and Eggersdorfer, M and Galli, F}, title = {Metabolic and functional interplay between gut microbiota and fat-soluble vitamins.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {61}, number = {19}, pages = {3211-3232}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2020.1793728}, pmid = {32715724}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Vitamins ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem seen as an extension of human genome. It represents a major metabolic interface of interaction with food components and xenobiotics in the gastrointestinal (GI) environment. In this context, the advent of modern bacterial genome sequencing technology has enabled the identification of dietary nutrients as key determinants of gut microbial ecosystem able to modulate the host-microbiome symbiotic relationship and its effects on human health. This article provides a literature review on functional and molecular interactions between a specific group of lipids and essential nutrients, e.g., fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs), and the gut microbiota. A two-way relationship appears to emerge from the available literature with important effects on human metabolism, nutrition, GI physiology and immune function. First, FSV directly or indirectly modify the microbial composition involving for example immune system-mediated and/or metabolic mechanisms of bacterial growth or inhibition. Second, the gut microbiota influences at different levels the synthesis, metabolism and transport of FSV including their bioactive metabolites that are either introduced with the diet or released in the gut via entero-hepatic circulation. A better understanding of these interactions, and of their impact on intestinal and metabolic homeostasis, will be pivotal to design new and more efficient strategies of disease prevention and therapy, and personalized nutrition.}, } @article {pmid32714300, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, X and Sun, S and Yang, X and Cheng, J and Wei, H and Li, Z and Michaud, JP and Liu, X}, title = {Variability of Gut Microbiota Across the Life Cycle of Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1366}, pmid = {32714300}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Grapholita molesta, the oriental fruit moth, is a serious global pest of many Rosaceae fruit trees. Gut microorganisms play important roles in host nutrition, digestion, detoxification, and resistance to pathogens. However, there are few studies on the microbiota of G. molesta, particularly during metamorphosis. Here, the diversity of gut microbiota across the holometabolous life cycle of G. molesta was investigated comprehensively by Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the microbiota associated with eggs had a high number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs). OTU and species richness in early-instar larvae (first and second instars) were significantly higher than those in late-instar larvae (third to fifth instars). Species richness increased again in male pupae and adults, apparently during the process of metamorphosis, compared to late-instar larvae. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in the gut and underwent notable changes during metamorphosis. At the genus level, gut microbial community shifts from Gluconobacter and Pantoea in early-instar larvae to Enterococcus and Enterobacter in late-instar larvae and to Serratia in pupae were apparent, in concert with host developmental changes. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analyses confirmed the differences in the structure of gut microbiota across different developmental stages. In addition, sex-dependent bacterial community differences were observed. Microbial interaction network analysis showed different correlations among intestinal microbes at each developmental stage of G. molesta, which may result from the different abundance and diversity of gut microbiota at different life stages. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis indicated that most functional prediction categories of gut microbiota were related to membrane transport, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and DNA replication and repair. Bacteria isolated by conventional culture-dependent methods belonged to Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, which was consistent with high-throughput sequencing results. In conclusion, exploration of gut bacterial community composition in the gut of G. molesta should shed light into deeper understanding about the intricate associations between microbiota and host and might provide clues to the development of novel pest management strategies against fruit borers.}, } @article {pmid32713966, year = {2020}, author = {Rubia, MI and Ramachandran, VK and Arrese-Igor, C and Larrainzar, E and Poole, PS}, title = {A novel biosensor to monitor proline in pea root exudates and nodules under osmotic stress and recovery.}, journal = {Plant and soil}, volume = {452}, number = {1}, pages = {413-422}, pmid = {32713966}, issn = {0032-079X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant and bacteria are able to synthesise proline, which acts as a compound to counteract the negative effects of osmotic stresses. Most methodologies rely on the extraction of compounds using destructive methods. This work describes a new proline biosensor that allows the monitoring of proline levels in a non-invasive manner in root exudates and nodules of legume plants.

METHODS: The proline biosensor was constructed by cloning the promoter region of pRL120553, a gene with high levels of induction in the presence of proline, in front of the lux cassette in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.

RESULTS: Free-living assays show that the proline biosensor is sensitive and specific for proline. Proline was detected in both root exudates and nodules of pea plants. The luminescence detected in bacteroids did not show variations during osmotic stress treatments, but significantly increased during recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: This biosensor is a useful tool for the in vivo monitoring of proline levels in root exudates and bacteroids of symbiotic root nodules, and it contributes to our understanding of the metabolic exchange occurring in nodules under abiotic stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid32713199, year = {2021}, author = {Wang, CN and Lu, HM and Gao, CH and Guo, L and Zhan, ZY and Wang, JJ and Liu, YH and Xiang, ST and Wang, J and Luo, XW}, title = {Cytotoxic benzopyranone and xanthone derivatives from a coral symbiotic fungus Cladosporium halotolerans GXIMD 02502.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {35}, number = {24}, pages = {5596-5603}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2020.1799363}, pmid = {32713199}, issn = {1478-6427}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Cladosporium ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Symbiosis ; *Xanthones/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Coral-derived microorganisms have been historically proven to be prolific sources of bioactive secondary metabolites. Twelve benzopyranone and/or xanthone derivatives, including a new benzopyranone with an uncommon carboxyl group at C-8, coniochaetone K (1), were obtained from the Beibu Gulf-derived coral symbiotic fungus Cladosporium halotolerans GXIMD 02502. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data interpretation and comparison with literature values. The absolute configuration of 1 was accomplished by comparison of specific optical rotation as well as quantum chemical ECD calculations. The in vitro cytotoxicity of compounds 1-12 against two human prostatic cancer cell lines, C4-2B and 22RV1, were evaluated. And compounds 1, 3, 6-8, and 10-11 demonstrated significant cytotoxicity with inhibitions ranging from 55.8% to 82.1% at the concentration of 10 μM.}, } @article {pmid32710518, year = {2020}, author = {Allgeier, JE and Andskog, MA and Hensel, E and Appaldo, R and Layman, C and Kemp, DW}, title = {Rewiring coral: Anthropogenic nutrients shift diverse coral-symbiont nutrient and carbon interactions toward symbiotic algal dominance.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {5588-5601}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.15230}, pmid = {32710518}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon ; Coral Reefs ; Nutrients ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Improving coral reef conservation requires heightened understanding of the mechanisms by which coral cope with changing environmental conditions to maintain optimal health. We used a long-term (10 month) in situ experiment with two phylogenetically diverse scleractinians (Acropora palmata and Porites porites) to test how coral-symbiotic algal interactions changed under real-world conditions that were a priori expected to be beneficial (fish-mediated nutrients) and to be harmful, but non-lethal, for coral (fish + anthropogenic nutrients). Analyzing nine response variables of nutrient stoichiometry and stable isotopes per coral fragment, we found that nutrients from fish positively affected coral growth, and moderate doses of anthropogenic nutrients had no additional effects. While growing, coral maintained homeostasis in their nutrient pools, showing tolerance to the different nutrient regimes. Nonetheless, structural equation models revealed more nuanced relationships, showing that anthropogenic nutrients reduced the diversity of coral-symbiotic algal interactions and caused nutrient and carbon flow to be dominated by the symbiont. Our findings show that nutrient and carbon pathways are fundamentally "rewired" under anthropogenic nutrient regimes in ways that could increase corals' susceptibility to further stressors. We hypothesize that our experiment captured coral in a previously unrecognized transition state between mutualism and antagonism. These findings highlight a notable parallel between how anthropogenic nutrients promote symbiont dominance with the holobiont, and how they promote macroalgal dominance at the coral reef scale. Our findings suggest more realistic experimental conditions, including studies across gradients of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment as well as the incorporation of varied nutrient and energy pathways, may facilitate conservation efforts to mitigate coral loss.}, } @article {pmid32709946, year = {2020}, author = {Barcoto, MO and Carlos-Shanley, C and Fan, H and Ferro, M and Nagamoto, NS and Bacci, M and Currie, CR and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Fungus-growing insects host a distinctive microbiota apparently adapted to the fungiculture environment.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {12384}, pmid = {32709946}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Environment ; Fungi/growth & development/*physiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Pseudomonas/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some lineages of ants, termites, and beetles independently evolved a symbiotic association with lignocellulolytic fungi cultivated for food, in a lifestyle known as fungiculture. Fungus-growing insects' symbiosis also hosts a bacterial community thought to integrate their physiology. Similarities in taxonomic composition support the microbiota of fungus-growing insects as convergent, despite differences in fungus-rearing by these insects. Here, by comparing fungus-growing insects to several hosts ranging diverse dietary patterns, we investigate whether the microbiota taxonomic and functional profiles are characteristic of the fungiculture environment. Compared to other hosts, the microbiota associated with fungus-growing insects presents a distinctive taxonomic profile, dominated by Gammaproteobacteria at class level and by Pseudomonas at genera level. Even with a functional profile presenting similarities with the gut microbiota of herbivorous and omnivorous hosts, some differentially abundant features codified by the microbiota of fungus-growing insects suggest these communities occupying microhabitats that are characteristic of fungiculture. These features include metabolic pathways involved in lignocellulose breakdown, detoxification of plant secondary metabolites, metabolism of simple sugars, fungal cell wall deconstruction, biofilm formation, antimicrobials biosynthesis, and metabolism of diverse nutrients. Our results suggest that the microbiota could be functionally adapted to the fungiculture environment, codifying metabolic pathways potentially relevant to the fungus-growing insects' ecosystems functioning.}, } @article {pmid32709725, year = {2020}, author = {Del Cerro, P and Ayala-García, P and Buzón, P and Castells-Graells, R and López-Baena, FJ and Ollero, FJ and Pérez-Montaño, F}, title = {OnfD, an AraC-Type Transcriptional Regulator Encoded by Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and Involved in Nod Factor Synthesis and Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {32709725}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {AraC Transcription Factor/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics/metabolism ; Salt Stress/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptional Activation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is a broad-host-range rhizobial strain that establishes symbiotic interactions with legumes and tolerates different environmental stresses such as heat, acidity, or salinity. This rhizobial strain produces a wide variety of symbiotically active nodulation factors (NF) induced not only by the presence of plant-released flavonoids but also under osmotic stress conditions through the LysR-type transcriptional regulators NodD1 (flavonoids) and NodD2 (osmotic stress). However, the activation of NodD2 under high-osmotic-stress conditions remains elusive. Here, we have studied the role of a new AraC-type regulator (named as OnfD) in the symbiotic interaction of R. tropici CIAT 899 with Phaseolus vulgaris and Lotus plants. We determined that OnfD is required under salt stress conditions for the transcriptional activation of the nodulation genes and therefore the synthesis and export of NF, which are required for a successful symbiosis with P. vulgaris Moreover, using bacterial two-hybrid analysis, we demonstrated that the OnfD and NodD2 proteins form homodimers and OnfD/NodD2 form heterodimers, which could be involved in the production of NF in the presence of osmotic stress conditions since both regulators are required for NF synthesis in the presence of salt. A structural model of OnfD is presented and discussed.IMPORTANCE The synthesis and export of rhizobial NF are mediated by a conserved group of LysR-type regulators, the NodD proteins. Here, we have demonstrated that a non-LysR-type regulator, an AraC-type protein, is required for the transcriptional activation of symbiotic genes and for the synthesis of symbiotically active NF under salt stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid32709034, year = {2020}, author = {Trimigno, A and Bøge Lyndgaard, C and Atladóttir, GA and Aru, V and Balling Engelsen, S and Harder Clemmensen, LK}, title = {An NMR Metabolomics Approach to Investigate Factors Affecting the Yoghurt Fermentation Process and Quality.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32709034}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {A great number of factors can influence milk fermentation for yoghurt production such as fermentation conditions, starter cultures and milk characteristics. It is important for dairy companies to know the best combinations of these parameters for a controlled fermentation and for the desired qualities of yoghurt. This study investigates the use of a [1]H-NMR metabolomics approach to monitor the changes in milk during fermentation from time 0 to 24 h, taking samples every hour in the first 8 h and then at the end-point at 24 h. Three different starter cultures (L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus and their combination) were used and two different heat treatments (99 or 105 °C) were applied to milk. The results clearly show the breakdown of proteins and lactose as well as the concomitant increase in acetate, lactate and citrate during fermentation. Formate is found at different initial concentrations depending on the heat treatment of the milk and its different time trajectory depends on the starter cultures: Lactobacillus cannot produce formate, but needs it for growth, whilst Streptococcus is able to produce formate from pyruvate, therefore promoting the symbiotic relationship between the two strains. On the other hand, Lactobacillus can hydrolyze milk proteins into amino acids, enriching the quality of the final product. In this way, better insight into the protocooperation of lactic acid bacteria strains and information on the impact of a greater heat treatment in the initial matrix were obtained. The global chemical view on the fermentations provided using NMR is key information for yoghurt producers and companies producing starter cultures.}, } @article {pmid32708808, year = {2020}, author = {Lindsey, ARI}, title = {Sensing, Signaling, and Secretion: A Review and Analysis of Systems for Regulating Host Interaction in Wolbachia.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32708808}, issn = {2073-4425}, support = {R01AI144430//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics ; Secretory Pathway/*genetics ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia (Anaplasmataceae) is an endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes that resides within host cells and is well known for manipulating host biology to facilitate transmission via the female germline. The effects Wolbachia has on host physiology, combined with reproductive manipulations, make this bacterium a promising candidate for use in biological- and vector-control. While it is becoming increasingly clear that Wolbachia's effects on host biology are numerous and vary according to the host and the environment, we know very little about the molecular mechanisms behind Wolbachia's interactions with its host. Here, I analyze 29 Wolbachia genomes for the presence of systems that are likely central to the ability of Wolbachia to respond to and interface with its host, including proteins for sensing, signaling, gene regulation, and secretion. Second, I review conditions under which Wolbachia alters gene expression in response to changes in its environment and discuss other instances where we might hypothesize Wolbachia to regulate gene expression. Findings will direct mechanistic investigations into gene regulation and host-interaction that will deepen our understanding of intracellular infections and enhance applied management efforts that leverage Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid32708770, year = {2020}, author = {Song, F and Bai, F and Wang, J and Wu, L and Jiang, Y and Pan, Z}, title = {Influence of Citrus Scion/Rootstock Genotypes on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community Composition under Controlled Environment Condition.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32708770}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Citrus is vegetatively propagated by grafting for commercial production, and most rootstock cultivars of citrus have scarce root hairs, thus heavily relying on mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for mineral nutrient uptake. However, the AMF community composition, and its differences under different citrus scion/rootstock genotypes, were largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the citrus root-associated AMF diversity and richness, and assessed the influence of citrus scion/rootstock genotypes on the AMF community composition in a controlled condition, in order to exclude interferences from environmental factors and agricultural practices. As a result, a total of 613,408 Glomeromycota tags were detected in the citrus roots, and 46 AMF species were annotated against the MAARJAM database. Of these, 39 species belonged to Glomus, indicating a dominant role of the Glomus AMF in the symbiosis with citrus. PCoA analysis indicated that the AMF community's composition was significantly impacted by both citrus scion and rootstock genotypes, but total samples were clustered according to rootstock genotype rather than scion genotype. In addition, AMF α diversity was significantly affected merely by rootstock genotype. Thus, rootstock genotype might exert a greater impact on the AMF community than scion genotype. Taken together, this study provides a comprehensive insight into the AMF community in juvenile citrus plants, and reveals the important effects of citrus genotype on AMF community composition.}, } @article {pmid32708743, year = {2020}, author = {Sainz, T and Gosalbes, MJ and Talavera-Rodríguez, A and Jimenez-Hernandez, N and Prieto, L and Escosa, L and Guillén, S and Ramos, JT and Muñoz-Fernández, MÁ and Moya, A and Navarro, ML and Mellado, MJ and Serrano-Villar, S}, title = {Effect of a Nutritional Intervention on the Intestinal Microbiota of Vertically HIV-Infected Children: The Pediabiota Study.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32708743}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {PI13/0422, PI15/00345, ICI14/00207, PI17/01283//Instituto de Salud Carlos III/International ; AC17/00022//Asociación Española contra en Cancer (AECC)/International ; }, mesh = {Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Child ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*physiology ; Child, Preschool ; *Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Dysbiosis/*diet therapy/*prevention & control ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/physiology ; HIV Infections/drug therapy/*microbiology/transmission ; Humans ; *Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Male ; Pilots ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The gut microbiota exerts a critical influence in the immune system. The gut microbiota of human virus immunodeficiency (HIV)-infected children remains barely explored. We aimed to characterize the fecal microbiota in vertically HIV-infected children and to explore the effects of its modulation with a symbiotic nutritional intervention.

METHODS: a pilot, double blind, randomized placebo-controlled study including HIV-infected children who were randomized to receive a nutritional supplementation including prebiotics and probiotics or placebo for four weeks. HIV-uninfected siblings were recruited as controls. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced in fecal samples.

RESULTS: 22 HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and with viral load (VL) <50/mL completed the follow-up period. Mean age was 11.4 ± 3.4 years, eight (32%) were male. Their microbiota showed reduced alpha diversity compared to controls and distinct beta diversity at the genus level (Adonis p = 0.042). Patients showed decreased abundance of commensals Faecalibacterium and an increase in Prevotella, Akkermansia and Escherichia. The nutritional intervention shaped the microbiota towards the control group, without a clear directionality.

CONCLUSIONS: Vertical HIV infection is characterized by changes in gut microbiota structure, distinct at the compositional level from the findings reported in adults. A short nutritional intervention attenuated bacterial dysbiosis, without clear changes at the community level.

SUMMARY: In a group of 24 vertically HIV-infected children, in comparison to 11 uninfected controls, intestinal dysbiosis was observed despite effective ART. Although not fully effective to restore the microbiota, a short intervention with pre/probiotics attenuated bacterial dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32708248, year = {2020}, author = {Tran, T and Grandvalet, C and Verdier, F and Martin, A and Alexandre, H and Tourdot-Maréchal, R}, title = {Microbial Dynamics between Yeasts and Acetic Acid Bacteria in Kombucha: Impacts on the Chemical Composition of the Beverage.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32708248}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional low-alcoholic beverage made from sugared tea and transformed by a complex microbial consortium including yeasts and acetic acid bacteria (AAB). To study the microbial interactions and their impact on the chemical composition of the beverage, an experimental design with nine couples associating one yeast strain and one AAB strain isolated from original black tea kombucha was set up. Three yeast strains belonging to the genera Brettanomyces, Hanseniaspora, and Saccharomyces and three strains of Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter species were chosen. Monocultures in sugared tea were analyzed to determine their individual microbial behaviors. Then, cultivation of the original kombucha consortium and cocultures in sugared tea were compared to determine the interactive microbial effects during successive phases in open and closed incubation conditions. The results highlight the main impact of yeast metabolism on the product's chemical composition and the secondary impact of bacterial species on the composition in organic acids. The uncovered microbial interactions can be explained by different strategies for the utilization of sucrose. Yeasts and AAB unable to perform efficient sucrose hydrolysis rely on yeasts with high invertase activity to access released monosaccharides. Moreover, the presence of AAB rerouted the metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae towards higher invertase and fermentative activities.}, } @article {pmid32706881, year = {2020}, author = {Sogawa, A and Takahashi, I and Kyo, M and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Tajima, S and Nomura, M}, title = {Requirements of Qa-SNARE LjSYP132s for Nodulation and Seed Development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {61}, number = {10}, pages = {1750-1759}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaa099}, pmid = {32706881}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Alternative Splicing ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Isoforms/metabolism/physiology ; RNA Interference ; SNARE Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Seeds/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {SNAREs (soluble N-ethyl maleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) mediate membrane fusion of vesicle transport in eukaryotic cells. LjSYP132s are the members of Qa-SNAREs in Lotus japonicus. Two isoforms, LjSYP132a and LjSYP132b, are generated by alternative splicing. Immunoblot analysis detected strong expression of LjSYP132s in infected root nodules and seeds by posttranscriptional modification. In either LjSYP132a or LjSYP132b silenced roots (RNAi-LjSYP132a, RNAi-LjSYP132b), the infection thread (IT) was not elongated, suggesting that both LjSYP132a and LjSYP132b have a role in IT progression. The results were consistent with the data of qRT-PCR showing that both genes were expressed at the early stage of infection. However, during the nodulation, only LjSYP132a was induced. LjSYP132s protein was observed in the Mesorhizobium loti-inoculated roots of mutants, nfr1, castor and pollux, suggesting that LjSYP132s can be induced without Nod factor signaling. Accumulation of LjSYP132s in the peribacteroid membrane suggests the function of not only IT formation but also nutrient transport. In contrast, qRT-PCR showed that LjSYP132b was expressed in the seeds. A stable transgenic plant of LjSYP132b, R132b, was produced by RNAi silencing. In the R132b plants, small pods with a few seeds and abnormal tip growth of the pollen tubes were observed, suggesting that LjSYP132b has a role in pollen tube growth and nutrient transport in the plasma membrane of seeds.}, } @article {pmid32706597, year = {2021}, author = {Amssayef, A and Ajebli, M and Eddouks, M}, title = {Aqueous extract of oakmoss produces antihypertensive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats through sGC-cGMP pathway.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental hypertension (New York, N.Y. : 1993)}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {49-55}, doi = {10.1080/10641963.2020.1797087}, pmid = {32706597}, issn = {1525-6006}, mesh = {Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/pharmacology ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology ; Aorta, Thoracic/*drug effects ; Arterial Pressure/drug effects ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology/toxicity ; Glyburide/pharmacology ; Hypertension/chemically induced/metabolism/*physiopathology ; KATP Channels/antagonists & inhibitors ; Male ; Methylene Blue/pharmacology ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester/toxicity ; Nifedipine/pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/antagonists & inhibitors ; *Parmeliaceae ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Propranolol/pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Resins, Plant ; Terpenes ; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are a symbiotic association of a fungus with a green alga or cyanobacterium. They are widely used in traditional medicine as a treatment against skin disorders, diabetes and hypertension.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The goal of this paper was to assess the possible antihypertensive and vasorelaxant capacity of the aqueous extract of a lichen species called Oakmoss or Evernia prunastri (L.).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present study, the aqueous extract of Oakmoss was prepared, its antihypertensive activity was examined in N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats, and its vasorelaxant ability was performed in rat isolated thoracic aorta.

RESULTS: The results proved that Oakmoss reduced the systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate in hypertensive rats but not in normotensive rats. Besides, the data showed that Oakmoss exerts its antihypertensive effect through vasorelaxant ability.

CONCLUSION: The present study presents the favorable action of Oakmoss as an antihypertensive agent.}, } @article {pmid32706033, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, X and Geng, J and Meng, H}, title = {Glucocorticoid receptor modulates dendritic cell function in ulcerative colitis.}, journal = {Histology and histopathology}, volume = {35}, number = {12}, pages = {1379-1389}, pmid = {32706033}, issn = {1699-5848}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy/immunology/*metabolism ; Colon/drug effects/immunology/*metabolism ; Dendritic Cells/drug effects/immunology/*metabolism ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/*metabolism ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/agonists/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurring worldwide. Although anti-TNF therapy is found to be effective in over 70% of patients with UC, nearly one-third are still deprived of effective treatment. Because glucocorticoids (GC) can effectively inhibit granulocyte-recruitment into the mucosa, cytokine secretion and T cell activation, they are used widely in the treatment of UC. However, remission is observed in only 55% of the patients after one year of steroid use due to a condition known as steroid response. Additionally, it has been noted that 20%-40% of the patients with UC do not respond to GC treatment. Researchers have revealed that the number of dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with UC tends to increase in the colonic mucosa. Many studies have determined that the removal of peripheral DCs through the adsorption and separation of granulocytes and monocytes could improve tolerance of the intestine to its symbiotic flora. Based on these results, further insights regarding the beneficial effects of Adacolumn apheresis in patients subjected to this treatment could be revealed. GC can effectively inhibit the activation of DCs by reducing the levels of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules, which is critical for controlling the recruitment of granulocytes. Therefore, alternative biological and new individualized therapies based on these approaches need to be evaluated to counter UC. In this review, progress in research associated with the regulatory effect of glucocorticoid receptors on DCs under conditions of UC is discussed, thus providing insights and identifying potential targets which could be employed in the treatment strategies against UC.}, } @article {pmid32705695, year = {2020}, author = {Ueno, AC and Gundel, PE and Ghersa, CM and Demkura, PV and Card, SD and Mace, WJ and Martínez-Ghersa, MA}, title = {Ontogenetic and trans-generational dynamics of a vertically transmitted fungal symbiont in an annual host plant in ozone-polluted settings.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, pages = {2540-2550}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13859}, pmid = {32705695}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Air Pollutants/*adverse effects ; Endophytes/drug effects/physiology ; *Epichloe/drug effects/physiology ; Lolium/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Ozone/*adverse effects ; Seeds/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Tropospheric ozone is an abiotic stress of increasing importance in the context of global climate change. This greenhouse gas is a potent phytotoxic molecule with demonstrated negative effects on crop yield and natural ecosystems. Recently, oxidative stress has been proposed as a mechanism that could regulate the interaction between cool-season grasses and Epichloë endophytes. We hypothesized that exposure of Lolium multiflorum plants, hosting endophytes to an ozone-polluted environment at different ontogenetic phases, would impact the trans-generational dynamics of the vertically transmitted fungal symbiont. Here, we found that the ozone-induced stress on the mother plants did not affect the endophyte vertical transmission but it impaired the persistence of the fungus in the seed exposed to artificial ageing. Endophyte longevity in seed was reduced by exposure of the mother plant to ozone. Although ozone exposure did not influence either the endophyte mycelial concentration or their compound defences (loline alkaloids), a positive correlation was observed between host fitness and the concentration of endophyte-derived defence compounds. This suggests that fungal defences in grass seeds were not all produced in situ but remobilized from the vegetative tissues. Our study reveals ozone trans-generational effects on the persistence of a beneficial symbiont in a host grass.}, } @article {pmid32704060, year = {2020}, author = {Lin, C and Wang, Y and Liu, M and Li, Q and Xiao, W and Song, X}, title = {Effects of nitrogen deposition and phosphorus addition on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {12260}, pmid = {32704060}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cunninghamia/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) deposition is a key factor that affects terrestrial biogeochemical cycles with a growing trend, especially in the southeast region of China, where shortage of available phosphorus (P) is particularly acute and P has become a major factor limiting plant growth and productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish a mutualistic symbiosis with plants, and play an important role in enhancing plant stress resistance. However, the response of AMF to the combined effects of N deposition and P additions is poorly understood. Thus, in this study, a field experiment was conducted in 10-year Chinese fir forests to estimate the effects of simulated nitrogen (N) deposition (low-N, 30 kg ha[-1] year[-1] and high-N, 60 kg ha[-1] year[-1]) and phosphorus (P) addition treatments (low-P, 20 mg kg[-1] and high-P, 40 mg kg[-1]) on AMF since April 2017, which was reflected in AMF root colonization rates and spore density of rhizosphere soil. Our results showed that N deposition significantly decreased AMF root colonization rates and spore density. In N-free plots, P addition significantly decreased AMF root colonization rates, but did not significantly alter spore density. In low-N plots, colonization rates significantly decreased under low P addition, but significantly increased under high P addition, and spore density exhibited a significant decline under high P additions. In high-N plots, colonization rates and spore density significantly increased under P additions. Interactive effects of simulated N deposition and P addition on both colonization rates and spore density were significant. Moderate N deposition or P addition can weaken the symbiotic relationship between plants and AMF, significantly reducing AMF colonization rates and inhibiting spore production. However, a moderate addition of P greatly enhances spore yield. In the case of interactive effects, the AMF colonization rates and spore density are affected by the relative content of N and P in the soil.}, } @article {pmid32703414, year = {2020}, author = {Al-Mousawi, H and O'Mara, M and Stewart, G}, title = {Identification of the HT-29 cell line as a model for investigating MCT1 transporters in sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {529}, number = {2}, pages = {218-223}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.053}, pmid = {32703414}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/genetics/*pathology ; Caco-2 Cells ; Colon, Sigmoid/metabolism/*pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/genetics/*pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*analysis/genetics ; Sigmoid Neoplasms/genetics/*pathology ; Symporters/*analysis/genetics ; }, abstract = {MCT1 transporters play a crucial role in the symbiotic relationship between humans and their colonic microbiome by facilitating the transport of bacteria-derived short chain fatty acids. Expression of colonic MCT1 transporters, localized in surface epithelial cells, is regulated by luminal butyrate levels. However, MCT1 also transports lactate and can be used by cancer cells to facilitate anaerobic glycolysis. Using immunolocalization techniques, this study investigated whether changes in MCT1 during cancer varied between different colonic regions. Whilst MCT1 abundance did not significantly change in transverse colon adenocarcinoma (P = 0.363, N = 6, paired T-Test), there was an increase in MCT1 in sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma (P = 0.010, N = 21, paired T-test). Using RT-PCR and western blotting, three human intestinal cell lines were tested for their suitability as a MCT1 cancer cell model. Experiments with Caco-2 cells confirmed that they modelled normal cells, with MCT1 only expressed after exposure to butyrate. In contrast, MCT1 was expressed in the absence of butyrate in both HCT-8 and HT-29 cell lines, with consistently high levels of MCT1 protein being present in HT-29 cells. Furthermore, butyrate treatment of HT-29 cells significantly decreased both MCT1 protein abundance (P < 0.001, N = 4, unpaired T-test) and glycosylation of its' chaperone protein, CD147 (P < 0.001, N = 4, unpaired T-test). These data suggest that (i) MCT1 transporter abundance increases in sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma, and (ii) HT-29 cells are an appropriate cell model with which to investigate MCT1 function in this disease.}, } @article {pmid32702541, year = {2020}, author = {Li, H and Zhong, Y and Huang, H and Tan, Z and Sun, Y and Liu, H}, title = {Simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal by interactions between phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DPAOs) in a sequencing batch reactor.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {744}, number = {}, pages = {140852}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140852}, pmid = {32702541}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; *Nitrogen ; Phosphates ; *Phosphorus ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {The identification of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), denitrifying phosphate-accumulating organisms (DPAOs) and their relationship is a key pathway for optimizing nitrate and phosphate removal efficiency in activated sludge. In this study, the acclimatization of microorganisms in sequencing batch reactor were performed with anaerobic/aerobic (A/O) and anaerobic/anoxic (A/A) cycles, the biomass changes of PAOs and DPAOs and the correlations were then discussed. The results indicated that after acclimatization, the nutrient removal efficiencies reached to 85.34% (COD), 93.64% (PO4[3-]-P) and 92.34% (NO3[-]-N), respectively, with NO3[-]-N:PO4[3]-P of 1.5:1. The successful enrichment of PAOs and DPAOs (reached 97.9%) was verified by the change of relative metabolic activities, which was further proved by the change of bacterial diversity. The number of Candidatus Accumulibacter, Zoogloea, and Dechloromonas all increased at A/O and A/A stages while the number of Acinetobacter only increased at A/O stage. So Accumulibacter sp. was DPAO while Acinetobacter sp. was only PAO in this process, and genera Accumulibacter, Dechloromonas and Zoogloea greatly coordinated in denitrification and accumulating phosphorous though RDA and chord plot. This was worthy of attention and development to explore enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in practical wastewater treatment via improving identification of bacterial species and symbiosis of bacteria community.}, } @article {pmid32701945, year = {2020}, author = {Koester, LR and Poole, DH and Serão, NVL and Schmitz-Esser, S}, title = {Beef cattle that respond differently to fescue toxicosis have distinct gastrointestinal tract microbiota.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e0229192}, pmid = {32701945}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Cattle ; Discriminant Analysis ; Epichloe/*metabolism ; Ergot Alkaloids/analysis/toxicity ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Neocallimastigales/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Toxins, Biological/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a widely used forage grass which shares a symbiosis with the endophytic fungus Epichloë coenophiala. The endophyte produces an alkaloid toxin that provides herbivory, heat and drought resistance to the grass, but can cause fescue toxicosis in grazing livestock. Fescue toxicosis can lead to reduced weight gain and milk yields resulting in significant losses to the livestock industry. The objective of this study was to identify bacterial and fungal communities associated with fescue toxicosis tolerance. In this trial, 149 Angus cows across two farms were continuously exposed to toxic, endophyte-infected, fescue for a total of 13 weeks. Of those 149 cows, 40 were classified into either high (HT) or low (LT) tolerance groups according to their growth performance (weight gain). 20 HT and 20 LT cattle balanced by farm were selected for amplicon sequencing to compare the fecal microbiota of the two tolerance groups. This study reveals significantly (q<0.05) different bacterial and fungal microbiota between HT and LT cattle, and indicates that fungal phylotypes may be important for an animal's response to fescue toxicosis: We found that fungal phylotypes affiliating to the Neocallimastigaceae, which are known to be important fiber-degrading fungi, were consistently more abundant in the HT cattle. Whereas fungal phylotypes related to the genus Thelebolus were more abundant in the LT cattle. This study also found more pronounced shifts in the microbiota in animals receiving higher amounts of the toxin. We identified fungal phylotypes which were consistently more abundant either in HT or LT cattle and may thus be associated with the respective animal's response to fescue toxicosis. Our results thus suggest that some fungal phylotypes might be involved in mitigating fescue toxicosis.}, } @article {pmid32699913, year = {2020}, author = {Oses-Pedraza, R and Torres-Díaz, C and Lavín, P and Retamales-Molina, P and Atala, C and Gallardo-Cerda, J and Acuña-Rodríguez, IS and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Root endophytic Penicillium promotes growth of Antarctic vascular plants by enhancing nitrogen mineralization.}, journal = {Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {721-732}, pmid = {32699913}, issn = {1433-4909}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; Humans ; *Nitrogen ; *Penicillium/physiology ; *Plant Development ; Plants ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophyte associations have been suggested as a possible strategy of Antarctic vascular plants for surviving the extreme environmental conditions of Antarctica. However, the mechanisms by which this occurs are still poorly understood. The role of root fungal endophytes in nitrogen mineralization and nutrient uptake, as well as their impact on the performance of Antarctic plants, were studied. We tested root endophytes, isolated from Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, for lignocellulolytic enzyme production, nitrogen mineralization, and growth enhancement of their host plants. Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium brevicompactum were identified using a molecular approach as the main root endophytes inhabiting C. quitensis and D. antarctica, respectively. Both root endophytes were characterized as psychrophilic fungi displaying amylase, esterase, protease, cellulase, hemicellulase, phosphatase and urease enzymatic activities, mainly at 4 °C. Moreover, the rates and percentages of nitrogen mineralization, as well as the final total biomass, were significantly higher in symbiotic C. quitensis and D. antarctica individuals. Our findings suggest that root endophytes exert a pivotal ecological role based not only to breakdown different nutrient sources but also on accelerating nitrogen mineralization, improving nutrient acquisition, and therefore promoting plant growth in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32699202, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, JA and Kim, SH and Kim, IS and Yu, DY and Kim, GI and Moon, YS and Kim, SC and Lee, SH and Lee, SS and Yun, CH and Choi, IS and Cho, KK}, title = {Galectin-9 Induced by Dietary Prebiotics Regulates Immunomodulation to Reduce Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms in 1-Chloro-2,4-Dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-Treated NC/Nga Mice.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {1343-1354}, pmid = {32699202}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Dermatitis, Atopic/chemically induced/*diet therapy/immunology/microbiology ; Dietary Supplements ; Dinitrochlorobenzene/adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Galectins/*immunology/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/immunology ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; *Immunomodulation ; Lymph Nodes/immunology ; Male ; Mesentery ; Mice ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Skin/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Toll-Like Receptor 9/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disorder that causes chronic itch. We investigated the inhibitory effects of a mixture of prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS), inulin, or β-glucan on AD development in 1-chloro-2,4- dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice. Mice were randomly assigned to six groups: untreated mice, AD control, positive control (DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of Zyrtec), and DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of prebiotics such as scGOS/lcFOS (T1), inulin (T2), or β-glucan (T3). The prebiotic treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) showed suppression of AD symptoms, Th2 cell differentiation, and AD-like skin lesions induced by DNCB. In addition, prebiotic treatment also reduced the number of microorganisms such as Firmicutes, which is associated with AD symptoms, and increased the levels of Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with alleviation of AD symptoms. Our findings demonstrate the inhibitory effects of prebiotics on AD development by improving the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and beneficial symbiotic microorganisms in in vitro and in vivo models.}, } @article {pmid32695086, year = {2020}, author = {Kubota, K and Watanabe, K and Zhu, XJ and Kawakami, K and Tanahashi, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Evolutionary Relationship Between Platycerus Stag Beetles and Their Mycangium-Associated Yeast Symbionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1436}, pmid = {32695086}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Adult females of stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) possess an ovipositor-associated mycangium for conveying symbiotic microorganisms. In most lucanid species, their mycangium contains yeast symbionts of the genus Scheffersomyces Kurtzman and Suzuki that are known for their xylose-fermenting capability. The lucanid genus Platycerus Geoffroy, 1762 is a group of small blue stag beetles, in which ten Japanese species constitute a monophyletic clade. Here we examined the evolutionary relationships of these Japanese Platycerus species and their yeast symbionts, together with a Korean Platycerus species and other lucanid species as outgroup taxa. Based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the intergenic spacer (IGS) sequences, the yeast symbionts of all Platycerus species were closely related to each other and formed a monophyletic clade. There is no variation in ITS sequences of the yeast symbionts of the Japanese Platycerus species. Based on IGS sequences, the yeast symbionts formed clusters that largely reflected the geographic distribution of the host insects, being shared by sympatric Platycerus species except for P. delicatulus Lewis, 1883 and P. viridicuprus Kubota & Otobe, The symbiont phylogeny was globally not congruent with the host COI-based phylogeny, although some local congruences were observed. Statistically significant correlations were detected between the genetic distances of COI sequences of the host insects and those of IGS sequences of the yeast symbionts in Japan. These results suggest that, at least to some extent, the host insects and the yeast symbionts may have experienced co-evolutionary associations. While the Japanese Platycerus species formed a monophyletic clade in the COI phylogeny, the yeast symbionts of Japanese P. viridicuprus were very closely related to those of Korean P. hongwonpyoi Imura & Choe, 1989, suggesting the possibility that a recent secondary contact of the two beetle species during a marine withdrawal, e.g., in the last glacial period, might have resulted in an inter-specific horizontal transmission of the yeast symbiont.}, } @article {pmid32691527, year = {2020}, author = {Parmentier, T and De Laender, F and Bonte, D}, title = {The topology and drivers of ant-symbiont networks across Europe.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {95}, number = {6}, pages = {1664-1688}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12634}, pmid = {32691527}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {BOF17/PDO/084//Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds/International ; 1203020N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/International ; W0.003.16N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Intimate associations between different species drive community composition across ecosystems. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary drivers of these symbiotic associations is challenging because their structure eventually determines stability and resilience of the entire species network. Here, we compiled a detailed database on naturally occurring ant-symbiont networks in Europe to identify factors that affect symbiont network topology. These networks host an unrivalled diversity of macrosymbiotic associations, spanning the entire mutualism-antagonism continuum, including: (i) myrmecophiles - commensalistic and parasitic arthropods; (ii) trophobionts - mutualistic aphids, scale insects, planthoppers and caterpillars; (iii) social parasites - parasitic ant species; (iv) parasitic helminths; and (v) parasitic fungi. We dissected network topology to investigate what determines host specificity, symbiont species richness, and the capacity of different symbiont types to switch hosts. We found 722 macrosymbionts (multicellular symbionts) associated with European ants. Symbiont type explained host specificity and the average relatedness of the host species. Social parasites were associated with few hosts that were phylogenetically highly related, whereas the other symbiont types interacted with a larger number of hosts across a wider taxonomic distribution. The hosts of trophobionts were the least phylogenetically related across all symbiont types. Colony size, host range and habitat type predicted total symbiont richness: ant hosts with larger colony size, a larger distribution range or with a wider habitat range contained more symbiont species. However, we found that different sets of host factors affected diversity in the different types of symbionts. Ecological factors, such as colony size, host range and niche width predominantly determined myrmecophile species richness, whereas host phylogeny was the most important predictor of mutualistic trophobiont, social parasite and parasitic helminth species richness. Lastly, we found that hosts with a common biogeographic history support a more similar community of symbionts. Phylogenetically related hosts also shared more trophobionts, social parasites and helminths, but not myrmecophiles. Taken together, these results suggest that ecological and evolutionary processes structure host specificity and symbiont richness in large-scale ant-symbiont networks, but these drivers may shift in importance depending on the type of symbiosis. Our findings highlight the potential of well-characterized bipartite networks composed of different types of symbioses to identify candidate processes driving community composition.}, } @article {pmid32690192, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, J and Peng, S and Shang, Y and Brunel, B and Li, S and Zhao, Y and Liu, Y and Chen, W and Wang, E and Singh, RP and James, EK}, title = {Genomic diversity of chickpea-nodulating rhizobia in Ningxia (north central China) and gene flow within symbiotic Mesorhizobium muleiense populations.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {126089}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126089}, pmid = {32690192}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {China ; Cicer/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Flow ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genotype ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Diversity and taxonomic affiliation of chickpea rhizobia were investigated from Ningxia in north central China and their genomic relationships were compared with those from northwestern adjacent regions (Gansu and Xinjiang). Rhizobia were isolated from root-nodules after trapping by chickpea grown in soils from a single site of Ningxia and typed by IGS PCR-RFLP. Representative strains were phylogenetically analyzed on the basis of the 16S rRNA, housekeeping (atpD, recA and glnII) and symbiosis (nodC and nifH) genes. Genetic differentiation and gene flow were estimated among the chickpea microsymbionts from Ningxia, Gansu and Xinjiang. Fifty chickpea rhizobial isolates were obtained and identified as Mesorhizobium muleiense. Their symbiosis genes nodC and nifH were highly similar (98.4 to 100%) to those of other chickpea microsymbionts, except for one representative strain (NG24) that showed low nifH similarities with all the defined Mesorhizobium species. The rhizobial population from Ningxia was genetically similar to that from Gansu, but different from that in Xinjiang as shown by high chromosomal gene flow/low differentiation with the Gansu population but the reverse with the Xinjiang population. This reveals a biogeographic pattern with two main populations in M. muleiense, the Xinjiang population being chromosomally differentiated from Ningxia-Gansu one. M. muleiense was found as the sole main chickpea-nodulating rhizobial symbiont of Ningxia and it was also found in Gansu sharing alkaline-saline soils with Ningxia. Introduction of chickpea in recently cultivated areas in China seems to select from alkaline-saline soils of M. muleiense that acquired symbiotic genes from symbiovar ciceri.}, } @article {pmid32687170, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, LL and Jiang, Z and Li, Y and Wang, ET and Zhi, XY}, title = {Plasmids Related to the Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Are Not Only Cooperated Functionally but Also May Have Evolved over a Time Span in Family Rhizobiaceae.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {2002-2014}, pmid = {32687170}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Plasmids ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria capable of forming symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules associated with leguminous plants. In fast-growing legume-nodulating rhizobia, such as the species in the family Rhizobiaceae, the symbiotic plasmid is the main genetic basis for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, and is susceptible to horizontal gene transfer. To further understand the symbioses evolution in Rhizobiaceae, we analyzed the pan-genome of this family based on 92 genomes of type/reference strains and reconstructed its phylogeny using a phylogenomics approach. Intriguingly, although the genetic expansion that occurred in chromosomal regions was the main reason for the high proportion of low-frequency flexible gene families in the pan-genome, gene gain events associated with accessory plasmids introduced more genes into the genomes of nitrogen-fixing species. For symbiotic plasmids, although horizontal gene transfer frequently occurred, transfer may be impeded by, such as, the host's physical isolation and soil conditions, even among phylogenetically close species. During coevolution with leguminous hosts, the plasmid system, including accessory and symbiotic plasmids, may have evolved over a time span, and provided rhizobial species with the ability to adapt to various environmental conditions and helped them achieve nitrogen fixation. These findings provide new insights into the phylogeny of Rhizobiaceae and advance our understanding of the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32686981, year = {2020}, author = {Safronova, VI and Guro, PV and Sazanova, AL and Kuznetsova, IG and Belimov, AA and Yakubov, VV and Chirak, ER and Afonin, AМ and Gogolev, YV and Andronov, EE and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Rhizobial Microsymbionts of Kamchatka Oxytropis Species Possess Genes of the Type III and VI Secretion Systems, Which Can Affect the Development of Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {10}, pages = {1232-1241}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-20-0114-R}, pmid = {32686981}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobiaceae/genetics ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Oxytropis/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics ; Type VI Secretion Systems/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A collection of rhizobial strains isolated from root nodules of the narrowly endemic legume species Oxytropis erecta, O. anadyrensis, O. kamtschatica, and O. pumilio originating from the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russian Federation) was obtained. Analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence showed a significant diversity of isolates belonging to families Rhizobiaceae (genus Rhizobium), Phyllobacteriaceae (genera Mesorhizobium, Phyllobacterium), and Bradyrhizobiaceae (genera Bosea, Tardiphaga). A plant nodulation assay showed that only strains belonging to genus Mesorhizobium could form nitrogen-fixing nodules on Oxytropis plants. The strains M. loti 582 and M. huakuii 583, in addition to symbiotic clusters, possessed genes of the type III and type VI secretion systems (T3SS and T6SS, respectively), which can influence the host specificity of strains. These strains formed nodules of two types (elongated and rounded) on O. kamtschatica roots. We suggest this phenomenon may result from Nod factor-dependent and -independent nodulation strategies. The obtained strains are of interest for further study of the T3SS and T6SS gene function and their role in the development of rhizobium-legume symbiosis. The prospects of using rhizobia having both gene systems related to symbiotic and nonsymbiotic nodulation strategies to enhance the efficiency of plant-microbe interactions by expanding the host specificity and increasing nodulation efficiency are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32686279, year = {2021}, author = {Kashkouli, M and Castelli, M and Floriano, AM and Bandi, C and Epis, S and Fathipour, Y and Mehrabadi, M and Sassera, D}, title = {Characterization of a novel Pantoea symbiont allows inference of a pattern of convergent genome reduction in bacteria associated with Pentatomidae.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {36-50}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15169}, pmid = {32686279}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Pantoea/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phytophagous stink bugs typically harbor nutritional symbiotic bacteria in their midgut, to integrate their unbalanced diet. In the Pentatomidae, most symbionts are affiliated to the genus Pantoea, and are polyphyletic. This suggests a scenario of an ancestral establishment of symbiosis, followed by multiple symbiont replacement events by akin environmental bacteria in different host lineages. In this study, a novel Pantoeaspecies ('CandidatusPantoea persica') was characterized from the gut of the pentatomid Acrosternum arabicum, and shown to be highly abundant in a specific portion of the gut and necessary for the host development. The genome of the symbiont (2.9 Mb), while presenting putative host-supportive metabolic pathways, including those for amino acids and vitamin synthesis, showed a high level of pseudogenization, indicating ongoing genome reduction. Comparative analyses with other free-living and symbiotic Pantoea highlighted a convergent pattern of genome reduction in symbionts of pentatomids, putatively following the typical phases modelized in obligate nutritional symbionts of insects. Additionally, this system has distinctive traits, as hosts are closely related, and symbionts originated multiple independent times from closely related free-living bacteria, displaying convergent and independent conspicuous genome reduction. Due to such peculiarities, this may become an ideal model to study genome evolutionary processes in insect symbionts.}, } @article {pmid32686173, year = {2020}, author = {Appert, O and Garcia, AR and Frei, R and Roduit, C and Constancias, F and Neuzil-Bunesova, V and Ferstl, R and Zhang, J and Akdis, C and Lauener, R and Lacroix, C and Schwab, C}, title = {Initial butyrate producers during infant gut microbiota development are endospore formers.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {3909-3921}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15167}, pmid = {32686173}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Butyrates/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Feces/chemistry/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines/growth & development/microbiology ; Spores, Bacterial/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The acquisition of the infant gut microbiota is key to establishing a host-microbiota symbiosis. Microbially produced metabolites tightly interact with the immune system, and the fermentation-derived short-chain fatty acid butyrate is considered an important mediator linked to chronic diseases later in life. The intestinal butyrate-forming bacterial population is taxonomically and functionally diverse and includes endospore formers with high transmission potential. Succession, and contribution of butyrate-producing taxa during infant gut microbiota development have been little investigated. We determined the abundance of major butyrate-forming groups and fermentation metabolites in faeces, isolated, cultivated and characterized the heat-resistant cell population, which included endospores, and compared butyrate formation efficiency of representative taxa in batch cultures. The endospore community contributed about 0.001% to total cells, and was mainly composed of the pioneer butyrate-producing Clostridium sensu stricto. We observed an increase in abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, butyrate-producing Lachnospiraceae and faecal butyrate levels with age that is likely explained by higher butyrate production capacity of contributing taxa compared with Clostridium sensu stricto. Our data suggest that a successional arrangement and an overall increase in abundance of butyrate forming populations occur during the first year of life, which is associated with an increase of intestinal butyrate formation capacity.}, } @article {pmid32684620, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, J and Kawagishi, H}, title = {Plant growth regulators from mushrooms.}, journal = {The Journal of antibiotics}, volume = {73}, number = {10}, pages = {657-665}, pmid = {32684620}, issn = {1881-1469}, mesh = {Agaricales/*chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Plants interact with fungi in their natural growing environments, and relationships between plants and diverse fungal species impact plants in complex symbiotic, parasitic, and pathogenic ways. Over the past 10 years, we have intensively investigated plant growth regulators produced by mushrooms, and we succeeded in finding various regulators from mushroom-forming fungi: (1) fairy chemicals as a candidate family of new plant hormones from Lepista sordida, (2) agrocybynes A to E from fungus Agrocybe praecox that stimulate strawberry growth, (3) armillariols A to C and sesquiterpene aryl esters from genus Armillaria that are allelopathic and cause Arimillaria root disease, and (4) other plant growth regulators from other mushrooms, such as Stropharia rugosoannulata, Tricholoma flavovirens, Hericium erinaceus, Leccinum extremiorientale, Russula vinosa, Pholiota lubrica and Cortinarius caperatus.}, } @article {pmid32682266, year = {2020}, author = {Han, F and Zhang, M and Shang, H and Liu, Z and Zhou, W}, title = {Microbial community succession, species interactions and metabolic pathways of sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification system in organic-limited nitrate wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {315}, number = {}, pages = {123826}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123826}, pmid = {32682266}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Microbiota ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Sulfur ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Elemental sulfur (S[0]) introduction could achieve the co-existence of heterotrophic denitrification (HDN) and autotrophic denitrification (ADN) in practical organic-limited nitrate wastewater treatment. Until now, changes in key functional species, metabolic pathways and microbial products in the succession process of microbialcommunities based on different of pollutant concentration and trophic conditions are still unclear. In present study, high-efficiency of total nitrogen (TN) removal achieved in S[0]-based ADN bioreactor at influent nitrate of 30-240 mg/L. Content of proteins and polysaccharides in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) declined with nitrate loads increased. The key functional heterotrophic denitrifiers (Hyphomicrobium, Trichococcus, Rivibacter) and autotrophic biotope (Thiobacillus, Thiomonas, Ferritrophicum, Flavobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Cloacibacterium and Pseudoxanthomonas) jointly contributed to high nitrogen removal efficiency at different nitrate loads. Furthermore, network analysis verified that symbiotic relationships accounted for the major proportion (88.3%) of the microbial network. The enhanced of nitrogen and sulfur metabolism improved nitrogen removal and S[0]-based autotrophic denitrification capacity.}, } @article {pmid32681574, year = {2020}, author = {Ma, M and Wendehenne, D and Philippot, L and Hänsch, R and Flemetakis, E and Hu, B and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Physiological significance of pedospheric nitric oxide for root growth, development and organismic interactions.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, pages = {2336-2354}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13850}, pmid = {32681574}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Atmosphere ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Plants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is essential for plant growth and development, as well as interactions with abiotic and biotic environments. Its importance for multiple functions in plants means that tight regulation of NO concentrations is required. This is of particular significance in roots, where NO signalling is involved in processes, such as root growth, lateral root formation, nutrient acquisition, heavy metal homeostasis, symbiotic nitrogen fixation and root-mycorrhizal fungi interactions. The NO signal can also be produced in high levels by microbial processes in the rhizosphere, further impacting root processes. To explore these interesting interactions, in the present review, we firstly summarize current knowledge of physiological processes of NO production and consumption in roots and, thereafter, of processes involved in NO homeostasis in root cells with particular emphasis on root growth, development, nutrient acquisition, environmental stresses and organismic interactions.}, } @article {pmid32681431, year = {2020}, author = {Chibeba, AM and Kyei-Boahen, S and de Fátima Guimarães, M and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Towards sustainable yield improvement: field inoculation of soybean with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculation with Azospirillum in Mozambique.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {9}, pages = {2579-2590}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-020-01976-y}, pmid = {32681431}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Azospirillum/*physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Mozambique ; Plant Development ; Soybeans/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effects of sole inoculation of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum on nodulation, plant growth and yields were investigated in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 cropping seasons under field conditions in Mozambique. The treatments included (1) Control (non-inoculated control, with symbiosis depending on indigenous rhizobia), (2) Urea (non-inoculated, receiving 200 kg ha[-1] of N), (3) Sole inoculation with B. diazoefficiens strain USDA 110, and (4) Co-inoculation with B. diazoefficiens strain USDA 110 and A. brasilense strains Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, evaluated in a randomized complete block design with five replications. Nodule number and dry weight, shoot dry weight, biological and grain yields, grain dry weight, and harvest index were evaluated. In general, both sole inoculation and co-inoculation enhanced nodulation in relation to control. Sole inoculation increased grain yield by 22% (356 kg ha[-1]), the same enhancement magnitude attained under mineral N treatment, suggesting that Bradyrhizobium inoculation provides ecological and economic sustainability to the soybean crop in Mozambique or other countries with similar agro-climatic conditions. Co-inoculation did not increase grain yields in relation to neither the control nor sole inoculation, indicating that further research with adapted and high yielding soybean varieties along with effective rhizobial strains is required in Mozambique to attune the beneficial Azospirillum-plant cultivar-rhizobia interactions that have been reported in other countries for several legumes, including soybean.}, } @article {pmid32681284, year = {2021}, author = {Varasteh, T and Hamerski, L and Tschoeke, D and Lima, AS and Garcia, G and Cosenza, CAN and Thompson, C and Thompson, F}, title = {Conserved Pigment Profiles in Phylogenetically Diverse Symbiotic Bacteria Associated with the Corals Montastraea cavernosa and Mussismilia braziliensis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {1}, pages = {267-277}, pmid = {32681284}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Brazil ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Catalase/biosynthesis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/biosynthesis ; Paracoccus/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Peroxidase/biosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological/genetics/*metabolism ; Pseudoalteromonas/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pigmented bacterial symbionts play major roles in the health of coral holobionts. However, there is scarce knowledge on the diversity of these microbes for several coral species. To gain further insights into holobiont health, pigmented bacterial isolates of Fabibacter pacificus (Bacteroidetes; n = 4), Paracoccus marcusii (Alphaproteobacteria; n = 1), and Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis (Gammaproteobacteria; n = 1) were obtained from the corals Mussismilia braziliensis and Montastraea cavernosa in Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. Cultures of these bacterial symbionts produced strong antioxidant activity (catalase, peroxidase, and oxidase). To explore these bacterial isolates further, we identified their major pigments by HPLC and mass spectrometry. The six phylogenetically diverse symbionts had similar pigment patterns and produced myxol and keto-carotene. In addition, similar carotenoid gene clusters were confirmed in the whole genome sequences of these symbionts, which reinforce their antioxidant potential. This study highlights the possible roles of bacterial symbionts in Montastraea and Mussismilia holobionts.}, } @article {pmid32679802, year = {2020}, author = {Kami, D and Gojo, S}, title = {From Cell Entry to Engraftment of Exogenous Mitochondria.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {32679802}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Endocytosis ; Endosomes/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Humans ; Mitochondria/genetics/*transplantation ; Pinocytosis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mitochondrial transfer has been recognized to play a role in a variety of processes, ranging from fertilization to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases as well as mammalian horizontal gene transfer. It is achieved through either exogeneous or intercellular mitochondrial transfer. From the viewpoint of evolution, exogeneous mitochondrial transfer is quite akin to the initial process of symbiosis between α-protobacterium and archaea, although the progeny have developed more sophisticated machinery to engulf environmental materials, including nutrients, bacteria, and viruses. A molecular-based knowledge of endocytosis, including macropinocytosis and endosomal escape involving bacteria and viruses, could provide mechanistic insights into exogeneous mitochondrial transfer. We focus on exogeneous mitochondrial transfer in this review to facilitate the clinical development of the use of isolated mitochondria to treat various pathological conditions. Several kinds of novel procedures to enhance exogeneous mitochondrial transfer have been developed and are summarized in this review.}, } @article {pmid32678942, year = {2020}, author = {Jones, MM and Vanyo, ST and Ibraheem, W and Maddi, A and Visser, MB}, title = {Treponema denticola stimulates Oncostatin M cytokine release and de novo synthesis in neutrophils and macrophages.}, journal = {Journal of leukocyte biology}, volume = {108}, number = {5}, pages = {1527-1541}, pmid = {32678942}, issn = {1938-3673}, support = {R03 DE024769/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE027073/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophages/*immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils/*immunology ; Oncostatin M/*immunology ; Treponema denticola/*immunology ; Treponemal Infections/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Oncostatin M (OSM) is a pleiotropic cytokine elevated in a number of inflammatory conditions including periodontal disease. OSM is produced by a variety of immune cells and has diverse functionality such as regulation of metabolic processes, cell differentiation, and the inflammatory response to bacterial pathogens. The oral cavity is under constant immune surveillance including complementary neutrophil and macrophage populations, due to a persistent symbiotic bacterial presence. Periodontal disease is characterized by a dysbiotic bacterial community, with an abundance of Treponema denticola. Despite strong associations with severe periodontal disease, the source and mechanism of the release of OSM have not been defined in the oral cavity. We show that OSM protein is elevated in the gingival epithelium and immune cell infiltrate during periodontal disease. Furthermore, salivary and oral neutrophil OSM is elevated in correlation with the presence of T. denticola. In an air pouch infection model, T. denticola stimulated higher levels of OSM than the oral pathogen Porphorymonas gingivalis, despite differential recruitment of innate immune cells suggesting T. denticola has distinct properties to elevate OSM levels. OSM release and transcription were increased in isolated human blood, oral neutrophils, or macrophages exposed to T. denticola in vitro as measured by ELISA, qPCR, and microscopy. Using transcription, translation, and actin polymerization inhibition, we found that T. denticola stimulates both OSM release through degranulation and de novo synthesis in neutrophils and also OSM release and synthesis in macrophages. Differential induction of OSM by T. denticola may promote clinical periodontal disease.}, } @article {pmid32678761, year = {2020}, author = {Lu, RR and Hu, ZH and Zhang, QL and Li, YQ and Lin, M and Wang, XL and Wu, XN and Yang, JT and Zhang, LQ and Jing, YX and Peng, CL}, title = {The effect of Funneliformis mosseae on the plant growth, Cd translocation and accumulation in the new Cd-hyperaccumulator Sphagneticola calendulacea.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {203}, number = {}, pages = {110988}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110988}, pmid = {32678761}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Asteraceae/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Bioaccumulation ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The screening and identification of hyperaccumulators is the key to the phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metal (HM). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) can improve plant growth and tolerance to HM; therefore, AMF-assisted phytoextraction has been regarded as a potential technique for the remediation of HM-polluted soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to determine whether Sphagneticola calendulacea is a Cd-hyperaccumulator and to investigate the effect of the AMF-Funneliformis mosseae (FM) on plant growth and on the accumulation, subcellular distribution and chemical form of Cd in S. calendulacea grown in soils supplemented with different Cd levels. At 25, 50 and 100 mg Cd kg[-1] level, S. calendulacea showed high Cd tolerance, the translocation factor and the bioconcentration factor exceeded 1, and accumulation of more than 100 mg Cd kg[-1] was observed in the aboveground parts of the plant, meeting the requirements for a Cd-hyperaccumulator. Moreover, FM colonization significantly increased both biomasses and Cd concentration in S. calendulacea. After FM inoculation, the Cd concentrations and proportions increased in the cell walls, but exhibited no significant change in the organelles of the shoots. Meanwhile, FM symbiosis contributed to the conversion of Cd from highly toxic chemical forms (extracted by 80% ethanol and deionized water) to less toxic chemical forms (extracted by 1 M NaCl, 2% acetic acid, 0.6 M HCl) of Cd in the shoots. Overall, S. calendulacea is a typical Cd-hyperaccumulator, and FM symbiosis relieved the phytotoxicity of Cd and promoted plant growth and Cd accumulation, and thus greatly increasing the efficiency of phytoextraction for Cd-polluted soil. Our study provides a theoretical basis and application guidance for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil by the symbiont of S. calendulacea with FM.}, } @article {pmid32676756, year = {2020}, author = {Aridhi, F and Sghaier, H and Gaitanaros, A and Khadri, A and Aschi-Smiti, S and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Nitric oxide production is involved in maintaining energy state in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) nodulated roots under both salinity and flooding.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {252}, number = {2}, pages = {22}, doi = {10.1007/s00425-020-03422-1}, pmid = {32676756}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Energy Metabolism ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/enzymology/*physiology ; Nitrate Reductase/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors ; Plant Roots/drug effects/enzymology/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/enzymology/physiology ; Salinity ; Tungsten Compounds/pharmacology ; Water/physiology ; }, abstract = {In Medicago sativa nodulated roots, NR-dependent NO production is involved in maintaining energy state, presumably through phytoglobin NO respiration, under both salinity and hypoxia stress. The response to low and average salinity stress and to a 5 day-long flooding period was analyzed in M. sativa nodulated roots. The two treatments result in a decrease in the biological nitrogen fixation capacity and the energy state (evaluated by the ATP/ADP ratio), and conversely in an increase nitric oxide (NO) production. Under salinity and hypoxia treatments, the use of either sodium tungstate, an inhibitor of nitrate reductase (NR), or carboxy-PTIO, a NO scavenger, results in a decrease in NO production and ATP/ADP ratio, meaning that NR-dependent NO production participates to the maintenance of the nodulated roots energy state.}, } @article {pmid32676116, year = {2020}, author = {Nofiani, R and Weisberg, AJ and Tsunoda, T and Panjaitan, RGP and Brilliantoro, R and Chang, JH and Philmus, B and Mahmud, T}, title = {Antibacterial Potential of Secondary Metabolites from Indonesian Marine Bacterial Symbionts.}, journal = {International journal of microbiology}, volume = {2020}, number = {}, pages = {8898631}, pmid = {32676116}, issn = {1687-918X}, abstract = {Indonesian marine environments are known to house diverse organisms. However, the potential for bacteria from these environments as a source of antibacterial agents has not been widely studied. This study aims to explore the antibacterial potential of secondary metabolites produced by bacterial symbionts from sponges and corals collected in the Indonesian waters. Extracts of 12 bacterial isolates from sponges or corals were prepared by cultivating the bacteria under a number of different media conditions and using agar well diffusion assays to test for antibacterial activity. In addition, the morphology, physiology, and biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence of each isolate were used to determine their taxonomic classification. All tested bacterial isolates were able to produce secondary metabolites with various levels of antibacterial activity depending on medium composition and culture conditions. Two of the bacteria (RS3 and RC4) showed strong antibacterial activities against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. A number of isolates (RS1, RS3, and RC2) were co-cultured with mycolic acid-containing bacteria, Mycobacterium smegmatis or Rhodococcus sp. However, no improvements in their antibacterial activity were observed. All of the 12 bacteria tested were identified as Streptomyces spp. LC-MS analysis of EtOAc extracts from the most active strains RS3 and RC4 revealed the presence of a number of dactinomycin analogues and potentially new secondary metabolites. Symbiotic Streptomyces spp. from sponges and corals of the Indonesian marine environments have great potential as a source of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents.}, } @article {pmid32676060, year = {2020}, author = {Gupta, A and Nair, S}, title = {Dynamics of Insect-Microbiome Interaction Influence Host and Microbial Symbiont.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1357}, pmid = {32676060}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insects share an intimate relationship with their gut microflora and this symbiotic association has developed into an essential evolutionary outcome intended for their survival through extreme environmental conditions. While it has been clearly established that insects, with very few exceptions, associate with several microbes during their life cycle, information regarding several aspects of these associations is yet to be fully unraveled. Acquisition of bacteria by insects marks the onset of microbial symbiosis, which is followed by the adaptation of these bacterial species to the gut environment for prolonged sustenance and successful transmission across generations. Although several insect-microbiome associations have been reported and each with their distinctive features, diversifications and specializations, it is still unclear as to what led to these diversifications. Recent studies have indicated the involvement of various evolutionary processes operating within an insect body that govern the transition of a free-living microbe to an obligate or facultative symbiont and eventually leading to the establishment and diversification of these symbiotic relationships. Data from various studies, summarized in this review, indicate that the symbiotic partners, i.e., the bacteria and the insect undergo several genetic, biochemical and physiological changes that have profound influence on their life cycle and biology. An interesting outcome of the insect-microbe interaction is the compliance of the microbial partner to its eventual genome reduction. Endosymbionts possess a smaller genome as compared to their free-living forms, and thus raising the question what is leading to reductive evolution in the microbial partner. This review attempts to highlight the fate of microbes within an insect body and its implications for both the bacteria and its insect host. While discussion on each specific association would be too voluminous and outside the scope of this review, we present an overview of some recent studies that contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary trajectory and dynamics of the insect-microbe association and speculate that, in the future, a better understanding of the nature of this interaction could pave the path to a sustainable and environmentally safe way for controlling economically important pests of crop plants.}, } @article {pmid32674446, year = {2020}, author = {Solis-Miranda, J and Fonseca-García, C and Nava, N and Pacheco, R and Quinto, C}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification of the CrRLK1L Subfamily and Comparative Analysis of Its Role in the Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32674446}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Phaseolus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The plant receptor-like-kinase subfamily CrRLK1L has been widely studied, and CrRLK1Ls have been described as crucial regulators in many processes in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.), Heynh. Little is known, however, about the functions of these proteins in other plant species, including potential roles in symbiotic nodulation. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of CrRLK1L subfamily receptors of 57 different plant species and identified 1050 CrRLK1L proteins, clustered into 11 clades. This analysis revealed that the CrRLK1L subfamily probably arose in plants during the transition from chlorophytes to embryophytes and has undergone several duplication events during its evolution. Among the CrRLK1Ls of legumes and A. thaliana, protein structure, gene structure, and expression patterns were highly conserved. Some legume CrRLK1L genes were active in nodules. A detailed analysis of eight nodule-expressed genes in Phaseolus vulgaris L. showed that these genes were differentially expressed in roots at different stages of the symbiotic process. These data suggest that CrRLK1Ls are both conserved and underwent diversification in a wide group of plants, and shed light on the roles of these genes in legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32674305, year = {2020}, author = {Chialva, M and Lanfranco, L and Guazzotti, G and Santoro, V and Novero, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {Gigaspora margarita and Its Endobacterium Modulate Symbiotic Marker Genes in Tomato Roots under Combined Water and Nutrient Stress.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32674305}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {As members of the plant microbiota, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may be effective in enhancing plant resilience to drought, one of the major limiting factors threatening crop productivity. AMF host their own microbiota and previous data demonstrated that endobacteria thriving in Gigaspora margarita modulate fungal antioxidant responses. Here, we used the G. margarita-Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum system to test whether the tripartite interaction between tomato, G. margarita and its endobacteria may improve plant resilience to combined water/nutrient stress. Tomato plants were inoculated with spores containing endobacteria (B+) or not (B-), and exposed to combined water/nutrient stress. Plants traits, AM colonization and expression of AM marker genes were measured. Results showed that mycorrhizal frequency was low and no growth effect was observed. Under control conditions, B+ inoculated plants were more responsive to the symbiosis, as they showed an up-regulation of three AM marker genes involved in phosphate and lipids metabolism compared with B- inoculated or not-inoculated plants. When combined stress was imposed, the difference between fungal strains was still evident for one marker gene. These results indicate that the fungal endobacteria finely modulate plant metabolism, even in the absence of growth response.}, } @article {pmid32674026, year = {2020}, author = {Fokin, SI}, title = {Prof. H.-D. Görtz and his contribution to our knowledge of protozoan symbiosis.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {125725}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125725}, pmid = {32674026}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {*Ciliophora ; Germany ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the beginning of the 1980s, the Paramecium-Holospora system has become an important model and a subject of international scientific cooperation in symbiosis studies, established by Prof. H.-D. Görtz. In the article, a brief sketch of the scientist's life, his areas of interest, expertise and his contribution to our knowledge of protozoan symbiosis are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32673977, year = {2020}, author = {Guzman-Bautista, ER and Suzuki, K and Asami, S and Fagarasan, S}, title = {Bacteria-immune cells dialog and the homeostasis of the systems.}, journal = {Current opinion in immunology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {82-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.coi.2020.05.010}, pmid = {32673977}, issn = {1879-0372}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/immunology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/immunology ; }, abstract = {The dialog between microbes and immune cells is critical for the establishment and maintenance of immune homeostasis. Bacterial-derived metabolites or structural components initiate immune signaling pathways and transcriptional factors, inducing a broad range of specificities and functional repertoires of the immune cells. Conversely, the immune system regulates the composition and function of bacterial communities. Elements of the adaptive immunity, including maternal antibodies and mucosal antibody responses, play crucial roles in protecting the hosts from pathogens in addition to promoting colonization of symbiotic bacteria at mucosal surfaces. The complex interactions set from an early stage in life between the microbiota and adaptive immunity, impact other major physiological systems. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of how gut bacteria regulate systemic homeostasis by highlighting the finely orchestrated interactions between gut bacteria, immune responses and the nervous system.}, } @article {pmid32673924, year = {2020}, author = {Caroselli, E and Frapiccini, E and Franzellitti, S and Palazzo, Q and Prada, F and Betti, M and Goffredo, S and Marini, M}, title = {Accumulation of PAHs in the tissues and algal symbionts of a common Mediterranean coral: Skeletal storage relates to population age structure.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {743}, number = {}, pages = {140781}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140781}, pmid = {32673924}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Mediterranean Sea ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread and harmful environmental pollutants that threaten marine ecosystems. Assessing their level and source is crucial to estimate the potential risks for marine organisms, as PAHs represent an additional threat to organism resilience under ongoing climatic change. Here we applied the QuEChERS extraction method to quantify four PAHs (i.e. acenaphthene, fluorene, fluoranthene, and pyrene) in three biological compartments (i.e. skeleton, tissue, and zooxanthellae symbiotic algae) of adult and old specimens of a scleractinian coral species (Balanophyllia europaea) that is widespread throughout the Mediterranean Sea. A higher concentration of all four investigated PAHs was observed in the zooxanthellae, followed by the coral tissue, with lowest concentration in the skeleton, consistently with previous studies on tropical species. In all the three biological compartments, the concentration of low molecular weight PAHs was higher with respect to high-molecular weight PAHs, in agreement with their bioaccumulation capabilities. PAH concentration was unrelated to skeletal age. Observed PAHs were of petrogenic origin, reflecting the pollution sources of the sampling area. By coupling PAH data with population age structure data measured in the field, the amount of PAHs stored in the long term (i.e. up to 20 years) in coral skeletons was quantified and resulted in 53.6 ng m[-2] of acenaphthene, 69.4 ng m[-2] of fluorene, 2.7 ng m[-2] of fluoranthene, and 11.7 ng m[-2] of pyrene. This estimate provides the basis for further assessments of long-term sequestration of PAHs from the marine environment in the whole Mediterranean, given the widespread distribution of the investigated coral species.}, } @article {pmid32673581, year = {2020}, author = {Gong, BQ and Wang, FZ and Li, JF}, title = {Hide-and-Seek: Chitin-Triggered Plant Immunity and Fungal Counterstrategies.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {805-816}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2020.03.006}, pmid = {32673581}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis ; *Arabidopsis Proteins ; Chitin ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Immunity ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; }, abstract = {Fungal pathogens are major destructive microorganisms for land plants and pose growing challenges to global crop production. Chitin is a vital building block for fungal cell walls and also a broadly effective elicitor of plant immunity. Here we review the rapid progress in understanding chitin perception and signaling in plants and highlight similarities and differences of these processes between arabidopsis and rice. We also outline moonlight functions of CERK1, an indispensable chitin coreceptor conserved across the plant kingdom, which imply potential crosstalk between chitin signaling and symbiotic or biotic/abiotic stress signaling in plants via CERK1. Moreover, we summarize current knowledge about fungal counterstrategies for subverting chitin-triggered plant immunity and propose open questions and future directions in this field.}, } @article {pmid32673142, year = {2021}, author = {Etoori, D and Renju, J and Reniers, G and Ndhlovu, V and Ndubane, S and Makhubela, P and Maritze, M and Gomez-Olive, FX and Wringe, A}, title = {'If the results are negative, they motivate us'. Experiences of early infant diagnosis of HIV and engagement in Option B.}, journal = {Global public health}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {186-200}, doi = {10.1080/17441692.2020.1795220}, pmid = {32673142}, issn = {1744-1706}, support = {MR/P014313/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Breast Feeding ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Ecosystem ; Female ; *HIV Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control ; Pregnancy ; *Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; }, abstract = {Few studies have explored the relationship between early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV and mothers' engagement in care under Option B+. We conducted in-depth interviews with 20 women who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) under Option B+ in rural South Africa to explore the interactions between EID and maternal care engagement. Drawing on practice theory, we identified themes relating to Option B+ care engagement and EID. Women's practice of engagement with HIV care shaped their decision-making around EID. Mothers who disengaged from care during pregnancy were less inclined to utilise EID as they lacked information about its availability and benefits. For some mothers, tensions between wanting to breastfeed and perceptions that it could facilitate transmission led to repeated utilisation of EID as reassurance that the child remained negative. Some mothers used their child's negative result as a proxy for their status, subsequently disengaging from care. For some participants, an HIV diagnosis of their infant and the subsequent double burden of treatment visits for themselves and their infant, contributed to their disengagement. Women's care-seeking practices for themselves and their infants work in a symbiotic ecosystem and should be viewed interdependently to tailor interventions to improve EID uptake and Option B+ care engagement.}, } @article {pmid32672816, year = {2020}, author = {Hou, Q and Kolodkin-Gal, I}, title = {Harvesting the complex pathways of antibiotic production and resistance of soil bacilli for optimizing plant microbiome.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa142}, pmid = {32672816}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Microbiota ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Roots ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {A sustainable future increasing depends on our capacity to utilize beneficial plant microbiomes to meet our growing needs. Plant microbiome symbiosis is a hallmark of the beneficial interactions between bacteria and their host. Specifically, colonization of plant roots by biocontrol agents and plant growth-promoting bacteria can play an important role in maintaining the optimal rhizosphere environment, supporting plant growth and promoting its fitness. Rhizosphere communities confer immunity against a wide range of foliar diseases by secreting antibiotics and activating plant defences. At the same time, the rhizosphere is a highly competitive niche, with multiple microbial species competing for space and resources, engaged in an arms race involving the production of a vast array of antibiotics and utilization of a variety of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms that govern antibiotic production and resistance in the rhizosphere is of great significance for designing beneficial communities with enhanced biocontrol properties. In this review, we used Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens as models to investigate the genetics of antibiosis and the potential for its translation of into improved plant microbiome performance.}, } @article {pmid32672376, year = {2020}, author = {Soldá, A and Rodríguez-García, AM}, title = {The EYCN and the Power of Networking.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {26}, number = {44}, pages = {9661-9664}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202003020}, pmid = {32672376}, issn = {1521-3765}, abstract = {Networking is a symbiosis-it is about establishing, building and cultivating relationships that you will maintain over a long time and which may lead to mutually beneficial exchanges in your future. Your professional contacts might also become your close friends, since you frequently share the same experiences or merely have similar scientific and general interests or nerdy humour. Chemical societies are a fantastic way to expand your network and engaging or following the activities of the European Young Chemists Network (EYCN) might be the perfect starting point for you.}, } @article {pmid32671549, year = {2020}, author = {Tian, YT and Wang, X and Cui, YH and Wang, SK}, title = {A symbiotic yeast to enhance heterotrophic and mixotrophic cultivation of Chlorella pyrenoidosa using sucrose as the carbon source.}, journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering}, volume = {43}, number = {12}, pages = {2243-2252}, doi = {10.1007/s00449-020-02409-2}, pmid = {32671549}, issn = {1615-7605}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; Carbohydrates/chemistry ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Chlorella/*growth & development/microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Disaccharides ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lipids/biosynthesis/chemistry ; Microalgae/growth & development/metabolism ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*metabolism ; Sucrose/chemistry/*metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Heterotrophic or mixotrophic culture of microalgae is feasible alternative approach to avoid light limitation in autotrophic culture. However, only a few kinds of organic carbon sources are available for algal culture. Disaccharides, such as sucrose, are difficult to be utilized by microalgae under both heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions. In this study, a symbiotic yeast was accidentally found in a contaminated algal suspension. The symbiotic yeast was isolated and identified as Cryptococcus sp. This yeast was able to extracellularly hydrolyze sucrose and accumulated monosaccharides in the medium. It can enhance algal growth using sucrose as the carbon source at both heterotrophic and mixotrophic modes when mix-cultured with Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The highest algal cell density of 118.8 × 10[6] and 151.2 × 10[6] cells/mL was achieved with a final algal percentage of 83.5 and 93.2% at heterotrophic and mixotrophic culture, respectively. Furthermore, the protein and lipid content was significantly enhanced by mix-culture C. pyrenoidosa with Cryptococcus YZU-1. The fatty acid accumulated in this co-culture system was suitable for the production of biodiesel. This symbiotic yeast solved the problem that C. pyrenoidosa cannot heterotrophically or mixotrophically utilize sucrose. A high algae density was obtained and the protein and lipid accumulation were also significantly enhanced. This study provided a novel approach for production of protein or lipid-rich biomass using sucrose or sucrose-rich wastes as the carbon source.}, } @article {pmid32670331, year = {2020}, author = {Sanz-Luque, E and Bhaya, D and Grossman, AR}, title = {Polyphosphate: A Multifunctional Metabolite in Cyanobacteria and Algae.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {938}, pmid = {32670331}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Polyphosphate (polyP), a polymer of orthophosphate (PO4 [3-]) of varying lengths, has been identified in all kingdoms of life. It can serve as a source of chemical bond energy (phosphoanhydride bond) that may have been used by biological systems prior to the evolution of ATP. Intracellular polyP is mainly stored as granules in specific vacuoles called acidocalcisomes, and its synthesis and accumulation appear to impact a myriad of cellular functions. It serves as a reservoir for inorganic PO4 [3-] and an energy source for fueling cellular metabolism, participates in maintaining adenylate and metal cation homeostasis, functions as a scaffold for sequestering cations, exhibits chaperone function, covalently binds to proteins to modify their activity, and enables normal acclimation of cells to stress conditions. PolyP also appears to have a role in symbiotic and parasitic associations, and in higher eukaryotes, low polyP levels seem to impact cancerous proliferation, apoptosis, procoagulant and proinflammatory responses and cause defects in TOR signaling. In this review, we discuss the metabolism, storage, and function of polyP in photosynthetic microbes, which mostly includes research on green algae and cyanobacteria. We focus on factors that impact polyP synthesis, specific enzymes required for its synthesis and degradation, sequestration of polyP in acidocalcisomes, its role in cellular energetics, acclimation processes, and metal homeostasis, and then transition to its potential applications for bioremediation and medical purposes.}, } @article {pmid32669419, year = {2020}, author = {Rutten, L and Miyata, K and Roswanjaya, YP and Huisman, R and Bu, F and Hartog, M and Linders, S and van Velzen, R and van Zeijl, A and Bisseling, T and Kohlen, W and Geurts, R}, title = {Duplication of Symbiotic Lysin Motif Receptors Predates the Evolution of Nitrogen-Fixing Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {184}, number = {2}, pages = {1004-1023}, pmid = {32669419}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cannabaceae/*genetics/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Genes, Plant ; Lipopolysaccharides/*genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis occurs in two taxonomic lineages: legumes (Fabaceae) and the genus Parasponia (Cannabaceae). Both symbioses are initiated upon the perception of rhizobium-secreted lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs), called Nod factors. Studies in the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula showed that rhizobium LCOs are perceived by a heteromeric receptor complex of distinct Lys motif (LysM)-type transmembrane receptors named NOD FACTOR RECEPTOR1 (LjNFR1) and LjNFR5 (L. japonicus) and LYSM DOMAIN CONTAINING RECEPTOR KINASE3 (MtLYK3)-NOD FACTOR PERCEPTION (MtNFP; M. truncatula). Recent phylogenomic comparative analyses indicated that the nodulation traits of legumes, Parasponia spp., as well as so-called actinorhizal plants that establish a symbiosis with diazotrophic Frankia spp. bacteria share an evolutionary origin about 110 million years ago. However, the evolutionary trajectory of LysM-type LCO receptors remains elusive. By conducting phylogenetic analysis, transcomplementation studies, and CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis in Parasponia andersonii, we obtained insight into the origin of LCO receptors essential for nodulation. We identified four LysM-type receptors controlling nodulation in P. andersonii: PanLYK1, PanLYK3, PanNFP1, and PanNFP2 These genes evolved from ancient duplication events predating and coinciding with the origin of nodulation. Phylogenetic and functional analyses associated the occurrence of a functional NFP2-orthologous receptor to LCO-driven nodulation. Legumes and Parasponia spp. use orthologous LysM-type receptors to perceive rhizobium LCOs, suggesting a shared evolutionary origin of LCO-driven nodulation. Furthermore, we found that both PanLYK1 and PanLYK3 are essential for intracellular arbuscule formation of mutualistic endomycorrhizal fungi. PanLYK3 also acts as a chitin oligomer receptor essential for innate immune signaling, demonstrating functional analogy to CHITIN ELECITOR RECEPTOR KINASE-type receptors.}, } @article {pmid32669390, year = {2020}, author = {Mauvais-Jarvis, F}, title = {Aging, Male Sex, Obesity, and Metabolic Inflammation Create the Perfect Storm for COVID-19.}, journal = {Diabetes}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {1857-1863}, pmid = {32669390}, issn = {1939-327X}, support = {I01 BX003725/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; R01 DK074970/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK107444/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adiposity/immunology ; Black or African American ; Age Factors ; Aging/*immunology ; Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections/*immunology ; Cytokine Release Syndrome/immunology ; Cytokines/immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*immunology ; Ethnicity ; Female ; Hispanic or Latino ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome/*immunology ; Obesity/*immunology ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/*immunology ; Racism ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sex Factors ; Stress, Psychological/immunology ; }, abstract = {Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel threat that seems to result from the collusion between a new pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and an existing pandemic of metabolic disease driven by obesity. This Perspective explores the evolving epidemiological, clinical, biological, and molecular evidence to propose an unfolding paradigm in which old age, chronic metabolic disease (such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome), and male biological sex produce a deadly symbiosis of dysregulated immunometabolism and chronic systemic inflammation that intensifies virally induced hyperinflammation associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is intended to inspire new research directions and stimulate funding in this field.}, } @article {pmid32669363, year = {2020}, author = {Bell, A and Severi, E and Lee, M and Monaco, S and Latousakis, D and Angulo, J and Thomas, GH and Naismith, JH and Juge, N}, title = {Uncovering a novel molecular mechanism for scavenging sialic acids in bacteria.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {295}, number = {40}, pages = {13724-13736}, pmid = {32669363}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {BBS/E/F/00044452/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011216/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P008895/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/R012490/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P010660/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10353/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/C509807/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Clostridiales/*enzymology/genetics ; Escherichia coli/enzymology/genetics ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Humans ; Mucins/chemistry/metabolism ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human gut symbiont Ruminococcus gnavus scavenges host-derived N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) from mucins by converting it to 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac. We previously showed that 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac is transported into R. gnavus ATCC 29149 before being converted back to Neu5Ac for further metabolic processing. However, the molecular mechanism leading to the conversion of 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac to Neu5Ac remained elusive. Using 1D and 2D NMR, we elucidated the multistep enzymatic mechanism of the oxidoreductase (RgNanOx) that leads to the reversible conversion of 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac to Neu5Ac through formation of a 4-keto-2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid intermediate and NAD[+] regeneration. The crystal structure of RgNanOx in complex with the NAD[+] cofactor showed a protein dimer with a Rossman fold. Guided by the RgNanOx structure, we identified catalytic residues by site-directed mutagenesis. Bioinformatics analyses revealed the presence of RgNanOx homologues across Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species and co-occurrence with sialic acid transporters. We showed by electrospray ionization spray MS that the Escherichia coli homologue YjhC displayed activity against 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac and that E. coli could catabolize 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac. Differential scanning fluorimetry analyses confirmed the binding of YjhC to the substrates 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac and Neu5Ac, as well as to co-factors NAD and NADH. Finally, using E. coli mutants and complementation growth assays, we demonstrated that 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac catabolism in E. coli depended on YjhC and on the predicted sialic acid transporter YjhB. These results revealed the molecular mechanisms of 2,7-anhydro-Neu5Ac catabolism across bacterial species and a novel sialic acid transport and catabolism pathway in E. coli.}, } @article {pmid32668507, year = {2020}, author = {Ghirardo, A and Fochi, V and Lange, B and Witting, M and Schnitzler, JP and Perotto, S and Balestrini, R}, title = {Metabolomic adjustments in the orchid mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella calospora during symbiosis with Serapias vomeracea.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {6}, pages = {1939-1952}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16812}, pmid = {32668507}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Metabolomics ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All orchids rely on mycorrhizal fungi for organic carbon, at least during early development. In fact, orchid seed germination leads to the formation of a protocorm, a heterotrophic postembryonic structure colonized by intracellular fungal coils, thought to be the site of nutrient transfer. The molecular mechanisms underlying mycorrhizal interactions and metabolic changes induced by this symbiosis in both partners remain mostly unknown. We studied plant-fungus interactions in the mycorrhizal association between the Mediterranean orchid Serapias vomeracea and the basidiomycete Tulasnella calospora using nontargeted metabolomics. Plant and fungal metabolomes obtained from symbiotic structures were compared with those obtained under asymbiotic conditions. Symbiosis induced substantial metabolomic alterations in both partners. In particular, structural and signaling lipid compounds increased markedly in the external fungal mycelium growing near the symbiotic protocorms, whereas chito-oligosaccharides were identified uniquely in symbiotic protocorms. This work represents the first description of metabolic changes occurring in orchid mycorrhiza. These results - combined with previous transcriptomic data - provide novel insights on the mechanisms underlying the orchid mycorrhizal association and open intriguing questions on the role of fungal lipids in this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32668373, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, M and Lee, J and Yang, D and Park, HY and Park, W}, title = {Seasonal dynamics of the bacterial communities associated with cyanobacterial blooms in the Han River.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {266}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {115198}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115198}, pmid = {32668373}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; Fresh Water ; Microcystins ; *Microcystis ; Rivers ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {DNA-based analyses of bacterial communities were performed to identify the bacteria co-occurring with cyanobacterial blooms in samples collected at a single site over 2 years. Microcystis aeruginosa was the most predominant species (81% in 2018, and 94% in 2019) within the phylum Cyanobacteria, and microcystins were detected during all cyanobacterial blooms. The stereo microscope and scanning electron microscope observations showed bacterial associations on and around the aggregated M. aeruginosa cells. Culture-independent analyses of filtered bacterial communities showed that the Flavobacterium species in phylum Bacteroidetes (19%) was dominant in the cyanobacterial phycosphere, followed by the Limnohabitans species in Betaproteobacteria (11%). Using principal component analysis, major bacterial genus, including Microcystis and Flavobacterium species, were clustered during cyanobacterial blooms in both years. To identify key bacterial species that develop long-term symbiosis with M. aeruginosa, another culture-independent analysis was performed after the environmental sample had been serially subcultured for 1 year. Interestingly, Brevundimonas (14%) was the most dominant species, followed by Porphyrobacter (7%) and Rhodobacter (3.5%) within the Alphaproteobacteria. Screening of 100 colonies from cyanobacterial bloom samples revealed that the majority of culturable bacteria belonged to Gammaproteobacteria (28%) and Betaproteobacteria (57%), including Pseudomonas, Curvibacter, and Paucibacter species. Several isolates of Brevundimonas, Curvibacter, and Pseudomonas species could promote the growth of axenic M. aeruginosa PCC7806. The sensitivity of M. aeruginosa PCC7806 cells to different environmental conditions was monitored in bacteria-free pristine freshwater, indicating that nitrogen addition promotes the growth of M. aeruginosa.}, } @article {pmid32668198, year = {2020}, author = {Winkler, ES and Shrihari, S and Hykes, BL and Handley, SA and Andhey, PS and Huang, YS and Swain, A and Droit, L and Chebrolu, KK and Mack, M and Vanlandingham, DL and Thackray, LB and Cella, M and Colonna, M and Artyomov, MN and Stappenbeck, TS and Diamond, MS}, title = {The Intestinal Microbiome Restricts Alphavirus Infection and Dissemination through a Bile Acid-Type I IFN Signaling Axis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {182}, number = {4}, pages = {901-918.e18}, pmid = {32668198}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01 AI123348/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AR073752/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI127513/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI141436/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI143673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007163/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F30 AI152327/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bile Acids and Salts/*metabolism ; Chikungunya Fever/immunology/*pathology/veterinary ; Chikungunya virus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Clostridiales/physiology ; Dendritic Cells/cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Interferon Type I/*metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Monocytes/cytology/immunology/metabolism ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/deficiency/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Viral/blood ; STAT1 Transcription Factor/deficiency ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 7/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an emerging alphavirus, has infected millions of people. However, the factors modulating disease outcome remain poorly understood. Here, we show in germ-free mice or in oral antibiotic-treated conventionally housed mice with depleted intestinal microbiomes that greater CHIKV infection and spread occurs within 1 day of virus inoculation. Alteration of the microbiome alters TLR7-MyD88 signaling in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and blunts systemic production of type I interferon (IFN). Consequently, circulating monocytes express fewer IFN-stimulated genes and become permissive for CHIKV infection. Reconstitution with a single bacterial species, Clostridium scindens, or its derived metabolite, the secondary bile acid deoxycholic acid, can restore pDC- and MyD88-dependent type I IFN responses to restrict systemic CHIKV infection and transmission back to vector mosquitoes. Thus, symbiotic intestinal bacteria modulate antiviral immunity and levels of circulating alphaviruses within hours of infection through a bile acid-pDC-IFN signaling axis, which affects viremia, dissemination, and potentially transmission.}, } @article {pmid32667875, year = {2020}, author = {Helene, LCF and Klepa, MS and O'Hara, G and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium archetypum sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium australiense sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium murdochi sp. nov., isolated from nodules of legumes indigenous to Western Australia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {8}, pages = {4623-4636}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.004322}, pmid = {32667875}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {The genus Bradyrhizobium is considered as the probable ancestor lineage of all rhizobia, broadly spread in a variety of ecosystems and with remarkable diversity. A polyphasic study was performed to characterize and clarify the taxonomic position of eight bradyrhizobial strains isolated from indigenous legumes to Western Australia. As expected for the genus, the 16S rRNA gene sequences were highly conserved, but the results of multilocus sequence analysis with four housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA) confirmed three new distinct clades including the following strains: (1) WSM 1744[T], WSM 1736 and WSM 1737; (2) WSM 1791[T] and WSM 1742; and (3) WSM 1741[T], WSM 1735 and WSM 1790. The highest ANI values of the three groups in relation to the closest type strains were 92.4, 92.3 and 93.3 %, respectively, below the threshold of species circumscription. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization analysis also confirmed new species descriptions, with less than 52 % relatedness with the closest type strains. The phylogeny of the symbiotic gene nodC clustered the eight strains into the symbiovar retamae, together with seven Bradyrhizobium type strains, sharing from 94.2-98.1 % nucleotide identity (NI), and less than 88.7 % NI with other related strains and symbiovars. Morpho-physiological, phylogenetics, genomic and symbiotic traits were determined for the new groups and our data support the description of three new species, Bradyrhizobium archetypum sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium australiense sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium murdochi sp. nov., with WSM 1744[T] (=CNPSo 4013[T]=LMG 31646[T]), WSM 1791[T] (=CNPSo 4014[T]=LMG 31647[T]) and WSM 1741[T] (=CNPSo 4020[T]=LMG 31651[T]) designated as type strains, respectively.}, } @article {pmid32666589, year = {2020}, author = {Heydari, S and Siavoshi, F and Jazayeri, MH and Sarrafnejad, A and Saniee, P}, title = {Helicobacter pylori release from yeast as a vesicle-encased or free bacterium.}, journal = {Helicobacter}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {e12725}, doi = {10.1111/hel.12725}, pmid = {32666589}, issn = {1523-5378}, mesh = {Candida albicans/*physiology ; Extracellular Vesicles/*metabolism ; Helicobacter pylori/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Yeast has been suggested as a potent reservoir of H. pylori that facilitates bacterial spread within human populations. What mechanism ensures effective H. pylori release from yeast? Here, H. pylori release from yeast as a vesicle-encased or free bacterium was studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liquid culture of Candida yeast was examined by light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy methods to observe the released vesicles. Vesicles were isolated and examined by TEM. Immunogold labeling was used for detection of H. pylori-specific proteins in vesicles' membrane. Free bacterial cells, released from yeast, were separated by immunomagnetic separation and observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). DNA of bead-bound bacteria was used for amplification of H. pylori-16S rDNA. Viability of bead-bound bacteria was examined by live/dead stain and cultivation on Brucella blood agar.

RESULTS: Microscopic observations showed that vesicles contained bacterium-like structures. Thin sections showed release of vesicle-encased or free bacterium from yeast. Immunogold labeling revealed occurrence of H. pylori proteins in vesicles' membrane. FESEM showed attachment of H. pylori cells to magnetic beads. Sequencing of 521 bp PCR product confirmed the identity of bead-bound H. pylori. Live/dead staining showed viability of bead-bound H. pylori but the result of culture was negative.

CONCLUSIONS: Escape of intracellular H. pylori from yeast as a membrane-bound or free bacterium indicates that H. pylori uses safe exit mechanisms that do not damage the host which is the principle of symbiotic associations. In human stomach, certain conditions may stimulate yeast cells to release H. pylori as a vesicle-encased or free bacterium.}, } @article {pmid32665747, year = {2020}, author = {Staccone, A and Liao, W and Perakis, S and Compton, J and Clark, C and Menge, D}, title = {A spatially explicit, empirical estimate of tree-based biological nitrogen fixation in forests of the United States.}, journal = {Global biogeochemical cycles}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32665747}, issn = {0886-6236}, support = {EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/United States ; }, abstract = {Quantifying human impacts on the N cycle and investigating natural ecosystem N cycling depend on the magnitude of inputs from natural biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Here, we present two bottom-up approaches to quantify tree-based symbiotic BNF based on forest inventory data across the coterminous US plus SE Alaska. For all major N-fixing tree genera, we quantify BNF inputs using (1) ecosystem N accretion rates (kg N ha[-1] yr[-1]) scaled with spatial data on tree abundance and (2) percent of N derived from fixation (%Ndfa) scaled with tree N demand (from tree growth rates and stoichiometry). We estimate that trees fix 0.30-0.88 Tg N yr[-1] across the study area (1.4-3.4 kg N ha[-1] yr[-1]). Tree-based N fixation displays distinct spatial variation that is dominated by two genera, Robinia (64% of tree-associated BNF) and Alnus (24%). The third most important genus, Prosopis, accounted for 5%. Compared to published estimates of other N fluxes, tree-associated BNF accounted for 0.59 Tg N yr[-1], similar to asymbiotic (0.37 Tg N yr[-1]) and understory symbiotic BNF (0.48 Tg N yr[-1]), while N deposition contributed 1.68 Tg N yr[-1] and rock weathering 0.37 Tg N yr[-1]. Overall, our results reveal previously uncharacterized spatial patterns in tree BNF that can inform large-scale N assessments and serve as a model for improving tree-based BNF estimates worldwide. This updated, lower BNF estimate indicates a greater ratio of anthropogenic to natural N inputs, suggesting an even greater human impact on the N cycle.}, } @article {pmid32665328, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, S and Meade, A and Lam, HM and Luo, H}, title = {Evolutionary Timeline and Genomic Plasticity Underlying the Lifestyle Diversity in Rhizobiales.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32665328}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Members of the order Rhizobiales include those capable of nitrogen fixation in nodules as well as pathogens of animals and plants. This lifestyle diversity has important implications for agricultural and medical research. Leveraging large-scale genomic data, we infer that Rhizobiales originated as a free-living ancestor ∼1,500 million years ago (Mya) and that the later emergence of host-associated lifestyles broadly coincided with the rise of their eukaryotic hosts. In particular, the first nodulating lineage arose from either Azorhizobium or Bradyrhizobium 150 to 80 Mya, a time range in general concurrent with the emergence of legumes. The rates of lifestyle transitions are highly variable; nodule association is more likely to be lost than gained, whereas animal association likely represents an evolutionary dead end. We searched for statistical correlations between gene presence and lifestyle and identified genes likely contributing to the transition and adaptation to the same lifestyle in divergent lineages. Among the genes potentially promoting successful transitions to major nodulation lineages, the nod and nif clusters for nodulation and nitrogen fixation, respectively, were repeatedly acquired during each transition; the fix, dct, and phb clusters involved in energy conservation under micro-oxic conditions were present in the nonnodulating ancestors; and the secretion systems were acquired in lineage-specific patterns. Our study data suggest that increased eukaryote diversity drives lifestyle diversification of bacteria and highlight both acquired and preexisting traits facilitating the origin of host association.IMPORTANCE Bacteria form diverse interactions with eukaryotic hosts. This is well represented by the Rhizobiales, a clade of Alphaproteobacteria strategically important for their large diversity of lifestyles with implications for agricultural and medical research. To investigate their lifestyle evolution, we compiled a comprehensive data set of genomes and lifestyle information for over 1,000 Rhizobiales genomes. We show that the origins of major host-associated lineages in Rhizobiales broadly coincided with the emergences of their host plants/animals, suggesting bacterium-host interactions as a driving force in the evolution of Rhizobiales We further found that, in addition to gene gains, preexisting traits and recurrent losses of specific genomic traits may have played underrecognized roles in the origin of host-associated lineages, providing clues to genetic engineering of microbial agricultural inoculants and prevention of the emergence of potential plant/animal pathogens.}, } @article {pmid32665268, year = {2020}, author = {Blow, F and Ankrah, NYD and Clark, N and Koo, I and Allman, EL and Liu, Q and Anitha, M and Patterson, AD and Douglas, AE}, title = {Impact of Facultative Bacteria on the Metabolic Function of an Obligate Insect-Bacterial Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32665268}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Buchnera/metabolism ; Female ; Genotype ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; Histidine/metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Metabolomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microorganisms associated with animals derive their nutritional requirements entirely from the animal host, but the impact of these microorganisms on host metabolism is largely unknown. The focus of this study was the experimentally tractable tripartite symbiosis between the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, its obligate intracellular bacterial symbiont Buchnera, and the facultative bacterium Hamiltonella which is localized primarily to the aphid hemolymph (blood). Metabolome experiments on, first, multiple aphid genotypes that naturally bear or lack Hamiltonella and, second, one aphid genotype from which Hamiltonella was experimentally eliminated revealed no significant effects of Hamiltonella on aphid metabolite profiles, indicating that Hamiltonella does not cause major reconfiguration of host metabolism. However, the titer of just one metabolite, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), displayed near-significant enrichment in Hamiltonella-positive aphids in both metabolome experiments. AICAR is a by-product of biosynthesis of the essential amino acid histidine in Buchnera and, hence, an index of histidine biosynthetic rates, suggesting that Buchnera-mediated histidine production is elevated in Hamiltonella-bearing aphids. Consistent with this prediction, aphids fed on [[13]C]histidine yielded a significantly elevated [12]C/[13]C ratio of histidine in Hamiltonella-bearing aphids, indicative of increased (∼25%) histidine synthesized de novo by Buchnera However, in silico analysis predicted an increase of only 0.8% in Buchnera histidine synthesis in Hamiltonella-bearing aphids. We hypothesize that Hamiltonella imposes increased host demand for histidine, possibly for heightened immune-related functions. These results demonstrate that facultative bacteria can alter the dynamics of host metabolic interactions with co-occurring microorganisms, even when the overall metabolic homeostasis of the host is not substantially perturbed.IMPORTANCE Although microbial colonization of the internal tissues of animals generally causes septicemia and death, various animals are persistently associated with benign or beneficial microorganisms in their blood or internal organs. The metabolic consequences of these persistent associations for the animal host are largely unknown. Our research on the facultative bacterium Hamiltonella, localized primarily to the hemolymph of pea aphids, demonstrated that although Hamiltonella imposed no major reconfiguration of the aphid metabolome, it did alter the metabolic relations between the aphid and its obligate intracellular symbiont, Buchnera Specifically, Buchnera produced more histidine in Hamiltonella-positive aphids to support both Hamiltonella demand for histidine and Hamiltonella-induced increase in host demand. This study demonstrates how microorganisms associated with internal tissues of animals can influence specific aspects of metabolic interactions between the animal host and co-occurring microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid32664480, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, J and Bisseling, T}, title = {Evolution of NIN and NIN-like Genes in Relation to Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32664480}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Frankia/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes and actinorhizal plants are capable of forming root nodules symbiosis with rhizobia and Frankia bacteria. All these nodulating species belong to the nitrogen fixation clade. Most likely, nodulation evolved once in the last common ancestor of this clade. NIN (NODULE INCEPTION) is a transcription factor that is essential for nodulation in all studied species. Therefore, it seems probable that it was recruited at the start when nodulation evolved. NIN is the founding member of the NIN-like protein (NLP) family. It arose by duplication, and this occurred before nodulation evolved. Therefore, several plant species outside the nitrogen fixation clade have NLP(s), which is orthologous to NIN. In this review, we discuss how NIN has diverged from the ancestral NLP, what minimal changes would have been essential for it to become a key transcription controlling nodulation, and which adaptations might have evolved later.}, } @article {pmid32664321, year = {2020}, author = {Morsy, M and Cleckler, B and Armuelles-Millican, H}, title = {Fungal Endophytes Promote Tomato Growth and Enhance Drought and Salt Tolerance.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32664321}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In a search for efficient fungal endophytes that can promote crop production and/or increase crop tolerance to abiotic stress, we isolated and tested various species harbored by wild plants. Sixty-seven endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from drought stressed, poor soil habitats, and inland high salt areas. We extensively tested the roles of Ampelomyces sp. and Penicillium sp. isolates in improving tomato growth and yield. Under greenhouse and field trails, Ampelomyces sp. and Penicillium sp. endophytes proved effective in conferring positive benefits to tomatoes placed under stress as well as under normal growing conditions. Ampelomyces sp. conferred tolerance to tomatoes placed under drought stress in addition to enhancing overall plant growth and fruit yield in comparison to non-symbiotic plants under drought stress. Penicillium sp. conferred tolerance to tomatoes placed under 300 mM salinity stress in addition to enhancing root biomass in comparison to non-symbiotic plants. Both endophytes proved efficient in enhancing plant growth, stress tolerance, recovery, and fruit yield under optimal experimental conditions in comparison to non-symbiotic plants. Field testing of tomato yield showed increased yield of symbiotic tomatoes compared to non-symbiotic ones. This data suggests that both Ampelomyces sp. and Penicillium sp. share a promising potential for improving future agricultural production, particularly with the projected changes in climate in the future.}, } @article {pmid32663460, year = {2020}, author = {Ainsworth, TD and Renzi, JJ and Silliman, BR}, title = {Positive Interactions in the Coral Macro and Microbiome.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {602-604}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2020.02.009}, pmid = {32663460}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Aquatic Organisms/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Researchers now recognize the importance of the coral microbiome, but they often overlook other species that live on corals and influence coral-microbe interactions. These 'interstitial associates' should be incorporated into the metaorganism concept for insights into how facilitations between associates, corals, and their microbiomes can be leveraged in ecology and restoration.}, } @article {pmid32662980, year = {2020}, author = {Mohanty, I and Moore, SG and Yi, D and Biggs, JS and Gaul, DA and Garg, N and Agarwal, V}, title = {Precursor-Guided Mining of Marine Sponge Metabolomes Lends Insight into Biosynthesis of Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloids.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {2185-2194}, pmid = {32662980}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {K99 ES026620/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 ES026620/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alkaloids/*biosynthesis/*chemistry ; Animals ; Imidazoles/*chemistry ; *Metabolome ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*metabolism ; Pyrroles/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids are natural products isolated from marine sponges, holobiont metazoans that are associated with symbiotic microbiomes. Pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids have attracted attention due to their chemical complexity and their favorable pharmacological properties. However, insights into how these molecules are biosynthesized within the sponge holobionts are scarce. Here, we provide a multiomic profiling of the microbiome and metabolomic architectures of three sponge genera that are prolific producers of pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids. Using a retrobiosynthetic scheme as a guide, we mine the metabolomes of these sponges to detect intermediates in pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid biosynthesis. Our findings reveal that the nonproteinogenic amino acid homoarginine is a critical branch point that connects primary metabolite lysine to the production of pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids. These insights are derived from the polar metabolomes of these sponges which additionally reveal the presence of zwitterionic betaines that may serve important ecological roles in marine habitats. We also establish that metabolomic richness does not correlate with microbial diversity of the sponge holobiont for neither the polar nor the nonpolar metabolomes. Our findings now provide the biochemical foundation for genomic interrogation of the sponge holobiont to establish biogenetic routes for pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid production.}, } @article {pmid32661316, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Z and Wu, N and Liu, T and Tang, M and Chen, H}, title = {Gender-related responses of dioecious plant Populus cathayana to AMF, drought and planting pattern.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {11530}, pmid = {32661316}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Droughts ; Mycorrhizae ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Plant Development/genetics ; Plant Leaves/growth & development ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Populus/*growth & development ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In our previous studies, we detected drought, gender and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation effects on dioecious plant. Based on this, we investigated the intra- and inter-sexual competition between male and female plants. Dioecious plant Populus cathayana was used and we set 3 factors in this experiment: (1) AM inoculation/non-inoculation; (2) well-watered/water-stressed; (3) single-gender pattern (only 4 males or 4 females)/mixed-gender pattern (2 males and 2 females). Growth (stem length, ground diameter, SPAD, mean leaf area, biomass accumulation) and nutrition (C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg) distribution of male and female seedlings were determined. Results Drought significantly limited plant growth and nutrition accumulation, especially in female plants; AM formation alleviated this negative effect, especially in male plants. However, the gender effect was complicated. A mixed-gender planting pattern relieved intra- competition in terms of the growth and nutrient accumulation of both genders and even alleviated the negative effects caused by drought. In the mixed-gender pattern, the differences of C, N, P, K and Ca contents between male and female plants with AM inoculation was smaller than those without AM inoculation, which indicated a potential role for AM fungi in nutrient transport. Males had a stronger physiological response to limited water availability, and more advantages from AM formation than females. Mixed-gender planting relieved the existence of intra- sexual competition of dioecious plants, and AM symbiosis alleviated the differences between genders.}, } @article {pmid32661237, year = {2020}, author = {Větrovský, T and Morais, D and Kohout, P and Lepinay, C and Algora, C and Awokunle Hollá, S and Bahnmann, BD and Bílohnědá, K and Brabcová, V and D'Alò, F and Human, ZR and Jomura, M and Kolařík, M and Kvasničková, J and Lladó, S and López-Mondéjar, R and Martinović, T and Mašínová, T and Meszárošová, L and Michalčíková, L and Michalová, T and Mundra, S and Navrátilová, D and Odriozola, I and Piché-Choquette, S and Štursová, M and Švec, K and Tláskal, V and Urbanová, M and Vlk, L and Voříšková, J and Žifčáková, L and Baldrian, P}, title = {GlobalFungi, a global database of fungal occurrences from high-throughput-sequencing metabarcoding studies.}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {228}, pmid = {32661237}, issn = {2052-4463}, support = {LM2015047//Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports)/International ; }, mesh = {*DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Fungi/*classification ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Mycobiome ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi are key players in vital ecosystem services, spanning carbon cycling, decomposition, symbiotic associations with cultivated and wild plants and pathogenicity. The high importance of fungi in ecosystem processes contrasts with the incompleteness of our understanding of the patterns of fungal biogeography and the environmental factors that drive those patterns. To reduce this gap of knowledge, we collected and validated data published on the composition of soil fungal communities in terrestrial environments including soil and plant-associated habitats and made them publicly accessible through a user interface at https://globalfungi.com . The GlobalFungi database contains over 600 million observations of fungal sequences across > 17 000 samples with geographical locations and additional metadata contained in 178 original studies with millions of unique nucleotide sequences (sequence variants) of the fungal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2 representing fungal species and genera. The study represents the most comprehensive atlas of global fungal distribution, and it is framed in such a way that third-party data addition is possible.}, } @article {pmid32660414, year = {2020}, author = {Huh, JW and Roh, TY}, title = {Opportunistic detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a marker for the early gut microbial dysbiosis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {208}, pmid = {32660414}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {NRF-2014M3C9A3064548, NRF-2017M3C9A6047625//National Research Foundation of Korea/International ; 10Z20130012243//Ministry of Education/International ; S2632274//Technology Development Program of MSS, Republic of Korea/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Discriminant Analysis ; Dysbiosis/*diagnosis ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/*isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*microbiology ; Logistic Models ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The essential roles of gut microbiome have been emphasized in modulating human health and disease. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), an obligate Gram-negative microorganism residing in oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and elsewhere, has been recently considered as a potential oncobacterium associated with human cancers. However, the consequence of its enrichment was not extensively explored in terms of microbial homeostasis and stability at the early stage of disease development.

RESULT: Our analysis on longitudinal metagenomic data generated by the Integrative Human Microbiome Project (iHMP) showed that F. nucleatum was frequently found in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) subjects with reduced microbial diversity. Using non-parametric logarithmic linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) algorithm, 12 IBD- and 14 non-IBD-specific bacterial species were identified in the fecal metagenome and the IBD-specific ones were over-represented in the F. nucleatum-experienced subjects during long-term surveillance. In addition, F. nucleatum experience severely abrogated intra-personal stability of microbiome in IBD patients and induced highly variable gut microbiome between subjects. From the longitudinal comparison between microbial distributions prior and posterior to F. nucleatum detection, 41 species could be proposed as indicative "classifiers" for dysbiotic gut state. By multiple logistic regression models established on these classifiers, the high probability of experiencing F. nucleatum was significantly correlated with decreased alpha-diversity and increased number of biomarker species for IBD and colorectal cancer (CRC). Finally, microbial clustering confirmed that biomarker species for IBD and non-IBD conditions as well as CRC signature markers were well distinguishable and could be utilized for explaining gut symbiosis and dysbiosis.

CONCLUSION: F. nucleatum opportunistically appeared under early dysbiotic condition in gut, and discriminative classifier species associated with F. nucleatum were successfully applied to predict microbial alterations in both IBD and non-IBD conditions. Our prediction model and microbial classifier biomarkers for estimating gut dysbiosis should provide a novel aspect of microbial homeostasis/dynamics and useful information on non-invasive biomarker screening.}, } @article {pmid32660387, year = {2020}, author = {Scherlach, K and Hertweck, C}, title = {Chemical Mediators at the Bacterial-Fungal Interface.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {}, pages = {267-290}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-012420-081224}, pmid = {32660387}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Microbiota/physiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Interactions among microbes are key drivers of evolutionary progress and constantly shape ecological niches. Microorganisms rely on chemical communication to interact with each other and surrounding organisms. They synthesize natural products as signaling molecules, antibiotics, or modulators of cellular processes that may be applied in agriculture and medicine. Whereas major insight has been gained into the principles of intraspecies interaction, much less is known about the molecular basis of interspecies interplay. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the understanding of chemically mediated bacterial-fungal interrelations. We discuss pairwise interactions among defined species and systems involving additional organisms as well as complex interactions among microbial communities encountered in the soil or defined as microbiota of higher organisms. Finally, we give examples of how the growing understanding of microbial interactions has contributed to drug discovery and hypothesize what may be future directions in studying and engineering microbiota for agricultural or medicinal purposes.}, } @article {pmid32659554, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, H and Gong, W and Jia, B and Zeng, W and Li, G and Liang, H}, title = {Nighttime aeration mode enhanced the microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (ABS) system stability and pollutants removal efficiencies.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {743}, number = {}, pages = {140607}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140607}, pmid = {32659554}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Environmental Pollutants ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Utilizing external aeration to enhance the performance of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (ABS) system has been extensively studied. However, inappropriate aeration damaged ABS system stability. A nighttime aeration mode (NA-ABS) in different aeration intensities (20, 50, 100 mL/min) was adopted to compare to continuous aeration microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (CA-ABS) mode and no-aerated mode on pollutants removal efficiencies and system stability. Results showed that NA-ABS system performed better on total organic carbon (TOC), NH4[+]-N, total nitrogen (TN) and PO4[3-] removal than CA-ABS system, especially under the aeration intensity of 20 mL/min (NAI20), with the removal efficiencies of 96.59%, 99.18%, 90.30% and 89.16%, respectively. These results were because NA-ABS system prevented CO2 stripping and provided more dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for the microalgae growth. Furthermore, less CO2 stripping released the competition between microalgae and autotrophic bacteria for the DIC, leading to a more stable ABS system during long-term operation. This paper suggested that NA-ABS system would provide some new insights into ABS system and be helpful for further study.}, } @article {pmid32658273, year = {2020}, author = {Kamal, N and Mun, T and Reid, D and Lin, JS and Akyol, TY and Sandal, N and Asp, T and Hirakawa, H and Stougaard, J and Mayer, KFX and Sato, S and Andersen, SU}, title = {Insights into the evolution of symbiosis gene copy number and distribution from a chromosome-scale Lotus japonicus Gifu genome sequence.}, journal = {DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32658273}, issn = {1756-1663}, mesh = {*Chromosomes ; *Gene Dosage ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genomics ; Lotus/*genetics ; Medicago/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Lotus japonicus is a herbaceous perennial legume that has been used extensively as a genetically tractable model system for deciphering the molecular genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our aim is to improve the L. japonicus reference genome sequence, which has so far been based on Sanger and Illumina sequencing reads from the L. japonicus accession MG-20 and contained a large fraction of unanchored contigs. Here, we use long PacBio reads from L. japonicus Gifu combined with Hi-C data and new high-density genetic maps to generate a high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome assembly for L. japonicus. The assembly comprises 554 megabases of which 549 were assigned to six pseudomolecules that appear complete with telomeric repeats at their extremes and large centromeric regions with low gene density. The new L. japonicus Gifu reference genome and associated expression data represent valuable resources for legume functional and comparative genomics. Here, we provide a first example by showing that the symbiotic islands recently described in Medicago truncatula do not appear to be conserved in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid32657007, year = {2020}, author = {Depa, Ł and Kaszyca-Taszakowska, N and Taszakowski, A and Kanturski, M}, title = {Ant-induced evolutionary patterns in aphids.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {95}, number = {6}, pages = {1574-1589}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12629}, pmid = {32657007}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Aphids ; Biological Evolution ; Life Cycle Stages ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review investigates ant-aphid mutualism (trophobiosis), in particular focusing on evolutionary processes in aphids resulting from this interaction. This broad literature review allows us to revise existing views on certain aspects of this mutualism and provide the first timeline of its possible development over a geological timescale. We propose a new classification of ant-aphid mutualism with respect to its ecological characteristics and present new explanations of the development of certain morphological structures of aphids as resulting from adaptation to a trophobiotic relationship with ants. In light of these findings, the presence of the so-called 'trophobiotic organ' in all myrmecophilous aphids is questioned. We review various communication modes between aphids and mutualistic ants and the possible influence of this symbiosis on modifications of aphid life cycles. Recent evidence on the suspected role of endosymbiotic bacteria in the development of mutualism is discussed. Finally, we propose a first timeline of ant-aphid interactions leading to the development of particular adaptations of aphids to mutualism, from general interactions between diverging Aphidomorpha and ants in the late Mesozoic to more specific coevolution between the aphid tribe Fordini and the ant genus Lasius.}, } @article {pmid32656901, year = {2020}, author = {Britstein, M and Cerrano, C and Burgsdorf, I and Zoccarato, L and Kenny, NJ and Riesgo, A and Lalzar, M and Steindler, L}, title = {Sponge microbiome stability during environmental acquisition of highly specific photosymbionts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {3593-3607}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15165}, pmid = {32656901}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {1243/16//Israel Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*growth & development ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Microbiota ; Oxidative Stress ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In this study, we used in situ transplantations to provide the first evidence of horizontal acquisition of cyanobacterial symbionts by a marine sponge. The acquisition of the symbionts by the host sponge Petrosia ficiformis, which was observed in distinct visible patches, appeared several months after transplantation and at different times on different sponge specimens. We further used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of genomic DNA (gDNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA) and metatranscriptomics to investigate how the acquisition of the symbiotic cyanobacterium Candidatus Synechococcus feldmannii perturbed the diverse microbiota associated with the host P. ficiformis. To our surprise, the microbiota remained relatively stable during cyanobacterial symbiont acquisition at both structural (gDNA content) and activity (cDNA expression) levels. At the transcriptomic level, photosynthesis was the primary function gained following the acquisition of cyanobacteria. Genes involved in carotene production and oxidative stress tolerance were among those highly expressed by Ca. S. feldmannii, suggesting that this symbiont may protect itself and its host from damaging light radiation.}, } @article {pmid32656617, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, Y and Lu, D and Joseph, R and Li, T and Keyhani, NO}, title = {High efficiency transformation and mutant screening of the laurel wilt pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {17}, pages = {7331-7343}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-020-10762-1}, pmid = {32656617}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Ericaceae ; *Ophiostomatales ; Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The fungal pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, is the causative agent of laurel wilt, a devastating disease affecting the Lauraceae family. The fungus is vectored by ambrosia beetles that carry the fungus in specialized structures (mycangia), with the fungus acting as a symbiont and food source for beetle larvae growing in tree galleries. In order to probe the molecular basis for plant pathogenicity and insect symbiosis of the laurel wilt fungus, molecular tools including establishment of efficient transformation protocols are required. Resistance marker profiling revealed susceptibility of R. lauricola to phosphinothricin, chlorimuron ethyl, hygromycin, and benomyl. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using either the bar or sur marker resulted in 1-200 transformants/10[5] spores. A second protocol using lithium acetate-polyethylene glycol (LiAc-PEG) treatment of fungal blastospores yielded 5-60 transformants/μg DNA/10[8] cells. Transformants were mitotically stable (at least 5 generations), and > 95% of transformants showed a single integration event. R. lauricola strains expressing green and red fluorescent proteins (EGFP and RFP), as well as glucuronidase (GUS), were constructed. Using the Agrobacterium-mediated method, a random T-DNA insertion library was constructed, and genetic screens led to the isolation of developmental mutants as well as mutants displaying enhanced resistance to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or fluconazole, and those showing decreased susceptibility to biphenol. These results establish simple and reliable genetic tools for transformation of R. lauricola needed for genetic dissection of the symbiotic and virulent lifestyles exhibited by this fungus and establish a library of insertion mutants that can be used in various genetic screens to dissect molecular pathways. KEY POINTS: • Vectors and transformation protocols were developed for Raffaelea lauricola. • Method was used for construction of a random insertion mutant library. • Mutant library was validated by phenotypic screens for resistance and susceptibility to various agents.}, } @article {pmid32656593, year = {2020}, author = {Ling, L and Tu, Y and Ma, W and Feng, S and Yang, C and Zhao, Y and Wang, N and Li, Z and Lu, L and Zhang, J}, title = {A potentially important resource: endophytic yeasts.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {8}, pages = {110}, doi = {10.1007/s11274-020-02889-0}, pmid = {32656593}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Endophytes/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fruit/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recent advancements in the research on endophytes isolated from plants and crops have greatly broadened its application in various fields. Endophytic bacteria and endophytic fungi are known to promote the growth of various plants. Besides, the secondary metabolites such as alcohol and xylitol secreted by the endophytic yeast also help their hosts to resist microbial invasion. This makes them a potential substitute for chemical-based control methods. Moreover, the plant hosts can also provide nutrients for the growth of endophytic yeasts. To achieve the symbiotic relationship, yeasts must colonize most parts of the plant tissues, including intercellular spaces, cytoplasm, stomata of seeds, roots, stems, leaves, and fruits as well. Conventionally, isolation of endophytic yeasts from different plant tissues and understanding their interior plants colonization mechanism have remainedkey strategies to exploit their key potentials. In this review, we will elaborate on the diversity, characteristics of colonization, and the factors that influence the distribution of endophytic yeasts. This review also lays a theoretical foundation for the application of endophytic yeasts in various industrial and agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid32655608, year = {2020}, author = {Gualtieri, C and Leonetti, P and Macovei, A}, title = {Plant miRNA Cross-Kingdom Transfer Targeting Parasitic and Mutualistic Organisms as a Tool to Advance Modern Agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {930}, pmid = {32655608}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs), defined as small non-coding RNA molecules, are fine regulators of gene expression. In plants, miRNAs are well-known for regulating processes spanning from cell development to biotic and abiotic stress responses. Recently, miRNAs have been investigated for their potential transfer to distantly related organisms where they may exert regulatory functions in a cross-kingdom fashion. Cross-kingdom miRNA transfer has been observed in host-pathogen relations as well as symbiotic or mutualistic relations. All these can have important implications as plant miRNAs can be exploited to inhibit pathogen development or aid mutualistic relations. Similarly, miRNAs from eukaryotic organisms can be transferred to plants, thus suppressing host immunity. This two-way lane could have a significant impact on understanding inter-species relations and, more importantly, could leverage miRNA-based technologies for agricultural practices. Additionally, artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs) produced by engineered plants can be transferred to plant-feeding organisms in order to specifically regulate their cross-kingdom target genes. This minireview provides a brief overview of cross-kingdom plant miRNA transfer, focusing on parasitic and mutualistic relations that can have an impact on agricultural practices and discusses some opportunities related to miRNA-based technologies. Although promising, miRNA cross-kingdom transfer remains a debated argument. Several mechanistic aspects, such as the availability, transfer, and uptake of miRNAs, as well as their potential to alter gene expression in a cross-kingdom manner, remain to be addressed.}, } @article {pmid32655513, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, Y and Li, YH and Shang, JY and Wang, ET and Chen, L and Huo, B and Sui, XH and Tian, CF and Chen, WF and Chen, WX}, title = {Multiple Genes of Symbiotic Plasmid and Chromosome in Type II Peanut Bradyrhizobium Strains Corresponding to the Incompatible Symbiosis With Vigna radiata.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1175}, pmid = {32655513}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobia are capable of establishing compatible symbiosis with their hosts of origin and plants in the cross-nodulation group that the hosts of origin belonged to. However, different from the normal peanut Bradyrhizobium (Type I strains), the Type II strains showed incompatible symbiosis with Vigna radiata. Here, we employed transposon mutagenesis to identify the genetic loci related to this incompatibility in Type II strain CCBAU 53363. As results, seven Tn5 transposon insertion mutants resulted in an increase in nodule number on V. radiata. By sequencing analysis of the sequence flanking Tn5 insertion, six mutants were located in the chromosome of CCBAU 53363, respectively encoding acyltransferase (L265) and hypothetical protein (L615)-unique to CCBAU 53363, two hypothetical proteins (L4 and L82), tripartite tricarboxylate transporter substrate binding protein (L373), and sulfur oxidation c-type cytochrome SoxA (L646), while one mutant was in symbiotic plasmid encoding alanine dehydrogenase (L147). Significant differences were observed in L147 gene sequences and the deduced protein 3D structures between the Type II (in symbiotic plasmid) and Type I strains (in chromosome). Conversely, strains in both types shared high homologies in the chromosome genes L373 and L646 and in their protein 3D structures. These data indicated that the symbiotic plasmid gene in Type II strains might have directly affected their symbiosis incompatibility, whereas the chromosome genes might be indirectly involved in this process by regulating the plasmid symbiosis genes. The seven genes may initially explain the complication associated with symbiotic incompatibility.}, } @article {pmid32654271, year = {2020}, author = {Christensen, DG and Marsden, AE and Hodge-Hanson, K and Essock-Burns, T and Visick, KL}, title = {LapG mediates biofilm dispersal in Vibrio fischeri by controlling maintenance of the VCBS-containing adhesin LapV.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {114}, number = {5}, pages = {742-761}, pmid = {32654271}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Decapodiformes/metabolism ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Efficient symbiotic colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri depends on bacterial biofilm formation on the surface of the squid's light organ. Subsequently, the bacteria disperse from the biofilm via an unknown mechanism and enter through pores to reach the interior colonization sites. Here, we identify a homolog of Pseudomonas fluorescens LapG as a dispersal factor that promotes cleavage of a biofilm-promoting adhesin, LapV. Overproduction of LapG inhibited biofilm formation and, unlike the wild-type parent, a ΔlapG mutant formed biofilms in vitro. Although V. fischeri encodes two putative large adhesins, LapI (near lapG on chromosome II) and LapV (on chromosome I), only the latter contributed to biofilm formation. Consistent with the Pseudomonas Lap system model, our data support a role for the predicted c-di-GMP-binding protein LapD in inhibiting LapG-dependent dispersal. Furthermore, we identified a phosphodiesterase, PdeV, whose loss promotes biofilm formation similar to that of the ΔlapG mutant and dependent on both LapD and LapV. Finally, we found a minor defect for a ΔlapD mutant in initiating squid colonization, indicating a role for the Lap system in a relevant environmental niche. Together, these data reveal new factors and provide important insights into biofilm dispersal by V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid32654150, year = {2020}, author = {Raven, JA and Suggett, DJ and Giordano, M}, title = {Inorganic carbon concentrating mechanisms in free-living and symbiotic dinoflagellates and chromerids.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {6}, pages = {1377-1397}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13050}, pmid = {32654150}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Carbon ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic dinoflagellates are ecologically and biogeochemically important in marine and freshwater environments. However, surprisingly little is known of how this group acquires inorganic carbon or how these diverse processes evolved. Consequently, how CO2 availability ultimately influences the success of dinoflagellates over space and time remains poorly resolved compared to other microalgal groups. Here we review the evidence. Photosynthetic core dinoflagellates have a Form II RuBisCO (replaced by Form IB or Form ID in derived dinoflagellates). The in vitro kinetics of the Form II RuBisCO from dinoflagellates are largely unknown, but dinoflagellates with Form II (and other) RuBisCOs have inorganic carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), as indicated by in vivo internal inorganic C accumulation and affinity for external inorganic C. However, the location of the membrane(s) at which the essential active transport component(s) of the CCM occur(s) is (are) unresolved; isolation and characterization of functionally competent chloroplasts would help in this respect. Endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae (in Foraminifera, Acantharia, Radiolaria, Ciliata, Porifera, Acoela, Cnidaria, and Mollusca) obtain inorganic C by transport from seawater through host tissue. In corals this transport apparently provides an inorganic C concentration around the photobiont that obviates the need for photobiont CCM. This is not the case for tridacnid bivalves, medusae, or, possibly, Foraminifera. Overcoming these long-standing knowledge gaps relies on technical advances (e.g., the in vitro kinetics of Form II RuBisCO) that can functionally track the fate of inorganic C forms.}, } @article {pmid32651209, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, P and Hu, Y and Tang, F and Zhao, M and Peng, X and Shen, S}, title = {Cooperation between Broussonetia papyrifera and Its Symbiotic Fungal Community To Improve Local Adaptation of the Host.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {32651209}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Broussonetia/*genetics/*microbiology ; Fungi/*isolation & purification ; *Genetic Variation ; *Mycobiome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genetic basis of plant local adaptation has been extensively studied, yet the interplay between local adaptation, plant genetic divergence, and the microbial community remains unclear. Our study used the restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) approach to explore genetic divergence in Broussonetia papyrifera and used internal transcribed spacers (ITS) to characterize fungal community. RAD-seq results show that B. papyrifera individuals could be divided into three genotypes; this genotyping result was consistent with the classification of climate type at the sample site. Most of the 101 highly differentiated genes were related to stress resistance and the microbiome. Moreover, β-diversity results indicated that genetic divergence had a significant effect on fungal community across all compartments (P < 0.01). At genus and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, Mortierella, Hannaella oryzae, OTU81578 (Mortierella), and OTU1665209 (H. oryzae) were found to be the major OTUs that contribute to differences in fungal community. The properties of cooccurrence networks vary greatly among three genotypes. The results of redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that B. papyrifera-associated fungal community was significantly related to its local adaptability. Our findings suggest that genetic divergence of B. papyrifera is closely related to local adaptation, with significant effects on the associated fungal community, which in turn would enhance host local adaptability. This improves present understanding about the coevolution of microbial communities and the host plant.IMPORTANCE The coevolution of plants with the associated fungal community and its effect on plant adaptability are not clear, especially for native trees. This study focuses on the genetic basis of local adaptation in plants and the effect of genetic divergence of Broussonetia papyrifera on the associated fungal community. We identified genes related to the microbiome that are important for local adaptation of the host. Our results show that genetic divergence in B. papyrifera significantly affects the fungal community, which has a close connection with local adaptation. This helps us to understand the relationship between local adaptation, genetic divergence, and associated fungal communities. This study highlights the effect of plant genetic divergence on associated fungal community for native trees and establishes a close connection between this effect and local adaptability in the host. In addition, these observations lay a foundation for the research of coevolution of plants and their symbiotic microbiome through genome-wide association study (GWAS).}, } @article {pmid32651206, year = {2020}, author = {Ferguson, S and Major, AS and Sullivan, JT and Bourke, SD and Kelly, SJ and Perry, BJ and Ronson, CW}, title = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii NodD2 Enhances Competitive Nodule Colonization in the Clover-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {32651206}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Establishment of the symbiotic relationship that develops between rhizobia and their legume hosts is contingent upon an interkingdom signal exchange. In response to host legume flavonoids, NodD proteins from compatible rhizobia activate expression of nodulation genes that produce lipochitin oligosaccharide signaling molecules known as Nod factors. Root nodule formation commences upon legume recognition of compatible Nod factor. Rhizobium leguminosarum was previously considered to contain one copy of nodD; here, we show that some strains of the Trifolium (clover) microsymbiont R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii contain a second copy designated nodD2. nodD2 genes were present in 8 out of 13 strains of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii, but were absent from the genomes of 16 R. leguminosarum bv. viciae strains. Analysis of single and double nodD1 and nodD2 mutants in R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain TA1 revealed that NodD2 was functional and enhanced nodule colonization competitiveness. However, NodD1 showed significantly greater capacity to induce nod gene expression and infection thread formation. Clover species are either annual or perennial and this phenological distinction is rarely crossed by individual R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii microsymbionts for effective symbiosis. Of 13 strains with genome sequences available, 7 of the 8 effective microsymbionts of perennial hosts contained nodD2, whereas the 3 microsymbionts of annual hosts did not. We hypothesize that NodD2 inducer recognition differs from NodD1, and NodD2 functions to enhance competition and effective symbiosis, which may discriminate in favor of perennial hosts.IMPORTANCE Establishment of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis requires a highly specific and complex signal exchange between both participants. Rhizobia perceive legume flavonoid compounds through LysR-type NodD regulators. Often, rhizobia encode multiple copies of nodD, which is one determinant of host specificity. In some species of rhizobia, the presence of multiple copies of NodD extends their symbiotic host-range. Here, we identified and characterized a second copy of nodD present in some strains of the clover microsymbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii. The second nodD gene contributed to the competitive ability of the strain on white clover, an important forage legume. A screen for strains containing nodD2 could be utilized as one criterion to select strains with enhanced competitive ability for use as inoculants for pasture production.}, } @article {pmid32650264, year = {2020}, author = {Nguyen, TT and Nguyen, TT and An Binh, Q and Bui, XT and Ngo, HH and Vo, HNP and Andrew Lin, KY and Vo, TD and Guo, W and Lin, C and Breider, F}, title = {Co-culture of microalgae-activated sludge for wastewater treatment and biomass production: Exploring their role under different inoculation ratios.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {314}, number = {}, pages = {123754}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123754}, pmid = {32650264}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biomass ; Coculture Techniques ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Sewage ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {In this study, mixed culture (microalgae:activated sludge) of a photobioreactor (PBR) were investigated at different inoculation ratios (1:0, 9:1, 3:1, 1:1, 0:1 wt/wt). This work was not only to determine the optimal ratio for pollutant remediation and biomass production but also to explore the role of microorganisms in the co-culture system. The results showed high total biomass concentrations were obtained from 1:0 and 3:1 ratio being values of 1.06, 1.12 g L[-1], respectively. Microalgae played a dominant role in nitrogen removal via biological assimilation while activated sludge was responsible for improving COD removal. Compared with the single culture of microalgae, the symbiosis between microalgae and bacteria occurred at 3:1 and 1:1 ratio facilitated a higher COD removal by 37.5-45.7 %. In general, combined assessment based on treatment performance and biomass productivity facilitated to select an optimal ratio of 3:1 for the operation of the co-culture PBR.}, } @article {pmid32650104, year = {2021}, author = {Jannat, MAH and Lee, J and Shin, SG and Hwang, S}, title = {Long-term enrichment of anaerobic propionate-oxidizing consortia: Syntrophic culture development and growth optimization.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {401}, number = {}, pages = {123230}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123230}, pmid = {32650104}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; *Bioreactors ; Growth and Development ; Methane ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Propionates ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Propionate is a quantitatively important methanogenic intermediate in anaerobic digesters and only limited number of microbes can utilize it under syntrophic association with methanogens. The syntrophic propionate oxidizing bacterias are known to be slow growers due to the low energy yield. Thus, propionate get accumulated frequently in anaerobic digesters and it negatively affect digester performance. In this study, propionate degrading consortia from four different seeding sources were enriched in sequential bath mode in two phases; first adaption phase with 1 g/L of propionate concentration and later, high-strength phase with 3 g/L. From 16s rRNA gene based metagenomics analysis of the former phase, four syntrophic microbial groups, Syntrophaceae, Syntrophomonadaceae, Methanobacterium and Methanosaeta were found to be dominant with complete degradation of propionate. The substrate accelerated microbial shifts were observed at high-strength phase with significant decrease of Syntrophaceae up to 26.9 %. Using Response Surface Methodology, pH 6.8-6.9 and temperature 34.5-34.9 °C were found to be optimum growth conditions for the propionate degradation culture. Observed results could be useful to improve degradation efficiencies and obtained enriched culture can be used to recover propionate-accumulated digesters by bio-augmentation.}, } @article {pmid32647969, year = {2020}, author = {Behr, M and Baldacci-Cresp, F and Kohler, A and Morreel, K and Goeminne, G and Van Acker, R and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Mol, A and Pilate, G and Boerjan, W and de Almeida Engler, J and El Jaziri, M and Baucher, M}, title = {Alterations in the phenylpropanoid pathway affect poplar ability for ectomycorrhizal colonisation and susceptibility to root-knot nematodes.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {5}, pages = {555-566}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00976-6}, pmid = {32647969}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lignin ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Nematoda ; *Populus ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study investigates the impact of the alteration of the monolignol biosynthesis pathway on the establishment of the in vitro interaction of poplar roots either with a mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungus or with a pathogenic root-knot nematode. Overall, the five studied transgenic lines downregulated for caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT), caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) or both COMT and CAD displayed a lower mycorrhizal colonisation percentage, indicating a lower ability for establishing mutualistic interaction than the wild-type. The susceptibility to root-knot nematode infection was variable in the five lines, and the CAD-deficient line was found to be less susceptible than the wild-type. We discuss these phenotypic differences in the light of the large shifts in the metabolic profile and gene expression pattern occurring between roots of the CAD-deficient line and wild-type. A role of genes related to trehalose metabolism, phytohormones, and cell wall construction in the different mycorrhizal symbiosis efficiency and nematode sensitivity between these two lines is suggested. Overall, these results show that the alteration of plant metabolism caused by the repression of a single gene within phenylpropanoid pathway results in significant alterations, at the root level, in the response towards mutualistic and pathogenic associates. These changes may constrain plant fitness and biomass production, which are of economic importance for perennial industrial crops such as poplar.}, } @article {pmid32647890, year = {2020}, author = {Giuliani, C and Franceschi, C and Luiselli, D and Garagnani, P and Ulijaszek, S}, title = {Ecological Sensing Through Taste and Chemosensation Mediates Inflammation: A Biological Anthropological Approach.}, journal = {Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {1671-1685}, pmid = {32647890}, issn = {2156-5376}, mesh = {Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; *Taste ; Taste Buds ; Taste Perception ; }, abstract = {Ecological sensing and inflammation have evolved to ensure optima between organism survival and reproductive success in different and changing environments. At the molecular level, ecological sensing consists of many types of receptors located in different tissues that orchestrate integrated responses (immune, neuroendocrine systems) to external and internal stimuli. This review describes emerging data on taste and chemosensory receptors, proposing them as broad ecological sensors and providing evidence that taste perception is shaped not only according to sense epitopes from nutrients but also in response to highly diverse external and internal stimuli. We apply a biological anthropological approach to examine how ecological sensing has been shaped by these stimuli through human evolution for complex interkingdom communication between a host and pathological and symbiotic bacteria, focusing on population-specific genetic diversity. We then focus on how these sensory receptors play a major role in inflammatory processes that form the basis of many modern common metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and aging. The impacts of human niche construction and cultural evolution in shaping environments are described with emphasis on consequent biological responsiveness.}, } @article {pmid32647884, year = {2020}, author = {Wiley, CA}, title = {Emergent Viral Infections of the CNS.}, journal = {Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology}, volume = {79}, number = {8}, pages = {823-842}, doi = {10.1093/jnen/nlaa054}, pmid = {32647884}, issn = {1554-6578}, mesh = {Animals ; Birds ; Central Nervous System Viral Diseases/*epidemiology/prevention & control/*transmission ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Influenza in Birds/epidemiology/prevention & control/transmission ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology/prevention & control/transmission ; West Nile Fever/epidemiology/prevention & control/transmission ; Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology/prevention & control/transmission ; Zoonoses/*epidemiology/prevention & control/*transmission ; }, abstract = {Biological evolution of the microbiome continually drives the emergence of human viral pathogens, a subset of which attack the nervous system. The sheer number of pathogens that have appeared, along with their abundance in the environment, demand our attention. For the most part, our innate and adaptive immune systems have successfully protected us from infection; however, in the past 5 decades, through pathogen mutation and ecosystem disruption, a dozen viruses emerged to cause significant neurologic disease. Most of these pathogens have come from sylvatic reservoirs having made the energetically difficult, and fortuitously rare, jump into humans. But the human microbiome is also replete with agents already adapted to the host that need only minor mutations to create neurotropic/toxic agents. While each host/virus symbiosis is unique, this review examines virologic and immunologic principles that govern the pathogenesis of different viral CNS infections that were described in the past 50 years (Influenza, West Nile Virus, Zika, Rift Valley Fever Virus, Hendra/Nipah, Enterovirus-A71/-D68, Human parechovirus, HIV, and SARS-CoV). Knowledge of these pathogens provides us the opportunity to respond and mitigate infection while at the same time prepare for inevitable arrival of unknown agents.}, } @article {pmid32647533, year = {2020}, author = {Fan, Y and Wang, X and Li, H and Liu, S and Jin, L and Lyu, Y and Shi, M and Liu, S and Yang, X and Lyu, S}, title = {Anthocyanin, a novel and user-friendly reporter for convenient, non-destructive, low cost, directly visual selection of transgenic hairy roots in the study of rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {94}, pmid = {32647533}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation provides a powerful tool for investigating the functions of plant genes involved in rhizobia-legume symbiosis. However, in the traditional identification methods of transgenic hairy roots based on reporter genes, an expensive chemical substrate or equipment is required.

RESULTS: Here, we report a novel, low cost, and robust reporter for convenient, non-destructive, and directly visual selection of transgenic hairy roots by naked eye, which can be used in the study of rhizobia-legume symbiosis. The reporter gene AtMyb75 in Arabidopsis, encoding an R2R3 type MYB transcription factor, was ectopically expressed in hairy roots-mediated by A. rhizogenes, which induced purple/red colored anthocyanin accumulation in crop species like soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and two model legume species, Lotus japonicas and Medicago truncatula. Transgenic hairy roots of legumes containing anthocyanin can establish effective symbiosis with rhizobia. We also demonstrated the reliability of AtMyb75 as a reporter gene by CRISPR/Cas9-targeted mutagenesis of the soybean resistance to nodulation Rfg1 gene in the soybean PI377578 (Nod-) inoculated with Sinorhizobium fredii USDA193. Without exception, mature nitrogen-fixation nodules, were formed on purple transgenic hairy roots containing anthocyanin.

CONCLUSIONS: Anthocyanin is a reliable, user-friendly, convenient, non-destructive, low cost, directly visual reporter for studying symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodule development and could be widely applied in broad leguminous plants.}, } @article {pmid32647198, year = {2020}, author = {Loussert-Fonta, C and Toullec, G and Paraecattil, AA and Jeangros, Q and Krueger, T and Escrig, S and Meibom, A}, title = {Correlation of fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, and NanoSIMS stable isotope imaging on a single tissue section.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {362}, pmid = {32647198}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Carbon Radioisotopes/*analysis ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods ; Microscopy, Electron/*methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission/*methods ; Microscopy, Fluorescence/*methods ; Nitrogen Radioisotopes/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Correlative light and electron microscopy allows localization of specific molecules at the ultrastructural level in biological tissue but does not provide information about metabolic turnover or the distribution of labile molecules, such as micronutrients. We present a method to directly correlate (immuno)fluorescent microscopy, (immuno)TEM imaging and NanoSIMS isotopic mapping of the same tissue section, with nanometer-scale spatial precision. The process involves chemical fixation of the tissue, cryo sectioning, thawing, and air-drying under a thin film of polyvinyl alcohol. It permits to effectively retain labile compounds and strongly increases NanoSIMS sensitivity for [13]C-enrichment. The method is illustrated here with correlated distribution maps of a carbonic anhydrase enzyme isotype, β-tubulin proteins, and [13]C- and [15]N-labeled labile micronutrients (and their anabolic derivates) within the tissue of a reef-building symbiotic coral. This broadly applicable workflow expands the wealth of information that can be obtained from multi-modal, sub-cellular observation of biological tissue.}, } @article {pmid32646473, year = {2020}, author = {He, C and Wang, W and Hou, J}, title = {Plant performance of enhancing licorice with dual inoculating dark septate endophytes and Trichoderma viride mediated via effects on root development.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {325}, pmid = {32646473}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; China ; Endophytes ; Glycyrrhiza/growth & development/*microbiology ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Phoma/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess whether licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) can benefit from dual inoculation by Trichoderma viride and dark septate endophytes (DSE) isolated from other medicinal plants.

METHODS: First, we isolated and identified three DSE (Paraboeremia putaminum, Scytalidium lignicola, and Phoma herbarum) and Trichoderma viride from medicinal plants growing in farmland of China. Second, we investigated the influences of these three DSE on the performance of licorice at different T. viride densities (1 × 10[6], 1 × 10[7], and 1 × 10[8] CFU/mL) under sterilised condition in a growth chamber.

RESULTS: Three DSE strains could colonize the roots of licorice, and they established a positive symbiosis with host plants depending on DSE species and T. viride densities. Inoculation of P. putaminum increased the root biomass, length, surface area, and root:shoot ratio. S. lignicola increased the root length, diameter and surface area and decreased the root:shoot ratio. P. herbarum increased the root biomass and surface area. T. viride increased the root biomass, length, and surface area. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis showed that DSE associated with T. viride augmented plant biomass and height, shoot branching, and root surface area. Variations in root morphology and biomass were attributed to differences in DSE species and T. viride density among treatments. P. putaminum or P. herbarum with low- or medium T. viride density and S. lignicola with low- or high T. viride density improved licorice root morphology and biomass.

CONCLUSIONS: DSE isolated from other medicinal plants enhanced the root growth of licorice plants under different densities T. viride conditions and may also be used to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid32645575, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, M and Xue, Z and Sun, S and Zhao, C and Liu, J and Liu, J and Zhao, Y}, title = {Co-culturing microalgae with endophytic bacteria increases nutrient removal efficiency for biogas purification.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {314}, number = {}, pages = {123766}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123766}, pmid = {32645575}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Coculture Techniques ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Nutrients ; Phosphorus ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Endophytic bacteria were isolated from Chlorella vulgaris and co-cultured with its host microalgae to determine whether this symbiotic system is suitable for purifying biogas and biogas slurry. Results showed that endophytic bacteria S395-1 and S395-2 belonged to different genera. Both strains promoted microalgae growth while improving photosynthetic performance, carbonic anhydrase activity, nutrient removal efficiency, and CO2 fixation. The optimal bacteria (S395-2)-to-microalgae ratio and co-culture duration were 10:1 and 7 days. Under this condition, the growth rate and carbonic anhydrase activity were 0.196 ± 0.06 d[-1] and 31.24 ± 0.28 EU/cell, respectively. The symbiotic system had removal efficiencies of 88.29 ± 5.03%, 88.31 ± 4.29%, 88.21 ± 4.51%, and 68.13 ± 1.69% for chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, phosphorus, and CO2, respectively. These results will provide a framework for constructing a microalgal-bacterial consortium that can improve wastewater treatment and enhance biogas quality.}, } @article {pmid32645055, year = {2020}, author = {He, C and Zhu, C}, title = {Nesting and foraging behavior of Xylocopa valga in the Ejina Oasis, China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e0235769}, pmid = {32645055}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bees ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecology ; Endangered Species ; *Feeding Behavior ; Forests ; Life Style ; *Nesting Behavior ; }, abstract = {Xylocopa valga is extinct in Latvia and Lithuania and is critically endangered in Poland, and its distribution in the Ejina Oasis, China, is currently unknown. Studies on the biology of X. valga are scarce, and thus, conservation efforts for this species are currently limited. Here, we investigated the morphological characteristics, nest architecture, nest structure and food type of offspring in the nest cells of X. valga. This research was conducted in the Populus euphratica forest reserve in the Ejina Oasis, China, between July 2014 and June 2019. The primary investigation methods included visual inspection, photography, observation and measurements of nest anatomy, and examination of pollen stores by microscopy. We found that in the Ejina Oasis, China, X. valga builds its nests in the dead wood of P. euphratica. X. valga is univoltine. Its lifestyle varies from solitude to symbiosis. When many females nest near each other, several females may share a single nest entrance, based on which they build their own cells. The nests are branched. According to our results, there is a significant difference between the thickness of the inner cell partition and that of the outermost cell partition in the branched tunnel. In the P. euphratica forest area, the food for the progeny of X. valga is mainly composed of the pollen and nectar of Sophora alopecuroide and Populus euphratica. Therefore, X. valga and S. alopecuroides exhibit close ecological interactions in the P. euphratica forest ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid32643762, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, K and Zhang, W and Yuan, J and Song, SL and Wu, H and Tang, MJ and Xu, FJ and Xie, XG and Dai, CC}, title = {Nitrogen fertilizer-regulated plant-fungi interaction is related to root invertase-induced hexose generation.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa139}, pmid = {32643762}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Fungi ; Hexoses ; *Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; *beta-Fructofuranosidase ; }, abstract = {The mechanisms underlying nitrogen (N)-regulated plant-fungi interactions are not well understood. N application modulates plant carbohydrate (C) sinks and is involved in the overall plant-fungal association. We hypothesized that N regulates plant-fungi interactions by influencing the carbohydrate metabolism. The mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris was found to prioritize host hexose resources through in vitro culture assays and in planta inoculation. Rice-Ph. liquidambaris systems were exposed to N gradients ranging from N-deficient to N-abundant conditions to study whether and how the sugar composition was involved in the dynamics of N-mediated fungal colonization. We found that root soluble acid invertases were activated, resulting in increased hexose fluxes in inoculated roots. These fluxes positively influenced fungal colonization, especially under N-deficient conditions. Further experiments manipulating the carbohydrate composition and root invertase activity through sugar feeding, chemical treatments and the use of different soil types revealed that the external disturbance of root invertase could reduce endophytic colonization and eliminate endophyte-induced host benefits under N-deficient conditions. Collectively, these results suggest that the activation of root invertase is related to N deficiency-enhanced endophytic colonization via increased hexose generation. Certain combinations of farmland ecosystems with suitable N inputs could be implemented to maximize the benefits of plant-fungi associations.}, } @article {pmid32640203, year = {2020}, author = {Li, F and Simon, MC}, title = {Cancer Cells Don't Live Alone: Metabolic Communication within Tumor Microenvironments.}, journal = {Developmental cell}, volume = {54}, number = {2}, pages = {183-195}, pmid = {32640203}, issn = {1878-1551}, support = {P01 CA104838/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA016520/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 CA220483/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 CA197262/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Communication ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Humans ; Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology ; Stromal Cells/*metabolism/pathology ; *Tumor Microenvironment/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Solid tumors reside in harsh tumor microenvironments (TMEs) together with various stromal cell types. During tumor progression and metastasis, both tumor and stromal cells undergo rapid metabolic adaptations. Tumor cells metabolically coordinate or compete with their "neighbors" to maintain biosynthetic and bioenergetic demands while escaping immunosurveillance or therapeutic interventions. Here, we provide an update on metabolic communication between tumor cells and heterogeneous stromal components in primary and metastatic TMEs and discuss emerging strategies to target metabolic communications for improved cancer treatments.}, } @article {pmid32639976, year = {2020}, author = {Tran, KN and Pham, N and Jang, SH and Lee, C}, title = {Purification and characterization of a novel medium-chain ribitol dehydrogenase from a lichen-associated bacterium Sphingomonas sp.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e0235718}, pmid = {32639976}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Ribitol/*metabolism ; Sequence Homology ; Sphingomonas/*enzymology/growth & development ; Substrate Specificity ; Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sugar alcohols (polyols) are abundant carbohydrates in lichen-forming algae and transported to other lichen symbionts, fungi, and bacteria. Particularly, ribitol is an abundant polyol in the lichen Cetraria sp. Polyols have important physiological roles in lichen symbiosis, but polyol utilization in lichen-associated bacteria has been largely unreported. Herein, we purified and characterized a novel ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH) from a Cetraria sp.-associated bacterium Sphingomonas sp. PAMC 26621 grown on a minimal medium containing D-ribitol (the RDH hereafter referred to as SpRDH). SpRDH is present as a trimer in its native form, and the molecular weight of SpRDH was estimated to be 39 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 117 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. SpRDH converted D-ribitol to D-ribulose using NAD+ as a cofactor. As far as we know, SpRDH is the first RDH belonging to the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family. Multiple sequence alignments indicated that the catalytic amino acid residues of SpRDH consist of Cys37, His65, Glu66, and Glu157, whereas those of short-chain RDHs consist of Ser, Tyr, and Lys. Furthermore, unlike other short-chain RDHs, SpRDH did not require divalent metal ions for its catalytic activity. Despite SpRDH originating from a psychrophilic Arctic bacterium, Sphingomonas sp., it had maximum activity at 60°C and exhibited high thermal stability within the 4-50°C range. Further studies on the structure/function relationship and catalytic mechanism of SpRDH will expand our understanding of its role in lichen symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32636854, year = {2020}, author = {Ingraffia, R and Amato, G and Sosa-Hernández, MA and Frenda, AS and Rillig, MC and Giambalvo, D}, title = {Nitrogen Type and Availability Drive Mycorrhizal Effects on Wheat Performance, Nitrogen Uptake and Recovery, and Production Sustainability.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {760}, pmid = {32636854}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant performance is strongly dependent on nitrogen (N), and thus increasing N nutrition is of great relevance for the productivity of agroecosystems. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on plant N acquisition are debated because contradictory results have been reported. Using [15]N-labeled fertilizers as a tracer, we evaluated the effects of AM fungi on N uptake and recovery from mineral or organic sources in durum wheat. Under sufficient N availability, AM fungi had no effects on plant biomass but increased N concentrations in plant tissue, plant N uptake, and total N recovered from the fertilizer. In N-deficient soil, AM fungi led to decreased aboveground biomass, which suggests that plants and AM fungi may have competed for N. When the organic source had a low C:N ratio, AM fungi favored both plant N uptake and N recovery. In contrast, when the organic source had a high C:N ratio, a clear reduction in N recovery from the fertilizer was observed. Overall, the results indicate an active role of arbuscular mycorrhizae in favoring plant N-related traits when N is not a limiting factor and show that these fungi help in N recovery from the fertilizer. These results hold great potential for increasing the sustainability of durum wheat production.}, } @article {pmid32636818, year = {2020}, author = {Ravenscraft, A and Thairu, MW and Hansen, AK and Hunter, MS}, title = {Continent-Scale Sampling Reveals Fine-Scale Turnover in a Beneficial Bug Symbiont.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1276}, pmid = {32636818}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many members of animal-associated microbial communities, including the gut flora, are acquired from their host's environment. While many of these communities are species rich, some true bugs (Hemiptera) in the superfamilies Lygaeoidea and Coreidae allow only ingested Burkholderia to colonize and reproduce in a large portion of the midgut. We studied the spatial structuring of Burkholderia associated with a widespread omnivorous bug genus, Jalysus (Berytidae). We sampled Wickham's stilt bug, Jalysus wickhami, across the United States and performed limited sampling of its sister species, the spined stilt bug Jalysus spinosus. We asked: (1) What Burkholderia strains are hosted by Jalysus at different locations? (2) Does host insect species, host plant species, or location influence the strain these insects acquire? (3) How does Burkholderia affect the development and reproductive fitness of J. wickhami? We found: (1) Sixty-one Burkholderia strains were present across a sample of 352 individuals, but one strain dominated, accounting for almost half of all symbiont reads. Most strains were closely related to other hemipteran Burkholderia symbionts. (2) Many individuals hosted more than one strain of Burkholderia. (3) J. wickhami and J. spinosus did not differ in the strains they hosted. (4) Insects that fed on different plant species tended to host different Burkholderia, but this accounted for only 4% of the variation in strains hosted. In contrast, the location at which an insect was collected explained 27% of the variation in symbiont strains. (5) Burkholderia confers important fitness benefits to J. wickhami. In laboratory experiments, aposymbiotic (Burkholderia-free) insects developed more slowly and laid fewer eggs than symbiotic (Burkholderia-colonized) insects. (6) In the lab, nymphs sometimes acquired Burkholderia via indirect exposure to adults, indicating that horizontal symbiont transmission can occur via adult insect-mediated enrichment of Burkholderia in the local environment - a phenomenon not previously reported in bug-Burkholderia relationships. Taken together, the results suggest that for these bugs, critical nutritional requirements are outsourced to a highly diverse and spatially structured collection of Burkholderia strains acquired from the environment and, occasionally, from conspecific adults.}, } @article {pmid32635866, year = {2020}, author = {Uchiumi, Y and Sasaki, A}, title = {Evolution of division of labour in mutualistic symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1930}, pages = {20200669}, pmid = {32635866}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiosis can be regarded as interspecific division of labour, which can improve the productivity of metabolites and services but deteriorate the ability to live without partners. Interestingly, even in environmentally acquired symbiosis, involved species often rely exclusively on the partners despite the lethal risk of missing partners. To examine this paradoxical evolution, we explored the coevolutionary dynamics in symbiotic species for the amount of investment in producing their essential metabolites, which symbiotic species can share. Our study has shown that, even if obtaining partners is difficult, 'perfect division of labour' (PDL) can be maintained evolutionarily, where each species perfectly specializes in producing one of the essential metabolites so that every member entirely depends on the others for survival, i.e. in exchange for losing the ability of living alone. Moreover, the coevolutionary dynamics shows multistability with other states including a state without any specialization. It can cause evolutionary hysteresis: once PDL has been achieved evolutionarily when obtaining partners was relatively easy, it is not reverted even if obtaining partners becomes difficult later. Our study suggests that obligate mutualism with a high degree of mutual specialization can evolve and be maintained easier than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid32635398, year = {2020}, author = {Takeshita, K and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Genomic Comparison of Insect Gut Symbionts from Divergent Burkholderia Subclades.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32635398}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Stink bugs of the superfamilies Coreoidea and Lygaeoidea establish gut symbioses with environmentally acquired bacteria of the genus Burkholderia sensu lato. In the genus Burkholderia, the stink bug-associated strains form a monophyletic clade, named stink bug-associated beneficial and environmental (SBE) clade (or Caballeronia). Recently, we revealed that members of the family Largidae of the superfamily Pyrrhocoroidea are associated with Burkholderia but not specifically with the SBE Burkholderia; largid bugs harbor symbionts that belong to a clade of plant-associated group of Burkholderia, called plant-associated beneficial and environmental (PBE) clade (or Paraburkholderia). To understand the genomic features of Burkholderia symbionts of stink bugs, we isolated two symbiotic Burkholderia strains from a bordered plant bug Physopellta gutta (Pyrrhocoroidea: Largidae) and determined their complete genomes. The genome sizes of the insect-associated PBE (iPBE) are 9.5 Mb and 11.2 Mb, both of which are larger than the genomes of the SBE Burkholderia symbionts. A whole-genome comparison between two iPBE symbionts and three SBE symbionts highlighted that all previously reported symbiosis factors are shared and that 282 genes are specifically conserved in the five stink bug symbionts, over one-third of which have unknown function. Among the symbiont-specific genes, about 40 genes formed a cluster in all five symbionts; this suggests a "symbiotic island" in the genome of stink bug-associated Burkholderia.}, } @article {pmid32635364, year = {2020}, author = {Popay, AJ and Jensen, JG and Mace, WJ}, title = {Root Herbivory: Grass Species, Epichloë Endophytes and Moisture Status Make a Difference.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32635364}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The root-feeding scarab insect Costelytra giveni causes severe damage to pasture ecosystems in New Zealand. Loline alkaloids produced by some Epichloë endophytes deter this insect. In two experiments, tall fescue infected with E. coenophiala, strain AR584, and endophyte-free (Nil) controls were subjected to pulse drought stress (DS) or well-watered conditions (WW). The second experiment also included meadow fescue infected with E. uncinata. After 4-6 weeks exposure to the different conditions, roots were excised and fed to C. giveni larvae for 7 days. Relative root consumption (RC), frass production, and relative weight change (RWC) of larvae were measured and the loline content of roots determined. RC and frass output were higher for larvae feeding on Nil DS tall fescue than WW and reduced by AR584. RWC was also greater on DS than on WW Nil plants but reduced by endophyte only in DS plants. RC, frass output, and RWC of larvae were reduced by endophyte in DS and WW meadow fescue, but the effect was greater for WW plants. Loline alkaloid concentration in roots was significantly higher in DS than WW tall fescue in Experiment I but higher in WW than DS meadow fescue in Experiment II. These experiments have demonstrated that moisture status interacts with endophyte to differentially affect root herbivory in tall fescue and meadow fescue.}, } @article {pmid32634668, year = {2020}, author = {Shi, X and Gao, G and Tian, J and Wang, XC and Jin, X and Jin, P}, title = {Symbiosis of sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea in sewer systems.}, journal = {Environment international}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {105923}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2020.105923}, pmid = {32634668}, issn = {1873-6750}, mesh = {*Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria ; *Sewage ; Sulfates ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sulfide and methane emissions always simultaneously exist in natural environment and constitute a major topic of societal concern. However, the metabolic environments between sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and methanogenic archaea (MA) exist a great difference, which seems to be opposite to the coexisting phenomenon. To explore this issue, the comprehensive biofilm structures, substrate consuming and metabolism pathways of SRB and MA were investigated in a case study of urban sewers. The results showed that, due to the stricter environmental requirements of MA than SRB, SRB became the preponderant microorganism which promoted the rapid generation of sulfide in the initial period of biofilm formation. According to a metagenomic analysis, the SRB appeared to be more preferential than MA in sewers, and the preponderant SRB could provide a key medium (Methyl-coenzyme M) for methane metabolism. Therefore, the diversity of MA gradually increased, and the symbiosis system formed preliminarily. In addition, via L-cysteine, methane metabolism also participated in sulfide consumption which was involved in cysteine and methionine metabolism. This phenomenon of sulfide consumption led to the forward reaction of sulfide metabolism, which could promote sulfide generation while stabilizing the pH value (H[+] concentration) and S[2-] concentrations which should have inhibited SRB and MA production. Therefore, the heavily intertwined interactions between sulfide and methane metabolism provided environmental security for SRB and MA, and completely formed the symbiosis between SRB and MA. Based on these findings, an ecological model involving synergistic mechanism between sulfide and methane generation is proposed and this model can also improve understanding on the symbiosis of SRB and MA in the natural environment.}, } @article {pmid32634659, year = {2021}, author = {Hoang, SA and Lamb, D and Seshadri, B and Sarkar, B and Choppala, G and Kirkham, MB and Bolan, NS}, title = {Rhizoremediation as a green technology for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {401}, number = {}, pages = {123282}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123282}, pmid = {32634659}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Hydrocarbons ; *Petroleum ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Technology ; }, abstract = {Rhizoremediation is increasingly becoming a green and sustainable alternative to physico-chemical methods for remediation of contaminated environments through the utilization of symbiotic relationship between plants and their associated soil microorganisms in the root zone. The overall efficiency can be enhanced by identifying suitable plant-microbe combinations for specific contaminants and supporting the process with the application of appropriate soil amendments. This approach not only involves promoting the existing activity of plants and soil microbes, but also introduces an adequate number of microorganisms with specific catabolic activity. Here, we reviewed recent literature on the main mechanisms and key factors in the rhizoremediation process with a particular focus on soils contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH). We then discuss the potential of different soil amendments to accelerate the remediation efficiency based on biostimulation and bioaugmentation processes. Notwithstanding some successes in well-controlled environments, rhizoremediation of TPH under field conditions is still not widespread and considered less attractive than physico-chemical methods. We catalogued the major pitfalls of this remediation approach at the field scale in TPH-contaminated sites and, provide some applicable situations for the future successful use of in situ rhizoremediation of TPH-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid32634470, year = {2020}, author = {de Sá Almeida, JS and de Oliveira Marre, AT and Teixeira, FL and Boente, RF and Domingues, RMCP and de Paula, GR and Lobo, LA}, title = {Lactoferrin and lactoferricin B reduce adhesion and biofilm formation in the intestinal symbionts Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {Anaerobe}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {102232}, doi = {10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102232}, pmid = {32634470}, issn = {1095-8274}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Adhesion/*drug effects ; Bacteroides/*drug effects/*physiology ; Bacteroides fragilis/drug effects/physiology ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/drug effects/physiology ; Biofilms/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Lactoferrin/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Several factors affect the composition of species that inhabit our intestinal tract, including mode of delivery, genetics and nutrition. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins secreted in the gastrointestinal tract are powerful tools against bacteria. Lactoferrin (LF) inhibits the growth of several bacterial species, such as Enterobacteriaceae, but may stimulate probiotic bacteria. Activity of LF against gut symbiotic species of the Bacteroides genus could give us insights on how these species colonize the gut. We investigated the effects of the antimicrobial protein lactoferrin and its derived peptide, lactoferricin B on two species of strict anaerobes, opportunistic pathogens that cause diseases in both adults and children, commonly found in the microbiota of the human gastrointestinal tract, Bacteroides fragilis and B. thetaiotaomicron., In vitro biofilm formation and binding to laminin were strongly inhibited by a low concentration of lactoferrin (12.5 μg/ml). Conversely, the growth of the strains in a micro-dilution assay in minimal media with different iron sources was not affected by physiological concentrations (2 mg/ml) of apo-lactoferrin or holo-lactoferrin. The combination of lactoferrin with antibiotics in synergism assays was also negative. The lactoferricin B fragment was also unable to inhibit growth in a similar test with concentrations of up to 32 μg/ml. Resistance to lactoferrin could confer an advantage to these species, even when high amount of this protein is present in the gastrointestinal tract. However, colonization is hampered by the binding and biofilm inhibitiory effect of lactoferrin, which may explain the low prevalence of Bacteroides in healthy babies. Resistance to this antimicrobial protein may help understand the success of these opportunistic pathogens during infection in the peritoneum.}, } @article {pmid32634318, year = {2020}, author = {Meglouli, H and Fontaine, J and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A}, title = {Dioxins/furans disturb the life cycle of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis and chicory root elongation grown under axenic conditions.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {22}, number = {14}, pages = {1497-1504}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2020.1784089}, pmid = {32634318}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Chicory ; *Dioxins ; *Furans ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-assisted phytoremediation is a promising technology for sustainable removal of hazardous pollutants like dioxins/furans (PCDD/F) from the soil. However, little is known on AMF development in the presence of the persistent organic pollutants, PCDD/F. Thus, the present work aims at investigating the impact of increasing PCDD/F concentrations on the development of both partners of the symbiosis: the AMF, Rhizophagus irregularis and the chicory roots, Cichorium intybus L. grown under axenic conditions. Our results show that even R. irregularis spore germination is not affected by PCDD/F, it occurred mainly in linear way. However, root colonization, extra-radical hyphal elongation and sporulation are reduced by 40, 30, and 75%, respectively, at the highest PCDD/F concentration. In addition, while non-mycorrhizal root growth (length and dry weight) decreased at the highest PCDD/F concentration, no negative effect was observed on the dry weight of mycorrhizal roots. In conclusion, our findings show that although high PCDD/F concentrations disturb the main stages of R. irregularis development, the AMF remains able to fulfill its life cycle in the presence of PCDD/F. Moreover, the mycorrhizal inoculation protects the host plant against PCDD/F phytotoxicity. AMF could thus represent an interesting amendment option to assist phytoremediation of PCDD/F contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid32634260, year = {2020}, author = {Tanaka, A and Kamiya, S and Ozaki, Y and Kameoka, S and Kayano, Y and Saikia, S and Akano, F and Uemura, A and Takagi, H and Terauchi, R and Maruyama, JI and Hammadeh, HH and Fleissner, A and Scott, B and Takemoto, D}, title = {A nuclear protein NsiA from Epichloë festucae interacts with a MAP kinase MpkB and regulates the expression of genes required for symbiotic infection and hyphal cell fusion.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {114}, number = {4}, pages = {626-640}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.14568}, pmid = {32634260}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Cell Fusion ; Epichloe/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Lolium/metabolism/microbiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of cool-season grasses to establish a mutualistic symbiosis. Hyphal growth of the endophyte within the host plant is tightly regulated and synchronized with the growth of the host plant. A genetic screen to identify symbiotic genes identified mutant FR405 that had an antagonistic interaction with the host plant. Perennial ryegrass infected with the FR405 mutant were stunted and underwent premature senescence and death. The disrupted gene in FR405 encodes a nuclear-localized protein, designated as NsiA for nuclear protein for symbiotic infection. Like previously isolated symbiotic mutants the nsiA mutant is defective in hyphal cell fusion. NsiA interacts with Ste12, a C2H2 zinc-finger transcription factor, and a MAP kinase MpkB. Both are known as essential components for cell fusion in other fungal species. In E. festucae, MpkB, but not Ste12, is essential for cell fusion. Expression of several genes required for cell fusion and symbiosis, including proA/adv-1, pro41/ham-6, ham7, ham8, and ham9 were downregulated in the nsiA mutant. However, the NsiA ortholog in Neurospora crassa was not essential for hyphal cell fusion. These results demonstrate that the roles of NsiA and Ste12 orthologs in hyphal cell fusion are distinctive between fungal species.}, } @article {pmid32633756, year = {2020}, author = {Tovo, A and Menzel, P and Krogh, A and Cosentino Lagomarsino, M and Suweis, S}, title = {Taxonomic classification method for metagenomics based on core protein families with Core-Kaiju.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {48}, number = {16}, pages = {e93}, pmid = {32633756}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Databases, Protein ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics/*methods ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Characterizing species diversity and composition of bacteria hosted by biota is revolutionizing our understanding of the role of symbiotic interactions in ecosystems. Determining microbiomes diversity implies the assignment of individual reads to taxa by comparison to reference databases. Although computational methods aimed at identifying the microbe(s) taxa are available, it is well known that inferences using different methods can vary widely depending on various biases. In this study, we first apply and compare different bioinformatics methods based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene and shotgun sequencing to three mock communities of bacteria, of which the compositions are known. We show that none of these methods can infer both the true number of taxa and their abundances. We thus propose a novel approach, named Core-Kaiju, which combines the power of shotgun metagenomics data with a more focused marker gene classification method similar to 16S, but based on emergent statistics of core protein domain families. We thus test the proposed method on various mock communities and we show that Core-Kaiju reliably predicts both number of taxa and abundances. Finally, we apply our method on human gut samples, showing how Core-Kaiju may give more accurate ecological characterization and a fresh view on real microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid32633125, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, Y and Nan, X and Zhao, Y and Wang, H and Wang, M and Jiang, L and Zhang, F and Xue, F and Hua, D and Li, K and Liu, J and Yao, J and Xiong, B}, title = {Coupling 16S rDNA Sequencing and Untargeted Mass Spectrometry for Milk Microbial Composition and Metabolites from Dairy Cows with Clinical and Subclinical Mastitis.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {68}, number = {31}, pages = {8496-8508}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03738}, pmid = {32633125}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections/metabolism/microbiology/*veterinary ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/*genetics ; Female ; Mammary Glands, Animal/metabolism/microbiology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mastitis, Bovine/metabolism/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; Milk/chemistry/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The internal environment of the cow's udder directly affects the udder health and milk quality. 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods were used to investigate the significant differences in milk microbial diversity and metabolites among cows that are healthy (H) and those suffering from subclinical mastitis (SM) and clinical mastitis (CM). Results uncovered more than 16 and 192 differently abundant microbiota at the phylum and genus levels, respectively, and 673 different levels of metabolites enriched in 20 pathways in milk among the 3 groups. This study revealed the positive relevance between Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and ceramide in milk from CM cows. Similarly, Acinetobacter and Corynebacterium were positively associated with testosterone glucuronide and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate, in milk from SM cows. On the basis of the combined analysis of microbiome and metabolome, this study indicated that, apart from the exogenous pathogens, some beneficial symbiotic bacteria, such as Dietzia, Aeromicrobium, Alistipes, and Sphingobacterium, rarely reported in milk have been found to be significantly reduced during mastitis.}, } @article {pmid32632014, year = {2020}, author = {Carter, ME and Carpenter, SCD and Dubrow, ZE and Sabol, MR and Rinaldi, FC and Lastovetsky, OA and Mondo, SJ and Pawlowska, TE and Bogdanove, AJ}, title = {A TAL effector-like protein of an endofungal bacterium increases the stress tolerance and alters the transcriptome of the host.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {29}, pages = {17122-17129}, pmid = {32632014}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM098861/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR025502/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Burkholderia/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; *Rhizopus/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcription Activator-Like Effectors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbioses of bacteria with fungi have only recently been described and are poorly understood. In the symbiosis of Mycetohabitans (formerly Burkholderia) rhizoxinica with the fungus Rhizopus microsporus, bacterial type III (T3) secretion is known to be essential. Proteins resembling T3-secreted transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors of plant pathogenic bacteria are encoded in the three sequenced Mycetohabitans spp. genomes. TAL effectors nuclear-localize in plants, where they bind and activate genes important in disease. The Burkholderia TAL-like (Btl) proteins bind DNA but lack the N- and C-terminal regions, in which TAL effectors harbor their T3 and nuclear localization signals, and activation domain. We characterized a Btl protein, Btl19-13, and found that, despite the structural differences, it can be T3-secreted and can nuclear-localize. A btl19-13 gene knockout did not prevent the bacterium from infecting the fungus, but the fungus became less tolerant to cell membrane stress. Btl19-13 did not alter transcription in a plant-based reporter assay, but 15 R. microsporus genes were differentially expressed in comparisons both of the fungus infected with the wild-type bacterium vs. the mutant and with the mutant vs. a complemented strain. Southern blotting revealed btl genes in 14 diverse Mycetohabitans isolates. However, banding patterns and available sequences suggest variation, and the btl19-13 phenotype could not be rescued by a btl gene from a different strain. Our findings support the conclusion that Btl proteins are effectors that act on host DNA and play important but varied or possibly host genotype-specific roles in the M. rhizoxinica-R. microsporus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32631868, year = {2020}, author = {Kang, B and Maeshige, T and Okamoto, A and Kataoka, Y and Yamamoto, S and Rikiishi, K and Tani, A and Sawada, H and Suzuki, K}, title = {The Presence of the Hairy-Root-Disease-Inducing (Ri) Plasmid in Wheat Endophytic Rhizobia Explains a Pathogen Reservoir Function of Healthy Resistant Plants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {32631868}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*physiology ; Disease Reservoirs/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Hordeum/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plasmids/*isolation & purification ; Triticum/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A large number of strains in the Rhizobium radiobacter species complex (biovar 1 Agrobacterium) have been known as causative pathogens for crown gall and hairy root diseases. Strains within this complex were also found as endophytes in many plant species with no symptoms. The aim of this study was to reveal the endophyte variation of this complex and how these endophytic strains differ from pathogenic strains. In this study, we devised a simple but effective screening method by exploiting the high resolution power of mass spectrometry. We screened endophyte isolates from young wheat and barley plants, which are resistant to the diseases, and identified seven isolates from wheat as members of the R. radiobacter species complex. Through further analyses, we assigned five strains to the genomovar (genomic group) G1 and two strains to G7 in R. radiobacter Notably, these two genomovar groups harbor many known pathogenic strains. In fact, the two G7 endophyte strains showed pathogenicity on tobacco, as well as the virulence prerequisites, including a 200-kbp Ri plasmid. All five G1 strains possessed a 500-kbp plasmid, which is present in well-known crown gall pathogens. These data strongly suggest that healthy wheat plants are reservoirs for pathogenic strains of R. radiobacterIMPORTANCE Crown gall and hairy root diseases exhibit very wide host-plant ranges that cover gymnosperm and dicot plants. The Rhizobium radiobacter species complex harbors causative agents of the two diseases. Recently, endophyte isolates from many plant species have been assigned to this species complex. We isolated seven endophyte strains belonging to the species complex from wheat plants and revealed their genomovar affiliations and plasmid profile. The significance of this study is the finding of the genomovar correlation between the endophytes and the known pathogens, the presence of a virulence ability in two of the seven endophyte strains, and the high ratio of the pathogenic strains in the endophyte strains. This study therefore provides convincing evidence that could unravel the mechanism that maintains pathogenic agents of this species and sporadically delivers them to susceptible plants.}, } @article {pmid32631223, year = {2020}, author = {Bendová, B and Piálek, J and Ďureje, Ľ and Schmiedová, L and Čížková, D and Martin, JF and Kreisinger, J}, title = {How being synanthropic affects the gut bacteriome and mycobiome: comparison of two mouse species with contrasting ecologies.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {194}, pmid = {32631223}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {18-17796Y//Grantová Agentura České Republiky/International ; 1501218//Grantová Agentura, Univerzita Karlova (CZ)/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Ecology ; Feces/microbiology ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mice ; Microbiota ; Mycobiome ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The vertebrate gastrointestinal tract is colonised by microbiota that have a major effect on the host's health, physiology and phenotype. Once introduced into captivity, however, the gut microbial composition of free-living individuals can change dramatically. At present, little is known about gut microbial changes associated with adaptation to a synanthropic lifestyle in commensal species, compared with their non-commensal counterparts. Here, we compare the taxonomic composition and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities across three gut sections in synanthropic house mouse (Mus musculus) and a closely related non-synanthropic mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus).

RESULTS: Using Illumina sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA amplicons, we found higher bacterial diversity in M. spicilegus and detected 11 bacterial operational taxonomic units with significantly different proportions. Notably, abundance of Oscillospira, which is typically higher in lean or outdoor pasturing animals, was more abundant in non-commensal M. spicilegus. ITS2-based barcoding revealed low diversity and high uniformity of gut fungi in both species, with the genus Kazachstania clearly dominant.

CONCLUSIONS: Though differences in gut bacteria observed in the two species can be associated with their close association with humans, changes due to a move from commensalism to captivity would appear to have caused larger shifts in microbiota.}, } @article {pmid32630464, year = {2020}, author = {Pogorelova, N and Rogachev, E and Digel, I and Chernigova, S and Nardin, D}, title = {Bacterial Cellulose Nanocomposites: Morphology and Mechanical Properties.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {32630464}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising material for biomedical applications due to its unique properties such as high mechanical strength and biocompatibility. This article describes the microbiological synthesis, modification, and characterization of the obtained BC-nanocomposites originating from symbiotic consortium Medusomyces gisevii. Two BC-modifications have been obtained: BC-Ag and BC-calcium phosphate (BC-Ca3(PO4)2). Structure and physicochemical properties of the BC and its modifications were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and infrared Fourier spectroscopy as well as by measurements of mechanical and water holding/absorbing capacities. Topographic analysis of the surface revealed multicomponent thick fibrils (150-160 nm in diameter and about 15 µm in length) constituted by 50-60 nm nanofibrils weaved into a left-hand helix. Distinctive features of Ca-phosphate-modified BC samples were (a) the presence of 500-700 nm entanglements and (b) inclusions of Ca3(PO4)2 crystals. The samples impregnated with Ag nanoparticles exhibited numerous roundish inclusions, about 110 nm in diameter. The boundaries between the organic and inorganic phases were very distinct in both cases. The Ag-modified samples also showed a prominent waving pattern in the packing of nanofibrils. The obtained BC gel films possessed water-holding capacity of about 62.35 g/g. However, the dried (to a constant mass) BC-films later exhibited a low water absorption capacity (3.82 g/g). It was found that decellularized BC samples had 2.4 times larger Young's modulus and 2.2 times greater tensile strength as compared to dehydrated native BC films. We presume that this was caused by molecular compaction of the BC structure.}, } @article {pmid32628805, year = {2021}, author = {Stassart, RM and Woodhoo, A}, title = {Axo-glial interaction in the injured PNS.}, journal = {Developmental neurobiology}, volume = {81}, number = {5}, pages = {490-506}, doi = {10.1002/dneu.22771}, pmid = {32628805}, issn = {1932-846X}, mesh = {Axons/physiology ; Humans ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neuroglia/physiology ; Peripheral Nervous System ; *Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Schwann Cells/physiology ; }, abstract = {Axons share a close relationship with Schwann cells, their glial partners in peripheral nerves. An intricate axo-glia network of signals and bioactive molecules regulates the major aspects of nerve development and normal functioning of the peripheral nervous system. Disruptions to these complex axo-glial interactions can have serious neurological consequences, as typically seen in injured nerves. Recent studies in inherited neuropathies have demonstrated that damage to one of the partners in this symbiotic unit ultimately leads to impairment of the other partner, emphasizing the bidirectional influence of axon to glia and glia to axon signaling in these diseases. After physical trauma to nerves, dramatic alterations in the architecture and signaling environment of peripheral nerves take place. Here, axons and Schwann cells respond adaptively to these perturbations and change the nature of their reciprocal interactions, thereby driving the remodeling and regeneration of peripheral nerves. In this review, we focus on the nature and importance of axon-glia interactions in injured nerves, both for the reshaping and repair of nerves after trauma, and in driving pathology in inherited peripheral neuropathies.}, } @article {pmid32628772, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, R and Llorente, C and Cao, J and Gao, B and Duan, Y and Jiang, L and Wang, Y and Kumar, V and Stärkel, P and Bode, L and Fan, X and Schnabl, B}, title = {Deficiency of Intestinal α1-2-Fucosylation Exacerbates Ethanol-Induced Liver Disease in Mice.}, journal = {Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research}, volume = {44}, number = {9}, pages = {1842-1851}, pmid = {32628772}, issn = {1530-0277}, support = {R01 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; I01 BX004594/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; P30 DK120515/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; P50 AA011999/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA020864/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA026939/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA024726/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; BX004594//Biomedical Laboratory Research & Development Service of the VA Office of Research and Development/International ; }, mesh = {Alcoholism/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Animals ; Central Nervous System Depressants/toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dysbiosis/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Ethanol/toxicity ; Fucosyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Glycocalyx/drug effects/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/metabolism ; Liver/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mice ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fucosyltransferase 2 (Fut2)-mediated intestinal α1-2-fucosylation is important in maintaining a symbiotic host-microbiota relationship and can protect against several pathogens. Intestinal dysbiosis is an important factor for the progression of experimental ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver disease, but the role of Fut2 in modulating the intestinal glycocalyx during alcohol-associated liver disease is unknown. We investigated the role of Fut2-mediated intestinal α1-2-fucosylation for the development of alcohol-associated liver disease.

METHODS: Immunohistochemistry staining was applied to evaluate α1-2-fucosylation in duodenal biopsies from patients with alcohol use disorder. Wild-type (WT) and Fut2-deficient littermate mice were subjected to Lieber-DeCarli models of chronic EtOH administration and the chronic-binge EtOH diet (NIAAA model).

RESULTS: Intestinal α1-2-fucosylation was down-regulated in patients with alcohol use disorder. Lack of α1-2-fucosylation in Fut2-deficient mice exacerbates chronic EtOH-induced liver injury, steatosis, and inflammation without affecting EtOH metabolism. Dietary supplementation of the α1-2-fucosylated glycan 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) ameliorates EtOH-induced liver disease in Fut2-deficient mice in the NIAAA model. Despite no direct effects on growth of Enterococcus faecalis in vitro, intestinal α1-2-fucosylation reduces colonization of cytolysin-positive E. faecalis in the intestine of EtOH-fed mice.

CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal α1-2-fucosylation acts as a host-protective mechanism against EtOH-induced liver disease. 2'-FL is an oligosaccharide naturally present in human milk that could be considered as therapeutic agent for alcohol-associated liver disease.}, } @article {pmid32628092, year = {2020}, author = {Pawlowski, ML and Hartman, GL}, title = {Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Species on Heterodera glycines.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {104}, number = {9}, pages = {2406-2410}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-01-20-0102-RE}, pmid = {32628092}, issn = {0191-2917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soybeans ; *Tylenchoidea ; }, abstract = {Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is a widely occurring pest and the leading cause of soybean yield losses in the U.S.A. There is a need to find additional SCN management strategies as sources of SCN resistance have become less effective in managing SCN populations. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with roots of most plants including soybean. Research has shown that AMF can reduce disease severity in plants caused by pathogens and pests, including plant parasitic nematodes. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of AMF on SCN cyst production, SCN juveniles in roots, and SCN egg hatching. In one experiment, all five AMF species tested (Claroideoglomus claroideum, Diversispora eburnean, Dentiscutata heterogama, Funneliformis mosseae, and Rhizophagus intraradices) reduced (P < 0.05) the number of cysts on soybean roots by 59 to 81%, compared with soybean roots not inoculated with AMF. Inoculation with F. mosseae reduced SCN J2-J3 stage juveniles in soybean roots by 60% at 7 days post inoculation. A separate experiment showed that egg hatch was reduced (P < 0.05) in the presence of F. mosseae spores and their exudates by 27% and 62%, respectively. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential usefulness of AMF in field conditions and to determine the usefulness and potential of the exudates associated with SCN hatching suppression by F. mosseae. Making AMF a more effective biological control agent would provide another management tool to reduce the negative impact of SCN on soybean production.}, } @article {pmid32627318, year = {2020}, author = {Modolon, F and Barno, AR and Villela, HDM and Peixoto, RS}, title = {Ecological and biotechnological importance of secondary metabolites produced by coral-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {129}, number = {6}, pages = {1441-1457}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14766}, pmid = {32627318}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/*chemistry/growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Biological Products/isolation & purification/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Biotechnology ; Coral Reefs ; Genomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between corals and their associated micro-organisms are essential to maintain host homeostasis. Coral-associated bacteria (CAB) can have different beneficial roles in the coral metaorganism, such as metabolizing essential nutrients for the coral host and protecting the coral from pathogens. Many CAB exert these functions via secondary metabolites, which include antibacterial, antifouling, antitumour, antiparasitic and antiviral compounds. This review describes how analysis of CAB has led to the discovery of secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological applications. The most commonly found types of secondary metabolites, antimicrobial and antibiofilm compounds, are emphasized and described. Recently developed methods that can be applied to enhance the culturing of CAB from shallow-water reefs and the less-studied deep-sea coral reefs are also discussed. Last, we suggest how the combined use of meta-omics and innovative growth-diffusion techniques can vastly improve the discovery of novel compounds in coral environments.}, } @article {pmid32626488, year = {2020}, author = {, and Bragard, C and Dehnen-Schmutz, K and Di Serio, F and Gonthier, P and Jacques, MA and Jaques Miret, JA and Justesen, AF and MacLeod, A and Magnusson, CS and Navas-Cortes, JA and Parnell, S and Potting, R and Reignault, PL and Thulke, HH and Van der Werf, W and Civera, AV and Yuen, J and Zappalà, L and Grégoire, JC and Kertész, V and Streissl, F and Milonas, P}, title = {Pest categorisation of non-EU Scolytinae of coniferous hosts.}, journal = {EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {e05934}, pmid = {32626488}, issn = {1831-4732}, abstract = {The Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of non-EU Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of coniferous hosts (hereafter NESC). NESC occur worldwide, and some species are important forest pests. Species can be identified using taxonomic keys and molecular methods. Most NESC species (bark beetles) live in the inner bark of their hosts (phloem and cambium), while the remaining species mostly colonise the sapwood (ambrosia beetles). Bark- and ambrosia beetles are often associated with symbiotic fungi, which behave as pathogens towards the host trees, or are used as food by ambrosia beetle larvae. The larvae live in individual tunnels or in communal chambers. Pupation occurs in the wood or in the bark. Some species are semi- or multivoltine, others are monovoltine. Some species attack and kill living, apparently healthy trees. Other species specialise in weakened, dying or dead trees. The pathways for entry are cut branches, cones, round wood with or without bark, sawn wood with or without bark, wood packaging material, bark, manufactured wood items and wood chips and plants for planting (including seeds) of conifers. Availability of host plants and suitable climate would allow the establishment in the EU of NESC. Measures are in place to prevent their introduction through the pathways described above. NESC satisfy all the criteria to be considered as Union quarantine pests. As NESC are not present in the EU and plants for planting are not their major pathway for spread, they do not meet the criteria to be considered as regulated non-quarantine pests.}, } @article {pmid32625188, year = {2020}, author = {Lima, RM and Kylarová, S and Mergaert, P and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Unexplored Arsenals of Legume Peptides With Potential for Their Applications in Medicine and Agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1307}, pmid = {32625188}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {During endosymbiosis, bacteria live intracellularly in the symbiotic organ of their host. The host controls the proliferation of endosymbionts and prevents their spread to other tissues and organs. In Rhizobium-legume symbiosis the major host effectors are secreted nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, produced exclusively in the symbiotic cells. NCRs have evolved in the Inverted Repeat Lacking Clade (IRLC) of the Leguminosae family. They are secreted peptides that mediate terminal differentiation of the endosymbionts, forming polyploid, non-cultivable cells with increased membrane permeability. NCRs form an extremely large family of peptides, which have four or six conserved cysteines but otherwise highly diverse amino acid sequences, resulting in a wide variety of anionic, neutral and cationic peptides. In vitro, many synthetic NCRs have strong antimicrobial activities against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including the ESKAPE strains and pathogenic fungi. The spectra and minimal bactericidal and anti-fungal concentrations of NCRs differ, indicating that, in addition to their charge, the amino acid composition and sequence also play important roles in their antimicrobial activity. NCRs attack the bacteria and fungi at the cell envelope and membrane as well as intracellularly, forming interactions with multiple essential cellular machineries. NCR-like peptides with similar symbiotic functions as the NCRs also exist in other branches of the Leguminosae family. Thus, legumes provide countless and so far unexplored sources of symbiotic peptides representing an enormous resource of pharmacologically interesting molecules.}, } @article {pmid32625183, year = {2020}, author = {Lin, M and Xiong, H and Xiang, X and Zhou, Z and Liang, L and Mei, Z}, title = {The Effect of Plant Geographical Location and Developmental Stage on Root-Associated Microbiomes of Gymnadenia conopsea.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1257}, pmid = {32625183}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br. is an important perennial terrestrial photosynthetic orchid species whose microbiomes are considered to play an important role in helping its germination and growth. However, the assemblage of G. conopsea root-associated microbial communities is poorly understood. The compositions of fungal and bacterial communities from the roots and corresponding soil samples in G. conopsea across distinct biogeographical regions from two significantly different altitudes were characterized at the vegetative and reproductive growth stages. The geographical location, developmental stage and compartment were factors contributing to microbiome variation in G. conopsea. Predominant fungal taxa include Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota and Chytridiomycota, whereas Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, TM7 and Planctomycetes were predominant bacterial taxa. Using G. conopsea as a model, the structural and functional composition in G. conopsea root-associated microbiomes were comprehensive analyzed. Contrary to previous studies, biogeography was the main factor influencing the microbial community in this study. Besides, compartment and developmental stage should also be considered to analyze the variation of microbiota composition. Although the microbial composition varied greatly by location, the symbiotic microorganisms of G. conopsea still have certain specificity. This study gives an abundant information of G. conopsea root-associated microbiomes and provides new clues to better understanding the factors affecting the composition and diversity of fungal/bacterial communities associated with orchids. Our results also laying a foundation for harnessing the microbiome for sustainable G. conopsea cultivation. Moreover, these results might be generally applicable to other orchidaceae plants.}, } @article {pmid32623832, year = {2020}, author = {Morvan, S and Meglouli, H and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A and Hijri, M}, title = {Into the wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) rhizosphere microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {3803-3822}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15151}, pmid = {32623832}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {RGPIN-2018-04178//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/International ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Blueberry Plants/chemistry/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ability of wild blueberries to adapt to their harsh environment is believed to be closely related to their symbiosis with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, which produce enzymes capable of organic matter mineralization. Although some of these fungi have been identified and characterized, we still know little about the microbial ecology of wild blueberry. Our study aims to characterize the fungal and bacterial rhizosphere communities of Vaccinium angustifolium (the main species encountered in wild blueberry fields). Our results clearly show that the fungal order Helotiales was the most abundant taxon associated with V. angustifolium. Helotiales contains most of the known ericoid mycorrhizal fungi which are expected to dominate in such a biotope. Furthermore, we found the dominant bacterial order was the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobiales. The Bradyrhizobium genus, whose members are known to form nodules with legumes, was among the 10 most abundant genera in the bacterial communities. In addition, Bradyrhizobium and Roseiarcus sequences significantly correlated with higher leaf-nitrogen content. Overall, our data documented fungal and bacterial community structure differences in three wild blueberry production fields.}, } @article {pmid32623824, year = {2020}, author = {Black, R and McLaughlin, M and Giles, M}, title = {Women's experience of social media breastfeeding support and its impact on extended breastfeeding success: A social cognitive perspective.}, journal = {British journal of health psychology}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {754-771}, doi = {10.1111/bjhp.12451}, pmid = {32623824}, issn = {2044-8287}, mesh = {Adult ; Breast Feeding/*psychology ; Cognition/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers/*psychology ; Postnatal Care ; Pregnancy ; Qualitative Research ; *Social Media ; Social Support ; Women/*psychology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This paper investigates the experiences of women using a social media Facebook group for breastfeeding support and attempts to explore whether it has aided in extended breastfeeding success. In addition, it aims to explore the value of social cognitive theory (SCT) in explaining these experiences.

DESIGN: Exploratory, deductive approach.

METHODS: Qualitative, audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews were conducted from eight women who were members of a private Facebook group'. Data were analysed using theoretical thematic analysis, and SCT was used as a theoretical lens through which the data were interrogated.

RESULTS: A number of themes were identified from the women's experiences, with analysis uncovering the superordinate theme 'increased self-efficacy' which provided an understanding of how the group impacted women's experiences and aided them in breastfeeding success. The sub-themes of education, accessibility, online community, normalization, and extended goals provided a more detailed understanding of how self-efficacy was increased through group membership.

CONCLUSION: The symbiotic relationship between members of a social media group facilitates greater breastfeeding success and a longer duration of breastfeeding through the central concept of the SCT: reciprocal determinism. Therefore, it is posited that the SCT is a suitable theory of behaviour change which can potentially be used to develop interventions aiming to increase breastfeeding rates and duration.}, } @article {pmid32623178, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, W and Qin, C and Ma, H and Xi, S and Zuo, T and Pan, W and Li, C}, title = {Response of protist community dynamics and co-occurrence patterns to the construction of artificial reefs: A case study in Daya Bay, China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {742}, number = {}, pages = {140575}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140575}, pmid = {32623178}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Bays ; Biodiversity ; China ; *Ecosystem ; Seasons ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Artificial reefs (ARs) are widely used for biodiversity conservation and coastal habitat restoration. Although protists play an important ecological role in marine ecosystems, the response of the protist community to ARs is still poorly understood. In the current study, an Illumina sequencing analysis of 18S rDNA was performed, and the diversity, community structure, and co-occurrence networks of protists in the ARs and open sea area (OW) in Daya Bay were described. The results indicated that significant seasonal differences occur in the seawater protists between the surface and bottom of the ARs and OW. However, the protists in the ARs and OW had different seasonal variations. The ARs always affected the alpha diversity of marine protists in different seasons, while the surface and bottom OW sites had different seasonal effects. The ARs sites had different effects on the community composition of the surface and bottom seawater in different seasons relative to the OW sites. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) method showed that 85 biomarkers mainly belonging to 11 taxa, including Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, and Dinophyceae, were affected by the ARs (P < 0.05, LDA > 2.0). The ARs played an important role in the seasonal changes in the protist community composition and had different effects on the dominant species of protists in the surface and bottom seawater. A redundancy analysis (RDA) significance test showed that the structure of the protist community in Daya Bay was mainly affected by environmental factors, such as seawater temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen. Compared with the OW group, the surface and bottom layers of the ARs had more complex protist interactions or more niches. The ARs increased the degree of spatial heterogeneity, which may lead to significant niche differentiation, indicating that ARs as habitat factors affect the complexity and stability of the symbiotic network of protists. The results could provide basic data on the response of the protist community to the ARs in Daya Bay and a reference for assessments of the impact of ARs on the ecological environment.}, } @article {pmid32622006, year = {2020}, author = {Levy, O and Fernandes de Barros Marangoni, L and I C Benichou, J and Rottier, C and Béraud, E and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Artificial light at night (ALAN) alters the physiology and biochemistry of symbiotic reef building corals.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {266}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {114987}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114987}, pmid = {32622006}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Indian Ocean ; *Light/adverse effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Artificial Light at Night (ALAN), which is the alteration of natural light levels as the result of anthropogenic light sources, has been acknowledged as an important factor that alters the functioning of marine ecosystems. Using LEDs light to mimic ALAN, we studied the effect on the physiology (symbiont and chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis, respiration, pigment profile, skeletal growth, and oxidative stress responses) of two scleractinian coral species originating from the Red Sea. ALAN induced the photoinhibition of symbiont photosynthesis, as well as an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an increase in oxidative damage to lipids in both coral species. The extent of the deleterious effects of ALAN on the symbiotic association and coral physiology was aligned with the severity of the oxidative stress condition experienced by the corals. The coral species Sylophora pistillata, which experienced a more severe oxidative stress condition than the other species tested, Turbinaria reniformis, also showed a more pronounced bleaching (loss of symbionts and chlorophyll content), enhanced photoinhibition and decreased photosynthetic rates. Findings of the present study further our knowledge on the biochemical mechanisms underpinning the deleterious impacts of ALAN on scleractinian corals, ultimately shedding light on the emerging threat of ALAN on coral reef ecology. Further, considering that global warming and light pollution will increase in the next few decades, future studies should be taken to elucidate the potential synergetic effects of ALAN and global climate change stressors.}, } @article {pmid32621939, year = {2020}, author = {Heryanto, C and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Nematode endosymbiont competition: Fortune favors the fittest.}, journal = {Molecular and biochemical parasitology}, volume = {238}, number = {}, pages = {111298}, doi = {10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111298}, pmid = {32621939}, issn = {1872-9428}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biological Factors/*biosynthesis ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Enzyme Precursors/metabolism ; Helminth Proteins/metabolism ; Hemolymph/microbiology/parasitology ; Insecta/microbiology/*parasitology ; Nematoda/enzymology/*microbiology/pathogenicity ; Nematode Infections/microbiology/*parasitology ; Phospholipases A2/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic bacteria that obligately associate with entomopathogenic nematodes as a complex are a unique model system to study competition. These nematodes seek an insect host and provide entry for their endosymbionts. Through their natural products, the endosymbionts nurture their nematodes by eliminating secondary infection, providing nutrients through bioconversion of the insect cadaver, and facilitating reproduction. On one hand, they cooperatively colonize the insect host and neutralize other opportunistic biotic threats. On the other hand, inside the insect cadaver as a fighting pit, they fiercely compete for the fittest partnership that will grant them the reproductive dominance. Here, we review the protective and nurturing nature of endosymbiotic bacteria for their nematodes and how their selective preference shapes the superior nematode-endosymbiont pairs as we know today.}, } @article {pmid32621601, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, L and Li, T and Li, L and Lin, X and Li, H and Liu, C and Guo, C and Lin, S}, title = {SAGER: a database of Symbiodiniaceae and Algal Genomic Resource.}, journal = {Database : the journal of biological databases and curation}, volume = {2020}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32621601}, issn = {1758-0463}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; Computational Biology ; *Databases, Genetic ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Phaeophyta/genetics ; Rhodophyta/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates are essential endosymbionts of reef building corals and some other invertebrates. Information of their genome structure and function is critical for understanding coral symbiosis and bleaching. With the rapid development of sequencing technology, genome draft assemblies of several Symbiodiniaceae species and diverse marine algal genomes have become publicly available but spread in multiple separate locations. Here, we present a Symbiodiniaceae and Algal Genomic Resource Database (SAGER), a user-friendly online repository for integrating existing genomic data of Symbiodiniaceae species and diverse marine algal gene sets from MMETSP and PhyloDB databases. Relevant algal data are included to facilitate comparative analyses. The database is freely accessible at http://sampgr.org.cn. It provides comprehensive tools for studying gene function, expression and comparative genomics, including search tools to identify gene information from Symbiodiniaceae species, and BLAST tool to find orthologs from marine algae and protists. Moreover, SAGER integrates transcriptome datasets derived from diverse culture conditions of corresponding Symbiodiniaceae species. SAGER was developed with the capacity to incorporate future Symbiodiniaceae and algal genome and transcriptome data, and will serve as an open-access and sustained platform providing genomic and molecular tools that can be conveniently used to study Symbiodiniaceae and other marine algae. Database URL: http://sampgr.org.cn.}, } @article {pmid32621137, year = {2020}, author = {Cesaro, P and Massa, N and Cantamessa, S and Todeschini, V and Bona, E and Berta, G and Barbato, R and Lingua, G}, title = {Tomato responses to Funneliformis mosseae during the early stages of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {5}, pages = {601-610}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00973-9}, pmid = {32621137}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The concept of symbiosis can be described as a continuum of interactions between organisms ranging from mutualism to parasitism that can also change over time. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the most important obligate plant symbionts. Once the symbiosis is well established, mycorrhizal plants are more tolerant to biotic or abiotic stresses, so the AMF relationship with the host plant is generally described as mutualistic. However, little is known about AMF effects on the plant during the early stages of root colonization. The aim of this work was to assess the type of interaction (mutualistic or parasitic) between the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Funelliformis mosseae and Solanum lycopersicum cv. Rio Grande plants, at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after inoculation (DAI), considering that in the adopted experimental design (one plant per pot), the seedling was the only carbon source for fungus development in the absence of common mycorrhizal networks with other plants. At each harvest, mycorrhizal colonization, shoot and root weights, morphometric parameters, and photosynthetic efficiency were evaluated. The presence of the AM fungus in the tomato root system was observed starting from the 14th DAI, and its level increased over time. Few effects of the fungus presence on the considered parameters were observed, and no stress symptoms ever appeared; so, we can state that the fungus behaved as a mutualistic symbiont during the early stages of plant growth. Moreover, a trend towards a positive effect on plant growth was observed at 28 DAI in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid32621124, year = {2020}, author = {Chakraborty, K and Kizhakkekalam, VK and Joy, M and Chakraborty, RD}, title = {Moving away from traditional antibiotic treatment: can macrocyclic lactones from marine macroalga-associated heterotroph be the alternatives?.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {16}, pages = {7117-7130}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-020-10658-0}, pmid = {32621124}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/*chemistry/genetics ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Computer Simulation ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects ; Lactones/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Macrocyclic Compounds/*pharmacology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multigene Family ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects ; Rhodophyta/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Intertidal red algae Hypnea valentiae associated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716 revealed potential inhibitory effects on the growth of drug-resistant pathogens. In the genome of B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716, biosynthetic gene clusters encoding antibacterial metabolites were predicted, which might be expressed and contributed to the broad-spectrum anti-infective activity. Three homologue members of the 24-membered macrocyclic lactone family, named as bacvalactones 1-3 bearing 13-O-ethyl (1); 15-O-furanyl-13-O-isobutyl-7-O-propyl-propanoate (2); and 15-O-furanyl-13-O-isobutyl-7-O-propyl-propanoate-7,24-dimethyl (3) functionalities, were acquired through bioactivity-guided purification. The macrocyclic lactones displayed bactericidal activity against opportunistic pathogens causing nosocomial infections, for instance, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREfs), and multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia with MIC ≤ 3.0 μg/mL, whereas standard antibiotics ampicillin and chloramphenicol were active only at concentrations of ≥ 6.25 mg/mL. The biosynthetic pathway of macrocyclic lactones that are generated by trans-AT polyketide synthases through stepwise extension of an acetyl starter unit by eleven sequential Claisen condensations with malonyl-CoA was established, and the structures were correlated with the gene organization of the mln operon, which encompasses nine genes mln A-I (approximately 47 kb in size). The best binding poses for each compounds (1-3) with Staphylococcus aureus peptide deformylase (SaPDF) unveiled docking scores (≥ 9.70 kcal/mol) greater than that of natural peptide deformylase inhibitors, macrolactin N and actinonin (9.14 and 6.96 kcal/mol, respectively), which supported their potential in vitro bioactivities. Thus, the present work demonstrated the potential of macrocyclic lactone for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications against emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens. Key Points •Three antibacterial bacvalactones were identified from the symbiotic bacterium. •The symbiotic bacterial genome was explored to identify the biosynthetic gene clusters. •Trans-AT pks-assisted mln biosynthetic pathway of the macrocyclic lactone was proposed. •In silicomolecular interactions of the bacvalactones with S. aureus PDF were analyzed.}, } @article {pmid32618998, year = {2020}, author = {Si, Z and Guan, N and Zhou, Y and Mei, L and Li, Y and Li, Y}, title = {A Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase B Is Required for the Establishment of Astragalus sinicus-Mesorhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {61}, number = {9}, pages = {1631-1645}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaa085}, pmid = {32618998}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/enzymology/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphorus/deficiency ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/ultrastructure ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MsrB) is involved in oxidative stress or defense responses in plants. However, little is known about its role in legume-rhizobium symbiosis. In this study, an MsrB gene was identified from Astragalus sinicus and its function in symbiosis was characterized. AsMsrB was induced under phosphorus starvation and displayed different expression patterns under symbiotic and nonsymbiotic conditions. Hydrogen peroxide or methyl viologen treatment enhanced the transcript level of AsMsrB in roots and nodules. Subcellular localization showed that AsMsrB was localized in the cytoplasm of onion epidermal cells and co-localized with rhizobia in nodules. Plants with AsMsrB-RNAi hairy roots exhibited significant decreases in nodule number, nodule nitrogenase activity and fresh weight of the aerial part, as well as an abnormal nodule and symbiosome development. Statistical analysis of infection events showed that plants with AsMsrB-RNAi hairy roots had significant decreases in the number of root hair curling events, infection threads and nodule primordia compared with the control. The content of hydrogen peroxide increased in AsMsrB-RNAi roots but decreased in AsMsrB overexpression roots at the early stage of infection. The transcriptome analysis showed synergistic modulations of the expression of genes involved in reactive oxygen species generation and scavenging, defense and pathogenesis and early nodulation. In addition, a candidate protein interacting with AsMsrB was identified and confirmed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Taken together, our results indicate that AsMsrB plays an essential role in nodule development and symbiotic nitrogen fixation by affecting the redox homeostasis in roots and nodules.}, } @article {pmid32617829, year = {2021}, author = {Huang, G and Wang, X and Hu, Y and Wu, Q and Nie, Y and Dong, J and Ding, Y and Yan, L and Wei, F}, title = {Diet drives convergent evolution of gut microbiomes in bamboo-eating species.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {88-95}, pmid = {32617829}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Ailuridae/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Bambusa/physiology ; Carnivora/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; *Diet ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Feces/microbiology ; Feeding Behavior/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Metagenomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Ursidae/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota plays a critical role in host physiology and health. The coevolution between the host and its gut microbes facilitates animal adaptation to its specific ecological niche. Multiple factors such as host diet and phylogeny modulate the structure and function of gut microbiota. However, the relative contribution of each factor in shaping the structure of gut microbiota remains unclear. The giant (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and red (Ailurus styani) pandas belong to different families of order Carnivora. They have evolved as obligate bamboo-feeders and can be used as a model system for studying the gut microbiome convergent evolution. Here, we compare the structure and function of gut microbiota of the two pandas with their carnivorous relatives using 16S rRNA and metagenome sequencing. We found that both panda species share more similarities in their gut microbiota structure with each other than each species shares with its carnivorous relatives. This indicates that the specialized herbivorous diet rather than host phylogeny is the dominant driver of gut microbiome convergence within Arctoidea. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the symbiotic gut microbiota of both pandas possesses a high level of starch and sucrose metabolism and vitamin B12 biosynthesis. These findings suggest a diet-driven convergence of gut microbiomes and provide new insight into host-microbiota coevolution of these endangered species.}, } @article {pmid32617714, year = {2020}, author = {Jang, SW and Yoou, MH and Hong, WJ and Kim, YJ and Lee, EJ and Jung, KH}, title = {Re-Analysis of 16S Amplicon Sequencing Data Reveals Soil Microbial Population Shifts in Rice Fields under Drought Condition.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {44}, pmid = {32617714}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {Rice (Oryza sativa. L) has been intensively studied to ensure a stable global supply of this commodity in the face of rapid global climate change. A critical factor that decreases crop yield is drought, which has been analyzed in various ways through many researches. Microbiome-based studies of rice investigate the symbiosis between rice and bacteria, which has been proposed as a way to overcome problems caused by drought. Several rice-associated metagenomic profiles obtained under drought conditions have been reported since the advent of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology. To elucidate the future diversity of plants and microorganisms and to promote sustainable agriculture, we reanalyzed 64 of the publicly available 16S amplicon sequencing data produced under drought condition. In the process of integrating data sets, however, we found an inconsistency that serves as a bottleneck for microbiome-based sustainability research. While this report provides clues about the composition of the microbiome under the drought conditions, the results are affected by differences in the location of the experiments, sampling conditions, and analysis protocols. Re-analysis of amplicon sequencing data of the soil microbiome in rice fields suggests that microbial composition shifts in response to drought condition and the presence of plants. Among the bacteria involved, the phylum Proteobacteria appears to play the most important role in the survival of rice under drought condition.}, } @article {pmid32617194, year = {2020}, author = {Barraza, A and Vizuet-de-Rueda, JC and Alvarez-Venegas, R}, title = {Highly diverse root endophyte bacterial community is driven by growth substrate and is plant genotype-independent in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9423}, pmid = {32617194}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important grain legume in the human diet with an essential role in sustainable agriculture mostly based on the symbiotic relationship established between this legume and rhizobia, a group of bacteria capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the roots nodules. Moreover, root-associated bacteria play an important role in crop growth, yield, and quality of crop products. This is particularly true for legume crops forming symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, for fixation of atmospheric N2. The main objective of this work is to assess the substrate and genotype effect in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root bacterial community structure. To achieve this goal, we applied next-generation sequencing coupled with bacterial diversity analysis. The analysis of the bacterial community structures between common bean roots showed marked differences between substrate types regardless of the genotype. Also, we were able to find several phyla conforming to the bacterial community structure of the common bean roots, mainly composed by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, and Firmicutes. Therefore, we determined that the substrate type was the main factor that influenced the bacterial community structure of the common bean roots, regardless of the genotype, following a substrate-dependent pattern. These guide us to develop efficient and sustainable strategies for crop field management based on the soil characteristics and the bacterial community that it harbors.}, } @article {pmid32616546, year = {2020}, author = {Koch, EJ and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, M and Liebeke, M}, title = {The impact of persistent colonization by Vibrio fischeri on the metabolome of the host squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {223}, number = {Pt 16}, pages = {}, pmid = {32616546}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri ; Animals ; *Decapodiformes ; Hawaii ; Metabolome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Associations between animals and microbes affect not only the immediate tissues where they occur, but also the entire host. Metabolomics, the study of small biomolecules generated during metabolic processes, provides a window into how mutualistic interactions shape host biochemistry. The Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, is amenable to metabolomic studies of symbiosis because the host can be reared with or without its species-specific symbiont, Vibrio fischeri In addition, unlike many invertebrates, the host squid has a closed circulatory system. This feature allows a direct sampling of the refined collection of metabolites circulating through the body, a focused approach that has been highly successful with mammals. Here, we show that rearing E. scolopes without its natural symbiont significantly affected one-quarter of the more than 100 hemolymph metabolites defined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Furthermore, as in mammals, which harbor complex consortia of bacterial symbionts, the metabolite signature oscillated on symbiont-driven daily rhythms and was dependent on the sex of the host. Thus, our results provide evidence that the population of even a single symbiont species can influence host hemolymph biochemistry as a function of symbiotic state, host sex and circadian rhythm.}, } @article {pmid32615421, year = {2020}, author = {Tong, Q and Cui, LY and Hu, ZF and Du, XP and Abid, HM and Wang, HB}, title = {Environmental and host factors shaping the gut microbiota diversity of brown frog Rana dybowskii.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {741}, number = {}, pages = {140142}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140142}, pmid = {32615421}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Ranidae ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities are common in amphibians, and the composition of gut microbial communities varies with factors such as host phylogeny, life stage, ecology, and diet. However, little is known regarding how amphibians acquire their microbiota or how their growth, development, and environmental factors affect the diversity of their microbiotas. We sampled the gut microbiota during different developmental stages of brown frog Rana dybowskii, including tadpoles (T), frogs in metamorphosis (M), frogs just post-metamorphosis and after eating (F), juvenile frogs in summer (Js), adult frogs in summer (As), adult frogs in autumn (Aa), and hibernating frogs (Ah). We recorded data on the environmental (ambient temperature, fasting status, habitat, and season) and host (body mass and developmental period) factors. We investigated whether the gut microbiota diversity of R. dybowskii differs according to the host developmental stage via high-throughput Illumina sequencing and whether the gut microbiota diversity is affected by environmental and host factors. We found that alpha and beta diversity varied significantly during different developmental stages. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified eight phyla exhibiting significant differences: Cyanobacteria (T group), Proteobacteria (M group), Fusobacteria (F group), Firmicutes (As group), Actinobacteria (Aa group), Verrucomicrobia (Aa group), Tenericutes (Aa group), and Bacteroidetes (Ah group). The Venn diagrams showed that 49 shared OTUs were present during all stages of development, whereas 10 OTUs were present in >90% of the samples. The environmental and host factors were significantly correlated with microbial community changes. Furthermore, the AIC-based model results suggested that development was the only variable that needed inclusion in the redundancy analysis (RDA) to explain the variance in taxa. These results have broad implications for our understanding of gut microbiota development and its associations with amphibian development and environmental factors.}, } @article {pmid32612931, year = {2020}, author = {Cui, Y and He, J and Yang, KL and Zhou, K}, title = {Aerobic acetone-butanol-isopropanol (ABI) fermentation through a co-culture of Clostridium beijerinckii G117 and recombinant Bacillus subtilis 1A1.}, journal = {Metabolic engineering communications}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {e00137}, pmid = {32612931}, issn = {2214-0301}, abstract = {An engineered B. subtilis 1A1 strain (BsADH2) expressing a secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (CpSADH) was co-cultured with C. beijerinckii G117 under an aerobic condition. During the fermentation on glucose, B. subtilis BsADH2 depleted oxygen in culture media completely and created an anaerobic environment for C. beijerinckii G117, an obligate anaerobe, to grow. Meanwhile, lactate produced by B. subtilis BsADH2 was re-assimilated by C. beijerinckii G117. In return, acetone produced by C. beijerinckii G117 was reduced into isopropanol by B. subtilis BsADH2 via expressing the CpSADH, which helped maintain the redox balance of the engineered B. subtilis. In the symbiotic system consisting of two strains, 1.7 g/L of acetone, 4.8 g/L of butanol, and 0.9 g/L of isopropanol (with an isopropanol/acetone ratio of 0.53) was produced from 60 g/L of glucose. This symbiotic system also worked when oxygen was supplied to the culture, although less isopropanol was produced (0.9 g/L of acetone, 4.9 g/L of butanol, and 0.2 g/L of isopropanol). The isopropanol titer was increased substantially to 2.5 g/L when we increased the inoculum size of B. subtilis BsADH2 and optimized other process parameters. With the Bacillus-Clostridium co-culture, switching from the original acetone-butanol (AB) fermentation to an aerobic acetone-butanol-isopropanol (ABI) fermentation can be easily achieved without genetic engineering of Clostridium. This strategy of employing a recombinant Bacillus to co-culture with Clostridium should be potentially useful to modify traditional acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation for the production of other value-added chemicals.}, } @article {pmid32612924, year = {2020}, author = {Rizzo, AE and Almeida Dos Santos, S and da Conceição Guerreiro Couto, E}, title = {First report of Labrorostratus caribensis (Annelida, Oenonidae) as endoparasite of Haplosyllis rosenalessoae (Annelida, Syllidae) from Brazil.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {64-66}, pmid = {32612924}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {In this study, we report the second endoparasitic relationship for the oenonid Labrorostratus caribensis, previously described parasitizing a nereid polychaete. The new host is the syllid Haplosyllis rosenalessoae, in which it occupies 2/3 of its body cavity host. This is the second endoparasitic relationship between polychaetes and the first between both partners in known for Brazil, as well as the first record of the parasite outside the type locality (Caribbean) and of the host in the State of Bahia. We discuss on the interest of the finding of these king of parasitic relationships and provide an identification key to all knwon species of Labrorostratus.}, } @article {pmid32612631, year = {2020}, author = {Ranjbar Sistani, N and Desalegn, G and Kaul, HP and Wienkoop, S}, title = {Seed Metabolism and Pathogen Resistance Enhancement in Pisum sativum During Colonization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: An Integrative Metabolomics-Proteomics Approach.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {872}, pmid = {32612631}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Pulses are one of the most important categories of food plants, and Pea (Pisum sativum L.) as a member of pulses is considered a key crop for food and feed and sustainable agriculture. Integrative multi-omics and microsymbiont impact studies on the plant's immune system are important steps toward more productive and tolerant food plants and thus will help to find solutions against food poverty. Didymella pinodes is a main fungal pathogen of pea plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) promote plant growth and alleviate various stresses. However, it remained unclear as to how the AMF effect on seed metabolism and how this influences resistance against the pathogen. This study assesses the AMF impacts on yield components and seed quality upon D. pinodes infection on two different P. sativum cultivars, susceptible versus tolerant, grown in pots through phenotypic and seed molecular analyses. We found that AMF symbiosis affects the majority of all tested yield components as well as a reduction of disease severity in both cultivars. Seeds of mycorrhizal pea plants showed strong responses of secondary metabolites with nutritional, medicinal, and pharmaceutical attributes, also involved in pathogen response. This is further supported by proteomic data, functionally determining those primary and secondary metabolic pathways, involved in pathogen response and induced upon AMF-colonization. The data also revealed cultivar specific effects of AMF symbiosis that increase understanding of genotype related differences. Additionally, a suite of proteins and secondary metabolites are presented, induced in seeds of P. sativum upon AMF-colonization and pathogen attack, and possibly involved in induced systemic resistance against D. pinodes, useful for modern breeding strategies implementing microsymbionts toward increased pathogen resistance.}, } @article {pmid32612589, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, MJ and Song, H and Yu, ZL and Hu, Z and Zhou, C and Wang, XL and Zhang, T}, title = {Changes in Symbiotic Microbiota and Immune Responses in Early Development Stages of Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) Provide Insights Into Immune System Development in Gastropods.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1265}, pmid = {32612589}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic microbiota can stimulate modulation of immune system, which also can promote immune system mature in critical developmental periods. In this study, we have investigated the symbiotic microbiota in Rapana venosa at five early development stages using Illumina high-throughput sequencing, and detected immune responses in larvae. Analysis of the symbiotic microbiota sequences identified that the most abundant phylum was Proteobacteria. Beta diversity analysis indicated that the structure of the symbiotic microbiota dramatically shifted in early development stages. The abundance of immune-related KEGG Orthologs (KOs) also increased in competent larval (J4, 30-day post-hatching) and postlarval after 3 days of metamorphosis (Y5, 33-day post-hatching) stages. Acid phosphatase activity decreased significantly in the Y5 stage, and alkaline phosphatase activity also at a lower level in Y5 stage, whereas lysozyme activities exhibited no remarkable change. Also, the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased dramatically during early development stages of R. venosa. Dramatic changes in the symbiotic microbiota and the immune response mainly occurred in the initially hatched veliger (C1), competent larval (J4) and postlarval (Y5) stages, during which the hosts might experience substantial environmental changes or changes in physiological structure and function. These findings expand our understanding of the stage-specific symbiotic microbiota in R. venosa and the close association between immune system and symbiotic microbiota in mollusks, however, the specific relationship may need more researches are needed to investigated in the future.}, } @article {pmid32612581, year = {2020}, author = {Egan, S and Fukatsu, T and Francino, MP}, title = {Opportunities and Challenges to Microbial Symbiosis Research in the Microbiome Era.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1150}, pmid = {32612581}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid32611950, year = {2020}, author = {Hashimoto, S and Goto, K and Pyromyou, P and Songwattana, P and Greetatorn, T and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Type III Secretion System of Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 Obstructs Symbiosis with Lotus spp.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32611950}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Lotus/classification/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/classification/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The rhizobial type III secretion system secretes effector proteins into host plant cells, which may either promote or inhibit symbiosis with legumes. We herein demonstrated that the type III secretion system of Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 obstructed symbiosis with Lotus japonicus Miyakojima, L. japonicus Gifu, and Lotus burttii. A mutant of SUTN9-2 that is unable to secrete effector proteins showed better nodulation and plant growth promotion than wild-type SUTN9-2 when paired with these Lotus spp. We propose that SUTN9-2 is a useful strain for understanding the mechanisms by which effector proteins obstruct symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium and Lotus spp.}, } @article {pmid32611694, year = {2020}, author = {Suria, AM and Tan, KC and Kerwin, AH and Gitzel, L and Abini-Agbomson, L and Bertenshaw, JM and Sewell, J and Nyholm, SV and Balunas, MJ}, title = {Hawaiian Bobtail Squid Symbionts Inhibit Marine Bacteria via Production of Specialized Metabolites, Including New Bromoalterochromides BAC-D/D'.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32611694}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/*drug effects ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Decapodiformes/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Depsipeptides/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry ; Female ; Fungi/classification/drug effects/genetics ; Genitalia/microbiology ; Hawaii ; Mice ; *Microbial Consortia ; Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, has a symbiotic bacterial consortium in the accessory nidamental gland (ANG), a female reproductive organ that protects eggs against fouling microorganisms. To test the antibacterial activity of ANG community members, 19 bacterial isolates were screened for their ability to inhibit Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, of which two strains were inhibitory. These two antibacterial isolates, Leisingera sp. ANG59 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28, were subjected to further genomic characterization. Genomic analysis of Leisingera sp. ANG59 revealed a biosynthetic gene cluster encoding the antimicrobial compound indigoidine. The genome of Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28 had a 14-gene cluster with >95% amino acid identity to a known bromoalterochromide (BAC) cluster. Chemical analysis confirmed production of known BACs, BAC-A/A' (compounds 1a/1b), as well as two new derivatives, BAC-D/D' (compounds 2a/2b). Extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses allowed complete structural elucidation of compounds 2a/2b, and the absolute stereochemistry was unambiguously determined using an optimized Marfey's method. The BACs were then investigated for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity. Compounds 1a/1b were active against the marine bacteria Bacillus algicola and Vibrio fischeri, while compounds 2a/2b were active only against B. algicola Compounds 1a/1b inhibited NO production via lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophage cells and also inhibited the pathogenic fungus Fusarium keratoplasticum, which, coupled with their antibacterial activity, suggests that these polyketide-nonribosomal peptides may be used for squid egg defense against potential pathogens and/or fouling microorganisms. These results indicate that BACs may provide Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28 an ecological niche, facilitating competition against nonsymbiotic microorganisms in the host's environment.IMPORTANCE Animals that deposit eggs must protect their embryos from fouling and disease by microorganisms to ensure successful development. Although beneficial bacteria are hypothesized to contribute to egg defense in many organisms, the mechanisms of this protection are only recently being elucidated. Our previous studies of the Hawaiian bobtail squid focused on fungal inhibition by beneficial bacterial symbionts of a female reproductive gland and eggs. Herein, using genomic and chemical analyses, we demonstrate that symbiotic bacteria from this gland can also inhibit other marine bacteria in vitro One bacterial strain in particular, Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28, had broad-spectrum abilities to inhibit potential fouling bacteria, in part via production of novel bromoalterochromide metabolites, confirmed via genomic annotation of the associated biosynthetic gene cluster. Our results suggest that these bacterial metabolites may contribute to antimicrobial activity in this association and that such defensive symbioses are underutilized sources for discovering novel antimicrobial compounds.}, } @article {pmid32610560, year = {2020}, author = {Ozakman, Y and Pagadala, T and Raval, D and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {The Drosophila melanogaster Metabolic Response against Parasitic Nematode Infection Is Mediated by TGF-β Signaling.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32610560}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, its mutualistic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens, and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster establish a unique system to study the basis of infection in relation to host metabolism. Our previous results indicate that the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway participates in the D. melanogaster metabolic response against nematode parasitism. However, our understanding of whether the presence of Photorhabdus bacteria in Heterorhabditis nematodes affects the metabolic state of D. melanogaster during infection is limited. Here, we investigated the involvement of TGF-β signaling branches, Activin and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), in the D. melanogaster metabolic response against axenic (lacking bacteria) or symbiotic (containing bacteria) H. bacteriophora infection. We show that BMP signaling mediates lipid metabolism against axenic or symbiotic H. bacteriophora and alters the size of fat body lipid droplets against symbiotic nematode infection. Also, following symbiotic H. bacteriophora infection, Activin signaling modulates sugar metabolism. Our results indicate that Activin and BMP signaling interact with the D. melanogaster metabolic response to H. bacteriophora infection regardless of the presence or absence of Photorhabdus. These findings provide evidence for the role of TGF-β signaling in host metabolism, which could lead to the development of novel treatments for parasitic diseases.}, } @article {pmid32610069, year = {2020}, author = {Attané, C and Muller, C}, title = {Drilling for Oil: Tumor-Surrounding Adipocytes Fueling Cancer.}, journal = {Trends in cancer}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {593-604}, doi = {10.1016/j.trecan.2020.03.001}, pmid = {32610069}, issn = {2405-8025}, mesh = {Adipocytes/cytology/*metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Energy Metabolism ; Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lipase/metabolism ; Lipid Droplets/metabolism ; *Lipolysis ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Neoplasms/*pathology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Over the past decade, it has become apparent that metabolic reprogramming is a key event in tumor progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a source of metabolites for tumor cells. Lipid-filled mature adipocytes are frequently found in proximity to invasive human tumors and release free fatty acids (FFAs) through lipolysis. These FFAs are taken up by tumor cells and used to promote tumor progression by mechanisms that include mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO). This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of this metabolic symbiosis between adipocytes and cancer cells and underlines the differences in this metabolic crosstalk between the various types of cancer and their localization.}, } @article {pmid32609873, year = {2020}, author = {Cabello, AM and Turk-Kubo, KA and Hayashi, K and Jacobs, L and Kudela, RM and Zehr, JP}, title = {Unexpected presence of the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A in Monterey Bay, California.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {6}, pages = {1521-1533}, pmid = {32609873}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Bays ; California ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics ; *Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {In the last decade, the known biogeography of nitrogen fixation in the ocean has been expanded to colder and nitrogen-rich coastal environments. The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria group A (UCYN-A) has been revealed as one of the most abundant and widespread nitrogen-fixers, and includes several sublineages that live associated with genetically distinct but closely related prymnesiophyte hosts. The UCYN-A1 sublineage is associated with an open ocean picoplanktonic prymnesiophyte, whereas UCYN-A2 is associated with the coastal nanoplanktonic coccolithophore Braarudosphaera bigelowii, suggesting that different sublineages may be adapted to different environments. Here, we study the diversity of nifH genes present at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf in the Monterey Bay (MB), California, and report for the first time the presence of multiple UCYN-A sublineages, unexpectedly dominated by the UCYN-A2 sublineage. Sequence and quantitative PCR data over an 8-year time-series (2011-2018) showed a shift toward increasing UCYN-A2 abundances after 2013, and a marked seasonality for this sublineage which was present during summer-fall months, coinciding with the upwelling-relaxation period in the MB. Increased abundances corresponded to positive temperature anomalies in MB, and we discuss the possibility of a benthic life stage of the associated coccolithophore host to explain the seasonal pattern. The dominance of UCYN-A2 in coastal waters of the MB underscores the need to further explore the habitat preference of the different sublineages in order to provide additional support for the hypothesis that UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 sublineages are different ecotypes.}, } @article {pmid32608835, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, SL and Sun, Y and Yue, GC and Zhang, H and Wang, ZQ and Liu, SC and Peng, RZ and Yuan, SC and Li, ZX and Cui, JS}, title = {[Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Aerobic Denitrification Bacterial Community Structure from Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area During the Winter Freezing Period].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {2177-2187}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.201910195}, pmid = {32608835}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Denitrification ; Freezing ; *Lakes ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {To isolate the aerobic denitrification bacteria suitable for water quality in the low-temperature period of Baiyangdian Lake, a water quality investigation and bioinformatics analysis of the aerobic denitrification bacterial community were carried out using a MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technique based on napA. Moreover, α-diversity, β-diversity, and network analyses were also carried out. The results showed significant differences in the water quality of different sampling sites in Baiyangdian Lake, and the estuary area exhibited the highest nitrogen concentration. α-diversity exhibited significant differences (P<0.05), and the abundance and diversity of ZZD and BH were the lowest. The operational taxonomic units of the water body mainly belonged to Proteobacteria (α-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, and γ-Proteobacteria). Meanwhile, Venn diagram analysis indicated the community of aerobic denitrification bacteria exhibited significant differences, and variance inflation factor and redundancy analysis showed that temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, dissolved total phosphorus, and redox potential were the main environmental factors. Network analysis showed that symbiotic relationships accounted for a major proportion of the microbial network. Mantel test analysis shows that temperature, redox potential, nitrate, ammonia, dissolved total phosphorus, and iron and manganese are the key factors affecting the evolution of modular community structure. From all the results, the MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technique based on the napA gene was an effective tool to explore the changes of aerobic denitrification bacterial community structure, which could supply a reference to isolate the "directional-accurate-efficient" aerobic denitrification bacterial agent in the future.}, } @article {pmid32608104, year = {2020}, author = {Szuba, A and Marczak, Ł and Ratajczak, I and Kasprowicz-Maluśki, A and Mucha, J}, title = {Integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealed molecular adjustments in Populus × canescens colonized with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus, which limited plant host growth.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {3754-3771}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15146}, pmid = {32608104}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {DEC-2011/03/D/NZ9/05500//the National Science Center, Poland/International ; //Polish Academy of Sciences/International ; }, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Metabolomics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; *Populus/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizae (ECMs) are a highly context-dependent interactions that are not always beneficial for the plant host, sometimes leading to a decrease in plant growth. However, the molecular status of these plants remains unknown. We studied Populus × canescens microcuttings characterized by impaired growth in response to colonization by a Paxillus involutus strain via integrative proteomics-metabolomics analyses. The analysed strain was characterized by low compatibility and formed only mantles, not a Hartig net, in the majority of root tips. The increased abundance of photosynthetic proteins and foliar carbohydrates co-occurred with signals of intensified resource exchange via the stems of colonized plants. In the roots, intensified C metabolism resulted in the biosynthesis of secondary C compounds unavailable to the fungal partner but also C skeletons necessary to increase insufficient N uptake from the hyphae. The stress response was also detected in colonized plants but was similar to that reported previously during mutualistic ECM interactions. In colonized poplar plants, mechanisms to prevent imbalanced C/N trade-offs were activated. Root metabolism strongly depended on features of the whole plant, especially the foliar C/N budget. However, despite ECM-triggered growth impairment and the foliar nutrient status, the fungal partner was recognized to be a symbiotic partner.}, } @article {pmid32607085, year = {2020}, author = {Koehler, H and Puchalski, K and Ruiz, G and Jacobs, B and Langland, J}, title = {The Role of Endophytic/Epiphytic Bacterial Constituents in the Immunostimulatory Activity of the Botanical, Astragalus membranaceus.}, journal = {The Yale journal of biology and medicine}, volume = {93}, number = {2}, pages = {239-250}, pmid = {32607085}, issn = {1551-4056}, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology ; *Astragalus propinquus/chemistry/microbiology ; *Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry/pharmacology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; *Polysaccharides/chemistry/pharmacology ; *Saponins/chemistry/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Astragalus membranaceus is a staple of Traditional Chinese Medicine being one of the oldest medicinal herbs listed in the material medica of Chinese herbal medicine. Chinese herbalists have used Astragalus to help the human body fight a variety of diseases. Modern herbalists utilize Astragalus primarily as an immunostimulant to prevent common infection and aid in the recovery following infection. Historically, the biological activities associated with Astragalus have been accounted for, at least in part, to several constituents present in the botanical including saponins and polysaccharides. We propose that in addition to these constituents, compounds from endophytic (or epiphytic) bacteria present in (or on) the roots of Astragalus may have an important biological role. Lipopolysaccharides and lipoproteins are major components of Gram-negative bacteria and highly potent activators of the innate immune response. Our data supports a direct correlation between the level of immune gene induction and the level of lipopolysaccharides/lipoproteins present in the Astragalus extract. We demonstrate that extracts from Astragalus specifically activate Toll-like and NOD-like receptors involved in the recognition and response to bacterial constituents and that removal of the lipopolysaccharide/lipoprotein from the Astragalus extract reduced the level of this response. The results support that many immune enhancing botanicals have established a symbiotic relationship with Gram-negative bacteria and that the immune enhancing effect of these botanical extracts on the body may not only be due to endogenous plant compounds, but endophytic (or epiphytic) bacterial components as well.}, } @article {pmid32606027, year = {2020}, author = {Altamia, MA and Lin, Z and Trindade-Silva, AE and Uy, ID and Shipway, JR and Wilke, DV and Concepcion, GP and Distel, DL and Schmidt, EW and Haygood, MG}, title = {Secondary Metabolism in the Gill Microbiota of Shipworms (Teredinidae) as Revealed by Comparison of Metagenomes and Nearly Complete Symbiont Genomes.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32606027}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R01 GM071425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM122521/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Shipworms play critical roles in recycling wood in the sea. Symbiotic bacteria supply enzymes that the organisms need for nutrition and wood degradation. Some of these bacteria have been grown in pure culture and have the capacity to make many secondary metabolites. However, little is known about whether such secondary metabolite pathways are represented in the symbiont communities within their hosts. In addition, little has been reported about the patterns of host-symbiont co-occurrence. Here, we collected shipworms from the United States, the Philippines, and Brazil and cultivated symbiotic bacteria from their gills. We analyzed sequences from 22 shipworm gill metagenomes from seven shipworm species and from 23 cultivated symbiont isolates. Using (meta)genome sequencing, we demonstrate that the cultivated isolates represent all the major bacterial symbiont species and strains in shipworm gills. We show that the bacterial symbionts are distributed among shipworm hosts in consistent, predictable patterns. The symbiotic bacteria harbor many gene cluster families (GCFs) for biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites, only <5% of which match previously described biosynthetic pathways. Because we were able to cultivate the symbionts and to sequence their genomes, we can definitively enumerate the biosynthetic pathways in these symbiont communities, showing that ∼150 of ∼200 total biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) present in the animal gill metagenomes are represented in our culture collection. Shipworm symbionts occur in suites that differ predictably across a wide taxonomic and geographic range of host species and collectively constitute an immense resource for the discovery of new biosynthetic pathways corresponding to bioactive secondary metabolites.IMPORTANCE We define a system in which the major symbionts that are important to host biology and to the production of secondary metabolites can be cultivated. We show that symbiotic bacteria that are critical to host nutrition and lifestyle also have an immense capacity to produce a multitude of diverse and likely novel bioactive secondary metabolites that could lead to the discovery of drugs and that these pathways are found within shipworm gills. We propose that, by shaping associated microbial communities within the host, the compounds support the ability of shipworms to degrade wood in marine environments. Because these symbionts can be cultivated and genetically manipulated, they provide a powerful model for understanding how secondary metabolism impacts microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32605600, year = {2020}, author = {Lefoulon, E and Clark, T and Borveto, F and Perriat-Sanguinet, M and Moulia, C and Slatko, BE and Gavotte, L}, title = {Pseudoscorpion Wolbachia symbionts: diversity and evidence for a new supergroup S.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {188}, pmid = {32605600}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {-//New England Biolabs/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arachnida/*microbiology ; Biotin/*genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Operon ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing/*methods ; Wolbachia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wolbachia are the most widely spread endosymbiotic bacteria, present in a wide variety of insects and two families of nematodes. As of now, however, relatively little genomic data has been available. The Wolbachia symbiont can be parasitic, as described for many arthropod systems, an obligate mutualist, as in filarial nematodes or a combination of both in some organisms. They are currently classified into 16 monophyletic lineage groups ("supergroups"). Although the nature of these symbioses remains largely unknown, expanded Wolbachia genomic data will contribute to understanding their diverse symbiotic mechanisms and evolution.

RESULTS: This report focuses on Wolbachia infections in three pseudoscorpion species infected by two distinct groups of Wolbachia strains, based upon multi-locus phylogenies. Geogarypus minor harbours wGmin and Chthonius ischnocheles harbours wCisc, both closely related to supergroup H, while Atemnus politus harbours wApol, a member of a novel supergroup S along with Wolbachia from the pseudoscorpion Cordylochernes scorpioides (wCsco). Wolbachia supergroup S is most closely related to Wolbachia supergroups C and F. Using target enrichment by hybridization with Wolbachia-specific biotinylated probes to capture large fragments of Wolbachia DNA, we produced two draft genomes of wApol. Annotation of wApol highlights presence of a biotin operon, which is incomplete in many sequenced Wolbachia genomes.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights at least two symbiont acquisition events among pseudoscorpion species. Phylogenomic analysis indicates that the Wolbachia from Atemnus politus (wApol), forms a separate supergroup ("S") with the Wolbachia from Cordylochernes scorpioides (wCsco). Interestingly, the biotin operon, present in wApol, appears to have been horizontally transferred multiple times along Wolbachia evolutionary history.}, } @article {pmid32601480, year = {2020}, author = {Rix, L and Ribes, M and Coma, R and Jahn, MT and de Goeij, JM and van Oevelen, D and Escrig, S and Meibom, A and Hentschel, U}, title = {Heterotrophy in the earliest gut: a single-cell view of heterotrophic carbon and nitrogen assimilation in sponge-microbe symbioses.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2554-2567}, pmid = {32601480}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Nitrogen ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges are the oldest known extant animal-microbe symbiosis. These ubiquitous benthic animals play an important role in marine ecosystems in the cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM), the largest source of organic matter on Earth. The conventional view on DOM cycling through microbial processing has been challenged by the interaction between this efficient filter-feeding host and its diverse and abundant microbiome. Here we quantify, for the first time, the role of host cells and microbial symbionts in sponge heterotrophy. We combined stable isotope probing and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry to compare the processing of different sources of DOM (glucose, amino acids, algal-produced) and particulate organic matter (POM) by a high-microbial abundance (HMA) and low-microbial abundance (LMA) sponge with single-cell resolution. Contrary to common notion, we found that both microbial symbionts and host choanocyte (i.e. filter) cells and were active in DOM uptake. Although all DOM sources were assimilated by both sponges, higher microbial biomass in the HMA sponge corresponded to an increased capacity to process a greater variety of dissolved compounds. Nevertheless, in situ feeding data demonstrated that DOM was the primary carbon source for both the LMA and HMA sponge, accounting for ~90% of their heterotrophic diets. Microbes accounted for the majority (65-87%) of DOM assimilated by the HMA sponge (and ~60% of its total heterotrophic diet) but <5% in the LMA sponge. We propose that the evolutionary success of sponges is due to their different strategies to exploit the vast reservoir of DOM in the ocean.}, } @article {pmid32601423, year = {2020}, author = {Tian, W and Wang, C and Gao, Q and Li, L and Luan, S}, title = {Calcium spikes, waves and oscillations in plant development and biotic interactions.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {750-759}, pmid = {32601423}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Plant Development/physiology ; Plant Root Cap/growth & development ; Plants/microbiology ; Pollen Tube/growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The calcium ion (Ca[2+]) is a universal signal in all eukaryotic cells. A fundamental question is how Ca[2+], a simple cation, encodes complex information with high specificity. Extensive research has established a two-step process (encoding and decoding) that governs the specificity of Ca[2+] signals. While the encoding mechanism entails a complex array of channels and transporters, the decoding process features a number of Ca[2+] sensors and effectors that convert Ca[2+] signals into cellular effects. Along this general paradigm, some signalling components may be highly conserved, but others are divergent among different organisms. In plant cells, Ca[2+] participates in numerous signalling processes, and here we focus on the latest discoveries on Ca[2+]-encoding mechanisms in development and biotic interactions. In particular, we use examples such as polarized cell growth of pollen tube and root hair in which tip-focused Ca[2+] oscillations specify the signalling events for rapid cell elongation. In plant-microbe interactions, Ca[2+] spiking and oscillations hold the key to signalling specificity: while pathogens elicit cytoplasmic spiking, symbiotic microorganisms trigger nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations. Herbivore attacks or mechanical wounding can trigger Ca[2+] waves traveling a long distance to transmit and convert the local signal to a systemic defence program in the whole plant. What channels and transporters work together to carve out the spatial and temporal patterns of the Ca[2+] fluctuations? This question has remained enigmatic for decades until recent studies uncovered Ca[2+] channels that orchestrate specific Ca[2+] signatures in each of these processes. Future work will further expand the toolkit for Ca[2+]-encoding mechanisms and place Ca[2+] signalling steps into larger signalling networks.}, } @article {pmid32601375, year = {2020}, author = {Kuo, CY and Keshavmurthy, S and Chung, A and Huang, YY and Yang, SY and Chen, YC and Chen, CA}, title = {Demographic census confirms a stable population of the critically-endangered caryophyllid coral Polycyathus chaishanensis (Scleractinia; Caryophyllidae) in the Datan Algal Reef, Taiwan.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {10585}, pmid = {32601375}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification/*growth & development ; Censuses ; Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; Coral Reefs ; Endangered Species/trends ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Geologic Sediments ; Magnoliopsida ; Population Dynamics/trends ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Polycyathus chaishanensis is a symbiotic caryophyllid coral described from a single population in a tidal pool off Chaishan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Due to its rarity, P. chaishanensis was declared a critically-endangered species under the Taiwan Wildlife Protection Act. In May 2017, a P. chaishanensis colony was discovered in the intertidal area of the Datan Algal Reef, Taoyuan, Taiwan. To determine whether this is a stable population in the algal reef, a demographic census-including data on occurrence, distribution, and colony size-was carried out in the algal reef in southern Taoyuan. Intertidal censuses and sediment collections were conducted at five different sections-Baiyu, Datan G1, Datan G2, Yongxing, and Yongan algal reefs-during the monthly spring low tide from July 2018 to January 2019. In total, 84 colonies-23 in Datan G1 and 61 in Datan G2-were recorded from a tidal range of - 160 to - 250 cm, according to the Taiwan Vertical Datum 2001 compiled by the Central Weather Bureau. No P. chaishanensis was found in Baiyu, Yongxing, or Yongan. The P. chaishanensis colony sizes ranged from 2.55 to 81.5 cm in diameter, with the larger P. chaishanensis present in the lower intertidal zone. Sediment was extremely high, with monthly site averages ranging from 3,818.26 to 29,166.88 mg cm[-2] day[-1], and there was a significant difference between sites and months, both of which affected the distribution of P. chaishanensis in the algal reef. Our study confirms the existence of a second population of P. chaishanensis in Taiwan, highlighting the importance of the Datan Algal Reef for the survival and protection of this critically-endangered caryophyllid coral and why it is so urgent that the reef should be conserved.}, } @article {pmid32597470, year = {2020}, author = {Chambers, SA and Townsend, SD}, title = {Like mother, like microbe: human milk oligosaccharide mediated microbiome symbiosis.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {1139-1151}, pmid = {32597470}, issn = {1470-8752}, support = {R35 GM133602/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM065086/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Carbohydrate Conformation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Milk, Human/*chemistry ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry ; Prebiotics ; }, abstract = {Starting shortly after parturition, and continuing throughout our lifetime, the gut microbiota coevolves with our metabolic and neurological programming. This symbiosis is regulated by a complex interplay between the host and environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle. Not surprisingly, the development of this microbial community is of critical importance to health and wellness. In this targeted review, we examine the gut microbiome from birth to 2 years of age to characterize the role human milk oligosaccharides play in early formation of microbial flora.}, } @article {pmid32596143, year = {2020}, author = {Prado-Garcia, H and Campa-Higareda, A and Romero-Garcia, S}, title = {Lactic Acidosis in the Presence of Glucose Diminishes Warburg Effect in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {807}, pmid = {32596143}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Lactic acidosis (3 to 40 mM, pH < 6.9) is a condition found in solid tumors because tumor cells have a high rate of glucose consumption and lactate production even in the presence of oxygen; nevertheless, the microenvironment might still provide a sufficient glucose supply. Lactic acidosis has been proposed to shift metabolism from aerobic glycolysis toward oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). We tested if lung tumor cells cultured under lactic acidosis shift their metabolism from glycolysis to OXPHOS by consuming extracellular lactate, increasing growth rate. We analyzed lung adenocarcinoma (A-549, A-427) cell lines and non-transformed fibroblast cells (MRC-5), which were cultured using RPMI-1640 medium initially containing lactate (2 mM) and glucose (10 mM), at pH 7.2 or 6.2 and oxygen tension 21% O2 (normoxia) or 2% O2 (hypoxia). We obtained growth curves, as well as glucose consumption and lactate production rates (measured during exponential growth) for each cell line. HIF-1α (Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α), CS (citrate synthase) and AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) transcript levels were analyzed using RT-qPCR. By flow cytometry, we determined: (a) expression of glucose transporters (GLUT)1 and 4; (b) lactate transporters (MCT)1 and 4; (c) cell cycle profile, and (d) protein levels of HIF-1α, total and phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK). Mitochondrial functionality was evaluated by measuring O2 consumption in tumor cells using polarography and a Clark-type electrode. Tumor and non-transformed cells used both aerobic glycolysis and OXPHOS for obtaining energy. As of 48 h of culture, lactate levels ranged from (4.5-14 mM), thus forming a lactic environment. Lactic acidosis diminished GLUT1/GLUT4 expression and glucose consumption in A-549, but not in A-427 cells, and induced differential expression of HIF-1α, AMPK, and CS transcripts. A-427 cells increased pAMPK and HIF-1α levels and shifted their metabolism increasing OXPHOS; thus supporting cell growth. Conversely, A-549 cells increased HIF-1α protein levels, but did not activate AMPK and diminished OXPHOS. A-549 cells survived by arresting cells in G1-phase. Our findings show that lactic acidosis diminishes Warburg effect in tumor cells, but this change does not necessarily promote a shift to OXPHOS. Hence, lung adenocarcinomas show a differential metabolic response even when they are under the same microenvironmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid32595680, year = {2020}, author = {Feng, Y and Wu, P and Fu, W and Peng, L and Zhu, H and Cao, Y and Zhou, X and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z and Yuan, S}, title = {The Lotus japonicus Ubiquitin Ligase SIE3 Interacts With the Transcription Factor SIP1 and Forms a Homodimer.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {795}, pmid = {32595680}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The symbiosis receptor kinase SymRK plays an essential role in symbiotic signal transduction and nodule organogenesis. Several proteins bind to SymRK, but how the symbiosis signals are transduced from SymRK to downstream components remains elusive. We previously demonstrated that both SymRK interacting protein 1 (SIP1, an ARID-type DNA-binding protein) and SymRK interacting E3 ligase [SIE3, a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-containing E3 ligase] interact with SymRK to regulate downstream cellular responses in Lotus japonicus during the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Here, we show that SIE3 interacts with SIP1 in both yeast cells and Nicotiana benthamiana. SIE3 associated with itself and formed a homodimer. The cysteine 266 residue was found to be essential for SIE3 dimerization and for promoting nodulation in transgenic hairy roots of L. japonicus. Our findings provide a foundation for further investigating the regulatory mechanisms of the SymRK-mediated signaling pathway, as well as the biological function of E3 ligase dimerization in nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid32594890, year = {2020}, author = {Tominaga, T and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Yamato, M and Kaminaka, H}, title = {The effects of gibberellin on the expression of symbiosis-related genes in Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Eustoma grandiflorum.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {1784544}, pmid = {32594890}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Gibberellins/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a symbiotic interaction in terrestrial plants that is colonized by fungi in the Glomeromycotina. The morphological types of AM, including the Arum-type and Paris-type, are distinct, depending on the host plant species. A part of the regulatory pathways in Arum-type AM symbiosis has been revealed because most model plants form the Arum-type AM with a model AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis. Moreover, gibberellin (GA) is known to severely inhibit AM fungal colonization in Arum-type AM symbiosis. Recently, we showed that exogenous GA treatment significantly promoted AM fungal colonization in Paris-type AM symbiosis in Eustoma grandiflorum. In this study, we focused on the transcriptional changes in AM symbiosis-related genes in GA-treated E. grandiflorum. The expression levels of all examined E. grandiflorum genes were maintained or increased by GA treatment compared with those of the control treatment. Our new results suggest that signaling pathway(s) required for establishing AM symbiosis in E. grandiflorum may be distinct from the well-characterized pathway for that in model plants.}, } @article {pmid32592603, year = {2020}, author = {Alemneh, AA and Zhou, Y and Ryder, MH and Denton, MD}, title = {Mechanisms in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that enhance legume-rhizobial symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {129}, number = {5}, pages = {1133-1156}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14754}, pmid = {32592603}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation is an important biological process in terrestrial ecosystems and for global crop production. Legume nodulation and N2 fixation have been improved using nodule-enhancing rhizobacteria (NER) under both regular and stressed conditions. The positive effect of NER on legume-rhizobia symbiosis can be facilitated by plant growth-promoting (PGP) mechanisms, some of which remain to be identified. NER that produce aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase and indole acetic acid enhance the legume-rhizobia symbiosis through (i) enhancing the nodule induction, (ii) improving the competitiveness of rhizobia for nodulation, (iii) prolonging functional nodules by suppressing nodule senescence and (iv) upregulating genes associated with legume-rhizobia symbiosis. The means by which these processes enhance the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is the focus of this review. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which PGP rhizobacteria operate, and how they can be altered, will provide opportunities to enhance legume-rhizobial interactions, to provide new advances in plant growth promotion and N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid32592285, year = {2020}, author = {Sproles, AE and Oakley, CA and Krueger, T and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Meibom, A and Davy, SK}, title = {Sub-cellular imaging shows reduced photosynthetic carbon and increased nitrogen assimilation by the non-native endosymbiont Durusdinium trenchii in the model cnidarian Aiptasia.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {3741-3753}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15142}, pmid = {32592285}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {1202//Marsden Fund of the Royal Society Te Apārangi/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*metabolism ; Metabolome ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Proteome ; Sea Anemones/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Hosting different symbiont species can affect inter-partner nutritional fluxes within the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we measured the spatial incorporation of photosynthetically fixed [13] C and heterotrophically derived [15] N into host and symbiont cells of the model symbiotic cnidarian Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida) when colonized with its native symbiont Breviolum minutum or the non-native Durusdinium trenchii. Breviolum minutum exhibited high photosynthetic carbon assimilation per cell and translocation to host tissue throughout symbiosis establishment, whereas D. trenchii assimilated significantly less carbon, but obtained more host nitrogen. These findings suggest that D. trenchii has less potential to provide photosynthetically fixed carbon to the host despite obtaining considerable amounts of heterotrophically derived nitrogen. These sub-cellular events help explain previous observations that demonstrate differential effects of D. trenchii compared to B. minutum on the host transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and host growth and asexual reproduction. Together, these differential effects suggest that the non-native host-symbiont pairing is sub-optimal with respect to the host's nutritional benefits under normal environmental conditions. This contributes to our understanding of the ways in which metabolic integration impacts the benefits of a symbiotic association, and the potential evolution of novel host-symbiont pairings.}, } @article {pmid32591911, year = {2020}, author = {Prittesh, P and Avnika, P and Kinjal, P and Jinal, HN and Sakthivel, K and Amaresan, N}, title = {Amelioration effect of salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria on growth and physiological properties of rice (Oryza sativa) under salt-stressed conditions.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {9}, pages = {2419-2428}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-020-01962-4}, pmid = {32591911}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Salinity ; *Salt Stress ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {For sustainable agriculture in saline soil, extensive exploitation of salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria and other symbiotic bacteria is required. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of native salt-tolerant rice rhizobacteria for plant growth promotion under salt stress. A total of 188 bacteria were screened for assessing salt-tolerant capacity and nine isolates tolerating 12% NaCl (w/v) concentration were selected. Biochemical and molecular identification revealed that the salt-tolerant bacteria belonged to Bacillus sp, Exiguobacterium sp, Enterobacter sp, Lysinibacillus sp, Stenotrophomonas sp, Microbacterium sp, and Achromobacter sp. The increase in NaCl concentration from 2 to 4% decreases the PGP activities such as IAA production, P solubilization, K solubilization, and nitrate reduction. The effects of inoculation of salt-tolerant bacteria on the growth and different physiological properties of rice (Oryza sativa) were studied. It was found that the salinity affected the root and shoot length of the control plants; however, bacterial inoculant were found to effectively promote the growth of paddy under salinity stress. Further, bacterial inoculants substantially enhanced total chlorophyll, proline, total phenol, and oxidative damage such as electrolyte leakage and membrane stability index under salt stress. This study suggests that salt-tolerant PGP bacteria may be used for cultivation of O. sativa in salinized agricultural lands.}, } @article {pmid32591378, year = {2020}, author = {Regaiolo, A and Dominelli, N and Andresen, K and Heermann, R}, title = {The Biocontrol Agent and Insect Pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens Interacts with Plant Roots.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {32591378}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biological Control Agents ; *Chemotaxis ; Exudates and Transudates/chemistry ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Bacterial ; Photorhabdus/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA-Seq ; *Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {The number of sustainable agriculture techniques to improve pest management and environmental safety is rising, as biological control agents are used to enhance disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance in crops. Here, we investigated the capacity of the Photorhabdus luminescens secondary variant to react to plant root exudates and their behavior toward microorganisms in the rhizosphere. P. luminescens is known to live in symbiosis with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and to be highly pathogenic toward insects. The P. luminescens-EPN relationship has been widely studied, and this combination has been used as a biological control agent; however, not much attention has been paid to the putative lifestyle of P. luminescens in the rhizosphere. We performed transcriptome analysis to show how P. luminescens responds to plant root exudates. The analysis highlighted genes involved in chitin degradation, biofilm regulation, formation of flagella, and type VI secretion system. Furthermore, we provide evidence that P. luminescens can inhibit growth of phytopathogenic fungi. Finally, we demonstrated a specific interaction of P. luminescens with plant roots. Understanding the role and the function of this bacterium in the rhizosphere might accelerate the progress in biocontrol manipulation and elucidate the peculiar mechanisms adopted by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in plant root interactions.IMPORTANCE Insect-pathogenic Photorhabdus luminescens bacteria are widely used in biocontrol strategies against pests. Very little is known about the life of these bacteria in the rhizosphere. Here, we show that P. luminescens can specifically react to and interact with plant roots. Understanding the adaptation of P. luminescens in the rhizosphere is highly important for the biotechnological application of entomopathogenic bacteria and could improve future sustainable pest management in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32590947, year = {2020}, author = {Kang, W and Jiang, Z and Chen, Y and Wu, F and Liu, C and Wang, H and Shi, S and Zhang, XX}, title = {Plant transcriptome analysis reveals specific molecular interactions between alfalfa and its rhizobial symbionts below the species level.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {293}, pmid = {32590947}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {DNA Transposable Elements ; Flavonoids/biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; Leghemoglobin/genetics ; Medicago sativa/*genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptides/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA-Seq ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leguminous plants alter patterns of gene expression in response to symbiotic colonization and infection by their cognate rhizobial bacteria, but the extent of the transcriptomic response has rarely been examined below the species level. Here we describe the identification of 12 rhizobial biotypes of Ensifer meliloti, which form nitrogen-fixing nodules in the roots of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), followed by a comparative RNA-seq analysis of four alfalfa cultivars each inoculated with two E. meliloti strains varying in symbiotic performance and phylogenetic relatedness.

RESULTS: Rhizobial biotypes were identified on the basis of their symbiotic performance, particularly shoot dry weight. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolic pathways were determined by comparing the RNA-seq data with that of the uninoculated control plant. Significant differences were found between DEGs generated in each cultivar with the inoculation of two rhizobial strains in comparison (P < 0.01). A total of 8111 genes was differentially expressed, representing ~ 17.1% of the M. sativa genome. The proportion of DEGs ranges from 0.5 to 12.2% for each alfalfa cultivar. Interestingly, genes with predicted roles in flavonoid biosynthesis and plant-pathogen interaction (NBS-LRR) were identified as the most significant DEGs. Other DEGs include Medsa002106 and genes encoding nodulins and NCR peptides whose expression is specifically induced during the development of nitrogen-fixing nodules. More importantly, strong significant positive correlations were observed between plant transcriptomes (DEGs and KEGG pathways) and phylogenetic distances between the two rhizobial inoculants.

CONCLUSIONS: Alfalfa expresses significantly distinct sets of genes in response to infection by different rhizobial strains at the below-species levels (i.e. biotype or strain). Candidate genes underlying the specific interactions include Medsa002106 and those encoding nodulins and NCR peptides and proteins in the NBS-LRR family.}, } @article {pmid32589724, year = {2020}, author = {Fang, J and Liu, M and Zhang, S and Liu, F and Zhang, Z and Zhang, Q and Kong, X}, title = {Chemical signal interactions of the bark beetle with fungal symbionts, and host/non-host trees.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {19}, pages = {6084-6091}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa296}, pmid = {32589724}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota ; *Coleoptera ; Fungi ; Plant Bark ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between the bark beetle (Ips subelongatus) and its fungal symbiont (Endoconidiophora fujiensis) poses a serious threat to larch forests. However, the signaling pathways between these symbiotic partners and their host/non-host trees are not fully understood. Inoculation of the host larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii) with two strains of E. fujiensis induced a rapid and long-term release of monoterpenes. Although the fungi had a level of tolerance to these compounds, many monoterpenes inhibited fungal growth in culture. Moreover, monoterpenes with stronger inhibitory effects on fungal growth exhibited weaker synergistic effects on the attraction of I. subelongatus to aggregation pheromone. Surprisingly, individual isomers of aggregation pheromone components promoted fungal symbiont growth in a culture medium. Non-host volatiles (NHVs) were tested and shown to completely inhibit the growth of fungal symbionts in culture but had no effects on beetle responses to aggregation pheromone, with the exception of (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol. These results reveal convergence and mutualism patterns in the evolution of I. subelongatus and E. fujiensis with respect to host tree volatiles but not in response to NHVs. Ultimately, we put forward a hypothesis that host plants are ecological and evolutionary determinants of bark beetle-fungus symbioses in terms of their complex signaling interactions.}, } @article {pmid32589709, year = {2020}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Acosta-Jurado, S and Medina, C and Ollero, FJ and Alias-Villegas, C and Vinardell, JM and Pérez-Montaño, F and López-Baena, FJ}, title = {The Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 type III secretion system effector NopC blocks nodulation with Lotus japonicus Gifu.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {19}, pages = {6043-6056}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa297}, pmid = {32589709}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Lotus ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Sinorhizobium ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {The broad-host-range bacterium Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 cannot nodulate the model legume Lotus japonicus Gifu. This bacterium possesses a type III secretion system (T3SS), a specialized secretion apparatus used to deliver effector proteins (T3Es) into the host cell cytosol to alter host signaling and/or suppress host defence responses to promote infection. However, some of these T3Es are recognized by specific plant receptors and hence trigger a strong defence response to block infection. In rhizobia, T3Es are involved in nodulation efficiency and host-range determination, and in some cases directly activate host symbiosis signalling in a Nod factor-independent manner. In this work, we show that HH103 RifR T3SS mutants, unable to secrete T3Es, gain nodulation with L. japonicus Gifu through infection threads, suggesting that plant recognition of a T3E could block the infection process. To identify the T3E involved, we performed nodulation assays with a collection of mutants that affect secretion of each T3E identified in HH103 RifR so far. The nopC mutant could infect L. japonicus Gifu by infection thread invasion and switch the infection mechanism in Lotus burttii from intercellular infection to infection thread formation. Lotus japonicus gene expression analysis indicated that the infection-blocking event occurs at early stages of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32589577, year = {2020}, author = {Bodai, BI and Nakata, TE}, title = {Breast Cancer: Lifestyle, the Human Gut Microbiota/Microbiome, and Survivorship.}, journal = {The Permanente journal}, volume = {24}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32589577}, issn = {1552-5775}, mesh = {*Breast Neoplasms ; Estrogens/metabolism ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Life Style ; *Survivorship ; }, abstract = {Patients with a current diagnosis of breast cancer are enjoying dramatic cure rates and survivorship secondary to an increase in awareness, earlier detection, and more effective therapies. Although strategies such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October focus on early detection, lifestyle changes are seldom discussed other than dietary concerns and physical activity. Lifestyle modifications centered on diet and exercise have been demonstrated to affect overall disease-free survival in breast cancer. Since the early 2000s, the role of the human gut microbiota and its relation to breast cancer has become a major area of interest in the scientific and medical community. We live and survive owing to the symbiotic relationship with the microorganisms within us: the human microbiota. Scientific advances have identified a subset of the gut microbiota: the estrobolome, those bacteria that have the genetic capability to metabolize estrogen, which plays a key role in most breast cancers. Recent research provides evidence that the gut microbiome plays a substantial role in estrogen regulation. Gut microbiota diversity appears to be an essential component of overall health, including breast health. Future research attention should include a more extensive focus on the role of the human gut microbiota in breast cancer.}, } @article {pmid32588319, year = {2020}, author = {Montenegro, F and Indraccolo, S}, title = {Metabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1263}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-44518-8_1}, pmid = {32588319}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Extracellular Matrix/metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Stromal Cells/metabolism ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {From a general perspective, in the context of solid tumors, we can distinguish metabolic alterations of cancer cells from those of the stroma. These two components interact with each other and with the extracellular matrix (ECM), and these interactions can take the form of either metabolic competition or metabolic symbiosis. The aim of this chapter is to overview the canonical metabolic alterations of tumor and stroma cells and to present specific examples of metabolic competition and symbiosis. We will also discuss the complexity and plasticity of metabolism, which pose indeed a serious threat to our ability to target selective metabolic features of tumor microenvironment with drugs. Finally, we will highlight some limitations of state-of-the-art techniques used to study tumor metabolism and propose some innovative solutions to investigate the clinical relevance of metabolic alterations for patient management and treatment.}, } @article {pmid32588057, year = {2020}, author = {Doerner, P}, title = {Extreme environments: crucibles of potent abiotic stress tolerance.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {13}, pages = {3761-3764}, pmid = {32588057}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Extreme Environments ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, } @article {pmid32586957, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, S and Chen, A and Xie, K and Yang, X and Luo, Z and Chen, J and Zeng, D and Ren, Y and Yang, C and Wang, L and Feng, H and López-Arredondo, DL and Herrera-Estrella, LR and Xu, G}, title = {Functional analysis of the OsNPF4.5 nitrate transporter reveals a conserved mycorrhizal pathway of nitrogen acquisition in plants.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {28}, pages = {16649-16659}, pmid = {32586957}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrate Transporters ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sorghum/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Zea mays/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Low availability of nitrogen (N) is often a major limiting factor to crop yield in most nutrient-poor soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are beneficial symbionts of most land plants that enhance plant nutrient uptake, particularly of phosphate. A growing number of reports point to the substantially increased N accumulation in many mycorrhizal plants; however, the contribution of AM symbiosis to plant N nutrition and the mechanisms underlying the AM-mediated N acquisition are still in the early stages of being understood. Here, we report that inoculation with AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis remarkably promoted rice (Oryza sativa) growth and N acquisition, and about 42% of the overall N acquired by rice roots could be delivered via the symbiotic route under N-NO3[-] supply condition. Mycorrhizal colonization strongly induced expression of the putative nitrate transporter gene OsNPF4.5 in rice roots, and its orthologs ZmNPF4.5 in Zea mays and SbNPF4.5 in Sorghum bicolor OsNPF4.5 is exclusively expressed in the cells containing arbuscules and displayed a low-affinity NO3[-] transport activity when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Moreover, knockout of OsNPF4.5 resulted in a 45% decrease in symbiotic N uptake and a significant reduction in arbuscule incidence when NO3[-] was supplied as an N source. Based on our results, we propose that the NPF4.5 plays a key role in mycorrhizal NO3[-] acquisition, a symbiotic N uptake route that might be highly conserved in gramineous species.}, } @article {pmid32586912, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, F and Deng, J and Chen, H and Liu, P and Zheng, L and Ye, Q and Li, R and Brault, M and Wen, J and Frugier, F and Dong, J and Wang, T}, title = {A CEP Peptide Receptor-like Kinase Regulates Auxin Biosynthesis and Ethylene Signaling to Coordinate Root Growth and Symbiotic Nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1105/tpc.19.00428}, pmid = {32586912}, issn = {1532-298X}, abstract = {Because of the high energy consumed during symbiotic nitrogen fixation, legumes must balance growth and symbiotic nodulation. Both lateral roots and nodules form on the root system and the developmental coordination of these organs according to reduced nitrogen (N) availability remains elusive. We show that the Compact Root Architecture 2 (MtCRA2) receptor-like kinase is essential to promote the initiation of early symbiotic nodulation and to inhibit root growth in response to low-N. MtCEP1 peptides can activate MtCRA2 under N-starvation conditions, leading to a repression of MtYUC2 auxin biosynthesis gene expression, and therefore of auxin root responses. Accordingly, the compact root architecture phenotype of cra2 can be mimicked by an auxin treatment or by over-expressing MtYUC2, and conversely, a treatment with YUC inhibitors or a MtYUC2 knock-out rescues the cra2 root phenotype. The MtCEP1-activated CRA2 can additionally interact with and phosphorylate the MtEIN2 ethylene signaling component at Ser643 and Ser924, preventing its cleavage and therefore repressing ethylene responses, thus locally promoting the root susceptibility to rhizobia. In agreement, the cra2 low nodulation phenotype is rescued by an ein2 mutation. Overall, by reducing auxin biosynthesis and inhibiting ethylene signaling, the MtCEP1/MtCRA2 pathway balances root and nodule development under low-N conditions.}, } @article {pmid32586416, year = {2020}, author = {Kadam, SB and Pable, AA and Barvkar, VT}, title = {Mycorrhiza induced resistance (MIR): a defence developed through synergistic engagement of phytohormones, metabolites and rhizosphere.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {47}, number = {10}, pages = {880-890}, doi = {10.1071/FP20035}, pmid = {32586416}, issn = {1445-4416}, mesh = {Animals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants get phosphorus, water and other soil nutrients at the cost of sugar through mycorrhizal symbiotic association. A common mycorrhizal network (CMN) - a dense network of mycorrhizal hyphae - provides a passage for exchange of chemicals and signals between the plants sharing CMN. Mycorrhisation impact plants at hormonal, physiological and metabolic level and successful symbiosis also regulates ecology of the plant rhizosphere. Apart from nutritional benefits, mycorrhisation provides an induced resistance to the plants known as mycorrhiza induced resistance (MIR). MIR is effective against soil as well as foliar pathogens and pest insects. In this review, molecular mechanisms underlying MIR such as role of phytohormones, their cross talk and priming effect are discussed. Evidence of MIR against economically important pathogens and pest insects in different plants is summarised. Mycorrhiza induces many plant secondary metabolites, many of which have a role in plant defence. Involvement of these secondary metabolites in mycorrhisation and their putative role in MIR are further reviewed. Controversies about MIR are also briefly discussed in order to provide insights on the scope for research about MIR. We have further extended our review with an open ended discussion about the possibilities for transgenerational MIR.}, } @article {pmid32585987, year = {2020}, author = {Murry, CR and Agarkova, IV and Ghosh, JS and Fitzgerald, FC and Carlson, RM and Hertel, B and Kukovetz, K and Rauh, O and Thiel, G and Van Etten, JL}, title = {Genetic Diversity of Potassium Ion Channel Proteins Encoded by Chloroviruses That Infect Chlorella heliozoae.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32585987}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chlorella/*virology ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Phycodnaviridae/*genetics/metabolism ; Potassium Channels/*genetics ; Protein Domains/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Proteins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Chloroviruses are large, plaque-forming, dsDNA viruses that infect chlorella-like green algae that live in a symbiotic relationship with protists. Chloroviruses have genomes from 290 to 370 kb, and they encode as many as 400 proteins. One interesting feature of chloroviruses is that they encode a potassium ion (K[+]) channel protein named Kcv. The Kcv protein encoded by SAG chlorovirus ATCV-1 is one of the smallest known functional K[+] channel proteins consisting of 82 amino acids. The KcvATCV-1 protein has similarities to the family of two transmembrane domain K[+] channel proteins; it consists of two transmembrane α-helixes with a pore region in the middle, making it an ideal model for studying K[+] channels. To assess their genetic diversity, kcv genes were sequenced from 103 geographically distinct SAG chlorovirus isolates. Of the 103 kcv genes, there were 42 unique DNA sequences that translated into 26 new Kcv channels. The new predicted Kcv proteins differed from KcvATCV-1 by 1 to 55 amino acids. The most conserved region of the Kcv protein was the filter, the turret and the pore helix were fairly well conserved, and the outer and the inner transmembrane domains of the protein were the most variable. Two of the new predicted channels were shown to be functional K[+] channels.}, } @article {pmid32585680, year = {2020}, author = {Mahalak, KK and Firrman, J and Lee, JJ and Bittinger, K and Nuñez, A and Mattei, LM and Zhang, H and Fett, B and Bobokalonov, J and Arango-Argoty, G and Zhang, L and Zhang, G and Liu, LS}, title = {Triclosan has a robust, yet reversible impact on human gut microbial composition in vitro.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {e0234046}, pmid = {32585680}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/genetics ; Humans ; Triclosan/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The recent ban of the antimicrobial compound triclosan from use in consumer soaps followed research that showcased the risk it poses to the environment and to human health. Triclosan has been found in human plasma, urine and milk, demonstrating that it is present in human tissues. Previous work has also demonstrated that consumption of triclosan disrupts the gut microbial community of mice and zebrafish. Due to the widespread use of triclosan and ubiquity in the environment, it is imperative to understand the impact this chemical has on the human body and its symbiotic resident microbes. To that end, this study is the first to explore how triclosan impacts the human gut microbial community in vitro both during and after treatment. Through our in vitro system simulating three regions of the human gut; the ascending colon, transverse colon, and descending colon regions, we found that treatment with triclosan significantly impacted the community structure in terms of reduced population, diversity, and metabolite production, most notably in the ascending colon region. Given a 2 week recovery period, most of the population levels, community structure, and diversity levels were recovered for all colon regions. Our results demonstrate that the human gut microbial community diversity and population size is significantly impacted by triclosan at a high dose in vitro, and that the community is recoverable within this system.}, } @article {pmid32583877, year = {2021}, author = {Ho, LH and Lee, YI and Hsieh, SY and Lin, IS and Wu, YC and Ko, HY and Klemens, PA and Neuhaus, HE and Chen, YM and Huang, TP and Yeh, CH and Guo, WJ}, title = {GeSUT4 mediates sucrose import at the symbiotic interface for carbon allocation of heterotrophic Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {20-33}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13833}, pmid = {32583877}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Arabidopsis ; Armillaria/metabolism/physiology ; Gastrodia/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Tubers/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Sucrose/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gastrodia elata, a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid without photosynthetic ability, only grows symbiotically with the fungus Armillaria. The mechanism of carbon distribution in this mycoheterotrophy is unknown. We detected high sucrose concentrations in all stages of Gastrodia tubers, suggesting sucrose may be the major sugar transported between fungus and orchid. Thick symplasm-isolated wall interfaces in colonized and adjacent large cells implied involvement of sucrose importers. Two sucrose transporter (SUT)-like genes, GeSUT4 and GeSUT3, were identified that were highly expressed in young Armillaria-colonized tubers. Yeast complementation and isotope tracer experiments confirmed that GeSUT4 functioned as a high-affinity sucrose-specific proton-dependent importer. Plasma-membrane/tonoplast localization of GeSUT4-GFP fusions and high RNA expression of GeSUT4 in symbiotic and large cells indicated that GeSUT4 likely functions in active sucrose transport for intercellular allocation and intracellular homeostasis. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GeSUT4 had larger leaves but were sensitive to excess sucrose and roots were colonized with fewer mutualistic Bacillus, supporting the role of GeSUT4 in regulating sugar allocation. This is not only the first documented carbon import system in a mycoheterotrophic interaction but also highlights the evolutionary importance of sucrose transporters for regulation of carbon flow in all types of plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid32583287, year = {2020}, author = {Park, C and Yun, KE and Chu, JM and Lee, JY and Hong, CP and Nam, YD and Jeong, J and Han, K and Ahn, YJ}, title = {Performance comparison of fecal preservative and stock solutions for gut microbiome storage at room temperature.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {58}, number = {8}, pages = {703-710}, doi = {10.1007/s12275-020-0092-6}, pmid = {32583287}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/*classification/*drug effects/genetics ; Bacteroidetes/drug effects ; Ethanol/*pharmacology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Firmicutes/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Proteobacteria/drug effects ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Specimen Handling/*methods ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome, which is symbiotic within the human body, assists in human digestion. It plays significant roles in identifying intestinal disease as well as in maintaining a healthy body with functional immune and metabolic activities. To confirm the consistency of fecal intestinal microbial research, it is necessary to study the changes in intestinal microbial flora according to the fecal collection solution and storage period. We collected fecal samples from three healthy Korean adults. To examine the efficacy of fecal collection solution, we used NBgene-Gut, OMNIgene-Gut, 70% ethanol (Ethanol-70%), and RNAlater. The samples were stored for up to two months at room temperature using three different methods, and we observed changes in microbial communities over time. We analyzed clusters of changes in the microbial flora by observing fecal stock solutions and metagenome sequencing performed over time. In particular, we confirmed the profiling of alpha and beta diversity and microbial classification according to the differences in intestinal environment among individuals. We also confirmed that the microbial profile remained stable for two months and that the microbial profile did not change significantly over time. In addition, our results suggest the possibility of verifying microbial profiling even for long-term storage of a single sample. In conclusion, collecting fecal samples using a stock solution rather than freezing feces seems to be relatively reproducible and stable for GUT metagenome analysis. Therefore, stock solution tubes in intestinal microbial research can be used without problems.}, } @article {pmid32582223, year = {2020}, author = {Signorelli, S and Sainz, M and Tabares-da Rosa, S and Monza, J}, title = {The Role of Nitric Oxide in Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {521}, pmid = {32582223}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The legume-rhizobia symbiosis is an important process in agriculture because it allows the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) which contributes to increasing the levels of nitrogen in the soil. Nitric oxide (⋅NO) is a small free radical molecule having diverse signaling roles in plants. Here we present and discuss evidence showing the role of ⋅NO during different stages of the legume-rhizobia interaction such as recognition, infection, nodule development, and nodule senescence. Although the mechanisms by which ⋅NO modulates this interaction are not fully understood, we discuss potential mechanisms including its interaction with cytokinin, auxin, and abscisic acid signaling pathways. In matures nodules, a more active metabolism of ⋅NO has been reported and both the plant and rhizobia participate in ⋅NO production and scavenging. Although ⋅NO has been shown to induce the expression of genes coding for NITROGENASE, controlling the levels of ⋅NO in mature nodules seems to be crucial as ⋅NO was shown to be a potent inhibitor of NITROGENASE activity, to induce nodule senescence, and reduce nitrogen assimilation. In this sense, LEGHEMOGLOBINS (Lbs) were shown to play an important role in the scavenging of ⋅NO and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), potentially more relevant in senescent nodules. Even though ⋅NO can reduce NITROGENASE activity, most reports have linked ⋅NO to positive effects on BNF. This can relate mainly to the regulation of the spatiotemporal distribution of ⋅NO which favors some effects over others. Another plausible explanation for this observation is that the negative effect of ⋅NO requires its direct interaction with NITROGENASE, whereas the positive effect of ⋅NO is related to its signaling function, which results in an amplifier effect. In the near future, it would be interesting to explore the role of environmental stress-induced ⋅NO in BNF.}, } @article {pmid32582127, year = {2020}, author = {Matroodi, S and Siitonen, V and Baral, B and Yamada, K and Akhgari, A and Metsä-Ketelä, M}, title = {Genotyping-Guided Discovery of Persiamycin A From Sponge-Associated Halophilic Streptomonospora sp. PA3.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1237}, pmid = {32582127}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial natural products have been a cornerstone of the pharmaceutical industry, but the supply of novel bioactive secondary metabolites has diminished due to extensive exploration of the most easily accessible sources, namely terrestrial Streptomyces species. The Persian Gulf is a unique habitat for marine sponges, which contain diverse communities of microorganisms including marine Actinobacteria. These exotic ecosystems may cradle rare actinomycetes with high potential to produce novel secondary metabolites. In this study, we harvested 12 different species of sponges from two locations in the Persian Gulf and isolated 45 symbiotic actinomycetes to assess their biodiversity and sponge-microbe relationships. The isolates were classified into Nocardiopsis (24 isolates), Streptomyces (17 isolates) and rare genera (4 isolates) by 16S rRNA sequencing. Antibiotic activity tests revealed that culture extracts from half of the isolates displayed growth inhibitory effects against seven pathogenic bacteria. Next, we identified five strains with the genetic potential to produce aromatic polyketides by genotyping ketosynthase genes responsible for synthesis of carbon scaffolds. The combined data led us to focus on Streptomonospora sp. PA3, since the genus has rarely been examined for its capacity to produce secondary metabolites. Analysis of culture extracts led to the discovery of a new bioactive aromatic polyketide denoted persiamycin A and 1-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-naphthoic acid. The genome harbored seven gene clusters involved in secondary metabolism, including a tetracenomycin-type polyketide synthase pathway likely involved in persiamycin formation. The work demonstrates the use of multivariate data and underexplored ecological niches to guide the drug discovery process for antibiotics and anticancer agents.}, } @article {pmid32582067, year = {2020}, author = {Mateos, M and Martinez Montoya, H and Lanzavecchia, SB and Conte, C and Guillén, K and Morán-Aceves, BM and Toledo, J and Liedo, P and Asimakis, ED and Doudoumis, V and Kyritsis, GA and Papadopoulos, NT and Augustinos, AA and Segura, DF and Tsiamis, G}, title = {Wolbachia pipientis Associated With Tephritid Fruit Fly Pests: From Basic Research to Applications.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1080}, pmid = {32582067}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Members of the true fruit flies (family Tephritidae) are among the most serious agricultural pests worldwide, whose control and management demands large and costly international efforts. The need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly integrated pest management (IPM) has led to the development and implementation of autocidal control strategies. These approaches include the widely used sterile insect technique and the incompatible insect technique (IIT). IIT relies on maternally transmitted bacteria (namely Wolbachia) to cause a conditional sterility in crosses between released mass-reared Wolbachia-infected males and wild females, which are either uninfected or infected with a different Wolbachia strain (i.e., cytoplasmic incompatibility; CI). Herein, we review the current state of knowledge on Wolbachia-tephritid interactions including infection prevalence in wild populations, phenotypic consequences, and their impact on life history traits. Numerous pest tephritid species are reported to harbor Wolbachia infections, with a subset exhibiting high prevalence. The phenotypic effects of Wolbachia have been assessed in very few tephritid species, due in part to the difficulty of manipulating Wolbachia infection (removal or transinfection). Based on recent methodological advances (high-throughput DNA sequencing) and breakthroughs concerning the mechanistic basis of CI, we suggest research avenues that could accelerate generation of necessary knowledge for the potential use of Wolbachia-based IIT in area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) strategies for the population control of tephritid pests.}, } @article {pmid32580505, year = {2020}, author = {Menéndez, E and Flores-Félix, JD and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Igual, JM and García-Fraile, P and Peix, A and Velázquez, E}, title = {Genome Analysis of Endobacterium cerealis, a Novel Genus and Species Isolated from Zea mays Roots in North Spain.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32580505}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {In the present work, we analyse the genomic and phenotypic characteristics of a strain named RZME27[T] isolated from roots of a Zea mays plant grown in Spain. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequences showed that the strain RZME27[T] clustered with the type strains of Neorhizobium galegae and Pseudorhizobium pelagicum from the family Rhizobiaceae. This family encompasses several genera establishing symbiosis with legumes, but the genes involved in nodulation and nitrogen fixation are absent in its genome. Nevertheless, genes related to plant colonization, such as those involved in motility, chemotaxis, quorum sensing, exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and hydrolytic enzymes production were found. The comparative pangenomic analyses showed that 78 protein clusters present in the strain RZME27[T] were not found in the type strains of its closest relatives N. galegae and P. pelagicum. The calculated average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the strain RZME27[T] and the type strains of N. galegae and P. pelagicum were 75.61% and 75.1%, respectively, similar or lower than those found for other genera from family Rhizobiaceae. Several phenotypic differences were also found, highlighting the absence of the fatty acid C19:0 cyclo ω8c and propionate assimilation. These results support the definition of a novel genus and species named Endobacterium cerealis gen. nov. sp. nov. whose type strain is RZME27[T].}, } @article {pmid32580438, year = {2020}, author = {Miozzi, L and Vaira, AM and Brilli, F and Casarin, V and Berti, M and Ferrandino, A and Nerva, L and Accotto, GP and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Primes Tolerance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus in Tomato.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32580438}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Cucumovirus/*metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism/virology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Solanum lycopersicum/*virology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*virology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Diseases/virology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/virology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Tomato plants can establish symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) able to promote plant nutrition and prime systemic plant defenses against pathogens attack; the mechanism involved is known as mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR). However, studies on the effect of AMF on viral infection, still limited and not conclusive, indicate that AMF colonization may have a detrimental effect on plant defenses against viruses, so that the term "mycorrhiza-induced susceptibility" (MIS) has been proposed for these cases. To expand the case studies to a not yet tested viral family, that is, Bromoviridae, we investigated the effect of the colonization by the AMF Funneliformis mosseae on cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infection in tomato by phenotypic, physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional analyses. Our results showed that the establishment of a functional AM symbiosis is able to limit symptoms development. Physiological and transcriptomic data highlighted that AMF mitigates the drastic downregulation of photosynthesis-related genes and the reduction of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rate caused by CMV infection. In parallel, an increase of salicylic acid level and a modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes, toward a limitation of ROS accumulation, was specifically observed in CMV-infected mycorrhizal plants. Overall, our data indicate that the AM symbiosis influences the development of CMV infection in tomato plants and exerts a priming effect able to enhance tolerance to viral infection.}, } @article {pmid32578878, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, G and Bai, S and Guan, Y and Wang, S and Wang, Q and Liu, Y and Liu, H and Goffinet, B and Zhou, Y and Paoletti, M and Hu, X and Haas, FB and Fernandez-Pozo, N and Czyrt, A and Sun, H and Rensing, SA and Huang, J}, title = {Are fungi-derived genomic regions related to antagonism towards fungi in mosses?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {4}, pages = {1169-1175}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16776}, pmid = {32578878}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Bryophyta/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid32576863, year = {2020}, author = {Ronque, MUV and Lyra, ML and Migliorini, GH and Bacci, M and Oliveira, PS}, title = {Symbiotic bacterial communities in rainforest fungus-farming ants: evidence for species and colony specificity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {10172}, pmid = {32576863}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brazil ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rainforest ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals may host diverse bacterial communities that can markedly affect their behavioral physiology, ecology, and vulnerability to disease. Fungus-farming ants represent a classical example of mutualism that depends on symbiotic microorganisms. Unraveling the bacterial communities associated with fungus-farming ants is essential to understand the role of these microorganisms in the ant-fungus symbiosis. The bacterial community structure of five species of fungus-farmers (non-leaf-cutters; genera Mycocepurus, Mycetarotes, Mycetophylax, and Sericomyrmex) from three different environments in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest (lowland forest, restinga forest, and sand dunes) was characterized with amplicon-based Illumina sequencing of 16 S ribosomal RNA gene. Possible differences in bacterial communities between ants internal to the nest (on the fungus garden) and external foragers were also investigated. Our results on the richness and diversity of associated bacteria provide novel evidence that these communities are host- and colony-specific in fungus-farming ants. Indeed, the bacterial communities associated with external foragers differ among the five species, and among colonies of the same species. Furthermore, bacterial communities from internal ants vs. foragers do not differ or differ only slightly within each ant species. This study highlights the importance of describing ant-associated bacterial communities to better understand this host-bacterial interaction in the social environment of insect colonies and provides the foundation for future studies on the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive the success of fungus-farming ants.}, } @article {pmid32576831, year = {2020}, author = {Laffont, C and Ivanovici, A and Gautrat, P and Brault, M and Djordjevic, MA and Frugier, F}, title = {The NIN transcription factor coordinates CEP and CLE signaling peptides that regulate nodulation antagonistically.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {3167}, pmid = {32576831}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Cytokinins/metabolism ; Epidermis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula ; Peptides/*chemistry/genetics ; Plant Proteins ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Kinases ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes tightly regulate nodule number to balance the cost of supporting symbiotic rhizobia with the benefits of nitrogen fixation. C-terminally Encoded Peptides (CEPs) and CLAVATA3-like (CLE) peptides positively and negatively regulate nodulation, respectively, through independent systemic pathways, but how these regulations are coordinated remains unknown. Here, we show that rhizobia, Nod Factors, and cytokinins induce a symbiosis-specific CEP gene, MtCEP7, which positively regulates rhizobial infection. Via grafting and split root studies, we reveal that MtCEP7 increases nodule number systemically through the MtCRA2 receptor. MtCEP7 and MtCLE13 expression in rhizobia-inoculated roots rely on the MtCRE1 cytokinin receptor and on the MtNIN transcription factor. MtNIN binds and transactivates MtCEP7 and MtCLE13, and a NIN Binding Site (NBS) identified within the proximal MtCEP7 promoter is required for its symbiotic activation. Overall, these results demonstrate that a cytokinin-MtCRE1-MtNIN regulatory module coordinates the expression of two antagonistic, symbiosis-related, peptide hormones from different families to fine-tune nodule number.}, } @article {pmid32576253, year = {2020}, author = {Marynowska, M and Goux, X and Sillam-Dussès, D and Rouland-Lefèvre, C and Halder, R and Wilmes, P and Gawron, P and Roisin, Y and Delfosse, P and Calusinska, M}, title = {Compositional and functional characterisation of biomass-degrading microbial communities in guts of plant fibre- and soil-feeding higher termites.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {96}, pmid = {32576253}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {C14/SR/8286517//Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg/International ; PDR T.0065.15//Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomass ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; *Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Termites are among the most successful insect lineages on the globe and are responsible for providing numerous ecosystem services. They mainly feed on wood and other plant material at different stages of humification. Lignocellulose is often a principal component of such plant diet, and termites largely rely on their symbiotic microbiota and associated enzymes to decompose their food efficiently. While lower termites and their gut flagellates were given larger scientific attention in the past, the gut lignocellulolytic bacteria of higher termites remain less explored. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the structure and function of gut prokaryotic microbiomes from 11 higher termite genera representative of Syntermitinae, Apicotermitinae, Termitidae and Nasutitermitinae subfamilies, broadly grouped into plant fibre- and soil-feeding termite categories.

RESULTS: Despite the different compositional structures of the studied termite gut microbiomes, reflecting well the diet and host lineage, we observed a surprisingly high functional congruency between gut metatranscriptomes from both feeding groups. The abundance of transcripts encoding for carbohydrate active enzymes as well as expression and diversity profiles of assigned glycoside hydrolase families were also similar between plant fibre- and soil-feeding termites. Yet, dietary imprints highlighted subtle metabolic differences specific to each feeding category. Roughly, 0.18% of de novo re-constructed gene transcripts were shared between the different termite gut microbiomes, making each termite gut a unique reservoir of genes encoding for potentially industrially applicable enzymes, e.g. relevant to biomass degradation. Taken together, we demonstrated the functional equivalence in microbial populations across different termite hosts.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide valuable insight into the bacterial component of the termite gut system and significantly expand the inventory of termite prokaryotic genes participating in the deconstruction of plant biomass. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid32575747, year = {2020}, author = {Miller, JW and Bocke, CR and Tresslar, AR and Schniepp, EM and DiSalvo, S}, title = {Paraburkholderia Symbionts Display Variable Infection Patterns That Are Not Predictive of Amoeba Host Outcomes.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32575747}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Amoeba/genetics/microbiology ; Burkholderiaceae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Dictyostelium/*genetics/microbiology ; Genotype ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions exist within a parasitism to mutualism continuum that is influenced, among others, by genes and context. Dynamics of intracellular invasion, replication, and prevalence may underscore both host survivability and symbiont stability. More infectious symbionts might exert higher corresponding costs to hosts, which could ultimately disadvantage both partners. Here, we quantify infection patterns of diverse Paraburkholderia symbiont genotypes in their amoeba host Dictyostelium discoideum and probe the relationship between these patterns and host outcomes. We exposed D. discoideum to thirteen strains of Paraburkholderia each belonging to one of the three symbiont species found to naturally infect D. discoideum: Paraburkholderia agricolaris, Paraburkholderia hayleyella, and Paraburkholderia bonniea. We quantified the infection prevalence and intracellular density of fluorescently labeled symbionts along with the final host population size using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. We find that infection phenotypes vary across symbiont strains. Symbionts belonging to the same species generally display similar infection patterns but are interestingly distinct when it comes to host outcomes. This results in final infection loads that do not strongly correlate to final host outcomes, suggesting other genetic factors that are not a direct cause or consequence of symbiont abundance impact host fitness.}, } @article {pmid32575731, year = {2020}, author = {Hua, Y and Pan, R and Bai, X and Wei, B and Chen, J and Wang, H and Zhang, H}, title = {Aromatic Polyketides from a Symbiotic Strain Aspergillus fumigatus D and Characterization of Their Biosynthetic Gene D8.t287.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32575731}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Aspergillus fumigatus/*enzymology/genetics ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Candida albicans/drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multigene Family ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/*metabolism ; Polyketides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Thymelaeaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The chemical investigation of one symbiotic strain, Aspergillus fumigatus D, from the coastal plant Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl led to the isolation of eight compounds (1-8), which were respectively identified as rubrofusarin B (1), alternariol 9-O-methyl ether (2), fonsecinone D (3), asperpyrone A (4), asperpyrone D (5), fonsecinone B (6), fonsecinone A (7), and aurasperone A (8) by a combination of spectroscopic methods (1D NMR and ESI-MS) as well as by comparison with the literature data. An antimicrobial assay showed that these aromatic polyketides exhibited no remarkable inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Staphyloccocus aureus and Candida albicans. The genomic feature of strain D was analyzed, as well as its biosynthetic gene clusters, using antibiotics and Secondary Metabolite Analysis Shell 5.1.2 (antiSMASH). Plausible biosynthetic pathways for dimeric naphtho-γ-pyrones 3-8 were first proposed in this work. A non-reducing polyketide synthase (PKS) gene D8.t287 responsible for the biosynthesis of these aromatic polyketides 1-8 was identified and characterized by target gene knockout experiment and UPLC-MS analysis.}, } @article {pmid32575698, year = {2020}, author = {García-Calderón, M and Pérez-Delgado, CM and Palove-Balang, P and Betti, M and Márquez, AJ}, title = {Flavonoids and Isoflavonoids Biosynthesis in the Model Legume Lotus japonicus; Connections to Nitrogen Metabolism and Photorespiration.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32575698}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Phenylpropanoid metabolism represents an important metabolic pathway from which originates a wide number of secondary metabolites derived from phenylalanine or tyrosine, such as flavonoids and isoflavonoids, crucial molecules in plants implicated in a large number of biological processes. Therefore, various types of interconnection exist between different aspects of nitrogen metabolism and the biosynthesis of these compounds. For legumes, flavonoids and isoflavonoids are postulated to play pivotal roles in adaptation to their biological environments, both as defensive compounds (phytoalexins) and as chemical signals in symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia. In this paper, we summarize the recent progress made in the characterization of flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathways in the model legume Lotus japonicus (Regel) Larsen under different abiotic stress situations, such as drought, the impairment of photorespiration and UV-B irradiation. Emphasis is placed on results obtained using photorespiratory mutants deficient in glutamine synthetase. The results provide different types of evidence showing that an enhancement of isoflavonoid compared to standard flavonol metabolism frequently occurs in Lotus under abiotic stress conditions. The advance produced in the analysis of isoflavonoid regulatory proteins by the use of co-expression networks, particularly MYB transcription factors, is also described. The results obtained in Lotus japonicus plants can be also extrapolated to other cultivated legume species, such as soybean, of extraordinary agronomic importance with a high impact in feeding, oil production and human health.}, } @article {pmid32574356, year = {2020}, author = {Reiter, N and Phillips, RD and Swarts, ND and Wright, M and Holmes, G and Sussmilch, FC and Davis, BJ and Whitehead, MR and Linde, CC}, title = {Specific mycorrhizal associations involving the same fungal taxa in common and threatened Caladenia (Orchidaceae): implications for conservation.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {126}, number = {5}, pages = {943-955}, pmid = {32574356}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In orchid conservation, quantifying the specificity of mycorrhizal associations, and establishing which orchid species use the same fungal taxa, is important for sourcing suitable fungi for symbiotic propagation and selecting sites for conservation translocation. For Caladenia subgenus Calonema (Orchidaceae), which contains 58 threatened species, we ask the following questions. (1) How many taxa of Serendipita mycorrhizal fungi do threatened species of Caladenia associate with? (2) Do threatened Caladenia share orchid mycorrhizal fungi with common Caladenia? (3) How geographically widespread are mycorrhizal fungi associated with Caladenia?

METHODS: Fungi were isolated from 127 Caladenia species followed by DNA sequencing of the internal transcibed spacer (ITS) sequence locus. We used a 4.1-6 % sequence divergence cut-off range to delimit Serendipita operational taxonomic units (OTUs). We conducted trials testing the ability of fungal isolates to support germination and plant growth. A total of 597 Serendipita isolates from Caladenia, collected from across the Australian continent, were used to estimate the geographic range of OTUs.

KEY RESULTS: Across the genus, Caladenia associated with ten OTUs of Serendipita (Serendipitaceae) mycorrhizal fungi. Specificity was high, with 19 of the 23 threatened Caladenia species sampled in detail associating solely with OTU A, which supported plants from germination to adulthood. The majority of populations of Caladenia associated with one OTU per site. Fungal sharing was extensive, with 62 of the 79 Caladenia sampled in subgenus Calonema associating with OTU A. Most Serendipita OTUs were geographically widespread.

CONCLUSIONS: Mycorrhizal fungi can be isolated from related common species to propagate threatened Caladenia. Because of high specificity of most Caladenia species, only small numbers of OTUs typically need to be considered for conservation translocation. When selecting translocation sites, the geographic range of the fungi is not a limiting factor, and using related Caladenia species to infer the presence of suitable fungal OTUs may be feasible.}, } @article {pmid32572836, year = {2020}, author = {Zhan, M and Tian, M and Wang, W and Li, G and Lu, X and Cai, G and Yang, H and Du, G and Huang, L}, title = {Draft genomic sequence of Armillaria gallica 012m: insights into its symbiotic relationship with Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {51}, number = {4}, pages = {1539-1552}, pmid = {32572836}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {*Armillaria/genetics/physiology ; China ; Gastrodia/*microbiology ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Armillaria species (Basidiomycota, Physalacriaceae) are well known as plant pathogens related to serious root rot disease on various trees in forests and plantations. Interestingly, some Armillaria species are essential symbionts of the rare Chinese medicinal herb Gastrodia elata, a rootless and leafless orchid used for over 2000 years. In this work, an 87.3-M draft genome of Armillaria gallica 012m strain, which was symbiotic with G. elata, was assembled. The genome includes approximately 23.6% repetitive sequences and encodes 26,261 predicted genes. In comparison with other four genomes of Armillaria, the following gene families related to pathogenicity/saprophytic phase, including cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, carbohydrate-active enzyme AA3, and hydrophobins, were significantly contracted in A. gallica 012m. These characteristics may be beneficial for G. elata to get less injuries. The genome-guided analysis of differential expression between rhizomorph (RH) and vegetative mycelium (VM) showed that a total of 2549 genes were differentially expressed, including 632 downregulated genes and 1917 upregulated genes. In the RH, most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to pathogenicity were significantly upregulated. To further elucidate gene function, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that the upregulated DEGs significantly grouped into monooxygenase activity, hydrolase activity, glucosidase activity, extracellular region, fungal cell wall, response to xenobiotic stimulus, response to toxic substance, etc. These phenomena indicate that RH had better infection ability than VM. The infection ability of RH may be beneficial for G. elata to obtain nutrition, because the rhizomorph constantly infected the nutritional stems of G. elata and formed the hyphae that can be digested by G. elata. These results clarified the characteristics of A. gallica 012m and the reason why the strain 012m can establish a symbiotic relationship with G. elata in some extent from the perspective of genomics.}, } @article {pmid32572623, year = {2020}, author = {Campo, S and Martín-Cardoso, H and Olivé, M and Pla, E and Catala-Forner, M and Martínez-Eixarch, M and San Segundo, B}, title = {Effect of Root Colonization by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth, Productivity and Blast Resistance in Rice.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {42}, pmid = {32572623}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with roots in most land plants. AM symbiosis provides benefits to host plants by improving nutrition and fitness. AM symbiosis has also been associated with increased resistance to pathogen infection in several plant species. In rice, the effects of AM symbiosis is less studied, probably because rice is mostly cultivated in wetland areas, and plants in such ecosystems have traditionally been considered as non-mycorrhizal. In this study, we investigated the effect of AM inoculation on performance of elite rice cultivars (Oryza sativa, japonica subspecies) under greenhouse and field conditions, focusing on growth, resistance to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and productivity.

RESULTS: The response to inoculation with either Funneliformis mosseae or Rhizophagus irregularis was evaluated in a panel of 12 rice cultivars. Root colonization was confirmed in all rice varieties. Under controlled greenhouse conditions, R. irregularis showed higher levels of root colonization than F. mosseae. Compared to non-inoculated plants, the AM-inoculated plants had higher Pi content in leaves. Varietal differences were observed in the growth response of rice cultivars to inoculation with an AM fungus, which were also dependent on the identity of the fungus. Thus, positive, negligible, and negative responses to AM inoculation were observed among rice varieties. Inoculation with F. mosseae or R. irregularis also conferred protection to the rice blast fungus, but the level of mycorrhiza-induced blast resistance varied among host genotypes. Rice seedlings (Loto and Gines varieties) were pre-inoculated with R. irregularis, transplanted into flooded fields, and grown until maturity. A significant increase in grain yield was observed in mycorrhizal plants compared with non-mycorrhizal plants, which was related to an increase in the number of panicles.

CONCLUSION: Results here presented support that rice plants benefit from the AM symbiosis while illustrating the potential of using AM fungi to improve productivity and blast resistance in cultivated rice. Differences observed in the mycorrhizal responsiveness among the different rice cultivars in terms of growth promotion and blast resistance indicate that evaluation of benefits received by the AM symbiosis needs to be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis for efficient exploitation of AM fungi in rice cultivation.}, } @article {pmid32572143, year = {2020}, author = {Ren, FR and Sun, X and Wang, TY and Yao, YL and Huang, YZ and Zhang, X and Luan, JB}, title = {Biotin provisioning by horizontally transferred genes from bacteria confers animal fitness benefits.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2542-2553}, pmid = {32572143}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biotin ; Escherichia coli ; *Hemiptera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect symbionts are widespread in nature and lateral gene transfer is prevalent in insect symbiosis. However, the function of horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) in insect symbiosis remains speculative, including the mechanism that enables insects to feed on plant phloem deficient in B vitamins. Previously, we found there is redundancy in biotin synthesis pathways from both whitefly Bemisia tabaci and symbiotic Hamiltonella due to the presence of whitefly HTGs. Here, we demonstrate that elimination of Hamiltonella decreased biotin levels but elevated the expression of horizontally transferred biotin genes in whiteflies. HTGs proteins exhibit specific expression patterns in specialized insect cells called bacteriocytes housing symbionts. Complementation with whitefly HTGs rescued E. coli biotin gene knockout mutants. Furthermore, silencing whitefly HTGs in Hamiltonella-infected whiteflies reduced biotin levels and hindered adult survival and fecundity, which was partially rescued by biotin supplementation. Each of horizontally transferred biotin genes are conserved in various laboratory cultures and species of whiteflies with geographically diverse distributions, which shares an evolutionary origin. We provide the first experimental evidence that biotin synthesized through acquired HTGs is important in whiteflies and may be as well in other animals. Our findings suggest that B vitamin provisioning in animal-microbe symbiosis frequently evolved from bacterial symbionts to animal hosts through horizontal gene transfer events. This study will also shed light on how the animal genomes evolve through functional transfer of genes with bacterial origin in the wider contexts of microbial ecology.}, } @article {pmid32571966, year = {2020}, author = {Arapov, TD and Kim, J and Cronin, RM and Pahima, M and Scharf, BE}, title = {Programmed Proteolysis of Chemotaxis Proteins in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Features in the C-Terminal Region Control McpU Degradation.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {202}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {32571966}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle/physiology ; Chemotaxis/*physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Movement ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Proteolysis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chemotaxis and motility are important traits that support bacterial survival in various ecological niches and in pathogenic and symbiotic host interaction. Chemotactic stimuli are sensed by chemoreceptors or methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), which direct the swimming behavior of the bacterial cell. In this study, we present evidence that the cellular abundance of chemoreceptors in the plant symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti can be altered by the addition of several to as few as one amino acid residues and by including common epitope tags such as 3×FLAG and 6×His at their C termini. To further dissect this phenomenon and its underlying molecular mechanism, we focused on a detailed analysis of the amino acid sensor McpU. Controlled proteolysis is important for the maintenance of an appropriate stoichiometry of chemoreceptors and between chemoreceptors and chemotactic signaling proteins, which is essential for an optimal chemotactic response. We hypothesized that enhanced stability is due to interference with protease binding, thus affecting proteolytic efficacy. Location of the protease recognition site was defined through McpU stability measurements in a series of deletion and amino acid substitution mutants. Deletions in the putative protease recognition site had similar effects on McpU abundance, as did extensions at the C terminus. Our results provide evidence that the programmed proteolysis of chemotaxis proteins in S. meliloti is cell cycle regulated. This posttranslational control, together with regulatory pathways on the transcriptional level, limits the chemotaxis machinery to the early exponential growth phase. Our study identified parallels to cell cycle-dependent processes during asymmetric cell division in Caulobacter crescentusIMPORTANCE The symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti contributes greatly to growth of the agriculturally valuable host plant alfalfa by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Chemotaxis of S. meliloti cells toward alfalfa roots mediates this symbiosis. The present study establishes programmed proteolysis as a factor in the maintenance of the S. meliloti chemotaxis system. Knowledge about cell cycle-dependent, targeted, and selective proteolysis in S. meliloti is important to understand the molecular mechanisms of maintaining a suitable chemotaxis response. While the role of regulated protein turnover in the cell cycle progression of Caulobacter crescentus is well understood, these pathways are just beginning to be characterized in S. meliloti In addition, our study should alert about the cautionary use of epitope tags for protein quantification.}, } @article {pmid32571919, year = {2020}, author = {Velivelli, SLS and Czymmek, KJ and Li, H and Shaw, JB and Buchko, GW and Shah, DM}, title = {Antifungal symbiotic peptide NCR044 exhibits unique structure and multifaceted mechanisms of action that confer plant protection.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {27}, pages = {16043-16054}, pmid = {32571919}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Antifungal Agents/*pharmacology ; Botrytis/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Cysteine/chemistry ; Fusarium/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism/microbiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Peptides/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Pichia/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In the indeterminate nodules of a model legume Medicago truncatula, ∼700 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides with conserved cysteine signature are expressed. NCR peptides are highly diverse in sequence, and some of these cationic peptides exhibit antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding their structural architecture, antifungal activity, and modes of action against plant fungal pathogens. Here, the three-dimensional NMR structure of the 36-amino acid NCR044 peptide was solved. This unique structure was largely disordered and highly dynamic with one four-residue α-helix and one three-residue antiparallel β-sheet stabilized by two disulfide bonds. NCR044 peptide also exhibited potent fungicidal activity against multiple plant fungal pathogens, including Botrytis cinerea and three Fusarium spp. It inhibited germination in quiescent spores of B. cinerea In germlings, it breached the fungal plasma membrane and induced reactive oxygen species. It bound to multiple bioactive phosphoinositides in vitro. Time-lapse confocal and superresolution microscopy revealed strong fungal cell wall binding, penetration of the cell membrane at discrete foci, followed by gradual loss of turgor, subsequent accumulation in the cytoplasm, and elevated levels in nucleoli of germlings. Spray-applied NCR044 significantly reduced gray mold disease symptoms caused by the fungal pathogen B. cinerea in tomato and tobacco plants, and postharvest products. Our work illustrates the antifungal activity of a structurally unique NCR peptide against plant fungal pathogens and paves the way for future development of this class of peptides as a spray-on fungistat/fungicide.}, } @article {pmid32571192, year = {2020}, author = {Rassabina, AE and Gurjanov, OP and Beckett, RP and Minibayeva, FV}, title = {Melanin from the Lichens Cetraria islandica and Pseudevernia furfuracea: Structural Features and Physicochemical Properties.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {85}, number = {5}, pages = {623-628}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297920050119}, pmid = {32571192}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Lichens/growth & development/*metabolism ; Melanins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Parmeliaceae/*metabolism ; *Protein Structural Elements ; Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic photosynthesizing organisms with thalli formed by fungi and algae/cyanobacteria that possess high stress tolerance. One of the factors that contributes to the ability of a lichen to tolerate harsh environmental conditions is the presence of unique metabolites, including high-molecular-weight dark pigments termed melanins. The chemical composition and structure of lichen melanins remain poorly studied. We analyzed the elemental composition, the main functional groups, and the physicochemical properties of melanin extracted from Cetraria islandica and Pseudevernia furfuracea lichens. Based on the C/N ratio, this pigment is allomelanin. We also identified functional groups that provide photoprotective and antioxidant properties of melanin. Melanin synthesis might be an essential defense mechanism contributing to the survival of lichens under exposure to UV radiation.}, } @article {pmid32570799, year = {2020}, author = {Sood, M and Kapoor, D and Kumar, V and Sheteiwy, MS and Ramakrishnan, M and Landi, M and Araniti, F and Sharma, A}, title = {Trichoderma: The "Secrets" of a Multitalented Biocontrol Agent.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32570799}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The plant-Trichoderma-pathogen triangle is a complicated web of numerous processes. Trichoderma spp. are avirulent opportunistic plant symbionts. In addition to being successful plant symbiotic organisms, Trichoderma spp. also behave as a low cost, effective and ecofriendly biocontrol agent. They can set themselves up in various patho-systems, have minimal impact on the soil equilibrium and do not impair useful organisms that contribute to the control of pathogens. This symbiotic association in plants leads to the acquisition of plant resistance to pathogens, improves developmental processes and yields and promotes absorption of nutrient and fertilizer use efficiency. Among other biocontrol mechanisms, antibiosis, competition and mycoparasitism are among the main features through which microorganisms, including Thrichoderma, react to the presence of other competitive pathogenic organisms, thereby preventing or obstructing their development. Stimulation of every process involves the biosynthesis of targeted metabolites like plant growth regulators, enzymes, siderophores, antibiotics, etc. This review summarizes the biological control activity exerted by Trichoderma spp. and sheds light on the recent progress in pinpointing the ecological significance of Trichoderma at the biochemical and molecular level in the rhizosphere as well as the benefits of symbiosis to the plant host in terms of physiological and biochemical mechanisms. From an applicative point of view, the evidence provided herein strongly supports the possibility to use Trichoderma as a safe, ecofriendly and effective biocontrol agent for different crop species.}, } @article {pmid32569975, year = {2020}, author = {Zanetti, ME and Blanco, F and Reynoso, M and Crespi, M}, title = {To keep or not to keep: mRNA stability and translatability in root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {109-117}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2020.04.012}, pmid = {32569975}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; RNA Stability/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Post-transcriptional control of gene expression allows plants to rapidly adapt to changes in their environment. Under low nitrogen conditions, legume plants engage into a symbiosis with soil bacteria that results in the formation of root nodules, where bacteria are allocated and fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant's benefit. Recent studies highlighted the importance of small RNA-mediated mechanisms in the control of bacterial infection, nodule organogenesis, and the long-distance signaling that balances plant growth and nodulation. Examples of such mechanisms are shoot-to-root mobile microRNAs and small RNA fragments derived from degradation of bacterial transfer RNAs that repress complementary mRNAs in the host plant. Mechanisms of selective mRNA translation also contribute to rapidly modulate the expression of nodulation genes in a cell-specific manner during symbiosis. Here, the most recent advances made on the regulation of mRNA stability and translatability, and the emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in symbiosis are summarized.}, } @article {pmid32568030, year = {2020}, author = {Delamuta, JRM and Scherer, AJ and Ribeiro, RA and Hungria, M}, title = {Genetic diversity of Agrobacterium species isolated from nodules of common bean and soybean in Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador and Mozambique, and description of the new species Agrobacterium fabacearum sp. nov.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {7}, pages = {4233-4244}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.004278}, pmid = {32568030}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecuador ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mexico ; Mozambique ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium strains are associated with soil, plants and animals, and known mainly by their pathogenicity. We studied 14 strains isolated from nodules of healthy soybean and common bean plants in Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador and Mozambique. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene positioned the strains as Agrobacterium, but with low phylogenetic resolution. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of three partial housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB and recA) positioned the strains in four distinct clades, with Agrobacterium pusense, Agrobacterium deltaense, Agrobacterium radiobacter and Agrobacterium sp. genomospecies G1. Analysis by BOX-PCR revealed high intraspecies diversity. Genomic analysis of representative strains of the three clades indicated that they carry the protelomerase telA gene, and MLSA analysis with six complete housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII, gyrB, recA, rpoB and thrC), as well as average nucleotide identity (less than 90 % with closest species) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (less than 41 % with closest species) revealed that strain CNPSo 675[T] and Agrobacterium sp. genomospecies G1 compose a new species. Other phenotypic and genotypic characteristics were determined for the new clade. Although not able to re-nodulate the host, we hypothesize that several strains of Agrobacterium are endophytes in legume nodules, where they might contribute to plant growth. Our data support the description of the CNPSo 675[T] and Agrobacterium sp. genomospecies G1 strains as a new species, for which the name Agrobacterium fabacearum is proposed. The type strain is CNPSo 675[T] (=UMR 1457[T]=LMG 31642[T]) and is also deposited in other culture collections.}, } @article {pmid32566240, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, H and Nam, K and Zahra, Z and Farooqi, MQU}, title = {Potentials of truffles in nutritional and medicinal applications: a review.}, journal = {Fungal biology and biotechnology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {9}, pmid = {32566240}, issn = {2054-3085}, abstract = {Truffles, the symbiotic hypogeous edible fungi, have been worldwide regarded as a great delicacy because of their unique flavor and high nutritional value. By identifying their bioactive components such as phenolics, terpenoids, polysaccharides, anandamide, fatty acids, and ergosterols, researchers have paid attention to their biological activities including antitumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities. In addition, numerous factors have been investigating that can affect the quality and productivity of truffles to overcome their difficulty in culturing and preserving. To provide the information for their potential applications in medicine as well as in functional food, this review summarizes the relevant literature about the biochemical composition, aromatic and nutritional benefits, and biological properties of truffles. Besides, various factors affecting their productivity and quality as well as the preservation methods are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid32565703, year = {2020}, author = {Niu, W and Xiao, J and Tian, P and Guo, F}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of Plesiastrea versipora (Scleractinia, Plesiastreidae) sheds light on its phylogeny and taxonomy of the family Plesiastreidae.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {1830-1834}, pmid = {32565703}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {The genus Plesiastrea used to be a member of the traditional family Faviidae, falling into the challenging 'Bigmessidae' clade, and was re-established until recent molecular phylogenies published. The entire mitogenome of the symbiotic coral Plesiastrea versipora (Lamarck, 1816), the type species of the family Plesiastreidae, was sequenced. The length of the mitochondrial genome is 15,320 bp and it includes thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs and two tRNAs. The nucleotide composition of GC is 32%. We perform phylogenetic reconstruction based on maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analysis(BI) using all PCGs. Our result indicates that P. versipora clusters closely with species which belong to Mussidae, Merulinidae and Lobophylliidae. Our phylogenetic analyses provide solid evidence for phylogenetic placement of P. versipora and the evolutionary relationships among different families within the traditional robust clade of Scleractinia. In addition, the mitogenome data provide useful information for further molecular systematic investigations on Plesiastreidae as well as conservation biology research of P. versipora.}, } @article {pmid32563933, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, Y and Ma, S and Cai, Q}, title = {Fecal metabonomics study of raw and bran-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma in spleen-deficiency rats.}, journal = {Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {113416}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113416}, pmid = {32563933}, issn = {1873-264X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Atractylodes ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; *Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Feces ; Metabolomics ; Rats ; Rhizome ; Spleen ; }, abstract = {Processing herbal medicine is a classic characters of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic. Stir-frying with bran is a common method of processing Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR), which is considered to enhance the therapeutic effect in TCM theory. However, the processing mechanism remains unclear. In our previous study, we found that bran-fried AR was better than raw AR in regulating gut flora. To further compare the effect of raw and bran-fried AR on the symbiotic metabolism of gut flora and host, we established a fecal metabonomics method of ARs intervention on spleen-deficiency rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. 22 potential biomarkers of spleen-deficiency were identified under the positive and negative ion mode. Through the analysis of metabolic pathway, 6 significant changes of metabolic pathway were found, 5 of which were both improved by raw and bran-fried AR. Especially bran-fried AR was better than raw AR in the improvement of tyrosine metabolism and purine metabolism. Correlation analysis between the metabolic potential biomarkers and the microbiological biomarkers published in our previous study revealed that one of the spleen-strengthening mechanisms of ARs could be associated with the improvement of the symbiotic metabolism of gut flora and host by regulating gut-flora. The results can help us to understand the mechanism of AR intervention on spleen deficiency and the enhanced-efficacy mechanism of bran-fried AR.}, } @article {pmid32562862, year = {2020}, author = {Ogawa, M and García-Martínez, T and Bisson, L and Mauricio, JC and Moreno, J and Moreno-García, J}, title = {Mapping the intracellular metabolome of yeast biocapsules - Spherical structures of yeast attached to fungal pellets.}, journal = {New biotechnology}, volume = {58}, number = {}, pages = {55-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.nbt.2020.05.003}, pmid = {32562862}, issn = {1876-4347}, mesh = {Biomass ; Biotechnology ; Coculture Techniques ; Fructose/chemistry/metabolism ; Fungal Capsules/chemistry/*metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Glyceric Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Glycolates/chemistry/metabolism ; Penicillium chrysogenum/chemistry/cytology/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/chemistry/cytology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Co-culture conditions are beneficial for study due to the advances which arise from symbiotic interactions and which cannot be replicated under pure culture conditions. Here, the focus is on the connection between two fungi - a yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a filamentous fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum - in a yeast immobilization system termed' yeast biocapsules', where the yeast and filamentous fungus are strongly attached to one another, forming spherical structures. This co-culture condition hinders filamentous fungal biomass growth, while immobilization of yeast cells continues to increase. The effect of the co-culture condition on endometabolites or intracellular metabolites were tracked during the beginning and end of the yeast biocapsule formation period, and metabolites analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Detector (GC-MSD). Distinct metabolite profiles were found between single culture conditions, involving each organism separately, and with the co-culture condition, where there were differences in 54 endometabolites. Specifically, co-culture condition compounds such as fructose, glycolic acid and glyceric acid were present in higher concentrations at the end of biocapsule formation. These results shed light on the mechanisms and biochemical impact of the interaction between the yeast and filamentous fungus and serve as a basis to apply and further develop yeast biocapsules as a new biotechnological tool with benefits for industry.}, } @article {pmid32562820, year = {2020}, author = {Maggioni, D and Schiavo, A and Ostrovsky, AN and Seveso, D and Galli, P and Arrigoni, R and Berumen, ML and Benzoni, F and Montano, S}, title = {Cryptic species and host specificity in the bryozoan-associated hydrozoan Zanclea divergens (Hydrozoa, Zancleidae).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {151}, number = {}, pages = {106893}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106893}, pmid = {32562820}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; *Host Specificity ; Hydrozoa/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Indian Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Statistics as Topic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Zanclea divergens is a tropical hydrozoan living in symbiotic association with bryozoans and currently reported from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Maldives. Here, we used an integrative approach to assess the morpho-molecular diversity of the species across the Indo-Pacific. Phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses based on seven mitochondrial and nuclear loci revealed four well-supported molecular lineages corresponding to cryptic species, and representing a Pacific clade, an Indian clade, and two Red Sea clades. Since the general polyp morphology was almost identical in all samples, the nematocyst capsules were measured and analysed to search for possible fine-scale differences, and their statistical treatment revealed a significant difference in terms of length and width among the clades investigated. All Zanclea divergens specimens were specifically associated with cheilostome bryozoans belonging to the genus Celleporaria. The Pacific and Indian clades were associated with Celleporaria sp. and C. vermiformis, respectively, whereas both Red Sea lineages were associated with C. pigmentaria. Nevertheless, the sequencing of host bryozoans revealed that one of the Red Sea hydrozoan clades is associated with two morphologically undistinguishable, but genetically divergent, bryozoan species. Overall, our results show that Z. divergens is a species complex composed of morphologically cryptic lineages showing partially disjunct distributions and host specificity. The presence of two sympatric lineages living on the same host species reveal complex dynamics of diversification, and future research aimed at understanding their diversification process will likely improve our knowledge on the mechanisms of speciation among currently sympatric cryptic species.}, } @article {pmid32562507, year = {2020}, author = {Plett, JM and Plett, KL and Wong-Bajracharya, J and de Freitas Pereira, M and Costa, MD and Kohler, A and Martin, F and Anderson, IC}, title = {Mycorrhizal effector PaMiSSP10b alters polyamine biosynthesis in Eucalyptus root cells and promotes root colonization.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {2}, pages = {712-727}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16759}, pmid = {32562507}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; *Eucalyptus ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Polyamines ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic microbes are known to manipulate the defences of their hosts through the production of secreted effector proteins. More recently, mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi have also been described as using these secreted effectors to promote host colonization. Here we characterize a mycorrhiza-induced small secreted effector protein of 10 kDa produced by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus, PaMiSSP10b. We demonstrate that PaMiSSP10b is secreted from fungal hyphae, enters the cells of its host, Eucalyptus grandis, and interacts with an S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) in the polyamine pathway. Plant polyamines are regulatory molecules integral to the plant immune system during microbial challenge. Using biochemical and transgenic approaches we show that expression of PaMiSSP10b influences levels of polyamines in the plant roots as it enhances the enzymatic activity of AdoMetDC and increases the biosynthesis of higher polyamines. This ultimately favours the colonization success of P. albus. These results identify a new mechanism by which mutualistic microbes are able to manipulate the host´s enzymatic pathways to favour colonization.}, } @article {pmid32562417, year = {2020}, author = {Chathoth, K and Martin, B and Cornelis, P and Yvenou, S and Bonnaure-Mallet, M and Baysse, C}, title = {The events that may contribute to subgingival dysbiosis: a focus on the interplay between iron, sulfide and oxygen.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {367}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaa100}, pmid = {32562417}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/*metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; Iron/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Periodontitis/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sulfides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {This minireview considers the disruption of the host-microbiota harmless symbiosis in the subgingival niche. The establishment of a chronic infection by subversion of a commensal microbiota results from a complex and multiparametric sequence of events. This review narrows down to the interplay between oxygen, iron and sulfide that can result in a vicious cycle that would favor peroxygenic and glutathione producing streptococci as well as sulfidogenic anaerobic pathogens in the subgingival niche. We propose hypothesis and discuss strategies for the therapeutic modulation of the microbiota to prevent periodontitis and promote oral health.}, } @article {pmid32562300, year = {2020}, author = {Abrego, N and Roslin, T and Huotari, T and Tack, AJM and Lindahl, BD and Tikhonov, G and Somervuo, P and Schmidt, NM and Ovaskainen, O}, title = {Accounting for environmental variation in co-occurrence modelling reveals the importance of positive interactions in root-associated fungal communities.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {14}, pages = {2736-2746}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15516}, pmid = {32562300}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ecology ; Environment ; *Mycobiome/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding the role of interspecific interactions in shaping ecological communities is one of the central goals in community ecology. In fungal communities, measuring interspecific interactions directly is challenging because these communities are composed of large numbers of species, many of which are unculturable. An indirect way of assessing the role of interspecific interactions in determining community structure is to identify the species co-occurrences that are not constrained by environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated co-occurrences among root-associated fungi, asking whether fungi co-occur more or less strongly than expected based on the environmental conditions and the host plant species examined. We generated molecular data on root-associated fungi of five plant species evenly sampled along an elevational gradient at a high arctic site. We analysed the data using a joint species distribution modelling approach that allowed us to identify those co-occurrences that could be explained by the environmental conditions and the host plant species, as well as those co-occurrences that remained unexplained and thus more probably reflect interactive associations. Our results indicate that not only negative but also positive interactions play an important role in shaping microbial communities in arctic plant roots. In particular, we found that mycorrhizal fungi are especially prone to positively co-occur with other fungal species. Our results bring new understanding to the structure of arctic interaction networks by suggesting that interactions among root-associated fungi are predominantly positive.}, } @article {pmid32562087, year = {2020}, author = {Shao, SC and Wang, QX and Beng, KC and Zhao, DK and Jacquemyn, H}, title = {Fungi isolated from host protocorms accelerate symbiotic seed germination in an endangered orchid species (Dendrobium chrysotoxum) from southern China.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {529-539}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00964-w}, pmid = {32562087}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; *Dendrobium ; Endangered Species ; Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To ensure long-term survival of epiphytic orchids through active reintroduction, more research on critical life cycle stages such as seed germination and seedling establishment are needed. In this study, we used in vitro germination experiments to investigate the role of mycorrhizal fungi in determining seed germination and growth in the endangered epiphytic orchid species, Dendrobium chrysotoxum. Symbiotic seed germination experiments were conducted for 90 days under different light conditions with fungal strains isolated from protocorms of D. chrysotoxum and three sister species. Molecular analyses showed that five strains belonged to the typical orchid mycorrhizal family Tulasnellaceae, whereas the other two strains belonged to the Sebacinaceae and the genus Coprinellus. Fungal inoculation, light conditions, and their interaction had a significant effect on protocorm formation and seedling development. Three fungal isolates, including two from D. chrysotoxum and one from D. catenatum, significantly stimulated protocorm formation and seedling development under light conditions. However, fungi isolated from host protocorms (GC-14 and GC-15) produced the highest number of seedlings after 50 days (49.5 ± 8.5%, 51.3 ± 9.0%, respectively), while the fungus isolated from D. catenatum protocorms produced the maximum number of seedlings only after 90 days (48.7 ± 16.1%). To conclude, this study has shown that light conditions and the identity of fungi had a strong effect on in vitro seed germination and seedling formation in an epiphytic orchid, with fungi isolated from host protocorms leading to accelerated germination and seedling formation. Therefore, fungal source should be taken into account when using seeds and compatible fungi for seedling propagation and in situ reintroduction.}, } @article {pmid32562008, year = {2020}, author = {Bharadwaj, R and Jagadeesan, H and Kumar, SR and Ramalingam, S}, title = {Molecular mechanisms in grass-Epichloë interactions: towards endophyte driven farming to improve plant fitness and immunity.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {7}, pages = {92}, doi = {10.1007/s11274-020-02868-5}, pmid = {32562008}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Alkaloids/metabolism ; Aspergillus/classification/metabolism ; Calcineurin/metabolism ; Endophytes/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Epichloe/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Ergolines/metabolism ; Ergot Alkaloids/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Indole Alkaloids/metabolism ; Lysergic Acid/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; NADPH Oxidases/metabolism ; *Plant Immunity ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {All plants harbor many microbial species including bacteria and fungi in their tissues. The interactions between the plant and these microbes could be symbiotic, mutualistic, parasitic or commensalistic. Mutualistic microorganisms are endophytic in nature and are known to play a role in plant growth, development and fitness. Endophytes display complex diversity depending upon the agro-climatic conditions and this diversity could be exploited for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. Plant-endophyte partnerships are highly specific, several genetic and molecular cascades play a key role in colonization of endophytes in host plants leading to rapid changes in host and endophyte metabolism. This results in the accumulation of secondary metabolites, which play an important role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Alkaloids are one of the important class of metabolites produced by Epichloë genus and other related classes of endophytes and confer protection against insect and mammalian herbivory. In this context, this review discusses the evolutionary aspects of the Epichloë genus along with key molecular mechanisms determining the lifestyle of Epichloë endophytes in host system. Novel hypothesis is proposed to outline the initial cellular signaling events during colonization of Epichloë in cool season grasses. Complex clustering of alkaloid biosynthetic genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the production of alkaloids have been elaborated in detail. The natural defense and advantages of the endophyte derived metabolites have also been extensively discussed. Finally, this review highlights the importance of endophyte-arbitrated plant immunity to develop novel approaches for eco-friendly agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32560831, year = {2020}, author = {Band-Schmidt, CJ and Zumaya-Higuera, MG and López-Cortés, DJ and Leyva-Valencia, I and Quijano-Scheggia, SI and Hernández-Guerrero, CJ}, title = {Allelopathic effects of Margalefidinium polykrikoides and Gymnodinium impudicum in the growth of Gymnodinium catenatum.}, journal = {Harmful algae}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {101846}, doi = {10.1016/j.hal.2020.101846}, pmid = {32560831}, issn = {1878-1470}, mesh = {*Allelopathy ; *Dinoflagellida ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; Phytoplankton ; }, abstract = {Harmful algae blooms (HABs) are characterized for the coexistence of phytoplankton species with dynamic and complex biotic interactions (e.g., competition, symbiosis, predation, parasitism, allelopathy), that occur at fine temporal and spatial scales, and are relevant to understand the role that different species of phytoplankton play in the regulation of HABs. In this work the allelopathic effects of Margalefidinium polykrikoides (=Cochlodinium polykrikoides) and Gymnodinium impudicum on Gymnodinium catenatum were evaluated. The allelopathic abilities of M. polykrikoides and G. impudicum were investigated in bi-algal culture experiments and in trials in which target species were co-cultured, separated by a 10 μm membrane to prevent a direct cell-to-cell contact; and also by the addition of different volumes of culture media without cells. For all trials, cells of each species were harvested during exponential phase and cultured together by triplicate at three relative abundances: 1:1 (200 Cells mL[-1] of each species, G. catenatum and M. polykrikoides or G. impudicum), 2:1 (400 Cells mL[-1] of G. catenatum and 200 Cells mL[-1] of M. polykrikoides or G. impudicum), and 1:2 (200 cells mL[-1] of G. catenatum and 400 Cells mL[-1] of M. polykrikoides or G. impudicum). All bioassays were carried out by triplicate in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 150 mL of modified GSe medium with an initial inoculum of 200 or 400 Cells mL[-1]. During experiments G. catenatum abundances were enumerated daily. In bi-algal culture experiments mortalities of G. catenatum were from 50% to 100% after 48 h of cell contact with M. polykrikoides or G. impudicum. In the case of culture media without cells, only M. polykrikoides caused a decrease in the cell abundance and growth rate of G. catenatum. Morphological changes occurred in G. catenatum when in contact with M. polykrikoides and G. impudicum, such as membrane shedding, prominent nucleus, loss of flagella, cell lysis, as well as the separation of long chains into individual cells. These results suggest that in the natural environment M. polykrikoides and G. impudicum have allelopathic interactions in G. catenatum, which could negatively affect its growth and survival, indicating that these species could displace blooms of G. catenatum.}, } @article {pmid32560686, year = {2020}, author = {Driscoll, TP and Verhoeve, VI and Gillespie, JJ and Johnston, JS and Guillotte, ML and Rennoll-Bankert, KE and Rahman, MS and Hagen, D and Elsik, CG and Macaluso, KR and Azad, AF}, title = {A chromosome-level assembly of the cat flea genome uncovers rampant gene duplication and genome size plasticity.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {70}, pmid = {32560686}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {R01 AI126853/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI017828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI146773/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI122672/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21AI26108/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI095190/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosomes ; Ctenocephalides/*genetics ; *DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; *Gene Duplication ; *Genome Size ; Male ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) are small flightless parasites of birds and mammals; their blood-feeding can transmit many serious pathogens (i.e., the etiological agents of bubonic plague, endemic and murine typhus). The lack of flea genome assemblies has hindered research, especially comparisons to other disease vectors. Accordingly, we sequenced the genome of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, an insect with substantial human health and veterinary importance across the globe.

RESULTS: By combining Illumina and PacBio sequencing of DNA derived from multiple inbred female fleas with Hi-C scaffolding techniques, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly for C. felis. Unexpectedly, our assembly revealed extensive gene duplication across the entire genome, exemplified by ~ 38% of protein-coding genes with two or more copies and over 4000 tRNA genes. A broad range of genome size determinations (433-551 Mb) for individual fleas sampled across different populations supports the widespread presence of fluctuating copy number variation (CNV) in C. felis. Similarly, broad genome sizes were also calculated for individuals of Xenopsylla cheopis (Oriental rat flea), indicating that this remarkable "genome-in-flux" phenomenon could be a siphonapteran-wide trait. Finally, from the C. felis sequence reads, we also generated closed genomes for two novel strains of Wolbachia, one parasitic and one symbiotic, found to co-infect individual fleas.

CONCLUSION: Rampant CNV in C. felis has dire implications for gene-targeting pest control measures and stands to complicate standard normalization procedures utilized in comparative transcriptomics analysis. Coupled with co-infection by novel Wolbachia endosymbionts-potential tools for blocking pathogen transmission-these oddities highlight a unique and underappreciated disease vector.}, } @article {pmid32560536, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, H and Hao, D and Wei, Z and Wang, L and Lin, T}, title = {Bacterial Communities Associated with the Pine Wilt Disease Insect Vector Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) during the Larvae and Pupae Stages.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32560536}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Monochamus alternatus is an important insect pest in pine forests of southern China and the dispersing vector of the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which leads to pine wilt disease (PWD). Microbiome of M. alternatus may contribute to survival of larvae in the host pine trees. In order to investigate the intestinal bacterial structure of M. alternatus during the larvae and pupae stages in host trees, and infer the function of symbiotic bacteria, we used 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing to obtain and compare the bacterial community composition in the foregut, midgut, and hindgut of larvae, pupal intestines, larval galleries, and pupal chambers of M. alternatus. The diversity of the bacterial community in larval intestines and pupal intestines were similar, as well as was significantly greater in larval galleries and pupal chambers. Although there were differences in bacterial compositions in different samples, similar components were also found. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the two most dominant phyla in all samples, and genera Enterobacter, Raoultella, Serratia, Lactococcus, and Pseudomonas were dominant in both the intestinal samples and plant tissue samples. Enterobacter was the most abundant genus in larval intestines, and Serratia was dominant in pupal intestine. The functions of these dominant and specific bacteria were also predicted through metagenomic analyses. These bacteria may help M. alternatus degrade cellulose and pinene. The specific role of symbiotic bacteria in the infection cycle of PWD also warrants further study in the future.}, } @article {pmid32560046, year = {2020}, author = {Dagher, DJ and Pitre, FE and Hijri, M}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation of Sphaerosporella brunnea Significantly Increased Stem Biomass of Salix miyabeana and Decreased Lead, Tin, and Zinc, Soil Concentrations during the Phytoremediation of an Industrial Landfill.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32560046}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Fast growing, high biomass willows (Salix sp.) have been extensively used for the phytoremediation of trace element-contaminated environments, as they have an extensive root system and they tolerate abiotic stressors such as drought and metal toxicity. Being dual mycorrhizal plants, they can engage single or simultaneous symbiotic associations with both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, which can improve overall plant health and growth. The aim of this study was to test the effect of these mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and trace element (TE) extraction potential of willows. A field experiment was carried out where we grew Salix miyabeana clone SX67 on the site of a decommissioned industrial landfill, and inoculated the shrubs with an AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, an EM fungus Sphaerosporella brunnea, or a mixture of both. After two growing seasons, the willows inoculated with the EM fungus S. brunnea produced significantly higher biomass. Ba, Cd and Zn were found to be phytoextracted to the aerial plant biomass, where Cd presented the highest bioconcentration factor values in all treatments. Additionally, the plots where the willows received the S. brunnea inoculation showed a significant decrease of Cu, Pb, and Sn soil concentrations. AM fungi inoculation and dual inoculation did not significantly influence biomass production and soil TE levels.}, } @article {pmid32559495, year = {2020}, author = {Qadir, M and Hussain, A and Hamayun, M and Shah, M and Iqbal, A and Husna, and Murad, W}, title = {Phytohormones producing rhizobacterium alleviates chromium toxicity in Helianthus annuus L. by reducing chromate uptake and strengthening antioxidant system.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {258}, number = {}, pages = {127386}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127386}, pmid = {32559495}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chromates/metabolism/*toxicity ; Helianthus/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*toxicity ; Staphylococcus/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Contamination of agricultural land with heavy metal is a serious biological and environmental issue. Such threat can be challenged by exploring the plant symbiotic microbes that can improve plant growth through phyto-hormones secretion and chromate chelation. In the current study, chromate resistant rhizospheric Staphylococcus arlettae strain MT4 was isolated from the rhizosphere of Malvestrum tricuspadatum L. The strain showed potential to secrete phytohormones and plant growth promoting secondary metabolites under induced chromate stress, making it a best suitable candidate in chromate stress alleviation. Moreover, the rhizobacterium MT4 significantly promoted the net assimilation and relative growth rate of sunflower grown in the presence of chromate (100 ppm). Chromate stress alleviation strategy of MT4 strain was three-fold. MT4 alleviated chromate stress and promoted the sunflower growth by suppressing the chromate intake by the host, modulating phytohormones and strengthening of the host's antioxidant system. The improved antioxidant system was confirmed by noticing lower ROS accumulation and improved ROS scavenging, lower peroxidase activity and higher accumulation of phenols and flavonoids.}, } @article {pmid32558638, year = {2020}, author = {Prudence, SMM and Addington, E and Castaño-Espriu, L and Mark, DR and Pintor-Escobar, L and Russell, AH and McLean, TC}, title = {Advances in actinomycete research: an ActinoBase review of 2019.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {166}, number = {8}, pages = {683-694}, pmid = {32558638}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {BB/M011216/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Biomedical Research/instrumentation/organization & administration ; *Databases, Factual ; Environmental Microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Streptomyces/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The actinomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the order Actinomycetales within the phylum Actinobacteria. They include members with significant economic and medical importance, for example filamentous actinomycetes such as Streptomyces species, which have a propensity to produce a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites and form symbioses with higher organisms, such as plants and insects. Studying these bacteria is challenging, but also fascinating and very rewarding. As a Microbiology Society initiative, members of the actinomycete research community have been developing a Wikipedia-style resource, called ActinoBase, the purpose of which is to aid in the study of these filamentous bacteria. This review will highlight 10 publications from 2019 that have been of special interest to the ActinoBase community, covering 4 major components of actinomycete research: (i) development and regulation; (ii) specialized metabolites; (iii) ecology and host interactions; and (iv) technology and methodology.}, } @article {pmid32555651, year = {2020}, author = {Fabiańska, I and Pesch, L and Koebke, E and Gerlach, N and Bucher, M}, title = {Neighboring plants divergently modulate effects of loss-of-function in maize mycorrhizal phosphate uptake on host physiology and root fungal microbiota.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {e0232633}, pmid = {32555651}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biomass ; Loss of Function Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zea mays/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Maize, a main crop worldwide, establishes a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi providing nutrients to the roots from soil volumes which are normally not in reach of the non-colonized root. The mycorrhizal phosphate uptake pathway (MPU) spans from extraradical hyphae to root cortex cells housing fungal arbuscules and promotes the supply of phosphate to the mycorrhizal host in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. This symbiotic association with the mycobiont has been shown to affect plant host nutritional status and growth performance. However, whether and how the MPU affects the root microbial community associated with mycorrhizal hosts in association with neighboring plants, remains to be demonstrated. Here the maize germinal Mu transposon insertion mutant pht1;6, defective in mycorrhiza-specific Pi transporter PHT1;6 gene, and wild type B73 (wt) plants were grown in mono- and mixed culture and examined under greenhouse and field conditions. Disruption of the MPU in pht1;6 resulted in strongly diminished growth performance, in reduced P allocation to photosynthetic source leaves, and in imbalances in leaf elemental composition beyond P. At the microbial community level a loss of MPU activity had a minor effect on the root-associated fungal microbiome which was almost fully restricted to AM fungi of the Glomeromycotina. Moreover, while wt grew better in presence of pht1;6, pht1;6 accumulated little biomass irrespective of whether it was grown in mono- or mixed culture and despite of an enhanced fungal colonization of its roots in co-culture with wt. This suggested that a functional MPU is prerequisite to maintain maize growth and that neighboring plants competed for AM fungal Pi in low P soil. Thus future strategies towards improving yield in maize populations on soils with low inputs of P fertilizer could be realized by enhancing MPU at the individual plant level while leaving the root-associated fungal community largely unaffected.}, } @article {pmid32555531, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, HS and Zhou, MX and Zai, XM and Zhao, FG and Qin, P}, title = {Spatio-temporal dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil organic carbon in coastal saline soil of China.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9781}, pmid = {32555531}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Carbon Cycle ; *Carbon Sequestration ; China ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry/microbiology ; Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; }, abstract = {A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and coastal saline soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for analysis of the function of coastal wetlands in soil carbon sequestration. In a field experiment, the temporal and spatial dynamics of AM fungi, glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) - which is described as a N-linked glycoprotein and the putative gene product of AM fungi, SOC, and soil aggregates were investigated in halophyte Kosteletzkya virginica rhizosphere soil of coastal saline areas of North Jiangsu, China. Soil samples were collected from a depth of up to 30 cm in two plantation regions from August 2012 to May 2013. Results showed K. virginica formed a strong symbiotic relationship to AM fungi. AM colonization and spore density were the highest in the 10-20 cm soil layer of Jinhai farm in August 2012, because of the presence of numerous fibrous roots in this soil layer. The total GRSP and SOC were the highest in the 0-10 cm soil layer in May 2013 and November 2012, respectively. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that AM colonization and spore density were positively correlated with total GRSP. Meanwhile, total GRSP was significantly positively correlated with large macroaggregates (>3 mm), SOC, total P, Olsen P, and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), but negatively correlated with microaggregates (<0.25 mm), soil EC, total N, and pH. SOC was positively correlated with spore density, large macroaggregates, small macroaggregates (2-0.25 mm), alkaline N, and SMBC and negatively correlated with microaggregates, EC, pH, and total K. Although it may be a statistical artifact, we found an interesting phenomenon that there was no significant correlation between soil aggregates and AM colonization or spore density. Hence, total GRSP is a vital source of saline soil C pool and an important biological indicator for evaluating coastal saline SOC pool and soil fertility, while AM colonization or spore density may not be.}, } @article {pmid32555454, year = {2020}, author = {Hu, M and Zheng, X and Fan, CM and Zheng, Y}, title = {Lineage dynamics of the endosymbiotic cell type in the soft coral Xenia.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {582}, number = {7813}, pages = {534-538}, pmid = {32555454}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {R01 AR060042/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR071976/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM106023/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM110151/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*cytology/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation/genetics ; Cell Lineage/*genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/immunology/*metabolism/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Endocytosis ; Genome/genetics ; Phagocytosis ; Photosynthesis ; RNA-Seq ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Symbiosis/*genetics/immunology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Many corals harbour symbiotic dinoflagellate algae. The algae live inside coral cells in a specialized membrane compartment known as the symbiosome, which shares the photosynthetically fixed carbon with coral host cells while host cells provide inorganic carbon to the algae for photosynthesis[1]. This endosymbiosis-which is critical for the maintenance of coral reef ecosystems-is increasingly threatened by environmental stressors that lead to coral bleaching (that is, the disruption of endosymbiosis), which in turn leads to coral death and the degradation of marine ecosystems[2]. The molecular pathways that orchestrate the recognition, uptake and maintenance of algae in coral cells remain poorly understood. Here we report the chromosome-level genome assembly of a Xenia species of fast-growing soft coral[3], and use this species as a model to investigate coral-alga endosymbiosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified 16 cell clusters, including gastrodermal cells and cnidocytes, in Xenia sp. We identified the endosymbiotic cell type, which expresses a distinct set of genes that are implicated in the recognition, phagocytosis and/or endocytosis, and maintenance of algae, as well as in the immune modulation of host coral cells. By coupling Xenia sp. regeneration and single-cell RNA sequencing, we observed a dynamic lineage progression of the endosymbiotic cells. The conserved genes associated with endosymbiosis that are reported here may help to reveal common principles by which different corals take up or lose their endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid32555346, year = {2020}, author = {Dorival, J and Philys, S and Giuntini, E and Brailly, R and de Ruyck, J and Czjzek, M and Biondi, E and Bompard, C}, title = {Structural and enzymatic characterisation of the Type III effector NopAA (=GunA) from Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 reveals a Xyloglucan hydrolase activity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9932}, pmid = {32555346}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Glucans/*metabolism ; Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*enzymology ; Type III Secretion Systems/*chemistry/metabolism ; Xylans/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria that can infect legume plants to establish root nodules symbiosis. To do that, a complex exchange of molecular signals occurs between plants and bacteria. Among them, rhizobial Nops (Nodulation outer proteins), secreted by a type III secretion system (T3SS) determine the host-specificity for efficient symbiosis with plant roots. Little is known about the molecular function of secreted Nops (also called effectors (T3E)) and their role in the symbiosis process. We performed the structure-function characterization of NopAA, a T3E from Sinorhizobium fredii by using a combination of X-ray crystallography, biochemical and biophysical approaches. This work displays for the first time a complete structural and biochemical characterization of a symbiotic T3E. Our results showed that NopAA has a catalytic domain with xyloglucanase activity extended by a N-terminal unfolded secretion domain that allows its secretion. We proposed that these original structural properties combined with the specificity of NopAA toward xyloglucan, a key component of root cell wall which is also secreted by roots in the soil, can give NopAA a strategic position to participate in recognition between bacteria and plant roots and to intervene in nodulation process.}, } @article {pmid32555283, year = {2020}, author = {Guibert, I and Bourdreux, F and Bonnard, I and Pochon, X and Dubousquet, V and Raharivelomanana, P and Berteaux-Lecellier, V and Lecellier, G}, title = {Dimethylsulfoniopropionate concentration in coral reef invertebrates varies according to species assemblages.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9922}, pmid = {32555283}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Bivalvia/*metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Sulfonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a key compound in the marine sulfur cycle, and is produced in large quantities in coral reefs. In addition to Symbiodiniaceae, corals and associated bacteria have recently been shown to play a role in DMSP metabolism. Numerous ecological studies have focused on DMSP concentrations in corals, which led to the hypothesis that increases in DMSP levels might be a general response to stress. Here we used multiple species assemblages of three common Indo-Pacific holobionts, the scleractinian corals Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora cytherea, and the giant clam Tridacna maxima and examined the DMSP concentrations associated with each species within different assemblages and thermal conditions. Results showed that the concentration of DMSP in A. cytherea and T. maxima is modulated according to the complexity of species assemblages. To determine the potential importance of symbiotic dinoflagellates in DMSP production, we then explored the relative abundance of Symbiodiniaceae clades in relation to DMSP levels using metabarcoding, and found no significant correlation between these factors. Finally, this study also revealed the existence of homologs involved in DMSP production in giant clams, suggesting for the first time that, like corals, they may also contribute to DMSP production. Taken together, our results demonstrated that corals and giant clams play important roles in the sulfur cycle. Because DMSP production varies in response to specific species-environment interactions, this study offers new perspectives for future global sulfur cycling research.}, } @article {pmid32554939, year = {2020}, author = {Sarapat, S and Songwattana, P and Longtonglang, A and Umnajkitikorn, K and Girdthai, T and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Effects of Increased 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate (ACC) Deaminase Activity in Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 on Mung Bean Symbiosis under Water Deficit Conditions.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32554939}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Conformation ; *Symbiosis ; Vigna/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria exhibiting 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, which inhibits the biosynthesis of ethylene in higher plants, promote plant growth through the degradation of ethylene precursors, such as ACC. ACC deaminase activity in Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 was enhanced by genetic engineering and adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE)-based methods. The transferal of a plasmid containing the acdR and acdS genes into SUTN9-2 was genetic engineering improved, while the ALE method was performed based on the accumulation of an adaptive bacterial population that continuously grew under specified growth conditions for a long time. ACC deaminase enzyme activity was 8.9-fold higher in SUTN9-2:pMG103::acdRS and 1.4-fold higher in SUTN9-2 (ACCDadap) than in the wild-type strain. The effects of increased activity were examined in the host plant (Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek SUT1). The improved strains enhanced nodulation in early stage of plant growth. SUTN9-2:pMG103::acdRS also maintained nitrogen fixation under water deficit conditions and increased the plant biomass after rehydration. Changes in nucleotides and amino acids in the AcdS protein of SUTN9-2 (ACCDadap) were then investigated. Some nucleotides predicted to be located in the ACC-binding site were mutated. These mutations may have increased ACC deaminase activity, which enhanced both symbiotic interactions and drought tolerance and promoted recovery after rehydration more than lower ACC deaminase activity. Adaptive evolution represents a promising strategy for further applications in the field.}, } @article {pmid32552515, year = {2020}, author = {Mayers, CG and Harrington, TC and Mcnew, DL and Roeper, RA and Biedermann, PHW and Masuya, H and Bateman, CC}, title = {Four mycangium types and four genera of ambrosia fungi suggest a complex history of fungus farming in the ambrosia beetle tribe Xyloterini.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {112}, number = {6}, pages = {1104-1137}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2020.1755209}, pmid = {32552515}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Fungi/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles farm fungal cultivars (ambrosia fungi) and carry propagules of the fungal mutualists in storage organs called mycangia, which occur in various body parts and vary greatly in size and complexity. The evolution of ambrosia fungi is closely tied to the evolution and development of the mycangia that carry them. The understudied ambrosia beetle tribe Xyloterini included lineages with uncharacterized ambrosia fungi and mycangia, which presented an opportunity to test whether developments of different mycangium types in a single ambrosia beetle lineage correspond with concomitant diversity in their fungal mutualists. We collected representatives of all three Xyloterini genera (Trypodendron, Indocryphalus, and Xyloterinus politus) and characterized their ambrosia fungi in pure culture and by DNA sequencing. The prothoracic mycangia of seven Trypodendron species all yielded Phialophoropsis (Microascales) ambrosia fungi, including three new species, although these relationships were not all species specific. Indocryphalus mycangia are characterized for the first time in the Asian I. pubipennis. They comprise triangular prothoracic cavities substantially smaller than those of Trypodendron and unexpectedly carry an undescribed species of Toshionella (Microascales), which are otherwise ambrosia fungi of Asian Scolytoplatypus (Scolytoplatypodini). Xyloterinus politus has two different mycangia, each with a different ambrosia fungus: Raffaelea cf. canadensis RNC5 (Ophiostomatales) in oral mycangia of both sexes and Kaarikia abrahamsonii (Sordariomycetes, genus incertae sedis with affinity for Distoseptisporaceae), a new genus and species unrelated to other known ambrosia fungi, in shallow prothoracic mycangia of females. In addition to their highly adapted mycangial mutualists, Trypodendron and X. politus harbor a surprising diversity of facultative symbionts in their galleries, including Raffaelea. A diversity of ambrosia fungi and mycangia suggest multiple ancestral cultivar captures or switches in the history of tribe Xyloterini, each associated with unique adaptations in mycangium anatomy. This further supports the theory that developments of novel mycangium types are critical events in the evolution of ambrosia beetles and their coadapted fungal mutualists.}, } @article {pmid32552224, year = {2020}, author = {Karri, V and Hirschi, KD}, title = {Gut Bacteria have a novel sweet tooth: ribose sensing and scavenging from fiber.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {1483-1485}, pmid = {32552224}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ; Diet ; Dietary Fiber ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Ribose ; }, abstract = {Dietary fiber is known to influence symbiotic gut microbiota community structure and physiology; however, how and if dietary fiber can induce further exogenous nutrient uptake within gut microbes is ill-defined. Recent findings highlight how during periods of high-fiber consumption, a prevalent gut bacteria senses and scavenges the ubiquitous sugar ribose. This molecular adaptation exemplifies how particular gut microbes have developed a sophisticated system to scavenge nutrients in a diet-dependent manner.}, } @article {pmid32551564, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, J and Hou, W and Christensen, MJ and Li, X and Xia, C and Li, C and Nan, Z}, title = {Role of Epichloë Endophytes in Improving Host Grass Resistance Ability and Soil Properties.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {68}, number = {26}, pages = {6944-6955}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01396}, pmid = {32551564}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/*physiology ; Epichloe/genetics/*physiology ; Poaceae/growth & development/immunology/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The past decade has witnessed significant advances in understanding the interaction between grasses and systemic fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë, with evidence that plants have evolved multiple strategies to cope with abiotic stresses by reprogramming physiological responses. Soil nutrients directly affect plant growth, while soil microbes are also closely connected to plant growth and health. Epichloë endophytes could affect soil fertility by modifying soil nutrient contents and soil microbial diversity. Therefore, we analyze recent advances in our understanding of the role of Epichloë endophytes under the various abiotic stresses and the role of grass-Epichloë symbiosis on soil fertility. Various cool-season grasses are infected by Epichloë species, which contribute to health, growth, persistence, and seed survival of host grasses by regulating key systems, including photosynthesis, osmotic regulation, and antioxidants and activity of key enzymes of host physiology processes under abiotic stresses. The Epichloë endophyte offers significant prospects to magnify the crop yield, plant resistance, and food safety in ecological systems by modulating soil physiochemical properties and soil microbes. The enhancing resistance of host grasses to abiotic stresses by an Epichloë endophyte is a complex manifestation of different physiological and biochemical events through regulating soil properties and soil microbes by the fungal endophyte. The Epichloë-mediated mechanisms underlying regulation of abiotic stress responses are involved in osmotic adjustment, antioxidant machinery, photosynthetic system, and activity of key enzymes critical in developing plant adaptation strategies to abiotic stress. Therefore, the Epichloë endophytes are an attractive choice in increasing resistance of plants to abiotic stresses and are also a good candidate for improving soil fertility and regulating microbial diversity to improve plant growth.}, } @article {pmid32551191, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Z and Ma, X and Wen, Y and Chen, S and Jiang, Y and Jin, X}, title = {Plastome of the mycoheterotrophic eudicot Exacum paucisquama (Gentianaceae) exhibits extensive gene loss and a highly expanded inverted repeat region.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9157}, pmid = {32551191}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Mycoheterotrophic plants are highly specialized species able to acquire organic carbon from symbiotic fungi, with relaxed dependence on photosynthesis for carbon fixation. The relaxation of the functional constraint of photosynthesis and thereby the relaxed selective pressure on functional photosynthetic genes usually lead to substantial gene loss and a highly degraded plastid genome in heterotrophs. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the plastome of the eudicot Exacum paucisquama, providing the first plastid genome of a mycoheterotroph in the family Gentianaceae to date. The E. paucisquama plastome was 44,028 bp in length, which is much smaller than the plastomes of autotrophic eudicots. Although the E. paucisquama plastome had a quadripartite structure, a distinct boundary shift was observed in comparison with the plastomes of other eudicots. We detected extensive gene loss and only 21 putative functional genes (15 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes and two tRNA genes). Our results provide valuable information for comparative evolutionary analyses of plastomes of heterotrophic species belonging to different phylogenetic groups.}, } @article {pmid32549688, year = {2020}, author = {Mohammed, H and Jaiswal, SK and Mohammed, M and Mbah, GC and Dakora, FD}, title = {Insights into nitrogen fixing traits and population structure analyses in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) accessions grown in Ghana.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {1263-1280}, pmid = {32549688}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {With legumes, symbiotic N2 fixation can meet the species N demand and reduce the over-reliance on chemical fertilizers in tropical regions where N deficiency is a major factor limiting crop yields and increased agricultural sustainability. Therefore, to optimize the use of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) germplasm in effective breeding, evaluation of genetic diversity and quantification of N2 fixation are essential prerequisites. The aim of this study was to explore the level of diversity using SSR markers and N2-fixing traits in a set of cowpea germplasm grown in Ghana. We analysed 49 cowpea accessions collected from Northern Ghana using qualitative vegetative and N2 fixation traits, and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Experimental field results revealed considerable morpho-physiological variation for plant growth habits, grain yield and symbiotic performance between and among the cowpea accessions. Results from both the [15]N natural abundance and ureides in the xylem sap were able to descriminate between high and low levels of N2 fixation in cowpea accessions. Five subpopulations were identified within accessions inferred from STRUCTURE 2.3.4. A general linear model was used to assess the association of SSR markers with N2-fixing traits. There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) links between SSR markers and symbiosis-related traits such as nodule number, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight, N-fixed, N derived from air (Ndfa), and relative uried-N (RU-N).}, } @article {pmid32547531, year = {2020}, author = {Luganini, A and Gribaudo, G}, title = {Retroviruses of the Human Virobiota: The Recycling of Viral Genes and the Resulting Advantages for Human Hosts During Evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1140}, pmid = {32547531}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {All humans are colonized by a vast diversity of microbes (bacteria, archaea, protozoa, yeast, and fungi; collectively referred to as the microbiota) and viruses (the virobiota). This latter group includes viruses infecting prokaryotic cells (bacteriophages), viruses infecting eukaryotic-host cells, and virus-derived genetic elements present in host chromosomes. Although these eukaryotic viruses are mostly known to be pathogens, they are also able to establish mutualistic relationships with humans. Little is known about the mutualistic aspects of viral infection. Nevertheless, it is clear that evolution of some animal virus-host interactions has led to benefits in the health of the hosts, as is the case with symbiogenesis and endogenization of retroviruses that has exerted a neuroprotective effect on the human brain, and an important role in the fetal development, thus on the evolution of host species. In this review, we summarize how retroviruses provide amazing examples of cooperative-evolution, i.e., successful exchange between viruses and host, and how, in some cases, the benefits have become essential for the hosts' survival.}, } @article {pmid32547306, year = {2020}, author = {Valle, LG and Stoianova, D}, title = {First record of Harpellales, Orphellales (Kickxellomycotina) and Amoebidiales (Mesomycetozoea) from Bulgaria, including a new species of Glotzia.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {55-80}, pmid = {32547306}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {This paper presents the results obtained from a short survey performed in Bulgaria, southeast Europe, where the trichomycetes (sensu lato), an ecological group of arthropod gut endosymbionts, were previously completely unknown. The present study initiates the comprehension of these cryptic organisms, members of the Kickxellomycotina (Harpellales, Orphellales) and the Mesomycetozoea (Amoebidiales), in this Balkan country. Eighteen new geographic records for Bulgaria are reported, including 10 species of Harpellales, three species of Orphellales and five species of Amoebidiales. Within the Harpellales, the species Glotzia balkanensis sp. nov. is described. This new species is most related to the rare species G. centroptili Gauthier ex Manier & Lichtw. and G. stenospora White & Lichtw., but is differentiated by spore and thallial characteristics. Photographs are provided and biogeographic implications of these records are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32546745, year = {2020}, author = {Pirritano, M and Zaburannyi, N and Grosser, K and Gasparoni, G and Müller, R and Simon, M and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {Dual-Seq reveals genome and transcriptome of Caedibacter taeniospiralis, obligate endosymbiont of Paramecium.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9727}, pmid = {32546745}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Paramecium/genetics/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Interest in host-symbiont interactions is continuously increasing, not only due to the growing recognition of the importance of microbiomes. Starting with the detection and description of novel symbionts, attention moves to the molecular consequences and innovations of symbioses. However, molecular analysis requires genomic data which is difficult to obtain from obligate intracellular and uncultivated bacteria. We report the identification of the Caedibacter genome, an obligate symbiont of the ciliate Paramecium. The infection does not only confer the host with the ability to kill other cells but also renders them immune against this effect. We obtained the C. taeniospiralis genome and transcriptome by dual-Seq of DNA and RNA from infected paramecia. Comparison of codon usage and expression level indicates that genes necessary for a specific trait of this symbiosis, i.e. the delivery of an unknown toxin, result from horizontal gene transfer hinting to the relevance of DNA transfer for acquiring new characters. Prediction of secreted proteins of Caedibacter as major agents of contact with the host implies, next to several toxin candidates, a rather uncharacterized secretome which appears to be highly adapted to this symbiosis. Our data provides new insights into the molecular establishment and evolution of this obligate symbiosis and for the pathway characterization of toxicity and immunity.}, } @article {pmid32546714, year = {2020}, author = {Xing, YM and Zhao, MM and Guo, LC and Li, B and Chen, J and Guo, SX}, title = {Identification and expression of DoCCaMK during Sebacina sp. symbiosis of Dendrobium officinale.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9733}, pmid = {32546714}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*genetics ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; China ; Cloning, Molecular/methods ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Dendrobium/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Gene Library ; Germination/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Seedlings/genetics ; Seeds/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a famous precious medicinal plant in China. Seed and seedling were cultivated with the mycorrhizal fungus Sebacina sp. CCaMK was initially cloned from D. officinale based on a SSH cDNA library of symbiotically germinated seeds with Sebacina sp. Phylogenetic analysis was performed among DoCCaMK and other CCaMKs. The particle bombardment technique was used to visualize DoCCaMK-GFP. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were conducted to determine the tissue expression patterns of DoCCaMK with (SGS) and without (UGS) Sebacina sp. Furthermore, the effect of KN-93 on CCaMK expression was also examined. Using NMT the net Ca[2+] fluxes and the CCaMK concentration were measured during D. officinale seed germination. DoCCaMK had the highest homology with Lilium longiflorum CCaMK. The DoCCaMK-GFP protein localized in the nucleus and cell membrane. CCaMK expression was significantly upregulated after symbiosis with Sebacina sp. KN-93 could be used as an inhibitor of CCaMK to inhibit D. officinale seed germination. Ca[2+] influx and the concentration of the CCaMK in the SGS group was significantly more than that of the UGS group. The characterization of CCaMK provides certain genetic evidence for the involvement of this gene during seed germination and mycorrhizal cultivation in D. officinale.}, } @article {pmid32546669, year = {2020}, author = {Denton, JA and Gokhale, CS}, title = {Synthetic Symbiosis under Environmental Disturbances.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32546669}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {By virtue of complex ecologies, the behavior of mutualisms is challenging to study and nearly impossible to predict. However, laboratory engineered mutualistic systems facilitate a better understanding of their bare essentials. On the basis of an abstract theoretical model and a modifiable experimental yeast system, we explore the environmental limits of self-organized cooperation based on the production and use of specific metabolites. We develop and test the assumptions and stability of the theoretical model by leveraging the simplicity of an artificial yeast system as a simple model of mutualism. We examine how one-off, recurring, and permanent changes to an ecological niche affect a cooperative interaction and change the population composition of an engineered mutualistic system. Moreover, we explore how the cellular burden of cooperating influences the stability of mutualism and how environmental changes shape this stability. Our results highlight the fragility of mutualisms and suggest interventions, including those that rely on the use of synthetic biology.IMPORTANCE The power of synthetic biology is immense. Will it, however, be able to withstand the environmental pressures once released in the wild. As new technologies aim to do precisely the same, we use a much simpler model to test mathematically the effect of a changing environment on a synthetic biological system. We assume that the system is successful if it maintains proportions close to what we observe in the laboratory. Extreme deviations from the expected equilibrium are possible as the environment changes. Our study provides the conditions and the designer specifications which may need to be incorporated in the synthetic systems if we want such "ecoblocs" to survive in the wild.}, } @article {pmid32546570, year = {2020}, author = {Kato, H and Tokutsu, R and Kubota-Kawai, H and Burton-Smith, RN and Kim, E and Minagawa, J}, title = {Characterization of a Giant PSI Supercomplex in the Symbiotic Dinoflagellate Symbiodiniaceae.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {183}, number = {4}, pages = {1725-1734}, pmid = {32546570}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/genetics/metabolism ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae are symbiotic dinoflagellates that provide photosynthetic products to corals. Because corals are distributed across a wide range of depths in the ocean, Symbiodiniaceae species must adapt to various light environments to optimize their photosynthetic performance. However, as few biochemical studies of Symbiodiniaceae photosystems have been reported, the molecular mechanisms of photoadaptation in this algal family remain poorly understood. Here, to investigate the photosynthetic machineries in Symbiodiniaceae, we purified and characterized the PSI supercomplex from the genome-sequenced Breviolum minutum (formerly Symbiodinium minutum). Mass spectrometry analysis revealed 25 light-harvesting complexes (LHCs), including both LHCF and LHCR families, from the purified PSI-LHC supercomplex. Single-particle electron microscopy showed unique giant supercomplex structures of PSI that were associated with the LHCs. Moreover, the PSI-LHC supercomplex contained a significant amount of the xanthophyll cycle pigment diadinoxanthin. Upon high light treatment, B. minutum cells showed increased nonphotochemical quenching, which was correlated with the conversion of diadinoxanthin to diatoxanthin, occurring preferentially in the PSI-LHC supercomplex. The possible role of PSI-LHC in photoprotection in Symbiodiniaceae is discussed.}, } @article {pmid32546484, year = {2020}, author = {Di Lorenzo, F and Speciale, I and Silipo, A and Alías-Villegas, C and Acosta-Jurado, S and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Dardanelli, MS and Palmigiano, A and Garozzo, D and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Molinaro, A and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Structure of the unusual Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 lipopolysaccharide and its role in symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {295}, number = {32}, pages = {10969-10987}, pmid = {32546484}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology ; Antigens, Bacterial/immunology ; Antigens, Surface/immunology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Carbohydrate Conformation ; Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Epitopes/immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry/immunology ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*chemistry/genetics/immunology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Sugar Acids/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that form important symbiotic associations with legumes, and rhizobial surface polysaccharides, such as K-antigen polysaccharide (KPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), might be important for symbiosis. Previously, we obtained a mutant of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, rkpA, that does not produce KPS, a homopolysaccharide of a pseudaminic acid derivative, but whose LPS electrophoretic profile was indistinguishable from that of the WT strain. We also previously demonstrated that the HH103 rkpLMNOPQ operon is responsible for 5-acetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-7-(3-hydroxybutyramido)-l-glycero-l-manno-nonulosonic acid [Pse5NAc7(3OHBu)] production and is involved in HH103 KPS and LPS biosynthesis and that an HH103 rkpM mutant cannot produce KPS and displays an altered LPS structure. Here, we analyzed the LPS structure of HH103 rkpA, focusing on the carbohydrate portion, and found that it contains a highly heterogeneous lipid A and a peculiar core oligosaccharide composed of an unusually high number of hexuronic acids containing β-configured Pse5NAc7(3OHBu). This pseudaminic acid derivative, in its α-configuration, was the only structural component of the S. fredii HH103 KPS and, to the best of our knowledge, has never been reported from any other rhizobial LPS. We also show that Pse5NAc7(3OHBu) is the complete or partial epitope for a mAb, NB6-228.22, that can recognize the HH103 LPS, but not those of most of the S. fredii strains tested here. We also show that the LPS from HH103 rkpM is identical to that of HH103 rkpA but devoid of any Pse5NAc7(3OHBu) residues. Notably, this rkpM mutant was severely impaired in symbiosis with its host, Macroptilium atropurpureum.}, } @article {pmid32546098, year = {2020}, author = {LeKieffre, C and Spero, HJ and Fehrenbacher, JS and Russell, AD and Ren, H and Geslin, E and Meibom, A}, title = {Ammonium is the preferred source of nitrogen for planktonic foraminifer and their dinoflagellate symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1929}, pages = {20200620}, pmid = {32546098}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Foraminifera/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plankton ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic planktonic foraminifera Orbulina universa inhabits open ocean oligotrophic ecosystems where dissolved nutrients are scarce and often limit biological productivity. It has previously been proposed that O. universa meets its nitrogen (N) requirements by preying on zooplankton, and that its symbiotic dinoflagellates recycle metabolic 'waste ammonium' for their N pool. However, these conclusions were derived from bulk [15]N-enrichment experiments and model calculations, and our understanding of N assimilation and exchange between the foraminifer host cell and its symbiotic dinoflagellates remains poorly constrained. Here, we present data from pulse-chase experiments with [13]C-enriched inorganic carbon, [15]N-nitrate, and [15]N-ammonium, as well as a [13]C- and [15]N- enriched heterotrophic food source, followed by TEM (transmission electron microscopy) coupled to NanoSIMS (nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry) isotopic imaging to visualize and quantify C and N assimilation and translocation in the symbiotic system. High levels of [15]N-labelling were observed in the dinoflagellates and in foraminiferal organelles and cytoplasm after incubation with [15]N-ammonium, indicating efficient ammonium assimilation. Only weak [15]N-assimilation was observed after incubation with [15]N-nitrate. Feeding foraminifers with [13]C- and [15]N-labelled food resulted in dinoflagellates that were labelled with [15]N, thereby confirming the transfer of [15]N-compounds from the digestive vacuoles of the foraminifer to the symbiotic dinoflagellates, likely through recycling of ammonium. These observations are important for N isotope-based palaeoceanographic reconstructions, as they show that δ[15]N values recorded in the organic matrix in symbiotic species likely reflect ammonium recycling rather than alternative N sources, such as nitrates.}, } @article {pmid32546097, year = {2020}, author = {McLean, AHC and Hrček, J and Parker, BJ and Mathé-Hubert, H and Kaech, H and Paine, C and Godfray, HCJ}, title = {Multiple phenotypes conferred by a single insect symbiont are independent.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1929}, pages = {20200562}, pmid = {32546097}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Phenotype ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many microbial symbionts have multiple phenotypic consequences for their animal hosts. However, the ways in which different symbiont-mediated phenotypes combine to affect fitness are not well understood. We investigated whether there are correlations between different symbiont-mediated phenotypes. We used the symbiont Spiroplasma, a striking example of a bacterial symbiont conferring diverse phenotypes on insect hosts. We took 11 strains of Spiroplasma infecting pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and assessed their ability to provide protection against the fungal pathogen Pandora neoaphidis and the parasitoids Aphidius ervi and Praon volucre. We also assessed effects on male offspring production for five of the Spiroplasma strains. All but one of the Spiroplasma strains provided very strong protection against the parasitoid P. volucre. As previously reported, variable protection against P. neoaphidis and A. ervi was also present; male-killing was likewise a variable phenotype. We find no evidence of any correlation, positive or negative, between the different phenotypes, nor was there any evidence of an effect of symbiont phylogeny on protective phenotype. We conclude that multiple symbiont-mediated phenotypes can evolve independently from one another without trade-offs between them.}, } @article {pmid32545597, year = {2020}, author = {Ortíz, J and Sanhueza, C and Romero-Munar, A and Hidalgo-Castellanos, J and Castro, C and Bascuñán-Godoy, L and Coba de la Peña, T and López-Gómez, M and Florez-Sarasa, I and Del-Saz, NF}, title = {In Vivo Metabolic Regulation of Alternative Oxidase under Nutrient Deficiency-Interaction with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobium Bacteria.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {32545597}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The interaction of the alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway with nutrient metabolism is important for understanding how respiration modulates ATP synthesis and carbon economy in plants under nutrient deficiency. Although AOX activity reduces the energy yield of respiration, this enzymatic activity is upregulated under stress conditions to maintain the functioning of primary metabolism. The in vivo metabolic regulation of AOX activity by phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) and during plant symbioses with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium bacteria is still not fully understood. We highlight several findings and open questions concerning the in vivo regulation of AOX activity and its impact on plant metabolism during P deficiency and symbiosis with AMF. We also highlight the need for the identification of which metabolic regulatory factors of AOX activity are related to N availability and nitrogen-fixing legume-rhizobia symbiosis in order to improve our understanding of N assimilation and biological nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32543366, year = {2020}, author = {Hall, RJ and Thorpe, S and Thomas, GH and Wood, AJ}, title = {Simulating the evolutionary trajectories of metabolic pathways for insect symbionts in the genus Sodalis.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32543366}, issn = {2057-5858}, support = {BB/M011151/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; WT095024MA/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Algorithms ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Models, Theoretical ; Mutation ; Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Insect-bacterial symbioses are ubiquitous, but there is still much to uncover about how these relationships establish, persist and evolve. The tsetse endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius displays intriguing metabolic adaptations to its microenvironment, but the process by which this relationship evolved remains to be elucidated. The recent chance discovery of the free-living species of the genus Sodalis, Sodalis praecaptivus, provides a serendipitous starting point from which to investigate the evolution of this symbiosis. Here, we present a flux balance model for S. praecaptivus and empirically verify its predictions. Metabolic modelling is used in combination with a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm to explore the trajectories that S. glossinidius may have undertaken from this starting point after becoming internalized. The order in which key genes are lost is shown to influence the evolved populations, providing possible targets for future in vitro genetic manipulation. This method provides a detailed perspective on possible evolutionary trajectories for S. glossinidius in this fundamental process of evolutionary and ecological change.}, } @article {pmid32542646, year = {2020}, author = {Valkov, VT and Sol, S and Rogato, A and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {The functional characterization of LjNRT2.4 indicates a novel, positive role of nitrate for an efficient nodule N2 -fixation activity.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {2}, pages = {682-696}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16728}, pmid = {32542646}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) -fixing nodules are formed on the roots of legume plants as result of the symbiotic interaction with rhizobia. Nodule functioning requires high amounts of carbon and energy, and therefore legumes have developed finely tuned mechanisms to cope with changing external environmental conditions, including nutrient availability and flooding. The investigation of the role of nitrate as regulator of the symbiotic N2 fixation has been limited to the inhibitory effects exerted by high external concentrations on nodule formation, development and functioning. We describe a nitrate-dependent route acting at low external concentrations that become crucial in hydroponic conditions to ensure an efficient nodule functionality. Combined genetic, biochemical and molecular studies are used to unravel the novel function of the LjNRT2.4 gene. Two independent null mutants are affected by the nitrate content of nodules, consistent with LjNRT2.4 temporal and spatial profiles of expression. The reduced nodular nitrate content is associated to a strong reduction of nitrogenase activity and a severe N-starvation phenotype observed under hydroponic conditions. We also report the effects of the mutations on the nodular nitric oxide (NO) production and content. We discuss the involvement of LjNRT2.4 in a nitrate-NO respiratory chain taking place in the N2 -fixing nodules.}, } @article {pmid32540821, year = {2020}, author = {Lorenzi, A and Volkoff, AN}, title = {[Polydnaviruses, a unique example of viral machinery domesticated by parasitoid wasps].}, journal = {Virologie (Montrouge, France)}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {113-125}, doi = {10.1684/vir.2020.0835}, pmid = {32540821}, issn = {1267-8694}, abstract = {Polydnaviruses are unique mutualistic viruses associated with thousands of parasitoid wasps. They are characterized by a segmented packaged DNA genome and are necessary for parasitic success. Virus particles are produced in the wasp ovaries from a set of "viral" sequences integrated into the wasp genome. The polydnavirus/wasp associations as observed today result from the integration of a viral genomes into the wasp genome during evolution. Recent years have been marked by the discovery of the viral ancestors of the two known types of polydnavirus, bracovirus and ichnovirus, which has helped to shed some light on the evolution of the symbiosis. Some of the viral genes have been conserved in the genome of the parasitoid, allowing the latter to produce non-replicative viral particles, that contain DNA molecules encoding essentially "virulence" genes, probably of insect origin. Thus polydnaviruses can be considered as endogenous viral elements (EVE) that have been domesticated by the wasp to become a "weapon" allowing its survival.}, } @article {pmid32540731, year = {2020}, author = {Hanif, MK and Malik, KA and Hameed, S and Saddique, MJ and Ayesha, and Fatima, K and Naqqash, T and Majeed, A and Iqbal, MJ and Imran, A}, title = {Growth stimulatory effect of AHL producing Serratia spp. from potato on homologous and non-homologous host plants.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {238}, number = {}, pages = {126506}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2020.126506}, pmid = {32540731}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Oryza/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Quorum Sensing/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizosphere ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Triticum/growth & development/microbiology ; Zea mays/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are known to improve plant performance by developing healthy and productive interactions with the host plants. These associations may be symbiotic or asymbiotic depending upon the genetic potential of the resident microbe and promiscuity of the host. Present study describes the potential of two Serratia spp. strains for promotion of plant growth in homologous as well as non-homologous hosts. The strains KPS-10 and KPS-14; native to potato rhizosphere belong to genus Serratia based on 16S rRNA gene sequences (accession no. LN831934 and LN831937 respectively) and contain multiple plant growth promoting properties along-with the production of quorum sensing acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules. Both Serratia spp. strains showed solubilization of inorganic tri-calcium phosphate while KPS-14 also exhibited phytase activity (1.98 10[-10] kcat). KPS-10 showed higher P-solubilization activity (128.5 μg/mL), IAA production (8.84 μg/mL), antifungal activity and also showed the production of two organic acids i.e., gluconic acid and lactic acid. Both strains produced three common AHLs: C6-HSL, 3oxo-C10-HSL, 3oxo-C12-HSL while some strain-specific AHLs (3OH-C5-HSL, 3OH-C6-HSL, C10-HSL specific to KPS-10 and 3OH-C6-HSL, C8-HSL, 3oxo-C9-HSL, 3OH-C9-HSL specific to KPS-14). Strains showed roots and rhizosphere colonization of potato and other non-homologous hosts up to one month. In planta AHLs-detection confirmed a likely role of AHLs during seedling growth and development where both extracted AHLs or bacteria inoculated roots showed extensive root hair. A significant increase in root/shoot lengths, root/ shoot fresh weights, root/shoot dry weights was observed by inoculation in different hosts. PGP-characteristics along with the AHLs-production signify the potential of both strains as candidate for the development of bio-inoculum for potato crop in specific and other crops in general. This inoculum will not only reduce the input of chemical fertilizer to the environment but also improve soil quality and plant growth.}, } @article {pmid32540502, year = {2020}, author = {Dushku, E and Kotzamanidis, C and Avgousti, K and Zdragas, A and Vafeas, G and Giantzi, V and Staikou, A and Yiangou, M}, title = {Listeria monocytogenes induced dysbiosis in snails and rebiosis achieved by administration of the gut commensal Lactobacillus plantarum Sgs14 strain.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {104}, number = {}, pages = {337-346}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2020.04.041}, pmid = {32540502}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/*therapy/veterinary ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hemolymph/cytology ; *Lactobacillus plantarum ; *Listeria monocytogenes ; Listeriosis/*microbiology/veterinary ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Snails/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Listeria monocytogenes strains were isolated from Cornu aspersum maxima snails from farm units experiencing high mortalities and were characterized by phenotypic, molecular and biochemical criteria. A high heterogeneity was observed in the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pulsotypes as well as in the virulence (13-100% mortality) among the fifteen L. monocytogenes strains. One strain was characterized as non-virulent while three strains exhibited hypervirulent phenotype. Hypervirulence activity was associated with cell surface properties such as hydrophobicity, autoaggregation and biofilm formation, with increased tolerance to snail's gut barriers such as pedal mucus, gastric mucus, gastric juices, and acidic pH as well as with increased capacity to resist the antibacterial activity of snail haemolymph and modulate immune cell populations and functions such as chemotaxis and phagocytoses. L. monocytogenes dysbiosis was characterized by a clinicopathological phenotype including immobilization of snails' headfoot outside the shell, increased mucus-secreting cells in the intestinal epithelium and feces, alteration of intestinal ridges morphology and excessive increase of haemolymph immune cells and cell death. Rebiosis in L. monocytogenes SN3 strain infected snails was achieved by dietary supplementation of the snail-gut commensal probiotic L. plantarum Sgs14 strain by exhibiting anti-Listeria activity, reducing mortality and clinicopathological manifestations as well as exhibiting immunomodulatory activity.}, } @article {pmid32540122, year = {2021}, author = {Kopinke, D and Norris, AM and Mukhopadhyay, S}, title = {Developmental and regenerative paradigms of cilia regulated hedgehog signaling.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {110}, number = {}, pages = {89-103}, pmid = {32540122}, issn = {1096-3634}, support = {R01 GM113023/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/metabolism/pathology ; Centrosome/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Cilia/*metabolism/pathology/ultrastructure ; Ciliopathies/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Connective Tissue/metabolism/pathology ; Fibrosis ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hedgehog Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Light Signal Transduction ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism/pathology ; Microtubules/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Morphogenesis/genetics ; Obesity/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Regeneration/*genetics ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Primary cilia are immotile appendages that have evolved to receive and interpret a variety of different extracellular cues. Cilia play crucial roles in intercellular communication during development and defects in cilia affect multiple tissues accounting for a heterogeneous group of human diseases called ciliopathies. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is one of these cues and displays a unique and symbiotic relationship with cilia. Not only does Hh signaling require cilia for its function but the majority of the Hh signaling machinery is physically located within the cilium-centrosome complex. More specifically, cilia are required for both repressing and activating Hh signaling by modifying bifunctional Gli transcription factors into repressors or activators. Defects in balancing, interpreting or establishing these repressor/activator gradients in Hh signaling either require cilia or phenocopy disruption of cilia. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge on how spatiotemporal control of the molecular machinery of the cilium allows for a tight control of basal repression and activation states of the Hh pathway. We will then discuss several paradigms on how cilia influence Hh pathway activity in tissue morphogenesis during development. Last, we will touch on how cilia and Hh signaling are being reactivated and repurposed during adult tissue regeneration. More specifically, we will focus on mesenchymal stem cells within the connective tissue and discuss the similarities and differences of how cilia and ciliary Hh signaling control the formation of fibrotic scar and adipose tissue during fatty fibrosis of several tissues.}, } @article {pmid32540001, year = {2020}, author = {Corso, M and Perreau, F and Mouille, G and Lepiniec, L}, title = {Specialized phenolic compounds in seeds: structures, functions, and regulations.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {296}, number = {}, pages = {110471}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110471}, pmid = {32540001}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Flavonoids/chemistry/metabolism/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Phenols/chemistry/*metabolism ; Seeds/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants produce a huge diversity of specialized metabolites (SM) throughout their life cycle that play important physiological and ecological functions. SM can protect plants and seeds against diseases, predators, and abiotic stresses, or support their interactions with beneficial or symbiotic organisms. They also have strong impacts on human nutrition and health. Despite this importance, the biosynthesis and biological functions of most of the SM remain elusive and their diversity and/or quantity have been reduced in most crops during domestication. Seeds present a large number of SM that are important for their physiological, agronomic, nutritional or industrial qualities and hence, provide interesting models for both studying biosynthesis and producing large amounts of specialized metabolites. For instance, phenolics are abundant and widely distributed in seeds. More specifically, flavonoid pathway has been instrumental for understanding environmental or developmental regulations of specialized metabolic pathways, at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, we summarize current knowledge on seed phenolics as model, and discuss how recent progresses in omics approaches could help to further characterize their diversity, regulations, and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved.}, } @article {pmid32539750, year = {2020}, author = {Dahan, D and Preston, GM and Sealey, J and King, KC}, title = {Impacts of a novel defensive symbiosis on the nematode host microbiome.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {159}, pmid = {32539750}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; COEVOPRO 802242/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Disease Resistance ; Enterococcus faecalis/*physiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with pathogens, a 'defensive' bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Here, we assess the role of a defensive symbiont as a driver of host-associated microbiota composition by using a bacterial species (Enterococcus faecalis) that was previously experimentally adapted to a nematode host model (Caenorhabditis elegans).

RESULTS: An analysis of 16S rRNA data from C. elegans exposed to E. faecalis and subsequently reared in soil, reveal that symbiont adaptation to host environment or its protective potential had minimal impact on microbiota diversity. Whilst the abundance of Pseudomonas was higher in the microbiota of hosts with protective E.faecalis (and another protective species tested), a few other genera - including Serratia and Salinispora - were less abundant in hosts colonized by all E. faecalis strains. In addition, the protective effect of E. faecalis against virulent Staphylococcus aureus pathogens was maintained despite multi-species interactions within the microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal the degree to which a new, evolving symbiont can colonise and maintain pathogen-resistance with minimal disruption to host microbiota diversity.}, } @article {pmid32537994, year = {2020}, author = {Ma, SY and Ma, L and Xu, B and Yang, N and Zhang, XH and Chai, Q and Li, S}, title = {[Physiological responses of symbiotic rhizobium pea to exogenous calcium under salt stress].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {969-977}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202003.010}, pmid = {32537994}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Antioxidants ; Calcium ; Malondialdehyde ; Peas ; *Rhizobium ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase ; }, abstract = {To clarify the effects of exogenous calcium on salt tolerance of nodule symbiotic pea, a pot experiment was conducted under salt stress (170 mmol·L[-1]) to examine the effects of exogenous CaCl2(0, 5 and 15 mmol·L[-1]) on physiological parameters of two pea cultivars, 'Dingwan 8' (salt tolerant) and 'Longwan 6' (salt sensitive), inoculated with rhizobium strains 15657, 15735 and Ca66. The results showed that plant biomass, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), and the contents of proline (Pro) and soluble sugar (SS) were enhanced, but malondialdehyde (MDA) content was decreased, with rhizobium inoculation, CaCl2 application or CaCl2 application after rhizobium inoculation. Plant biomass and activities of SOD and POD and Pro content were increased significantly by the application of 15 mmol·L[-1] CaCl2 after rhizobium inoculation. The application of CaCl2 after inoculation of rhizobium strain 15735 suitable for pea had limited effects on physiological parameters of pea plants, whereas the application of CaCl2 after inoculation of rhizobium (15657, Ca66) unsuitable for pea had obvious effects. The comprehensive analysis of membership function showed that pea treated with CaCl2 after rhizobium inoculation exhibited stronger salt tolerance, and 'Dingwan 8' plants treated with 15 mmol·L[-1] CaCl2 after inoculation of rhizobium strain 15735 showed the strongest ability of salt tolerance with the highest membership function value of 0.814. In summary, compared with CaCl2 application or rhizobium inoculation alone, CaCl2 application after rhizobium inoculation could effectively enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes and osmotic regulation ability, reduce the damage of membrane lipid peroxidation, and consequently improve the salt tolerance of pea.}, } @article {pmid32535971, year = {2020}, author = {Pierangelini, M and Thiry, M and Cardol, P}, title = {Different levels of energetic coupling between photosynthesis and respiration do not determine the occurrence of adaptive responses of Symbiodiniaceae to global warming.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {3}, pages = {855-868}, pmid = {32535971}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Global Warming ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis ; Respiration ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Disentangling the metabolic functioning of corals' endosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) is relevant to understanding the response of coral reefs to warming oceans. In this work, we first question whether there is an energetic coupling between photosynthesis and respiration in Symbiodiniaceae (Symbiodinium, Durusdinium and Effrenium), and second, how different levels of energetic coupling will affect their adaptive responses to global warming. Coupling between photosynthesis and respiration was established by determining the variation of metabolic rates during thermal response curves, and how inhibition of respiration affects photosynthesis. Adaptive (irreversible) responses were studied by exposing two Symbiodinium species with different levels of photosynthesis-respiration interaction to high temperature conditions (32°C) for 1 yr. We found that some Symbiodiniaceae have a high level of energetic coupling; that is, photosynthesis and respiration have the same temperature dependency, and photosynthesis is negatively affected when respiration is inhibited. Conversely, photosynthesis and respiration are not coupled in other species. In any case, prolonged exposure to high temperature caused adjustments in both photosynthesis and respiration, but these changes were fully reversible. We conclude that energetic coupling between photosynthesis and respiration exhibits wide variation amongst Symbiodiniaceae and does not determine the occurrence of adaptive responses in Symbiodiniaceae to temperature increase.}, } @article {pmid32535729, year = {2020}, author = {Prity, SA and Sajib, SA and Das, U and Rahman, MM and Haider, SA and Kabir, AH}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate Fe deficiency symptoms in sorghum through phytosiderophore-mediated Fe mobilization and restoration of redox status.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {257}, number = {5}, pages = {1373-1385}, doi = {10.1007/s00709-020-01517-w}, pmid = {32535729}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {*Iron Deficiencies ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sorghum/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sustainable management of iron (Fe) deficiency through the microbial association is highly desirable to ensure crop yield. This study elucidates whether and how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) ameliorate Fe deficiency symptoms in sorghum. AMF inoculation showed a significant improvement in plant biomass, chlorophyll score, Fv/Fm (quantum efficiency of photosystem II), and Pi_ABS (photosynthesis performance index), suggesting its potentiality to diminish Fe deficiency symptoms in sorghum. This AMF-driven prevention of Fe deficiency was further supported by the improvement of biochemical stress indicators, such as cell death, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion. In this study, AMF showed a significant increase in phytosiderophore (PS) release as well as Fe and S concentrations in sorghum under Fe deficiency. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated the consistent upregulation of SbDMAS2 (deoxymugineic acid synthase 2), SbNAS2 (nicotianamine synthase 2), and SbYS1 (Fe-phytosiderophore transporter yellow stripe) in roots due to AMF with Fe deficiency. It suggests that the enhancement of Fe due to AMF is related to the mobilization of Fe(III)-PS in the rhizosphere supported by the long-distance transport of Fe by SbYS1 transporter in sorghum. Our study further showed that the elevation of S mainly in the presence of AMF possibly enhances the S-containing antioxidant metabolites (Met, Cys, and GSH) as well as enzymes (CAT, SOD, and GR) to counteract H2O2 and O2[-] for the restoration of redox status in Fe-deprived sorghum. Moreover, S possibly participates in Strategy II responses revealing its crucial role as a signaling molecule for Fe homeostasis in sorghum.}, } @article {pmid32535694, year = {2020}, author = {Kendon, JP and Yokoya, K and Zettler, LW and Jacob, AS and McDiarmid, F and Bidartondo, MI and Sarasan, V}, title = {Recovery of mycorrhizal fungi from wild collected protocorms of Madagascan endemic orchid Aerangis ellisii (B.S. Williams) Schltr. and their use in seed germination in vitro.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {5}, pages = {567-576}, pmid = {32535694}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Germination ; Madagascar ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) are critical for seed germination and maintaining natural populations of orchids, yet the degree of specificity of most orchids to their mycorrhizal associates remains unknown. Many orchids are at risk of extinction, whether generalists or specialists, but orchid species of narrow fungal specificity are arguably under increased threat due to their requirement for specific fungal symbionts. This study characterises the fungi associated with Aerangis ellisii, a lithophytic orchid from a site in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Culturable OMF isolated from spontaneous protocorms of this species from the wild were used for seed germination. In vitro germination and seedling development of A. ellisii were achieved with fungi derived from A. ellisii and an isolate from a different Aerangis species 30 km away. The significance of these findings and their importance to conservation strategies for this species and other Aerangis spp. is discussed. These results have important implications for the conservation of A. ellisii populations in Madagascar.}, } @article {pmid32534868, year = {2020}, author = {Kokkoris, V and Stefani, F and Dalpé, Y and Dettman, J and Corradi, N}, title = {Nuclear Dynamics in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {765-778}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2020.05.002}, pmid = {32534868}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant root symbionts that continuously carry thousands of nuclei in their spores and hyphae. This unique cellular biology raises fundamental questions regarding their nuclear dynamics. This review aims to address these by synthesizing current knowledge of nuclear content and behavior in these ubiquitous soil fungi. Overall, we find that that nuclear counts, as well as the nuclei shape and organization, vary drastically both within and among species in this group. By comparing these features with those of other fungi, we highlight unique aspects of the AMF nuclear biology that require further attention. The potential implications of the observed nuclear variability for the biology and evolution of these widespread plant symbionts are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32534171, year = {2020}, author = {Pinevich, AV}, title = {Chloroplast history clarified by the criterion of light-harvesting complex.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {104173}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104173}, pmid = {32534171}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyll/*metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/*metabolism ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Plastids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacterial essence of mitochondria and chloroplasts was initially proclaimed in general outline. Later, the remarkable insight gave way to an elaborate hypothesis. Finally, it took shape of a theory confirmed by molecular biology data. In particular, the rrn operon, which is the key phylogeny marker, locates chloroplasts on the tree of Cyanobacteria. Chloroplast ancestry and diversity can be also traced with the rpoС and psbA genes, rbc operon, and other molecular criteria of prime importance. Another criterion, also highly reliable, is light-harvesting complex (LHC). LHC pigment and protein moieties specify light acclimation strategies in evolutionary retrospect and modern biosphere. The onset of symbiosis between eukaryotic host and pre-chloroplast, as well as further mutual adjustment of partners depended on physiological competence of LHC. In this review, the criterion of LHC is applied to the origin and diversity of chloroplasts. In particular, ancient cyanobacterium possessing tandem antenna (encoded by the cbp genes and the pbp genes, correspondingly), and defined as a prochlorophyte, is argued to be chloroplast ancestor.}, } @article {pmid32533710, year = {2020}, author = {Brear, EM and Bedon, F and Gavrin, A and Kryvoruchko, IS and Torres-Jerez, I and Udvardi, MK and Day, DA and Smith, PMC}, title = {GmVTL1a is an iron transporter on the symbiosome membrane of soybean with an important role in nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {2}, pages = {667-681}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16734}, pmid = {32533710}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Iron ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria (rhizobia), housed in nodules on roots. The plant supplies carbon substrates and other nutrients to the bacteria in exchange for fixed nitrogen. The exchange occurs across a plant-derived symbiosome membrane (SM), which encloses rhizobia to form a symbiosome. Iron supplied by the plant is crucial for rhizobial enzyme nitrogenase that catalyses nitrogen fixation, but the SM iron transporter has not been identified. We use yeast complementation, real-time PCR and proteomics to study putative soybean (Glycine max) iron transporters GmVTL1a and GmVTL1b and have characterized the role of GmVTL1a using complementation in plant mutants, hairy root transformation and microscopy. GmVTL1a and GmVTL1b are members of the vacuolar iron transporter family and homologous to Lotus japonicus SEN1 (LjSEN1), which is essential for nitrogen fixation. GmVTL1a expression is enhanced in nodule infected cells and both proteins are localized to the SM. GmVTL1a transports iron in yeast and restores nitrogen fixation when expressed in the Ljsen1 mutant. Three GmVTL1a amino acid substitutions that block nitrogen fixation in Ljsen1 plants reduce iron transport in yeast. We conclude GmVTL1a is responsible for transport of iron across the SM to bacteroids and plays a crucial role in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32533256, year = {2020}, author = {Pepe, A and Giovannetti, M and Sbrana, C}, title = {Appressoria and phosphorus fluxes in mycorrhizal plants: connections between soil- and plant-based hyphae.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {5}, pages = {589-600}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00972-w}, pmid = {32533256}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Hyphae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) live in symbiosis with plant roots, facilitating mineral nutrient transfer from soil to hosts through large networks of extraradical hyphae. Limited data are available on the fungal structures (appressoria) connecting soil- to root-based mycelium, in relation to plant nutrition. Two in vivo systems were set up using three AMF, Funneliformis mosseae, Funneliformis coronatus and Rhizoglomus irregulare, grown in symbiosis with Cichorium intybus. The assessment of plant P content, number of appressoria, diameter of their subtending hyphae and length of colonized roots allowed calculation of the total cross-section area of appressorium-subtending hyphae, which differed among the three AMF and was correlated with plant P contents and with extraradical mycelium density. A conservative evaluation of P fluxes from soil- to plant-based hyphae occurring through appressoria gave values ranging from 1.7 to 4.2 × 10[-8] mol cm[-2] s[-1] (moles per total cross-section area of the appressorium subtending hyphae per time elapsed), depending on AMF identity. This work suggests that, beyond intraradical colonization and extraradical mycelium extent, connections between extraradical and intraradical fungal mycelium through appressoria are important for mycorrhizal plant nutrition, as appressorium structural traits and density can be related to P transfer mediated by AMF.}, } @article {pmid32532205, year = {2020}, author = {Bouffaud, ML and Herrmann, S and Tarkka, MT and Bönn, M and Feldhahn, L and Buscot, F}, title = {Oak displays common local but specific distant gene regulation responses to different mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {399}, pmid = {32532205}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Quercus/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Associations of tree roots with diverse symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi have distinct effects on whole plant functioning. An untested explanation might be that such effect variability is associated with distinct impacts of different fungi on gene expression in local and distant plant organs. Using a large scale transcriptome sequencing approach, we compared the impact of three ectomycorrhizal (EMF) and one orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) on gene regulation in colonized roots (local), non-colonized roots (short distance) and leaves (long distance) of the Quercus robur clone DF159 with reference to the recently published oak genome. Since different mycorrhizal fungi form symbiosis in a different time span and variable extents of apposition structure development, we sampled inoculated but non-mycorrhizal plants, for which however markedly symbiotic effects have been reported. Local root colonization by the fungi was assessed by fungal transcript analysis.

RESULTS: The EMF induced marked and species specific effects on plant development in the analysed association stage, but the OMF did not. At local level, a common set of plant differentially expressed genes (DEG) was identified with similar patterns of responses to the three EMF, but not to the OMF. Most of these core DEG were down-regulated and correspond to already described but also new functions related to establishment of EMF symbiosis. Analysis of the fungal transcripts of two EMF in highly colonized roots also revealed onset of a symbiosis establishment. In contrast, in the OMF, the DEG were mainly related to plant defence. Already at short distances, high specificities in transcriptomic responses to the four fungi were detected, which were further enhanced at long distance in leaves, where almost no common DEG were found between the treatments. Notably, no correlation between phylogeny of the EMF and gene expression patterns was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Use of clonal oaks allowed us to identify a core transcriptional program in roots colonized by three different EMF, supporting the existence of a common EMF symbiotic pathway. Conversely, the specific responses in non-colonized organs were more closely related to the specific impacts of the different of EMF on plant performance.}, } @article {pmid32530963, year = {2020}, author = {Fang, YW and Wang, WB and He, MX and Xu, XJ and Gao, F and Liu, J and Yang, TW and Cao, Y and Yang, T and Wang, Y and Zhang, CX}, title = {Relationship between the honeydew of mealy bugs and the growth of Phlebopus portentosus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {e0233710}, pmid = {32530963}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/growth & development/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/parasitology ; Hemiptera/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Plant Tumors/*microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phlebopus portentosus and mealy bugs form a fungus-insect gall on the roots of host plants. The fungus and mealy bugs benefit mutually through the gall, which is the key link in the nutritional mechanism of P. portentosus. The cavity of the fungus-insect gall provides an ideal shelter for mealy bugs survival and reproduction, but how does P. portentosus benefit from this symbiotic relationship?

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: Anatomical examination of fungus-insect galls revealed that one or more mealy bugs of different generations were living inside the galls. The mealy bug's mouthpart could penetrate through the mycelium layer of the inside of the gall and suck plant juice from the host plant root. Mealy bugs excreted honeydew inside or outside the galls. The results of both honeydew agar medium and quartz tests showed that the honeydew can attract and promote the mycelial growth of P. portentosus. A test of the relationship between the honeydew and the formation of the fungus-insect gall showed that honeydew promoted gall formation.

CONCLUSIONS: All experimental results in this study show that the honeydew secreted by mealy bugs can attract and promote the mycelial growth of P. portentosus, forming a fungus-insect gall, because mealy bugs' honeydew is rich in amino acids and sugars.}, } @article {pmid32530205, year = {2020}, author = {Zhao, FG and Qu, F and Che, YM and Yao, JL and Liu, X}, title = {[Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on metabolism of aroma substances in tobacco].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {1298-1304}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202004.031}, pmid = {32530205}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Odorants ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote nutrient absorption and improve stress resistance of host plants. The effects of AMF on aroma substance metabolism were rarely examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of AMF (Glomus mosseae) on glands and metabolism of aroma substances in tobacco leaves. The results showed that the density of gland hair and the relative expression of the glandular-specific lipid transporter gene NtLTP1, which was necessary to induce lipid secretion, were higher in the leaves of tobacco inoculated with AMF. The content of main aroma substances in tobacco leaves, such as carotenoids, chlorogenic acid and solanesol, were increased. Moreover, AMF inoculation increased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), the key aroma substance synthesis enzymes, and caused upregulation in the relative expression of phenylalanine transaminase, polyphenoloxidase, flavonoids alcoholase and squalene synthase encoding genes. In all, the symbiosis with G. mosseae could increase the abundance and secretory activity of glandular hairs and promote the synthesis of aroma substances in tobacco leaves.}, } @article {pmid32528176, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, L and Wang, B and Yu, H and Guo, H and Lin, T and Kou, L and Wang, A and Shao, N and Ma, H and Xiong, G and Li, X and Yang, J and Chu, J and Li, J}, title = {Transcriptional regulation of strigolactone signalling in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {583}, number = {7815}, pages = {277-281}, pmid = {32528176}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Anthocyanins/biosynthesis ; Arabidopsis/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Signal Transduction/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Plant hormones known as strigolactones control plant development and interactions between host plants and symbiotic fungi or parasitic weeds[1-4]. In Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, the proteins DWARF14 (D14), MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 2 (MAX2), SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2-LIKE 6, 7 and 8 (SMXL6, SMXL7 and SMXL8) and their orthologues form a complex upon strigolactone perception and play a central part in strigolactone signalling[5-10]. However, whether and how strigolactones activate downstream transcription remains largely unknown. Here we use a synthetic strigolactone to identify 401 strigolactone-responsive genes in Arabidopsis, and show that these plant hormones regulate shoot branching, leaf shape and anthocyanin accumulation mainly through transcriptional activation of the BRANCHED 1, TCP DOMAIN PROTEIN 1 and PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENT 1 genes. We find that SMXL6 targets 729 genes in the Arabidopsis genome and represses the transcription of SMXL6, SMXL7 and SMXL8 by binding directly to their promoters, showing that SMXL6 serves as an autoregulated transcription factor to maintain the homeostasis of strigolactone signalling. These findings reveal an unanticipated mechanism through which a transcriptional repressor of hormone signalling can directly recognize DNA and regulate transcription in higher plants.}, } @article {pmid32528063, year = {2020}, author = {Reis, F and Kirsch, R and Pauchet, Y and Bauer, E and Bilz, LC and Fukumori, K and Fukatsu, T and Kölsch, G and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Bacterial symbionts support larval sap feeding and adult folivory in (semi-)aquatic reed beetles.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2964}, pmid = {32528063}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Vitamins/metabolism ; Exome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes can enable their host to access untapped nutritional resources but may also constrain niche space by promoting specialization. Here, we reconstruct functional changes in the evolutionary history of the symbiosis between a group of (semi-)aquatic herbivorous insects and mutualistic bacteria. Sequencing the symbiont genomes across 26 species of reed beetles (Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae) spanning four genera indicates that the genome-eroded mutualists provide life stage-specific benefits to larvae and adults, respectively. In the plant sap-feeding larvae, the symbionts are inferred to synthesize most of the essential amino acids as well as the B vitamin riboflavin. The adult reed beetles' folivory is likely supported by symbiont-encoded pectinases that complement the host-encoded set of cellulases, as revealed by transcriptome sequencing. However, mapping the occurrence of the symbionts' pectinase genes and the hosts' food plant preferences onto the beetles' phylogeny reveals multiple independent losses of pectinase genes in lineages that switched to feeding on pectin-poor plants, presumably constraining their hosts' subsequent adaptive potential.}, } @article {pmid32526628, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, X and Li, X and Ye, L and Huang, Y and Kang, Z and Zhang, B and Zhang, X}, title = {Colonization by Tuber melanosporum and Tuber indicum affects the growth of Pinus armandii and phoD alkaline phosphatase encoding bacterial community in the rhizosphere.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {239}, number = {}, pages = {126520}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2020.126520}, pmid = {32526628}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase/*genetics/metabolism ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Pinus/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The synthesis of truffle ectomycorrhizae and the ecology of truffle-colonized seedlings in the early symbiotic stage are important for the successful truffle cultivation. In this study, two black truffle species, Tuber melanosporum and Tuber indicum, were selected to colonize Pinus armandii seedlings. 2, 4, 6 and 8 months after inoculation, the growth performance of the host and the rhizosphere soil properties were detected. The dynamic changes of two mating type genes in substrate were also monitored to assess the sexual distribution of truffles. Additionally, the variation of soil bacterial communities encoded by phoD alkaline phosphatase genes was investigated through next-generation sequencing. The results indicated that both T. melanosporum and T. indicum colonization promoted the growth of P. armandii seedlings to some extent, including improving their biomass, total root surface area, root superoxide dismutases and peroxidase activity. The organic matter and available phosphorus in rhizosphere soil were also significantly enhanced by two truffles' colonization. The phoD-harboring bacterial community structure was altered by both truffles, and T. melanosporum decreased their diversity or richness on the 6th and 8th month after inoculation. Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and Sinorhizobium, a N2-fixer with phoD genes, were found more abundant in truffle-colonized treatments. The mating type distribution of the two truffles was uneven, with MAT1-1-1 gene occupying the majority. Overall, T. melanosporum and T. indicum colonization affected the micro-ecology of truffle symbionts during the early symbiotic stage. These results could give us a better understanding on the truffle-plant-soil-microbe interactions, which would be beneficial to the subsequent truffle cultivation.}, } @article {pmid32526285, year = {2020}, author = {El-Baz, AM and Khodir, AE and Adel El-Sokkary, MM and Shata, A}, title = {The protective effect of Lactobacillus versus 5-aminosalicylic acid in ulcerative colitis model by modulation of gut microbiota and Nrf2/Ho-1 pathway.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {117927}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117927}, pmid = {32526285}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; Fusobacterium ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1/*metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Lactobacillus/*drug effects ; Male ; Mesalamine/*pharmacology ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Protective Agents/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) has many complications, from colonic damage to colorectal cancer. The mystery of both etiology and effective treatment of UC still challenging process. The role of gut microbiota in UC is still unclear. In the current study we compare the difference in gut microbiota abundance in both UC and normal colon besides the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus spp. in treating UC versus the standard drug.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental panel included five group of rats; normal control, UC diseased rats, sterilizing rats, ASA treated and Lactobacillus treated. The change in the microbiota abundance was investigated using conventional and real time PCR. In parallel, clinical evaluation of UC and macroscopic examination scoring was also done. Colonic oxidants/antioxidant stress biomarkers; MDA, GSH, catalase, myeloperoxidase activity, and SOD activity were assessed. Colon Nrf2, HO-1 contents and TNF-α was evaluated.

KEY FINDINGS: The current study revealed a significant difference in the relative abundance of microbiota where, UC is associated with massive increase of E. coli and Fusobacterium spp., while enormous decrease in Bifidobacteria spp. in contrast with negative control. Both 5-ASA and Lactobacillus show a significant amelioration of all antioxidant enzymes and marked decline of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Both Lactobacillus and 5-ASA show significant increase of NrF2 and HO-1 and marked decrease of TNF-α.

SIGNIFICANCE: Lactobacillus spp. exerted a beneficial effect on the inflammation, oxidative stress and the symbiosis of gut microbiota that improve structural intestinal defect and promote healing in UC.}, } @article {pmid32526162, year = {2020}, author = {Yan, F}, title = {Mechanistic Understanding of the Symbiotic Relationship Between the Gut Microbiota and the Host: An Avenue Toward Therapeutic Applications.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {853-854}, pmid = {32526162}, issn = {2352-345X}, mesh = {Carcinogenesis ; *Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; }, } @article {pmid32523601, year = {2020}, author = {Ocampo-Alvarez, H and Meza-Canales, ID and Mateos-Salmón, C and Rios-Jara, E and Rodríguez-Zaragoza, FA and Robles-Murguía, C and Muñoz-Urias, A and Hernández-Herrera, RM and Choix-Ley, FJ and Becerril-Espinosa, A}, title = {Diving Into Reef Ecosystems for Land-Agriculture Solutions: Coral Microbiota Can Alleviate Salt Stress During Germination and Photosynthesis in Terrestrial Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {648}, pmid = {32523601}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {From their chemical nature to their ecological interactions, coral reef ecosystems have a lot in common with highly productive terrestrial ecosystems. While plants are responsible for primary production in the terrestrial sphere, the photosynthetic endosymbionts of corals are the key producers in reef communities. As in plants, coral microbiota have been suggested to stimulate the growth and physiological performance of the photosynthetic endosymbionts that provide energy sources to the coral. Among them, actinobacteria are some of the most probable candidates. To explore the potential of coral actinobacteria as plant biostimulants, we have analyzed the activity of Salinispora strains isolated from the corals Porites lobata and Porites panamensis, which were identified as Salinispora arenicola by 16S rRNA sequencing. We evaluated the effects of this microorganism on the germination, plant growth, and photosynthetic response of wild tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) under a saline regime. We identified protective activity of this actinobacteria on seed germination and photosynthetic performance under natural light conditions. Further insights into the possible mechanism showed an endophytic-like symbiosis between N. attenuata roots and S. arenicola and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity by S. arenicola. We discuss these findings in the context of relevant ecological and physiological responses and biotechnological potential. Overall, our results will contribute to the development of novel biotechnologies to cope with plant growth under saline stress. Our study highlights the importance of understanding marine ecological interactions for the development of novel, strategic, and sustainable agricultural solutions.}, } @article {pmid32523086, year = {2020}, author = {Mills, MM and Turk-Kubo, KA and van Dijken, GL and Henke, BA and Harding, K and Wilson, ST and Arrigo, KR and Zehr, JP}, title = {Unusual marine cyanobacteria/haptophyte symbiosis relies on N2 fixation even in N-rich environments.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2395-2406}, pmid = {32523086}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; *Haptophyta ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbial fixation of N2 is the largest source of biologically available nitrogen (N) to the oceans. However, it is the most energetically expensive N-acquisition process and is believed inhibited when less energetically expensive forms, like dissolved inorganic N (DIN), are available. Curiously, the cosmopolitan N2-fixing UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis grows in DIN-replete waters, but the sensitivity of their N2 fixation to DIN is unknown. We used stable isotope incubations, catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in-situ hybridization (CARD-FISH), and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), to investigate the N source used by the haptophyte host and sensitivity of UCYN-A N2 fixation in DIN-replete waters. We demonstrate that under our experimental conditions, the haptophyte hosts of two UCYN-A sublineages do not assimilate nitrate (NO3[-]) and meet little of their N demands via ammonium (NH4[+]) uptake. Instead the UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis relies on UCYN-A N2 fixation to supply large portions of the haptophyte's N requirements, even under DIN-replete conditions. Furthermore, UCYN-A N2 fixation rates, and haptophyte host carbon fixation rates, were at times stimulated by NO3[-] additions in N-limited waters suggesting a link between the activities of the bulk phytoplankton assemblage and the UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis. The results suggest N2 fixation may be an evolutionarily viable strategy for diazotroph-eukaryote symbioses, even in N-rich coastal or high latitude waters.}, } @article {pmid32522967, year = {2020}, author = {MsangoSoko, K and Gandotra, S and Chandel, RK and Sharma, K and Ramakrishinan, B and Subramanian, S}, title = {Composition and Diversity of Gut Bacteria Associated with the Eri Silk Moth, Samia ricini, (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) as Revealed by Culture-Dependent and Metagenomics Analysis.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {1367-1378}, pmid = {32522967}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria, Aerobic/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bombyx/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/isolation & purification ; Firmicutes/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva/metabolism/microbiology ; *Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/isolation & purification/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The polyphagous eri silk moth, Samia ricini, is associated with various symbiotic gut bacteria believed to provide several benefits to the host. The larvae of S. ricini were subjected to isolation of gut bacteria using culture-dependent 16S rRNA generic characterization, metagenomics analysis and qualitative enzymatic assays. Sixty culturable aerobic gut bacterial isolates comprising Firmicutes (54%) and Proteobacteria (46%); and twelve culturable facultative anaerobic bacteria comprising Proteobacteria (92%) and Firmicutes (8%) were identified inhabiting the gut of S. ricini. The results of metagenomics analysis revealed the presence of a diverse community of both culturable and un-culturable gut bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria (60%) and Firmicutes (20%) associated with seven orders. An analysis of the results of culturable isolation indicates that these bacterial isolates inhabited all the three compartments of the gut. Investigation on persistence of bacteria coupled with metagenomics analysis of the fifth instar suggested that bacteria persist in the gut across the different instar stages. In addition, enzymatic assays indicated that 48 and 75% of culturable aerobic, and 75% of anaerobic gut bacterial isolates had cellulolytic, lipolytic and nitrate reductase activities, thus suggesting that they may be involved in food digestion and nutritional provision to the host. These bacterial isolates may be good sources for profiling novel genes and biomolecules for biotechnological application.}, } @article {pmid32521261, year = {2020}, author = {Vandehoef, C and Molaei, M and Karpac, J}, title = {Dietary Adaptation of Microbiota in Drosophila Requires NF-κB-Dependent Control of the Translational Regulator 4E-BP.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {107736}, pmid = {32521261}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {F30 DK117538/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P40 OD010949/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK108930/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Diet ; Drosophila Proteins/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*metabolism ; Male ; *Microbiota ; NF-kappa B/*metabolism ; Peptide Initiation Factors/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Dietary nutrients shape complex interactions between hosts and their commensal gut bacteria, further promoting flexibility in host-microbiota associations that can drive nutritional symbiosis. However, it remains less clear if diet-dependent host signaling mechanisms also influence these associations. Using Drosophila, we show here that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/Relish, an innate immune transcription factor emerging as a signaling node linking nutrient-immune-metabolic interactions, is vital to adapt gut microbiota species composition to host diet macronutrient composition. We find that Relish is required within midgut enterocytes to amplify host-Lactobacillus associations, an important bacterial mediator of nutritional symbiosis, and thus modulate microbiota composition in response to dietary adaptation. Relish limits diet-dependent transcriptional inducibility of the cap-dependent translation inhibitor 4E-BP/Thor to control microbiota composition. Furthermore, maintaining cap-dependent translation in response to dietary adaptation is critical to amplify host-Lactobacillus associations. These results highlight that NF-κB-dependent host signaling mechanisms, in coordination with host translation control, shape diet-microbiota interactions.}, } @article {pmid32521047, year = {2020}, author = {Walton, JH and Kontra-Kováts, G and Green, RT and Domonkos, Á and Horváth, B and Brear, EM and Franceschetti, M and Kaló, P and Balk, J}, title = {The Medicago truncatula Vacuolar iron Transporter-Like proteins VTL4 and VTL8 deliver iron to symbiotic bacteria at different stages of the infection process.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {2}, pages = {651-666}, pmid = {32521047}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P012574/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Iron ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobium bacteria in root nodules has a high demand for iron, and questions remain regarding which transporters are involved. Here, we characterize two nodule-specific Vacuolar iron Transporter-Like (VTL) proteins in Medicago truncatula. Localization of fluorescent fusion proteins and mutant studies were carried out to correlate with existing RNA-seq data showing differential expression of VTL4 and VTL8 during early and late infection, respectively. The vtl4 insertion lines showed decreased nitrogen fixation capacity associated with more immature nodules and less elongated bacteroids. A mutant line lacking the tandemly-arranged VTL4-VTL8 genes, named 13U, was unable to develop functional nodules and failed to fix nitrogen, which was almost fully restored by expression of VTL8 alone. Using a newly developed lux reporter to monitor iron status of the bacteroids, a moderate decrease in luminescence signal was observed in vtl4 mutant nodules and a strong decrease in 13U nodules. Iron transport capability of VTL4 and VTL8 was shown by yeast complementation. These data indicate that VTL8, the closest homologue of SEN1 in Lotus japonicus, is the main route for delivering iron to symbiotic rhizobia. We propose that a failure in iron protein maturation leads to early senescence of the bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid32519794, year = {2021}, author = {Bigiotti, G and Sacchetti, P and Pastorelli, R and Lauzon, CR and Belcari, A}, title = {Bacterial symbiosis in Bactrocera oleae, an Achilles' heel for its pest control.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {874-884}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12835}, pmid = {32519794}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/genetics/pathogenicity ; Crops, Agricultural ; Genes, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/physiology ; *Olea ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Investigations on microbial symbioses in Tephritidae have increased over the past 30 years owing to the potential use of these relationships in developing new control strategies for economically important fruit flies. Bactrocera oleae (Rossi)-the olive fruit fly-is a monophagous species strictly associated with the olive tree, and among all the tephritids, its symbionts are the most investigated. The bacterium Candidatus Erwinia dacicola is the major persistent resident endosymbiont in wild B. oleae populations. Its relationship with B. oleae has been investigated since being identified in 2005. This endosymbiont is vertically transmitted through generations from the female to the egg. It exists at every developmental stage, although it is more abundant in larvae and ovipositing females, and is necessary for both larvae and adults. Studying B. oleae-Ca. E. dacicola, or other B. oleae-microbe interactions, will allow us to develop modern biological control systems for area-wide olive protection and set an example for similar programs in other important food crops. This review summarizes the information available on tephritid-microbe interactions and investigates relationships among fruit flies, bacteria and host plants; however, its focus is on B. oleae and its strict association with Ca. E. dacicola to promote environmentally friendly control strategies for area-wide pest management.}, } @article {pmid32519634, year = {2020}, author = {Zueva, T and Morchón, R and Carretón, E and Ollauri-Ibáñez, C and Pericacho, M and Rodríguez-Barbero, A and Simón, F}, title = {Angiogenesis in cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis: does the Wolbachia surface protein have a pro- or anti-angiogenic effect?.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {e162}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X20000450}, pmid = {32519634}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inducing Agents/*chemistry ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Dirofilaria immitis/microbiology ; Dirofilariasis/*complications/microbiology ; Dogs ; Endothelial Cells/microbiology ; Heart/parasitology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung/cytology/parasitology ; Membrane Proteins/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis produces inflammation, blood vessel obstruction and hypoxia, which are required conditions for the beginning of the process of neovascularization. Since D. immitis harbours intracellular symbiotic Wolbachia bacterium, the global understanding of the angiogenic process requires the analysis of the effect of the parasite molecules, but also that of Wolbachia. Canine primary lung microvascular endothelial cells were treated with the recombinant Wolbachia surface protein (rWSP) and the expression of angiogenic factors like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A), sFlt, membrane Endoglin (mEndoglin) and soluble Endoglin (sEndoglin), as well as the in vitro formation of pseudocapillaries, were measured. The analyses showed a significant increase in the expression of pro-angiogenic VEGF-A and anti-angiogenic sEndoglin, together with a significant decrease in both pro-angiogenic mEndoglin and pseudocapillary formation, compared to untreated controls. Due to the complexity of the angiogenic process and its relationship with other physiological processes like inflammation and fibrinolysis, these results might suggest that rWSP participate in various mechanisms related to each other and its effects might depend either on the balance between them or on the moment of their occurrence.}, } @article {pmid32518718, year = {2020}, author = {Chernogor, L and Klimenko, E and Khanaev, I and Belikov, S}, title = {Microbiome analysis of healthy and diseased sponges Lubomirskia baicalensis by using cell cultures of primmorphs.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9080}, pmid = {32518718}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Endemic sponges (Demosponges, Lubomirskiidae) dominate the fauna of the littoral zone of Lake Baikal. These freshwater sponges live in symbiosis with diverse eukaryotes and prokaryotes, including chlorophyll-containing microalgae. Within the last 5 years, the incidence of sponge disease and mortality events in Lake Baikal has increased. The etiology and ecology of these events remain unknown, in part because of the lack of models to study sponge-microbe interactions. In this work, we tested the use of primmorph cell cultures of Lubomirskia baicalensis as a tool for investigating the microbiomes of sponges. We infected primmorphs, cultured in vitro, with samples from diseased sponges and observed, by microscopy, disease symptoms, including loss of green symbionts, associated with mass die-off events. Subsequent sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that the microbiome community of healthy sponge and primmorphs formed a group separate from the community of diseased sponges and infected primmorphs. This confirms the suitability of the primmorph cell culture as a model sponge system. We also discovered mass mortality of green symbionts (Chlorophyta) was associated with a shift in the microbial communities of sponges/primmorphs. Microbes in diseased sponges, and infected primmorphs, belonged mainly to the phyla Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and these families Flavobacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Moraxellaceae. Primmorphs cell culture may provide a model to study interactions between these bacteria and their host and elucidate the cause of mass mortality events.}, } @article {pmid32518326, year = {2020}, author = {D'Abrosca, G and Paladino, A and Baglivo, I and Russo, L and Sassano, M and Grazioso, R and Iacovino, R and Pirone, L and Pedone, EM and Pedone, PV and Isernia, C and Fattorusso, R and Malgieri, G}, title = {Structural Insight of the Full-Length Ros Protein: A Prototype of the Prokaryotic Zinc-Finger Family.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9283}, pmid = {32518326}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; *Protein Domains ; Protein Structure, Secondary/*genetics ; Zinc Fingers/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Ros/MucR is a widespread family of bacterial zinc-finger (ZF) containing proteins that integrate multiple functions such as virulence, symbiosis and/or cell cycle transcription. NMR solution structure of Ros DNA-binding domain (region 56-142, i.e. Ros87) has been solved by our group and shows that the prokaryotic ZF domain shows interesting structural and functional features that differentiate it from its eukaryotic counterpart as it folds in a significantly larger zinc-binding globular domain. We have recently proposed a novel functional model for this family of proteins suggesting that they may act as H-NS-'like' gene silencers. Indeed, the N-terminal region of this family of proteins appears to be responsible for the formation of functional oligomers. No structural characterization of the Ros N-terminal domain (region 1-55) is available to date, mainly because of serious solubility problems of the full-length protein. Here we report the first structural characterization of the N-terminal domain of the prokaryotic ZF family examining by means of MD and NMR the structural preferences of the full-length Ros protein from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.}, } @article {pmid32514144, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, Q and Huang, Y and Ren, Z and Zhang, X and Ren, J and Su, J and Zhang, C and Tian, J and Yu, Y and Gao, GF and Li, L and Kong, Z}, title = {Transfer cells mediate nitrate uptake to control root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {800-808}, pmid = {32514144}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Nitrate Transporters ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis enables nitrogen fixation in legumes and, therefore, improves crop production for sustainable agriculture[1,2]. Environmental nitrate levels affect nodulation and nitrogen fixation, but the mechanisms by which legume plants modulate nitrate uptake to regulate nodule symbiosis remain unclear[1]. Here, we identify a member of the Medicago truncatula nitrate peptide family (NPF), NPF7.6, which is expressed specifically in the nodule vasculature. NPF7.6 localizes to the plasma membrane of nodule transfer cells (NTCs), where it functions as a high-affinity nitrate transporter. Transfer cells show characteristic wall ingrowths that enhance the capacity for membrane transport at the apoplasmic-symplasmic interface between the vasculature and surrounding tissues[3]. Importantly, knockout of NPF7.6 using CRISPR-Cas9 resulted in developmental defects of the nodule vasculature, with excessive expansion of NTC plasma membranes. npf7.6 nodules showed severely compromised nitrate responsiveness caused by an attenuated ability to transport nitrate. Moreover, npf7.6 nodules exhibited disturbed nitric oxide homeostasis and a notable decrease in nitrogenase activity. Our findings indicate that NPF7.6 has been co-opted into a regulatory role in nodulation, functioning in nitrate uptake through NTCs to fine-tune nodule symbiosis in response to fluctuating environmental nitrate status. These observations will inform efforts to optimize nitrogen fixation in legume crops.}, } @article {pmid32514118, year = {2020}, author = {Mateus, ID and Rojas, EC and Savary, R and Dupuis, C and Masclaux, FG and Aletti, C and Sanders, IR}, title = {Coexistence of genetically different Rhizophagus irregularis isolates induces genes involved in a putative fungal mating response.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2381-2394}, pmid = {32514118}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Glomeromycota/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are of great ecological importance because of their effects on plant growth. Closely related genotypes of the same AMF species coexist in plant roots. However, almost nothing is known about the molecular interactions occurring during such coexistence. We compared in planta AMF gene transcription in single and coinoculation treatments with two genetically different isolates of Rhizophagus irregularis in symbiosis independently on three genetically different cassava genotypes. Remarkably few genes were specifically upregulated when the two fungi coexisted. Strikingly, almost all of the genes with an identifiable putative function were known to be involved in mating in other fungal species. Several genes were consistent across host plant genotypes but more upregulated genes involved in putative mating were observed in host genotype (COL2215) compared with the two other host genotypes. The AMF genes that we observed to be specifically upregulated during coexistence were either involved in the mating pheromone response, in meiosis, sexual sporulation or were homologs of MAT-locus genes known in other fungal species. We did not observe the upregulation of the expected homeodomain genes contained in a putative AMF MAT-locus, but observed upregulation of HMG-box genes similar to those known to be involved in mating in Mucoromycotina species. Finally, we demonstrated that coexistence between the two fungal genotypes in the coinoculation treatments explained the number of putative mating response genes activated in the different plant host genotypes. This study demonstrates experimentally the activation of genes involved in a putative mating response and represents an important step towards the understanding of coexistence and sexual reproduction in these important plant symbionts.}, } @article {pmid32514117, year = {2020}, author = {Nishimura, Y and Otagiri, M and Yuki, M and Shimizu, M and Inoue, JI and Moriya, S and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Division of functional roles for termite gut protists revealed by single-cell transcriptomes.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2449-2460}, pmid = {32514117}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Isoptera ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The microbiome in the hindgut of wood-feeding termites comprises various species of bacteria, archaea, and protists. This gut community is indispensable for the termite, which thrives solely on recalcitrant and nitrogen-poor wood. However, the difficulty in culturing these microorganisms has hindered our understanding of the function of each species in the gut. Although protists predominate in the termite gut microbiome and play a major role in wood digestion, very few culture-independent studies have explored the contribution of each species to digestion. Here, we report single-cell transcriptomes of four protists species comprising the protist population in worldwide pest Coptotermes formosanus. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression patterns of the genes involved in wood digestion were different among species, reinforcing their division of roles in wood degradation. Transcriptomes, together with enzyme assays, also suggested that one of the protists, Cononympha leidyi, actively degrades chitin and assimilates it into amino acids. We propose that C. leidyi contributes to nitrogen recycling and inhibiting infection from entomopathogenic fungi through chitin degradation. Two of the genes for chitin degradation were further revealed to be acquired via lateral gene transfer (LGT) implying the importance of LGT in the evolution of symbiosis. Our single-cell-based approach successfully characterized the function of each protist in termite hindgut and explained why the gut community includes multiple species.}, } @article {pmid32514032, year = {2020}, author = {Massa, N and Bona, E and Novello, G and Todeschini, V and Boatti, L and Mignone, F and Gamalero, E and Lingua, G and Berta, G and Cesaro, P}, title = {AMF communities associated to Vitis vinifera in an Italian vineyard subjected to integrated pest management at two different phenological stages.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {9197}, pmid = {32514032}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Farms ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Italy ; Mycobiome/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Pest Control ; Plant Roots/*physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vitis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Vitis vinifera L. is an economically important crop that can be influenced by soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), that establish symbiotic associations with its roots. AMF have beneficial effects on grapevine performance improving water use efficiency and replant success. Most grapevine varieties are susceptible to various diseases, and integrated pest management (IPM) is one of the emerging approaches to perform pest control. In the present study, we examined the AMF communities present in the soil associated to the roots of V. vinifera cv. Pinot Noir (comparing them to those present in a soil not affected by grapevine roots), in a vineyard subjected to IPM at two different phenological stages, using 454 Roche sequencing technology. We proposed a new approach to analyze sequencing data. Most of the taxa were included in the family Glomeraceae. In particular, Glomus sp. Rhizophagus sp. and Septoglomus viscosum were present. The family Archeosporaceae was represented only by the genus Archeospora sp. Different AMF communities were found in the two soils and the importance of the phenological stage in regulating AMF biodiversity was assessed.}, } @article {pmid32512469, year = {2020}, author = {Brown, JA and Sammy, MJ and Ballinger, SW}, title = {An evolutionary, or "Mitocentric" perspective on cellular function and disease.}, journal = {Redox biology}, volume = {36}, number = {}, pages = {101568}, pmid = {32512469}, issn = {2213-2317}, support = {P30 DK079626/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL103859/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HL007918/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells ; *Mitochondria/genetics ; }, abstract = {The incidence of common, metabolic diseases (e.g. obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes) with complex genetic etiology has been steadily increasing nationally and globally. While identification of a genetic model that explains susceptibility and risk for these diseases has been pursued over several decades, no clear paradigm has yet been found to disentangle the genetic basis of polygenic/complex disease development. Since the evolution of the eukaryotic cell involved a symbiotic interaction between the antecedents of the mitochondrion and nucleus (which itself is a genetic hybrid), we suggest that this history provides a rational basis for investigating whether genetic interaction and co-evolution of these genomes still exists. We propose that both mitochondrial and Mendelian, or "mito-Mendelian" genetics play a significant role in cell function, and thus disease risk. This paradigm contemplates the natural variation and co-evolution of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA backgrounds on multiple mitochondrial functions that are discussed herein, including energy production, cell signaling and immune response, which collectively can influence disease development. At the nexus of these processes is the economy of mitochondrial metabolism, programmed by both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.}, } @article {pmid32512097, year = {2020}, author = {Monnens, M and Thijs, S and Briscoe, AG and Clark, M and Frost, EJ and Littlewood, DTJ and Sewell, M and Smeets, K and Artois, T and Vanhove, MPM}, title = {The first mitochondrial genomes of endosymbiotic rhabdocoels illustrate evolutionary relaxation of atp8 and genome plasticity in flatworms.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {454-469}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.06.025}, pmid = {32512097}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Helminth ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Helminth Proteins/*genetics ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases/*genetics ; *Platyhelminths/enzymology/genetics ; }, abstract = {The first three mitochondrial (mt) genomes of endosymbiotic turbellarian flatworms are characterised for the rhabdocoels Graffilla buccinicola, Syndesmis echinorum and S. kurakaikina. Interspecific comparison of the three newly obtained sequences and the only previously characterised rhabdocoel, the free-living species Bothromesostoma personatum, reveals high mt genomic variability, including numerous rearrangements. The first intrageneric comparison within rhabdocoels shows that gene order is not fully conserved even between congeneric species. Atp8, until recently assumed absent in flatworms, was putatively annotated in two sequences. Selection pressure was tested in a phylogenetic framework and is shown to be significantly relaxed in this and another protein-coding gene: cox1. If present, atp8 appears highly derived in platyhelminths and its functionality needs to be addressed in future research. Our findings for the first time allude to a large degree of undiscovered (mt) genomic plasticity in rhabdocoels. It merits further attention whether this variation is correlated with a symbiotic lifestyle. Our results illustrate that this phenomenon is widespread in flatworms as a whole and not exclusive to the better-studied neodermatans.}, } @article {pmid32509456, year = {2020}, author = {Brock, DA and Noh, S and Hubert, ANM and Haselkorn, TS and DiSalvo, S and Suess, MK and Bradley, AS and Tavakoli-Nezhad, M and Geist, KS and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Endosymbiotic adaptations in three new bacterial species associated with Dictyostelium discoideum: Paraburkholderia agricolaris sp. nov., Paraburkholderia hayleyella sp. nov., and Paraburkholderia bonniea sp. nov.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e9151}, pmid = {32509456}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Here we give names to three new species of Paraburkholderia that can remain in symbiosis indefinitely in the spores of a soil dwelling eukaryote, Dictyostelium discoideum. The new species P. agricolaris sp. nov., P. hayleyella sp. nov., and P. bonniea sp. nov. are widespread across the eastern USA and were isolated as internal symbionts of wild-collected D. discoideum. We describe these sp. nov. using several approaches. Evidence that they are each a distinct new species comes from their phylogenetic position, average nucleotide identity, genome-genome distance, carbon usage, reduced length, cooler optimal growth temperature, metabolic tests, and their previously described ability to invade D. discoideum amoebae and form a symbiotic relationship. All three of these new species facilitate the prolonged carriage of food bacteria by D. discoideum, though they themselves are not food. Further studies of the interactions of these three new species with D. discoideum should be fruitful for understanding the ecology and evolution of symbioses.}, } @article {pmid32508859, year = {2020}, author = {Hrbáčková, M and Dvořák, P and Takáč, T and Tichá, M and Luptovčiak, I and Šamajová, O and Ovečka, M and Šamaj, J}, title = {Biotechnological Perspectives of Omics and Genetic Engineering Methods in Alfalfa.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {592}, pmid = {32508859}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {For several decades, researchers are working to develop improved major crops with better adaptability and tolerance to environmental stresses. Forage legumes have been widely spread in the world due to their great ecological and economic values. Abiotic and biotic stresses are main factors limiting legume production, however, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) shows relatively high level of tolerance to drought and salt stress. Efforts focused on alfalfa improvements have led to the release of cultivars with new traits of agronomic importance such as high yield, better stress tolerance or forage quality. Alfalfa has very high nutritional value due to its efficient symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, while deep root system can help to prevent soil water loss in dry lands. The use of modern biotechnology tools is challenging in alfalfa since full genome, unlike to its close relative barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), was not released yet. Identification, isolation, and improvement of genes involved in abiotic or biotic stress response significantly contributed to the progress of our understanding how crop plants cope with these environmental challenges. In this review, we provide an overview of the progress that has been made in high-throughput sequencing, characterization of genes for abiotic or biotic stress tolerance, gene editing, as well as proteomic and metabolomics techniques bearing biotechnological potential for alfalfa improvement.}, } @article {pmid32508850, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, J and Wang, J and Ma, C and Zhou, Z and Yang, D and Zheng, J and Wang, Q and Li, H and Zhou, H and Sun, Z and Liu, H and Li, J and Chen, L and Kang, Q and Qi, Z and Jiang, H and Zhu, R and Wu, X and Liu, C and Chen, Q and Xin, D}, title = {QTL Mapping and Data Mining to Identify Genes Associated With the Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 T3SS Effector NopD in Soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {453}, pmid = {32508850}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In some legume-rhizobium symbioses, host specificity is influenced by rhizobial type III effectors-nodulation outer proteins (Nops). However, the genes encoding host proteins that interact with Nops remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify candidate soybean genes associated with NopD, one of the type III effectors of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103. The results showed that the expression pattern of NopD was analyzed in rhizobia induced by genistein. We also found NopD can be induced by TtsI, and NopD as a toxic effector can induce tobacco leaf death. In 10 soybean germplasms, NopD played a positively effect on nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW) in nine germplasms, but not in Kenjian28. Significant phenotype of NN and NDW were identified between Dongnong594 and Charleston, Suinong14 and ZYD00006, respectively. To map the quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with NopD, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross between Dongnong594 and Charleston, and chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from Suinong14 and ZYD00006 were used. Two overlapping conditional QTL associated with NopD on chromosome 19 were identified. Two candidate genes were identified in the confident region of QTL, we found that NopD could influence the expression of Glyma.19g068600 (FBD/LRR) and expression of Glyma.19g069200 (PP2C) after HH103 infection. Haplotype analysis showed that different types of Glyma.19g069200 haplotypes could cause significant nodule phenotypic differences, but Glyma.19g068600 (FBD/LRR) was not. These results suggest that NopD promotes S. fredii HH103 infection via directly or indirectly regulating Glyma.19g068600 and Glyma.19g069200 expression during the establishment of symbiosis between rhizobia and soybean plants.}, } @article {pmid32508512, year = {2020}, author = {Yoneyama, K}, title = {Recent progress in the chemistry and biochemistry of strigolactones.}, journal = {Journal of pesticide science}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {45-53}, pmid = {32508512}, issn = {1348-589X}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant secondary metabolites derived from carotenoids. SLs play important roles in the regulation of plant growth and development in planta and coordinate interactions between plants and other organisms including root parasitic plants, and symbiotic and pathogenic microbes in the rhizosphere. In the 50 years since the discovery of the first SL, strigol, our knowledge about the chemistry and biochemistry of SLs has advanced explosively, especially over the last two decades. In this review, recent advances in the chemistry and biology of SLs are summarized and possible future outcomes are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32507851, year = {2020}, author = {McCauley, EP and Piña, IC and Thompson, AD and Bashir, K and Weinberg, M and Kurz, SL and Crews, P}, title = {Highlights of marine natural products having parallel scaffolds found from marine-derived bacteria, sponges, and tunicates.}, journal = {The Journal of antibiotics}, volume = {73}, number = {8}, pages = {504-525}, pmid = {32507851}, issn = {1881-1469}, support = {R01 AI141511/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry ; Bacteria/*chemistry ; Biological Products/*chemistry ; Metagenomics/methods ; Porifera/*chemistry ; Urochordata/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Marine-derived bacteria are a prolific source of a wide range of structurally diverse natural products. This review, dedicated to Professor William Fenical, begins by showcasing many seminal discoveries made at the University of California San Diego from marine-derived actinomycetes. Discussed early on is the 20-year journey of discovery and advancement of the seminal actinomycetes natural product salinosporamide A into Phase III anticancer clinical trials. There are many fascinating parallels discussed that were gleaned from the comparative literature of marine sponge, tunicate, and bacteria-derived natural products. Identifying bacterial biosynthetic machinery housed in sponge and tunicate holobionts through both culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches is another important and expanding subject that is analyzed. Work reviewed herein also evaluates the hypotheses that many marine invertebrate-derived natural products are biosynthesised by associated or symbiotic bacteria. The insights and outcomes from metagenomic sequencing and synthetic biology to expand molecule discovery continue to provide exciting outcomes and they are predicted to be the source of the next generation of novel marine natural product chemical scaffolds.}, } @article {pmid32506172, year = {2020}, author = {Taulera, Q and Lauressergues, D and Martin, K and Cadoret, M and Servajean, V and Boyer, FD and Rochange, S}, title = {Initiation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis involves a novel pathway independent from hyphal branching.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {491-501}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00965-9}, pmid = {32506172}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; Hyphae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is a very common association between plant roots and soil fungi, which greatly contributes to plant nutrition. Root-exuded compounds known as strigolactones act as symbiotic signals stimulating the fungus prior to root colonization. Strigolactones also play an endogenous role in planta as phytohormones and contribute to the regulation of various developmental traits. Structure-activity relationship studies have revealed both similarities and differences between the structural features required for bioactivity in plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In the latter case, bioassays usually measured a stimulation of hyphal branching on isolated fungi of the Gigaspora genus, grown in vitro. Here, we extended these investigations with a bioassay that evaluates the bioactivity of strigolactone analogs in a symbiotic situation and the use of the model mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Some general structural requirements for bioactivity reported previously for Gigaspora were confirmed. We also tested additional strigolactone analogs bearing modifications on the conserved methylbutenolide ring, a key element of strigolactone perception by plants. A strigolactone analog with an unmethylated butenolide ring could enhance the ability of R. irregularis to colonize host roots. Surprisingly, when applied to the isolated fungus in vitro, this compound stimulated germ tube elongation but inhibited hyphal branching. Therefore, this compound was able to act on the fungal and/or plant partner to facilitate initiation of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, independently from hyphal branching and possibly from the strigolactone pathway.}, } @article {pmid32506165, year = {2020}, author = {Fischer, MM}, title = {A mechanistic model of metabolic symbioses in microbes recapitulates experimental data and identifies a continuum of symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften}, volume = {139}, number = {3}, pages = {265-278}, doi = {10.1007/s12064-020-00318-2}, pmid = {32506165}, issn = {1611-7530}, mesh = {Biochemical Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Biotechnology ; *Ecosystem ; Glucose/chemistry ; Kinetics ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Models, Theoretical ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbioses based on nutrient exchange and interdependence are ubiquitous in nature and biotechnologically promising; however, an in-depth mathematical description of their exact underlying dynamics from first principles is still missing. Hence, in this paper a novel mechanistic mathematical model of such a relationship in a continuous chemostat culture is derived. In contrast to preceding works on the topic, only parameters which can be directly measured and understood from biological first principles are used, allowing for a higher degree of mechanistic understanding of the underlying processes compared to previous approaches. The predictive power of the model is validated by demonstrating that it accurately recapitulates both the temporal dynamics as well as the final state of a previously published cross-feeding experiment. The model is then used to examine the influence of the biological traits of the involved organisms on the position and stability of the equilibrium states of the system using bifurcation analyses. It is additionally demonstrated how manipulating the external metabolite concentrations of the system can shift the species interaction on a continuous spectrum ranging from mutualism over commensalism to parasitism. This further reinforces the idea of a continuous spectrum of symbiotic interactions as opposed to static and discrete categories. Finally, the practical implications of the results for the biotechnological application of such microbial consortia are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32505784, year = {2020}, author = {Li, S and Yang, W and Guo, J and Li, X and Lin, J and Zhu, X}, title = {Changes in photosynthesis and respiratory metabolism of maize seedlings growing under low temperature stress may be regulated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {154}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.05.025}, pmid = {32505784}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Cold Temperature ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Photosynthesis ; Seedlings ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Zea mays/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as an important soil microbe have been demonstrated to mitigate the harmful effects of stress on plants. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the AM symbiotic response to low temperature. Here, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the maize seedlings were identified after inoculating AMF under low temperature conditions. A total of 10,400 DEGs were obtained among four treatments, including non-inoculated AMF under ambient temperature (NMA), inoculated AMF under ambient temperature (MA), non-inoculated with low temperature stress (NML), and inoculated with low temperature stress (ML). The relative expression of 858 genes increased and that of 497 genes decreased in AM plants under low temperature stress. 24 DEGs were identified related to photosynthesis and respiratory metabolism. Among these DEGs, 10 genes were upregulated, and 14 genes were downregulated. The results show that inoculating AMF might decrease the production and transmission of electrons under low temperature, and the cyclic electron flow process in chloroplasts was stimulated to protect plants against low temperature. The fungi also influenced transmission of electrons and production of phosphoric acid in mitochondria in response to low temperature. CO2 assimilation capacity was affected and the tricarboxylic acid cycle was promoted by the adjustments in the glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, gamma-aminobutyric acid shunt pathway, and glyoxylic acid cycle to produce more adenosine triphosphate and raw materials for other metabolic pathways under low temperature. These findings provide new insight into low temperature tolerance induced by AMF, and help identify genes for further investigation and functional analyses.}, } @article {pmid32505649, year = {2020}, author = {Grutter, AS and Feeney, WE and Hutson, KS and McClure, EC and Narvaez, P and Smit, NJ and Sun, D and Sikkel, PC}, title = {Practical methods for culturing parasitic gnathiid isopods.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {50}, number = {10-11}, pages = {825-837}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.03.014}, pmid = {32505649}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; *Fish Diseases/parasitology ; Fishes/parasitology ; *Isopoda/growth & development/pathogenicity ; *Parasites ; United States Virgin Islands ; }, abstract = {The reliance of parasites on their hosts makes host-parasite interactions ideal models for exploring ecological and evolutionary processes. By providing a consistent supply of parasites, in vivo monocultures offer the opportunity to conduct experiments on a scale that is generally not otherwise possible. Gnathiid isopods are common ectoparasites of marine fishes, and are becoming an increasing focus of research attention due to their experimental amenability and ecological importance as ubiquitous, harmful, blood-feeding "mosquito-like" organisms. They feed on hosts once during each of their three juvenile stages, and after each feeding event they return to the benthos to digest and moult to the next stage. Adults do not feed and remain in the benthos, where they reproduce and give birth. Here, we provide methods of culturing gnathiids, and highlight ways in which gnathiids can be used to examine parasite-host-environment interactions. Captive-raised gnathiid juveniles are increasingly being used in parasitological research; however, the methodology for establishing gnathiid monocultures is still not widely known. Information to obtain in vivo monocultures on teleost fish is detailed for a Great Barrier Reef (Australia) and a Caribbean Sea (US Virgin Islands) gnathiid species, and gnathiid information gained over two decades of successfully maintaining continuous cultures is summarised. Providing a suitable benthic habitat for the predominantly benthic free-living stage of this parasite is paramount. Maintenance comprises provision of adequate benthic shelter, managing parasite populations, and sustaining host health. For the first time, we also measured gnathiids' apparent attack speed (maximum 24.5 cm sec[-1]; 6.9, 4.9/17.0, median, 25th/75th quantiles) and illustrate how to collect such fast moving ectoparasites in captivity for experiments. In addition to providing details pertaining to culture maintenance, we review research using gnathiid cultures that have enabled detailed scientific understanding of host and parasite biology, behaviour and ecology on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid32504651, year = {2020}, author = {McKenzie, SK and Walston, RF and Allen, JL}, title = {Complete, high-quality genomes from long-read metagenomic sequencing of two wolf lichen thalli reveals enigmatic genome architecture.}, journal = {Genomics}, volume = {112}, number = {5}, pages = {3150-3156}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.06.006}, pmid = {32504651}, issn = {1089-8646}, mesh = {*Genome, Fungal ; Lichens/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; Nanopore Sequencing ; Parmeliaceae/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Fungal genomes display incredible levels of complexity and diversity, and are exceptional study systems for genome evolution. Here we used the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing platform to generate high-quality fungal genomes from complex metagenomic samples of lichen thalli. We sequenced two wolf lichens using one flow cell per sample, generating 17.1 Gbps for Letharia lupina and 14.3 Gbps for Letharia columbiana. The resulting L. lupina genome is one of the most contiguous lichen genomes available to date, with 49.2 Mbp contained on 31 contigs. The L. columbiana genome, while less contiguous, is still relatively high quality, with 52.3 Mbp on a total of 161 contigs. Each thallus for both species contained multiple distinct haplotypes, a phenomenon that has rarely been empirically demonstrated. The Oxford Nanopore sequencing technologies are robust and effective when applied to complex symbioses, and have the potential to fundamentally transform our understanding of fungal genetics.}, } @article {pmid32502409, year = {2020}, author = {Salem, H and Kirsch, R and Pauchet, Y and Berasategui, A and Fukumori, K and Moriyama, M and Cripps, M and Windsor, D and Fukatsu, T and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Symbiont Digestive Range Reflects Host Plant Breadth in Herbivorous Beetles.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {15}, pages = {2875-2886.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.043}, pmid = {32502409}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; *Digestive System Physiological Phenomena ; Enterobacteriaceae/enzymology/*physiology ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Polygalacturonase ; Polysaccharide-Lyases ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Numerous adaptations are gained in light of a symbiotic lifestyle. Here, we investigated the obligate partnership between tortoise leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) and their pectinolytic Stammera symbionts to detail how changes to the bacterium's streamlined metabolic range can shape the digestive physiology and ecological opportunity of its herbivorous host. Comparative genomics of 13 Stammera strains revealed high functional conservation, highlighted by the universal presence of polygalacturonase, a primary pectinase targeting nature's most abundant pectic class, homogalacturonan (HG). Despite this conservation, we unexpectedly discovered a disparate distribution for rhamnogalacturonan lyase, a secondary pectinase hydrolyzing the pectic heteropolymer, rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I). Consistent with the annotation of rhamnogalacturonan lyase in Stammera, cassidines are able to depolymerize RG-I relative to beetles whose symbionts lack the gene. Given the omnipresence of HG and RG-I in foliage, Stammera that encode pectinases targeting both substrates allow their hosts to overcome a greater diversity of plant cell wall polysaccharides and maximize access to the nutritionally rich cytosol. Possibly facilitated by their symbionts' expanded digestive range, cassidines additionally endowed with rhamnogalacturonan lyase appear to utilize a broader diversity of angiosperms than those beetles whose symbionts solely supplement polygalacturonase. Our findings highlight how symbiont metabolic diversity, in concert with host adaptations, may serve as a potential source of evolutionary innovations for herbivorous lineages.}, } @article {pmid32499815, year = {2020}, author = {Glazinska, P and Kulasek, M and Glinkowski, W and Wysocka, M and Kosiński, JG}, title = {LuluDB-The Database Created Based on Small RNA, Transcriptome, and Degradome Sequencing Shows the Wide Landscape of Non-coding and Coding RNA in Yellow Lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) Flowers and Pods.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {455}, pmid = {32499815}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) belongs to a legume family that benefits from symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Its seeds are rich in protein, which makes it a valuable food source for animals and humans. Yellow lupine is also the model plant for basic research on nodulation or abscission of organs. Nevertheless, the knowledge about the molecular regulatory mechanisms of its generative development is still incomplete. The RNA-Seq technique is becoming more prominent in high-throughput identification and expression profiling of both coding and non-coding RNA sequences. However, the huge amount of data generated with this method may discourage other scientific groups from making full use of them. To overcome this inconvenience, we have created a database containing analysis-ready information about non-coding and coding L. luteus RNA sequences (LuluDB). LuluDB was created on the basis of RNA-Seq analysis of small RNA, transcriptome, and degradome libraries obtained from yellow lupine cv. Taper flowers, pod walls, and seeds in various stages of development, flower pedicels, and pods undergoing abscission or maintained on the plant. It contains sequences of miRNAs and phased siRNAs identified in L. luteus, information about their expression in individual samples, and their target sequences. LuluDB also contains identified lncRNAs and protein-coding RNA sequences with their organ expression and annotations to widely used databases like GO, KEGG, NCBI, Rfam, Pfam, etc. The database also provides sequence homology search by BLAST using, e.g., an unknown sequence as a query. To present the full capabilities offered by our database, we performed a case study concerning transcripts annotated as DCL 1-4 (DICER LIKE 1-4) homologs involved in small non-coding RNA biogenesis and identified miRNAs that most likely regulate DCL1 and DCL2 expression in yellow lupine. LuluDB is available at http://luluseqdb.umk.pl/basic/web/index.php.}, } @article {pmid32499556, year = {2020}, author = {Gogineni, V and Chen, X and Hanna, G and Mayasari, D and Hamann, MT}, title = {Role of symbiosis in the discovery of novel antibiotics.}, journal = {The Journal of antibiotics}, volume = {73}, number = {8}, pages = {490-503}, pmid = {32499556}, issn = {1881-1469}, support = {R01 AT007318/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Products/chemistry ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Humans ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; United States ; }, abstract = {Antibiotic resistance has been an ongoing challenge that has emerged almost immediately after the initial discovery of antibiotics and requires the development of innovative new antibiotics and antibiotic combinations that can effectively mitigate the development of resistance. More than 35,000 people die each year from antibiotic resistant infections in just the United States. This signifies the importance of identifying other alternatives to antibiotics for which resistance has developed. Virtually, all currently used antibiotics can trace their genesis to soil derived bacteria and fungi. The bacteria and fungi involved in symbiosis is an area that still remains widely unexplored for the discovery and development of new antibiotics. This brief review focuses on the challenges and opportunities in the application of symbiotic microbes and also provides an interesting platform that links natural product chemistry with evolutionary biology and ecology.}, } @article {pmid32498210, year = {2020}, author = {Sari, T and Can, S and Akgul, D}, title = {Assessment of Anammox process against acute and long-term exposure of ZnO nanoparticles.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {727}, number = {}, pages = {138603}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138603}, pmid = {32498210}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Nitrogen ; Wastewater ; Zinc Oxide ; }, abstract = {The impacts of nanoparticles (NPs) on wastewater treatment have become a great concern because of their widespread applications. Although the acute responses of anammox bacteria to NPs have enhanced the knowledge about the potential risks of them, deep understanding of the cumulative impacts of NPs must be assessed. The purpose of this research was therefore to further extend the current knowledge by evaluating both acute and long-term effects of Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs on Anammox process based on nitrogen removal performance, self-recovery ability and microbial community structure. The acute exposure tests indicated that, the median inhibition concentration (IC50) of ZnO NPs on Anammox process was 84.7 mg/L (54.82 mg ZnO NPs/g VSS). Acute exposure of 200 mg/L ZnO NPs (117.54 mg Zn/g VSS) caused 80% inhibition in batch assays while the long-term inhibition dosage was 100 mg/L ZnO NPs (187.50 mg ZnO NPs/g VSS) corresponding to 1022 mg/L total Zn (1916.27 mg Zn/g VSS) in the reactor due to the accumulation of NPs. Total, soluble and biomass-associated Zn concentrations were measured throughout the long-term exposure to observe the behavior of ZnO NPs in the reactor. Total Zn in the reactor was cumulatively increased and mostly originated from biomass-associated Zn. Following the long-term inhibition tests, self-recovery of Anammox process within 120 days demonstrated that, the ZnO NPs inhibition is reversible for the applied dose. Furthermore, next generation sequencing results indicated a symbiotic relationship between the microbial groups in the anammox bioreactor while relative abundance of Candidatus (Ca.) Brocadiaceae family showed a decrease parallel to the deterioration in nitrogen removal performance of bioreactor. At the end of the long-term exposure studies, 48.76% decline on anammox quantity was detected.}, } @article {pmid32497392, year = {2020}, author = {Christensen, DG and Visick, KL}, title = {Vibrio fischeri: Laboratory Cultivation, Storage, and Common Phenotypic Assays.}, journal = {Current protocols in microbiology}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {e103}, pmid = {32497392}, issn = {1934-8533}, support = {R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Biofilms ; Culture Media/chemistry/metabolism ; Laboratories ; Phenotype ; Preservation, Biological/*methods ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri is a nonpathogenic organism related to pathogenic Vibrio species that can be readily grown and stored with common laboratory equipment. In this article, protocols for routine growth, storage, and phenotypic assessment of V. fischeri, as well as recipes for useful media, are included. Specifically, this article describes procedures and considerations for growth of this microbe in complex and minimal media. It also describes assays for biofilm formation, motility, and bioluminescence, three commonly assessed phenotypes of V. fischeri. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Growth of V. fischeri from frozen stocks Basic Protocol 2: Growth of V. fischeri in rich, undefined liquid medium Alternate Protocol 1: Growth of V. fischeri in minimal medium Basic Protocol 3: Storage of V. fischeri in frozen stocks Basic Protocol 4: Biofilm assay on solid agar Alternate Protocol 2: Biofilm assay in shaking liquid culture Alternate Protocol 3: Biofilm assay in static liquid culture Basic Protocol 5: Motility assay Basic Protocol 6: Luminescence assay.}, } @article {pmid32495958, year = {2020}, author = {Claar, DC and McDevitt-Irwin, JM and Garren, M and Vega Thurber, R and Gates, RD and Baum, JK}, title = {Increased diversity and concordant shifts in community structure of coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria subjected to chronic human disturbance.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {13}, pages = {2477-2491}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15494}, pmid = {32495958}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification ; Dinoflagellida/*classification ; *Microbiota ; Pacific Ocean ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Both coral-associated bacteria and endosymbiotic algae (Symbiodiniaceae spp.) are vitally important for the biological function of corals. Yet little is known about their co-occurrence within corals, how their diversity varies across coral species, or how they are impacted by anthropogenic disturbances. Here, we sampled coral colonies (n = 472) from seven species, encompassing a range of life history traits, across a gradient of chronic human disturbance (n = 11 sites on Kiritimati [Christmas] atoll) in the central equatorial Pacific, and quantified the sequence assemblages and community structure of their associated Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities. Although Symbiodiniaceae alpha diversity did not vary with chronic human disturbance, disturbance was consistently associated with higher bacterial Shannon diversity and richness, with bacterial richness by sample almost doubling from sites with low to very high disturbance. Chronic disturbance was also associated with altered microbial beta diversity for Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria, including changes in community structure for both and increased variation (dispersion) of the Symbiodiniaceae communities. We also found concordance between Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial community structure, when all corals were considered together, and individually for two massive species, Hydnophora microconos and Porites lobata, implying that symbionts and bacteria respond similarly to human disturbance in these species. Finally, we found that the dominant Symbiodiniaceae ancestral lineage in a coral colony was associated with differential abundances of several distinct bacterial taxa. These results suggest that increased beta diversity of Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities may be a reliable indicator of stress in the coral microbiome, and that there may be concordant responses to chronic disturbance between these communities at the whole-ecosystem scale.}, } @article {pmid32495551, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, JQ and Zhou, T and Xiao, CH and Jiang, WK and Guo, LP and Kang, CZ and Liao, XK and Huang, YP and Wang, X and Lu, H}, title = {[Technical evaluation and principle analysis of simulative habitat cultivation of Dendrobium nobile].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {45}, number = {9}, pages = {2042-2045}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20200302.110}, pmid = {32495551}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Dendrobium ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The technique of "simulative habitat cultivation" is to preserve the quality of traditional Chinese medicine by simulating the original habitat and site environment of wild Chinese medicine resources. Dendrobium nobile is the most representative variety of traditional Chinese medicine which reflects the coordinated development of medicinal material production and ecological environment. In this paper, the main technical points of the simulated cultivation model of D. nobile were summarized as follows: rapid propagation of seedling tissue technology to ensure the genetic stability of provenance; line card+fermented cow manure+live moss method to improve the survival rate; epiphytic stone cultivation to improve the quality of medicinal materials; and the integration of mycorrhizal fungi to improve the quality stability of medicinal materials. On the basis of summarizing the ecological benefits, economical and social benefits generated by the application of the technology, the paper systematically analyzes the principle of the technology for the cultivation of D. nobile to promote the excellent quality, the light, gas, heat and fertilizer resources of the undergrowth niche are in line with the wild site environment of D. nobile. The rich and complex soil microbial community in the forest laid the foundation for the species diversity needed for the growth of D. nobile.The stress effect on the growth of D. nobile resulted in the accumulation of secondary metabolites. The symbiotic relationship between the symbiotic fungi such as bryophytes and D. nobile promotes the synthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The high quality D. nobile was produced efficiently by improving and optimizing the cultivation techniques.}, } @article {pmid32495247, year = {2020}, author = {Mohammed, MA and Chernet, MT and Tuji, FA}, title = {Phenotypic, stress tolerance, and plant growth promoting characteristics of rhizobial isolates of grass pea.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {607-618}, doi = {10.1007/s10123-020-00131-3}, pmid = {32495247}, issn = {1618-1905}, mesh = {Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Lathyrus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; }, abstract = {Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is widely cultivated for food and feed in some developing countries including Ethiopia. However, due to its overexaggerated neuro-lathyrism alkaloid causing paralysis of limbs, it failed to attract attention of the research community and is one of the most neglected orphan crops in the world. But, the crop is considered an insurance crop by resource-poor farmers due to its strong abiotic stress tolerance and ability to produce high yields when all other crops fail due to unfavorable environmental conditions. This study was aimed at screening rhizobial isolates of grass pea and evaluating their symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Fifty rhizobial isolates collected from grass pea nodules were isolated, screened, and characterized based on standard microbiological methods. The rhizobial isolates showed diversity in nodulation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and nutrient utilization. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 14 rhizobial isolates showed that two of them were identified as Rhizobium leguminosarum and the remaining twelve as Rhizobium species. Based on their overall performance, strains AAUGR-9, AAUGR-11, and AAUGR-14 that performed top and identified as Rhizobium species were recommended for field trials. This study screened and identified effective and competitive rhizobial isolates enriched with high nitrogen-fixing and abiotic stress tolerant traits, which contributes much to the application of microbial inoculants as alternative to chemical fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid32494722, year = {2020}, author = {Singh, KS and Troczka, BJ and Duarte, A and Balabanidou, V and Trissi, N and Carabajal Paladino, LZ and Nguyen, P and Zimmer, CT and Papapostolou, KM and Randall, E and Lueke, B and Marec, F and Mazzoni, E and Williamson, MS and Hayward, A and Nauen, R and Vontas, J and Bass, C}, title = {The genetic architecture of a host shift: An adaptive walk protected an aphid and its endosymbiont from plant chemical defenses.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {6}, number = {19}, pages = {eaba1070}, pmid = {32494722}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {Host shifts can lead to ecological speciation and the emergence of new pests and pathogens. However, the mutational events that facilitate the exploitation of novel hosts are poorly understood. Here, we characterize an adaptive walk underpinning the host shift of the aphid Myzus persicae to tobacco, including evolution of mechanisms that overcame tobacco chemical defenses. A series of mutational events added as many as 1.5 million nucleotides to the genome of the tobacco-adapted subspecies, M. p. nicotianae, and yielded profound increases in expression of an enzyme that efficiently detoxifies nicotine, both in aphid gut tissue and in the bacteriocytes housing the obligate aphid symbiont Buchnera aphidicola. This dual evolutionary solution overcame the challenge of preserving fitness of a mutualistic symbiosis during adaptation to a toxic novel host. Our results reveal the intricate processes by which genetic novelty can arise and drive the evolution of key innovations required for ecological adaptation.}, } @article {pmid32493722, year = {2020}, author = {Nett, RS and Nguyen, H and Nagel, R and Marcassa, A and Charles, TC and Friedberg, I and Peters, RJ}, title = {Unraveling a Tangled Skein: Evolutionary Analysis of the Bacterial Gibberellin Biosynthetic Operon.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32493722}, issn = {2379-5042}, support = {R01 GM076324/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Multigene Family ; *Operon ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gibberellin (GA) phytohormones are ubiquitous regulators of growth and developmental processes in vascular plants. The convergent evolution of GA production by plant-associated bacteria, including both symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and phytopathogens, suggests that manipulation of GA signaling is a powerful mechanism for microbes to gain an advantage in these interactions. Although orthologous operons encode GA biosynthetic enzymes in both rhizobia and phytopathogens, notable genetic heterogeneity and scattered operon distribution in these lineages, including loss of the gene for the final biosynthetic step in most rhizobia, suggest varied functions for GA in these distinct plant-microbe interactions. Therefore, deciphering GA operon evolutionary history should provide crucial evidence toward understanding the distinct biological roles for bacterial GA production. To further establish the genetic composition of the GA operon, two operon-associated genes that exhibit limited distribution among rhizobia were biochemically characterized, verifying their roles in GA biosynthesis. This enabled employment of a maximum parsimony ancestral gene block reconstruction algorithm to characterize loss, gain, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of GA operon genes within alphaproteobacterial rhizobia, which exhibit the most heterogeneity among the bacteria containing this biosynthetic gene cluster. Collectively, this evolutionary analysis reveals a complex history for HGT of the entire GA operon, as well as the individual genes therein, and ultimately provides a basis for linking genetic content to bacterial GA functions in diverse plant-microbe interactions, including insight into the subtleties of the coevolving molecular interactions between rhizobia and their leguminous host plants.IMPORTANCE While production of phytohormones by plant-associated microbes has long been appreciated, identification of the gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic operon in plant-associated bacteria has revealed surprising genetic heterogeneity. Notably, this heterogeneity seems to be associated with the lifestyle of the microbe; while the GA operon in phytopathogenic bacteria does not seem to vary to any significant degree, thus enabling production of bioactive GA, symbiotic rhizobia exhibit a number of GA operon gene loss and gain events. This suggests that a unique set of selective pressures are exerted on this biosynthetic gene cluster in rhizobia. Through analysis of the evolutionary history of the GA operon in alphaproteobacterial rhizobia, which display substantial diversity in their GA operon structure and gene content, we provide insight into the effect of lifestyle and host interactions on the production of this phytohormone by plant-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32492369, year = {2020}, author = {Sorbara, MT and Littmann, ER and Fontana, E and Moody, TU and Kohout, CE and Gjonbalaj, M and Eaton, V and Seok, R and Leiner, IM and Pamer, EG}, title = {Functional and Genomic Variation between Human-Derived Isolates of Lachnospiraceae Reveals Inter- and Intra-Species Diversity.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {134-146.e4}, pmid = {32492369}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {P30 CA008748/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI042135/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI095706/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI124275/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Clostridiales/*classification/*genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family are abundant, obligate anaerobic members of the microbiota in healthy humans. Lachnospiraceae impact their hosts by producing short-chain fatty acids, converting primary to secondary bile acids, and facilitating colonization resistance against intestinal pathogens. To increase our understanding of genomic and functional diversity between members of this family, we cultured 273 Lachnospiraceae isolates representing 11 genera and 27 species from human donors and performed whole-genome sequencing assembly and annotation. This analysis revealed substantial inter- and intra-species diversity in pathways that likely influence an isolate's ability to impact host health. These differences are likely to impact colonization resistance through lantibiotic expression or intestinal acidification, influence host mucosal immune cells and enterocytes via butyrate production, or contribute to synergism within a consortium by heterogenous polysaccharide metabolism. Identification of these specific functions could facilitate development of probiotic bacterial consortia that drive and/or restore in vivo microbiome functions.}, } @article {pmid32490602, year = {2020}, author = {Andersen, TG}, title = {How to catch the N - An inter-species exchange with the right chemistry.}, journal = {Molecular systems biology}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {e9514}, pmid = {32490602}, issn = {1744-4292}, mesh = {Arginine ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Succinates ; Succinic Acid ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While classical breeding traits have focussed on above-ground tissues, it is becoming clear that underground aspects of plant life are a hidden treasure of tools applicable for resilient crop production. Plants of the legume family develop specialized organs, called nodules, which serve as hosts for Rhizobium bacteroids. A highly specialized symbiotic relationship exists deep inside the nodules. In exchange for carbohydrates, host-specific rhizobia bacteroids can assimilate nitrogen from the air and fix it into a form that can be used by plants in a process known as biological nitrogen fixation. While we understand certain aspects of how this inter-species relationship is established, the exact biochemistry of this exchange remains dogmatic. In their recent work, Christen and colleagues (Flores-Tinoco et al, 2020) challenge the current model of nitrogen exchange and argue that that an expanded model is needed to fit experimental findings related to nitrogen fixation. The authors perform an elegant set of experiments and highlight that rather than a single-way flow of nitrogen, the N-fixing process is in fact an elaborate metabolic exchange between the nodule-dwelling bacteroids and the host plant. Importantly, this work provides an updated theoretical framework with the "catchy" name CATCH-N which delivers up to 25% higher yields of nitrogen than classical models and is suitable for rational bioengineering and optimization of nitrogen fixation in microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid32490601, year = {2020}, author = {Flores-Tinoco, CE and Tschan, F and Fuhrer, T and Margot, C and Sauer, U and Christen, M and Christen, B}, title = {Co-catabolism of arginine and succinate drives symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Molecular systems biology}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {e9419}, pmid = {32490601}, issn = {1744-4292}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Amination ; Arginase/metabolism ; Arginine/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Carbon Isotopes ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Electron Transport ; Gene Deletion ; Isotope Labeling ; Medicago/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Sinorhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Succinic Acid/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation emerging from the symbiosis between bacteria and crop plants holds promise to increase the sustainability of agriculture. One of the biggest hurdles for the engineering of nitrogen-fixing organisms is an incomplete knowledge of metabolic interactions between microbe and plant. In contrast to the previously assumed supply of only succinate, we describe here the CATCH-N cycle as a novel metabolic pathway that co-catabolizes plant-provided arginine and succinate to drive the energy-demanding process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in endosymbiotic rhizobia. Using systems biology, isotope labeling studies and transposon sequencing in conjunction with biochemical characterization, we uncovered highly redundant network components of the CATCH-N cycle including transaminases that interlink the co-catabolism of arginine and succinate. The CATCH-N cycle uses N2 as an additional sink for reductant and therefore delivers up to 25% higher yields of nitrogen than classical arginine catabolism-two alanines and three ammonium ions are secreted for each input of arginine and succinate. We argue that the CATCH-N cycle has evolved as part of a synergistic interaction to sustain bacterial metabolism in the microoxic and highly acid environment of symbiosomes. Thus, the CATCH-N cycle entangles the metabolism of both partners to promote symbiosis. Our results provide a theoretical framework and metabolic blueprint for the rational design of plants and plant-associated organisms with new properties to improve nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32490546, year = {2020}, author = {Lu, H and He, L and Xu, J and Song, W and Feng, X and Zhao, Y and Meng, H}, title = {Well-maintained patients with a history of periodontitis still harbor a more dysbiotic microbiome than health.}, journal = {Journal of periodontology}, volume = {91}, number = {12}, pages = {1584-1594}, doi = {10.1002/JPER.19-0498}, pmid = {32490546}, issn = {1943-3670}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Humans ; Inflammation ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontitis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether well-maintained subjects, with periodontitis in the past, effectively treated, and maintained for a long time, have the same subgingival microbiome as healthy subjects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the subgingival microbiome in well-maintained patients with a history of periodontitis compared with healthy subjects.

METHODS: We recruited in 17 well-maintained individuals (no evidence of clinical inflammation and progress of periodontitis) and 21 healthy individuals. Periodontal clinical parameters, consisting of missing teeth, plaque index (PLI), periodontal depth (PD), and bleeding index (BI), were recorded and analyzed. The pooled subgingival samples from mesiobuccal sites of two maxillary first molars were collected. The V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene from 38 subgingival samples was sequenced and analyzed. Alpha diversity, microbial composition, types of bacteria, functional pathways between well-maintained group and health group were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation was used in analyzing the symbiotic relationship among taxa. A classification model was constructed to distinguish two ecological types.

RESULTS: The maintained individuals demonstrated a different microbiome from healthy subjects, with higher diversity, more disordered structure, more pathogenic microbiota, and more host-destructive metabolism pathways. The genera Actinomyces, Streptococcus, Leptotrichia, Capnocytophaga, Lautropia, and Fusobacterium were predominant components with relative abundance >5% in the subgingival microbiome of well-maintained patients. The classification model by microbiota got a remarkable accuracy of 83.33%.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with well-maintained periodontitis showed a more dysbiotic microbial community than healthy individuals. Therefore, close monitoring and scheduled maintenance treatment are necessary for them to maintain a healthy periodontal condition.}, } @article {pmid32489074, year = {2020}, author = {Guo, J and Zhang, H and Guo, QS and Zhu, ZB and Shi, YT and Tian, HQ and Huang, ZG}, title = {[Screening of reference genes based on real-time quantitative PCR analysis in Monochasma savatieri].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {45}, number = {8}, pages = {1887-1892}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20200205.108}, pmid = {32489074}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {China ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reference Standards ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Monochasma savatieri belongs to Scrophulariaceae family. It is a facultative parasitic plant distributed in southern China that has been found in Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian provinces. Previous studies on this plant have focused on its chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. The research foundation of molecular biology and functional genomics is still very in-depth, and there is no report on the reference genes. In this study, 6 reference gene(UBQ, GAPDH, AP-2, ACT, TUB and CYP) from transcriptome database, were selected and analyzed in M. savatieri.The experiment mainly involve two variables, soil moisture content and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis(Rhizophagus irregularis). And the different combination of the factors result in a total of 6 treatments.Statistical tools, including GeNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper were utilized to assess the suitability of reference genes based on their stability rankings for different treatment. The result showed that the stability of 6 reference genes were significantly different. TUB and GAPDH were the most stable gene, while ACT was the most instable one. The results would provide reliable and optional available reference genes in gene expression analysis of M. savatieri, which has important application value.}, } @article {pmid32488797, year = {2021}, author = {Bowley, HE and Wright, P and Stewart, AG}, title = {Science and agriculture: promoting beneficial symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental geochemistry and health}, volume = {43}, number = {7}, pages = {2571-2582}, pmid = {32488797}, issn = {1573-2983}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Humans ; *Soil ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While fundamental research into key mechanisms and interactions is important, the practical investigations that scientists also undertake have additional considerations, since the results are applicable in the real world but need disseminating in a way that reaches the intended audience. Worldwide, rapid population growth produces multiple pressures on land, meaning agriculture must become more efficient and productive. Other pressures on farmers are also increasing: to meet environmental quality standards, to follow legislation about application of chemical products, to remain financially viable against uncertain markets, and more. Applied research addresses specific aspects, but often reports do not describe local contexts or are too restricted, lacking details that enable an understanding of their wider application. We illustrate from our experience within UK agriculture, with a particular focus on soil, the identification of current shortcomings in many research publications; provide examples of good practice; and make suggestions for how scientists can help agriculturalists use their work to address the global issues currently faced. Specifically, we recommend that communication between science and agricultural communities is nurtured, to improve mutual understanding and facilitate two-way flow of ideas. In scientific publications, provision of as much contextual information as possible, and consideration for climatic/temporal/location influences, will enable investigations and results to be used for maximum practical effect and should increase citations.}, } @article {pmid32487669, year = {2020}, author = {Koch, JC and Verde, EA and Weis, VM}, title = {Carbonic anhydrases are influenced by the size and symbiont identity of the aggregating sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {223}, number = {Pt 13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.221424}, pmid = {32487669}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; *Carbonic Anhydrases/genetics ; *Dinoflagellida ; Phylogeny ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Carbonic anhydrases (CA; EC 4.2.1.1) play a vital role in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) transport to photosynthetic microalgae residing in symbiotic cnidarians. The temperate sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima can occur in three symbiotic states: hosting Breviolum muscatinei (brown), hosting Elliptochloris marina (green) or without algal symbionts (aposymbiotic). This provides a basis for A. elegantissima to be a model for detailed studies of the role of CA in DIC transport. This study investigated the effects of symbiosis, body size and light on CA activity and expression, and suggests that A. elegantissima has a heterotrophy-dominated trophic strategy. We identified putative A. elegantissima CA genes and performed phylogenetic analyses to infer subcellular localization in anemones. We performed experiments on field-collected anemones to compare: (1) CA activity and expression from anemones in different symbiotic states, (2) CA activity in brown anemones as a function of size, and (3) CA activity in anemones of different symbiotic states that were exposed to different light intensities. CA activity in brown anemones was highest, whereas activity in green and aposymbiotic anemones was low. Several CAs had expression patterns that mirrored activity, while another had expression that was inversely correlated with activity, suggesting that symbionts may induce different DIC transport pathways. Finally, CA activity was inversely correlated with anemone size. Our results suggest that the observed CA activity and expression patterns are affected not only by symbiosis, but also by other factors in the host physiology, including trophic strategy as it relates to body size and cellular pH homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid32486176, year = {2020}, author = {Chiu, HY and Lin, LY and Chen, Y and Liu, ER and Li, HH}, title = {A New Method for Collecting Large Amounts of Symbiotic Gastrodermal Cells from Octocorals.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {32486176}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Marine Biology/*methods ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Osmolar Concentration ; Osmosis ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The study of cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis in octocorals is becoming increasingly important. As symbiotic gastrodermal cells (SGCs) are the key cells in a symbiotic relationship, obtaining SGCs and studying their functions represent an urgent need. The majority of the cells dissociated from octocoral tissues consist of host cells and algal cells, and very few intact SGCs can be observed. To solve this problem, we developed a new method to collect large amounts of SGCs from octocorals. We incubated the tissue of Sinularia flexibilis in high-salinity (60‱) filtered seawater for 6 h and were able to collect more than 18 times the number of SGCs from the control group. To test the quality of the dissociated cells, we performed three assays to evaluate their cell viability. All three assays demonstrated that cell viability was good after incubating in a high-salinity solution. We also used two other octocorals, Paralemnalia thyrsoides and Sinularia compressa, to perform the same experiment, and the results were similar to those for Sinularia flexibilis. Therefore, a high-salinity-induced increase in the SGC ratio is a common phenomenon among octocorals. This method allows researchers to collect large amounts of SGCs from octocorals and helps us to better understand the complex molecular interactions in cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32484275, year = {2020}, author = {Hawksworth, DL and Grube, M}, title = {Lichens redefined as complex ecosystems.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {5}, pages = {1281-1283}, pmid = {32484275}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; *Lichens ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This article is a Commentary on Mark et al. (2020), 227: 1362–1375.}, } @article {pmid32483723, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, X and Lv, S and Liu, T and Wei, J and Qu, S and Lu, Y and Zhang, J and Oo, S and Zhang, B and Pan, X and Liu, H}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing shows the important role of AZC_2928 gene in nitrogen-fixing bacteria of plants.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {657-668}, doi = {10.1007/s10142-020-00739-8}, pmid = {32483723}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Biofilms ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Chemotaxis ; *Gene Editing ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sesbania/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {AZC_2928 gene (GenBank accession no. BAF88926.1) of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 has sequence homology to 2,3-aminomutases. However, its function is unknown. In this study, we are for the first time to knock out the gene completely in A. caulinodans ORS571 using the current advanced genome editing tool, CRISPR/Cas9. Our results show that the editing efficiency is 34% and AZC_2928 plays an extremely important role in regulating the formation of chemotaxis and biofilm. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of AZC_2928 (△AZC_2928) significantly enhanced chemotaxis and biofilm formation. Both chemotaxis and biofilm formation play an important role in nitrogen-fixing bacteria and their interaction with their host plants. Interestingly, AZC_2928 did not affect the motility of A. caulinodans ORS571 and the nodulation formation in their natural host plant, Sesbania rostrata. Due to rhizobia needing to form bacteroids for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in mature nodules, AZC_2928 might have a direct influence on nitrogen fixation efficiency rather than the number of nodulations.}, } @article {pmid32483307, year = {2020}, author = {Takeuchi, M and Kuwahara, H and Murakami, T and Takahashi, K and Kajitani, R and Toyoda, A and Itoh, T and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Parallel reductive genome evolution in Desulfovibrio ectosymbionts independently acquired by Trichonympha protists in the termite gut.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {2288-2301}, pmid = {32483307}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Desulfovibrio/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Hypermastigia ; *Isoptera ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several Trichonympha protist species in the termite gut have independently acquired Desulfovibrio ectosymbionts in apparently different stages of symbiosis. Here, we obtained the near-complete genome sequence of Desulfovibrio phylotype ZnDsv-02, which attaches to the surface of Trichonympha collaris cells, and compared it with a previously obtained genome sequence of 'Candidatus Desulfovibrio trichonymphae' phylotype Rs-N31, which is almost completely embedded in the cytoplasm of Trichonympha agilis. Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis indicated that although Rs-N31 is almost clonal, the ZnDsv-02 population on a single host cell is heterogeneous. Despite these differences, the genome of ZnDsv-02 has been reduced to 1.6 Mb, which is comparable to that of Rs-N31 (1.4 Mb), but unlike other known ectosymbionts of protists with a genome similar in size to their free-living relatives. Except for the presence of a lactate utilization pathway, cell-adhesion components and anti-phage defense systems in ZnDsv-02, the overall gene-loss pattern between the two genomes is very similar, including the loss of genes responsive to environmental changes. Our study suggests that genome reduction can occur in ectosymbionts, even when they can be transmitted horizontally and obtain genes via lateral transfer, and that the symbiont genome size depends heavily on their role in the symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid32482881, year = {2020}, author = {Hu, H and Howard, RJ and Bastolla, U and Lindahl, E and Delarue, M}, title = {Structural basis for allosteric transitions of a multidomain pentameric ligand-gated ion channel.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {24}, pages = {13437-13446}, pmid = {32482881}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Allosteric Regulation ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Calcium/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Deltaproteobacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; Ligand-Gated Ion Channels/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Ligands ; Models, Molecular ; Oocytes/metabolism ; Periplasm/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Domains ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Xenopus laevis ; }, abstract = {Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are allosteric receptors that mediate rapid electrochemical signal transduction in the animal nervous system through the opening of an ion pore upon binding of neurotransmitters. Orthologs have been found and characterized in prokaryotes and they display highly similar structure-function relationships to eukaryotic pLGICs; however, they often encode greater architectural diversity involving additional amino-terminal domains (NTDs). Here we report structural, functional, and normal-mode analysis of two conformational states of a multidomain pLGIC, called DeCLIC, from a Desulfofustis deltaproteobacterium, including a periplasmic NTD fused to the conventional ligand-binding domain (LBD). X-ray structure determination revealed an NTD consisting of two jelly-roll domains interacting across each subunit interface. Binding of Ca[2+] at the LBD subunit interface was associated with a closed transmembrane pore, with resolved monovalent cations intracellular to the hydrophobic gate. Accordingly, DeCLIC-injected oocytes conducted currents only upon depletion of extracellular Ca[2+]; these were insensitive to quaternary ammonium block. Furthermore, DeCLIC crystallized in the absence of Ca[2+] with a wide-open pore and remodeled periplasmic domains, including increased contacts between the NTD and classic LBD agonist-binding sites. Functional, structural, and dynamical properties of DeCLIC paralleled those of sTeLIC, a pLGIC from another symbiotic prokaryote. Based on these DeCLIC structures, we would reclassify the previous structure of bacterial ELIC (the first high-resolution structure of a pLGIC) as a "locally closed" conformation. Taken together, structures of DeCLIC in multiple conformations illustrate dramatic conformational state transitions and diverse regulatory mechanisms available to ion channels in pLGICs, particularly involving Ca[2+] modulation and periplasmic NTDs.}, } @article {pmid32481558, year = {2020}, author = {Chichlowski, M and Shah, N and Wampler, JL and Wu, SS and Vanderhoof, JA}, title = {Bifidobacterium longum Subspecies infantis (B. infantis) in Pediatric Nutrition: Current State of Knowledge.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32481558}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis/*physiology ; *Breast Feeding ; Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*physiology ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Male ; Milk, Human/*metabolism ; *Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Abstract: Since originally isolated in 1899, the genus Bifidobacterium has been demonstrated to predominate in the gut microbiota of breastfed infants and to benefit the host by accelerating maturation of the immune response, balancing the immune system to suppress inflammation, improving intestinal barrier function, and increasing acetate production. In particular, Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (B. infantis) is well adapted to the infant gut and has co-evolved with the mother-infant dyad and gut microbiome, in part due to its ability to consume complex carbohydrates found in human milk. B. infantis and its human host have a symbiotic relationship that protects the preterm or term neonate and nourishes a healthy gut microbiota prior to weaning. To provide benefits associated with B. infantis to all infants, a number of commercialized strains have been developed over the past decades. As new ingredients become available, safety and suitability must be assessed in preclinical and clinical studies. Consideration of the full clinical evidence for B. infantis use in pediatric nutrition is critical to better understand its potential impacts on infant health and development. Herein we summarize the recent clinical studies utilizing select strains of commercialized B. infantis.}, } @article {pmid32481532, year = {2020}, author = {Ramalho, MO and Martins, C and Morini, MSC and Bueno, OC}, title = {What Can the Bacterial Community of Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758) Tell Us about the Habitats in Which This Ant Species Evolves?.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32481532}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Studies of bacterial communities can reveal the evolutionary significance of symbiotic interactions between hosts and their associated bacteria, as well as identify environmental factors that may influence host biology. Atta sexdens is an ant species native to Brazil that can act as an agricultural pest due to its intense behavior of cutting plants. Despite being extensively studied, certain aspects of the general biology of this species remain unclear, such as the evolutionary implications of the symbiotic relationships it forms with bacteria. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, we compared for the first time the bacterial community of A. sexdens (whole ant workers) populations according to the habitat (natural versus agricultural) and geographical location. Our results revealed that the bacterial community associated with A. sexdens is mainly influenced by the geographical location, and secondarily by the differences in habitat. Also, the bacterial community associated with citrus differed significantly from the other communities due to the presence of Tsukamurella. In conclusion, our study suggests that environmental shifts may influence the bacterial diversity found in A. sexdens.}, } @article {pmid32480352, year = {2020}, author = {Križnik, M and Baebler, Š and Gruden, K}, title = {Roles of small RNAs in the establishment of tolerant interaction between plants and viruses.}, journal = {Current opinion in virology}, volume = {42}, number = {}, pages = {25-31}, doi = {10.1016/j.coviro.2020.04.006}, pmid = {32480352}, issn = {1879-6265}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/immunology/physiology/*virology ; Plant Viruses/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In a tolerant plant-virus interaction, viral multiplication is sustained without substantial effects on plant growth or reproduction. Such interactions are, in natural environments, frequent and sometimes even beneficial for both interactors. Here we compiled evidence showing that small RNAs modulate plant immune responses and growth, hence adjusting its physiology to enable a tolerant interaction. Importantly, the role of small RNAs in tolerant interactions resembles that required for establishment of a mutualistic symbiosis. Tolerance can become a sustainable strategy for breeding for virus resistance as selection pressure for emergence of more aggressive strains is low. Understanding the processes underlying establishment of tolerance is, therefore, important for the development of future crops.}, } @article {pmid32477392, year = {2020}, author = {Garcia, K and Bücking, H and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {Editorial: Importance of Root Symbiomes for Plant Nutrition: New Insights, Perspectives and Future Challenges.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {594}, pmid = {32477392}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid32476357, year = {2020}, author = {Duan, LL and Chen, WL and Zhang, JJ and Ma, HT and Ji, CL and Cui, HL and Wang, JP and Li, RZ}, title = {[Symbiotic bacteria facilitate algal growth and oil biosynthesis in Scenedesmus obliquus].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {625-633}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202002.034}, pmid = {32476357}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll A ; *Microalgae ; *Scenedesmus ; }, abstract = {We isolated bacteria from the phycosphere of Scenedesmus obliques and sequenced 16S rDNAs to establish algae-bacterial co-culture systems. Further, we examined effects of the bacteria on algal growth, and parameters associated with physio-biochemical and oil-producing characteristics of S. obliquus. Seven bacterial strains were isolated, including Micrococcus (strains 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3), Pseudomonas sp. (strains 2-1 and 2-2), Exiguobacterium (strain-3) and Staphylococcus sp. (strain-4). Among them, two bacteria (strain 1-2 and strain 2-1) were characterized as the dominant growth-promoting bacterial strains, which significantly increased algal growth, pigment production, and oil enrichment. After eight days cultivation under microalgal-bacterial (strain 1-2) symbiotic systemat at an initial ratio of 1:10, biomass of S. obliquus was 4.27 g·L[-1], about 46.0% higher than that of the control. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids were increased by 12.1%, 16.7% and 25.0%, respectively. Oil content was increased by 14.0% and reached to 25.7%, and the oleic acid content was significantly higher than that of the control and up to 16.4%. When co-cultured with Pseudomonas sp. (strain 2-1) for eight days at an initial ratio of 1:5, algal biomass, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids contents were higher than that of the control by 47.9%, 16.0%, 17.5% and 19.9%, respectively. The total oil (27.1%) and oleic acid (18.2%) contents were increased by 20.4% and 64.0%, respectively. We concluded that Micrococcus (strain 1-2) and Pseudomonas sp. (strain 2-1) could significantly promote algal growth and increase oil production by their beneficial interaction with S. obliques, which could be potentially used in commercial production of S. obliques.}, } @article {pmid32476224, year = {2020}, author = {Williams, KM and Wang, H and Paulsen, MJ and Thakore, AD and Rieck, M and Lucian, HJ and Grady, F and Hironaka, CE and Chien, AJ and Farry, JM and Shin, HS and Jaatinen, KJ and Eskandari, A and Stapleton, LM and Steele, AN and Cohen, JE and Woo, YJ}, title = {Safety of photosynthetic Synechococcus elongatus for in vivo cyanobacteria-mammalian symbiotic therapeutics.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {1780-1792}, pmid = {32476224}, issn = {1751-7915}, support = {R01 HL089315/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Escherichia coli ; Photosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; *Synechococcus ; }, abstract = {The cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus (SE) has been shown to rescue ischaemic heart muscle after myocardial infarction by photosynthetic oxygen production. Here, we investigated SE toxicity and hypothesized that systemic SE exposure does not elicit a significant immune response in rats. Wistar rats intravenously received SE (n = 12), sterile saline (n = 12) or E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, n = 4), and a subset (8 SE, 8 saline) received a repeat injection 4 weeks later. At baseline, 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 8 days and 4 weeks after injection, clinical assessments, blood cultures, blood counts, lymphocyte phenotypes, liver function tests, proinflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins were assessed. Across all metrics, SE rats responded comparably to saline controls, displaying no clinically significant immune response. As expected, LPS rats exhibited severe immunological responses. Systemic SE administration does not induce sepsis or toxicity in rats, thereby supporting the safety of cyanobacteria-mammalian symbiotic therapeutics using this organism.}, } @article {pmid32473606, year = {2020}, author = {Vishwanathan, K and Zienkiewicz, K and Liu, Y and Janz, D and Feussner, I and Polle, A and Haney, CH}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi induce systemic resistance against insects on a nonmycorrhizal plant in a CERK1-dependent manner.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {2}, pages = {728-740}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16715}, pmid = {32473606}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arabidopsis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Insecta ; Laccaria ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Diseases ; Pseudomonas syringae ; }, abstract = {Below-ground microbes can induce systemic resistance against foliar pests and pathogens on diverse plant hosts. The prevalence of induced systemic resistance (ISR) among plant-microbe-pest systems raises the question of host specificity in microbial induction of ISR. To test whether ISR is limited by plant host range, we tested the ISR-inducing ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor on the nonmycorrhizal plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We used the cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni and bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pto) as readouts for ISR on Arabidopsis. We found that root inoculation with L. bicolor triggered ISR against T. ni and induced systemic susceptibility (ISS) against the bacterial pathogen Pto. We found that L. bicolor-triggered ISR against T. ni was dependent on jasmonic acid signaling and salicylic acid biosynthesis and signaling. Heat-killed L. bicolor and chitin were sufficient to trigger ISR against T. ni and ISS against Pto. The chitin receptor CERK1 was necessary for L. bicolor-mediated effects on systemic immunity. Collectively our findings suggest that some ISR responses might not require intimate symbiotic association, but rather might be the result of root perception of conserved microbial signals.}, } @article {pmid32473336, year = {2020}, author = {Lindgren, H and Moncada, B and Lücking, R and Magain, N and Simon, A and Goffinet, B and Sérusiaux, E and Nelsen, MP and Mercado-Díaz, JA and Widhelm, TJ and Lumbsch, HT}, title = {Cophylogenetic patterns in algal symbionts correlate with repeated symbiont switches during diversification and geographic expansion of lichen-forming fungi in the genus Sticta (Ascomycota, Peltigeraceae).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {150}, number = {}, pages = {106860}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106860}, pmid = {32473336}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/genetics ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Species in the fungal genus Sticta form symbiotic associations primarily with either green algae or cyanobacteria, but tripartite associations or photosymbiodemes involving both types of photobionts occur in some species. Sticta is known to associate with green algae in the genus Symbiochloris. However, previous studies have shown that algae from other genera, such as Heveochlorella, may also be suitable partners for Sticta. We examined the diversity of green algal partners in the genus Sticta and assessed the patterns of association between the host fungus and its algal symbiont. We used multi-locus sequence data from multiple individuals collected in Australia, Cuba, Madagascar, Mauritius, New Zealand, Reunion and South America to infer phylogenies for fungal and algal partners and performed tests of congruence to assess coevolution between the partners. In addition, event-based methods were implemented to examine which cophylogenetic processes have led to the observed association patterns in Sticta and its green algal symbionts. Our results show that in addition to Symbiochloris, Sticta associates with green algae from the genera Chloroidium, Coccomyxa, Elliptochloris and Heveochlorella, the latter being the most common algal symbiont associated with Sticta in this study. Geography plays a strong role in shaping fungal-algal association patterns in Sticta as mycobionts associate with different algal lineages in different geographic locations. While fungal and algal phylogenies were mostly congruent, event-based methods did not find any evidence for cospeciation between the partners. Instead, the association patterns observed in Sticta and associated algae, were largely explained by other cophylogenetic events such as host-switches, losses of symbiont and failure of the symbiont to diverge with its host. Our results also show that tripartite associations with green algae evolved multiple times in Sticta.}, } @article {pmid32472573, year = {2020}, author = {Oono, R and Black, D and Slessarev, E and Sickler, B and Strom, A and Apigo, A}, title = {Species diversity of fungal endophytes across a stress gradient for plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {1}, pages = {210-225}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16709}, pmid = {32472573}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Endophytes ; Fungi ; *Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Foliar fungal endophytes are one of the most diverse guilds of symbiotic fungi found in the photosynthetic tissues of every plant lineage, but it is unclear how plant environments and leaf resource availability shape their diversity. We explored correlations between leaf nutrient availability and endophyte diversity among Pinus muricata and Vaccinium ovatum plants growing across a soil nutrient gradient spanning a series of coastal terraces in Mendocino, California. Endophyte richness decreased in plants with higher leaf nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios for both host species, but increased with sodium, which may be toxic to fungi at high concentrations. Isolation frequency, a proxy of fungal biomass, was not significantly predicted by any of the same leaf constituents in the two plant species. We propose that stressed plants can exhibit both low foliar nutrients or high levels of toxic compounds, and that both of these stress responses predict endophyte species richness. Stressful conditions that limit growth of fungi may increase their diversity due to the suppression of otherwise dominating species. Differences between the host species in their endophyte communities may be explained by host specificity, leaf phenology, or microclimates.}, } @article {pmid32472175, year = {2020}, author = {Jiang, L and Li, T and Jenkins, J and Hu, Y and Brueck, CL and Pei, H and Betenbaugh, MJ}, title = {Evidence for a mutualistic relationship between the cyanobacteria Nostoc and fungi Aspergilli in different environments.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {14}, pages = {6413-6426}, pmid = {32472175}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Aspergillus/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Biomass ; Chlorophyta/metabolism/physiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media, Conditioned/metabolism ; Lichens/microbiology ; Nostoc/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic partnerships are widespread in nature and in industrial applications yet there are limited examples of laboratory communities. Therefore, using common photobionts and mycobionts similar to those in natural lichens, we create an artificial lichen-like symbiosis. While Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger could not obtain nutrients from the green algae, Chlorella, and Scenedesmus, the cyanobacteria Nostoc sp. PCC 6720 was able to support fungal growth and also elevated the accumulation of total biomass. The Nostoc-Aspergillus co-cultures grew on light and CO2 in an inorganic BG11 liquid medium without any external organic carbon and fungal mycelia were observed to peripherally contact with the Nostoc cells in liquid and on solid media at lower cell densities. Overall biomass levels were reduced after implementing physical barriers to indicate that physical contact between cyanobacteria and heterotrophic microbes may promote symbiotic growth. The synthetic Nostoc-Aspergillus nidulans co-cultures also exhibited robust growth and stability when cultivated in wastewater over days to weeks in a semi-continuous manner when compared with axenic cultivation of either species. These Nostoc-Aspergillus consortia reveal species-dependent and mutually beneficial design principles that can yield stable lichen-like co-cultures and provide insights into microbial communities that can facilitate sustainability studies and broader applications in the future. KEY POINTS: • Artificial lichen-like symbiosis was built with wild-type cyanobacteria and fungi. • Physical barriers decreased biomass production from artificial lichen co-cultures. • Artificial lichen adapted to grow and survive in wastewater for 5 weeks.}, } @article {pmid32471918, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, W and Bai, X and Li, Y and Min, J and Kong, Y and Hu, X}, title = {CheY1 and CheY2 of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 Regulate Chemotaxis and Competitive Colonization with the Host Plant.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {32471918}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; *Chemotaxis ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Sequence Deletion ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The genome of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 encodes two chemotaxis response regulators: CheY1 and CheY2. cheY1 is located in a chemotaxis cluster (cheAWY1BR), while cheY2 is located 37 kb upstream of the cheAWY1BR cluster. To determine the contributions of CheY1 and CheY2, we compared the wild type (WT) and mutants in the free-living state and in symbiosis with the host Sesbania rostrata Swim plate tests and capillary assays revealed that both CheY1 and CheY2 play roles in chemotaxis, with CheY2 having a more prominent role than CheY1. In an analysis of the swimming paths of free-swimming cells, the ΔcheY1 mutant exhibited decreased frequency of direction reversal, whereas the ΔcheY2 mutant appeared to change direction much more frequently than the WT. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in the ΔcheY1 and ΔcheY2 mutants was lower than that in the WT, but the ΔcheY2 mutant had more obvious EPS defects that were similar to those of the ΔcheY1 ΔcheY2 and Δeps1 mutants. During symbiosis, the levels of competitiveness for root colonization and nodule occupation of ΔcheY1 and ΔcheY2 mutants were impaired compared to those of the WT. Moreover, the competitive colonization ability of the ΔcheY2 mutant was severely impaired compared to that of the ΔcheY1 mutant. Taken together, the ΔcheY2 phenotypes are more severe than the ΔcheY1 phenotype in free-living and symbiotic states, and that of the double mutant resembles the ΔcheY2 single-mutant phenotype. These defects of ΔcheY1 and ΔcheY2 mutants were restored to the WT phenotype by complementation. These results suggest that there are different regulatory mechanisms of CheY1 and CheY2 and that CheY2 is a key chemotaxis regulator under free-living and symbiosis conditions.IMPORTANCEAzorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 is a motile soil bacterium that has the dual capacity to fix nitrogen both under free-living conditions and in symbiosis with Sesbania rostrata, forming nitrogen-fixing root and stem nodules. Bacterial chemotaxis to chemoattractants derived from host roots promotes infection and subsequent nodule formation by directing rhizobia to appropriate sites of infection. In this work, we identified and demonstrated that CheY2, a chemotactic response regulator encoded by a gene outside the chemotaxis cluster, is required for chemotaxis and multiple other cell phenotypes. CheY1, encoded by a gene in the chemotaxis cluster, also plays a role in chemotaxis. Two response regulators mediate bacterial chemotaxis and motility in different ways. This work extends the understanding of the role of multiple response regulators in Gram-negative bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32470263, year = {2020}, author = {Uberos, J}, title = {Perinatal microbiota: review of its importance in newborn health.}, journal = {Archivos argentinos de pediatria}, volume = {118}, number = {3}, pages = {e265-e270}, doi = {10.5546/aap.2020.eng.e265}, pmid = {32470263}, issn = {1668-3501}, mesh = {Breast Feeding ; Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects/methods ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Infant Health ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {The use of metagenomics in the study of gut bacterial ecosystems has helped to define a standard, functional genetic profile in newborn infants, so that a bacterial ecosystem will be deemed more "normal" the more similar its functional genetic profile is to a standard. The development of a specific functional enterotype in the first days of life after birth is critical for the priming of the immune system with certain bacterial antigens. Regardless of whether the first gut bacteria are acquired before or just after birth, the newborn microbiota will result from the symbiosis with the environmental microbial flora, especially with the bacterial flora of the mother. The type of delivery, the administration of perinatal antibiotics, the environment, and nutritional exposure, especially breastfeeding, have demonstrated an important relationship with the prevalent gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid32468373, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, W and Zhao, C and Cao, W and Sun, S and Hu, C and Liu, J and Zhao, Y}, title = {Removal of pollutants from biogas slurry and CO2 capture in biogas by microalgae-based technology: a systematic review.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {23}, pages = {28749-28767}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-020-09282-2}, pmid = {32468373}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Environmental Pollutants ; *Microalgae ; Nutrients ; }, abstract = {Recent research interest has focused on microalgae cultivation for biogas slurry purification and biogas upgrading due to the requirement of high efficiency for nutrient uptake and CO2 capture, with economic feasibility and environmental benefits. Numerous studies have suggested that biogas slurry purification and biogas upgrading can occur simultaneously via microalgae-based technology. However, there is no comprehensive review on this technology with respect to the nutrient removal from biogas slurry and biogas upgrading. This article summarizes microalgal cultivation with biogas slurry and biogas from anaerobic digestion. The parameters, techniques, and modes of microalgae cultivation have been discussed in detail to achieve high efficiency in biogas slurry purification and biogas upgrading. In addition, the evaluation of energy efficiency and safety has also been explored. Compared with mono-cultivation of microalgae and co-cultivation of microalgae and bacteria, microalgae-fungi symbiosis has demonstrated greater development prospect and higher energy efficiency and the energy consumption for pollutants and CO2 removal were 14.2-39.0% · USD[-1] and 19.9-23.3% · USD[-1], respectively. Further, a sustainable recycling scheme is proposed for the purification of biogas slurry from anaerobic digestion process and biogas upgrading via microalgae-based technology.}, } @article {pmid32467902, year = {2019}, author = {Xu, F and LoBuglio, KF and Pfister, DH}, title = {On the co-occurrence of species of Wynnea (Ascomycota, Pezizales, Sarcoscyphaceae) and Armillaria (Basidiomycota, Agaricales, Physalacriaceae).}, journal = {Fungal systematics and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1-12}, pmid = {32467902}, issn = {2589-3831}, abstract = {Species of the genus Wynnea are collected in association with a subterranean mass generally referred to as a sclerotium. This is one of the few genera of the Sarcoscyphaceae not associated with plant material - wood or leaves. The sclerotium is composed of hyphae of both Armillaria species and Wynnea species. To verify the existence of Armillaria species in the sclerotia of those Wynnea species not previously examined and to fully understand the structure and nature of the sclerotium, molecular data and morphological characters were analyzed. Using nuclear ITS rDNA sequences the Armillaria species co-occurring with Wynnea species were identified from all examined material. These Armillaria symbionts fall into two main Armillaria groups - the A. gallica-nabsnona-calvescens group and the A. mellea group. Divergent time estimates of the Armillaria and Wynnea lineages support a co-evolutionary relationship between these two fungi.}, } @article {pmid32464420, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, C and Sawrey-Kubicek, L and Bardagjy, AS and Houts, H and Tang, X and Sacchi, R and Randolph, JM and Steinberg, FM and Zivkovic, AM}, title = {Whole egg consumption increases plasma choline and betaine without affecting TMAO levels or gut microbiome in overweight postmenopausal women.}, journal = {Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {78}, number = {}, pages = {36-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.nutres.2020.04.002}, pmid = {32464420}, issn = {1879-0739}, mesh = {Aged ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Betaine/*blood ; Choline/*blood ; Cross-Over Studies ; Diet ; *Eggs ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Methylamines/*blood ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/blood/microbiology ; *Overweight/blood/microbiology ; *Postmenopause ; }, abstract = {As a crucial part of the symbiotic system, the gut microbiome is metabolically connected to many diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Trimethylamine (TMA) is produced by gut bacteria from dietary choline, betaine, or L-carnitine, and is then converted in the liver to Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which in turn affects hepatic and intestinal lipid metabolism. Circulating TMAO is positively associated with CVD risk. Because eggs are rich in choline, it has been speculated that their consumption may increase plasma TMAO. In this study, we hypothesized that 2 eggs per day increases plasma TMAO level by altering gut microbiome composition in mildly hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. In this randomized, cross-over study, 20 overweight, postmenopausal women were given 2 whole eggs and the equivalent amount of yolk-free substitute as breakfast for 4 weeks, in randomized order, with a 4-week washout in between. Fasting blood draws and stool were collected at the beginning and end of each treatment period. Plasma TMAO, choline, betaine and other metabolites were analyzed using LC/MS, while gut microbiome composition was analyzed using 16S amplicon sequencing. Plasma choline and betaine were significantly increased after whole egg but not yolk-free substitute, however TMAO level was not significantly affected by treatments. Gut microbiome composition showed large inter-individual variability at baseline and in response to the treatments. The consumption of 2 eggs per day in overweight, postmenopausal mildly hypercholesterolemic women significantly increased plasma choline and betaine, but did not increase plasma TMAO or alter gut microbiome composition.}, } @article {pmid32464078, year = {2020}, author = {Kitamoto, S and Nagao-Kitamoto, H and Hein, R and Schmidt, TM and Kamada, N}, title = {The Bacterial Connection between the Oral Cavity and the Gut Diseases.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {99}, number = {9}, pages = {1021-1029}, pmid = {32464078}, issn = {1544-0591}, support = {P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK119219/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI142047/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; *Microbiota ; Mouth ; }, abstract = {More than 100 trillion symbiotic microorganisms constitutively colonize throughout the human body, including the oral cavity, the skin, and the gastrointestinal tract. The oral cavity harbors one of the most diverse and abundant microbial communities within the human body, second to the community that resides in the gastrointestinal tract, and is composed of >770 bacterial species. Advances in sequencing technologies help define the precise microbial landscape in our bodies. Environmental and functional differences render the composition of resident microbiota largely distinct between the mouth and the gut and lead to the development of unique microbial ecosystems in the 2 mucosal sites. However, it is apparent that there may be a microbial connection between these 2 mucosal sites in the context of disease pathogenesis. Accumulating evidence indicates that resident oral bacteria can translocate to the gastrointestinal tract through hematogenous and enteral routes. The dissemination of oral microbes to the gut may exacerbate various gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer. However, the precise role that oral microbes play in the extraoral organs, including the gut, remains elusive. Here, we review the recent findings on the dissemination of oral bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract and their possible contribution to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases. Although little is known about the mechanisms of ectopic colonization of the gut by oral bacteria, we also discuss the potential factors that allow the oral bacteria to colonize the gut.}, } @article {pmid32459223, year = {2020}, author = {Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz, J and Przybyłowicz, WJ}, title = {Ecophysiology of nickel hyperaccumulating plants from South Africa - from ultramafic soil and mycorrhiza to plants and insects.}, journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {1018-1035}, doi = {10.1039/c9mt00282k}, pmid = {32459223}, issn = {1756-591X}, mesh = {Animals ; Asteraceae/metabolism ; Bacteria/pathogenicity ; Biomass ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nickel/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Senecio/physiology ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {An overview of 30 years of studies related to South African nickel hyperaccumulators is presented. Only five species have so far been identified as Ni hyperaccumulator plants among very rich and diversified South African flora. All of them occur on soils derived from ultramafic (serpentine) rocks and belong to the family Asteraceae: Berkheya coddii Roessler, Berkheya zeyheri subsp. rehmannii var. rogersiana, Berkheya nivea, Senecio coronatus, Senecio anomalochrous. Several techniques and methods were used to investigate ecophysiological aspects of the Ni hyperaccumulation phenomenon, from basic field and laboratory studies, to advanced instrumental methods. Analysis of elemental distribution in plant parts showed that in most cases the hyperaccumulated metal was stored in physiologically inactive tissues such as the foliar epidermis. However, an exception is Berkheya coddii, which has a distinctly different pattern of Ni distribution in leaves, with the highest concentration in the mesophyll. Such a distribution suggests that different physiological mechanisms are involved in the Ni transport, storage location and detoxification, compared to other hyperaccumulator species. Berkheya coddii is a plant with high potential for phytoremediation and phytomining due to its large biomass and potentially high Ni yield, that can reach 7.6% of Ni in dry mass of leaves. Senecio coronatus is the only known hyperaccumulator with two genotypes, hyperaccumulating and non-hyperaccumulating, growing on Ni-enriched/metalliferous soil. Detailed ultrastructural studies were undertaken to characterize specialized groups of cells in the root cortex of Ni-hyperaccumulating genotype, that are not known from any other hyperaccumulator. The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in Ni-hyperaccumulating plants was found for the first time in South African hyperaccumulator plants, and this type of symbiosis has been proved obligatory in all of them. There is a significant influence of mycorrhiza on the concentration and distribution of several elements. Three highly specialized herbivore insects feeding only on Ni hyperaccumulator plants were identified: Chrysolina clathrata (formerly Chrysolina pardalina), Epilachna nylanderi and Stenoscepa sp. The Ni-elimination strategies of these specialised insects have been established. Microbiological studies have revealed several genera of fungi and bacteria isolated from B. coddii leaves as well as presence of specialised, Ni-resistant yeasts in the C. clathrata gut. Understanding ecophysiological response to harsh environment broadens our knowledge and can have practical applications in cleaning polluted environments through phytomining/agromining. Finally, conservation aspects are also discussed and lines for future research are proposed.}, } @article {pmid32459164, year = {2020}, author = {Kleinstein, SE and Nelson, KE and Freire, M}, title = {Inflammatory Networks Linking Oral Microbiome with Systemic Health and Disease.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {99}, number = {10}, pages = {1131-1139}, pmid = {32459164}, issn = {1544-0591}, support = {R00 DE023584/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE025383/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DE025383/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Inflammation ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The dance between microbes and the immune system takes place in all biological systems, including the human body, but this interaction is especially complex in the primary gateway to the body: the oral cavity. Recent advances in technology have enabled deep sequencing and analysis of members and signals of these communities. In a healthy state, the oral microbiome is composed of commensals, and their genes and phenotypes may be selected by the immune system to survive in symbiosis. These highly regulated signals are modulated by a network of microbial and host metabolites. However, in a diseased state, host-microbial networks lead to dysbiosis and considerable burden to the host prior to systemic impact that extends beyond the oral compartment. Interestingly, we presented data demonstrating similarities between human and mice immune dysbiosis and discussed how this affects the host response to similar pathobionts. The host and microbial signatures of a number of disease states are currently being examined to identify potential correlations. How the oral microbiome interacts with inflammation and the immune system to cause disease remains an area of active research. In this review, we summarize recent advancements in understanding the role of oral microbiota in mediating inflammation and altering systemic health and disease. In line with these findings, it is possible that existing conditions may be resolved by targeting specific immune-microbial markers in a positive way.}, } @article {pmid32457874, year = {2020}, author = {Kalra, R and Conlan, XA and Goel, M}, title = {Fungi as a Potential Source of Pigments: Harnessing Filamentous Fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in chemistry}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {369}, pmid = {32457874}, issn = {2296-2646}, abstract = {The growing concern over the harmful effects of synthetic colorants on both the consumer and the environment has raised a strong interest in natural coloring alternatives. As a result the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin is rapidly increasing in the food, cosmetic and textile sectors. Natural colorants have the capacity to be used for a variety of industrial applications, for instance, as dyes for textile and non-textile substrates such as leather, paper, within paints and coatings, in cosmetics, and in food additives. Currently, pigments and colorants produced through plants and microbes are the primary source exploited by modern industries. Among the other non-conventional sources, filamentous fungi particularly ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi (mushrooms), and lichens (symbiotic association of a fungus with a green alga or cyanobacterium) are known to produce an extraordinary range of colors including several chemical classes of pigments such as melanins, azaphilones, flavins, phenazines, and quinines. This review seeks to emphasize the opportunity afforded by pigments naturally found in fungi as a viable green alternative to current sources. This review presents a comprehensive discussion on the capacity of fungal resources such as endophytes, halophytes, and fungi obtained from a range or sources such as soil, sediments, mangroves, and marine environments. A key driver of the interest in fungi as a source of pigments stems from environmental factors and discussion here will extend on the advancement of greener extraction techniques used for the extraction of intracellular and extracellular pigments. The search for compounds of interest requires a multidisciplinary approach and techniques such as metabolomics, metabolic engineering and biotechnological approaches that have potential to deal with various challenges faced by pigment industry.}, } @article {pmid32457850, year = {2020}, author = {Guizzo, MG and Neupane, S and Kucera, M and Perner, J and Frantová, H and da Silva Vaz, I and de Oliveira, PL and Kopacek, P and Zurek, L}, title = {Poor Unstable Midgut Microbiome of Hard Ticks Contrasts With Abundant and Stable Monospecific Microbiome in Ovaries.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {211}, pmid = {32457850}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; *Ixodes ; *Ixodidae ; *Microbiota ; Ovary ; *Rhipicephalus ; }, abstract = {Culture-independent metagenomic methodologies have enabled detection and identification of microorganisms in various biological systems and often revealed complex and unknown microbiomes. In many organisms, the microbiome outnumbers the host cells and greatly affects the host biology and fitness. Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites with a wide host range. They vector a number of human and animal pathogens and also directly cause major economic losses in livestock. Although several reports on a tick midgut microbiota show a diverse bacterial community, in most cases the size of the bacterial population has not been determined. In this study, the microbiome was quantified in the midgut and ovaries of the ticks Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus microplus before, during, and after blood feeding. Although the size of bacterial community in the midgut fluctuated with blood feeding, it was overall extremely low in comparison to that of other hematophagous arthropods. In addition, the tick ovarian microbiome of both tick species exceeded the midgut 16S rDNA copy numbers by several orders of magnitude. This indicates that the ratio of a tick midgut/ovary microbiome represents an exception to the general biology of other metazoans. In addition to the very low abundance, the tick midgut diversity in I. ricinus was variable and that is in contrast to that found in the tick ovary. The ovary of I. ricinus had a very low bacterial diversity and a very high and stable bacterial abundance with the dominant endosymbiont, Midichloria sp. The elucidation of this aspect of tick biology highlights a unique tissue-specific microbial-invertebrate host interaction.}, } @article {pmid32457847, year = {2020}, author = {Margarita, V and Fiori, PL and Rappelli, P}, title = {Impact of Symbiosis Between Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis on Vaginal Dysbiosis: A Mini Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {179}, pmid = {32457847}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Female ; *HIV Infections ; Humans ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Pregnancy ; Symbiosis ; *Trichomonas vaginalis ; Vagina ; }, abstract = {The protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis is responsible for trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection associated with an increased risk of HIV infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The protozoon has the surprising ability to establish a symbiotic relationship with other microorganisms. In fact, most T.vaginalis isolates intracellularly host the vaginal bacterium Mycoplasma hominis and can harbor up to four dsRNA viruses. Moreover, a novel Mycoplasma species named Ca. Mycoplasma girerdii has been recently described as associated with trichomonad cells. Trichomonas vaginalis colonizes the human vagina and its presence causes profound alterations of the resident microbiota, leading to dysbiosis. In healthy women, vaginal microbiota is characterized by the presence of a complex population of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms living in a physiologically dynamic system dominated by bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus. The most common microbial vaginal imbalance is bacterial vaginosis, a polymicrobial disease associated with several adverse reproductive outcomes and increased risk of HIV infection. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the interactions between both T.vaginalis and M.hominis and the vaginal microbiota, and we discuss the possibility of a cooperation between T.vaginalis and its symbionts in the development of vaginal dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32457777, year = {2020}, author = {Freitas, PP and Hampton, JG and Rolston, MP and Glare, TR and Miller, PP and Card, SD}, title = {A Tale of Two Grass Species: Temperature Affects the Symbiosis of a Mutualistic Epichloë Endophyte in Both Tall Fescue and Perennial Ryegrass.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {530}, pmid = {32457777}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Many cool-season grasses form permanent, mutualistic symbioses with asexual Epichloë endophytes. These fungal symbionts often perform a protective role within the association as many strains produce secondary metabolites that deter certain mammalian and invertebrate herbivores. Although initially a serious issue for agriculture, due to mammalian toxins that manifested in major animal health issues, selected strains that provide abiotic stress protection to plants with minimal ill effects to livestock are now commercialized and routinely used to enhance pasture performance in many farming systems. These fungal endophytes and their grass hosts have coevolved over millions of years, and it is now generally accepted that most taxonomic groupings of Epichloë are confined to forming compatible associations (i.e., symptomless associations) with related grass genera within a tribe. The most desired compounds associated with Epichloë festucae var. lolii, an endophyte species associated with perennial ryegrass, are peramine and epoxy-janthitrems. No other major secondary metabolites with invertebrate bioactivity have been identified within this association. However, other agriculturally beneficial compounds, such as lolines, have been discovered in related endophyte species that form associations with fescue grasses. A rationale therefore existed to develop novel grass-endophyte associations between loline-producing endophytes originally isolated from tall fescue with elite cultivars of perennial ryegrass to achieve a wider spectrum of insect bioactivity. A suitable loline-producing endophyte strain of Epichloë sp. FaTG-3 was selected and inoculated into perennial ryegrass. We hypothesed that endophyte transmission frequency, endophyte mycelial biomass and endophyte-derived alkaloid production would differ between the original tall fescue host and the artificial association. Consistent with our hypothesis, our data strongly suggest that plant species significantly affected the plant-endophyte association. This effect became more apparent for transmission frequency and endophyte biomass as the plants matured. Overall, the viable endophyte infection frequency was greater in the tall fescue host than in perennial ryegrass, at all sampling dates. Additionally, temperature was found to be a significant factor affecting endophyte transmission frequency, endophyte mycelial biomass and alkaloid production. Implications for the development of novel grass-endophyte associations are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32457244, year = {2020}, author = {Essock-Burns, T and Bongrand, C and Goldman, WE and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Interactions of Symbiotic Partners Drive the Development of a Complex Biogeography in the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32457244}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P20 GM125508/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Luminescent Proteins/metabolism ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbes live in complex microniches within host tissues, but how symbiotic partners communicate to create such niches during development remains largely unexplored. Using confocal microscopy and symbiont genetics, we characterized the shaping of host microenvironments during light organ colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri During embryogenesis, three pairs of invaginations form sequentially on the organ's surface, producing pores that lead to interior compressed tubules at different stages of development. After hatching, these areas expand, allowing V. fischeri cells to enter and migrate ∼120 μm through three anatomically distinct regions before reaching blind-ended crypt spaces. A dynamic gatekeeper, or bottleneck, connects these crypts with the migration path. Once V. fischeri cells have entered the crypts, the bottlenecks narrow, and colonization by the symbiont population becomes spatially restricted. The actual timing of constriction and restriction varies with crypt maturity and with different V. fischeri strains. Subsequently, starting with the first dawn following colonization, the bottleneck controls a lifelong cycle of dawn-triggered expulsions of most of the symbionts into the environment and a subsequent regrowth in the crypts. Unlike other developmental phenotypes, bottleneck constriction is not induced by known microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) or by V. fischeri-produced bioluminescence, but it does require metabolically active symbionts. Further, while symbionts in the most mature crypts have a higher proportion of live cells and a greater likelihood of expulsion at dawn, they have a lower resistance to antibiotics. The overall dynamics of these distinct microenvironments reflect the complexity of the host-symbiont dialogue.IMPORTANCE The complexity, inaccessibility, and time scales of initial colonization of most animal microbiomes present challenges for the characterization of how the bacterial symbionts influence the form and function of tissues in the minutes to hours following the initial interaction of the partners. Here, we use the naturally occurring binary squid-vibrio association to explore this phenomenon. Imaging of the spatiotemporal landscape of this symbiosis during its onset provides a window into the impact of differences in both host-tissue maturation and symbiont strain phenotypes on the establishment of a dynamically stable symbiotic system. These data provide evidence that the symbionts shape the host-tissue landscape and that tissue maturation impacts the influence of strain-level differences on the daily rhythms of the symbiosis, the competitiveness for colonization, and antibiotic sensitivity.}, } @article {pmid32456108, year = {2020}, author = {Teranishi, T and Kobae, Y}, title = {Investigation of Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Performance Using a Lotus japonicus Mycorrhizal Mutant.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32456108}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Most plants are usually colonized with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) in the fields. AMF absorb mineral nutrients, especially phosphate, from the soil and transfer them to the host plants. Inoculation with exotic AMF is thought to be effective when indigenous AMF performance is low; however, there is no method for evaluating the performance of indigenous AMF. In this study, we developed a method to investigate the performance of indigenous AMF in promoting plant growth. As Lotus japonicus mutant (str) that are unable to form functional mycorrhizal roots were considered to be symbiosis negative for indigenous mycorrhizal performance, we examined the growth ratios of wild-type and str mycorrhizal mutant using 24 soils. Each soil had its own unique indigenous mycorrhizal performance, which was not directly related to the colonization level of indigenous AMF or soil phosphate level. The low indigenous mycorrhizal performance could not be compensated by the inoculation of exotic AMF. Importantly, indigenous mycorrhizal performance was never negative; however, the inoculation of exotic AMF into the same soil led to both positive and negative performances. These results suggest that indigenous mycorrhizal performance is affected by soil management history and is basically harmless to the plant.}, } @article {pmid32455926, year = {2020}, author = {Jakubczyk, K and Kałduńska, J and Kochman, J and Janda, K}, title = {Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of the Kombucha Beverage Derived from White, Green, Black and Red Tea.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32455926}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage prepared as a result of the symbiotic nature of bacterial cultures and yeast, the so-called SCOBY (Symbiotic Cultures of Bacteria and Yeasts). Kombucha is characterised by rich chemical content and healthy properties. It includes organic acids, minerals and vitamins originating mainly from tea, amino acids, and biologically active compounds-polyphenols in particular. Kombucha is prepared mainly in the form of black tea, but other tea types are increasingly often used as well, which can significantly impact its content and health benefits. This work shows that the type of tea has a significant influence on the parameters associated with the antioxidant potential, pH, as well as the content of acetic acid, alcohol or sugar. Red tea and green tea on the 1st and 14th day of fermentation are a particularly prominent source of antioxidants, especially polyphenols, including flavonoids. Therefore, the choice of other tea types than the traditionally used black tea and the subjection of these tea types to fermentation seems to be beneficial in terms of the healthy properties of kombucha.}, } @article {pmid32453775, year = {2020}, author = {O'Connor, RM and Nepveux V, FJ and Abenoja, J and Bowden, G and Reis, P and Beaushaw, J and Bone Relat, RM and Driskell, I and Gimenez, F and Riggs, MW and Schaefer, DA and Schmidt, EW and Lin, Z and Distel, DL and Clardy, J and Ramadhar, TR and Allred, DR and Fritz, HM and Rathod, P and Chery, L and White, J}, title = {A symbiotic bacterium of shipworms produces a compound with broad spectrum anti-apicomplexan activity.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {e1008600}, pmid = {32453775}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AT009174/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Antiprotozoal Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Apicomplexa/*growth & development ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*metabolism ; Mice ; Protozoan Infections/drug therapy ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Apicomplexan parasites cause severe disease in both humans and their domesticated animals. Since these parasites readily develop drug resistance, development of new, effective drugs to treat infection caused by these parasites is an ongoing challenge for the medical and veterinary communities. We hypothesized that invertebrate-bacterial symbioses might be a rich source of anti-apicomplexan compounds because invertebrates are susceptible to infections with gregarines, parasites that are ancestral to all apicomplexans. We chose to explore the therapeutic potential of shipworm symbiotic bacteria as they are bona fide symbionts, are easily grown in axenic culture and have genomes rich in secondary metabolite loci [1,2]. Two strains of the shipworm symbiotic bacterium, Teredinibacter turnerae, were screened for activity against Toxoplasma gondii and one strain, T7901, exhibited activity against intracellular stages of the parasite. Bioassay-guided fractionation identified tartrolon E (trtE) as the source of the activity. TrtE has an EC50 of 3 nM against T. gondii, acts directly on the parasite itself and kills the parasites after two hours of treatment. TrtE exhibits nanomolar to picomolar level activity against Cryptosporidium, Plasmodium, Babesia, Theileria, and Sarcocystis; parasites representing all branches of the apicomplexan phylogenetic tree. The compound also proved effective against Cryptosporidium parvum infection in neonatal mice, indicating that trtE may be a potential lead compound for preclinical development. Identification of a promising new compound after such limited screening strongly encourages further mining of invertebrate symbionts for new anti-parasitic therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid32452032, year = {2020}, author = {Kokkoris, V and Lekberg, Y and Antunes, PM and Fahey, C and Fordyce, JA and Kivlin, SN and Hart, MM}, title = {Codependency between plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities: what is the evidence?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {3}, pages = {828-838}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16676}, pmid = {32452032}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Codependency, Psychological ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {That arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi covary with plant communities is clear, and many papers report nonrandom associations between symbiotic partners. However, these studies do not test the causal relationship, or 'codependency', whereby the composition of one guild affects the composition of the other. Here we outline underlying requirements for codependency, compare important drivers for both plant and AM fungal communities, and assess how host preference - a pre-requisite for codependency - changes across spatiotemporal scales and taxonomic resolution for both plants and AM fungi. We find few examples in the literature designed to test for codependency and those that do have been conducted within plots or mesocosms. Also, while plants and AM fungi respond similarly to coarse environmental filters, most variation remains unexplained, with host identity explaining less than 30% of the variation in AM fungal communities. These results combined question the likelihood of predictable co-occurrence, and therefore evolution of codependency, between plant and AM fungal taxa across locations. We argue that codependency is most likely to occur in homogeneous environments where specific plant - AM fungal pairings have functional consequences for the symbiosis. We end by outlining critical aspects to consider moving forward.}, } @article {pmid32449732, year = {2020}, author = {Clerc, EE and Raina, JB and Lambert, BS and Seymour, J and Stocker, R}, title = {In Situ Chemotaxis Assay to Examine Microbial Behavior in Aquatic Ecosystems.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {159}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/61062}, pmid = {32449732}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*physiology ; *Chemotaxis ; *Ecosystem ; Flow Cytometry ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Microbiological Techniques/instrumentation/*methods ; }, abstract = {Microbial behaviors, such as motility and chemotaxis (the ability of a cell to alter its movement in response to a chemical gradient), are widespread across the bacterial and archaeal domains. Chemotaxis can result in substantial resource acquisition advantages in heterogeneous environments. It also plays a crucial role in symbiotic interactions, disease, and global processes, such as biogeochemical cycling. However, current techniques restrict chemotaxis research to the laboratory and are not easily applicable in the field. Presented here is a step-by-step protocol for the deployment of the in situ chemotaxis assay (ISCA), a device that enables robust interrogation of microbial chemotaxis directly in the natural environment. The ISCA is a microfluidic device consisting of a 20 well array, in which chemicals of interest can be loaded. Once deployed in aqueous environments, chemicals diffuse out of the wells, creating concentration gradients that microbes sense and respond to by swimming into the wells via chemotaxis. The well contents can then be sampled and used to (1) quantify strength of the chemotactic responses to specific compounds through flow cytometry, (2) isolate and culture responsive microorganisms, and (3) characterize the identity and genomic potential of the responding populations through molecular techniques. The ISCA is a flexible platform that can be deployed in any system with an aqueous phase, including marine, freshwater, and soil environments.}, } @article {pmid32448960, year = {2020}, author = {Jayakumar, A and Krishna, A and Nair, IC and Radhakrishnan, EK}, title = {Drought-tolerant and plant growth-promoting endophytic Staphylococcus sp. having synergistic effect with silicate supplementation.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {7}, pages = {1899-1906}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-020-01911-1}, pmid = {32448960}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Curcuma/microbiology ; *Droughts ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Plant Development/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizome/microbiology ; Silicates/*pharmacology ; Staphylococcus/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/physiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytic bacteria have been reported to have symbiotic, mutualistic, commensalistic or trophobiotic relationships with various plant parts. As part of its adaptation, many endophytic organisms are known to exhibit properties with multiple beneficial effects to the plant system. Even though many bacterial genera have been identified to have endophytic association, isolation of those which were previously demonstrated well for human association is quite interesting. In the study, endophytic bacteria Ceb1 isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Staphylococcus sp. Further, Ceb1 was observed to have the ability to tolerate drought stress. While screening for the plant growth-promoting traits, Ceb1 was found to be positive for IAA production both under drought-stressed and normal conditions as confirmed by HPLC. The Ceb1 priming with Vigna unguiculata was observed to enhance the growth parameters of the plant. Analysis of Ceb1-treated plants by ICP-MS further showed modulation of both macro- and micronutrients. Upon drought stress induction in Vigna unguiculata, Ceb1 was found to provide synergistic plant growth-promoting effect to the plant along with the supplemented silicate sources. Under the changing agroclimatic conditions, exploring the plant stress-alleviating effects of endophytes is highly significant.}, } @article {pmid32448734, year = {2020}, author = {Hojo, F and Osaki, T and Yonezawa, H and Hanawa, T and Kurata, S and Kamiya, S}, title = {Acanthamoeba castellanii supports extracellular survival of Helicobacter pylori in co-culture.}, journal = {Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {946-954}, doi = {10.1016/j.jiac.2020.04.016}, pmid = {32448734}, issn = {1437-7780}, mesh = {*Acanthamoeba castellanii ; Coculture Techniques ; *Helicobacter pylori/genetics ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to demonstrate whether Helicobacter pylori is able to survive in co-culture with a protozoan, Acanthamoeba castellanii, in order to further investigate a possible aqueous environmental mode of transmission. Numbers of H. pylori in co-culture with A castellanii were assessed by colony forming unit (CFU) assay and cell morphology was observed by electron microscopy. Viable and intact H. pylori in co-culture were detected and the number of H. pylori in co-culture with A. castellanii was significantly higher than in bacterial single culture. It was also shown that co-culture of H. pylori with A. castellanii physically separated by a filter membrane negated this survival effect, suggesting that adherence of H. pylori to A. castellanii affects its survival. Scanning electron microscopy revealed helical forms of H. pylori in co-culture with A. castellanii, but not in single culture. These results imply that mutual interaction between H. pylori and A. castellanii in the environment is critical for survival of H. pylori. In addition, the H. pylori gene expression profile was found to differ between single and co-cultured cells using RNA-sequence analysis.}, } @article {pmid32448240, year = {2020}, author = {Stephens, TG and González-Pech, RA and Cheng, Y and Mohamed, AR and Burt, DW and Bhattacharya, D and Ragan, MA and Chan, CX}, title = {Genomes of the dinoflagellate Polarella glacialis encode tandemly repeated single-exon genes with adaptive functions.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {56}, pmid = {32448240}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {RGP0030//Human Frontier Science Program/International ; RGP0030//Human Frontier Science Program/International ; DP150101875//Australian Research Council/International ; DP150101875//Australian Research Council/International ; DP150101875//Australian Research Council/International ; DP190102474//Australian Research Council/International ; DP190102474//Australian Research Council/International ; NIFA-USDA Hatch NJ01170//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Exons ; Genes, Protozoan ; *Genome, Protozoan ; *Tandem Repeat Sequences ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dinoflagellates are taxonomically diverse and ecologically important phytoplankton that are ubiquitously present in marine and freshwater environments. Mostly photosynthetic, dinoflagellates provide the basis of aquatic primary production; most taxa are free-living, while some can form symbiotic and parasitic associations with other organisms. However, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underpin the adaptation of these organisms to diverse ecological niches is limited by the scarce availability of genomic data, partly due to their large genome sizes estimated up to 250 Gbp. Currently available dinoflagellate genome data are restricted to Symbiodiniaceae (particularly symbionts of reef-building corals) and parasitic lineages, from taxa that have smaller genome size ranges, while genomic information from more diverse free-living species is still lacking.

RESULTS: Here, we present two draft diploid genome assemblies of the free-living dinoflagellate Polarella glacialis, isolated from the Arctic and Antarctica. We found that about 68% of the genomes are composed of repetitive sequence, with long terminal repeats likely contributing to intra-species structural divergence and distinct genome sizes (3.0 and 2.7 Gbp). For each genome, guided using full-length transcriptome data, we predicted > 50,000 high-quality protein-coding genes, of which ~40% are in unidirectional gene clusters and ~25% comprise single exons. Multi-genome comparison unveiled genes specific to P. glacialis and a common, putatively bacterial origin of ice-binding domains in cold-adapted dinoflagellates.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results elucidate how selection acts within the context of a complex genome structure to facilitate local adaptation. Because most dinoflagellate genes are constitutively expressed, Polarella glacialis has enhanced transcriptional responses via unidirectional, tandem duplication of single-exon genes that encode functions critical to survival in cold, low-light polar environments. These genomes provide a foundational reference for future research on dinoflagellate evolution.}, } @article {pmid32447320, year = {2021}, author = {Lundberg, JO and Moretti, C and Benjamin, N and Weitzberg, E}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria enhance exercise performance.}, journal = {British journal of sports medicine}, volume = {55}, number = {5}, pages = {243}, doi = {10.1136/bjsports-2020-102094}, pmid = {32447320}, issn = {1473-0480}, mesh = {Animals ; *Athletic Performance ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Mice ; Mouth/microbiology ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Propionates/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Veillonella/metabolism ; }, } @article {pmid32446076, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, X and Yu, K and Huang, W and Liang, J and Qin, Z and Chen, B and Yao, Q and Liao, Z}, title = {Thermal acclimation increases heat tolerance of the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {733}, number = {}, pages = {139319}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139319}, pmid = {32446076}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Symbiosis ; *Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {Field ecological observations indicate that scleractinian coral exposed to early thermal stress are likely to develop higher tolerance to subsequent heat stress. The causes of this phenomenon, however, remain enigmatic. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the increased heat tolerance, we applied different thermal treatments to the scleractinian coral Acropora pruinosa and studied the resulting differences in appearance, physiological index, Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities, and transcriptome response. We found that early heat stress improved the thermal tolerance of the coral holobiont. After thermal acclimation, the community structure and symbiotic bacterial diversity in the microbiota were reorganized, whereas those of Symbiodiniaceae remained stable. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the downregulated coral host genes were mainly involved in pathways relating to metabolism, particularly the nitrogen metabolism pathway. This indicates that thermal acclimation led to decrease in the metabolism level in the coral host, which might be a self-protection mechanism. We suggest that thermal acclimation may increase scleractinian coral thermal tolerance by slowing host metabolism, altering the dominant bacterial population, and increasing bacterial diversity. This study offers new insights into the adaptive potential of scleractinian coral to heat stress from global warming.}, } @article {pmid32444627, year = {2020}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Tesi, M and Pfau, T and Mengoni, A and Fondi, M}, title = {Genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of the symbiosis between a leguminous plant and a nitrogen-fixing bacterium.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2574}, pmid = {32444627}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Models, Biological ; Mutation ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Reproducibility of Results ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic association between leguminous plants and endosymbiotic rhizobial bacteria is a paradigmatic example of a symbiosis driven by metabolic exchanges. Here, we report the reconstruction and modelling of a genome-scale metabolic network of Medicago truncatula (plant) nodulated by Sinorhizobium meliloti (bacterium). The reconstructed nodule tissue contains five spatially distinct developmental zones and encompasses the metabolism of both the plant and the bacterium. Flux balance analysis (FBA) suggests that the metabolic costs associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation are primarily related to supporting nitrogenase activity, and increasing N2-fixation efficiency is associated with diminishing returns in terms of plant growth. Our analyses support that differentiating bacteroids have access to sugars as major carbon sources, ammonium is the main nitrogen export product of N2-fixing bacteria, and N2 fixation depends on proton transfer from the plant cytoplasm to the bacteria through acidification of the peribacteroid space. We expect that our model, called 'Virtual Nodule Environment' (ViNE), will contribute to a better understanding of the functioning of legume nodules, and may guide experimental studies and engineering of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32444469, year = {2020}, author = {Li, J and Epa, R and Scott, NE and Skoneczny, D and Sharma, M and Snow, AJD and Lingford, JP and Goddard-Borger, ED and Davies, GJ and McConville, MJ and Williams, SJ}, title = {A Sulfoglycolytic Entner-Doudoroff Pathway in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii SRDI565.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {32444469}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Glycerol/*metabolism ; Methylglucosides/*metabolism ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that engage in symbiotic relationships with plant hosts but can also persist as free-living bacteria in the soil and rhizosphere. Here, we show that free-living Rhizobium leguminosarum SRDI565 can grow on the sulfosugar sulfoquinovose (SQ) or the related glycoside SQ-glycerol using a sulfoglycolytic Entner-Doudoroff (sulfo-ED) pathway, resulting in production of sulfolactate (SL) as the major metabolic end product. Comparative proteomics supports the involvement of a sulfo-ED operon encoding an ABC transporter, sulfo-ED enzymes, and an SL exporter. Consistent with an oligotrophic lifestyle, proteomics data revealed little change in expression of the sulfo-ED proteins during growth on SQ versus mannitol, a result confirmed through biochemical assay of sulfoquinovosidase activity in cell lysates. Metabolomics analysis showed that growth on SQ involves gluconeogenesis to satisfy metabolic requirements for glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate. Metabolomics analysis also revealed the unexpected production of small amounts of sulfofructose and 2,3-dihydroxypropanesulfonate, which are proposed to arise from promiscuous activities of the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase and a nonspecific aldehyde reductase, respectively. The discovery of a rhizobium isolate with the ability to degrade SQ builds our knowledge of how these important symbiotic bacteria persist within soil.IMPORTANCE Sulfonate sulfur is a major form of organic sulfur in soils but requires biomineralization before it can be utilized by plants. Very little is known about the biochemical processes used to mobilize sulfonate sulfur. We show that a rhizobial isolate from soil, Rhizobium leguminosarum SRDI565, possesses the ability to degrade the abundant phototroph-derived carbohydrate sulfonate SQ through a sulfoglycolytic Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Proteomics and metabolomics demonstrated the utilization of this pathway during growth on SQ and provided evidence for gluconeogenesis. Unexpectedly, off-cycle sulfoglycolytic species were also detected, pointing to the complexity of metabolic processes within cells under conditions of sulfoglycolysis. Thus, rhizobial metabolism of the abundant sulfosugar SQ may contribute to persistence of the bacteria in the soil and to mobilization of sulfur in the pedosphere.}, } @article {pmid32444290, year = {2021}, author = {Whitewoods, CD}, title = {Evolution of CLE peptide signalling.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {12-19}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.04.022}, pmid = {32444290}, issn = {1096-3634}, mesh = {Peptides/*metabolism ; Plant Development/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {CLEs are small non-cell autonomous signalling peptides that regulate cell division rate and orientation in a variety of developmental contexts. Recent years have generated a huge amount of research on CLE function across land plants, characterising their role across the whole plant; they control stem cell division in the shoot, root and cambial meristems, balance developmental investment into symbiosis, regulate leaf development, pattern stomata and control axillary branching. They have even been co-opted by parasitic nematodes to mediate infection. This review synthesises these recent findings and embeds them in an evolutionary context, outlining the likely evolution of the CLE signalling pathway. I use this framework to infer common mechanistic themes and pose key future questions for the field.}, } @article {pmid32443976, year = {2020}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A}, title = {No evidence for Wolbachia as a nutritional co-obligate endosymbiont in the aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {72}, pmid = {32443976}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; *Buchnera/genetics ; Hemolymph ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbiotic associations are present in a wide variety of animals with a nutrient-restricted diet. Aphids (hemiptera: Aphididae) almost-universally host Buchnera aphidicola bacteria in specialised organs (called bacteriomes). These bacteria supply the aphid with essential nutrients lacking from their diet (i.e. essential amino acids and some B vitamins). Some aphid lineages, such as species from the Lacninae subfamily, have evolved co-obligate associations with secondary endosymbionts, deriving from a loss of biotin- and riboflavin-biosynthetic genes. In this study, I re-analyse previously published sequencing data from the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa. I show that the metabolic inference results from De Clerck et al. (Microbiome 3:63, 2015) are incorrect and possibly arise from the use of inadequate methods. Additionally, I discuss how the seemingly biased interpretation of their antibiotic treatment analyses together with an incorrect genome-based metabolic inference resulted in the erroneous suggestion "that a co-obligatory symbiosis between B. aphidicola and Wolbachia occurs in the banana aphid".}, } @article {pmid32443561, year = {2020}, author = {Hao, DL and Zhou, JY and Yang, SY and Qi, W and Yang, KJ and Su, YH}, title = {Function and Regulation of Ammonium Transporters in Plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {32443561}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Ion Transport ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ammonium transporter (AMT)-mediated acquisition of ammonium nitrogen from soils is essential for the nitrogen demand of plants, especially for those plants growing in flooded or acidic soils where ammonium is dominant. Recent advances show that AMTs additionally participate in many other physiological processes such as transporting ammonium from symbiotic fungi to plants, transporting ammonium from roots to shoots, transferring ammonium in leaves and reproductive organs, or facilitating resistance to plant diseases via ammonium transport. Besides being a transporter, several AMTs are required for the root development upon ammonium exposure. To avoid the adverse effects of inadequate or excessive intake of ammonium nitrogen on plant growth and development, activities of AMTs are fine-tuned not only at the transcriptional level by the participation of at least four transcription factors, but also at protein level by phosphorylation, pH, endocytosis, and heterotrimerization. Despite these progresses, it is worth noting that stronger growth inhibition, not facilitation, unfortunately occurs when AMT overexpression lines are exposed to optimal or slightly excessive ammonium. This implies that a long road remains towards overcoming potential limiting factors and achieving AMT-facilitated yield increase to accomplish the goal of persistent yield increase under the present high nitrogen input mode in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32443465, year = {2020}, author = {Iorizzo, M and Lombardi, SJ and Ganassi, S and Testa, B and Ianiro, M and Letizia, F and Succi, M and Tremonte, P and Vergalito, F and Cozzolino, A and Sorrentino, E and Coppola, R and Petrarca, S and Mancini, M and Cristofaro, A}, title = {Antagonistic Activity against Ascosphaera apis and Functional Properties of Lactobacillus kunkeei Strains.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32443465}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are an important group of honeybee gut microbiota. These bacteria are involved in food digestion, stimulate the immune system, and may antagonize undesirable microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Lactobacillus kunkeei is a fructophilic lactic acid bacterium (FLAB) most frequently found in the gastrointestinal tracts of honeybees. Ascosphaera apis is an important pathogenic fungus of honeybee larvae; it can colonize the intestine, especially in conditions of nutritional or environmental stress that cause microbial dysbiosis. In this work, some functional properties of nine selected L. kunkeei strains were evaluated. The study focused on the antifungal activity of these strains against A. apis DSM 3116, using different matrices: cell lysate, broth culture, cell-free supernatant, and cell pellet. The cell lysate showed the highest antifungal activity. Moreover, the strains were shown to possess good cell-surface properties (hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and biofilm production) and a good resistance to high sugar concentrations. These L. kunkeei strains were demonstrated to be functional for use in "probiotic syrup", useful to restore the symbiotic communities of the intestine in case of dysbiosis and to exert a prophylactic action against A. apis.}, } @article {pmid32443173, year = {2021}, author = {Zhang, C and Wickham, JD and Zhao, L and Sun, J}, title = {A new bacteria-free strategy induced by MaGal2 facilitates pinewood nematode escape immune response from its vector beetle.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {1087-1102}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12823}, pmid = {32443173}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Coleoptera/immunology/parasitology ; Disease Vectors ; Galectins/genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Insect ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Immune Evasion ; Immunity ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/parasitology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics/metabolism ; Rhabditida/microbiology/*pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes play a crucial role in regulating parasite-host interactions; however, the role of bacterial associates in parasite-host interactions requires elucidation. In this study, we showed that, instead of introducing numerous symbiotic bacteria, dispersal of 4th-stage juvenile (JIV) pinewood nematodes (PWNs), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, only introduced few bacteria to its vector beetle, Monochamus alternatus (Ma). JIV showed weak binding ability to five dominant bacteria species isolated from the beetles' pupal chamber. This was especially the case for binding to the opportunistic pathogenic species Serratia marcescens; the nematodes' bacteria binding ability at this critical stage when it infiltrates Ma for dispersal was much weaker compared with Caenorhabditis elegans, Diplogasteroides asiaticus, and propagative-stage PWN. The associated bacterium S. marcescens, which was isolated from the beetles' pupal chambers, was unfavorable to Ma, because it caused a higher mortality rate upon injection into tracheae. In addition, S. marcescens in the tracheae caused more immune effector disorders compared with PWN alone. Ma_Galectin2 (MaGal2), a pattern-recognition receptor, was up-regulated following PWN loading. Recombinant MaGal2 protein formed aggregates with five dominant associated bacteria in vitro. Moreover, MaGal2 knockdown beetles had up-regulated prophenoloxidase gene expression, increased phenoloxidase activity, and decreased PWN loading. Our study revealed a previously unknown strategy for immune evasion of this plant pathogen inside its vector, and provides novel insights into the role of bacteria in parasite-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid32442463, year = {2020}, author = {Bollati, E and D'Angelo, C and Alderdice, R and Pratchett, M and Ziegler, M and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Optical Feedback Loop Involving Dinoflagellate Symbiont and Scleractinian Host Drives Colorful Coral Bleaching.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {13}, pages = {2433-2445.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.055}, pmid = {32442463}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Color ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Feedback ; Hot Temperature/*adverse effects ; *Pigmentation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching, caused by the loss of brownish-colored dinoflagellate photosymbionts from the host tissue of reef-building corals, is a major threat to reef survival. Occasionally, bleached corals become exceptionally colorful rather than white. These colors derive from photoprotective green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments produced by the coral host. There is currently no consensus regarding what causes colorful bleaching events and what the consequences for the corals are. Here, we document that colorful bleaching events are a recurring phenomenon in reef regions around the globe. Our analysis of temperature conditions associated with colorful bleaching events suggests that corals develop extreme coloration within 2 to 3 weeks after exposure to mild or temporary heat stress. We demonstrate that the increase of light fluxes in symbiont-depleted tissue promoted by reflection of the incident light from the coral skeleton induces strong expression of the photoprotective coral host pigments. We describe an optical feedback loop involving both partners of the association, discussing that the mitigation of light stress offered by host pigments could facilitate recolonization of bleached tissue by symbionts. Our data indicate that colorful bleaching has the potential to identify local environmental factors, such as nutrient stress, that can exacerbate the impact of elevated temperatures on corals, to indicate the severity of heat stress experienced by corals and to gauge their post-stress recovery potential. VIDEO ABSTRACT.}, } @article {pmid32442441, year = {2020}, author = {Górzyńska, K}, title = {Effects of the Clonostachys epichloë fungal hyperparasite on the symbiotic interaction between Botanophila flies and Epichloë fungus.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {174}, number = {}, pages = {107396}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2020.107396}, pmid = {32442441}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Diptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Holcus/growth & development ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Longevity ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Botanophila flies are associated with Epichloë fungi in a symbiotic relationship in which the flies benefit from stromata as a food source for both adults and larvae, and the fungus benefits from the transfer of conidia by the flies, resulting in fertilization. Derogations from this pattern indicate that the Epichloë-Botanophila interaction cannot be clearly defined. The situation may be complicated by reports of new elements of the interaction, e.g., Wolbachia bacteria present in Botanophila larvae. The present study investigates the impact of Clonostachys epichloë (Speg.) Schroers, the fungal hyperparasite of Epichloë stromata, on the Botanophila-Epichloë interaction. The interaction between C. epichloë and Botanophila flies associated with Epichloë typhina subsp. clarkii (J.F. White) Leuchtm. & Schardl stromata was studied in the Holcus lanatus L. grass population. C. epichloë was present on 76.5% of stromata, covering on average 44.8 ± 32.1% of its surface and influencing the final perithecial coverage to the same extent as larval feeding. C. epichloë began to appear on stromata much later than the fly eggs and did not affect the preference for Botanophila egg laying. On the other hand, C. epichloë reduced larval hatching success and increased the mortality of the larvae. Clonostachys was responsible for 76.0% of all deaths, overgrowing brood chambers, and its mycelium was present both on and within larvae in all cases. Overall, as a result of the presence of C. epichloë, the number of Botanophila fly offspring decreased by 52.7%. Of the 26 surviving larvae, 10 (38.5%) were affected by C. epichloë, and their weight was significantly lower than that of unaffected larvae. Results show that C. epichloë, a new element of the interaction between E. typhina fungus and Botanophila flies, negatively affects both fungal reproduction and the offspring success of flies. This is the first report on the entomopathogenic activity of C. epichloë against Epichloë-associated Botanophila flies.}, } @article {pmid32442331, year = {2020}, author = {Larrainzar, E and Villar, I and Rubio, MC and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Huertas, R and Sato, S and Mun, JH and Becana, M}, title = {Hemoglobins in the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {2}, pages = {472-484}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16673}, pmid = {32442331}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Hemoglobins/metabolism ; *Lotus/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume nodules have two types of hemoglobins: symbiotic or leghemoglobins (Lbs) and nonsymbiotic or phytoglobins (Glbs). The latter are categorized into three phylogenetic classes differing in heme coordination and O2 affinity. This review is focused on the roles of Lbs and Glbs in the symbiosis of rhizobia with crop legumes and the model legumes for indeterminate (Medicago truncatula) and determinate (Lotus japonicus) nodulation. Only two hemoglobin functions are well established in nodules: Lbs deliver O2 to the bacteroids and act as O2 buffers, preventing nitrogenase inactivation; and Glb1-1 modulates nitric oxide concentration during symbiosis, from the early stage, avoiding the plant's defense response, to nodule senescence. Here, we critically examine early and recent results, update and correct the information on Lbs and Glbs with the latest genome versions, provide novel expression data and identify targets for future research. Crucial unresolved questions include the expression of multiple Lbs in nodules, their presence in the nuclei and in uninfected nodule cells, and, intriguingly, their expression in nonsymbiotic tissues. RNA-sequencing data analysis shows that Lbs are expressed as early as a few hours after inoculation and that their mRNAs are also detectable in roots and pods, which clearly suggests that these heme proteins play additional roles unrelated to nitrogen fixation. Likewise, issues awaiting investigation are the functions of other Glbs in nodules, the spatiotemporal expression profiles of Lbs and Glbs at the mRNA and protein levels, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their regulation during nodule development and in response to stress and hormones.}, } @article {pmid32440552, year = {2020}, author = {Dong, X and Pan, P and Zheng, DW and Bao, P and Zeng, X and Zhang, XZ}, title = {Bioinorganic hybrid bacteriophage for modulation of intestinal microbiota to remodel tumor-immune microenvironment against colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {6}, number = {20}, pages = {eaba1590}, pmid = {32440552}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteriophages ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Metal Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Silver ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Mounting evidence suggests that the gut microbiota contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis, in which the symbiotic Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) selectively increases immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to hamper the host's anticancer immune response. Here, a specifically Fn-binding M13 phage was screened by phage display technology. Then, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were assembled electrostatically on its surface capsid protein (M13@Ag) to achieve specific clearance of Fn and remodel the tumor-immune microenvironment. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that of M13@Ag treatment could scavenge Fn in gut and lead to reduction in MDSC amplification in the tumor site. In addition, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were activated by M13 phages to further awaken the host immune system for CRC suppression. M13@Ag combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (α-PD1) or chemotherapeutics (FOLFIRI) significantly prolonged overall mouse survival in the orthotopic CRC model.}, } @article {pmid32438731, year = {2020}, author = {Villagrán-de la Mora, Z and Vázquez-Paulino, O and Avalos, H and Ascencio, F and Nuño, K and Villarruel-López, A}, title = {Effect of a Synbiotic Mix on Lymphoid Organs of Broilers Infected with Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium perfringens.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32438731}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Synbiotic consumption can modulate immune response. This work involves studying the effect of a synbiotic on lymphoid organs and IgA of broilers infected with Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium perfringens. A total of 258 one-day-old male broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus), line COBBAvian48 (free of growth-promoting antibiotics), were distributed into eight treatment groups. A symbiotic mix comprising Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Pediococcus acidilactici MA18/5 M as probiotics and 4.5% (0.045 g g[-1]) of Agave tequilana fructans as prebiotic per dose (one milliliter) was administered through drinking water the first day of life. Bursa, spleen and thymus were analyzed. Broilers treated with the synbiotic, whether or not infected with pathogens, had bigger bursa follicles than the non-treated (p < 0.05), and the ones from the synbiotic group had more lymphocytes than the control group (p < 0.05). Thymus follicles of the synbiotic group were bigger than the control group (p < 0.05). Lesions associated with Salmonella infection were found in the bursa, however, in the broilers treated with the synbiotic, the lesions were less intense and were not present after 32 days of life. The synbiotic mix can stimulate the bursa, increasing the size of their follicles and promoting the ability to resist infections caused by S. typhimurium in broilers.}, } @article {pmid32438323, year = {2020}, author = {Ngugi, DK and Ziegler, M and Duarte, CM and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Genomic Blueprint of Glycine Betaine Metabolism in Coral Metaorganisms and Their Contribution to Reef Nitrogen Budgets.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {101120}, pmid = {32438323}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {The osmolyte glycine betaine (GB) ranks among the few widespread biomolecules in all three domains of life. In corals, tissue concentrations of GB are substantially higher than in the ambient seawater. However, the synthetic routes remain unresolved, questioning whether intracellular GB originates from de novo synthesis or heterotrophic input. Here we show that the genomic blueprint of coral metaorganisms encode the biosynthetic and degradation machinery for GB. Member organisms also adopted the prokaryotic high-affinity carrier-mediated uptake of exogenous GB, rendering coral reefs potential sinks of marine dissolved GB. The machinery metabolizing GB is highly expressed in the coral model Aiptasia and its microalgal symbionts, signifying GB's role in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. We estimate that corals store between 10[6]-10[9] grams of GB globally, representing about 16% of their nitrogen biomass. Our findings provide a framework for further mechanistic studies addressing GB's role in coral biology and reef ecosystem nitrogen cycling.}, } @article {pmid32437836, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, J and Zhu, X and Lin, H and Chen, Z and Tang, H and Wang, Y}, title = {Gender differences in the bile acid profiles of APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice.}, journal = {Brain research bulletin}, volume = {161}, number = {}, pages = {116-126}, doi = {10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.05.003}, pmid = {32437836}, issn = {1873-2747}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/*genetics/metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/*genetics ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts/*genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Presenilin-1/*genetics ; *Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and presents in the accumulation of amyloid and neurofibrillary tangle. The association between modulations of gut symbiotic microbes with neurological disease via bidirectional gut-brain axis has been well documented. Bile acid (BA) pools in the enterohepatic circulation could be valuable for probing complex biochemical interactions between host and their symbiotic microbiota. Herein we investigated the levels of 28 BAs in several compartments in enterohepatic circulation (including jejunal, ileum, cecum, colon and feces, plasma and liver tissue) by employing an APP/PS1 induced transgenic AD mouse model. We found that BA profiles in AD mice were gender specific. We observed decreased levels of taurine-conjugated primary BAs (TUDCA, TCA, T-α-MCA and T-β-MCA) and increased levels of secondary BA (iso-DCA) in plasma and liver extracts for female AD transgenic mice. In contrast, increased levels of TDCA in liver extracts and decreased levels of T-β-MCA in jejunal content were noted in male AD mice. These observations suggested that perturbations of BA profiles in AD mice displayed clear gender variations. Our study highlighted the roles of gut microbiota on neurodegenerative disease, which could be gender specific.}, } @article {pmid32436227, year = {2020}, author = {Weemstra, M and Peay, KG and Davies, SJ and Mohamad, M and Itoh, A and Tan, S and Russo, SE}, title = {Lithological constraints on resource economies shape the mycorrhizal composition of a Bornean rain forest.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {1}, pages = {253-268}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16672}, pmid = {32436227}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Rainforest ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) produce contrasting plant-soil feedbacks, but how these feedbacks are constrained by lithology is poorly understood. We investigated the hypothesis that lithological drivers of soil fertility filter plant resource economic strategies in ways that influence the relative fitness of trees with AMF or EMF symbioses in a Bornean rain forest containing species with both mycorrhizal strategies. Using forest inventory data on 1245 tree species, we found that although AMF-hosting trees had greater relative dominance on all soil types, with declining lithological soil fertility EMF-hosting trees became more dominant. Data on 13 leaf traits and wood density for a total of 150 species showed that variation was almost always associated with soil type, whereas for six leaf traits (structural properties; carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus ratios, nitrogen isotopes), variation was also associated with mycorrhizal strategy. EMF-hosting species had slower leaf economics than AMF-hosts, demonstrating the central role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant resource economies. At the global scale, climate has been shown to shape forest mycorrhizal composition, but here we show that in communities it depends on soil lithology, suggesting scale-dependent abiotic factors influence feedbacks underlying the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal strategies.}, } @article {pmid32436039, year = {2020}, author = {Jain, D and Kumari, A and Saheewala, H and Sanadhya, S and Maheshwari, D and Meena, RH and Singh, A and Gera, R and Mohanty, SR}, title = {Biochemical, functional and molecular characterization of pigeon pea rhizobia isolated from semi-arid regions of India.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {7}, pages = {1809-1816}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-020-01904-0}, pmid = {32436039}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Cajanus/*microbiology ; *Desert Climate ; *Genetic Variation ; India ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Peas ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) is among the top ten legumes grown globally not only having high tolerance to environmental stresses along, but also has the high biomass and productivity with optimal nutritional profiles. In the present study, 55 isolates of rhizobia were identified from 22 nodule samples of pigeon pea collected from semi-arid regions of India on the basis of morphological, biochemical, plant growth promoting activities and their ability to tolerate the stress conditions viz. pH, salt, temperature and drought stress. Amongst all the 55 isolates, 37 isolates showed effective nodulation under in vitro conditions in pigeon pea. Further, five isolates having multiple PGP activities and high in vitro symbiotic efficiency were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and confirmed their identities as Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Sinorhizobium sp. Further these 37 isolates were characterized at molecular level using ARDRA and revealed significant molecular diversity. Based on UPGMA clustering analysis, these isolates showed significant molecular diversity. The high degree of molecular diversity is due to mixed cropping of legumes in the region. The assessment of genetic diversity and molecular characterization of novel strains is a very important tool for the replacement of ineffective rhizobial strains with the efficient strains for the improvement in the nodulation and pigeon pea quality. The pigeon pea isolates with multiple PGPR activities could be further used for commercial production.}, } @article {pmid32435880, year = {2020}, author = {Heydari, S and Pirzad, A}, title = {Mycorrhizal Fungi and Thiobacillus Co-inoculation Improve the Physiological Indices of Lallemantia iberica Under Salinity Stress.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {9}, pages = {2523-2534}, doi = {10.1007/s00284-020-02034-y}, pmid = {32435880}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Salinity ; Salt Stress ; Stress, Physiological ; *Thiobacillus ; }, abstract = {Salinity, a serious environmental pressure on crop production, might be counteracted by free-living and symbiotic inoculants entailing positive synergistic effects. Enhancement in nutrient uptake and/or production of antioxidants under the stress condition, can improve plant growth and yield. In this study, inoculation of Lallemantia iberica with Funneliformis mosseae and the sulfur solubilizing bacterium (Thiobacillus sp. T95 and T40) was evaluated under two salinity levels (6.72 dS/m and 0.91 dS/m as control). The root colonization, spore density, seed and biological yield, total soluble sugars, and nutrients were reduced by salt stress. Antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase), proline, contents of sodium and sulfur have increased under salt stress. The enzyme activities as well as the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and sulfur were dropped at the flowering stage (75 days after sowing). Seed and biological yield, antioxidant enzymes activity, proline content, and nutrients were significantly improved in mycorrhizal treatments. Inoculation of Thiobacillus exhibited the positive effect on root colonization, spore density, enzymes activity, and nutrients. Bacterial treatments (dual and single) significantly increased the sulfur and total soluble sugars. Totally, the mycorrhizal plants accumulated more enzymatically produced antioxidants, osmolytes, and showed improved nutrient uptake. Our results provide new insights into the relationship among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), biosulfur bacteria, and plant growth under saline conditions. In conclusion, the Lallemantia iberica inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi, either alone, or in combination with Thiobacillus, is indicated for optimum plant yield through alleviation of the salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid32435239, year = {2020}, author = {Mondal, SI and Akter, A and Koga, R and Hosokawa, T and Dayi, M and Murase, K and Tanaka, R and Shigenobu, S and Fukatsu, T and Kikuchi, T}, title = {Reduced Genome of the Gut Symbiotic Bacterium "Candidatus Benitsuchiphilus tojoi" Provides Insight Into Its Possible Roles in Ecology and Adaptation of the Host Insect.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {840}, pmid = {32435239}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Diverse animals, including insects, harbor microbial symbionts within their gut, body cavity, or cells. The subsocial parastrachiid stinkbug Parastrachia japonensis is well-known for its peculiar ecological and behavioral traits, including its prolonged non-feeding diapause period and maternal care of eggs/nymphs in an underground nest. P. japonensis harbors a specific bacterial symbiont within the gut cavity extracellularly, which is vertically inherited through maternal excretion of symbiont-containing white mucus. Thus far, biological roles of the symbiont in the host lifecycle has been little understood. Here we sequenced the genome of the uncultivable gut symbiont "Candidatus Benitsuchiphilus tojoi." The symbiont has an 804 kb circular chromosome encoding 606 proteins and a 14.5 kb plasmid encoding 13 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the bacterium is closely related to other obligate insect symbionts belonging to the Gammaproteobacteria, including Buchnera of aphids and Blochmannia of ants, and the most closely related to Ishikawaella, an extracellular gut symbiont of plataspid stinkbugs. These data suggested that the symbiont genome has evolved like highly reduced gamma-proteobacterial symbiont genomes reported from a variety of insects. The presence of genes involved in biosynthesis pathways for amino acids, vitamins, and cofactors in the genome implicated the symbiont as a nutritional mutualist, supplementing essential nutrients to the host. Interestingly, the symbiont's plasmid encoded genes for thiamine and carotenoid synthesis pathways, suggesting the possibility of additional functions of the symbiont for protecting the host against oxidative stress and DNA damage. Finally, possible involvement of the symbiont in uric acid metabolism during diapause is discussed.}, } @article {pmid32435131, year = {2020}, author = {Borghi, M and Puccetti, M and Pariano, M and Renga, G and Stincardini, C and Ricci, M and Giovagnoli, S and Costantini, C and Romani, L}, title = {Tryptophan as a Central Hub for Host/Microbial Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {1178646920919755}, pmid = {32435131}, issn = {1178-6469}, abstract = {Amino acid catabolism occurs during inflammation and regulates innate and adaptive immunity. The role of commensal bacteria in amino acid catabolism and the production of metabolites able to regulate the development and function of the innate immune system is increasingly being recognized. Therefore, commensal bacteria are key players in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. However, the intestinal microbiota also contributes to susceptibility and response to infectious diseases. This is self-evident for fungal infections known to occur as a consequence of weakened immune system and broad-spectrum antibiotic use or abuse. Thus, diseases caused by opportunistic fungi can no longer be viewed as dependent only on a weakened host but also on a disrupted microbiota. Based on these premises, the present review focuses on the role of amino acid metabolic pathways in the dialogue between the mammalian host and its microbiota and the potential implications in fungal commensalism and infectivity.}, } @article {pmid32433595, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, D and Liwinski, T and Elinav, E}, title = {Interaction between microbiota and immunity in health and disease.}, journal = {Cell research}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {492-506}, pmid = {32433595}, issn = {1748-7838}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The interplay between the commensal microbiota and the mammalian immune system development and function includes multifold interactions in homeostasis and disease. The microbiome plays critical roles in the training and development of major components of the host's innate and adaptive immune system, while the immune system orchestrates the maintenance of key features of host-microbe symbiosis. In a genetically susceptible host, imbalances in microbiota-immunity interactions under defined environmental contexts are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of a multitude of immune-mediated disorders. Here, we review features of microbiome-immunity crosstalk and their roles in health and disease, while providing examples of molecular mechanisms orchestrating these interactions in the intestine and extra-intestinal organs. We highlight aspects of the current knowledge, challenges and limitations in achieving causal understanding of host immune-microbiome interactions, as well as their impact on immune-mediated diseases, and discuss how these insights may translate towards future development of microbiome-targeted therapeutic interventions.}, } @article {pmid32431782, year = {2020}, author = {Novakovic, M and Rout, A and Kingsley, T and Kirchoff, R and Singh, A and Verma, V and Kant, R and Chaudhary, R}, title = {Role of gut microbiota in cardiovascular diseases.}, journal = {World journal of cardiology}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {110-122}, pmid = {32431782}, issn = {1949-8462}, abstract = {The human gut is colonized by a community of microbiota, primarily bacteria, that exist in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Intestinal microbiota-host interactions play a critical role in the regulation of human physiology. Deleterious changes to the composition of gut microbiota, referred to as gut dysbiosis, has been linked to the development and progression of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Imbalances in host-microbial interaction impair homeostatic mechanisms that regulate health and can activate multiple pathways leading to CVD risk factor progression. Most CVD risk factors, including aging, obesity, dietary patterns, and a sedentary lifestyle, have been shown to induce gut dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is associated with intestinal inflammation and reduced integrity of the gut barrier, which in turn increases circulating levels of bacterial structural components and microbial metabolites, including trimethylamine-N-oxide and short-chain fatty acids, that may facilitate the development of CVD. This article reviews the normal function and composition of the gut microbiome, mechanisms leading to the leaky gut syndrome, its mechanistic link to CVD and potential novel therapeutic approaches aimed towards restoring gut microbiome and CVD prevention. As CVD is the leading cause of deaths globally, investigating the gut microbiota as a locus of intervention presents a novel and clinically relevant avenue for future research.}, } @article {pmid32431740, year = {2020}, author = {Wollein Waldetoft, K and Råberg, L and Lood, R}, title = {Proliferation and benevolence-A framework for dissecting the mechanisms of microbial virulence and health promotion.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {879-888}, pmid = {32431740}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Key topics in the study of host-microbe interactions-such as the prevention of drug resistance and the exploitation of beneficial effects of bacteria-would benefit from concerted efforts with both mechanistic and evolutionary approaches. But due to differences in intellectual traditions, insights gained in one field rarely benefit the other. Here, we develop a conceptual and analytical framework for the integrated study of host-microbe interactions. This framework partitions the health effects of microbes and the effector molecules they produce into components with different evolutionary implications. It thereby facilitates the prediction of evolutionary responses to inhibition and exploitation of specific molecular mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid32431724, year = {2020}, author = {Sahruzaini, NA and Rejab, NA and Harikrishna, JA and Khairul Ikram, NK and Ismail, I and Kugan, HM and Cheng, A}, title = {Pulse Crop Genetics for a Sustainable Future: Where We Are Now and Where We Should Be Heading.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {531}, pmid = {32431724}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The last decade has witnessed dramatic changes in global food consumption patterns mainly because of population growth and economic development. Food substitutions for healthier eating, such as swapping regular servings of meat for protein-rich crops, is an emerging diet trend that may shape the future of food systems and the environment worldwide. To meet the erratic consumer demand in a rapidly changing world where resources become increasingly scarce due largely to anthropogenic activity, the need to develop crops that benefit both human health and the environment has become urgent. Legumes are often considered to be affordable plant-based sources of dietary proteins. Growing legumes provides significant benefits to cropping systems and the environment because of their natural ability to perform symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which enhances both soil fertility and water-use efficiency. In recent years, the focus in legume research has seen a transition from merely improving economically important species such as soybeans to increasingly turning attention to some promising underutilized species whose genetic resources hold the potential to address global challenges such as food security and climate change. Pulse crops have gained in popularity as an affordable source of food or feed; in fact, the United Nations designated 2016 as the International Year of Pulses, proclaiming their critical role in enhancing global food security. Given that many studies have been conducted on numerous underutilized pulse crops across the world, we provide a systematic review of the related literature to identify gaps and opportunities in pulse crop genetics research. We then discuss plausible strategies for developing and using pulse crops to strengthen food and nutrition security in the face of climate and anthropogenic changes.}, } @article {pmid32431680, year = {2020}, author = {Newkirk, CR and Frazer, TK and Martindale, MQ and Schnitzler, CE}, title = {Adaptation to Bleaching: Are Thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae Strains More Successful Than Other Strains Under Elevated Temperatures in a Model Symbiotic Cnidarian?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {822}, pmid = {32431680}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The ability of some symbiotic cnidarians to resist and better withstand stress factors that cause bleaching is a trait that is receiving increased attention. The adaptive bleaching hypothesis postulates that cnidarians that can form a stable symbiosis with thermotolerant Symbiodiniaceae strains may cope better with increasing seawater temperatures. We used polyps of the scyphozoan, Cassiopea xamachana, as a model system to test symbiosis success under heat stress. We sought to determine: (1) if aposymbiotic C. xamachana polyps could establish and maintain a symbiosis with both native and non-native strains of Symbiodiniaceae that all exhibit different tolerances to heat, (2) whether polyps with these newly acquired Symbiodiniaceae strains would strobilate (produce ephyra), and (3) if thermally tolerant Symbiodiniaceae strains that established and maintained a symbiosis exhibited greater success in response to heat stress (even if they are not naturally occurring in Cassiopea). Following recolonization of aposymbiotic C. xamachana polyps with different strains, we found that: (1) strains Smic, Stri, Slin, and Spil all established a stable symbiosis that promoted strobilation and (2) strains Bmin1 and Bmin2 did not establish a stable symbiosis and strobilation did not occur. Strains Smic, Stri, Slin, and Spil were used in a subsequent bleaching experiment; each of the strains was introduced to a subset of aposymbiotic polyps and once polyp tissues were saturated with symbionts they were subjected to elevated temperatures - 32°C and 34°C - for 2 weeks. Our findings indicate that, in general, pairings of polyps with Symbiodiniaceae strains that are native to Cassiopea (Stri and Smic) performed better than a non-native strain (Slin) even though this strain has a high thermotolerance. This suggests a degree of partner specificity that may limit the adaptive potential of certain cnidarians to increased ocean warming. We also observed that the free-living, non-native thermotolerant strain Spil was relatively successful in resisting bleaching during experimental trials. This suggests that free-living Symbiodiniaceae may provide a supply of potentially "new" thermotolerant strains to cnidarians following a bleaching event.}, } @article {pmid32430922, year = {2020}, author = {Cafaro La Menza, N and Monzon, JP and Lindquist, JL and Arkebauer, TJ and Knops, JMH and Unkovich, M and Specht, JE and Grassini, P}, title = {Insufficient nitrogen supply from symbiotic fixation reduces seasonal crop growth and nitrogen mobilization to seed in highly productive soybean crops.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {8}, pages = {1958-1972}, pmid = {32430922}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/growth & development/physiology ; Fertilizers ; Nebraska ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Seasons ; Seeds/growth & development/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*growth & development/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) supply can limit the yields of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in highly productive environments. To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying this limitation, seasonal changes in N dynamics, aboveground dry matter (ADM) accumulation, leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of absorbed radiation (fAPAR) were compared in crops relying only on biological N2 fixation and available soil N (zero-N treatment) versus crops receiving N fertilizer (full-N treatment). Experiments were conducted in seven high-yield environments without water limitation, where crops received optimal management. In the zero-N treatment, biological N2 fixation was not sufficient to meet the N demand of the growing crop from early in the season up to beginning of seed filling. As a result, crop LAI, growth, N accumulation, radiation-use efficiency and fAPAR were consistently higher in the full-N than in the zero-N treatment, leading to improved seed set and yield. Similarly, plants in the full-N treatment had heavier seeds with higher N concentration because of greater N mobilization from vegetative organs to seeds. Future yield gains in high-yield soybean production systems will require an increase in biological N2 fixation, greater supply of N from soil or fertilizer, or alleviation of the trade-off between these two sources of N in order to meet the plant demand.}, } @article {pmid32430476, year = {2020}, author = {Lemmer, KC and Alberge, F and Myers, KS and Dohnalkova, AC and Schaub, RE and Lenz, JD and Imam, S and Dillard, JP and Noguera, DR and Donohue, TJ}, title = {The NtrYX Two-Component System Regulates the Bacterial Cell Envelope.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32430476}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI097157/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Outer Membrane/*physiology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Rhodobacter sphaeroides/*genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Activity of the NtrYX two-component system has been associated with important processes in diverse bacteria, ranging from symbiosis to nitrogen and energy metabolism. In the facultative alphaproteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, loss of the two-component system NtrYX results in increased lipid production and sensitivity to some known cell envelope-active compounds. In this study, we show that NtrYX directly controls multiple properties of the cell envelope. We find that the response regulator NtrX binds upstream of cell envelope genes, including those involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis and modification and in cell division. We show that loss of NtrYX impacts the cellular levels of peptidoglycan precursors and lipopolysaccharide and alters cell envelope structure, increasing cell length and the thickness of the periplasm. Cell envelope function is also disrupted in the absence of NtrYX, resulting in increased outer membrane permeability. Based on the properties of R. sphaeroides cells lacking NtrYX and the target genes under direct control of this two-component system, we propose that NtrYX plays a previously undescribed, and potentially conserved, role in the assembly, structure, and function of the cell envelope in a variety of bacteria.IMPORTANCE The bacterial cell envelope provides many important functions. It protects cells from harsh environments, serves as a selective permeability barrier, houses bioenergetic functions, defines sensitivity to antibacterial agents, and plays a crucial role in biofilm formation, symbiosis, and virulence. Despite the important roles of this cellular compartment, we lack a detailed understanding of the biosynthesis and remodeling of the cell envelope. Here, we report that the R. sphaeroides two-component signaling system NtrYX is a previously undescribed regulator of cell envelope processes, providing evidence that it is directly involved in controlling transcription of genes involved in cell envelope assembly, structure, and function in this and possibly other bacteria. Thus, our data report on a newly discovered process used by bacteria to assemble and remodel the cell envelope.}, } @article {pmid32429833, year = {2020}, author = {Swain, TD and Lax, S and Backman, V and Marcelino, LA}, title = {Uncovering the role of Symbiodiniaceae assemblage composition and abundance in coral bleaching response by minimizing sampling and evolutionary biases.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {124}, pmid = {32429833}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {CBET-0937987//National Science Foundation/International ; CBET-1240416//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Alveolata/*classification/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification/parasitology/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Biodiversity and productivity of coral-reef ecosystems depend upon reef-building corals and their associations with endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, which offer diverse functional capabilities to their hosts. The number of unique symbiotic partners (richness) and relative abundances (evenness) have been hypothesized to affect host response to climate change induced thermal stress. Symbiodiniaceae assemblages with many unique phylotypes may provide greater physiological flexibility or form less stable symbioses; assemblages with low abundance phylotypes may allow corals to retain thermotolerant symbionts or represent associations with less-suitable symbionts.

RESULTS: Here we demonstrate that true richness of Symbiodiniaceae phylotype assemblages is generally not discoverable from direct enumeration of unique phylotypes in association records and that cross host-species comparisons are biased by sampling and evolutionary patterns among species. These biases can be minimized through rarefaction of richness (rarefied-richness) and evenness (Probability of Interspecific Encounter, PIE), and analyses that account for phylogenetic patterns. These standardized metrics were calculated for individual Symbiodiniaceae assemblages composed of 377 unique ITS2 phylotypes associated with 123 coral species. Rarefied-richness minimized correlations with sampling effort, while maintaining important underlying characteristics across host bathymetry and geography. Phylogenetic comparative methods reveal significant increases in coral bleaching and mortality associated with increasing Symbiodiniaceae assemblage richness and evenness at the level of host species.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the potential flexibility afforded by assemblages characterized by many phylotypes present at similar relative abundances does not result in decreased bleaching risk and point to the need to characterize the overall functional and genetic diversity of Symbiodiniaceae assemblages to quantify their effect on host fitness under climate change.}, } @article {pmid32429443, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, Z and Shu, J}, title = {Characterization of Microstructure, Precipitations and Microsegregation in Laser Additive Manufactured Nickel-Based Single-Crystal Superalloy.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {32429443}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {In this study, the microstructure, precipitations, and microsegregation in the laser additive manufactured thin-wall structure of a single-crystal superalloy are synthetically characterized. The influence of a subsequent heat treatment on the microstructure and precipitations is discussed. The results show that under the given processing conditions, the single-crystal microstructure is regenerated perfectly with small misorientation angles in the thin-wall structure. The crystal morphology shows obvious diversity and instability with the incremental height of thin-wall structure. With the increase of manufacturing height, both the primary and secondary dendritic arm spacings of epitaxial columnar dendrites first increase rapidly and then reach a dynamic balanced state. The distribution of precipitations and pores keeps symbiosis in the interdendritic region and shows periodic band characteristic with high density in the band region and low density in the inner region of plate layers. The microsegregation of element atoms in the microstructure shows a three-dimensional network distribution. The concentration of element atoms keeps good consistency with high value in the three-dimensional network and nearly standard value in the outside region. The subsequent heat treatment process contributes to the occupation of as-processed pores by the expanded mature precipitations with good blocky shape. Further optimization of the heat treatment process for improving the lattice coherency of precipitated γ' phase and γ matrix in the laser additive manufactured single-crystal superalloy is needed and valuable.}, } @article {pmid32429344, year = {2020}, author = {Sariola, S and Gilbert, SF}, title = {Toward a Symbiotic Perspective on Public Health: Recognizing the Ambivalence of Microbes in the Anthropocene.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32429344}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Microbes evolve in complex environments that are often fashioned, in part, by human desires. In a global perspective, public health has played major roles in structuring how microbes are perceived, cultivated, and destroyed. The germ theory of disease cast microbes as enemies of the body and the body politic. Antibiotics have altered microbial development by providing stringent natural selection on bacterial species, and this has led to the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Public health perspectives such as "Precision Public Health" and "One Health" have recently been proposed to further manage microbial populations. However, neither of these take into account the symbiotic relationships that exist between bacterial species and between bacteria, viruses, and their eukaryotic hosts. We propose a perspective on public health that recognizes microbial evolution through symbiotic associations (the hologenome theory) and through lateral gene transfer. This perspective has the advantage of including both the pathogenic and beneficial interactions of humans with bacteria, as well as combining the outlook of the "One Health" model with the genomic methodologies utilized in the "Precision Public Health" model. In the Anthropocene, the conditions for microbial evolution have been altered by human interventions, and public health initiatives must recognize both the beneficial (indeed, necessary) interactions of microbes with their hosts as well as their pathogenic interactions.}, } @article {pmid32428493, year = {2020}, author = {Stairs, CW and Ettema, TJG}, title = {The Archaeal Roots of the Eukaryotic Dynamic Actin Cytoskeleton.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {R521-R526}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.074}, pmid = {32428493}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Actins/genetics/*metabolism ; Archaea/*cytology/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Cytoskeleton/*genetics/physiology ; Eukaryota/*cytology/genetics ; }, abstract = {It is generally well accepted that eukaryotes evolved from the symbiosis of an archaeal host cell and an alphaproteobacterium, a union that ultimately gave rise to the complex, eukaryotic cells we see today. However, the catalyst of this merger, the exact nature of the cellular biology of either partner, or how this event spawned the vast majority of complex life on Earth remains enigmatic. In recent years, the discovery of the Asgard archaea, the closest known prokaryotic relatives of eukaryotes, has been monumental for addressing these unanswered questions. These prokaryotes seem to encode an unprecedented number of genes related to features typically descriptive of eukaryotes, including intracellular trafficking, vesicular transport and a dynamic actin-based cytoskeleton. Collectively, these features imply that the Asgard archaea have the potential for cellular complexity previously thought to be unique to eukaryotes. Here, we review the most recent advances in our understanding of the archaeal cytoskeleton and its implications for determining the origin of eukaryotic cellular complexity.}, } @article {pmid32428473, year = {2020}, author = {Merckx, VSFT and Gomes, SIF}, title = {Symbiosis: Herbivory Alters Mycorrhizal Nutrient Exchange.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {R437-R439}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.016}, pmid = {32428473}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Carbon ; Herbivory ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new study shows that a plant gives less carbon to its root-associated mycorrhizal fungus when targeted by herbivores, but the fungus doesn't retaliate.}, } @article {pmid32426508, year = {2020}, author = {Buerger, P and Alvarez-Roa, C and Coppin, CW and Pearce, SL and Chakravarti, LJ and Oakeshott, JG and Edwards, OR and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Heat-evolved microalgal symbionts increase coral bleaching tolerance.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {6}, number = {20}, pages = {eaba2498}, pmid = {32426508}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics/metabolism ; Coral Bleaching ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Hot Temperature ; *Microalgae ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs worldwide are suffering mass mortalities from marine heat waves. With the aim of enhancing coral bleaching tolerance, we evolved 10 clonal strains of a common coral microalgal endosymbiont at elevated temperatures (31°C) for 4 years in the laboratory. All 10 heat-evolved strains had expanded their thermal tolerance in vitro following laboratory evolution. After reintroduction into coral host larvae, 3 of the 10 heat-evolved endosymbionts also increased the holobionts' bleaching tolerance. Although lower levels of secreted reactive oxygen species (ROS) accompanied thermal tolerance of the heat-evolved algae, reduced ROS secretion alone did not predict thermal tolerance in symbiosis. The more tolerant symbiosis exhibited additional higher constitutive expression of algal carbon fixation genes and coral heat tolerance genes. These findings demonstrate that coral stock with enhanced climate resilience can be developed through ex hospite laboratory evolution of their microalgal endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid32423773, year = {2020}, author = {Missbah El Idrissi, M and Lamin, H and Bouhnik, O and Lamrabet, M and Alami, S and Jabrone, Y and Bennis, M and Bedmar, EJ and Abdelmoumen, H}, title = {Characterization of Pisum sativum and Vicia faba microsymbionts in Morocco and definition of symbiovar viciae in Rhizobium acidisoli.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {126084}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126084}, pmid = {32423773}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Genomics/methods ; Morocco ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In this work, we analyzed the diversity of seventy-six bacteria isolated from Pea and faba bean nodules in two regions of Morocco. The molecular diversity was realized using the analysis of the sequences of 16S rRNA and six housekeeping genes (recA, glnII, atpD, dnaK, rpoB and gyrB) and two symbiotic genes (nodA and nodC). The phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that all strains belong to the genus Rhizobium, being related to the type strains of R. leguminosarum, R. laguerreae, R. indigoferae, R. anhuiense and R. acidisoli. The housekeeping genes phylogenies showed that some strains formed a subclade distinct from the rhizobial species that usually nodulate Vicia faba and Pisum sativum which are closely related to R. acidisoli FH23 with sequence similarity of 98.3%. Analysis of the PGPR activities of the different isolates showed that the strains related to R. laguerreae were able to solubilize phosphates and to produce siderophores and auxin phytohormone. However, R. acidisoli strain F40D2 was unable to solubilize phosphates although they produce siderophores and IAA. The phylogenetic analysis of the nodA and nodC sequences showed that all isolated strains were closely related with the strains of symbiovar viciae. The nodulation tests confirmed the ability to nodulate V. faba and P. sativum but not Cicer arietinum or Phaseolus vulgaris. Hence, in Morocco P. sativum is nodulated by R. laguerreae; whereas V. faba is nodulated by R. laguerreae and the symbiovar viciae of R. acidisoli which has been not previously described in this species.}, } @article {pmid32422450, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, L and Ma, J and Li, L and Tian, Y and Zhang, Z and Liao, H and Li, J and Tang, W and He, D}, title = {Exploring the essential factors of performance improvement in sludge membrane bioreactor technology coupled with symbiotic algae.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {115843}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2020.115843}, pmid = {32422450}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Membranes, Artificial ; *Sewage ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {In this study, a coupled system of algal-sludge and membrane bioreactor (AS-MBR) was established for fouling control, and meanwhile the performance of wastewater treatment was enhanced. Results indicated that the AS-MBR increased the COD, NH4[+]-N, TN and PO4[3-] -P removal efficiencies from 91.7% to 95.9%, 90.8%-96.9%, 22.0% to 34.3% and 18.4%-32.6%, respectively. Further analysis suggested that in the AS-MBR, the total specific oxygen utilization rate (SOUR), the SOUR of ammonia oxidizing bacteria and the SOUR of nitrite oxidizing bacteria were 26.6%, 58.5% and 52.4% higher than the control, respectively, indicating the improvement of microbial activities in AS-MBR. Additionally, the membrane fouling rates in the AS-MBR were 52.6% and 32.2% lower than the control in the slow and rapid fouling processes, respectively. A further mechanism investigation demonstrated that the concentrations of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) were decreased by 19.8% and 22.1% in the mixed liquid and the fouling layer, respectively, after the inoculation of algae, which was expected to have a positive effect on the higher permeability and longer operation cycle of the membrane in the AS-MBR. More regular floc morphology was observed for the fouling layer on the membrane of AS-MBR, with the polysaccharides and proteins forming large clusters and channels in the fouling layer that likely decreased the filtration resistance. Consequently, high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the microbial community in the AS-MBR had higher abundances of bacteria and algae related to nutrients and organic matters degradation, which was beneficial for the improvement of wastewater treatment and alleviation of membrane fouling.}, } @article {pmid32421866, year = {2020}, author = {Chaudhary, VB and Nolimal, S and Sosa-Hernández, MA and Egan, C and Kastens, J}, title = {Trait-based aerial dispersal of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16667}, pmid = {32421866}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Dispersal is a key process driving local-scale community assembly and global-scale biogeography of plant symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities. A trait-based approach could improve predictions regarding how AM fungal aerial dispersal varies by species. We conducted month-long collections of aerial AM fungi for 12 consecutive months in an urban mesic environment at heights of 20 m. We measured morphological functional traits of collected spores and assessed aerial AM fungal community structure both morphologically and with high-throughput sequencing. Large numbers of AM fungal spores were present in the air over the course of one year and these spores exhibited traits that facilitate aerial dispersal. Measured aerial spores were smaller than average for Glomeromycotinan fungi. Trait-based predictions indicate that nearly 1/3 of described species from diverse genera demonstrate the potential for aerial dispersal. Diversity of aerial AM fungi was relatively high (20 spore species and 17 virtual taxa) and both spore abundance and community structure shifted temporally. The prevalence of aerial dispersal in AM fungi is perhaps greater than previously indicated and a hypothesized model of AM fungal aerial dispersal mechanisms is presented. Anthropogenic soil impacts may liberate AM fungal propagules initiating the dispersal of ruderal species.}, } @article {pmid32420590, year = {2020}, author = {Rejili, M and BenAbderrahim, MA and Mars, M and Sherrier, JD}, title = {Novel putative rhizobial species with different symbiovars nodulate Lotus creticus and their differential preference to distinctive soil properties.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {367}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaa084}, pmid = {32420590}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Lotus/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Phylogenetically diverse rhizobial strains endemic to Tunisia were isolated from symbiotic nodules of Lotus creticus, growing in different arid extremophile geographical regions of Tunisia, and speciated using multiloci-phylogenetic analysis as Neorhizobium huautlense (LCK33, LCK35, LCO42 and LCO49), Ensifer numidicus (LCD22, LCD25, LCK22 and LCK25), Ensifer meliloti (LCK8, LCK9 and LCK12) and Mesorhizobium camelthorni (LCD11, LCD13, LCD31 and LCD33). In addition, phylogenetic analyses revealed eight additional strains with previously undescribed chromosomal lineages within the genera Ensifer (LCF5, LCF6 and LCF8),Rhizobium (LCF11, LCF12 and LCF14) and Mesorhizobium (LCF16 and LCF19). Analysis using the nodC gene identified five symbiovar groups, four of which were already known. The remaining group composed of two strains (LCD11 and LCD33) represented a new symbiovar of Mesorhizobium camelthorni, which we propose designating as sv. hedysari. Interestingly, we report that soil properties drive and structure the symbiosis of L. creticus and its rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid32419582, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, JS and Chowdhury, N and Roberts, JS and Yilmaz, Ö}, title = {Host surface ectonucleotidase-CD73 and the opportunistic pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, cross-modulation underlies a new homeostatic mechanism for chronic bacterial survival in human epithelial cells.}, journal = {Virulence}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {414-429}, pmid = {32419582}, issn = {2150-5608}, support = {T32 DE017551/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE030313/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE016593/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; F30 DE029103/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DE016593/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; F31 DE026065/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {5'-Nucleotidase/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/immunology/*microbiology ; GPI-Linked Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Gingiva/cytology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-6/immunology/pharmacology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/*pathogenicity ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cell surface nucleotide-metabolizing enzyme, ectonucleotidase-CD73, has emerged as a central component of the cellular homeostatic-machinery that counterbalances the danger-molecule (extracellular-ATP)-driven proinflammatory response in immune cells. While the importance of CD73 in microbial host fitness and symbiosis is gradually being unraveled, there remains a significant gap in knowledge of CD73 and its putative role in epithelial cells. Here, we depict a novel host-pathogen adaptation mechanism where CD73 takes a center role in the intracellular persistence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major colonizer of oral mucosa, using human primary gingival epithelial cell (GEC) system. Temporal analyses revealed, upon invasion into the GECs, P. gingivalis can significantly elevate the host-surface CD73 activity and expression. The enhanced and active CD73 significantly increases P. gingivalis intracellular growth in the presence of substrate-AMP and simultaneously acts as a negative regulator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation upon eATP treatment. The inhibition of CD73 by siRNA or by a specific inhibitor markedly increases ROS production. Moreover, CD73 and P. gingivalis cross-signaling significantly modulates pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the GECs. Conversely, exogenous treatment of the infected GECs with IL-6 suppresses the intracellular bacteria via amplified ROS generation. However, the decreased bacterial levels can be restored by overexpressing functionally active CD73. Together, these findings illuminate how the local extracellular-purine-metabolism, in which CD73 serves as a core molecular switch, can alter intracellular microbial colonization resistance. Further, host-adaptive pathogens such as P. gingivalis can target host ectonucleotidases to disarm specific innate defenses for successful intracellular persistence in mucosal epithelia.}, } @article {pmid32417520, year = {2020}, author = {Mielke, KC and Bertuani, RR and Pires, FR and Bueno Cotta, AJ and Egreja Filho, FB and Madalão, JC}, title = {Does Canavalia ensiformis inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. enhance phytoremediation of sulfentrazone-contaminated soil?.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {255}, number = {}, pages = {127033}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127033}, pmid = {32417520}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development ; Canavalia/*growth & development ; Herbicides/*analysis/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis/metabolism ; Sulfonamides/*analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Triazoles/*analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis among herbicide-metabolising microorganisms and phytoremediation plants may be an efficient alternative to remediate sulfentrazone-contaminated soils. This work evaluated the bioremediation of sulfentrazone-contaminated soils by symbiosis between bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.) and jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse between March and May of 2018, in the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES). Four doses of sulfentrazone (0, 400, 800, and 1200 g ha[-1] a. i.) were tested with and without inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. BR 2003 (SEMIA 6156) After 80 days of cultivation, plants were cut and soil was collected for determination of the herbicide residual levels and millet bioassay. The sulfentrazone concentration was significantly reduced by plant inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp.: on average, concentrations were 18.97%, 23.82%, and 22.10% lower than in the absence of inoculation at doses of 400, 800, and 1200 g ha[-1], respectively. Symbiosis promoted a reduction of up to 65% in residual soil herbicides. Under the 1200 g ha[-1] dose, inoculation promoted greater plant height than in the uninoculated plant. Regardless of the dose of sulfentrazone, the dry root mass was higher in the inoculated plants. The microbiological indicators showed satisfactory results mainly for the dose of 400 g ha[-1]. The results of this study highlight the potential of positive interactions between symbiotic microorganisms and leguminous species, aiming toward the phytoremediation of sulfentrazone herbicide.}, } @article {pmid32415608, year = {2020}, author = {Hartmann, M and Voß, S and Requena, N}, title = {Host-Induced Gene Silencing of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Genes via Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Mediated Root Transformation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {239-248}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_18}, pmid = {32415608}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*genetics ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Fungi/genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Oomycetes/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transformation, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is a methodology that allows the downregulation of genes in organisms living in close association with a host and that are not amenable or recalcitrant to genetic modifications. This method has been particularly used for oomycetes and for filamentous fungi interacting with plants, including the fungi of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here, we present a protocol developed in our laboratory to downregulate genes from the obligate symbiont Rhizophagus irregularis in symbiosis with Medicago truncatula plants.}, } @article {pmid32415607, year = {2020}, author = {Recorbet, G and Courty, PE and Wipf, D}, title = {Recovery of Extra-Radical Fungal Peptides Amenable for Shotgun Protein Profiling in Arbuscular Mycorrhizae.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {223-238}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_17}, pmid = {32415607}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Daucus carota/microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Mycelium/genetics/isolation & purification ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Proteome/*genetics ; Proteomics/*methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, the belowground mycelium that develops into the soil, not only provides extensive pathways for nutrient fluxes, the occupation of different niches, and dispersal of propagules, but also has strong influences upon biogeochemical cycling. By providing a valuable overview of expression changes of most proteins, shotgun proteomics can help decipher key metabolic pathways involved in the functioning of fungal mycelia. In this protocol, we describe the combination of extra-radical mycelium growth systems with gel-based extraction of fungal peptides amenable for shotgun protein profiling, which allows gaining information about the extra-radical proteome.}, } @article {pmid32415606, year = {2020}, author = {Cruz-Paredes, C and Gavito, ME}, title = {Isotope Labeling to Study Phosphorus Uptake in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {213-222}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_16}, pmid = {32415606}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Isotope Labeling/*methods ; Mycorrhizae/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Isotope labeling enables the detection and quantification of nutrient fluxes between soil and plants through arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Here we describe the use of radioactive isotopes, [33]P and [32]P, to study the uptake of P from soil by AM fungal mycelium and its transfer to the host plant through the mycorrhizal pathway.}, } @article {pmid32415605, year = {2020}, author = {Tamayo, E and Gómez-Gallego, T and Ferrol, N}, title = {Functional Analysis of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Genes in Yeast.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {197-211}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_15}, pmid = {32415605}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transformation, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {The obligate symbiotic nature of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi makes extremely difficult their genetic manipulation or transformation. For this reason, a heterologous system has been traditionally used for functional analysis of AM fungal genes, being the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae an organism suitable for this purpose. Here we present the yeast methods required for the functional analysis of AM fungal genes, including protocols for yeast transformation, heterologous gene expression, functional complementation assays, preparation of yeast extracts, and subcellular localization of the encoded protein.}, } @article {pmid32415604, year = {2020}, author = {Hause, B and Requena, N}, title = {Detection of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Gene Expression by In Situ Hybridization.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {185-196}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_14}, pmid = {32415604}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization/*methods ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The complexity of the obligate symbiotic interaction of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their host roots requires sophisticated molecular methods. In particular, to capture the dynamic of the interaction, cell-specific methods for gene expression analysis are required. In situ hybridization is a technique that allows to determine the location of transcript accumulation within tissues, being of special interest for these fungi that cannot be genetically modified. The method requires proper fixation and embedding methods as well as specific probes for the hybridization allowing detection of specific transcripts. In this chapter, we present a method to prepare roots, which have established a symbiosis with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus for the detection of fungal transcripts. This includes chemical fixation, subsequent embedding in a suitable medium, sectioning and pretreatment of sections, the hybridization procedure itself, as well as the immunological detection of RNA-RNA hybrids.}, } @article {pmid32415603, year = {2020}, author = {Balestrini, R and Fiorilli, V}, title = {Laser Microdissection as a Useful Tool to Study Gene Expression in Plant and Fungal Partners in AM Symbiosis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {171-184}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_13}, pmid = {32415603}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Laser Capture Microdissection/*methods ; Medicago truncatula ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis/*methods ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Laser microdissection (LMD) technology has been widely applied to plant tissues, offering novel information on the role of different cell-type populations during plant-microbe interactions. In this chapter, protocols to apply the LMD approach to study plant and fungal transcript profiles in different cell-type populations from arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) roots are described in detail, starting from the biological material preparation to gene expression analyses by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR.}, } @article {pmid32415602, year = {2020}, author = {Silvestri, A and Pérez-Tienda, J and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Gene Expression Analysis by Real-Time PCR.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {157-170}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_12}, pmid = {32415602}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Gene expression analysis is a broadly used and powerful technique in many fields of biological research. The expression pattern of specific marker genes provides an insight into complex regulatory networks and leads to the identification of relevant genes associated to specific biological processes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Among the existing gene expression analysis toolbox, reverse transcriptase coupled to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is considered the gold standard for accurate, sensitive, fast, and relatively inexpensive measurement. However, for a correct identification of differentially expressed genes, appropriate controls are required in order to minimize nonspecific variations associated with intrinsic technical variability. In this chapter, we recommend a number of tips to use qRT-PCR analysis in mycorrhizal roots and fungal mycelium.}, } @article {pmid32415596, year = {2020}, author = {Cornejo, P and Aponte, H}, title = {Visualization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Extraradical Hyphae and Spores Vitality and Activity.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {61-71}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_6}, pmid = {32415596}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Hyphae/*growth & development/ultrastructure ; Mycelium/genetics/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development/ultrastructure ; Staining and Labeling/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The hyphae and spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi represent an essential component in the extraradical zone due to their role in nutrients and water uptake and as propagules that allow the perpetuation of the AM symbiosis over time, respectively. However, the attention of scientific literature is usually more focused on root colonization than on the study of the extraradical components of AM fungi, especially their vital, active, or functional fractions. This chapter presents some easy-to-use alternatives for staining vital, active, or functional structures of AM fungi for their subsequent microscopic visualization, such as the application of enzyme-based stains, NADPH formation, and also nucleus staining. Some modified methods for the extraction of mycelium from the soil are also presented.}, } @article {pmid32415595, year = {2020}, author = {Carotenuto, G and Genre, A}, title = {Fluorescent Staining of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Structures Using Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) and Propidium Iodide.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {53-59}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_5}, pmid = {32415595}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Fluorescence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Hyphae/genetics/isolation & purification ; Lotus/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Propidium/*pharmacology ; Staining and Labeling/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Wheat Germ Agglutinins/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The colonization of a host plant root by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is a progressive process, characterized by asynchronous hyphal growth in intercellular and intracellular spaces, leading to the coexistence of diverse intraradical structures, such as hyphae, coils, arbuscules, and vesicles. In addition, the relative abundance of intercellular and intracellular fungal structures is highly dependent on root anatomy and the combination of plant and fungal species. Lastly, more than one fungal species may colonize the same root, adding a further level of complexity. For all these reasons, detailed imaging of a large number of samples is often necessary to fully assess the developmental processes and functionality of AM symbiosis. To this aim, the use of rapid and efficient staining methods that can be used routinely is crucial.We herein present a simple protocol to obtain high detail images of both overall intraradical fungal colonization pattern and fine morphology, in AM root sections of Lotus japonicus. The procedure is based on tissue clearing, fluorescent staining of fungal cell walls with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (FITC-WGA), and the combined counterstaining of plant cell walls with propidium iodide (PI). The resulting images can be acquired using traditional or confocal fluorescence microscopes and used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of fungal colonization, of particular interest for the comparison of mycorrhizal phenotypes between different experimental conditions or genetic backgrounds.}, } @article {pmid32415593, year = {2020}, author = {Sbrana, C and Pepe, A and Ferrol, N and Giovannetti, M}, title = {A Whole-Plant Culture Method to Study Structural and Functional Traits of Extraradical Mycelium.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2146}, number = {}, pages = {33-41}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0603-2_3}, pmid = {32415593}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Culture Techniques/*methods ; Hyphae/cytology/growth & development ; Mycelium/genetics/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {An in vivo whole-plant bi-dimensional experimental system has been devised and tested with different host plants, in order to obtain extraradical mycelium (ERM) produced by different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In this system, a host plant germling is inoculated with AMF to establish mycorrhizal symbiosis, and, after colonization, newly formed extraradical hyphae and spores are removed. Then the mycorrhizal root system is wrapped in a nylon net and placed between membranes in a Petri dish, allowing ERM to grow on the membrane surface. Such extraradical hyphae may be used for in situ morphometric analyses or collected for molecular or biochemical assays: in the latter case, the plant with its root sandwich may be reassembled to renew mycelium production. In this experimental system, which was tested with diverse host plant species and lines, values of explored membrane surface areas and densities of ERM showed wide ranges of variation, and its length ranged from 9.7 ± 2.0 to 48.8 ± 9.9 m per plant, depending on host and AMF identity. Across the different plant-AMF combinations tested, the whole-plant system produced 2.0 ± 0.6 to 5.3 ± 0.3 mg of ERM fresh biomass per plant per harvest. This experimental system can be used for a wide range of AMF and host plants species, either establishing arbuscular mycorrhizas or other mycorrhizal interactions. ERM produced and collected in the whole-plant system is suitable for morphological, physiological, and molecular analyses, facilitating studies on the different aspects of mycorrhizal symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid32412888, year = {2020}, author = {Cagnano, G and Lenk, I and Roulund, N and Jensen, CS and Cox, MP and Asp, T}, title = {Mycelial biomass and concentration of loline alkaloids driven by complex population structure in Epichloë uncinata and meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis).}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {112}, number = {3}, pages = {474-490}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2020.1746607}, pmid = {32412888}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Alkaloids/analysis ; Endophytes/*genetics/*physiology ; Epichloe/*chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; Festuca/chemistry/microbiology/*physiology ; Genotyping Techniques ; Lolium/chemistry/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycelium/chemistry/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Many efforts have been made to select and isolate naturally occurring animal-friendly Epichloë strains for later reinfection into elite cultivars. Often this process involves large-scale screening of Epichloë-infected wild grass populations where strains are characterized and alkaloids measured. Here, we describe for the first time the use of genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) on a collection of 217 Epichloë-infected grasses (7 S. arundinaceum, 4 L. perenne, and 206 S. pratensis). This genotyping strategy is cheaper than complete genome sequencing, is suitable for a large number of individuals, and, when applied to endophyte-infected grasses, conveniently genotypes both organisms. In total, 6273 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the endophyte data set and 38 323 SNPs in the host data set were obtained. Our findings reveal a composite structure with three distinct endophyte clusters unrelated to the three main S. pratensis gene pools that have most likely spread from different glacial refugia in Eurasia. All three gene pools can establish symbiosis with E. uncinata. A comparison of the endophyte clusters with microsatellite-based fingerprinting of the same samples allows a quick test to discriminate between these clusters using two simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Concentrations of loline alkaloids and mycelial biomass are correlated and differ significantly among the plant and endophyte subpopulations; one endophyte strain has higher levels of lolines than others, and one specific host genotype is particularly suitable to host E. uncinata. These findings pave the way for targeted artificial inoculations of specific host-endophyte combinations to boost loline production in the symbiota and for genome association studies with the aim of isolating genes involved in the compatibility between meadow fescue and E. uncinata.}, } @article {pmid32412123, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, G and Ahmad, MZ and Chen, B and Manan, S and Zhang, Y and Jin, H and Wang, X and Zhao, J}, title = {Lipidomic and transcriptomic profiling of developing nodules reveals the essential roles of active glycolysis and fatty acid and membrane lipid biosynthesis in soybean nodulation.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {103}, number = {4}, pages = {1351-1371}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14805}, pmid = {32412123}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Glycolysis/physiology ; Lipidomics ; Lipids/*biosynthesis ; Membrane Lipids/biosynthesis ; Phospholipids/biosynthesis ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Soybeans/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic rhizobia-legume interactions are energy-demanding processes, and the carbon supply from host cells that is critically required for nodulation and nitrogen fixation is not fully understood. Investigation of the lipidomic and carbohydrate profiles with the transcriptome of developing nodules revealed highly activated glycolysis, fatty acid (FA), 2-monoacylglycerol (2-MAG), and membrane lipid biosynthesis and transport during nodule development. RNA-sequence profiling of metabolic genes in roots and developing nodules highlighted the enhanced expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis and transport of FAs, membrane lipids, and 2-MAG in rhizobia-soybean symbioses via the RAML-WRI-FatM-GPAT-STRL pathway, which is similar to that in legume-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis. The essential roles of the metabolic pathway during soybean nodulation were further supported by analysis of transgenic hairy roots overexpressing soybean GmWRI1b-OE and GmLEC2a-OE. GmLEC2a-OE hairy roots produced fewer nodules, in contrast to GmWRI1b-OE hairy roots. GmLEC2a-OE hairy roots displayed different or even opposite expression patterns of the genes involved in glycolysis and the synthesis of FAs, 2-MAG, TAG, and membrane lipids compared to GmWRI1b-OE hairy roots. Glycolysis, FA and membrane lipid biosynthesis were repressed in GmLEC2a-OE but increased in GmWRI1b-OE hairy roots, which may account for the reduced nodulation in GmLEC2a-OE hairy roots but increased nodulation in GmWRI1b-OE hairy roots. These data show that active FA, 2-MAG and membrane lipid biosynthesis are essential for nodulation and rhizobia-soybean symbioses. These data shed light on essential and complex lipid metabolism for soybean nodulation and nodule development, laying the foundation for the future detailed investigation of soybean nodulation.}, } @article {pmid32411157, year = {2020}, author = {Harris, JM and Pawlowski, K and Mathesius, U}, title = {Editorial: Evolution of Signaling in Plant Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {456}, pmid = {32411157}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid32411015, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, H and Feng, B and Xie, M and Ren, Y and Xia, J and Zhang, Y and Wang, A and Li, X}, title = {Physiological Characteristics and Environment Adaptability of Reef-Building Corals at the Wuzhizhou Island of South China Sea.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {390}, pmid = {32411015}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The health of coral reef has declined significantly around the world due to the impact of human activities and natural environment changes, and corals have to develop effective resistance mechanisms to survive. In this study, we examined the physiological characteristics and Symbiodiniaceae types of four dominant scleractinian corals in the reefs at the Wuzhizhou Island (WZZ) in South China Sea. The water environmental conditions are complex on the north side of WZZ due to regional geography and tourism development, and all corals had their unique physiological conditions and Symbiodiniaceae types. For all corals of this study, the rETRm ax and protein content were significantly lower and the SOD enzyme activity was significantly higher in the north than in the south. Interestingly, ITS2 genotyping showed that Galaxea fascicularis contained dominant Symbiodiniaceae either genotype C21 or D1a depending on the regional environmental stress, and had stronger heterotrophy than the other three coral species. In addition, the light use efficiency of the dominant Symbiodiniaceae type C1 for Pocillopora verrucosa was significantly lower in the north and the half saturating irradiance was stable. Besides, Montipora truncata and P. verrucosa increased their density of the symbiotic zooxanthella C1 in the north to offset the decline of photosynthetic efficiency and thus supply energy. For Porites lutea and G. fascicularis, their half saturating irradiance declined sharply in the north, where P. lutea resorted to heterotrophic feeding to balance the energy budget when the number of zooxanthellas fell short and G. fascicularis reduced its energy reserve significantly when the energy source was limited. We thus demonstrated the differences in the physiological responses and energy metabolism strategies between the zooxanthella and the host coral of the four reef-building coral species under the stress of complex water environment on the north side of WZZ. The corals were found to cope with natural and anthropogenic stressors by adjusting the nutrient input sources and the energy structure metabolism of coral hosts or adapting to more sustainable relationship with Symbiodiniaceae clades. The corals exhibited their capacity against long-term disturbances by developing their own successful resistance mechanisms at symbiotic relationship and energy metabolism level.}, } @article {pmid32410239, year = {2020}, author = {Agtuca, BJ and Stopka, SA and Evans, S and Samarah, L and Liu, Y and Xu, D and Stacey, MG and Koppenaal, DW and Paša-Tolić, L and Anderton, CR and Vertes, A and Stacey, G}, title = {Metabolomic profiling of wild-type and mutant soybean root nodules using laser-ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry reveals altered metabolism.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {103}, number = {5}, pages = {1937-1958}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14815}, pmid = {32410239}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soybeans/metabolism/*microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The establishment of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between soybean and Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a complex process. To document the changes in plant metabolism as a result of symbiosis, we utilized laser ablation electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) for in situ metabolic profiling of wild-type nodules, nodules infected with a B. japonicum nifH mutant unable to fix nitrogen, nodules doubly infected by both strains, and nodules formed on plants mutated in the stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase (sacpd-c) gene, which were previously shown to have an altered nodule ultrastructure. The results showed that the relative abundance of fatty acids, purines, and lipids was significantly changed in response to the symbiosis. The nifH mutant nodules had elevated levels of jasmonic acid, correlating with signs of nitrogen deprivation. Nodules resulting from the mixed inoculant displayed similar, overlapping metabolic distributions within the sectors of effective (fix[+]) and ineffective (nifH mutant, fix[-]) endosymbionts. These data are inconsistent with the notion that plant sanctioning is cell autonomous. Nodules lacking sacpd-c displayed an elevation of soyasaponins and organic acids in the central necrotic regions. The present study demonstrates the utility of LAESI-MS for high-throughput screening of plant phenotypes. Overall, nodules disrupted in the symbiosis were elevated in metabolites related to plant defense.}, } @article {pmid32408433, year = {2020}, author = {Couto, E and Calijuri, ML and Assemany, P}, title = {Biomass production in high rate ponds and hydrothermal liquefaction: Wastewater treatment and bioenergy integration.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {724}, number = {}, pages = {138104}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138104}, pmid = {32408433}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Microalgae ; Ponds ; Temperature ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Against the worldwide energy crisis and climate change, new forms of energy generation have been investigated. Among the possibilities, microalgae are considered potential feedstock for biofuels production. However, there are still important challenges to overcome. In this context, the integration of biomass cultivation and the treatment of different types of wastewater can represent a source of nutrients and water, with the additional benefit of reducing the discharge of pollutant loads into water bodies. The wastewater grown biomass is composed by a microorganism consortium. These microorganisms can develop important symbiotic relationships for the optimization of biomass production. However, the success of algal biomass cultivation in effluents also involves the development of efficient reactors, which ranges from design criteria to operational parameters. High rate ponds are the most suitable reactors for such a purpose, within the context of a wastewater treatment plant. In this reactor, the addition of CO2 is an important parameter for pH control and, consequently, will influence nutrient assimilation. Another relevant operational parameter is the pond depth, which will have a major role in radiation availability along the water column. With respect to the energy use of the biomass, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) represents an interesting alternative for wastewater grown biomass, since the process does not require complete drying of the biomass, its bio-oil production efficiency is not necessarily attached to the lipid content and may present a positive energy balance. In addition, the possibility of using the HTL by-products, especially the water soluble products, in the context of a biorefinery, represents a route for nutrient recycling, residue minimization, and cost reduction.}, } @article {pmid32408049, year = {2020}, author = {Ramongolalaina, C}, title = {Dual-luciferase assay and siRNA silencing for nodD1 to study the competitiveness of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 in soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {237}, number = {}, pages = {126488}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2020.126488}, pmid = {32408049}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Fluorescent Dyes/analysis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Luciferases, Renilla ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Development ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transformation, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of soybean with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, which always competes with other rhizobia in the field, is of great agronomic and environmental importance. Herein, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was utilized to monitor the dynamics of two dominant bradyrhizobia infecting roots of soybean. More explicitly, luciferase-tagged B. diazoefficiens USDA110 (USDA110-FLuc) and Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 94 (USDA94-RLuc) were designed, co-inoculated into soybean seeds, and observed for their colonization in root nodules by bioluminescence imaging. The results showed that USDA110-FLuc initiated infection earlier than USDA94-RLuc, but its occupancy in the nodules decreased as the plant grew. A nodulation test showed that nodD1 mutant USDA110 strains, including CRISPR engineered mutants, were less competitive than wild type. I constructed siRNAs to knockdown nodD1 at different target sites and transformed them into the bacteria. Surprisingly, although siRNAs - with 3' end target sites - were able to repress up to 65% of nodD1 expression, the profiling of total RNAs with a bioanalyzer revealed that 23S/16S-rRNA ratios of siRNA-transformed and wild type USDA110 strains were similar, but lower than that of nodD1 mutant. In short, the current work - while reporting the competitiveness of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 in early occupancy of soybean nodules and the gene nodD1 as a key determinant of this infection - gives an insight on siRNA silencing in microbes, and demonstrates a highly efficient imaging approach that could entail many new avenues for many biological research fields.}, } @article {pmid32407834, year = {2021}, author = {Carriche, GM and Almeida, L and Stüve, P and Velasquez, L and Dhillon-LaBrooy, A and Roy, U and Lindenberg, M and Strowig, T and Plaza-Sirvent, C and Schmitz, I and Lochner, M and Simon, AK and Sparwasser, T}, title = {Regulating T-cell differentiation through the polyamine spermidine.}, journal = {The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology}, volume = {147}, number = {1}, pages = {335-348.e11}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaci.2020.04.037}, pmid = {32407834}, issn = {1097-6825}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Differentiation/*drug effects/immunology ; Colitis/*immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/*drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Knockout ; Spermidine/*pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The cross-talk between the host and its microbiota plays a key role in the promotion of health. The production of metabolites such as polyamines by intestinal-resident bacteria is part of this symbiosis shaping host immunity. The polyamines putrescine, spermine, and spermidine are abundant within the gastrointestinal tract and might substantially contribute to gut immunity.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize the polyamine spermidine as a modulator of T-cell differentiation and function.

METHODS: Naive T cells were isolated from wild-type mice or cord blood from healthy donors and submitted to polarizing cytokines, with and without spermidine treatment, to evaluate CD4[+] T-cell differentiation in vitro. Moreover, mice were subjected to oral supplementation of spermidine, or its precursor l-arginine, to assess the frequency and total numbers of regulatory T (Treg) cells in vivo.

RESULTS: Spermidine modulates CD4[+] T-cell differentiation in vitro, preferentially committing naive T cells to a regulatory phenotype. After spermidine treatment, activated T cells lacking the autophagy gene Atg5 fail to upregulate Foxp3 to the same extent as wild-type cells. These results indicate that spermidine's polarizing effect requires an intact autophagic machinery. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with spermidine promotes homeostatic differentiation of Treg cells within the gut and reduces pathology in a model of T-cell transfer-induced colitis.

CONCLUSION: Altogether, our results highlight the beneficial effects of spermidine, or l-arginine, on gut immunity by promoting Treg cell development.}, } @article {pmid32407692, year = {2020}, author = {Mortimer, JC and Scheller, HV}, title = {Synthesis and Function of Complex Sphingolipid Glycosylation.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {522-524}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2020.03.007}, pmid = {32407692}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Glycosphingolipids ; Glycosylation ; *Sphingolipids ; }, abstract = {Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs) constitute an important class of plasma-membrane lipids in plants. The complex glycan headgroups of GIPCs vary between plant species and tissues. Recent studies have shown that the structure of the glycan headgroup is important for plant development, abiotic stress tolerance, and interactions with pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid32406121, year = {2020}, author = {Suárez, J and Stencel, A}, title = {A part-dependent account of biological individuality: why holobionts are individuals and ecosystems simultaneously.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {95}, number = {5}, pages = {1308-1324}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12610}, pmid = {32406121}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {FFI2016-76799-P//Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/International ; FFU16/02570//Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte/International ; 2018/28/T/HS1/00201//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/International ; //University of Sydney/International ; //University of Bordeaux/International ; //University of Barcelona/International ; //University of Exeter/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Given one conception of biological individuality (evolutionary, physiological, etc.), can a holobiont - that is the host + its symbiotic (mutualistic, commensalist and parasitic) microbiome - be simultaneously a biological individual and an ecological community? Herein, we support this possibility by arguing that the notion of biological individuality is part-dependent. In our account, the individuality of a biological ensemble should not only be determined by the conception of biological individuality in use, but also by the biological characteristics of the part of the ensemble under investigation. In the specific case of holobionts, evaluations of their individuality should be made either host-relative or microbe-relative. We support the claim that biological individuality is part-dependent by drawing upon recent empirical evidence regarding the physiology of hosts and microbes, and the recent characterization of the 'demibiont'. Our account shows that contemporary disagreements about the individuality of the holobiont derive from an incorrect understanding of the ontology of biological individuality. We show that collaboration between philosophers and biologists can be very fruitful in attempts to solve some contemporary biological debates.}, } @article {pmid32405804, year = {2020}, author = {Bolumburu, C and Zamora, V and Muñoz-Algarra, M and Portero-Azorín, F and Escario, JA and Ibáñez-Escribano, A}, title = {Trichomoniasis in a tertiary hospital of Madrid, Spain (2013-2017): prevalence and pregnancy rate, coinfections, metronidazole resistance, and endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {119}, number = {6}, pages = {1915-1923}, pmid = {32405804}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Adult ; Coinfection ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Gonorrhea/complications ; Humans ; Metronidazole/*pharmacology ; Middle Aged ; Mycoplasma hominis/isolation & purification ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic/epidemiology ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spain/epidemiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Tertiary Care Centers ; Trichomonas Infections/complications/drug therapy/*epidemiology ; *Trichomonas vaginalis ; }, abstract = {Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and a risk factor for the acquisition of other STIs and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis and related coinfections in women attending a third-level hospital of Madrid (Spain). A retrospective study of 24,173 vaginal exudates from women with suspected vaginitis was conducted between 2013 and 2017. Likewise, among T. vaginalis positive samples, co-occurrence with gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, VIH, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum was checked. Moreover, seven T. vaginalis isolates from 2017 were randomly collected for endobionts, drug resistance, and microsatellite (MS) instability determinations. The prevalence of T. vaginalis was 0.8% between 2013 and 2017. Less than 20% of patients with trichomoniasis were submitted to a complete screening for other genital pathogens. From that, two patients were coinfected with chlamydia and three with syphilis. Surprisingly, 6.4% of positive samples were diagnosed among pregnant women, showing an alarming increase from 3.2% (2014) to 10% (2017). Among the isolates randomly analyzed, five carried T. vaginalis virus, five harbored mycoplasmas, and one was metronidazole-resistant. The molecular genotyping showed a high variability in the three MS evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Spain that evaluates the prevalence of trichomoniasis in general and pregnant population and includes biomolecular determinations. These results warn about the increasing prevalence and highlight the importance of including T. vaginalis detection in routine gynecological revisions with special emphasis on childbearing age women and patients with previous STIs.}, } @article {pmid32404513, year = {2020}, author = {Fu, N and Wang, M and Wang, L and Luo, Y and Ren, L}, title = {Genome Sequencing and Analysis of the Fungal Symbiont of Sirex noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum: Revealing the Biology of Fungus-Insect Mutualism.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32404513}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*genetics/*physiology ; Female ; Genome, Fungal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Larva/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology ; *Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Amylostereum areolatum is the symbiotic fungus of the Eurasian woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, a globally invasive species. The mutualistic symbiont is associated with the woodwasp, assisting the damage process and providing nutrition for its insect partners. Colonization and growth of A. areolatum have essential impacts on the development and spread of S. noctilio, though the mechanism of interaction between the two has been poorly described. In this study, the first genome of this symbiotic fungus was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The assembled A. areolatum genome was 57.5 Mb (54.51% GC content) with 15,611 protein-coding genes. We identified 580 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), 661 genes associated with pathogen-host interactions, and 318 genes encoding transport proteins in total. The genome annotation revealed 10 terpene/phytoene synthases responsible for terpenoid biosynthesis, which could be classified into three clades. Terpene synthase gene clusters in clade II were conserved well across Russulales. In this cluster, genes encoding mevalonate kinase (MK), EGR12 (COG1557), and nonplant terpene cyclases (cd00687) were the known biosynthesis and regulatory genes. Genome sequence analysis of this fungus would prove the possibility of A. areolatum volatiles affecting the host selection of S. noctilio on a molecular basis. We further clarified that A. areolatum was a strict obligate symbiotic fungus. The wasps might protect the fungus before it was introduced into a suitable host substrate by oviposition, while the fungus would provide S. noctilio with a suitable environment and nutrients for the larval growth. These results would lay a foundation for our understanding of the mechanism of this entomogenous symbiosis.IMPORTANCESirex noctilio (F.), together with Amylostereum areolatum, a wood-decaying symbiotic fungus, causes severe damage to Pinus species worldwide. In China, it causes extensive death of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica). There is an obligate dependency mutualism between the woodwasp and its fungus. Studies have suggested that the fungal growth rate affected the size of the wasps: larger adults emerged from sites with a higher fungus growth rate. This genome is the first reported genome sequence of a woodwasp symbiotic fungus. Genome sequence analysis of this fungus would prove the possibility of A. areolatum volatiles affecting the host selection of S. noctilio on a molecular basis. We further clarified that A. areolatum was a strict obligate symbiotic fungus and that it would provide S. noctilio with a suitable environment and with nutrients for the larval growth. These results would lay a foundation for our understanding of the mechanism of this entomogenous symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32403444, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, S and Sun, Y and Li, Z and Huang, T}, title = {Characteristics and Driving Factors of the Aerobic Denitrifying Microbial Community in Baiyangdian Lake, Xiong'an New Area.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32403444}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Here, the ion-exchangeable form of nitrogen (IEF-N), weak-acid extractable form of nitrogen (WAEF-N), strong-alkali extractable form of nitrogen (SAEF-N), strong-oxidant extractable form of nitrogen (SOEF-N), residue nitrogen (Res-N), and total nitrogen (TN) showed spatial differences, and most of the sediment nitrogen fractions exhibited positive correlations in Baiyangdian Lake. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the aerobic denitrification microbial community was composed of proteobacteria (42.04%-99.08%) and unclassified_bacteria (0.92%-57.92%). Moreover, the microbial community exhibited significant differences (R[2] = 0.4422, P < 0.05) on the basis of the adonis analysis. T(temperature), Moisture content (MC), sediment total phosphorus (STP), ion-exchangeable form of ammonia (IEF-NH4[+]-N), weak-acid extractable form of ammonia (WAEF-NH4[+]-N), weak-acid extractable form of nitrate (WAEF-NO3[-]-N), and strong-alkali extractable form of ammonia (SAEF-NH4[+]-N) were the dominant environmental factors and explained 11.1%, 8.2%, 10.7%, 6.9%, 9.3%, 8.1%, 10.5%, 7.5%, and 7% variation, respectively, of the total variation in the microbial community. Furthermore, the network analysis showed that symbiotic relationships accounted for a major percentage of the microbial networks. The keystone aerobic denitrifying bacteria belonged to Comamonas, Rhodobacter, Achromobacter, Aeromonas, Azoarcus, Leptothrix_Burkholderiales, Pseudomonas, Thauera, unclassified_Burkholderiales, and unclassified_bacteria. The composition of the keystone aerobic denitrifying microbial community also exhibited significant differences (R[2] = 0.4534, P < 0.05) on the basis of the adonis analysis. T, STP, IEF-NH4[+]-N, ion-exchangeable form of nitrate (IEF-NO3[-]-N), WAEF-NO3[-]-N, SAEF-NH4[+]-N, and TN were the dominant environmental factors that explained 8.4%, 6.2%, 4.6%, 5.9%, 5.9%, 4.5%, and 9.4% variation, respectively, of the total variation in the keystone aerobic denitrifying microbial community. The systematic investigation could provide a theoretical foundation for the evolution mechanism of the aerobic denitrifying microbial community in Baiyangdian Lake.}, } @article {pmid32401310, year = {2020}, author = {Bornbusch, SL and Grebe, NM and Lunn, S and Southworth, CA and Dimac-Stohl, K and Drea, C}, title = {Stable and transient structural variation in lemur vaginal, labial and axillary microbiomes: patterns by species, body site, ovarian hormones and forest access.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa090}, pmid = {32401310}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; Female ; Forests ; *Lemur ; *Microbiota ; Primates ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbiomes shape and are shaped by myriad processes that ultimately delineate their symbiotic functions. Whereas a host's stable traits, such as its lineage, relate to gross aspects of its microbiome structure, transient factors, such as its varying physiological state, relate to shorter term, structural variation. Our understanding of these relationships in primates derives principally from anthropoid studies and would benefit from a broader, comparative perspective. We thus examined the vaginal, labial and axillary microbiota of captive, female ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and Coquerel's sifakas (Propithecus coquereli), across an ovarian cycle, to better understand their relation to stable (e.g. species identity/mating system, body site) and transient (e.g. ovarian hormone concentration, forest access) host features. We used 16S amplicon sequencing to determine microbial composition and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to measure serum hormone concentrations. We found marked variation in microbiota diversity and community composition between lemur species and their body sites. Across both host species, microbial diversity was significantly correlated with ovarian hormone concentrations: negatively with progesterone and positively with estradiol. The hosts' differential forest access related to the diversity of environmental microbes, particularly in axillary microbiomes. Such transient endogenous and exogenous modulators have potential implications for host reproductive health and behavioral ecology.}, } @article {pmid32400909, year = {2020}, author = {Ven, A and Verlinden, MS and Fransen, E and Olsson, PA and Verbruggen, E and Wallander, H and Vicca, S}, title = {Phosphorus addition increased carbon partitioning to autotrophic respiration but not to biomass production in an experiment with Zea mays.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {9}, pages = {2054-2065}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13785}, pmid = {32400909}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {ERC-SyG-610028 IMBALANCE-P/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant carbon (C) partitioning-the relative use of photosynthates for biomass production, respiration, and other plant functions-is a key but poorly understood ecosystem process. In an experiment with Zea mays, with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we investigated the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization and AMF on plant C partitioning. Based on earlier studies, we expected C partitioning to biomass production (i.e., biomass production efficiency; BPE) to increase with increasing P addition due to reduced C partitioning to AMF. However, although plant growth was clearly stimulated by P addition, BPE did not increase. Instead, C partitioning to autotrophic respiration increased. These results contrasted with our expectations and with a previous experiment in the same set-up where P addition increased BPE while no effect on autotropic respiration was found. The comparison of both experiments suggests a key role for AMF in explaining these contrasts. Whereas in the previous experiment substantial C partitioning to AMF reduced BPE under low P, in the current experiment, C partitioning to AMF was too low to directly influence BPE. Our results illustrate the complex influence of nutrient availability and mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant C partitioning.}, } @article {pmid32400169, year = {2021}, author = {Salehi, B and Dimitrijević, M and Aleksić, A and Neffe-Skocińska, K and Zielińska, D and Kołożyn-Krajewska, D and Sharifi-Rad, J and Stojanović-Radić, Z and Prabu, SM and Rodrigues, CF and Martins, N}, title = {Human microbiome and homeostasis: insights into the key role of prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotics.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {61}, number = {9}, pages = {1415-1428}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2020.1760202}, pmid = {32400169}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The interest in the study of the gut microbiome has grown exponentially. Indeed, its impact on health and disease has been increasingly reported, and the importance of keeping gut microbiome homeostasis clearly highlighted. However, and despite many advances, there are still some gaps, as well as the real discernment on the contribution of some species falls far short of what is needed. Anyway, it is already more than a solid fact of its importance in maintaining health and preventing disease, as well as in the treatment of some pathologies. In this sense, and given the existence of some ambiguous opinions, the present review aims to discuss the importance of gut microbiome in homeostasis maintenance, and even the role of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics in both health promotion and disease prevention.}, } @article {pmid32397241, year = {2020}, author = {Maupetit-Mehouas, S and Vaury, C}, title = {Transposon Reactivation in the Germline May Be Useful for Both Transposons and Their Host Genomes.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32397241}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Embryonic Development/genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; *Genome ; Germ Cells/*metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Transposable elements (TEs) are long-term residents of eukaryotic genomes that make up a large portion of these genomes. They can be considered as perfectly fine members of genomes replicating with resident genes and being transmitted vertically to the next generation. However, unlike regular genes, TEs have the ability to send new copies to new sites. As such, they have been considered as parasitic members ensuring their own replication. In another view, TEs may also be considered as symbiotic sequences providing shared benefits after mutualistic interactions with their host genome. In this review, we recall the relationship between TEs and their host genome and discuss why transient relaxation of TE silencing within specific developmental windows may be useful for both.}, } @article {pmid32396804, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, MC and Dreyer, N and Kolbasov, GA and Høeg, JT and Chan, BKK}, title = {Sponge symbiosis is facilitated by adaptive evolution of larval sensory and attachment structures in barnacles.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1927}, pages = {20200300}, pmid = {32396804}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coral Reefs ; Larva ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Thoracica/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relations and range of host usage are prominent in coral reefs and crucial to the stability of such systems. In order to explain how symbiotic relations are established and evolve, we used sponge-associated barnacles to ask three questions. (1) Does larval settlement on sponge hosts require novel adaptations facilitating symbiosis? (2) How do larvae settle and start life on their hosts? (3) How has this remarkable symbiotic lifestyle involving many barnacle species evolved? We found that the larvae (cyprids) of sponge-associated barnacles show a remarkably high level of interspecific variation compared with other barnacles. We document that variation in larval attachment devices are specifically related to properties of the surface on which they attach and metamorphose. Mapping of the larval and sponge surface features onto a molecular-based phylogeny showed that sponge symbiosis evolved separately at least three times within barnacles, with the same adaptive features being found in all larvae irrespective of phylogenetic relatedness. Furthermore, the metamorphosis of two species proceeded very differently, with one species remaining superficially on the host and developing a set of white calcareous structures, the other embedding itself into the live host tissue almost immediately after settlement. We argue that such a high degree of evolutionary flexibility of barnacle larvae played an important role in the successful evolution of complex symbiotic relationships in both coral reefs and other marine systems.}, } @article {pmid32395595, year = {2020}, author = {Jang, SJ and Ho, PT and Jun, SY and Kim, D and Won, YJ}, title = {Dataset supporting description of the new mussel species of genus Gigantidas (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) and metagenomic data of bacterial community in the host mussel gill tissue.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {105651}, pmid = {32395595}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {This article contains supplementary data from the research paper entitled "A newly discovered Gigantidas bivalve mussel from the Onnuri Vent Field on the northern Central Indian Ridge" [1], describes a new mussel species within the subfamily Bathymodiolinae named Gigantidas vrijenhoeki. Data are comprised of two parts: 1) shell image and molecular analyses of G. vrijenhoeki and 2) metagenomic community analyses of gill-associated symbiotic bacteria on G. vrijenhoeki. G. vrijenhoeki data were obtained from type specimens described in Jang et al. 2020 [1]. The molecular analysis was conducted by calculating genetic distance at intra- and inter-specific level within genus Gigantidas based on the sequence data of two mitochondrial genes (COI and ND4). The metagenomic dataset of gill-associated symbionts were generated by Illumina Miseq sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA from 12 specimens of G. vrijenhoeki collected from the same vent site, Onnuri Vent Field.}, } @article {pmid32393521, year = {2020}, author = {Arapov, TD and Saldaña, RC and Sebastian, AL and Ray, WK and Helm, RF and Scharf, BE}, title = {Cellular Stoichiometry of Chemotaxis Proteins in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {202}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {32393521}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Chemotaxis ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Chemotaxis systems enable microbes to sense their immediate environment, moving toward beneficial stimuli and away from those that are harmful. In an effort to better understand the chemotaxis system of Sinorhizobium meliloti, a symbiont of the legume alfalfa, the cellular stoichiometries of all ten chemotaxis proteins in S. meliloti were determined. A combination of quantitative immunoblot and mass spectrometry revealed that the protein stoichiometries in S. meliloti varied greatly from those in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis To compare protein ratios to other systems, values were normalized to the central kinase CheA. All S. meliloti chemotaxis proteins exhibited increased ratios to various degrees. The 10-fold higher molar ratio of adaptor proteins CheW1 and CheW2 to CheA might result in the formation of rings in the chemotaxis array that consist of only CheW instead of CheA and CheW in a 1:1 ratio. We hypothesize that the higher ratio of CheA to the main response regulator CheY2 is a consequence of the speed-variable motor in S. meliloti, instead of a switch-type motor. Similarly, proteins involved in signal termination are far more abundant in S. meliloti, which utilizes a phosphate sink mechanism based on CheA retrophosphorylation to inactivate the motor response regulator versus CheZ-catalyzed dephosphorylation as in E. coli and B. subtilis Finally, the abundance of CheB and CheR, which regulate chemoreceptor methylation, was increased compared to CheA, indicative of variations in the adaptation system of S. meliloti Collectively, these results mark significant differences in the composition of bacterial chemotaxis systems.IMPORTANCE The symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti contributes greatly to host-plant growth by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. The provision of nitrogen as ammonium by S. meliloti leads to increased biomass production of its legume host alfalfa and diminishes the use of environmentally harmful chemical fertilizers. To better understand the role of chemotaxis in host-microbe interaction, a comprehensive catalogue of the bacterial chemotaxis system is vital, including its composition, function, and regulation. The stoichiometry of chemotaxis proteins in S. meliloti has very few similarities to the systems in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis In addition, total amounts of proteins are significantly lower. S. meliloti exhibits a chemotaxis system distinct from known models by incorporating new proteins as exemplified by the phosphate sink mechanism.}, } @article {pmid32393275, year = {2020}, author = {Forgie, AJ and Drall, KM and Bourque, SL and Field, CJ and Kozyrskyj, AL and Willing, BP}, title = {The impact of maternal and early life malnutrition on health: a diet-microbe perspective.}, journal = {BMC medicine}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {135}, pmid = {32393275}, issn = {1741-7015}, mesh = {Animals ; Child ; Diet/*standards ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Malnutrition/*complications ; Mice ; Microbiota/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Early-life malnutrition may have long-lasting effects on microbe-host interactions that affect health and disease susceptibility later in life. Diet quality and quantity in conjunction with toxin and pathogen exposure are key contributors to microbe-host physiology and malnutrition. Consequently, it is important to consider both diet- and microbe-induced pathologies as well as their interactions underlying malnutrition.

MAIN BODY: Gastrointestinal immunity and digestive function are vital to maintain a symbiotic relationship between the host and microbiota. Childhood malnutrition can be impacted by numerous factors including gestational malnutrition, early life antibiotic use, psychological stress, food allergy, hygiene, and exposure to other chemicals and pollutants. These factors can contribute to reoccurring environmental enteropathy, a condition characterized by the expansion of commensal pathobionts and environmental pathogens. Reoccurring intestinal dysfunction, particularly during the critical window of development, may be a consequence of diet-microbe interactions and may lead to life-long immune and metabolic programming and increased disease risk. We provide an overview of the some key factors implicated in the progression of malnutrition (protein, fat, carbohydrate, iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12) and discuss the microbiota during early life that may contribute health risk later in life.

CONCLUSION: Identifying key microbe-host interactions, particularly those associated with diet and malnutrition requires well-controlled dietary studies. Furthering our understanding of diet-microbe-host interactions will help to provide better strategies during gestation and early life to promote health later in life.}, } @article {pmid32393049, year = {2021}, author = {Ondrussek-Sekac, M and Navas-Carrillo, D and Orenes-Piñero, E}, title = {Intestinal microbiota alterations in chronic kidney disease and the influence of dietary components.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {61}, number = {9}, pages = {1490-1502}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2020.1761771}, pmid = {32393049}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {Diet ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; *Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; }, abstract = {In chronic kidney disease, as in many other diseases, dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota has been reported as a disturbance or imbalance of the normal microbiome content that could disrupt the symbiotic relationship between the host and associated microbes, a disruption that can result in diseases. The disruption of gut barrier function allows the translocation of endotoxins and bacterial metabolites to the organism, thus contributing to uremic toxicity, inflammation and progression of chronic kidney disease. Increased intake of some nutrients and different nutritional strategies have been proposed to modulate gut microbiota, thus offering the opportunity for therapeutic interventions modifying the diet, decreasing uremic toxins production, increasing toxin excretion and finally modifying the normal microbiome content. The use of probiotics, prebiotics and low protein diets, among other approaches, could also improve this imbalance and/or decrease permeability of the intestinal barrier. In this review, the link between nutrients, microbiota and uremic toxins with chronic kidney disease progression has been studied thoroughly. Furthermore, this review outlines potential mechanisms of action and efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics and low protein diets as a new chronic kidney disease management tool.}, } @article {pmid32392856, year = {2020}, author = {Turbat, A and Rakk, D and Vigneshwari, A and Kocsubé, S and Thu, H and Szepesi, Á and Bakacsy, L and D Škrbić, B and Jigjiddorj, EA and Vágvölgyi, C and Szekeres, A}, title = {Characterization of the Plant Growth-Promoting Activities of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Sophora flavescens.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32392856}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi in symbiotic association with their host plant are well known to improve plant growth and reduce the adverse effects of both biotic and abiotic stresses. Therefore, fungal endophytes are beginning to receive increased attention in an effort to find growth-promoting strains that could be applied to enhance crop yield and quality. In our study, the plant growth-promoting activities of endophytic fungi isolated from various parts of Sophora flavescens (a medicinally important plant in Mongolia and China) have been revealed and investigated. Fungal isolates were identified using molecular taxonomical methods, while their plant growth-promoting abilities were evaluated in plate assays. Altogether, 15 strains were isolated, representing the genera Alternaria, Didymella, Fusarium and Xylogone. Five of the isolates possessed phosphate solubilization activities and twelve secreted siderophores, while all of them were able to produce indoleacetic acid (IAA) in the presence or absence of tryptophan. The endogenous and exogenous accumulation of IAA were also monitored in liquid cultures using the HPLC-MS/MS technique to refine the plate assay results. Furthermore, for the highest IAA producer fungi, the effects of their extracts were also examined in plant bioassays. In these tests, the primary root lengths of the model Arabidopsis thaliana were increased in several cases, while the biomasses were significantly lower than the control IAA treatment. Significant alterations have also been detected in the photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll-a, -b and carotenoids) content due to the fungal extract treatments, but these changes did not show any specific trends.}, } @article {pmid32392829, year = {2020}, author = {Unay, J and Perret, X}, title = {A Minimal Genetic Passkey to Unlock Many Legume Doors to Root Nodulation by Rhizobia.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32392829}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Conjugation, Genetic ; Fabaceae/immunology/*microbiology ; Gene Dosage ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plasmids/genetics ; Replicon ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {On legume crops, formation of developmentally mature nodules is a prerequisite to efficient nitrogen fixation by populations of rhizobial bacteroids established inside nodule cells. Development of root nodules and concomitant microbial colonisation of plant cells are constrained by sets of recognition signals exchanged by infecting rhizobia and their legume hosts, with much of the specificity of symbiotic interactions being determined by the flavonoid cocktails released by legume roots and the strain-specific nodulation factors (NFs) secreted by rhizobia. Hence, much of Sinorhizobium fredii strain NGR234 symbiotic promiscuity was thought to stem from a family of >80 structurally diverse NFs and associated nodulation keys in the form of secreted effector proteins and rhamnose-rich surface polysaccharides. Here, we show instead that a mini-symbiotic plasmid (pMiniSym2) carrying only the nodABCIJ, nodS and nodD1 genes of NGR234 conferred promiscuous nodulation to ANU265, a derivative strain cured of the large symbiotic plasmid pNGR234a. The ANU265::pMiniSym2 transconjugant triggered nodulation responses on 12 of the 22 legumes we tested. On roots of Macroptilium atropurpureum, Leucaena leucocephala and Vigna unguiculata, ANU265::pMiniSym2 formed mature-like nodule and successfully infected nodule cells. While cowpea and siratro responded to nodule colonisation with defence responses that eventually eliminated bacteria, L. leucocephala formed leghemoglobin-containing mature-like nodules inside which the pMiniSym2 transconjugant established persistent intracellular colonies. This data shows seven nodulation genes of NGR234 suffice to trigger nodule formation on roots of many hosts and to establish chronic infections in Leucaena cells.}, } @article {pmid32392716, year = {2020}, author = {Sibponkrung, S and Kondo, T and Tanaka, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Yoshida, KI and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Co-Inoculation of Bacillus velezensis Strain S141 and Bradyrhizobium Strains Promotes Nodule Growth and Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32392716}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The objective of this research was to evaluate the PGPR effect on nodulation and nitrogen-fixing efficiency of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) by co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. Co-inoculation of Bacillus velezensis S141 with USDA110 into soybean resulted in enhanced nodulation and N2-fixing efficiency by producing larger nodules. To understand the role of S141 on soybean and USDA110 symbiosis, putative genes related to IAA biosynthesis were disrupted, suggesting that co-inoculation of USDA110 with S141ΔyhcX reduces the number of large size nodules. It was revealed that yhcX may play a major role in IAA biosynthesis in S141 as well as provide a major impact on soybean growth promotion. The disruption of genes related to cytokinin biosynthesis and co-inoculation of USDA110 with S141ΔIPI reduced the number of very large size nodules, and it appears that IPI might play an important role in nodule size of soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis. However, it was possible that not only IAA and cytokinin but also some other substances secreted from S141 facilitate Bradyrhizobium to trigger bigger nodule formation, resulting in enhanced N2-fixation. Therefore, the ability of S141 with Bradyrhizobium co-inoculation to enhance soybean N2-fixation strategy could be further developed for supreme soybean inoculants.}, } @article {pmid32391082, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, L and Chen, L and Diao, J and Song, X and Shi, M and Zhang, W}, title = {Construction and analysis of an artificial consortium based on the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 to produce the platform chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid from CO2.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {82}, pmid = {32391082}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cyanobacterial carbohydrates, such as sucrose, have been considered as potential renewable feedstock to support the production of fuels and chemicals. However, the separation and purification processes of these carbohydrates will increase the production cost of chemicals. Co-culture fermentation has been proposed as an efficient and economical way to utilize these cyanobacterial carbohydrates. However, studies on the application of co-culture systems to achieve green biosynthesis of platform chemicals are still rare.

RESULTS: In this study, we successfully achieved one-step conversion of sucrose derived from cyanobacteria to fine chemicals by constructing a microbial consortium consisting of the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 and Escherichia coli to sequentially produce sucrose and then the platform chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from CO2 under photoautotrophic growth conditions. First, efforts were made to overexpress the sucrose permease-coding gene cscB under the strong promoter P cpc560 in S. elongatus UTEX 2973 for efficient sucrose secretion. Second, the sucrose catabolic pathway and malonyl-CoA-dependent 3-HP biosynthetic pathway were introduced into E. coli BL21 (DE3) for heterologous biosynthesis of 3-HP from sucrose. By optimizing the cultivation temperature from 37 to 30 °C, a stable artificial consortium system was constructed with the capability of producing 3-HP at up to 68.29 mg/L directly from CO2. In addition, cell growth of S. elongatus UTEX 2973 in the consortium was enhanced, probably due to the quick quenching of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the system by E. coli, which in turn improved the photosynthesis of cyanobacteria.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the feasibility of the one-step conversion of sucrose to fine chemicals using an artificial consortium system. The study also confirmed that heterotrophic bacteria could promote the cell growth of cyanobacteria by relieving oxidative stress in this microbial consortium, which further suggests the potential value of this system for future industrial applications.}, } @article {pmid32391066, year = {2020}, author = {Laming, SR and Hourdez, S and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Pradillon, F}, title = {Classical and computed tomographic anatomical analyses in a not-so-cryptic Alviniconcha species complex from hydrothermal vents in the SW Pacific.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {12}, pmid = {32391066}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {The chemosymbiotic gastropod Alviniconcha (Provannidae), first described in 1988, is one of the most emblematic hydrothermal-vent taxa described from the Central Indian Ridge and the Southwest (SW) Pacific. Symbiotic bacteria found in the gill of Alviniconcha are thought to be their principal source of nutrition. In the SW Pacific, species distributions for A. kojimai, A. boucheti - and to a lesser extent A. strummeri - overlap. While Alviniconcha species do not appear to truly co-exist in these highly energetic but spatially limited habitats, certain species regularly co-occur within a single vent field and in rare instances, the same edifice. Past research suggests that SW-Pacific Alviniconcha species might aggregate around fluids with distinct geothermal profiles. These small-scale distribution patterns have been attributed to differences in their symbiont assemblages or host physiologies. However, little is known about the anatomy of most Alviniconcha species, beyond that detailed for the type species Alviniconcha hessleri, whose geographic range does not overlap with other congeners. In fact, species within this genus are currently described as cryptic, despite the absence of any comparative morphological studies to assess this. To test whether the genus is genuinely cryptic and identify any functional differences in host anatomy that might also mediate habitat partitioning in SW Pacific species, the current study examined the morphoanatomy of A. kojimai, A. boucheti and A. strummeri from the Fatu Kapa vent field, an area of hydrothermal activity recently discovered north of the Lau Basin near the Wallis and Futuna Islands and the only known example where all three species occur within adjacent vent fields. A combination of detailed dissections, histology and X-ray computed tomography demonstrate that A. kojimai, A. strummeri and A. boucheti are readily identifiable based on shell morphology and ornamentation alone, and therefore not truly cryptic. These traits provide a rapid and reliable means for species identification. However, aside from some subtle differences in radular morphology, these species of Alviniconcha exhibit conserved anatomical features, providing no evidence that functional host anatomy is implicated in habitat partitioning. This provides support for the current belief that host-species distributions are probably governed by symbiont-mediated physiological factors.}, } @article {pmid32390975, year = {2020}, author = {Tong, H and Cai, L and Zhou, G and Zhang, W and Huang, H and Qian, PY}, title = {Correlations Between Prokaryotic Microbes and Stress-Resistant Algae in Different Corals Subjected to Environmental Stress in Hong Kong.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {686}, pmid = {32390975}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Coral reefs are extremely vulnerable to global climate change, as evidenced by increasing bleaching events. Previous studies suggest that both algal and microbial partners benefit coral hosts, but the nature of interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and prokaryotic microbes and their effects on coral hosts remains unclear. In the present study, we examined correlations between Symbiodiniaceae and prokaryotic microbes in Montipora spp. and Porites lutea sampled from two sites in Hong Kong with contrasting environmental conditions in March and October 2014. The results showed that the prokaryotic microbial communities had adaptable structures in both Montipora spp. and P. lutea, and environmental conditions had greater effects on the algal/microbial communities in Montipora spp. than in P. lutea. Further network analysis revealed a greater number of prokaryotic microbes were significantly correlated with potentially stress-resistant Symbiodiniaceae in P. lutea than in Montipora spp. Stress-resistant Symbiodiniaceae played more important roles in the community and in the algal-microbial correlations in P. lutea than in Montipora spp. Since P. lutea is faring better in Hong Kong as the seawater temperature gradually increases, the results suggest that the correlations between stress-resistant algae and prokaryotic microbes could provide a compensation mechanism allowing coral hosts to adapt to higher temperatures, particularly as the prokaryotic microbes correlated with Symbiodiniaceae provide the ecological functions of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32390951, year = {2020}, author = {Ben-Yosef, M and Rot, A and Mahagna, M and Kapri, E and Behar, A and Gottlieb, Y}, title = {Coxiella-Like Endosymbiont of Rhipicephalus sanguineus Is Required for Physiological Processes During Ontogeny.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {493}, pmid = {32390951}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Obligatory hematophagous arthropods such as lice, bugs, flies, and ticks harbor bacterial endosymbionts that are expected to complement missing essential nutrients in their diet. Genomic and some experimental evidence support this expectation. Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are associated with several lineages of bacterial symbionts, and very few were experimentally shown to be essential to some aspects of tick's fitness. In order to pinpoint the nature of interactions between hard ticks and their symbionts, we tested the effect of massive elimination of Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLE) by antibiotics on the development and fitness of the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Administration of ofloxacin to engorged (blood fed) nymphs resulted in significant and acute reduction of their CLE loads - an effect that also persisted in subsequent life stages (aposymbiotic ticks). As a result, the post-feeding development of aposymbiotic female (but not male) nymphs was delayed. Additionally, aposymbiotic adult females needed a significantly prolonged feeding period in order to replete (detach from host), and had reduced engorgement weight and a lower capacity to produce eggs. Consequently, their fecundity and fertility were significantly reduced. Eggs produced by aposymbiotic females were free of CLE, and the resulting aposymbiotic larvae were unable to feed successfully. Our findings demonstrate that the observed fitness effects are due to CLE reduction and not due to antibiotic administration. Additionally, we suggest that the contribution of CLE is not mandatory for oocyte development and embryogenesis, but is required during feeding in females, when blood meal processing and tissue buildup are taking place. Presumably, under these extreme physiological demands, CLE contribute to R. sanguineus through supplementing essential micro- and macronutrients. Further nutrient complementary studies are required to support this hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid32389303, year = {2020}, author = {Schumacher, J and Gorbushina, AA}, title = {Light sensing in plant- and rock-associated black fungi.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {124}, number = {5}, pages = {407-417}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2020.01.004}, pmid = {32389303}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/genetics/radiation effects ; *Light ; Pigmentation ; }, abstract = {Fungi that share light-flooded habitats with phototrophs may profit from their excess photosynthetic products. But to cope with sunlight-associated stresses [e.g. high temperatures, UV radiation with associated DNA damage, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), desiccation and osmotic stresses] it is important for fungi to accurately sense and respond to changes in light. To test the hypothesis that light is an environmental cue that Ascomycota use to coordinate growth, stress responses as well as to establish pathogenic or symbiotic relationships, the photoreceptor (PR) distribution in species from different ecological niches was analysed. The genomes of black [dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin-containing] fungi from phyllosphere and exposed solid surfaces contain multiple photoreceptors (PRs). The plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea (Leotiomycetes) has a highly sophisticated photosensory and signalling system that helps to avoid light and to locate susceptible hosts. Rock-inhabiting Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes including Knufia petricola possess equal numbers of PRs along with the same set of protective pigments. This similarity between black fungi from plant and rock surfaces suggests that photoperception and -regulation are important for fungi that receive nutrients through cooperation with phototrophs. Genetic tools for manipulating K. petricola exist and will be used to test this idea.}, } @article {pmid32387532, year = {2020}, author = {Halioua, B and Marmor, MF}, title = {The eyes of the angel of death: Ophthalmic experiments of Josef Mengele.}, journal = {Survey of ophthalmology}, volume = {65}, number = {6}, pages = {744-748}, doi = {10.1016/j.survophthal.2020.04.007}, pmid = {32387532}, issn = {1879-3304}, mesh = {Concentration Camps/*history ; Eye Diseases/*history ; Germany ; History, 20th Century ; National Socialism/*history ; Ophthalmology/*history ; }, abstract = {The infamous Schutzstaffel doctor Josef Mengele was known as the Angel of Death for choosing and condemning Jews, gypsies, and other prisoners to the gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Less known was his active participation in ophthalmic research with equal disregard for life and ethical principles. Mengele was not an ophthalmologist, but he worked in close collaboration and complicity with two genetic researchers at the Kaiser-Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, Karin Magnussen and Otmar Von Verschuer. The objective of the eye color protocol was to demonstrate hereditary differences in iris structure determined by race and ostensibly to "cure" heterochromia. Mengele sent heterochromous Gypsy eyes to Magnussen, extracted from the bodies of inmates who died (or he killed). Mengele injected adrenaline into children's eyes in an attempt to change eye color and to study environmental influences. Mengele was undoubtedly influenced to conduct these human experiments by his great ambition to publish to obtain academic promotion. These ophthalmologic experiments not only solidify Mengele's reputation as an angel of death but also show the symbiosis that existed between the concentration camp physicians and others in the Nazi medical establishment. Ophthalmology, like all of medicine, has had its share of unethical experimentation, but none with more disregard for life and ethical principles than that of Mengele at Auschwitz.}, } @article {pmid32386795, year = {2020}, author = {Yin, C and Sun, P and Yu, X and Wang, P and Cheng, G}, title = {Roles of Symbiotic Microorganisms in Arboviral Infection of Arthropod Vectors.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {36}, number = {7}, pages = {607-615}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2020.04.009}, pmid = {32386795}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Arboviruses/*physiology ; Arthropod Vectors/*virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arthropod vectors serve as native reservoirs and transmitters of hundreds of arboviruses. In arthropod vectors, symbiotic microorganisms residing in the gut lumen and/or hemocoelic tissues maintain complicated relationships with their host and influence multiple aspects of vector physiology. Recently, accumulating evidence has established an important role for symbiotic microorganisms in vector-virus interactions which could potentially be used to control viral transmission. Herein, we review recent progress on symbiotic microbe-arbovirus interactions and summarize the molecular mechanisms by which commensal microbes act on hosts and arboviruses. Understanding the sophisticated interactions among arthropod vectors, microbiota, and arboviruses may offer new strategies for the prevention of arboviral diseases in the future.}, } @article {pmid32386329, year = {2020}, author = {Singh, P and Kumari, A and Foyer, CH and Gupta, KJ}, title = {The power of the phytoglobin-NO cycle in the regulation of nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {1}, pages = {5-7}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16615}, pmid = {32386329}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid32386062, year = {2020}, author = {Lambert, I and Pervent, M and Le Queré, A and Clément, G and Tauzin, M and Severac, D and Benezech, C and Tillard, P and Martin-Magniette, ML and Colella, S and Lepetit, M}, title = {Responses of mature symbiotic nodules to the whole-plant systemic nitrogen signaling.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {16}, pages = {5039-5052}, pmid = {32386062}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In symbiotic root nodules of legumes, terminally differentiated rhizobia fix atmospheric N2 producing an NH4+ influx that is assimilated by the plant. The plant, in return, provides photosynthates that fuel the symbiotic nitrogen acquisition. Mechanisms responsible for the adjustment of the symbiotic capacity to the plant N demand remain poorly understood. We have investigated the role of systemic signaling of whole-plant N demand on the mature N2-fixing nodules of the model symbiotic association Medicago truncatula/Sinorhizobium using split-root systems. The whole-plant N-satiety signaling rapidly triggers reductions of both N2 fixation and allocation of sugars to the nodule. These responses are associated with the induction of nodule senescence and the activation of plant defenses against microbes, as well as variations in sugars transport and nodule metabolism. The whole-plant N-deficit responses mirror these changes: a rapid increase of sucrose allocation in response to N-deficit is associated with a stimulation of nodule functioning and development resulting in nodule expansion in the long term. Physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data together provide evidence for strong integration of symbiotic nodules into whole-plant nitrogen demand by systemic signaling and suggest roles for sugar allocation and hormones in the signaling mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid32385883, year = {2020}, author = {Curtis, MA and Diaz, PI and Van Dyke, TE}, title = {The role of the microbiota in periodontal disease.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {14-25}, doi = {10.1111/prd.12296}, pmid = {32385883}, issn = {1600-0757}, support = {MR/P012175/2/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/P012175/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontal Diseases ; *Periodontitis ; Periodontium ; }, abstract = {The last decade has witnessed unparalleled advances in our understanding of the complexity of the oral microbiome and the compositional changes that occur in subgingival biofilms in the transition from health to gingivitis and to destructive periodontal disease. The traditional view, which has held sway for the last 2 decades, that disease is characterized by the outgrowth of a consortium, or consortia, of a limited number of potentially pathogenic organisms, has given way to an alternative paradigm. In this new view, the microbiological changes associated with disease represent whole-scale alterations to the overall microbial population structure and to the functional properties of the entire community. Thus, and in common with other microbially mediated diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the normally balanced, symbiotic, and generally benign commensal microbiome of the tooth-associated biofilm undergoes dysbiosis to a potentially deleterious microbiota. Coincident with progress in defining the microbiology of these diseases, there have been equally important advances in our understanding of the inflammatory systems of the periodontal tissues, their control, and how inflammation may contribute both to the development of dysbiosis and, in a deregulated state, the destructive disease process. One can therefore speculate that the inflammatory response and the periodontal microbiome are in a bidirectional balance in oral health and a bidirectional imbalance in periodontitis. However, despite these clear insights into both sides of the host/microbe balance in periodontal disease, there remain several unresolved issues concerning the role of the microbiota in disease. These include, but are not limited to, the factors which determine progression from gingivitis to periodontitis in a proportion of the population, whether dysbiosis causes disease or results from disease, and the molecular details of the microbial stimulus responsible for driving the destructive inflammatory response. Further progress in resolving these issues may provide significant benefit to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.}, } @article {pmid32385877, year = {2020}, author = {Loos, BG and Van Dyke, TE}, title = {The role of inflammation and genetics in periodontal disease.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {26-39}, pmid = {32385877}, issn = {1600-0757}, mesh = {Genome-Wide Association Study ; *Gingivitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; *Periodontal Diseases ; *Periodontitis ; }, abstract = {Periodontitis is a complex disease: (a) various causative factors play a role simultaneously and interact with each other; and (b) the disease is episodic in nature, and bursts of disease activity can be recognized, ie, the disease develops and cycles in a nonlinear fashion. We recognize that various causative factors determine the immune blueprint and, consequently, the immune fitness of a subject. Normally, the host lives in a state of homeostasis or symbiosis with the oral microbiome; however, disturbances in homeostatic balance can occur, because of an aberrant host response (inherited and/or acquired during life). This imbalance results from hyper- or hyporesponsiveness and/or lack of sufficient resolution of inflammation, which in turn is responsible for much of the disease destruction seen in periodontitis. The control of this destruction by anti-inflammatory processes and proresolution processes limits the destruction to the tissues surrounding the teeth. The local inflammatory processes can also become systemic, which in turn affect organs such as the heart. Gingival inflammation also elicits changes in the ecology of the subgingival environment providing optimal conditions for the outgrowth of gram-negative, anaerobic species, which become pathobionts and can propagate periodontal inflammation and can further negatively impact immune fitness. The factors that determine immune fitness are often the same factors that determine the response to the resident biofilm, and are clustered as follows: (a) genetic and epigenetic factors; (b) lifestyle factors, such as smoking, diet, and psychosocial conditions; (c) comorbidities, such as diabetes; and (d) local and dental factors, as well as randomly determined factors (stochasticity). Of critical importance are the pathobionts in a dysbiotic biofilm that drive the viscious cycle. Focusing on genetic factors, currently variants in at least 65 genes have been suggested as being associated with periodontitis based on genome-wide association studies and candidate gene case control studies. These studies have found pleiotropy between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases. Most of these studies point to potential pathways in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Also, most contribute to a small portion of the total risk profile of periodontitis, often limited to specific racial and ethnic groups. To date, 4 genetic loci are shared between atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and periodontitis, ie, CDKN2B-AS1(ANRIL), a conserved noncoding element within CAMTA1 upstream of VAMP3, PLG, and a haplotype block at the VAMP8 locus. The shared genes suggest that periodontitis is not causally related to atherosclerotic diseases, but rather both conditions are sequelae of similar (the same?) aberrant inflammatory pathways. In addition to variations in genomic sequences, epigenetic modifications of DNA can affect the genetic blueprint of the host responses. This emerging field will yield new valuable information about susceptibility to periodontitis and subsequent persisting inflammatory reactions in periodontitis. Further studies are required to verify and expand our knowledge base before final cause and effect conclusions about the role of inflammation and genetic factors in periodontitis can be made.}, } @article {pmid32385754, year = {2020}, author = {González-Escobar, JL and Pereyra-Camacho, MA and De Léon-Rodríguez, A and Grajales-Lagunes, A and Reyes-Agüero, A and Chagolla-López, A and de la Rosa, APB}, title = {Biodegradation of recalcitrant compounds and phthalates by culturable bacteria isolated from Liometopum apiculatum microbiota.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {5}, pages = {73}, doi = {10.1007/s11274-020-02850-1}, pmid = {32385754}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/enzymology/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Habits ; Hydrolysis ; Larva/microbiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Xylans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Liometopum apiculatum is a species of ants widely distributed in arid and semi-arid ecosystems where there is a relative food shortage compared with tropical ecosystems. L. apiculatum has established an ecological balance involving symbiotic interactions, which have allowed them to survive through mechanisms that are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the metabolic potential of isolated bacteria from L. apiculatum using enzymatic activity assay and substrate assimilation. Results revealed a complex bacteria consortium belonging to Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria phylum. Most of the isolated bacteria showed activities associated with biopolymers degradation, from them Exiguobacterium and B. simplex showed the highest amylolytic activity (27 U/mg protein), while A. johnsonii and B. pumulis showed the highest cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities (1 and 2.9 U/mg protein, respectively). By other hand, some microorganisms such as S. ficaria, E. asburiae, P. agglomerans, A. johnsonii, S. rubidaea, S. marcescens, S. warneri, and M. hydrocarbonoxydans were able to grow up to 1000 mg/L of phthalates esters. These results not only revealed the important contribution of the symbionts in L apiculatum ants feeding habits, but also have shown a promising source of enzymes with potential biotechnological applications such as lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis and bioremediation processes.}, } @article {pmid32384101, year = {2020}, author = {Hale, RE and Powell, E and Beikmohamadi, L and Alexander, ML}, title = {Effects of arthropod inquilines on growth and reproductive effort among metacommunities of the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea var. montana).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {e0232835}, pmid = {32384101}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Biota/*physiology ; Chironomidae/growth & development/metabolism ; Copepoda/metabolism ; Culicidae/metabolism ; Flowers/growth & development ; Larva ; Mites/metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Plant Dispersal ; Plant Leaves/growth & development ; Reproduction ; Sarraceniaceae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many plant species harbor communities of symbionts that release nutrients used by their host plants. However, the importance of these nutrients to plant growth and reproductive effort is not well understood. Here, we evaluate the relationship between the communities that colonize pitcher plant phytotelmata and the pitcher plants' vegetative growth and flower production to better understand the symbiotic role played by phytotelma communities. We focus on the mountain variety purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea var. montana), which occurs in small and isolated populations in Western North Carolina. We found that greater symbiont community diversity is associated with higher flower production the following season. We then examined geographic variation in communities and found that smaller plant populations supported less diverse symbiont communities. We relate our observations to patterns of community diversity predicted by community ecology theory.}, } @article {pmid32382991, year = {2020}, author = {Špitalská, E and Kraljik, J and Miklisová, D and Boldišová, E and Sparagano, OAE and Stanko, M}, title = {Circulation of Rickettsia species and rickettsial endosymbionts among small mammals and their ectoparasites in Eastern Slovakia.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {119}, number = {7}, pages = {2047-2057}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-020-06701-8}, pmid = {32382991}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ectoparasitic Infestations/microbiology ; Mites/*microbiology ; Rickettsia/classification/genetics/physiology ; Rickettsia Infections/epidemiology/*transmission ; Rodentia/*parasitology ; Shrews/*parasitology ; Siphonaptera/*microbiology ; Slovakia/epidemiology ; Ticks/*microbiology ; Vector Borne Diseases/epidemiology/*microbiology/transmission ; }, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia are known as causative agents of vector-borne zoonotic diseases, such as spotted fevers, epidemic typhus and endemic typhus. Different species of ticks, mites and fleas could act as reservoirs and arthropod vectors of different pathogenic Rickettsia species. The aim of this work was to establish active surveillance of Rickettsia spp. in mites, ticks and fleas collected from small mammals (rodents and shrews) in Eastern Slovakia. A total of 964 animal ear biopsies, 871 mites, 667 ticks and 743 fleas were collected from small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia. All specimens were identified using specialized taxonomic keys, and were conserved in ethanol until DNA extraction was performed. After DNA extraction, identification of Rickettsia species was performed by PCR-based methods. The total prevalence of rickettsiae from ear biopsies was 4.6% (95% CI, 3.2-5.9), in tested mites 9.3% (95% CI, 7.4-11.2), 17.2% (95% CI, 14.3-20.1) in I. ricinus ticks and 3.5% (95% CI, 2.2-4.8) in fleas. Sequence analysis of the partial gltA gene and Rickettsia helvetica-, Rickettsia slovaca-, Rickettsia raoultii- species specific real-time PCR tests revealed the presence of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts. These pathogenic and symbiotic species were confirmed in the following ectoparasite species-Laelaps jettmari, Haemogamasus nidi, Laelaps agilis and Eulaelaps stabularis mites, Ixodes ricinus ticks, Ctenophthalmus solutus, C. assimilis and Megabothris turbidus fleas infesting host-Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Microtus arvalis and Myodes glareolus small mammals. These results confirm the circulation of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts in mites, ticks and fleas collected on small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia.}, } @article {pmid32381716, year = {2020}, author = {Ganal-Vonarburg, SC and Hornef, MW and Macpherson, AJ}, title = {Microbial-host molecular exchange and its functional consequences in early mammalian life.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {368}, number = {6491}, pages = {604-607}, doi = {10.1126/science.aba0478}, pmid = {32381716}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/immunology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Diet ; Female ; Fetus/*immunology/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Lactation/immunology ; Maternal Exposure ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange/*immunology ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Placentation ; Pregnancy ; Xenobiotics/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Molecules from symbiotic microorganisms pervasively infiltrate almost every organ system of a mammalian host, marking the initiation of microbial-host mutualism in utero, long before the newborn acquires its own microbiota. Starting from in utero development, when maternal microbial molecules can penetrate the placental barrier, we follow the different phases of adaptation through the life events of birth, lactation, and weaning, as the young mammal adapts to the microbes that colonize its body surfaces. The vulnerability of early-life mammals is mitigated by maternal detoxification and excretion mechanisms, the protective effects of maternal milk, and modulation of neonatal receptor systems. Host adaptations to microbial exposure during specific developmental windows are critical to ensure organ function for development, growth, and immunity.}, } @article {pmid32376762, year = {2020}, author = {Tan, S and Sanchez, M and Laffont, C and Boivin, S and Le Signor, C and Thompson, R and Frugier, F and Brault, M}, title = {A Cytokinin Signaling Type-B Response Regulator Transcription Factor Acting in Early Nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {183}, number = {3}, pages = {1319-1330}, pmid = {32376762}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus Size ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Endoreduplication ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Protein Domains ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodulation in legumes challenged with nitrogen-limiting conditions requires infection of the root hairs by soil symbiotic bacteria, collectively referred to as rhizobia, and the initiation of cell divisions in the root cortex. Cytokinin hormones are critical for early nodulation to coordinate root nodule organogenesis and the progression of bacterial infections. Cytokinin signaling involves regulation of the expression of cytokinin primary response genes by type-B response regulator (RRB) transcription factors. RNA interference or mutation of MtRRB3, the RRB-encoding gene most strongly expressed in Medicago truncatula roots and nodules, significantly decreased the number of nodules formed, indicating a function of this RRB in nodulation initiation. Fewer infection events were also observed in rrb3 mutant roots associated with a reduced Nod factor induction of the Early Nodulin 11 (MtENOD11) infection marker, and of the cytokinin-regulated Nodulation Signaling Pathway 2 (Mt NSP2) gene. Rhizobial infections correlate with an expansion of the nuclear area, suggesting the activation of endoreduplication cycles linked to the cytokinin-regulated Cell Cycle Switch 52A (Mt CCS52A) gene. Although no significant difference in nucleus size and endoreduplication were detected in rhizobia-infected rrb3 mutant roots, expression of the MtCCS52A endoreduplication marker was reduced. As the MtRRB3 expression pattern overlaps with those of MtNSP2 and MtCCS52A in roots and nodule primordia, chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR and protoplast trans-activation assays were used to show that MtRRB3 can interact with and trans-activate MtNSP2 and MtCCS52A promoters. Overall, we highlight that the MtRRB3 cytokinin signaling transcription factor coordinates the expression of key early nodulation genes.}, } @article {pmid32376679, year = {2020}, author = {Rathgeb, U and Chen, M and Buron, F and Feddermann, N and Schorderet, M and Raisin, A and Häberli, GY and Marc-Martin, S and Keller, J and Delaux, PM and Schaefer, DG and Reinhardt, D}, title = {VAPYRIN-like is required for development of the moss Physcomitrella patens.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {147}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/dev.184762}, pmid = {32376679}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Bryopsida/*growth & development/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lactones/metabolism ; Mutagenesis ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Stems/growth & development/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The VAPYRIN (VPY) gene in Medicago truncatula and Petunia hybrida is required for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. The moss Physcomitrella patens has a close homolog (VPY-like, VPYL), although it does not form AM. Here, we explore the phylogeny of VPY and VPYL in land plants, and study the expression and developmental function of VPYL in Ppatens We show that VPYL is expressed primarily in the protonema, the early filamentous stage of moss development, and later in rhizoids arising from the leafy gametophores and in adult phyllids. Knockout mutants have specific phenotypes in branching of the protonema and in cell division of the leaves (phyllids) in gametophores. The mutants are responsive to auxin and strigolactone, which are involved in regulation of protonemal branching, indicating that hormonal signaling in the mutants is not affected in hormonal signaling. Taken together, these results suggest that VPYL exerts negative regulation of protonemal branching and cell division in phyllids. We discuss VPY and VPYL phylogeny and function in land plants in the context of AM symbiosis in angiosperms and development in the moss.}, } @article {pmid32375343, year = {2020}, author = {Chorianopoulou, SN and Sigalas, PP and Tsoutsoura, N and Apodiakou, A and Saridis, G and Ventouris, YE and Bouranis, DL}, title = {Regulation of Sulfur Homeostasis in Mycorrhizal Maize Plants Grown in a Fe-Limited Environment.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32375343}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Biological Transport ; Databases, Genetic ; *Environment ; Homeostasis ; Iron/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Zea mays/classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sulfur is an essential macronutrient for growth of higher plants. The entry of the sulfate anion into the plant, its importation into the plastids for assimilation, its long-distance transport through the vasculature, and its storage in the vacuoles require specific sulfate transporter proteins. In this study, mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal maize plants were grown for 60 days in an S-deprived substrate, whilst iron was provided to the plants in the sparingly soluble form of FePO4. On day 60, sulfate was provided to the plants. The gene expression patterns of a number of sulfate transporters as well as sulfate assimilation enzymes were studied in leaves and roots of maize plants, both before as well as after sulfate supply. Prolonged sulfur deprivation resulted in a more or less uniform response of the genes' expressions in the roots of non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants. This was not the case neither in the roots and leaves after the supply of sulfur, nor in the leaves of the plants during the S-deprived period of time. It is concluded that mycorrhizal symbiosis modified plant demands for reduced sulfur, regulating accordingly the uptake, distribution, and assimilation of the sulfate anion.}, } @article {pmid32371358, year = {2020}, author = {Hosokawa, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Relevance of microbial symbiosis to insect behavior.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {91-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.03.004}, pmid = {32371358}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Behavior ; Biological Evolution ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Fungi ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis is widespread among insects. This article reviews our understanding of insect behaviors relevant to commensalistic and mutualistic microbial symbiosis, which has received relatively less attention compared to insect behaviors in parasitic symbiosis. First, we review our knowledge of symbiont transmission behaviors by which the host insects maintain associations with beneficial microorganisms over generations. Some insects that extracellularly harbor mutualistic symbionts exhibit particularly sophisticated behaviors for vertical symbiont transmission. Next, we highlight notable studies on behavioral changes induced by symbiont infection. In the last decade, a number of studies have demonstrated or suggested that mutualistic or commensalistic symbiont infections affect their host behaviors. Finally, future directions regarding these research topics are discussed.}, } @article {pmid32370761, year = {2020}, author = {Yuan, QS and Xu, J and Jiang, W and Ou, X and Wang, H and Guo, L and Xiao, C and Wang, Y and Wang, X and Kang, C and Zhou, T}, title = {Insight to shape of soil microbiome during the ternary cropping system of Gastradia elata.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {108}, pmid = {32370761}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {2060302//the Key Project at Central Government Level/International ; 81960694//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 2017YFC700703//National Key R&D Program of China/International ; CARS-21//National Technical System of Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry/International ; Qian Ke He Platform and Talent [2018]5638//he High-level Innovative Talents of Guizhou Province of China/International ; Qian Ke He Platform and Talent [2019]5611//the Science and Technology Project in Guizhou Province of China/International ; Qian Jiao He KY Zi [2018]022//Guizhou Education Department Innovation Group Major Research Projects/International ; Qian Ke He Zhi Cheng [2018]2764//Science and Technology Plan of Guizhou Province/International ; }, mesh = {Agriculture ; Armillaria/*growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fungi/*cytology/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Orchidaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Soil Microbiology ; Wood/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ternary cropping system of Gastradia elata depends on a symbiotic relationship with the mycorrhizal fungi Armillaria mellea, which decays wood to assimilate nutrition for the growth of G. elata. The composition of microbe flora as key determinants of rhizoshere and mycorrhizoshere soil fertility and health was investigated to understand how G. elata and A. mellea impacted on its composition. The next generation pyrosequencing analysis was applied to assess the shift of structure of microbial community in rhizoshere of G. elata and mycorrhizoshere of A. mellea compared to the control sample under agriculture process.

RESULTS: The root-associated microbe floras were significantly impacted by rhizocompartments (including rhizoshere and mycorrhizoshere) and agriculture process. Cropping process of G. elata enhanced the richness and diversity of the microbial community in rhizoshere and mycorrhizoshere soil. Furthermore, planting process of G. elata significantly reduced the abundance of phyla Basidiomycota, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while increased the abundance of phyla Ascomycota, Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Gemmatimonadetes in rhizoshere and mycorrhizoshere. Besides, A. mellea and G. elata significantly enriched several members of saprophytoic and pathogenic fungus (i.e., Exophiala, Leptodontidium, Cosmospora, Cercophora, Metarhizium, Ilyonectria, and Sporothrix), which will enhance the possibility of G. elata disease incidence. At the same time, the ternary cropping system significantly deterred several members of beneficial ectomycorrhizal fungus (i.e., Russula, Sebacina, and Amanita), which will reduce the ability to protect G. elata from diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: In the ternary cropping system of G. elata, A. mellea and G. elata lead to imbalance of microbial community in rhizoshere and mycorrhizoshere soil, suggested that further studies on maintaining the balance of microbial community in A. mellea mycorrhizosphere and G. elata rhizosphere soil under field conditions may provide a promising avenue for high yield and high quality G. elata.}, } @article {pmid32370077, year = {2020}, author = {Rastogi, YR and Saini, AK and Thakur, VK and Saini, RV}, title = {New Insights into Molecular Links Between Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Literature Review.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32370077}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers ; *Disease Susceptibility/immunology ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Immunity ; *Microbiota/immunology ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; }, abstract = {Despite decades of exhaustive research on cancer, questions about cancer initiation, development, recurrence, and metastasis have still not been completely answered. One of the reasons is the plethora of factors acting simultaneously in a tumour microenvironment, of which not all have garnered attention. One such factor that has long remained understudied and has only recently received due attention is the host microbiota. Our sheer-sized microbiota exists in a state of symbiosis with the body and exerts significant impact on our body's physiology, ranging from immune-system development and regulation to neurological and cognitive development. The presence of our microbiota is integral to our development, but a change in its composition (microbiota dysbiosis) can often lead to adverse effects, increasing the propensity of serious diseases like cancers. In the present review, we discuss environmental and genetic factors that cause changes in microbiota composition, disposing of the host towards cancer, and the molecular mechanisms (such as β-catenin signalling) and biochemical pathways (like the generation of oncogenic metabolites like N-nitrosamines and hydrogen sulphide) that the microbiota uses to initiate or accelerate cancers, with emphasis on gastrointestinal cancers. Moreover, we discuss how microbiota can adversely influence the success of colorectal-cancer chemotherapy, and its role in tumour metastasis. We also attempted to resolve conflicting results obtained for the butyrate effect on tumour suppression in the colon, often referred to as the 'butyrate paradox'. In addition, we suggest the development of microbiota-based biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis, and a few target molecules of which the inhibition can increase the overall chances of cancer cure.}, } @article {pmid32368714, year = {2020}, author = {Schenck, CA and Westphal, J and Jayaraman, D and Garcia, K and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Ané, JM and Sumner, LW and Maeda, HA}, title = {Role of cytosolic, tyrosine-insensitive prephenate dehydrogenase in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {e00218}, pmid = {32368714}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {l-Tyrosine (Tyr) is an aromatic amino acid synthesized de novo in plants and microbes downstream of the shikimate pathway. In plants, Tyr and a Tyr pathway intermediate, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP), are precursors to numerous specialized metabolites, which are crucial for plant and human health. Tyr is synthesized in the plastids by a TyrA family enzyme, arogenate dehydrogenase (ADH/TyrAa), which is feedback inhibited by Tyr. Additionally, many legumes possess prephenate dehydrogenases (PDH/TyrAp), which are insensitive to Tyr and localized to the cytosol. Yet the role of PDH enzymes in legumes is currently unknown. This study isolated and characterized Tnt1-transposon mutants of MtPDH1 (pdh1) in Medicago truncatula to investigate PDH function. The pdh1 mutants lacked PDH transcript and PDH activity, and displayed little aberrant morphological phenotypes under standard growth conditions, providing genetic evidence that MtPDH1 is responsible for the PDH activity detected in M. truncatula. Though plant PDH enzymes and activity have been specifically found in legumes, nodule number and nitrogenase activity of pdh1 mutants were not significantly reduced compared with wild-type (Wt) during symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Although Tyr levels were not significantly different between Wt and mutants under standard conditions, when carbon flux was increased by shikimate precursor feeding, mutants accumulated significantly less Tyr than Wt. These data suggest that MtPDH1 is involved in Tyr biosynthesis when the shikimate pathway is stimulated and possibly linked to unidentified legume-specific specialized metabolism.}, } @article {pmid32367555, year = {2020}, author = {Ventura, FF and Mendes, LF and Oliveira, AG and Bazito, RC and Bechara, EJH and Freire, RS and Stevani, CV}, title = {Evaluation of Phenolic Compound Toxicity Using a Bioluminescent Assay with the Fungus Gerronema viridilucens.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {1558-1565}, doi = {10.1002/etc.4740}, pmid = {32367555}, issn = {1552-8618}, support = {2005/60484-5//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/International ; 2013/16885-1//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/International ; 2017/22501-2//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/International ; 306460/2016-5//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/International ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/biosynthesis ; Agaricales/drug effects/*metabolism ; Linear Models ; *Luminescent Measurements ; Mitochondria/drug effects/metabolism ; Phenols/*toxicity ; Toxicity Tests ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Basidiomycetes (phylum Basidiomycota) are filamentous fungi characterized by the exogenous formation of spores on a club-shaped cell called a basidium that are often formed on complex fruiting bodies (mushrooms). Many basidiomycetes serve an important role in recycling lignocellulosic material to higher trophic levels, and some show symbiotic relationships with plants. All known bioluminescent fungi are mushroom-forming basidiomycetes in the order Agaricales. Hence, the disruption of the basidiomycete community can entirely compromise the carbon cycle in nature from fungi to higher trophic levels. The fungus Gerronema viridilucens was used in the present study to investigate the toxicity of a phenolic compound series based on the inhibition of its bioluminescence. The median effect concentration (EC50) obtained from curves of bioluminescence inhibition versus log [phenolic compound] showed that 2,4,6-trichlorophenol was the most toxic compound in the series. The log EC50 values of all phenolic compounds were then used for the prediction of their toxicity. The univariate correlation of log EC50 values obtained from 6 different phenolic compounds was stronger with the dissociation constant (pKa) than with 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (KOW). Nevertheless, the toxicity can be better predicted by using both parameters, suggesting that the phenol-driven uncoupling of fungus mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthesis is the origin of phenolic compound toxicity to the test fungus. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1558-1565. © 2020 SETAC.}, } @article {pmid32367515, year = {2020}, author = {Escudero, V and Abreu, I and Tejada-Jiménez, M and Rosa-Núñez, E and Quintana, J and Prieto, RI and Larue, C and Wen, J and Villanova, J and Mysore, KS and Argüello, JM and Castillo-Michel, H and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula Ferroportin2 mediates iron import into nodule symbiosomes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {1}, pages = {194-209}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16642}, pmid = {32367515}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Iron/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Iron is an essential cofactor for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, required by many of the enzymes involved, including signal transduction proteins, O2 homeostasis systems, and nitrogenase itself. Consequently, host plants have developed a transport network to deliver essential iron to nitrogen-fixing nodule cells. Ferroportin family members in model legume Medicago truncatula were identified and their expression was determined. Yeast complementation assays, immunolocalization, characterization of a tnt1 insertional mutant line, and synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence assays were carried out in the nodule-specific M. truncatula ferroportin Medicago truncatula nodule-specific gene Ferroportin2 (MtFPN2) is an iron-efflux protein. MtFPN2 is located in intracellular membranes in the nodule vasculature and in inner nodule tissues, as well as in the symbiosome membranes in the interzone and early-fixation zone of the nodules. Loss-of-function of MtFPN2 alters iron distribution and speciation in nodules, reducing nitrogenase activity and biomass production. Using promoters with different tissular activity to drive MtFPN2 expression in MtFPN2 mutants, we determined that expression in the inner nodule tissues is sufficient to restore the phenotype, while confining MtFPN2 expression to the vasculature did not improve the mutant phenotype. These data indicate that MtFPN2 plays a primary role in iron delivery to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids in M. truncatula nodules.}, } @article {pmid32367433, year = {2020}, author = {Parvin, S and Van Geel, M and Yeasmin, T and Verbruggen, E and Honnay, O}, title = {Effects of single and multiple species inocula of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the salinity tolerance of a Bangladeshi rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {431-444}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00957-9}, pmid = {32367433}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Oryza ; Plant Roots ; Salt Tolerance ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil salinization due to sea level rise and groundwater irrigation has become an important agronomic problem in many parts of the world. Symbiosis between crop species and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may alleviate salt stress-induced detrimental effects on crop growth and yield, for example, through helping the host plant to selectively absorb potassium while avoiding uptake of excessive sodium. Here, we performed a greenhouse experiment to evaluate growth, grain yield, and salt tolerance of a Bangladeshi rice cultivar under three levels of salt stress (0, 75, and 120 mM) after inoculation with three different AMF species from three different genera (Funnelliformis mosseae (BEG12), Acaulospora laevis (BEG13), and Gigaspora margarita (BEG34)), singly and in combination. We found that under salt stress, AMF inoculation enhanced total chlorophyll concentration, shoot K[+]/Na[+] ratio, and lowered shoot Na[+]/root Na[+] ratio, accompanied by increased root biomass, spikelet fertility, and grain yield compared with the non-inoculated control plants. Specifically, we found that the combination of BEG13 and BEG34 increased rice yield by 125 and 143% as compared with the non-inoculated controls, at the 75 and 120mM salt levels, respectively. In general, the low AMF diversity treatments (one species or a combination of two AMF species) were found to be the most effective in mediating salt stress tolerance for the majority of the measured crop performance variables. Overall, our results indicate that specific AMF species can promote the salt tolerance and productivity of rice, likely by increasing photosynthetic efficiency and restricting Na[+] uptake and transport from root to shoot in AMF-inoculated plants.}, } @article {pmid32366903, year = {2020}, author = {Herren, JK and Mbaisi, L and Mararo, E and Makhulu, EE and Mobegi, VA and Butungi, H and Mancini, MV and Oundo, JW and Teal, ET and Pinaud, S and Lawniczak, MKN and Jabara, J and Nattoh, G and Sinkins, SP}, title = {A microsporidian impairs Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2187}, pmid = {32366903}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {200274/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 202888/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 206194/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 202888/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; MC_UU_12014/8/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; 107372/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; BB/R005338/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/microbiology/*parasitology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Kenya ; Malaria, Falciparum/*parasitology/prevention & control/transmission ; Microsporidia/physiology ; Mosquito Control/methods ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/*parasitology ; Plasmodium falciparum/*physiology ; Sporozoites/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A possible malaria control approach involves the dissemination in mosquitoes of inherited symbiotic microbes to block Plasmodium transmission. However, in the Anopheles gambiae complex, the primary African vectors of malaria, there are limited reports of inherited symbionts that impair transmission. We show that a vertically transmitted microsporidian symbiont (Microsporidia MB) in the An. gambiae complex can impair Plasmodium transmission. Microsporidia MB is present at moderate prevalence in geographically dispersed populations of An. arabiensis in Kenya, localized to the mosquito midgut and ovaries, and is not associated with significant reductions in adult host fecundity or survival. Field-collected Microsporidia MB infected An. arabiensis tested negative for P. falciparum gametocytes and, on experimental infection with P. falciparum, sporozoites aren't detected in Microsporidia MB infected mosquitoes. As a microbe that impairs Plasmodium transmission that is non-virulent and vertically transmitted, Microsporidia MB could be investigated as a strategy to limit malaria transmission.}, } @article {pmid32365691, year = {2020}, author = {Bell, K and Naranjo-Guevara, N and Santos, RCD and Meadow, R and Bento, JMS}, title = {Predatory Earwigs are Attracted by Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles Linked with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32365691}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Plant-associated microbes may induce plant defenses against herbivores. Plants, in turn, can attract natural enemies, such as predators, using herbivore-induced plant volatiles. Intricate communication occurs between microorganisms, plants, and insects. Given that many aspects related to mechanisms involved in this symbiotic system remain unknown, we evaluated how beneficial soil-borne microorganisms can affect the interactions between plants, herbivores, and natural enemies. For this study, we established a multitrophic system composed of the predatory earwig Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), arugula (Eruca sativa, Brassicaceae) as the host plant, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae as a specialist herbivore, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae as a generalist herbivore, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in a series of nocturnal olfactometry experiments. By assessing earwig preference towards herbivore-induced and PGPR-inoculated plants in different combinations, we showed that the interaction between rhizobacteria, plants, and herbivores can affect the predatory earwig's behavior. Furthermore, we observed a synergistic effect in which earwigs were attracted by plants that presented as PGPR inoculated and herbivore damaged, for both specialist and generalist herbivores. Our findings help fill the important knowledge gap regarding multitrophic interactions and should provide useful guidelines for their application to agricultural fields.}, } @article {pmid32365577, year = {2020}, author = {Adamo, M and Chialva, M and Calevo, J and Rose, S and Girlanda, M and Perotto, S and Balestrini, R}, title = {The Dark Side of Orchid Symbiosis: Can Tulasnella calospora Decompose Host Tissues?.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32365577}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Computational Biology/methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination ; Mycorrhizae ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Seeds ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic orchids associate with mycorrhizal fungi that can be mostly ascribed to the "rhizoctonia" species complex. Rhizoctonias' phylogenetic diversity covers a variety of ecological/nutritional strategies that include, beside the symbiosis establishment with host plants, endophytic and pathogenic associations with non-orchid plants or saprotrophic soil colonization. In addition, orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) that establish a symbiotic relationship with an orchid host can later proliferate in browning and rotting orchid tissues. Environmental triggers and molecular mechanisms governing the switch leading to either a saprotrophic or a mycorrhizal behavior in OMF remain unclear. As the sequenced OMF genomes feature a wide range of genes putatively involved in the degradation of plant cell wall (PCW) components, we tested if these transitions may be correlated with a change in the expression of some PCW degrading enzymes. Regulation of several genes encoding PCW degrading enzymes was evaluated during saprotrophic growth of the OMF Tulasnella calospora on different substrates and under successful and unsuccessful mycorrhizal symbioses. Fungal gene expression in planta was investigated in two orchid species, the terrestrial Mediterranean Serapias vomeracea and the epiphytic tropical Cattleya purpurata. Although we only tested a subset of the CAZyme genes identified in the T. calospora genome, and we cannot exclude therefore a role for different CAZyme families or members inside a family, the results showed that the degradative potential of T. calospora is finely regulated during saprotrophic growth and in symbiosis, often with a different regulation in the two orchid species. These data pose novel questions about the role of fungal PCW degrading enzymes in the development of unsuccessful and successful interactions.}, } @article {pmid32365501, year = {2020}, author = {Li, H and Jiang, F and Wu, P and Wang, K and Cao, Y}, title = {A High-Quality Genome Sequence of Model Legume Lotus japonicus (MG-20) Provides Insights into the Evolution of Root Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32365501}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Genomics ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Lotus japonicus is an important model legume for studying symbiotic nitrogen fixation as well as plant development. A genomic sequence of L. japonicus (MG20) has been available for more than ten years. However, the low quality of the genome limits its application in functional genomic studies. Therefore, it is necessary to assemble high-quality chromosome sequences of L. japonicus using new sequencing technology to facilitate the study of functional genomics. In this report, we used the third-generation sequencing combined with the Illumina HiSeq platform to sequence the genome of L. japonicus (MG20). We obtained 544 Mb of genomic sequence using third-generation assembly. Based on sequence analysis, 357 Mb of repeats, 28,251 genes, 626 tRNAs, 1409 rRNAs, and 1233 pseudogenes were predicted in the genome. A total of 27,991 genes were annotated into databases. Compared to the previously published data, the new genome database contains complete L. japonicus sequences in the proper order and orientation with a contig N50 2.81Mb and an excellent genome coverage, which provides more accurate genome information and more precise assembly for functional genomic study.}, } @article {pmid32363709, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, XQ and Yan, X and Zhang, MY and Zhang, LQ and He, YX}, title = {Flavonoids repress the production of antifungal 2,4-DAPG but potentially facilitate root colonization of the rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {5073-5089}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15052}, pmid = {32363709}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Locomotion/drug effects/genetics ; Phloroglucinol/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the well-known legume-rhizobia symbiosis, flavonoids released by legume roots induce expression of the Nod factors and trigger early plant responses involved in root nodulation. However, it remains largely unknown how the plant-derived flavonoids influence the physiology of non-symbiotic beneficial rhizobacteria. In this work, we demonstrated that the flavonoids apigenin and/or phloretin enhanced the swarming motility and production of cellulose and curli in Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24, both traits of which are essential for root colonization. Using a label-free quantitative proteomics approach, we showed that apigenin and phloretin significantly reduced the biosynthesis of the antifungal metabolite 2,4-DAPG and further identified a novel flavonoid-sensing TetR regulator PhlH, which was shown to modulate 2,4-DAPG production by regulating the expression of 2,4-DAPG hydrolase PhlG. Although having similar structures, apigenin and phloretin could also influence different physiological characteristics of P. fluorescens 2P24, with apigenin decreasing the biofilm formation and phloretin inducing expression of proteins involved in the denitrification and arginine fermentation processes. Taken together, our results suggest that plant-derived flavonoids could be sensed by the TetR regulator PhlH in P. fluorescens 2P24 and acts as important signalling molecules that strengthen mutually beneficial interactions between plants and non-symbiotic beneficial rhizobacteria.}, } @article {pmid32363469, year = {2020}, author = {Haselwandter, K and Haas, H and Häninger, G and Winkelmann, G}, title = {Siderophores in plant root tissue: Tagetes patula nana colonized by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita.}, journal = {Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine}, volume = {33}, number = {2-3}, pages = {137-146}, doi = {10.1007/s10534-020-00238-0}, pmid = {32363469}, issn = {1572-8773}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ferric Compounds/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/metabolism ; Siderophores/*biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Tagetes/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {More than 70% of vascular plant species live in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In addition to other effects this symbiosis is known for its significance for plant nutrition including iron. Fungal iron mobilization from soil is commonly dependent on siderophores. This study reports on a search for such iron-chelators in root tissue of Tagetes patula nana var. plena colonized by Gigaspora margarita. The AM colonized plants and uninoculated controls were grown under strictly axenic conditions. HPLC analyses of aqueous extracts from plant roots have provided clear evidence for the presence of a rhizoferrin type siderophore, named glomuferrin, in root tissue of mycorrhizal seedlings. Results from HPLC analytical work are seconded by molecular biological data: A BLASTp search revealed that the AM fungal species Gigaspora rosea, Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly Glomus intraradices), Glomus cerebriformis and Diversispora epigea encode a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-independent siderophore synthase (NIS), which is homologous to the rhizoferrin synthetase of Rhizopus delemar. Thus this study indicates that the biosynthesis of rhizoferrin type siderophores such as glomuferrin (= bis-imidorhizoferrin) may be widespread in the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32363037, year = {2020}, author = {Sathiya Seelan, JS and Shu Yee, C and She Fui, F and Dawood, M and Tan, YS and Kim, MJ and Park, MS and Lim, YW}, title = {New Species of Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Basidiomycota) from Sabah (Northern Borneo), Malaysia.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {95-103}, pmid = {32363037}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {The genus Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Basidiomycota) is often associated with fungus-feeding termites (Macrotermitinae) due to their strong symbiotic relationships. The genus is widely found exclusively in certain regions of Africa and Asia. They are recognized as edible mushroom within Southeast Asia as well. But it is often misidentified based on morphology by the local communities especially in Malaysia for Chlorophyllum molybdites which is a highly poisonous mushroom. Thus, it is necessary to study the genus for Malaysia with the synergy of using both morphological and molecular identification. In this study, we aim to describe another new species as an addition to the genus Termitomyces found within Sabah, Malaysia. We generated two new sequences (nrLSU and mtSSU) for the new species and a total of 28 nrLSU and mtSSU sequences were retrieved from GenBank for the phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences. We identified that the new collection from Sabah province is a new species and named as Termitomyces gilvus based on the termites found in the mound. A phylogeny tree made from the concatenated genes of LSU and mtSSU suggests that T. gilvus is closely related to T. bulborhizus from China. According to our results, the combination of molecular and morphology proved to be a robust approach to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of Termitomyces species in Malaysia. Additional surveys are needed to verify the species diversity and clarify their geographic distribution.}, } @article {pmid32358914, year = {2020}, author = {Sinno, M and Bézier, A and Vinale, F and Giron, D and Laudonia, S and Garonna, AP and Pennacchio, F}, title = {Symbiosis disruption in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), as a potential tool for sustainable control.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {76}, number = {9}, pages = {3199-3207}, doi = {10.1002/ps.5875}, pmid = {32358914}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; *Erwinia ; Female ; Fruit ; *Olea ; Symbiosis ; *Tephritidae ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (OLF) is a major agricultural pest, whose control primarily relies on the use of chemical insecticides. Therefore, development of sustainable control strategies is highly desirable. The primary endosymbiotic bacterium of OLF, 'Candidatus Erwinia dacicola', is essential for successful larval development in unripe olive fruits. Therefore, targeting this endosymbiont with antimicrobial compounds may result in OLF fitness reduction and may exert control on natural populations of OLF.

RESULTS: Here, we evaluate the impact of compounds with antimicrobial activity on the OLF endosymbiont. Copper oxychloride (CO) and the fungal metabolite viridiol (Vi), produced by Trichoderma spp., were used. Laboratory bioassays were carried out to assess the effect of oral administration of these compounds on OLF fitness and molecular analyses (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) were conducted to measure the load of OLF-associated microorganisms in treated flies. CO and Vi were both able to disrupt the symbiotic association between OLF and its symbiotic bacteria, determining a significant reduction in the endosymbiont and gut microbiota load as well as a decrease in OLF fitness. CO had a direct negative effect on OLF adults. Conversely, exposure to Vi significantly undermined larval development of the treated female's progeny but did not show any toxicity in OLF adults.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide new insights into the symbiotic control of OLF and pave the way for the development of more sustainable strategies of pest control based on the use of natural compounds with antimicrobial activity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid32358834, year = {2020}, author = {Campbell, M and Fathi, R and Cheng, SY and Ho, A and Gilbert, ES}, title = {Rhamnus prinoides (gesho) stem extract prevents co-culture biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {294-302}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13307}, pmid = {32358834}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Candida albicans/drug effects/*growth & development ; Coculture Techniques ; Dental Caries/microbiology/prevention & control ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; Rhamnus/*chemistry ; Streptococcus mutans/drug effects/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans exhibit a symbiotic relationship to form polymicrobial biofilms that exacerbate oral infections including early-childhood caries, periodontitis and candidiasis. Rhamnus prinoides (gesho) has traditionally been used for the treatment of a variety of illnesses and was recently found to inhibit Gram-positive bacterial biofilm formation. We hypothesized that Rhamnus prinoides extracts have anti-biofilm activity against S. mutans and C. albicans mono- and dual-species biofilms. Ethanol extracts were prepared from gesho stems and leaves; then anti-biofilm activity was assessed using crystal violet, resazurin and XTT staining. Ethanol extracts significantly inhibited Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans mono-species biofilm formation up to 97 and 75%, respectively. The stem ethanol extract disrupted S. mutans and C. albicans co-culture synergism, with 98% less polymicrobial biofilm formation than the untreated control. Additionally, this extract inhibited planktonic S. mutans cell growth and decreased biofilm polysaccharide production up to 99%. The reduction in polysaccharide production is likely a contributing factor in the anti-biofilm activity of GSE. These findings indicate that gesho or gesho-derived compounds may have potential as additives to oral hygiene products. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Oral Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans biofilms are associated with a variety of illnesses. When occurring together, the resulting infections are especially challenging to treat due to enhanced biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. More therapeutics that can effectively prevent polymicrobial biofilm formation and disrupt interspecies synergism are needed. Rhamnus prinoides ethanol extracts significantly inhibited dual-species biofilm formation and disrupted interspecies synergism.}, } @article {pmid32357841, year = {2020}, author = {Li, J and Lemer, S and Kirkendale, L and Bieler, R and Cavanaugh, C and Giribet, G}, title = {Shedding light: a phylotranscriptomic perspective illuminates the origin of photosymbiosis in marine bivalves.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {32357841}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {1420967//Division of Ocean Sciences/International ; W367-15//National Geographic Society/International ; 0732854//Division of Environmental Biology/International ; 0732903//Division of Environmental Biology/International ; 0732860//Division of Environmental Biology/International ; 1457769//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*genetics/*radiation effects ; Bivalvia/*genetics/*radiation effects ; Calibration ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fossils ; *Light ; Likelihood Functions ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Photosymbiotic associations between metazoan hosts and photosynthetic dinoflagellates are crucial to the trophic and structural integrity of many marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Although extensive efforts have been devoted to study the short-term ecological interactions between coral hosts and their symbionts, long-term evolutionary dynamics of photosymbiosis in many marine animals are not well understood. Within Bivalvia, the second largest class of mollusks, obligate photosymbiosis is found in two marine lineages: the giant clams (subfamily Tridacninae) and the heart cockles (subfamily Fraginae), both in the family Cardiidae. Morphologically, giant clams show relatively conservative shell forms whereas photosymbiotic fragines exhibit a diverse suite of anatomical adaptations including flattened shells, leafy mantle extensions, and lens-like microstructural structures. To date, the phylogenetic relationships between these two subfamilies remain poorly resolved, and it is unclear whether photosymbiosis in cardiids originated once or twice.

RESULTS: In this study, we establish a backbone phylogeny for Cardiidae utilizing RNASeq-based transcriptomic data from Tridacninae, Fraginae and other cardiids. A variety of phylogenomic approaches were used to infer the relationship between the two groups. Our analyses found conflicting gene signals and potential rapid divergence among the lineages. Overall, results support a sister group relationship between Tridacninae and Fraginae, which diverged during the Cretaceous. Although a sister group relationship is recovered, ancestral state reconstruction using maximum likelihood-based methods reveals two independent origins of photosymbiosis, one at the base of Tridacninae and the other within a symbiotic Fraginae clade.

CONCLUSIONS: The newly revealed common ancestry between Tridacninae and Fraginae brings a possibility that certain genetic, metabolic, and/or anatomical exaptations existed in their last common ancestor, which promoted both lineages to independently establish photosymbiosis, possibly in response to the modern expansion of reef habitats.}, } @article {pmid32357167, year = {2020}, author = {Liang, S and Wang, C and Ahmad, F and Yin, X and Hu, Y and Mo, J}, title = {Exploring the effect of plant substrates on bacterial community structure in termite fungus-combs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {e0232329}, pmid = {32357167}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Female ; Fungi/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; Plants/*parasitology ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {Fungus-cultivating termites are successful herbivores largely rely on the external symbiotic fungus-combs to decompose plant polysaccharides. The comb harbors both fungi and bacteria. However, the complementary roles and functions of the bacteria are out of the box. To this purpose, we look into different decomposition stages of fungus-combs using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to examine bacterial community structure. We also explored the bacterial response to physicochemical indexes (such as moisture, ash content and organic matter) and plant substrates (leaves or branches or mix food). Some specific families such as Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae may be involved in lignocellulose degradation, whereas Burkholderiaceae may be associated with aromatic compounds degradation. We observed that as the comb mature there is a shift of community composition which may be an adjustment of specific bacteria to deal with different lignocellulosic material. Our results indicated that threshold amount of physicochemical indexes are beneficial for bacterial diversity but too high moisture, low organic matter and high ash content may reduce their diversity. Furthermore, the average highest bacterial diversity was recorded from the comb built by branches followed by mix food and leaves. Besides, this study could help in the use of bacteria from the comb of fungus-cultivating termites in forestry and agricultural residues making them easier to digest as fodder.}, } @article {pmid32356728, year = {2020}, author = {Chandler, T and Clulow, A and Campbell, B and Samsel, F}, title = {Modeling Virtual Angkor: An Evolutionary Approach to a Single Urban Space.}, journal = {IEEE computer graphics and applications}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {9-16}, doi = {10.1109/MCG.2020.2982444}, pmid = {32356728}, issn = {1558-1756}, abstract = {Virtual Angkor is a comprehensive, interactive, visual representation of life in the premodern Cambodian city of Angkor. It is the cumulative result of extensive computer graphics research underpinned by a broad investigation in the sources and oriented towards a clear set of educational goals. Virtual Angkor represents the potential for symbiotic platforms that draw on and merge artistic, historical, technical, and scientific expertise. In this overview, considerations of time compression, parameter-driven simulation, modeling fidelity, instancing and duplication, interaction, artistic license, integrating feedback, and ongoing collaborative processes are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid32355217, year = {2020}, author = {Choi, J and Lee, T and Cho, J and Servante, EK and Pucker, B and Summers, W and Bowden, S and Rahimi, M and An, K and An, G and Bouwmeester, HJ and Wallington, EJ and Oldroyd, G and Paszkowski, U}, title = {The negative regulator SMAX1 controls mycorrhizal symbiosis and strigolactone biosynthesis in rice.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2114}, pmid = {32355217}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P003176/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Furans/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/metabolism ; Homozygote ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Lactones/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pyrans/metabolism ; RNA-Seq ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most plants associate with beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that facilitate soil nutrient acquisition. Prior to contact, partner recognition triggers reciprocal genetic remodelling to enable colonisation. The plant Dwarf14-Like (D14L) receptor conditions pre-symbiotic perception of AM fungi, and also detects the smoke constituent karrikin. D14L-dependent signalling mechanisms, underpinning AM symbiosis are unknown. Here, we present the identification of a negative regulator from rice, which operates downstream of the D14L receptor, corresponding to the homologue of the Arabidopsis thaliana Suppressor of MAX2-1 (AtSMAX1) that functions in karrikin signalling. We demonstrate that rice SMAX1 is a suppressor of AM symbiosis, negatively regulating fungal colonisation and transcription of crucial signalling components and conserved symbiosis genes. Similarly, rice SMAX1 negatively controls strigolactone biosynthesis, demonstrating an unexpected crosstalk between the strigolactone and karrikin signalling pathways. We conclude that removal of SMAX1, resulting from D14L signalling activation, de-represses essential symbiotic programmes and increases strigolactone hormone production.}, } @article {pmid32355187, year = {2020}, author = {Ramalho, MO and Duplais, C and Orivel, J and Dejean, A and Gibson, JC and Suarez, AV and Moreau, CS}, title = {Development but not diet alters microbial communities in the Neotropical arboreal trap jaw ant Daceton armigerum: an exploratory study.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {7350}, pmid = {32355187}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics ; Ecology ; Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; }, abstract = {To better understand the evolutionary significance of symbiotic interactions in nature, microbiome studies can help to identify the ecological factors that may shape host-associated microbial communities. In this study we explored both 16S and 18S rRNA microbial communities of D. armigerum from both wild caught individuals collected in the Amazon and individuals kept in the laboratory and fed on controlled diets. We also investigated the role of colony, sample type, development and caste on structuring microbial communities. Our bacterial results (16S rRNA) reveal that (1) there are colony level differences between bacterial communities; (2) castes do not structure communities; (3) immature stages (brood) have different bacterial communities than adults; and 4) individuals kept in the laboratory with a restricted diet showed no differences in their bacterial communities from their wild caught nest mates, which could indicate the presence of a stable and persistent resident bacterial community in this host species. The same categories were also tested for microbial eukaryote communities (18S rRNA), and (5) developmental stage has an influence on the diversity recovered; (6) the diversity of taxa recovered has shown this can be an important tool to understand additional aspects of host biology and species interactions.}, } @article {pmid32354115, year = {2020}, author = {Azevedo, MM and Pina-Vaz, C and Baltazar, F}, title = {Microbes and Cancer: Friends or Faux?.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {32354115}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Bacteria/drug effects/*immunology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/drug effects ; Disease Progression ; Dysbiosis/complications/etiology/*immunology ; Humans ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cancer is one of the most aggressive and deadly diseases in the world, representing the second leading cause of death. It is a multifactorial disease, in which genetic alterations play a key role, but several environmental factors also contribute to its development and progression. Infections induced by certain viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites constitute risk factors for cancer, being chronic infection associated to the development of certain types of cancer. On the other hand, susceptibility to infectious diseases is higher in cancer patients. The state of the host immune system plays a crucial role in the susceptibility to both infection and cancer. Importantly, immunosuppressive cancer treatments increase the risk of infection, by decreasing the host defenses. Furthermore, alterations in the host microbiota is also a key factor in the susceptibility to develop cancer. More recently, the identification of a tumor microbiota, in which bacteria establish a symbiotic relationship with cancer cells, opened a new area of research. There is evidence demonstrating that the interaction between bacteria and cancer cells can modulate the anticancer drug response and toxicity. The present review focuses on the interaction between microbes and cancer, specifically aiming to: (1) review the main infectious agents associated with development of cancer and the role of microbiota in cancer susceptibility; (2) highlight the higher vulnerability of cancer patients to acquire infectious diseases; (3) document the relationship between cancer cells and tissue microbiota; (4) describe the role of intratumoral bacteria in the response and toxicity to cancer therapy.}, } @article {pmid32354024, year = {2020}, author = {Munteanu, R and Onaciu, A and Moldovan, C and Zimta, AA and Gulei, D and Paradiso, AV and Lazar, V and Berindan-Neagoe, I}, title = {Adipocyte-Based Cell Therapy in Oncology: The Role of Cancer-Associated Adipocytes and Their Reinterpretation as Delivery Platforms.}, journal = {Pharmaceutics}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32354024}, issn = {1999-4923}, abstract = {Cancer-associated adipocytes have functional roles in tumor development through secreted adipocyte-derived factors and exosomes and also through metabolic symbiosis, where the malignant cells take up the lactate, fatty acids and glutamine produced by the neighboring adipocytes. Recent research has demonstrated the value of adipocytes as cell-based delivery platforms for drugs (or prodrugs), nucleic acids or loaded nanoparticles for cancer therapy. This strategy takes advantage of the biocompatibility of the delivery system, its ability to locate the tumor site and also the predisposition of cancer cells to come in functional contact with the adipocytes from the tumor microenvironment for metabolic sustenance. Also, their exosomal content can be used in the context of cancer stem cell reprogramming or as a delivery vehicle for different cargos, like non-coding nucleic acids. Moreover, the process of adipocytes isolation, processing and charging is quite straightforward, with minimal economical expenses. The present review comprehensively presents the role of adipocytes in cancer (in the context of obese and non-obese individuals), the main methods for isolation and characterization and also the current therapeutic applications of these cells as delivery platforms in the oncology sector.}, } @article {pmid32353031, year = {2020}, author = {Azarakhsh, M and Rumyantsev, AM and Lebedeva, MA and Lutova, LA}, title = {Cytokinin biosynthesis genes expressed during nodule organogenesis are directly regulated by the KNOX3 protein in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {e0232352}, pmid = {32353031}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cytokinin is an important regulator of symbiotic nodule development. Recently, KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX 3 transcription factor (TF) was shown to regulate symbiotic nodule development possibly via the activation of cytokinin biosynthesis genes. However, the direct interaction between the KNOX3 TF and its target genes has not been investigated up to date. Here, using EMSA analysis and SPR-based assay, we found that MtKNOX3 homeodomain directly binds to the regulatory sequences of the MtLOG1, MtLOG2, and MtIPT3 genes involved in nodulation in Medicago truncatula. Moreover, we showed that MtLOG2 and MtIPT3 expression patterns partially overlap with MtKNOX3 expression in developing nodules as it was shown by promoter:GUS analysis. Our data suggest that MtKNOX3 TF may directly activate the MtLOG1, MtLOG2, and MtIPT3 genes during nodulation thereby increasing cytokinin biosynthesis in developing nodules.}, } @article {pmid32351879, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, H and Meng, X and Chen, H and Han, X and Fan, J and Gao, W and Du, L and Chen, Y and Wang, Y and Liu, X and Zhang, L and Ma, G and Yang, J}, title = {Correlation Between Mammographic Radiomics Features and the Level of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {412}, pmid = {32351879}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Objectives: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been identified as a significant prognostic indicator of response to neoadjuvant therapy and immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Herein, we aim to assess the association between TIL levels and mammographic features in TNBC patients. Methods: Forty-three patients with surgically proven TNBC who underwent preoperative mammography from January 2018 to December 2018 were recruited. Pyradiomics software was used to extract 204 quantitative radiomics features, including morphologic, grayscale, and textural features, from the segmented lesion areas. The correlation between radiological characteristics and TIL levels was evaluated by screening the most statistically significant radiological features using Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The patients were divided into two groups based on tumor TIL levels: patients with TIL levels <50% and those with TIL levels ≥50%. The correlation between TIL levels and clinicopathological characteristics was assessed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to analyze the statistical significance and Pearson correlation coefficient of clinical pathological features, age, and radiological features. Results: Of 43 patients, 32 (74.4%) had low TIL levels and 11 (25.6%) had high TIL levels. The histological grade of the low TIL group was higher than that of the high TIL group (p = 0.043). The high TIL group had a more negative threshold Ki-67 level (<14%) than the low TIL group (p = 0.017). The six most important radiomics features [uniformity, variance, grayscale symbiosis matrix (GLCM) correlation, GLCM autocorrelation, gray level difference matrix (GLDM) low gray level emphasis, and neighborhood gray-tone difference matrix (NGTDM) contrast], representing qualitative mammographic image characteristics, were statistically different (p < 0.05) among the low and high TIL groups. Tumors in the high TIL group had a more non-uniform density and a smoother gradient of the tumor pattern than the low TIL group. The changes in Ki-67, age, epidermal growth factor receptor, radiomic characteristics, and Pearson correlation coefficient were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Mammography features not only distinguish high and low TIL levels in TNBC patients but also can act as imaging biomarkers to enhance diagnosis and the response of patients to neoadjuvant therapies and immunotherapies.}, } @article {pmid32351801, year = {2020}, author = {Cassidy, ST and Burr, AA and Reeb, RA and Melero Pardo, AL and Woods, KD and Wood, CW}, title = {Using clear plastic CD cases as low-cost mini-rhizotrons to phenotype root traits.}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e11340}, pmid = {32351801}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE: We developed a novel low-cost method to visually phenotype belowground structures in the plant rhizosphere. We devised the method introduced here to address the difficulties encountered growing plants in seed germination pouches for long-term experiments and the high cost of other mini-rhizotron alternatives.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The method described here took inspiration from homemade ant farms commonly used as an educational tool in elementary schools. Using compact disc (CD) cases, we developed mini-rhizotrons for use in the field and laboratory using the burclover Medicago lupulina.

CONCLUSIONS: Our method combines the benefits of pots and germination pouches. In CD mini-rhizotrons, plants grew significantly larger than in germination pouches, and unlike pots, it is possible to measure roots without destructive sampling. Our protocol is a cheaper, widely available alternative to more destructive methods, which could facilitate the study of belowground phenotypes and processes by scientists with fewer resources.}, } @article {pmid32351466, year = {2020}, author = {Harsonowati, W and Marian, M and Surono, and Narisawa, K}, title = {The Effectiveness of a Dark Septate Endophytic Fungus, Cladophialophora chaetospira SK51, to Mitigate Strawberry Fusarium Wilt Disease and With Growth Promotion Activities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {585}, pmid = {32351466}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Strawberry Fusarium wilt, caused by the virulent fungus Fusarium oxysporum formae speciales fragariae (Fof) is a devastating soil-borne disease that causes severe production losses worldwide, including Japan. Fof is one of the top 10 fungal pathogens that threaten global crop security, and a method to effectively control this pathogen has yet to be found. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi against Fof to develop an efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly approach to improve plant health and fitness. A total of 19 fungal isolates were assessed, out of which three (SK47, SK48, and SK51) were selected based on their effectiveness in disease suppression in controlled growth chamber conditions using a soil system. Isolates SK47, SK48, and SK51 suppressed disease severity by 85.71, 61.90, and 90.48%, respectively. Molecular identification based on highly conserved small subunit (SSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and large subunit (LSU) nrRNA regions identified these isolates as DSE Exophiala sp., Exophiala pisciphila, and Cladophialophora chaetospira, respectively. The sequences were deposited under accession numbers MN811693-MN811695 in the GenBank database. Notably, our results revealed that isolate C. chaetospira SK51 possessed superior growth promotion activities as well as disease suppression by significantly increased plant growth parameters (shoot and root dry mass, chlorophyll content, flower bud initiation, and number of fruit) in comparison to control plants and other two fungal candidates. Root colonization by C. chaetospira SK51 was visualized, and it was confirmed that the symbiosis with strawberry plants occurred successfully. Our results provide new insights in the application of DSE fungus C. chaetospira SK51 as a biocontrol agent on strawberry plants could promote plant growth, flower bud initiation, and fruit formation. C. chaetospira SK51 exhibited remarkable beneficial traits for the host plant, and it can potentially be applied in the development of new, safe, and effective treatments as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and fungicides for sustainable crop protection.}, } @article {pmid32351459, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, X and Zhang, H and Zhang, H and Tang, M}, title = {Exogenous Melatonin Application Enhances Rhizophagus irregularis Symbiosis and Induces the Antioxidant Response of Medicago truncatula Under Lead Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {516}, pmid = {32351459}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Melatonin is a new kind of plant growth regulator. The aim of this study was to figure out the effect of melatonin on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and heavy metal tolerance. A three-factor experiment was conducted to determine the effect of melatonin application on the growth, AM symbiosis, and stress tolerance of Medicago truncatula. A two-factor (AM inoculation and Pb stress) experiment was conducted to determine the effect of AM fungus on melatonin accumulation under Pb stress. AM plants under Pb stress had a higher melatonin accumulation than non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants under Pb stress. Acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT) is the enzymatic reaction of the last step in melatonin synthesis. The accumulation of melatonin may be related to the expression of MtASMT. Melatonin application increased the relative expression of MtPT4 and AM colonization in AM plants. Melatonin application decreased Pb uptake with and without AM inoculation. Both melatonin application and AM inoculation improved M. truncatula growth and increased antioxidant response with Pb stress. These results indicated that melatonin application has positive effects on AM symbiosis and Pb stress tolerance under Pb stress. AM inoculation improve melatonin synthesis capacity under Pb stress. Melatonin application may improve AM plant growth by enhancing AM symbiosis, stimulating antioxidant response, and inhibiting Pb uptake.}, } @article {pmid32350409, year = {2020}, author = {Ankrah, NYD and Wilkes, RA and Zhang, FQ and Zhu, D and Kaweesi, T and Aristilde, L and Douglas, AE}, title = {Syntrophic splitting of central carbon metabolism in host cells bearing functionally different symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {1982-1993}, pmid = {32350409}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Carbon ; *Hemiptera ; Insecta ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects feeding on the nutrient-poor diet of xylem plant sap generally bear two microbial symbionts that are localized to different organs (bacteriomes) and provide complementary sets of essential amino acids (EAAs). Here, we investigate the metabolic basis for the apparent paradox that xylem-feeding insects are under intense selection for metabolic efficiency but incur the cost of maintaining two symbionts for functions mediated by one symbiont in other associations. Using stable isotope analysis of central carbon metabolism and metabolic modeling, we provide evidence that the bacteriomes of the spittlebug Clastoptera proteus display high rates of aerobic glycolysis, with syntrophic splitting of glucose oxidation. Specifically, our data suggest that one bacteriome (containing the bacterium Sulcia, which synthesizes seven EAAs) predominantly processes glucose glycolytically, producing pyruvate and lactate, and the exported pyruvate and lactate is assimilated by the second bacteriome (containing the bacterium Zinderia, which synthesizes three energetically costly EAAs) and channeled through the TCA cycle for energy generation by oxidative phosphorylation. We, furthermore, calculate that this metabolic arrangement supports the high ATP demand in Zinderia bacteriomes for Zinderia-mediated synthesis of energy-intensive EAAs. We predict that metabolite cross-feeding among host cells may be widespread in animal-microbe symbioses utilizing low-nutrient diets.}, } @article {pmid32350156, year = {2020}, author = {Ganyukova, AI and Frolov, AO and Malysheva, MN and Spodareva, VV and Yurchenko, V and Kostygov, AY}, title = {A novel endosymbiont-containing trypanosomatid Phytomonas borealis sp. n. from the predatory bug Picromerus bidens (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Folia parasitologica}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.14411/fp.2020.004}, pmid = {32350156}, issn = {1803-6465}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Heteroptera/growth & development/*parasitology ; Nymph/growth & development/parasitology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Russia ; *Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/*classification/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Here we describe the new trypanosomatid, Phytomonas borealis sp. n., from the midgut of the spiked shieldbugs, Picromerus bidens (Linnaeus), collected in two locations, Novgorod and Pskov Oblasts of Russia. The phylogenetic analyses, based on the 18S rRNA gene, demonstrated that this flagellate is a sister species to the secondary monoxenous Phytomonas nordicus Frolov et Malysheva, 1993, which was concurrently documented in the same host species in Pskov Oblast. Unlike P. nordicus, which can complete its development (including exit to haemolymph and penetration into salivary glands) in Picromerus bidens, the new species did not form any extraintestinal stages in the host. It also did not produce endomastigotes, indispensable for transmission in other Phytomonas spp. These observations, along with the fact that P. bidens overwinters at the egg stage, led us to the conclusion that the examined infections with P. borealis were non-specific. Strikingly, the flagellates from the Novgorod population contained prokaryotic endosymbionts, whereas the parasites from the second locality were endosymbiont-free. This is a first case documenting presence of intracellular symbiotic bacteria in Phytomonas spp. We suggest that this novel endosymbiotic association arose very recently and did not become obligate yet. Further investigation of P. borealis and its intracellular bacteria may shed light on the origin and early evolution of endosymbiosis in trypanosomatids.}, } @article {pmid32349397, year = {2020}, author = {Xie, F and Ma, A and Zhou, H and Liang, Y and Yin, J and Ma, K and Zhuang, X and Zhuang, G}, title = {Revealing Fungal Communities in Alpine Wetlands Through Species Diversity, Functional Diversity and Ecological Network Diversity.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32349397}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The biodiversity of fungi, which are extremely important in maintaining the ecosystem balance in alpine lakeside wetlands, has not been fully studied. In this study, we investigated the fungal communities of three lakeside wetlands from different altitudes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its edge. The results showed that the fungi of the alpine lakeside wetland had higher species diversity. Functional annotation of fungi by FUNGild software showed that saprophytic fungi were the most abundant type in all three wetlands. Further analysis of the microbial phylogenetic molecular ecological network (pMEN) showed that saprophytic fungi are important species in the three wetland fungal networks, while symbiotic fungi and pathotrophic fungi have different roles in the fungal networks in different wetlands. Community diversity was high in all three lakeside wetlands, but there were significant differences in the composition, function and network structure of the fungal communities. Contemporary environmental conditions (soil properties) and historical contingencies (geographic sampling location) jointly determine fungi community diversity in this study. These results expand our knowledge of fungal biodiversity in the alpine lakeside wetlands.}, } @article {pmid32349348, year = {2020}, author = {Nguyen, HP and Ratu, STN and Yasuda, M and Teaumroong, N and Okazaki, S}, title = {Identification of Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 Type III Effectors Determining Symbiosis with Vigna mungo.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32349348}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/growth & development ; Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Genotype ; Mutation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics ; Vigna/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 possesses a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that controls host-specific symbioses with legumes. Here, we demonstrated that B. elkanii T3SS is essential for the nodulation of several southern Asiatic Vigna mungo cultivars. Strikingly, inactivation of either Nod factor synthesis or T3SS in B. elkanii abolished nodulation of the V. mungo plants. Among the effectors, NopL was identified as a key determinant for T3SS-dependent symbiosis. Mutations of other effector genes, such as innB, nopP2, and bel2-5, also impacted symbiotic effectiveness, depending on host genotypes. The nopL deletion mutant formed no nodules on V. mungo, but infection thread formation was still maintained, thereby suggesting its pivotal role in nodule organogenesis. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that NopL was exclusively conserved among Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) species and showed a different phylogenetic lineage from T3SS. These findings suggest that V. mungo evolved a unique symbiotic signaling cascade that requires both NFs and T3Es (NopL).}, } @article {pmid32349241, year = {2020}, author = {Pham, TT and Giang, BL and Nguyen, NH and Yen, PND and Hoang, VDM and Ha, BTL and Le, NTT}, title = {Combination of Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Root Grafting Effectively Controls Nematode in Replanted Coffee Soil.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32349241}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Replanting for sustainable development is one of the critical missions of the coffee industry in the Daklak province, Vietnam. However, this plan has been faced with many difficulties including poor survival and growth rates due to the low nematode tolerance of young coffee plants in replanted fields. Mycorrhizal symbiosis and grafting have been applied separately but not yet resulted in the expected results of the replanting plan. Whether the combination of them would help managing nematode in the soil and consequently enhance the replanted efficiency is largely unknown. Mycorrhizal symbiosis was applied to Coffea canephora plants or/and grafted onto Coffea liberica rootstock, which were grown and compared to the untreated ones in both net-house-pots and the replanted plantation. The survival rate, growth indicators and the soil pathogens were monitored during the experimental periods. The combination of grafting and mycorrhiza symbiotic techniques significantly decreased the nematode densities in the replanted soil. As a result, the survival rate and growth indicators of the coffee in the replanted soil treated by the combined technique were better than treated by the two separate techniques. The results suggested that the combination of grafting and mycorrhiza symbiotic techniques would propose a potentially effective Pratylenchus coffeae and Meloidogyne incognita nematode management in replanted coffee fields in the Daklak province, Vietnam.}, } @article {pmid32348970, year = {2020}, author = {Dalrymple, AN and Roszko, DA and Sutton, RS and Mushahwar, VK}, title = {Pavlovian control of intraspinal microstimulation to produce over-ground walking.}, journal = {Journal of neural engineering}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {036002}, doi = {10.1088/1741-2552/ab8e8e}, pmid = {32348970}, issn = {1741-2552}, mesh = {Animals ; Cats ; Extremities ; Hindlimb ; *Spinal Cord Injuries ; *Walking ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Neuromodulation technologies are increasingly used for improving function after neural injury. To achieve a symbiotic relationship between device and user, the device must augment remaining function, and independently adapt to day-to-day changes in function. The goal of this study was to develop predictive control strategies to produce over-ground walking in a model of hemisection spinal cord injury (SCI) using intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS).

APPROACH: Eight cats were anaesthetized and placed in a sling over a walkway. The residual function of a hemisection SCI was mimicked by manually moving one hind-limb through the walking cycle. ISMS targeted motor networks in the lumbosacral enlargement to activate muscles in the other, presumably 'paralyzed' limb, using low levels of current (<130 μA). Four people took turns to move the 'intact' limb, generating four different walking styles. Two control strategies, which used ground reaction force and angular velocity information about the manually moved 'intact' limb to control the timing of the transitions of the 'paralyzed' limb through the step cycle, were compared. The first strategy used thresholds on the raw sensor values to initiate transitions. The second strategy used reinforcement learning and Pavlovian control to learn predictions about the sensor values. Thresholds on the predictions were then used to initiate transitions.

MAIN RESULTS: Both control strategies were able to produce alternating, over-ground walking. Transitions based on raw sensor values required manual tuning of thresholds for each person to produce walking, whereas Pavlovian control did not. Learning occurred quickly during walking: predictions of the sensor signals were learned rapidly, initiating correct transitions after ≤4 steps. Pavlovian control was resilient to different walking styles and different cats, and recovered from induced mistakes during walking.

SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates, for the first time, that Pavlovian control can augment remaining function and facilitate personalized walking with minimal tuning requirements.}, } @article {pmid32348708, year = {2020}, author = {Campo, H and Murphy, A and Yildiz, S and Woodruff, T and Cervelló, I and Kim, JJ}, title = {Microphysiological Modeling of the Human Endometrium.}, journal = {Tissue engineering. Part A}, volume = {26}, number = {13-14}, pages = {759-768}, pmid = {32348708}, issn = {1937-335X}, support = {R01 CA243249/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 CA009560/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; UG3 ES029073/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; UH3 ES029073/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Endometrium/*cytology/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Microfluidics/methods ; Organoids/*cytology/metabolism ; Tissue Engineering/methods ; Uterus/cytology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Since the beginning of clinical medicine, the human uterus has held the fascination of clinicians and researchers, given its critical role in the reproduction of our species. The endometrial lining provides residence for the embryo; however, this symbiotic interaction can be disrupted if the timing is not correct and the endometrium is not receptive. Diseases associated with the endometrium interfere with the reproductive process and cause a life-altering burden of pain and even death. With the advancement of technologies and new insights into the biology of the endometrium, much has been uncovered about the dynamic and essential changes that need to occur for normal endometrial function, as well as aberrations that lead to endometrial diseases. As expected, the more that is uncovered, the more the complexity of the endometrium is made evident. In this study, we bring together three areas of scientific advancement that remain in their infancy, but which together have the potential to mirror this complexity and enable understanding. Studies on induced pluripotent stem cells, three-dimensional tissue mimics, and microfluidic culture platforms will be reviewed with a focus on the endometrium. These unconventional approaches will provide new perspectives and appreciation for the elegance and complexity of the endometrium. Impact statement The ability of the human endometrium to regenerate on a monthly basis for ∼4 decades of reproductive years exemplifies its complexity as well as its susceptibility to disease. Restrictions on the types of research that can be done in the human endometrium motivate the development of new technologies and model systems. The three areas of technological advancement reviewed here-induced pluripotent stem cells, three-dimensional model systems, and microfluidic culture systems-will highlight some of the tools that can be applied to studying the human endometrium in ways that have not been done before.}, } @article {pmid32346537, year = {2020}, author = {Duar, RM and Henrick, BM and Casaburi, G and Frese, SA}, title = {Integrating the Ecosystem Services Framework to Define Dysbiosis of the Breastfed Infant Gut: The Role of B. infantis and Human Milk Oligosaccharides.}, journal = {Frontiers in nutrition}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {33}, pmid = {32346537}, issn = {2296-861X}, abstract = {Mounting evidence supports a connection between the composition of the infant gut microbiome and long-term health. In fact, aberrant microbiome compositions during key developmental windows in early life are associated with increased disease risk; therefore, making pertinent modifications to the microbiome during infancy offers significant promise to improve human health. There is growing support for integrating the concept of ecosystem services (the provision of benefits from ecosystems to humans) in linking specific microbiome functions to human well-being. This framework is widely applied in conservation efforts of macro-ecosystems and offers a systematic approach to guide restoration actions aimed to recover critical ecological functions. The aim of this work is to apply the ecosystem services framework to integrate recent studies demonstrating stable alteration of the gut microbiome of breastfed infants when Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis EVC001, a gut symbiont capable of efficiently utilizing human milk oligosaccharides into organic acids that are beneficial for the infant and lower intestinal pH, is reintroduced. Additionally, using examples from the literature we illustrate how the absence of B. infantis results in diminished ecosystem services, which may be associated with health consequences related to immune and metabolic disorders. Finally, we propose a model by which infant gut dysbiosis can be defined as a reduction in ecosystem services supplied to the host by the gut microbiome rather than merely changes in diversity or taxonomic composition. Given the increased interest in targeted microbiome modification therapies to decrease acute and chronic disease risk, the model presented here provides a framework to assess the effectiveness of such strategies from a host-centered perspective.}, } @article {pmid32345641, year = {2020}, author = {DeWerff, SJ and Bautista, MA and Pauly, M and Zhang, C and Whitaker, RJ}, title = {Killer Archaea: Virus-Mediated Antagonism to CRISPR-Immune Populations Results in Emergent Virus-Host Mutualism.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32345641}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Archaea/*virology ; *Bacteriophages ; Biological Evolution ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/*immunology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Viral ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Sulfolobus/genetics/virology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Theory, simulation, and experimental evolution demonstrate that diversified CRISPR-Cas immunity to lytic viruses can lead to stochastic virus extinction due to a limited number of susceptible hosts available to each potential new protospacer escape mutation. Under such conditions, theory predicts that to evade extinction, viruses evolve toward decreased virulence and promote vertical transmission and persistence in infected hosts. To better understand the evolution of host-virus interactions in microbial populations with active CRISPR-Cas immunity, we studied the interaction between CRISPR-immune Sulfolobus islandicus cells and immune-deficient strains that are infected by the chronic virus SSV9. We demonstrate that Sulfolobus islandicus cells infected with SSV9, and with other related SSVs, kill uninfected, immune strains through an antagonistic mechanism that is a protein and is independent of infectious virus. Cells that are infected with SSV9 are protected from killing and persist in the population. We hypothesize that this infection acts as a form of mutualism between the host and the virus by removing competitors in the population and ensuring continued vertical transmission of the virus within populations with diversified CRISPR-Cas immunity.IMPORTANCE Multiple studies, especially those focusing on the role of lytic viruses in key model systems, have shown the importance of viruses in shaping microbial populations. However, it has become increasingly clear that viruses with a long host-virus interaction, such as those with a chronic lifestyle, can be important drivers of evolution and have large impacts on host ecology. In this work, we describe one such interaction with the acidic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus islandicus and its chronic virus Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 9. Our work expands the view in which this symbiosis between host and virus evolved, describing a killing phenotype which we hypothesize has evolved in part due to the high prevalence and diversity of CRISPR-Cas immunity seen in natural populations. We explore the implications of this phenotype in population dynamics and host ecology, as well as the implications of mutualism between this virus-host pair.}, } @article {pmid32344464, year = {2020}, author = {Isidra-Arellano, MC and Pozas-Rodríguez, EA and Del Rocío Reyero-Saavedra, M and Arroyo-Canales, J and Ferrer-Orgaz, S and Del Socorro Sánchez-Correa, M and Cardenas, L and Covarrubias, AA and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Inhibition of legume nodulation by Pi deficiency is dependent on the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {103}, number = {3}, pages = {1125-1139}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14789}, pmid = {32344464}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*metabolism/physiology ; Phosphorus/*deficiency/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Soybeans/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Inhibition of nodule development is one of the main adverse effects of phosphate (Pi) deficiency in legumes. Despite all of the efforts made over the last decades to understand how root nodules cope with Pi deficiency, the molecular mechanisms leading to the reduction in nodule number under Pi deficiency remain elusive. In the present study, we provide experimental evidence indicating that Pi deficiency activates the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway, leading to a reduction in nodule numbers in both common bean and soybean. A transcriptional profile analysis revealed that the expression of the AON-related genes PvNIN, PvRIC1, PvRIC2, and PvTML is upregulated under Pi deficiency conditions. The downregulation of the MYB transcription factor PvPHR1 in common bean roots significantly reduced the expression of these four AON-related genes. Physiological analyses indicated that Pi deficiency does not affect the establishment of the root nodule symbiosis in the supernodulation mutant lines Pvnark and Gmnark. Reciprocal grafting and split-roots analyses determined that the activation of the AON pathway was required for the inhibitory effect of Pi deficiency. Altogether, these data improve our understanding of the genetic mechanisms controlling the establishment of the root nodule symbiosis under Pi deficiency.}, } @article {pmid32344267, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, L and Zhao, F and Li, X and Lu, W}, title = {Contribution of influent rivers affected by different types of pollution to the changes of benthic microbial community structure in a large lake.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {110657}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110657}, pmid = {32344267}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {China ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry/*microbiology ; Lakes/chemistry/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rivers/chemistry/*microbiology ; Water Pollution/*adverse effects ; }, abstract = {As a microbial group in watershed ecosystems, the bacterial community is a sensitive indicator of external environmental fluctuations. However, the effects of different sources of exogenous pollution on the diversity and structure of bacterial communities in inflow rivers and lakes have not been studied in depth. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to study the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in rivers affected by different types of pollution. The results showed that the composition of the bacterial communities in rivers with different exogenous pollution sources was different. For example, the genus Arenimonas, which belongs to the Gamma-proteobacteria, is extensively enriched in IDPR (industrially and domestically polluted rivers) and ADPR (agriculturally and domestically polluted rivers) (KW, p < 0.05), while the genus Micromonospora is a more unique genus found in APR (agriculturally polluted rivers). When exploring the topology and classification characteristics of river microbial symbiosis models, it was found that the bacterial community symbiosis network is divided into six modules under different exogenous pollution regimes, and the nodes in the different modules perform different functions, such as the IDPR-dominated module I. In the network, the relatively abundant the genus Flavobacterium and the genus Nitrospira are the key factors driving the nitrogen cycle in the watershed where the samples were collected. In addition, our research indicates that communities in lake environments may be more susceptible to disturbances of various physiological or functional redundancies, thus retaining their original community structure. Overall, this study emphasizes that adaptive changes in the bacterial community structure of the sediments in the catchment and the occurrence of interactions are responses to different exogenous pollution sources.}, } @article {pmid32343130, year = {2020}, author = {Samarah, LZ and Tran, TH and Stacey, G and Vertes, A}, title = {In Vivo Chemical Analysis of Plant Sap from the Xylem and Single Parenchymal Cells by Capillary Microsampling Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {92}, number = {10}, pages = {7299-7306}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00939}, pmid = {32343130}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Allantoin/*analysis ; Glutamates/*analysis ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Soybeans/*chemistry/microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Urea/*analogs & derivatives/analysis ; Xylem/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {In plants, long-distance transport of chemicals from source to sink takes place through the transfer of sap inside complex trafficking systems. Access to this information provides insight into the physiological responses that result from the interactions between the organism and its environment. In vivo analysis offers minimal perturbation to the physiology of the organism, thus providing information that represents the native physiological state more accurately. Here we describe capillary microsampling with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the in vivo analysis of xylem sap directly from plants. Initially, fast MS profiling was performed by ESI from the whole sap exuding from wounds of living plants in their native environment. This sap, however, originated from the xylem and phloem and included the cytosol of damaged cells. Combining capillary microsampling with ESI-MS enabled targeted sampling of the xylem sap and single parenchymal cells in the pith, thereby differentiating their chemical compositions. With this method we analyzed soybean plants infected by nitrogen-fixing bacteria and uninfected plants to investigate the effects of symbiosis on chemical transport through the sap. Infected plants exhibited higher abundances for certain nitrogen-containing metabolites in their sap, namely allantoin, allantoic acid, hydroxymethylglutamate, and methylene glutamate, compared to uninfected plants. Using capillary microsampling, we localized these compounds to the xylem, which indicated their transport from the roots to the upper parts of the plant. Differences between metabolite levels in sap from the infected and uninfected plants indicated that the transport of nitrogen-containing and other metabolites is regulated depending on the source of nitrogen supply.}, } @article {pmid32341569, year = {2020}, author = {López-García, P and Moreira, D}, title = {The Syntrophy hypothesis for the origin of eukaryotes revisited.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {655-667}, pmid = {32341569}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Cell Nucleus ; Eukaryota/genetics/*metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells/*metabolism ; Genome, Archaeal ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Membranes/metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Phylogeny ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The discovery of Asgard archaea, phylogenetically closer to eukaryotes than other archaea, together with improved knowledge of microbial ecology, impose new constraints on emerging models for the origin of the eukaryotic cell (eukaryogenesis). Long-held views are metamorphosing in favour of symbiogenetic models based on metabolic interactions between archaea and bacteria. These include the classical Searcy's and Hydrogen hypothesis, and the more recent Reverse Flow and Entangle-Engulf-Endogenize models. Two decades ago, we put forward the Syntrophy hypothesis for the origin of eukaryotes based on a tripartite metabolic symbiosis involving a methanogenic archaeon (future nucleus), a fermentative myxobacterial-like deltaproteobacterium (future eukaryotic cytoplasm) and a metabolically versatile methanotrophic alphaproteobacterium (future mitochondrion). A refined version later proposed the evolution of the endomembrane and nuclear membrane system by invagination of the deltaproteobacterial membrane. Here, we adapt the Syntrophy hypothesis to contemporary knowledge, shifting from the original hydrogen and methane-transfer-based symbiosis (HM Syntrophy) to a tripartite hydrogen and sulfur-transfer-based model (HS Syntrophy). We propose a sensible ecological scenario for eukaryogenesis in which eukaryotes originated in early Proterozoic microbial mats from the endosymbiosis of a hydrogen-producing Asgard archaeon within a complex sulfate-reducing deltaproteobacterium. Mitochondria evolved from versatile, facultatively aerobic, sulfide-oxidizing and, potentially, anoxygenic photosynthesizing alphaproteobacterial endosymbionts that recycled sulfur in the consortium. The HS Syntrophy hypothesis accounts for (endo)membrane, nucleus and metabolic evolution in a realistic ecological context. We compare and contrast the HS Syntrophy hypothesis to other models of eukaryogenesis, notably in terms of the mode and tempo of eukaryotic trait evolution, and discuss several model predictions and how these can be tested.}, } @article {pmid32340573, year = {2020}, author = {McCarville, JL and Chen, GY and Cuevas, VD and Troha, K and Ayres, JS}, title = {Microbiota Metabolites in Health and Disease.}, journal = {Annual review of immunology}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {147-170}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-immunol-071219-125715}, pmid = {32340573}, issn = {1545-3278}, support = {R01 AI114929/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Disease Susceptibility/immunology ; *Energy Metabolism ; *Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology/metabolism ; *Microbiota/immunology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metabolism is one of the strongest drivers of interkingdom interactions-including those between microorganisms and their multicellular hosts. Traditionally thought to fuel energy requirements and provide building blocks for biosynthetic pathways, metabolism is now appreciated for its role in providing metabolites, small-molecule intermediates generated from metabolic processes, to perform various regulatory functions to mediate symbiotic relationships between microbes and their hosts. Here, we review recent advances in our mechanistic understanding of how microbiota-derived metabolites orchestrate and support physiological responses in the host, including immunity, inflammation, defense against infections, and metabolism. Understanding how microbes metabolically communicate with their hosts will provide us an opportunity to better describe how a host interacts with all microbes-beneficial, pathogenic, and commensal-and an opportunity to discover new ways to treat microbial-driven diseases.}, } @article {pmid32339812, year = {2020}, author = {Yano, K and Itoh, T and Nokami, T}, title = {Total synthesis of Myc-IV(C16:0, S) via automated electrochemical assembly.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {492}, number = {}, pages = {108018}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2020.108018}, pmid = {32339812}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {*Automation ; Carbohydrate Conformation ; *Electrochemical Techniques ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Total synthesis of Myc-IV(C16:0, S) via automated electrochemical assembly has been accomplished. This tetrasaccharide has been studied as a symbiotic signal molecule of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza fungi. We have achieved stereoselective synthesis of a disaccharide building block using the mixed-electrolyte system for electrochemical glycosylation; 2 + 1+1 strategy enables us to access the tetrasaccharide precursor and complete the synthesis Myc-IV(C16:0, S) efficiently.}, } @article {pmid32337556, year = {2020}, author = {Concha, C and Doerner, P}, title = {The impact of the rhizobia-legume symbiosis on host root system architecture.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {13}, pages = {3902-3921}, pmid = {32337556}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {BB/P023487/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form symbioses with rhizobia to fix N2 in root nodules to supplement their nitrogen (N) requirements. Many studies have shown how symbioses affect the shoot, but far less is understood about how they modify root development and root system architecture (RSA). RSA is the distribution of roots in space and over time. RSA reflects host resource allocation into below-ground organs and patterns of host resource foraging underpinning its resource acquisition capacity. Recent studies have revealed a more comprehensive relationship between hosts and symbionts: the latter can affect host resource acquisition for phosphate and iron, and the symbiont's production of plant growth regulators can enhance host resource flux and abundance. We review the current understanding of the effects of rhizobia-legume symbioses on legume root systems. We focus on resource acquisition and allocation within the host to conceptualize the effect of symbioses on RSA, and highlight opportunities for new directions of research.}, } @article {pmid32337100, year = {2020}, author = {Casarrubias-Castillo, K and Montero-Vargas, JM and Dabdoub-González, N and Winkler, R and Martinez-Gallardo, NA and Zañudo-Hernández, J and Avilés-Arnaut, H and Délano-Frier, JP}, title = {Distinct gene expression and secondary metabolite profiles in suppressor of prosystemin-mediated responses2 (spr2) tomato mutants having impaired mycorrhizal colonization.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8888}, pmid = {32337100}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, sampled at 32-50 days post-inoculation (dpi), was significantly reduced in suppressor of prosystemin-mediated responses2 (spr2) mutant tomato plants impaired in the ω-3 FATTY ACID DESATURASE7 (FAD7) gene that limits the generation of linolenic acid and, consequently, the wound-responsive jasmonic acid (JA) burst. Contrary to wild-type (WT) plants, JA levels in root and leaves of spr2 mutants remained unchanged in response to AMF colonization, further supporting its regulatory role in the AM symbiosis. Decreased AMF colonization in spr2 plants was also linked to alterations associated with a disrupted FAD7 function, such as enhanced salicylic acid (SA) levels and SA-related defense gene expression and a reduction in fatty acid content in both mycorrhizal spr2 roots and leaves. Transcriptomic data revealed that lower mycorrhizal colonization efficiency in spr2 mutants coincided with the modified expression of key genes controlling gibberellin and ethylene signaling, brassinosteroid, ethylene, apocarotenoid and phenylpropanoid synthesis, and the wound response. Targeted metabolomic analysis, performed at 45 dpi, revealed augmented contents of L-threonic acid and DL-malic acid in colonized spr2 roots which suggested unfavorable conditions for AMF colonization. Additionally, time- and genotype-dependent changes in root steroid glycoalkaloid levels, including tomatine, suggested that these metabolites might positively regulate the AM symbiosis in tomato. Untargeted metabolomic analysis demonstrated that the tomato root metabolomes were distinctly affected by genotype, mycorrhizal colonization and colonization time. In conclusion, reduced AMF colonization efficiency in spr2 mutants is probably caused by multiple and interconnected JA-dependent and independent gene expression and metabolomic alterations.}, } @article {pmid32336748, year = {2020}, author = {Han, Q and Ma, Q and Chen, Y and Tian, B and Xu, L and Bai, Y and Chen, W and Li, X}, title = {Variation in rhizosphere microbial communities and its association with the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia in soybean.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {1915-1928}, pmid = {32336748}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Rhizobium ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia-legume symbiosis is an important type of plant-microbe mutualism; however, the establishment of this association is complicated and can be affected by many factors. The soybean rhizosphere has a specific microbial community, yet whether these organisms affect rhizobial nodulation has not been well investigated. Here, we analyzed the compositions and relationships of soybean rhizocompartment microbiota in three types of soil. First, we found that the rhizosphere community composition of soybean varied significantly in different soils, and the association network between rhizobia and other rhizosphere bacteria was examined. Second, we found that some rhizosphere microbes were correlated with the composition of bradyrhizobia and sinorhizobia in nodules. We cultivated 278 candidate Bacillus isolates from alkaline soil. Finally, interaction and nodulation assays showed that the Bacillus cereus group specifically promotes and suppresses the growth of sinorhizobia and bradyrhizobia, respectively, and alleviates the effects of saline-alkali conditions on the nodulation of sinorhizobia as well as affecting its colonization in nodules. Our findings demonstrate a crucial role of the bacterial microbiota in shaping rhizobia-host interactions in soybean, and provide a framework for improving the symbiotic efficiency of this system of mutualism through the use of synthetic bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid32334169, year = {2020}, author = {Campos, P and Pires, A and Figueira, E}, title = {Can Palythoa cf. variabilis biochemical patterns be used to predict coral reef conservation state in Todos Os Santos Bay?.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {109504}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2020.109504}, pmid = {32334169}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Bays ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are one of the most diverse, complex and productive marine ecosystems on the planet. Global climate change and other anthropogenic impacts have had a strong impact on the equilibrium of these ecosystems and causing the denominated "coral reef crisis". One consequence of coral reef crisis is the phase shift in reef communities, where scleractinian corals responsible for the bioconstruction of the coralline building are replaced by macroalgae or soft corals. In Todos os Santos Bay (TSB) there is a rare case of phase shift caused by the soft coral Palythoa cf. variabilis. When in population outbreak, this coral species becomes dominant and leads to loss of scleractinian coral cover. Palythoa genus establishes a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium, that is changed in phase shift coral reefs, but other alterations remain unknown. In this study, the metabolism (oxidative damage, antioxidant and biotransformation enzymes, electron transport chain activity and photosynthetic pigments) of P. cf. variabilis from reefs in different conservation states was studied to identify and relate if changes that may occur in the biochemical and metabolism of the coral might trigger the population outbreak, identify parameters recognizing if corals are in stress and assess if one or more parameters can reflect the level of stress organisms are experiencing. The results obtained evidenced a clear distinction in the biochemistry and metabolism of corals from conserved sites and sites in phase shift, and these changes may be the trigger for population outbreak. Some of the parameters were able to discriminate the level of stress corals are experiencing and may allow to recognize the most at-risk coral reefs that need immediate intervention and prevent the entry into or revert P. cf. variabilis outbreak and phase shift in coral reefs. Actions like these can be of vital importance for the preservation of TSB coral reefs and possibly for other threatened reefs worldwide.}, } @article {pmid32333786, year = {2020}, author = {Akatsuki, M and Makita, N}, title = {Influence of fine root traits on in situ exudation rates in four conifers from different mycorrhizal associations.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {40}, number = {8}, pages = {1071-1079}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaa051}, pmid = {32333786}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Japan ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Tracheophyta ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Plant roots can exude organic compounds into the soil that are useful for plant survival because they can degrade microorganisms around the roots and enhance allelopathy against other plant invasions. We developed a method to collect carbon (C) exudation on a small scale from tree fine roots by C-free filter traps. We quantified total C through root exudation in four conifers from different microbial symbiotic groups (ectomycorrhiza (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM)) in a cool-temperate forest in Japan. We determined the relationship of mass-based exudation rate from three diameter classes (<0.5, 0.5-1.0, and 1.0-2.5 mm) of the intact root system with root traits such as morphological traits including root diameter, specific root length (SRL), specific root area (SRA), root tissue density (RTD) and chemical traits including root nitrogen (N) content and C/N. Across species, the mass-based root exudation rate was found to correlate with diameter, SRA, RTD, N and C/N. When comparing mycorrhizal types, there were significant relationships between the exudation and diameter, SRL, SRA, root N and C/N in ECM species; however, these were not significant in AM species. Our results show that relationships between in situ root exudation and every measured trait of morphology and chemistry were strongly driven by ECM roots and not by AM roots. These differences might explain the fact that ECM roots in this study potentially covaried by optimizing the exudation and root morphology in forest trees, while exudation in AM roots did not change with changes in root morphology. In addition, the contrasting results may be attributable to the effect of degree and position of ECM and AM colonization in fine root system. Differences in fine root exudation relationships to root morphology for the two types of mycorrhizae will help us better understand the underlying mechanisms of belowground C allocation in forest ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32330419, year = {2020}, author = {Rotterová, J and Salomaki, E and Pánek, T and Bourland, W and Žihala, D and Táborský, P and Edgcomb, VP and Beinart, RA and Kolísko, M and Čepička, I}, title = {Genomics of New Ciliate Lineages Provides Insight into the Evolution of Obligate Anaerobiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {2037-2050.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.03.064}, pmid = {32330419}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Ciliophora/*genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Genomics ; Mitochondria/physiology ; }, abstract = {Oxygen plays a crucial role in energetic metabolism of most eukaryotes. Yet adaptations to low-oxygen concentrations leading to anaerobiosis have independently arisen in many eukaryotic lineages, resulting in a broad spectrum of reduced and modified mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs). In this study, we present the discovery of two new class-level lineages of free-living marine anaerobic ciliates, Muranotrichea, cl. nov. and Parablepharismea, cl. nov., that, together with the class Armophorea, form a major clade of obligate anaerobes (APM ciliates) within the Spirotrichea, Armophorea, and Litostomatea (SAL) group. To deepen our understanding of the evolution of anaerobiosis in ciliates, we predicted the mitochondrial metabolism of cultured representatives from all three classes in the APM clade by using transcriptomic and metagenomic data and performed phylogenomic analyses to assess their evolutionary relationships. The predicted mitochondrial metabolism of representatives from the APM ciliates reveals functional adaptations of metabolic pathways that were present in their last common ancestor and likely led to the successful colonization and diversification of the group in various anoxic environments. Furthermore, we discuss the possible relationship of Parablepharismea to the uncultured deep-sea class Cariacotrichea on the basis of single-gene analyses. Like most anaerobic ciliates, all studied species of the APM clade host symbionts, which we propose to be a significant accelerating factor in the transitions to an obligately anaerobic lifestyle. Our results provide an insight into the evolutionary mechanisms of early transitions to anaerobiosis and shed light on fine-scale adaptations in MROs over a relatively short evolutionary time frame.}, } @article {pmid32330290, year = {2020}, author = {Eberl, G and Vieira, P}, title = {Beware of whom you live with: Your intestinal IgA may depend on it.}, journal = {European journal of immunology}, volume = {50}, number = {6}, pages = {779-782}, doi = {10.1002/eji.202048615}, pmid = {32330290}, issn = {1521-4141}, mesh = {Animals ; Eosinophils/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/genetics/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; Plasma Cells/*immunology ; }, abstract = {In the past 15 years, it became clear that the symbiotic microbiota has an important impact on the development and regulation of the immune system. Consequently, it is incorrect to interpret a phenotype solely as a direct result of the genotype, without considering the impact of the microbiota. In fact, ignorance of the effects exerted by the microbiota may account for a large part of the "replication issues" found in many studies. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Beller et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2020. 50: 783-794] provide data suggesting that eosinophils are not required to maintain IgA-producing plasma cells in the intestine, contrary to earlier reports. This paper shows that mice lacking eosinophils develop an altered intestinal microbiota, which poorly induces IgA. Normal levels of IgA were obtained in mice lacking eosinophils when these were colonized by microbiota from the WT mice. Therefore, the use of littermate controls carrying the same microbiota, in experiments comparing WT and mutant mice, is necessary to control the potential role of the microbiota. Nevertheless, caution should always be exercised in the interpretation of the results: changes in the microbiota may result from mutations in the host, and thereby, indirectly convey the effect of genotypes on phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid32329884, year = {2020}, author = {Troutman Adams, E and Cohen, EL and Bernard, A and Darnell, WH and Oyler, DR}, title = {Can opioid vigilance and patient-centered care coexist? A qualitative study of communicative tensions encountered by surgical trainees.}, journal = {Journal of opioid management}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {91-101}, doi = {10.5055/jom.2020.0555}, pmid = {32329884}, issn = {1551-7489}, mesh = {*Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; *Drug Prescriptions ; Humans ; *Patient-Centered Care ; *Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Qualitative Research ; United States ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The American health care system's adoption of the patient-centered care (PCC) model has transformed how medical pro-viders communicate with patients about prescription pain medication. Concomitantly, the nation's opioid epidemic has necessitated a proactive response from the medical profession, requiring providers who frequently dispense opioids for acute pain to exercise vigi-lance in monitoring and limiting outpatient prescriptions. This qualitative study explores how surgical trainees balance PCC directives, including shared decision making, exchanging information with patients, and relationship maintenance, with opioid prescribing vigi-lance.

DESIGN: Investigators conducted interviews with 17 surgical residents and fellows (trainees) who routinely prescribe opioids at an ac-ademic medical center.

RESULTS: A qualitative descriptive analysis produced four codes, which were reduced to themes depicting problematic intersections between PCC imperatives and opioid vigilance during post-operative opioid-prescribing communication: (a) sharing the deci-sion-making process contended with exerting medical authority, (b) reciprocating information contended with negotiating opioid prescribing terms with patients, (c) maintaining symbiotic relationships contended with prescribing ethics, and (d) achieving patient satisfaction contended with safeguarding opioid medications.

CONCLUSION: Surgical training programs must supply trainees with post-surgical prescribing guidelines and communication skills training. Training should emphasize how PCC directives may work in tandem with-not in opposition to-opioid vigilance.}, } @article {pmid32329126, year = {2020}, author = {Song, Z and Lu, Y and Liu, X and Wei, C and Oladipo, A and Fan, B}, title = {Evaluation of Pantoea eucalypti FBS135 for pine (Pinus massoniana) growth promotion and its genome analysis.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {129}, number = {4}, pages = {958-970}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14673}, pmid = {32329126}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; China ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Pantoea/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Pinus/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Pinus massoniana is one of the most widely distributed forest plants in China. In this study, we isolated a bacterial endophyte (designated FBS135) from apical buds and needles of P. massoniana. Investigations were performed to understand the effects of the strain on pine growth, its genomic features and the functions of the plasmids it carries.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on its morphological features and 16S rRNA sequence, strain FBS135 was primarily identified as Pantoea eucalypti. We found that FBS135 not only promoted the growth of P. massoniana seedlings, but also significantly increased the survival rate of pine seedlings. The whole genome of FBS135 was sequenced, which revealed that the bacterium carries one chromosome and four plasmids. Its chromosome is 4 023 751 bp in size and contains dozens of genes involved in plant symbiosis. Curing one of the four plasmids, pPant1, resulted in a decrease in the size of the FBS135 colonies and the loss of the ability to synthesize yellow pigment, indicating that this plasmid may be very important for FBS135.

CONCLUSIONS: Pantoea eucalypti FBS135 has a genomic basis to be implicated in plant-associated lifestyle and was established to have the capability to promote pine growth.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that such a bacterial species, P. eucalypti, was isolated from pine trees and evidenced to have pine beneficial activities. Our results elucidate the ecological effects of endophytes on forest plants as well as endophyte-plant interaction mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid32328074, year = {2020}, author = {Ouyang, J and Lin, J and Isnard, S and Fombuena, B and Peng, X and Marette, A and Routy, B and Messaoudene, M and Chen, Y and Routy, JP}, title = {The Bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila: A Sentinel for Gut Permeability and Its Relevance to HIV-Related Inflammation.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {645}, pmid = {32328074}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {MOP 103230//CIHR/Canada ; PTJ 166049//CIHR/Canada ; CTN 257//CIHR/Canada ; CTN PT027//CIHR/Canada ; HB2-164064//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Akkermansia/physiology ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Dysbiosis ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*immunology ; HIV Infections/*immunology ; HIV-1/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Metformin/therapeutic use ; Obesity/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Gut dysbiosis, namely dysregulation of the intestinal microbiota, and increased gut permeability lead to enhanced inflammation and are commonly seen in chronic conditions such as obesity and aging. In people living with HIV (PLWH), several lines of evidence suggest that a depletion of gut CD4 T-cells is associated with gut dysbiosis, microbial translocation and systemic inflammation. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) rapidly controls viral replication, which leads to CD4 T-cell recovery and control of the disease. However, gut dysbiosis, epithelial damage and microbial translocation persist despite ART, increasing risk of developing inflammatory non-AIDS comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, liver steatosis and cancer. In addition to ART, an emerging research priority is to discover strategies to improve the gut microbial composition and intestinal barrier function. Probiotic interventions have been extensively used with controversial benefits in humans. Encouragingly, within the last decade, the intestinal symbiotic bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila has emerged as the "sentinel of the gut." A lower abundance of A. muciniphila has been shown in diabetic and obese people as well as in PLWH. Interventions with high levels of polyphenols such as tea or diets rich in fruit, the antibiotic vancomycin and the antidiabetic drug metformin have been shown to increase A. muciniphila abundance, contributing to improved metabolic function in diabetic and obese individuals. We hypothesize that gut microbiota rich in A. muciniphila can reduce microbial translocation and inflammation, preventing occurrences of non-AIDS comorbidities in PLWH. To this aim, we will discuss the protective effect of A. muciniphila and its potential applications, paving the way toward novel therapeutic strategies to improve gut health in PLWH.}, } @article {pmid32328040, year = {2020}, author = {Eckert, RJ and Reaume, AM and Sturm, AB and Studivan, MS and Voss, JD}, title = {Depth Influences Symbiodiniaceae Associations Among Montastraea cavernosa Corals on the Belize Barrier Reef.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {518}, pmid = {32328040}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In Belize, shallow populations (10 and 16 m) of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa from the back reef and reef crest are genetically differentiated from deeper populations on the fore reef and reef wall (25 and 35 m). Like many species of scleractinian corals, M. cavernosa has an obligate symbiosis with dinoflagellate microalgae from the family Symbiodiniaceae. Here, we describe the Symbiodiniaceae taxa found within previously sampled and genotyped M. cavernosa populations along a depth gradient on the Belize Barrier Reef by implementing high-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region of Symbiodiniaceae ribosomal DNA and the SymPortal analysis framework. While Symbiodiniaceae ITS2 type profiles across all sampling depths were almost entirely (99.99%) from the genus Cladocopium (formerly Symbiodinium Clade C), shallow (10 and 16 m) populations had a greater diversity of ITS2 type profiles in comparison to deeper (25 and 35 m) populations. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) confirmed significant differences in ITS2 type profiles between shallow and deep sample populations. Overall Symbiodiniaceae communities changed significantly with depth, following patterns similar to the coral host's population genetic structure. Though physiological differences among species in the cosmopolitan genus Cladocopium are not well-described, our results suggest that although some members of Cladocopium are depth-generalists, shallow M. cavernosa populations in Belize may harbor shallow-specialized Symbiodiniaceae not found in deeper populations.}, } @article {pmid32328019, year = {2020}, author = {Slors, M}, title = {From Notebooks to Institutions: The Case for Symbiotic Cognition.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {674}, pmid = {32328019}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Cognition is claimed to be extended by a wide array of items, ranging from notebooks to social institutions. Although the connection between individuals and these items is usually referred to as "coupling," the difference between notebooks and social institutions is so vast that the meaning of "coupling" is bound to be different in each of these cases. In this paper I argue that the radical difference between "artifact-extended cognition" and "socially extended cognition" is not sufficiently highlighted in the literature. I argue that there are two different senses of "cognitive extension" at play, that I shall label, respectively, "implementation extension" and "impact extension." Whereas implementation extension is a causal-functional notion, impact-extension hinges on social normativity that is connected with organization and action coordination. I will argue that the two kinds of cognitive extension are different enough to warrant separate labels. Because the most salient form of social extension of cognition involves the reciprocal co-constitution of cognitive capacities, I will propose to set it apart from other types of extended cognition by using the label "symbiotic cognition."}, } @article {pmid32326359, year = {2020}, author = {Gong, S and Jin, X and Ren, L and Tan, Y and Xia, X}, title = {Unraveling Heterogeneity of Coral Microbiome Assemblages in Tropical and Subtropical Corals in the South China Sea.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32326359}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Understanding the coral microbiome is critical for predicting the fidelity of coral symbiosis with growing surface seawater temperature (SST). However, how the coral microbiome will respond to increasing SST is still understudied. Here, we compared the coral microbiome assemblages among 73 samples across six typical South China Sea coral species in two thermal regimes. The results revealed that the composition of microbiome varied across both coral species and thermal regimes, except for Porites lutea. The tropical coral microbiome displayed stronger heterogeneity and had a more un-compacted ecological network than subtropical coral microbiome. The coral microbiome was more strongly determined by environmental factors than host specificity. γ- (32%) and α-proteobacteria (19%), Bacteroidetes (14%), Firmicutes (14%), Actinobacteria (6%) and Cyanobacteria (2%) dominated the coral microbiome. Additionally, bacteria inferred to play potential roles in host nutrients metabolism, several keystone bacteria detected in human and plant rhizospheric microbiome were retrieved in explored corals. This study not only disentangles how different host taxa and microbiome interact and how such an interaction is affected by thermal regimes, but also identifies previously unrecognized keystone bacteria in corals, and also infers the community structure of coral microbiome will be changed from a compacted to an un-compacted network under elevated SST.}, } @article {pmid32326126, year = {2020}, author = {Mogilnicka, I and Bogucki, P and Ufnal, M}, title = {Microbiota and Malodor-Etiology and Management.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32326126}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Body Fluids ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Halitosis/diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Methylamines/metabolism/urine ; *Microbiota ; *Odorants ; Saliva/microbiology ; Sulfur Compounds/metabolism/urine ; Sweat ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Accumulating evidence indicates that microbiota plays a critical role in physiological processes in humans. However, it might also contribute to body malodor by producing numerous odorous molecules such as ammonia, volatile sulfur compounds or trimethylamine. Although malodor is commonly overlooked by physicians, it constitutes a major problem for many otherwise healthy people. Thus, this review aims to investigate most common causes of malodor and describe potential therapeutic options. We searched PUBMED and Google Scholar databases to identify the clinical and pre-clinical studies on bad body smell, malodor, halitosis and microbiota. Unpleasant smell might originate from the mouth, skin, urine or reproductive fluids and is usually caused by odorants that are produced by resident bacterial flora. The accumulation of odorous compounds might result from diet, specific composition of microbiota, as well as compromised function of the liver, intestines and kidneys. Evidence-based guidelines for management of body malodor are lacking and no universal treatment exists. However, the alleviation of the symptoms may be achieved by controlling the diet and physical elimination of bacteria and/or accumulated odorants.}, } @article {pmid32325355, year = {2020}, author = {Lanctôt, CM and Bednarz, VN and Melvin, S and Jacob, H and Oberhaensli, F and Swarzenski, PW and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Carroll, AR and Metian, M}, title = {Physiological stress response of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata exposed to polyethylene microplastics.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {263}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {114559}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114559}, pmid = {32325355}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Microplastics ; Photosynthesis ; Plastics ; Polyethylene ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated physiological responses including calcification, photosynthesis and alterations to polar metabolites, in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata exposed to different concentrations of polyethylene microplastics. Results showed that at high plastic concentrations (50 particles/mL nominal concentration) the photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II in the coral symbiont was affected after 4 weeks of exposure. Both moderate and high (5 and 50 particles/mL nominal) concentrations of microplastics caused subtle but significant alterations to metabolite profiles of coral, as determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Specifically, exposed corals were found to have increased levels of phosphorylated sugars and pyrimidine nucleobases that make up nucleotides, scyllo-inositol and a region containing overlapping proline and glutamate signals, compared to control animals. Together with the photo-physiological stress response observed and previously published literature, these findings support the hypothesis that microplastics disrupt host-symbiont signaling and that corals respond to this interference by increasing signaling and chemical support to the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae. These findings are also consistent with increased mucus production in corals exposed to microplastics described in previous studies. Considering the importance of coral reefs to marine ecosystems and their sensitivity to anthropogenic stressors, more research is needed to elucidate coral response mechanisms to microplastics under realistic exposure conditions.}, } @article {pmid32324967, year = {2020}, author = {Samples, RM and Balunas, MJ}, title = {Bridging the Gap: Plant-Endophyte Interactions as a Roadmap to Understanding Small-Molecule Communication in Marine Microbiomes.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {21}, number = {19}, pages = {2708-2721}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.202000064}, pmid = {32324967}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Endophytes/chemistry/*metabolism ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Plants/*chemistry/metabolism ; Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Probing the composition of the microbiome and its association with health and disease states is more accessible than ever due to the rise of affordable sequencing technology. Despite advances in our ability to identify members of symbiont communities, untangling the chemical signaling that they use to communicate with host organisms remains challenging. In order to gain a greater mechanistic understanding of how the microbiome impacts health, and how chemical ecology can be leveraged to advance small-molecule drug discovery from microorganisms, the principals governing communication between host and symbiont must be elucidated. Herein, we review common modes of interkingdom small-molecule communication in terrestrial and marine environments, describe the differences between these environments, and detail the advantages and disadvantages for studies focused on the marine environment. Finally, we propose the use of plant-endophyte interactions as a stepping stone to a greater understanding of similar interactions in marine invertebrates, and ultimately in humans.}, } @article {pmid32324901, year = {2020}, author = {Higashi, CHV and Barton, BT and Oliver, KM}, title = {Warmer nights offer no respite for a defensive mutualism.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {89}, number = {8}, pages = {1895-1905}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13238}, pmid = {32324901}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Ecologically relevant symbioses are widespread in terrestrial arthropods but based on recent findings these specialized interactions are likely to be especially vulnerable to climate warming. Importantly, empirical data and climate models indicate that warming is occurring asynchronously, with night-time temperatures increasing faster than daytime temperatures. Daytime (DTW) and night-time warming (NTW) may impact ectothermic animals and their interactions differently as DTW results in greater daily temperature variation and moves organisms nearer to their thermal limits, while NTW avoids thermal limits and may relieve constraints of cooler night-time temperatures; a nuance that has largely been ignored in the literature. In laboratory experiments, we investigated how the timing of warming influences a widespread defensive mutualism involving the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, and its heritable symbiont, Hamiltonella defensa, which protects against an important natural enemy, the parasitic wasp Aphidius ervi. Three aphid sublines were experimentally created from single aphid genotype susceptible to A. ervi: one line infected with a highly protective H. defensa strain, one infected with a moderately protective strain and one without any facultative symbiont. We examined aphid fitness in the presence and absence of parasitoids and when exposed to an average 2.5°C increase occurring across three warming scenarios (night-time vs. daytime vs. uniform) relative to no-warming controls. An increase of 2.5°C, as predicted to occur by the IPCC before 2100, was sufficient to disable the aphid defensive mutualism regardless of the timing of warming; a surprising result given that the daily maxima for control and NTW scenarios were identical. We also found that warming negatively impacted (a) symbiont-mediated interactions between host and parasitoid more than symbiont-free ones; (b) species interactions (host-parasitoid) more than each participant independently and (c) aphids more than parasitoids even though higher trophic levels are generally predicted to be more affected by warming. Here we show that 2.5°C warming, regardless of timing, negatively impacted a common microbe-mediated defensive mutualism. While this was a laboratory-based study, results suggest that temperature increases predicted in the near-term may disrupt the many ecological symbioses present in terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32323299, year = {2020}, author = {Segnitz, RM and Russo, SE and Davies, SJ and Peay, KG}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi drive positive phylogenetic plant-soil feedbacks in a regionally dominant tropical plant family.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {101}, number = {8}, pages = {e03083}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3083}, pmid = {32323299}, issn = {1939-9170}, support = {1361171//NSF RAPID/International ; }, mesh = {Feedback ; Forests ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {While work in temperate forests suggests that there are consistent differences in plant-soil feedback (PSF) between plants with arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal associations, it is unclear whether these differences exist in tropical rainforests. We tested the effects of mycorrhizal type, phylogenetic relationships to overstory species, and soil fertility on the growth of tree seedlings in a tropical Bornean rainforest with a high diversity of both ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal trees. We found that ectomycorrhizal tree seedlings had higher growth in soils conditioned by close relatives and that this was associated with higher mycorrhizal colonization. By contrast, arbuscular mycorrhizal tree seedlings generally grew more poorly in soils conditioned by close relatives. For ectomycorrhizal species, the phylogenetic trend was insensitive to soil fertility. For arbuscular mycorrhizal seedlings, however, the effect of growing in soils conditioned by close relatives became increasingly negative as soil fertility increased. Our results demonstrate consistent effects of mycorrhizal type on plant-soil feedbacks across forest biomes. The positive effects of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis may help explain biogeographic variation across tropical forests, such as familial dominance of the Dipterocarpaceae in southeast Asia. However, positive feedbacks also raise questions about the role of PSFs in maintaining tropical diversity.}, } @article {pmid32323273, year = {2020}, author = {Suzuki, K}, title = {Diversified IgA-Bacteria Interaction in Gut Homeostasis.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1254}, number = {}, pages = {105-116}, doi = {10.1007/978-981-15-3532-1_9}, pmid = {32323273}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Bacteria/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; *Homeostasis ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the major immunoglobulin isotype produced by the gut immune system, and many studies revealed key roles of IgA in establishing host-bacteria mutualism. This chapter will review current understandings for the function of gut IgA in regulating commensal microbiota. IgA specifically recognizes bacterial species that strongly stimulate host's immune responses, and suppresses their overgrowth or reduces the expressions of bacterial pro-inflammatory genes. On the other hand, IgA coatings on symbiotic bacteria enhance bacteria-mucus and bacteria-bacteria interactions, which induce production of metabolites enforcing mucosal barrier functions. Such diversified effects suggest that multiple factors may be involved in the mechanisms of IgA-bacteria interactions, including IgA specificity to microbial epitopes, mode of cellular responses of IgA synthesis (T-dependent and T-independent) and post-translational modifications of IgA proteins, such as glycosylation.}, } @article {pmid32323184, year = {2020}, author = {Li, R and Li, Y and Li, C and Zheng, D and Chen, P}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Endocrine Disorder.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1238}, number = {}, pages = {143-164}, doi = {10.1007/978-981-15-2385-4_9}, pmid = {32323184}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Endocrine System Diseases/*etiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Obesity/etiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome contains trillions of commensal microorganisms that maintain a symbiotic relationship with the host, and its profound effects on gastrointestinal diseases have been widely described. Recently, gut microbiota have emerged as important factors in endocrine system diseases. Disruption of the gut microbiota affects neuroendocrine homeostasis and promotes peripheral endocrine system diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and hyperuricemia. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the biological mechanisms of gut microbiota that participate in endocrine system pathologies and discusses potential novel therapies for these diseases.}, } @article {pmid32322563, year = {2020}, author = {Stewart, PE and Bloom, ME}, title = {Sharing the Ride: Ixodes scapularis Symbionts and Their Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {142}, pmid = {32322563}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; *Babesiosis ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Borrelia burgdorferi ; *Ixodes ; *Lyme Disease ; *Microbiota ; United States ; }, abstract = {The deer tick Ixodes scapularis transmits a variety of disease agents in the United States, spreading the bacteria that causes Lyme borreliosis, the protozoan agent of babesiosis, and viruses such as Powassan. However, a variety of other organisms have also evolved symbiotic relationships with this tick species, and it seems likely that some of these microbes have simultaneously coevolved mechanisms to impact each other and their tick host. The number of organisms identified as I. scapularis symbionts has increased seemingly exponentially with the advent of PCR and next generation sequencing technologies, but convincing arguments have proposed that some of these are of environmental origin, unadapted to surviving the physiological conditions of the tick or that they are artifacts of ultrasensitive detection methods. In this review, we examine the diversity of the known microbes occurring within the I. scapularis microbiome, the evidence for interactions between microbes, and discuss whether some organisms reported to be symbionts of I. scapularis are experimental artifacts.}, } @article {pmid32322438, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, H and Zhu, M and Li, S and Ruan, W and Xie, C}, title = {Epiphytic fungi induced pathogen resistance of invasive plant Ipomoea cairica against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8889}, pmid = {32322438}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet is a destructive invasive weed in South China but rarely infected with pathogens in nature. Its pathogen resistance mechanism is largely unknown at present. Some non-pathogenic isolates of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium fujikuroi are prevalent on many plant species and function as pathogen resistance inducers of host plants. The objective of the present research is to investigate whether the symbiosis between the both fungi and I. cairica is present, and thereby induces pathogen resistance of I. cairica.

METHODS: Through field investigation, we explored the occurrence rates of F. oxysporum and F. fujikuroi on leaf surfaces of I. cairica plants in natural habitats and compared their abundance between healthy leaves and leaves infected with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, a natural pathogen. With artificial inoculation, we assessed their pathogenicity to I. cairica and studied their contribution of pathogen resistance to I. cairica against C. gloeosporioides.

RESULTS: We found that F. oxysporum and F. fujikuroi were widely epiphytic on healthy leaf surfaces of I. cairica in sunny non-saline, shady non-saline and sunny saline habitats. Their occurrence rates reached up to 100%. Moreover, we found that the abundance of F. oxysporum and F. fujikuroi on leaves infected with C. gloeosporioides were significantly lower than that of healthy leaves. With artificial inoculation, we empirically confirmed that F. oxysporum and F. fujikuroi were non-pathogenic to I. cairica. It was interesting that colonization by F. fujikuroi, F. oxysporum alone and a mixture of both fungi resulted in a reduction of C. gloeosporioides infection to I. cairica accompanied by lower lesion area to leaf surface area ratio, increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and salicylic acid (SA) level relative to the control. However, NPR1 expression, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities as well as stem length and biomass of I. cairica plant only could be significantly improved by F. oxysporum and a mixture of both fungi but not by F. fujikuroi. In addition, as compared to colonization by F. oxysporum and a mixture of both fungi, F. fujikuroi induced significantly higher jasmonic acid (JA) level but significantly lower β-1,3-glucanase activity in leaves of I. cairica plants. Thus, our findings indicated the symbiosis of epiphytic fungi F. fujikuroi and F. oxysporum induced systemic resistance of I. cairica against C. gloeosporioides. F. oxysporum played a dominant role in inducing pathogen resistance of I. cairica. Its presence alleviated the antagonism of the JA signaling on SA-dependent β-1,3-glucanase activity and enabled I. cairica plants to maintain relatively higher level of resistance against C. gloeosporioides.}, } @article {pmid32320834, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, F and Zhang, X and Zhang, S and Zhang, S and Sun, Y}, title = {Interactions of microplastics and cadmium on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in an agricultural soil.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {254}, number = {}, pages = {126791}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126791}, pmid = {32320834}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biomass ; Cadmium/*analysis ; Microplastics/*analysis ; Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Plastics ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Microplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have attracted attention worldwide, but little is known on their interactions with metallic contaminants in soil-plant systems. Here, we investigated the interactions between MPs, i.e., polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA), and cadmium (Cd) on plant performance and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in an agricultural soil. PE showed no noticeable phytotoxicity, while 10% PLA decreased maize biomass and chlorophyll content in leaves. A significant interaction on root biomass occurred between PE and Cd, but not between PLA and Cd. Both PE and PLA caused increase in soil pH and DTPA-extractable Cd concentrations, but no alterations in Cd accumulation in plant tissues. Different numbers of endemic and total OTUs were observed in various treatments. The relative abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) genera highly varied with MPs and Cd. MPs altered AMF community structure and diversity, depending on their type and dose. Coexisting Cd produced slight but significant interactions with MPs on the dominant AMF genera. Overall, plant growth and AMF community varied with MPs type and dose, Cd, and their interactions, and the high dose of PLA produced stronger phytotoxicity. In conclusion, coexisting MPs and Cd can jointly drive shifts in plant performance and root symbiosis, thereby posing additional risks for agroecosystems and soil biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid32320756, year = {2020}, author = {Small, DP and Bishop, CD}, title = {Physiological benefits and latent effects of an algal-salamander symbiosis.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {246}, number = {}, pages = {110715}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110715}, pmid = {32320756}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Ambystoma/embryology/*physiology ; Animals ; Body Size ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Larva/growth & development ; Light ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Embryos of the salamander Ambystoma maculatum (Shaw) and the uni-cellular green alga Oophila amblystomatis (Lambert ex Wille) have evolved a resource exchange mutualism. Whereas some of the benefits of the symbiosis to embryos are known, the physiological limitations of the relationship to embryos and carry over or latent effects on larvae are not. To determine the impact of the relationship across life history stages, we measured the growth, survival, and metabolic rate in response to hypoxia of salamander embryos reared under 0-h light (algae absent), 14-h light (control - algae present, fluctuating light conditions) and 24-h light (algae present, chronic light conditions) and the resulting larvae two-weeks post hatch. Embryos reared under 0-h light demonstrated decreased growth and survival compared to 14- and 24-h light, with no effect on metabolic rates or the response of metabolic rates to declining oxygen partial pressure (pO2). Conversely, larvae from embryos reared under 0-h light exhibited compensatory growth during the two-week larval rearing period, with body sizes matching those from the 14-h light treatment. Larvae from embryos reared under 24-h light had lower wet body mass and LT50 values upon starvation compared to those reared under 14-h light. Coupled with the lowest metabolic rates under normoxic pO2 levels, this indicates the presence of negative latent effects. We discuss the findings in relation to the effect of the symbiotic relationship on hypoxia tolerance and larval fitness with respect to the presence of compensatory growth and negative latent effects.}, } @article {pmid32318983, year = {2020}, author = {Roets, F and Oberlander, KC}, title = {Symbiotic yeasts from the mycangium, larval gut and woody substrate of an African stag beetle Xiphodontus antilope (Coleoptera: Lucanidae).}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {113}, number = {8}, pages = {1123-1134}, pmid = {32318983}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Larva/*microbiology ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Saccharomycetales/physiology ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism/*microbiology ; Yeasts/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Female stag beetles (Lucanidae) possess internal mycangia to maintain microbial cultures. Yeasts from these mycangia may help with larval nutrition in nutrient poor woody substrates, but only a few Lucanidae taxa have been studied and all reports originate from Europe and Asia. We identify the first mycangial yeasts of a South African endemic Lucanidae beetle, Xiphodontus antilope, using nuclear ribosomal RNA and ITS DNA sequence data. In addition we identified yeasts from the larval gut, fecal matter, frass and woody substrate surrounding larvae and pupae. The mycangium of X. antilope was confined to females and is structurally similar to all other Lucanidae. Unlike most Lucanidae that seemingly associate with single species of yeast, or whose mycangia contain yeast monocultures, three yeast species were commonly isolated from X. antilope. Scheffersomyces coipomoensis was the most numerically dominant species on most substrates and in most individuals, but a second, undescribed, Scheffersomyces species was present in high numbers. A third species, also undescribed and unrelated to Scheffersomyces, was recovered from all mycangia but could not be detected in the larval gut, fecal matter, frass or woody substrates. We confirm a close association of Scheffersomyces yeasts with Lucanidae globally, but other taxa may also be involved. We show that the predominant mycangial yeasts also form the predominant yeasts within the larval gut and the woody substrates around the larvae and pupae. This combined external and internal colonization by the same yeasts may provide enhanced opportunities for nutrient acquisition, but this needs validation in future studies.}, } @article {pmid32317320, year = {2020}, author = {Koto, A and Nobu, MK and Miyazaki, R}, title = {Deep Sequencing Uncovers Caste-Associated Diversity of Symbionts in the Social Ant Camponotus japonicus.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32317320}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms can have a profound impact on the host physiology and behavior, and novel relationships between symbionts and their hosts are continually discovered. A colony of social ants consists of various castes that exhibit distinct lifestyles and is, thus, a unique model for investigating how symbionts may be involved in host eusociality. Yet our knowledge of social ant-symbiont dynamics has remained rudimentary. Through 16S rRNA gene deep sequencing of the carpenter ant Camponotus japonicus symbiont community across various castes, we here report caste-dependent diversity of commensal gut microbiota and lineage divergence of "Candidatus Blochmannia," an obligate endosymbiont. While most prevalent gut-associated bacterial populations are found across all castes (Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria), we also discovered uncultured populations that are found only in males (belonging to Corynebacteriales, Alkanindiges, and Burkholderia). Most of those populations are not detected in laboratory-maintained queens and workers, suggesting that they are facultative gut symbionts introduced via environmental acquisition. Further inspection of "Ca. Blochmannia" endosymbionts reveals that two populations are dominant in all individuals across all castes but that males preferentially contain two different sublineages that are diversified from others. Clearly, each caste has distinct symbiont communities, suggesting an overlooked biological aspect of host-symbiont interaction in social insects.IMPORTANCE Social animals, such as primates and some insects, have been shown to exchange symbiotic microbes among individuals through sharing diet or habitats, resulting in increased consistency of microbiota among social partners. The ant is a representative of social insects exhibiting various castes within a colony; queens, males, and nonreproductive females (so-called workers) show distinct morphologies, physiologies, and behaviors but tightly interact with each other in the nest. However, how this social context affects their gut microbiota has remained unclear. In this study, we deeply sequenced the gut symbiont community across various castes of the carpenter ant Camponotus japonicus We report caste-dependent diversity of commensal gut microbial community and lineage divergence of the mutualistic endosymbiont "Candidatus Blochmannia." This report sheds light on the hidden diversity in microbial populations and community structure associated with guts of males in social ants.}, } @article {pmid32317019, year = {2020}, author = {Guibert, I and Lecellier, G and Torda, G and Pochon, X and Berteaux-Lecellier, V}, title = {Metabarcoding reveals distinct microbiotypes in the giant clam Tridacna maxima.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {57}, pmid = {32317019}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/growth & development ; *Bivalvia/microbiology/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Dinoflagellida/classification/growth & development ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Giant clams and scleractinian (reef-building) corals are keystone species of coral reef ecosystems. The basis of their ecological success is a complex and fine-tuned symbiotic relationship with microbes. While the effect of environmental change on the composition of the coral microbiome has been heavily studied, we know very little about the composition and sensitivity of the microbiome associated with clams. Here, we explore the influence of increasing temperature on the microbial community (bacteria and dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae) harbored by giant clams, maintained either in isolation or exposed to other reef species. We created artificial benthic assemblages using two coral species (Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora cytherea) and one giant clam species (Tridacna maxima) and studied the microbial community in the latter using metagenomics.

RESULTS: Our results led to three major conclusions. First, the health status of giant clams depended on the composition of the benthic species assemblages. Second, we discovered distinct microbiotypes in the studied T. maxima population, one of which was disproportionately dominated by Vibrionaceae and directly linked to clam mortality. Third, neither the increase in water temperature nor the composition of the benthic assemblage had a significant effect on the composition of the Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities of T. maxima.

CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, our results suggest that at least three microbiotypes naturally exist in the studied clam populations, regardless of water temperature. These microbiotypes plausibly provide similar functions to the clam host via alternate molecular pathways as well as microbiotype-specific functions. This redundancy in functions among microbiotypes together with their specificities provides hope that giant clam populations can tolerate some levels of environmental variation such as increased temperature. Importantly, the composition of the benthic assemblage could make clams susceptible to infections by Vibrionaceae, especially when water temperature increases. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid32316316, year = {2020}, author = {Berckx, F and Wibberg, D and Kalinowski, J and Pawlowski, K}, title = {The Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis Gene murC in Frankia: Actinorhizal vs. Plant Type.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32316316}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Frankia/classification/*growth & development ; *Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptidoglycan/*biosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Rhamnaceae/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing Actinobacteria of the genus Frankia can be subdivided into four phylogenetically distinct clades; members of clusters one to three engage in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses with actinorhizal plants. Mur enzymes are responsible for the biosynthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria. The four Mur ligases,MurC, MurD, MurE, and MurF, catalyse the addition of a short polypeptide to UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid. Frankia strains of cluster-2 and cluster-3 contain two copies of murC, while the strains of cluster-1 and cluster-4 contain only one. Phylogenetically, the protein encoded by the murC gene shared only by cluster-2 and cluster-3, termed MurC1, groups with MurC proteins of other Actinobacteria. The protein encoded by the murC gene found in all Frankia strains, MurC2, shows a higher similarity to the MurC proteins of plants than of Actinobacteria. MurC2 could have been either acquired via horizontal gene transfer or via gene duplication and convergent evolution, while murC1 was subsequently lost in the cluster-1 and cluster-4 strains. In the nodules induced by the cluster-2 strains, the expression levels of murC2 were significantly higher than those of murC1. Thus, there is clear sequence divergence between both types of Frankia MurC, and Frankia murC1 is in the process of being replaced by murC2, indicating selection in favour of murC2. Nevertheless, protein modelling showed no major structural differences between the MurCs from any phylogenetic group examined.}, } @article {pmid32316296, year = {2020}, author = {Dharampal, PS and Diaz-Garcia, L and Haase, MAB and Zalapa, J and Currie, CR and Hittinger, CT and Steffan, SA}, title = {Microbial Diversity Associated with the Pollen Stores of Captive-Bred Bumble Bee Colonies.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32316296}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The pollen stores of bumble bees host diverse microbiota that influence overall colony fitness. Yet, the taxonomic identity of these symbiotic microbes is relatively unknown. In this descriptive study, we characterized the microbial community of pollen provisions within captive-bred bumble bee hives obtained from two commercial suppliers located in North America. Findings from 16S rRNA and ITS gene-based analyses revealed that pollen provisions from the captive-bred hives shared several microbial taxa that have been previously detected among wild populations. While diverse microbes across phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Ascomycota were detected in all commercial hives, significant differences were detected at finer-scale taxonomic resolution based on the supplier source. The causative agent of chalkbrood disease in honey bees, Ascosphaera apis, was detected in all hives obtained from one supplier source, although none of the hives showed symptoms of infection. The shared core microbiota across both commercial supplier sources consisted of two ubiquitous bee-associated groups, Lactobacillus and Wickerhamiella/Starmerella clade yeasts that potentially contribute to the beneficial function of the microbiome of bumble bee pollen provisions.}, } @article {pmid32316239, year = {2020}, author = {Usui, Y and Wakabayashi, Y and Shimizu, T and Tahara, YO and Miyata, M and Nakamura, A and Ito, M}, title = {A Factor Produced by Kaistia sp. 32K Accelerated the Motility of Methylobacterium sp. ME121.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32316239}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {24117005//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Chemical Precipitation ; Ethanol/chemistry ; Flagella/metabolism ; Methylobacterium/growth & development/*physiology ; Monosaccharides/analysis ; Movement ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Rotation ; }, abstract = {Motile Methylobacterium sp. ME121 and non-motile Kaistia sp. 32K were isolated from the same soil sample. Interestingly, ME121 was significantly more motile in the coculture of ME121 and 32K than in the monoculture of ME121. This advanced motility of ME121 was also observed in the 32K culture supernatant. A swimming acceleration factor, which we named the K factor, was identified in the 32K culture supernatant, purified, characterized as an extracellular polysaccharide (5-10 kDa), and precipitated with 70% ethanol. These results suggest the possibility that the K factor was directly or indirectly sensed by the flagellar stator, accelerating the flagellar rotation of ME121. To the best of our knowledge, no reports describing an acceleration in motility due to coculture with two or more types of bacteria have been published. We propose a mechanism by which the increase in rotational force of the ME121 flagellar motor is caused by the introduction of the additional stator into the motor by the K factor.}, } @article {pmid32314946, year = {2020}, author = {Álvarez, C and Navarro, JA and Molina-Heredia, FP and Mariscal, V}, title = {Endophytic Colonization of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) by the Symbiotic Strain Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {1040-1045}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-20-0015-SC}, pmid = {32314946}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Endophytes/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/*physiology ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are phototrophic microorganisms able to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiotic associations with representatives of all four of the major phylogenetic divisions of terrestrial plants. Despite increasing knowledge on the beneficial effects of cyanobacteria in rice fields, the information about the interaction between these microorganisms and rice at the molecular and structural levels is still limited. We have used the model nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme to promote a long-term stable endophytic association with rice. Inoculation with this strain of hydroponic cultures of rice produces a fast adherence of the cyanobacterium to rice roots. At longer times, cyanobacterial growth in the proximity of the roots increased until reaching a plateau. This latter phase coincides with the intracellular colonization of the root epidermis and exodermis. Structural analysis of the roots revealed that the cyanobacterium use an apoplastic route to colonize the plant cells. Moreover, plant roots inoculated with N. punctiforme show both the presence of heterocysts and nitrogenase activity, resulting in the promotion of plant growth under nitrogen deficiency, thus providing benefits for the plant.}, } @article {pmid32314412, year = {2020}, author = {David, AS and Thapa-Magar, KB and Menges, ES and Searcy, CA and Afkhami, ME}, title = {Do plant-microbe interactions support the Stress Gradient Hypothesis?.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {101}, number = {8}, pages = {e03081}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3081}, pmid = {32314412}, issn = {1939-9170}, support = {//University of Miami/International ; }, mesh = {Biomass ; Germination ; *Plants ; *Soil ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The Stress Gradient Hypothesis (SGH), which predicts increasing ratios of facilitative:competitive interactions with increasing stress, has long been a guiding framework for conceptualizing plant-plant interactions. Recently, there has been a growing recognition of the roles of microbes in mitigating or exacerbating environmental stress for their plant hosts. As such, we might predict, based on the SGH, that beneficial microbial effects on plant performance should be positively associated with stress. Specifically, we hypothesized that support for the SGH would depend on the host plant's habitat specialization such that species that specialize in high stress habitats and thus likely coevolved with the resident microbes would exhibit stronger support for the SGH than non-specialist plant species. We further hypothesized that support for the SGH would vary with germination frequency, since boosting germination of low-frequency germinators is one effective means by which microbes can benefit plant species performance. Here, we explore whether plant-microbial interactions support the SGH using 12 plant species native to the Florida rosemary scrub. We conducted factorial experiments that manipulated the presence of microbes in nine soils collected along an elevational stress gradient, and recorded germination frequency and biomass. Microbes increased the germination frequency of four species, all of which had relatively low germination rates. Furthermore, we found support for the SGH in nearly one-half of the species examined, with soil microbes facilitating germination with increasing stress for 5 of the 12 species tested, and none of the species exhibiting the opposite trend. Support for the SGH was not predicted by either the plant hosts' habitat specialization or germination frequency. In contrast to germination, biomass results showed little support for the SGH, with four of 12 species refuting and one species supporting SGH predictions. Taken together, our study documents that interactions between the soil microbial community and plant species along a stress gradient can support the SGH, but emphasizes that these effects are life-history-stage dependent. This work also identifies a common mechanism (germination facilitation) by which microbes can benefit plant species in stressful habitats.}, } @article {pmid32314003, year = {2020}, author = {Parker, ES and Newton, ILG and Moczek, AP}, title = {(My Microbiome) Would Walk 10,000 miles: Maintenance and Turnover of Microbial Communities in Introduced Dung Beetles.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {2}, pages = {435-446}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-020-01514-9}, pmid = {32314003}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Australian Capital Territory ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Introduced Species ; Italy ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; West Virginia ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbes facilitate diverse biotic and abiotic interactions between hosts and their environments. Experimental alterations of host-associated microbial communities frequently decrease host fitness, yet much less is known about if and how host-microbiome interactions are altered by natural perturbations, such as introduction events. Here, we begin to assess this question in Onthophagus dung beetles, a species-rich and geographically widely distributed genus whose members rely on vertically transmitted microbiota to support normal development. Specifically, we investigated to what extent microbiome community membership shifts during host introduction events and the relative significance of ancestral associations and novel environmental conditions in the structuring of microbial communities of introduced host species. Our results demonstrate that both evolutionary history and local environmental forces structure the microbial communities of these animals, but that their relative importance is shaped by the specific circumstances that characterize individual introduction events. Furthermore, we identify microbial taxa such as Dysgonomonas that may constitute members of the core Onthophagus microbiome regardless of host population or species, but also Wolbachia which associates with Onthophagus beetles in a species or even population-specific manner. We discuss the implications of our results for our understanding of the evolutionary ecology of symbiosis in dung beetles and beyond.}, } @article {pmid32312274, year = {2020}, author = {Kaltrina, R and Kristi, B and Dea, Z and Lulezim, S and René, H and Jakob, S and Reinhard, B}, title = {Alpine ecology, plant biodiversity and photosynthetic performance of marker plants in a nitrogen gradient induced by Alnus bushes.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {32312274}, issn = {1472-6785}, mesh = {*Alnus ; Biodiversity ; Frankia ; Nitrogen ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Alpine alder vegetation acts upon the nearby grass and dwarf shrub vegetation by the nitrogen supply from the symbiotic bacteria Frankia alni of Alnus viridis. This has been studied in two transects concerning plant distribution, plant diversity, nitrate concentration in soil and photosynthetic performance of specific marker plants.

RESULTS: Away from the alder stand, a band of some meters was dominated by Calamagrostis varia which then was followed by alpine dwarf shrub vegetation. Nitrate in the soil showed a concentration decrease away from the alder stand leading to values near the detection limit in the dwarf shrub zone. Within these three zones, plant species were distributed according to their N-index, given in the ecological literature. Three dominant species, Calamagrostis varia, Rhododendron ferrugineum and Vaccinium myrtillus were examined at sites of different N-availability in the horizontal transect for their photosynthetic performance, by measuring the prompt fluorescence, the OJIP named polyphasic rise of chlorophyll-a fluorescence. All three plant species showed signs of stress in the fluorescence rise kinetics at decreased nitrate availability. These are similar to other known stress effects such as faster reduction of the primary acceptor or an electron supply limitation on the donor site of photosystem II.

CONCLUSION: Prompt chlorophyll-a fluorescence data of the examined leaves in a natural vegetation system showed the effects of a decrease in the essential nutrient nitrogen and in a manner parallel to changes in plant diversity. The selected marker plants behaved differently towards decreasing nitrogen concentrations in soil.}, } @article {pmid32312168, year = {2020}, author = {Tonomura, S and Ihara, M and Friedland, RP}, title = {Microbiota in cerebrovascular disease: A key player and future therapeutic target.}, journal = {Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {1368-1380}, pmid = {32312168}, issn = {1559-7016}, mesh = {*Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a significant cause of disability worldwide. Recent advances in DNA sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, and computational tools are dramatically increasing access to the identification of host-microbiota interactions in systemic diseases. In this review, we describe the accumulating evidence showing how human microbiota plays an essential role in cerebrovascular diseases. We introduce the symbiotic relationships between microbiota and the mucosal immune system, focusing on differences by anatomical sites. Microbiota directly or indirectly contributes to the pathogenesis of traditional vascular risk factors including age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Moreover, recent studies proposed independent effects of the microbiome on the progression of various subtypes of stroke through direct microbial invasion, exotoxins, functional amyloids, inflammation, and microbe-derived metabolites. We propose the critical concept of gene-microbial interaction to elucidate the heterogeneity of stroke and provide possible therapeutic avenues. We suggest ways to resolve the vast inter-individual diversity of cerebrovascular disease and mechanisms for personalized prevention and treatment.}, } @article {pmid32309861, year = {2020}, author = {Karlo, M and Boschiero, C and Landerslev, KG and Blanco, GS and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Dai, X and Zhao, PX and de Bang, TC}, title = {The CLE53-SUNN genetic pathway negatively regulates arbuscular mycorrhiza root colonization in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {16}, pages = {4972-4984}, pmid = {32309861}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Homeostasis ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) engage in mutually beneficial symbioses based on a reciprocal exchange of nutrients. The beneficial character of the symbiosis is maintained through a mechanism called autoregulation of mycorrhization (AOM). AOM includes root-to-shoot-to-root signaling; however, the molecular details of AOM are poorly understood. AOM shares many features of autoregulation of nodulation (AON) where several genes are known, including the receptor-like kinase SUPER NUMERIC NODULES (SUNN), root-to-shoot mobile CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION (ESR)-RELATED (CLE) peptides, and the hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase ROOT DETERMINED NODULATION1 (RDN1) required for post-translational peptide modification. In this work, CLE53 was identified to negatively regulate AMF symbiosis in a SUNN- and RDN1-dependent manner. CLE53 expression was repressed at low phosphorus, while it was induced by AMF colonization and high phosphorus. CLE53 overexpression reduced AMF colonization in a SUNN- and RDN1 dependent manner, while cle53, rdn1, and sunn mutants were more colonized than the wild type. RNA-sequencing identified 700 genes with SUNN-dependent regulation in AMF-colonized plants, providing a resource for future identification of additional AOM genes. Disruption of AOM genes in crops potentially constitutes a novel route for improving AMF-derived phosphorus uptake in agricultural systems with high phosphorus levels.}, } @article {pmid32308661, year = {2020}, author = {Huisman, R and Hontelez, J and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {SNARE Complexity in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {354}, pmid = {32308661}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {How cells control the proper delivery of vesicles and their associated cargo to specific plasma membrane (PM) domains upon internal or external cues is a major question in plant cell biology. A widely held hypothesis is that expansion of plant exocytotic machinery components, such as SNARE proteins, has led to a diversification of exocytotic membrane trafficking pathways to function in specific biological processes. A key biological process that involves the creation of a specialized PM domain is the formation of a host-microbe interface (the peri-arbuscular membrane) in the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We have previously shown that the ability to intracellularly host AM fungi correlates with the evolutionary expansion of both v- (VAMP721d/e) and t-SNARE (SYP132α) proteins, that are essential for arbuscule formation in Medicago truncatula. Here we studied to what extent the symbiotic SNAREs are different from their non-symbiotic family members and whether symbiotic SNAREs define a distinct symbiotic membrane trafficking pathway. We show that all tested SYP1 family proteins, and most of the non-symbiotic VAMP72 members, are able to complement the defect in arbuscule formation upon knock-down/-out of their symbiotic counterparts when expressed at sufficient levels. This functional redundancy is in line with the ability of all tested v- and t-SNARE combinations to form SNARE complexes. Interestingly, the symbiotic t-SNARE SYP132α appeared to occur less in complex with v-SNAREs compared to the non-symbiotic syntaxins in arbuscule-containing cells. This correlated with a preferential localization of SYP132α to functional branches of partially collapsing arbuscules, while non-symbiotic syntaxins accumulate at the degrading parts. Overexpression of VAMP721e caused a shift in SYP132α localization toward the degrading parts, suggesting an influence on its endocytic turn-over. These data indicate that the symbiotic SNAREs do not selectively interact to define a symbiotic vesicle trafficking pathway, but that symbiotic SNARE complexes are more rapidly disassembled resulting in a preferential localization of SYP132α at functional arbuscule branches.}, } @article {pmid32307970, year = {2020}, author = {Fox, MA and Strous, RD}, title = {["WITNESS IN WHITE" SEMINAR TOURS ON MEDICINE AND PHYSICIANS IN THE HOLOCAUST].}, journal = {Harefuah}, volume = {159}, number = {4}, pages = {287-291}, pmid = {32307970}, issn = {0017-7768}, mesh = {Germany ; History, 20th Century ; *Holocaust ; Humans ; Israel ; National Socialism ; *Physicians ; }, abstract = {The Holocaust represents a seminal event in the annals of medicine. For the first time in history, doctors played a prominent role in the extreme abuse of medical rights, violation of medical obligation to patients, infringement of patient autonomy, forced and unnecessary invasive and damaging procedures for political purposes and the ultimate injustice of involuntary euthanasia. Physicians provided the legitimacy, know-how and momentum that allowed these processes to take place in a symbiotic relationship with the political establishment during the Nazi era. It is critical that modern day physicians be aware of what transpired during this period. For that purpose, we describe a multiyear program bringing Israeli physicians on a learning mission to relevant sites of medical involvement and complicity in Nazi era crimes. These guided educational tours, under the auspices of the Israel Medical Association, originally took place in Poland and more recently, alternately visit Germany and Poland. At all sites, background information on medical practice during the Nazi era is provided, as well as ethical discussions on the merits (positive) or demerits (negative) of physicians who played a role at those particular locations. In addition to site visits, background discussions and lectures are provided to achieve a more comprehensive, deeper and more profound understanding of the issues. Emphasis is placed on learning from examples with relevance to modern day medicine, thus providing the principles from which participants can grow to become more ethical, principled and sensitive physicians as well as individuals. The tour includes formal and emotional ceremonies when relevant at extermination sites where physicians were directly involved, as well as focus groups allowing and encouraging emotional expression and catharsis. The critical role of personal growth during the tour is emphasized with both pre-tour and post-tour meetings providing buffering on both ends. Participants and staff, as well as documented feedback over the years, attest to the utility and profound value of these learning and growth-oriented medical missions.}, } @article {pmid32307601, year = {2020}, author = {Pan, J and Peng, F and Tedeschi, A and Xue, X and Wang, T and Liao, J and Zhang, W and Huang, C}, title = {Do halophytes and glycophytes differ in their interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under salt stress? A meta-analysis.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {32307601}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Halophytes are better than glycophytes at employing mechanisms to avoid salt injury, but both types of plants can undergo damage due to high soil salinity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can mitigate the damage from salt stress in both halophytes and glycophytes by enhancing salt tolerance and improving energy efficiency. However, variations in mycorrhizal symbiotic efficiency between halophytes and glycophytes were still poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the magnitude of AMF effects on plant growth and determined the mechanisms that regulate the growth response of halophytes and glycophytes by performing a meta-analysis of 916 studies (from 182 publications).

RESULTS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly enhance biomass accumulation, osmolytes synthesis (soluble sugar and soluble protein), nutrients acquisition (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ion), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase), and photosynthetic capacity (chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate). AMF also substantially decreased sodium ion acquisition and malondialdehyde levels in both halophytes and glycophytes under salt stress conditions. Mycorrhizal halophytes deploy inorganic ions (potassium and calcium ions) and limited organic osmolytes (proline and soluble sugar) to achieve energy-efficient osmotic adjustment and further promote biomass accumulation. Mycorrhizal glycophytes depend on the combined actions of soluble sugar accumulation, nutrients acquisition, sodium ion exclusion, superoxide dismutase elevation, and chlorophyll synthesis to achieve biomass accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation is complementary to plant function under salt stress conditions, not only facilitating energy acquisition but also redistributing energy from stress defence to growth. Glycophytes are more dependent on AMF symbiosis than halophytes under salt stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid32306387, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, F and Long, C and Wei, Z and Long, L}, title = {Optimization of medium using response surface methodology to enhance the growth of Effrenium voratum (Symbiodiniaceae, Dinophyceae).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {5}, pages = {1208-1215}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.13007}, pmid = {32306387}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Biomass ; Coral Reefs ; Culture Media ; *Dinoflagellida ; }, abstract = {Survival of coral reef-associated Symbiodiniaceae is vital to maintain the healthy coral community in coral reefs. However, knowledge about cultivation of free-living or symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae has been limited. In this study, the response surface methodology was applied to optimize the medium for Effrenium voratum. The results showed that the impacts of nutrient components on algal growth were: FeCl3 > NaH2 PO4 >MnSO4 > MgSO4 /CoSO4 > KCl>ZnSO4 > CaCl2 /NaNO3 , among which NaH2 PO4 and FeCl3 significantly affected algal growth. The optimal medium was: natural seawater supplemented with NaH2 PO4 ·2H2 O 0.25 mM,FeCl3 ·6H2 O 14.24 μM, NaNO3 0.94 mM, MgSO4 ·7H2 O 40.63 mM, KCl 5.37 mM, CaCl2 ·2H2 O 4.08 mM, ZnSO4 ·7H2 O 0.35 μM, MnSO4 9.93 μM, and CoSO4 0.36 μM. The use of the optimized medium resulted in an increase of biomass yield (0.76 g dry weight · L[-1]) by 46% over that using the initial medium, which agreed with the predicted value (0.71 g · L[-1]). Additionally, fatty acids, mainly consisting of palmitic acid (C16:0) and ethyl carbonate (C20:0), accounted for approximately 50% of the total fatty acids in E. voratum. Interestingly, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accounted for 6% of total fatty acids, a high proportion that makes E. voratum a potential candidate feedstock in aquaculture for DHA production.}, } @article {pmid32306347, year = {2020}, author = {Shinya, T and Shibuya, N and Kaku, H}, title = {Affinity Labeling and Purification of Plant Chitin-Binding LysM Receptor with Chitin Octasaccharide Derivatives.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2132}, number = {}, pages = {401-412}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0430-4_39}, pmid = {32306347}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*chemistry ; Affinity Labels ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Chitin/chemistry/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Ligands ; Microsomes/metabolism ; Oryza/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Lysin motif (LysM) is a carbohydrate-binding modules found in all kingdoms. LysM binds to N-acetylglucosamine-containing molecules such as peptidoglycan, chitin, Nod factor, and Myc factor and is found in peptidoglycan hydrolases, chitinases, and plant pathogen effectors and plant receptor/co-receptor for defense and symbiosis signaling. This chapter describes the synthesis of a nonradioactive chitin ligand, biotinylated chitin octasaccharide, (GlcNAc)8-Bio, and its application for the detection and characterization of chitin-binding LysM receptor CEBiP in the microsomal membrane fraction of rice suspension-cultured cells by affinity labeling. We also describe the purification of CEBiP from the plasma membrane of the rice cells by affinity chromatography with the synthesized (GlcNAc)8-APEA-CH-Sepharose as an affinity matrix.}, } @article {pmid32306344, year = {2020}, author = {Jimbo, M and Takeuchi, R and Yoshino, M}, title = {A Bioassay for Determining Symbiotic Zooxanthellae Shape Control Using Lectin SLL-2 from the Octocoral Sinularia lochmodes.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2132}, number = {}, pages = {369-378}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0430-4_36}, pmid = {32306344}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*parasitology ; Biological Assay ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/physiology ; Lectins/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with zooxanthellae is essential for survival of corals. Using a bioassay, we report the H-type lectin SLL-2 purified from the octocoral Sinularia lochmodes to restrict zooxanthellae form to spherical cells. However, the factor for initiating or maintaining a symbiotic relationship between a host and zooxanthellae has not been found in many corals. This bioassay is useful for evaluating the role of a lectin as a symbiosis-related factor.}, } @article {pmid32303601, year = {2020}, author = {Werner, RA and Thackeray, JT and Diekmann, J and Weiberg, D and Bauersachs, J and Bengel, FM}, title = {The Changing Face of Nuclear Cardiology: Guiding Cardiovascular Care Toward Molecular Medicine.}, journal = {Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine}, volume = {61}, number = {7}, pages = {951-961}, pmid = {32303601}, issn = {1535-5667}, mesh = {*Cardiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Molecular Imaging/*methods ; *Molecular Medicine ; *Nuclear Medicine ; }, abstract = {Radionuclide imaging of myocardial perfusion, function, and viability has been established for decades and remains a robust, evidence-based and broadly available means for clinical workup and therapeutic guidance in ischemic heart disease. Yet, powerful alternative modalities have emerged for this purpose, and their growth has resulted in increasing competition. But the potential of the tracer principle goes beyond the assessment of physiology and function, toward the interrogation of biology and molecular pathways. This is a unique selling point of radionuclide imaging, which has been underrecognized in cardiovascular medicine until recently. Now, molecular imaging methods for the detection of myocardial infiltration, device infection, and cardiovascular inflammation are successfully gaining clinical acceptance. This is further strengthened by the symbiotic quest of cardiac imaging and therapy for an increasing implementation of molecule-targeted procedures, in which specific therapeutic interventions require specific diagnostic guidance toward the most suitable candidates. This review will summarize the current advent of clinical cardiovascular molecular imaging and highlight its transformative contribution to the evolution of cardiovascular therapy beyond mechanical interventions and broad blockbuster medication, toward a future of novel, individualized molecule-targeted and molecular imaging-guided therapies.}, } @article {pmid32302567, year = {2020}, author = {López-García, P and Moreira, D}, title = {Cultured Asgard Archaea Shed Light on Eukaryogenesis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {181}, number = {2}, pages = {232-235}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.058}, pmid = {32302567}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {*Archaea/genetics ; *Eukaryota/genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Genome, Archaeal ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The first cultured Asgard archaeon lives in metabolic symbiosis with hydrogen-scavenging microbes. Its full-genome analysis authenticates the existence of Asgard archaea, previously only known from metagenome-assembled genomes, confirms their closer phylogenetic relatedness to eukaryotes and reinforces the idea that the eukaryotic cell evolved from an integrated archaeal-bacterial syntrophic consortium.}, } @article {pmid32301690, year = {2020}, author = {Hill, V and Kuhnert, P and Erb, M and Machado, RAR}, title = {Identification of Photorhabdus symbionts by MALDI-TOF MS.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {166}, number = {6}, pages = {522-530}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000905}, pmid = {32301690}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques/*methods ; Humans ; Photorhabdus/classification/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; }, abstract = {Species of the bacterial genus Photorhabus live in a symbiotic relationship with Heterorhabditis entomopathogenic nematodes. Besides their use as biological control agents against agricultural pests, some Photorhabdus species are also a source of natural products and are of medical interest due to their ability to cause tissue infections and subcutaneous lesions in humans. Given the diversity of Photorhabdus species, rapid and reliable methods to resolve this genus to the species level are needed. In this study, we evaluated the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of Photorhabdus species. To this end, we established a collection of 54 isolates consisting of type strains and multiple field strains that belong to each of the validly described species and subspecies of this genus. Reference spectra for the strains were generated and used to complement a currently available database. The extended reference database was then used for identification based on the direct transfer sample preparation method and the protein fingerprint of single colonies. High-level discrimination of distantly related species was observed. However, lower discrimination was observed with some of the most closely related species and subspecies. Our results therefore suggest that MALDI-TOF MS can be used to correctly identify Photorhabdus strains at the genus and species level, but has limited resolution power for closely related species and subspecies. Our study demonstrates the suitability and limitations of MALDI-TOF-based identification methods for assessment of the taxonomic position and identification of Photorhabdus isolates.}, } @article {pmid32301026, year = {2020}, author = {Toker, J and Arora, R and Wargo, JA}, title = {The Microbiome in Immuno-oncology.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1244}, number = {}, pages = {325-334}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-41008-7_19}, pmid = {32301026}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Humans ; *Immunotherapy ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Neoplasms/*immunology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {The field of cancer therapy has been revolutionized through the use of immunotherapy, and treatment with these therapies now spans from early to late stage, and even into prevention. However, there are still a significant proportion of patients who do not derive long-term benefit from monotherapy and even combined therapy regimens, and novel approaches are needed to enhance therapeutic responses. Additionally, ideal biomarkers of response to immunotherapy are lacking and are critically needed. An emerging area of interest in immuno-oncology (IO) is the microbiome, which refers to the collection of microbes (and their genomes) that inhabit an individual and live in symbiosis. There is now evidence that these microbes (particularly those within the gut) impact host physiology and can impact responses to immunotherapy. The field of microbiome research in immuno-oncology is quickly emerging, with the potential use of the microbiome (in the gut as well as in the tumor) as a biomarker for response to IO as well as a therapeutic target. Notably, the microbiome may even have a role in toxicity to therapy. The state of the science in microbiome and IO are discussed and caveats and future directions are outlined to provide insights as we move forward as a field.}, } @article {pmid32299043, year = {2020}, author = {Mendiola, SY and Civitello, DJ and Gerardo, NM}, title = {An integrative approach to symbiont-mediated vector control for agricultural pathogens.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {57-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.02.007}, pmid = {32299043}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; Gene Silencing ; Insect Control/*methods ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control ; RNA Interference ; Vector Borne Diseases/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Vector-borne pathogens pose significant threats to agricultural productivity. Methods that exploit associations between insects and their symbiotic microbes, dubbed symbiont-mediated vector control, are emerging as viable alternatives to insecticides for the control of vector-borne agricultural plant pathogens. The development of methods for effective microbial manipulation, such as RNA interference and paratransgenesis, may facilitate symbiont-mediated vector control tactics aimed at either suppressing insect populations or at manipulating vector competence, an insect vector's ability to acquire, harbor, and transmit pathogens. As suppression strategies transition from the laboratory to the field, the need for methods to evaluate their viability and predict their outcomes is apparent. Mathematical models of symbiont impact on agricultural disease can inform the development of symbiont-mediated vector control. We propose an integrative approach, combining theoretical and empirical experiments to identify the best practices for achieving meaningful improvements to crop health and productivity.}, } @article {pmid32298451, year = {2020}, author = {Balbuena, JA and Pérez-Escobar, ÓA and Llopis-Belenguer, C and Blasco-Costa, I}, title = {Random Tanglegram Partitions (Random TaPas): An Alexandrian Approach to the Cophylogenetic Gordian Knot.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {69}, number = {6}, pages = {1212-1230}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syaa033}, pmid = {32298451}, issn = {1076-836X}, mesh = {Animals ; Classification/*methods ; *Computer Simulation ; *Models, Biological ; *Phylogeny ; Software ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a key driver of evolutionary novelty and ecological diversity, but our understanding of how macroevolutionary processes originate extant symbiotic associations is still very incomplete. Cophylogenetic tools are used to assess the congruence between the phylogenies of two groups of organisms related by extant associations. If phylogenetic congruence is higher than expected by chance, we conclude that there is cophylogenetic signal in the system under study. However, how to quantify cophylogenetic signal is still an open issue. We present a novel approach, Random Tanglegram Partitions (Random TaPas) that applies a given global-fit method to random partial tanglegrams of a fixed size to identify the associations, terminals, and nodes that maximize phylogenetic congruence. By means of simulations, we show that the output value produced is inversely proportional to the number and proportion of cospeciation events employed to build simulated tanglegrams. In addition, with time-calibrated trees, Random TaPas can also distinguish cospeciation from pseudocospeciation. Random TaPas can handle large tanglegrams in affordable computational time and incorporates phylogenetic uncertainty in the analyses. We demonstrate its application with two real examples: passerine birds and their feather mites, and orchids and bee pollinators. In both systems, Random TaPas revealed low cophylogenetic signal, but mapping its variation onto the tanglegram pointed to two different coevolutionary processes. We suggest that the recursive partitioning of the tanglegram buffers the effect of phylogenetic nonindependence occurring in current global-fit methods and therefore Random TaPas is more reliable than regular global-fit methods to identify host-symbiont associations that contribute most to cophylogenetic signal. Random TaPas can be implemented in the public-domain statistical software R with scripts provided herein. A User's Guide is also available at GitHub.[Codiversification; coevolution; cophylogenetic signal; Symbiosis.].}, } @article {pmid32297921, year = {2020}, author = {Du, M and Gao, Z and Li, X and Liao, H}, title = {Excess nitrate induces nodule greening and reduces transcript and protein expression levels of soybean leghaemoglobins.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {126}, number = {1}, pages = {61-72}, pmid = {32297921}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Leghemoglobin/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Efficient biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) requires leghaemoglobin (Lb) to modulate oxygen pressure in nodules. Excess N supply severely inhibits BNF through effects on Lb during nodulation. As yet, a systematic identification and characterization of Lb-encoding genes in soybean has not been reported.

METHODS: The effects of N on BNF were studied in soybean plants inoculated with rhizobia and exposed to excess or low N availability in hydroponic cultures. To identify soybean Lb proteins, BLAST searches were performed on the Phytozome website. Bioinformatic analysis of identified GmLbs was then carried out to investigate gene structure, protein homology and phylogenetic relationships. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR was employed to analyse the expression patterns of soybean Lb genes in various tissues and in response to high N availability.

KEY RESULTS: Excess N significantly accelerated nodule senescence and the production of green Lb in nodules. In total, seven haemoglobin (Hb) genes were identified from the soybean genome, with these Hb genes readily split into two distinct clades containing predominantly symbiosis-associated or non-symbiotic Hb members. Expression analysis revealed that all of the symbiosis-associated Lbs except GmLb5 were specifically expressed in nodules, while the non-symbiotic GmHbs, GmHb1 and GmHb2, were predominantly expressed in leaves and roots, respectively. Among identified GmLbs, GmLb1-4 are the major Lb genes acting in soybean nodulation, and each one is also significantly suppressed by exposure to excess N.

CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results show that excess N inhibits BNF by reducing nodule formation, Lb concentration and nitrogenase activity. The characteristics of the entire Hb family were analysed, and we found that GmLb1-4 are closely associated with nodule development and N2 fixation. This works forms the basis for further investigations of the role of Lbs in soybean nodulation.}, } @article {pmid32296975, year = {2020}, author = {Fadda, HM}, title = {The Route to Palatable Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.}, journal = {AAPS PharmSciTech}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {114}, doi = {10.1208/s12249-020-1637-z}, pmid = {32296975}, issn = {1530-9932}, mesh = {Capsules ; Clostridium Infections/*therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/adverse effects/*methods ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The community of symbiotic microorganisms that reside in our gastrointestinal tract is integral to human health. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to be highly effective in treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) and is now recommended by medical societies for patients suffering from rCDI who have failed to respond to conventional therapy. The main challenges with FMT are its accessibility, acceptability, lack of standardization, and regulatory complexity, which will be discussed in this review. Access to FMT is being addressed through the development of frozen and lyophilized FMT preparations that can be prepared at stool banks and shipped to the point of care. Both access and patient acceptance would be enhanced by oral FMT capsules, and there is potential to reduce capsule burden by utilizing colonic release capsules, targeting the site of disease. This review compares the efficacy of different FMT routes of administration: capsules, nasal feeding tubes, enemas, and colonoscopic infusions. FMT is considered investigational by the Food and Drug Administration. In effort to improve access to FMT, physicians may perform FMT outside of an investigational new drug application for treating CDI infections not responsive to standard therapies. The majority of FMT studies report only minor adverse effects; however, there is risk of transmission of infections.}, } @article {pmid32296945, year = {2020}, author = {Chareesri, A and De Deyn, GB and Sergeeva, L and Polthanee, A and Kuyper, TW}, title = {Increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization reduces yield loss of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under drought.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {315-328}, pmid = {32296945}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Oryza ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Roots ; }, abstract = {Drought reduces the availability of soil water and the mobility of nutrients, thereby limiting the growth and productivity of rice. Under drought, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase P uptake and sustain rice growth. However, we lack knowledge of how the AMF symbiosis contributes to drought tolerance of rice. In the greenhouse, we investigated mechanisms of AMF symbiosis that confer drought tolerance, such as enhanced nutrient uptake, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and hormonal balance (abscisic acid (ABA) and indole acetic acid (IAA)). Two greenhouse pot experiments comprised three factors in a full factorial design with two AMF treatments (low- and high-AMF colonization), two water treatments (well-watered and drought), and three rice varieties. Soil water potential was maintained at 0 kPa in the well-watered treatment. In the drought treatment, we reduced soil water potential to - 40 kPa in experiment 1 (Expt 1) and to - 80 kPa in experiment 2 (Expt 2). Drought reduced shoot and root dry biomass and grain yield of rice in both experiments. The reduction of grain yield was less with higher AMF colonization. Plants with higher AMF colonization showed higher leaf P concentrations than plants with lower colonization in Expt 1, but not in Expt 2. Plants with higher AMF colonization exhibited higher stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence than plants with lower colonization, especially under drought. Drought increased the levels of ABA and IAA, and AMF colonization also resulted in higher levels of IAA. The results suggest both nutrient-driven and plant hormone-driven pathways through which AMF confer drought tolerance to rice.}, } @article {pmid32296944, year = {2020}, author = {Qin, J and Wang, H and Cao, H and Chen, K and Wang, X}, title = {Combined effects of phosphorus and magnesium on mycorrhizal symbiosis through altering metabolism and transport of photosynthates in soybean.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {285-298}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00955-x}, pmid = {32296944}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Magnesium ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis plays crucial roles in plant nutrient uptake. However, little is known about the combined effects of phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) on mycorrhizal symbiosis. In the present study, a pot experiment was carried out using two soybean genotypes in the presence or absence of Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation under different P and Mg conditions. The results showed that plant growth promotion by mycorrhizal symbiosis was associated with P-starved nutrition status, high Mg supply augmented the efficiency of AM symbiosis in low P, and high Mg relieved the inhibitory effect of high P availability on AM symbiosis. The P-efficient genotype HN89 was more responsive to Mg application than the P-inefficient genotype HN112 when inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis. The results from a comparative RNA sequencing analysis of the root transcriptomes showed that several carbon metabolism pathways were enriched in mycorrhizal roots in low P plus high Mg. Accordingly, the expression levels of the key genes related to carbon metabolism and transport were also upregulated in mycorrhizal roots. Conversely, the Mg-deficient mycorrhizal plants showed increased sucrose, glucose, and fructose accumulations in shoots. Overall, the results herein demonstrate that P and Mg interactively affect mycorrhizal responses in plants, and high Mg supply has a profound effect on P-starved mycorrhizal plant growth through promotion of photosynthate metabolism and transport in soybean.}, } @article {pmid32296441, year = {2020}, author = {Erkelens, MN and Goverse, G and Konijn, T and Molenaar, R and Beijer, MR and Van den Bossche, J and de Goede, KE and Verberk, SGS and de Jonge, WJ and den Haan, JMM and Mebius, RE}, title = {Intestinal Macrophages Balance Inflammatory Expression Profiles via Vitamin A and Dectin-1-Mediated Signaling.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {551}, pmid = {32296441}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology ; Lectins, C-Type/*immunology/metabolism ; Macrophages/drug effects/*immunology/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Tretinoin/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Vitamin A/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Tissue resident intestinal macrophages are known to exhibit an anti-inflammatory phenotype and produce little pro-inflammatory cytokines upon TLR ligation, allowing symbiotic co-existence with the intestinal microbiota. However, upon acute events such as epithelial damage and concomitant influx of microbes, these macrophages must be able to quickly mount a pro-inflammatory response while more inflammatory macrophages are recruited from the blood stream simultaneously. Here, we show that dietary intake of vitamin A is required for the maintenance of the anti-inflammatory state of tissue resident intestinal macrophages. Interestingly, these anti-inflammatory macrophages were characterized by high levels of Dectin-1 expression. We show that Dectin-1 expression is enhanced by the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid and our data suggests that Dectin-1 triggering might provide a switch to induce a rapid production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, Dectin-1 stimulation resulted in an altered metabolic profile which is linked to a pro-inflammatory response. Together, our data suggests that presence of vitamin A in the small intestine enhances an anti-inflammatory phenotype as well as Dectin-1 expression by macrophages and that this anti-inflammatory phenotype can rapidly convert toward a pro-inflammatory state upon Dectin-1 signaling.}, } @article {pmid32294545, year = {2020}, author = {Muggia, L and Nelsen, MP and Kirika, PM and Barreno, E and Beck, A and Lindgren, H and Lumbsch, HT and Leavitt, SD and , }, title = {Formally described species woefully underrepresent phylogenetic diversity in the common lichen photobiont genus Trebouxia (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta): An impetus for developing an integrated taxonomy.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {106821}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106821}, pmid = {32294545}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Chlorophyta/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Genetic Loci ; Lichens/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Lichens provide valuable systems for studying symbiotic interactions. In lichens, these interactions are frequently described in terms of availability, selectivity and specificity of the mycobionts and photobionts towards one another. The lichen-forming, green algal genus Trebouxia Puymaly is among the most widespread photobiont, associating with a broad range of lichen-forming fungi. To date, 29 species have been described, but studies consistently indicate that the vast majority of species-level lineages still lack formal description, and new, previously unrecognized lineages are frequently reported. To reappraise the diversity and the evolutionary relationships of species-level lineages in Trebouxia, we assembled DNA sequence data from over 1600 specimens, compiled from a range of sequences from previously published studies, axenic algal cultures, and lichens collected from poorly sampled regions. From these samples, we selected representatives of the currently known genetic diversity in the lichenized Trebouxia and inferred a phylogeny from multi-locus sequence data (ITS, rbcL, cox2). We demonstrate that the current formally described species woefully underrepresent overall species-level diversity in this important lichen-forming algal genus. We anticipate that an integrative taxonomic approach, incorporating morphological and physiological data from axenic cultures with genetic data, will be required to establish a robust, comprehensive taxonomy for Trebouxia. The data presented here provide an important impetus and reference dataset for more reliably characterizing diversity in lichenized algae and in using lichens to investigate the evolution of symbioses and holobionts.}, } @article {pmid32294424, year = {2020}, author = {Porter, SS and Sachs, JL}, title = {Agriculture and the Disruption of Plant-Microbial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {426-439}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2020.01.006}, pmid = {32294424}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Biological Evolution ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; Domestication ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Domestication has transformed hundreds of wild plant species into productive cultivars for human utility. However, cultivation practices and intense artificial selection for yield may entail a hidden cost: the disruption of interactions between plants and beneficial microbiota. Here, we synthesize theory predicting that evolutionary trade-offs, genetic costs, and relaxed selection disrupt plant-microbial symbiosis under domestication, and review the wealth of new data interrogating these predictions in crops. We describe the agronomic practices, ecological scenarios, and genomic attributes that can result in the disruption of symbiosis, and highlight new work probing its molecular basis. To improve agricultural output and sustainability, research should develop breeding methods to optimize symbiotic outcomes in crop species.}, } @article {pmid32294136, year = {2020}, author = {Raza, MF and Wang, Y and Cai, Z and Bai, S and Yao, Z and Awan, UA and Zhang, Z and Zheng, W and Zhang, H}, title = {Gut microbiota promotes host resistance to low-temperature stress by stimulating its arginine and proline metabolism pathway in adult Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {e1008441}, pmid = {32294136}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Arginine/*metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Klebsiella/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; Male ; Proline/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Gut symbiotic bacteria have a substantial impact on host physiology and ecology. However, the contribution of gut microbes to host fitness during long-term low-temperature stress is still unclear. This study examined the role of gut microbiota in host low-temperature stress resistance at molecular and biochemical levels in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis. The results showed that after the gut bacteria of flies were removed via antibiotic treatment, the median survival time was significantly decreased to approximately 68% of that in conventional flies following exposure to a temperature stress of 10°C. Furthermore, we found that Klebsiella michiganensis BD177 is a key symbiotic bacterium, whose recolonization in antibiotic treated (ABX) flies significantly extended the median survival time to 160% of that in the ABX control, and restored their lifespan to the level of conventional flies. Notably, the relative levels of proline and arginine metabolites were significantly downregulated by 34- and 10-fold, respectively, in ABX flies compared with those in the hemolymph of conventional flies after exposure to a temperature stress of 10°C whereas recolonization of ABX flies by K. michiganensis BD177 significantly upregulated the levels of proline and arginine by 13- and 10- fold, respectively, compared with those found in the hemolymph of ABX flies. qPCR analysis also confirmed that K. michiganensis-recolonized flies significantly stimulated the expression of transcripts from the arginine and proline metabolism pathway compared with the ABX controls, and RNAi mediated silencing of two key genes Pro-C and ASS significantly reduced the survival time of conventional flies, postexposure low-temperature stress. We show that microinjection of L-arginine and L-proline into ABX flies significantly increased their survival time following exposure to temperature stress of 10°C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis further revealed that low-temperature stress caused severe destruction in cristae structures and thus resulted in abnormal circular shapes of mitochondria in ABX flies gut, while the recolonization of live K. michiganensis helped the ABX flies to maintain mitochondrial functionality to a normal status, which is important for the arginine and proline induction. Our results suggest that gut microbiota plays a vital role in promoting the host resistance to low-temperature stress in B. dorsalis by stimulating its arginine and proline metabolism pathway.}, } @article {pmid32292600, year = {2020}, author = {Corpas, FJ and Palma, JM}, title = {H2S signaling in plants and applications in agriculture.}, journal = {Journal of advanced research}, volume = {24}, number = {}, pages = {131-137}, pmid = {32292600}, issn = {2090-1232}, abstract = {The signaling properties of the gasotransmitter molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is endogenously generated in plant cells, are mainly observed during persulfidation, a protein post-translational modification (PTM) that affects redox-sensitive cysteine residues. There is growing experimental evidence that H2S in higher plants may function as a mechanism of response to environmental stress conditions. In addition, exogenous applications of H2S to plants appear to provide additional protection against stresses, such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures and heavy metals, mainly through the induction of antioxidant systems, in order to palliate oxidative cellular damage. H2S also appears to be involved in regulating physiological functions, such as seed germination, stomatal movement and fruit ripening, as well as molecules that maintain post-harvest quality and rhizobium-legume symbiosis. These properties of H2S open up new challenges in plant research to better understand its functions as well as new opportunities for biotechnological treatments in agriculture in a changing environment.}, } @article {pmid32291345, year = {2020}, author = {Rust, M and Helfrich, EJN and Freeman, MF and Nanudorn, P and Field, CM and Rückert, C and Kündig, T and Page, MJ and Webb, VL and Kalinowski, J and Sunagawa, S and Piel, J}, title = {A multiproducer microbiome generates chemical diversity in the marine sponge Mycale hentscheli.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {17}, pages = {9508-9518}, pmid = {32291345}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cytotoxins/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial specialized metabolites are increasingly recognized as important factors in animal-microbiome interactions: for example, by providing the host with chemical defenses. Even in chemically rich animals, such compounds have been found to originate from individual members of more diverse microbiomes. Here, we identified a remarkable case of a moderately complex microbiome in the sponge host Mycale hentscheli in which multiple symbionts jointly generate chemical diversity. In addition to bacterial pathways for three distinct polyketide families comprising microtubule-inhibiting peloruside drug candidates, mycalamide-type contact poisons, and the eukaryotic translation-inhibiting pateamines, we identified extensive biosynthetic potential distributed among a broad phylogenetic range of bacteria. Biochemical data on one of the orphan pathways suggest a previously unknown member of the rare polytheonamide-type cytotoxin family as its product. Other than supporting a scenario of cooperative symbiosis based on bacterial metabolites, the data provide a rationale for the chemical variability of M. hentscheli and could pave the way toward biotechnological peloruside production. Most bacterial lineages in the compositionally unusual sponge microbiome were not known to synthesize bioactive metabolites, supporting the concept that microbial dark matter harbors diverse producer taxa with as yet unrecognized drug discovery potential.}, } @article {pmid32290059, year = {2020}, author = {Yurkov, A and Kryukov, A and Gorbunova, A and Sherbakov, A and Dobryakova, K and Mikhaylova, Y and Afonin, A and Shishova, M}, title = {AM-Induced Alteration in the Expression of Genes, Encoding Phosphorus Transporters and Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Medicago lupulina.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32290059}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions, including those of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), have been investigated for a wide spectrum of model plants. The present study focuses on an analysis of gene expression that encodes phosphate and sugar transporters and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in a new model plant, the highly mycotrophic Medicago lupulina MLS-1 line under conditions of phosphorus deficiency and inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis. Expression profiles were detected by RT-PCR at six plant stages of development (second leaf, third leaf, shooting, axillary shoot branching initiation, axillary shoot branching, flowering initiation). In comparison to control (without AM), the variant with AM inoculation exhibited a significant elevation of transcription levels of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes (MlSUS, MlHXK1) and sucrose transporters (MlSUC4) in M. lupulina leaves at the shooting stage. We suggest that this leads to a significant increase in the frequency of AM infection, an abundance of mycelium in roots and an increase in AM efficiency (which is calculated by the fresh weight of aerial parts and roots at the axillary shoot branching initiation stage). In roots, the specificity of MlPT4 and MlATP1 gene expressions were revealed for effective AM symbiosis. The level of MlPT4 transcripts in AM roots increased more than tenfold in comparison to that of non-specific MlPT1 and MlPT2. For the first time, MlPT1 expression was shown to increase sharply against MlPT2 in M. lupulina roots without AM at the shooting initiation stage. A significant increase in MlRUB expression was revealed at late stages in the host plant's development, during axillary shoot branching and flowering initiation. The opposite changes characterized MlHXK1 expression. Alteration in MlHXK1 gene transcription was the same, but was more pronounced in roots. The obtained results indicate the importance of genes that encode phosphate transporters and the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism for effective AM development at the shooting stage in the host plant.}, } @article {pmid32289879, year = {2020}, author = {Gabr, A and Grossman, AR and Bhattacharya, D}, title = {Paulinella, a model for understanding plastid primary endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {837-843}, pmid = {32289879}, issn = {1529-8817}, support = {80NSSC19K0462/ImNASA/Intramural NASA/United States ; 1756616//National Science Foundation/International ; 80NSSC19K0462/NASA/NASA/United States ; NJ01170//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/International ; }, mesh = {*Amoeba ; Biological Evolution ; *Chromatophores ; Phylogeny ; Plastids ; *Rhizaria ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The uptake and conversion of a free-living cyanobacterium into a photosynthetic organelle by the single-celled Archaeplastida ancestor helped transform the biosphere from low to high oxygen. There are two documented, independent cases of plastid primary endosymbiosis. The first is the well-studied instance in Archaeplastida that occurred ca. 1.6 billion years ago, whereas the second occurred 90-140 million years ago, establishing a permanent photosynthetic compartment (the chromatophore) in amoebae in the genus Paulinella. Here, we briefly summarize knowledge about plastid origin in the Archaeplastida and then focus on Paulinella. In particular, we describe features of the Paulinella chromatophore that make it a model for examining earlier events in the evolution of photosynthetic organelles. Our review stresses recently gained insights into the evolution of chromatophore and nuclear encoded DNA sequences in Paulinella, metabolic connectivity between the endosymbiont and cytoplasm, and systems that target proteins into the chromatophore. We also describe future work with Paulinella, and the potential rewards and challenges associated with developing further this model system.}, } @article {pmid32289166, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Y and Zhang, B and Moran, NA}, title = {The Aphid X Chromosome Is a Dangerous Place for Functionally Important Genes: Diverse Evolution of Hemipteran Genomes Based on Chromosome-Level Assemblies.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {8}, pages = {2357-2368}, pmid = {32289166}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Genome, Insect ; Hemiptera/*genetics ; Male ; *Selection, Genetic ; *X Chromosome ; }, abstract = {Different evolutionary forces shape gene content and sequence evolution on autosomes versus sex chromosomes. Location on a sex chromosome can favor male-beneficial or female-beneficial mutations depending on the sex determination system and selective pressure on different sexual morphs. An X0 sex determination can lead to autosomal enrichment of male-biased genes, as observed in some hemipteran insect species. Aphids share X0 sex determination; however, models predict the opposite pattern, due to their unusual life cycles, which alternate between all-female asexual generations and a single sexual generation. Predictions include enrichment of female-biased genes on autosomes and of male-biased genes on the X, in contrast to expectations for obligately sexual species. Robust tests of these models require chromosome-level genome assemblies for aphids and related hemipterans with X0 sex determination and obligate sexual reproduction. In this study, we built the first chromosome-level assembly of a psyllid, an aphid relative with X0 sex determination and obligate sexuality, and compared it with recently resolved chromosome-level assemblies of aphid genomes. Aphid and psyllid X chromosomes differ strikingly. In aphids, female-biased genes are strongly enriched on autosomes and male-biased genes are enriched on the X. In psyllids, male-biased genes are enriched on autosomes. Furthermore, functionally important gene categories of aphids are enriched on autosomes. Aphid X-linked genes and male-biased genes are under relaxed purifying selection, but gene content and order on the X is highly conserved, possibly reflecting constraints imposed by unique chromosomal mechanisms associated with the unusual aphid life cycle.}, } @article {pmid32282139, year = {2020}, author = {Mishra, S and DiGennaro, P}, title = {Root-knot nematodes demonstrate temporal variation in host penetration.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {52}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, pmid = {32282139}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) are obligate plant parasites that require constant communication with their host to establish and maintain specialized feeding cells. The intimacy of this interaction likely requires constant monitoring of host biology and behavior. As plant processes follow tightly regulated circadian and diurnal patterns, RKN may use similar cues to regulate aspects of this symbiosis. We interrogated RKN biology within the context of host diurnal rhythms throughout nematode development. At 24-hr post-inoculation, RKN penetrated host roots significantly more when inoculated during the night compared to the day. We excluded the possibility that this phenomenon is due to nematode perception of light penetrating the soil, as an identical phenomenon is observed under inverted light conditions. Additionally, when plants were allowed to equilibrate and adjust their light-driven clock under constant light conditions, the temporal variation in nematode penetration was abolished. This phenomenon is not present during earlier nematode developmental stages as egg hatch and infective juvenile mobility did not follow rhythmic patterns and are not affected by light. Taken together, it appears nematode host seeking and penetration are at least partially influenced by daily changes in plant root signaling and light does not have a direct effect on RKN developmental stages. Understanding the role and origin of circadian and diurnal rhythms in the plant-nematode interaction underscores the importance of exploiting basal plant biology to develop novel control methods for these pathogens. Root-knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) are obligate plant parasites that require constant communication with their host to establish and maintain specialized feeding cells. The intimacy of this interaction likely requires constant monitoring of host biology and behavior. As plant processes follow tightly regulated circadian and diurnal patterns, RKN may use similar cues to regulate aspects of this symbiosis. We interrogated RKN biology within the context of host diurnal rhythms throughout nematode development. At 24-hr post-inoculation, RKN penetrated host roots significantly more when inoculated during the night compared to the day. We excluded the possibility that this phenomenon is due to nematode perception of light penetrating the soil, as an identical phenomenon is observed under inverted light conditions. Additionally, when plants were allowed to equilibrate and adjust their light-driven clock under constant light conditions, the temporal variation in nematode penetration was abolished. This phenomenon is not present during earlier nematode developmental stages as egg hatch and infective juvenile mobility did not follow rhythmic patterns and are not affected by light. Taken together, it appears nematode host seeking and penetration are at least partially influenced by daily changes in plant root signaling and light does not have a direct effect on RKN developmental stages. Understanding the role and origin of circadian and diurnal rhythms in the plant–nematode interaction underscores the importance of exploiting basal plant biology to develop novel control methods for these pathogens.}, } @article {pmid32281227, year = {2020}, author = {Acuña-Rodríguez, IS and Newsham, KK and Gundel, PE and Torres-Díaz, C and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Functional roles of microbial symbionts in plant cold tolerance.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1034-1048}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13502}, pmid = {32281227}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this review, we examine the functional roles of microbial symbionts in plant tolerance to cold and freezing stresses. The impacts of symbionts on antioxidant activity, hormonal signaling and host osmotic balance are described, including the effects of the bacterial endosymbionts Burkholderia, Pseudomonas and Azospirillum on photosynthesis and the accumulation of carbohydrates such as trehalose and raffinose that improve cell osmotic regulation and plasma membrane integrity. The influence of root fungal endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant physiology at low temperatures, for example their effects on nutrient acquisition and the accumulation of indole-3-acetic acid and antioxidants in tissues, are also reviewed. Meta-analyses are presented showing that aspects of plant performance (shoot biomass, relative water content, sugar and proline concentrations and Fv /Fm) are enhanced in symbiotic plants at low (-1 to 15 °C), but not at high (20-26 °C), temperatures. We discuss the implications of microbial symbionts for plant performance at low and sub-zero temperatures in the natural environment and propose future directions for research into the effects of symbionts on the cold and freezing tolerances of plants, concluding that further studies should routinely incorporate symbiotic microbes in their experimental designs.}, } @article {pmid32281201, year = {2020}, author = {Nieves-Morión, M and Flores, E and Foster, RA}, title = {Predicting substrate exchange in marine diatom-heterocystous cyanobacteria symbioses.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {2027-2052}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15013}, pmid = {32281201}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation/International ; BFU2017-88202-P//Spanish Government and European Regional Development Fund/International ; 2018-04161//The Swedish Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport/*physiology ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Diatoms/genetics/*microbiology ; Genome Size ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phytoplankton/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In the open ocean, some phytoplankton establish symbiosis with cyanobacteria. Some partnerships involve diatoms as hosts and heterocystous cyanobacteria as symbionts. Heterocysts are specialized cells for nitrogen fixation, and a function of the symbiotic cyanobacteria is to provide the host with nitrogen. However, both partners are photosynthetic and capable of carbon fixation, and the possible metabolites exchanged and mechanisms of transfer are poorly understood. The symbiont cellular location varies from internal to partial to fully external, and this is reflected in the symbiont genome size and content. In order to identify the membrane transporters potentially involved in metabolite exchange, we compare the draft genomes of three differently located symbionts with known transporters mainly from model free-living heterocystous cyanobacteria. The types and numbers of transporters are directly related to the symbiont cellular location: restricted in the endosymbionts and wider in the external symbiont. Three proposed models of metabolite exchange are suggested which take into account the type of transporters in the symbionts and the influence of their cellular location on the available nutrient pools. These models provide a basis for several hypotheses that given the importance of these symbioses in global N and C budgets, warrant future testing.}, } @article {pmid32279325, year = {2020}, author = {Bahram, M and Netherway, T and Hildebrand, F and Pritsch, K and Drenkhan, R and Loit, K and Anslan, S and Bork, P and Tedersoo, L}, title = {Plant nutrient-acquisition strategies drive topsoil microbiome structure and function.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {4}, pages = {1189-1199}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16598}, pmid = {32279325}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BBS/E/F/000PR10353/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10355/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant nutrient-acquisition strategies drive soil processes and vegetation performance, but their effect on the soil microbiome remains poorly understood. This knowledge is important to predict the shifts in microbial diversity and functions due to increasing changes in vegetation traits under global change. Here we documented the topsoil microbiomes of 145 boreal and temperate terrestrial sites in the Baltic region that broadly differed in vegetation type and nutritional traits, such as mycorrhizal types and symbiotic nitrogen-fixation. We found that sites dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) vegetation harbor relatively more AM fungi, bacteria, fungal saprotrophs, and pathogens in the topsoil compared with sites dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EM) plants. These differences in microbiome composition reflect the rapid nutrient cycling and negative plant-soil feedback in AM soils. Lower fungal diversity and bacteria : fungi ratios in EM-dominated habitats are driven by monodominance of woody vegetation as well as soil acidification by EM fungi, which are associated with greater diversity and relative abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes. Our study suggests that shifts in vegetation related to global change and land use may strongly alter the topsoil microbiome structure and function.}, } @article {pmid32276984, year = {2020}, author = {Shen, D and Xiao, TT and van Velzen, R and Kulikova, O and Gong, X and Geurts, R and Pawlowski, K and Bisseling, T}, title = {A Homeotic Mutation Changes Legume Nodule Ontogeny into Actinorhizal-Type Ontogeny.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {1868-1885}, pmid = {32276984}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Fagales/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/physiology ; Rosales/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Some plants fix atmospheric nitrogen by hosting symbiotic diazotrophic rhizobia or Frankia bacteria in root organs known as nodules. Such nodule symbiosis occurs in 10 plant lineages in four taxonomic orders: Fabales, Fagales, Cucurbitales, and Rosales, which are collectively known as the nitrogen-fixing clade. Nodules are divided into two types based on differences in ontogeny and histology: legume-type and actinorhizal-type nodules. The evolutionary relationship between these nodule types has been a long-standing enigma for molecular and evolutionary biologists. Recent phylogenomic studies on nodulating and nonnodulating species in the nitrogen-fixing clade indicated that the nodulation trait has a shared evolutionary origin in all 10 lineages. However, this hypothesis faces a conundrum in that legume-type and actinorhizal-type nodules have been regarded as fundamentally different. Here, we analyzed the actinorhizal-type nodules formed by Parasponia andersonii (Rosales) and Alnus glutinosa (Fagales) and found that their ontogeny is more similar to that of legume-type nodules (Fabales) than generally assumed. We also show that in Medicago truncatula, a homeotic mutation in the co-transcriptional regulator gene NODULE ROOT1 (MtNOOT1) converts legume-type nodules into actinorhizal-type nodules. These experimental findings suggest that the two nodule types have a shared evolutionary origin.}, } @article {pmid32276978, year = {2020}, author = {Huang, Z and Wang, D and Li, J and Wei, C and He, H}, title = {Transovarial Transmission of Bacteriome-Associated Symbionts in the Cicada Pycna repanda (Hemiptera: Cicadidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {32276978}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Male ; Ovary/microbiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although transovarial transmission of bacteriome-associated symbionts in hemipteran insects is extremely important for maintaining intimate host-symbiont associations, our knowledge of cellular mechanisms underlying the transmission process is quite limited. We investigated bacterial communities of salivary glands, bacteriomes, and digestive and reproductive organs and clarified the transovarial transmission of bacteriome-associated symbionts of the mountain-habitat specialist Pycna repanda using integrated methods. The bacterial communities among different gut tissues and those of bacteriomes of males and females both show similarity, whereas differences are exhibited among bacterial communities in testes and ovaries. The primary symbionts "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" (hereafter "Ca Sulcia") and "Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola" (hereafter "Ca Hodgkinia") were not only restricted to but also dominant in the bacteriomes and ovaries. "Ca Hodgkinia" cells in the bacteriomes of both sexes exhibited different colors by histological and electron microscopy. Also considering the results of a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based cloning approach, we hypothesize that "Ca Hodgkinia" may have split into cytologically different cellular lineages within this cicada species. Regarding the dominant secondary symbionts, Rickettsia was detected in the salivary glands, digestive organs, and testes, whereas Arsenophonus was detected in the bacteriomes and ovaries. Our results show that Arsenophonus can coexist with "Ca Sulcia" and "Ca Hodgkinia" within bacteriomes and can be transovarially transmitted with these obligate symbionts together from mother to offspring in cicadas, but it is not harbored in the cytoplasm of "Ca Sulcia." The change in the shape of "Ca Sulcia" and "Ca Hodgkinia" during the transovarial transmission process is hypothesized to be related to the limited space and novel microenvironment.IMPORTANCE Cicadas establish an intimate symbiosis with microorganisms to obtain essential nutrients that are extremely deficient in host plant sap. Previous studies on bacterial communities of cicadas mainly focused on a few widely distributed species, but knowledge about mountain-habitat species is quite poor. We initially revealed the physical distribution of the primary symbionts "Ca Sulcia" and "Ca Hodgkinia" and the dominant secondary symbionts Rickettsia and Arsenophonus in the mountain-habitat specialist Pycna repanda and then clarified the transovarial transmission process of bacteriome-associated symbionts in this species. Our observations suggest that "Ca Hodgkinia" may have split into cytologically distinct lineages within this cicada species, and related cicadas might have developed complex mechanisms for the vertical transmission of the bacteriome-associated symbionts. We also revealed that Arsenophonus can be transovarially transmitted in auchenorrhynchan insects when it is not harbored in the cytoplasm of other endosymbionts. Our results highlight transovarial transmission mechanisms of bacteriome-associated symbionts in sap-feeding insects.}, } @article {pmid32276976, year = {2020}, author = {Paniagua Voirol, LR and Weinhold, A and Johnston, PR and Fatouros, NE and Hilker, M}, title = {Legacy of a Butterfly's Parental Microbiome in Offspring Performance.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {32276976}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Butterflies/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; *Herbivory ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {An insect's phenotype can be influenced by the experiences of the parental generation. However, the effects of the parental symbiotic microbiome and host plant use on the offspring are unclear. We addressed this gap of knowledge by studying Pieris brassicae, a multivoltine butterfly species feeding on different brassicaceous plants across generations. We investigated how disturbance of the parental bacterial community by antibiotic treatment affects F1 larval traits. We tested the effects depending on whether F1 larvae are feeding on the same plant species as their parents or on a different one. The parental treatment alone had no impact on the biomass of F1 larvae feeding on the parental plant species. However, the parental treatment had a detrimental effect on F1 larval biomass when F1 larvae had a different host plant than their parents. This effect was linked to higher larval prophenoloxidase activity and greater downregulation of the major allergen gene (MA), a glucosinolate detoxification gene of P. brassicae Bacterial abundance in untreated adult parents was high, while it was very low in F1 larvae from either parental type, and thus unlikely to directly influence larval traits. Our results suggest that transgenerational effects of the parental microbiome on the offspring's phenotype become evident when the offspring is exposed to a transgenerational host plant shift.IMPORTANCE Resident bacterial communities are almost absent in larvae of butterflies and thus are unlikely to affect their host. In contrast, adult butterflies contain conspicuous amounts of bacteria. While the host plant and immune state of adult parental butterflies are known to affect offspring traits, it has been unclear whether also the parental microbiome imposes direct effects on the offspring. Here, we show that disturbance of the bacterial community in parental butterflies by an antibiotic treatment has a detrimental effect on those offspring larvae feeding on a different host plant than their parents. Hence, the study indicates that disturbance of an insect's parental microbiome by an antibiotic treatment shapes how the offspring individuals can adjust themselves to a novel host plant.}, } @article {pmid32275877, year = {2020}, author = {Charters, MD and Sait, SM and Field, KJ}, title = {Aphid Herbivory Drives Asymmetry in Carbon for Nutrient Exchange between Plants and an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {1801-1808.e5}, pmid = {32275877}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Triticum/*metabolism/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Associations formed between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are characterized by the bi-directional exchange of fungal-acquired soil nutrients for plant-fixed organic carbon compounds. Mycorrhizal-acquired nutrient assimilation by plants may be symmetrically linked to carbon (C) transfer from plant to fungus or governed by sink-source dynamics. Abiotic factors, including atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]), can affect the relative cost of resources traded between mutualists, thereby influencing symbiotic function. Whether biotic factors, such as insect herbivores that represent external sinks for plant C, impact mycorrhizal function remains unstudied. By supplying [33]P to an AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) and [14]CO2 to wheat, we tested the impact of increasing C sink strength (i.e., aphid herbivory) and increasing C source strength (i.e., elevated [CO2]) on resource exchange between mycorrhizal symbionts. Allocation of plant C to the AM fungus decreased dramatically following exposure to the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), with high [CO2] failing to alleviate the aphid-induced decline in plant C allocated to the AM fungus. Mycorrhizal-mediated uptake of [33]P by plants was maintained regardless of aphid presence or elevated [CO2], meaning insect herbivory drove asymmetry in carbon for nutrient exchange between symbionts. Here, we provide direct evidence that external biotic C sinks can limit plant C allocation to an AM fungus without hindering mycorrhizal-acquired nutrient uptake. Our findings highlight the context dependency of resource exchange between plants and AM fungi and suggest biotic factors-individually and in combination with abiotic factors-should be considered as powerful regulators of symbiotic function.}, } @article {pmid32273871, year = {2020}, author = {Niem, JM and Billones-Baaijens, R and Stodart, B and Savocchia, S}, title = {Diversity Profiling of Grapevine Microbial Endosphere and Antagonistic Potential of Endophytic Pseudomonas Against Grapevine Trunk Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {477}, pmid = {32273871}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are a serious problem of grapevines worldwide. The microbiota of the grapevine endosphere comprises prokaryotic and eukaryotic endophytes, which may form varied relationships with the host plant from symbiotic to pathogenic. To explore the interaction between grapevine endophytic bacteria and GTDs, the endomicrobiome associated with grapevine wood was characterized using next-generation Illumina sequencing. Wood samples were collected from grapevine trunks with and without external symptoms of GTD (cankers) from two vineyards in the Hunter Valley and Hilltops, NSW, Australia and metagenomic characterization of the endophytic community was conducted using the 16S rRNA gene (341F/806R) and ITS (1F/2R) sequences. Among the important GTD pathogens, Phaeomoniella, Phaeoacremonium, Diplodia and Cryptovalsa species were found to be abundant in both symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevines from both vineyards. Eutypa lata and Neofusicoccum parvum, two important GTD pathogens, were detected in low numbers in Hilltops and the Hunter Valley, respectively. Interestingly, Pseudomonas dominated the bacterial community in canker-free grapevine tissues in both locations, comprising 56-74% of the total bacterial population. In contrast, the Pseudomonas population in grapevines with cankers was significantly lower, representing 29 and 2% of the bacterial community in Hilltops and the Hunter Valley, respectively. The presence of Pseudomonas in healthy grapevine tissues indicates its ability to colonize and survive in the grapevine. The potential of Pseudomonas spp. as biocontrol agents against GTD pathogens was also explored. Dual culture tests with isolated fluorescent Pseudomonas against mycelial discs of nine Botryosphaeria dieback, three Eutypa dieback, and two Esca/Petri disease pathogens, revealed antagonistic activity for 10 Pseudomonas strains. These results suggest the potential of Pseudomonas species from grapevine wood to be used as biocontrol agents to manage certain GTD pathogens.}, } @article {pmid32273544, year = {2020}, author = {Kasumyan, A and Isaeva, O and Dgebuadze, P and Mekhova, E and Oanh, LTK and Britayev, T}, title = {Comatulids (Crinoidea, Comatulida) chemically defend against coral fish by themselves, without assistance from their symbionts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {6150}, pmid = {32273544}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Feeding Behavior ; Fishes ; *Symbiosis ; Taste ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between small animals and relatively large sessile invertebrates that use taste deterrents for protection are widespread in the marine environment. To determine whether the symbionts are involved in the chemical protection of their hosts, the palatability of ten species of comatulids and six species of their symbionts was evaluated. Taste attractiveness was determined by offering agar pellets flavoured with extracts of comatulids and their symbionts for four coral reef fish species. Five species of symbiont were highly palatable, and one was indifferent to the taste. Almost all comatulids were distasteful, while their aversiveness was different for different fish. These findings indicate that comatulids chemically defend themselves without assistance from symbionts, and the taste deterrents are not universal and can only be effective against particular predators. The presence of tasteful symbionts reduces the security of their hosts by provoking attacks of predators and may impact on the individual and population fitness of comatulids. However, the chemical protection of comatulids is useful for symbionts and undoubtedly increases their survival. Obtained results allows the relationship between comatulids and their symbionts considered commensalism. Most likely, similar relationships can be established in many other associations, where symbionts inhabit chemically defended coral reef invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid32273516, year = {2020}, author = {Wangpraseurt, D and You, S and Azam, F and Jacucci, G and Gaidarenko, O and Hildebrand, M and Kühl, M and Smith, AG and Davey, MP and Smith, A and Deheyn, DD and Chen, S and Vignolini, S}, title = {Bionic 3D printed corals.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {1748}, pmid = {32273516}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/I013164/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 EB021857/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; BB/K014617/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology/radiation effects ; Bionics/*methods ; Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Light ; Microalgae/*physiology/radiation effects ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Symbiosis/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Corals have evolved as optimized photon augmentation systems, leading to space-efficient microalgal growth and outstanding photosynthetic quantum efficiencies. Light attenuation due to algal self-shading is a key limiting factor for the upscaling of microalgal cultivation. Coral-inspired light management systems could overcome this limitation and facilitate scalable bioenergy and bioproduct generation. Here, we develop 3D printed bionic corals capable of growing microalgae with high spatial cell densities of up to 10[9] cells mL[-1]. The hybrid photosynthetic biomaterials are produced with a 3D bioprinting platform which mimics morphological features of living coral tissue and the underlying skeleton with micron resolution, including their optical and mechanical properties. The programmable synthetic microenvironment thus allows for replicating both structural and functional traits of the coral-algal symbiosis. Our work defines a class of bionic materials that is capable of interacting with living organisms and can be exploited for applied coral reef research and photobioreactor design.}, } @article {pmid32272878, year = {2020}, author = {Cockerton, HM and Li, B and Stavridou, E and Johnson, A and Karlström, A and Armitage, AD and Martinez-Crucis, A and Galiano-Arjona, L and Harrison, N and Barber-Pérez, N and Cobo-Medina, M and Harrison, RJ}, title = {Genetic and phenotypic associations between root architecture, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation and low phosphate tolerance in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa).}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {154}, pmid = {32272878}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {BB/M01200X/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fragaria/anatomy & histology/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Genotype ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Polyploidy ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phosphate is an essential plant macronutrient required to achieve maximum crop yield. Roots are able to uptake soil phosphate from the immediate root area, thus creating a nutrient depletion zone. Many plants are able to exploit phosphate from beyond this root nutrient depletion zone through symbiotic association with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Here we characterise the relationship between root architecture, AMF association and low phosphate tolerance in strawberries. The contrasting root architecture in the parental strawberry cultivars 'Redgauntlet' and 'Hapil' was studied through a mapping population of 168 progeny. Low phosphate tolerance and AMF association was quantified for each genotype to allow assessment of the phenotypic and genotypic relationships between traits.

RESULTS: A "phosphate scavenging" root phenotype where individuals exhibit a high proportion of surface lateral roots was associated with a reduction in root system size across genotypes. A genetic correlation between "root system size" traits was observed with a network of pleiotropic QTL found to represent five "root system size" traits. By contrast, average root diameter and the distribution of roots appeared to be under two discrete methods of genetic control. A total of 18 QTL were associated with plant traits, 4 of which were associated with solidity that explained 46% of the observed variation. Investigations into the relationship between AMF association and root architecture found that a higher root density was associated with greater AMF colonisation across genotypes. However, no phenotypic correlation or genotypic association was found between low phosphate tolerance and the propensity for AMF association, nor root architectural traits when plants are grown under optimal nutrient conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the genetic relationships underpinning phosphate capture can inform the breeding of strawberry varieties with better nutrient use efficiency. Solid root systems were associated with greater AMF colonisation. However, low P-tolerance was not phenotypically or genotypically associated with root architecture traits in strawberry plants. Furthermore, a trade-off was observed between root system size and root architecture type, highlighting the energetic costs associated with a "phosphate scavenging" root architecture.}, } @article {pmid32269557, year = {2020}, author = {Domínguez-Santos, R and Pérez-Cobas, AE and Artacho, A and Castro, JA and Talón, I and Moya, A and García-Ferris, C and Latorre, A}, title = {Unraveling Assemblage, Functions and Stability of the Gut Microbiota of Blattella germanica by Antibiotic Treatment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {487}, pmid = {32269557}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiosis between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is a widespread phenomenon that has contributed to the evolution of eukaryotes. In cockroaches, two types of symbionts coexist: an endosymbiont in the fat body (Blattabacterium), and a rich gut microbiota. The transmission mode of Blattabacterium is vertical, while the gut microbiota of a new generation is mainly formed by bacterial species present in feces. We have carried out a metagenomic analysis of Blattella germanica populations, treated and non-treated with two antibiotics (vancomycin and ampicillin) over two generations to (1) determine the core of bacterial communities and potential functions of the gut microbiota and (2) to gain insights into the mechanisms of resistance and resilience of the gut microbiota. Our results indicate that the composition and functions of the bacteria were affected by treatment, more severely in the case of vancomycin. Further results demonstrated that in an untreated second-generation population that comes from antibiotic-treated first-generation, the microbiota is not yet stabilized at nymphal stages but can fully recover in adults when feces of a control population were added to the diet. This signifies the existence of a stable core in either composition and functions in lab-reared populations. The high microbiota diversity as well as the observed functional redundancy point toward the microbiota of cockroach hindguts as a robust ecosystem that can recover from perturbations, with recovery being faster when feces are added to the diet.}, } @article {pmid32269378, year = {2020}, author = {Espino-Vázquez, AN and Bermúdez-Barrientos, JR and Cabrera-Rangel, JF and Córdova-López, G and Cardoso-Martínez, F and Martínez-Vázquez, A and Camarena-Pozos, DA and Mondo, SJ and Pawlowska, TE and Abreu-Goodger, C and Partida-Martínez, LP}, title = {Narnaviruses: novel players in fungal-bacterial symbioses.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {1743-1754}, pmid = {32269378}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Burkholderia ; Rhizopus ; Spores, Fungal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizopus microsporus is an early-diverging fungal species with importance in ecology, agriculture, food production, and public health. Pathogenic strains of R. microsporus harbor an intracellular bacterial symbiont, Mycetohabitans (formerly named Burkholderia). This vertically transmitted bacterial symbiont is responsible for the production of toxins crucial to the pathogenicity of Rhizopus and remarkably also for fungal reproduction. Here we show that R. microsporus can live not only in symbiosis with bacteria but also with two viral members of the genus Narnavirus. Our experiments revealed that both viruses replicated similarly in the growth conditions we tested. Viral copies were affected by the developmental stage of the fungus, the substrate, and the presence or absence of Mycetohabitans. Absolute quantification of narnaviruses in isolated asexual sporangiospores and sexual zygospores indicates their vertical transmission. By curing R. microsporus of its viral and bacterial symbionts and reinfecting bacteria to reestablish symbiosis, we demonstrate that these viruses affect fungal biology. Narnaviruses decrease asexual reproduction, but together with Mycetohabitans, are required for sexual reproductive success. This fungal-bacterial-viral system represents an outstanding model to investigate three-way microbial symbioses and their evolution.}, } @article {pmid32268445, year = {2020}, author = {Chakravarti, LJ and Buerger, P and Levin, RA and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Gene regulation underpinning increased thermal tolerance in a laboratory-evolved coral photosymbiont.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {9}, pages = {1684-1703}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15432}, pmid = {32268445}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Laboratories ; Microalgae/genetics ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Small increases in ocean temperature can disrupt the obligate symbiosis between corals and dinoflagellate microalgae, resulting in coral bleaching. Little is known about the genes that drive the physiological and bleaching response of algal symbionts to elevated temperature. Moreover, many studies to-date have compared highly divergent strains, making it challenging to accredit specific genes to contrasting traits. Here, we compare transcriptional responses at ambient (27°C) and bleaching-relevant (31°C) temperatures in a monoclonal, wild-type (WT) strain of Symbiodiniaceae to those of a selected-strain (SS), derived from the same monoclonal culture and experimentally evolved to elevated temperature over 80 generations (2.5 years). Thousands of genes were differentially expressed at a log fold-change of >8 between the WT and SS over a 35 days temperature treatment period. At 31°C, WT cells exhibited a temporally unstable transcriptomic response upregulating genes involved in the universal stress response such as molecular chaperoning, protein repair, protein degradation and DNA repair. Comparatively, SS cells exhibited a temporally stable transcriptomic response and downregulated many stress response genes that were upregulated by the WT. Among the most highly upregulated genes in the SS at 31°C were algal transcription factors and a gene probably of bacterial origin that encodes a type II secretion system protein, suggesting interactions with bacteria may contribute to the increased thermal tolerance of the SS. Genes and functional pathways conferring thermal tolerance in the SS could be targeted in future genetic engineering experiments designed to develop thermally resilient algal symbionts for use in coral restoration and conservation.}, } @article {pmid32267533, year = {2020}, author = {Nitschke, MR and Craveiro, SC and Brandão, C and Fidalgo, C and Serôdio, J and Calado, AJ and Frommlet, JC}, title = {Description of Freudenthalidium gen. nov. and Halluxium gen. nov. to Formally Recognize Clades Fr3 and H as Genera in the Family Symbiodiniaceae (Dinophyceae).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {923-940}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12999}, pmid = {32267533}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Australia ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The Symbiodiniaceae are a family of marine dinoflagellates known mostly for their endosymbiotic interactions with invertebrates and protists, but facultatively and exclusively free-living life histories in this family are also evident. A recent systematic revision of the Symbiodiniaceae replaced the clade-based nomenclature of seven divergent lineages of "Symbiodinium" sensu lato with one based on formally described genera. The revised taxonomy was not extended to the whole group because type species to describe a new genus for each of the remaining clades and subclades were lacking. In an effort to characterize benthic habitats of symbiodiniaceans in sediments at Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia), we isolated >100 monoclonal Symbiodiniaceae cultures. Four of these belonged to Symbiodiniaceae 'subclade' Fr3, and three to Clade H, based on nucleotide sequence similarity (ITS2, LSU, cp23S, and mtCOB), representing the first cultures of these taxa. Based on these isolates, we propose two new genera: Freudenthalidium gen. nov. and Halluxium gen. nov., circumscribing Clades Fr3 and H, respectively. Three new species are described: Freudenthalidium heronense, F. endolithicum, and Halluxium pauxillum. Kofoidian tabulations of motile cells confirm previous observations that amphiesmal vesicle arrangements are generally conserved across the family. These descriptions are an important step toward completing the systematic revision of the Symbiodiniaceae. That this contribution was enabled by isolates from an endopsammic habitat highlights the potential of discovering new symbiodiniacean species in the environment, the study of which will lead to a deeper understanding of free-living versus symbiotic life histories in this ecologically important family of dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid32266849, year = {2020}, author = {Boem, F and Nannini, G and Amedei, A}, title = {Not just 'immunity': how the microbiota can reshape our approach to cancer immunotherapy.}, journal = {Immunotherapy}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {407-416}, doi = {10.2217/imt-2019-0192}, pmid = {32266849}, issn = {1750-7448}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunologic Factors ; Immunotherapy/methods ; *Microbiota ; *Neoplasms/therapy ; }, abstract = {Cancer immunotherapy refers to a set of approaches aiming at enhancing the immune system to fight cancer growth and spread. This variety of therapeutic approaches, especially those inhibiting immune checkpoints, have shown very promising results. Nevertheless, patients may respond differently to treatments and the efficacy of immunotherapy seems to be dependent on several factors that go beyond the molecular targeting of immune cells modulation. Here, we review how the activity of gut microbiota appears to be crucial in determining the effectiveness of some immunotherapeutic treatments, fostering or impeding the conditions under which treatments can work or not. Moreover, we discuss how these findings suggest not only extending the range of immunotherapeutic approaches but also reshaping our understanding of immunotherapy itself.}, } @article {pmid32266157, year = {2020}, author = {Comito, G and Ippolito, L and Chiarugi, P and Cirri, P}, title = {Nutritional Exchanges Within Tumor Microenvironment: Impact for Cancer Aggressiveness.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {396}, pmid = {32266157}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Neoplastic tissues are composed not only by tumor cells but also by several non-transformed stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial and immune cells, that actively participate to tumor progression. Starting from the very beginning of carcinogenesis, tumor cells, through the release of paracrine soluble factors and vesicles, i.e., exosomes, modify the behavior of the neighboring cells, so that they can give efficient support for cancer cell proliferation and spreading. A mandatory role in tumor progression has been recently acknowledged to metabolic deregulation. Beside undergoing a metabolic reprogramming coherent to their high proliferation rate, tumor cells also rewire the metabolic assets of their stromal cells, educating them to serve as nutrient donors. Hence, an alteration in the composition and in the flow rate of many nutrients within tumor microenvironment has been associated with malignancy progression. This review is focused on metabolic remodeling of the different cell populations within tumor microenvironment, dealing with reciprocal re-education through the symbiotic sharing of metabolites, behaving both as nutrients and as transcriptional regulators, describing their impact on tumor growth and metastasis.}, } @article {pmid32266088, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, J and Peng, JJ and Yang, W and Fu, K and Zhang, Y}, title = {Vaginal microbiomes and ovarian cancer: a review.}, journal = {American journal of cancer research}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {743-756}, pmid = {32266088}, issn = {2156-6976}, abstract = {The human microbiome, often termed as "the forgotten organ", is an aggregation of microorganisms and their genomes that forms a mutualistic complex with the host. Recent research has shown the symbiotic merits of a microbiome ecosystem and its crucial role in the hosts' physiological functions. Disruption of this symbiotic relationship is prone to cause a broad spectrum of ailments, including cancer. The compositional and environmental factors that tip the scales from beneficial co-existence to the development of malignancy is actively investigated. Herein we review the latest research in knowledge regarding the association between the vaginal microbiomes and oncogenesis, with a particular focus on ovarian carcinoma.}, } @article {pmid32265983, year = {2020}, author = {Peng, Z and Zhao, Z and Clevenger, JP and Chu, Y and Paudel, D and Ozias-Akins, P and Wang, J}, title = {Comparison of SNP Calling Pipelines and NGS Platforms to Predict the Genomic Regions Harboring Candidate Genes for Nodulation in Cultivated Peanut.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {222}, pmid = {32265983}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) forms root nodules to enable a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation. To understand the genetic factors of peanut nodulation, it is fundamental to genetically map and clone the genes involved in nodulation. For genetic mapping, high throughput genotyping with a large number of polymorphic markers is critical. In this study, two sets of sister recombinant inbred lines (RILs), each containing a nodulating (Nod+) and non-nodulating (Nod-) line, and their Nod+ parental lines were extensively genotyped. Several next generation sequencing (NGS) methods including target enrichment sequencing (TES), RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), genotyping by sequencing (GBS), and the 48K Axiom Arachis2 SNP array, and various analysis pipelines were applied to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) among the two sets of RILs and their parents. TES revealed the largest number of homozygous SNPs (15,947) between the original parental lines, followed by the Axiom Arachis2 SNP array (1,887), RNA-seq (1,633), and GBS (312). Among the five SNP analysis pipelines applied, the alignment to A/B genome followed by HAPLOSWEEP revealed the largest number of homozygous SNPs and highest concordance rate (79%) with the array. A total of 222 and 1,200 homozygous SNPs were polymorphic between the Nod+ and Nod- sister RILs and between their parents, respectively. A graphical genotype map of the sister RILs was constructed with these SNPs, which demonstrated the candidate genomic regions harboring genes controlling nodulation across the whole genome. Results of this study mainly provide the pros and cons of NGS and SNP genotyping platforms for genetic mapping in peanut, and also provide potential genetic resources to narrow down the genomic regions controlling peanut nodulation, which would lay the foundation for gene cloning and improvement of nitrogen fixation in peanut.}, } @article {pmid32265888, year = {2020}, author = {Alonso-Sáez, L and Morán, XAG and González, JM}, title = {Transcriptional Patterns of Biogeochemically Relevant Marker Genes by Temperate Marine Bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {465}, pmid = {32265888}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Environmental microbial gene expression patterns remain largely unexplored, particularly at interannual time scales. We analyzed the variability in the expression of marker genes involved in ecologically relevant biogeochemical processes at a temperate Atlantic site over two consecutive years. Most of nifH transcripts, involved in nitrogen (N) fixation, were affiliated with the symbiotic cyanobacterium Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa, suggesting a key role as N providers in this system. The expression of nifH and amoA (i.e., marker for ammonia oxidation) showed consistent maxima in summer and autumn, respectively, suggesting a temporal succession of these important N cycling processes. The patterns of expression of genes related to the oxidation of carbon monoxide (coxL) and reduced sulfur (soxB) were different from that of amoA, indicating alternate timings for these energy conservation strategies. We detected expression of alkaline phosphatases, induced under phosphorus limitation, in agreement with the reported co-limitation by this nutrient at the study site. In contrast, low-affinity phosphate membrane transporters (pit) typically expressed under phosphorus luxury conditions, were mainly detected in post-bloom conditions. Rhodobacteraceae dominated the expression of soxB, coxL and ureases, while Pelagibacteraceae dominated the expression of proteorhodopsins. Bacteroidetes and Gammaproteobacteria were major contributors to the uptake of inorganic nutrients (pit and amt transporters). Yet, in autumn, Thauma- and Euryarchaeota unexpectedly contributed importantly to the uptake of ammonia and phosphate, respectively. We provide new hints on the active players and potential dynamics of ecologically relevant functions in situ, highlighting the potential of metatranscriptomics to provide significant input to future omics-driven marine ecosystem assessment.}, } @article {pmid32265879, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, F and Yang, H and Wang, G and Shi, Q}, title = {Combination Analysis of Metatranscriptome and Metagenome Reveal the Composition and Functional Response of Coral Symbionts to Bleaching During an El Niño Event.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {448}, pmid = {32265879}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {With the abnormal rise in ocean temperatures globally in recent years, coral bleaching is becoming common and serious. However, the response mechanisms and processes of coral symbionts to bleaching are not well understood. In this study, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics were used to explore the composition of coral symbionts and their functions in response to coral bleaching. All four bleaching coral species displayed a significant reduction of the abundance and function of Dinophyceae-like eukaryotes at the DNA and RNA levels. However, different species of bleaching coral have their own characteristic symbiotic components. Bleaching Acropora tenuis and Goniastrea minuta corals exhibited a very high abundance of prokaryotes and associated gene functions, especially for opportunistic bacteria. In contrast, algae and fungi were identified as the main microbial associate components and had relatively high RNA abundance in bleaching Pocillopora verrucosa and Pocillopora meandrina. Different coral species, whether unbleached or bleaching, have the same symbiotic taxa that perform the same biological functions in vivo. Different stages of bleaching, or transitional states, were identified by different genome content and functional gene abundance among bleaching corals. These stages should be considered in future coral bleaching studies to accurately determine symbiont structure and function. An implicit hypothesis is that there is a causal relationship between the stability of eukaryotic communities and coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid32265864, year = {2020}, author = {Sierra, MA and Danko, DC and Sandoval, TA and Pishchany, G and Moncada, B and Kolter, R and Mason, CE and Zambrano, MM}, title = {The Microbiomes of Seven Lichen Genera Reveal Host Specificity, a Reduced Core Community and Potential as Source of Antimicrobials.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {398}, pmid = {32265864}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The High Andean Paramo ecosystem is a unique neotropical mountain biome considered a diversity and evolutionary hotspot. Lichens, which are complex symbiotic structures that contain diverse commensal microbial communities, are prevalent in Paramos. There they play vital roles in soil formation and mineral fixation. In this study we analyzed the microbiomes of seven lichen genera in Colombian Paramos using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and provide the first description of the bacterial communities associated with Cora and Hypotrachyna lichens. Paramo lichen microbiomes varied in diversity indexes and number of OTUs, but were composed predominantly by the phyla Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. In the case of Cora and Cladonia, the microbiomes were distinguished based on the identity of the lichen host. While the majority of the lichen-associated microorganisms were not present in all lichens sampled, sixteen taxa shared among this diverse group of lichens suggest a core lichen microbiome that broadens our concept of these symbiotic structures. Additionally, we identified strains producing compounds active against clinically relevant microbial strains. These results indicate that lichen microbiomes from the Paramo ecosystem are diverse and host-specific but share a taxonomic core and can be a source of new bacterial taxa and antimicrobials.}, } @article {pmid32265862, year = {2020}, author = {Zou, Q and Luo, S and Wu, H and He, D and Li, X and Cheng, G}, title = {A GMC Oxidoreductase GmcA Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {394}, pmid = {32265862}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {GmcA is a FAD-containing enzyme belonging to the GMC (glucose-methanol-choline oxidase) family of oxidoreductases. A mutation in the Rhizobium leguminosarum gmcA gene was generated by homologous recombination. The mutation in gmcA did not affect the growth of R. leguminosarum, but it displayed decreased antioxidative capacity at H2O2 conditions higher than 5 mM. The gmcA mutant strain displayed no difference of glutathione reductase activity, but significantly lower level of the glutathione peroxidase activity than the wild type. Although the gmcA mutant was able to induce the formation of nodules, the symbiotic ability was severely impaired, which led to an abnormal nodulation phenotype coupled to a 30% reduction in the nitrogen fixation capacity. The observation on ultrastructure of 4-week pea nodules showed that the mutant bacteroids tended to start senescence earlier and accumulate poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) granules. In addition, the gmcA mutant was severely impaired in rhizosphere colonization. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the gmcA gene expression was significantly up-regulated in all the detected stages of nodule development, and statistically significant decreases in the expression of the redoxin genes katG, katE, and ohrB were found in gmcA mutant bacteroids. LC-MS/MS analysis quantitative proteomics techniques were employed to compare differential gmcA mutant root bacteroids in response to the wild type infection. Sixty differentially expressed proteins were identified including 33 up-regulated and 27 down-regulated proteins. By sorting the identified proteins according to metabolic function, 15 proteins were transporter protein, 12 proteins were related to stress response and virulence, and 9 proteins were related to transcription factor activity. Moreover, nine proteins related to amino acid metabolism were over-expressed.}, } @article {pmid32265858, year = {2020}, author = {Xiang, QW and Bai, J and Cai, J and Huang, QY and Wang, Y and Liang, Y and Zhong, Z and Wagner, C and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {NopD of Bradyrhizobium sp. XS1150 Possesses SUMO Protease Activity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {386}, pmid = {32265858}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Effectors secreted by the type III protein secretion system (T3SS) of rhizobia are host-specific determinants of the nodule symbiosis. Here, we have characterized NopD, a putative type III effector of Bradyrhizobium sp. XS1150. NopD was found to possess a functional N-terminal secretion signal sequence that could replace that of the NopL effector secreted by Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234. Recombinant NopD and the C-terminal domain of NopD alone can process small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) proteins and cleave SUMO-conjugated proteins. Activity was abolished in a NopD variant with a cysteine-to-alanine substitution in the catalytic core (NopD-C972A). NopD recognizes specific plant SUMO proteins (AtSUMO1 and AtSUMO2 of Arabidopsis thaliana; GmSUMO of Glycine max; PvSUMO of Phaseolus vulgaris). Subcellular localization analysis with A. thaliana protoplasts showed that NopD accumulates in nuclear bodies. NopD, but not NopD-C972A, induces cell death when expressed in Nicotiana tabacum. Likewise, inoculation tests with constructed mutant strains of XS1150 indicated that nodulation of Tephrosia vogelii is negatively affected by the protease activity of NopD. In conclusion, our findings show that NopD is a symbiosis-related protein that can process specific SUMO proteins and desumoylate SUMO-conjugated proteins.}, } @article {pmid32258492, year = {2020}, author = {Segura-Badilla, O and Lazcano-Hernández, M and Kammar-García, A and Vera-López, O and Aguilar-Alonso, P and Ramírez-Calixto, J and Navarro-Cruz, AR}, title = {Use of coconut water (Cocus nucifera L) for the development of a symbiotic functional drink.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e03653}, pmid = {32258492}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Many studies suggest that probiotic, prebiotic and symbiotic foods may be beneficial in the prevention and management of nutrition and health, the objective of this work was to develop a symbiotic drink based on coconut water. Fermentation was performed using lyophilized Lactobacillus rhamnosus SP1 and inulin as a source of soluble fiber. Different formulations were developed, determining the concentrations of fiber and probiotics. The growth of the probiotic in MRS broth was evaluated, using the plate counting technique in different periods of time. The fermentation time of the drink was 8 h and the shelf life in refrigeration was 14 days evaluated by pH and hedonic scale. The pH of the final drink was 3.48 and the probiotic content was 82 × 10 [8] CFU/ml. It is concluded that coconut water can be processed by adding probiotic and prebiotic characteristics with sensory acceptance and adequate preservation characteristics.}, } @article {pmid32257962, year = {2020}, author = {Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Juhaňáková, E and Vávra, J and Nováková, E}, title = {Methodological Insight Into Mosquito Microbiome Studies.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {86}, pmid = {32257962}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Culex/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Microbiological Techniques ; *Microbiota ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria affect competence for pathogen transmission in insect vectors, including mosquitoes. However, knowledge on mosquito-microbiome-pathogen interactions remains limited, largely due to methodological reasons. The current, cost-effective practice of sample pooling used in mosquito surveillance and epidemiology prevents correlation of individual traits (i.e., microbiome profile) and infection status. Moreover, many mosquito studies employ laboratory-reared colonies that do not necessarily reflect the natural microbiome composition and variation in wild populations. As a consequence, epidemiological and microbiome studies in mosquitoes are to some extent uncoupled, and the interactions among pathogens, microbiomes, and natural mosquito populations remain poorly understood. This study focuses on the effect the pooling practice poses on mosquito microbiome profiles, and tests different approaches to find an optimized low-cost methodology for extensive sampling while allowing for accurate, individual-level microbiome studies. We tested the effect of pooling by comparing wild-caught, individually processed mosquitoes with pooled samples. With individual mosquitoes, we also tested two methodological aspects that directly affect the cost and feasibility of broad-scale molecular studies: sample preservation and tissue dissection. Pooling affected both alpha- and beta-diversity measures of the microbiome, highlighting the importance of using individual samples when possible. Both RNA and DNA yields were higher when using inexpensive reagents such as NAP (nucleic acid preservation) buffer or absolute ethanol, without freezing for short-term storage. Microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity did not show overall significant differences between the tested treatments compared to the controls (freshly extracted samples or dissected guts). However, the use of standardized protocols is highly recommended to avoid methodological bias in the data.}, } @article {pmid32257942, year = {2020}, author = {Baltazar, F and Afonso, J and Costa, M and Granja, S}, title = {Lactate Beyond a Waste Metabolite: Metabolic Affairs and Signaling in Malignancy.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {231}, pmid = {32257942}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {To sustain their high proliferation rates, most cancer cells rely on glycolytic metabolism, with production of lactic acid. For many years, lactate was seen as a metabolic waste of glycolytic metabolism; however, recent evidence has revealed new roles of lactate in the tumor microenvironment, either as metabolic fuel or as a signaling molecule. Lactate plays a key role in the different models of metabolic crosstalk proposed in malignant tumors: among cancer cells displaying complementary metabolic phenotypes and between cancer cells and other tumor microenvironment associated cells, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and diverse immune cells. This cell metabolic symbiosis/slavery supports several cancer aggressiveness features, including increased angiogenesis, immunological escape, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Lactate transport is mediated by the monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) family, while another large family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), not yet fully characterized in the cancer context, is involved in lactate/acidosis signaling. In this mini-review, we will focus on the role of lactate in the tumor microenvironment, from metabolic affairs to signaling, including the function of lactate in the cancer-cancer and cancer-stromal shuttles, as well as a signaling oncometabolite. We will also review the prognostic value of lactate metabolism and therapeutic approaches designed to target lactate production and transport.}, } @article {pmid32257552, year = {2020}, author = {Ding, K and Hua, F and Ding, W}, title = {Gut Microbiome and Osteoporosis.}, journal = {Aging and disease}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {438-447}, pmid = {32257552}, issn = {2152-5250}, abstract = {Gut microbiome refers to the microbes that live in human digestive tract and are symbiotic with the human body. They participate in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes of the human body and are associated with various diseases. The pathological process of osteoporosis is affected by gut microbes. The molecular mechanisms of osteoporosis mainly include: 1) Intestinal barrier and nutrient absorption (involving SCFAs). 2) Immunoregulation (Th-17 and T-reg cells balance). 3) Regulation of intestinal-brain axis (involving 5-HT). Gut microbes can increase bone mass and improve osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, inducing apoptosis, reducing bone resorption, or promoting osteoblast proliferation and maturation. However, the therapeutic effect of gut microbes on osteoporosis remains to be further proven. At present, some of the findings on the impact of gut microbes on osteoporosis has been applied in clinical, including early diagnosis and intervention of osteoporosis and adjuvant therapy. In this article, we reviewed the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of gut microbes on osteoporosis and the clinical practice of using gut microbes to improve bone health.}, } @article {pmid32256478, year = {2020}, author = {Krug, L and Morauf, C and Donat, C and Müller, H and Cernava, T and Berg, G}, title = {Plant Growth-Promoting Methylobacteria Selectively Increase the Biomass of Biotechnologically Relevant Microalgae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {427}, pmid = {32256478}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microalgae, a diverse group of single-celled organisms exhibiting versatile traits, find broad applications in industry. However, high production costs require further efforts to optimize their production and to enhance biomass yields. In the present study, co-occurrence of algae and methylobacteria was observed when naturally occurring microalgae biofilms were subjected to 16S rRNA gene fragment amplicon sequencing. This bacterial group is so far less explored than other microalgae-associated bacteria in terms of mutualistic relationships that might be exploitable for biotechnological applications. In order to assess the potential of four plant growth-promoting strains from the genus Methylobacterium for increased algae biomass production, co-cultivation experiments were conducted with three industrially relevant microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus vacuolatus, and Haematococcus lacustris). For S. vacuolatus and H. lacustris, a significant increase in algal biomass formation of 1.3-fold to up to 14-fold was observed after 7 days of co-incubation. Visualization of mixed cultures using confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a high abundance of methylobacteria in the phycosphere of H. lacustris and S. vacuolatus, visually attached to the algae's surface forming a biofilm-like assemblage. Genome analyses revealed that features attributable to enhanced algal growth include genes involved in the synthesis of vitamins, siderophores and plant hormones. Our results provide evidence for the constructability of novel symbiotic algae-bacteria relationships with inter-kingdom supportive capacities, underlining the potential of microbial consortia as promising tool for sustainable biotechnology and agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32255860, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, B and Yu, B and Yu, L}, title = {Commentary: Reconciling Hygiene and Cleanliness: A New Perspective from Human Microbiome.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {2}, pages = {259-261}, pmid = {32255860}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Human beings have co-evolved with the microorganisms in our environment for millions of years, and have developed into a symbiosis in a mutually beneficial/defensive way. Human beings have significant multifaceted relationships with the diverse microbial community. Apart from the important protective role of microbial community exposure in development of early immunity, millions of inimitable bacterial genes of the diverse microbial community are the indispensable source of essential nutrients like essential amino acids and essential fatty acids for human body. The essential nutrition from microbiome is harvested through xenophagy. As an immune effector, xenophagy will capture any microorganisms that touch the epithelial cells of our gastrointestinal tract, degrade them and turn them into nutrients for the use of our body.}, } @article {pmid32254021, year = {2020}, author = {Vaelli, PM and Theis, KR and Williams, JE and O'Connell, LA and Foster, JA and Eisthen, HL}, title = {The skin microbiome facilitates adaptive tetrodotoxin production in poisonous newts.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32254021}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Animals, Poisonous ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Predatory Behavior ; Salamandridae/*microbiology/physiology ; Skin/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tetrodotoxin/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) use tetrodotoxin (TTX) to block voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels as a chemical defense against predation. Interestingly, newts exhibit extreme population-level variation in toxicity attributed to a coevolutionary arms race with TTX-resistant predatory snakes, but the source of TTX in newts is unknown. Here, we investigated whether symbiotic bacteria isolated from toxic newts could produce TTX. We characterized the skin-associated microbiota from a toxic and non-toxic population of newts and established pure cultures of isolated bacterial symbionts from toxic newts. We then screened bacterial culture media for TTX using LC-MS/MS and identified TTX-producing bacterial strains from four genera, including Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Shewanella, and Sphingopyxis. Additionally, we sequenced the Nav channel gene family in toxic newts and found that newts expressed Nav channels with modified TTX binding sites, conferring extreme physiological resistance to TTX. This study highlights the complex interactions among adaptive physiology, animal-bacterial symbiosis, and ecological context.}, } @article {pmid32253571, year = {2020}, author = {Hu, Y and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza induced putrescine degradation into γ-aminobutyric acid, malic acid accumulation, and improvement of nitrogen assimilation in roots of water-stressed maize plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {329-339}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00952-0}, pmid = {32253571}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Dehydration ; Humans ; Malates ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; Putrescine ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; }, abstract = {Water shortage limits plant growth and development by inducing physiological and metabolic disorders, while arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can improve plant adaptation to drought stress by altering some metabolic and signaling pathways. In this study, root growth and levels of some metabolites (polyamines, amino acids, and malic acid [MA]) and key enzymes were examined in AM-inoculated and non-inoculated (NM) maize seedlings under different water conditions. The results showed that AM symbiosis stimulated root growth and the accumulation of putrescine (Put) during initial plant growth. Root Put concentration significantly decreased in AM compared with NM plants under water stress; correspondingly, Put degradation via diamine oxidase into γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) occurred. Moreover, glutamine concentration and the activity of N assimilation enzymes (nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase) were higher in roots of AM than NM plants under moderate water stress. The activity of GABA transaminase and malic enzyme, and MA concentration were also higher in roots of AM than NM plants under moderate water stress. Our results indicated that Put catabolism along with improved N assimilation and the accumulation of GABA and MA were the key metabolic processes in roots of AM maize plants in response to water stress.}, } @article {pmid32253570, year = {2020}, author = {Püschel, D and Bitterlich, M and Rydlová, J and Jansa, J}, title = {Facilitation of plant water uptake by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus: a Gordian knot of roots and hyphae.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {299-313}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00949-9}, pmid = {32253570}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; Hyphae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a positive role in plant water relations, and the AM symbiosis is often cited as beneficial for overcoming drought stress of host plants. Nevertheless, water uptake via mycorrhizal hyphal networks has been little addressed experimentally, especially so through isotope tracing. In a greenhouse study conducted in two-compartment rhizoboxes, Medicago truncatula was planted in the primary compartment (PC), either inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis or left uninoculated. Plant roots were either allowed to enter the secondary compartment (SC) or were restricted to the PC by root-excluding mesh. Substrate moisture was manipulated in the PC such that the plants were grown either in high moisture (15% of gravimetric water content, GWC) or low moisture (8% GWC). Meanwhile, the SC was maintained at 15% GWC throughout and served as a water source accessible (or not) by roots and/or hyphae. Water in the SC was labeled with deuterium (D) to quantify water uptake by the plants from the SC. Significantly, increased D incorporation into plants indicated higher water uptake by mycorrhizal plants when roots had access to the D source, but this was mainly explained by generally larger mycorrhizal root systems in proximity to the D source. On the other hand, AM fungal hyphae with access to the D source increased D incorporation into plants more than twofold compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. Despite this strong effect, water transport via AM fungal hyphae was low compared to the transpiration demand of the plants.}, } @article {pmid32253440, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, L and Li, C and Shi, J and Li, C and Li, J and Ren, L and Luo, Y}, title = {Incidental Fungi in Host Trees Disrupt the Development of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) Symbiotic Fungus and Larvae.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {113}, number = {2}, pages = {832-838}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toz314}, pmid = {32253440}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Fungi ; *Hymenoptera ; Larva ; North America ; *Pinus ; Trees ; }, abstract = {The woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius, is an exotic pest of Pinus L. in the southern hemisphere and North America, and it is an emerging threat in northeastern China. Adult woodwasps have numerous insect competitors for oviposition substrates, and developing larvae must compete for resources with other subcortical invaders. Its mutualistic fungus Amylostereum areolatum (Fr.) Boidon, is less competitive than many other fungal colonists present in pine ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of incidental, host-colonizing fungi on the growth and development of woodwasp larvae and A. areolatum. Fungi were isolated from dead S. noctilio larvae within galleries (primarily Trichoderma Pers, Ophiostoma Sydow, and Sphaeropsis Sacc.), and effects of these fungi on woodwasp brood survival were investigated via inoculations of S. noctilio-infested logs. Larval mortality was significantly increased in sample logs inoculated with Ophiostoma minus (Hedgc.) Sydow Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jülich, Trichoderma atroviride Bissett, Trichoderma viride Pers, and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai. Inoculation of logs with O. minus resulted in the highest mortality and greatest reductions in wood moisture content. When grown on artificial media, these fungi grew faster than and inhibited growth of A. areolatum mycelium. We propose that the adverse effects of incidental fungi on the survival of S. noctilio larvae may be caused at least in part by an indirect mechanism involving inhibition of the fungal symbiont. The findings provide potentially valuable information for suppressing S. noctilio populations using microbial control agents.}, } @article {pmid32253139, year = {2020}, author = {Mesquita, GBA and Silva, WLP and Fecchio, A and Martins, TF and Labruna, MB and Dias, RI}, title = {Amblyomma ticks consumed by a giant cowbird, Molothrus oryzivorus.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {101424}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101424}, pmid = {32253139}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Amblyomma/*physiology ; Animals ; Brazil ; Diet/veterinary ; *Feeding Behavior ; Male ; Songbirds/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The removal of ectoparasites is a common behavior found across animal taxa and is a determinant to avoid the negative effects of parasites' presence. Eventually, the elimination of ectoparasites is associated with mutualistic interactions. Cleaner birds remove ectoparasites, providing benefits to its mutualistic host by reducing parasite burden while they obtain a protein food source. Here we report some evidence that giant cowbirds (Molothrus oryzivorus) may have an important role as a cleaner bird. We found 74 adult ticks inside the ventriculus of one male giant cowbird. The ticks belonged to three different species: Amblyomma dubitatum, A. sculptum and A. triste. We found that the sex-ratio of the consumed adult ticks was not different from 1:1. Although additional data are necessary, the large number of ticks found suggests that the giant cowbird may have developed a mutualistic association with large, social mammals such as capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), since this animal is an important host species for the three tick species found in the present study.}, } @article {pmid32252018, year = {2020}, author = {Sinha, T and Naash, MI and Al-Ubaidi, MR}, title = {The Symbiotic Relationship between the Neural Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Is Supported by Utilizing Differential Metabolic Pathways.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {101004}, pmid = {32252018}, issn = {2589-0042}, support = {R01 EY010609/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY026499/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) maintain a symbiotic metabolic relationship, disruption of which leads to debilitating vision loss. The current study was undertaken to identify the differences in the steady-state metabolite levels and the pathways functioning between bona fide neural retina and RPE. Global metabolomics and cluster analyses identified 650 metabolites differentially modulated between the murine neural retina and RPE. Of these, 387 and 163 were higher in the RPE and the neural retina, respectively. Further analysis coupled with transcript and protein level investigations revealed that under normal physiological conditions, the RPE utilizes the pentose phosphate (>3-fold in RPE), serine (>10-fold in RPE), and sphingomyelin biosynthesis (>5-fold in RPE) pathways. Conversely, the neural retina relied mostly on glycolysis. These results show how the RPE and the neural retina have acquired an efficient, complementary and metabolically diverse symbiotic niche to support each other's distinct functions.}, } @article {pmid32251879, year = {2020}, author = {Biagi, E and Caroselli, E and Barone, M and Pezzimenti, M and Teixido, N and Soverini, M and Rampelli, S and Turroni, S and Gambi, MC and Brigidi, P and Goffredo, S and Candela, M}, title = {Patterns in microbiome composition differ with ocean acidification in anatomic compartments of the Mediterranean coral Astroides calycularis living at CO2 vents.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {724}, number = {}, pages = {138048}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138048}, pmid = {32251879}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon Dioxide ; Coral Reefs ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Italy ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Coral microbiomes, the complex microbial communities associated with the different anatomic compartments of the coral, provide important functions for the host's survival, such as nutrient cycling at the host's surface, prevention of pathogens colonization, and promotion of nutrient uptake. Microbiomes are generally referred to as plastic entities, able to adapt their composition and functionality in response to environmental change, with a possible impact on coral acclimatization to phenomena related to climate change, such as ocean acidification. Ocean sites characterized by natural gradients of pCO2 provide models for investigating the ability of marine organisms to acclimatize to decreasing seawater pH. Here we compared the microbiome of the temperate, shallow water, non-symbiotic solitary coral Astroides calycularis that naturally lives at a volcanic CO2 vent in Ischia Island (Naples, Italy), with that of corals living in non-acidified sites at the same island. Bacterial DNA associated with the different anatomic compartments (mucus, tissue and skeleton) of A. calycularis was differentially extracted and a total of 68 samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In terms of phylogenetic composition, the microbiomes associated with the different coral anatomic compartments were different from each other and from the microbial communities of the surrounding seawater. Of all the anatomic compartments, the mucus-associated microbiome differed the most between the control and acidified sites. The differences detected in the microbial communities associated to the three anatomic compartments included a general increase in subdominant bacterial groups, some of which are known to be involved in different stages of the nitrogen cycle, such as potential nitrogen fixing bacteria and bacteria able to degrade organic nitrogen. Our data therefore suggests a potential increase of nitrogen fixation and recycling in A. calycularis living close to the CO2 vent system.}, } @article {pmid32251211, year = {2020}, author = {Lockwood, MB and Green, SJ}, title = {Clinical care is evolving: The microbiome for advanced practice nurses.}, journal = {Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {290-292}, pmid = {32251211}, issn = {2327-6924}, support = {K23 NR018482/NR/NINR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Advanced Practice Nursing/education/methods ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/*immunology/*physiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Over the course of four billion years, humans have developed an intimate relationship with the more than 37 trillion microbes that inhabit our bodies. This relationship runs the gamut from symbiosis to pathogenesis. The number of microbial cells is roughly equivalent to that of mammalian cells in the body. However, due to substantial microbial diversity in host-associated communities, the genetic content of the microbiome is roughly 150 times greater than that of the human genome. Microbial genes encode for proteins capable of producing a wide variety of molecules essential for our health and survival. Many factors such as mode of birth, diet, chlorination of water, and medications significantly affect the richness and diversity of the microbiome. Advanced practice nurses have important roles to play as clinicians, scientists, educators, and patient advocates as our understanding of the microbiome's effects on health becomes better articulated. An understanding of how the microbiome can affect an individual's health or the efficacy of treatment will soon be essential in the clinical setting, and nurses should be encouraged to educate themselves on the relationship between our microbial partners, the environment, and human health.}, } @article {pmid32250839, year = {2020}, author = {Rosic, N and Rémond, C and Mello-Athayde, MA}, title = {Differential impact of heat stress on reef-building corals under different light conditions.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {104947}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104947}, pmid = {32250839}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/growth & development ; Chlorophyll A ; *Coral Reefs ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Light ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heat stress is an environmental factor that regularly challenges the well-being of living organisms. This study aims to examine the physiological changes happening in two reef-building coral species exposed to thermal stress under various light conditions. The two ecologically relevant heatwave scenarios were applied under ambient lights (high irradiance) and reduced light conditions (250 and < 10 μmol photons m[-2] s[-1]). Corals were exposed to elevated temperatures of 32°C (plus 6°) for a period of 1 up to 5 days corresponding to heatwaves reported on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) that were associated with coral bleaching. We monitored changes in the physiological performance of these two coral species by measuring symbionts and corals' physiological parameters including symbiont density, levels of multiple algal pigments (chlorophyll a and peridinin), as well as the changes in the host protein concentration. During the short-term heat stress, both species were with stable physiological performance with the only exception of Stylophora pistillata under ambient lights. These results show that S. pistillata was negatively influenced by a synergistic effect of temperature and high irradiance resulting in the first signs of bleaching after only 24h of thermal stress. Exposure to prolonged thermal stress, characterised with a slower rate of temperature increase, affected both coral species investigated and resulted in bleaching mainly by day 5. Interestingly, severe light reduction (<10 μmol photons m[-2] s[-1]) made Acropora millepora corals more thermally sensitive and resulted in earlier signs of bleaching (on day 3). These findings indicate that there was a synergistic effect of very low lights and thermal stress that caused higher levels of bleaching in A. millepora. Our results revealed differential thermal sensitivity for two branching corals exposed to different thermal stress scenarios under various light irradiance conditions, naturally found in their existing habitats. Consequently, global warming may have a differential impact on coral reef biodiversity depending on light availability.}, } @article {pmid32249540, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, J and Lin, ZJ and Cai, ZH and Zeng, YH and Zhu, JM and Du, XP}, title = {Opportunistic bacteria use quorum sensing to disturb coral symbiotic communities and mediate the occurrence of coral bleaching.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {1944-1962}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15009}, pmid = {32249540}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {20180124085935704//Trade and Information Commission of Shenzhen/International ; JCYJ20170412171947159//NSFC/International ; JCYJ20170817160708491//NSFC/International ; JCYJ20170412171959157//NSFC/International ; }, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones ; Aeromonas/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dysbiosis/*physiopathology ; Edwardsiella/metabolism ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Pseudomonas/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Vibrio/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral associated microorganisms, especially some opportunistic pathogens can utilize quorum-sensing (QS) signals to affect population structure and host health. However, direct evidence about the link between coral bleaching and dysbiotic microbiomes under QS regulation was lacking. Here, using 11 opportunistic bacteria and their QS products (AHLs, acyl-homoserine-lactones), we exposed Pocillopora damicornis to three different treatments: test groups (A and B: mixture of AHLs-producing bacteria and cocktail of AHLs signals respectively); control groups (C and D: group A and B with furanone added respectively); and a blank control (group E: only seawater) for 21 days. The results showed that remarkable bleaching phenomenon was observed in groups A and B. The operational taxonomic units-sequencing analysis shown that the bacterial network interactions and communities composition were significantly changed, becoming especially enhanced in the relative abundances of Vibrio, Edwardsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and Aeromonas. Interestingly, the control groups (C and D) were found to have a limited influence upon host microbial composition and reduced bleaching susceptibility of P. damicornis. These results indicate bleaching's initiation and progression may be caused by opportunistic bacteria of resident microbes in a process under regulation by AHLs. These findings add a new dimension to our understanding of the complexity of bleaching mechanisms from a chemoecological perspective.}, } @article {pmid32248586, year = {2020}, author = {Šmilauer, P and Šmilauerová, M and Kotilínek, M and Košnar, J}, title = {Foraging speed and precision of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under field conditions: An experimental approach.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {8}, pages = {1574-1587}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15425}, pmid = {32248586}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To better understand the ecology of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, we need to measure functional traits of individual fungal virtual taxa under field conditions. The efficiency of AM fungi in locating nutrient-rich patches in soil space is one of their central traits in this symbiotic relationship. We used plots of a long-term field experiment in grassland with manipulated functional group composition of host plant community to establish ingrowth patches with substrate free of roots and fungi and with varying nutrient availability. Comparison of the original AM fungal community before patch creation with that present 9 weeks after patch establishment enabled us to estimate relative hyphal foraging speed for 41 fungal taxa, and a comparison of the fungal community in neighbouring patches differing in nutrient availability provided estimates of hyphal foraging precision for 22 taxa. Members of two dominant fungal families, Glomeraceae and Claroideoglomeraceae, differed in their foraging speed and precision. Glomeraceae taxa responded more slowly, but with a higher focus on enriched patches. We further demonstrated the usefulness of the obtained fungal functional traits by testing the differences between grass and dicotyledonous plant hosts using a data set obtained in another experiment at the same plots. Grass species hosted AM fungal communities with higher foraging speed, but lower foraging precision than the dicotyledonous species. Our study results support the use of field experiments for measuring comparative characteristics of AM fungi, which are highly elusive (or misrepresented) under controlled conditions.}, } @article {pmid32248522, year = {2020}, author = {Risely, A}, title = {Applying the core microbiome to understand host-microbe systems.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {89}, number = {7}, pages = {1549-1558}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13229}, pmid = {32248522}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The host-associated core microbiome was originally coined to refer to common groups of microbes or genes that were likely to be particularly important for host biological function. However, the term has evolved to encompass variable definitions across studies, often identifying key microbes with respect to their spatial distribution, temporal stability or ecological influence, as well as their contribution to host function and fitness. A major barrier to reaching a consensus over how to define the core microbiome and its relevance to biological, ecological and evolutionary theory is a lack of precise terminology and associated definitions, as well the persistent association of the core microbiome with host function. Common, temporal and ecological core microbiomes can together generate insights into ecological processes that act independently of host function, while functional and host-adapted cores distinguish between facultative and near-obligate symbionts that differ in their effects on host fitness. This commentary summarizes five broad definitions of the core microbiome that have been applied across the literature, highlighting their strengths and limitations for advancing our understanding of host-microbe systems, noting where they are likely to overlap, and discussing their potential relevance to host function and fitness. No one definition of the core microbiome is likely to capture the range of key microbes across a host population. Applied together, they have the potential to reveal different layers of microbial organization from which we can begin to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that govern host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid32247174, year = {2020}, author = {Comerlato, CB and Zhang, X and Walker, K and Brandelli, A and Figeys, D}, title = {Comparative proteomic analysis reveals metabolic variability of probiotic Enterococcus durans during aerobic and anaerobic cultivation.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {220}, number = {}, pages = {103764}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103764}, pmid = {32247174}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Enterococcus ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Oligosaccharides ; *Probiotics ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The variation in the bioavailability of oxygen constitutes the environmental conditions found by bacteria in their passage through the host gastro-intestinal tract. Given the importance of oxygen in the defense mechanism of bacteria, it is important to understand how bacteria respond to this stress at a metabolic level. The probiotic strain Enterococcus durans LAB18S was cultivated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions using prebiotic oligosaccharides as carbon source. The whole cell proteome and secretome were analyzed through label-free quantitative proteomics approach. The results showed that the LAB18S isolate when grown with fructo-oligosacchrides (FOS) showed a higher number of differentially expressed proteins compared to samples with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) or glucose. Clinically important enzymes for the treatment of cancer, L-asparaginase and arginine deiminase, were overexpressed when the isolate was cultured in FOS. In addition, the absence of oxygen induced the strain to produce proteins related to cell multiplication, cell wall integrity and resistance, and H2O2 detoxification. This study showed that E. durans LAB18S growing on FOS was stimulated to produce clinically important biomolecules, including proteins that have been investigated as potential antineoplastic agents. Significance: The probiotic strain E. durans LAB18S produce clinically relevant enzymes for the treatment of cancer when cultivated in symbiosis with fructo-oligosacchrides (FOS). In addition, proteins associated with cellular multiplication, cell wall integrity and resistance, and H2O2 detoxification were induced under anaerobic growth. These characteristics could be relevant to support maintenance of intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid32247150, year = {2020}, author = {Cristaldi, A and Oliveri Conti, G and Cosentino, SL and Mauromicale, G and Copat, C and Grasso, A and Zuccarello, P and Fiore, M and Restuccia, C and Ferrante, M}, title = {Phytoremediation potential of Arundo donax (Giant Reed) in contaminated soil by heavy metals.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {185}, number = {}, pages = {109427}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2020.109427}, pmid = {32247150}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis/toxicity ; Poaceae ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Soil pollution from heavy metals poses a serious risk for environment and public health. Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and cheaper alternative compared to chemical-physical techniques. We carried out in vitro tests where three microorganisms Trichoderma harzianum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus were exposed to eight different heavy metals (one metal at a time) in order to evaluate resistance, growth and bioaccumulation capability for each metal (Ni, Cd, Cu, V, Zn, As, Pb, Hg). Taking into account the natural characteristics of T. harzianum, (resistance to environmental stress, resistance to pathogenic fungi, ability to establish symbiotic relationships with superior green plants) and the good bioaccumulation capacity for V, As, Cd, Hg, Pb shown after in vitro tests, it was chosen as a microorganism to be used in greenhouse tests. Controlled exposure tests were performed in greenhouse, where Arundo donax and mycorrhized Arundo donax with T. harzianum were exposed for 7 months at two different doses (L1 and L2) of a heavy metal mix, so as to assess whether the symbiotic association could improve the bioaccumulation capability of the superior green plant A. donax. Heavy metals were determined with ICP-MS. The average bioaccumulation percentage values of A. donax for L1 and L2 were, respectively: Ni (31%, 26%); Cd (35%, 50%); Cu (30%, 35%); As (19%, 27%); Pb (18%, 14%); Hg (42%, 45%); V (39%, 26%); Zn (23%, 9%). The average bioaccumulation percentage values of mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum for L1 and L2 were, respectively: Ni (27%, 38%); Cd (44%, 42%); Cu (36%, 29%); As (17%, 23%); Pb (37%, 54%); Hg (44%, 60%); V (16%, 20%); Zn (14%, 7%). A. donax showed the highest BAF (bioaccumulation factor) for Cd (0.50), Cu (0.35), As (0.27) and Hg (0.45) after exposure to L2; mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum showed the highest BAF for Ni (0.38), Cd (0.42), Pb (0.54) and Hg (0.60) after exposure to L2. A. donax showed the highest TF (translocation factor) values for Cd (0.28) and Hg (0.26) after exposition at L1 and L2 respectively; A. donax mycorrhized with T. harzianum showed the highest TF values for Cd (0.70), As (0.56), V (0.24), Pb (0.18) after exposition at L2, and Zn (0.30) after exposition at L1. Our study showed a good growth capability in contaminated soils and a good bioaccumulation capability of heavy metals, both for A. donax and mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum. Furthermore, for three metals (Ni, Pb and Hg) the bioaccumulation capability was improved by the symbiosis of T. harzianum with A. donax. So, these results proved the suitability both for A. donax and mycorrhized A. donax with T. harzianum for phytoremediation processes.}, } @article {pmid32246585, year = {2020}, author = {Miyake, M and Terada, T and Shimokawa, M and Sugimoto, N and Arakawa, T and Shimizu, K and Igarashi, K and Fujita, K and Fushinobu, S}, title = {Structural analysis of β-L-arabinobiose-binding protein in the metabolic pathway of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins in Bifidobacterium longum.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {287}, number = {23}, pages = {5114-5129}, doi = {10.1111/febs.15315}, pmid = {32246585}, issn = {1742-4658}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Bifidobacterium longum/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Disaccharides/*metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Bifidobacterium longum is a symbiotic human gut bacterium that has a degradation system for β-arabinooligosaccharides, which are present in the hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins of edible plants. Whereas microbial degradation systems for α-linked arabinofuranosyl carbohydrates have been extensively studied, little is understood about the degradation systems targeting β-linked arabinofuranosyl carbohydrates. We functionally and structurally analyzed a substrate-binding protein (SBP) of a putative ABC transporter (BLLJ_0208) in the β-arabinooligosaccharide degradation system. Thermal shift assays and isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that the SBP specifically bound Araf-β1,2-Araf (β-Ara2) with a Kd of 0.150 μm, but did not bind L-arabinose or methyl-β-Ara2 . Therefore, the SBP was termed β-arabinobiose-binding protein (BABP). Crystal structures of BABP complexed with β-Ara2 were determined at resolutions of up to 1.78 Å. The findings showed that β-Ara2 was bound to BABP within a short tunnel between two lobes as an α-anomeric form at its reducing end. BABP forms extensive interactions with β-Ara2 , and its binding mode was unique among SBPs. A molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the closed conformation of substrate-bound BABP is stable, whereas substrate-free form can adopt a fully open and two distinct semi-open states. The importer system specific for β-Ara2 may contribute to microbial survival in biological niches with limited amounts of digestible carbohydrates. DATABASE: Atomic coordinates and structure factors (codes 6LCE and 6LCF) have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank (http://wwpdb.org/).}, } @article {pmid32245101, year = {2020}, author = {Si, Y and Guo, D and Deng, S and Lu, X and Zhu, J and Rao, B and Cao, Y and Jiang, G and Yu, D and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {Ohr and OhrR Are Critical for Organic Peroxide Resistance and Symbiosis in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32245101}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/drug effects/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism/*toxicity ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sesbania/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium that forms both root and stem nodules on Sesbania rostrata. During nodule formation, bacteria have to withstand organic peroxides that are produced by plant. Previous studies have elaborated on resistance to these oxygen radicals in several bacteria; however, to the best of our knowledge, none have investigated this process in A. caulinodans. In this study, we identified and characterised the organic hydroperoxide resistance gene ohr (AZC_2977) and its regulator ohrR (AZC_3555) in A. caulinodans ORS571. Hypersensitivity to organic hydroperoxide was observed in an ohr mutant. While using a lacZ-based reporter system, we revealed that OhrR repressed the expression of ohr. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that OhrR regulated ohr by direct binding to its promoter region. We showed that this binding was prevented by OhrR oxidation under aerobic conditions, which promoted OhrR dimerization and the activation of ohr. Furthermore, we showed that one of the two conserved cysteine residues in OhrR, Cys11, was critical for the sensitivity to organic hydroperoxides. Plant assays revealed that the inactivation of Ohr decreased the number of stem nodules and nitrogenase activity. Our data demonstrated that Ohr and OhrR are required for protecting A. caulinodans from organic hydroperoxide stress and play an important role in the interaction of the bacterium with plants. The results that were obtained in our study suggested that a thiol-based switch in A. caulinodans might sense host organic peroxide signals and enhance symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32244729, year = {2020}, author = {Khan, MS and Ikram, M and Park, JS and Park, TJ and Kim, MO}, title = {Gut Microbiota, Its Role in Induction of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, and Possible Therapeutic Interventions: Special Focus on Anthocyanins.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32244729}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/*microbiology/pathology/*therapy ; Amyloid/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthocyanins/*therapeutic use ; Dysbiosis/complications ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {The human gut is a safe environment for several microbes that are symbiotic and important for the wellbeing of human health. However, studies on gut microbiota in different animals have suggested that changes in the composition and structure of these microbes may promote gut inflammation by releasing inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharides, gut-wall leakage, and may affect systemic inflammatory and immune mechanisms that are important for the normal functioning of the body. There are many factors that aid in the gut's dysbiosis and neuroinflammation, including high stress levels, lack of sleep, fatty and processed foods, and the prolonged use of antibiotics. These neurotoxic mechanisms of dysbiosis may increase susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. Therefore, studies have recently been conducted to tackle AD-like conditions by specifically targeting gut microbes that need further elucidation. It was suggested that gut dyshomeostasis may be regulated by using available options, including the use of flavonoids such as anthocyanins, and restriction of the use of high-fatty-acid-containing food. In this review, we summarize the gut microbiota, factors promoting it, and possible therapeutic interventions especially focused on the therapeutic potential of natural dietary polyflavonoid anthocyanins. Our study strongly suggests that gut dysbiosis and systemic inflammation are critically involved in the development of neurodegenerative disorders, and the natural intake of these flavonoids may provide new therapeutic opportunities for preclinical or clinical studies.}, } @article {pmid32244524, year = {2020}, author = {Soares, R and Trejo, J and Lorite, MJ and Figueira, E and Sanjuán, J and Videira E Castro, I}, title = {Diversity, Phylogeny and Plant Growth Promotion Traits of Nodule Associated Bacteria Isolated from Lotus parviflorus.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32244524}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Lotus spp. are widely used as a forage to improve pastures, and inoculation with elite rhizobial strains is a common practice in many countries. However, only a few Lotus species have been studied in the context of plant-rhizobia interactions. In this study, forty highly diverse bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of wild Lotus parviflorus plants growing in two field locations in Portugal. However, only 10% of these isolates could nodulate one or more legume hosts tested, whereas 90% were thought to be opportunistic nodule associated bacteria. Phylogenetic studies place the nodulating isolates within the Bradyrhizobium genus, which is closely related to B. canariense and other Bradyrhizobium sp. strains isolated from genistoid legumes and Ornithopus spp. Symbiotic nodC and nifH gene phylogenies were fully consistent with the taxonomic assignment and host range. The non-nodulating bacteria isolated were alpha- (Rhizobium/Agrobacterium), beta- (Massilia) and gamma-proteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Lysobacter, Luteibacter, Stenotrophomonas and Rahnella), as well as some bacteroidetes from genera Sphingobacterium and Mucilaginibacter. Some of these nodule-associated bacteria expressed plant growth promotion (PGP) traits, such as production of lytic enzymes, antagonistic activity against phytopathogens, phosphate solubilization, or siderophore production. This argues for a potential beneficial role of these L. parviflorus nodule-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32244390, year = {2020}, author = {Shi, Z and Zhang, J and Lu, S and Li, Y and Wang, F}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve the Performance of Sweet Sorghum Grown in a Mo-Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32244390}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are among the most ubiquitous soil plant-symbiotic fungi in terrestrial environments and can alleviate the toxic effects of various contaminants on plants. As an essential micronutrient for higher plants, molybdenum (Mo) can cause toxic effects at excess levels. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal impacts on plant performance and Mo accumulation under Mo-contamination still require to be explored. We first studied the effects of Claroideoglomus etunicatum BEG168 on plant biomass production and Mo accumulation in a biofuel crop, sweet sorghum, grown in an agricultural soil spiked with different concentrations of MoS2. The results showed that the addition of Mo produced no adverse effects on plant biomass, N and P uptake, and root colonization rate, indicating Mo has no phytotoxicity and fungitoxicity at the test concentrations. The addition of Mo did not increase and even decreased S concentrations in plant tissues. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation significantly enhanced plant biomass production and Mo concentrations in both shoots and roots, resulting in increased Mo uptake by mycorrhizal plants. Overall, arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation promoted the absorption of P, N and S by sweet sorghum plants, improved photosystem (PS) II photochemical efficiency and comprehensive photosynthesis performance. In conclusion, MoS2 increased Mo accumulation in plant tissues but produced no toxicity, while arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation could improve plant performance via enhancing nutrient uptake and photochemical efficiency. Sweet sorghum, together with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, shows a promising potential for phytoremediation of Mo-contaminated farmland and revegetation of Mo-mine disturbed areas, as well as biomass production on such sites.}, } @article {pmid32244095, year = {2020}, author = {Saleh, AM and Abdel-Mawgoud, M and Hassan, AR and Habeeb, TH and Yehia, RS and AbdElgawad, H}, title = {Global metabolic changes induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in oregano plants grown under ambient and elevated levels of atmospheric CO2.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {151}, number = {}, pages = {255-263}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.03.026}, pmid = {32244095}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae/drug effects/physiology ; *Origanum/drug effects/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic plant-microorganisms interaction is a promising approach to avoid the environmental hazards of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Among these, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve the growth and quality of many plant species; however the detailed metabolic mechanisms behind such beneficial effects are far from complete. Further, elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) could affect such AMF-plant association. Herein, we have investigated the individual and synchronous impact of AMF and eCO2 (620 ppm) on nutrient uptake, growth, photosynthesis, respiration, and levels of primary and secondary metabolites in oregano (Oreganum vulgare), an economically important herbal plant. Enhanced AMF colonization rate and a better mycelial growth were observed in roots of oregano grown under eCO2. Both AMF and eCO2 treatments significantly enhanced the growth and photosynthesis of oregano plants, however much improvements were observed by their synchronous application. eCO2 further increased the AMF-induced dark respiration and accumulation of macro and microelements. Hierarchical clustering analysis of individual primary and secondary metabolites revealed a metabolite-dependent response toward AMF and eCO2. The synchronous application of AMF and eCO2 resulted in promoted accumulation of the majority of the detected sugars, organic acids, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, phenolic acids and flavonoids, as compared with the sole treatments. Moreover, AMF and eCO2 acted synergistically in improving the antioxidant capacity and anti-lipid peroxidation activity of oregano. Therefore, this study suggests that AMF treatment induces a global metabolic change in oregano, the effect that is strengthened under eCO2.}, } @article {pmid32243856, year = {2020}, author = {Monnin, D and Jackson, R and Kiers, ET and Bunker, M and Ellers, J and Henry, LM}, title = {Parallel Evolution in the Integration of a Co-obligate Aphid Symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {1949-1957.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.03.011}, pmid = {32243856}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Genomics ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Insects evolve dependence-often extreme-on microbes for nutrition. This includes cases in which insects harbor multiple endosymbionts that function collectively as a metabolic unit [1-5]. How do these dependences originate [6], and is there a predictable sequence of events leading to the integration of new symbionts? While co-obligate symbioses, in which hosts rely on multiple nutrient-provisioning symbionts, have evolved numerous times across sap-feeding insects, there is only one known case in aphids, involving Buchnera aphidicola and Serratia symbiotica in the Lachninae subfamily [7-9]. Here, we identify three additional independent transitions to the same co-obligate symbiosis in different aphids. Comparing recent and ancient associations allow us to investigate intermediate stages of metabolic and anatomical integration of Serratia. We find that these uniquely replicated evolutionary events support the idea that co-obligate associations initiate in a predictable manner-through parallel evolutionary processes. Specifically, we show how the repeated losses of the riboflavin and peptidoglycan pathways in Buchnera lead to dependence on Serratia. We then provide evidence of a stepwise process of symbiont integration, whereby dependence evolves first. Then, essential amino acid pathways are lost (at ∼30-60 mya), which coincides with the increased anatomical integration of the companion symbiont. Finally, we demonstrate that dependence can evolve ahead of specialized structures (e.g., bacteriocytes), and in one case with no direct nutritional basis. More generally, our results suggest the energetic costs of synthesizing nutrients may provide a unified explanation for the sequence of gene losses that occur during the evolution of co-obligate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32241255, year = {2020}, author = {Su, SY and Lu, IH and Cheng, WC and Chung, WC and Chen, PY and Ho, JM and Chen, SH and Lin, CY}, title = {EpiMOLAS: an intuitive web-based framework for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {Suppl 3}, pages = {163}, pmid = {32241255}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Computational Biology/*methods ; CpG Islands/genetics ; DNA Methylation/*genetics ; Genome, Human/*genetics ; Humans ; Internet ; Software ; Whole Genome Sequencing/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: DNA methylation is a crucial epigenomic mechanism in various biological processes. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) technology, methylated cytosine sites can be revealed at the single nucleotide level. However, the WGBS data analysis process is usually complicated and challenging.

RESULTS: To alleviate the associated difficulties, we integrated the WGBS data processing steps and downstream analysis into a two-phase approach. First, we set up the required tools in Galaxy and developed workflows to calculate the methylation level from raw WGBS data and generate a methylation status summary, the mtable. This computation environment is wrapped into the Docker container image DocMethyl, which allows users to rapidly deploy an executable environment without tedious software installation and library dependency problems. Next, the mtable files were uploaded to the web server EpiMOLAS_web to link with the gene annotation databases that enable rapid data retrieval and analyses.

CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, the EpiMOLAS framework, consisting of DocMethyl and EpiMOLAS_web, is the first approach to include containerization technology and a web-based system for WGBS data analysis from raw data processing to downstream analysis. EpiMOLAS will help users cope with their WGBS data and also conduct reproducible analyses of publicly available data, thereby gaining insights into the mechanisms underlying complex biological phenomenon. The Galaxy Docker image DocMethyl is available at https://hub.docker.com/r/lsbnb/docmethyl/. EpiMOLAS_web is publicly accessible at http://symbiosis.iis.sinica.edu.tw/epimolas/.}, } @article {pmid32239689, year = {2020}, author = {Duan, Y and Petzold, M and Saleem-Batcha, R and Teufel, R}, title = {Bacterial Tropone Natural Products and Derivatives: Overview of their Biosynthesis, Bioactivities, Ecological Role and Biotechnological Potential.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {21}, number = {17}, pages = {2384-2407}, pmid = {32239689}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/chemistry/drug effects/metabolism ; Biological Products/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; *Biotechnology ; Fungi/drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Tropolone/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Tropone natural products are non-benzene aromatic compounds of significant ecological and pharmaceutical interest. Herein, we highlight current knowledge on bacterial tropones and their derivatives such as tropolones, tropodithietic acid, and roseobacticides. Their unusual biosynthesis depends on a universal CoA-bound precursor featuring a seven-membered carbon ring as backbone, which is generated by a side reaction of the phenylacetic acid catabolic pathway. Enzymes encoded by separate gene clusters then further modify this key intermediate by oxidation, CoA-release, or incorporation of sulfur among other reactions. Tropones play important roles in the terrestrial and marine environment where they act as antibiotics, algaecides, or quorum sensing signals, while their bacterial producers are often involved in symbiotic interactions with plants and marine invertebrates (e. g., algae, corals, sponges, or mollusks). Because of their potent bioactivities and of slowly developing bacterial resistance, tropones and their derivatives hold great promise for biomedical or biotechnological applications, for instance as antibiotics in (shell)fish aquaculture.}, } @article {pmid32238208, year = {2021}, author = {Martin-Gallausiaux, C and Marinelli, L and Blottière, HM and Larraufie, P and Lapaque, N}, title = {SCFA: mechanisms and functional importance in the gut.}, journal = {The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {37-49}, doi = {10.1017/S0029665120006916}, pmid = {32238208}, issn = {1475-2719}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the importance of the gut microbiota in human health has been revealed and many publications have highlighted its role as a key component of human physiology. Owing to the use of modern sequencing approaches, the characterisation of the microbiome in healthy individuals and in disease has demonstrated a disturbance of the microbiota, or dysbiosis, associated with pathological conditions. The microbiota establishes a symbiotic crosstalk with their host: commensal microbes benefit from the nutrient-rich environment provided by the gut and the microbiota produces hundreds of proteins and metabolites that modulate key functions of the host, including nutrient processing, maintenance of energy homoeostasis and immune system development. Many bacteria-derived metabolites originate from dietary sources. Among them, an important role has been attributed to the metabolites derived from the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibres, namely SCFA linking host nutrition to intestinal homoeostasis maintenance. SCFA are important fuels for intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and regulate IEC functions through different mechanisms to modulate their proliferation, differentiation as well as functions of subpopulations such as enteroendocrine cells, to impact gut motility and to strengthen the gut barrier functions as well as host metabolism. Recent findings show that SCFA, and in particular butyrate, also have important intestinal and immuno-modulatory functions. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms and the impact of SCFA on gut functions and host immunity and consequently on human health.}, } @article {pmid32237501, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, J and Ou, XH and Jiang, WK and Yuan, QS and Wang, YH and Yang, J and Liu, DH and Wang, X and Zhang, GW and Pan, C and Zhou, T}, title = {[Effect of Gastrodiae elata-Phallus impudicus sequential planting pattern on soil microbial community structure].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {463-471}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20191204.106}, pmid = {32237501}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Agaricales/*growth & development ; Bacteria/classification ; Fungi/classification ; Gastrodia/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Gastrodia elata is a heterotrophic plant that needed to be symbiotic with Armillaria. The obstacle of continuous cropping in G. elata is serious during the G. elata cultivation, and the mechanism of obstacle in G. elata continuous cropping had not been solved. The planting of G. elata-Phallus impudicus is a new sequential planting pattern adopted in Guizhou province, but the effect of the cultivation on soil microbial community structure is still unclear. In this study, we collected four soil samples for the research including the soil without planted G. elata as control(CK), rhizosphere soil samples tightly adhering to the G. elata surface(GE), rhizosphere soil samples tightly adhering to Armillaria which was symbiotic with G. elata(AGE), the rhizosphere soil of P. impudicus planting after G. elata cultivation(PI). In order to explore the mechanism, the research study on the soil of G. elata-P. impudicus by using ITS and 16 S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technologies to detect soil microbial community structure including fungi and bacteria in the soil of CK, AGE, GE and PI. OTU clustering and PCA analysis of soil samples showed that the soil microbial diversity was relatively similar in AGE and GE. And the soil microbial in PI and CK clustered together. The results showed that AGE and GE had similar soil microbial diversity, as well as PI and CK. Compared with CK, the soil microbial diversity and abundance in AGE and GE were significantly increased. But the microbial diversity and abundance decreased in PI compared with AGE and GE. The annotation indicated that the abundance of Basidiomycota, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi decreased, and that of Ascomycota, Zygomycota and Proteobacteria increased in AGE and GE compared with CK. In contrast to AGE and GE, PI was the opposite. The abundance of Basidiomycota, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi increased in PI compared with AGE and GE. The abundance of microorganisms in the soil of PI and CK was similar. In addition, the co-culture of Armillaria and P. impudicus indicated that P. impudicus had obvious antagonistic effects on the growth of Armillaria. Therefore, it is speculated that the mechanism of G. elata-P. impudicus planting pattern related to the change of soil microbial. And we supposed that P. impudicus might inhibit the growth of Armillaria and change the soil microbial community structure and the abundance of soil microbial. And the soil microbial community structure was restored to a state close to that of uncultivated G. elata. Thus, the structure of soil microbial community planting G. elata could be restored by P. impudicus planting.}, } @article {pmid32237412, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, HM and Wu, HX and He, XY and Zhang, HH and Miao, F and Liang, ZS}, title = {[Promoting tanshinone synthesis of Salvia miltiorrhiza root by a seed endophytic fungus, Phoma herbarum D603].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {65-71}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20191113.101}, pmid = {32237412}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Abietanes/*biosynthesis ; Ascomycota/*growth & development ; Endophytes/growth & development ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza/metabolism/*microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The interaction of endophytes and host plant is an effective mean to regulate the growth and secondary metabolism of medicinal plants. Here we want to elucidate the effects and mechanism of Phoma herbarum D603 on the root development and tanshinone synthesis in root of Salvia miltiorrhiza by endophyte-plant coculture system. The mycelium of P. herbarum D603 was colonized in the root tissue space, and formed a stable symbiotic relationship with host plant. The in vitro activities analysis showed that the concentration of IAA produced by D603 can reach(6.45±0.23) μg·mL~(-1), and this strain had some abilities of phosphorus solubilization and siderophore production activities. The coculture experiment showed that strain D603 can significantly promote the synthesis and accumulation of tanshinones in the root of S. miltiorrhiza, in which after 8 weeks of treatment with D603, the content of tanshinone Ⅱ_A in the roots reached up to(1.42±0.59) mg·g~(-1). By the qRT-PCR analysis results, we found that D603 could improve the expression levels of some key genes(DXR, DXS, GGPP, HMGR, CPS) of tanshinone biosynthesis pathway in host plant S. miltiorrhiza, but the promoting effect mainly occurred in the early stage of the interaction, and the enzyme activity level decreased in varying degrees of the later stage. In summary, seed-associated endophyte P. herbarum D603 can promote the growth and root development of S. miltiorrhiza by producing hormones, promoting nutrient absorption and siderophore production, and promote the synthesis and accumulation of tanshinones by regulating the expression level of key genes in the synthetic pathway in S. miltiorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid32237047, year = {2020}, author = {Rana, S and Kour, S and Sonawane, YA and Robb, CM and Contreras, JI and Kizhake, S and Zahid, M and Karpf, AR and Natarajan, A}, title = {Symbiotic prodrugs (SymProDs) dual targeting of NFkappaB and CDK.}, journal = {Chemical biology & drug design}, volume = {96}, number = {2}, pages = {773-784}, pmid = {32237047}, issn = {1747-0285}, support = {P30 CA036727/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA197999/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA182820/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/chemical synthesis/pharmacology ; Amines/chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents/*chemical synthesis/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/*metabolism ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; NF-kappa B/*metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Piperazines/chemical synthesis/metabolism ; Piperidines/chemical synthesis/metabolism ; Prodrugs/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/*chemical synthesis/pharmacology ; Pyrazoles/chemical synthesis/metabolism ; Pyridines/chemical synthesis/metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes/chemical synthesis/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {The release of an active drug from the prodrug generates a pro-fragment that typically has no biological activity and could result in adverse effects. By combining two drugs, wherein each drug acts as a pro-fragment of the other drug will eliminate the pro-fragment in the prodrug. As they are prodrugs of each other and are symbiotic, we termed these as symbiotic prodrugs (SymProDs). To test this idea, we generated SymProDs using NFκB inhibitors that contain the reactive α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone moiety and CDK inhibitors with solvent exposed secondary nitrogen atoms. We show that secondary amine prodrugs of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone containing NFκB inhibitors undergo slow release over a 72 hr period. Using an alkyne-tagged secondary amine prodrug of α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone containing NFκB inhibitor, we demonstrate target engagement. The NFκB-CDK SymProDs were ~20- to 200-fold less active against the corresponding CDK inhibitors in in vitro CDK kinase assays. Growth inhibition studies in a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines revealed potency trends of the SymProDs mirrored those of the single treatments suggesting their dissociation in cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that SymProDs offer a productive path forward for advancing compounds with reactive functionality and can be used as dual targeting agents.}, } @article {pmid32235279, year = {2020}, author = {Lundy, SD and Vij, SC and Rezk, AH and Cohen, JA and Bajic, P and Ramasamy, R}, title = {The microbiome of the infertile male.}, journal = {Current opinion in urology}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {355-362}, pmid = {32235279}, issn = {1473-6586}, mesh = {Humans ; Infertility, Male/*microbiology ; Male ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Semen/*microbiology ; Semen Analysis ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Contrary to historic dogma, many tissues and organs in the human body contain a resident population of bacteria, fungi, and viruses collectively known as the microbiome. The microbiome plays a role in both homeostatic symbiosis and also pathogenic dysbiosis in a wide array of diseases. Our understanding of the relationship between the microbiome and male factor infertility is in its infancy but is slowly evolving.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent literature indicates that semen (and likely the testis) is not sterile and contains a distinct microbiome, and these changes in its composition are associated with alterations in semen quality and fertility status. Preliminary investigation indicates that manipulating the human microbiome may have implications in improving semen parameters and fertility.

SUMMARY: In this review, we describe relationships between the microbiome and the genitourinary system, discuss the prior work on the relationship among bacteriospermia, leukocytospermia and male factor infertility, and summarize the current literature utilizing 16s rRNA-based next-generation sequencing on the seminal and testicular microbiome. We explore the specific microbial taxa implicated in various aspects of spermatic dysfunction and introduce preliminary evidence for therapeutic approaches to alter the microbiome and improve fertility status.}, } @article {pmid32234604, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, H and Gong, W and Zeng, W and Yan, Z and Jia, B and Li, G and Liang, H}, title = {Organic carbon promotes algae proliferation in membrane-aeration based bacteria-algae symbiosis system (MA-BA).}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {115736}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2020.115736}, pmid = {32234604}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; *Carbon ; Cell Proliferation ; Nitrogen ; *Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {In the bacteria-algae (BA) system, the amount of oxygen produced by the algae is always insufficient for the organic carbon degradation, resulting in less inorganic carbon (IC) production. Meanwhile, the conventional extra aeration method always causes CO2 stripping and IC loss. Both two reasons limited the algae boosting. Membrane aeration (MA) has the excellent capability of organic carbon thorough degradation and gas blown-off control. In this study, MA-BA was employed to investigate the effect of organic carbon on the algae growth. Results showed that COD had a positive correlation with Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and algae proliferation in MA-BA system according to the redundancy analysis (RDA). The biggest Chl-a concentration (20.95 mg/cm[2]) occurred in R4 (COD = 400 mg/L). Stimulated algal population changed nutrient removal pathway from bacterial action to algae action. Meantime, Soared algae accumulation would selectively excite the abundance of bacteria that supported the algae growth, such as Acinetobacter, which exhibited a growing trend as the increase of influent COD, especially in the inner biofilm. This paper provided new insight into the effect of organic carbon on the algae in a novel MA-BA system, which will be helpful for future research.}, } @article {pmid32234113, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, Y and Liu, L and Yu, M and Zhou, S and Fu, T and Sun, W and Du, R and Zhang, XH}, title = {Carideicomes alvinocaridis gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from shrimp gill in a hydrothermal field of Okinawa Trough.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {3}, pages = {1777-1784}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003971}, pmid = {32234113}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Decapoda/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Gills/*microbiology ; Pacific Ocean ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodobacteraceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ubiquinone/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, oval-shaped, non-motile bacterium with no flagella, designated strain SCR17[T], was isolated from a shrimp gill habitat in Tangyin hydrothermal field of Okinawa Trough. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SCR17[T] formed a lineage within the family 'Rhodobacteraceae', and shared 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 93.2-96.2 % to the related genera Aquicoccus and Roseivivax. Strain SCR17[T] was able to grow with 0-14 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 9-10 %). The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids of strain SCR17[T] comprised phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), an unidentified aminolipid (AL), an unidentified phospholipid (PL) and an unidentified lipid (L). The predominant fatty acids (more than 10 % of the total fatty acids) were C18 : 1ω7c or/and C18 : 1ω6c, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c . The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SCR17[T] was 67.7 mol%. Based on polyphasic taxonomic analyses, strain SCR17[T] is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus of the family 'Rhodobacteraceae', for which the name Carideicomes alvinocaridis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Carideicomes alvinocaridis is SCR17[T] (=JCM 33426[T]=MCCC 1K03732[T]). The discovery of a novel host-associated bacterium in hydrothermal fields provides an opportunity for the study of host-bacterial symbiosis in extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid32233329, year = {2019}, author = {Doré, J}, title = {[Role and integration of the intestinal microbiota in clinical management of other diseases].}, journal = {La Revue du praticien}, volume = {69}, number = {7}, pages = {800-803}, pmid = {32233329}, issn = {2101-017X}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Role and integration of the intestinal microbiota in clinical management of other diseases. Owing to its numerous functionalities, the microbiota is probably a key player in human health. It is altogether a source of signatures of alteration of host-microbes symbiosis and a potential modulator for prevention and therapy in a number of clinical conditions with high impact in terms of public health. Long term diseases use up to two third of health insurance expenses. In the following pages we bring a synthetic overview of diseases impacted by the microbiota, beyond inflammatory bowel diseases, and highlight the importance of prevention which only benefits from 1.5% of health expenses today.}, } @article {pmid32231650, year = {2020}, author = {Silvestri, A and Turina, M and Fiorilli, V and Miozzi, L and Venice, F and Bonfante, P and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Different Genetic Sources Contribute to the Small RNA Population in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Gigaspora margarita.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {395}, pmid = {32231650}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {RNA interference (RNAi) is a key regulatory pathway of gene expression in almost all eukaryotes. This mechanism relies on short non-coding RNA molecules (sRNAs) to recognize in a sequence-specific manner DNA or RNA targets leading to transcriptional or post-transcriptional gene silencing. To date, the fundamental role of sRNAs in the regulation of development, stress responses, defense against viruses and mobile elements, and cross-kingdom interactions has been extensively studied in a number of biological systems. However, the knowledge of the "RNAi world" in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is still limited. AMF are obligate mutualistic endosymbionts of plants, able to provide several benefits to their partners, from improved mineral nutrition to stress tolerance. Here we described the RNAi-related genes of the AMF Gigaspora margarita and characterized, through sRNA sequencing, its complex small RNAome, considering the possible genetic sources and targets of the sRNAs. G. margarita indeed is a mosaic of different genomes since it hosts endobacteria, RNA viruses, and non-integrated DNA fragments corresponding to mitovirus sequences. Our findings show that G. margarita is equipped with a complete set of RNAi-related genes characterized by the expansion of the Argonaute-like (AGO-like) gene family that seems a common trait of AMF. With regards to sRNAs, we detected populations of sRNA reads mapping to nuclear, mitochondrial, and viral genomes that share similar features (25-nt long and 5'-end uracil read enrichments), and that clearly differ from sRNAs of endobacterial origin. Furthermore, the annotation of nuclear loci producing sRNAs suggests the occurrence of different sRNA-generating processes. In silico analyses indicate that the most abundant G. margarita sRNAs, including those of viral origin, could target transcripts in the host plant, through a hypothetical cross-kingdom RNAi.}, } @article {pmid32231096, year = {2020}, author = {Katoh, T and Ojima, MN and Sakanaka, M and Ashida, H and Gotoh, A and Katayama, T}, title = {Enzymatic Adaptation of Bifidobacterium bifidum to Host Glycans, Viewed from Glycoside Hydrolyases and Carbohydrate-Binding Modules.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32231096}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Certain species of the genus Bifidobacterium represent human symbionts. Many studies have shown that the establishment of symbiosis with such bifidobacterial species confers various beneficial effects on human health. Among the more than ten (sub)species of human gut-associated Bifidobacterium that have significantly varied genetic characteristics at the species level, Bifidobacterium bifidum is unique in that it is found in the intestines of a wide age group, ranging from infants to adults. This species is likely to have adapted to efficiently degrade host-derived carbohydrate chains, such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and mucin O-glycans, which enabled the longitudinal colonization of intestines. The ability of this species to assimilate various host glycans can be attributed to the possession of an adequate set of extracellular glycoside hydrolases (GHs). Importantly, the polypeptides of those glycosidases frequently contain carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) with deduced affinities to the target glycans, which is also a distinct characteristic of this species among members of human gut-associated bifidobacteria. This review firstly describes the prevalence and distribution of B. bifidum in the human gut and then explains the enzymatic machinery that B. bifidum has developed for host glycan degradation by referring to the functions of GHs and CBMs. Finally, we show the data of co-culture experiments using host-derived glycans as carbon sources, which underpin the interesting altruistic behavior of this species as a cross-feeder.}, } @article {pmid32230931, year = {2020}, author = {Leitão, AL and Costa, MC and Gabriel, AF and Enguita, FJ}, title = {Interspecies Communication in Holobionts by Non-Coding RNA Exchange.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {32230931}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Cell Communication/*genetics/*physiology ; Dysbiosis ; Mammals ; Metagenome ; MicroRNAs ; Microbiota/physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants ; RNA, Untranslated/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Complex organisms are associations of different cells that coexist and collaborate creating a living consortium, the holobiont. The relationships between the holobiont members are essential for proper homeostasis of the organisms, and they are founded on the establishment of complex inter-connections between all the cells. Non-coding RNAs are regulatory molecules that can also act as communication signals between cells, being involved in either homeostasis or dysbiosis of the holobionts. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells can transmit signals via non-coding RNAs while using specific extracellular conveyors that travel to the target cell and can be translated into a regulatory response by dedicated molecular machinery. Within holobionts, non-coding RNA regulatory signaling is involved in symbiotic and pathogenic relationships among the cells. This review analyzes current knowledge regarding the role of non-coding RNAs in cell-to-cell communication, with a special focus on the signaling between cells in multi-organism consortia.}, } @article {pmid32230251, year = {2020}, author = {Taher, MA and Kabir, AS and Shazib, SUA and Kim, MS and Shin, MK}, title = {Morphological Redescriptions and Molecular Phylogeny of Three Stentor Species (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea: Stentoridae) from Korea.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4732}, number = {3}, pages = {zootaxa.4732.3.6}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4732.3.6}, pmid = {32230251}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; *Ciliophora ; DNA, Protozoan ; Phylogeny ; Republic of Korea ; }, abstract = {The morphologies of the three freshwater stentorid ciliates in Korea, Stentor coeruleus (Pallas, 1766); Stentor muelleri Ehrenberg, 1831, and Stentor tartari Murthy Bai, 1974, were investigated based on live observations and protargol impregnation. The Korean population of S. tartari exhibits the following characteristics: body size 200-355 × 85-135 µm in vivo, 62-106 somatic kineties, 8-13 peristomial kineties, 110-180 adoral membranelles, mostly two macronuclear nodules and 5-18 micronuclei, reddish and colorless cortical granules and the presence of symbiotic algae. We identified S. tartari based on unique characteristics compared to close congeners. Korean populations of S. coeruleus and S. muelleri are congruent with previously described populations in most aspects of their morphologies. Here, for the first time, we report molecular gene sequence information for S. tartari. Small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence-based phylogeny indicates that S. tartari, which has multiple macronuclei, forms a monophyletic group with other Stentor species having a single macronucleus. Our findings based on morphology and SSU rRNA gene sequence information corroborate the hypothesis that the elongated macronucleus evolved from the compact single or multi macronucleus state.}, } @article {pmid32230228, year = {2020}, author = {Salazar-Vallejo, SI}, title = {Revision of Leocrates Kinberg, 1866 and Leocratides Ehlers, 1908 (Annelida, Errantia, Hesionidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4739}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4739.1.1}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4739.1.1}, pmid = {32230228}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; Female ; }, abstract = {Leocrates Kinberg, 1866 and Leocratides Ehlers, 1908 are two genera of hesionid errant annelids (Hesionidae, Hesioninae) whose species have 16 chaetigers (21 segments). Leocrates species are free living in rocky or mixed bottoms, whereas Leocratides species are usually symbiotic with hexactinellid sponges. Marian Pettibone revised both genera as part of the R/V Siboga Expedition monographs 50 years ago, and most of her ideas have remained unchallenged regarding synonymy for genera and species. For example, she included three genera as junior synonyms of Leocrates: Lamprophaes Grube, 1867, Tyrrhena Claparède, 1868, and Dalhousia McIntosh, 1885, and from 21 nominal species, she regarded only eight as valid. In this revision, all material available was studied, and different morphological patterns were noted in nuchal organs lobes, pharynx armature, and chaetal features. Leocratides species belong to a single pattern; however, in Leocrates several patterns were detected. Three patterns are present for nuchal organs lobes: barely projected posteriorly (horizontal C-shaped), markedly projected posteriorly (U-shaped), and with lateral transverse projections (L-shaped). In the pharynx, upper jaws were noted as single, fang-shaped, or as double, T-shaped structures, whereas the lower jaw can be single, fang-shaped, or a transverse plate. Neurochaetal blades can be bidentate with guards approaching subdistal tooth, unidentate without guards, or with guards hypertrophied projected beyond distal tooth. The combinations of these features are regarded as different genera and consequently, Leocrates is restricted (including Tyrrhena), but Dalhousia, and Lamprophaea (name corrected) are reinstated, and three new genus-group names are proposed: Paradalhousia n. gen., Paralamprophaea n. gen., and Paraleocrates n. gen. Further, the standardization of morphological features allowed several modifications and the recognition of novelties. Thus, four type species were redescribed, four others were reinstated, 10 were newly combined, and 18 from different World localities are described as new. The new species are Lamprophaea cornuta n. sp. from the French Polynesia, L. ockeri n. sp. from the Hawaiian Islands, L. paulayi n. sp. from the Red Sea, L. pettiboneae n. sp. from the Marshall Islands, L. pleijeli n. sp. from La Réunion, L. poupini n. sp. from the French Polynesia, Leocrates ahlfeldae n. sp. from India, L. harrisae n. sp. from the Revillagigedo Islands, L. mooreae n. sp. from New Caledonia, L. reishi n. sp. from the Marshall Islands, L. rizzoae n. sp. from the Seychelles Islands, L. rousei n. sp. from Papua New Guinea, L. seidae n. sp. from the French Polynesia, Leocratides jimii n. sp. from Madagascar, Paralamprophaea bemisae n. sp. from the Maldives, P. crosnieri n. sp. from Madagascar, P. leslieae n. sp. from Kiribati, and P. meyeri n. sp. from the French Polynesia. However, Leocrates japonicus Gustafson, 1930 is a nomen nudum. Keys are included for identifying all hesioninae genera, and for all species in all the included genera.}, } @article {pmid32229898, year = {2019}, author = {Koeda, K}, title = {A new pearlfish, Onuxodon albometeori sp. nov. (Ophidiiformes: Carapidae), from Taiwan.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4702}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4702.1.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4702.1.4}, pmid = {32229898}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Fishes ; *Gadiformes ; Head ; Spine ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Onuxodon albometeori sp. nov. (Ophidiiformes: Carapidae) is described from a single specimen collected by commercial trawl off southwestern Taiwan. The new species is most similar to the Indo-Pacific species Onuxodon fowleri (Smith 1955), both process a remarkably slender body, and higher precaudal vertebral counts and a longer pectoral fin, although the two latter features are even more extreme in the former. Onuxodon albometeori sp. nov. is further distinguished from O. fowleri by its lesser body depth, greater head width, higher counts of precaudal vertebrae, and uniformly whitish coloration only on the posterior part of the body.}, } @article {pmid32229832, year = {2020}, author = {Anker, A}, title = {Unesconia coibensis, gen. et sp. nov., a miniature sponge-associated shrimp from a biodiversity hotspot in the tropical eastern Pacific (Decapoda: Palaemonidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4731}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4731.1.8}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4731.1.8}, pmid = {32229832}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Decapoda ; *Palaemonidae ; }, abstract = {A new palaemonid shrimp genus, Unesconia gen. nov., is established to accommodate a peculiar, small, presumably sponge-associated species, Unesconia coibensis gen. et sp. nov. The description of the new genus and species is based on several specimens found in the shallow marine waters of the Coiba Archipelago, Pacific coast of Panama. Unesconia gen. nov. does not seem to have close affinities to other eastern Pacific or western Atlantic palaemonid genera, including those harbouring sponge symbionts. On the other hand, it shares many characters with three Indo-West Pacific genera, which contain sponge-associated species, viz. Paraclimenaeus Bruce, 1988, Apopontonia Bruce, 1976 and Climeniperaeus Bruce, 1996. The most important diagnostic features of Unesconia gen. nov. are the strongly carinate, dorsally dentate rostrum, with its lateral carinae greatly expanded basally and armed with strong supraorbital teeth; the non-filtering mouthparts, with mandible lacking palp; the first pereiopod chela with excavated fingers and strongly tridentate fingertips; the asymmetrical second pereiopods (chelipeds), with the major chela bearing a double-fossa mechanism on the finger cutting edges; the ambulatory pereiopod dactylus armed with one large tooth and at least two small spinules on the ventral margin of the corpus, in addition to the terminal unguis; the lateral section of the uropodal diaeresis armed with five spiniform setae, the latter not extending to the lateral margin of the exopod; and the telson with two pairs of stout long cuspidate setae on dorsal surface and three pairs of strong, elongate spiniform setae on the posterior margin.}, } @article {pmid32229829, year = {2020}, author = {Anker, A}, title = {A remarkable burrow-dwelling alpheid shrimp, new genus and new species, from the tropical eastern Pacific (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4731}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4731.1.5}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4731.1.5}, pmid = {32229829}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Shells ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; *Decapoda ; Male ; }, abstract = {A new alpheid shrimp genus, Pachelpheus gen. nov., is established to accommodate Pachelpheus pachyacanthus sp. nov., described based on two specimens from the Las Perlas Archipelago, Pacific coast of Panama. Pachelpheus pachyacanthus sp. nov. appears to be an obligate symbiont dwelling in burrows of yet unknown infaunal hosts, on shallow near-shore subtidal sand flats. The main morphological characters of Pachelpheus gen. nov. are: (1) frontal margin of carapace with broadly rounded rostral projection, without orbital teeth; (2) sixth pleonite with articulated plate; (3) telson with two pairs of cuspidate setae dorsally, without anal tubercles; (4) eyes concealed in dorsal view, partly visible in lateral view; (5) chelipeds equal in size, symmetrical in shape, moderately enlarged, stout, carried extended; (6) cheliped carpus without rows of setae mesially; (7) cheliped fingers without snapping mechanism, each finger armed with one stout tooth; (8) second pereiopod carpus with five sub-articles; (9) third, fourth and fifth pereiopods with ischia armed with single robust cuspidate seta, meri armed with one to several unusually robust cuspidate setae; (10) second pleopod with appendix masculina in males only; (11) uropodal exopod and endopod with rows of slender spiniform setae on their distal margins; (12) uropodal diaeresis unusually thickened laterally, with two very stout spiniform setae; and (13) lateral lobe of the uropodal protopod rounded. The new genus appears to be morphologically most similar to Jengalpheops Anker Dworschak, 2007 and Leslibetaeus Anker, Poddoubtchenko Wehrtmann, 2006.}, } @article {pmid32228406, year = {2020}, author = {Rolshausen, G and Hallman, U and Grande, FD and Otte, J and Knudsen, K and Schmitt, I}, title = {Expanding the mutualistic niche: parallel symbiont turnover along climatic gradients.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1924}, pages = {20192311}, pmid = {32228406}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Climate ; *Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Keystone mutualisms, such as corals, lichens or mycorrhizae, sustain fundamental ecosystem functions. Range dynamics of these symbioses are, however, inherently difficult to predict because host species may switch between different symbiont partners in different environments, thereby altering the range of the mutualism as a functional unit. Biogeographic models of mutualisms thus have to consider both the ecological amplitudes of various symbiont partners and the abiotic conditions that trigger symbiont replacement. To address this challenge, we here investigate 'symbiont turnover zones'--defined as demarcated regions where symbiont replacement is most likely to occur, as indicated by overlapping abundances of symbiont ecotypes. Mapping the distribution of algal symbionts from two species of lichen-forming fungi along four independent altitudinal gradients, we detected an abrupt and consistent β-diversity turnover suggesting parallel niche partitioning. Modelling contrasting environmental response functions obtained from latitudinal distributions of algal ecotypes consistently predicted a confined altitudinal turnover zone. In all gradients this symbiont turnover zone is characterized by approximately 12°C average annual temperature and approximately 5°C mean temperature of the coldest quarter, marking the transition from Mediterranean to cool temperate bioregions. Integrating the conditions of symbiont turnover into biogeographic models of mutualisms is an important step towards a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity dynamics under ongoing environmental change.}, } @article {pmid32227950, year = {2020}, author = {Zhao, XD and Zhang, BW and Fu, LJ and Li, QL and Lin, Y and Yu, XQ}, title = {Possible Insecticidal Mechanism of Cry41-Related Toxin against Myzus persicae by Enhancing Cathepsin B Activity.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {68}, number = {16}, pages = {4607-4615}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01020}, pmid = {32227950}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/chemistry/*drug effects/*enzymology ; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cathepsin B/chemistry/*metabolism ; Endotoxins/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Hemolysin Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Insect Proteins/agonists/genetics/*metabolism ; Insecticides/chemistry/metabolism/*toxicity ; Protein Binding ; }, abstract = {Cry toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis are well known for their high insecticidal activities against Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera; however, their activities against Aphididae are very low. Recently, it has been reported that a Cry41-related toxin exhibited moderate activity against the aphid Myzus persicae, and thus, it is highly desirable to uncover its unique mechanism. In this paper, we report that Cathepsin B, calcium-transporting ATPase, and symbiotic bacterial-associated protein ATP-dependent-6-phosphofructokinase were pulled down from the homogenate of M. persicae as unique proteins that possibly bound to Cry41-related toxin. Cathepsin B has been reported to cleave and inactivate antiapoptotic proteins and plays a role in caspase-initiated apoptotic cascades. In this study, Cathepsin B was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified, and in vitro interaction between recombinant Cathepsin B and Cry41-related toxin was demonstrated. Interestingly, we found that addition of Cry41-related toxin obviously enhanced Cathepsin B activity. We propose a model for the mechanism of Cry41-related toxin as follows: Cry41-related toxin enters the aphid cells and enhances Cathepsin B activity, resulting in acceleration of apoptosis of aphid cells.}, } @article {pmid32227588, year = {2020}, author = {Cui, J and Shang, RY and Sun, M and Li, YX and Liu, HY and Lin, HW and Jiao, WH}, title = {Trichodermaloids A-C, Cadinane Sesquiterpenes from a Marine Sponge Symbiotic Trichoderma sp. SM16 Fungus.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {e2000036}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202000036}, pmid = {32227588}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Conformation ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Sesquiterpenes/*chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/*chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Three new cadinane sesquiterpenes, trichodermaloids A (1), B (2), and C (5) were isolated from a symbiotic fungus Trichoderma sp. SM16 derived from the marine sponge Dysidea sp., together with three known ones, aspergilloid G (3), rhinomilisin E (4), and rhinomilisin G (6). The complete structures of three new compounds were determined by HR-MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses coupled with ECD calculations. The absolute configurations of two known compounds (4 and 6) were determined for the first time. The six isolates were inactive as antibacterial agents. However, trichodermaloids A and B have shown cytotoxicity on human NCIH-460 lung, NCIC-H929 myeloma, and SW620 colorectal cancer cell lines with IC50 values at the range of 6.8-12.7 μm.}, } @article {pmid32227272, year = {2020}, author = {Vangelisti, A and Turrini, A and Sbrana, C and Avio, L and Giordani, T and Natali, L and Giovannetti, M and Cavallini, A}, title = {Gene expression in Rhizoglomus irregulare at two different time points of mycorrhiza establishment in Helianthus annuus roots, as revealed by RNA-seq analysis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {373-387}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00950-2}, pmid = {32227272}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Glomeromycota ; *Helianthus ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; RNA-Seq ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a fundamental role in plant growth and nutrition in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Despite the importance of such symbionts, the different developmental changes occurring during the AMF life cycle have not been fully elucidated at the molecular level. Here, the RNA-seq approach was used to investigate Rhizoglomus irregulare specific and common transcripts at two different time points of mycorrhizal establishment in Helianthus annuus in vivo. Four days after inoculation, transcripts related to cellular remodeling (actin and tubulin), cellular signaling (calmodulin, serine/threonine protein kinase, 14-3-3 protein, and calcium transporting ATPase), lipid metabolism (fatty acid desaturation, steroid hormone, and glycerophospholipid biosynthesis), and biosynthetic processes were detected. In addition to such transcripts, 16 days after inoculation, expressed genes linked to binding and catalytic activities; ion (K[+], Ca[2+], Fe[2+], Zn[2+], Mn[2+], Pi, ammonia), sugar, and lipid transport; and those involved in vacuolar polyphosphate accumulation were found. Knowledge of transcriptomic changes required for symbiosis establishment and performance is of great importance to understand the functional role of AMF symbionts in food crop nutrition and health, and in plant diversity in natural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32224124, year = {2020}, author = {Arcila, F and Meunier, J}, title = {Friend or foe? The apparent benefits of gregarine (Apicomplexa: Sporozoa) infection in the European earwig.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {50}, number = {6-7}, pages = {461-469}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.01.007}, pmid = {32224124}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Animals ; *Apicomplexa ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Neoptera/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Studying the costs and benefits of host-parasite interactions is of central importance to shed light on the evolutionary drivers of host life history traits. Although gregarines (Apicomplexa: Sporozoa) are one of the most frequent parasites in the gut of invertebrates, the diversity of its potential impacts on a host remains poorly explored. In this study, we addressed this gap in knowledge by investigating the prevalence of natural infections by the gregarine Gregarina ovata and testing how these infections shape a large set of morphological, behavioural and physiological traits in the European earwig Forficula auricularia. Our results first show that G. ovata was present in 76.8% of 573 field-sampled earwigs, and that its prevalence was both higher in males compared with females and increased between July and September. The load of G. ovata in the infected individuals was higher in males than females, but this sex difference vanished during the season. Our experiments then surprisingly revealed apparent benefits of G. ovata infections. Food-deprived hosts survived longer when they exhibited high compared with low gregarine loads. Moreover, the presence of gregarines was associated with a reduced phenoloxidase activity, indicating a lower immune resistance or a higher immune tolerance of the infected hosts. By contrast, we found no effect of G. ovata presence and number on earwigs' development (eye distance, forceps length), activity, food consumption or resistance against a fungal pathogen. Overall, our findings suggest that G. ovata could be involved in a mutualistic relationship with the European earwig. Given the ubiquitous presence of gregarines among invertebrates, our data also suggest that this common member of insect gut flora could have a broad and positive role in the life history of many host species.}, } @article {pmid32223578, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, C and Yue, Z and Chu, C and Ma, K and Li, L and Sun, Z}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus sp. strain WR11, an Endophyte Isolated from Wheat Root Providing Genomic Insights into Its Plant Growth-Promoting Effects.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {7}, pages = {876-879}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-20-0030-A}, pmid = {32223578}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacillus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Endophytes/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Triticum/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacillus sp. strain WR11 isolated from the root of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) possesses abiotic stress alleviating properties and produces several types of enzymes. However, its genomic information is lacking. The study described the complete genome sequence of the bacterium. The size of the genome was 4 202 080 base pairs that consisted of 4 405 genes in total. The G+C content of the circular genome was 43.53% and there were 4 170 coding genes, 114 pseudo genes, 30 ribosome RNAs, 86 tRNAs, and 5 ncRNAs, based on the Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline (PGAP). Many genes were related to the stress-alleviating properties and 124 genes existed in the CAZy database. The complete genome data of strain WR11 will provide valuable resources for genetic dissection of its plant growth-promoting function and symbiotic interaction with plant.}, } @article {pmid32222941, year = {2020}, author = {Heo, J and Kim, SJ and Kim, JS and Hong, SB and Kwon, SW}, title = {Comparative genomics of Lactobacillus species as bee symbionts and description of Lactobacillus bombintestini sp. nov., isolated from the gut of Bombus ignitus.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {58}, number = {6}, pages = {445-455}, doi = {10.1007/s12275-020-9596-3}, pmid = {32222941}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bees/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genomics ; Lactobacillus/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Lactobacillus genus is widely used for fermentation of plant materials and dairy products. These species are typically found in highly specialized environments, with the bee gut serving as one of the niche locations in which Lactobacillus is detected. Lactobacillus species isolated from the bee gut and bee-related habitats were phylogenetically classified into three distinct groups, Lactobacillus kunkeei, Firm-4, and Firm-5. The L. kunkeei group was clearly differentiated from other members of the Lactobacillus buchneri group isolated from non-bee habitats. In comparison with non-bee members of the L. buchneri group, three bee-symbiotic Lactobacillus groups had a small-sized genome with low G + C content and showed a sharp reduction in the number of genes involved in energy production, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, and amino acid transport and metabolism. In addition, all three groups lacked the mutY gene, which encodes A/G-specific adenine glycosylase. The phylogenetic dendrogram based on the presence or absence of 1,199 functional genes indicated that these bee-symbiotic groups experienced convergent evolution. The occurrence of convergent evolution is thought to stem from the three bee-symbiotic groups sharing a similar habitat, i.e., the bee gut. The causative factor underlying genomic reduction was postulated to be mutY, which was absent in all three groups. Here, a novel strain, BHWM-4[T], isolated from the gut of Bombus ignites was studied using polyphasic taxonomy and classified as a new member of the L. kunkeei group. The strain was Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, and rod-shaped. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence and genome analysis revealed that strain BHWM-4[T] was clustered into the L. kunkeei group, forming a compact cluster with L. kunkeei and Lactobacillus apinorum. Biochemical, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic data of strain BHWM-4[T] supports the proposal of a novel species, Lactobacillus bombintestini sp. nov., whose type strain is BHWM-4[T] (= KACC 19317 = NBRC 113067[T]).}, } @article {pmid32222921, year = {2020}, author = {Zeng, X and Pang, L and Chen, Y and Kong, X and Chen, J and Tian, X}, title = {Bacteria Sphingobium yanoikuyae Sy310 enhances accumulation capacity and tolerance of cadmium in Salix matsudana Koidz roots.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {16}, pages = {19764-19773}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-020-08474-0}, pmid = {32222921}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; *Salix ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Phytoremediation assisted by plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is considered an effective strategy for cadmium (Cd) removal in contaminated sites. This study uses a hydroponic experiment to investigate how Sphingobium yanoikuyae Sy310 affects Cd accumulation capacity and tolerance of Salix matsudana Koidz (S. matsudana) roots. The results showed that Cd induced growth change and physiological response on S. matsudana roots, displaying with reduced root length, increased antioxidant enzyme activities, and most importantly, enhanced cell wall polysaccharide contents. The Sy310 inoculation enhanced Cd accumulation in roots and alleviated the Cd toxic effects by regulating root growth, antioxidant enzyme system, and cell wall polysaccharide remodeling. Under Cd stress, Sy310 significantly induced increased root length and biomass, as well as higher root IAA level and Cd retention in cell walls. The Sy310 inoculation enhanced root pectin and hemicellulose 1 content, and pectin methylesterase activity, indicating that more amount of -COOH and -OH in cell walls for binding Cd. With Sy310-regulated extensive Cd regional sequestration in root cell walls and enhanced catalase activity, the root H2O2 and malondialdehyde content decreased, which contributes to improve Cd tolerance of S. matsudana roots. Furthermore, the Sy310 inoculation did not affect root cell wall structure and oxidative stress in the absence of Cd, representing a well-symbiotic relationship between Sy310 and S. matsudana. Therefore, Sy310 plays an important role in expediting the phytoremediation process of Cd with S. matsudana and has practical application potential.}, } @article {pmid32221935, year = {2020}, author = {Motta, MCM and Catta-Preta, CMC}, title = {Electron Microscopy Techniques Applied to Symbiont-Harboring Trypanosomatids: The Association of the Bacterium with Host Organelles.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2116}, number = {}, pages = {425-447}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0294-2_26}, pmid = {32221935}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Bacteria/*cytology ; Cell Nucleus/microbiology ; Cell Wall ; Microbodies/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/instrumentation/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/cytology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In this chapter we describe different electron microscopy techniques such as freeze fracture, deep etching, and three-dimensional reconstruction, obtained by electron tomography or focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), combined with quick-freezing methods in order to reveal aspects of the cell structure in trypanosomatids. For this purpose, we chose protists that evolve in a mutualistic way with a symbiotic bacterium. Such cells represent excellent models to study the positioning and distribution of organelles, since the symbiotic bacterium interacts with different organelles of the host trypanosomatid. We demonstrate that the employment of such techniques can show the proximity and even the interaction of the symbiotic bacterium with different structures of the protist host, such as the nucleus and the glycosomes. In addition, the quick-freezing approach can reveal new aspects of the gram-negative bacterial envelope, such as the presence of a greatly reduced cell wall between the two membrane units.}, } @article {pmid32221813, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, C and Qi, M and Zhang, X and Wang, Q and Yu, Y and Zhang, Y and Kong, Z}, title = {Rhizobial infection triggers systemic transport of endogenous RNAs between shoots and roots in soybean.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {63}, number = {8}, pages = {1213-1226}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-019-1608-7}, pmid = {32221813}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genomic Library ; Geography ; Infections/*genetics/metabolism ; Nucleotides/chemistry ; Plant Shoots/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes have evolved a symbiotic relationship with rhizobial bacteria and their roots form unique nitrogen-fixing organs called nodules. Studies have shown that abiotic and biotic stresses alter the profile of gene expression and transcript mobility in plants. However, little is known about the systemic transport of RNA between roots and shoots in response to rhizobial infection on a genome-wide scale during the formation of legume-rhizobia symbiosis. In our study, we found that two soybean (Glycine max) cultivars, Peking and Williams, show a high frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms; this allowed us to characterize the origin and mobility of transcripts in hetero-grafts of these two cultivars. We identified 4,552 genes that produce mobile RNAs in soybean, and found that rhizobial infection triggers mass transport of mRNAs between shoots and roots at the early stage of nodulation. The majority of these mRNAs are of relatively low abundance and their transport occurs in a selective manner in soybean plants. Notably, the mRNAs that moved from shoots to roots at the early stage of nodulation were enriched in many nodule-related responsive processes. Moreover, the transcripts of many known symbiosis-related genes that are induced by rhizobial infection can move between shoots and roots. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of endogenous RNA transport in legume-rhizobia symbiotic processes.}, } @article {pmid32219308, year = {2020}, author = {Hosomi, K and Kunisawa, J}, title = {Diversity of energy metabolism in immune responses regulated by micro-organisms and dietary nutrition.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {447-454}, pmid = {32219308}, issn = {1460-2377}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; *Diet ; Energy Metabolism/*immunology ; Humans ; *Nutrition Surveys ; }, abstract = {Immune metabolism has been recognized as a new paradigm in the regulation of host immunity. In the environment, there are many micro-organisms including pathogenic and non-pathogenic and/or beneficial ones. Immune cells exhibit various responses against different types of microbes, which seem to be associated with changes in energy metabolism. In addition, dietary nutrition influences host metabolism and consequent responses by immune cells. In this review, we describe the complex network of immune metabolism from the perspectives of nutrition, micro-organisms and host immunity for the control of immunologic health and diseases.}, } @article {pmid32218172, year = {2020}, author = {Roy, P and Achom, M and Wilkinson, H and Lagunas, B and Gifford, ML}, title = {Symbiotic Outcome Modified by the Diversification from 7 to over 700 Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32218172}, issn = {2073-4425}, support = {BB/H019502/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P002145/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cysteine/*chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Peptide Fragments/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis represents one of the most successfully co-evolved mutualisms. Within nodules, the bacterial cells undergo distinct metabolic and morphological changes and differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Legumes in the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) employ an array of defensin-like small secreted peptides (SSPs), known as nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, to regulate bacteroid differentiation and activity. While most NCRs exhibit bactericidal effects in vitro, studies confirm that inside nodules they target the bacterial cell cycle and other cellular pathways to control and extend rhizobial differentiation into an irreversible (or terminal) state where the host gains control over bacteroids. While NCRs are well established as positive regulators of effective symbiosis, more recent findings also suggest that NCRs affect partner compatibility. The extent of bacterial differentiation has been linked to species-specific size and complexity of the NCR gene family that varies even among closely related species, suggesting a more recent origin of NCRs followed by rapid expansion in certain species. NCRs have diversified functionally, as well as in their expression patterns and responsiveness, likely driving further functional specialisation. In this review, we evaluate the functions of NCR peptides and their role as a driving force underlying the outcome of rhizobial symbiosis, where the plant is able to determine the outcome of rhizobial interaction in a temporal and spatial manner.}, } @article {pmid32217169, year = {2020}, author = {Gusmão, LC and Van Deusen, V and Daly, M and Rodríguez, E}, title = {Origin and evolution of the symbiosis between sea anemones (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria) and hermit crabs, with additional notes on anemone-gastropod associations.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {148}, number = {}, pages = {106805}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106805}, pmid = {32217169}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anomura/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Chitin/metabolism ; Gastropoda/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/classification/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The anemone-crab mutualism is ubiquitous in temperate and tropical marine environments. In this symbiosis, one or more anemones live on a shell inhabited by a hermit crab and reciprocal phoretic, trophic, and defensive benefits are exchanged between the partners. Sea anemone-hermit crab symbionts belong to three families: Hormathiidae (Calliactis and Paracalliactis), Sagartiidae (Carcinactis and Verrillactis), and Actiniidae (Stylobates). Hermit crabs establish most partnerships by detaching anemones and placing them on their shell; sea anemones can also mount shells unaided, triggered by a mollusc-derived substance in the periostracum of the shell. At least partial cooperation by the anemones is necessary for successful establishment of the symbiosis. Here, we expand the evolutionary framework for hormathiid symbionts by generating a phylogeny with at least one member of each actiniarian symbiotic genus with hermit crabs using five molecular markers (16S, 12S, 18S, 28S, CO3). We not only corroborated the results from a previous study by finding two origins of hermit crab symbiosis within Hormathiidae, but also found additional origins for hermit crab symbiosis within Actiniaria. We provide for the first time evidence of a close relationship between symbionts Carcinactis dolosa and V. paguri. The ability to secrete chitin by the ectoderm of the column is inferred to be broadly convergent within Actiniaria whereas the secretion of a chitinous carcinoecium by the pedal disc is a distinct but convergent morphological adaptation of several lineages within Actiniaria. Our finding of multiple origins for both the hermit crab and gastropod symbioses suggests that the shell-mounting behavior might only have been the precursor of the hermit crab association among Calliactis spp.}, } @article {pmid32216867, year = {2020}, author = {Ide, AA and Hernández, VM and Medina-Aparicio, L and Carcamo-Noriega, E and Girard, L and Hernández-Lucas, I and Dunn, MF}, title = {Genetic regulation, biochemical properties and physiological importance of arginase from Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {166}, number = {5}, pages = {484-497}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000909}, pmid = {32216867}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Arginase/genetics/*physiology ; Arginine/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ornithine/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/*genetics/*physiology ; Urea/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In bacteria, l-arginine is a precursor of various metabolites and can serve as a source of carbon and/or nitrogen. Arginine catabolism by arginase, which hydrolyzes arginine to l-ornithine and urea, is common in nature but has not been studied in symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. The genome of the alfalfa microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 has two genes annotated as arginases, argI1 (smc03091) and argI2 (sma1711). Biochemical assays with purified ArgI1 and ArgI2 (as 6His-Sumo-tagged proteins) showed that only ArgI1 had detectable arginase activity. A 1021 argI1 null mutant lacked arginase activity and grew at a drastically reduced rate with arginine as sole nitrogen source. Wild-type growth and arginase activity were restored in the argI1 mutant genetically complemented with a genomically integrated argI1 gene. In the wild-type, arginase activity and argI1 transcription were induced several fold by exogenous arginine. ArgI1 purified as a 6His-Sumo-tagged protein had its highest in vitro enzymatic activity at pH 7.5 with Ni[2+] as cofactor. The enzyme was also active with Mn[2+] and Co[2+], both of which gave the enzyme the highest activities at a more alkaline pH. The 6His-Sumo-ArgI1 comprised three identical subunits based on the migration of the urea-dissociated protein in a native polyacrylamide gel. A Lrp-like regulator (smc03092) divergently transcribed from argI1 was required for arginase induction by arginine or ornithine. This regulator was designated ArgIR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that purified ArgIR bound to the argI1 promoter in a region preceding the predicted argI1 transcriptional start. Our results indicate that ArgI1 is the sole arginase in S. meliloti, that it contributes substantially to arginine catabolism in vivo and that argI1 induction by arginine is dependent on ArgIR.}, } @article {pmid32216024, year = {2020}, author = {Velichko, NS and Grinev, VS and Fedonenko, YP}, title = {Characterization of biopolymers produced by planktonic and biofilm cells of Herbaspirillum lusitanum P6-12.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {129}, number = {5}, pages = {1349-1363}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14647}, pmid = {32216024}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bacterial Capsules/chemistry/metabolism ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; Biopolymers/*chemistry/metabolism ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/chemistry/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Herbaspirillum/*chemistry/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The goal of this study was to characterize biopolymers from two modes of the Herbaspirillum lusitanum P6-12 growth: planktonic, in which cells are free swimming, and biofilm life style, in which the cells are sessile.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Differences in biopolymers composition from planktonic and biofilm cells of H. lusitanum strain P6-12 were analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gas-liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry. A high degree of polymer separation and purification was achieved by ultracentrifugation, and column chromatography allowed us to identify the chemical differences between biopolymers from biofilm and planktonic H. lusitanum. It was shown that planktonic cells of H. lusitanum P6-12 when cultivated in a liquid medium to the end of the exponential phase of growth, produced two high-molecular-weight glycoconjugates (were arbitrarily called CPS-I and CPS-II) of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) nature and a lipid-polysacharide complex (were arbitrarily called EPS). The EPS, CPS-I, CPS-II had different monosaccharide and lipid compositions. The extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM) produced by the biofilm cells was mostly proteinaceous, with a small amount of carbohydrates (up to 3%). From the biofilm culture medium, a free extracellular polymeric substance (was arbitrarily called fEPS) was obtained that contained proteins and carbohydrates (up to 7%). The cells outside the biofilm had capsules containing high-molecular-weight glycoconjugate (was arbitrarily called CPSFBC) that consisted of carbohydrates (up to 10%), proteins (up to 16%) and lipids (up to 70%).

CONCLUSIONS: During biofilm formation, the bacteria secreted surface biopolymers that differed from those of the planktonic cells. The heterogeneity of the polysaccharide containing biopolymers of the H. lusitanum P6-12 surface is probably conditioned by their different functions in plant colonization and formation of an efficient symbiosis, as well as in cell adaptation to existence in plant tissues.

The results of the study permit a better understanding of the physiological properties of the biopolymers, for example, in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid32215759, year = {2020}, author = {de Novais, CB and Sbrana, C and da Conceição Jesus, E and Rouws, LFM and Giovannetti, M and Avio, L and Siqueira, JO and Saggin Júnior, OJ and da Silva, EMR and de Faria, SM}, title = {Mycorrhizal networks facilitate the colonization of legume roots by a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {389-396}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00948-w}, pmid = {32215759}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) absorb and translocate nutrients from soil to their host plants by means of a wide network of extraradical mycelium (ERM). Here, we assessed whether nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can be transferred to the host legume Glycine max by ERM produced by Glomus formosanum isolate CNPAB020 colonizing the grass Urochloa decumbens. An H-bridge experimental system was developed to evaluate the migration of ERM and of the GFP-tagged Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 strain across an air gap compartment. Mycorrhizal colonization, nodule formation in legumes, and occurrence of the GFP-tagged strain in root nodules were assessed by optical and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In the presence of non-mycorrhizal U. decumbens, legume roots were neither AMF-colonized nor nodulated. In contrast, G. formosanum ERM crossing the discontinuous compartment connected mycorrhizal U. decumbens and G. max roots, which showed 30-42% mycorrhizal colonization and 7-11 nodules per plant. Fluorescent B. diazoefficiens cells were detected in 94% of G. max root nodules. Our findings reveal that, besides its main activity in nutrient transfer, ERM produced by AMF may facilitate bacterial translocation and the simultaneous associations of plants with beneficial fungi and bacteria, representing an important structure, functional to the establishment of symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid32214159, year = {2020}, author = {Alok, D and Annapragada, H and Singh, S and Murugesan, S and Singh, NP}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and endophytic bacterial community structure in Bt-transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {5453}, pmid = {32214159}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cicer/*genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; *Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Symbiosis ; Transgenes/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) of transgenic grain legumes might be influenced either by the site of transgene integration into the host genome or due to constitutive expression of transgenes and antibiotic-resistant marker genes. The present investigation confirmed proper nodulation of five tested Bt-chickpea events (IPCa2, IPCa4, IPCT3, IPCT10, and IPCT13) by native Mesorhizobium under field environment. Quantitative variations for nodulation traits among Bt-chickpea were determined and IPCT3 was found superior for nodule number and nodule biomass. Diversity, as well as richness indices, confirmed the changes in bacterial community structure of root and root-nodules from Bt-chickpea events IPCa2 and IPCT10. Especially, Gram-positive bacteria belonging to Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were selectively eliminated from root colonization of IPCa2. Richness indices (CHAO1 and ACE) of the root-associated bacterial community of IPCa2 was 13-14 times lesser than that of parent cv DCP92-3. Root nodule associated bacterial community of IPCT10 was unique with high diversity and richness, similar to the roots of non-Bt and Bt-chickpea. It indicated that the root nodules of IPCT10 might have lost their peculiar characteristics and recorded poor colonization of Mesorhizobium with a low relative abundance of 0.27. The impact of Bt-transgene on bacterial community structure and nodulation traits should be analyzed across the years and locations to understand and stabilize symbiotic efficiency for ecosystem sustainability.}, } @article {pmid32211175, year = {2020}, author = {Dunkley, K and Ward, AJW and Perkins, SE and Cable, J}, title = {To clean or not to clean: Cleaning mutualism breakdown in a tidal environment.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {3043-3054}, pmid = {32211175}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The dynamics and prevalence of mutualistic interactions, which are responsible for the maintenance and structuring of all ecological communities, are vulnerable to changes in abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. Mutualistic outcomes can quickly shift from cooperation to conflict, but it unclear how resilient and stable mutualistic outcomes are to more variable conditions. Tidally controlled coral atoll lagoons that experience extreme diurnal environmental shifts thus provide a model from which to test plasticity in mutualistic behavior of dedicated (formerly obligate) cleaner fish, which acquire all their food resources through client interactions. Here, we investigated cleaning patterns of a model cleaner fish species, the bluestreak wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus), in an isolated tidal lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef. Under tidally restricted conditions, uniquely both adults and juveniles were part-time facultative cleaners, pecking on Isopora palifera coral. The mutualism was not completely abandoned, with adults also wandering across the reef in search of clients, rather than waiting at fixed site cleaning stations, a behavior not yet observed at any other reef. Contrary to well-established patterns for this cleaner, juveniles appeared to exploit the system, by biting ("cheating") their clients more frequently than adults. We show for the first time, that within this variable tidal environment, where mutualistic cleaning might not represent a stable food source, the prevalence and dynamics of this mutualism may be breaking down (through increased cheating and partial abandonment). Environmental variability could thus reduce the pervasiveness of mutualisms within our ecosystems, ultimately reducing the stability of the system.}, } @article {pmid32210940, year = {2020}, author = {Casarrubia, S and Martino, E and Daghino, S and Kohler, A and Morin, E and Khouja, HR and Murat, C and Barry, KW and Lindquist, EA and Martin, FM and Perotto, S}, title = {Modulation of Plant and Fungal Gene Expression Upon Cd Exposure and Symbiosis in Ericoid Mycorrhizal Vaccinium myrtillus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {341}, pmid = {32210940}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The success of Ericaceae in stressful habitats enriched in heavy metals has been ascribed to the distinctive abilities of their mycorrhizal fungal partners to withstand heavy metal stress and to enhance metal tolerance in the host plant. Whereas heavy metal tolerance has been extensively investigated in some ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that extend tolerance to the host plant are currently unknown. Here, we show a reduced Cd content in Cd-exposed mycorrhizal roots of Vaccinium myrtillus colonized by a metal tolerant isolate of the fungus Oidiodendron maius as compared to non-mycorrhizal roots. To better understand this phenotype, we applied Next Generation Sequencing technologies to analyze gene expression in V. myrtillus and O. maius Zn grown under normal and Cd-stressed conditions, in the free living and in the mycorrhizal status. The results clearly showed that Cd had a stronger impact on plant gene expression than symbiosis, whereas fungal gene expression was mainly regulated by symbiosis. The higher abundance of transcripts coding for stress related proteins in non-mycorrhizal roots may be related to the higher Cd content. Regulated plant metal transporters have been identified that may play a role in reducing Cd content in mycorrhizal roots exposed to this metal.}, } @article {pmid32210097, year = {2020}, author = {Rahman, MA and Parvin, M and Das, U and Ela, EJ and Lee, SH and Lee, KW and Kabir, AH}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Mitigates Iron (Fe)-Deficiency Retardation in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Through the Enhancement of Fe Accumulation and Sulfur-Assisted Antioxidant Defense.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32210097}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Iron/*metabolism ; *Iron Deficiencies ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Minerals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenotype ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Iron (Fe)-deficiency is one of the major constraints affecting growth, yield and nutritional quality in plants. This study was performed to elucidate how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alleviate Fe-deficiency retardation in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). AMF supplementation improved plant biomass, chlorophyll score, Fv/Fm (quantum efficiency of photosystem II), and Pi_ABS (photosynthesis performance index), and reduced cell death, electrolyte leakage, and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in alfalfa. Moreover, AMF enhanced ferric chelate reductase activity as well as Fe, Zn, S and P in alfalfa under Fe-deficiency. Although Fe-transporters (MsIRT1 and MsNramp1) did not induce in root but MsFRO1 significantly induced by AMF under Fe deficiency in roots, suggesting that AMF-mediated Fe enhancement is related to the bioavailability of Fe at rhizosphere/root apoplast rather than the upregulation of Fe transporters under Fe deficiency in alfalfa. Several S-transporters (MsSULTR1;1, MsSULTR1;2, MsSULTR1;3, and MsSULTR3;1) markedly increased following AMF supplementation with or without Fe-deficiency alfalfa. Our study further suggests that Fe uptake system is independently influenced by AMF regardless of the S status in alfalfa. However, the increase of S in alfalfa is correlated with the elevation of GR and S-metabolites (glutathione and cysteine) associated with antioxidant defense under Fe deficiency.}, } @article {pmid32210028, year = {2020}, author = {Doin de Moura, GG and Remigi, P and Masson-Boivin, C and Capela, D}, title = {Experimental Evolution of Legume Symbionts: What Have We Learnt?.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32210028}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia, the nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legumes, are polyphyletic bacteria distributed in many alpha- and beta-proteobacterial genera. They likely emerged and diversified through independent horizontal transfers of key symbiotic genes. To replay the evolution of a new rhizobium genus under laboratory conditions, the symbiotic plasmid of Cupriavidus taiwanensis was introduced in the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, and the generated proto-rhizobium was submitted to repeated inoculations to the C. taiwanensis host, Mimosa pudica L.. This experiment validated a two-step evolutionary scenario of key symbiotic gene acquisition followed by genome remodeling under plant selection. Nodulation and nodule cell infection were obtained and optimized mainly via the rewiring of regulatory circuits of the recipient bacterium. Symbiotic adaptation was shown to be accelerated by the activity of a mutagenesis cassette conserved in most rhizobia. Investigating mutated genes led us to identify new components of R. solanacearum virulence and C. taiwanensis symbiosis. Nitrogen fixation was not acquired in our short experiment. However, we showed that post-infection sanctions allowed the increase in frequency of nitrogen-fixing variants among a non-fixing population in the M. pudica-C. taiwanensis system and likely allowed the spread of this trait in natura. Experimental evolution thus provided new insights into rhizobium biology and evolution.}, } @article {pmid32209692, year = {2020}, author = {Storey, MA and Andreassend, SK and Bracegirdle, J and Brown, A and Keyzers, RA and Ackerley, DF and Northcote, PT and Owen, JG}, title = {Metagenomic Exploration of the Marine Sponge Mycale hentscheli Uncovers Multiple Polyketide-Producing Bacterial Symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32209692}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Metabolome ; *Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Polyketides/*metabolism ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges have been a prolific source of unique bioactive compounds that are presumed to act as a deterrent to predation. Many of these compounds have potential therapeutic applications; however, the lack of efficient and sustainable synthetic routes frequently limits clinical development. Here, we describe a metagenomic investigation of Mycale hentscheli, a chemically gifted marine sponge that possesses multiple distinct chemotypes. We applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing, hybrid assembly of short- and long-read data, and metagenomic binning to obtain a comprehensive picture of the microbiome of five specimens, spanning three chemotypes. Our data revealed multiple producing species, each having relatively modest secondary metabolomes, that contribute collectively to the chemical arsenal of the holobiont. We assembled complete genomes for multiple new genera, including two species that produce the cytotoxic polyketides pateamine and mycalamide, as well as a third high-abundance symbiont harboring a proteusin-type biosynthetic pathway that appears to encode a new polytheonamide-like compound. We also identified an additional 188 biosynthetic gene clusters, including a pathway for biosynthesis of peloruside. These results suggest that multiple species cooperatively contribute to defensive symbiosis in M. hentscheli and reveal that the taxonomic diversity of secondary-metabolite-producing sponge symbionts is larger and richer than previously recognized.IMPORTANCEMycale hentscheli is a marine sponge that is rich in bioactive small molecules. Here, we use direct metagenomic sequencing to elucidate highly complete and contiguous genomes for the major symbiotic bacteria of this sponge. We identify complete biosynthetic pathways for the three potent cytotoxic polyketides which have previously been isolated from M. hentscheli Remarkably, and in contrast to previous studies of marine sponges, we attribute each of these metabolites to a different producing microbe. We also find that the microbiome of M. hentscheli is stably maintained among individuals, even over long periods of time. Collectively, our data suggest a cooperative mode of defensive symbiosis in which multiple symbiotic bacterial species cooperatively contribute to the defensive chemical arsenal of the holobiont.}, } @article {pmid32209690, year = {2020}, author = {Frost, CL and Siozios, S and Nadal-Jimenez, P and Brockhurst, MA and King, KC and Darby, AC and Hurst, GDD}, title = {The Hypercomplex Genome of an Insect Reproductive Parasite Highlights the Importance of Lateral Gene Transfer in Symbiont Biology.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32209690}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {BB/L024209/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; *Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Phylogeny ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mobile elements-plasmids and phages-are important components of microbial function and evolution via traits that they encode and their capacity to shuttle genetic material between species. We here report the unusually rich array of mobile elements within the genome of Arsenophonus nasoniae, the son-killer symbiont of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis This microbe's genome has the highest prophage complement reported to date, with over 50 genomic regions that represent either intact or degraded phage material. Moreover, the genome is predicted to include 17 extrachromosomal genetic elements, which carry many genes predicted to be important at the microbe-host interface, derived from a diverse assemblage of insect-associated gammaproteobacteria. In our system, this diversity was previously masked by repetitive mobile elements that broke the assembly derived from short reads. These findings suggest that other complex bacterial genomes will be revealed in the era of long-read sequencing.IMPORTANCE The biology of many bacteria is critically dependent on genes carried on plasmid and phage mobile elements. These elements shuttle between microbial species, thus providing an important source of biological innovation across taxa. It has recently been recognized that mobile elements are also important in symbiotic bacteria, which form long-lasting interactions with their host. In this study, we report a bacterial symbiont genome that carries a highly complex array of these elements. Arsenophonus nasoniae is the son-killer microbe of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis and exists with the wasp throughout its life cycle. We completed its genome with the aid of recently developed long-read technology. This assembly contained over 50 chromosomal regions of phage origin and 17 extrachromosomal elements within the genome, encoding many important traits at the host-microbe interface. Thus, the biology of this symbiont is enabled by a complex array of mobile elements.}, } @article {pmid32209172, year = {2020}, author = {Clarke, DJ}, title = {Photorhabdus: a tale of contrasting interactions.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {166}, number = {4}, pages = {335-348}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000907}, pmid = {32209172}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Insecta/*microbiology/parasitology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Photorhabdus/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Rhabditoidea/growth & development/*microbiology/pathogenicity/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Different model systems have, over the years, contributed to our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the various types of interaction between bacteria and their animal hosts. The genus Photorhabdus comprises Gram-negative insect pathogenic bacteria that are normally found as symbionts that colonize the gut of the infective juvenile stage of soil-dwelling nematodes from the family Heterorhabditis. The nematodes infect susceptible insects and release the bacteria into the insect haemolymph where the bacteria grow, resulting in the death of the insect. At this stage the nematodes feed on the bacterial biomass and, following several rounds of reproduction, the nematodes develop into infective juveniles that leave the insect cadaver in search of new hosts. Therefore Photorhabdus has three distinct and obligate roles to play during this life-cycle: (1) Photorhabdus must kill the insect host; (2) Photorhabdus must be capable of supporting nematode growth and development; and (3) Photorhabdus must be able to colonize the gut of the next generation of infective juveniles before they leave the insect cadaver. In this review I will discuss how genetic analysis has identified key genes involved in mediating, and regulating, the interaction between Photorhabdus and each of its invertebrate hosts. These studies have resulted in the characterization of several new families of toxins and a novel inter-kingdom signalling molecule and have also uncovered an important role for phase variation in the regulation of these different roles.}, } @article {pmid32205368, year = {2020}, author = {Vorobev, A and Dupouy, M and Carradec, Q and Delmont, TO and Annamalé, A and Wincker, P and Pelletier, E}, title = {Transcriptome reconstruction and functional analysis of eukaryotic marine plankton communities via high-throughput metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {647-659}, pmid = {32205368}, issn = {1549-5469}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Eukaryota/classification/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/classification/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Large-scale metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data analyses are often restricted by their gene-centric approach, limiting the ability to understand organismal and community biology. De novo assembly of large and mosaic eukaryotic genomes from complex meta-omics data remains a challenging task, especially in comparison with more straightforward bacterial and archaeal systems. Here, we use a transcriptome reconstruction method based on clustering co-abundant genes across a series of metagenomic samples. We investigated the co-abundance patterns of ∼37 million eukaryotic unigenes across 365 metagenomic samples collected during the Tara Oceans expeditions to assess the diversity and functional profiles of marine plankton. We identified ∼12,000 co-abundant gene groups (CAGs), encompassing ∼7 million unigenes, including 924 metagenomics-based transcriptomes (MGTs, CAGs larger than 500 unigenes). We demonstrated the biological validity of the MGT collection by comparing individual MGTs with available references. We identified several key eukaryotic organisms involved in dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) biosynthesis and catabolism in different oceanic provinces, thus demonstrating the potential of the MGT collection to provide functional insights on eukaryotic plankton. We established the ability of the MGT approach to capture interspecies associations through the analysis of a nitrogen-fixing haptophyte-cyanobacterial symbiotic association. This MGT collection provides a valuable resource for analyses of eukaryotic plankton in the open ocean by giving access to the genomic content and functional potential of many ecologically relevant eukaryotic species.}, } @article {pmid32205352, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, C and Cheng, T and Li, X and Jin, L}, title = {Metronidazole-Treated Porphyromonas gingivalis Persisters Invade Human Gingival Epithelial Cells and Perturb Innate Responses.}, journal = {Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy}, volume = {64}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32205352}, issn = {1098-6596}, mesh = {Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Metronidazole/pharmacology ; *Periodontitis ; *Porphyromonas gingivalis ; }, abstract = {Periodontitis as a biofilm-associated inflammatory disease is highly prevalent worldwide. It severely affects oral health and yet closely links to systemic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis as a "keystone" periodontopathogen drives the shift of microbe-host symbiosis to dysbiosis and critically contributes to the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Persisters represent a tiny subset of biofilm-associated microbes highly tolerant to lethal treatment of antimicrobials, and, notably, metronidazole-tolerant P. gingivalis persisters have recently been identified by our group. This study further explored the interactive profiles of metronidazole-treated P. gingivalis persisters (M-PgPs) with human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs). P. gingivalis cells (ATCC 33277) at stationary phase were treated with a lethal dosage of metronidazole (100 μg/ml, 6 h) for generating M-PgPs. The interaction of M-PgPs with HGECs was assessed by microscopy, flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). We demonstrated that the overall morphology and ultracellular structure of M-PgPs remained unchanged. Importantly, M-PgPs maintained the capabilities to adhere to and invade HGECs. Moreover, M-PgPs significantly suppressed proinflammatory cytokine expression in HGECs at a level comparable to that seen with the untreated P. gingivalis cells, through the thermosensitive components. The present report reveals that P. gingivalis persisters induced by lethal treatment of antibiotics were able to maintain their capabilities to adhere to and invade human gingival epithelial cells and to perturb the innate host responses. Novel strategies and approaches need to be developed for tackling P. gingivalis and favorably modulating the dysregulated immunoinflammatory responses for oral/periodontal health and general well-being.}, } @article {pmid32204727, year = {2020}, author = {Matthews, AE and Rowan, C and Stone, C and Kellner, K and Seal, JN}, title = {Development, characterization, and cross-amplification of polymorphic microsatellite markers for North American Trachymyrmex and Mycetomoellerius ants.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {173}, pmid = {32204727}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop and identify polymorphic microsatellite markers for fungus-gardening (attine) ants in the genus Trachymyrmex sensu lato. These ants are important ecosystem engineers and have been a model group for understanding complex symbiotic systems, but very little is understood about the intraspecific genetic patterns across most North American attine species. These microsatellite markers will help to better study intraspecific population genetic structure, gene flow, mating habits, and phylogeographic patterns in these species and potentially other congeners.

RESULTS: Using next-generation sequencing techniques, we identified 17 and 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers from T. septentrionalis and Mycetomoellerius (formerly Trachymyrmex) turrifex, respectively, and assessed the genetic diversity of each marker. We also analyzed the cross-amplification success of the T. septentrionalis markers in two other closely related Trachymyrmex species, and identified 10 and 12 polymorphic markers for T. arizonensis and T. pomonae, respectively.}, } @article {pmid32204387, year = {2020}, author = {Thibivilliers, S and Farmer, A and Libault, M}, title = {Biological and Cellular Functions of the Microdomain-Associated FWL/CNR Protein Family in Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32204387}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Membrane microdomains/nanodomains are sub-compartments of the plasma membrane enriched in sphingolipids and characterized by their unique protein composition. They play important roles in regulating plant development and plant-microbe interactions including mutualistic symbiotic interactions. Several protein families are associated with the microdomain fraction of biological membranes such as flotillins, prohibitins, and remorins. More recently, GmFWL1, a FWL/CNR protein exclusively expressed in the soybean nodule, was functionally characterized as a new microdomain-associated protein. Interestingly, GmFWL1 is homologous to the tomato FW2-2 protein, a major regulator of tomato fruit development. In this review, we summarize the knowledge gained about the biological, cellular, and physiological functions of members of the FWL/CNR family across various plant species. The role of the FWL/CNR proteins is also discussed within the scope of their evolution and transcriptional regulation.}, } @article {pmid32203122, year = {2020}, author = {Kikuchi, Y and Ohbayashi, T and Jang, S and Mergaert, P}, title = {Burkholderia insecticola triggers midgut closure in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris to prevent secondary bacterial infections of midgut crypts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {1627-1638}, pmid = {32203122}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Infections ; *Burkholderia/genetics ; Digestive System ; *Heteroptera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In addition to abiotic triggers, biotic factors such as microbial symbionts can alter development of multicellular organisms. Symbiont-mediated morphogenesis is well-investigated in plants and marine invertebrates but rarely in insects despite the enormous diversity of insect-microbe symbioses. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris is associated with Burkholderia insecticola which are acquired from the environmental soil and housed in midgut crypts. To sort symbionts from soil microbiota, the bean bug develops a specific organ called the "constricted region" (CR), a narrow and symbiont-selective channel, located in the midgut immediately upstream of the crypt-bearing region. In this study, inoculation of fluorescent protein-labeled symbionts followed by spatiotemporal microscopic observations revealed that after the initial passage of symbionts through the CR, it closes within 12-18 h, blocking any potential subsequent infection events. The "midgut closure" developmental response was irreversible, even after symbiont removal from the crypts by antibiotics. It never occurred in aposymbiotic insects, nor in insects infected with nonsymbiotic bacteria or B. insecticola mutants unable to cross the CR. However, species of the genus Burkholderia and its outgroup Pandoraea that can pass the CR and partially colonize the midgut crypts induce the morphological alteration, suggesting that the molecular trigger signaling the midgut closure is conserved in this bacterial lineage. We propose that this drastic and quick alteration of the midgut morphology in response to symbiont infection is a mechanism for stabilizing the insect-microbe gut symbiosis and contributes to host-symbiont specificity in a symbiosis without vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid32203119, year = {2020}, author = {Nitschke, MR and Fidalgo, C and Simões, J and Brandão, C and Alves, A and Serôdio, J and Frommlet, JC}, title = {Symbiolite formation: a powerful in vitro model to untangle the role of bacterial communities in the photosynthesis-induced formation of microbialites.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1533-1546}, pmid = {32203119}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacteroidetes ; Biofilms ; Dinoflagellida ; Metagenome ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbially induced calcification is an ancient, community-driven mineralisation process that produces different types of microbialites. Symbiolites are photosynthesis-induced microbialites, formed by calcifying co-cultures of dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria. Symbiolites encase the calcifying community as endolithic cells, pointing at an autoendolithic niche of symbiotic dinoflagellates, and provide a rare opportunity to study the role of bacteria in bacterial-algal calcification, as symbiodiniacean cultures display either distinct symbiolite-producing (SP) or non-symbiolite-producing (NP) phenotypes. Using Illumina sequencing, we found that the bacterial communities of SP and NP cultures differed significantly in the relative abundance of 23 genera, 14 families, and 2 phyla. SP cultures were rich in biofilm digesters from the phylum Planctomycetes and their predicted metagenomes were enriched in orthologs related to biofilm formation. In contrast, NP cultures were dominated by biofilm digesters from the Bacteroidetes, and were inferred as enriched in proteases and nucleases. Functional assays confirmed the potential of co-cultures and bacterial isolates to produce biofilms and point at acidic polysaccharides as key stimulators for mineral precipitation. Hence, bacteria appear to influence symbiolite formation primarily through their biofilm-producing and modifying activity and we anticipate that symbiolite formation, as a low-complexity in vitro model, will significantly advance our understanding of photosynthesis-induced microbial calcification processes.}, } @article {pmid32202065, year = {2020}, author = {Riley, JS and Tait, SW}, title = {Mitochondrial DNA in inflammation and immunity.}, journal = {EMBO reports}, volume = {21}, number = {4}, pages = {e49799}, pmid = {32202065}, issn = {1469-3178}, support = {/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; /PCUK_/Prostate Cancer UK/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Inflammation/genetics ; *Mitochondria/genetics ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are cellular organelles that orchestrate a vast range of biological processes, from energy production and metabolism to cell death and inflammation. Despite this seemingly symbiotic relationship, mitochondria harbour within them a potent agonist of innate immunity: their own genome. Release of mitochondrial DNA into the cytoplasm and out into the extracellular milieu activates a plethora of different pattern recognition receptors and innate immune responses, including cGAS-STING, TLR9 and inflammasome formation leading to, among others, robust type I interferon responses. In this Review, we discuss how mtDNA can be released from the mitochondria, the various inflammatory pathways triggered by mtDNA release and its myriad biological consequences for health and disease.}, } @article {pmid32200418, year = {2021}, author = {Ferreira, DA and da Silva, TF and Pylro, VS and Salles, JF and Andreote, FD and Dini-Andreote, F}, title = {Soil Microbial Diversity Affects the Plant-Root Colonization by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {100-103}, pmid = {32200418}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Fungi/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial plants establish symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to exchange water and nutrients. However, the extent to which soil biodiversity influences such association remains still unclear. Here, we manipulated the soil microbial diversity using a "dilution-to-extinction" approach in a controlled pot microcosm system and quantified the root length colonization of maize plants by the AMF Rhizophagus clarus. The experiment was performed by manipulating the soil microbiome within a native and foreign soil having distinct physicochemical properties. Overall, our data revealed significant positive correlations between the soil microbial diversity and AMF colonization. Most importantly, this finding opposes the diversity-invasibility hypothesis and highlights for a potential overall helper effect of the soil biodiversity on plant-AMF symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32198949, year = {2020}, author = {Botou, M and Yalelis, V and Lazou, P and Zantza, I and Papakostas, K and Charalambous, V and Mikros, E and Flemetakis, E and Frillingos, S}, title = {Specificity profile of NAT/NCS2 purine transporters in Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {151-171}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.14503}, pmid = {32198949}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Adenine/metabolism ; Biological Transport, Active/*genetics ; Escherichia coli K12/genetics/metabolism ; Guanine/metabolism ; Hypoxanthine/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symporters/*genetics/*metabolism ; Uric Acid/metabolism ; Xanthine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti is a model example of a soil alpha-proteobacterium which induces the formation of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic nodules on the legume roots. In contrast to all other rhizobacterial species, S. meliloti contains multiple homologs of nucleobase transporter genes that belong to NAT/NCS2 family (Nucleobase-Ascorbate Transporter/Nucleobase-Cation Symporter-2). We analyzed functionally all (six) relevant homologs of S. meliloti 1,021 using Escherichia coli K-12 as a host and found that five of them are high-affinity transporters for xanthine (SmLL9), uric acid (SmLL8, SmLL9, SmX28), adenine (SmVC3, SmYE1), guanine (SmVC3), or hypoxanthine (SmVC3). Detailed analysis of substrate profiles showed that two of these transporters display enlarged specificity (SmLL9, SmVC3). SmLL9 is closely related in sequence with the xanthine-specific XanQ of E. coli. We subjected SmLL9 to rationally designed site-directed mutagenesis and found that the role of key binding-site residues of XanQ is conserved in SmLL9, whereas a single amino-acid change (S93N) converts the xanthine/uric-acid transporter SmLL9 to a xanthine-preferring variant, due to disruption of an essential hydrogen bond with the C8 oxygen of uric acid. The results highlight the presence of several different purine nucleobase transporters in S. meliloti and imply that the purine transport might be important in the nodule symbiosis involving S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid32198895, year = {2020}, author = {Kosecka, M and Jabłońska, A and Flakus, A and Rodriguez-Flakus, P and Kukwa, M and Guzow-Krzemińska, B}, title = {Trentepohlialean Algae (Trentepohliales, Ulvophyceae) Show Preference to Selected Mycobiont Lineages in Lichen Symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {979-993}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12994}, pmid = {32198895}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; *Chlorophyta/genetics ; *Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The main aims of this work were to assess phylogenetic relationships of the trentepohlialean photobionts in tropical, mainly sterile, lichens collected in Bolivia, to examine their genetic diversity, host specificity, and the impact of habitat factors on the occurrence of Trentepohliales. Based on rbcL marker analysis, we constructed a phylogenetic tree with eight major clades of Trentepohliales, of which seven free-living species are intermingled with lichenized ones. Our analyses show that the studied photobionts are scattered across the phylogenetic tree and algae from temperate and tropical regions do not form monophyletic groups, except within one clade that seems to be restricted to the tropics. There is no significant occurrence pattern of lichenized Trentepohliaceae on a specific substratum, except Cephaleuros spp. and Phycopeltis spp., which are restricted to leaves, while some clades with lichenized algae may be specialized to tree bark and wood. Moreover, we found two patterns of associations: first, closely related algae can associate with distantly related mycobionts; second, some other trentepohlioid algae associate with selected lineages of fungi (e.g., Arthoniaceae or Graphidaceae). We also found that some lineages of photobionts are even more selective and associate exclusively with one species (e.g., Dichosporidium nigrocinctum, Diorygma antillarum) or closely related lichen-forming fungi (Herpothallon spp.). Concluding, we found that occurrence of some trentepohlialean photobionts may correlate with the particular type of the mycobiont.}, } @article {pmid32198553, year = {2020}, author = {Hoskin, RA}, title = {"Femininity? It's the Aesthetic of Subordination": Examining Femmephobia, the Gender Binary, and Experiences of Oppression Among Sexual and Gender Minorities.}, journal = {Archives of sexual behavior}, volume = {49}, number = {7}, pages = {2319-2339}, pmid = {32198553}, issn = {1573-2800}, mesh = {Adult ; Female ; *Femininity ; Humans ; Male ; Sexual and Gender Minorities/*psychology ; Violence/*psychology ; }, abstract = {The devaluing of femininity is a social problem with serious consequences. Violence against women, men, transgender people, and racial minorities is often exacerbated when elements of femmephobia are present. Femmephobia refers to the devaluation and regulation of femininity and suggests a separate, perhaps overlapping, phenomenon specific to gender (e.g., femininity), rather than gender/sex (e.g., woman) or sex (e.g., female). Yet, despite growing evidence warranting the consideration of femmephobia, little research has considered femininity as an intersectional axis. Femmephobia has been examined in a fractured manner, isolating its various manifestations in specific, rather than overarching ways. The current paper explored how these systems are interrelated and argues that sources of oppression underlying many forms of violence today (e.g., anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, Incel attacks, sexual violence, transgender murders) are all symptoms of the same underlying social prejudice: femmephobia. While sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and racism also play a role, previous research tends to overlook or conflate the role of femmephobia in fueling prejudice and violence. Using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the current paper explored the intersecting role of femmephobia in experiences of oppression among sexual and gender minorities (N = 38). Two thematic networks are presented. The first network pertains to masculine themes: masculine privilege, masculinity as protective, and masculinity as the norm. The second network pertains to femininity: feminine inferiority, femininity as target, and femininity as inauthentic. The connection between these two thematic networks illustrates the symbiotic relationship between femmephobia and the gender binary. Finally, patterns identified from the thematic analysis were used to generate a model of femmephobia. This paper suggests that the gender binary is not merely a division; it is also hierarchical and regulated by femmephobia.}, } @article {pmid32198503, year = {2020}, author = {Dolgikh, EA and Kusakin, PG and Kitaeva, AB and Tsyganova, AV and Kirienko, AN and Leppyanen, IV and Dolgikh, AV and Ilina, EL and Demchenko, KN and Tikhonovich, IA and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Mutational analysis indicates that abnormalities in rhizobial infection and subsequent plant cell and bacteroid differentiation in pea (Pisum sativum) nodules coincide with abnormal cytokinin responses and localization.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {125}, number = {6}, pages = {905-923}, pmid = {32198503}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Cell Differentiation ; Cytokinins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; *Infections ; Mutation ; Peas ; Plant Cells ; Plant Roots ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recent findings indicate that Nod factor signalling is tightly interconnected with phytohormonal regulation that affects the development of nodules. Since the mechanisms of this interaction are still far from understood, here the distribution of cytokinin and auxin in pea (Pisum sativum) nodules was investigated. In addition, the effect of certain mutations blocking rhizobial infection and subsequent plant cell and bacteroid differentiation on cytokinin distribution in nodules was analysed.

METHODS: Patterns of cytokinin and auxin in pea nodules were profiled using both responsive genetic constructs and antibodies.

KEY RESULTS: In wild-type nodules, cytokinins were found in the meristem, infection zone and apical part of the nitrogen fixation zone, whereas auxin localization was restricted to the meristem and peripheral tissues. We found significantly altered cytokinin distribution in sym33 and sym40 pea mutants defective in IPD3/CYCLOPS and EFD transcription factors, respectively. In the sym33 mutants impaired in bacterial accommodation and subsequent nodule differentiation, cytokinin localization was mostly limited to the meristem. In addition, we found significantly decreased expression of LOG1 and A-type RR11 as well as KNOX3 and NIN genes in the sym33 mutants, which correlated with low cellular cytokinin levels. In the sym40 mutant, cytokinins were detected in the nodule infection zone but, in contrast to the wild type, they were absent in infection droplets.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings suggest that enhanced cytokinin accumulation during the late stages of symbiosis development may be associated with bacterial penetration into the plant cells and subsequent plant cell and bacteroid differentiation.}, } @article {pmid32198474, year = {2020}, author = {Lu, S and Guan, X and Liu, C}, title = {Electricity-powered artificial root nodule.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {1505}, pmid = {32198474}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {S10 OD025017/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ammonia ; Biomass ; *Electricity ; Electrochemistry/*methods ; Fertilizers ; Models, Theoretical ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodules are agricultural-important symbiotic plant-microbe composites in which microorganisms receive energy from plants and reduce dinitrogen (N2) into fertilizers. Mimicking root nodules using artificial devices can enable renewable energy-driven fertilizer production. This task is challenging due to the necessity of a microscopic dioxygen (O2) concentration gradient, which reconciles anaerobic N2 fixation with O2-rich atmosphere. Here we report our designed electricity-powered biological|inorganic hybrid system that possesses the function of root nodules. We construct silicon-based microwire array electrodes and replicate the O2 gradient of root nodules in the array. The wire array compatibly accommodates N2-fixing symbiotic bacteria, which receive energy and reducing equivalents from inorganic catalysts on microwires, and fix N2 in the air into biomass and free ammonia. A N2 reduction rate up to 6.5 mg N2 per gram dry biomass per hour is observed in the device, about two orders of magnitude higher than the natural counterparts.}, } @article {pmid32198171, year = {2020}, author = {Wei, Y and Gao, J and Kou, Y and Meng, L and Zheng, X and Liang, M and Sun, H and Liu, Z and Wang, Y}, title = {Commensal Bacteria Impact a Protozoan's Integration into the Murine Gut Microbiota in a Dietary Nutrient-Dependent Manner.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {32198171}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Diet, High-Fat ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nutrients/physiology ; Tritrichomonas/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Our current understanding of the host-microbiota interaction in the gut is dominated by studies focused primarily on prokaryotic bacterial communities. However, there is an underappreciated symbiotic eukaryotic protistic community that is an integral part of mammalian microbiota. How commensal protozoan bacteria might interact to form a stable microbial community remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a murine protistic commensal, phylogenetically assigned as Tritrichomonas musculis, whose colonization in the gut resulted in a reduction of gut bacterial abundance and diversity in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Meanwhile, dietary nutrient and commensal bacteria also influenced the protozoan's intestinal colonization and stability. While mice fed a normal chow diet had abundant T. musculis organisms, switching to a Western-type high-fat diet led to the diminishment of the protozoan from the gut. Supplementation of inulin as a dietary fiber to the high-fat diet partially restored the protozoan's colonization. In addition, a cocktail of broad-spectrum antibiotics rendered permissive engraftment of T. musculis even under a high-fat, low-fiber diet. Furthermore, oral administration of Bifidobacterium spp. together with dietary supplementation of inulin in the high-fat diet impacted the protozoan's intestinal engraftment in a bifidobacterial species-dependent manner. Overall, our study described an example of dietary-nutrient-dependent murine commensal protozoan-bacterium cross talk as an important modulator of the host intestinal microbiome.IMPORTANCE Like commensal bacteria, commensal protozoa are an integral part of the vertebrate intestinal microbiome. How protozoa integrate into a commensal bacterium-enriched ecosystem remains poorly studied. Here, using the murine commensal Tritrichomonas musculis as a proof of concept, we studied potential factors involved in shaping the intestinal protozoal-bacterial community. Understanding the rules by which microbes form a multispecies community is crucial to prevent or correct microbial community dysfunctions in order to promote the host's health or to treat diseases.}, } @article {pmid32197188, year = {2020}, author = {Feng, S and Liu, F and Zhu, S and Feng, P and Wang, Z and Yuan, Z and Shang, C and Chen, H}, title = {Performance of a microalgal-bacterial consortium system for the treatment of dairy-derived liquid digestate and biomass production.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {306}, number = {}, pages = {123101}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123101}, pmid = {32197188}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {To enhance the treatment performance of dairy-derived liquid digestate (DLD) using microalgal-bacterial consortium system composed of Chlorella vulgaris and indigenous bacteria (CV), activated sludge was introduced to form a new microalgal-bacterial consortium system (Co-culture). The activated sludge shortened the lag phase and increased the specific growth rate of C. vulgaris (0.56 d[-1]). The biomass yield in the Co-culture was 2.72 g L[-1], which was lower than that in the CV (3.24 g L[-1]), but the Co-culture had an improved COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal (25.26%) compared to the CV (13.59%). Quantitative PCR and metagenomic analyses demonstrated that microalgae also promoted bacterial growth, but influenced differently on the bacterial communities of indigenous bacteria and activated sludge. Compared with indigenous bacteria, activated sludge was more prone to forming a favorable symbiosis with C. vulgaris. These findings contribute to the construction of efficient microalgal-bacterial consortium system in wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid32197181, year = {2020}, author = {Souza, SCR and Souza, LA and Schiavinato, MA and de Oliveira Silva, FM and de Andrade, SAL}, title = {Zinc toxicity in seedlings of three trees from the Fabaceae associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {195}, number = {}, pages = {110450}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110450}, pmid = {32197181}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Brazil ; Fabaceae/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism ; Polyamines/metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; Zinc/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Due to diverse human activities zinc (Zn) may reach phytotoxic levels in the soil. Here, we evaluated the differential sensibility of three Brazilian tree species from the Fabaceae to increasing soil Zn concentrations and its physiological response to cope with excess Zn. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the species: Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, Erythrina speciosa and Schizolobium parahyba, and the addition of 0, 200, 400 and 600 mg Zn kg[-1] to the soil. Plants were harvested after three months of cultivation, and growth, root symbiosis, biochemical markers and elemental composition were analyzed. Soil Zn addition reduced seedling growth, irrespective of the species, with a strong reduction in M. caesalpiniaefolia. Regarding root symbiosis, in N2-fixing species, nitrogenase activity was reduced by the highest Zn concentrations. Zn addition caused plants nutritional imbalances, mainly in roots. The content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves decreased up to 40%, suggesting that high Zn contents interfered with its biosynthesis, and altered the content of foliar polyamines and free amino acids, depending on the species and the soil Zn concentration. Zn toxicity in M. caesalpiniaefolia plants was observed at available soil Zn concentrations greater than 100 mg kg[-1] (DTPA-extractable), being the most sensitive species and E. speciosa was moderately sensitive. S. parahyba was a moderately tolerant species, which seems to be related to polyamines accumulation and to mycorrhizal association. This last species has the potential for revegetation of areas with moderately high soil Zn concentration and for phytostabilization purposes. Future research evaluating the tolerance to multiple metal stress under field conditions should confirm S. parayba suitability in Zn contaminated areas of tropical regions.}, } @article {pmid32196654, year = {2020}, author = {Raudenska, M and Gumulec, J and Balvan, J and Masarik, M}, title = {Caveolin-1 in oncogenic metabolic symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of cancer}, volume = {147}, number = {7}, pages = {1793-1807}, doi = {10.1002/ijc.32987}, pmid = {32196654}, issn = {1097-0215}, mesh = {Caveolin 1/*metabolism ; Cell Communication ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Metabolic phenotypes of cancer cells are heterogeneous and flexible as a tumor mass is a hurriedly evolving system capable of constant adaptation to oxygen and nutrient availability. The exact type of cancer metabolism arises from the combined effects of factors intrinsic to the cancer cells and factors proposed by the tumor microenvironment. As a result, a condition termed oncogenic metabolic symbiosis in which components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) promote tumor growth often occurs. Understanding how oncogenic metabolic symbiosis emerges and evolves is crucial for perceiving tumorigenesis. The process by which tumor cells reprogram their TME involves many mechanisms, including changes in intercellular communication, alterations in metabolic phenotypes of TME cells, and rearrangement of the extracellular matrix. It is possible that one molecule with a pleiotropic effect such as Caveolin-1 may affect many of these pathways. Here, we discuss the significance of Caveolin-1 in establishing metabolic symbiosis in TME.}, } @article {pmid32195294, year = {2020}, author = {Rezaei-Estakhroueiyeh, A and Jalalkamali, N and Momeniroghabadi, M}, title = {Data on optimal operation of Safarud Reservoir using symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {105327}, pmid = {32195294}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {This data article explains the time-series data for optimal operation of Safarud Reservoir located in Halilrood basin in the south of Iran for a period of 223 months, from October 2000 to April 2019. The utilized data included the release of the reservoir, reservoir inflow, reservoir storage, evaporation and precipitation. A model based on Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) algorithm was also developed for the optimal operation of Safarud Reservoir. The analysis of the objective function showed that the best solution achieved by the SOS algorithm was 10.89. Also, the analysis of these datasets revealed that the SOS algorithm was efficient for the optimal operation of the reservoir problem.}, } @article {pmid32194513, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, M and Chen, H and Liu, L and Xu, L and Wang, X and Chang, L and Chang, Q and Lu, G and Jiang, J and Zhu, L}, title = {The Changes in the Frog Gut Microbiome and Its Putative Oxygen-Related Phenotypes Accompanying the Development of Gastrointestinal Complexity and Dietary Shift.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {162}, pmid = {32194513}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {There are many examples of symbiotic and reciprocal relationships in ecological systems; animal gut microbiome-host interactions are one such kind of bidirectional and complex relationship. Here, we utilized several approaches (16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, and transcriptomics) to explore potential gut microbiome-host interactions accompanying the development of gastrointestinal complexity and a dietary shift from metamorphosis to maturity in ornamented pygmy frogs (Microhyla fissipes). We identified the possible coevolution between a particular gut microbial group (increased putative fat-digesting Erysipelotrichaceae and chitin-digesting Bacteroides and Ruminococcaceae) and the host dietary shift [from herbivore to insectivore (high proportion of dietary chitin and fat)] during metamorphosis. We also found that the remodeling and complexity of the gastrointestinal system during metamorphosis might have a profound effect on the gut microbial community (decreasing facultative anaerobic Proteobacteria and increasing anaerobic Firmicutes) and its putative oxygen-related phenotypes. Moreover, a high proportion of chitin-digesting bacteria and increased carbohydrate metabolism by gut microbiomes at the climax of metamorphosis would help the frog's nutrition and energy needs during metamorphosis and development. Considering the increased expression of particular host genes (e.g., chitinase) in juvenile frogs, we speculate that host plays an important role in amphibian metamorphosis, and their symbiotic gut microbiome may help in this process by providing the nutrition and energy needs. We provide this basic information for the amphibian conservation and managements.}, } @article {pmid32194442, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, K and Li, S and Wang, J and Ni, Y and Huang, W and Liu, Q and Ling, E}, title = {Peptide Hormones in the Insect Midgut.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {191}, pmid = {32194442}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Insects produce many peptide hormones that play important roles in regulating growth, development, immunity, homeostasis, stress, and other processes to maintain normal life. As part of the digestive system, the insect midgut is also affected by hormones secreted from the prothoracic gland, corpus allatum, and various neuronal cells; these hormones regulate the secretion and activity of insects' digestive enzymes and change their feeding behaviors. In addition, the insect midgut produces certain hormones when it recognizes various components or pathogenic bacteria in ingested foods; concurrently, the hormones regulate other tissues and organs. In addition, intestinal symbiotic bacteria can produce hormones that influence insect signaling pathways to promote host growth and development; this interaction is the result of long-term evolution. In this review, the types, functions, and mechanisms of hormones working on the insect midgut, as well as hormones produced therein, are reviewed for future reference in biological pest control.}, } @article {pmid32189422, year = {2020}, author = {Hamilton, LA and Behal, ML}, title = {Altering Routine Intensive Care Unit Practices to Support Commensalism.}, journal = {Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {433-441}, doi = {10.1002/ncp.10484}, pmid = {32189422}, issn = {1941-2452}, mesh = {Analgesics, Opioid ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Critical Care/*methods ; Critical Illness/*therapy ; Decontamination/methods ; Enteral Nutrition/methods ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/*physiology ; Humans ; Immune System/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Intensive Care Units ; Parenteral Nutrition/methods ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) tract consists of trillions of organisms that support multiple functions in the body, from immunity, digestion, and absorption to drug metabolism. These microbes form an overall collection of microorganisms that form the body's microbiome. In critical illness, many of these functions are aberrant, and the microbiome is altered, leading to untoward effects. Some of the most common medications received by patients include antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, which affect particular changes in the microbiome. In addition, patients receiving prolonged enteral and parenteral nutrition experience changes in the microbiological composition and diversity of their GI tracts. Research is ongoing to characterize the crosstalk between the microbiome and immune function as targets for drug and nutrition therapy.}, } @article {pmid32189066, year = {2020}, author = {Fallon, AM}, title = {Computational evidence for antitoxins associated with RelE/ParE, RatA, Fic, and AbiEii-family toxins in Wolbachia genomes.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {295}, number = {4}, pages = {891-909}, doi = {10.1007/s00438-020-01662-0}, pmid = {32189066}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; Culicidae/microbiology ; DNA Topoisomerase IV/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Parthenogenesis/*genetics ; Pest Control ; Reproduction/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Toxin-Antitoxin Systems/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative alpha-proteobacterium that has diverse effects on reproduction of arthropod hosts, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, male killing, feminization, and parthenogenesis. Some of these effects have important potential for control of insect pests, including mosquitoes that vector pathogens of humans. In mosquitoes, and in most other arthropods, elimination of Wolbachia by antibiotic treatment has no effect on host survival and reverses the Wolbachia-associated phenotype. Elimination of Wolbachia strain wFol, which enables parthenogenetic reproduction of the Collembolan, Folsomia candida, would result in population extinction. However, F. candida adults remain viable and resume reproduction when antibiotics are removed, suggesting that wFol survives antibiotic treatment in a quiescent persister state similar to that induced by chromosomally encoded toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules in free-living bacteria. Computational approaches were used to document the presence of antitoxin genes upstream of Wolbachia RelE/ParE, Fic, and AbiEii toxin genes. Moreover, this analysis revealed that Wolbachia RatA toxin is encoded by a single copy gene associated with an ssrS noncoding RNA gene. Documentation of potentially functional TA modules expands our understanding of the metabolic capabilities of Wolbachia, and provides an explanation for variable and sometimes contradictory results of antibiotic treatments. The presence of chromosomal TA modules in Wolbachia genomes suggests that wFol, and potentially other strains of Wolbachia, can enter a quiescent persister state.}, } @article {pmid32187696, year = {2020}, author = {Xiao, A and Yu, H and Fan, Y and Kang, H and Ren, Y and Huang, X and Gao, X and Wang, C and Zhang, Z and Zhu, H and Cao, Y}, title = {Transcriptional regulation of NIN expression by IPN2 is required for root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {2}, pages = {513-528}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16553}, pmid = {32187696}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Expression of Nodule Inception (NIN) is essential for initiation of legume-rhizobial symbiosis. An existing model regarding the regulation of NIN expression involves two GRAS transcription factors - NSP1 (Nodulation Signaling Pathway 1) and NSP2. NSP2 forms a complex with NSP1 to directly bind to NIN promoter. However, rhizobial treatment-induced NIN expression could still be detected in the nsp1 mutant plants, suggesting that other proteins must be involved in the regulation of NIN expression. A combination of molecular, biochemical and genetic analyses was used to investigate the molecular basis of IPN2 in regulating root development and NIN expression in Lotus japonicus. In this study, we identified that IPN2 is a close homolog of Arabidopsis APL (ALTERED PHLOEM DEVELOPMENT) with essential function in root development. However, Lotus IPN2 has a different expression pattern compared with the Arabidopsis APL gene. IPN2 binds to the IPN2-responsive cis element (IPN2-RE) of NIN promoter and activates NIN expression. IPN2, NSP1 and NSP2 form a protein complex to directly target NIN promoter and activate NIN expression in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis. Our data refine the regulatory model of NIN expression that NSP2 works together with NSP1 and IPN2 to activate the NIN gene allowing nodulation in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid32186464, year = {2020}, author = {Shi, Y and Zhang, Z and Wen, Y and Yu, G and Zou, J and Huang, S and Wang, J and Zhu, J and Wang, J and Chen, L and Ma, C and Liu, X and Zhu, R and Li, Q and Li, J and Guo, M and Liu, H and Zhu, Y and Sun, Z and Han, L and Jiang, H and Wu, X and Wang, N and Zhang, W and Yin, Z and Li, C and Hu, Z and Qi, Z and Liu, C and Chen, Q and Xin, D}, title = {RNA Sequencing-Associated Study Identifies GmDRR1 as Positively Regulating the Establishment of Symbiosis in Soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {798-807}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-20-0017-R}, pmid = {32186464}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Genes, Plant ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/*genetics/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {In soybean (Glycine max)-rhizobium interactions, the type III secretion system (T3SS) of rhizobium plays a key role in regulating host specificity. However, the lack of information on the role of T3SS in signaling networks limits our understanding of symbiosis. Here, we conducted an RNA sequencing analysis of three soybean chromosome segment substituted lines, one female parent and two derived lines with different chromosome-substituted segments of wild soybean and opposite nodulation patterns. By analyzing chromosome-linked differentially expressed genes in the substituted segments and quantitative trait loci (QTL)-assisted selection in the substituted-segment region, genes that may respond to type III effectors to mediate plant immunity-related signaling were identified. To narrow down the number of candidate genes, QTL assistant was used to identify the candidate region consistent with the substituted segments. Furthermore, one candidate gene, GmDRR1, was identified in the substituted segment. To investigate the role of GmDRR1 in symbiosis establishment, GmDRR1-overexpression and RNA interference soybean lines were constructed. The nodule number increased in the former compared with wild-type soybean. Additionally, the T3SS-regulated effectors appeared to interact with the GmDDR1 signaling pathway. This finding will allow the detection of T3SS-regulated effectors involved in legume-rhizobium interactions.}, } @article {pmid32185904, year = {2020}, author = {Stavru, F and Riemer, J and Jex, A and Sassera, D}, title = {When bacteria meet mitochondria: The strange case of the tick symbiont Midichloria mitochondrii[†].}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e13189}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.13189}, pmid = {32185904}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Animals ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Mitochondria/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Viral Tropism ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are key eukaryotic organelles that perform several essential functions. Not surprisingly, many intracellular bacteria directly or indirectly target mitochondria, interfering with innate immunity, energy production or apoptosis, to make the host cell a more hospitable niche for bacterial replication. The alphaproteobacterium Midichloria mitochondrii has taken mitochondrial targeting to another level by physically colonising mitochondria, as shown by transmission electron micrographs of bacteria residing in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. This unique localization provokes a number of questions around the mechanisms allowing, and reasons driving intramitochondrial tropism. We suggest possible scenarios that could lead to this peculiar localization and hypothesize potential costs and benefits of mitochondrial colonisation for the bacterium and its host.}, } @article {pmid32185893, year = {2020}, author = {Cohen, SK and Aschtgen, MS and Lynch, JB and Koehler, S and Chen, F and Escrig, S and Daraspe, J and Ruby, EG and Meibom, A and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Tracking the cargo of extracellular symbionts into host tissues with correlated electron microscopy and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {e13177}, pmid = {32185893}, issn = {1462-5822}, support = {F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microscopy, Electron ; *Signal Transduction ; *Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Extracellular bacterial symbionts communicate biochemically with their hosts to establish niches that foster the partnership. Using quantitative ion microprobe isotopic imaging (nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry [NanoSIMS]), we surveyed localization of [15] N-labelled molecules produced by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri within the cells of the symbiotic organ of its host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, and compared that with either labelled non-specific species or amino acids. In all cases, two areas of the organ's epithelia were significantly more [15] N enriched: (a) surface ciliated cells, where environmental symbionts are recruited, and (b) the organ's crypts, where the symbiont population resides in the host. Label enrichment in all cases was strongest inside host cell nuclei, preferentially in the euchromatin regions and the nucleoli. This permissiveness demonstrated that uptake of biomolecules is a general mechanism of the epithelia, but the specific responses to V. fischeri cells recruited to the organ's surface are due to some property exclusive to this species. Similarly, in the organ's deeper crypts, the host responds to common bacterial products that only the specific symbiont can present in that location. The application of NanoSIMS allows the discovery of such distinct modes of downstream signalling dependent on location within the host and provides a unique opportunity to study the microbiogeographical patterns of symbiotic dialogue.}, } @article {pmid32185832, year = {2020}, author = {García-Del Portillo, F}, title = {Building peptidoglycan inside eukaryotic cells: A view from symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {113}, number = {3}, pages = {613-626}, pmid = {32185832}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Humans ; Peptidoglycan/*biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The peptidoglycan (PG), as the exoskeleton of most prokaryotes, maintains a defined shape and ensures cell integrity against the high internal turgor pressure. These important roles have attracted researchers to target PG metabolism in order to control bacterial infections. Most studies, however, have been performed in bacteria grown under laboratory conditions, leading to only a partial view on how the PG is synthetized in natural environments. As a case in point, PG metabolism and its regulation remain poorly understood in symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria living inside eukaryotic cells. This review focuses on the PG metabolism of intracellular bacteria, emphasizing the necessity of more in vivo studies involving the analysis of enzymes produced in the intracellular niche and the isolation of PG from bacteria residing within eukaryotic cells. The review also points to persistent infections caused by some intracellular bacterial pathogens and the extent at which the PG could contribute to establish such physiological state. Based on recent evidences, I speculate on the idea that certain structural features of the PG may facilitate attenuation of intracellular growth. Lastly, I discuss recent findings in endosymbionts supporting a cooperation between host and bacterial enzymes to assemble a mature PG.}, } @article {pmid32184767, year = {2020}, author = {Hereme, R and Morales-Navarro, S and Ballesteros, G and Barrera, A and Ramos, P and Gundel, PE and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Fungal Endophytes Exert Positive Effects on Colobanthus quitensis Under Water Stress but Neutral Under a Projected Climate Change Scenario in Antarctica.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {264}, pmid = {32184767}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Functional symbiosis is considered one of the successful mechanisms by which plants that inhabit extreme environment improve their ability to tolerate different types of stress. One of the most conspicuous type of symbiosis is the endophyticism. This interaction has been noted to play a role in the adaptation of the native vascular plant Colobanthus quitensis to the stressful environments of Antarctica, characterized by low temperatures and extreme aridity. Projections of climate change for this ecosystem indicate that abiotic conditions will be less limiting due to an increase in temperature and water availability in the soil. Due to this decrease in stress induced by the climate change, it has been suggested that the positive role of fungal endophytes on performance of C. quitensis plants would decrease. In this study, we evaluated the role of endophytic fungi on osmoprotective molecules (sugar production, proline, oxidative stress) and gene expression (CqNCED1, CqABCG25, and CqRD22) as well as physiological traits (stomatal opening, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance) in individuals of C. quitensis. Individual plants of C. quitensis with (E+) and without (E-) endophytic fungi were exposed to simulated conditions of increased water availability (W+), having the current limiting water condition (W-) in Antarctica as control. The results reveal an endophyte-mediated lower oxidative stress, higher production of sugars and proline in plants. In addition, E+ plants showed differential expressions in genes related with drought stress response, which was more evident in W- than in W+. These parameters corresponded with increased physiological mechanisms such as higher net photosynthesis, stomatal opening and conductance under presence of endophytes (E+) as well as the projected water condition (W+) for Antarctica. These results suggest that the presence of fungal endophytes plays a positive role in favoring tolerance to drought in C. quitensis. However, this positive role would be diminished if the stress factor is relaxed, suggesting that the role of endophytes could be less important under a future scenario of climate change in Antarctica with higher soil water availability.}, } @article {pmid32184762, year = {2020}, author = {Wu, F and Fang, F and Wu, N and Li, L and Tang, M}, title = {Nitrate Transporter Gene Expression and Kinetics of Nitrate Uptake by Populus × canadensis 'Neva' in Relation to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nitrogen Availability.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {176}, pmid = {32184762}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants and other organisms in the ecosystem compete for the limited nitrogen (N) in the soil. Formation of a symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may influence plant competitiveness for N. However, the effects of AMF on plant nitrate (NO3 [-]) uptake capacity remain unknown. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of N application and Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on the root absorbing area, uptake kinetics of NO3 [-], and the expression of NO3 [-] transporter (NRT) genes in Populus × canadensis 'Neva'. The results showed that R. irregularis colonized more than 70% of the roots of the poplar and increased root active absorbing area/total absorbing area. The uptake kinetics of NO3 [-] by poplar fitted the Michaelis-Menten equation. Mycorrhizal plants had a higher maximum uptake rate (V max) value than non-mycorrhizal plants, indicating that R. irregularis enhanced the NO3 [-] uptake capacity of poplar. The expression of NRTs in roots, namely, NRT1;2, NRT2;4B, NRT2;4C, NRT3;1A, NRT3;1B, and NRT3;1C, was decreased by R. irregularis under conditions of 0 and 1 mM NH4NO3. This study demonstrated that the improved NO3 [-] uptake capacity by R. irregularis was not achieved by up-regulating the expression of NRTs in roots. The mycorrhizal pathway might repress root direct pathway in the NO3 [-] uptake by mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid32183068, year = {2020}, author = {Ortega-Ortega, Y and Carrasco-Castilla, J and Juárez-Verdayes, MA and Toscano-Morales, R and Fonseca-García, C and Nava, N and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C}, title = {Actin Depolymerizing Factor Modulates Rhizobial Infection and Nodule Organogenesis in Common Bean.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {32183068}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Actin Depolymerizing Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Actin plays a critical role in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Cytoskeletal rearrangements and changes in actin occur in response to Nod factors secreted by rhizobia during symbiotic interactions with legumes. These cytoskeletal rearrangements are mediated by diverse actin-binding proteins, such as actin depolymerization factors (ADFs). We examined the function of an ADF in the Phaseolus vulgaris-rhizobia symbiotic interaction (PvADFE). PvADFE was preferentially expressed in rhizobia-inoculated roots and nodules. PvADFE promoter activity was associated with root hairs harbouring growing infection threads, cortical cell divisions beneath root hairs, and vascular bundles in mature nodules. Silencing of PvADFE using RNA interference increased the number of infection threads in the transgenic roots, resulting in increased nodule number, nitrogen fixation activity, and average nodule diameter. Conversely, overexpression of PvADFE reduced the nodule number, nitrogen fixation activity, average nodule diameter, as well as NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) and EARLY NODULIN2 (ENOD2) transcript accumulation. Hence, changes in ADFE transcript levels affect rhizobial infection and nodulation, suggesting that ADFE is fine-tuning these processes.}, } @article {pmid32182448, year = {2020}, author = {Qin, D and Shen, W and Gao, T and Zuo, S and Song, H and Xu, J and Yu, B and Peng, Y and Guo, J and Tang, W and Dong, J}, title = {Kadanguslactones A-E, further oxygenated terpenoids from Kadsura angustifolia fermented by a symbiotic endophytic fungus, Penicillium ochrochloron SWUKD4.1850.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {174}, number = {}, pages = {112335}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112335}, pmid = {32182448}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Kadsura ; Molecular Structure ; *Penicillium ; Prospective Studies ; Terpenes ; }, abstract = {The fermentation of Kadsura angustifolia with an endophytic fungus, Penicillium ochrochloron SWUKD4.1850 yielded five additional undescribed oxygenated terpenoids, kadanguslactones A-E, together with ten known compounds. Their structures were established by the extensive 1D, 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS, CD and X-ray crystallography data analysis. Kadanguslactone A is the first example of 1,30-cyclo-3,4; 9,10-disecocycloartanes that combine a five-membered lactone ring A with a cyclopentane ring B consisting of C-1, C-4, C-5, C-10, C-30. Kadanguslactone B was a rare highly oxygenated 18-norschiartane-type bisnortriterpenoid with spirocyclis rings F and G, whereas kadanguslactone C was an uncommon henrischinin-type schitriterpenoid containing a unique 3-one-2-oxabicyclo [3,2,1]-octane motif. The cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell line of all compounds were evaluated. Except nigranoic acid, all other metabolites have been first found in unfermented K. angustifolia, suggesting that main functional ingredients from K. angustifolia may be converted by P. ochrochloron SWUKD4.1850 into highly oxygenated terpenoids. This study provided a fascinating prospective for setting up alternative processing techniques to enhance the functionality and utility of Chinese herbal medicine.}, } @article {pmid32180328, year = {2020}, author = {van Winden, JF and Talbot, HM and Reichart, GJ and McNamara, NP and Benthien, A and Sinninghe Damsté, JS}, title = {Influence of temperature on the δ[13] C values and distribution of methanotroph-related hopanoids in Sphagnum-dominated peat bogs.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {497-507}, pmid = {32180328}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Carbon Isotopes ; Methane ; *Methylococcaceae ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Sphagnopsida ; Temperature ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Methane emissions from peat bogs are mitigated by methanotrophs, which live in symbiosis with peat moss (e.g. Sphagnum). Here, we investigate the influence of temperature and resultant changes in methane fluxes on Sphagnum and methanotroph-related biomarkers, evaluating their potential as proxies in ancient bogs. A pulse-chase experiment using [13] C-labelled methane in the field clearly showed label uptake in diploptene, a biomarker for methanotrophs, demonstrating in situ methanotrophic activity in Sphagnum under natural conditions. Peat cores containing live Sphagnum were incubated at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C for two months, causing differences in net methane fluxes. The natural δ[13] C values of diploptene extracted from Sphagnum showed a strong correlation with temperature and methane production. The δ[13] C values ranged from -34‰ at 5°C to -41‰ at 25°C. These results are best explained by enhanced expression of the methanotrophic enzymatic isotope effect at higher methane concentrations. Hence, δ[13] C values of diploptene, or its diagenetic products, potentially provide a useful tool to assess methanotrophic activity in past environments. Increased methane fluxes towards Sphagnum did not affect δ[13] C values of bulk Sphagnum and its specific marker, the C23 n-alkane. The concentration of methanotroph-specific bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs), aminobacteriohopanetetrol (aminotetrol, characteristic for type II and to a lesser extent type I methanotrophs) and aminobacteriohopanepentol (aminopentol, a marker for type I methanotrophs) showed a non-linear response to increased methane fluxes, with relatively high abundances at 25°C compared to those at 20°C or below. Aminotetrol was more abundant than aminopentol, in contrast to similar abundances of aminotetrol and aminopentol in fresh Sphagnum. This probably indicates that type II methanotrophs became prevalent under the experimental conditions relative to type I methanotrophs. Even though BHP concentrations may not directly reflect bacterial activity, they may provide insight into the presence of different types of methanotrophs.}, } @article {pmid32179846, year = {2020}, author = {Jones, R and Giofre, N and Luter, HM and Neoh, TL and Fisher, R and Duckworth, A}, title = {Responses of corals to chronic turbidity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4762}, pmid = {32179846}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Geologic Sediments ; Light ; Lipid Metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Phototrophic Processes ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Dredging increases suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs), causing elevated water turbidity (cloudiness) and light attenuation. Close to dredging, low light periods can extend over many days, affecting phototrophic epibenthic organisms like corals. To improve the ability to predict and manage dredging impacts, we tested the response of corals to an extended period of elevated turbidity using an automated sediment dosing system that precisely controlled SSCs and adjusted light availability accordingly. Replicates of four common species of corals encompassing different morphologies were exposed to turbidity treatments of 0-100 mg L[-1] SSC, corresponding to daily light integrals of 12.6 to 0 mol quanta m[-2] d[-1], over a period of ∼7 weeks. Symbiotic dinoflagellate density and algal pigment concentration, photosynthetic yields, lipid concentrations and ratios and growth varied among the turbidity treatments, with corals exhibiting photoacclimation within low turbidity treatments. A range of physiological responses were observed within the high turbidity treatments (low light), including bleaching and changes in lipid levels and ratios. Most corals, except P. damicornis, were capable of adjusting to a turbidity treatment involving a mean light level of 2.3 mol photons m[-2] d[-1] in conjunction with a SSC of 10 mg L[-1] over the 7 week period.}, } @article {pmid32179689, year = {2020}, author = {Bonilla-Rosso, G and Steiner, T and Wichmann, F and Bexkens, E and Engel, P}, title = {Honey bees harbor a diverse gut virome engaging in nested strain-level interactions with the microbiota.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {13}, pages = {7355-7362}, pmid = {32179689}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bacteriophages/genetics ; Bees/genetics/*microbiology/*virology ; Bifidobacterium/isolation & purification/virology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metagenome ; Microbiota ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The honey bee gut microbiota influences bee health and has become an important model to study the ecology and evolution of microbiota-host interactions. Yet, little is known about the phage community associated with the bee gut, despite its potential to modulate bacterial diversity or to govern important symbiotic functions. Here we analyzed two metagenomes derived from virus-like particles, analyzed the prevalence of the identified phages across 73 bacterial metagenomes from individual bees, and tested the host range of isolated phages. Our results show that the honey bee gut virome is composed of at least 118 distinct clusters corresponding to both temperate and lytic phages and representing novel genera with a large repertoire of unknown gene functions. We find that the phage community is prevalent in honey bees across space and time and targets the core members of the bee gut microbiota. The large number and high genetic diversity of the viral clusters seems to mirror the high extent of strain-level diversity in the bee gut microbiota. We isolated eight lytic phages that target the core microbiota member Bifidobacterium asteroides, but that exhibited different host ranges at the strain level, resulting in a nested interaction network of coexisting phages and bacterial strains. Collectively, our results show that the honey bee gut virome consists of a complex and diverse phage community that likely plays an important role in regulating strain-level diversity in the bee gut and that holds promise as an experimental model to study bacteria-phage dynamics in natural microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid32179506, year = {2020}, author = {Takeuchi, I and Takaichi, D and Katsumata, M and Ishibashi, H}, title = {Succession of delayed fluorescence correlated with coral bleaching in the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {154}, number = {}, pages = {111008}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111008}, pmid = {32179506}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Fluorescence ; *Herbicides ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated coral bleaching by monitoring colour changes and measuring the delayed fluorescence (DF) of symbiotic dinoflagellates in the hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis, exposed to 1.0 μg/L Irgarol 1051 (photosystem II herbicide) for 14 d. The Irgarol concentration corresponded to those from international port regions of the world. The coral colour and DFs under the control treatment were stable throughout the experiment, whereas under the Irgarol treatment the corals showed gradual bleaching. The Irgarol treatment caused a rapid decrease in the slow decay DF component (10.1-60.0 s), while the fast decay DF component (0.1-10.0 s) decreased significantly after 6 d. The significant correlation between the latter values and the coral colour indicates that if the electron accumulation function of quinones QA and QB is compromised, corals will bleach. The present study will contribute to the understanding of the mechanism involved in bleaching of coral exposed to herbicides.}, } @article {pmid32176834, year = {2020}, author = {Tham, EH and Koh, E and Common, JEA and Hwang, IY}, title = {Biotherapeutic Approaches in Atopic Dermatitis.}, journal = {Biotechnology journal}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {e1900322}, doi = {10.1002/biot.201900322}, pmid = {32176834}, issn = {1860-7314}, mesh = {*Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Skin ; *Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus ; }, abstract = {The skin microbiome plays a central role in inflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD). In AD patients, an imbalance between pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and resident skin symbionts creates a state of dysbiosis which induces immune dysregulation and impairs skin barrier function. There are now exciting new prospects for microbiome-based interventions for AD prevention. In the hopes of achieving sustained control and management of disease in AD patients, current emerging biotherapeutic strategies aim to harness the skin microbiome associated with health by restoring a more diverse symbiotic skin microbiome, while selectively removing pathogenic S. aureus. Examples of such strategies are demonstrated in skin microbiome transplants, phage-derived anti-S. aureus endolysins, monoclonal antibodies, and quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors. However, further understanding of the skin microbiome and its role in AD pathogenesis is still needed to understand how these biotherapeutics alter the dynamics of the microbiome community; to optimize patient selection, drug delivery, and treatment duration; overcome rapid recolonization upon treatment cessation; and improve efficacy to allow these therapeutic options to eventually reach routine clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid32176601, year = {2020}, author = {Cavassim, MIA and Moeskjær, S and Moslemi, C and Fields, B and Bachmann, A and Vilhjálmsson, BJ and Schierup, MH and W Young, JP and Andersen, SU}, title = {Symbiosis genes show a unique pattern of introgression and selection within a Rhizobium leguminosarum species complex.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {32176601}, issn = {2057-5858}, support = {BB/L024209/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Genetic Introgression ; Haplotypes ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/*genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; Whole Genome Sequencing/*methods ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia supply legumes with fixed nitrogen using a set of symbiosis genes. These can cross rhizobium species boundaries, but it is unclear how many other genes show similar mobility. Here, we investigate inter-species introgression using de novo assembly of 196 Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii genomes. The 196 strains constituted a five-species complex, and we calculated introgression scores based on gene-tree traversal to identify 171 genes that frequently cross species boundaries. Rather than relying on the gene order of a single reference strain, we clustered the introgressing genes into four blocks based on population structure-corrected linkage disequilibrium patterns. The two largest blocks comprised 125 genes and included the symbiosis genes, a smaller block contained 43 mainly chromosomal genes, and the last block consisted of three genes with variable genomic location. All introgression events were likely mediated by conjugation, but only the genes in the symbiosis linkage blocks displayed overrepresentation of distinct, high-frequency haplotypes. The three genes in the last block were core genes essential for symbiosis that had, in some cases, been mobilized on symbiosis plasmids. Inter-species introgression is thus not limited to symbiosis genes and plasmids, but other cases are infrequent and show distinct selection signatures.}, } @article {pmid32175592, year = {2020}, author = {Dovrat, G and Bakhshian, H and Masci, T and Sheffer, E}, title = {The nitrogen economic spectrum of legume stoichiometry and fixation strategy.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {2}, pages = {365-375}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16543}, pmid = {32175592}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula ; *Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf nitrogen concentration often is higher in leguminous plants, which associate with dinitrogen-fixing bacteria, compared with nonlegume plants. However, the range of nitrogen concentrations in legumes is wide, likely related to the range of nitrogen fixation strategies. We evaluated how carbon and nitrogen allocation to roots, stems and leaves is influenced by the type of strategy of nitrogen fixation regulation. We grew herbaceous annual legumes (Medicago truncatula, Hymenocarpos circinnatus and Vicia palaestina) under two nitrogen availability treatments (none/sufficient), with and without bacterial inoculation. We found facultative downregulation of the rate of nitrogen fixation when nitrogen was available in H. circinnatus, and an obligate similar fixation rate in both nitrogen treatments in M. truncatula and V. palaestina. Uninoculated plants invested more biomass in roots and contained lower nitrogen concentrations. However, nitrogen concentration in the entire plant and in the leaves was lower and more plastic in the species with a facultative fixation strategy, whereas species with an obligate fixation strategy also maintained high nitrogen concentrations. Our results suggest a suite of functional traits associated with the strategies of allocation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This suite of traits probably shapes successional and functional niches of different leguminous species in specious plant communities.}, } @article {pmid32175443, year = {2020}, author = {Eggensperger, CG and Giagnorio, M and Holland, MC and Dobosz, KM and Schiffman, JD and Tiraferri, A and Zodrow, KR}, title = {Sustainable Living Filtration Membranes.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology letters}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {213-218}, pmid = {32175443}, issn = {2328-8930}, support = {T32 GM108556/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {As demand for clean water increases, there is a growing need for effective sustainable water treatment systems. We used the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) that forms while brewing kombucha tea as a living water filtration membrane (LFM). The LFMs function as ultrafiltration membranes with a permeability of 135 ± 25 L m[-2] h[-1] bar[-1] and a 90% rejection of 30 nm nanoparticles. Because they contain living microorganisms that produce cellulose fibers, the surface of an LFM heals after a puncture or incision. Following punctures or incisions, membrane permeability, after a rapid increase postpuncture, returns to 110-250% of the original flux after 10 days in a growth solution. Additionally, LFMs may be manufactured using readily available materials, increasing membrane production accessibility.}, } @article {pmid32175192, year = {2020}, author = {Bell, J and Yokoya, K and Kendon, JP and Sarasan, V}, title = {Diversity of root-associated culturable fungi of Cephalanthera rubra (Orchidaceae) in relation to soil characteristics.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8695}, pmid = {32175192}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Cephalanthera rubra (L.) Rich., Red Helleborine, is a widespread orchid in Europe but known only from three very small populations in England. These populations are in decline with no natural seed setting for more than a decade. The species may become extinct in the UK soon unless viable strategies are in place for ex situ conservation, especially the use of symbiotic propagation. Because of the fragile nature of the populations in England mycorrhizal fungal diversity study is not feasible. Therefore, to understand the factors needed for healthy Red Helleborine populations, soil characteristics and diversity of culturable root-derived fungi of the populations from a small area in the Loire Valley in France were studied. The main objectives of the study were: (1) Which culturable mycorrhizal fungi associated with C. rubra roots and (2) To what extent is variation in fungal communities related to variation in soil characteristics? Here, we report a significant difference in diversity of culturable mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal fungi depending on soil pH and phosphorus content. Mycorrhizal associations were favoured by plants in locations with low soil nutrient availability and comparatively higher pH. Our study shows that mycorrhizal fungi, both ecto and endo, can be cultured from roots of plants at different maturity stages.}, } @article {pmid32175190, year = {2020}, author = {Harper, CJ and Taylor, EL and Krings, M}, title = {Filamentous cyanobacteria preserved in masses of fungal hyphae from the Triassic of Antarctica.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8660}, pmid = {32175190}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Permineralized peat from the central Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica has provided a wealth of information on plant and fungal diversity in Middle Triassic high-latitude forest paleoecosystems; however, there are no reports as yet of algae or cyanobacteria. The first record of a fossil filamentous cyanobacterium in this peat consists of wide, uniseriate trichomes composed of discoid cells up to 25 µm wide, and enveloped in a distinct sheath. Filament morphology, structurally preserved by permineralization and mineral replacement, corresponds to the fossil genus Palaeo-lyngbya, a predominantly Precambrian equivalent of the extant Lyngbya sensu lato (Oscillatoriaceae, Oscillatoriales). Specimens occur exclusively in masses of interwoven hyphae produced by the fungus Endochaetophora antarctica, suggesting that a special micro-environmental setting was required to preserve the filaments. Whether some form of symbiotic relationship existed between the fungus and cyanobacterium remains unknown.}, } @article {pmid32174946, year = {2020}, author = {Couchoud, M and Salon, C and Girodet, S and Jeudy, C and Vernoud, V and Prudent, M}, title = {Pea Efficiency of Post-drought Recovery Relies on the Strategy to Fine-Tune Nitrogen Nutrition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {204}, pmid = {32174946}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {As drought is increasingly frequent in the context of climate change it is a major constraint for crop growth and yield. The ability of plants to maintain their yield in response to drought depends not only on their ability to tolerate drought, but also on their capacity to subsequently recover. Post-stress recovery can indeed be decisive for drought resilience and yield stability. Pea (Pisum sativum), as a legume, has the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen through its symbiotic interaction with soil bacteria within root nodules. Biological nitrogen fixation is highly sensitive to drought which can impact plant nitrogen nutrition and growth. Our study aimed at dynamically evaluating whether the control of plant N status after drought could affect nodulated pea plant's ability to recover. Two pea genotypes, Puget and Kayanne, displaying different drought resilience abilities were compared for their capacity to tolerate to, and to recover from, a 2-weeks water-deficit period applied before flowering. Physiological processes were studied in this time-series experiment using a conceptual structure-function analysis framework focusing on whole plant carbon, nitrogen, and water fluxes combined to two [13]CO2 and [15]N2 labeling experiments. While Puget showed a yield decrease compared to well-watered plants, Kayanne was able to maintain its yield. During the recovery period, genotype-dependent strategies were observed. The analysis of the synchronization of carbon, nitrogen, and water related traits dynamics during the recovery period and at the whole plant level, revealed that plant growth recovery was tightly linked to N nutrition. In Puget, the initiation of new nodules after water deficit was delayed compared to control plants, and additional nodules developed, while in Kayanne the formation of nodules was both rapidly and strictly re-adjusted to plant growth needs, allowing a full recovery. Our study suggested that a rapid re-launch of N acquisition, associated with a fine-tuning of nodule formation during the post-stress period is essential for efficient drought resilience in pea leading to yield stability.}, } @article {pmid32174928, year = {2020}, author = {Das, D and Torabi, S and Chapman, P and Gutjahr, C}, title = {A Flexible, Low-Cost Hydroponic Co-Cultivation System for Studying Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {63}, pmid = {32174928}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a widespread symbiosis between plant roots and fungi of the Glomeromycotina, which improves nutrient uptake by plants. The molecular mechanisms underlying development and function of the symbiosis are subject to increasing research activity. Since AM occurs in the soil, most studies targeting a molecular understanding of AM development and function, use solid substrates for co-cultivating plants and AM fungi. However, for some experiments very clean roots, highly controlled nutrient conditions or applications of defined concentrations of signaling molecules (such as hormones) or other small chemicals (such as synthetic inhibitors or signaling agonists) are needed. To this end, hydroponics has been widely used in research on mechanisms of plant nutrition and some hydroponic systems were developed for AM fungal spore amplification. Here, we present a hydroponics set-up, which can be successfully utilized for experimental root colonization assays. We established a "tip-wick" system based on pipette tips and rock wool wicks for co-cultivation of AM fungi with small model plants such as Lotus japonicus. A larger "Falcon-wick" system using Falcon tubes and rockwool wicks was developed for larger model plants such as rice. The hydroponic system can also be employed for growing L. japonicus hairy roots after transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, thus circumventing the laborious cultivation on agar medium-containing Petri dishes during hairy root development. The tip-wick and Falcon-wick systems are easy to use and can be built with low cost, conventional and reusable lab plastic ware and a simple aquarium pump.}, } @article {pmid32173778, year = {2020}, author = {Salazar, LC and Ortiz-Reyes, A and Rosero, DM and Lobo-Echeverri, T}, title = {Dillapiole in Piper holtonii as an Inhibitor of the Symbiotic Fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus of Leaf-Cutting Ants.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {46}, number = {8}, pages = {668-674}, doi = {10.1007/s10886-020-01170-w}, pmid = {32173778}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Agaricales/*drug effects/physiology ; Allyl Compounds/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; Dioxoles/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Fungicides, Industrial/*pharmacology ; Insect Control/instrumentation ; Insecticides/pharmacology ; Oils, Volatile/pharmacology ; Piper/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Plants of the Piperaceae family are studied for their diverse secondary metabolism with a vast array of compounds that act as chemical defense agents against herbivores. Of all the agricultural pests, the management of insects is a highly significant challenge in the Neotropics, and ants of the Attini tribe pose a major problem. Due to their symbiotic association with the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Möller) Singer (Agaricaceae), the species of Atta and Acromyrmex have exhaustive foraging activity which has intensified as deforestation and monoculture farming have increased. The control of leaf-cutting ants is still carried out with synthetic products with negative consequences to the environment and human health. In search for natural and sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides, Piper holtonii C. DC. was selected among other plant species after field observations of the foraging activity of Atta cephalotes, which revealed that P. holtonii was never chosen by ants. In vitro evaluation of an ethanol extract of the leaves of P. holtonii resulted in promising inhibitory activity (IC50 102 ppm) against L. gongylophorus. Subsequently, bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of the phenylpropanoid dillapiole, which was also detected in the essential oil. This compound demonstrated inhibition of the fungus with an IC50 of 38 ppm. Considering the symbiotic relationship between the Attini ants and L. gongylophorus, the negative effect on the survival of one of the organisms will affect the survival of the other, so dillapiole or standardized essential oil extracts of P. holtonii containing this active principle could be a unique and useful source as a control agent for leaf cutting-ants.}, } @article {pmid32172377, year = {2020}, author = {Suetsugu, K and Matsubayashi, J and Ogawa, NO and Murata, S and Sato, R and Tomimatsu, H}, title = {Isotopic evidence of arbuscular mycorrhizal cheating in a grassland gentian species.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {192}, number = {4}, pages = {929-937}, pmid = {32172377}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Carbon Isotopes ; *Gentiana ; Grassland ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All orchids and pyroloids are mycoheterotrophic at least in the early stage. Many species are predisposed to mycoheterotrophic nutrition even in the adult stage, due to the initial mycoheterotrophy during germination. Although other green plants, such as gentian species, also produce numerous minute seeds, whose germination may depend on fungal associations to meet C demands, physiological evidence for partial mycoheterotrophy in the adult stage is lacking for most candidate taxa. Here, we compared the natural abundances of [13]C and [15]N isotopes in the AM-associated gentian species Pterygocalyx volubilis growing in high-light-intensity habitats with those of co-occurring autotrophic C3 and C4 plants and AM fungal spores. We found that P. volubilis was significantly enriched in [13]C compared with the surrounding C3 plants, which suggests the transfer of some C from the surrounding autotrophic plants through shared AM networks. In addition, the intermediate δ[15]N values of P. volubilis, between those of autotrophic plants and AM fungal spores, provide further evidence for partial mycoheterotrophy in P. volubilis. Although it is often considered that light deficiency selects partial mycoheterotrophy, we show that partial mycoheterotrophy in AM-forming plants can evolve even under light-saturated conditions. The fact that there have been relatively few descriptions of partial mycoheterotrophy in AM plants may not necessarily reflect the rarity of such associations. In conclusion, partial mycoheterotrophy in AM plants may be more common than hitherto believed.}, } @article {pmid32172097, year = {2020}, author = {Gupta, V and Kumar, GN and Buch, A}, title = {Colonization by multi-potential Pseudomonas aeruginosa P4 stimulates peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growth, defence physiology and root system functioning to benefit the root-rhizobacterial interface.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {248}, number = {}, pages = {153144}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153144}, pmid = {32172097}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Arachis/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The beneficial associations between Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) and fluorescent Pseudomonas species have been poorly explored despite their predominance in the peanut rhizosphere. The present study explores the mutually beneficial interactions between peanut roots and P. aeruginosa P4 (P4) in terms of their impact on plant growth, defence physiology and the root-rhizobacterial interface. The efficient phosphate solubilizer P4 exhibited biocontrol abilities, including the production of siderophores, pyocyanin, indole-3-acetic acid and hydrogen cyanide. The bacterization of peanut seeds with multi-potential P4 significantly enhanced in vitro seed germination and seedling vigour. Under sand-based gnotobiotic (10 days post-inoculation) and sterile soil-based cultivation systems (30 days post-inoculation), sustained P4 colonization enhanced the peanut root length and dry plant biomass. The subsequent increase in catalase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities with increased phenolic contents in the peanut roots and shoots suggested the systemic priming of defences. Consequently, the altered root exudate composition caused enhanced chemo-attraction towards P4 itself and the symbiotic N2-fixing Bradyrhizobium strain. Co-inoculating peanuts with P4 and Bradyrhizobium confirmed the improved total bacterial colonization (∼2 fold) of the root tip, with the successful co-localization of both, as substantiated by scanning electron microscopy. Collectively, the peanut-P4 association could potentially model the beneficial Pseudomonas-driven multi-trophic rhizosphere benefits, emphasizing the plausible role of non-rhizobium PGPR in promoting N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid32171235, year = {2020}, author = {Obert, T and Vďačný, P}, title = {Delimitation of five astome ciliate species isolated from the digestive tube of three ecologically different groups of lumbricid earthworms, using the internal transcribed spacer region and the hypervariable D1/D2 region of the 28S rRNA gene.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {37}, pmid = {32171235}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Ciliophora/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/analysis/*genetics ; Ecology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*parasitology ; Genes, rRNA/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/physiology ; Oligochaeta/classification/genetics/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/analysis/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Various ecological groups of earthworms very likely constitute sharply isolated niches that might permit speciation of their symbiotic ciliates, even though no distinct morphological features appear to be recognizable among ciliates originating from different host groups. The nuclear highly variable ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the hypervariable D1/D2 region of the 28S rRNA gene have proven to be useful tools for the delimitation of species boundaries in closely related free-living ciliate taxa. In the present study, the power of these molecular markers as well as of the secondary structure of the ITS2 molecule were tested for the first time in order to discriminate the species of endosymbiotic ciliates that were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of three ecologically different groups of lumbricid earthworms.

RESULTS: Nineteen new ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and D1/D2-28S rRNA gene sequences were obtained from five astome species (Anoplophrya lumbrici, A. vulgaris, Metaradiophrya lumbrici, M. varians, and Subanoplophrya nodulata comb. n.), which were living in the digestive tube of three ecological groups of earthworms. Phylogenetic analyses of the rRNA locus and secondary structure analyses of the ITS2 molecule robustly resolved their phylogenetic relationships and supported the distinctness of all five species, although previous multivariate morphometric analyses were not able to separate congeners in the genera Anoplophrya and Metaradiophrya. The occurrence of all five taxa, as delimited by molecular analyses, was perfectly correlated with the ecological groups of their host earthworms.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that morphology-based taxonomy of astome ciliates needs to be tested in the light of molecular and ecological data as well. The use of morphological identification alone is likely to miss species that are well delimited based on molecular markers and ecological traits and can lead to the underestimation of diversity and overestimation of host range. An integrative approach along with distinctly increased taxon sampling would be helpful to assess the consistency of the eco-evolutionary trend in astome ciliates.}, } @article {pmid32171140, year = {2020}, author = {Porcelli, R and Dotto, F and Pezzolesi, L and Marazza, D and Greggio, N and Righi, S}, title = {Comparative life cycle assessment of microalgae cultivation for non-energy purposes using different carbon dioxide sources.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {721}, number = {}, pages = {137714}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137714}, pmid = {32171140}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Diatoms ; *Microalgae ; Photobioreactors ; }, abstract = {The ability of microalgae to sequester carbon and at the same time synthesise valuable compounds with potential applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries makes them attractive for commercial deployment, especially in view of a blue bioeconomy. Among microalgae, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is considered as an important potential source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentanoic acid, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to perform the Life Cycle Assessment of the cultivation of P. tricornutum - at semi-industrial scale in photobioreactor - for the production of high-quality bioactive compounds comparing synthetic carbon dioxide supply to a supply with waste carbon dioxide from a biogas upgrading process hypothesizing industrial symbiosis network. The effect of renewable energy use instead of the European electricity mix was also examined. Primary data on the production process, including the stages of cleaning and sterilisation, cultivation, harvesting and freeze-drying, were used. The midpoint impact categories recommended in the ILCD Handbook were used for performing the impact assessment. A sensitivity analysis was also performed on algal productivity, culture medium recirculation factor and amount of solvents per cleaning cycle. Firstly, results indicate in general cultivation and freeze-drying as the most contributing stages to the impacts. Secondly, they demonstrate in the comparative assessment that the use of carbon dioxide from the biogas upgrading is a feasible and attractive alternative to the synthetic one, as it allows for the improvement of the environmental performance of the production process in all the analysed impact categories. Finally, sensitivity analysis suggests that the environmental performance could be further improved by acting on other key factors, such as electricity source, nutrients culture medium and cleaning solutions.}, } @article {pmid32171021, year = {2020}, author = {Thoen, E and Harder, CB and Kauserud, H and Botnen, SS and Vik, U and Taylor, AFS and Menkis, A and Skrede, I}, title = {In vitro evidence of root colonization suggests ecological versatility in the genus Mycena.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {2}, pages = {601-612}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16545}, pmid = {32171021}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Seedlings ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The root-associated habit has evolved on numerous occasions in different fungal lineages, suggesting a strong evolutionary pressure for saprotrophic fungi to switch to symbiotic associations with plants. Species within the ubiquitous, saprotrophic genus Mycena are frequently major components in molecular studies of root-associated fungal communities, suggesting that an evaluation of their trophic status is warranted. Here, we report on interactions between a range of Mycena species and the plant Betula pendula. In all, 17 Mycena species were inoculated onto B. pendula seedlings. Physical interactions between hyphae and fine roots were examined using differential staining and fluorescence microscopy. Physiological interactions were investigated using [14] C and [32] P to show potential transfer between symbionts. All Mycena species associated closely with fine roots, showing hyphal penetration into the roots, which in some cases were intracellular. Seven species formed mantle-like structures around root tips, but none formed a Hartig net. Mycena pura and Mycena galopus both enhanced seedling growth, with M. pura showing significant transfer of [32] P to the seedlings. Our results support the view that several Mycena species can associate closely with plant roots and some may potentially occupy a transitional state between saprotrophy and biotrophy.}, } @article {pmid32170738, year = {2020}, author = {Czubinska, G}, title = {Difference - is it hated or desired? Reflections on the totalitarian state of mind.}, journal = {The Journal of analytical psychology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {325-344}, doi = {10.1111/1468-5922.12587}, pmid = {32170738}, issn = {1468-5922}, mesh = {Adult ; *Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; *Individuation ; Infant ; *Political Systems ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; *Social Behavior ; *Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {In an age of polarized political views and growing nationalism it is vital that the psychoanalytic profession offers its contribution. The author makes a link between early infant development and social and political behaviour. Psychoanalytic, Jungian and Relational ideas are explored. Starting from Freud and his theory of 'minor differences', a dichotomy between closeness and separateness is investigated. The writer argues that difference is at the centre of human identity and human development and explores why we struggle to accept it. The totalitarian political system is described as one that eliminates difference. A case study is offered as an illustration of a patient's struggle to move from a symbiotic, undifferentiated state towards object relating and individuation.}, } @article {pmid32170292, year = {2020}, author = {Li, FW and Nishiyama, T and Waller, M and Frangedakis, E and Keller, J and Li, Z and Fernandez-Pozo, N and Barker, MS and Bennett, T and Blázquez, MA and Cheng, S and Cuming, AC and de Vries, J and de Vries, S and Delaux, PM and Diop, IS and Harrison, CJ and Hauser, D and Hernández-García, J and Kirbis, A and Meeks, JC and Monte, I and Mutte, SK and Neubauer, A and Quandt, D and Robison, T and Shimamura, M and Rensing, SA and Villarreal, JC and Weijers, D and Wicke, S and Wong, GK and Sakakibara, K and Szövényi, P}, title = {Anthoceros genomes illuminate the origin of land plants and the unique biology of hornworts.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {259-272}, pmid = {32170292}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Anthocerotophyta/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Embryophyta/*physiology ; *Genome, Plant ; *Life History Traits ; }, abstract = {Hornworts comprise a bryophyte lineage that diverged from other extant land plants >400 million years ago and bears unique biological features, including a distinct sporophyte architecture, cyanobacterial symbiosis and a pyrenoid-based carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM). Here, we provide three high-quality genomes of Anthoceros hornworts. Phylogenomic analyses place hornworts as a sister clade to liverworts plus mosses with high support. The Anthoceros genomes lack repeat-dense centromeres as well as whole-genome duplication, and contain a limited transcription factor repertoire. Several genes involved in angiosperm meristem and stomatal function are conserved in Anthoceros and upregulated during sporophyte development, suggesting possible homologies at the genetic level. We identified candidate genes involved in cyanobacterial symbiosis and found that LCIB, a Chlamydomonas CCM gene, is present in hornworts but absent in other plant lineages, implying a possible conserved role in CCM function. We anticipate that these hornwort genomes will serve as essential references for future hornwort research and comparative studies across land plants.}, } @article {pmid32169625, year = {2020}, author = {Bandy, A}, title = {Ringing bells: Morganella morganii fights for recognition.}, journal = {Public health}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {45-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.puhe.2020.01.016}, pmid = {32169625}, issn = {1476-5616}, mesh = {Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/*epidemiology/microbiology/mortality ; Humans ; Morganella morganii/*pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The global increase in rare opportunistic microbial infections is alarming. The current review was undertaken to study the diversified disease spectrum, pathogenicity, and resistance patterns of Morganella morganii.

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a review of the diversified disease spectrum of M. morganii.

METHODS: The articles used in this review were all extracted from PubMed and Google Scholar, using the terms 'M. morganii', 'prevalence', 'virulence factors', 'infections', 'resistance pattern', and 'genomics'. This review includes original articles, reviews, and case reports focusing on M. morganii, hospital-based prevalence studies, and studies on resistance in M. morganii published between 1906 and April 2019. Articles published in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese were reviewed.

RESULTS: M. morganii has had a significant impact as a clinical pathogen and the pace of its occurrence and the increase in its resistance rates puts this bacterium on the path to becoming the next 'superbug'. These developments not only impact M. morganii, but as a result of gene and plasmid transfer evolution, other clinical pathogens have been able to acquire their diverse intrinsic and acquired virulence genes. Its vast host range raises concerns around its capacity to generate new infections through novel symbiotic relationships.

CONCLUSIONS: M. morganii opportunism is being increasingly reported across the globe. This bacterium is accumulating intrinsic and acquired multidrug resistance genes, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality rates for M. morganii infections and complicating its treatment. M. morganii should be recognized as a clinically significant pathogen, and clinicians should place this microorganism in the list of causative possibilities during patient care. It is important for both the infection control activities in hospitals and in public health sector.}, } @article {pmid32169602, year = {2020}, author = {Behera, J and Ison, J and Tyagi, SC and Tyagi, N}, title = {The role of gut microbiota in bone homeostasis.}, journal = {Bone}, volume = {135}, number = {}, pages = {115317}, pmid = {32169602}, issn = {1873-2763}, support = {R01 AR067667/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR071789/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL107640/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bone and Bones ; Brain ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestines ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota (GM) is referred to as the second gene pool of the human body and a commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganism living in our intestines. The knowledge of the complex interaction between intestinal microbiota and health outcomes is a novel and rapidly expanding the field. Earlier studies have reported that the microbial communities affect the cellular responses and shape many aspects of physiology and pathophysiology within the body, including muscle and bone metabolism (formation and resorption). GM influences the skeletal homeostasis via affecting the host metabolism, immune function, hormone secretion, and the gut-brain axis. The premise of this review is to discuss the role of GM on bone homeostasis and skeletal muscle mass function. This review also opens up new perspectives for pathophysiological studies by establishing the presence of a 'microbiota-skeletal' axis and raising the possibility of innovative new treatments for skeletal development.}, } @article {pmid32169316, year = {2020}, author = {Boudehouche, W and Parker, MA and Boulila, F}, title = {Relationships of Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating three Algerian Genista species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {126074}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126074}, pmid = {32169316}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Computational Biology/methods ; Genes, Essential ; Genista/classification/*microbiology ; Haplotypes ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Mediterranean world is the cradle for the diversification of a large number of plant species, including legumes belonging to the Tribe Genisteae. Nodule bacteria from three species of Genista legumes indigenous to northwestern Africa (G. ferox, G. numidica, G. tricuspidata) were sampled across a 150km region of Algeria in order to investigate symbiotic relationships. Partial 23S rRNA sequences from 107 isolates indicated that Bradyrhizobium was the predominant symbiont genus (96% of isolates), with the remainder belonging to Rhizobium or Mesorhizobium. A multilocus sequence analysis on 46 Bradyrhizobium strains using seven housekeeping (HK) genes showed that strains were differentiated into multiple clades with affinities to seven species: B. canariense (17 isolates), B. japonicum (2), B. ottawaense (2), B. cytisi/B. rifense (9), 'B. valentinum' (5), and B. algeriense (11). Extensive discordance between the HK gene phylogeny and a tree for four loci in the symbiosis island (SI) region implied that horizontal transfer of SI loci has been common. Cases of close symbiont relationship across pairs of legumes hosts were evident, with 33% of isolates having as their closest relative a strain sampled from a different Genista species. Nevertheless, tree permutation tests also showed that there was substantial host-related phylogenetic clustering. Thus, each of the three Genista hosts utilized a measurably different array of bacterial lineages.}, } @article {pmid32168550, year = {2020}, author = {Madan, S and Mehra, MR}, title = {Gut dysbiosis and heart failure: navigating the universe within.}, journal = {European journal of heart failure}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {629-637}, doi = {10.1002/ejhf.1792}, pmid = {32168550}, issn = {1879-0844}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Heart Failure ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Stroke Volume ; }, abstract = {Alternations in gut microbial composition (i.e. loss of microbial diversity or 'gut dysbiosis') have been associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). It has also been suggested that increased chronic low-level inflammation and immune system dysregulation seen in patients with HFrEF could be related to gut dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability. Hence, the concept of modulating gut microbial composition with the goal of reducing systemic inflammation and controlling HFrEF progression has generated a substantial interest in the scientific community. However, several challenges to the gut dysbiosis theory remain as the exact gut microbial composition in HFrEF patients in these studies is not the same and a common microbiome linked to HFrEF is not yet established. With the advances in culture independent sequencing techniques it has also become evident that the gut microbiome may be much more diverse than previously believed. Further, various 'omic' technologies have enabled us to appreciate the potential role of gut microbial metabolites in various physiological processes in the host. Hence, identification of specific gut microbial metabolites may offer an alternative approach at solving this gut microbiome-HFrEF puzzle. In the current review, we evaluate the concept of gut symbiosis, the potential role of gut dysbiosis in systemic inflammation and HFrEF, and finally highlight the challenges faced by the gut dysbiosis theory in HFrEF and provide a framework for the possible solutions.}, } @article {pmid32167220, year = {2021}, author = {Tan, SQ and Yin, Y and Cao, KL and Zhao, XX and Wang, XY and Zhang, YX and Shi, WP}, title = {Effects of a combined infection with Paranosema locustae and Beauveria bassiana on Locusta migratoria and its gut microflora.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {347-354}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12776}, pmid = {32167220}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/*physiology ; China ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Locusta migratoria/growth & development/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Microsporidia/*physiology ; Nymph/growth & development/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Even though Paranosema locustae is widely used in China as a biological agent for controlling grasshoppers, the mortality rate is initially quite low. This study sought to determine whether the simultaneous use of P. locustae and Beauveria bassiana would be a more effective control strategy. Additionally, changes in the intestinal microbial communities of migratory locusts infected with the two pathogens were analyzed to investigate the roles of gut microbes in pathogen-host interactions. The mortality rate of locusts inoculated with B. bassiana and P. locustae simultaneously was not significantly higher than expected, but the mortality rates of locusts inoculated with B. bassiana 3, 6, and 9 days after inoculation with P. locustae were significantly higher than if their effects were additive, indicating synergism. A MiSeq analysis found that Weissella was the most common bacterium, representing 41.48% and 51.62% of the total bacteria in the mid- and hindguts, respectively, and the bacterial declines were greatest during dual infections with B. bassiana and P. locustae. The appropriately timed combined application of P. locustae and B. bassiana was more effective against locusts than either treatment alone. Moreover, the combined inoculation of the two pathogens changed the gut microflora of locusts, indicating the potential relevancy of their synergistic effects on locust control.}, } @article {pmid32167008, year = {2020}, author = {Yu, L and Wang, L and Yi, H and Wu, X}, title = {Beneficial effects of LRP6-CRISPR on prevention of alcohol-related liver injury surpassed fecal microbiota transplant in a rat model.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {1015-1029}, pmid = {32167008}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genetic Therapy ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/microbiology/*therapy ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6/*genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Alcohol intake can modify gut microbiota composition, increase gut permeability, and promote liver fibrogenesis. LRP6 is a signal transmembrane protein and a co-receptor for the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This study compared the curative effect of LRP6-CRISPR on alcohol-related liver injury with that of traditional fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and investigated the alteration of the gut microbiome following the treatment. A rat model of alcohol-related liver injury was established and injected with lentiviral vectors expressing LRP6-CRISPR or administered with fecal filtrate from healthy rats, with healthy rat served as the control. Liver tissues of rats were examined by HE staining, Sirius staining, and Oil red O staining, respectively. The expression of LRP6 and fibrosis biomarkers were tested by PCR. The fecal sample of rats was collected and examined by 16S rRNA sequencing. Our data indicated that LRP6-CRISPR was more efficient in the prevention of alcohol-related liver injury than FMT. Microbiome analysis showed that alcohol-related liver injury related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, while treatment with LRP6-CRISPR or FMT increased gut microflora diversity and improved gut symbiosis. Further, bacteria specific to the disease stages were identified. Genera Romboutsia, Escherichia-Shigella, Pseudomonas, Turicibacter, and Helicobacter were prevalent in the intestine of rats with alcohol-related liver injury, while the domination of Lactobacillus was found in rats treated with LRP6-CRISPR or FMT. Besides, Lactobacillus and genera belonging to family Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroidales S24-7 group, and Ruminococcaceae were enriched in healthy rats. LRP6-CRISPR and FMT have beneficial effects on the prevention of alcohol-related liver injury, and correspondently, both treatments altered the disrupted gut microflora to a healthy one.}, } @article {pmid32166359, year = {2020}, author = {Paulitsch, F and Dall'Agnol, RF and Delamuta, JRM and Ribeiro, RA and da Silva Batista, JS and Hungria, M}, title = {Paraburkholderia atlantica sp. nov. and Paraburkholderia franconis sp. nov., two new nitrogen-fixing nodulating species isolated from Atlantic forest soils in Brazil.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {6}, pages = {1369-1380}, pmid = {32166359}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Base Composition/genetics ; Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Forests ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {A polyphasic study was conducted with 11 strains trapped by Mimosa pudica and Phaseolus vulgaris grown in soils of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, one clade of strains (Psp1) showed higher similarity with Paraburkholderia piptadeniae STM7183[T] (99.6%), whereas the second (Psp6) was closely related to Paraburkholderia tuberum STM678[T] (99%). An MLSA (multilocus sequence analysis) with four (recA, gyrB, trpB and gltB) housekeeping genes placed both Psp1 and Psp6 strains in new clades, and BOX-PCR profiles indicated high intraspecific genetic diversity within each clade. Values of digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) of the whole genome sequences were of 56.9 and 94.4% between the Psp1 strain CNPSo 3157[T] and P. piptadeniae; and of 49.7% and 92.7% between the Psp6 strain CNPSo 3155[T] and P. tuberum, below the threshold for species delimitation. In the nodC analysis, Psp1 strains clustered together with P. piptadeniae, while Psp6 did not group with any symbiotic Paraburkholderia. Other phenotypic, genotypic and symbiotic properties were evaluated. The polyphasic analysis supports that the strains represent two novel species, for which the names Paraburkholderia franconis sp. nov. with type strain CNPSo 3157[T] (= ABIP 241, = LMG 31644) and Paraburkholderia atlantica sp. nov. with type strain CNPSo 3155[T] (= ABIP 236, = LMG 31643) are proposed.}, } @article {pmid32165390, year = {2020}, author = {Zilli, JÉ and Simoes-Araujo, JL and Rouws, LFM and de Barros Soares, LH}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium elkanii BR 2003, an Efficient Rhizobium Strain for Cajanus, Canavalia, Crotalaria, and Indigofera.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {32165390}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report here the annotated draft genome sequence of the rhizobium strain BR 2003. This strain is able to establish symbiosis and to fix nitrogen with a broad range of leguminous species. The estimation of the average nucleotide identity confirmed the strain as a member of Bradyrhizobium elkanii.}, } @article {pmid32164262, year = {2020}, author = {Robledo, M and García-Tomsig, NI and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Riboregulation in Nitrogen-Fixing Endosymbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32164262}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are ubiquitous components of bacterial adaptive regulatory networks underlying stress responses and chronic intracellular infection of eukaryotic hosts. Thus, sRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression is expected to play a major role in the establishment of mutualistic root nodule endosymbiosis between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and legume plants. However, knowledge about this level of genetic regulation in this group of plant-interacting bacteria is still rather scarce. Here, we review insights into the rhizobial non-coding transcriptome and sRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of symbiotic relevant traits such as nutrient uptake, cell cycle, quorum sensing, or nodule development. We provide details about the transcriptional control and protein-assisted activity mechanisms of the functionally characterized sRNAs involved in these processes. Finally, we discuss the forthcoming research on riboregulation in legume symbionts.}, } @article {pmid32163588, year = {2020}, author = {Hoang, NT and Tóth, K and Stacey, G}, title = {The role of microRNAs in the legume-Rhizobium nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {5}, pages = {1668-1680}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa018}, pmid = {32163588}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Homeostasis ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Under nitrogen starvation, most legume plants form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria. The bacteria induce the formation of a novel organ called the nodule in which rhizobia reside as intracellular symbionts and convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. During this symbiosis, miRNAs are essential for coordinating the various plant processes required for nodule formation and function. miRNAs are non-coding, endogenous RNA molecules, typically 20-24 nucleotides long, that negatively regulate the expression of their target mRNAs. Some miRNAs can move systemically within plant tissues through the vascular system, which mediates, for example, communication between the stem/leaf tissues and the roots. In this review, we summarize the growing number of miRNAs that function during legume nodulation focusing on two model legumes, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, and two important legume crops, soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). This regulation impacts a variety of physiological processes including hormone signaling and spatial regulation of gene expression. The role of mobile miRNAs in regulating legume nodule number is also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid32163151, year = {2020}, author = {Morrow, JL and Schneider, DI and Klasson, L and Janitz, C and Miller, WJ and Riegler, M}, title = {Parallel Sequencing of Wolbachia wCer2 from Donor and Novel Hosts Reveals Multiple Incompatibility Factors and Genome Stability after Host Transfers.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {720-735}, pmid = {32163151}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {P 22634/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 28255/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Cytoplasm/*genetics ; Drosophila/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genomic Instability ; *Host Specificity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The application of Wolbachia in insect pest and vector control requires the establishment of genotypically stable host associations. The cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) inducing Wolbachia strain wCer2 naturally occurs in the cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cerasi as co-infection with other strains and was transferred to other fruit fly species by embryonic microinjections. We obtained wCer2 genome data from its native and three novel hosts, Drosophila simulans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Ceratitis capitata and assessed its genome stability, characteristics, and CI factor (cif) genes. De novo assembly was successful from Wolbachia cell-enriched singly infected D. simulans embryos, with minimal host and other bacterial genome traces. The low yield of Wolbachia sequence reads from total genomic extracts of one multiply infected R. cerasi pupa and one singly infected C. capitata adult limited de novo assemblies but was sufficient for comparative analyses. Across hosts wCer2 was stable in genome synteny and content. Polymorphic nucleotide sites were found in wCer2 of each host; however, only one nucleotide was different between R. cerasi and C. capitata, and none between replicated D. simulans lines. The wCer2 genome is highly similar to wAu (D. simulans), wMel (D. melanogaster), and wRec (Drosophila recens). In contrast to wMel and wRec (each with one cif gene pair) and wAu (without any cif genes), wCer2 has three pairs of Type I cif genes, and one Type V cifB gene without a cifA complement. This may explain previously reported CI patterns of wCer2, including incomplete rescue of its own CI modification in three novel host species.}, } @article {pmid32163141, year = {2020}, author = {Greshake Tzovaras, B and Segers, FHID and Bicker, A and Dal Grande, F and Otte, J and Anvar, SY and Hankeln, T and Schmitt, I and Ebersberger, I}, title = {What Is in Umbilicaria pustulata? A Metagenomic Approach to Reconstruct the Holo-Genome of a Lichen.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {309-324}, pmid = {32163141}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/growth & development ; *Genome, Fungal ; Lichens/*genetics/growth & development ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are valuable models in symbiosis research and promising sources of biosynthetic genes for biotechnological applications. Most lichenized fungi grow slowly, resist aposymbiotic cultivation, and are poor candidates for experimentation. Obtaining contiguous, high-quality genomes for such symbiotic communities is technically challenging. Here, we present the first assembly of a lichen holo-genome from metagenomic whole-genome shotgun data comprising both PacBio long reads and Illumina short reads. The nuclear genomes of the two primary components of the lichen symbiosis-the fungus Umbilicaria pustulata (33 Mb) and the green alga Trebouxia sp. (53 Mb)-were assembled at contiguities comparable to single-species assemblies. The analysis of the read coverage pattern revealed a relative abundance of fungal to algal nuclei of ∼20:1. Gap-free, circular sequences for all organellar genomes were obtained. The bacterial community is dominated by Acidobacteriaceae and encompasses strains closely related to bacteria isolated from other lichens. Gene set analyses showed no evidence of horizontal gene transfer from algae or bacteria into the fungal genome. Our data suggest a lineage-specific loss of a putative gibberellin-20-oxidase in the fungus, a gene fusion in the fungal mitochondrion, and a relocation of an algal chloroplast gene to the algal nucleus. Major technical obstacles during reconstruction of the holo-genome were coverage differences among individual genomes surpassing three orders of magnitude. Moreover, we show that GC-rich inverted repeats paired with nonrandom sequencing error in PacBio data can result in missing gene predictions. This likely poses a general problem for genome assemblies based on long reads.}, } @article {pmid32161575, year = {2020}, author = {Noh, HJ and Lee, YM and Park, CH and Lee, HK and Cho, JC and Hong, SG}, title = {Microbiome in Cladonia squamosa Is Vertically Stratified According to Microclimatic Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {268}, pmid = {32161575}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lichens are miniature ecosystems that contain fungi, microalgae, and bacteria. It is generally accepted that symbiosis between mycobiont and photobiont and microbial contribution to the ecosystem support the wide distribution of lichens in terrestrial ecosystems, including polar areas. The composition of symbiotic components can be affected by subtle microenvironmental differences within a thallus, as well as large-scale climate differences. In this study, we investigated fine-scale profiles of algal, fungal, and bacterial compositions through horizontal and vertical positions of the Antarctic lichen Cladonia squamosa colonies by next-generation sequencing of the nuclear large subunit rRNA gene (nucLSU) of eukaryotes and the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria. Apical parts of thalli were exposed to strong light, low moisture, and high variability of temperature compared with basal parts. Microbial diversity increased from apical parts to basal parts of thalli. Asterochloris erici was the major photobiont in apical positions of thalli, but other microalgal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Trebouxiophyceae and Ulvophyceae were major microalgal components in basal positions. Photochemical responses of algal components from apical and basal parts of thalli were quite different under variable temperature and humidity conditions. Several fungal OTUs that belonged to Arthoniomycetes and Lecanoromycetes, and diverse bacterial OTUs that belonged to Alphaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria_Gp1, and candidate division WPS-2 showed a clear distribution pattern according to their vertical positions within thalli. The overall lichen microbiome was significantly differentiated by the vertical position within a thallus. These results imply that different microclimate are formed at different lichen thallus parts, which can affect microbial compositions and physiological responses according to positions within the thalli.}, } @article {pmid32161299, year = {2020}, author = {Claar, DC and Tietjen, KL and Cox, KD and Gates, RD and Baum, JK}, title = {Chronic disturbance modulates symbiont (Symbiodiniaceae) beta diversity on a coral reef.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4492}, pmid = {32161299}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; *Ecosystem ; Human Activities ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chronic disturbance can disrupt ecological interactions including the foundational symbiosis between reef-building corals and the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae. Symbiodiniaceae are photosynthetic endosymbionts necessary for coral survival, but many Symbiodiniaceae can also be found free-living in the environment. Since most coral species acquire new Symbiodiniaceae from the environment each generation, free-living Symbiodiniaceae represent important pools for coral symbiont acquisition. Yet, little is known about the diversity of, or impacts of disturbance on, free-living Symbiodiniaceae. To determine how chronic and pulse disturbances influence Symbiodiniaceae communities, we sampled three reef habitat compartments - sediment, water, and coral (Pocillopora grandis, Montipora aequituberculata, Porites lobata) - at sites exposed to different levels of chronic anthropogenic disturbance, before, during, and after a major storm. Almost no (4%) Symbiodiniaceae amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were found in all three compartments, and over half were found uniquely in coral. Sites experiencing chronic disturbance were typically associated with higher symbiont beta diversity (i.e., variability and turnover) across reef habitat compartments. Pulse stress, from the storm, exhibited some influence on symbiont beta diversity but the effect was inconsistent. This suggests that in this ecosystem, the effects of chronic disturbance are more prominent than temporal variability during a pulse disturbance for shaping symbiont communities.}, } @article {pmid32160875, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, Y and Xiao, G and Zhou, W and Gao, Y and Li, Z and Du, G and Chen, B}, title = {Midgut microbiota diversity of potato tuber moth associated with potato tissue consumed.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {58}, pmid = {32160875}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {31660537//National Natural Science Foundation of China (CN)/International ; 31760519//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 2018YFD0200703//National Key Research and Development Program of China/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Herbivory ; Moths/*microbiology/physiology ; Organ Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Tubers/microbiology/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Solanum tuberosum/*microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a worldwide pest that feeds on both the leaves and tubers of potato plants. PTM larvae can digest leaves, or tubers, resulting in serious damage to potato plants in the field and potato tubers in storage. To understand how midgut bacterial diversity is influenced by the consumption of these two tissue types, the symbiotic bacteria in the potato-feeding PTM midgut and the endophytic bacteria of potato tissues were analyzed.

RESULTS: At the genus level, the bacterial community composition in the PTM midgut was influenced by the tissues consumed, owing to their different nutrient contents. Escherichia_Shigella and Enterobacter were the most dominant genera in the midgut of leaf-feeding and tuber-feeding PTMs, respectively. Interestingly, even though only present in low abundance in leaves and tubers, Escherichia_Shigella were dominantly distributed only in the midgut of leaf-feeding PTMs, indicating that specific accumulation of these genera have occurred by feeding on leaves. Moreover, Enterobacter, the most dominant genus in the midgut of tuber-feeding PTMs, was undetectable in all potato tissues, indicating it is gut-specific origin and tuber feeding-specific accumulation. Both Escherichia_Shigella and Enterobacter abundances were positively correlated with the dominant contents of potato leaves and tubers, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Enrichment of specific PTM midgut bacterial communities was related to different nutrient levels in different tissues consumed by the insect, which in turn influenced host utilization. We provide evidence that a portion of the intestinal microbes of PTMs may be derived from potato endophytic bacteria and improve the understanding of the relationship between potato endophytic bacteria and the gut microbiota of PTMs, which may offer support for integrated management of this worldwide pest.}, } @article {pmid32160315, year = {2020}, author = {Salomaki, ED and Lane, CE}, title = {Response to Preuss and Zuccarello (2020): biological definitions that can be unambiguously applied for red algal parasites.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {833-835}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12987}, pmid = {32160315}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Parasites ; Phylogeny ; Plastids ; *Rhodophyta ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In response to a comment in this issue on our proposal of new terminology to distinguish red algal parasites, we clarify a few key issues. The terms adelphoparasite and alloparasite were previously used to identify parasites that infected close or distant relatives. However, most red algal parasites have only been studied morphologically, and molecular tools have shown that these binary terms do a poor job at representing the range of parasite-host relationships. We recognize the need to clarify inferred misconceptions that appear to be drawing from historical terminology to contaminate our new definitions. We did not intend to replace the term adelphoparasite with neoplastic parasites and the term alloparasites with archaeplastic parasites. Rather, we seek to establish new terms for discussing red algal parasites, based on the retention of a native plastid, a binary biological trait that is relatively easy to identify using modern methods and has biological implications for the interactions between a parasite and its host. The new terminology can better account for the spectrum of relationships and developmental patterns found among the many independently evolved red algal parasites, and it is intended to inspire new research, particularly the role of plastids in the survival and evolution of red algal parasites.}, } @article {pmid32159733, year = {2020}, author = {Nelson, CA and Pérez-Chada, LM and Creadore, A and Li, SJ and Lo, K and Manjaly, P and Pournamdari, AB and Tkachenko, E and Barbieri, JS and Ko, JM and Menon, AV and Hartman, RI and Mostaghimi, A}, title = {Patient Perspectives on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Skin Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study.}, journal = {JAMA dermatology}, volume = {156}, number = {5}, pages = {501-512}, pmid = {32159733}, issn = {2168-6084}, support = {UL1 TR001863/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AR007465/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; *Artificial Intelligence ; Biopsy ; Early Detection of Cancer/methods ; Female ; Grounded Theory ; Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Mass Screening/*methods ; Melanoma/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Observer Variation ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Qualitative Research ; Reproducibility of Results ; Skin Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; }, abstract = {IMPORTANCE: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding throughout the field of medicine. In dermatology, researchers are evaluating the potential for direct-to-patient and clinician decision-support AI tools to classify skin lesions. Although AI is poised to change how patients engage in health care, patient perspectives remain poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how patients conceptualize AI and perceive the use of AI for skin cancer screening.

A qualitative study using a grounded theory approach to semistructured interview analysis was conducted in general dermatology clinics at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and melanoma clinics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Forty-eight patients were enrolled. Each interview was independently coded by 2 researchers with interrater reliability measurement; reconciled codes were used to assess code frequency. The study was conducted from May 6 to July 8, 2019.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Artificial intelligence concept, perceived benefits and risks of AI, strengths and weaknesses of AI, AI implementation, response to conflict between human and AI clinical decision-making, and recommendation for or against AI.

RESULTS: Of 48 patients enrolled, 26 participants (54%) were women; mean (SD) age was 53.3 (21.7) years. Sixteen patients (33%) had a history of melanoma, 16 patients (33%) had a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer only, and 16 patients (33%) had no history of skin cancer. Twenty-four patients were interviewed about a direct-to-patient AI tool and 24 patients were interviewed about a clinician decision-support AI tool. Interrater reliability ratings for the 2 coding teams were κ = 0.94 and κ = 0.89. Patients primarily conceptualized AI in terms of cognition. Increased diagnostic speed (29 participants [60%]) and health care access (29 [60%]) were the most commonly perceived benefits of AI for skin cancer screening; increased patient anxiety was the most commonly perceived risk (19 [40%]). Patients perceived both more accurate diagnosis (33 [69%]) and less accurate diagnosis (41 [85%]) to be the greatest strength and weakness of AI, respectively. The dominant theme that emerged was the importance of symbiosis between humans and AI (45 [94%]). Seeking biopsy was the most common response to conflict between human and AI clinical decision-making (32 [67%]). Overall, 36 patients (75%) would recommend AI to family members and friends.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this qualitative study, patients appeared to be receptive to the use of AI for skin cancer screening if implemented in a manner that preserves the integrity of the human physician-patient relationship.}, } @article {pmid32157725, year = {2020}, author = {Speijer, D}, title = {Debating Eukaryogenesis-Part 2: How Anachronistic Reasoning Can Lure Us into Inventing Intermediates.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {e1900153}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201900153}, pmid = {32157725}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic origins are inextricably linked with the arrival of a pre-mitochondrion of alphaproteobacterial-like ancestry. However, the nature of the "host" cell and the mode of entry are subject to heavy debate. It is becoming clear that the mutual adaptation of a relatively simple, archaeal host and the endosymbiont has been the defining influence at the beginning of the eukaryotic lineage; however, many still resist such symbiogenic models. In part 1, it is posited that a symbiotic stage before uptake ("pre-symbiosis") seems essential to allow further metabolic integration of the two partners ending in endosymbiosis. Thus, the author argued against phagocytic mechanisms (in which the bacterium is prey or parasite) as the mode of entry. Such positions are still broadly unpopular. Here it is explained why. Evolutionary thinking, especially in the case of eukaryogenesis, is still dominated by anachronistic reasoning, in which highly derived protozoan organisms are seen as in some way representative of intermediate steps during eukaryotic evolution, hence poisoning the debate. This reasoning reflects a mind-set that ignores that Darwinian evolution is a fundamentally historic process. Numerous examples of this kind of erroneous reasoning are given, and some basic precautions against its use are formulated. Also see the video abstract here https://youtu.be/ekqtNleVJpU.}, } @article {pmid32157534, year = {2020}, author = {Melo, CR and Oliveira, BMS and Santos, ACC and Silva, JE and Ribeiro, GT and Blank, AF and Araújo, APA and Bacci, L}, title = {Synergistic effect of aromatic plant essential oils on the ant Acromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and antifungal activity on its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Agaricales: Agaricaceae).}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {14}, pages = {17303-17313}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-020-08170-z}, pmid = {32157534}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents ; *Ants ; *Oils, Volatile ; Plant Oils ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants have great potential for damage to agricultural and forest crops. Although chemical control is the most used method for the management of this pest, more friendly alternative methods have been investigated. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal and antifungal potential of essential oils obtained from Aristolochia trilobata, as well as the potential of two chemotypes of Myrcia lundiana and their major compounds (isopulegol and citral) on Acromyrmex balzani and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Toxicity and synergism and/or antagonism tests were performed using essential oils and their major compounds on A. balzani ants. The antifungal activity of these compounds was tested on the fungus L. gongylophorus. The essential oils and their major compounds were toxic to A. balzani. The mixture of essential oils of A. trilobata with those of M. lundiana had higher toxicity to the ants. This synergistic effect is mainly due to the interactions between the citral compound and the major compounds present in A. trilobata essential oil. The essential oils of M. lundiana chemotypes showed antifungal properties against L. gongylophorus, and the citral compound proved to have fungicidal activity. These results show that the use of M. lundiana and A. trilobata essential oils and their major compounds is a potential alternative for the management of leaf-cutting ants A. balzani, as they have a toxic effect on worker ants and antifungal activity on their symbiotic fungus.}, } @article {pmid32157312, year = {2020}, author = {Dellagi, A and Quillere, I and Hirel, B}, title = {Beneficial soil-borne bacteria and fungi: a promising way to improve plant nitrogen acquisition.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {15}, pages = {4469-4479}, pmid = {32157312}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant productivity, thus, it is abundantly applied to the soil in the form of organic or chemical fertilizers that have negative impacts on the environment. Exploiting the potential of beneficial microbes and identifying crop genotypes that can capitalize on symbiotic associations may be possible ways to significantly reduce the use of N fertilizers. The best-known example of symbiotic association that can reduce the use of N fertilizers is the N2-fixing rhizobial bacteria and legumes. Bacterial taxa other than rhizobial species can develop associative symbiotic interactions with plants and also fix N. These include bacteria of the genera Azospirillum, Azotobacter, and Bacillus, some of which are commercialized as bio-inoculants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are other microorganisms that can develop symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants, favoring access to nutrients in a larger soil volume through their extraradical mycelium. Using combinations of different beneficial microbial species is a promising strategy to boost plant N acquisition and foster a synergistic beneficial effect between symbiotic microorganisms. Complex biological mechanisms including molecular, metabolic, and physiological processes dictate the establishment and efficiency of such multipartite symbiotic associations. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge and future prospects regarding plant N nutrition improvement through the use of beneficial bacteria and fungi associated with plants, individually or in combination.}, } @article {pmid32156819, year = {2020}, author = {Tivey, TR and Parkinson, JE and Weis, VM}, title = {Host and Symbiont Cell Cycle Coordination Is Mediated by Symbiotic State, Nutrition, and Partner Identity in a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32156819}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Cycle ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/*physiology ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Sea Anemones/cytology/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The cell cycle is a critical component of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and response to stress, yet its role in the regulation of intracellular symbioses is not well understood. To explore host-symbiont cell cycle coordination in a marine symbiosis, we employed a model for coral-dinoflagellate associations: the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida) and its native microalgal photosymbionts (Breviolum minutum and Breviolum psygmophilum). Using fluorescent labeling and spatial point-pattern image analyses to characterize cell population distributions in both partners, we developed protocols that are tailored to the three-dimensional cellular landscape of a symbiotic sea anemone tentacle. Introducing cultured symbiont cells to symbiont-free adult hosts increased overall host cell proliferation rates. The acceleration occurred predominantly in the symbiont-containing gastrodermis near clusters of symbionts but was also observed in symbiont-free epidermal tissue layers, indicating that the presence of symbionts contributes to elevated proliferation rates in the entire host during colonization. Symbiont cell cycle progression differed between cultured algae and those residing within hosts; the endosymbiotic state resulted in increased S-phase but decreased G2/M-phase symbiont populations. These phenotypes and the deceleration of cell cycle progression varied with symbiont identity and host nutritional status. These results demonstrate that host and symbiont cells have substantial and species-specific effects on the proliferation rates of their mutualistic partners. This is the first empirical evidence to support species-specific regulation of the symbiont cell cycle within a single cnidarian-dinoflagellate association; similar regulatory mechanisms likely govern interpartner coordination in other coral-algal symbioses and shape their ecophysiological responses to a changing climate.IMPORTANCE Biomass regulation is critical to the overall health of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses. Despite the central role of the cell cycle in the growth and proliferation of cnidarian host cells and dinoflagellate symbionts, there are few studies that have examined the potential for host-symbiont coregulation. This study provides evidence for the acceleration of host cell proliferation when in local proximity to clusters of symbionts within cnidarian tentacles. The findings suggest that symbionts augment the cell cycle of not only their enveloping host cells but also neighboring cells in the epidermis and gastrodermis. This provides a possible mechanism for rapid colonization of cnidarian tissues. In addition, the cell cycles of symbionts differed depending on nutritional regime, symbiotic state, and species identity. The responses of cell cycle profiles to these different factors implicate a role for species-specific regulation of symbiont cell cycles within host cnidarian tissues.}, } @article {pmid32155796, year = {2020}, author = {Meron, D and Maor-Landaw, K and Eyal, G and Elifantz, H and Banin, E and Loya, Y and Levy, O}, title = {The Complexity of the Holobiont in the Red Sea Coral Euphyllia paradivisa under Heat Stress.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32155796}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The recognition of the microbiota complexity and their role in the evolution of their host is leading to the popularization of the holobiont concept. However, the coral holobiont (host and its microbiota) is still enigmatic and unclear. Here, we explore the complex relations between different holobiont members of a mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa. We subjected two lines of the coral-with photosymbionts, and without photosymbionts (apo-symbiotic)-to increasing temperatures and to antibiotics. The different symbiotic states were characterized using transcriptomics, microbiology and physiology techniques. The bacterial community's composition is dominated by bacteroidetes, alphaproteobacteria, and gammaproteobacteria, but is dependent upon the symbiont state, colony, temperature treatment, and antibiotic exposure. Overall, the most important parameter determining the response was whether the coral was a symbiont/apo-symbiotic, while the colony and bacterial composition were secondary factors. Enrichment Gene Ontology analysis of coral host's differentially expressed genes demonstrated the cellular differences between symbiotic and apo-symbiotic samples. Our results demonstrate the significance of each component of the holobiont consortium and imply a coherent link between them, which dramatically impacts the molecular and cellular processes of the coral host, which possibly affect its fitness, particularly under environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid32155669, year = {2020}, author = {Green, KA and Berry, D and Feussner, K and Eaton, CJ and Ram, A and Mesarich, CH and Solomon, P and Feussner, I and Scott, B}, title = {Lolium perenne apoplast metabolomics for identification of novel metabolites produced by the symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {2}, pages = {559-571}, pmid = {32155669}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Epichloe/genetics ; Fungal Proteins ; *Lolium ; Metabolomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae is an endophytic fungus that forms a symbiotic association with Lolium perenne. Here we analysed how the metabolome of the ryegrass apoplast changed upon infection of this host with sexual and asexual isolates of E. festucae. A metabolite fingerprinting approach was used to analyse the metabolite composition of apoplastic wash fluid from uninfected and infected L. perenne. Metabolites enriched or depleted in one or both of these treatments were identified using a set of interactive tools. A genetic approach in combination with tandem MS was used to identify a novel product of a secondary metabolite gene cluster. Metabolites likely to be present in the apoplast were identified using MarVis in combination with the BioCyc and KEGG databases, and an in-house Epichloë metabolite database. We were able to identify the known endophyte-specific metabolites, peramine and epichloëcyclins, as well as a large number of unknown markers. To determine whether these methods can be applied to the identification of novel Epichloë-derived metabolites, we deleted a gene encoding a NRPS (lgsA) that is highly expressed in planta. Comparative MS analysis of apoplastic wash fluid from wild-type- vs mutant-infected plants identified a novel Leu/Ile glycoside metabolite present in the former.}, } @article {pmid32153547, year = {2020}, author = {Jenei, S and Tiricz, H and Szolomájer, J and Tímár, E and Klement, É and Al Bouni, MA and Lima, RM and Kata, D and Harmati, M and Buzás, K and Földesi, I and Tóth, GK and Endre, G and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Potent Chimeric Antimicrobial Derivatives of the Medicago truncatula NCR247 Symbiotic Peptide.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {270}, pmid = {32153547}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, the bacteria are converted into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. In many legume species, differentiation of the endosymbiotic bacteria is irreversible, culminating in definitive loss of their cell division ability. This terminal differentiation is mediated by plant peptides produced in the symbiotic cells. In Medicago truncatula more than ∼700 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides are involved in this process. We have shown previously that NCR247 and NCR335 have strong antimicrobial activity on various pathogenic bacteria and identified interaction of NCR247 with many bacterial proteins, including FtsZ and several ribosomal proteins, which prevent bacterial cell division and protein synthesis. In this study we designed and synthetized various derivatives of NCR247, including shorter fragments and various chimeric derivatives. The antimicrobial activity of these peptides was tested on the ESKAPE bacteria; Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli as a member of Enterobacteriaceae and in addition Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica. The 12 amino acid long C-terminal half of NCR247, NCR247C partially retained the antimicrobial activity and preserved the multitarget interactions with partners of NCR247. Nevertheless NCR247C became ineffective on S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and L. monocytogenes. The chimeric derivatives obtained by fusion of NCR247C with other peptide fragments and particularly with a truncated mastoparan sequence significantly increased bactericidal activity and altered the antimicrobial spectrum. The minimal bactericidal concentration of the most potent derivatives was 1.6 μM, which is remarkably lower than that of most classical antibiotics. The killing activity of the NCR247-based chimeric peptides was practically instant. Importantly, these peptides had no hemolytic activity or cytotoxicity on human cells. The properties of these NCR derivatives make them promising antimicrobials for clinical use.}, } @article {pmid32153322, year = {2020}, author = {Moradi Tarnabi, Z and Iranbakhsh, A and Mehregan, I and Ahmadvand, R}, title = {Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on gene expression of some cell wall and membrane elements of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under water deficit using transcriptome analysis.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {143-162}, pmid = {32153322}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiotic relationship is one of the most common collaborations between plant roots and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The first barrier for establishing this symbiosis is plant cell wall which strongly provides protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression changes in cell wall of wheat root cv. Chamran after inoculation with AMF, Funneliformis mosseae under two different irrigation regimes. To carry out this investigation, total RNA was extracted from the roots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, and analyzed using RNA-Seq in an Illumina Next-Seq 500 platform. The results showed that symbiotic association between wheat and AMF and irrigation not only affect transcription profile of the plant growth, but also cell wall and membrane components. Of the 114428 genes expressed in wheat roots, the most differentially expressed genes were related to symbiotic plants under water stress. The most differentially expressed genes were observed in carbohydrate metabolic process, lipid metabolic process, cellulose synthase activity, membrane transports, nitrogen compound metabolic process and chitinase activity related genes. Our results indicated alteration in cell wall and membrane composition due to mycorrhization and irrigation regimes might have a noteworthy effect on the plant tolerance to water deficit.}, } @article {pmid32152589, year = {2020}, author = {Donaldson, GP and Chou, WC and Manson, AL and Rogov, P and Abeel, T and Bochicchio, J and Ciulla, D and Melnikov, A and Ernst, PB and Chu, H and Giannoukos, G and Earl, AM and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Spatially distinct physiology of Bacteroides fragilis within the proximal colon of gnotobiotic mice.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {746-756}, pmid = {32152589}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {R01 AI079145/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK120515/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K99 DK110534/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DK110534/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI110818/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteroides fragilis/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Colitis/microbiology ; Colon/*microbiology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Germ-Free Life ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Male ; Mice ; Sulfonic Acids ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {A complex microbiota inhabits various microenvironments of the gut, with some symbiotic bacteria having evolved traits to invade the epithelial mucus layer and reside deep within the intestinal tissue of animals. Whether these distinct bacterial communities across gut biogeographies exhibit divergent behaviours is largely unknown. Global transcriptomic analysis to investigate microbial physiology in specific mucosal niches has been hampered technically by an overabundance of host RNA. Here, we employed hybrid selection RNA sequencing (hsRNA-Seq) to enable detailed spatial transcriptomic profiling of a prominent human commensal as it colonizes the colonic lumen, mucus or epithelial tissue of mice. Compared to conventional RNA-Seq, hsRNA-Seq increased reads mapping to the Bacteroides fragilis genome by 48- and 154-fold in mucus and tissue, respectively, allowing for high-fidelity comparisons across biogeographic sites. Near the epithelium, B. fragilis upregulated numerous genes involved in protein synthesis, indicating that bacteria inhabiting the mucosal niche are metabolically active. Further, a specific sulfatase (BF3086) and glycosyl hydrolase (BF3134) were highly induced in mucus and tissue compared to bacteria in the lumen. In-frame deletion of these genes impaired in vitro growth on mucus as a carbon source, as well as mucosal colonization of mice. Mutants in either B. fragilis gene displayed a fitness defect in competing for colonization against bacterial challenge, revealing the importance of site-specific gene expression for robust host-microbial symbiosis. As a versatile tool, hsRNA-Seq can be deployed to explore the in vivo spatial physiology of numerous bacterial pathogens or commensals.}, } @article {pmid32152186, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, T}, title = {DREPP in Nanodomains Regulates Microtubule Fragmentation during Symbiotic Infection.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {1357-1358}, pmid = {32152186}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Humans ; *Infections ; *Medicago truncatula ; Microtubules ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid32152006, year = {2020}, author = {Sejour, R and Sanguino, RA and Mikolajczak, M and Ahmadi, W and Villa-Cuesta, E}, title = {Sirt4 Modulates Oxidative Metabolism and Sensitivity to Rapamycin Through Species-Dependent Phenotypes in Drosophila mtDNA Haplotypes.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {1599-1612}, pmid = {32152006}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {R15 GM113156/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Drosophila/drug effects/genetics ; Drosophila Proteins/genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/drug effects/genetics ; Haplotypes ; Mitochondria/genetics ; *Oxidative Stress ; Phenotype ; Sirolimus/*pharmacology ; Sirtuins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiotic theory proposes that eukaryotes evolved from the symbiotic relationship between anaerobic (host) and aerobic prokaryotes. Through iterative genetic transfers, the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes coevolved, establishing the mitochondria as the hub of oxidative metabolism. To study this coevolution, we disrupt mitochondrial-nuclear epistatic interactions by using strains that have mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) from evolutionarily divergent species. We undertake a multifaceted approach generating introgressed Drosophila strains containing D. simulans mtDNA and D. melanogaster nDNA with Sirtuin 4 (Sirt4)-knockouts. Sirt4 is a nuclear-encoded enzyme that functions, exclusively within the mitochondria, as a master regulator of oxidative metabolism. We exposed flies to the drug rapamycin in order to eliminate TOR signaling, thereby compromising the cytoplasmic crosstalk between the mitochondria and nucleus. Our results indicate that D. simulans and D. melanogaster mtDNA haplotypes display opposite Sirt4-mediated phenotypes in the regulation of whole-fly oxygen consumption. Moreover, our data reflect that the deletion of Sirt4 rescued the metabolic response to rapamycin among the introgressed strains. We propose that Sirt4 is a suitable candidate for studying the properties of mitochondrial-nuclear epistasis in modulating mitochondrial metabolism.}, } @article {pmid32151461, year = {2019}, author = {Chriswell, ME and Kuhn, KA}, title = {Microbiota-mediated mucosal inflammation in arthritis.}, journal = {Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {101492}, pmid = {32151461}, issn = {1532-1770}, support = {K08 DK107905/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR075033/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Arthritis/microbiology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunity, Mucosal ; *Inflammation ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Mucosal surfaces are a unique symbiotic environment between a host and a vast and diverse ecology of microbes. These microbes have great immunomodulatory potential with respect to the host organism. Indeed, the mucosal immune system strikes a delicate balance between tolerance of commensal organisms and overt inflammation to ward off pathogens. Disruptions of the microbial ecology at mucosal surfaces has been described in a vast number of different human disease processes including many forms of arthritis, and the resulting implications are still being understood to their fullest. Herein, we review the current state of knowledge in microbe-host interactions as it relates to the development of arthritis through bacterial translocation, bacterial metabolite production, education of the immune response, and molecular mimicry.}, } @article {pmid32148831, year = {2020}, author = {Faraki, A and Noori, N and Gandomi, H and Banuree, SAH and Rahmani, F}, title = {Effect of Auricularia auricula aqueous extract on survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-12 and on sensorial and functional properties of synbiotic yogurt.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {1254-1263}, pmid = {32148831}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {The effect of Auricularia auricula aqueous extract (AAE) on the survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium bifidum Bb-12, and on chemical and sensory properties of yogurt was investigated during 28 days of storage at 4°C. The use of 0.05% of AAE improved the survival of L. acidophilus La-5 and B. bifidum Bb-12 about 0.35 and 0.58 log CFU/g, respectively. However, AAE in 0.1% concentration enhanced the survival of L. acidophilus La-5 and B. bifidum Bb-12 about 0.43 and 0.51 log CFU/g, respectively. Moreover, 0.1% concentration of AAE drastically increased antioxidant activity and total phenolic content to 115.30 mg BHT eq./kg and 1,057.6 mg Gallic acid/kg after 28 days, respectively. Addition of AAE to the yogurt significantly decreased sensorial acceptance while increased syneresis compared to the control group (p < .05). In conclusion, the results of this study showed that addition of AAE improved probiotic protection and functional properties of the yogurt recommending its application in symbiotic yogurt.}, } @article {pmid32147825, year = {2020}, author = {Rillig, MC and Aguilar-Trigueros, CA and Anderson, IC and Antonovics, J and Ballhausen, MB and Bergmann, J and Bielcik, M and Chaudhary, VB and Deveautour, C and Grünfeld, L and Hempel, S and Lakovic, M and Lammel, DR and Lehmann, A and Lehmann, J and Leifheit, EF and Liang, Y and Li, E and Lozano, YM and Manntschke, A and Mansour, I and Oviatt, P and Pinek, L and Powell, JR and Roy, J and Ryo, M and Sosa-Hernández, MA and Veresoglou, SD and Wang, D and Yang, G and Zhang, H}, title = {Myristate and the ecology of AM fungi: significance, opportunities, applications and challenges.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {6}, pages = {1610-1614}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16527}, pmid = {32147825}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Myristates ; Myristic Acid ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A recent study by Sugiura and coworkers reported the non-symbiotic growth and spore production of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, when the fungus received an external supply of certain fatty acids, myristates (C:14). This discovery follows the insight that AM fungi receive fatty acids from their hosts when in symbiosis. If this result holds up and can be repeated under nonsterile conditions and with a broader range of fungi, it has numerous consequences for our understanding of AM fungal ecology, from the level of the fungus, at the plant community level, and to functional consequences in ecosystems. In addition, myristate may open up several avenues from a more applied perspective, including improved fungal culture and supplementation of AM fungi or inoculum in the field. We here map these potential opportunities, and additionally offer thoughts on potential risks of this potentially new technology. Lastly, we discuss the specific research challenges that need to be overcome to come to an understanding of the potential role of myristate in AM ecology.}, } @article {pmid32146514, year = {2020}, author = {Gao, Y and Zhao, Z and Li, J and Liu, N and Jacquemyn, H and Guo, S and Xing, X}, title = {Do fungal associates of co-occurring orchids promote seed germination of the widespread orchid species Gymnadenia conopsea?.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {2-3}, pages = {221-228}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-020-00943-1}, pmid = {32146514}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions with mycorrhizal fungi have been increasingly recognized as one of the most important ecological factors determining the distribution and local abundance of orchids. While some orchid species may interact with a variety of fungal associates, others are more specific in their choice of mycorrhizal partners. Moreover, orchids that co-occur at a given site, often associate with different partners, possibly to avoid competition and to allow stable coexistence. However, whether differences in mycorrhizal partners directly affect seed germination and subsequent protocorm formation remains largely unknown. In this research, we used in vitro germination experiments to investigate to what extent seed germination and protocorm formation of Gymnadenia conopsea was affected by the origin and identity of fungal associates. Fungi were isolated from G. conopsea and three other co-occurring orchid species (Dactylorhiza viridis (Coeloglossum viride), Herminium monorchis, and Platanthera chlorantha). In total, eight fungal associates, belonging to Tulasnellaceae, Ceratobasidiaceae, and Serendipitaceae, were successfully isolated and cultured. While all eight fungal strains were able to promote early germination of G. conopsea seeds, only fungal strain GS2, a member of the Ceratobasidiaceae isolated from G. conopsea itself, was able to promote protocorm formation and subsequent growth to a seedling. Two other fungal strains isolated from G. conopsea only supported seed germination until the protocorm formation stage. The other five fungal strains isolated from the co-occurring orchid species did not support seed germination beyond the protocorm stage. We conclude that, although G. conopsea is considered a mycorrhizal generalist that associates with a wide range of fungi during its adult life, it requires specific fungi to promote protocorm formation and growth to a seedling.}, } @article {pmid32145318, year = {2020}, author = {Abrams, EM and Simons, E and Roos, L and Hurst, K and Protudjer, JLP}, title = {Qualitative analysis of perceived impacts on childhood food allergy on caregiver mental health and lifestyle.}, journal = {Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology}, volume = {124}, number = {6}, pages = {594-599}, doi = {10.1016/j.anai.2020.02.016}, pmid = {32145318}, issn = {1534-4436}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological ; Anxiety ; *Caregivers ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/psychology ; Humans ; Infant ; *Life Style ; Male ; *Mental Health ; *Perception ; Qualitative Research ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Approximately 8% of children have food allergy. Yet, little is known about how parents cope with the burden of this disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the perceptions of food allergy-related mental health issues of parents of children with food allergy.

METHODS: Parents of children with pediatric allergist-diagnosed food allergy were recruited through allergy clinics and education centers in a large Canadian city. We used content analysis to identify overarching themes.

RESULTS: We interviewed 21 parents with children (boys [13/21; 62.9%]) aged younger than 12 months to 16 years. Interviews averaged 47 (range 33-82) minutes. Most children were diagnosed as infants, and few (7/21; 33.3%) were monoallergic. About one-half (7/16; 43.8%) had a history of anaphylaxis. Parents of children with a single food allergy spoke of "accommodation and adaptation." In contrast, parents of children with multiple food allergies described "anxiety and isolation" and spoke of being "depressed" and "terrified" about leaving their children in the care of others who may not be equipped to handle food allergy. Many parents felt "overwhelmed and alone," especially if they lacked support from extended family and/or their social circle. "Fear for today, fear for the future" was commonly described by parents, although a tenuous symbiotic coexistence was developed, with parents stating "Food allergy management has become our normal." Finally, a small group of parents reported that "Bullying happens, but we are alone to cope with it."

CONCLUSION: Multiple food allergies negatively affect the mental health of parents, in a variety of well-being domains.}, } @article {pmid32144505, year = {2020}, author = {Kuzhuppillymyal-Prabhakarankutty, L and Tamez-Guerra, P and Gomez-Flores, R and Rodriguez-Padilla, MC and Ek-Ramos, MJ}, title = {Endophytic Beauveria bassiana promotes drought tolerance and early flowering in corn.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {47}, pmid = {32144505}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Beauveria/*physiology ; *Droughts ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Flowers/*growth & development ; Germination ; Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Seeds/growth & development/microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin (B. bassiana) is an entomopathogenic fungus that establishes endophytic symbiosis with plants. In the present study, the effects of B. bassiana strains colonization in growing Zea mays L. (Z. mays), crop production, and drought tolerance were evaluated. Z. mays seeds were inoculated with B. bassiana strains (GHA, PTG4, and PTG6), using 1 × 10[6] blastospores/mL and methyl cellulose (MC) or cornstarch (CS) as adherents. Colonization was determined by B. bassiana recovery from plant tissues plated on PDA medium. Plant height, fresh and dry weight, and flowering time were analyzed to assess plant performance. Drought tolerance was evaluated by stopping watering for 10 days, watering again, and determining vigor recovery after 24 h. Results showed 100% endophytic roots colonization, regardless of adherent type or strain tested. Colonization was variable in shoots and leaves, but GHA strain achieved the highest inoculation rates, including 88% in stems and 50% in leaves, which did not depend on adherent type used; for PTG4 strain, adherent type had an important effect (MC = 100% stems and leaves; CS = 63% stems and 25% leaves). For PTG6 strain, the best adherent type was CS (71% stems and 75% leaves), whereas MC showed variable inoculation percentage (25% stems and 75% leaves). Interestingly, only MCPTG4 treatment showed consistent positive effects on germination percentage (day 5 = 46 ± 2%; day 14 = 87 ± 7%) compared with controls (CC = 63 ± 4%, CMC = 50 ± 3%, CCS = 47 ± 0%). In addition, the other treatments showed low germination percentages at day 5 (7 ± 7% to 46 ± 2%), which recovered at day 14 (53 ± 0% to 73 ± 8%), except for MCPTG6 treatment with 23 ± 10% germination. About plant performance, not significant effects on plant height and fresh/dry weight in all the treatments were observed. However, B. bassiana-treated plants, using either GHA, PTG4 or PTG6 strains, and MC as adherent, showed tolerance to drought and flowered one to two weeks earlier, providing evidence supporting further applications of these seed treatments in agricultural systems, for abiotic stress sustainable management practices.}, } @article {pmid32143559, year = {2020}, author = {Klonowska, A and Moulin, L and Ardley, JK and Braun, F and Gollagher, MM and Zandberg, JD and Marinova, DV and Huntemann, M and Reddy, TBK and Varghese, NJ and Woyke, T and Ivanova, N and Seshadri, R and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, WG}, title = {Novel heavy metal resistance gene clusters are present in the genome of Cupriavidus neocaledonicus STM 6070, a new species of Mimosa pudica microsymbiont isolated from heavy-metal-rich mining site soil.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {214}, pmid = {32143559}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cadmium/metabolism ; Cupriavidus/*drug effects/*genetics ; Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Nickel/toxicity ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/drug effects/genetics ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Synteny/genetics ; Zinc/toxicity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cupriavidus strain STM 6070 was isolated from nickel-rich soil collected near Koniambo massif, New Caledonia, using the invasive legume trap host Mimosa pudica. STM 6070 is a heavy metal-tolerant strain that is highly effective at fixing nitrogen with M. pudica. Here we have provided an updated taxonomy for STM 6070 and described salient features of the annotated genome, focusing on heavy metal resistance (HMR) loci and heavy metal efflux (HME) systems.

RESULTS: The 6,771,773 bp high-quality-draft genome consists of 107 scaffolds containing 6118 protein-coding genes. ANI values show that STM 6070 is a new species of Cupriavidus. The STM 6070 symbiotic region was syntenic with that of the M. pudica-nodulating Cupriavidus taiwanensis LMG 19424[T]. In contrast to the nickel and zinc sensitivity of C. taiwanensis strains, STM 6070 grew at high Ni[2+] and Zn[2+] concentrations. The STM 6070 genome contains 55 genes, located in 12 clusters, that encode HMR structural proteins belonging to the RND, MFS, CHR, ARC3, CDF and P-ATPase protein superfamilies. These HMR molecular determinants are putatively involved in arsenic (ars), chromium (chr), cobalt-zinc-cadmium (czc), copper (cop, cup), nickel (nie and nre), and silver and/or copper (sil) resistance. Seven of these HMR clusters were common to symbiotic and non-symbiotic Cupriavidus species, while four clusters were specific to STM 6070, with three of these being associated with insertion sequences. Within the specific STM 6070 HMR clusters, three novel HME-RND systems (nieIC cep nieBA, czcC2B2A2, and hmxB zneAC zneR hmxS) were identified, which constitute new candidate genes for nickel and zinc resistance.

CONCLUSIONS: STM 6070 belongs to a new Cupriavidus species, for which we have proposed the name Cupriavidus neocaledonicus sp. nov.. STM6070 harbours a pSym with a high degree of gene conservation to the pSyms of M. pudica-nodulating C. taiwanensis strains, probably as a result of recent horizontal transfer. The presence of specific HMR clusters, associated with transposase genes, suggests that the selection pressure of the New Caledonian ultramafic soils has driven the specific adaptation of STM 6070 to heavy-metal-rich soils via horizontal gene transfer.}, } @article {pmid32143469, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, X and Li, X and Xing, F and Chen, C and Huang, G and Gao, Y}, title = {Interaction Between Root Exudates of the Poisonous Plant Stellera chamaejasme L. and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32143469}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The growth of a large number of poisonous plants is an indicator of grassland degradation. Releasing allelochemicals through root exudates is one of the strategies with which poisonous plants affect neighboring plants in nature. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form a mutualistic symbiosis with most of the higher plants. However, the manner of interaction between root exudates of poisonous plants and AMF on neighboring herbage in grasslands remains poorly understood. Stellera chamaejasme L., a common poisonous plant with approved allelopathy, is widely distributed with the dominant grass of Leymus chinensis in the degradeds of Northern China. In this study, we investigated the addition of S. chamaejasme root exudates (SRE), the inoculation of AMF, and their interaction on the growth and tissue nitrogen contents of L. chinensis, the characteristics of rhizosphere AMF, and soil physicochemical properties. Results showed that SRE had significant effects on ramet number, aboveground biomass, and total nitrogen of L. chinensis in a concentration dependent manner. Additionally, SRE had a significant negative effect on the rate of mycorrhiza infection and spore density of the AMF. Meanwhile, the addition of SRE significantly affected soil pH, electrical conductivity, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), total nitrogen (TN), and total carbon (TC) contents; while neither inoculation of AMF itself nor the interaction of AMF with SRE significantly affected the growth of L. chinensis. The interaction between AMF and SRE dramatically changed the pH, AP, and TC of rhizosphere soil. Therefore, we suggested SRE of S. chamaejasme affected the growth of L. chinensis by altering soil pH and nutrient availability. AMF could change the effect of SRE on soil nutrients and have the potential to regulate the allelopathic effects of S. chamaejasme and the interspecific interaction between the two plant species. We have provided new evidence for the allelopathic mechanism of S. chamaejasme and the regulation effects of AMF on the interspecific relationship between poisonous plants and neighboring plants. Our findings reveal the complex interplay between the root exudates of poisonous plants and rhizosphere AMF in regulating population growth and dynamics of neighboring plants in degraded grassland ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid32143345, year = {2020}, author = {Quiroga, G and Erice, G and Aroca, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Elucidating the Possible Involvement of Maize Aquaporins in the Plant Boron Transport and Homeostasis Mediated by Rhizophagus irregularis under Drought Stress Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32143345}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Aquaporins/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Boron/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll/chemistry ; Culture Media ; *Droughts ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis ; Phosphorylation ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Plant Stomata ; Pollen ; Soil ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water/chemistry ; Zea mays/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for higher plants, having structural roles in primary cell walls, but also other functions in cell division, membrane integrity, pollen germination or metabolism. Both high and low B levels negatively impact crop performance. Thus, plants need to maintain B concentration in their tissues within a narrow range by regulating transport processes. Both active transport and protein-facilitated diffusion through aquaporins have been demonstrated. This study aimed at elucidating the possible involvement of some plant aquaporins, which can potentially transport B and are regulated by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in the plant B homeostasis. Thus, AM and non-AM plants were cultivated under 0, 25 or 100 μM B in the growing medium and subjected or not subjected to drought stress. The accumulation of B in plant tissues and the regulation of plant aquaporins and other B transporters were analyzed. The benefits of AM inoculation on plant growth (especially under drought stress) were similar under the three B concentrations assayed. The tissue B accumulation increased with B availability in the growing medium, especially under drought stress conditions. Several maize aquaporins were regulated under low or high B concentrations, mainly in non-AM plants. However, the general down-regulation of aquaporins and B transporters in AM plants suggests that, when the mycorrhizal fungus is present, other mechanisms contribute to B homeostasis, probably related to the enhancement of water transport, which would concomitantly increase the passive transport of this micronutrient.}, } @article {pmid32142706, year = {2020}, author = {Dharamshi, JE and Tamarit, D and Eme, L and Stairs, CW and Martijn, J and Homa, F and Jørgensen, SL and Spang, A and Ettema, TJG}, title = {Marine Sediments Illuminate Chlamydiae Diversity and Evolution.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {1032-1048.e7}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.016}, pmid = {32142706}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Arctic Regions ; *Biological Evolution ; Chlamydiales/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {The bacterial phylum Chlamydiae is so far composed of obligate symbionts of eukaryotic hosts. Well known for Chlamydiaceae, pathogens of humans and other animals, Chlamydiae also include so-called environmental lineages that primarily infect microbial eukaryotes. Environmental surveys indicate that Chlamydiae are found in a wider range of environments than anticipated previously. However, the vast majority of this chlamydial diversity has been underexplored, biasing our current understanding of their biology, ecological importance, and evolution. Here, we report that previously undetected and active chlamydial lineages dominate microbial communities in deep anoxic marine sediments taken from the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. Reaching relative abundances of up to 43% of the bacterial community, and a maximum diversity of 163 different species-level taxonomic units, these Chlamydiae represent important community members. Using genome-resolved metagenomics, we reconstructed 24 draft chlamydial genomes, expanding by over a third the known genomic diversity in this phylum. Phylogenomic analyses revealed several novel clades across the phylum, including a previously unknown sister lineage of the Chlamydiaceae, providing new insights into the origin of pathogenicity in this family. We were unable to identify putative eukaryotic hosts for these marine sediment chlamydiae, despite identifying genomic features that may be indicative of host-association. The high abundance and genomic diversity of Chlamydiae in these anoxic marine sediments indicate that some members could play an important, and thus far overlooked, ecological role in such environments and may indicate alternate lifestyle strategies.}, } @article {pmid32141700, year = {2020}, author = {Glowska, E and Filutowska, ZK and Dabert, M and Gerth, M}, title = {Microbial composition of enigmatic bird parasites: Wolbachia and Spiroplasma are the most important bacterial associates of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae).}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e964}, pmid = {32141700}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Birds/*parasitology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Feathers/*parasitology ; Microbiota ; Mites/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spiroplasma/*classification/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*classification/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbiome is an integral component of many animal species, potentially affecting behavior, physiology, and other biological properties. Despite this importance, bacterial communities remain vastly understudied in many groups of invertebrates, including mites. Quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) are a poorly known group of permanent bird ectoparasites that occupy quills of feathers and feed on bird subcutaneous tissue and fluids. Most of the known species have strongly female-biased sex ratio, and it was hypothesized that this is caused by endosymbiotic bacteria. Previously, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie) and a high diversity of Wolbachia strains were detected in quill mites via targeted PCR screens. Here, we use an unbiased 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach to determine other bacteria that potentially impact quill mite biology.

RESULTS: We performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of 126 quill mite individuals from eleven species parasitizing twelve species (four families) of passeriform birds. In addition to Wolbachia, we found Spiroplasma as potential symbiont of quill mites. Consistently, high Spiroplasma titers were only found in individuals of two mite species associated with finches of the genus Carduelis, suggesting a history of horizontal transfers of Spiroplasma via the bird host. Furthermore, there was evidence for Spiroplasma negatively affecting Wolbachia titers. We found no evidence for the previously reported Anaplasma in quill mites, but detected sequences of high similarity to the potential pathogens Brucella and Bartonella at low abundances. Other amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) could be assigned to a diverse number of bacterial taxa, including several that were previously isolated from bird skin. Further, many frequently found ASVs were assigned to taxa that show a very broad distribution with no strong prior evidence for symbiotic association with animals. We interpret these findings as evidence for a scarcity of resident microbial associates (other than inherited symbionts) in quill mites.}, } @article {pmid32140376, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, F and Nong, X and Hao, K and Cai, N and Wang, G and Liu, S and Ullah, H and Zhang, Z}, title = {Identification of the key genes involved in the regulation of symbiotic pathways induced by Metarhizium anisopliae in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) roots.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {124}, pmid = {32140376}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {We detected and compared the mRNA and protein expression levels of immunity-associated and symbiosis-associated genes in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) roots inoculated with entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae or the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum, by RT-qPCR and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). The selected genes were mainly associated with plant-fungus interactions, signal transduction, regulation of cell death, nitrogen or iron metabolism, nutrient acquisition or transport, and compound synthesis based on previous transcriptome analysis. The results showed that the host basal defense responses were significantly inhibited by both M. anisopliae and F. oxysporum, which suggests that both fungi actively suppress the host immunity for successful colonization and infection. However, only F. oxysporum induced a strong host hypersensitivity, which indicates that the host is strongly resisting F. oxysporum but potentially allowing M. anisopliae. Additionally, the genes (SYMRK, CaM, CCaMK, FRI2, ABCC2, F6H1, SCT, NRT24 and LTP1) related to symbiosis and growth were distinctively observed with an up-regulated expression following M. anisopliae treatment, which implies that the host was actively initiating the establishment of symbiosis with the fungus. This study revealed a synergistic relationship between host immunosuppression and the promotion of symbiosis during interactions with M. anisopliae. It suggested that M. anisopliae benefited plant for symbiotic relationship, in addition to controlling herbivorous insects as an entomopathogen.}, } @article {pmid32140179, year = {2020}, author = {Li, Y and Lei, L and Zheng, L and Xiao, X and Tang, H and Luo, C}, title = {Genome sequencing of gut symbiotic Bacillus velezensis LC1 for bioethanol production from bamboo shoots.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {34}, pmid = {32140179}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bamboo, a lignocellulosic feedstock, is considered as a potentially excellent raw material and evaluated for lignocellulose degradation and bioethanol production, with a focus on using physical and chemical pre-treatment. However, studies reporting the biodegradation of bamboo lignocellulose using microbes such as bacteria and fungi are scarce.

RESULTS: In the present study, Bacillus velezensis LC1 was isolated from Cyrtotrachelus buqueti, in which the symbiotic bacteria exhibited lignocellulose degradation ability and cellulase activities. We performed genome sequencing of B. velezensis LC1, which has a 3929,782-bp ring chromosome and 46.5% GC content. The total gene length was 3,502,596 bp using gene prediction, and the GC contents were 47.29% and 40.04% in the gene and intergene regions, respectively. The genome contains 4018 coding DNA sequences, and all have been assigned predicted functions. Carbohydrate-active enzyme annotation identified 136 genes annotated to CAZy families, including GH, GTs, CEs, PLs, AAs and CBMs. Genes involved in lignocellulose degradation were identified. After a 6-day treatment, the bamboo shoot cellulose degradation efficiency reached 39.32%, and the hydrolysate was subjected to ethanol fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli KO11, yielding 7.2 g/L of ethanol at 96 h.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide an insight for B. velezensis strains in converting lignocellulose into ethanol. B. velezensis LC1, a symbiotic bacteria, can potentially degrade bamboo lignocellulose components and further transformation to ethanol, and expand the bamboo lignocellulosic bioethanol production.}, } @article {pmid32139173, year = {2020}, author = {Joglekar, P and Mesa, CP and Richards, VA and Polson, SW and Wommack, KE and Fuhrmann, JJ}, title = {Polyphasic analysis reveals correlation between phenotypic and genotypic analysis in soybean bradyrhizobia (Bradyrhizobium spp.).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {126073}, pmid = {32139173}, issn = {1618-0984}, support = {P20 GM103446/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acyltransferases/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; *Genotype ; *Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Serologic Tests ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Soybean bradyrhizobia (Bradyrhizobium spp.) are bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen within the root nodules of soybean, a crop critical for meeting global nutritional protein demand. Members of this group differ in symbiotic effectiveness, and historically both phenotypic and genotypic approaches have been used to assess bradyrhizobial diversity. However, agreement between various approaches of assessment is poorly known. A collection (n=382) of soybean bradyrhizobia (Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. diazoefficiens, and B. elkanii) were characterized by Internal Transcribed Spacer - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (ITS-RFLP), cellular fatty acid composition (fatty acid methyl esters, FAME), and serological reactions to assess agreement between phenotypic and genotypic methods. Overall, 76% of the accessions demonstrated identical clustering with each of these techniques. FAME was able to identify all 382 accessions, whereas 14% were non-reactive serologically. One ITS-RFLP group, containing 36 Delaware isolates, produced multiple ITS amplicons indicating they possess multiple ribosomal RNA (rrn) operons. Cloning and sequencing revealed that these strains contained as many as three heterogenous rrn operons, a trait previously unknown in bradyrhizobia. A representative subset of 96 isolates was further characterized using 16S rRNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) amplicon sequencing. ITS sequences showed better inter- and intra-species discrimination (65-99% identity) than 16S sequences (96-99% identity). This study shows that phenotypic and genotypic approaches are strongly correlated at the species level but should be approached with caution. We also suggest using combined 16S and ITS genotyping data to obtain better inter- and intra-species resolution in bradyrhizobia classification.}, } @article {pmid32134991, year = {2020}, author = {Pearson, T and Sahl, JW and Hepp, CM and Handady, K and Hornstra, H and Vazquez, AJ and Settles, E and Mayo, M and Kaestli, M and Williamson, CHD and Price, EP and Sarovich, DS and Cook, JM and Wolken, SR and Bowen, RA and Tuanyok, A and Foster, JT and Drees, KP and Kidd, TJ and Bell, SC and Currie, BJ and Keim, P}, title = {Pathogen to commensal? Longitudinal within-host population dynamics, evolution, and adaptation during a chronic >16-year Burkholderia pseudomallei infection.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {e1008298}, pmid = {32134991}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {U54 MD012388/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia pseudomallei/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Chronic Disease/therapy ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Melioidosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle Aged ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although acute melioidosis is the most common outcome of Burkholderia pseudomallei infection, we have documented a case, P314, where disease severity lessened with time, and the pathogen evolved towards a commensal relationship with the host. In the current study, we used whole-genome sequencing to monitor this long-term symbiotic relationship to better understand B. pseudomallei persistence in P314's sputum despite intensive initial therapeutic regimens. We collected and sequenced 118 B. pseudomallei isolates from P314's airways over a >16-year period, and also sampled the patient's home environment, recovering six closely related B. pseudomallei isolates from the household water system. Using comparative genomics, we identified 126 SNPs in the core genome of the 124 isolates or 162 SNPs/indels when the accessory genome was included. The core SNPs were used to construct a phylogenetic tree, which demonstrated a close relationship between environmental and clinical isolates and detailed within-host evolutionary patterns. The phylogeny had little homoplasy, consistent with a strictly clonal mode of genetic inheritance. Repeated sampling revealed evidence of genetic diversification, but frequent extinctions left only one successful lineage through the first four years and two lineages after that. Overall, the evolution of this population is nonadaptive and best explained by genetic drift. However, some genetic and phenotypic changes are consistent with in situ adaptation. Using a mouse model, P314 isolates caused greatly reduced morbidity and mortality compared to the environmental isolates. Additionally, potentially adaptive phenotypes emerged and included differences in the O-antigen, capsular polysaccharide, motility, and colony morphology. The >13-year co-existence of two long-lived lineages presents interesting hypotheses that can be tested in future studies to provide additional insights into selective pressures, niche differentiation, and microbial adaptation. This unusual melioidosis case presents a rare example of the evolutionary progression towards commensalism by a highly virulent pathogen within a single human host.}, } @article {pmid32132880, year = {2020}, author = {Nikolouli, K and Sassù, F and Mouton, L and Stauffer, C and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Combining sterile and incompatible insect techniques for the population suppression of Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Journal of pest science}, volume = {93}, number = {2}, pages = {647-661}, pmid = {32132880}, issn = {1612-4758}, abstract = {The spotted wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has recently invaded Europe and the Americas, and it is a major threat for a wide variety of commercial soft fruits both in open field and greenhouse production systems. D. suzukii infests a wide range of ripening fruits, leading to substantial yield and revenue losses. As the application of insecticides close to the harvest period poses great concerns, the development of an efficient environment-friendly control approach to fight D. suzukii is necessary. In this study, we exploited the sterile insect technique (SIT) in combination with Wolbachia symbiosis as a population suppression approach that can constitute a potential component of an area-wide integrated pest management program. We aimed to establish a combined SIT/incompatible insect technique (IIT) protocol that would require lower irradiation doses as a complementary tool for D. suzukii management. Two D. suzukii lines trans-infected with the Wolbachia wHa and wTei strains were irradiated at doses four times less than usual (e.g., 45 Gy), and the egg hatching and adult emergence were determined. Our results indicated that wHa and wTei females as well as wHa males were sterile at this low dose. The longevity, adult emergence and flight ability of adults were evaluated, and no major effect caused by irradiation was detected. Our data indicate that a SIT/IIT protocol can be a competent approach for D. suzukii management.}, } @article {pmid32131457, year = {2020}, author = {Taghinasab, M and Jabaji, S}, title = {Cannabis Microbiome and the Role of Endophytes in Modulating the Production of Secondary Metabolites: An Overview.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32131457}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Plants, including cannabis (Cannabis sativa subsp. sativa), host distinct beneficial microbial communities on and inside their tissues and organs, including seeds. They contribute to plant growth, facilitating mineral nutrient uptake, inducing defence resistance against pathogens, and modulating the production of plant secondary metabolites. Understanding the microbial partnerships with cannabis has the potential to affect the agricultural practices by improving plant fitness and the yield of cannabinoids. Little is known about this beneficial cannabis-microbe partnership, and the complex relationship between the endogenous microbes associated with various tissues of the plant, and the role that cannabis may play in supporting or enhancing them. This review will consider cannabis microbiota studies and the effects of endophytes on the elicitation of secondary metabolite production in cannabis plants. The review aims to shed light on the importance of the cannabis microbiome and how cannabinoid compound concentrations can be stimulated through symbiotic and/or mutualistic relationships with endophytes.}, } @article {pmid32130695, year = {2020}, author = {Baffy, G}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Cancer of the Host: Colliding Interests.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1219}, number = {}, pages = {93-107}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-34025-4_5}, pmid = {32130695}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Neoplasms/immunology/*metabolism/therapy ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Cancer develops in multicellular organisms from cells that ignore the rules of cooperation and escape the mechanisms of anti-cancer surveillance. Tumorigenesis is jointly encountered by the host and microbiota, a vast collection of microorganisms that live on the external and internal epithelial surfaces of the body. The largest community of human microbiota resides in the gastrointestinal tract where commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms interact with the intestinal barrier and gut mucosal lymphoid tissue, creating a tumor microenvironment in which cancer cells thrive or perish. Aberrant composition and function of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) has been associated with tumorigenesis by inducing inflammation, promoting cell growth and proliferation, weakening immunosurveillance, and altering food and drug metabolism or other biochemical functions of the host. However, recent research has also identified several mechanisms through which gut microbiota support the host in the fight against cancer. These mechanisms include the use of antigenic mimicry, biotransformation of chemotherapeutic agents, and other mechanisms to boost anti-cancer immune responses and improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Further research in this rapidly advancing field is expected to identify additional microbial metabolites with tumor suppressing properties, map the complex interactions of host-microbe 'transkingdom network' with cancer cells, and elucidate cellular and molecular pathways underlying the impact of specific intestinal microbial configurations on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.}, } @article {pmid32130694, year = {2020}, author = {Nunes, SC and Serpa, J}, title = {Recycling the Interspecific Relations with Epithelial Cells: Bacteria and Cancer Metabolic Symbiosis.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1219}, number = {}, pages = {77-91}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-34025-4_4}, pmid = {32130694}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cervix Uteri/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Colon/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Epithelial Cells/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Microbiota/physiology ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several aspects of the human physiology are controlled by the microbiota that plays a key role in health and disease. In fact, microbial dysbiosis is associated with numerous diseases, including several types of cancer such as colon, gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, laryngeal, breast and gallbladder carcinomas.Metabolic symbiosis between non-malignant cells and the resident microbita is crucial for the host homeostasis. However, cancer cells are able to repurpose the pre-existing metabolic symbiosis, being able to recycle those relations and also create novel metabolic symbiosis, leading to profound alterations on the local microenvironment.In here we will explore some of these symbiotic metabolic interactions between bacteria and non-malignant cells in two different contexts: colon and uterine cervix. The way malignant cells are able to recycle these normal interactions and also create novel types of symbiotic metabolic relations will also be discussed.The knowledge of these complex interactions and recycling mechanisms is of extreme importance for cancer treatment, as new therapeutic targets could be developed.}, } @article {pmid32130512, year = {2020}, author = {Rimington, WR and Duckett, JG and Field, KJ and Bidartondo, MI and Pressel, S}, title = {The distribution and evolution of fungal symbioses in ancient lineages of land plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {23-49}, pmid = {32130512}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Embryophyta ; Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An accurate understanding of the diversity and distribution of fungal symbioses in land plants is essential for mycorrhizal research. Here we update the seminal work of Wang and Qiu (Mycorrhiza 16:299-363, 2006) with a long-overdue focus on early-diverging land plant lineages, which were considerably under-represented in their survey, by examining the published literature to compile data on the status of fungal symbioses in liverworts, hornworts and lycophytes. Our survey combines data from 84 publications, including recent, post-2006, reports of Mucoromycotina associations in these lineages, to produce a list of at least 591 species with known fungal symbiosis status, 180 of which were included in Wang and Qiu (Mycorrhiza 16:299-363, 2006). Using this up-to-date compilation, we estimate that fewer than 30% of liverwort species engage in symbiosis with fungi belonging to all three mycorrhizal phyla, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, with the last being the most widespread (17%). Fungal symbioses in hornworts (78%) and lycophytes (up to 100%) appear to be more common but involve only members of the two Mucoromycota subphyla Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina, with Glomeromycotina prevailing in both plant groups. Our fungal symbiosis occurrence estimates are considerably more conservative than those published previously, but they too may represent overestimates due to currently unavoidable assumptions.}, } @article {pmid32128137, year = {2020}, author = {Zong, N and Song, M and Zhao, G and Shi, P}, title = {Nitrogen economy of alpine plants on the north Tibetan Plateau: Nitrogen conservation by resorption rather than open sources through biological symbiotic fixation.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {2051-2061}, pmid = {32128137}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important factors limiting plant productivity, and N fixation by legume species is an important source of N input into ecosystems. Meanwhile, N resorption from senescent plant tissues conserves nutrients taken up in the current season, which may alleviate ecosystem N limitation. N fixation was assessed by the [15]N dilution technique in four types of alpine grasslands along the precipitation and soil nutrient gradients. The N resorption efficiency (NRE) was also measured in these alpine grasslands. The aboveground biomass in the alpine meadow was 4-6 times higher than in the alpine meadow steppe, alpine steppe, and alpine desert steppe. However, the proportion of legume species to community biomass in the alpine steppe and the alpine desert steppe was significantly higher than the proportion in the alpine meadow. N fixation by the legume plants in the alpine meadow was 0.236 g N/m[2], which was significantly higher than N fixation in other alpine grasslands (0.041 to 0.089 g N/m[2]). The NRE in the alpine meadows was lower than in the other three alpine grasslands. Both the aboveground biomass and N fixation of the legume plants showed decreasing trends with the decline of precipitation and soil N gradients from east to west, while the NRE of alpine plants showed increasing trends along the gradients, which indicates that alpine plants enhance the NRE to adapt to the increasing droughts and nutrient-poor environments. The opposite trends of N fixation and NRE along the precipitation and soil nutrient gradients indicate that alpine plants adapt to precipitation and soil nutrient limitation by promoting NRE (conservative nutrient use by alpine plants) rather than biological N fixation (open sources by legume plants) on the north Tibetan Plateau.}, } @article {pmid32128133, year = {2020}, author = {Easson, CG and Chaves-Fonnegra, A and Thacker, RW and Lopez, JV}, title = {Host population genetics and biogeography structure the microbiome of the sponge Cliona delitrix.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {2007-2020}, pmid = {32128133}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Sponges occur across diverse marine biomes and host internal microbial communities that can provide critical ecological functions. While strong patterns of host specificity have been observed consistently in sponge microbiomes, the precise ecological relationships between hosts and their symbiotic microbial communities remain to be fully delineated. In the current study, we investigate the relative roles of host population genetics and biogeography in structuring the microbial communities hosted by the excavating sponge Cliona delitrix. A total of 53 samples, previously used to demarcate the population genetic structure of C. delitrix, were selected from two locations in the Caribbean Sea and from eight locations across the reefs of Florida and the Bahamas. Microbial community diversity and composition were measured using Illumina-based high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 region and related to host population structure and geographic distribution. Most operational taxonomic units (OTUs) specific to Cliona delitrix microbiomes were rare, while other OTUs were shared with congeneric hosts. Across a large regional scale (>1,000 km), geographic distance was associated with considerable variability of the sponge microbiome, suggesting a distance-decay relationship, but little impact over smaller spatial scales (<300 km) was observed. Host population structure had a moderate effect on the structure of these microbial communities, regardless of geographic distance. These results support the interplay between geographic, environmental, and host factors as forces determining the community structure of microbiomes associated with C. delitrix. Moreover, these data suggest that the mechanisms of host regulation can be observed at the population genetic scale, prior to the onset of speciation.}, } @article {pmid32127555, year = {2020}, author = {Dishon, G and Grossowicz, M and Krom, M and Guy, G and Gruber, DF and Tchernov, D}, title = {Evolutionary Traits that Enable Scleractinian Corals to Survive Mass Extinction Events.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3903}, pmid = {32127555}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; *Extinction, Biological ; Phenotype ; Risk Assessment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian "stony" corals are major habitat engineers, whose skeletons form the framework for the highly diverse, yet increasingly threatened, coral reef ecosystem. Fossil coral skeletons also present a rich record that enables paleontological analysis of coral origins, tracing them back to the Triassic (~241 Myr). While numerous invertebrate lineages were eradicated at the last major mass extinction boundary, the Cretaceous-Tertiary/K-T (66 Myr), a number of Scleractinian corals survived. We review this history and assess traits correlated with K-T mass extinction survival. Disaster-related "survival" traits that emerged from our analysis are: (1) deep water residing (>100 m); (2) cosmopolitan distributions, (3) non-symbiotic, (4) solitary or small colonies and (5) bleaching-resistant. We then compared these traits to the traits of modern Scleractinian corals, using to IUCN Red List data, and report that corals with these same survival traits have relatively stable populations, while those lacking them are presently decreasing in abundance and diversity. This shows corals exhibiting a similar dynamic survival response as seen at the last major extinction, the K-T. While these results could be seen as promising, that some corals may survive the Anthropocene extinction, they also highlight how our relatively-fragile Primate order does not possess analogous "survival" characteristics, nor have a record of mass extinction survival as some corals are capable.}, } @article {pmid32127462, year = {2020}, author = {Bongrand, C and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Arevalo, P and McFall-Ngai, M and Visick, KL and Polz, M and Ruby, EG}, title = {Using Colonization Assays and Comparative Genomics To Discover Symbiosis Behaviors and Factors in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32127462}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio Infections/veterinary ; Aliivibrio fischeri/classification/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Fish Diseases/epidemiology/microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics/methods ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The luminous marine Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio (Aliivibrio) fischeri is the natural light organ symbiont of several squid species, including the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the Japanese bobtail squid, Euprymna morsei Work with E. scolopes has shown how the bacteria establish their niche in the light organ of the newly hatched host. Two types of V. fischeri strains have been distinguished based upon their behavior in cocolonization competition assays in juvenile E. scolopes, i.e., (i) niche-sharing or (ii) niche-dominant behavior. This study aimed to determine whether these behaviors are observed with other V. fischeri strains or whether they are specific to those isolated from E. scolopes light organs. Cocolonization competition assays between V. fischeri strains isolated from the congeneric squid E. morsei or from other marine animals revealed the same sharing or dominant behaviors. In addition, whole-genome sequencing of these strains showed that the dominant behavior is polyphyletic and not associated with the presence or absence of a single gene or genes. Comparative genomics of 44 squid light organ isolates from around the globe led to the identification of symbiosis-specific candidates in the genomes of these strains. Colonization assays using genetic derivatives with deletions of these candidates established the importance of two such genes in colonization. This study has allowed us to expand the concept of distinct colonization behaviors to strains isolated from a number of squid and fish hosts.IMPORTANCE There is an increasing recognition of the importance of strain differences in the ecology of a symbiotic bacterial species and, in particular, how these differences underlie crucial interactions with their host. Nevertheless, little is known about the genetic bases for these differences, how they manifest themselves in specific behaviors, and their distribution among symbionts of different host species. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of Vibrio fischeri isolated from the tissues of squids and fishes and applied comparative genomics approaches to look for patterns between symbiont lineages and host colonization behavior. In addition, we identified the only two genes that were exclusively present in all V. fischeri strains isolated from the light organs of sepiolid squid species. Mutational studies of these genes indicated that they both played a role in colonization of the squid light organ, emphasizing the value of applying a comparative genomics approach in the study of symbioses.}, } @article {pmid32126963, year = {2020}, author = {Krueger, T and Horwitz, N and Bodin, J and Giovani, ME and Escrig, S and Fine, M and Meibom, A}, title = {Intracellular competition for nitrogen controls dinoflagellate population density in corals.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1922}, pages = {20200049}, pmid = {32126963}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The density of dinoflagellate microalgae in the tissue of symbiotic corals is an important determinant for health and productivity of the coral animal. Yet, the specific mechanism for their regulation and the consequence for coral nutrition are insufficiently understood due to past methodological limitations to resolve the fine-scale metabolic consequences of fluctuating densities. Here, we characterized the physiological and nutritional consequences of symbiont density variations on the colony and tissue level in Stylophora pistillata from the Red Sea. Alterations in symbiont photophysiology maintained coral productivity and host nutrition across a broad range of symbiont densities. However, we demonstrate that density-dependent nutrient competition between individual symbiont cells, manifested as reduced nitrogen assimilation and cell biomass, probably creates the negative feedback mechanism for symbiont population growth that ultimately defines the steady-state density. Despite fundamental changes in symbiont nitrogen assimilation, we found no density-related metabolic optimum beyond which host nutrient assimilation or tissue biomass declined, indicating that host nutrient demand is sufficiently met across the typically observed range of symbiont densities under ambient conditions.}, } @article {pmid32126958, year = {2020}, author = {Lim, SJ and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {An introduction to phylosymbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1922}, pages = {20192900}, pmid = {32126958}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Host Specificity ; Microbiota/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phylosymbiosis was recently formulated to support a hypothesis-driven framework for the characterization of a new, cross-system trend in host-associated microbiomes. Defining phylosymbiosis as 'microbial community relationships that recapitulate the phylogeny of their host', we review the relevant literature and data in the last decade, emphasizing frequently used methods and regular patterns observed in analyses. Quantitative support for phylosymbiosis is provided by statistical methods evaluating higher microbiome variation between host species than within host species, topological similarities between the host phylogeny and microbiome dendrogram, and a positive association between host genetic relationships and microbiome beta diversity. Significant degrees of phylosymbiosis are prevalent, but not universal, in microbiomes of plants and animals from terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Consistent with natural selection shaping phylosymbiosis, microbiome transplant experiments demonstrate reduced host performance and/or fitness upon host-microbiome mismatches. Hybridization can also disrupt phylosymbiotic microbiomes and cause hybrid pathologies. The pervasiveness of phylosymbiosis carries several important implications for advancing knowledge of eco-evolutionary processes that impact host-microbiome interactions and future applications of precision microbiology. Important future steps will be to examine phylosymbiosis beyond bacterial communities, apply evolutionary modelling for an increasingly sophisticated understanding of phylosymbiosis, and unravel the host and microbial mechanisms that contribute to the pattern. This review serves as a gateway to experimental, conceptual and quantitative themes of phylosymbiosis and outlines opportunities ripe for investigation from a diversity of disciplines.}, } @article {pmid32125583, year = {2020}, author = {Hewitt, KG and Mace, WJ and McKenzie, CM and Matthew, C and Popay, AJ}, title = {Fungal Alkaloid Occurrence in Endophyte-Infected Perennial Ryegrass during Seedling Establishment.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {410-421}, doi = {10.1007/s10886-020-01162-w}, pmid = {32125583}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Epichloe/*metabolism ; Lolium/*growth & development/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic Epichloë festucae var. lolii endophyte produces alkaloids which can provide its host grass, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L), with a selective advantage in both natural and agricultural managed ecosystems. This study focuses on understanding the alkaloid concentrations that occur in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass during the early establishment phase. In a glasshouse experiment fungal alkaloid concentrations (peramine, lolitrem B, ergovaline, and epoxy-janthitrems) were measured in perennial ryegrass seedlings infected with E. festucae var. lolii proprietary strains AR1, AR37, NEA2, and NZ common toxic for 69 days after sowing. The endophyte becomes metabolically active, starting alkaloid production, as early as 6 days after sowing. Alkaloid concentrations peaked in 8- to 10- day-old seedlings due to a seedling growth slowdown. This study provides data showing that the loss of insect protection in endophyte-infected seedlings is linked to a reduction in chemical defence after seed-stored, maternally synthesised alkaloids are diluted by seedling dry matter accumulation.}, } @article {pmid32125446, year = {2020}, author = {Dehghanikhah, F and Shakarami, J and Asoodeh, A}, title = {Purification and Biochemical Characterization of Alkalophilic Cellulase from the Symbiotic Bacillus subtilis BC1 of the Leopard Moth, Zeuzera pyrina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae).}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {7}, pages = {1254-1261}, doi = {10.1007/s00284-020-01938-z}, pmid = {32125446}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus subtilis/*enzymology ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Cellulase/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Kinetics ; Moths/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the current study, an extracellular cellulase belonging to symbiotic Bacillus subtilis Bc1 of the leopard moth is purified and characterized. The molecular mass of enzyme was 47.8 kDa using SDS-PAGE. The purified enzyme had optimum activity in temperature and pH around 60 °C and 8, respectively. The purified cellulase was introduced as a stable enzyme in a wide variety of temperature (20-80 °C) and pH (4-10) and remained active to more than 74% at 80 °C for 1 h. Moreover, the cellulase extremely was stabled in the presence of metal ions and organic solvents and its activity was increased by acetone (20% v/v), CaCl2 and CoCl2 and inhibited by MnCl2 and NiCl2. The values of enzyme's Km and Vmax were found to be 1.243 mg/mL and 271.3 µg/mL/min, respectively. The purified cellulase hydrolyzed cellulose, avicel and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and the final product of CMC hydrolysis was cellobiose using thin-layer chromatography analysis. Consequently, owing to exo/endoglucanase activity and organic solvent, temperature and pH stability of the purified cellulase belong to B. subtilis BC1, it can be properly employed for various industrial purposes.}, } @article {pmid32123899, year = {2020}, author = {Ourry, M and Lopez, V and Hervé, M and Lebreton, L and Mougel, C and Outreman, Y and Poinsot, D and Cortesero, AM}, title = {Long-lasting effects of antibiotics on bacterial communities of adult flies.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa028}, pmid = {32123899}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Insect symbionts benefit their host and their study requires large spectrum antibiotic use like tetracycline to weaken or suppress symbiotic communities. While antibiotics have a negative impact on insect fitness, little is known about antibiotic effects on insect microbial communities and how long they last. We characterized the bacterial communities of adult cabbage root fly Delia radicum in a Wolbachia-free population and evaluated the effect of tetracycline treatment on these communities over several generations. Three D. radicum generations were used: the first- and second-generation flies either ingested tetracycline or not, while the third-generation flies were untreated but differed with their parents and/or grandparents that had or had not been treated. Fly bacterial communities were sequenced using a 16S rRNA gene. Tetracycline decreased fly bacterial diversity and induced modifications in both bacterial abundance and relative frequencies, still visible on untreated offspring whose parents and/or grandparents had been treated, therefore demonstrating long-lasting transgenerational effects on animal microbiomes after antibiotic treatment. Flies with an antibiotic history shared bacterial genera, potentially tetracycline resistant and heritable. Next, the transmission should be investigated by comparing several insect development stages and plant compartments to assess vertical and horizontal transmissions of D. radicum bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid32123350, year = {2020}, author = {Radhakrishnan, GV and Keller, J and Rich, MK and Vernié, T and Mbadinga Mbadinga, DL and Vigneron, N and Cottret, L and Clemente, HS and Libourel, C and Cheema, J and Linde, AM and Eklund, DM and Cheng, S and Wong, GKS and Lagercrantz, U and Li, FW and Oldroyd, GED and Delaux, PM}, title = {An ancestral signalling pathway is conserved in intracellular symbioses-forming plant lineages.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {280-289}, pmid = {32123350}, issn = {2055-0278}, support = {BB/S011005/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; BB/L014130/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Genome, Plant ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Plants are the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems, and their colonization of land was probably facilitated by mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Following this founding event, plant diversification has led to the emergence of a tremendous diversity of mutualistic symbioses with microorganisms, ranging from extracellular associations to the most intimate intracellular associations, where fungal or bacterial symbionts are hosted inside plant cells. Here, through analysis of 271 transcriptomes and 116 plant genomes spanning the entire land-plant diversity, we demonstrate that a common symbiosis signalling pathway co-evolved with intracellular endosymbioses, from the ancestral arbuscular mycorrhiza to the more recent ericoid and orchid mycorrhizae in angiosperms and ericoid-like associations of bryophytes. By contrast, species forming exclusively extracellular symbioses, such as ectomycorrhizae, and those forming associations with cyanobacteria, have lost this signalling pathway. This work unifies intracellular symbioses, revealing conservation in their evolution across 450 million yr of plant diversification.}, } @article {pmid32122457, year = {2020}, author = {Fossou, RK and Pothier, JF and Zézé, A and Perret, X}, title = {Bradyrhizobium ivorense sp. nov. as a potential local bioinoculant for Cajanus cajan cultures in Côte d'Ivoire.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {1421-1430}, pmid = {32122457}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Cajanus/*microbiology ; Cote d'Ivoire ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For many smallholder farmers of Sub-Saharan Africa, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important crop to make ends meet. To ascertain the taxonomic status of pigeonpea isolates of Côte d'Ivoire previously identified as bradyrhizobia, a polyphasic approach was applied to strains CI-1B[T], CI-14A, CI-19D and CI-41S. Phylogeny of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes placed these nodule isolates in a separate lineage from current species of the B. elkanii super clade. In phylogenetic analyses of single and concatenated partial dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB sequences, the C. cajan isolates again formed a separate lineage, with strain CI-1B[T] sharing the highest sequence similarity (95.2 %) with B. tropiciagri SEMIA 6148[T]. Comparative genomic analyses corroborated the novel species status, with 86 % ANIb and 89 % ANIm as the highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) values with B. elkanii USDA 76[T]. Although CI-1B[T], CI-14A, CI-19D and CI-41S shared similar phenotypic and metabolic properties, growth of CI-41S was slower in/on various media. Symbiotic efficacy varied significantly between isolates, with CI-1B[T] and CI-41S scoring on the C. cajan 'Light-Brown' landrace as the most and least proficient bacteria, respectively. Also proficient on Vigna radiata (mung bean), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea, niébé) and additional C. cajan cultivars, CI-1B[T] represents a potential bioinoculant adapted to local soil conditions and capable of fostering the growth of diverse legume crops in Côte d'Ivoire. Given the data presented here, we propose the 19 C. cajan isolates to belong to a novel species called Bradyrhizobium ivorense sp. nov., with CI-1B[T] (=CCOS 1862[T]=CCMM B1296[T]) as a type strain.}, } @article {pmid32120462, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, NY and Choi, DH and Kim, MG and Jeong, MJ and Kwon, HJ and Kim, DH and Kim, YG and di Luccio, E and Arioka, M and Yoon, HJ and Kim, JG}, title = {Biosynthesis of (R)-(-)-1-Octen-3-ol in Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae with Lipoxygenase-1 and Hydroperoxide Lyase Genes from Tricholoma matsutake.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {296-305}, pmid = {32120462}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Aldehyde-Lyases/*genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/*genetics ; Fermentation ; *Gene Expression ; Isoenzymes ; Lipoxygenase/*genetics ; Octanols/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*metabolism ; Temperature ; Transformation, Genetic ; Tricholoma/*enzymology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Tricholoma matsutake is an ectomycorrhizal fungus, related with the host of Pinus densiflora. Most of studies on T. matsutake have focused on mycelial growth, genes and genomics, phylogenetics, symbiosis, and immune activity of this strain. T. matsutake is known for its unique fragrance in Eastern Asia. The most major component of its scent is (R)-(-)-1-octen-3-ol and is biosynthesized from the substrate linoleic acid by the sequential reaction of lipoxygenase and peroxide lyase. Here, we report for the first time the biosynthesis of (R)-(-)- 1-octen-3-ol of T. matsutake using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a host. In this study, cDNA genes correlated with these reactions were cloned from T. matsutake, and expression studies of theses genes were carried out in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The product of these genes expression study was carried out with Western blotting. The biosynthesis of (R)-(-)- 1-octen-3-ol of T. matsutake in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae was subsequently identified with GC-MS chromatography analysis. The biosynthesis of (R)-(-)-1-octen-3-ol with S. cerevisiae represents a significant step forward.}, } @article {pmid32119117, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, S and Liao, LL and Nie, MM and Peng, WT and Zhang, MS and Lei, JN and Zhong, YJ and Liao, H and Chen, ZC}, title = {A VIT-like transporter facilitates iron transport into nodule symbiosomes for nitrogen fixation in soybean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {5}, pages = {1413-1428}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16506}, pmid = {32119117}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Effective legume-rhizobia symbiosis depends on efficient nutrient exchange. Rhizobia need to synthesize iron-containing proteins for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in nodules, which depends on host plant-mediated iron uptake into the symbiosome. We functionally investigated a pair of vacuolar iron transporter like (VTL) genes, GmVTL1a/b, in soybean (Glycine max) and evaluated their contributions to SNF, including investigations of gene expression patterns, subcellular localization, and mutant phenotypes. Though both GmVTL1a/b genes were specifically expressed in the fixation zone of the nodule, GmVTL1a was the lone member to be localized at the tonoplast of tobacco protoplasts, and shown to facilitate ferrous iron transport in yeast. GmVTL1a targets the symbiosome in infected cells, as verified by in situ immunostaining. Two vtl1 knockout mutants had lower iron concentrations in nodule cell sap and peribacteroid units than in wild-type plants, suggesting that GmVTL1 knockout inhibited iron import into symbiosomes. Furthermore, GmVTL1 knockout minimally affected soybean growth under nonsymbiotic conditions, but dramatically impaired nodule development and SNF activity under nitrogen-limited and rhizobia-inoculation conditions, which eventually led to growth retardation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GmVTL1a is indispensable for SNF in nodules as a transporter of ferrous iron from the infected root cell cytosol to the symbiosome.}, } @article {pmid32119077, year = {2020}, author = {Ballal, A and Laurendon, C and Salmon, M and Vardakou, M and Cheema, J and Defernez, M and O'Maille, PE and Morozov, AV}, title = {Sparse Epistatic Patterns in the Evolution of Terpene Synthases.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {1907-1924}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msaa052}, pmid = {32119077}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {BB/K003690/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004561/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/I015345/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/00042674/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/*genetics ; Artemisia annua/enzymology/genetics ; *Epistasis, Genetic ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Fitness ; *Models, Chemical ; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We explore sequence determinants of enzyme activity and specificity in a major enzyme family of terpene synthases. Most enzymes in this family catalyze reactions that produce cyclic terpenes-complex hydrocarbons widely used by plants and insects in diverse biological processes such as defense, communication, and symbiosis. To analyze the molecular mechanisms of emergence of terpene cyclization, we have carried out in-depth examination of mutational space around (E)-β-farnesene synthase, an Artemisia annua enzyme which catalyzes production of a linear hydrocarbon chain. Each mutant enzyme in our synthetic libraries was characterized biochemically, and the resulting reaction rate data were used as input to the Michaelis-Menten model of enzyme kinetics, in which free energies were represented as sums of one-amino-acid contributions and two-amino-acid couplings. Our model predicts measured reaction rates with high accuracy and yields free energy landscapes characterized by relatively few coupling terms. As a result, the Michaelis-Menten free energy landscapes have simple, interpretable structure and exhibit little epistasis. We have also developed biophysical fitness models based on the assumption that highly fit enzymes have evolved to maximize the output of correct products, such as cyclic products or a specific product of interest, while minimizing the output of byproducts. This approach results in nonlinear fitness landscapes that are considerably more epistatic. Overall, our experimental and computational framework provides focused characterization of evolutionary emergence of novel enzymatic functions in the context of microevolutionary exploration of sequence space around naturally occurring enzymes.}, } @article {pmid32117618, year = {2020}, author = {Martins, C and Moreau, CS}, title = {Influence of host phylogeny, geographical location and seed harvesting diet on the bacterial community of globally distributed Pheidole ants.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8492}, pmid = {32117618}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The presence of symbiotic relationships between organisms is a common phenomenon found across the tree of life. In particular, the association of bacterial symbionts with ants is an active area of study. This close relationship between ants and microbes can significantly impact host biology and is also considered one of the driving forces in ant evolution and diversification. Diet flexibility of ants may explain the evolutionary success of the group, which may be achieved by the presence of endosymbionts that aid in nutrition acquisition from a variety of food sources. With more than 1,140 species, ants from the genus Pheidole have a worldwide distribution and an important role in harvesting seeds; this behavior is believed to be a possible key innovation leading to the diversification of this group. This is the first study to investigate the bacterial community associated with Pheidole using next generation sequencing (NGS) to explore the influences of host phylogeny, geographic location and food preference in shaping the microbial community. In addition, we explore if there are any microbiota signatures related to granivory. We identified Proteobacteria and Firmicutes as the major phyla associated with these ants. The core microbiome in Pheidole (those found in >50% of all samples) was composed of 14 ASVs and the most prevalent are family Burkholderiaceae and the genera Acinetobacter, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Cloacibacterium and Ralstonia. We found that geographical location and food resource may influence the bacterial community of Pheidole ants. These results demonstrate that Pheidole has a relatively stable microbiota across species, which suggests the bacterial community may serve a generalized function in this group.}, } @article {pmid32117367, year = {2020}, author = {Banasiak, J and Borghi, L and Stec, N and Martinoia, E and Jasiński, M}, title = {The Full-Size ABCG Transporter of Medicago truncatula Is Involved in Strigolactone Secretion, Affecting Arbuscular Mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {18}, pmid = {32117367}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant-derived signaling molecules that stimulate the hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and consequently promote symbiotic interaction between the fungus and the plant. Currently, our knowledge on the molecular mechanism of SL transport is restricted to the Solanaceae family. In the Solanaceae family, SL translocation toward the rhizosphere occurs through the exodermis via hypodermal passage cells and involves a member of the G subfamily, of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane transporters. Most Fabaceae species, including those that are agriculturally important, have a different root anatomy compared to most angiosperm plants (i.e., lacking an exodermis). Thus, we have investigated how SL transport occurs in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Here, we show that overexpression of a SL transporter from petunia (PaPDR1) enhances AMF colonization rates in M. truncatula. This result demonstrates the importance of ABCG proteins for the translocation of orobanchol-type molecules to facilitate arbuscular mycorrhiza, regardless of root anatomy and phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, our research has led to the identification of Medicago ABCG59, a close homologue of Petunia PDR1, that exhibits root specific expression and is up-regulated by phosphate starvation as well as in the presence of rac-GR24, a synthetic SL. Its promoter is active in cortical cells, root tips, and the meristematic zone of nodules. The mtabcg59 loss-of-function mutant displayed a reduced level of mycorrhization compared to the WT plants but had no impact on the number of nodules after Sinorhizobium meliloti inoculation. The reduced mycorrhization indicates that less SLs are secreted by the mutant plants, which is in line with the observation that mtabcg59 exudates exhibit a reduced stimulatory effect on the germination of the parasitic plant Phelipanche ramosa compared to the corresponding wild type.}, } @article {pmid32117343, year = {2019}, author = {Dupin, SE and Geurts, R and Kiers, ET}, title = {The Non-Legume Parasponia andersonii Mediates the Fitness of Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobial Symbionts Under High Nitrogen Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1779}, pmid = {32117343}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Organisms rely on symbiotic associations for metabolism, protection, and energy. However, these intimate partnerships can be vulnerable to exploitation. What prevents microbial mutualists from parasitizing their hosts? In legumes, there is evidence that hosts have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to manage their symbiotic rhizobia, but the generality and evolutionary origins of these control mechanisms are under debate. Here, we focused on the symbiosis between Parasponia hosts and N2-fixing rhizobium bacteria. Parasponia is the only non-legume lineage to have evolved a rhizobial symbiosis and thus provides an evolutionary replicate to test how rhizobial exploitation is controlled. A key question is whether Parasponia hosts can prevent colonization of rhizobia under high nitrogen conditions, when the contribution of the symbiont becomes nonessential. We grew Parasponia andersonii inoculated with Bradyrhizobium elkanii under four ammonium nitrate concentrations in a controlled growth chamber. We measured shoot and root dry weight, nodule number, nodule fresh weight, nodule volume. To quantify viable rhizobial populations in planta, we crushed nodules and determined colony forming units (CFU), as a rhizobia fitness proxy. We show that, like legumes and actinorhizal plants, P. andersonii is able to control nodule symbiosis in response to exogenous nitrogen. While the relative host growth benefits of inoculation decreased with nitrogen fertilization, our highest ammonium nitrate concentration (3.75 mM) was sufficient to prevent nodule formation on inoculated roots. Rhizobial populations were highest in nitrogen free medium. While we do not yet know the mechanism, our results suggest that control mechanisms over rhizobia are not exclusive to the legume clade.}, } @article {pmid32117326, year = {2019}, author = {Hossain, MS and Hoang, NT and Yan, Z and Tóth, K and Meyers, BC and Stacey, G}, title = {Corrigendum: Characterization of the Spatial and Temporal Expression of Two Soybean miRNAs Identifies SCL6 as a Novel Regulator of Soybean Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1692}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2019.01692}, pmid = {32117326}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00475.].}, } @article {pmid32117124, year = {2020}, author = {Contreras-Moreno, FJ and Muñoz-Dorado, J and García-Tomsig, NI and Martínez-Navajas, G and Pérez, J and Moraleda-Muñoz, A}, title = {Copper and Melanin Play a Role in Myxococcus xanthus Predation on Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {94}, pmid = {32117124}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Myxococcus xanthus is a soil myxobacterium that exhibits a complex lifecycle with two multicellular stages: cooperative predation and development. During predation, myxobacterial cells produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites and hydrolytic enzymes to kill and consume the prey. It is known that eukaryotic predators, such as ameba and macrophages, introduce copper and other metals into the phagosomes to kill their prey by oxidative stress. However, the role of metals in bacterial predation has not yet been established. In this work, we have addressed the role of copper during predation of M. xanthus on Sinorhizobium meliloti. The use of biosensors, variable pressure scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X ray analysis has revealed that copper accumulates in the region where predator and prey collide. This accumulation of metal up-regulates the expression of several mechanisms involved in copper detoxification in the predator (the P1 B-ATPase CopA, the multicopper oxidase CuoA and the tripartite pump Cus2), and the production by the prey of copper-inducible melanin, which is a polymer with the ability to protect cells from oxidative stress. We have identified two genes in S. meliloti (encoding a tyrosinase and a multicopper oxidase) that participate in the biosynthesis of melanin. Analysis of prey survivability in the co-culture of M. xanthus and a mutant of S. meliloti in which the two genes involved in melanin biosynthesis have been deleted has revealed that this mutant is more sensitive to predation than the wild-type strain. These results indicate that copper plays a role in bacterial predation and that melanin is used by the prey to defend itself from the predator. Taking into consideration that S. meliloti is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium in symbiosis with legumes that coexists in soils with M. xanthus and that copper is a common metal found in this habitat as a consequence of several human activities, these results provide clear evidence that the accumulation of this metal in the soil may influence the microbial ecosystems by affecting bacterial predatory activities.}, } @article {pmid32117123, year = {2020}, author = {Paudel, D and Liu, F and Wang, L and Crook, M and Maya, S and Peng, Z and Kelley, K and Ané, JM and Wang, J}, title = {Isolation, Characterization, and Complete Genome Sequence of a Bradyrhizobium Strain Lb8 From Nodules of Peanut Utilizing Crack Entry Infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {93}, pmid = {32117123}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In many legumes, the colonization of roots by rhizobia is via "root hair entry" and its molecular mechanisms have been extensively studied. However, the nodulation of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) by Bradyrhizobium strains requires an intercellular colonization process called "crack entry," which is understudied. To understand the intercellular crack entry process, it is critical to develop the tools and resources related to the rhizobium in addition to focus on investigating the mechanisms of the plant host. In this study, we isolated a Bradyrhizobium sp. strain, Lb8 from peanut root nodules and sequenced it using PacBio long reads. The complete genome sequence was a circular chromosome of 8,718,147 base-pair (bp) with an average GC content of 63.14%. No plasmid sequence was detected in the sequenced DNA sample. A total of 8,433 potential protein-encoding genes, one rRNA cluster, and 51 tRNA genes were annotated. Fifty-eight percent of the predicted genes showed similarity to genes of known functions and were classified into 27 subsystems representing various biological processes. The genome shared 92% of the gene families with B. diazoefficens USDA 110[T]. A presumptive symbiosis island of 778 Kb was detected, which included two clusters of nif and nod genes. A total of 711 putative protein-encoding genes were in this region, among which 455 genes have potential functions related to symbiotic nitrogen fixation and DNA transmission. Of 21 genes annotated as transposase, 16 were located in the symbiosis island. Lb8 possessed both Type III and Type IV protein secretion systems, and our work elucidated the association of flagellar Type III secretion systems in bradyrhizobia. These observations suggested that complex rearrangement, such as horizontal transfer and insertion of different DNA elements, might be responsible for the plasticity of the Bradyrhizobium genome.}, } @article {pmid32117113, year = {2020}, author = {Bratburd, JR and Arango, RA and Horn, HA}, title = {Defensive Symbioses in Social Insects Can Inform Human Health and Agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {76}, pmid = {32117113}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Social animals are among the most successful organisms on the planet and derive many benefits from living in groups, including facilitating the evolution of agriculture. However, living in groups increases the risk of disease transmission in social animals themselves and the cultivated crops upon which they obligately depend. Social insects offer an interesting model to compare to human societies, in terms of how insects manage disease within their societies and with their agricultural symbionts. As living in large groups can help the spread of beneficial microbes as well as pathogens, we examine the role of defensive microbial symbionts in protecting the host from pathogens. We further explore how beneficial microbes may influence other pathogen defenses including behavioral and immune responses, and how we can use insect systems as models to inform on issues relating to human health and agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32114295, year = {2020}, author = {Six, DL}, title = {Niche construction theory can link bark beetle-fungus symbiosis type and colonization behavior to large scale causal chain-effects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {27-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2019.12.005}, pmid = {32114295}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior ; Coleoptera/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; *Fungi ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles form a variety of symbioses with fungi. Recent studies reveal how the fungi influence beetle nutrition and detoxify tree defenses and provide insight into why these symbioses vary so greatly in their outcomes, not only for host and symbiont, but also for the forest ecosystems within which they exist. Here, I review recent advances in our knowledge of these systems. I then introduce how niche construction theory can provide a framework to use this knowledge to better understand how different symbiosis types result in a gradient of ecosystem effects ranging from massive and durable to those of little ecological consequence.}, } @article {pmid32111306, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, BH and Jia, LS and Wei, SS and Ding, HY and Yang, JY and Wang, HW}, title = {Effects of Eimeria tenella infection on the barrier damage and microbiota diversity of chicken cecum.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {99}, number = {3}, pages = {1297-1305}, pmid = {32111306}, issn = {1525-3171}, mesh = {Animals ; Cecum/microbiology ; *Chickens ; Coccidiosis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Eimeria tenella/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Male ; Poultry Diseases/*parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of host and intestinal microbiota constitutes a microecosystem and plays an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and regulating the host's immune system. Eimeria tenella, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite, can cause coccidiosis, a serious intestinal disease. In this study, the effects of E. tenella infection on development parameters (villus height, crypt depth, mucosa thickness, muscularis thickness, and serosa thickness) and microbiota in chicken cecum were investigated. Fourteen-day-old male Hy-Line Variety Brown layer chickens were inoculated with sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. Cecal tissues were collected 7 d after inoculation. Relative density of goblet cells and glycoproteins were determined by Alcian blue periodic acid-Schiff staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining, respectively. Intestinal development parameters were also evaluated. Cecal contents were extracted, and the composition of cecal microflora was examined by Illumine sequencing in the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Results indicated that E. tenella infection destroyed the structure of cecal tissue and reduced the relative density of goblet cells and glycoproteins. Sequencing analysis indicated that E. tenella infection altered the diversity and composition of cecal microbiota. The populations of Proteobacteria, Enterococcus, Incertae, and Escherichia-Shigella decreased, and those of Bacteroidales and Rikenella significantly increased in the infected group compared with those in the control group. Hence, the pathological damage caused by E. tenella infection is associated with cecal microbiota dysbiosis, and this finding may be used to develop an alternative measure for alleviating the effect of coccidiosis on the poultry industry.}, } @article {pmid32109859, year = {2020}, author = {Jahnes, BC and Sabree, ZL}, title = {Nutritional symbiosis and ecology of host-gut microbe systems in the Blattodea.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {35-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.01.001}, pmid = {32109859}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Cockroaches/microbiology/parasitology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Isoptera/microbiology/parasitology ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cockroaches and termites (Order: Blattodea) have been the subject of substantial research attention for over a century due, in part, to a subset of them having a strong propensity to cohabitate with humans and their structures. Recent research has led to numerous insights into their behavior, physiology, and ecology, as well as their ability to harbor taxonomically diverse microbial communities within their digestive systems, which include taxa that contribute to host growth and development. Further, recent investigations into the physiological and behavioral adaptations that enable recalcitrant polysaccharide digestion and the maintenance of microbial symbionts in cockroaches and termites suggests that symbionts contribute significantly to nutrient provisioning and processing.}, } @article {pmid32109394, year = {2020}, author = {Gautrat, P and Laffont, C and Frugier, F}, title = {Compact Root Architecture 2 Promotes Root Competence for Nodulation through the miR2111 Systemic Effector.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {7}, pages = {1339-1345.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2020.01.084}, pmid = {32109394}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; RNA, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-deprived legume plants form new root organs, the nodules, following a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria [1]. Because this interaction is beneficial for the plant but has a high energetic cost, nodulation is tightly controlled by host plants through systemic pathways (acting at long distance) to promote or limit rhizobial infections and nodulation depending on earlier infections and on nitrogen availability [2]. In the Medicago truncatula model legume, CLE12 (Clavata3/Embryo surrounding region 12) and CLE13 signaling peptides produced in nodulated roots act in shoots through the SUNN (Super Numeric Nodule) receptor to negatively regulate nodulation and therefore autoregulate nodule number [3-5]. Conversely, CEP (C-terminally Encoded Peptide) signaling peptides produced in nitrogen-starved roots act in shoots through the CRA2 (Compact Root Architecture 2) receptor to promote nodulation already in the absence of rhizobia [6-9]. We show in this study that a downstream shoot-to-root signaling effector of these systemic pathways is the shoot-produced miR2111 microRNA [10] that negatively regulates TML1 (Too Much Love 1) and TML2 [11] transcripts accumulation in roots, ultimately promoting nodulation. Low nitrogen conditions and CEP1 signaling peptides induce in the absence of rhizobia the production of miR2111 depending on CRA2 activity in shoots, thus favoring root competence for nodulation. Together with the SUNN pathway negatively regulating the same miR2111 systemic effector when roots are nodulated, this allows a dynamic fine-tuning of the nodulation capacity of legume roots by nitrogen availability and rhizobial cues.}, } @article {pmid32108224, year = {2020}, author = {Shoguchi, E and Yoshioka, Y and Shinzato, C and Arimoto, A and Bhattacharya, D and Satoh, N}, title = {Correlation between Organelle Genetic Variation and RNA Editing in Dinoflagellates Associated with the Coral Acropora digitifera.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {203-209}, pmid = {32108224}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Genome, Plastid ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *RNA Editing ; }, abstract = {In order to develop successful strategies for coral reef preservation, it is critical that the biology of both host corals and symbiotic algae are investigated. In the Ryukyu Archipelago, which encompasses many islands spread over ∼500 km of the Pacific Ocean, four major populations of the coral Acropora digitifera have been studied using whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequence analysis (Shinzato C, Mungpakdee S, Arakaki N, Satoh N. 2015. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis explains coral diversity and recovery in the Ryukyu Archipelago. Sci Rep. 5:18211.). In contrast, the diversity of the symbiotic dinoflagellates associated with these A. digitifera populations is unknown. It is therefore unclear if these two core components of the coral holobiont share a common evolutionary history. This issue can be addressed for the symbiotic algal populations by studying the organelle genomes of their mitochondria and plastids. Here, we analyzed WGS data from ∼150 adult A. digitifera, and by mapping reads to the available reference genome sequences, we extracted 2,250 sequences representing 15 organelle genes of Symbiodiniaceae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of these mitochondrial and plastid gene sets revealed that A. digitifera from the southern Yaeyama islands harbor a different Symbiodiniaceae population than the islands of Okinawa and Kerama in the north, indicating that the distribution of symbiont populations partially matches that of the four host populations. Interestingly, we found that numerous SNPs correspond to known RNA-edited sites in 14 of the Symbiodiniaceae organelle genes, with mitochondrial genes showing a stronger correspondence than plastid genes. These results suggest a possible correlation between RNA editing and SNPs in the two organelle genomes of symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid32106817, year = {2020}, author = {Tong, W and Li, X and Wang, E and Cao, Y and Chen, W and Tao, S and Wei, G}, title = {Genomic insight into the origins and evolution of symbiosis genes in Phaseolus vulgaris microsymbionts.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {186}, pmid = {32106817}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Rhizobium phaseoli/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) microsymbionts belonging to the bacterial genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) have been isolated across the globe. Individual symbiosis genes (e.g., nodC) of these rhizobia can be different within each genus and among distinct genera. Little information is available about the symbiotic structure of indigenous Rhizobium strains nodulating introduced bean plants or the emergence of a symbiotic ability to associate with bean plants in Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer strains. Here, we sequenced the genomes of 29 representative bean microsymbionts (21 Rhizobium, four Ensifer, and four Bradyrhizobium) and compared them with closely related reference strains to estimate the origins of symbiosis genes among these Chinese bean microsymbionts.

RESULTS: Comparative genomics demonstrated horizontal gene transfer exclusively at the plasmid level, leading to expanded diversity of bean-nodulating Rhizobium strains. Analysis of vertically transferred genes uncovered 191 (out of the 2654) single-copy core genes with phylogenies strictly consistent with the taxonomic status of bacterial species, but none were found on symbiosis plasmids. A common symbiotic region was wholly conserved within the Rhizobium genus yet different from those of the other two genera. A single strain of Ensifer and two Bradyrhizobium strains shared similar gene content with soybean microsymbionts in both chromosomes and symbiotic regions.

CONCLUSIONS: The 19 native bean Rhizobium microsymbionts were assigned to four defined species and six putative novel species. The symbiosis genes of R. phaseoli, R. sophoriradicis, and R. esperanzae strains that originated from Mexican bean-nodulating strains were possibly introduced alongside bean seeds. R. anhuiense strains displayed distinct host ranges, indicating transition into bean microsymbionts. Among the six putative novel species exclusive to China, horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes suggested symbiosis with other indigenous legumes and loss of originally symbiotic regions or non-symbionts before the introduction of common bean into China. Genome data for Ensifer and Bradyrhizobium strains indicated symbiotic compatibility between microsymbionts of common bean and other hosts such as soybean.}, } @article {pmid32106597, year = {2020}, author = {Özdemir, E and Bayram, Ş and Susurluk, IA}, title = {First Record of the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema litorale (Filipjev) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and Its Symbiotic Bacterium from Turkey, and Its Efficacy Capability.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32106597}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema litorale was isolated from Çamkoru Nature Park located in Ankara, Turkey, in September 2018. Steinernema litorale was recovered in 1 of 67 soil samples from a natural forest area; the soil was characterised as sandy loam. The isolated nematode S. litorale was identified based on morphological and molecular parameters. The symbiotic bacterium of S. litorale was determined as Xenorhabdus bovienii. Steinernema litorale was found for the first time in Turkey and the Middle East. The virulence of the isolate was tested on Galleria mellonella larvae. Different concentrations of the nematode (10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 infective juveniles (IJs/larvae) were used. While the LC50 values at 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h were 153.419, 51.005, and 15.439 IJs, respectively, and the LT50 values at 75 IJs and 100 IJs showed that this isolate is capable to control insect larvae within 50.083 and 36.266 h, respectively.}, } @article {pmid32103386, year = {2020}, author = {Suárez, J}, title = {The stability of traits conception of the hologenome: An evolutionary account of holobiont individuality.}, journal = {History and philosophy of the life sciences}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, doi = {10.1007/s40656-020-00305-2}, pmid = {32103386}, issn = {1742-6316}, mesh = {*Genome, Human ; Humans ; *Individuality ; *Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Bourrat and Griffiths (Hist Philos Life Sci 40(2):33, 2018) have recently argued that most of the evidence presented by holobiont defenders to support the thesis that holobionts are evolutionary individuals is not to the point and is not even adequate to discriminate multispecies evolutionary individuals from other multispecies assemblages that would not be considered evolutionary individuals by most holobiont defenders. They further argue that an adequate criterion to distinguish the two categories is fitness alignment, presenting the notion of fitness boundedness as a criterion that allows divorcing true multispecies evolutionary individuals from other multispecies assemblages and provides an adequate criterion to single out genuine evolutionary multispecies assemblages. A consequence of their criterion is that holobionts, as conventionally defined by hologenome defenders, are not evolutionary individuals except in very rare cases, and for very specific host-symbiont associations. This paper is a critical response to Bourrat and Griffiths' arguments and a defence of the arguments presented by holobiont defenders. Drawing upon the case of the hologenomic basis of the evolution of sanguivory in vampire bats (Nat Ecol Evol 2:659-668, 2018), I argue that Bourrat and Griffiths overlook some aspects of the biological nature of the microbiome that justifies the thesis that holobionts are evolutionarily different to other multispecies assemblages. I argue that the hologenome theory of evolution should not define the hologenome as a collection of genomes, but as the sum of the host genome plus some traits of the microbiome which together constitute an evolutionary individual, a conception I refer to as the stability of traits conception of the hologenome. Based on that conception I argue that the evidence presented by holobiont defenders is to the point, and supports the thesis that holobionts are evolutionary individuals. In this sense, the paper offers an account of the holobiont that aims to foster a dialogue between hologenome advocates and hologenome critics.}, } @article {pmid32103122, year = {2020}, author = {Min, S and Kim, S and Cho, SW}, title = {Gastrointestinal tract modeling using organoids engineered with cellular and microbiota niches.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {227-237}, pmid = {32103122}, issn = {2092-6413}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellular Microenvironment/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Organoids/*microbiology/*physiology ; Stromal Cells/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The recent emergence of organoid technology has attracted great attention in gastroenterology because the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be recapitulated in vitro using organoids, enabling disease modeling and mechanistic studies. However, to more precisely emulate the GI microenvironment in vivo, several neighboring cell types and types of microbiota need to be integrated into GI organoids. This article reviews the recent progress made in elucidating the crosstalk between GI organoids and components of their microenvironment. We outline the effects of stromal cells (such as fibroblasts, neural cells, immune cells, and vascular cells) on the gastric and intestinal epithelia of organoids. Because of the important roles that microbiota play in the physiology and function of the GI tract, we also highlight interactions between organoids and commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. GI organoid models that contain niche components will provide new insight into gastroenterological pathophysiology and disease mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid32103096, year = {2020}, author = {Ermis, H and Guven-Gulhan, U and Cakir, T and Altinbas, M}, title = {Effect of iron and magnesium addition on population dynamics and high value product of microalgae grown in anaerobic liquid digestate.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3510}, pmid = {32103096}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/metabolism ; Biomass ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Chlorella/genetics/growth & development ; Chlorophyll A/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/analysis/metabolism ; Ferric Compounds/*pharmacology ; Magnesium Sulfate/*pharmacology ; Microalgae/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Synechocystis/genetics/growth & development ; Up-Regulation/drug effects ; }, abstract = {In this study, FeSO4 supplementation ranging from 0 to 4.5 mM, and MgSO4 supplementation ranging from 0 to 5.1 mM were investigated to observe the effect on the population dynamics, biochemical composition and fatty acid content of mixed microalgae grown in Anaerobic Liquid Digestate (ALD). Overall, 3.1 mM FeSO4 addition into ALD increased the total protein content 60% and led to highest biomass (1.56 g L[-1]) and chlorophyll-a amount (18.7 mg L[-1]) produced. Meanwhile, 0.4 mM MgSO4 addition increased the total carotenoid amount 2.2 folds and slightly increased the biomass amount. According to the microbial community analysis, Diphylleia rotans, Synechocystis PCC-6803 and Chlorella sorokiniana were identified as mostly detected species after confirmation with 4 different markers. The abundance of Chlorella sorokiniana and Synechocystis PCC-6803 increased almost 2 folds both in iron and magnesium addition. On the other hand, the dominancy of Diphylleia rotans was not affected by iron addition while drastically decreased (95%) with magnesium addition. This study helps to understand how the dynamics of symbiotic life changes if macro elements are added to the ALD and reveal that microalgae can adapt to adverse environmental conditions by fostering the diversity with a positive effect on high value product.}, } @article {pmid32102845, year = {2020}, author = {Su, C and Klein, ML and Hernández-Reyes, C and Batzenschlager, M and Ditengou, FA and Lace, B and Keller, J and Delaux, PM and Ott, T}, title = {The Medicago truncatula DREPP Protein Triggers Microtubule Fragmentation in Membrane Nanodomains during Symbiotic Infections.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {1689-1702}, pmid = {32102845}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Membrane Microdomains/*metabolism ; Microtubules/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Protein Binding ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The initiation of intracellular host cell colonization by symbiotic rhizobia in Medicago truncatula requires repolarization of root hairs, including the rearrangement of cytoskeletal filaments. The molecular players governing microtubule (MT) reorganization during rhizobial infections remain to be discovered. Here, we identified M. truncatula DEVELOPMENTALLY REGULATED PLASMA MEMBRANE POLYPEPTIDE (DREPP), a member of the MT binding DREPP/PCaP protein family, and investigated its functions during rhizobial infections. We show that rhizobial colonization of drepp mutant roots as well as transgenic roots overexpressing DREPP is impaired. DREPP relocalizes into symbiosis-specific membrane nanodomains in a stimulus-dependent manner. This subcellular segregation coincides with DREPP-dependent MT fragmentation and a partial loss of the ability to reorganize the MT cytoskeleton in response to rhizobia, which might rely on an interaction between DREPP and the MT-organizing protein SPIRAL2. Taken together, our results reveal that establishment of symbiotic associations in M. truncatula requires DREPP in order to regulate MT reorganization during initial root hair responses to rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid32100606, year = {2020}, author = {Nishida, H and Ito, M and Miura, K and Kawaguchi, M and Suzaki, T}, title = {Autoregulation of nodulation pathway is dispensable for nitrate-induced control of rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {1733814}, pmid = {32100606}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrates/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Legumes possess the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway which is responsible for maintaining optimal root nodule number. In Lotus japonicus, AON comprises the CLE-HAR1-TML module, which plays an essential role in transmitting signals via root-to-shoot-to-root long-distance signaling. In addition to AON's principal role of negatively regulating nodule number, a recent study revealed another in the systemic control of rhizobial infection. Nitrate also negatively regulates the pleiotropic phases of legume-Rhizobium symbioses, including rhizobial infection and nodule number. Nitrate signaling has recently been shown to use AON components such as CLE-RS2 and HAR1 to control nodule number. Here we consider the role of a loss-of-function mutation in CLE-RS1, -RS2 and TML in rhizobial infection in relation to nitrate. Our results agree with previous findings and support the hypothesis that AON is required for the control of rhizobial infection but not for its nitrate-induced control. Furthermore, we confirm that the tml mutants exhibit nitrate sensitivity that differs from that of cle-rs2 and har1. Hence, while the nitrate-induced control mechanism of nodule number uses AON components, an unknown pathway specific to nitrate may exist downstream of HAR1, acting in parallel with the HAR1> TML pathway.}, } @article {pmid32098813, year = {2020}, author = {Waterworth, SC and Flórez, LV and Rees, ER and Hertweck, C and Kaltenpoth, M and Kwan, JC}, title = {Horizontal Gene Transfer to a Defensive Symbiont with a Reduced Genome in a Multipartite Beetle Microbiome.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {32098813}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Products ; Burkholderia/genetics ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic mutualisms of bacteria and animals are ubiquitous in nature, running a continuum from facultative to obligate from the perspectives of both partners. The loss of functions required for living independently but not within a host gives rise to reduced genomes in many symbionts. Although the phenomenon of genome reduction can be explained by existing evolutionary models, the initiation of the process is not well understood. Here, we describe the microbiome associated with the eggs of the beetle Lagria villosa, consisting of multiple bacterial symbionts related to Burkholderia gladioli, including a reduced-genome symbiont thought to be the exclusive producer of the defensive compound lagriamide. We show that the putative lagriamide-producing symbiont is the only member of the microbiome undergoing genome reduction and that it has already lost the majority of its primary metabolism and DNA repair pathways. The key step preceding genome reduction in the symbiont was likely the horizontal acquisition of the putative lagriamide lga biosynthetic gene cluster. Unexpectedly, we uncovered evidence of additional horizontal transfers to the symbiont's genome while genome reduction was occurring and despite a current lack of genes needed for homologous recombination. These gene gains may have given the genome-reduced symbiont a selective advantage in the microbiome, especially given the maintenance of the large lga gene cluster despite ongoing genome reduction.IMPORTANCE Associations between microorganisms and an animal, plant, or fungal host can result in increased dependence over time. This process is due partly to the bacterium not needing to produce nutrients that the host provides, leading to loss of genes that it would need to live independently and to a consequent reduction in genome size. It is often thought that genome reduction is aided by genetic isolation-bacteria that live in monocultures in special host organs, or inside host cells, have less access to other bacterial species from which they can obtain genes. Here, we describe exposure of a genome-reduced beetle symbiont to a community of related bacteria with nonreduced genomes. We show that the symbiont has acquired genes from other bacteria despite going through genome reduction, suggesting that isolation has not yet played a major role in this case of genome reduction, with horizontal gene gains still offering a potential route for adaptation.}, } @article {pmid32098800, year = {2020}, author = {Gan, X and Cao, D and Zhang, Z and Cheng, S and Wei, L and Li, S and Liu, B}, title = {Draft Genome Assembly of Floccularia luteovirens, an Edible and Symbiotic Mushroom on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {1167-1173}, pmid = {32098800}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {*Agaricales ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Floccularia luteovirens, also known as "Yellow mushroom", is an edible ectomycorrhizal fungus widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau alpine meadow. So far, little genomic information is known about F. luteovirens, which is not conductive to the protection and utilization of it. In this manuscript, we present a first draft genome assembly and annotation of F. luteovirens The fruiting body of F. luteovirens was sequenced with PacBio Sequel and Illumina Hiseq 2500 system. The assembled genome size was 28.8 Mb, and comprising 183 contigs with a N50 contig size of 571 kb. A total of 8,333 protein-coding genes were predicted and 7,999 genes were further assigned to different public protein databases. Besides, 400 CAZymes were identified in F. luteovirens Phylogenetic analysis suggested that F. luteovirens should belong to the Agaricaceae family. Time tree result showed that the speciation of F. luteovirens happened approximately 170 Million years ago. Furthermore, 357 species-specific gene families were annotated against KEGG and GO database. This genome assembly and annotation should be an essential genomic foundation for understanding the phylogenetic, metabolic and symbiotic traits of F. luteovirens.}, } @article {pmid32097167, year = {2020}, author = {Qadan, M}, title = {A Model for Academic Symbiosis.}, journal = {Annals of surgery}, volume = {271}, number = {4}, pages = {e105}, doi = {10.1097/SLA.0000000000003807}, pmid = {32097167}, issn = {1528-1140}, mesh = {Humans ; *Pancreatic Neoplasms ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid32095903, year = {2020}, author = {Hassen, AI and Lamprecht, SC and Bopape, FL}, title = {Emergence of β-rhizobia as new root nodulating bacteria in legumes and current status of the legume-rhizobium host specificity dogma.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {40}, pmid = {32095903}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/*growth & development ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent developments in the legume rhizobium symbiotic interaction particularly those related to the emergence of novel strains of bacteria that nodulate and fix nitrogen in legumes is gaining momentum. These novel strains of bacteria were mostly isolated from the root nodules of indigenous and invasive legumes belonging to the sub families Papilionoideae and Mimosoideae in South Africa, South America and South East China. These rhizobia are phylogenetically and taxonomically different from the traditional 'alpha rhizobia' and are termed 'β-rhizobia' as they belong to the β-sub class of Proteobacteria. There are also new reports of novel species of root nodulating bacteria from the α-Proteobacteria, not known for several decades since the discovery of rhizobia. However, in this review focus is given to the emerging β-rhizobia isolated from the indigenous Papilionoid legumes in the Cape Floristic regions in South Africa and the indigenous and invasive Mimosoid legumes in South America and South East Asia respectively. The nodulation of the indigenous South African Papilionoid legumes including that of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) is discussed in a bit detail. Previous reports indicated that A. linearis is very specific in its rhizobium requirement and was reported to be nodulated by the slow growing Bradyrhizobium spp. This review however summarizes that the bacteria associated with the root nodules of A. linearis belong to members of both the alpha (α) Proteobacteria that include Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium spp. and the beta (β) Proteobacteria represented by the genus Burkholderia (now reclassified as Paraburkholderia). In addition, the occurrence of Paraburkholderia as the newly emerging root nodule symbionts of various other legumes has been discussed. In doing so, the review highlights that nodulation is no longer restricted to the traditional 'rhizobia' group following the emergence of the new beta rhizobia as potential nodulators of various indigenous legumes. It thus provides some insights on the status of the legume-rhizobium host specificity concept and the loss of this specificity in several symbiotic associations that puts the long held dogma of host specificity of the legume rhizobium symbiosis in a dilemma.}, } @article {pmid32095335, year = {2020}, author = {Lipa, P and Janczarek, M}, title = {Phosphorylation systems in symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria and their role in bacterial adaptation to various environmental stresses.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8466}, pmid = {32095335}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria, commonly called rhizobia, lead a saprophytic lifestyle in the soil and form nitrogen-fixing nodules on legume roots. During their lifecycle, rhizobia have to adapt to different conditions prevailing in the soils and within host plants. To survive under these conditions, rhizobia fine-tune the regulatory machinery to respond rapidly and adequately to environmental changes. Symbiotic bacteria play an essential role in the soil environment from both ecological and economical point of view, since these bacteria provide Fabaceae plants (legumes) with large amounts of accessible nitrogen as a result of symbiotic interactions (i.e., rhizobia present within the nodule reduce atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia, which can be utilized by plants). Because of its restricted availability in the soil, nitrogen is one of the most limiting factors for plant growth. In spite of its high content in the atmosphere, plants are not able to assimilate it directly in the N2 form. During symbiosis, rhizobia infect host root and trigger the development of specific plant organ, the nodule. The aim of root nodule formation is to ensure a microaerobic environment, which is essential for proper activity of nitrogenase, i.e., a key enzyme facilitating N2 fixation. To adapt to various lifestyles and environmental stresses, rhizobia have developed several regulatory mechanisms, e.g., reversible phosphorylation. This key mechanism regulates many processes in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In microorganisms, signal transduction includes two-component systems (TCSs), which involve membrane sensor histidine kinases (HKs) and cognate DNA-binding response regulators (RRs). Furthermore, regulatory mechanisms based on phosphoenolopyruvate-dependent phosphotranspherase systems (PTSs), as well as alternative regulatory pathways controlled by Hanks-type serine/threonine kinases (STKs) and serine/threonine phosphatases (STPs) play an important role in regulation of many cellular processes in both free-living bacteria and during symbiosis with the host plant (e.g., growth and cell division, envelope biogenesis, biofilm formation, response to stress conditions, and regulation of metabolism). In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of phosphorylation systems in symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and their role in the physiology of rhizobial cells and adaptation to various environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid32093774, year = {2020}, author = {Ogier, JC and Pagès, S and Frayssinet, M and Gaudriault, S}, title = {Entomopathogenic nematode-associated microbiota: from monoxenic paradigm to pathobiome.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {25}, pmid = {32093774}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Control Agents ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Larva/parasitology ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Microbiota ; Moths/parasitology ; Proteobacteria/*classification/*pathogenicity ; Rhabditida/*microbiology/physiology ; Rhabditida Infections/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The holistic view of bacterial symbiosis, incorporating both host and microbial environment, constitutes a major conceptual shift in studies deciphering host-microbe interactions. Interactions between Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes and their bacterial symbionts, Xenorhabdus, have long been considered monoxenic two partner associations responsible for the killing of the insects and therefore widely used in insect pest biocontrol. We investigated this "monoxenic paradigm" by profiling the microbiota of infective juveniles (IJs), the soil-dwelling form responsible for transmitting Steinernema-Xenorhabdus between insect hosts in the parasitic lifecycle.

RESULTS: Multigenic metabarcoding (16S and rpoB markers) showed that the bacterial community associated with laboratory-reared IJs from Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae, S. glaseri and S. weiseri species consisted of several Proteobacteria. The association with Xenorhabdus was never monoxenic. We showed that the laboratory-reared IJs of S. carpocapsae bore a bacterial community composed of the core symbiont (Xenorhabdus nematophila) together with a frequently associated microbiota (FAM) consisting of about a dozen of Proteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Alcaligenes, Achromobacter, Pseudochrobactrum, Ochrobactrum, Brevundimonas, Deftia, etc.). We validated this set of bacteria by metabarcoding analysis on freshly sampled IJs from natural conditions. We isolated diverse bacterial taxa, validating the profile of the Steinernema FAM. We explored the functions of the FAM members potentially involved in the parasitic lifecycle of Steinernema. Two species, Pseudomonas protegens and P. chlororaphis, displayed entomopathogenic properties suggestive of a role in Steinernema virulence and membership of the Steinernema pathobiome.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study validates a shift from monoxenic paradigm to pathobiome view in the case of the Steinernema ecology. The microbial communities of low complexity associated with EPNs will permit future microbiota manipulation experiments to decipher overall microbiota functioning in the infectious process triggered by EPN in insects and, more generally, in EPN ecology.}, } @article {pmid32093403, year = {2020}, author = {Sharma, V and Bhattacharyya, S and Kumar, R and Kumar, A and Ibañez, F and Wang, J and Guo, B and Sudini, HK and Gopalakrishnan, S and DasGupta, M and Varshney, RK and Pandey, MK}, title = {Molecular Basis of Root Nodule Symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium and 'Crack-Entry' Legume Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32093403}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Nitrogen is one of the essential plant nutrients and a major factor limiting crop productivity. To meet the requirements of sustainable agriculture, there is a need to maximize biological nitrogen fixation in different crop species. Legumes are able to establish root nodule symbiosis (RNS) with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria which are collectively called rhizobia. This mutualistic association is highly specific, and each rhizobia species/strain interacts with only a specific group of legumes, and vice versa. Nodulation involves multiple phases of interactions ranging from initial bacterial attachment and infection establishment to late nodule development, characterized by a complex molecular signalling between plants and rhizobia. Characteristically, legumes like groundnut display a bacterial invasion strategy popularly known as "crack-entry'' mechanism, which is reported approximately in 25% of all legumes. This article accommodates critical discussions on the bacterial infection mode, dynamics of nodulation, components of symbiotic signalling pathway, and also the effects of abiotic stresses and phytohormone homeostasis related to the root nodule symbiosis of groundnut and Bradyrhizobium. These parameters can help to understand how groundnut RNS is programmed to recognize and establish symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, adjusting gene expression in response to various regulations. This review further attempts to emphasize the current understanding of advancements regarding RNS research in the groundnut and speculates on prospective improvement possibilities in addition to ways for expanding it to other crops towards achieving sustainable agriculture and overcoming environmental challenges.}, } @article {pmid32091660, year = {2021}, author = {Noman, MS and Shi, G and Liu, LJ and Li, ZH}, title = {Diversity of bacteria in different life stages and their impact on the development and reproduction of Zeugodacus tau (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {363-376}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12768}, pmid = {32091660}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Ovum/growth & development/microbiology ; Pupa/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Reproduction ; Tephritidae/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Fruit flies usually harbor diverse communities of bacteria in their digestive systems, which are known to play a significant role in their fitness. However, little information is available on Zeugodacus tau, a polyphagous pest worldwide. This study reports the first extensive analysis of bacterial communities in different life stages and their effect on the development and reproduction of laboratory-reared Z. tau. Cultured bacteria were identified using the conventional method, and all bacteria were identified by high-throughput technologies (16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of V3-V4 region). A total of six bacterial phyla were identified in larvae, pupae, and male and female adult flies, which were distributed into 14 classes, 32 orders, 58 families and 96 genera. Proteobacteria was the most represented phylum in all the stages except larvae. Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Providencia, and Pseudomonas were identified by conventional and next-generation sequencing analysis in both male and female adult flies, and Enterobacter was found to be the main genus. After being fed with antibiotics from the first instar larvae, bacterial diversity changed markedly in the adult stage. Untreated flies laid eggs and needed 20 days before oviposition while the treated flies showed ovary development inhibited and were not able to lay eggs, probably due to the alteration of the microbiota. These findings provide the cornerstone for unexplored research on bacterial function in Z. tau, which will help to develop an environmentally friendly management technique for this kind of harmful insect.}, } @article {pmid32090429, year = {2020}, author = {Kang, H and Chen, X and Kemppainen, M and Pardo, AG and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Kohler, A and Martin, FM}, title = {The small secreted effector protein MiSSP7.6 of Laccaria bicolor is required for the establishment of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {1435-1446}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14959}, pmid = {32090429}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {2662015PY058//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China/International ; ANR-11-LABX-0002_ARBRE//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/International ; //Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/International ; //Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas/International ; //Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/International ; //Biological and Environmental Research/International ; //Office of Science/International ; //U.S. Department of Energy/International ; //Genomic Science Program/International ; }, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*physiology ; Laccaria/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Populus/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To establish and maintain a symbiotic relationship, the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor releases mycorrhiza-induced small secreted proteins (MiSSPs) into host roots. Here, we have functionally characterized the MYCORRHIZA-iNDUCED SMALL SECRETED PROTEIN OF 7.6 kDa (MiSSP7.6) from L. bicolor by assessing its induced expression in ectomycorrhizae, silencing its expression by RNAi, and tracking in planta subcellular localization of its protein product. We also carried out yeast two-hybrid assays and bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis to identify possible protein targets of the MiSSP7.6 effector in Populus roots. We showed that MiSSP7.6 expression is upregulated in ectomycorrhizal rootlets and associated extramatrical mycelium during the late stage of symbiosis development. RNAi mutants with a decreased MiSSP7.6 expression have a lower mycorrhization rate, suggesting a key role in the establishment of the symbiosis with plants. MiSSP7.6 is secreted, and it localizes both to the nuclei and cytoplasm in plant cells. MiSSP7.6 protein was shown to interact with two Populus Trihelix transcription factors. Furthermore, when coexpressed with one of the Trihelix transcription factors, MiSSP7.6 is localized to plant nuclei only. Our data suggest that MiSSP7.6 is a novel secreted symbiotic effector and is a potential determinant for ectomycorrhiza formation.}, } @article {pmid32088437, year = {2020}, author = {Li, M and Xiao, X and Wang, S and Zhang, X and Li, J and Pavlostathis, SG and Luo, X and Luo, S and Zeng, G}, title = {Synergistic removal of cadmium and organic matter by a microalgae-endophyte symbiotic system (MESS): An approach to improve the application potential of plant-derived biosorbents.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {114177}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114177}, pmid = {32088437}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Biomass ; Cadmium ; Endophytes ; *Metals, Heavy ; *Microalgae ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Plant-derived materials as environmentally friendly biosorbents to remove heavy metals from wastewater have been extensively studied. However, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) increase caused by the plant-derived biosorbent has not been considered previously. In this study, water hyacinth was used as biosorbent to remove Cd(II) from wastewater. About 66% of Cd(II) was removed by the biosorbent with a maximum biosorption capacity (qmax) of 21.6 mg g[-1]. However, the COD of the filtrate increased from 0 to 292 mg L[-1] during this process. Subsequently, endophytes, microalgae and the microalgae-endophyte symbiotic system (MESS) were assessed for the simultaneous Cd(II) and COD removal. Among these three systems, the MESS achieved the best performance. After 3 d of inoculation, the extent of total Cd(II) removal increased to 99.2% while COD decreased to 77 mg L[-1]. This study provides a new insight into the application of a plant-derived biosorbent in combination with microalgae and endophytes for the effective treatment of heavy metal-bearing wastewater.}, } @article {pmid32087536, year = {2020}, author = {Huang, D and Ma, M and Wang, Q and Zhang, M and Jing, G and Li, C and Ma, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhanced drought resistance in apple by regulating genes in the MAPK pathway.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {245-255}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.02.020}, pmid = {32087536}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Droughts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Malus/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; *Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form a symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants and play an important role in plant growth and adaptation to various stresses. To study the role of AMF in regulating drought resistance in apple, the effects of drought stress on Malus hupehensis inoculated with AMF were investigated. Inoculation of AMF enhanced apple plants growth. Mycorrhizal plants had higher total chlorophyll concentrations but lower relative electrolyte leakage under drought stress. Mycorrhizal plants increased net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate under drought stress, however, they showed lower inhibition in the quantum yield of PSII photochemistry. Mycorrhizal plants also had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities under drought conditions. Thus, mycorrhizal plants had lower accumulated MDA, H2O2, and O2[-] than non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Total sugar and proline concentrations also significantly increased, helping maintain the osmotic balance. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, which participate in the regulation of responses of plants and microorganisms to biotic and abiotic stress, were up-regulated in apple plants and AMF during drought. We saw that there were at least two motifs that were identical in MAPK proteins and many elements that responded to hormones and stress from these MAPK genes. In summary, our results showed that mycorrhizal colonization enhanced apple drought tolerance by improving gas exchange capacity, increasing chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, creating a greater osmotic adjustment capacity, increasing scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and using MAPK signals for interactions between AMF and their apple plant hosts.}, } @article {pmid32086543, year = {2021}, author = {Bao, G and Song, M and Wang, Y and Saikkonen, K and Li, C}, title = {Does Epichloë Endophyte Enhance Host Tolerance to Root Hemiparasite?.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {35-48}, pmid = {32086543}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Elymus ; Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Plant Weeds ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes have been shown to be mutualistic symbionts of cool-season grasses under most environmental conditions. Although pairwise interactions between hemiparasites and their hosts are heavily affected by host-associated symbiotic microorganisms, little attention has been paid to the effects of microbe-plant interactions, particularly endophytic symbiosis, in studies examining the effects of parasitic plants on host performance. In this study, we performed a greenhouse experiment to examine the effects of hereditary Epichloë endophyte symbiosis on the growth of two host grasses (Stipa purpurea and Elymus tangutorum) in the presence or absence of a facultative root hemiparasite (Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim). We observed parasitism of both hosts by P. kansuensis: when grown with a host plant, the hemiparasite decreased the performance of the host while improving its own biomass and survival rate of the hemiparasite. Parasitized endophyte-infected S. purpurea plants had higher biomass, tillers, root:shoot ratio, and photosynthetic parameters and a lower number of functional haustoria than the endophyte-free S. purpurea conspecifics. By contrast, parasitized endophyte-infected E. tangutorum had a lower biomass, root:shoot ratio, and photosynthetic parameters and a higher number of haustoria and functional haustoria than their endophyte-free counterparts. Our results reveal that the interactions between the endophytes and the host grasses are context dependent and that plant-plant interactions can strongly affect their mutualistic interactions. Endophytes originating from S. purpurea alleviate the host biomass reduction by P. kansuensis and growth depression in the hemiparasite. These findings shed new light on using grass-endophyte symbionts as biocontrol methods for the effective and sustainable management of this weedy hemiparasite.}, } @article {pmid32086169, year = {2020}, author = {Waters, LS}, title = {Bacterial manganese sensing and homeostasis.}, journal = {Current opinion in chemical biology}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {96-102}, pmid = {32086169}, issn = {1879-0402}, support = {R15 GM137249/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacteria/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Homeostasis/*physiology ; Manganese/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Riboswitch ; Substrate Specificity ; Superoxide Dismutase/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Manganese (Mn) plays a complex role in the survival of pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria in eukaryotic hosts and is also important for free-living bacteria to thrive in stressful environments. This review summarizes new aspects of regulatory strategies to control intracellular Mn levels and gives an overview of several newly identified families of bacterial Mn transporters. Recent illustrative examples of advances in quantification of intracellular Mn pools and characterization of the effects of Mn perturbations are highlighted. These discoveries help define mechanisms of Mn selectivity and toxicity and could enable new strategies to combat pathogenic bacteria and promote growth of desirable bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32086057, year = {2020}, author = {McKenzie, MR and Templeman, MA and Kingsford, MJ}, title = {Detecting effects of herbicide runoff: The use of Cassiopea maremetens as a biomonitor to hexazinone.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {221}, number = {}, pages = {105442}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105442}, pmid = {32086057}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/drug effects ; Coral Reefs ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Scyphozoa/*drug effects ; Symbiosis ; Triazines/*toxicity ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Herbicides are an integral part of global agricultural activity but can be advected into local drainages that can discharge to coastal marine systems. Herbicide runoff can impact coastal marine organisms, including those associated with coral reefs and coastal mangrove forests. In this study, the symbiotic sedentary jellyfish Cassiopea maremetens were exposed to analytical grade hexazinone to determine their sensitivity and potential for recovery after exposure to a press herbicide event of 14 days followed by a recovery period of matching duration. Bell surface area, photosynthetic yield (i.e. effective quantum yield, EQY), statolith count and zooxanthellae density were analyzed. Most metrics demonstrated significant decreases when exposed to higher concentrations of hexazinone, while EQY was significantly decreased at exposure concentrations from 31 μg/L hexazinone and above. In contrast, zooxanthellae density (cells/mm[2]) increased in the highest concentrations compared to control animals. At the end of the exposure period the EC50 for bell surface area, EQY, and statolith count were 176 μg/L, 81.96 μg/L, and 304.3 μg/L, respectively. Jellyfish were able to recover to similar start values for all measured metrics at the end of the 14-day recovery period, with EQY showing recovery by Day 7 of the recovery period. This study demonstrated that statolith counts as an estimate of age were not affected by herbicides. We conclude that the depressed metrics from herbicide related impacts of C. maremetens are effective indicators of a relatively recent herbicide perturbation in that the recovery timeframe for these jellyfish is relatively short.}, } @article {pmid32086000, year = {2020}, author = {Lemoine, MM and Engl, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Microbial symbionts expanding or constraining abiotic niche space in insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {14-20}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.01.003}, pmid = {32086000}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animal Shells/metabolism ; Animals ; Droughts ; Ecosystem ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In addition to their well-studied contributions to their host's nutrition, digestion, and defense, microbial symbionts of insects are increasingly found to affect their host's response toward abiotic stressors. In particular, symbiotic microbes can reduce or enhance tolerance to temperature extremes, improve desiccation resistance by aiding cuticle biosynthesis and sclerotization, and detoxify heavy metals. As such, individual symbionts or microbial communities can expand or constrain the abiotic niche space of their host and determine its adaptability to fluctuating environments. In light of the increasing impact of humans on climate and environment, a better understanding of host-microbe interactions is necessary to predict how different insect species will respond to changes in abiotic conditions.}, } @article {pmid32085457, year = {2020}, author = {Lucero, L and Bazin, J and Rodriguez Melo, J and Ibañez, F and Crespi, MD and Ariel, F}, title = {Evolution of the Small Family of Alternative Splicing Modulators Nuclear Speckle RNA-binding Proteins in Plants.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32085457}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Alternative Splicing ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Embryophyta/genetics/*growth & development ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {RNA-Binding Protein 1 (RBP1) was first identified as a protein partner of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) ENOD40 in Medicagotruncatula, involved in symbiotic nodule development. RBP1 is localized in nuclear speckles and can be relocalized to the cytoplasm by the interaction with ENOD40. The two closest homologs to RBP1 in Arabidopsis thaliana were called Nuclear Speckle RNA-binding proteins (NSRs) and characterized as alternative splicing modulators of specific mRNAs. They can recognize in vivo the lncRNA ALTERNATIVE SPLICING COMPETITOR (ASCO) among other lncRNAs, regulating lateral root formation. Here, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of NSR/RBP proteins tracking the roots of the family to the Embryophytes. Strikingly, eudicots faced a reductive trend of NSR/RBP proteins in comparison with other groups of flowering plants. In Medicagotruncatula and Lotus japonicus, their expression profile during nodulation and in specific regions of the symbiotic nodule was compared to that of the lncRNA ENOD40, as well as to changes in alternative splicing. This hinted at distinct and specific roles of each member during nodulation, likely modulating the population of alternatively spliced transcripts. Our results establish the basis to guide future exploration of NSR/RBP function in alternative splicing regulation in different developmental contexts along the plant lineage.}, } @article {pmid32082345, year = {2019}, author = {Escudero, V and Abreu, I and Del Sastre, E and Tejada-Jiménez, M and Larue, C and Novoa-Aponte, L and Castillo-González, J and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Abadía, J and Argüello, JM and Castillo-Michel, H and Álvarez-Fernández, A and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Nicotianamine Synthase 2 Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Medicago truncatula Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1780}, pmid = {32082345}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation carried out by the interaction between legumes and diazotrophic bacteria known as rhizobia requires relatively large levels of transition metals. These elements are cofactors of many key enzymes involved in this process. Metallic micronutrients are obtained from soil by the roots and directed to sink organs by the vasculature, in a process mediated by a number of metal transporters and small organic molecules that facilitate metal delivery in the plant fluids. Among the later, nicotianamine is one of the most important. Synthesized by nicotianamine synthases (NAS), this molecule forms metal complexes participating in intracellular metal homeostasis and long-distance metal trafficking. Here we characterized the NAS2 gene from model legume Medicago truncatula. MtNAS2 is located in the root vasculature and in all nodule tissues in the infection and fixation zones. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires of MtNAS2 function, as indicated by the loss of nitrogenase activity in the insertional mutant nas2-1, phenotype reverted by reintroduction of a wild-type copy of MtNAS2. This would result from the altered iron distribution in nas2-1 nodules shown with X-ray fluorescence. Moreover, iron speciation is also affected in these nodules. These data suggest a role of nicotianamine in iron delivery for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid32080867, year = {2020}, author = {Speijer, D}, title = {Debating Eukaryogenesis-Part 1: Does Eukaryogenesis Presuppose Symbiosis Before Uptake?.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {e1900157}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201900157}, pmid = {32080867}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Archaea/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Phagocytosis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic origins are heavily debated. The author as well as others have proposed that they are inextricably linked with the arrival of a pre-mitochondrion of alphaproteobacterial-like ancestry, in a so-called symbiogenic scenario. The ensuing mutual adaptation of archaeal host and endosymbiont seems to have been a defining influence during the processes leading to the last eukaryotic common ancestor. An unresolved question in this scenario deals with the means by which the bacterium ends up inside. Older hypotheses revolve around the application of known antagonistic interactions, the bacterium being prey or parasite. Here, in reviewing the field, the author argues that such models share flaws, hence making them less likely, and that a "pre-symbiotic stage" would have eased ongoing metabolic integration. Based on this the author will speculate about the nature of the (endo) symbiosis that started eukaryotic evolution-in the context of bacterial entry being a relatively "early" event-and stress the differences between this uptake and subsequent ones. He will also briefly discuss how the mutual adaptation following the merger progressed and how many eukaryotic hallmarks can be understood in light of coadaptation. Also see the video abstract here https://youtu.be/ekqtNleVJpU.}, } @article {pmid32080746, year = {2020}, author = {Di Giovanni, D and Lepetit, D and Guinet, B and Bennetot, B and Boulesteix, M and Couté, Y and Bouchez, O and Ravallec, M and Varaldi, J}, title = {A Behavior-Manipulating Virus Relative as a Source of Adaptive Genes for Drosophila Parasitoids.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {10}, pages = {2791-2807}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msaa030}, pmid = {32080746}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Drosophila/*parasitology ; Female ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Viral ; Genome, Insect ; Larva/parasitology ; Selection, Genetic ; Wasps/*genetics/ultrastructure/*virology ; }, abstract = {Some species of parasitic wasps have domesticated viral machineries to deliver immunosuppressive factors to their hosts. Up to now, all described cases fall into the Ichneumonoidea superfamily, which only represents around 10% of hymenoptera diversity, raising the question of whether such domestication occurred outside this clade. Furthermore, the biology of the ancestral donor viruses is completely unknown. Since the 1980s, we know that Drosophila parasitoids belonging to the Leptopilina genus, which diverged from the Ichneumonoidea superfamily 225 Ma, do produce immunosuppressive virus-like structure in their reproductive apparatus. However, the viral origin of these structures has been the subject of debate. In this article, we provide genomic and experimental evidence that those structures do derive from an ancestral virus endogenization event. Interestingly, its close relatives induce a behavior manipulation in present-day wasps. Thus, we conclude that virus domestication is more prevalent than previously thought and that behavior manipulation may have been instrumental in the birth of such associations.}, } @article {pmid32080268, year = {2020}, author = {Nelissen, K and Liszi, M and Marco, M and Ospina, V and Drotár, I and Gatti, G and Kamperidis, C and Volpe, L}, title = {Characterisation and Modelling of Ultrashort Laser-Driven Electromagnetic Pulses.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3108}, pmid = {32080268}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Recent advances on laser technology have enabled the generation of ultrashort (fs) high power (PW) laser systems. For such large scale laser facilities there is an imperative demand for high repetition rate operation in symbiosis with beamlines or end-stations. In such extreme conditions the generation of electromagnetic pulses (EMP) during high intense laser target interaction experiments can tip the scale for the good outcome of the campaign. The EMP effects are several including interference with diagnostic devices and actuators as well as damage of electrical components. The EMP issue is quite known in the picosecond (ps) pulse laser experiments but no systematic study on EMP issues at multi-Joule fs-class lasers has been conducted thus far. In this paper we report the first experimental campaign for EMP-measurements performed at the 200 TW laser system (VEGA 2) at CLPU laser center. EMP pulse energy has been measured as a function of the laser intensity and energy together with other relevant quantities such as (i) the charge of the laser-driven protons and their maximum energy, as well as (ii) the X-ray Kα emission coming from electron interaction inside the target. Analysis of experimental results demonstrate (and confirm) a direct correlation between the measured EMP pulse energy and the laser parameters such as laser intensity and laser energy in the ultrashort pulse duration regime. Numerical FEM (Finite Element Method) simulations of the EMP generated by the target holder system have been performed and the simulations results are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental ones.}, } @article {pmid32079042, year = {2020}, author = {Fan, X and Che, X and Lai, W and Wang, S and Hu, W and Chen, H and Zhao, B and Tang, M and Xie, X}, title = {The auxin-inducible phosphate transporter AsPT5 mediates phosphate transport and is indispensable for arbuscule formation in Chinese milk vetch at moderately high phosphate supply.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {2053-2079}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14952}, pmid = {32079042}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {201904020022//Key Projects of Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan/International ; 2018A030313141//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province in China/International ; 219218//The High-level Talent Start Funding Project of South China Agricultural University/International ; 31800092//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Asian People ; Astragalus Plant/*metabolism ; Biological Transport/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus is a macronutrient that is essential for plant survival. Most land plants have evolved the ability to form a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which enhances phosphate (Pi) acquisition. Modulation of Pi transporter systems is the master strategy used by mycorrhizal plants to adapt to ambient Pi concentrations. However, the specific functions of PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER 1 (PHT1) genes, which are Pi transporters that are responsive to high Pi availability, are largely unknown. Here, we report that AsPT5, an Astragalus sinicus (Chinese milk vetch) member of the PHT1 gene family, is conserved across dicotyledons and is constitutively expressed in a broad range of tissues independently of Pi supply, but is remarkably induced by indole-3-acetic acid (auxin) treatment under moderately high Pi conditions. Subcellular localization experiments indicated that AsPT5 localizes to the plasma membrane of plant cells. Using reverse genetics, we showed that AsPT5 not only mediates Pi transport and remodels root system architecture but is also essential for arbuscule formation in A. sinicus under moderately high Pi concentrations. Overall, our study provides insight into the function of AsPT5 in Pi transport, AM development and the cross-talk between Pi nutrition and auxin signalling in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid32078984, year = {2020}, author = {Moreau, CS}, title = {Symbioses among ants and microbes.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {1-5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2020.01.002}, pmid = {32078984}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology/parasitology ; Bacteria ; Behavior ; Diet ; Fungi ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Microbiota ; Nematoda ; *Symbiosis ; Trematoda ; Viruses ; }, abstract = {Ants have been shown to engage in symbiosis across the tree of life, although our knowledge is far from complete. These interactions range from mutualistic to parasitic with several instances of manipulation of host behavior. Nutrient contributions in these symbioses include both farming for food and nitrogen recycling by gut-associated microbes. Interestingly, the ants that are mostly likely to host diverse and likely functional gut microbial communities are those that feed on extreme diets. Although we do see many instances of symbiosis between ants and microbes, there are also examples of species without a functional gut microbiome. Symbiosis among microbes and eukaryotic hosts is common and often considered a hallmark of multicellular evolution [1]. This is true among many of the over 13000 species of ants, although symbiosis between ants and microbes are not ubiquitous. These microbial-ant symbiotic interactions span the tree of life and include microbial eukaryotes, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. These interactions range from pathogenic to mutualistic, with many relationships still not well understood. Although our knowledge of the diversity of these microbes in ants is growing rapidly, and in some cases we know the function and interaction with the host, we still have much to learn about - the little things that run the little things that run the world!}, } @article {pmid32078896, year = {2020}, author = {Singh, RK and Deshmukh, R and Muthamilarasan, M and Rani, R and Prasad, M}, title = {Versatile roles of aquaporin in physiological processes and stress tolerance in plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {178-189}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.02.009}, pmid = {32078896}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Aquaporins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/classification ; *Stress, Physiological/physiology ; }, abstract = {Aquaporins are pore-forming transmembrane proteins that facilitate the movement of water and many other small neutral solutes across the cells and intracellular compartments. Plants exhibits high diversity in aquaporin isoforms and broadly classified into five different subfamilies on the basis of phylogenetic distribution and subcellular occurrence: plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), nodulin 26-like proteins (NIPs), small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) and uncharacterized intrinsic proteins (XIPs). The gating mechanism of aquaporin channels is tightly regulated by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, glycosylation, and deamination. Aquaporin expression and transport functions are also modulated by the various phytohormones-mediated signalling in plants. Combined physiology and transcriptome analysis revealed the role of aquaporins in regulating hydraulic conductance in roots and leaves. The present review mainly focused on aquaporin functional activity during solute transport, plant development, abiotic stress response, and plant-microbe symbiosis. Genetically modified plants overexpressing aquaporin-encoding genes display improved agronomic and abiotic stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid32078802, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, EK and Lee, KA and Hyeon, DY and Kyung, M and Jun, KY and Seo, SH and Hwang, D and Kwon, Y and Lee, WJ}, title = {Bacterial Nucleoside Catabolism Controls Quorum Sensing and Commensal-to-Pathogen Transition in the Drosophila Gut.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {345-357.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2020.01.025}, pmid = {32078802}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila/*microbiology ; Dual Oxidases/metabolism ; N-Glycosyl Hydrolases/metabolism ; *Quorum Sensing ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Ribose/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Uracil/*metabolism ; Uridine/metabolism ; *Virulence ; }, abstract = {Although the gut microbiome is generally symbiotic or commensal, some microbiome members become pathogenic under certain circumstances. However, the factors driving this pathogenic switch are largely unknown. Pathogenic bacteria can generate uracil that triggers host dual oxidase (DUOX) to produce antimicrobial reactive oxygen species (ROS). We show that pathogens generate uracil and ribose upon nucleoside catabolism of gut luminal uridine, which triggers not only host defenses but also inter-bacterial communication and pathogenesis in Drosophila. Uridine-derived uracil triggers DUOX-dependent ROS generation, whereas ribose induces bacterial quorum sensing (QS) and virulence gene expression. Genes implicated in nucleotide metabolism are found in pathogens but not commensal bacteria, and their genetic ablation blocks QS and the commensal-to-pathogen transition in vivo. Furthermore, commensal bacteria lack functional nucleoside catabolism, which is required to achieve gut-microbe symbiosis, but can become pathogenic by enabling nucleotide catabolism. These findings reveal molecular mechanisms governing the commensal-to-pathogen transition in different contexts of host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid32077339, year = {2020}, author = {Grosse, CSJ and Christophersen, CT and Devine, A and Lawrance, IC}, title = {The role of a plant-based diet in the pathogenesis, etiology and management of the inflammatory bowel diseases.}, journal = {Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {137-145}, doi = {10.1080/17474124.2020.1733413}, pmid = {32077339}, issn = {1747-4132}, mesh = {*Diet, Vegetarian/methods ; Dietary Fiber/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/complications/*diet therapy ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*diet therapy/etiology/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Introduction: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) carries a significant burden on an individual's quality-of-life and on the healthcare system. The majority of patients use dietary modifications to manage their symptoms, despite limited research to support these changes. There is emerging data that a plant-based diet will be of benefit to IBD patients.Areas covered: A literature review on the pathogenesis and potential benefits of dietary management of IBD.Expert opinion: A Westernized diet has been associated with IBD risk and relapse; hence a plant-based diet may be of benefit to IBD patients through reducing inflammation and restoring symbiosis. Dietary therapy can be an important adjunct therapy, however, better quality studies are still required.}, } @article {pmid32076545, year = {2020}, author = {Brown, JJ and Mihaljevic, JR and Des Marteaux, L and Hrček, J}, title = {Metacommunity theory for transmission of heritable symbionts within insect communities.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {1703-1721}, pmid = {32076545}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Microbial organisms are ubiquitous in nature and often form communities closely associated with their host, referred to as the microbiome. The microbiome has strong influence on species interactions, but microbiome studies rarely take interactions between hosts into account, and network interaction studies rarely consider microbiomes. Here, we propose to use metacommunity theory as a framework to unify research on microbiomes and host communities by considering host insects and their microbes as discretely defined "communities of communities" linked by dispersal (transmission) through biotic interactions. We provide an overview of the effects of heritable symbiotic bacteria on their insect hosts and how those effects subsequently influence host interactions, thereby altering the host community. We suggest multiple scenarios for integrating the microbiome into metacommunity ecology and demonstrate ways in which to employ and parameterize models of symbiont transmission to quantitatively assess metacommunity processes in host-associated microbial systems. Successfully incorporating microbiota into community-level studies is a crucial step for understanding the importance of the microbiome to host species and their interactions.}, } @article {pmid32076526, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, Z and Shan, L and Li, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Belowground interactions differ between sympatric desert shrubs under water stress.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {1444-1453}, pmid = {32076526}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Understanding the relationships among species is central to ecological research; however, many knowledge gaps remain regarding how desert plant species interact. In the present study, we assessed the effect of rainfall on the belowground interactions and root morphology of two desert shrubs, Reaumuria soongorica (Tamaricaceae) and Salsola passerina (Chenopodiaceae), from three communities with similar landforms and soil environments. The roots of both R. soongorica and S. passerina were deeper when grown together than grown singly. Interestingly, the belowground biomass of R. soongorica was higher, but the belowground biomass of S. passerina was lower when grown together than when grown alone. This suggests that S. passerina benefitted from the association with R. soongorica. When grown together under conditions of low rainfall, the roots of R. soongorica were deeper than those of S. passerina, which suggests that R. soongorica is more robust than S. passerina when subjected to periods of decreased rainfall. We concluded that the symbiotic relationship between these two shrub species can lead to deeper roots and that the plants are affected by rainfall availability. Combined with the output results of climate change models, we speculated that the distribution area of these two species will expand to the west, which has important implications on how the interactions of other desert species may change in response to climate variability.}, } @article {pmid32074548, year = {2020}, author = {Kusakabe, S and Higasitani, N and Kaneko, T and Yasuda, M and Miwa, H and Okazaki, S and Saeki, K and Higashitani, A and Sato, S}, title = {Lotus Accessions Possess Multiple Checkpoints Triggered by Different Type III Secretion System Effectors of the Wide-Host-Range Symbiont Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {32074548}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Genotype ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Lotus/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii, a rhizobium with a relatively wide host range, possesses a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that is involved in symbiotic incompatibility against Rj4-genotype soybean (Glycine max) and some accessions of mung bean (Vigna radiata). To expand our knowledge on the T3SS-mediated partner selection mechanism in the symbiotic legume-rhizobia association, we inoculated three Lotus experimental accessions with wild-type and T3SS-mutant strains of B. elkanii USDA61. Different responses were induced by T3SS in a host genotype-dependent manner. Lotus japonicus Gifu inhibited infection; L. burttii allowed infection, but inhibited nodule maturation at the post-infection stage; and L. burttii and L. japonicus MG-20 both displayed a nodule early senescence-like response. By conducting inoculation tests with mutants of previously reported and newly identified effector protein genes of B. elkanii USDA61, we identified NopF as the effector protein triggering the inhibition of infection, and NopM as the effector protein triggering the nodule early senescence-like response. Consistent with these results, the B. elkanii USDA61 gene for NopF introduced into the Lotus symbiont Mesorhizobium japonicum induced infection inhibition in L. japonicus Gifu, but did not induce any response in L. burttii or L. japonicus MG-20. These results suggest that Lotus accessions possess at least three checkpoints to eliminate unfavorable symbionts, including the post-infection stage, by recognizing different T3SS effector proteins at each checkpoint.}, } @article {pmid32072629, year = {2020}, author = {Heath, KD and Podowski, JC and Heniff, S and Klinger, CR and Burke, PV and Weese, DJ and Yang, WH and Lau, JA}, title = {Light availability and rhizobium variation interactively mediate the outcomes of legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {107}, number = {2}, pages = {229-238}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1435}, pmid = {32072629}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {DEB-1257938//NSF/International ; DEB-1027253//NSF/International ; DEB-1832042//NSF/International ; //Michigan State University/International ; }, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Nutrients, light, water, and temperature are key factors limiting the growth of individual plants in nature. Mutualistic interactions between plants and microbes often mediate resource limitation for both partners. In the mutualism between legumes and rhizobia, plants provide rhizobia with carbon in exchange for fixed nitrogen. Because partner quality in mutualisms is genotype-dependent, within-species genetic variation is expected to alter the responses of mutualists to changes in the resource environment. Here we ask whether partner quality variation in rhizobia mediates the response of host plants to changing light availability, and conversely, whether light alters the expression of partner quality variation.

METHODS: We inoculated clover hosts with 11 strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum that differed in partner quality, grew plants under either ambient or low light conditions in the greenhouse, and measured plant growth, nodule traits, and foliar nutrient composition.

RESULTS: Light availability and rhizobium inoculum interactively determined plant growth, and variation in rhizobium partner quality was more apparent in ambient light.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that variation in the costs and benefits of rhizobium symbionts mediate host responses to light availability and that rhizobium strain variation might more important in higher-light environments. Our work adds to a growing appreciation for the role of microbial intraspecific and interspecific diversity in mediating extended phenotypes in their hosts and suggests an important role for light availability in the ecology and evolution of legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32071778, year = {2020}, author = {Errarte, P and Larrinaga, G and López, JI}, title = {The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in renal cell carcinoma. An example of tumor modulation through tumor/non-tumor cell interactions.}, journal = {Journal of advanced research}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {103-108}, pmid = {32071778}, issn = {2090-1232}, abstract = {Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are a cellular compartment of the tumor microenvironment (TME) with critical roles in tumor development. Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) is one of the proteins expressed by CAF and its immunohistochemical detection in routine practice is associated with tumor aggressiveness and shorter patient survival. For these reasons, FAP seems a good prognostic marker in many malignant neoplasms, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The start point of this Perspective paper is to review the role of CAF in the modulation of renal cell carcinoma evolution. In this sense, CAF have demonstrated to develop important protumor and/or antitumor activities. This apparent paradox suggests that some type of temporally or spatially-related specialization is present in this cellular compartment during tumor evolution. The end point is to remark that tumor/non-tumor cell interactions, in particular the symbiotic tumor/CAF connections, are permanent and ever-changing crucial phenomena along tumor lifetime. Interestingly, these interactions may be responsible of many therapeutic failures.}, } @article {pmid32071434, year = {2020}, author = {Łaniewski, P and Ilhan, ZE and Herbst-Kralovetz, MM}, title = {The microbiome and gynaecological cancer development, prevention and therapy.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Urology}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {232-250}, pmid = {32071434}, issn = {1759-4820}, support = {P30 CA023074/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R15 AI113457/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U54 CA143924/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacteria, Anaerobic ; *Carcinogenesis ; Cervix Uteri/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/*microbiology ; Estrogens/metabolism ; Fallopian Tubes/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genital Neoplasms, Female/metabolism/*microbiology/prevention & control/therapy ; Genitalia, Female/metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Ovary/microbiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Uterus/microbiology ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The female reproductive tract (FRT), similar to other mucosal sites, harbours a site-specific microbiome, which has an essential role in maintaining health and homeostasis. In the majority of women of reproductive age, the microbiota of the lower FRT (vagina and cervix) microenvironment is dominated by Lactobacillus species, which benefit the host through symbiotic relationships. By contrast, the upper FRT (uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries) might be sterile in healthy individuals or contain a low-biomass microbiome with a diverse mixture of microorganisms. When dysbiosis occurs, altered immune and metabolic signalling can affect hallmarks of cancer, including chronic inflammation, epithelial barrier breach, changes in cellular proliferation and apoptosis, genome instability, angiogenesis and metabolic dysregulation. These pathophysiological changes might lead to gynaecological cancer. Emerging evidence shows that genital dysbiosis and/or specific bacteria might have an active role in the development and/or progression and metastasis of gynaecological malignancies, such as cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers, through direct and indirect mechanisms, including modulation of oestrogen metabolism. Cancer therapies might also alter microbiota at sites throughout the body. Reciprocally, microbiota composition can influence the efficacy and toxic effects of cancer therapies, as well as quality of life following cancer treatment. Modulation of the microbiome via probiotics or microbiota transplant might prove useful in improving responsiveness to cancer treatment and quality of life. Elucidating these complex host-microbiome interactions, including the crosstalk between distal and local sites, will translate into interventions for prevention, therapeutic efficacy and toxic effects to enhance health outcomes for women with gynaecological cancers.}, } @article {pmid32071331, year = {2020}, author = {Bononi, L and Chiaramonte, JB and Pansa, CC and Moitinho, MA and Melo, IS}, title = {Phosphorus-solubilizing Trichoderma spp. from Amazon soils improve soybean plant growth.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2858}, pmid = {32071331}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Fertilizers ; Minerals/metabolism ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Development/*genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Trichoderma/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Acidic soils rapidly retain applied phosphorus fertilizers and consequently present low availability of this nutrient to plants. The use of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms to help plant phosphorus (P) absorption is a promising sustainable strategy for managing P deficiencies in agricultural soils. Trichoderma strains have been one of the most studied filamentous fungi for improving the production and development of several crop species mainly due to their capability for symbiotic associations and their ability to control soil-borne plant diseases. Thus, this work sought to bioprospect Trichoderma strains from the Amazon rainforest capable of solubilizing/mineralizing soil phosphate and promoting soybean growth. Soybean plants inoculated with selected Trichoderma strains were cultivated in soil under greenhouse conditions and under a gradient of rock phosphate and triple superphosphate. As a result, 19.5% of the isolated Trichoderma strains were able to solubilize phosphate. In addition, those strains produced different organic acids during the solubilization process. Trichoderma spp. strains showed positive responses in the promotion of soybean growth-from 2.1% to 41.1%-as well as in the efficiency of P uptake-up to 141%. These results reveal the potential of Trichoderma spp. from the Amazon biome as promising biofertilizer agents.}, } @article {pmid32071267, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, P and Zhang, B and Jiao, J and Dai, SQ and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {Modulation of Symbiotic Compatibility by Rhizobial Zinc Starvation Machinery.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {32071267}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Operon ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sinorhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Starvation ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic bacteria need high-affinity zinc uptake systems to counteract the nutritional immunity exerted by infected hosts. However, our understanding of zinc homeostasis in mutualistic systems such as the rhizobium-legume symbiosis is limited. Here, we show that the conserved high-affinity zinc transporter ZnuABC and accessory transporter proteins (Zip1, Zip2, and c06450) made cumulative contributions to nodulation of the broad-host-range strain Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436. Zur acted as a zinc-dependent repressor for the znuC-znuB-zur operon, znuA, and c06450 by binding to the associated Zur box, but did not regulate zip1 and zip2 ZnuABC was the major zinc transporter. Combined mutants lacking znuA and one of the three accessory genes had more severe defects in nodulation and growth under zinc starvation conditions than the znuA mutant, though rhizoplane colonization by these mutants was not impaired. In contrast to the elite strain CCBAU45436, more drastic symbiotic defects were observed for the znuA mutants of other Sinorhizobium strains, which lack at least one of the three accessory genes in their genomes and are characterized by their limited host range and geographical distribution. The znu-derived mutants showed a higher expression level of nod genes involved in Nod factor biosynthesis and a reduced expression of genes encoding a type three secretion system and its effector NopP, which can interfere with the host immune system. Application of exogenous zinc restored the nodulation ability of these znu-derived mutants. Therefore, the conserved ZnuABC and accessory components in the zinc starvation machinery play an important role in modulating symbiotic compatibility.IMPORTANCE The rhizobium-legume symbiosis contributes around 65% of biological nitrogen fixation in agriculture systems and is critical for sustainable agriculture by reducing the amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizer being used. Rhizobial inocula have been commercialized for more than 100 years, but the efficiency of inoculation can vary among legume cultivars, field sites, and years. These long-lasting challenging problems impede the establishment of a sustainable agriculture, particularly in developing countries. Here, we report that rhizobial zinc starvation machinery containing a conserved high-affinity zinc transporter and accessory components makes cumulative contributions to modulating rhizobial symbiotic compatibility. This work highlights a critical role of largely unexplored nutritional immunity in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, which makes zinc starvation machinery an attractive target for improving rhizobial symbiotic compatibility.}, } @article {pmid32071243, year = {2020}, author = {Tarafder, AK and von Kügelgen, A and Mellul, AJ and Schulze, U and Aarts, DGAL and Bharat, TAM}, title = {Phage liquid crystalline droplets form occlusive sheaths that encapsulate and protect infectious rod-shaped bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {9}, pages = {4724-4731}, pmid = {32071243}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {202231/Z/16/Z//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/genetics/*virology ; Bacteriophages/*genetics/*physiology ; Capsid ; Communicable Diseases ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; DNA, Viral/*chemistry ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Inovirus/genetics/physiology ; Models, Molecular ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Prophages/genetics/physiology ; Salmonella enterica ; Vibrio cholerae ; }, abstract = {The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of antibiotic-tolerant infections in humans. P. aeruginosa evades antibiotics in bacterial biofilms by up-regulating expression of a symbiotic filamentous inoviral prophage, Pf4. We investigated the mechanism of phage-mediated antibiotic tolerance using biochemical reconstitution combined with structural biology and high-resolution cellular imaging. We resolved electron cryomicroscopy atomic structures of Pf4 with and without its linear single-stranded DNA genome, and studied Pf4 assembly into liquid crystalline droplets using optical microscopy and electron cryotomography. By biochemically replicating conditions necessary for antibiotic protection, we found that phage liquid crystalline droplets form phase-separated occlusive compartments around rod-shaped bacteria leading to increased bacterial survival. Encapsulation by these compartments was observed even when inanimate colloidal rods were used to mimic rod-shaped bacteria, suggesting that shape and size complementarity profoundly influences the process. Filamentous inoviruses are pervasive across prokaryotes, and in particular, several Gram-negative bacterial pathogens including Neisseria meningitidis, Vibrio cholerae, and Salmonella enterica harbor these prophages. We propose that biophysical occlusion mediated by secreted filamentous molecules such as Pf4 may be a general strategy of bacterial survival in harsh environments.}, } @article {pmid32071157, year = {2020}, author = {Contador, CA and Lo, SK and Chan, SHJ and Lam, HM}, title = {Metabolic Analyses of Nitrogen Fixation in the Soybean Microsymbiont Sinorhizobium fredii Using Constraint-Based Modeling.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {32071157}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria able to establish symbiosis with diverse host plants. Specifically, Sinorhizobium fredii is a soil bacterium that forms nitrogen-fixing root nodules in diverse legumes, including soybean. The strain S. fredii CCBAU45436 is a dominant sublineage of S. fredii that nodulates soybeans in alkaline-saline soils in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain region of China. Here, we present a manually curated metabolic model of the symbiotic form of Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436. A symbiosis reaction was defined to describe the specific soybean-microsymbiont association. The performance and quality of the reconstruction had a 70% score when assessed using a standardized genome-scale metabolic model test suite. The model was used to evaluate in silico single-gene knockouts to determine the genes controlling the nitrogen fixation process. One hundred forty-one of 541 genes (26%) were found to influence the symbiotic process, wherein 121 genes were predicted as essential and 20 others as having a partial effect. Transcriptomic profiles of CCBAU45436 were used to evaluate the nitrogen fixation capacity in cultivated versus in wild soybean inoculated with the microsymbiont. The model quantified the nitrogen fixation activities of the strain in these two hosts and predicted a higher nitrogen fixation capacity in cultivated soybean. Our results are consistent with published data demonstrating larger amounts of ureides and total nitrogen in cultivated soybean than in wild soybean. This work presents the first metabolic network reconstruction of S. fredii as an example of a useful tool for exploring the potential benefits of microsymbionts to sustainable agriculture and the ecosystem.IMPORTANCE Nitrogen is the most limiting macronutrient for plant growth, and rhizobia are important bacteria for agriculture because they can fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it available to legumes through the establishment of a symbiotic relationship with their host plants. In this work, we studied the nitrogen fixation process in the microsymbiont Sinorhizobium fredii at the genome level. A metabolic model was built using genome annotation and literature to reconstruct the symbiotic form of S. fredii Genes controlling the nitrogen fixation process were identified by simulating gene knockouts. Additionally, the nitrogen-fixing capacities of S. fredii CCBAU45436 in symbiosis with cultivated and wild soybeans were evaluated. The predictions suggested an outperformance of S. fredii with cultivated soybean, consistent with published experimental evidence. The reconstruction presented here will help to understand and improve nitrogen fixation capabilities of S. fredii and will be beneficial for agriculture by reducing the reliance on fertilizer applications.}, } @article {pmid32070027, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, SJ and Liu, YC and Weng, CH and Sun, SW and Li, F and Li, H and Zhu, H}, title = {Cyclic Dipeptides Mediating Quorum Sensing and Their Biological Effects in Hypsizygus Marmoreus.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32070027}, issn = {2218-273X}, support = {31870481//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Agaricales/*metabolism ; Dipeptides ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Serratia/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A novel quorum sensing (QS) system was discovered in Serratia odorifera, the symbiotic bacterium of Hypsizygus marmoreus. This system uses cyclo(Pro-Phe), cyclo(Pro-Tyr), cyclo(Pro-Val), cyclo(Pro-Leu), cyclo(Tyr-Leu), and cyclo(Tyr-Ile) as autoinducers. This discovery is the first attempt to characterize cyclic dipeptides as QS signaling molecules in S. odorifera and improves the classical QS theory. Significantly, except for cyclo(Tyr-Leu), these QS autoinducers can increase the transcription level of lignin-degrading enzyme genes of H.marmoreus. The cyclo(Pro-Phe) can increase the activity of extracellular laccase (1.32-fold) and manganese peroxidase (20%), which may explain why QS potentially regulates the hyphal growth, primordium formation, and fruit body development of H. marmoreus. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the cyclo(Tyr-Ile) biosynthesis in S. odorifera was catalyzed by the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). This study supports exploring the growth and development of H.marmoreus promoted by its symbiotic bacteria at QS signal transduction level.}, } @article {pmid32069692, year = {2020}, author = {Xiao, Y and Liu, M and Chen, L and Ji, L and Zhao, Z and Wang, L and Wei, L and Zhang, Y}, title = {Growth and elemental uptake of Trifolium repens in response to biochar addition, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus fertilizer applications in low-Cd-polluted soils.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {260}, number = {}, pages = {113761}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113761}, pmid = {32069692}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Cadmium/metabolism ; *Charcoal/chemistry ; China ; *Fertilizers ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; *Trifolium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to examine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, biochar (BC) addition and phosphorus (P) fertilizer applications on the mycorrhizal response, biomass and elemental uptake of Trifolium repens in cadmium (Cd)-polluted soils. The results showed that mycorrhizal colonization were significantly decreased by 100 mg P kg[-1] fertilizer input. Moreover, AM fungi, BC addition and P fertilizer significantly increased shoot biomass accumulation at all treatments. In the absence of BC, the nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) contents in the shoots were not affected by AM fungi after P fertilizer application, but the P content in the shoots significantly increased in response to AM fungi. In the absence of BC, both AM fungi and P fertilizer significantly reduced the Cd concentrations in the plant tissues as well as the soil diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-Cd concentration. These results indicated that the translocation factors (TFs) were influenced only by BC addition and that the roots could accumulate greater amounts of Cd than the shoots. On the basis of the hygienic standard for feed in China, the shoot Cd concentration in white clover was below the maximum permitted Cd concentration (1 μg g[-1]) across all treatments. Therefore, it is suggested that no negative mycorrhizal-white clover symbiotic relationships were observed and T. repens could be a suitable forage species for planting in soils with low concentrations of Cd contamination when BC and P fertilizer are applied.}, } @article {pmid32069577, year = {2020}, author = {Dong, S and Unger, J and Bryan, J and Su, Q and Grobe, R}, title = {Symbiotic versus nonsymbiotic optimization for spatial and temporal degrees of freedom in pair creation.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {101}, number = {1-1}, pages = {013310}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.101.013310}, pmid = {32069577}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {The field-induced decay of the quantum vacuum state associated with the creation of electron-positron pairs can be caused independently by either multiphoton transitions or by tunneling processes. The first mechanism is usually induced by appropriate temporal variations of the external field while the second (Schwinger-like) process occurs if a static but spatially dependent electric field is of supercritical strength. The ultimate goal is to construct an optimal space-time profile of an electromagnetic field that can maximize the creation of particle pairs. The simultaneous optimization of parameters that characterize the spatial and temporal features of both fields suggests that the optimal two-field configuration can be remarkably similar to that predicted from two independent optimizations for the spatial and temporal fields separately.}, } @article {pmid32068830, year = {2020}, author = {Husnik, F and Hypsa, V and Darby, A}, title = {Insect-Symbiont Gene Expression in the Midgut Bacteriocytes of a Blood-Sucking Parasite.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {429-442}, pmid = {32068830}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {BB/J017698/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Diptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; Disease Vectors ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genes, Insect ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Sheep/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Animals interact with a diverse array of both beneficial and detrimental microorganisms. In insects, these symbioses in many cases allow feeding on nutritionally unbalanced diets. It is, however, still not clear how are obligate symbioses maintained at the cellular level for up to several hundred million years. Exact mechanisms driving host-symbiont interactions are only understood for a handful of model species and data on blood-feeding hosts with intracellular bacteria are particularly scarce. Here, we analyzed interactions between an obligately blood-sucking parasite of sheep, the louse fly Melophagus ovinus, and its obligate endosymbiont, Arsenophonus melophagi. We assembled a reference transcriptome for the insect host and used dual RNA-Seq with five biological replicates to compare expression in the midgut cells specialized for housing symbiotic bacteria (bacteriocytes) to the rest of the gut (foregut-hindgut). We found strong evidence for the importance of zinc in the system likely caused by symbionts using zinc-dependent proteases when acquiring amino acids, and for different immunity mechanisms controlling the symbionts than in closely related tsetse flies. Our results show that cellular and nutritional interactions between this blood-sucking insect and its symbionts are less intimate than what was previously found in most plant-sap sucking insects. This finding is likely interconnected to several features observed in symbionts in blood-sucking arthropods, particularly their midgut intracellular localization, intracytoplasmic presence, less severe genome reduction, and relatively recent associations caused by frequent evolutionary losses and replacements.}, } @article {pmid32066875, year = {2020}, author = {Savary, R and Dupuis, C and Masclaux, FG and Mateus, ID and Rojas, EC and Sanders, IR}, title = {Genetic variation and evolutionary history of a mycorrhizal fungus regulate the currency of exchange in symbiosis with the food security crop cassava.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1333-1344}, pmid = {32066875}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Food Supply ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Fungal ; Manihot/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Diversity of AMF increases plant community productivity and plant diversity. For decades, it was known that plants trade carbohydrates for phosphate with their fungal symbionts. However, recent studies show that plant-derived lipids probably represent the most essential currency of exchange. Understanding the regulation of plant genes involved in the currency of exchange is crucial to understanding stability of this mutualism. Plants encounter many different AMF genotypes that vary greatly in the benefit they confer to plants. Yet the role that fungal genetic variation plays in the regulation of this currency has not received much attention. We used a high-resolution phylogeny of one AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis) to show that fungal genetic variation drives the regulation of the plant fatty acid pathway in cassava (Manihot esculenta); a pathway regulating one of the essential currencies of trade in the symbiosis. The regulation of this pathway was explained by clearly defined patterns of fungal genome-wide variation representing the precise fungal evolutionary history. This represents the first demonstrated link between the genetics of AMF and reprogramming of an essential plant pathway regulating the currency of exchange in the symbiosis. The transcription factor RAM1 was also revealed as the dominant gene in the fatty acid plant gene co-expression network. Our study highlights the crucial role of variation in fungal genomes in the trade of resources in this important symbiosis and also opens the door to discovering characteristics of AMF genomes responsible for interactions between AMF and cassava that will lead to optimal cassava growth.}, } @article {pmid32064599, year = {2020}, author = {Batstone, RT and Peters, MAE and Simonsen, AK and Stinchcombe, JR and Frederickson, ME}, title = {Environmental variation impacts trait expression and selection in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {107}, number = {2}, pages = {195-208}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1432}, pmid = {32064599}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {//NSERC/International ; //University of Toronto/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Genetic Variation ; Medicago ; Phenotype ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: The ecological outcomes of mutualism are well known to shift across abiotic or biotic environments, but few studies have addressed how different environments impact evolutionary responses, including the intensity of selection on and the expression of genetic variance in key mutualism-related traits.

METHODS: We planted 30 maternal lines of the legume Medicago lupulina in four field common gardens and compared our measures of selection on and genetic variance in nodulation, a key trait reflecting legume investment in the symbiosis, with those from a previous greenhouse experiment using the same 30 M. lupulina lines.

RESULTS: We found that both the mean and genetic variance for nodulation were much greater in the greenhouse than in the field and that the form of selection on nodulation significantly differed across environments. We also found significant genotype-by-environment (G × E) effects for fitness-related traits that were generated by differences in the rank order of plant lines among environments.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that the expression of genotypic variation and selection on nodulation differ across environments. In the field, significant rank-order changes for plant fitness potentially help maintain genetic variation in natural populations, even in the face of directional or stabilizing selection.}, } @article {pmid32064004, year = {2020}, author = {Belaid, K and Swanson, E and Carré-Mlouka, A and Hocher, V and Svistoonoff, S and Gully, D and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Thomas, WK and Amrani, S and Tisa, LS and Gherbi, H}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Symbiotic Frankia sp. strain B2 isolated from root nodules of Casuarina cunninghamiana found in Algeria.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {11-15}, pmid = {32064004}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {Frankia sp. strain B2 was isolated from Casuarina cunninghamiana nodules. Here, we report the 5.3-Mbp draft genome sequence of Frankia sp. strain B2 with a G+C content of 70.1 % and 4,663 candidate protein-encoding genes. Analysis of the genome revealed the presence of high numbers of secondary metabolic biosynthetic gene clusters.}, } @article {pmid32063892, year = {2020}, author = {Tsyganov, VE and Tsyganova, AV and Gorshkov, AP and Seliverstova, EV and Kim, VE and Chizhevskaya, EP and Belimov, AA and Serova, TA and Ivanova, KA and Kulaeva, OA and Kusakin, PG and Kitaeva, AB and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Efficacy of a Plant-Microbe System: Pisum sativum (L.) Cadmium-Tolerant Mutant and Rhizobium leguminosarum Strains, Expressing Pea Metallothionein Genes PsMT1 and PsMT2, for Cadmium Phytoremediation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {15}, pmid = {32063892}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Two transgenic strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, 3841-PsMT1 and 3841-PsMT2, were obtained. These strains contain the genetic constructions nifH-PsMT1 and nifH-PsMT2 coding for two pea (Pisum sativum L.) metallothionein genes, PsMT1 and PsMT2, fused with the promoter region of the nifH gene. The ability of both transgenic strains to form nodules on roots of the pea wild-type SGE and the mutant SGECd[t], which is characterized by increased tolerance to and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in plants, was analyzed. Without Cd treatment, the wild type and mutant SGECd[t] inoculated with R. leguminosarum strains 3841, 3841-PsMT1, or 3841-PsMT2 were similar histologically and in their ultrastructural organization of nodules. Nodules of wild-type SGE inoculated with strain 3841 and exposed to 0.5 μM CdCl2 were characterized by an enlarged senescence zone. It was in stark contrast to Cd-treated nodules of the mutant SGECd[t] that maintained their proper organization. Cadmium treatment of either wild-type SGE or mutant SGECd[t] did not cause significant alterations in histological organization of nodules formed by strains 3841-PsMT1 and 3841-PsMT2. Although some abnormalities were observed at the ultrastructural level, they were less pronounced in the nodules of strain 3841-PsMT1 than in those formed by 3841-PsMT2. Both transgenic strains also differed in their effects on pea plant growth and the Cd and nutrient contents in shoots. In our opinion, combination of Cd-tolerant mutant SGECd[t] and the strains 3841-PsMT1 or 3841-PsMT2 may be used as an original model for study of Cd tolerance mechanisms in legume-rhizobial symbiosis and possibilities for its application in phytoremediation or phytostabilization technologies.}, } @article {pmid32125351, year = {2019}, author = {Lee, YH and Mayer, C and Noble, D and Vines, D}, title = {Against the microfoundation hegemony: cooperation in biology, business and economics.}, journal = {Theoretical biology forum}, volume = {112}, number = {1-2}, pages = {53-77}, doi = {10.19272/201911402005}, pmid = {32125351}, issn = {2282-2593}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Models, Economic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We use recent insights from evolutionary biology and the principle of biological relativity to reveal the remarkable parallels between forms of cooperation in biology, business and economics. The principle of biological relativity states that there is no privileged level of causation. The creation of higher levels of organisation and regulation constrains the components of co-operation in a form of downward causation. The upward and downward forms of causation are not equivalent. Downward causation is an organising principle arising from the ordered creation of the 'initial' and 'boundary' conditions experienced by the lower level components. But the existence of the lower level components is also the necessary condition for the creation of the higher-level constraints. Very similar processes are at work in corporations. The restrictions imposed by the legal form of the corporation bind investors to the provision of permanent capital in a similar way to that of fusion of organisms in biological processes, creating a form of symbiogenesis. The higher order conditions imposed on the agents of the firm provide an organising principle and the existence of the lower level agents is a necessary condition for the creation of the higher-level constraints. Furthermore, the process of entry into new business environments resembles that of symbiosis or symbiogenesis in that the interaction is asymmetric; the subsequent process is dynamic, resulting in super-additivity. The dynamic processes can create higher levels of organisation, such as new business models involving cooperation between businesses, corporations, regulators and governments. These in turn constrain the entities forming the new process.}, } @article {pmid32704792, year = {2019}, author = {Pyles, MB and Fowler, AL and Bill, VT and Harlow, BE and Crum, AD and Hayes, SH and Flythe, MD and Lawrence, LM}, title = {Effect of maternal diet on select fecal bacteria of foals.}, journal = {Translational animal science}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {204-211}, pmid = {32704792}, issn = {2573-2102}, abstract = {Adult horses depend on the microbial community in the hindgut to digest fiber and produce short-chain fatty acids that are use for energy. Colonization of the foal gastrointestinal tract is essential to develop this symbiosis. However, factors affecting colonization are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the age-related changes and effects of maternal diet on select fecal bacterial groups in foals from 1 to 28 d of age. Thoroughbred foals (n = 18) were from dams fed forage and one of two concentrates: an oat-based (OB) or corn and wheat middlings-based (CWB) pelleted concentrate. The mares had access to assigned concentrates, along with a mixed hay and cool-season grass pasture, 28 d before and 28 d after parturition. Fecal samples were collected from foals at 1 d (14 to 36 h), 4, 14, and 28 d after birth. Fecal samples were serially diluted with phosphate-buffered saline before inoculation of enriched, selective media to enumerate Lactobacillus spp., amylolytic bacteria, and cellulolytic bacteria. Enumeration data were log-transformed then analyzed with mixed model analysis of variance with repeated measures (SAS 9.3) to test the main effects of maternal diet (OB or CWB), time of sample, and interaction between maternal diet and time. Cellulolytic bacteria first appeared in foal feces between 4 and 14 d of age and increased with age (P < 0.05). Amylolytic bacteria and lactobacilli were abundant at 1 d and then increased with age (P < 0.05). There was an interaction between maternal diet and time for Lactobacillus spp. with OB foals having more lactobacilli than CWB foals at 1 and 4 d (P < 0.05); however, there were no differences observed at 14 d (P > 0.05). Maternal diet did not influence amylolytic or cellulolytic bacteria (P > 0.05). These results indicate that colonization of the hindgut is a sequential process beginning early in the foal's life and that maternal diet may influence some bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of foals.}, } @article {pmid32734058, year = {2018}, author = {Chellapandi, P and Bharathi, M and Sangavai, C and Prathiviraj, R}, title = {Methanobacterium formicicum as a target rumen methanogen for the development of new methane mitigation interventions: A review.}, journal = {Veterinary and animal science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {86-94}, pmid = {32734058}, issn = {2451-943X}, abstract = {Methanobacterium formicicum (Methanobacteriaceae family) is an endosymbiotic methanogenic Archaean found in the digestive tracts of ruminants and elsewhere. It has been significantly implicated in global CH4 emission during enteric fermentation processes. In this review, we discuss current genomic and metabolic aspects of this microorganism for the purpose of the discovery of novel veterinary therapeutics. This microorganism encompasses a typical H2 scavenging system, which facilitates a metabolic symbiosis across the H2 producing cellulolytic bacteria and fumarate reducing bacteria. To date, five genome-scale metabolic models (iAF692, iMG746, iMB745, iVS941 and iMM518) have been developed. These metabolic reconstructions revealed the cellular and metabolic behaviors of methanogenic archaea. The characteristics of its symbiotic behavior and metabolic crosstalk with competitive rumen anaerobes support understanding of the physiological function and metabolic fate of shared metabolites in the rumen ecosystem. Thus, systems biological characterization of this microorganism may provide a new insight to realize its metabolic significance for the development of a healthy microbiota in ruminants. An in-depth knowledge of this microorganism may allow us to ensure a long term sustainability of ruminant-based agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32291062, year = {2018}, author = {Li, C and Gong, T and Bian, B and Liao, W}, title = {Roles of hydrogen gas in plants: a review.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {45}, number = {8}, pages = {783-792}, doi = {10.1071/FP17301}, pmid = {32291062}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Hydrogen gas (H2) was first identified as a unique molecular messenger in animals. Since H2 was reported as a novel antioxidant, it has been proven effective in treating many diseases. However, the studies concerning H2 in plants are just beginning to emerge. Here, two paths of H2 production in plants have been reported, namely, hydrogenase and nitrogenase. H2 has positive effects on seed germination, seedling growth, adventitious rooting, root elongation, harvest freshness, stomatal closure and anthocyanin synthesis. H2 also can enhance plant symbiotic stress resistance commonly through the enhancement of antioxidant defence system. Moreover, H2 shows cross talk with nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and other signalling molecules (for example, abscisic acid, ethylene and jasmonate acid). H2 can regulate the expression of responsive genes under abiotic stress and during adventitious roots formation and anthocyanin biosynthesis. Future work will need to focus on the molecular mechanism of H2 and its crosstalk with other signalling molecules in plants. With its promising application in agriculture, hydrogen agriculture will be welcomed in the near future.}, } @article {pmid32291020, year = {2018}, author = {Tsyganova, AV and Kitaeva, AB and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Cell differentiation in nitrogen-fixing nodules hosting symbiosomes.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {47-57}, doi = {10.1071/FP16377}, pmid = {32291020}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing nodule is a unique ecological niche for rhizobia, where microaerobic conditions support functioning of the main enzyme of nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase, which is highly sensitive to oxygen. To accommodate bacteria in a symbiotic nodule, the specialised infected cells increase in size owing to endoreduplication and are able to shelter thousands of bacteria. Bacteria are isolated from the cytoplasm of the plant cell by a membrane-bound organelle-like structure termed the symbiosome. It is enclosed by a symbiosome membrane, mainly of plant origin but with some inclusion of bacterial proteins. Within the symbiosome, bacterial cells differentiate into bacteroids a form that is specialised for nitrogen fixation. In this review, we briefly summarise recent advances in studies of differentiation both of symbiosomes and of the infected cells that accommodate them. We will consider the role of CCS52A, DNA topoisomerase VI, tubulin cytoskeleton rearrangements in differentiation of infected cells, the fate of the vacuole, and the distribution of symbiosomes in the infected cells. We will also consider differentiation of symbiosomes, paying attention to the role of NCR peptides, vesicular transport to symbiosomes, and mutant analysis of symbiosome development in model and crop legumes. Finally, we conclude that mechanisms involved in redistribution organelles, including the symbiosomes, clearly merit much more attention.}, } @article {pmid32480623, year = {2017}, author = {Andreev, IM}, title = {Emerging evidence for potential role of Ca[2+]-ATPase-mediated calcium accumulation in symbiosomes of infected root nodule cells.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {44}, number = {10}, pages = {955-960}, doi = {10.1071/FP17042}, pmid = {32480623}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Symbiosomes are organelle-like compartments responsible for nitrogen fixation in infected nodule cells of legumes, which are formed as a result of symbiotic association of soil bacteria rhizobia with certain plant root cells. They are virtually the only source of reduced nitrogen in the Earth's biosphere, and consequently, are of great importance. It has been proven that the functioning of symbiosomes depends to a large extent on the transport of various metabolites and ions - most likely including Ca2+ - across the symbiosome membrane (SM). Although it has been well established that this cation is involved in the regulation of a broad spectrum of processes in cells of living organisms, its role in the functioning of symbiosomes remains obscure. This is despite available data indicating both its transport through the SM and accumulation within these compartments. This review summarises the results obtained in the course of studies on the given aspects of calcium behaviour in symbiosomes, and on this basis gives a possible explanation of the proper functional role in them of Ca2+.}, } @article {pmid32309594, year = {2017}, author = {Ponomariov, V and Chirila, L and Apipie, FM and Abate, R and Rusu, M and Wu, Z and Liehn, EA and Bucur, I}, title = {Artificial Intelligence versus Doctors' Intelligence: A Glance on Machine Learning Benefaction in Electrocardiography.}, journal = {Discoveries (Craiova, Romania)}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {e76}, pmid = {32309594}, issn = {2359-7232}, abstract = {Computational machine learning, especially self-enhancing algorithms, prove remarkable effectiveness in applications, including cardiovascular medicine. This review summarizes and cross-compares the current machine learning algorithms applied to electrocardiogram interpretation. In practice, continuous real-time monitoring of electrocardiograms is still difficult to realize. Furthermore, automated ECG interpretation by implementing specific artificial intelligence algorithms is even more challenging. By collecting large datasets from one individual, computational approaches can assure an efficient personalized treatment strategy, such as a correct prediction on patient-specific disease progression, therapeutic success rate and limitations of certain interventions, thus reducing the hospitalization costs and physicians' workload. Clearly such aims can be achieved by a perfect symbiosis of a multidisciplinary team involving clinicians, researchers and computer scientists. Summarizing, continuous cross-examination between machine intelligence and human intelligence is a combination of precision, rationale and high-throughput scientific engine integrated into a challenging framework of big data science.}, } @article {pmid32263307, year = {2016}, author = {Das, AAK and Bovill, J and Ayesh, M and Stoyanov, SD and Paunov, VN}, title = {Fabrication of living soft matter by symbiotic growth of unicellular microorganisms.}, journal = {Journal of materials chemistry. B}, volume = {4}, number = {21}, pages = {3685-3694}, doi = {10.1039/c5tb02489g}, pmid = {32263307}, issn = {2050-7518}, abstract = {We report the fabrication of living soft matter made as a result of the symbiotic relationship of two unicellular microorganisms. The material is composed of bacterial cellulose produced in situ by acetobacter (Acetobacter aceti NCIMB 8132) in the presence of photosynthetic microalgae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cc-124), which integrates into a symbiotic consortium and gets embedded in the produced cellulose composite. The same concept of growing living materials can be applied to other symbiotic microorganism pairs similar to the combination of algae and fungi in lichens, which is widespread in Nature. We demonstrate the in situ growth and immobilisation of the C. reinhardtii cells in the bacterial cellulose matrix produced by the simultaneous growth of acetobacter. The effect of the growth media composition on the produced living materials was investigated. The microstructure and the morphology of the produced living biomaterials were dependent on the shape of the growth culture container and media stirring conditions, which control the access to oxygen. As the photosynthetic C. reinhardtii cells remain viable and produce oxygen as they spontaneously integrate into the matrix of the bacterial cellulose generated by the acetobacter, such living materials have the potential for various applications in bio-hydrogen generation from the immobilised microalgae. The proposed approach for building living soft matter can provide new ways of immobilising other commercially important microorganisms in a bacterial cellulose matrix as a result of symbiosis with acetobacter without the use of synthetic binding agents and in turn increase their production efficiency.}, } @article {pmid32480753, year = {2015}, author = {Ma, J and Janoušková, M and Li, Y and Yu, X and Yan, Y and Zou, Z and He, C}, title = {Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on cucumber growth and phosphorus uptake under cold stress.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {42}, number = {12}, pages = {1158-1167}, doi = {10.1071/FP15106}, pmid = {32480753}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Symbiosis with root-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant phosphorus (P) uptake and alleviate environmental stresses. It could be also an effective mean to promote plant performance under low temperatures. The combined effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza and low temperature (15°C/10°C day/night) on cucumber seedlings were investigated in the present study. Root colonisation by AMF, succinate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity in the intraradical fungal structures, plant growth parameters, and expression profiles of four cucumber phosphate (Pi) transporters, the fungal Pi transporter GintPT and alkaline phosphatase GintALP were determined. Cold stress reduced plant growth and mycorrhizal colonisation. Inoculation improved cucumber growth under ambient temperatures, whereas under cold stress only root biomass was significantly increased by inoculation. AMF supplied P to the host plant under ambient temperatures and cold stress, as evidenced by the higher P content of mycorrhizal plants compared with non-mycorrhizal plants. Thus, the cold-stressed cucumber seedlings still benefited from mycorrhiza, although the benefit was less than that under ambient temperatures. In accordance with this, a cucumber Pi transporter gene belonging to the Pht1 gene family was strongly induced by mycorrhiza at ambient temperature and to a lesser extent under cold stress. The other three Pi transporters tested from different families were most highly expressed in cold-stressed mycorrhizal plants, suggesting a complex interactive effect of mycorrhiza and cold stress on internal P cycling in cucumber plants.}, } @article {pmid32846714, year = {2015}, author = {Lewis, Z and Lizé, A}, title = {Insect behaviour and the microbiome.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {86-90}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2015.03.003}, pmid = {32846714}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Increasingly we are coming to understand the role of the microbiome in determining host physiological, behavioural, and evolutionary processes. Indeed it is now widely accepted that the host genome should be considered from a hologenomic point of view, with it also including the genomes of its symbiotic microbiota. Some of the most remarkable phenomena in the insect world relate to behavioural manipulation by the microorganisms associated with a host, and we here review recent progress in the study of these phenomena. The effects of the microbiome on insect hosts have important evolutionary consequences, and we are at the forefront of an exciting time in the study of manipulated insects.}, } @article {pmid32846684, year = {2015}, author = {Pinheiro, PV and Kliot, A and Ghanim, M and Cilia, M}, title = {Is there a role for symbiotic bacteria in plant virus transmission by insects?.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {69-78}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2015.01.010}, pmid = {32846684}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {During the process of circulative plant virus transmission by insect vectors, viruses interact with different insect vector tissues prior to transmission to a new host plant. An area of intense debate in the field is whether bacterial symbionts of insect vectors are involved in the virus transmission process. We critically review the literature in this area and present a simple model that can be used to quantitatively settle the debate. The simple model determines whether the symbiont is involved in virus transmission and determines what fraction of the pathogen transmission phenotype is contributed by the symbiont. The model is general and can be applied to any vector-pathogen-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid32480669, year = {2015}, author = {Hastwell, AH and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {The structure and activity of nodulation-suppressing CLE peptide hormones of legumes.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {229-238}, doi = {10.1071/FP14222}, pmid = {32480669}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Legumes form a highly-regulated symbiotic relationship with specific soil bacteria known as rhizobia. This interaction results in the de novo formation of root organs called nodules, in which the rhizobia fix atmospheric di-nitrogen (N2) for the plant. Molecular mechanisms that regulate the nodulation process include the systemic 'autoregulation of nodulation' and the local nitrogen-regulation of nodulation pathways. Both pathways are mediated by novel peptide hormones called CLAVATA/ESR-related (CLE) peptides that act to suppress nodulation via negative feedback loops. The mature peptides are 12-13 amino acids in length and are post-translationally modified from the C-terminus of tripartite-domain prepropeptides. Structural redundancy between the prepropeptides exists; however, variations in external stimuli, timing of expression, tissue specificity and presence or absence of key functional domains enables them to act in a specific manner. To date, nodulation-regulating CLE peptides have been identified in Glycine max (L.) Merr., Medicago truncatula Gaertn., Lotus japonicus (Regel) K.Larsen and Phaseolus vulgaris L. One of the L. japonicus peptides, called LjCLE-RS2, has been structurally characterised and found to be an arabinosylated glycopeptide. All of the known nodulation CLE peptides act via an orthologous leucine rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase. Perception of the peptide results in the production of a novel, unidentified inhibitor signal that acts to suppress further nodulation events. Here, we contrast and compare the various nodulation-suppressing CLE peptides of legumes.}, } @article {pmid32846675, year = {2014}, author = {Dorémus, T and Darboux, I and Cusson, M and Ravallec, M and Jouan, V and Frayssinet, M and Stoltz, DB and Webb, BA and Volkoff, AN}, title = {Specificities of ichnoviruses associated with campoplegine wasps: genome, genes and role in host-parasitoid interaction.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {44-51}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2014.09.017}, pmid = {32846675}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Ichnoviruses (IVs), unique symbiotic viruses carried by ichneumonid campoplegine wasps, derive from integration of a paleo-ichnovirus into an ancestral wasp genome. The modern 'genome' is composed of both regions that are amplified, circularized and encapsidated into viral particles and non-encapsidated viral genomic regions involved in particle morphogenesis. Packaged genomes include multiple circular dsDNAs encoding many genes mostly organized in gene families. Virus particles are assembled in specialized ovarian cells from which they exit into the oviduct lumen; mature virions are injected during oviposition into the insect host. Expression of viral proteins in infected cells correlates with physiological alterations of the host enabling success of parasitism.}, } @article {pmid32846671, year = {2014}, author = {Drezen, JM and Chevignon, G and Louis, F and Huguet, E}, title = {Origin and evolution of symbiotic viruses associated with parasitoid wasps.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {35-43}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2014.09.008}, pmid = {32846671}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {The Polydnaviridae (PDV), including the Bracovirus (BV) and Ichnovirus (IV) genera, originated from the integration of viruses in the genomes of two parasitoid wasp lineages. In a remarkable example of convergent evolution BVs evolved from the domestication of a nudivirus, while IVs originate from a different ancestral virus belonging to a new virus entity. In both cases the ancestor genomes have been maintained in wasp genomes as endogenous viral elements involved in production of particles containing DNA encoding virulence genes that are injected into lepidopteran hosts. However many PDV virulence genes appear to be of eukaryotic origin, and expansion and diversification of these genes have led to the production of novel PDVs in different wasp species that promote survival of offspring in particular hosts.}, } @article {pmid32481025, year = {2014}, author = {Furlan, AL and Bianucci, E and Tordable, MADC and Castro, S and Dietz, KJ}, title = {Antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression patterns in peanut nodules during a drought and rehydration cycle.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {41}, number = {7}, pages = {704-713}, doi = {10.1071/FP13311}, pmid = {32481025}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Drought stress is one of the most important environmental factors that affect plant growth and limit biomass production. Most studies focus on drought stress development but the reversibility of the effects receives less attention. Therefore, the present work aims to explore the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of the symbiotic association between peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and Bradyrhizobium sp. during a drought-recovery cycle with a focus on the response of enzyme activity and gene expression of the antioxidant system. Peanuts exposed to drought stress had impaired BNF, as indicated by lower nitrogenase activity, and decreased leghaemoglobin content; the latter was reversed to control values upon rehydration. Previous results demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (O2·- and H2O2) were accumulated as a consequence of drought stress, suggesting that nodules experience oxidative stress. In addition, marker transcripts responsive to drought, abscisic acid and H2O2 were upregulated. Increased transcript levels of glutathione reductase were associated with an increased enzyme activity but superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities were unchanged, despite upregulated gene transcription. In contrast, increased activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was unrelated with changes in cytosolic APX transcript levels suggesting isogene specificity. In conclusion, the work exemplarily demonstrates the efficient and dynamic regulation of antioxidant enzymes and marker compounds during drought cycling, which is likely to be a prerequisite for functional optimisation of nodule metabolism.}, } @article {pmid32480650, year = {2014}, author = {Mora-Romero, GA and Gonzalez-Ortiz, MA and Quiroz-Figueroa, F and Calderon-Vazquez, CL and Medina-Godoy, S and Maldonado-Mendoza, I and Arroyo-Becerra, A and Perez-Torres, A and Alatorre-Cobos, F and Sanchez, F and Lopez-Meyer, M}, title = {PvLOX2 silencing in common bean roots impairs arbuscular mycorrhiza-induced resistance without affecting symbiosis establishment.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {18-30}, doi = {10.1071/FP14101}, pmid = {32480650}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an intimate association between specific soil-borne fungi and the roots of most land plants. AM colonisation elicits an enhanced defence resistance against pathogens, known as mycorrhizal-induced resistance (MIR). This mechanism locally and systemically sensitises plant tissues to boost their basal defence response. Although a role for oxylipins in MIR has been proposed, it has not yet been experimentally confirmed. In this study, when the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lipoxygenase PvLOX2 was silenced in roots of composite plants, leaves of silenced plants lost their capacity to exhibit MIR against the foliar pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, even though they were colonised normally. PvLOX6, a LOX gene family member, is involved in JA biosynthesis in the common bean. Downregulation of PvLOX2 and PvLOX6 in leaves of PvLOX2 root-silenced plants coincides with the loss of MIR, suggesting that these genes could be involved in the onset and spreading of the mycorrhiza-induced defence response.}, } @article {pmid32481189, year = {2013}, author = {Bustos-Sanmamed, P and Mao, G and Deng, Y and Elouet, M and Khan, GA and Bazin, JRM and Turner, M and Subramanian, S and Yu, O and Crespi, M and Lelandais-Bri Re, C}, title = {Overexpression of miR160 affects root growth and nitrogen-fixing nodule number in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {40}, number = {12}, pages = {1208-1220}, doi = {10.1071/FP13123}, pmid = {32481189}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Auxin action is mediated by a complex signalling pathway involving transcription factors of the auxin response factor (ARF) family. In Arabidopsis, microRNA160 (miR160) negatively regulates three ARF genes (ARF10/ARF16/ARF17) and therefore controls several developmental processes, including primary and lateral root growth. Here, we analysed the role of miR160 in root development and nodulation in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. Bioinformatic analyses identified two main mtr-miR160 variants (mtr-miR160abde and mtr-miR160c) and 17 predicted ARF targets. The miR160-dependent cleavage of four predicted targets in roots was confirmed by analysis of parallel analysis of RNA ends (PARE) data and RACE-PCR experiments. Promoter-GUS analyses for mtr-miR160d and mtr-miR160c genes revealed overlapping but distinct expression profiles during root and nodule development. In addition, the early miR160 activation in roots during symbiotic interaction was not observed in mutants of the nodulation signalling or autoregulation pathways. Composite plants that overexpressed mtr-miR160a under two different promoters exhibited distinct defects in root growth and nodulation: the p35S:miR160a construct led to reduced root length associated to a severe disorganisation of the RAM, whereas pCsVMV:miR160a roots showed gravitropism defects and lower nodule numbers. Our results suggest that a regulatory loop involving miR160/ARFs governs root and nodule organogenesis in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid32480777, year = {2012}, author = {Ismail, Y and Hijri, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhisation with Glomus irregulare induces expression of potato PR homologues genes in response to infection by Fusarium sambucinum.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {236-245}, doi = {10.1071/FP11218}, pmid = {32480777}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic, root-inhabiting fungi colonising a wide range of vascular plant species. We previously showed that AMF modulate the expression of mycotoxin genes in Fusarium sambucinum. Here, we tested the hypothesis that AMF may induce defence responses in potato to protect against infection with F. sambucinum. We analysed the response of AMF-colonised potato plants to the pathogenic fungus F. sambucinum by monitoring the expression of defence-related genes ChtA3, gluB, CEVI16, OSM-8e and PR-1. In response to F. sambucinum infection, we found that the AMF treatment upregulated the expression of all defence genes except OSM-8e in potato roots at 72 and 120h post infection (hpi). However, we found variable transcriptional regulation with gluB and CEVI16 in shoots at both times 72 and 120hpi in AMF-colonisation and infected plants. Overall, differential regulation of defence-related genes in leaf tissues indicate that AMF are a systemic bio-inducer and their effect could extend into non-infected parts. Thus, AMF significantly suppressed disease severity of F. sambucinum on potato plants compared with those infected and non-mycorrhizal plants. Furthermore, the AMF treatment decreased the negative effects of F. sambucinum on biomass and potato tuber production.}, } @article {pmid32480924, year = {2011}, author = {Auguy, F and Abdel-Lateif, K and Doumas, P and Badin, P and Guerin, V and Bogusz, D and Hocher, V}, title = {Activation of the isoflavonoid pathway in actinorhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {690-696}, doi = {10.1071/FP11014}, pmid = {32480924}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {We investigated the involvement of flavonoids in the actinorhizal nodulation process resulting from the interaction between the tropical tree Casuarina glauca Sieb. ex Spreng. and the actinomycete Frankia. Eight C. glauca genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis: chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), isoflavone reductase (IFR), flavonoid-3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H), flavonoid 3',5' hydroxylase (F3'5'H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and flavonol synthase (FLS), were identified from a unigene database and gene expression patterns were monitored by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) during the nodulation time course. Results showed that FLS and F3'5'H transcripts accumulated in mature nodules whereas CHI and IFR transcripts accumulated preferentially early after inoculation with Frankia. Comparison of IFR and CHI expression in inoculated plants and in control plants cultivated with or without nitrogen confirmed that early expression of IFR is specifically linked to symbiosis. Taken together, these data suggest for the first time that isoflavonoids are implicated in actinorhizal nodulation.}, } @article {pmid32480923, year = {2011}, author = {Popovici, J and Walker, V and Bertrand, CD and Bellvert, F and Fernandez, MP and Comte, G}, title = {Strain specificity in the Myricaceae-Frankia symbiosis is correlated to plant root phenolics.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {682-689}, doi = {10.1071/FP11144}, pmid = {32480923}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Plant secondary metabolites play an important role in the interaction between plants and their environment. For example, mutualistic nitrogen-fixing symbioses typically involve phenolic-based recognition between host plants and bacteria. Although these mechanisms are well studied in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis, little is known about the role of plant phenolics in the symbiosis between actinorhizal plants and the actinobacterium Frankia. In this study, the responsiveness of two Myricaceae plant species, Myrica gale L. and Morella cerifera L., to Frankia inoculation was correlated with the plant-bacteria compatibility status. Two Frankia strains were inoculated: ACN14a, compatible with both M. gale and M. cerifera and Ea112, compatible only with M. cerifera. The effect of inoculation on root phenolic metabolism was evaluated by metabolic profiling based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and principal component analysis (PCA). Our results revealed that: (i) both Frankia strains induced major modifications in root phenolic content of the two Myricaceae species and (ii) strain-dependant modifications of the phenolic contents were detected. The main plant compounds differentially affected by Frankia inoculation are phenols, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids. This work provides evidence that during the initial phases of symbiotic interactions, Myricaceae plants adapt their secondary metabolism in accordance with the compatibility status of Frankia bacterial strains.}, } @article {pmid32480922, year = {2011}, author = {Gabbarini, LAS and Wall, LG}, title = {Diffusible factors involved in early interactions of actinorhizal symbiosis are modulated by the host plant but are not enough to break the host range barrier.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {671-681}, doi = {10.1071/FP11003}, pmid = {32480922}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Nodulation kinetics were analysed in two nitrogen-fixing actinorhizal symbioses that show different pathways for infection: Alnus acuminata H. B. K., which is infected by Frankia ArI3, and Discaria trinervis (Hooker et Arnot) Reiche, which is infected by Frankia BCU110501. Both pairs are incompatible in cross-inoculation experiments. The dose-response effects in nodulation were studied in A. acuminata seedlings using different concentrations of compatible and incompatible bacteria in co-inoculation experiments. Restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR analysis and plant-trapping analysis showed no co-occupation in A. acuminata nodules when plants were co-inoculated with Frankia BCU110501 and Frankia ArI3. Despite the lack of co-occupation, the noninfective BCU110501 could modify the nodulation parameters of the non-host A. acuminata when infective ArI3 was present in the inoculum. The results suggest that although BCU110501 was not able to induce nodulation in A. acuminata, its interaction with the plant could induce autoregulation as if some level of infection or partial recognition could be achieved. We explored the possibility that physiological complementation of the heterologous Frankia BCU110501 for nodulation of A. acuminata originated in the homologous Frankia ArI3 in the presence of compatible root exudates. Despite the possibility of full activation between bacteria and the host, there was no co-infection of Frankia BCU110501 in Alnus or of Frankia ArI3 in Discaria either. These negative results suggest a physical recognition barrier in actinorhizal symbiosis that operates after early interactions, involving something other than root exudates and diffusible factors of bacterial or plant origin, regardless of the infection pathway.}, } @article {pmid32480921, year = {2011}, author = {Gabbarini, LAS and Wall, LG}, title = {Diffusible factors from Frankia modify nodulation kinetics in Discaria trinervis, an intercellular root-infected actinorhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {662-670}, doi = {10.1071/FP11015}, pmid = {32480921}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Frankia BCU110501 induces nitrogen-fixing root nodules in Discaria trinervis (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Reiche (Rhamnaceae) via intercellular colonisation, without root hair deformation. It produces diffusible factors (DFs) that might be involved in early interactions with the D. trinervis roots, playing a role in the nodulation process. The induction of root nodule development in actinorhizal symbiosis would depend on the concentration of factors produced by the bacteria and the plant. A detailed analysis of nodulation kinetics revealed that these DFs produce changes at the level of initial rate of nodulation and also in nodulation profile. Diluted Frankia BCU110501 inoculum could be activated in less than 96h by DFs produced by Frankia BCU110501 cells that had been previously washed. Biochemical characterisation showed that Frankia BCU110501 DFs have a molecular weight of <12kDa, are negatively charged at pH 7.0 and seem to contain a peptide bond necessary for their activity. Frankia BCU110501, belonging to Frankia Clade 3, does not induce nodules in Alnus acuminata H.B.K. ssp. acuminata but is able to deform root hairs, as do Frankia strains from Clade 1. The root hair deforming activity of Frankia BCU110501 DFs show the same biochemical characteristics of the DFs involved in nodulation of D. trinervis. These results suggest that Frankia symbiotic factors have a basic structure regardless of the infection pathway of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid32480920, year = {2011}, author = {Gtari, M and Dawson, JO}, title = {An overview of actinorhizal plants in Africa.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {653-661}, doi = {10.1071/FP11009}, pmid = {32480920}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {A compilation and synthesis of information derived from plant databases and other sources on the occurrence, diversity and geographic distribution of actinorhizal plants in Africa is presented in this review. Actinorhizal plants are a specific group of non-leguminous, woody dicots having symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing root nodules that are induced on roots of actinorhizal plant species by soil actinomycetes of the genus Frankia. There is a lack of basic information on actinorhizal plants in Africa compared with other major land masses in the world. Results indicate that most, if not all, African countries and climatic regions have native or introduced actinorhizal species. A synthesis of available information indicates that there are six families, nine genera and 38 reported species of actinorhizal plants in Africa. Of these, 21 species are native and 17 are exotic. The families and corresponding number of species in each genus are: Betulaceae (native Alnus glutinosa (1), exotic Alnus (2)); Casuarinaceae (exotic Casuarina (5), exotic Allocasuarina (3), exotic Gymnostoma deplancheana (1)); Coriariaceae (native Coriaria myrtifolia (1)); Myricaceae (native Morella (19), exotic Morella cerifera (1)); Rhamnaceae (exotic Ceanothus caeruleus (1), exotic Colletia paradoxa (1)); and Elaeagnaceae (exotic Eleaegnus angustifolia (1)). Four reports of native, actinorhizal Ceanothus species in Africa found in the database were determined to be false, instead, being non-actinorhizal species. Widespread plantings of exotic Casuarinaceae have been introduced into tropical and arid zones of Africa as multipurpose trees, especially in arid regions where native species do not occur. There is a diverse assemblage of native species of Morella in Africa, mostly shrubs or small trees, which provide medicine, other useful chemicals and wildlife habitat. Many native Morella species are isolated in montane islands, apparently leading to greater speciation than in Eurasia from where the genus migrated into Africa. The current status and knowledge of African actinorhizal plants indicates a need to focus research on their biogeography, biology, ecology, genetics and use.}, } @article {pmid32480919, year = {2011}, author = {Berry, AM and Mendoza-Herrera, A and Guo, YY and Hayashi, J and Persson, T and Barabote, R and Demchenko, K and Zhang, S and Pawlowski, K}, title = {New perspectives on nodule nitrogen assimilation in actinorhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {645-652}, doi = {10.1071/FP11095}, pmid = {32480919}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodules are plant organs specialised for symbiotic transfer of nitrogen and carbon between microsymbiont and host. The organisation of nitrogen assimilation, storage and transport processes is partitioned at the subcellular and tissue levels, in distinctive patterns depending on the symbiotic partners. In this review, recent advances in understanding of actinorhizal nodule nitrogen assimilation are presented. New findings indicate that Frankia within nodules of Datisca glomerata (Presl.) Baill. carries out both primary nitrogen assimilation and biosynthesis of arginine, rather than exporting ammonium. Arginine is a typical storage form of nitrogen in plant tissues, but is a novel nitrogen carrier molecule in root nodule symbioses. Thus Frankia within D. glomerata nodules exhibits considerable metabolic independence. Furthermore, nitrogen reassimilation is likely to take place in the host in the uninfected nodule cortical cells of this root nodule symbiosis, before amino acid export to host sink tissues via the xylem. The role of an augmented pericycle in carbon and nitrogen exchange in root nodules deserves further attention in actinorhizal symbiosis, and further highlights the importance of a comprehensive, structure-function approach to understanding function in root nodules. Moreover, the multiple patterns of compartmentalisation in relation to nitrogen flux within root nodules demonstrate the diversity of possible functional interactions between host and microsymbiont that have evolved in the nitrogen-fixing clade.}, } @article {pmid32480918, year = {2011}, author = {Ribeiro, A and Gra A, IS and Pawlowski, K and Santos, PC}, title = {Actinorhizal plant defence-related genes in response to symbiotic Frankia.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {639-644}, doi = {10.1071/FP11012}, pmid = {32480918}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants have become increasingly important as climate changes threaten to remake the global landscape over the next decades. These plants are able to grow in nutrient-poor and disturbed soils, and are important elements in plant communities worldwide. Besides that, most actinorhizal plants are capable of high rates of nitrogen fixation due to their capacity to establish root nodule symbiosis with N2-fixing Frankia strains. Nodulation is a developmental process that requires a sequence of highly coordinated events. One of these mechanisms is the induction of defence-related events, whose precise role in a symbiotic interaction remains to be elucidated. This review summarises what is known about the induction of actinorhizal defence-related genes in response to symbiotic Frankia and their putative function during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32480917, year = {2011}, author = {Pawlowski, K and Bogusz, D and Ribeiro, A and Berry, AM}, title = {Progress on research on actinorhizal plants.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {633-638}, doi = {10.1071/FP11066}, pmid = {32480917}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {In recent years, our understanding of the plant side of actinorhizal symbioses has evolved rapidly. No homologues of the common nod genes from rhizobia were found in the three Frankia genomes published so far, which suggested that Nod factor-like molecules would not be used in the infection of actinorhizal plants by Frankia. However, work on chimeric transgenic plants indicated that Frankia Nod factor equivalents signal via the same transduction pathway as rhizobial Nod factors. The role of auxin in actinorhizal nodule formation differs from that in legume nodulation. Great progress has been made in the analysis of pathogenesis-related and stress-related gene expression in nodules. Research on nodule physiology has shown the structural and metabolic diversity of actinorhizal nodules from different phylogenetic branches. The onset of large-scale nodule transcriptome analysis in different actinorhizal systems will provide access to more information on the symbiosis and its evolution.}, } @article {pmid32480916, year = {2011}, author = {Ribeiro, A and Berry, AM and Pawlowski, K and Santos, PC}, title = {Actinorhizal plants.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {v-vii}, doi = {10.1071/FPv38n9_FO}, pmid = {32480916}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants are a group of taxonomically diverse angiosperms with remarkable economic and ecological significance. Most actinorhizal plants are able to thrive under extreme adverse environmental conditions as well as to fix atmospheric nitrogen due to their capacity to establish root nodule symbioses with Frankia bacteria. This special issue of Functional Plant Biology is dedicated to actinorhizal plant research, covering part of the work presented at the 16th International Meeting onFrankia and Actinorhizal Plants, held on 5-8 September 2010, in Oporto, Portugal. The papers (4 reviews and 10 original articles) give an overall picture of the status of actinorhizal plant research and the imposed challenges, covering several aspects of the symbiosis, ecology and molecular tools.}, } @article {pmid32480900, year = {2011}, author = {Haerizadeh, F and Singh, MB and Bhalla, PL}, title = {Transcriptome profiling of soybean root tips.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {451-461}, doi = {10.1071/FP10230}, pmid = {32480900}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max L.), a major legume crop, is important to human nutrition and is a source of animal feed. Similar to many legumes, a key feature of the soybean is its symbiotic association with soil bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, knowledge of the gene expression of its root system, particularly the root meristematic region, is limited. Here, we have addressed this by investigating the gene expression profile of the soybean root tip, using soybean Affymetrix chips containing 37500 probe sets (Affymetrix Inc.) and have compared this expression profile with that of the nonmeristematic tissue. We identified a total of 5012 upregulated and 4136 downregulated genes in the soybean root tip. Among the upregulated genes, 559 showed strong preferential expression in the root tip, indicating that they are likely to be associated with root apical meristem specificity and root tip function. Genes involved in membrane transport, defence signalling and metabolism were upregulated in the soybean root tip. Further, our data provide a resource of novel target genes for further studies involving root development and biology, and will possibly have a positive impact on future crop breeding.}, } @article {pmid32688631, year = {2009}, author = {McCully, ME and Canny, MJ and Huang, CX}, title = {Invited Review: Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) in the advancement of functional plant biology. Morphological and anatomical applications.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {97-124}, doi = {10.1071/FP08304}, pmid = {32688631}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) is reviewed by exploring how the images obtained have changed paradigms of plant functions and interactions with their environment. Its power to arrest and stabilise plant parts in milliseconds, and to preserve them at full hydration for examination at micrometre resolution has changed many views of plant function. For example, it provides the only feasible way of accurately measuring stomatal aperture during active transpiration, and volume and shape changes in guard cells, or examining the contents of laticifers. It has revealed that many xylem conduits contain gas, not liquid, during the day, and that they can be refilled with sap and resume water transport. It has elucidated the management of ice to prevent cell damage in frost tolerant plants and has revealed for the first time inherent biological and physical features of root/soil interactions in the field. CSEM is increasingly used to reveal complementary structural information in studies of metabolism, fungal infection and symbiosis, molecular and genetic analysis.}, } @article {pmid32688821, year = {2008}, author = {Mathesius, U}, title = {Auxin: at the root of nodule development?.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {651-668}, doi = {10.1071/FP08177}, pmid = {32688821}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Root nodules are formed as a result of an orchestrated exchange of chemical signals between symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria and certain plants. In plants that form nodules in symbiosis with actinorhizal bacteria, nodules are derived from lateral roots. In most legumes, nodules are formed de novo from pericycle and cortical cells that are re-stimulated for division and differentiation by rhizobia. The ability of plants to nodulate has only evolved recently and it has, therefore, been suggested that nodule development is likely to have co-opted existing mechanisms for development and differentiation from lateral root formation. Auxin is an important regulator of cell division and differentiation, and changes in auxin accumulation and transport are essential for lateral root development. There is growing evidence that rhizobia alter the root auxin balance as a prerequisite for nodule formation, and that nodule numbers are regulated by shoot-to-root auxin transport. Whereas auxin requirements appear to be similar for lateral root and nodule primordium activation and organ differentiation, the major difference between the two developmental programs lies in the specification of founder cells. It is suggested that differing ratios of auxin and cytokinin are likely to specify the precursors of the different root organs.}, } @article {pmid32215110, year = {2007}, author = {Rapport, DJ}, title = {Sustainability science: an ecohealth perspective.}, journal = {Sustainability science}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {77-84}, pmid = {32215110}, issn = {1862-4057}, abstract = {Sustainability science is emerging as a transdisciplinary effort to come to grips with the much-needed symbiosis between human activity and the environment. While there is recognition that conventional economic growth must yield to policies that foster sustainable development, this has not yet occurred on any broad scale. Rather, there is clear evidence that the Earth's ecosystems and landscapes continue to degrade as a consequence of the cumulative impact of human activities. Taking an ecohealth approach to sustainability science provides a unique perspective on both the goals and the means to achieve sustainability. The goals should be the restoration of full functionality to the Earth's ecosystems and landscapes, as measured by the key indicators of health: resilience, organization, vitality (productivity), and the absence of ecosystem distress syndrome. The means should be the coordinated (spatially and temporally) efforts to modify human behaviors to reduce cumulative stress impacts. Achieving ecosystem health should become the cornerstone of sustainability policy-for healthy ecosystems are the essential precondition for achieving sustainable livelihoods, human health, and many other societal objectives, as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals.}, } @article {pmid32689285, year = {2006}, author = {Murray, J and Geil, R and Wagg, C and Karas, B and Szczyglowski, K and Peterson, RL}, title = {Genetic supressors of Lotus japonicus har1-1 hypernodulation show altered interactions with Glomus intraradices.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {749-755}, doi = {10.1071/FP06083}, pmid = {32689285}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Mutant lines of Lotus japonicus (Regel) Larsen that show defects in nodulation as well as in mycorrhiza formation are valuable resources for studying the events required for the establishment of functional symbioses. In this study, 11 mutant lines derived from a screen for genetic suppressors of har1-1 hypernodulation were assessed quantitatively for their ability to form arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. The presence of extraradical mycelia, appressoria, intraradical hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles were scored. Roots of the har1-1 parental line were heavily colonised by six weeks after inoculation with the AM fungus Glomus intraradices showing the typical Arum-type colonisation pattern. Five mutants lacked internal root colonisation with blocks either at the surface of epidermal cells or at the outer tangential wall of cortical cells. These AM[-] lines showed some differences in relation to the amount of extraradical hyphae, the number of appressoria, and the degree of abnormal appressorium morphology. Four mutants had internal root colonisation but at a lower level than the parental line. Two mutants showed no difference from the parental line. Results of this study provide additional genetic resources for studying the mechanism of root colonisation by AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid32689284, year = {2006}, author = {Hohnjec, N and Henckel, K and Bekel, T and Gouzy, J and Dondrup, M and Goesmann, A and Küster, H}, title = {Transcriptional snapshots provide insights into the molecular basis of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the model legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {737-748}, doi = {10.1071/FP06079}, pmid = {32689284}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association between terrestrial plants and soil fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota is the most widespread beneficial plant-microbe interaction on earth. In the course of the symbiosis, fungal hyphae colonise plant roots and supply limiting nutrients, in particular phosphorus, in exchange for carbon compounds. Owing to the obligate biotrophy of mycorrhizal fungi and the lack of genetic systems to study them, targeted molecular studies on AM symbioses proved to be difficult. With the emergence of plant genomics and the selection of suitable models, an application of untargeted expression profiling experiments became possible. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, high-throughput expressed sequence tag (EST)-sequencing in conjunction with in silico and experimental transcriptome profiling provided transcriptional snapshots that together defined the global genetic program activated during AM. Owing to an asynchronous development of the symbiosis, several hundred genes found to be activated during the symbiosis cannot be easily correlated with symbiotic structures, but the expression of selected genes has been extended to the cellular level to correlate gene expression with specific stages of AM development. These approaches identified marker genes for the AM symbiosis and provided the first insights into the molecular basis of gene expression regulation during AM.}, } @article {pmid32689281, year = {2006}, author = {Kinkema, M and Scott, PT and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Legume nodulation: successful symbiosis through short- and long-distance signalling.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {707-721}, doi = {10.1071/FP06056}, pmid = {32689281}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Nodulation in legumes provides a major conduit of available nitrogen into the biosphere. The development of nitrogen-fixing nodules results from a symbiotic interaction between soil bacteria, commonly called rhizobia, and legume plants. Molecular genetic analysis in both model and agriculturally important legume species has resulted in the identification of a variety of genes that are essential for the establishment, maintenance and regulation of this symbiosis. Autoregulation of nodulation (AON) is a major internal process by which nodule numbers are controlled through prior nodulation events. Characterisation of AON-deficient mutants has revealed a novel systemic signal transduction pathway controlled by a receptor-like kinase. This review reports our present level of understanding on the short- and long-distance signalling networks controlling early nodulation events and AON.}, } @article {pmid32689208, year = {2006}, author = {Diouf, D and Duponnois, R and Tidiane Ba, A and Neyra, M and Lesueur, D}, title = {Symbiosis of Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia mangium with mycorrhizal fungi and Bradyrhizobium spp. improves salt tolerance in greenhouse conditions.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {32}, number = {12}, pages = {1143-1152}, doi = {10.1071/FP04069}, pmid = {32689208}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {The aim of our work was to assess the growth and mineral nutrition of salt stressed Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. and Acacia mangium Willd. seedlings inoculated with a combination of selected microsymbionts (bradyrhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi). Plants were grown in greenhouse conditions in non-sterile soil, irrigated with a saline nutrient solution (0, 50 and 100 mm NaCl). The inoculation combinations consisted of the Bradyrhizobium strain Aust 13c for A. mangium and Aust 11c for A. auriculiformis, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices, DAOM 181602) and an ectomycorrhizal fungus (Pisolithus albus, strain COI 007). The inoculation treatments were designed to identify the symbionts that might improve the salt tolerance of both Acacia species. The main effect of salinity was reduced tree growth in both acacias. However, it appeared that, compared with controls, both rhizobial and mycorrhizal inoculation improved the growth of the salt-stressed plants, while inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus strain appeared to have a small effect on their growth and mineral nutrition levels. Endomycorrhizal inoculation combined with rhizobial inoculation usually gave good results. Analysis of foliar proline accumulation confirmed that dual inoculation gave the trees better tolerance to salt stress and suggested that the use of this dual inoculum might be beneficial for inoculation of both Acacia species in soils with moderate salt constraints.}, } @article {pmid32689153, year = {2005}, author = {Barbulova, A and D'Apuzzo, E and Rogato, A and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {Improved procedures for in vitro regeneration and for phenotypic analysis in the model legume Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {529-536}, doi = {10.1071/FP05015}, pmid = {32689153}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {As a prerequisite for the development of an efficient gene transfer methodology, the possibility of inducing direct somatic embryogenesis in Lotus japonicus (Regel) K. Larsen explants was investigated. Petiole bases, cotyledons, hypocotyls and stem segments were cultivated in the presence of different amounts of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and / or thidiazuron (TDZ). Regeneration was achieved differentially in the different explants and a higher efficiency of shoot formation was obtained with TDZ. By maintaining the same TDZ regime a second cycle of morphogenesis was achieved and the histological analysis of these structures indicated unambiguously their somatic embryogenic nature. Thidiazuron was also tested as an agent to improve the kinetics of shoot formation in a Lotus japonicus transformation-regeneration procedure based on indirect organogenesis. A very significant, highly reproducible, increase in the rate of the shoot formation was observed in independent transformation experiments. We also present an extensive analysis of the feasibility and reproducibility of an in vitro procedure, which can be very useful for the screening of symbiotic phenotypes in transgenic Lotus plants and for the analysis of the cascade of molecular and cytological events occurring soon after Mesorhizobium loti infection.}, } @article {pmid32689079, year = {2003}, author = {Dakora, FD and Nelwamondo, A}, title = {Silicon nutrition promotes root growth and tissue mechanical strength in symbiotic cowpea.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {947-953}, doi = {10.1071/FP02161}, pmid = {32689079}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Application of metasilicic acid (0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.20, 0.40 or 0.80 g L[-1]) to hydroponically-grown, Bradyrhizobium-infected cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] plants showed an increased assimilation of silicon into roots and shoots, which triggered a significant (P<0.05) promotion of root growth, but not shoot growth. Root : shoot ratio therefore, increased markedly (P<0.05) with higher metasilicate application. Mechanical strength of stems and peduncles also increased significantly (P<0.05) with silicon nutrition compared with control plants receiving no metasilicate. But the mechanical strength of roots was not affected. Radioimmunoassay of lateral roots, free of nodules, from plants fed metasilicate revealed markedly (P<0.05) increased concentrations of endogenous ABA, a hormonal signal that stimulates root growth. In contrast, a decreasing concentration of the cytokinin zeatin ribose was obtained with increasing metasilicate supply. These data show that silicon nutrition in symbiotic cowpea promotes an increase in mechanical strength of stems, which bear the entire weight of shoots, and peduncles, which, in turn, support weighty reproductive structures including developing pods and seeds. The increased concentration of ABA in roots as a result of improved silicon nutrition suggests that this element might be an elicitor of ABA biosynthesis and / or its accumulation, which then affected lateral root growth in this study.}, } @article {pmid32689057, year = {2003}, author = {Ndakidemi, PA and Dakora, FD}, title = {Legume seed flavonoids and nitrogenous metabolites as signals and protectants in early seedling development.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {30}, number = {7}, pages = {729-745}, doi = {10.1071/FP03042}, pmid = {32689057}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Flavonoids and nitrogenous metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides and amino acids are major components of plant seeds. Conjugated forms of these compounds are soluble in water, and therefore, are easily released as chemical signals following imbibition. Once in the soil, these metabolites are first in line to serve as eco-sensing signals for suitable rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal partners required for the establishment of symbiotic mutualisms. They may also serve as defence molecules against pathogens and insect pests, as well as playing a role in the control of parasitic members of the family Scrophulariaceae, especially Striga, a major plant pest of cereal crops in Africa. Seed metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides and amino acids define seedling growth and, ultimately, crop yields. Thus, an improvement in our understanding of seed chemistry would permit manipulation of these molecules for effective control of pathogens, insect pests, Striga and destructive weeds, as well as for enhanced acquisition of N and P via symbioses with soil rhizobia and AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid32689013, year = {2003}, author = {Chimphango, SBM and Musil, CF and Dakora, FD}, title = {Effects of UV-B radiation on plant growth, symbiotic function and concentration of metabolites in three tropical grain legumes.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {309-318}, doi = {10.1071/FP02160}, pmid = {32689013}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (cowpea), Glycine max (L.) Merr (soybean) and Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) (common bean) plants were exposed to UV-B radiation at above- and below-ambient levels, and their effects on growth, symbiotic performance and root concentration of metabolites were assessed. Moderately and highly elevated UV-B exposures averaging 32 and 62% above ambient had no effect on plant total dry matter, nodule number, nodule mass, nodule size, N fixed or root concentration of flavonoids, anthocyanins, soluble sugars and starch in the three species studied. However, N concentrations were markedly reduced in roots of G. max and P.vulgaris, and in leaves of P. vulgaris, which contrasted with the significant increase in stems and leaves of V.unguiculata. Below-ambient UV-B exposures averaging 22% of ambient also altered growth and metabolism of these legumes. Total plant dry matter, nodule number, nodule dry mass, N fixed and root starch concentrations in V.unguiculata decreased relative to both visible and UV-A radiation controls, whereas in G. max and P. vulgaris, these parameters were not altered. Root concentrations of flavonoids and anthocyanins in all species tested were also unchanged with below-ambient UV-B exposures. Taken together, growth and symbiotic function of these species remained unaltered with exposure to above-ambient UV-B, but differed in their response to below-ambient UV-B radiation.}, } @article {pmid32689478, year = {2002}, author = {Leggat, W and Marendy, EM and Baillie, B and Whitney, SM and Ludwig, M and Badger, MR and Yellowlees, D}, title = {Dinoflagellate symbioses: strategies and adaptations for the acquisition and fixation of inorganic carbon.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {309-322}, doi = {10.1071/PP01202}, pmid = {32689478}, issn = {1445-4416}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates exist in symbiosis with a number of marine invertebrates including giant clams, which are the largest of these symbiotic organisms. The dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.) live intercellularly within tubules in the mantle of the host clam. The transport of inorganic carbon (Ci) from seawater to Symbiodinium (=zooxanthellae) is an essential function of hosts that derive the majority of their respiratory energy from the photosynthate exported by the zooxanthellae. Immunolocalisation studies show that the host has adapted its physiology to acquire, rather than remove CO2, from the haemolymph and clam tissues. Two carbonic anhydrase (CA) isoforms (32 and 70 kDa) play an essential part in this process. These have been localised to the mantle and gill tissues where they catalyse the interconversion of HCO3[-] to CO2, which then diffuses into the host tissues. The zooxanthellae exhibit a number of strategies to maximise Ci acquisition and utilisation. This is necessary as they express a form II Rubisco that has poor discrimination between CO2 and O2. Evidence is presented for a carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM) to overcome this disadvantage. The CCM incorporates the presence of a light-activated CA activity, a capacity to take up both HCO3[-]and CO2, an ability to accumulate an elevated concentration of Ci within the algal cell, and localisation of Rubisco to the pyrenoid. These algae also express both external and intracellular CAs, with the intracellular isoforms being localised to the thylakoid lumen and pyrenoid. These results have been incorporated into a model that explains the transport of Ci from seawater through the clam to the zooxanthellae.}, } @article {pmid32062786, year = {2020}, author = {Palmisano, S and Campisciano, G and Iacuzzo, C and Bonadio, L and Zucca, A and Cosola, D and Comar, M and de Manzini, N}, title = {Role of preoperative gut microbiota on colorectal anastomotic leakage: preliminary results.}, journal = {Updates in surgery}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {1013-1022}, pmid = {32062786}, issn = {2038-3312}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anastomotic Leak/*etiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology/therapy ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Dysbiosis/*complications/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Healthy Volunteers ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Postoperative Complications/*etiology ; Preoperative Period ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The dysbiosis is defined as a disturbed symbiotic relationship between microbiota and the host and can cause a pro-inflammatory imbalance impairing the healing process at anastomotic level. The aim of this study is to detect, in fecal samples collected in the preoperative time, a peculiar microbiota composition that could predict the onset of colorectal anastomotic leakage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared gut microbiota of healthy patients (Group A) and patients with colorectal cancer eligible for surgery (Group B). Group B was divided into patients who developed anastomotic leak (Group BL) and patients who had uneventful recovery (Group BNL). Stool samples were collected before surgery and after neoadjuvant treatment.

RESULTS: We analyzed stool samples from 48 patients, 27 belonging to Group A and 21 to Group B. In Group B, five patients developed anastomotic leakage (Group BL). Compared to healthy subjects, Group B showed a moderate increase of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, a moderate reduction of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, and a statistically significant reduction of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Group BL patients showed an array of bacterial species which promoted dysbiosis, such as Acinetobacter lwoffii and Hafnia alvei. Group BNL patients showed that bacterial species like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Barnesiella intestinihominis have a protective function.

CONCLUSIONS: The bacterial flora in subjects with colorectal cancer is statistically different compared to healthy patients. The presence of preoperative aggressive bacteria and the lack of protective strains has strengthened the hypothesis that a peculiar microbiota composition could represent a risk factor for the occurrence of anastomotic leakage.}, } @article {pmid32062707, year = {2020}, author = {Jansa, J and Šmilauer, P and Borovička, J and Hršelová, H and Forczek, ST and Slámová, K and Řezanka, T and Rozmoš, M and Bukovská, P and Gryndler, M}, title = {Dead Rhizophagus irregularis biomass mysteriously stimulates plant growth.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {63-77}, pmid = {32062707}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Andropogon ; Biomass ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish symbiotic associations with many plant species, transferring significant amounts of soil nutrients such as phosphorus to plants and receiving photosynthetically fixed carbon in return. Functioning of AM symbiosis is thus based on interaction between two living partners. The importance of dead AM fungal biomass (necromass) in ecosystem processes remains unclear. Here, we applied either living biomass or necromass (0.0004 potting substrate weight percent) of monoxenically produced AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) into previously sterilized potting substrate planted with Andropogon gerardii. Plant biomass production significantly improved in both treatments as compared to non-amended controls. Living AM fungus, in contrast to the necromass, specifically improved plant acquisition of nutrients normally supplied to the plants by AM fungal networks, such as phosphorus and zinc. There was, however, no difference between the two amendment treatments with respect to plant uptake of other nutrients such as nitrogen and/or magnesium, indicating that the effect on plants of the AM fungal necromass was not primarily nutritional. Plant growth stimulation by the necromass could thus be either due to AM fungal metabolites directly affecting the plants, indirectly due to changes in soil/root microbiomes or due to physicochemical modifications of the potting substrate. In the necromass, we identified several potentially bioactive molecules. We also provide experimental evidence for significant differences in underground microbiomes depending on the amendment with living or dead AM fungal biomass. This research thus provides the first glimpse into possible mechanisms responsible for observed plant growth stimulation by the AM fungal necromass.}, } @article {pmid32062260, year = {2020}, author = {Cao, X and Wen, Z and Zhao, X and Wang, Y and Zhang, H}, title = {Quantitative assessment of energy conservation and emission reduction effects of nationwide industrial symbiosis in China.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {717}, number = {}, pages = {137114}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137114}, pmid = {32062260}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Studies on quantifying the energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER) effects of industrial symbiosis are mostly confined to micro-level industrial parks or regions, and few are on national level. Focusing on the symbiosis system formed by the iron and steel industry, the thermal power industry, the cement industry, and the social sector in China, this article aims to clarify the contribution of this nationwide industrial symbiosis system to China's total industrial ECER potential and to identify optimal symbiotic technologies that should be emphasized on from 2020 to 2030. By combining traditional bottom-up model and lifecycle material metabolism theory, this article simulates the technology structure of this symbiosis system. By clarifying the ECER mechanisms of different types of symbiotic technologies, this article evaluates the ECER effect of each symbiotic technology as well as the performance of the overall symbiosis system. The results show that: (1) this nationwide industrial symbiosis system can save 35.7 million tons of coal equivalent, and reduce 189 kt of SO2 emissions, 139 kt of NOx emissions, and 64 kt of PM emissions. These ECER effects contribute to 18-43% of China's national industrial ECER targets, which are larger than the potential of promoting energy efficiency technologies and end-of-pipe technologies in each single industry; (2) reutilizing solid wastes from the thermal power industry and the social sector as cementitious materials, as well as recovering iron and zinc from metallurgical dust are key symbiotic fields between 2020 and 2030. Three types of differentiated technology promotion suggestions are put forward.}, } @article {pmid32061251, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, X and Campanaro, S and Treu, L and Seshadri, R and Ivanova, N and Kougias, PG and Kyrpides, N and Angelidaki, I}, title = {Metabolic dependencies govern microbial syntrophies during methanogenesis in an anaerobic digestion ecosystem.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {32061251}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Acetates/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Bioreactors ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Ecosystem ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metagenomics ; Methane/*biosynthesis ; Methanosarcina/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Methanogenesis, a biological process mediated by complex microbial communities, has attracted great attention due to its contribution to global warming and potential in biotechnological applications. The current study unveiled the core microbial methanogenic metabolisms in anaerobic vessel ecosystems by applying combined genome-centric metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. Here, we demonstrate that an enriched natural system, fueled only with acetate, could support a bacteria-dominated microbiota employing a multi-trophic methanogenic process. Moreover, significant changes, in terms of microbial structure and function, were recorded after the system was supplemented with additional H2. Methanosarcina thermophila, the predominant methanogen prior to H2 addition, simultaneously performed acetoclastic, hydrogenotrophic, and methylotrophic methanogenesis. The methanogenic pattern changed after the addition of H2, which immediately stimulated Methanomicrobia-activity and was followed by a slow enrichment of Methanobacteria members. Interestingly, the essential genes involved in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway were not expressed in bacterial members. The high expression of a glycine cleavage system indicated the activation of alternative metabolic pathways for acetate metabolism, which were reconstructed in the most abundant bacterial genomes. Moreover, as evidenced by predicted auxotrophies, we propose that specific microbes of the community were forming symbiotic relationships, thus reducing the biosynthetic burden of individual members. These results provide new information that will facilitate future microbial ecology studies of interspecies competition and symbiosis in methanogenic niches. Video abstract.}, } @article {pmid32060411, year = {2020}, author = {Truong, TV and Holland, DB and Madaan, S and Andreev, A and Keomanee-Dizon, K and Troll, JV and Koo, DES and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Fraser, SE}, title = {High-contrast, synchronous volumetric imaging with selective volume illumination microscopy.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {74}, pmid = {32060411}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {R01 MH107238/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/anatomy & histology/diagnostic imaging/ultrastructure ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Heart/anatomy & histology/diagnostic imaging/physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/instrumentation/*methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/instrumentation/*methods ; Larva ; Light ; Microscopy, Fluorescence/instrumentation/methods ; Organ Size ; Seawater/microbiology ; Video Recording/instrumentation/methods ; Zebrafish ; }, abstract = {Light-field fluorescence microscopy uniquely provides fast, synchronous volumetric imaging by capturing an extended volume in one snapshot, but often suffers from low contrast due to the background signal generated by its wide-field illumination strategy. We implemented light-field-based selective volume illumination microscopy (SVIM), where illumination is confined to only the volume of interest, removing the background generated from the extraneous sample volume, and dramatically enhancing the image contrast. We demonstrate the capabilities of SVIM by capturing cellular-resolution 3D movies of flowing bacteria in seawater as they colonize their squid symbiotic partner, as well as of the beating heart and brain-wide neural activity in larval zebrafish. These applications demonstrate the breadth of imaging applications that we envision SVIM will enable, in capturing tissue-scale 3D dynamic biological systems at single-cell resolution, fast volumetric rates, and high contrast to reveal the underlying biology.}, } @article {pmid32060382, year = {2020}, author = {Rivera, MJ and Martini, X and Conover, D and Mafra-Neto, A and Carrillo, D and Stelinski, LL}, title = {Evaluation of semiochemical based push-pull strategy for population suppression of ambrosia beetle vectors of laurel wilt disease in avocado.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2670}, pmid = {32060382}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bicyclic Monoterpenes/pharmacology ; Coleoptera/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Insect Repellents/pharmacology ; Insect Vectors/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Ophiostomatales/*drug effects/pathogenicity ; Persea/growth & development/*microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology/parasitology/prevention & control ; Salicylates/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) bore into tree xylem to complete their life cycle, feeding on symbiotic fungi. Ambrosia beetles are a threat to avocado where they have been found to vector a symbiotic fungus, Raffaelea lauricola, the causal agent of the laurel wilt disease. We assessed the repellency of methyl salicylate and verbenone to two putative laurel wilt vectors in avocado, Xyleborus volvulus (Fabricius) and Xyleborus bispinatus (Eichhoff), under laboratory conditions. Then, we tested the same two chemicals released from SPLAT flowable matrix with and without low-dose ethanol dispensers for manipulation of ambrosia beetle populations occurring in commercial avocado. The potential active space of repellents was assessed by quantifying beetle catch on traps placed 'close' (~5-10 cm) and 'far' (~1-1.5 m) away from repellent dispensers. Ambrosia beetles collected on traps associated with all in-field treatments were identified to species to assess beetle diversity and community variation. Xyleborus volvulus was not repelled by methyl salicylate (MeSA) or verbenone in laboratory assays, while X. bispinatus was repelled by MeSA but not verbenone. Ambrosia beetle trap catches were reduced in the field more when plots were treated with verbenone dispensers (SPLAT) co-deployed with low-dose ethanol dispensers than when treated with verbenone alone. Beetle diversity was highest on traps deployed with low-dose ethanol lures. The repellent treatments and ethanol lures significantly altered the species composition of beetles captured in experiment plots. Our results indicate that verbenone co-deployed with ethanol lures holds potential for manipulating ambrosia beetle vectors via push-pull management in avocado. This tactic could discourage immigration and/or population establishment of ambrosia beetles in commercial avocado and function as an additional tool for management programs of laurel wilt.}, } @article {pmid32060026, year = {2020}, author = {Hori, C and Song, R and Matsumoto, K and Matsumoto, R and Minkoff, BB and Oita, S and Hara, H and Takasuka, TE}, title = {Proteomic Characterization of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes Secreted by the Insect-Associated Fungus Daldinia decipiens oita, Isolated from a Forest in Northern Japan.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32060026}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Forests ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology ; Japan ; Lignin/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Proteome/*genetics/metabolism ; Xylariales/classification/enzymology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wood-devastating insects utilize their symbiotic microbes with lignocellulose-degrading abilities to extract energy from recalcitrant woods. It is well known that free-living lignocellulose-degrading fungi secrete various carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) to degrade plant cell wall components, mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. However, CAZymes from insect-symbiotic fungi have not been well documented except for a few examples. In this study, an insect-associated fungus, Daldinia decipiens oita, was isolated as a potential symbiotic fungus of female Xiphydria albopicta captured from Hokkaido forest. This fungus was grown in seven different media containing a single carbon source, glucose, cellulose, xylan, mannan, pectin, poplar, or larch, and the secreted proteins were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 128 CAZymes, including domains of 92 glycoside hydrolases, 15 carbohydrate esterases, 5 polysaccharide lyases, 17 auxiliary activities, and 11 carbohydrate-binding modules, were identified, and these are involved in degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose but not lignin. Together with the results of polysaccharide-degrading activity measurements, we concluded that D. decipiens oita tightly regulates the expression of these CAZymes in response to the tested plant cell wall materials. Overall, this study described the detailed proteomic approach of a woodwasp-associated fungus and revealed that the new isolate, D. decipiens oita, secretes diverse CAZymes to efficiently degrade lignocellulose in the symbiotic environment.IMPORTANCE Recent studies show the potential impacts of insect symbiont microbes on biofuel application with regard to their degradation capability of a recalcitrant plant cell wall. In this study, we describe a novel fungal isolate, D. decipiens oita, as a single symbiotic fungus from the Xiphydria woodwasp found in the northern forests of Japan. Our detailed secretome analyses of D. decipiens oita, together with activity measurements, reveal that this insect-associated fungus exhibits high and broad activities for plant cell wall material degradation, suggesting potential applications within the biomass conversion industry for plant mass degradation.}, } @article {pmid32060022, year = {2020}, author = {Gu, X and Li, J and Wang, X and He, X and Cui, Y}, title = {Laccaria bicolor Mobilizes both Labile Aluminum and Inorganic Phosphate in Rhizosphere Soil of Pinus massoniana Seedlings Field Grown in a Yellow Acidic Soil.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32060022}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Aluminum/*metabolism ; China ; Laccaria/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Pinus/*growth & development ; Rhizosphere ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant growth is often limited by highly activated aluminum (Al) and low available phosphorus (P) in acidic soil. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can improve their host plants' Al tolerance by increasing P availability while decreasing Al activity in vitro or in hydroponic or sand culture systems. However, the effect of ECM fungi on inorganic P (IP) and labile Al in acidic soil in the field, particularly in conjunction with Al treatment, remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to determine the influence of ECM fungal association on the mobilization of IP and labile Al in rhizosphere soil of host plants grown in the field with external Al treatment and the underlying nutritional mechanism in plant Al tolerance. To do so, 4-week-old Pinus massoniana seedlings were inoculated with three ECM isolates (Laccaria bicolor 270, L. bicolor S238A, and L. bicolor S238N) and grown in a Haplic Alisol field with or without Al treatment for 12 weeks. Results showed that L. bicolor association enhanced the available P depletion and facilitated the mobilization of IP and labile Al, in turn improving the capacity of host plant to use Al-bound P, Ca-bound P, and occluded P, particularly when P. massoniana seedlings were inoculated with L. bicolor S238A. Inoculation with L. bicolor isolates also enhanced the solubility of labile Al and facilitated the conversion of acid-soluble Al into exchangeable Al. Our findings suggested that ECM inoculation could enhance plant Al tolerance in the field by mobilizing IP to improve the P bioavailability but not by decreasing Al activity.IMPORTANCE Here, we reveal the underlying nutritional mechanism in plant Al tolerance conferred by ectomycorrhizal (ECM)-fungus inoculation in the field and report the screening of a promising ECM isolate to assist phytoremediation and afforestation using Pinus massoniana in acidic soil in southern China. This study advances our understanding of the contribution of ECM fungi to plant-ECM-fungus symbiosis and highlights the vital role of ECM-fungus inoculation in plant Al tolerance. In addition, the results described in the present study confirm the importance of carrying out studies in the field rather than only in vitro studies. Our findings strengthen our understanding of the role of ECM-fungus association in detecting, utilizing, and transporting unavailable nutrients in the soil to enhance host plant growth and adaptability in response to adverse habitats.}, } @article {pmid32060020, year = {2020}, author = {Jiang, L and Liu, X and Dong, C and Huang, Z and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Alain, K and Gu, L and Wang, S and Shao, Z}, title = {"Candidatus Desulfobulbus rimicarensis," an Uncultivated Deltaproteobacterial Epibiont from the Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Shrimp Rimicaris exoculata.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32060020}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Decapoda/*microbiology ; Deltaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Life History Traits ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata largely depends on a dense epibiotic chemoautotrophic bacterial community within its enlarged cephalothoracic chamber. However, our understanding of shrimp-bacterium interactions is limited. In this report, we focused on the deltaproteobacterial epibiont of R. exoculata from the relatively unexplored South Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A nearly complete genome of a Deltaproteobacteria epibiont was binned from the assembled metagenome. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis reveals that it is affiliated with the genus Desulfobulbus, representing a potential novel species for which the name "Candidatus Desulfobulbus rimicarensis" is proposed. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal that this bacterium utilizes the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for carbon assimilation and harvests energy via sulfur disproportionation, which is significantly different from other shrimp epibionts. Additionally, this epibiont has putative nitrogen fixation activity, but it is extremely active in directly taking up ammonia and urea from the host or vent environments. Moreover, the epibiont could be distinguished from its free-living relatives by various features, such as the lack of chemotaxis and motility traits, a dramatic reduction in biosynthesis genes for capsular and extracellular polysaccharides, enrichment of genes required for carbon fixation and sulfur metabolism, and resistance to environmental toxins. Our study highlights the unique role and symbiotic adaptation of Deltaproteobacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimps.IMPORTANCE The shrimp Rimicaris exoculata represents the dominant faunal biomass at many deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This organism harbors dense bacterial epibiont communities in its enlarged cephalothoracic chamber that play an important nutritional role. Deltaproteobacteria are ubiquitous in epibiotic communities of R. exoculata, and their functional roles as epibionts are based solely on the presence of functional genes. Here, we describe "Candidatus Desulfobulbus rimicarensis," an uncultivated deltaproteobacterial epibiont. Compared to campylobacterial and gammaproteobacterial epibionts of R. exoculata, this bacterium possessed unique metabolic pathways, such as the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, as well as sulfur disproportionation and nitrogen fixation pathways. Furthermore, this epibiont can be distinguished from closely related free-living Desulfobulbus strains by its reduced genetic content and potential loss of functions, suggesting unique adaptations to the shrimp host. This study is a genomic and transcriptomic analysis of a deltaproteobacterial epibiont and largely expands the understanding of its metabolism and adaptation to the R. exoculata host.}, } @article {pmid32058757, year = {2020}, author = {Yamagishi, JF and Saito, N and Kaneko, K}, title = {Advantage of Leakage of Essential Metabolites for Cells.}, journal = {Physical review letters}, volume = {124}, number = {4}, pages = {048101}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.048101}, pmid = {32058757}, issn = {1079-7114}, mesh = {Biomass ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbiota/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Microbial cells generally leak various metabolites including those necessary to grow. Why cells secrete even essential chemicals so often is, however, still unclear. Based on analytical and numerical calculations, we show that if the intracellular metabolism includes multibody (e.g., catalytic) reactions, leakage of essential metabolites can promote the leaking cell's growth. This advantage is typical for most metabolic networks via "flux control" and "growth-dilution" mechanisms, as a general consequence of the balance between synthesis and growth-induced dilution with autocatalytic reactions. We further argue that this advantage may lead to a novel form of symbiosis among diverse cells.}, } @article {pmid32057246, year = {2020}, author = {Jiao, WH and Xu, QH and Ge, GB and Shang, RY and Zhu, HR and Liu, HY and Cui, J and Sun, F and Lin, HW}, title = {Flavipesides A-C, PKS-NRPS Hybrids as Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitors from a Marine Sponge Symbiotic Fungus Aspergillus flavipes 164013.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {1825-1829}, doi = {10.1021/acs.orglett.0c00150}, pmid = {32057246}, issn = {1523-7052}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Animals ; Aspergillus/*chemistry ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Fungi/*chemistry/metabolism ; Lipase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Porifera/chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis ; }, abstract = {Three unusual chlorinated PKS-NRPS hybrid metabolites, flavipesides A-C (1-3), were isolated from a strain of marine sponge symbiotic fungus Aspergillus flavipes 164013. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis, and absolute configurations were assigned by single-crystal X-ray diffraction with ECD spectral analysis. Flavipesides A-C showed potent pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.07-0.23 μM.}, } @article {pmid32056335, year = {2020}, author = {Kumar, N and Puljević, C and Heimer, R}, title = {Understanding motivations for large US cannabis firms' participation in the cannabis space: Qualitative study exploring views of key decision-makers.}, journal = {Drug and alcohol review}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {347-355}, doi = {10.1111/dar.13040}, pmid = {32056335}, issn = {1465-3362}, mesh = {*Cannabis ; *Commerce/organization & administration ; Decision Making ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Medical Marijuana/economics ; *Motivation ; United States ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Large for-profit firms supply the majority of US state-legal cannabis stores and some firms have attempted to shape cannabis-related policies. Understanding firms' motivations for participation in the cannabis space is critical, given firms' possible links to cannabis usage patterns. Key decision-makers (KDM) in the cannabis space may have information unavailable to lower ranking staff, and may influence firm decision-making and consequently US cannabis usage practises. We present the findings of a qualitative study investigating the views of KDMs in the cannabis market, on large cannabis firms' motivations for participation in the space.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were collected through 37 semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of KDMs in the US cannabis space, representing both for-profit and non-profit organisations. Thematic analysis, with an inductive approach, was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS: KDMs reported three non-exclusive motivations for large cannabis firms' participation in the space; to seek profit, to mitigate social inequity and to provide cannabis as medicine. Within the theme relating to profit, findings suggest that for-profit and non-profit organisations in the space may be cognisant of the other's goals, representing a symbiotic relationship.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that firms may have reasons to enter the space not necessarily centred on increasing use. Although non-profits and for-profits have different agendas, the bottom line for both groups is to expand access. Policy-makers should be aware of that fact, and set policies which consider the two groups as a unified whole.}, } @article {pmid32055857, year = {2020}, author = {Reyes-Prieto, M and Vargas-Chávez, C and Llabrés, M and Palmer, P and Latorre, A and Moya, A}, title = {An update on the Symbiotic Genomes Database (SymGenDB): a collection of metadata, genomic, genetic and protein sequences, orthologs and metabolic networks of symbiotic organisms.}, journal = {Database : the journal of biological databases and curation}, volume = {2020}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32055857}, issn = {1758-0463}, mesh = {*Databases, Genetic ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genomics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Metadata ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The Symbiotic Genomes Database (SymGenDB; http://symbiogenomesdb.uv.es/) is a public resource of manually curated associations between organisms involved in symbiotic relationships, maintaining a catalog of completely sequenced/finished bacterial genomes exclusively. It originally consisted of three modules where users could search for the bacteria involved in a specific symbiotic relationship, their genomes and their genes (including their orthologs). In this update, we present an additional module that includes a representation of the metabolic network of each organism included in the database, as Directed Acyclic Graphs (MetaDAGs). This module provides unique opportunities to explore the metabolism of each individual organism and/or to evaluate the shared and joint metabolic capabilities of the organisms of the same genera included in our listing, allowing users to construct predictive analyses of metabolic associations and complementation between systems. We also report a ~25% increase in manually curated content in the database, i.e. bacterial genomes and their associations, with a final count of 2328 bacterial genomes associated to 498 hosts. We describe new querying possibilities for all the modules, as well as new display features for the MetaDAGs module, providing a relevant range of content and utility. This update continues to improve SymGenDB and can help elucidate the mechanisms by which organisms depend on each other.}, } @article {pmid32054781, year = {2020}, author = {Chiu, CH and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Receptor-Like Kinases Sustain Symbiotic Scrutiny.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {182}, number = {4}, pages = {1597-1612}, pmid = {32054781}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/P003419/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Ligands ; Peptides/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) control the initiation, development, and maintenance of symbioses with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Carbohydrate perception activates symbiosis signaling via Lysin-motif RLKs and subsequently the common symbiosis signaling pathway. As the receptors activated are often also immune receptors in multiple species, exactly how carbohydrate identities avoid immune activation and drive symbiotic outcome is still not fully understood. This may involve the coincident detection of additional signaling molecules that provide specificity. Because of the metabolic costs of supporting symbionts, the level of symbiosis development is fine-tuned by a range of local and mobile signals that are activated by various RLKs. Beyond early, precontact symbiotic signaling, signal exchanges ensue throughout infection, nutrient exchange, and turnover of symbiosis. Here, we review the latest understanding of plant symbiosis signaling from the perspective of RLK-mediated pathways.}, } @article {pmid32052210, year = {2020}, author = {Li, YY and Guo, SX and Lee, YI}, title = {Ultrastructural changes during the symbiotic seed germination of Gastrodia elata with fungi, with emphasis on the fungal colonization region.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {32052210}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata is a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid and has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The life cycle of G. elata requires an association with two different fungi-Mycena for seed germination and Armillaria for tuber growth. The association with Armillaria is representative of the phytophagous type of orchid mycorrhiza: the intracellular hyphae are lysed without forming condensed pelotons. However, whether the association with Mycena during seed germination belongs to the same type of orchid mycorrhiza is unknown.

RESULTS: Histological and ultrastructural studies revealed several notable features in different developmental stages. First, a thickened cell wall with papillae-like structures appeared during fungal penetration in the suspensor end cell, epidermal cells and cortical cells of germinating embryos. In addition, the formation of two distinctive cell types in the colonized region of a protocorm (i.e., the passage canal cell filled with actively growing fungal hyphae) can be observed in the epidermal cell, and the distinctive digestion cell with a dense cytoplasm appears in the cortex. Finally, within the digestion cell, numerous electron-dense tubules form a radial system and attach to degrading fungal hyphae. The fungal hyphae appear to be digested through endocytosis.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides important structural evidence for the phytophagous type of orchid mycorrhiza in the symbiotic germination of G. elata with Mycena. This case demonstrates a particular nutrient transfer network between G. elata and its litter-decaying fungal partner.}, } @article {pmid32051527, year = {2020}, author = {Miyazaki, J and Ikuta, T and Watsuji, TO and Abe, M and Yamamoto, M and Nakagawa, S and Takaki, Y and Nakamura, K and Takai, K}, title = {Dual energy metabolism of the Campylobacterota endosymbiont in the chemosynthetic snail Alviniconcha marisindica.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1273-1289}, pmid = {32051527}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Campylobacter/*physiology ; Energy Metabolism ; Gills/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Indian Ocean ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Snails/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some deep-sea chemosynthetic invertebrates and their symbiotic bacteria can use molecular hydrogen (H2) as their energy source. However, how much the chemosynthetic holobiont (endosymbiont-host association) physiologically depends on H2 oxidation has not yet been determined. Here, we demonstrate that the Campylobacterota endosymbionts of the gastropod Alviniconcha marisindica in the Kairei and Edmond fields (kAlv and eAlv populations, respectively) of the Indian Ocean, utilize H2 in response to their physical and environmental H2 conditions, although the 16S rRNA gene sequence of both the endosymbionts shared 99.6% identity. A thermodynamic calculation using in situ H2 and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations indicated that chemosynthetic symbiosis could be supported by metabolic energy via H2 oxidation, particularly for the kAlv holobiont. Metabolic activity measurements showed that both the living individuals and the gill tissues consumed H2 and H2S at similar levels. Moreover, a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization, quantitative transcript analyses, and enzymatic activity measurements showed that the kAlv endosymbiont expressed the genes and enzymes for both H2- and sulfur-oxidations. These results suggest that both H2 and H2S could serve as the primary energy sources for the kAlv holobiont. The eAlv holobiont had the ability to utilize H2, but the gene expression and enzyme activity for hydrogenases were much lower than for sulfur-oxidation enzymes. These results suggest that the energy acquisitions of A. marisindica holobionts are dependent on H2- and sulfur-oxidation in the H2-enriched Kairei field and that the mechanism of dual metabolism is controlled by the in situ H2 concentration.}, } @article {pmid32050602, year = {2020}, author = {Hozawa, M and Nawata, E}, title = {The Interaction between Leaf Allelopathy and Symbiosis with Rhizobium of Ulex europaeus on Hawaii Island.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32050602}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {: The objective of this study was to assess the magnitudes of the leaf allelopathy of Ulex europaeus in two different habitats, and discuss the driver of the differences, including rhizobia. The magnitudes of leaf allelopathy of the samples collected in two different habitats were assessed by comparing the hypocotyl and radicle lengths of the lettuce seeds tested on the samples. One habitat was in and adjacent to an Acasia koa forest, while the other was more than 50 m away. A. koa is indigenous to Hawaii and known to have a close symbiotic relationship with Bradyrhizobium for nitrogen-fixing. Within the past three years, U. europaeus has newly invaded both sampling sites, whereas the A. koa forest has been there for several decades. The combined result of both hypocotyl and radicle lengths of the lettuce seeds tested on both sites by linear model and multicomparison analyses showed no significant difference. But the radicle lengths of the lettuce seeds tested on U. europaeus sampled in and adjacent to the A. koa forest were significantly longer than those of the samples more than 50 m away, as measured by t-test (p = 0.05). This result suggested that the magnitude of the leaf allelopathy of U. europaeus depended on the distance of the habitat from the A. koa forest.}, } @article {pmid32047609, year = {2020}, author = {Roy, R and Reinders, A and Ward, JM and McDonald, TR}, title = {Understanding transport processes in lichen, Azolla-cyanobacteria, ectomycorrhiza, endomycorrhiza, and rhizobia-legume symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {32047609}, issn = {2046-1402}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Lichens/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Intimate interactions between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organisms require the orchestrated transfer of ions and metabolites between species. We review recent progress in identifying and characterizing the transport proteins involved in five mutualistic symbiotic interactions: lichens, Azolla-cyanobacteria, ectomycorrhiza, endomycorrhiza, and rhizobia-legumes. This review focuses on transporters for nitrogen and carbon and other solutes exchanged in the interactions. Their predicted functions are evaluated on the basis of their transport mechanism and prevailing transmembrane gradients of H [+] and transported substrates. The symbiotic interactions are presented in the assumed order from oldest to most recently evolved.}, } @article {pmid32047481, year = {2019}, author = {Hou, L and Yu, J and Zhao, L and He, X}, title = {Dark Septate Endophytes Improve the Growth and the Tolerance of Medicago sativa and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus Under Cadmium Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {3061}, pmid = {32047481}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Although the ecological function of dark septate endophytes (DSEs) is well studied, little is known about the responses of the host plant to DSEs obtained from other plants, especially under conditions of heavy metal stress. This study aimed to investigate how DSEs from a heavy-metal habitat affect non-host plants in cadmium (Cd) stress soils, which then provides a basis for the application of DSEs in the cultivation of different plant and soil remediation strategies for polluted ecosystems. We isolated and identified two species of DSE (Acrocalymma vagum and Scytalidium lignicola) inhabiting the roots of Ilex chinensis (host plant) which are grown in metal-polluted habitats. Then, the Cd stress tolerance of the DSEs was tested using a pure culture of which the Cd concentration has been adjusted. Subsequently, we examined the performance of non-host plants (Medicago sativa and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus) which were inoculated with DSEs under Cd stress in a growth chamber. The results indicated that the two DSEs could grow under Cd stress in vitro, even when not exhibiting high levels of tolerance to Cd. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), soluble protein, and melanin of the DSE fungi reached maximal levels at concentrations of 30-60 mg Cd/L, indicating the important preventive strategies adopted by the DSE fungi in environments contaminated by Cd. Despite a decreased biomass of DSE hyphae with enhanced Cd concentrations, the accumulation of Cd in the DSE hyphae tended to show an increasing trend. Both DSEs were effective colonizers of the non-host plants. A. vagum and S. lignicola inoculation significantly promoted the biomass and the root architecture of the two non-host plants under Cd stress. A. vagum inoculation increased the total nitrogen (TN) of A. mongolicus, whereas inoculation with S. lignicola significantly increased the organic carbon (OC) of M. sativa. In particular, the DSE inoculation significantly improved the accumulation of Cd in plant tissues under Cd stress, demonstrating a potential application in the bio-remediation of heavy-metal-pollution areas. Our findings suggest that the DSE inoculation improved the root growth and nutrient absorption of non-host plants, altered the soil Cd concentration, and facilitated plant growth and survival under Cd stress. These results contribute to a better understanding of DSE-plant interactions in habitats contaminated by heavy metals.}, } @article {pmid32047192, year = {2020}, author = {Fiore, CL and Jarett, JK and Steinert, G and Lesser, MP}, title = {Trait-Based Comparison of Coral and Sponge Microbiomes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2340}, pmid = {32047192}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals and sponges harbor diverse microbial communities that are integral to the functioning of the host. While the taxonomic diversity of their microbiomes has been well-established for corals and sponges, their functional roles are less well-understood. It is unclear if the similarities of symbiosis in an invertebrate host would result in functionally similar microbiomes, or if differences in host phylogeny and environmentally driven microhabitats within each host would shape functionally distinct communities. Here we addressed this question, using metatranscriptomic and 16S rRNA gene profiling techniques to compare the microbiomes of two host organisms from different phyla. Our results indicate functional similarity in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur assimilation, and aerobic nitrogen cycling. Additionally, there were few statistical differences in pathway coverage or abundance between the two hosts. For example, we observed higher coverage of phosphonate and siderophore metabolic pathways in the star coral, Montastraea cavernosa, while there was higher coverage of chloroalkane metabolism in the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta. Higher abundance of genes associated with carbon fixation pathways was also observed in M. cavernosa, while in X. muta there was higher abundance of fatty acid metabolic pathways. Metagenomic predictions based on 16S rRNA gene profiling analysis were similar, and there was high correlation between the metatranscriptome and metagenome predictions for both hosts. Our results highlight several metabolic pathways that exhibit functional similarity in these coral and sponge microbiomes despite the taxonomic differences between the two microbiomes, as well as potential specialization of some microbially based metabolism within each host.}, } @article {pmid32046218, year = {2020}, author = {Fukudome, M and Shimada, H and Uchi, N and Osuki, KI and Ishizaki, H and Murakami, EI and Kawaguchi, M and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Reactive Sulfur Species Interact with Other Signal Molecules in Root Nodule Symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32046218}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Reactive sulfur species (RSS) function as strong antioxidants and are involved in various biological responses in animals and bacteria. Few studies; however, have examined RSS in plants. In the present study, we clarified that RSS are involved in root nodule symbiosis in the model legume Lotus japonicus. Polysulfides, a type of RSS, were detected in the roots by using a sulfane sulfur-specific fluorescent probe, SSP4. Supplying the sulfane sulfur donor Na2S3 to the roots increased the amounts of both polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the roots and simultaneously decreased the amounts of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). RSS were also detected in infection threads in the root hairs and in infected cells of nodules. Supplying the sulfane sulfur donor significantly increased the numbers of infection threads and nodules. When nodules were immersed in the sulfane sulfur donor, their nitrogenase activity was significantly reduced, without significant changes in the amounts of NO, ROS, and H2S. These results suggest that polysulfides interact with signal molecules such as NO, ROS, and H2S in root nodule symbiosis in L. japonicus. SSP4 and Na2S3 are useful tools for study of RSS in plants.}, } @article {pmid32045512, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, LL and Chen, H and Zhang, M and Zhu, W and Chang, Q and Lu, G and Chen, Y and Jiang, J and Zhu, L}, title = {Changes in the community structure of the symbiotic microbes of wild amphibians from the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e1004}, pmid = {32045512}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Altitude ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Bufonidae/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ranidae/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Skin/*microbiology ; Stomach/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Environment has a potential effect on the animal symbiotic microbiome. Here, to study the potential relationship of the symbiotic microbiomes of wild amphibians with altitude, we collected the gut and skin samples from frogs (nine species) and the environmental samples (water and soil samples) from the Leshan Mountains (altitude: 360-410 m) and Gongga Mountains (altitude: 3340-3989 m) on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Bufo gargarizans (Bg) samples were collected from both the Leshan and Gongga mountain regions (Bg was the only species sampled on both mountains). The DNA extracted from each sample was performed high-throughput sequencing (MiSeq) of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. High relative abundance of Caulobacteraceae and Sphingomonadaceae was found in skin samples from both Bg and the other high-altitude amphibians (nine species combined). High relative abundance of Coxiellaceae and Mycoplasmataceae was found in gut samples from both Bg and the other high-altitude amphibians. Furthermore, the alpha and beta diversities of skin and gut samples from Bg and the other amphibian species (nine species combined) were similar. In terms of the symbiotic microbial community, the low-altitude samples were less diverse and more similar to each other than the high-altitude samples were. We speculated that extreme high-altitude environments and host phylogeny may affect the amphibian microbiome. Despite the distinct microbial community differences between the skin and gut microbiomes, some functions were similar in the Bg and combined high-altitude samples. The Bg and high-altitude skin samples had higher oxidative stress tolerance and biofilm formation than the low-altitude skin samples. However, the opposite results were observed for the Bg and high-altitude gut samples. Further study is required to determine whether these characteristics favor high-altitude amphibian adaptation to extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid32043388, year = {2019}, author = {Kernberg, OF}, title = {Therapeutic Implications of Transference Structures in Various Personality Pathologies.}, journal = {Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association}, volume = {67}, number = {6}, pages = {951-986}, doi = {10.1177/0003065119898190}, pmid = {32043388}, issn = {1941-2460}, mesh = {Defense Mechanisms ; Humans ; *Object Attachment ; Personality Disorders/psychology/*therapy ; *Psychoanalytic Therapy ; *Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {Definitions of specific organizations of transference developments are proposed for neurotic, borderline, narcissistic, schizoid, symbiotic, and psychotic character structures. These distinct organizations of transference developments correspond to the underlying characteristics of internalized object relations stemming from the conflictual implications of split-off, idealized, and persecutory self- and object representations. The transference structures described have implications for the corresponding application of psychoanalytic technique. Clinical cases illustrate the relationship between personality structure, transference organization, and psychoanalytic techniques.}, } @article {pmid32043113, year = {2020}, author = {Giovannini, L and Sbrana, C and Avio, L and Turrini, A}, title = {Diversity of a phosphate transporter gene among species and isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {367}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaa024}, pmid = {32043113}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Pharmacogenomic Variants ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a key group of beneficial obligate biotrophs, establishing a mutualistic symbiosis with the roots of most land plants. The molecular markers generally used for their characterization are mainly based on informative regions of nuclear rDNA (SSU-ITS-LSU), although protein-encoding genes have also been proposed. Within functional genes, those encoding for phosphate transporters (PT) are particularly important in AMF, given their primary ability to take up Pi from soil, and to differentially affect plant phosphate nutrition. In this work, we investigated the genetic diversity of PT1 gene sequences and sequences of the taxonomically relevant SSU-ITS-LSU region in two isolates of the species Funneliformis coronatus, three isolates of the species Funneliformis mosseae and two species of the genus Rhizoglomus, originated from geographically distant areas and cultured in vivo. Our results showed that partial PT1 sequences not only successfully differentiated AMF genera and species like ribosomal gene sequences but also highlighted intraspecific diversity among F. mosseae and F. coronatus isolates. The study of functional genes related to the uptake of key mineral nutrients for the assessment of AMF diversity represents a key step in the selection of efficient isolates to be used as inocula in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid32041991, year = {2020}, author = {Rodríguez-Daza, MC and Daoust, L and Boutkrabt, L and Pilon, G and Varin, T and Dudonné, S and Levy, É and Marette, A and Roy, D and Desjardins, Y}, title = {Wild blueberry proanthocyanidins shape distinct gut microbiota profile and influence glucose homeostasis and intestinal phenotypes in high-fat high-sucrose fed mice.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2217}, pmid = {32041991}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Blueberry Plants/*chemistry ; Colon/drug effects/microbiology/pathology ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Dietary Sucrose/adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glucose Intolerance/*drug therapy/etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intestinal Mucosa/*drug effects/microbiology/pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts/*administration & dosage/chemistry ; Proanthocyanidins/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Blueberries are a rich source of polyphenols, widely studied for the prevention or attenuation of metabolic diseases. However, the health contribution and mechanisms of action of polyphenols depend on their type and structure. Here, we evaluated the effects of a wild blueberry polyphenolic extract (WBE) (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) on cardiometabolic parameters, gut microbiota composition and gut epithelium histology of high-fat high-sucrose (HFHS) diet-induced obese mice and determined which constitutive polyphenolic fractions (BPF) was responsible for the observed effects. To do so, the whole extract was separated in three fractions, F1) Anthocyanins and phenolic acids, F2) oligomeric proanthocyanidins (PACs), phenolic acids and flavonols (PACs degree of polymerization DP < 4), and F3) PACs polymers (PACs DP > 4) and supplied at their respective concentration in the whole extract. After 8 weeks, WBE reduced OGTT AUC by 18.3% compared to the HFHS treated rodents and the F3 fraction contributed the most to this effect. The anthocyanin rich F1 fraction did not reproduce this response. WBE and the BPF restored the colonic mucus layer. Particularly, the polymeric PACs-rich F3 fraction increased the mucin-secreting goblet cells number. WBE caused a significant 2-fold higher proportion of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens whereas oligomeric PACs-rich F2 fraction increased by 2.5-fold the proportion of Akkermansia muciniphila. This study reveals the key role of WBE PACs in modulating the gut microbiota and restoring colonic epithelial mucus layer, providing a suitable ecological niche for mucosa-associated symbiotic bacteria, which may be crucial in triggering health effects of blueberry polyphenols.}, } @article {pmid32040255, year = {2020}, author = {Ueoka, R and Meoded, RA and Gran-Scheuch, A and Bhushan, A and Fraaije, MW and Piel, J}, title = {Genome Mining of Oxidation Modules in trans-Acyltransferase Polyketide Synthases Reveals a Culturable Source for Lobatamides.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {59}, number = {20}, pages = {7761-7765}, pmid = {32040255}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {*Data Mining ; Gammaproteobacteria/enzymology/genetics/physiology ; *Genomics ; Macrolides/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Polyketide Synthases/*genetics/*metabolism ; Polyketides/metabolism ; Salicylates/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases (trans-AT PKSs) are multimodular megaenzymes that biosynthesize many bioactive natural products. They contain a remarkable range of domains and module types that introduce different substituents into growing polyketide chains. As one such modification, we recently reported Baeyer-Villiger-type oxygen insertion into nascent polyketide backbones, thereby generating malonyl thioester intermediates. In this work, genome mining focusing on architecturally diverse oxidation modules in trans-AT PKSs led us to the culturable plant symbiont Gynuella sunshinyii, which harbors two distinct modules in one orphan PKS. The PKS product was revealed to be lobatamide A, a potent cytotoxin previously only known from a marine tunicate. Biochemical studies show that one module generates glycolyl thioester intermediates, while the other is proposed to be involved in oxime formation. The data suggest varied roles of oxygenation modules in the biosynthesis of polyketide scaffolds and support the importance of trans-AT PKSs in the specialized metabolism of symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid32040253, year = {2020}, author = {Niehs, SP and Dose, B and Richter, S and Pidot, SJ and Dahse, HM and Stinear, TP and Hertweck, C}, title = {Mining Symbionts of a Spider-Transmitted Fungus Illuminates Uncharted Biosynthetic Pathways to Cytotoxic Benzolactones.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {59}, number = {20}, pages = {7766-7771}, pmid = {32040253}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Animals ; *Data Mining ; Genomics ; Lactones/*metabolism/toxicity ; Rhizopus/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Spiders/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A spider-transmitted fungus (Rhizopus microsporus) that was isolated from necrotic human tissue was found to harbor endofungal bacteria (Burkholderia sp.). Metabolic profiling of the symbionts revealed a complex of cytotoxic agents (necroximes). Their structures were characterized as oxime-substituted benzolactone enamides with a peptidic side chain. The potently cytotoxic necroximes are also formed in symbiosis with the fungal host and could have contributed to the necrosis. Genome sequencing and computational analyses revealed a novel modular PKS/NRPS assembly line equipped with several non-canonical domains. Based on gene-deletion mutants, we propose a biosynthetic model for bacterial benzolactones. We identified specific traits that serve as genetic handles to find related salicylate macrolide pathways (lobatamide, oximidine, apicularen) in various other bacterial genera. Knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway enables biosynthetic engineering and genome-mining approaches.}, } @article {pmid32040182, year = {2020}, author = {Shang, F and Niu, J and Ding, BY and Wang, JJ}, title = {Comparative Insight into the Bacterial Communities in Alate and Apterous Morphs of Brown Citrus Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {113}, number = {3}, pages = {1436-1444}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toaa016}, pmid = {32040182}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; Bacteria ; *Buchnera ; *Citrus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wing polyphenism (alate and apterous morphs) in aphids is a trade-off between dispersal and reproduction. How bacterial communities are associated with wing polyphenism in aphids is still not clearly understood. This study used 16S rRNA sequencing to examine the differences in diversity of the bacterial community between alate and apterous morphs in Aphis citricidus, the main vector of the Citrus tristeza virus. Eighty-one operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 37 orders, 34 classes, and 13 phyla were identified from all samples. Among these OTUs, Wolbachia (79.17%), Buchnera (17.64%), and Pseudomonas (2.99%) were the dominant bacterial genera. The diversity of symbionts varied between the two morphs; apterous morphs had more bacterial diversity (69 OTUs belonging to 45 families, 21 classes, and 12 phyla) than alate morphs (45 OTUs belonging to 36 families, 15 classes, and 10 phyla). In addition, the abundance of five OTUs was significantly different between two morphs. Among these OTUs, two Pseudomonas species (Pseudomonas_brenneri [OTU21] and unclassified_Pseudomonas [OTU13]) represented a high proportion (3.93% and 2.06%) in alate morphs but were present in low abundance (0.006% and 0.002%) in apterous morphs. RT-qPCR showed consistent results with high-throughput DNA sequencing. The preliminary survey showed the difference in composition and frequency of bacteria between alate and apterous morphs. Thus, the results contribute to anew insight of microorganisms that may be involved in wing dimorphism and helpful for controlling the dispersal of this pest through artificial elimination or reinfection of bacterial symbionts or targeting symbiosis-related host genes by RNA interference in future.}, } @article {pmid32039310, year = {2020}, author = {Bueno, PCP and Lopes, NP}, title = {Metabolomics to Characterize Adaptive and Signaling Responses in Legume Crops under Abiotic Stresses.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {1752-1763}, pmid = {32039310}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Legume species are an important source of protein and other nutrients for human and livestock consumption, playing a central role in food security. Besides, legumes benefit agriculture because of their ability to establish symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, providing nitrogen for subsequent crops, which is very much appreciated for sustainable agricultural practices. However, like other food crops, legumes are highly vulnerable to climate variations, water stresses being the main constraint that negatively affects both crop quality and productivity. Because of this, the development of strategies to improve the tolerance of such cultivars against water stresses, as well as the study of effective approaches to monitor these improvements, have gained special attention during the last years. Among these strategies, metabolomics has been considered one of the most promising approaches for the detection and/or quantification of primary and secondary stress-responsive metabolites in abiotic stresses. In plant science, many research groups have been using metabolomics to evaluate the success of genetic modifications by the analysis of chemical markers that can be altered in breeding programs. In addition, metabolomics is a powerful tool for the evaluation and selection of wild specimens with desirable traits that can be used in the development of improved new cultivars. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is to review the recent progress made in the field of metabolomics and plant breeding, especially concerning the adaptive responses of legume species to abiotic stresses as well as to point out the key primary and secondary metabolites involved in the adaptation and sensing mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid32039187, year = {2019}, author = {Xie, S and Vallet, M and Sun, C and Kunert, M and David, A and Zhang, X and Chen, B and Lu, X and Boland, W and Shao, Y}, title = {Biocontrol Potential of a Novel Endophytic Bacterium From Mulberry (Morus) Tree.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {488}, pmid = {32039187}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Mulberry (Morus) is an economically important woody tree that is suitable for use in sericulture as forage and in medicine. However, this broad-leaved tree is facing multiple threats ranging from phytopathogens to insect pests. Here, a Gram-positive, endospore-forming bacterium (ZJU1) was frequently isolated from healthy mulberry plants by screening for foliar endophytes showing antagonism against pathogens and pests. Whole-genome sequencing and annotation resulted in a genome size of 4.06 Mb and classified the bacterium as a novel strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens that has rarely been identified from tree leaves. An integrative approach combining traditional natural product chemistry, activity bioassays, and high-resolution mass spectrometry confirmed that strain ZJU1 uses a blend of antimicrobials including peptides and volatile organic compounds to oppose Botrytis cinerea, a major phytopathogenic fungus causing mulberry gray mold disease. We showed that the inoculation of endophyte-free plants with ZJU1 significantly decreased both leaf necrosis and mortality under field conditions. In addition to the direct interactions of endophytes with foliar pathogens, in planta studies suggested that the inoculation of endophytes also induced plant systemic defense, including high expression levels of mulberry disease resistance genes. Moreover, when applied to the generalist herbivore Spodoptera litura, ZJU1 was sufficient to reduce the pest survival rate below 50%. A previously undiscovered crystal toxin (Cry10Aa) could contribute to this insecticidal effect against notorious lepidopteran pests. These unique traits clearly demonstrate that B. amyloliquefaciens ZJU1 is promising for the development of successful strategies for biocontrol applications. The search for new plant-beneficial microbes and engineering microbiomes is therefore of great significance for sustainably improving plant performance.}, } @article {pmid32039048, year = {2019}, author = {Murakami, M and Tognini, P}, title = {The Circadian Clock as an Essential Molecular Link Between Host Physiology and Microorganisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {469}, pmid = {32039048}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; *Circadian Clocks ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies in the past decade has led to a tremendous growth in knowledge about the role played by microorganisms on our body health. Trillions of microbes live in close symbiosis with their host, and have impacts on various aspects of host physiology as well as predisposition to disease. This is a consequence of the direct interaction between host cells and microbes or their signaling molecules, such as metabolites, which can reach and exert their effects in distal tissues. Among the essential factors modulating the human body's ecosystem of symbionts, the circadian clock might be one of the key regulators. The endogenous clock is a highly conserved timekeeper able to align organismal physiology to the daily cycle, thus maximizing survival and fitness. Circadian rhythms coordinate whole-body biological processes synchronizing cellular biochemical reactions, tissue function and finally controlling systemic homeostasis. Intriguingly, growing body of evidence has demonstrated that the host circadian cycle governs the structure of the gut microbiota community and its diurnal rhythmicity, whereas the microbes contribute to maintenance of clock function. In this review, we will give an overview of the multisystem aspects of microbiome-host interactions in the context of circadian rhythmicity. In particular, the effect of the interaction clock-microbial communities on immune system function and metabolic homeostasis will be discussed. Finally, the possible implication of daily rhythm on the gut-microbiome-brain axis will be analyzed, focusing on the reciprocal effects of clock disruption and microbiota alterations on brain function and behavior.}, } @article {pmid32038983, year = {2020}, author = {Ma, L and Zong, X}, title = {Metabolic Symbiosis in Chemoresistance: Refocusing the Role of Aerobic Glycolysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {32038983}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Cellular metabolic reprogramming is now recognized as a hallmark of tumors. Altered tumor metabolism determines the malignant biological behaviors and phenotypes of cancer. More recently, studies have begun to reveal that cancer cells generally exhibit increased glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for Adenosine Triphosphate(ATP)generation, which is frequently associated with drug resistance. The metabolism of drug-resistant cells is regulated by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway which ultimately confer cancer cells drug resistance phenotype. The key enzymes involved in glycolysis and the key molecules in relevant pathways have been used as targets to reverse drug resistance. In this review, we highlight our current understanding of the role of metabolic symbiosis in therapeutic resistance and discuss the ongoing effort to develop metabolic inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs to overcome drug resistance to classical chemotherapy.}, } @article {pmid32038640, year = {2019}, author = {Davoodi, S and Foley, E}, title = {Host-Microbe-Pathogen Interactions: A Review of Vibrio cholerae Pathogenesis in Drosophila.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {3128}, pmid = {32038640}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {MOP77746//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cholera/*microbiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune System/*metabolism ; Immunity ; Symbiosis ; Vibrio cholerae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most animals maintain mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships with their intestinal microbiota. Resident microbes in the gastrointestinal tract breakdown indigestible food, provide essential nutrients, and, act as a barrier against invading microbes, such as the enteric pathogen Vibrio cholerae. Over the last decades, our knowledge of V. cholerae pathogenesis, colonization, and transmission has increased tremendously. A number of animal models have been used to study how V. cholerae interacts with host-derived resources to support gastrointestinal colonization. Here, we review studies on host-microbe interactions and how infection with V. cholerae disrupts these interactions, with a focus on contributions from the Drosophila melanogaster model. We will discuss studies that highlight the connections between symbiont, host, and V. cholerae metabolism; crosstalk between V. cholerae and host microbes; and the impact of the host immune system on the lethality of V. cholerae infection. These studies suggest that V. cholerae modulates host immune-metabolic responses in the fly and improves Vibrio fitness through competition with intestinal microbes.}, } @article {pmid32038569, year = {2019}, author = {Xu, H and Yang, Y and Tian, Y and Xu, R and Zhong, Y and Liao, H}, title = {Rhizobium Inoculation Drives the Shifting of Rhizosphere Fungal Community in a Host Genotype Dependent Manner.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {3135}, pmid = {32038569}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizosphere microorganisms play important roles in plant health and nutrition, and interactions among plants and microorganisms are important for establishment of root microbiomes. As yet, plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere remain largely mysterious. In this study, rhizosphere fungal community structure was first studied in a field experiment with two soybean cultivars contrasting in nodulation grown in two rhizobium inoculation treatments. Following this, recombinant inbred lines (RILs) contrasting in markers across three QTLs for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) were evaluated for effects of genotype and rhizobium inoculation to the rhizosphere fungal community as assessed using ITS1 amplicon sequencing. The soybean plants tested herein not only hosted rhizosphere fungal communities that were distinct from bulk soils, but also specifically recruited and enriched Cladosporium from bulk soils. The resulting rhizosphere fungal communities varied among soybean genotypes, as well as, between rhizobium inoculation treatments. Besides, Cladosporium were mostly enriched in the rhizospheres of soybean genotypes carrying two or three favorable BNF QTLs, suggesting a close association between soybean traits associated with nodulation and those affecting the rhizosphere fungal community. This inference was bolstered by the observation that introduction of exogenous rhizobia significantly altered rhizosphere fungal communities to the point that these communities could be distinguished based on the combination of soybean genotype and whether exogenous rhizobia was applied. Interestingly, grouping of host plants by BNF QTLs also distinguished fungal community responses to rhizobium inoculation. Taken together, these results reveal that complex cross-kingdom interactions exist among host plants, symbiotic N2 fixing bacteria and fungal communities in the soybean rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid32037723, year = {2020}, author = {Lai, HT and Chiang, CT and Tseng, WK and Chao, TC and Su, Y}, title = {GATA6 enhances the stemness of human colon cancer cells by creating a metabolic symbiosis through upregulating LRH-1 expression.}, journal = {Molecular oncology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1327-1347}, pmid = {32037723}, issn = {1878-0261}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Respiration ; Cell Self Renewal ; Clone Cells ; Colonic Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/*pathology ; GATA6 Transcription Factor/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Phenotype ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Binding ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*genetics/metabolism ; Up-Regulation/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Cancer stem cells play critical roles in tumor initiation, progression, and relapse. Since we previously found that GATA6 promotes the stemness in HCT-116 and HT-29 human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, we aimed to identify the downstream mediator(s) of the stemness-stimulating effect of GATA6 herein. LRH-1 was found as a direct target of GATA6 and its upregulation promoted the stemness in both HCT-116 and HT-29 cells. Subsequently, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) was identified as a direct target of LRH-1 and its expression level and activity were significantly elevated in the LRH-1-overexpressing clones established from the aforementioned two CRC lines. Accordingly, the expression levels of several HIF-1α targets were also markedly increased, resulting in a stronger glycolysis associated with dramatic elevations of the lactate levels in these cells. Strikingly, higher mitochondrial activities were also found in these clones which might be attributed to the increase of PGC-1α stimulated by the lactate uptaken through the upregulated MCT-1. Finally, significant increases in the self-renewal ability, intracellular radical oxygen species levels and mitochondrial mass were detected in the CD133[+] /CD44[+] subpopulations isolated from CRC cells regardless of their LRH-1 expression levels. Together, our results suggest a novel metabolic symbiosis between different colorectal cancer stem cell subpopulations critical for maintaining their mutual stemness.}, } @article {pmid32037451, year = {2020}, author = {Spribille, T and Tagirdzhanova, G and Goyette, S and Tuovinen, V and Case, R and Zandberg, WF}, title = {3D biofilms: in search of the polysaccharides holding together lichen symbioses.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {367}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {32037451}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Biofilms/*growth & development ; Cyanobacteria/chemistry/physiology ; Fungi/chemistry/physiology ; Lichens/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Uronic Acids ; }, abstract = {Stable, long-term interactions between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria, collectively known as lichens, have repeatedly evolved complex architectures with little resemblance to their component parts. Lacking any central scaffold, the shapes they assume are casts of secreted polymers that cement cells into place, determine the angle of phototropic exposure and regulate water relations. A growing body of evidence suggests that many lichen extracellular polymer matrices harbor unicellular, non-photosynthesizing organisms (UNPOs) not traditionally recognized as lichen symbionts. Understanding organismal input and uptake in this layer is key to interpreting the role UNPOs play in lichen biology. Here, we review both polysaccharide composition determined from whole, pulverized lichens and UNPOs reported from lichens to date. Most reported polysaccharides are thought to be structural cell wall components. The composition of the extracellular matrix is not definitively known. Several lines of evidence suggest some acidic polysaccharides have evaded detection in routine analysis of neutral sugars and may be involved in the extracellular matrix. UNPOs reported from lichens include diverse bacteria and yeasts for which secreted polysaccharides play important biological roles. We conclude by proposing testable hypotheses on the role that symbiont give-and-take in this layer could play in determining or modifying lichen symbiotic outcomes.}, } @article {pmid32036550, year = {2020}, author = {Chakraborty, N and Besra, A and Basak, J}, title = {Molecular Cloning of an Amino Acid Permease Gene and Structural Characterization of the Protein in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Molecular biotechnology}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {210-217}, pmid = {32036550}, issn = {1559-0305}, abstract = {Plants synthesize amino acids by collateral metabolic pathways using primary elements carbon and oxygen from air, hydrogen from water in soil and nitrogen from soil. Following synthesis, amino acids are immediately used for metabolism, transient storage or transported to the phloem. Different families of transporters have been identified for import of amino acids into plant cells. The first identified amino acid transporter, amino acid permease 1 (AAP1) in Arabidopsis belongs to a family of eight members and transports acidic, neutral, and basic amino acids. Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with root nodules bacteria. Following fixation, nitrogen is reduced to amino acids and is exported via different amino acid transporters. However, information is lacking about the structure of these important classes of amino acid transporter proteins in plant. We have amplified AAP from Phaseolus vulgaris, an economically important leguminous plant grown all over the world, and sequenced. The sequence has been characterized in silico and a three-dimensional structure of AAP has been predicted and validated. The information obtained not only enhances the knowledge about the structure of an amino acid permease gene in P. vulgaris, but will also help in designing protein-ligand studies using this protein as well.}, } @article {pmid32034954, year = {2020}, author = {Mark, K and Laanisto, L and Bueno, CG and Niinemets, Ü and Keller, C and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Contrasting co-occurrence patterns of photobiont and cystobasidiomycete yeast associated with common epiphytic lichen species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {5}, pages = {1362-1375}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16475}, pmid = {32034954}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The popular dual definition of lichen symbiosis is under question with recent findings of additional microbial partners living within the lichen body. Here we compare the distribution and co-occurrence patterns of lichen photobiont and recently described secondary fungus (Cyphobasidiales yeast) to evaluate their dependency on lichen host fungus (mycobiont). We sequenced the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) strands for mycobiont, photobiont, and yeast from six widespread northern hemisphere epiphytic lichen species collected from 25 sites in Switzerland and Estonia. Interaction network analyses and multivariate analyses were conducted on operational taxonomic units based on ITS sequence data. Our study demonstrates the frequent presence of cystobasidiomycete yeasts in studied lichens and shows that they are much less mycobiont-specific than the photobionts. Individuals of different lichen species growing on the same tree trunk consistently hosted the same or closely related mycobiont-specific Trebouxia lineage over geographic distances while the cystobasidiomycete yeasts were unevenly distributed over the study area - contrasting communities were found between Estonia and Switzerland. These results contradict previous findings of high mycobiont species specificity of Cyphobasidiales yeast at large geographic scales. Our results suggest that the yeast might not be as intimately associated with the symbiosis as is the photobiont.}, } @article {pmid32034827, year = {2020}, author = {Binetruy, F and Buysse, M and Lejarre, Q and Barosi, R and Villa, M and Rahola, N and Paupy, C and Ayala, D and Duron, O}, title = {Microbial community structure reveals instability of nutritional symbiosis during the evolutionary radiation of Amblyomma ticks.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {1016-1029}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15373}, pmid = {32034827}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amblyomma/classification/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification ; *Biological Evolution ; Coxiella ; Francisella ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsia ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions with microbes have facilitated the adaptation of major eukaryotic lineages to restricted diet niches. Hence, ticks with their strictly blood-feeding lifestyle are associated with intracellular bacterial symbionts through an essential B vitamin supplementation. In this study, examination of bacterial diversity in 25 tick species of the genus Amblyomma showed that three intracellular bacteria, Coxiella-like endosymbionts (LE), Francisella-LE and Rickettsia, are remarkably common. No other bacterium is as uniformly present in Amblyomma ticks. Almost all Amblyomma species were found to harbour a nutritive obligate symbiont, Coxiella-LE or Francisella-LE, that is able to synthesize B vitamins. However, despite the co-evolved and obligate nature of these mutualistic interactions, the structure of microbiomes does not mirror the Amblyomma phylogeny, with a clear exclusion pattern between Coxiella-LE and Francisella-LE across tick species. Coxiella-LE, but not Francisella-LE, form evolutionarily stable associations with ticks, commonly leading to co-cladogenesis. We further found evidence for symbiont replacements during the radiation of Amblyomma, with recent, and probably ongoing, invasions by Francisella-LE and subsequent replacements of ancestral Coxiella-LE through transient co-infections. Nutritional symbiosis in Amblyomma ticks is thus not a stable evolutionary state, but instead arises from conflicting origins between unrelated but competing symbionts with similar metabolic capabilities.}, } @article {pmid32034822, year = {2020}, author = {Pandit, A and Adholeya, A and Cahill, D and Brau, L and Kochar, M}, title = {Microbial biofilms in nature: unlocking their potential for agricultural applications.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {129}, number = {2}, pages = {199-211}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14609}, pmid = {32034822}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil environments are dynamic and the plant rhizosphere harbours a phenomenal diversity of micro-organisms which exchange signals and beneficial nutrients. Bipartite beneficial or symbiotic interactions with host roots, such as mycorrhizae and various bacteria, are relatively well characterized. In addition, a tripartite interaction also exists between plant roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and associated bacteria. Bacterial biofilms exist as a sheet of bacterial cells in association with AMF structures, embedded within a self-produced exopolysaccharide matrix. Such biofilms may play important functional roles within these tripartite interactions. However, the details about such interactions in the rhizosphere and their relevant functional relationships have not been elucidated. This review explores the current understanding of naturally occurring microbial biofilms, and their interaction with biotic surfaces, especially AMF. The possible roles played by bacterial biofilms and the potential for their application for a more productive and sustainable agriculture is discussed in this review.}, } @article {pmid32034593, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, Q and Zhao, Z and Hou, H and Bai, Z and Yuan, Y and Su, Z and Wang, G}, title = {The effect of combined ecological remediation (plant microorganism modifier) on rare earth mine wasteland.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {13679-13691}, pmid = {32034593}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; *Lolium ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Due to the vegetation destruction and soil desertification caused by excessive exploitation at Ganzhou ion-type rare earth mine in the mid-1980s, it is essential to carry out ecological remediation. The symbiotic mycorrhiza formed by the developed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) roots infected with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can significantly improve the growth and resistance of plants. In this study, the combination of symbiotic mycorrhiza and soil modifier was used to construct the ryegrass-AMF-soil modifier combined remediation technology, which achieved effective ecological remediation of soil tailings. The orthogonal experiment of soil modifier showed that the most efficient formula for ryegrass biomass, soil organic matter, soil alkaline hydrolysis, soil available phosphorus, and soil pH was 5 g/kg sepiolite, 3 g/kg chicken manure, 2 g/kg humic acid, and 2 g/kg biochar (A4B3C3D3), and chicken manure (B), humic acid (C), and biochar (D) had significant effects on the improvement of ryegrass biomass, soil organic matter, soil alkaline nitrogen, and soil available phosphorus. Sepiolite (A) had a significant improvement in soil pH. Furthermore, the AMF infection results indicated that Glomus moss (G.m.) had higher affinity with ryegrass. The T4 treatment-combined remediation using G.m. inoculation had the most significant effect on ryegrass growth; plant height increased by 39.19% compared with T1 treatment-inoculation using G.m. Under combined remediation, soil pH, organic matter, alkali nitrogen, and effective phosphorus content also significantly improved after combined treatment. Under G.m. inoculation treatment (T4 treatment), the soil nutrient content reached the three criteria of the soil nutrient grading standard.}, } @article {pmid32034269, year = {2020}, author = {Gao, X and Guo, H and Zhang, Q and Guo, H and Zhang, L and Zhang, C and Gou, Z and Liu, Y and Wei, J and Chen, A and Chu, Z and Zeng, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhanced the growth, yield, fiber quality and phosphorus regulation in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2084}, pmid = {32034269}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cotton Fiber/*standards ; Crop Production ; Gossypium/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We previously reported on the strong symbiosis of AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis CD1) with the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) which is grown worldwide. In current study, it was thus investigated in farmland to determine the biological control effect of AMF on phosphorus acquisition and related gene expression regulation, plant growth and development, and a series of agronomic traits associated with yield and fiber quality in cotton. When AMF and cotton were symbiotic, the expression of the specific phosphate transporter family genes and P concentration in the cotton biomass were significantly enhanced. The photosynthesis, growth, boll number per plant and the maturity of the fiber were increased through the symbiosis between cotton and AMF. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant increase in yield for inoculated plots compared with that from the non inoculated controls, with an increase percentage of 28.54%. These findings clearly demonstrate here the benefits of AMF-based inoculation on phosphorus acquisition, growth, seed cotton yield and fiber quality in cotton. Further improvement of these beneficial inoculants on crops will help increase farmers' income all over the world both now and in the future.}, } @article {pmid32034183, year = {2020}, author = {Chang, Y and Tang, CK and Lin, YH and Tsai, CH and Lu, YH and Wu, YL}, title = {Snellenius manilae bracovirus suppresses the host immune system by regulating extracellular adenosine levels in Spodoptera litura.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2096}, pmid = {32034183}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adenosine/*metabolism ; Animals ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Extracellular Space/metabolism ; Immune System/metabolism ; Immune Tolerance ; Larva ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Polydnaviridae/*metabolism ; Spodoptera/immunology/metabolism/parasitology/*virology ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {Sufficient energy supply to the host immune system is important for resisting pathogens. Therefore, during pathogen infection, the host metabolism is reassigned from storage, growth, and development to the immune system. Previous studies in Drosophila melanogaster have demonstrated that systemic metabolic switching upon an immune challenge is activated by extracellular adenosine signaling, modulating carbohydrate mobilization and redistributing energy to the hemocytes. In the present study, we discovered that symbiotic virus (SmBV) of the parasitoid wasp Snellenius manilae is able to down-regulate the extracellular adenosine of its host, Spodoptera litura, to inhibit metabolism switching. The decreased carbohydrate mobilization, glycogenolysis, and ATP synthesis upon infection results in the host being unable to supply energy to its immune system, thus benefitting the development of wasp larvae. When we added adenosine to the infected S. litura larvae, we observed enhanced host immune responses that decreased the pupation rate of S. manilae. Previous studies showed that after pathogen infection, the host activates its adenosine pathway to trigger immune responses. However, our results suggest a different model: we found that in S. manilae, SmBV modulates the host adenosine pathway such that wasp eggs and larvae can evade the host immune response.}, } @article {pmid32033207, year = {2020}, author = {Inomura, K and Follett, CL and Masuda, T and Eichner, M and Prášil, O and Deutsch, C}, title = {Carbon Transfer from the Host Diatom Enables Fast Growth and High Rate of N2 Fixation by Symbiotic Heterocystous Cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32033207}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Diatom-diazotroph associations (DDAs) are symbioses where trichome-forming cyanobacteria support the host diatom with fixed nitrogen through dinitrogen (N2) fixation. It is inferred that the growth of the trichomes is also supported by the host, but the support mechanism has not been fully quantified. Here, we develop a coarse-grained, cellular model of the symbiosis between Hemiaulus and Richelia (one of the major DDAs), which shows that carbon (C) transfer from the diatom enables a faster growth and N2 fixation rate by the trichomes. The model predicts that the rate of N2 fixation is 5.5 times that of the hypothetical case without nitrogen (N) transfer to the host diatom. The model estimates that 25% of fixed C from the host diatom is transferred to the symbiotic trichomes to support the high rate of N2 fixation. In turn, 82% of N fixed by the trichomes ends up in the host. Modeled C fixation from the vegetative cells in the trichomes supports only one-third of their total C needs. Even if we ignore the C cost for N2 fixation and for N transfer to the host, the total C cost of the trichomes is higher than the C supply by their own photosynthesis. Having more trichomes in a single host diatom decreases the demand for N2 fixation per trichome and thus decreases their cost of C. However, even with five trichomes, which is about the highest observed for Hemiaulus and Richelia symbiosis, the model still predicts a significant C transfer from the diatom host. These results help quantitatively explain the observed high rates of growth and N2 fixation in symbiotic trichomes relative to other aquatic diazotrophs.}, } @article {pmid32029033, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, X and Yang, X and Zhang, Z and Lei, M and Zhang, X and Wang, X and Yang, X}, title = {[Analysis of intestinal patients' flora changes with severe pneumonia based on 16SrDNA sequencing technology].}, journal = {Zhonghua wei zhong bing ji jiu yi xue}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {1479-1484}, doi = {10.3760/cma.j.issn.2095-4352.2019.12.009}, pmid = {32029033}, issn = {2095-4352}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Feces ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Pneumonia/*microbiology ; Prospective Studies ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of gut microbiota dysbosis in patients with severe pneumonia using 16SrDNA sequencing.

METHODS: A prospective observational research was conducted. The stool samples retained by natural defecation or enema within 2 days after hospital were collected from 16 patients with severe pneumonia admitted to department of intensive care unit (ICU) of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from June to December in 2018 and 10 persons for physical exam were enrolled as the healthy control group. The 16SrDNA sequencing technology was used to detect fecal flora and analyze biological information.

RESULTS: (1) 1 015 475 effective sequences were obtained from the stool samples from the severe pneumonia group and the healthy control group. Using 16SrDNA method, it was found that the average effective length of the sample sequence was 458.35 bp and the average sequence number of the total samples was 39 056.73. (2) Analysis of α diversity of gut microbiota showed that, compared with the healthy control group, the Ace index, Chao index and the Shannon index of gut microbiota diversity in the severe pneumonia group were significantly decreased [Ace index: 167.23 (143.14, 211.26) vs. 227.71 (214.53, 247.05), Chao index: 152.38 (138.09, 182.54) vs. 228.25 (215.49, 248.95), Shannon index: 2.37 (1.68, 2.89) vs. 3.39 (3.03, 3.63), all P < 0.01], and the Simpson index was significantly increased [0.21 (0.11, 0.33) vs. 0.07 (0.06, 0.12), P < 0.01], which indicated the gut microbiota diversity of the severe pneumonia group was decreased. (3) Analysis of β diversity of gut microbiota, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that gut microbiota structural with the healthy control group was similar, while that in the severe pneumonia group was different. Adonis analysis showed that the structural of the gut microflora revealing significant differences between the severe pneumonia group and the healthy control group (R[2] = 0.061, P = 0.05). (4) Analysis of phylum difference gut microflora showed that, compared with the healthy control group, the proportion of Firmicutes in severe pneumonia group was decreased [27.36 (18.12, 39.28)% vs. 52.25 (38.36, 63.82)%, P = 0.02], the proportions of Actinobacterias, Synergistetes and Fusobacterias were increased [2.30 (0.30, 4.80)% vs. 0.02 (0.00, 0.06)%, 0.36 (< 0.01, 0.57)% vs. < 0.01 (< 0.01, < 0.01)%, 0.01 (< 0.01, 0.08)% vs. < 0.01 (< 0.01, < 0.01)%, all P < 0.05]. (5) Analysis of genus difference gut microflora showed that, the proportions of Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Coprococcus, Lachnospira and Prevotella in the severe pneumonia group were significantly lower than those in healthy control group [0.18 (0.01, 0.25)% vs. 3.40 (0.46, 5.78)%, 0.01 (< 0.01, 0.29)% vs. 2.26 (0.84, 4.86)%, 0.01 (< 0.01, 0.02)% vs. 2.73 (1.87, 5.74)%, 0.02 (< 0.01, 0.07)% vs. 0.80 (0.50, 2.32)%, < 0.01 (< 0.01, < 0.01)% vs. 0.88 (0.33, 2.08)%, 0.02 (< 0.01, 0.31)% vs. 7.74 (0.07, 36.27)%, all P < 0.05]; the proportions of Escherichia and Enterococcus in the severe pneumonia group were higher than those in healthy control group, but there was no difference between the two groups [2.00 (0.57, 10.23)% vs. 1.16 (0.23, 2.68)%, 0.02 (< 0.01, 0.42)% vs. < 0.01 (< 0.01, 0.04)%, both P > 0.05]; the proportions of Fusobacterium and Staphylococcus in severe pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group [0.01 (< 0.01, 0.08)% vs. < 0.01 (< 0.01, < 0.01)%, 0.01 (< 0.01, 0.02)% vs. < 0.01 (< 0.01, < 0.01)%, both P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with severe pneumonia shows that the abundance and diversity decrease, structure of intestinal flora changes, and beneficial symbiotic bacteria decrease and pathogenic bacteria increase, which may be associated with the occurrence and development of severe pneumonia.}, } @article {pmid32028717, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, Y and Liang, J and Zhao, DL and Meng, C and Xu, ZC and Xie, ZH and Zhang, CS}, title = {The Root Nodule Microbiome of Cultivated and Wild Halophytic Legumes Showed Similar Diversity but Distinct Community Structure in Yellow River Delta Saline Soils.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32028717}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between leguminous plants and their nodule microbiome play a key role in sustainable agriculture by facilitating the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen and enhancing plant stress resistance. This study aimed to decipher the root nodule microbiome of two halophytic legumes, Sesbania cannabina and Glycine soja, which grow in saline soils of the Yellow River Delta, China, using PacBio's circular consensus sequencing for full-length bacterial 16S rRNA gene to obtain finer taxonomic information. The cultivated legume Glycine max was used for comparison. We identified 18 bacterial genera and 55 species in nodule samples, which mainly classified to Proteobacteria, and rhizobial genus Ensifer was the predominant group. The three legumes showed similarity in operational taxonomic unit (OTU) diversity but distinction in OTU richness, indicating that they harbor similar bacterial species with different relative contents. The results of principal coordinates analysis and ANOSIM tests indicated that G. soja and G. max have similar nodule bacterial communities, and these communities differ from that of S. cannabina. Wild legumes S. cannabina and G. soja both harbored a higher number of rhizobia, while G. max possessed more non-rhizobial bacteria. These differences could be associated with their adaptability to saline-alkali stress and revealed clues on the nodule endophytes with relative importance of culturable rhizobial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid32027869, year = {2020}, author = {Fuess, LE and Butler, CC and Brandt, ME and Mydlarz, LD}, title = {Investigating the roles of transforming growth factor-beta in immune response of Orbicella faveolata, a scleractinian coral.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {103639}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2020.103639}, pmid = {32027869}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*immunology ; Caribbean Region ; Cells, Cultured ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida ; Immunity ; Immunomodulation ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships range from parasitic to mutualistic, yet all endosymbionts face similar challenges, including evasion of host immunity. Many symbiotic organisms have evolved similar mechanisms to face these challenges, including manipulation of the host's transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) pathway. Here we investigate the TGFβ pathway in scelaractinian corals which are dependent on symbioses with dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae. Using the Caribbean coral, Orbicella faveolata, we explore the effects of enhancement and inhibition of the TGFβ pathway on host gene expression. Following transcriptomic analyses, we demonstrated limited effects of pathway manipulation in absence of immune stimulation. However, manipulation of the TGFβ pathway significantly affects the subsequent ability of host corals to mount an immune response. Enhancement of the TGFβ pathway eliminates transcriptomic signatures of host coral immune response, while inhibition of the pathway maintains the response. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence of an immunomodulatory role for TGFβ in a scelaractinian coral. These findings suggest variation in TGFβ signaling may have implications in the face of increasing disease prevelance. Our results suggest that the TGFβ pathway can modulate tradeoffs between symbiosis and immunity. Further study of links between symbiosis, TGFβ, and immunity is needed to better understand the ecological implications of these findings.}, } @article {pmid32025366, year = {2020}, author = {Baker, LJ and Kemp, PF}, title = {Bacterial inoculations can perturb the growth trajectory of diatoms with an existing microbiome.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8352}, pmid = {32025366}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Inoculation of axenic diatom monocultures with individual bacterial strains has been used effectively to examine the relationship between bacteria and a diatom host. Both beneficial and harmful effects on diatom fitness have been observed. Yet, diatoms commonly host a consortium of bacteria that could influence their response to perturbation by bacterial inoculations. In this study, diatom cultures with an existing microbiome were inoculated with individual bacterial strains. Strains of two genera of bacteria commonly found associated with diatoms (Alteromonas and Marinobacter) were isolated from a culture of the diatom Chaetoceros sp. KBDT20. To evaluate whether bacterial inoculations can impact the growth, peak abundance, or decline of diatoms with an intact microbiome, individual bacterial strains were inoculated into batch cultures of the original host as well as two non-origin diatom hosts (Chaetoceros sp. KBDT32 and Amphiprora sp. KBDT35). Inoculations were repeated under vitamin-replete and vitamin-deficient conditions to assess whether vitamin concentration modulates the impact of bacterial inoculations on the host. The origin Chaetoceros culture was largely unperturbed by bacterial inoculations. In contrast, non-origin hosts experienced long-term impacts on their growth trajectory, and those impacts were found to be dependent on the concentration of vitamins in the growth medium. For the non-origin Chaetoceros, all positive impacts were observed in vitamin-replete conditions and all negative impacts were observed in vitamin-deficient conditions. Amphiprora was only impacted by inoculation with Marinobacter strains in vitamin-deficient conditions, and the effect was negative. Neither individual bacterial strains nor genera resulted in exclusively beneficial nor detrimental impacts, and the magnitude of effect varied among bacterial strains. This study demonstrates that bacterial inoculations can have long-lasting impacts on the growth trajectory of diatoms with an existing microbiome, that this impact can differ even between congeneric diatoms, and that the impact can be significantly modulated by vitamin concentration.}, } @article {pmid32024948, year = {2020}, author = {Barnum, TP and Cheng, Y and Hill, KA and Lucas, LN and Carlson, HK and Coates, JD}, title = {Identification of a parasitic symbiosis between respiratory metabolisms in the biogeochemical chlorine cycle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1194-1206}, pmid = {32024948}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorates ; Chlorides ; Chlorine/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidoreductases ; Perchlorates ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A key step in the chlorine cycle is the reduction of perchlorate (ClO4[-]) and chlorate (ClO3[-]) to chloride by microbial respiratory pathways. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria and chlorate-reducing bacteria differ in that the latter cannot use perchlorate, the most oxidized chlorine compound. However, a recent study identified a bacterium with the chlorate reduction pathway dominating a community provided only perchlorate. Here we confirm a metabolic interaction between perchlorate- and chlorate-reducing bacteria and define its mechanism. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria supported the growth of chlorate-reducing bacteria to up to 90% of total cells in communities and co-cultures. Chlorate-reducing bacteria required the gene for chlorate reductase to grow in co-culture with perchlorate-reducing bacteria, demonstrating that chlorate is responsible for the interaction, not the subsequent intermediates chlorite and oxygen. Modeling of the interaction suggested that cells specialized for chlorate reduction have a competitive advantage for consuming chlorate produced from perchlorate, especially at high concentrations of perchlorate, because perchlorate and chlorate compete for a single enzyme in perchlorate-reducing cells. We conclude that perchlorate-reducing bacteria inadvertently support large populations of chlorate-reducing bacteria in a parasitic relationship through the release of the intermediate chlorate. An implication of these findings is that undetected chlorate-reducing bacteria have likely negatively impacted efforts to bioremediate perchlorate pollution for decades.}, } @article {pmid32024779, year = {2020}, author = {Coffman, KA and Harrell, TC and Burke, GR}, title = {A Mutualistic Poxvirus Exhibits Convergent Evolution with Other Heritable Viruses in Parasitoid Wasps.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {94}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {32024779}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Entomopoxvirinae/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genes, Viral ; Genome, Viral ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Poxviridae/genetics/*physiology ; RNA Interference ; *Symbiosis ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Virus Replication ; Viruses ; Wasp Venoms ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {For insects known as parasitoid wasps, successful development as a parasite results in the death of the host insect. As a result of this lethal interaction, wasps and their hosts have coevolved strategies to gain an advantage in this evolutionary arms race. Although normally considered to be strict pathogens, some viruses have established persistent infections within parasitoid wasp lineages and are beneficial to wasps during parasitism. Heritable associations between viruses and parasitoid wasps have evolved independently multiple times, but most of these systems remain largely understudied with respect to viral origin, transmission and replication strategies of the virus, and interactions between the virus and host insects. Here, we report a detailed characterization of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV), a poxvirus found within the venom gland of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata wasps. Our results show that DlEPV exhibits similar but distinct transmission and replication dynamics compared to those of other parasitoid viral elements, including vertical transmission of the virus within wasps, as well as virus replication in both female wasps and fruit fly hosts. Functional assays demonstrate that DlEPV is highly virulent within fly hosts, and wasps without DlEPV have severely reduced parasitism success compared to those with a typical viral load. Taken together, the data presented in this study illustrate a novel case of beneficial virus evolution, in which a virus of unique origin has undergone convergent evolution with other viral elements associated with parasitoid wasps to provide an analogous function throughout parasitism.IMPORTANCE Viruses are generally considered to be disease-causing agents, but several instances of beneficial viral elements have been identified in insects called parasitoid wasps. These virus-derived entities are passed on through wasp generations and enhance the success of the wasps' parasitic life cycle. Many parasitoid-virus partnerships studied to date exhibit common features among independent cases of this phenomenon, including a mother-to-offspring route of virus transmission, a restricted time and location for virus replication, and a positive effect of virus activity on wasp survival. Our characterization of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus (DlEPV), a poxvirus found in Diachasmimorpha longicaudata parasitoid wasps, represents a novel example of beneficial virus evolution. Here, we show that DlEPV exhibits functional similarities to known parasitoid viral elements that support its comparable role during parasitism. Our results also demonstrate unique differences that suggest DlEPV is more autonomous than other long-term viral associations described in parasitoid wasps.}, } @article {pmid32024568, year = {2020}, author = {Clauss, M and Dittmann, MT and Vendl, C and Hagen, KB and Frei, S and Ortmann, S and Müller, DWH and Hammer, S and Munn, AJ and Schwarm, A and Kreuzer, M}, title = {Review: Comparative methane production in mammalian herbivores.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {14}, number = {S1}, pages = {s113-s123}, doi = {10.1017/S1751731119003161}, pmid = {32024568}, issn = {1751-732X}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Fiber/*metabolism ; Digestion ; Digestive System/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Herbivory ; Mammals/*metabolism ; Methane/*metabolism ; Rumen/metabolism ; Ruminants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Methane (CH4) production is a ubiquitous, apparently unavoidable side effect of fermentative fibre digestion by symbiotic microbiota in mammalian herbivores. Here, a data compilation is presented of in vivo CH4 measurements in individuals of 37 mammalian herbivore species fed forage-only diets, from the literature and from hitherto unpublished measurements. In contrast to previous claims, absolute CH4 emissions scaled linearly to DM intake, and CH4 yields (per DM or gross energy intake) did not vary significantly with body mass. CH4 physiology hence cannot be construed to represent an intrinsic ruminant or herbivore body size limitation. The dataset does not support traditional dichotomies of CH4 emission intensity between ruminants and nonruminants, or between foregut and hindgut fermenters. Several rodent hindgut fermenters and nonruminant foregut fermenters emit CH4 of a magnitude as high as ruminants of similar size, intake level, digesta retention or gut capacity. By contrast, equids, macropods (kangaroos) and rabbits produce few CH4 and have low CH4 : CO2 ratios for their size, intake level, digesta retention or gut capacity, ruling out these factors as explanation for interspecific variation. These findings lead to the conclusion that still unidentified host-specific factors other than digesta retention characteristics, or the presence of rumination or a foregut, influence CH4 production. Measurements of CH4 yield per digested fibre indicate that the amount of CH4 produced during fibre digestion varies not only across but also within species, possibly pointing towards variation in microbiota functionality. Recent findings on the genetic control of microbiome composition, including methanogens, raise the question about the benefits methanogens provide for many (but apparently not to the same extent for all) species, which possibly prevented the evolution of the hosting of low-methanogenic microbiota across mammals.}, } @article {pmid32024420, year = {2020}, author = {Tsai, HJ and Shao, KH and Chan, MT and Cheng, CP and Yeh, KW and Oelmüller, R and Wang, SJ}, title = {Piriformospora indica symbiosis improves water stress tolerance of rice through regulating stomata behavior and ROS scavenging systems.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {1722447}, pmid = {32024420}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Oryza/*metabolism/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Plant Stomata/metabolism/physiology ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Global water shortage seriously threatens rice growth especially in irrigated production areas. Association of plants with beneficial soil microbes is one strategy for plant adaption to environmental stresses. In this study, rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were colonized by the beneficial root-colonizing endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica (P. indica). We demonstrate that grain yield were higher in P. indica-colonized rice plants compared to the uncolonized plants grown in soil. Moreover, P. indica effect on improving water stress tolerance in rice and its physiological mechanism were investigated in a hydroponic culture system. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was applied to the culture solution to conduct the water stress condition. Water stress-induced leaf wilting and impairments in photosynthetic efficiency were diminished in P. indica-colonized plants. Furthermore, P. indica colonization promotes stomata closure and increases the leaf surface temperature under water stress. The malondialdehyde level (as an indicator for oxidative stress) was lower and the reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio was higher in P. indica-colonized and PEG-exposed rice plants compared to the uncolonized plants. Furthermore, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione reductase were up-regulated in inoculated rice seedlings under water stress. In conclusion, P. indica promotes rice performance under water stress by stomata closure and lower oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid32024139, year = {2020}, author = {Bekasiak, A and Dammann, F and Nader, C}, title = {A Rare Cause of a Scrotal Abscess due to the Symbiotic Infection of Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia in an Adult Male.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32024139}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Gardnerella vaginalis (G. vaginalis) is the major bacteria detected in women with bacterial vaginosis (BV). Prevotella bivia (P. bivia) has been demonstrated to show a symbiotic relationship with G. vaginalis. Some men have been shown to be colonized with G. vaginalis in their urogenital or anorectal tracts, however genitourinary infections in males, including balanitis and urethritis, due to this organism appear to be much less common. In this report, we summarize previous cases of men with G. vaginalis infection, and we present a rare and unusual case of a unilateral scrotal abscess caused by G. vaginalis in co-infection with P. bivia.}, } @article {pmid32022309, year = {2020}, author = {Hassing, B and Eaton, CJ and Winter, D and Green, KA and Brandt, U and Savoian, MS and Mesarich, CH and Fleissner, A and Scott, B}, title = {Phosphatidic acid produced by phospholipase D is required for hyphal cell-cell fusion and fungal-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {113}, number = {6}, pages = {1101-1121}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.14480}, pmid = {32022309}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Biosensing Techniques ; Cell Communication ; Cell Fusion ; Epichloe/*growth & development/physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Lolium/*microbiology/physiology ; Neurospora crassa/*growth & development ; Phosphatidic Acids/*metabolism ; Phosphatidylcholines/metabolism ; Phospholipase D/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development ; Superoxides/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Although lipid signaling has been shown to serve crucial roles in mammals and plants, little is known about this process in filamentous fungi. Here we analyze the contribution of phospholipase D (PLD) and its product phosphatidic acid (PA) in hyphal morphogenesis and growth of Epichloë festucae and Neurospora crassa, and in the establishment of a symbiotic interaction between E. festucae and Lolium perenne. Growth of E. festucae and N. crassa PLD deletion strains in axenic culture, and for E. festucae in association with L. perenne, were analyzed by light-, confocal- and electron microscopy. Changes in PA distribution were analyzed in E. festucae using a PA biosensor and the impact of these changes on the endocytic recycling and superoxide production investigated. We found that E. festucae PldB, and the N. crassa ortholog, PLA-7, are required for polarized growth and cell fusion and contribute to ascospore development, whereas PldA/PLA-8 are dispensable for these functions. Exogenous addition of PA rescues the cell-fusion phenotype in E. festucae. PldB is also crucial for E. festucae to establish a symbiotic association with L. perenne. This study identifies a new component of the cell-cell communication and cell fusion signaling network for hyphal morphogenesis and growth of filamentous fungi.}, } @article {pmid32022272, year = {2020}, author = {Perez-Lamarque, B and Selosse, MA and Öpik, M and Morlon, H and Martos, F}, title = {Cheating in arbuscular mycorrhizal mutualism: a network and phylogenetic analysis of mycoheterotrophy.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {6}, pages = {1822-1835}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16474}, pmid = {32022272}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although mutualistic interactions are widespread and essential in ecosystem functioning, the emergence of uncooperative cheaters threatens their stability, unless there are some physiological or ecological mechanisms limiting interactions with cheaters. In this framework, we investigated the patterns of specialization and phylogenetic distribution of mycoheterotrophic cheaters vs noncheating autotrophic plants and their respective fungi, in a global arbuscular mycorrhizal network with> 25 000 interactions. We show that mycoheterotrophy evolved repeatedly among vascular plants, suggesting low phylogenetic constraints for plants. However, mycoheterotrophic plants are significantly more specialized than autotrophic plants, and they tend to be associated with specialized and closely related fungi. These results raise new hypotheses about the mechanisms (e.g. sanctions, or habitat filtering) that actually limit the interaction of mycoheterotrophic plants and their associated fungi with the rest of the autotrophic plants. Beyond mycorrhizal symbiosis, this unprecedented comparison of mycoheterotrophic vs autotrophic plants provides a network and phylogenetic framework to assess the presence of constraints upon cheating emergences in mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid32020599, year = {2020}, author = {Schleuss, PM and Widdig, M and Heintz-Buschart, A and Kirkman, K and Spohn, M}, title = {Interactions of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling promote P acquisition and explain synergistic plant-growth responses.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {e03003}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.3003}, pmid = {32020599}, issn = {1939-9170}, support = {SP1389/6-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; }, mesh = {*Nitrogen/analysis ; *Phosphorus ; Plant Development ; Soil ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {Plant growth is often co-limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Plants might use one element to acquire another (i.e., trading N for P and P for N), which potentially explains synergistic growth responses to NP addition. We studied a 66-yr-old grassland experiment in South Africa that consists of four levels of N addition with and without P addition. We investigated the response of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to N and P addition over the last 66 yr. Further, we tested whether phosphatase activity and plant P uptake depend on N availability, and vice versa, whether non-symbiotic N2 fixation and plant N uptake depend on P availability. We expected that the interaction of both elements promote processes of nutrient acquisition and contribute to synergistic plant growth effects in response to NP addition. We found synergistic N and P co-limitation of ANPP for the period from 1951 to 2017 but the response to N and P addition diminished over time. In 2017, aboveground P stocks, relative rRNA operon abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and soil organic P storage increased with N fertilization rate when N was added with P compared to the treatment in which only N was added. Further, N addition increased phosphatase activity, which indicates that plants used N to acquire P from organic sources. In contrast, aboveground N stocks and non-symbiotic N2 fixation did not change significantly due to P addition. Taken together, our results indicate that trading N for P likely contributes to synergistic plant-growth response. Plants used added N to mobilize and take up P from organic sources, inducing stronger recycling of P and making the plant community less sensitive to external nutrient inputs. The latter could explain why indications of synergistic co-limitation diminished over time, which is usually overlooked in short-term nutrient addition experiments.}, } @article {pmid32020257, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, F and Cale, JA and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Induced Defenses of a Novel Host Tree Affect the Growth and Interactions of Bark Beetle-Vectored Fungi.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {181-190}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-020-01490-0}, pmid = {32020257}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Alberta ; Animals ; Antibiosis ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Ophiostomatales/*growth & development ; Pinus/*immunology/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; *Plant Immunity ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mountain pine beetle (MPB) has recently expanded its host range to the novel jack pine forests in Alberta. Invasion success of MPB may depend on the outcome of interactions between its symbiotic fungus Grosmannia clavigera and Ophiostoma ips, a fungal associate of a potential competitor Ips pini. However, how the quality of jack pine phloem could influence interactions between the fungi is unknown. We investigated whether introduced concentrations of host nitrogen and monoterpenes affect the growth of and interaction between the fungi. Nitrogen concentrations did not affect the growth rate of either fungus. In the absence of monoterpenes, the presence of O. ips promoted G. clavigera growth. Monoterpenes either promoted or inhibited the growth of both fungi, and altered the outcome of species interactions from facilitation to no-effect. Overall, these results suggest that jack pine phloem quality and the presence of a niche-sharing fungus could influence MPB development.}, } @article {pmid32020182, year = {2020}, author = {Asfaw, B and Aserse, AA and Asefa, F and Yli-Halla, M and Lindström, K}, title = {Genetically diverse lentil- and faba bean-nodulating rhizobia are present in soils across Central and Southern Ethiopia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaa015}, pmid = {32020182}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial ; Ethiopia ; *Lens Plant ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Vicia faba ; }, abstract = {In total 196 bacterial isolates were obtained from root nodules of lentil (Lens culinaris) and faba bean (Vicia faba) grown on soil samples collected from 10 different sites in central and southern parts of Ethiopia. All isolates were identified as members of the genus Rhizobium by using recA gene sequence analysis. In the recA phylogenetic tree 195 rhizobial strains were classified into nine genospecies. The phylogeny of symbiotic genes nodC and nifH revealed five and six distinct groups respectively, largely dominated by symbiovar viciae. A multivariate analysis showed that environmental variables of the sampling sites considered in this study had more effect on the distribution and composition of the genospecies than the host legumes of the strains. Twenty representative strains, selected based on their isolation site, host plant and nodC group, were able to nodulate all lentil, faba bean, field pea (Pisum abyssinicum) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) plants in a greenhouse test in axenic conditions. The majority of the rhizobial strains were effective nitrogen-fixing symbionts for all tested legumes, indicating their potential to serve as broad host-range inoculants in agriculture. The present work suggests the presence of taxonomically and symbiotically diverse rhizobial species for legumes in the Viciae tribe in Ethiopia.}, } @article {pmid32020052, year = {2020}, author = {Treerat, P and Redanz, U and Redanz, S and Giacaman, RA and Merritt, J and Kreth, J}, title = {Synergism between Corynebacterium and Streptococcus sanguinis reveals new interactions between oral commensals.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1154-1169}, pmid = {32020052}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {DE021726//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)/International ; DE018893//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)/International ; R01 DE022083/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DE021726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE018893/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE029492/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE021726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R35 DE028252/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Corynebacterium/*physiology ; Microbiota ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus sanguis/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The oral microbiome engages in a diverse array of highly sophisticated ecological interactions that are crucial for maintaining symbiosis with the host. Streptococci and corynebacteria are among the most abundant oral commensals and their interactions are critical for normal biofilm development. In this study, we discovered that Streptococcus sanguinis specifically responds to the presence of Corynebacterium durum by dramatically altering its chain morphology and improving its overall fitness. By employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, specific fatty acids were identified in C. durum supernatants that are responsible for the observed effect. Membrane vesicles (MVs) containing these fatty acids were isolated from C. durum supernatants and were able to replicate the chain morphology phenotype in S. sanguinis, suggesting MV as a mediator of interspecies interactions. Furthermore, S. sanguinis responds to C. durum lipids by decreasing the expression of key FASII genes involved in fatty acid synthesis. Several of these genes are also essential for the chain elongation phenotype, which implicates a regulatory connection between lipid metabolism and chain elongation. In addition, C. durum was found to affect the growth, cell aggregation, and phagocytosis of S. sanguinis, revealing a complex association of these species that likely supports oral commensal colonization and survival.}, } @article {pmid32019799, year = {2020}, author = {Speare, L and Smith, S and Salvato, F and Kleiner, M and Septer, AN}, title = {Environmental Viscosity Modulates Interbacterial Killing during Habitat Transition.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {32019799}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Proteomics ; Seawater ; *Symbiosis ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; Viscosity ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria use diverse strategies to compete for host colonization sites. However, little is known about the environmental cues that modulate interbacterial competition as they transition between free-living and host-associated lifestyles. We used the mutualistic relationship between Eupyrmna scolopes squid and Vibrio fischeri bacteria to investigate how intraspecific competition is regulated as symbionts move from the seawater to a host-like environment. We recently reported that V. fischeri uses a type VI secretion system (T6SS) for intraspecific competition during host colonization. Here, we investigated how environmental viscosity impacts T6SS-mediated competition by using a liquid hydrogel medium that mimics the viscous host environment. Our data demonstrate that although the T6SS is functionally inactive when cells are grown under low-viscosity liquid conditions similar to those found in seawater, exposure to a host-like high-viscosity hydrogel enhances T6SS expression and sheath formation, activates T6SS-mediated killing in as little as 30 min, and promotes the coaggregation of competing genotypes. Finally, the use of mass spectrometry-based proteomics revealed insights into how cells may prepare for T6SS competition during this habitat transition. These findings, which establish the use of a new hydrogel culture condition for studying T6SS interactions, indicate that V. fischeri rapidly responds to the physical environment to activate the competitive mechanisms used during host colonization.IMPORTANCE Bacteria often engage in interference competition to gain access to an ecological niche, such as a host. However, little is known about how the physical environment experienced by free-living or host-associated bacteria influences such competition. We used the bioluminescent squid symbiont Vibrio fischeri to study how environmental viscosity impacts bacterial competition. Our results suggest that upon transition from a planktonic environment to a host-like environment, V. fischeri cells activate their type VI secretion system, a contact-dependent interbacterial nanoweapon, to eliminate natural competitors. This work shows that competitor cells form aggregates under host-like conditions, thereby facilitating the contact required for killing, and reveals how V. fischeri regulates a key competitive mechanism in response to the physical environment.}, } @article {pmid32019466, year = {2020}, author = {Titus, BM and Laroche, R and Rodríguez, E and Wirshing, H and Meyer, CP}, title = {Host identity and symbiotic association affects the taxonomic and functional diversity of the clownfish-hosting sea anemone microbiome.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {20190738}, pmid = {32019466}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; *Microbiota ; *Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All eukaryotic life engages in symbioses with a diverse community of bacteria that are essential for performing basic life functions. In many cases, eukaryotic organisms form additional symbioses with other macroscopic eukaryotes. The tightly linked physical interactions that characterize many macroscopic symbioses create opportunities for microbial transfer, which likely affects the diversity and function of individual microbiomes, and may ultimately lead to microbiome convergence between distantly related taxa. Here, we sequence the microbiomes of five species of clownfish-hosting sea anemones that co-occur on coral reefs in the Maldives. We test the importance of evolutionary history, clownfish symbiont association, and habitat on the taxonomic and predicted functional diversity of the microbiome, and explore signals of microbiome convergence in anemone taxa that have evolved symbioses with clownfishes independently. Our data indicate that host identity and clownfish association shapes the majority of the taxonomic diversity of the clownfish-hosting sea anemone microbiome, and predicted functional microbial diversity analyses demonstrate a convergence among host anemone microbiomes, which reflect increased functional diversity over individuals that do not host clownfishes. Further, we identify upregulated predicted microbial functions that are likely affected by clownfish presence. Taken together our study potentially reveals an even deeper metabolic coupling between clownfishes and their host anemones, and what could be a previously unknown mutualistic benefit to anemones that are symbiotic with clownfishes.}, } @article {pmid32017783, year = {2020}, author = {van den Elzen, E and Bengtsson, F and Fritz, C and Rydin, H and Lamers, LPM}, title = {Variation in symbiotic N2 fixation rates among Sphagnum mosses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {e0228383}, pmid = {32017783}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Forests ; Models, Theoretical ; Nitrogen/*analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/*analysis ; Photosynthesis ; Sphagnopsida/classification/*growth & development/metabolism ; Sweden ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen (N) fixation is an important process supporting primary production in ecosystems, especially in those where N availability is limiting growth, such as peatlands and boreal forests. In many peatlands, peat mosses (genus Sphagnum) are the prime ecosystem engineers, and like feather mosses in boreal forests, they are associated with a diverse community of diazotrophs (N2-fixing microorganisms) that live in and on their tissue. The large variation in N2 fixation rates reported in literature remains, however, to be explained. To assess the potential roles of habitat (including nutrient concentration) and species traits (in particular litter decomposability and photosynthetic capacity) on the variability in N2 fixation rates, we compared rates associated with various Sphagnum moss species in a bog, the surrounding forest and a fen in Sweden. We found appreciable variation in N2 fixation rates among moss species and habitats, and showed that both species and habitat conditions strongly influenced N2 fixation. We here show that higher decomposition rates, as explained by lower levels of decomposition-inhibiting compounds, and higher phosphorous (P) levels, are related with higher diazotrophic activity. Combining our findings with those of other studies, we propose a conceptual model in which both species-specific traits of mosses (as related to the trade-off between rapid photosynthesis and resistance to decomposition) and P availability, explain N2 fixation rates. This is expected to result in a tight coupling between P and N cycling in peatlands.}, } @article {pmid32017263, year = {2020}, author = {Howells, EJ and Bauman, AG and Vaughan, GO and Hume, BCC and Voolstra, CR and Burt, JA}, title = {Corals in the hottest reefs in the world exhibit symbiont fidelity not flexibility.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {899-911}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15372}, pmid = {32017263}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Hot Temperature ; Indian Ocean ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals are at risk of extinction from ocean warming. While some corals can enhance their thermal limits by associating with dinoflagellate photosymbionts of superior stress tolerance, the extent to which symbiont communities will reorganize under increased warming pressure remains unclear. Here we show that corals in the hottest reefs in the world in the Persian Gulf maintain associations with the same symbionts across 1.5 years despite extreme seasonal warming and acute heat stress (≥35°C). Persian Gulf corals predominantly associated with Cladocopium (clade C) and most also hosted Symbiodinium (clade A) and/or Durusdinium (clade D). This is in contrast to the neighbouring and milder Oman Sea, where corals associated with Durusdinium and only a minority hosted background levels of Cladocopium. During acute heat stress, the higher prevalence of Symbiodinium and Durusdinium in bleached versus nonbleached Persian Gulf corals indicates that genotypes of these background genera did not confer bleaching resistance. Within symbiont genera, the majority of ITS2 rDNA type profiles were unique to their respective coral species, confirming the existence of host-specific symbiont lineages. Notably, further differentiation among Persian Gulf sites demonstrates that symbiont populations are either isolated or specialized over tens to hundreds of kilometres. Thermal tolerance across coral species was associated with the prevalence of a single ITS2 intragenomic sequence variant (C3gulf), definitive of the Cladocopium thermophilum group. The abundance of C3gulf was highest in bleaching-resistant corals and at warmer sites, potentially indicating a specific symbiont genotype (or set of genotypes) that may play a role in thermal tolerance that warrants further investigation. Together, our findings indicate that co-evolution of host-Symbiodiniaceae partnerships favours fidelity rather than flexibility in extreme environments and under future warming.}, } @article {pmid32016431, year = {2020}, author = {Komaitis, F and Kalliampakou, K and Botou, M and Nikolaidis, M and Kalloniati, C and Skliros, D and Du, B and Rennenberg, H and Amoutzias, GD and Frillingos, S and Flemetakis, E}, title = {Molecular and physiological characterization of the monosaccharide transporters gene family in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {10}, pages = {3110-3125}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa055}, pmid = {32016431}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Monosaccharides ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Monosaccharide transporters (MSTs) represent key components of the carbon transport and partitioning mechanisms in plants, mediating the cell-to-cell and long-distance distribution of a wide variety of monosaccharides. In this study, we performed a thorough structural, molecular, and physiological characterization of the monosaccharide transporter gene family in the model legume Medicago truncatula. The complete set of MST family members was identified with a novel bioinformatic approach. Prolonged darkness was used as a test condition to identify the relevant transcriptomic and metabolic responses combining MST transcript profiling and metabolomic analysis. Our results suggest that MSTs play a pivotal role in the efficient partitioning and utilization of sugars, and possibly in the mechanisms of carbon remobilization in nodules upon photosynthate-limiting conditions, as nodules are forced to acquire a new role as a source of both C and N.}, } @article {pmid32015496, year = {2020}, author = {Geier, B and Sogin, EM and Michellod, D and Janda, M and Kompauer, M and Spengler, B and Dubilier, N and Liebeke, M}, title = {Spatial metabolomics of in situ host-microbe interactions at the micrometre scale.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {498-510}, pmid = {32015496}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Spatial metabolomics describes the location and chemistry of small molecules involved in metabolic phenotypes, defence molecules and chemical interactions in natural communities. Most current techniques are unable to spatially link the genotype and metabolic phenotype of microorganisms in situ at a scale relevant to microbial interactions. Here, we present a spatial metabolomics pipeline (metaFISH) that combines fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) microscopy and high-resolution atmospheric-pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry to image host-microbe symbioses and their metabolic interactions. The metaFISH pipeline aligns and integrates metabolite and fluorescent images at the micrometre scale to provide a spatial assignment of host and symbiont metabolites on the same tissue section. To illustrate the advantages of metaFISH, we mapped the spatial metabolome of a deep-sea mussel and its intracellular symbiotic bacteria at the scale of individual epithelial host cells. Our analytical pipeline revealed metabolic adaptations of the epithelial cells to the intracellular symbionts and variation in metabolic phenotypes within a single symbiont 16S rRNA phylotype, and enabled the discovery of specialized metabolites from the host-microbe interface. metaFISH provides a culture-independent approach to link metabolic phenotypes to community members in situ and is a powerful tool for microbiologists across fields.}, } @article {pmid32015104, year = {2020}, author = {Bian, R and Andika, IB and Pang, T and Lian, Z and Wei, S and Niu, E and Wu, Y and Kondo, H and Liu, X and Sun, L}, title = {Facilitative and synergistic interactions between fungal and plant viruses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {7}, pages = {3779-3788}, pmid = {32015104}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Fungal Viruses/*physiology ; Fusarium/physiology/*virology ; Plant Diseases/*virology ; Plant Viruses/*physiology ; Tobacco/*virology ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants and fungi are closely associated through parasitic or symbiotic relationships in which bidirectional exchanges of cellular contents occur. Recently, a plant virus was shown to be transmitted from a plant to a fungus, but it is unknown whether fungal viruses can also cross host barriers and spread to plants. In this study, we investigated the infectivity of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1, family Hypoviridae), a capsidless, positive-sense (+), single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) fungal virus in a model plant, Nicotiana tabacum CHV1 replicated in mechanically inoculated leaves but did not spread systemically, but coinoculation with an unrelated plant (+)ssRNA virus, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, family Virgaviridae), or other plant RNA viruses, enabled CHV1 to systemically infect the plant. Likewise, CHV1 systemically infected transgenic plants expressing the TMV movement protein, and coinfection with TMV further enhanced CHV1 accumulation in these plants. Conversely, CHV1 infection increased TMV accumulation when TMV was introduced into a plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium graminearum In the in planta F. graminearum inoculation experiment, we demonstrated that TMV infection of either the plant or the fungus enabled the horizontal transfer of CHV1 from the fungus to the plant, whereas CHV1 infection enhanced fungal acquisition of TMV. Our results demonstrate two-way facilitative interactions between the plant and fungal viruses that promote cross-kingdom virus infections and suggest the presence of plant-fungal-mediated routes for dissemination of fungal and plant viruses in nature.}, } @article {pmid32014020, year = {2020}, author = {Woodhams, DC and Bletz, MC and Becker, CG and Bender, HA and Buitrago-Rosas, D and Diebboll, H and Huynh, R and Kearns, PJ and Kueneman, J and Kurosawa, E and LaBumbard, BC and Lyons, C and McNally, K and Schliep, K and Shankar, N and Tokash-Peters, AG and Vences, M and Whetstone, R}, title = {Host-associated microbiomes are predicted by immune system complexity and climate.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {32014020}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Climate ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Host-associated microbiomes, the microorganisms occurring inside and on host surfaces, influence evolutionary, immunological, and ecological processes. Interactions between host and microbiome affect metabolism and contribute to host adaptation to changing environments. Meta-analyses of host-associated bacterial communities have the potential to elucidate global-scale patterns of microbial community structure and function. It is possible that host surface-associated (external) microbiomes respond more strongly to variations in environmental factors, whereas internal microbiomes are more tightly linked to host factors.

RESULTS: Here, we use the dataset from the Earth Microbiome Project and accumulate data from 50 additional studies totaling 654 host species and over 15,000 samples to examine global-scale patterns of bacterial diversity and function. We analyze microbiomes from non-captive hosts sampled from natural habitats and find patterns with bioclimate and geophysical factors, as well as land use, host phylogeny, and trophic level/diet. Specifically, external microbiomes are best explained by variations in mean daily temperature range and precipitation seasonality. In contrast, internal microbiomes are best explained by host factors such as phylogeny/immune complexity and trophic level/diet, plus climate.

CONCLUSIONS: Internal microbiomes are predominantly associated with top-down effects, while climatic factors are stronger determinants of microbiomes on host external surfaces. Host immunity may act on microbiome diversity through top-down regulation analogous to predators in non-microbial ecosystems. Noting gaps in geographic and host sampling, this combined dataset represents a global baseline available for interrogation by future microbial ecology studies.}, } @article {pmid32013543, year = {2020}, author = {Wiles, MR and Little, CS and Mrozek, JP}, title = {Revised methodology for the examinations of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners: Impact on institutions, faculty, and students.}, journal = {The Journal of chiropractic education}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {68-70}, pmid = {32013543}, issn = {1042-5055}, abstract = {For over 50 years, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) has administered pre-licensure examinations to chiropractic students and graduates. During this time, the testing process has been continually refined and improved, consistent with the evolving science and practices of standardized testing. NBCE test results are provided to chiropractic program leaders who use these data to improve their curricula as part of their own ongoing efforts to refine and improve the academic programs. Finally, the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) requires accredited chiropractic programs to report their NBCE scores to ensure that benchmarks set by the CCE are met. With this symbiotic relationship between the NBCE, CCE, and chiropractic programs (as well as state licensing authorities), it is very important that these groups collaborate and communicate with transparency and diplomacy. In particular, the chiropractic program leaders-and their students as the end users-are vitally interested in monitoring changes at the NBCE and CCE levels that may impact their programs. Recent changes in testing methodology for the NBCE examinations need to be understood and monitored to ensure that they result in their intended outcome, which is greater validity of the testing process. This commentary reflects the views and concerns of 3 chiropractic educational leaders and is intended to facilitate further discussion among chiropractic program leaders toward strengthening the aforementioned symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid32013250, year = {2020}, author = {Qi, W and Lu, C and Huang, H and Zhang, W and Song, S and Liu, B}, title = {(+)-Usnic Acid Induces ROS-dependent Apoptosis via Inhibition of Mitochondria Respiratory Chain Complexes and Nrf2 Expression in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {32013250}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Benzofurans/chemistry/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Mitochondria/*drug effects/metabolism ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Paclitaxel/pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; }, abstract = {Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has a poor prognosis, in part due to poor therapeutic response and limited therapeutic alternatives. Lichens are symbiotic organisms, producing a variety of substances with multiple biological activities. (+)-Usnic acid, an important biologically active metabolite of lichens, has been shown to have high anti-cancer activity at low doses. However, there have been no reports regarding the effect of (+)-usnic acid on LUSC cells. This study found that (+)-usnic acid reduced viability and induced apoptosis in LUSC cells by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. (+)-Usnic acid induced mitochondria-derived ROS production via inhibition of complex I and complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC). Interestingly, the elimination of mitochondrial ROS by Mito-TEMPOL only partially reversed the effect of (+)-usnic acid on cellular ROS production. Further study showed that (+)-usnic acid also induced ROS production via reducing Nrf2 stability through disruption of the PI3K/Akt pathway. The in vitro and in vivo xenograft studies showed that combined treatment of (+)-usnic acid and paclitaxel synergistically suppressed LUSC cells. In conclusion, this study indicates that (+)-usnic acid induces apoptosis of LUSC cells through ROS accumulation, probably via disrupting the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) and the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway. Therefore, although clinical use of (+)-usnic acid will be limited due to toxicity issues, derivatives thereof may turn out as promising anticancer candidates for adjuvant treatment of LUSC.}, } @article {pmid32013030, year = {2020}, author = {Eleftherianos, I and Sachar, U}, title = {Thioester-containing Proteins in the Drosophila melanogaster Immune Response against the Pathogen Photorhabdus.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {32013030}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster forms a magnificent model for interpreting conserved host innate immune signaling and functional processes in response to microbial assaults. In the broad research field of host-microbe interactions, model hosts are used in conjunction with a variety of pathogenic microorganisms to disentangle host immune system activities and microbial pathogenicity strategies. The pathogen Photorhabdus is considered an established model for analyzing bacterial virulence and symbiosis due to its unique life cycle that extends between two invertebrate hosts: an insect and a parasitic nematode. In recent years, particular focus has been given to the mechanistic participation of the D. melanogaster thioester-containing proteins (TEPs) in the overall immune capacity of the fly upon response against the pathogen Photorhabdus alone or in combination with its specific nematode vector Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. The original role of certain TEPs in the insect innate immune machinery was linked to the antibacterial and antiparasite reaction of the mosquito malaria vector Anopheles gambiae; however, revamped interest in the immune competence of these molecules has recently emerged from the D. melanogaster-Photorhabdus infection system. Here, we review the latest findings on this topic with the expectation that such information will refine our understanding of the evolutionary immune role of TEPs in host immune surveillance.}, } @article {pmid32012377, year = {2020}, author = {Vlachos, C and Henning, MAS and Gaitanis, G and Faergemann, J and Saunte, DM}, title = {Critical synthesis of available data in Malassezia folliculitis and a systematic review of treatments.}, journal = {Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV}, volume = {34}, number = {8}, pages = {1672-1683}, doi = {10.1111/jdv.16253}, pmid = {32012377}, issn = {1468-3083}, mesh = {*Acne Vulgaris ; Adult ; *Dermatomycoses/diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Folliculitis/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; *Malassezia ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; }, abstract = {Folliculitis is an inflammatory process involving the hair follicle, frequently attributed to infectious causes. Malassezia, an established symbiotic yeast that can evolve to a skin pathogen with opportunistic attributes, is a common source of folliculitis, especially when intrinsic (e.g. immunosuppression) or extrinsic (high ambient temperature and humidity, clothing) impact on the hair follicle and the overlying skin microenvironment. Our aim was to critically review the pathophysiology and clinical characteristics of Malassezia folliculitis, to describe laboratory methods that facilitate diagnosis and to systematically review treatment options. Malassezia folliculitis manifests as a pruritic, follicular papulopustular eruption distributed on the upper trunk. It commonly affects young to middle-aged adults and immunosuppressed individuals. Inclusion into the differential diagnosis of folliculitis is regularly oversighted, and the prerequisite-targeted diagnostic procedures are not always performed. Sampling by tape stripping or comedo extractor and microscopic examination of the sample usually identifies the monopolar budding yeast cells of Malassezia without the presence of hyphae. However, confirmation of the diagnosis with anatomical association with the hair follicle is performed by biopsy. For systematic review of therapies, PubMed was searched using the search string "(malassezia" [MeSH Terms] OR "malassezia" [All Fields] OR pityrosporum [All Fields]) AND "folliculitis" [MeSH Terms] and EMBASE was searched using the search string: 'malassezia folliculitis.mp OR pityrosporum folliculitis.mp'. In total, 28 full-length studies were assessed for eligibility and 21 were selected for inclusion in therapy evaluation. Conclusively Malassezia folliculitis should be considered in the assessment of truncal, follicular skin lesions. Patient's history, comorbidities and clinical presentation are usually indicative, but microscopically and histological examination is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Adequate samples obtained with comedo extractor and serial sections in the histological material are critical for proper diagnosis. Therapy should include systemic or topical measures for the control of the inflammation, as well as the prevention of recurrences.}, } @article {pmid32012309, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, NN and Zou, H and Lin, XY and Pan, Q and Zhang, WQ and Zhang, JH and Wei, GH and Shangguan, ZP and Chen, J}, title = {Hydrogen sulfide and rhizobia synergistically regulate nitrogen (N) assimilation and remobilization during N deficiency-induced senescence in soybean.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {1130-1147}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13736}, pmid = {32012309}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Aging/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hydrogen Sulfide/*metabolism ; Leghemoglobin/metabolism ; Nitrogen/deficiency/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/physiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) is emerging as an important signalling molecule that regulates plant growth and abiotic stress responses. However, the roles of H2 S in symbiotic nitrogen (N) assimilation and remobilization have not been characterized. Therefore, we examined how H2 S influences the soybean (Glycine max)/rhizobia interaction in terms of symbiotic N fixation and mobilization during N deficiency-induced senescence. H2 S enhanced biomass accumulation and delayed leaf senescence through effects on nodule numbers, leaf chlorophyll contents, leaf N resorption efficiency, and the N contents in different tissues. Moreover, grain numbers and yield were regulated by H2 S and rhizobia, together with N accumulation in the organs, and N use efficiency. The synergistic effects of H2 S and rhizobia were also demonstrated by effects on the enzyme activities, protein abundances, and gene expressions associated with N metabolism, and senescence-associated genes (SAGs) expression in soybeans grown under conditions of N deficiency. Taken together, these results show that H2 S and rhizobia accelerate N assimilation and remobilization by regulation of the expression of SAGs during N deficiency-induced senescence. Thus, H2 S enhances the vegetative and reproductive growth of soybean, presumably through interactions with rhizobia under conditions of N deficiency.}, } @article {pmid32012282, year = {2020}, author = {Jacott, CN and Charpentier, M and Murray, JD and Ridout, CJ}, title = {Mildew Locus O facilitates colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in angiosperms.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {2}, pages = {343-351}, pmid = {32012282}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/J014524/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L010305/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011216/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P007112/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P012574/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota ; Fungi ; *Hordeum/genetics ; *Magnoliopsida ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Loss of barley Mildew Resistance Locus O (MLO) is known to confer durable and robust resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis), a biotrophic fungal leaf pathogen. Based on the increased expression of MLO in mycorrhizal roots and its presence in a clade of the MLO family that is specific to mycorrhizal-host species, we investigated the potential role of MLO in arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions. Using mutants from barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and Medicago truncatula, we demonstrate a role for MLO in colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Early mycorrhizal colonization was reduced in mlo mutants of barley, wheat, and M. truncatula, and this was accompanied by a pronounced decrease in the expression of many of the key genes required for intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These findings show that clade IV MLOs are involved in the establishment of symbiotic associations with beneficial fungi, a role that has been appropriated by powdery mildew.}, } @article {pmid32010946, year = {2020}, author = {Gundel, PE and Sun, P and Charlton, ND and Young, CA and Miller, TEX and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Simulated folivory increases vertical transmission of fungal endophytes that deter herbivores and alter tolerance to herbivory in Poa autumnalis.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {125}, number = {6}, pages = {981-991}, pmid = {32010946}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Herbivory ; *Poa ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The processes that maintain variation in the prevalence of symbioses within host populations are not well understood. While the fitness benefits of symbiosis have clearly been shown to drive changes in symbiont prevalence, the rate of transmission has been less well studied. Many grasses host symbiotic fungi (Epichloë spp.), which can be transmitted vertically to seeds or horizontally via spores. These symbionts may protect plants against herbivores by producing alkaloids or by increasing tolerance to damage. Therefore, herbivory may be a key ecological factor that alters symbiont prevalence within host populations by affecting either symbiont benefits to host fitness or the symbiont transmission rate. Here, we addressed the following questions: Does symbiont presence modulate plant tolerance to herbivory? Does folivory increase symbiont vertical transmission to seeds or hyphal density in seedlings? Do plants with symbiont horizontal transmission have lower rates of vertical transmission than plants lacking horizontal transmission?

METHODS: We studied the grass Poa autumnalis and its symbiotic fungi in the genus Epichloë. We measured plant fitness (survival, growth, reproduction) and symbiont transmission to seeds following simulated folivory in a 3-year common garden experiment and surveyed natural populations that varied in mode of symbiont transmission.

KEY RESULTS: Poa autumnalis hosted two Epichloë taxa, an undescribed vertically transmitted Epichloë sp. PauTG-1 and E. typhina subsp. poae with both vertical and horizontal transmission. Simulated folivory reduced plant survival, but endophyte presence increased tolerance to damage and boosted fitness. Folivory increased vertical transmission and hyphal density within seedlings, suggesting induced protection for progeny of damaged plants. Across natural populations, the prevalence of vertical transmission did not correlate with symbiont prevalence or differ with mode of transmission.

CONCLUSIONS: Herbivory not only mediated the reproductive fitness benefits of symbiosis, but also promoted symbiosis prevalence by increasing vertical transmission of the fungus to the next generation. Our results reveal a new mechanism by which herbivores could influence the prevalence of microbial symbionts in host populations.}, } @article {pmid32010460, year = {2019}, author = {Ye, L and Karunarathna, SC and Li, H and Xu, J and Hyde, KD and Mortimer, PE}, title = {A Survey of Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Agaricales), Including a New Species, from a Subtropical Forest in Xishuangbanna, China.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {391-400}, pmid = {32010460}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {A survey of mushrooms was conducted in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China, in the rainy season (May to October) of 2012, 2013, and 2014, during which 16 specimens of Termitomyces were collected. Preliminary macro- and micro-characteristics, together with ITS sequence data, showed that four of the specimens belonged to a new species (Termitomyces fragilis), while the other 12 belonged to T. aurantiacus, T. eurrhizus, T. globules, T. microcarpus, and T. bulborhizus. In this paper, T. fragilis is introduced as a species new to science based on morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses. Macro- and micro- morphological descriptions, color photographs and line drawings of the new species, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of the new species are provided. T. fragilis is then compared with other closely related taxa in the genus Termitomyces.}, } @article {pmid32010078, year = {2019}, author = {Deja-Sikora, E and Kowalczyk, A and Trejgell, A and Szmidt-Jaworska, A and Baum, C and Mercy, L and Hrynkiewicz, K}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Changes the Impact of Potato Virus Y on Growth and Stress Tolerance of Solanum tuberosum L. in vitro.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2971}, pmid = {32010078}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Under the field conditions crop plants interact with diverse microorganisms. These include beneficial (symbiotic) and phytopathogenic microorganisms, which jointly affect growth and productivity of the plants. In last decades, production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) suffers from increased incidence of potato virus Y (PVY), which is one of most important potato pests. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are common symbionts of potato, however the impact of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the progression of PVY-induced disease is scarcely known. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effect of joint PVY infection and mycorrhizal colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis on growth traits of the host potato plant (cv. Pirol). The tested PVY isolate belonged to N-Wilga strain group, which is considered to be predominant in Europe and many other parts of the world. The viral particles were concentrated in the leaves, but decreased the root growth. Furthermore, the infection with PVY evoked prolonged oxidative stress reflected by increased level of endogenous H2O2. AMF alleviated oxidative stress in PVY-infected host plants by a substantial decrease in the level of shoot- and root-derived H2O2, but still caused asymptomatic growth depression. It was assumed that mycorrhizal symbiosis of potato might mask infection by PVY in field observations.}, } @article {pmid32010077, year = {2019}, author = {Cedrola, F and Senra, MVX and Rossi, MF and Fregulia, P and D'Agosto, M and Dias, RJP}, title = {Trichostomatid Ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Trichostomatia) Systematics and Diversity: Past, Present, and Future.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2967}, pmid = {32010077}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tracts of most herbivorous mammals are colonized by symbiotic ciliates of the subclass Trichostomatia, which form a well-supported monophyletic group, currently composed by ∼1,000 species, 129 genera, and 21 families, distributed into three orders, Entodiniomorphida, Macropodiniida, and Vestibuliferida. In recent years, trichostomatid ciliates have been playing a part in many relevant functional studies, such as those focusing in host feeding efficiency optimization and those investigating their role in the gastrointestinal methanogenesis, as many trichostomatids are known to establish endosymbiotic associations with methanogenic Archaea. However, the systematics of trichostomatids presents many inconsistencies. Here, we stress the importance of more taxonomic works, to improve classification schemes of this group of organisms, preparing the ground to proper development of such relevant applied works. We will present a historical review of the systematics of the subclass Trichostomatia highlighting taxonomic problems and inconsistencies. Further on, we will discuss possible solutions to these issues and propose future directions to leverage our comprehension about taxonomy and evolution of these symbiotic microeukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid32010072, year = {2019}, author = {Benucci, GMN and Burnard, D and Shepherd, LD and Bonito, G and Munkacsi, AB}, title = {Evidence for Co-evolutionary History of Early Diverging Lycopodiaceae Plants With Fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2944}, pmid = {32010072}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lycopods are tracheophytes in the Kingdom Plantae and represent one of the oldest lineages of living vascular plants. Symbiotic interactions between these plants with fungi and bacteria, including fine root endophytes in Endogonales, have been hypothesized to have helped early diverging plant lineages colonize land. However, attempts to study the lycopod rhizobiome in its natural environment are still limited. In this study, we used Illumina amplicon sequencing to characterize fungal and bacterial diversity in nine Lycopodiaceae (club moss) species collected in New Zealand. This was done with generic fungal ITS rDNA primers, as well as Endogonales- and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-selective primer sets targeting the 18S rDNA, and generic bacterial primers targeting the V4 region of the 16S rDNA. We found that the Lycopodiaceae rhizobiome was comprised of an unexpected high frequency of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota coincident with a low abundance of Endogonales and Glomerales. The distribution and abundance of Endogonales varied with host lycopod, and included a novel taxon as well as a single operational taxonomic unit (OTU) that was detected across all plant species. The Lycopodiaceae species with the greatest number and also most unique OTUs was Phlegmariurus varius, while the plant species that shared the most fungal OTUs were Lycopodiella fastigiatum and Lycopodium scariosum. The bacterial OTU distribution was generally not consistent with fungal OTU distribution. For example, community dissimilarity analysis revealed strong concordance between the evolutionary histories of host plants with the fungal community but not with the bacterial community, indicating that Lycopodiaceae have evolved specific relationships with their fungal symbionts. Notably, nearly 16% of the ITS rDNA fungal diversity detected in the Lycopodiaceae rhizobiome remained poorly classified, indicating there is much plant-associated fungal diversity left to describe in New Zealand.}, } @article {pmid32008757, year = {2020}, author = {Murphy, CL and Youssef, NH and Hartson, S and Elshahed, MS}, title = {The extraradical proteins of Rhizophagus irregularis: A shotgun proteomics approach.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {124}, number = {2}, pages = {91-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.12.001}, pmid = {32008757}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Cell Communication ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Fungi/genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/genetics/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mycelium/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Somatic Embryogenesis Techniques/methods ; Plants/microbiology ; *Proteome/genetics/metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota) form obligate symbiotic associations with the roots of most terrestrial plants. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms enabling AMF propagation and AMF-host interaction is currently incomplete. Analysis of AMF proteomes could yield important insights and generate hypotheses on the nature and mechanism of AMF-plant symbiosis. Here, we examined the extraradical mycelium proteomic profile of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis grown on Ri T-DNA transformed Chicory roots in a root organ culture setting. Our analysis detected 529 different peptides that mapped to 474 translated proteins in the R. irregularis genome. R. irregularis proteome was characterized by a high proportion of proteins (9.9 % of total, 21.4 % of proteins with functional prediction) mediating a wide range of signal transduction processes, e.g. Rho1 and Bmh2, Ca-signaling (calmodulin, and Ca channel protein), mTOR signaling (MAP3K7, and MAPKAP1), and phosphatidate signaling (phospholipase D1/2) proteins, as well as members of the Ras signaling pathway. In addition, the proteome contained an unusually large proportion (53.6 %) of hypothetical proteins, the majority of which (85.8 %) were Glomeromycota-specific. Forty-eight proteins were predicted to be surface/membrane associated, including multiple hypothetical proteins of yet-unrecognized functions. However, no evidence for the overproduction of specific proteins, previously implicated in promoting soil health and aggregation was obtained. Finally, the comparison of R. irregularis proteome to previously published AMF proteomes identified a core set of pathways and processes involved in AMF growth. We conclude that R. irregularis growth on chicory roots requires the activation of a wide range of signal transduction pathways, the secretion of multiple novel hitherto unrecognized Glomeromycota-specific proteins, and the expression of a wide array of surface-membrane associated proteins for cross kingdom cell-to-cell communications.}, } @article {pmid32008087, year = {2020}, author = {Zachar, I and Boza, G}, title = {Endosymbiosis before eukaryotes: mitochondrial establishment in protoeukaryotes.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {77}, number = {18}, pages = {3503-3523}, pmid = {32008087}, issn = {1420-9071}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases/metabolism ; Plastids ; Prokaryotic Cells/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis and organellogenesis are virtually unknown among prokaryotes. The single presumed example is the endosymbiogenetic origin of mitochondria, which is hidden behind the event horizon of the last eukaryotic common ancestor. While eukaryotes are monophyletic, it is unlikely that during billions of years, there were no other prokaryote-prokaryote endosymbioses as symbiosis is extremely common among prokaryotes, e.g., in biofilms. Therefore, it is even more precarious to draw conclusions about potentially existing (or once existing) prokaryotic endosymbioses based on a single example. It is yet unknown if the bacterial endosymbiont was captured by a prokaryote or by a (proto-)eukaryote, and if the process of internalization was parasitic infection, slow engulfment, or phagocytosis. In this review, we accordingly explore multiple mechanisms and processes that could drive the evolution of unicellular microbial symbioses with a special attention to prokaryote-prokaryote interactions and to the mitochondrion, possibly the single prokaryotic endosymbiosis that turned out to be a major evolutionary transition. We investigate the ecology and evolutionary stability of inter-species microbial interactions based on dependence, physical proximity, cost-benefit budget, and the types of benefits, investments, and controls. We identify challenges that had to be conquered for the mitochondrial host to establish a stable eukaryotic lineage. Any assumption about the initial interaction of the mitochondrial ancestor and its contemporary host based solely on their modern relationship is rather perilous. As a result, we warn against assuming an initial mutually beneficial interaction based on modern mitochondria-host cooperation. This assumption is twice fallacious: (i) endosymbioses are known to evolve from exploitative interactions and (ii) cooperativity does not necessarily lead to stable mutualism. We point out that the lack of evidence so far on the evolution of endosymbiosis from mutual syntrophy supports the idea that mitochondria emerged from an exploitative (parasitic or phagotrophic) interaction rather than from syntrophy.}, } @article {pmid32007899, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, Y and Gong, L and Mu, X and Zhang, Z and Zhou, T and Zhang, S}, title = {Characterization and co-occurrence of microbial community in epiphytic biofilms and surface sediments of wetlands with submersed macrophytes.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {715}, number = {}, pages = {136950}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136950}, pmid = {32007899}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Eukaryota ; *Microbiota ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Microbes in epiphytic biofilms and surface sediments play crucial roles in the biogeochemical cycles in wetlands. However, little is known about the compositions of microbial community in wetlands dominated with submersed macrophytes. In this study, bacterial and eukaryotic community in epiphytic biofilms and surface sediments were investigated in wetlands with artificial plants and Myriophyllum verticillatum from September (~27 °C) to January (~9 °C). A total of 30 (including 13 bacterial and 17 eukaryotic) and 34 (including 14 bacterial and 20 eukaryotic) phyla were detected in epiphytic biofilms and sediments, respectively. Microbial community in epiphytic biofilms shifted with decreasing temperature, and biofilms on M. verticillatum were generally similar to those on artificial plants. Though the OTUs and Shannon values were significantly higher in sediments than epiphytic biofilms (p < 0.05), numbers of strongly correlated edges detected in biofilms (64 nodes with 182 edges) were at least three times of those in sediments (40 nodes with 57 edges) as revealed by co-occurrence networks analysis (|r| > 0.7, p < 0.05). These data suggest that there were complex interactions among microbes in epiphytic biofilms than sediments. Positive relationships among microbes revealed the predation, symbiosis, parasitism relationships and the collective degradation of organic matter, while negative ones may be ascribed to their different lifestyles. These results highlight that artificial plants play a similar role as submersed macrophytes as microbial carriers and can be potentially used an alternative substitutes to submersed macrophytes in wetlands.}, } @article {pmid32005980, year = {2020}, author = {Caruso, R and Lo, BC and Núñez, G}, title = {Host-microbiota interactions in inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {411-426}, pmid = {32005980}, issn = {1474-1741}, support = {P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; //CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology/physiology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Host Microbial Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine is colonized by trillions of microorganisms that have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship. The presence of large numbers of symbionts near the epithelial surface of the intestine poses an enormous challenge to the host because it must avoid the activation of harmful inflammatory responses to the microorganisms while preserving its ability to mount robust immune responses to invading pathogens. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease, there is a breakdown of the multiple strategies that the immune system has evolved to promote the separation between symbiotic microorganisms and the intestinal epithelium and the effective killing of penetrant microorganisms, while suppressing the activation of inappropriate T cell responses to resident microorganisms. Understanding the complex interactions between intestinal microorganisms and the host may provide crucial insight into the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease as well as new avenues to prevent and treat the disease.}, } @article {pmid32005934, year = {2020}, author = {Elhady, A and Hallmann, J and Heuer, H}, title = {Symbiosis of soybean with nitrogen fixing bacteria affected by root lesion nematodes in a density-dependent manner.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {1619}, pmid = {32005934}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Nematoda/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Early maturing varieties of soybean have a high yield potential in Europe, where the main biotic threat to soybean cultivation are root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.). Nitrogen fixation in root nodules by highly efficient inoculants of Bradyrhizobium japonicum is an incentive to grow soybean in low-input rotation systems. We investigated density-dependent effects of Pratylenchus penetrans on nitrogen fixation by co-inoculated B. japonicum. Less than 130 inoculated nematodes affected the number and weight of nodules, the density of viable bacteroids in nodules, and nitrogen fixation measured as concentration of ureides in leaves. With more inoculated nematodes, the percentage that invaded the roots increased, and adverse effects on the symbiosis accelerated, leading to non-functional nodules at 4,000 and more nematodes. When P. penetrans invaded roots that had fully established nodules, growth of nodules, density of bacteroids, and nitrogen fixation were affected but not the number of nodules. In contrast, nodulation of already infested roots resulted in a high number of small nodules with decreased densities of bacteroids and nitrogen fixation. P. penetrans invaded and damaged the nodules locally, but they also significantly affected the nodule symbiosis by a plant-mediated mechanism, as shown in an experiment with split-root systems.}, } @article {pmid32005490, year = {2020}, author = {Rejili, M and Ruiz-Argueso, T and Mars, M}, title = {Novel putative Mesorhizobium and Ensifer genomospecies together with a novel symbiovar psoraleae nodulate legumes of agronomic interest grown in Tunisia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {126067}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126067}, pmid = {32005490}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/classification/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Forty rhizobial strains were isolated from Lotus creticus, L. pusillus and Bituminaria bituminosa endemic to Tunisia, and they belonged to the Mesorhizobium and Ensifer genera based on 16S rDNA sequence phylogeny. According to the concatenated recA and glnII sequence-based phylogeny, four Bituminaria isolates Pb5, Pb12, Pb8 and Pb17 formed a monophyletic group with Mesorhizobium chacoense ICMP14587[T], whereas four other strains Pb1, Pb6, Pb13 and Pb15 formed two separate lineages within the Ensifer genus. Among the L. pusillus strains, Lpus9 and Lpus10 showed a 96% identical nucleotide with Ensifer meliloti CCBAU83493[T]; whereas six other strains could belong to previously undescribed Mesorhizobium and Ensifer species. For L. creticus strains, Lcus37, Lcus39 and Lcus44 showed 98% sequence identity with Ensifer aridi JNVU TP6, and Lcus42 shared a 96% identical nucleotide with Ensifer meliloti CCBAU83493[T]; whereas another four strains were divergent from all the described Ensifer and Mesorhizobium species. The analysis of the nodC gene-based phylogeny identified four symbiovar groups; Mesorhizobium sp. sv. anthyllidis (Lpus3 and Lpus11 from L. pusillus, Lcus43 from L. creticus), Ensifer medicae sv. meliloti (four strains from L. creticus and two strains from L. pusillus), E. meliloti sv. meliloti (four from L. creticus, four from L. pusillus and four from B. bituminosa). In addition, four B. bituminosa strains (Pb5, Pb8, Pb12, and Pb17) displayed a distinctive nodC sequence distant from those of other symbiovars described to date. According to their symbiotic gene sequences and host range, the B. bituminosa symbionts (Pb5, Pb8, Pb12 and Pb17) would represent a new symbiovar of M. chacoense for which sv. psoraleae is proposed.}, } @article {pmid32005388, year = {2020}, author = {Schulze, J and Liese, R and Ballesteros, G and Casieri, L and Salinas, G and Cabeza, RA}, title = {Ammonium acts systemically while nitrate exerts an additional local effect on Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {292}, number = {}, pages = {110383}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110383}, pmid = {32005388}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) has a high energetic cost for legume plants; legumes thus reduce SNF when soil N is available. The present study aimed to increase our understanding regarding the impacts of the two principal forms of available N in soils (ammonium and nitrate) on SNF. We continuously measured the SNF of Medicago truncatula under controlled conditions. This permitted nodule sampling for comparative transcriptome profiling at points connected to the nodules' reaction following ammonium or nitrate applications. The N component of both ions systemically induced a rhythmic pattern of SNF, while the activity in control plants remained constant. This rhythmic activity reduced the per-day SNF. The nitrate ion had additional local effects; the more pronounced were a strong downregulation of leghaemoglobin, nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides and nodule-enhanced nicotianamine synthase (neNAS). The neNAS has proven to be of importance for nodule functioning. Although other physiological impacts of nitrate on nodules were observed (e.g. nitrosylation of leghaemoglobin), the main effect was a rapid ion-specific and organ-specific change in gene expression levels. Contrastingly, during the first hours after ammonium applications, the transcriptome remained virtually unaffected. Therefore, nitrate-induced genes could be key for increasing the nitrate tolerance of SNF.}, } @article {pmid32005041, year = {2020}, author = {Bin, C and Fangming, Y and Zhi, J}, title = {Mogroside V-producing Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Siraitia grosvenorii.}, journal = {Planta medica}, volume = {86}, number = {13-14}, pages = {983-987}, doi = {10.1055/a-1102-1168}, pmid = {32005041}, issn = {1439-0221}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; *Cucurbitaceae ; Fungi ; Triterpenes/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi can produce beneficial active components during symbiosis with host plants. Fifteen purified endophytic fungal strains were isolated and screened from root, stem, leaf, and fruit of the Chinese medicine food homologous plant Siraitia grosvenorii. These strains were fermented, and then the fermented solution was extracted using acetonitrile. The extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrum (MS), using standard mogroside V as control. The results showed that strain LHG-F5 and strain LHG-L4 could produce mogroside V with output of 3.814 µg/mL and 2.675 µg/mL, respectively. By morphological observation together with similarity of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence by Clustan X method, LHG-F5 and LHG-L4 were classified as Diaporthe angelica and Fusarium solani, respectively.}, } @article {pmid32003030, year = {2020}, author = {Berger, A and Guinand, S and Boscari, A and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Medicago truncatula Phytoglobin 1.1 controls symbiotic nodulation and nitrogen fixation via the regulation of nitric oxide concentration.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {1}, pages = {84-98}, pmid = {32003030}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In legumes, phytoglobins (Phytogbs) are known to regulate nitric oxide (NO) during early phase of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis and to buffer oxygen in functioning nodules. However, their expression profile and respective role in NO control at each stage of the symbiosis remain little-known. We first surveyed the Phytogb genes occurring in Medicago truncatula genome. We analyzed their expression pattern and NO production from inoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti up to 8 wk post-inoculation. Finally, using overexpression and silencing strategy, we addressed the role of the Phytogb1.1-NO couple in the symbiosis. Three peaks of Phytogb expression and NO production were detected during the symbiotic process. NO upregulates Phytogbs1 expression and downregulates Lbs and Phytogbs3 ones. Phytogb1.1 silencing and overexpression experiments reveal that Phytogb1.1-NO couple controls the progression of the symbiosis: high NO concentration promotes defense responses and nodular organogenesis, whereas low NO promotes the infection process and nodular development. Both NO excess and deficiency provoke a 30% inhibition of nodule establishment. In mature nodules, Phytogb1.1 regulates NO to limit its toxic effects while allowing the functioning of Phytogb-NO respiration to maintain the energetic state. This work highlights the regulatory role played by Phytogb1.1-NO couple in the successive stages of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid32002604, year = {2020}, author = {Sun, Y and Liu, Y and Liu, X and Dang, X and Dong, X and Xie, Z}, title = {Azorhizobium caulinodans c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase Chp1 involved in motility, EPS production, and nodulation of the host plant.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {6}, pages = {2715-2729}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-020-10404-6}, pmid = {32002604}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases/genetics/*metabolism ; Azorhizobium caulinodans/drug effects/*enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Movement ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Sesbania/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Establishment of the rhizobia-legume symbiosis is usually accompanied by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by the legume host at the site of infection, a process detrimental to rhizobia. In Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, deletion of chp1, a gene encoding c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase, led to increased resistance against H2O2 and to elevated nodulation efficiency on its legume host Sesbania rostrata. Three domains were identified in the Chp1: a PAS domain, a degenerate GGDEF domain, and an EAL domain. An in vitro enzymatic activity assay showed that the degenerate GGDEF domain of Chp1 did not have diguanylate cyclase activity. The phosphodiesterase activity of Chp1 was attributed to its EAL domain which could hydrolyse c-di-GMP into pGpG. The PAS domain functioned as a regulatory domain by sensing oxygen. Deletion of Chp1 resulted in increased intracellular c-di-GMP level, decreased motility, increased aggregation, and increased EPS (extracellular polysaccharide) production. H2O2-sensitivity assay showed that increased EPS production could provide ORS571 with resistance against H2O2. Thus, the elevated nodulation efficiency of the ∆chp1 mutant could be correlated with a protective role of EPS in the nodulation process. These data suggest that c-di-GMP may modulate the A. caulinodans-S. rostrata nodulation process by regulating the production of EPS which could protect rhizobia against H2O2.}, } @article {pmid32002336, year = {2020}, author = {Fitt, W}, title = {Florida manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris actively consume the sponge Chondrilla caribensis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8443}, pmid = {32002336}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris Linnaeus 1758) actively selects and consumes the "chicken-liver" sponge Chondrilla caribensis. Manatees ate over 10% of C. caribensis on a sample dock, mostly from pylons that received no direct sunlight. Since manatees reportedly eat mostly seagrasses and algae, it was thought that the chlorophyll-a content of the symbiotic cyanobacteria in C. caribensis might be correlated to the amount eaten; however the correlation was not significant (P > 0.05). C. caribensis has variable chemical defenses and round spherasters (spicules), but these do not appear to be effective deterrents to predation by manatees. This is the first direct evidence that manatees actively seek out and consume a sponge.}, } @article {pmid32001655, year = {2020}, author = {Leonard, SP and Powell, JE and Perutka, J and Geng, P and Heckmann, LC and Horak, RD and Davies, BW and Ellington, AD and Barrick, JE and Moran, NA}, title = {Engineered symbionts activate honey bee immunity and limit pathogens.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {367}, number = {6477}, pages = {573-576}, pmid = {32001655}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*immunology/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; Neisseriaceae/*genetics/*physiology ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis ; Varroidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Honey bees are essential pollinators threatened by colony losses linked to the spread of parasites and pathogens. Here, we report a new approach for manipulating bee gene expression and protecting bee health. We engineered a symbiotic bee gut bacterium, Snodgrassella alvi, to induce eukaryotic RNA interference (RNAi) immune responses. We show that engineered S. alvi can stably recolonize bees and produce double-stranded RNA to activate RNAi and repress host gene expression, thereby altering bee physiology, behavior, and growth. We used this approach to improve bee survival after a viral challenge, and we show that engineered S. alvi can kill parasitic Varroa mites by triggering the mite RNAi response. This symbiont-mediated RNAi approach is a tool for studying bee functional genomics and potentially for safeguarding bee health.}, } @article {pmid32001184, year = {2020}, author = {Dube, M and Geraghty, S and Bull, A and Arini, KN and Adnyani, S and Noviani, NW and Budiani, NN and Mahayati, NMD and Utarini, GAE and Sriasih, NGK}, title = {Shared learning on an international clinical placement: Promoting symbiotic midwifery practice knowledge.}, journal = {Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {e558-e566}, doi = {10.1016/j.wombi.2019.11.006}, pmid = {32001184}, issn = {1878-1799}, mesh = {Adult ; Australia ; *Culturally Competent Care ; Female ; Humans ; Indonesia ; *Interdisciplinary Placement ; Learning ; Midwifery/*education ; Northern Territory ; Nurse Midwives/*psychology ; Pregnancy ; Qualitative Research ; Students, Nursing/psychology ; }, abstract = {AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of shared learning between Australian and Balinese midwifery students during a two-week clinical placement in Bali Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Cultural safety in midwifery is a key concept that is underpinned by the provision of holistic quality midwifery care to all women. Therefore, culturally safe midwifery care identifies, protects and promotes women's individual cultures and is a key concept that is fostered in midwifery education. To educate culturally safe midwives, international placements to resource limited countries have become more common within midwifery education programs.

METHODS: This study used a qualitative research design with a convenience sampling design. The participants were enrolled in midwifery courses in a University in the Northern Territory of Australia (n=9), a Balinese private midwifery school (n=4) and a Balinese public midwifery school (n=4). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

FINDINGS: The findings were categorised into major themes under the headings of "Learning together despite differences"; "Cultural differences", "Communication, Resources", and "Recommendations for future placements".

CONCLUSION: This study provides a valuable insight into how shared learning increases students' midwifery knowledge and is fundamental in understanding cultural differences that could be applied to students' clinical midwifery practice.}, } @article {pmid32000331, year = {2020}, author = {Xiao, D and Liu, X and Yang, R and Tan, Y and Zhang, W and He, X and Xu, Z and Wang, K}, title = {Nitrogen fertilizer and Amorpha fruticosa leguminous shrub diversely affect the diazotroph communities in an artificial forage grassland.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {711}, number = {}, pages = {134967}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134967}, pmid = {32000331}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {China ; Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae ; Fertilizers ; Grassland ; Nitrogen ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Soil diazotrophs have been known to be essential in biological nitrogen (N) fixation, which contributes to the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. However, there remains an inadequacy of research on the effects of different N inputs from N fertilization and from symbiotic N fixation associated with legumes on the diazotroph communities in agricultural ecosystems. Hence, we investigated the variations in diazotroph abundance and community composition as well as the soil properties with different N inputs in the Guimu-1 hybrid elephant grass cultivation on karst soils in China. We conducted six different N treatments: control, Amorpha fruticosa planting at a spacing of 1.5 × 2 m (AFD1), A. fruticosa planting at a spacing of 1 × 2 m (AFD2), N fertilization (N), A. fruticosa planting at a spacing of 1.5 × 2 m with N fertilization (AFD1N), and A. fruticosa planting at a spacing of 1 × 2 m with N fertilization (AFD2N). Our results showed that the interaction between sampling time and N fertilization significantly affected the diazotroph abundance. In July, the diazotroph abundance significantly decreased in the N fertilization treatments: N, AFD1N, and AFD2N, compared to that in the control. The richness and Chao1 estimator of diazotrophs significantly increased in AFD2N and AFD1 correspondingly in December and July, relative to those in the control. Co-occurrence networks showed species-species interactions with high negative correlations that occurred more in the control than in the N input plots. The N input from N fertilization and legume planting directly increased the ammonium N and nitrate N and consequently affected the dissolved organic N and pH of the soil, thereby altering the diazotroph abundance and richness. Our findings demonstrated that both N fertilization and legumes could reduce the interspecific competition among diazotroph species by providing greater N availability in the forage grass.}, } @article {pmid31998265, year = {2019}, author = {Lian, CA and Yan, GY and Huang, JM and Danchin, A and Wang, Y and He, LS}, title = {Genomic Characterization of a Novel Gut Symbiont From the Hadal Snailfish.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2978}, pmid = {31998265}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Hadal trenches are characterized by not only high hydrostatic pressure but also scarcity of nutrients and high diversity of viruses. Snailfishes, as the dominant vertebrates, play an important role in hadal ecology. Although studies have suggested possible reasons for the tolerance of hadal snailfish to high hydrostatic pressure, little is known about the strategies employed by hadal snailfish to cope with low-nutrient and virus-rich conditions. In this study, the gut microbiota of hadal snailfish was investigated. A novel bacterium named "Candidatus Mycoplasma liparidae" was dominant in the guts of three snailfish individuals from both the Mariana and Yap trenches. A draft genome of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae" was successfully assembled with 97.8% completeness by hybrid sequencing. A set of genes encoding riboflavin biosynthesis proteins and a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system was present in the genome of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae," which was unusual for Mycoplasma. The functional repertoire of the "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae" genome is likely set to help the host in riboflavin supplementation and to provide protection against viruses via a super CRISPR system. Remarkably, genes encoding common virulence factors usually exist in Tenericutes pathogens but were lacking in the genome of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae." All of these characteristics supported an essential role of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae" in snailfish living in the hadal zone. Our findings provide further insights into symbiotic associations in the hadal biosphere.}, } @article {pmid31998252, year = {2019}, author = {Salas, A and Tortosa, G and Hidalgo-García, A and Delgado, A and Bedmar, EJ and Richardson, DJ and Gates, AJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {The Hemoglobin Bjgb From Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Controls NO Homeostasis in Soybean Nodules to Protect Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2915}, pmid = {31998252}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Legume-rhizobia symbiotic associations have beneficial effects on food security and nutrition, health and climate change. Hypoxia induced by flooding produces nitric oxide (NO) in nodules from soybean plants cultivated in nitrate-containing soils. As NO is a strong inhibitor of nitrogenase expression and activity, this negatively impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean and limits crop production. In Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, denitrification is the main process involved in NO formation by soybean flooded nodules. In addition to denitrification, nitrate assimilation is another source of NO in free-living B. diazoefficiens cells and a single domain hemoglobin (Bjgb) has been shown to have a role in NO detoxification during nitrate-dependent growth. However, the involvement of Bjgb in protecting nitrogenase against NO in soybean nodules remains unclear. In this work, we have investigated the effect of inoculation of soybean plants with a bjgb mutant on biological nitrogen fixation. By analyzing the proportion of N in shoots derived from N2-fixation using the [15]N isotope dilution technique, we found that plants inoculated with the bjgb mutant strain had higher tolerance to flooding than those inoculated with the parental strain. Similarly, reduction of nitrogenase activity and nifH expression by flooding was less pronounced in bjgb than in WT nodules. These beneficial effects are probably due to the reduction of NO accumulation in bjgb flooded nodules compared to the wild-type nodules. This decrease is caused by an induction of expression and activity of the denitrifying NO reductase enzyme in bjgb bacteroids. As bjgb deficiency promotes NO-tolerance, the negative effect of NO on nitrogenase is partially prevented and thus demonstrates that inoculation of soybean plants with the B. diazoefficiens bjgb mutant confers protection of symbiotic nitrogen fixation during flooding.}, } @article {pmid31998246, year = {2019}, author = {Rodrigues, DR and Winson, E and Wilson, KM and Briggs, WN and Duff, AF and Chasser, KM and Bielke, LR}, title = {Intestinal Pioneer Colonizers as Drivers of Ileal Microbial Composition and Diversity of Broiler Chickens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2858}, pmid = {31998246}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Given that recent advances in metagenomics have highlighted the importance of intestinal microbes for poultry health, there has been a corresponding search for early manipulation strategies of intestinal microbiota in order to advance immune system development and optimize functional properties of growth. In this study, we used the in ovo technique as an experimental model to address how early bacterial intestinal colonization could affect the development and establishment of the mature ileal microbiota. Inoculations containing one of the following: 0.2 mL of 0.9% sterile saline (S), approximately 10[2] cells of Citrobacter freundii (CF), Citrobacter species (C2) or lactic acid bacteria mixture (L) were administered via in ovo into the amnion. Results showed that Enterobacteriaceae abundance was negatively correlated with aging, although its high population at day of hatch affected the microbiota composition, delaying mature microbiota establishment. L treatment increased colonization of butyrate-producing bacteria by 3 and 10 days, and segmented filamentous bacteria in the lower ileum by 10 days. On the other hand, L-probiotic decreased the population of Enterococcaceae. In addition, L and C2 microbial communities were less diverse at 10 than 3 days of age in the upper ileum. Importantly, these findings provide a valuable resource for a potential study model for interactions between microbial colonization and associated immune responses. In conclusion, our analysis demonstrates that intestinal pioneer colonizers play a critical role in driving the course of microbial community composition and diversity over time, in which early life exposure to L-based probiotic supported selection alongside greater colonization of symbiotic populations in the ileum of young broilers.}, } @article {pmid31997547, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, HL and Lei, T and Wang, XW and Maruthi, MN and Zhu, DT and Cameron, SL and Rao, Q and Shan, HW and Colvin, J and Liu, YQ and Liu, SS}, title = {A newly recorded Rickettsia of the Torix group is a recent intruder and an endosymbiont in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {1207-1221}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14927}, pmid = {31997547}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {517000-X91609//China Postdoctoral Science Special Foundation/International ; 517000-X91502//Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation/International ; OPP1058938/GATES/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Asia ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Male ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Rickettsia is found widely in phytophagous insects and often exerts profound effects on the phenotype and fitness of its hosts. Here, we decrypt a new, independent, phylogenetically ancient Torix Rickettsia endosymbiont found constantly in a laboratory line of an economically important insect Asia II 7, a putative species of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly complex (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and occasionally in field whitefly populations. This new Rickettsia distributes throughout the body of its whitefly host. Genetically, compared to Rickettsia_bellii_MEAM1 found earlier in whiteflies, the new Rickettsia species has more gene families and pathways, which may be important factors in shaping specific symbiotic relationships. We propose the name 'Candidatus Rickettsia_Torix_Bemisia_tabaci (RiTBt)' for this new endosymbiont associated with whiteflies. Comparative genomic analyses indicate that RiTBi may be a relatively recent intruder in whiteflies given its low abundance in the field and relatively larger genome compared to Rickettsia_bellii_MEAM1.}, } @article {pmid31997460, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, B and Yang, J and Xu, C and Yi, L and Wan, C}, title = {Dynamic expression of intra- and extra-cellular proteome and the influence of epiphytic bacteria for Nostoc flagelliforme in response to rehydration.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {1251-1264}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14931}, pmid = {31997460}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {CCNUU18ZDPY05//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/International ; 21804048//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Fluid Therapy ; Microbiota ; Nostoc/*physiology ; *Proteome/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nostoc flagelliforme is well known for its strong ecological adaptability in inhabiting desert biological soil crusts. However, the mechanism of its recovery from quiescent to active state after prolonged dormancy remains poorly characterized. Especially how exoproteome be related to the adaptive strategies and participate in the microalgae-bacteria interaction. In the present work, we analysed the intra- and extra-cellular proteome of N. flagelliforme over a complete rehydration period both in sterilization and in natural condition for the first time. The protein expression profile for N. flagelliforme has more fluctuations during the first 1 h after wetting but been relatively steady after fully hydrated. According to the extracellular proteomic datasets, we found a dynamic secretion of various extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and membrane transport proteins, which were related to peptidoglycan digestion and nutrient exchange respectively. Two-hundred and thirteen differentially expressed proteins induced by sterilization also reflect variation in nutrient exchange and highlight symbiosis between N. flagelliforme and surrounding bacteria. We also identified 112 phosphopeptides and 217 phosphorylation site of 95 protein of hydrated N. flagelliforme. The time course datasets we present here will be a reference for understanding the molecular processes underlying N. flagelliforme resuscitation and its potential role in microbial community diversification and soil desertification control.}, } @article {pmid31997356, year = {2020}, author = {Skiada, V and Avramidou, M and Bonfante, P and Genre, A and Papadopoulou, KK}, title = {An endophytic Fusarium-legume association is partially dependent on the common symbiotic signalling pathway.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {5}, pages = {1429-1444}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16457}, pmid = {31997356}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Fusarium/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes interact with a wide range of microbes in their root systems, ranging from beneficial symbionts to pathogens. Symbiotic rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal glomeromycetes trigger a so-called common symbiotic signalling pathway (CSSP), including the induction of nuclear calcium spiking in the root epidermis. By combining gene expression analysis, mutant phenotypic screening and analysis of nuclear calcium elevations, we demonstrate that recognition of an endophytic Fusarium solani strain K (FsK) in model legumes is initiated via perception of chitooligosaccharidic molecules and is, at least partially, CSSP-dependent. FsK induced the expression of Lysin-motif receptors for chitin-based molecules, CSSP members and CSSP-dependent genes in Lotus japonicus. In LysM and CSSP mutant/RNAi lines, root penetration and fungal intraradical progression was either stimulated or limited, whereas FsK exudates triggered CSSP-dependent nuclear calcium spiking, in epidermal cells of Medicago truncatula root organ cultures. Our results corroborate CSSP being involved in the perception of signals from other microbes beyond the restricted group of symbiotic interactions sensu stricto.}, } @article {pmid31996939, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, Z and Liu, W and Shao, S and Wang, ET and Li, Y}, title = {Diverse Genomic Backgrounds Vs. Highly Conserved Symbiotic Genes in Sesbania-Nodulating Bacteria: Shaping of the Rhizobial Community by Host and Soil Properties.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {158-168}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-020-01489-7}, pmid = {31996939}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genotype ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Aiming at investigating the overall diversity, biogeography, and symbiosis gene evolutionary history of the Sesbania cannabina-nodulating rhizobia in China, a total of 874 rhizobial isolates originating from the root nodules of this plant grown at different sites were characterized and compared with those of some reference strains. All of the S. cannabina-nodulating rhizobia were classified into 16 (geno) species, including seven novel genospecies in the genera Ensifer, Rhizobium, Neorhizobium, and Agrobacterium, with Ensifer sesbaniae and Neorhizobium huautlense as the dominant and universal species. Ten of these species were found to nodulate other leguminous hosts or to lack nodulating abilities and were defined as symbiovar sesbania. Biogeographic patterns were observed, for which pH, TN, AK, and AP were the main determinants. The effects of pH were opposite to those of TN and AK, while AP presented effects independently of TN, AK, and pH. Symbiotic genes of these rhizobia showed a common origin, but nodA evolved faster than nifH. Point mutation is the main driving force in the evolution of both nodA and nifH, and lateral transfer of symbiotic genes might play an important role in the formation of diverse S. cannabina-nodulating rhizobial species. S. cannabina only nodulates with Sesbania rhizobia, demonstrating its severe selection on rhizobial symbiosis genes. Soil pH and physiochemical characteristics could affect rhizobial survival and competitive nodulation. This study provides insight into the community shifts and evolution of rhizobia in relation to their host and soil environments.}, } @article {pmid31996499, year = {2020}, author = {Yuan, K and Reckling, M and Ramirez, MDA and Djedidi, S and Fukuhara, I and Ohyama, T and Yokoyama, T and Bellingrath-Kimura, SD and Halwani, M and Egamberdieva, D and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N}, title = {Characterization of Rhizobia for the Improvement of Soybean Cultivation at Cold Conditions in Central Europe.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31996499}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Cold Temperature ; Germany ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In central Europe, soybean cultivation is gaining increasing importance to reduce protein imports from overseas and make cropping systems more sustainable. In the field, despite the inoculation of soybean with commercial rhizobia, its nodulation is low. In many parts of Europe, limited information is currently available on the genetic diversity of rhizobia and, thus, biological resources for selecting high nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are inadequate. These resources are urgently needed to improve soybean production in central Europe. The objective of the present study was to identify strains that have the potential to increase nitrogen fixation by and the yield of soybean in German soils. We isolated and characterized 77 soybean rhizobia from 18 different sampling sites. Based on a multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), 71% of isolates were identified as Bradyrhizobium and 29% as Rhizobium. A comparative analysis of the nodD and nifH genes showed no significant differences, which indicated that the soybean rhizobia symbiotic genes in the present study belong to only one type. One isolate, GMF14 which was tolerant of a low temperature (4°C), exhibited higher nitrogen fixation in root nodules and a greater plant biomass than USDA 110 under cold conditions. These results strongly suggest that some indigenous rhizobia enhance biological nitrogen fixation and soybean yield due to their adaption to local conditions.}, } @article {pmid31996138, year = {2020}, author = {Vita, F and Giuntoli, B and Bertolini, E and Taiti, C and Marone, E and D'Ambrosio, C and Trovato, E and Sciarrone, D and Zoccali, M and Balestrini, R and Scaloni, A and Mondello, L and Mancuso, S and Alessio, M and Alpi, A}, title = {Tuberomics: a molecular profiling for the adaption of edible fungi (Tuber magnatum Pico) to different natural environments.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {90}, pmid = {31996138}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Computational Biology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; *Environment ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; *Genomics/methods ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Proteomics/methods ; Saccharomycetales/*genetics/*metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Truffles are symbiotic fungi that develop underground in association with plant roots, forming ectomycorrhizae. They are primarily known for the organoleptic qualities of their hypogeous fruiting bodies. Primarily, Tuber magnatum Pico is a greatly appreciated truffle species mainly distributed in Italy and Balkans. Its price and features are mostly depending on its geographical origin. However, the genetic variation within T. magnatum has been only partially investigated as well as its adaptation to several environments.

RESULTS: Here, we applied an integrated omic strategy to T. magnatum fruiting bodies collected during several seasons from three different areas located in the North, Center and South of Italy, with the aim to distinguish them according to molecular and biochemical traits and to verify the impact of several environments on these properties. With the proteomic approach based on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by mass spectrometry, we were able to identify proteins specifically linked to the sample origin. We further associated the proteomic results to an RNA-seq profiling, which confirmed the possibility to differentiate samples according to their source and provided a basis for the detailed analysis of genes involved in sulfur metabolism. Finally, geographical specificities were associated with the set of volatile compounds produced by the fruiting bodies, as quantitatively and qualitatively determined through proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In particular, a partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model built from the latter data was able to return high confidence predictions of sample source.

CONCLUSIONS: Results provide a characterization of white fruiting bodies by a wide range of different molecules, suggesting the role for specific compounds in the responses and adaptation to distinct environments.}, } @article {pmid31995751, year = {2020}, author = {Fast, D and Petkau, K and Ferguson, M and Shin, M and Galenza, A and Kostiuk, B and Pukatzki, S and Foley, E}, title = {Vibrio cholerae-Symbiont Interactions Inhibit Intestinal Repair in Drosophila.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {1088-1100.e5}, pmid = {31995751}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {R01 AI139103/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; MOP77746//CIHR/Canada ; MOP 137106//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Cell Differentiation/genetics ; Cell Proliferation/genetics ; Drosophila/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation/genetics ; Gene Ontology ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Intestinal Mucosa/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Intestines/*growth & development/microbiology ; RNA-Seq ; Regeneration/genetics/physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Stem Cells/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Type VI Secretion Systems/*metabolism ; Vibrio cholerae/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Pathogen-mediated damage to the intestinal epithelium activates compensatory growth and differentiation repair programs in progenitor cells. Accelerated progenitor growth replenishes damaged tissue and maintains barrier integrity. Despite the importance of epithelial renewal to intestinal homeostasis, we know little about the effects of pathogen-commensal interactions on progenitor growth. We find that the enteric pathogen Vibrio cholerae blocks critical growth and differentiation pathways in Drosophila progenitors, despite extensive damage to epithelial tissue. We show that the inhibition of epithelial repair requires interactions between the Vibrio cholerae type six secretion system and a community of common symbiotic bacteria, as elimination of the gut microbiome is sufficient to restore homeostatic growth in infected intestines. This work highlights the importance of pathogen-symbiont interactions for intestinal immune responses and outlines the impact of the type six secretion system on pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid31993434, year = {2020}, author = {Scucchia, F and Nativ, H and Neder, M and Goodbody-Gringley, G and Mass, T}, title = {Physiological characteristics of Stylophora pistillata larvae across a depth gradient.}, journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31993434}, issn = {2296-7745}, support = {755876/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Depth related parameters, specifically light, affect different aspects of corals physiology, including fluorescence. GFP-like pigments found in many coral species have been suggested to serve a variety of functions, including photo-protection and photo-enhancement. Using fluorescence imaging and molecular analysis, we further investigated the role of these proteins on the physiology of the coral Stylophora pistillata and its algal partners. Fluorescence was found to differ significantly between depths for larvae and adult colonies. Larvae from the shallow reef presented a higher GFP expression and a greater fluorescence intensity compared to the larvae from the mesophotic reef, reflecting the elevated need for photo-protection against high light levels characteristic of the shallow reef, thus supporting the "sunscreen" hypothesis. Additionally, given the lower but still occurring protein expression under non-damaging low light conditions, our results suggest that GFP-like proteins might act to regulate the amount of photosynthetically usable light for the benefit of the symbiotic algae. Moreover, we propose that the differences in GFP expression and green fluorescence between shallow and deep larvae indicate that the GFPs within coral larvae might serve to attract and retain different symbiont clades, increasing the chances of survival when encountering new environments.}, } @article {pmid31993121, year = {2020}, author = {Maor-Landaw, K and van Oppen, MJH and McFadden, GI}, title = {Symbiotic lifestyle triggers drastic changes in the gene expression of the algal endosymbiont Breviolum minutum (Symbiodiniaceae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {451-466}, pmid = {31993121}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis underpins the evolutionary success of corals reefs. Successful exchange of molecules between the cnidarian host and the Symbiodiniaceae algae enables the mutualistic partnership. The algae translocate photosynthate to their host in exchange for nutrients and shelter. The photosynthate must traverse multiple membranes, most likely facilitated by transporters. Here, we compared gene expression profiles of cultured, free-living Breviolum minutum with those of the homologous symbionts freshly isolated from the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, a widely used model for coral hosts. Additionally, we assessed expression levels of a list of candidate host transporters of interest in anemones with and without symbionts. Our transcriptome analyses highlight the distinctive nature of the two algal life stages, with many gene expression level changes correlating to the different morphologies, cell cycles, and metabolisms adopted in hospite versus free-living. Morphogenesis-related genes that likely underpin the metamorphosis process observed when symbionts enter a host cell were up-regulated. Conversely, many down-regulated genes appear to be indicative of the protective and confined nature of the symbiosome. Our results emphasize the significance of transmembrane transport to the symbiosis, and in particular of ammonium and sugar transport. Further, we pinpoint and characterize candidate transporters-predicted to be localized variously to the algal plasma membrane, the host plasma membrane, and the symbiosome membrane-that likely serve pivotal roles in the interchange of material during symbiosis. Our study provides new insights that expand our understanding of the molecular exchanges that underpin the cnidarian-algal symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid31993064, year = {2019}, author = {Stuart, EK and Plett, KL}, title = {Digging Deeper: In Search of the Mechanisms of Carbon and Nitrogen Exchange in Ectomycorrhizal Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1658}, pmid = {31993064}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi is an advantageous partnership for trees in nutrient-limited environments. Ectomycorrhizal fungi colonize the roots of their hosts and improve their access to nutrients, usually nitrogen (N) and, in exchange, trees deliver a significant portion of their photosynthetic carbon (C) to the fungi. This nutrient exchange affects key soil processes and nutrient cycling, as well as plant health, and is therefore central to forest ecosystem functioning. Due to their ecological importance, there is a need to more accurately understand ECM fungal mediated C and N movement within forest ecosystems such that we can better model and predict their role in soil processes both now and under future climate scenarios. There are a number of hurdles that we must overcome, however, before this is achievable such as understanding how the evolutionary history of ECM fungi and their inter- and intra- species variability affect their function. Further, there is currently no generally accepted universal mechanism that appears to govern the flux of nutrients between fungal and plant partners. Here, we consider the current state of knowledge on N acquisition and transport by ECM fungi and how C and N exchange may be related or affected by environmental conditions such as N availability. We emphasize the role that modern genomic analysis, molecular biology techniques and more comprehensive and standardized experimental designs may have in bringing cohesion to the numerous ecological studies in this area and assist us in better understanding this important symbiosis. These approaches will help to build unified models of nutrient exchange and develop diagnostic tools to study these fungi at various scales and environments.}, } @article {pmid31992622, year = {2020}, author = {Tang, M and Bouchez, O and Cruveiller, S and Masson-Boivin, C and Capela, D}, title = {Modulation of Quorum Sensing as an Adaptation to Nodule Cell Infection during Experimental Evolution of Legume Symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31992622}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Mutation ; *Quorum Sensing ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Over millions of years, changes have occurred in regulatory circuitries in response to genome reorganization and/or persistent changes in environmental conditions. How bacteria optimize regulatory circuitries is crucial to understand bacterial adaptation. Here, we analyzed the experimental evolution of the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum into legume symbionts after the transfer of a natural plasmid encoding the essential mutualistic genes. We showed that the Phc quorum sensing system required for the virulence of the ancestral bacterium was reconfigured to improve intracellular infection of root nodules induced by evolved Ralstonia A single mutation in either the PhcB autoinducer synthase or the PhcQ regulator of the sensory cascade tuned the kinetics of activation of the central regulator PhcA in response to cell density so that the minimal stimulatory concentration of autoinducers needed for a given response was increased. Yet, a change in the expression of a PhcA target gene was observed in infection threads progressing in root hairs, suggesting early programming for the late accommodation of bacteria in nodule cells. Moreover, this delayed switch to the quorum sensing mode decreased the pathogenicity of the ancestral strain, illustrating the functional plasticity of regulatory systems and showing how a small modulation in signal response can produce drastic changes in bacterial lifestyle.IMPORTANCE Rhizobia are soil bacteria from unrelated genera able to form a mutualistic relationship with legumes. Bacteria induce the formation of root nodules, invade nodule cells, and fix nitrogen to the benefit of the plant. Rhizobial lineages emerged from the horizontal transfer of essential symbiotic genes followed by genome remodeling to activate and/or optimize the acquired symbiotic potential. This evolutionary scenario was replayed in a laboratory evolution experiment in which the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum successively evolved the capacities to nodulate Mimosa pudica and poorly invade, then massively invade, nodule cells. In some lines, the improvement of intracellular infection was achieved by mutations modulating a quorum sensing regulatory system of the ancestral strain. This modulation that affects the activity of a central regulator during the earliest stages of symbiosis has a huge impact on late stages of symbiosis. This work showed that regulatory rewiring is the main driver of this pathogeny-symbiosis transition.}, } @article {pmid31992172, year = {2020}, author = {Gano-Cohen, KA and Wendlandt, CE and Al Moussawi, K and Stokes, PJ and Quides, KW and Weisberg, AJ and Chang, JH and Sachs, JL}, title = {Recurrent mutualism breakdown events in a legume rhizobia metapopulation.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {287}, number = {1919}, pages = {20192549}, pmid = {31992172}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial mutualists generate major fitness benefits for eukaryotes, reshaping the host phenotype and its interactions with the environment. Yet, microbial mutualist populations are predicted to generate mutants that defect from providing costly services to hosts while maintaining the capacity to exploit host resources. Here, we examined the mutualist service of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in a metapopulation of root-nodulating Bradyrhizobium spp. that associate with the native legume Acmispon strigosus. We quantified mutualism traits of 85 Bradyrhizobium isolates gathered from a 700 km transect in California spanning 10 sampled A. strigosus populations. We clonally inoculated each Bradyrhizobium isolate onto A. strigosus hosts and quantified nodulation capacity and net effects of infection, including host growth and isotopic nitrogen concentration. Six Bradyrhizobium isolates from five populations were categorized as ineffective because they formed nodules but did not enhance host growth via nitrogen fixation. Six additional isolates from three populations failed to form root nodules. Phylogenetic reconstruction inferred two types of mutualism breakdown, including three to four independent losses of effectiveness and five losses of nodulation capacity on A. strigosus. The evolutionary and genomic drivers of these mutualism breakdown events remain poorly understood.}, } @article {pmid31989371, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, YY and Chen, XM and Guo, SX and Lee, YI}, title = {Effect of different mycobionts on symbiotic germination and seedling growth of Dendrobium officinale, an important medicinal orchid.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, pmid = {31989371}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Orchids maintain a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi in the lifecycle. Previous reports indicated that diverse mycobionts may have different roles during orchid growth and development. Although various mycorrhizal fungi have been isolated from Dendrobium roots and protocorms, little is known about their specific effects on seed germination and seedling growth. To understand the specific role of isolated fungal strains (i.e., Tulasnella and Sebacina), we used symbiotic culture to compare the effect of 6 fungal strains on seed germination and seedling growth of Dendrobium officinale, an important Chinese medicinal orchid.

RESULTS: In symbiotic germination tests, 6 fungal strains (4 Tulasnella strains and 2 Sebacina strains) promoted seed germination with different efficiencies. Seeds inoculated with Tulasnella strains S6 and S7 conferred higher germination percentage and faster protocorm development than other fungal strains. In symbiotic cultures, seedlings inoculated with Sebacina strain S3 had optimal fresh and dry matter yield. Also, Tulasnella strains S6 and S7 promoted seedling growth with good fresh and dry matter yield. Sebacina strain S2 inoculation greatly enhanced root and tiller production and the content of total crude polysaccharides, although seedlings were smaller with less fresh and dry matter yield than other seedlings.

CONCLUSIONS: Tulasnella and Sebacina strains could promote seed germination and seedling growth of D. officinale with different efficiencies. Our results suggest a non-specific mycorrhizal association and development-dependent preference. Our data provide the basic knowledge for use of different fungal strains in conservation and/or production practices of D. officinale.}, } @article {pmid31988802, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, Y and Guo, S}, title = {Effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Ceratobasidium sp. AR2 on growth and flavonoid accumulation in Anoectochilus roxburghii.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {e8346}, pmid = {31988802}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Anoectochilus roxburghii is a traditional Chinese medicine with potent medicinal activity owing to the presence of secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids. A. roxburghii also maintains a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi. Moreover, mycorrhizal fungi can induce metabolite synthesis in host plants. However, little is known about the role of mycorrhizal fungi in promoting the accumulation of flavonoid metabolites in A. roxburghii.

METHODS: A. roxburghii and the isolated fungus Ceratobasidium sp. AR2 were cocultured. The portion of A. roxburghii above the medium treated with or without AR2 was studied by transcriptome and target metabolome analyses.

RESULTS: AR2 promoted the growth and development of A. roxburghii. The contents of total flavonoid, rutin, isorhamnetin, and cyanidin-3-glucoside chloride were increased compared with those in uninoculated cultures. Transcriptome analysis suggested that 109 unigenes encoding key enzymes were potentially associated with changes in flavonoids. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of fourteen flavonoid-related unigenes showed that most flavonoid biosynthetic genes were significantly differentially expressed between inoculated and uninoculated plantlets.

CONCLUSION: The isolate AR2 could significantly promote the growth and development of A. roxburghii and the accumulation of flavonoids. Overall, our findings highlighted the molecular basis of the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on flavonoid biosynthesis in A. roxburghii and provided novel insights into methods to improve the yield and quality of A. roxburghii.}, } @article {pmid31988472, year = {2020}, author = {Huang, YT and Skelton, J and Hulcr, J}, title = {Lipids and small metabolites provisioned by ambrosia fungi to symbiotic beetles are phylogeny-dependent, not convergent.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1089-1099}, pmid = {31988472}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {S10 OD021758/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lipids ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Long-term symbiotic associations often lead to reciprocal adaptation between the involved entities. One of the main challenges for studies of such symbioses is differentiating adaptation from neutral processes and phylogenetic background. Ambrosia fungi, cultivated by ambrosia beetles as their sole food source, provide an excellent model to study evolutionary adaptation in a comparative framework because they evolved many times, and each origin bears features seemingly convergently adapted to the symbiosis. We tested whether the symbiotic lifestyle of unrelated ambrosia fungi has led to convergence in the key feature of the symbiotic phenotype-nutrition provisioning to the vector beetles. We compared conidia and mycelium content in three phylogenetic pairs of ambrosia fungi and their closely related nonambrosia relatives using an untargeted metabolomic assay. Multivariate analysis of 311 polar metabolites and 14063 lipid features revealed no convergence of nutrient content across ambrosia lineages. Instead, most variation of the metabolome composition was explained by phylogenetic relationships among the fungi. Thus the overall metabolome evolution of each ambrosia fungus is mostly driven by its inherited metabolism rather than the transition toward symbiosis. We identified eight candidate lipid compounds with expression levels different between the swollen ambrosia spores and other tissues, but they were not consistently elevated across ambrosia fungi. We conclude that ambrosia provisions consist either of nonspecific nutrients in elevated amounts, or of metabolites that are specific to each of the ambrosia symbioses.}, } @article {pmid31987702, year = {2020}, author = {Kalita, M and Małek, W and Coutinho, TA}, title = {Putative novel Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium species isolated from root nodules of Chamaecytisus ruthenicus.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {126056}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126056}, pmid = {31987702}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phyllobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Poland ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study, the diversity and the phylogenetic relationships of bacteria isolated from root nodules of Chamaecytisus ruthenicus growing in Poland were investigated using ERIC-PCR fingerprinting and by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). Two major clusters comprising 13 and 3 isolates were detected which 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified as Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium. The results of phylogenetic analysis of individual and concatenated atpD, gyrB and recA gene sequences showed that the studied strains may represent novel species in the genera Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium. In the phylogenetic tree based on the atpD-gyrB-recA concatemers, Bradyrhizobium isolates were split into two groups closely related to Bradyrhizobium algeriense STM89[T] and Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3[T]. The genus Phyllobacterium isolates formed a separate cluster close to Phyllobacterium ifriqiyense LMG27887[T] in the atpD-gyrB-recA phylogram. Analysis of symbiotic gene sequences (nodC, nodZ, nifD, and nifH) showed that the Bradyrhizobium isolates were most closely related to Bradyrhizobium algeriense STM89[T], Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3[T] and Bradyrhizobium retamae Ro19[T] belonging to symbiovar retamae. This is the first report on the occurrence of members of symbiovar retamae from outside the Mediterranean region. No symbiosis related genes were amplified from Phyllobacterium strains, which were also unable to induce nodules on C. ruthenicus roots. Based on these findings Phyllobacterium isolates can be regarded as endophytic bacteria inhabitating root nodules of C. ruthenicus.}, } @article {pmid31986560, year = {2020}, author = {Cho, SH and Lee, E and Ko, SR and Jin, S and Song, Y and Ahn, CY and Oh, HM and Cho, BK and Cho, S}, title = {Elucidation of the Biosynthetic Pathway of Vitamin B Groups and Potential Secondary Metabolite Gene Clusters Via Genome Analysis of a Marine Bacterium Pseudoruegeria sp. M32A2M.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {505-514}, pmid = {31986560}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Base Composition ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Republic of Korea ; Rhodobacteraceae/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vitamin B Complex/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nature of the relationship between algae and marine bacteria is well-studied among the complex microbial interactions. The mutual profit between algae and bacteria occurs via nutrient and vitamin exchange. It is necessary to analyze the genome sequence of a bacterium to predict its symbiotic relationships. In this study, the genome of a marine bacterium, Pseudoruegeria sp. M32A2M, isolated from the south-eastern isles (GeoJe-Do) of South Korea, was sequenced and analyzed. A draft genome (91 scaffolds) of 5.5 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 62.4% was obtained. In total, 5,101 features were identified from gene annotation, and 4,927 genes were assigned to functional proteins. We also identified transcription core proteins, RNA polymerase subunits, and sigma factors. In addition, full flagella-related gene clusters involving the flagellar body, motor, regulator, and other accessory compartments were detected even though the genus Pseudoruegeria is known to comprise non-motile bacteria. Examination of annotated KEGG pathways revealed that Pseudoruegeria sp. M32A2M has the metabolic pathways for all seven vitamin Bs, including thiamin (vitamin B1), biotin (vitamin B7), and cobalamin (vitamin B12), which are necessary for symbiosis with vitamin B auxotroph algae. We also identified gene clusters for seven secondary metabolites including ectoine, homoserine lactone, beta-lactone, terpene, lasso peptide, bacteriocin, and nonribosomal proteins.}, } @article {pmid31984696, year = {2020}, author = {Serce Pehlevan, O and Benzer, D and Gursoy, T and Aktas Cetin, E and Karatekin, G and OvaliMD, F}, title = {Cytokine responses to symbiotic and lactoferrin combination in very low birth weight neonates: a randomized control trial.}, journal = {Archivos argentinos de pediatria}, volume = {118}, number = {1}, pages = {e8-e15}, doi = {10.5546/aap.2020.eng.e8}, pmid = {31984696}, issn = {1668-3501}, mesh = {*Bifidobacterium ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Interferon-gamma/*blood ; Interleukins/*blood ; *Lactobacillus ; Lactoferrin/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Oligosaccharides/*therapeutic use ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Probiotics and prebiotics, which are multifunctional agents, have potential benefits in chronic mucosal inflammation, including the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis. However, the mechanisms and the results of these immunomodulatory effects are not clear. This study aimed to investigate the cytokine response to the combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium together with fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharides (symbiotic) and lactoferrin in very low birth weight neonates.

POPULATION AND METHODS: Infants ≤ 32 GWs and ≤ 1,500 g were randomly assigned to receive a symbiotic combination or 1 ml distilled water as placebo starting with the first feed until discharge. Blood samples were obtained at postnatal 0 ± 2, 14 ± 2, and 28 ± 2 days, and the serum levels of interferon-y, interleukin (IL)-5, IL-10, and IL-17A were measured.

RESULTS: In the study group (n = 25), the IL-10 levels decreased throughout the study period (p = 0.011) but did not change in the control group. The IL-5 levels remained steady in the first 14 days and decreased significantly thereafter (p = 0.042) in the study group, whereas they increased in the first 14 days (p = 0.019), and then decreased in 28 days (p = 0.011) in the control group (n = 25). The levels of the other cytokines did not change throughout the study period.

CONCLUSION: The combined use of probiotics with oligosaccharides and lactoferrin was associated with a decrease in IL-10 levels, but no change was observed in the other cytokines.}, } @article {pmid31982950, year = {2020}, author = {Favre-Godal, Q and Gourguillon, L and Lordel-Madeleine, S and Gindro, K and Choisy, P}, title = {Orchids and their mycorrhizal fungi: an insufficiently explored relationship.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {5-22}, pmid = {31982950}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Endophytes ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Orchids are associated with diverse fungal taxa, including nonmycorrhizal endophytic fungi as well as mycorrhizal fungi. The orchid mycorrhizal (OM) symbiosis is an excellent model for investigating the biological interactions between plants and fungi due to their high dependency on these symbionts for growth and survival. To capture the complexity of OM interactions, significant genomic, numerous transcriptomic, and proteomic studies have been performed, unraveling partly the role of each partner. On the other hand, several papers studied the bioactive metabolites from each partner but rarely interpreted their significance in this symbiotic relationship. In this review, we focus from a biochemical viewpoint on the OM dynamics and its molecular interactions. The ecological functions of OM in plant development and stress resistance are described first, summarizing recent literature. Secondly, because only few studies have specifically looked on OM molecular interactions, the signaling pathways and compounds allowing the establishment/maintenance of mycorrhizal association involved in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) are discussed in parallel with OM. Based on mechanistic similarities between OM and AM, and recent findings on orchids' endophytes, a putative model representing the different molecular strategies that OM fungi might employ to establish this association is proposed. It is hypothesized here that (i) orchids would excrete plant molecule signals such as strigolactones and flavonoids but also other secondary metabolites; (ii) in response, OM fungi would secrete mycorrhizal factors (Myc factors) or similar compounds to activate the common symbiosis genes (CSGs); (iii) overcome the defense mechanism by evasion of the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)-triggered immunity and by secretion of effectors such as small inhibitor proteins; and (iv) finally, secrete phytohormones to help the colonization or disrupt the crosstalk of plant defense phytohormones. To challenge this putative model, targeted and untargeted metabolomics studies with special attention to each partner's contribution are finally encouraged and some technical approaches are proposed.}, } @article {pmid31982930, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, YT and Zeng, Y and Wang, HZ and Zheng, D and Kamagata, Y and Narihiro, T and Nobu, MK and Tang, YQ}, title = {Different Interspecies Electron Transfer Patterns during Mesophilic and Thermophilic Syntrophic Propionate Degradation in Chemostats.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {120-132}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-020-01485-x}, pmid = {31982930}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioreactors ; Electron Transport ; Genome, Archaeal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Metagenomics ; Propionates/*metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Propionate is one of the major intermediates in anaerobic digestion of organic waste to CO2 and CH4. In methanogenic environments, propionate is degraded through a mutualistic interaction between symbiotic propionate oxidizers and methanogens. Although temperature heavily influences the microbial ecology and performance of methanogenic processes, its effect on syntrophic interaction during propionate degradation remains poorly understood. In this study, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics were employed to compare mesophilic and thermophilic propionate degradation communities. Mesophilic propionate degradation involved multiple syntrophic organisms (Syntrophobacter, Smithella, and Syntrophomonas), pathways, interactions, and preference toward formate-based electron transfer to methanogenic partners (i.e., Methanoculleus). In thermophilic propionate degradation, one syntrophic organism predominated (Pelotomaculum), interspecies H2 transfer played a major role, and phylogenetically and metabolically diverse H2-oxidizing methanogens were present (i.e., Methanoculleus, Methanothermobacter, and Methanomassiliicoccus). This study showed that microbial interactions, metabolic pathways, and niche diversity are distinct between mesophilic and thermophilic microbial communities responsible for syntrophic propionate degradation.}, } @article {pmid31982929, year = {2020}, author = {Tivey, TR and Parkinson, JE and Mandelare, PE and Adpressa, DA and Peng, W and Dong, X and Mechref, Y and Weis, VM and Loesgen, S}, title = {N-Linked Surface Glycan Biosynthesis, Composition, Inhibition, and Function in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {223-236}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-020-01487-9}, pmid = {31982929}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Polysaccharides/biosynthesis/chemistry/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The success of symbioses between cnidarian hosts (e.g., corals and sea anemones) and micro-algal symbionts hinges on the molecular interactions that govern the establishment and maintenance of intracellular mutualisms. As a fundamental component of innate immunity, glycan-lectin interactions impact the onset of marine endosymbioses, but our understanding of the effects of cell surface glycome composition on symbiosis establishment remains limited. In this study, we examined the canonical N-glycan biosynthesis pathway in the genome of the dinoflagellate symbiont Breviolum minutum (family Symbiodiniaceae) and found it to be conserved with the exception of the transferase GlcNAc-TII (MGAT2). Using coupled liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we characterized the cell surface N-glycan content of B. minutum, providing the first insight into the molecular composition of surface glycans in dinoflagellates. We then used the biosynthesis inhibitors kifunensine and swainsonine to alter the glycan composition of B. minutum. Successful high-mannose enrichment via kifunensine treatment resulted in a significant decrease in colonization of the model sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida) by B. minutum. Hybrid glycan enrichment via swainsonine treatment, however, could not be confirmed and did not impact colonization. We conclude that functional Golgi processing of N-glycans is critical for maintaining appropriate cell surface glycan composition and for ensuring colonization success by B. minutum.}, } @article {pmid31981805, year = {2020}, author = {Han, SI and Jeon, MS and Heo, YM and Kim, S and Choi, YE}, title = {Effect of Pseudoalteromonas sp. MEBiC 03485 on biomass production and sulfated polysaccharide biosynthesis in Porphyridium cruentum UTEX 161.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {302}, number = {}, pages = {122791}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122791}, pmid = {31981805}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biomass ; Polysaccharides ; *Porphyridium ; *Pseudoalteromonas ; Sulfates ; }, abstract = {The effect of co-cultivation of Porphyridium cruentum UTEX 161 with Pseudoalteromonas sp. MEBiC 03485 on P. cruentum growth and its sulfated polysaccharide (EPS) production were examined. The strain MEBiC 03485 had beneficial effects on P. cruentum growth, EPS production, and EPS quality. These effects were due to a compound secreted by the strain MEBiC 03485. Notably, secretory compound treatment also increased intracellular phycoerythrin and phycocyanin content by 89.4% and 161%, respectively. In addition, the biological activities of EPS extracted from MEBiC 03485 treatment tended to be higher than the control without treatment. Our results suggest a novel approach for potentially enhancing the growth of P. cruentum and its EPS production and quality by co-culturing with the symbiotic strain MEBiC 03485.}, } @article {pmid31979273, year = {2020}, author = {Quiroga, G and Erice, G and Aroca, R and Delgado-Huertas, A and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Elucidating the Possible Involvement of Maize Aquaporins and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in the Plant Ammonium and Urea Transport under Drought Stress Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {31979273}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {This study investigates the possible involvement of maize aquaporins which are regulated by arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) in the transport in planta of ammonium and/or urea under well-watered and drought stress conditions. The study also aims to better understand the implication of the AM symbiosis in the uptake of urea and ammonium and its effect on plant physiology and performance under drought stress conditions. AM and non-AM maize plants were cultivated under three levels of urea or ammonium fertilization (0, 3 µM or 10 mM) and subjected or not to drought stress. Plant aquaporins and physiological responses to these treatments were analyzed. AM increased plant biomass in absence of N fertilization or under low urea/ ammonium fertilization, but no effect of the AM symbiosis was observed under high N supply. This effect was associated with reduced oxidative damage to lipids and increased N accumulation in plant tissues. High N fertilization with either ammonium or urea enhanced net photosynthesis (AN) and stomatal conductance (gs) in plants maintained under well-watered conditions, but 14 days after drought stress imposition these parameters declined in AM plants fertilized with high N doses. The aquaporin ZmTIP1;1 was up-regulated by both urea and ammonium and could be transporting these two N forms in planta. The differential regulation of ZmTIP4;1 and ZmPIP2;4 with urea fertilization and of ZmPIP2;4 with NH4[+] supply suggests that these two aquaporins may also play a role in N mobilization in planta. At the same time, these aquaporins were also differentially regulated by the AM symbiosis, suggesting a possible role in the AM-mediated plant N homeostasis that deserves future studies.}, } @article {pmid31979234, year = {2020}, author = {Hylander, S}, title = {Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids (MAAs) in Zooplankton.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {31979234}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Copepoda/metabolism/microbiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Rotifera/metabolism/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects ; Zooplankton/*metabolism/microbiology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Organisms have different adaptations to avoid damage from ultraviolet radiation and one such adaptation is the accumulation of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). These compounds are common in aquatic taxa but a comprehensive review is lacking on their distribution and function in zooplankton. This paper shows that zooplankton MAA concentrations range from non-detectable to ~13 µg mgDW[-1]. Copepods, rotifers, and krill display a large range of concentrations, whereas cladocerans generally do not contain MAAs. The proposed mechanisms to gain MAAs are via ingestion of MAA-rich food or via symbiotic bacteria providing zooplankton with MAAs. Exposure to UV-radiation increases the concentrations in zooplankton both via increasing MAA concentrations in the phytoplankton food and due to active accumulation. Concentrations are generally low during winter and higher in summer and females seem to deposit MAAs in their eggs. The concentrations of MAAs in zooplankton tend to increase with altitude but only up to a certain altitude suggesting some limitation for the uptake. Shallow and UV-transparent systems tend to have copepods with higher concentrations of MAAs but this has only been shown in a few species. A high MAA concentration has also been shown to lead to lower UV-induced mortality and an overall increased fitness. While there is a lot of information on MAAs in zooplankton we still lack understanding of the potential costs and constraints for accumulation. There is also scarce information in some taxa such as rotifers as well as from systems in tropical, sub(polar) areas as well as in marine systems in general.}, } @article {pmid31978957, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, X and Lai, W and Chen, H and Fang, S}, title = {Data Prediction of Mobile Network Traffic in Public Scenes by SOS-vSVR Method.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31978957}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {Accurate base station traffic data in a public place with large changes in the amount of people could help predict the occurrence of network congestion, which would allow us to effectively allocate network resources. This is of great significance for festival network support, routine maintenance, and resource scheduling. However, there are a few related reports on base station traffic prediction, especially base station traffic prediction in public scenes with fluctuations in people flow. This study proposes a public scene traffic data prediction method, which is based on a v Support Vector Regression (vSVR) algorithm. To achieve optimal prediction of traffic, a symbiotic organisms search (SOS) was adopted to optimize the vSVR parameters. Meanwhile, the optimal input time step was determined through a large number of experiments. Experimental data was obtained at the base station of Huainan Wanda Plaza, in the Anhui province of China, for three months, with the granularity being one hour. To verify the predictive performance of vSVR, the classic regression algorithm extreme learning machine (ELM) and variational Bayesian Linear Regression (vBLR) were used. Their optimal prediction results were compared with vSVR predictions. Experimental results show that the prediction results from SOS-vSVR were the best. Outcomes of this study could provide guidance for preventing network congestion and improving the user experience.}, } @article {pmid31978083, year = {2020}, author = {Min, B and Yoon, H and Park, J and Oh, YL and Kong, WS and Kim, JG and Choi, IG}, title = {Unusual genome expansion and transcription suppression in ectomycorrhizal Tricholoma matsutake by insertions of transposable elements.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e0227923}, pmid = {31978083}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics ; Basidiomycota/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcription, Genetic ; Tricholoma/*genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Genome sequencing of Tricholoma matsutake revealed its unusually large size as 189.0 Mbp, which is a consequence of extraordinarily high transposable element (TE) content. We identified that 702 genes were surrounded by TEs, and 83.2% of these genes were not transcribed at any developmental stage. This observation indicated that the insertion of TEs alters the transcription of the genes neighboring these TEs. Repeat-induced point mutation, such as C to T hypermutation with a bias over "CpG" dinucleotides, was also recognized in this genome, representing a typical defense mechanism against TEs during evolution. Many transcription factor genes were activated in both the primordia and fruiting body stages, which indicates that many regulatory processes are shared during the developmental stages. Small secreted protein genes (<300 aa) were dominantly transcribed in the hyphae, where symbiotic interactions occur with the hosts. Comparative analysis with 37 Agaricomycetes genomes revealed that IstB-like domains (PF01695) were conserved across taxonomically diverse mycorrhizal genomes, where the T. matsutake genome contained four copies of this domain. Three of the IstB-like genes were overexpressed in the hyphae. Similar to other ectomycorrhizal genomes, the CAZyme gene set was reduced in T. matsutake, including losses in the glycoside hydrolase genes. The T. matsutake genome sequence provides insight into the causes and consequences of genome size inflation.}, } @article {pmid31977284, year = {2020}, author = {Lutermann, H and Archer, EK and Ueckermann, EA and Junker, K and Bennett, NC}, title = {Surveys and Literature Review of Parasites among African Mole-Rats: Proposing Hypotheses for the Roles of Geography, Ecology, and Host Phylogenetic Relatedness in Parasite Sharing.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {106}, number = {1}, pages = {38-45}, pmid = {31977284}, issn = {1937-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Geography ; Host Specificity ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Mole Rats/*classification/*parasitology ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/epidemiology/*parasitology/transmission ; Phylogeny ; Prevalence ; Rodent Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology/transmission ; Seasons ; Sex Factors ; Sex Ratio ; South Africa/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Hosts that overlap geographically, are less phylogenetically divergent, and/or share similar ecological conditions (e.g., climate, habitat type) are also likely to share parasites. Here we assessed the ectoparasite communities sustained by 3 solitary species of Bathyergidae (Georychus capensis, Bathyergus suillus, and Bathyergus janetta) as well as the endoparasites exploiting G. capensis and compared them with those reported in the literature for other sympatric and parapatric African mole-rat species. In addition to 1 nematode (Trichuris sp.) and 1 symbiotic ciliate (Meistoma georychi), we collected mites of the genera Androlaelaps and Bathyergolichus as well as unidentified trombiculids from these hosts. Host specificity was high at either the species, genus, or family level for Androlaelaps spp. and Bathyergolichus spp. irrespective of geographic proximity, host phylogeny, or ecological conditions. Host sharing was more limited for helminths but observed among sympatric host species. Our results suggest that ecological similarity and geographic proximity may be more important determinants of host sharing than phylogeny within Bathyergidae.}, } @article {pmid31976537, year = {2020}, author = {Pérez-Alonso, MM and Guerrero-Galán, C and Scholz, SS and Kiba, T and Sakakibara, H and Ludwig-Müller, J and Krapp, A and Oelmüller, R and Vicente-Carbajosa, J and Pollmann, S}, title = {Harnessing symbiotic plant-fungus interactions to unleash hidden forces from extreme plant ecosystems.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {71}, number = {13}, pages = {3865-3877}, pmid = {31976537}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Europe ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Global climate change is arguably one of the biggest threats of modern times and has already led to a wide range of impacts on the environment, economy, and society. Owing to past emissions and climate system inertia, global climate change is predicted to continue for decades even if anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions were to stop immediately. In many regions, such as central Europe and the Mediterranean region, the temperature is likely to rise by 2-5 °C and annual precipitation is predicted to decrease. Expected heat and drought periods followed by floods, and unpredictable growing seasons, are predicted to have detrimental effects on agricultural production systems, causing immense economic losses and food supply problems. To mitigate the risks of climate change, agricultural innovations counteracting these effects need to be embraced and accelerated. To achieve maximum improvement, the required agricultural innovations should not focus only on crops but rather pursue a holistic approach including the entire ecosystem. Over millions of years, plants have evolved in close association with other organisms, particularly soil microbes that have shaped their evolution and contemporary ecology. Many studies have already highlighted beneficial interactions among plants and the communities of microorganisms with which they coexist. Questions arising from these discoveries are whether it will be possible to decipher a common molecular pattern and the underlying biochemical framework of interspecies communication, and whether such knowledge can be used to improve agricultural performance under environmental stress conditions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of plant interactions with fungal endosymbionts found in extreme ecosystems. Special attention will be paid to the interaction of plants with the symbiotic root-colonizing endophytic fungus Serendipita indica, which has been developed as a model system for beneficial plant-fungus interactions.}, } @article {pmid31976322, year = {2019}, author = {Amarasinghe, LD and Ranasinghe, HAK}, title = {Diversity and Species Composition of Microbiota Associated with Mosquito Breeding Habitats: A Study from Kurunegala District in Sri Lanka.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {5897317}, pmid = {31976322}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; *Breeding ; Climate ; Culex ; Culicidae/*microbiology/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Larva/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology ; Sri Lanka ; }, abstract = {The pool of microbiota associated with mosquito breeding habitats varies with the habitat type and its characteristic features. The pool of microbiota in a given mosquito breeding habitat can include free living, symbiotic, noncompetitive, parasitic, predatory, and toxin producing species. However, in Sri Lanka the studies on the microbiota associated with mosquito breeding habitats are scarce. The present study was conducted to identify microbiota species/taxa associated with a variety of mosquito breeding habitats in selected areas of the Kurunegala district in Sri Lanka to determine the relationship, if any, the microbiota has with mosquito larvae breeding. A total of 44 microbiota species/taxa belonging to 10 phyla, namely, Bacillariophyta, Charophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria/Cyanophyta, Ochrophyta/Heterokontophyta, Amoebozoa, Euglenozoa, Ciliophora, Arthropoda, and Rotifera were identified. Vorticella microstoma (Ciliophora) showed a constant occurrence frequency in rice field habitats occupied mainly by Culex tritaeniorhynchus while the rest of the species had an accidental or rare frequency of occurrence. Nineteen species/taxa were identified as common species. Trophont stages of Vorticella microstoma and Zoothamnium spp. were found attached to the cuticle of mosquito larvae but only V. microstoma caused a lethal effect. The autotrophic protist, Euglena geniculate, Closterium spp., and Pinnularia spp. served as the diet items to mosquito larvae. The majority of the microbiota identified had no observable effect on mosquito larvae breeding.}, } @article {pmid31976310, year = {2019}, author = {Sivaprakasam, S and Ganapathy, PK and Sikder, MOF and Elmassry, M and Ramachandran, S and Kottapalli, KR and Ganapathy, V}, title = {Deficiency of Dietary Fiber in Slc5a8-Null Mice Promotes Bacterial Dysbiosis and Alters Colonic Epithelial Transcriptome towards Proinflammatory Milieu.}, journal = {Canadian journal of gastroenterology & hepatology}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {2543082}, pmid = {31976310}, issn = {2291-2797}, support = {R01 CA190710/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis/etiology/genetics/*microbiology ; Colon/microbiology ; Diet/*adverse effects ; Dietary Fiber/*deficiency ; Dysbiosis/etiology/genetics/*microbiology ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Mice ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/deficiency ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract due to disruption of the symbiotic relationship between the host immune system and microbiota. Various factors alter the gut microbiota which lead to dysbiosis; in particular, diet and dietary fibers constitute important determinants. Dietary fiber protects against IBD; bacteria ferment these dietary fibers in colon and generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which mediate the anti-inflammatory actions of dietary fibers. SLC5A8 is a high-affinity transporter in the apical membrane of colonic epithelium which mediates the entry of SCFAs from the lumen into cells in Na[+]-coupled manner. Due to the unique transport kinetics, the function of the transporter becomes important only under conditions of low dietary fiber intake. Here, we have examined the impact of dietary fiber deficiency on luminal microbial composition and transcriptomic profile in colonic epithelium in wild-type (WT) and Slc5a8-null (KO) mice. We fed WT and KO mice with fiber-containing diet (FC-diet) or fiber-free diet (FF-diet) and analyzed the luminal bacterial composition by sequencing 16S rRNA gene in feces. Interestingly, results showed significant differences in the microbial community depending on dietary fiber content and on the presence or absence of Slc5a8. There were also marked differences in the transcriptomic profile of the colonic epithelium depending on the dietary fiber content and on the presence or absence of Slc5a8. We conclude that absence of fiber in diet in KO mice causes bacterial dysbiosis and alters gene expression in the colon that is conducive for inflammation.}, } @article {pmid31976166, year = {2019}, author = {Bastías, DA and Martínez-Ghersa, MA and Newman, JA and Card, SD and Mace, WJ and Gundel, PE}, title = {Sipha maydis sensitivity to defences of Lolium multiflorum and its endophytic fungus Epichloë occultans.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e8257}, pmid = {31976166}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants possess a sophisticated immune system to defend from herbivores. These defence responses are regulated by plant hormones including salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Sometimes, plant defences can be complemented by the presence of symbiotic microorganisms. A remarkable example of this are grasses establishing symbiotic associations with Epichloë fungal endophytes. We studied the level of resistance provided by the grass' defence hormones, and that provided by Epichloë fungal endophytes, against an introduced herbivore aphid. These fungi protect their hosts against herbivores by producing bioactive alkaloids. We hypothesized that either the presence of fungal endophytes or the induction of the plant salicylic acid (SA) defence pathway would enhance the level of resistance of the grass to the aphid.

METHODS: Lolium multiflorum plants, with and without the fungal endophyte Epichloë occultans, were subjected to an exogenous application of SA followed by a challenge with the aphid, Sipha maydis.

RESULTS: Our results indicate that neither the presence of E. occultans nor the induction of the plant's SA pathway regulate S. maydis populations. However, endophyte-symbiotic plants may have been more tolerant to the aphid feeding because these plants produced more aboveground biomass. We suggest that this insect insensitivity could be explained by a combination between the ineffectiveness of the specific alkaloids produced by E. occultans in controlling S. maydis aphids and the capacity of this herbivore to deal with hormone-dependent defences of L. multiflorum.}, } @article {pmid31975001, year = {2020}, author = {Cao, J and Feng, Y and Lin, X and Wang, J}, title = {A beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in influencing the effects of silver nanoparticles on plant-microbe systems in a soil matrix.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {11782-11796}, pmid = {31975001}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Fungi ; *Metal Nanoparticles ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Silver ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are considered to be emerging contaminant for plant-soil systems. AM arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can alleviate the negative effects of a variety of pollutants on their hosts, but its potential roles in influencing the toxicity of AgNPs and the underlying mechanisms are still an open question. This study investigated the responses of maize (Zea mays L.) inoculated with or without AM fungi and soil microorganisms to different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 0.025, 0.25, and 2.5 mg kg[-1]). The inoculation of AM fungi helps to alleviate the AgNP-induced phytotoxicity. Compared to the non-AM fungal inoculated treatments, AM fungal inoculation significantly increased the mycorrhizal colonization, biomass and phosphorus (P) acquisitions of maize, with an upregulation of P transporter gene expression under AgNP treatments. AM fungal inoculation decreased Ag content in plant shoots and roots, downregulated expression levels of genes involved in Ag transport and gene encoding a metallothionein involved in metal homeostasis. The beneficial role of AM fungi extended to soil microbes. Compared to the non-AM fungal inoculated treatments, AM fungal inoculation decreased the toxicity of AgNPs to soil microbial activities and bacterial abundance. AM fungal inoculation increased the bacterial diversity and induced changes in the soil bacterial community composition. Altogether, the present study revealed that AM fungal symbiosis can play beneficial roles in mediating the negative effects exposed by AgNPs on plants probably through changing the expressions of potential Ag transporters and cooperating with soil bacterial community.}, } @article {pmid31974462, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, W and Li, XG and Sun, K and Tang, MJ and Xu, FJ and Zhang, M and Dai, CC}, title = {Mycelial network-mediated rhizobial dispersal enhances legume nodulation.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {1015-1029}, pmid = {31974462}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Arachis ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fungi ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The access of rhizobia to legume host is a prerequisite for nodulation. Rhizobia are poorly motile in soil, while filamentous fungi are known to grow extensively across soil pores. Since root exudates-driven bacterial chemotaxis cannot explain rhizobial long-distance dispersal, mycelia could constitute ideal dispersal networks to help rhizobial enrichment in the legume rhizosphere from bulk soil. Thus, we hypothesized that mycelia networks act as vectors that enable contact between rhizobia and legume and influence subsequent nodulation. By developing a soil microcosm system, we found that a facultatively biotrophic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris, helps rhizobial migration from bulk soil to the peanut (Arachis hypogaea) rhizosphere and, hence, triggers peanut-rhizobium nodulation but not seen in the absence of mycelia. Assays of dispersal modes suggested that cell proliferation and motility mediated rhizobial dispersal along mycelia, and fungal exudates might contribute to this process. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis indicated that genes associated with the cell division, chemosensory system, flagellum biosynthesis, and motility were regulated by Ph. liquidambaris, thus accounting for the detected rhizobial dispersal along hyphae. Our results indicate that rhizobia use mycelia as dispersal networks that migrate to legume rhizosphere and trigger nodulation. This work highlights the importance of mycelial network-based bacterial dispersal in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31974148, year = {2020}, author = {Hassen, AI and Swanevelder, ZH and Bopape, FL and Lamprecht, SC}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Mesorhizobium sp. Strain SARCC-RB16n, an Effective Nodulating and Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiont of Rooibos [Aspalathus linearis (Burm. f.)] in South Africa.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31974148}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {The draft genome sequence of Mesorhizobium sp. strain SARCC-RB16n reveals the presence of major symbiotic (nod and nif) and additional plant growth-promoting (PGPR) genes associated with enhanced growth of Aspalathus linearis (Burm. f.) in South Africa. The genome sequence provides vital information for the development of a commercial inoculant for rooibos cultivation.}, } @article {pmid31972930, year = {2020}, author = {Li, T and Lin, X and Yu, L and Lin, S and Rodriguez, IB and Ho, TY}, title = {RNA-seq profiling of Fugacium kawagutii reveals strong responses in metabolic processes and symbiosis potential to deficiencies of iron and other trace metals.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {705}, number = {}, pages = {135767}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135767}, pmid = {31972930}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dinoflagellida ; Iron ; Metals ; RNA-Seq ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A healthy symbiotic relationship between corals and Symbiodiniaceae relies on suitable temperature and adequate nutrients including trace metals. Besides global warming, trace metal deficiency has been shown to cause coral bleaching, a phenomenon responsible for extensive coral reef degradation around the world. How trace metal deficiency impacts Symbiodiniaceae and coral symbiosis is poorly understood, however. In this study, we applied RNA-seq to investigate how Fugacium kawagutii responds to the deficiency of five trace metals (Fe[2+], Zn[2+], Cu[2+], Mn[2+], Ni[2+]). We identified 685 to 2805 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from these trace metal deficiency conditions, among which 372 were commonly regulated by all the five trace metals and were significantly enriched in energy metabolism (e.g. fatty acid synthesis). Furthermore, genes associated with extracellular matrix (ECM), cell surface structure and cell adhesion were impacted, suggesting that the ability of recognition and adhesion of F. kawagutii may be altered by trace metal deficiencies. In addition, among the five metals, Fe[2+] deficiency exhibited the strongest influence, with Fe-rich redox elements and many antioxidant synthesis genes being markedly down-regulated, indicative of adaptive reduction of Fe demand but a compromised ability to combat oxidative stress. Overall, deficiency of trace metals (especially Fe) seems to repress growth and ability of ROS scavenging, elevate energy metabolism and innate immunity, and alter cell adhesion capability, with implications in symbiosis disruption and coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid31972378, year = {2020}, author = {Fraser, S and Fomiatti, R and Moore, D and Seear, K and Aitken, C}, title = {Is another relationship possible? Connoisseurship and the doctor-patient relationship for men who consume performance and image-enhancing drugs.}, journal = {Social science & medicine (1982)}, volume = {246}, number = {}, pages = {112720}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112720}, pmid = {31972378}, issn = {1873-5347}, mesh = {Australia ; Humans ; Male ; *Performance-Enhancing Substances ; *Pharmaceutical Preparations ; *Physician-Patient Relations ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {Consumption of steroids and other performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) is thought to be on the rise in Australia. Along with the benefits experienced by consumers come a range of health risks. This article draws on interviews conducted for an Australian research project on men who inject PIEDs to consider the ways in which information about managing these risks can be provided, the sources of information men use and value, and the professional relationships most effective for securing the best outcomes for them. As we will show, the men in our project expressed a very strong desire for reliable, credible information about risks and how to manage them, but also described often having to rely on information gleaned from sources of questionable reliability such as online forums and friends and acquaintances. Among the sources of information, advice and monitoring they expressed a desire to access were general medical practitioners (GPs), but high-quality interactions with GPs were, they argued, rarely possible. Using the recent work of Isabelle Stengers, particularly the notions of connoisseurship and symbiosis, we argue that new modes of engagement need to be developed that might allow men who consume PIEDs to access the information and support they need, including through their GPs. Following Stengers, we characterise the men in our project as 'connoisseurs' of PIEDs, and we consider what might be at stake and made possible were GPs and PIED connoisseurs to enter into more collaborative relationships to manage PIED-related health issues. In conducting our analysis, we argue for greater recognition of the complexities GPs face when encountering people engaged in illegal forms of consumption and call for new symbiotic models of engagement beyond both zero tolerance-style refusals to help and narrowly focused harm reduction approaches.}, } @article {pmid31969929, year = {2020}, author = {Li, CL and Xue, DX and Wang, YH and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {A method for functional testing constitutive and ligand-induced interactions of lysin motif receptor proteins.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {31969929}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant receptors with lysin motifs (LsyM) recognize microbial signals such as fungal chitin and lipo-chitooligosaccharidic Nod factors of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. It is generally assumed that ligand-induced dimerization of LysM receptors is an essential step in activation of intracellular kinase domains and downstream signaling. Consequently, genes required for plant defense and establishment of symbiosis are expressed. We recently found that three LysM receptor proteins (namely LYK1, LYK4 and LYK5) of Arabidopsis thaliana form a tripartite receptor complex to perceive chitin. However, constitutive and ligand-induced interactions of LysM receptors generally remain difficult to be characterized.

RESULTS: Interactions between ectodomains of LYK1, LYK4 and LYK5 were investigated by a chimeric receptor approach using hairy roots of the legume Lotus japonicus. Synthetic receptor pairs consisting of a LYK ectodomain and the intracellular domain of a L. japonicus Nod factor receptor (NFR1 and NFR5, respectively) were tested for their capacity to activate expression of the symbiotic NIN (nodule inception) gene. The results indicated constitutive (LYK4[ED]-LYK4[ED], LYK4[ED]-LYK5[ED]) and chitin-induced interactions (LYK1[ED]-LYK1[ED], LYK1[ED]-LYK5[ED]) of the examined ectodomains.

CONCLUSION: We present a method to functionally analyze constitutive and ligand-induced interactions of LysM-type proteins.}, } @article {pmid31967537, year = {2020}, author = {Cohen, ML and Mashanova, EV and Jagannathan, SV and Soto, W}, title = {Adaptation to pH stress by Vibrio fischeri can affect its symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes).}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {166}, number = {3}, pages = {262-277}, pmid = {31967537}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Life Cycle Stages ; Luminescence ; Luminescent Measurements ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many microorganisms engaged in host-microbe interactions pendulate between a free-living phase and a host-affiliated stage. How adaptation to stress during the free-living phase affects host-microbe associations is unclear and understudied. To explore this topic, the symbiosis between Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri was leveraged for a microbial experimental evolution study. V. fischeri experienced adaptation to extreme pH while apart from the squid host. V. fischeri was serially passaged for 2000 generations to the lower and upper pH growth limits for this microorganism, which were pH 6.0 and 10.0, respectively. V. fischeri was also serially passaged for 2000 generations to vacillating pH 6.0 and 10.0. Evolution to pH stress both facilitated and impaired symbiosis. Microbial evolution to acid stress promoted squid colonization and increased bioluminescence for V. fischeri, while symbiont adaptation to alkaline stress diminished these two traits. Oscillatory selection to acid and alkaline stress also improved symbiosis for V. fischeri, but the facilitating effects were less than that provided by microbial adaptation to acid stress. In summary, microbial adaptation to harsh environments amid the free-living phase may impact the evolution of host-microbe interactions in ways that were not formerly considered.}, } @article {pmid31964845, year = {2020}, author = {Smith, TE and Moran, NA}, title = {Coordination of host and symbiont gene expression reveals a metabolic tug-of-war between aphids and Buchnera.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {4}, pages = {2113-2121}, pmid = {31964845}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {F32 GM126706/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Buchnera/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between animals and microbes are often described as mutualistic, but are subject to tradeoffs that may manifest as shifts in host and symbiont metabolism, cellular processes, or symbiont density. In pea aphids, the bacterial symbiont Buchnera is confined to specialized aphid cells called bacteriocytes, where it produces essential amino acids needed by hosts. This relationship is dynamic; Buchnera titer varies within individual aphids and among different clonal aphid lineages, and is affected by environmental and host genetic factors. We examined how host genotypic variation relates to host and symbiont function among seven aphid clones differing in Buchnera titer. We found that bacteriocyte gene expression varies among individual aphids and among aphid clones, and that Buchnera gene expression changes in response. By comparing hosts with low and high Buchnera titer, we found that aphids and Buchnera oppositely regulate genes underlying amino acid biosynthesis and cell growth. In high-titer hosts, both bacteriocytes and symbionts show elevated expression of genes underlying energy metabolism. Several eukaryotic cell signaling pathways are differentially expressed in bacteriocytes of low- versus high-titer hosts: Cell-growth pathways are up-regulated in low-titer genotypes, while membrane trafficking, lysosomal processes, and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and cytokine pathways are up-regulated in high-titer genotypes. Specific Buchnera functions are up-regulated within different bacteriocyte environments, with genes underlying flagellar body secretion and flagellar assembly overexpressed in low- and high-titer hosts, respectively. Overall, our results reveal allowances and demands made by both host and symbiont engaged in a metabolic "tug-of-war."}, } @article {pmid31964765, year = {2020}, author = {Vincent, F and Bowler, C}, title = {Diatoms Are Selective Segregators in Global Ocean Planktonic Communities.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31964765}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Diatoms are a major component of phytoplankton, believed to be responsible for around 20% of the annual primary production on Earth. As abundant and ubiquitous organisms, they are known to establish biotic interactions with many other members of plankton. Through analyses of cooccurrence networks derived from the Tara Oceans expedition that take into account both biotic and abiotic factors in shaping the spatial distributions of species, we show that only 13% of diatom pairwise associations are driven by environmental conditions; the vast majority are independent of abiotic factors. In contrast to most other plankton groups, on a global scale, diatoms display a much higher proportion of negative correlations with other organisms, particularly toward potential predators and parasites, suggesting that their biogeography is constrained by top-down pressure. Genus-level analyses indicate that abundant diatoms are not necessarily the most connected and that species-specific abundance distribution patterns lead to negative associations with other organisms. In order to move forward in the biological interpretation of cooccurrence networks, an open-access extensive literature survey of diatom biotic interactions was compiled, of which 18.5% were recovered in the computed network. This result reveals the extent of what likely remains to be discovered in the field of planktonic biotic interactions, even for one of the best-known organismal groups.IMPORTANCE Diatoms are key phytoplankton in the modern ocean that are involved in numerous biotic interactions, ranging from symbiosis to predation and viral infection, which have considerable effects on global biogeochemical cycles. However, despite recent large-scale studies of plankton, we are still lacking a comprehensive picture of the diversity of diatom biotic interactions in the marine microbial community. Through the ecological interpretation of both inferred microbial association networks and available knowledge on diatom interactions compiled in an open-access database, we propose an ecosystems approach for exploring diatom interactions in the ocean.}, } @article {pmid31964724, year = {2020}, author = {Motone, K and Takagi, T and Aburaya, S and Miura, N and Aoki, W and Ueda, M}, title = {A Zeaxanthin-Producing Bacterium Isolated from the Algal Phycosphere Protects Coral Endosymbionts from Environmental Stress.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31964724}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Microbiota ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Zeaxanthins/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals form a complex consortium with photosynthetic algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria, collectively termed the coral holobiont. These bacteria are hypothesized to be involved in the stress resistance of the coral holobiont, but their functional roles remain largely elusive. Here, we show that cultured Symbiodiniaceae algae isolated from the reef-building coral Galaxea fascicularis are associated with novel bacteria affiliated with the family Flavobacteriaceae Antibiotic treatment eliminated the bacteria from cultured Symbiodiniaceae, resulting in a decreased maximum quantum yield of PSII (variable fluorescence divided by maximum fluorescence [Fv/Fm]) and an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under thermal and light stresses. We then isolated this bacterial strain, named GF1. GF1 inoculation in the antibiotic-treated Symbiodiniaceae cultures restored the Fv/Fm and reduced the ROS production. Furthermore, we found that GF1 produces the carotenoid zeaxanthin, which possesses potent antioxidant activity. Zeaxanthin supplementation to cultured Symbiodiniaceae ameliorated the Fv/Fm and ROS production, suggesting that GF1 mitigates thermal and light stresses in cultured Symbiodiniaceae via zeaxanthin production. These findings could advance our understanding of the roles of bacteria in Symbiodiniaceae and the coral holobiont, thereby contributing to the development of novel approaches toward coral protection through the use of symbiotic bacteria and their metabolites.IMPORTANCE Occupying less than 1% of the seas, coral reefs are estimated to harbor ∼25% of all marine species. However, the destruction of coral reefs has intensified in the face of global climate changes, such as rising seawater temperatures, which induce the overproduction of reactive oxygen species harmful to corals. Although reef-building corals form complex consortia with bacteria and photosynthetic endosymbiotic algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae, the functional roles of coral-associated bacteria remain largely elusive. By manipulating the Symbiodiniaceae bacterial community, we demonstrated that a bacterium that produces an antioxidant carotenoid could mitigate thermal and light stresses in cultured Symbiodiniaceae isolated from a reef-building coral. Therefore, this study illuminates the unexplored roles of coral-associated bacteria under stressful conditions.}, } @article {pmid31964698, year = {2020}, author = {Guckes, KR and Cecere, AG and Williams, AL and McNeil, AE and Miyashiro, T}, title = {The Bacterial Enhancer Binding Protein VasH Promotes Expression of a Type VI Secretion System in Vibrio fischeri during Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {202}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31964698}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; *Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Symbiosis ; *Type VI Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri is a bacterial symbiont that colonizes the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes Certain strains of V. fischeri express a type VI secretion system (T6SS), which delivers effectors into neighboring cells that result in their death. Strains that are susceptible to the T6SS fail to establish symbiosis with a T6SS-positive strain within the same location of the squid light organ, which is a phenomenon termed strain incompatibility. This study investigates the regulation of the T6SS in V. fischeri strain FQ-A001. Here, we report that the expression of Hcp, a necessary structural component of the T6SS, depends on the alternative sigma factor σ[54] and the bacterial enhancer binding protein VasH. VasH is necessary for FQ-A001 to kill other strains, suggesting that VasH-dependent regulation is essential for the T6SS of V. fischeri to affect intercellular interactions. In addition, this study demonstrates VasH-dependent transcription of hcp within host-associated populations of FQ-A001, suggesting that the T6SS is expressed within the host environment. Together, these findings establish a model for transcriptional control of hcp in V. fischeri within the squid light organ, thereby increasing understanding of how the T6SS is regulated during symbiosis.IMPORTANCE Animals harbor bacterial symbionts with specific traits that promote host fitness. Mechanisms that facilitate intercellular interactions among bacterial symbionts impact which bacterial lineages ultimately establish symbiosis with the host. How these mechanisms are regulated is poorly characterized in nonhuman bacterial symbionts. This study establishes a model for the transcriptional regulation of a contact-dependent killing machine, thereby increasing understanding of mechanisms by which different strains compete while establishing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31964562, year = {2020}, author = {Escobar-Ramírez, MC and Jaimez-Ordaz, J and Escorza-Iglesias, VA and Rodríguez-Serrano, GM and Contreras-López, E and Ramírez-Godínez, J and Castañeda-Ovando, A and Morales-Estrada, AI and Felix-Reyes, N and González-Olivares, LG}, title = {Lactobacillus pentosus ABHEAU-05: An in vitro digestion resistant lactic acid bacterium isolated from a traditional fermented Mexican beverage.}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {305-314}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2019.10.005}, pmid = {31964562}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {Beverages ; Digestion ; Fermentation ; *Fermented Foods ; Food Microbiology ; Lactic Acid ; *Lactobacillus pentosus ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The health benefits attributed to probiotics generate interest in the search of competent strains adapted to several ecological niches, especially those related to traditional beverages and foods of each country. Pineapple tepache, a traditional Mexican fermented beverage, was used for the isolation of lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential, one of which withstood the in vitro tests. The isolated strain AB-05, which exhibited the tested probiotic functional properties, was designated as Lactobacillus pentosus ABHEAU-05. The sequence was registered in GenBank under access code MK587617. This study is the first report of a lactic acid bacterium with in vitro digestion resistance isolated from pineapple tepache. The survival of L. pentosus ABHEAU-05 in a symbiotic medium was proven using fermented milk enriched with inulin. The in vitro digestion-resistant probiotic activity of lactobacilli was measured through analysis of pH and proteolysis. Results showed that L. pentosus grew properly in fermented milk; therefore, this microorganism could be used in the manufacture of this kind of products. The concentration of L. pentosus reached up to 8.5logCFU/ml after 40h of fermentation. In addition, the production of peptides and the decrease in pH indicated the vigorous and active metabolic state of the lactic acid bacterium tested. The activity and the concentration of this microorganism were maintained during refrigeration. The results of this research conclude that L. plantarum ABHEAU-05 is an in vitro digestion-resistant microorganism that can be used as a starter culture for the production of functional foods of dairy origin.}, } @article {pmid31963655, year = {2020}, author = {Dziedziech, A and Shivankar, S and Theopold, U}, title = {High-Resolution Infection Kinetics of Entomopathogenic Nematodes Entering Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31963655}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been a useful model for studying wound healing in insects due to their natural mechanism of entering an insect host either through the cuticle or an orifice. While many experiments have shed light on nematode and host behavior, as well as the host immune response, details regarding early nematode entry and proliferative events have been limited. Using high-resolution microscopy, we provide data on the early infection kinetics of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and its symbiotic bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens. EPNs appendage themselves to the host and enter through the host cuticle with a drill-like mechanism while leaving their outer sheath behind. EPNs immediately release their symbiotic bacteria in the host which leads to changes in host behavior and septicemia within 6 h while EPNs travel through the host in a predictable manner, congregating in the anterior end of the host. This paper sheds light on the entry and proliferative events of EPN infection, which will further aid in our understanding of wound healing and host immune activation at a high spatiotemporal resolution.}, } @article {pmid31962076, year = {2020}, author = {Morran, LT}, title = {Evolution: Convergent Pathways to Symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {R64-R66}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.070}, pmid = {31962076}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota ; Phenotype ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Little is known about the establishment of symbioses. A new study finds that two independent protist-algae symbioses utilize convergent patterns of nutrient exchange, suggesting that certain complementary host and symbiont traits can increase the likelihood of establishing beneficial symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid31961452, year = {2020}, author = {Williams, SD and Patterson, MR}, title = {Resistance and robustness of the global coral-symbiont network.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {e02990}, pmid = {31961452}, issn = {1939-9170}, support = {1412462//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Increasing ocean temperatures have widespread consequences for coral reefs, one of which is coral bleaching. We analyzed a global network of associations between coral species and Symbiodiniaceae for resistance to temperature stress and robustness to perturbations. Null networks were created by changing either the physiological parameters of the nodes or the structures of the networks. We developed a bleaching model in which each link, association, is given a weight based on temperature thresholds for specific host-symbiont pairs and links are removed as temperature increases. Resistance to temperature stress was determined from the response of the networks to the bleaching model. Ecological robustness, defined by how much perturbation is needed to decrease the number of nodes by 50%, was determined for multiple removal models that considered traits of the hosts, symbionts, and their associations. Network resistance to bleaching and robustness to perturbations differed from the null networks and varied across spatial scales, supporting that thermal tolerances, local association patterns, and environment play an important role in network persistence. Networks were more robust to attacks on associations than to attacks on species. Although the global network was fairly robust to random link removals, when links are removed according to the bleaching model, robustness decreases by about 20%. Specific environmental attacks, in the form of increasing temperatures, destabilize the global network of coral species and Symbiodiniaceae. On a global scale, the network was more robust to removals of links with susceptible Symbiodiniaceae than it was to removals of links with susceptible hosts. Thus, the symbionts convey more stability to the symbiosis than the hosts when the system is under an environmental attack. However, our results also provide evidence that the environment of the networks affects robustness to link perturbations. Our work shows that ecological resistance and robustness can be assessed through network analysis that considers specific biological traits and functional weaknesses. The global network of associations between corals and Symbiodiniaceae and its distribution of thermal tolerances are non-random, and the evolution of this architecture has led to higher sensitivity to environmental perturbations.}, } @article {pmid31960995, year = {2020}, author = {Becana, M and Yruela, I and Sarath, G and Catalán, P and Hargrove, MS}, title = {Plant hemoglobins: a journey from unicellular green algae to vascular plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {227}, number = {6}, pages = {1618-1635}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16444}, pmid = {31960995}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Chlorophyta ; Hemoglobins ; *Magnoliopsida ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Globins (Glbs) are widely distributed in archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes. They can be classified into proteins with 2/2 or 3/3 α-helical folding around the heme cavity. Both types of Glbs occur in green algae, bryophytes and vascular plants. The Glbs of angiosperms have been more intensively studied, and several protein structures have been solved. They can be hexacoordinate or pentacoordinate, depending on whether a histidine is coordinating or not at the sixth position of the iron atom. The 3/3 Glbs of class 1 and the 2/2 Glbs (also called class 3 in plants) are present in all angiosperms, whereas the 3/3 Glbs of class 2 have been only found in early angiosperms and eudicots. The three Glb classes are expected to play different roles. Class 1 Glbs are involved in hypoxia responses and modulate NO concentration, which may explain their roles in plant morphogenesis, hormone signaling, cell fate determination, nutrient deficiency, nitrogen metabolism and plant-microorganism symbioses. Symbiotic Glbs derive from class 1 or class 2 Glbs and transport O2 in nodules. The physiological roles of class 2 and class 3 Glbs are poorly defined but could involve O2 and NO transport and/or metabolism, respectively. More research is warranted on these intriguing proteins to determine their non-redundant functions.}, } @article {pmid31959785, year = {2020}, author = {Moreno-Pino, M and Cristi, A and Gillooly, JF and Trefault, N}, title = {Characterizing the microbiomes of Antarctic sponges: a functional metagenomic approach.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {645}, pmid = {31959785}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Light ; Marine Biology/*methods ; Metagenomics/*methods ; *Microbiota/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Porifera/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Relatively little is known about the role of sponge microbiomes in the Antarctic marine environment, where sponges may dominate the benthic landscape. Specifically, we understand little about how taxonomic and functional diversity contributes to the symbiotic lifestyle and aids in nutrient cycling. Here we use functional metagenomics to investigate the community composition and metabolic potential of microbiomes from two abundant Antarctic sponges, Leucetta antarctica and Myxilla sp. Genomic and taxonomic analyses show that both sponges harbor a distinct microbial community with high fungal abundance, which differs from the surrounding seawater. Functional analyses reveal both sponge-associated microbial communities are enriched in functions related to the symbiotic lifestyle (e.g., CRISPR system, Eukaryotic-like proteins, and transposases), and in functions important for nutrient cycling. Both sponge microbiomes possessed genes necessary to perform processes important to nitrogen cycling (i.e., ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidation, and denitrification), and carbon fixation. The latter indicates that Antarctic sponge microorganisms prefer light-independent pathways for CO2 fixation mediated by chemoautotrophic microorganisms. Together, these results show how the unique metabolic potential of two Antarctic sponge microbiomes help these sponge holobionts survive in these inhospitable environments, and contribute to major nutrient cycles of these ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31959067, year = {2020}, author = {Kanazawa, H and Ozaki, S and Doi, Y and Masuo, S and Takaya, N}, title = {Symbiotic riboflavin degradation by Microbacterium and Nocardioides bacteria.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {84}, number = {5}, pages = {1056-1061}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2020.1715783}, pmid = {31959067}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Coculture Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Flavins/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Microbacterium/genetics/metabolism ; Nocardioides/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Riboflavin/metabolism ; Ribose/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Unlike its biosynthetic mechanisms and physiological function, current understanding of riboflavin degradation in soil is limited to a few bacteria that decompose it to lumichrome. Here, we isolated six Microbacterium and three Nocardioides strains. These strains utilized riboflavin and lumichrome, respectively, as carbon sources. Among these strains, we identified Microbacterium paraoxydans R16 (R16) and Nocardioides nitrophenolicus L16 (L16), which were isolated form the same enrichment culture. Co-cultured R16 and L16 reconstituted a riboflavin-degrading interspecies consortium, in which the R16 strain degraded riboflavin to lumichrome and ᴅ-ribose. The L16 strain utilized the lumichrome as a carbon source, indicating that R16 is required for L16 to grow in the consortium. Notably, rates of riboflavin degradation and growth were increased in co-cultured, compared with monocultured R16 cells. These results indicated that a beneficial symbiotic interaction between M. paraoxydans R16 and N. nitrophenolicus L16 results in the ability to degrade riboflavin.}, } @article {pmid31958683, year = {2020}, author = {Quiroga, G and Erice, G and Aroca, R and Zamarreño, ÁM and García-Mina, JM and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Radial water transport in arbuscular mycorrhizal maize plants under drought stress conditions is affected by indole-acetic acid (IAA) application.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {246-247}, number = {}, pages = {153115}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153115}, pmid = {31958683}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Aquaporins/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; *Droughts ; Indoleacetic Acids/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Water/*metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Drought stress is one of the most devastating abiotic stresses, compromising crop growth, reproductive success and yield. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has been demonstrated to be beneficial in helping the plant to bear with water deficit. In plants, development and stress responses are largely regulated by a complex hormonal crosstalk. Auxins play significant roles in plant growth and development, in responses to different abiotic stresses or in the establishment and functioning of the AM symbiosis. Despite these important functions, the role of indole-3acetic acid (IAA) as a regulator of root water transport and stress response is not well understood. In this study, the effect of exogenous application of IAA on the regulation of root radial water transport in AM plants was analyzed under well-watered and drought stress conditions. Exogenous IAA application affected root hydraulic parameters, mainly osmotic root hydraulic conductivity (Lo), which was decreased in both AM and non-AM plants under water deficit conditions. Under drought, the relative apoplastic water flow was differentially regulated by IAA application in non-AM and AM plants. The effect of IAA on the internal cell component of root water conductivity suggests that aquaporins are involved in the IAA-dependent inhibition of this water pathway.}, } @article {pmid31958173, year = {2020}, author = {Drain, A and Thouin, J and Wang, L and Boeglin, M and Pauly, N and Nieves-Cordones, M and Gaillard, I and Véry, AA and Sentenac, H}, title = {Functional characterization and physiological roles of the single Shaker outward K[+] channel in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {102}, number = {6}, pages = {1249-1265}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14697}, pmid = {31958173}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Oocytes ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Plant Transpiration ; Potassium/metabolism ; Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Xenopus ; }, abstract = {The model legume Medicago truncatula possesses a single outward Shaker K[+] channel, whereas Arabidopsis thaliana possesses two channels of this type, named AtSKOR and AtGORK, with AtSKOR having been shown to play a major role in K[+] secretion into the xylem sap in the root vasculature and with AtGORK being shown to mediate the efflux of K[+] across the guard cell membrane, leading to stomatal closure. Here we show that the expression pattern of the single M. truncatula outward Shaker channel, which has been named MtGORK, includes the root vasculature, guard cells and root hairs. As shown by patch-clamp experiments on root hair protoplasts, besides the Shaker-type slowly activating outwardly rectifying K[+] conductance encoded by MtGORK, a second K[+] -permeable conductance, displaying fast activation and weak rectification, can be expressed by M. truncatula. A knock-out (KO) mutation resulting in an absence of MtGORK activity is shown to weakly reduce K[+] translocation to shoots, and only in plants engaged in rhizobial symbiosis, but to strongly affect the control of stomatal aperture and transpirational water loss. In legumes, the early electrical signaling pathway triggered by Nod-factor perception is known to comprise a short transient depolarization of the root hair plasma membrane. In the absence of the functional expression of MtGORK, the rate of the membrane repolarization is found to be decreased by a factor of approximately two. This defect was without any consequence on infection thread development and nodule production in plants grown in vitro, but a decrease in nodule production was observed in plants grown in soil.}, } @article {pmid31955493, year = {2020}, author = {van der Zande, RM and Achlatis, M and Bender-Champ, D and Kubicek, A and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Paradise lost: End-of-century warming and acidification under business-as-usual emissions have severe consequences for symbiotic corals.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14998}, pmid = {31955493}, issn = {1365-2486}, abstract = {Despite recent efforts to curtail greenhouse gas emissions, current global emission trajectories are still following the business-as-usual representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 emission pathway. The resulting ocean warming and acidification have transformative impacts on coral reef ecosystems, detrimentally affecting coral physiology and health, and these impacts are predicted to worsen in the near future. In this study, we kept fragments of the symbiotic corals Acropora intermedia (thermally sensitive) and Porites lobata (thermally tolerant) for 7 weeks under an orthogonal design of predicted end-of-century RCP8.5 conditions for temperature and pCO2 (3.5°C and 570 ppm above present-day, respectively) to unravel how temperature and acidification, individually or interactively, influence metabolic and physiological performance. Our results pinpoint thermal stress as the dominant driver of deteriorating health in both species because of its propensity to destabilize coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis (bleaching). Acidification had no influence on metabolism but had a significant negative effect on skeleton growth, particularly when photosynthesis was absent such as in bleached corals or under dark conditions. Total loss of photosynthesis after bleaching caused an exhaustion of protein and lipid stores and collapse of calcification that ultimately led to A. intermedia mortality. Despite complete loss of symbionts from its tissue, P. lobata maintained small amounts of photosynthesis and experienced a weaker decline in lipid and protein reserves that presumably contributed to higher survival of this species. Our results indicate that ocean warming and acidification under business-as-usual CO2 emission scenarios will likely extirpate thermally sensitive coral species before the end of the century, while slowing the recovery of more thermally tolerant species from increasingly severe mass coral bleaching and mortality. This could ultimately lead to the gradual disappearance of tropical coral reefs globally, and a shift on surviving reefs to only the most resilient coral species.}, } @article {pmid31952335, year = {2020}, author = {Ramadan, WS and Zaher, DM and Altaie, AM and Talaat, IM and Elmoselhi, A}, title = {Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Lung and Breast Cancers through Understanding the Anti-Angiogenesis Resistance Mechanisms.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {31952335}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms/blood supply/*drug therapy/genetics ; *Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Epigenomics/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/blood supply/*drug therapy/genetics ; Macrophages/drug effects/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*drug therapy/genetics ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Breast and lung cancers are among the top cancer types in terms of incidence and mortality burden worldwide. One of the challenges in the treatment of breast and lung cancers is their resistance to administered drugs, as observed with angiogenesis inhibitors. Based on clinical and pre-clinical findings, these two types of cancers have gained the ability to resist angiogenesis inhibitors through several mechanisms that rely on cellular and extracellular factors. This resistance is mediated through angiogenesis-independent vascularization, and it is related to cancer cells and their microenvironment. The mechanisms that cancer cells utilize include metabolic symbiosis and invasion, and they also take advantage of neighboring cells like macrophages, endothelial cells, myeloid and adipose cells. Overcoming resistance is of great interest, and researchers are investigating possible strategies to enhance sensitivity towards angiogenesis inhibitors. These strategies involved targeting multiple players in angiogenesis, epigenetics, hypoxia, cellular metabolism and the immune system. This review aims to discuss the mechanisms of resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors and to highlight recently developed approaches to overcome this resistance.}, } @article {pmid31951556, year = {2020}, author = {Shahan, R and Benfey, PN}, title = {A Co-opted Regulator of Lateral Root Development Controls Nodule Organogenesis in Lotus.}, journal = {Developmental cell}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {6-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2019.12.009}, pmid = {31951556}, issn = {1878-1551}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus ; Organogenesis, Plant ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes, a subset of flowering plants, form root nodules in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The regulatory network controlling nodule formation has remained mysterious. In a recent issue of Science, Soyano et al. (2019) demonstrate that co-option of an existing lateral root developmental program is used in Lotus for nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid31950791, year = {2020}, author = {Cao, Y and Li, QY and Han, P and Zhao, Y}, title = {[Preparation of a New Type of Silk Birth-canal Microecology Transporter].}, journal = {Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {60-66}, doi = {10.12182/20200160602}, pmid = {31950791}, issn = {1672-173X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; Biodiversity ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Lactobacillus/physiology ; *Microbiological Techniques/methods ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Pregnancy ; *Silk ; *Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To optimize the preparation parameters of the new silk birth-canal microecology transporter (BMT) for transferring the symbiotic bacteria of the birth canal efficiently.

METHODS: Birth canal microbial samples of 30 full term pregnant women at admission were collected as the control group (NC, n=30). The experimental group included 18 pregnant women terminated by Cesarean section, who were divided into 6 sub-groups (M1-M6, n=3) to complete the transfer tests of the birth-canal microecology. The new silk BMT was processed in the sterile liquid of the different osmotic pressure with the different immersion depth, and was placed in the vagina of the pregnant women for 1 h before sealed. All extracted DNA specimens were amplified in the V3-V4 region of the 16S rDNA, and were sequenced by Illumina Hiseq2500. Microbial diversity analysis was performed by Mothur, QIIME, Lefse and Metastat. Welch's t-test and Anosim nonparametric test were used to compare the difference between groups.

RESULTS: The new silk BMT with 70% immersion depth could be fully covered by the solution, and had good solution preserving and adhesion. The subjects had no foreign body sensation with satisfied experience. Both of the microbes on the new BMT and the control group were lactobacillus as the dominant bacteria genus. The microbial diversity and bacteria constitution in the new BMT was similar to the control group in the condition of 0.45% NaCl solution and 70% immersion depth, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The new silk BMT can transfer the symbiotic microbes of the birth canal efficiently, and the optimal preparation parameters were 0.45% hypotonic saline solution and 70% immersion depth.}, } @article {pmid31949309, year = {2020}, author = {Tena, G}, title = {Synthetic symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-019-0585-7}, pmid = {31949309}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid31948791, year = {2020}, author = {Bürger, M and Chory, J}, title = {The Many Models of Strigolactone Signaling.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {395-405}, pmid = {31948791}, issn = {1878-4372}, support = {R01 GM052413/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM094428/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM122604/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Germination ; *Lactones ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones involved in several biological processes that are of great agricultural concern. While initiating plant-fungal symbiosis, SLs also trigger germination of parasitic plants that pose a major threat to farming. In vascular plants, SLs control shoot branching, which is linked to crop yield. SL research has been a fascinating field that has produced a variety of different signaling models, reflecting a complex picture of hormone perception. Here, we review recent developments in the SL field and the crystal structures that gave rise to various models of receptor activation. We also highlight the increasing number of discovered SL molecules, reflecting the existence of cross-kingdom SL communication.}, } @article {pmid31947741, year = {2020}, author = {Chevigny, N and Schatz-Daas, D and Lotfi, F and Gualberto, JM}, title = {DNA Repair and the Stability of the Plant Mitochondrial Genome.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31947741}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*DNA Repair ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomic Instability ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Plants/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The mitochondrion stands at the center of cell energy metabolism. It contains its own genome, the mtDNA, that is a relic of its prokaryotic symbiotic ancestor. In plants, the mitochondrial genetic information influences important agronomic traits including fertility, plant vigor, chloroplast function, and cross-compatibility. Plant mtDNA has remarkable characteristics: It is much larger than the mtDNA of other eukaryotes and evolves very rapidly in structure. This is because of recombination activities that generate alternative mtDNA configurations, an important reservoir of genetic diversity that promotes rapid mtDNA evolution. On the other hand, the high incidence of ectopic recombination leads to mtDNA instability and the expression of gene chimeras, with potential deleterious effects. In contrast to the structural plasticity of the genome, in most plant species the mtDNA coding sequences evolve very slowly, even if the organization of the genome is highly variable. Repair mechanisms are probably responsible for such low mutation rates, in particular repair by homologous recombination. Herein we review some of the characteristics of plant organellar genomes and of the repair pathways found in plant mitochondria. We further discuss how homologous recombination is involved in the evolution of the plant mtDNA.}, } @article {pmid31947723, year = {2020}, author = {Vitorino, LC and Silva, FOD and Cruvinel, BG and Bessa, LA and Rosa, M and Souchie, EL and Silva, FG}, title = {Biocontrol Potential of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Physiological Changes in Soybean in Response to Butia archeri Palm Rhizobacteria.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31947723}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic parasitic fungus that causes Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), which is currently one of the most difficult agronomic crop diseases to control. A number of plants of the Brazilian Cerrado biome have been shown to be important sources of symbiotic microorganisms with biotechnological potential, so we decided to test the potential of bacteria isolated from the dwarf jelly palm, Butia archeri (Arecaceae) for the control of the pathogenic effects provoked by S. sclerotiorum. For this, we bioprimed seeds and evaluated the effects of this biopriming on the OJIP transient patterns prior to and following infection by the phytopathogen. Plants treated with the BA48R strain of Enterobacter sp., and in particular, those treated with the BA88R strain of Bacillus cereus presented the best results in terms of the loss/gain of the physiological and symptomatological variables evaluated. The plants bioprimed with BA88R presented high post-infection levels of total chlorophyll (33.35 FCIs) and chlorophyll a (26.39 FCIs), maintained a high Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI = 18.87), and synthesized low concentrations of flavonoids (1.39). These plants also maintained high levels of PIABS (1.111) and PITOTAL (1.300) following infection, and low levels of Di0/RC (0.602), which indicates that, in the presence S. sclerotiorum, the efficiency of the photosynthesis in the plants treated with these bacteria was less affected in the reaction centers, as confirmed by the negative amplitude recorded in the L band. The present study reconfirms the importance of the use of chlorophyll fluorescence for the diagnosis of disease and conditions of stress in crop plants, in addition to demonstrating the effectivenesss of the BA48R bacterial strain and, in particular, the BA88R strain on systemic resistance induction and suppression of S. sclerotiorum in Glycine max plants, with enormous potential for the development of more sustainable agricultural processes.}, } @article {pmid31945518, year = {2020}, author = {Puvar, AC and Nathani, NM and Shaikh, I and Bhatt, AD and Bhargava, P and Joshi, CG and Joshi, MN}, title = {Bacterial line of defense in Dirinaria lichen from two different ecosystems: First genomic insights of its mycobiont Dirinaria sp. GBRC AP01.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {233}, number = {}, pages = {126407}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2019.126407}, pmid = {31945518}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics ; Bacteria/*classification ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/*genetics ; Genomics ; Lichens/*genetics ; *Metagenome ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lichens have been widely studied for their symbiotic properties and for the secondary metabolites production by its fungal symbiont. Recent molecular studies have confirmed coexistence of bacteria along with the fungal and algal symbionts. Direct nucleic acid study by -omics approaches is providing better insights into their structural and functional dynamics. However, genomic analysis of individual members of lichen is difficult by the conventional approach. Hence, genome assembly from metagenome data needs standardization in the eukaryotic system like lichens. The present study aimed at metagenomic characterization of rock associated lichen Dirinaria collected from Kutch and Dang regions of Gujarat, followed by genome reconstruction and annotation of the mycobiont Dirinaria. The regions considered in the study are eco-geographically highly variant. The results revealed higher alpha diversity in the dry region Kutch as compared to the tropical forest associated lichen from Dang. Ascomycota was the most abundant eukaryote while Proteobacteria dominated the bacterial population. There were 23 genera observed only in the Kutch lichen (KL) and one genus viz., Candidatus Vecturithrix unique to the Dang lichen (DL). The exclusive bacterial genera in the Kutch mostly belonged to groups reported for stress tolerance and earlier isolated from lithobionts of extreme niches. The assembled data of KL & DL were further used for genome reconstruction of Dirinaria sp. using GC and tetra-pentamer parameters and reassembly that resulted into a final draft genome of 31.7 Mb and 9556 predicted genes. Twenty-eight biosynthesis gene clusters were predicted that included genes for polyketide, indole and terpene synthesis. Association analysis of bacteria and mycobiont revealed 8 pathways specific to bacteria with implications in lichen symbiosis and environment interaction. The study provides the first draft genome of the entire fungal Dirinaria genus and provides insights into the Dirinaria lichen metagenome from Gujarat region.}, } @article {pmid31945243, year = {2020}, author = {Chung, SH and Parker, BJ and Blow, F and Brisson, JA and Douglas, AE}, title = {Host and symbiont genetic determinants of nutritional phenotype in a natural population of the pea aphid.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {848-858}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15355}, pmid = {31945243}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Essential/genetics ; Animals ; Aphids/*genetics ; Buchnera/*genetics ; Ecology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Insect/genetics ; Genotype ; Peas/parasitology ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A defining feature of the nutritional ecology of plant sap-feeding insects is that the dietary deficit of essential amino acids (EAAs) in plant sap is supplemented by EAA-provisioning microbial symbionts in the insect. Here, we demonstrated substantial variation in the nutritional phenotype of 208 genotypes of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum collected from a natural population. Specifically, the genotypes varied in performance (larval growth rates) on four test diets lacking the EAAs arginine, histidine and methionine or aromatic EAAs (phenylalanine and tryptophan), relative to the diet containing all EAAs. These data indicate that EAA supply from the symbiotic bacteria Buchnera can meet total aphid nutritional demand for only a subset of the EAA/aphid genotype combinations. We then correlated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in the aphid and Buchnera genomes by reduced genome sequencing against aphid performance for each EAA deletion diet. This yielded significant associations between performance on the histidine-free diet and Buchnera SNPs, including metabolism genes predicted to influence histidine biosynthesis. Aphid genetic correlates of performance were obtained for all four deletion diets, with associations on the arginine-free diet and aromatic-free diets dominated by genes functioning in the regulation of metabolic and cellular processes. The specific aphid genes associated with performance on different EAA deletion diets are largely nonoverlapping, indicating some independence in the regulatory circuits determining aphid phenotype for the different EAAs. This study demonstrates how variation in the phenotype of associations collected from natural populations can be applied to elucidate the genetic basis of ecologically important traits in systems intractable to traditional forward/reverse genetic techniques.}, } @article {pmid31945116, year = {2020}, author = {Frolov, AO and Malysheva, MN and Ganyukova, AI and Spodareva, VV and Králová, J and Yurchenko, V and Kostygov, AY}, title = {If host is refractory, insistent parasite goes berserk: Trypanosomatid Blastocrithidia raabei in the dock bug Coreus marginatus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e0227832}, pmid = {31945116}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Resistance ; Euglenozoa Infections/immunology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Hemolymph/parasitology ; Heteroptera/*immunology/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/diagnostic imaging/parasitology/ultrastructure ; Life Cycle Stages/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron ; Trypanosomatina/*growth & development/pathogenicity/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Here we characterized the development of the trypanosomatid Blastocrithidia raabei in the dock bug Coreus marginatus using light and electron microscopy. This parasite has been previously reported to occur in the host hemolymph, which is rather typical for dixenous trypanosomatids transmitted to a plant or vertebrate with insect's saliva. In addition, C. marginatus has an unusual organization of the intestine, which makes it refractory to microbial infections: two impassable segments isolate the anterior midgut portion responsible for digestion and absorption from the posterior one containing symbiotic bacteria. Our results refuted the possibility of hemolymph infection, but revealed that the refractory nature of the host provokes very aggressive behavior of the parasite and makes its life cycle more complex, reminiscent of that in some dixenous trypanosomatids. In the pre-barrier midgut portion, the epimastigotes of B. raabei attach to the epithelium and multiply similarly to regular insect trypanosomatids. However, when facing the impassable constricted region, the parasites rampage and either fiercely break through the isolating segments or attack the intestinal epithelium in front of the barrier. The cells of the latter group pass to the basal lamina and accumulate there, causing degradation of the epitheliocytes and thus helping the epimastigotes of the former group to advance posteriorly. In the symbiont-containing post-barrier midgut segment, the parasites either attach to bacterial cells and produce cyst-like amastigotes (CLAs) or infect enterocytes. In the rectum, all epimastigotes attach either to the cuticular lining or to each other and form CLAs. We argue that in addition to the specialized life cycle B. raabei possesses functional cell enhancements important either for the successful passage through the intestinal barriers (enlarged rostrum and well-developed Golgi complex) or as food reserves (vacuoles in the posterior end).}, } @article {pmid31945106, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, Y and Wang, C and Gu, Y and Wang, P and Song, W and Ma, J and Yang, X}, title = {The variability of bacterial communities in both the endosphere and ectosphere of different niches in Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e0227671}, pmid = {31945106}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; China ; Chive/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Deciphering the various types of interactions between plants and their microbiomes is a hot topic for research in ecology as well as in plant sciences and agronomy. To analyse and compare the differences in microbial communities in different compartments of Chinese chives, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to amplify and sequence the V5-V6 region of the 16S rDNA of microorganisms in the leaves, phylloplanes, stems, roots and rhizospheres of Chinese chives. The sequences were clustered by operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and the community composition of bacteria between the endosphere (inner tissues) and ectosphere (outer surfaces) of Chinese chives was analysed based on the OTU. Overall, the results indicated that the endophytic bacteria in Chinese chives mainly include Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Actinomycetes. Alpha diversity index analysis and OTU number analysis showed that the bacterial diversity and richness of the underground plant compartments were higher than those of the above-ground parts. PCoA based on the OTU level showed that the vertical stratification structure of plants and compartments had significant effects on the bacterial community structure. The richness of endophytic bacteria also varied greatly among the different varieties of Chinese chive. A considerable number of endophytic bacteria form symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationships with host plants, which play an important role in regulating host growth, metabolism and stress resistance. Further investigations are needed to uncover the evolution of interactions between plants and endophytes.}, } @article {pmid31943674, year = {2020}, author = {Matthews, JL and Raina, JB and Kahlke, T and Seymour, JR and van Oppen, MJH and Suggett, DJ}, title = {Symbiodiniaceae-bacteria interactions: rethinking metabolite exchange in reef-building corals as multi-partner metabolic networks.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {1675-1687}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14918}, pmid = {31943674}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {DP180100074//Australian Research Council/International ; DP180100838//Australian Research Council/International ; FL180100036//Australian Research Council/International ; LT000625/2018‐L//Human Frontier Science Program/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Archaea/*metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The intimate relationship between scleractinian corals and their associated microorganisms is fundamental to healthy coral reef ecosystems. Coral-associated microbes (Symbiodiniaceae and other protists, bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses) support coral health and resilience through metabolite transfer, inter-partner signalling, and genetic exchange. However, much of our understanding of the coral holobiont relationship has come from studies that have investigated either coral-Symbiodiniaceae or coral-bacteria interactions in isolation, while relatively little research has focused on other ecological and metabolic interactions potentially occurring within the coral multi-partner symbiotic network. Recent evidences of intimate coupling between phytoplankton and bacteria have demonstrated that obligate resource exchange between partners fundamentally drives their ecological success. Here, we posit that similar associations with bacterial consortia regulate Symbiodiniaceae productivity and are in turn central to the health of corals. Indeed, we propose that this bacteria-Symbiodiniaceae-coral relationship underpins the coral holobiont's nutrition, stress tolerance and potentially influences the future survival of coral reef ecosystems under changing environmental conditions. Resolving Symbiodiniaceae-bacteria associations is therefore a logical next step towards understanding the complex multi-partner interactions occurring in the coral holobiont.}, } @article {pmid31943225, year = {2020}, author = {Davison, J and García de León, D and Zobel, M and Moora, M and Bueno, CG and Barceló, M and Gerz, M and León, D and Meng, Y and Pillar, VD and Sepp, SK and Soudzilovaskaia, NA and Tedersoo, L and Vaessen, S and Vahter, T and Winck, B and Öpik, M}, title = {Plant functional groups associate with distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {4}, pages = {1117-1128}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16423}, pmid = {31943225}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The benefits of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis between plants and fungi are modulated by the functional characteristics of both partners. However, it is unknown to what extent functionally distinct groups of plants naturally associate with different AM fungi. We reanalysed 14 high-throughput sequencing data sets describing AM fungal communities associating with plant individuals (2427) belonging to 297 species. We examined how root-associating AM fungal communities varied between plants with different growth forms, photosynthetic pathways, CSR (competitor, stress-tolerator, ruderal) strategies, mycorrhizal statuses and N-fixing statuses. AM fungal community composition differed in relation to all studied plant functional groups. Grasses, C4 and nonruderal plants were characterised by high AM fungal alpha diversity, while C4 , ruderal and obligately mycorrhizal plants were characterised by high beta diversity. The phylogenetic diversity of AM fungi, a potential surrogate for functional diversity, was higher among forbs than other plant growth forms. Putatively ruderal (previously cultured) AM fungi were disproportionately associated with forbs and ruderal plants. There was phylogenetic correlation among AM fungi in the degree of association with different plant growth forms and photosynthetic pathways. Associated AM fungal communities constitute an important component of plant ecological strategies. Functionally different plants associate with distinct AM fungal communities, linking mycorrhizal associations with functional diversity in ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31942036, year = {2020}, author = {Lim, SJ and Davis, BG and Gill, DE and Walton, J and Nachman, E and Engel, AS and Anderson, LC and Campbell, BJ}, title = {Correction: Taxonomic and functional heterogeneity of the gill microbiome in a symbiotic coastal mangrove lucinid species.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {1063-1064}, doi = {10.1038/s41396-020-0585-7}, pmid = {31942036}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.}, } @article {pmid31941021, year = {2020}, author = {Carrouel, F and Viennot, S and Ottolenghi, L and Gaillard, C and Bourgeois, D}, title = {Nanoparticles as Anti-Microbial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Remineralizing Agents in Oral Care Cosmetics: A Review of the Current Situation.}, journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31941021}, issn = {2079-4991}, abstract = {Many investigations have pointed out widespread use of medical nanosystems in various domains of dentistry such as prevention, prognosis, care, tissue regeneration, and restoration. The progress of oral medicine nanosystems for individual prophylaxis is significant for ensuring bacterial symbiosis and high-quality oral health. Nanomaterials in oral cosmetics are used in toothpaste and other mouthwash to improve oral healthcare performance. These processes cover nanoparticles and nanoparticle-based materials, especially domains of application related to biofilm management in cariology and periodontology. Likewise, nanoparticles have been integrated in diverse cosmetic produces for the care of enamel remineralization and dental hypersensitivity. This review summarizes the indications and applications of several widely employed nanoparticles in oral cosmetics, and describes the potential clinical implementation of nanoparticles as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and remineralizing agents in the prevention of dental caries, hypersensitivity, and periodontitis.}, } @article {pmid31940756, year = {2020}, author = {Li, T and Yu, L and Song, B and Song, Y and Li, L and Lin, X and Lin, S}, title = {Genome Improvement and Core Gene Set Refinement of Fugacium kawagutii.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31940756}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Cataloging an accurate functional gene set for the Symbiodiniaceae species is crucial for addressing biological questions of dinoflagellate symbiosis with corals and other invertebrates. To improve the gene models of Fugacium kawagutii, we conducted high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) for the genome and Illumina combined with PacBio sequencing for the transcriptome to achieve a new genome assembly and gene prediction. A 0.937-Gbp assembly of F. kawagutii were obtained, with a N50 > 13 Mbp and the longest scaffold of 121 Mbp capped with telomere motif at both ends. Gene annotation produced 45,192 protein-coding genes, among which, 11,984 are new compared to previous versions of the genome. The newly identified genes are mainly enriched in 38 KEGG pathways including N-Glycan biosynthesis, mRNA surveillance pathway, cell cycle, autophagy, mitophagy, and fatty acid synthesis, which are important for symbiosis, nutrition, and reproduction. The newly identified genes also included those encoding O-methyltransferase (O-MT), 3-dehydroquinate synthase, homologous-pairing protein 2-like (HOP2) and meiosis protein 2 (MEI2), which function in mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) biosynthesis and sexual reproduction, respectively. The improved version of the gene set (Fugka_Geneset _V3) raised transcriptomic read mapping rate from 33% to 54% and BUSCO match from 29% to 55%. Further differential gene expression analysis yielded a set of stably expressed genes under variable trace metal conditions, of which 115 with annotated functions have recently been found to be stably expressed under three other conditions, thus further developing the "core gene set" of F. kawagutii. This improved genome will prove useful for future Symbiodiniaceae transcriptomic, gene structure, and gene expression studies, and the refined "core gene set" will be a valuable resource from which to develop reference genes for gene expression studies.}, } @article {pmid31940381, year = {2020}, author = {Breusing, C and Franke, M and Young, CR}, title = {Intra-host symbiont diversity in eastern Pacific cold seep tubeworms identified by the 16S-V6 region, but undetected by the 16S-V4 region.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e0227053}, pmid = {31940381}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Geologic Sediments ; Pacific Ocean ; Polychaeta/*classification/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vestimentiferan tubeworms are key taxa in deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats worldwide. As adults they obtain their nutrition through their sulfide-oxidizing bacterial endosymbionts, which are acquired from the environment. Although horizontal transmission should favor infections by various symbiotic microbes, the current paradigm holds that every tubeworm harbors only one endosymbiotic 16S rRNA phylotype. Although previous studies based on traditional Sanger sequencing have questioned these findings, population level high-throughput analyses of the symbiont 16S diversity are still missing. To get further insights into the symbiont genetic variation and uncover hitherto hidden diversity we applied state-of-the-art 16S-V4 amplicon sequencing to populations of the co-occurring tubeworm species Lamellibrachia barhami and Escarpia spicata that were collected during E/V Nautilus and R/V Western Flyer cruises to cold seeps in the eastern Pacific Ocean. In agreement with earlier work our sequence data indicated that L. barhami and E. spicata share one monomorphic symbiont phylotype. However, complementary CARD-FISH analyses targeting the 16S-V6 region implied the existence of an additional phylotype in L. barhami. Our results suggest that the V4 region might not be sufficiently variable to investigate diversity in the intra-host symbiont population at least in the analyzed sample set. This is an important finding given that this region has become the standard molecular marker for high-throughput microbiome analyses. Further metagenomic research will be necessary to solve these issues and to uncover symbiont diversity that is hidden below the 16S rRNA level.}, } @article {pmid31939557, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, Y and Lou, X}, title = {Type 2 diabetes mellitus-related environmental factors and the gut microbiota: emerging evidence and challenges.}, journal = {Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {e1277}, pmid = {31939557}, issn = {1980-5322}, mesh = {Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a group of over 38 trillion bacterial cells in the human microbiota that plays an important role in the regulation of human metabolism through its symbiotic relationship with the host. Changes in the gut microbial ecosystem are associated with increased susceptibility to metabolic disease in humans. However, the composition of the gut microbiota in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases is not well understood. This article reviews the relationship between environmental factors and the gut microbiota in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Finally, we discuss the goal of treating type 2 diabetes mellitus by modifying the gut microbiota and the challenges that remain in this area.}, } @article {pmid31938759, year = {2019}, author = {Wolff, CA and Esser, KA}, title = {Exercise Timing and Circadian Rhythms.}, journal = {Current opinion in physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {64-69}, pmid = {31938759}, issn = {2468-8673}, support = {R01 AR055246/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AG055137/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Circadian rhythms and exercise physiology are intimately linked, but the symbiosis of this relationship has yet to be fully unraveled. Exercise exerts numerous health benefits from the organelle to the organism. Proper circadian function is also emerging as a prerequisite for maintaining health. The positive effects of exercise on health may be partially mediated by an exercise-induced change in tissue molecular clocks and/or the outcomes of exercise may be modified depending on when exercise is performed. This review provides a brief overview of circadian biology and the influence of exercise on the molecular clock, with an emphasis on skeletal muscle. Additionally, we provide considerations for future investigations seeking to unravel the mechanistic interactions of exercise and the molecular clock.}, } @article {pmid31937897, year = {2020}, author = {Cui, L and Guo, F and Zhang, J and Yang, S and Meng, J and Geng, Y and Li, X and Wan, S}, title = {Author Correction: Synergy of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and exogenous Ca[2+] benefits peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growth through the shared hormone and flavonoid pathway.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {755}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-57448-2}, pmid = {31937897}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.}, } @article {pmid31937424, year = {2020}, author = {Ferraz Helene, LC and O'Hara, G and Hungria, M}, title = {Characterization of Bradyrhizobium strains indigenous to Western Australia and South Africa indicates remarkable genetic diversity and reveals putative new species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {126053}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126053}, pmid = {31937424}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium are N2-fixing microsymbionts of legumes with relevant applications in agricultural sustainability, and we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of conserved and symbiotic genes of 21 bradyrhizobial strains. The study included strains from Western Australia (WA), isolated from nodules of Glycine spp. the country is one genetic center for the genus and from nodules of other indigenous legumes grown in WA, and strains isolated from forage Glycine sp. grown in South Africa. The 16S rRNA phylogeny divided the strains in two superclades, of B. japonicum and B. elkanii, but with low discrimination among the species. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with four protein-coding housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA) pointed out seven groups as putative new species, two within the B. japonicum, and five within the B. elkanii superclades. The remaining eleven strains showed higher similarity with six species, B. lupini, B. liaoningense, B. yuanmingense, B. subterraneum, B. brasilense and B. retamae. Phylogenetic analysis of the nodC symbiotic gene clustered 13 strains in three different symbiovars (sv. vignae, sv. genistearum and sv. retamae), while seven others might compose new symbiovars. The genetic profiles of the strains evaluated by BOX-PCR revealed high intra- and interspecific diversity. The results point out the high level of diversity still to be explored within the Bradyrhizobium genus, and further studies might confirm new species and symbiovars.}, } @article {pmid31936875, year = {2020}, author = {Li, J and Gao, R and Chen, Y and Xue, D and Han, J and Wang, J and Dai, Q and Lin, M and Ke, X and Zhang, W}, title = {Isolation and Identification of Microvirga thermotolerans HR1, a Novel Thermo-Tolerant Bacterium, and Comparative Genomics among Microvirga Species.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31936875}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Members of the Microvirga genus are metabolically versatile and widely distributed in Nature. However, knowledge of the bacteria that belong to this genus is currently limited to biochemical characteristics. Herein, a novel thermo-tolerant bacterium named Microvirga thermotolerans HR1 was isolated and identified. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain HR1 belonged to the genus Microvirga and was highly similar to Microvirga sp. 17 mud 1-3. The strain could grow at temperatures ranging from 15 to 50 °C with a growth optimum at 40 °C. It exhibited tolerance to pH range of 6.0-8.0 and salt concentrations up to 0.5% (w/v). It contained ubiquinone 10 as the predominant quinone and added group 8 as the main fatty acids. Analysis of 11 whole genomes of Microvirga species revealed that Microvirga segregated into two main distinct clades (soil and root nodule) as affected by the isolation source. Members of the soil clade had a high ratio of heat- or radiation-resistant genes, whereas members of the root nodule clade were characterized by a significantly higher abundance of genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation or nodule formation. The taxonomic clustering of Microvirga strains indicated strong functional differentiation and niche-specific adaption.}, } @article {pmid31936816, year = {2020}, author = {Shentu, X and Xiao, Y and Song, Y and Cao, Z and Fan, J and Yu, X}, title = {Comparative Analysis of the Diversity of the Microbial Communities between Non-Fertilized and Fertilized Eggs of Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31936816}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Yeast-like symbionts (YLSs), harbored in the abdominal fat body of brown planthoppers (BPHs), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, play an important role in the growth, development, and reproduction of their host. However, little is known about the diversity of the symbiotic fungal YLSs that are harbored in the eggs of BPHs and the difference between fertilized eggs and non-fertilized eggs. Here, we investigate the fungal community compositions of non-fertilized and fertilized eggs of BPHs and identified the YLSs in the hemolymph by qPCR. A total of seven phyla, 126 genera, and 158 species were obtained from all samples, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the most predominant phyla in the non-fertilized and fertilized eggs. The richness index indicated that microbial diversity in the non-fertilized and fertilized eggs exhibited a profound difference. In addition, 11 strains were only identified in the fertilized eggs, and these strains provide new insights into the constitution of species in YLSs. The difference of Pichia guilliermondii in the female hemolymph indicated that fertilization affected the diversity in the eggs by changing the YLSs in the hemolymph. Our research provides a comprehensive understanding of YLS species and their abundance in the eggs of BPHs, and it primarily explores how the changes of YLSs in the hemolymph lead to this difference.}, } @article {pmid31936508, year = {2020}, author = {Rizzo, E and Sherman, T and Manosalva, P and Gomez, SK}, title = {Assessment of Local and Systemic Changes in Plant Gene Expression and Aphid Responses during Potato Interactions with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Potato Aphids.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31936508}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {This research examined aphid and plant responses to distinct levels (none, low, and high) of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal root colonization by studying the association between potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and AM fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices). It extends knowledge on gene expression changes, assessed by RT-qPCR, of ten defense-related genes at two time-points post-herbivory (24 h and 10 days), focusing on aphid-infested local leaves, non-infested systemic leaves, and roots. The results showed that aphid fitness was not altered by AM symbiosis. At 24 h, ETHYLENE RECEPTOR 1 gene expression was repressed in roots of aphid-infested non-mycorrhizal plants and aphid-infested plants with a high level of AM fungal root colonization, but not on aphid-infested plants with a low level of AM fungal root colonization. At 10 days, ALLENE OXIDE CYCLASE and POTATO TYPE I PROTEASE INHIBITOR were upregulated exclusively in local leaves of aphid-infested plants with a low level of AM fungal root colonization. In addition, local and systemic changes in plant gene expression appeared to be regulated exclusively by AM status and aphid herbivory. In summary, the gene expression data provide insights on mycorrhizal potato responses to aphid herbivory and serve as a starting point for future studies using this system.}, } @article {pmid31935845, year = {2020}, author = {Kumar, A and Cousins, DR and Liu, CW and Xu, P and Murray, JD}, title = {Nodule Inception Is Not Required for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31935845}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Most legumes can engage in symbiosis with N-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. This symbiosis, called nodulation, evolved from the more widespread symbiosis that most land plants form with arbuscular mycorrhiza, which is reflected in a common requirement of certain genes for both these symbioses. One key nodulation gene, Nodule Inception (NIN), has been intensively studied. Mutants in NIN are unable to form nodules, which has made it difficult to identify downstream genes under the control of NIN. The analysis of data from our recent transcriptomics study revealed that some genes with an altered expression of nin during nodulation are upregulated in mycorrhizal roots. In addition, another study reported the decreased colonization of nin roots by arbuscular mycorrhiza. We therefore investigated a role for NIN in mycorrhiza formation. Our time course study, using two nin alleles with differing genetic backgrounds, suggests that that loss of NIN does not affect colonization of Medicago truncatula roots, either in the presence or absence of rhizobia. This, and recent phylogenetic analyses showing that the loss of NIN is correlated with loss of nodulation in the FaFaCuRo clade, but not with the ability to form mycorrhiza, argue against NIN being required for arbuscular mycorrhization in legumes.}, } @article {pmid31935179, year = {2020}, author = {Becerra-Rivera, VA and Arteaga, A and Leija, A and Hernández, G and Dunn, MF}, title = {Polyamines produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm8530 contribute to symbiotically relevant phenotypes ex planta and to nodulation efficiency on alfalfa.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {166}, number = {3}, pages = {278-287}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000886}, pmid = {31935179}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ornithine Decarboxylase/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, emerging evidence shows significant roles for polyamines in growth and abiotic stress resistance. In this work we show that a polyamine-deficient ornithine decarboxylase null mutant (odc2) derived from Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm8530 had significant phenotypic differences from the wild-type, including greatly reduced production of exopolysaccharides (EPS; ostensibly both succinoglycan and galactoglucan), increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and decreased swimming motility. The introduction of the odc2 gene borne on a plasmid into the odc2 mutant restored wild-type phenotypes for EPS production, growth under oxidative stress and swimming. The production of calcofluor-binding EPS (succinoglycan) by the odc2 mutant was also completely or mostly restored in the presence of exogenous spermidine (Spd), norspermidine (NSpd) or spermine (Spm). The odc2 mutant formed about 25 % more biofilm than the wild-type, and its ability to form biofilm was significantly inhibited by exogenous Spd, NSpd or Spm. The odc2 mutant formed a less efficient symbiosis with alfalfa, resulting in plants with significantly less biomass and height, more nodules but less nodule biomass, and 25 % less nitrogen-fixing activity. Exogenously supplied Put was not able to revert these phenotypes and caused a similar increase in plant height and dry weight in uninoculated plants and in those inoculated with the wild-type or odc2 mutant. We discuss ways in which polyamines might affect the phenotypes of the odc2 mutant.}, } @article {pmid31934815, year = {2020}, author = {Hansch, F and Jaspar, H and von Sivers, L and Bitterlich, M and Franken, P and Kühn, C}, title = {Brassinosteroids and sucrose transport in mycorrhizal tomato plants.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {1714292}, pmid = {31934815}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Brassinosteroids/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Sucrose/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Silencing of SlSUT2 expression in tomato plants leads to a dwarfed phenotype, reduced pollen vitality and reduces pollen germination rate. Male sterility of flowers, together with a dwarfed growth behavior is reminiscent to brassinosteroid defective mutant plants. Therefore we aimed to rescue the SlSUT2 silencing phenotype by local brassinosteroid application. The phenotypical effects of SlSUT2 down-regulation could partially be rescued by epi-brassinolide treatment suggesting that SlSUT2 interconnects sucrose partitioning with brassinosteroid signaling. We previously showed that SlSUT2 silenced plants show increased mycorrhization and, this effect was explained by a putative sucrose retrieval function of SlSUT2 at the periarbuscular membrane. More recently, we reported that the symbiotic interaction between Solanaceous hosts and AM fungi is directly affected by watering the roots with epi-brassinolide. Here we show that the SlSUT2 effects on mycorrhiza are not only based on the putative sucrose retrieval function of SlSUT2 at the periarbuscular membrane. Our analyses argue that brassinosteroids as well as SlSUT2 per se can impact the arbuscular morphology/architecture and thereby affect the efficiency of nutrient exchange between both symbionts and the mycorrhizal growth benefit for the plant.}, } @article {pmid31933013, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, Y and Zhang, G and Ding, H and Ci, D and Dai, L and Zhang, Z}, title = {Influence of salt stress on the rhizosphere soil bacterial community structure and growth performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {453-465}, doi = {10.1007/s10123-020-00118-0}, pmid = {31933013}, issn = {1618-1905}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Arachis/growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhizosphere ; Salinity ; *Salt Stress ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Sphingomonas/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Soil salinity is regarded as severe environmental stress that can change the composition of rhizosphere soil bacterial community and import a plethora of harms to crop plants. However, relatively little is known about the relationship between salt stress and root microbial communities in groundnuts. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of salt stress on groundnut growth performance and rhizosphere microbial community structure. Statistical analysis exhibited that salt stress indeed affected groundnut growth and pod yield. Further taxonomic analysis showed that the bacterial community predominantly consisted of phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Saccharibacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Cyanobacteria. Among these bacteria, numbers of Cyanobacteria and Acidobacteria mainly increased, while that of Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi decreased after salt treatment via taxonomic and qPCR analysis. Moreover, Sphingomonas and Microcoleus as the predominant genera in salt-treated rhizosphere soils might enhance salt tolerance as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Metagenomic profiling showed that series of sequences related to signaling transduction, posttranslational modification, and chaperones were enriched in the salt-treated soils, which may have implications for plant survival and salt tolerance. These data will help us better understand the symbiotic relationship between the dominant microbial community and groundnuts and form the foundation for further improvement of salt tolerance of groundnuts via modification of soil microbial community.}, } @article {pmid31932881, year = {2020}, author = {Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Scheifler, M and Sanchez-Brosseau, S and Magnanou, E and West, N and Suzuki, M and Duperron, S and Desdevises, Y}, title = {Host Species and Body Site Explain the Variation in the Microbiota Associated to Wild Sympatric Mediterranean Teleost Fishes.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {212-222}, doi = {10.1007/s00248-020-01484-y}, pmid = {31932881}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fishes/*microbiology ; France ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gills/microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Intestines/microbiology ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Microbiota ; Mucus/microbiology ; Skin/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms are an important component in shaping the evolution of hosts and as such, the study of bacterial communities with molecular techniques is shedding light on the complexity of symbioses between bacteria and vertebrates. Teleost fish are a heterogeneous group that live in a wide variety of habitats, and thus a good model group to investigate symbiotic interactions and their influence on host biology and ecology. Here we describe the microbiota of thirteen teleostean species sharing the same environment in the Mediterranean Sea and compare bacterial communities among different species and body sites (external mucus, skin, gills, and intestine). Our results show that Proteobacteria is the dominant phylum present in fish and water. However, the prevalence of other bacterial taxa differs between fish and the surrounding water. Significant differences in bacterial diversity are observed among fish species and body sites, with higher diversity found in the external mucus. No effect of sampling time nor species individual was found. The identification of indicator bacterial taxa further supports that each body site harbors its own characteristic bacterial community. These results improve current knowledge and understanding of symbiotic relationships among bacteria and their fish hosts in the wild since the majority of previous studies focused on captive individuals.}, } @article {pmid31932537, year = {2020}, author = {Artigas Ramírez, MD and España, M and Lewandowska, S and Yuan, K and Okazaki, S and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Yokoyama, T}, title = {Phylogenetic Analysis of Symbiotic Bacteria Associated with Two Vigna Species under Different Agro-Ecological Conditions in Venezuela.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31932537}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Venezuela ; Vigna/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Vigna is a genus of legumes cultivated in specific areas of tropical countries. Species in this genus are important crops worldwide. Vigna species are of great agronomic interest in Venezuela because Vigna beans are an excellent alternative to other legumes. However, this type of crop has some cultivation issues due to sensitivity to acidic soils, high temperatures, and salinity stress, which are common in Venezuela. Vigna species establish symbioses mainly with Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer, and Vigna-rhizobia interactions have been examined in Asia, Africa, and America. However, the identities of the rhizobia associated with V. radiata and V. unguiculata in Venezuela remain unknown. In the present study, we isolated Venezuelan symbiotic rhizobia associated with Vigna species from soils with contrasting agroecosystems or from fields in Venezuela. Several types of soils were used for bacterial isolation and nodules were sampled from environments characterized by abiotic stressors, such as high temperatures, high concentrations of NaCl, and acidic or alkaline pH. Venezuelan Vigna-rhizobia were mainly fast-growing. Sequencing of several housekeeping genes showed that in contrast to other continents, Venezuelan Vigna species were nodulated by rhizobia genus including Burkholderia, containing bacteria from several new phylogenetic lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium. Some Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium isolates were tolerant of high salinity and Al toxicity. The stress tolerance of strains was dependent on the type of rhizobia, soil origin, and cultivation history. An isolate classified as R. phaseoli showed the highest plant biomass, nitrogen fixation, and excellent abiotic stress response, suggesting a novel promising inoculant for Vigna cultivation in Venezuela.}, } @article {pmid31926284, year = {2020}, author = {Kizhakkekalam, VK and Chakraborty, K and Joy, M}, title = {Oxygenated elansolid-type of polyketide spanned macrolides from a marine heterotrophic Bacillus as prospective antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant pathogens.}, journal = {International journal of antimicrobial agents}, volume = {55}, number = {3}, pages = {105892}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105892}, pmid = {31926284}, issn = {1872-7913}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/*chemistry/genetics ; Biological Products/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects ; Humans ; Macrolides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects ; Oxygen ; }, abstract = {Three homologous oxygenated elansolid-type of polyketide spanned macrolides were isolated from a heterotrophic marine bacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716, associated with an intertidal red alga Hypnea valentiae. The complete genome of the bacterium was sequenced and all detectable natural product gene clusters were analysed. The B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716 genome features polyketide synthase (pks) systems of every known formally classified family, nonribosomal peptide synthetases and hybrid clusters. Comprehensive spectroscopic studies revealed the compounds to possess isobenzofuranyl benzoate and 1H-furopyrano[2,3-c]oxacyclononadecine-6-carboxylate moieties. The identified compounds displayed broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, and drug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ≤1.0 µg/mL, whereas the standard antibiotics ampicillin and chloramphenicol were active only at concentrations of ≥6.25 µg/mL. The plausible mechanism of elansolid-type macrolide biosynthesis by trans-AT polyketide synthases through the pks starter unit para-hydroxybenzoic acid was hypothesised, and the structures were correlated with the gene organisation, with the predicted gene cluster comprising 16 genes (~81 kb in size). The best binding poses for each compound with the peptide deformylase (PDF) protein of S. aureus revealed docking scores (>11.30 kcal/mol) greater than actinonin (6.96 kcal/mol), a natural PDF inhibitor. The higher electronic values along with optimum lipophilic parameters support the potential anti-infective properties of the studied macrolides. These antibacterial elansolid-type of polyketide spanned macrolides in marine symbiotic B. amyloliquefaciens could be potential leads for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications against emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens.}, } @article {pmid31925332, year = {2020}, author = {Gibbin, E and Banc-Prandi, G and Fine, M and Comment, A and Meibom, A}, title = {A method to disentangle and quantify host anabolic turnover in photosymbiotic holobionts with subcellular resolution.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {14}, pmid = {31925332}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Microbiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Pyruvic Acid/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A wide range of organisms host photosynthesizing symbionts. In these animals the metabolic exchange between host and symbionts has prevented in situ host anabolic turnover to be studied without the confounding effect of translocated photosynthates. Using the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata as a model organism and [1-[13]C]-pyruvate and [2,3-[13]C]-pyruvate in different incubation conditions (light, light + DCMU, and darkness), we employed NanoSIMS isotopic imaging to quantify host anabolism, with and without translocated metabolites from their photosynthesizing dinoflagellate symbionts. Under our experimental conditions, host de novo lipid synthesis accounted for ~40% of the total holobiont lipid reserve, and dinoflagellate recycling of metabolic [13]CO2 enhanced host tissue [13]C-enrichment by 13-22% in the epidermis, 40-58% in the gastrodermis, and 135-169% in host lipid bodies. Furthermore, we show that host anabolic turnover in different tissue structures differs, in a manner consistent with the localisation, function and cellular composition of these structures.}, } @article {pmid31924200, year = {2020}, author = {Morshedi, M and Saghafi-Asl, M and Hosseinifard, ES}, title = {The potential therapeutic effects of the gut microbiome manipulation by synbiotic containing-Lactobacillus plantarum on neuropsychological performance of diabetic rats.}, journal = {Journal of translational medicine}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {18}, pmid = {31924200}, issn = {1479-5876}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Lactobacillus plantarum ; Male ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The manipulation of gut microbiota as a target has been suggested to reduce the risks for a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Conversely, T2DM is associated with complications such as gut and brain disorders. Furthermore, the impact of probiotics and prebiotics to improve T2DM complications are reported. Thus, the present study seeks to investigate the therapeutic and neuropsychological effects of L. plantarum and inulin in diabetic rats.

METHODS: Throughout the investigation, L. plantarum, inulin or their combination (synbiotic) was administered to diabetic rats. in the end, fecal samples were collected to evaluate the gut microbial composition. Then behavioral tests were conducted. Subsequently, the obtainment of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampal samples.

RESULTS: Our data demonstrated that administration of L. plantarum and inulin could improve gut dysbiosis and oxidative stress status. In addition, it could ameliorate serotonin and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway. Notably, a strong correlation between the gut microbiota changes and cognition responses was observed. Interestingly, synbiotics intake exploited a rather powerful effect on oxidative stress markers.

CONCLUSION: The findings confirm that there is a beneficial therapeutic potential of supplements, especially symbiotic. Moreover, neuropsychological improvement associated with balanced gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid31923325, year = {2020}, author = {Rog, I and Rosenstock, NP and Körner, C and Klein, T}, title = {Share the wealth: Trees with greater ectomycorrhizal species overlap share more carbon.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {13}, pages = {2321-2333}, pmid = {31923325}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {849740/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Carbon ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Trees/classification/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis between forest trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) is among the most ubiquitous and successful interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. Specific species of EMF are known to colonize specific tree species, benefitting from their carbon source, and in turn, improving their access to soil water and nutrients. EMF also form extensive mycelial networks that can link multiple root-tips of different trees. Yet the number of tree species connected by such mycelial networks, and the traffic of material across them, are just now under study. Recently we reported substantial belowground carbon transfer between Picea, Pinus, Larix and Fagus trees in a mature forest. Here, we analyze the EMF community of these same individual trees and identify the most likely taxa responsible for the observed carbon transfer. Among the nearly 1,200 EMF root-tips examined, 50%-70% belong to operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that were associated with three or four tree host species, and 90% of all OTUs were associated with at least two tree species. Sporocarp [13] C signals indicated that carbon originating from labelled Picea trees was transferred among trees through EMF networks. Interestingly, phylogenetically more closely related tree species exhibited more similar EMF communities and exchanged more carbon. Our results show that belowground carbon transfer is well orchestrated by the evolution of EMFs and tree symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31922733, year = {2020}, author = {Song, QY and Li, F and Nan, ZB and Coulter, JA and Wei, WJ}, title = {Do Epichloë Endophytes and Their Grass Symbiosis Only Produce Toxic Alkaloids to Insects and Livestock?.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {68}, number = {5}, pages = {1169-1185}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06614}, pmid = {31922733}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Alkaloids/chemistry/*metabolism/toxicity ; Animals ; Endophytes/*chemistry/physiology ; Epichloe/*chemistry/metabolism ; Insecta/drug effects ; Livestock/metabolism ; Poaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes in forage grasses have attracted widespread attention and interest of chemistry researchers as a result of the various unique chemical structures and interesting biological activities of their secondary metabolites. This review describes the diversity of unique chemical structures of taxa from Epichloë endophytes and grass infected with Epichloë endophytes and demonstrates their reported biological activities. Until now, nearly 160 secondary metabolites (alkaloids, peptides, indole derivatives, pyrimidines, sesquiterpenoids, flavonoids, phenol and phenolic acid derivatives, aliphatic metabolites, sterols, amines and amides, and others) have been reported from Epichloë endophytes and grass infected with Epichloë endophytes. Among these, non-alkaloids account for half of the population of total metabolites, indicating that they also play an important role in Epichloë endophytes and grass infected with Epichloë endophytes. Also, a diverse array of secondary metabolites isolated from Epichloë endophytes and symbionts is a rich source for developing new pesticides and drugs. Bioassays disclose that, in addition to toxic alkaloids, the other metabolites isolated from Epichloë endophytes and symbionts have notable biological activities, such as antifungal, anti-insect, and phytotoxic activities. Accordingly, the biological functions of non-alkaloids should not be neglected in the future investigation of Epichloë endophytes and symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31922549, year = {2020}, author = {Lemaire, ON and Méjean, V and Iobbi-Nivol, C}, title = {The Shewanella genus: ubiquitous organisms sustaining and preserving aquatic ecosystems.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {155-170}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuz031}, pmid = {31922549}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Microbiology ; Industrial Microbiology ; Shewanella/*classification/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Gram-negative Shewanella bacterial genus currently includes about 70 species of mostly aquatic γ--proteobacteria, which were isolated around the globe in a multitude of environments such as surface freshwater and the deepest marine trenches. Their survival in such a wide range of ecological niches is due to their impressive physiological and respiratory versatility. Some strains are among the organisms with the highest number of respiratory systems, depending on a complex and rich metabolic network. Implicated in the recycling of organic and inorganic matter, they are important components of organism-rich oxic/anoxic interfaces, but they also belong to the microflora of a broad group of eukaryotes from metazoans to green algae. Examples of long-term biological interactions like mutualism or pathogeny have been described, although molecular determinants of such symbioses are still poorly understood. Some of these bacteria are key organisms for various biotechnological applications, especially the bioremediation of hydrocarbons and metallic pollutants. The natural ability of these prokaryotes to thrive and detoxify deleterious compounds explains their use in wastewater treatment, their use in energy generation by microbial fuel cells and their importance for resilience of aquatic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31921269, year = {2019}, author = {Russo, G and Carotenuto, G and Fiorilli, V and Volpe, V and Faccio, A and Bonfante, P and Chabaud, M and Chiapello, M and Van Damme, D and Genre, A}, title = {TPLATE Recruitment Reveals Endocytic Dynamics at Sites of Symbiotic Interface Assembly in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1628}, pmid = {31921269}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Introduction: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis between soil fungi and the majority of plants is based on a mutualistic exchange of organic and inorganic nutrients. This takes place inside root cortical cells that harbor an arbuscule: a highly branched intracellular fungal hypha enveloped by an extension of the host cell membrane-the perifungal membrane-which outlines a specialized symbiotic interface compartment. The perifungal membrane develops around each intracellular hypha as the symbiotic fungus proceeds across the root tissues; its biogenesis is the result of an extensive exocytic process and shows a few similarities with cell plate insertion which occurs at the end of somatic cytokinesis. Materials and Methods: We here analyzed the subcellular localization of a GFP fusion with TPLATE, a subunit of the endocytic TPLATE complex (TPC), a central actor in plant clathrin-mediated endocytosis with a role in cell plate anchoring with the parental plasma membrane. Results: Our observations demonstrate that Daucus carota and Medicago truncatula root organ cultures expressing a 35S::AtTPLATE-GFP construct accumulate strong fluorescent green signal at sites of symbiotic interface construction, along recently formed perifungal membranes and at sites of cell-to-cell hyphal passage between adjacent cortical cells, where the perifungal membrane fuses with the plasmalemma. Discussion: Our results strongly suggest that TPC-mediated endocytic processes are active during perifungal membrane interface biogenesis-alongside exocytic transport. This novel conclusion, which might be correlated to the accumulation of late endosomes in the vicinity of the developing interface, hints at the involvement of TPC-dependent membrane remodeling during the intracellular accommodation of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid31921260, year = {2019}, author = {Calabrese, S and Cusant, L and Sarazin, A and Niehl, A and Erban, A and Brulé, D and Recorbet, G and Wipf, D and Roux, C and Kopka, J and Boller, T and Courty, PE}, title = {Imbalanced Regulation of Fungal Nutrient Transports According to Phosphate Availability in a Symbiocosm Formed by Poplar, Sorghum, and Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1617}, pmid = {31921260}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, key components of nutrient uptake and exchange are specialized transporters that facilitate nutrient transport across membranes. As phosphate is a nutrient and a regulator of nutrient exchanges, we investigated the effect of P availability to extraradical mycelium (ERM) on both plant and fungus transcriptomes and metabolomes in a symbiocosm system. By perturbing nutrient exchanges under the control of P, our objectives were to identify new fungal genes involved in nutrient transports, and to characterize in which extent the fungus differentially modulates its metabolism when interacting with two different plant species. We performed transportome analysis on the ERM and intraradical mycelium of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis associated to Populus trichocarpa and Sorghum bicolor under high and low P availability in ERM, using quantitative RT-PCR and Illumina mRNA-sequencing. We observed that mycorrhizal symbiosis induces expression of specific phosphate and ammonium transporters in both plants. Furthermore, we identified new AM-inducible transporters and showed that a subset of phosphate transporters is regulated independently of symbiotic nutrient exchange. mRNA-Sequencing revealed that the fungal transportome was not similarly regulated in the two host plant species according to P availability. Mirroring this effect, many plant carbohydrate transporters were down-regulated in P. trichocarpa mycorrhizal root tissue. Metabolome analysis revealed further that AM root colonization led to a modification of root primary metabolism under low and high P availability and to a decrease of primary metabolite pools in general. Moreover, the down regulation of the sucrose transporters suggests that the plant limits carbohydrate long distance transport (i.e. from shoot to the mycorrhizal roots). By simultaneous uptake/reuptake of nutrients from the apoplast at the biotrophic interface, plant and fungus are both able to control reciprocal nutrient fluxes.}, } @article {pmid31921069, year = {2019}, author = {Racine, E and Gualtieri, M}, title = {From Worms to Drug Candidate: The Story of Odilorhabdins, a New Class of Antimicrobial Agents.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2893}, pmid = {31921069}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A major issue currently facing medicine is antibiotic resistance. No new class of antibiotics for the treatment of Gram-negative infections has been introduced in more than 40 years. We screened a collection of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus strains in the quest to discover new structures that are active against the most problematic multidrug-resistant bacteria. These species are symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes and their life cycle, the richness of the bacteria's genome in non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, and their propensity to produce secondary metabolites with a large diversity of chemical structures make them a good starting point to begin an ambitious drug discovery program. Odilorhabdins (ODLs), a novel antibacterial class, were identified from this campaign. These compounds inhibit bacterial translation by binding to the small ribosomal subunit at a site not exploited by current antibiotics. Following the development of the total synthesis of this family of peptides, a medicinal chemistry program was started to optimize their pharmacological properties. NOSO-502, the first ODL preclinical candidate was selected. This compound is currently under preclinical development for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections in hospitalized patients.}, } @article {pmid31921065, year = {2019}, author = {Del Barrio-Duque, A and Ley, J and Samad, A and Antonielli, L and Sessitsch, A and Compant, S}, title = {Beneficial Endophytic Bacteria-Serendipita indica Interaction for Crop Enhancement and Resistance to Phytopathogens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2888}, pmid = {31921065}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Serendipita (=Piriformospora) indica is a fungal endophytic symbiont with the capabilities to enhance plant growth and confer resistance to different stresses. However, the application of this fungus in the field has led to inconsistent results, perhaps due to antagonism with other microbes. Here, we studied the impact of individual bacterial isolates from the endophytic bacterial community on the in vitro growth of S. indica. We further analyzed how combinations of bacteria and S. indica influence plant growth and protection against the phytopathogens Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. Bacterial strains of the genera Bacillus, Enterobacter and Burkholderia negatively affected S. indica growth on plates, whereas Mycolicibacterium, Rhizobium, Paenibacillus strains and several other bacteria from different taxa stimulated fungal growth. To further explore the potential of bacteria positively interacting with S. indica, four of the most promising strains belonging to the genus Mycolicibacterium were selected for further experiments. Some dual inoculations of S. indica and Mycolicibacterium strains boosted the beneficial effects triggered by S. indica, further enhancing the growth of tomato plants, and alleviating the symptoms caused by the phytopathogens F. oxysporum and R. solani. However, some combinations of S. indica and bacteria were less effective than individual inoculations. By analyzing the genomes of the Mycolicibacterium strains, we revealed that these bacteria encode several genes predicted to be involved in the stimulation of S. indica growth, plant development and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Particularly, a high number of genes related to vitamin and nitrogen metabolism were detected. Taking into consideration multiple interactions on and inside plants, we showed in this study that some bacterial strains may induce beneficial effects on S. indica and could have an outstanding influence on the plant-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31920999, year = {2019}, author = {Pastor-Bueis, R and Sánchez-Cañizares, C and James, EK and González-Andrés, F}, title = {Formulation of a Highly Effective Inoculant for Common Bean Based on an Autochthonous Elite Strain of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli, and Genomic-Based Insights Into Its Agronomic Performance.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2724}, pmid = {31920999}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Common bean is a poor symbiotic N-fixer, with a low response to inoculation owing to its promiscuous nodulation with competitive but inefficient resident rhizobia. Consequently, farmers prefer to fertilize them rather than rely on their capacity for Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF). However, when rhizobial inoculants are based on autochthonous strains, they often have superior BNF performance in the field due to their genetic adaptations to the local environment. Nevertheless, there is scant information at the genomic level explaining their superiority or on how their genomes may influence the inoculant performance. This information is especially important in technologically advanced agri-systems like Europe, where environmental concerns and increasingly stringent fertilizer regulations are encouraging a return to the use of rhizobial inoculants, but based upon strains that have been thoroughly characterized in terms of their symbiotic performance and their genetics. The aim of this study was to design an inoculant formulation based on a superior autochthonous strain, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli LCS0306, to assess its performance in the field, and to determine the genomic features contributing to the high effectiveness of its symbiosis with common bean. Plants inoculated with the autochthonous strain LCS0306 fixed significantly more nitrogen than those with the allochthonous strains R. phaseoli ATCC 14482[T] and R. etli CFN42[T], and had grain yield similar to the nitrogen-fertilized controls. Inoculation with LCS0306 was particularly efficacious when formulated with a carrier based upon a mixture of perlite and biochar. Whole genome comparisons revealed no differences in the classical symbiotic genes of strain LCS0306 within the symbiovar phaseoli. However, its symbiotic superior performance might be due to its genomic versatility, as it harbors a large assortment of genes contributing to fitness and competitiveness. It is concluded that inoculation with elite rhizobia formulated with perlite-biochar carriers might constitute a step-change in the sustainable cultivation of common bean in Spanish soils.}, } @article {pmid31919182, year = {2020}, author = {Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Martínez-Abarca, F and Cobo-Díaz, JF and López-Contreras, JA and Fernández-López, M and Toro, N}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain AK21, a Salt-Tolerant Isolate from the Aral Sea Region.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {31919182}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report here the complete genome sequence of the salt-tolerant Sinorhizobium meliloti strain AK21, isolated from nodules of Medicago sativa L. subsp. ambigua inhabiting the northern Aral Sea Region. This genome (7.36 Mb) consists of a chromosome and four accessory plasmids, two of which are the symbiotic megaplasmids pSymA and pSymB.}, } @article {pmid31918781, year = {2020}, author = {Cholewińska, P and Czyż, K and Nowakowski, P and Wyrostek, A}, title = {The microbiome of the digestive system of ruminants - a review.}, journal = {Animal health research reviews}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {3-14}, doi = {10.1017/S1466252319000069}, pmid = {31918781}, issn = {1475-2654}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Rumen/microbiology ; *Ruminants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review aims to explain the influence and characterization of the microbiome in the ruminant digestive system by presenting the knowledge collected so far. The knowledge presented in this work is focused on the main factors affecting the microbiome and the main dependencies that have been found in it so far. The microbiome in the rumen is the first to come into contact with the biomass of the forage and its main purpose is to decompose into smaller particles or compounds. With the gradual increase in knowledge about the microbiome, there is a chance to manipulate it so that the animal continues to live in a symbiotic relationship with it, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the environment as well as increasing feed efficiency. Therefore, understanding the influence of the ruminant microbiome is the main step to achieve such results. However, learning the relationship between microorganisms is only at an early stage, because research focuses mainly on taxonomy. Future research should focus on interactions in the ecosystem which is the microbiome, on explaining individual functions and on influence of environmental factors.}, } @article {pmid31918733, year = {2020}, author = {Tempalski, B and Williams, LD and West, BS and Cooper, HLF and Beane, S and Ibragimov, U and Friedman, SR}, title = {Predictors of historical change in drug treatment coverage among people who inject drugs in 90 large metropolitan areas in the USA, 1993-2007.}, journal = {Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {31918733}, issn = {1747-597X}, support = {R01 DA037568/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA13336//Foundation for the National Institutes of Health/International ; }, mesh = {Harm Reduction ; Health Services Accessibility/economics/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Needle-Exchange Programs/economics/statistics & numerical data ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/*statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/*epidemiology/*therapy ; United States/epidemiology ; *Urban Population ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Adequate access to effective treatment and medication assisted therapies for opioid dependence has led to improved antiretroviral therapy adherence and decreases in morbidity among people who inject drugs (PWID), and can also address a broad range of social and public health problems. However, even with the success of syringe service programs and opioid substitution programs in European countries (and others) the US remains historically low in terms of coverage and access with regard to these programs. This manuscript investigates predictors of historical change in drug treatment coverage for PWID in 90 US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) during 1993-2007, a period in which, overall coverage did not change.

METHODS: Drug treatment coverage was measured as the number of PWID in drug treatment, as calculated by treatment entry and census data, divided by numbers of PWID in each MSA. Variables suggested by the Theory of Community Action (i.e., need, resource availability, institutional opposition, organized support, and service symbiosis) were analyzed using mixed-effects multivariate models within dependent variables lagged in time to study predictors of later change in coverage.

RESULTS: Mean coverage was low in 1993 (6.7%; SD 3.7), and did not increase by 2007 (6.4%; SD 4.5). Multivariate results indicate that increases in baseline unemployment rate (β = 0.312; pseudo-p < 0.0002) predict significantly higher treatment coverage; baseline poverty rate (β = - 0.486; pseudo-p < 0.0001), and baseline size of public health and social work workforce (β = 0.425; pseudo-p < 0.0001) were predictors of later mean coverage levels, and baseline HIV prevalence among PWID predicted variation in treatment coverage trajectories over time (baseline HIV * Time: β = 0.039; pseudo-p < 0.001). Finally, increases in black/white poverty disparity from baseline predicted significantly higher treatment coverage in MSAs (β = 1.269; pseudo-p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: While harm reduction programs have historically been contested and difficult to implement in many US communities, and despite efforts to increase treatment coverage for PWID, coverage has not increased. Contrary to our hypothesis, epidemiologic need, seems not to be associated with change in treatment coverage over time. Resource availability and institutional opposition are important predictors of change over time in coverage. These findings suggest that new ways have to be found to increase drug treatment coverage in spite of economic changes and belt-tightening policy changes that will make this difficult.}, } @article {pmid31917866, year = {2020}, author = {Preuss, M and Zuccarello, GC}, title = {A Comment on Salomaki and Lane 2019 "Molecular Phylogenetics Supports a Clade of Red Algal Parasites Retaining Native Plastids: Taxonomy and Terminology Revised"[1].}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {830-832}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12963}, pmid = {31917866}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; *Parasites ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; *Rhodophyta/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salomaki and Lane (2019) proposed a new terminology to group red algal parasites either as parasites containing their own (native) reduced plastid: "archaeplastic" (allied to the old designation "alloparasite") or parasites that contain only a host plastid: "neoplastic" (similar to the older term "adelphoparasite"). We believe this is premature. There are examples that contradict their proposed grouping, and their proposal was based on work from the mid-1990s that should be re-evaluated. We also believe that grouping red algal parasites into two groups obscures both our lack of knowledge of these organisms and the diversity that is already seen in the few intensively studied parasites. Instead of making generalizations based on limited knowledge, further in-depth study should be encouraged and will be useful in understanding these intriguing organisms.}, } @article {pmid31917160, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, A and Tang, L and Zeng, S and Lei, Y and Yang, S and Tang, B}, title = {Gut microbiota: A new piece in understanding hepatocarcinogenesis.}, journal = {Cancer letters}, volume = {474}, number = {}, pages = {15-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.canlet.2020.01.002}, pmid = {31917160}, issn = {1872-7980}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology/microbiology/*pathology ; Dysbiosis/*complications/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology/microbiology/*pathology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota forms a symbiotic relationship with the host and benefits the body in many critical aspects of life. However, immune system defects, alterations in the gut microbiota and environmental changes can destroy this symbiotic relationship and may lead to diseases, including cancer. Due to the anatomic and functional connection of the gut and liver, increasing studies show the important role of the gut microbiota in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this manuscript, we review the available evidence and analyze some potential mechanisms of the gut microbiota, including bacterial dysbiosis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and genotoxins, in the progression and promotion of HCC. Furthermore, we discuss the possible therapeutic applications of probiotics, chemotherapy modulation, immunotherapy, targeted drugs and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in targeting the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31916486, year = {2020}, author = {Hay, AE and Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Rey, M and Fournier, P and Normand, P and Boubakri, H}, title = {Feedback Regulation of N Fixation in Frankia-Alnus Symbiosis Through Amino Acids Profiling in Field and Greenhouse Nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {499-508}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-19-0289-R}, pmid = {31916486}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology ; Amino Acids/*analysis ; Frankia/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis established between actinorhizal plants and Frankia spp., which are nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria, promotes nodule organogenesis, the site of metabolic exchange. The present study aimed to identify amino acid markers involved in Frankia-Alnus interactions by comparing nodules and associated roots from field and greenhouse samples. Our results revealed a high level of citrulline in all samples, followed by arginine (Arg), aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu), γ-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA), and alanine (Ala). Interestingly, the field metabolome approach highlighted more contrasted amino acid patterns between nodules and roots compared with greenhouse samples. Indeed, 12 amino acids had a mean relative abundance significantly different between field nodule and root samples, against only four amino acids in greenhouse samples, underlining the importance of developing "ecometabolome" approaches. In order to monitor the effects on Frankia cells (respiration and nitrogen fixation activities) of amino acid with an abundance pattern evocative of a role in symbiosis, in-vitro assays were performed by supplementing them in nitrogen-free cultures. Amino acids had three types of effects: i) those used by Frankia as nitrogen source (Glu, Gln, Asp), ii) amino acids stimulating both nitrogen fixation and respiration (e.g., Cit, GABA, Ala, valine, Asn), and iii) amino acids triggering a toxic effect (Arg, histidine). In this paper, a N-metabolic model was proposed to discuss how the host plant and bacteria modulate amino acids contents in nodules, leading to a fine regulation sustaining high bacterial nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid31915210, year = {2020}, author = {Quigley, KM and Randall, CJ and van Oppen, MJH and Bay, LK}, title = {Assessing the role of historical temperature regime and algal symbionts on the heat tolerance of coral juveniles.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31915210}, issn = {2046-6390}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Climate Change ; Dinoflagellida ; Hot Temperature ; Oceans and Seas ; Selective Breeding ; *Symbiosis ; *Temperature ; *Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {The rate of coral reef degradation from climate change is accelerating and, as a consequence, a number of interventions to increase coral resilience and accelerate recovery are under consideration. Acropora spathulata coral colonies that survived mass bleaching in 2016 and 2017 were sourced from a bleaching-impacted and warmer northern reef on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These individuals were reproductively crossed with colonies collected from a recently bleached but historically cooler central GBR reef to produce pure and crossbred offspring groups (warm-warm, warm-cool and cool-warm). We tested whether corals from the warmer reef produced more thermally tolerant hybrid and purebred offspring compared with crosses produced with colonies sourced from the cooler reef and whether different symbiont taxa affect heat tolerance. Juveniles were infected with Symbiodinium tridacnidorum, Cladocopium goreaui and Durusdinium trenchii and survival, bleaching and growth were assessed at 27.5°C and 31°C. The contribution of host genetic background and symbiont identity varied across fitness traits. Offspring with either both or one parent from the northern population exhibited a 13- to 26-fold increase in survival odds relative to all other treatments where survival probability was significantly influenced by familial cross identity at 31°C but not 27.5°C (Kaplan-Meier P=0.001 versus 0.2). If in symbiosis with D. trenchii, a warm sire and cool dam provided the best odds of juvenile survival. Bleaching was predominantly driven by Symbiodiniaceae treatment, where juveniles hosting D. trenchii bleached significantly less than the other treatments at 31°C. The greatest overall fold-benefits in growth and survival at 31°C occurred in having at least one warm dam and in symbiosis with D. trenchii Juveniles associated with D. trenchii grew the most at 31°C, but at 27.5°C, growth was fastest in juveniles associated with C. goreaui In conclusion, selective breeding with warmer GBR corals in combination with algal symbiont manipulation can assist in increasing thermal tolerance on cooler but warming reefs. Such interventions have the potential to improve coral fitness in warming oceans.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.}, } @article {pmid31913264, year = {2020}, author = {Xiang, T and Lehnert, E and Jinkerson, RE and Clowez, S and Kim, RG and DeNofrio, JC and Pringle, JR and Grossman, AR}, title = {Symbiont population control by host-symbiont metabolic interaction in Symbiodiniaceae-cnidarian associations.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {108}, pmid = {31913264}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Glutamate Synthase/genetics/metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses, algal endosymbiont population control within the host is needed to sustain a symbiotic relationship. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie such population control are unclear. Here we show that a cnidarian host uses nitrogen limitation as a primary mechanism to control endosymbiont populations. Nitrogen acquisition and assimilation transcripts become elevated in symbiotic Breviolum minutum algae as they reach high-densities within the sea anemone host Exaiptasia pallida. These same transcripts increase in free-living algae deprived of nitrogen. Symbiotic algae also have an elevated carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and shift metabolism towards scavenging nitrogen from purines relative to free-living algae. Exaiptasia glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase transcripts concomitantly increase with the algal endosymbiont population, suggesting an increased ability of the host to assimilate ammonium. These results suggest algal growth and replication in hospite is controlled by access to nitrogen, which becomes limiting for the algae as their population within the host increases.}, } @article {pmid31912447, year = {2020}, author = {Reeves, DD and Price, SL and Ramalho, MO and Moreau, CS}, title = {The Diversity and Distribution of Wolbachia, Rhizobiales, and Ophiocordyceps Within the Widespread Neotropical Turtle Ant, Cephalotes atratus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {52-60}, pmid = {31912447}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Hypocreales/*genetics ; South America ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Ants are an ecologically and evolutionarily diverse group, and they harbor a wide range of symbiotic microbial communities that often greatly affect their biology. Turtle ants (genus Cephalotes) engage in mutualistic relationships with gut bacteria and are exploited by microbial parasites. Studies have shown that associations among these microbial lineages and the turtle ant hosts vary geographically. However, these studies have been limited, and thorough within-species analyses of the variation and structure of these microbial communities have yet to be conducted. The giant turtle ant, Cephalotes atratus (Linnaeus 1758), is a geographically widespread, genetically diverse Neotropical species that has been sampled extensively across its geographic range, making it ideal for analysis of microbial associations. In this study, we verified the presence, genetic variation, and geographic patterns at the individual, colony, and population level of three microbial groups associated with the giant turtle ant: Wolbachia, a genus of facultative bacteria which are often parasitic, affecting host reproduction; Rhizobiales, a mutualistic order of bacteria hypothesized to be an obligate nutritional symbiont in turtle ants; and Ophiocordyceps, a genus of endoparasitic fungi infecting many arthropod species by manipulating their behavior for fungal reproduction. In this study, we found varying degrees of prevalence for two distantly related genotypes (haplogroups) of Wolbachia and high degree of prevalence of Rhizobiales across colonies with little genetic variation. In addition, we found low occurrence of Ophiocordyceps. This study highlights a key first step in understanding the diversity, distribution, and prevalence of the microbial community of C. atratus.}, } @article {pmid31912218, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, F and Xu, Y and Wang, H and Zhou, Y and Cheng, B and Li, X}, title = {APETALA 2 transcription factor CBX1 is a regulator of mycorrhizal symbiosis and growth of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {445-455}, pmid = {31912218}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Lignin/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA-Seq ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {An AP2 family gene CBX1 is involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis and growth of Lotus japonicus. APETALA 2 (AP2) transcriptional regulator is highly conserved in plants. CBX1 from Lotus japonicus is a member of AP2 family. AMF (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) inoculation experiment demonstrated that expression of CBX1 was significantly induced by AMF. Further promoter analysis showed that the - 764 to - 498 bp region of the CBX1 promoter containing CTTC motif is the AMF responsive region. Functional analysis of cbx1 mutant suggested CBX1 is critical for mycorrhizal symbiosis, especially for arbuscule formation. Moreover, under noncolonized condition, overexpression of CBX1 reduced the root length of L. japonicus but increased the size of root system and shoot length, whereas cbx1 mutant reduced the root size and shoot length, but not effect on root length. In addition, cbx1 altered activity of monolignol biosynthetic gene and increased lignin levels. Collectively, these data indicated that CBX1 is a positive regulator of symbiotic activity and plays roles in the growth of L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid31910734, year = {2020}, author = {Arab, DA and Bourguignon, T and Wang, Z and Ho, SYW and Lo, N}, title = {Evolutionary rates are correlated between cockroach symbionts and mitochondrial genomes.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {20190702}, pmid = {31910734}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cockroaches ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts evolve under strong host-driven selection. Factors influencing host evolution might affect symbionts in similar ways, potentially leading to correlations between the molecular evolutionary rates of hosts and symbionts. Although there is evidence of rate correlations between mitochondrial and nuclear genes, similar investigations of hosts and symbionts are lacking. Here, we demonstrate a correlation in molecular rates between the genomes of an endosymbiont (Blattabacterium cuenoti) and the mitochondrial genomes of their hosts (cockroaches). We used partial genome data for multiple strains of B. cuenoti to compare phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary rates for 55 cockroach/symbiont pairs. The phylogenies inferred for B. cuenoti and the mitochondrial genomes of their hosts were largely congruent, as expected from their identical maternal and cytoplasmic mode of inheritance. We found a correlation between evolutionary rates of the two genomes, based on comparisons of root-to-tip distances and on comparisons of the branch lengths of phylogenetically independent species pairs. Our results underscore the profound effects that long-term symbiosis can have on the biology of each symbiotic partner.}, } @article {pmid31910516, year = {2020}, author = {Kamei, M and Takayama, K and Ishibashi, H and Takeuchi, I}, title = {Effects of ecologically relevant concentrations of Irgarol 1051 in tropical to subtropical coastal seawater on hermatypic coral Acropora tenuis and its symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {150}, number = {}, pages = {110734}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110734}, pmid = {31910516}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Seawater ; Triazines/*analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The effects of ecologically relevant concentrations of Irgarol 1051, a representative PSII herbicide, on hermatypic corals were studied in the laboratory. The colour and chlorophyll fluorescence of Acropora tenuis were examined following exposure to around ambient concentrations of Irgarol 1051 (20 ng/L and 200 ng/L) for 7 days. While the colour of corals was stable throughout the experiment at both concentrations, the maximum effective quantum yield (ΔF/Fm') of symbiotic dinoflagellates decreased with increasing Irgarol 1051 concentration (day 7: 8%, 20 ng/L; 37%, 200 ng/L). The expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and 90 in symbiotic dinoflagellates was upregulated after 7 days exposure to both Irgarol concentrations, whereas HSP90 in coral was not upregulated. The findings of the present study suggest that the threshold of chlorophyll fluorescence and HSP expression in symbiotic dinoflagellates is lower than 20 ng/L, which is around ecologically relevant concentrations in tropical to subtropical waters.}, } @article {pmid31906844, year = {2020}, author = {Bradshaw, M and Grewe, F and Thomas, A and Harrison, CH and Lindgren, H and Muggia, L and St Clair, LL and Lumbsch, HT and Leavitt, SD}, title = {Characterizing the ribosomal tandem repeat and its utility as a DNA barcode in lichen-forming fungi.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, pmid = {31906844}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/*genetics ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; DNA, Ribosomal ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lichens/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Regions within the nuclear ribosomal operon are a major tool for inferring evolutionary relationships and investigating diversity in fungi. In spite of the prevalent use of ribosomal markers in fungal research, central features of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) evolution are poorly characterized for fungi in general, including lichenized fungi. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nrDNA has been adopted as the primary DNA barcode identification marker for fungi. However, little is known about intragenomic variation in the nrDNA in symbiotic fungi. In order to better understand evolution of nrDNA and the utility of the ITS region for barcode identification of lichen-forming fungal species, we generated nearly complete nuclear ribosomal operon sequences from nine species in the Rhizoplaca melanophthalma species complex using short reads from high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS: We estimated copy numbers for the nrDNA operon, ranging from nine to 48 copies for members of this complex, and found low levels of intragenomic variation in the standard barcode region (ITS). Monophyly of currently described species in this complex was supported in phylogenetic inferences based on the ITS, 28S, intergenic spacer region, and some intronic regions, independently; however, a phylogenetic inference based on the 18S provided much lower resolution. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated ITS and intergenic spacer sequence data generated from 496 specimens collected worldwide revealed previously unrecognized lineages in the nrDNA phylogeny.

CONCLUSIONS: The results from our study support the general assumption that the ITS region of the nrDNA is an effective barcoding marker for fungi. For the R. melanophthalma group, the limited amount of potential intragenomic variability in the ITS region did not correspond to fixed diagnostic nucleotide position characters separating taxa within this species complex. Previously unrecognized lineages inferred from ITS sequence data may represent undescribed species-level lineages or reflect uncharacterized aspects of nrDNA evolution in the R. melanophthalma species complex.}, } @article {pmid31906451, year = {2020}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Alías-Villegas, C and Almozara, A and Espuny, MR and Vinardell, JM and Pérez-Montaño, F}, title = {Deciphering the Symbiotic Significance of Quorum Sensing Systems of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31906451}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-to-cell signaling mechanism that collectively regulates and synchronizes behaviors by means of small diffusible chemical molecules. In rhizobia, QS systems usually relies on the synthesis and detection of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). In the model bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti functions regulated by the QS systems TraI-TraR and SinI-SinR(-ExpR) include plasmid transfer, production of surface polysaccharides, motility, growth rate and nodulation. These systems are also present in other bacteria of the Sinorhizobium genus, with variations at the species and strain level. In Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234 phenotypes regulated by QS are plasmid transfer, growth rate, sedimentation, motility, biofilm formation, EPS production and copy number of the symbiotic plasmid (pSym). The analysis of the S. fredii HH103 genomes reveal also the presence of both QS systems. In this manuscript we characterized the QS systems of S. fredii HH103, determining that both TraI and SinI AHL-synthases proteins are responsible of the production of short- and long-chain AHLs, respectively, at very low and not physiological concentrations. Interestingly, the main HH103 luxR-type genes, expR and traR, are split into two ORFs, suggesting that in S. fredii HH103 the corresponding carboxy-terminal proteins, which contain the DNA-binding motives, may control target genes in an AHL-independent manner. The presence of a split traR gene is common in other S. fredii strains.}, } @article {pmid31906089, year = {2019}, author = {Chandra Roy, M and Lee, D and Kim, Y}, title = {Host Immunosuppression Induced by Steinernema feltiae, an Entomopathogenic Nematode, through Inhibition of Eicosanoid Biosynthesis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31906089}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Steinernema feltiae K1 (Filipjev) (Nematode: Steinernematidae), an entomopathogenic nematode, was isolated and identified based on its morphological and molecular diagnostic characteristics. Its infective juveniles (IJs) were highly pathogenic to three lepidopteran (LC50 = 23.7-25.0 IJs/larva) and one coleopteran (LC50 = 39.3 IJs/larva) insect species. Infected larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Insecta: Lepidoptera), exhibited significant reduction in phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in their plasma. The decrease of PLA2 activity was followed by significant septicemia of the larvae infected with S. feltiae. Insecticidal activity induced by S. feltiae was explained by significant immunosuppression in cellular immune responses measured by hemocyte nodule formation and total hemocyte count (THC). Although S. feltiae infection suppressed nodule formation and THC in the larvae, an addition of arachidonic acid (AA, a catalytic product of PLA2) rescued these larvae from fatal immunosuppression. In contrast, an addition of dexamethasone (a specific PLA2 inhibitor) enhanced the nematode's pathogenicity in a dose-dependent manner. To discriminate the immunosuppressive activity of a symbiotic bacterium (Xenorhabdus bovienii (Proteobacteria: Enterobacterales)) from the nematode, kanamycin was applied to after nematode infection. It significantly inhibited the bacterial growth in the hemolymph. Compared to nematode treatment alone, the addition of antibiotics to nematode infection partially rescued the immunosuppression measured by phenol oxidase activity. Consequently, treatment with antibiotics significantly rescued the larvae from the insecticidal activity of S. feltiae. These results suggest that immunosuppression induced by infection of S. feltiae depends on its symbiotic bacteria by inhibiting eicosanoid biosynthesis, resulting in significant insect mortality. However, the addition of antibiotics or AA could not completely rescue the virulence of the nematode, suggesting that the nematode itself also plays a role in its insecticidal activity.}, } @article {pmid31905988, year = {2019}, author = {Ou, H and Li, M and Wu, S and Jia, L and Hill, RT and Zhao, J}, title = {Characteristic Microbiomes Correlate with Polyphosphate Accumulation of Marine Sponges in South China Sea Areas.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31905988}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Some sponges have been shown to accumulate abundant phosphorus in the form of polyphosphate (polyP) granules even in waters where phosphorus is present at low concentrations. But the polyP accumulation occurring in sponges and their symbiotic bacteria have been little studied. The amounts of polyP exhibited significant differences in twelve sponges from marine environments with high or low dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations which were quantified by spectral analysis, even though in the same sponge genus, e.g., Mycale sp. or Callyspongia sp. PolyP enrichment rates of sponges in oligotrophic environments were far higher than those in eutrophic environments. Massive polyP granules were observed under confocal microscopy in samples from very low DIP environments. The composition of sponge symbiotic microbes was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing and the corresponding polyphosphate kinase (ppk) genes were detected. Sequence analysis revealed that in the low DIP environment, those sponges with higher polyP content and enrichment rates had relatively higher abundances of cyanobacteria. Mantel tests and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) examined that the polyP enrichment rate was most strongly correlated with the structure of microbial communities, including genera Synechococcus, Rhodopirellula, Blastopirellula, and Rubripirellula. About 50% of ppk genes obtained from the total DNA of sponge holobionts, had above 80% amino acid sequence similarities to those sequences from Synechococcus. In general, it suggested that sponges employed differentiated strategies towards the use of phosphorus in different nutrient environments and the symbiotic Synechococcus could play a key role in accumulating polyP.}, } @article {pmid31905546, year = {2020}, author = {Zhou, S and Sun, Y and Zhang, Y and Huang, T and Zhou, Z and Li, Y and Li, Z}, title = {Pollutant removal performance and microbial enhancement mechanism by water-lifting and aeration technology in a drinking water reservoir ecosystem.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {709}, number = {}, pages = {135848}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135848}, pmid = {31905546}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Drinking Water/*chemistry ; Nitrogen ; Water Microbiology ; *Water Purification ; Water Quality ; }, abstract = {Here, the performance and mechanism of pollutant removal in the Zhoucun reservoir by water-lifting and aeration systems (WLAs) were explored. The hypolimnion anoxic layer disappeared and the reservoir was mixed after the WLAs were operated for approximately 35 days, providing a suitable environment for pollutant removal. Operation of the system enhanced the metabolic activity of the water microbes and their capacity for purification, which contributed to the removal of nitrogen, organic carbon, Fe, Mn, P, and S. Specifically, the total N concentration decreased from 2.55 to 0.48 mg/L, showing an 81.18% removal rate. Microbial metabolism and the diversity index increased following the operation of the WLAs in the Zhoucun Reservoir. Furthermore, the water reservoir clearly inhibited the performance of Fe, Mn, P, and S through the WLA operation, meeting the requirements for class III based on the Chinese Surface Water Environmental Quality Standard (GB3838-2002). High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed increased levels of indicator and keystone operational taxonomic units belonging to Flavobacterium, hgcI_clade, Rheinheimera, Dechloromonas, Pseudomonas, and Rhodocyclaceae, which are related to the degradation of organic carbon and removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Moreover, total N, ammonia, total P, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH were the principal factors affecting the microbial community based on redundancy analysis and the Mantel test. Furthermore, network analysis showed that symbiotic relationships accounted for the major proportion of the microbial network. Our results provide a theoretical foundation for the efficiency of N removal and essential technical support for improving the self-repair capacity of water in drinking water reservoirs.}, } @article {pmid31904537, year = {2020}, author = {Aquino-Martinez, R and Rowsey, JL and Fraser, DG and Eckhardt, BA and Khosla, S and Farr, JN and Monroe, DG}, title = {LPS-induced premature osteocyte senescence: Implications in inflammatory alveolar bone loss and periodontal disease pathogenesis.}, journal = {Bone}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {115220}, pmid = {31904537}, issn = {1873-2763}, support = {P01 AG004875/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG048792/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AG062413/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR068275/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; K01 AR070241/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG063707/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aged ; *Alveolar Bone Loss ; Cellular Senescence ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity ; *Osteocytes ; }, abstract = {Cellular senescence is associated with inflammation and extracellular matrix tissue remodeling through the secretion of proteins termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Although osteocyte senescence in older individuals in the skeleton is well recognized, whether young alveolar osteocytes can also become senescent is unknown. This is potentially important in the context of periodontal disease, which is an inflammatory condition caused by a gradual change from symbiotic to pathogenic oral microflora that can lead to tooth loss. Our aim was to identify whether senescent osteocytes accumulate in young alveolar bone and whether bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can influence cellular senescence in alveolar bone. An osteocyte-enriched cell population isolated from alveolar bone expressed increased levels of the known senescence marker p16[Ink4a], as well as select SASP markers known to be implicated alveolar bone resorption (Icam1, Il6, Il17, Mmp13 and Tnfα), compared to ramus control cells. Increased senescence of alveolar bone osteocytes was also observed in vivo using the senescence-associated distension of satellites (SADS) assay and increased γH2AX, a marker of DNA damage associated with senescent cells. To approximate a bacterial infection in vitro, alveolar osteocytes were treated with LPS. We found increased expression of various senescence and SASP markers, increased γH2AX staining, increased SA-β-Gal activity and the redistribution of F-actin leading to a larger and flattened cell morphology, all hallmarks of cellular senescence. In conclusion, our data suggests a model whereby bacterial-derived LPS stimulates premature alveolar osteocyte senescence, which in combination with the resultant SASP, could potentially contribute to the onset of alveolar bone loss.}, } @article {pmid31904510, year = {2020}, author = {Kaczmarek, Ł and Roszkowska, M and Poprawa, I and Janelt, K and Kmita, H and Gawlak, M and Fiałkowska, E and Mioduchowska, M}, title = {Integrative description of bisexual Paramacrobiotus experimentalis sp. nov. (Macrobiotidae) from republic of Madagascar (Africa) with microbiome analysis.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {145}, number = {}, pages = {106730}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106730}, pmid = {31904510}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV/classification/genetics ; Female ; Madagascar ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tardigrada/*classification/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In a moss samples collected on Madagascar two populations of Paramacrobiotus experimentalis sp. nov. were found. Paramacrobiotus experimentalis sp. nov. with the presence of a microplacoid and areolatus type of eggs is similar to Pam. danielae, Pam. garynahi, Pam. hapukuensis, Pam. peteri, Pam. rioplatensis and Pam. savai, but it differs from them by some morphological and morphometric characters of the eggs. The p-distance between two COI haplotypes of Pam. experimentalis sp. nov. was 0.17%. In turn, the ranges of uncorrected genetic p-distances of all Paramacrobiotus species available in GenBank was from 18.27% (for Pam. lachowskae) to 25.26% (for Pam. arduus) with an average distance of 20.67%. We also found that Pam. experimentalis sp. nov. is bisexual. This observation was congruent on three levels: (i) morphological - specimen size dimorphism; (ii) structural (primary sexual characteristics) - females have an unpaired ovary while males have an unpaired testis and (iii) molecular - heterozygous and homozygous strains of the ITS-2 marker. Although symbiotic associations of hosts with bacteria (including endosymbiotic bacteria) are common in nature and these interactions exert various effects on the evolution, biology and reproductive ecology of hosts, there is still very little information on the bacterial community associated with tardigrades. To fill this gap and characterise the bacterial community of Pam. experimentalis sp. nov. populations and microbiome of its microhabitat, high throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions in the bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragment was performed. The obtained 16S rRNA gene sequences ranged from 92,665 to 131,163. In total, 135 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified across the rarefied dataset. Overall, both Pam. experimentalis sp. nov. populations were dominated by OTUs ascribed to the phylum Proteobacteria (89-92%) and Firmicutes (6-7%). In the case of samples from tardigrades' laboratory habitat, the most abundant bacterial phylum was Proteobacteria (51-90%) and Bacteroides (9-48%). In all compared microbiome profiles, only 16 of 137 OTUs were shared. We found also significant differences in beta diversity between the partly species-specific microbiome of Pam. experimentalis sp. nov. and its culturing environment. Two OTUs belonging to a putative bacterial endosymbiont were identified - Rickettsiales and Polynucleobacter. We also demonstrated that each bacterial community was rich in genes involved in membrane transport, amino acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism.}, } @article {pmid31902730, year = {2020}, author = {Benezech, C and Berrabah, F and Jardinaud, MF and Le Scornet, A and Milhes, M and Jiang, G and George, J and Ratet, P and Vailleau, F and Gourion, B}, title = {Medicago-Sinorhizobium-Ralstonia Co-infection Reveals Legume Nodules as Pathogen Confined Infection Sites Developing Weak Defenses.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {351-358.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.066}, pmid = {31902730}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/immunology/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Immunity ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/immunology/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes have the capacity to develop root nodules hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria, called rhizobia. For the plant, the benefit of the symbiosis is important in nitrogen-deprived conditions, but it requires hosting and feeding massive numbers of rhizobia. Recent studies suggest that innate immunity is reduced or suppressed within nodules [1-10]; this likely maintains viable rhizobial populations. To evaluate the potential consequences and risks associated with an altered immuni`ty in the symbiotic organ, we developed a tripartite system with the model legume Medicago truncatula [11, 12], its nodulating symbiont of the genus Sinorhizobium (syn. Ensifer) [13, 14], and the pathogenic soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum [15-18]. We show that nodules are frequent infection sites where pathogen multiplication is comparable to that in the root tips and independent of nodule ability to fix nitrogen. Transcriptomic analyses indicate that, despite the presence of the hosted rhizobia, nodules are able to develop weak defense reactions against pathogenic R. solanacearum. Nodule defense response displays specificity compared to that activated in roots. In agreement with nodule innate immunity, optimal R. solanacearum growth requires pathogen virulence factors. Finally, our data indicate that the high susceptibility of nodules is counterbalanced by the existence of a diffusion barrier preventing pathogen spreading from nodules to the rest of the plant.}, } @article {pmid31902722, year = {2020}, author = {Sørensen, MES and Wood, AJ and Minter, EJA and Lowe, CD and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA}, title = {Comparison of Independent Evolutionary Origins Reveals Both Convergence and Divergence in the Metabolic Mechanisms of Symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {328-334.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.053}, pmid = {31902722}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/M011151/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Carbon/metabolism ; Chlorella/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Paramecium/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Through the merger of previously independent lineages, symbiosis promotes the acquisition of new traits and exploitation of inaccessible ecological niches [1, 2], driving evolutionary innovation and important ecosystem functions [3-6]. The transient nature of establishment makes study of symbiotic origins difficult, but experimental comparison of independent origins could reveal the degree of convergence in the underpinning mechanisms [7, 8]. We compared the metabolic mechanisms of two independent origins of Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella photosymbiosis [9-11] using a reciprocal metabolomic pulse-chase method. This showed convergent patterns of nutrient exchange and utilization for host-derived nitrogen in the Chlorella genotypes [12, 13] and symbiont-derived carbon in the P. bursaria genotypes [14, 15]. Consistent with a convergent primary nutrient exchange, partner-switched host-symbiont pairings were functional. Direct competition of hosts containing native or recombined symbionts against isogenic symbiont-free hosts showed that the fitness benefits of symbiosis for hosts increased with irradiance but varied by genotype. Global metabolism varied more between the Chlorella than the P. bursaria genotypes and suggested divergent mechanisms of light management. Specifically, the algal symbiont genotypes either produced photo-protective carotenoid pigments at high irradiance or more chlorophyll, resulting in corresponding differences in photosynthetic efficiency and non-photochemical quenching among host-symbiont pairings. These data suggest that the multiple origins of P. bursaria-Chlorella symbiosis use a convergent nutrient exchange, whereas other photosynthetic traits linked to functioning of photosymbiosis have diverged. Although convergence enables partner switching among diverse strains, phenotypic mismatches resulting from divergence of secondary symbiotic traits could mediate host-symbiont specificity in nature.}, } @article {pmid31900709, year = {2020}, author = {Torres, AR and Brito, B and Imperial, J and Palacios, JM and Ciampitti, IA and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Hungria, M}, title = {Hydrogen-uptake genes improve symbiotic efficiency in common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {113}, number = {5}, pages = {687-696}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-019-01381-6}, pmid = {31900709}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Brazil ; Genes, Bacterial ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Hydrogenase/*genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Phaseolus/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; *Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Hydrogen-uptake (Hup) activity is implicated in the mitigation of energy losses associated with the biological nitrogen fixation process, and has been related to productivity increases in some legume hosts. However, in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) the expression of hydrogenase is rare. In this study an 18-kb hup gene cluster from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae encoding a NiFe hydrogenase was successfully transferred to three common bean rhizobial strains lacking hydrogenase activity (Hup[-]) but symbiotically very effective and used in commercial inoculants in Brazil: one strain originally from Colombia (Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899), and two strains from Brazil (R. tropici H 12 and Rhizobium freirei PRF 81). The inclusion of NiCl2 in the nutrient solution did not increase hydrogenase activity, indicating that common bean plants allow efficient nickel provision for hydrogenase synthesis in the bacteroids. The symbiotic performance-evaluated by nodulation, plant growth, N accumulation and seed production-of wild-type and Hup[+] derivative strains was compared in experiments performed with cultivar Carioca under greenhouse conditions, in sterile substrate and in non-sterile soil. Statistically significant increases in one or more parameters were observed for all three Hup[+] derivatives when compared to the respective wild-type strain. Differences were found mainly with the Brazilian strains, reaching impressive increases in nodule efficiency and seed total N content. The results highlight the potential of using Rhizobium Hup[+] strains for the design of more energy-efficient inoculants for the common bean crop.}, } @article {pmid31900591, year = {2020}, author = {Bourles, A and Guentas, L and Charvis, C and Gensous, S and Majorel, C and Crossay, T and Cavaloc, Y and Burtet-Sarramegna, V and Jourand, P and Amir, H}, title = {Co-inoculation with a bacterium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improves root colonization, plant mineral nutrition, and plant growth of a Cyperaceae plant in an ultramafic soil.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {121-131}, pmid = {31900591}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Cyperaceae ; Minerals ; *Mycorrhizae ; New Caledonia ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The ecological restoration of nickel mining-degraded areas in New Caledonia is strongly limited by low availability of soil mineral nutrients, metal toxicity, and slow growth rates of native plant species. In order to improve plant growth for restoration programs, special attention was paid to interactions between plant and soil microorganisms. In this study, we evaluated the influence of inoculation with Curtobacterium citreum BE isolated from a New Caledonian ultramafic soil on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and growth of Tetraria comosa, an endemic sedge used in restoration programs. A greenhouse experiment on ultramafic substrate was conducted with an inoculum comprising two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species isolated from New Caledonian ultramafic soils: Rhizophagus neocaledonicus and Claroideoglomus etunicatum. The effects on plant growth of the AMF and C. citreum BE inoculated separately were not significant, but their co-inoculation significantly enhanced the dry weight of T. comosa compared with the non-inoculated control. These differences were positively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization which was improved by C. citreum BE. Compared with the control, co-inoculated plants were characterized by better mineral nutrition, a higher Ca/Mg ratio, and lower metal translocation. However, for Ca/Mg ratio and metal translocation, there were no significant differences between the effects of AMF inoculation and co-inoculation.}, } @article {pmid31900357, year = {2020}, author = {Shimoda, Y and Nishigaya, Y and Yamaya-Ito, H and Inagaki, N and Umehara, Y and Hirakawa, H and Sato, S and Yamazaki, T and Hayashi, M}, title = {The rhizobial autotransporter determines the symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity of Lotus japonicus in a host-specific manner.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {117}, number = {3}, pages = {1806-1815}, pmid = {31900357}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Domains ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; Type V Secretion Systems/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants establish endosymbiotic associations with rhizobia and form root nodules in which the rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen. The host plant and intracellular rhizobia strictly control this symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We recently reported a Lotus japonicus Fix[-] mutant, apn1 (aspartic peptidase nodule-induced 1), that impairs symbiotic nitrogen fixation. APN1 encodes a nodule-specific aspartic peptidase involved in the Fix[-] phenotype in a rhizobial strain-specific manner. This host-strain specificity implies that some molecular interactions between host plant APN1 and rhizobial factors are required, although the biological function of APN1 in nodules and the mechanisms governing the interactions are unknown. To clarify how rhizobial factors are involved in strain-specific nitrogen fixation, we explored transposon mutants of Mesorhizobium loti strain TONO, which normally form Fix[-] nodules on apn1 roots, and identified TONO mutants that formed Fix[+] nodules on apn1 The identified causal gene encodes an autotransporter, part of a protein secretion system of Gram-negative bacteria. Expression of the autotransporter gene in M. loti strain MAFF3030399, which normally forms Fix[+] nodules on apn1 roots, resulted in Fix[-] nodules. The autotransporter of TONO functions to secrete a part of its own protein (a passenger domain) into extracellular spaces, and the recombinant APN1 protein cleaved the passenger protein in vitro. The M. loti autotransporter showed the activity to induce the genes involved in nodule senescence in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, we conclude that the nodule-specific aspartic peptidase, APN1, suppresses negative effects of the rhizobial autotransporter in order to maintain effective symbiotic nitrogen fixation in root nodules.}, } @article {pmid31899607, year = {2020}, author = {Mortimer, M and Li, D and Wang, Y and Holden, PA}, title = {Physical Properties of Carbon Nanomaterials and Nanoceria Affect Pathways Important to the Nodulation Competitiveness of the Symbiotic N2 -Fixing Bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {16}, number = {21}, pages = {e1906055}, doi = {10.1002/smll.201906055}, pmid = {31899607}, issn = {1613-6829}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/drug effects ; *Cerium/chemistry/pharmacology ; *Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry ; *Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; *Soybeans/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The pathogenicity and antimicrobial properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are relatively well studied. However, less is known regarding the interactions of ENMs and agriculturally beneficial microorganisms that affect food security. Nanoceria (CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs)), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and carbon black (CB) have been previously shown to inhibit symbiotic N2 fixation in soybeans, but direct rhizobial susceptibility is uncertain. Here, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens associated with symbiotic N2 fixation in soybeans is assessed, evaluating the role of soybean root exudates (RE) on ENM-bacterial interactions and the effects of CeO2 NPs, MWCNTs, GNPs, and CB on bacterial growth and gene expression. Although bacterial growth is inhibited by 50 mg L[-1] CeO2 NPs, MWCNTs, and CB, all ENMs at 0.1 and 10 mg L[-1] cause a global transcriptomic response that is mitigated by RE. ENMs may interfere with plant-bacterial signaling, as evidenced by suppressed upregulation of genes induced by RE, and downregulation of genes encoding transport RNA, which facilitates nodulation signaling. MWCNTs and CeO2 NPs inhibit the expression of genes conferring B. diazoefficiens nodulation competitiveness. Surprisingly, the transcriptomic effects on B. diazoefficiens are similar for these two ENMs, indicating that physical, not chemical, ENM properties explain the observed effects.}, } @article {pmid31899547, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, J and Chen, J and Xie, K and Tian, Y and Yan, A and Liu, J and Huang, Y and Wang, S and Zhu, Y and Chen, A and Xu, G}, title = {A mycorrhiza-specific H[+] -ATPase is essential for arbuscule development and symbiotic phosphate and nitrogen uptake.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {1069-1083}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13714}, pmid = {31899547}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Hyphae/*genetics ; Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/*metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants can form symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to enhance uptake of mineral nutrients, particularly phosphate (Pi) and nitrogen (N), from the soil. It is established that transport of Pi from interfacial apoplast into plant cells depends on the H[+] gradient generated by the H[+] -ATPase located on the periarbuscular membrane (PAM); however, little evidence regarding the potential link between mycorrhizal N transport and H[+] -ATPase activity is available to date. Here, we report that a PAM-localized tomato H[+] -ATPase, SlHA8, is indispensable for arbuscule development and mycorrhizal P and N uptake. Knockout of SlHA8 resulted in truncated arbuscule morphology, reduced shoot P and N accumulation, and decreased H[+] -ATPase activity and acidification of apoplastic spaces in arbusculated cells. Overexpression of SlHA8 in tomato promoted both P and N uptake, and increased total colonization level, but did not affect arbuscule morphology. Heterogeneous expression of SlHA8 in the rice osha1 mutant could fully complement its defects in arbuscule development and mycorrhizal P and N uptake. Our results propose a pivotal role of the SlHA8 in energizing both the symbiotic P and N transport, and highlight the evolutionary conservation of the AM-specific H[+] -ATPase orthologs in maintaining AM symbiosis across different mycorrhizal plant species.}, } @article {pmid31898244, year = {2020}, author = {Tonelli, M and Cotta, SR and Rigotto, A and Dias, ACF and Andreote, FD and Bento, JMS}, title = {The composition of the bacterial community in the foam produced by Mahanarva fimbriolata is distinct from those at gut and soil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {1151-1157}, pmid = {31898244}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Nymph/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The development of insects is strongly influenced by their resident microorganisms. Symbionts play key roles in insect nutrition, reproduction, and defense. Bacteria are important partners due to the wide diversity of their biochemical pathways that aid in the host development. We present evidence that the foam produced by nymphs of the spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata harbors a diversity of bacteria, including some that were previously reported as defensive symbionts of insects. Analysis of the microbiomes in the nymph gut and the soil close to the foam showed that the microorganisms in the foam were more closely related to those in the gut than in the soil, suggesting that the bacteria are actively introduced into the foam by the insect. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the predominant groups found in the foam. Since members of Actinobacteria have been found to protect different species of insects by producing secondary metabolites with antibiotic properties, we speculate that the froth produced by M. fimbriolata may aid in defending the nymphs against entomopathogenic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid31897539, year = {2020}, author = {Sammauria, R and Kumawat, S and Kumawat, P and Singh, J and Jatwa, TK}, title = {Microbial inoculants: potential tool for sustainability of agricultural production systems.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {4}, pages = {677-693}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01795-w}, pmid = {31897539}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Agricultural Inoculants ; Agriculture/*trends ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Sustainable Growth ; }, abstract = {Microbial inoculants are gaining importance for attaining sustainable agricultural production systems. Nutrient supply capacity of soil is diminishing continuously owing to soil erosions, degradation, deposition of salts, undesirable elements and metals, water scarcity or excess and imbalanced nutrient supply system. Numerous complementary microbial inoculation combinations are contributing immensely in the management of plant nutrients by way of fixation, solubilization or transformation in soil. Thus, biological wastes and microbial inoculants are alternatives for nutrient demands to bridge future gaps in. A consortium of microorganisms provides enabling and congenial option to maintain their usable capacity for sufficient durations that heads to the positive impact on the microbial activity of soil for desired activities at the target sites. Increased application of agro-chemicals results in deleterious effect on biological system and dependence of future agriculture on these will lead to deterioration in soil health, threats of pollution of water bodies and cumulative effect of these is making production system highly vulnerable and unstable consequently leading to heavy load on the fiscal system. To ameliorate negative impacts, microorganisms are strongly emerging as alternatives for conserving productive capacity for sustainable productions and financial balance of economies. Microbial inoculants that have assumed definite and significant roles for their specificity and necessity and their use in various combinations have emerged as viable and sustainable options to maintain and even enrich the soil health. Since these microbial inoculants are used under varied farming situations and diverse climates with heterogeneous management skills, their efficacies under field conditions remain variable. Thus, it is never-ending process to identify solutions for constraints and application difficulties and further identify newer microbial inoculants for unexplored areas. Adequate timely and quality access of these inoculants to end users is equally important along with developing their skills to utilize these for witnessing desirable and visible impacts.}, } @article {pmid31897537, year = {2020}, author = {Kizhakkekalam, VK and Chakraborty, K}, title = {Marine macroalgae-associated heterotrophic Firmicutes and Gamma-proteobacteria: prospective anti-infective agents against multidrug resistant pathogens.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {4}, pages = {905-920}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01800-2}, pmid = {31897537}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/enzymology/genetics ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Drug Discovery ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Firmicutes/*chemistry/enzymology/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*chemistry/enzymology/genetics ; India ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Peptide Synthases/genetics ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics ; Prospective Studies ; Seaweed/*microbiology ; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The development of drug-resistant bacteria and the necessity for unique antimicrobial agents, directed to the search of new habitats to screen the production of anti-infective substances. Culture-dependent studies of heterotrophic bacteria from the intertidal macroalgae thriving along the Southern coast of India resulted in the isolation of 148 strains, which were assayed for antibacterial activities against wide spectrum of pathogens including drug-resistant pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE). Two of the most active strains with a zone of inhibition ≥ 30 mm on spot over lawn assay, belonging to the phyla Firmicutes and Gamma-proteobacteria, isolated from a Rhodophycean marine macroalga, Hypnea valentiae, were selected for bioprospecting studies. They were further characterized as Shewanella algae MTCC 12715 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716, based on integrated phenotypic and genotypic analysis. The bacterial extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activities against MRSA and VRE with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 6.25-12.5 µg/mL. Time kill kinetic profiles of these bacteria revealed rapid bactericidal activity against both MRSA and E. coli, showing a ≥ 3log10 decline in viable cell count compared to the initial. In BacLight™ live/dead staining technique, the propidium iodide uptake results appropriately attributed that the components in the B. amyloliquefaciens extract might compromise the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane of the pathogenic bacteria. Type-1 pks gene (MH157093) of S. algae and hybrid nrps/pks gene (MH157092) of B. amyloliquefaciens could be amplified. Antibacterial activity study combined with the results of amplified genes coding for polyketide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthetase showed that these marine symbiotic bacteria had a promising broad-spectrum activity, and therefore, could be used against the emerging dilemma of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.}, } @article {pmid31897521, year = {2020}, author = {Qi, J and Jiang, L and Zhao, P and Chen, H and Jia, X and Zhao, L and Dai, H and Hu, J and Liu, C and Shim, SH and Xia, X and Zhang, L}, title = {Chaetoglobosins and azaphilones from Chaetomium globosum associated with Apostichopus japonicus.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {4}, pages = {1545-1553}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-10308-0}, pmid = {31897521}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Benzopyrans/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Chaetomium/*chemistry ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Indole Alkaloids/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pigments, Biological/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Stichopus/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Increasing attention has recently been focused on complex symbiotic associations, for instance coral and its symbionts. Sea cucumber, harboring diverse fungi, has also attracted more and more attention for their functional diversity. Here, secondary metabolites produced by Chaetomium globosum associated with sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, were investigated using gene mining with third-generation sequencing technology (PacBio SMRT). Nine compounds, including one new compound cytoglobosin X (1), were isolated from cultures of Chaetomium globosum. Compound 1 was identified based on NMR data, HRESIMS, and ECD, and the absolute configurations were identified as 3S, 4R, 7S, 8R, 9R, 16S, 19S, 20S, and 23S. In an antimicrobial assay, compound 4 showed moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with MICs of 47.3 and 94.6 μM, respectively. Our results suggest that the microbiomes associated with sea cucumber could be an important resource for biodiversity and structural novelty, and the bioactive compounds may protect the host from pathogen microbial.}, } @article {pmid31893461, year = {2020}, author = {Barua, P and Lande, NV and Kumar, S and Chakraborty, S and Chakraborty, N}, title = {Quantitative Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Legume Using TiO2-Based Enrichment Coupled with Isobaric Labeling.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2107}, number = {}, pages = {395-406}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0235-5_22}, pmid = {31893461}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Cicer/*metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/*analysis/chemistry ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Proteomics/*methods ; Titanium/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Phosphorylation of proteins is the most dynamic protein modification, and its analysis aids in determining the functional and regulatory principles of important cellular pathways. The legumes constitute the third largest family of higher plants, Fabaceae, comprising about 20,000 species and are second to cereals in agricultural importance on the basis of global production. Therefore, an understanding of the developmental and adaptive processes of legumes demands identification of their regulatory components. The most crucial signature of the legume family is the symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which makes this fascinating and interesting to investigate phosphorylation events. The research on protein phosphorylation in legumes has been focused primarily on two model species, Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus. The development of reciprocal research in other species, particularly the crops, is lagging behind which has limited its beneficial uses in agricultural productivity. In this chapter, we outline the titanium dioxide-based enrichment of phosphopeptides for nuclear proteome analysis of a grain legume, chickpea.}, } @article {pmid31893457, year = {2020}, author = {Mandal, D and Srivastava, D and Sinharoy, S}, title = {Optimization of Hairy Root Transformation for the Functional Genomics in Chickpea: A Platform for Nodule Developmental Studies.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2107}, number = {}, pages = {335-348}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0235-5_18}, pmid = {31893457}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Cicer/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Organ Specificity ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*growth & development ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Chickpea is a major protein source in low socio-economic classes and cultivated in marginal soil without fertilizer or irrigation. As a result of its root nodule formation capacity chickpea can directly use atmospheric nitrogen. Chickpea is recalcitrant to stable transformation, particularly root regeneration efficiency of chickpea is low. The composite plant-based system with a non-transformed shoot and transformed root is particularly important for root biologist and this approach has already been used successfully for root nodule symbiosis, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, and other root-related studies. Use of fluorescent marker-based approach can accurately identify the transformed root from its non-transgenic counterpart. RNAi-based gene knockout, overexpression of genes, promoter GUS analysis to understand tissue specific expression and localization of protein can be achieved using the hairy root-based system. We have already published a hairy root-based transformation and composite plant regeneration protocol of chickpea. Here we are describing the recent modification that we have made to increase the transformation frequency and nodule morphology. Further, we have developed a pouch based artificial system, large number of plants can be scored for its nodule developmental phenotype, by using this system.}, } @article {pmid31893333, year = {2020}, author = {Ten Veldhuis, MC and Ananyev, G and Dismukes, GC}, title = {Symbiosis extended: exchange of photosynthetic O2 and fungal-respired CO2 mutually power metabolism of lichen symbionts.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {143}, number = {3}, pages = {287-299}, pmid = {31893333}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {Aerobiosis/radiation effects ; Anaerobiosis/radiation effects ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Cell Respiration/radiation effects ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Electrodes ; Electron Transport/radiation effects ; Fluorescence ; Lichens/*metabolism ; Light ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; *Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; *Symbiosis/radiation effects ; Time Factors ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are a symbiosis between a fungus and one or more photosynthetic microorganisms that enables the symbionts to thrive in places and conditions they could not compete independently. Exchanges of water and sugars between the symbionts are the established mechanisms that support lichen symbiosis. Herein, we present a new linkage between algal photosynthesis and fungal respiration in lichen Flavoparmelia caperata that extends the physiological nature of symbiotic co-dependent metabolisms, mutually boosting energy conversion rates in both symbionts. Measurements of electron transport by oximetry show that photosynthetic O2 is consumed internally by fungal respiration. At low light intensity, very low levels of O2 are released, while photosynthetic electron transport from water oxidation is normal as shown by intrinsic chlorophyll variable fluorescence yield (period-4 oscillations in flash-induced Fv/Fm). The rate of algal O2 production increases following consecutive series of illumination periods, at low and with limited saturation at high light intensities, in contrast to light saturation in free-living algae. We attribute this effect to arise from the availability of more CO2 produced by fungal respiration of photosynthetically generated sugars. We conclude that the lichen symbionts are metabolically coupled by energy conversion through exchange of terminal electron donors and acceptors used in both photosynthesis and fungal respiration. Algal sugars and O2 are consumed by the fungal symbiont, while fungal delivered CO2 is consumed by the alga.}, } @article {pmid31892378, year = {2020}, author = {Semenova, TA and Dunaevsky, YE and Beljakova, GA and Belozersky, MA}, title = {Extracellular peptidases of insect-associated fungi and their possible use in biological control programs and as pathogenicity markers.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {124}, number = {1}, pages = {65-72}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.11.005}, pmid = {31892378}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Control Agents ; Fungi/*enzymology/pathogenicity/physiology ; Genetic Engineering ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Peptide Hydrolases/*metabolism ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {This review deals with characteristics of peptidases of fungi whose life cycles are associated with insects to varying degrees. The review examines the characteristic features of the extracellular peptidases of entomopathogenic fungi, the dependence of the specificity of these peptidases on the ecological characteristics of the fungi, and the role of peptidases in the development of the pathogenesis. Data on the properties and physiological role of hydrolytic enzymes of symbiotic fungi in "fungal gardens" are also considered in detail. For the development of representations about mechanisms of control over populations of insect pests, special attention is given to analysis of possibilities of genetic engineering for the creation of entomopathogens with enhanced virulence. Clarification of the role of fungi and their secreted enzymes and careful environmental studies are still required to explain their significance in the composition of the biota and to ensure widespread adoption of these organisms as effective biological control agents. The systematization and comparative analysis of the existing data on extracellular peptidases of insect-associated fungi will help in the planning of further work and the search for markers of pathogenesis and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31892374, year = {2020}, author = {Nguyen, DQ and Li, H and Tran, TT and Sivasithamparam, K and Jones, MGK and Wylie, SJ}, title = {Four Tulasnella taxa associated with populations of the Australian evergreen terrestrial orchid Cryptostylis ovata.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {124}, number = {1}, pages = {24-33}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.10.006}, pmid = {31892374}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizome/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Of the more than 400 indigenous orchid species in Western Australia, Cryptostylis ovata is the only species that retains its leaves all year round. It exists as a terrestrial herb and occasionally as an epiphyte in forested areas. Like all terrestrial orchids, C. ovata plants associate with mycorrhizal fungi, but their identities have not previously been investigated. Fungi were isolated from pelotons in rhizomes collected from three southern and two northern populations of C. ovata on six occasions over two years. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences temporally and spatially revealed that all the fungal isolates were of Tulasnella species of four distinct groups. One Tulasnella group was present only in the three southern orchid populations, and it closely resembled T. prima isolates previously described from Chiloglottis sp. orchids from eastern Australia. Isolates collected from plants in the two northern populations were of three undescribed Tulasnella groups. Analysis of intra-group diversity using inter-simple sequence repeat markers revealed that plants were usually colonised by a single genotype of Tulasnella at each sampling period, and this genotype usually, but not always, persisted with the host plant over both years tested.}, } @article {pmid31890967, year = {2019}, author = {Espinoza, F and Vidal, S and Rautenbach, F and Lewu, F and Nchu, F}, title = {Effects of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales) on plant growth and secondary metabolites of extracts of hydroponically cultivated chive (Allium schoenoprasum L. [Amaryllidaceae]).}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {e03038}, pmid = {31890967}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The endophytic plant-fungi symbiotic relationship can be explored to improve cultivation of targeted medicinal plant species. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the cultivation of chive (Allium schoenoprasum) in plant growth medium inoculated with the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales). Twelve replicates of chive seedlings were exposed to B. bassiana inoculum formulated at concentrations of 0, 1 × 10[5], 1 × 10[4] and 1 × 10[3] conidia mL[-1] in a completely randomized design. We assessed plant growth parameters, such as leaf number and plant height weekly and root length, leaf and root fresh and dry weights and secondary metabolites three weeks post-fungal inoculation. The fungus was re-isolated from some of the leaves and roots of the treated plants suggesting that the fungus successfully colonized the plant tissue. Generally, the results indicated that the fungal inoculation had minimal effect on most of the growth parameters assessed in relation to the control. Remarkably, plants exposed to the fungus recorded greater (p < 0.05) total alkaloid, ranging from 2.98 - 3.76 mg atropine equivalent (AE)/g dry weight (DW) compared to the control plants (1.96 mg AE/g DW) for the leaves. This study demonstrated that endophytic fungi could be used to improve the yield of active chemical constituents in cultivated medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid31889110, year = {2019}, author = {Mathé, C and Fawal, N and Roux, C and Dunand, C}, title = {In silico definition of new ligninolytic peroxidase sub-classes in fungi and putative relation to fungal life style.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {20373}, pmid = {31889110}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; Data Mining ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/classification/*enzymology/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Peroxidases/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Ligninolytic peroxidases are microbial enzymes involved in depolymerisation of lignin, a plant cell wall polymer found in land plants. Among fungi, only Dikarya were found to degrade lignin. The increase of available fungal genomes allows performing an expert annotation of lignin-degrading peroxidase encoding sequences with a particular focus on Class II peroxidases (CII Prx). In addition to the previously described LiP, MnP and VP classes, based on sequence similarity, six new sub-classes have been defined: three found in plant pathogen ascomycetes and three in basidiomycetes. The presence of CII Prxs could be related to fungal life style. Typically, necrotrophic or hemibiotrophic fungi, either ascomycetes or basidiomycetes, possess CII Prxs while symbiotic, endophytic or biotrophic fungi do not. CII Prxs from ascomycetes are rarely subjected to duplications unlike those from basidiomycetes, which can form large recent duplicated families. Even if these CII Prxs classes form two well distinct clusters with divergent gene structures (intron numbers and positions), they share the same key catalytic residues suggesting that they evolved independently from similar ancestral sequences with few or no introns. The lack of CII Prxs encoding sequences in early diverging fungi, together with the absence of duplicated class I peroxidase (CcP) in fungi containing CII Prxs, suggests the potential emergence of an ancestral CII Prx sequence from the duplicated CcP after the separation between ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. As some ascomycetes and basidiomycetes did not possess CII Prx, late gene loss could have occurred.}, } @article {pmid31885873, year = {2019}, author = {Pareek, S and Kurakawa, T and Das, B and Motooka, D and Nakaya, S and Rongsen-Chandola, T and Goyal, N and Kayama, H and Dodd, D and Okumura, R and Maeda, Y and Fujimoto, K and Nii, T and Ogawa, T and Iida, T and Bhandari, N and Kida, T and Nakamura, S and Nair, GB and Takeda, K}, title = {Comparison of Japanese and Indian intestinal microbiota shows diet-dependent interaction between bacteria and fungi.}, journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {37}, pmid = {31885873}, issn = {2055-5008}, support = {K08 DK110335/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Diet/*methods ; Feces/microbiology ; Fungi/classification/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; India ; Japan ; Mice ; *Microbial Interactions ; Models, Animal ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The bacterial species living in the gut mediate many aspects of biological processes such as nutrition and activation of adaptive immunity. In addition, commensal fungi residing in the intestine also influence host health. Although the interaction of bacterium and fungus has been shown, its precise mechanism during colonization of the human intestine remains largely unknown. Here, we show interaction between bacterial and fungal species for utilization of dietary components driving their efficient growth in the intestine. Next generation sequencing of fecal samples from Japanese and Indian adults revealed differential patterns of bacterial and fungal composition. In particular, Indians, who consume more plant polysaccharides than Japanese, harbored increased numbers of Prevotella and Candida. Candida spp. showed strong growth responses to the plant polysaccharide arabinoxylan in vitro. Furthermore, the culture supernatants of Candida spp. grown with arabinoxylan promoted rapid proliferation of Prevotella copri. Arabinose was identified as a potential growth-inducing factor in the Candida culture supernatants. Candida spp. exhibited a growth response to xylose, but not to arabinose, whereas P. copri proliferated in response to both xylose and arabinose. Candida spp., but not P. copri, colonized the intestine of germ-free mice. However, P. copri successfully colonized mouse intestine already harboring Candida. These findings demonstrate a proof of concept that fungal members of gut microbiota can facilitate a colonization of the intestine by their bacterial counterparts, potentially mediated by a dietary metabolite.}, } @article {pmid31885076, year = {2020}, author = {Mangkorntongsakul, V and Tng, ETV and Scurry, J and Gourlay, R}, title = {Symbiotic collision tumour of the scalp: squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.}, journal = {The Australasian journal of dermatology}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, pages = {e229-e230}, doi = {10.1111/ajd.13218}, pmid = {31885076}, issn = {1440-0960}, mesh = {Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm/analysis ; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Melanoma/*pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/*pathology ; Scalp/*pathology ; Skin Neoplasms/*pathology ; }, abstract = {Cutaneous collision tumours are the co-existence of two tumours of different histopathological morphologies that coincide at the same or adjacent anatomical sites. A large scalp nodule excised from a 70 year-old man revealed a collision tumour composed of cells of squamous carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma. Immunohistochemistry using dual staining for melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma demonstrated an unusual pattern; nests of melanoma cells surrounded by a layer of squamous carcinoma cells. The unique architecture observed in the case suggested a relationship between the two tumours.}, } @article {pmid31883524, year = {2019}, author = {Manara, S and Asnicar, F and Beghini, F and Bazzani, D and Cumbo, F and Zolfo, M and Nigro, E and Karcher, N and Manghi, P and Metzger, MI and Pasolli, E and Segata, N}, title = {Microbial genomes from non-human primate gut metagenomes expand the primate-associated bacterial tree of life with over 1000 novel species.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {299}, pmid = {31883524}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Primates/*microbiology ; Treponema/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Humans have coevolved with microbial communities to establish a mutually advantageous relationship that is still poorly characterized and can provide a better understanding of the human microbiome. Comparative metagenomic analysis of human and non-human primate (NHP) microbiomes offers a promising approach to study this symbiosis. Very few microbial species have been characterized in NHP microbiomes due to their poor representation in the available cataloged microbial diversity, thus limiting the potential of such comparative approaches.

RESULTS: We reconstruct over 1000 previously uncharacterized microbial species from 6 available NHP metagenomic cohorts, resulting in an increase of the mappable fraction of metagenomic reads by 600%. These novel species highlight that almost 90% of the microbial diversity associated with NHPs has been overlooked. Comparative analysis of this new catalog of taxa with the collection of over 150,000 genomes from human metagenomes points at a limited species-level overlap, with only 20% of microbial candidate species in NHPs also found in the human microbiome. This overlap occurs mainly between NHPs and non-Westernized human populations and NHPs living in captivity, suggesting that host lifestyle plays a role comparable to host speciation in shaping the primate intestinal microbiome. Several NHP-specific species are phylogenetically related to human-associated microbes, such as Elusimicrobia and Treponema, and could be the consequence of host-dependent evolutionary trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS: The newly reconstructed species greatly expand the microbial diversity associated with NHPs, thus enabling better interrogation of the primate microbiome and empowering in-depth human and non-human comparative and co-diversification studies.}, } @article {pmid31882835, year = {2019}, author = {Li, HW and Chen, C and Kuo, WL and Lin, CJ and Chang, CF and Wu, GC}, title = {The Characteristics and Expression Profile of Transferrin in the Accessory Nidamental Gland of the Bigfin Reef Squid during Bacteria Transmission.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {20163}, pmid = {31882835}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Decapodiformes/classification/*genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Epithelium/metabolism ; Female ; *Gene Expression ; Genitalia/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunohistochemistry ; Protein Transport ; *Symbiosis ; Transferrin/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The accessory nidamental gland (ANG) is a female reproductive organ found in most squid and cuttlefish that contains a consortium of bacteria. These symbiotic bacteria are transmitted from the marine environment and selected by the host through an unknown mechanism. In animals, a common antimicrobial mechanism of innate immunity is iron sequestration, which is based on the development of transferrin (TF)-like proteins. To understand this mechanism of host-microbe interaction, we attempted to characterize the role of transferrin in bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) during bacterial transmission. qPCR analysis showed that Tf was exclusively expressed in the outer layer of ANG,and this was confirmed by in situ hybridization, which showed that Tf was localized in the outer epithelial cell layer of the ANG. Western blot analysis indicated that TF is a soluble glycoprotein. Immunohistochemical staining also showed that TF is localized in the outer epithelial cell layer of the ANG and that it is mainly expressed in the outer layer during ANG growth. These results suggest that robust Tf mRNA and TF protein expression in the outer layer of the ANG plays an important role in microbe selection by the host during bacterial transmission.}, } @article {pmid31881301, year = {2020}, author = {Javadzadeh, SG and Asoodeh, A}, title = {A novel textile dye degrading extracellular laccase from symbiotic bacterium of Bacillus sp. CF96 isolated from gut termite (Anacanthotermes).}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {145}, number = {}, pages = {355-363}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.205}, pmid = {31881301}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Amaranth Dye/chemistry ; Animals ; Bacillus/*chemistry/enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Coloring Agents/*chemistry ; Congo Red/chemistry ; Enzyme Stability ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Indigo Carmine/chemistry ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Laccase/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Molecular Weight ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; Textile Industry ; Tolonium Chloride/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Oxidation of phenolic compounds is an urgent need in textile industry, biological refinements, pulp and paper production. In present study, a laccase was purified from symbiotic bacterium of Bacillus sp. CF96 existing in termite digestive system. The extracellular laccase was purified via amnion sulfate precipitation, membrane dialysis, and ion exchange chromatography. The results showed that the Bacillus CF96 laccase possesses a molecular mass of 63 kDa, an optimal pH and temperature of 8.0 and 60 °C. Results showed that Zn[2+], Mn[2+] and Fe[2+] were considered as the activator ions, while SDS was the main inhibitor. Using syringaldazine (SGZ) as substrate, the half-life of laccase at optimal temperature was 148 min; Km and Vmax were 0.737 μM and 100.5 U/mg. In addition, the enzyme showed a high effect on indigo dye with 90% bleaching capacity compared to control. In conclusion, the laccase has potential applications in industries under the provided optimal conditions.}, } @article {pmid31880983, year = {2020}, author = {Yoro, E and Suzaki, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {CLE-HAR1 Systemic Signaling and NIN-Mediated Local Signaling Suppress the Increased Rhizobial Infection in the daphne Mutant of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {320-327}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-19-0223-R}, pmid = {31880983}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; *Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Proteins/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Legumes survive in nitrogen-limited soil by forming a symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria. During root nodule symbiosis, legumes strictly control the development of their symbiotic organs, the nodules, in a process known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). The study of hypernodulation mutants has elucidated the molecular basis of AON. Some hypernodulation mutants show an increase in rhizobial infection in addition to developmental alteration. However, the relationship between the AON and the regulation of rhizobial infection has not been clarified. We previously isolated daphne, a nodule inception (nin) allelic mutant, in Lotus japonicus. This mutant displayed dramatically increased rhizobial infection, suggesting the existence of NIN-mediated negative regulation of rhizobial infection. Here, we investigated whether the previously isolated components of AON, especially CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE)-RELATED-ROOT SIGNAL1 (CLE-RS1), CLE-RS2, and their putative receptor HYPERNODULATION AND ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION1 (HAR1), were able to suppress increased infection in the daphne mutant. The constitutive expression of LjCLE-RS1/2 strongly reduced the infection in the daphne mutant in a HAR1-dependent manner. Moreover, reciprocal grafting analysis showed that strong reduction of infection in daphne rootstock constitutively expressing LjCLE-RS1 was canceled by a scion of the har1 or klavier mutant, the genes responsible for encoding putative LjCLE-RS1 receptors. These data indicate that rhizobial infection is also systemically regulated by CLE-HAR1 signaling, a component of AON. In addition, the constitutive expression of NIN in daphne har1 double-mutant roots only partially reduced the rhizobial infection. Our findings indicate that the previously identified NIN-mediated negative regulation of infection involves unknown local signaling, as well as CLE-HAR1 long-distance signaling.}, } @article {pmid31879784, year = {2020}, author = {Bermúdez-Barrientos, JR and Ramírez-Sánchez, O and Chow, FW and Buck, AH and Abreu-Goodger, C}, title = {Disentangling sRNA-Seq data to study RNA communication between species.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {e21}, pmid = {31879784}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Animals ; Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Botrytis/genetics ; Computational Biology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; RNA, Small Untranslated/*genetics ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Many organisms exchange small RNAs (sRNAs) during their interactions, that can target or bolster defense strategies in host-pathogen systems. Current sRNA-Seq technology can determine the sRNAs present in any symbiotic system, but there are very few bioinformatic tools available to interpret the results. We show that one of the biggest challenges comes from sequences that map equally well to the genomes of both interacting organisms. This arises due to the small size of the sRNAs compared to large genomes, and because a large portion of sequenced sRNAs come from genomic regions that encode highly conserved miRNAs, rRNAs or tRNAs. Here, we present strategies to disentangle sRNA-Seq data from samples of communicating organisms, developed using diverse plant and animal species that are known to receive or exchange RNA with their symbionts. We show that sequence assembly, both de novo and genome-guided, can be used for these sRNA-Seq data, greatly reducing the ambiguity of mapping reads. Even confidently mapped sequences can be misleading, so we further demonstrate the use of differential expression strategies to determine true parasite-derived sRNAs within host cells. We validate our methods on new experiments designed to probe the nature of the extracellular vesicle sRNAs from the parasitic nematode Heligmosomoides bakeri that get into mouse intestinal epithelial cells.}, } @article {pmid31879707, year = {2019}, author = {Ngamniyom, A and Sriyapai, T and Sriyapai, P and Panyarachun, B}, title = {Contributions to the knowledge of Pseudolevinseniella (Trematoda: Digenea) and temnocephalans from alien crayfish in natural freshwaters of Thailand.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {e02990}, pmid = {31879707}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a decapod species originating from Australian freshwater. For more than two decades, these crayfish have been re-distributing to environments in many countries, including Thailand. Moreover, they can carry endosymbionts and/or ectosymbionts into new environments. The aim of this study was to introduce a morphological description of Pseudolevinseniella anenteron as a metacercaria of the endoparasites of redclaw crayfish collected from natural water sources in Thailand. The occurrence of two ectosymbiotic temnocephalans (Diceratocephala boschmai and Temnosewellia sp.) in C. quadricarinatus was also reported. The internal morphology of P. anenteron, D. boschmai and Temnosewellia were described and discussed. The surface ultrastructure of the multidentate spines on the body and the metacercarial cyst wall of P. anenteron was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By performing a search of the GenBank nucleotide database of partial sequences of 18S, 28S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1), P. anenteron was found to be related to Maritrema, and Temnosewellia was found to be related to T. fasciata. However, according to the cox1 gene, Temnosewellia was found to be similar to T. minor. These results reveal that redclaw crayfish that inhabit natural freshwaters in Thailand may harbour endoparasites and ecto- and endosymbionts. Furthermore, these findings may be able to monitor invasive or non-invasive species in an ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid31878065, year = {2019}, author = {Angelopoulos, A and Michailidis, ET and Nomikos, N and Trakadas, P and Hatziefremidis, A and Voliotis, S and Zahariadis, T}, title = {Tackling Faults in the Industry 4.0 Era-A Survey of Machine-Learning Solutions and Key Aspects.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31878065}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {The recent advancements in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have affected several research fields, leading to improvements that could not have been possible with conventional optimization techniques. Among the sectors where AI/ML enables a plethora of opportunities, industrial manufacturing can expect significant gains from the increased process automation. At the same time, the introduction of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), providing improved wireless connectivity for real-time manufacturing data collection and processing, has resulted in the culmination of the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0. In this survey, we focus on the vital processes of fault detection, prediction and prevention in Industry 4.0 and present recent developments in ML-based solutions. We start by examining various proposed cloud/fog/edge architectures, highlighting their importance for acquiring manufacturing data in order to train the ML algorithms. In addition, as faults might also occur from sources beyond machine degradation, the potential of ML in safeguarding cyber-security is thoroughly discussed. Moreover, a major concern in the Industry 4.0 ecosystem is the role of human operators and workers. Towards this end, a detailed overview of ML-based human-machine interaction techniques is provided, allowing humans to be in-the-loop of the manufacturing processes in a symbiotic manner with minimal errors. Finally, open issues in these relevant fields are given, stimulating further research.}, } @article {pmid31878026, year = {2019}, author = {Rahnama, M and Maclean, P and Fleetwood, DJ and Johnson, RD}, title = {VelA and LaeA are Key Regulators of Epichloë festucae Transcriptomic Response during Symbiosis with Perennial Ryegrass.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31878026}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {VelA (or VeA) is a key global regulator in fungal secondary metabolism and development which we previously showed is required during the symbiotic interaction of Epichloë festucae with perennial ryegrass. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analyses of ∆velA mutant compared to wild-type E. festucae, under three different conditions (in culture, infected seedlings, and infected mature plants), were performed to investigate the impact of VelA on E. festucae transcriptome. These comparative transcriptomic studies showed that VelA regulates the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in membrane transport, fungal cell wall biosynthesis, host cell wall degradation, and secondary metabolism, along with a number of small secreted proteins and a large number of proteins with no predictable functions. In addition, these results were compared with previous transcriptomic experiments that studied the impact of LaeA, another key global regulator of secondary metabolism and development that we have shown is important for E. festucae-perennial ryegrass interaction. The results showed that although VelA and LaeA regulate a subset of E. festucae genes in a similar manner, they also regulated many other genes independently of each other suggesting specialised roles.}, } @article {pmid31877891, year = {2019}, author = {Lochman, J and Zapletalova, M and Poskerova, H and Izakovicova Holla, L and Borilova Linhartova, P}, title = {Rapid Multiplex Real-Time PCR Method for the Detection and Quantification of Selected Cariogenic and Periodontal Bacteria.}, journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31877891}, issn = {2075-4418}, abstract = {Dental caries and periodontal diseases are associated with a shift from symbiotic microbiota to dysbiosis. The aim of our study was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and economical method for the identification and quantification of selected cariogenic and periodontal oral bacteria. Original protocols were designed for three real-time multiplex PCR assays to detect and quantify the ratio of 10 bacterial species associated with dental caries ("cariogenic" complex) or periodontal diseases (red complex, orange complex, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans). A total number of 60 samples from 30 children aged 2-6 years with severe early childhood caries and gingivitis were tested. In multiplex assays, the quantification of total bacterial (TB) content for cariogenic bacteria and red complex to eliminate differences in quantities caused by specimen collection was included. The mean counts for the TB load and that of ten evaluated specimens corresponded to previously published results. We found a significant difference between the microbial compositions obtained from the area of control and the affected teeth (p < 0.05). Based on this comprehensive microbiological examination, the risk of dental caries or periodontal inflammation may be determined. The test could also be used as a tool for behavioral intervention and thus prevention of the above-mentioned diseases.}, } @article {pmid31875265, year = {2020}, author = {Ball, SR and Kwan, AH and Sunde, M}, title = {Hydrophobin Rodlets on the Fungal Cell Wall.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {425}, number = {}, pages = {29-51}, doi = {10.1007/82_2019_186}, pmid = {31875265}, issn = {0070-217X}, mesh = {Cell Wall/chemistry/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Fungi/*cytology/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Spores, Fungal/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The conidia of airborne fungi are protected by a hydrophobic protein layer that coats the cell wall polysaccharides and renders the spores resistant to wetting and desiccation. A similar layer is presented on the outer surface of the aerial hyphae of some fungi. This layer serves multiple purposes, including facilitating spore dispersal, mediating the growth of hyphae into the air from moist environments, aiding host interactions in symbiotic relationships and increasing infectivity in pathogenic fungi. The layer consists of tightly packed, fibrillar structures termed "rodlets", which are approximately 10 nm in diameter, hundreds of nanometres long and grouped in fascicles. Rodlets are an extremely stable protein structure, being resistant to detergents, denaturants and alcohols and requiring strong acids for depolymerisation. They are produced through the self-assembly of small, surface-active proteins that belong to the hydrophobin protein family. These small proteins are expressed by all filamentous fungi and are characterised by a high proportion of hydrophobic residues and the presence of eight cysteine residues. Rodlets are a form of the functional amyloid fibril, where the hydrophobin monomers are held together in the rodlets by intermolecular hydrogen bonds that contribute to a stable β-sheet core.}, } @article {pmid31874255, year = {2020}, author = {Darby, TM and Naudin, CR and Luo, L and Jones, RM}, title = {Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG-induced Expression of Leptin in the Intestine Orchestrates Epithelial Cell Proliferation.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {627-639}, pmid = {31874255}, issn = {2352-345X}, support = {R01 DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Colon/cytology/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/*physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*metabolism ; Janus Kinases/metabolism ; *Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ; Leptin/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Models, Animal ; NADPH Oxidase 1/genetics/metabolism ; Primary Cell Culture ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Receptors, Leptin/metabolism ; STAT Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Identifying the functional elements that mediate efficient gut epithelial growth and homeostasis is essential for understanding intestinal health and disease. Many of these processes involve the Lactobacillus-induced generation of reactive oxygen species by NADPH oxidase (Nox1). However, the downstream signaling pathways that respond to Nox1-generated reactive oxygen species and mediate these events have not been described.

METHODS: Wild-type and knockout mice were fed Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and the transcriptional and cell signaling pathway responses in the colon measured. Corroboration of data generated in mice was done using in organoid tissue culture and in vivo gut injury models.

RESULTS: Ingestion of L rhamnosus GG induces elevated levels of leptin in the gut epithelia, which as well as functioning in the context of metabolism, has pleiotropic activity as a chemokine that triggers cell proliferation. Consistently, using gut epithelial-specific knockout mice, we show that L rhamnosus GG-induced elevated levels of leptin is dependent on a functional Nox1 protein in the colonic epithelium, and that L rhamnosus GG-induced cell proliferation is dependent on Nox1, leptin, and leptin receptor. We also show that L rhamnosus GG induces the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the gut in a Nox1, leptin, and leptin receptor-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a novel role for leptin in the response to colonization by lactobacilli, where leptin functions in the transduction of signals from symbiotic bacteria to subepithelial compartments, where it modulates intestinal growth and homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid31873949, year = {2020}, author = {Boivin, S and Ait Lahmidi, N and Sherlock, D and Bonhomme, M and Dijon, D and Heulin-Gotty, K and Le-Queré, A and Pervent, M and Tauzin, M and Carlsson, G and Jensen, E and Journet, EP and Lopez-Bellido, R and Seidenglanz, M and Marinkovic, J and Colella, S and Brunel, B and Young, P and Lepetit, M}, title = {Host-specific competitiveness to form nodules in Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {2}, pages = {555-568}, pmid = {31873949}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Vicia faba ; }, abstract = {Fabeae legumes such as pea and faba bean form symbiotic nodules with a large diversity of soil Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar viciae (Rlv) bacteria. However, bacteria competitive to form root nodules (CFN) are generally not the most efficient to fix dinitrogen, resulting in a decrease in legume crop yields. Here, we investigate differential selection by host plants on the diversity of Rlv. A large collection of Rlv was collected by nodule trapping with pea and faba bean from soils at five European sites. Representative genomes were sequenced. In parallel, diversity and abundance of Rlv were estimated directly in these soils using metabarcoding. The CFN of isolates was measured with both legume hosts. Pea/faba bean CFN were associated to Rlv genomic regions. Variations of bacterial pea and/or faba bean CFN explained the differential abundance of Rlv genotypes in pea and faba bean nodules. No evidence was found for genetic association between CFN and variations in the core genome, but variations in specific regions of the nod locus, as well as in other plasmid loci, were associated with differences in CFN. These findings shed light on the genetic control of CFN in Rlv and emphasise the importance of host plants in controlling Rhizobium diversity.}, } @article {pmid31872432, year = {2020}, author = {Tatsumi, C and Taniguchi, T and Du, S and Yamanaka, N and Tateno, R}, title = {Soil nitrogen cycling is determined by the competition between mycorrhiza and ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotes.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {101}, number = {3}, pages = {e02963}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2963}, pmid = {31872432}, issn = {1939-9170}, support = {Fund of Joint Research Program//Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University/International ; 15H05113//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 17J07686//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 41411140035//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 41411140035//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 15H05113//Kyoto University/International ; 17J07686//Kyoto University/International ; 41411140035//Kyoto University/International ; //Tottori University/International ; }, mesh = {Ammonia ; Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi have considerable effects on soil carbon (C) storage, as they control the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), by modifying the amount of soil nitrogen (N) available for free-living microbes. Through their access to organic N, ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi compete with free-living soil microbes; this competition is thought to slow down SOM decomposition. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi cannot decompose SOM, and therefore must wait for N to first be processed by free-living microbes. It is unclear what form of N the ECM fungi and free-living microbes compete for, or which microbial groups compete for N with ECM fungi. To investigate this, we focused on the N transformation steps (i.e., the degradation of high-molecular-weight organic matter, mineralization, and nitrification) and the microbes driving each step. Simple comparisons between AM forests and ECM forests are not sufficient to assert that mycorrhizal types would determine the N transformation steps in soil, because soil physiochemistry, which strongly affects N transformation steps, differs between the forests. We used an aridity gradient with large differences in soil moisture, pH, and SOM quantity and quality, to distinguish the mycorrhizal and physicochemical effects on N transformation. Soil samples (0-10 cm depth) were collected from AM-symbiotic black locust forests under three aridity levels, and from ECM-symbiotic oak forests under two aridity levels. Soil physicochemical properties, extractable N dynamics and abundance, composition, and function of soil microbial communities were measured. In ECM forests, the ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotic abundance was low, whereas that of ECM fungi was high, resulting in lower nitrate N content than in AM forests. Since ECM forests did not have lower saprotrophic fungal abundance and prokaryotic decompositional activity than the AM forests, the hypothesis that ECM fungi could reduce SOM decay and ammonification by free-living microbes, might not hold in ECM forests. However, the limitation of ECM fungi on nitrate N production would result in a feedback that will accelerate plant dependence on these fungi, thereby raising soil C storage through an increase in the ECM biomass and plant C investment in soils.}, } @article {pmid31872390, year = {2020}, author = {Golias, HC and Polonio, JC and Dos Santos Ribeiro, MA and Polli, AD and da Silva, AA and Bulla, AM and Volpato, H and Nakamura, CV and Meurer, EC and Azevedo, JL and Pamphile, JA}, title = {Tibouchina granulosa (Vell.) Cogn (Melastomataceae) as source of endophytic fungi: isolation, identification, and antiprotozoal activity of metabolites from Phyllosticta capitalensis.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {51}, number = {2}, pages = {557-569}, pmid = {31872390}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Antiprotozoal Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Ascomycota/*chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification ; Endophytes/chemistry/classification/isolation & purification ; Leishmania/drug effects ; Melastomataceae/*microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Secondary Metabolism ; Trypanosoma/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Endophytes are microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with their own host. Included in this group are the species Phyllosticta capitalensis, a group of fungi that include saprobes that produce bioactive metabolites. The present study aimed to identify the cultivable endophytic fungal microbiota present in healthy leaves of Tibouchina granulosa (Desr.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae) and investigate secondary metabolites produced by a strain of P. capitalensis and their effects against both Leishmania species and Trypanossoma cruzi. Identification of the strains was accomplished through multilocus sequencing analysis (MLSA), followed by phylogenetic analysis. The frequency of colonization was 73.66% and identified fungi belonged to the genus Diaporthe, Colletotrichum, Phyllosticta, Xylaria, Hypoxylon, Fusarium, Nigrospora, and Cercospora. A total of 18 compounds were identified by high-resolution mass spectrum analysis (UHPLC-HRMS), including fatty acids based on linoleic acid and derivatives, from P. capitalensis. Crude extracts had activity against Leishmania amazonensis, L. infantum, and Trypanosoma cruzi, with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 17.2 μg/mL, 82.0 μg/mL, and 50.13 μg/mL, respectively. This is the first report of the production of these compounds by the endophytic P. capitalensis isolated from T. granulosa.}, } @article {pmid31871938, year = {2019}, author = {Anteneh, YS and Brown, MH and Franco, CMM}, title = {Characterization of a Halotolerant Fungus from a Marine Sponge.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {3456164}, pmid = {31871938}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Bacteria ; Biodiversity ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Marine Biology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Australia ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Marine sponges have established symbiotic interactions with a large number of microorganisms including fungi. Most of the studies so far have focussed on the characterization of sponge-associated bacteria and archaea with only a few reports on sponge-associated fungi. During the isolation and characterization of bacteria from marine sponges of South Australia, we observed multiple types of fungi. One isolate in particular was selected for further investigation due to its unusually large size and being chromogenic. Here, we report on the investigations on the physical, morphological, chemical, and genotypic properties of this yeast-like fungus.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sponge samples were collected from South Australian marine environments, and microbes were isolated using different isolation media under various incubation conditions. Microbial isolates were identified on the basis of morphology, staining characteristics, and their 16S rRNA or ITS/28S rRNA gene sequences.

RESULTS: Twelve types of yeast and fungal isolates were detected together with other bacteria and one of these fungi measured up to 35 μm in diameter with a unique chromogen compared to other fungi. Depending on the medium type, this unique fungal isolate appeared as yeast-like fungi with different morphological forms. The isolate can ferment and assimilate nearly all of the tested carbohydrates. Furthermore, it tolerated a high concentration of salt (up to 25%) and a range of pH and temperature. ITS and 28S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a sequence similarity of 93% and 98%, respectively, with the closest genera of Eupenidiella, Hortaea, and Stenella.

CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of its peculiar morphology, size, and genetic data, this yeast-like fungus possibly constitutes a new genus and the name Magnuscella marinae, gen nov., sp. nov., is proposed. This study is the first of its kind for the complete characterization of a yeast-like fungus from marine sponges. This novel isolate developed a symbiotic interaction with living hosts, which was not observed with other reported closest genera (they exist in a saprophytic relationship). The observed unique size and morphology may favour this new isolate to establish symbiotic interactions with living hosts.}, } @article {pmid31871658, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, M and Wang, C and Jia, R}, title = {The impact of nitrogen deposition on photobiont-mycobiont balance of epiphytic lichens in subtropical forests of central China.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {23}, pages = {13468-13476}, pmid = {31871658}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Excessive nitrogen (N) deposition can impact lichen diversity in forest ecosystems, and this is a particular situation in China. Here, we examined the N uptake, assimilation, and the impact of excessive N deposition on the symbiotic balance of dominant epiphytic lichens in the subtropical forests in the Mts. Shennongjia of central China. The results show that lichen species took up, assimilated and utilized more ammonium than nitrate in a species-specific way, following the increase of N availability. The photobiont of the lichens decreased with the increase of N concentration following an initial increase, while the mycobiont response to the N addition was not apparent. Considerable variation in response to excessive N deposition exists among the lichen species. Usnea longissima could regulate its N uptake, resulting in a stable photobiont-mycobiont ratio among N treatments. In contrast, the photobiont-mycobiont ratio of other four lichens increased initially but decreased when N concentration exceeded a certain level, and N stress may have broken the balance between photobiont and mycobiont of these lichens. Our results suggest that most epiphytic lichens in subtropical forest of central China could uptake and assimilate more ammonium than nitrate and that the balance between photobiont and mycobiont of many epiphytic lichens might change with the increasing N deposition load, which could impact the lichen diversity of this forest ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid31870686, year = {2020}, author = {Gritli, T and Ellouze, W and Chihaoui, SA and Barhoumi, F and Mhamdi, R and Mnasri, B}, title = {Genotypic and symbiotic diversity of native rhizobia nodulating red pea (Lathyrus cicera L.) in Tunisia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {126049}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126049}, pmid = {31870686}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Biomass ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Lathyrus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Nodulation and genetic diversity of native rhizobia nodulating Lathyrus cicera plants grown in 24 cultivated and marginal soils collected from northern and central Tunisia were studied. L. cicera plants were nodulated and showed the presence of native rhizobia in 21 soils. A total of 196 bacterial strains were selected and three different ribotypes were revealed after PCR-RFLP analysis. The sequence analysis of the rrs and two housekeeping genes (recA and thrC) from 36 representative isolates identified Rhizobium laguerreae as the dominant (53%) rhizobia nodulating L. cicera. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this species has been reported among wild populations of the rhizobia-nodulating Lathyrus genus. Twenty-five percent of the isolates were identified as R. leguminosarum and isolates LS11.5, LS11.7 and LS8.8 clustered with Ensifer meliloti. Interestingly, five isolates (LS20.3, LS18.3, LS19.10, LS1.2 and LS21.20) were segregated from R. laguerreae and clustered as a separate clade. These isolates possibly belong to new species. According to nodC and nodA phylogeny, strains of R. laguerreae and R. leguminosarum harbored the symbiotic genes of symbiovar viciae and clustered in three different clades showing heterogeneity within the symbiovar. Strains of E. meliloti harbored symbiotic genes of Clade V and induced inefficient nodules.}, } @article {pmid31870316, year = {2019}, author = {Deutscher, AT and Chapman, TA and Shuttleworth, LA and Riegler, M and Reynolds, OL}, title = {Tephritid-microbial interactions to enhance fruit fly performance in sterile insect technique programs.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {287}, pmid = {31870316}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Domestication ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insect Control ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Tephritidae/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is being applied for the management of economically important pest fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a number of countries worldwide. The success and cost effectiveness of SIT depends upon the ability of mass-reared sterilized male insects to successfully copulate with conspecific wild fertile females when released in the field.

METHODS: We conducted a critical analysis of the literature about the tephritid gut microbiome including the advancement of methods for the identification and characterization of microbiota, particularly next generation sequencing, the impacts of irradiation (to induce sterility of flies) and fruit fly rearing, and the use of probiotics to manipulate the fruit fly gut microbiota.

RESULTS: Domestication, mass-rearing, irradiation and handling, as required in SIT, may change the structure of the fruit flies' gut microbial community compared to that of wild flies under field conditions. Gut microbiota of tephritids are important in their hosts' development, performance and physiology. Knowledge of how mass-rearing and associated changes of the microbial community impact the functional role of the bacteria and host biology is limited. Probiotics offer potential to encourage a gut microbial community that limits pathogens, and improves the quality of fruit flies.

CONCLUSIONS: Advances in technologies used to identify and characterize the gut microbiota will continue to expand our understanding of tephritid gut microbial diversity and community composition. Knowledge about the functions of gut microbes will increase through the use of gnotobiotic models, genome sequencing, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics and metaproteomics. The use of probiotics, or manipulation of the gut microbiota, offers significant opportunities to enhance the production of high quality, performing fruit flies in operational SIT programs.}, } @article {pmid31870309, year = {2019}, author = {Juárez, ML and Pimper, LE and Bachmann, GE and Conte, CA and Ruiz, MJ and Goane, L and Medina Pereyra, P and Castro, F and Salgueiro, J and Cladera, JL and Fernández, PC and Bourtzis, K and Lanzavecchia, SB and Vera, MT and Segura, DF}, title = {Gut bacterial diversity and physiological traits of Anastrepha fraterculus Brazilian-1 morphotype males are affected by antibiotic treatment.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {283}, pmid = {31870309}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*classification/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*drug effects ; South America ; Tephritidae/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The interaction between gut bacterial symbionts and Tephritidae became the focus of several studies that showed that bacteria contributed to the nutritional status and the reproductive potential of its fruit fly hosts. Anastrepha fraterculus is an economically important fruit pest in South America. This pest is currently controlled by insecticides, which prompt the development of environmentally friendly methods such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). For SIT to be effective, a deep understanding of the biology and sexual behavior of the target species is needed. Although many studies have contributed in this direction, little is known about the composition and role of A. fraterculus symbiotic bacteria. In this study we tested the hypothesis that gut bacteria contribute to nutritional status and reproductive success of A. fraterculus males.

RESULTS: AB affected the bacterial community of the digestive tract of A. fraterculus, in particular bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, which was the dominant bacterial group in the control flies (i.e., non-treated with AB). AB negatively affected parameters directly related to the mating success of laboratory males and their nutritional status. AB also affected males' survival under starvation conditions. The effect of AB on the behaviour and nutritional status of the males depended on two additional factors: the origin of the males and the presence of a proteinaceous source in the diet.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that A. fraterculus males gut contain symbiotic organisms that are able to exert a positive contribution on A. fraterculus males' fitness, although the physiological mechanisms still need further studies.}, } @article {pmid31870300, year = {2019}, author = {Woruba, DN and Morrow, JL and Reynolds, OL and Chapman, TA and Collins, DP and Riegler, M}, title = {Diet and irradiation effects on the bacterial community composition and structure in the gut of domesticated teneral and mature Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {281}, pmid = {31870300}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/radiation effects ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Domestication ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*radiation effects ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Tephritidae/microbiology/*physiology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mass-rearing, domestication and gamma irradiation of tephritid fruit flies used in sterile insect technique (SIT) programmes can negatively impact fly quality and performance. Symbiotic bacteria supplied as probiotics to mass-reared fruit flies may help to overcome some of these issues. However, the effects of tephritid ontogeny, sex, diet and irradiation on their microbiota are not well known.

RESULTS: We have used next-generation sequencing to characterise the bacterial community composition and structure within Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), by generating 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries derived from the guts of 58 individual teneral and mature, female and male, sterile and fertile adult flies reared on artificial larval diets in a laboratory or mass-rearing environment, and fed either a full adult diet (i.e. sugar and yeast hydrolysate) or a sugar only adult diet. Overall, the amplicon sequence read volume in tenerals was low and smaller than in mature adult flies. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs), belonging to the families Enterobacteriaceae (8 OTUs) and Acetobacteraceae (1 OTU) were most prevalent. Enterobacteriaceae dominated laboratory-reared tenerals from a colony fed a carrot-based larval diet, while Acetobacteraceae dominated mass-reared tenerals from a production facility colony fed a lucerne chaff based larval diet. As adult flies matured, Enterobacteriaceae became dominant irrespective of larval origin. The inclusion of yeast in the adult diet strengthened this shift away from Acetobacteraceae towards Enterobacteriaceae. Interestingly, irradiation increased 16S rRNA gene sequence read volume.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that bacterial populations in fruit flies experience significant bottlenecks during metamorphosis. Gut bacteria in teneral flies were less abundant and less diverse, and impacted by colony origin. In contrast, mature adult flies had selectively increased abundances for some gut bacteria, or acquired these bacteria from the adult diet and environment. Furthermore, irradiation augmented bacterial abundance in mature flies. This implies that either some gut bacteria were compensating for damage caused by irradiation or irradiated flies had lost their ability to regulate bacterial load. Our findings suggest that the adult stage prior to sexual maturity may be ideal to target for probiotic manipulation of fly microbiota to increase fly performance in SIT programmes.}, } @article {pmid31870292, year = {2019}, author = {Kyritsis, GA and Augustinos, AA and Ntougias, S and Papadopoulos, NT and Bourtzis, K and Cáceres, C}, title = {Enterobacter sp. AA26 gut symbiont as a protein source for Mediterranean fruit fly mass-rearing and sterile insect technique applications.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {288}, pmid = {31870292}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Biomass ; Ceratitis capitata/microbiology/*physiology ; Enterobacter/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insect species have established sophisticated symbiotic associations with diverse groups of microorganisms including bacteria which have been shown to affect several aspects of their biology, physiology, ecology and evolution. In addition, recent studies have shown that insect symbionts, including those localized in the gastrointestinal tract, can be exploited for the enhancement of sterile insect technique (SIT) applications against major insect pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata. We previously showed that Enterobacter sp. AA26 can be used as probiotic supplement in medfly larval diet improving the productivity and accelerating the development of the VIENNA 8 genetic sexing strain (GSS), which is currently used in large scale operational SIT programs worldwide.

RESULTS: Enterobacter sp. AA26 was an adequate nutritional source for C. capitata larvae, comprising an effective substitute for brewer's yeast. Incorporating inactive bacterial cells in the larval diet conferred a number of substantial beneficial effects on medfly biology. The consumption of bacteria-based diet (either as full or partial yeast replacement) resulted in decreased immature stages mortality, accelerated immature development, increased pupal weight, and elongated the survival under stress conditions. Moreover, neither the partial nor the complete replacement of yeast with Enterobacter sp. AA26 had significant impact on adult sex ratio, females' fecundity, adults' flight ability and males' mating competitiveness. The absence of both yeast and Enterobacter sp. AA26 (deprivation of protein source and possible other important nutrients) from the larval diet detrimentally affected the larval development, survival and elongated the immature developmental duration.

CONCLUSIONS: Enterobacter sp. AA26 dry biomass can fully replace the brewer's yeast as a protein source in medfly larval diet without any effect on the productivity and the biological quality of reared medfly of VIENNA 8 GSS as assessed by the FAO/IAEA/USDA standard quality control tests. We discuss this finding in the context of mass-rearing and SIT applications.}, } @article {pmid31870291, year = {2019}, author = {Andongma, AA and Wan, L and Dong, YC and Wang, YL and He, J and Niu, CY}, title = {Assessment of the Bacteria community structure across life stages of the Chinese Citrus Fly, Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {285}, pmid = {31870291}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Citrus/*parasitology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria play a critical role in insect's biology. They also offer great opportunities to improve on current pest management techniques. In order to exploit and integrate the roles played by the gut microbiota on pest management programs, a better understanding of the structural organization of the microbial community in the Chinese citrus fly Bactrocera minax is essential.

RESULTS: The results revealed a total of 162 OTUs at 97% similarity interval. The dominant bacteria phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Antinobacteria and Firmicutes, with the Proteobacteria having the highest relative abundance (more than 80% in all life stages). There was also a shift in the dominant OTUs from the early developmental stages to the late developmental stages and adult stages in B. minax. These OTUs related to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia rettgeri and Enterobacter aerogenes, respectively. Six bacteria OTU were shared by all the life stages. These belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae and the Enterococcaceae families.

CONCLUSION: The common bacteria groups shared by all the life stages and other fruit flies could be important targets for further research. This should aim towards realizing how these bacteria affect the biology of the fly and how their relationship could be exploited in the development of sustainable management strategies against fruit flies.}, } @article {pmid31870284, year = {2019}, author = {Cáceres, C and Tsiamis, G and Yuval, B and Jurkevitch, E and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Joint FAO/IAEA coordinated research project on "use of symbiotic bacteria to reduce mass-rearing costs and increase mating success in selected fruit pests in support of SIT application".}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {284}, doi = {10.1186/s12866-019-1644-y}, pmid = {31870284}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Fruit/*parasitology ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/microbiology/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid31869940, year = {2019}, author = {de Oliveira, MM and Alves, SG and Ferreira, SC}, title = {Dynamical correlations and pairwise theory for the symbiotic contact process on networks.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {100}, number = {5-1}, pages = {052302}, pmid = {31869940}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {The two-species symbiotic contact process (2SCP) is a stochastic process in which each vertex of a graph may be vacant or host at most one individual of each species. Vertices with both species have a reduced death rate, representing a symbiotic interaction, while the dynamics evolves according to the standard (single species) contact process rules otherwise. We investigate the role of dynamical correlations on the 2SCP on homogeneous and heterogeneous networks using pairwise mean-field theory. This approach is compared with the ordinary one-site theory and stochastic simulations. We show that our approach significantly outperforms the one-site theory. In particular, the stationary state of the 2SCP model on random regular networks is very accurately reproduced by the pairwise mean-field, even for relatively small values of vertex degree, where expressive deviations of the standard mean-field are observed. The pairwise approach is also able to capture the transition points accurately for heterogeneous networks and provides rich phase diagrams with transitions not predicted by the one-site method. Our theoretical results are corroborated by extensive numerical simulations.}, } @article {pmid31869619, year = {2020}, author = {Katam, K and Shimizu, T and Soda, S and Bhattacharyya, D}, title = {Performance evaluation of two trickling filters removing LAS and caffeine from wastewater: Light reactor (algal-bacterial consortium) vs dark reactor (bacterial consortium).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {707}, number = {}, pages = {135987}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135987}, pmid = {31869619}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Alkanesulfonic Acids ; Bioreactors ; Caffeine ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Micropollutant removal efficiencies of two trickling filters - operated under light and dark conditions were studied and compared. Linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and caffeine were selected as model micropollutants. Both lab-scale trickling-filter type reactors were packed with polyurethane foam sponge cubes (2 cm × 2 cm × 2 cm) with 40% occupancy. The trickling filter with the white color LED light was named as Light Reactor (LR), which was operated under light: dark cycle of 12:12 h with a quantum flux of 15 μmoles/m[2]/s. No light was provided in the other trickling filter, named Dark Reactor (DR). Synthetic wastewater containing glucose (250 mg/L), LAS (12 mg/L), and caffeine (0.05 mg/L) was fed to the reactors at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12- and 8-h at 25 °C for 2 months. The C, N, and P removal at 12-h HRT were 85%, 15%, and 49%, respectively, in LR, the corresponding values in DR were 88%, 18%, and 43%. Similarly, at 8-h HRT 90%, 24%, and 37% was observed in LR and 84%, 19%, and 37% in DR. However, the LAS and caffeine removal decreased from 99 to 96% and 96 to 86% respectively in LR, and from 96 to 79% in DR with decreasing the HRT from 12 to 8-h. The number of LAS degraders in LR (5.5×10[4] CFU/sponge cube) was higher compared to DR (2.2×10[4] CFU/sponge cube) at 8-h HRT. The above results indicate that algal-bacterial symbiotic relationship in LR was beneficial for carbon and micropollutants removal from domestic wastewater.}, } @article {pmid31867562, year = {2019}, author = {Ramírez-Flores, MR and Bello-Bello, E and Rellán-Álvarez, R and Sawers, RJH and Olalde-Portugal, V}, title = {Inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis modulates the relationship between root growth and nutrient content in maize (Zea mays ssp. mays L.).}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {3}, number = {12}, pages = {e00192}, pmid = {31867562}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {Plant root systems play a fundamental role in nutrient and water acquisition. In resource-limited soils, modification of root system architecture is an important strategy to optimize plant performance. Most terrestrial plants also form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to maximize nutrient uptake. In addition to direct delivery of nutrients, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi benefit the plant host by promoting root growth. Here, we aimed to quantify the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on root growth and nutrient uptake in maize. Inoculated plants showed an increase in both biomass and the total content of twenty quantified elements. In addition, image analysis showed mycorrhizal plants to have denser, more branched root systems. For most of the quantified elements, the increase in content in mycorrhizal plants was proportional to root and overall plant growth. However, the increase in boron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, and strontium was greater than predicted by root system size alone, indicating fungal delivery to be supplementing root uptake.}, } @article {pmid31866425, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, Q and Liu, Q and Meng, H and Lv, H and Liu, Y and Liu, J and Wang, H and He, L and Qin, J and Wang, Y and Dai, Y and Otto, M and Li, M}, title = {Staphylococcus epidermidis Contributes to Healthy Maturation of the Nasal Microbiome by Stimulating Antimicrobial Peptide Production.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {68-78.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2019.11.003}, pmid = {31866425}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {ZIA AI000904/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*biosynthesis ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Cell Line ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epidermal Cells ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Male ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Nasal Cavity/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Staphylococcus epidermidis/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The composition of the human microbiome profoundly impacts human well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying microbiome maturation are poorly understood. The nasal microbiome is of particular importance as a source of many respiratory infections. Here, we performed a large sequencing and culture-based analysis of the human nasal microbiota from different age groups. We observed a significant decline of pathogenic bacteria before adulthood, with an increase of the commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis. In seniors, this effect was partially reversed. In vitro, many S. epidermidis isolates stimulated nasal epithelia to produce antimicrobial peptides, killing pathogenic competitors, while S. epidermidis itself proved highly resistant owing to its exceptional capacity to form biofilms. Furthermore, S. epidermidis isolates with high antimicrobial peptide-inducing and biofilm-forming capacities outcompeted pathogenic bacteria during nasal colonization in vivo. Our study identifies a pivotal role of S. epidermidis in healthy maturation of the nasal microbiome, which is achieved at least in part by symbiotic cooperation with innate host defense.}, } @article {pmid31865438, year = {2020}, author = {Xiao, S and Jiang, S and Qian, D and Duan, J}, title = {Modulation of microbially derived short-chain fatty acids on intestinal homeostasis, metabolism, and neuropsychiatric disorder.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {589-601}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-10312-4}, pmid = {31865438}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Homeostasis ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/*metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A diverse range of symbiotic gut bacteria codevelops with the host and is considered a metabolic "organ" that not only facilitates harvesting of nutrients from the dietary components but also produces a class of metabolites. Many metabolites of gut microbes have an important impact on host health. For example, an inventory of metabolic intermediates derived from bacterial protein fermentation may affect host physiology and pathophysiology. Additionally, gut microbiota can convert cholesterol to bile acids and further into secondary bile acids which can conversely modulate microbial community. Moreover, new research identifies that microbes synthesize vitamins for us in the colon. Here, we will review data implicating a major class of bacterial metabolites through breaking down dietary fiber we cannot process, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as crucial executors of alteration of immune mechanisms, regulation of metabolic homeostasis, and neuroprotective effects to combat disease and improve health.}, } @article {pmid31865150, year = {2020}, author = {Zhu, W and He, Q and Gao, H and Nitayavardhana, S and Khanal, SK and Xie, L}, title = {Bioconversion of yellow wine wastes into microbial protein via mixed yeast-fungus cultures.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {299}, number = {}, pages = {122565}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122565}, pmid = {31865150}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Biomass ; Fermentation ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; *Wine ; }, abstract = {The potential for microbial protein production in the mixture of yellow wine lees and rice soaking wastewater was examined. Strong symbiotic effect was observed in fermentation with yeast-fungus mixed culture of Candida utilis and Geochichum candidum at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v). The maximum specific biomass yield of 4.91 ± 0.48 g final biomass/g initial biomass with a protein content of 68.5 ± 1.0% was achieved at inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 10% (v/v) and aeration rate of 1.0 volumeair/volumeliquid/min. The essential amino acids contents of the derived protein were comparable to commercial protein sources with high amounts of methionine (2.87%, based on total protein). The reduction in soluble chemical oxygen demand of 79.4 ± 0.4% was mainly due to uptake of carbohydrate, soluble protein, volatile fatty acids, amino acids, etc. The application of mixed yeast-fungus technology provides a new opportunity for microbial protein production from these low-value organic residue streams.}, } @article {pmid31864285, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Abu-Doleh, A and Plank, J and Catalyurek, UV and Firkins, JL and Yu, Z}, title = {The transcriptome of the rumen ciliate Entodinium caudatum reveals some of its metabolic features.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {1008}, pmid = {31864285}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Alveolata/cytology/*genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Animals ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Intracellular Space/metabolism ; Phagocytosis/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA-Seq ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rumen ciliates play important roles in rumen function by digesting and fermenting feed and shaping the rumen microbiome. However, they remain poorly understood due to the lack of definitive direct evidence without influence by prokaryotes (including symbionts) in co-cultures or the rumen. In this study, we used RNA-Seq to characterize the transcriptome of Entodinium caudatum, the most predominant and representative rumen ciliate species.

RESULTS: Of a large number of transcripts, > 12,000 were annotated to the curated genes in the NR, UniProt, and GO databases. Numerous CAZymes (including lysozyme and chitinase) and peptidases were represented in the transcriptome. This study revealed the ability of E. caudatum to depolymerize starch, hemicellulose, pectin, and the polysaccharides of the bacterial and fungal cell wall, and to degrade proteins. Many signaling pathways, including the ones that have been shown to function in E. caudatum, were represented by many transcripts. The transcriptome also revealed the expression of the genes involved in symbiosis, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and the electron-transport chain. Overall, the transcriptomic evidence is consistent with some of the previous premises about E. caudatum. However, the identification of specific genes, such as those encoding lysozyme, peptidases, and other enzymes unique to rumen ciliates might be targeted to develop specific and effective inhibitors to improve nitrogen utilization efficiency by controlling the activity and growth of rumen ciliates. The transcriptomic data will also help the assembly and annotation in future genomic sequencing of E. caudatum.

CONCLUSION: As the first transcriptome of a single species of rumen ciliates ever sequenced, it provides direct evidence for the substrate spectrum, fermentation pathways, ability to respond to various biotic and abiotic stimuli, and other physiological and ecological features of E. caudatum. The presence and expression of the genes involved in the lysis and degradation of microbial cells highlight the dependence of E. caudatum on engulfment of other rumen microbes for its survival and growth. These genes may be explored in future research to develop targeted control of Entodinium species in the rumen. The transcriptome can also facilitate future genomic studies of E. caudatum and other related rumen ciliates.}, } @article {pmid31863481, year = {2020}, author = {Bu, F and Rutten, L and Roswanjaya, YP and Kulikova, O and Rodriguez-Franco, M and Ott, T and Bisseling, T and van Zeijl, A and Geurts, R}, title = {Mutant analysis in the nonlegume Parasponia andersonii identifies NIN and NF-YA1 transcription factors as a core genetic network in nitrogen-fixing nodule symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {2}, pages = {541-554}, pmid = {31863481}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Regulatory Networks ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {●Nitrogen-fixing nodulation occurs in 10 taxonomic lineages, with either rhizobia or Frankia bacteria. To establish such an endosymbiosis, two processes are essential: nodule organogenesis and intracellular bacterial infection. In the legume-rhizobium endosymbiosis, both processes are guarded by the transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) and its downstream target genes of the NUCLEAR FACTOR Y (NF-Y) complex. ●It is hypothesized that nodulation has a single evolutionary origin c. 110 Ma, followed by many independent losses. Despite a significant body of knowledge of the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, it remains elusive which signalling modules are shared between nodulating species in different taxonomic clades. We used Parasponia andersonii to investigate the role of NIN and NF-YA genes in rhizobium nodulation in a nonlegume system. ●Consistent with legumes, P. andersonii PanNIN and PanNF-YA1 are coexpressed in nodules. By analyzing single, double and higher-order CRISPR-Cas9 knockout mutants, we show that nodule organogenesis and early symbiotic expression of PanNF-YA1 are PanNIN-dependent and that PanNF-YA1 is specifically required for intracellular rhizobium infection. ●This demonstrates that NIN and NF-YA1 have conserved symbiotic functions. As Parasponia and legumes diverged soon after the birth of the nodulation trait, we argue that NIN and NF-YA1 represent core transcriptional regulators in this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31862916, year = {2019}, author = {Roux, N and Lami, R and Salis, P and Magré, K and Romans, P and Masanet, P and Lecchini, D and Laudet, V}, title = {Sea anemone and clownfish microbiota diversity and variation during the initial steps of symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {19491}, pmid = {31862916}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Microbiota/genetics/physiology ; Perciformes/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sea Anemones/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Clownfishes and sea anemones form an intriguing long-term association, but the mechanism underlying this symbiosis is not well understood. Since clownfishes seem to cover themselves with sea anemone mucus, we investigated the microbiomes of the two partners to search for possible shifts in their compositions. We used a 16S rRNA gene sequencing strategy to study the dynamics of the microbiota during the association between the clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris and its host Heteractis magnifica under laboratory conditions. The experiment conducted in aquaria revealed that both clownfish and sea anemone mucus had specific signatures compared to artificial sea water. The microbiomes of both species were highly dynamic during the initiation of the symbiosis and for up to seven days after contact. Three families of bacteria (Haliangiaceae, Pseudoalteromonadacae, Saprospiracae) were shared between the two organisms after symbiosis. Once the symbiosis had been formed, the clownfishes and sea anemone then shared some communities of their mucus microbiota. This study paves the way for further investigations to determine if similar microbial signatures exist in natural environments, whether such microbial sharing can be beneficial for both organisms, and whether the microbiota is implicated in the mechanisms that protect the clownfish from sea anemone stinging.}, } @article {pmid31862850, year = {2020}, author = {Ren, CC and Sylvia, KE and Munley, KM and Deyoe, JE and Henderson, SG and Vu, MP and Demas, GE}, title = {Photoperiod modulates the gut microbiome and aggressive behavior in Siberian hamsters.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {223}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31862850}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {R21 MH109942/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007417/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD049336/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Aggression ; Animals ; Dehydroepiandrosterone/*blood ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Male ; Phodopus/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Photoperiod ; }, abstract = {Seasonally breeding animals undergo shifts in physiology and behavior in response to changes in photoperiod (day length). Interestingly, some species, such as Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus), are more aggressive during the short-day photoperiods of the non-breeding season, despite gonadal regression. While our previous data suggest that Siberian hamsters employ a 'seasonal switch' from gonadal to adrenal regulation of aggression during short-day photoperiods, there is emerging evidence that the gut microbiome, an environment of symbiotic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract, may also change seasonally and modulate social behaviors. The goal of this study was to compare seasonal shifts in the gut microbiome, circulating levels of adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and aggression in male and female Siberian hamsters. Hamsters were housed in either long-day (LD) or short-day (SD) photoperiods for 9 weeks. Fecal samples were collected and behaviors were recorded following 3, 6 and 9 weeks of housing, and circulating DHEA was measured at week 9. SD females that were responsive to changes in photoperiod (SD-R), but not SD-R males, displayed increased aggression following 9 weeks of treatment. SD-R males and females also exhibited distinct changes in the relative abundance of gut bacterial phyla and families, yet showed no change in circulating DHEA. The relative abundance of some bacterial families (e.g. Anaeroplasmataceae in females) was associated with aggression in SD-R but not LD or SD non-responder (SD-NR) hamsters after 9 weeks of treatment. Collectively, this study provides insight into the complex role of the microbiome in regulating social behavior in seasonally breeding species.}, } @article {pmid31862723, year = {2020}, author = {Weldon, SR and Russell, JA and Oliver, KM}, title = {More Is Not Always Better: Coinfections with Defensive Symbionts Generate Highly Variable Outcomes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31862723}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology/parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Environment ; Genotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animal-associated microbes are highly variable, contributing to a diverse set of symbiont-mediated phenotypes. Given that host and symbiont genotypes, and their interactions, can impact symbiont-based phenotypes across environments, there is potential for extensive variation in fitness outcomes. Pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, host a diverse assemblage of heritable facultative symbionts (HFS) with characterized roles in host defense. Protective phenotypes have been largely studied as single infections, but pea aphids often carry multiple HFS species, and particular combinations may be enriched or depleted compared to expectations based on chance. Here, we examined the consequences of single infection versus coinfection with two common HFS exhibiting variable enrichment, the antiparasitoid Hamiltonella defensa and the antipathogen Regiella insecticola, across three host genotypes and environments. As expected, single infections with either H. defensa or R. insecticola raised defenses against their respective targets. Single infections with protective H. defensa lowered aphid fitness in the absence of enemy challenge, while R. insecticola was comparatively benign. However, as a coinfection, R. insecticola ameliorated H. defensa infection costs. Coinfected aphids continued to receive antiparasitoid protection from H. defensa, but protection was weakened by R. insecticola in two clones. Notably, H. defensa eliminated survival benefits conferred after pathogen exposure by coinfecting R. insecticola Since pathogen sporulation was suppressed by R. insecticola in coinfected aphids, the poor performance likely stemmed from H. defensa-imposed costs rather than weakened defenses. Our results reveal a complex set of coinfection outcomes which may partially explain natural infection patterns and suggest that symbiont-based phenotypes may not be easily predicted based solely on infection status.IMPORTANCE The hyperdiverse arthropods often harbor maternally transmitted bacteria that protect against natural enemies. In many species, low-diversity communities of heritable symbionts are common, providing opportunities for cooperation and conflict among symbionts, which can impact the defensive services rendered. Using the pea aphid, a model for defensive symbiosis, we show that coinfections with two common defensive symbionts, the antipathogen Regiella and the antiparasite Hamiltonella, produce outcomes that are highly variable compared to single infections, which consistently protect against designated enemies. Compared to single infections, coinfections often reduced defensive services during enemy challenge yet improved aphid fitness in the absence of enemies. Thus, infection with multiple symbionts does not necessarily create generalist aphids with "Swiss army knife" defenses against numerous enemies. Instead, particular combinations of symbionts may be favored for a variety of reasons, including their abilities to lessen the costs of other defensive symbionts when enemies are not present.}, } @article {pmid31862351, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, G and Wang, L and Ma, F and You, Y and Wang, Y and Yang, D}, title = {Integration of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi into phytoremediation of cadmium-contaminated soil by Solanum nigrum L.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {389}, number = {}, pages = {121873}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121873}, pmid = {31862351}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oligochaeta/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Solanum nigrum/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms independently enhance plant growth, heavy metal (HM) tolerance, and HM uptake, thus they are potential key factors in phytoremediation. However, few studies have investigated their interactions in HM phytoextraction by hyperaccumulators. This study highlights the independent and interactive effects of earthworms and AMF on Solanum nigrum. Plants inoculated with either AMF or earthworms exhibited ameliorated growth via enhancement of productivity, metal tolerance, and phosphorus (P) acquisition. Co-inoculation with both had more pronounced effects on plant biomass and P acquisition in shoots, but not in roots, and in Cd-polluted soils it significantly promoted (P < 0.05) shoot biomass (20.7-134.6 %) and P content (20.4-112.0 %). AMF and earthworms increased Cd accumulation in plant tissues, but only AMF affected Cd partitioning between shoots and roots. Although AMF decreased root-to-shoot translocation of Cd at high Cd levels, this was counterbalanced by earthworms. Both AMF and its combination with earthworms enhanced Cd phytoavailability by altering Cd chemical fractions and decreasing pH. Co-inoculation increased Cd removal amounts up to 149.3 % in 120 mg kg[-1] Cd-spiked soils. Interactions between the two organisms were synergistic in Cd phytoextraction. Thus, earthworm-AMF-plant symbiosis potentially plays an essential role in phytoremediation of HM-polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid31861833, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, HM and Liu, F and Zhang, SF and Kong, XB and Lu, Q and Zhang, Z}, title = {Epibiotic Fungal Communities of Three Tomicus spp. Infesting Pines in Southwestern China.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31861833}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The association between insects and fungi has evolved over millions of years and is ubiquitous in nature. This symbiotic relationship holds critical implications for both partners, the insects and the associated microbes. Numerous fungi are externally allied with bark beetles and form a close symbiosis, but the community structures of these fungi are largely unknown. In Yunnan Province in southwestern China, the beetles Tomicus yunnanensis, T. minor, and T. brevipilosus are major forest pests that cause large losses of two indigenous pines, Pinus yunnanensis and P. kesiya. In this study, we used the Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform to process 48 samples of epibiotic fungal communities pooled from 1348 beetles; the beetles were collected during both the branch- and trunk-infection sections from five locations across Yunnan Province. Considerably greater species richness was detected using high-throughput sequencing of amplified internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) libraries than previously documented by using culture-dependent methods. In total, 1,413,600 reads were generated, and a 97% sequence-similarity cutoff produced eight phyla, 31 classes, 83 orders, 181 families, 331 genera, 471 species, and 1157 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with 659, 621, and 609 OTUs being confined to T. yunnanensis, T. minor, and T. brevipilosus, respectively. Tomicus yunnanensis, T. minor, and T. brevipilosus had the similar OTUs richness and evenness of fungal communities in Yunnan Province; nevertheless, the two fungal community compositions associated with T. yunnanensis and T. minor were structurally similar to each other but distinct from that associated with T. brevipilosus. Lastly, the results of principal co-ordinates analysis suggested that epibiotic fungal community structures of the three Tomicus spp. were conditioned strongly by the locations and pine hosts but weakly by beetle species and infection sections. Our findings provide baseline knowledge regarding the epibiotic fungal communities of three major Tomicus spp. in southwestern China.}, } @article {pmid31861544, year = {2019}, author = {Sheffer, MM and Uhl, G and Prost, S and Lueders, T and Urich, T and Bengtsson, MM}, title = {Tissue- and Population-Level Microbiome Analysis of the Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi Identified a Novel Dominant Bacterial Symbiont.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31861544}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Many ecological and evolutionary processes in animals depend upon microbial symbioses. In spiders, the role of the microbiome in these processes remains mostly unknown. We compared the microbiome between populations, individuals, and tissue types of a range-expanding spider, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our study is one of the first to go beyond targeting known endosymbionts in spiders and characterizes the total microbiome across different body compartments (leg, prosoma, hemolymph, book lungs, ovaries, silk glands, midgut, and fecal pellets). Overall, the microbiome differed significantly between populations and individuals, but not between tissue types. The microbiome of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi features a novel dominant bacterial symbiont, which is abundant in every tissue type in spiders from geographically distinct populations and that is also present in offspring. The novel symbiont is affiliated with the Tenericutes, but has low sequence identity (<85%) to all previously named taxa, suggesting that the novel symbiont represents a new bacterial clade. Its presence in offspring implies that it is vertically transmitted. Our results shed light on the processes that shape microbiome differentiation in this species and raise several questions about the implications of the novel dominant bacterial symbiont on the biology and evolution of its host.}, } @article {pmid31860060, year = {2020}, author = {Cavichiolli de Oliveira, N and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Beyond host regulation: Changes in gut microbiome of permissive and non-permissive hosts following parasitization by the wasp Cotesia flavipes.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz206}, pmid = {31860060}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/physiology ; Larva/classification/microbiology/parasitology ; Moths/classification/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Koinobiont parasitoids regulate the physiology of their hosts, possibly interfering with the host gut microbiota and ultimately impacting parasitoid development. We used the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes to investigate if the regulation of the host would also affect the host gut microbiota. We also wondered if the effects of parasitization on the gut microbiota would depend on the host-parasitoid association by testing the permissive Diatraea saccharalis and the non-permissive Spodoptera frugiperda hosts. We determined the structure and potential functional contribution of the gut microbiota of the fore-midgut and hindgut of the hosts at different stages of development of the immature parasitoid. The abundance and diversity of operational taxonomic units of the anteromedial (fore-midgut) gut and posterior (hindgut) region from larvae of the analyzed hosts were affected by parasitization. Changes in the gut microbiota induced by parasitization altered the potential functional contribution of the gut microbiota associated with both hosts. Our data also indicated that the mechanism by which C. flavipes interferes with the gut microbiota of the host does not require a host-parasitoid coevolutionary history. Changes observed in the potential contribution of the gut microbiota of parasitized hosts impact the host's nutritional quality, and could favor host exploitation by C. flavipes.}, } @article {pmid31860058, year = {2020}, author = {Nguyen, HP and Miwa, H and Obirih-Opareh, J and Suzaki, T and Yasuda, M and Okazaki, S}, title = {Novel rhizobia exhibit superior nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation even under high nitrate concentrations.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz184}, pmid = {31860058}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/physiology ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis leads to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. However, externally applied chemical nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate and ammonia) strongly inhibit nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. Here, we isolated several rhizobial strains exhibiting a superior nodulation and nitrogen fixation with soybean at high nitrate concentrations. The nodulation of soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 was significantly inhibited at 12.5 mM nitrate; however, three isolates (NKS4, NKM2 and NKTG2) were capable of forming nitrogen-fixing nodules, even at 20 mM nitrate. These isolates exhibited higher nodulation competitiveness and induced larger nodules with higher nitrogen-fixation activity than USDA110 at 5 mM nitrate. Furthermore, these isolates induced more nodules than USDA110 even in nitrate-free conditions. These isolates had a distant lineage within the Bradyrhizobium genus; though they were relatively phylogenetically close to Bradyrhizobium japonicum, their morphological and growth characteristics were significantly different. Notably, in the presence of nitrate, expression of the soybean symbiosis-related genes (GmENOD40 and GmNIN) was significantly higher and expression of GmNIC1 that is involved in nitrate-dependent nodulation inhibition was lower in the roots inoculated with these isolates in contrast with inoculation of USDA110. These novel rhizobia serve as promising inoculants for soybeans cultivated in diverse agroecosystems, particularly on nitrate-applied soils.}, } @article {pmid31858690, year = {2020}, author = {Zhuang, W and Li, J and Yu, F and Dong, Z and Guo, H}, title = {Seasonal nitrogen uptake strategies in a temperate desert ecosystem depends on N form and plant species.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {386-393}, doi = {10.1111/plb.13083}, pmid = {31858690}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {China ; *Desert Climate ; *Nitrogen/chemistry/metabolism ; *Seasons ; Soil/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic plants might be able to regulate a limited nitrogen (N) pool, thus avoiding and reducing competition for resources, through the uptake of different chemical N forms. Our aim was to see whether coexisting herbs showed preference for different forms of N in a temperate desert. We conducted a situ experiment using the [15] N labeling method in the Gurbantunggut Desert of Northwestern China dominated by Erodium oxyrrhynchum, Hyalea pulchella, Nonea caspica and Lactuca undulata during their growing period (April and May). Four desert herb species preferentially relied on [15] N-NO3 for their N nutrition. Multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis results showed that species, N forms, months, and soil depths strongly affected N uptake rate. The uptake rate by herbs was higher in May than in April, and higher at 0-5 cm than at 5-15 cm soil layers. Erodium oxyrrhynchum, N. caspica and L. undulata showed different preference on N form over months. Erodium oxyrrhynchum and L. undulata changed their uptake preference from more [15] N-Glycine in April to more [15] N-NH4 in May. Although the N uptake rate of four desert herbs varied across different soil depths and months, all species absorbed more inorganic N compared with organic N. The higher preference for [15] N-NO3 and [15] N-NH4 over [15] N-Gly possibly reflects adaptation to different N forms in temperate desert.}, } @article {pmid31858682, year = {2020}, author = {Nag, P and Shriti, S and Das, S}, title = {Microbiological strategies for enhancing biological nitrogen fixation in nonlegumes.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {129}, number = {2}, pages = {186-198}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14557}, pmid = {31858682}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In an agro-ecosystem, industrially produced nitrogenous fertilizers are the principal sources of nitrogen for plant growth; unfortunately these also serve as the leading sources of pollution. Hence, it becomes imperative to find pollution-free methods of providing nitrogen to crop plants. A diverse group of free-living, plant associative and symbiotic prokaryotes are able to perform biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). BNF is a two component process involving the nitrogen fixing diazotrophs and the host plant. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is most efficient as it can fix nitrogen inside the nodule formed on the roots of the plant; delivering nitrogen directly to the host. However, most of the important crop plants are nonleguminous and are unable to form symbiotic associations. In this context, the plant associative and endophytic diazotrophs assume importance. BNF in nonlegumes can be encouraged either through the transfer of BNF traits from legumes or by elevating the nitrogen fixing capacity of the associative and endophytic diazotrophs. In this review we discuss mainly the microbiological strategies which may be used in nonleguminous crops for enhancement of BNF.}, } @article {pmid31858299, year = {2020}, author = {Votanopoulos, KI and Forsythe, S and Sivakumar, H and Mazzocchi, A and Aleman, J and Miller, L and Levine, E and Triozzi, P and Skardal, A}, title = {Model of Patient-Specific Immune-Enhanced Organoids for Immunotherapy Screening: Feasibility Study.}, journal = {Annals of surgical oncology}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {1956-1967}, pmid = {31858299}, issn = {1534-4681}, support = {P30 CA012197/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 EB014836/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001420/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/*pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/*drug effects ; Lymph Nodes/drug effects/pathology ; Melanoma/drug therapy/*pathology ; *Models, Biological ; Organoids/drug effects/*pathology ; Pilot Projects ; Precision Medicine ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that engineering a combined lymph node/melanoma organoid from the same patient would allow tumor, stroma, and immune system to remain viable for personalized immunotherapy screening.

METHODS: Surgically obtained matched melanoma and lymph node biospecimens from the same patient were transferred to the laboratory and washed with saline, antibiotic, and red blood cell lysis buffer. Biospecimens were dissociated, incorporated into an extracellular matrix (ECM)-based hydrogel system, and biofabricated into three dimensional (3D) mixed melanoma/node organoids. Cells were not sorted, so as to preserve tumor heterogeneity, including stroma and immune cell components, resulting in immune-enhanced patient tumor organoids (iPTOs). Organoid sets were screened in parallel with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, and dabrafenib/trametinib for 72 h. LIVE/DEAD staining and quantitative metabolism assays recorded relative drug efficacy. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to compare tumor melanoma cells with organoid melanoma cells. Lastly, node-enhanced iPTOs were employed to activate patient-matched peripheral blood T cells for killing of tumor cells in naïve PTOs.

RESULTS: Ten biospecimen sets obtained from eight stage III and IV melanoma patients were reconstructed as symbiotic immune/tumor organoids between September 2017 and June 2018. Successful establishment of viable organoid sets was 90% (9/10), although organoid yield varied with biospecimen size. Average time from organoid development to initiation of immunotherapy testing was 7 days. In three patients for whom a node was not available, it was substituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. iPTO response to immunotherapy was similar to specimen clinical response in 85% (6/7) patients. In an additional pilot study, peripheral T cells were circulated through iPTOs, and subsequently transferred to naïve PTOs from the same patient, resulting in tumor killing, suggesting a possible role of iPTOs in generating adaptive immunity.

CONCLUSION: Development of 3D mixed immune-enhanced tumor/node organoids is a feasible platform, allowing individual patient immune system and tumor cells to remain viable for studying of personalized immunotherapy response.}, } @article {pmid31856724, year = {2019}, author = {Shen, D and Kulikova, O and Guhl, K and Franssen, H and Kohlen, W and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {The Medicago truncatula nodule identity gene MtNOOT1 is required for coordinated apical-basal development of the root.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {571}, pmid = {31856724}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {ERC-2011-AdG294790/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development ; Organogenesis, Plant/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes can utilize atmospheric nitrogen by hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria in special lateral root organs, called nodules. Legume nodules have a unique ontology, despite similarities in the gene networks controlling nodule and lateral root development. It has been shown that Medicago truncatula NODULE ROOT1 (MtNOOT1) is required for the maintenance of nodule identity, preventing the conversion to lateral root development. MtNOOT1 and its orthologs in other plant species -collectively called the NOOT-BOP-COCH-LIKE (NBCL) family- specify boundary formation in various aerial organs. However, MtNOOT1 is not only expressed in nodules and aerial organs, but also in developing roots, where its function remains elusive.

RESULTS: We show that Mtnoot1 mutant seedlings display accelerated root elongation due to an enlarged root apical meristem. Also, Mtnoot1 mutant roots are thinner than wild-type and are delayed in xylem cell differentiation. We provide molecular evidence that the affected spatial development of Mtnoot1 mutant roots correlates with delayed induction of genes involved in xylem cell differentiation. This coincides with a basipetal shift of the root zone that is susceptible to rhizobium-secreted symbiotic signal molecules.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that MtNOOT1 regulates the size of the root apical meristem and vascular differentiation. Our data demonstrate that MtNOOT1 not only functions as a homeotic gene in nodule development but also coordinates the spatial development of the root.}, } @article {pmid31856195, year = {2019}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Göschl, C and Dietzen, C and Andersen, SU and Kopriva, S and Busch, W}, title = {Identification of novel genes involved in phosphate accumulation in Lotus japonicus through Genome Wide Association mapping of root system architecture and anion content.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {e1008126}, pmid = {31856195}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome-Wide Association Study/*methods ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Protein Kinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phosphate represents a major limiting factor for plant productivity. Plants have evolved different solutions to adapt to phosphate limitation ranging from a profound tuning of their root system architecture and metabolic profile to the evolution of widespread mutualistic interactions. Here we elucidated plant responses and their genetic basis to different phosphate levels in a plant species that is widely used as a model for AM symbiosis: Lotus japonicus. Rather than focussing on a single model strain, we measured root growth and anion content in response to different levels of phosphate in 130 Lotus natural accessions. This allowed us not only to uncover common as well as divergent responses within this species, but also enabled Genome Wide Association Studies by which we identified new genes regulating phosphate homeostasis in Lotus. Among them, we showed that insertional mutants of a cytochrome B5 reductase and a Leucine-Rich-Repeat receptor showed different phosphate concentration in plants grown under phosphate sufficient condition. Under low phosphate conditions, we found a correlation between plant biomass and the decrease of plant phosphate concentration in plant tissues, representing a dilution effect. Altogether our data of the genetic and phenotypic variation within a species capable of AM complements studies that have been conducted in Arabidopsis, and advances our understanding of the continuum of genotype by phosphate level interaction existing throughout dicot plants.}, } @article {pmid31855745, year = {2020}, author = {Mcilwaine, C and Strachan, A and Harrington, Z and Jerreat, M and Belfield, LA and Sandor, V and Foey, A and Zaric, S}, title = {Comparative analysis of total salivary lipopolysaccharide chemical and biological properties with periodontal status.}, journal = {Archives of oral biology}, volume = {110}, number = {}, pages = {104633}, doi = {10.1016/j.archoralbio.2019.104633}, pmid = {31855745}, issn = {1879-1506}, mesh = {Gingiva/metabolism ; *Gram-Negative Bacteria/pathogenicity ; Humans ; Lipid A ; *Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; *Periodontitis/metabolism ; Saliva/metabolism ; *Tooth ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Clinical manifestations of Gram-negative bacteria mediated diseases can be influenced by how the host senses their major microbe-associated molecular pattern, the cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Keystone periodontal pathogens can produce a heterogeneous population of LPS molecules, with strikingly different host-microbiome interactions and immune outcomes.

DESIGN: Structure-function correlations of salivary LPS extracts in patients with periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment and healthy volunteers were analysed by comparing its lipid A and carbohydrate chain chemical structure and evaluating its endotoxin activity and inflammatory potential.

RESULTS: Salivary LPS extracts from periodontitis patients were characterised by high m/z lipid A mass-spectrometry peaks, corresponding to over-acylated and phosphorylated lipid A ions and by a combination of rough and smooth LPS carbohydrate moieties. In contrast, gingival health was defined by the predominance of low m/z lipid A peaks, consistent with under-acylated and hypo-phosphorylated lipid A molecular signatures, with long and intermediate carbohydrate chains as determined by silver staining. Total, diseased salivary LPS extracts were stronger inducers of the recombinant factor C assay and triggered significantly higher levels of TNF-α, IL-8 and IP-10 production in THP-1 cells, compared to almost immunosilent healthy samples. Interestingly, salivary LPS architecture, endotoxin activity, and inflammatory potential were well conserved after periodontal therapy and showed similarities to diseased samples.

CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds new light on molecular pathogenic mechanisms of oral dysbiotic communities and indicates that the regulation of LPS chemical structure is an important mechanism that drives oral bacteria-host immune system interactions into either a symbiotic or pathogenic relationship.}, } @article {pmid31853814, year = {2020}, author = {Ankrah, NYD and Wilkes, RA and Zhang, FQ and Aristilde, L and Douglas, AE}, title = {The Metabolome of Associations between Xylem-Feeding Insects and their Bacterial Symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {46}, number = {8}, pages = {735-744}, doi = {10.1007/s10886-019-01136-7}, pmid = {31853814}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Hemiptera/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Metabolome ; *Symbiosis ; Xylem ; }, abstract = {Metabolomics has increasingly led to important insights in chemical ecology by identifying environmentally relevant small molecules that mediate inter-organismal interactions. Nevertheless, the application of metabolomics to investigate interactions between phytophagous insects and their microbial symbionts remains underutilized. Here, we investigated the metabolomes of the bacteriomes (organs bearing symbiotic bacteria) isolated from natural populations of five species of xylem-feeding insects. We identified three patterns. First, the metabolomes varied among the five species, likely influenced by insect phylogeny, food plant and taxonomic identity of the symbionts. Second, the ratio of glutamine: glutamate in the bacteriomes was 0.7-3.6 to 1, indicative of nitrogen-sufficient metabolism and raising the possibility that the insect sustains nitrogen-enriched status of the bacteriomes despite the nitrogen scarcity of the xylem diet. Finally, bacteriomes from insect species bearing genetically-similar symbionts displayed limited variation in their metabolomes, suggesting that the metabolic pattern of the bacteriome metabolic pools is correlated with the genetic repertoire of the symbionts. Altogether, these metabolomic patterns yield specific hypotheses of underlying processes that are testable by wider sampling of natural populations and experimental study.}, } @article {pmid31852927, year = {2019}, author = {Abdulvagidov, SB and Djabrailov, SZ and Abdulvagidov, BS}, title = {Nature of novel criticality in ternary transition-metal oxides.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {19328}, pmid = {31852927}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {There are the chains of transition-metal cations alternating with the anions of oxygen in ternary transition-metal oxides. When a p-orbital of the oxygen connects the half-filled and empty d-orbitals of adjacent transition-metal cations, double-exchange ferromagnetism takes place. Although double exchange has been well explored, the nature of novel criticality, induced by it, is yet not uncovered. We explored the magnetic-field scaling in the heat capacity of a Sm0.55Sr0.45MnO3 manganite, one of the best ternary transition-metal oxides as it is completely ferromagnetic, and found novel criticality - unordinary critical exponents which are the consequence of coherence of Coulomb lattice distortion and ferromagnetism. The coherence is caused by the trinity of the mass, the charge and the spin of an electron. When the d and p orbitals overlaps, it quickly walks from one site to the another due its lightest mass. And due to its electric charge, it equalizes the valences of the transition-metal cations in the chains and so diminishes the Coulomb lattice distortion. At last, its spin forces magnetic moments of transition-metal cations to ferromagnetically arrange. The disappearance of Coulomb distortions widens the overlap and lowers the elastic lattice energy, so that not only the spin of an electron, but also its electric charge strengthens ferromagnetism. That nonlinear effect strengthens the critical behaviour and critical exponents come off any known universality classes. Thus, the symbiotic coherence of annihilating Coulomb distortions and arising ferromagnetism is a reason of the novel criticality.}, } @article {pmid31852508, year = {2019}, author = {Manousaki, T and Koutsouveli, V and Lagnel, J and Kollias, S and Tsigenopoulos, CS and Arvanitidis, C and Magoulas, A and Dounas, C and Dailianis, T}, title = {A de novo transcriptome assembly for the bath sponge Spongia officinalis, adjusting for microsymbionts.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {813}, pmid = {31852508}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Greece ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; RNA-Seq/methods ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: We report a transcriptome acquisition for the bath sponge Spongia officinalis, a non-model marine organism that hosts rich symbiotic microbial communities. To this end, a pipeline was developed to efficiently separate between bacterial expressed genes from those of eukaryotic origin. The transcriptome was produced to support the assessment of gene expression and, thus, the response of the sponge, to elevated temperatures, replicating conditions currently occurring in its native habitat.

DATA DESCRIPTION: We describe the assembled transcriptome along with the bioinformatic pipeline used to discriminate between signals of metazoan and prokaryotic origin. The pipeline involves standard read pre-processing steps and incorporates extra analyses to identify and filter prokaryotic reads out of the analysis. The proposed pipeline can be followed to overcome the technical RNASeq problems characteristic for symbiont-rich metazoan organisms with low or non-existent tissue differentiation, such as sponges and cnidarians. At the same time, it can be valuable towards the development of approaches for parallel transcriptomic studies of symbiotic communities and the host.}, } @article {pmid31850871, year = {2019}, author = {Hansen, AK}, title = {Considering the microbiota to achieve reduction in the numbers of animals used in scientific studies.}, journal = {Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {405-407}, doi = {10.4415/ANN_19_04_17}, pmid = {31850871}, issn = {2384-8553}, mesh = {Animal Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control ; Animal Feed ; Animal Husbandry/methods ; *Animal Use Alternatives ; Animals ; Animals, Laboratory/immunology/*microbiology ; Disease Outbreaks/veterinary ; Housing, Animal ; *Microbiota ; Micronutrients ; Species Specificity ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Elimination of pathogens by laboratory rodent commercial vendors has substantially improved standardized conditions as well as laboratory animal welfare. However, pathogens are also important for basic activation and functioning of the immune system with consequential influences on the symbiotic bacteria composition in the individual microbiota. One of the reasons for failures of translating results from preclinical research to the clinical phase in some studies could be due to unintentional selection processes. Some recommendations are provided to increase researchers' awareness on this point, together with a practical checklist to optimize information from microbiota knowledge.}, } @article {pmid31850627, year = {2020}, author = {Zhang, S and Yu, N and Arce, RM}, title = {Periodontal inflammation: Integrating genes and dysbiosis.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {129-142}, pmid = {31850627}, issn = {1600-0757}, support = {K99 DE027086/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE027086/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE021418/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; K99DE027086/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mice ; *Periodontitis ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Biofilm bacteria co-evolve and reach a symbiosis with the host on the gingival surface. The disruption of the homeostatic relationship between plaque bacteria and the host can initiate and promote periodontal disease progression. Recent advances in sequencing technologies allow researchers to profile disease-associated microbial communities and quantify microbial metabolic activities and host transcriptional responses. In addition to confirming the findings from previous studies, new putative pathogens and novel genes that have not previously been associated with periodontitis, emerge. For example, multiple studies have reported that Synergistetes bacteria are associated with periodontitis. Genes involved in epithelial barrier defense were downregulated in periodontitis, while excessive expression of interleukin-17 was associated with a hyperinflammatory response in periodontitis and with a unique microbial community. Bioinformatics-enabled gene ontology pathway analyses provide a panoramic view of the bacterial and host activities as they shift from periodontal health to disease. Additionally, host innate factors, such as genetic variants identified by either a candidate-gene approach or genome-wide association analyses, have an impact on subgingival bacterial colonization. Transgenic mice carrying candidate genetic variants, or with the deletion of candidate genes mimicking the deleterious loss-of-function variant effect, provide experimental evidence validating the biologic relevance of the novel markers associated with the microbial phenotype identified through a statistical approach. Further refinement in bioinformatics, data management approaches, or statistical tools, are required to gain insight into host-microbe interactions by harmonizing the multidimensional "big" data at the genomic, transcriptional, and proteomic levels.}, } @article {pmid31850049, year = {2019}, author = {Sisti, LS and Flores-Borges, DNA and de Andrade, SAL and Koehler, S and Bonatelli, ML and Mayer, JLS}, title = {The Role of Non-Mycorrhizal Fungi in Germination of the Mycoheterotrophic Orchid Pogoniopsis schenckii Cogn.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1589}, pmid = {31850049}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are those that inhabit within organs and tissues without causing damage, while mycorrhizal fungi develop hyphal complexes called pelotons within cortical cells of orchid roots. Although abundant and frequent in all plant organs, the role of endophytic fungi has been neglected in relation to orchid's early development. Pogoniopsis schenckii Cogn. is an aclorophyllated and mycoheterotrophic (MH) orchid. This study aimed at i) investigating the endophytic fungal community in organs of P. schenckii and its mycorrhizal fungi associated; ii) evaluating the ability of isolated fungus in the in vitro germination of the seeds of the species, and iii) describing the development of P. schenckii protocorm, analyzing the ultrastructure of the infected cells. Six genera of fungi were isolated and identified through the partial sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region, all belonging to the phylum Ascomycota. Also, Tulasnellaceae was identified through uncultured technique as potentially mycorrhizal in this MH orchid. Some isolates of the genera Trichoderma, Fusarium, and especially Clonostachys presented germinative potential on P. schenckii seeds, causing rupture of the external tegument. The protocorms showed complete absence of peloton formation, but fungal hyphae were clearly observed within living cells. This is the first report of germination of a MH and aclorophyllated orchid species stimulated by the presence of non-mycorrhizal endophytic fungi isolated from fruits and roots of the same species.}, } @article {pmid31850013, year = {2019}, author = {Syska, C and Brouquisse, R and Alloing, G and Pauly, N and Frendo, P and Bosseno, M and Dupont, L and Boscari, A}, title = {Molecular Weapons Contribute to Intracellular Rhizobia Accommodation Within Legume Host Cell.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1496}, pmid = {31850013}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The interaction between legumes and bacteria of rhizobia type results in a beneficial symbiotic relationship characterized by the formation of new root organs, called nodules. Within these nodules the bacteria, released in plant cells, differentiate into bacteroids and fix atmospheric nitrogen through the nitrogenase activity. This mutualistic interaction has evolved sophisticated signaling networks to allow rhizobia entry, colonization, bacteroid differentiation and persistence in nodules. Nodule cysteine rich (NCR) peptides, reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules produced by the host plants or bacterial microsymbionts have a major role in the control of the symbiotic interaction. These molecules described as weapons in pathogenic interactions have evolved to participate to the intracellular bacteroid accommodation by escaping control of plant innate immunity and adapt the functioning of the nitrogen-fixation to environmental signalling cues.}, } @article {pmid31849890, year = {2019}, author = {Woliy, K and Degefu, T and Frostegård, Å}, title = {Host Range and Symbiotic Effectiveness of N2O Reducing Bradyrhizobium Strains.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2746}, pmid = {31849890}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Emissions of the potent greenhouse gas N2O is one of the environmental problems associated with intensive use of synthetic N fertilizers, and novel N2O mitigation strategies are needed to minimize fertilizer applications and N2O release without affecting agricultural efficiencies. Increased incorporation of legume crops in agricultural practices offers a sustainable alternative. Legumes, in their symbiosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria, rhizobia, reduce the need for fertilizers and also respond to the need for increased production of plant-based proteins. Not all combinations of rhizobia and legumes result in efficient nitrogen fixation, and legume crops therefore often need to be inoculated with compatible rhizobial strains. Recent research has demonstrated that some rhizobia are also very efficient N2O reducers. Several nutritionally and economically important legumes form root nodules in symbiosis with bacteria belonging to Bradyrhizobium. Here, the host-ranges of fourteen N2O reducing Bradyrhizobium strains were tested on six legume hosts; cowpea, groundnut, mung bean, haricot bean, soybean, and alfalfa. The plants were grown for 35 days in pots in sterile sand supplemented with N-free nutrient solution. Cowpea was the most promiscuous host nodulated by all test strains, followed by groundnut (11 strains) and mungbean (4 strains). Three test strains were able to nodulate all these three legumes, while none nodulated the other three hosts. For cowpea, five strains increased the shoot dry weight and ten strains the shoot nitrogen content (pairwise comparison; p < 0.05). For groundnut the corresponding results were three and nine strains. The symbiotic effectiveness for the different strains ranged from 45 to 98% in cowpea and 34 to 95% in groundnut, relative to fertilized controls. The N2O reduction capacity of detached nodules from cowpea plants inoculated with one of these strains confirmed active N2O reduction inside the nodules. When released from senescent nodules such strains are expected to also act as sinks for N2O produced by denitrifying organisms in the soil microbial community. Our strategy to search among known N2O-reducing Bradyrhizobium strains for their N2-fixation effectiveness successfully identified several strains which can potentially be used for the production of legume inoculants with the dual capacities of efficacious N2-fixation and N2O reduction.}, } @article {pmid31849863, year = {2019}, author = {McDonald, RC and Watts, JEM and Schreier, HJ}, title = {Effect of Diet on the Enteric Microbiome of the Wood-Eating Catfish Panaque nigrolineatus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2687}, pmid = {31849863}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Wood is consistently found in high levels in the gastrointestinal tract of the Amazonian catfish Panaque nigrolineatus, which, depending on environmental conditions, can switch between xylivorous and detritivorous dietary strategies. This is highly unusual among primary wood consumers and provides a unique system to examine the effect of dietary change in a xylivorous system. In this study, microbiome and predictive metagenomic analyses were performed for P. nigrolineatus fed either wood alone or a less refractory mixed diet containing wood and plant nutrition. While diet had an impact on enteric bacterial community composition, there was a high degree of interindividual variability. Members of the Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes were ubiquitous and dominated most communities; Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia also contributed in a tissue and diet-specific manner. Although predictive metagenomics revealed functional differences between communities, the relative abundance of predicted lignocellulose-active enzymes remained similar across diets. The microbiomes from both diets appeared highly adapted for hemicellulose hydrolysis as the predicted metagenomes contained several classes of hemicellulases and lignin-modifying enzymes. Enteric communities from both diets appeared to lack the necessary cellobiohydrolases for efficient cellulose hydrolysis, suggesting that cellobiose is not the primary source of dietary carbon for the fish. Our findings suggest that the P. nigrolineatus gut environment selects for an enteric community based on function, rather than a vertically transferred symbiotic relationship. This functional selection strategy may provide an advantage to an organism that switches between dietary strategies to survive a highly variable environment.}, } @article {pmid31849854, year = {2019}, author = {Rossbach, S and Cardenas, A and Perna, G and Duarte, CM and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Tissue-Specific Microbiomes of the Red Sea Giant Clam Tridacna maxima Highlight Differential Abundance of Endozoicomonadaceae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2661}, pmid = {31849854}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Giant clams (subfamily Tridacninae) are prevalent members of coral reef communities and engage in symbioses with algal photosymbionts of the family Symbiodiniaceae, similar to their scleractinian coral counterparts. However, we know little about their associated bacterial microbiome members. Here, we explored bacterial community diversity of digestive system, gill, and mantle tissues associated with the giant clam Tridacna maxima across a cross-shelf gradient (inshore, midshore, and offshore reef sites) in the central Red Sea using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Different tissues harbor spatially stable and distinct microbial communities. Notably, diverse assemblages of bacteria affiliated to the family Endozoicomonadaceae were prevalent in all tissues, but particularly abundant in gills and to a lesser extent in digestive tissues. Besides Endozoicomonadaceae, bacteria in the families Pasteurellaceae, Alteromonadaceae, and Comamonadaceae were common associates, depending on the tissue queried. Taxonomy-based functional inference identified processes related to nitrogen cycling (among others) to be enriched in giant clam tissues and contributed by Endozoicomonadaceae. Our study highlights the tissue-specificity and broad taxonomic range of Endozoicomonadaceae associates, similar to other marine invertebrates, and suggests their contribution to nitrogen-related pathways. The investigation of bivalve-associated microbiome communities provides an important addition to the pathogen-focused studies for commercially important bivalves (e.g., oysters).}, } @article {pmid31849738, year = {2019}, author = {Hernández, I and Vecchi, D}, title = {The Interactive Construction of Biological Individuality Through Biotic Entrenchment.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2578}, pmid = {31849738}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {In this article, we propose to critically evaluate whether a closure of constraints interpretation can make sense of biotic entrenchment, the process of assimilation and functional integration of environmental elements of biotic origin in development and, eventually, evolution. In order to achieve the aims of our analysis, we shall focus on multi-species partnerships, biological systems characterised by ontogenetic dependencies of various strengths between the partners. Our main research question is to tackle the foundational problem posed by the dynamics of biotic entrenchment characterising multi-species partnerships for the closure of constraints interpretation, namely, to understand for which biological system (i.e., the partners taken individually or the partnership as the encompassing system) closure of constraints is realised. Through the analysis of significant illustrative examples, we shall progressively refine the closure thesis and articulate an answer to our main research question. We shall also propose that biotic entrenchment provides a chief example of the phenomenon of interactive and horizontal construction of biological individuality and inter-identity.}, } @article {pmid31849399, year = {2019}, author = {Boyeena, L and Koduganti, RR and Panthula, VR and Jammula, SP}, title = {Comparison of efficacy of probiotics versus tetracycline fibers as adjuvants to scaling and root planing.}, journal = {Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {539-544}, pmid = {31849399}, issn = {0972-124X}, abstract = {CONTEXT: Both gingivitis and periodontitis are due to the detrimental effects of the microbe-laden biofilm. The mainstay of periodontal treatment is, therefore, the disruption of this biofilm by scaling and root planing (SRP). Other treatment protocols such as systemic antimicrobials have been administered as adjuvants after scaling and root planning. However, due to antimicrobial resistance, as well as a shift of the flora from a symbiotic to a dysbiotic one, this mode of treatment has its shortcomings. Thus, local drug delivery has gained prominence as a therapeutic tool.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of subgingivally delivered probiotics as a monotherapy, in combination with tetracycline fibers, and tetracycline fibers alone after SRP.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was a parallel arm, randomized clinical and microbiological study. Thirty patients with chronic periodontitis aged between 20 and 50 years were selected from the outpatient ward of a tertiary referral care hospital in Hyderabad and equally divided into three groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted from January 2017 to February 2017 and ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional ethical committee.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Mean values and standard deviations were calculated for Plaque Index, Sulcular Bleeding Index (SBI), probing depth (PD), and microbial colony-forming units, for all the three groups at different time intervals. Paired "t-test" was used for intragroup comparison and Student's "t-test" for intergroup comparison. Results were regarded as statistically significant when P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Intragroup comparison yielded significant improvement in all the variables (P < 0.0001). However, intergroup comparison showed statistically significant differences pertaining to the PD (P < 0.001) and SBI only (P < 0.001), between Group A and Group B and Group B and Group C respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Group A and Group C showed better results than Group B.}, } @article {pmid31848755, year = {2020}, author = {Kobiałka, M and Michalik, A and Świerczewski, D and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Complex symbiotic systems of two treehopper species: Centrotus cornutus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Gargara genistae (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Membracoidea: Membracidae).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {257}, number = {3}, pages = {819-831}, doi = {10.1007/s00709-019-01466-z}, pmid = {31848755}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Hemiptera ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The aim of the conducted study was to describe the symbiotic systems (the types of symbionts, distribution in the body of the host insect, the transovarial transmission between generations) of two treehoppers: Centrotus cornutus and Gargara genistae by means of microscopic and molecular techniques. We found that each of them is host to four species of bacteriome-inhabiting symbionts. In C. cornutus, ancestral bacterial symbionts Sulcia and Nasuia are accompanied by an additional symbiont-the bacterium Arsenophonus. In the bacteriomes of G. genistae, apart from Sulcia and Nasuia, bacterium Serratia is present. To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the occurrence of Serratia as a symbiont in Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha. Bacteria Sulcia and Nasuia are harbored in their own bacteriocytes, whereas Arsenophonus and Serratia both inhabit their own bacteriocytes and also co-reside with bacteria Nasuia. We observed that both bacteria Arsenophonus and Serratia undergo autophagic degradation. We found that in both of the species examined, in the cytoplasm and nuclei of all of the cells of the bacteriome, bacteria Rickettsia are present. Our histological and ultrastructural observations revealed that all the bacteriome-associated symbionts of C. cornutus and G. genistae are transovarially transmitted from mother to offspring.}, } @article {pmid31848270, year = {2019}, author = {Hinzke, T and Kleiner, M and Breusing, C and Felbeck, H and Häsler, R and Sievert, SM and Schlüter, R and Rosenstiel, P and Reusch, TBH and Schweder, T and Markert, S}, title = {Host-Microbe Interactions in the Chemosynthetic Riftia pachyptila Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31848270}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; Energy Metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolome ; *Microbiota ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Polychaeta/*metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Proteome ; Proteomics/methods ; Seawater ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The deep-sea tubeworm Riftia pachyptila lacks a digestive system but completely relies on bacterial endosymbionts for nutrition. Although the symbiont has been studied in detail on the molecular level, such analyses were unavailable for the animal host, because sequence information was lacking. To identify host-symbiont interaction mechanisms, we therefore sequenced the Riftia transcriptome, which served as a basis for comparative metaproteomic analyses of symbiont-containing versus symbiont-free tissues, both under energy-rich and energy-limited conditions. Our results suggest that metabolic interactions include nutrient allocation from symbiont to host by symbiont digestion and substrate transfer to the symbiont by abundant host proteins. We furthermore propose that Riftia maintains its symbiont by protecting the bacteria from oxidative damage while also exerting symbiont population control. Eukaryote-like symbiont proteins might facilitate intracellular symbiont persistence. Energy limitation apparently leads to reduced symbiont biomass and increased symbiont digestion. Our study provides unprecedented insights into host-microbe interactions that shape this highly efficient symbiosis.IMPORTANCE All animals are associated with microorganisms; hence, host-microbe interactions are of fundamental importance for life on earth. However, we know little about the molecular basis of these interactions. Therefore, we studied the deep-sea Riftia pachyptila symbiosis, a model association in which the tubeworm host is associated with only one phylotype of endosymbiotic bacteria and completely depends on this sulfur-oxidizing symbiont for nutrition. Using a metaproteomics approach, we identified both metabolic interaction processes, such as substrate transfer between the two partners, and interactions that serve to maintain the symbiotic balance, e.g., host efforts to control the symbiont population or symbiont strategies to modulate these host efforts. We suggest that these interactions are essential principles of mutualistic animal-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid31847902, year = {2019}, author = {Asimakis, ED and Khan, M and Stathopoulou, P and Caceres, C and Bourtzis, K and Tsiamis, G}, title = {The effect of diet and radiation on the bacterial symbiome of the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett).}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {88}, pmid = {31847902}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/drug effects/genetics/radiation effects ; Cucurbitaceae/*parasitology ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Insect Control ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria contribute to a multitude of important biological functions such as nutrition and reproduction and affect multiple physiological factors like fitness and longevity in their insect hosts. The melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), is an important agricultural pest that affects a variety of cultivated plants belonging mostly to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is considered invasive and widespread in many parts of the world. Several approaches are currently being considered for the management of its populations including the environmentally friendly and effective sterile insect technique (SIT), as a component of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. In the present study, we examined the effect of diet and radiation on the bacterial symbiome of Z. cucurbitae flies with the use of Next Generation Sequencing technologies.

RESULTS: Melon flies were reared on two diets at the larval stage, an artificial bran-based diet and on sweet gourd, which affected significantly the development of the bacterial profiles. Significant differentiation was also observed based on gender. The effect of radiation was mostly diet dependent, with irradiated melon flies reared on the bran diet exhibiting a significant reduction in species diversity and richness compared to their non-irradiated controls. Changes in the bacterial symbiome of the irradiated melon flies included a drastic reduction in the number of sequences affiliated with members of Citrobacter, Raoultella, and Enterobacteriaceae. At the same time, an increase was observed for members of Enterobacter, Providencia and Morganella. Interestingly, the irradiated male melon flies reared on sweet gourd showed a clear differentiation compared to their non-irradiated controls, namely a significant reduction in species richness and minor differences in the relative abundance for members of Enterobacter and Providencia.

CONCLUSIONS: The two diets in conjunction with the irradiation affected significantly the formation of the bacterial symbiome. Melon flies reared on the bran-based artificial diet displayed significant changes in the bacterial symbiome upon irradiation, in all aspects, including species richness, diversity and composition. When reared on sweet gourd, significant changes occurred to male samples due to radiation, only in terms of species richness.}, } @article {pmid31847853, year = {2019}, author = {Khan, M and Seheli, K and Bari, MA and Sultana, N and Khan, SA and Sultana, KF and Hossain, MA}, title = {Potential of a fly gut microbiota incorporated gel-based larval diet for rearing Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {94}, pmid = {31847853}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insect Control ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Tephritidae/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an important polyphagous pest of horticultural produce. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a proven control method against many insect pests, including fruit flies, under area-wide pest management programs. High quality mass-rearing process and the cost-effective production of sterile target species are important for SIT. Irradiation is reported to cause severe damage to the symbiotic community structure in the mid gut of fruit fly species, impairing SIT success. However, studies have found that target-specific manipulation of insect gut bacteria can positively impact the overall fitness of SIT-specific insects.

RESULTS: Twelve bacterial genera were isolated and identified from B. dorsalis eggs, third instars larval gut and adults gut. The bacterial genera were Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Proteus, and Stenotrophomonas, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Larval diet enrichment with the selected bacterial isolate, Proteus sp. was found to improve adult emergence, percentage of male, and survival under stress. However, no significant changes were recorded in B. dorsalis egg hatching, pupal yield, pupal weight, duration of the larval stage, or flight ability.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that gut bacterial isolates can be used in conjunction with SIT. The newly developed gel-based larval diet incorporated with Proteus sp. isolates can be used for large-scale mass rearing of B. dorsalis in the SIT program.}, } @article {pmid31847845, year = {2019}, author = {Bigiotti, G and Pastorelli, R and Guidi, R and Belcari, A and Sacchetti, P}, title = {Horizontal transfer and finalization of a reliable detection method for the olive fruit fly endosymbiont, Candidatus Erwinia dacicola.}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {93}, pmid = {31847845}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Laboratory/growth & development/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Erwinia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Insect Control ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Male ; Olea/*parasitology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae, is the most important insect pest in olive production, causing economic damage to olive crops worldwide. In addition to extensive research on B. oleae control methods, scientists have devoted much effort in the last century to understanding olive fly endosymbiosis with a bacterium eventually identified as Candidatus Erwinia dacicola. This bacterium plays a relevant role in olive fly fitness. It is vertically transmitted, and it benefits both larvae and adults in wild populations; however, the endosymbiont is not present in lab colonies, probably due to the antibiotics and preservatives required for the preparation of artificial diets. Endosymbiont transfer from wild B. oleae populations to laboratory-reared ones allows olive fly mass-rearing, thus producing more competitive flies for future Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) applications.

RESULTS: We tested the hypothesis that Ca. E. dacicola might be transmitted from wild, naturally symbiotic adults to laboratory-reared flies. Several trials have been performed with different contamination sources of Ca. E. dacicola, such as ripe olives and gelled water contaminated by wild flies, wax domes containing eggs laid by wild females, cages dirtied by faeces dropped by wild flies and matings between lab and wild adults. PCR-DGGE, performed with the primer set 63F-GC/518R, demonstrated that the transfer of the endosymbiont from wild flies to lab-reared ones occurred only in the case of cohabitation.

CONCLUSIONS: Cohabitation of symbiotic wild flies and non-symbiotic lab flies allows the transfer of Ca. E. dacicola through adults. Moreover, PCR-DGGE performed with the primer set 63F-GC/518R was shown to be a consistent method for screening Ca. E. dacicola, also showing the potential to distinguish between the two haplotypes (htA and htB). This study represents the first successful attempt at horizontal transfer of Ca. E. dacicola and the first step in acquiring a better understanding of the endosymbiont physiology and its relationship with the olive fly. Our research also represents a starting point for the development of a laboratory symbiotic olive fly colony, improving perspectives for future applications of the Sterile Insect Technique.}, } @article {pmid31847844, year = {2019}, author = {Zaada, DSY and Ben-Yosef, M and Yuval, B and Jurkevitch, E}, title = {The host fruit amplifies mutualistic interaction between Ceratitis capitata larvae and associated bacteria.}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {92}, pmid = {31847844}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Ceratitis capitata/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Female ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Prunus persica/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is a major pest in horticulture. The development of fly larvae is mediated by bacterial decay in the fruit tissue. Despite the importance of bacteria on larval development, very little is known about the interaction between bacteria and larvae in their true ecological context. Understanding their relationship and inter-dependence in the host fruit is important for the development of new pest control interfaces to deal with this pest.

RESULTS: We find no negative effects on egg hatch or larval development brought about by the bacterial isolates tested. The various symbionts inhabiting the fly's digestive system differ in their degree of contribution to the development of fly larvae depending on the given host and their sensitivity to induced inhibition caused by female produced antimicrobial peptides. These differences were observed not only at the genus or species level but also between isolates of the same species. We demonstrate how the microbiota from the mother's gut supports the development of larvae in the fruit host and show that larvae play a major role in spreading the bacterial contagion in the infected fruit itself. In addition, we present (for the first time) evidence for horizontal transfer of bacteria between larvae of different maternal origin that develop together in the same fruit.

CONCLUSIONS: Larvae play a major role in the spread and shaping of the microbial population in the fruit. The transfer of bacteria between different individuals developing in the same fruit suggests that the infested fruit serves as a microbial hub for the amplification and spread of bacterial strains between individuals.}, } @article {pmid31847839, year = {2019}, author = {Sacchetti, P and Pastorelli, R and Bigiotti, G and Guidi, R and Ruschioni, S and Viti, C and Belcari, A}, title = {Olive fruit fly rearing procedures affect the vertical transmission of the bacterial symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola.}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {91}, pmid = {31847839}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Animals ; Erwinia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Octoxynol/chemistry ; Olea/*parasitology ; Ovum/drug effects/microbiology ; Propionates/pharmacology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Sodium Hypochlorite/chemistry/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiosis between the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, and Candidatus Erwinia dacicola has been demonstrated as essential for the fly's larval development and adult physiology. The mass rearing of the olive fruit fly has been hindered by several issues, including problems which could be related to the lack of the symbiont, presumably due to preservatives and antibiotics currently used during rearing under laboratory conditions. To better understand the mechanisms underlying symbiont removal or loss during the rearing of lab colonies of the olive fruit fly, we performed experiments that focused on bacterial transfer from wild female flies to their eggs. In this research, eggs laid by wild females were treated with propionic acid solution, which is often used as an antifungal agent, a mixture of sodium hypochlorite and Triton X, or water (as a control). The presence of the bacterial symbiont on eggs was evaluated by real-time PCR and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS: DGGE analysis showed a clear band with the same migration behavior present in all DGGE profiles but with a decreasing intensity. Molecular analyses performed by real-time PCR showed a significant reduction in Ca. E. dacicola abundance in eggs treated with propionic acid solution or a mixture of sodium hypochlorite and Triton X compared to those treated with water. In addition, the removal of bacteria from the surfaces of treated eggs was highlighted by scanning electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: The results clearly indicate how the first phases of the colony-establishment process are important in maintaining the symbiont load in laboratory populations and suggest that the use of products with antimicrobial activity should be avoided. The results also suggest that alternative rearing procedures for the olive fruit fly should be investigated.}, } @article {pmid31847836, year = {2019}, author = {Kyritsis, GA and Augustinos, AA and Livadaras, I and Cáceres, C and Bourtzis, K and Papadopoulos, NT}, title = {Medfly-Wolbachia symbiosis: genotype x genotype interactions determine host's life history traits under mass rearing conditions.}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {96}, pmid = {31847836}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Anaplasmataceae Infections/*veterinary ; Animals ; Ceratitis capitata/classification/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Female ; Fertility ; Genotype ; Male ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wolbachia pipientis is a widespread, obligatory intracellular and maternally inherited bacterium, that induces a wide range of reproductive alterations to its hosts. Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI) is causing embryonic lethality, the most common of them. Despite that Wolbachia-borne sterility has been proposed as an environmental friendly pest control method (Incompatible Insect Technique, IIT) since 1970s, the fact that Wolbachia modifies important fitness components of its hosts sets severe barriers to IIT implementation. Mass rearing of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (medfly), is highly optimized given that this pest is a model species regarding the implementation of another sterility based pest control method, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). We used the medfly-Wolbachia symbiotic association, as a model system, to study the effect of two different Wolbachia strains, on the life history traits of 2 C. capitata lines with different genomic background.

RESULTS: Wolbachia effects are regulated by both C. capitata genetic background and the Wolbachia strain. Wolbachia infection reduces fertility rates in both C. capitata genetic backgrounds and shortens the pre-pupa developmental duration in the GSS strain. On the other hand, regardless of the strain of Wolbachia (wCer2, wCer4) infection does not affect either the sex ratio or the longevity of adults. wCer4 infection imposed a reduction in females' fecundity but wCer2 did not. Male mating competitiveness, adults flight ability and longevity under water and food deprivation were affected by both the genetic background of medfly and the strain of Wolbachia (genotype by genotype interaction).

CONCLUSION: Wolbachia infection could alter important life history traits of mass-reared C. capitata lines and therefore the response of each genotype on the Wolbachia infection should be considered toward ensuring the productivity of the Wolbachia-infected insects under mass-rearing conditions.}, } @article {pmid31846956, year = {2020}, author = {Sajid, A and Ford, MJ and Reimers, JR}, title = {Single-photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride: a review of progress.}, journal = {Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)}, volume = {83}, number = {4}, pages = {044501}, doi = {10.1088/1361-6633/ab6310}, pmid = {31846956}, issn = {1361-6633}, abstract = {This report summarizes progress made in understanding properties such as zero-phonon-line energies, emission and absorption polarizations, electron-phonon couplings, strain tuning and hyperfine coupling of single photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride. The primary aims of this research are to discover the chemical nature of the emitting centres and to facilitate deployment in device applications. Critical analyses of the experimental literature and data interpretation, as well as theoretical approaches used to predict properties, are made. In particular, computational and theoretical limitations and challenges are discussed, with a range of suggestions made to overcome these limitations, striving to achieve realistic predictions concerning the nature of emitting centers. A symbiotic relationship is required in which calculations focus on properties that can easily be measured, whilst experiments deliver results in a form facilitating mass-produced calculations.}, } @article {pmid31846679, year = {2019}, author = {Ratet, P}, title = {Symbiosis Signaling: Solanaceae Symbiotic LCO Receptors Are Functional for Rhizobium Perception in Legumes.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {24}, pages = {R1312-R1314}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.046}, pmid = {31846679}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Rhizobium ; *Solanaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new study shows that plant receptor genes necessary for the ancient and widespread symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were co-opted in legume plants, without modifications, to establish the evolutionarily more recent and more specific symbiosis with their bacterial rhizobium partners.}, } @article {pmid31845498, year = {2020}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Alias-Villegas, C and Navarro-Gómez, P and Almozara, A and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Medina, C and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 syrM inactivation affects the expression of a large number of genes, impairs nodulation with soybean and extends the host-range to Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {1104-1124}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14897}, pmid = {31845498}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BIO2016-78409-R//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/International ; VPPI//Universidad de Sevilla/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Rif[R] is a broad host-range rhizobial strain able to nodulate with soybean and Lotus burttii, but it is ineffective with L. japonicus. Here, we study the role of the HH103 Rif[R] SyrM protein in the regulation of gene expression and its relevance in symbiosis with those three legumes. RNAseq analyses show that HH103 SyrM is an important transcriptional regulator not only in the presence of inducer flavonoids but also in its absence. Lack of SyrM increases Nod factors production and decreases genistein-mediated repression of exopolysaccharide production in HH103. In symbiosis, mutation of syrM partially impaired interaction with soybean but improves effectiveness with L. burttii and extends the host-rage to L. japonicus Gifu. In addition, HH103 syrM mutants enter in both Lotus species by infection threads, whereas HH103 uses the more primitive intercellular infection to enter into L. burttii roots These symbiotic phenotypes were previously observed in two other HH103 mutants affected in symbiotic regulators, nodD2 and nolR, revealing that in S. fredii HH103 numerous transcriptional regulators finely modulate symbiotic gene expression.}, } @article {pmid31845413, year = {2020}, author = {Drury, C}, title = {Resilience in reef-building corals: The ecological and evolutionary importance of the host response to thermal stress.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {448-465}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15337}, pmid = {31845413}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acclimatization/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Climate ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Ecology ; Genotype ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are under extreme threat due to a number of stressors, but temperature increases due to changing climate are the most severe. Rising ocean temperatures coupled with local extremes lead to extensive bleaching, where the coral-algal symbiosis breaks down and corals may die, compromising the structure and function of reefs. Although the symbiotic nature of the coral colony has historically been a focus of research on coral resilience, the host itself is a foundational component in the response to thermal stress. Fixed effects in the coral host set trait baselines through evolutionary processes, acting on many loci of small effect to create mosaics of thermal tolerance across latitudes and individual coral reefs. These genomic differences can be strongly heritable, producing wide variation among clones of different genotypes or families of a specific larval cross. Phenotypic plasticity is overlaid on these baselines and a growing body of knowledge demonstrates the potential for acclimatization of reef-building corals through a variety of mechanisms that promote resilience and stress tolerance. The long-term persistence of coral reefs will require many of these mechanisms to adjust to warmer temperatures within a generation, bridging the gap to reproductive events that allow recombination of standing diversity and adaptive change. Business-as-usual climate scenarios will probably lead to the loss of some coral populations or species in the future, so the interaction between intragenerational effects and evolutionary pressure is critical for the survival of reefs.}, } @article {pmid31843766, year = {2019}, author = {Gegner, HM and Rädecker, N and Ochsenkühn, M and Barreto, MM and Ziegler, M and Reichert, J and Schubert, P and Wilke, T and Voolstra, CR}, title = {High levels of floridoside at high salinity link osmoadaptation with bleaching susceptibility in the cnidarian-algal endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31843766}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Coral reefs are in global decline mainly due to increasing sea surface temperatures triggering coral bleaching. Recently, high salinity has been linked to increased thermotolerance and decreased bleaching in the sea anemone coral model Aiptasia. However, the underlying processes remain elusive. Using two Aiptasia host--endosymbiont pairings, we induced bleaching at different salinities and show reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) release at high salinities, suggesting a role of osmoadaptation in increased thermotolerance. A subsequent screening of osmolytes revealed that this effect was only observed in algal endosymbionts that produce 2-O-glycerol-α-D-galactopyranoside (floridoside), an osmolyte capable of scavenging ROS. This result argues for a mechanistic link between osmoadaptation and thermotolerance, mediated by ROS-scavenging osmolytes (e.g., floridoside). This sheds new light on the putative mechanisms underlying the remarkable thermotolerance of corals from water bodies with high salinity such as the Red Sea or Persian/Arabian Gulf and holds implications for coral thermotolerance under climate change.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.}, } @article {pmid31843471, year = {2020}, author = {Edwards, JM and Roy, S and Tomcho, JC and Schreckenberger, ZJ and Chakraborty, S and Bearss, NR and Saha, P and McCarthy, CG and Vijay-Kumar, M and Joe, B and Wenceslau, CF}, title = {Microbiota are critical for vascular physiology: Germ-free status weakens contractility and induces sex-specific vascular remodeling in mice.}, journal = {Vascular pharmacology}, volume = {125-126}, number = {}, pages = {106633}, pmid = {31843471}, issn = {1879-3649}, support = {R00 GM118885/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL143082/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA219144/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Elastic Modulus ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Germ-Free Life ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries/metabolism/*physiology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neutrophils/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Sex Factors ; *Vascular Remodeling ; Vascular Resistance ; Vascular Stiffness ; *Vasoconstriction ; }, abstract = {Commensal microbiota within a holobiont contribute to the overall health of the host via mutualistic symbiosis. Disturbances in such symbiosis is prominently correlated with a variety of diseases affecting the modern society of humans including cardiovascular diseases, which are the number one contributors to human mortality. Given that a hallmark of all cardiovascular diseases is changes in vascular function, we hypothesized that depleting microbiota from a holobiont would induce vascular dysfunction. To test this hypothesis, young mice of both sexes raised in germ-free conditions were examined vascular contractility and structure. Here we observed that male and female germ-free mice presented a decrease in contraction of resistance arteries. These changes were more pronounced in germ-free males than in germ-free females mice. Furthermore, there was a distinct change in vascular remodeling between males and females germ-free mice. Resistance arteries from male germ-free mice demonstrated increased vascular stiffness, as shown by the leftward shift in the stress-strain curve and inward hypotrophic remodeling, a characteristic of chronic reduction in blood flow. On the other hand, resistance arteries from germ-free female mice were similar in the stress-strain curves to that of conventionally raised mice, but were distinctly different and showed outward hypertrophic remodeling, a characteristic seen in aging. Interestingly, we observed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from bone marrow derived neutrophils is blunted in female germ-free mice, but it is exacerbated in male germ-free mice. In conclusion, these observations indicate that commensal microbiota of a holobiont are central to maintain proper vascular function and structure homeostasis, especially in males.}, } @article {pmid31841551, year = {2019}, author = {Gaona, O and Cerqueda-García, D and Falcón, LI and Vázquez-Domínguez, G and Valdespino-Castillo, PM and Neri-Barrios, CX}, title = {Microbiota composition of the dorsal patch of reproductive male Leptonycteris yerbabuenae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {e0226239}, pmid = {31841551}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Back/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Chiroptera/microbiology/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; Mexico ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis/genetics ; Reproduction/physiology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria and other types of microbes interact with their hosts in several ways, including metabolic pathways, development, and complex behavioral processes such as mate recognition. During the mating season, adult males of the lesser long-nosed agave pollinator bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae) develop a structure called the dorsal patch, which is located in the interscapular region and may play a role in kin recognition and mate selection. Using high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, we identified a total of 2,847 microbial phylotypes in the dorsal patches of eleven specimens. Twenty-six phylotypes were shared among all the patches, accounting for 30 to 75% of their relative abundance. These shared bacteria are distributed among 13 families, 10 orders, 6 classes and 3 phyla. Two of these common bacterial components of the dorsal patch are Lactococcus and Streptococcus. Some of them-Helcococcus, Aggregatibacter, Enterococcus, and Corynebacteriaceae-include bacteria with pathogenic potential. Half of the shared phylotypes belong to Gallicola, Anaerococcus, Peptoniphilus, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Clostridium, and Peptostreptococcus and specialize in fatty acid production through fermentative processes. This work lays the basis for future symbiotic microbe studies focused on communication and reproduction strategies in wildlife.}, } @article {pmid31841375, year = {2020}, author = {Ngoi, NYL and Eu, JQ and Hirpara, J and Wang, L and Lim, JSJ and Lee, SC and Lim, YC and Pervaiz, S and Goh, BC and Wong, ALA}, title = {Targeting Cell Metabolism as Cancer Therapy.}, journal = {Antioxidants & redox signaling}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {285-308}, doi = {10.1089/ars.2019.7947}, pmid = {31841375}, issn = {1557-7716}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*drug effects ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {Significance: Cancer cells exhibit altered metabolic pathways to keep up with biosynthetic and reduction-oxidation needs during tumor proliferation and metastasis. The common induction of metabolic pathways during cancer progression, regardless of cancer histio- or genotype, makes cancer metabolism an attractive target for therapeutic exploitation. Recent Advances: Emerging data suggest that these altered pathways may even result in resistance to anticancer therapies. Identifying specific metabolic dependencies that are unique to cancer cells has proved challenging in this field, limiting the therapeutic window for many candidate drug approaches. Critical Issues: Cancer cells display significant metabolic flexibility in nutrient-limited environments, hampering the longevity of suppressing cancer metabolism through any singular approach. Combinatorial "synthetic lethal" approaches may have a better chance for success and promising strategies are reviewed here. The dynamism of the immune system adds a level of complexity, as various immune populations in the tumor microenvironment often share metabolic pathways with cancer, with successive alterations during immune activation and quiescence. Decoding the reprogramming of metabolic pathways within cancer cells and stem cells, as well as examining metabolic symbiosis between components of the tumor microenvironment, would be essential to further meaningful drug development within the tumor's metabolic ecosystem. Future Directions: In this article, we examine evidence for the therapeutic potential of targeting metabolic alterations in cancer, and we discuss the drawbacks and successes that have stimulated this field.}, } @article {pmid31840233, year = {2020}, author = {Maggioni, D and Montano, S and Voigt, O and Seveso, D and Galli, P}, title = {A mesophotic hotel: the octocoral Bebryce cf. grandicalyx as a host.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {101}, number = {4}, pages = {e02950}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2950}, pmid = {31840233}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; }, } @article {pmid31838702, year = {2020}, author = {Garg, N and Saroy, K}, title = {Interactive effects of polyamines and arbuscular mycorrhiza in modulating plant biomass, N2 fixation, ureide, and trehalose metabolism in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. genotypes under nickel stress.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {3043-3064}, pmid = {31838702}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cajanus/*physiology ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nickel/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polyamines ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Trehalose ; }, abstract = {Nickel (Ni) is an essential micronutrient but considered toxic for plant growth when present in excess in the soil. Polyamines (PAs) and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) play key roles in alleviating metal toxicity in plants. Present study compared the roles of AM and PAs in improving rhizobial symbiosis, ureide, and trehalose (Tre) metabolism under Ni stress in Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) genotypes (Pusa 2001, AL 201). The results documented significant negative impacts of Ni on plant biomass, especially roots, more in AL 201 than Pusa 2001. Symbiotic efficiency with Rhizobium and AM declined under Ni stress, resulting in reduced AM colonization, N2 fixation, and ureide biosynthesis. This decline was proportionate to increased Ni uptake in roots and nodules. Put-reduced Ni uptake improved plant growth and functional efficiency of nodules and ureides synthesis, with higher positive effects than other PAs. However, AM inoculations were most effective in enhancing nodulation, nitrogen fixing potential, and Tre synthesis under Ni toxicity. Combined applications of AM with respective PAs, especially +Put+AM, were highly beneficial in alleviating Ni-induced nodule senescence by arresting leghemoglobin degradation and improving functional efficiency of nodules by boosting Tre metabolism, especially in Pusa 2001. The study suggested use of Put along with AM as a promising approach in imparting Ni tolerance to pigeon pea plants.}, } @article {pmid31836581, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, J and Adrian, L and Häggblom, MM}, title = {Transcriptomic and Proteomic Responses of the Organohalide-Respiring Bacterium Desulfoluna spongiiphila to Growth with 2,6-Dibromophenol as the Electron Acceptor.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31836581}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Deltaproteobacteria/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Halogenation ; Multigene Family ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phenols/*metabolism ; Porifera/microbiology ; *Proteome ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Organohalide respiration is an important process in the global halogen cycle and for bioremediation. In this study, we compared the global transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of Desulfoluna spongiiphila strain AA1, an organohalide-respiring member of the Desulfobacterota isolated from a marine sponge, with 2,6-dibromophenol or with sulfate as an electron acceptor. The most significant difference of the transcriptomic analysis was the expression of one reductive dehalogenase gene cluster (rdh16), which was significantly upregulated with the addition of 2,6-dibromophenol. The corresponding protein, reductive dehalogenase RdhA16032, was detected in the proteome under treatment with 2,6-dibromophenol but not with sulfate only. There was no significant difference in corrinoid biosynthesis gene expression levels between the two treatments, indicating that the production of corrinoid in D. spongiiphila is constitutive or not specific for organohalide versus sulfate respiration. Electron-transporting proteins or mediators unique for reductive dehalogenation were not revealed in our analysis, and we hypothesize that reductive dehalogenation may share an electron-transporting system with sulfate reduction. The metabolism of D. spongiiphila, predicted from transcriptomic and proteomic results, demonstrates high metabolic versatility and provides insights into the survival strategies of a marine sponge symbiont in an environment rich in organohalide compounds and other secondary metabolites.IMPORTANCE Respiratory reductive dehalogenation is an important process in the overall cycling of both anthropogenic and natural organohalide compounds. Marine sponges produce a vast array of bioactive compounds as secondary metabolites, including diverse halogenated compounds that may enrich for dehalogenating bacteria. Desulfoluna spongiiphila strain AA1 was originally enriched and isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba and can grow with both brominated compounds and sulfate as electron acceptors for respiration. An understanding of the overall gene expression and the protein production profile in response to organohalides is needed to identify the full complement of genes or enzymes involved in organohalide respiration. Elucidating the metabolic capacity of this sponge-associated bacterium lays the foundation for understanding how dehalogenating bacteria may control the fate of organohalide compounds in sponges and their role in a symbiotic organobromine cycle.}, } @article {pmid31836412, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, J and Mao, X and Lee, YS and Lee, DJ and Kim, J and Kim, JK and Lee, BL}, title = {Putative host-derived growth factors inducing colonization of Burkholderia gut symbiont in Riptortus pedestris insect.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {104}, number = {}, pages = {103570}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.103570}, pmid = {31836412}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Burkholderia Infections/*metabolism ; Cell Growth Processes ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Insecta/*physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is questionable that how gut symbiont can be proliferated in the host symbiotic organs, such as host midgut region, which are known to be highly stressful and nutritional depleted conditions. Since Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis system is a good model to study this question, we hypothesized that Burkholderia symbiont will use host-derived bacterial growth factor(s) to colonize persistently in the host midgut 4 (M4) region, which is known as symbiotic organ. In this study, we observed that although gut-colonized symbiotic Burkholderia cells did not grow in the nutrient-limited media conditions, these symbionts were able to grow dose-dependent manner by addition of host naïve M4 lysate, supporting that host-derived growth factor molecule(s) may exist in the host M4 lysate. By further experiments, a host-derived growth factor(s) did not lose its biological activity in the conditions of high temperature, treatment of phenol-chloroform or ethyl alcohol precipitation, indicating that a growth factor molecule(s) is neither a protein nor a DNA. Also, based on the biochemical analyses data, molecular weight of the host-derived bacterial growth factor(s) was turned out to be less than 3 kDa molecular mass and to give the positive chemical response to the ninhydrin reagent on thin layer chromatography. Finally, we found that one specific peak showing ninhydrin positive signal was separated by gel filtration column and induced proliferative activity for Burkholderia gut symbiont cells.}, } @article {pmid31835884, year = {2019}, author = {Ren, H and Vahjen, W and Dadi, T and Saliu, EM and Boroojeni, FG and Zentek, J}, title = {Synergistic Effects of Probiotics and Phytobiotics on the Intestinal Microbiota in Young Broiler Chicken.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31835884}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Probiotics and phytobiotics have been studied as in-feed antibiotic alternatives for decades, yet there are no studies on their possible symbiotic effects. In the present study, newly hatched chickens were fed with feeds supplemented either with host-specific Lactobacillus strains (L. agilis and L. salivarius), commercial phytobiotics, or combinations of both. After 13 days of life, crops and caecums were analyzed for bacterial composition (16S rDNA sequencing, qPCR) and activity (bacterial metabolites). Crop and caecum samples were also used to study the ex vivo survival of a broiler-derived extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli strain. In the crop, combinations of probiotics and phytobiotics, but not their single application, increased the dominance of lactobacilli. The single application of phytobiotics reduced the metabolite concentrations in the crop, but certain combinations synergistically upregulated the metabolites. Changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the caecal microbiota were less pronounced than in the crop. Acetate concentrations were significantly lower for phytobiotics or the L. agilis probiotic strain compared to the control group, but the L. salivarius probiotic showed significantly higher acetate concentrations alone or in combination with one phytobiotic. The synergistic effects on the reduction of the ex vivo survival of an ESBL producing E. coli strain in crop or caecum contents were also observed for most combinations. This study shows the beneficial synergistic effects of probiotics and phytobiotics on the intestinal bacterial composition and their metabolic activity in young broilers. The reduced survival of potentially problematic bacteria, such as ESBL-producing E. coli further indicates that combinations of probiotics and phytobiotics may lead to a more enhanced functionality than their individual supplementation.}, } @article {pmid31835867, year = {2019}, author = {Zhukova, NV}, title = {Fatty Acids of Marine Mollusks: Impact of Diet, Bacterial Symbiosis and Biosynthetic Potential.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31835867}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Diet ; Fatty Acids/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Mollusca/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) families are essential for important physiological processes. Their major source are marine ecosystems. The fatty acids (FAs) from phytoplankton, which are the primary producer of organic matter and PUFAs, are transferred into consumers via food webs. Mollusk FAs have attracted the attention of researchers that has been driven by their critical roles in aquatic ecology and their importance as sources of essential PUFAs. The main objective of this review is to focus on the most important factors and causes determining the biodiversity of the mollusk FAs, with an emphasis on the key relationship of these FAs with the food spectrum and trophic preference. The marker FAs of trophic sources are also of particular interest. The discovery of new symbioses involving invertebrates and bacteria, which are responsible for nutrition of the host, deserves special attention. The present paper also highlights recent research into the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of PUFA biosynthesis in marine mollusks. The biosynthetic capacities of marine mollusks require a well-grounded evaluation.}, } @article {pmid31835704, year = {2019}, author = {Campos, C and Nobre, T and Goss, MJ and Faria, J and Barrulas, P and Carvalho, M}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis of Wheat Roots Reveals a Differential Regulation of Stress Responses Related to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Soil Disturbance.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31835704}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Symbioses with soil microorganisms are central in shaping the diversity and productivity of land plants and provide protection against a diversity of stresses, including metal toxicity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form extensive extraradical mycelial networks (ERM), which are very efficient in colonizing a new host. We quantified the responses of transcriptomes of wheat and one AMF partner, Rhizoglomus irregulare, to soil disturbance (Undisturbed vs. Disturbed) and to two different preceding mycotrophic species (Ornithopus compressus and Lolium rigidum). Soil disturbance and preceding plant species engender different AMF communities in wheat roots, resulting in a differential tolerance to soil manganese (Mn) toxicity. Soil disturbance negatively impacted wheat growth under manganese toxicity, probably due to the disruption of the ERM, and activated a large number of stress and starvation-related genes. The O. compressus treatment, which induces a greater Mn protection in wheat than L. rigidum, activated processes related to cellular division and growth, and very few related to stress. The L. rigidum treatment mostly induced genes that were related to oxidative stress, disease protection, and metal ion binding. R. irregulare cell division and molecular exchange between nucleus and cytoplasm were increased by O. compressus. These findings are highly relevant for sustainable agricultural systems, when considering a fit-for-purpose symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31835592, year = {2019}, author = {Gunawardana, D}, title = {An Exploration of Common Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Cyanobiont of the Azolla-Nostoc Symbiosis and Clues as to Nod Factors in Cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31835592}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Azolla is a genus of aquatic ferns that engages in a unique symbiosis with a cyanobiont that is resistant to cultivation. Azolla spp. are earmarked as a possible candidate to mitigate greenhouse gases, in particular, carbon dioxide. That opinion is underlined here in this paper to show the broader impact of Azolla spp. on greenhouse gas mitigation by revealing the enzyme catalogue in the Nostoc cyanobiont to be a poor contributor to climate change. First, regarding carbon assimilation, it was inferred that the carboxylation activity of the Rubisco enzyme of Azolla plants is able to quench carbon dioxide on par with other C3 plants and fellow aquatic free-floating macrophytes, with the cyanobiont contributing on average ~18% of the carboxylation load. Additionally, the author demonstrates here, using bioinformatics and past literature, that the Nostoc cyanobiont of Azolla does not contain nitric oxide reductase, a key enzyme that emanates nitrous oxide. In fact, all Nostoc species, both symbiotic and nonsymbiotic, are deficient in nitric oxide reductases. Furthermore, the Azolla cyanobiont is negative for methanogenic enzymes that use coenzyme conjugates to emit methane. With the absence of nitrous oxide and methane release, and the potential ability to convert ambient nitrous oxide into nitrogen gas, it is safe to say that the Azolla cyanobiont has a myriad of features that are poor contributors to climate change, which on top of carbon dioxide quenching by the Calvin cycle in Azolla plants, makes it an efficient holistic candidate to be developed as a force for climate change mitigation, especially in irrigated urea-fed rice fields. The author also shows that Nostoc cyanobionts are theoretically capable of Nod factor synthesis, similar to Rhizobia and some Frankia species, which is a new horizon to explore in the future.}, } @article {pmid31835172, year = {2019}, author = {Rosenberg, Y and Doniger, T and Harii, S and Sinniger, F and Levy, O}, title = {Demystifying Circalunar and Diel Rhythmicity in Acropora digitifera under Constant Dim Light.}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {22}, number = {}, pages = {477-488}, pmid = {31835172}, issn = {2589-0042}, abstract = {Life on earth has evolved under constant environmental changes; in response to these changes, most organisms have developed an endogenous clock that allows them to anticipate daily and seasonal changes and adapt their biology accordingly. Light cycles synchronize biological rhythms and are controlled by an endogenous clock that is entrained by environmental cues. Light is known to play a key role in the biology of symbiotic corals as they exhibit many biological processes entrained by daily light patterns. In this study, we aimed at determining the effect of constant dim light on coral's perception of diel and monthly cycles. Our results show that under constant dim light corals display a loss of rhythmic processes and constant stimuli by light, which initiates signal transduction that results in an abnormal cell cycle, cell proliferation, and protein synthesis. The results emphasize how constant dim light can mask the biological clock of Acropora digitifera.}, } @article {pmid31834634, year = {2020}, author = {Basso, V and Kohler, A and Miyauchi, S and Singan, V and Guinet, F and Šimura, J and Novák, O and Barry, KW and Amirebrahimi, M and Block, J and Daguerre, Y and Na, H and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {An ectomycorrhizal fungus alters sensitivity to jasmonate, salicylate, gibberellin, and ethylene in host roots.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {1047-1068}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13702}, pmid = {31834634}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Salicylates/*metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The phytohormones jasmonate, gibberellin, salicylate, and ethylene regulate an interconnected reprogramming network integrating root development with plant responses against microbes. The establishment of mutualistic ectomycorrhizal symbiosis requires the suppression of plant defense responses against fungi as well as the modification of root architecture and cortical cell wall properties. Here, we investigated the contribution of phytohormones and their crosstalk to the ontogenesis of ectomycorrhizae (ECM) between grey poplar (Populus tremula x alba) roots and the fungus Laccaria bicolor. To obtain the hormonal blueprint of developing ECM, we quantified the concentrations of jasmonates, gibberellins, and salicylate via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Subsequently, we assessed root architecture, mycorrhizal morphology, and gene expression levels (RNA sequencing) in phytohormone-treated poplar lateral roots in the presence or absence of L. bicolor. Salicylic acid accumulated in mid-stage ECM. Exogenous phytohormone treatment affected the fungal colonization rate and/or frequency of Hartig net formation. Colonized lateral roots displayed diminished responsiveness to jasmonate but regulated some genes, implicated in defense and cell wall remodelling, that were specifically differentially expressed after jasmonate treatment. Responses to salicylate, gibberellin, and ethylene were enhanced in ECM. The dynamics of phytohormone accumulation and response suggest that jasmonate, gibberellin, salicylate, and ethylene signalling play multifaceted roles in poplar L. bicolor ectomycorrhizal development.}, } @article {pmid31834628, year = {2020}, author = {Sós-Hegedűs, A and Domonkos, Á and Tóth, T and Gyula, P and Kaló, P and Szittya, G}, title = {Suppression of NB-LRR genes by miRNAs promotes nitrogen-fixing nodule development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {1117-1129}, pmid = {31834628}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Blotting, Northern ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Genes, Plant/*physiology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism/physiology ; NLR Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; RNA, Plant/*metabolism/physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Seedlings/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant genomes contain two major classes of innate immune receptors to recognize different pathogens. The pattern recognition receptors perceive conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and the resistance genes with nucleotide-binding (NB) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains recognize specific pathogen effectors. The precise regulation of resistance genes is important since the unregulated expression of NB-LRR genes can inhibit growth and may result in autoimmunity in the absence of pathogen infection. It was shown that a subset of miRNAs could target NB-LRR genes and act as an important regulator of plant immunity in the absence of pathogens. Plants not only interact with pathogens, but they can also establish symbiotic interactions with microbes. Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction and nodule formation of legumes may also require the suppression of host defence to prevent immune responses. We found that upon symbiotic interactions, miRNAs repressing NB-LRR expression are upregulated in the developing nodules of Medicago truncatula. Furthermore, we show that the suppression of the activity of the NB-LRR genes targeted by these miRNAs is important during nodule development. Our results suggest that the downregulation of NB-LRR resistance genes in the developing nodule produces a suitable niche that facilitates bacterial colonization and the development of an N-fixing nodule.}, } @article {pmid31834432, year = {2020}, author = {Paletta, ACC and Castro, VS and Conte-Junior, CA}, title = {Shiga Toxin-Producing and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in Animal, Foods, and Humans: Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Detection Methods, and Epidemiology.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {612-620}, pmid = {31834432}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control ; Escherichia coli/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Escherichia coli Infections/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Food Safety/methods ; Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The main Enterobacteriaceae habitat is the mammal gastrointestinal tract. In most cases, this group of species displays a symbiotic relationship with its hosts. However, some groups may be pathogenic to humans, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. The presence of these groups represents a direct risk to consumers, and recent serotypes displaying the presence of pathogenic genes in both groups are a novel challenge for food production. Thus, microbiological control strategies presenting accurate detection methodologies are required. However, with the appearance of mutations among different species, knowledge, genetic monitoring, and bioinformatics techniques must be expanded. In addition, as a strategy to ensure safe products on an industrial scale, the monitoring by different techniques and fundamentals should be applied throughout the entire processing chain. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the pathogenesis mechanisms of different groups, mutant strain dispersion, and current and alternative epidemiological investigation methods.}, } @article {pmid31833711, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, WY and Sun, LY and Song, FB and Yang, XQ and Zhang, MJ and Li, SX and Zhu, XC}, title = {[Research advances in species diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in terrestrial agro-ecosystem].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {3971-3979}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201911.036}, pmid = {31833711}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; China ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient and ubiquitous soil microorganisms, which can form mutually beneficial association with most terrestrial plants. Within the symbiotic relationship, AMF helps their host plants to absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus while obtains carbon from the hosts. AMF plays an important role in agricultural ecosystem, including promoting plant growth, improving crop quality, increasing plant stress resistance, stabilizing soil structure, keeping ecological balance, and maintaining a sustainable agricultural development. We summarized the research advances of AMF in terrestrial agro-ecosystem in recent years, by focusing on AMF species diversity, spatial and temporal distribution, and influence factors of AMF biodiversity in terrestrial agro-ecosystem of China. Further research works were also prospected.}, } @article {pmid31832941, year = {2020}, author = {Campoy-Diaz, AD and Escobar-Correas, S and Canizo, BV and Wuilloud, RG and Vega, IA}, title = {A freshwater symbiosis as sensitive bioindicator of cadmium.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {2580-2587}, pmid = {31832941}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cadmium/chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Biomarkers ; Fresh Water/analysis/chemistry ; Snails ; Symbiosis ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical ; }, abstract = {The vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems due to the entry of cadmium (Cd) is a concern of public and environmental health. This work explores the ability of tissues and symbiotic corpuscles of Pomacea canaliculata to concentrate and depurate Cd. From hatching to adulthood (4 months), snails were cultured in reconstituted water, which was a saline solution in ASTM Type I water. Then, adult snails were exposed for 8 weeks (exposure phase) to Cd (5 μg/L) and then returned to reconstituted water for other 8 weeks (depuration phase). Cadmium concentration in the digestive gland, kidney, head/foot and viscera (remaining of the snail body), symbiotic corpuscles, and particulate excreta was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. After exposure, the digestive gland showed the highest concentration of Cd (BCF = 5335). Symbiotic corpuscles bioaccumulated Cd at a concentration higher than that present in the water (BCF = 231 for C symbiotic corpuscles, BCF = 8 for K symbiotic corpuscles). No tissues or symbiotic corpuscles showed a significant change in the Cd levels at different time points of the depuration phase (weeks 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16). The symbiotic depuration through particulate excreta was faster between weeks 8 and 10, and then slower after on. Our findings show that epithelial cells of the digestive gland of P. canaliculata and their symbiotic C corpuscles are sensitive places for the bioindication of Cd in freshwater bodies.}, } @article {pmid31830917, year = {2019}, author = {Challacombe, JF and Hesse, CN and Bramer, LM and McCue, LA and Lipton, M and Purvine, S and Nicora, C and Gallegos-Graves, V and Porras-Alfaro, A and Kuske, CR}, title = {Genomes and secretomes of Ascomycota fungi reveal diverse functions in plant biomass decomposition and pathogenesis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {976}, pmid = {31830917}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Biomass ; Endophytes ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Genome, Fungal ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Proteomics ; Soil Microbiology ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The dominant fungi in arid grasslands and shrublands are members of the Ascomycota phylum. Ascomycota fungi are important drivers in carbon and nitrogen cycling in arid ecosystems. These fungi play roles in soil stability, plant biomass decomposition, and endophytic interactions with plants. They may also form symbiotic associations with biocrust components or be latent saprotrophs or pathogens that live on plant tissues. However, their functional potential in arid soils, where organic matter, nutrients and water are very low or only periodically available, is poorly characterized.

RESULTS: Five Ascomycota fungi were isolated from different soil crust microhabitats and rhizosphere soils around the native bunchgrass Pleuraphis jamesii in an arid grassland near Moab, UT, USA. Putative genera were Coniochaeta, isolated from lichen biocrust, Embellisia from cyanobacteria biocrust, Chaetomium from below lichen biocrust, Phoma from a moss microhabitat, and Aspergillus from the soil. The fungi were grown in replicate cultures on different carbon sources (chitin, native bunchgrass or pine wood) relevant to plant biomass and soil carbon sources. Secretomes produced by the fungi on each substrate were characterized. Results demonstrate that these fungi likely interact with primary producers (biocrust or plants) by secreting a wide range of proteins that facilitate symbiotic associations. Each of the fungal isolates secreted enzymes that degrade plant biomass, small secreted effector proteins, and proteins involved in either beneficial plant interactions or virulence. Aspergillus and Phoma expressed more plant biomass degrading enzymes when grown in grass- and pine-containing cultures than in chitin. Coniochaeta and Embellisia expressed similar numbers of these enzymes under all conditions, while Chaetomium secreted more of these enzymes in grass-containing cultures.

CONCLUSIONS: This study of Ascomycota genomes and secretomes provides important insights about the lifestyles and the roles that Ascomycota fungi likely play in arid grassland, ecosystems. However, the exact nature of those interactions, whether any or all of the isolates are true endophytes, latent saprotrophs or opportunistic phytopathogens, will be the topic of future studies.}, } @article {pmid31830695, year = {2020}, author = {Iori, S and Rovere, GD and Ezzat, L and Smits, M and Ferraresso, SS and Babbucci, M and Marin, MG and Masiero, L and Fabrello, J and Garro, E and Carraro, L and Cardazzo, B and Patarnello, T and Matozzo, V and Bargelloni, L and Milan, M}, title = {The effects of glyphosate and AMPA on the mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and its microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {108984}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2019.108984}, pmid = {31830695}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {Animals ; Glycine/*analogs & derivatives/toxicity ; *Herbicides/toxicity ; *Isoxazoles/toxicity ; Microbiota ; *Mytilus ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Tetrazoles/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide worldwide, targets the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzyme in the shikimate pathway found in plants and some microorganisms. While the potential for glyphosate to induce a broad range of biological effects in exposed organisms has been demonstrated, the global molecular mechanisms of toxicity and potential effects in bacterial symbionts remain unclear, in particular for ecologically important marine species such as bivalve molluscs. Here, the effects of glyphosate (GLY), its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and a mixture of both (MIX) on the mussel M. galloprovincialis were assessed in a controlled experiment. For the first time, next generation sequencing (RNA-seq and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing) was used to evaluate such effects at the molecular level in both the host and its respective microbiota. The results suggest that the variable capacity of bacterial species to proliferate in the presence of these compounds and the impairment of host physiological homeostasis due to AMPA and GLY toxicity may cause significant perturbations to the digestive gland microbiota, as well as elicit the spread of potential opportunistic pathogens such as Vibrio spp.. The consequent host-immune system activation identified at the molecular and cellular level could be aimed at controlling changes occurring in the composition of symbiotic microbial communities. Overall, our data raise further concerns about the potential adverse effects of glyphosate and AMPA in marine species, suggesting that both the effects of direct toxicity and the ensuing changes occurring in the host-microbial community must be taken into consideration to determine the overall ecotoxicological hazard of these compounds.}, } @article {pmid31830246, year = {2020}, author = {Blow, F and Gioti, A and Goodhead, IB and Kalyva, M and Kampouraki, A and Vontas, J and Darby, AC}, title = {Functional Genomics of a Symbiotic Community: Shared Traits in the Olive Fruit Fly Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {3778-3791}, pmid = {31830246}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {BB/K501773/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genomics/methods ; Olea/*parasitology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Tephritidae/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Urease/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae is a major pest of olives worldwide and houses a specialized gut microbiota dominated by the obligate symbiont "Candidatus Erwinia dacicola." Candidatus Erwinia dacicola is thought to supplement dietary nitrogen to the host, with only indirect evidence for this hypothesis so far. Here, we sought to investigate the contribution of the symbiosis to insect fitness and explore the ecology of the insect gut. For this purpose, we examined the composition of bacterial communities associated with Cretan olive fruit fly populations, and inspected several genomes and one transcriptome assembly. We identified, and reconstructed the genome of, a novel component of the gut microbiota, Tatumella sp. TA1, which is stably associated with Mediterranean olive fruit fly populations. We also reconstructed a number of pathways related to nitrogen assimilation and interactions with the host. The results show that, despite variation in taxa composition of the gut microbial community, core functions related to the symbiosis are maintained. Functional redundancy between different microbial taxa was observed for genes involved in urea hydrolysis. The latter is encoded in the obligate symbiont genome by a conserved urease operon, likely acquired by horizontal gene transfer, based on phylogenetic evidence. A potential underlying mechanism is the action of mobile elements, especially abundant in the Ca. E. dacicola genome. This finding, along with the identification, in the studied genomes, of extracellular surface structure components that may mediate interactions within the gut community, suggest that ongoing and past genetic exchanges between microbes may have shaped the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31829914, year = {2020}, author = {Gtari, M and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Nouioui, I}, title = {Frankia soli sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from soil beneath Ceanothus jepsonii.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {1203-1209}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003899}, pmid = {31829914}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Ceanothus/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diaminopimelic Acid/chemistry ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Frankia/*classification/isolation & purification ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; United States ; Vitamin K 2/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Actinobacterial strain Cj[T] was directly isolated from soil beneath Ceanothus jepsonii growing in the USA. The strain formed cell structures typical of the genus Frankia including extensive hyphae, vesicles and sporangia, and it effectively nodulated members of the actinorhizal Colletieae, Elaeagnaceae and Myricaceae. The whole-cell hydrolysate of strain Cj[T] was rich in meso-diaminopimelic acid and galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose, ribose and a trace of rhamnose. Tbe polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and glycophospholipid. The menaquinone was predominantly MK-9(H4). The fatty acid profile predominantly consisted of C17 : 1ω8c, iso-C16 : 0, C15:0, C16 : 0 and C17 : 0. A multilocus sequence analysis phylogeny based on atp1, ftsZ, dnaK, gyrA and secA gene sequences positioned the strain within Elaeagnaceae- and Colletieae-nodulating species together with Frankia elaeagni DSM 46783[T], Frankia discariae DSM 46785[T] and Frankia irregularis DSM 45899[T]. Pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities showed that strain Cj[T] was most closely related to F. discariae DSM 46785[T] (99.78 %) while their digital DNA-DNA hybridization value was 41.1 %. Based on the overall analyses, strain Cj[T] (=DSM 100623[T]=CECT 9041[T]) warrants classification as the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Frankia soli sp. nov. is proposed.}, } @article {pmid31828682, year = {2020}, author = {Tokumoto, Y and Hashimoto, K and Soyano, T and Aoki, S and Iwasaki, W and Fukuhara, M and Nakagawa, T and Saeki, K and Yokoyama, J and Fujita, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Assessment of Polygala paniculata (Polygalaceae) characteristics for evolutionary studies of legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {133}, number = {1}, pages = {109-122}, pmid = {31828682}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Polygala ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule (RN) symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction observed between nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria and nodulating plants, which are scattered in only four orders of angiosperms called nitrogen-fixing clade. Most of legumes engage in RN symbiosis with rhizobia. Molecular genetic analyses with legumes and non-leguminous nodulating plants revealed that RN symbiosis utilizes early signalling components that are required for symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However detailed evolutionary processes are still largely unknown. Comparative analyses with non-nodulating species phylogenetically related to legumes could be better strategies to study the evolution of RN symbiosis in legumes. Polygala paniculata is a non-leguminous species that belongs to a family different from legumes but that is classified into the same order, Fabales. It has appropriate characteristics for cultivation in laboratories: small body size, high fertility and short lifecycles. Therefore, we further assessed whether this species is suitable as a model species for comparative studies with legumes. We first validated that the plant we obtained in Palau was truly P. paniculata by molecular phylogenetic analysis using rbcL sequences. The estimated genome size of this species was less than those of two model legumes, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. We determined conditions for cultivation in vitro and for hairy root formation from P. paniculata seedlings. It would facilitate to investigate gene functions in this species. The ability of P. paniculata to interact with AM fungi was confirmed by inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis, suggesting the presence of early signalling factors that might be involved in RN symbiosis. Unexpectedly, branching of root hairs was observed when inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti broad host range strain NZP2037, indicating that P. paniculata has the biological potential to respond to rhizobia. We propose that P. paniculata is used as a model plant for the evolutionary study of RN symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31828119, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, CX and Wang, HY and Chen, TX}, title = {Interactions between Intestinal Microflora/Probiotics and the Immune System.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {6764919}, pmid = {31828119}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Mice ; *Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The digestive tract is home to millions of microorganisms and is the main and most important part of bacterial colonization. On one hand, the abundant bacterial community in intestinal tissues may pose potential health challenges such as inflammation and sepsis in cases of opportunistic invasion. Thus, the immune system has evolved and adapted to maintain the symbiotic relationship between host and microbiota. On the other hand, the intestinal microflora also exerts an immunoregulatory function to maintain host immune homeostasis, which cannot be neglected. In addition, the interaction of either microbiota or probiotics with immune system in regard to therapeutic applications is an area of great interest, and novel therapeutic strategies remain to be investigated. The review will elucidate interactions between intestinal microflora/probiotics and the immune system as well as novel therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid31827811, year = {2019}, author = {Rapp, R}, title = {On mycohuman performances: fungi in current artistic research.}, journal = {Fungal biology and biotechnology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {22}, doi = {10.1186/s40694-019-0085-6}, pmid = {31827811}, issn = {2054-3085}, abstract = {This review reflects several artists and their artistic research in the field of hybrid art, bio art, or science art, working with Fungi as both subject matter and medium. The work of Saša Spačal, Tarsh Bates and Theresa Schubert is not representational in the manner of traditional fine art, but works rather through performative, multidisciplinary and research-based strategies to produce artwork through fungal material as such. My research results are based on the series "Nonhuman subjectivities" and "Nonhuman agents" that Christian de Lutz and I conceived and realized at Art Laboratory Berlin (2016-18) in various formats-exhibitions, workshops, lectures and a conference. The work of Saša Spačal and her colleagues involves creating interactive situations of symbiosis between the fungal and the human. An example of this is Myconnect, in which a biofeedback loop is related between the human participant and Oyster mushroom mycelia through a special encounter, which is mediated by non-linguistic forms of awareness and exchange-sonic, electronic and metabolic. Tarsh Bates' work with Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis refers to a complex and intimate relation between the human and yeasts that form part of the human microbiome. Bates considers the relationship between humans and yeast as "CandidaHomo Ecologies" and sees both partners as equals. She explores this relationship through her work The Surface dynamics of adhesion, examines it from historical and metabolic levels through an installation that includes the live yeast growing on agar mixed with the artist's own blood. Theresa Schubert's installations and site-specific interventions treat living organisms, especially Fungi, as collaborators and co-creators. Her work Growing Geometries-Tattooing Mushrooms follows the morphological development of fungal fruiting bodies through the intervention of a tattoo. Her performative forest walks, especially the Forestal Psyche and also new actions for the "Mind the Fungi" project, engage the public in an intimate and multi sensory encounter with Fungi and their surrounding environment.}, } @article {pmid31827193, year = {2019}, author = {Cirino, L and Wen, ZH and Hsieh, K and Huang, CL and Leong, QL and Wang, LH and Chen, CS and Daly, J and Tsai, S and Lin, C}, title = {First instance of settlement by cryopreserved coral larvae in symbiotic association with dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {18851}, pmid = {31827193}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Cryopreservation/*methods ; Cryoprotective Agents ; *Dinoflagellida ; Ethylene Glycol ; *Larva ; Propylene Glycol ; Symbiosis ; *Vitrification ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are suffering on a global scale due to human impacts, thereby necessitating cryopreservation efforts. The objective of this study was to develop a suitable vitrification and laser warming protocol for larvae of the scleractinian coral Seriatopora caliendrum, which inherit their dinoflagellate algal symbionts vertically. Toxicity experiments were conducted with the cryoprotectants (CPAs) ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol (GLY), and methanol (METH; listed in order from least to most toxic), and larvae were subjected to vitrification and laser warming using 2 M EG + 1 M PG and 2 M EG + 1 M DMSO. Vitrification and laser warming (300 V, 10 ms pulse width, 2 mm beam diameter) using a vitrification solution of 2 M EG + 1 M PG, 40% w/v Ficoll, and 10% v/v gold nanobars (GNB) at a final concentration of 1.2 × 10[18] GNB/mL and a characteristic wavelength of 535 nm resulted in larvae with vitality and settlement percentages of 55 and 9%, respectively. This represents the first successful instance of cryopreservation of coral larvae that proceeded to settle upon warming, and suggests that the vitrification and ultra-fast laser warming approach may be applicable to other threatened marine species.}, } @article {pmid31827089, year = {2019}, author = {Ñahui Palomino, RA and Vanpouille, C and Laghi, L and Parolin, C and Melikov, K and Backlund, P and Vitali, B and Margolis, L}, title = {Extracellular vesicles from symbiotic vaginal lactobacilli inhibit HIV-1 infection of human tissues.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {5656}, pmid = {31827089}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Anti-HIV Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/pharmacology ; Extracellular Vesicles/*chemistry/metabolism ; Female ; HIV Infections/*prevention & control/virology ; HIV-1/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Lactobacillus/*chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Microbiota/drug effects ; Vagina/*microbiology ; Virus Internalization/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The vaginal microbiota, dominated by Lactobacillus spp., plays a key role in preventing HIV-1 transmission. Here, we investigate whether the anti-HIV effect of lactobacilli is mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by these bacteria. Human cervico-vaginal and tonsillar tissues ex vivo, and cell lines were infected with HIV-1 and treated with EVs released by lactobacilli isolated from vaginas of healthy women. EVs released by L. crispatus BC3 and L. gasseri BC12 protect tissues ex vivo and isolated cells from HIV-1 infection. This protection is associated with a decrease of viral attachment to target cells and viral entry due to diminished exposure of Env that mediates virus-cell interactions. Inhibition of HIV-1 infection is associated with the presence in EVs of several proteins and metabolites. Our findings demonstrate that the protective effect of Lactobacillus against HIV-1 is, in part, mediated by EVs released by these symbiotic bacteria. If confirmed in vivo, this finding may lead to new strategies to prevent male-to-female sexual HIV-1 transmission.}, } @article {pmid31826972, year = {2019}, author = {Pierce, ML and Ward, JE}, title = {Gut Microbiomes of the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis): Temporal Variation and the Influence of Marine Aggregate-Associated Microbial Communities.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31826972}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Connecticut ; Crassostrea/*microbiology ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metagenomics ; Mytilus edulis/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Gut microbial community structure was evaluated for two species of bivalve molluscs, the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected from Long Island Sound, Connecticut, over the course of a year. These bivalves utilize a shared feeding mechanism, which may result in similar gut microbial communities. Their particle diet, marine aggregates, and surrounding environment, aggregate-free seawater (AFSW), were also collected for comparison. Due to the suspension-feeding activities of bivalves, the potential for aggregate- and AFSW-associated microbiota to influence their microbial communities may be significant. Both taxonomic and functional diversity of the samples were assessed. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing indicated that oysters and mussels maintained similar, but not identical, gut microbiomes, with some temporal variation. Throughout the year, bivalve species had gut microbial community compositions that were more similar to one another than to aggregates. Within a month, bivalves shared on average a quarter of their total operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with each other and a 10th of their total OTUs with aggregates. During months with warm water temperatures, individuals within each of the four sample types had similar alpha diversity, but again, temporal variation was observed. On a functional level, bivalve gut microbial communities exhibited variation attributed to host species and season. Unlike oysters, mussel gut bacterial communities maintained high richness and evenness values throughout the year, even when values for the particle diet and AFSW were reduced. Overall, a core gut bivalve microbiome was present, and it was partially influenced by the marine aggregate microbial community.IMPORTANCE This work investigates the influence that extrinsic factors, diet, and the environment can have on the microbiomes of shellfish. Over the course of a year, the gut microbial communities of two species of bivalves, oysters and mussels, held under identical conditions in coastal marine waters were compared. While the mussels and oysters harbored gut microbial communities with similar composition, on a functional level, they exhibited species and temporal variation. These results indicate that intrinsic factors influence the bivalve microbiome, resulting in species variability, even when environmental conditions, feeding mechanism, and particle diet are constant. Seasonal and multispecies comparisons for bivalve-associated microbial communities are rare, and we believe this research represents an important contribution. The results presented here advance our understanding of the symbiotic interactions between marine invertebrates, the microbial communities they harbor, and the environment.}, } @article {pmid31826410, year = {2020}, author = {Volpe, V and Carotenuto, G and Berzero, C and Cagnina, L and Puech-Pagès, V and Genre, A}, title = {Short chain chito-oligosaccharides promote arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {229}, number = {}, pages = {115505}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115505}, pmid = {31826410}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon Monoxide/pharmacology ; Chitin/*chemistry ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {During the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, the fungus and the host plant exchange chemical signals that are crucial to reciprocal recognition. Short-chain chitin oligomers (CO) released by AM fungi are known to trigger symbiotic signaling in all host plant species tested. Here we applied exogenous CO, derived from crustacean exoskeleton, to pot-grown Medicago truncatula inoculated with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae and investigated root colonization, plant gene regulation and biomass production. CO treatment strongly promoted AM colonization with significant increases in arbuscule development, biomass production and photosynthetic surface compared to untreated mycorrhizal plants. Gene expression analyses indicated that CO treatment anticipated the expression of MtBCP and MtPT4 plant symbiotic markers, during the first two weeks post inoculation. Altogether, our results provide evidence that plant treatment with symbiotic fungal elicitors, anticipated and enhanced AM development, encouraging the use of CO to promote AM establishment in sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid31824455, year = {2019}, author = {Gould, AL and Dunlap, PV}, title = {Shedding Light on Specificity: Population Genomic Structure of a Symbiosis Between a Coral Reef Fish and Luminous Bacterium.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2670}, pmid = {31824455}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {All organisms depend on symbiotic associations with bacteria for their success, yet how these interspecific interactions influence the population structure, ecology, and evolution of microbial symbionts is not well understood. Additionally, patterns of genetic variation in interacting species can reveal ecological traits that are important to gene flow and co-evolution. In this study, we define patterns of spatial and temporal genetic variation of a coral reef fish, Siphamia tubifer, and its luminous bacterial symbiont, Photobacterium mandapamensis in the Okinawa Islands, Japan. Using restriction site-associated sequencing (RAD-Seq) methods, we show that populations of the facultative light organ symbiont of S. tubifer exhibit genetic structure at fine spatial scales of tens of kilometers despite the absence of physical barriers to dispersal and in contrast to populations of the host fish. These results suggest that the host's behavioral ecology and environmental interactions between host and symbiont help to structure symbiont populations in the region, consequently fostering the specificity of the association between host generations. Our approach also revealed several symbiont genes that were divergent between host populations, including hfq and a homolog of varS, both of which play a role in host association in Vibrio cholerae. Overall, this study highlights the important role that a host animal can play in structuring the distribution of its bacterial symbiont, particularly in highly connected marine environments, thereby promoting specificity of the symbiosis between host generations.}, } @article {pmid31823373, year = {2020}, author = {Lefebvre, B}, title = {An opportunity to breed rice for improved benefits from the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {225}, number = {4}, pages = {1404-1406}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16333}, pmid = {31823373}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Breeding ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Oryza ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid31822979, year = {2020}, author = {Cao, W and Xiong, Y and Zhao, D and Tan, H and Qu, J}, title = {Bryophytes and the symbiotic microorganisms, the pioneers of vegetation restoration in karst rocky desertification areas in southwestern China.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {873-891}, pmid = {31822979}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*growth & development ; Bryophyta/classification/*growth & development/*microbiology ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Fungi/classification/*growth & development ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In karst rocky desertification areas, bryophytes coexist with algae, bacteria, and fungi on exposed calcareous rocks to form a bryophyte crust, which plays an irreplaceable role in the restoration of karst degraded ecosystems. We investigated the biodiversity of crust bryophytes in karst rocky desertification areas from Guizhou Province, China. A total of 145 species in 22 families and 56 genera were identified. According to frequency and coverage, seven candidate dominant mosses were screened out, and five drought-resistant indexes of them were measured. Hypnum leptothallum, Racopilum cuspidigerum, and Hyophila involuta have high drought adaptability. We explored the interactions between two dominant mosses (H. leptothallum, H. involuta) and the structure of microbial communities in three karst rocky desertification types. Microbial diversity and function analysis showed that both moss species and karst rocky desertification types affect microbial communities. Moss species much more strongly affected the diversity and changed the community composition of these microbial groups. Bacteria were more sensitive in the microbiome as their communities changed strongly between mosses and drought resistance factors. Moreover, several species of fungi and bacteria could be significantly associated with three drought-resistant indexes: Pro (free proline content), SOD (superoxide dismutase activity), and POD (peroxidase activity), which were closely related to the drought adaptability of mosses. Our results enforced the potential role of moss-associated microbes that are important components involved in the related biological processes when bryophytes adapted to arid habitats, or as one kind of promoters in the distribution pattern of early mosses succession in karst rocky desertification areas.}, } @article {pmid31822937, year = {2020}, author = {Torkamaneh, D and Chalifour, FP and Beauchamp, CJ and Agrama, H and Boahen, S and Maaroufi, H and Rajcan, I and Belzile, F}, title = {Genome-wide association analyses reveal the genetic basis of biomass accumulation under symbiotic nitrogen fixation in African soybean.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {133}, number = {2}, pages = {665-676}, pmid = {31822937}, issn = {1432-2242}, mesh = {Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics/physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {We explored the genetic basis of SNF-related traits through GWAS and identified 40 candidate genes. This study provides fundamental insights into SNF-related traits and will accelerate efforts for SNF breeding. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) increases sustainability by supplying biological nitrogen for crops to enhance yields without damaging the ecosystem. A better understanding of this complex biological process is critical for addressing the triple challenges of food security, environmental degradation, and climate change. Soybean plants, the most important legume worldwide, can form a mutualistic interaction with specialized soil bacteria, bradyrhizobia, to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Here we report a comprehensive genome-wide association study of 11 SNF-related traits using 79K GBS-derived SNPs in 297 African soybeans. We identified 25 QTL regions encompassing 40 putative candidate genes for SNF-related traits including 20 genes with no prior known role in SNF. A line with a large deletion (164 kb), encompassing a QTL region containing a strong candidate gene (CASTOR), exhibited a marked decrease in SNF. This study performed on African soybean lines provides fundamental insights into SNF-related traits and yielded a rich catalog of candidate genes for SNF-related traits that might accelerate future efforts aimed at sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31822758, year = {2019}, author = {Levy-Varon, JH and Batterman, SA and Medvigy, D and Xu, X and Hall, JS and van Breugel, M and Hedin, LO}, title = {Tropical carbon sink accelerated by symbiotic dinitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {5637}, pmid = {31822758}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {A major uncertainty in the land carbon cycle is whether symbiotic nitrogen fixation acts to enhance the tropical forest carbon sink. Nitrogen-fixing trees can supply vital quantities of the growth-limiting nutrient nitrogen, but the extent to which the resulting carbon-nitrogen feedback safeguards ecosystem carbon sequestration remains unclear. We combine (i) field observations from 112 plots spanning 300 years of succession in Panamanian tropical forests, and (ii) a new model that resolves nitrogen and light competition at the scale of individual trees. Fixation doubled carbon accumulation in early succession and enhanced total carbon in mature forests by ~10% (~12MgC ha[-1]) through two mechanisms: (i) a direct fixation effect on tree growth, and (ii) an indirect effect on the successional sequence of non-fixing trees. We estimate that including nitrogen-fixing trees in Neotropical reforestation projects could safeguard the sequestration of 6.7 Gt CO2 over the next 20 years. Our results highlight the connection between functional diversity of plant communities and the critical ecosystem service of carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change.}, } @article {pmid31822603, year = {2019}, author = {Luter, HM and Whalan, S and Andreakis, N and Abdul Wahab, M and Botté, ES and Negri, AP and Webster, NS}, title = {The Effects of Crude Oil and Dispersant on the Larval Sponge Holobiont.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31822603}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Accidental oil spills from shipping and during extraction can threaten marine biota, particularly coral reef species which are already under pressure from anthropogenic disturbances. Marine sponges are an important structural and functional component of coral reef ecosystems; however, despite their ecological importance, little is known about how sponges and their microbial symbionts respond to petroleum products. Here, we use a systems biology-based approach to assess the effects of water-accommodated fractions (WAF) of crude oil, chemically enhanced water-accommodated fractions of crude oil (CWAF), and dispersant (Corexit EC9500A) on the survival, metamorphosis, gene expression, and microbial symbiosis of the abundant reef sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile in larval laboratory-based assays. Larval survival was unaffected by the 100% WAF treatment (107 μg liter[-1] polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon [PAH]), whereas significant decreases in metamorphosis were observed at 13% WAF (13.9 μg liter[-1] PAH). The CWAF and dispersant treatments were more toxic, with decreases in metamorphosis identified at 0.8% (0.58 μg liter[-1] PAH) and 1.6% (38 mg liter[-1] Corexit EC9500A), respectively. In addition to the negative impact on larval settlement, significant changes in host gene expression and disruptions to the microbiome were evident, with microbial shifts detected at the lowest treatment level (1.6% WAF; 1.7 μg liter[-1] PAH), including a significant reduction in the relative abundance of a previously described thaumarchaeal symbiont. The responsiveness of the R. odorabile microbial community to the lowest level of hydrocarbon treatment highlights the utility of the sponge microbiome as a sensitive marker for exposure to crude oils and dispersants.IMPORTANCE Larvae of the sponge R. odorabile survived exposure to high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons; however, their ability to settle and metamorphose was adversely affected at environmentally relevant concentrations, and these effects were paralleled by marked changes in sponge gene expression and preceded by disruption of the symbiotic microbiome. Given the ecological importance of sponges, uncontrolled hydrocarbon releases from shipping accidents or production could affect sponge recruitment, which would have concomitant consequences for reef ecosystem function.}, } @article {pmid31822555, year = {2020}, author = {Leybourne, DJ and Valentine, TA and Bos, JIB and Karley, AJ}, title = {A fitness cost resulting from Hamiltonella defensa infection is associated with altered probing and feeding behaviour in Rhopalosiphum padi.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {223}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.207936}, pmid = {31822555}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; *Genetic Fitness ; Nymph/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many herbivorous arthropods, including aphids, frequently associate with facultative endosymbiotic bacteria, which influence arthropod physiology and fitness. In aphids, endosymbionts can increase resistance against natural enemies, enhance aphid virulence and alter aphid fitness. Here, we used the electrical penetration graph technique to uncover physiological processes at the insect-plant interface affected by endosymbiont infection. We monitored the feeding and probing behaviour of four independent clonal lines of the cereal-feeding aphid Rhopalosiphum padi derived from the same multilocus genotype containing differential infection (+/-) with a common facultative endosymbiont, Hamiltonella defensa Aphid feeding was examined on a partially resistant wild relative of barley known to impair aphid fitness and a susceptible commercial barley cultivar. Compared with uninfected aphids, endosymbiont-infected aphids on both plant species exhibited a twofold increase in the number of plant cell punctures, a 50% reduction in the duration of each cellular puncture and a twofold higher probability of achieving sustained phloem ingestion. Feeding behaviour was also altered by host plant identity: endosymbiont-infected aphids spent less time probing plant tissue, required twice as many probes to reach the phloem and showed a 44% reduction in phloem ingestion when feeding on the wild barley relative compared with the susceptible commercial cultivar. Reduced feeding success could explain the 22% reduction in growth of H. defensa-infected aphids measured on the wild barley relative. This study provides the first demonstration of mechanisms at the aphid-plant interface contributing to physiological effects of endosymbiont infection on aphid fitness, through altered feeding processes on different quality host plants.}, } @article {pmid31819187, year = {2020}, author = {Vettore, L and Westbrook, RL and Tennant, DA}, title = {New aspects of amino acid metabolism in cancer.}, journal = {British journal of cancer}, volume = {122}, number = {2}, pages = {150-156}, pmid = {31819187}, issn = {1532-1827}, support = {C42109/A26982//Cancer Research UK (CRUK)/International ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Proliferation/*genetics ; Energy Metabolism/*genetics ; Humans ; Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Biosynthesis/genetics ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; }, abstract = {An abundant supply of amino acids is important for cancers to sustain their proliferative drive. Alongside their direct role as substrates for protein synthesis, they can have roles in energy generation, driving the synthesis of nucleosides and maintenance of cellular redox homoeostasis. As cancer cells exist within a complex and often nutrient-poor microenvironment, they sometimes exist as part of a metabolic community, forming relationships that can be both symbiotic and parasitic. Indeed, this is particularly evident in cancers that are auxotrophic for particular amino acids. This review discusses the stromal/cancer cell relationship, by using examples to illustrate a number of different ways in which cancer cells can rely on and contribute to their microenvironment - both as a stable network and in response to therapy. In addition, it examines situations when amino acid synthesis is driven through metabolic coupling to other reactions, and synthesis is in excess of the cancer cell's proliferative demand. Finally, it highlights the understudied area of non-proteinogenic amino acids in cancer metabolism and their potential role.}, } @article {pmid31818032, year = {2019}, author = {Perše, M and Večerić-Haler, Ž}, title = {The Role of IgA in the Pathogenesis of IgA Nephropathy.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {31818032}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*etiology/immunology ; Humans ; *Immunoglobulin A ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant antibody isotype produced in humans, predominantly present in the mucosal areas where its main functions are the neutralization of toxins, prevention of microbial invasion across the mucosal epithelial barrier, and simultaneous maintenance of a physiologically indispensable symbiotic relationship with commensal bacteria. The process of IgA biosynthesis, interaction with receptors, and clearance can be disrupted in certain pathologies, like IgA nephropathy, which is the most common form of glomerulonephritis worldwide. This review summarizes the latest findings in the complex characteristics of the molecular structure and biological functions of IgA antibodies, offering an in-depth overview of recent advances in the understanding of biochemical, immunologic, and genetic factors important in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.}, } @article {pmid31817999, year = {2019}, author = {Calcagnile, M and Tredici, SM and Talà, A and Alifano, P}, title = {Bacterial Semiochemicals and Transkingdom Interactions with Insects and Plants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31817999}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {A peculiar feature of all living beings is their capability to communicate. With the discovery of the quorum sensing phenomenon in bioluminescent bacteria in the late 1960s, it became clear that intraspecies and interspecies communications and social behaviors also occur in simple microorganisms such as bacteria. However, at that time, it was difficult to imagine how such small organisms-invisible to the naked eye-could influence the behavior and wellbeing of the larger, more complex and visible organisms they colonize. Now that we know this information, the challenge is to identify the myriad of bacterial chemical signals and communication networks that regulate the life of what can be defined, in a whole, as a meta-organism. In this review, we described the transkingdom crosstalk between bacteria, insects, and plants from an ecological perspective, providing some paradigmatic examples. Second, we reviewed what is known about the genetic and biochemical bases of the bacterial chemical communication with other organisms and how explore the semiochemical potential of a bacterium can be explored. Finally, we illustrated how bacterial semiochemicals managing the transkingdom communication may be exploited from a biotechnological point of view.}, } @article {pmid31817452, year = {2019}, author = {Qiao, Z and Zogli, P and Libault, M}, title = {Plant Hormones Differentially Control the Sub-Cellular Localization of Plasma Membrane Microdomains during the Early Stage of Soybean Nodulation.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31817452}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Cytokinins/genetics/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Membrane Microdomains/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Plant Growth Regulators/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Soybean Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Soybeans/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phytohormones regulate the mutualistic symbiotic interaction between legumes and rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, notably by controlling the formation of the infection thread in the root hair (RH). At the cellular level, the formation of the infection thread is promoted by the translocation of plasma membrane microdomains at the tip of the RH. We hypothesize that phytohormones regulate the translocation of plasma membrane microdomains to regulate infection thread formation. Accordingly, we treated with hormone and hormone inhibitors transgenic soybean roots expressing fusions between the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and GmFWL1 or GmFLOT2/4, two microdomain-associated proteins translocated at the tip of the soybean RH in response to rhizobia. Auxin and cytokinin treatments are sufficient to trigger or inhibit the translocation of GmFWL1 and GmFLOT2/4 to the RH tip independently of the presence of rhizobia, respectively. Unexpectedly, the application of salicylic acid, a phytohormone regulating the plant defense system, also promotes the translocation of GmFWL1 and GmFLOT2/4 to the RH tip regardless of the presence of rhizobia. These results suggest that phytohormones are playing a central role in controlling the early stages of rhizobia infection by regulating the translocation of plasma membrane microdomains. They also support the concept of crosstalk of phytohormones to control nodulation.}, } @article {pmid31817044, year = {2019}, author = {Petrzik, K and Koloniuk, I and Sehadová, H and Sarkisova, T}, title = {Chrysoviruses Inhabited Symbiotic Fungi of Lichens.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31817044}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Fungal Viruses/classification/*physiology ; Genome, Viral ; Genomics/methods ; Lichens/*virology ; Phylogeny ; RNA Viruses ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; *Symbiosis ; Viral Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {A lichen body is formed most often from green alga cells trapped in a net of ascomycetous fungi and accompanied by endolichenic or parasitic fungi, other algae, and symbiotic or free-living bacteria. The lichen's microcosmos is inhabited by mites, insects, and other animals for which the lichen is a source of food or a place to live. Novel, four-segmented dsRNA viruses were detected in saxicolous Chrysothrixchlorina and Leprariaincana lichens. Comparison of encoded genome proteins revealed classification of the viruses to the genus Alphachrysovirus and a relationship to chrysoviruses from filamentous ascomycetous fungi. We propose the names Chrysothrix chrysovirus 1 (CcCV1) and Lepraria chrysovirus 1 (LiCV1) as acronyms for these viruses. Surprisingly, observation of Chrysothrixchlorina hybridization with fluorescent-labelled virus probe by confocal microscope revealed that the CcCV1 virus is not present in the lichen body-forming fungus but in accompanying endolichenic Penicilliumcitreosulfuratum fungus. These are the first descriptions of mycoviruses from a lichen environment.}, } @article {pmid31816961, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, J and Liu, Y and Liu, Z and Wang, H and Zhang, H}, title = {Bioactive Nitrogenous Secondary Metabolites from the Marine Sponge Genus Haliclona.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31816961}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Drug Discovery/methods ; Haliclona/*metabolism ; Humans ; Nitrogen Compounds/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponge genus Haliclona, one of the most prolific sources of natural products, contains over 600 species but only a small part of them had been classified and chemically investigated. On the basis of extensive literature search, this review firstly summarizes 112 nitrogenous secondary metabolites from classified and unclassified Haliclona sponges as well as from their symbiotic microorganisms. Most of these substances have only been found in Haliclona sponges, and display diverse bioactive properties with potential applications in new drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid31816572, year = {2020}, author = {Hajjo, H and Geva-Zatorsky, N}, title = {Gut microbiota - host interactions now also brain-immune axis.}, journal = {Current opinion in neurobiology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {53-59}, doi = {10.1016/j.conb.2019.10.009}, pmid = {31816572}, issn = {1873-6882}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {The 'gut-brain axis' is a fairly new term in the fairly new field of the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, the collection of microorganisms residing in intestines of vertebrates, was shown to have major effects on host physiology. The field has seen a renaissance due to advances in deep-sequencing. Recently, there is an explosion of studies on the physiological and therapeutic potential of the gut microbiota. These microbes are considered to reside in symbiosis with their hosts, and are termed 'commensals', originated from Latin - 'at table together'. We provide the gut microbes nutrients and a living niche, and they in turn, provide us with essentially the same - nutrients derived from the food we eat, that we cannot digest, and essential functions for health and longevity. In the past few years it has been appreciated that gut microbes can even affect our brain, behavior, and neurological disorders, which we here review.}, } @article {pmid31813608, year = {2019}, author = {Girardin, A and Wang, T and Ding, Y and Keller, J and Buendia, L and Gaston, M and Ribeyre, C and Gasciolli, V and Auriac, MC and Vernié, T and Bendahmane, A and Ried, MK and Parniske, M and Morel, P and Vandenbussche, M and Schorderet, M and Reinhardt, D and Delaux, PM and Bono, JJ and Lefebvre, B}, title = {LCO Receptors Involved in Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Are Functional for Rhizobia Perception in Legumes.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {24}, pages = {4249-4259.e5}, pmid = {31813608}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Chitin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; Petunia/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are key mediators of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS) in legumes. The isolation of LCOs from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi suggested that LCOs are also signaling molecules in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). However, the corresponding plant receptors have remained uncharacterized. Here we show that petunia and tomato mutants in the LysM receptor-like kinases LYK10 are impaired in AM formation. Petunia and tomato LYK10 proteins have a high affinity for LCOs (Kd in the nM range) comparable to that previously reported for a legume LCO receptor essential for the RNS. Interestingly, the tomato and petunia LYK10 promoters, when introduced into a legume, were active in nodules similarly to the promoter of the legume orthologous gene. Moreover, tomato and petunia LYK10 coding sequences restored nodulation in legumes mutated in their orthologs. This combination of genetic and biochemical data clearly pinpoints Solanaceous LYK10 as part of an ancestral LCO perception system involved in AM establishment, which has been directly recruited during evolution of the RNS in legumes.}, } @article {pmid31813393, year = {2020}, author = {Ciolfi, S and Marri, L}, title = {Dominant symbiotic bacteria associated with wild medfly populations reveal a bacteriocin-like killing phenotype: a 'cold-case' study.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {110}, number = {4}, pages = {457-462}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485319000816}, pmid = {31813393}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriocins/genetics/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Ceratitis capitata/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Enterobacter cloacae/drug effects ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Klebsiella/genetics ; Klebsiella oxytoca/genetics/*metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Salmonella typhimurium/drug effects ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut of the agricultural pest Ceratitis capitata hosts a varied community of bacteria, mainly Enterobacteriaceae, that were implicated in several processes that increase the fitness of the insect. In this study, we investigated the antagonistic activity in vitro of Klebsiella oxytoca strains isolated in the 1990s from the alimentary tract of wild medflies collected from different varieties of fruit trees at diverse localities. Assays were carried out against reference strains (representative of Gram-negative and -positive bacterial species) of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Eight Klebsiella, out of 11, expressed a killing activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 23739, and Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047; among the eight strains, at least one showed activity against Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 23853. Genomic DNA derived from all Klebsiella strains was then subjected to PCR amplification using specific primer pairs designed from each of the four bacteriocin (KlebB, C, D, CCL) sequences found so far in Klebsiella. KlebD primer pairs were the only to produce a single product for all strains expressing the killing phenotype in vitro. One of the amplicons was cloned and sequenced; the DNA sequence shows 93% identity with a plasmid-carried colicin-D gene of a strain of Klebsiella michiganensis, and 86% identity with the sequence encoding for the klebicin D activity protein in K. oxytoca. Our work provides the first evidence that dominant symbiotic bacteria associated with wild medfly populations express a killing phenotype that may mediate inter and intraspecies competition among bacterial populations in the insect gut in vivo.}, } @article {pmid31812181, year = {2019}, author = {Bunyavanich, S and Berin, MC}, title = {Food allergy and the microbiome: Current understandings and future directions.}, journal = {The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology}, volume = {144}, number = {6}, pages = {1468-1477}, pmid = {31812181}, issn = {1097-6825}, support = {R01 AI118833/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI147028/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI136053/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U24 AI118644/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology/pathology/therapy ; Food Hypersensitivity/*immunology/*microbiology/pathology/therapy ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Mice ; Microbiota/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Growing evidence points to an important role for the commensal microbiota in susceptibility to food allergy. Epidemiologic studies demonstrate associations between exposures known to modify the microbiome and risk of food allergy. Direct profiling of the gut microbiome in human cohort studies has demonstrated that individuals with food allergy have distinct gut microbiomes compared to healthy control subjects, and dysbiosis precedes the development of food allergy. Mechanistic studies in mouse models of food allergy have confirmed that the composition of the intestinal microbiota can imprint susceptibility or resistance to food allergy on the host and have identified a unique population of microbially responsive RORγt-positive FOXp3-positive regulatory T cells as critical for the maintenance of tolerance to foods. Armed with this new understanding of the role of the microbiota in food allergy and tolerance, therapeutics aimed at modifying the gastrointestinal microbiota are in development. In this article we review key milestones in the development of our current understanding of how the gastrointestinal microbiota contributes to food allergy and discuss our vision for the future of the field.}, } @article {pmid31811169, year = {2019}, author = {Mailho-Fontana, PL and Jared, C and Antoniazzi, MM and Sciani, JM and Pimenta, DC and Stokes, AN and Grant, T and Brodie, ED and Brodie, ED}, title = {Variations in tetrodotoxin levels in populations of Taricha granulosa are expressed in the morphology of their cutaneous glands.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {18490}, pmid = {31811169}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Salamandridae ; Skin/*chemistry ; Tetrodotoxin/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Tetrodotoxin (TTX), one of the most toxic substances in nature, is present in bacteria, invertebrates, fishes, and amphibians. Marine organisms seem to bioaccumulate TTX from their food or acquire it from symbiotic bacteria, but its origin in amphibians is unclear. Taricha granulosa can exhibit high TTX levels, presumably concentrated in skin poison glands, acting as an agent of selection upon predatory garter snakes (Thamnophis). This co-evolutionary arms race induces variation in T. granulosa TTX levels, from very high to undetectable. Using morphology and biochemistry, we investigated differences in toxin localization and quality between two populations at the extremes of toxicity. TTX concentration within poison glands is related to the volume of a single cell type in which TTX occurs exclusively in distinctive secretory granules, suggesting a relationship between granule structure and chemical composition. TTX was detected in mucous glands in both populations, contradicting the general understanding that these glands do not secrete defensive chemicals and expanding currently held interpretations of amphibian skin gland functionality. Skin secretions of the two populations differed in low-mass molecules and proteins. Our results demonstrate that interpopulation variation in TTX levels is related to poison gland morphology.}, } @article {pmid31811024, year = {2019}, author = {Erturk-Hasdemir, D and Oh, SF and Okan, NA and Stefanetti, G and Gazzaniga, FS and Seeberger, PH and Plevy, SE and Kasper, DL}, title = {Symbionts exploit complex signaling to educate the immune system.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {52}, pages = {26157-26166}, pmid = {31811024}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {K01 DK102771/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109764/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The mammalian immune system is tolerized to trillions of microbes residing on bodily surfaces and can discriminate between symbionts and pathogens despite their having related microbial structures. Mechanisms of innate immune activation and the subsequent signaling pathways used by symbionts to communicate with the adaptive immune system are poorly understood. Polysaccharide A (PSA) of Bacteroides fragilis is the model symbiotic immunomodulatory molecule. Here we demonstrate that PSA-dependent immunomodulation requires the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/1 heterodimer in cooperation with Dectin-1 to initiate signaling by the downstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, with consequent CREB-dependent transcription of antiinflammatory genes, including antigen presentation and cosignaling molecules. High-resolution LC-MS/MS analysis of PSA identified a previously unknown small molecular-weight, covalently attached bacterial outer membrane-associated lipid that is required for activation of antigen-presenting cells. This archetypical commensal microbial molecule initiates a complex collaborative integration of Toll-like receptor and C-type lectin-like receptor signaling mechanisms culminating in the activation of the antiinflammatory arm of the PI3K pathway that serves to educate CD4[+] Tregs to produce the immunomodulatory cytokine IL-10. Immunomodulation is a key function of the microbiome and is a focal point for developing new therapeutic agents.}, } @article {pmid31811021, year = {2019}, author = {Schafhauser, T and Jahn, L and Kirchner, N and Kulik, A and Flor, L and Lang, A and Caradec, T and Fewer, DP and Sivonen, K and van Berkel, WJH and Jacques, P and Weber, T and Gross, H and van Pée, KH and Wohlleben, W and Ludwig-Müller, J}, title = {Antitumor astins originate from the fungal endophyte Cyanodermella asteris living within the medicinal plant Aster tataricus.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {52}, pages = {26909-26917}, pmid = {31811021}, issn = {1091-6490}, abstract = {Medicinal plants are a prolific source of natural products with remarkable chemical and biological properties, many of which have considerable remedial benefits. Numerous medicinal plants are suffering from wildcrafting, and thus biotechnological production processes of their natural products are urgently needed. The plant Aster tataricus is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and contains unique active ingredients named astins. These are macrocyclic peptides showing promising antitumor activities and usually containing the highly unusual moiety 3,4-dichloroproline. The biosynthetic origins of astins are unknown despite being studied for decades. Here we show that astins are produced by the recently discovered fungal endophyte Cyanodermella asteris. We were able to produce astins in reasonable and reproducible amounts using axenic cultures of the endophyte. We identified the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for astin biosynthesis in the genome of C. asteris and propose a production pathway that is based on a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Striking differences in the production profiles of endophyte and host plant imply a symbiotic cross-species biosynthesis pathway for astin C derivatives, in which plant enzymes or plant signals are required to trigger the synthesis of plant-exclusive variants such as astin A. Our findings lay the foundation for the sustainable biotechnological production of astins independent from aster plants.}, } @article {pmid31810817, year = {2020}, author = {Estrella, MJ and Fontana, MF and Cumpa Velásquez, LM and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Diambra, L and Hansen, LH and Pistorio, M and Sannazzaro, AI}, title = {Mesorhizobium intechi sp. nov. isolated from nodules of Lotus tenuis in soils of the Flooding Pampa, Argentina.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {126044}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126044}, pmid = {31810817}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Argentina ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/chemistry/*classification/cytology/physiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Three symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria (BD68[T], BD66 and BD73) isolated from root nodules of Lotus tenuis in lowland soils of the Flooding Pampa (Argentina), previously classified as members of the Mesorhizobium genus, were characterized in this study. Phylogenetic analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences showed a close relationship to M. japonicum MAFF 303099[T], M. erdmanii USDA 3471[T], M. carmichaelinearum ICMP 18942[T], M. opportunistum WSM 2975[T] and M. jarvisii ATCC 33699[T], with sequence identities of 99.72%-100%. Multilocus sequence analysis of other housekeeping genes revealed that the three isolates belonged to a phylogenetically distinct clade within the genus Mesorhizobium. Strain BD68[T] was designated as the group representative and its genome was fully sequenced. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization comparisons between BD68[T] and the most related type strains showed values below the accepted threshold for species discrimination. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features were also studied. Based on these results, BD68[T], BD66 and BD73 could be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the name Mesorhizobium intechi sp. nov. is hereby proposed. The type strain of this species is BD68[T] (=CECT 9304[T]=LMG 30179[T]).}, } @article {pmid31810233, year = {2019}, author = {Dore, MP and Bibbò, S and Fresi, G and Bassotti, G and Pes, GM}, title = {Side Effects Associated with Probiotic Use in Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31810233}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Abdominal Pain/microbiology ; Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative/microbiology/*therapy ; Crohn Disease/microbiology/*therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology/*therapy ; Male ; Probiotics/*adverse effects ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Synbiotics/*adverse effects ; }, abstract = {Probiotics demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the safety profile of probiotics is insufficiently explored. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined the occurrence of side effects related to probiotic/synbiotic use in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of IBD patients as compared with placebo. Eligible RCTs in adult patients with IBD were identified by accessing the Medline database via PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials up to December 2018. Occurrence of side effects was retrieved and recorded. Data were pooled and the relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The low-moderate study heterogeneity, assessed by the I[2] statistic, allowed to use of a fixed-effects modelling for meta-analysis. Nine RCTs among 2337, including 826 patients (442 treated with probiotics/symbiotic and 384 with placebo) were analyzed. Eight were double-blind RCTs, and six enrolled ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Although the risk for the overall side effects (RR 1.35, 95%CI 0.93-1.94; I[2] = 25%) and for gastrointestinal symptoms (RR 1.78, 95%CI 0.99-3.20; I[2] = 20%) was higher in IBD patients taking probiotics than in those exposed to placebo, statistical significance was achieved only for abdominal pain (RR 2.59, 95%CI 1.28-5.22; I[2] = 40%). In conclusion, despite the small number of RCTs and the variety of probiotic used and schedule across studies, these findings highlight the level of research effort still required to identify the most appropriate use of probiotics in IBD.}, } @article {pmid31809929, year = {2020}, author = {Su, Y and Zhang, K and Zhou, Z and Wang, J and Yang, X and Tang, J and Li, H and Lin, S}, title = {Microplastic exposure represses the growth of endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Cladocopium goreaui in culture through affecting its apoptosis and metabolism.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {244}, number = {}, pages = {125485}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125485}, pmid = {31809929}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Chlorophyll A ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Microplastics/*toxicity ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Polystyrenes/metabolism/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Microplastics are widespread emerging marine pollutants that have been found in the coral reef ecosystem. In the present study, using Cladocopium goreaui as a symbiont representative, we investigated cytological, physiological, and molecular responses of a Symbiodiniaceae species to weeklong microplastic exposure (Polystyrene, diameter 1.0 μm, 9.0 × 10[9] particles L[-1]). The density and size of algal cells decreased significantly at 7 d and 6-7 d of microplastic exposure, respectively. Chlorophyll a content increased significantly at 7 d of exposure, whereas Fv/Fm did not change significantly during the entire exposure period. We observed significant increases in superoxide dismutase activity and caspase3 activation level, significant decrease in glutathione S-transferase activity, but no change in catalase activity during the whole exposure period. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 191 significantly upregulated and 71 significantly downregulated genes at 7 d after microplastic exposure. Fifteen GO terms were overrepresented for these significantly upregulated genes, which were grouped into four categories including transmembrane ion transport, substrate-specific transmembrane transporter activity, calcium ion binding, and calcium-dependent cysteine-type endopeptidase activity. Thirteen of the significantly upregulated genes encode metal ion transporter and ammonium transporter, and five light-harvesting protein genes were among the significantly downregulated genes. These results demonstrate that microplastics can act as an exogenous stressor, suppress detoxification activity, nutrient uptake, and photosynthesis, elevate oxidative stress, and raise the apoptosis level through upregulating ion transport and apoptotic enzymes to repress the growth of C. goreaui. These effects have implications in negative impacts of microplastics on coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis that involves C. goreaui.}, } @article {pmid31808246, year = {2020}, author = {Mestre, A and Poulin, R and Hortal, J}, title = {A niche perspective on the range expansion of symbionts.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {95}, number = {2}, pages = {491-516}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12574}, pmid = {31808246}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Demography ; *Ecosystem ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Range expansion results from complex eco-evolutionary processes where range dynamics and niche shifts interact in a novel physical space and/or environment, with scale playing a major role. Obligate symbionts (i.e. organisms permanently living on hosts) differ from free-living organisms in that they depend on strong biotic interactions with their hosts which alter their niche and spatial dynamics. A symbiotic lifestyle modifies organism-environment relationships across levels of organisation, from individuals to geographical ranges. These changes influence how symbionts experience colonisation and, by extension, range expansion. Here, we investigate the potential implications of a symbiotic lifestyle on range expansion capacity. We present a unified conceptual overview on range expansion of symbionts that integrates concepts grounded in niche and metapopulation theories. Overall, we explain how niche-driven and dispersal-driven processes govern symbiont range dynamics through their interaction across scales, from host switching to geographical range shifts. First, we describe a background framework for range dynamics based on metapopulation concepts applied to symbiont organisation levels. Then, we integrate metapopulation processes operating in the physical space with niche dynamics grounded in the environmental arena. For this purpose, we provide a definition of the biotope (i.e. living place) specific to symbionts as a hinge concept to link the physical and environmental spaces, wherein the biotope unit is a metapopulation patch (either a host individual or a land fragment). Further, we highlight the dual nature of the symbionts' niche, which is characterised by both host traits and the external environment, and define proper conceptual variants to provide a meaningful unification of niche, biotope and symbiont organisation levels. We also explore variation across systems in the relative relevance of both external environment and host traits to the symbiont's niche and their potential implications on range expansion. We describe in detail the potential mechanisms by which hosts, through their function as biotopes, could influence how some symbionts expand their range - depending on the life history and traits of both associates. From the spatial point of view, hosts can extend symbiont dispersal range via host-mediated dispersal, although the requirement for among-host dispersal can challenge symbiont range expansion. From the niche point of view, homeostatic properties of host bodies may allow symbiont populations to become insensitive to off-host environmental gradients during host-mediated dispersal. These two potential benefits of the symbiont-host interaction can enhance symbiont range expansion capacity. On the other hand, the central role of hosts governing the symbiont niche makes symbionts strongly dependent on the availability of suitable hosts. Thus, environmental, dispersal and biotic barriers faced by suitable hosts apply also to the symbiont, unless eventual opportunities for host switching allow the symbiont to expand its repertoire of suitable hosts (thus expanding its fundamental niche). Finally, symbionts can also improve their range expansion capacity through their impacts on hosts, via protecting their affiliated hosts from environmental harshness through biotic facilitation.}, } @article {pmid31806758, year = {2019}, author = {Varoquaux, N and Cole, B and Gao, C and Pierroz, G and Baker, CR and Patel, D and Madera, M and Jeffers, T and Hollingsworth, J and Sievert, J and Yoshinaga, Y and Owiti, JA and Singan, VR and DeGraaf, S and Xu, L and Blow, MJ and Harrison, MJ and Visel, A and Jansson, C and Niyogi, KK and Hutmacher, R and Coleman-Derr, D and O'Malley, RC and Taylor, JW and Dahlberg, J and Vogel, JP and Lemaux, PG and Purdom, E}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis of field-droughted sorghum from seedling to maturity reveals biotic and metabolic responses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {52}, pages = {27124-27132}, pmid = {31806758}, issn = {1091-6490}, abstract = {Drought is the most important environmental stress limiting crop yields. The C4 cereal sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a critical food, forage, and emerging bioenergy crop that is notably drought-tolerant. We conducted a large-scale field experiment, imposing preflowering and postflowering drought stress on 2 genotypes of sorghum across a tightly resolved time series, from plant emergence to postanthesis, resulting in a dataset of nearly 400 transcriptomes. We observed a fast and global transcriptomic response in leaf and root tissues with clear temporal patterns, including modulation of well-known drought pathways. We also identified genotypic differences in core photosynthesis and reactive oxygen species scavenging pathways, highlighting possible mechanisms of drought tolerance and of the delayed senescence, characteristic of the stay-green phenotype. Finally, we discovered a large-scale depletion in the expression of genes critical to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, with a corresponding drop in AM fungal mass in the plants' roots.}, } @article {pmid31806752, year = {2019}, author = {Asimakis, E and Doudoumis, V and Gouvi, G and Tsiamis, G}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Enterobacter hormaechei ENT5, a Component of the Symbiotic Community of Tephritid Flies.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {49}, pages = {}, pmid = {31806752}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Enterobacter strains are among the dominant symbiotic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of insects, with the ability to fulfill diverse roles. In this announcement, we describe the draft genome sequence of Enterobacter hormaechei strain ENT5, isolated from wild adult Zeugodacus cucurbitae flies.}, } @article {pmid31805683, year = {2019}, author = {Kimeklis, AK and Chirak, ER and Kuznetsova, IG and Sazanova, AL and Safronova, VI and Belimov, AA and Onishchuk, OP and Kurchak, ON and Aksenova, ТS and Pinaev, AG and Andronov, EE and Provorov, NA}, title = {Rhizobia Isolated from the Relict Legume Vavilovia formosa Represent a Genetically Specific Group within Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31805683}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genotype ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Twenty-two rhizobia strains isolated from three distinct populations (North Ossetia, Dagestan, and Armenia) of a relict legume Vavilovia formosa were analysed to determine their position within Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae (Rlv). These bacteria are described as symbionts of four plant genera Pisum, Vicia, Lathyrus, and Lens from the Fabeae tribe, of which Vavilovia is considered to be closest to its last common ancestor (LCA). In contrast to biovar viciae, bacteria from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii (Rlt) inoculate plants from the Trifolieae tribe. Comparison of house-keeping (hkg: 16S rRNA, glnII, gltA, and dnaK) and symbiotic (sym: nodA, nodC, nodD, and nifH) genes of the symbionts of V. formosa with those of other Rlv and Rlt strains reveals a significant group separation, which was most pronounced for sym genes. A remarkable feature of the strains isolated from V. formosa was the presence of the nodX gene, which was commonly found in Rlv strains isolated from Afghanistan pea genotypes. Tube testing of different strains on nine plant species, including all genera from the Fabeae tribe, demonstrated that the strains from V. formosa nodulated the same cross inoculation group as the other Rlv strains. Comparison of nucleotide similarity in sym genes suggested that their diversification within sym-biotypes of Rlv was elicited by host plants. Contrariwise, that of hkg genes could be caused by either local adaptation to soil niches or by genetic drift. Long-term ecological isolation, genetic separation, and the ancestral position of V. formosa suggested that symbionts of V. formosa could be responsible for preserving ancestral genotypes of the Rlv biovar.}, } @article {pmid31805640, year = {2019}, author = {Chirak, ER and Kimeklis, AK and Karasev, ES and Kopat, VV and Safronova, VI and Belimov, AA and Aksenova, TS and Kabilov, MR and Provorov, NA and Andronov, EE}, title = {Search for Ancestral Features in Genomes of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Strains Isolated from the Relict Legume Vavilovia formosa.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31805640}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Vavilovia formosa is a relict leguminous plant growing in hard-to-reach habitats in the rocky highlands of the Caucasus and Middle East, and it is considered as the putative closest living relative of the last common ancestor (LCA) of the Fabeae tribe. Symbionts of Vavilovia belonging to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae compose a discrete group that differs from the other strains, especially in the nucleotide sequences of the symbiotically specialised (sym) genes. Comparison of the genomes of Vavilovia strains with the reference group composed of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae strains isolated from Pisum and Vicia demonstrated that the vavilovia strains have a set of genomic features, probably indicating the important stages of microevolution of the symbiotic system. Specifically, symbionts of Vavilovia (considered as an ancestral group) demonstrated a scattered arrangement of sym genes (>90 kb cluster on pSym), with the location of nodT gene outside of the other nod operons, the presence of nodX and fixW, and the absence of chromosomal fixNOPQ copies. In contrast, the reference (derived) group harboured sym genes as a compact cluster (<60 kb) on a single pSym, lacking nodX and fixW, with nodT between nodN and nodO, and possessing chromosomal fixNOPQ copies. The TOM strain, obtained from nodules of the primitive "Afghan" peas, occupied an intermediate position because it has the chromosomal fixNOPQ copy, while the other features, the most important of which is presence of nodX and fixW, were similar to the Vavilovia strains. We suggest that genome evolution from the ancestral to the derived R. leguminosarum bv. viciae groups follows the "gain-and-loss of sym genes" and the "compaction of sym cluster" strategies, which are common for the macro-evolutionary and micro-evolutionary processes. The revealed genomic features are in concordance with a relict status of the vavilovia strains, indicating that V. formosa coexists with ancestral microsymbionts, which are presumably close to the LCA of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae.}, } @article {pmid31805440, year = {2020}, author = {Bassham, RD and Browning, JS and Landers, SC}, title = {The complete life cycle of the unusual apostome Hyalophysa clampi (Ciliophora, Apostomatida), a symbiont of crayfish in Alabama (USA).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {72}, number = {}, pages = {125654}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2019.125654}, pmid = {31805440}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Alabama ; Animals ; Astacoidea/*parasitology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Oligohymenophorea/cytology/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hyalophysa clampi Browning and Landers, 2012 was reexamined to determine all stages in the life cycle of this symbiotic ciliate. The cell feeds as a normal exuviotroph within the exoskeleton of its molted crayfish host but does not encyst following the trophont stage. Trophonts transform into swimming tomont stages, which divide by palintomy over successive divisions, splitting to two cells, separating, and repeating. The divisions cease when the daughter cells attain the size of the infestive tomite stage, which attaches to a new crayfish. This unique life cycle is most similar to the European hermit crab symbiont Polyspira delagei, which forms chains of daughter cells during division. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the unusual presence of two contractile vacuoles in H. clampi, unique among the Apostomatida, and provided ultrastructural details to better understand light microscopy silver staining. The genus diagnosis for Hyalophysa is modified herein to accommodate this new life cycle.}, } @article {pmid31805130, year = {2019}, author = {Morard, R and Füllberg, A and Brummer, GA and Greco, M and Jonkers, L and Wizemann, A and Weiner, AKM and Darling, K and Siccha, M and Ledevin, R and Kitazato, H and de Garidel-Thoron, T and de Vargas, C and Kucera, M}, title = {Genetic and morphological divergence in the warm-water planktonic foraminifera genus Globigerinoides.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {e0225246}, pmid = {31805130}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Foraminifera/*classification/cytology/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The planktonic foraminifera genus Globigerinoides provides a prime example of a species-rich genus in which genetic and morphological divergence are uncorrelated. To shed light on the evolutionary processes that lead to the present-day diversity of Globigerinoides, we investigated the genetic, ecological and morphological divergence of its constituent species. We assembled a global collection of single-cell barcode sequences and show that the genus consists of eight distinct genetic types organized in five extant morphospecies. Based on morphological evidence, we reassign the species Globoturborotalita tenella to Globigerinoides and amend Globigerinoides ruber by formally proposing two new subspecies, G. ruber albus n.subsp. and G. ruber ruber in order to express their subspecies level distinction and to replace the informal G. ruber "white" and G. ruber "pink", respectively. The genetic types within G. ruber and Globigerinoides elongatus show a combination of endemism and coexistence, with little evidence for ecological differentiation. CT-scanning and ontogeny analysis reveal that the diagnostic differences in adult morphologies could be explained by alterations of the ontogenetic trajectories towards final (reproductive) size. This indicates that heterochrony may have caused the observed decoupling between genetic and morphological diversification within the genus. We find little evidence for environmental forcing of either the genetic or the morphological diversification, which allude to biotic interactions such as symbiosis, as the driver of speciation in Globigerinoides.}, } @article {pmid31803643, year = {2019}, author = {Alesa, DI and Alshamrani, HM and Alzahrani, YA and Alamssi, DN and Alzahrani, NS and Almohammadi, ME}, title = {The role of gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and the therapeutic effects of probiotics.}, journal = {Journal of family medicine and primary care}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {3496-3503}, pmid = {31803643}, issn = {2249-4863}, abstract = {The adult intestine hosts a huge number of diverse bacterial species, collectively referred to as the microbiome, that reside mainly in the lower gut, where they maintain a symbiotic relationship with their host. Recent research points to a central role of the microbiome in many biological processes. These microbial communities are influenced by multiple environmental and dietary factors and can modulate immune responses. In addition to local effects on the gastrointestinal tract, the microbiota is associated with effects on other organs and tissues, such as the skin. Indeed, an altered microbiome has been associated with skin disorders in several instances. Thus, in this review, we describe the recent advances regarding the interplay between gut microbiota and the skin. We explore how this potential link affects skin homeostasis and its influence on modulating the cutaneous immune response, focusing on psoriasis disorder. Finally, we discuss how to take advantage of this interplay to manage this disorder, particularly through probiotics administration. In the gastrointestinal tract, the microbiome has been proven to be important in the maintenance of the balance between effector T cells and regulatory T cells, and the induction of immunoglobulin A. Moreover, gut bacterial dysbiosis is associated with chronic inflammatory disorders of the skin, such as psoriasis. Thus, the microbiome can be considered an effective therapeutical target for treating this disorder. Despite some limitations, interventions with probiotics seem promising for the development of a preventive therapy by restoring altered microbiome functionality or as an adjuvant in specific immunotherapy.}, } @article {pmid31803409, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, L and Liu, Y and Feng, T and Xi, S and Wang, X and Xue, C and Qian, J and Li, G}, title = {A symbiotic hetero-nanocomposite that stabilizes unprecedented CaCl2-type TiO2 for enhanced solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction.}, journal = {Chemical science}, volume = {10}, number = {36}, pages = {8323-8330}, pmid = {31803409}, issn = {2041-6520}, abstract = {Symbiotic hetero-nanocomposites prevail in many classes of minerals, functional substances and/or devices. However, design and development of a symbiotic hetero-nanocomposite that contains unachievable phases remain a significant challenge owing to the tedious formation conditions and the need for precise control over atomic nucleation in synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report a solution chemistry approach for a symbiotic hetero-nanocomposite that contains an unprecedented CaCl2-type titania phase inter-grown with rutile TiO2. CaCl2 structured TiO2, usually occurring when bulk rutile-TiO2 is compressed at an extreme pressure of several GPa, is identified to be a distorted structure with a tilt of adjacent ribbons of the c-axis of rutile. The structural specificity of the symbiotic CaCl2/rutile TiO2 hetero-nanocomposite was confirmed by Rietveld refinement, HRTEM, EXAFS, and Raman spectra, and the formation region (TiCl4 concentration vs. reaction temperature) was obtained by mapping the phase diagram. Due to the symbiotic relationship, this CaCl2-type TiO2 maintained a high stability via tight connection by edge dislocations with rutile TiO2, thus forming a CaCl2/rutile TiO2 heterojunction with a higher reduction capacity and enhanced charge separation efficiency. These merits endow symbiotic CaCl2/rutile TiO2 with a water splitting activity far superior to that of the commercial benchmark photocatalyst, P25 under simulated sunlight without the assistance of a cocatalyst. Our findings reported here may offer several useful understandings of the mechanical intergrowth process in functional symbiotic hetero-nanocomposites for super interfacial charge separation, where interfacial dislocation appears to be a universal cause.}, } @article {pmid31803234, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, L and Li, D and Shao, Y and Wang, H and Liu, Y and Zhang, Y}, title = {Identifying Microbiota Signature and Functional Rules Associated With Bacterial Subtypes in Human Intestine.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1146}, pmid = {31803234}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Gut microbiomes are integral microflora located in the human intestine with particular symbiosis. Among all microorganisms in the human intestine, bacteria are the most significant subgroup that contains many unique and functional species. The distribution patterns of bacteria in the human intestine not only reflect the different microenvironments in different sections of the intestine but also indicate that bacteria may have unique biological functions corresponding to their proper regions of the intestine. However, describing the functional differences between the bacterial subgroups and their distributions in different individuals is difficult using traditional computational approaches. Here, we first attempted to introduce four effective sets of bacterial features from independent databases. We then presented a novel computational approach to identify potential distinctive features among bacterial subgroups based on a systematic dataset on the gut microbiome from approximately 1,500 human gut bacterial strains. We also established a group of quantitative rules for explaining such distinctions. Results may reveal the microstructural characteristics of the intestinal flora and deepen our understanding on the regulatory role of bacterial subgroups in the human intestine.}, } @article {pmid31802564, year = {2020}, author = {Sturaro, N and Hsieh, YE and Chen, Q and Wang, PL and Denis, V}, title = {Toward a standardised protocol for the stable isotope analysis of scleractinian corals.}, journal = {Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM}, volume = {34}, number = {8}, pages = {e8663}, doi = {10.1002/rcm.8663}, pmid = {31802564}, issn = {1097-0231}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry ; Carbon Isotopes/*analysis ; Desiccation ; Freeze Drying ; Lipids/analysis ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Nitrogen Isotopes/*analysis ; }, abstract = {RATIONALE: The stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen is a powerful tool in many ecological studies, but different sample treatments may affect stable isotope ratios and hamper comparisons among studies. The goal of this study was to determine whether treatments that are commonly used to prepare scleractinian coral samples for stable isotope analysis yield different δ[15] N and δ[13] C values, and to provide guidelines toward a standardised protocol.

METHODS: The animal tissues and Symbiodiniaceae of two symbiotic scleractinian coral species (Stylophora pistillata and Porites lutea) were divided into subsamples to test the effects of the drying method, lipid extraction, acidification treatment and water washing. All the subsamples were analysed for their δ[15] N and δ[13] C values, using continuous flow elemental analyser/isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: The drying method and lipid extraction treatment had no substantial effects on the δ[15] N and δ[13] C values of Symbiodiniaceae and animal tissues. Acid treatment did cause significant differences in δ[13] C values (mean differences ≤0.5‰, with individual samples becoming up to 2.0‰ more negative), whereas no ecologically significant differences were observed in δ[15] N values. Animal tissue δ[13] C values may vary depending on whether samples are washed or not.

CONCLUSIONS: To move towards a standardised protocol in coral research, we recommend using an available drying method (as they are equally acceptable) for the stable isotope analysis of scleractinian corals, examining the need for lipid extraction on a case-by-case basis, performing a direct acidification of Symbiodiniaceae and animal tissues, and avoiding washing animal tissue with distilled water.}, } @article {pmid31802184, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, S and Jiang, L and Qiao, G and Chen, J}, title = {The Bacterial Flora Associated with the Polyphagous Aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Is Strongly Affected by Host Plants.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {971-984}, pmid = {31802184}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Diet ; *Food Chain ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Aphids live in symbiosis with a variety of bacteria, including the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola and diverse facultative symbionts. The symbiotic associations for one aphid species, especially for polyphagous species, often differ across populations. In the present study, by using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing, we surveyed in detail the microbiota in natural populations of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii in China and assessed differences in bacterial diversity with respect to host plant and geography. The microbial community of A. gossypii was dominated by a few heritable symbionts. Arsenophonus was the most dominant secondary symbiont, and Spiroplasma was detected for the first time. Statistical tests and ordination analyses showed that host plants rather than geography seemed to have shaped the associated symbiont composition. Special symbiont communities inhabited the Cucurbitaceae-feeding populations, which supported the ecological specialization of A. gossypii on cucurbits from the viewpoint of symbiotic bacteria. Correlation analysis suggested antagonistic interactions between Buchnera and coexisting secondary symbionts and more complicated interactions between different secondary symbionts. Our findings lend further support to an important role of the host plant in structuring symbiont communities of polyphagous aphids and will improve our understanding of the interactions among phytophagous insects, symbionts, and environments.}, } @article {pmid31801294, year = {2019}, author = {Alex, A and Antunes, A}, title = {Comparative Genomics Reveals Metabolic Specificity of Endozoicomonas Isolated from a Marine Sponge and the Genomic Repertoire for Host-Bacteria Symbioses.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31801294}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {PTDC/BIA-BMA/29985/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029985)//Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/International ; PTDC/CTA-AMB/31774/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER/031774/2017).//Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/International ; UID/Multi/04423/2019//Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/International ; }, abstract = {The most recently described bacterial members of the genus Endozoicomonas have been found in association with a wide variety of marine invertebrates. Despite their ubiquity in the host holobiont, limited information is available on the molecular genomic signatures of the symbiotic association of Endozoicomonas with marine sponges. Here, we generated a draft genome of Endozoicomonas sp. OPT23 isolated from the intertidal marine sponge Ophlitaspongia papilla and performed comprehensive comparative genomics analyses. Genome-specific analysis and metabolic pathway comparison of the members of the genus Endozoicomonas revealed the presence of gene clusters encoding for unique metabolic features, such as the utilization of carbon sources through lactate, L-rhamnose metabolism, and a phenylacetic acid degradation pathway in Endozoicomonas sp. OPT23. Moreover, the genome harbors genes encoding for eukaryotic-like proteins, such as ankyrin repeats, tetratricopeptide repeats, and Sel1 repeats, which likely facilitate sponge-bacterium attachment. The genome also encodes major secretion systems and homologs of effector molecules that seem to enable the sponge-associated bacterium to interact with the sponge and deliver the virulence factors for successful colonization. In conclusion, the genome analysis of Endozoicomonas sp. OPT23 revealed the presence of adaptive genomic signatures that might favor their symbiotic lifestyle within the sponge host.}, } @article {pmid31800204, year = {2020}, author = {Bratovanov, EV and Ishida, K and Heinze, B and Pidot, SJ and Stinear, TP and Hegemann, JD and Marahiel, MA and Hertweck, C}, title = {Genome Mining and Heterologous Expression Reveal Two Distinct Families of Lasso Peptides Highly Conserved in Endofungal Bacteria.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {1169-1176}, doi = {10.1021/acschembio.9b00805}, pmid = {31800204}, issn = {1554-8937}, mesh = {Biological Products/chemistry ; Burkholderiaceae/*chemistry/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Humans ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Peptides/*chemistry/*genetics ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Rhizopus/*chemistry/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genome mining identified the fungal-bacterial endosymbiosis Rhizopus microsporus-Mycetohabitans (previously Burkholderia) rhizoxinica as a rich source of novel natural products. However, most of the predicted compounds have remained cryptic. In this study, we employed heterologous expression to isolate and characterize three ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides with lariat topology (lasso peptides) from the endosymbiont M. rhizoxinica: burhizin-23, mycetohabin-16, and mycetohabin-15. Through coexpression experiments, it was shown that an orphan gene product results in mature mycetohabin-15, albeit encoded remotely from the core biosynthetic gene cluster. Comparative genomics revealed that mycetohabins are highly conserved among M. rhizoxinica and related endosymbiotic bacteria. Gene knockout and reinfection experiments indicated that the lasso peptides are not crucial for establishing symbiosis; instead, the peptides are exported into the environment during endosymbiosis. This is the first report on lasso peptides from endosymbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid31798924, year = {2019}, author = {Nanjundappa, A and Bagyaraj, DJ and Saxena, AK and Kumar, M and Chakdar, H}, title = {Interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Bacillus spp. in soil enhancing growth of crop plants.}, journal = {Fungal biology and biotechnology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {23}, pmid = {31798924}, issn = {2054-3085}, abstract = {Soil microorganisms play an important role in enhancing soil fertility and plant health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria form a key component of the soil microbial population. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic association with most of the cultivated crop plants and they help plants in phosphorus nutrition and protecting them against biotic and abiotic stresses. Many species of Bacillus occurring in soil are also known to promote plant growth through phosphate solubilization, phytohormone production and protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Synergistic interaction between AMF and Bacillus spp. in promoting plant growth compared to single inoculation with either of them has been reported. This is because of enhanced nutrient uptake, protection against plant pathogens and alleviation of abiotic stresses (water, salinity and heavy metal) through dual inoculation compared to inoculation with either AMF or Bacillus alone.}, } @article {pmid31798570, year = {2019}, author = {Li, L and Zhang, Z and Pan, S and Li, L and Li, X}, title = {Characterization and Metabolism Effect of Seed Endophytic Bacteria Associated With Peanut Grown in South China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2659}, pmid = {31798570}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytes are considered to be excellent biocontrol agents and biofertilizers, and are associated with plant growth promotion and health. In particular, seed-endophytic bacteria benefit the host plant's progeny via vertical transmission, and can play a role in plant growth and defense. However, seed-associated endophytic bacteria have not been fully explored, with very little known about how they interact with peanut (Arachis hypogaea), for example. Here, 10 genera of endophytic bacteria were isolated from the root tips of peanut seedlings grown either aseptically or in soil. Forty-two bacterial colonies were obtained from peanut seedlings grown in soil, mostly from the genus Bacillus. Eight colonies were obtained from aseptic seedling root tips, including Bacillus sp., Paenibacillus sp., and Pantoea dispersa. Four Bacillus peanut strains GL1-GL4 (B.p.GL1-GL4) produced bio-films, while B.p.GL2 and Paenibacillus glycanilyticus YMR3 (P.g.YMR3) showed strong amylolytic capability, enhanced peanut biomass, and increased numbers of root nodules. Conversely, P. dispersa YMR1 (P.d.YMR1) caused peanut plants to wilt. P.g.YMR3 was distributed mainly around or inside vacuoles and was transmitted to the next generation through gynophores and ovules. Hexanoate, succinate, and jasmonic acid (JA) accumulated in peanut root tips after incubation with P.g.YMR3, but linolenate content decreased dramatically. This suggests that strain P.g.YMR3 increases JA content (14.93-fold change) and modulates the metabolism of peanut to facilitate nodule formation and growth. These findings provide new insight into plant-seed endophytic bacterial interactions in peanut.}, } @article {pmid31798561, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, X and Li, X and Wu, C and Ye, L and Kang, Z and Zhang, X}, title = {Exogenous Nitric Oxide and Phosphorus Stress Affect the Mycorrhization, Plant Growth, and Associated Microbes of Carya illinoinensis Seedlings Colonized by Tuber indicum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2634}, pmid = {31798561}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the artificial cultivation of truffles, ectomycorrhizal colonization level, host plant quality, and the associated microbes in the rhizosphere soil are vitally important. To explore the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and phosphorus (P) stress on the early symbiosis of truffles and host plants, different concentrations of exogenous NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and P were applied to Carya illinoinensis seedlings inoculated with the Chinese black truffle (Tuber indicum). The growth of T. indicum-mycorrhized seedlings and their mycorrhizal colonization rate were investigated. Additionally, the denitrifying bacterial community harboring NO reductase (norB) genes and the fungal community in the rhizosphere of the host were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the colonization rate of T. indicum was significantly influenced by SNP treatments and P stress, with the highest level being obtained when the SNP was 100 μmol/L under low P stress (5 μmol/L). Treatment with 100 μmol/L SNP alone also increased the colonization rate of T. indicum and had positive effects on the plant height, stem circumference, biomass, root-shoot ratio and root POD activity of the seedlings at different times after inoculation. Under low P stress, the 100 μmol/L SNP increased the richness of the norB-type denitrifying bacterial community. Interestingly, the diversity and richness of norB-type denitrifying bacteria were significantly positively correlated with the colonization rate of T. indicum. SNP treatments under low P stress altered the abundance of some dominant taxa such as Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Pseudomonas, Ensifer, and Sulfitobacter. Evaluation of the fungal community in the rhizosphere revealed that 100 μmol/L SNP treatment alone had no noticeable effect on their richness and diversity, but it did shape the abundance of some fungi. Buellia, Podospora, Phaeoisaria, Ascotaiwania, and Lophiostoma were more abundant following exogenous NO application, while the abundance of Acremonium, Monographella, and Penicillium were decreased. Network analysis indicated that T. indicum was positively and negatively correlated with some fungal genera when treated with 100 μmol/L SNP. Overall, these results revealed how exogenous NO and P stress influence the symbiosis of truffles and host plants, and indicate that application of SNP treatments has the potential for ectomycorrhizal synthesis and truffle cultivation.}, } @article {pmid31798547, year = {2019}, author = {Rehman, HM and Cheung, WL and Wong, KS and Xie, M and Luk, CY and Wong, FL and Li, MW and Tsai, SN and To, WT and Chan, LY and Lam, HM}, title = {High-Throughput Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Whole Proteome and Secretome From Sinorhizobium fredii Strains CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2569}, pmid = {31798547}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii is a dominant rhizobium on alkaline-saline land that can induce nitrogen-fixing symbiotic root nodules in soybean. Two S. fredii strains, CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436, were used in this study to facilitate in-depth analyses of this species and its interactions with soybean. We have previously completed the full assembly of the genomes and detailed transcriptomic analyses for these two S. fredii strains, CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436, that exhibit differential compatibility toward some soybean hosts. In this work, we performed high-throughput Orbitrap analyses of the whole proteomes and secretomes of CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436 at different growth stages. Our proteomic data cover coding sequences in the chromosome, chromid, symbiotic plasmid, and other accessory plasmids. In general, we found higher levels of protein expression by genes in the chromosomal genome, whereas proteins encoded by the symbiotic plasmid were differentially accumulated in bacteroids. We identified secreted proteins from the extracellular medium, including seven and eight Nodulation Outer Proteins (Nops) encoded by the symbiotic plasmid of CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436, respectively. Differential host restriction of CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436 is regulated by the allelic type of the soybean Rj2(Rfg1) protein. Using sequencing data from this work and available in public databases, our analysis confirmed that the soybean Rj2(Rfg1) protein has three major allelic types (Rj2/rfg1, rj2/Rfg1, rj2/rfg1) that determine the host restriction of some Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and S. fredii strains. A mutant defective in the type 3 protein secretion system (T3SS) in CCBAU25509 allowed this strain to nodulate otherwise-incompatible soybeans carrying the rj2/Rfg1 allelic type, probably by disrupting Nops secretion. The allelic forms of NopP and NopI in S. fredii might be associated with the restriction imposed by Rfg1. By swapping the NopP between CCBAU25509 and CCBAU45436, we found that only the strains carrying NopP from CCBAU45436 could nodulate soybeans carrying the rj2/Rfg1 allelic type. However, no direct interaction between either forms of NopP and Rfg1 could be observed.}, } @article {pmid31797528, year = {2020}, author = {Lindström, K and Mousavi, SA}, title = {Effectiveness of nitrogen fixation in rhizobia.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {1314-1335}, pmid = {31797528}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation in rhizobia occurs primarily in root or stem nodules and is induced by the bacteria present in legume plants. This symbiotic process has fascinated researchers for over a century, and the positive effects of legumes on soils and their food and feed value have been recognized for thousands of years. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation uses solar energy to reduce the inert N2 gas to ammonia at normal temperature and pressure, and is thus today, especially, important for sustainable food production. Increased productivity through improved effectiveness of the process is seen as a major research and development goal. The interaction between rhizobia and their legume hosts has thus been dissected at agronomic, plant physiological, microbiological and molecular levels to produce ample information about processes involved, but identification of major bottlenecks regarding efficiency of nitrogen fixation has proven to be complex. We review processes and results that contributed to the current understanding of this fascinating system, with focus on effectiveness of nitrogen fixation in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid31797006, year = {2020}, author = {Ozbayram, EG and Kleinsteuber, S and Nikolausz, M}, title = {Biotechnological utilization of animal gut microbiota for valorization of lignocellulosic biomass.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {489-508}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-10239-w}, pmid = {31797006}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Animals ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Biotransformation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Lignin/chemistry/*metabolism ; Ruminants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The aim of this review is to give a summary of natural lignocellulose-degrading systems focusing mainly on animal digestive tracts of wood-feeding insects and ruminants in order to find effective strategies that can be applied to improve anaerobic digestion processes in engineered systems. Wood-feeding animals co-evolved with symbiotic microorganisms to digest lignocellulose-rich biomass in a very successful way. Considering the similarities between these animal gut systems and the lignocellulose-based biotechnological processes, the gut with its microbial consortium can be a perfect model for an advanced lignocellulose-degrading biorefinery. The physicochemical properties and structure of the gut may provide a scheme for the process design, and the microbial consortium may be applied as genetic resource for the up-scaled bioreactor communities. Manipulation of the gut microbiota is also discussed in relation to the management of the reactor communities.}, } @article {pmid31796934, year = {2020}, author = {Bauer, E and Kaltenpoth, M and Salem, H}, title = {Minimal fermentative metabolism fuels extracellular symbiont in a leaf beetle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {866-870}, pmid = {31796934}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Fermentation ; Genomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While genome erosion is extensively studied in intracellular symbionts, the metabolic implications of reductive evolution in microbes subsisting extracellularly remain poorly understood. Stammera capleta-an extracellular symbiont in leaf beetles-possesses an extremely reduced genome (0.27 Mb), enabling the study of drastic reductive evolution in the absence of intracellularity. Here, we outline the genomic and transcriptomic profiles of Stammera and its host to elucidate host-symbiont metabolic interactions. Given the symbiont's substantial demands for nutrients and membrane components, the host's symbiotic organ shows repurposing of internal resources by upregulating nutrient transporters and cuticle-processing genes targeting epithelial chitin. Facilitated by this supplementation and its localization, Stammera exhibits a highly streamlined gene expression profile and a fermentation pathway for energy conversion, sharply contrasting the respiratory metabolism retained by most intracellular symbionts. Our results provide insights into a tightly regulated and metabolically integrated extracellular symbiosis, expanding our understanding of the minimal metabolism required to sustain life outside of a host cell.}, } @article {pmid31796568, year = {2019}, author = {Chung, M and Teigen, LE and Libro, S and Bromley, RE and Olley, D and Kumar, N and Sadzewicz, L and Tallon, LJ and Mahurkar, A and Foster, JM and Michalski, ML and Dunning Hotopp, JC}, title = {Drug Repurposing of Bromodomain Inhibitors as Potential Novel Therapeutic Leads for Lymphatic Filariasis Guided by Multispecies Transcriptomics.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31796568}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {U19 AI110820/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {To better understand the transcriptomic interplay of organisms associated with lymphatic filariasis, we conducted multispecies transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) on the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its laboratory vector Aedes aegypti across the entire B. malayi life cycle. In wBm, transcription of the noncoding 6S RNA suggests that it may be a regulator of bacterial cell growth, as its transcript levels correlate with bacterial replication rates. For A. aegypti, the transcriptional response reflects the stress that B. malayi infection exerts on the mosquito with indicators of increased energy demand. In B. malayi, expression modules associated with adult female samples consistently contained an overrepresentation of genes involved in chromatin remodeling, such as the bromodomain-containing proteins. All bromodomain-containing proteins encoded by B. malayi were observed to be upregulated in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria life stages, including 2 members of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein family. The BET inhibitor JQ1(+), originally developed as a cancer therapeutic, caused lethality of adult worms in vitro, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic that can be repurposed for treating lymphatic filariasis.IMPORTANCE The current treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis is mostly microfilaricidal. In an effort to identify new drug candidates for lymphatic filariasis, we conducted a three-way transcriptomics/systems biology study of one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its vector host Aedes aegypti at 16 distinct B. malayi life stages. B. malayi upregulates the expression of bromodomain-containing proteins in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria stages. In vitro, we find that the existing cancer therapeutic JQ1(+), which is a bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor, has adulticidal activity in B. malayi.}, } @article {pmid31796310, year = {2020}, author = {Fan, L and Hu, G and Qiu, L and Meng, S and Wu, W and Zheng, Y and Song, C and Li, D and Chen, J}, title = {Variations in bacterioplankton communities in aquaculture ponds and the influencing factors during the peak period of culture.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {258}, number = {}, pages = {113656}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113656}, pmid = {31796310}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {*Aquaculture ; *Aquatic Organisms ; Bacteria ; Fresh Water ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Plankton/*growth & development ; Ponds/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {An increase in nutrient input may disturb the bacterioplankton communities in freshwater aquaculture ponds during the peak period of culture. Water samples were collected from ponds of three cultivated species. After the samples were filtered and total DNA was extracted, Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to profile the spatiotemporal distributions in bacterioplankton communities, the belt diversity, and the influencing factors during this period of time. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. Biological differences in cultivated species were the main influencing factors that shaped bacterioplankton communities. Monthly variations and thermal stratification provided little and no contribution to bacterioplankton communities, respectively. CODmn, Chla, and TN were the most appropriate parameters to describe the environmental interpretation of bacterial ordinations, and CODmn was the predominant factor. In addition, the higher similarity between CODmn and Chla, shown by clustering analysis, indicated that the algae-bacteria symbiotic system may have an important role in material circulation in freshwater aquaculture pond water during the peak period of culture. The present study has helped to elucidate the biological characteristics of aquaculture tail water, and enriched the basic data provided by bacterioplankton studies.}, } @article {pmid31796086, year = {2019}, author = {Pankievicz, VCS and Irving, TB and Maia, LGS and Ané, JM}, title = {Are we there yet? The long walk towards the development of efficient symbiotic associations between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and non-leguminous crops.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {99}, pmid = {31796086}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is an essential element of life, and nitrogen availability often limits crop yields. Since the Green Revolution, massive amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers have been produced from atmospheric nitrogen and natural gas, threatening the sustainability of global food production and degrading the environment. There is a need for alternative means of bringing nitrogen to crops, and taking greater advantage of biological nitrogen fixation seems a logical option. Legumes are used in most cropping systems around the world because of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia. However, the world's three major cereal crops-rice, wheat, and maize-do not associate with rhizobia. In this review, we will survey how genetic approaches in rhizobia and their legume hosts allowed tremendous progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling root nodule symbioses, and how this knowledge paves the way for engineering such associations in non-legume crops. We will also discuss challenges in bringing these systems into the field and how they can be surmounted by interdisciplinary collaborations between synthetic biologists, microbiologists, plant biologists, breeders, agronomists, and policymakers.}, } @article {pmid31795141, year = {2019}, author = {Dou, X and Dong, B}, title = {Origins and Bioactivities of Natural Compounds Derived from Marine Ascidians and Their Symbionts.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31795141}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Alkaloids/chemistry ; Animals ; Biological Products/*chemistry ; Microbiota ; Peptides/chemistry ; Polyketides/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine ascidians are becoming important drug sources that provide abundant secondary metabolites with novel structures and high bioactivities. As one of the most chemically prolific marine animals, more than 1200 inspirational natural products, such as alkaloids, peptides, and polyketides, with intricate and novel chemical structures have been identified from ascidians. Some of them have been successfully developed as lead compounds or highly efficient drugs. Although numerous compounds that exist in ascidians have been structurally and functionally identified, their origins are not clear. Interestingly, growing evidence has shown that these natural products not only come from ascidians, but they also originate from symbiotic microbes. This review classifies the identified natural products from ascidians and the associated symbionts. Then, we discuss the diversity of ascidian symbiotic microbe communities, which synthesize diverse natural products that are beneficial for the hosts. Identification of the complex interactions between the symbiont and the host is a useful approach to discovering ways that direct the biosynthesis of novel bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical potentials.}, } @article {pmid31794386, year = {2021}, author = {Kalayeh, MM and Shah, M}, title = {On Symbiosis of Attribute Prediction and Semantic Segmentation.}, journal = {IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {1620-1635}, doi = {10.1109/TPAMI.2019.2956039}, pmid = {31794386}, issn = {1939-3539}, abstract = {Attributes are semantically meaningful characteristics whose applicability widely crosses category boundaries. They are particularly important in describing and recognizing concepts for which no explicit training example is given, e.g., zero-shot learning. Additionally, since attributes are human describable, they can be used for efficient human-computer interaction. In this article, we propose to employ semantic segmentation to improve person-related attribute prediction. The core idea lies in the fact that many attributes describe local properties. In other words, the probability of an attribute to appear in an image is far from being uniform in the spatial domain. We build our attribute prediction model jointly with a deep semantic segmentation network. This harnesses the localization cues learned by the semantic segmentation to guide the attention of the attribute prediction to the regions where different attributes naturally show up. As a result of this approach, in addition to prediction, we are able to localize the attributes despite merely having access to image-level labels (weak supervision) during training. We first propose semantic segmentation-based pooling and gating, respectively denoted as SSP and SSG. In the former, the estimated segmentation masks are used to pool the final activations of the attribute prediction network, from multiple semantically homogeneous regions. This is in contrast to global average pooling which is agnostic with respect to where in the spatial domain activations occur. In SSG, the same idea is applied to the intermediate layers of the network. Specifically, we create multiple copies of the internal activations. In each copy, only values that fall within a certain semantic region are preserved while outside of that, activations are suppressed. This mechanism allows us to prevent pooling operation from blending activations that are associated with semantically different regions. SSP and SSG, while effective, impose heavy memory utilization since each channel of the activations is pooled/gated with all the semantic segmentation masks. To circumvent this, we propose Symbiotic Augmentation (SA), where we learn only one mask per activation channel. SA allows the model to either pick one, or combine (weighted superposition) multiple semantic maps, in order to generate the proper mask for each channel. SA simultaneously applies the same mechanism to the reverse problem by leveraging output logits of attribute prediction to guide the semantic segmentation task. We evaluate our proposed methods for facial attributes on CelebA and LFWA datasets, while benchmarking WIDER Attribute and Berkeley Attributes of People for whole body attributes. Our proposed methods achieve superior results compared to the previous works. Furthermore, we show that in the reverse problem, semantic face parsing significantly improves when its associated task is jointly learned, through our proposed Symbiotic Augmentation (SA), with facial attribute prediction. We confirm that when few training instances are available, indeed image-level facial attribute labels can serve as an effective source of weak supervision to improve semantic face parsing. That reaffirms the need to jointly model these two interconnected tasks.}, } @article {pmid31794261, year = {2020}, author = {Anhê, FF and Barra, NG and Schertzer, JD}, title = {Glucose alters the symbiotic relationships between gut microbiota and host physiology.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism}, volume = {318}, number = {2}, pages = {E111-E116}, doi = {10.1152/ajpendo.00485.2019}, pmid = {31794261}, issn = {1522-1555}, support = {FDN-154295/CAPMC/CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Digestive System Physiological Phenomena/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Glucose/*pharmacology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria and mammals exhibit all aspects of symbiosis. Metabolic flux in bacteria and in specific host cells can influence host-microbe symbiotic relationships and tip the balance between mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. The relationship between microbes and host metabolism is bidirectional: microbes can influence host blood glucose, but glucose levels can influence the microbiota and host response to specific bacteria. A key consideration determining symbiotic relationships is compartmentalization of bacterial niches by mucosal, chemical, and physical barriers of the gut. We propose that compartmentalization of glucose levels in the blood versus the intestinal lumen is another important factor dictating host-microbe symbiosis. Host glucose and specific bacteria can modify the intestinal barrier, immune function, and antimicrobial defenses, which can then break down compartmentalization of microbes, alter glucose levels and impact symbiosis. Determining how glucose metabolism promotes mutualistic, commensal, and parasitic relationships within the entire microbiota community is relevant to glucose control in diabetes and enteric infections, which occur more often and have worse outcomes in diabetics.}, } @article {pmid31793314, year = {2019}, author = {Pillay, D and Serooe, T}, title = {Shifting and transforming the practice of audiology: The inclusion of traditional healing.}, journal = {The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {e1-e9}, pmid = {31793314}, issn = {2225-4765}, mesh = {*Attitude of Health Personnel ; *Audiologists/psychology ; Audiology/*methods ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cultural Diversity ; Culturally Competent Care ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hearing Loss/therapy ; Humans ; Male ; *Medicine, African Traditional/methods ; Qualitative Research ; Religion and Medicine ; South Africa ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Societal diversity encompasses an array of cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs that influence an individual's perspective of illness and diseases. Healthcare providers are challenged with the task of considering these diversities in clinical practice. The symbiotic relationship between the healthcare provider and the traditional healer in any healthcare field is rare.

OBJECTIVES: The aims were to determine the perspectives of audiologists with regard to traditional healing in South Africa (SA) and to document if and how the audiologist engages with traditional healing in practice.

METHOD: A questionnaire containing closed and open-ended questions was utilised. Thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data, and the quantitative data were displayed using tables and figures.

RESULTS: Forty-one audiologists working at public and private hospitals and clinics in SA were included in this study. The personal experiences of audiologists resulted in varying definitions of a traditional healer. Audiologists reported that patients utilised traditional healing methods such as pouring urine or motor oil into the ear. Strategies of accommodation included being culturally appropriate during conversations, respecting and acknowledging the individual's cultural and religious beliefs. Twenty-seven audiologists were willing to collaborate with traditional healers to support the patient.

CONCLUSION: There is a need for an integral holistic model of care in Audiology. There is a lack of communication structures to facilitate the implementation of a collaborative model of care in the current medical model of practice of Audiology. The global trend of holistic and person-centred care is evident, and the field of Audiology cannot negate the role of traditional healers as alternate healthcare providers in SA.}, } @article {pmid31791795, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, X and Chen, J and Shen, Y and Dong, F and Chen, J}, title = {Global negative effects of livestock grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizas: A meta-analysis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {708}, number = {}, pages = {134553}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134553}, pmid = {31791795}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Grassland ; Livestock ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Livestock grazing activities substantially contribute to worldwide grassland degradation and potentially alter the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The global patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in response to grazing, especially grazing intensity, are still unclear. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of grazing intensity experiments to examine the grazing intensity effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across global grasslands. The results showed that heavy or moderate grazing consistently reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance by 34.38% and 9.14%, but light grazing had no significant effect. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance was reduced with longer duration of grazing (-22.91%) and lower annual precipitation (-17.43%). Grazing decrease the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal was possibly attributedto the reduction of above-ground biomass, in agreement with the carbon limitation hypothesis. It suggests the inhibition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance by grazing at the cost of plant above-ground biomass. These findings highlight the negative effect of heavy grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizaes across worldwide grassland, and which may contribute to understand the effects of livestock grazing activities on symbiotic relationships between host plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid31790395, year = {2019}, author = {Hegde, S and Nilyanimit, P and Kozlova, E and Anderson, ER and Narra, HP and Sahni, SK and Heinz, E and Hughes, GL}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion of the ompA gene in symbiotic Cedecea neteri impairs biofilm formation and reduces gut colonization of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0007883}, pmid = {31790395}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R21 AI124452/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI129507/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI138074/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/metabolism ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/growth & development ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Gene Deletion ; *Gene Knockout Techniques ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria are pervasive in mosquitoes and their presence can influence many host phenotypes that affect vectoral capacity. While it is evident that environmental and host genetic factors contribute in shaping the microbiome of mosquitoes, we have a poor understanding regarding how bacterial genetics affects colonization of the mosquito gut. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system is a powerful tool to alter bacterial genomes facilitating investigations into host-microbe interactions but has yet to be applied to insect symbionts.

To investigate the role of bacterial genetic factors in mosquito biology and in colonization of mosquitoes we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to mutate the outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene of a Cedecea neteri symbiont isolated from Aedes mosquitoes. The ompA mutant had an impaired ability to form biofilms and poorly infected Ae. aegypti when reared in a mono-association under gnotobiotic conditions. In adult mosquitoes, the mutant had a significantly reduced infection prevalence compared to the wild type or complement strains, while no differences in prevalence were seen in larvae, suggesting genetic factors are particularly important for adult gut colonization. We also used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to integrate genes (antibiotic resistance and fluorescent markers) into the symbionts genome and demonstrated that these genes were functional in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results shed insights into the role of ompA gene in host-microbe interactions in Ae. aegypti and confirm that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing can be employed for genetic manipulation of non-model gut microbes. The ability to use this technology for site-specific integration of genes into the symbiont will facilitate the development of paratransgenic control strategies to interfere with arboviral pathogens such Chikungunya, dengue, Zika and Yellow fever viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid31790118, year = {2020}, author = {Tominaga, T and Miura, C and Takeda, N and Kanno, Y and Takemura, Y and Seo, M and Yamato, M and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Gibberellin Promotes Fungal Entry and Colonization during Paris-Type Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Eustoma grandiflorum.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {565-575}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz222}, pmid = {31790118}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Epidermis/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Gibberellins/*pharmacology ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/drug effects/physiology ; Hyphae ; Liliaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Seedlings ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/*physiology ; Triazoles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) are divided into two types according to morphology: Arum- and Paris-type AMs. Gibberellins (GAs) mainly inhibit the establishment of Arum-type AM symbiosis in most model plants, whereas the effects of GAs on Paris-type AM symbiosis are unclear. To provide insight into the mechanism underlying this type of symbiosis, the roles of GAs were investigated in Eustoma grandiflorum when used as the host plant for Paris-type AM establishment. Eustoma grandiflorum seedlings were inoculated with the model AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, and the effects of GA and the GA biosynthesis inhibitor uniconazole-P on the symbiosis were quantitatively evaluated. Exogenous GA significantly increased hyphopodium formation at the epidermis, thus leading to the promotion of fungal colonization and arbuscule formation in the root cortex. By contrast, the suppression of GA biosynthesis and signaling attenuated fungal entry to E. grandiflorum roots. Moreover, the exudates from GA-treated roots strongly induced the hyphal branching of R. irregularis. Our results show that GA has an contrasting effect on Paris-type AM symbiosis in E. grandiflorum compared with Arum-type AM symbiosis. This finding could be explained by the differential regulation of the early colonization stage, where fungal hyphae make contact with and penetrate the epidermis.}, } @article {pmid31789155, year = {2019}, author = {Fackelmann, G and Sommer, S}, title = {Microplastics and the gut microbiome: How chronically exposed species may suffer from gut dysbiosis.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {193-203}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.030}, pmid = {31789155}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Dietary Exposure/*adverse effects ; Dysbiosis/*chemically induced/veterinary ; Ecotoxicology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects ; Humans ; Microplastics/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; }, abstract = {As small pieces of plastics known as microplastics pollute even the remotest parts of Earth, research currently focuses on unveiling how this pollution may affect biota. Despite increasing awareness, one potentially major consequence of chronic exposure to microplastics has been largely neglected: the impact of the disruption of the symbiosis between host and the natural community and abundance pattern of the gut microbiota. This so-called dysbiosis might be caused by the consumption of microplastics, associated mechanical disruption within the gastrointestinal tract, the ingestion of foreign and potentially pathogenic bacteria, as well as chemicals, which make-up or adhere to microplastics. Dysbiosis may interfere with the host immune system and trigger the onset of (chronic) diseases, promote pathogenic infections, and alter the gene capacity and expression of gut microbiota. We summarize how chronically exposed species may suffer from microplastics-induced gut dysbiosis, deteriorating host health, and highlight corresponding future directions of research.}, } @article {pmid31789101, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, W and Li, Y and Bai, X and Wu, H and Bian, L and Hu, X}, title = {LuxR-Type Regulator AclR1 of Azorhizobium caulinodans Regulates Cyclic di-GMP and Numerous Phenotypes in Free-Living and Symbiotic States.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {528-538}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-19-0306-R}, pmid = {31789101}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Repressor Proteins/*physiology ; Sesbania/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trans-Activators/*physiology ; }, abstract = {LuxR-type regulators play important roles in transcriptional regulation in bacteria and control various biological processes. A genome sequence analysis showed the existence of seven LuxR-type regulators in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, an important nitrogen-fixing bacterium in both its free-living state and in symbiosis with its host, Sesbania rostrata. However, the functional mechanisms of these regulators remain unclear. In this study, we identified a LuxR-type regulator that contains a cheY-homologous receiver (REC) domain in its N terminus and designated it AclR1. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis revealed that AclR1 exhibited relatively close evolutionary relationships with MalT/GerE/FixJ/NarL family proteins. Functional analysis of an aclR1 deletion mutant (ΔaclR1) in the free-living state showed that AclR1 positively regulated cell motility and flocculation but negatively regulated exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, and second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP)-related gene expression. In the symbiotic state, the ΔaclR1 mutant was defective in competitive colonization and nodulation on host plants. These results suggested that AclR1 could provide bacteria with the ability to compete effectively for symbiotic nodulation. Overall, our results show that the REC-LuxR-type regulator AclR1 regulates numerous phenotypes both in the free-living state and during host plant symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31788958, year = {2020}, author = {Karaivazoglou, K and Konstantakis, C and Assimakopoulos, SF and Triantos, C}, title = {Neonate gut colonization: The rise of a social brain.}, journal = {Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {e13767}, doi = {10.1111/nmo.13767}, pmid = {31788958}, issn = {1365-2982}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain/*microbiology/*physiology ; Child Development/*physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The human gut microbiota constitutes an integral part of human physiology, playing an important role in maintaining health, and compositional or functional changes in intestinal microbiota may be associated with the emergence of several chronic diseases. Animal and human studies have shown that there is a dynamic cross-talk between intestinal microorganisms and brain networks which has an impact on neurodevelopment and may be extremely critical in shaping human social behavior.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current review is to appraise and present in a concise manner all findings linking the evolution of neonate and infant gut colonization with early social development and to formulate scientifically informed hypotheses which could guide future research on this field.}, } @article {pmid31788887, year = {2020}, author = {Michaud, C and Hervé, V and Dupont, S and Dubreuil, G and Bézier, AM and Meunier, J and Brune, A and Dedeine, F}, title = {Efficient but occasionally imperfect vertical transmission of gut mutualistic protists in a wood-feeding termite.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {308-324}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15322}, pmid = {31788887}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods ; Ecology ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Pacific Ocean ; Phytoplankton/genetics ; Proteostasis/genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although mutualistic associations between animals and microbial symbionts are widespread in nature, the mechanisms that have promoted their evolutionary persistence remain poorly understood. A vertical mode of symbiont transmission (from parents to offspring) is thought to ensure partner fidelity and stabilization, although the efficiency of vertical transmission has rarely been investigated, especially in cases where hosts harbour a diverse microbial community. Here we evaluated vertical transmission rates of cellulolytic gut oxymonad and parabasalid protists in the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes grassei. We sequenced amplicons of the 18S rRNA gene of protists from 24 colonies of R. grassei collected in two populations. For each colony, the protist community was characterized from the gut of 14 swarming reproductives and from a pool of 10 worker guts. A total of 98 operational taxonomic units belonging to 13 species-level taxa were found. The vertical transmission rate was estimated for each protist present in a colony based on its frequency among the reproductives. The results revealed that transmission rates were high, with an average of 0.897 (±0.164) per protist species. Overall, the protist community did not differ between reproductive sexes, suggesting that both the queen and the king could contribute to the gut microbiota of the offspring. A positive relationship between the transmission rate of protists and their prevalence within populations was also detected. However, transmission rates alone do not explain the prevalence of protists. In conclusion, these findings reveal key forces behind a conserved, multispecies mutualism, raising further questions on the roles of horizontal transfer and negative selection in shaping symbiont prevalence.}, } @article {pmid31788212, year = {2019}, author = {McIlroy, SE and Cunning, R and Baker, AC and Coffroth, MA}, title = {Competition and succession among coral endosymbionts.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {22}, pages = {12767-12778}, pmid = {31788212}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Host species often support a genetically diverse guild of symbionts, the identity and performance of which can determine holobiont fitness under particular environmental conditions. These symbiont communities are structured by a complex set of potential interactions, both positive and negative, between the host and symbionts and among symbionts. In reef-building corals, stable associations with specific symbiont species are common, and we hypothesize that this is partly due to ecological mechanisms, such as succession and competition, which drive patterns of symbiont winnowing in the initial colonization of new generations of coral recruits. We tested this hypothesis using the experimental framework of the de Wit replacement series and found that competitive interactions occurred among symbionts which were characterized by unique ecological strategies. Aposymbiotic octocoral recruits within high- and low-light environments were inoculated with one of three Symbiodiniaceae species as monocultures or with cross-paired mixtures, and we tracked symbiont uptake using quantitative genetic assays. Priority effects, in which early colonizers excluded competitive dominants, were evidenced under low light, but these early opportunistic species were later succeeded by competitive dominants. Under high light, a more consistent competitive hierarchy was established in which competitive dominants outgrew and limited the abundance of others. These findings provide insight into mechanisms of microbial community organization and symbiosis breakdown and recovery. Furthermore, transitions in competitive outcomes across spatial and temporal environmental variation may improve lifetime host fitness.}, } @article {pmid31786411, year = {2020}, author = {Bastías, DA and Johnson, LJ and Card, SD}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria of plant-associated fungi: friends or foes?.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2019.10.010}, pmid = {31786411}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Fungi ; Genotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria form symbiotic associations with plant-associated fungi. The effects of these symbionts on host fitness usually depend on symbiont or host genotypes and environmental conditions. However, bacterial endosymbionts, that is those living within fungal cells, may positively regulate host performance as their survival is often heavily dependent on host fitness. Contrary to this, bacteria that establish ectosymbiotic associations with fungi, that is those located on the hyphal surface or in close vicinity to fungal mycelia, may not have an apparent net effect on fungal performance due to the low level of fitness dependency on their host. Our analysis supports the hypothesis that endosymbiotic bacteria of fungi are beneficial symbionts, and that effects of ectosymbiotic bacteria on fungal performance depends on the bacterial type involved in the interaction (e.g. helper versus pathogen of fungi). Ecological scenarios, where the presence of beneficial bacterial endosymbionts of fungi could be compromised, are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid31785853, year = {2019}, author = {António, N}, title = {Combining mesenchymal stem cell therapy and exercise training in myocardial infarction: The perfect symbiosis?.}, journal = {Revista portuguesa de cardiologia}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {657-659}, doi = {10.1016/j.repc.2019.10.003}, pmid = {31785853}, issn = {2174-2049}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Heart Ventricles ; *Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; *Myocardial Infarction ; Rats ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid31785205, year = {2020}, author = {Ullah, MS and Kamimura, T and Gotoh, T}, title = {Effects of Temperature on Demographic Parameters of Bryobia praetiosa (Acari: Tetranychidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {113}, number = {1}, pages = {211-221}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toz294}, pmid = {31785205}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Fertility ; Oviposition ; Reproduction ; Temperature ; *Tetranychidae ; }, abstract = {The clover mite, Bryobia praetiosa Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is an agricultural pest, as well as a frequent invader of hospitals and homes. However, its adaptability to different temperatures is not well understood. We used age- and stage-specific life tables to investigate the effects of temperature on demographic parameters of B. praetiosa from 15 to 35°C under a long-day photoperiod (16:8 [L:D] h). The clover mite is a thelytokous species (consisting of only females) due to its infection with the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. The egg-to-adult development time of female B. praetiosa decreased as the temperature increased from 15 to 32.5°C. At 35°C, females laid eggs, but no eggs hatched. The lower thermal threshold (t0) and the thermal constant (K) for egg-to-adult females were 8.7°C and 274.1 degree-days, respectively. The intrinsic optimum temperature (TØ) was 22.4°C. The oviposition period decreased with increasing temperature. Fecundity was highest at 20°C and extremely low at 30°C. The net reproductive rate (R0) decreased as the temperature increased from 15 to 30°C, but no significant difference was observed between 15 and 20°C. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) varied from 0.0721/d at 15°C to 0.1679/d at 25°C, and then decreased to 0.1203/d at 30°C. These results should be useful in developing management strategies for B. praetiosa.}, } @article {pmid31783694, year = {2019}, author = {Li, PH and Lu, WC and Chan, YJ and Zhao, YP and Nie, XB and Jiang, CX and Ji, YX}, title = {Feasibility of Using Seaweed (Gracilaria coronopifolia) Synbiotic as a Bioactive Material for Intestinal Health.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31783694}, issn = {2304-8158}, abstract = {The market contains only limited health care products that combine prebiotics and probiotics. In this study, we developed a seaweed-based Gracilaria coronopifolia synbiotic and verified the efficacy by small intestinal cells (Caco-2). We also developed a functional material that promotes intestinal health and prevents intestinal inflammation. G. coronopifolia was used as a red seaweed prebiotic, and Bifidobacterium bifidums, B. longum subsp. infantis, B. longum subsp. longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were mixed for the seaweed's synbiotics. G. coronopifolia synbiotics were nontoxic to Caco-2 cells, and the survival rate was 101% to 117% for a multiplicative effect on cell survival. After cells were induced by H2O2, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased to 151.5%, but after G. coronopifolia synbiotic treatment, decreased to a range between 101.8% and 109.6%. After cells were induced by tumor necrosis factor α, the ROS levels increased to 124.5%, but decreased to 57.7% with G. coronopifolia symbiotic treatment. G. coronopifolia synbiotics could effectively inhibit the production of ROS intestinal cells under oxidative stress (induced by H2O2 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)), which can reduce the damage of cells under oxidative stress. Functioning of intestinal cells could be improved by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factor substances (interleukin 8) with G. coronopifolia symbiotic treatment. Also, gastrointestinal diseases may be retarded by a synbiotic developed from G. coronopifolia to promote intestinal health and prevent intestinal inflammation.}, } @article {pmid31782953, year = {2020}, author = {Zeng, W and Liu, B and Zhong, J and Li, Q and Li, Z}, title = {A Natural High-Sugar Diet Has Different Effects on the Prokaryotic Community Structures of Lower and Higher Termites (Blattaria).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {21-32}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvz130}, pmid = {31782953}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cockroaches ; Diet ; Isoptera/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sugars ; }, abstract = {The lignocellulosic digestive symbiosis in termites is a dynamic survival adaptation system. While the contribution of hereditary and habitat factors to the development of the symbiotic bacterial community of termites had been confirmed, the manner in which these factors affect functional synergism among different bacterial lineages has still not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the 16S rRNA gene libraries of Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Termitidae) and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) sampled from sugarcane fields (high sugar) or pine tree forests (no free sugar) were sequenced. The results verify that the prokaryotic community structures of termites could be significantly reshaped by native dietary isolation within a species. Although the most dominant phyla are convergent in all samples, their relative abundances in these two termite species exhibited a reverse variation pattern when the termite hosts were fed on the high-sugar diet. Furthermore, we showed that the taxonomic composition of the dominant phyla at the family or genus level differentiate depending on the diet and the host phylogeny. We hypothesize that the flexible bacterial assemblages at low taxonomic level might exert variable functional collaboration to accommodate to high-sugar diet. In addition, the functional predictions of Tax4Fun suggest a stable metabolic functional structure of the microbial communities of the termites in both different diet habitats and taxonomy. We propose that the symbiotic bacterial community in different host termites developed a different functional synergistic pattern, which may be essential to maintain the stability of the overall metabolic function for the survival of termites.}, } @article {pmid31782853, year = {2020}, author = {Maillet, F and Fournier, J and Mendis, HC and Tadege, M and Wen, J and Ratet, P and Mysore, KS and Gough, C and Jones, KM}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti succinylated high-molecular-weight succinoglycan and the Medicago truncatula LysM receptor-like kinase MtLYK10 participate independently in symbiotic infection.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {102}, number = {2}, pages = {311-326}, pmid = {31782853}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Molecular Weight ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on legume hosts is a finely tuned process involving many components of both symbiotic partners. Production of the exopolysaccharide succinoglycan by the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 is needed for an effective symbiosis with Medicago spp., and the succinyl modification to this polysaccharide is critical. However, it is not known when succinoglycan intervenes in the symbiotic process, and it is not known whether the plant lysin-motif receptor-like kinase MtLYK10 intervenes in recognition of succinoglycan, as might be inferred from work on the Lotus japonicus MtLYK10 ortholog, LjEPR3. We studied the symbiotic infection phenotypes of S. meliloti mutants deficient in succinoglycan production or producing modified succinoglycan, in wild-type Medicago truncatula plants and in Mtlyk10 mutant plants. On wild-type plants, S. meliloti strains producing no succinoglycan or only unsuccinylated succinoglycan still induced nodule primordia and epidermal infections, but further progression of the symbiotic process was blocked. These S. meliloti mutants induced a more severe infection phenotype on Mtlyk10 mutant plants. Nodulation by succinoglycan-defective strains was achieved by in trans rescue with a Nod factor-deficient S. meliloti mutant. While the Nod factor-deficient strain was always more abundant inside nodules, the succinoglycan-deficient strain was more efficient than the strain producing only unsuccinylated succinoglycan. Together, these data show that succinylated succinoglycan is essential for infection thread formation in M. truncatula, and that MtLYK10 plays an important, but different role in this symbiotic process. These data also suggest that succinoglycan is more important than Nod factors for bacterial survival inside nodules.}, } @article {pmid31782749, year = {2019}, author = {Quagliariello, A and Di Paola, M and De Fanti, S and Gnecchi-Ruscone, GA and Martinez-Priego, L and Pérez-Villaroya, D and Sherpa, MG and Sherpa, PT and Marinelli, G and Natali, L and Di Marcello, M and Peluzzi, D and Di Cosimo, P and D'Auria, G and Pettener, D and Sazzini, M and Luiselli, D and De Filippo, C}, title = {Gut microbiota composition in Himalayan and Andean populations and its relationship with diet, lifestyle and adaptation to the high-altitude environment.}, journal = {Journal of anthropological sciences = Rivista di antropologia : JASS}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {189-208}, doi = {10.4436/JASS.97007}, pmid = {31782749}, issn = {2037-0644}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Adult ; Altitude ; Biological Evolution ; Bolivia/ethnology ; Diet/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Life Style/*ethnology ; Male ; Mountaineering/*physiology ; Nepal/ethnology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Human populations living at high altitude evolved a number of biological adjustments to cope with a challenging environment characterised especially by reduced oxygen availability and limited nutritional resources. This condition may also affect their gut microbiota composition. Here, we explored the impact of exposure to such selective pressures on human gut microbiota by considering different ethnic groups living at variable degrees of altitude: the high-altitude Sherpa and low-altitude Tamang populations from Nepal, the high-altitude Aymara population from Bolivia, as well as a low-altitude cohort of European ancestry, used as control. We thus observed microbial profiles common to the Sherpa and Aymara, but absent in the low-altitude cohorts, which may contribute to the achievement of adaptation to high-altitude lifestyle and nutritional conditions. The collected evidences suggest that microbial signatures associated to these rural populations may enhance metabolic functions able to supply essential compounds useful for the host to cope with high altitude-related physiological changes and energy demand. Therefore, these results add another valuable piece of the puzzle to the understanding of the beneficial effects of symbiosis between microbes and their human host even from an evolutionary perspective.}, } @article {pmid31781116, year = {2019}, author = {Abdellatif, AM and Jensen Smith, H and Harms, RZ and Sarvetnick, NE}, title = {Human Islet Response to Selected Type 1 Diabetes-Associated Bacteria: A Transcriptome-Based Study.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2623}, pmid = {31781116}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {U01 AI130841/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA036727/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI102012/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; *Bacteroides/genetics ; *Clostridiales/genetics ; Cytokines/immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans/*immunology/microbiology ; Middle Aged ; RNA-Seq ; Transcriptome ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that results from destruction of pancreatic β-cells. T1D subjects were recently shown to harbor distinct intestinal microbiome profiles. Based on these findings, the role of gut bacteria in T1D is being intensively investigated. The mechanism connecting intestinal microbial homeostasis with the development of T1D is unknown. Specific gut bacteria such as Bacteroides dorei (BD) and Ruminococcus gnavus (RG) show markedly increased abundance prior to the development of autoimmunity. One hypothesis is that these bacteria might traverse the damaged gut barrier, and their constituents elicit a response from human islets that causes metabolic abnormalities and inflammation. We have tested this hypothesis by exposing human islets to BD and RG in vitro, after which RNA-Seq analysis was performed. The bacteria altered expression of many islet genes. The commonly upregulated genes by these bacteria were cytokines, chemokines and enzymes, suggesting a significant effect of gut bacteria on islet antimicrobial and biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, each bacteria displayed a unique set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Ingenuity pathway analysis of DEGs revealed that top activated pathways and diseases included TREM1 signaling and inflammatory response, illustrating the ability of bacteria to induce islet inflammation. The increased levels of selected factors were confirmed using immunoblotting and ELISA methods. Our data demonstrate that islets produce a complex anti-bacterial response. The response includes both symbiotic and pathogenic aspects. Both oxidative damage and leukocyte recruitment factors were prominent, which could induce beta cell damage and subsequent autoimmunity.}, } @article {pmid31781076, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, L and Chen, D and Zhang, H and Song, Y and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Funneliformis mosseae Enhances Root Development and Pb Phytostabilization in Robinia pseudoacacia in Pb-Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2591}, pmid = {31781076}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {It is possible that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a pivotal role in root development and Pb phytostabilization in plants grown in Pb-contaminated soil. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted over 4 months to evaluate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae strain BGCXJ01A on root characteristics of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings in Pb-contaminated soil. Four Pb treatments (0, 90, 900, and 3,000 mg kg[-1]) were applied to soil in the presence and absence of F. mosseae. Inoculation with F. mosseae prominently improved root length, surface area, volume, and tip number in the plants across all Pb treatments. The F. mosseae inoculation also increased root diameter and fork number, especially under high Pb treatments. The presence of F. mosseae significantly increased the root activity and root tolerance index. However, there was little difference in specific root length between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. The biomass of roots, stems, and leaves all increased following inoculation with F. mosseae. Inoculated plants had greater accumulation and translocation capacities for Pb in the roots and stems, but lower capacities were found in the leaves when compared with those in non-inoculated plants. These results highlight that F. mosseae can alleviate the toxic effects of Pb on root development and can immobilize Pb in the roots and stems of R. pseudoacacia grown in Pb-contaminated soil. This study provides a model system for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soil via reciprocal symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and woody legumes.}, } @article {pmid31781069, year = {2019}, author = {Garcia-Recinos, L and Burrowes, PA and Dominguez-Bello, M}, title = {The Skin Microbiota of Eleutherodactylus Frogs: Effects of Host Ecology, Phylogeny, and Local Environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2571}, pmid = {31781069}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Amphibian skin microbiota has a potential protective role against diseases. However, the effects of environmental and host factors on symbiotic bacterial communities are not well understood. Caribbean frogs in the genus Eleutherodactylus represent a case of congeneric species that differ in ecological specialization by the process of adaptive radiation. For a small clade of Eleutherodactylus from Puerto Rico, we investigated the role of local environments, host species, and microhabitat in the composition of their skin microbiome. The potential congruence between microbial communities in hosts that are most closely related phylogenetically was also addressed. We hypothesized that the skin microbiota of Eleutherodactylus frogs would be mostly associated to microhabitat use, but also differ according to locality, and to a lesser extent to host species. To test this hypothesis, we swabbed the skin of a total of 98 adult individuals of seven Eleutherodactylus species distributed in two nearby localities in Puerto Rico, and sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Results showed that locality had the greatest effect on determining skin bacterial communities of amphibian hosts, but this effect was stronger on the composition (based on presence/absence) than on its structure (based on sequence abundance). The most ecologically distinct host, E. cooki, and the generalist E. coqui presented, respectively, the most dissimilar and similar microbiota compared to other hosts. Host phylogeny showed a weak influence on skin microbiota. Results suggest that both local environment and ecological specialization are structuring the skin bacterial community in these Eleutherodactylus species, but that characteristics intrinsic to species may also render unique hosts the ability to maintain distinct microbiotas.}, } @article {pmid31781068, year = {2019}, author = {Knapp, DG and Imrefi, I and Boldpurev, E and Csíkos, S and Akhmetova, G and Berek-Nagy, PJ and Otgonsuren, B and Kovács, GM}, title = {Root-Colonizing Endophytic Fungi of the Dominant Grass Stipa krylovii From a Mongolian Steppe Grassland.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2565}, pmid = {31781068}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In several terrestrial ecosystems such as grasslands, plants live together with various root-colonizing dark septate endophytes (DSEs), fungi that are relatively frequent colonizers of healthy belowground tissues of plants in these environments. They are important members of the plant microbiota and may have various effects on plant survival under different stress conditions; however, their general functions in relation to plants and the greater ecosystem remain elusive. Although an increasing number of studies has been published focusing on DSEs in Asian grasslands, our knowledge is limited. Especially in Mongolia, where the steppe region represents a significant area, information is not available on these root colonizers. In this study, we aimed to characterize DSEs of a common dominant gramineous plant species, Stipa krylovii in a semiarid grassland of Mongolia. Root samples were collected in a natural steppe and were processed for isolation of fungal endophytes. For molecular identification of the isolates, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nrDNA was obtained for all the isolates investigated; furthermore, the partial translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) gene and large subunit (LSU) and small subunit (SSU) of rDNA were also amplified and sequenced in case of representative isolates. In vitro tests were used to examine the rough symbiotic nature of the fungi, and root colonization was visualized. A majority of the 135 isolates examined in detail was found to belong to several orders of Ascomycota (110 isolates) and some to Basidiomycota (25 isolates). A significant number of the isolates represented presumably novel taxa, and dominant similarities of the lineages have been found with relatively frequent and known grass root endophytes of semiarid areas in other geographic regions. These endophytes included Periconia macrospinosa, Microdochium bolley, and Darksidea, the genus of which comprised one fourth of the isolates. We found numerous lineages, which have been detected not only from Asian steppe ecosystems, but also from prairies in North America and sandy grasslands in Europe. Therefore, our results strengthen the hypothesized worldwide presence of a common and dominant core group of a DSE community in arid and semiarid grasslands.}, } @article {pmid31781062, year = {2019}, author = {Fukatsu, T}, title = {Grand Challenges to Launching an Ideal Platform for Publishing Microbe-Insect Symbiosis Studies.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2542}, pmid = {31781062}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid31780787, year = {2019}, author = {Pupier, CA and Fine, M and Bednarz, VN and Rottier, C and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Productivity and carbon fluxes depend on species and symbiont density in soft coral symbioses.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {17819}, pmid = {31780787}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes/physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Cycle/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Indian Ocean ; Isotope Labeling ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Soft corals often constitute one of the major benthic groups of coral reefs. Although they have been documented to outcompete reef-building corals following environmental disturbances, their physiological performance and thus their functional importance in reefs are still poorly understood. In particular, the acclimatization to depth of soft corals harboring dinoflagellate symbionts and the metabolic interactions between these two partners have received little attention. We performed stable isotope tracer experiments on two soft coral species (Litophyton sp. and Rhytisma fulvum fulvum) from shallow and upper mesophotic Red Sea coral reefs to quantify the acquisition and allocation of autotrophic carbon within the symbiotic association. Carbon acquisition and respiration measurements distinguish Litophyton sp. as mainly autotrophic and Rhytisma fulvum fulvum as rather heterotrophic species. In both species, carbon acquisition was constant at the two investigated depths. This is a major difference from scleractinian corals, whose carbon acquisition decreases with depth. In addition, carbon acquisition and photosynthate translocation to the host decreased with an increase in symbiont density, suggesting that nutrient provision to octocoral symbionts can quickly become a limiting factor of their productivity. These findings improve our understanding of the biology of soft corals at the organism-scale and further highlight the need to investigate how their nutrition will be affected under changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid31777649, year = {2019}, author = {Ramoneda, J and Le Roux, J and Frossard, E and Bester, C and Oettlé, N and Frey, B and Gamper, HA}, title = {Insights from invasion ecology: Can consideration of eco-evolutionary experience promote benefits from root mutualisms in plant production?.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {plz060}, pmid = {31777649}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Mutualistic plant-microbial functioning relies on co-adapted symbiotic partners as well as conducive environmental conditions. Choosing particular plant genotypes for domestication and subsequent cultivar selection can narrow the gene pools of crop plants to a degree that they are no longer able to benefit from microbial mutualists. Elevated mineral nutrient levels in cultivated soils also reduce the dependence of crops on nutritional support by mutualists such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia. Thus, current ways of crop production are predestined to compromise the propagation and function of microbial symbionts, limiting their long-term benefits for plant yield stability. The influence of mutualists on non-native plant establishment and spread, i.e. biological invasions, provides an unexplored analogue to contemporary crop production that accounts for mutualistic services from symbionts like rhizobia and mycorrhizae. The historical exposure of organisms to biotic interactions over evolutionary timescales, or so-called eco-evolutionary experience (EEE), has been used to explain the success of such invasions. In this paper, we stress that consideration of the EEE concept can shed light on how to overcome the loss of microbial mutualist functions following crop domestication and breeding. We propose specific experimental approaches to utilize the wild ancestors of crops to determine whether crop domestication compromised the benefits derived from root microbial symbioses or not. This can predict the potential for success of mutualistic symbiosis manipulation in modern crops and the maintenance of effective microbial mutualisms over the long term.}, } @article {pmid31777060, year = {2020}, author = {Nibbering, B and Ubags, NDJ}, title = {Microbial interactions in the atopic march.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental immunology}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {12-23}, pmid = {31777060}, issn = {1365-2249}, mesh = {Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Organ Specificity/immunology ; }, abstract = {The human body is populated by a large number of microorganisms and exist in symbiosis with these immensely diverse communities, which are suggested to influence health and disease. The microbiota plays an essential role in the maturation and function of the immune system. The prevalence of atopic diseases has increased drastically over the past decades, and the co-occurrence of multiple allergic diseases and allergic sensitization starting in early life has gained a great deal of attention. Immune responses in different organs affected by allergic diseases (e.g. skin, intestine and lung) may be linked to microbial changes in peripheral tissues. In the current review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of microbial interactions in allergic diseases and their potential role in the atopic march.}, } @article {pmid31776248, year = {2019}, author = {Zheng, H and Perreau, J and Powell, JE and Han, B and Zhang, Z and Kwong, WK and Tringe, SG and Moran, NA}, title = {Division of labor in honey bee gut microbiota for plant polysaccharide digestion.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {51}, pages = {25909-25916}, pmid = {31776248}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Bees/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bifidobacterium/genetics/metabolism ; *Digestion ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Lactobacillus/genetics ; Metagenome ; Microbiota ; Neisseriaceae/genetics ; Plants/*chemistry ; Pollen/chemistry ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bees acquire carbohydrates from nectar and lipids; and amino acids from pollen, which also contains polysaccharides including cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. These potential energy sources could be degraded and fermented through microbial enzymatic activity, resulting in short chain fatty acids available to hosts. However, the contributions of individual microbiota members to polysaccharide digestion have remained unclear. Through analysis of bacterial isolate genomes and a metagenome of the honey bee gut microbiota, we identify that Bifidobacterium and Gilliamella are the principal degraders of hemicellulose and pectin. Both Bifidobacterium and Gilliamella show extensive strain-level diversity in gene repertoires linked to polysaccharide digestion. Strains from honey bees possess more such genes than strains from bumble bees. In Bifidobacterium, genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes are colocated within loci devoted to polysaccharide utilization, as in Bacteroides from the human gut. Carbohydrate-active enzyme-encoding gene expressions are up-regulated in response to particular hemicelluloses both in vitro and in vivo. Metabolomic analyses document that bees experimentally colonized by different strains generate distinctive gut metabolomic profiles, with enrichment for specific monosaccharides, corresponding to predictions from genomic data. The other 3 core gut species clusters (Snodgrassella and 2 Lactobacillus clusters) possess few or no genes for polysaccharide digestion. Together, these findings indicate that strain composition within individual hosts determines the metabolic capabilities and potentially affects host nutrition. Furthermore, the niche specialization revealed by our study may promote overall community stability in the gut microbiomes of bees.}, } @article {pmid31774995, year = {2019}, author = {Konduru, L}, title = {Access Clinic: A student-run clinic model to address gaps in the healthcare needs of the homeless population in Adelaide.}, journal = {Australian journal of general practice}, volume = {48}, number = {12}, pages = {890-892}, doi = {10.31128/AJGP-07-19-5025}, pmid = {31774995}, issn = {2208-7958}, mesh = {*General Practice ; *Health Services Accessibility ; *Health Services Needs and Demand ; *Ill-Housed Persons ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Preventive Medicine ; Referral and Consultation ; South Australia ; *Student Run Clinic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The average life expectancy of people who are homeless is approximately 20 years lower than the general population. Lack of access to healthcare is one of the key contributors to the increased morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to describe a student-run clinic that was established at a homeless shelter in Adelaide, Australia, to improve healthcare access for individuals who are homeless.

DISCUSSION: By enhancing the target population's health literacy, the clinic functioned as a bridge between healthcare services and individuals experiencing homelessness who were disengaged from society. Such clinics, if encouraged, can foster a symbiotic relationship where students learn clinical medicine while gaining experience in providing healthcare to vulnerable individuals, and individuals who are homeless can access much-needed services in an environment they already engage with and feel safe in.}, } @article {pmid31772223, year = {2019}, author = {Kamm, K and Osigus, HJ and Stadler, PF and DeSalle, R and Schierwater, B}, title = {Genome analyses of a placozoan rickettsial endosymbiont show a combination of mutualistic and parasitic traits.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {17561}, pmid = {31772223}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Placozoa/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Rickettsia/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between eukaryotic hosts and bacteria range from parasitism to mutualism and may deeply influence both partners' fitness. The presence of intracellular bacteria in the metazoan phylum Placozoa has been reported several times, but without any knowledge about the nature of this relationship and possible implications for the placozoan holobiont. This information may be of crucial significance since little is known about placozoan ecology and how different species adapt to different environmental conditions, despite being almost invariable at the morphological level. We here report on the novel genome of the rickettsial endosymbiont of Trichoplax sp. H2 (strain "Panama"). The combination of eliminated and retained metabolic pathways of the bacterium indicates a potential for a mutualistic as well as for a parasitic relationship, whose outcome could depend on the environmental context. In particular we show that the endosymbiont is dependent on the host for growth and reproduction and that the latter could benefit from a supply with essential amino acids and important cofactors. These findings call for further studies to clarify the actual benefit for the placozoan host and to investigate a possible role of the endosymbiont for ecological separation between placozoan species.}, } @article {pmid31771134, year = {2019}, author = {Kang, JY and Kwon, YS and Jeong, G and An, I and Park, S}, title = {Characteristics of Microbial Communities of Pachygrontha antennata (Hemiptera: Pachygronthidae) in Relation to Habitat Variables.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {31771134}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Ecosystem ; Forests ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The microbial community interacts with the environment and the health and immune function of its host both directly and indirectly. However, very few studies about microbial communities have considered habitat and external environmental variables. This study examined environmental influences on the microbial community of Pachygrontha antennata, which is found in various habitats (e.g., urban, forested, and agricultural areas). The results demonstrated that the composition of the microbial community differed according to land use, while the bacterial diversity did not. In urban areas with high environmental heterogeneity, microbial community diversity tended to be high. Furthermore, bacteria in forests and agricultural areas (e.g., Paraburkholderia, Burkholderia) have been found to be highly correlated with habitat variables. Therefore, we suggest that habitat variables should be considered in future symbiotic studies.}, } @article {pmid31769430, year = {2019}, author = {Zhao, G and Cardenas, H and Matei, D}, title = {Ovarian Cancer-Why Lipids Matter.}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31769430}, issn = {2072-6694}, support = {R01CA224275/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {This review highlights recent advances in the understanding of the relevance of altered lipid metabolic pathways contributing to the poor prognosis of high grade serous ovarian cancer, as they relate to cancer metastasis and cancer stemness. Increased lipid uptake regulated by the receptor CD36 and the transport protein FABP4 has been implicated in ovarian cancer metastasis. The symbiotic relationship between ovarian cancer cells and adipocytes was shown to be important for sustaining widespread peritoneal and omental metastasis. Increased lipogenesis dependent on the fatty acid desaturase SCD1 was detected in ovarian cancer stem cells. Furthermore, response to therapy, specifically to platinum, was linked to increased fatty acid biogenesis, while the survival of drug tolerant cells was shown to depend on lipid peroxidation. These recent findings suggest that lipids are necessary elements supporting oncogenic signaling and the energetic needs of rapidly proliferating cancer cells. New strategies targeting key enzymes involved in lipid uptake or utilization in cancer cells have been shown to exert anti-tumor effects and are being developed as cancer interventions in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy.}, } @article {pmid31769156, year = {2020}, author = {Kipp, MA and Stüeken, EE and Gehringer, MM and Sterelny, K and Scott, JK and Forster, PI and Strömberg, CAE and Buick, R}, title = {Exploring cycad foliage as an archive of the isotopic composition of atmospheric nitrogen.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {152-166}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12374}, pmid = {31769156}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; *Cycadopsida ; Fossils ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Molecular nitrogen (N2) constitutes the majority of Earth's modern atmosphere, contributing ~0.79 bar of partial pressure (pN2). However, fluctuations in pN2 may have occurred on 10[7] -10[9] year timescales in Earth's past, perhaps altering the isotopic composition of atmospheric nitrogen. Here, we explore an archive that may record the isotopic composition of atmospheric N2 in deep time: the foliage of cycads. Cycads are ancient gymnosperms that host symbiotic N2 -fixing cyanobacteria in modified root structures known as coralloid roots. All extant species of cycads are known to host symbionts, suggesting that this N2 -fixing capacity is perhaps ancestral, reaching back to the early history of cycads in the late Paleozoic. Therefore, if the process of microbial N2 fixation records the δ[15] N value of atmospheric N2 in cycad foliage, the fossil record of cycads may provide an archive of atmospheric δ[15] N values. To explore this potential proxy, we conducted a survey of wild cycads growing in a range of modern environments to determine whether cycad foliage reliably records the isotopic composition of atmospheric N2 . We find that neither biological nor environmental factors significantly influence the δ[15] N values of cycad foliage, suggesting that they provide a reasonably robust record of the δ[15] N of atmospheric N2 . Application of this proxy to the record of carbonaceous cycad fossils may not only help to constrain changes in atmospheric nitrogen isotope ratios since the late Paleozoic, but also could shed light on the antiquity of the N2 -fixing symbiosis between cycads and cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid31769028, year = {2020}, author = {Santander, C and Ruiz, A and García, S and Aroca, R and Cumming, J and Cornejo, P}, title = {Efficiency of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inocula to improve saline stress tolerance in lettuce plants by changes of antioxidant defense mechanisms.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {100}, number = {4}, pages = {1577-1587}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.10166}, pmid = {31769028}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/*physiology ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Catalase/genetics/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lettuce/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Salt Tolerance ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish symbioses with most agricultural plants and improves growth under soil stress conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the functional contribution of 2 AM fungal inocula (a native consortium isolated from saline soils of the Atacama Desert, 'HMC', and a reference inoculum Claroideoglomus claroideum, 'Cc') on the growth and antioxidant compounds of two cultivars of lettuce (Lactuca sativa cvs. 'Grand Rapids' and 'Lollo Bionda') at increasing salt stress conditions (0, 40, and 80 mmol L[-1] NaCl). At 60 days of plant growth, the symbiotic development, biomass production, lipid peroxidation, proline content, antioxidant enzymes, phenolic compound profiles and antioxidant activity were evaluated.

RESULTS: The 2 AM inocula differentially colonized the roots of Grand Rapids and Lollo Bionda lettuce plants. The AM symbioses increased proline synthesis and superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities and diminished phenolic compound synthesis and oxidative damage in lettuce, which was related positively to a higher growth of inoculated plants under salt exposure. The higher concentration of phenolic compounds induced by salinity in non-inoculated plants was associated with high oxidative stress and low fresh biomass production.

CONCLUSION: Modulation of salinity stress in lettuce by AM root colonization is a result of changes of antioxidant enzymatic systems that reduce oxidative damage and sustain growth. The application of AM fungi to improve crop production by means of directed inoculation with efficient AM fungal strains may enhance lettuce production on soils plagued with salinity worldwide. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid31768517, year = {2020}, author = {Sarath, E and Ezaki, K and Sasaki, T and Maekawa, Y and Sawada, Y and Hirai, MY and Soejima, A and Tsukaya, H}, title = {Morphological characterization of domatium development in Callicarpa saccata.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {125}, number = {3}, pages = {521-532}, pmid = {31768517}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Callicarpa ; Plant Leaves ; Symbiosis ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Domatia are plant structures within which organisms reside. Callicarpa saccata (Lamiaceae) is the sole myrmecophyte, or 'ant plant', that develops foliar (leaf-borne) myrmeco-domatia in this genus. In this work we examined domatium development in C. saccata to understand the developmental processes behind pouch-like domatia.

METHODS: Scanning electron microscopy, sectioning and microcomputed tomography were carried out to compare the leaves of C. saccata with those of the closely related but domatia-less myrmecophyte Callicarpa subaequalis, both under cultivation without ants.

KEY RESULTS: Callicarpa saccata domatia are formed as a result of excess cell proliferation at the blade/petiole junctions of leaf primordia. Blade/petiole junctions are important meristematic sites in simple leaf organogenesis. We also found that the mesophyll tissue of domatia does not clearly differentiate into palisade and spongy layers.

CONCLUSIONS: Rather than curling of the leaf margins, a perturbation of the normal functioning of the blade/petiole junction results in the formation of domatium tissue. Excess cell proliferation warps the shape of the blade and disturbs the development of the proximal-distal axis. This process leads to the generation of distinct structures that facilitate interaction between C. saccata and ants.}, } @article {pmid31768303, year = {2019}, author = {Sulima, AS and Zhukov, VA and Kulaeva, OA and Vasileva, EN and Borisov, AY and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {New sources of Sym2[A] allele in the pea (Pisum sativum L.) carry the unique variant of candidate LysM-RLK gene LykX.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e8070}, pmid = {31768303}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {At the onset of legume-rhizobial symbiosis, the mutual recognition of partners occurs based on a complicated interaction between signal molecules and receptors. Bacterial signal molecules named Nod factors ("nodulation factors") are perceived by the plant LysM-containing receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) that recognize details of its structure (i.e., unique substitutions), thus providing the conditions particular to symbiosis. In the garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), the allelic state of Sym2 gene has long been reported to regulate the symbiotic specificity: for infection to be successful, plants with the Sym2 [A] allele (for "Sym2 Afghan", as these genotypes originate mostly from Afghanistan) require an additional acetylation of the Nod factor which is irrelevant for genotypes with the Sym2 [E] allele (for "Sym2 European"). Despite being described about 90 years ago, Sym2 has not yet been cloned, though phenotypic analysis suggests it probably encodes a receptor for the Nod factor. Recently, we described a novel pea gene LykX (PsLykX) from the LysM-RLK gene family that demonstrates a perfect correlation between its allelic state and the symbiotic specificity of the Sym2 [A]-type. Here we report on a series of Middle-Eastern pea genotypes exhibiting the phenotype of narrow symbiotic specificity discovered in the VIR plant genetic resources gene bank (Saint-Petersburg, Russia). These genotypes are new sources of Sym2 [A], as has been confirmed by an allelism test with Sym2 [A] pea cv. Afghanistan. Within these genotypes, LykX is present either in the allelic state characteristic for cv. Afghanistan, or in another, minor allelic state found in two genotypes from Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Plants carrying the second allele demonstrate the same block of rhizobial infection as cv. Afghanistan when inoculated with an incompatible strain. Intriguingly, this "Tajik" allele of LykX differs from the "European" one by a single nucleotide polymorphism leading to an R75P change in the receptor part of the putative protein. Thus, our new data are in agreement with the hypothesis concerning the identity of LykX and the elusive Sym2 gene.}, } @article {pmid31767155, year = {2020}, author = {Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Flores-Félix, JD and Velázquez, E and Peix, Á}, title = {The Mimosoid tree Leucaena leucocephala can be nodulated by the symbiovar genistearum of Bradyrhizobium canariense.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {126041}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126041}, pmid = {31767155}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Fabaceae ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Portugal ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leucaena leucocephala is a Mimosoid legume tree indigenous to America that has spread to other continents, although it is not still present in some European countries such as Portugal. Nevertheless, we found that this legume can be nodulated in this country by slow-growing rhizobial strains which were identified as Bradyrhizobium canariense trough the analysis of the core genes recA and glnII. The analysis of the symbiotic gene nodC showed that these strains belong to the symbiovar genistearum, which commonly nodulates Genistoid legumes. Although two strains nodulating L. leucocephala in China and Brazil were classified within the genus Bradyrhizobium, they belong to undescribed species and to the symbiovars glycinearum and tropici, respectively. Therefore, we report here for the first time the ability of L. leucocephala to establish symbiosis with strains of B. canariense sv genistearum confirming the high promiscuity of L. leucocephala, that allows it to establish symbiosis with rhizobia native to different continents increasing its invasiveness potential.}, } @article {pmid31765971, year = {2019}, author = {Radek, R and Meuser, K and Altinay, S and Lo, N and Brune, A}, title = {Novel Lineages of Oxymonad Flagellates from the Termite Porotermes adamsoni (Stolotermitidae): the Genera Oxynympha and Termitimonas.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {170}, number = {6}, pages = {125683}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2019.125683}, pmid = {31765971}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Animals ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Oxymonadida/*classification/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic gut flagellates of lower termites form host-specific consortia composed of Parabasalia and Oxymonadida. The analysis of their coevolution with termites is hampered by a lack of information, particularly on the flagellates colonizing the basal host lineages. To date, there are no reports on the presence of oxymonads in termites of the family Stolotermitidae. We discovered three novel, deep-branching lineages of oxymonads in a member of this family, the damp-wood termite Porotermes adamsoni. One tiny species (6-10μm), Termitimonas travisi, morphologically resembles members of the genus Monocercomonoides, but its SSU rRNA genes are highly dissimilar to recently published sequences of Polymastigidae from cockroaches and vertebrates. A second small species (9-13μm), Oxynympha loricata, has a slight phylogenetic affinity to members of the Saccinobaculidae, which are found exclusively in wood-feeding cockroaches of the genus Cryptocercus, the closest relatives of termites, but shows a combination of morphological features that is unprecedented in any oxymonad family. The third, very rare species is larger and possesses a contractile axostyle; it represents a phylogenetic sister group to the Oxymonadidae. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the diversity of oxymonads in termite guts and the evolutionary history of symbiotic digestion.}, } @article {pmid31765943, year = {2020}, author = {Bednarz, VN and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {218}, number = {}, pages = {105360}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.105360}, pmid = {31765943}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Indian Ocean ; Organic Chemicals/*toxicity ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a major pollutant in coastal marine environments affected by anthropogenic impacts, and may significantly contribute to coral bleaching and subsequent mortality on coastal reefs. DOC can cause bleaching indirectly through the rapid proliferation of copiotrophic and pathogenic bacteria. Here we demonstrate that labile DOC compounds can also impair the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis by directly affecting coral physiology on both the host and algal symbiont level. In a controlled aquarium experiment, we monitored over several weeks key physiological parameters of the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata exposed to ambient and elevated labile DOC levels (0.1 and 1.0 mM) in combination with low and high nitrogen (i.e. ammonium) conditions (0.2 and 4.0 μM). At the symbiont level, DOC exposure under low ammonium availability decreased the photosynthetic efficiency accompanied by ∼75 % Chl a and ∼50 % symbiont cell reduction. The photosynthetic functioning of the symbionts recovered once the DOC enrichment ceased indicating a reversible shift between autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism. At the host level, the assimilation of exogenous DOC sustained the tissue carbon reserves, but induced a depletion of the nitrogen reserves, indicated by ∼35 % decreased protein levels. This suggests an imbalanced exogenous carbon to nitrogen supply with nitrogen potentially limiting host metabolism on the long-term. We also demonstrate that increased ammonium availability delayed DOC-induced bleaching likely by keeping symbionts in a photosynthetically competent state, which is crucial for symbiosis maintenance and coral survival. Overall, the present study provides further insights into how coastal pollution can de-stabilize the coral-algal symbiosis and cause coral bleaching. Therefore, reducing coastal pollution and sustaining ecological integrity are critical to strengthen the resilience of coral reefs facing climate change.}, } @article {pmid31763076, year = {2019}, author = {Rassati, D and Marini, L and Malacrinò, A}, title = {Acquisition of fungi from the environment modifies ambrosia beetle mycobiome during invasion.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e8103}, pmid = {31763076}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Microbial symbionts can play critical roles when their host attempts to colonize a new habitat. The lack of symbiont adaptation can in fact hinder the invasion process of their host. This scenario could change if the exotic species are able to acquire microorganisms from the invaded environment. Understanding the ecological factors that influence the take-up of new microorganisms is thus essential to clarify the mechanisms behind biological invasions. In this study, we tested whether different forest habitats influence the structure of the fungal communities associated with ambrosia beetles. We collected individuals of the most widespread exotic (Xylosandrus germanus) and native (Xyleborinus saxesenii) ambrosia beetle species in Europe in several old-growth and restored forests. We characterized the fungal communities associated with both species via metabarcoding. We showed that forest habitat shaped the community of fungi associated with both species, but the effect was stronger for the exotic X. germanus. Our results support the hypothesis that the direct contact with the mycobiome of the invaded environment might lead an exotic species to acquire native fungi. This process is likely favored by the occurrence of a bottleneck effect at the mycobiome level and/or the disruption of the mechanisms sustaining co-evolved insect-fungi symbiosis. Our study contributes to the understanding of the factors affecting insect-microbes interactions, helping to clarify the mechanisms behind biological invasions.}, } @article {pmid31763075, year = {2019}, author = {Solomon, GM and Dodangoda, H and McCarthy-Walker, T and Ntim-Gyakari, R and Newell, PD}, title = {The microbiota of Drosophila suzukii influences the larval development of Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e8097}, pmid = {31763075}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Microorganisms play a central role in the biology of vinegar flies such as Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila melanogaster: serving as a food source to both adults and larvae, and influencing a range of traits including nutrition, behavior, and development. The niches utilized by the fly species partially overlap, as do the microbiota that sustain them, and interactions among these players may drive the development of crop diseases. To learn more about how the microbiota of one species may affect the other, we isolated and identified microbes from field-caught D. suzukii, and then characterized their effects on D. melanogaster larval development time in the laboratory. We found that the D. suzukii microbiota consistently included both yeasts and bacteria. It was dominated by yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora, and bacteria from the families Acetobacteraceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Raising D. melanogaster under gnotobiotic conditions with each microbial isolate individually, we found that some bacteria promoted larval development relative to axenic conditions, but most did not have a significant effect. In contrast, nearly all the yeasts tested significantly accelerated larval development. The one exception was Starmerella bacillaris, which had the opposite effect: significantly slowing larval developmental rate. We investigated the basis for this effect by examining whether S. bacillaris cells could sustain larval growth, and measuring the survival of S. bacillaris and other yeasts in the larval gut. Our results suggest S. bacillaris is not digested by D. melanogaster and therefore cannot serve as a source of nutrition. These findings have interesting implications for possible interactions between the two Drosophilia species and their microbiota in nature. Overall, we found that microbes isolated from D. suzukii promote D. melanogaster larval development, which is consistent with the model that infestation of fruit by D. suzukii can open up habitat for D. melanogaster. We propose that the microbiome is an important dimension of the ecological interactions between Drosophila species.}, } @article {pmid31760169, year = {2019}, author = {Brunoro, GVF and Menna-Barreto, RFS and Garcia-Gomes, AS and Boucinha, C and Lima, DB and Carvalho, PC and Teixeira-Ferreira, A and Trugilho, MRO and Perales, J and Schwämmle, V and Catanho, M and de Vasconcelos, ATR and Motta, MCM and d'Avila-Levy, CM and Valente, RH}, title = {Quantitative Proteomic Map of the Trypanosomatid Strigomonas culicis: The Biological Contribution of its Endosymbiotic Bacterium.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {170}, number = {6}, pages = {125698}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2019.125698}, pmid = {31760169}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Proteome/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trypanosomatina/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Strigomonas culicis is a kinetoplastid parasite of insects that maintains a mutualistic association with an intracellular symbiotic bacterium, which is highly integrated into the protist metabolism: it furnishes essential compounds and divides in synchrony with the eukaryotic nucleus. The protist, conversely, can be cured of the endosymbiont, producing an aposymbiotic cell line, which presents a diminished ability to colonize the insect host. This obligatory association can represent an intermediate step of the evolution towards the formation of an organelle, therefore representing an interesting model to understand the symbiogenesis theory. Here, we used shotgun proteomics to compare the S. culicis endosymbiont-containing and aposymbiotic strains, revealing a total of 11,305 peptides, and up to 2,213 proteins (2,029 and 1,452 for wild type and aposymbiotic, respectively). Gene ontology associated to comparative analysis between both strains revealed that the biological processes most affected by the elimination of the symbiont were the amino acid synthesis, as well as protein synthesis and folding. This large-scale comparison of the protein expression in S. culicis marks a step forward in the comprehension of the role of endosymbiotic bacteria in monoxenous trypanosomatid biology, particularly because trypanosomatids expression is mostly post-transcriptionally regulated.}, } @article {pmid31759337, year = {2020}, author = {Potkay, A and Ten Veldhuis, MC and Fan, Y and Mattos, CRC and Ananyev, G and Dismukes, GC}, title = {Water and vapor transport in algal-fungal lichen: Modeling constrained by laboratory experiments, an application for Flavoparmelia caperata.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {945-964}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13690}, pmid = {31759337}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Dehydration ; Models, Biological ; Parmeliaceae/*metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Algal-fungal symbionts share water, nutrients, and gases via an architecture unique to lichens. Because lichen activity is controlled by moisture dynamics, understanding water transport is prerequisite to understand their fundamental biology. We propose a model of water distributions within foliose lichens governed by laws of fluid motion. Our model differentiates between water stored in symbionts, on extracellular surfaces, and in distinct morphological layers. We parameterize our model with hydraulic properties inverted from laboratory measurements of Flavoparmelia caperata and validate for wetting and drying. We ask: (1) Where is the bottleneck to water transport? (2) How do hydration and dehydration dynamics differ? and (3) What causes these differences? Resistance to vapor flow is concentrated at thallus surfaces and acts as the bottleneck for equilibrium, while internal resistances are small. The model captures hysteresis in hydration and desiccation, which are shown to be controlled by nonlinearities in hydraulic capacitance. Muting existing nonlinearities slowed drying and accelerated wetting, while exaggerating nonlinearities accelerated drying and slowed wetting. The hydraulic nonlinearity of F. caperata is considerable, which may reflect its preference for humid and stable environments. The model establishes the physical foundation for future investigations of transport of water, gas, and sugar between symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31758847, year = {2020}, author = {Missbah El Idrissi, M and Lamin, H and ElFaik, S and Tortosa, G and Peix, A and Bedmar, EJ and Abdelmoumen, H}, title = {Microvirga sp. symbiovar mediterranense nodulates Lupinus cosentinii grown wild in Morocco.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {128}, number = {4}, pages = {1109-1118}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14526}, pmid = {31758847}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Lupinus/classification/*microbiology ; Methylobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIM: To analyse the diversity of nodule-forming bacteria isolated from Lupinus cosentinii naturally grown in the Maamora cork oak forest (Rabat, Morocco).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the 31 bacterial strains, four were selected based on their REP-PCR fingerprinting that were studied by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of their 16S rRNA, gyrB, dnaK, recA and rpoB housekeeping genes as well as the nodC symbiotic gene. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the four representative strains showed that they are related to Tunisian strains of genus Microvirga isolated from L. micranthus with nucleotide identity values ranging from 98·67 to 97·13%. The single and concatenated sequences of the 16S rRNA, gyrB, dnaK, recA and rpoB housekeeping genes indicated that the L. cosentinii-isolated strains had 99·2-99·9% similarities with the Tunisian L. micranthus microsymbionts. The nodC gene phylogeny revealed that the Moroccan strains clustered in the newly described mediterranense symbiovar, and nodulation tests showed that they nodulated not only L. cosentinii but also L. angustifolius, L. luteus and L. albus.

CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the isolation, molecular identification and phylogenetic diversity of L. cosentinii nodule-forming endosymbionts and of their description as members of the Microvirga genus.

In this work, we show that Microvirga sp. can be isolated from root nodules of wild-grown L. cosentinii in Northeast Africa, that selected strains also nodulate L. angustifolius, L. luteus and L. albus, and that they belong to symbiovar mediterranense. In addition, our data support that the ability of Microvirga to nodulate lupines could be related to the soil pH, its geographical distribution being more widespread than expected.}, } @article {pmid31758616, year = {2019}, author = {Zytynska, SE}, title = {Cohabitation and roommate bias of symbiotic bacteria in insect hosts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {24}, pages = {5199-5202}, pmid = {31758616}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {BB/S010556/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/microbiology ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Fungi/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wasps/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between insects and bacteria have long fascinated ecologists. Aphids have emerged as the model system on which to study the effect of endosymbiotic bacteria on their hosts. Aphid-symbiont interactions are ecologically interesting as aphids host multiple secondary symbionts that can provide broad benefits, such as protection against heat stress or specialist natural enemies (parasitic wasps and entomopathogenic fungi). There are nine common aphid secondary symbionts and individual aphids host on average 1-2 symbionts. A cost-benefit trade-off for hosting symbionts is thought to explain why not all aphids host every possible symbiont in a population. Both positive and negative associations between various symbionts occur, and this could happen due to increased costs when cohosting certain combinations or as a consequence of competitive interactions between the symbionts within a host. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Mathé-Hubert, Kaech, Hertaeg, Jaenike, and Vorburger (2019) use data on the symbiont status of field-collected aphids to inform a model on the evolution of symbiont co-occurrence. They vary the effective female population size as well as the rate of horizontal and maternal transmission to infer the relative impact of symbiont-symbiont interactions versus random drift. Additional data analysis revisits an association between two symbionts in a fruit fly species using a long-term data set to highlight that such interactions are not limited to aphids.}, } @article {pmid31757823, year = {2020}, author = {Klinsoda, J and Vötterl, J and Zebeli, Q and Metzler-Zebeli, BU}, title = {Alterations of the Viable Ileal Microbiota of the Gut Mucosa-Lymph Node Axis in Pigs Fed Phytase and Lactic Acid-Treated Cereals.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31757823}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {6-Phytase/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Edible Grain/chemistry ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Ileum/*microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Lactic Acid/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Lymph Nodes/microbiology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Sus scrofa/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut-lymph node axis is a critical player in the symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and the host. However, little is known about the impact of diet-related bacterial shifts in the gut lumen on bacterial translocation into lymph nodes. Here, we (i) characterized changes in the viable microbiota composition along the ileal digesta-mucosa-lymph node axis and (ii) examined the effect of dietary phytase supplementation and lactic acid (LA) soaking of cereals on the bacterial taxonomy along this axis, together with their effect on the mucosal expression of innate immune and barrier function genes in pigs (n = 8/diet). After 18 days on diets, ileal digesta, mucosa, and ileocecal lymph nodes (ICLNs) were collected for RNA isolation and 16S rRNA-based high-resolution community profiling. Bacterial communities were dominated by Lactobacillaceae and Clostridiaceae, with clearly distinguishable profiles at the three sampling sites. Specific bacterial subsampling was indicated by enrichment of the ICLNs with Lactobacillaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Veillonellaceae, and Methanobacteriaceae and less Clostridiaceae, Pasteurellaceae, Helicobacteraceae, and Enterobacteriaceae compared to that of the mucosa. LA treatment of cereals reduced proteolytic taxa in the lumen, including pathobionts like Helicobacteraceae, Campylobacteraceae, and Fusobacteriaceae When combined, phytase- and LA-treated cereals largely increased species richness, while the single treatments reduced Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes in ICLNs and increased mucosal MUC2 expression. In contrast, phytase reduced mucosal CDH1 expression, indicating altered barrier function with potential effects on bacterial translocation. Overall, both treatments, although often differently, changed the viable microbiome along the digesta-mucosa-lymph node axis in the ileum, probably due to altered substrate availability and microbial-host interactions.IMPORTANCE A host's diet largely determines the gut microbial composition and therefore may influence bacterial translocation into ICLNs. Due to its importance for cell metabolism, the intestinal phosphorus availability, which was modified here by phytase and LA treatment of cereals, affects the intestinal microbiota. Previous studies mainly focused on bacteria in the lumen. The novelty of this work resides mainly in that we report diet-microbe effects along the digesta-mucosa-ICLN axis and linked those effects to mucosal expression of barrier function genes as crucial components for host health. Lymph nodes can serve as reservoir of pathobionts; therefore, present diet-microbiome-host interactions have implications for food safety.}, } @article {pmid31756978, year = {2019}, author = {Herrera, H and Soto, J and de Bashan, LE and Sampedro, I and Arriagada, C}, title = {Root-Associated Fungal Communities in Two Populations of the Fully Mycoheterotrophic Plant Arachnitis uniflora Phil. (Corsiaceae) in Southern Chile.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31756978}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The microbiological interactions of the roots of non-photosynthetic plants in South America have been scarcely explored. This study analyzes culturable fungal diversity associated with the mycoheterotrophic plant Arachnitis uniflora Phil. (Corsiaceae) in southern Chile, growing in two different understoreys of native (Nothofagus-dominated) and mixed forest (native, Cupressus sempervirens, and Pinus radiata). Rhizospheric and endophytic fungi were isolated, cultured, and purified to identify microorganisms associated with A. uniflora roots. We showed the different fungi associated with the plant, and that these distributions are influenced by the sampling site. We isolated 410 fungal strains (144 endophytic and 266 from the rhizosphere). We identified 13 operative taxonomical units from plants sampled in the mixed forest, while 15 were from the native forest. Rhizospheric microorganisms were mainly related to Penicillium spp., whereas some pathogenic and saprophytic strains were more frequent inside the roots. Our results have also shown that the fungal strains are weak for phosphate solubilization, but other pathways such as organic acid exudation and indole acetic acid production can be considered as major mechanisms to stimulate plant growth. Our results point to new fungal associates of A. uniflora plants reported in Andean ecosystems, identifying new beneficial endophytic fungi associated with roots of this fully mycoheterotrophic plant.}, } @article {pmid31754637, year = {2019}, author = {Patel, BN and Rosenberg, L and Willcox, G and Baltaxe, D and Lyons, M and Irvin, J and Rajpurkar, P and Amrhein, T and Gupta, R and Halabi, S and Langlotz, C and Lo, E and Mammarappallil, J and Mariano, AJ and Riley, G and Seekins, J and Shen, L and Zucker, E and Lungren, M}, title = {Human-machine partnership with artificial intelligence for chest radiograph diagnosis.}, journal = {NPJ digital medicine}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {111}, pmid = {31754637}, issn = {2398-6352}, abstract = {Human-in-the-loop (HITL) AI may enable an ideal symbiosis of human experts and AI models, harnessing the advantages of both while at the same time overcoming their respective limitations. The purpose of this study was to investigate a novel collective intelligence technology designed to amplify the diagnostic accuracy of networked human groups by forming real-time systems modeled on biological swarms. Using small groups of radiologists, the swarm-based technology was applied to the diagnosis of pneumonia on chest radiographs and compared against human experts alone, as well as two state-of-the-art deep learning AI models. Our work demonstrates that both the swarm-based technology and deep-learning technology achieved superior diagnostic accuracy than the human experts alone. Our work further demonstrates that when used in combination, the swarm-based technology and deep-learning technology outperformed either method alone. The superior diagnostic accuracy of the combined HITL AI solution compared to radiologists and AI alone has broad implications for the surging clinical AI deployment and implementation strategies in future practice.}, } @article {pmid31754154, year = {2019}, author = {Ranjan, A and Singh, RK and Khare, S and Tripathi, R and Pandey, RK and Singh, AK and Gautam, V and Tripathi, JS and Singh, SK}, title = {Characterization and evaluation of mycosterol secreted from endophytic strain of Gymnema sylvestre for inhibition of α-glucosidase activity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {17302}, pmid = {31754154}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biological Assay ; DNA, Fungal/isolation & purification ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy ; Endophytes/genetics/*metabolism ; Fusarium/genetics/*metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Gymnema sylvestre/*microbiology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sterols/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; alpha-Glucosidases/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi produce various types of chemicals for establishment of niche within the host plant. Due to symbiotic association, they secrete pharmaceutically important bioactive compounds and enzyme inhibitors. In this research article, we have explored the potent α-glucosidse inhibitor (AGI) produced from Fusarium equiseti recovered from the leaf of Gymnema sylvestre through bioassay-guided fraction. This study investigated the biodiversity, phylogeny, antioxidant activity and α-glucosidse inhibition of endophytic fungi isolated from Gymnema sylvestre. A total of 32 isolates obtained were grouped into 16 genera, according to their morphology of colony and spores. A high biodiversity of endophytic fungi were observed in G. sylvestre with diversity indices. Endophytic fungal strain Fusarium equiseti was identified through DNA sequencing and the sequence was deposited in GenBank database (https://ncbi.nim.nih.gov) with acession number: MF403109. The characterization of potent compound was done by FTIR, LC-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic analysis with IUPAC name 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a] phenanthren-3-ol. The isolated bioactive compound showed significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activity with IC50 values, 4.22 ± 0.0005 µg/mL and 69.72 ± 0.001 µg/mL while IC50 values of acarbose was 5.75 ± 0.007 and 55.29 ± 0.0005 µg/mL respectively. This result is higher in comparison to other previous study. The enzyme kinetics study revealed that bioactive compound was competitive inhibitor for α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In-silico study showed that bioactive compound binds to the binding site of α-amylase, similar to that of acarbose but with higher affinity. The study highlights the importance of endophytic fungi as an alternative source of AGI (α-glucosidase inhibition) to control the diabetic condition in vitro.}, } @article {pmid31754003, year = {2019}, author = {Soyano, T and Shimoda, Y and Kawaguchi, M and Hayashi, M}, title = {A shared gene drives lateral root development and root nodule symbiosis pathways in Lotus.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {366}, number = {6468}, pages = {1021-1023}, doi = {10.1126/science.aax2153}, pmid = {31754003}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Mutation ; Organogenesis, Plant ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes develop root nodules in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Rhizobia evoke cell division of differentiated cortical cells into root nodule primordia for accommodating bacterial symbionts. In this study, we show that NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), a transcription factor in Lotus japonicus that is essential for initiating cortical cell divisions during nodulation, regulates the gene ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 2-LIKE 18/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN 16a (ASL18/LBD16a). Orthologs of ASL18/LBD16a in nonlegume plants are required for lateral root development. Coexpression of ASL18a and the CCAAT box-binding protein Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) subunits, which are also directly targeted by NIN, partially suppressed the nodulation-defective phenotype of L. japonicus daphne mutants, in which cortical expression of NIN was attenuated. Our results demonstrate that ASL18a and NF-Y together regulate nodule organogenesis. Thus, a lateral root developmental pathway is incorporated downstream of NIN to drive nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31753537, year = {2020}, author = {Monteil, CL and Lefevre, CT}, title = {Magnetoreception in Microorganisms.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {266-275}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2019.10.012}, pmid = {31753537}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Biomineralization/physiology ; Eukaryota/chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Magnetic Phenomena ; *Magnetics ; Magnetosomes/chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Prokaryotic Cells/classification/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Magnetoreception is the sense whereby organisms geolocate and navigate in response to the Earth's magnetic field lines. For decades, magnetotactic bacteria have been the only known magnetoreceptive microorganisms. The magnetotactic behaviour of these aquatic prokaryotes is due to the biomineralization of magnetic crystals. While an old report alleged the existence of microbial algae with similar behaviour, recent discoveries have demonstrated the existence of unicellular eukaryotes able to sense the geomagnetic field, and have revealed different mechanisms and strategies involved in such a sensing. Some ciliates can be magnetically guided after predation of magnetotactic bacteria, while some flagellates acquired this sense through symbiosis with magnetic bacteria. A report has even suggested that some magnetotactic protists could biomineralize magnetic crystals.}, } @article {pmid31751146, year = {2020}, author = {Xiang, Q and Wang, J and Qin, P and Adil, B and Xu, K and Gu, Y and Yu, X and Zhao, K and Zhang, X and Ma, M and Chen, Q and Chen, X and Yan, Y}, title = {Effect of common bean seed exudates on growth, lipopolysaccharide production, and lipopolysaccharide transport gene expression of Rhizobium anhuiense.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {186-193}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2019-0413}, pmid = {31751146}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Exudates/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Rhizobium/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Seeds/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is essential for successful nodulation during the symbiosis of rhizobia and legumes. However, the detailed mechanism of the LPS in this process has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, the effects of common bean seed exudates on the growth, lipopolysaccharide production, and lipopolysaccharide transport genes expression (lpt) of Rhizobium anhuiense were investigated. Rhizobium anhuiense exposed to exudates showed changes in LPS electrophoretic profiles and content, whereby the LPS band was wider and the LPS content was higher in R. anhuiense treated with seed exudates. Exudates enhanced cell growth of R. anhuiense in a concentration-dependent manner; R. anhuiense exposed to higher doses of the exudate showed faster growth. Seven lpt genes of R. anhuiense were amplified and sequenced. Sequences of six lpt genes, except for lptE, were the same as those found in previously analyzed R. anhuiense strains, while lptE shared low sequence similarity with other strains. Exposure to the exudates strongly stimulated the expression of all lpt genes. Approximately 6.7- (lptG) to 301-fold (lptE) increases in the transcriptional levels were observed after only 15 min of exposure to exudates. These results indicate that seed exudates affect the LPS by making the cell wall structure more conducive to symbiotic nodulation.}, } @article {pmid31751122, year = {2019}, author = {Losoi, PS and Santala, VP and Santala, SM}, title = {Enhanced Population Control in a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium by Interconnected Carbon Cross-Feeding.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {2642-2650}, doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.9b00316}, pmid = {31751122}, issn = {2161-5063}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/drug effects/*growth & development ; Carbon/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/*growth & development ; Glucose/pharmacology ; Metabolic Engineering ; Microbial Consortia/drug effects ; *Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Engineered microbial consortia can provide several advantages over monocultures in terms of utilization of mixed substrates, resistance to perturbations, and division of labor in complex tasks. However, maintaining stability, reproducibility, and control over population levels in variable conditions can be challenging in multispecies cultures. In our study, we modeled and constructed a synthetic symbiotic consortium with a genetically encoded carbon cross-feeding system. The system is based on strains of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1, both engineered to be incapable of growing on glucose on their own. In a culture supplemented with glucose as the sole carbon source, growth of the two strains is afforded by the exchange of gluconate and acetate, resulting in inherent control over carbon availability and population balance. We investigated the system robustness in terms of stability and population control under different inoculation ratios, substrate concentrations, and cultivation scales, both experimentally and by modeling. To illustrate how the system might facilitate division of genetic circuits among synthetic microbial consortia, a green fluorescent protein sensitive to pH and a slowly maturing red fluorescent protein were expressed in the consortium as measures of a circuit's susceptibility to external and internal variability, respectively. The symbiotic consortium maintained stable and linear growth and circuit performance regardless of the initial substrate concentration or inoculation ratio. The developed cross-feeding system provides simple and reliable means for population control without expression of non-native elements or external inducer addition, being potentially exploitable in consortia applications involving precisely defined cell tasks or division of labor.}, } @article {pmid31750894, year = {2019}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Duarte, EH}, title = {Titer regulation in arthropod-Wolbachia symbioses.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {23}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz232}, pmid = {31750894}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; Bacterial Load ; Environment ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between intracellular bacteria (endosymbionts) and animals are widespread. The alphaproteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis is known to maintain a variety of symbiotic associations, ranging from mutualism to parasitism, with a wide range of invertebrates. Wolbachia infection might deeply affect host fitness (e.g. reproductive manipulation and antiviral protection), which is thought to explain its high prevalence in nature. Bacterial loads significantly influence both the infection dynamics and the extent of bacteria-induced host phenotypes. Hence, fine regulation of bacterial titers is considered as a milestone in host-endosymbiont interplay. Here, we review both environmental and biological factors modulating Wolbachia titers in arthropods.}, } @article {pmid31749821, year = {2019}, author = {Menéndez, AB and Calzadilla, PI and Sansberro, PA and Espasandin, FD and Gazquez, A and Bordenave, CD and Maiale, SJ and Rodríguez, AA and Maguire, VG and Campestre, MP and Garriz, A and Rossi, FR and Romero, FM and Solmi, L and Salloum, MS and Monteoliva, MI and Debat, JH and Ruiz, OA}, title = {Polyamines and Legumes: Joint Stories of Stress, Nitrogen Fixation and Environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1415}, pmid = {31749821}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Polyamines (PAs) are natural aliphatic amines involved in many physiological processes in almost all living organisms, including responses to abiotic stresses and microbial interactions. On other hand, the family Leguminosae constitutes an economically and ecologically key botanical group for humans, being also regarded as the most important protein source for livestock. This review presents the profuse evidence that relates changes in PAs levels during responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in model and cultivable species within Leguminosae and examines the unreviewed information regarding their potential roles in the functioning of symbiotic interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizae in this family. As linking plant physiological behavior with "big data" available in "omics" is an essential step to improve our understanding of legumes responses to global change, we also examined integrative MultiOmics approaches available to decrypt the interface legumes-PAs-abiotic and biotic stress interactions. These approaches are expected to accelerate the identification of stress tolerant phenotypes and the design of new biotechnological strategies to increase their yield and adaptation to marginal environments, making better use of available plant genetic resources.}, } @article {pmid31749816, year = {2019}, author = {Friel, CA and Friesen, ML}, title = {Legumes Modulate Allocation to Rhizobial Nitrogen Fixation in Response to Factorial Light and Nitrogen Manipulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1316}, pmid = {31749816}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The costs and benefits that define gain from trade in resource mutualisms depend on resource availability. Optimal partitioning theory predicts that allocation to direct uptake versus trade will be determined by both the relative benefit of the resource acquired through trade and the relative cost of the resource being traded away. While the costs and benefits of carbon:nitrogen exchange in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis have been examined in depth with regards to mineral nitrogen availability, the effects of varying carbon costs are rarely considered. Using a growth chamber experiment, we measured plant growth and symbiosis investment in the model legume Medicago truncatula and its symbiont Ensifer medicae across varying nitrogen and light environments. We demonstrate that plants modulate their allocation to roots and nodules as their return on investment varies according to external nitrogen and carbon availabilities. We find empirical evidence that plant allocation to nodules responds to carbon availability, but that this depends upon the nitrogen environment. In particular, at low nitrogen-where rhizobia provided the majority of nitrogen for plant growth-relative nodule allocation increased when carbon limitation was alleviated with high light levels. Legumes' context-dependent modulation of resource allocation to rhizobia thus prevents this interaction from becoming parasitic even in low-light, high-nitrogen environments where carbon is costly and nitrogen is readily available.}, } @article {pmid31749774, year = {2019}, author = {Egamberdieva, D and Li, L and Ma, H and Wirth, S and Bellingrath-Kimura, SD}, title = {Soil Amendment With Different Maize Biochars Improves Chickpea Growth Under Different Moisture Levels by Improving Symbiotic Performance With Mesorhizobium ciceri and Soil Biochemical Properties to Varying Degrees.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2423}, pmid = {31749774}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume originating in the Mediterranean and the Middle East and is now cultivated in several varieties throughout the world due to its high protein and fiber content as well as its potential health benefits. However, production is drastically affected by prevalent water stress in most soybean-growing regions. This study investigates the potential of biochar to affect chickpea-Rhizobium symbiotic performance and soil biological activity in a pot experiment. Two different biochar types were produced from maize using different pyrolysis techniques, i.e., by heating at 600°C (MBC) and by batch-wise hydrothermal carbonization at 210°C (HTC), and used as soil amendments. The plant biomass, plant nutrient concentration, nodule numbers, leghemoglobin (Lb) content, soil enzyme activities, and nutrient contents of the grown chickpeas were examined. Our results indicated that plant root and shoot biomass, the acquisition of N, P, K, and Mg, soil nutrient contents, soil alkaline and acid phosphomonoesterases, and proteases were significantly increased by HTC char application in comparison to MBC char under both well-watered and drought conditions. Furthermore, the application of both biochar types caused an increase in nodule number by 52% in well-watered and drought conditions by improving the symbiotic performance of chickpea with Mesorhizobium ciceri. Rhizobial inoculation combined with HTC char showed a positive effect on soil FDA activity, proteases and alkaline phosphomonoesterases under well-watered and drought conditions compared to the control or MBC char-amended soils. This concept, whereby the type of producing biochar plays a central role in the effect of the biochar, conforms to the fact that there is a link between biochar chemical and physical properties and enhanced plant nutrient acquisition, symbiotic performance and stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid31749773, year = {2019}, author = {Chien, HL and Huang, WZ and Tsai, MY and Cheng, CH and Liu, CT}, title = {Overexpression of the Chromosome Partitioning Gene parA in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 Alters the Bacteroid Morphotype in Sesbania rostrata Stem Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2422}, pmid = {31749773}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 is a diazotroph that forms N2-fixing nodules on the roots and stems of the tropical legume Sesbania rostrata. Deletion of the parA gene of this bacterium results in cell cycle defects, pleiomorphic cell shape, and formation of immature stem nodules on its host plant. In this study, we constructed a parA overexpression mutant (PnptII-parA) to complement a previous study and provide new insights into bacteroid formation. We found that overproduction of ParA did not affect growth, cell morphology, chromosome partitioning, or vegetative nitrogen fixation in the free-living state. Under symbiosis, however, distinctive features, such as a single swollen bacteroid in one symbiosome, relatively narrow symbiosome space, and polyploid cells were observed. The morphotype of the PnptII-parA bacteroid is reminiscent of terminal differentiation in some IRLC indeterminate nodules, but S. rostrata is not thought to produce the NCR peptides that induce terminal differentiation in rhizobia. In addition, the transcript patterns of many symbiosis-related genes elicited by PnptII-parA were different from those elicited by the wild type. Accordingly, we propose that the particular symbiosome formation in PnptII-parA stem-nodules is due to cell cycle disruption caused by excess ParA protein in the symbiotic cells during nodulation.}, } @article {pmid31749767, year = {2019}, author = {Slaughter, LC and Nelson, JA and Carlisle, AE and Bourguignon, M and Dinkins, RD and Phillips, TD and McCulley, RL}, title = {Tall Fescue and E. coenophiala Genetics Influence Root-Associated Soil Fungi in a Temperate Grassland.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2380}, pmid = {31749767}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A constitutive, host-specific symbiosis exists between the aboveground fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala (Morgan-Jones & W. Gams) and the cool-season grass tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.), which is a common forage grass in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and temperate European grasslands. New cultivars of tall fescue are continually developed to improve pasture productivity and animal health by manipulating both grass and E. coenophiala genetics, yet how these selected grass-endophyte combinations impact other microbial symbionts such as mycorrhizal and dark septate fungi remains unclear. Without better characterizing how genetically distinct grass-endophyte combinations interact with belowground microorganisms, we cannot determine how adoption of new E. coenophiala-symbiotic cultivars in pasture systems will influence long-term soil characteristics and ecosystem function. Here, we examined how E. coenophiala presence and host × endophyte genetic combinations control root colonization by belowground symbiotic fungi and associated plant nutrient concentrations and soil properties in a 2-year manipulative field experiment. We used four vegetative clone pairs of tall fescue that consisted of one endophyte-free (E-) and one E. coenophiala-symbiotic (E+) clone each, where E+ clones within each pair contained one of four endophyte genotypes: CTE14, CTE45, NTE16, or NTE19. After 2 years of growth in field plots, we measured root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE), extraradical AMF hyphae in soil, total C, N, and P in root and shoot samples, as well as C and N in associated soils. Although we observed no effects of E. coenophiala presence or symbiotic genotype on total AMF or DSE colonization rates in roots, different grass-endophyte combinations altered AMF arbuscule presence and extraradical hyphal length in soil. The CTE45 genotype hosted the fewest AMF arbuscules regardless of endophyte presence, and E+ clones within NTE19 supported significantly greater soil extraradical hyphae compared to E- clones. Because AMF are often associated with improved soil physical characteristics and C sequestration, our results suggest that development and use of unique grass-endophyte combinations may cause divergent effects on long-term ecosystem properties.}, } @article {pmid31749494, year = {2019}, author = {Bis-Souza, CV and Pateiro, M and Domínguez, R and Lorenzo, JM and Penna, ALB and da Silva Barretto, AC}, title = {Volatile profile of fermented sausages with commercial probiotic strains and fructooligosaccharides.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {56}, number = {12}, pages = {5465-5473}, pmid = {31749494}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {The effect of the partial substitution of pork back fat by fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and the probiotic strains Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhmanosus on the generation of volatile organic compounds in fermented sausages was investigated. The results obtained showed that these factors significantly affected the total content of organic volatile compounds (7484, 8114, 8372 and 10,737 AU × 10[4]/g for FOS.GG, CON, FOS.BGP1 and FOS samples, respectively). A total of 59 volatile components, mainly hydrocarbons, ketones and esters were isolated. The reduction of fat content by including FOS in the formulation results in positive effects and a greater stability of the volatile profile of the fermented sausages, increasing ester compounds and reducing the undesirable notes of hexanal (probiotic samples showed values < 2 AU × 10[4]/g). Moreover, there was a symbiotic effect when the aforementioned prebiotic fiber was combined with probiotic Lactobacillus strains.}, } @article {pmid31748328, year = {2020}, author = {Traubenik, S and Reynoso, MA and Hobecker, K and Lancia, M and Hummel, M and Rosen, B and Town, C and Bailey-Serres, J and Blanco, F and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Reprogramming of Root Cells during Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis Involves Dynamic Polysome Association of Coding and Noncoding RNAs.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {352-373}, pmid = {31748328}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {S10 OD016290/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cellular Reprogramming/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; Polyribosomes/*metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Translational control is a widespread mechanism that allows the cell to rapidly modulate gene expression in order to provide flexibility and adaptability to eukaryotic organisms. We applied translating ribosome affinity purification combined with RNA sequencing to characterize translational regulation of mRNAs at early stages of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis established between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti Our analysis revealed a poor correlation between transcriptional and translational changes and identified hundreds of regulated protein-coding and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), some of which are regulated in specific cell types. We demonstrated that a short variant of the lncRNA Trans-acting small interference RNA3 (TAS3) increased its association to the translational machinery in response to rhizobia. Functional analysis revealed that this short variant of TAS3 might act as a target mimic that captures microRNA390, contributing to reduce trans acting small interference Auxin Response Factor production and modulating nodule formation and rhizobial infection. The analysis of alternative transcript variants identified a translationally upregulated mRNA encoding subunit 3 of the SUPERKILLER complex (SKI3), which participates in mRNA decay. Knockdown of SKI3 decreased nodule initiation and development, as well as the survival of bacteria within nodules. Our results highlight the importance of translational control and mRNA decay pathways for the successful establishment of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31747724, year = {2020}, author = {Knobloch, S and Jóhannsson, R and Marteinsson, VÞ}, title = {Genome analysis of sponge symbiont 'Candidatus Halichondribacter symbioticus' shows genomic adaptation to a host-dependent lifestyle.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {483-498}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14869}, pmid = {31747724}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {607786)//EC Marie Curie Actions ITN Project BluePharmTrain/International ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization/genetics ; Animals ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Life Style ; Metagenome/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Rhodobacteraceae/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The marine sponge Halichondria panicea inhabits coastal areas around the globe and is a widely studied sponge species in terms of its biology, yet the ecological functions of its dominant bacterial symbiont 'Candidatus Halichondribacter symbioticus' remain unknown. Here, we present the draft genome of 'Ca. H. symbioticus' HS1 (2.8 Mbp, ca. 87.6% genome coverage) recovered from the sponge metagenome of H. panicea in order to study functions and symbiotic interactions at the genome level. Functional genome comparison of HS1 against closely related free-living seawater bacteria revealed a reduction of genes associated with carbohydrate transport and transcription regulation, pointing towards a limited carbohydrate metabolism, and static transcriptional dynamics reminiscent of other bacterial symbionts. In addition, HS1 was enriched in sponge symbiont specific gene families related to host-symbiont interactions and defence. Similarity in the functional gene repertoire between HS1 and a phylogenetically more distant symbiont in the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba, based on COG category distribution, suggest a convergent evolution of symbiont specific traits and general metabolic features. This warrants further investigation into convergent genomic evolution of symbionts across different sponge species and habitats.}, } @article {pmid31745930, year = {2020}, author = {García, JM and Pozo, MJ and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Histochemical and Molecular Quantification of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Symbiosis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2083}, number = {}, pages = {293-299}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9952-1_22}, pmid = {31745930}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Biomarkers ; Carotenoids/chemistry/metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Histocytochemistry/methods ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are one of the most widespread and studied plant associations with beneficial microorganisms. Indeed, more than 80% of land plants, including most agricultural and horticultural crop species, are able to establish this mutualistic symbiosis with AM fungi. Through this association the fungus helps the plant in the acquisition of water and mineral nutrients, especially under stress conditions. AM symbiosis affects other ecologically and economically important traits such as plant architecture, flowering, and fruit quality but also tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. As a consequence, AM fungi have a great potential as biofertilizers and bioprotection agents in sustainable agriculture. However, in order to take advantage of all these benefits, a good and functional symbiosis is required. Here we present methods for reliable quantification of colonization levels which should be useful not only for research but also from the agronomic point of view.}, } @article {pmid31744913, year = {2019}, author = {Almeida, GMF and Laanto, E and Ashrafi, R and Sundberg, LR}, title = {Bacteriophage Adherence to Mucus Mediates Preventive Protection against Pathogenic Bacteria.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31744913}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity/*virology ; Bacteriophages/*physiology ; Fish Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control/therapy ; Flavobacterium/pathogenicity/virology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mucous Membrane/*microbiology/*virology ; Mucus/metabolism/*virology ; Phage Therapy ; Protein Binding ; Viral Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Metazoans were proposed to host bacteriophages on their mucosal surfaces in a symbiotic relationship, where phages provide an external immunity against bacterial infections and the metazoans provide phages a medium for interacting with bacteria. However, scarce empirical evidence and model systems have left the phage-mucus interaction poorly understood. Here, we show that phages bind both to porcine mucus and to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) primary mucus, persist up to 7 days in the mucosa, and provide protection against Flavobacterium columnare Also, exposure to mucus changes the bacterial phenotype by increasing bacterial virulence and susceptibility to phage infections. This trade-off in bacterial virulence reveals ecological benefit of maintaining phages in the metazoan mucosal surfaces. Tests using other phage-bacterium pairs suggest that phage binding to mucus may be widespread in the biosphere, indicating its importance for disease, ecology, and evolution. This phenomenon may have significant potential to be exploited in preventive phage therapy.IMPORTANCE The mucosal surfaces of animals are habitat for microbes, including viruses. Bacteriophages-viruses that infect bacteria-were shown to be able to bind to mucus. This may result in a symbiotic relationship in which phages find bacterial hosts to infect, protecting the mucus-producing animal from bacterial infections in the process. Here, we studied phage binding on mucus and the effect of mucin on phage-bacterium interactions. The significance of our research is in showing that phage adhesion to mucus results in preventive protection against bacterial infections, which will serve as basis for the development of prophylactic phage therapy approaches. Besides, we also reveal that exposure to mucus upregulates bacterial virulence and that this is exploited by phages for infection, adding one additional layer to the metazoan-bacterium-phage biological interactions and ecology. This phenomenon might be widespread in the biosphere and thus crucial for understanding mucosal diseases, their outcome and treatment.}, } @article {pmid31744432, year = {2019}, author = {Shan, HW and Luan, JB and Liu, YQ and Douglas, AE and Liu, SS}, title = {The inherited bacterial symbiont Hamiltonella influences the sex ratio of an insect host.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1915}, pages = {20191677}, pmid = {31744432}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; Reproduction ; *Sex Ratio ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In many intracellular symbioses, the microbial symbionts provide nutrients advantageous to the host. However, the function of Hamiltonella defensa, a symbiotic bacterium localized in specialized host cells (bacteriocytes) of a whitefly Bemisia tabaci, is uncertain. We eliminate this bacterium from its whitefly host by two alternative methods: heat treatment and antibiotics. The sex ratio of the host progeny and subsequent generations of Hamiltonella-free females was skewed from 1 : 1 (male : female) to an excess of males, often exceeding a ratio of 20 : 1. B. tabaci is haplodiploid, with diploid females derived from fertilized eggs and haploid males from unfertilized eggs. The Hamiltonella status of the insect did not affect copulation frequency or sperm reserve in the spermathecae, indicating that the male-biased sex ratio is unlikely due to the limitation of sperm but likely to be associated with events subsequent to sperm transfer to the female insects, such as failure in fertilization. The host reproductive response to Hamiltonella elimination is consistent with two alternative processes: adaptive shift in sex allocation by females and a constitutive compensatory response of the insect to Hamiltonella-mediated manipulation. Our findings suggest that a bacteriocyte symbiont influences the reproductive output of female progeny in a haplodiploid insect.}, } @article {pmid31744076, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, R and Clarke, BB and Belanger, FC}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis of Choke Stroma and Asymptomatic Inflorescence Tissues Reveals Changes in Gene Expression in Both Epichloë festucae and Its Host Plant Festuca rubra subsp. rubra.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31744076}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Many cool-season grasses have symbiotic relationships with Epichloë (Ascomycota, Clavicipitaceae) fungal endophytes that inhabit the intercellular spaces of the above-ground parts of the host plants. The presence of the Epichloë endophytes is generally beneficial to the hosts due to enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses conferred by the endophytes. Many Epichloë spp. are asexual, and those infections always remain asymptomatic. However, some Epichloë spp. have a sexual stage and produce a macroscopic fruiting body, a stroma, that envelops the developing inflorescence causing a syndrome termed "choke disease". Here, we report a fungal and plant gene expression analysis of choke stroma tissue and asymptomatic inflorescence tissue of Epichloë festucae-infected strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra). Hundreds of fungal genes and over 10% of the plant genes were differentially expressed when comparing the two tissue types. The differentially expressed fungal genes in the choke stroma tissue indicated a change in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as well as a change in expression of numerous genes for candidate effector proteins. Plant stress-related genes were up-regulated in the stroma tissue, suggesting the plant host was responding to the epiphytic stage of E. festucae as a pathogen.}, } @article {pmid31742865, year = {2020}, author = {Geesink, P and Wegner, CE and Probst, AJ and Herrmann, M and Dam, HT and Kaster, AK and Küsel, K}, title = {Genome-inferred spatio-temporal resolution of an uncultivated Roizmanbacterium reveals its ecological preferences in groundwater.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {726-737}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14865}, pmid = {31742865}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {2016 FGI 0024//Thüringer Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Digitale Gesellschaft/International ; CRC 1076//Collaborative Research Centre AquaDiva/International ; ANR-10-INBS-09//France Génomique and French Bioinformatics Institute/International ; ANR-11-INBS-0013//France Génomique and French Bioinformatics Institute/International ; //LABGeM (CEA/Genoscope & CNRS UMR8030)/International ; SAS-2015-HKI-LWC//Leibniz Research Cluster InfectoOptics/International ; //Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen/International ; 41-5507-2016//Strategy and Innovation Grant from the Free State of Thuringia/International ; //Agence Nationale pour la Recherche/International ; //Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; //Friedrich Schiller University Jena/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Carbon ; Groundwater/*microbiology ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Microbiota/genetics/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Subsurface ecosystems like groundwater harbour diverse microbial communities, including small-sized, putatively symbiotic organisms of the Candidate Phyla Radiation, yet little is known about their ecological preferences and potential microbial partners. Here, we investigated a member of the superphylum Microgenomates (Cand. Roizmanbacterium ADI133) from oligotrophic groundwater using mini-metagenomics and monitored its spatio-temporal distribution using 16S rRNA gene analyses. A Roizmanbacteria-specific quantitative PCR assay allowed us to track its abundance over the course of 1 year within eight groundwater wells along a 5.4 km hillslope transect, where Roizmanbacteria reached maximum relative abundances of 2.3%. In-depth genomic analyses suggested that Cand. Roizmanbacterium ADI133 is a lactic acid fermenter, potentially able to utilize a range of complex carbon substrates, including cellulose. We hypothesize that it attaches to host cells using a trimeric autotransporter adhesin and inhibits their cell wall biosynthesis using a toxin-antitoxin system. Network analyses based on correlating Cand. Roizmanbacterium ADI133 abundances with amplicon sequencing-derived microbial community profiles suggested one potential host organism, classified as a member of the class Thermodesulfovibrionia (Nitrospirae). By providing lactate as an electron donor Cand. Roizmanbacterium ADI133 potentially mediates the transfer of carbon to other microorganisms and thereby is an important connector in the microbial community.}, } @article {pmid31742774, year = {2020}, author = {Andongma, AA and Greig, C and Dyson, PJ and Flynn, N and Whitten, MMA}, title = {Optimization of dietary RNA interference delivery to western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and onion thrips Thrips tabaci.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {103}, number = {3}, pages = {e21645}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21645}, pmid = {31742774}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Feeding Behavior ; Insect Control/*methods ; Insect Vectors ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; *Thysanoptera ; }, abstract = {In insect reverse genetics, dietary delivery of interfering RNAs is a practical approach in nonmodel species, such as thrips, whose small size, and feeding behavior restricts the use of other delivery methods. In a laboratory context, an unsuitable diet could confound the interpretation of an RNA interference (RNAi) phenotype, however well-formulated artificial diets can minimize experimental variability, reduce the need for insect handling, and can further be used for roles, such as delivering double-strand RNA (dsRNA)-expressing recombinant bacteria. In this study, artificial diets for oral delivery of dsRNA were developed for two important pest thrips species, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), with the goal of (a) stimulating feeding behavior, (b) supporting optimal growth rates of dsRNA-expressing symbiotic bacteria, and (c) nutritionally supporting the thrips for sufficient periods to observe RNAi phenotypes. The efficacy of artificial diets for ingesting "naked" dsRNA or dsRNA-expressing symbionts and dsRNA delivery via host plant uptake was evaluated. Compared with previously published diet formulations, new combinations based on tryptone, yeast, and soy were superior for enhancing feeding and longevity. However, simply adding "naked" dsRNA to an artificial diet was an unreliable form of RNAi delivery in our hands due to dsRNA degradation. Delivery via host plants was more successful, and the new diet formulation was suitable for symbiont-mediated dsRNA delivery, which we believe is the most convenient approach for large-scale knockdown experiments. This study, therefore, provides alternative methodologies for thrips rearing, dietary RNAi delivery, and insights into the challenges of performing dietary RNAi in nonmodel insects.}, } @article {pmid31741189, year = {2020}, author = {Pankratov, TA and Grouzdev, DS and Patutina, EO and Kolganova, TV and Suzina, NE and Berestovskaya, JJ}, title = {Lichenibacterium ramalinae gen. nov, sp. nov., Lichenibacterium minor sp. nov., the first endophytic, beta-carotene producing bacterial representatives from lichen thalli and the proposal of the new family Lichenibacteriaceae within the order Rhizobiales.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {113}, number = {4}, pages = {477-489}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-019-01357-6}, pmid = {31741189}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; beta Carotene/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {This study of lichens in the subarctic zone of the northern hemisphere has resulted in the detection of new representatives of the order Rhizobiales. The16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny placed the strains as a separate branch inside the Rhizobiales clade. Strain RmlP001[T] exhibits 91.85% similarity to Roseiarcus fermentans strain Pf56[T] and 91.76% to Beijerinckia doebereinerae strain LMG 2819[T], whilst strain RmlP026[T] is closely related to B. doebereinerae strain LMG 2819[T] (91.85%) and Microvirga pakistanensis strain NCCP-1258[T] (91.39%). A whole-genome phylogeny of the strains confirmed their taxonomic positions. The cells of both strains were observed to be Gram-negative, motile rods that multiplied by binary fission. The cells were found to contain poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and polyphosphate, to grow at pH 3.5-8.0 and 10-30 °C, and could not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Their major cellular fatty acid identified was C18:1ω7c (68-71%) and their DNA G + C contents determined to be 70.5-70.8%. Beta-carotene was identified as their major carotenoid pigment; Q-10 was the only ubiquinone detected. Strains RmlP001[T] and RmlP026[T] are distinguishable from related species by the presence of β-carotene, the absence of C1 metabolism and the ability to grow in the presence of 3.5% NaCl. Based on their phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, we propose a novel genus Lichenibacterium and two novel species, Lichenibacterium ramalinae (the type species of the genus) and Lichenibacterium minor, to accommodate these bacteria within the family Lichenibacteriaceae fam. nov. of the order Rhizobiales. The L. ramalinae type strain is RmlP001[T] (= KCTC 72076[T] = VKM B-3263[T]) and the L. minor type strain is RmlP026[T] (= KCTC 72077[T] = VKM B-3277[T]).}, } @article {pmid31740601, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, B and Leonard, SP and Li, Y and Moran, NA}, title = {Obligate bacterial endosymbionts limit thermal tolerance of insect host species.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {49}, pages = {24712-24718}, pmid = {31740601}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology/*physiology ; Buchnera/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Female ; Host Specificity/physiology ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Thermotolerance/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The thermal tolerance of an organism limits its ecological and geographic ranges and is potentially affected by dependence on temperature-sensitive symbiotic partners. Aphid species vary widely in heat sensitivity, but almost all aphids are dependent on the nutrient-provisioning intracellular bacterium Buchnera, which has evolved with aphids for 100 million years and which has a reduced genome potentially limiting heat tolerance. We addressed whether heat sensitivity of Buchnera underlies variation in thermal tolerance among 5 aphid species. We measured how heat exposure of juvenile aphids affects later survival, maturation time, and fecundity. At one extreme, heat exposure of Aphis gossypii enhanced fecundity and had no effect on the Buchnera titer. In contrast, heat suppressed Buchnera populations in Aphis fabae, which suffered elevated mortality, delayed development and reduced fecundity. Likewise, in Acyrthosiphon kondoi and Acyrthosiphon pisum, heat caused rapid declines in Buchnera numbers, as well as reduced survivorship, development rate, and fecundity. Fecundity following heat exposure is severely decreased by a Buchnera mutation that suppresses the transcriptional response of a gene encoding a small heat shock protein. Similarly, absence of this Buchnera heat shock gene may explain the heat sensitivity of Ap. fabae Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed heat-induced deformation and shrinkage of bacteriocytes in heat-sensitive species but not in heat-tolerant species. Sensitive and tolerant species also differed in numbers and transcriptional responses of heat shock genes. These results show that shifts in Buchnera heat sensitivity contribute to host variation in heat tolerance.}, } @article {pmid31739792, year = {2019}, author = {Li, Y and Tassia, MG and Waits, DS and Bogantes, VE and David, KT and Halanych, KM}, title = {Genomic adaptations to chemosymbiosis in the deep-sea seep-dwelling tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {91}, pmid = {31739792}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Genome/*physiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Polychaeta/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships between microbes and their hosts are widespread and diverse, often providing protection or nutrients, and may be either obligate or facultative. However, the genetic mechanisms allowing organisms to maintain host-symbiont associations at the molecular level are still mostly unknown, and in the case of bacterial-animal associations, most genetic studies have focused on adaptations and mechanisms of the bacterial partner. The gutless tubeworms (Siboglinidae, Annelida) are obligate hosts of chemoautotrophic endosymbionts (except for Osedax which houses heterotrophic Oceanospirillales), which rely on the sulfide-oxidizing symbionts for nutrition and growth. Whereas several siboglinid endosymbiont genomes have been characterized, genomes of hosts and their adaptations to this symbiosis remain unexplored.

RESULTS: Here, we present and characterize adaptations of the cold seep-dwelling tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi, one of the longest-lived solitary invertebrates. We sequenced the worm's ~ 688-Mb haploid genome with an overall completeness of ~ 95% and discovered that L. luymesi lacks many genes essential in amino acid biosynthesis, obligating them to products provided by symbionts. Interestingly, the host is known to carry hydrogen sulfide to thiotrophic endosymbionts using hemoglobin. We also found an expansion of hemoglobin B1 genes, many of which possess a free cysteine residue which is hypothesized to function in sulfide binding. Contrary to previous analyses, the sulfide binding mediated by zinc ions is not conserved across tubeworms. Thus, the sulfide-binding mechanisms in sibgolinids need to be further explored, and B1 globins might play a more important role than previously thought. Our comparative analyses also suggest the Toll-like receptor pathway may be essential for tolerance/sensitivity to symbionts and pathogens. Several genes related to the worm's unique life history which are known to play important roles in apoptosis, cell proliferation, and aging were also identified. Last, molecular clock analyses based on phylogenomic data suggest modern siboglinid diversity originated in 267 mya (± 70 my) support previous hypotheses indicating a Late Mesozoic or Cenozoic origins of approximately 50-126 mya for vestimentiferans.

CONCLUSIONS: Here, we elucidate several specific adaptations along various molecular pathways that link phenome to genome to improve understanding of holobiont evolution. Our findings of adaptation in genomic mechanisms to reducing environments likely extend to other chemosynthetic symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid31738754, year = {2019}, author = {Roma, JS and D'Souza, S and Somers, PJ and Cabo, LF and Farsin, R and Aksoy, S and Runyen-Janecky, LJ and Weiss, BL}, title = {Thermal stress responses of Sodalis glossinidius, an indigenous bacterial symbiont of hematophagous tsetse flies.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0007464}, pmid = {31738754}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R15 AI094343/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R15 AI124105/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*growth & development/*physiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Kinetics ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; *Temperature ; Thermotolerance ; Trypanosoma ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) house a taxonomically diverse microbiota that includes environmentally acquired bacteria, maternally transmitted symbiotic bacteria, and pathogenic African trypanosomes. Sodalis glossinidius, which is a facultative symbiont that resides intra and extracellularly within multiple tsetse tissues, has been implicated as a mediator of trypanosome infection establishment in the fly's gut. Tsetse's gut-associated population of Sodalis are subjected to marked temperature fluctuations each time their ectothermic fly host imbibes vertebrate blood. The molecular mechanisms that Sodalis employs to deal with this heat stress are unknown. In this study, we examined the thermal tolerance and heat shock response of Sodalis. When grown on BHI agar plates, the bacterium exhibited the most prolific growth at 25oC, and did not grow at temperatures above 30oC. Growth on BHI agar plates at 31°C was dependent on either the addition of blood to the agar or reduction in oxygen levels. Sodalis was viable in liquid cultures for 24 hours at 30oC, but began to die upon further exposure. The rate of death increased with increased temperature. Similarly, Sodalis was able to survive for 48 hours within tsetse flies housed at 30oC, while a higher temperature (37oC) was lethal. Sodalis' genome contains homologues of the heat shock chaperone protein-encoding genes dnaK, dnaJ, and grpE, and their expression was up-regulated in thermally stressed Sodalis, both in vitro and in vivo within tsetse fly midguts. Arrested growth of E. coli dnaK, dnaJ, or grpE mutants under thermal stress was reversed when the cells were transformed with a low copy plasmid that encoded the Sodalis homologues of these genes. The information contained in this study provides insight into how arthropod vector enteric commensals, many of which mediate their host's ability to transmit pathogens, mitigate heat shock associated with the ingestion of a blood meal.}, } @article {pmid31737022, year = {2019}, author = {Poehlman, WL and Schnabel, EL and Chavan, SA and Frugoli, JA and Feltus, FA}, title = {Identifying Temporally Regulated Root Nodulation Biomarkers Using Time Series Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1409}, pmid = {31737022}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root nodulation results from a symbiotic relationship between a plant host and Rhizobium bacteria. Synchronized gene expression patterns over the course of rhizobial infection result in activation of pathways that are unique but overlapping with the highly conserved pathways that enable mycorrhizal symbiosis. We performed RNA sequencing of 30 Medicago truncatula root maturation zone samples at five distinct time points. These samples included plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium medicae and control plants that did not receive any Rhizobium. Following gene expression quantification, we identified 1,758 differentially expressed genes at various time points. We constructed a gene co-expression network (GCN) from the same data and identified link community modules (LCMs) that were comprised entirely of differentially expressed genes at specific time points post-inoculation. One LCM included genes that were up-regulated at 24 h following inoculation, suggesting an activation of allergen family genes and carbohydrate-binding gene products in response to Rhizobium. We also identified two LCMs that were comprised entirely of genes that were down regulated at 24 and 48 h post-inoculation. The identity of the genes in these modules suggest that down-regulating specific genes at 24 h may result in decreased jasmonic acid production with an increase in cytokinin production. At 48 h, coordinated down-regulation of a specific set of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis may play a role in nodulation. We show that GCN-LCM analysis is an effective method to preliminarily identify polygenic candidate biomarkers of root nodulation and develop hypotheses for future discovery.}, } @article {pmid31737004, year = {2019}, author = {Kudoyarova, G and Arkhipova, T and Korshunova, T and Bakaeva, M and Loginov, O and Dodd, IC}, title = {Phytohormone Mediation of Interactions Between Plants and Non-Symbiotic Growth Promoting Bacteria Under Edaphic Stresses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1368}, pmid = {31737004}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The capacity of rhizoshere bacteria to influence plant hormonal status, by bacterial production or metabolism of hormones, is considered an important mechanism by which they promote plant growth, and productivity. Nevertheless, inoculating these bacteria into the plant rhizosphere may produce beneficial or detrimental results depending on bacterial effects on hormone composition and quantity in planta, and the environmental conditions under which the plants are growing. This review considers some effects of bacterial hormone production or metabolism on root growth and development and shoot physiological processes. We analyze how these changes in root and shoot growth and function help plants adapt to their growth conditions, especially as these change from optimal to stressful. Consistent effects are addressed, along with plant responses to specific environmental stresses: drought, salinity, and soil contamination (with petroleum in particular).}, } @article {pmid31736908, year = {2019}, author = {Sanda, NB and Hou, B and Muhammad, A and Ali, H and Hou, Y}, title = {Exploring the Role of Relish on Antimicrobial Peptide Expressions (AMPs) Upon Nematode-Bacteria Complex Challenge in the Nipa Palm Hispid Beetle, Octodonta nipae Maulik (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2466}, pmid = {31736908}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The humoral immune responses of the nipa palm hispid beetle Octodonta nipae involves the inducible expression of the genes coding for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which are mediated by immune deficiency signaling pathways. In insects, the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factor, Relish, has been shown to regulate AMP gene expressions upon microbial infections. Here, we dissect the expression patterns of some AMPs in O. nipae during infections by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and their symbionts, before and after Relish knock down. Our results indicate that, prior to gene silencing, the AMPs attacin C1, attacin C2, and defensin 2B were especially expressed to great extents in the insects challenged with the nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora as well as with their respective symbionts Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus luminescens. The study also established the partial sequence of OnRelish/NF-κB p110 subunit in O. nipae, with an open reading frame coding for a protein with 102 amino acid residues. A typical Death domain-containing protein was detected (as seen in Drosophila) at the C-terminus of the protein. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that in O. nipae, Relish is clustered with registered Relish/NF-κB p110 proteins from other species of insect especially Leptinotarsa decemlineata from the same order Coleoptera. Injection of OnRelish dsRNA remarkably brought down the expression of OnRelish and also reduced the magnitude of transcription of attacin C1 and defensin 2B upon S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora and their symbionts infections. Altogether, our data unveil the expression pattern of OnRelish as well as that of some AMP genes it influences during immune responses of O. nipae against EPNs and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31735983, year = {2020}, author = {Ibañez, S and Medina, MI and Agostini, E}, title = {Vicia: a green bridge to clean up polluted environments.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {13-21}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-10222-5}, pmid = {31735983}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Crops, Agricultural ; Environmental Pollution/*prevention & control ; Organic Agriculture ; Plant Development ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vicia species, commonly known as vetches, include legume plants which nowadays can be found in many countries around the world. Their use to improve soil health and productivity is crucial in management schemes that make sustainable agriculture possible, but they can also play a part in the phytoremediation of polluted environments. Furthermore, they harbor a large community of rhizospheric microorganisms, such as biodegradative bacteria and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which can help to increase phytoremediation efficiency. Their mutualistic association with Rhizobium sp. has also been proposed as an attractive bioremediation tool. Thus, Vicia species could make a remarkable difference in the ecological restoration of polluted soils, thanks to their dual role as cover crops and phytoremediator plants. This mini-review discusses recent advances in the use of Vicia. Challenges and opportunities connect with the application of these species will also be revised, as well as aspects that remain to be explored.}, } @article {pmid31734921, year = {2020}, author = {Ngom, M and Cissoko, M and Gray, K and Hocher, V and Laplaze, L and Sy, MO and Svistoonoff, S and Champion, A}, title = {Establishment of Actinorhizal Symbiosis in Response to Ethylene, Salicylic Acid, and Jasmonate.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2085}, number = {}, pages = {117-130}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0142-6_9}, pmid = {31734921}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Databases, Genetic ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ethylenes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Frankia/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Oxylipins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Development/drug effects/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phytohormones play a crucial role in regulating plant developmental processes. Among them, ethylene and jasmonate are known to be involved in plant defense responses to a wide range of biotic stresses as their levels increase with pathogen infection. In addition, these two phytohormones have been shown to inhibit plant nodulation in legumes. Here, exogenous salicylic acid (SA), jasmonate acid (JA), and ethephon (ET) were applied to the root system of Casuarina glauca plants before Frankia inoculation, in order to analyze their effects on the establishment of actinorhizal symbiosis. This protocol further describes how to identify putative ortholog genes involved in ethylene and jasmonate biosynthesis and/or signaling pathways in plant, using the Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR), Legume Information System (LIS), and Genevestigator databases. The expression of these genes in response to the bacterium Frankia was analyzed using the gene atlas for Casuarina-Frankia symbiosis (SESAM web site).}, } @article {pmid31734920, year = {2020}, author = {Nair, A and Thulasiram, HV and Bhargava, S}, title = {Role of Jasmonate in Modulation of Mycorrhizae-Induced Resistance Against Fungal Pathogens.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2085}, number = {}, pages = {109-115}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0142-6_8}, pmid = {31734920}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Acetates/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Chromatography, Gas ; Cyclopentanes/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Disease Resistance ; *Fungi ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oxylipins/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic association of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi brings about changes in levels of the phytohormone jasmonate (JA) in root and shoot tissues of a plant. The enhanced JA levels not only play a role in controlling the extent of AM colonization but are also involved in the expression of mycorrhizal-induced resistance (MIR) against pathogens. We describe a method used to study the levels of a volatile jasmonate derivative, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), in tomato plants colonized by AM fungi and in response to subsequent attack by the foliar pathogen Alternaria alternata.}, } @article {pmid31734916, year = {2020}, author = {Basso, V and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {Role of Jasmonates in Beneficial Microbe-Root Interactions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2085}, number = {}, pages = {43-67}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0142-6_4}, pmid = {31734916}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phytohormone jasmonate (JA) modulates various defense and developmental responses of plants, and is implied in the integration of multiple environmental signals. Given its centrality in regulating plant physiology according to external stimuli, JA influences the establishment of interactions between plant roots and beneficial bacteria or fungi. In many cases, moderate JA signaling promotes the onset of mutualism, while massive JA signaling inhibits it. The output also depends on the compatibility between microbe and host plant and on nutritional or environmental cues. Also, JA biosynthesis and perception participate in the systemic regulation of mutualistic interactions and in microbe-induced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Here, we review our current knowledge of the role of JA biosynthesis, signaling, and responses during mutualistic root-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid31734483, year = {2020}, author = {Khan, MS and Koizumi, N and Olds, JL}, title = {Biofixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the context of world staple crop production: Policy perspectives.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {701}, number = {}, pages = {134945}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134945}, pmid = {31734483}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Air Pollution/*analysis/legislation & jurisprudence/statistics & numerical data ; Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Crop Production ; *Crops, Agricultural ; Ecosystem ; *Environmental Policy ; Environmental Pollution ; Fertilizers ; Nitrogen/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The extensive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers implicates a paradox: while fertilizers ensure the supply of a large amount of food, they cause negative environmental externalities, including reduced biodiversity, and eutrophic streams and lakes. Moreover, such fertilizers may also result in a major public health hazard: increased antibiotic resistance. This article discusses the critical implications of perturbations in N cycle caused by excessive use of fertilizers and resulting policy implications as they relate to ecosystem services. While there are solutions such as cover crops, these solutions are expensive and inconvenient for farmers. We advocate the use of biological fixation (BF) for staple crops-microbiome mediated natural supply of fixed N. This would involve engineering a microbiome that can be grown cheaply and at industrial scale. Fertilizers resulting from such innovation are termed as "biofertilizers" in this article. Following a qualitative cost-benefit analysis broken down by key stakeholders and a quick exploration of policy frameworks as they relate to the advancement of biofertilizers, we propose a practical pathway of where and how research investments should be directed to make such a solution feasible. We make five policy recommendations for decision-makers to facilitate a successful trajectory for this solution: (1) Future agricultural science should seek to understand how BF might be employed as a practical and efficient strategy. This effort would require that industry and the government partner to establish a pre-competitive research laboratory equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technologies that conduct metagenomic experiments to reveal signature microbiomes and form novel symbiotic connections. (2) To have a smooth ride in the market, ag-bio companies should: (i) create awareness among farmers; (ii) impart skills to farmers in testing and using biofertilizers, and (iii) conduct extensive field tests and more research in studying the scalability potential of such fertilizers. (3)The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state governments should provide research and development (R&D) tax credits to biotech companies specifically geared towards R&D investments aimed at increasing the viability of BF and microbiome engineering. (4) To control agricultural pollution in the biosphere, federal governments should consider passing a Clean Agriculture Act (CAA), including a specific clause that regulate the use of chemical fertilizers. (5) Governments and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) should coordinate Biological Advanced Research in Agriculture (BARA)-a global agricultural innovation initiative for investments and research in biological fixation and ethical, legal, and social implications of such innovation. While biological fixation will be central in BARA, we envision it to conduct research around other agricultural innovations as well, such as increasing photosynthetic efficiency.}, } @article {pmid31733734, year = {2019}, author = {Kumar, A and Arora, S and Jain, KK and Sharma, KK}, title = {Metabolic coupling in the co-cultured fungal-yeast suite of Trametes ljubarskyi and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa leads to hypersecretion of laccase isozymes.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {12}, pages = {913-926}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.09.013}, pmid = {31733734}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Isoenzymes/*metabolism ; Laccase/*metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Proteomics ; Rhodotorula/cytology/enzymology/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Temperature ; Trametes/cytology/enzymology/*growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Trametes ljubarskyi produces multiple laccase isozymes under various physicochemical conditions. During co-cultivation condition Rhodotorula mucilaginosa showed inter-specific interactions with T. ljubarskyi and hypersecretion of laccases; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is less-known. The analysis of proteomics data of co-cultivated cultures revealed the mechanism of metabolic coupling during fungal-yeast interactions. The results suggested high score GO terms related to stimulus-response, protein binding, membrane components, transport channels, oxidoreductases, and antioxidants. The SEM studies confirmed the cellular communication and their inter-specific interactions. This study allows us to deepen and refine our understanding of fungal-yeast symbiotic interaction; further, it also establishes a mutual relation by metabolic coupling for 10-fold higher laccase isozyme secretion (6532 U/ml). The purified laccase isozymes showed acidic pH optima (pH 3-4), higher thermo-stability (60 °C), and broad enzyme kinetics (Km) values. Our study also provides an in-depth understanding of laccase isozymes and their potential to degrade synthetic dyes, which may help the fungi to survive in an adverse environment.}, } @article {pmid31733732, year = {2019}, author = {Kaur, J and Andrews, L and Sharma, J}, title = {High specificity of a rare terrestrial orchid toward a rare fungus within the North American tallgrass prairie.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {12}, pages = {895-904}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.09.010}, pmid = {31733732}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Grassland ; Host Microbial Interactions ; *Host Specificity ; Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; North America ; Orchidaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The Orchidaceae are globally distributed and represent a diverse lineage of obligate mycotrophic plants. Given their dependence on symbiotic fungi for germination and/or plant development, fungal community structure in substrates is expected to influence the distribution and persistence of orchid species. Yet, simultaneous characterization of orchid mycorrhizal fungal (OMF) communities in roots and in soil is rarely reported. To explain the co-distributions of OMF in roots, orchid-occupied, and bulk soil, we characterized mycorrhizal fungi associated with Platanthera praeclara over multiple years across its entire natural distribution within the North American tallgrass prairie. Root derived OMF communities included 24 Ceratobasidiaceae and 7 Tulasnellaceae operational taxonomic units (OTUs) though the orchid exhibited high spatio-temporal specificity toward a single Ceratobasidiaceae OTU, which was strongly stable across population sizes and phenological stages of the sampled individuals. The preferred OMF OTUs were primarily restricted to orchid-occupied locations while infrequent or absent in bulk soil. Variation in soil OMF assemblies was explained most by soil moisture, magnesium, manganese, and clay. In this first study of coupled root and soil OMF communities across a threatened grassland ecosystem, we report a strong relationship, further nuanced by soil chemistry, between a rare fungus and a rare orchid.}, } @article {pmid31733615, year = {2019}, author = {Tao, K and Kelly, S and Radutoiu, S}, title = {Microbial associations enabling nitrogen acquisition in plants.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {83-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.005}, pmid = {31733615}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Bacteria ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Large flows of nitrogen between the atmosphere, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems contribute to the global cycle on Earth. When balanced, this cycle ensures that life at every level can flourish and diversify. However, in the past 50 years, humans have had a large, negative influence on nitrogen cycle pushing it beyond safe boundaries at the global level. Alternative, wholesome strategies are needed for the agricultural systems to achieve sustainability without compromising crop yields. Decades of research in the field of biological nitrogen fixation in symbiotic root nodules paved the way for ambitious bioengineering projects aiming to meet the nitrogen request in a sustainable manner. Parallel studies of the other microbes that associate with healthy plants in nature unveiled a tremendous, untapped resource for biostimulants. Many of these interactions are now worth investigating in detail to enable understanding at the molecular and ecological level and facile transfer into agricultural settings.}, } @article {pmid31733539, year = {2020}, author = {Fu, WQ and Xu, M and Sun, K and Chen, XL and Dai, CC and Jia, Y}, title = {Remediation mechanism of endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris on phenanthrene in vivo.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {243}, number = {}, pages = {125305}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125305}, pmid = {31733539}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Endophytes/growth & development/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Fungal ; Oryza/microbiology ; Phenanthrenes/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phenanthrene can easily be absorbed into the plant from the soil and cannot be effectively degraded in it. Thus, it is greatly hazardous for food safety and human health. In our study, the biodegradability and remediation mechanism of endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris on phenanthrene in vivo of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was detected. The results showed that the fungus could successfully establish a symbiotic relationship with rice, thus had the potential to degrade phenanthrene absorbed into the plant. Changes of phenanthrene-degrading genes of fungus in the combined system were consistent with the trends of their corresponding enzymatic activities, and the phenanthrene-degrading enzyme activities and gene expression levels in roots of rice were higher than those in the shoot. Moreover, the combined system can enhance bioremediation by increasing root viability, chlorophyll content, and energy supply. The combined system had also significantly increased the PPO activity and SOD activity in shoot compared with the control treatment, while decreased the content of MDA when remediation in vivo. The study on the degradation mechanism of the combined system will help us to increase the practical application potential of endophyte to effectively repair contamination absorbed into plant seedlings.}, } @article {pmid31733122, year = {2019}, author = {Petti, S and Lodi, G}, title = {The controversial natural history of oral herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.}, journal = {Oral diseases}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {1850-1865}, doi = {10.1111/odi.13234}, pmid = {31733122}, issn = {1601-0825}, mesh = {*Herpes Labialis ; *Herpes Simplex ; *Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Humans ; *Stomatitis, Herpetic ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; }, abstract = {The natural history of oral herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in the immunocompetent host is complex and rich in controversial phenomena, namely the role of unapparent transmission in primary infection acquisition, the high frequency of asymptomatic primary and recurrent infections, the lack of immunogenicity of HSV-1 internalized in the soma (cell body) of the sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion, the lytic activity of HSV-1 in the soma of neurons that is inhibited in the sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion and often uncontrolled in the other neurons, the role of keratin in promoting the development of recurrence episodes in immunocompetent hosts, the virus-host Nash equilibrium, the paradoxical HSV-1-seronegative individuals who shed HSV-1 through saliva, the limited efficacy of anti-HSV vaccines, and why the oral route of infection is the least likely to produce severe complications. The natural history of oral HSV-1 infection is also a history of symbiosis between humans and virus that may switch from mutualism to parasitism and vice versa. This balance is typical of microorganisms that are highly coevolved with humans, and its knowledge is essential to oral healthcare providers to perform adequate diagnosis and provide proper individual-based HSV-1 infection therapy.}, } @article {pmid31732941, year = {2019}, author = {Miralda, I and Vashishta, A and Uriarte, SM}, title = {Neutrophil Interaction with Emerging Oral Pathogens: A Novel View of the Disease Paradigm.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1197}, number = {}, pages = {165-178}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-28524-1_12}, pmid = {31732941}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Clostridiales/immunology ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; Microbiota/immunology ; *Neutrophils/immunology/microbiology ; *Periodontitis/immunology/microbiology ; Periodontium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory infectious disease that compromises the integrity of tooth-supporting tissues. The disease progression depends on the disruption of host-microbe homeostasis in the periodontal tissue. This disruption is marked by a shift in the composition of the polymicrobial oral community from a symbiotic to a dysbiotic, more complex community that is capable of evading killing while promoting inflammation. Neutrophils are the main phagocytic cell in the periodontal pocket, and the outcome of the interaction with the oral microbiota is an important determinant of oral health. Novel culture-independent techniques have facilitated the identification of new bacterial species at periodontal lesions and induced a reappraisal of the microbial etiology of periodontitis. In this chapter, we discuss how neutrophils interact with two emerging oral pathogens, Filifactor alocis and Peptoanaerobacter stomatis, and the different strategies deploy by these organisms to modulate neutrophil effector functions, with the goal to outline a new paradigm in our knowledge about neutrophil responses to putative periodontal pathogens and their contribution to disease progression.}, } @article {pmid31732937, year = {2019}, author = {Mueller, C and Kwong Chung, CKC and Faderl, MR and Brasseit, J and Zysset, D}, title = {Helicobacter spp. in Experimental Models of Colitis.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1197}, number = {}, pages = {97-105}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-28524-1_8}, pmid = {31732937}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Animals ; *Colitis/microbiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Helicobacter/physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The colonization of body surfaces, notably of the intestine, by a complex microbiota is generally highly mutualistic, where vital functions are provided by the commensal microbiota to the host, including the synthesis of vitamins, the degradation of complex polysaccharides into small chain fatty acids (which are essential for the maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier), and, finally, the outcompetition of pathogens that accidentally gain access to the body ("colonization resistance") (Chow et al. 2011; Backhed 2005). However, under certain conditions, such as changes of environmental factors in a genetically predisposed host, some of these normally symbiotic bacteria may act as pathogens and induce pathologies. Hence, the term "pathobionts" was coined for these bacterial species with ambiguous biological properties (Round et al. 2009).}, } @article {pmid31732936, year = {2019}, author = {Gonzalez, OA and Euzebio-Alves, V and Alimova, Y and Al-Attar, A and Ebersole, JL}, title = {A Potential Role of Phospholipase 2 Group IIA (PLA2-IIA) in P. gingivalis-Induced Oral Dysbiosis.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1197}, number = {}, pages = {79-95}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-28524-1_7}, pmid = {31732936}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Periodontal Diseases/enzymology/microbiology ; Phospholipases/genetics ; Polyesters ; *Porphyromonas gingivalis/enzymology/genetics ; }, abstract = {Porphyromonas gingivalis is an oral pathogen with the ability to induce oral dysbiosis and periodontal disease. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which P. gingivalis could abrogate the host-microbe symbiotic relationship leading to oral dysbiosis remain unclear. We have recently demonstrated that P. gingivalis specifically increased the antimicrobial properties of oral epithelial cells, through a strong induction of the expression of PLA2-IIA in a mechanism that involves activation of the Notch-1 receptor. Moreover, gingival expression of PLA2-IIA was significantly increased during initiation and progression of periodontal disease in non-human primates and interestingly, those PLA2-IIA expression changes were concurrent with oral dysbiosis. In this chapter, we present an innovative hypothesis of a potential mechanism involved in P. gingivalis-induced oral dysbiosis and inflammation based on our previous observations and a robust body of literature that supports the antimicrobial and proinflammatory properties of PLA2-IIA as well as its role in other chronic inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid31732817, year = {2019}, author = {Robin, A and Pradier, C and Sanguin, H and Mahé, F and Lambais, GR and de Araujo Pereira, AP and Germon, A and Santana, MC and Tisseyre, P and Pablo, AL and Heuillard, P and Sauvadet, M and Bouillet, JP and Andreote, FD and Plassard, C and de Moraes Gonçalves, JL and Cardoso, EJBN and Laclau, JP and Hinsinger, P and Jourdan, C}, title = {How deep can ectomycorrhizas go? A case study on Pisolithus down to 4 meters in a Brazilian eucalypt plantation.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {637-648}, pmid = {31732817}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Basidiomycota ; Brazil ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Despite the strong ecological importance of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, their vertical distribution remains poorly understood. To our knowledge, ECM structures associated with trees have never been reported in depths below 2 meters. In this study, fine roots and ECM root tips were sampled down to 4-m depth during the digging of two independent pits differing by their water availability. A meta-barcoding approach based on Illumina sequencing of internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) was carried out on DNA extracted from root samples (fine roots and ECM root tips separately). ECM fungi dominated the root-associated fungal community, with more than 90% of sequences assigned to the genus Pisolithus. The morphological and barcoding results demonstrated, for the first time, the presence of ECM symbiosis down to 4-m. The molecular diversity of Pisolithus spp. was strongly dependent on depth, with soil pH and soil water content as primary drivers of the Pisolithus spp. structure. Altogether, our results highlight the importance to consider the ECM symbiosis in deep soil layers to improve our understanding of fine roots functioning in tropical soils.}, } @article {pmid31731166, year = {2020}, author = {Jia, Y and Shi, Z and Chen, Z and Walder, F and Tian, C and Feng, G}, title = {Soil moisture threshold in controlling above- and belowground community stability in a temperate desert of Central Asia.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {703}, number = {}, pages = {134650}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134650}, pmid = {31731166}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Terrestrial ecosystems are composed of above- and belowground community, which have been researched separately for many years even though the two subsystems clearly interact with each other. And it is still less understood how the above- and belowground ecosystems co-response to the changing precipitation in this changing world. To understand the interdependence and co-responses of plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi symbioses to this facet of climate change, we examined the plant and AM fungal diversity and abundance along both, a transect from east to west of the desert which exhibits an annual precipitation gradient and a topographical transect of a typical sand dune which exhibits a gradient of soil moisture but equal precipitation, in a temperate desert in Central Asia. The results showed that community structure and biomass of plants and AM fungi along both transects were positively correlated and related to either precipitation or soil moisture, strongly support the Habitat Hypothesis. We found a soil moisture threshold between 0.64% and 0.86%, below which the variability of plant coverage, plant species richness, spore density and Shannon-wiener diversity index of both plant and AM fungal communities increased sharply yielding in an average threshold of 0.73% for the stability of plant-AMF symbioses. Our results highlight that increasing precipitation contributes to above- and belowground, and particularly to the overall AM-symbiotic stability in a desert ecosystem. This emphasizes the susceptibility and the importance plant-AMF symbioses for ecosystem stability to climate changes across different scales.}, } @article {pmid31730203, year = {2019}, author = {Younginger, BS and Friesen, ML}, title = {Connecting signals and benefits through partner choice in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz217}, pmid = {31730203}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {*Biological Coevolution ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Stabilizing mechanisms in plant-microbe symbioses are critical to maintaining beneficial functions, with two main classes: host sanctions and partner choice. Sanctions are currently presumed to be more effective and widespread, based on the idea that microbes rapidly evolve cheating while retaining signals matching cooperative strains. However, hosts that effectively discriminate among a pool of compatible symbionts would gain a significant fitness advantage. Using the well-characterized legume-rhizobium symbiosis as a model, we evaluate the evidence for partner choice in the context of the growing field of genomics. Empirical studies that rely upon bacteria varying only in nitrogen-fixation ability ignore host-symbiont signaling and frequently conclude that partner choice is not a robust stabilizing mechanism. Here, we argue that partner choice is an overlooked mechanism of mutualism stability and emphasize that plants need not use the microbial services provided a priori to discriminate among suitable partners. Additionally, we present a model that shows that partner choice signaling increases symbiont and host fitness in the absence of sanctions. Finally, we call for a renewed focus on elucidating the signaling mechanisms that are critical to partner choice while further aiming to understand their evolutionary dynamics in nature.}, } @article {pmid31729063, year = {2020}, author = {Plett, KL and Singan, VR and Wang, M and Ng, V and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Plett, JM and Anderson, IC}, title = {Inorganic nitrogen availability alters Eucalyptus grandis receptivity to the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus but not symbiotic nitrogen transfer.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {1}, pages = {221-231}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16322}, pmid = {31729063}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; *Eucalyptus ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Forest trees are able to thrive in nutrient-poor soils in part because they obtain growth-limiting nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), through mutualistic symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Addition of inorganic N into these soils is known to disrupt this mutualism and reduce the diversity of ECM fungi. Despite its ecological impact, the mechanisms governing the observed effects of elevated inorganic N on mycorrhizal communities remain unknown. We address this by using a compartmentalized in vitro system to independently alter nutrients to each symbiont. Using stable isotopes, we traced the nutrient flux under different nutrient regimes between Eucalyptus grandis and its ectomycorrhizal symbiont, Pisolithus albus. We demonstrate that giving E. grandis independent access to N causes a significant reduction in root colonization by P. albus. Transcriptional analysis suggests that the observed reduction in colonization may be caused, in part, by altered transcription of microbe perception genes and defence genes. We show that delivery of N to host leaves is not increased by host nutrient deficiency but by fungal nutrient availability instead. Overall, this advances our understanding of the effects of N fertilization on ECM fungi and the factors governing nutrient transfer in the E. grandis-P. microcarpus interaction.}, } @article {pmid31728419, year = {2019}, author = {Grimaldi, DA and Peñalver, E and Barrón, E and Herhold, HW and Engel, MS}, title = {Direct evidence for eudicot pollen-feeding in a Cretaceous stinging wasp (Angiospermae; Hymenoptera, Aculeata) preserved in Burmese amber.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {408}, pmid = {31728419}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Amber/history ; Animals ; Diet/history ; Fossils ; History, Ancient ; Magnoliopsida/ultrastructure ; Myanmar ; *Pollen/ultrastructure ; Pollination/physiology ; Preservation, Biological ; Wasps/anatomy & histology/classification/*physiology ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {Angiosperms and their insect pollinators form a foundational symbiosis, evidence for which from the Cretaceous is mostly indirect, based on fossils of insect taxa that today are anthophilous, and of fossil insects and flowers that have apparent anthophilous and entomophilous specializations, respectively. We present exceptional direct evidence preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, 100 mya, for feeding on pollen in the eudicot genus Tricolporoidites by a basal new aculeate wasp, Prosphex anthophilos, gen. et sp. nov., in the lineage that contains the ants, bees, and other stinging wasps. Plume of hundreds of pollen grains wafts from its mouth and an apparent pollen mass was detected by micro-CT in the buccal cavity: clear evidence that the wasp was foraging on the pollen. Eudicots today comprise nearly three-quarters of all angiosperm species. Prosphex feeding on Tricolporoidites supports the hypothesis that relatively small, generalized insect anthophiles were important pollinators of early angiosperms.}, } @article {pmid31728100, year = {2019}, author = {Migacz-Gruszka, K and Branicki, W and Obtulowicz, A and Pirowska, M and Gruszka, K and Wojas-Pelc, A}, title = {What's New in the Pathophysiology of Alopecia Areata? The Possible Contribution of Skin and Gut Microbiome in the Pathogenesis of Alopecia - Big Opportunities, Big Challenges, and Novel Perspectives.}, journal = {International journal of trichology}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {185-188}, pmid = {31728100}, issn = {0974-7753}, abstract = {The term "microbiome" defines the collective genome of all commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microbes living in the human body. The composition of microbiota in the gut and skin is influenced by many factors such as the stage of life, nutrition, lifestyle, and gender. In the past few years, several scientific papers have demonstrated an implication of microbiota in many immune-mediated diseases, for example, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and multiple sclerosis. The alterations in the proportion of gut microbiota have emerged as potential immunomodulators with the capacity to induce physiologic as well as pathologic immune responses against the human body, causing inflammation and destruction of tissues or organs. The microbiota influences the differentiation of adaptive immune cells not only in the gut but also in the skin. Alopecia areata (AA) is a dermatologic disorder which causes hair loss in most cases resistant to treatment. There are some clinical and experimental evidences indicating that AA is the demonstration of autoimmune attack against hair follicles. The factors that may implicate such an autoimmunity in AA still remain unknown. Despite more and more evidences demonstrate that human microbiome plays a key role in human health and diseases, to the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted to analyze an implication of microbiome in the pathogenesis of AA. Undoubtedly, there is a need to performing a study which might explain the involvement of gut and skin microbiota in the unclear pathogenesis of AA and lead to alternative treatment options for numerous patients suffering from current treatment limitations.}, } @article {pmid31726321, year = {2020}, author = {Ote, M and Yamamoto, D}, title = {Impact of Wolbachia infection on Drosophila female germline stem cells.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {8-15}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2019.10.001}, pmid = {31726321}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*microbiology ; Female ; Oogonial Stem Cells/metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis, one of the most dominant insect-symbiotic bacteria, highjacks the female germline of insects for its own propagation across host generations. Such strict dependence on female gametes in trans-generational propagation has driven Wolbachia to devise ingenious strategies to enhance female fertility. In Drosophila melanogaster females with female-sterile mutant alleles of the master sex-determining gene Sex-lethal (Sxl), Wolbachia colonizing female germline stem cells (GSCs) support the maintenance of GSCs, thereby rescuing the defective ovarian development. In the germ cell cytoplasm, Wolbachia are often found in proximity to ribonucleoprotein-complex processing bodies (P bodies), where the Wolbachia-derived protein TomO interacts with RNAs encoding Nanos and Orb proteins, which support the GSC maintenance and oocyte polarization, respectively. Thus, manipulation of host RNA is the key to successful vertical transmission of Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid31726316, year = {2019}, author = {Fiers, WD and Gao, IH and Iliev, ID}, title = {Gut mycobiota under scrutiny: fungal symbionts or environmental transients?.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {79-86}, pmid = {31726316}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {F32 DK120228/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK113136/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI146957/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenomics ; Mice ; *Mycobiome ; Symbiosis/*genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a thriving community of microbes including the fungal 'mycobiota'. Although sequencing methodology has enumerated diverse fungal genera within this niche, discerning persistent symbiotic residents from contaminants and purely environmental transients remains a challenge. Recent advances in culturomics and sequencing employing metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and longitudinal studies have begun to reveal a human symbiont 'core mycobiome' that may contribute to human health and disease. Trans-kingdom interactions between the bacterial microbiota and evolution within the niche have defined C. albicans as a true symbiont, setting a bar for defining other fungi. Additionally, elegant investigations of mammalian antifungal immunity have examined mononuclear phagocytes, neutrophils, antigen-specific recognition by T cells and other mechanisms important for local and systemic effects on the host, providing further evidence supporting gut persistence. In this review we discuss current research aimed at investigating the symbiotic mycobiota and propose four criteria aiding in the differentiation of fungal symbionts from environmental transients.}, } @article {pmid31723187, year = {2019}, author = {Vesala, R and Arppe, L and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Caste-specific nutritional differences define carbon and nitrogen fluxes within symbiotic food webs in African termite mounds.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {16698}, pmid = {31723187}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Radioisotopes/*analysis ; *Food Chain ; Fungi/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Isoptera/classification/microbiology/*physiology ; Kenya ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Radioisotopes/*analysis ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites of the genus Macrotermes cultivate symbiotic fungi (Termitomyces) in their underground nest chambers to degrade plant matter collected from the environment. Although the general mechanism of food processing is relatively well-known, it has remained unclear whether the termites get their nutrition primarily from the fungal mycelium or from plant tissues partly decomposed by the fungus. To elucidate the flows of carbon and nitrogen in the complicated food-chains within the nests of fungus-growing termites, we determined the stable isotope signatures of different materials sampled from four Macrotermes colonies in southern Kenya. Stable isotopes of carbon revealed that the termite queen and the young larvae are largely sustained by the fungal mycelium. Conversely, all adult workers and soldiers seem to feed predominantly on plant and/or fungus comb material, demonstrating that the fungal symbiont plays a different nutritional role for different termite castes. Nitrogen stable isotopes indicated additional differences between castes and revealed intriguing patterns in colony nitrogen cycling. Nitrogen is effectively recycled within the colonies, but also a presently unspecified nitrogen source, most likely symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, seems to contribute to nitrogen supply. Our results indicate that the gut microbiota of the termite queen might be largely responsible for the proposed nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid31722343, year = {2020}, author = {Flowers, SA and Ward, KM and Clark, CT}, title = {The Gut Microbiome in Bipolar Disorder and Pharmacotherapy Management.}, journal = {Neuropsychobiology}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {43-49}, doi = {10.1159/000504496}, pmid = {31722343}, issn = {1423-0224}, mesh = {Animals ; Anticonvulsants/*pharmacology ; Antimanic Agents/*pharmacology ; Antipsychotic Agents/*pharmacology ; Bipolar Disorder/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome is a complex and dynamic community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that exist in a bidirectional relationship with the host. Bacterial functions in the gut play a critical role in healthy host functioning, and its disruption can contribute to many medical conditions. The relationship between gut microbiota and the brain has gained attention in mental health due to the mounting evidence supporting the association of gut bacteria with mood and behavior. Patients with bipolar disorder exhibit an increased frequency of gastrointestinal illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease, which mechanistically has been linked to microbial community function. While the heterogeneity in microbial communities between individuals might be associated with disease risk, it may also moderate the efficacy or adverse effects associated with the use of medication. The following review highlights published evidence linking the function of gut microbiota both to bipolar disorder risk and to the effect of medications that influence microbiota, inflammation, and mood symptoms.}, } @article {pmid31722286, year = {2020}, author = {Hakim, S and Mirza, BS and Imran, A and Zaheer, A and Yasmin, S and Mubeen, F and Mclean, JE and Mirza, MS}, title = {Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA tag shows disparity in rhizobial and non-rhizobial diversity associated with root nodules of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) growing in different habitats in Pakistan.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {231}, number = {}, pages = {126356}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2019.126356}, pmid = {31722286}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecosystem ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Pakistan ; Phylogeny ; Pseudomonas/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, the nodule is the most frequently studied compartment, where the endophytic/symbiotic microbiota demands critical investigation for development of specific inocula. We identified the bacterial diversity within root nodules of mung bean from different growing areas of Pakistan using Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. We observed specific OTUs related to specific site where Bradyrhizobium was found to be the dominant genus comprising of 82-94% of total rhizobia in nodules with very minor fraction of sequences from other rhizobia at three sites. In contrast, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) was single dominant genus comprising 99.9% of total rhizobial sequences at site four. Among non-rhizobial sequences, the genus Acinetobacter was abundant (7-18% of total sequences), particularly in Bradyrhizobium-dominated nodule samples. Rhizobia and non-rhizobial PGPR isolated from nodule samples include Ensifer, Bradyrhizobium, Acinetobacter, Microbacterium and Pseudomonas strains. Co-inoculation of multi-trait PGPR Acinetobacter sp. VrB1 with either of the two rhizobia in field exhibited more positive effect on nodulation and plant growth than single-strain inoculation which favors the use of Acinetobacter as an essential component for development of mung bean inoculum. Furthermore, site-specific dominance of rhizobia and non-rhizobia revealed in this study may contribute towards decision making for development and application of specific inocula in different habitats.}, } @article {pmid31721161, year = {2020}, author = {Forrester, NJ and Ashman, TL}, title = {Autopolyploidy alters nodule-level interactions in the legume-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {107}, number = {2}, pages = {179-185}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1375}, pmid = {31721161}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {1247842//NSF/International ; DEB 1241006//Botanical Society of America/International ; 1452386//Botanical Society of America/International ; }, mesh = {*Fabaceae ; Humans ; Medicago sativa ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Polyploidy ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Polyploidy is a major genetic driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in plants, yet its effects on plant interactions with mutualistic microbes remain unresolved. The legume-rhizobium symbiosis regulates global nutrient cycles and plays a role in the diversification of legume species. In this mutualism, rhizobia bacteria fix nitrogen in exchange for carbon provided by legume hosts. This exchange occurs inside root nodules, which house bacterial cells and represent the interface of legume-rhizobium interactions. Although polyploidy may directly impact the legume-rhizobium mutualism, no studies have explored how it alters the internal structure of nodules.

METHODS: We created synthetic autotetraploids using Medicago sativa subsp. caerulea. Neotetraploid plants and their diploid progenitors were singly inoculated with two strains of rhizobia, Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae. Confocal microscopy was used to quantify internal traits of nodules produced by diploid and neotetraploid plants.

RESULTS: Autotetraploid plants produced larger nodules with larger nitrogen fixation zones than diploids for both strains of rhizobia, although the significance of these differences was limited by power. Neotetraploid M. sativa subsp. caerulea plants also produced symbiosomes that were significantly larger, nearly twice the size, than those present in diploids.

CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on how polyploidy directly affects a plant-bacterium mutualism and uncovers novel mechanisms. Changes in plant-microbe interactions that directly result from polyploidy likely contribute to the increased ability of polyploid legumes to establish in diverse environments.}, } @article {pmid31721158, year = {2019}, author = {Ford Denison, R}, title = {Evolutionary trade-offs are key to beneficial manipulation of crops by microbes.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {106}, number = {12}, pages = {1529-1531}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1386}, pmid = {31721158}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Crops, Agricultural ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, } @article {pmid31721121, year = {2020}, author = {Kreth, J and Abdelrahman, YM and Merritt, J}, title = {Multiplex Imaging of Polymicrobial Communities-Murine Models to Study Oral Microbiome Interactions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2081}, number = {}, pages = {107-126}, pmid = {31721121}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {R01 DE021726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R35 DE028252/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biofilms ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; Luminescent Measurements/methods ; Mice ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Optical Imaging/*methods ; }, abstract = {Similar to other mucosal surfaces of the body, the oral cavity hosts a diverse microbial flora that live in polymicrobial biofilm communities. It is the ecology of these communities that are the primary determinants of oral health (symbiosis) or disease (dysbiosis). As such, both symbiosis and dysbiosis are inherently polymicrobial phenomena. In an effort to facilitate studies of polymicrobial communities within rodent models, we developed a suite of synthetic luciferases suitable for multiplexed in situ analyses of microbial ecology and specific gene expression. Using this approach, it is feasible to noninvasively measure multiple luciferase signals in vivo with both spatial and temporal resolution. In the following chapter, we describe the relevant details and protocols used to establish a biophotonic imaging platform for the study of experimental polymicrobial oral biofilms and abscesses in mice. The protocols described here are specifically tailored for use with oral streptococci, but the general strategies are adaptable for a wide range of polymicrobial infection studies using other species.}, } @article {pmid31720838, year = {2019}, author = {Rimington, WR and Pressel, S and Duckett, JG and Field, KJ and Bidartondo, MI}, title = {Evolution and networks in ancient and widespread symbioses between Mucoromycotina and liverworts.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {551-565}, pmid = {31720838}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {BB/M026825/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fungi ; *Glomeromycota ; *Hepatophyta ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Like the majority of land plants, liverworts regularly form intimate symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycotina). Recent phylogenetic and physiological studies report that they also form intimate symbioses with Mucoromycotina fungi and that some of these, like those involving Glomeromycotina, represent nutritional mutualisms. To compare these symbioses, we carried out a global analysis of Mucoromycotina fungi in liverworts and other plants using species delimitation, ancestral reconstruction, and network analyses. We found that Mucoromycotina are more common and diverse symbionts of liverworts than previously thought, globally distributed, ancestral, and often co-occur with Glomeromycotina within plants. However, our results also suggest that the associations formed by Mucoromycotina fungi are fundamentally different because, unlike Glomeromycotina, they may have evolved multiple times and their symbiotic networks are un-nested (i.e., not forming nested subsets of species). We infer that the global Mucoromycotina symbiosis is evolutionarily and ecologically distinctive.}, } @article {pmid31719392, year = {2019}, author = {Kolbasova, GD and Mekhova, ES}, title = {Myzostoma khanhkhoaensis (Myzostomida), a new myzostomid species from the Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4691}, number = {3}, pages = {zootaxa.4691.3.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4691.3.4}, pmid = {31719392}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; *Bays ; Echinodermata ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {A new myzostome species, described here as Myzostoma khanhkhoaensis sp. nov., was collected in Nhatrang Bay, central Vietnam, during investigation of symbionts associated with crinoids. Myzostoma khanhkhoaensis sp. nov. was found only on Clarkcomanthus albinotus Rowe, Hoggett, Birtles Vail, 1986 in dense groups of up to 25 specimens. This species closely matches the colour pattern of the host by adjusting its cryptic colour and infects the distal part of crinoid arms, causing them to become curved. This is the first record of myzostomes that induce deformation of skeletal elements without the formation of galls or cysts. Morphologically M. khanhkhoaensis sp. nov. is close to M. cuniculus and M. pseudocuniculus but clearly differs from both of them by the shape of caudal blade and chaetae. Molecular-genetics analysis based on CO1, 16S and 18S DNA placed M. khanhkhoaensis sp. nov. in a clade including M. cuniculus, M. pseudocuniculus and M. indocuniculus.}, } @article {pmid31719044, year = {2019}, author = {Fledrich, R and Kungl, T and Nave, KA and Stassart, RM}, title = {Axo-glial interdependence in peripheral nerve development.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {146}, number = {21}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/dev.151704}, pmid = {31719044}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Animals ; Axons/*physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Separation ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Mice ; Myelin Sheath/*physiology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neuroglia/*physiology ; Peripheral Nerves/*embryology/physiology ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Rats ; Schwann Cells/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {During the development of the peripheral nervous system, axons and myelinating Schwann cells form a unique symbiotic unit, which is realized by a finely tuned network of molecular signals and reciprocal interactions. The importance of this complex interplay becomes evident after injury or in diseases in which aspects of axo-glial interaction are perturbed. This Review focuses on the specific interdependence of axons and Schwann cells in peripheral nerve development that enables axonal outgrowth, Schwann cell lineage progression, radial sorting and, finally, formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath.}, } @article {pmid31717653, year = {2019}, author = {Marhuenda-Muñoz, M and Laveriano-Santos, EP and Tresserra-Rimbau, A and Lamuela-Raventós, RM and Martínez-Huélamo, M and Vallverdú-Queralt, A}, title = {Microbial Phenolic Metabolites: Which Molecules Actually Have an Effect on Human Health?.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31717653}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dietary Supplements ; Flavonoids ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; *Polyphenols ; Stilbenes ; }, abstract = {The role of gut microbiota in human health has been investigated extensively in recent years. The association of dysbiosis, detrimental changes in the colonic population, with several health conditions has led to the development of pro-, pre- and symbiotic foods. If not absorbed in the small intestine or secreted in bile, polyphenols and other food components can reach the large intestine where they are susceptible to modification by the microbial population, resulting in molecules with potentially beneficial health effects. This review provides an overview of studies that have detected and/or quantified microbial phenolic metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography as the separation technique, followed by detection through mass spectrometry. Both in vitro experimental studies and human clinical trials are covered. Although many of the microbial phenolic metabolites (MPM) reported in in vitro studies were identified in human samples, further research is needed to associate them with clinical health outcomes.}, } @article {pmid31717463, year = {2019}, author = {Najjar, RS and Feresin, RG}, title = {Plant-Based Diets in the Reduction of Body Fat: Physiological Effects and Biochemical Insights.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31717463}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/metabolism ; *Adiposity ; Animals ; *Caloric Restriction ; *Diet, Vegetarian ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intestines/microbiology ; Liver/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins/metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism ; *Nutritive Value ; Obesity/diagnosis/*diet therapy/metabolism/physiopathology ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors/metabolism ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Symbiosis ; Treatment Outcome ; *Weight Loss ; }, abstract = {Obesity affects over one-third of Americans and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Interventional trials have consistently demonstrated that consumption of plant-based diets reduces body fat in overweight and obese subjects, even when controlling for energy intake. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying this effect have not been well-defined. This review discusses six major dietary mechanisms that may lead to reduced body fat. These include (1) reduced caloric density, (2) improved gut microbiota symbiosis, (3) increased insulin sensitivity, (4) reduced trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), (5) activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and (6) over-expression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. Collectively, these factors improve satiety and increase energy expenditure leading to reduced body weight.}, } @article {pmid31717088, year = {2019}, author = {Anker, A and DE Grave, S}, title = {Further records of burrow-associated palaemonid shrimps (Decapoda: Palaemonidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4612}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4612.1.13}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4612.1.13}, pmid = {31717088}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; *Decapoda ; Echinodermata ; *Palaemonidae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite the ubiquitous nature of symbiosis in palaemonid shrimps (Caridea: Palaemonidae) which live in or on varied invertebrate hosts, such as echinoderms, sponges, ascidians, hard and soft corals, etc., very few taxa have been recorded living in burrows constructed by other animals. This is in sharp contrast to the rich burrow-dwelling diversity in the Alpheidae, in which numerous genera associate with a great variety of burrowing animals, including stomatopods (Hayashi 2002; Ďuriš Anker 2014), echiurans (Anker et al. 2005, 2015), other alpheid shrimps (e.g. De Grave 2004; Anker Marin 2006), and especially numerous ghost and mud shrimps (e.g. Anker, 2011; Anker Lazarus 2015).}, } @article {pmid31717069, year = {2019}, author = {Canário, R and Hurbath, T and DA Rocha, CEF and Neves, EG and Johnsson, R}, title = {Description of a new species of Spongiopsyllus Johnsson, 2000, and redescriptions of Parmulodes verrucosus Wilson, 1944 and Entomopsyllus stocki Kim, 2004 with revised diagnosis of Entomopsyllus (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Entomolepididae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4612}, number = {2}, pages = {zootaxa.4612.2.7}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4612.2.7}, pmid = {31717069}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Copepoda ; Genitalia ; *Porifera ; }, abstract = {The Family Entomolepididae is composed by 7 genera and 15 species. During a survey on the known species and the search for new species, a new Spongiopsyllus is described associated with sponge Aplysina insularis. The new species has antennule 14-segmented, four setae on both lobes of maxillule, some unique features on the leg setation and the armature of the maxilliped. These characteristics make the new species different from all other congeners in Spongiopsyllus. The diagnosis of Entomopsyllus was also revised once it does not consider the differences to Spongiopsyllus which was created posteriorly to its erection. An analysis of Entomopsyllus stocki also indicated that leg 5 somite and the genital somite are fused, instead of separated as originally stated, the structure is also redescribed. Finally, Parmulodes verrucosus is studied and an up-to-date description is provided, correcting some inconsistencies in the armature formula of the antennule and the leg setation, and providing re-analysis of the other appendages.}, } @article {pmid31716922, year = {2019}, author = {Anker, A and Ashrafi, H}, title = {Salmoneus durisi sp. nov., an infaunal alpheid shrimp probably associated with callianassid ghost shrimps in the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4651}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4651.1.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4651.1.4}, pmid = {31716922}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; Body Size ; *Decapoda ; Indonesia ; Iran ; Melanesia ; Oman ; Organ Size ; Philippines ; }, abstract = {A new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955, probably an obligate associate of ghost shrimp burrows, is described based on material from Oman (type locality: Darsait near Muscat), Iran and the Philippines. Salmoneus durisi sp. nov. is characterised principally by both chelipeds enlarged, robust, with ventral and dorsal margins of chelae carrying long fine setae, and with minor chela fingers armed with a few large teeth on cutting edges. All specimens of Salmoneus durisi sp. nov. were collected either directly from burrows of larger decapod crustaceans with the aid of a suction pump, or by exposing burrows dug under large subtidal rocks. The Iranian specimen was found together with its presumed host, Neocallichirus calmani (Nobili, 1904). Two additional specimens from Indonesia and the Solomon Islands are tentatively assigned to S. cf. durisi sp. nov., awaiting further studies.}, } @article {pmid31716921, year = {2019}, author = {Anker, A}, title = {On three symbiotic species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 from the Indo-West Pacific, including one new to science (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4651}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4651.1.3}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4651.1.3}, pmid = {31716921}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; *Decapoda ; Indonesia ; Oman ; Papua New Guinea ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {Three species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 associated with burrows of other decapod crustaceans are reported from various Indo-West Pacific localities. Salmoneus venustus sp. nov. is described based on material collected at two distant localities, Nha Trang Bay, southern Vietnam, the type locality of the new species, and the Yiti-Sifah region east of Muscat, northern Oman. Both specimens were collected with the aid of a suction pump applied to burrow entrances or mounds in muddy sand; the holotype was possibly associated with burrows of the callianassid ghost shrimp, Glypturus sp. Salmoneus venustus sp. nov. shares many characteristics with S. latirostris (Coutière, 1897), including the red banding of the pleon, but can be distinguished from S. latirostris and all other species of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters. The large-sized Salmoneus brucei Komai, 2009 is reported from Sumba, central Indonesia, representing a significant southward extension of the species' previously known distribution range and the first record since its original description. The callianassid ghost shrimp Lepidophthalmus cf. rosae (Nobili, 1904) is recorded as a new host of S. brucei. Finally, Salmoneus colinorum De Grave, 2004, associated with burrows of larger snapping shrimps from the Alpheus malabaricus Fabricius, 1798 species complex, is reported for the first time from Madang, Papua New Guinea, representing an eastward extension of the species' previously known distribution range.}, } @article {pmid31716856, year = {2019}, author = {Goto, R and Tanaka, M}, title = {Worm-riding clam: description of Montacutona sigalionidcola sp. nov. (Bivalvia: Heterodonta: Galeommatidae) from Japan and its phylogenetic position.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4652}, number = {3}, pages = {zootaxa.4652.3.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4652.3.4}, pmid = {31716856}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; *Bivalvia ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; *Polychaeta ; }, abstract = {A new galeommatid bivalve, Montacutona sigalionidcola sp. nov., is described from an intertidal flat in the southern end of the Kii Peninsula, Honshu Island, Japan. Unlike other members of the genus, this species is a commensal with the burrowing scale worm Pelogenia zeylanica (Willey) (Annelida: Sigalionidae) that lives in fine sand sediments. Specimens were always found attached to the dorsal surface of the anterior end of the host body. This species has a ligament lithodesma between diverging hinge teeth, which is characteristic of Montacutona Yamamoto Habe. However, it is morphologically distinguished from the other members of this genus in having elongate-oval shells with small gape at the posteroventral margin and lacking an outer demibranch. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the four-gene combined dataset (18S + 28S + H3 + COI) indicated that this species is monophyletic with Montacutona, Nipponomontacuta Yamamoto Habe and Koreamya Lützen, Hong Yamashita, which are commensals with sea anemones or Lingula brachiopods. This result suggests that host shifting across different phyla occurred at least twice in this clade.}, } @article {pmid31716156, year = {2019}, author = {Cedrola, F and Bordim, S and D'Agosto, M and Dias, RJP}, title = {Intestinal ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora) in Brazilian domestic horses (Equus caballus L.) and a review on the ciliate communities associated with horses around the world.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4585}, number = {3}, pages = {zootaxa.4585.3.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4585.3.4}, pmid = {31716156}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {*Alveolata ; Animals ; Brazil ; China ; *Ciliophora ; Cyprus ; Equidae ; Horses ; Kyrgyzstan ; Mexico ; Russia ; Taiwan ; Turkey ; }, abstract = {The aims of this study were to identify and quantify the gastrointestinal ciliates from Brazilian domestic horses, to compare the data obtained with previous studies and to review data on ciliate communities associated with horses around the world. We used eight domestic horses, kept under extensive management. Fecal samples were obtained immediately after defecation of animals and fixed in 18.5% formaldehyde. We identify 24 species of endosymbiotic ciliates, distributed in two subclasses, two orders, five families and 13 genera. The ciliate composition was similar among the animals analyzed. The family Blepharocorythidae presented the higher prevalence and the family Buetschliidae was observed in greater abundance and density. Among the species identified, Cycloposthium dentiferum was observed for the first time in Central and South America and Bundleia elongata, B. inflata, B. piriformis, B. vorax and Cycloposthium psicauda, were observed for the first time in the American continent. In addition, the species Buissonella tapiri, which was originally discovered in fecal contents of the American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in Brazil was observed for the first time associated to Equus caballus. The review on the ciliate communities associated with horses around the world demonstrated that the equine ciliates are a very diversified group with representatives in two subclasses, Suctoria and Trichostomatia, totaling 78 species distributed in three orders and six families, having been registered in different equine hosts (Equus asinus, Equus caballus and Equus quagga) and geographic locations (USA, China, Russia, Taiwan, Mexico, Cyprus, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Brazil).}, } @article {pmid31712572, year = {2019}, author = {Stieb, SM and de Busserolles, F and Carleton, KL and Cortesi, F and Chung, WS and Dalton, BE and Hammond, LA and Marshall, NJ}, title = {A detailed investigation of the visual system and visual ecology of the Barrier Reef anemonefish, Amphiprion akindynos.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {16459}, pmid = {31712572}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {R01 EY024639/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cone Opsins/metabolism ; *Ecology ; Perciformes/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Retina/*physiology ; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/metabolism ; Retinal Pigments/*physiology ; Rod Opsins/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Zooplankton/physiology ; }, abstract = {Vision plays a major role in the life of most teleosts, and is assumingly well adapted to each species ecology and behaviour. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we scrutinised several aspects of the visual system and ecology of the Great Barrier Reef anemonefish, Amphiprion akindynos, including its orange with white patterning, retinal anatomy and molecular biology, its symbiosis with anemones and sequential hermaphroditism. Amphiprion akindynos possesses spectrally distinct visual pigments and opsins: one rod opsin, RH1 (498 nm), and five cone opsins, SWS1 (370 nm), SWS2B (408 nm), RH2B (498 nm), RH2A (520 nm), and LWS (554 nm). Cones were arranged in a regular mosaic with each single cone surrounded by four double cones. Double cones mainly expressed RH2B (53%) in one member and RH2A (46%) in the other, matching the prevailing light. Single cones expressed SWS1 (89%), which may serve to detect zooplankton, conspecifics and the host anemone. Moreover, a segregated small fraction of single cones coexpressed SWS1 with SWS2B (11%). This novel visual specialisation falls within the region of highest acuity and is suggested to increase the chromatic contrast of Amphiprion akindynos colour patterns, which might improve detection of conspecifics.}, } @article {pmid31712407, year = {2020}, author = {Mergaert, P and Kereszt, A and Kondorosi, E}, title = {Gene Expression in Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiotic Nodule Cells in Medicago truncatula and Other Nodulating Plants.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {42-68}, pmid = {31712407}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Root nodules formed by plants of the nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC) are symbiotic organs that function in the maintenance and metabolic integration of large populations of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These organs feature unique characteristics and processes, including their tissue organization, the presence of specific infection structures called infection threads, endocytotic uptake of bacteria, symbiotic cells carrying thousands of intracellular bacteria without signs of immune responses, and the integration of symbiont and host metabolism. The early stages of nodulation are governed by a few well-defined functions, which together constitute the common symbiosis-signaling pathway (CSSP). The CSSP activates a set of transcription factors (TFs) that orchestrate nodule organogenesis and infection. The later stages of nodule development require the activation of hundreds to thousands of genes, mostly expressed in symbiotic cells. Many of these genes are only active in symbiotic cells, reflecting the unique nature of nodules as plant structures. Although how the nodule-specific transcriptome is activated and connected to early CSSP-signaling is poorly understood, candidate TFs have been identified using transcriptomic approaches, and the importance of epigenetic and chromatin-based regulation has been demonstrated. We discuss how gene regulation analyses have advanced our understanding of nodule organogenesis, the functioning of symbiotic cells, and the evolution of symbiosis in the NFC.}, } @article {pmid31711773, year = {2020}, author = {Burlaka, AP and Ganusevich, II and Vovk, AV and Burlaka, AA and Gafurov, MR and Lukin, SN}, title = {Redox state of adipose tissue for patients with gastric cancer and its connection with the body mass index and distance from the tumor.}, journal = {Obesity research & clinical practice}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {34-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.orcp.2019.10.003}, pmid = {31711773}, issn = {1871-403X}, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/*metabolism ; Aged ; *Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Stomach Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Excess body weight has been causally linked to an increased risk of different cancer types, including gastric cancer but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. Superoxide generation rate, activity of complex I in electron transport chain of mitochondria, activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and 9) of adipose tissues (AT) of patients with gastric cancer in AT located adjacent to tumor (ATAT) and at a distance of 3 cm (ATD) are measured to follow the connection of the redox state with some of the microenvironment indicators (HIF-1α, CD68, Plin5), body mass index (BMI) and cancer metastasis. Superoxide generation rate in ATAT positively correlates with BMI (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) being 4 times higher than in control (p < 0.05). MMP-2, 9 activities in ATAT positively correlate with BMI (r = 0.67, p < 0.05) being 3.3-4.0 higher than in control (p < 0.05). In ATD a statistically significant increase of MMP-2 activity is found. In ATAT for the group of patients with distant metastasis (M1) the superoxide generation rate, MMP-2, 9 activities are about 2 times higher (p < 0.05) than in the subgroup without distant metastases (M0). M1 is also characterized by the increased values of HIF-1α+ (factor 1.25), CD68+ (factor 1.4) and Plin5+ (factor 2.1) compared to M0 category in tumor tissues (p < 0.05). The results can be used for better understanding the mechanism(s) of symbiosis of tumor and adipose tissues as well as serve as a basis for new therapeutic approaches.}, } @article {pmid31710651, year = {2019}, author = {Konečný, J and Hršelová, H and Bukovská, P and Hujslová, M and Jansa, J}, title = {Correlative evidence for co-regulation of phosphorus and carbon exchanges with symbiotic fungus in the arbuscular mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {e0224938}, pmid = {31710651}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Exome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Research efforts directed to elucidation of mechanisms behind trading of resources between the partners in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis have seen a considerable progress in the recent years. Yet, despite of the recent developments, some key questions still remain unanswered. For example, it is well established that the strictly biotrophic AM fungus releases phosphorus to- and receives carbon molecules from the plant symbiont, but the particular genes, and their products, responsible for facilitating this exchange, are still not fully described, nor are the principles and pathways of their regulation. Here, we made a de novo quest for genes involved in carbon transfer from the plant to the fungus using genome-wide gene expression array targeting whole root and whole shoot gene expression profiles of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula plants grown in a glasshouse. Using physiological intervention of heavy shading (90% incoming light removed) and the correlation of expression levels of MtPT4, the mycorrhiza-inducible phosphate transporter operating at the symbiotic interface between the root cortical cells and the AM fungus, and our candidate genes, we demonstrate that several novel genes may be involved in resource tradings in the AM symbiosis established by M. truncatula. These include glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate translocator, polyol/monosaccharide transporter, DUR3-like, nucleotide-diphospho-sugar transferase or a putative membrane transporter. Besides, we also examined the expression of other M. truncatula phosphate transporters (MtPT1-3, MtPT5-6) to gain further insights in the balance between the "direct" and the "mycorrhizal" phosphate uptake pathways upon colonization of roots by the AM fungus, as affected by short-term carbon/energy deprivation. In addition, the role of the novel candidate genes in plant cell metabolism is discussed based on available literature.}, } @article {pmid31709760, year = {2019}, author = {Collens, A and Kelley, E and Katz, LA}, title = {The concept of the hologenome, an epigenetic phenomenon, challenges aspects of the modern evolutionary synthesis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution}, volume = {332}, number = {8}, pages = {349-355}, pmid = {31709760}, issn = {1552-5015}, support = {R15 GM113177/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R15 HG010409/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; *Biological Evolution ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Genome ; Microbiota ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {John Tyler Bonner's call to re-evaluate evolutionary theory in light of major transitions in life on Earth (e.g., from the first origins of microbial life to the evolution of sex, and the origins of multicellularity) resonate with recent discoveries on epigenetics and the concept of the hologenome. Current studies of genome evolution often mistakenly focus only on the inheritance of DNA between parent and offspring. These are in line with the widely accepted Neo-Darwinian framework that pairs Mendelian genetics with an emphasis on natural selection as explanations for the evolution of biodiversity on Earth. Increasing evidence for widespread symbioses complicates this narrative, as is seen in Scott Gilbert's discussion of the concept of the holobiont in this series: Organisms across the tree of life coexist with substantial influence on one another through endosymbiosis, symbioses, and host-associated microbiomes. The holobiont theory, coupled with observations from molecular studies, also requires us to understand genomes in a new way-by considering the interactions underlain by the genome of a host plus its associated microbes, a conglomerate entity referred to as the hologenome. We argue that the complex patterns of inheritance of these genomes coupled with the influence of symbionts on host gene expression make the concept of the hologenome an epigenetic phenomenon. We further argue that the aspects of the hologenome challenge of the modern evolutionary synthesis, which requires updating to remain consistent with Darwin's intent of providing natural laws that underlie the evolution of life on Earth.}, } @article {pmid31708445, year = {2020}, author = {Das, NK and Schwartz, AJ and Barthel, G and Inohara, N and Liu, Q and Sankar, A and Hill, DR and Ma, X and Lamberg, O and Schnizlein, MK and Arqués, JL and Spence, JR and Nunez, G and Patterson, AD and Sun, D and Young, VB and Shah, YM}, title = {Microbial Metabolite Signaling Is Required for Systemic Iron Homeostasis.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {115-130.e6}, pmid = {31708445}, issn = {1932-7420}, support = {T32 HL007622/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA148828/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095201/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI116482/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI124255/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA130810/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Diamines/pharmacology ; Dimerization ; Duodenum/drug effects/microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Ferritins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Glyceraldehyde/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Iron/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus/genetics/*metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Middle Aged ; Organoids/drug effects/microbiology ; Probiotics/pharmacology ; Propane/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Iron is a central micronutrient needed by all living organisms. Competition for iron in the intestinal tract is essential for the maintenance of indigenous microbial populations and for host health. How symbiotic relationships between hosts and native microbes persist during times of iron limitation is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that indigenous bacteria possess an iron-dependent mechanism that inhibits host iron transport and storage. Using a high-throughput screen of microbial metabolites, we found that gut microbiota produce metabolites that suppress hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) a master transcription factor of intestinal iron absorption and increase the iron-storage protein ferritin, resulting in decreased intestinal iron absorption by the host. We identified 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP) and reuterin as inhibitors of HIF-2α via inhibition of heterodimerization. DAP and reuterin effectively ameliorated systemic iron overload. This work provides evidence of intestine-microbiota metabolic crosstalk that is essential for systemic iron homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid31707657, year = {2020}, author = {Kowallis, KA and Duvall, SW and Zhao, W and Childers, WS}, title = {Manipulation of Bacterial Signaling Using Engineered Histidine Kinases.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2077}, number = {}, pages = {141-163}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9884-5_10}, pmid = {31707657}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Biosensing Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Histidine/metabolism ; Histidine Kinase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Leucine Zippers ; Models, Molecular ; Phosphorylation ; Phylogeny ; Potassium/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Engineering ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Multimerization ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; *Signal Transduction ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Two-component systems allow bacteria to respond to changes in environmental or cytosolic conditions through autophosphorylation of a histidine kinase (HK) and subsequent transfer of the phosphate group to its downstream cognate response regulator (RR). The RR then elicits a cellular response, commonly through regulation of transcription. Engineering two-component system signaling networks provides a strategy to study bacterial signaling mechanisms related to bacterial cell survival, symbiosis, and virulence, and to develop sensory devices in synthetic biology. Here we focus on the principles for engineering the HK to identify unknown signal inputs, test signal transmission mechanisms, design small molecule sensors, and rewire two-component signaling networks.}, } @article {pmid31707439, year = {2020}, author = {Pawlowski, ML and Vuong, TD and Valliyodan, B and Nguyen, HT and Hartman, GL}, title = {Whole-genome resequencing identifies quantitative trait loci associated with mycorrhizal colonization of soybean.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {133}, number = {2}, pages = {409-417}, pmid = {31707439}, issn = {1432-2242}, mesh = {Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {A whole-genome resequencing-derived SNP dataset identified six quantitative trait loci (QTL) significantly associated with colonization of soybean by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Rhizophagus intraradices). Candidate genes identified in these QTL regions include homologs to known nodulin protein families and other symbiosis-specific genes. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form associations with over 80% of all terrestrial plant species and assist their host plants by increasing their nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and resilience against pathogens and pests. Genotypic variation of crop plants to AMF colonization has been identified in crops, including soybean; however, the genetics controlling levels of AMF colonization in soybean are unknown. The overall goal of our study was to identify genomic regions associated with mycorrhizal colonization in soybean using genome-wide association analysis. A diverse panel of 350 exotic soybean genotypes inoculated with Rhizophagus intraradices were microscopically evaluated for root colonization using a modified gridline intersect method. Root colonization differed significantly (P < 0.001) among genotypes and ranged from 11 to 70%. A whole-genome resequencing-derived SNP dataset identified six quantitative trait loci (QTL) significantly associated with R. intraradices colonization that explained 24% of the phenotypic variance. Candidate genes identified in these QTL regions include homologs to known nodulin protein families and other symbiosis-specific genes. The results showed there was a significant genetic component to the level of colonization by R. intraradices in soybean. This information may be useful in the development of AMF-sensitive soybean cultivars to enhance nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and disease resistance in the crop.}, } @article {pmid31707219, year = {2019}, author = {Stubbendieck, RM and Li, H and Currie, CR}, title = {Convergent evolution of signal-structure interfaces for maintaining symbioses.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {71-78}, pmid = {31707219}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {T15 LM007359/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/microbiology ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes are essential to the ecological success and evolutionary diversification of multicellular organisms. The establishment and stability of bipartite symbioses are shaped by mechanisms ensuring partner fidelity between host and symbiont. In this minireview, we demonstrate how the interface of chemical signals and host structures influences fidelity between legume root nodules and rhizobia, Hawaiian bobtail squid light organs and Allivibrio fischeri, and fungus-growing ant crypts and Pseudonocardia. Subsequently, we illustrate the morphological diversity and widespread phylogenetic distribution of specialized structures used by hosts to house microbial symbionts, indicating the importance of signal-structure interfaces across the history of multicellular life. These observations, and the insights garnered from well-studied bipartite associations, demonstrate the need to concentrate on the signal-structure interface in complex and multipartite systems, including the human microbiome.}, } @article {pmid31706562, year = {2020}, author = {Kalita, M and Małek, W}, title = {Root nodules of Genista germanica harbor Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium bacteria exchanging nodC and nodZ genes.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {126026}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126026}, pmid = {31706562}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genista/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A collection of 18 previously unstudied strains isolated from root nodules of Genista germanica (German greenweed) grown in southeast Poland was evaluated for the level of genetic diversity using the BOX-PCR technique and the phylogenetic relationship based on both core (16S rRNA, dnaK, ftsA, glnII, gyrB, recA, rpoB) and nodulation (nodC and nodZ) gene sequences. Each of the 18 G. germanica root nodule isolates displayed unique BOX-PCR patterns, indicating their high level of genomic heterogeneity. Based on the comparative 16S rDNA sequence analysis, 12 isolates were affiliated to the Bradyrhizobium genus and the other strains were most similar to Rhizobium species. Phylogenetic analysis of the core gene sequences indicated that the studied Bradyrhizobium bacteria were most closely related to Bradyrhizobium japonicum, whereas Rhizobium isolates were most closely related to Rhizobium lusitanum and R. leguminosarum. The phylogenies of nodC and nodZ for the Rhizobium strains were incongruent with each other and with the phylogenies inferred from the core gene sequences. All Rhizobium nodZ gene sequences acquired in this study were grouped with the sequences of Bradyrhizobium strains. Some of the studied Rhizobium isolates were placed in the nodC phylogenetic tree together with reference Rhizobium species, while the others were closely related to Bradyrhizobium bacteria. The results provided evidence for horizontal transfer of nodulation genes between Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium. However, the horizontal transfer of nod genes was not sufficient for Rhizobium strains to form nodules on G. germanica roots, suggesting that symbiotic genes have to be adapted to the bacterial genome.}, } @article {pmid31706437, year = {2019}, author = {Eberhardt, F and Crichton, M and Dahl, C and Nucera, R and Jenkins, J and Marx, W and Marshall, S}, title = {Role of dietary fibre in older adults with asymptomatic (AS) or symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD): Systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {Maturitas}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {57-67}, doi = {10.1016/j.maturitas.2019.10.006}, pmid = {31706437}, issn = {1873-4111}, mesh = {Aged ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Dietary Fiber/*administration & dosage ; Diverticular Diseases/*drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Dietary fibre and probiotics may play a role in the management of diverticular disease. This systematic review synthesises the evidence on the effects of dietary fibre modifications, with or without the use of probiotics, on the incidence in older adults of asymptomatic (AS) or symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD), as well as on gastrointestinal function and symptoms. Five electronic databases were searched for studies through to December 2018. The body of evidence was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE. Nine studies were included, with mean sample ages ranging from 57 to 70 years, and three meta-analyses were performed. Only one study, with high risk of bias, measured the effect of dietary fibre on the incidence of diverticulitis. Dietary fibre supplementation improved stool weight (MD: 42 g/day, P < 0.00001; GRADE level of evidence: low), but had no significant effect on gastrointestinal symptoms (SMD: -0.13, P = 0.16; GRADE level of evidence: low) or stool transit time (MD: -3.70, P = 0.32 GRADE level of evidence: low). There was "very low" confidence for the body of evidence supporting symbiotics for AS or SUDD. A high dietary fibre intake, in line with dietary guidelines, may improve gastrointestinal function and is recommended in patients with AS or SUDD. Dietary fibre supplementation should be considered on an individualised basis to improve bowel function, while any recommendation on symbiotic supplements requires further well-designed research. Future studies should also measure the impact on the incidence of diverticulitis.}, } @article {pmid31706115, year = {2020}, author = {Zheng, S and Li, Z and Zhang, P and Wang, B and Zhang, P and Feng, Y}, title = {Multi-walled carbon nanotubes accelerate interspecies electron transfer between Geobacter cocultures.}, journal = {Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {131}, number = {}, pages = {107346}, doi = {10.1016/j.bioelechem.2019.107346}, pmid = {31706115}, issn = {1878-562X}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Biomass ; Culture Media ; Electron Transport ; Ethanol/metabolism ; Geobacter/*drug effects/metabolism ; Nanotubes, Carbon/*toxicity ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been reported to promote symbiotic metabolism in bacteria by accelerating interspecies electron transfer. However, this phenomenon has not been investigated or proven in a cocultures system. In this study, multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) were added into Geobacter cocultures systems with the ability of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). Results showed that addition of MWCNTs accelerated the metabolic rate of the cocultures. Succinate production rate in a test with 1.0gL[-1] MWCNTs was 1.12mM d[-1], 1.67 times higher than without MWCNTs. However, the biotoxicity effect became evident with the addition of much higher levels of MWCNTs addition. This study supports the possibility that carbon nanotubes accelerate interspecies electron transfer and provides a theoretical basis for the MWCNTs application in the process of anaerobic wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid31706032, year = {2019}, author = {He, J and Zhang, C and Dai, H and Liu, H and Zhang, X and Yang, J and Chen, X and Zhu, Y and Wang, D and Qi, X and Li, W and Wang, Z and An, G and Yu, N and He, Z and Wang, YF and Xiao, Y and Zhang, P and Wang, E}, title = {A LysM Receptor Heteromer Mediates Perception of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiotic Signal in Rice.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {1561-1576}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2019.10.015}, pmid = {31706032}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Oryza/cytology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; *Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms improve nutrient uptake by plants. To initiate mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plants perceive Myc factors, including lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and short-chain chitooligosaccharides (CO4/CO5), secreted by AM fungi. However, the molecular mechanism of Myc factor perception remains elusive. In this study, we identified a heteromer of LysM receptor-like kinases consisting of OsMYR1/OsLYK2 and OsCERK1 that mediates the perception of AM fungi in rice. CO4 directly binds to OsMYR1, promoting the dimerization and phosphorylation of this receptor complex. Compared with control plants, Osmyr1 and Oscerk1 mutant rice plants are less sensitive to Myc factors and show decreased AM colonization. We engineered transgenic rice by expressing chimeric receptors that respectively replaced the ectodomains of OsMYR1 and OsCERK1 with those from the homologous Nod factor receptors MtNFP and MtLYK3 of Medicago truncatula. Transgenic plants displayed increased calcium oscillations in response to Nod factors compared with control rice. Our study provides significant mechanistic insights into AM symbiotic signal perception in rice. Expression of chimeric Nod/Myc receptors achieves a potentially important step toward generating cereals that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, } @article {pmid31701477, year = {2020}, author = {Catalani, GC and Camargo, RS and Sousa, KKA and Caldato, N and Silva, AAC and Forti, LC}, title = {Fat-Soluble Substance Flow During Symbiotic Fungus Cultivation by Leaf-Cutter Ants.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {116-123}, pmid = {31701477}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Coloring Agents ; Fungi ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutter ants perform a series of specialized behaviors in preparing plant substrates for their symbiotic fungus. This process may be related to contamination of workers by substances such as insecticides, leading us to hypothesize that substances are spread among workers through behaviors they perform to grow the fungus. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the behavioral acts of workers during the processing of the pellets by using a fat-soluble tracing dye, since the active ingredient that composes toxic baits, used for control of leaf-cutter ants, is fat-soluble. The frequencies of performed behaviors were recorded and the number of dyed workers was assessed after fungus cultivation. The most frequent behavior is allogrooming and corresponds to 45.87% of the contamination process in workers, followed by holding, licking, and cutting pellets, which account for 40.22% of the process. After pellet processing, the workers had their external and internal morphological structures marked by the tracing dye-93.75% and 79.25%, respectively. These results confirm that behaviors performed during fungus cultivation contribute to dispersing substances such as insecticides, causing the contamination of workers.}, } @article {pmid31701295, year = {2019}, author = {Margarita, V and Marongiu, A and Diaz, N and Dessì, D and Fiori, PL and Rappelli, P}, title = {Prevalence of double-stranded RNA virus in Trichomonas vaginalis isolated in Italy and association with the symbiont Mycoplasma hominis.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {118}, number = {12}, pages = {3565-3570}, pmid = {31701295}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance ; Humans ; Italy ; Metronidazole/pharmacology ; Mycoplasma hominis/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Prevalence ; RNA Viruses/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Trichomonas Infections/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology/*virology ; }, abstract = {The flagellated protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis, responsible for trichomoniasis, can establish a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Mycoplasma hominis and can harbor double-stranded RNA Trichomonasvirus (TVV). In this study, we investigated by real-time PCR the prevalence of the four TVVs and of M. hominis among 48 T. vaginalis strains isolated in Italy, and we evaluated a possible association with metronidazole resistance. Fifty percent of the analyzed trichomonad strains tested positive for at least one TVV T. vaginalis, with TVV2 being the most prevalent, followed by TVV1 and TVV3. Two T. vaginalis strains were infected by TVV4, detected in Europe for the first time. Interestingly, we found more than one TVV species in 75% of positive trichomonad strains. M. hominis was present in 81.25% of T. vaginalis isolates tested, and no statistically significant association was observed with the infection by any TVV. Metronidazole sensitivity of T. vaginalis isolates was evaluated in vitro, and no correlation was observed between minimal lethal concentration and the presence of TVVs. This is the first report on TVV infection of T. vaginalis in Italy. Even if no association of TVV positive isolates with the presence of the symbiont M. hominis or with metronidazole resistance was observed, further studies are needed to shed light on the effective role of infecting microorganisms on the pathophysiology of T. vaginalis.}, } @article {pmid31700111, year = {2019}, author = {Cui, L and Guo, F and Zhang, J and Yang, S and Meng, J and Geng, Y and Li, X and Wan, S}, title = {Synergy of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and exogenous Ca[2+] benefits peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growth through the shared hormone and flavonoid pathway.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {16281}, pmid = {31700111}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Peanut yield is severely affected by exchangeable calcium ion (Ca[2+]) deficiency in the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis increases the absorption of Ca[2+] for host plants. Here, we analyzed the physiological and transcriptional changes in the roots of Arachis hypogaea L. colonized by Funneliformis mosseae under Ca[2+]-deficient and -sufficient conditions. The results showed that exogenous Ca[2+] application increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, plant dry weight, and Ca content of AM plants. Simultaneously, transcriptome analysis showed that Ca[2+] application further induced 74.5% of differentially expressed gene transcripts in roots of AM peanut seedlings. These genes are involved in AM symbiosis development, hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, and carotenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. The transcripts of AM-specific marker genes in AM plants with Ca[2+] deprivation were further up-regulated by Ca[2+] application. Gibberellic acid (GA3) and flavonoid contents were higher in roots of AM- and Ca[2+]-treated plants, but salicylic acid (SA) and carotenoid contents specifically increased in roots of the AM plants. Thus, these results suggest that the synergy of AM symbiosis and Ca[2+] improves plant growth due to the shared GA- and flavonoid-mediated pathway, whereas SA and carotenoid biosynthesis in peanut roots are specific to AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31699770, year = {2019}, author = {Halsør, MH and Liaimer, A and Pandur, S and Ræder, ILU and Smalås, AO and Altermark, B}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Symbiotically Competent Cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. Strain KVJ20.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {45}, pages = {}, pmid = {31699770}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Nostoc sp. strain KVJ20 was isolated from the symbiotic organs of the liverwort Blasia pusilla This cyanobacterium has been shown to have broad symbiotic competence, and bacterial extracts have inhibitory effects on cancer cell lines and microbes. An array of genes for the production of secondary metabolites is present.}, } @article {pmid31699041, year = {2019}, author = {Yuen, B and Polzin, J and Petersen, JM}, title = {Organ transcriptomes of the lucinid clam Loripes orbiculatus (Poli, 1791) provide insights into their specialised roles in the biology of a chemosymbiotic bivalve.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {820}, pmid = {31699041}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bivalvia/cytology/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Environment ; Foot/physiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Nutrients/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The lucinid clam Loripes orbiculatus lives in a nutritional symbiosis with sulphur-oxidizing bacteria housed in its gills. Although our understanding of the lucinid endosymbiont physiology and metabolism has made significant progress, relatively little is known about how the host regulates the symbiosis at the genetic and molecular levels. We generated transcriptomes from four L. orbiculatus organs (gills, foot, visceral mass, and mantle) for differential expression analyses, to better understand this clam's physiological adaptations to a chemosymbiotic lifestyle, and how it regulates nutritional and immune interactions with its symbionts.

RESULTS: The transcriptome profile of the symbiont-housing gill suggests the regulation of apoptosis and innate immunity are important processes in this organ. We also identified many transcripts encoding ion transporters from the solute carrier family that possibly allow metabolite exchange between host and symbiont. Despite the clam holobiont's clear reliance on chemosynthesis, the clam's visceral mass, which contains the digestive tract, is characterised by enzymes involved in digestion, carbohydrate recognition and metabolism, suggesting that L. orbiculatus has a mixotrophic diet. The foot transcriptome is dominated by the biosynthesis of glycoproteins for the construction of mucus tubes, and receptors that mediate the detection of chemical cues in the environment.

CONCLUSIONS: The transcriptome profiles of gills, mantle, foot and visceral mass provide insights into the molecular basis underlying the functional specialisation of bivalve organs adapted to a chemosymbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid31695715, year = {2019}, author = {Díaz-Valle, A and López-Calleja, AC and Alvarez-Venegas, R}, title = {Enhancement of Pathogen Resistance in Common Bean Plants by Inoculation With Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1317}, pmid = {31695715}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic Rhizobium-legume associations are mediated by exchange of chemical signals that eventually result in the development of a nitrogen-fixing nodule. Such signal interactions are thought to be at the center of the plants' capacity either to activate a defense response or to suppress the defense response to allow colonization by symbiotic bacteria. In addition, the colonization of plant roots by rhizobacteria activates an induced condition of improved defensive capacity in plants known as induced systemic resistance, based on "defense priming," which protects unexposed plant tissues from biotic stress.Here, we demonstrate that inoculation of common bean plants with Rhizobium etli resulted in a robust resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. Indeed, inoculation with R. etli was associated with a reduction in the lesion size caused by the pathogen and lower colony forming units compared to mock-inoculated plants. Activation of the induced resistance was associated with an accumulation of the reactive oxygen species superoxide anion (O2 [-]) and a faster and stronger callose deposition. Transcription of defense related genes in plants treated with R. etli exhibit a pattern that is typical of the priming response. In addition, R. etli-primed plants developed a transgenerational defense memory and could produce offspring that were more resistant to halo blight disease. R. etli is a rhizobacteria that could reduce the proliferation of the virulent strain P. syringae pv. phaseolicola in common bean plants and should be considered as a potentially beneficial and eco-friendly tool in plant disease management.}, } @article {pmid31695714, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, P and Dumroese, RK and Pinto, JR}, title = {Organic or Inorganic Nitrogen and Rhizobia Inoculation Provide Synergistic Growth Response of a Leguminous Forb and Tree.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1308}, pmid = {31695714}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Our objective was to better understand how organic and inorganic nitrogen (N) forms supplied to a tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, and a perennial forb, Lupinus latifolius, affected plant growth and performance of their symbiotic, N-fixing rhizobia. In one experiment, we tested five sources of N [none; three inorganic forms (ammonium, nitrate, ammonium-nitrate); and an organic form (arginine)] in combination with or without rhizobia inoculation. We measured seedling morphology, allometry, nodule biomass, and N status. A second experiment explored combinations of supplied [15]N and inoculation to examine if inorganic or organic N was deleterious to nodule N-fixation. Plant growth was similar among N forms. A positive response of nodule biomass to N was greater in Robinia than Lupinus. For Robinia, inorganic ammonium promoted more nodule biomass than organic arginine. N-fixation was concurrent with robust supply of either inorganic or organic N, and N supply and inoculation significantly interacted to enhance growth of Robinia. For Lupinus, the main effects of inoculation and N supply increased growth but no interaction was observed. Our results indicate that these important restoration species for forest ecosystems respond well to organic or inorganic N forms (or various forms of inorganic N), suggest that the nodulation response may depend on plant species, and show that, in terms of plant growth, N supply and nodulation can be synergistic.}, } @article {pmid31695035, year = {2019}, author = {Feng, F and Sun, J and Radhakrishnan, GV and Lee, T and Bozsóki, Z and Fort, S and Gavrin, A and Gysel, K and Thygesen, MB and Andersen, KR and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J and Oldroyd, GED}, title = {A combination of chitooligosaccharide and lipochitooligosaccharide recognition promotes arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {5047}, pmid = {31695035}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/J004553/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; BB/K003712/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; }, mesh = {Cell Death ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; Tobacco ; }, abstract = {Plants associate with beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi facilitating nutrient acquisition. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi produce chitooligosaccharides (COs) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), that promote symbiosis signalling with resultant oscillations in nuclear-associated calcium. The activation of symbiosis signalling must be balanced with activation of immunity signalling, which in fungal interactions is promoted by COs resulting from the chitinaceous fungal cell wall. Here we demonstrate that COs ranging from CO4-CO8 can induce symbiosis signalling in Medicago truncatula. CO perception is a function of the receptor-like kinases MtCERK1 and LYR4, that activate both immunity and symbiosis signalling. A combination of LCOs and COs act synergistically to enhance symbiosis signalling and suppress immunity signalling and receptors involved in both CO and LCO perception are necessary for mycorrhizal establishment. We conclude that LCOs, when present in a mix with COs, drive a symbiotic outcome and this mix of signals is essential for arbuscular mycorrhizal establishment.}, } @article {pmid31694161, year = {2019}, author = {Amedei, A and Morbidelli, L}, title = {Circulating Metabolites Originating from Gut Microbiota Control Endothelial Cell Function.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {31694161}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism/physiopathology ; Cell Survival/physiology ; Endothelial Cells/*metabolism/*physiology ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Cardiovascular functionality strictly depends on endothelial cell trophism and proper biochemical function. Any condition (environmental, pharmacological/toxicological, physical, or neuro-humoral) that changes the vascular endothelium has great consequences for the organism's wellness and on the outcome and evolution of severe cardiovascular pathologies. Thus, knowledge of the mechanisms, both endogenous and external, that affect endothelial dysfunction is pivotal to preventing and treating these disorders. In recent decades, significant attention has been focused on gut microbiota and how these symbiotic microorganisms can influence host health and disease development. Indeed, dysbiosis has been reported to be at the base of a range of different pathologies, including pathologies of the cardiovascular system. The study of the mechanism underlying this relationship has led to the identification of a series of metabolites (released by gut bacteria) that exert different effects on all the components of the vascular system, and in particular on endothelial cells. The imbalance of factors promoting or blunting endothelial cell viability and function and angiogenesis seems to be a potential target for the development of new therapeutic interventions. This review highlights the circulating factors identified to date, either directly produced by gut microbes or resulting from the metabolism of diet derivatives as polyphenols.}, } @article {pmid31693775, year = {2019}, author = {Bellantuono, AJ and Dougan, KE and Granados-Cifuentes, C and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Free-living and symbiotic lifestyles of a thermotolerant coral endosymbiont display profoundly distinct transcriptomes under both stable and heat stress conditions.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {24}, pages = {5265-5281}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15300}, pmid = {31693775}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Heat-Shock Response/*genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Life Style ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Temperature ; Thermotolerance ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals depend upon a nutritional endosymbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae for the majority of their energetic needs. While this mutualistic relationship is impacted by numerous stressors, warming oceans are a predominant threat to coral reefs, placing the future of the world's reefs in peril. Some Symbiodiniaceae species exhibit tolerance to thermal stress, but the in hospite symbiont response to thermal stress is underexplored. To describe the underpinnings of symbiosis and heat stress response, we compared in hospite and free-living transcriptomes of Durusdinium trenchii, a pan-tropical heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae species, under stable temperature conditions and acute hyperthermal stress. We discovered that symbiotic state was a larger driver of the transcriptional landscape than heat stress. The majority of differentially expressed transcripts between in hospite and free-living cells were downregulated, suggesting the in hospite condition is associated with the shutdown of numerous processes uniquely required for a free-living lifestyle. In the free-living state, we identified enrichment for numerous cell signalling pathways and other functions related to detecting and responding to a changing environment, as well as transcripts relating to mitosis, meiosis, and motility. In contrast, in hospite cells exhibited enhanced transcriptional activity for photosynthesis and carbohydrate transport as well as chromatin modifications and a disrupted circadian clock. Hyperthermal stress induced drastic alteration of transcriptional activity in hospite, suggesting symbiotic engagement with the host elicited an exacerbated stress response when compared to free-living D. trenchii. Altogether, the dramatic differences in gene expression between in hospite and free-living D. trenchii indicate the importance of considering symbiotic state in investigations of symbiosis and hyperthermal stress in Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid31693769, year = {2019}, author = {Simona, F and Zhang, H and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Evidence for a role of protein phosphorylation in the maintenance of the cnidarian-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {24}, pages = {5373-5386}, pmid = {31693769}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics ; Dinoflagellida ; *Ecosystem ; Phosphorylation/*genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Sea Anemones/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and photosynthetic dinoflagellate algae provides the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. This essential interaction is globally threatened by anthropogenic disturbance. As such, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning the cnidarian-algal association. Here we investigated phosphorylation-mediated protein signalling as a mechanism of regulation of the cnidarian-algal interaction, and we report on the generation of the first phosphoproteome for the coral model system Aiptasia. Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics using data-independent acquisition allowed consistent quantification of over 3,000 phosphopeptides totalling more than 1,600 phosphoproteins across aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) and symbiotic anemones. Comparison of the symbiotic states showed distinct phosphoproteomic profiles attributable to the differential phosphorylation of 539 proteins that cover a broad range of functions, from receptors to structural and signal transduction proteins. A subsequent pathway enrichment analysis identified the processes of "protein digestion and absorption," "carbohydrate metabolism," and "protein folding, sorting and degradation," and highlighted differential phosphorylation of the "phospholipase D signalling pathway" and "protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum." Targeted phosphorylation of the phospholipase D signalling pathway suggests control of glutamate vesicle trafficking across symbiotic compartments, and phosphorylation of the endoplasmic reticulum machinery suggests recycling of symbiosome-associated proteins. Our study shows for the first time that changes in the phosphorylation status of proteins between aposymbiotic and symbiotic Aiptasia anemones may play a role in the regulation of the cnidarian-algal symbiosis. This is the first phosphoproteomic study of a cnidarian-algal symbiotic association as well as the first application of quantification by data-independent acquisition in the coral field.}, } @article {pmid31693273, year = {2020}, author = {Zink, KE and Tarnowski, DA and Mandel, MJ and Sanchez, LM}, title = {Optimization of a minimal sample preparation protocol for imaging mass spectrometry of unsectioned juvenile invertebrates.}, journal = {Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {e4458}, pmid = {31693273}, issn = {1096-9888}, support = {F31 CA236237/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; F31CA236237/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; /NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI117262/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aging ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/cytology/*microbiology ; Dissection/*methods ; Invertebrates/cytology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tissue sections have long been the subject matter for the application of imaging mass spectrometry, but recently the technique has been adapted for many other purposes including bacterial colonies and 3D cell culture. Here, we present a simple preparation method for unsectioned invertebrate tissue without the need for fixing, embedding, or slicing. The protocol was used to successfully prepare a Hawaiian bobtail squid hatchling for analysis, and the resulting data detected ions that correspond to compounds present in the host only during its symbiotic colonization by Vibrio fischeri.}, } @article {pmid31693153, year = {2020}, author = {Yubuki, N and Galindo, LJ and Reboul, G and López-García, P and Brown, MW and Pollet, N and Moreira, D}, title = {Ancient Adaptive Lateral Gene Transfers in the Symbiotic Opalina-Blastocystis Stramenopile Lineage.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {651-659}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msz250}, pmid = {31693153}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/*genetics ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Blastocystis/classification/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Ranidae/parasitology ; Stramenopiles/classification/*genetics ; Xenopus/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Lateral gene transfer is a very common process in bacterial and archaeal evolution, playing an important role in the adaptation to new environments. In eukaryotes, its role and frequency remain highly debated, although recent research supports that gene transfer from bacteria to diverse eukaryotes may be much more common than previously appreciated. However, most of this research focused on animals and the true phylogenetic and functional impact of bacterial genes in less-studied microbial eukaryotic groups remains largely unknown. Here, we have analyzed transcriptome data from the deep-branching stramenopile Opalinidae, common members of frog gut microbiomes, and distantly related to the well-known genus Blastocystis. Phylogenetic analyses suggest the early acquisition of several bacterial genes in a common ancestor of both lineages. Those lateral gene transfers most likely facilitated the adaptation of the free-living ancestor of the Opalinidae-Blastocystis symbiotic group to new niches in the oxygen-depleted animal gut environment.}, } @article {pmid31692206, year = {2020}, author = {Alves Monteiro, HJ and Brahmi, C and Mayfield, AB and Vidal-Dupiol, J and Lapeyre, B and Le Luyer, J}, title = {Molecular mechanisms of acclimation to long-term elevated temperature exposure in marine symbioses.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {1271-1284}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14907}, pmid = {31692206}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {//Labex CORAIL/International ; //IFREMER/International ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Polynesia ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Seawater temperature rise in French Polynesia has repeatedly resulted in the bleaching of corals and giant clams. Because giant clams possess distinctive ectosymbiotic features, they represent a unique and powerful model for comparing molecular pathways involved in (a) maintenance of symbiosis and (b) acquisition of thermotolerance among coral reef organisms. Herein, we explored the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the clam hosts and their photosynthetically active symbionts over a 65 day experiment in which clams were exposed to either normal or environmentally relevant elevated seawater temperatures. Additionally, we used metabarcoding data coupled with in situ sampling/survey data to explore the relative importance of holobiont adaptation (i.e., a symbiont community shift) versus acclimation (i.e., physiological changes at the molecular level) in the clams' responses to environmental change. We finally compared transcriptomic data to publicly available genomic datasets for Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates (both cultured and in hospite with the coral Pocillopora damicornis) to better tease apart the responses of both hosts and specific symbiont genotypes in this mutualistic association. Gene module preservation analysis revealed that the function of the symbionts' photosystem II was impaired at high temperature, and this response was also found across all holobionts and Symbiodiniaceae lineages examined. Similarly, epigenetic modulation appeared to be a key response mechanism for symbionts in hospite with giant clams exposed to high temperatures, and such modulation was able to distinguish thermotolerant from thermosensitive Cladocopium goreaui ecotypes; epigenetic processes may, then, represent a promising research avenue for those interested in coral reef conservation in this era of changing global climate.}, } @article {pmid31691429, year = {2019}, author = {Kamra, K and Kaur, H and Na, S and Abraham, JS and Somasundaram, S and Makhija, S and Toteja, R and Warren, A and Gupta, R}, title = {Symposium Report: International Symposium on Ciliate Biology, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India, 04-06 April 2018.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12773}, pmid = {31691429}, issn = {1550-7408}, abstract = {Ciliated protists have attracted wide interest among researchers from the Indian subcontinent in the last few years. An International Symposium on Ciliate Biology (ISCB) 2018 was held on 04-06 April 2018 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India. The symposium represented a synergy with International Research Coordination Network for Biodiversity of Ciliates (IRCN-BC), an affiliate society of International Society of Protistologists (ISOP). The symposium provided a platform for Indian and International delegates to exchange knowledge, present their latest research findings, and establish collaborations as well as creating a networking opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Nine foreign delegates from 5 countries and 300 Indian delegates actively participated in the event which included 22 oral and 57 poster presentations.}, } @article {pmid31690886, year = {2020}, author = {Pernice, M and Raina, JB and Rädecker, N and Cárdenas, A and Pogoreutz, C and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Down to the bone: the role of overlooked endolithic microbiomes in reef coral health.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {325-334}, pmid = {31690886}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*microbiology ; Archaea/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Fungi/metabolism ; Microalgae ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals harbour an astonishing diversity of microorganisms, including endosymbiotic microalgae, bacteria, archaea, and fungi. The metabolic interactions within this symbiotic consortium are fundamental to the ecological success of corals and the unique productivity of coral reef ecosystems. Over the last two decades, scientific efforts have been primarily channelled into dissecting the symbioses occurring in coral tissues. Although easily accessible, this compartment is only 2-3 mm thick, whereas the underlying calcium carbonate skeleton occupies the vast internal volume of corals. Far from being devoid of life, the skeleton harbours a wide array of algae, endolithic fungi, heterotrophic bacteria, and other boring eukaryotes, often forming distinct bands visible to the bare eye. Some of the critical functions of these endolithic microorganisms in coral health, such as nutrient cycling and metabolite transfer, which could enable the survival of corals during thermal stress, have long been demonstrated. In addition, some of these microorganisms can dissolve calcium carbonate, weakening the coral skeleton and therefore may play a major role in reef erosion. Yet, experimental data are wanting due to methodological limitations. Recent technological and conceptual advances now allow us to tease apart the complex physical, ecological, and chemical interactions at the heart of coral endolithic microbial communities. These new capabilities have resulted in an excellent body of research and provide an exciting outlook to further address the functional microbial ecology of the "overlooked" coral skeleton.}, } @article {pmid31690032, year = {2019}, author = {Kosolapova, AO and Belousov, MV and Sulatskaya, AI and Belousova, ME and Sulatsky, MI and Antonets, KS and Volkov, KV and Lykholay, AN and Shtark, OY and Vasileva, EN and Zhukov, VA and Ivanova, AN and Zykin, PA and Kuznetsova, IM and Turoverov, KK and Tikhonovich, IA and Nizhnikov, AA}, title = {Two Novel Amyloid Proteins, RopA and RopB, from the Root Nodule Bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31690032}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Amyloidogenic Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Plants/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Amyloids represent protein fibrils with a highly ordered spatial structure, which not only cause dozens of incurable human and animal diseases but also play vital biological roles in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Despite the fact that association of bacterial amyloids with microbial pathogenesis and infectious diseases is well known, there is a lack of information concerning the amyloids of symbiotic bacteria. In this study, using the previously developed proteomic method for screening and identification of amyloids (PSIA), we identified amyloidogenic proteins in the proteome of the root nodule bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum. Among 54 proteins identified, we selected two proteins, RopA and RopB, which are predicted to have β-barrel structure and are likely to be involved in the control of plant-microbial symbiosis. We demonstrated that the full-length RopA and RopB form bona fide amyloid fibrils in vitro. In particular, these fibrils are β-sheet-rich, bind Thioflavin T (ThT), exhibit green birefringence upon staining with Congo Red (CR), and resist treatment with ionic detergents and proteases. The heterologously expressed RopA and RopB intracellularly aggregate in yeast and assemble into amyloid fibrils at the surface of Escherichia coli. The capsules of the R. leguminosarum cells bind CR, exhibit green birefringence, and contain fibrils of RopA and RopB in vivo.}, } @article {pmid31689451, year = {2019}, author = {Cervantes, L and Miranda-Sánchez, F and Torres Tejerizo, G and Romero, D and Brom, S}, title = {Plasmid pSfr64a and the symbiotic plasmid pSfr64b of Sinorhizobium fredii GR64 control each other's conjugative transfer through quorum-sensing elements.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {106}, number = {}, pages = {102443}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2019.102443}, pmid = {31689451}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Plasmids/*genetics ; *Quorum Sensing ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are nitrogen-fixing symbionts of plants. Their genomes frequently contain large plasmids, some of which are able to perform conjugative transfer. Plasmid pSfr64a from Sinorhizobium fredii GR64 is a conjugative plasmid, whose transfer is regulated by quorum sensing genes encoded by itself (traR64a, traI64a), in the symbiotic plasmid pSfr64b (traR64b, traI64b), and in the chromosome (ngrI). Also, transfer of pSfr64b requires quorum sensing elements encoded in this plasmid (traR64b, traI64b), in pSfr64a (traR64a), and in the chromosome (ngrI). These results demonstrate that pSfr64a and the symbiotic plasmid depend on each other for conjugative transfer. Plasmid pSfr64a from S. fredii GR64 is unable to transfer from the genomic background of Rhizobium etli CFN42. Our results show that the relaxase of pRet42a is able to process the oriT of pSfr64a, and viceversa, underlining their functional similarity and suggesting that in addition to the external signals, the "cytoplasmic environment" may pose a barrier to plasmid dissemination, even if the plasmids are functional in other aspects.}, } @article {pmid31689396, year = {2019}, author = {Engel, MS}, title = {Termite Evolution: A Primal Knock on Wood or a Hearty Mouthful of Dirt.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {21}, pages = {R1126-R1129}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.016}, pmid = {31689396}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Tract ; *Isoptera ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Termite success is inexorably linked to their diet and symbiotic cellulolytic intestinal microorganisms. A new study reveals that soil feeding may have triggered a turnover in intestinal symbionts, rather than ectosymbiont cultivation, allowing termites to achieve ecological dominance.}, } @article {pmid31689391, year = {2019}, author = {Delaux, PM and Hetherington, AJ and Coudert, Y and Delwiche, C and Dunand, C and Gould, S and Kenrick, P and Li, FW and Philippe, H and Rensing, SA and Rich, M and Strullu-Derrien, C and de Vries, J}, title = {Reconstructing trait evolution in plant evo-devo studies.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {21}, pages = {R1110-R1118}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.044}, pmid = {31689391}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Life History Traits ; *Plants ; }, abstract = {Our planet is teeming with an astounding diversity of plants. In a mere single group of closely related species, tremendous diversity can be observed in their form and function - the colour of petals in flowering plants, the shape of the fronds in ferns, and the branching pattern of the gametophyte in mosses. Diversity can also be found in subtler traits, such as the resistance to pathogens or the ability to recruit symbiotic microbes from the environment. Plant traits can also be highly conserved - at the cellular and metabolic levels, entire biosynthetic pathways are present in all plant groups, and morphological characteristics such as vascular tissues have been conserved for hundreds of millions of years. The research community that seeks to understand these traits - both the diverse and the conserved - by taking an evolutionary point-of-view on plant biology is growing. Here, we summarize a subset of the different aspects of plant evolutionary biology, provide a guide for structuring comparative biology approaches and discuss the pitfalls that (plant) researchers should avoid when embarking on such studies.}, } @article {pmid31687914, year = {2020}, author = {O'Banion, BS and O'Neal, L and Alexandre, G and Lebeis, SL}, title = {Bridging the Gap Between Single-Strain and Community-Level Plant-Microbe Chemical Interactions.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {124-134}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-19-0115-CR}, pmid = {31687914}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Although the influence of microbiomes on the health of plant hosts is evident, specific mechanisms shaping the structure and dynamics of microbial communities in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere are only beginning to become clear. Traditionally, plant-microbe interactions have been studied using cultured microbial isolates and plant hosts but the rising use of 'omics tools provides novel snapshots of the total complex community in situ. Here, we discuss the recent advances in tools and techniques used to monitor plant-microbe interactions and the chemical signals that influence these relationships in above- and belowground tissues. Particularly, we highlight advances in integrated microscopy that allow observation of the chemical exchange between individual plant and microbial cells, as well as high-throughput, culture-independent approaches to investigate the total genetic and metabolic contribution of the community. The chemicals discussed have been identified as relevant signals across experimental spectrums. However, mechanistic insight into the specific interactions mediated by many of these chemicals requires further testing. Experimental designs that attempt to bridge the gap in biotic complexity between single strains and whole communities will advance our understanding of the chemical signals governing plant-microbe associations in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere.}, } @article {pmid31687412, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Zhu, L and Qin, S}, title = {Gut Microbiota Modulation on Intestinal Mucosal Adaptive Immunity.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {4735040}, pmid = {31687412}, issn = {2314-7156}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; *Immunomodulation ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/*metabolism ; Metabolomics/methods ; Receptors, Fc/immunology ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine harbors a remarkable number of microbes and their components and metabolites, which are fundamental for the instigation and development of the host immune system. The intestinal innate and adaptive immunity coordinate and interact with the symbionts contributing to the intestinal homeostasis through establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship by tolerating to symbiotic microbiota and retaining the ability to exert proinflammatory response towards invasive pathogens. Imbalance between the intestinal immune system and commensal organisms disrupts the intestinal microbiological homeostasis, leading to microbiota dysbiosis, compromised integrity of the intestinal barrier, and proinflammatory immune responses towards symbionts. This, in turn, exacerbates the degree of the imbalance. Intestinal adaptive immunity plays a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance towards symbionts and the integrity of intestinal barrier, while the innate immune system regulates the adaptive immune responses to intestinal commensal bacteria. In this review, we will summarize recent findings on the effects and mechanisms of gut microbiota on intestinal adaptive immunity and the plasticity of several immune cells under diverse microenvironmental settings.}, } @article {pmid31686336, year = {2019}, author = {Durden, L and Wang, D and Panaccione, D and Clay, K}, title = {Decreased Root-Knot Nematode Gall Formation in Roots of the Morning Glory Ipomoea tricolor Symbiotic with Ergot Alkaloid-Producing Fungal Periglandula Sp.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {45}, number = {10}, pages = {879-887}, pmid = {31686336}, issn = {1573-1561}, support = {R15 GM114774/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ergot Alkaloids/analysis/*chemistry ; Hypocreales/*metabolism ; Ipomoea/chemistry/metabolism/*parasitology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/parasitology ; Plant Tumors/parasitology ; Seeds/chemistry/metabolism ; Soil/parasitology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; Tylenchoidea/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many species of morning glories (Convolvulaceae) form symbioses with seed-transmitted Periglandula fungal endosymbionts, which produce ergot alkaloids and may contribute to defensive mutualism. Allocation of seed-borne ergot alkaloids to various tissues of several Ipomoea species has been demonstrated, including roots of I. tricolor. The goal of this study was to determine if infection of I. tricolor by the Periglandula sp. endosymbiont affects Southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) gall formation and host plant biomass. We hypothesized that I. tricolor plants infected by Periglandula (E+) would develop fewer nematode-induced galls compared to non-symbiotic plants (E-). E+ or E- status of plant lines was confirmed by testing methanol extracts from individual seeds for endosymbiont-produced ergot alkaloids. To test the effects of Periglandula on nematode colonization, E+ and E- I. tricolor seedlings were grown in soil infested with high densities of M. incognita nematodes (N+) or no nematodes (N-) for four weeks in the greenhouse before harvesting. After harvest, nematode colonization of roots was visualized microscopically, and total gall number and plant biomass were quantified. Four ergot alkaloids were detected in roots of E+ plants, but no alkaloids were found in E- plants. Gall formation was reduced by 50% in E+ plants compared to E- plants, independent of root biomass. Both N+ plants and E+ plants had significantly reduced biomass compared to N- and E- plants, respectively. These results demonstrate Periglandula's defensive role against biotic enemies, albeit with a potential trade-off with host plant growth.}, } @article {pmid31686318, year = {2020}, author = {Li, J and Rui, J and Li, Y and Tang, N and Zhan, S and Jiang, J and Li, X}, title = {Ambient temperature alters body size and gut microbiota of Xenopus tropicalis.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {63}, number = {6}, pages = {915-925}, pmid = {31686318}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Body Size ; Environment ; Food Microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Temperature ; Water Microbiology ; Xenopus ; }, abstract = {Temperature is important to determine physiological status of ectotherms. However, it is still not fully understood how amphibians and their symbiotic microbiota acclimate to ambient temperature. In this study, we investigated the changes of gut microbiota of Xenopus tropicalis at different temperatures under controlled laboratory conditions. The results showed that microbial communities were distinct and shared only a small overlap among froglet guts, culture water and food samples. Furthermore, the dominant taxa harbored in the gut exhibited low relative abundance in water and food. It indicates that bacterial taxa selected by amphibian gut were generally of low abundance in the external environment. Temperature could affect beta-diversity of gut microbiota in terms of phylogenetic distance, but it did not affect alpha diversity. The composition of gut microbiota was similar in warm and cool treatments. However, signature taxa in different temperature environments were identified. The relationships between temperature, gut microbiota and morphology traits of X. tropicalis revealed in this study help us to predict the consequences of environmental changes on ectothermic animals.}, } @article {pmid31686120, year = {2020}, author = {Deng, ZS and Kong, ZY and Zhang, BC and Zhao, LF}, title = {Insights into non-symbiotic plant growth promotion bacteria associated with nodules of Sphaerophysa salsula growing in northwestern China.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {399-409}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01752-7}, pmid = {31686120}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacillus pumilus/*metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; China ; Endophytes/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Siderophores ; Streptomyces/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In addition to rhizobia, other non-symbiotic endophytic bacteria also have been simultaneously isolated from the same root nodules. The existence of non-symbiotic endophytic bacteria in leguminous root nodules is a universal phenomenon. The vast majority of studies have detected endophytic bacteria in other plant tissues. In contrast, little systemic observation has been made on the non-symbiotic endophytic bacteria within leguminous root nodules. The present investigation was carried out to isolate plant growth-promoting endophytic non-symbiotic bacteria from indigenous leguminous Sphaerophysa salsula and their influence on plant growth. A total of 65 endophytic root nodule-associated bacteria were isolated from indigenous legume S. salsula growing in the northwestern arid regions of China. When combining our previous work with the current study, sequence analysis of the nifH gene revealed that the strain belonging to non-nodulating Bacillus pumilus Qtx-10 had genes similar to those of Rhizobium leguminosarum Qtx-10-1. The results indicated that horizontal gene transfer could have occurred between rhizobia and non-symbiotic endophyties. Under pot culture conditions, out of the 20 representative endophytic isolates, 15 with plant growth-promoting traits, such as IAA production, ACC deaminase, phosphate solubilization, chitinase, siderophore, and fungal inhibition activity showed plant growth-promoting activity with respect to various plant parameters such as chlorophyll content, fresh weight of plant, shoot length, nodule number per plant and average nodule weight per plant when co-inoculated with rhizobial bioinoculant Mesorhizobium sp. Zw-19 under N-free culture conditions. Among them, Bacillus pumilus Qtx-10 and Streptomyces bottropensis Gt-10 were excellent plant growth-promoting bacteria, which enhanced the seeding fresh weight by 87.5% and the shoot length by 89.4%, respectively. The number of nodules grew more than 31.89% under field conditions. Our findings indicate the frequent presence of these non-symbiotic endophytic bacteria within root nodules, and that they help to improve nodulation and nitrogen fixation in legume plants through synergistic interactions with rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid31685936, year = {2020}, author = {Bjorbækmo, MFM and Evenstad, A and Røsæg, LL and Krabberød, AK and Logares, R}, title = {The planktonic protist interactome: where do we stand after a century of research?.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {544-559}, pmid = {31685936}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Alveolata ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; Bacteria/*classification ; Biological Evolution ; Databases, Factual ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Eukaryota/*classification ; Metagenomics ; Microalgae ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Oceans and Seas ; Parasites ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/classification/microbiology/parasitology ; Rhizaria ; Stramenopiles ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial interactions are crucial for Earth ecosystem function, but our knowledge about them is limited and has so far mainly existed as scattered records. Here, we have surveyed the literature involving planktonic protist interactions and gathered the information in a manually curated Protist Interaction DAtabase (PIDA). In total, we have registered ~2500 ecological interactions from ~500 publications, spanning the last 150 years. All major protistan lineages were involved in interactions as hosts, symbionts (mutualists and commensalists), parasites, predators, and/or prey. Predation was the most common interaction (39% of all records), followed by symbiosis (29%), parasitism (18%), and 'unresolved interactions' (14%, where it is uncertain whether the interaction is beneficial or antagonistic). Using bipartite networks, we found that protist predators seem to be 'multivorous' while parasite-host and symbiont-host interactions appear to have moderate degrees of specialization. The SAR supergroup (i.e., Stramenopiles, Alveolata, and Rhizaria) heavily dominated PIDA, and comparisons against a global-ocean molecular survey (TARA Oceans) indicated that several SAR lineages, which are abundant and diverse in the marine realm, were underrepresented among the recorded interactions. Despite historical biases, our work not only unveils large-scale eco-evolutionary trends in the protist interactome, but it also constitutes an expandable resource to investigate protist interactions and to test hypotheses deriving from omics tools.}, } @article {pmid31684871, year = {2019}, author = {Fonseca-García, C and Zayas, AE and Montiel, J and Nava, N and Sánchez, F and Quinto, C}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of the differential effect of the NADPH oxidase gene RbohB in Phaseolus vulgaris roots following Rhizobium tropici and Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {800}, pmid = {31684871}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; NADPH Oxidases/*genetics ; Phaseolus/cytology/enzymology/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium tropici/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by NADPH oxidases known as respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs) in plants. ROS regulate various cellular processes, including the mutualistic interactions between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Rboh is a multigene family comprising nine members (RbohA-I) in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The RNA interference-mediated silencing of RbohB (PvRbohB-RNAi) in this species diminished its ROS production and greatly impaired nodulation. By contrast, the PvRbohB-RNAi transgenic roots showed early hyphal root colonization with enlarged fungal hypopodia; therefore, we proposed that PvRbohB positively regulates rhizobial infection (Rhizobium tropici) and inhibits AM colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis in P. vulgaris.

RESULTS: To corroborate this hypothesis, an RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes in the PvRbohB-RNAi roots inoculated with Rhizobium tropici or Rhizophagus irregularis. We found that, in the early stages, root nodule symbioses generated larger changes of the transcriptome than did AM symbioses in P. vulgaris. Genes related to ROS homeostasis and cell wall flexibility were markedly upregulated in the early stages of rhizobial colonization, but not during AM colonization. Compared with AM colonization, the rhizobia induced the expression of a greater number of genes encoding enzymes involved in the metabolism of auxins, cytokinins, and ethylene, which were typically repressed in the PvRbohB-RNAi roots.

CONCLUSIONS: Our research provides substantial insights into the genetic interaction networks in the early stages of rhizobia and AM symbioses with P. vulgaris, as well as the differential roles that RbohB plays in processes related to ROS scavenging, cell wall remodeling, and phytohormone homeostasis during nodulation and mycorrhization in this legume.}, } @article {pmid31684086, year = {2019}, author = {Trněný, O and Vlk, D and Macková, E and Matoušková, M and Řepková, J and Nedělník, J and Hofbauer, J and Vejražka, K and Jakešová, H and Jansa, J and Piálek, L and Knotová, D}, title = {Allelic Variants for Candidate Nitrogen Fixation Genes Revealed by Sequencing in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {31684086}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Alleles ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Genotype ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Trifolium/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant-rhizobia symbiosis can activate key genes involved in regulating nodulation associated with biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Although the general molecular basis of the BNF process is frequently studied, little is known about its intraspecific variability and the characteristics of its allelic variants. This study's main goals were to describe phenotypic and genotypic variation in the context of nitrogen fixation in red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and identify variants in BNF candidate genes associated with BNF efficiency. Acetylene reduction assay validation was the criterion for selecting individual plants with particular BNF rates. Sequences in 86 key candidate genes were obtained by hybridization-based sequence capture target enrichment of plants with alternative phenotypes for nitrogen fixation. Two genes associated with BNF were identified: ethylene response factor required for nodule differentiation (EFD) and molybdate transporter 1 (MOT1). In addition, whole-genome population genotyping by double-digest restriction-site-associated sequencing (ddRADseq) was performed, and BNF was evaluated by the natural [15]N abundance method. Polymorphisms associated with BNF and reflecting phenotype variability were identified. The genetic structure of plant accessions was not linked to BNF rate of measured plants. Knowledge of the genetic variation within BNF candidate genes and the characteristics of genetic variants will be beneficial in molecular diagnostics and breeding of red clover.}, } @article {pmid31683646, year = {2019}, author = {Lv, X and Chai, J and Diao, Q and Huang, W and Zhuang, Y and Zhang, N}, title = {The Signature Microbiota Drive Rumen Function Shifts in Goat Kids Introduced to Solid Diet Regimes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31683646}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The feeding regime of early, supplementary solid diet improved rumen development and production in goat kids. However, the signature microbiota responsible for linking dietary regimes to rumen function shifts are still unclear. This work analyzed the rumen microbiome and functions affected by an early solid diet regime using a combination of machine learning algorithms. Volatile fatty acids (i.e., acetate, propionate and butyrate) fermented by microbes were found to increase significantly in the supplementary solid diet groups. Predominant genera were found to alter significantly from unclassified Sphingobacteriaceae (non-supplementary group) to Prevotella (supplementary solid diet groups). Random Forest classification model revealed signature microbiota for solid diet that positively correlated with macronutrient intake, and linearly increased with volatile fatty acid production. Bacteria associated with carbohydrate and protein metabolism were also identified. Utilization of a Fish Taco analysis portrayed a set of intersecting core species contributed to rumen function shifts by the solid diet regime. The core community structures consisted of the specific, signature microbiota and the manipulation of their symbiotic partners are manipulated by extra nutrients from concentrate and/or forage, and then produce more volatile fatty acids to promote rumen development and functions eventually host development. Our study provides mechanisms of the microbiome governed by a solid diet regime early in life, and highlights the signature microbiota involved in animal health and production.}, } @article {pmid31683191, year = {2019}, author = {Seifert, A and Kashi, Y and Livney, YD}, title = {Delivery to the gut microbiota: A rapidly proliferating research field.}, journal = {Advances in colloid and interface science}, volume = {274}, number = {}, pages = {102038}, doi = {10.1016/j.cis.2019.102038}, pmid = {31683191}, issn = {1873-3727}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; Probiotics/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The post genomic era has brought breakthroughs in our understanding of the complex and fascinating symbiosis we have with our co-evolving microbiota, and its dramatic impact on our physiology, physical and mental health, mood, interpersonal communication, and more. This fast "proliferating" knowledge, particularly related to the gut microbiota, is leading to the development of numerous technologies aimed to promote our health via prudent modulation of our gut microbiota. This review embarks on a journey through the gastrointestinal tract from a biomaterial science and engineering perspective, and focusses on the various state-of-the-art approaches proposed in research institutes and those already used in various industries and clinics, for delivery to the gut microbiota, with emphasis on the latest developments published within the last 5 years. Current and possible future trends are discussed. It seems that future development will progress toward more personalized solutions, combining high throughput diagnostic omic methods, and precision interventions.}, } @article {pmid31681281, year = {2019}, author = {Agostinis, C and Mangogna, A and Bossi, F and Ricci, G and Kishore, U and Bulla, R}, title = {Uterine Immunity and Microbiota: A Shifting Paradigm.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2387}, pmid = {31681281}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Endometrium/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Immunity, Innate ; Leukocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Mucus ; Pregnancy ; Semen ; Uterus/anatomy & histology/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The female reproductive tract harbors distinct microbial communities, as in the vagina, cervical canal, uterus, and fallopian tubes. The nature of the vaginal microbiota is well-known; in contrast, the upper reproductive tract remains largely unexplored. Alteration in the uterine microbiota, which is dependent on the nutrients and hormones available to the uterus, is likely to play an important role in uterine-related diseases such as hysteromyoma, adenomyosis, and endometriosis. Uterine mucosa is an important tissue barrier whose main function is to offer protection against pathogens and other toxic factors, while maintaining a symbiotic relationship with commensal microbes. These characteristics are shared by all the mucosal tissues; however, the uterine mucosa is unique since it changes cyclically during the menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy. The immune system, besides its role in the defense process, plays crucial roles in reproduction as it ensures local immune tolerance to fetal/paternal antigens, trophoblast invasion, and vascular remodeling. The human endometrium contains a conspicuous number of immune cells, mainly Natural Killers (NK) cells, which are phenotypically distinct from peripheral cytotoxic NK, cells and macrophages. The endometrium also contains few lymphoid aggregates comprising B cell and CD8[+] T cells. The number and the phenotype of these cells change during the menstrual cycle. It has become evident in recent years that the immune cell phenotype and function can be influenced by microbiota. Immune cells can sense the presence of microbes through their pattern recognition receptors, setting up host-microbe interaction. The microbiota exerts an appropriately controlled defense mechanism by competing for nutrients and mucosal space with pathogens. It has recently been considered that uterus is a non-sterile compartment since it seems to possess its own microbiota. There has been an increasing interest in characterizing the nature of microbial colonization within the uterus and its apparent impact on fertility and pregnancy. This review will examine the potential relationship between the uterine microbiota and the immune cells present in the local environment.}, } @article {pmid31681239, year = {2019}, author = {Meygret, A and Peuchant, O and Dordet-Frisoni, E and Sirand-Pugnet, P and Citti, C and Bébéar, C and Béven, L and Pereyre, S}, title = {High Prevalence of Integrative and Conjugative Elements Encoding Transcription Activator-Like Effector Repeats in Mycoplasma hominis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2385}, pmid = {31681239}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are modular mobile genetic elements that can disseminate through excision, circularization, and transfer. Mycoplasma ICEs have recently been found distributed among some mycoplasma species and there is accumulating evidence that they play a pivotal role in horizontal gene transfers. The occurrence of ICEs has not been documented in Mycoplasma hominis, a human urogenital pathogen responsible for urogenital infections, neonatal infections and extragenital infections. In this study, we searched for, characterized, and compared ICEs by genome analyses of 12 strains of M. hominis. ICEs of 27-30 kb were found in one or two copies in seven of the 12 M. hominis strains sequenced. Only five of these ICEs seemed to be functional, as assessed by detection of circular forms of extrachromosomal ICE. Moreover, the prevalence of ICEs in M. hominis was estimated to be 45% in a collection of 120 clinical isolates of M. hominis, including 27 tetracycline-resistant tet(M)-positive isolates. The proportion of ICEs was not higher in isolates carrying the tet(M) gene, suggesting that ICEs are not involved in tetracycline resistance. Notably, all M. hominis ICEs had a very similar structure, consisting of a 4.0-5.1 kb unusual module composed of five to six juxtaposed CDSs. All the genes forming this module were specific to M. hominis ICEs as they had no homologs in other mycoplasma ICEs. In each M. hominis ICE, one to three CDSs encode proteins that share common structural features with transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors involved in polynucleotide recognition and signal transduction in symbiotic plant pathogen bacteria. The conserved and specific structure of M. hominis ICEs and the high prevalence in clinical strains suggest that these ICEs may confer a selective advantage for the physiology or pathogenicity of this human pathogenic bacterium. These data open the way for further studies aiming at unraveling horizontal gene transfers and virulence factors in M. hominis.}, } @article {pmid31681208, year = {2019}, author = {Qin, Z and Yu, K and Chen, B and Wang, Y and Liang, J and Luo, W and Xu, L and Huang, X}, title = {Diversity of Symbiodiniaceae in 15 Coral Species From the Southern South China Sea: Potential Relationship With Coral Thermal Adaptability.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2343}, pmid = {31681208}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {It is well-known that the adaptability of coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis to thermal stress varies among coral species, but the cause and/or mechanism behind it are not well-understood. In this study, we aimed to explore this issue based on zooxanthellae density (ZD) and Symbiodiniaceae genus/subclade. Hemocytometry and next-generation sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) marker gene were used to observe ZDs and Symbiodiniaceae genera/subclades associated with 15 typical coral species in the southern South China Sea (SCS). Average ZDs of all corals were in low levels, ranging from 0.84 to 1.22 × 10[6] cells cm[-2], with a total of five Symbiodiniaceae genera, Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, Durusdinium, Fugacium, and Gerakladium, as well as 24 dominant subclades, were detected and varied among these coral species. Pocillopora verrucosa was dominated by Durusdinium (subclade D1/D1a), and other colonial corals were dominated by Cladocopium, but the subclades were varied among these species. Porites lutea and Montipora efflorescens were dominated by C15, and Echinopora lamellosa, Hydnophora exesa, and Coscinaraea exesa were dominated by C40. Acropora corymbosa, Merulina ampliata, and five species of Faviidae were mainly associated with Cladocopium types of C3u and Cspc. In contrast to other colonial corals, the dominant subclade of solitary Fungia fungites was C27, with high host specificity. Our study indicates that coral thermal stress adaptability is mainly affected by dominant Symbiodiniaceae type instead of ZD in the southern SCS. Some heat-sensitive corals, such as P. verrucosa corals, have acquired a high abundance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium to adapt to thermal stress. This could be the main reason for these corals becoming the dominant corals in this reef region. Background subclades analyses showed significant differences among coral species in subclade quantity and diversity. These suggest that numbers of coral species may have adapted to high environmental temperature by adopting various symbionts and/or associating with heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae.}, } @article {pmid31681013, year = {2019}, author = {Muhammad, A and Habineza, P and Ji, T and Hou, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {Intestinal Microbiota Confer Protection by Priming the Immune System of Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae).}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1303}, pmid = {31681013}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The immune system of animals, including insects, is the vital factor to maintain the symbiotic interactions between animals and their associated microbes. However, the effects of gut microbiota on insect immunity remain mostly elusive. Red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is a destructive pest of palm trees worldwide, which has forged alliances with its gut microbiota. Here, we found that the aposymbiotic insects succumbed at a significantly faster rate than conventionally reared (CR) ones upon bacterial infection. Physiological assays confirmed that CR insects had stronger antimicrobial activity and higher phenoloxidase activity in contrast to germfree (GF) ones, indicating that the systemic immune responses of GF individuals were compromised markedly. Interestingly, under the bacterial challenge conditions, the reassociation of gut microbiota with GF insects could enhance their survival rate by rescuing their immunocompetence. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis uncovered that 35 immune-related genes, including pathogen recognition receptors, effectors and immune signaling pathway, were significantly downregulated in GF insects as compared to CR ones. Collectively, our findings corrobate that intestinal commensal bacteria have profound immunostimulatory effects on RPW larvae. Therefore, knowledge on the effects of gut microbiota on RPW immune defenses may contribute to of set up efficient control strategies of this pest.}, } @article {pmid31680787, year = {2019}, author = {Saeed, A and Eshrat, FF and Umar, S and Saeed, A}, title = {The Duplex Interaction of Microbiome with Chemoradiation and Immunotherapy: Potential Implications for Colorectal Cancer.}, journal = {Current colorectal cancer reports}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {98-104}, pmid = {31680787}, issn = {1556-3790}, support = {R01 CA185322/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Gut microbiota has the ability to modify the metabolism of wide array of therapeutic drugs. Current treatment modalities used in colorectal cancer have a narrow therapeutic index with a side effects profile that decreases tolerance to these treatments and adversely affects treatment outcome. Harnessing the gut microbiota ability to modify oncotherapeutic drugs metabolism and hence efficacy, could be potentially used to improve treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. This review will shed lights on important findings from recent microbiome interaction studies which would hopefully serve as a useful tool to guide future translative colorectal cancer research.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent advances in microbiome studies have revealed an interesting aspect of gut microbes carcinogenic properties in dysbiotic gut environment. Microbiota niche in colorectal cancer can also modify efficacy and toxicity profile of different oncotherapeutic treatment modalities from chemoradiotherapy to immunotherapy. Conversely, each of these treatment modalities has numerous effects on the gastrointestinal flora, causing changes in the gut microbial community that affects host morbidity and mortality.

SUMMARY: Symbiotic gut microbiota is an incredible functioning organ that maintains essential aspects of our homeostasis and immunity. According to the recent body of literature, they also can modify efficacy of many therapeutic drugs including oncotherapy. Considering that unexplainable variable treatment outcomes as well as variable tolerance to treatment have been observed in colorectal cancer patients, studying gut microbiota modulatory effects on oncotherapy might be a feasible approach to explain this phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid31680188, year = {2020}, author = {Primo, ED and Cossovich, S and Nievas, F and Bogino, P and Humm, EA and Hirsch, AM and Giordano, W}, title = {Exopolysaccharide production in Ensifer meliloti laboratory and native strains and their effects on alfalfa inoculation.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {391-398}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01756-3}, pmid = {31680188}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Fertilizers/microbiology ; Galactans/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glucans/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial surface molecules have an important role in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. Ensifer meliloti (previously, Sinorhizobium meliloti), a symbiotic Gram-negative rhizobacterium, produces two different exopolysaccharides (EPSs), termed EPS I (succinoglycan) and EPS II (galactoglucan), with different functions in the symbiotic process. Accordingly, we undertook a study comparing the potential differences in alfalfa nodulation by E. meliloti strains with differences in their EPSs production. Strains recommended for inoculation as well as laboratory strains and native strains isolated from alfalfa fields were investigated. This study concentrated on EPS-II production, which results in mucoid colonies that are dependent on the presence of an intact expR gene. The results revealed that although the studied strains exhibited different phenotypes, the differences did not affect alfalfa nodulation itself. However, subtle changes in timing and efficacy to the effects of inoculation with the different strains may result because of other as-yet unknown factors. Thus, additional research is needed to determine the most effective inoculant strains and the best conditions for improving alfalfa production under agricultural conditions.}, } @article {pmid31680119, year = {2020}, author = {Ponnudurai, R and Heiden, SE and Sayavedra, L and Hinzke, T and Kleiner, M and Hentschker, C and Felbeck, H and Sievert, SM and Schlüter, R and Becher, D and Schweder, T and Markert, S}, title = {Comparative proteomics of related symbiotic mussel species reveals high variability of host-symbiont interactions.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {649-656}, pmid = {31680119}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Amino Acids/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Gills/metabolism ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Mytilidae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels and their chemoautotrophic symbionts are well-studied representatives of mutualistic host-microbe associations. However, how host-symbiont interactions vary on the molecular level between related host and symbiont species remains unclear. Therefore, we compared the host and symbiont metaproteomes of Pacific B. thermophilus, hosting a thiotrophic symbiont, and Atlantic B. azoricus, containing two symbionts, a thiotroph and a methanotroph. We identified common strategies of metabolic support between hosts and symbionts, such as the oxidation of sulfide by the host, which provides a thiosulfate reservoir for the thiotrophic symbionts, and a cycling mechanism that could supply the host with symbiont-derived amino acids. However, expression levels of these processes differed substantially between both symbioses. Backed up by genomic comparisons, our results furthermore revealed an exceptionally large repertoire of attachment-related proteins in the B. thermophilus symbiont. These findings imply that host-microbe interactions can be quite variable, even between closely related systems.}, } @article {pmid31679040, year = {2019}, author = {Yahara, H and Tanikawa, N and Okamoto, M and Makita, N}, title = {Characterizing fine-root traits by species phylogeny and microbial symbiosis in 11 co-existing woody species.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {191}, number = {4}, pages = {983-993}, pmid = {31679040}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Forests ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Roots ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the differences in fine-root traits among different species is essential to gain a detailed understanding of resource conservation and acquisition strategies of plants. We aimed to explore whether certain root traits are consistent among subsets of species and characterize species together into meaningful community groups. We selected 11 woody species from different microbial symbiotic groups (ectomycorrhiza, arbuscular mycorrhiza, and rhizobia) and phylogenetic groups (broad-leaved angiosperms and coniferous gymnosperms) from the cool temperate forests of Nagano, Japan. We measured root architectural (branching intensity), morphological (root tissue density and specific root length), chemical (N and K concentrations), and anatomical (total stele and total cortex) traits. Significant differences were observed in all root traits, although many species did not differ from one another. Branching intensity was found to be the greatest variation in the measured root traits across the 11 woody species. The results of a principal component analysis of root traits showed a distinct separation between angiosperms and gymnosperms. We identified clusters of species based on their multidimensional root traits that were consistent with the different phylogenetic microbial association groups. Gymnosperm roots may be more resource conservative, while angiosperm roots may be more acquisitive for water and nutrients. We consider that the advances in root traits combination will make a breakthrough in our ability to differentiate the community groups rather than individual root trait.}, } @article {pmid31678358, year = {2019}, author = {Misra, P and Singh, S}, title = {Site specific microbiome of Leishmania parasite and its cross-talk with immune milieu.}, journal = {Immunology letters}, volume = {216}, number = {}, pages = {79-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.imlet.2019.10.004}, pmid = {31678358}, issn = {1879-0542}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology/isolation & purification ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Leishmania/*immunology/parasitology ; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis/*immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Mice ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Phlebotomus/immunology/*microbiology/parasitology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Skin/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbiota consists of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms found in all multicellular organisms. These micro-organisms are found in or on many parts of the body, including the intestinal tract, skin, mouth, and the reproductive tract. This review focuses on interplay of site specific microbiota, vector microbiota along with immune response and severity of Leishmaniasis. Herein, we have reviewed and summarized the counter effect of microbiome post infection with the Leishmania parasite. We have studied skin microbiome along with the gut microbiome of sand-fly which is the vector for transmission of this disease. Our major focus was to understand the skin and gut microbiome during Leishmania infection,their interaction and effect on immunological responses generated during the infection.Moreover, systems biology approach is envisioned to enumerate bacterial species in skin microbiota and Phlebotmus gut microbiota during Leishmania infection.}, } @article {pmid31677281, year = {2020}, author = {Metwally, RA and Al-Amri, SM}, title = {Individual and interactive role of Trichoderma viride and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and pigment content of onion plants.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {79-86}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13246}, pmid = {31677281}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Chlorophyll A/analysis ; Fertilizers ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Onions/*growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Pigmentation/physiology ; Pigments, Biological/analysis ; Plant Development/physiology ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The study of interactions between beneficial micro-organisms associated with plant roots is important, because such interactions might either enhance or inhibit the beneficial effects of individual species. The effect of the combined inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and a biocontrol fungus (Trichoderma viride) on different growth parameters and chlorophyll a,b, carotenoids, total chlorophyll and total pigments of onion (Allium cepa) plants was studied under glasshouse conditions. The results proved that AM fungi and T. viride are compatible with each other and their combined use was effective not only in improving onion growth parameters such as fresh and dry weights, root and shoot lengths and leaf area but also increasing total chlorophyll, carotenoids and total pigments content in onion leaves. Where, inoculation of onion plants by AM fungi and T. viride alone or in combination significantly increased bulb diameters of onion plants 20, 12·5 and 17·5% increase; respectively, when compared with control ones. Also percentage of AM fungal colonization increased greatly with T. viride inoculation. Therefore, AM fungi and T. viride could be a good alternate of chemical fertilizer for improving the growth of onion. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Significance and Impact of the Study: The need for increasing agricultural productivity and quality has led to an excessive use of chemical fertilizers; creating serious threats to human health and the environment. The use of biofertilizers is an alternative for sustaining high production with low ecological impact. Thus the goal of this study was to propose a biological technique using arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and Trichoderma viride (plant-microbe interaction) for increasing plant growth that represent a great opportunities for recent agricultural practices. This may be an indication displaying the AM and Trichoderma significance for plant progress and growth.}, } @article {pmid31676475, year = {2019}, author = {Caldera, EJ and Chevrette, MG and McDonald, BR and Currie, CR}, title = {Local Adaptation of Bacterial Symbionts within a Geographic Mosaic of Antibiotic Coevolution.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {31676475}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Actinobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Ants/microbiology ; *Biological Coevolution ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Costa Rica ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Hypocreales/drug effects/pathogenicity ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The geographic mosaic theory of coevolution (GMC) posits that coevolutionary dynamics go beyond local coevolution and are comprised of the following three components: geographic selection mosaics, coevolutionary hot spots, and trait remixing. It is unclear whether the GMC applies to bacteria, as horizontal gene transfer and cosmopolitan dispersal may violate theoretical assumptions. Here, we test key GMC predictions in an antibiotic-producing bacterial symbiont (genus Pseudonocardia) that protects the crops of neotropical fungus-farming ants (Apterostigma dentigerum) from a specialized pathogen (genus Escovopsis). We found that Pseudonocardia antibiotic inhibition of common Escovopsis pathogens was elevated in A. dentigerum colonies from Panama compared to those from Costa Rica. Furthermore, a Panama Canal Zone population of Pseudonocardia on Barro Colorado Island (BCI) was locally adapted, whereas two neighboring populations were not, consistent with a GMC-predicted selection mosaic and a hot spot of adaptation surrounded by areas of maladaptation. Maladaptation was shaped by incongruent Pseudonocardia-Escovopsis population genetic structure, whereas local adaptation was facilitated by geographic isolation on BCI after the flooding of the Panama Canal. Genomic assessments of antibiotic potential of 29 Pseudonocardia strains identified diverse and unique biosynthetic gene clusters in BCI strains despite low genetic diversity in the core genome. The strength of antibiotic inhibition was not correlated with the presence/absence of individual biosynthetic gene clusters or with parasite location. Rather, biosynthetic gene clusters have undergone selective sweeps, suggesting that the trait remixing dynamics conferring the long-term maintenance of antibiotic potency rely on evolutionary genetic changes within already-present biosynthetic gene clusters and not simply on the horizontal acquisition of novel genetic elements or pathways.IMPORTANCE Recently, coevolutionary theory in macroorganisms has been advanced by the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution (GMC), which considers how geography and local adaptation shape coevolutionary dynamics. Here, we test GMC in an ancient symbiosis in which the ant Apterostigma dentigerum cultivates fungi in an agricultural system analogous to human farming. The cultivars are parasitized by the fungus Escovopsis The ants maintain symbiotic actinobacteria with antibiotic properties that help combat Escovopsis infection. This antibiotic symbiosis has persisted for tens of millions of years, raising the question of how antibiotic potency is maintained over these time scales. Our study tests the GMC in a bacterial defensive symbiosis and in a multipartite symbiosis framework. Our results show that this multipartite symbiotic system conforms to the GMC and demonstrate that this theory is applicable in both microbes and indirect symbiont-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid31675110, year = {2019}, author = {Brody, AK and Waterman, B and Ricketts, TH and Degrassi, AL and González, JB and Harris, JM and Richardson, LL}, title = {Genotype-specific effects of ericoid mycorrhizae on floral traits and reproduction in Vaccinium corymbosum.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {106}, number = {11}, pages = {1412-1422}, pmid = {31675110}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {SARE FNE12-770//University of Vermont/International ; DEB-1754280//NSF/International ; NIFA 2014-01977//USDA/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Blueberry Plants ; *Ericaceae ; Flowers ; Genotype ; *Mycorrhizae ; Pollination ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Most plants interact with mycorrhizal fungi and animal pollinators simultaneously. Yet, whether mycorrhizae affect traits important to pollination remains poorly understood and may depend on the match between host and fungal genotypes. Here, we examined how ericoid mycorrhizal fungi affected flowering phenology, floral traits, and reproductive success, among eight genotypes of highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum (Ericaceae). We asked three overarching questions: (1) Do genotypes differ in response to inoculation? (2) How does inoculation affect floral and flowering traits? (3) Are inoculated plants more attractive to pollinators and less pollen limited than non-inoculated plants of the same genotype?

METHODS: To examine these questions, we experimentally inoculated plants with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, grew the plants in the field, and measured flowering and floral traits over 2 years. In year 2, we conducted a hand-pollination experiment to test whether plants differed in pollen limitation.

RESULTS: Inoculated plants had significantly higher levels of colonization for some genotypes, and there were significant floral trait changes in inoculated plants for some genotypes as well. On average, inoculated plants produced significantly larger floral displays, more fruits per inflorescence, and heavier fruits with lower sugar content, than non-inoculated, control plants. Hand pollination enhanced the production of fruits, and fruit mass, for non-inoculated plants but not for those that were inoculated.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that inoculation with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi enhanced flowering and altered investment in reproduction in genotype-specific ways. These findings underscore the importance of examining belowground symbionts and genotype-specific responses in their hosts to fully understand the drivers of aboveground interactions.}, } @article {pmid31673886, year = {2019}, author = {Durkin, ES and Proctor, H and Luong, LT}, title = {Life history of Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Parasitiformes: Macrochelidae): new insights on life history and evidence of facultative parasitism on Drosophila.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {79}, number = {3-4}, pages = {309-321}, pmid = {31673886}, issn = {1572-9702}, mesh = {Animals ; Canada ; Drosophila/*parasitology ; Fertility ; *Genetics, Population ; Mites/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Macrocheles muscaedomesticae is a cosmopolitan macrochelid mite whose populations have likely diverged considering the many locations they inhabit, but most of the work published on this mite species has been on the basis of their association with the house fly, Musca domestica. Here, we studied several aspects of the biology of M. muscaedomesticae associated with drosophilid flies collected in Alberta, Canada. We assessed the degree of divergence of our populations from others, compared their life history to other published populations and experimentally tested whether M. muscaedomesticae feeds on Drosophila hydei hosts by comparing the body mass of mites that attached to hosts to those that did not. There was no strong phylogenetic differentiation among any of the M. muscaedomesticae specimens, suggesting multiple recent introductions of this species to Canada. Compared to other populations, our mites exhibited lower fecundity, which may have been a result of the temperature or nematode-only diet in which they were maintained. Finally, mites that attached to hosts for 4 h weighed significantly more than those that did not. Without direct evidence for host tissue transfer to the mites, it is difficult to determine whether the mites are indeed feeding on their hosts while attached. However, the existing evidence for the costs fly hosts endure at the expense of these mites makes this relationship antagonistic.}, } @article {pmid31673806, year = {2019}, author = {Domergue, J and Erdmann, D and Fossey-Jouenne, A and Petit, JL and Debard, A and de Berardinis, V and Vergne-Vaxelaire, C and Zaparucha, A}, title = {XszenFHal, a novel tryptophan 5-halogenase from Xenorhabdus szentirmaii.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {175}, pmid = {31673806}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Flavin-dependent halogenases (FHals) catalyse the halogenation of electron-rich substrates, mainly aromatics. Halogenated compounds have many applications, as pharmaceutical, agrochemicals or as starting materials for the synthesis of complex molecules. By exploring the sequenced bacterial diversity, we discovered and characterized XszenFHal, a novel FHal from Xenorhabdus szentirmaii, a symbiotic bacterium of entomopathogenic nematode. The substrate scope of XszenFHal was examined and revealed activities towards tryptophan, indole and indole derivatives, leading to the formation of the corresponding 5-chloro products. XszenFHal makes a valuable addition to the panel of flavin-dependent halogenases already discovered and enriches the potential for biotechnology applications by allowing access to 5-halogenated indole derivatives.}, } @article {pmid31673721, year = {2020}, author = {Vadivukkarasi, P and Bhai, RS}, title = {Phyllosphere-associated Methylobacterium: a potential biostimulant for ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) cultivation.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {369-375}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01753-6}, pmid = {31673721}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Cellulase/metabolism ; Ginger/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Methanol/*metabolism ; Methylobacterium/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Methanol, a by-product associated with plant metabolism, is a substrate for pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) of phyllosphere. The symbiotic interaction of PPFMs has many desirable effects on plant growth and disease resistance. The present study investigated the potential of native PPFMs for mitigating biotic stress and plant growth promotion in ginger. PPFMs were isolated from ginger phyllosphere by leaf imprint technique and screened against major fungal phytopathogens of ginger viz. Macrophomina phaseolina, Sclerotium rolfsii, Pythium myriotylum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum. Among the 60 PPFMs, IISRGPPFM13 was selected for its highly inhibitory activity against the target pathogens. The isolate was useful for mineral solubility, production of IAA, siderophores and hydrolytic enzymes like cellulase, pectinase, lipase, amylase and chitinase. On in planta experiments revealed that IISRGPPFM13 considerably increased plant growth parameters when the bacterium was applied as soil drenching cum foliar spraying. Methanol utilization potential of the isolate was confirmed by mxaF gene analysis where the sequence showing 95.51% identity towards Methylobacterium platani and M. iners. Further, 16S rRNA gene sequence showing 98.73% identity with M. komagatae 002-079[ T] (AB252201). This is the first report of its kind that a genus of Methylobacterium with biostimulant potential isolated from the phyllosphere of ginger.}, } @article {pmid31672864, year = {2019}, author = {Sherwin, E and Bordenstein, SR and Quinn, JL and Dinan, TG and Cryan, JF}, title = {Microbiota and the social brain.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {366}, number = {6465}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/science.aar2016}, pmid = {31672864}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {R21 AI133522/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Brain/*physiology ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Immune System/physiology ; Interpersonal Relations ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Smell ; *Social Behavior ; Social Behavior Disorders/microbiology/therapy ; Stress, Psychological ; Vagus Nerve/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sociability can facilitate mutually beneficial outcomes such as division of labor, cooperative care, and increased immunity, but sociability can also promote negative outcomes, including aggression and coercion. Accumulating evidence suggests that symbiotic microorganisms, specifically the microbiota that reside within the gastrointestinal system, may influence neurodevelopment and programming of social behaviors across diverse animal species. This relationship between host and microbes hints that host-microbiota interactions may have influenced the evolution of social behaviors. Indeed, the gastrointestinal microbiota is used by certain species as a means to facilitate communication among conspecifics. Further understanding of how microbiota influence the brain in nature may be helpful for elucidating the causal mechanisms underlying sociability and for generating new therapeutic strategies for social disorders in humans, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).}, } @article {pmid31670480, year = {2020}, author = {Quigley, KM and Alvarez Roa, C and Torda, G and Bourne, DG and Willis, BL}, title = {Co-dynamics of Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial populations during the first year of symbiosis with Acropora tenuis juveniles.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e959}, pmid = {31670480}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Computational Biology/methods ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Gene Ontology ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Typing ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between corals and their associated microbial communities (Symbiodiniaceae and prokaryotes) are key to understanding corals' potential for and rate of acclimatory and adaptive responses. However, the establishment of microalgal and bacterial communities is poorly understood during coral ontogeny in the wild. We examined the establishment and co-occurrence between multiple microbial communities using 16S rRNA (bacterial) and ITS2 rDNA (Symbiodiniaceae) gene amplicon sequencing in juveniles of the common coral, Acropora tenuis, across the first year of development. Symbiodiniaceae communities in juveniles were dominated by Durusdinium trenchii and glynnii (D1 and D1a), with lower abundances of Cladocopium (C1, C1d, C50, and Cspc). Bacterial communities were more diverse and dominated by taxa within Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Planctomycetes. Both communities were characterized by significant changes in relative abundance and diversity of taxa throughout the year. D1, D1a, and C1 were significantly correlated with multiple bacterial taxa, including Alpha-, Deltra-, and Gammaproteobacteria, Planctomycetacia, Oxyphotobacteria, Phycisphaerae, and Rhizobiales. Specifically, D1a tended to associate with Oxyphotobacteria and D1 with Alphaproteobacteria, although these associations may represent correlational and not causal relationships. Bioenergetic modeling combined with physiological measurements of coral juveniles (surface area and Symbiodiniaceae cell densities) identified key periods of carbon limitation and nitrogen assimilation, potentially coinciding with shifts in microbial community composition. These results demonstrate that Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities are dynamic throughout the first year of ontology and may vary in tandem, with important fitness effects on host juveniles.}, } @article {pmid31670206, year = {2020}, author = {Meng, F and Huang, W and Liu, D and Zhao, Y and Huang, W and Lei, Z and Zhang, Z}, title = {Application of aerobic granules-continuous flow reactor for saline wastewater treatment: Granular stability, lipid production and symbiotic relationship between bacteria and algae.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {295}, number = {}, pages = {122291}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122291}, pmid = {31670206}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bacteria ; *Bioreactors ; Lipids ; Nitrogen ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {In this study a continuous flow reactor (CFR) was employed to compare the feasibility of bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS-CFR) and algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS-CFR) for treating 1-4% saline wastewater. High salinity was found to enhance algae growth in ABGS-CFR, which exhibited slightly higher total nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies at 1-3% salinity. ABGS-CFR maintained good granular stability at 1-4% salinity, while AGS-CFR gradually disintegrated at 4% salinity with 39.3% less accumulation of alginate-like exopolysaccharides in the extracellular polymeric substances. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) analysis suggested that bacteria and algae (Nitzschia) in ABGS-CFR formed a good symbiotic relationship under high salinity conditions, achieving rapid algae growth and 2 times lipid production. High salinity was conducive to enriching Halomonas and Nitzschia but unfavorable for Nitrosomonas and Flavobacterium. Results from this study could provide useful information on interactions between bacteria and algae in ABGS-CFR for its future practical application.}, } @article {pmid31669816, year = {2020}, author = {Copilaş-Ciocianu, D and Borko, Š and Fišer, C}, title = {The late blooming amphipods: Global change promoted post-Jurassic ecological radiation despite Palaeozoic origin.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {106664}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106664}, pmid = {31669816}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Amphipoda/*classification/genetics ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Fossils ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The ecological radiation of amphipods is striking among crustaceans. Despite high diversity, global distribution and key roles in all aquatic environments, little is known about their ecological transitions, evolutionary timescale and phylogenetic relationships. It has previously been proposed that the amphipod ecological diversification began in the Late Palaeozoic. By contrast, due to their affinity for cold/oxygenated water and absence of pre-Cenozoic fossils, we hypothesized that the ecological divergence of amphipods arose throughout the cool Late Mesozoic/Cenozoic. We tested our hypothesis by inferring a large-scale, time-calibrated, multilocus phylogeny, and reconstructed evolutionary patterns for major ecological traits. Although our results reveal a Late Palaeozoic amphipod origin, diversification and ecological divergence ensued only in the Late Mesozoic, overcoming a protracted stasis in marine littoral habitats. Multiple independent post-Jurassic radiations took place in deep-sea, freshwater, terrestrial, pelagic and symbiotic environments, usually postdating deep-sea faunal extinctions, and corresponding with significant climatic cooling, tectonic reconfiguration, continental flooding, and increased oceanic oxygenation. We conclude that the profound Late Mesozoic global changes triggered a tipping point in amphipod evolution by unlocking ecological opportunities that promoted radiation into many new niches. Our study also provides a solid, time-calibrated, evolutionary framework to accelerate research on this overlooked, yet globally important taxon.}, } @article {pmid31669636, year = {2020}, author = {Li, G and Shi, M and Zhao, S and Li, D and Long, Y and Yang, C and Zhu, Y}, title = {RNA-Seq comparative analysis reveals the response of Enterococcus faecalis TV4 under fluoride exposure.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {726}, number = {}, pages = {144197}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2019.144197}, pmid = {31669636}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Bombyx/*microbiology ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Enterococcus faecalis/*genetics ; Fluorides/*adverse effects ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Intestines/microbiology ; RNA-Seq ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; Exome Sequencing/methods ; }, abstract = {Enterococcus faecalis is one of the main components of symbiotic bacteria in the intestine of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). The abundance of E. faecalis in the intestine of silkworm is affected by fluoride exposure. However, the response mechanism of E. faecalis toward fluoride remains largely unknown. In this study, a strain of E. faecalis (named TV4), which is a symbiotic bacteria of silkworm, was isolated and characterized. Inhibition assay showed that fluoride can significantly inhibit the growth of the TV4 strain (P < 0.05) after culture for 4 h. Finally, Illumina X-Ten platform was used to investigate the response mechanism of E. faecalis TV4 under fluoride exposure. We found that the TV4 strain demonstrated significant changes in its carbohydrate transport and metabolism and energy metabolism. The transcriptome sequencing results revealed that 237 genes were differentially expressed for TV4 grown after fluoride exposure, i.e., 92 genes were differentially up-regulated and 145 genes were differentially down-regulated. Many of the down-regulated genes were involved in cell carbohydrate transport and metabolism and energy production, whereas the up-regulated genes were mostly related to ethanolamine utilization and amino acid synthesis and metabolism. Our results revealed that strain TV4 reduced its carbohydrate metabolism and energy metabolism and increased ethanolamine utilization and amino acid metabolism to adapt and survive under fluoride exposure. This study enhances our understanding about the response mechanism of E. faecalis after fluoride exposure and has important implications for investigations on the three-way interaction among fluoride, symbiotic bacteria and silkworm.}, } @article {pmid31667953, year = {2021}, author = {Hu, S and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Root colonization by endophytic insect-pathogenic fungi.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {130}, number = {2}, pages = {570-581}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14503}, pmid = {31667953}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Endophytes/classification/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Fungi/classification/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Several ascomycetous insect-pathogenic fungi, including species in the genera Beauveria and Metarhizium, are plant root symbionts/endophytes and are termed as endophytic insect-pathogenic fungi (EIPF). The endophytic capability and insect pathogenicity of Metarhizium are coupled to provide an active method of insect-derived nitrogen transfer to plant hosts via fungal mycelia. In exchange for the insect-derived nitrogen, the plant provides photosynthate to the fungus. This symbiotic interaction offers other benefits to the plant-EIPF can improve plant growth, they are antagonistic to plant pathogens and herbivores and can enhance the plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. The mechanisms and underlying biochemical and genetic features of insect pathogenesis are generally well-established. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the underlying mechanisms in this plant-symbiotic association. Here we review five aspects of EIPF interactions with host plant roots: (i) rhizosphere colonization, (ii) signalling factors from the plant and EIPF, (iii) modulation of plant defence responses, (iv) nutrient exchange and (v) tripartite interactions with insects and other micro-organisms. The elucidation of these interactions is fundamental to understanding this symbiotic association for effective application of EIPF in an agricultural setting.}, } @article {pmid31667798, year = {2020}, author = {Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Martínez-Romero, E and Zúñiga-Dávila, D}, title = {Identification of the symbiosis island of Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri LMTR 21[T].}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {51}, number = {2}, pages = {527-529}, pmid = {31667798}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomic Islands ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The complete symbiosis island (SI) of Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri LMTR 21[T], a mutualistic symbiont of the legume Phaseolus lunatus, was identified and analyzed. The SI was 646 kb in size, had lower G+C content than the genome average, and encoded not only nodulation and nitrogen fixation functions but also those for hydrogen uptake, vitamin and phytohormone biosynthesis, molybdenum transport, nonribosomal peptide synthesis, and type III secretion. Additionally, two divergent nodA genes were encoded in the SI.}, } @article {pmid31667101, year = {2019}, author = {Wu, K and Yang, T and Wei, X}, title = {Define, process and describe the intersectoral embedded carbon flow network in China.}, journal = {MethodsX}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {2037-2045}, doi = {10.1016/j.mex.2019.08.003}, pmid = {31667101}, issn = {2215-0161}, abstract = {This article focuses on defining the intersectoral embedded carbon flow network as a matrix to mimic the complex economic-energy-environment symbiotic system in China. We propose a set of synthetical methodologies, which combines life cycle assessment (LCA) and social network analysis (SNA) in the input-output framework. The nodes and relations between nodes in the network are delicately designed such that these relations, which represent the carbon intensity of total intersectoral input between sectors, can be comparable among sectors and over time. Subsequently, based on longitudinal data of input-output tables in China, we derive, sequentialize and dichotomize matrices in order to apply the SNA method to describe the evolution of the intersectoral embedded carbon flow network. The SNA methods used include network visualization, triad census, cohesion metrics, position metrics and core-periphery modeling. Our synthetical methodologies provide a potential systematic solution to carbon reduction in China and help policy makers determine policy priorities rationally. •By constructing an intersectoral embedded carbon flow network matrix, we provide an easily explicable map to aid in the investigation and research in human derived CO2 emissions embedded in the network.•By describing the longitudinal network matrices with SNA, the evolution of the complex economic-energy-environment symbiotic system in China can be mapped out, such as an example illustrated in Wu et al. [1].}, } @article {pmid31666982, year = {2019}, author = {Aschtgen, MS and Brennan, CA and Nikolakakis, K and Cohen, S and McFall-Ngai, M and Ruby, EG}, title = {Insights into flagellar function and mechanism from the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {32}, pmid = {31666982}, issn = {2055-5008}, support = {R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Flagella/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Flagella are essential and multifunctional nanomachines that not only move symbionts towards their tissue colonization site, but also play multiple roles in communicating with the host. Thus, untangling the activities of flagella in reaching, interacting, and signaling the host, as well as in biofilm formation and the establishment of a persistent colonization, is a complex problem. The squid-vibrio system offers a unique model to study the many ways that bacterial flagella can influence a beneficial association and, generally, other bacteria-host interactions. Vibrio fischeri is a bioluminescent bacterium that colonizes the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Over the last 15 years, the structure, assembly, and functions of V. fischeri flagella, including not only motility and chemotaxis, but also biofilm formation and symbiotic signaling, have been revealed. Here we discuss these discoveries in the perspective of other host-bacteria interactions.}, } @article {pmid31666377, year = {2020}, author = {Munson-McGee, JH and Rooney, C and Young, MJ}, title = {An Uncultivated Virus Infecting a Nanoarchaeal Parasite in the Hot Springs of Yellowstone National Park.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31666377}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Archaeal Viruses/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Base Sequence ; DNA Viruses/genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Host Specificity ; Hot Springs/*virology ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Nanoarchaeota/genetics/*virology ; Parks, Recreational ; Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {The Nanoarchaeota are small cells with reduced genomes that are found attached to and dependent on a second archaeal cell for their growth and replication. Initially found in marine hydrothermal environments and subsequently in terrestrial geothermal hot springs, the Nanoarchaeota species that have been described are obligate ectobionts, each with a different host species. However, no viruses had been described that infect the Nanoarchaeota. Here, we identify a virus infecting Nanoarchaeota by the use of a combination of viral metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches. This virus, tentatively named Nanoarchaeota Virus 1 (NAV1), consists of a 35.6-kb circular DNA genome coding for 52 proteins. We further demonstrate that this virus is broadly distributed among Yellowstone National Park hot springs. NAV1 is one of the first examples of a virus infecting a single-celled organism that is itself an ectobiont of another single-celled organism.IMPORTANCE Here, we present evidence of the first virus found to infect Nanoarchaeota, a symbiotic archaean found in acidic hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, USA. Using culture-independent techniques, we provide the genome sequence and identify the archaeal host species of a novel virus, NAV1. NAV1 is the first example of a virus infecting an archaeal species that is itself an obligate symbiont and dependent on a second host organism for growth and cellular replication. On the basis of annotation of the NAV1 genome, we propose that this virus is the founding member of a new viral family, further demonstrating the remarkable genetic diversity of archaeal viruses.}, } @article {pmid31664477, year = {2020}, author = {Kolátková, V and Čepička, I and Gargiulo, GM and Vohník, M}, title = {Enigmatic Phytomyxid Parasite of the Alien Seagrass Halophila stipulacea: New Insights into Its Ecology, Phylogeny, and Distribution in the Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {3}, pages = {631-643}, pmid = {31664477}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Cercozoa/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Hydrocharitaceae/*parasitology ; Introduced Species ; Italy ; Mediterranean Sea ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/*parasitology ; RNA, Protozoan/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine phytomyxids represent often overlooked obligate biotrophic parasites colonizing diatoms, brown algae, and seagrasses. An illustrative example of their enigmatic nature is the phytomyxid infecting the seagrass Halophila stipulacea (a well-known Lessepsian migrant from the Indo-Pacific to the Mediterranean Sea). In the Mediterranean, the occurrence of this phytomyxid was first described in 1995 in the Strait of Messina (southern Italy) and the second time in 2017 in the Aegean coast of Turkey. Here we investigated, using scuba diving, stereomicroscopy, light and scanning electron microscopy, and molecular methods, whether the symbiosis is still present in southern Italy, its distribution in this region and its relation to the previous reports. From the total of 16 localities investigated, the symbiosis has only been found at one site. A seasonal pattern was observed with exceptionally high abundance (> 40% of the leaf petioles colonized) in September 2017, absence of the symbiosis in May/June 2018, and then again high infection rates (~ 30%) in September 2018. In terms of anatomy and morphology as well as resting spore dimensions and arrangement, the symbiosis seems to be identical to the preceding observations in the Mediterranean. According to the phylogenetic analyses of the 18S rRNA gene, the phytomyxid represents the first characterized member of the environmental clade "TAGIRI-5". Our results provide new clues about its on-site ecology (incl. possible dispersal mechanisms), hint that it is rare but established in the Mediterranean, and encourage further research into its distribution, ecophysiology, and taxonomy.}, } @article {pmid31662458, year = {2019}, author = {Kerwin, AH and Gromek, SM and Suria, AM and Samples, RM and Deoss, DJ and O'Donnell, K and Frasca, S and Sutton, DA and Wiederhold, NP and Balunas, MJ and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Shielding the Next Generation: Symbiotic Bacteria from a Reproductive Organ Protect Bobtail Squid Eggs from Fungal Fouling.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31662458}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K12 GM000678/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animal Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Eggs/*microbiology ; Female ; Fungi/*drug effects/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Fusariosis/veterinary ; Fusarium ; Genitalia/*microbiology ; Hawaii ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Lincomycin/pharmacology ; Macrolides ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The importance of defensive symbioses, whereby microbes protect hosts through the production of specific compounds, is becoming increasingly evident. Although defining the partners in these associations has become easier, assigning function to these relationships often presents a significant challenge. Here, we describe a functional role for a bacterial consortium in a female reproductive organ in the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes Bacteria from the accessory nidamental gland (ANG) are deposited into the egg jelly coat (JC), where they are hypothesized to play a defensive role during embryogenesis. Eggs treated with an antibiotic cocktail developed a microbial biomass primarily composed of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium keratoplasticum that infiltrated the JC, resulting in severely reduced hatch rates. Experimental manipulation of the eggs demonstrated that the JC was protective against this fungal fouling. A large proportion of the bacterial strains isolated from the ANG or JC inhibited F. keratoplasticum in culture (87.5%), while a similar proportion of extracts from these strains also exhibited antifungal activity against F. keratoplasticum and/or the human-pathogenic yeast Candida albicans (72.7%). Mass spectral network analyses of active extracts from bacterial isolates and egg clutches revealed compounds that may be involved in preventing microbial overgrowth. Several secondary metabolites were identified from ANG/JC bacteria and egg clutches, including the known antimicrobial lincomycin as well as a suite of glycerophosphocholines and mycinamicin-like compounds. These results shed light on a widely distributed but poorly understood symbiosis in cephalopods and offer a new source for exploring bacterial secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity.IMPORTANCE Organisms must have strategies to ensure successful reproduction. Some animals that deposit eggs protect their embryos from fouling/disease with the help of microorganisms. Although beneficial bacteria are hypothesized to contribute to egg defense in some organisms, the mechanisms of this protection remain largely unknown, with the exception of a few recently described systems. Using both experimental and analytical approaches, we demonstrate that symbiotic bacteria associated with a cephalopod reproductive gland and eggs inhibit fungi. Chemical analyses suggest that these bacteria produce antimicrobial compounds that may prevent overgrowth from fungi and other microorganisms. Given the distribution of these symbiotic glands among many cephalopods, similar defensive relationships may be more common in aquatic environments than previously realized. Such defensive symbioses may also be a rich source for the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds.}, } @article {pmid31662067, year = {2019}, author = {Roberts, TE and Keith, SA and Rahbek, C and Bridge, TCL and Caley, MJ and Baird, AH}, title = {Testing biodiversity theory using species richness of reef-building corals across a depth gradient.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {20190493}, pmid = {31662067}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Biodiversity ; Ecology ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Natural environmental gradients encompass systematic variation in abiotic factors that can be exploited to test competing explanations of biodiversity patterns. The species-energy (SE) hypothesis attempts to explain species richness gradients as a function of energy availability. However, limited empirical support for SE is often attributed to idiosyncratic, local-scale processes distorting the underlying SE relationship. Meanwhile, studies are also often confounded by factors such as sampling biases, dispersal boundaries and unclear definitions of energy availability. Here, we used spatially structured observations of 8460 colonies of photo-symbiotic reef-building corals and a null-model to test whether energy can explain observed coral species richness over depth. Species richness was left-skewed, hump-shaped and unrelated to energy availability. While local-scale processes were evident, their influence on species richness was insufficient to reconcile observations with model predictions. Therefore, energy availability, either in isolation or in combination with local deterministic processes, was unable to explain coral species richness across depth. Our results demonstrate that local-scale processes do not necessarily explain deviations in species richness from theoretical models, and that the use of idiosyncratic small-scale factors to explain large-scale ecological patterns requires the utmost caution.}, } @article {pmid31659768, year = {2019}, author = {Kime, P}, title = {Synchronicity and meaning.}, journal = {The Journal of analytical psychology}, volume = {64}, number = {5}, pages = {780-797}, doi = {10.1111/1468-5922.12546}, pmid = {31659768}, issn = {1468-5922}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {It is usually thought that synchronicity, characterised as 'meaningful coincidence', is therefore understandable in relation to the concept of 'meaning'. I will explore the largely unhelpful symbiotic relationship between 'coincidence' and 'meaning' by comparing synchronicity with synchoricity - coincidence in space rather than time. These two concepts are often mixed together and I will attempt to describe a 'pure' synchronicity in order to sharpen our sense of how meaning is felt to arise from coincidence. It will then be suggested that the standard concept of synchronicity is mostly psychologically irrelevant and, when adjusted to remove elements which are explained quite naturally by evolutionary theory, we are left with a concept which has implications both for the metaphysical foundations of Analytical Psychology and the individualistic emphasis one commonly finds in the field.}, } @article {pmid31659382, year = {2020}, author = {Rocha, G and Le Queré, A and Medina, A and Cuéllar, A and Contreras, JL and Carreño, R and Bustillos, R and Muñoz-Rojas, J and Villegas, MDC and Chaintreuil, C and Dreyfus, B and Munive, JA}, title = {Diversity and phenotypic analyses of salt- and heat-tolerant wild bean Phaseolus filiformis rhizobia native of a sand beach in Baja California and description of Ensifer aridi sp. nov.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {309-322}, pmid = {31659382}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Mexico ; Phaseolus/growth & development/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Salt Tolerance/genetics ; Sand ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In northern Mexico, aridity, salinity and high temperatures limit areas that can be cultivated. To investigate the nature of nitrogen-fixing symbionts of Phaseolus filiformis, an adapted wild bean species native to this region, their phylogenies were inferred by MLSA. Most rhizobia recovered belong to the proposed new species Ensifer aridi. Phylogenetic analyses of nodC and nifH show that Mexican isolates carry symbiotic genes acquired through horizontal gene transfer that are divergent from those previously characterized among bean symbionts. These strains are salt tolerant, able to grow in alkaline conditions, high temperatures, and capable of utilizing a wide range of carbohydrates and organic acids as carbon sources for growth. This study improves the knowledge on diversity, geographic distribution and evolution of bean-nodulating rhizobia in Mexico and further enlarges the spectrum of microsymbiont with which Phaseolus species can interact with, including cultivated bean varieties, notably under stressed environments. Here, the species Ensifer aridi sp. nov. is proposed as strain type of the Moroccan isolate LMR001[T] (= LMG 31426[T]; = HAMBI 3707[T]) recovered from desert sand dune.}, } @article {pmid31659035, year = {2019}, author = {Averill, C and Bhatnagar, JM and Dietze, MC and Pearse, WD and Kivlin, SN}, title = {Global imprint of mycorrhizal fungi on whole-plant nutrient economics.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {46}, pages = {23163-23168}, pmid = {31659035}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Climate ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi are critical members of the plant microbiome, forming a symbiosis with the roots of most plants on Earth. Most plant species partner with either arbuscular or ectomycorrhizal fungi, and these symbioses are thought to represent plant adaptations to fast and slow soil nutrient cycling rates. This generates a second hypothesis, that arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal plant species traits complement and reinforce these fungal strategies, resulting in nutrient acquisitive vs. conservative plant trait profiles. Here we analyzed 17,764 species level trait observations from 2,940 woody plant species to show that mycorrhizal plants differ systematically in nitrogen and phosphorus economic traits. Differences were clearest in temperate latitudes, where ectomycorrhizal plant species are more nitrogen use- and phosphorus use-conservative than arbuscular mycorrhizal species. This difference is reflected in both aboveground and belowground plant traits and is robust to controlling for evolutionary history, nitrogen fixation ability, deciduousness, latitude, and species climate niche. Furthermore, mycorrhizal effects are large and frequently similar to or greater in magnitude than the influence of plant nitrogen fixation ability or deciduous vs. evergreen leaf habit. Ectomycorrhizal plants are also more nitrogen conservative than arbuscular plants in boreal and tropical ecosystems, although differences in phosphorus use are less apparent outside temperate latitudes. Our findings bolster current theories of ecosystems rooted in mycorrhizal ecology and support the hypothesis that plant mycorrhizal association is linked to the evolution of plant nutrient economic strategies.}, } @article {pmid31659034, year = {2019}, author = {Wong, WY and Simakov, O and Bridge, DM and Cartwright, P and Bellantuono, AJ and Kuhn, A and Holstein, TW and David, CN and Steele, RE and Martínez, DE}, title = {Expansion of a single transposable element family is associated with genome-size increase and radiation in the genus Hydra.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {46}, pages = {22915-22917}, pmid = {31659034}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P30 CA062203/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD010794/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD021718/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR025496/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG037965/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; P 30686/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Hydra/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Transposable elements are one of the major contributors to genome-size differences in metazoans. Despite this, relatively little is known about the evolutionary patterns of element expansions and the element families involved. Here we report a broad genomic sampling within the genus Hydra, a freshwater cnidarian at the focal point of diverse research in regeneration, symbiosis, biogeography, and aging. We find that the genome of Hydra is the result of an expansion event involving long interspersed nuclear elements and in particular a single family of the chicken repeat 1 (CR1) class. This expansion is unique to a subgroup of the genus Hydra, the brown hydras, and is absent in the green hydra, which has a repeat landscape similar to that of other cnidarians. These features of the genome make Hydra attractive for studies of transposon-driven genome expansions and speciation.}, } @article {pmid31659008, year = {2020}, author = {Newton, ILG and Rice, DW}, title = {The Jekyll and Hyde Symbiont: Could Wolbachia Be a Nutritional Mutualist?.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {202}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31659008}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Genome, Bacterial ; Heme/metabolism ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wolbachia/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The most common intracellular symbiont on the planet-Wolbachia pipientis-is infamous largely for the reproductive manipulations induced in its host. However, more recent evidence suggests that this bacterium may also serve as a nutritional mutualist in certain host backgrounds and for certain metabolites. We performed a large-scale analysis of conserved gene content across all sequenced Wolbachia genomes to infer potential nutrients made by these symbionts. We review and critically evaluate the prior research supporting a beneficial role for Wolbachia and suggest future experiments to test hypotheses of metabolic provisioning.}, } @article {pmid31658842, year = {2020}, author = {Pinnock, R and McDonald, J and Ritchie, D and Durning, SJ}, title = {Humans and machines: Moving towards a more symbiotic approach to learning clinical reasoning.}, journal = {Medical teacher}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {246-251}, doi = {10.1080/0142159X.2019.1679361}, pmid = {31658842}, issn = {1466-187X}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; *Clinical Reasoning ; Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Learning ; Teaching ; }, abstract = {Artificial intelligence is a growing phenomenon that is driving major changes to how we deliver healthcare. One of its most significant and challenging contributions is likely to be in diagnosis. Artificial intelligence is challenging the physician's exclusive role in diagnosis and in some areas, its diagnostic accuracy exceeds that of humans. We argue that we urgently need to consider how we will incorporate AI into our teaching of clinical reasoning in the undergraduate curriculum; students need to successfully navigate the benefits and potential issues of new and developing approaches to AI in clinical diagnosis. We offer a pedagogical framework for this challenging change to our curriculum.}, } @article {pmid31655741, year = {2019}, author = {Rutten, PJ and Poole, PS}, title = {Oxygen regulatory mechanisms of nitrogen fixation in rhizobia.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {325-389}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ampbs.2019.08.001}, pmid = {31655741}, issn = {2162-5468}, support = {BB/N003608/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K006134/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are α- and β-proteobacteria that form a symbiotic partnership with legumes, fixing atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia and providing it to the plant. Oxygen regulation is key in this symbiosis. Fixation is performed by an oxygen-intolerant nitrogenase enzyme but requires respiration to meet its high energy demands. To satisfy these opposing constraints the symbiotic partners cooperate intimately, employing a variety of mechanisms to regulate and respond to oxygen concentration. During symbiosis rhizobia undergo significant changes in gene expression to differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Legumes host these bacteroids in specialized root organs called nodules. These generate a near-anoxic environment using an oxygen diffusion barrier, oxygen-binding leghemoglobin and control of mitochondria localization. Rhizobia sense oxygen using multiple interconnected systems which enable a finely-tuned response to the wide range of oxygen concentrations they experience when transitioning from soil to nodules. The oxygen-sensing FixL-FixJ and hybrid FixL-FxkR two-component systems activate at relatively high oxygen concentration and regulate fixK transcription. FixK activates the fixNOQP and fixGHIS operons producing a high-affinity terminal oxidase required for bacterial respiration in the microaerobic nodule. Additionally or alternatively, some rhizobia regulate expression of these operons by FnrN, an FNR-like oxygen-sensing protein. The final stage of symbiotic establishment is activated by the NifA protein, regulated by oxygen at both the transcriptional and protein level. A cross-species comparison of these systems highlights differences in their roles and interconnections but reveals common regulatory patterns and themes. Future work is needed to establish the complete regulon of these systems and identify other regulatory signals.}, } @article {pmid31653843, year = {2019}, author = {Du, K and Zhang, M and Dai, C and Zhou, ZN and Xie, YW and Ren, ZH and Tian, H and Chen, LQ and Van Tendeloo, G and Zhang, Z}, title = {Manipulating topological transformations of polar structures through real-time observation of the dynamic polarization evolution.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4864}, pmid = {31653843}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Topological structures based on controllable ferroelectric or ferromagnetic domain configurations offer the opportunity to develop microelectronic devices such as high-density memories. Despite the increasing experimental and theoretical insights into various domain structures (such as polar spirals, polar wave, polar vortex) over the past decade, manipulating the topological transformations of polar structures and comprehensively understanding its underlying mechanism remains lacking. By conducting an in-situ non-contact bias technique, here we systematically investigate the real-time topological transformations of polar structures in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 multilayers at an atomic level. The procedure of vortex pair splitting and the transformation from polar vortex to polar wave and out-of-plane polarization are observed step by step. Furthermore, the redistribution of charge in various topological structures has been demonstrated under an external bias. This provides new insights for the symbiosis of polar and charge and offers an opportunity for a new generation of microelectronic devices.}, } @article {pmid31653838, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, L and Li, Y and Du, Y and Zhang, Y and Wang, X and Ding, Y and Yang, X and Meng, F and Tu, J and Luo, L and Sun, C}, title = {Mild photothermal therapy potentiates anti-PD-L1 treatment for immunologically cold tumors via an all-in-one and all-in-control strategy.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4871}, pmid = {31653838}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/*pharmacology ; B-Lymphocytes/drug effects/immunology ; B7-H1 Antigen/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Gels ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced/*methods ; Immunotherapy ; Indocyanine Green/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Lipids ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects/immunology ; Melanoma, Experimental/*immunology ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/immunology ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; }, abstract = {One of the main challenges for immune checkpoint blockade antibodies lies in malignancies with limited T-cell responses or immunologically "cold" tumors. Inspired by the capability of fever-like heat in inducing an immune-favorable tumor microenvironment, mild photothermal therapy (PTT) is proposed to sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint inhibition and turn "cold" tumors "hot." Here we present a combined all-in-one and all-in-control strategy to realize a local symbiotic mild photothermal-assisted immunotherapy (SMPAI). We load both a near-infrared (NIR) photothermal agent IR820 and a programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (aPD-L1) into a lipid gel depot with a favorable property of thermally reversible gel-to-sol phase transition. Manually controlled NIR irradiation regulates the release of aPD-L1 and, more importantly, increases the recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and boosts T-cell activity against tumors. In vivo antitumor studies on 4T1 and B16F10 models demonstrate that SMPAI is an effective and promising strategy for treating "cold" tumors.}, } @article {pmid31653715, year = {2020}, author = {Burghardt, LT and Trujillo, DI and Epstein, B and Tiffin, P and Young, ND}, title = {A Select and Resequence Approach Reveals Strain-Specific Effects of Medicago Nodule-Specific PLAT-Domain Genes.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {182}, number = {1}, pages = {463-471}, pmid = {31653715}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Genetic studies of legume symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria have traditionally focused on nodule and nitrogen-fixation phenotypes when hosts are inoculated with a single rhizobial strain. These approaches overlook the potential effect of host genes on rhizobial fitness (i.e. how many rhizobia are released from host nodules) and strain-specific effects of host genes (i.e. genome × genome interactions). Using Medicago truncatula mutants in the recently described nodule-specific PLAT domain (NPD) gene family, we show how inoculating plants with a mixed inoculum of 68 rhizobial strains (Ensifer meliloti) via a select-and-resequence approach can be used to efficiently assay host mutants for strain-specific effects of late-acting host genes on interacting bacteria. The deletion of a single NPD gene (npd2) or all five members of the NPD gene family (npd1-5) differentially altered the frequency of rhizobial strains in nodules even though npd2 mutants had no visible nodule morphology or N-fixation phenotype. Also, npd1-5 nodules were less diverse and had larger populations of colony-forming rhizobia despite their smaller size. Lastly, NPD mutations disrupt a positive correlation between strain fitness and wild-type host biomass. These changes indicate that the effects of NPD proteins are strain dependent and that NPD family members are not redundant with regard to their effects on rhizobial strains. Association analyses of the rhizobial strains in the mixed inoculation indicate that rhizobial genes involved in chromosome segregation, cell division, GABA metabolism, efflux systems, and stress tolerance play an important role in the strain-specific effects of NPD genes.}, } @article {pmid31652999, year = {2019}, author = {He, W and Guo, L and Wang, L and Zhao, Q and Guo, L and Cao, W and Mur, LAJ and Wei, Y}, title = {Host Genotype and Precipitation Influence of Fungal Endophyte Symbiosis and Mycotoxin Abundance in a Locoweed.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {31652999}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*growth & development/metabolism ; Astragalus Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Mycotoxins/analysis/*biosynthesis ; Swainsonine/analysis/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many plant endophytes produce mycotoxins, but how host genetic variation influences endophyte colonization and mycotoxin production under natural conditions is poorly understood. This interaction has not been fully considered in many previous studies which used controlled experiments with agronomic or model plant species. Here, we investigated this interaction in a naturally occurring forb (a locoweed species) Oxytropis ochrocephala, its symbiotic endophyte Alternaria oxytropis, and the mycotoxin swainsonine. Host genetic variation was characterized by microsatellite markers. Endophyte infection rate and swainsonine levels were determined by PCR and HPLC, respectively. Genetic markers defined two distinct host populations and revealed that host genetics were significantly correlated with geographical location, elevation, and precipitation. As the host diverged, symbiotic interactions were reduced or failed to produce detectable swainsonine in one host population. Host genotype and precipitation had a significant impact in shaping swainsonine production at the population level. This study highlights the effect of host genotype in influencing this interaction in locoweeds.}, } @article {pmid31652848, year = {2019}, author = {da Trindade, R and Almeida, L and Xavier, L and Lins, AL and Andrade, EH and Maia, JG and Mello, A and Setzer, WN and Ramos, A and da Silva, JK}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Colonization Promotes Changes in the Volatile Compounds and Enzymatic Activity of Lipoxygenase and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase in Piper nigrum L. 'Bragantina'.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31652848}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been used to promote numerous benefits to plants. In this study, we evaluated the symbiosis between AMF species (Rhizophagus clarus, Claroideoglomus etunicatum) and Piper nigrum L. 'Bragantina'. Volatile compounds, lipoxygenase (LOX) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities, and total phenolic content were monitored from 1 to 60 days post-inoculation (dpi). Hyphae, arbuscles, and vesicles were observed during the root colonization. In the leaves, AMF induced an increase of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (54.0%-79.0%) and a decrease of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (41.3%-14.5%) at 7 dpi and 60 dpi (41.8%-21.5%), respectively. Cubenol, the main volatile compound of leaves, showed a significant decrease at 7 dpi (21.5%-0.28%) and 45 dpi (20.4%-18.42%). β-caryophyllene, the major volatile compound of the roots, displayed a significant reduction at 45 dpi (30.0%-20.0%). LOX increased in the roots at 21, 30, and 60 dpi. PAL was higher in leaves during all periods, except at 60 dpi, and increased at 21 and 45 dpi in the roots. The total phenolic content showed a significant increase only in the roots at 30 dpi. The results suggested that AMF provided changes in the secondary metabolism of P. nigrum, inducing its resistance.}, } @article {pmid31649632, year = {2019}, author = {He, C and Wang, W and Hou, J}, title = {Plant Growth and Soil Microbial Impacts of Enhancing Licorice With Inoculating Dark Septate Endophytes Under Drought Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2277}, pmid = {31649632}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {This study mainly aimed to investigate the effects of dark septate endophytes (DSE) (Acrocalymma vagum, Paraboeremia putaminum, and Fusarium acuminatum) on the growth and microbial community composition in the rhizosphere soil of a medicinal plant, licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), grown in the non-sterile soil under drought stress. The results showed that three DSE strains could effectively colonize the plant roots and form a strain-dependent symbiosis with licorice. Although drought stress declined the growth of licorice plants, these decreases were partly recovered by DSE inoculation. Specifically, the inoculation of A. vagum and P. putaminum significantly increased the biomass and glycyrrhizin content, whereas A. vagum and F. acuminatum increased glycyrrhizic acid content of host plants under drought stress. However, the inoculation of F. acuminatum showed significant negative effects on the shoot, root, and total biomass of licorice plants. In addition, the effects of DSE inoculation on the morphological, photosynthetic, and antioxidant parameters of licorice plants, and mineral nutrient and microbial community composition in the rhizosphere soil were dependent on the DSE species as well as water regime. Interestingly, DSE inoculation significantly increased AM fungi content under drought stress. In addition, DSE associated with water had a significant positive influence on soil organic matter, available phosphorus (P), AM fungi, leaf number, soluble protein, SOD activity, total root length, root branch, and glycyrrhizic acid content. Based on the results of variance partitioning analysis, 17.0, 34.0, 14.9, 40.1, 28.2, and 18.0% variations in shoot morphology, root morphology, plant biomass, active ingredient, photosynthetic parameters, and antioxidant parameters, respectively, were attributable to the presence of certain soil microorganisms. These findings suggest the possibility that DSE inoculation improved the root development and nutrient absorption of host plants, altered the soil microbiota, and might also contribute to plant growth and survival under drought conditions. As A. vagum exhibited positive effects on the plant biomass, morphological and physiological parameters, and active ingredient content in licorice plants under drought stress, it was considered to be the best fungus for licorice cultivation. These results contribute to the understanding of the ecological function of DSE fungi in dryland agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31649123, year = {2020}, author = {Roy, S and Liu, W and Nandety, RS and Crook, A and Mysore, KS and Pislariu, CI and Frugoli, J and Dickstein, R and Udvardi, MK}, title = {Celebrating 20 Years of Genetic Discoveries in Legume Nodulation and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {15-41}, pmid = {31649123}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Cell Division ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Flavonoids ; Gene Editing ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Genetic Association Studies/*history ; Genomics/history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Homeostasis ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Lotus/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics/physiology ; Organogenesis ; Oxygen ; Phaseolus/genetics ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Since 1999, various forward- and reverse-genetic approaches have uncovered nearly 200 genes required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legumes. These discoveries advanced our understanding of the evolution of SNF in plants and its relationship to other beneficial endosymbioses, signaling between plants and microbes, the control of microbial infection of plant cells, the control of plant cell division leading to nodule development, autoregulation of nodulation, intracellular accommodation of bacteria, nodule oxygen homeostasis, the control of bacteroid differentiation, metabolism and transport supporting symbiosis, and the control of nodule senescence. This review catalogs and contextualizes all of the plant genes currently known to be required for SNF in two model legume species, Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, and two crop species, Glycine max (soybean) and Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). We also briefly consider the future of SNF genetics in the era of pan-genomics and genome editing.}, } @article {pmid31647694, year = {2020}, author = {Carrillo, JD and Mayorquin, JS and Stajich, JE and Eskalen, A}, title = {Probe-Based Multiplex Real-Time PCR as a Diagnostic Tool to Distinguish Distinct Fungal Symbionts Associated With Euwallacea kuroshio and Euwallacea whitfordiodendrus in California.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {227-238}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-01-19-0201-RE}, pmid = {31647694}, issn = {0191-2917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ascomycota/classification/genetics ; California ; Female ; *Fusarium/classification/genetics ; Introduced Species ; Limit of Detection ; *Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {California has been invaded by two distinct Euwallacea spp. that vector unique plant pathogenic symbiotic fungi on multiple hosts and cause Fusarium dieback. The objective of this study was to develop multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assays using hydrolysis probes targeting the β-tubulin gene to detect, distinguish, and quantify fungi associated with the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB; Euwallacea whitfordiodendrus, Fusarium euwallaceae, Graphium euwallaceae, and Paracremonium pembeum) as well as the Kuroshio shot hole borer (KSHB; Euwallacea kuroshio, Fusarium kuroshium, and Graphium kuroshium) from various sample types. Absolute quantification reaction efficiencies ranged from 88.2 to 104.3%, with a coefficient of determination >0.992 and a limit of detection of 100 copies µl[-1] for all targets across both assays. Qualitative detection using the real-time assays on artificially inoculated avocado shoot extracts showed more sensitivity compared with conventional fungal isolation from wood. All symbiotic fungi, except P. pembeum, from PSHB and KSHB female heads were detectable and quantified. Field samples from symptomatic Platanus racemosa, Populus spp., and Salix spp. across 17 of 26 city parks were positively identified as PSHB and KSHB through detection of their symbiotic fungi, and both were found occurring together on five trees from three different park locations. The molecular assays presented here can be utilized to accurately identify fungi associated with these invasive pests in California.}, } @article {pmid31646970, year = {2019}, author = {Jooste, M and Roets, F and Midgley, GF and Oberlander, KC and Dreyer, LL}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and Oxalis - evidence for a vertically inherited bacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {441}, pmid = {31646970}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Bacillus/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*physiology ; Oxalidaceae/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant-endophyte symbioses often revolve around nitrogen metabolism, and involve varying degrees of intimacy. Although evidence for vertical inheritance of nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria is increasing, it is confined mostly to crop plants, and to date no such system has been reported for geophytes.

METHODS: Bacterial endophytes associated with Oxalis, the most species-rich geophytic genus form the Cape Flora in southern Africa was studied. Culturable endophytes were isolated from surface-sterilized vegetative and reproductive plant organs for six host species at three locations. Colonies of microbes on various artificial media were morphotyped, enumerated and identified using sequence data. Filter exclusion experiments were conducted to determine if endophytes were vertically transmitted to seeds, determine if mucilage plays a role to actively attract microbes from the soil and to assess microbial richness isolated from the mucilage of Oxalis seedlings. Fluorescent microscopy was implemented in order to visualize endophytic bacteria in cryo-sectioned seeds.

RESULTS: Evidence for a novel, vertically transmitted symbiosis was reported. Communities of nitrogen-fixing and plant growth-promoting Bacillus endophytes were found to associate with selected Oxalis hosts from nitrogen-deficient environments of the Cape. Bacillus endophytes were ubiquitous and diverse across species and plant bodies, and were prominent in seeds. Three common nitrogen-fixing Bacillus have known oxalotrophic properties and appear to be housed inside specialised cavities (containing oxalates) within the plant body and seeds.

CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of vertical transmission and potential benefits to both host and endophyte suggest a particularly tight mutualism in the Oxalis-endophyte system. This discovery suggests unexpected ways in which geophytes might avoid nitrogen deficiency, and suggest that such symbioses are more common than previously expected.}, } @article {pmid31646077, year = {2019}, author = {Verdura, S and Cuyàs, E and Martin-Castillo, B and Menendez, JA}, title = {Metformin as an archetype immuno-metabolic adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy.}, journal = {Oncoimmunology}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e1633235}, pmid = {31646077}, issn = {2162-4011}, abstract = {The development of a single immuno-metabolic adjuvant capable of modulating, in the appropriate direction and intensity, the complex antagonistic and symbiotic interplays between tumor cells, immune cells, and the gut microbiota may appear pharmacologically implausible. Metformin might help solve this conundrum and beneficially impact the state of cancer-immune system interactions.}, } @article {pmid31644954, year = {2020}, author = {Shaik, HA and Mishra, A and Sehadová, H and Kodrík, D}, title = {Responses of sericotropin to toxic and pathogenic challenges: possible role in defense of the wax moth Galleria mellonella.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP}, volume = {227}, number = {}, pages = {108633}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108633}, pmid = {31644954}, issn = {1532-0456}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Host-Parasite Interactions/immunology ; Larva/drug effects/metabolism/*parasitology ; Male ; Moths/drug effects/metabolism/*parasitology ; Nematoda/*physiology ; Neuropeptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Wasp Venoms/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {This study describes defense functions of the insect neuropeptide sericotropin, which is recognized as an agent that stimulates silk production in some lepidopteran larvae. Sericotropin, expressed in brain tissue of the wax moth Galleria mellonella in all developmental stages, is not expressed in silk glands, indicating its tissue specificity. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of sericotropin in the brain-subesophageal complex being predominantly and densely distributed under the plasmatic membrane and in axonal parts of neurons. Injection of venom from Habrobracon hebetor and topical application of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae with symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. into or onto G. mellonella larvae resulted in upregulation of the sericotropin gene and peptide, suggesting a role for sericotropin in defense and immunity. Accordingly, two synthetic fragments of sericotropin killed entomotoxic Xenorhabdus spp. bacteria in a disc diffusion antimicrobial test. Further, total metabolism, monitored by carbon dioxide production, significantly decreased after application of either venom or EPN, probably because of muscle impairment by the venom and serious cell damage caused by EPN, especially in the midgut. Both venom and EPN upregulated expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides gallerimycin and galiomicin in Galleria brain; however, they downregulated prophenoloxidase and phenoloxidase activity in hemolymph. These results suggest that sericotropin is a multifunctional peptide that plays an important role in G. mellonella defense and immunity.}, } @article {pmid31642409, year = {2021}, author = {Uemura, D and Kawazoe, Y and Inuzuka, T and Itakura, Y and Kawamata, C and Abe, T}, title = {Drug Leads Derived from Japanese Marine Organisms.}, journal = {Current medicinal chemistry}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {196-210}, doi = {10.2174/0929867326666191022125851}, pmid = {31642409}, issn = {1875-533X}, mesh = {3T3-L1 Cells ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; *Biological Products/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; *Cyanobacteria ; Ethers, Cyclic ; Japan ; Macrolides ; Mice ; Okadaic Acid ; Polyketides/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Pyrones/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Many natural products with extraordinary chemical structures and brilliant biological activities have been obtained from marine organisms. We have investigated such fascinating bioactive molecules, exemplified by the potent marine toxin palytoxin and the antitumor molecule halichondrin B, which has been developed as the anticancer drug Halaven®, to explore novel frontiers in organic chemistry and bioscience. Working within the traditional discipline, we have sought to acquire a deeper understanding of biological phenomena. We introduce here our major work along with up-todate topics. We isolated yoshinone A from marine cyanobacteria and completed a gram-scale synthesis. Yoshinone A is a novel polyketide that inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes without significant cytotoxicity. The detailed mechanisms of action will be elucidated via further experiments in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we explore the true producers of okadaic acid and halichondrin B by immunostaining of Halichondria okadai with an antibody that was prepared using these natural products as an antigen. We will analyze isolated symbionts and reveal biosynthetic pathways.}, } @article {pmid31641685, year = {2019}, author = {McLachlan, S and Dube, K and Johnson, O and Buchanan, D and Potts, HWW and Gallagher, T and Fenton, N}, title = {A framework for analysing learning health systems: Are we removing the most impactful barriers?.}, journal = {Learning health systems}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {e10189}, pmid = {31641685}, issn = {2379-6146}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Learning health systems (LHS) are one of the major computing advances in health care. However, no prior research has systematically analysed barriers and facilitators for LHS. This paper presents an investigation into the barriers, benefits, and facilitating factors for LHS in order to create a basis for their successful implementation and adoption.

METHODS: First, the ITPOSMO-BBF framework was developed based on the established ITPOSMO (information, technology, processes, objectives, staffing, management, and other factors) framework, extending it for analysing barriers, benefits, and facilitators. Second, the new framework was applied to LHS.

RESULTS: We found that LHS shares similar barriers and facilitators with electronic health records (EHR); in particular, most facilitator effort in implementing EHR and LHS goes towards barriers categorised as human factors, even though they were seen to carry fewer benefits. Barriers whose resolution would bring significant benefits in safety, quality, and health outcomes remain.LHS envisage constant generation of new clinical knowledge and practice based on the central role of collections of EHR. Once LHS are constructed and operational, they trigger new data streams into the EHR. So LHS and EHR have a symbiotic relationship. The implementation and adoption of EHRs have proved and continues to prove challenging, and there are many lessons for LHS arising from these challenges.

CONCLUSIONS: Successful adoption of LHS should take account of the framework proposed in this paper, especially with respect to its focus on removing barriers that have the most impact.}, } @article {pmid31641199, year = {2019}, author = {Bourgeois, D and Bravo, M and Llodra, JC and Inquimbert, C and Viennot, S and Dussart, C and Carrouel, F}, title = {Calibrated interdental brushing for the prevention of periodontal pathogens infection in young adults - a randomized controlled clinical trial.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {15127}, pmid = {31641199}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Calibration ; Female ; Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontal Diseases/*microbiology/*prevention & control ; *Toothbrushing ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Periodontal disease is clearly correlated with systemic disease. The presence of periodontal pathogens in interdental spaces in young, healthy adults is a strong indicator of the need to introduce daily interdental prophylaxis. Twenty-five subjects (aged 18-35 years), diagnosticated clinically as periodontally healthy, were enrolled in this study. One hundred interdental sites were included. Among these sites, 50 "test" sites were cleaned daily with calibrated interdental brushes (IDBs), whereas the other 50 sites were not cleaned and considered "controls". The interdental biofilm at these interdental sites was collected at the beginning of the study (basal) and at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology was used to quantify (i) 19 periodontal bacteria, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, and (ii) total bacteria. In the test sites, the quantity of total bacteria decreased over time with the use of IDBs. The bacteria from the red and orange Socransky complexes, which are associated with periodontal disease, significantly decreased in the test sites but not in the control sites. Bacteria from the yellow, and purple Socransky complexes, which are associated with periodontal health, increased significantly in both groups whereas bacteria from the blue Socransky complex increased significantly only in the test sites. Furthermore, at basal, 66% of test sites and 68% of control sites bled during interdental brushing. These percentages decreased by 85% in 3 months for the test sites and by 27% in the control sites. In conclusion, the daily use of calibrated IDBs can reduce periodontal pathogens, reestablish symbiotic microbiota and, decrease interdental inflammation in interdental sites of healthy young adults.}, } @article {pmid31640545, year = {2019}, author = {Akami, M and Ren, XM and Qi, X and Mansour, A and Gao, B and Cao, S and Niu, CY}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria motivate the foraging decision and promote fecundity and survival of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {229}, pmid = {31640545}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Appetitive Behavior ; Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development ; Female ; Fertility ; Genetic Fitness ; Longevity ; Male ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut bacteria of tephritid fruit flies play prominent roles in nutrition, reproduction, maintenance and ecological adaptations of the host. Here, we adopted an approach based on direct observation of symbiotic or axenic flies feeding on dishes seeded with drops of full diet (containing all amino acids) or full diet supplemented with bacteria at similar concentrations to explore the effects of intestinal bacteria on foraging decision and fitness of Bactrocera dorsalis.

RESULTS: The results show that intestinal probiotics elicit beneficial foraging decision and enhance the female reproduction fitness and survival of B. dorsalis (symbiotic and axenic), yet preferences for probiotic diets were significantly higher in axenic flies to which they responded faster compared to full diet. Moreover, females fed diet supplemented with Pantoea dispersa and Enterobacter cloacae laid more eggs but had shorter lifespan while female fed Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella oxytoca enriched diets lived longer but had lower fecundity compared to the positive control. Conversely, flies fed sugar diet (negative control) were not able to produce eggs, but lived longer than those from the positive control.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that intestinal bacteria can drive the foraging decision in a way which promotes the reproduction and survival of B. dorsalis. Our data highlight the potentials of gut bacterial isolates to control the foraging behavior of the fly and empower the sterile insect technique (SIT) program through the mass rearing.}, } @article {pmid31637835, year = {2020}, author = {Wilber, MQ and Jani, AJ and Mihaljevic, JR and Briggs, CJ}, title = {Fungal infection alters the selection, dispersal and drift processes structuring the amphibian skin microbiome.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {88-98}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13414}, pmid = {31637835}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Amphibians ; Animals ; Fungi ; *Microbiota ; *Mycoses ; Skin ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities are important for host health, but the processes shaping these communities are poorly understood. Understanding how community assembly processes jointly affect microbial community composition is limited because inflexible community models rely on rejecting dispersal and drift before considering selection. We developed a flexible community assembly model based on neutral theory to ask: How do dispersal, drift and selection concurrently affect the microbiome across environmental gradients? We applied this approach to examine how a fungal pathogen affected the assembly processes structuring the amphibian skin microbiome. We found that the rejection of neutrality for the amphibian microbiome across a fungal gradient was not strictly due to selection processes, but was also a result of species-specific changes in dispersal and drift. Our modelling framework brings the qualitative recognition that niche and neutral processes jointly structure microbiomes into quantitative focus, allowing for improved predictions of microbial community turnover across environmental gradients.}, } @article {pmid31636642, year = {2019}, author = {Kenney, E and Hawdon, JM and O'Halloran, D and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Excreted-Secreted Products Enable Infection by Photorhabdus luminescens Through Suppression of the Imd Pathway.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2372}, pmid = {31636642}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila Proteins/*physiology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology/parasitology ; Helminth Proteins/*physiology ; *Immune Tolerance ; Phagocytosis ; Photorhabdus/*pathogenicity ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {Upon entering the hemocoel of its insect host, the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora releases its symbiotic bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens, which is also a strong insect pathogen. P. luminescens is known to suppress the insect immune response independently following its release, but the nematode appears to enact its own immunosuppressive mechanisms during the earliest phases of an infection. H. bacteriophora was found to produce a unique set of excreted-secreted proteins in response to host hemolymph, and while basal secretions are immunogenic with regard to Diptericin expression through the Imd pathway, host-induced secretions suppress this expression to a level below that of controls in Drosophila melanogaster. This effect is consistent in adults, larvae, and isolated larval fat bodies, and the magnitude of suppression is dose-dependent. By reducing the expression of Diptericin, an antimicrobial peptide active against Gram-negative bacteria, the activated excreted-secreted products enable a more rapid propagation of P. luminescens that corresponds to more rapid host mortality. The identification and isolation of the specific proteins responsible for this suppression represents an exciting field of study with potential for enhancing the biocontrol of insect pests and treatment of diseases associated with excessive inflammation.}, } @article {pmid31636334, year = {2019}, author = {Bright, M and Espada-Hinojosa, S and Volland, JM and Drexel, J and Kesting, J and Kolar, I and Morchner, D and Nussbaumer, A and Ott, J and Scharhauser, F and Schuster, L and Zambalos, HC and Nemeschkal, HL}, title = {Thiotrophic bacterial symbiont induces polyphenism in giant ciliate host Zoothamnium niveum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {15081}, pmid = {31636334}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacteria/drug effects/*metabolism ; Bayes Theorem ; Ciliophora/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sulfides/*pharmacology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary theory predicts potential shifts between cooperative and uncooperative behaviour under fluctuating environmental conditions. This leads to unstable benefits to the partners and restricts the evolution of dependence. High dependence is usually found in those hosts in which vertically transmitted symbionts provide nutrients reliably. Here we study host dependence in the marine, giant colonial ciliate Zoothamnium niveum and its vertically transmitted, nutritional, thiotrophic symbiont from an unstable environment of degrading wood. Previously, we have shown that sulphidic conditions lead to high host fitness and oxic conditions to low fitness, but the fate of the symbiont has not been studied. We combine several experimental approaches to provide evidence for a sulphide-tolerant host with striking polyphenism involving two discrete morphs, a symbiotic and an aposymbiotic one. The two differ significantly in colony growth form and fitness. This polyphenism is triggered by chemical conditions and elicited by the symbiont's presence on the dispersing swarmer. We provide evidence of a single aposymbiotic morph found in nature. We propose that despite a high fitness loss when aposymbiotic, the ciliate has retained a facultative life style and may use the option to live without its symbiont to overcome spatial and temporal shortage of sulphide in nature.}, } @article {pmid31636183, year = {2019}, author = {Itoh, H and Jang, S and Takeshita, K and Ohbayashi, T and Ohnishi, N and Meng, XY and Mitani, Y and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Host-symbiont specificity determined by microbe-microbe competition in an insect gut.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {45}, pages = {22673-22682}, pmid = {31636183}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite the omnipresence of specific host-symbiont associations with acquisition of the microbial symbiont from the environment, little is known about how the specificity of the interaction evolved and is maintained. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris acquires a specific bacterial symbiont of the genus Burkholderia from environmental soil and harbors it in midgut crypts. The genus Burkholderia consists of over 100 species, showing ecologically diverse lifestyles, and including serious human pathogens, plant pathogens, and nodule-forming plant mutualists, as well as insect mutualists. Through infection tests of 34 Burkholderia species and 18 taxonomically diverse bacterial species, we demonstrate here that nonsymbiotic Burkholderia and even its outgroup Pandoraea could stably colonize the gut symbiotic organ and provide beneficial effects to the bean bug when inoculated on aposymbiotic hosts. However, coinoculation revealed that the native symbiont always outcompeted the nonnative bacteria inside the gut symbiotic organ, explaining the predominance of the native Burkholderia symbiont in natural bean bug populations. Hence, the abilities for colonization and cooperation, usually thought of as specific traits of mutualists, are not unique to the native Burkholderia symbiont but, to the contrary, competitiveness inside the gut is a derived trait of the native symbiont lineage only and was thus critical in the evolution of the insect gut symbiont.}, } @article {pmid31635886, year = {2019}, author = {Rajnovic, I and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Sánchez-Juanes, F and González-Buitrago, JM and Kajic, S and Peix, Á and Velázquez, E and Sikora, S}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of rhizobia nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in Croatia and definition of the symbiovar phaseoli within the species Rhizobium pisi.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {126019}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126019}, pmid = {31635886}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Croatia ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Rhizobium/chemistry/*classification/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris is a legume indigenous to America which is currently cultivated in Europe including countries located at the Southeast of this continent, such as Croatia, where several local landraces are cultivated, most of them of Andean origin. In this work we identify at species and symbiovar levels several fast-growing strains able to form effective symbiosis with P. vulgaris in different Croatian soils. The identification at species level based on MALDI-TOF MS and core gene sequence analysis showed that most of these strains belong to the species R. leguminosarum, R. hidalgonense and R. pisi. In addition, several strains belong to putative new species phylogenetically close to R. ecuadorense and R. sophoriradicis. All Croatian strains belong to the symbiovar phaseoli and harbour the α and γ nodC alleles typical for American strains of this symbiovar. Nevertheless, most of Croatian strains harboured the γ nodC gene allele supporting its Andean origin since it is also dominant in other European countries, where Andean cultivars of P. vulgaris are traditionally cultivated, as occurs in Spain. The only strains harbouring the α nodC allele belong to R. hidalgonense and R. pisi, this last only containing the symbiovars viciae and trifolii to date. This is the first report about the presence in Europe of the species R. hidalgonense, the nodulation of P. vulgaris by R. pisi and the existence of the symbiovar phaseoli within this species. These results significantly increase the knowledge of the biogeography of Rhizobium-P. vulgaris symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31634977, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, C and Cheng, SH and Lin, S}, title = {Illuminating the dark depths inside coral.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {e13122}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.13122}, pmid = {31634977}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ability to observe in situ 3D distribution and dynamics of endosymbionts in corals is crucial for gaining a mechanistic understanding of coral bleaching and reef degradation. Here, we report the development of a tissue clearing (TC) coupled with light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) method for 3D imaging of the coral holobiont at single-cell resolution. The initial applications have demonstrated the ability of this technique to provide high spatial resolution quantitative information of endosymbiont abundance and distribution within corals. With specific fluorescent probes or assays, TC-LSFM also revealed spatial distribution and dynamics of physiological conditions (such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and hypoxia response) in both corals and their endosymbionts. This tool is highly promising for in situ and in-depth data acquisition to illuminate coral symbiosis and health conditions in the changing marine environment, providing fundamental information for coral reef conservation and restoration.}, } @article {pmid31634976, year = {2019}, author = {Stedman, A and Brunner, K and Nigro, G}, title = {Decrypting the communication between microbes and the intestinal mucosa-A brief review on Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire's latest research.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {e13118}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.13118}, pmid = {31634976}, issn = {1462-5822}, support = {17-CE14-0022 (i-Stress)//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; 17-CE14-0022//French National Research Agency (ANR)/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells/*microbiology/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/metabolism/*microbiology/pathology ; Regeneration ; Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Over the past 10 years, the "Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire" unit of Professor Philippe Sansonetti has studied the molecular cross talk between the intestinal microbiota and the gut epithelium, aiming to better understand how this mutualistic symbiosis delineates homoeostasis and, when perturbed, prompts pathology. To do so, the unit has manipulated both bacterial and epithelial cells, and used cutting-edge technology. More recently, the lab has turned its focus also on studying the intestinal crypt and more specifically the intestinal stem cell for their role in epithelial regeneration and long-term epithelium renewal. Here, we provide a brief review summarising recent results obtained from the lab, with particular focus on the intestinal crypt.}, } @article {pmid31633059, year = {2019}, author = {Deng, Y and Chen, H and Li, C and Xu, J and Qi, Q and Xu, Y and Zhu, Y and Zheng, J and Peng, D and Ruan, L and Sun, M}, title = {Endophyte Bacillus subtilis evade plant defense by producing lantibiotic subtilomycin to mask self-produced flagellin.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {368}, pmid = {31633059}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Amorphophallus/metabolism/microbiology ; Arabidopsis/metabolism/microbiology ; Bacillus subtilis/*metabolism ; Bacteriocins/*metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Flagellin/*metabolism ; *Plant Immunity/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbes can enter into healthy plants as endophytes and confer beneficial functions. The entry of commensal microbes into plants involves penetrating plant defense. Most mechanisms about overcoming plant defense are focused on adapted pathogens, while the mechanism involved in beneficial endophyte evades plant defense to achieve harmonious commensalism is unclear. Here, we discover a mechanism that an endophyte bacterium Bacillus subtilis BSn5 reduce to stimulate the plant defensive response by producing lantibiotic subtilomycin to bind self-produced flagellin. Subtilomycin bind with flagellin and affect flg22-induced plant defense, by which means promotes the endophytic colonization in A. thaliana. Subtilomycin also promotes the BSn5 colonization in a distinct plant, Amorphophallus konjac, where the BSn5 was isolated. Our investigation shows more independent subtilomycin/-like producers are isolated from distinct plants. Our work unveils a common strategy that is used for bacterial endophytic colonization.}, } @article {pmid31632421, year = {2019}, author = {Valdés-López, O and Formey, D and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Fernandez-Göbel, TF and Sánchez-Correa, MDS}, title = {Argonaute Proteins: Why Are They So Important for the Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1177}, pmid = {31632421}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Unlike most other land plants, legumes can fulfill their nitrogen needs through the establishment of symbioses with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (rhizobia). Through this symbiosis, fixed nitrogen is incorporated into the food chain. Because of this ecological relevance, the genetic mechanisms underlying the establishment of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis (LRS) have been extensively studied over the past decades. During this time, different types of regulators of this symbiosis have been discovered and characterized. A growing number of studies have demonstrated the participation of different types of small RNAs, including microRNAs, in the different stages of this symbiosis. The involvement of small RNAs also indicates that Argonaute (AGO) proteins participate in the regulation of the LRS. However, despite this obvious role, the relevance of AGO proteins in the LRS has been overlooked and understudied. Here, we discuss and hypothesize the likely participation of AGO proteins in the regulation of the different steps that enable the establishment of the LRS. We also briefly review and discuss whether rhizobial symbiosis induces DNA damages in the legume host. Understanding the different levels of LRS regulation could lead to the development of improved nitrogen fixation efficiency to enhance sustainable agriculture, thereby reducing dependence on inorganic fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid31632369, year = {2019}, author = {Xiao, G and Liu, S and Xiao, Y and Zhu, Y and Zhao, H and Li, A and Li, Z and Feng, J}, title = {Seasonal Changes in Gut Microbiota Diversity and Composition in the Greater Horseshoe Bat.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2247}, pmid = {31632369}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A large number of microorganisms colonize the intestines of animals. The gut microbiota plays an important role in nutrient metabolism and affects a number of physiological mechanisms in the host. Studies have shown that seasonal changes occur in the intestinal microbes of mammals that hibernate seasonally. However, these studies only focused on ground squirrels and bears. It remains unclear how hibernation might affect the intestinal microbes of bats. In this study, we measured microbial diversity and composition in the gut of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in different periods (early spring, early summer, late summer, torpor, and interbout arousal) using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt to predict functional profiles. We found seasonal changes in the diversity and composition of the gut microbes in R. ferrumequinum. The diversity of gut microbiota was highest in the late summer and lowest in the early summer. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was highest in the early summer and significantly lower in other periods. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was lowest in the early summer and significantly increased in the late summer, followed by a significant decrease in the early winter and early spring. The relative abundance of Tenericutes was significantly higher in the early spring compared with other periods. The results of functional prediction by PICRUSt showed seasonal variations in the relative abundance of metabolism-related pathways, including lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism. Functional categories for carbohydrate metabolism had significantly lower relative abundance in early winter-torpor compared with late summer, while those associated with lipid metabolism had significantly higher relative abundance in the early winter compared with late summer. Overall, our results show that seasonal physiological changes associated with hibernation alter the gut microbial community of R. ferrumequinum. Hibernation may also alter the metabolic function of intestinal microbes, possibly by converting the gut microflora from carbohydrate-related to lipid-related functional categories. This study deepens our understanding of the symbiosis between hibernating mammals and gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid31632357, year = {2019}, author = {Uehling, JK and Entler, MR and Meredith, HR and Millet, LJ and Timm, CM and Aufrecht, JA and Bonito, GM and Engle, NL and Labbé, JL and Doktycz, MJ and Retterer, ST and Spatafora, JW and Stajich, JE and Tschaplinski, TJ and Vilgalys, RJ}, title = {Microfluidics and Metabolomics Reveal Symbiotic Bacterial-Fungal Interactions Between Mortierella elongata and Burkholderia Include Metabolite Exchange.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2163}, pmid = {31632357}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {We identified two poplar (Populus sp.)-associated microbes, the fungus, Mortierella elongata strain AG77, and the bacterium, Burkholderia strain BT03, that mutually promote each other's growth. Using culture assays in concert with a novel microfluidic device to generate time-lapse videos, we found growth specific media differing in pH and pre-conditioned by microbial growth led to increased fungal and bacterial growth rates. Coupling microfluidics and comparative metabolomics data results indicated that observed microbial growth stimulation involves metabolic exchange during two ordered events. The first is an emission of fungal metabolites, including organic acids used or modified by bacteria. A second signal of unknown nature is produced by bacteria which increases fungal growth rates. We find this symbiosis is initiated in part by metabolic exchange involving fungal organic acids.}, } @article {pmid31632191, year = {2019}, author = {Reuter, M and Bosellini, FR and Budd, AF and Ćorić, S and Piller, WE and Harzhauser, M}, title = {High coral reef connectivity across the Indian Ocean is revealed 6-7 Ma ago by a turbid-water scleractinian assemblage from Tanzania (Eastern Africa).}, journal = {Coral reefs (Online)}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {1023-1037}, pmid = {31632191}, issn = {1432-0975}, support = {P 29158/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {The present centre of coral diversity in the Western Indian Ocean is defined by the northern Mozambique Channel with an extension northward to Mafia Island in Tanzania (Eastern Africa). The geological and evolutionary history of this hotspot of marine biodiversity remains so far completely obscure, because Cenozoic fossil reef communities of this area are not well known. This study presents a new fossil scleractinian fauna from the Mikindani Formation in southern Tanzania. It comprises 16 symbiotic coral taxa of which nine could be identified to the species and five to the genus level. Coral habitat consisted of low-relief biostromes that developed in shallow water at the front of the Rovuma Delta under conditions of variable sediment input. The biostromes are dated to be Messinian based on associated calcareous nannoplankton and planktic foraminifers. The studied coral assemblage shows close affinities with the Recent Western Indian Ocean biogeographic province and Central Indo-West Pacific biogeographic region as well as with the Miocene of Indonesia. Faunistic relations with the Oligocene-early Miocene of Somalia and Iran do not exist. The patterns of species distribution document a major palaeobiogeographic change in the Indian Ocean that correlates with the onset of the Miocene Indian Ocean Equatorial Jet during the middle Miocene. The clear Indonesian affinity of the Messinian coral fauna from southern Tanzania implies that this westerly oceanic surface current provided high biogeographic connectivity across the Indian Ocean during the late Miocene. Today, the coastal waters of Indonesia are located in the Coral Triangle. Diversification of this global epicentre of marine biodiversity started in the early Miocene and it was established already during the middle Miocene. Our results indicate that the East African hotspot of coral biodiversity originated as an offshoot of the Coral Triangle in the middle to late Miocene.}, } @article {pmid31632180, year = {2019}, author = {Kachamakova, M and Antonova, V and Koshev, Y}, title = {The role of ant nests in European ground squirrel's (Spermophilus citellus) post-reintroduction adaptation in two Bulgarian mountains.}, journal = {Biodiversity data journal}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e38292}, pmid = {31632180}, issn = {1314-2828}, abstract = {The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a vulnerable species, whose populations are declining throughout its entire range in Central and South-Eastern Europe. To a great extent, its conservation depends on habitat restoration, maintenance and protection. In order to improve the conservation status of the species, reintroductions are increasingly applied. Therefore, researchers focus their attention on factors that facilitate these activities and contribute to their success. In addition to the well-known factors like grass height and exposition, others, related to the underground characteristics, are more difficult to evaluate. The presence of other digging species could help this evaluation. Here, we present two reintroduced ground squirrel colonies, where the vast majority of the burrows are located in the base of anthills, mainly of yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus). This interspecies relationship offers numerous advantages for the ground squirrel and is mostly neutral for the ants. The benefits for the ground squirrel, including reduced energy demand for digging, as well as additional surveillance and hiding places available, could greatly enhance the post-reintroduction adaptation process.}, } @article {pmid31631529, year = {2020}, author = {Bi, J and Wang, YF}, title = {The effect of the endosymbiont Wolbachia on the behavior of insect hosts.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {846-858}, pmid = {31631529}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Aggression ; Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Feeding Behavior ; Insecta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Learning ; Memory ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Sleep ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {As one of the most successful intracellular symbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia can infect many arthropods and nematodes. Wolbachia infection usually affects the reproduction of their hosts to promote their own proliferation and transmission. Currently, most of the studies focus on the mechanisms of Wolbachia interactions with host reproduction. However, in addition to distribution in the reproductive tissues, Wolbachia also infect various somatic tissues of their hosts, including the brain. This raises the potential that Wolbachia may influence some somatic processes, such as behaviors in their hosts. So far, information about the effects of Wolbachia infection on host behavior is still very limited. The present review presents the current literature on different aspects of the influence of Wolbachia on various behaviors, including sleep, learning and memory, mating, feeding and aggression in their insect hosts. We then highlight ongoing scientific efforts in the field that need addressing to advance this field, which can have significant implications for further developing Wolbachia as environmentally friendly biocontrol agents to control insect-borne diseases and agricultural pests.}, } @article {pmid31630948, year = {2019}, author = {Bucek, A and Šobotník, J and He, S and Shi, M and McMahon, DP and Holmes, EC and Roisin, Y and Lo, N and Bourguignon, T}, title = {Evolution of Termite Symbiosis Informed by Transcriptome-Based Phylogenies.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {21}, pages = {3728-3734.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.076}, pmid = {31630948}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Genes, Insect ; Isoptera/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/*physiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Termitidae comprises ∼80% of all termite species [1] that play dominant decomposer roles in tropical ecosystems [2, 3]. Two major events during termite evolution were the loss of cellulolytic gut protozoans in the ancestor of Termitidae and the subsequent gain in the termitid subfamily Macrotermitinae of fungal symbionts cultivated externally in "combs" constructed within the nest [4, 5]. How these symbiotic transitions occurred remains unresolved. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial data previously suggested that Macrotermitinae is the earliest branching termitid lineage, followed soon after by Sphaerotermitinae [6], which cultivates bacterial symbionts on combs inside its nests [7]. This has led to the hypothesis that comb building was an important evolutionary step in the loss of gut protozoa in ancestral termitids [8]. We sequenced genomes and transcriptomes of 55 termite species and reconstructed phylogenetic trees from up to 4,065 orthologous genes of 68 species. We found strong support for a novel sister-group relationship between the bacterial comb-building Sphaerotermitinae and fungus comb-building Macrotermitinae. This key finding indicates that comb building is a derived trait within Termitidae and that the creation of a comb-like "external rumen" involving bacteria or fungi may not have driven the loss of protozoa from ancestral termitids, as previously hypothesized. Instead, associations with gut prokaryotic symbionts, combined with dietary shifts from wood to other plant-based substrates, may have played a more important role in this symbiotic transition. Our phylogenetic tree provides a platform for future studies of comparative termite evolution and the evolution of symbiosis in this taxon.}, } @article {pmid31630178, year = {2020}, author = {Takahashi, I and Hosomi, K and Nagatake, T and Toubou, H and Yamamoto, D and Hayashi, I and Kurashima, Y and Sato, S and Shibata, N and Goto, Y and Maruyama, F and Nakagawa, I and Kuwae, A and Abe, A and Kunisawa, J and Kiyono, H}, title = {Persistent colonization of non-lymphoid tissue-resident macrophages by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {133-141}, doi = {10.1093/intimm/dxz071}, pmid = {31630178}, issn = {1460-2377}, mesh = {Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; Female ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Interleukin-10/deficiency/immunology ; Macrophages/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, SCID ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Accumulating evidence has revealed that lymphoid tissue-resident commensal bacteria (e.g. Alcaligenes spp.) survive within dendritic cells. We extended our previous study by investigating microbes that persistently colonize colonic macrophages. 16S rRNA-based metagenome analysis using DNA purified from murine colonic macrophages revealed the presence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The in situ intracellular colonization by S. maltophilia was recapitulated in vitro by using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Co-culture of BMDMs with clinically isolated S. maltophilia led to increased mitochondrial respiration and robust IL-10 production. We further identified a 25-kDa protein encoded by the gene assigned as smlt2713 (recently renamed as SMLT_RS12935) and secreted by S. maltophilia as the factor responsible for enhanced IL-10 production by BMDMs. IL-10 production is critical for maintenance of the symbiotic condition, because intracellular colonization by S. maltophilia was impaired in IL-10-deficient BMDMs, and smlt2713-deficient S. maltophilia failed to persistently colonize IL-10-competent BMDMs. These findings indicate a novel commensal network between colonic macrophages and S. maltophilia that is mediated by IL-10 and smlt2713.}, } @article {pmid31628148, year = {2019}, author = {Mitchell, JH and Leonard, JM and Delaney, J and Girguis, PR and Scott, KM}, title = {Hydrogen Does Not Appear To Be a Major Electron Donor for Symbiosis with the Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Tubeworm Riftia pachyptila.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31628148}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth/*physiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; Hydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; *Hydrothermal Vents/chemistry/microbiology ; Polychaeta/metabolism/*microbiology ; Reducing Agents/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Use of hydrogen gas (H2) as an electron donor is common among free-living chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Given the presence of this dissolved gas at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, it has been suggested that it may also be a major electron donor for the free-living and symbiotic chemolithoautotrophic bacteria that are the primary producers at these sites. Giant Riftia pachyptila siboglinid tubeworms and their symbiotic bacteria ("Candidatus Endoriftia persephone") dominate many vents in the Eastern Pacific, and their use of sulfide as a major electron donor has been documented. Genes encoding hydrogenase are present in the "Ca Endoriftia persephone" genome, and proteome data suggest that these genes are expressed. In this study, high-pressure respirometry of intact R. pachyptila and incubations of trophosome homogenate were used to determine whether this symbiotic association could also use H2 as a major electron donor. Measured rates of H2 uptake by intact R. pachyptila in high-pressure respirometers were similar to rates measured in the absence of tubeworms. Oxygen uptake rates in the presence of H2 were always markedly lower than those measured in the presence of sulfide, as was the incorporation of [13]C-labeled dissolved inorganic carbon. Carbon fixation by trophosome homogenate was not stimulated by H2, nor was hydrogenase activity detectable in these samples. Though genes encoding [NiFe] group 1e and [NiFe] group 3b hydrogenases are present in the genome and transcribed, it does not appear that H2 is a major electron donor for this system, and it may instead play a role in intracellular redox homeostasis.IMPORTANCE Despite the presence of hydrogenase genes, transcripts, and proteins in the "Ca Endoriftia persephone" genome, transcriptome, and proteome, it does not appear that R. pachyptila can use H2 as a major electron donor. For many uncultivable microorganisms, omic analyses are the basis for inferences about their activities in situ However, as is apparent from the study reported here, there are dangers in extrapolating from omics data to function, and it is essential, whenever possible, to verify functions predicted from omics data with physiological and biochemical measurements.}, } @article {pmid31628145, year = {2019}, author = {Wong, SY and Charlesworth, JC and Benaud, N and Burns, BP and Ferrari, BC}, title = {Communication within East Antarctic Soil Bacteria.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {31628145}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Acyl-Butyrolactones/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/physiology ; Antarctic Regions ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Chromobacterium/genetics/physiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics/physiology ; Microbial Interactions/genetics/*physiology ; Microbiota/physiology ; *Quorum Sensing/genetics/physiology ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Trans-Activators/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Antarctica, being the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth, represents the most extreme environment in which a living organism can survive. Under constant exposure to harsh environmental threats, terrestrial Antarctica remains home to a great diversity of microorganisms, indicating that the soil bacteria must have adapted a range of survival strategies that require cell-to-cell communication. Survival strategies include secondary metabolite production, biofilm formation, bioluminescence, symbiosis, conjugation, sporulation, and motility, all of which are often regulated by quorum sensing (QS), a type of bacterial communication. Until now, such mechanisms have not been explored in terrestrial Antarctica. In this study, LuxI/LuxR-based quorum sensing (QS) activity was delineated in soil bacterial isolates recovered from Adams Flat, in the Vestfold Hills region of East Antarctica. Interestingly, we identified the production of potential homoserine lactones (HSLs) with chain lengths ranging from medium to long in 19 bacterial species using three biosensors, namely, Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4, Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, and Escherichia coli MT102, in conjunction with thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The majority of detectable HSLs were from Gram-positive species not previously known to produce HSLs. This discovery further expands our understanding of the microbial community capable of this type of communication, as well as provides insights into physiological adaptations of microorganisms that allow them to survive in the harsh Antarctic environment.IMPORTANCE Quorum sensing, a type of bacterial communication, is widely known to regulate many processes, including those that confer a survival advantage. However, little is known about communication by bacteria residing within Antarctic soils. Employing a combination of bacterial biosensors, analytical techniques, and genome mining, we found a variety of Antarctic soil bacteria speaking a common language, via LuxI/LuxR-based quorum sensing, thus potentially supporting survival in a mixed microbial community. This study reports potential quorum sensing activity in Antarctic soils and has provided a platform for studying physiological adaptations of microorganisms that allow them to survive in the harsh Antarctic environment.}, } @article {pmid31627093, year = {2019}, author = {Gu, L and Zhao, M and Ge, M and Zhu, S and Cheng, B and Li, X}, title = {Transcriptome analysis reveals comprehensive responses to cadmium stress in maize inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {109744}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109744}, pmid = {31627093}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Cadmium/*adverse effects/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*adverse effects/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Zea mays/*drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Biological strategy of utilization of plants-microbe's interactions to remediate cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils is effective and practical. However, limited evidence at transcriptome level is available about how microbes work with host plants to alleviate Cd stress. In the present study, comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed between maize seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and non-AM fungi inoculation under distinct concentrations of CdCl2 (0, 25, and 50 mg per kg soil). Significantly higher levels of Cd were found in root tissues of maize colonized by AM fungi, whereas, Cd content was reduced as much as 50% in leaf tissues when compared to non-AM seedlings, indicating that symbiosis between AM fungi and maize seedlings can significantly block translocation of Cd from roots to leaf tissues. Moreover, a total of 5827 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were determined and approximately 68.54% DEGs were downregulated when roots were exposed to high Cd stress. In contrast, 67.16% (595) DEGs were significantly up-regulated when seedlings were colonized by AM fungi under 0 mg CdCl2. Based on hierarchical clustering analysis, global expression profiles were split into eight distinct clusters. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that hundreds of genes functioning in plant hormone signal transduction, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and glutathione metabolism were enriched. Furthermore, MapMan pathway analysis indicated a more comprehensive overview response, including hormone metabolism, especially in JA, glutathione metabolism, transcription factors and secondary metabolites, to Cd stress in mycorrhizal maize seedlings. These results provide an overview, at the transcriptome level, of how inoculation of maize seedlings by AM fungi could facilitate the relief of Cd stress.}, } @article {pmid31626704, year = {2019}, author = {Spribille, T}, title = {Lichen symbionts outside of symbiosis: how do they find their match? A commentary on: 'A case study on the re-establishment of the cyanolichen symbiosis: where do the compatible photobionts come from?'.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {3}, pages = {vi-vii}, pmid = {31626704}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {*Chlorophyta ; *Lichens ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This article comments on: J. L. H. Cardós, M. Prieto, M. Jylhä, G. Aragón, M. C. Molina, I. Martínez, and J. Rikkinen. 2019. A case study on the re-establishment of the cyanolichen symbiosis: where do the compatible photobionts come from? Annals of Botany 124(3): 379–388.}, } @article {pmid31626586, year = {2020}, author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S and Nguyen, HDT}, title = {Description and complete genome sequences of Bradyrhizobium symbiodeficiens sp. nov., a non-symbiotic bacterium associated with legumes native to Canada.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {442-449}, pmid = {31626586}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Canada ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Four bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of soybean plants that had been inoculated with root-zone soil of either Amphicarpaea bracteata (Hog Peanut) or Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick Trefoil) growing in Canada, were previously characterized and placed in a novel lineage within the genus Bradyrhizobium. The taxonomic status of the novel strains was verified by genomic and phenotypic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of individual and concatenated housekeeping gene sequences (atp D, gln II, rec A, gyr B and rpo B) placed all novel strains in a highly supported lineage distinct from named Bradyrhizobium species. Data for sequence similarities of concatenated housekeeping genes of novel strains relative to type strains of named species were consistent with the phylogenetic data. Average nucleotide identity values of genome sequences (84.5-93.7 %) were below the threshold value of 95-96 % for bacterial species circumscription. Close relatives to the novel strains are Bradyrhizobium amphicarpaeae, Bradyrhizobium ottawaense and Bradyrhizobium shewense. The complete genomes of strains 85S1MB[T] and 65S1MB consist of single chromosomes of size 7.04 and 7.13 Mbp, respectively. The genomes of both strains have a G+C content of 64.3 mol%. These strains lack a symbiosis island as well as key nodulation, nitrogen-fixation and photosystem genes. Data from various phenotypic tests including growth characteristics and carbon source utilization supported the sequence-based analyses. Based on the data presented here, the four strains represent a novel species for which the name B radyrhizobium symbiodeficiens sp. nov., is proposed, with 85S1MB[T] (=LMG 29937[T]=HAMBI 3684[T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid31626582, year = {2020}, author = {Kabdullayeva, T and Crosbie, DB and Marín, M}, title = {Mesorhizobium norvegicum sp. nov., a rhizobium isolated from a Lotus corniculatus root nodule in Norway.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {388-396}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003769}, pmid = {31626582}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Norway ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Strain 10.2.2[T] was isolated from a root nodule of a Lotus corniculatus plant growing near Skammestein (Norway). Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization revealed that colonies grown on yeast-mannitol broth agar were circular, convex and slimy. Growth occurred at 28 °C in 0-1 % NaCl and in a pH range from above 4 to 10. Cells were resistant to kanamycin and phosphomycin. They could assimilate carbon sources such as l-lysine, d-mannose, d-mannitol, and l-alanine. Major fatty acids found in the organism were 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. Genome sequencing and characterization of the genome revealed its size to be 8.27 Mbp with a G+C content of 62.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and housekeeping gene alignments placed this strain within the genus Mesorhizobium. Pairwise genome-wide average nucleotide identity values supported that strain 10.2.2[T] represents a new species, for which we propose the name Mesorhizobium norvegicum sp. nov. with the type strain 10.2.2[T] (=DSM 108834[T]=LMG 31153[T]).}, } @article {pmid31626355, year = {2019}, author = {Intrieri, D and Carminati, DM and Zardi, P and Damiano, C and Manca, G and Gallo, E and Mealli, C}, title = {Indoles from Alkynes and Aryl Azides: Scope and Theoretical Assessment of Ruthenium Porphyrin-Catalyzed Reactions.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {25}, number = {72}, pages = {16591-16605}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201904224}, pmid = {31626355}, issn = {1521-3765}, abstract = {A symbiotic experimental/computational study analyzed the Ru(TPP)(NAr)2 -catalyzed one-pot formation of indoles from alkynes and aryl azides. Thirty different C3 -substituted indoles were synthesized and the best performance, in term of yields and regioselectivities, was observed when reacting ArC≡CH alkynes with 3,5-(EWG)2 C6 H3 N3 azides, whereas the reaction was less efficient when using electron-rich aryl azides. A DFT analysis describes the reaction mechanism in terms of the energy costs and orbital/electronic evolutions; the limited reactivity of electron-rich azides was also justified. In summary, PhC≡CH alkyne interacts with one NAr imido ligand of Ru(TPP)(NAr)2 to give a residually dangling C(Ph) group, which, by coupling with a C(H) unit of the N-aryl substituent, forms a 5+6 bicyclic molecule. In the process, two subsequent spin changes allow inverting the conformation of the sp[2] C(Ph) atom and its consequent electrophilic-like attack to the aromatic ring. The bicycle isomerizes to indole via a two-step outer sphere H-migration. Eventually, a 'Ru(TPP)(NAr)' mono-imido active catalyst is reformed after each azide/alkyne reaction.}, } @article {pmid31624868, year = {2020}, author = {Luo, S and Yin, J and Peng, Y and Xie, J and Wu, H and He, D and Li, X and Cheng, G}, title = {Glutathione is Involved in Detoxification of Peroxide and Root Nodule Symbiosis of Mesorhizobium huakuii.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {31624868}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Acetylene/metabolism ; Benzene Derivatives/pharmacology ; Fabaceae/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Glutathione/*metabolism ; Glutathione Reductase/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Mesorhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes interact with symbiotic rhizobia to produce nitrogen-fixation root nodules under nitrogen-limiting conditions. The contribution of glutathione (GSH) to this symbiosis and anti-oxidative damage was investigated using the M. huakuii gshB (encoding GSH synthetase) mutant. The gshB mutant grew poorly with different monosaccharides, including glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, or mannitol, as sole sources of carbon. The antioxidative capacity of gshB mutant was significantly decreased by these treatments with H2O2 under the lower concentrations and cumene hydroperoxide (CUOOH) under the higher concentrations, indicating that GSH plays different roles in response to organic peroxide and inorganic peroxide. The gshB mutant strain displayed no difference in catalase activity, but significantly lower levels of the peroxidase activity and the glutathione reductase activity than the wild type. The same level of catalase activity could be associated with upregulation of the transcriptional activity of the catalase genes under H2O2-induced conditions. The nodules infected by the gshB mutant were severely impaired in abnormal nodules, and showed a nodulation phenotype coupled to a 60% reduction in the nitrogen fixation capacity. A 20-fold decrease in the expression of two nitrogenase genes, nifH and nifD, is observed in the nodules induced by gshB mutant strain. The symbiotic deficiencies were linked to bacteroid early senescence.}, } @article {pmid31624556, year = {2019}, author = {Igolkina, AA and Bazykin, GA and Chizhevskaya, EP and Provorov, NA and Andronov, EE}, title = {Matching population diversity of rhizobial nodA and legume NFR5 genes in plant-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {18}, pages = {10377-10386}, pmid = {31624556}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {We hypothesized that population diversities of partners in nitrogen-fixing rhizobium-legume symbiosis can be matched for "interplaying" genes. We tested this hypothesis using data on nucleotide polymorphism of symbiotic genes encoding two components of the plant-bacteria signaling system: (a) the rhizobial nodA acyltransferase involved in the fatty acid tail decoration of the Nod factor (signaling molecule); (b) the plant NFR5 receptor required for Nod factor binding. We collected three wild-growing legume species together with soil samples adjacent to the roots from one large 25-year fallow: Vicia sativa, Lathyrus pratensis, and Trifolium hybridum nodulated by one of the two Rhizobium leguminosarum biovars (viciae and trifolii). For each plant species, we prepared three pools for DNA extraction and further sequencing: the plant pool (30 plant indiv.), the nodule pool (90 nodules), and the soil pool (30 samples). We observed the following statistically significant conclusions: (a) a monotonic relationship between the diversity in the plant NFR5 gene pools and the nodule rhizobial nodA gene pools; (b) higher topological similarity of the NFR5 gene tree with the nodA gene tree of the nodule pool, than with the nodA gene tree of the soil pool. Both nonsynonymous diversity and Tajima's D were increased in the nodule pools compared with the soil pools, consistent with relaxation of negative selection and/or admixture of balancing selection. We propose that the observed genetic concordance between NFR5 gene pools and nodule nodA gene pools arises from the selection of particular genotypes of the nodA gene by the host plant.}, } @article {pmid31624345, year = {2020}, author = {Manzano-Marı N, A and Coeur d'acier, A and Clamens, AL and Orvain, C and Cruaud, C and Barbe, V and Jousselin, E}, title = {Serial horizontal transfer of vitamin-biosynthetic genes enables the establishment of new nutritional symbionts in aphids' di-symbiotic systems.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {259-273}, pmid = {31624345}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/*genetics ; Erwinia/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Vitamins/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Many insects depend on obligate mutualistic bacteria to provide essential nutrients lacking from their diet. Most aphids, whose diet consists of phloem, rely on the bacterial endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola to supply essential amino acids and B vitamins. However, in some aphid species, provision of these nutrients is partitioned between Buchnera and a younger bacterial partner, whose identity varies across aphid lineages. Little is known about the origin and the evolutionary stability of these di-symbiotic systems. It is also unclear whether the novel symbionts merely compensate for losses in Buchnera or carry new nutritional functions. Using whole-genome endosymbiont sequences of nine Cinara aphids that harbour an Erwinia-related symbiont to complement Buchnera, we show that the Erwinia association arose from a single event of symbiont lifestyle shift, from a free-living to an obligate intracellular one. This event resulted in drastic genome reduction, long-term genome stasis, and co-divergence with aphids. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation reveals that Erwinia inhabits its own bacteriocytes near Buchnera's. Altogether these results depict a scenario for the establishment of Erwinia as an obligate symbiont that mirrors Buchnera's. Additionally, we found that the Erwinia vitamin-biosynthetic genes not only compensate for Buchnera's deficiencies, but also provide a new nutritional function; whose genes have been horizontally acquired from a Sodalis-related bacterium. A subset of these genes have been subsequently transferred to a new Hamiltonella co-obligate symbiont in one specific Cinara lineage. These results show that the establishment and dynamics of multi-partner endosymbioses can be mediated by lateral gene transfers between co-ocurring symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31624337, year = {2020}, author = {Li, HL and Li, XM and Yang, SQ and Cao, J and Li, YH and Wang, BG}, title = {Induced terreins production from marine red algal-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus EN-539 co-cultured with symbiotic fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus EN-531.}, journal = {The Journal of antibiotics}, volume = {73}, number = {2}, pages = {108-111}, pmid = {31624337}, issn = {1881-1469}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Aspergillus/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Cyclopentanes/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Paecilomyces/*metabolism ; Rhodophyta/microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {The coculture of marine red algal-derived endophytic fungi Aspergillus terreus EN-539 and Paecilomyces lilacinus EN-531 induced the production of a new terrein derivative, namely asperterrein (1) and a known dihydroterrein (2), which were not detected in the axenic cultures of both strains. The production of the known secondary metabolites terrein (3), butyrolactone I (4), and dankasterone (6), derived from A. terreus EN-539, were depressed significantly in the coculture. Compounds 1-3 exhibited inhibitory activity against Alternaria brassicae, Escherichia coli, Physalospora piricola, and Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values ranging from 4 to 64 μg ml[-1].}, } @article {pmid31623993, year = {2019}, author = {Kumari, A and Pathak, PK and Loake, GJ and Gupta, KJ}, title = {The PHYTOGLOBIN-NO Cycle Regulates Plant Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {981-983}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2019.09.007}, pmid = {31623993}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The production of the redox-active signaling molecule, NO, has long been associated with interactions between microbes and their host plants. Emerging evidence now suggests that specific NO signatures and cognate patterns of PHYTOGLOBIN1 (PHYTOGB1) expression, a key regulator of cellular NO homeostasis, may help determine either symbiosis or pathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid31623782, year = {2019}, author = {Sulieman, S and Kusano, M and Ha, CV and Watanabe, Y and Abdalla, MA and Abdelrahman, M and Kobayashi, M and Saito, K and Mühling, KH and Tran, LP}, title = {Divergent metabolic adjustments in nodules are indispensable for efficient N2 fixation of soybean under phosphate stress.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {289}, number = {}, pages = {110249}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110249}, pmid = {31623782}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The main objective of the present study was to characterize the symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF) capacity and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for low-Pi acclimation in soybean plants grown in association with two Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens strains which differ in SNF capacity (USDA110 vs. CB1809). In comparison with the USDA110-soybean, the CB1809-soybean association revealed a greater SNF capacity in response to Pi starvation, as evidenced by relative higher plant growth and higher expression levels of the nifHDK genes. This enhanced Pi acclimation was partially related to the efficient utilization to the overall carbon (C) budget of symbiosis in the CB1809-induced nodules compared with that of the USDA110-induced nodules under low-Pi provision. In contrast, the USDA110-induced nodules favored other metabolic acclimation mechanisms that expend substantial C cost, and consequently cause negative implications on nodule C expenditure during low-Pi conditions. Fatty acids, phytosterols and secondary metabolites are characterized among the metabolic pathways involved in nodule acclimation under Pi starvation. While USDA110-soybean association performed better under Pi sufficiency, it is very likely that the CB1809-soybean association is better acclimatized to cope with Pi deficiency owing to the more effective functional plasticity and lower C cost associated with these nodular metabolic arrangements.}, } @article {pmid31622518, year = {2020}, author = {Fernandez, CW and See, CR and Kennedy, PG}, title = {Decelerated carbon cycling by ectomycorrhizal fungi is controlled by substrate quality and community composition.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {226}, number = {2}, pages = {569-582}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16269}, pmid = {31622518}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon ; Carbon Cycle ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Interactions between symbiotic ectomycorrhizal (EM) and free-living saprotrophs can result in significant deceleration of leaf litter decomposition. While this phenomenon is widely cited, its generality remains unclear, as both the direction and magnitude of EM fungal effects on leaf litter decomposition have been shown to vary among studies. Here we explicitly examine how contrasting leaf litter types and EM fungal communities may lead to differential effects on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Specifically, we measured the response of soil nutrient cycling, litter decay rates, litter chemistry and fungal community structure to the reduction of EM fungi (via trenching) with a reciprocal litter transplant experiment in adjacent Pinus- or Quercus-dominated sites. We found clear evidence of EM fungal suppression of C and N cycling in the Pinus-dominated site, but no suppression in the Quercus-dominated site. Additionally, in the Pinus-dominated site, only the Pinus litter decay rates were decelerated by EM fungi and were associated with decoupling of litter C and N cycling. Our results support the hypothesis that EM fungi can decelerate C cycling via N competition, but strongly suggest that the 'Gadgil effect' is dependent on both substrate quality and EM fungal community composition. We argue that understanding tree host traits as well as EM fungal functional diversity is critical to a more mechanistic understanding of how EM fungi mediate forest soil biogeochemical cycling.}, } @article {pmid31622174, year = {2019}, author = {Grosse, M and Strauss, E and Krings, U and Berger, RG}, title = {Response of the sesquiterpene synthesis in submerged cultures of the Basidiomycete Tyromyces floriformis to the medium composition.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {885-894}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2019.1668740}, pmid = {31622174}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/metabolism ; Culture Media/*chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tyromyces floriformis, a potent fungal sesquiterpene producer, was grown Cerrena unicolor, as a model organism in submerged culture to search for chemicals affecting sesquiterpene biosynthesis in vitro. Thirty-one sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids were identified in the supernatant, among them the fruity α-ylangene as the main volatile. Additives, such as some polysaccharides or lipids, did not affect the qualitative product spectrum but strongly affected the quantitative synthesis. Rye arabinoxylan and other polysaccharides, such as chitin, starch, and agarose, almost blocked the synthesis of α-ylangene. Single addition of the building blocks of arabinoxylan, arabinose, xylose, or ferulic acid showed no inhibitory effect, whereas 0.05% (w/v) 3[2]-α-l-arabinofuranosyl-xylobiose and larger oligosaccharides resulted in a significant suppression. In contrast, addition of acetyl donors boosted the α-ylangene concentration by 1 order of magnitude up to >40 mg L[-1]. Both increased as well as decreased α-ylangene concentrations correlated with the intracellular sesquiterpene cyclase activity. Similar experiments using submerged cultured Cerrena unicolor, Postia placenta, and Coprinopsis cinerea showed that the additives affected fungal sesquiterpenoid synthesis differently. Whereas the addition of acetyl donors boosted the synthesis in all biphasic cultures, it was inhibited by polysaccharides in fungi preferably interacting with lignified plants. In contrast, Cerrena unicolor, known for a symbiotic lifestyle with wasps, responded by forming higher concentrations of the possibly insect-attracting sesquiterpenes.}, } @article {pmid31621296, year = {2019}, author = {Aoyagi, S and Kodama, Y and Passarelli, MK and Vorng, JL and Kawashima, T and Yoshikiyo, K and Yamamoto, T and Gilmore, IS}, title = {OrbiSIMS Imaging Identifies Molecular Constituents of the Perialgal Vacuole Membrane of Paramecium bursaria with Symbiotic Chlorella variabilis.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {91}, number = {22}, pages = {14545-14551}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03571}, pmid = {31621296}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Chlorella/*chemistry ; Intracellular Membranes/*chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Oligosaccharides/analysis ; Paramecium/*chemistry ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Vacuoles/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The protist (mostly single-celled organisms), Paramecium bursaria, forms an intracellular symbiotic relationship with the single-celled algae, Chlorella variabilis, where P. bursaria provides nutrients (i.e., Ca[2+], Mg[2+], and K[+]), carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and protection from viruses, while C. variabilis provides oxygen, carbon fixation, and nutrients. Key to this successful relationship is the perialgal vacuole (PV) membrane, which surrounds C. variabilis and protects it from digestion by P. bursaria. The membrane is fragile and difficult to analyze using conventional methods therefore very little is known about the molecular composition. We used the OrbiSIMS, a new high-resolution mass spectrometer with subcellular resolution imaging, to study the compartmentalization of endosymbionts and elucidate biomolecular interactions between the host and endosymbiont. Ions from the region of interest, close to C. variabilis, and specific to the target samples containing PVs were found based on the chemical mapping and masses of the ions. We show chemical localizations of oligosaccharides in close proximity of C. variabilis endosymbionts in P. bursaria. These oligosaccharides are detected in host-endosymbiont samples containing PV membrane-bound algae and absent in free-living algae and digestive vacuole (DV) membrane-bound algae in P. bursaria.}, } @article {pmid31621248, year = {2019}, author = {Feng, H and Meng, PP and Dou, Q and Zhang, SX and Wang, HH and Wang, CY}, title = {[Advances in mechanisms of nutrient exchange between mycorrhizal fungi and host plants].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {10}, pages = {3596-3604}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201910.034}, pmid = {31621248}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizae, formed through the colonization of soil mycorrhizal fungi into the roots of host plants, are common symbiosis in the terrestrial ecosystems. The establishment of mycorrhizae is mainly based on the bidirectional nutrient exchanges between the symbiotic partners. Mycorrhizal fungi can absorb mineral nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from soil and transport them to the host plants for their growth. As an exchange, host plants supply mycorrhizal fungi with the carbohydrates in the form of lipids or sugars, which are essential for fungal growth. In recent years, the mechanism of nutrient exchange between the mycorrhizal fungi and host plants has been a hot research topic. Important progresses have been achieved in mechanisms of host plants nutrient uptake and transport mediated by the mycorrhizal fungi. In this review, recent advances in nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi and host plants were summarized, especially in the absorption and bidirectional transfer mechanisms of important nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. The potential regulatory effects of nutrient exchange in the mycorrhizal development were also reviewed. In addition, key problems and prospects of related researches were analyzed. This paper would be meaningful for the establishment of mycorrhizal model and the optimization of mycorrhizal effects.}, } @article {pmid31621153, year = {2019}, author = {Hill, PW and Broughton, R and Bougoure, J and Havelange, W and Newsham, KK and Grant, H and Murphy, DV and Clode, P and Ramayah, S and Marsden, KA and Quilliam, RS and Roberts, P and Brown, C and Read, DJ and Deluca, TH and Bardgett, RD and Hopkins, DW and Jones, DL}, title = {Angiosperm symbioses with non-mycorrhizal fungal partners enhance N acquisition from ancient organic matter in a warming maritime Antarctic.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {2111-2119}, pmid = {31621153}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Ecosystem ; *Magnoliopsida ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In contrast to the situation in plants inhabiting most of the world's ecosystems, mycorrhizal fungi are usually absent from roots of the only two native vascular plant species of maritime Antarctica, Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. Instead, a range of ascomycete fungi, termed dark septate endophytes (DSEs), frequently colonise the roots of these plant species. We demonstrate that colonisation of Antarctic vascular plants by DSEs facilitates not only the acquisition of organic nitrogen as early protein breakdown products, but also as non-proteinaceous d-amino acids and their short peptides, accumulated in slowly-decomposing organic matter, such as moss peat. Our findings suggest that, in a warming maritime Antarctic, this symbiosis has a key role in accelerating the replacement of formerly dominant moss communities by vascular plants, and in increasing the rate at which ancient carbon stores laid down as moss peat over centuries or millennia are returned to the atmosphere as CO2 .}, } @article {pmid31620659, year = {2019}, author = {Heyck, M and Ibarra, A}, title = {Microbiota and memory: A symbiotic therapy to counter cognitive decline?.}, journal = {Brain circulation}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {124-129}, pmid = {31620659}, issn = {2455-4626}, abstract = {The process of aging underlies many degenerative disorders that arise in the living body, including gradual neuronal loss of the hippocampus that often leads to decline in both memory and cognition. Recent evidence has shown a significant connection between gut microbiota and brain function, as butyrate production by microorganisms is believed to activate the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). To investigate whether modification of intestinal microbiota could impact cognitive decline in the aging brain, Romo-Araiza et al. conducted a study to test how probiotic and prebiotic supplementation impacted spatial and associative memory in middle-aged rats. Their results showed that rats supplemented with the symbiotic (both probiotic and prebiotic) treatment performed significantly better than other groups in the spatial memory test, though not in that of associative memory. Their data also reported that this improvement correlated with increased levels of BDNF, decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and better electrophysiological outcomes in the hippocampi of the symbiotic group. Thus, the results indicated that the progression of cognitive impairment is indeed affected by changes in microbiota induced by probiotics and prebiotics. Potential future applications of these findings center around combatting neurodegeneration and inflammation associated not only with aging but also with the damaging posttraumatic effects of ischemic stroke.}, } @article {pmid31620094, year = {2019}, author = {Benjelloun, I and Thami Alami, I and Douira, A and Udupa, SM}, title = {Phenotypic and Genotypic Diversity Among Symbiotic and Non-symbiotic Bacteria Present in Chickpea Nodules in Morocco.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1885}, pmid = {31620094}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Environmental pollution problems and increased demand for green technologies in production are forcing farmers to introduce agricultural practices with a lower impact on the environment. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in arid and semi-arid environments is frequently affected by harsh environmental stresses such as heat, drought and salinity, which limit its growth and productivity and affect biological nitrogen fixation ability of rhizobia. Climate change had further aggravated these stresses. Inoculation with appropriate stress tolerant rhizobia is necessary for an environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural production. In this study, endophytic bacteria isolated from chickpea nodules from different soil types and regions in Morocco, were evaluated for their phenotypic and genotypic diversity in order to select the most tolerant ones for further inoculation of this crop. Phenotypic characterization of 135 endophytic bacteria from chickpea nodules showed a wide variability for tolerance to heavy metals and antibiotics, variable response to extreme temperatures, salinity, pH and water stress. 56% of isolates were able to nodulate chickpea. Numerical analysis of rep-PCR results showed that nodulating strains fell into 22 genotypes. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene of endophytic bacteria from chickpea nodules revealed that 55% of isolated bacteria belong to Mesorhizobium genus. Based on MLSA of core genes (recA, atpD, glnII and dnaK), tasted strains were distributed into six clades and were closely related to Mesorhizobium ciceri, Mesorhizobium opportunistum, Mesorhizobium qingshengii, and Mesorhizobium plurifarium. Most of nodulating strains were belonging to a group genetically distinct from reference Mesorhizobium species. Three isolates belong to genus Burkholderia of the class β- proteobacteria, and 55 other strains belong to the class γ- proteobacteria. Some of the stress tolerant isolates have great potential for further inoculation of chickpea in the arid and semiarid environments to enhance biological nitrogen fixation and productivity in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation.}, } @article {pmid31619728, year = {2019}, author = {Nguyen, TD and Cavagnaro, TR and Watts-Williams, SJ}, title = {The effects of soil phosphorus and zinc availability on plant responses to mycorrhizal fungi: a physiological and molecular assessment.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {14880}, pmid = {31619728}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cation Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Humans ; Ion Transport/drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphorus/deficiency/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/physiology ; Rhizophoraceae/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zinc/deficiency/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The positive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been demonstrated for plant biomass, and zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P) uptake, under soil nutrient deficiency. Additionally, a number of Zn and P transporter genes are affected by mycorrhizal colonisation or implicated in the mycorrhizal pathway of uptake. However, a comprehensive study of plant physiology and gene expression simultaneously, remains to be undertaken. Medicago truncatula was grown at different soil P and Zn availabilities, with or without inoculation of Rhizophagus irregularis. Measures of biomass, shoot elemental concentrations, mycorrhizal colonisation, and expression of Zn transporter (ZIP) and phosphate transporter (PT) genes in the roots, were taken. Mycorrhizal plants had a greater tolerance of both P and Zn soil deficiency; there was also evidence of AMF protecting plants against excessive Zn accumulation at high soil Zn. The expression of all PT genes was interactive with both P availability and mycorrhizal colonisation. MtZIP5 expression was induced both by AMF and soil Zn deficiency, while MtZIP2 was down-regulated in mycorrhizal plants, and up-regulated with increasing soil Zn concentration. These findings provide the first comprehensive physiological and molecular picture of plant-mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis with regard to soil P and Zn availability. Mycorrhizal fungi conferred tolerance to soil Zn and P deficiency and this could be linked to the induction of the ZIP transporter gene MtZIP5, and the PT gene MtPT4.}, } @article {pmid31619307, year = {2020}, author = {Elokil, AA and Magdy, M and Melak, S and Ishfaq, H and Bhuiyan, A and Cui, L and Jamil, M and Zhao, S and Li, S}, title = {Faecal microbiome sequences in relation to the egg-laying performance of hens using amplicon-based metagenomic association analysis.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {706-715}, doi = {10.1017/S1751731119002428}, pmid = {31619307}, issn = {1751-732X}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Chickens/*microbiology/physiology ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Genotype ; Metagenome/*genetics ; *Metagenomics ; Ovum ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Exploring the composition and structure of the faecal microbial community improves the understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in the gastrointestinal function and the egg-laying performance of hens. Therefore, detection of hen-microbial interactions can explore a new breeding marker for the selection of egg production due to the important role of the gut microbiome in the host's metabolism and health. Recently, the gut microbiota has been recognised as a regulator of host performance, which has led to investigations of the productive effects of changes in the faecal microbiome in various animals. In the present study, a metagenomics analysis was applied to characterise the composition and structural diversity of faecal microbial communities under two selections of egg-laying performance, high (H, n = 30) and low (L, n = 30), using 16S rRNA-based metagenomic association analysis. The most abundant bacterial compositions were estimated based on the operational classification units among samples and between the groups from metagenomic data sets. The results indicated that Firmicutes phylum has higher significant (P < 0.01) in the H group than in the L group. In addition, higher relative abundance phyla of Bacteroides and Fusobacteria were estimated in the H group than the L group, contrasting the phyla of Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria were more relative abundance in the L group. The families (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Acinetobacter, Flavobacteriaceae, Lachnoclostridum and Rhodococcus) were more abundant in the H group based on the comparison between the H and L groups. Meanwhile, three types of phyla (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria) and six families (Acinetobacter, Avibacterium, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Helicobacter and Peptoclostridium) were more abundant in the L group (P < 0.01). Overall, the selection of genotypes has enriched a relationship between the gut microbiota and the egg-laying performance. These findings suggest that the faecal microbiomes of chickens with high egg-laying performance have more diverse activities than those of chickens with low egg-laying performance, which may be related to the metabolism and health of the host and egg production variation.}, } @article {pmid31618269, year = {2019}, author = {Moonjely, S and Zhang, X and Fang, W and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Metarhizium robertsii ammonium permeases (MepC and Mep2) contribute to rhizoplane colonization and modulates the transfer of insect derived nitrogen to plants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e0223718}, pmid = {31618269}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Endophytes ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Insecta/*chemistry ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Metarhizium/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology/parasitology ; *Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {The endophytic insect pathogenic fungi (EIPF) Metarhizium promotes plant growth through symbiotic association and the transfer of insect-derived nitrogen. However, little is known about the genes involved in this association and the transfer of nitrogen. In this study, we assessed the involvement of six Metarhizium robertsii genes in endophytic, rhizoplane and rhizospheric colonization with barley roots. Two ammonium permeases (MepC and Mep2) and a urease, were selected since homologous genes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were reported to play a pivotal role in nitrogen mobilization during plant root colonization. Three other genes were selected on the basis on RNA-Seq data that showed high expression levels on bean roots, and these encoded a hydrophobin (Hyd3), a subtilisin-like serine protease (Pr1A) and a hypothetical protein. The root colonization assays revealed that the deletion of urease, hydrophobin, subtilisin-like serine protease and hypothetical protein genes had no impact on endophytic, rhizoplane and rhizospheric colonization at 10 or 20 days. However, the deletion of MepC resulted in significantly increased rhizoplane colonization at 10 days whereas ΔMep2 showed increased rhizoplane colonization at 20 days. In addition, the nitrogen transporter mutants also showed significantly higher 15N incorporation of insect derived nitrogen in barley leaves in the presence of nutrients. Insect pathogenesis assay revealed that disruption of MepC, Mep2, urease did not reduce virulence toward insects. The enhanced rhizoplane colonization of ΔMep2 and ΔMepC and insect derived nitrogen transfer to plant hosts suggests the role of MepC and Mep2 in Metarhizium-plant symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31617792, year = {2019}, author = {Daubech, B and Poinsot, V and Klonowska, A and Capela, D and Chaintreuil, C and Moulin, L and Marchetti, M and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {noeM, a New Nodulation Gene Involved in the Biosynthesis of Nod Factors with an Open-Chain Oxidized Terminal Residue and in the Symbiosis with Mimosa pudica.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {12}, pages = {1635-1648}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-19-0168-R}, pmid = {31617792}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Cupriavidus/classification/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Mimosa/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The β-rhizobium Cupriavidus taiwanensis is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Mimosa pudica. Nod factors produced by this species were previously found to be pentameric chitin-oligomers carrying common C18:1 or C16:0 fatty acyl chains, N-methylated and C-6 carbamoylated on the nonreducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine and sulfated on the reducing terminal residue. Here, we report that, in addition, C. taiwanensis LMG19424 produces molecules where the reducing sugar is open and oxidized. We identified a novel nodulation gene located on the symbiotic plasmid pRalta, called noeM, which is involved in this atypical Nod factor structure. noeM encodes a transmembrane protein bearing a fatty acid hydroxylase domain. This gene is expressed during symbiosis with M. pudica and requires NodD and luteolin for optimal expression. The closest noeM homologs formed a separate phylogenetic clade containing rhizobial genes only, which are located on symbiosis plasmids downstream from a nod box. Corresponding proteins, referred to as NoeM, may have specialized in symbiosis via the connection to the nodulation pathway and the spread in rhizobia. noeM was mostly found in isolates of the Mimoseae tribe, and specifically detected in all tested strains able to nodulate M. pudica. A noeM deletion mutant of C. taiwanensis was affected for the nodulation of M. pudica, confirming the role of noeM in the symbiosis with this legume.}, } @article {pmid31617006, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, X and Feng, Z and Zhu, H and Yao, Q}, title = {Exogenous abscisic acid and root volatiles increase sporulation of Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198 in asymbiotic and pre-symbiotic status.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {581-589}, pmid = {31617006}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several studies have demonstrated asymbiotic growth and development of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, although AM fungi are regarded as obligately symbiotic root-inhabiting fungi. Phytohormones, root exudates, and volatiles are important factors regulating the host-AM fungi interaction. However, the effects of phytohormones, root exudates, and volatiles on asymbiotic (without roots present) or pre-symbiotic (with roots present but no colonization) sporulation of AM fungi are unexplored. In this study, we tested the asymbiotic sporulation of Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198 and further investigated the influences of abscisic acid (ABA), the exudates, and volatiles of tomato hairy roots on asymbiotic or pre-symbiotic sporulation in vitro. Results indicated that mother spores asymbiotically and pre-symbiotically produced daughter spores singly or in pairs. Compared with symbiotically produced spores, pre-symbiotically produced spores were significantly smaller (43.1 μm vs. 89.2 μm in diameter). Exogenous ABA applied to mother spores significantly increased the number of daughter spores, and root volatiles also significantly promoted pre-symbiotic sporulation. Our results provide the first evidence that exogenous ABA can promote AM fungal asymbiotic and pre-symbiotic sporulation, which highlights the potential role of phytohormones in AM fungal propagation.}, } @article {pmid31613894, year = {2019}, author = {El-Kholy, WM and Soliman, TN and Darwish, AMG}, title = {Evaluation of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera L.) encapsulation, impact on the nutritional and functional properties of fortified yoghurt.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e0222789}, pmid = {31613894}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antioxidants/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Dietary Carbohydrates/isolation & purification ; Drug Compounding/*methods ; Epithelial Cells/cytology/drug effects ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Functional Food/*analysis ; Humans ; Iron/analysis ; Magnesium/analysis ; Nanostructures/chemistry/ultrastructure ; Phenols/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Phoeniceae/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Pollen/*chemistry ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/cytology/drug effects ; Yogurt/*analysis ; Zinc/analysis ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to evaluate Egyptian date palm pollen (DPP) grains composition, physical and functional potentials in comparing with two forms; 80% ethanol extract, and nanoencapsulated form. Functional yoghurt fortified with DPP in three forms was prepared and their physicochemical, microstructure, texture and sensory characteristics were assessed. The micro morphology was explored via Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed for functional groups detection. Phenolic compounds were detected by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) while fatty acids were identified via Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC). Cytotoxicity of DPP nanocapsules was evaluated against RPE1 cell line (BJ1). The Egyptian date palm pollen grains evaluation revealed its rich content of protein and carbohydrate (36.28 and 17.14 g/ 100g), high content of Fe, Zn and Mg (226.5, 124.4 and 318 mg/100g), unsaturated fatty acids ω-3, ω-6 and ω-9 (8.76, 20.26 and 7.11 g/100g, which was increased by ethanol extraction) and phenolic compounds especially catechin (191.73 μg/mL) which was pronounced in DPP antioxidant potentials (IC50 35.54 mg/g). The FTIR analyses indicated the presence of soluble amides (proteins) and polysaccharides (fibers) functional groups in DPP. Fortification with nanoencapsulated DPP proved to be safe and the recommended form due to the announced positive characteristics. Yoghurt fortification with DPP forms enhanced viscosity, syneresis and Water Holding Capacity (WHC), which can be considered a symbiotic functional product as it contained both probiotics (106 CFU/g) and prebiotics represented in DPP forms.}, } @article {pmid31613012, year = {2019}, author = {Panneerselvam, P and Sahoo, S and Senapati, A and Kumar, U and Mitra, D and Parameswaran, C and Anandan, A and Kumar, A and Jahan, A and Nayak, AK}, title = {Understanding interaction effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rice under elevated carbon dioxide conditions.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {12}, pages = {1217-1228}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201900294}, pmid = {31613012}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Edible Grain/growth & development/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis/metabolism ; Oryza/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phosphorus/analysis/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), particularly the Glomerales group, play a paramount role in plant nutrient uptake, and abiotic and biotic stress management in rice, but recent evidence revealed that elevated CO2 concentration considerably reduces the Glomerales group in soil. In view of this, the present study was initiated to understand the interaction effect of native Glomerales species application in rice plants (cv. Naveen) under elevated CO2 concentrations (400 ± 10, 550 ± 20, and 700 ± 20 ppm) in open-top chambers. Three different modes of application of the AMF inoculum were evaluated, of which, combined application of AMF at the seedling production and transplanting stages showed increased AMF colonization, which significantly improved grain yield by 25.08% and also increased uptake of phosphorus by 18.2% and nitrogen by 49.5%, as observed at 700-ppm CO2 concentration. Organic acids secretion in rice root increased in AMF-inoculated plants exposed to 700-ppm CO2 concentration. To understand the overall effect of CO2 elevation on AMF interaction with the rice plant, principal component and partial least square regression analysis were performed, which found both positive and negative responses under elevated CO2 concentration.}, } @article {pmid31612637, year = {2020}, author = {Wang, ZL and Wang, TZ and Zhu, HF and Pan, HB and Yu, XP}, title = {Diversity and dynamics of microbial communities in brown planthopper at different developmental stages revealed by high-throughput amplicon sequencing.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {883-894}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12729}, pmid = {31612637}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Fungi/classification/*isolation & purification ; Hemiptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Nymph/growth & development/microbiology ; Ovum/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbiome associated with brown planthopper (BPH) plays an important role in mediating host health and fitness. Characterization of the microbial community and its structure is prerequisite for understanding the intricate symbiotic relationships between microbes and host insect. Here, we investigated the bacterial and fungal communities of BPH at different developmental stages using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Our results revealed that both the bacterial and fungal communities were diverse and dynamic during BPH development. The bacterial communities were generally richer than fungi in each developmental stage. At 97% similarly, 19 phyla and 278 genera of bacteria were annotated, while five fungal phyla comprising 80 genera were assigned. The highest species richness for the bacterial communities was detected in the nymphal stage. The taxonomic diversity of the fungal communities in female adults was generally at a relatively higher level when compared to other developmental stages. The most dominant phylum of bacteria and fungi at each developmental stage all belonged to Proteobacteria and Ascomycota, respectively. A significantly lower abundance of bacterial genus Acinetobacter was recorded in the egg stage when compared to other developmental stages, while the dominant fungal genus Wallemia was more abundant in the nymph and adult stages than in the egg stage. Additionally, the microbial composition differed between male and female adults, suggesting that the microbial communities in BPH were gender-dependent. Overall, our study enriches our knowledge on the microbial communities associated with BPH and will provide clues to develop potential biocontrol techniques against this rice pest.}, } @article {pmid31612356, year = {2019}, author = {Singh, MP and Saxena, M and Saimbi, CS and Siddiqui, MH and Roy, R}, title = {Post-periodontal surgery propounds early repair salivary biomarkers by [1]H NMR based metabolomics.}, journal = {Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {141}, pmid = {31612356}, issn = {1573-3890}, mesh = {Biomarkers/analysis/metabolism ; Chronic Periodontitis/diagnosis/*metabolism/surgery ; Humans ; *Metabolomics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Saliva/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Oral microflora is a well-orchestrated and acts as a sequential defense mechanism for any infection related to oral disease. Chronic periodontitis is a disease of a microbial challenge to symbiosis and homeostasis. Periodontal surgery is the most promising cure with repair process during periodontal regeneration. It has an encouraging outcome in terms of early recovery biomarkers.

OBJECTIVE: Saliva of periodontal surgery subjects with the chronic periodontitis have been evaluated by [1]H NMR spectroscopy in search of possible early metabolic differences that could be obtained in order to see the eradication of disease which favours the symbiotic condition.

METHOD: The study employed [1]H NMR spectroscopy on 176 human saliva samples in search of distinctive differences and their spectral data were further subjected to multivariate and quantitative analysis.

RESULT: The [1]H NMR study of periodontal surgery samples shows clear demarcation and profound metabolic differences when compared with the diseased condition. Several metabolites such as lactate, ethanol, succinate, and glutamate were found to be of higher significance in periodontal surgery in contrast to chronic periodontitis subjects. The PLS-DA model of the studied group resulted in R[2] of 0.83 and Q[2] of 0.70.

CONCLUSION: Significant metabolites could be considered as early repair markers for chronic periodontitis disease as they are being restored to achieve symbiosis. The study, therefore, concluded the early recovery process of the diseased subjects with the restoration of possible metabolomic profile similar to the healthy controls.}, } @article {pmid31611899, year = {2019}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Wang, JY and Bonfante, P and Lanfranco, L and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Apocarotenoids: Old and New Mediators of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1186}, pmid = {31611899}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants utilize hormones and other small molecules to trigger and coordinate their growth and developmental processes, adapt and respond to environmental cues, and communicate with surrounding organisms. Some of these molecules originate from carotenoids that act as universal precursors of bioactive metabolites arising through oxidation of the carotenoid backbone. This metabolic conversion produces a large set of compounds known as apocarotenoids, which includes the plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactones (SLs) and different signaling molecules. An increasing body of evidence suggests a crucial role of previously identified and recently discovered carotenoid-derived metabolites in the communication with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the establishment of the corresponding symbiosis, which is one of the most relevant plant-fungus mutualistic interactions in nature. In this review, we provide an update on the function of apocarotenoid hormones and regulatory metabolites in AM symbiosis, highlighting their effect on both partners.}, } @article {pmid31610133, year = {2020}, author = {Biedermann, PHW and Vega, FE}, title = {Ecology and Evolution of Insect-Fungus Mutualisms.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {431-455}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-024910}, pmid = {31610133}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*physiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolution of a mutualism requires reciprocal interactions whereby one species provides a service that the other species cannot perform or performs less efficiently. Services exchanged in insect-fungus mutualisms include nutrition, protection, and dispersal. In ectosymbioses, which are the focus of this review, fungi can be consumed by insects or can degrade plant polymers or defensive compounds, thereby making a substrate available to insects. They can also protect against environmental factors and produce compounds antagonistic to microbial competitors. Insects disperse fungi and can also provide fungal growth substrates and protection. Insect-fungus mutualisms can transition from facultative to obligate, whereby each partner is no longer viable on its own. Obligate dependency has (a) resulted in the evolution of morphological adaptations in insects and fungi, (b) driven the evolution of social behaviors in some groups of insects, and (c) led to the loss of sexuality in some fungal mutualists.}, } @article {pmid31610071, year = {2020}, author = {Benezech, C and Doudement, M and Gourion, B}, title = {Legumes tolerance to rhizobia is not always observed and not always deserved.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {e13124}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.13124}, pmid = {31610071}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia display dual lifestyle. These bacteria are soil inhabitants but can also elicit the formation of a special niche on the root of legume plants, the nodules. In such organs, rhizobia can promote the growth of their host by providing them nitrogen they captured from atmosphere. All along the infection process, the plant innate immunity has to be controlled to maintain compatible interaction. However, nodulation does not always result in profit for the plant as compatible interactions include both nitrogen-fixing and non-fixing associations. In recent years, our knowledge on the mechanisms involved in the control of plant innate immunity during rhizobia-legume interactions has greatly improved notably by the identification of bacterial and plant genes activating or suppressing the plant defences. Surprisingly, results also demonstrated that in some cases, plant defence reactions result in abortion of the nodulation process despite that the rhizobial strain has all the genetic potential to establish mutualism. In such situation, experimental evolution approaches highlighted possible rapid switches of incompatible rhizobia either to mutualistic or parasitic behaviour. Here, we review this recent literature.}, } @article {pmid31608569, year = {2020}, author = {Feng, Z and Liu, X and Feng, G and Zhu, H and Yao, Q}, title = {Linking lipid transfer with reduced arbuscule formation in tomato roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus under low pH stress.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {1036-1051}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14810}, pmid = {31608569}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {2017GDASCX-0402//Guangdong Academy of Sciences/International ; 2018B020205003//Guangdong Technological Innovation Strategy of Special Funds/International ; 31570395//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Glomeromycota/genetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscules are the core structures of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), and arbuscule development is regulated by environmental stress, e.g., low pH. Recent studies indicate that lipid transfer from plants is essential for AM fungal colonization; however, the role of lipid transfer in arbuscule formation and the dynamics of lipid accumulation in arbuscules under low pH stress are far from well understood. In the symbiosis of tomato and Rhizophagus intraradices under contrasting pH conditions (pH 4.5 vs. pH 6.5), we investigated arbuscule formation, nutrient uptake, alkaline phosphatase activity and lipid accumulation; examined the gene expression involved in phosphate transport, lipid biosynthesis and transfer and sugar metabolism; and visualized the lipid dynamics in arbuscules. Low pH greatly inhibited arbuscule formation, in parallel with reduced phospholipid fatty acids accumulation in AM fungus and decreased P uptake. This reduction was supported by the decreased expression of plant genes encoding lipid biosynthesis and transfer. More degenerating arbuscules were observed under low pH conditions, and neutral lipid fatty acids accumulated only in degenerating arbuscules. These data reveal that, under low pH stress, reduced lipid transfer from hosts to AM fungi is responsible for the inhibited arbuscule formation.}, } @article {pmid31608107, year = {2019}, author = {Chiodi, A and Comandatore, F and Sassera, D and Petroni, G and Bandi, C and Brilli, M}, title = {SeqDeχ: A Sequence Deconvolution Tool for Genome Separation of Endosymbionts From Mixed Sequencing Samples.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {853}, pmid = {31608107}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {In recent years, the advent of NGS technology has made genome sequencing much cheaper than in the past; the high parallelization capability and the possibility to sequence more than one organism at once have opened the door to processing whole symbiotic consortia. However, this approach needs the development of specific bioinformatics tools able to analyze these data. In this work, we describe SeqDex, a tool that starts from a preliminary assembly obtained from sequencing a mixture of DNA from different organisms, to identify the contigs coming from one organism of interest. SeqDex is a fully automated machine learning-based tool exploiting partial taxonomic affiliations and compositional analysis to predict the taxonomic affiliations of contigs in an assembly. In literature, there are few methods able to deconvolve host-symbiont datasets, and most of them heavily rely on user curation and are therefore time consuming. The problem has strong similarities with metagenomic studies, where mixed samples are sequenced and the bioinformatics challenge is trying to separate contigs on the basis of their source organism; however, in symbiotic systems, additional information can be exploited to improve the output. To assess the ability of SeqDex to deconvolve host-symbiont datasets, we compared it to state-of-the-art methods for metagenomic binning and for host-symbiont deconvolution on three study cases. The results point out the good performances of the presented tool that, in addition to the ease of use and customization potential, make SeqDex a useful tool for rapid identification of endosymbiont sequences.}, } @article {pmid31608103, year = {2019}, author = {Cappelli, A and Damiani, C and Mancini, MV and Valzano, M and Rossi, P and Serrao, A and Ricci, I and Favia, G}, title = {Asaia Activates Immune Genes in Mosquito Eliciting an Anti-Plasmodium Response: Implications in Malaria Control.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {836}, pmid = {31608103}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {In mosquitoes, the discovery of the numerous interactions between components of the microbiota and the host immune response opens up the attractive possibility of the development of novel control strategies against mosquito borne diseases. We have focused our attention to Asaia, a symbiont of several mosquito vectors who has been proposed as one of the most potential tool for paratransgenic applications; although being extensively characterized, its interactions with the mosquito immune system has never been investigated. Here we report a study aimed at describing the interactions between Asaia and the immune system of two vectors of malaria, Anophelesstephensi and An. gambiae. The introduction of Asaia isolates induced the activation of the basal level of mosquito immunity and lower the development of malaria parasite in An. stephensi. These findings confirm and expand the potential of Asaia in mosquito borne diseases control, not only through paratransgenesis, but also as a natural effector for mosquito immune priming.}, } @article {pmid31608089, year = {2019}, author = {King, E and Wallner, A and Rimbault, I and Barrachina, C and Klonowska, A and Moulin, L and Czernic, P}, title = {Monitoring of Rice Transcriptional Responses to Contrasted Colonizing Patterns of Phytobeneficial Burkholderia s.l. Reveals a Temporal Shift in JA Systemic Response.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1141}, pmid = {31608089}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the context of plant-pathogen and plant-mutualist interactions, the underlying molecular bases associated with host colonization have been extensively studied. However, it is not the case for non-mutualistic beneficial interactions or associative symbiosis with plants. Particularly, little is known about the transcriptional regulations associated with the immune tolerance of plants towards beneficial microbes. In this context, the study of the Burkholderia rice model is very promising to describe the molecular mechanisms involved in associative symbiosis. Indeed, several species of the Burkholderia sensu lato (s.l.) genus can colonize rice tissues and have beneficial effects; particularly, two species have been thoroughly studied: Burkholderia vietnamiensis and Paraburkholderia kururiensis. This study aims to compare the interaction of these species with rice and especially to identify common or specific plant responses. Therefore, we analyzed root colonization of the rice cultivar Nipponbare using DsRed-tagged bacterial strains and produced the transcriptomes of both roots and leaves 7 days after root inoculation. This led us to the identification of a co-expression jasmonic acid (JA)-related network exhibiting opposite regulation in response to the two strains in the leaves of inoculated plants. We then monitored by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) the expression of JA-related genes during time course colonization by each strain. Our results reveal a temporal shift in this JA systemic response, which can be related to different colonization strategies of both strains.}, } @article {pmid31608044, year = {2019}, author = {Romero-Contreras, YJ and Ramírez-Valdespino, CA and Guzmán-Guzmán, P and Macías-Segoviano, JI and Villagómez-Castro, JC and Olmedo-Monfil, V}, title = {Tal6 From Trichoderma atroviride Is a LysM Effector Involved in Mycoparasitism and Plant Association.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2231}, pmid = {31608044}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {LysM effectors play a relevant role during the plant colonization by successful phytopathogenic fungi, since they enable them to avoid either the triggering of plant defense mechanisms or their attack effects. Tal6, a LysM protein from Trichoderma atroviride, is capable of binding to complex chitin. However, until now its biological function is not completely known, particularly its participation in plant-Trichoderma interactions. We obtained T. atroviride Tal6 null mutant and Tal6 overexpressing strains and determined the role played by this protein during Trichoderma-plant interaction and mycoparasitism. LysM effector Tal6 from T. atroviride protects the hyphae from chitinases by binding to chitin of the fungal cell wall, increases the fungus mycoparasitic capacity, and modulates the activation of the plant defense system. These results show that beneficial fungi also employ LysM effectors to improve their association with plants.}, } @article {pmid31608043, year = {2019}, author = {Gifford, I and Vance, S and Nguyen, G and Berry, AM}, title = {A Stable Genetic Transformation System and Implications of the Type IV Restriction System in the Nitrogen-Fixing Plant Endosymbiont Frankia alni ACN14a.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2230}, pmid = {31608043}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Genus Frankia is comprised primarily of nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria that form root nodule symbioses with a group of hosts known as the actinorhizal plants. These plants are evolutionarily closely related to the legumes that are nodulated by the rhizobia. Both host groups utilize homologs of nodulation genes for root-nodule symbiosis, derived from common plant ancestors. The corresponding endosymbionts, Frankia and the rhizobia, however, are distantly related groups of bacteria, leading to questions about their symbiotic mechanisms and evolutionary history. To date, a stable system of electrotransformation has been lacking in Frankia despite numerous attempts by research groups worldwide. We have identified type IV methyl-directed restriction systems, highly-expressed in a range of actinobacteria, as a likely barrier to Frankia transformation. Here we report the successful electrotransformation of the model strain F. alni ACN14a with an unmethylated, broad host-range replicating plasmid, expressing chloramphenicol-resistance for selection and GFP as a marker of gene expression. This system circumvented the type IV restriction barrier and allowed the stable maintenance of the plasmid. During nitrogen limitation, Frankia differentiates into two cell types: the vegetative hyphae and nitrogen-fixing vesicles. When the expression of egfp under the control of the nif gene cluster promoter was localized using fluorescence imaging, the expression of nitrogen fixation in nitrogen-limited culture was localized in Frankia vesicles but not in hyphae. The ability to separate gene expression patterns between Frankia hyphae and vesicles will enable deeper comparisons of molecular signaling and metabolic exchange between Frankia-actinorhizal and rhizobia-legume symbioses to be made, and may broaden potential applications in agriculture. Further downstream applications are possible, including gene knock-outs and complementation, to open up a range of experiments in Frankia and its symbioses. Additionally, in the transcriptome of F. alni ACN14a, type IV restriction enzymes were highly expressed in nitrogen-replete culture but their expression strongly decreased during symbiosis. The down-regulation of type IV restriction enzymes in symbiosis suggests that horizontal gene transfer may occur more frequently inside the nodule, with possible new implications for the evolution of Frankia.}, } @article {pmid31608037, year = {2019}, author = {Antoine, R and Rivera-Millot, A and Roy, G and Jacob-Dubuisson, F}, title = {Relationships Between Copper-Related Proteomes and Lifestyles in β Proteobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2217}, pmid = {31608037}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Copper is an essential transition metal whose redox properties are used for a variety of enzymatic oxido-reductions and in electron transfer chains. It is also toxic to living beings, and therefore its cellular concentration must be strictly controlled. We have performed in silico analyses of the predicted proteomes of more than one hundred species of β proteobacteria to characterize their copper-related proteomes, including cuproproteins, i.e., proteins with active-site copper ions, copper chaperones, and copper-homeostasis systems. Copper-related proteomes represent between 0 and 1.48% of the total proteomes of β proteobacteria. The numbers of cuproproteins are globally proportional to the proteome sizes in all phylogenetic groups and strongly linked to aerobic respiration. In contrast, environmental bacteria have considerably larger proportions of copper-homeostasis systems than the other groups of bacteria, irrespective of their proteome sizes. Evolution toward commensalism, obligate, host-restricted pathogenesis or symbiosis is globally reflected in the loss of copper-homeostasis systems. In endosymbionts, defense systems and copper chaperones have disappeared, whereas residual cuproenzymes are electron transfer proteins for aerobic respiration. Lifestyle is thus a major determinant of the size and composition of the copper-related proteome, and it is particularly reflected in systems involved in copper homeostasis. Analyses of the copper-related proteomes of a number of species belonging to the Burkholderia, Bordetella, and Neisseria genera indicates that commensals are in the process of shedding their copper-homeostasis systems and chaperones to greater extents yet than pathogens.}, } @article {pmid31605615, year = {2020}, author = {Carrï Re, SB and Verdenaud, M and Gough, C and Gouzy, JRM and Gamas, P}, title = {LeGOO: An Expertized Knowledge Database for the Model Legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {203-211}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz177}, pmid = {31605615}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Computational Biology ; *Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Poloxamer/*metabolism ; Rhizobium ; Software ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula was proposed, about three decades ago, as a model legume to study the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. It has now been adopted to study a wide range of biological questions, including various developmental processes (in particular root, symbiotic nodule and seed development), symbiotic (nitrogen-fixing and arbuscular mycorrhizal endosymbioses) and pathogenic interactions, as well as responses to abiotic stress. With a number of tools and resources set up in M. truncatula for omics, genetics and reverse genetics approaches, massive amounts of data have been produced, as well as four genome sequence releases. Many of these data were generated with heterogeneous tools, notably for transcriptomics studies, and are consequently difficult to integrate. This issue is addressed by the LeGOO (for Legume Graph-Oriented Organizer) knowledge base (https://www.legoo.org), which finds the correspondence between the multiple identifiers of the same gene. Furthermore, an important goal of LeGOO is to collect and represent biological information from peer-reviewed publications, whatever the technical approaches used to obtain this information. The information is modeled in a graph-oriented database, which enables flexible representation, with currently over 200,000 relations retrieved from 298 publications. LeGOO also provides the user with mining tools, including links to the Mt5.0 genome browser and associated information (on gene functional annotation, expression, methylome, natural diversity and available insertion mutants), as well as tools to navigate through different model species. LeGOO is, therefore, an innovative database that will be useful to the Medicago and legume community to better exploit the wealth of data produced on this model species.}, } @article {pmid31604818, year = {2019}, author = {Torres, JP and Schmidt, EW}, title = {The biosynthetic diversity of the animal world.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {294}, number = {46}, pages = {17684-17692}, pmid = {31604818}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {R35 GM122521/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Genome/*genetics ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Secondary metabolites are often considered within the remit of bacterial or plant research, but animals also contain a plethora of these molecules with important functional roles. Classical feeding studies demonstrate that, whereas some are derived from diet, many of these compounds are made within the animals. In the past 15 years, the genetic and biochemical origin of several animal natural products has been traced to partnerships with symbiotic bacteria. More recently, a number of animal genome-encoded pathways to microbe-like natural products have come to light. These pathways are sometimes horizontally acquired from bacteria, but more commonly they unveil a new and diverse animal biochemistry. In this review, we highlight recent examples of characterized animal biosynthetic enzymes that reveal an unanticipated breadth and intricacy in animal secondary metabolism. The results so far suggest that there may be an immense diversity of animal small molecules and biosynthetic enzymes awaiting discovery. This biosynthetic dark matter is just beginning to be understood, providing a relatively untapped frontier for discovery.}, } @article {pmid31604769, year = {2019}, author = {Takeda, K and Ishida, T and Yoshida, M and Samejima, M and Ohno, H and Igarashi, K and Nakamura, N}, title = {Crystal Structure of the Catalytic and Cytochrome b Domains in a Eukaryotic Pyrroloquinoline Quinone-Dependent Dehydrogenase.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {31604769}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Agaricales/enzymology/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacteria/enzymology ; Binding Sites ; Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases/metabolism ; Catalysis ; Cytochromes b/*chemistry/metabolism ; Electron Transport ; Eukaryota/*enzymology/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/enzymology ; Glucose Dehydrogenases/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidoreductases/*chemistry/metabolism ; PQQ Cofactor/*chemistry/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Domains ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) was discovered as a redox cofactor of prokaryotic glucose dehydrogenases in the 1960s, and subsequent studies have demonstrated its importance not only in bacterial systems but also in higher organisms. We have previously reported a novel eukaryotic quinohemoprotein that exhibited PQQ-dependent catalytic activity in a eukaryote. The enzyme, pyranose dehydrogenase (PDH), from the filamentous fungus Coprinopsis cinerea (CcPDH) of the Basidiomycete division, is composed of a catalytic PQQ-dependent domain classified as a member of the novel auxiliary activity family 12 (AA12), an AA8 cytochrome b domain, and a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM1), as defined by the Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZy) database. Here, we present the crystal structures of the AA12 domain in its apo- and holo-forms and the AA8 domain of this enzyme. The crystal structures of the holo-AA12 domain bound to PQQ provide direct evidence that eukaryotes have PQQ-dependent enzymes. The AA12 domain exhibits a six-blade β-propeller fold that is also present in other known PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenases in bacteria. A loop structure around the active site and a calcium ion binding site are unique among the known structures of bacterial quinoproteins. The AA8 cytochrome domain has a positively charged area on its molecular surface, which is partly due to the propionate group of the heme interacting with Arg181; this feature differs from the characteristics of cytochrome b in the AA8 domain of the fungal cellobiose dehydrogenase and suggests that this difference may affect the pH dependence of electron transfer.IMPORTANCE Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is known as the "third coenzyme" following nicotinamide and flavin. PQQ-dependent enzymes have previously been found only in prokaryotes, and the existence of a eukaryotic PQQ-dependent enzyme was in doubt. In 2014, we found an enzyme in mushrooms that catalyzes the oxidation of various sugars in a PQQ-dependent manner and that was a PQQ-dependent enzyme found in eukaryotes. This paper presents the X-ray crystal structures of this eukaryotic PQQ-dependent quinohemoprotein, which show the active site, and identifies the amino acid residues involved in the binding of the cofactor PQQ. The presented X-ray structures reveal that the AA12 domain is in a binary complex with the coenzyme, clearly proving that PQQ-dependent enzymes exist in eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. Because no biosynthetic system for PQQ has been reported in eukaryotes, future research on the symbiotic systems is expected.}, } @article {pmid31603616, year = {2020}, author = {Chen, B and Xie, S and Zhang, X and Zhang, N and Feng, H and Sun, C and Lu, X and Shao, Y}, title = {Gut microbiota metabolic potential correlates with body size between mulberry-feeding lepidopteran pest species.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {1313-1323}, doi = {10.1002/ps.5642}, pmid = {31603616}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Body Size ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Lepidoptera ; *Morus ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many insect pests rely on microbial symbionts to obtain nutrients or for defence, thereby allowing them to exploit novel food sources and degrade environmental xenobiotics, including pesticides. Although Lepidoptera is one of the most diverse insect taxa and includes important agricultural pests, lepidopteran microbiotas, particularly functional traits, have not been studied widely. Here, we provide a comprehensive characterization of the gut microbiota across multiple mulberry-feeding lepidopteran species, resolving both community structure and metabolic potential.

RESULTS: Our results indicate abundant bacteria inside the gut of larval Lepidoptera. However, even though they were fed the same diet, the structures of the bacterial communities differed in four major mulberry pest species, suggesting host-specific effects on microbial associations. Community-level metabolic reconstructions further showed that although taxonomic composition varied greatly, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism and membrane transporter were key functional capabilities of the gut bacteria in all samples, which may play basic roles in the larval gut. In addition, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of gut bacterial-predicted gene ontologies revealed specialized features of the microbiota associated with these mulberry pests, which were divided into two distinct clusters (macrolepidopterans and microlepidopterans). This pattern became even more prominent when further Lepidoptera species were involved.

CONCLUSIONS: A suite of gut microbiota metabolic functions significantly correlated with larval size; the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism were specifically enriched in large species, while small larvae had enhanced nucleotide metabolism. Our report paves the way for uncovering the correlation between host phenotype and microbial symbiosis in this notorious insect pest group. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid31603004, year = {2019}, author = {Horton, R and Lucassen, A}, title = {Genomic testing in healthcare: a hybrid space where clinical practice and research need to co-exist.}, journal = {Expert review of molecular diagnostics}, volume = {19}, number = {11}, pages = {963-967}, pmid = {31603004}, issn = {1744-8352}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biomedical Research/*methods ; Genetic Testing/*methods ; Genomics/*methods ; Humans ; *Interdisciplinary Communication ; }, abstract = {Introduction: Clinical practice and research are traditionally seen as distinct activities that are governed by different principles and processes. Innovative technologies such as genomic testing challenge this model, involving many activities that cannot be easily categorized as purely research, or purely clinical care. Areas covered: We discuss the interdependence of research and clinical practice in the context of genomics, for example, when determining the significance of rare genetic variants, or diagnosing newly described rare diseases. We highlight the potential of the symbiotic relationship between clinical practice and research. Expert opinion: In the context of genomics, it is not appropriate to treat clinical practice and research as entirely separable. Forcing binary categorization of activities as one or the other risks losing the many benefits that derive from their integration. We need to explore the hybrid area where clinical practice and research coincide, developing governance that allows us to maximize its potential, rather than insisting that hybrid clinical-research activities conform to processes built for 'pure clinical practice' or 'pure research'. We argue the need for a renegotiation of the contract around genomic testing, recognizing, valuing and facilitating the hybrid space where clinical practice and research co-exist.}, } @article {pmid31602932, year = {2019}, author = {Liang, YT and Jiang, C and Zhou, JH and Hu, QT and Yuan, Y}, title = {[Molecular identification of Armillaria gallica by PCR-RFLP analysis].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {44}, number = {17}, pages = {3622-3626}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20190701.102}, pmid = {31602932}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Armillaria/*classification ; Gastrodia/microbiology ; *Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; *Polyporus ; }, abstract = {Armillaria gallica is a symbiotic fungus in the cultivation process of Gastrodia elata and Polyporus.The rhizomorph of A. gallica invades the stalk of the G. elata or the Sclerotium of the Polyporus,and is digested and utilized by the latter,becoming their important source of nutrition. Different nature of A. gallica affects the growth of G. elata and Polyporus. The authors collected A. gallica from 13 commercially available regions and screened two A. gallica,A and B,at the genetic and metabolic levels,in order to distinguish between the two A. gallica market. We have established convenient and effective DNA molecular identification method.By comparing the sequence differences between the A. gallica type A and type B invertase genes,PCR-RFLP primers were designed based on differential fragment. Primer ZTM.F/ZTM.R can amplified A. gallica type A and B,producing a band of about 304 bp in length. The restriction endonuclease EcoR V could recognize the difference sequence of A and B types of A. gallica. The type B was digested to form two fragments,thereby specifically identifying the A. gallica as type B. The established methods of PCR-RFLP is an accurate identification method for A. gallica. Therefore,in the cultivation process of G. elata and Polyporus,suitable strains can be selected according to different needs of variety,growth stage and ecological environment,and the yield and quality can be improved according to local conditions.}, } @article {pmid31600926, year = {2019}, author = {Marangoni, LFB and Mies, M and Güth, AZ and Banha, TNS and Inague, A and Fonseca, JDS and Dalmolin, C and Faria, SC and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Bianchini, A}, title = {Peroxynitrite Generation and Increased Heterotrophic Capacity Are Linked to the Disruption of the Coral-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis in a Scleractinian and Hydrocoral Species.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31600926}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Ocean warming is one of the greatest global threats to coral reef ecosystems; it leads to the disruption of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis (bleaching) and to nutrient starvation, because corals mostly rely on autotrophy (i.e., the supply of photosynthates from the dinoflagellate symbionts) for their energy requirements. Although coral bleaching has been well studied, the early warning signs of bleaching, as well as the capacity of corals to shift from autotrophy to heterotrophy, are still under investigation. In this study, we evaluated the bleaching occurrence of the scleractinian coral Mussismillia harttii and the hydrocoral Millepora alcicornis during a natural thermal stress event, under the 2015-2016 El Niño influence in three reef sites of the South Atlantic. We focused on the link between peroxynitrite (ONOO[-]) generation and coral bleaching, as ONOO[-] has been very poorly investigated in corals and never during a natural bleaching event. We also investigated the natural trophic plasticity of the two corals through the use of new lipid biomarkers. The results obtained first demonstrate that ONOO[-] is linked to the onset and intensity of bleaching in both scleractinian corals and hydrocorals. Indeed, ONOO[-] concentrations were correlated with bleaching intensity, with the highest levels preceding the highest bleaching intensity. The time lag between bleaching and ONOO[-] peak was, however, species-specific. In addition, we observed that elevated temperatures forced heterotrophy in scleractinian corals, as Mu. harttii presented high heterotrophic activity 15 to 30 days prior bleaching occurrence. On the contrary, a lower heterotrophic activity was monitored for the hydrocoral Mi. alicornis, which also experienced higher bleaching levels compared to Mu. hartii. Overall, we showed that the levels of ONOO[-] in coral tissue, combined to the heterotrophic capacity, are two good proxies explaining the intensity of coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid31600710, year = {2019}, author = {Zou, YN and Wu, HH and Giri, B and Wu, QS and Kuča, K}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis down-regulates or does not change root aquaporin expression in trifoliate orange under drought stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {292-299}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.10.001}, pmid = {31600710}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Poncirus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas absorb water from soil to host plants, while the relationship between mycorrhizas and aquaporins (AQPs, membrane water channel proteins, which function in water transport) in mycorrhizal plants is unclear. In this study, Funneliformis mosseae-colonized trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings were grown in pots fitted with 37-μm nylon meshes at the bottom of each pot to allow mycorrhizal hyphae absorb water from an outer beaker. The expression of seven plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) genes, six tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) genes, and four nodulin-26 like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) genes were analyzed in roots of both well-watered (WW) and drought stressed (DS) plants. The six-week DS plants dramatically increased hyphal water absorption rate by 1.4 times, as compared with WW plants. Mycorrhizal plants exhibited greater plant growth performance, leaf water status (water potential and relative water content), and gas exchange under both WW and DS conditions. Mycorrhizal inoculation induced diverse expression patterns in these AQPs under WW: up-regulation of PtNIP1;1, PtPIP2;1, and PtPIP2;5, down-regulation of PtNIP1;2, PtNIP6;1, PtPIP1;2, PtPIP1;5, PtPIP2;8, PtTIP1;1, PtTIP1;2, PtTIP1;3, and PtTIP5;1, and no changes in other AQPs. However, the expression of PtPIPs and PtNIPs was down-regulated by mycorrhizal inoculation under DS, and PtTIPs was not induced by mycorrhizal colonization under DS. The expression pattern of AQPs in response to mycorrhizas under DS is a way of mycorrhizal plants to minimize water loss.}, } @article {pmid31600251, year = {2019}, author = {Chabaud, M and Fournier, J and Brichet, L and Abdou-Pavy, I and Imanishi, L and Brottier, L and Pirolles, E and Hocher, V and Franche, C and Bogusz, D and Wall, LG and Svistoonoff, S and Gherbi, H and Barker, DG}, title = {Chitotetraose activates the fungal-dependent endosymbiotic signaling pathway in actinorhizal plant species.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e0223149}, pmid = {31600251}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Fagales/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Frankia/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oligosaccharides/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic plant-microbe associations are widespread in natural ecosystems and have made major contributions throughout the evolutionary history of terrestrial plants. Amongst the most remarkable of these are the so-called root endosymbioses, resulting from the intracellular colonization of host tissues by either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or nitrogen-fixing bacteria that both provide key nutrients to the host in exchange for energy-rich photosynthates. Actinorhizal host plants, members of the Eurosid 1 clade, are able to associate with both AM fungi and nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes known as Frankia. Currently, little is known about the molecular signaling that allows these plants to recognize their fungal and bacterial partners. In this article, we describe the use of an in vivo Ca2+ reporter to identify symbiotic signaling responses to AM fungi in roots of both Casuarina glauca and Discaria trinervis, actinorhizal species with contrasting modes of Frankia colonization. This approach has revealed that, for both actinorhizal hosts, the short-chain chitin oligomer chitotetraose is able to mimic AM fungal exudates in activating the conserved symbiosis signaling pathway (CSSP) in epidermal root cells targeted by AM fungi. These results mirror findings in other AM host plants including legumes and the monocot rice. In addition, we show that chitotetraose is a more efficient elicitor of CSSP activation compared to AM fungal lipo-chitooligosaccharides. These findings reinforce the likely role of short-chain chitin oligomers during the initial stages of the AM association, and are discussed in relation to both our current knowledge about molecular signaling during Frankia recognition as well as the different microsymbiont root colonization mechanisms employed by actinorhizal hosts.}, } @article {pmid31600190, year = {2019}, author = {Becking, T and Chebbi, MA and Giraud, I and Moumen, B and Laverré, T and Caubet, Y and Peccoud, J and Gilbert, C and Cordaux, R}, title = {Sex chromosomes control vertical transmission of feminizing Wolbachia symbionts in an isopod.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {e3000438}, pmid = {31600190}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; Female ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Isopoda/*genetics/microbiology ; Male ; Models, Genetic ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; *Sex Chromosomes ; *Sex Determination Processes ; Sex Ratio ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial endosymbiosis is widespread in animals, with major ecological and evolutionary implications. Successful symbiosis relies on efficient vertical transmission through host generations. However, when symbionts negatively affect host fitness, hosts are expected to evolve suppression of symbiont effects or transmission. Here, we show that sex chromosomes control vertical transmission of feminizing Wolbachia endosymbionts in the isopod Armadillidium nasatum. Theory predicts that the invasion of an XY/XX species by cytoplasmic sex ratio distorters is unlikely because it leads to fixation of the unusual (and often lethal or infertile) YY genotype. We demonstrate that A. nasatum X and Y sex chromosomes are genetically highly similar and that YY individuals are viable and fertile, thereby enabling Wolbachia spread in this XY-XX species. Nevertheless, we show that Wolbachia cannot drive fixation of YY individuals, because infected YY females do not transmit Wolbachia to their offspring, unlike XX and XY females. The genetic basis fits the model of a Y-linked recessive allele (associated with an X-linked dominant allele), in which the homozygous state suppresses Wolbachia transmission. Moreover, production of all-male progenies by infected YY females restores a balanced sex ratio at the host population level. This suggests that blocking of Wolbachia transmission by YY females may have evolved to suppress feminization, thereby offering a whole new perspective on the evolutionary interplay between microbial symbionts and host sex chromosomes.}, } @article {pmid31599920, year = {2019}, author = {White, PJ}, title = {Root traits benefitting crop production in environments with limited water and nutrient availability.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {6}, pages = {883-890}, pmid = {31599920}, issn = {1095-8290}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Breeding for advantageous root traits will play a fundamental role in improving the efficiency of water and nutrient acquisition, closing yield gaps, and underpinning the "Evergreen Revolution" that must match crop production with human demand.

SCOPE: This preface provides an overview of a Special Issue of Annals of Botany on "Root traits benefitting crop production in environments with limited water and nutrient availability". The first papers in the Special Issue examine how breeding for reduced shoot stature and greater harvest index during the Green Revolution affected root system architecture. It is observed that reduced plant height and root architecture are inherited independently and can be improved simultaneously to increase the acquisition and utilisation of carbon, water and mineral nutrients. These insights are followed by papers examining beneficial root traits for resource acquisition in environments with limited water or nutrient availability, such as deep rooting, control of hydraulic conductivity, formation of aerenchyma, proliferation of lateral roots and root hairs, foraging of nutrient-rich patches, manipulation of rhizosphere pH and the exudation of low molecular weight organic solutes. The Special Issue concludes with papers exploring the interactions of plant roots and microorganisms, highlighting the need for plants to control the symbiotic relationships between mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia to achieve maximal growth, and the roles of plants and microbes in the modification and development of soils.}, } @article {pmid31598235, year = {2019}, author = {Jono, T and Kojima, Y and Mizuno, T}, title = {Novel cooperative antipredator tactics of an ant specialized against a snake.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {190283}, pmid = {31598235}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Eusocial insects can express surprisingly complex cooperative defence of the colony. Brood and reproductive castes typically remain in the nest and are protected by workers' various antipredator tactics against intruders. In Madagascar, a myrmicine ant, Aphaenogaster swammerdami, occurs sympatrically with a large blindsnake, Madatyphlops decorsei. As blindsnakes generally specialize on feeding on termites and ants brood by intruding into the nest, these snakes are presumably a serious predator on the ant. Conversely, a lamprophiid snake, Madagascarophis colubrinus, is considered to occur often in active A. swammerdami nests without being attacked. By presenting M. colubrinus, M. decorsei and a control snake, Thamnosophis lateralis, at the entrance of the nest, we observed two highly specialized interactions between ants and snakes: the acceptance of M. colubrinus into the nest and the cooperative evacuation of the brood from the nest for protection against the ant-eating M. decorsei. Given that M. colubrinus is one of the few known predators of blindsnakes in this area, A. swammerdami may protect their colonies against this blindsnake by two antipredator tactics, symbiosis with M. colubrinus and evacuation in response to intrusion by blindsnakes. These findings demonstrate that specialized predators can drive evolution of complex cooperative defence in eusocial species.}, } @article {pmid31597890, year = {2019}, author = {Hashimoto, S and Wongdee, J and Songwattana, P and Greetatorn, T and Goto, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Homocitrate Synthase Genes of Two Wide-Host-Range Bradyrhizobium Strains are Differently Required for Symbiosis Depending on Host Plants.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {393-401}, pmid = {31597890}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Fabaceae/classification/growth & development/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Oxo-Acid-Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/classification/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nifV gene encodes homocitrate synthase, the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of homocitrate, which is essential for arranging the FeMo-cofactor in the catalytic center of nitrogenase. Some host plants, such as Lotus japonicus, supply homocitrate to their symbionts, in this case, Mesorhizobium loti, which lacks nifV. In contrast, Bradyrhizobium ORS285, a symbiont of Aeschynomene cross-inoculation (CI) groups 2 and 3, requires nifV for symbiosis with Aeschynomene species that belong to CI group 3, and some species belonging to CI group 2. However, it currently remains unclear whether rhizobial nifV is required for symbiosis with Aeschynomene species belonging to CI group 1 or with other legumes. We generated nifV-disruption (ΔnifV) mutants of two wide-host-range rhizobia, Bradyrhizobium SUTN9-2 and DOA9, to investigate whether they require nifV for symbiosis. Both ΔnifV mutant strains showed significantly less nitrogenase activity in a free-living state than the respective wild-type strains. The symbiotic phenotypes of SUTN9-2, DOA9, and their ΔnifV mutants were examined with four legumes, Aeschynomene americana, Stylosanthes hamata, Indigofera tinctoria, and Desmodium tortuosum. nifV was required for the efficient symbiosis of SUTN9-2 with A. americana (CI group 1), but not for that of DOA9. SUTN9-2 established symbiosis with all three other legumes; nifV was required for symbiosis with I. tinctoria and D. tortuosum. These results suggest that, in addition to Aeschynomene CI groups 2 and 3, CI group 1 and several other legumes require the rhizobial nifV for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31597352, year = {2019}, author = {Torres, N and Hilbert, G and Antolín, MC and Goicoechea, N}, title = {Aminoacids and Flavonoids Profiling in Tempranillo Berries Can Be Modulated by the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31597352}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {(1) Background: Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo is cultivated over the world for its wine of high quality. The association of Tempranillo with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) induced the accumulation of phenolics and carotenoids in leaves, affected the metabolism of abscisic acid (ABA) during berry ripening, and modulated some characteristics and quality aspects of grapes. The objective of this study was to elucidate if AMF influenced the profiles and the content of primary and secondary metabolites determinants for berry quality in Tempranillo. (2) Methods: Fruit-bearing cuttings inoculated with AMF or uninoculated were cultivated under controlled conditions. (3) Results: Mycorrhizal symbiosis modified the profile of metabolites in Tempranillo berries, especially those of the primary compounds. The levels of glucose and amino acids clearly increased in berries of mycorrhized Tempranillo grapevines, including those of the aromatic precursor amino acids. However, mycorrhizal inoculation barely influenced the total amount and the profiles of anthocyanins and flavonols in berries. (4) Conclusions: Mycorrhizal inoculation of Tempranillo grapevines may be an alternative to the exogenous application of nitrogen compounds in order to enhance the contents of amino acids in grapes, which may affect the aromatic characteristics of wines.}, } @article {pmid31596956, year = {2020}, author = {Zeng, T and Rodriguez-Moreno, L and Mansurkhodzaev, A and Wang, P and van den Berg, W and Gasciolli, V and Cottaz, S and Fort, S and Thomma, BPHJ and Bono, JJ and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {A lysin motif effector subverts chitin-triggered immunity to facilitate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {225}, number = {1}, pages = {448-460}, pmid = {31596956}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; Chitinases/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/genetics/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lysine/*metabolism ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; *Plant Immunity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi greatly improve mineral uptake by host plants in nutrient-depleted soil and can intracellularly colonize root cortex cells in the vast majority of higher plants. However, AM fungi possess common fungal cell wall components such as chitin that can be recognized by plant chitin receptors to trigger immune responses, raising the question as to how AM fungi effectively evade chitin-triggered immune responses during symbiosis. In this study, we characterize a secreted lysin motif (LysM) effector identified from the model AM fungal species Rhizophagus irregularis, called RiSLM. RiSLM is one of the highest expressed effector proteins in intraradical mycelium during the symbiosis. In vitro binding assays show that RiSLM binds chitin-oligosaccharides and can protect fungal cell walls from chitinases. Moreover, RiSLM efficiently interferes with chitin-triggered immune responses, such as defence gene induction and reactive oxygen species production in Medicago truncatula. Although RiSLM also binds to symbiotic (lipo)chitooligosaccharides it does not interfere significantly with symbiotic signalling in Medicago. Host-induced gene silencing of RiSLM greatly reduces fungal colonization levels. Taken together, our results reveal a key role for AM fungal LysM effectors to subvert chitin-triggered immunity in symbiosis, pointing to a common role for LysM effectors in both symbiotic and pathogenic fungi.}, } @article {pmid31596856, year = {2019}, author = {Payelleville, A and Blackburn, D and Lanois, A and Pagès, S and Cambon, MC and Ginibre, N and Clarke, DJ and Givaudan, A and Brillard, J}, title = {Role of the Photorhabdus Dam methyltransferase during interactions with its invertebrate hosts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e0212655}, pmid = {31596856}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*enzymology ; Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens is an entomopathogenic bacterium found in symbiosis with the nematode Heterorhabditis. Dam DNA methylation is involved in the pathogenicity of many bacteria, including P. luminescens, whereas studies about the role of bacterial DNA methylation during symbiosis are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Dam DNA methylation in P. luminescens during the whole bacterial life cycle including during symbiosis with H. bacteriophora. We constructed a strain overexpressing dam by inserting an additional copy of the dam gene under the control of a constitutive promoter in the chromosome of P. luminescens and then achieved association between this recombinant strain and nematodes. The dam overexpressing strain was able to feed the nematode in vitro and in vivo similarly as a control strain, and to re-associate with Infective Juvenile (IJ) stages in the insect. No difference in the amount of emerging IJs from the cadaver was observed between the two strains. Compared to the nematode in symbiosis with the control strain, a significant increase in LT50 was observed during insect infestation with the nematode associated with the dam overexpressing strain. These results suggest that during the life cycle of P. luminescens, Dam is not involved the bacterial symbiosis with the nematode H. bacteriophora, but it contributes to the pathogenicity of the nemato-bacterial complex.}, } @article {pmid31595476, year = {2020}, author = {Tak, N and Bissa, G and Gehlot, HS}, title = {Methods for Isolation and Characterization of Nitrogen-Fixing Legume-Nodulating Bacteria.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2057}, number = {}, pages = {119-143}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9790-9_12}, pmid = {31595476}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {DNA Fingerprinting/methods ; Fabaceae ; Genes, Essential ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a characteristic feature of nodulating legumes. The wild legumes are comparatively less explored for their SNF ability; hence, it is essential to study nodulation and identify the microsymbiont diversity associated with them. This chapter aims to describe the methodology for nodule hunting; trapping, isolation, and characterization of root nodule bacteria (RNB) at phenotypic, genotypic, and symbiotic levels. The documentation of nodulating native legume species and the rhizobial diversity associated with them in various parts of world has gained attention as this symbiotic association provides fixed nitrogen, improves productivity of plants in an ecofriendly manner. Before field-based applications the symbiotic bacteria need to be assessed for their N fixing ability as well as characterized at molecular level. The phylogeny based on symbiosis-essential genes supplemented with the host-range studies helps in better understanding of the symbiotaxonomy of rhizobia. More efficient symbiotic couples need to be screened by cross-nodulation studies for their application in agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid31595474, year = {2020}, author = {Singh, P and Singh, RK and Song, QQ and Li, HB and Yang, LT and Li, YR}, title = {Methods for Estimation of Nitrogen Components in Plants and Microorganisms.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2057}, number = {}, pages = {103-112}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9790-9_10}, pmid = {31595474}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Acetylene/chemistry ; Bacteria/*chemistry/metabolism ; Botany/methods ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microbiological Techniques/methods ; Nitrogen/*analysis/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Workflow ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N2) is the most necessary element in the atmosphere, it is an energetic micronutrient for plant growth and development after water, besides its key role in chlorophyll production, which is crucial for photosynthesis process. Biological nitrogen fixation is measured to be the most potent method to deliver a fixed way of nitrogen to the plants. Plant depends on free-living and symbiotic microbes present in the soil for nitrogen because it cannot be absorbed by the plant itself directly from the atmosphere. Many techniques were reported in the laboratory for nitrogen estimation till now, but Kjeldahl digestion and acetylene reduction assay (ARA) techniques became the most popular. In this chapter, we focus on the most common and popular methods used to determine plant N2; awareness obtained through the wide application of these methods should offer the source for the N2 fixation rate in agriculture system.}, } @article {pmid31595467, year = {2020}, author = {Bulle, M and Kishorekumar, R and Pathak, PK and Wany, A and Gupta, KJ}, title = {Measurement of Nitrate Reductase Activity in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Leaves Under Different Conditions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2057}, number = {}, pages = {27-35}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9790-9_3}, pmid = {31595467}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Cell Hypoxia ; Darkness ; Enzyme Assays/instrumentation/*methods ; Light ; Solanum lycopersicum/*enzymology/metabolism/microbiology/radiation effects ; Magnesium Chloride ; Nitrate Reductase/*metabolism ; Nitrites/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/*enzymology/metabolism/microbiology/radiation effects ; Pseudomonas syringae/pathogenicity ; Workflow ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is one of the crucial macronutrients essential for plant growth, development, and survival under stress conditions. Depending on cellular requirement, plants can absorb nitrogen mainly in multiple forms such as nitrate (NO3[-]) or ammonium (NH4[+]) or combination of both via efficient and highly regulated transport systems in roots. In addition, nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen in to NH4[+] via highly regulated complex enzyme system and supply to the roots in nodules of several species of leguminous plants. If NO3[-] is a primary source, it is transported from roots and then it is rapidly converted to nitrite (NO2[-]) by nitrate reductase (NR) (EC 1.6.6.1) which is a critical and very important enzyme for this conversion. This key reaction is mediated by transfer of two electrons from NAD(P)H to NO3[-]. This occurs via the three redox centers comprised of two prosthetic groups (FAD and heme) and a MoCo cofactor. NR activity is greatly influenced by factors such as developmental stage and various stress conditions such as hypoxia, salinity and pathogen infection etc. In addition, light/dark dynamics plays crucial role in modulating NR activity. NR activity can be easily detected by measuring the conversion of NO3[-] to NO2[-] under optimized conditions. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for measuring relative NR enzyme activity of tomato crude extracts. This protocol offers an efficient and straightforward procedure to compare the NR activity of various plants under different conditions.}, } @article {pmid31595328, year = {2020}, author = {Li, F and Li, P and Hua, H and Hou, M and Wang, F}, title = {Diversity, Tissue Localization, and Infection Pattern of Bacterial Symbionts of the White-Backed Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {3}, pages = {720-730}, pmid = {31595328}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Microbiota/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The white-backed planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horváth), is a destructive pest of rice. Bacterial symbionts play an important role in insect hosts, especially hemipteran hosts. This study was designed to examine the bacterial symbionts of the WBPH using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. A total of 63 and 177 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in females and males of three WBPH populations, respectively. These OTUs included bacteria of 75 genera from 11 phyla, where Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Asaia were the dominant genera, accounting for over 97.99% of all the symbiotic bacteria. Fluorescence in situ hybridization detected Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Asaia in the salivary glands, guts, testes, and eggs of the WBPH, indicating the potential for both horizontal and vertical transmission. Moreover, the infection pattern of the three dominant bacterial symbionts was detected in six WBPH populations. The frequencies of Wolbachia infection of females and Cardinium infection of both sexes were over 96.7%. Wolbachia infection of males ranged between 46.7 and 63.3%, which was significantly lower than that observed for females. Asaia infection of both sexes varied substantially among the populations. These results indicate that the complex host-symbiotic bacteria interaction is influenced by host sex and geographical origin and potentially by the transmission modes of the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31595051, year = {2020}, author = {Yang, Y and Sun, J and Sun, Y and Kwan, YH and Wong, WC and Zhang, Y and Xu, T and Feng, D and Zhang, Y and Qiu, JW and Qian, PY}, title = {Genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic insights into the symbiosis of deep-sea tubeworm holobionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {135-150}, pmid = {31595051}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Carbon Cycle ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Polychaeta/genetics/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents and methane seeps are often densely populated by animals that host chemosynthetic symbiotic bacteria, but the molecular mechanisms of such host-symbiont relationship remain largely unclear. We characterized the symbiont genome of the seep-living siboglinid Paraescarpia echinospica and compared seven siboglinid-symbiont genomes. Our comparative analyses indicate that seep-living siboglinid endosymbionts have more virulence traits for establishing infections and modulating host-bacterium interaction than the vent-dwelling species, and have a high potential to resist environmental hazards. Metatranscriptome and metaproteome analyses of the Paraescarpia holobiont reveal that the symbiont is highly versatile in its energy use and efficient in carbon fixation. There is close cooperation within the holobiont in production and supply of nutrients, and the symbiont may be able to obtain nutrients from host cells using virulence factors. Moreover, the symbiont is speculated to have evolved strategies to mediate host protective immunity, resulting in weak expression of host innate immunity genes in the trophosome. Overall, our results reveal the interdependence of the tubeworm holobiont through mutual nutrient supply, a pathogen-type regulatory mechanism, and host-symbiont cooperation in energy utilization and nutrient production, which is a key adaptation allowing the tubeworm to thrive in deep-sea chemosynthetic environments.}, } @article {pmid31594941, year = {2019}, author = {Travin, DY and Watson, ZL and Metelev, M and Ward, FR and Osterman, IA and Khven, IM and Khabibullina, NF and Serebryakova, M and Mergaert, P and Polikanov, YS and Cate, JHD and Severinov, K}, title = {Structure of ribosome-bound azole-modified peptide phazolicin rationalizes its species-specific mode of bacterial translation inhibition.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4563}, pmid = {31594941}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R21 AI137584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM132302/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM114454/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Azoles/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Biological Control Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multigene Family ; Peptide Biosynthesis/genetics ; Peptides/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Protein Biosynthesis/*drug effects ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Ribosomes/*drug effects/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ribosome-synthesized post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) represent a rapidly expanding class of natural products with various biological activities. Linear azol(in)e-containing peptides (LAPs) comprise a subclass of RiPPs that display outstanding diversity of mechanisms of action while sharing common structural features. Here, we report the discovery of a new LAP biosynthetic gene cluster in the genome of Rhizobium Pop5, which encodes the precursor peptide and modification machinery of phazolicin (PHZ) - an extensively modified peptide exhibiting narrow-spectrum antibacterial activity against some symbiotic bacteria of leguminous plants. The cryo-EM structure of the Escherichia coli 70S-PHZ complex reveals that the drug interacts with the 23S rRNA and uL4/uL22 proteins and obstructs ribosomal exit tunnel in a way that is distinct from other compounds. We show that the uL4 loop sequence determines the species-specificity of antibiotic action. PHZ expands the known diversity of LAPs and may be used in the future as biocontrol agent for agricultural needs.}, } @article {pmid31594815, year = {2019}, author = {Thiergart, T and Zgadzaj, R and Bozsóki, Z and Garrido-Oter, R and Radutoiu, S and Schulze-Lefert, P}, title = {Lotus japonicus Symbiosis Genes Impact Microbial Interactions between Symbionts and Multikingdom Commensal Communities.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31594815}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Plant/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Genotype ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Lotus/genetics/*microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The wild legume Lotus japonicus engages in mutualistic symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Using plants grown in natural soil and community profiling of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacers (ITSs), we examined the role of the Lotus symbiosis genes RAM1, NFR5, SYMRK, and CCaMK in structuring bacterial and fungal root-associated communities. We found host genotype-dependent community shifts in the root and rhizosphere compartments that were mainly confined to bacteria in nfr5 or fungi in ram1 mutants, while symrk and ccamk plants displayed major changes across both microbial kingdoms. We observed in all AM mutant roots an almost complete depletion of a large number of Glomeromycota taxa that was accompanied by a concomitant enrichment of Helotiales and Nectriaceae fungi, suggesting compensatory niche replacement within the fungal community. A subset of Glomeromycota whose colonization is strictly dependent on the common symbiosis pathway was retained in ram1 mutants, indicating that RAM1 is dispensable for intraradical colonization by some Glomeromycota fungi. However, intraradical colonization by bacteria belonging to the Burkholderiaceae and Anaeroplasmataceae is dependent on AM root infection, revealing a microbial interkingdom interaction. Despite the overall robustness of the bacterial root microbiota against major changes in the composition of root-associated fungal assemblages, bacterial and fungal cooccurrence network analysis demonstrates that simultaneous disruption of AM and rhizobium symbiosis increases the connectivity among taxa of the bacterial root microbiota. Our findings imply a broad role for Lotus symbiosis genes in structuring the root microbiota and identify unexpected microbial interkingdom interactions between root symbionts and commensal communities.IMPORTANCE Studies on symbiosis genes in plants typically focus on binary interactions between roots and soilborne nitrogen-fixing rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi in laboratory environments. We utilized wild type and symbiosis mutants of a model legume, grown in natural soil, in which bacterial, fungal, or both symbioses are impaired to examine potential interactions between the symbionts and commensal microorganisms of the root microbiota when grown in natural soil. This revealed microbial interkingdom interactions between the root symbionts and fungal as well as bacterial commensal communities. Nevertheless, the bacterial root microbiota remains largely robust when fungal symbiosis is impaired. Our work implies a broad role for host symbiosis genes in structuring the root microbiota of legumes.}, } @article {pmid31594411, year = {2020}, author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Flórez, LV}, title = {Versatile and Dynamic Symbioses Between Insects and Burkholderia Bacteria.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {145-170}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-025025}, pmid = {31594411}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with microorganisms represent major sources of ecological and evolutionary innovations in insects. Multiple insect taxa engage in symbioses with bacteria of the genus Burkholderia, a diverse group that is widespread across different environments and whose members can be mutualistic or pathogenic to plants, fungi, and animals. Burkholderia symbionts provide nutritional benefits and resistance against insecticides to stinkbugs, defend Lagria beetle eggs against pathogenic fungi, and may be involved in nitrogen metabolism in ants. In contrast to many other insect symbioses, the known associations with Burkholderia are characterized by environmental symbiont acquisition or mixed-mode transmission, resulting in interesting ecological and evolutionary dynamics of symbiont strain composition. Insect-Burkholderia symbioses present valuable model systems from which to derive insights into general principles governing symbiotic interactions because they are often experimentally and genetically tractable and span a large fraction of the diversity of functions, localizations, and transmission routes represented in insect symbioses.}, } @article {pmid31593868, year = {2019}, author = {Bongrand, C and Ruby, EG}, title = {The impact of Vibrio fischeri strain variation on host colonization.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {15-19}, pmid = {31593868}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; Type IV Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {Strain-level epidemiology is a key approach to understanding the mechanisms underlying establishment of any host-microbe association. The squid-vibrio light organ symbiosis has proven to be an informative and tractable experimental model in which to discover these mechanisms because it involves only one bacterial species, Vibrio fischeri. In this horizontally transmitted symbiosis, the squid presents nutrients to the bacteria located in a bilobed light-emitting organ, while the symbionts provide bioluminescence to their host. To initiate this association, V. fischeri cells go through several distinct stages: from free-living in the bacterioplankton, to forming a multicellular aggregation near pores on the light organ's surface, to migrating through the pores and into crypts deep in the light organ, where the symbiont population grows and luminesces. Because individual cells must successfully navigate these distinct regions, phenotypic differences between strains will have a strong impact on the composition of the population finally colonizing the squid. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of behavioral characteristics that differentially drive a strain's success, including its effectiveness of aggregation, the rapidity with which it reaches the deep crypts, and its deployment of type VI secretion.}, } @article {pmid31592190, year = {2019}, author = {Reynolds, LA and Hornett, EA and Jiggins, CD and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Suppression of Wolbachia-mediated male-killing in the butterfly Hypolimnas bolina involves a single genomic region.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e7677}, pmid = {31592190}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sex ratio distorting agents (maternally inherited symbionts and meiotically-driving sex chromosomes) are common in insects. When these agents rise to high frequencies they create strong population sex ratio bias and selection then favours mutations that act to restore the rare sex. Despite this strong selection pressure, the evolution of mutations that suppress sex ratio distorting elements appears to be constrained in many cases, where sex-biased populations persist for many generations. This scenario has been observed in the butterfly Hypolimnas bolina, where Wolbachia-mediated male killing endured for 800-1,000 generations across multiple populations before the evolution of suppression. Here we test the hypothesis that this evolutionary lag is the result of suppression being a multilocus trait requiring multiple mutations.

METHODS: We developed genetic markers, based on conservation of synteny, for each H. bolina chromosome and verified coverage using recombinational mapping. We then used a Wolbachia-infected mapping family to assess each chromosome for the presence of loci required for male survival, as determined by the presence of markers in all surviving sons.

RESULTS: Informative markers were obtained for each of the 31 chromosomes in H. bolina. The only marker that cosegregated with suppression was located on chromosome 25. A genomic region necessary for suppression has previously been located on this chromosome. We therefore conclude that a single genomic region of the H. bolina genome is necessary for male-killing suppression.

DISCUSSION: The evolutionary lag observed in our system is not caused by a need for changes at multiple genomic locations. The findings favour hypotheses in which either multiple mutations are required within a single genomic region, or the suppressor mutation is a singularly rare event.}, } @article {pmid31591946, year = {2021}, author = {Shanthi, M and Rajesh Banu, J and Sivashanmugam, P}, title = {Solubilisation of fruits and vegetable dregs through surfactant mediated sonic disintegration: impact on biomethane potential and energy ratio.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {42}, number = {11}, pages = {1703-1714}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2019.1677784}, pmid = {31591946}, issn = {1479-487X}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biomass ; Fruit ; Methane ; Sewage ; *Surface-Active Agents ; *Vegetables ; }, abstract = {This study investigates the symbiotic effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) coupled with sonication of fruits and vegetable dregs (FVD) on disintegration and subsequent energy efficient methane production. The liquefaction of FVD experiments was conducted by varying dosage of surfactant from 0.001to 0.01 g/g SS for 60 min in mechanical shaker. The optimised dosage of surfactant was combined with sonication. Finally, the combined pretreatment and sole pretreatment were assessed using methane potential assay. The results revealed that at optimised conditions (sonication specific energy of 5400 kJ/kg TS, CTAB dosage of 0.006 g/g SS), the maximum liquefiable organics release rate and solids reduction of CTAB mediated sonic disintegration (CSD) were found respectively to be 27% and 17% more than the ultrasonic disintegration (16% and 10%). CSD was noticed to be superior than ultrasonic disintegration (UD) based on highest volatile fatty acid yield (2000 mg/L vs. 1250 mg/L) and biochemical methane potential (203 mL/g COD vs. 144 mL/g COD). CSD achieved energy ratio of 0.9 which is greater than ultrasonic disintegration energy ratio 0.4.}, } @article {pmid31591395, year = {2019}, author = {Kim, S and Zeng, W and Bernard, S and Liao, J and Venkateshwaran, M and Ane, JM and Jiang, Y}, title = {Publisher Correction: Ca[2+]-regulated Ca[2+] channels with an RCK gating ring control plant symbiotic associations.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4607}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-12590-y}, pmid = {31591395}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.}, } @article {pmid31591240, year = {2019}, author = {Teulet, A and Busset, N and Fardoux, J and Gully, D and Chaintreuil, C and Cartieaux, F and Jauneau, A and Comorge, V and Okazaki, S and Kaneko, T and Gressent, F and Nouwen, N and Arrighi, JF and Koebnik, R and Mergaert, P and Deslandes, L and Giraud, E}, title = {The rhizobial type III effector ErnA confers the ability to form nodules in legumes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {43}, pages = {21758-21768}, pmid = {31591240}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Organogenesis, Plant/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Several Bradyrhizobium species nodulate the leguminous plant Aeschynomene indica in a type III secretion system-dependent manner, independently of Nod factors. To date, the underlying molecular determinants involved in this symbiotic process remain unknown. To identify the rhizobial effectors involved in nodulation, we mutated 23 out of the 27 effector genes predicted in Bradyrhizobium strain ORS3257. The mutation of nopAO increased nodulation and nitrogenase activity, whereas mutation of 5 other effector genes led to various symbiotic defects. The nopM1 and nopP1 mutants induced a reduced number of nodules, some of which displayed large necrotic zones. The nopT and nopAB mutants induced uninfected nodules, and a mutant in a yet-undescribed effector gene lost the capacity for nodule formation. This effector gene, widely conserved among bradyrhizobia, was named ernA for "effector required for nodulation-A." Remarkably, expressing ernA in a strain unable to nodulate A. indica conferred nodulation ability. Upon its delivery by Pseudomonas fluorescens into plant cells, ErnA was specifically targeted to the nucleus, and a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy approach supports the possibility that ErnA binds nucleic acids in the plant nuclei. Ectopic expression of ernA in A. indica roots activated organogenesis of root- and nodule-like structures. Collectively, this study unravels the symbiotic functions of rhizobial type III effectors playing distinct and complementary roles in suppression of host immune functions, infection, and nodule organogenesis, and suggests that ErnA triggers organ development in plants by a mechanism that remains to be elucidated.}, } @article {pmid31591150, year = {2019}, author = {Deng, J and Zhu, F and Liu, J and Zhao, Y and Wen, J and Wang, T and Dong, J}, title = {Transcription Factor bHLH2 Represses CYSTEINE PROTEASE77 to Negatively Regulate Nodule Senescence.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {181}, number = {4}, pages = {1683-1703}, pmid = {31591150}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Apoptosis/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/chemistry/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cysteine Proteases/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*growth & development ; Meristem/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Binding ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development ; Tobacco ; Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobia symbiosis is a time-limited process due to the onset of senescence, which results in the degradation of host plant cells and symbiosomes. A number of transcription factors, proteases, and functional genes have been associated with nodule senescence; however, whether other proteases or transcription factors are involved in nodule senescence remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified an early nodule senescence mutant in Medicago truncatula, denoted basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor2 (bhlh2), that exhibits decreased nitrogenase activity, acceleration of plant programmed cell death (PCD), and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results suggest that MtbHLH2 plays a negative role in nodule senescence. Nodules of wild-type and bhlh2-TALEN mutant plants at 28 d postinoculation were used for transcriptome sequencing. The transcriptome data analysis identified a papain-like Cys protease gene, denoted MtCP77, that could serve as a potential target of MtbHLH2. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that MtbHLH2 directly binds to the promoter of MtCP77 to inhibit its expression. MtCP77 positively regulates nodule senescence by accelerating plant PCD and ROS accumulation. In addition, the expression of MtbHLH2 in the nodules gradually decreased from the meristematic zone to the nitrogen fixation zone, whereas the expression of MtCP77 showed enhancement. These results indicate that MtbHLH2 and MtCP77 have opposite functions in the regulation of nodule senescence. These results reveal significant roles for MtbHLH2 and MtCP77 in plant PCD, ROS accumulation, and nodule senescence, and improve our understanding of the regulation of the nodule senescence process.}, } @article {pmid31591000, year = {2019}, author = {Msaddak, A and Rejili, M and Durán, D and Mars, M and Palacios, JM and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Rey, L and Imperial, J}, title = {Microvirga tunisiensis sp. nov., a root nodule symbiotic bacterium isolated from Lupinus micranthus and L. luteus grown in Northern Tunisia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {126015}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126015}, pmid = {31591000}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Methylobacteriaceae/chemistry/*classification/drug effects/genetics ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Three bacterial strains, LmiM8[T], LmiE10 and LluTb3, isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules of Lupinus micranthus (Lmi strains) and L. luteus (Llu strain) growing in Northern Tunisia were analysed using genetic, phenotypic and symbiotic approaches. Phylogenetic analyses based on rrs and concatenated gyrB and dnaK genes suggested that these Lupinus strains constitute a new Microvirga species with identities ranging from 95 to 83% to its closest relatives Microvirga makkahensis, M. vignae, M. zambiensis, M. ossetica, and M. lotononidis. The genome sequences of strains LmiM8[T] and LmiE10 exhibited pairwise Average Nucleotide Identities (ANIb) above 99.5%, significantly distant (73-89% pairwise ANIb) from other Microvirga species sequenced (M. zambiensis and M. ossetica). A phylogenetic analysis based on the symbiosis-related gene nodA placed the sequences of the new species in a divergent clade close to Mesorhizobium, Microvirga and Bradyrhizobium strains, suggesting that the M. tunisiensis strains represent a new symbiovar different from the Bradyrhizobium symbiovars defined to date. In contrast, the phylogeny derived from another symbiosis-related gene, nifH, reproduced the housekeeping genes phylogenies. The study of morphological, phenotypical and physiological features, including cellular fatty acid composition of the novel isolates demonstrated their unique profile regarding close reference Microvirga strains. Strains LmiM8[T], LmiE10 and LluTb3 were able to nodulate several Lupinus spp. Based on genetic, genomic and phenotypic data presented in this study, these strains should be grouped within a new species for which the name Microvirga tunisiensis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain LmiM8[T]=CECT 9163[T], LMG 29689[T]).}, } @article {pmid31589684, year = {2019}, author = {Ostermann, A and Mortimer, PE and Huang, R and Ma, L and Bu, D and Xu, J}, title = {Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Soil Contaminated with the Veterinary Antibiotics Oxytetracycline and Sulfamethazine.}, journal = {Journal of environmental quality}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {1067-1073}, doi = {10.2134/jeq2019.01.0021}, pmid = {31589684}, issn = {1537-2537}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Manure ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Oxytetracycline ; Soil ; *Soil Pollutants ; Sulfamethazine ; }, abstract = {Veterinary and growth-promoting antibiotics are widely used in animal husbandry and accumulate in manure-fertilized soils. However, the impact of these antibiotics on symbiotic nitrogen fixation is poorly understood. We investigated the effect of the veterinary antibiotics oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine, and a combination of both, on nitrogen fixation in alfalfa (L.) inoculated with . In a pot experiment, was grown in soils fertilized with fresh manure that contained environmentally relevant antibiotic concentrations (0.2, 2, and 200 mg kg). Nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and nutrient concentrations were determined in the alfalfa plants and soils after 12 wk. Compared with the antibiotic-free control, symbiotic nitrogen fixation increased significantly in soils mixed with manure containing 2 and 200 mg kg oxytetracycline (20.1 and 20.8% increase, respectively) and a mixture of 200 mg kg oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine (12.4% increase). The measured plant- and soil-related parameters failed to explain the observed increase in nitrogen fixation. However, using concentration levels that accurately reflect common agricultural practices, we obtained results that directly contradict other experiments conducted under unrealistically high antibiotic concentrations.}, } @article {pmid31589314, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, F and Jonas, L and Lin, H and Hill, RT}, title = {Microbially mediated nutrient cycles in marine sponges.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz155}, pmid = {31589314}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Efficient nutrient cycles mediated by symbiotic microorganisms with their hosts are vital to support the high productivity of coral reef ecosystems. In these ecosystems, marine sponges are important habitat-forming organisms in the benthic community and harbor abundant microbial symbionts. However, few studies have reviewed the critical microbially mediated nutrient cycling processes in marine sponges. To bridge this gap, in this review article, we summarize existing knowledge and recent advances in understanding microbially mediated carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) cycles in sponges, propose a conceptual model that describes potential interactions and constraints in the major nutrient cycles, and suggest that shifting redox state induced by animal behavior like sponge pumping can exert great influence on the activities of symbiotic microbial communities. Constraints include the lack of knowledge on spatial and temporal variations and host behavior; more studies are needed in these areas. Sponge microbiomes may have a significant impact on the nutrient cycles in the world's coral reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31588247, year = {2019}, author = {Bethencourt, L and Vautrin, F and Taib, N and Dubost, A and Castro-Garcia, L and Imbaud, O and Abrouk, D and Fournier, P and Briolay, J and Nguyen, A and Normand, P and Fernandez, MP and Brochier-Armanet, C and Herrera-Belaroussi, A}, title = {Draft genome sequences for three unisolated Alnus-infective Frankia Sp+ strains, AgTrS, AiOr and AvVan, the first sequenced Frankia strains able to sporulate in-planta.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {50-55}, pmid = {31588247}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {Actinobacteria from genus Frankia are able to form symbiotic associations with actinorhizal plants including alders. Among them, Sp+ strains are characterized by their ability to differentiate numerous sporangia inside host plant cells (unlike "Sp-" strains unable of in-planta sporulation). Here, we report the first genome sequences of three unisolated Sp+ strains: AgTrS, AiOr and AvVan obtained from Alnus glutinosa, A. incana and A. alnobetula (previously known as viridis), respectively (with genome completeness estimated at more than 98%). They represent new Frankia species based on Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) calculations, and the smallest Alnus-infective Frankia genomes so far sequenced (~5 Mbp), with 5,178, 6,192 and 5,751 candidate protein-encoding genes for AgTrS, AiOr and AvVan, respectively.}, } @article {pmid31587644, year = {2019}, author = {Richards, TA and Massana, R and Pagliara, S and Hall, N}, title = {Single cell ecology.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {374}, number = {1786}, pages = {20190076}, pmid = {31587644}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {BB/CCG1720/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/CCG1720/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*physiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Single-Cell Analysis ; }, abstract = {Cells are the building blocks of life, from single-celled microbes through to multi-cellular organisms. To understand a multitude of biological processes we need to understand how cells behave, how they interact with each other and how they respond to their environment. The use of new methodologies is changing the way we study cells allowing us to study them on minute scales and in unprecedented detail. These same methods are allowing researchers to begin to sample the vast diversity of microbes that dominate natural environments. The aim of this special issue is to bring together research and perspectives on the application of new approaches to understand the biological properties of cells, including how they interact with other biological entities. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Single cell ecology'.}, } @article {pmid31586663, year = {2019}, author = {Aggeletopoulou, I and Konstantakis, C and Assimakopoulos, SF and Triantos, C}, title = {The role of the gut microbiota in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {137}, number = {}, pages = {103774}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103774}, pmid = {31586663}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*microbiology/therapy ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota coevolves with its host through a symbiotic relationship and exerts great influence on substantial functions including aspects of physiology, metabolism, nutrition and regulation of immune responses leading to physiological homeostasis. Over the last years, several studies have been conducted toward the assessment of the host-gut microbiota interaction, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of several diseases. A defect on the microbiota-host crosstalk and the concomitant dysregulation of immune responses combined with genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). To this end, novel therapeutic options based on the gut microbiota modulation have been an area of extensive research interest. In this review we present the recent findings on the association of dysbiosis with IBD pathogenesis, we focus on the role of gut microbiota on the treatment of IBD and discuss the novel and currently available therapeutic strategies in manipulating the composition and function of gut microbiota in IBD patients. Applicable and emerging microbiota treatment modalities, such as the use of antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) constitute promising therapeutic options. However, the therapeutic potential of the aforementioned approaches is a topic of investigation and further studies are needed to elucidate their position in the present treatment algorithms of IBD.}, } @article {pmid31586259, year = {2019}, author = {Cao-Pham, AH and Hiong, KC and Boo, MV and Choo, CYL and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Calcium absorption in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, may involve a homolog of voltage-gated calcium channel subunit α1 (CACNA1) that has an apical localization and displays light-enhanced protein expression in the ctenidium.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology}, volume = {189}, number = {6}, pages = {693-706}, pmid = {31586259}, issn = {1432-136X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Channels/*metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation/*radiation effects ; *Light ; Phylogeny ; Tissue Distribution ; }, abstract = {In light, giant clams can increase rates of shell formation and growth due to their symbiotic relationship with phototrophic zooxanthellae residing extracellularly in a tubular system. Light-enhanced shell formation necessitates increase in the uptake of Ca[2+] from the ambient seawater and the supply of Ca[2+] through the hemolymph to the extrapallial fluid, where calcification occurs. In this study, the complete coding cDNA sequence of a homolog of voltage-gated calcium channel subunit α1 (CACNA1), which is the pore-forming subunit of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), was obtained from the ctenidium (gill) of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. It consisted of 6081 bp and encoded a 223 kDa polypeptide with 2027 amino acids, which was characterized as the α1D subunit of L-type VGCC. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that CACNA1 had an apical localization in the epithelial cells of filaments and tertiary water channels in the ctenidium of T. squamosa, indicating that it was well positioned to absorb exogenous Ca[2+]. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the protein abundance of CACNA1 in the ctenidium of individuals exposed to light for 12 h. With more pore-forming CACNA1, there could be an increase in the permeation of exogenous Ca[2+] into the ctenidial epithelial cells through the apical membrane. Taken together, these results denote that VGCC could augment exogenous Ca[2+] uptake through the ctenidium to support light-enhanced shell formation in T. squamosa. Furthermore, they support the proposition that light-enhanced phenomena in giant clams are attributable primarily to the direct responses of the host's transporters/enzymes to light, in alignment with the symbionts' phototrophic activity.}, } @article {pmid31585988, year = {2019}, author = {Takeshita, K and Yamada, T and Kawahara, Y and Narihiro, T and Ito, M and Kamagata, Y and Shinzato, N}, title = {Tripartite Symbiosis of an Anaerobic Scuticociliate with Two Hydrogenosome-Associated Endosymbionts, a Holospora-Related Alphaproteobacterium and a Methanogenic Archaeon.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {31585988}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Anaerobiosis/*physiology ; Ciliophora/*microbiology ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Euryarchaeota/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Holosporaceae/classification/genetics/*physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Organelles/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A number of anaerobic ciliates, unicellular eukaryotes, intracellularly possess methanogenic archaea and bacteria as symbiotic partners. Although this tripartite relationship is of interest in terms of the fact that each participant is from a different domain, the difficulty in culture and maintenance of those host species with symbiotic partners has disturbed both ecological and functional studies so far. In this study, we obtained a stable culture of a small anaerobic scuticociliate, strain GW7. By transmission electron microscopic observation and fluorescent in situ hybridization with domain-specific probes, we demonstrate that GW7 possesses both archaeal and bacterial endosymbionts in its cytoplasm. These endosymbionts are in dependently associated with hydrogenosomes, which are organelle producing hydrogen and ATP under anaerobic conditions. Clone library analyses targeting prokaryotic 16S rRNA genes, fluorescent in situ hybridization with endosymbiont-specific probes, and molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed the phylogenetic affiliations and intracellular localizations of these endosymbionts. The endosymbiotic archaeon is a methanogen belonging to the genus Methanoregula (order Methanomicrobiales); a member of this genus has previously been described as the endosymbiont of an anaerobic ciliate from the genus Metopus (class Armophorea), which is only distantly related to strain GW7 (class Oligohymenophorea). The endosymbiotic bacterium belongs to the family Holosporaceae of the class Alphaproteobacteria, which also comprises several endosymbionts of various aerobic ciliates. For this endosymbiotic bacterium, we propose a novel candidate genus and species, "Candidatus Hydrogenosomobacter endosymbioticus."IMPORTANCE Tripartite symbioses between anaerobic ciliated protists and their intracellular archaeal and bacterial symbionts are not uncommon, but most reports have been based mainly on microscopic observations. Deeper insights into the function, ecology, and evolution of these fascinating symbioses involving partners from all three domains of life have been hampered by the difficulties of culturing anaerobic ciliates in the laboratory and the frequent loss of their prokaryotic partners during long-term cultivation. In the present study, we report the isolation of an anaerobic scuticociliate, strain GW7, which has been stably maintained in our laboratory for more than 3 years without losing either of its endosymbionts. Unexpectedly, molecular characterization of the endosymbionts revealed that the bacterial partner of GW7 is phylogenetically related to intranuclear endosymbionts of aerobic ciliates. This strain will enable future genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses of the interactions in this tripartite symbiosis and a comparison with endosymbioses in aerobic ciliates.}, } @article {pmid31583109, year = {2019}, author = {La Carpia, F and Wojczyk, BS and Annavajhala, MK and Rebbaa, A and Culp-Hill, R and D'Alessandro, A and Freedberg, DE and Uhlemann, AC and Hod, EA}, title = {Transfusional iron overload and intravenous iron infusions modify the mouse gut microbiota similarly to dietary iron.}, journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {26}, pmid = {31583109}, issn = {2055-5008}, support = {R01 HL121275/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 HL145319/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Administration, Intravenous ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; *Blood Transfusion ; Feces/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; *Iron Overload ; *Iron, Dietary ; Metabolism/drug effects ; Mice ; }, abstract = {Iron is essential for both microorganisms and their hosts. Although effects of dietary iron on gut microbiota have been described, the effect of systemic iron administration has yet to be explored. Here, we show that dietary iron, intravenous iron administration, and chronic transfusion in mice increase the availability of iron in the gut. These iron interventions have consistent and reproducible effects on the murine gut microbiota; specifically, relative abundance of the Parabacteroides and Lactobacillus genera negatively correlate with increased iron stores, whereas members of the Clostridia class positively correlate with iron stores regardless of the route of iron administration. Iron levels also affected microbial metabolites, in general, and indoles, in particular, circulating in host plasma and in stool pellets. Taken together, these results suggest that by shifting the balance of the microbiota, clinical interventions that affect iron status have the potential to alter biologically relevant microbial metabolites in the host.}, } @article {pmid31583018, year = {2019}, author = {Fowler, CA and Sabbadin, F and Ciano, L and Hemsworth, GR and Elias, L and Bruce, N and McQueen-Mason, S and Davies, GJ and Walton, PH}, title = {Discovery, activity and characterisation of an AA10 lytic polysaccharide oxygenase from the shipworm symbiont Teredinibacter turnerae.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {232}, pmid = {31583018}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The quest for novel enzymes for cellulosic biomass-degradation has recently been focussed on lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs/PMOs), Cu-containing proteins that catalyse the oxidative degradation of otherwise recalcitrant polysaccharides using O2 or H2O2 as a co-substrate.

RESULTS: Although classical saprotrophic fungi and bacteria have been a rich source of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), we were interested to see if LPMOs from less evident bio-environments could be discovered and assessed for their cellulolytic activity in a biofuel context. In this regard, the marine shipworm Lyrodus pedicellatus represents an interesting source of new enzymes, since it must digest wood particles ingested during its natural tunnel boring behaviour and plays host to a symbiotic bacterium, Teredinibacter turnerae, the genome of which has revealed a multitude of enzymes dedicated to biomass deconstruction. Here, we show that T. turnerae encodes a cellulose-active AA10 LPMO. The 3D structure, at 1.4 Å resolution, along with its EPR spectrum is distinct from other AA10 polysaccharide monooxygenases insofar as it displays a "histidine-brace" catalytic apparatus with changes to the surrounding coordination sphere of the copper. Furthermore, TtAA10A possesses a second, surface accessible, Cu site 14 Å from the classical catalytic centre. Activity measurements show that the LPMO oxidises cellulose and thereby significantly augments the rate of degradation of cellulosic biomass by classical glycoside hydrolases.

CONCLUSION: Shipworms are wood-boring marine molluscs that can live on a diet of lignocellulose. Bacterial symbionts of shipworms provide many of the enzymes needed for wood digestion. The shipworm symbiont T. turnerae produces one of the few LPMOs yet described from the marine environment, notably adding to the capability of shipworms to digest recalcitrant polysaccharides.}, } @article {pmid31582561, year = {2019}, author = {Su, Z and Kuscu, C and Malik, A and Shibata, E and Dutta, A}, title = {Angiogenin generates specific stress-induced tRNA halves and is not involved in tRF-3-mediated gene silencing.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {294}, number = {45}, pages = {16930-16941}, pmid = {31582561}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {R01 AR067712/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gene Silencing ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; RNA, Transfer/*genetics ; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; }, abstract = {tRNA fragments (tRFs) and tRNA halves have been implicated in various cellular processes, including gene silencing, translation, stress granule assembly, cell differentiation, retrotransposon activity, symbiosis, apoptosis, and more. Overexpressed angiogenin (ANG) cleaves tRNA anticodons and produces tRNA halves similar to those produced in response to stress. However, it is not clear whether endogenous ANG is essential for producing the stress-induced tRNA halves. It is also not clear whether smaller tRFs are generated from the tRNA halves. Here, using global short RNA-Seq approach, we found that ANG overexpression selectively cleaves a subset of tRNAs, including tRNA[Glu], tRNA[Gly], tRNA[Lys], tRNA[Val], tRNA[His], tRNA[Asp], and tRNA[SeC] to produce tRNA halves and tRF-5s that are 26-30 bases long. Surprisingly, ANG knockout revealed that the majority of stress-induced tRNA halves, except for the 5' half from tRNA[HisGTG] and the 3' half from tRNA[AspGTC], are ANG independent, suggesting there are other RNases that produce tRNA halves. We also found that the 17-25 bases-long tRF-3s and tRF-5s that could enter into Argonaute complexes are not induced by ANG overexpression, suggesting that they are generated independently from tRNA halves. Consistent with this, ANG knockout did not decrease tRF-3 levels or gene-silencing activity. We conclude that ANG cleaves specific tRNAs and is not the only RNase that creates tRNA halves and that the shorter tRFs are not generated from the tRNA halves or from independent tRNA cleavage by ANG.}, } @article {pmid31581628, year = {2019}, author = {Mazzocca, A}, title = {The Systemic-Evolutionary Theory of the Origin of Cancer (SETOC): A New Interpretative Model of Cancer as a Complex Biological System.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {31581628}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; Neoplasms/*etiology/*metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {The Systemic-Evolutionary Theory of Cancer (SETOC) is a recently proposed theory based on two important concepts: (i) Evolution, understood as a process of cooperation and symbiosis (Margulian-like), and (ii) The system, in terms of the integration of the various cellular components, so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, as in any complex system. The SETOC posits that cancer is generated by the de-emergence of the "eukaryotic cell system" and by the re-emergence of cellular subsystems such as archaea-like (genetic information) and/or prokaryotic-like (mitochondria) subsystems, featuring uncoordinated behaviors. One of the consequences is a sort of "cellular regression" towards ancestral or atavistic biological functions or behaviors similar to those of protists or unicellular organisms in general. This de-emergence is caused by the progressive breakdown of the endosymbiotic cellular subsystem integration (mainly, information = nucleus and energy = mitochondria) as a consequence of long-term injuries. Known cancer-promoting factors, including inflammation, chronic fibrosis, and chronic degenerative processes, cause prolonged damage that leads to the breakdown or failure of this form of integration/endosymbiosis. In normal cells, the cellular "subsystems" must be fully integrated in order to maintain the differentiated state, and this integration is ensured by a constant energy intake. In contrast, when organ or tissue damage occurs, the constant energy intake declines, leading, over time, to energy shortage, failure of endosymbiosis, and the de-differentiated state observed in dysplasia and cancer.}, } @article {pmid31581056, year = {2019}, author = {Dias, AS and Almeida, CR and Helguero, LA and Duarte, IF}, title = {Metabolic crosstalk in the breast cancer microenvironment.}, journal = {European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)}, volume = {121}, number = {}, pages = {154-171}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejca.2019.09.002}, pmid = {31581056}, issn = {1879-0852}, mesh = {Breast Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Cell Proliferation/physiology ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Female ; Glycolysis/physiology ; Humans ; Macrophages/immunology/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/physiology ; Receptor Cross-Talk/physiology ; Tumor Escape/physiology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {During tumorigenesis, breast tumour cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, which generally includes enhanced glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, glutaminolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis. However, the extension and functional importance of these metabolic alterations may diverge not only according to breast cancer subtypes, but also depending on the interaction of cancer cells with the complex surrounding microenvironment. This microenvironment comprises a variety of non-cancerous cells, such as immune cells (e.g. macrophages, lymphocytes, natural killer cells), fibroblasts, adipocytes and endothelial cells, together with extracellular matrix components and soluble factors, which influence cancer progression and are predictive of clinical outcome. The continuous interaction between cancer and stromal cells results in metabolic competition and symbiosis, with oncogenic-driven metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells shaping the metabolism of neighbouring cells and vice versa. This review addresses current knowledge on this metabolic crosstalk within the breast tumour microenvironment (TME). Improved understanding of how metabolism in the TME modulates cancer development and evasion of tumour-suppressive mechanisms may provide clues for novel anticancer therapeutics directed to metabolic targets.}, } @article {pmid31580848, year = {2020}, author = {Hao, Y and Guan, W and Wu, H and Li, L and Abe, EM and Xue, J and Qin, Z and Wang, Q and Lv, S and Xu, J and Wang, W and Li, S}, title = {Intestinal microbiome profiles in Oncomelania hupensis in mainland China.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {201}, number = {}, pages = {105202}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105202}, pmid = {31580848}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Schistosomiasis japonica/transmission ; Snails/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Oncomelania hupensis plays a significant role in the transmission of schistosomiasis japonica, which remains a major public health concern in China. Understanding the biological characteristics of O. hupensis is a prerequisite for its control; however, there are currently no studies investigating the intestinal microbiota of the O. hupensis snail. This study aimed to profile the intestinal microbiome of O. hupensis across different ecological landscapes in mainland China. DNA was extracted from the intestines of the collected snails and the bacterial communities were detected using 454 pyrosequencing. A total of 3,799 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained, and Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were identified as the dominant bacterial taxa at the phylum level. Bacillus and Lactococcus were the most common genera in samples obtained from the four ecological landscapes. Snail specimens were clustered into three clades according to microbial community diversity, and thirty-seven genera that contributed to differential microbiota distributions were identified. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated a symbiotic relationship for the intestinal microbiota of O. hupensis, and PICRUSt analysis predicted forty-one metabolic functions in all snail samples, including membrane transport, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, replication and repair, energy metabolism, as well as xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism. These findings improve our understanding of bacterial ecology in the O. hupensis intestine; further studies will focus on the relationship between O. hupensis intestinal microbiota and the microbiota in their specific ecological environments.}, } @article {pmid31575385, year = {2019}, author = {Andreola, S and Rodriguez, M and Parola, R and Alemano, S and Lascano, R}, title = {Interactions between soybean, Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Soybean mosaic virus: the effects depend on the interaction sequence.}, journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB}, volume = {46}, number = {11}, pages = {1036-1048}, doi = {10.1071/FP17361}, pmid = {31575385}, issn = {1445-4416}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bradyrhizobium ; *Potyvirus ; Soybeans ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between soybean and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can lead to plant growth promotion and induced systemic responses. Symbiotic interactions may increase tolerance/resistance to abiotic/biotic stress conditions, but are also sensitive to environmental conditions. Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), which is transmitted by seed and aphids, severely affects crop yields in many areas of the world, consequently virus infection may precede rhizobium infection or vice versa in the field. With the hypothesis that sequence of interaction is a key determinant of the resulting responses; growth, primary metabolism and defence responses were evaluated in different interaction sequences. Results showed that vegetative growth was promoted by Bradyrhizobium japonicum (Bj) inoculation and drastically impaired by SMV infection. The negative effect of SMV single infection on soybean growth parameters was correlated with photosynthesis decrease, sugar accumulation, oxidative damage, and increases in salicylic acid levels. Bj inoculation partially reversed virus-induced symptoms, mainly at Bj-SMV sequence. However, this symptom attenuation did not correlate with less virus accumulation. Nodulation was negatively affected by SMV, particularly when virus infection was previous to Bj inoculation (SMV-Bj). Defence related hormones (salicylic acid (SA)/jasmonic acid (JA)) and the expression of defence-related genes were dependent on the sequence of tripartite interaction. The present study showed that the sequence of the tripartite interaction among soybean, Bj and SMV determinates the tolerance/susceptibility to SMV infection, through changes in the defence mechanism and metabolic alteration.}, } @article {pmid31575010, year = {2019}, author = {Nikolaivits, E and Agrafiotis, A and Termentzi, A and Machera, K and Le Goff, G and Álvarez, P and Chavanich, S and Benayahu, Y and Ouazzani, J and Fokialakis, N and Topakas, E}, title = {Unraveling the Detoxification Mechanism of 2,4-Dichlorophenol by Marine-Derived Mesophotic Symbiotic Fungi Isolated from Marine Invertebrates.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31575010}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorophenols/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Humans ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/physiology ; Phenols/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism ; Xenobiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chlorophenols (CPs) are environmental pollutants that are produced through various anthropogenic activities and introduced in the environment. Living organisms, including humans, are exposed to these toxic xenobiotics and suffer from adverse health effects. More specifically, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) is released in high amounts in the environment and has been listed as a priority pollutant by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Bioremediation has been proposed as a sustainable alternative to conventional remediation methods for the detoxification of phenolic compounds. In this work, we studied the potential of fungal strains isolated as symbionts of marine invertebrates from the underexplored mesophotic coral ecosystems. Hence, the unspecific metabolic pathways of these fungal strains are being explored in the present study, using the powerful analytical capabilities of a UHPLC-HRMS/MS. The newly identified 2,4-DCP metabolites add significantly to the knowledge of the transformation of such pollutants by fungi, since such reports are scarce.}, } @article {pmid31574908, year = {2019}, author = {Xi, P and Wang, D and Liu, W and Shi, C}, title = {DFT Study into the Influence of Carbon Material on the Hydrophobicity of a Coal Pyrite Surface.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {31574908}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Algorithms ; Carbon/*chemistry ; Coal/*analysis ; *Density Functional Theory ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Iron/*chemistry ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Conformation ; Sulfides/*chemistry ; Surface Properties ; }, abstract = {From the macroscopic point of view, the hydrophilicity of symbiotic carbon pyrite is weakened overall compared to that of pure pyrite. It is very important to explain the impact of elemental carbon accreted on a pyrite surface on the surface's hydrophobicity from the perspective of quantum chemistry. To study the influence of adsorbed carbon atoms on the hydrophilicity of a coal pyrite surface versus a pyrite surface, the adsorption of a single water molecule at an adjacent Fe site of a one-carbon-atom-covered pyrite surface and a carbon atom monolayer were simulated and calculated with the first-principles method of density functional theory (DFT). The water molecules can be stably adsorbed at the adjacent Fe site of the carbon-atom-covered pyrite surface. The hybridization of the O 2p (H2O) and Fe 3d (pyrite surface) orbitals was the main interaction between the water molecule and the pyrite surface, forming a strong Fe-O covalent bond. The water molecule only slightly adsorbs above a C atom on the carbon-atom-covered pyrite and the carbon atom monolayer surfaces. The valence bond between the water molecule and the pyrite surface changed from an Fe-O bond to an Fe-C-O bond, in which the C-O bond is very weak, resulting in a weaker interaction between water and the surface.}, } @article {pmid31573127, year = {2019}, author = {Kuechler, SM and Fukatsu, T and Matsuura, Y}, title = {Repeated evolution of bacteriocytes in lygaeoid stinkbugs.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {4378-4394}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14804}, pmid = {31573127}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Host-microbe symbioses often evolved highly complex developmental processes and colonization mechanisms for establishment of stable associations. It has long been recognized that many insects harbour beneficial bacteria inside specific symbiotic cells (bacteriocytes) or organs (bacteriomes). However, the evolutionary origin and mechanisms underlying bacterial colonization in bacteriocyte/bacteriome formation have been poorly understood. In order to uncover the origin of such evolutionary novelties, we studied the development of symbiotic organs in five stinkbug species representing the superfamily Lygaeoidea in which diverse bacteriocyte/bacteriome systems have evolved. We tracked the symbiont movement within the eggs during the embryonic development and determined crucial stages at which symbiont infection and bacteriocyte formation occur, using whole-mount fluorescence in situ hybridization. In summary, three distinct developmental patterns were observed: two different modes of symbiont transfer from initial symbiont cluster (symbiont ball) to presumptive bacteriocytes in the embryonic abdomen, and direct incorporation of the symbiont ball without translocation of bacterial cells. Across the host taxa, only closely related species seemed to have evolved relatively conserved types of bacteriome development, suggesting repeated evolution of host symbiotic cells and organs from multiple independent origins.}, } @article {pmid31572406, year = {2019}, author = {Oteng-Frimpong, R and Dakora, FD}, title = {Multienvironment Testing for Trait Stability and G × E Interaction on N2 Fixation, Plant Development, and Water-Use Efficiency of 21 Elite Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes in the Guinea Savanna.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1070}, pmid = {31572406}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Groundnut production constitutes an integral part of the livelihoods of the people in the Guinea savanna of West Africa. This region accounts for over 70% of the total groundnut production in Ghana, 90% in Nigeria, and 100% in Mali and Burkina Faso. However, harsh environmental conditions often result in drastic yield reductions. In this study, we identified groundnut genotypes with superior symbiotic efficiency, greater pod yield, and plant water-use efficiency from 21 advanced groundnut breeding lines from ICRISAT after testing them at three locations in the Guinea savanna of Ghana over two consecutive years. Average N contribution by the groundnut genotypes ranged from 48 to 108 kg N ha[-1], and mean pod yield from 580 to 2,100 kg ha[-1]. Genotype 17 (ICGV-IS 08837) produced about 2.5-fold more pods than genotype 1 (Chinese), which was the most widely cultivated variety by farmers. Of the 21 genotypes studied, genotype 16 (ICGV 99247) recorded the highest shoot δ[13]C value and was superior in water-use efficiency, which was consistent with stability estimates and mean performance. We also measured the effects of G × E on pod yield, N2 fixation, shoot δ[13]C, and mega-environments for testing groundnut in the Guinea savanna, and these were all significant, although the effect was minimal on shoot δ[13]C values. Of the locations studied, Nyankpala and Damongo were more discriminating, and each constituted a mega-environment for conducting future groundnut trials in the Guinea savanna. Genotype 3 (ICG 6222) emerged as the best cultivar for the Damongo mega-environment, while genotype 17 was the best genotype for the Nyankpala mega-environment. The genotypes exhibiting the highest sensitivity of N2 fixation in the environment included genotype 3 (ICG 6222), genotype 4 (ICGV 00068), and genotype 10 (ICGV 03315) (bi > 1.3), while Pi estimates ranked genotypes 3, 10, and 17 as the best groundnut cultivars in terms of symbiotic N contribution. Based on the results of this study, genotype 17 (ICGV-IS 08837), genotype 3 (ICG 6222), genotype 10 (ICGV 03315), and genotype 4 (ICGV 00068), which were the most outstanding in terms of the overall pod yield, shoot biomass production, and amount of N-fixed, were the most suitable candidates to recommend for use in developing new varieties for the Guinea savanna of Ghana. Genotype 17 (ICGV-IS 08837) has already been released as a commercial variety for the Guinea savanna of Ghana since October 2018.}, } @article {pmid31572384, year = {2019}, author = {Bayer, F and Ascher, S and Pontarollo, G and Reinhardt, C}, title = {Antibiotic Treatment Protocols and Germ-Free Mouse Models in Vascular Research.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2174}, pmid = {31572384}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Blood Coagulation ; Blood Platelets ; Cardiovascular System/*drug effects ; *Germ-Free Life ; Mice ; Myeloid Cells ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota influence host vascular physiology locally in the intestine, but also evoke remote effects that impact distant organ functions. Amongst others, the microbiota affect intestinal vascular remodeling, lymphatic development, cardiac output and vascular function, myelopoiesis, prothrombotic platelet function, and immunovigilance of the host. Experimentally, host-microbiota interactions are investigated by working with animals devoid of symbiotic bacteria, i.e., by the decimation of gut commensals by antibiotic administration, or by taking advantage of germ-free mouse isolator technology. Remarkably, some of the vascular effects that were unraveled following antibiotic treatment were not observed in the germ-free animal models and vice versa. In this review, we will dissect the manifold influences that antibiotics have on the cardiovascular system and their effects on thromboinflammation.}, } @article {pmid31571583, year = {2019}, author = {Baker, LJ and Freed, LL and Easson, CG and Lopez, JV and Fenolio, D and Sutton, TT and Nyholm, SV and Hendry, TA}, title = {Diverse deep-sea anglerfishes share a genetically reduced luminous symbiont that is acquired from the environment.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31571583}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fishes/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea anglerfishes are relatively abundant and diverse, but their luminescent bacterial symbionts remain enigmatic. The genomes of two symbiont species have qualities common to vertically transmitted, host-dependent bacteria. However, a number of traits suggest that these symbionts may be environmentally acquired. To determine how anglerfish symbionts are transmitted, we analyzed bacteria-host codivergence across six diverse anglerfish genera. Most of the anglerfish species surveyed shared a common species of symbiont. Only one other symbiont species was found, which had a specific relationship with one anglerfish species, Cryptopsaras couesii. Host and symbiont phylogenies lacked congruence, and there was no statistical support for codivergence broadly. We also recovered symbiont-specific gene sequences from water collected near hosts, suggesting environmental persistence of symbionts. Based on these results we conclude that diverse anglerfishes share symbionts that are acquired from the environment, and that these bacteria have undergone extreme genome reduction although they are not vertically transmitted.}, } @article {pmid31569530, year = {2019}, author = {Defez, R and Andreozzi, A and Romano, S and Pocsfalvi, G and Fiume, I and Esposito, R and Angelini, C and Bianco, C}, title = {Bacterial IAA-Delivery into Medicago Root Nodules Triggers a Balanced Stimulation of C and N Metabolism Leading to a Biomass Increase.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31569530}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is the main auxin acting as a phytohormone in many plant developmental processes. The ability to synthesize IAA is widely associated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Several studies have been published on the potential application of PGPR to improve plant growth through the enhancement of their main metabolic processes. In this study, the IAA-overproducing Ensifer meliloti strain RD64 and its parental strain 1021 were used to inoculate Medicago sativa plants. After verifying that the endogenous biosynthesis of IAA did not lead to genomic changes during the initial phases of the symbiotic process, we analyzed whether the overproduction of bacterial IAA inside root nodules influenced, in a coordinated manner, the activity of the nitrogen-fixing apparatus and the photosynthetic function, which are the two processes playing a key role in legume plant growth and productivity. Higher nitrogen-fixing activity and a greater amount of total nitrogen (N), carbon (C), Rubisco, nitrogen-rich amino acids, soluble sugars, and organic acids were measured for RD64-nodulated plants compared to the plants nodulated by the wild-type strain 1021. Furthermore, the RD64-nodulated plants showed a biomass increase over time, with the highest increment (more than 60%) being reached at six weeks after infection. Our findings show that the RD64-nodulated plants need more substrate derived from photosynthesis to generate the ATP required for their increased nitrogenase activity. This high carbohydrate demand further stimulates the photosynthetic function with the production of molecules that can be used to promote plant growth. We thus speculate that the use of PGPR able to stimulate both C and N metabolism with a balanced C/N ratio represents an efficient strategy to obtain substantial gains in plant productivity.}, } @article {pmid31569379, year = {2019}, author = {Cecarini, V and Cuccioloni, M and Bonfili, L and Ricciutelli, M and Valzano, M and Cappelli, A and Amantini, C and Favia, G and Eleuteri, AM and Angeletti, M and Ricci, I}, title = {Identification of a Killer Toxin from Wickerhamomyces anomalus with β-Glucanase Activity.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31569379}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Mycotoxins/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Pichia/*pathogenicity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {The yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus has several applications in the food industry due to its antimicrobial potential and wide range of biotechnological properties. In particular, a specific strain of Wickerhamomyces anomalus isolated from the malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi, namely WaF17.12, was reported to secrete a killer toxin with strong anti-plasmodial effect on different developmental stages of Plasmodium berghei; therefore, we propose its use in the symbiotic control of malaria. In this study, we focused on the identification/characterization of the protein toxin responsible for the observed antimicrobial activity of the yeast. For this purpose, the culture medium of the killer yeast strain WaF17.12 was processed by means of lateral flow filtration, anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, immunometric methods, and eventually analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Based on this concerted approach, we identified a protein with a molecular weight of approximately 140 kDa and limited electrophoretic mobility, corresponding to a high molecular weight β-glucosidase, as confirmed by activity tests in the presence of specific inhibitors.}, } @article {pmid31568958, year = {2019}, author = {Sebastiana, M and Duarte, B and Monteiro, F and Malhó, R and Caçador, I and Matos, AR}, title = {The leaf lipid composition of ectomycorrhizal oak plants shows a drought-tolerance signature.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {157-165}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.09.032}, pmid = {31568958}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Chloroplasts/metabolism/*physiology ; *Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Quercus/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizas have been reported to increase plant tolerance to drought. However, the mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood. Membranes are the first targets of degradation during drought, and growing evidences support a role for membrane lipids in plant tolerance and adaptation to drought. We have previously shown that improved tolerance of ectomycorrhizal oak plants to drought could be related to leaf membrane lipid metabolism, namely through an increased ability to sustain fatty acid content and composition, indicative of a higher membrane stability under stress. Here, we analysed in deeper detail the modulation of leaf lipid metabolism in oak plants mycorrhized with Pisolithus tinctorius and subjected to drought stress. Results show that mycorrhizal plants show patterns associated with water deficit tolerance, like a higher content of chloroplast lipids, whose levels are maintained upon drought stress. Likewise, mycorrhizal plants show increased levels of unsaturated fatty acids in the chloroplast phosphatidylglycerol lipid fraction. As a common response to drought, the digalactosyldiacyloglycerol/monogalactosyldiacyloglycerol ratio increased in the non-mycorrhizal plants, but not in the mycorrhizal plants, associated to smaller alterations in the expression of galactolipid metabolism genes, indicative of a higher drought tolerance. Under drought, inoculated plants showed increased expression of genes involved in neutral lipids biosynthesis, which could be related to an increased ability to tolerate drought stress. Overall, results from this study provide evidences of the involvement of lipid metabolism in the response of ectomycorrhizal plants to water deficit and point to an increased ability to maintain a stable chloroplast membrane functional integrity under stress.}, } @article {pmid31568488, year = {2019}, author = {Doidy, J and Vidal, U and Lemoine, R}, title = {Sugar transporters in Fabaceae, featuring SUT MST and SWEET families of the model plant Medicago truncatula and the agricultural crop Pisum sativum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0223173}, pmid = {31568488}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Crops, Agricultural ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; *Genome, Plant ; Humans ; Medicago truncatula/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Peas/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {Sugar transporters play a crucial role for plant productivity, as they coordinate sugar fluxes from source leaf towards sink organs (seed, fruit, root) and regulate the supply of carbon resources towards the microorganisms of the rhizosphere (bacteria and fungi). Thus, sugar fluxes mediated by SUT (sucrose transporters), MST (monosaccharide transporters) and SWEET (sugar will eventually be exported transporters) families are key determinants of crop yield and shape the microbial communities living in the soil. In this work, we performed a systematic search for sugar transporters in Fabaceae genomes, focusing on model and agronomical plants. Here, we update the inventory of sugar transporter families mining the latest version of the Medicago truncatula genome and identify for the first time SUT MST and SWEET families of the agricultural crop Pisum sativum. The sugar transporter families of these Fabaceae species comprise respectively 7 MtSUT 7 PsSUT, 72 MtMST 59 PsMST and 26 MtSWEET 22 PsSWEET. Our comprehensive phylogenetic analysis sets a milestone for the scientific community, as we propose a new and simple nomenclature to correctly name SUT MST and SWEET families. Then, we searched for transcriptomic data available for our gene repertoire. We show that several clusters of homologous genes are co-expressed in different organs, suggesting that orthologous sugar transporters may have a conserved function. We focused our analysis on gene candidates that may be involved in remobilizing resources during flowering, grain filling and in allocating carbon towards roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobia. Our findings open new perspectives for agroecological applications in legume crops, as for instance improving the yield and quality of seed productions and promoting the use of symbiotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid31568486, year = {2019}, author = {Voronin, D and Schnall, E and Grote, A and Jawahar, S and Ali, W and Unnasch, TR and Ghedin, E and Lustigman, S}, title = {Pyruvate produced by Brugia spp. via glycolysis is essential for maintaining the mutualistic association between the parasite and its endosymbiont, Wolbachia.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {e1008085}, pmid = {31568486}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {R56 AI118936/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007180/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F31 AI131527/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brugia/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Brugia malayi/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Brugia pahangi/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Filariasis/metabolism/microbiology/parasitology ; Genes, Helminth ; Glycolysis ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Male ; Pyruvic Acid/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Human parasitic nematodes are the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness), diseases that are endemic to more than 80 countries and that consistently rank in the top ten for the highest number of years lived with disability. These filarial nematodes have evolved an obligate mutualistic association with an intracellular bacterium, Wolbachia, a symbiont that is essential for the successful development, reproduction, and survival of adult filarial worms. Elimination of the bacteria causes adult worms to die, making Wolbachia a primary target for developing new interventional tools to combat filariases. To further explore Wolbachia as a promising indirect macrofilaricidal drug target, the essential cellular processes that define the symbiotic Wolbachia-host interactions need to be identified. Genomic analyses revealed that while filarial nematodes encode all the enzymes necessary for glycolysis, Wolbachia does not encode the genes for three glycolytic enzymes: hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase. These enzymes are necessary for converting glucose into pyruvate. Wolbachia, however, has the full complement of genes required for gluconeogenesis starting with pyruvate, and for energy metabolism via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Therefore, we hypothesized that Wolbachia might depend on host glycolysis to maintain a mutualistic association with their parasitic host. We did conditional experiments in vitro that confirmed that glycolysis and its end-product, pyruvate, sustain this symbiotic relationship. Analysis of alternative sources of pyruvate within the worm indicated that the filarial lactate dehydrogenase could also regulate the local intracellular concentration of pyruvate in proximity to Wolbachia and thus help control bacterial growth via molecular interactions with the bacteria. Lastly, we have shown that the parasite's pyruvate kinase, the enzyme that performs the last step in glycolysis, could be a potential novel anti-filarial drug target. Establishing that glycolysis is an essential component of symbiosis in filarial worms could have a broader impact on research focused on other intracellular bacteria-host interactions where the role of glycolysis in supporting intracellular survival of bacteria has been reported.}, } @article {pmid31565856, year = {2019}, author = {Gilbert, SF}, title = {Evolutionary transitions revisited: Holobiont evo-devo.}, journal = {Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution}, volume = {332}, number = {8}, pages = {307-314}, doi = {10.1002/jez.b.22903}, pmid = {31565856}, issn = {1552-5015}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Developmental Biology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Life Cycle Stages ; Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {John T. Bonner lists four essential transformations in the evolution of life: the emergence of the eukaryotic cell, meiosis, multicellularity, and the nervous system. This paper analyses the mechanisms for those transitions in light of three of Dr. Bonner's earlier hypotheses: (a) that the organism is its life cycle, (b) that evolution consists of alterations of the life cycle, and (c) that development extends beyond the body and into interactions with other organisms. Using the notion of the holobiont life cycle, this paper attempts to show that these evolutionary transitions can be accomplished through various means of symbiosis. Perceiving the organism both as an interspecies consortium and as a life cycle supports a twofold redefinition of the organism as a holobiont constructed by integrating together the life cycles of several species. These findings highlight the importance of symbiosis and the holobiont development in analyses of evolution.}, } @article {pmid31564246, year = {2019}, author = {Feng, H and Park, JS and Zhai, RG and Wilson, ACC}, title = {microRNA-92a regulates the expression of aphid bacteriocyte-specific secreted protein 1.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {638}, pmid = {31564246}, issn = {1756-0500}, support = {R56 NS095893/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; Base Pairing ; Base Sequence ; Buchnera/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Luciferases/genetics/metabolism ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Aphids harbor a nutritional obligate endosymbiont in specialized cells called bacteriocytes, which aggregate to form an organ known as the bacteriome. Aphid bacteriomes display distinct gene expression profiles that facilitate the symbiotic relationship. Currently, the mechanisms that regulate these patterns of gene expression are unknown. Recently using computational pipelines, we identified miRNAs that are conserved in expression in the bacteriomes of two aphid species and proposed that they function as important regulators of bacteriocyte gene expression. Here using a dual luciferase assay in mouse NIH/3T3 cell culture, we aimed to experimentally validate the computationally predicted interaction between Myzus persicae miR-92a and the predicted target region of M. persicae bacteriocyte-specific secreted protein 1 (SP1) mRNA.

RESULTS: In the dual luciferase assay, miR-92a interacted with the SP1 target region resulting in a significant downregulation of the luciferase signal. Our results demonstrate that miR-92a interacts with SP1 to alter expression in a heterologous expression system, thereby supporting our earlier assertion that miRNAs are regulators of the aphid/Buchnera symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid31563584, year = {2019}, author = {Cao, C and Li, H and Jones, MGK and Wylie, SJ}, title = {Challenges to elucidating how endornaviruses influence fungal hosts: Creating mycovirus-free isogenic fungal lines and testing them.}, journal = {Journal of virological methods}, volume = {274}, number = {}, pages = {113745}, doi = {10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.113745}, pmid = {31563584}, issn = {1879-0984}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*growth & development/*virology ; Fungal Viruses/*growth & development ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Mycelium/growth & development/virology ; Orchidaceae/microbiology ; RNA Viruses/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Determining roles of mycoviruses in fungal biology is complicated, especially when fungi are co-infected with multiple viruses. Genetically identical (isogenic) fungal lines that are infected by and not infected by viruses must be created and compared. Here, we study an isolate of Ceratobasidium sp., a fungus isolated from pelotons in roots of a wild terrestrial orchid. The fungal isolate was co-infected with three distinct endornaviruses, isolates of Ceratobasidium endonarvirus B (CbEVB), Ceratobasidium endonarvirus C (CbEVC) and Ceratobasidium endonarvirus D (CbEVD). An experiment to reveal natural distribution of the three mycoviruses within a fungal colony revealed no sectoring; they were all evenly distributed throughout the colony. Hyphal tipping and treatments with one of five antibiotics (kanamycin, streptomycin, cycloheximide, rifampicin and ampicillin) were applied in attempts to 'cure' fungal lines of one, two or three of the viruses present. Surprisingly, the three mycoviruses responded differentially to each curing approach. The isolate of CbEVC was eliminated upon treatment with cycloheximide, but not with kanamycin or streptomycin, whereas the isolate of CbEVD did not respond to cycloheximide. The isolate of CbEVB was eliminated upon all treatments. In some cases, a virus was undetectable by species-specific RT-PCR assay after treatment, but when the fungus was cultured for a period on non-selective medium, the virus was detected again. Effects of mycoviruses on growth characteristics of isogenic fungal lines on two nutrient media were studied. Co-infection by the three viruses reduced mycelial growth rate on both media. In contrast, some fungal lines infected with one or two mycoviruses grew more rapidly than virus-free lines.}, } @article {pmid31562384, year = {2020}, author = {Assié, A and Leisch, N and Meier, DV and Gruber-Vodicka, H and Tegetmeyer, HE and Meyerdierks, A and Kleiner, M and Hinzke, T and Joye, S and Saxton, M and Dubilier, N and Petersen, JM}, title = {Horizontal acquisition of a patchwork Calvin cycle by symbiotic and free-living Campylobacterota (formerly Epsilonproteobacteria).}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {104-122}, pmid = {31562384}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/microbiology ; Carbon Cycle ; Citric Acid Cycle ; Epsilonproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; *Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most autotrophs use the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle for carbon fixation. In contrast, all currently described autotrophs from the Campylobacterota (previously Epsilonproteobacteria) use the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle (rTCA) instead. We discovered campylobacterotal epibionts ("Candidatus Thiobarba") of deep-sea mussels that have acquired a complete CBB cycle and may have lost most key genes of the rTCA cycle. Intriguingly, the phylogenies of campylobacterotal CBB cycle genes suggest they were acquired in multiple transfers from Gammaproteobacteria closely related to sulfur-oxidizing endosymbionts associated with the mussels, as well as from Betaproteobacteria. We hypothesize that "Ca. Thiobarba" switched from the rTCA cycle to a fully functional CBB cycle during its evolution, by acquiring genes from multiple sources, including co-occurring symbionts. We also found key CBB cycle genes in free-living Campylobacterota, suggesting that the CBB cycle may be more widespread in this phylum than previously known. Metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics confirmed high expression of CBB cycle genes in mussel-associated "Ca. Thiobarba". Direct stable isotope fingerprinting showed that "Ca. Thiobarba" has typical CBB signatures, suggesting that it uses this cycle for carbon fixation. Our discovery calls into question current assumptions about the distribution of carbon fixation pathways in microbial lineages, and the interpretation of stable isotope measurements in the environment.}, } @article {pmid31562174, year = {2019}, author = {Gunnabo, AH and Geurts, R and Wolde-Meskel, E and Degefu, T and Giller, KE and van Heerwaarden, J}, title = {Genetic Interaction Studies Reveal Superior Performance of Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 on a Range of Diverse East African Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {31562174}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Gene Pool ; *Genotype ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium tropici/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {We studied symbiotic performance of factorial combinations of diverse rhizobial genotypes (GR) and East African common bean varieties (GL) that comprise Andean and Mesoamerican genetic groups. An initial wide screening in modified Leonard jars (LJ) was followed by evaluation of a subset of strains and genotypes in pots (contained the same, sterile medium) in which fixed nitrogen was also quantified. An additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was used to identify the contribution of individual strains and plant genotypes to the GL × GR interaction. Strong and highly significant GL × GR interaction was found in the LJ experiment but with little evidence of a relation to genetic background or growth habits. The interaction was much weaker in the pot experiment, with all bean genotypes and Rhizobium strains having relatively stable performance. We found that R. etli strain CFN42 and R. tropici strains CIAT899 and NAK91 were effective across bean genotypes but with the latter showing evidence of positive interaction with two specific bean genotypes. This suggests that selection of bean varieties based on their response to inoculation is possible. On the other hand, we show that symbiotic performance is not predicted by any a priori grouping, limiting the scope for more general recommendations. The fact that the strength and pattern of GL × GR depended on growing conditions provides an important cautionary message for future studies.IMPORTANCE The existence of genotype-by-strain (GL × GR) interaction has implications for the expected stability of performance of legume inoculants and could represent both challenges and opportunities for improvement of nitrogen fixation. We find that significant genotype-by-strain interaction exists in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) but that the strength and direction of this interaction depends on the growing environment used to evaluate biomass. Strong genotype and strain main effects, combined with a lack of predictable patterns in GL × GR, suggests that at best individual bean genotypes and strains can be selected for superior additive performance. The observation that the screening environment may affect experimental outcome of GL × GR means that identified patterns should be corroborated under more realistic conditions.}, } @article {pmid31562172, year = {2019}, author = {Speck, JJ and James, EK and Sugawara, M and Sadowsky, MJ and Gyaneshwar, P}, title = {An Alkane Sulfonate Monooxygenase Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens (syn. Bradyrhizobium japonicum) USDA110[T].}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {31562172}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Alkanesulfonates/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vigna/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sulfur (S)-containing molecules play an important role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and are critical components of nitrogenase and other iron-S proteins. S deficiency inhibits symbiotic nitrogen fixation by rhizobia. However, despite its importance, little is known about the sources of S that rhizobia utilize during symbiosis. We previously showed that Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110[T] can assimilate both inorganic and organic S and that genes involved in organic S utilization are expressed during symbiosis. Here, we show that a B. diazoefficiens USDA110[T] mutant with a sulfonate monooxygenase (ssuD) insertion is defective in nitrogen fixation. Microscopy analyses revealed that the ΔssuD mutant was defective in root hair infection and that ΔssuD mutant bacteroids showed degradation compared to the wild-type strain. Moreover, the ΔssuD mutant was significantly more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress than the wild-type strain. Taken together, these results show that the ability of rhizobia to utilize organic S plays an important role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Since nodules have been reported to be an important source of reduced S used during symbiosis and nitrogen fixation, further research will be needed to determine the mechanisms involved in the regulation of S assimilation by rhizobia.IMPORTANCE Rhizobia form symbiotic associations with legumes that lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Sulfur-containing molecules play a crucial role in nitrogen fixation; thus, the rhizobia inside nodules require large amounts of sulfur. Rhizobia can assimilate both inorganic (sulfate) and organic (sulfonates) sources of sulfur. However, very little is known about rhizobial sulfur metabolism during symbiosis. In this report, we show that sulfonate utilization by Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens is important for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in both soybean and cowpea. The symbiotic defect is probably due to increased sensitivity to oxidative stress from sulfur deficiency in the mutant strain defective for sulfonate utilization. The results of this study can be extended to other rhizobium-legume symbioses, as sulfonate utilization genes are widespread in these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid31561965, year = {2019}, author = {Jahn, MT and Arkhipova, K and Markert, SM and Stigloher, C and Lachnit, T and Pita, L and Kupczok, A and Ribes, M and Stengel, ST and Rosenstiel, P and Dutilh, BE and Hentschel, U}, title = {A Phage Protein Aids Bacterial Symbionts in Eukaryote Immune Evasion.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {542-550.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2019.08.019}, pmid = {31561965}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; Ankyrins/*metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*immunology/virology ; Bacteriophages/classification/*genetics ; Cell Line ; Female ; Immune Evasion/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota/physiology ; Porifera/*immunology/*virology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phages are increasingly recognized as important members of host-associated microbiomes, with a vast genomic diversity. The new frontier is to understand how phages may affect higher order processes, such as in the context of host-microbe interactions. Here, we use marine sponges as a model to investigate the interplay between phages, bacterial symbionts, and eukaryotic hosts. Using viral metagenomics, we find that sponges, although massively filtering seawater, harbor species-specific and even individually unique viral signatures that are taxonomically distinct from other environments. We further discover a symbiont phage-encoded ankyrin-domain-containing protein, which is widely spread in phages of many host-associated contexts including human. We confirm in macrophage infection assays that the ankyrin protein (ANKp) modulates the eukaryotic host immune response against bacteria. We predict that the role of ANKp in nature is to facilitate coexistence in the tripartite interplay between phages, symbionts, and sponges and possibly many other host-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid31561208, year = {2019}, author = {Brisbois, BW and Spiegel, JM and Harris, L}, title = {Health, environment and colonial legacies: Situating the science of pesticides, bananas and bodies in Ecuador.}, journal = {Social science & medicine (1982)}, volume = {239}, number = {}, pages = {112529}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112529}, pmid = {31561208}, issn = {1873-5347}, support = {ROH-115207//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Agriculture/*history/statistics & numerical data ; Anthropology, Cultural ; Colonialism/*history ; Developing Countries ; Ecuador/epidemiology ; Environment ; Global Health ; *Health Status Disparities ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; *Musa ; Pesticides/adverse effects/*history ; Public Health ; Sociology, Medical ; }, abstract = {Pesticide-related health impacts in Ecuador's banana industry illustrate the need to understand science's social production in the context of major North-South inequities. This paper explores colonialism's ongoing context-specific relationships to science, and what these imply for population health inquiry and praxis. Themes in postcolonial science and technology studies and critical Latin American scholarship guide this exploration, oriented around an ethnographic case study of bananas, pesticides and health in Ecuador. The challenge of explaining these impacts prompts us to explore discursive and contextual dynamics of pesticide toxicology and phytopathology, two disciplines integral to understanding pesticide-health linkages. The evolution of banana phytopathology reflects patterns of banana production and plant science in settings made accessible to scientists by European colonialism and American military interventions. Similarly, American foreign policy in Cold War-era Latin America created conditions for widespread pesticide exposures and accompanying health science research. Neocolonial representations of the global South interacted with these material realities in fostering generation of scientific knowledge. Implications for health praxis include troubling celebratory portrayals of global interconnectedness in the field of global health, motivating critical political economy and radical community-based approaches in their place. Another implication is a challenge to conciliatory corporate engagement approaches in health research, given banana production's symbiosis of scientifically 'productive' military and corporate initiatives. Similarly, the origins and evolution of toxicology should promote humility and precautionary approaches in addressing environmental injustices such as pesticide toxicity, given the role of corporate actors in promoting systematic underestimation of risk to vulnerable populations. Perhaps most unsettlingly, the very structures and processes that drive health inequities in Ecuador's banana industry simultaneously shape production of knowledge about those inequities. Public health scholars should thus move beyond simply carrying out more, or better, studies, and pursue the structural changes needed to redress historical and ongoing injustices.}, } @article {pmid31560882, year = {2019}, author = {Peterson, BF and Allen, JC and Hoffman, RA and Stock, SP}, title = {Mild thermal stress affects Steinernema carpocapsae infective juvenile survival but not protein content.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {107251}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2019.107251}, pmid = {31560882}, issn = {1096-0805}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; In Vitro Techniques/methods ; Longevity ; Moths/parasitology ; Parasitology/methods ; Proteins/analysis ; Rhabditida/*growth & development/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Survival Analysis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; Xenorhabdus/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Steinernema nematodes and their Xenorhabdus symbionts are a malleable model system to study mutualistic relations. One of the advantages they possess is their ability to be disassociated under in vitro rearing conditions. Various in vitro methods have been developed to produce symbiont colonized and aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) nematodes. Until now, there has been no investigation on how in vitro rearing conditions may have an impact on the storage ability and the protein content of the infective juvenile at different storage temperatures. Thus, in this study, we investigated how infective juvenile longevity and protein content are impacted when the nematodes were reared with two in vitro methods (lipid and liver kidney agar) considering colonized and uncolonized nematodes, and under two different temperatures: 15 °C and 20 °C (mild stress). Infective juveniles reared in vitro (with or without their symbionts) had lower 8-week survival rates. No in vitro reared, colonized IJs survived to the desired 16-week time point. Survival of infective juveniles stored under mild stress temperature (20 °C) was lower than that observed at 15 °C. However, when comparing the interaction between rearing condition and storage temperature, there were not significant differences. With respect to protein content, in vivo, colonized infective juveniles maintained a static protein content over time, suggesting symbiont colonization may influence protein metabolism and/or turnover in infective juveniles.}, } @article {pmid31560813, year = {2020}, author = {Mee, ED and Gaylor, MG and Jasso-Selles, DE and Mizumoto, N and Gile, GH}, title = {Molecular Phylogenetic Position of Hoplonympha natator (Trichonymphea, Parabasalia): Horizontal Symbiont Transfer or Differential Loss?.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {268-272}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12765}, pmid = {31560813}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Arizona ; Bayes Theorem ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Parabasalidea/*classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hoplonympha natator is an obligate symbiont of Paraneotermes simplicicornis (Kalotermitidae), from southwestern North America. Another Hoplonympha species inhabits Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Archotermopsidae), from montane Southeast Asia. The large phylogenetic and geographical distance between the hosts makes the distribution of Hoplonympha puzzling. Here, we report the phylogenetic position of H. natator from P. simplicicornis through maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of 18S rRNA genes. The two Hoplonympha species form a clade with a deep node, making a recent symbiont transfer unlikely. The distribution of Hoplonympha may be due to an ancient transfer or strict vertical inheritance with differential loss from other hosts.}, } @article {pmid31560603, year = {2019}, author = {Aoki, T and Smith, JA and Kasson, MT and Freeman, S and Geiser, DM and Geering, ADW and O'Donnell, K}, title = {Three novel Ambrosia Fusarium Clade species producing clavate macroconidia known (F. floridanum and F. obliquiseptatum) or predicted (F. tuaranense) to be farmed by Euwallacea spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) on woody hosts.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {919-935}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2019.1647074}, pmid = {31560603}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Ambrosia/*microbiology ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Fusarium/*classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Wood/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) comprises at least 16 genealogically exclusive species-level lineages within clade 3 of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). These fungi are either known or predicted to be farmed by Asian Euwallacea ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the tribe Xyleborini as a source of nutrition. To date, only 4 of the 16 AFC lineages have been described formally. In the absence of Latin binomials, an ad hoc nomenclature was developed to distinguish the 16 species lineages as AF-1 to AF-16. Herein, Fusarium species AF-3, AF-5, and AF-7 were formally described as F. floridanum, F. tuaranense, and F. obliquiseptatum, respectively. Fusarium floridanum farmed by E. interjectus on box elder (Acer negundo) in Gainesville, Florida, was distinguished morphologically by the production of sporodochial conidia that were highly variable in size and shape together with greenish-pigmented chlamydospores. Fusarium tuaranense was isolated from a beetle-damaged Paŕa rubber tree (Hevea brasiliense) in North Borneo, Malaysia, and was diagnosed by production of the smallest sporodochial conidia of any species within the AFC. Lastly, F. obliquiseptatum was farmed by an unnamed ambrosia beetle designated Euwallacea sp. 3 (E. fornicatus species complex) on avocado (Persea americana) in Queensland, Australia. It uniquely produces some clavate sporodochial conidia with oblique septa. Maximum likelihood analysis of a multilocus data set resolved these three novel AFC taxa as phylogenetically distinct species based on genealogical concordance. Particularly where introduced into exotic environments, these exotic mutualists pose a serious threat to the avocado industry, native forests, and urban landscapes in diverse regions throughout the world.}, } @article {pmid31559313, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, L and Wang, XN and Fu, CM and Wang, GY}, title = {Phylogenetic Analysis and Screening of Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Activities of Culturable Bacteria Associated with the Ascidian Styela clava from the Yellow Sea, China.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {7851251}, pmid = {31559313}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Bacteria/chemistry/*genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Biodiversity ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; China ; Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Firmicutes/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; *Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Urochordata/chemistry/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Over 1,000 compounds, including ecteinascidin-743 and didemnin B, have been isolated from ascidians, with most having bioactive properties such as antimicrobial, antitumor, and enzyme-inhibiting activities. In recent years, direct and indirect evidence has shown that some bioactive compounds isolated from ascidians are not produced by ascidians themselves but by their symbiotic microorganisms. Isolated culturable bacteria associated with ascidians and investigating their potential bioactivity are an important approach for discovering novel compounds. In this study, a total of 269 bacteria were isolated from the ascidian Styela clava collected from the coast of Weihai in the north of the Yellow Sea, China. Phylogenetic relationships among 183 isolates were determined using their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial activity against seven indicator strains, and an antiproliferative activity assay was performed to test for inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel 7402 and human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell proliferation. Our results showed that the isolates belonged to 26 genera from 18 families in four phyla (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes). Bacillus and Streptomyces were the most dominant genera; 146 strains had potent antimicrobial activities and inhibited at least one of the indicator strains. Crude extracts from 29 strains showed antiproliferative activity against Bel 7402 cells with IC50 values below 500 μg·mL[-1], and 53 strains showed antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells, with IC50 values less than 500 μg·mL[-1]. Our results suggest that culturable bacteria associated with the ascidian Styela clava may be a promising source of novel bioactive compounds.}, } @article {pmid31557944, year = {2019}, author = {Brígido, C and Menéndez, E and Paço, A and Glick, BR and Belo, A and Félix, MR and Oliveira, S and Carvalho, M}, title = {Mediterranean Native Leguminous Plants: A Reservoir of Endophytic Bacteria with Potential to Enhance Chickpea Growth under Stress Conditions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31557944}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Bacterial endophytes, a subset of a plant's microbiota, can facilitate plant growth by a number of different mechanisms. The aims of this study were to assess the diversity and functionality of endophytic bacterial strains from internal root tissues of native legume species grown in two distinct sites in South of Portugal and to evaluate their ability to promote plant growth. Here, 122 endophytic bacterial isolates were obtained from 12 different native legume species. Most of these bacteria possess at least one of the plant growth-promoting features tested in vitro, with indole acetic acid production being the most common feature among the isolates followed by the production of siderophores and inorganic phosphate solubilization. The results of in planta experiments revealed that co-inoculation of chickpea plants with specific endophytic bacteria along with N2-fixing symbionts significantly improved the total biomass of chickpea plants, in particular when these plants were grown under saline conditions. Altogether, this study revealed that Mediterranean native legume species are a reservoir of plant growth-promoting bacteria, that are also tolerant to salinity and to toxic levels of Mn. Thus, these bacterial endophytes are well adapted to common constraints present in soils of this region which constitutes important factors to consider in the development of bacterial inoculants for stressful conditions in the Mediterranean region.}, } @article {pmid31557698, year = {2019}, author = {Volkova, E and Völcker, E and Clauß, S and Bondarenko, N and Kudryavtsev, A}, title = {Paramoeba aparasomata n. sp., a symbiont-free species, and its relative Paramoeba karteshi n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {125630}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2019.125630}, pmid = {31557698}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Amoebozoa/*classification/cytology/genetics/parasitology ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Kinetoplastida/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Russia ; Saline Waters ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two brackish water amoebae have been isolated and studied from the benthic biotopes of the Chupa Inlet (Kandalaksha Bay, northwestern Russia). Both strains can be identified as new species of the genus Paramoeba (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida, Paramoebidae) based on light microscopical characters, structure of microscales on the cell surface and molecular evidence based on the analyses of two genes, nuclear SSU rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI). Paramoeba aparasomata n. sp. is of particular interest because this amoeba is permanently lacking a symbiotic Perkinsela-like organism (PLO) present in other species of Paramoeba and Neoparamoeba. The results obtained show that scaly dactylopodial amoebae lacking PLO are not necessarily members of Korotnevella. In particular, we suggest that Korotnevella nivo Smirnov, 1997, with microscales very similar to those of Paramoeba eilhardi and the species studied here in structure, may be in fact a member of Paramoeba. Molecular data on K. nivo have to be obtained and analysed to test this hypothesis. Based on our new results we emend the diagnosis of the genus Paramoeba to make it more fit to the current phylogenetic conception.}, } @article {pmid31556843, year = {2019}, author = {Horváthová, T and Bauchinger, U}, title = {Biofilm Improves Isopod Growth Independent of the Dietary Cellulose Content.}, journal = {Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ}, volume = {92}, number = {6}, pages = {531-543}, doi = {10.1086/705441}, pmid = {31556843}, issn = {1537-5293}, mesh = {*Animal Feed ; Animals ; *Biofilms ; *Cellulose ; Diet ; Isopoda/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Cellulose is an abundant source of carbon, accounting for more than 50% of foliage and 90% of woody tissues of plants. Despite the diversity of species that include living or dead plant tissue in their diets, the ability to digest cellulose through self-produced enzymatic machinery is considered rare in the animal kingdom. The majority of animals studied to date rely on the cellulolytic activity of symbiotic microorganisms in their digestive tract, with some evidence for a complementary action of endogenous cellulases. Terrestrial isopods have evolved a lifestyle including feeding on a lignocellulose diet. Whether isopods utilize both external and internal cellulases for digestion of a diet is still not understood. We experimentally manipulated the content of cellulose (30%, 60%, or 90%) and the amount of biofilm (small or large) in the offered food source and quantified growth and cellulolytic activity in the gut of the isopod Porcellio scaber. The presence of a visible biofilm significantly promoted isopod growth, regardless of the cellulose content in the diet. The activity of gut cellulases was not significantly affected by the amount of biofilm or the cellulose content. Our results do not support a significant contribution of either ingested or host enzymes to cellulose utilization in P. scaber. Cellulose might not represent a key nutrient for isopods and does not seem to affect the nutritional value of the diet-associated biofilm. We propose that it is the biofilm community that determines the quality of plant diet in terrestrial isopods and potentially also in other detrital plant feeders.}, } @article {pmid31555239, year = {2019}, author = {Augustinos, AA and Tsiamis, G and Cáceres, C and Abd-Alla, AMM and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Taxonomy, Diet, and Developmental Stage Contribute to the Structuring of Gut-Associated Bacterial Communities in Tephritid Pest Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2004}, pmid = {31555239}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insect-symbiont interactions are receiving much attention in the last years. Symbiotic communities have been found to influence a variety of parameters regarding their host physiology and fitness. Gut symbiotic communities can be dynamic, changing through time and developmental stage. Whether these changes represent real differential needs and preferential relationships has not been addressed yet. In this study, we characterized the structure of symbiotic communities of five laboratory populations that represent five Tephritidae species that are targets for pest control management through the sterile insect technique (SIT), namely Bactrocera oleae, Anastrepha grandis, Anastrepha ludens, and two morphotypes of Anastrepha fraterculus (sp.1 and the Andean lineage). These populations are under artificial or semi artificial rearing conditions and their characterization was performed for different developmental stages and age. Our results demonstrate the presence of a symbiotic community comprising mainly from different Enterobacteriaceae genera. These communities are dynamic across developmental stages, although not highly variable, and appear to have a species-specific profile. Additional factors may contribute to the observed structuring, including diet, rearing practices, and the degree of domestication. Comparison of these results with those derived from natural populations could shed light to changes occurring in the symbiotic level during domestication of Tephritidae populations. Further studies will elucidate whether the changes are associated with modification of the behavior in laboratory strains and assess their effects in the quality of the mass rearing insects. This could be beneficial for improving environmentally friendly, species-specific, pest control methods, such as the SIT.}, } @article {pmid31554862, year = {2019}, author = {Menéndez, E and Robledo, M and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Velázquez, E and Rivas, R and Murray, JD and Mateos, PF}, title = {Legumes display common and host-specific responses to the rhizobial cellulase CelC2 during primary symbiotic infection.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13907}, pmid = {31554862}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism/microbiology ; Cellulase/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trifolium/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Primary infection of legumes by rhizobia involves the controlled localized enzymatic breakdown of cell walls at root hair tips. Previous studies determined the role of rhizobial CelC2 cellulase in different steps of the symbiotic interaction Rhizobium leguminosarum-Trifolium repens. Recent findings also showed that CelC2 influences early signalling events in the Ensifer meliloti-Medicago truncatula interaction. Here, we have monitored the root hair phenotypes of two legume plants, T. repens and M. sativa, upon inoculation with strains of their cognate and non-cognate rhizobial species, R. leguminosarum bv trifolii and E. meliloti, (over)expressing the CelC2 coding gene, celC. Regardless of the host, CelC2 specifically elicited 'hole-on-the-tip' events (Hot phenotype) in the root hair apex, consistent with the role of this endoglucanase in eroding the noncrystalline cellulose found in polarly growing cell walls. Overproduction of CelC2 also increased root hair tip redirections (RaT phenotype) events in both cognate and non-cognate hosts. Interestingly, heterologous celC expression also induced non-canonical alterations in ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) homeostasis at root hair tips of Trifolium and Medicago. These results suggest the concurrence of shared unspecific and host-related plant responses to CelC2 during early steps of symbiotic rhizobial infection. Our data thus identify CelC2 cellulase as an important determinant of events underlying early infection of the legume host by rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid31554760, year = {2019}, author = {Ohtomo, R and Oka, N and Morimoto, S}, title = {PCR-denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis as a Simple Identification Tool of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Isolates.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {356-362}, pmid = {31554760}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics ; *Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; *Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quality Control ; Species Specificity ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {Due to their obligate symbiotic nature and lack of long-term storage methods, the strain collection of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi requires periodic proliferation using a pot culture with host plants. Therefore, a method to evaluate the purity of proliferated AM fungal cultures is critical for the quality control of their collection. In a simple evaluation of the purity and identity of a proliferated AM fungal culture, DNA extracted from the culture was amplified using AM fungi-specific PCR followed by an analysis with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The present results showed that the DGGE band patterns of AM fungal strains differed according to their phylogenetic positions, allowing for the rapid and easy identification of the proliferated AM fungal strains. When a culture was contaminated with another AM fungal strain, the DGGE pattern became a mixture of those strains. A contaminant strain was detectable even when its ratio was 1/9 of the main strain. It was also possible to confirm the purity of the culture by comparing whether the DGGE band pattern of the proliferated culture was identical to that obtained from single spores isolated from the culture. Therefore, PCR-DGGE is useful as a quality control tool for maintaining culture collections of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid31554164, year = {2019}, author = {Pendergrass, HA and May, AE}, title = {Natural Product Type III Secretion System Inhibitors.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31554164}, issn = {2079-6382}, support = {UL1 TR002649/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1TR000058/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Many known inhibitors of the bacterial type III secretion system (T3SS), a virulence factor used by pathogenic bacteria to infect host cells, are natural products. These compounds, produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants, may have developed as prophylactic treatments for potential attack by bacterial pathogens or as an attempt by symbiotic organisms to protect their hosts. Regardless, better understanding of the structures and mechanisms of action of these compounds may open opportunities for drug development against diseases caused by pathogens utilizing the T3SS. This review will cover selected known natural products of the T3SS and detail what is known of their origin and mechanism of action. These inhibitors highlight nature's ability to modulate interactions between organisms at a cellular level.}, } @article {pmid31552478, year = {2020}, author = {Janeeshma, E and Puthur, JT}, title = {Direct and indirect influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae on enhancing metal tolerance of plants.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {202}, number = {1}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01730-z}, pmid = {31552478}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Metals/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The acerbic elevation of toxic metal ions in arable lands, enhance the risk of their accumulation and biomagnification in crops as well as in humans. Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly approach to clear metal-contaminated lands by making use of metal accumulation potential of plants; which are referred to as hyperaccumulators. This phytoremediation potential can be enhanced with the symbiotic association between the root of hyperaccumulators and arbuscular mycorrhizae. Modification of root morphology, enhancement of antioxidants biosynthesis, and the increase in shoot biomass are the changes observed in plants as a result of indirect influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae. Direct influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae on enhancing metal tolerance of plants includes immobilization strategies, adsorption of metals on to the hyphal wall and glomalin exudation. Furthermore, we have discussed arbuscular mycorrhizal induced increment in the metal tolerance potential of plants through the alteration in various metabolic processes with special emphasis to the phenylpropanoid pathway.}, } @article {pmid31552366, year = {2019}, author = {Silva-Junior, EA and Paludo, CR and Amaral, JG and Gallon, ME and Gobbo-Neto, L and Nascimento, FS and Lopes, NP}, title = {Chemical Diversity in a Stingless Bee-Plant Symbiosis.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {15208-15214}, pmid = {31552366}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {Bees are essential pollinators on earth, supporting forest equilibrium and human agriculture. The chemistry of the stingless bee-plant symbiosis is a complex and not completely understood phenomenon. Here, we combined untargeted tandem mass spectrometry, molecular networking, and multivariate statistical analysis to investigate the chemical diversity in colonies of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis. Flavonoids were the most representative and diverse group of plant metabolites detected, indicating the importance of these biologically active natural products to the bees. We unveiled the metabolome, mapped the distribution of plant metabolites in stingless bee colonies, and digitized the chemical data into a public database.}, } @article {pmid31552222, year = {2019}, author = {Thuan, NH and An, TT and Shrestha, A and Canh, NX and Sohng, JK and Dhakal, D}, title = {Recent Advances in Exploration and Biotechnological Production of Bioactive Compounds in Three Cyanobacterial Genera: Nostoc, Lyngbya, and Microcystis.}, journal = {Frontiers in chemistry}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {604}, pmid = {31552222}, issn = {2296-2646}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria, are only Gram-negative bacteria with the capacity of oxygenic photosynthesis, so termed as "Cyanophyta" or "blue-green algae." Their habitat is ubiquitous, which includes the diverse environments, such as soil, water, rock and other organisms (symbiosis, commensalism, or parasitism, etc.,). They are characterized as prominent producers of numerous types of important compounds with anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Among the various cyanobacterial genera, members belonging to genera Nostoc, Lyngbya, and Microcystis possess greater attention. The major reason for that is the strains belonging to these genera produce the compounds with diverse activities/structures, including compounds in preclinical and/or clinical trials (cryptophycin and curacin), or the compounds retaining unique activities such as protease inhibitor (micropeptins and aeruginosins). Most of these compounds were tested for their efficacy and mechanism of action(MOA) through in vitro and/or in vivo studies. Recently, the advances in culture techniques of these cyanobacteria, and isolation, purification, and chromatographic analysis of their compounds have revealed insurmountable novel bioactive compounds from these cyanobacteria. This review provides comprehensive update on the origin, isolation and purification methods, chemical structures and biological activities of the major compounds from Nostoc, Lyngbya, and Microcystis. In addition, multi-omics approaches and biotechnological production of compounds from selected cyanobacterial genera have been discussed.}, } @article {pmid31552004, year = {2019}, author = {Hallmaier-Wacker, LK and Lüert, S and Gronow, S and Spröer, C and Overmann, J and Buller, N and Vaughan-Higgins, RJ and Knauf, S}, title = {A Metataxonomic Tool to Investigate the Diversity of Treponema.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2094}, pmid = {31552004}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The genus Treponema contains a number of human and animal pathogenic as well as symbiotic bacteria that are found in vastly different anatomical and environmental habitats. Our understanding of the species range, evolution, and biology of these important bacteria is still limited. To explore the diversity of treponemes, we established, validated, and tested a novel metataxonomic approach. As the informative nature of the hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene differ, we first analyzed each variable region independently. Considering the in silico results obtained, we established and validated the sequencing of the V4-region of the 16S rRNA gene using known mixtures of Treponema species as well as a selected number of clinical samples. The metataxonomic approach was able to identify Treponema to a near-species level. We demonstrate that using a spirochete-specific enrichment, our method is applicable to complex microbial communities and large variety of biological samples. The metataxonomic approach described provides a useful method to unravel the full diversity and range of Treponema in various ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31551977, year = {2019}, author = {Bouznif, B and Guefrachi, I and Rodríguez de la Vega, RC and Hungria, M and Mars, M and Alunni, B and Shykoff, JA}, title = {Phylogeography of the Bradyrhizobium spp. Associated With Peanut, Arachis hypogaea: Fellow Travelers or New Associations?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2041}, pmid = {31551977}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Legume plants have colonized almost all terrestrial biotopes. Their ecological success is partly due to the selective advantage provided by their symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia, which allow legumes to thrive on marginal lands and nitrogen depleted soils where non-symbiotic plants cannot grow. Additionally, their symbiotic capacities result in a high protein content in their aerial parts and seeds. This interesting nutritional value has led to the domestication and agricultural exploitation of several legumes grown for seeds and/or fodder for human and domestic animal consumption. Several cultivated legume species are thus grown far beyond their natural geographic range. Other legume species have become invasives, spreading into new habitats. The cultivation and establishment of legume species outside of their original range requires either that they are introduced or cultivated along with their original symbiotic partner or that they find an efficient symbiotic partner in their introduced habitat. The peanut, Arachis hypogaea, a native of South America, is now cultivated throughout the world. This species forms root nodules with Bradyrhizobium, but it is unclear whether these came with the seeds from their native range or were acquired locally. Here we propose to investigate the phylogeography of Bradyrhizobium spp. associated with a number of different wild and cultivated legume species from a range of geographical areas, including numerous strains isolated from peanut roots across the areas of peanut cultivation. This will allow us to address the question of whether introduced/cultivated peanuts associate with bacteria from their original geographic range, i.e., were introduced together with their original bacterial symbionts, or whether they acquired their current associations de novo from the bacterial community within the area of introduction. We will base the phylogenetic analysis on sequence data from both housekeeping and core genes and a symbiotic gene (nif). Differences between the phylogenetic signal of symbiotic and non-symbiotic genes could result from horizontal transfer of symbiosis capacity. Thus this study will also allow us to elucidate the processes by which this symbiotic association has evolved within this group of Bradyrhizobium spp.}, } @article {pmid31551973, year = {2019}, author = {Scolari, F and Casiraghi, M and Bonizzoni, M}, title = {Aedes spp. and Their Microbiota: A Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {2036}, pmid = {31551973}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Aedes spp. are a major public health concern due to their ability to be efficient vectors of dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and other arboviruses. With limited vaccines available and no effective therapeutic treatments against arboviruses, the control of Aedes spp. populations is currently the only strategy to prevent disease transmission. Host-associated microbes (i.e., microbiota) recently emerged as a promising field to be explored for novel environmentally friendly vector control strategies. In particular, gut microbiota is revealing its impact on multiple aspects of Aedes spp. biology, including vector competence, thus being a promising target for manipulation. Here we describe the technological advances, which are currently expanding our understanding of microbiota composition, abundance, variability, and function in the two main arboviral vectors, the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Aedes spp. microbiota is described in light of its tight connections with the environment, with which mosquitoes interact during their various developmental stages. Unraveling the dynamic interactions among the ecology of the habitat, the mosquito and the microbiota have the potential to uncover novel physiological interdependencies and provide a novel perspective for mosquito control.}, } @article {pmid31551286, year = {2019}, author = {Cato, ML and Jester, HD and Lavertu, A and Lyman, A and Tallent, LM and Mitchell, GC}, title = {Genome-Wide Analysis of Cell Cycle-Regulating Genes in the Symbiotic Dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {3843-3853}, pmid = {31551286}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {T32 LM012409/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Cycle/*genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Genome ; Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A delicate relationship exists between reef-building corals and their photosynthetic endosymbionts. Unfortunately, this relationship can be disrupted, with corals expelling these algae when temperatures rise even marginally above the average summer maximum. Interestingly, several studies indicate that failure of corals to regulate symbiont cell divisions at high temperatures may underlie this disruption; increased proliferation of symbionts may stress host cells by over-production of reactive oxygen species or by disrupting the flow of nutrients. This needs to be further investigated, so to begin deciphering the molecular mechanisms controlling the cell cycle in these organisms, we used a computational approach to identify putative cell cycle-regulating genes in the genome of the dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum This species is important as an endosymbiont of Aiptasia pallida-an anemone that is used as a model for studying coral biology. We then correlated expression of these putative cell cycle genes with cell cycle phase in diurnally growing B. minutum in culture. This approach allowed us to identify a cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase pair that may function in the G1/S transition-a likely point for coral cells to exert control over algal cell divisions.}, } @article {pmid31549137, year = {2020}, author = {Fernández-Marín, B and López-Pozo, M and Perera-Castro, AV and Arzac, MI and Sáenz-Ceniceros, A and Colesie, C and De Los Ríos, A and Sancho, LG and Pintado, A and Laza, JM and Pérez-Ortega, S and García-Plazaola, JI}, title = {Symbiosis at its limits: ecophysiological consequences of lichenization in the genus Prasiola in Antarctica.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {7}, pages = {1211-1226}, pmid = {31549137}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; *Chlorophyta ; Ecosystem ; *Lichens ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lichens represent a symbiotic relationship between at least one fungal and one photosynthetic partner. The association between the lichen-forming fungus Mastodia tessellata (Verrucariaceae) and different species of Prasiola (Trebouxiophyceae) has an amphipolar distribution and represents a unique case study for the understanding of lichen symbiosis because of the macroalgal nature of the photobiont, the flexibility of the symbiotic interaction and the co-existence of free-living and lichenized forms in the same microenvironment. In this context, we aimed to (1) characterize the photosynthetic performance of co-occurring populations of free-living and lichenized Prasiola and (2) assess the effect of the symbiosis on water relations in Prasiola, including its tolerance of desiccation and its survival and performance under sub-zero temperatures.

METHODS: Photochemical responses to irradiance, desiccation and freezing temperature and pressure-volume curves of co-existing free-living and lichenized Prasiola thalli were measured in situ in Livingston Island (Maritime Antarctica). Analyses of photosynthetic pigment, glass transition and ice nucleation temperatures, surface hydrophobicity extent and molecular analyses were conducted in the laboratory.

KEY RESULTS: Free-living and lichenized forms of Prasiola were identified as two different species: P. crispa and Prasiola sp., respectively. While lichenization appears to have no effect on the photochemical performance of the alga or its tolerance of desiccation (in the short term), the symbiotic lifestyle involves (1) changes in water relations, (2) a considerable decrease in the net carbon balance and (3) enhanced freezing tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support improved tolerance of sub-zero temperature as the main benefit of lichenization for the photobiont, but highlight that lichenization represents a delicate equilibrium between a mutualistic and a less reciprocal relationship. In a warmer climate scenario, the spread of the free-living Prasiola to the detriment of the lichen form would be likely, with unknown consequences for Maritime Antarctic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31549018, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, J and Hossain, MS and Lyu, Z and Schmutz, J and Stacey, G and Xu, D and Joshi, T}, title = {SoyCSN: Soybean context-specific network analysis and prediction based on tissue-specific transcriptome data.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {3}, number = {9}, pages = {e00167}, pmid = {31549018}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {The Soybean Gene Atlas project provides a comprehensive map for understanding gene expression patterns in major soybean tissues from flower, root, leaf, nodule, seed, and shoot and stem. The RNA-Seq data generated in the project serve as a valuable resource for discovering tissue-specific transcriptome behavior of soybean genes in different tissues. We developed a computational pipeline for Soybean context-specific network (SoyCSN) inference with a suite of prediction tools to analyze, annotate, retrieve, and visualize soybean context-specific networks at both transcriptome and interactome levels. BicMix and Cross-Conditions Cluster Detection algorithms were applied to detect modules based on co-expression relationships across all the tissues. Soybean context-specific interactomes were predicted by combining soybean tissue gene expression and protein-protein interaction data. Functional analyses of these predicted networks provide insights into soybean tissue specificities. For example, under symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing conditions, the constructed soybean leaf network highlights the connection between the photosynthesis function and rhizobium-legume symbiosis. SoyCSN data and all its results are publicly available via an interactive web service within the Soybean Knowledge Base (SoyKB) at http://soykb.org/SoyCSN. SoyCSN provides a useful web-based access for exploring context specificities systematically in gene regulatory mechanisms and gene relationships for soybean researchers and molecular breeders.}, } @article {pmid31547498, year = {2019}, author = {Villa, F and Cappitelli, F}, title = {The Ecology of Subaerial Biofilms in Dry and Inhospitable Terrestrial Environments.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31547498}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The ecological relationship between minerals and microorganisms arguably represents one of the most important associations in dry terrestrial environments, since it strongly influences major biochemical cycles and regulates the productivity and stability of the Earth's food webs. Despite being inhospitable ecosystems, mineral substrata exposed to air harbor form complex and self-sustaining communities called subaerial biofilms (SABs). Using life on air-exposed minerals as a model and taking inspiration from the mechanisms of some microorganisms that have adapted to inhospitable conditions, we illustrate the ecology of SABs inhabiting natural and built environments. Finally, we advocate the need for the convergence between the experimental and theoretical approaches that might be used to characterize and simulate the development of SABs on mineral substrates and SABs' broader impacts on the dry terrestrial environment.}, } @article {pmid31547354, year = {2019}, author = {Asfour, HZ and Awan, ZA and Bagalagel, AA and Elfaky, MA and Abdelhameed, RFA and Elhady, SS}, title = {Large-Scale Production of Bioactive Terrein by Aspergillus terreus Strain S020 Isolated from the Saudi Coast of the Red Sea.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31547354}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Aspergillus/classification/*growth & development/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cyclopentanes/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fermentation ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; HCT116 Cells ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Indian Ocean ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects ; Saudi Arabia ; Secondary Metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The diversity of symbiotic fungi derived from two marine sponges and sediment collected off Obhur, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), was investigated in the current study. A total of 23 isolates were purified using a culture-dependent approach. Using the morphological properties combined with internal transcribed spacer-rDNA (ITS-rDNA) sequences, 23 fungal strains (in the majority Penicillium and Aspergillus) were identified from these samples. The biological screening (cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities) of small-scale cultures of these fungi yielded several target fungal strains which produced bioactive secondary metabolites. Amongst these isolates, the crude extract of Aspergillusterreus strain S020, which was cultured in fermentation static broth, 21 L, for 40 days at room temperature on potato dextrose broth, displayed strong antimicrobial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and significant antiproliferative effects on human carcinoma cells. Chromatographic separation of the crude extract by silica gel column chromatography indicated that the S020 isolate could produce a series of chemical compounds. Among these, pure crystalline terrein was separated with a high yield of 537.26 ± 23.42 g/kg extract, which represents the highest fermentation production of terrein to date. Its chemical structure was elucidated on the basis of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) or high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with reported data. The compound showed strong cytotoxic activity against colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), with IC50 values of 12.13 and 22.53 µM, respectively. Our study highlights the potential of A. terreus strain S020 for the industrial production of bioactive terrein on a large scale and the importance of future investigations of these strains to identify the bioactive leads in these fungal extracts.}, } @article {pmid31544656, year = {2020}, author = {Vergnes, S and Gayrard, D and Veyssière, M and Toulotte, J and Martinez, Y and Dumont, V and Bouchez, O and Rey, T and Dumas, B}, title = {Phyllosphere Colonization by a Soil Streptomyces sp. Promotes Plant Defense Responses Against Fungal Infection.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {223-234}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-19-0142-R}, pmid = {31544656}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; *Disease Resistance/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mutation ; *Mycoses ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; *Streptomyces/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Streptomycetes are soil-dwelling, filamentous actinobacteria and represent a prominent bacterial clade inside the plant root microbiota. The ability of streptomycetes to produce a broad spectrum of antifungal metabolites suggests that these bacteria could be used to manage plant diseases. Here, we describe the identification of a soil Streptomyces strain named AgN23 which strongly activates a large array of defense responses when applied on Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. AgN23 increased the biosynthesis of salicylic acid, leading to the development of salicylic acid induction deficient 2 (SID2)-dependent necrotic lesions. Size exclusion fractionation of plant elicitors secreted by AgN23 showed that these signals are tethered into high molecular weight complexes. AgN23 mycelium was able to colonize the leaf surface, leading to plant resistance against Alternaria brassicicola infection in wild-type Arabidopsis plants. AgN23-induced resistance was found partially compromised in salicylate, jasmonate, and ethylene mutants. Our data show that Streptomyces soil bacteria can develop at the surface of plant leaves to induce defense responses and protection against foliar fungal pathogens, extending their potential use to manage plant diseases.}, } @article {pmid31544655, year = {2020}, author = {Agtuca, BJ and Stopka, SA and Tuleski, TR and do Amaral, FP and Evans, S and Liu, Y and Xu, D and Monteiro, RA and Koppenaal, DW and Paša-Tolić, L and Anderton, CR and Vertes, A and Stacey, G}, title = {In-Situ Metabolomic Analysis of Setaria viridis Roots Colonized by Beneficial Endophytic Bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {272-283}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-19-0174-R}, pmid = {31544655}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Herbaspirillum/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; *Metabolome ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Setaria Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Over the past decades, crop yields have risen in parallel with increasing use of fossil fuel-derived nitrogen (N) fertilizers but with concomitant negative impacts on climate and water resources. There is a need for more sustainable agricultural practices, and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) could be part of the solution. A variety of nitrogen-fixing, epiphytic, and endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are known to stimulate plant growth. However, compared with the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, little mechanistic information is available as to how PGPB affect plant metabolism. Therefore, we investigated the metabolic changes in roots of the model grass species Setaria viridis upon endophytic colonization by Herbaspirillum seropedicae SmR1 (fix[+]) or a fix[-] mutant strain (SmR54) compared with uninoculated roots. Endophytic colonization of the root is highly localized and, hence, analysis of whole-root segments dilutes the metabolic signature of those few cells impacted by the bacteria. Therefore, we utilized in-situ laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to sample only those root segments at or adjacent to the sites of bacterial colonization. Metabolites involved in purine, zeatin, and riboflavin pathways were significantly more abundant in inoculated plants, while metabolites indicative of nitrogen, starch, and sucrose metabolism were reduced in roots inoculated with the fix[-] strain or uninoculated, presumably due to N limitation. Interestingly, compounds, involved in indole-alkaloid biosynthesis were more abundant in the roots colonized by the fix[-] strain, perhaps reflecting a plant defense response.}, } @article {pmid31543707, year = {2019}, author = {Jarc, E and Petan, T}, title = {Lipid Droplets and the Management of Cellular Stress.}, journal = {The Yale journal of biology and medicine}, volume = {92}, number = {3}, pages = {435-452}, pmid = {31543707}, issn = {1551-4056}, mesh = {Animals ; Energy Metabolism/drug effects ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Humans ; Lipid Droplets/drug effects/*metabolism ; Lipids/toxicity ; Organelles/drug effects/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Lipid droplets are cytosolic fat storage organelles present in most eukaryotic cells. Long regarded merely as inert fat reservoirs, they are now emerging as major regulators of cellular metabolism. They act as hubs that coordinate the pathways of lipid uptake, distribution, storage, and use in the cell. Recent studies have revealed that they are also essential components of the cellular stress response. One of the hallmark characteristics of lipid droplets is their capacity to buffer excess lipids and to finely tune their subsequent release based on specific cellular requirements. This simple feature of lipid droplet biology, buffering and delayed release of lipids, forms the basis for their pleiotropic roles in the cellular stress response. In stressed cells, lipid droplets maintain energy and redox homeostasis and protect against lipotoxicity by sequestering toxic lipids into their neutral lipid core. Their mobility and dynamic interactions with mitochondria enable an efficient delivery of fatty acids for optimal energy production. Lipid droplets are also involved in the maintenance of membrane and organelle homeostasis by regulating membrane composition, preventing lipid peroxidation and removing damaged proteins and lipids. Finally, they also engage in a symbiotic relationship with autophagy and act as reservoirs of bioactive lipids that regulate inflammation and immunity. Thus, lipid droplets are central managers of lipid metabolism that function as safeguards against various types of cellular stress.}, } @article {pmid31543454, year = {2019}, author = {Schiessl, K and Lilley, JLS and Lee, T and Tamvakis, I and Kohlen, W and Bailey, PC and Thomas, A and Luptak, J and Ramakrishnan, K and Carpenter, MD and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Ahnert, S and Grieneisen, VA and Oldroyd, GED}, title = {NODULE INCEPTION Recruits the Lateral Root Developmental Program for Symbiotic Nodule Organogenesis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {21}, pages = {3657-3668.e5}, pmid = {31543454}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/K003712/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Organogenesis, Plant/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To overcome nitrogen deficiencies in the soil, legumes enter symbioses with rhizobial bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium. Rhizobia are accommodated as endosymbionts within lateral root organs called nodules that initiate from the inner layers of Medicago truncatula roots in response to rhizobial perception. In contrast, lateral roots emerge from predefined founder cells as an adaptive response to environmental stimuli, including water and nutrient availability. CYTOKININ RESPONSE 1 (CRE1)-mediated signaling in the pericycle and in the cortex is necessary and sufficient for nodulation, whereas cytokinin is antagonistic to lateral root development, with cre1 showing increased lateral root emergence and decreased nodulation. To better understand the relatedness between nodule and lateral root development, we undertook a comparative analysis of these two root developmental programs. Here, we demonstrate that despite differential induction, lateral roots and nodules share overlapping developmental programs, with mutants in LOB-DOMAIN PROTEIN 16 (LBD16) showing equivalent defects in nodule and lateral root initiation. The cytokinin-inducible transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) allows induction of this program during nodulation through activation of LBD16 that promotes auxin biosynthesis via transcriptional induction of STYLISH (STY) and YUCCAs (YUC). We conclude that cytokinin facilitates local auxin accumulation through NIN promotion of LBD16, which activates a nodule developmental program overlapping with that induced during lateral root initiation.}, } @article {pmid31542229, year = {2020}, author = {Al-Khafaji, AM and Armstrong, SD and Varotto Boccazzi, I and Gaiarsa, S and Sinha, A and Li, Z and Sassera, D and Carlow, CKS and Epis, S and Makepeace, BL}, title = {Rickettsia buchneri, symbiont of the deer tick Ixodes scapularis, can colonise the salivary glands of its host.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {101299}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101299}, pmid = {31542229}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Proteomics ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; Salivary Glands/diagnostic imaging/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vertically-transmitted bacterial symbionts are widespread in ticks and have manifold impacts on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. For instance, they may provide essential nutrients to ticks, affect vector competence, induce immune responses in vertebrate hosts, or even evolve to become vertebrate pathogens. The deer or blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis harbours the symbiont Rickettsia buchneri in its ovarian tissues. Here we show by molecular, proteomic and imaging methods that R. buchneri is also capable of colonising the salivary glands of wild I. scapularis. This finding has important implications for the diagnosis of rickettsial infections and for pathogen-symbiont interactions in this notorious vector of Lyme borreliosis.}, } @article {pmid31542191, year = {2019}, author = {Kokkoris, V and Hart, MM}, title = {The role of in vitro cultivation on symbiotic trait and function variation in a single species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {10}, pages = {732-744}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.06.009}, pmid = {31542191}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In vitro propagation of AM fungi using transformed root cultures (TRC) is commonly used to obtain pure AM fungal propagules for use in research and industry. Early observations indicate that such an artificial environment can alter traits and function of AM fungi over time. We hypothesized that increased in vitro cultivation may promote ruderal strategies in fungi by enhancing propagule production and reducing mutualistic quality. To examine the effect of in vitro cultivation on the trait and function of AM fungi, we inoculated plants with 11 Rhizoglomus irregulare isolates which fell along a cultivation gradient spanning 80 generations. We harvested plants at 10, 20 and 30 d post inoculation to observe differences in fungal and plant traits post infection. In vitro cultivation led to increased spore production but reduced plant shoot phosphorus. Our results indicate that in vitro propagation may indirectly select for traits that affect symbiotic quality.}, } @article {pmid31541734, year = {2019}, author = {Kolbert, Z and Barroso, JB and Brouquisse, R and Corpas, FJ and Gupta, KJ and Lindermayr, C and Loake, GJ and Palma, JM and Petřivalský, M and Wendehenne, D and Hancock, JT}, title = {A forty year journey: The generation and roles of NO in plants.}, journal = {Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {53-70}, doi = {10.1016/j.niox.2019.09.006}, pmid = {31541734}, issn = {1089-8611}, support = {BB/H000984/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Nitrate Reductase/physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/physiology ; Nitrosative Stress/physiology ; Plant Development ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*metabolism ; Reproduction/physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In this year there is the 40th anniversary of the first publication of plant nitric oxide (NO) emission by Lowell Klepper. In the decades since then numerous milestone discoveries have revealed that NO is a multifunctional molecule in plant cells regulating both plant development and stress responses. Apropos of the anniversary, these authors aim to review and discuss the developments of past concepts in plant NO research related to NO metabolism, NO signaling, NO's action in plant growth and in stress responses and NO's interactions with other reactive compounds. Despite the long-lasting research efforts and the accumulating experimental evidences numerous questions are still needed to be answered, thus future challenges and research directions have also been drawn up.}, } @article {pmid31541152, year = {2019}, author = {Cheng, CY and Chang, SL and Lin, IT and Yao, MC}, title = {Abundant and diverse Tetrahymena species living in the bladder traps of aquatic carnivorous Utricularia plants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13669}, pmid = {31541152}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/parasitology ; Carnivory ; Cyclooxygenase 1/*genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Lamiales/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; Tetrahymena/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Ciliates are unicellular eukaryotes known for their cellular complexity and wide range of natural habitats. How they adapt to their niches and what roles they play in ecology remain largely unknown. The genus Tetrahymena is among the best-studied groups of ciliates and one particular species, Tetrahymena thermophila, is a well-known laboratory model organism in cell and molecular biology, making it an excellent candidate for study in protist ecology. Here, based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene barcoding, we identify a total of 19 different putative Tetrahymena species and two closely related Glaucoma lineages isolated from distinct natural habitats, of which 13 are new species. These latter include 11 Tetrahymena species found in the bladder traps of Utricularia plants, the most species-rich and widely distributed aquatic carnivorous plant, thus revealing a previously unknown but significant symbiosis of Tetrahymena species living among the microbial community of Utricularia bladder traps. Additional species were collected using an artificial trap method we have developed. We show that diverse Tetrahymena species may live even within the same habitat and that their populations are highly dynamic, suggesting that the diversity and biomass of species worldwide is far greater than currently appreciated.}, } @article {pmid31541124, year = {2019}, author = {Correa-Fiz, F and Blanco-Fuertes, M and Navas, MJ and Lacasta, A and Bishop, RP and Githaka, N and Onzere, C and Le Potier, MF and Almagro-Delgado, V and Martinez, J and Aragon, V and Rodriguez, F}, title = {Comparative analysis of the fecal microbiota from different species of domesticated and wild suids.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13616}, pmid = {31541124}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {African Swine Fever/genetics/microbiology ; African Swine Fever Virus/genetics/pathogenicity ; Animals ; Animals, Wild/genetics/microbiology ; Disease Susceptibility ; Feces/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Kenya ; Microbiota/genetics ; Sus scrofa/genetics/microbiology ; Swine/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most of the microorganisms living in a symbiotic relationship in different animal body sites (microbiota) reside in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Several studies have shown that the microbiota is involved in host susceptibilities to pathogens. The fecal microbiota of domestic and wild suids was analyzed. Bacterial communities were determined from feces obtained from domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) raised under different conditions: specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs and domestic pigs from the same bred, and indigenous domestic pigs from a backyard farm in Kenya. Secondly, the fecal microbiota composition of the African swine fever (ASF) resistant warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) from Africa and a European zoo was determined. African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating disease for domestic pigs. African animals showed the highest microbial diversity while the SPF pigs the lowest. Analysis of the core microbiota from warthogs (resistant to ASF) and pigs (susceptible to ASF) showed 45 shared OTUs, while 6 OTUs were exclusively present in resistant animals. These six OTUs were members of the Moraxellaceae family, Pseudomonadales order and Paludibacter, Anaeroplasma, Petrimonas, and Moraxella genera. Further characterization of these microbial communities should be performed to determine the potential involvement in ASF resistance.}, } @article {pmid31540209, year = {2019}, author = {Tauber, JP and Nguyen, V and Lopez, D and Evans, JD}, title = {Effects of a Resident Yeast from the Honeybee Gut on Immunity, Microbiota, and Nosema Disease.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31540209}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The western honeybee (Apis mellifera) has a core bacterial microbiota that is well described and important for health. Honeybees also host a yeast community that is poorly understood with respect to host nutrition and immunity, and also the symbiotic bacterial microbiota. In this work, we present two studies focusing on the consequences of dysbiosis when honeybees were control-fed a yeast that was isolated from a honeybee midgut, Wickerhamomyces anomalus. Yeast augmentation for bees with developed microbiota appeared immunomodulatory (lowered immunity and hormone-related gene expression) and affected the microbial community, while yeast augmentation for newly emerged bees without an established bacterial background did not lead to decreased immunity- and hormone-related gene expression. In newly emerged bees that had a naturally occurring baseline level of W. anomalus, we observed that the addition of N. ceranae led to a decrease in yeast levels. Overall, we show that yeasts can affect the microbiome, immunity, and physiology.}, } @article {pmid31539587, year = {2019}, author = {Jiang, P and Yang, W and Jin, Y and Huang, H and Shi, C and Jiang, Y and Wang, J and Kang, Y and Wang, C and Yang, G}, title = {Lactobacillus reuteri protects mice against Salmonella typhimurium challenge by activating macrophages to produce nitric oxide.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {137}, number = {}, pages = {103754}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103754}, pmid = {31539587}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Immunization ; Intestines/microbiology ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri/*physiology ; Liver/microbiology ; Macrophages/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Phagocytosis ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Protective Agents/*pharmacology ; Salmonella Infections, Animal/*drug therapy/immunology/*microbiology ; Salmonella typhimurium/immunology/pathogenicity ; Spleen/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lactobacillus reuteri, a typical intestinal symbiotic bacterium, plays an important role in maintaining intestinal flora stability and host health. However, the effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on peritoneal macrophages has not been thoroughly studied. Our study indicated that Lactobacillus reuteri could activate macrophages and that macrophages treated with Lactobacillus reuteri have an enhanced ability to phagocytose and to kill intracellular Salmonella typhimurium. Lactobacillus reuteri may reduce the inflammatory response caused by Salmonella typhimurium by regulating NO, thus effectively protecting mice against Salmonella typhimurium invasion and dissemination to the liver and spleen. Taken together, these data demonstrated the protective effect of Lactobacillus reuteri on macrophages and mice challenged with Salmonella typhimurium through in vitro and in vivo experiments.}, } @article {pmid31539381, year = {2019}, author = {Ortíz-Ceballos, AI and Ortiz-Gamino, D and Andrade-Torres, A and Pérez-Rodríguez, P and López-Ortega, M}, title = {Pontoscolex corethrurus: A homeless invasive tropical earthworm?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0222337}, pmid = {31539381}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Ecology ; *Introduced Species ; Oligochaeta/growth & development/*physiology ; Reproduction ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The presence of earthworm species in crop fields is as old as agriculture itself. The earthworms Pontoscolex corethrurus (invasive) and Balanteodrilus pearsei (native) are associated with the emergence of agriculture and sedentism in the region Amazon and Maya, respectively. Both species have shifted their preference from their natural habitat to the cropland niche. They contrast in terms of intensification of agricultural land use (anthropic impact to the symbiotic soil microbiome). P. corethrurus inhabits conventional agroecosystems, while B. pearsei thrives in traditional agroecosystems, i.e., P. corethrurus has not yet been recorded in soils where B. pearsei dwells. The demographic behavior of these two earthworm species was assessed in the laboratory over 100 days, according to their origin (OE; P. corethrurus and B. pearsei) food quality (FQ; soil only, maize stubble, Mucuna pruriens), and soil moisture (SM; 25, 33, 42%). The results showed that OE, FQ, SM, and the OE x FQ interaction were highly significant for the survival, growth, and reproduction of earthworms. P. corethrurus showed a lower survival rate (> mortality). P. corethrurus survivors fed a diet of low-to-intermediate nutritional quality (soil and stubble maize, respectively) showed a greater capacity to grow and reproduce; however, it was surpassed by the native earthworm when fed a high-quality diet (M. pruriens). Besides, P. corethrurus displayed a low cocoon hatching (emergence of juveniles). These results suggest that the presence of the invasive species was associated with a negative interaction with the soil microbiota where the native species dwells, and with the absence of natural mutualistic bacteria (gut, nephridia, and cocoons). These results are consistent with the absence of P. corethrurus in milpa and pasture-type agricultural niches managed by peasants (agroecologists) to grow food regularly through biological soil management. Results reported here suggest that P. corethrurus is an invasive species that is neither wild nor domesticated, that is, its eco-evolutionary phylogeny needs to be derived based on its symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31537840, year = {2019}, author = {Catanzaro, JR and Strauss, JD and Bielecka, A and Porto, AF and Lobo, FM and Urban, A and Schofield, WB and Palm, NW}, title = {IgA-deficient humans exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis despite secretion of compensatory IgM.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13574}, pmid = {31537840}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {K22 AI123477/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI137935/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001863/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dysbiosis/*immunology/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*metabolism ; Immunoglobulin M/*metabolism ; Male ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A is the dominant antibody isotype found in mucosal secretions and enforces host-microbiota symbiosis in mice, yet selective IgA-deficiency (sIgAd) in humans is often described as asymptomatic. Here, we determined the effects of IgA deficiency on human gut microbiota composition and evaluated the possibility that mucosal secretion of IgM can compensate for a lack of secretory IgA. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bacterial cell sorting to evaluate gut microbiota composition and taxa-specific antibody coating of the gut microbiota in 15 sIgAd subjects and matched controls. Despite the secretion of compensatory IgM into the gut lumen, sIgAd subjects displayed an altered gut microbiota composition as compared to healthy controls. These alterations were characterized by a trend towards decreased overall microbial diversity as well as significant shifts in the relative abundances of specific microbial taxa. While secretory IgA in healthy controls targeted a defined subset of the microbiota via high-level coating, compensatory IgM in sIgAd subjects showed less specificity than IgA and bound a broader subset of the microbiota. We conclude that IgA plays a critical and non-redundant role in controlling gut microbiota composition in humans and that secretory IgA has evolved to maintain a diverse and stable gut microbial community.}, } @article {pmid31537665, year = {2019}, author = {White, RA and Norman, JS and Mclachlan, EE and Dunham, JP and Garoutte, A and Friesen, ML}, title = {Revealing the Draft Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain USDA 3458, an Effective Symbiotic Diazotroph Isolated from Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Genotype IT82E-16.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {38}, pages = {}, pmid = {31537665}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Pairing plants with plant growth-promoting bacteria is critical to the future of agriculture. Bradyrhizobium sp. strain USDA 3458 isolated from Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) paired with cowpea genotype IT82E-16 represents a novel combination in arid regions. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of strain USDA 3458.}, } @article {pmid31537652, year = {2019}, author = {Whittaker, DJ and Slowinski, SP and Greenberg, JM and Alian, O and Winters, AD and Ahmad, MM and Burrell, MJE and Soini, HA and Novotny, MV and Ketterson, ED and Theis, KR}, title = {Experimental evidence that symbiotic bacteria produce chemical cues in a songbird.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 20}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.202978}, pmid = {31537652}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; *Cues ; Female ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Oils/chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Songbirds/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes that inhabit animal scent glands can produce volatile compounds used as chemical signals by the host animal. Though several studies have demonstrated correlations between scent gland bacterial community structure and host animal odour profiles, none have systematically demonstrated a causal relationship. In birds, volatile compounds in preen oil secreted by the uropygial gland serve as chemical cues and signals. Here, we tested whether manipulating the uropygial gland microbial community affects chemical profiles in the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis). We found an effect of antibiotic treatment targeting the uropygial gland on both bacterial and volatile profiles. In a second experiment, we cultured bacteria from junco preen oil, and found that all of the cultivars produced at least one volatile compound common in junco preen oil, and that most cultivars produced multiple preen oil volatiles. In both experiments, we identified experimentally generated patterns in specific volatile compounds previously shown to predict junco reproductive success. Together, our data provide experimental support for the hypothesis that symbiotic bacteria produce behaviourally relevant volatile compounds within avian chemical cues and signals.}, } @article {pmid31534949, year = {2019}, author = {Penny, SG and Akella, S and Balmaseda, MA and Browne, P and Carton, JA and Chevallier, M and Counillon, F and Domingues, C and Frolov, S and Heimbach, P and Hogan, P and Hoteit, I and Iovino, D and Laloyaux, P and Martin, MJ and Masina, S and Moore, AM and de Rosnay, P and Schepers, D and Sloyan, BM and Storto, A and Subramanian, A and Nam, S and Vitart, F and Yang, C and Fujii, Y and Zuo, H and O'Kane, T and Sandery, P and Moore, T and Chapman, CC}, title = {Observational Needs for Improving Ocean and Coupled Reanalysis, S2S Prediction, and Decadal Prediction.}, journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {391}, pmid = {31534949}, issn = {2296-7745}, support = {//Goddard Space Flight Center NASA/United States ; N-999999//Intramural NASA/United States ; }, abstract = {Developments in observing system technologies and ocean data assimilation (DA) are symbiotic. New observation types lead to new DA methods and new DA methods, such as coupled DA, can change the value of existing observations or indicate where new observations can have greater utility for monitoring and prediction. Practitioners of DA are encouraged to make better use of observations that are already available, for example, taking advantage of strongly coupled DA so that ocean observations can be used to improve atmospheric analyses and vice versa. Ocean reanalyses are useful for the analysis of climate as well as the initialization of operational long-range prediction models. There are many remaining challenges for ocean reanalyses due to biases and abrupt changes in the ocean-observing system throughout its history, the presence of biases and drifts in models, and the simplifying assumptions made in DA solution methods. From a governance point of view, more support is needed to bring the ocean-observing and DA communities together. For prediction applications, there is wide agreement that protocols are needed for rapid communication of ocean-observing data on numerical weather prediction (NWP) timescales. There is potential for new observation types to enhance the observing system by supporting prediction on multiple timescales, ranging from the typical timescale of NWP, covering hours to weeks, out to multiple decades. Better communication between DA and observation communities is encouraged in order to allow operational prediction centers the ability to provide guidance for the design of a sustained and adaptive observing network.}, } @article {pmid31534847, year = {2019}, author = {Wieczorek, K and Kanturski, M and Sempruch, C and Świątek, P}, title = {The reproductive system of the male and oviparous female of a model organism-the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera, Aphididae).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e7573}, pmid = {31534847}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The structure of the reproductive system of the sexual generation-males and oviparous females-of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera, Aphididae), a serious pest of cultivated plants of Fabaceae, was investigated. For the first time we describe the morphology, histology and ultrastructure of the reproductive system in both morphs of the sexual generation of aphids within one species, using light and fluorescent microscopy, as well as transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that males have testes composed of three follicles fused by the upper ends of the vasa efferentia, the vasa deferentia run independently, the accessory glands are asymmetric and the ejaculatory duct shortened. Oviparous females have ovaries composed of seven ovarioles each. The lateral oviducts join to a short common oviduct connected with the unpaired spermatheca and paired accessory glands. Yolky eggs with an aggregation of symbiotic bacteria at the posterior pole are produced. Histologically, the components of genital tracts are broadly similar: the epithelial cells of the walls of the vasa deferentia and accessory glands of the male and oviparous female have secretory functions which correlate with the age of the studied morphs. We also found symbiotic bacteria within the vasa deferentia epithelial cells in males and within the cells of the lateral oviducts of females. Because the pea aphid is listed among the 14 species that are of the greatest economic importance, our results will be useful for managing aphid populations, protecting plants and ensuring global food security.}, } @article {pmid31534844, year = {2019}, author = {May, A and Narayanan, S and Alcock, J and Varsani, A and Maley, C and Aktipis, A}, title = {Kombucha: a novel model system for cooperation and conflict in a complex multi-species microbial ecosystem.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e7565}, pmid = {31534844}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {U54 CA217376/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Kombucha, a fermented tea beverage with an acidic and effervescent taste, is composed of a multispecies microbial ecosystem with complex interactions that are characterized by both cooperation and conflict. In kombucha, a complex community of bacteria and yeast initiates the fermentation of a starter tea (usually black or green tea with sugar), producing a biofilm that covers the liquid over several weeks. This happens through several fermentative phases that are characterized by cooperation and competition among the microbes within the kombucha solution. Yeast produce invertase as a public good that enables both yeast and bacteria to metabolize sugars. Bacteria produce a surface biofilm which may act as a public good providing protection from invaders, storage for resources, and greater access to oxygen for microbes embedded within it. The ethanol and acid produced during the fermentative process (by yeast and bacteria, respectively) may also help to protect the system from invasion by microbial competitors from the environment. Thus, kombucha can serve as a model system for addressing important questions about the evolution of cooperation and conflict in diverse multispecies systems. Further, it has the potential to be artificially selected to specialize it for particular human uses, including the development of antimicrobial ecosystems and novel materials. Finally, kombucha is easily-propagated, non-toxic, and inexpensive, making it an excellent system for scientific inquiry and citizen science.}, } @article {pmid31534701, year = {2019}, author = {Garcia, JR and Larsen, TJ and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Fitness costs and benefits vary for two facultative Burkholderia symbionts of the social amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {17}, pages = {9878-9890}, pmid = {31534701}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Hosts and their associated microbes can enter into different relationships, which can range from mutualism, where both partners benefit, to exploitation, where one partner benefits at the expense of the other. Many host-microbe relationships have been presumed to be mutualistic, but frequently only benefits to the host, and not the microbial symbiont, have been considered. Here, we address this issue by looking at the effect of host association on the fitness of two facultative members of the Dictyostelium discoideum microbiome (Burkholderia agricolaris and Burkholderia hayleyella). Using two indicators of bacterial fitness, growth rate and abundance, we determined the effect of D. discoideum on Burkholderia fitness. In liquid culture, we found that D. discoideum amoebas lowered the growth rate of both Burkholderia species. In soil microcosms, we tracked the abundance of Burkholderia grown with and without D. discoideum over a month and found that B. hayleyella had larger populations when associating with D. discoideum while B. agricolaris was not significantly affected. Overall, we find that both B. agricolaris and B. hayleyella pay a cost to associate with D. discoideum, but B. hayleyella can also benefit under some conditions. Understanding how fitness varies in facultative symbionts will help us understand the persistence of host-symbiont relationships.

OPEN RESEARCH BADGES: This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/data/15/.}, } @article {pmid31534478, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, Z and Liu, H and Wu, J and Patakova, P and Branska, B and Zhang, J}, title = {Effective continuous acetone-butanol-ethanol production with full utilization of cassava by immobilized symbiotic TSH06.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {219}, pmid = {31534478}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Butanol production by fermentation has recently attracted increasingly more attention because of its mild reaction conditions and environmentally friendly properties. However, traditional feedstocks, such as corn, are food supplies for human beings and are expensive and not suitable for butanol production at a large scale. In this study, acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) fermentation with non-pretreated cassava using a symbiotic TSH06 was investigated.

RESULTS: In batch fermentation, the butanol concentration of 11.6 g/L was obtained with a productivity of 0.16 g/L/h, which was similar to that obtained from glucose system. A full utilization system of cassava was constructed to improve the fermentation performance, cassava flour was used as the substrate and cassava peel residue was used as the immobilization carrier. ABE fermentation with immobilized cells resulted in total ABE and butanol concentrations of 20 g/L and 13.3 g/L, which were 13.6% and 14.7% higher, respectively, than those of free cells. To further improve the solvent productivity, continuous fermentation was conducted with immobilized cells. In single-stage continuous fermentation, the concentrations of total ABE and butanol reached 9.3 g/L and 6.3 g/L with ABE and butanol productivities of 1.86 g/L/h and 1.26 g/L/h, respectively. In addition, both of the high product concentration and high solvent productivity were achieved in a three-stage continuous fermentation. The ABE productivity and concentration was 1.12 g/L/h and 16.8 g/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that TSH06 could produce solvents from cassava effectively. This study shows that ABE fermentation with cassava as a substrate could be an efficient and economical method of butanol production.}, } @article {pmid31534414, year = {2019}, author = {Degtjarenko, P and Jüriado, I and Mandel, T and Tõrra, T and Saag, A and Scheidegger, C and Randlane, T}, title = {Microsatellite based genetic diversity of the widespread epiphytic lichen Usnea subfloridana (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in Estonia: comparison of populations from the mainland and an island.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {58}, number = {}, pages = {27-45}, pmid = {31534414}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Understanding the distribution of genetic patterns and structure is an essential target in population genetics and, thereby, important for conservation genetics. The main aim of our study was to investigate the population genetics of Usnea subfloridana, a widespread lichenised fungus, focusing on a comparison of genetic variation of its populations amongst three geographically remote and disconnected regions, in order to determine relationships amongst environmental data, variation in lichen secondary chemistry and microsatellite data in genotyped populations. In all, 928 Usnea thalli from 17 populations were genotyped using seven specific fungal microsatellite markers. Different measures of genetic diversity (allelic richness, private allelic richness, Nei's unbiased genetic diversity and clonal diversity) were calculated and compared between lichen populations. Our results revealed a low genetic differentiation of U. subfloridana populations amongst three distant areas in Estonia and also a high level of gene flow. The results support suggestion of the long-range vegetative dispersal of subpendulous U. subfloridana via symbiotic propagules (soralia, isidia or fragments of thalli). Our study has also provided evidence that environmental variables, including mean annual temperature and geographical longitude, shape the genetic structure of U. subfloridana populations in Estonia. Additionally, a weak but statistically significant correlation between lichen chemotypes and microsatellite allele distribution was found in genotyped specimens.}, } @article {pmid31534383, year = {2019}, author = {Hosie, AM and Fromont, J and Munyard, K and Jones, DS}, title = {Description of a new species of Membranobalanus (Crustacea, Cirripedia) from southern Australia.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {873}, number = {}, pages = {25-42}, pmid = {31534383}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {A new species of sponge-inhabiting barnacle, Membranobalanus porphyrophilus sp. nov., is described herein. This species can be distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of characters, in particular by the shapes of the tergum and scutum and the armament of the cirri. COI sequence data from the type specimens have been lodged with GenBank and a morphological key to the species of Membranobalanus is provided to aid future research. The host of the new species is the southern Australian endemic demosponge Spheciospongia purpurea. The new species of barnacle is thought to be host species specific.}, } @article {pmid31530828, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, JT and Wang, YT and Keshavmurthy, S and Meng, PJ and Chen, CA}, title = {The coral Platygyra verweyi exhibits local adaptation to long-term thermal stress through host-specific physiological and enzymatic response.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13492}, pmid = {31530828}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzymes/*metabolism ; Kinetics ; *Stress, Physiological ; Taiwan ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Climate change threatens coral survival by causing coral bleaching, which occurs when the coral's symbiotic relationship with algal symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) breaks down. Studies on thermal adaptation focus on symbionts because they are accessible both in vitro and in hospite. However, there is little known about the physiological and biochemical response of adult corals (without Symbiodiniaceae) to thermal stress. Here we show acclimatization and/or adaptation potential of menthol-bleached aposymbiotic coral Platygyra verweyi in terms of respiration breakdown temperature (RBT) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzyme activity in samples collected from two reef sites with contrasting temperature regimes: a site near a nuclear power plant outlet (NPP-OL, with long-term temperature perturbation) and Wanlitong (WLT) in southern Taiwan. Aposymbiotic P. verweyi from the NPP-OL site had a 3.1 °C higher threshold RBT than those from WLT. In addition, MDH activity in P. verweyi from NPP-OL showed higher thermal resistance than those from WLT by higher optimum temperatures and the activation energy required for inactivating the enzyme by heat. The MDH from NPP-OL also had two times higher residual activity than that from WLT after incubation at 50 °C for 1 h. The results of RBT and thermal properties of MDH in P. verweyi demonstrate potential physiological and enzymatic response to a long-term and regular thermal stress, independent of their Symbiodiniaceae partner.}, } @article {pmid31530112, year = {2019}, author = {Caves, EM and Chen, C and Johnsen, S}, title = {The cleaner shrimp Lysmata amboinensis adjusts its behaviour towards predatory versus non-predatory clients.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {20190534}, pmid = {31530112}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea ; *Decapoda ; Fishes ; *Perciformes ; Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In cleaning mutualisms, small cleaner organisms remove ectoparasites and dead skin from larger clients. Because cheating by predatory clients can result in cleaner death, cleaners should assess the potential risk of interacting with a given client and adjust their behaviour accordingly. Cleaner shrimp are small marine crustaceans that interact with numerous client fish species, many of which are potential predators. We use in situ observations of cleaner-client interactions to show that the cleaner shrimp Lysmata amboinensis adjusts several behaviours when interacting with predatory versus non-predatory clients. Predatory clients were cleaned in a significantly lower proportion of interactions than non-predatory clients, and cleaners also exhibited a leg rocking behaviour-potentially signalling their identity or intent to clean-almost exclusively toward predatory clients. Incidence of leg rocking was positively correlated with client size, and laboratory experiments showed that it can be elicited by dark visual stimuli and decreases in illumination level. Thus, cleaners clean less frequently when predation risk is higher, and may use leg rocking as a signal advertising cleaning services and directed specifically at predators.}, } @article {pmid31529895, year = {2019}, author = {Ning, CH and Li, WB and Zhang, C and Liu, RJ}, title = {[Growth-promotion and disease control effects on chili and eggplant by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant symbiotic actinomycetes].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {3195-3202}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201909.037}, pmid = {31529895}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Actinobacteria ; Actinomyces ; Capsicum/*microbiology ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Solanum melongena/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or plant symbiotic actinomycetes (PSA) play an important role in stimulating plant growth, antagonizing pathogens, tolerating stress, and controlling plant disease. However, whether there is a synergistic effect between AMF and PSA in promoting plant growth and controlling disease is worth exploring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of AMF and PSA on growth-promotion and controlling disease on Solanaceae vegetables and to obtain effective AMF+PSA combinations. Under greenhouse pot conditions, chili (Capsicum annu-um, cultivar: Yangjiaojiao) and eggplant (Solanum melongena, cultivar: Heiguanchangqie) were inoculated with or without AMF Funneliformis mosseae (Fm), Glomus versiforme (Gv), PSA Streptomyces globosus H6-1, Streptomyces rochei S2-2, Streptomyces coralus D11-4 or/and pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea. There were a total of 48 treatments. The growth, disease and root symbiont development of plants were determined. The results showed that Fm and PSA could promote each other's colonization, while Gv and PSA inhibited each other. Compared with the control, AMF, PSA and AMF+PSA improved the photosynthetic performance, root activity, and growth of chili and eggplant. Under the condition of inoculation with pathogenic fungi, AMF and/or PSA treatment significantly increased growth and reduced the disease index of plants, with the effects of PSA being greater than that of AMF. Fm+H6-1 combination had the best effect on the growth-promotion and controlling disease of chili plants, with the controlling effect on gray mold reaching 69.1%. Fm+ D11-4 had the best effect on the growth promotion and controlling disease of eggplant, the controlling effect of which on gray mold reached 75.5%. Fm+H6-1 andFm+D11-4 were efficient combinations of chili and eggplant for promoting growth and controlling disease under the conditions of this experiment. Further tests in field are needed.}, } @article {pmid31528722, year = {2019}, author = {Tiwari, UP and Singh, AK and Jha, R}, title = {Fermentation characteristics of resistant starch, arabinoxylan, and β-glucan and their effects on the gut microbial ecology of pigs: A review.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {217-226}, pmid = {31528722}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {Dietary fibers (DF) contain an abundant amount of energy, although the mammalian genome does not encode most of the enzymes required to degrade them. However, a mutual dependence is developed between the host and symbiotic microbes, which has the potential to extract the energy present in these DF. Dietary fibers escape digestion in the foregut and are fermented in the hindgut, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that alter the microbial ecology in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of pigs. Most of the carbohydrates are fermented in the proximal part, allowing protein fermentation in the distal part, resulting in colonic diseases. The structures of resistant starch (RS), arabinoxylan (AX), and β-glucan (βG) are complex; hence, makes their way into the hindgut where these are fermented and provide energy substrates for the colonic epithelial cells. Different microbes have different preferences of binding to different substrates. The RS, AX and βG act as a unique substrate for the microbes and modify the relative composition of the gut microbial community. The granule dimension and surface area of each substrate are different, which influences the penetration capacity of microbes. Arabinose and xylan are 2 different hemicelluloses, but arabinose is substituted on the xylan backbone and occurs in the form of AX. Fermentation of xylan produces butyrate primarily in the small intestine, whereas arabinose produces butyrate in the large intestine. Types of RS and forms of βG also exert beneficial effects by producing different metabolites and modulating the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, it is important to have information of different types of RS, AX and βG and their roles in microbial modulation to get the optimum benefits of fiber fermentation in the gut. This review provides relevant information on the similarities and differences that exist in the way RS, AX, and βG are fermented, and their positive and negative effects on SCFA production and gut microbial ecology of pigs. These insights will help nutritionists to develop dietary strategies that can modulate specific SCFA production and promote beneficial microbiota in the GIT of swine.}, } @article {pmid31527788, year = {2019}, author = {Quigley, KM and Willis, BL and Kenkel, CD}, title = {Transgenerational inheritance of shuffled symbiont communities in the coral Montipora digitata.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13328}, pmid = {31527788}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Ecology ; Environment ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Pigmentation/*physiology ; Pigments, Biological/physiology ; Seasons ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Adult organisms may "prime" their offspring for environmental change through a number of genetic and non-genetic mechanisms, termed parental effects. Some coral species may shuffle the proportions of Symbiodiniaceae within their endosymbiotic communities, subsequently altering their thermal tolerance, but it is unclear if shuffled communities are transferred to offspring. We evaluated Symbiodiniaceae community composition in tagged colonies of Montipora digitata over two successive annual spawning seasons and the 2016 bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. ITS2 amplicon sequencing was applied to four families (four maternal colonies and 10-12 eggs per family) previously sampled and sequenced the year before to characterize shuffling potential in these M. digitata colonies and determine if shuffled abundances were preserved in gametes. Symbiont densities and photochemical efficiencies differed significantly among adults in 2016, suggesting differential responses to increased temperatures. Low-abundance ("background") sequence variants differed more among years than between maternal colonies and offspring. Results indicate that shuffling can occur in a canonically 'stable' symbiosis, and that the shuffled community is heritable. Hence, acclimatory changes like shuffling of the Symbiodiniaceae community are not limited to the lifetime of an adult coral and that shuffled communities are inherited across generations in a species with vertical symbiont transmission. Although previously hypothesized, to our knowledge, this is the first evidence that shuffled Symbiodiniaceae communities (at both the inter- and intra- genera level) can be inherited by offspring and supports the hypothesis that shuffling in microbial communities may serve as a mechanism of rapid coral acclimation to changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid31527783, year = {2020}, author = {Porro, B and Mallien, C and Hume, BCC and Pey, A and Aubin, E and Christen, R and Voolstra, CR and Furla, P and Forcioli, D}, title = {The many faced symbiotic snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis, Anthozoa): host and symbiont genetic differentiation among colour morphs.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {124}, number = {2}, pages = {351-366}, pmid = {31527783}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; England ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Mediterranean Sea ; Pigmentation/*genetics ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How can we explain morphological variations in a holobiont? The genetic determinism of phenotypes is not always obvious and could be circumstantial in complex organisms. In symbiotic cnidarians, it is known that morphology or colour can misrepresent a complex genetic and symbiotic diversity. Anemonia viridis is a symbiotic sea anemone from temperate seas. This species displays different colour morphs based on pigment content and lives in a wide geographical range. Here, we investigated whether colour morph differentiation correlated with host genetic diversity or associated symbiotic genetic diversity by using RAD sequencing and symbiotic dinoflagellate typing of 140 sea anemones from the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. We did not observe genetic differentiation among colour morphs of A. viridis at the animal host or symbiont level, rejecting the hypothesis that A. viridis colour morphs correspond to species level differences. Interestingly, we however identified at least four independent animal host genetic lineages in A. viridis that differed in their associated symbiont populations. In conclusion, although the functional role of the different morphotypes of A. viridis remains to be determined, our approach provides new insights on the existence of cryptic species within A. viridis.}, } @article {pmid31526475, year = {2019}, author = {Ericson, CF and Eisenstein, F and Medeiros, JM and Malter, KE and Cavalcanti, GS and Zeller, RW and Newman, DK and Pilhofer, M and Shikuma, NJ}, title = {A contractile injection system stimulates tubeworm metamorphosis by translocating a proteinaceous effector.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31526475}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {N00014-14-1-0340//Office of Naval Research/International ; 1R21DC013180-01A1/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; N00014-16-1-2135//Office of Naval Research/International ; N00014-17-1-2677//Office of Naval Research/International ; 31003A_179255/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; 679209/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Electron Microscope Tomography ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Metamorphosis, Biological ; Polychaeta/drug effects/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Protein Transport ; Pseudoalteromonas/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The swimming larvae of many marine animals identify a location on the sea floor to undergo metamorphosis based on the presence of specific bacteria. Although this microbe-animal interaction is critical for the life cycles of diverse marine animals, what types of biochemical cues from bacteria that induce metamorphosis has been a mystery. Metamorphosis of larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans is induced by arrays of phage tail-like contractile injection systems, which are released by the bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea. Here we identify the novel effector protein Mif1. By cryo-electron tomography imaging and functional assays, we observe Mif1 as cargo inside the tube lumen of the contractile injection system and show that the mif1 gene is required for inducing metamorphosis. Purified Mif1 is sufficient for triggering metamorphosis when electroporated into tubeworm larvae. Our results indicate that the delivery of protein effectors by contractile injection systems may orchestrate microbe-animal interactions in diverse contexts.}, } @article {pmid31523509, year = {2019}, author = {Yeoman, CJ and Brutscher, LM and Esen, ÖC and Ibaoglu, F and Fowler, C and Eren, AM and Wanner, K and Weaver, DK}, title = {Genome-resolved insights into a novel Spiroplasma symbiont of the Wheat Stem Sawfly (Cephus cinctus).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e7548}, pmid = {31523509}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Arthropods often have obligate relationships with symbiotic microbes, and recent investigations have demonstrated that such host-microbe relationships could be exploited to suppress natural populations of vector carrying mosquitos. Strategies that target the interplay between agricultural pests and their symbionts could decrease the burden caused by agricultural pests; however, the lack of comprehensive genomic insights into naturally occurring microbial symbionts presents a significant bottleneck. Here we employed amplicon surveys, genome-resolved metagenomics, and scanning electron microscopy to investigate symbionts of the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus), a major pest that causes an estimated $350 million dollars or more in wheat yield losses in the northwestern United States annually. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing of two major haplotypes and life stages of wheat stem sawfly, we show a novel Spiroplasma species is ever-present and predominant, with phylogenomic analyses placing it as a member of the ixodetis clade of mollicutes. Using state-of-the-art metagenomic assembly and binning strategies we were able to reconstruct a 714 Kb, 72.7%-complete Spiroplasma genome, which represents just the second draft genome from the ixodetis clade of mollicutes. Functional annotation of the Spiroplasma genome indicated carbohydrate-metabolism involved PTS-mediated import of glucose and fructose followed by glycolysis to lactate, acetate, and propionoate. The bacterium also encoded biosynthetic pathways for essential vitamins B2, B3, and B9. We identified putative Spiroplasma virulence genes: cardiolipin and chitinase. These results identify a previously undescribed symbiosis between wheat stem sawfly and a novel Spiroplasma sp., availing insight into their molecular relationship, and may yield new opportunities for microbially-mediated pest control strategies.}, } @article {pmid31522775, year = {2019}, author = {Requena, T and Velasco, M}, title = {The human microbiome in sickness and in health.}, journal = {Revista clinica espanola}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.rce.2019.07.004}, pmid = {31522775}, issn = {1578-1860}, abstract = {The study of the human microbiome has led to an exceptional increase in the current understanding of the importance of microbiota for health throughout all stages of life. Human microbial colonization occurs in the skin, genitourinary system and, mainly, in the oral cavity and intestinal tract. In these locations, the human microbiota establishes a symbiotic relationship with the host and helps maintain the physiological homeostasis. Lifestyle, age, diet and use of antibiotics are the main regulators of the composition and functionality of human microbiota. Recent studies have indicated the reduction in microbial diversity as one of the contributors to the development of diseases. In addition to phylogenetic diversity studies, further metagenomic studies are needed at the functional level of the human microbiome to improve our understanding of its involvement in human health.}, } @article {pmid31521988, year = {2019}, author = {Morse, D}, title = {A Transcriptome-based Perspective of Meiosis in Dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {170}, number = {4}, pages = {397-403}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2019.06.003}, pmid = {31521988}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Meiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {There is increasing interest in the possibility of sexual recombination in dinoflagellates, especially those symbiotic with coral, since recombination may be able to augment genetic diversity and reduce levels of coral bleaching. Several previous studies have addressed this in Symbiodinium by querying sequence databanks with a list of 51 genes termed a meiosis detection toolkit. Here, we have constructed an expanded list of 307 genes involved in meiosis in budding yeast. We find the genes involved in the major regulatory steps in yeast meiosis are also found in dinoflagellates, as are many of the genes involved in recombination. In contrast, few genes involved in forming the synaptonemal complex or forming spores are conserved. We further note that the meiosis-related genes absent in dinoflagellates are also as a general rule absent from other protists in the closely related apicomplexa and the ciliates. We conclude the symbiotic dinoflagellates are as able to undergo meiosis as are other protists.}, } @article {pmid31521732, year = {2020}, author = {Horiuchi, A and Kokubu, E and Warita, T and Ishihara, K}, title = {Synergistic biofilm formation by Parvimonas micra and Fusobacterium nucleatum.}, journal = {Anaerobe}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {102100}, doi = {10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.102100}, pmid = {31521732}, issn = {1095-8274}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Firmicutes/*physiology ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Parvimonas micra is frequently isolated from lesions of apical periodontitis and is a major disease-related pathogen. One of the main causes of apical periodontitis is extraradicular biofilm. In this study, we investigated polymicrobial biofilm formation by P. micra and species associated with apical periodontitis. The coaggregation activity of P. micra with partner strains was investigated by visual assays. Synergistic biofilm formation was evaluated by cocultures of P. micra and partner strains. Growth of planktonic cells was measured by evaluating the absorbance at OD660, and biofilm formation was examined by staining with crystal violet. The effects of soluble components on synergistic biofilm formation and planktonic cell growth were examined after coculture of P. micra and other strains separated with a 0.4-μm pore-size porous membrane. P. micra coaggregated with Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, or Capnoctyophaga ochracea. P. micra showed no coaggregation with Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, or Prevotella intermedia. In mixed cultures, biofilm formation by P. micra and F. nucleatum was greater than that by P. micra and P. gingivalis or C. ochracea. In separated cocultures, planktonic cell growth of P. micra was enhanced by each of the three species. Biofilm formation by P. micra was enhanced by F. nucleatum or C. ochracea; however, no significant enhancement was observed with P. gingivalis. These data indicated that P. micra and F. nucleatum had synergistic effects in biofilm formation and that these effects may be important for colonization by these two species in apical periodontitis lesions.}, } @article {pmid31521198, year = {2019}, author = {You, JS and Yong, JH and Kim, GH and Moon, S and Nam, KT and Ryu, JH and Yoon, MY and Yoon, SS}, title = {Commensal-derived metabolites govern Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis in host intestine.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {132}, pmid = {31521198}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Cholera/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Vibrio cholerae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that the commensal microbes act as a barrier against invading pathogens and enteric infections are the consequences of multi-layered interactions among commensals, pathogens, and the host intestinal tissue. However, it remains unclear how perturbations of the gut microbiota compromise host infection resistance, especially through changes at species and metabolite levels.

RESULTS: Here, we illustrate how Bacteroides vulgatus, a dominant species of the Bacteroidetes phylum in mouse intestine, suppresses infection by Vibrio cholerae, an important human pathogen. Clindamycin (CL) is an antibiotic that selectively kills anaerobic bacteria, and accordingly Bacteroidetes are completely eradicated from CL-treated mouse intestines. The Bacteroidetes-depleted adult mice developed severe cholera-like symptoms, when infected with V. cholerae. Germ-free mice mono-associated with B. vulgatus became resistant to V. cholerae infection. Levels of V. cholerae growth-inhibitory metabolites including short-chain fatty acids plummeted upon CL treatment, while levels of compounds that enhance V. cholerae proliferation were elevated. Furthermore, the intestinal colonization process of V. cholerae was well-simulated in CL-treated adult mice.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we provide insights into how a symbiotic microbe and a pathogenic intruder interact inside host intestine. We identified B. vulgatus as an indigenous microbial species that can suppress intestinal infection. Our results also demonstrate that commensal-derived metabolites are a critical determinant for host resistance against V. cholerae infection, and that CL pretreatment of adult mice generates a simple yet useful model of cholera infection.}, } @article {pmid31521050, year = {2019}, author = {Farci, D and Sanna, C and Medda, R and Pintus, F and Kalaji, HM and Kirkpatrick, J and Piano, D}, title = {Shedding light on the presymbiontic phase of C. arietinum.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {224-231}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.09.014}, pmid = {31521050}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Chemotaxis/genetics/physiology ; Cicer/metabolism/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; *Light ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {A complex network of symbiotic events between plants and bacteria allows the biosphere to exploit the atmospheric reservoir of molecular nitrogen. In seeds, a series of presymbiotic steps are already identified during imbibition, while interactions between the host and its symbiont begin in the early stages of germination. In the present study, a detailed analysis of the substances' complex delivered by Cicer arietinum seeds during imbibition showed a relevant presence of proteins and amino acids, which, except for cysteine, occurred with the whole proteinogenic pool. The imbibing solution was found to provide essential probiotic properties able to sustain the growth of the specific chickpea symbiont Mesorhizobium ciceri. Moreover, the imbibing solution, behaving as a complete medium, was found to be critically important for the symbiont's attraction, a fact this that is strictly related to the presence of the amino acids glycine, serine, and threonine. Here, the presence of these amino acids is constantly supported by the presence of the enzymes serine hydroxymethyltransferase and formyltetrahydrofolate deformylase, which are both involved in their biosynthesis. The reported findings are discussed in the light of the pivotal role played by the imbibing solution in attracting and sustaining symbiosis between the host and its symbiont.}, } @article {pmid31521032, year = {2019}, author = {Genc, O and van Capelleveen, G and Erdis, E and Yildiz, O and Yazan, DM}, title = {A socio-ecological approach to improve industrial zones towards eco-industrial parks.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {109507}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109507}, pmid = {31521032}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; Food Chain ; Industry ; Turkey ; }, abstract = {One of the concrete examples of industrial symbiosis development is eco-industrial parks, which improves resource efficiency and minimizes environmental impacts by adopting models for waste exchanges between industries. Despite past efforts, many industrial zones around the world are not yet considered as eco-industrial parks because of the low number (or total lack) of symbiotic relationships among industries. A promising strategy is to develop those existing industrial zones into eco-industrial parks. However, there is a lack of studies addressing how to assess environmental improvement in relation to network sustainability. This study demonstrates such an assessment approach using an integration of food web analysis and social network analysis. These two methods can assist in assessing differences in network configurations with respect to potential implementations of industrial symbiosis, and in analysing the resilience, redundancy, connectance, and cyclicity of eco-parks. The use of the methods is illustrated in a case study of an industrial zone in Turkey. Four potential future scenarios are proposed, including potential future co-location of companies in the industrial zone in order to foster industrial symbiotic network formation. These scenarios are compared with the current configuration. The results indicate the method's ability to assess the resilience of an industrial network. Moreover, the case shows an improvement of network sustainability and follows some sustainable properties of natural ecosystems as a result of implementing the industrial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31520944, year = {2020}, author = {Noman, A and Aqeel, M and Qasim, M and Haider, I and Lou, Y}, title = {Plant-insect-microbe interaction: A love triangle between enemies in ecosystem.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {699}, number = {}, pages = {134181}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134181}, pmid = {31520944}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Food Chain ; Herbivory ; *Insecta ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; *Plants ; Pollination ; }, abstract = {In natural ecosystems, plants interact with biotic components such as microbes, insects, animals and other plants as well. Generally, researchers have focused on each interaction separately, which condenses the significance of the interaction. This limited presentation of the facts masks the collective role of constantly interacting organisms in complex communities disturbing not only plant responses but also the response of organisms for each other in natural ecological settings. Beneficial microorganisms interact with insect herbivores, their predators and pollinators in a bidirectional way through the plant. Fascinatingly, insects employ diverse tactics to protect themselves from parasites or predators. Influences of microbial and insects attack on plants can bring changes in info-chemical frameworks and play a role in the food chain also. After insect herbivory and microbial pathogenesis, plants exhibit intense morpho-physiological and chemical reprogramming that leads to repellence/attraction of attacking organism or its natural enemy. The characterization of such interactions in different ecosystems is receiving due consideration, and underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms must be the point of concentration to unveil the evolution of multifaceted multitrophic interactions. Therefore, we have focused this phenomenon in a more realistic setting by integrating ecology and physiology to portray these multidimensional interfaces. We have shown, in this article, physiological trajectories in plant-microbe and insect relationship and their ecological relevance in nature. We focus and discuss microbial pathogenesis in plants, induced defense and the corresponding behavior of herbivore insects and vice-versa. It is hoped that this review will stimulate interest and zeal in microbes mediated plant-insect interactions along with their ecological consequences and encourage scientists to accept the challenges in this field.}, } @article {pmid31520693, year = {2019}, author = {Yan, H and Wang, Q and Teng, M and Li, X}, title = {The DNA-binding mechanism of the TCS response regulator ArlR from Staphylococcus aureus.}, journal = {Journal of structural biology}, volume = {208}, number = {3}, pages = {107388}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsb.2019.09.005}, pmid = {31520693}, issn = {1095-8657}, abstract = {ArlRS is an essential two-component system in Staphylococcus aureus that regulates the transcription of virulence factors and participate in numerous pathogenic and symbiotic processes. In this work, we identified different DNA binding properties and oligomerization states among the DNA-binding domain of ArlR (ArlR[DBD]) and the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated full-length ArlR. Based on a 2.5-Å resolution crystal structure of ArlR[DBD] and subsequent mutagenesis experiments, we confirmed the DNA-binding site of ArlR and the preferred binding sequences in the agr promoter that enables the DNA recognition process. Finally, we propose a putative transcription regulation mechanism for ArlR. This work will facilitate our understanding of the DNA binding affinity regulatory mechanism between the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated response regulator in the two-component system.}, } @article {pmid31518652, year = {2019}, author = {Carrillo, JD and Rugman-Jones, PF and Husein, D and Stajich, JE and Kasson, MT and Carrillo, D and Stouthamer, R and Eskalen, A}, title = {Members of the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex exhibit promiscuous mutualism with ambrosia fungi in Taiwan.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {133}, number = {}, pages = {103269}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103269}, pmid = {31518652}, issn = {1096-0937}, support = {S10 OD016290/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Female ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Carrillo, J.D., Rugman-Jones, PF., Husein, D., Stajich, J.E., Kasson, M.T., Carrillo, D., Stouthamer, R., and Eskalen, A. 2019. Members of the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex exhibit promiscuous mutualism with ambrosia fungi in Taiwan. A number of ambrosia beetles have come to prominence in recent years because of the damage they inflict on a variety of trees within invaded habitats across the globe. Ambrosia beetles rely on symbiotic microorganisms, mainly fungi, as a dedicated food source and carry those microorganisms around with them within specialized organs termed mycangia. Investigation of members of the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex and their fungal symbionts in Taiwan revealed promiscuous symbioses with ambrosial Fusaria clade (AFC) members, Graphium spp., and Paracremonium spp. based on co-phylogenetic analyses. For AFC members, a novel diagnostic PCR assay targeting mating type genes MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 was developed and validated by amplicon size and sequencing. Mating type screening of AFC members revealed the isolates screened are all heterothallic (self-sterile), with both MAT types represented and recovered from fungi vectored by E. fornicatus (tea shot hole borer), E. kuroshio (Kuroshio shot hole borer), and E. whitfordiodendrus (polyphagous shot hole borer) in Taiwan. Members of the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex and the variety of ambrosia fungi they utilize further confirms that their relationship with these fungi are more likely promiscuous in native areas, as opposed to strictly obligate to a specific combination of fungi as observed in invaded areas.}, } @article {pmid31518373, year = {2019}, author = {Sugawara, M and Umehara, Y and Kaga, A and Hayashi, M and Ishimoto, M and Sato, S and Mitsui, H and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Symbiotic incompatibility between soybean and Bradyrhizobium arises from one amino acid determinant in soybean Rj2 protein.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0222469}, pmid = {31518373}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alleles ; Amino Acids/*genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Soybean Proteins/*genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Cultivated soybean (Glycine max) carrying the Rj2 allele restricts nodulation with specific Bradyrhizobium strains via host immunity, mediated by rhizobial type III secretory protein NopP and the host resistance protein Rj2. Here we found that the single isoleucine residue I490 in Rj2 is required for induction of symbiotic incompatibility. Furthermore, we investigated the geographical distribution of the Rj2-genotype soybean in a large set of germplasm by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping using a SNP marker for I490. By allelic comparison of 79 accessions in the Japanese soybean mini-core collection, we suggest substitution of a single amino acid residue (R490 to I490) in Rj2 induces symbiotic incompatibility with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 122. The importance of I490 was verified by complementation of rj2-soybean by the dominant allele encoding the Rj2 protein containing I490 residue. The Rj2 allele was also found in Glycine soja, the wild progenitor of G. max, and their single amino acid polymorphisms were associated with the Rj2-nodulation phenotype. By SNP genotyping against 1583 soybean accessions, we detected the Rj2-genotype in 5.4% of G. max and 7.7% of G. soja accessions. Distribution of the Rj2-genotype soybean plants was relatively concentrated in the temperate Asian region. These results provide important information about the mechanism of host genotype-specific symbiotic incompatibility mediated by host immunity and suggest that the Rj2 gene has been maintained by environmental conditions during the process of soybean domestication.}, } @article {pmid31518350, year = {2019}, author = {Yamaguchi, MS and Ganz, HH and Cho, AW and Zaw, TH and Jospin, G and McCartney, MM and Davis, CE and Eisen, JA and Coil, DA}, title = {Bacteria isolated from Bengal cat (Felis catus × Prionailurus bengalensis) anal sac secretions produce volatile compounds potentially associated with animal signaling.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0216846}, pmid = {31518350}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {T32 HL007013/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; UG3 OD023365/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000002/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001860/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES023513/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anal Sacs/*microbiology ; *Animal Communication ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Cats ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Metagenomics/methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In social animals, scent secretions and marking behaviors play critical roles in communication, including intraspecific signals, such as identifying individuals and group membership, as well as interspecific signaling. Anal sacs are an important odor producing organ found across the carnivorans (species in the mammalian Order Carnivora). Secretions from the anal sac may be used as chemical signals by animals for behaviors ranging from defense to species recognition to signaling reproductive status. In addition, a recent study suggests that domestic cats utilize short-chain free fatty acids in anal sac secretions for individual recognition. The fermentation hypothesis is the idea that symbiotic microorganisms living in association with animals contribute to odor profiles used in chemical communication and that variation in these chemical signals reflects variation in the microbial community. Here we examine the fermentation hypothesis by characterizing volatile organic compounds (VOC) and bacteria isolated from anal sac secretions collected from a male Bengal cat (Felis catus × Prionailurus bengalensis), a cross between the domestic cat and the leopard cat. Both left and right anal sacs of a male Bengal cat were manually expressed (emptied) and collected. Half of the material was used to culture bacteria or to extract bacterial DNA and the other half was used for VOC analysis. DNA was extracted from the anal sac secretions and used for a 16S rRNA gene PCR amplification and sequencing based characterization of the microbial community. Additionally, some of the material was plated out in order to isolate bacterial colonies. Three taxa (Bacteroides fragilis, Tessaracoccus, and Finegoldia magna) were relatively abundant in the 16S rRNA gene sequence data and also isolated by culturing. Using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we tentatively identified 52 compounds from the Bengal cat anal sac secretions and 67 compounds from cultures of the three bacterial isolates chosen for further analysis. Among 67 compounds tentatively identified from bacterial isolates, 51 were also found in the anal sac secretion. We show that the bacterial community in the anal sac consists primarily of only a few abundant taxa and that isolates of these taxa produce numerous volatiles that are found in the combined anal sac volatile profile. Several of these volatiles are found in anal sac secretions from other carnivorans, and are also associated with known bacterial biosynthesis pathways. This is consistent with the fermentation hypothesis and the possibility that the anal sac is maintained at least in part to house bacteria that produce volatiles for the host.}, } @article {pmid31515637, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, B and Liu, X and Liu, F and Ma, H and Ma, B and Zhang, W and Peng, L}, title = {Growth improvement of Lolium multiflorum Lam. induced by seed inoculation with fungus suspension of Xerocomus badius and Serendipita indica.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {145}, pmid = {31515637}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {In this study, a pot experiment was carried out in greenhouse to investigate the potentials of Xerocomus badius and Serendipita indica to penetrate and colonize roots of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and to induce beneficial effects on seed germination and seedling growth. The results showed that X. badius and S. indica successfully colonized in the root system of L. multiflorum seedlings and the root colonization rate was 72.65% and 88.42%, respectively. By microscopy, the hyphae, chlamydospores and spores produced by S. indica were observed in roots cortex of L. multiflorum seedlings. In comparison with the non-inoculated seedlings, seedlings inoculated with X. badius and S. indica showed significant increase in growth parameters with plant height, basal diameter, biomass accumulation, relative growth rate, leaf relative water content and chlorophyll content. Also, we found that seedlings inoculated with S. indica exhibited a greater growth-promotion as compared with X. badius-inoculated seedlings. No significant influence of the two fungus application has been observed with respect to seed germination. It suggested that well establishments of mutualistic symbiosis between L. multiflorum and X. badius or S. indica were not so essential to seed germination but contributed highly to the survival and growth of the seedlings.}, } @article {pmid31513643, year = {2019}, author = {Alexander, A and Singh, VK and Mishra, A and Jha, B}, title = {Plant growth promoting rhizobacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BJ01 augments endurance against N2 starvation by modulating physiology and biochemical activities of Arachis hypogea.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0222405}, pmid = {31513643}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Arachis/*metabolism/microbiology ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis/deficiency/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arachis hypogea (Peanut) is one of the most important crops, and it is harvested and used for food and oil production. Being a legume crop, the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen is achieved through symbiotic association. Nitrogen deficiency is one of the major constrains for loss of crop productivity. The bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is known for interactions with plants. In this study, characteristics that promote plant growth were explored for their ability to enhance the growth of peanut plants under N2 deficit condition. In the presence of S. maltophilia, it was observed that fatty acid composition of peanut plants was influenced and increased contents of omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid and omega-6 fatty acid (γ-Linolenic acid) were detected. Plant growth was increased in plants co-cultivated with PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) under normal and stress (nitrogen deficient) condition. Electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, and H2O2 content reduced in plants, co-cultivated with PGPR under normal (grown in a media supplemented with N2 source; C+) or stress (nitrogen deficient N+) conditions compared to the corresponding control plants (i.e. not co-cultivated with PGPR; C-or N-). The growth hormone auxin, osmoprotectants (proline, total soluble sugars and total amino acids), total phenolic-compounds and total flavonoid content were enhanced in plants co-cultivated with PGPR. Additionally, antioxidant and free radical scavenging (DPPH, hydroxyl and H2O2) activities were increased in plants that were treated with PGPR under both normal and N2 deficit condition. Overall, these results indicate that plants co-cultivated with PGPR, S. maltophilia, increase plant growth, antioxidant levels, scavenging, and stress tolerance under N2 deficit condition. The beneficial use of bacterium S. maltophilia could be explored further as an efficient PGPR for growing agricultural crops under N2 deficit conditions. However, a detail agronomic study would be prerequisite to confirm its commercial role.}, } @article {pmid31513297, year = {2020}, author = {Schwartz, RA and Al-Qubati, Y and Zieleniewski, Ł and Shah, R and Kapila, R}, title = {Onchocerciasis (river blindness): larva-induced eczema (onchodermatitis) from an important oculocutaneous tropical disease spilling over into North America and Europe.}, journal = {International journal of dermatology}, volume = {59}, number = {9}, pages = {1065-1070}, doi = {10.1111/ijd.14614}, pmid = {31513297}, issn = {1365-4632}, mesh = {Animals ; *Eczema ; Europe ; Ivermectin/therapeutic use ; Larva ; North America ; *Onchocerciasis/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Onchocerciasis, Ocular/diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Onchocerciasis is a leading cause of blindness in the world. It may be seen in temperate climates of the United States and Europe in immigrants and travelers from endemic regions, often linked to poverty and war. One should be aware of an incubation period that can be up to 15 months. In its early stage and throughout its course, onchocerciasis has noteworthy skin findings, facilitating diagnosis, as onchodermatitis resembles common eczema with variable degrees of papular, lichenoid, atrophic, and pigmentary alterations, features not suggestive if one is unaware of an individual's immigration and travel history. The same concept applies for the encysted worms (onchocercomas), as they tend to appear as common skin cysts and benign neoplasms. New methods can be employed to increase diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Ivermectin is the gold standard of therapy, the use of which has almost miraculously eliminated this disease from large areas of the earth. However, its effect remains isolated to microfilariae and can be devastating in those coinfected with Loa loa. Recently, the symbiotic relationship between adult worms and Wolbachia bacteria has been discovered and, with it, the possibility of adding doxycycline as a treatment option. We also discuss coinfection with HIV and other diseases.}, } @article {pmid31511342, year = {2019}, author = {Roder, AC and Wang, Y and Butcher, RA and Stock, SP}, title = {Influence of symbiotic and non-symbiotic bacteria on pheromone production in Steinernema nematodes (Nematoda, Steinernematidae).}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.212068}, pmid = {31511342}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Glycolipids/metabolism ; Pheromones/*metabolism ; Rhabditida/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {In this study, we assessed the effect of symbiotic (cognate and non-cognate) and non-symbiotic bacteria on ascaroside production of first-generation adults in two Steinernema spp.: S. carpocapsae All strain and S. feltiae SN strain. Each nematode species was reared under three bacterial scenarios: (1) cognate symbiotic, (2) non-cognate symbiotic strain and (3) non-cognate symbiotic species. Our results showed S. carpocapsae produced four quantifiable ascaroside molecules: asc-C5, asc-C6, asc-C7 and asc-C11, whereas in S. feltiae only three molecules were detected: asc-C5, asc-C7 and asc-C11. Bacterial conditions did not significantly affect the quantity of the secreted ascarosides in first-generation adults of S. carpocapsae However, in S. feltiae, Xenorhabdus nematophila All strain influenced the production of two ascaroside molecules: asc-C5 and asc-C11.}, } @article {pmid31509600, year = {2019}, author = {Radice, VZ and Brett, MT and Fry, B and Fox, MD and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, SG}, title = {Evaluating coral trophic strategies using fatty acid composition and indices.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0222327}, pmid = {31509600}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes ; Carbon ; Carbon Isotopes ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/analysis/*metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Indian Ocean Islands ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The ecological success of shallow water reef-building corals has been linked to the symbiosis between the coral host and its dinoflagellate symbionts (herein 'symbionts'). As mixotrophs, symbiotic corals depend on nutrients 1) transferred from their photosynthetic symbionts (autotrophy) and 2) acquired by host feeding on particulate organic resources (heterotrophy). However, coral species differ in the extent to which they depend on heterotrophy for nutrition and these differences are typically poorly defined. Here, a multi-tracer fatty acid approach was used to evaluate the trophic strategies of three species of common reef-building coral (Galaxea fascicularis, Pachyseris speciosa, and Pocillopora verrucosa) whose trophic strategies had previously been identified using carbon stable isotopes. The composition and various indices of fatty acids were compared to examine the relative contribution of symbiont autotrophy and host heterotrophy in coral energy acquisition. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to estimate the contribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from various potential sources to the coral hosts. The total fatty acid composition and fatty acid indices revealed differences between the more heterotrophic (P. verrucosa) and more autotrophic (P. speciosa) coral hosts, with the coral host G. fascicularis showing overlap with the other two species and greater variability overall. For the more heterotrophic P. verrucosa, the fatty acid indices and LDA results both indicated a greater proportion of copepod-derived fatty acids compared to the other coral species. Overall, the LDA estimated that PUFA derived from particulate resources (e.g., copepods and diatoms) comprised a greater proportion of coral host PUFA in contrast to the lower proportion of symbiont-derived PUFA. These estimates provide insight into the importance of heterotrophy in coral nutrition, especially in productive reef systems. The study supports carbon stable isotope results and demonstrates the utility of fatty acid analyses for exploring the trophic strategies of reef-building corals.}, } @article {pmid31508195, year = {2019}, author = {He, S and Grasis, JA and Nicotra, ML and Juliano, CE and Schnitzler, CE}, title = {Cnidofest 2018: the future is bright for cnidarian research.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {20}, pmid = {31508195}, issn = {2041-9139}, abstract = {The 2018 Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting (Cnidofest) was held September 6-9th at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine, FL. Cnidofest 2018, which built upon the momentum of Hydroidfest 2016, brought together research communities working on a broad spectrum of cnidarian organisms from North America and around the world. Meeting talks covered diverse aspects of cnidarian biology, with sessions focused on genomics, development, neurobiology, immunology, symbiosis, ecology, and evolution. In addition to interesting biology, Cnidofest also emphasized the advancement of modern research techniques. Invited technology speakers showcased the power of microfluidics and single-cell transcriptomics and demonstrated their application in cnidarian models. In this report, we provide an overview of the exciting research that was presented at the meeting and discuss opportunities for future research.}, } @article {pmid31506017, year = {2019}, author = {Moore, RE and Townsend, SD}, title = {Temporal development of the infant gut microbiome.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {190128}, pmid = {31506017}, issn = {2046-2441}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Exposure ; Milk ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {The majority of organisms that inhabit the human body reside in the gut. Since babies are born with an immature immune system, they depend on a highly synchronized microbial colonization process to ensure the correct microbes are present for optimal immune function and development. In a balanced microbiome, symbiotic and commensal species outcompete pathogens for resources. They also provide a protective barrier against chemical signals and toxic metabolites. In this targeted review we will describe factors that influence the temporal development of the infant microbiome, including the mode of delivery and gestational age at birth, maternal and infant perinatal antibiotic infusions, and feeding method-breastfeeding versus formula feeding. We will close by discussing wider environmental pressures and early intimate contact, particularly between mother and child, as they play a pivotal role in early microbial acquisition and community succession in the infant.}, } @article {pmid31504533, year = {2019}, author = {Havird, JC and Weaver, RJ and Milani, L and Ghiselli, F and Greenway, R and Ramsey, AJ and Jimenez, AG and Dowling, DK and Hood, WR and Montooth, KL and Estes, S and Schulte, PM and Sokolova, IM and Hill, GE}, title = {Beyond the Powerhouse: Integrating Mitonuclear Evolution, Physiology, and Theory in Comparative Biology.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {59}, number = {4}, pages = {856-863}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icz132}, pmid = {31504533}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; *Biological Coevolution ; Cell Nucleus/genetics/*physiology ; Eukaryota/genetics/*physiology ; Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotes are the outcome of an ancient symbiosis and as such, eukaryotic cells fundamentally possess two genomes. As a consequence, gene products encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes must interact in an intimate and precise fashion to enable aerobic respiration in eukaryotes. This genomic architecture of eukaryotes is proposed to necessitate perpetual coevolution between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes to maintain coadaptation, but the presence of two genomes also creates the opportunity for intracellular conflict. In the collection of papers that constitute this symposium volume, scientists working in diverse organismal systems spanning vast biological scales address emerging topics in integrative, comparative biology in light of mitonuclear interactions.}, } @article {pmid31504465, year = {2019}, author = {Freed, LL and Easson, C and Baker, LJ and Fenolio, D and Sutton, TT and Khan, Y and Blackwelder, P and Hendry, TA and Lopez, JV}, title = {Characterization of the microbiome and bioluminescent symbionts across life stages of Ceratioid Anglerfishes of the Gulf of Mexico.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31504465}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fishes/*microbiology/physiology ; Gulf of Mexico ; Host Specificity ; Luminescence ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Skin/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The interdependence of diverse organisms through symbiosis reaches even the deepest parts of the oceans. As part of the DEEPEND project (deependconsortium.org) research on deep Gulf of Mexico biodiversity, we profiled the bacterial communities ('microbiomes') and luminous symbionts of 36 specimens of adult and larval deep-sea anglerfishes of the suborder Ceratioidei using 16S rDNA. Transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the location of symbionts in adult light organs (esca). Whole larval microbiomes, and adult skin and gut microbiomes, were dominated by bacteria in the genera Moritella and Pseudoalteromonas. 16S rDNA sequencing results from adult fishes corroborate the previously published identity of ceratioid bioluminescent symbionts and support the findings that these symbionts do not consistently exhibit host specificity at the host family level. Bioluminescent symbiont amplicon sequence variants were absent from larval ceratioid samples, but were found at all depths in the seawater, with a highest abundance found at mesopelagic depths. As adults spend the majority of their lives in the meso- and bathypelagic zones, the trend in symbiont abundance is consistent with their life history. These findings support the hypothesis that bioluminescent symbionts are not present throughout host development, and that ceratioids acquire their bioluminescent symbionts from the environment.}, } @article {pmid31504453, year = {2019}, author = {Barelli, L and Behie, SW and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Availability of carbon and nitrogen in soil affects Metarhizium robertsii root colonization and transfer of insect-derived nitrogen.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz144}, pmid = {31504453}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/analysis/*metabolism ; Insecta/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metarhizium/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/chemistry/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The endophytic, insect pathogenic fungus, Metarhizium, exchanges insect-derived nitrogen for photosynthate as part of a symbiotic association similar to well-known mycorrhizal relationships. However, little is known about this nitrogen transfer in soils where there is an abundance of nitrogen and/or carbon. Here, we applied D-glucose and ammonium nitrate to soil to examine the effect on root colonization and transfer of labelled nitrogen (15N) from an insect (injected with 15N-ammonium sulfate) to Metarhizium robertsii, into leaves of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, over the course of 28 days. Application of exogenous carbon and/or nitrogen to soils significantly reduced detectable 15N in plant leaves. Metarhizium root colonization, quantified with real-time PCR, revealed colonization persisted under all conditions but was significantly greater on roots in soil supplemented with glucose and significantly lower in soil supplemented with ammonium nitrate. Fungal gene expression analysis revealed differential expression of sugar and nitrogen transporters (mrt, st3, nrr1, nit1, mep2) when Metarhizium was grown in pure broth culture or in co-culture with plant roots under various carbon and nitrogen conditions. The observation that Metarhizium maintained root colonization in the absence of nitrogen transfer, and without evidence of plant harm, is intriguing and indicates additional benefits with ecological importance.}, } @article {pmid31504055, year = {2019}, author = {Scheifler, M and Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Sanchez-Brosseau, S and Magnanou, E and Suzuki, MT and West, N and Duperron, S and Desdevises, Y}, title = {Characterization of ecto- and endoparasite communities of wild Mediterranean teleosts by a metabarcoding approach.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e0221475}, pmid = {31504055}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Apicomplexa/genetics ; Arthropods/genetics ; Ascomycota/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Ciliophora/genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods ; Fishes/microbiology/*parasitology ; Gills/microbiology/parasitology ; Intestines/microbiology/parasitology ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; Nematoda/genetics ; Skin/microbiology/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Next-generation sequencing methods are increasingly used to identify eukaryotic, unicellular and multicellular symbiont communities within hosts. In this study, we analyzed the non-specific reads obtained during a metabarcoding survey of the bacterial communities associated to three different tissues collected from 13 wild Mediterranean teleost fish species. In total, 30 eukaryotic genera were identified as putative parasites of teleosts, associated to skin mucus, gills mucus and intestine: 2 ascomycetes, 4 arthropods, 2 cnidarians, 7 nematodes, 10 platyhelminthes, 4 apicomplexans, 1 ciliate as well as one order in dinoflagellates (Syndiniales). These results highlighted that (1) the metabarcoding approach was able to uncover a large spectrum of symbiotic organisms associated to the fish species studied, (2) symbionts not yet identified in several teleost species were putatively present, (3) the parasitic diversity differed markedly across host species and (4) in most cases, the distribution of known parasitic genera within tissues is in accordance with the literature. The current work illustrates the large insights that can be gained by making maximum use of data from a metabarcoding approach.}, } @article {pmid31502415, year = {2019}, author = {Chouaia, B and Goda, N and Mazza, G and Alali, S and Florian, F and Gionechetti, F and Callegari, M and Gonella, E and Magoga, G and Fusi, M and Crotti, E and Daffonchio, D and Alma, A and Paoli, F and Roversi, PF and Marianelli, L and Montagna, M}, title = {Developmental stages and gut microenvironments influence gut microbiota dynamics in the invasive beetle Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {4343-4359}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14797}, pmid = {31502415}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {FFABR-2017//Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification ; Coleoptera/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; }, abstract = {Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a highly polyphagous invasive beetle originating from Japan. This insect is highly resilient and able to rapidly adapt to new vegetation. Insect-associated microorganisms can play important roles in insect physiology, helping their hosts to adapt to changing conditions and potentially contributing to an insect's invasive potential. Such symbiotic bacteria can be part of a core microbiota that is stably transmitted throughout the host's life cycle or selectively recruited from the environment at each developmental stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the origin, stability and turnover of the bacterial communities associated with an invasive population of P. japonica from Italy. Our results demonstrate that soil microbes represent an important source of gut bacteria for P. japonica larvae, but as the insect develops, its gut microbiota richness and diversity decreased substantially, paralleled by changes in community composition. Notably, only 16.75% of the soil bacteria present in larvae are maintained until the adult stage. We further identified the micro-environments of different gut sections as an important factor shaping microbiota composition in this species, likely due to differences in pH, oxygen availability and redox potential. In addition, P. japonica also harboured a stable bacterial community across all developmental stages, consisting of taxa well known for the degradation of plant material, namely the families Ruminococcacae, Christensenellaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Interestingly, the family Christensenallaceae had so far been observed exclusively in humans. However, the Christensenellaceae operational taxonomic units found in P. japonica belong to different taxonomic clades within this family.}, } @article {pmid31501491, year = {2019}, author = {Huot, L and George, S and Girard, PA and Severac, D and Nègre, N and Duvic, B}, title = {Spodoptera frugiperda transcriptional response to infestation by Steinernema carpocapsae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {12879}, pmid = {31501491}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Fat Body/metabolism ; Hemocytes/metabolism ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Rhabditida/microbiology/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Spodoptera/cytology/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcription, Genetic ; Xenorhabdus/physiology ; }, abstract = {Steinernema carpocapsae is an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) used in biological control of agricultural pest insects. It enters the hemocoel of its host via the intestinal tract and releases its symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. In order to improve our knowledge about the physiological responses of its different hosts, we examined the transcriptional responses to EPN infestation of the fat body, the hemocytes and the midgut in the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera frugiperda. The tissues poorly respond to the infestation at an early time post-infestation of 8 h with only 5 genes differentially expressed in the fat body of the caterpillars. Strong transcriptional responses are observed at a later time point of 15 h post-infestation in all three tissues. Few genes are differentially expressed in the midgut but tissue-specific panels of induced metalloprotease inhibitors, immune receptors and antimicrobial peptides together with several uncharacterized genes are up-regulated in the fat body and the hemocytes. Among the most up-regulated genes, we identified new potential immune effectors, unique to Lepidoptera, which show homology with bacterial genes of unknown function. Altogether, these results pave the way for further functional studies of the responsive genes' involvement in the interaction with the EPN.}, } @article {pmid31500535, year = {2019}, author = {Foster, RA and Zehr, JP}, title = {Diversity, Genomics, and Distribution of Phytoplankton-Cyanobacterium Single-Cell Symbiotic Associations.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {}, pages = {435-456}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-090817-062650}, pmid = {31500535}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Cyanobacteria/*classification/*growth & development ; Endophytes/classification/growth & development ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phototrophic Processes ; Phytoplankton/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are common in symbiotic relationships with diverse multicellular organisms (animals, plants, fungi) in terrestrial environments and with single-celled heterotrophic, mixotrophic, and autotrophic protists in aquatic environments. In the sunlit zones of aquatic environments, diverse cyanobacterial symbioses exist with autotrophic taxa in phytoplankton, including dinoflagellates, diatoms, and haptophytes (prymnesiophytes). Phototrophic unicellular cyanobacteria related to Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus are associated with a number of groups. N2-fixing cyanobacteria are symbiotic with diatoms and haptophytes. Extensive genome reduction is involved in the N2-fixing endosymbionts, most dramatically in the unicellular cyanobacteria associated with haptophytes, which have lost most of the photosynthetic apparatus, the ability to fix C, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The mechanisms involved in N2-fixing symbioses may involve more interactions beyond simple exchange of fixed C for N. N2-fixing cyanobacterial symbioses are widespread in the oceans, even more widely distributed than the best-known free-living N2-fixing cyanobacteria, suggesting they may be equally or more important in the global ocean biogeochemical cycle of N.Despite their ubiquitous nature and significance in biogeochemical cycles, cyanobacterium-phytoplankton symbioses remain understudied and poorly understood.}, } @article {pmid31499274, year = {2019}, author = {de Saint Germain, A and Retailleau, P and Norsikian, S and Servajean, V and Pelissier, F and Steinmetz, V and Pillot, JP and Rochange, S and Pouvreau, JB and Boyer, FD}, title = {Contalactone, a contaminant formed during chemical synthesis of the strigolactone reference GR24 is also a strigolactone mimic.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {168}, number = {}, pages = {112112}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.112112}, pmid = {31499274}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*analysis/chemical synthesis ; Lactones/*analysis/chemical synthesis ; Molecular Structure ; }, abstract = {Strigolactone (SL) plant hormones control plant architecture and are key players in both symbiotic and parasitic interactions. GR24, a synthetic SL analog, is the worldwide reference compound used in all bioassays for investigating the role of SLs in plant development and in rhizospheric interactions. In 2012, the first characterization of the SL receptor reported the detection of an unknown compound after incubation of GR24 samples with the SL receptor. We reveal here the origin of this compound (P270), which comes from a by-product formed during GR24 chemical synthesis. We present the identification of this by-product, named contalactone. A proposed chemical pathway for its formation is provided as well as an evaluation of its bioactivity on pea, Arabidopsis, root parasitic plant seeds and AM fungi, characterizing it as a SL mimic. Quality of GR24 samples can be easily checked by carrying out microscale hydrolysis in a basic aqueous medium to easily detect P270 as indicator of the presence of the contalactone impurity. In all cases, before being used for bioassays, GR24 must be careful purified by preparative HPLC.}, } @article {pmid31497392, year = {2019}, author = {Shtark, OY and Puzanskiy, RK and Avdeeva, GS and Yurkov, AP and Smolikova, GN and Yemelyanov, VV and Kliukova, MS and Shavarda, AL and Kirpichnikova, AA and Zhernakov, AI and Afonin, AM and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA and Shishova, MF}, title = {Metabolic alterations in pea leaves during arbuscular mycorrhiza development.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e7495}, pmid = {31497392}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is known to be a mutually beneficial plant-fungal symbiosis; however, the effect of mycorrhization is heavily dependent on multiple biotic and abiotic factors. Therefore, for the proper employment of such plant-fungal symbiotic systems in agriculture, a detailed understanding of the molecular basis of the plant developmental response to mycorrhization is needed. The aim of this work was to uncover the physiological and metabolic alterations in pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaves associated with mycorrhization at key plant developmental stages. Plants of pea cv. Finale were grown in constant environmental conditions under phosphate deficiency. The plants were analyzed at six distinct time points, which corresponded to certain developmental stages of the pea: I: 7 days post inoculation (DPI) when the second leaf is fully unfolded with one pair of leaflets and a simple tendril; II: 21 DPI at first leaf with two pairs of leaflets and a complex tendril; III: 32 DPI when the floral bud is enclosed; IV: 42 DPI at the first open flower; V: 56 DPI when the pod is filled with green seeds; and VI: 90-110 DPI at the dry harvest stage. Inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis had no effect on the fresh or dry shoot weight, the leaf photochemical activity, accumulation of chlorophyll a, b or carotenoids. However, at stage III (corresponding to the most active phase of mycorrhiza development), the number of internodes between cotyledons and the youngest completely developed leaf was lower in the inoculated plants than in those without inoculation. Moreover, inoculation extended the vegetation period of the host plants, and resulted in increase of the average dry weight per seed at stage VI. The leaf metabolome, as analyzed with GC-MS, included about three hundred distinct metabolites and showed a strong correlation with plant age, and, to a lesser extent, was influenced by mycorrhization. Metabolic shifts influenced the levels of sugars, amino acids and other intermediates of nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism. The use of unsupervised dimension reduction methods showed that (i) at stage II, the metabolite spectra of inoculated plants were similar to those of the control, and (ii) at stages IV and V, the leaf metabolic profiles of inoculated plants shifted towards the profiles of the control plants at earlier developmental stages. At stage IV the inoculated plants exhibited a higher level of metabolism of nitrogen, organic acids, and lipophilic compounds in comparison to control plants. Thus, mycorrhization led to the retardation of plant development, which was also associated with higher seed biomass accumulation in plants with an extended vegetation period. The symbiotic crosstalk between host plant and AM fungi leads to alterations in several biochemical pathways the details of which need to be elucidated in further studies.}, } @article {pmid31495588, year = {2019}, author = {Iwai, S and Fujita, K and Takanishi, Y and Fukushi, K}, title = {Photosynthetic Endosymbionts Benefit from Host's Phagotrophy, Including Predation on Potential Competitors.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {18}, pages = {3114-3119.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.074}, pmid = {31495588}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/metabolism ; Chlorella/*growth & development/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Light ; Paramecium/metabolism ; Phagocytosis/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In many endosymbioses, hosts have been shown to benefit from symbiosis, but it remains unclear whether intracellular endosymbionts benefit from their association with hosts [1, 2]. This makes it difficult to determine evolutionary mechanisms underlying cooperative behaviors between hosts and intracellular endosymbionts, such as mutual exchange of vital resources. Here, we investigate the fitness effects of symbiosis on the ciliate host Paramecium bursaria and on the algal endosymbiont Chlorella [3, 4], using experimental microcosms that include the free-living alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to mimic ecologically realistic conditions. We demonstrate that both host ciliate and the endosymbiotic algae gain fitness benefits from the symbiosis when another alga C. reinhardtii is present in the system. Specifically, the endosymbiotic Chlorella can grow as the host ciliate feeds and grows on C. reinhardtii, whereas the growth of free-living Chlorella is reduced by its competitor, C. reinhardtii. Thus, we propose that the endosymbiotic algae benefit from the host's phagotrophy, which allows the endosymbiont to access particulate nutrient sources and to indirectly prey on the potential competitors competing with its free-living counterparts. Even though the ecological contexts in which each partner receives its benefits differ, both partners would gain net fitness benefits in an ecological timescale. Thus, the cooperative behaviors can evolve through fitness feedback (partner fidelity feedback) between the host and the endosymbiont, without need for special partner control mechanisms. The proposed ecological and evolutionary mechanisms provide a basis for understanding cooperative resource exchanges in endosymbioses, including many photosynthetic endosymbioses widespread in aquatic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31493718, year = {2019}, author = {Hidalgo-Castellanos, J and Duque, AS and Burgueño, A and Herrera-Cervera, JA and Fevereiro, P and López-Gómez, M}, title = {Overexpression of the arginine decarboxylase gene promotes the symbiotic interaction Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti and induces the accumulation of proline and spermine in nodules under salt stress conditions.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {241}, number = {}, pages = {153034}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2019.153034}, pmid = {31493718}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Carboxy-Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Proline/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/physiology ; Salt Stress/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Spermine/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legumes have the capacity to fix nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria known as rhizobia by the formation of root nodules. However, nitrogen fixation is highly sensitive to soil salinity with a concomitant reduction of the plant yield and soil fertilization. Polycationic aliphatic amines known as polyamines (PAs) have been shown to be involved in the response to a variety of stresses in plants including soil salinity. Therefore, the generation of transgenic plants overexpressing genes involved in PA biosynthesis have been proposed as a promising tool to improve salt stress tolerance in plants. In this work we tested whether the modulation of PAs in transgenic Medicago truncatula plants was advantageous for the symbiotic interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti under salt stress conditions, when compared to wild type plants. Consequently, we characterized the symbiotic response to salt stress of the homozygous M. truncatula plant line L-108, constitutively expressing the oat adc gene, coding for the PA biosynthetic enzyme arginine decarboxylase, involved in PAs biosynthesis. In a nodulation kinetic assay, nodule number incremented in L-108 plants under salt stress. In addition, these plants at vegetative stage showed higher nitrogenase and nodule biomass and, under salt stress, accumulated proline (Pro) and spermine (Spm) in nodules, while in wt plants, the accumulation of glutamic acid (Glu), γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) (the ethylene (ET) precursor) were the metabolites involved in the salt stress response. Therefore, overexpression of oat adc gene favours the symbiotic interaction between plants of M. truncatula L-108 and S. meliloti under salt stress and the accumulation of Pro and Spm, seems to be the molecules involved in salt stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid31492938, year = {2019}, author = {Houlihan, PR and Stone, M and Clem, SE and Owen, M and Emmel, TC}, title = {Pollination ecology of the ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii): A first description with new hypotheses for Darwin's orchids.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {12850}, pmid = {31492938}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Florida ; *Models, Biological ; Moths/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*physiology ; Pollination/*physiology ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {The structural variation of orchids enables myriad fascinating symbiotic relationships with organisms across kingdoms. Orchids are frequently known for having elaborate arms races with their pollinators that result in intricate morphologies in both parties, and flowers with long corollas hypothesized to be pollinated only by individual species of long tongued hawkmoths are of particular concern for conservation. Florida's endangered ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii, has long been confidently assumed to be pollinated by one species (Cocytius antaeus), despite the presence of a resident community of multiple suitable long-tongued candidates. Here we present the first description of ghost orchid pollination, and describe novel remote camera trapping methods. Pollination of D. lindenii by Pachylia ficus disproves long-standing hypotheses concerning the pollination ecology of long-spurred orchids, and new multiple pollinator hypotheses are proposed. We discuss the broader implications for the conservation of an endangered species, orchids globally, and the importance of Everglades restoration.}, } @article {pmid31492935, year = {2019}, author = {Chagas, PMB and Caetano, AA and Tireli, AA and Cesar, PHS and Corrêa, AD and Guimarães, IDR}, title = {Use of an Environmental Pollutant From Hexavalent Chromium Removal as a Green Catalyst in The Fenton Process.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {12819}, pmid = {31492935}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {The present study refers to the use of an environmental pollutant generated during the removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous media. This pollutant is a material with catalytic properties suitable for application in the oxidative degradation of problematic organic compounds. The material, initially used as an adsorbent, is a composite prepared by modifying the crystalline phases of iron oxides together with the chitosan (CT-FeCr). Chemical and morphological characterizations of the materials were performed using SEM analysis coupled with EDS, XRD and DSC. The CT-FeCr beads were used in the degradation of methylene blue dye (MB) and showed excellent degradation potential (93.6%). The presence of Cr on the surface of the catalyst was responsible for the increase in catalytic activity compared to the CT-Fe and pure magnetite materials. The product of the effluent treatment and the presence of the catalyst itself in the environment do not pose toxic effects. In addition, the CT-FeCr beads showed catalytic stability for several consecutive reaction cycles with possible technical and economic viability. The concept of "industrial symbiosis" may be applied to this technology, with that term relating to the reuse of a byproduct generated in one particular industrial sector by another as a raw material.}, } @article {pmid31492817, year = {2019}, author = {Treitli, SC and Kolisko, M and Husník, F and Keeling, PJ and Hampl, V}, title = {Revealing the metabolic capacity of Streblomastix strix and its bacterial symbionts using single-cell metagenomics.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {39}, pages = {19675-19684}, pmid = {31492817}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Digestive System/metabolism ; Eukaryota/metabolism ; Genome ; Isoptera/genetics/*microbiology ; Metagenomics/methods ; Oxymonadida/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Single-Cell Analysis/methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lower termites harbor in their hindgut complex microbial communities that are involved in the digestion of cellulose. Among these are protists, which are usually associated with specific bacterial symbionts found on their surface or inside their cells. While these form the foundations of a classic system in symbiosis research, we still know little about the functional basis for most of these relationships. Here, we describe the complex functional relationship between one protist, the oxymonad Streblomastix strix, and its ectosymbiotic bacterial community using single-cell genomics. We generated partial assemblies of the host S. strix genome and Candidatus Ordinivivax streblomastigis, as well as a complex metagenome assembly of at least 8 other Bacteroidetes bacteria confirmed by ribosomal (r)RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to be associated with S. strix. Our data suggest that S. strix is probably not involved in the cellulose digestion, but the bacterial community on its surface secretes a complex array of glycosyl hydrolases, providing them with the ability to degrade cellulose to monomers and fueling the metabolism of S. strix In addition, some of the bacteria can fix nitrogen and can theoretically provide S. strix with essential amino acids and cofactors, which the protist cannot synthesize. On the contrary, most of the bacterial symbionts lack the essential glycolytic enzyme enolase, which may be overcome by the exchange of intermediates with S. strix This study demonstrates the value of the combined single-cell (meta)genomic and FISH approach for studies of complicated symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid31492669, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, K and Zhang, R and Sun, J and Zhang, W and Tian, RM and Chen, C and Kawagucci, S and Xu, Y}, title = {Potential Interactions between Clade SUP05 Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria and Phages in Hydrothermal Vent Sponges.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {31492669}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/*classification/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/*virology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the clade SUP05 are crucial symbionts of invertebrate animals. Marine viruses, as the most abundant biological entities in the ocean, play essential roles in regulating the sulfur metabolism of the SUP05 bacteria. To date, vent sponge-associated SUP05 and their phages have not been well documented. The current study analyzed microbiomes of Haplosclerida sponges from hydrothermal vents in the Okinawa Trough and recovered the dominant SUP05 genome, designated VS-SUP05. Phylogenetic analysis showed that VS-SUP05 was closely related to endosymbiotic SUP05 strains from mussels living in deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields. Homology and metabolic pathway comparisons against free-living and symbiotic SUP05 strains revealed that the VS-SUP05 genome shared many features with the deep-sea mussel symbionts. Supporting a potentially symbiotic lifestyle, the VS-SUP05 genome contained genes involved in the synthesis of essential amino acids and cofactors that are desired by the host. Analysis of sponge-associated viral sequences revealed putative VS-SUP05 phages, all of which were double-stranded viruses belonging to the families Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, and Microviridae Among the phage sequences, one contig contained metabolic genes (iscR, iscS, and iscU) involved in iron-sulfur cluster formation. Interestingly, genome sequence comparison revealed horizontal transfer of the iscS gene among phages, VS-SUP05, and other symbiotic SUP05 strains, indicating an interaction between marine phages and SUP05 symbionts. Overall, our findings confirm the presence of SUP05 bacteria and their phages in sponges from deep-sea vents and imply a beneficial interaction that allows adaptation of the host sponge to the hydrothermal vent environment.IMPORTANCE Chemosynthetic SUP05 bacteria dominate the microbial communities of deep-sea hydrothermal vents around the world, SUP05 bacteria utilize reduced chemical compounds in vent fluids and commonly form symbioses with invertebrate organisms. This symbiotic relationship could be key to adapting to such unique and extreme environments. Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on the planet and have been identified in hydrothermal vent environments. However, their interactions with the symbiotic microbes of the SUP05 clade, along with their role in the symbiotic system, remain unclear. Here, using metagenomic sequence-based analyses, we determined that bacteriophages may support metabolism in SUP05 bacteria and play a role in the sponge-associated symbiosis system in hydrothermal vent environments.}, } @article {pmid31492667, year = {2019}, author = {Eckstein, S and Dominelli, N and Brachmann, A and Heermann, R}, title = {Phenotypic Heterogeneity of the Insect Pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens: Insights into the Fate of Secondary Cells.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {31492667}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biological Assay ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Moths/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens is a Gram-negative bacterium that lives in symbiosis with soil nematodes and is simultaneously highly pathogenic toward insects. The bacteria exist in two phenotypically different forms, designated primary (1°) and secondary (2°) cells. Yet unknown environmental stimuli as well as global stress conditions induce phenotypic switching of up to 50% of 1° cells to 2° cells. An important difference between the two phenotypic forms is that 2° cells are unable to live in symbiosis with nematodes and are therefore believed to remain in the soil after a successful infection cycle. In this work, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to highlight and better understand the role of 2° cells and their putative ability to adapt to living in soil. We could confirm that the major phenotypic differences between the two cell forms are mediated at the transcriptional level as the corresponding genes were downregulated in 2° cells. Furthermore, 2° cells seem to be adapted to another environment as we found several differentially expressed genes involved in the cells' metabolism, motility, and chemotaxis as well as stress resistance, which are either up- or downregulated in 2° cells. As 2° cells, in contrast to 1° cells, chemotactically responded to different attractants, including plant root exudates, there is evidence for the rhizosphere being an alternative environment for the 2° cells. Since P. luminescens is biotechnologically used as a bio-insecticide, investigation of a putative interaction of 2° cells with plants is also of great interest for agriculture.IMPORTANCE The biological function and the fate of P. luminescens 2° cells were unclear. Here, we performed comparative transcriptomics of P. luminescens 1° and 2° cultures and found several genes, not only those coding for known phenotypic differences of the two cell forms, that are up- or downregulated in 2° cells compared to levels in 1° cells. Our results suggest that when 1° cells convert to 2° cells, they drastically change their way of life. Thus, 2° cells could easily adapt to an alternative environment such as the rhizosphere and live freely, independent of a host, putatively utilizing plant-derived compounds as nutrient sources. Since 2° cells are not able to reassociate with the nematodes, an alternative lifestyle in the rhizosphere would be conceivable.}, } @article {pmid31492304, year = {2020}, author = {Makirita, WE and Yong, L and He, N and Mbega, ER and Chacha, M and Li, X and Zhang, F}, title = {Effects of Nanoparticles of Metal Oxides on the Survival of the Entomopathogenic Nematode: Steinernema carpocapsae.}, journal = {Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {1434-1439}, doi = {10.1166/jnn.2020.17164}, pmid = {31492304}, issn = {1533-4899}, mesh = {Animals ; *Nanoparticles ; Oxides/toxicity ; *Rhabditida ; Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {Nanoparticles (NPs) are technological engineered materials with unique physical and chemical properties, and dimension of less than 100 nm. Nanotechnology has developed at a rapid pace, resulting into tremendous wide application that has resulted into concerns and ecotoxicological consequences. The antimicrobial potentials of the nanoparticles have been extensively studied, however, little has been done on the allied health and environmental toxicity assessments. Thus, the current work evaluated the toxicity effects of the ZnO, TiO2 and Fe3O4 NPs on the survival of the entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae), as well as their growth inhibition effects on the nematode symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila). The metal oxides NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. Their toxicity effects were evaluated at various concentrations with the consideration of the media on the toxicity influence. All metal oxides had less influence on the survival of the entomopathogenic nematode and growth of the nematode symbiotic bacterial partner in a concentration dependant manner NPs. The observed toxicity was in the order of Fe3O4 < TiO2 < ZnO NPs respectively, with no significant difference between the NPs. The less toxic effect of the NPs noted may be associated with the ability of entomopathogenic nematodes and their bacterial partner to tolerate toxicants. Nonetheless, other toxicity parameter of NPs on the beneficial nematodes needs to be evaluated for consideration of the compatibility potential of the nematodes and NPs for pest management.}, } @article {pmid31489914, year = {2019}, author = {Schwember, AR and Schulze, J and Del Pozo, A and Cabeza, RA}, title = {Regulation of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Root Nodules.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31489914}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {In most legume nodules, the di-nitrogen (N2)-fixing rhizobia are present as organelle-like structures inside their root host cells. Many processes operate and interact within the symbiotic relationship between plants and nodules, including nitrogen (N)/carbon (C) metabolisms, oxygen flow through nodules, oxidative stress, and phosphorous (P) levels. These processes, which influence the regulation of N2 fixation and are finely tuned on a whole-plant basis, are extensively reviewed in this paper. The carbonic anhydrase (CA)-phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC)-malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is a key pathway inside nodules involved in this regulation, and malate seems to play a crucial role in many aspects of symbiotic N2 fixation control. How legumes specifically sense N-status and how this stimulates all of the regulatory factors are key issues for understanding N2 fixation regulation on a whole-plant basis. This must be thoroughly studied in the future since there is no unifying theory that explains all of the aspects involved in regulating N2 fixation rates to date. Finally, high-throughput functional genomics and molecular tools (i.e., miRNAs) are currently very valuable for the identification of many regulatory elements that are good candidates for accurately dissecting the particular N2 fixation control mechanisms associated with physiological responses to abiotic stresses. In combination with existing information, utilizing these abundant genetic molecular tools will enable us to identify the specific mechanisms underlying the regulation of N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid31489883, year = {2019}, author = {Yi, Y and Liang, L and Wang, Z and Ai, P and You, X and Bian, C and Shi, Q and Dong, B}, title = {A Comparative Metagenomics Study on Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Amphibious Mudskippers and Other Vertebrate Animals.}, journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31489883}, issn = {2076-2615}, abstract = {Gut microbiomes in various fish species were widely investigated with the rapid development of next-generation sequencing technologies. However, little is known about gastrointestinal (GI) microbial communities in mudskippers, a representative group of marine amphibious fishes, and their comparisons with other vertebrate animals from different habitats. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis on microbial composition in five representative vertebrate groups (including amphibious mudskippers, marine and freshwater aquatic fishes, amphibians, and terrestrial animals) via operational taxonomic unit (OTU) survey and obtained a microbial gene catalog of five common fish species by metagenome sequencing. We observed that Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria were the most substantial bacteria in mudskippers. Differential variances in composition patterns of GI microbiota among the vertebrate groups were determined, although Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the shared phyla with high abundance. In addition, Cetobacterium and Photobacterium were the most abundant genera in core OTUs of these examined omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores. Our metagenomic analysis also showed significant differences between the representative blue-spotted mudskipper and grass carp (both are herbivorous fishes) in microbes at the phylum and class levels and functional gene terms. Moreover, several bacteriocin-related genes were identified in the five common fishes, suggesting their potential contributions to pathogen resistance. In summary, our present work not only sheds new light on the correlation of GI microbiota composition with living habitats and feeding habits of the hosts, but also provides valuable bacterial genetic resources for healthy growth of aquaculture fishes.}, } @article {pmid31489370, year = {2019}, author = {Sakanaka, M and Hansen, ME and Gotoh, A and Katoh, T and Yoshida, K and Odamaki, T and Yachi, H and Sugiyama, Y and Kurihara, S and Hirose, J and Urashima, T and Xiao, JZ and Kitaoka, M and Fukiya, S and Yokota, A and Lo Leggio, L and Abou Hachem, M and Katayama, T}, title = {Evolutionary adaptation in fucosyllactose uptake systems supports bifidobacteria-infant symbiosis.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {5}, number = {8}, pages = {eaaw7696}, pmid = {31489370}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Bifidobacterium/metabolism/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Metagenome/physiology ; Middle Aged ; Milk, Human/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trisaccharides/*metabolism ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota established during infancy has persistent effects on health. In vitro studies have suggested that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk promote the formation of a bifidobacteria-rich microbiota in infant guts; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we characterized two functionally distinct but overlapping fucosyllactose transporters (FL transporter-1 and -2) from Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis. Fecal DNA and HMO consumption analyses, combined with deposited metagenome data mining, revealed that FL transporter-2 is primarily associated with the bifidobacteria-rich microbiota formation in breast-fed infant guts. Structural analyses of the solute-binding protein (SBP) of FL transporter-2 complexed with 2'-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose, together with phylogenetic analysis of SBP homologs of both FL transporters, highlight a unique adaptation strategy of Bifidobacterium to HMOs, in which the gain-of-function mutations enable FL transporter-2 to efficiently capture major fucosylated HMOs. Our results provide a molecular insight into HMO-mediated symbiosis and coevolution between bifidobacteria and humans.}, } @article {pmid31486882, year = {2020}, author = {Vorderwülbecke, G and Hartwig, S and Kuhlmey, A}, title = {[Violent death in old age-an analysis of autopsy reports].}, journal = {Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie}, volume = {53}, number = {6}, pages = {558-563}, doi = {10.1007/s00391-019-01611-6}, pmid = {31486882}, issn = {1435-1269}, mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autopsy ; Berlin ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Germany ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; *Suicide Prevention ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: More and more people in Germany reach increasingly higher ages. The risk of victimization is unclear because the lack of reliable numbers impedes assessment of the current relevance of violent death in old age.

OBJECTIVE: To close that gap this article presents epidemiological data obtained from autopsy reports, for the most frequent circumstances of violent death in old age and discusses the characteristics and means of prevention.

MATERIAL: All autopsy files of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences at the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin from 2005 to 2016 were analyzed with respect to age, circumstances of death and motive. A total of 11,381 cases were included.

RESULTS: Of all autopsied persons, 51.8% were aged 60 years or older. The homicide and suicide percentages of all cases were lower within the 60+ years age group in comparison to the younger group. Financial gain was the main motive in the case of 25.6% of people killed aged 60 years and over. Frequent suicide motives were diseases, particularly depression for women and malignant tumors as well as partnership issues for men. Being overburdened with taking care of the partner was a problem for men in particular. Dyadic death, i.e. the entirety of joint suicides and homicide-suicides, gained in importance within the 60+ years age group.

CONCLUSION: Fatal violence against older persons is presumably underestimated. The classification of dyadic death turned out to be impractical. Therefore, a replacement by erotic-aggressive, symbiotic and parasitic death is suggested. Suicide with subsequent suicide is described for the first time and dubbed suicide-suicide. Prevention by social inclusion of old people is essential.}, } @article {pmid31486763, year = {2019}, author = {Urquiaga, MCO and Klepa, MS and Somasegaran, P and Ribeiro, RA and Delamuta, JRM and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium frederickii sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing lineage isolated from nodules of the caesalpinioid species Chamaecrista fasciculata and characterized by tolerance to high temperature in vitro.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {12}, pages = {3863-3877}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003697}, pmid = {31486763}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Chamaecrista/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Missouri ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nebraska ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The symbioses between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia make the greatest contribution to the global nitrogen input via the process of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Bradyrhizobium stands out as the main genus nodulating basal Caesalpinioideae. We performed a polyphasic study with 11 strains isolated from root nodules of Chamaecristafasciculata, an annual multi-functional native legume of the USA. In the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny the strains were clustered in the Bradyrhizobium japonicumsuperclade. The results of analysis of the intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) indicated less than 89.9 % similarity to other Bradyrhizobium species. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with four housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) confirmed the new group, sharing less than 95.2 % nucleotide identity with other species. The MLSA with 10 housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, gap, glnII, gltA, gyrB, pnp, recA, rpoB and thrC) indicated Bradyrhizobium daqingense as the closest species. Noteworthy, high genetic diversity among the strains was confirmed in the analyses of ITS, MLSA and BOX-PCR. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were below the threshold of described Bradyrhizobium species, of 89.7 and 40 %, respectively. In the nifH and nodC phylogenies, the strains were grouped together, but with an indication of horizontal gene transfer, showing higher similarity to Bradyrhizobium arachidis and Bradyrhizobium forestalis. Other phenotypic, genotypic and symbiotic properties were evaluated, and the results altogether support the description of the CNPSo strains as representatives of the new species Bradyrhizobiumfrederickii sp. nov., with CNPSo 3426[T] (=USDA 10052[T]=U686[T]=CL 20[T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid31485773, year = {2019}, author = {Feng, Z and Zhang, L and Wu, Y and Wang, L and Xu, M and Yang, M and Li, Y and Wei, G and Chou, M}, title = {The Rpf84 gene, encoding a ribosomal large subunit protein, RPL22, regulates symbiotic nodulation in Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {250}, number = {6}, pages = {1897-1910}, pmid = {31485773}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Cloning, Molecular ; Genes, Plant/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribosome Subunits, Large/*genetics/physiology ; Robinia/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {A homologue of the ribosomal protein L22e, Rpf84, regulates root nodule symbiosis by mediating the infection process of rhizobia and preventing bacteroids from degradation in Robinia pseudoacacia. Ribosomal proteins (RPs) are known to have extraribosomal functions, including developmental regulation and stress responses; however, the effects of RPs on symbiotic nodulation of legumes are still unclear. Ribosomal protein 22 of the large 60S subunit (RPL22), a non-typical RP that is only found in eukaryotes, has been shown to function as a tumour suppressor in animals. Here, a homologue of RPL22, Rpf84, was identified from the leguminous tree R. pseudoacacia. Subcellular localization assays showed that Rpf84 was expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Knockdown of Rpf84 by RNA interference (RNAi) technology impaired the infection process and nodule development. Compared with the control, root and stem length, dry weight and nodule number per plant were drastically decreased in Rpf84-RNAi plants. The numbers of root hair curlings, infection threads and nodule primordia were also significantly reduced. Ultrastructure analyses showed that Rpf84-RNAi nodules contained fewer infected cells with fewer bacteria. In particular, remarkable deformation of bacteroids and fusion of multiple symbiosomes occurred in infected cells. By contrast, overexpression of Rpf84 promoted nodulation, and the overexpression nodules maintained a larger infection/differentiation region and had more infected cells filled with bacteroids than the control at 45 days post inoculation, suggesting a retarded ageing process in nodules. These results indicate for the first time that RP regulates the symbiotic nodulation of legumes and that RPL22 may function in initiating the invasion of rhizobia and preventing bacteroids from degradation in R. pseudoacacia.}, } @article {pmid31484434, year = {2019}, author = {Cheffi, M and Bouket, AC and Alenezi, FN and Luptakova, L and Belka, M and Vallat, A and Rateb, ME and Tounsi, S and Triki, MA and Belbahri, L}, title = {Olea europaea L. Root Endophyte Bacillus velezensis OEE1 Counteracts Oomycete and Fungal Harmful Pathogens and Harbours a Large Repertoire of Secreted and Volatile Metabolites and Beneficial Functional Genes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31484434}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Oomycete and fungal pathogens, mainly Phytophthora and Fusarium species, are notorious causal agents of huge economic losses and environmental damages. For instance, Phytophthora ramorum, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora plurivora and Fusarium solani cause significant losses in nurseries and in forest ecosystems. Chemical treatments, while harmful to the environment and human health, have been proved to have little or no impact on these species. Recently, biocontrol bacterial species were used to cope with these pathogens and have shown promising prospects towards sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. Olive trees prone to Phytophthora and Fusarium disease outbreaks are suitable for habitat-adapted symbiotic strategies, to recover oomycetes and fungal pathogen biocontrol agents. Using this strategy, we showed that olive trees-associated microbiome represents a valuable source for microorganisms, promoting plant growth and healthy benefits in addition to being biocontrol agents against oomycete and fungal diseases. Isolation, characterization and screening of root microbiome of olive trees against numerous Phytophthora and other fungal pathogens have led to the identification of the Bacillus velezensis OEE1, with plant growth promotion (PGP) abilities and strong activity against major oomycete and fungal pathogens. Phylogenomic analysis of the strain OEE1 showed that B. velezensis suffers taxonomic imprecision that blurs species delimitation, impacting their biofertilizers' practical use. Genome mining of several B. velezensis strains available in the GenBank have highlighted a wide array of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) features, metals and antibiotics resistance and the degradation ability of phytotoxic aromatic compounds. Strain OEE1 harbours a large repertoire of secreted and volatile secondary metabolites. Rarefaction analysis of secondary metabolites richness in the B. velezenis genomes, unambiguously documented new secondary metabolites from ongoing genome sequencing efforts that warrants more efforts in order to assess the huge diversity in the species. Comparative genomics indicated that B. velezensis harbours a core genome endowed with PGP features and accessory genome encoding diverse secondary metabolites. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of OEE1 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mas Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis of secondary metabolites identified numerous molecules with PGP abilities that are known to interfere with pathogen development. Moreover, B. velezensis OEE1 proved effective in protecting olive trees against F. solani in greenhouse experiments and are able to inhabit olive tree roots. Our strategy provides an effective means for isolation of biocontrol agents against recalcitrant pathogens. Their genomic analysis provides necessary clues towards their efficient implementation as biofertilizers.}, } @article {pmid31484206, year = {2020}, author = {Huang, R and Li, Z and Mao, C and Zhang, H and Sun, Z and Li, H and Huang, C and Feng, Y and Shen, X and Bucher, M and Zhang, Z and Lin, Y and Cao, Y and Duanmu, D}, title = {Natural variation at OsCERK1 regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {225}, number = {4}, pages = {1762-1776}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16158}, pmid = {31484206}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and land plants is essential for efficient nutrient acquisition and utilisation. Our understanding of key processes controlling the AMF colonisation in rice is still limited. Dongxiang wild rice (DY) exhibited a stronger colonisation with Rhizophagus irregularis than the rice cultivar Zhongzao 35 (ZZ35). Chromosome segment substitution lines were constructed and the OsCERK1 gene from DY was mapped. Transgenic plants in the japonica rice Zhonghua 11 (ZZ11) were constructed to compare root colonisation by AMF. Chromosome single-segment substitution lines containing OsCERK1[DY] showed higher phosphorus content and grain yield relative to ZZ35. Four amino acids substitutions were identified among the OsCERK1 haplotypes of DY, ZZ35 and ZH11 and two of these were in the second lysine-motif domain, which is essential for the differences of AMF colonisation level among rice varieties. Heterologous expression of OsCERK1[DY] in ZH11 significantly enhanced AMF colonisation and increased resistance against the pathogenic fungi Magnaporthe oryzae. Notably, the OsCERK1[DY] haplotype was absent from 4660 cultivated rice varieties. We conclude that OsCERK1 is a key gene affecting the symbiotic interaction with AMF and OsCERK1[DY] has the biotechnological potential to increase rice phosphorus acquisition and utilisation efficiency for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31481726, year = {2019}, author = {Lindenberg, F and Krych, L and Fielden, J and Kot, W and Frøkiær, H and van Galen, G and Nielsen, DS and Hansen, AK}, title = {Expression of immune regulatory genes correlate with the abundance of specific Clostridiales and Verrucomicrobia species in the equine ileum and cecum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {12674}, pmid = {31481726}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Cecum/*metabolism/microbiology ; Clostridiales/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Horses ; Ileum/*metabolism/microbiology ; Interleukin-6/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/cytology/immunology/*metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics/metabolism ; Verrucomicrobia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Billions of bacteria inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Immune-microbial cross talk is responsible for immunological homeostasis, and symbiotic microbial species induce regulatory immunity, which helps to control the inflammation levels. In this study we aimed to identify species within the equine intestinal microbiota with the potential to induce regulatory immunity. These could be future targets for preventing or treating low-grade chronic inflammation occurring as a result of intestinal microbial changes and disruption of the homeostasis. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on samples of intestinal microbial content from ileum, cecum, and colon of 24 healthy horses obtained from an abattoir. Expression of genes coding for IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, 18 s, TNFα, TGFβ, and Foxp3 in the ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes was measured by qPCR. Intestinal microbiota composition was significantly different in the cecum and colon compared to the ileum, which contains large abundances of Proteobacteria. Especially members of the Clostridiales order correlated positively with the regulatory T-cell transcription factor Foxp3 and so did the phylum Verrucomicrobia. We conclude that Clostridiales and Verrucomicrobia have the potential to induce regulatory immunity and are possible targets for intestinal microbial interventions aiming at regulatory immunity improvement.}, } @article {pmid31479939, year = {2019}, author = {Li, J and Wang, T and Yu, S and Bai, J and Qin, S}, title = {Community characteristics and ecological roles of bacterial biofilms associated with various algal settlements on coastal reefs.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {109459}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109459}, pmid = {31479939}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Biofilms ; Coral Reefs ; Ecology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Bacterial biofilms, which are a group of bacteria attaching to and ultimately forming communities on reefs, perform essential ecological functions in coastal ecosystems. Particularly, they may attract or repulse the settling down of opportunistic algae. However, this phenomenon and the interaction mechanism are not fully understood. This study investigated reefs from the Changdao coastal zone to determine the structures and functions of bacterial biofilms symbiosing with various algae using high-throughput sequencing analysis. The Shannon diversity index of microbiota with algal symbiosis reached 5.34, which was higher than that of microbiota wherein algae were absent (4.80). The beta diversity results for 11 samples revealed that there existed a separation between bacterial communities on reefs with and without attached algae, while communities with similar algae clustered together. The taxa mostly associated with algae-symbiotic microbiota are the Actinobacteria phylum, and the Flavobacteriia and Gammaproteobacteria classes. The Cyanobacteria phylum was not associated with algae-symbiotic microbiota. As revealed by functional analysis, the bacteria mostly involved in the metabolism of sulfur were represented by brown and red algae in the biofilm symbiosis. Bacteria related to the metabolism of certain trace elements were observed only in specific groups. Moreover, phototrophy-related bacteria were less abundant in samples coexisting with algae. This study established the link between bacterial biofilms and algal settlements on costal reefs, and revealed the possible holobiont relationship between them. This may provide new technical directions toward realizing algal cultivation and management during the construction of artificial reef ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31478269, year = {2019}, author = {Breusing, C and Johnson, SB and Vrijenhoek, RC and Young, CR}, title = {Host hybridization as a potential mechanism of lateral symbiont transfer in deep-sea vesicomyid clams.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {21}, pages = {4697-4708}, pmid = {31478269}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bivalvia/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Markers/genetics ; Genome/genetics ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Hybridization, Genetic/*genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea vesicomyid clams live in mutualistic symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria that are inherited through the maternal germ line. On evolutionary timescales, strictly vertical transmission should lead to cospeciation of host mitochondrial and symbiont lineages; nonetheless, examples of incongruent phylogenies have been reported, suggesting that symbionts are occasionally horizontally transmitted between host species. The current paradigm for vesicomyid clams holds that direct transfers cause host shifts or mixtures of symbionts. An alternative hypothesis suggests that hybridization between host species might explain symbiont transfers. Two clam species, Archivesica gigas and Phreagena soyoae, frequently co-occur at deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Although the two species typically host gammaproteobacterial symbiont lineages marked by divergent 16S rRNA phylotypes, we identified a number of clams with the A. gigas mitotype that hosted symbionts with the P. soyoae phylotype. Demographic inference models based on genome-wide SNP data and three Sanger sequenced gene markers provided evidence that A. gigas and P. soyoae hybridized in the past, supporting the hypothesis that hybridization might be a viable mechanism of interspecific symbiont transfer. These findings provide new perspectives on the evolution of vertically transmitted symbionts and their hosts in deep-sea chemosynthetic environments.}, } @article {pmid31478196, year = {2019}, author = {Kim, D and Kim, YM and Kim, WU and Park, JH and Núñez, G and Seo, SU}, title = {Recognition of the microbiota by Nod2 contributes to the oral adjuvant activity of cholera toxin through the induction of interleukin-1β.}, journal = {Immunology}, volume = {158}, number = {3}, pages = {219-229}, pmid = {31478196}, issn = {1365-2567}, support = {R01AI063331/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI063331/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U2C DK110768/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK091191/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK091191/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/*pharmacology ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cholera Toxin/*pharmacology ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p40/immunology ; Interleukin-1beta/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/genetics/*immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology ; }, abstract = {The role of symbiotic bacteria in the development of antigen-specific immunity remains poorly understood. Previous studies showed that sensing of symbiotic bacteria by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (Nod2) regulates antibody responses in response to nasal immunization with antigen and cholera toxin (CT). In this study, we examined the role of the microbiota in the adjuvant activity of CT induced after oral immunization with antigen. Germ-free (GF) mice showed impaired production of antibody responses and T-cell-specific cytokines after oral immunization when compared with that observed in conventionally raised mice. Similar to GF mice, Nod2-deficient mice showed reduced humoral responses upon oral immunization with antigen and CT. Treatment with CT enhanced the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but not tumor necrosis factor-α or IL-12p40, induced by stimulation of dendritic cells with muramyl dipeptide, the Nod2 ligand. Mechanistically, the enhanced production of IL-1β induced by muramyl dipeptide and CT stimulation required Nod2 and was mediated by both increased synthesis of pro-IL-1β and caspase-1 activation. Furthermore, antigen-specific antibody and cytokine responses induced by CT were impaired in orally immunized IL-1β-deficient mice. Collectively, our results indicate that Nod2 stimulation by symbiotic bacteria contributes to optimal CT-mediated antigen-specific oral vaccination through the induction of IL-1β production.}, } @article {pmid31477892, year = {2019}, author = {Müller, LM and Flokova, K and Schnabel, E and Sun, X and Fei, Z and Frugoli, J and Bouwmeester, HJ and Harrison, MJ}, title = {A CLE-SUNN module regulates strigolactone content and fungal colonization in arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {933-939}, pmid = {31477892}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, colonization of the root is modulated in response to the physiological status of the plant, with regulation occurring locally and systemically. Here, we identify differentially expressed genes encoding CLAVATA3/ESR-related (CLE) peptides that negatively regulate colonization levels by modulating root strigolactone content. CLE function requires a receptor-like kinase, SUNN; thus, a CLE-SUNN-strigolactone feedback loop is one avenue through which the plant modulates colonization levels.}, } @article {pmid31477738, year = {2019}, author = {Ibny, FYI and Jaiswal, SK and Mohammed, M and Dakora, FD}, title = {Symbiotic effectiveness and ecologically adaptive traits of native rhizobial symbionts of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) in Africa and their relationship with phylogeny.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {12666}, pmid = {31477738}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Geography ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Regression Analysis ; Rhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Salinity ; Soil/chemistry ; Solubility ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; Vigna/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) is an indigenous, drought-tolerant, underutilized African food legume, with the ability to fix atmospheric N2 in symbiosis with soil bacteria called rhizobia. The aim of this study was to assess the morpho-physiological, symbiotic and phylogenetic characteristics of rhizobia nodulating Bambara groundnut in Ghana, Mali and South Africa. The morpho-physiologically diverse isolates tested were also found to exhibit differences in functional efficiency and phylogenetic positions. Based on Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC)-PCR banding patterns, the isolates were grouped into eight major clusters. The concentrations of Ca, Na and K in soils had a significant (p ≤ 0.01) effect on the distribution of rhizobia. Though many isolates were symbiotically very effective, the effectiveness index varied markedly (p ≤ 0.05) among them. Moreover, the isolates also exhibited tolerance to a wide range of NaCl (0.5-7%), streptomycin (50-500 µg.ml[-1]), and kanamycin (25-150 µg.ml[-1]) concentrations. Additionally, these isolates could produce 0.02 to 69.71 µg.ml[-1] of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in tryptophan-supplemented medium, as well as solubilize tri-calcium phosphate. Phylogenetic analysis of these rhizobial isolates using 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, gyrB, recA and symbiotic (nifH and nodC) gene sequences revealed distinct and novel evolutionary lineages related to the genus Bradyrhizobium, with some of them being very close to Bradyrhizobium vignae, B. kavangense, B. subterraneum, B. elkanii and B. pachyrhizi.}, } @article {pmid31477173, year = {2019}, author = {Attardo, GM and Abd-Alla, AMM and Acosta-Serrano, A and Allen, JE and Bateta, R and Benoit, JB and Bourtzis, K and Caers, J and Caljon, G and Christensen, MB and Farrow, DW and Friedrich, M and Hua-Van, A and Jennings, EC and Larkin, DM and Lawson, D and Lehane, MJ and Lenis, VP and Lowy-Gallego, E and Macharia, RW and Malacrida, AR and Marco, HG and Masiga, D and Maslen, GL and Matetovici, I and Meisel, RP and Meki, I and Michalkova, V and Miller, WJ and Minx, P and Mireji, PO and Ometto, L and Parker, AG and Rio, R and Rose, C and Rosendale, AJ and Rota-Stabelli, O and Savini, G and Schoofs, L and Scolari, F and Swain, MT and Takáč, P and Tomlinson, C and Tsiamis, G and Van Den Abbeele, J and Vigneron, A and Wang, J and Warren, WC and Waterhouse, RM and Weirauch, MT and Weiss, BL and Wilson, RK and Zhao, X and Aksoy, S}, title = {Comparative genomic analysis of six Glossina genomes, vectors of African trypanosomes.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {187}, pmid = {31477173}, issn = {1474-760X}, support = {D43 TW007391/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI051584/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03TW008413/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; U54HG003079/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI115648/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03TW009444/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; U01AI115648/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R21AI109263//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Insect ; Genes, X-Linked ; *Genome, Insect ; *Genomics ; Geography ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Insect Vectors/*genetics ; Male ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Synteny/genetics ; Trypanosoma/*parasitology ; Tsetse Flies/*genetics ; Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse flies are distinguished from other Diptera by unique adaptations, including lactation and the birthing of live young (obligate viviparity), a vertebrate blood-specific diet by both sexes, and obligate bacterial symbiosis. This work describes the comparative analysis of six Glossina genomes representing three sub-genera: Morsitans (G. morsitans morsitans, G. pallidipes, G. austeni), Palpalis (G. palpalis, G. fuscipes), and Fusca (G. brevipalpis) which represent different habitats, host preferences, and vectorial capacity.

RESULTS: Genomic analyses validate established evolutionary relationships and sub-genera. Syntenic analysis of Glossina relative to Drosophila melanogaster shows reduced structural conservation across the sex-linked X chromosome. Sex-linked scaffolds show increased rates of female-specific gene expression and lower evolutionary rates relative to autosome associated genes. Tsetse-specific genes are enriched in protease, odorant-binding, and helicase activities. Lactation-associated genes are conserved across all Glossina species while male seminal proteins are rapidly evolving. Olfactory and gustatory genes are reduced across the genus relative to other insects. Vision-associated Rhodopsin genes show conservation of motion detection/tracking functions and variance in the Rhodopsin detecting colors in the blue wavelength ranges.

CONCLUSIONS: Expanded genomic discoveries reveal the genetics underlying Glossina biology and provide a rich body of knowledge for basic science and disease control. They also provide insight into the evolutionary biology underlying novel adaptations and are relevant to applied aspects of vector control such as trap design and discovery of novel pest and disease control strategies.}, } @article {pmid31476309, year = {2019}, author = {Frión-Herrera, Y and Gabbia, D and Cuesta-Rubio, O and De Martin, S and Carrara, M}, title = {Nemorosone inhibits the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {235}, number = {}, pages = {116817}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116817}, pmid = {31476309}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Benzophenones/*pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Movement/*drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Monocytes/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; THP-1 Cells ; Tumor Microenvironment/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {AIMS: In the tumor microenvironment, dysregulated immune cells could promote tumor progression, invasion and metastasis, by establishing a symbiotic relationship with cancer cells. A pivotal role is played by monocyte recruitment and induction of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which provide immunosuppression and tumorigenesis. The effect of nemorosone, an antiproliferative phytocomponent present in Cuban Propolis, on TAM-induced tumor progression remains to be elucidated. Here we investigated the symbiotic relationship between monocytic leukemia THP-1 and hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, and the role of nemorosone in preventing TAM-induced tumor growth.

MAIN METHODS: Macrophage differentiation induced by HepG2-conditioned medium was assessed by flow cytometry, analysis of secreted molecules and cytokine expression. The effect of nemorosone and/or conditioned THP-1-medium on HepG2 proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, colony formation, cells cycle and migration assays.

KEY FINDINGS: HepG2 cells induced THP-1 recruitment and differentiation to macrophages. When compared with control THP-1 cells, differentiated THP-1 showed a significant increase of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression (P < 0.01), and slightly induced HepG2 cells growth. This effect was counteracted by nemorosone, which also significantly inhibited colony formation (P < 0.01) and migratory capacity of HepG2 cells, driving a high percentage of cells (80%) to the G0/G1 phase.

SIGNIFICANCE: HepG2-conditioned medium is a suitable model for THP-1 modulation and differentiation. Moreover, nemorosone significantly inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 cells, both in presence and absence of the soluble factors secreted by TAMs. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of this natural compound in the HCC-TAM relationship.}, } @article {pmid31475981, year = {2019}, author = {Wardhani, TAK and Roswanjaya, YP and Dupin, S and Li, H and Linders, S and Hartog, M and Geurts, R and van Zeijl, A}, title = {Transforming, Genome Editing and Phenotyping the Nitrogen-fixing Tropical Cannabaceae Tree Parasponia andersonii.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {150}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/59971}, pmid = {31475981}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/growth & development ; Base Sequence ; Cannabaceae/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Gene Editing ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Seeds/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Parasponia andersonii is a fast-growing tropical tree that belongs to the Cannabis family (Cannabaceae). Together with 4 additional species, it forms the only known non-legume lineage able to establish a nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis with rhizobium. Comparative studies between legumes and P. andersonii could provide valuable insight into the genetic networks underlying root nodule formation. To facilitate comparative studies, we recently sequenced the P. andersonii genome and established Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated stable transformation and CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing. Here, we provide a detailed description of the transformation and genome editing procedures developed for P. andersonii. In addition, we describe procedures for the seed germination and characterization of symbiotic phenotypes. Using this protocol, stable transgenic mutant lines can be generated in a period of 2-3 months. Vegetative in vitro propagation of T0 transgenic lines allows phenotyping experiments to be initiated at 4 months after A. tumefaciens co-cultivation. Therefore, this protocol takes only marginally longer than the transient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-based root transformation method available for P. andersonii, though offers several clear advantages. Together, the procedures described here permit P. andersonii to be used as a research model for studies aimed at understanding symbiotic associations as well as potentially other aspects of the biology of this tropical tree.}, } @article {pmid31475451, year = {2020}, author = {Hu, Y and Linz, DM and Parker, ES and Schwab, DB and Casasa, S and Macagno, ALM and Moczek, AP}, title = {Developmental bias in horned dung beetles and its contributions to innovation, adaptation, and resilience.}, journal = {Evolution & development}, volume = {22}, number = {1-2}, pages = {165-180}, doi = {10.1111/ede.12310}, pmid = {31475451}, issn = {1525-142X}, support = {//National Science Foundation/International ; //John Templeton Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Life History Traits ; }, abstract = {Developmental processes transduce diverse influences during phenotype formation, thereby biasing and structuring amount and type of phenotypic variation available for evolutionary processes to act on. The causes, extent, and consequences of this bias are subject to significant debate. Here we explore the role of developmental bias in contributing to organisms' ability to innovate, to adapt to novel or stressful conditions, and to generate well integrated, resilient phenotypes in the face of perturbations. We focus our inquiry on one taxon, the horned dung beetle genus Onthophagus, and review the role developmental bias might play across several levels of biological organization: (a) gene regulatory networks that pattern specific body regions; (b) plastic developmental mechanisms that coordinate body wide responses to changing environments and; (c) developmental symbioses and niche construction that enable organisms to build teams and to actively modify their own selective environments. We posit that across all these levels developmental bias shapes the way living systems innovate, adapt, and withstand stress, in ways that can alternately limit, bias, or facilitate developmental evolution. We conclude that the structuring contribution of developmental bias in evolution deserves further study to better understand why and how developmental evolution unfolds the way it does.}, } @article {pmid31474965, year = {2019}, author = {Chang, ACG and Chen, T and Li, N and Duan, J}, title = {Perspectives on Endosymbiosis in Coralloid Roots: Association of Cycads and Cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1888}, pmid = {31474965}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Past endosymbiotic events allowed photosynthetic organisms to flourish and evolve in terrestrial areas. The precursor of chloroplasts was an ancient photosynthetic cyanobacterium. Presently, cyanobacteria are still capable of establishing successful symbioses in a wide range of hosts. One particular host plant among the gymnosperms is cycads (Order Cycadales) in which a special type of root system, referred to as coralloid roots, develops to house symbiotic cyanobacteria. A number of studies have explained coralloid root formation and cyanobiont invasion but the questions on mechanisms of this host-microbe association remains vague. Most researches focus on diversity of symbionts in coralloid roots but equally important is to explore the underlying mechanisms of cycads-Nostoc symbiosis as well. Besides providing an overview of relevant areas presently known about this association and citing putative genes involved in cycad-cyanobacteria symbioses, this paper aims to identify the limitations that hamper attempts to get to the root of the matter and suggests future research directions that may prove useful.}, } @article {pmid31474946, year = {2019}, author = {Beinart, RA and Luo, C and Konstantinidis, KT and Stewart, FJ and Girguis, PR}, title = {The Bacterial Symbionts of Closely Related Hydrothermal Vent Snails With Distinct Geochemical Habitats Show Broad Similarity in Chemoautotrophic Gene Content.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1818}, pmid = {31474946}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiosis has evolved between a diversity of invertebrate taxa and chemosynthetic bacterial lineages. At the broadest level, these symbioses share primary function: the bacterial symbionts use the energy harnessed from the oxidation of reduced chemicals to power the fixation of inorganic carbon and/or other nutrients, providing the bulk of host nutrition. However, it is unclear to what extent the ecological niche of the host species is influenced by differences in symbiont traits, particularly those involved in chemoautotrophic function and interaction with the geochemical environment. Hydrothermal vents in the Lau Basin (Tonga) are home to four morphologically and physiologically similar snail species from the sister genera Alviniconcha and Ifremeria. Here, we assembled nearly complete genomes from their symbionts to determine whether differences in chemoautotrophic capacity exist among these symbionts that could explain the observed distribution of these snail species into distinct geochemical habitats. Phylogenomic analyses confirmed that the symbionts have evolved from four distinct lineages in the classes γ-proteobacteria or Campylobacteria. The genomes differed with respect to genes related to motility, adhesion, secretion, and amino acid uptake or excretion, though were quite similar in chemoautotrophic function, with all four containing genes for carbon fixation, sulfur and hydrogen oxidation, and oxygen and nitrate respiration. This indicates that differences in the presence or absence of symbiont chemoautotrophic functions does not likely explain the observed geochemical habitat partitioning. Rather, differences in gene expression and regulation, biochemical differences among these chemoautotrophic pathways, and/or differences in host physiology could all influence the observed patterns of habitat partitioning.}, } @article {pmid31474535, year = {2019}, author = {Weber, PM and Moessel, F and Paredes, GF and Viehboeck, T and Vischer, NOE and Bulgheresi, S}, title = {A Bidimensional Segregation Mode Maintains Symbiont Chromosome Orientation toward Its Host.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {18}, pages = {3018-3028.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.064}, pmid = {31474535}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {P 28593/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 28743/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cell Division/physiology ; Centromere/metabolism ; Chromatiaceae/*genetics ; Chromosome Segregation/genetics/*physiology ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/metabolism ; DNA Replication/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods ; Orientation, Spatial/*physiology ; Replication Origin/genetics ; }, abstract = {All living organisms require accurate segregation of their genetic material. However, in microbes, chromosome segregation is less understood than replication and cell division, which makes its decipherment a compelling research frontier. Furthermore, it has only been studied in free-living microbes so far. Here, we investigated this fundamental process in a rod-shaped symbiont, Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti. This gammaproteobacterium divides longitudinally as to form a columnar epithelium ensheathing its nematode host. We hypothesized that uninterrupted host attachment would affect bacterial chromosome dynamics and set out to localize specific chromosomal loci and putative DNA-segregating proteins by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunostaining, respectively. First, DNA replication origins (ori) number per cell demonstrated symbiont monoploidy. Second, we showed that sister ori segregate diagonally prior to septation onset. Moreover, the localization pattern of the centromere-binding protein ParB recapitulates that of ori, and consistently, we showed recombinant ParB to specifically bind an ori-proximal site (parS) in vitro. Third, chromosome replication ends prior to cell fission, and as the poles start to invaginate, termination of replication (ter) sites localize medially, at the leading edges of the growing septum. They then migrate to midcell, concomitantly with septation progression and until this is completed. In conclusion, we propose that symbiont ParB might drive chromosome segregation along the short axis and that tethering of sister ter regions to the growing septum mediates their migration along the long axis. Crucially, active bidimensional segregation of the chromosome allows transgenerational maintenance of its configuration, and therefore, it may represent an adaptation to symbiosis. VIDEO ABSTRACT.}, } @article {pmid31471302, year = {2019}, author = {Rothman, JA and Leger, L and Kirkwood, JS and McFrederick, QS}, title = {Cadmium and Selenate Exposure Affects the Honey Bee Microbiome and Metabolome, and Bee-Associated Bacteria Show Potential for Bioaccumulation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {31471302}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bees/drug effects/*microbiology ; Bioaccumulation/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Cadmium/*metabolism/toxicity ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Lactobacillus/genetics/metabolism ; Metabolome ; Plants ; Pollination ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; Selenic Acid/*metabolism/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Honey bees are important insect pollinators used heavily in agriculture and can be found in diverse environments. Bees may encounter toxicants such as cadmium and selenate by foraging on plants growing in contaminated areas, which can result in negative health effects. Honey bees are known to have a simple and consistent microbiome that conveys many benefits to the host, and toxicant exposure may impact this symbiotic microbial community. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assay the effects that sublethal cadmium and selenate treatments had over 7 days and found that both treatments significantly but subtly altered the composition of the bee microbiome. Next, we exposed bees to cadmium and selenate and then used untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics to show that chemical exposure changed the bees' metabolite profiles and that compounds which may be involved in detoxification, proteolysis, and lipolysis were more abundant in treatments. Finally, we exposed several strains of bee-associated bacteria in liquid culture and found that each strain removed cadmium from its medium but that only Lactobacillus Firm-5 microbes assimilated selenate, indicating the possibility that these microbes may reduce the metal and metalloid burden on their host. Overall, our report shows that metal and metalloid exposure can affect the honey bee microbiome and metabolome and that strains of bee-associated bacteria can bioaccumulate these toxicants.IMPORTANCE Bees are important insect pollinators that may encounter environmental pollution when foraging upon plants grown in contaminated areas. Despite the pervasiveness of pollution, little is known about the effects of these toxicants on honey bee metabolism and their symbiotic microbiomes. Here, we investigated the impact of selenate and cadmium exposure on the gut microbiome and metabolome of honey bees. We found that exposure to these chemicals subtly altered the overall composition of the bees' microbiome and metabolome and that exposure to toxicants may negatively impact both host and microbe. As the microbiome of animals can reduce mortality upon metal or metalloid challenge, we grew bee-associated bacteria in media spiked with selenate or cadmium. We show that some bacteria can remove these toxicants from their media in vitro and suggest that bacteria may reduce metal burden in their hosts.}, } @article {pmid31471017, year = {2019}, author = {Zhen, M and Chen, H and Liu, Q and Song, B and Wang, Y and Tang, J}, title = {Combination of rhamnolipid and biochar in assisting phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil using Spartina anglica.}, journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)}, volume = {85}, number = {}, pages = {107-118}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2019.05.013}, pmid = {31471017}, issn = {1001-0742}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Charcoal/chemistry ; Glycolipids/chemistry ; Petroleum/*analysis/metabolism ; Poaceae/*physiology ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biochar (BC) and rhamnolipid (RL) is used in bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons, however, the combined effect of BC and RL in phytoremediation has not been studied until now. In this paper, the phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil using novel plant Spartina anglica was enhanced by the combination of biochar (BC) and rhamnolipid (RL). Samples of petroleum-contaminated soil (10, 30 and 50 g/kg) were amended by BC, BC+ RL and rhamnolipid modified biochar (RMB), respectively. After 60 day's cultivation, the removal rate of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) for unplanted soil (UP), planted soil (P), planted soil with BC addition (P-BC), planted soil with BC and RL addition (P-BC + RL) and planted soil with addition of RMB (P-RMB) were 8.6%, 19.1%, 27.7%, 32.4% and 35.1% in soil with TPHs concentration of 30 g/kg, respectively. Compared with UP, the plantation of Spartina anglica significantly decreased the concentration of C8-14 and tricyclic PAHs. Furthermore, the application of BC and RMB alleviated the toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons to Spartina anglica via improving plant growth with increasing plant height, root vitality and total chlorophyll content. High-throughput sequencing result indicated that rhizosphere microbial community of Spartina anglica was regulated by the application of BC and RMB, with increase of bacteria and plant mycorrhizal symbiotic fungus in biochar and RMB amended soil.}, } @article {pmid31470797, year = {2019}, author = {Sol, S and Valkov, VT and Rogato, A and Noguero, M and Gargiulo, L and Mele, G and Lacombe, B and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {Disruption of the Lotus japonicus transporter LjNPF2.9 increases shoot biomass and nitrate content without affecting symbiotic performances.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {380}, pmid = {31470797}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Biomass ; Lotus/genetics/*physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: After uptake from soil into the root tissue, distribution and allocation of nitrate throughout the whole plant body, is a critical step of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and for modulation of plant growth in response to various environmental conditions. In legume plants nitrate distribution is also important for the regulation of the nodulation process that allows to fix atmospheric N (N2) through the symbiotic interaction with rhizobia (symbiotic nitrogen fixation, SNF).

RESULTS: Here we report the functional characterization of the Lotus japonicus gene LjNPF2.9, which is expressed mainly in the root vascular structures, a key localization for the control of nitrate allocation throughout the plant body. LjNPF2.9 expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes induces [15]NO3 accumulation indicating that it functions as a nitrate importer. The phenotypic characterization of three independent knock out mutants indicates an increased shoot biomass in the mutant backgrounds. This phenotype is associated to an increased/decreased nitrate content detected in the shoots/roots. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that the accumulation of nitrate in the shoot does not affect the nodulation and N-Fixation capacities of the knock out mutants.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that LjNPF2.9 plays a crucial role in the downward transport of nitrate to roots, occurring likely through a xylem-to-phloem loading-mediated activity. The increase of the shoot biomass and nitrate accumulation might represent a relevant phenotype in the perspective of an improved NUE and this is further reinforced in legume plants by the reported lack of effects on the SNF efficiency.}, } @article {pmid31469748, year = {2020}, author = {Chowdhury, AH and Adiamah, A and Kushairi, A and Varadhan, KK and Krznaric, Z and Kulkarni, AD and Neal, KR and Lobo, DN}, title = {Perioperative Probiotics or Synbiotics in Adults Undergoing Elective Abdominal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.}, journal = {Annals of surgery}, volume = {271}, number = {6}, pages = {1036-1047}, doi = {10.1097/SLA.0000000000003581}, pmid = {31469748}, issn = {1528-1140}, support = {MR/K00414X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; 19891/ARC_/Arthritis Research UK/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Abdomen/*surgery ; Elective Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Humans ; Perioperative Care/*methods ; Postoperative Complications/*prevention & control ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; *Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To define the impact of perioperative treatment with probiotics or synbiotics on postoperative outcome in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative surgical infection accounts for a third of all cases of sepsis, and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics (preparations that combine probiotics and prebiotics) are nutritional adjuncts that are emerging as novel therapeutic modalities for preventing surgical infections. However, current evidence on their effects is conflicting.

METHODS: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and WHO Global Index Medicus electronic databases was performed to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating probiotics or synbiotics in adult patients undergoing elective colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, transplant, or hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery. Bibliographies of studies were also searched. The primary outcome measure was incidence of postoperative infectious complications. Secondary outcomes included incidence of noninfectious complications, mortality, length of hospital stay, and any treatment-related adverse events. Quantitative pooling of the data was undertaken using a random effects model.

RESULTS: A total of 34 randomized controlled trials reporting on 2723 participants were included. In the intervention arm, 1354 patients received prebiotic or symbiotic preparations, whereas 1369 patients in the control arm received placebo or standard care. Perioperative administration of either probiotics or synbiotics significantly reduced the risk of infectious complications following abdominal surgery [relative risk (RR) 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.69; P < 0.00001, n = 2723, I = 42%]. Synbiotics showed greater effect on postoperative infections compared with probiotics alone (synbiotics RR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.33-0.66; P < 0.0001, n = 1399, I = 53% probiotics RR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.53-0.80; P < 0.0001, n = 1324, I = 18%). Synbiotics but not probiotics also led to a reduction in total length of stay (synbiotics weighted mean difference: -3.89; 95% CI: -6.60 to -1.18 days; P = 0.005, n = 535, I = 91% probiotics RR: -0.65; 95% CI: -2.03-0.72; P = 0.35, n = 294, I = 65%). There were no significant differences in mortality (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.54-1.80; P = 0.96, n = 1729, I = 0%) or noninfectious complications between the intervention and control groups. The preparations were well tolerated with no significant adverse events reported.

CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics and synbiotics are safe and effective nutritional adjuncts in reducing postoperative infective complications in elective abdominal surgery. The treatment effects are greatest with synbiotics.}, } @article {pmid31468195, year = {2020}, author = {Cui, Y and Gao, J and He, Y and Jiang, L}, title = {Plant extracellular vesicles.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {257}, number = {1}, pages = {3-12}, pmid = {31468195}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Exosomes/metabolism ; Extracellular Vesicles/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Plant Immunity ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Exocytosis is a key mechanism for delivering materials into the extracellular space for cell function and communication. In plant cells, conventional protein secretion (CPS) is achieved via an ER (endoplasmic reticulum)-Golgi-TGN (trans-Golgi network)-PM (plasma membrane) pathway. Unconventional protein secretion (UPS) bypassing these secretory organelles is also in operation and can potentially lead to the formation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in plant cells. Although multiple types of EVs have been identified and shown to play important roles in mediating intercellular communications in mammalian cells, there has been a long debate about the possible existence of EVs in plants because of the presence of the cell wall. However, increasing evidence suggests that plants also release EVs having various functions including unconventional protein secretion, RNA transport, and defense against pathogens. In this review, we present an update on the current knowledge about the nature, secretory mechanism, and function of various types of EVs in plants. The key regulators involved in EV secretion are also summarized and discussed. We pay special attention to the function of EVs in plant defense and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31463869, year = {2019}, author = {Monteiro, PHR and Kaschuk, G and Winagraski, E and Auer, CG and Higa, AR}, title = {Rhizobial inoculation in black wattle plantation (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) in production systems of southern Brazil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {989-998}, pmid = {31463869}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Acacia/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Agricultural Inoculants/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Brazil ; Forestry ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) is a tree legume native to southeast Australia, but present in all continents. Today it covers about 142,400 ha in Brazil, with plantations concentrated in the southern region of the country. Black wattle may form nodules and establish rhizobial symbiosis capable of fixing N2, but rhizobial inoculation is not done in commercial plantations. About 40 kg ha[-1] of urea is applied during seedling transplantation. In this review, evidences by which rhizobial inoculation affects monoculture, mixed cultivation, and agroforestry black wattle production systems were searched in literature. Previous measurements in cultivated forests have indicated that biological nitrogen fixation in black wattle may provide up to 200 kg of N ha[-1] year[-1] to the soil. Therefore, rhizobia inoculation may bring several opportunities to improve black wattle production systems. Black wattle is not a very selective partner in the rhizobial symbiosis, but the genus Bradyrhizobium dominates the rhizobial diversity of black wattle nodules. Investigation on rhizobial diversity in soils where the crop is cultivated may represent an opportunity to find more effective rhizobia strains for inoculants. The successful history of biological nitrogen fixation in grain legumes must inspire the history of tree legumes. Microbiology applied to forestry must overcome challenges on the lack of trained professionals and the development of new application technologies.}, } @article {pmid31463006, year = {2019}, author = {Couret, J and Huynh-Griffin, L and Antolic-Soban, I and Acevedo-Gonzalez, TS and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Even obligate symbioses show signs of ecological contingency: Impacts of symbiosis for an invasive stinkbug are mediated by host plant context.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {16}, pages = {9087-9099}, pmid = {31463006}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {ABSTRACT: Many species interactions are dependent on environmental context, yet the benefits of obligate, mutualistic microbial symbioses to their hosts are typically assumed to be universal across environments. We directly tested this assumption, focusing on the symbiosis between the sap-feeding insect Megacopta cribraria and its primary bacterial symbiont Candidatus Ishikawaella capsulata. We assessed host development time, survival, and body size in the presence and absence of the symbiont on two alternative host plants and in the insects' new invasive range. We found that association with the symbiont was critical for host survival to adulthood when reared on either host plant, with few individuals surviving in the absence of symbiosis. Developmental differences between hosts with and without microbial symbionts, however, were mediated by the host plants on which the insects were reared. Our results support the hypothesis that benefits associated with this host-microbe interaction are environmentally contingent, though given that few individuals survive to adulthood without their symbionts, this may have minimal impact on ecological dynamics and current evolutionary trajectories of these partners.

OPEN RESEARCH BADGES: This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kg4bc56.}, } @article {pmid31461957, year = {2019}, author = {Bahadur, A and Batool, A and Nasir, F and Jiang, S and Mingsen, Q and Zhang, Q and Pan, J and Liu, Y and Feng, H}, title = {Mechanistic Insights into Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Mediated Drought Stress Tolerance in Plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {31461957}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic interaction with 80% of known land plants. It has a pronounced impact on plant growth, water absorption, mineral nutrition, and protection from abiotic stresses. Plants are very dynamic systems having great adaptability under continuously changing drying conditions. In this regard, the function of AMF as a biological tool for improving plant drought stress tolerance and phenotypic plasticity, in terms of establishing mutualistic associations, seems an innovative approach towards sustainable agriculture. However, a better understanding of these complex interconnected signaling pathways and AMF-mediated mechanisms that regulate the drought tolerance in plants will enhance its potential application as an innovative approach in environmentally friendly agriculture. This paper reviews the underlying mechanisms that are confidently linked with plant-AMF interaction in alleviating drought stress, constructing emphasis on phytohormones and signaling molecules and their interaction with biochemical, and physiological processes to maintain the homeostasis of nutrient and water cycling and plant growth performance. Likewise, the paper will analyze how the AMF symbiosis helps the plant to overcome the deleterious effects of stress is also evaluated. Finally, we review how interactions between various signaling mechanisms governed by AMF symbiosis modulate different physiological responses to improve drought tolerance. Understanding the AMF-mediated mechanisms that are important for regulating the establishment of the mycorrhizal association and the plant protective responses towards unfavorable conditions will open new approaches to exploit AMF as a bioprotective tool against drought.}, } @article {pmid31456765, year = {2019}, author = {Balestrini, R and Rosso, LC and Veronico, P and Melillo, MT and De Luca, F and Fanelli, E and Colagiero, M and di Fossalunga, AS and Ciancio, A and Pentimone, I}, title = {Transcriptomic Responses to Water Deficit and Nematode Infection in Mycorrhizal Tomato Roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1807}, pmid = {31456765}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Climate changes include the intensification of drought in many parts of the world, increasing its frequency, severity and duration. However, under natural conditions, environmental stresses do not occur alone, and, in addition, more stressed plants may become more susceptible to attacks by pests and pathogens. Studies on the impact of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis on tomato response to water deficit showed that several drought-responsive genes are differentially regulated in AM-colonized tomato plants (roots and leaves) during water deficit. To date, global changes in mycorrhizal tomato root transcripts under water stress conditions have not been yet investigated. Here, changes in root transcriptome in the presence of an AM fungus, with or without water stress (WS) application, have been evaluated in a commercial tomato cultivar already investigated for the water stress response during AM symbiosis. Since root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne incognita) are obligate endoparasites and cause severe yield losses in tomato, the impact of the AM fungal colonization on RKN infection at 7 days post-inoculation was also evaluated. Results offer new information about the response to AM symbiosis, highlighting a functional redundancy for several tomato gene families, as well as on the tomato and fungal genes involved in WS response during symbiosis, underlying the role of the AM fungus. Changes in the expression of tomato genes related to nematode infection during AM symbiosis highlight a role of AM colonization in triggering defense responses against RKN in tomato. Overall, new datasets on the tomato response to an abiotic and biotic stress during AM symbiosis have been obtained, providing useful data for further researches.}, } @article {pmid31455640, year = {2019}, author = {Creekmore, BC and Gray, JH and Walton, WG and Biernat, KA and Little, MS and Xu, Y and Liu, J and Gharaibeh, RZ and Redinbo, MR}, title = {Mouse Gut Microbiome-Encoded β-Glucuronidases Identified Using Metagenome Analysis Guided by Protein Structure.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31455640}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Gut microbial β-glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes play important roles in drug efficacy and toxicity, intestinal carcinogenesis, and mammalian-microbial symbiosis. Recently, the first catalog of human gut GUS proteins was provided for the Human Microbiome Project stool sample database and revealed 279 unique GUS enzymes organized into six categories based on active-site structural features. Because mice represent a model biomedical research organism, here we provide an analogous catalog of mouse intestinal microbial GUS proteins-a mouse gut GUSome. Using metagenome analysis guided by protein structure, we examined 2.5 million unique proteins from a comprehensive mouse gut metagenome created from several mouse strains, providers, housing conditions, and diets. We identified 444 unique GUS proteins and organized them into six categories based on active-site features, similarly to the human GUSome analysis. GUS enzymes were encoded by the major gut microbial phyla, including Firmicutes (60%) and Bacteroidetes (21%), and there were nearly 20% for which taxonomy could not be assigned. No differences in gut microbial gus gene composition were observed for mice based on sex. However, mice exhibited gus differences based on active-site features associated with provider, location, strain, and diet. Furthermore, diet yielded the largest differences in gus composition. Biochemical analysis of two low-fat-associated GUS enzymes revealed that they are variable with respect to their efficacy of processing both sulfated and nonsulfated heparan nonasaccharides containing terminal glucuronides.IMPORTANCE Mice are commonly employed as model organisms of mammalian disease; as such, our understanding of the compositions of their gut microbiomes is critical to appreciating how the mouse and human gastrointestinal tracts mirror one another. GUS enzymes, with importance in normal physiology and disease, are an attractive set of proteins to use for such analyses. Here we show that while the specific GUS enzymes differ at the sequence level, a core GUSome functionality appears conserved between mouse and human gastrointestinal bacteria. Mouse strain, provider, housing location, and diet exhibit distinct GUSomes and gus gene compositions, but sex seems not to affect the GUSome. These data provide a basis for understanding the gut microbial GUS enzymes present in commonly used laboratory mice. Further, they demonstrate the utility of metagenome analysis guided by protein structure to provide specific sets of functionally related proteins from whole-genome metagenome sequencing data.}, } @article {pmid31455638, year = {2019}, author = {Lim, SJ and Alexander, L and Engel, AS and Paterson, AT and Anderson, LC and Campbell, BJ}, title = {Extensive Thioautotrophic Gill Endosymbiont Diversity within a Single Ctena orbiculata (Bivalvia: Lucinidae) Population and Implications for Defining Host-Symbiont Specificity and Species Recognition.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31455638}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Seagrass-dwelling members of the bivalve family Lucinidae harbor environmentally acquired gill endosymbionts. According to previous studies, lucinid symbionts potentially represent multiple strains from a single thioautotrophic gammaproteobacterium species. This study utilized genomic- and transcriptomic-level data to resolve symbiont taxonomic, genetic, and functional diversity from Ctena orbiculata endosymbiont populations inhabiting carbonate-rich sediment at Sugarloaf Key, FL (USA). The sediment had mixed seagrass and calcareous green alga coverage and also was colonized by at least five other lucinid species. Four coexisting, thioautotrophic endosymbiont operational taxonomic units (OTUs), likely representing four strains from two different bacterial species, were identified from C. orbiculata Three of these OTUs also occurred at high relative abundances in the other sympatric lucinid species. Interspecies genetic differences averaged about 5% lower at both pairwise average nucleotide identity and amino acid identity than interstrain differences. Despite these genetic differences, C. orbiculata endosymbionts shared a high number of metabolic functions, including highly expressed thioautotrophy-related genes and a moderately to weakly expressed conserved one-carbon (C1) oxidation gene cluster previously undescribed in lucinid symbionts. Few symbiont- and host-related genes, including those encoding symbiotic sulfurtransferase, host respiratory functions, and host sulfide oxidation functions, were differentially expressed between seagrass- and alga-covered sediment locations. In contrast to previous studies, the identification of multiple endosymbiont taxa within and across C. orbiculata individuals, which were also shared with other sympatric lucinid species, suggests that neither host nor endosymbiont displays strict taxonomic specificity. This necessitates further investigations into the nature and extent of specificity of lucinid hosts and their symbionts.IMPORTANCE Symbiont diversity and host/symbiont functions have been comprehensively profiled for only a few lucinid species. In this work, unprecedented thioautotrophic gill endosymbiont taxonomic diversity was characterized within a Ctena orbiculata population associated with both seagrass- and alga-covered sediments. Endosymbiont metabolisms included known chemosynthetic functions and an additional conserved, previously uncharacterized C1 oxidation pathway. Lucinid-symbiont associations were not species specific because this C. orbiculata population hosted multiple endosymbiont strains and species, and other sympatric lucinid species shared overlapping symbiont 16S rRNA gene diversity profiles with C. orbiculata Our results suggest that lucinid-symbiont association patterns within some host species could be more taxonomically diverse than previously thought. As such, this study highlights the importance of holistic analyses, at the population, community, and even ecosystem levels, in understanding host-microbe association patterns.}, } @article {pmid31450847, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, F and Sun, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Enhances Biomass Production and Salt Tolerance of Sweet Sorghum.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31450847}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (AMF) are widely known to form a symbiosis with most higher plants and enhance plant adaptation to a series of environmental stresses. Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is considered a promising alternative feedstock for bioalcohol production because of its sugar-rich stalk and high biomass. However, little is known of AMF benefit for biomass production and salt tolerance of sweet sorghum. Here, we investigated the effects of Acaulospora mellea ZZ on growth and salt tolerance in two sweet sorghum cultivars (Liaotian5 and Yajin2) under different NaCl addition levels (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 g NaCl/kg soil). Results showed AMF colonized the two cultivars well under all NaCl addition levels. NaCl addition increased mycorrhizal colonization rates in Yajin2, but the effects on Liaotian5 ranged from stimulatory at 0.5 and 1 g/kg to insignificant at 2 g/kg, and even inhibitory at 3 g/kg. High NaCl addition levels produced negative effects on both AM and non-AM plants, leading to lower biomass production, poorer mineral nutrition (N, P, K), higher Na[+] uptake, and lower soluble sugar content in leaves. Compared with non-AM plants, AM plants of both cultivars had improved plant biomass and mineral uptake, as well as higher K[+]/Na[+] ratio, but only Yajin2 plants had a low shoot/root Na ratio. AM inoculation increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), and soluble sugar content in leaves. Overall, both cultivars benefited from mycorrhization, and Yajin2 with less salt tolerance showed higher mycorrhizal response. In conclusion, AMF could help to alleviate the negative effects caused by salinity, and thus showed potential in biomass production of sweet sorghum in saline soil.}, } @article {pmid31450827, year = {2019}, author = {Bi, Y and Wang, F and Zhang, W}, title = {Omics Analysis for Dinoflagellates Biology Research.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31450827}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are important primary producers for marine ecosystems and are also responsible for certain essential components in human foods. However, they are also notorious for their ability to form harmful algal blooms, and cause shellfish poisoning. Although much work has been devoted to dinoflagellates in recent decades, our understanding of them at a molecular level is still limited owing to some of their challenging biological properties, such as large genome size, permanently condensed liquid-crystalline chromosomes, and the 10-fold lower ratio of protein to DNA than other eukaryotic species. In recent years, omics technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have been applied to the study of marine dinoflagellates and have uncovered many new physiological and metabolic characteristics of dinoflagellates. In this article, we review recent application of omics technologies in revealing some of the unusual features of dinoflagellate genomes and molecular mechanisms relevant to their biology, including the mechanism of harmful algal bloom formations, toxin biosynthesis, symbiosis, lipid biosynthesis, as well as species identification and evolution. We also discuss the challenges and provide prospective further study directions and applications of dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid31450675, year = {2019}, author = {Koliarakis, I and Messaritakis, I and Nikolouzakis, TK and Hamilos, G and Souglakos, J and Tsiaoussis, J}, title = {Oral Bacteria and Intestinal Dysbiosis in Colorectal Cancer.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {31450675}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology/*etiology/therapy ; Disease Susceptibility ; *Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human organism coexists with its microbiota in a symbiotic relationship. These polymicrobial communities are involved in many crucial functions, such as immunity, protection against pathogens, and metabolism of dietary compounds, thus maintaining homeostasis. The oral cavity and the colon, although distant anatomic regions, are both highly colonized by distinct microbiotas. However, studies indicate that oral bacteria are able to disseminate into the colon. This is mostly evident in conditions such as periodontitis, where specific bacteria, namely Fusobacterium nucrelatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis project a pathogenic profile. In the colon these bacteria can alter the composition of the residual microbiota, in the context of complex biofilms, resulting in intestinal dysbiosis. This orally-driven disruption promotes aberrant immune and inflammatory responses, eventually leading to colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis. Understanding the exact mechanisms of these interactions will yield future opportunities regarding prevention and treatment of CRC.}, } @article {pmid31450667, year = {2019}, author = {Chakraborty, S and Nguyen, B and Wasti, SD and Xu, G}, title = {Plant Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor Kinase (LRR-RK): Structure, Ligand Perception, and Activation Mechanism.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {31450667}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {*Leucine/chemistry ; Ligands ; Models, Molecular ; Peptides/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*physiology ; Plants/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; *Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {In recent years, secreted peptides have been recognized as essential mediators of intercellular communication which governs plant growth, development, environmental interactions, and other mediated biological responses, such as stem cell homeostasis, cell proliferation, wound healing, hormone sensation, immune defense, and symbiosis, among others. Many of the known secreted peptide ligand receptors belong to the leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase (LRR-RK) family of membrane integral receptors, which contain more than 200 members within Arabidopsis making it the largest family of plant receptor kinases (RKs). Genetic and biochemical studies have provided valuable data regarding peptide ligands and LRR-RKs, however, visualization of ligand/LRR-RK complex structures at the atomic level is vital to understand the functions of LRR-RKs and their mediated biological processes. The structures of many plant LRR-RK receptors in complex with corresponding ligands have been solved by X-ray crystallography, revealing new mechanisms of ligand-induced receptor kinase activation. In this review, we briefly elaborate the peptide ligands, and aim to detail the structures and mechanisms of LRR-RK activation as induced by secreted peptide ligands within plants.}, } @article {pmid31450061, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, X and Hu, Z and Qi, Y and Song, C and Chen, G}, title = {The interactions of algae-activated sludge symbiotic system and its effects on wastewater treatment and lipid accumulation.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {292}, number = {}, pages = {122017}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122017}, pmid = {31450061}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; Lipids ; *Microalgae ; Sewage ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The ability of Scenedesmus sp. 336, Chlorella sp. 1602 and activated sludge (AS) alone or in combination to remove nutrients and accumulate lipid in artificial municipal wastewater under light/dark conditions was studied. The symbiotic systems showed greater advantages than the sterile systems. Scenedesmus sp. 336 + AS system obtained the highest lipid productivity after seven days of cultivation in light, while the NO3[-]-N and COD were completely absorbed and utilized, as well as the removal rate of PO4[3-]-P and NH4[+]-N were 99.82% and 87.13%, respectively. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured to demonstrate the relationship between oxidative stress and lipid accumulation. Besides, the results of microbial analysis showed that some dominant plant growth-promoting bacteria could secrete indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to enhance the interaction between algae and bacteria, and the denitrifying bacteria that could coexist with microalgae also improved the efficiency of wastewater treatment in the symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid31449853, year = {2019}, author = {Dorchin, N and Harris, KM and Stireman, JO}, title = {Phylogeny of the gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Cecidomyiinae): Systematics, evolution of feeding modes and diversification rates.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {140}, number = {}, pages = {106602}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106602}, pmid = {31449853}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biodiversity ; Calibration ; Diptera/*classification/genetics ; *Feeding Behavior ; Likelihood Functions ; Mitochondria/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Predatory Behavior ; }, abstract = {Gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) constitute one of the largest and most diverse families of Diptera, with close to 6600 described species and thousands of undescribed species worldwide. The family is divided into six subfamilies, the five basal ones comprising only fungivorous taxa, whereas the largest, youngest and most diverse subfamily Cecidomyiinae includes fungivorous as well as herbivorous and predatory species. The currently accepted classification of the Cecidomyiinae is morphology-based, and the few phylogenetic inferences that have previously been suggested for it were based on fragmentary or limited datasets. In a first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Cecidomyiinae we sampled 142 species representing 88 genera of 13 tribes from all feeding guilds and zoogeographic regions in order to test the validity of the systematic division of the subfamily and gain insight into patterns of diversification and the evolution of feeding modes. We used sequences from five mitochondrial and nuclear genes to reconstruct maximum likelihood and Bayesian, time-calibrated phylogenies and conducted ancestral state reconstruction of feeding modes. Our results corroborate to a great extent the morphology-based classification of the Cecidomyiinae, with strong support for all supertribes and tribes, all were apparently established in the Upper Cretaceous concordant with the major radiation of angiosperms. We infer that transitions from fungus-feeding to plant-feeding occurred only once or twice in the evolution of the subfamily and that predation evolved only once, contrary to previous hypotheses. All herbivorous clades in the subfamily are very species rich and have diversified at a significantly greater rate than expected, but we found no support for the assertion that herbivorous clades associated with symbiotic fungi in their galls diversify faster than clades that do not have such associations. Currently available data also do not support the hypothesis that symbiotic clades have broader host ranges than non-symbiotic clades.}, } @article {pmid31448152, year = {2019}, author = {S, J and Kk, S and S, M}, title = {Multifunctional aspects of Piriformospora indica in plant endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Mycology}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {182-190}, pmid = {31448152}, issn = {2150-1203}, abstract = {Piriformospora indica (Hymenomycetes, Basidiomycota) is an endophytic fungus that colonises plant roots, and was originally isolated from Rajasthan desert. It is comparable to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in terms of plant growth promotional effects. P. indica has been used as an ideal example to analyse the mechanisms of mutualistic symbiosis. Major benefit of P. indica over AM fungi is that it is axenically cultivable in different synthetic and complex media. A preliminary attempt was made to scrutinise the role of P. indica co-cultivation on seedling vigour of common vegetables like Cucumis sativus L., Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, Solanum melongena L. and Capsicum annuum L. The positive effect of P. indica co-culture on seedling performance was compared to the effects of growth hormones like indole acetic acid and benzyl amino purine when supplemented to the MS medium at a concentration of 0.1 mg ml[-1]. An exogenous supply of auxin resulted in enhanced production of roots and cytokinin supplement favoured shoot production, whereas P. indica co-culture favoured simultaneous production of shoot and root over the control. P. indica colonisation inside the roots of C. sativus L. was also successfully established. These preliminary results indicate the prospective role of P. indica in vegetable farming through its favourable effect on plant growth.}, } @article {pmid31448138, year = {2019}, author = {Li, X and Zhang, X and Yang, M and Yan, L and Kang, Z and Xiao, Y and Tang, P and Ye, L and Zhang, B and Zou, J and Liu, C}, title = {Tuber borchii Shapes the Ectomycorrhizosphere Microbial Communities of Corylus avellana.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {180-190}, pmid = {31448138}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {In this study, eight-month-old ectomycorrhizae of Tuber borchii with Corylus avellana were synthesized to explore the influence of T. borchii colonization on the soil properties and the microbial communities associated with C. avellana during the early symbiotic stage. The results showed that the bacterial richness and diversity in the ectomycorrhizae were significantly higher than those in the control roots, whereas the fungal diversity was not changed in response to T. borchii colonization. Tuber was the dominant taxon (82.97%) in ectomycorrhizae. Some pathogenic fungi, including Ilyonectria and Podospora, and other competitive mycorrhizal fungi, such as Hymenochaete, had significantly lower abundance in the T. borchii inoculation treatment. It was found that the ectomycorrhizae of C. avellana contained some more abundant bacterial genera (e.g., Rhizobium, Pedomicrobium, Ilumatobacter, Streptomyces, and Geobacillus) and fungal genera (e.g., Trechispora and Humicola) than the control roots. The properties of rhizosphere soils were also changed by T. borchii colonization, like available nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable magnesium, which indicated a feedback effect of mycorrhizal synthesis on soil properties. Overall, this work highlighted the interactions between the symbionts and the microbes present in the host, which shed light on our understanding of the ecological functions of T. borchii and facilitate its commercial cultivation.}, } @article {pmid31447821, year = {2019}, author = {Johansson, ON and Pinder, MIM and Ohlsson, F and Egardt, J and Töpel, M and Clarke, AK}, title = {Friends With Benefits: Exploring the Phycosphere of the Marine Diatom Skeletonema marinoi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1828}, pmid = {31447821}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Marine diatoms are the dominant phytoplankton in the temperate oceans and coastal regions, contributing to global photosynthesis, biogeochemical cycling of key nutrients and minerals and aquatic food chains. Integral to the success of marine diatoms is a diverse array of bacterial species that closely interact within the diffusive boundary layer, or phycosphere, surrounding the diatom partner. Recently, we isolated seven distinct bacterial species from cultures of Skeletonema marinoi, a chain-forming, centric diatom that dominates the coastal regions of the temperate oceans. Genomes of all seven bacteria were sequenced revealing many unusual characteristics such as the existence of numerous plasmids of widely varying sizes. Here we have investigated the characteristics of the bacterial interactions with S. marinoi, demonstrating that several strains (Arenibacter algicola strain SMS7, Marinobacter salarius strain SMR5, Sphingorhabdus flavimaris strain SMR4y, Sulfitobacter pseudonitzschiae strain SMR1, Yoonia vestfoldensis strain SMR4r and Roseovarius mucosus strain SMR3) stimulate growth of the diatom partner. Testing of many different environmental factors including low iron concentration, high and low temperatures, and chemical signals showed variable effects on this growth enhancement by each bacterial species, with the most significant being light quality in which green and blue but not red light enhanced the stimulatory effect on S. marinoi growth by all bacteria. Several of the bacteria also inhibited growth of one or more of the other bacterial strains to different extents when mixed together. This study highlights the complex interactions between diatoms and their associated bacteria within the phycosphere, and that further studies are needed to resolve the underlying mechanisms for these relationships and how they might influence the global success of marine diatoms.}, } @article {pmid31446647, year = {2019}, author = {Lemos, LN and Medeiros, JD and Dini-Andreote, F and Fernandes, GR and Varani, AM and Oliveira, G and Pylro, VS}, title = {Genomic signatures and co-occurrence patterns of the ultra-small Saccharimonadia (phylum CPR/Patescibacteria) suggest a symbiotic lifestyle.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {18}, pages = {4259-4271}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15208}, pmid = {31446647}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Metagenome ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mining ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The size of bacterial genomes is often associated with organismal metabolic capabilities determining ecological breadth and lifestyle. The recently proposed Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR)/Patescibacteria encompasses mostly unculturable bacterial taxa with relatively small genome sizes with potential for co-metabolism interdependencies. As yet, little is known about the ecology and evolution of CPR, particularly with respect to how they might interact with other taxa. Here, we reconstructed two novel genomes (namely, Candidatus Saccharibacter sossegus and Candidatus Chaer renensis) of taxa belonging to the class Saccharimonadia within the CPR/Patescibacteria using metagenomes obtained from acid mine drainage (AMD). By testing the hypothesis of genome streamlining or symbiotic lifestyle, our results revealed clear signatures of gene losses in these genomes, such as those associated with de novo biosynthesis of essential amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids and cofactors. In addition, co-occurrence analysis provided evidence supporting potential symbioses of these organisms with Hydrotalea sp. in the AMD system. Together, our findings provide a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of CPR/Patescibacteria and highlight the importance of genome reconstruction for studying metabolic interdependencies between unculturable Saccharimonadia representatives.}, } @article {pmid31440828, year = {2019}, author = {Shimoda, Y and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Hayashi, M}, title = {Kinase activity-dependent stability of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {250}, number = {5}, pages = {1773-1779}, pmid = {31440828}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Stability ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Accumulation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) in root cell nucleus depends on its kinase activity but not on nuclear symbiotic components crucial for nodulation. Plant calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is a key regulator of symbioses with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as it decodes symbiotic calcium signals induced by microsymbionts. CCaMK is expressed mainly in root cells and localizes to the nucleus, where microsymbiont-triggered calcium oscillations occur. The molecular mechanisms that control CCaMK localization are unknown. Here, we analyzed the expression and subcellular localization of mutated CCaMK in the roots of Lotus japonicus and found a clear relation between CCaMK kinase activity and its stability. Kinase-defective CCaMK variants showed lower protein levels than the variants with kinase activity. The levels of transcripts driven by the CaMV 35S promoter were similar among the variants, indicating that stability of CCaMK is regulated post-translationally. We also demonstrated that CCaMK localized to the root cell nucleus in several symbiotic mutants, including cyclops, an interaction partner and phosphorylation target of CCaMK. Our results suggest that kinase activity of CCaMK is required not only for the activation of downstream symbiotic components but also for its stability in root cells.}, } @article {pmid31440434, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, DT and Zou, C and Ban, FX and Wang, HL and Wang, XW and Liu, YQ}, title = {Conservation of transcriptional elements in the obligate symbiont of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e7477}, pmid = {31440434}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial symbiosis is widespread in arthropods, especially in insects. Some of the symbionts undergo a long-term co-evolution with the host, resulting in massive genome decay. One particular consequence of genome decay is thought to be the elimination of transcriptional elements within both the coding region and intergenic sequences. In the whitefly Bemisia tabaci species complex, the obligate symbiont Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum is of vital importance in nutrient provision, and yet little is known about the regulatory capacities of it.

METHODS: Portiera genomes of two whitefly species in China were sequenced and assembled. Gene content of these two Portiera genomes was predicted, and then subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. Together with two other Portiera genomes from whitefly species available previously, four Portiera genomes were utilized to investigate regulatory capacities of Portiera, focusing on transcriptional elements, including genes related with transcription and functional elements within the intergenic spacers.

RESULTS: Comparative analyses of the four Portiera genomes of whitefly B. tabaci indicate that the obligate symbionts Portiera is similar in different species of whiteflies, in terms of general genome features and possible functions in the biosynthesis of essential amino acids. The screening of transcriptional factors suggests compromised ability of Portiera to regulate the essential amino acid biosynthesis pathways. Meanwhile, thermal tolerance ability of Portiera is indicated with the detection of a σ[32] factor, as well as two predicted σ[32] binding sites. Within intergenic spacers, functional elements are predicted, including 37 Shine-Dalgarno sequences and 34 putative small RNAs.}, } @article {pmid31440229, year = {2019}, author = {Li, Y and Zhang, K and Liu, Y and Li, K and Hu, D and Wronski, T}, title = {Community Composition and Diversity of Intestinal Microbiota in Captive and Reintroduced Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1821}, pmid = {31440229}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Large and complex intestinal microbiota communities in hosts have profound effects on digestion and metabolism. To better understand the community structure of intestinal microbiota in Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) under different feeding regimes, we compared bacterial diversity and composition between captive and reintroduced Przewalski's horses, using high-throughput 16S-rRNA gene sequencing for identification. Reintroduced Przewalski's horses were sampled in two Chinese nature reserves, i.e., Dunhuang Xihu Nature Reserve (DXNR; n = 8) in Gansu Province and Kalamaili Nature Reserve (KNR; n = 12) in Xinjiang Province, and compared to a captive population at the Przewalski's Horse Breeding Center in Xinjiang (PHBC; n = 11). The composition of intestinal microbiota in Przewalski's horses was significantly different at the three study sites. Observed species was lowest in DXNR, but highest in KNR. Lowest Shannon diversity was observed in DXNR, while in KNR and PHBC had a moderately high diversity; Simpson diversity showed an opposite trend compared with the Shannon index. Linear Discriminant Analysis effect size was used to determine differentially distributed bacterial taxa at each study site. The most dominant phyla of intestinal microbiota were similar in all feeding regimes, including mainly Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Spirochaetes. Differing abundances of intestinal microbiota in Przewalski's horses may be related to different food types at each study site, differences in diversity may be attributed to low quality food in DXNR. Results indicated that diet is one of the important factors that can influence the structure of intestinal microbiota communities in Przewalski's horse. These findings combined with a detailed knowledge of the available and consumed food plant species could provide guidelines for the selection of potential future reintroduction sites.}, } @article {pmid31439018, year = {2019}, author = {Li, C and Chng, KR and Kwah, JS and Av-Shalom, TV and Tucker-Kellogg, L and Nagarajan, N}, title = {An expectation-maximization algorithm enables accurate ecological modeling using longitudinal microbiome sequencing data.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {118}, pmid = {31439018}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Datasets as Topic ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Humans ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The dynamics of microbial communities is driven by a range of interactions from symbiosis to predator-prey relationships, the majority of which are poorly understood. With the increasing availability of high-throughput microbiome taxonomic profiling data, it is now conceivable to directly learn the ecological models that explicitly define microbial interactions and explain community dynamics. The applicability of these approaches is severely limited by the lack of accurate absolute cell density measurements (biomass).

METHODS: We present a new computational approach that resolves this key limitation in the inference of generalized Lotka-Volterra models (gLVMs) by coupling biomass estimation and model inference with an expectation-maximization algorithm (BEEM).

RESULTS: BEEM outperforms the state-of-the-art methods for inferring gLVMs, while simultaneously eliminating the need for additional experimental biomass data as input. BEEM's application to previously inaccessible public datasets (due to the lack of biomass data) allowed us to construct ecological models of microbial communities in the human gut on a per-individual basis, revealing personalized dynamics and keystone species.

CONCLUSIONS: BEEM addresses a key bottleneck in "systems analysis" of microbiomes by enabling accurate inference of ecological models from high throughput sequencing data without the need for experimental biomass measurements.}, } @article {pmid31438811, year = {2019}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Moran, NA}, title = {Links between metamorphosis and symbiosis in holometabolous insects.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {374}, number = {1783}, pages = {20190068}, pmid = {31438811}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Insecta/growth & development/microbiology/parasitology ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology/parasitology ; *Metamorphosis, Biological ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many animals depend on microbial symbionts to provide nutrition, defence or other services. Holometabolous insects, as well as other animals that undergo metamorphosis, face unique constraints on symbiont maintenance. Microbes present in larvae encounter a radical transformation of their habitat and may also need to withstand chemical and immunological challenges. Metamorphosis also provides an opportunity, in that symbiotic associations can be decoupled over development. For example, some holometabolous insects maintain the same symbiont as larvae and adults, but house it in different tissues; in other species, larvae and adults may harbour entirely different types or numbers of microbes, in accordance with shifts in host diet or habitat. Such flexibility may provide an advantage over hemimetabolous insects, in which selection on adult-stage microbial associations may be constrained by its negative effects on immature stages, and vice versa. Additionally, metamorphosis itself can be directly influenced by symbionts. Across disparate insect taxa, microbes protect hosts from pathogen infection, supply nutrients essential for rebuilding the adult body and provide cues regulating pupation. However, microbial associations remain completely unstudied for many families and even orders of Holometabola, and future research will undoubtedly reveal more links between metamorphosis and microbiota, two widespread features of animal life. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolution of complete metamorphosis'.}, } @article {pmid31437925, year = {2019}, author = {Mei, J and Xia, E}, title = {Knowledge Learning Symbiosis for Developing Risk Prediction Models from Regional EHR Repositories.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {264}, number = {}, pages = {258-262}, doi = {10.3233/SHTI190223}, pmid = {31437925}, issn = {1879-8365}, mesh = {Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; *Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Machine Learning ; Neural Networks, Computer ; }, abstract = {Secondary use of regional EHR data suffers several problems, including data selection bias and limited data size caused by data incompleteness. Here, we propose knowledge learning symbiosis (KLS) as a framework to incorporate domain knowledge to address the problems and make better secondary use of EHR data. Under the framework, we introduce three main categories of methods: knowledge injection to input features, objective functions, and output labels, where knowledge-enhanced neural network (KENN) was first introduced to inject knowledge into objective functions. A case study was conducted to build a cardiovascular disease risk prediction model on the type 2 diabetes patient cohort using regional EHR repositories. By incorporating a well-established knowledge risk model as domain knowledge under our KLS framework, we increased risk prediction performance both on small and biased data, where KENN showed the best performance among all methods.}, } @article {pmid31437281, year = {2019}, author = {Grossman, JJ and Butterfield, AJ and Cavender-Bares, J and Hobbie, SE and Reich, PB and Gutknecht, J and Kennedy, PG}, title = {Non-symbiotic soil microbes are more strongly influenced by altered tree biodiversity than arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during initial forest establishment.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz134}, pmid = {31437281}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Forests ; Fungi/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Trees/classification/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {While the relationship between plant and microbial diversity has been well studied in grasslands, less is known about similar relationships in forests, especially for obligately symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. To assess the effect of varying tree diversity on microbial alpha- and beta-diversity, we sampled soil from plots in a high-density tree diversity experiment in Minnesota, USA, 3 years after establishment. About 3 of 12 tree species are AM hosts; the other 9 primarily associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi. We used phospho- and neutral lipid fatty acid analysis to characterize the biomass and functional identity of the whole soil bacterial and fungal community and high throughput sequencing to identify the species-level richness and composition of the AM fungal community. We found that plots of differing tree composition had different bacterial and fungal communities; plots with conifers, and especially Juniperus virginiana, had lower densities of several bacterial groups. In contrast, plots with a higher density or diversity of AM hosts showed no sign of greater AM fungal abundance or diversity. Our results indicate that early responses to plant diversity vary considerably across microbial groups, with AM fungal communities potentially requiring longer timescales to respond to changes in host tree diversity.}, } @article {pmid31437265, year = {2019}, author = {Watanabe, D and Takagi, H}, title = {Yeast prion-based metabolic reprogramming induced by bacteria in fermented foods.}, journal = {FEMS yeast research}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsyr/foz061}, pmid = {31437265}, issn = {1567-1364}, mesh = {Bread ; Cheese ; Fermented Foods/microbiology ; *Food Microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Lactobacillales/*physiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Prions/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*metabolism ; Wine ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities of yeast and bacterial cells are often observed in the manufacturing processes of fermented foods and drinks, such as sourdough bread, cheese, kefir, wine and sake. Community interactions and dynamics among microorganisms, as well as their significance during the manufacturing processes, are central issues in modern food microbiology. Recent studies demonstrated that the emergence of a yeast prion termed [GAR+] in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is induced by coculturing with bacterial cells, resulting in the switching of the carbon metabolism. In order to facilitate mutualistic symbiosis among microorganisms, this mode of microbial interaction is induced between yeasts and lactic acid bacteria species used in traditional sake making. Thus, yeast prions have attracted much attention as novel platforms that govern the metabolic adaptation of cross-kingdom ecosystems. Our minireview focuses on the plausible linkage between fermented-food microbial communication and yeast prion-mediated metabolic reprogramming.}, } @article {pmid31436117, year = {2019}, author = {Hao, ML and Wang, GY and Zuo, XQ and Qu, CJ and Yao, BC and Wang, DL}, title = {Gut microbiota: an overlooked factor that plays a significant role in osteoporosis.}, journal = {The Journal of international medical research}, volume = {47}, number = {9}, pages = {4095-4103}, pmid = {31436117}, issn = {1473-2300}, mesh = {Endocrine System/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Osteoporosis/immunology/*microbiology/therapy ; }, abstract = {Gut microbes are known as the body’s second gene pool. Symbiotic intestinal bacteria play a major role in maintaining balance in humans. Bad eating habits, antibiotic abuse, diseases, and a poor living environment have a negative effect on intestinal flora. Abnormal intestinal microbes are prone to cause a variety of diseases, affecting life expectancy and long-term quality of life, especially in older people. Several recent studies have found a close association between intestinal microorganisms and osteoporosis. The potential mechanism of intestinal flora affecting bone formation or destruction by mediating nitric oxide, the immune and endocrine systems, and other factors is briefly described in this review. All of these factors may be responsible for the intestinal flora that causes osteoporosis. Studying the relationship between intestinal flora and bone health not only provides new ideas for studying the role of intestinal microorganism in osteoporosis, but also provides a new therapeutic direction for clinically refractory osteoporosis. Study of the relationship between intestinal microbiota and osteoporosis is important for maintaining bone health and minimizing osteoporosis.}, } @article {pmid31431553, year = {2019}, author = {Laso-Pérez, R and Hahn, C and van Vliet, DM and Tegetmeyer, HE and Schubotz, F and Smit, NT and Pape, T and Sahling, H and Bohrmann, G and Boetius, A and Knittel, K and Wegener, G}, title = {Anaerobic Degradation of Non-Methane Alkanes by "Candidatus Methanoliparia" in Hydrocarbon Seeps of the Gulf of Mexico.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31431553}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Alkanes/*metabolism ; Anaerobiosis/*physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Euryarchaeota/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Gulf of Mexico ; Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Methane/*metabolism ; Oil and Gas Fields/microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidoreductases ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Crude oil and gases in the seabed provide an important energy source for subsurface microorganisms. We investigated the role of archaea in the anaerobic degradation of non-methane alkanes in deep-sea oil seeps from the Gulf of Mexico. We identified microscopically the ethane and short-chain alkane oxidizers "Candidatus Argoarchaeum" and "Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum" forming consortia with bacteria. Moreover, we found that the sediments contain large numbers of cells from the archaeal clade "Candidatus Methanoliparia," which was previously proposed to perform methanogenic alkane degradation. "Ca. Methanoliparia" occurred abundantly as single cells attached to oil droplets in sediments without apparent bacterial or archaeal partners. Metagenome-assembled genomes of "Ca. Methanoliparia" encode a complete methanogenesis pathway including a canonical methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) but also a highly divergent MCR related to those of alkane-degrading archaea and pathways for the oxidation of long-chain alkyl units. Its metabolic genomic potential and its global detection in hydrocarbon reservoirs suggest that "Ca. Methanoliparia" is an important methanogenic alkane degrader in subsurface environments, producing methane by alkane disproportionation as a single organism.IMPORTANCE Oil-rich sediments from the Gulf of Mexico were found to contain diverse alkane-degrading groups of archaea. The symbiotic, consortium-forming "Candidatus Argoarchaeum" and "Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum" are likely responsible for the degradation of ethane and short-chain alkanes, with the help of sulfate-reducing bacteria. "Ca. Methanoliparia" occurs as single cells associated with oil droplets. These archaea encode two phylogenetically different methyl-coenzyme M reductases that may allow this organism to thrive as a methanogen on a substrate of long-chain alkanes. Based on a library survey, we show that "Ca. Methanoliparia" is frequently detected in oil reservoirs and may be a key agent in the transformation of long-chain alkanes to methane. Our findings provide evidence for the important and diverse roles of archaea in alkane-rich marine habitats and support the notion of a significant functional versatility of the methyl coenzyme M reductase.}, } @article {pmid31430948, year = {2019}, author = {Lobionda, S and Sittipo, P and Kwon, HY and Lee, YK}, title = {The Role of Gut Microbiota in Intestinal Inflammation with Respect to Diet and Extrinsic Stressors.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31430948}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The gut microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host and regulates several important functions including host metabolism, immunity, and intestinal barrier function. Intestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Alterations in the gut microbiota and associated changes in metabolites as well as disruptions in the intestinal barrier are evidence of the relationship between the gut microbiota and intestinal inflammation. Recent studies have found that many factors may alter the gut microbiota, with the effects of diet being commonly-studied. Extrinsic stressors, including environmental stressors, antibiotic exposure, sleep disturbance, physical activity, and psychological stress, may also play important roles in altering the composition of the gut microbiota. Herein, we discuss the roles of the gut microbiota in intestinal inflammation in relation to diet and other extrinsic stressors.}, } @article {pmid31430401, year = {2019}, author = {Mathé-Hubert, H and Kaech, H and Hertaeg, C and Jaenike, J and Vorburger, C}, title = {Nonrandom associations of maternally transmitted symbionts in insects: The roles of drift versus biased cotransmission and selection.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {24}, pages = {5330-5346}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15206}, pmid = {31430401}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; Bayes Theorem ; Drosophila/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Maternal Inheritance/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Spiroplasma/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Virtually all higher organisms form holobionts with associated microbiota. To understand the biology of holobionts we need to know how species assemble and interact. Controlled experiments are suited to study interactions between particular symbionts, but they only accommodate a tiny portion of the diversity within each species. Alternatively, interactions can be inferred by testing if associations among symbionts in the field are more or less frequent than expected under random assortment. However, random assortment may not be a valid null hypothesis for maternally transmitted symbionts since drift alone can result in associations. Here, we analyse a European field survey of endosymbionts in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), confirming that symbiont associations are pervasive. To interpret them, we develop a model simulating the effect of drift on symbiont associations. We show that drift induces apparently nonrandom assortment, even though horizontal transmissions and maternal transmission failures tend to randomise symbiont associations. We also use this model in the approximate Bayesian computation framework to revisit the association between Spiroplasma and Wolbachia in Drosophila neotestacea. New field data reported here reveal that this association has disappeared in the investigated location, yet a significant interaction between Spiroplasma and Wolbachia can still be inferred. Our study confirms that negative and positive associations are pervasive and often induced by symbiont-symbiont interactions. Nevertheless, some associations are also likely to be driven by drift. This possibility needs to be considered when performing such analyses, and our model is helpful for this purpose.}, } @article {pmid31429819, year = {2019}, author = {Klepa, MS and Urquiaga, MCO and Somasegaran, P and Delamuta, JRM and Ribeiro, RA and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium niftali sp. nov., an effective nitrogen-fixing symbiont of partridge pea [Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) Greene], a native caesalpinioid legume broadly distributed in the USA.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {11}, pages = {3448-3459}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003640}, pmid = {31429819}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Chamaecrista/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Missouri ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Information about the symbionts of legumes of the Caesalpinioideae subfamily is still limited, and we performed a polyphasic approach with three Bradyrhizobium strains-CNPSo 3448[T], CNPSo 3394 and CNPSo 3442-isolated from Chamaecrista fasciculata, a native legume broadly distributed in the USA. In the phylogenetic analysis of both the 16S rRNA gene and the intergenic transcribed spacer, the CNPSo strains were clustered within the Bradyrhizobium japonicumsuperclade. Multilocus sequence analysis with six housekeeping genes-glnII, gyrB, recA, rpoB, atpD and dnaK-indicated that Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens is the closest species, with 83 % of nucleotide identity. In the genome analyses of CNPSo 3448[T], average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization results confirmed higher similarity with B. diazoefficiens, with values estimated of 93.35 and 51.50 %, respectively, both below the threshold of the same species, confirming that the CNPSo strains represent a new lineage. BOX-PCR profiles indicated high intraspecific genetic diversity between the CNPSo strains. In the analyses of the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH the CNPSo strains were clustered with Bradyrhizobium arachidis, Bradyrhizobium forestalis, Bradyrhizobium cajani, Bradyrhizobium kavangense and Bradyrhizobium vignae, indicating a different phylogenetic history compared to the conserved core genes. Other physiological (C utilization, tolerance to antibiotics and abiotic stresses), chemical (fatty acid profile) and symbiotic (nodulation host range) properties were evaluated and are described. The data from our study support the description of the CNPSo strains as the novel species Bradyrhizobiumniftali sp. nov., with CNPSo 3448[T] (=USDA 10051[T]=U687[T]=CL 40[T]) designated as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid31429510, year = {2020}, author = {Grygorenko, OO and Volochnyuk, DM and Ryabukhin, SV and Judd, DB}, title = {The Symbiotic Relationship Between Drug Discovery and Organic Chemistry.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {1196-1237}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201903232}, pmid = {31429510}, issn = {1521-3765}, mesh = {Bacteria/drug effects ; Biological Products/chemistry/metabolism ; DNA/chemistry ; *Drug Discovery ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Organic Chemicals/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Small Molecule Libraries/chemical synthesis/chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {All pharmaceutical products contain organic molecules; the source may be a natural product or a fully synthetic molecule, or a combination of both. Thus, it follows that organic chemistry underpins both existing and upcoming pharmaceutical products. The reverse relationship has also affected organic synthesis, changing its landscape towards increasingly complex targets. This Review article sets out to give a concise appraisal of this symbiotic relationship between organic chemistry and drug discovery, along with a discussion of the design concepts and highlighting key milestones along the journey. In particular, criteria for a high-quality compound library design enabling efficient virtual navigation of chemical space, as well as rise and fall of concepts for its synthetic exploration (such as combinatorial chemistry; diversity-, biology-, lead-, or fragment-oriented syntheses; and DNA-encoded libraries) are critically surveyed.}, } @article {pmid31428824, year = {2019}, author = {Paulitsch, F and Dall'Agnol, RF and Delamuta, JRM and Ribeiro, RA and da Silva Batista, JS and Hungria, M}, title = {Paraburkholderia guartelaensis sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from nodules of Mimosa gymnas in an ecotone considered as a hotspot of biodiversity in Brazil.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {10}, pages = {1435-1446}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01714-z}, pmid = {31428824}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {A polyphasic approach was used to infer the phylogenetic position of six nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria isolated from Mimosa gymnas nodules grown in an ecotone between the Brazilian biomes of Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, considered as a hotspot of biodiversity. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny indicated the highest similarity with Paraburkholderia oxyphila (98.7-98.9%), but similar values were found with other Paraburkholderia species. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of five (recA, gyrB, trpB, gltB, and atpD) housekeeping genes indicated that the CNPSo strains represent a novel lineage, sharing less than 95.7% of nucleotide identity (NI) with other Paraburkholderia species, being more closely related to P. nodosa. Genome parameters were analyzed for strain CNPSo 3008[T], and DNA-DNA hybridization revealed a maximum of 55.9% of DNA-DNA relatedness with P. nodosa, while average nucleotide identity with the two closest species was of 93.84% with P. nodosa and of 87.93% with P. mimosarum, both parameters confirming that the strain represents a new species. In the analysis of the nodulation nodC gene, all CNPSo strains showed the highest similarity with P. nodosa, and nodulation tests indicated host specificity with Mimosa. Other phylogenetic, physiological, and chemotaxonomic properties were evaluated. All data obtained support the description of the novel species Paraburkholderia guartelaensis sp. nov., with CNPSo 3008[T] (= U13000[T] = G29.01[T]) indicated as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid31428118, year = {2019}, author = {Nadzieja, M and Stougaard, J and Reid, D}, title = {A Toolkit for High Resolution Imaging of Cell Division and Phytohormone Signaling in Legume Roots and Root Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1000}, pmid = {31428118}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legume plants benefit from a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in association with rhizobia hosted in specialized root nodules. Formation of root nodules is initiated by de novo organogenesis and coordinated infection of these developing lateral root organs by rhizobia. Both bacterial infection and nodule organogenesis involve cell cycle activation and regulation by auxin and cytokinin is tightly integrated in the process. To characterize the hormone dynamics and cell division patterns with cellular resolution during nodulation, sensitive and specific sensors suited for imaging of multicellular tissues are required. Here we report a modular toolkit, optimized in the model legume Lotus japonicus, for use in legume roots and root nodules. This toolkit includes synthetic transcriptional reporters for auxin and cytokinin, auxin accumulation sensors and cell cycle progression markers optimized for fluorescent and bright field microscopy. The developed vectors allow for efficient one-step assembly of multiple units using the GoldenGate cloning system. Applied together with a fluorescence-compatible clearing approach, these reporters improve imaging depth and facilitate fluorescence examination in legume roots. We additionally evaluate the utility of the dynamic gravitropic root response in altering the timing and location of auxin accumulation and nodule emergence. We show that alteration of auxin distribution in roots allows for preferential nodule emergence at the outer side of the bend corresponding to a region of high auxin signaling capacity. The presented tools and procedures open new possibilities for comparative mutant studies and for developing a more comprehensive understanding of legume-rhizobia interactions.}, } @article {pmid31426641, year = {2019}, author = {Zwinsová, B and Brychtová, V and Hrivňáková, M and Zdražilová-Dubská, L and Bencsiková, B and Šefr, R and Nenutil, R and Vídeňská, P and Budinská, E}, title = {Role of the Microbiome in the Formation and Development of Colorectal Cancer.}, journal = {Klinicka onkologie : casopis Ceske a Slovenske onkologicke spolecnosti}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {261-269}, doi = {10.14735/amko2019261}, pmid = {31426641}, issn = {1802-5307}, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/*etiology/microbiology/pathology ; Dysbiosis/complications/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The clinical, histopathological, and molecular characteristics of colorectal cancer vary considerably. Factors associated with the heterogeneity of this disease and with understanding the effects of heterogeneity on disease progression and response to therapy are critical for the better stratification of patients and the development of new therapeutic methods. Although studies have focused mainly on tumor molecular profiling, current molecular predictive and prognostic factors are relevant to specific groups of colorectal cancer patients and are mostly used to predict the applicability of targeted biological agents rather than to predict their benefits. Molecular profiling fails to capture aspects important for tumor growth and aggressiveness, including the tumor microenvironment. The gut microbiome, consisting of specific communities of all commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms, has been shown to have a significant impact on the development of many diseases, including Crohns disease, type II diabetes, and obesity. Recent studies have indicated that long-term dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora can influence the development and progression of colorectal cancer, as well as tumor aggressiveness and response to treatment.

CONCLUSION: This review article summarizes current knowledge of the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer, including the various mechanisms by which the gut microbiome affects the intestinal wall, thereby contributing to the development and progression of colorectal cancer. This work was supported by Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (project AZV 16-31966A), project of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic - NPU I - LO1413 a Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic - RVO (MMCI, 00209805). The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers. Submitted: 15. 4. 2019 Accepted: 17. 6. 2019.}, } @article {pmid31426402, year = {2019}, author = {Li, W and Liu, Q and Li, S and Zheng, Y}, title = {New Sesquiterpenoids from the Fermented Broth of Termitomyces albuminosus and their Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activity.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {31426402}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy ; Animals ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/*isolation & purification ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Isoptera/physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Sesquiterpenes/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/*chemistry/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Termitomyces albuminosus is the symbiotic edible mushroom of termites and cannot be artificially cultivated at present. In the project of exploring its pharmaceutical metabolites by microbial fermentation, four new selinane type sesquiterpenoids-teucdiol C (1), D (2), E (3), and F (4), together with two known sesquiterpenoids teucdiol B (5) and epi-guaidiol A (6)-were obtained from its fermented broth of T. albuminosus. Their structures were elucidated by the analysis of NMR data, HR Q-TOF MS spectral data, CD, IR, UV, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Epi-guaidiol A showed obvious anti-acetylcholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The experimental results displayed that T. albuminosus possess the pharmaceutical potential for Alzheimer's disease, and it was an effective way to dig new pharmaceutical agent of T. albuminosus with the microbial fermentation technique.}, } @article {pmid31426312, year = {2019}, author = {Cherif-Silini, H and Thissera, B and Bouket, AC and Saadaoui, N and Silini, A and Eshelli, M and Alenezi, FN and Vallat, A and Luptakova, L and Yahiaoui, B and Cherrad, S and Vacher, S and Rateb, ME and Belbahri, L}, title = {Durum Wheat Stress Tolerance Induced by Endophyte Pantoea agglomerans with Genes Contributing to Plant Functions and Secondary Metabolite Arsenal.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {31426312}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Droughts ; Endophytes/genetics/*physiology ; Pantoea/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Salinity ; Salt Tolerance ; Secondary Metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Triticum/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In the arid region Bou-Saâda at the South of Algeria, durum wheat Triticum durum L. cv Waha production is severely threatened by abiotic stresses, mainly drought and salinity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) hold promising prospects towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly agriculture. Using habitat-adapted symbiosis strategy, the PGPR Pantoea agglomerans strain Pa was recovered from wheat roots sampled in Bou-Saâda, conferred alleviation of salt stress in durum wheat plants and allowed considerable growth in this unhostile environment. Strain Pa showed growth up to 35 °C temperature, 5-10 pH range, and up to 30% polyethylene glycol (PEG), as well as 1 M salt concentration tolerance. Pa strain displayed pertinent plant growth promotion (PGP) features (direct and indirect) such as hormone auxin biosynthesis, production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, and ammonia and phosphate solubilization. PGPR features were stable over wide salt concentrations (0-400 mM). Pa strain was also able to survive in seeds, in the non-sterile and sterile wheat rhizosphere, and was shown to have an endophytic life style. Phylogenomic analysis of strain Pa indicated that Pantoea genus suffers taxonomic imprecision which blurs species delimitation and may have impacted their practical use as biofertilizers. When applied to plants, strain Pa promoted considerable growth of wheat seedlings, high chlorophyll content, lower accumulation of proline, and favored K[+] accumulation in the inoculated plants when compared to Na[+] in control non-inoculated plants. Metabolomic profiling of strain Pa under one strain many compounds (OSMAC) conditions revealed a wide diversity of secondary metabolites (SM) with interesting salt stress alleviation and PGP activities. All these findings strongly promote the implementation of Pantoea agglomerans strain Pa as an efficient biofertilizer in wheat plants culture in arid and salinity-impacted regions.}, } @article {pmid31425594, year = {2019}, author = {Mougeot, JC and Stevens, CB and Morton, DS and Brennan, MT and Mougeot, FB}, title = {Oral Microbiome and Cancer Therapy-Induced Oral Mucositis.}, journal = {Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs}, volume = {2019}, number = {53}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jncimonographs/lgz002}, pmid = {31425594}, issn = {1745-6614}, mesh = {Disease Susceptibility ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Mouth Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Neoplasms/*complications/therapy ; Stomatitis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology/prevention & control ; Systems Biology/methods ; }, abstract = {Characterization of the role of oral microbiome in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis (CTOM) is critical in preventing the clinically deleterious effects on patients' health that are associated with CTOM. Funding initiatives related to the National Institutes of Health human microbiome project have resulted in groundbreaking advancements in biology and medicine during the last decade. These advancements have shown that a human being is in fact a superorganism made of human cells and associated symbiotic or commensal microbiota. In this review, we describe the state of science as it relates to fundamental knowledge on oral microbiome and its role in CTOM. We also discuss how state-of-the-art technologies and systems biology tools may be used to help tackle the difficult challenges ahead to develop effective treatments or preventive therapies for oral mucositis. We make a clear distinction between disease processes pertaining to the oral microbiome, which includes opportunistic pathogens that may be defined as pathobionts, and those infectious disease processes initiated by exogenous pathogens. We also explored the extent to which knowledge from the gastrointestinal tract in disease and intestinal mucositis could help us better understand CTOM pathobiology. Finally, we propose a model in which the oral microbiome participates in the current five-step CTOM pathobiology model. With the advent of more sophisticated metagenomics technologies and methods of analysis, much hope lies ahead to implement an effective holistic approach to treat cancer patients affected by CTOM.}, } @article {pmid31425566, year = {2019}, author = {Doremus, MR and Kelly, SE and Hunter, MS}, title = {Exposure to opposing temperature extremes causes comparable effects on Cardinium density but contrasting effects on Cardinium-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {e1008022}, pmid = {31425566}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*physiology ; *Cold Temperature ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Hot Temperature ; *Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial arthropods, including insects, commonly harbor maternally inherited intracellular symbionts that confer benefits to the host or manipulate host reproduction to favor infected female progeny. These symbionts may be especially vulnerable to thermal stress, potentially leading to destabilization of the symbiosis and imposing costs to the host. For example, increased temperatures can reduce the density of a common reproductive manipulator, Wolbachia, and the strength of its crossing incompatibility (cytoplasmic incompatibility, or CI) phenotype. Another manipulative symbiont, Cardinium hertigii, infects ~ 6-10% of Arthropods, and also can induce CI, but there is little homology between the molecular mechanisms of CI induced by Cardinium and Wolbachia. Here we investigated whether temperature disrupts the CI phenotype of Cardinium in a parasitic wasp host, Encarsia suzannae. We examined the effects of both warm (32°C day/ 29°C night) and cool (20°C day/ 17°C night) temperatures on Cardinium CI and found that both types of temperature stress modified aspects of this symbiosis. Warm temperatures reduced symbiont density, pupal developmental time, vertical transmission rate, and the strength of both CI modification and rescue. Cool temperatures also reduced symbiont density, however this resulted in stronger CI, likely due to cool temperatures prolonging the host pupal stage. The opposing effects of cool and warm-mediated reductions in symbiont density on the resulting CI phenotype indicates that CI strength may be independent of density in this system. Temperature stress also modified the CI phenotype only if it occurred during the pupal stage, highlighting the likely importance of this stage for CI induction in this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31425544, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, X and Yu, Y and Ge, J and Xie, B and Zhu, S and Cheng, X}, title = {Effects of α-pinene on the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and its symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {e0221099}, pmid = {31425544}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bicyclic Monoterpenes/*administration & dosage/toxicity ; Colony Count, Microbial ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fumigation ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/parasitology/*prevention & control ; Pseudomonas/*drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Rhabditida/*drug effects/microbiology ; Stenotrophomonas/*drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is an important plant-parasitic nematode that can cause severe mortality of pine trees. This PWN-induced harm to plants may be closely related to the abundance and diversity of the symbiotic microorganisms of the parasitic nematode. In this study, nematodes were divided into untreated and antibiotic-treated groups. Nematodes were treated by fumigation with different amounts of α-pinene, and the resultant mortality rates were analyzed statistically. Concentrations of symbiotic bacteria were calculated as colony-forming units per nematode. High-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the bacterial community structure. The results showed that the mortality of nematodes increased slightly with an increasing concentration of α-pinene, and nematodes untreated with antibiotics were more sensitive to α-pinene than those treated with antibiotics. The highest abundance of symbiotic bacteria was obtained via medium and low levels of α-pinene, but for which community diversity was the lowest (Shannon and Simpson indexes). The proportion of Pseudomonas spp. in the symbiotic bacteria of nematodes without antibiotics was relatively high (more than 70%), while that of Stenotrophomonas spp. was low (6%-20%). However, the proportion of Stenotrophomonas spp. was larger than that of Pseudomonas spp in the symbiotic bacteria associated with the antibiotic-treated nematodes. Pseudomonas sp. increased after pinene treatment, whereas Stenotrophomonas spp. decreased. These results indicate that although α-pinene has low toxicity to PWNs over a short time period, α-pinene ultimately influences the abundance and community diversity of the symbiotic bacteria of these nematodes; this influence may potentially disturb the development and reproduction of nematodes in the process of infecting pine trees.}, } @article {pmid31422731, year = {2019}, author = {Wari, D and Alamgir, KM and Mujiono, K and Hojo, Y and Tani, A and Shinya, T and Nakatani, H and Galis, I}, title = {Brown planthopper honeydew-associated symbiotic microbes elicit momilactones in rice.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {1655335}, pmid = {31422731}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Animals ; Cucumis melo/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Diterpenes/*metabolism ; Hemiptera/*physiology ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Oryza/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants use many natural products to counter pests and diseases in nature. In rice, direct defense mechanisms include broad range of secondary metabolites, such as phenolamides (PA), diterpene phytoalexins, and flavonoid sakuranetin. Recently, accumulation of PAs in rice was shown to be under control of microbial symbionts in honeydew (HD), digestive waste from the rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens; BPH), but whether HD microbiota can also promote diterpene phytoalexins, momilactone A (MoA) and MoB, has not been reported. Here, we demonstrate that crude HD, but not a filtered one, induces MoA and MoB in rice, suggesting the involvement of BPH-HD endosymbionts. Consequently, microbial strains previously isolated from HD could promote MoA and MoB levels in wounded rice leaves, suggesting that rice indeed responds to BPH by cumulative chemical defense that involves both PA and diterpene phytoalexin pathways.}, } @article {pmid31421721, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Suganuma, S and Hibino, A and Mitsui, R and Tani, A and Matsumoto, T and Ebihara, A and Fitriyanto, NA and Pertiwiningrum, A and Shimada, M and Hayakawa, T and Nakagawa, T}, title = {Lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenase from the legume symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens strain USDA110.}, journal = {Enzyme and microbial technology}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {109371}, doi = {10.1016/j.enzmictec.2019.109371}, pmid = {31421721}, issn = {1879-0909}, mesh = {Alcohol Oxidoreductases/*biosynthesis ; Bradyrhizobium/*enzymology ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Lanthanoid Series Elements/*chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The legume symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium, B. diazoefficiens strain USDA110, utilizes methanol for growth in the presence of light lanthanides, such as La[3+], Ce[3+], Pr[3+] or Nd[3+], and its cells possess significant methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) activity. We purified MDH to homogeneity from B. diazoefficiens strain USDA110 grown in a methanol/Ce[3+] medium; the protein was identified as XoxF5-type MDH (blr6213). The purified XoxF contained 0.58 cerium atoms per enzyme subunit. Moreover, the in-solution structure of XoxF was analyzed by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis; the radius of gyration (Rg) and maximum particle dimension (Dmax) of XoxF were calculated to be 32.3 and 96.8 Å, respectively, suggesting that XoxF adopts a dimer structure in solution. These results show that B. diazoefficiens strain USDA110 has XoxF, a lanthanides-dependent MDH, which has methanol oxidation activity and is induced by methanol/lanthanaides, and that lanthanide is one of the important factors in methanol utilization by the strain.}, } @article {pmid31421329, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Y and Shi, FX and Mao, R}, title = {Alnus sibirica encroachment promotes dissolved organic carbon biodegradation in a boreal peatland.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {695}, number = {}, pages = {133882}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133882}, pmid = {31421329}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Alnus/*physiology ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; China ; *Ecosystem ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic dinitrogen (N2)-fixing trees have been expanding to boreal peatlands, yet its influence on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) biodegradation is unclear. Here, we measured DOC, ammonium‑nitrogen (NH4[+]-N), nitrate‑nitrogen (NO3[-]-N), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) concentrations, specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254), and humification index in the extracts obtained from peats in the 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm depths in the open peatlands and Alnus sibirica islands in a boreal peatland, Northeast China. Afterwards, the peat extracts were used to assess the effect of N2-fixing woody plant expansion on DOC biodegradation with a 42-day incubation experiment. The expansion of A. sibirica significantly increased NH4[+]-N, NO3[-]-N, DIN, and DTN concentrations, but did not produce a significant effect on SUVA254 and humification index in the extracts in each depth. Following A. sibirica expansion, DOC biodegradation was enhanced by 24.5%, 15.4%, and 38.3% at 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm depths, respectively. Furthermore, DOC biodegradation was significantly and negatively correlated with DOC:DIN and DOC:DTN ratios, but exhibited no significant relationship with SUVA254 and humification index. This implied that improved N availability and associated shifts in C:N stoichiometry determined the increase in DOC biodegradation following A. sibirica expansion. Our findings suggest that N2-fixing tree encroachment promotes microbial decomposition of DOC through improved N availability in boreal peatlands, which may cause organic C loss from soils in these C-enriched ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31420535, year = {2019}, author = {Kim, S and Zeng, W and Bernard, S and Liao, J and Venkateshwaran, M and Ane, JM and Jiang, Y}, title = {Ca[2+]-regulated Ca[2+] channels with an RCK gating ring control plant symbiotic associations.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3703}, pmid = {31420535}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R01 GM079179/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Channels/*metabolism ; Ion Channel Gating ; *Lotus ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nuclear Envelope/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Protein Domains ; *Rhizobium ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A family of plant nuclear ion channels, including DMI1 (Does not Make Infections 1) and its homologs CASTOR and POLLUX, are required for the establishment of legume-microbe symbioses by generating nuclear and perinuclear Ca[2+] spiking. Here we show that CASTOR from Lotus japonicus is a highly selective Ca[2+] channel whose activation requires cytosolic/nucleosolic Ca[2+], contrary to the previous suggestion of it being a K[+] channel. Structurally, the cytosolic/nucleosolic ligand-binding soluble region of CASTOR contains two tandem RCK (Regulator of Conductance for K[+]) domains, and four subunits assemble into the gating ring architecture, similar to that of large conductance, Ca[2+]-gated K[+] (BK) channels despite the lack of sequence similarity. Multiple ion binding sites are clustered at two locations within each subunit, and three of them are identified to be Ca[2+] sites. Our in vitro and in vivo assays also demonstrate the importance of these gating-ring Ca[2+] binding sites to the physiological function of CASTOR as well as DMI1.}, } @article {pmid31419674, year = {2019}, author = {Leong, WH and Azella Zaine, SN and Ho, YC and Uemura, Y and Lam, MK and Khoo, KS and Kiatkittipong, W and Cheng, CK and Show, PL and Lim, JW}, title = {Impact of various microalgal-bacterial populations on municipal wastewater bioremediation and its energy feasibility for lipid-based biofuel production.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {249}, number = {}, pages = {109384}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109384}, pmid = {31419674}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; Feasibility Studies ; Lipids ; *Microalgae ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The microalgal-bacterial co-cultivation was adopted as an alternative in making microbial-based biofuel production to be more feasible in considering the economic and environmental prospects. Accordingly, the microalgal-bacterial symbiotic relationship was exploited to enhance the microbial biomass yield, while bioremediating the nitrogen-rich municipal wastewater. An optimized inoculation ratio of microalgae and activated sludge (AS:MA) was predetermined and further optimization was performed in terms of different increment ratios to enhance the bioremediation process. The nitrogen removal was found accelerating with the increase of the increment ratios of inoculated AS:MA, though all the increment ratios had recorded a near complete total nitrogen removal (94-95%). In light of treatment efficiency and lipid production, the increment ratio of 0.5 was hailed as the best microbial population size in accounting the total nitrogen removal efficiency of 94.45%, while not compromising the lipid production of 0.241 g/L. Moreover, the cultures in municipal wastewater had attained higher biomass and lipid productions of 1.42 g/L and 0.242 g/L, respectively, as compared with the synthetic wastewater which were only 1.12 g/L (biomass yield) and 0.175 g/L (lipid yield). This was possibly due to the presence of trace elements which had contributed to the increase of biomass yield; thus, higher lipid attainability from the microalgal-bacterial culture. This synergistic microalgal-bacterial approach had been proven to be effective in treating wastewater, while also producing useful biomass for eventual lipid production with comparable net energy ratio (NER) value of 0.27, obtained from the life-cycle analysis (LCA) studies. Thereby, contributing towards long-term sustainability and possible commercialization of microbial-based biofuel production.}, } @article {pmid31419535, year = {2019}, author = {Ikuta, T and Tame, A and Saito, M and Aoki, Y and Nagai, Y and Sugimura, M and Inoue, K and Fujikura, K and Ohishi, K and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Identification of cells expressing two peptidoglycan recognition proteins in the gill of the vent mussel, Bathymodiolus septemdierum.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {815-822}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2019.08.022}, pmid = {31419535}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/*immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gills/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Mytilidae/*genetics/*immunology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {In symbiotic systems in which symbionts are transmitted horizontally, hosts must accept symbionts from the environment while defending themselves against invading pathogenic microorganisms. How they distinguish pathogens from symbionts and how the latter evade host immune defences are not clearly understood. Recognition of foreign materials is one of the most critical steps in stimulating immune responses, and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play vital roles in this process. In this study, we focused on a group of highly conserved PRRs, peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), in the deep-sea mussel, Bathymodiolus septemdierum, which harbours chemosynthetic bacteria in their gill epithelial cells. We isolated B. septemdierum PGRP genes BsPGRP-S and BsPGRP-L, which encode a short- and a long-type PGRP, respectively. The short-type PGRP has a signal peptide and was expressed in the asymbiotic goblet mucous cells in the gill epithelium, whereas the long-type PGRP was predicted to include a transmembrane domain and was expressed in gill bacteriocytes. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the secreted and transmembrane PGRPs are engaged in host defence against pathogenic bacteria and/or in the regulation of symbiosis via different cellular localizations and mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid31418995, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, X and Tang, K and Zhang, D and Li, Y and Liu, Z and Yao, J and Wood, TK and Wang, X}, title = {Symbiosis of a P2-family phage and deep-sea Shewanella putrefaciens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {4212-4232}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14781}, pmid = {31418995}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {2017YFC0506303//National Key Research and Development Program of China/International ; 2018YFC1406500//National Key Research and Development Program of China/International ; 31400162//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 31625001//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 41706172//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 2017A030313193//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China/International ; }, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/genetics ; Bacteriophage P2/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Prophages/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Shewanella putrefaciens/genetics/*virology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Almost all bacterial genomes harbour prophages, yet it remains unknown why prophages integrate into tRNA-related genes. Approximately 1/3 of Shewanella isolates harbour a prophage at the tmRNA (ssrA) gene. Here, we discovered a P2-family prophage integrated at the 3'-end of ssrA in the deep-sea bacterium S. putrefaciens. We found that ~0.1% of host cells are lysed to release P2 constitutively during host growth. P2 phage production is induced by a prophage-encoded Rep protein and its excision is induced by the Cox protein. We also found that P2 genome excision leads to the disruption of wobble base pairing of SsrA due to site-specific recombination, thus disrupting the trans-translation function of SsrA. We further demonstrated that P2 excision greatly hinders growth in seawater medium and inhibits biofilm formation. Complementation with a functional SsrA in the P2-excised strain completely restores the growth defects in seawater medium and partially restores biofilm formation. Additionally, we found that products of the P2 genes also increase biofilm formation. Taken together, this study illustrates a symbiotic relationship between P2 and its marine host, thus providing multiple benefits for both sides when a phage is integrated but suffers from reduced fitness when the prophage is excised.}, } @article {pmid31418981, year = {2021}, author = {Chen, Q and Wu, WW and Qi, SS and Cheng, H and Li, Q and Ran, Q and Dai, ZC and Du, DL and Egan, S and Thomas, T}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth and disease resistance of the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {130}, number = {2}, pages = {582-591}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14415}, pmid = {31418981}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {*Disease Resistance ; Fungi/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nutrients/deficiency ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizoctonia/pathogenicity/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Wedelia/*growth & development/immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic partners of many invasive plants, however, it is still unclear how AMF contribute to traits that are important for the successful invasion of their host and how environmental factors, such as nutrient conditions, influence this. This study was to explore the effects of Glomus versiforme (GV) and Glomus mosseae (GM) on the growth and disease resistance of the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata under different nutrient conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We found that GV and GM had higher root colonization rates resulting in faster W. trilobata growth under both low-N and low-P nutrient conditions compared to the normal condition. Also, the colonization of W. trilobata by GV significantly reduced the infection area of the pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani under low-N conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that AMF can promote the growth and pathogenic defence of W. trilobata in a nutrient-poor environment, which might contribute to their successful invasion into certain type of habitats.

In this study, we report for the first time that AMF can promote growth and disease resistance of W. trilobata under nutrient-poor environment, which contribute to a better understanding of plant invasion.}, } @article {pmid31418795, year = {2019}, author = {Garg, KM and Sam, K and Chattopadhyay, B and Sadanandan, KR and Koane, B and Ericson, PGP and Rheindt, FE}, title = {Gene Flow in the Müllerian Mimicry Ring of a Poisonous Papuan Songbird Clade (Pitohui; Aves).}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {2332-2343}, pmid = {31418795}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Poisonous/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Gene Flow ; *Genome ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Pigmentation/*genetics ; Proteins/*genetics ; Songbirds/classification/*genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Müllerian mimicry rings are remarkable symbiotic species assemblages in which multiple members share a similar phenotype. However, their evolutionary origin remains poorly understood. Although gene flow among species has been shown to generate mimetic patterns in some Heliconius butterflies, mimicry is believed to be due to true convergence without gene flow in many other cases. We investigated the evolutionary history of multiple members of a passerine mimicry ring in the poisonous Papuan pitohuis. Previous phylogenetic evidence indicates that the aposematic coloration shared by many, but not all, members of this genus is ancestral and has only been retained by members of the mimicry ring. Using a newly assembled genome and thousands of genomic DNA markers, we demonstrate gene flow from the hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) into the southern variable pitohui (Pitohui uropygialis), consistent with shared patterns of aposematic coloration. The vicinity of putatively introgressed loci is significantly enriched for genes that are important in melanin pigment expression and toxin resistance, suggesting that gene flow may have been instrumental in the sharing of plumage patterns and toxicity. These results indicate that interspecies gene flow may be a more general mechanism in generating mimicry rings than hitherto appreciated.}, } @article {pmid31418782, year = {2019}, author = {Suzuki, H and Fukushima, EO and Shimizu, Y and Seki, H and Fujisawa, Y and Ishimoto, M and Osakabe, K and Osakabe, Y and Muranaka, T}, title = {Lotus japonicus Triterpenoid Profile and Characterization of the CYP716A51 and LjCYP93E1 Genes Involved in Their Biosynthesis In Planta.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {11}, pages = {2496-2509}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz145}, pmid = {31418782}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Oleanolic Acid/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Triterpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lotus japonicus is an important model legume plant in several fields of research, such as secondary (specialized) metabolism and symbiotic nodulation. This plant accumulates triterpenoids; however, less information regarding its composition, content and biosynthesis is available compared with Medicago truncatula and Glycine max. In this study, we analyzed the triterpenoid content and composition of L. japonicus. Lotus japonicus accumulated C-28-oxidized triterpenoids (ursolic, betulinic and oleanolic acids) and soyasapogenols (soyasapogenol B, A and E) in a tissue-dependent manner. We identified an oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) and two cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis using a yeast heterologous expression system. OSC9 was the first enzyme derived from L. japonicus that showed α-amyrin (a precursor of ursolic acid)-producing activity. CYP716A51 showed triterpenoid C-28 oxidation activity. LjCYP93E1 converted β-amyrin into 24-hydroxy-β-amyrin, a metabolic intermediate of soyasapogenols. The involvement of the identified genes in triterpenoid biosynthesis in L. japonicus plants was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Furthermore, gene loss-of-function analysis of CYP716A51 and LjCYP93E1 was conducted. The cyp716a51-mutant L. japonicus hairy roots generated by the genome-editing technique produced no C-28 oxidized triterpenoids. Likewise, the complete abolition of soyasapogenols and soyasaponin I was observed in mutant plants harboring Lotus retrotransposon 1 (LORE1) in LjCYP93E1. These results indicate that the activities of these P450 enzymes are essential for triterpenoid biosynthesis in L. japonicus. This study increases our understanding of triterpenoid biosynthesis in leguminous plants and provides information that will facilitate further studies of the physiological functions of triterpenoids using L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid31418053, year = {2019}, author = {Zheng, D and Wang, HZ and Gou, M and Nobu, MK and Narihiro, T and Hu, B and Nie, Y and Tang, YQ}, title = {Identification of novel potential acetate-oxidizing bacteria in thermophilic methanogenic chemostats by DNA stable isotope probing.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {20}, pages = {8631-8645}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-10078-9}, pmid = {31418053}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Acetates/*metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; *Biota ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Methane/*metabolism ; Methanosarcina/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Propionates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Syntrophic oxidization of acetate and propionate are both critical steps of methanogenesis during thermophilic anaerobic digestion. However, knowledge on syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacteria (SAOB) and syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacteria (SPOB) is limited because of the difficulty in pure culture isolation due to symbiotic relationship. In this study, two thermophilic acetate-fed anaerobic chemostats, ATL (dilution rate of 0.025 day[-1]) and ATH (0.05 day[-1]) and one thermophilic propionate-fed anaerobic chemostat PTL (0.025 day[-1]) were constructed, AOB and POB in these chemostats were studied via microbial community analysis and DNA stable-isotope probing (SIP). The results showed that, in addition to Tepidanaerobacter, a known SAOB, species of Thauera, Thermodesulfovibrio, Anaerobaculum, Ruminiclostridium, Comamonas, and uncultured bacteria belonging to Lentimicrobiaceae, o_MBA03, Thermoanaerobacteraceae, Anaerolineaceae, Clostridiales, and Ruminococcaceae were determined to be potential AOB in chemostats. Pelotomaculum was the key SPOB detected in the propionate-fed chemostat. Based on the intense fluorescence of coenzyme F420, majority of Methanosarcina cells in acetate-fed chemostats were involved in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, suggesting the existence of highly active SAOB among the detected AOB. In the propionate-fed chemostat, most of the species detected as AOB were similar to those detected in the acetate-fed chemostats, suggesting the contribution of the syntrophic acetate oxidization pathway for methane generation. These results revealed the existence of previously unknown AOB with high diversity in thermophilic chemostats and suggested that methanogenesis from acetate via the syntrophic oxidization pathway is relevant for thermophilic anaerobic digestion.}, } @article {pmid31416823, year = {2019}, author = {Cope, KR and Bascaules, A and Irving, TB and Venkateshwaran, M and Maeda, J and Garcia, K and Rush, TA and Ma, C and Labbé, J and Jawdy, S and Steigerwald, E and Setzke, J and Fung, E and Schnell, KG and Wang, Y and Schlief, N and Bücking, H and Strauss, SH and Maillet, F and Jargeat, P and Bécard, G and Puech-Pagès, V and Ané, JM}, title = {The Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Laccaria bicolor Produces Lipochitooligosaccharides and Uses the Common Symbiosis Pathway to Colonize Populus Roots.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {2386-2410}, pmid = {31416823}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Channels/*metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Laccaria/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/chemistry/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Populus/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic associations with the roots of most land plants and provide them with mineral nutrients from the soil in exchange for fixed carbon derived from photosynthesis. The common symbiosis pathway (CSP) is a conserved molecular signaling pathway in all plants capable of associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. It is required not only for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis but also for rhizobia-legume and actinorhizal symbioses. Given its role in such diverse symbiotic associations, we hypothesized that the CSP also plays a role in ectomycorrhizal associations. We showed that the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor produces an array of lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) that can trigger both root hair branching in legumes and, most importantly, calcium spiking in the host plant Populus in a CASTOR/POLLUX-dependent manner. Nonsulfated LCOs enhanced lateral root development in Populus in a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK)-dependent manner, and sulfated LCOs enhanced the colonization of Populus by L. bicolor Compared with the wild-type Populus, the colonization of CASTOR/POLLUX and CCaMK RNA interference lines by L. bicolor was reduced. Our work demonstrates that similar to other root symbioses, L. bicolor uses the CSP for the full establishment of its mutualistic association with Populus.}, } @article {pmid31416582, year = {2019}, author = {Černajová, I and Škaloud, P}, title = {The first survey of Cystobasidiomycete yeasts in the lichen genus Cladonia; with the description of Lichenozyma pisutiana gen. nov., sp. nov.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {9}, pages = {625-637}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.05.006}, pmid = {31416582}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Europe ; Lichens/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The view of lichens as a symbiosis only between a mycobiont and a photobiont has been challenged by discoveries of diverse associated organisms. Specific basidiomycete yeasts in the cortex of a range of macrolichens were hypothesized to influence the lichens' phenotype. The present study explores the occurrence and diversity of cystobasidiomycete yeasts in the lichen genus Cladonia. We obtained seven cultures and 56 additional sequences using specific primers from 27 Cladonia species from all over Europe and performed phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU and SSU rDNA loci. We revealed yeast diversity distinct from any previously reported. Representatives of Cyphobasidiales, Microsporomycetaceae and of an unknown group related to Symmetrospora have been found. We present evidence that the Microsporomycetaceae contains mainly lichen-associated yeasts. Lichenozyma pisutiana is circumscribed here as a new genus and species. We report the first known associations between cystobasidiomycete yeasts and Cladonia (both corticate and ecorticate), and find that the association is geographically widespread in various habitats. Our results also suggest that a great diversity of lichen associated yeasts remains to be discovered.}, } @article {pmid31416417, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, QS and Dong, JD and Ahmad, M and Ling, J and Zhou, WG and Tan, YH and Zhang, YZ and Shen, DD and Zhang, YY}, title = {Analysis of nifH DNA and RNA reveals a disproportionate contribution to nitrogenase activities by rare plankton-associated diazotrophs.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {188}, pmid = {31416417}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/*microbiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Holobionts comprising nitrogen-fixing diazotrophs and phytoplankton or zooplankton are ubiquitous in the pelagic sea. However, neither the community structure of plankton-associated diazotrophs (PADs) nor their nitrogenase transcriptional activity are well-understood. In this study, we used nifH gene Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR to characterize the community composition and nifH expression profile of PADs with > 100 μm size fraction in the euphotic zone of the northern South China Sea.

RESULTS: The results of DNA- and RNA-derived nifH gene revealed a higher alpha-diversity in the active than in the total community. Moreover, the compositional resemblance among different sites was less for active than for total communities of PADs. We characterized the 20 most abundant OTUs by ranking the sum of sequence reads across 9 sampling stations for individual OTUs in both nifH DNA and RNA libraries, and then assessed their phylogenetic relatedness. Eight of the 20 abundant OTUs were phylogenetically affiliated with Trichodesmium and occurred in approximately equal proportion in both the DNA and RNA libraries. The analysis of nifH gene expression level showed uneven attribute of the abundance and nitrogenase activities by the remaining 12 OTUs. Taxa belonging to cluster III and Betaproteobacteria were present at moderate abundance but exhibited negligible nitrogenase transcription activity. Whereas, the abundances of Richelia, Deltaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were low but the contribution of these groups to nitrogenase transcription was disproportionately high.

CONCLUSIONS: The substantial variation in community structure among active dizatrophic fractions compared to the total communities suggests that the former are better indicators of biological response to environmental changes. Altogether, our study highlights the importance of rare PADs groups in nitrogen fixation in plankton holobionts, evidenced by their high level of nitrogenase transcription.}, } @article {pmid31415751, year = {2019}, author = {Cheng, YT and Zhang, L and He, SY}, title = {Plant-Microbe Interactions Facing Environmental Challenge.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {183-192}, pmid = {31415751}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 GM109928/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Circadian Clocks ; Climate Change ; Droughts ; *Environment ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Humidity ; Immunity, Innate ; Light ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/immunology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plants/immunology/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In the past four decades, tremendous progress has been made in understanding how plants respond to microbial colonization and how microbial pathogens and symbionts reprogram plant cellular processes. In contrast, our knowledge of how environmental conditions impact plant-microbe interactions is less understood at the mechanistic level, as most molecular studies are performed under simple and static laboratory conditions. In this review, we highlight research that begins to shed light on the mechanisms by which environmental conditions influence diverse plant-pathogen, plant-symbiont, and plant-microbiota interactions. There is a great need to increase efforts in this important area of research in order to reach a systems-level understanding of plant-microbe interactions that are more reflective of what occurs in nature.}, } @article {pmid31413521, year = {2019}, author = {Boem, F and Amedei, A}, title = {Healthy axis: Towards an integrated view of the gut-brain health.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {25}, number = {29}, pages = {3838-3841}, pmid = {31413521}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology ; Brain/*physiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/physiopathology ; Depression/physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus/physiopathology ; Enteric Nervous System/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/innervation/microbiology ; Humans ; Neural Pathways/physiology ; Obesity/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Despite the lack of precise mechanisms of action, a growing number of studies suggests that gut microbiota is involved in a great number of physiological functions of the human organism. In fact, the composition and the relations of intestinal microbial populations play a role, either directly or indirectly, to both the onset and development of various pathologies. In particular, the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system are closely connected by the so-called gut-brain axis, a complex bidirectional system in which the central and enteric nervous system interact with each other, also engaging endocrine, immune and neuronal circuits. This allows us to put forward new working hypotheses on the origin of some multifactorial diseases: from eating to neuropsychiatric disorders (such as autism spectrum disorders and depression) up to diabetes and tumors (such as colorectal cancer). This scenario reinforces the idea that the microbiota and its composition represent a factor, which is no longer negligible, not only in preserving what we call "health" but also in defining and thus determining it. Therefore, we propose to consider the gut-brain axis as the focus of new scientific and clinical investigation as long as the locus of possible systemic therapeutic interventions.}, } @article {pmid31412166, year = {2019}, author = {McIntire, PJ}, title = {Mankind and the machine: A relationship of symbiosis or conflict?.}, journal = {Cancer cytopathology}, volume = {127}, number = {10}, pages = {622-624}, doi = {10.1002/cncy.22175}, pmid = {31412166}, issn = {1934-6638}, mesh = {Algorithms ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Body Fluids ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid31410554, year = {2019}, author = {Salloum, MS and Insani, M and Monteoliva, MI and Menduni, MF and Silvente, S and Carrari, F and Luna, C}, title = {Metabolic responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are shifted in roots of contrasting soybean genotypes.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {459-473}, pmid = {31410554}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Modern breeding programs have reduced genetic variability and might have caused a reduction in plant colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM). In our previous studies, mycorrhizal colonization was affected in improved soybean genotypes, mainly arbuscule formation. Despite substantial knowledge of the symbiosis-related changes of the transcriptome and proteome, only sparse clues regarding metabolite alterations are available. Here, we evaluated metabolite changes between improved (I-1) and unimproved (UI-4) soybean genotypes and also compare their metabolic responses after AM root colonization. Soybean genotypes inoculated or not with AM were grown in a chamber under controlled light and temperature conditions. At 20 days after inoculation, we evaluated soluble metabolites of each genotype and treatment measured by GC-MS. In this analysis, when comparing non-AM roots between genotypes, I-1 had a lower amount of 31 and higher amount of only 4 metabolites than the UI-4 genotype. When comparing AM roots, I-1 had a lower amount of 36 and higher amount of 4 metabolites than UI-4 (different to those found altered in non-AM treated plants). Lastly, comparing the AM vs non-AM treatments, I-1 had increased levels of three and reduced levels of 24 metabolites, while UI-4 only had levels of 12 metabolites reduced by the effect of mycorrhizas. We found the major changes in sugars, polyols, amino acids, and carboxylic acids. In a targeted analysis, we found lower levels of isoflavonoids and alpha-tocopherol and higher levels of malondialdehyde in the I-1 genotype that can affect soybean-AM symbiosis. Our studies have the potential to support improving soybean with a greater capacity to be colonized and responsive to AM interaction.}, } @article {pmid31409870, year = {2019}, author = {Swe, PM and Zakrzewski, M and Waddell, R and Sriprakash, KS and Fischer, K}, title = {High-throughput metagenome analysis of the Sarcoptes scabiei internal microbiota and in-situ identification of intestinal Streptomyces sp.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {11744}, pmid = {31409870}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Sarcoptes scabiei/*microbiology ; Sodium Hypochlorite/pharmacology ; Streptomyces/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Multiple parasitic arthropods of medical importance depend on symbiotic bacteria. While the link between scabies and secondary bacterial infections causing post infective complications of Group A streptococcal and staphylococcal pyoderma is increasingly recognized, very little is known about the microbiota of Sarcoptes scabiei. Here we analyze adult female mite and egg metagenome datasets. The majority of adult mite bacterial reads matched with Enterobacteriaceae (phylum Proteobacteria), followed by Corynebacteriaceae (phylum Actinobacteria). Klebsiella was the most dominant genus (78%) and Corynebacterium constituted 9% of the assigned sequences. Scabies mite eggs had a more diverse microbial composition with sequences from Proteobacteria being the most dominant (75%), while Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes accounted for 23% of the egg microbiome sequences. DNA sequences of a potential endosymbiont, namely Streptomyces, were identified in the metagenome sequence data of both life stages. The presence of Streptomyces was confirmed by conventional PCR. Digital droplet PCR indicated higher Streptomyces numbers in adult mites compared to eggs. Streptomyces were localized histologically in the scabies mite gut and faecal pellets by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH). Streptomyces may have essential symbiotic roles in the scabies parasite intestinal system requiring further investigation.}, } @article {pmid31409696, year = {2019}, author = {Li, X and Zheng, Z and Kong, X and Xu, J and Qiu, L and Sun, J and Reid, D and Jin, H and Andersen, SU and Oldroyd, GED and Stougaard, J and Downie, JA and Xie, F}, title = {Atypical Receptor Kinase RINRK1 Required for Rhizobial Infection But Not Nodule Development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {181}, number = {2}, pages = {804-816}, pmid = {31409696}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {E017045/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Lotus/*enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {During the legume-rhizobium symbiotic interaction, rhizobial invasion of legumes is primarily mediated by a plant-made tubular invagination called an infection thread (IT). Here, we identify a gene in Lotus japonicus encoding a Leu-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK), RINRK1 (Rhizobial Infection Receptor-like Kinase1), that is induced by Nod factors (NFs) and is involved in IT formation but not nodule organogenesis. A paralog, RINRK2, plays a relatively minor role in infection. RINRK1 is required for full induction of early infection genes, including Nodule Inception (NIN), encoding an essential nodulation transcription factor. RINRK1 displayed an infection-specific expression pattern, and NIN bound to the RINRK1 promoter, inducing its expression. RINRK1 was found to be an atypical kinase localized to the plasma membrane and did not require kinase activity for rhizobial infection. We propose RINRK1 is an infection-specific RLK, which may specifically coordinate output from NF signaling or perceive an unknown signal required for rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid31409660, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, S and Song, W and Wemheuer, B and Reveillaud, J and Webster, N and Thomas, T}, title = {Comparative Genomics Reveals Ecological and Evolutionary Insights into Sponge-Associated Thaumarchaeota.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31409660}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Thaumarchaeota are frequently reported to associate with marine sponges (phylum Porifera); however, little is known about the features that distinguish them from their free-living thaumarchaeal counterparts. In this study, thaumarchaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed from metagenomic data sets derived from the marine sponges Hexadella detritifera, Hexadella cf. detritifera, and Stylissa flabelliformis Phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses revealed that the three thaumarchaeal MAGs represent two new species within the genus Nitrosopumilus and one novel genus, for which we propose the names "Candidatus [U]Nitrosopumilus hexadellus," "Candidatus [U]Nitrosopumilus detritiferus," and "Candidatus [U]Cenporiarchaeum stylissum" (the U superscript indicates that the taxon is uncultured). Comparison of these genomes to data from the Sponge Earth Microbiome Project revealed that "Ca [U]Cenporiarchaeum stylissum" has been exclusively detected in sponges and can hence be classified as a specialist, while "Ca [U]Nitrosopumilus detritiferus" and "Ca [U]Nitrosopumilus hexadellus" are also detected outside the sponge holobiont and likely lead a generalist lifestyle. Comparison of the sponge-associated MAGs to genomes of free-living Thaumarchaeota revealed signatures that indicate functional features of a sponge-associated lifestyle, and these features were related to nutrient transport and metabolism, restriction-modification, defense mechanisms, and host interactions. Each species exhibited distinct functional traits, suggesting that they have reached different stages of evolutionary adaptation and/or occupy distinct ecological niches within their sponge hosts. Our study therefore offers new evolutionary and ecological insights into the symbiosis between sponges and their thaumarchaeal symbionts.IMPORTANCE Sponges represent ecologically important models to understand the evolution of symbiotic interactions of metazoans with microbial symbionts. Thaumarchaeota are commonly found in sponges, but their potential adaptations to a host-associated lifestyle are largely unknown. Here, we present three novel sponge-associated thaumarchaeal species and compare their genomic and predicted functional features with those of closely related free-living counterparts. We found different degrees of specialization of these thaumarchaeal species to the sponge environment that is reflected in their host distribution and their predicted molecular and metabolic properties. Our results indicate that Thaumarchaeota may have reached different stages of evolutionary adaptation in their symbiosis with sponges.}, } @article {pmid31409658, year = {2019}, author = {Gorman, R}, title = {What's in it for the animals? Symbiotically considering 'therapeutic' human-animal relations within spaces and practices of care farming.}, journal = {Medical humanities}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {313-325}, pmid = {31409658}, issn = {1473-4265}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 205393/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Animal Assisted Therapy/*methods ; Animal Husbandry/*methods ; Animals ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Human-animal relations are increasingly imbricated, encountered and experienced in the production of medicine and health. Drawing on an empirical study of care farms in the UK, this article uses the language of symbiosis to develop a framework for critically considering the relationships enrolled within interspecies therapeutic practices. Care farming is an emerging paradigm that aims to deploy farming practices as a form of therapeutic intervention, with human-animal relations framed as providing important opportunities for human health. This article moves to attend to multispecies therapeutic interventions and relationships from a more-than-human perspective, drawing attention to the often-troubling anthropocentrism in which such practices are framed and performed. Attempting to perform and realise human imaginations of 'therapeutic' affects, spaces and relationships can rely on processes that reduce animals' own opportunities for flourishing. Yet, the therapeutic use of other species does not have to be forever anthropocentric or utilitarian. The article explores whether relations between humans and animals might result in a level of mutual proliferation of affective capacities, reciprocally beneficial. These human-animal entanglements highlight opportunities to think more critically about how to practice interspecies relationships and practices in ways that are less parasitic, and instead framed more by attempts at producing opportunities for mutualistic flourishing.}, } @article {pmid31409249, year = {2019}, author = {Becker, CG and Bletz, MC and Greenspan, SE and Rodriguez, D and Lambertini, C and Jenkinson, TS and Guimarães, PR and Assis, APA and Geffers, R and Jarek, M and Toledo, LF and Vences, M and Haddad, CFB}, title = {Low-load pathogen spillover predicts shifts in skin microbiome and survival of a terrestrial-breeding amphibian.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1908}, pages = {20191114}, pmid = {31409249}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/*microbiology ; Brazil ; Chytridiomycota/*physiology ; *Longevity ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/microbiology/*veterinary ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Wildlife disease dynamics are strongly influenced by the structure of host communities and their symbiotic microbiota. Conspicuous amphibian declines associated with the waterborne fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) have been observed in aquatic-breeding frogs globally. However, less attention has been given to cryptic terrestrial-breeding amphibians that have also been declining in tropical regions. By experimentally manipulating multiple tropical amphibian assemblages harbouring natural microbial communities, we tested whether Bd spillover from naturally infected aquatic-breeding frogs could lead to Bd amplification and mortality in our focal terrestrial-breeding host: the pumpkin toadlet Brachycephalus pitanga. We also tested whether the strength of spillover could vary depending on skin bacterial transmission within host assemblages. Terrestrial-breeding toadlets acquired lethal spillover infections from neighbouring aquatic hosts and experienced dramatic but generally non-protective shifts in skin bacterial composition primarily attributable to their Bd infections. By contrast, aquatic-breeding amphibians maintained mild Bd infections and higher survival, with shifts in bacterial microbiomes that were unrelated to Bd infections. Our results indicate that Bd spillover from even mildly infected aquatic-breeding hosts may lead to dysbiosis and mortality in terrestrial-breeding species, underscoring the need to further investigate recent population declines of terrestrial-breeding amphibians in the tropics.}, } @article {pmid31409030, year = {2019}, author = {Meron, D and Maor-Landaw, K and Weizman, E and Waldman Ben-Asher, H and Eyal, G and Banin, E and Loya, Y and Levy, O}, title = {The Algal Symbiont Modifies the Transcriptome of the Scleractinian Coral Euphyllia paradivisa During Heat Stress.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31409030}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The profound mutualistic symbiosis between corals and their endosymbiotic counterparts, Symbiodiniaceae algae, has been threatened by the increase in seawater temperatures, leading to breakdown of the symbiotic relationship-coral bleaching. To characterize the heat-stress response of the holobiont, we generated vital apo-symbiotic Euphylliaparadivisa corals that lacked the endosymbiotic algae. Using RNA sequencing, we analyzed the gene expression of these apo-symbionts vs. symbiotic ones, to test the effect of the algal presence on the tolerance of the coral. We utilized literature-derived lists of "symbiosis differentially expressed genes" and "coral heat-stress genes" in order to compare between the treatments. The symbiotic and apo-symbiotic samples were segregated into two separate groups with several different enriched gene ontologies. Our findings suggest that the presence of endosymbionts has a greater negative impact on the host than the environmental temperature conditions experienced by the holobiont. The peak of the stress reaction was identified as 28 °C, with the highest number of differentially expressed genes. We suggest that the algal symbionts increase coral holobiont susceptibility to elevated temperatures. Currently, we can only speculate whether coral species, such as E.paradivisa, with the plasticity to also flourish as apo-symbionts, may have a greater chance to withstand the upcoming global climate change challenge.}, } @article {pmid31408529, year = {2019}, author = {Mestre, A and Poulin, R and Holt, RD and Barfield, M and Clamp, JC and Fernandez-Leborans, G and Mesquita-Joanes, F}, title = {The interplay of nested biotic interactions and the abiotic environment regulates populations of a hypersymbiont.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {12}, pages = {1998-2010}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13091}, pmid = {31408529}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Astacoidea ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The role of biotic interactions in shaping the distribution and abundance of species should be particularly pronounced in symbionts. Indeed, symbionts have a dual niche composed of traits of their individual hosts and the abiotic environment external to the host, and often combine active dispersal at finer scales with host-mediated dispersal at broader scales. The biotic complexity in the determinants of species distribution and abundance should be even more pronounced for hyper symbionts (symbionts of other symbionts). We use a chain of symbiosis to explore the relative influence of nested biotic interactions and the abiotic environment on occupancy and abundance of a hypersymbiont. Our empirical system is the epibiont ciliate Lagenophrys discoidea, which attaches to an ostracod that is itself ectosymbiotic on crayfish (the basal host). We applied multimodel selection and variance partitioning for GLMM to assess the relative importance of (a) traits of symbiotic hosts (ostracod sex and abundance), (b) traits of basal hosts (crayfish body weight, abundance and intermoult stage), (c) the abiotic environment (water chemistry and climate) and (d) geospatial autocorrelation patterns (capturing potential effects of crayfish dispersal among localities). Our models explained about half of the variation in prevalence and abundance of the hypersymbiont. Variation in prevalence was partly explained, in decreasing order of importance (18%-4%) by shared effects of symbiotic host traits and the abiotic environment, pure fixed effects of symbiotic hosts, abiotic environment and geospatial patterns (traits of basal hosts were not relevant). Hypersymbiont abundance was most strongly explained by random effects of host traits (mainly the symbiotic host), in addition to weaker fixed effects (mostly abiotic environment). Our results highlight the major role of the interplay between abundance of symbiotic hosts and water physico-chemistry in regulating populations of a hypersymbiotic ciliate, which is likely critical for dispersal dynamics, availability of attachment resources and suitability of on-host living conditions for the ciliate. We also found moderate signal of regulation by the basal host, for which we propose three mechanisms: (a) modulation of microhabitat suitability (crayfish-created water currents); (b) concentration of symbiotic hosts within crayfish; and (c) dispersal mediated by crayfish.}, } @article {pmid31407021, year = {2020}, author = {Bockoven, AA and Bondy, EC and Flores, MJ and Kelly, SE and Ravenscraft, AM and Hunter, MS}, title = {What Goes Up Might Come Down: the Spectacular Spread of an Endosymbiont Is Followed by Its Decline a Decade Later.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {482-494}, pmid = {31407021}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Arizona ; Genetic Fitness ; Hemiptera/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; Sex Ratio ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Facultative, intracellular bacterial symbionts of arthropods may dramatically affect host biology and reproduction. The length of these symbiont-host associations may be thousands to millions of years, and while symbiont loss is predicted, there have been very few observations of a decline of symbiont infection rates. In a population of the sweet potato whitefly species (Bemisia tabaci MEAM1) in Arizona, USA, we documented the frequency decline of a strain of Rickettsia in the Rickettsia bellii clade from near-fixation in 2011 to 36% of whiteflies infected in 2017. In previous studies, Rickettsia had been shown to increase from 1 to 97% from 2000 to 2006 and remained at high frequency for at least five years. At that time, Rickettsia infection was associated with both fitness benefits and female bias. In the current study, we established matrilines of whiteflies from the field (2016, Rickettsia infection frequency = 58%) and studied (a) Rickettsia vertical transmission, (b) fitness and sex ratios associated with Rickettsia infection, (c) symbiont titer, and (d) bacterial communities within whiteflies. The vertical transmission rate was high, approximately 98%. Rickettsia infection in the matrilines was not associated with fitness benefits or sex ratio bias and appeared to be slightly costly, as more Rickettsia-infected individuals produced non-hatching eggs. Overall, the titer of Rickettsia in the matrilines was lower in 2016 than in the whiteflies collected in 2011, but the titer distribution appeared bimodal, with high- and low-titer lines, and constancy of the average titer within lines over three generations. We found neither association between Rickettsia titer and fitness benefits or sex ratio bias nor evidence that Rickettsia was replaced by another secondary symbiont. The change in the interaction between symbiont and host in 2016 whiteflies may explain the drop in symbiont frequency we observed.}, } @article {pmid31406945, year = {2019}, author = {Cecchi, G and Di Piazza, S and Marescotti, P and Zotti, M}, title = {Evidence of pyrite dissolution by Telephora terrestris Ehrh in the Libiola mine (Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy).}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {5}, number = {8}, pages = {e02210}, pmid = {31406945}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Evidence of pyrite dissolution by Telephora terrestris Ehrh were observed for the first time in the abandoned sulphide Libiola mine in May 2017 (Sestri Levante, Liguria, Italy). This fungus is an ectomycorrhizal species able to colonize this extreme environment and bioaccumulate metals such as copper and silver in its fruiting bodies, and it is known to establish symbiosis with maritime pines present in the area, thus favouring their recolonization of the site. This paper presents evidence of T. terrestris promoted dissolution of sulphide minerals. This species can remove from soil not only metals possibly toxic to the pine trees, but it can also contribute to the ions bioaccumulation through the bioweathering of sulphide mineral grains (especially pyrite).}, } @article {pmid31406033, year = {2019}, author = {Kobayashi, A and Tsuchida, S and Ueda, A and Yamada, T and Murata, K and Nakamura, H and Ushida, K}, title = {Role of coprophagy in the cecal microbiome development of an herbivorous bird Japanese rock ptarmigan.}, journal = {The Journal of veterinary medical science}, volume = {81}, number = {9}, pages = {1389-1399}, pmid = {31406033}, issn = {1347-7439}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Cecum/microbiology ; *Coprophagia ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Japan ; Quail/*microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; }, abstract = {The transgenerational maintenance of symbiotic microbes that benefit host nutrition and health is evolutionarily advantageous. In some vertebrate lineages, coprophagy is used as a strategy for effectively transmitting microbes across generations. However, this strategy has still not been studied in birds. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of maternal cecal feces consumption by Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta japonica) chicks as a strategy for acquiring essential gut microbes. Both the duration of coprophagy behavior by the chicks and the development process of the chick cecal microbiome (n=20 one- to three-week-old chicks, from three broods) were investigated. In all three broods, coprophagy behavior was only observed from 3 to 18 days of age. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the number of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in 1-week-old chicks (n=651) and adults (n=609), and most of the main OTUs observed in the adults were already present in the 1-week-old chicks. These results indicate that, in this precocial bird species, coprophagy may contribute to the early establishment of cecal bacteria that are essential for food digestion and, thus, chick survival. In fact, Japanese rock ptarmigan chicks consume the same food as their hens from the time of hatching. This behavior may have applications to ex-situ conservation.}, } @article {pmid31405380, year = {2019}, author = {Dang, X and Xie, Z and Liu, W and Sun, Y and Liu, X and Zhu, Y and Staehelin, C}, title = {The genome of Ensifer alkalisoli YIC4027 provides insights for host specificity and environmental adaptations.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {643}, pmid = {31405380}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; *Environment ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genomics ; *Host Specificity ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/biosynthesis ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ensifer alkalisoli YIC4027, a recently characterized nitrogen-fixing bacterium of the genus Ensifer, has been isolated from root nodules of the host plant Sesbania cannabina. This plant is widely used as green manure and for soil remediation. E. alkalisoli YIC4027 can grow in saline-alkaline soils and is a narrow-host-range strain that establishes a symbiotic relationship with S. cannabina. The complete genome of this strain was sequenced to better understand the genetic basis of host specificity and adaptation to saline-alkaline soils.

RESULTS: E. alkalisoli YIC4027 was found to possess a 6.1-Mb genome consisting of three circular replicons: one chromosome (3.7 Mb), a chromid (1.9 Mb) and a plasmid (0.46 Mb). Genome comparisons showed that strain YIC4027 is phylogenetically related to broad-host-range Ensifer fredii strains. Synteny analysis revealed a strong collinearity between chromosomes of E. alkalisoli YIC4027 and those of the E. fredii NGR234 (3.9 Mb), HH103 (4.3 Mb) and USDA257 (6.48 Mb) strains. Notable differences were found for genes required for biosynthesis of nodulation factors and protein secretion systems, suggesting a role of these genes in host-specific nodulation. In addition, the genome analysis led to the identification of YIC4027 genes that are presumably related to adaptation to saline-alkaline soils, rhizosphere colonization and nodulation competitiveness. Analysis of chemotaxis cluster genes and nodulation tests with constructed che gene mutants indicated a role of chemotaxis and flagella-mediated motility in the symbiotic association between YIC4027 and S. cannabina.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a basis for a better understanding of host specific nodulation and of adaptation to a saline-alkaline rhizosphere. This information offers the perspective to prepare optimal E. alkalisoli inocula for agriculture use and soil remediation.}, } @article {pmid31405202, year = {2019}, author = {Miura, C and Saisho, M and Yagame, T and Yamato, M and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae) Seed Coat Restricts the Invasion of Fungal Hyphae at the Initial Stage of Fungal Colonization.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31405202}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Orchids produce minute seeds that contain limited or no endosperm, and they must form an association with symbiotic fungi to obtain nutrients during germination and subsequent seedling growth under natural conditions. Orchids need to select an appropriate fungus among diverse soil fungi at the germination stage. However, there is limited understanding of the process by which orchids recruit fungal associates and initiate the symbiotic interaction. This study aimed to better understand this process by focusing on the seed coat, the first point of fungal attachment. Bletilla striata seeds, some with the seed coat removed, were prepared and sown with symbiotic fungi or with pathogenic fungi. The seed coat-stripped seeds inoculated with the symbiotic fungi showed a lower germination rate than the intact seeds, and proliferated fungal hyphae were observed inside and around the stripped seeds. Inoculation with the pathogenic fungi increased the infection rate in the seed coat-stripped seeds. The pathogenic fungal hyphae were arrested at the suspensor side of the intact seeds, whereas the seed coat-stripped seeds were subjected to severe infestation. These results suggest that the seed coat restricts the invasion of fungal hyphae and protects the embryo against the attack of non-symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid31404343, year = {2019}, author = {Wilker, J and Navabi, A and Rajcan, I and Marsolais, F and Hill, B and Torkamaneh, D and Pauls, KP}, title = {Agronomic Performance and Nitrogen Fixation of Heirloom and Conventional Dry Bean Varieties Under Low-Nitrogen Field Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {952}, pmid = {31404343}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) form a relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and through a process termed symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) which provides them with a source of nitrogen. However, beans are considered poor nitrogen fixers, and modern production practices involve routine use of N fertilizer, which leads to the down-regulation of SNF. High-yielding, conventionally bred bean varieties are developed using conventional production practices and selection criteria, typically not including SNF efficiency, and may have lost this trait over decades of modern breeding. In contrast, heirloom bean genotypes were developed before the advent of modern production practices and may represent an underutilized pool of genetics which could be used to improve SNF. This study compared the SNF capacity under low-N field conditions, of collections of heirloom varieties with and conventionally bred dry bean varieties. The heirloom-conventional panel (HCP) consisted of 42 genotypes from various online seed retailers or from the University of Guelph Bean Breeding program seedbank. The HCP was genotyped using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to investigate genetic relatedness within the panel. Field trials were conducted at three locations in ON, Canada from 2014 to 2015 and various agronomic and seed composition traits were measured, including capacity for nitrogen fixation (using the natural abundance method to measure seed N isotope ratios). Significant variation for SNF was found in the panel. However, on average, heirloom genotypes did not fix significantly more nitrogen than conventionally bred varieties. However, five heirloom genotypes fixed >60% of their nitrogen from the atmosphere. Yield (kg ha[-1]) was not significantly different between heirloom and conventional genotypes, suggesting that incorporating heirloom genotypes into a modern breeding program would not negatively impact yield. Nitrogen fixation was significantly higher among Middle American genotypes than among Andean genotypes, confirming previous findings. The best nitrogen fixing line was Coco Sophie, a European heirloom white bean whose genetic makeup is admixed between the Andean and Middle American genepools. Heirloom genotypes represent a useful source of genetics to improve SNF in modern bean breeding.}, } @article {pmid31404169, year = {2019}, author = {Almeida, EL and Carrillo Rincón, AF and Jackson, SA and Dobson, ADW}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Marine Sponge-Derived Streptomyces spp. Isolates SM17 and SM18 With Their Closest Terrestrial Relatives Provides Novel Insights Into Environmental Niche Adaptations and Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1713}, pmid = {31404169}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms has led to an increased need for the discovery and development of novel antimicrobial compounds. Frequent rediscovery of the same natural products (NPs) continues to decrease the likelihood of the discovery of new compounds from soil bacteria. Thus, efforts have shifted toward investigating microorganisms and their secondary metabolite biosynthesis potential, from diverse niche environments, such as those isolated from marine sponges. Here we investigated at the genomic level two Streptomyces spp. strains, namely SM17 and SM18, isolated from the marine sponge Haliclona simulans, with previously reported antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant pathogens; using single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. We performed a series of comparative genomic analyses on SM17 and SM18 with their closest terrestrial relatives, namely S. albus J1074 and S. pratensis ATCC 33331 respectively; in an effort to provide further insights into potential environmental niche adaptations (ENAs) of marine sponge-associated Streptomyces, and on how these adaptations might be linked to their secondary metabolite biosynthesis potential. Prediction of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (smBGCs) indicated that, even though the marine isolates are closely related to their terrestrial counterparts at a genomic level; they potentially produce different compounds. SM17 and SM18 displayed a better ability to grow in high salinity medium when compared to their terrestrial counterparts, and further analysis of their genomes indicated that they possess a pool of 29 potential ENA genes that are absent in S. albus J1074 and S. pratensis ATCC 33331. This ENA gene pool included functional categories of genes that are likely to be related to niche adaptations and which could be grouped based on potential biological functions such as osmotic stress, defense; transcriptional regulation; symbiotic interactions; antimicrobial compound production and resistance; ABC transporters; together with horizontal gene transfer and defense-related features.}, } @article {pmid31401445, year = {2019}, author = {Ali, F and Jilani, G and Fahim, R and Bai, L and Wang, C and Tian, L and Jiang, H}, title = {Functional and structural roles of wiry and sturdy rooted emerged macrophytes root functional traits in the abatement of nutrients and metals.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {249}, number = {}, pages = {109330}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109330}, pmid = {31401445}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; *Metals, Heavy ; Nutrients ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical ; }, abstract = {Macrophytes root functional traits (RFTs) play central roles in the cycling of aquatic contaminants, and there is evidence that emerged macrophytes differ in macronutrients (N and P) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) abatement due to difference in RFTs. However, it remains ambiguous what root type of emerged macrophytes and their RFTs play more significant roles in the mineralization and removal of nutrients and heavy metals in aquatic systems. There is a clear need of intensive investigation on fibrous- and thick-root emerged macrophytes and their diverse RFTs in previous literatures to identify appropriate plants for phytoremediation technology. Morphological, physiological, anatomical, and symbiotic RFTs of fibrous-root emerged macrophytes favour the nutrients and heavy metals uptake. Thick-root emerged macrophytes with greater root rhizomes, lignifications and suberization illustrate tolerance under higher stress. Besides higher removal abilities of fibrous-root macrophytes, their limited lifespan and stress tolerance are the challenges for long-term removal of metals. Thus, it is still infancy to wrap up at once that the fibrous-root macrophytes and their RFTs are equally efficient for removal of heavy metals from aquatic ecosystems. Several advance techniques include cisgenesis intragenesis, symbiotic endophytes, and plant-harboring microbes are emerging to improve the RFTs of plants. These techniques need to be employed in emerged macrophytes to achieve desirable RFTs and targets. Still, these macrophytes require advanced studies on emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutical and personal care products, organic carbon stability, and mitigation of greenhouse gases emission.}, } @article {pmid31400717, year = {2020}, author = {Irshad, S and Xie, Z and Wang, J and Nawaz, A and Luo, Y and Wang, Y and Mehmood, S and Faheem, }, title = {Indigenous strain Bacillus XZM assisted phytoremediation and detoxification of arsenic in Vallisneria denseserrulata.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {381}, number = {}, pages = {120903}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.120903}, pmid = {31400717}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Arsenic/*metabolism/toxicity ; Bacillus/drug effects/*metabolism ; Bioaccumulation ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Hydrocharitaceae/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between Vallisneria denseserrulata and indigenous Bacillus sp. XZM was investigated for arsenic removal for the first time. It was found that the native bacterium was able to reduce arsenic toxicity to the plant by producing higher amount of extra cellular polymeric substances (EPS), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderosphore. Interestingly, V. denseserrulata-Bacillus sp. XZM partnership showed significantly higher arsenic uptake and removal efficiency. The shift in FT-IR spectra indicated the involvement of amide, carboxyl, hydroxyl and thiol groups in detoxification of arsenic, and the existence of an arsenic metabolizing process in V. denseserrulata leaves. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images further confirmed that the bacterium colonized on plant roots and facilitated arsenic uptake by plant under inoculation condition. In plant, most of the arsenic existed as As(III) (85%) and was massively (>77%) found in vacuole of particularly leaves cells. Thus, these findings are highly suggested for arsenic remediation in the constructed wetlands.}, } @article {pmid31400692, year = {2019}, author = {Xiang, N and Jiang, C and Huang, W and Nordhaus, I and Zhou, H and Drews, M and Diao, X}, title = {The impact of acute benzo(a)pyrene on antioxidant enzyme and stress-related genes in tropical stony corals (Acropora spp.).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {694}, number = {}, pages = {133474}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.280}, pmid = {31400692}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Benzo(a)pyrene/*toxicity ; Coral Reefs ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs have extremely high ecological value in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. However, they have been subjected to the most extensive and prolonged damage in recent decades. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous hazardous pollutants and are highly resistant to degradation in marine environments. Among these compounds, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) has exerted pressure on corals due to water discharges, oil spills and coastal tourism. In the present study, the physiological response, oxidative stress and stress-related genetic expressions of two Acropora spp. (Acropora formosa and Acropora nasuta) were analysed. These two coral species were exposed to 10 and 40 μg·L[-1] BaP for 24 hand 72 h, respectively. The results show that (1) BaP affects the health of the zooxanthellae in coral symbiosis after BaP exposure for 72 h due to a significant decline in chlorophyll a concentrations in Acropora spp. during this period. (2) An exposure of 10 μg·L[-1] BaP for 24 h induced serious oxidative damage to Acropora spp., with a significant decline and increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in A. formosa and A. nasuta. (3) The P-gp gene is more sensitive in A. formosa, while the Hsp70 gene is more sensitive in A. nasuta. (4) A. formosa showed a lower ability to resist organic pollutants in coral reefs. Overall, further ecotoxicological studies are needed to investigate the impact of chemical pollutants on corals and to compare their different response mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid31400167, year = {2019}, author = {Schwartzman, JA and Lynch, JB and Flores Ramos, S and Zhou, L and Apicella, MA and Yew, JY and Ruby, EG}, title = {Acidic pH promotes lipopolysaccharide modification and alters colonization in a bacteria-animal mutualism.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {112}, number = {4}, pages = {1326-1338}, pmid = {31400167}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {P41 RR002301/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK054759/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/metabolism/microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Environmental pH can be an important cue for symbiotic bacteria as they colonize their eukaryotic hosts. Using the model mutualism between the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, we characterized the bacterial transcriptional response to acidic pH experienced during the shift from planktonic to host-associated lifestyles. We found several genes involved in outer membrane structure were differentially expressed based on pH, indicating alterations in membrane physiology as V. fischeri initiates its symbiotic program. Exposure to host-like pH increased the resistance of V. fischeri to the cationic antimicrobial peptide polymixin B, which resembles antibacterial molecules that are produced by the squid to select V. fischeri from the ocean microbiota. Using a forward genetic screen, we identified a homolog of eptA, a predicted phosphoethanolamine transferase, as critical for antimicrobial defense. We used MALDI-MS to verify eptA as an ethanolamine transferase for the lipid-A portion of V. fischeri lipopolysaccharide. We then used a DNA pulldown approach to discover that eptA transcription is activated by the global regulator H-NS. Finally, we revealed that eptA promotes successful squid colonization by V. fischeri, supporting its potential role in initiation of this highly specific symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31397886, year = {2019}, author = {Cohen, ML and Mashanova, EV and Rosen, NM and Soto, W}, title = {Adaptation to temperature stress by Vibrio fischeri facilitates this microbe's symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes).}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {73}, number = {9}, pages = {1885-1897}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13819}, pmid = {31397886}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {120084//College of William and Mary/International ; 120819//College of William and Mary/International ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Geography ; Hawaii ; Linear Models ; Oceans and Seas ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {For microorganisms cycling between free-living and host-associated stages, where reproduction occurs in both of these lifestyles, an interesting inquiry is whether adaptation to stress during the free-living stage can impact microbial fitness in the host. To address this topic, the mutualism between the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and the marine bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri was utilized. Using microbial experimental evolution, V. fischeri was selected to low (8°C), high (34°C), and fluctuating temperature stress (8°C/34°C) for 2000 generations. The temperatures 8°C and 34°C were the lower and upper growth limits, respectively. V. fischeri was also selected to benign temperatures (21°C and 28°C) for 2000 generations, which served as controls. V. fischeri demonstrated significant adaptation to low, high, and fluctuating temperature stress. V. fischeri did not display significant adaptation to the benign temperatures. Adaptation to stressful temperatures facilitated V. fischeri's ability to colonize the squid host relative to the ancestral lines. Bioluminescence levels also increased. Evolution to benign temperatures did not manifest these results. In summary, microbial adaptation to stress during the free-living stage can promote coevolution between hosts and microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid31397116, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, J and Zhang, J and Li, D and Xu, C and Xiang, X}, title = {Differential responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities to mineral and organic fertilization.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e00920}, pmid = {31397116}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {China ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers/*analysis/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycobiome/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Agricultural fertilization is used extensively to increase soil fertility and maximize crop yield. Despite numerous studies on how fertilization influences plant and bacterial communities, little is known about the roles of long-term application of different fertilizers in shaping arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community structures in a comparative manner. The response of AMF community to 28 years of chemical and organic fertilization was investigated using the Illumina Mi-Seq platform. Soil AMF community composition showed significant and differential responses to long-term fertilization. Changes in available phosphorus (AP) content were the primary driver shaping AMF community composition. Chemical fertilization significantly decreased AMF alpha-diversity, whereas the alpha-diversity remained equally high in organic fertilization treatment as in the control. In addition, soil AMF alpha-diversity was negatively and positively correlated with elevated soil nutrient level following chemical and organic fertilization, respectively. Plants could directly acquire sufficient nutrients without their AMF partners after chemical fertilization, while plants might rely on AMF to facilitate the transformation of organic matter following organic fertilization, indicating that chemical fertilization might reduce the reliance of plants on AMF symbioses while organic fertilization strengthened the symbiotic relationship between plants and their AMF partners in agricultural ecosystems. This study demonstrated that AMF communities responded differently to long-term chemical and organic fertilization, indicating that organic fertilization might activate belowground AMF function to maintain soil nutrients and benefit the sustainable development of agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31396616, year = {2019}, author = {Lallemand, F and Logacheva, M and Le Clainche, I and Bérard, A and Zheleznaia, E and May, M and Jakalski, M and Delannoy, É and Le Paslier, MC and Selosse, MA}, title = {Thirteen New Plastid Genomes from Mixotrophic and Autotrophic Species Provide Insights into Heterotrophy Evolution in Neottieae Orchids.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {2457-2467}, pmid = {31396616}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; *Genome, Plastid ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Orchidaceae/classification/*cytology/*genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mixotrophic species use both organic and mineral carbon sources. Some mixotrophic plants combine photosynthesis and a nutrition called mycoheterotrophy, where carbon is obtained from fungi forming mycorrhizal symbiosis with their roots. These species can lose photosynthetic abilities and evolve full mycoheterotrophy. Besides morphological changes, the latter transition is associated with a deep alteration of the plastid genome. Photosynthesis-related genes are lost first, followed by housekeeping genes, eventually resulting in a highly reduced genome. Whether relaxation of selective constraints already occurs for the plastid genome of mixotrophic species, which remain photosynthetic, is unclear. This is partly due to the difficulty of comparing plastid genomes of autotrophic, mixotrophic, and mycoheterotrophic species in a narrow phylogenetic framework. We address this question in the orchid tribe Neottieae, where this large assortment of nutrition types occurs. We sequenced 13 new plastid genomes, including 9 mixotrophic species and covering all 6 Neottieae genera. We investigated selective pressure on plastid genes in each nutrition type and conducted a phylogenetic inference of the group. Surprisingly, photosynthesis-related genes did not experience selection relaxation in mixotrophic species compared with autotrophic relatives. Conversely, we observed evidence for selection intensification for some plastid genes. Photosynthesis is thus still under purifying selection, maybe because of its role in fruit formation and thus reproductive success. Phylogenetic analysis resolved most relationships, but short branches at the base of the tree suggest an evolutionary radiation at the beginning of Neottieae history, which, we hypothesize, may be linked to mixotrophy emergence.}, } @article {pmid31396562, year = {2019}, author = {Weizman, E and Levy, O}, title = {The role of chromatin dynamics under global warming response in the symbiotic coral model Aiptasia.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {282}, pmid = {31396562}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; Chromatin/metabolism ; Genome ; *Global Warming ; Hot Temperature ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Extreme weather events frequency and scale are altered due to climate change. Symbiosis between corals and their endosymbiotic-dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) is susceptible to these events and can lead to what is known as bleaching. However, there is evidence for coral adaptive plasticity in the role of epigenetic that have acclimated to high-temperature environments. We have implemented ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to study the cnidarian-dinoflagellate model Exaptasia pallida (Aiptasia) and expose the role of chromatin-dynamics in response to thermal-stress. We have identified 1309 genomic sites that change their accessibility in response to thermal changes. Moreover, apo-symbiotic Aiptasia accessible sites were enriched with NFAT, ATF4, GATA3, SOX14, and PAX3 motifs and expressed genes related to immunological pathways. Symbiotic Aiptasia accessible sites were enriched with NKx3-1, HNF4A, IRF4 motifs and expressed genes related to oxidative-stress pathways. Our work opens a new path towards understanding thermal-stress gene regulation in association with gene activity and chromatin-dynamics.}, } @article {pmid31396243, year = {2019}, author = {Romero-Munar, A and Baraza, E and Gulías, J and Cabot, C}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Confer Salt Tolerance in Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.) Plants Grown Under Low Phosphorus by Reducing Leaf Na[+] Concentration and Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {843}, pmid = {31396243}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Salinization is one of the major causes of agricultural soil degradation worldwide. In arid and semi-arid regions with calcareous soils, phosphorus (P) deficiency further worsens the quality of salinized soils. Nonetheless, nutrient poor soils could be suitable of producing second-generation energy crops. Due to its high biomass production, Arundo donax L. (giant reed) is one of the most promising species for energy and second-generation biofuel production. A. donax can be propagated by micropropagation, an in vitro technique that produces high number of homogeneous plantlets. However, crop establishment is often compromised due to poor plantlet acclimatization to the soil environment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) are components of soil-plant systems able to increase root phosphorus uptake and to confer the plant an increase tolerance to salinity with a consequent enhancement effect of plant growth and yield. In the present study, the relative importance of the early symbiosis establishment between AM fungi and A. donax micropropagated plantlets in the response to salt stress under low phosphorus availability was determined. A commercial inoculum which contained two different AM fungi species: Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae was used. AM-symbionts (AM) and non-symbionts plants were grown at two phosphorus [2.5 μM (C) and 0.5 mM (P)] and three NaCl (1, 75 and 150 mM) concentrations in a room chamber under controlled conditions. After 5 weeks, AM root colonization was 60, 26 and 15% in 1, 75 and 150 mM NaCl-treated plants, respectively. At 1 and 75 mM NaCl, AM plants showed increased growth. In all saline treatments, AM plants had decreased Na[+] uptake, Na[+] root-to-shoot translocation, Na[+]/K[+] ratio and increased P and K use efficiencies with respect to C and P plants. AM improved the nutritional status of A. donax plants by enhancing nutrient use efficiency rather than nutrient uptake. Increased phosphorus use efficiency in AM plants could have benefited ion (Na[+] and K[+]) uptake and/or allocation and ultimately ameliorate the plant's response to saline conditions.}, } @article {pmid31396178, year = {2019}, author = {Trappeniers, K and Matetovici, I and Van Den Abbeele, J and De Vooght, L}, title = {The Tsetse Fly Displays an Attenuated Immune Response to Its Secondary Symbiont, Sodalis glossinidius.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1650}, pmid = {31396178}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sodalis glossinidius, a vertically transmitted facultative symbiont of the tsetse fly, is a bacterium in the early/intermediate state of its transition toward symbiosis, representing an important model for investigating how the insect host immune defense response is regulated to allow endosymbionts to establish a chronic infection within their hosts without being eliminated. In this study, we report on the establishment of a tsetse fly line devoid of S. glossinidius only, allowing us to experimentally investigate (i) the complex immunological interactions between a single bacterial species and its host, (ii) how the symbiont population is kept under control, and (iii) the impact of the symbiont on the vector competence of the tsetse fly to transmit the sleeping sickness parasite. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed no difference in the expression of genes involved in innate immune processes between symbiont-harboring (Gmm [Sod+]) and S. glossinidius-free (Gmm [Sod-]) flies. Re-exposure of (Gmm [Sod-]) flies to the endosymbiotic bacterium resulted in a moderate immune response, whereas exposure to pathogenic E. coli or to a close non-insect associated relative of S. glossinidius, i.e., S. praecaptivus, resulted in full immune activation. We also showed that S. glossinidius densities are not affected by experimental activation or suppression of the host immune system, indicating that S. glossinidius is resistant to mounted immune attacks and that the host immune system does not play a major role in controlling S. glossinidius proliferation. Finally, we demonstrate that the absence or presence of S. glossinidius in the tsetse fly does not alter its capacity to mount an immune response to pathogens nor does it affect the fly's susceptibility toward trypanosome infection.}, } @article {pmid31396163, year = {2019}, author = {Lamin, H and Alami, S and Bouhnik, O and ElFaik, S and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and Missbah-El Idrissi, M}, title = {Nodulation of Retama monosperma by Ensifer aridi in an Abandonned Lead Mine Soils in Eastern Morocco.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1456}, pmid = {31396163}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Millions tons of lead and zinc wastes from the abandoned Touissit mine are stored in the open air as dikes in the vicinity of the villages in Eastern Morocco and pose a real danger to both the environment and local populations. To prevent the movement of minerals to the nearby villages and limit the damages to the environment and health, we proposed the nitrogen-fixing leguminous shrub Retama monosperma, as a model plant to use for phytostabilization experimentations. This plant species is known by its ability to grow in hard climatic conditions and in heavy metals contaminated soils. The isolation of bacterial strains nodulating R. monosperma in the abandoned mine soils will permit the selection of rhizobia to inoculate young plant seedlings before their use for the phytostabilization of the mine tailings. In this work, 44 bacteria were isolated from the root nodules of R. Monosperma grown in the Touissit abandoned mine. Twenty-four isolates were considered as true rhizobia as they possess a copy of the nodC symbiotic gene and were able to renodulate their original host. The phenotypic characterization showed that all the strains are tolerant in vitro to different concentrations of heavy metals. The analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences of two selected representative strains showed they were related to different strains of Ensifer aridi isolated from different legumes in three continents deserts. The glnII, recA, and gyrB housekeeping genes analysis confirmed the affiliation of the strains to E. aridi. Moreover, the phylogenic analysis of nodA, nodC, and nifH symbiotic genes showed that the strains are more related to E. aridi JNVUTP6 species isolated from Tephrosia purpurea root nodules in the Thar Desert in India. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the isolation of E. aridi from R. monosperma root nodules.}, } @article {pmid31395953, year = {2019}, author = {Cardini, U and Bartoli, M and Lücker, S and Mooshammer, M and Polzin, J and Lee, RW and Micić, V and Hofmann, T and Weber, M and Petersen, JM}, title = {Chemosymbiotic bivalves contribute to the nitrogen budget of seagrass ecosystems.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {3131-3134}, pmid = {31395953}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Cycle ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In many seagrass sediments, lucinid bivalves and their sulfur-oxidizing symbionts are thought to underpin key ecosystem functions, but little is known about their role in nutrient cycles, particularly nitrogen. We used natural stable isotopes, elemental analyses, and stable isotope probing to study the ecological stoichiometry of a lucinid symbiosis in spring and fall. Chemoautotrophy appeared to dominate in fall, when chemoautotrophic carbon fixation rates were up to one order of magnitude higher as compared with the spring, suggesting a flexible nutritional mutualism. In fall, an isotope pool dilution experiment revealed carbon limitation of the symbiosis and ammonium excretion rates up to tenfold higher compared with fluxes reported for nonsymbiotic marine bivalves. These results provide evidence that lucinid bivalves can contribute substantial amounts of ammonium to the ecosystem. Given the preference of seagrasses for this nitrogen source, lucinid bivalves' contribution may boost productivity of these important blue carbon ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31395464, year = {2020}, author = {Payen, VL and Mina, E and Van Hée, VF and Porporato, PE and Sonveaux, P}, title = {Monocarboxylate transporters in cancer.}, journal = {Molecular metabolism}, volume = {33}, number = {}, pages = {48-66}, pmid = {31395464}, issn = {2212-8778}, mesh = {Animals ; Citric Acid Cycle/genetics ; Energy Metabolism/genetics ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*genetics ; Muscle Proteins/*genetics ; Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/*genetics ; Symporters/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tumors are highly plastic metabolic entities composed of cancer and host cells that can adopt different metabolic phenotypes. For energy production, cancer cells may use 4 main fuels that are shuttled in 5 different metabolic pathways. Glucose fuels glycolysis that can be coupled to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in oxidative cancer cells or to lactic fermentation in proliferating and in hypoxic cancer cells. Lipids fuel lipolysis, glutamine fuels glutaminolysis, and lactate fuels the oxidative pathway of lactate, all of which are coupled to the TCA cycle and OXPHOS for energy production. This review focuses on the latter metabolic pathway.

SCOPE OF REVIEW: Lactate, which is prominently produced by glycolytic cells in tumors, was only recently recognized as a major fuel for oxidative cancer cells and as a signaling agent. Its exchanges across membranes are gated by monocarboxylate transporters MCT1-4. This review summarizes the current knowledge about MCT structure, regulation and functions in cancer, with a specific focus on lactate metabolism, lactate-induced angiogenesis and MCT-dependent cancer metastasis. It also describes lactate signaling via cell surface lactate receptor GPR81.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Lactate and MCTs, especially MCT1 and MCT4, are important contributors to tumor aggressiveness. Analyses of MCT-deficient (MCT[+/-] and MCT[-/-]) animals and (MCT-mutated) humans indicate that they are druggable, with MCT1 inhibitors being in advanced development phase and MCT4 inhibitors still in the discovery phase. Imaging lactate fluxes non-invasively using a lactate tracer for positron emission tomography would further help to identify responders to the treatments.}, } @article {pmid31393956, year = {2019}, author = {Kokkoris, V and Hamel, C and Hart, MM}, title = {Mycorrhizal response in crop versus wild plants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {e0221037}, pmid = {31393956}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biomass ; Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Mycelium/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; }, abstract = {We proposed a theoretical framework predicting mutualistic outcomes for the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis based on host provenance (crop versus wild). To test the framework, we grew two isolates of Rhizoglomus irregulare (commercial versus an isolate locally isolated), with five crop plants and five wild plants endemic to the region that co-occur with the locally sourced fungus. While inoculation with either isolate had no effect on plant biomass, it decreased leaf P content, particularly for wild plants. All plants associating with the commercial fungus had lower leaf P. Overall, our data shows that wild plants may be more sensitive to differences in mutualistic quality among fungal isolates.}, } @article {pmid31393668, year = {2020}, author = {Leonardi, P and Murat, C and Puliga, F and Iotti, M and Zambonelli, A}, title = {Ascoma genotyping and mating type analyses of mycorrhizas and soil mycelia of Tuber borchii in a truffle orchard established by mycelial inoculated plants.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {964-975}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14777}, pmid = {31393668}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//FranceAgriMer (CASDAR)/International ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01 Lab of Excellence ARBRE//French National Research Agency (ANR)/International ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; *Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mycelium/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tuber borchii (the Bianchetto truffle) is a heterothallic Ascomycete living in symbiotic association with trees and shrubs. Maternal and paternal genotype dynamics have already been studied for the black truffles Tuber melanosporum and Tuber aestivum but not yet for T. borchii. In this study, we analysed maternal and paternal genotypes in the first truffle orchard realized with plants inoculated with five different T. borchii mycelia. Our aims were to test the persistence of the inoculated mycelia, if maternal and/or paternal genotypes correspond to inoculated mycelia and to assess the hermaphroditism of T. borchii. The mating type of each isolate as well as those of mycorrhizas, ascomata and extraradical soil mycelia was determined. Moreover, simple sequence repeat (SSR) profiles of maternal and paternal genotypes were assessed in 18 fruiting bodies to investigate the sexual behaviour of this truffle. The maternal genotypes of the fruiting bodies corresponded to those of the inoculated mycelia with only two exceptions. This confirmed that the inoculated mycelia persisted 9 years after plantation. As regards paternal partner, only two had the same genotype as those of the inoculated mycelia, suggesting hermaphroditism. Most of the new paternal genotypes originated from a recombination of those of inoculated mycelia.}, } @article {pmid31392918, year = {2019}, author = {Buendia, L and Ribeyre, C and Bensmihen, S and Lefebvre, B}, title = {Brachypodium distachyon tar2l[hypo] mutant shows reduced root developmental response to symbiotic signal but increased arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e1651608}, pmid = {31392918}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Brachypodium/drug effects/*genetics/*microbiology ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism/pharmacology ; Indoles/pharmacology ; Mutation/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Auxin is a major phytohormone that controls root development. A role for auxin is also emerging in the control of plant-microbe interactions, including for the establishment of root endosymbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Auxin perception is important both for root colonization by AMF and for arbuscule formation. AMF produce symbiotic signals called lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) that can modify auxin homeostasis and promote lateral root formation (LRF). Since Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) has a different auxin sensitivity compared to other plant species, we wondered whether this would interfere with the effect of auxin in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Here we tested whether tar2l[hypo] a Brachypodium mutant with an increase in endogenous auxin content is affected in LRF stimulation by LCOs and in AM symbiosis. We found that, in contrast to control plants, LCO treatment inhibited LRF of the tar2l[hypo] mutant. However, the level of AMF colonization and the abundance of arbuscules were increased in tar2l[hypo] compared to control plants, suggesting that auxin also plays a positive role in both AMF colonization and arbuscule formation in Brachypodium.}, } @article {pmid31386760, year = {2019}, author = {Minucci, JM and Miniat, CF and Wurzburger, N}, title = {Drought sensitivity of an N2 -fixing tree may slow temperate deciduous forest recovery from disturbance.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {100}, number = {12}, pages = {e02862}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2862}, pmid = {31386760}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {*Droughts ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Increased drought intensity and frequency due to climate change may reduce the abundance and activity of nitrogen (N2)-fixing plants, which supply new N to terrestrial ecosystems. As a result, drought may indirectly reduce ecosystem productivity through its effect on the N cycle. Here, we manipulated growing season net rainfall across a series of plots in an early successional mesic deciduous forest to understand how drought affects the aboveground productivity of the N2 -fixing tree Robinia pseudoacacia and three co-occurring nonfixing tree species. We found that lower soil moisture was associated with reduced productivity of R. pseudoacacia but not of nonfixing trees. As a result, the relative biomass and density of R. pseudoacacia declined in drier soils over time. Greater aboveground biomass of R. pseudoacacia was also associated with greater total soil N, extractable inorganic N, N mineralization rates, and productivity of nonfixing trees. These soil N effects may reflect current N2 fixation by R. pseudoacacia saplings, or the legacy effect of former trees in the same location. Our results suggest that R. pseudoacacia promotes the growth of nonfixing trees in early succession through its effect on the N cycle. However, the sensitivity of R. pseudoacacia to dry soils may reduce N2 fixation under scenarios of increasing drought intensity and frequency, demonstrating a mechanism by which drought may indirectly diminish potential forest productivity and recovery rate from disturbance.}, } @article {pmid31386172, year = {2019}, author = {David, AS and Bell-Dereske, LP and Emery, SM and McCormick, BM and Seabloom, EW and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Testing for loss of Epichloë and non-epichloid symbionts under altered rainfall regimes.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {106}, number = {8}, pages = {1081-1089}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1340}, pmid = {31386172}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {DEB 0918267//NSF/International ; DEB 1145588//NSF/International ; NSF 0940902//NSF/International ; DGE-0653827//NSF/International ; NSF 00039202//NSF/International ; }, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Plant Leaves ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE: Microbial symbionts can buffer plant hosts from environmental change. Therefore, understanding how global change factors alter the associations between hosts and their microbial symbionts may improve predictions of future changes in host population dynamics and microbial diversity. Here, we investigated how one global change factor, precipitation, affected the maintenance or loss of symbiotic fungal endophytes in a C3 grass host. Specifically, we examined the distinct responses of Epichloë (vertically transmitted and systemic) and non-epichloid endophytes (typically horizontally transmitted and localized) by considering (1) how precipitation altered associations with Epichloë and non-epichloid endophytic taxa across host ontogeny, and (2) interactive effects of water availability and Epichloë on early seedling life history stages.

METHODS: We manipulated the presence of Epichloë amarillans in American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) in a multiyear field experiment that imposed three precipitation regimes (ambient or ±30% rainfall). In laboratory assays, we investigated the interactive effects of water availability and Epichloë on seed viability and germination.

RESULTS: Reduced precipitation decreased the incidence of Epichloë in leaves in the final sampling period, but had no effect on associations with non-epichloid taxa. Epichloë reduced the incidence of non-epichloid endophytes, including systemic p-endophytes, in seeds. Laboratory assays suggested that association with Epichloë is likely maintained, in part, due to increased seed viability and germination regardless of water availability.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study empirically demonstrates several pathways for plant symbionts to be lost or maintained across host ontogeny and suggests that reductions in precipitation can drive the loss of a plant's microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31384703, year = {2019}, author = {Goldsmith, DB and Pratte, ZA and Kellogg, CA and Snader, SE and Sharp, KH}, title = {Stability of temperate coral Astrangia poculata microbiome is reflected across different sequencing methodologies.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {62-76}, pmid = {31384703}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {The microbiome of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata was first described in 2017 using next-generation Illumina sequencing to examine the coral's bacterial and archaeal associates across seasons and among hosts of differing symbiotic status. To assess the impact of methodology on the detectable diversity of the coral's microbiome, we obtained near full-length Sanger sequences from clone libraries constructed from a subset of the same A. poculata samples. Eight samples were analyzed: two sets of paired symbiotic (brown) and aposymbiotic (white) colonies collected in the fall (September) and two sets collected in the spring (April). Analysis of the Sanger sequences revealed that the microbiome of A. poculata exhibited a high level of richness; 806 OTUs were identified among 1390 bacterial sequences. While the Illumina study revealed that A. poculata's microbial communities did not significantly vary according to symbiotic state, but did vary by season, Sanger sequencing did not expose seasonal or symbiotic differences in the microbiomes. Proteobacteria dominated the microbiome, forming the majority (55% to 80%) of classifiable bacteria in every sample, and the five bacterial classes with the highest mean relative portion (5% to 35%) were the same as those determined by prior Illumina sequencing. Sanger sequencing also captured the same core taxa previously identified by next-generation sequencing. Alignment of all sequences and construction of a phylogenetic tree revealed that both sequencing methods provided similar portrayals of the phylogenetic diversity within A. poculata's bacterial associates. Consistent with previous findings, the results demonstrated that the Astrangia microbiome is stable notwithstanding the choice of sequencing method and the far fewer sequences generated by clone libraries (46 to 326 sequences per sample) compared to next-generation sequencing (3634 to 48481 sequences per sample). Moreover, the near-full length 16S rRNA sequences produced by this study are presented as a resource for the community studying this model system since they provide necessary information for designing primers and probes to further our understanding of this coral's microbiome.}, } @article {pmid31384702, year = {2019}, author = {MacLeod, F and Kindler, GS and Wong, HL and Chen, R and Burns, BP}, title = {Asgard archaea: Diversity, function, and evolutionary implications in a range of microbiomes.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {48-61}, pmid = {31384702}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {Elucidating the diversity of the Archaea has many important ecological and evolutionary implications. The Asgard superphylum of the archaea, described recently from metagenomic data, has reignited the decades-old debate surrounding the topology of the tree of life. This review synthesizes recent findings through publicly available genomes and literature to describe the current ecological and evolutionary significance of the Asgard superphylum. Asgard archaea have been found in a diverse range of microbiomes across the globe, primarily from sedimentary environments. Within these environments, positive correlations between specific members of the Asgard archaea and Candidate Division TA06 bacteria have been observed, opening up the possibility of symbiotic interactions between the groupings. Asgard archaeal genomes encode functionally diverse metabolic pathways, including the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway as a carbon-fixation strategy, putative nucleotide salvaging pathways, and novel mechanisms of phototrophy including new rhodopsins. Asgard archaea also appear to be active in nitrogen cycling. Asgard archaea encode genes involved in both dissimilatory nitrate reduction and denitrification, and for the potential to use atmospheric nitrogen or nitrite as nitrogen sources. Asgard archaea also may be involved in the transformation of sulfur compounds, indicating a putative role in sulfur cycling. To date, all Asgard archaeal genomes identified were described as obligately anaerobic. The Asgard archaea also appear to have important evolutionary implications. The presence of eukaryotic signature proteins and the affiliation of Asgard archaea in phylogenetic analyses appears to support two-domain topologies of the tree of life with eukaryotes emerging from within the domain of archaea, as opposed to the eukaryotes being a separate domain of life. Thus far, Heimdallarchaeota appears as the closest archaeal relative of eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid31384290, year = {2019}, author = {Krystel, J and Shi, Q and Shaw, J and Gupta, G and Hall, D and Stover, E}, title = {An in vitro protocol for rapidly assessing the effects of antimicrobial compounds on the unculturable bacterial plant pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {85}, pmid = {31384290}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most bacteria are not culturable, but can be identified through molecular methods such as metagenomics studies. Due to specific metabolic requirements and symbiotic relationships, these bacteria cannot survive on typical laboratory media. Many economically and medically important bacteria are unculturable; including phloem-limited plant pathogens like Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). CLas is the most impactful pathogen on citrus production, is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri), and lacks an effective treatment or resistant cultivars. Research into CLas pathogenicity and therapy has been hindered by the lack of persistent pure cultures. Work to date has been mostly limited to in planta studies that are time and resource intensive.

RESULTS: We developed and optimized an in vitro protocol to quickly test the effectiveness of potential therapeutic agents against CLas. The assay uses intact bacterial cells contained in homogenized tissue from CLas-infected ACP and a propidium monoazide (PMA) assay to measure antimicrobial activity. The applicability of PMA was evaluated; with the ability to differentiate between intact and disrupted CLas cells confirmed using multiple bactericidal treatments. We identified light activation conditions to prevent PCR interference and identified a suitable positive control for nearly complete CLas disruption (0.1% Triton-X 100). Isolation buffer components were optimized with 72 mM salt mixture, 1 mM phosphate buffer and 1% glycerol serving to minimize unwanted interactions with treatment and PMA chemistries and to maximize recovery of intact CLas cells. The mature protocol was used to compare a panel of peptides already under study for potential CLas targeting bactericidal activity and identify which were most effective.

CONCLUSION: This psyllid homogenate assay allows for a quick assessment of potential CLas-disrupting peptides. Comparison within a uniform isolate largely eliminates experimental error arising from variation in CLas titer between and within individual host organisms. Use of an intact vs. disrupted assay permits direct assessment of potential therapeutic compounds without generating pure cultures or conducting extensive in planta or field studies.}, } @article {pmid31382604, year = {2019}, author = {Nobre, T}, title = {Symbiosis in Sustainable Agriculture: Can Olive Fruit Fly Bacterial Microbiome Be Useful in Pest Management?.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31382604}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The applied importance of symbiosis has been gaining recognition. The relevance of symbiosis has been increasing in agriculture, in developing sustainable practices, including pest management. Insect symbiotic microorganisms' taxonomical and functional diversity is high, and so is the potential of manipulation of these microbial partners in suppressing pest populations. These strategies, which rely on functional organisms inhabiting the insect, are intrinsically less susceptible to external environmental variations and hence likely to overcome some of the challenges posed by climate change. Rates of climate change in the Mediterranean Basin are expected to exceed global trends for most variables, and this warming will also affect olive production and impact the interactions of olives and their main pest, the obligate olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae). This work summarizes the current knowledge on olive fly symbiotic bacteria towards the potential development of symbiosis-based strategies for olive fruit fly control. Particular emphasis is given to Candidatus Erwinia dacicola, an obligate, vertically transmitted endosymbiont that allows the insect to cope with the olive-plant produced defensive compound oleuropein, as a most promising target for a symbiosis disruption approach.}, } @article {pmid31381903, year = {2019}, author = {Jose, PA and Ben-Yosef, M and Jurkevitch, E and Yuval, B}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria affect oviposition behavior in the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {117}, number = {}, pages = {103917}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103917}, pmid = {31381903}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Microbiota ; *Oviposition ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial associations are widespread across the insects. In the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae), vertically transmitted gut symbionts contribute to larval development inside the olive host, and to adult nutrition. Nevertheless, their effect on behavioural decisions of adults is unknown. In this study, we show that symbiotic bacteria affect oviposition behaviour in B. oleae. We studied the effect of different fruits as hosts and different gut-bacteria as gut-symbionts on oviposition attempts and fly development in B. oleae. Untreated flies that had native gut-symbionts attempted oviposition significantly more times than axenic flies as well as flies treated with medfly-associated Pantoea or Klebsiella bacteria. Axenic flies provided with a diet containing the homogenized gut of symbiotic flies recovered the same number of oviposition attempts as their symbiotic counterparts. As for as the different hosts, green olives (unripe) and grapes were preferred while black olives (ripe) elicited the least number of oviposition attempts, with an interactive effect of host and bacterial treatments. It appears that both the host attributes and the native gut-symbionts drive oviposition preference towards green olives in B. oleae. Moreover, both bacterial treatments and hosts significantly affected the development of B. oleae larvae. Though grapes elicited as many oviposition attempts as green olives, they yielded no pupae. Taken together, our results suggest that the intimate association between B. oleae and their gut-microbes, extends beyond nutritional support to behaviour.}, } @article {pmid31381572, year = {2019}, author = {Ortega, HE and Ferreira, LLG and Melo, WGP and Oliveira, ALL and Ramos Alvarenga, RF and Lopes, NP and Bugni, TS and Andricopulo, AD and Pupo, MT}, title = {Antifungal compounds from Streptomyces associated with attine ants also inhibit Leishmania donovani.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {e0007643}, pmid = {31381572}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/*metabolism ; Ants/*microbiology ; Hypocreales/*drug effects ; Leishmania donovani/*drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Streptomyces/classification/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacterial strains isolated from attine ants showed activity against the insect specialized fungal pathogen Escovopsis and also against the human protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani. The bioassay guided fractionation of extracts from cultures of Streptomyces sp. ICBG292, isolated from the exoskeleton of Cyphomyrmex workers, led to the isolation of Mer-A2026B (1), piericidin-A1 (2) and nigericin (3). Nigericin (3) presented high activity against intracellular amastigotes of L. donovani (IC50 0.129 ± 0.008 μM). Streptomyces puniceus ICBG378, isolated from workers of Acromyrmex rugosus rugosus, produced dinactin (4) with potent anti-L. donovani activity against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 0.018 ± 0.003 μM). Compounds 3 and 4 showed good selectivity indexes, 88.91 and 656.11 respectively, and were more active than positive control, miltefosine. Compounds 1-4 were also active against some Escovopsis strains. Compounds 1 and 2 were also produced by Streptomyces sp. ICBG233, isolated from workers of Atta sexdens, and detected in ants' extracts by mass spectrometry, suggesting they are produced in the natural environment as defensive compounds involved in the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid31380831, year = {2019}, author = {Speare, L and Septer, AN}, title = {Coincubation Assay for Quantifying Competitive Interactions between Vibrio fischeri Isolates.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {149}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3791/59759}, pmid = {31380831}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/drug effects/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Plasmids ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This manuscript describes a culture-based, coincubation assay for detecting and characterizing competitive interactions between two bacterial populations. This method employs stable plasmids that allow each population to be differentially tagged with distinct antibiotic resistance capabilities and fluorescent proteins for selection and visual discrimination of each population, respectively. Here, we describe the preparation and coincubation of competing Vibrio fischeri strains, fluorescence microscopy imaging, and quantitative data analysis. This approach is simple, yields quick results, and can be used to determine whether one population kills or inhibits the growth of another population, and whether competition is mediated through a diffusible molecule or requires direct cell-cell contact. Because each bacterial population expresses a different fluorescent protein, the assay permits the spatial discrimination of competing populations within a mixed colony. Although the described methods are performed with the symbiotic bacterium V. fischeri using conditions optimized for this species, the protocol can be adapted for most culturable bacterial isolates.}, } @article {pmid31380089, year = {2019}, author = {Roesel, CL and Vollmer, SV}, title = {Differential gene expression analysis of symbiotic and aposymbiotic Exaiptasia anemones under immune challenge with Vibrio coralliilyticus.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {14}, pages = {8279-8293}, pmid = {31380089}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Anthozoans are a class of Cnidarians that includes scleractinian corals, anemones, and their relatives. Despite a global rise in disease epizootics impacting scleractinian corals, little is known about the immune response of this key group of invertebrates. To better characterize the anthozoan immune response, we used the model anemone Exaiptasia pallida to explore the genetic links between the anthozoan-algal symbioses and immunity in a two-factor RNA-Seq experiment using both symbiotic and aposymbiotic (menthol-bleached) Exaiptasia pallida exposed to the bacterial pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus. Multivariate and univariate analyses of Exaiptasia gene expression demonstrated that exposure to live Vibrio coralliilyticus had strong and significant impacts on transcriptome-wide gene expression for both symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones, but we did not observe strong interactions between symbiotic state and Vibrio exposure. There were 4,164 significantly differentially expressed (DE) genes for Vibrio exposure, 1,114 DE genes for aposymbiosis, and 472 DE genes for the additive combinations of Vibrio and aposymbiosis. KEGG enrichment analyses identified 11 pathways-involved in immunity (5), transport and catabolism (4), and cell growth and death (2)-that were enriched due to both Vibrio and/or aposymbiosis. Immune pathways showing strongest differential expression included complement, coagulation, nucleotide-binding, and oligomerization domain (NOD), and Toll for Vibrio exposure and coagulation and apoptosis for aposymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31380084, year = {2019}, author = {Yoshida, K and Sanada-Morimura, S and Huang, SH and Tokuda, M}, title = {Influences of two coexisting endosymbionts, CI-inducing Wolbachia and male-killing Spiroplasma, on the performance of their host Laodelphax striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {14}, pages = {8214-8224}, pmid = {31380084}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is reported to have the endosymbiont Wolbachia, which shows a strong cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) between infected males and uninfected females. In the 2000s, female-biased L. striatellus populations were found in Taiwan, and this sex ratio distortion was the result of male-killing induced by the infection of another endosymbiont, Spiroplasma. Spiroplasma infection is considered to negatively affect both L. striatellus and Wolbachia because the male-killing halves the offspring of L. striatellus and hinders the spread of Wolbachia infection via CI. Spiroplasma could have traits that increase the fitness of infected L. striatellus and/or coexisting organisms because the coinfection rates of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma were rather high in some areas. In this study, we investigated the influences of the infection of these two endosymbionts on the development, reproduction, and insecticide resistance of L. striatellus in the laboratory. Our results show that the single-infection state of Spiroplasma had a negative influence on the fertility of L. striatellus, while the double-infection state had no significant influence. At late nymphal and adult stages, the abundance of Spiroplasma was lower in the double-infection state than in the single-infection state. In the double-infection state, the reduction of Spiroplasma density may be caused by competition between the two endosymbionts, and the negative influence of Spiroplasma on the fertility of host may be relieved. The resistance of L. striatellus to four insecticides was compared among different infection states of endosymbionts, but Spiroplasma infection did not contribute to increase insecticide resistance. Because positive influences of Spiroplasma infection were not found in terms of the development, reproduction, and insecticide resistance of L. striatellus, other factors improving the fitness of Spiroplasma-infected L. striatellus may be related to the high frequency of double infection in some L. striatellus populations.}, } @article {pmid31380068, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, W and Tanimura, A and Nagara, Y and Watanabe, T and Maegawa, S and Toyohara, H}, title = {Wetland environmental bioreactor system contributes to the decomposition of cellulose.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {14}, pages = {8013-8024}, pmid = {31380068}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Recently, numerous species of aquatic invertebrates inhabiting wetlands have been shown to possess endogenous cellulase, following the discovery that termites have cellulase genes encoded in their own genome rather than relying on symbiotic bacteria for decomposing cellulose. Wetlands have been empirically shown to play an important role in the decomposition of land-originating hard-to-degrade polysaccharides such as cellulose. However, the mechanism that connects the cellulase producer and the wetlands remains unknown, which makes it very difficult to evaluate the ecological function of wetlands. Here we found that a macrobenthic bivalve, Corbicula japonica, secretes its cellulase to the wetland sediment. Secreted cellulases are immobilized in the components of the sediment. Moreover, adding cellulose or glucose to C. japonica could trigger its cellulase secretion level. These findings suggest a novel wetland cellulose decomposition mechanism. The decomposition ability of wetlands was previously ascribed only to microbes and/or invertebrates that contain cellulases. Our findings suggest that benthic animals supply wetlands with their enzymes as decomposition agents, while wetland sediments serve as immobilization scaffolds for the enzymes. This system, which was named by us an "environmental bioreactor system," could provide a key function in wetlands.}, } @article {pmid31380028, year = {2019}, author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S and Robidas, C and Tran Thi, TV and Darbyshire, SJ}, title = {Invasive Galega officinalis (Goat's rue) plants in Canada form a symbiotic association with strains of Neorhizobium galegae sv. officinalis originating from the Old World.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {6999-7004}, pmid = {31380028}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The toxic legume plant, Galega officinalis, is native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. This legume is considered to be a noxious weed, and its establishment in Canada may have resulted from ornamental planting and/or field trials. In its native range, a highly specific nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the bacterium, Neorhizobium galegae symbiovar (sv.) officinalis, is required for normal growth. In North America, nothing is known about the bacterial symbionts of G. officinalis. Our purpose was to determine the species and symbiovar identity of symbiotic bacteria associated with invasive plants of G. officinalis at five sites in the province of Ontario, Canada. Sequence analysis of four housekeeping (16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, and recA) and two symbiosis (nodC and nifH) genes showed that all 50 bacterial isolates from root nodules of G. officinalis at the five Canadian sites were identical to strains of N. galegae sv. officinalis originating either from Europe or the Caucasus. Plant tests indicated that soils collected from four Canadian sites without a history of agriculture or presence of G. officinalis were deficient in symbiotic bacteria capable of eliciting nodules on this plant. Collectively our data support the hypothesis of anthropogenic co-introduction of G. officinalis and its specific symbiotic bacterium into Canada from the Old World. Factors that may limit the spread of G. officinalis in new environments are discussed.}, } @article {pmid31379768, year = {2019}, author = {Bai, L and Wang, L and Vega-Rodríguez, J and Wang, G and Wang, S}, title = {A Gut Symbiotic Bacterium Serratia marcescens Renders Mosquito Resistance to Plasmodium Infection Through Activation of Mosquito Immune Responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1580}, pmid = {31379768}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The malaria development in the mosquito midgut is a complex process that results in considerable parasite losses. The mosquito gut microbiota influences the outcome of pathogen infection in mosquitoes, but the underlying mechanisms through which gut symbiotic bacteria affect vector competence remain elusive. Here, we identified two Serratia strains (Y1 and J1) isolated from field-caught female Anopheles sinensis from China and assessed their effect on Plasmodium development in An. stephensi. Colonization of An. stephensi midgut by Serratia Y1 significantly renders the mosquito resistant to Plasmodium berghei infection, while Serratia J1 has no impact on parasite development. Parasite inhibition by Serratia Y1 is induced by the activation of the mosquito immune system. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis by RNA-seq shows a similar pattern of midgut gene expression in response to Serratia Y1 and J1 in sugar-fed mosquitoes. However, 24 h after blood ingestion, Serratia Y1 modulates more midgut genes than Serratia J1 including the c-type lectins (CTLs), CLIP serine proteases and other immune effectors. Furthermore, silencing of several Serratia Y1-induced anti-Plasmodium factors like the thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1), fibrinogen immunolectin 9 (FBN9) or leucine-rich repeat protein LRRD7 can rescue parasite oocyst development in the presence of Serratia Y1, suggesting that these factors modulate the Serratia Y1-mediated anti-Plasmodium effect. This study enhances our understanding of how gut bacteria influence mosquito-Plasmodium interactions.}, } @article {pmid31378447, year = {2019}, author = {Mishra, A and Medhi, K and Malaviya, P and Thakur, IS}, title = {Omics approaches for microalgal applications: Prospects and challenges.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {291}, number = {}, pages = {121890}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121890}, pmid = {31378447}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Animals ; Genomics/methods ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {In recent impetus of phycological research, microalgae have emerged as a potential candidate for various arena of application-driven research. Omics-based tactics are used for disentangling the regulation and network integration for biosynthesis/degradation of metabolic precursors, intermediates, end products, and identifying the networks that regulate the metabolic flux. Multi-omics coupled with data analytics have facilitated understanding of biological processes and allow ample access to diverse metabolic pathways utilized for genetic manipulations making microalgal factories more efficient. The present review discusses state-of-art "Algomics" and the prospect of microalgae and their role in symbiotic association by using omics approaches including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Microalgal based uni- and multi-omics approaches are critically analyzed in wastewater treatment, metal toxicity and remediation, biofuel production, and therapeutics to provide an imminent outlook for an array of environmentally sustainable and economically viable microalgal applications.}, } @article {pmid31378213, year = {2019}, author = {Hirt, RP}, title = {Mucosal microbial parasites/symbionts in health and disease: an integrative overview.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {146}, number = {9}, pages = {1109-1115}, pmid = {31378213}, issn = {1469-8161}, support = {045702//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 060068//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Mucous Membrane/immunology/*parasitology ; Parasitic Diseases/immunology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Zoonoses/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Microbial parasites adapted to thrive at mammalian mucosal surfaces have evolved multiple times from phylogenetically distant lineages into various extracellular and intracellular life styles. Their symbiotic relationships can range from commensalism to parasitism and more recently some host-parasites interactions are thought to have evolved into mutualistic associations too. It is increasingly appreciated that this diversity of symbiotic outcomes is the product of a complex network of parasites-microbiota-host interactions. Refinement and broader use of DNA based detection techniques are providing increasing evidence of how common some mucosal microbial parasites are and their host range, with some species being able to swap hosts, including from farm and pet animals to humans. A selection of examples will illustrate the zoonotic potential for a number of microbial parasites and how some species can be either disruptive or beneficial nodes in the complex networks of host-microbe interactions disrupting or maintaining mucosal homoeostasis. It will be argued that mucosal microbial parasitic diversity will represent an important resource to help us dissect through comparative studies the role of host-microbe interactions in both human health and disease.}, } @article {pmid31377982, year = {2019}, author = {González, CT and Saltonstall, K and Fernández-Marín, H}, title = {Garden microbiomes of Apterostigma dentigerum and Apterostigma pilosum fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {57}, number = {10}, pages = {842-851}, pmid = {31377982}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Gardens ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants share a complex symbiosis with microbes, including fungal mutualists, antibiotic-producing bacteria, and fungal pathogens. The bacterial communities associated with this symbiosis are poorly understood but likely play important roles in maintaining the health and function of fungal gardens. We studied bacterial communities in gardens of two Apterostigma species, A. dentigerum, and A. pilosum, using next-generation sequencing to evaluate differences between the two ant species, their veiled and no-veiled fungal garden types, and across three collection locations. We also compared different parts of nests to test for homogeneity within nests. Enterobacteriaceae dominated gardens of both species and common OTUs were shared across both species and nest types. However, differences in community diversity were detected between ant species, and in the communities of A. dentigerum veiled and no-veiled nests within sites. Apterostigma pilosum had a higher proportion of Phyllobacteriaceae and differed from A. dentigerum in the proportions of members of the order Clostridiales. Within A. dentigerum, nests with veiled and no-veiled fungus gardens had similar taxonomic profiles but differed in the relative abundance of some groups, with veiled gardens having more Rhodospirillaceae and Hyphomicrobiaceae, and no-veiled having more Xanthomonadaceae and certain genera in the Enterobacteriaceae C. However, bacterial communities in Apterostigma fungal gardens are highly conserved and resemble those of the nests of other attine ants with dominant taxa likely playing a role in biomass degradation and defense. Further work is required to understand and explain how bacterial community composition of fungus-growing nests is maintained.}, } @article {pmid31377102, year = {2019}, author = {Bailey, GF and Bilsky, AM and Rowland, MB and Poole, AZ}, title = {Characterization and expression of tyrosinase-like genes in the anemone Exaiptasia pallida as a function of health and symbiotic state.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {103459}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.103459}, pmid = {31377102}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/genetics/*immunology ; Sea Anemones/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral disease is a major threat to reef ecosystems and therefore, understanding the cellular pathways underlying disease progression and resistance is critical to mitigating future outbreaks. This study focused on tyrosinase-like proteins in cnidarians, which contribute to melanin synthesis, an invertebrate innate immune defense. Specifically, characterization and phylogenetic analysis of cnidarian tyrosinases were performed, and their role in symbiosis and a "mystery disease" in the anemone Exaiptasia pallida was investigated using qPCR. The results reveal a diversity of tyrosinase-like proteins in cnidarians that separate into two major clades on a phylogenetic tree, suggesting functional divergence. Two E. pallida sequences, Ep_Tyr1 and Ep_Tyr2, were further investigated, and qPCR results revealed no gene expression differences as a function of symbiotic state, but decreased expression in late disease stages. Overall this work provides evidence for the participation of tyrosinases in the cnidarian immune response.}, } @article {pmid31375492, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, Z and Huang, H and Qi, M and Wang, X and Adebanjo, OO and Lu, Z}, title = {Metabolite Cross-Feeding between Rhodococcus ruber YYL and Bacillus cereus MLY1 in the Biodegradation of Tetrahydrofuran under pH Stress.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {31375492}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacillus cereus/*metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Environmental Pollutants/metabolism ; Furans/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Microbial Interactions ; Rhodococcus/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Bacterial consortia are among the most basic units in the biodegradation of environmental pollutants. Pollutant-degrading strains frequently encounter different types of environmental stresses and must be able to survive with other bacteria present in the polluted environments. In this study, we proposed a noncontact interaction mode between a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-degrading strain, Rhodococcus ruber YYL, and a non-THF-degrading strain, Bacillus cereus MLY1. The metabolic interaction mechanism between strains YYL and MLY1 was explored through physiological and molecular studies and was further supported by the metabolic response profile of strain YYL, both monocultured and cocultured with strain MLY1 at the optimal pH (pH 8.3) and under pH stress (pH 7.0), through a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis. The results suggested that the coculture system resists pH stress in three ways: (i) strain MLY1 utilized acid metabolites and impacted the proportion of glutamine, resulting in an elevated intracellular pH of the system; (ii) strain MLY1 had the ability to degrade intermediates, thus alleviating the product inhibition of strain YYL; and (iii) strain MLY1 produced some essential micronutrients for strain YYL to aid the growth of this strain under pH stress, while strain YYL produced THF degradation intermediates for strain MLY1 as major nutrients. In addition, a metabolite cross-feeding interaction with respect to pollutant biodegradation is discussed.IMPORTANCERhodococcus species have been discovered in diverse environmental niches and can degrade numerous recalcitrant toxic pollutants. However, the pollutant degradation efficiency of these strains is severely reduced due to the complexity of environmental conditions and limitations in the growth of the pollutant-degrading microorganism. In our study, Bacillus cereus strain MLY1 exhibited strong stress resistance to adapt to various environments and improved the THF degradation efficiency of Rhodococcus ruber YYL by a metabolic cross-feeding interaction style to relieve the pH stress. These findings suggest that metabolite cross-feeding occurred in a complementary manner, allowing a pollutant-degrading strain to collaborate with a nondegrading strain in the biodegradation of various recalcitrant compounds. The study of metabolic exchanges is crucial to elucidate mechanisms by which degrading and symbiotic bacteria interact to survive environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid31375485, year = {2019}, author = {Cruz, LF and Menocal, O and Mantilla, J and Ibarra-Juarez, LA and Carrillo, D}, title = {Xyleborus volvulus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Biology and Fungal Associates.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {31375485}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Disease Vectors ; Female ; Florida ; Fungi/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Male ; Persea/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/microbiology ; Weevils/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The ambrosia beetle Xyleborus volvulus Fabricius has been reported as a potential vector of the plant pathogen Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva that is affecting avocado orchards in South Florida. In this study, we examined its life cycle, process of gallery formation, gallery structure, and fungal associates by rearing one generation on avocado sawdust medium under control conditions. The adult foundress excavated a vertical tunnel that constituted the main gallery with a length of 2.5 cm, followed by the construction of up to six secondary galleries with a total length of 4.4 cm. The time period for one generation (egg to adult) was 28 days. Teneral males emerged 3 days after the emergence of the first females. The F1 generation did not significantly contribute to gallery expansion. Four species of Raffaelea and nine yeast species were recovered from galleries and beetles. Raffaelea arxii and Candida berthetii were the most frequent symbionts recovered from new adults and galleries. Candida berthetii dominated during the early stages of the gallery development, whereas R. arxii was most frequent in later stages. Other Raffaelea species were inconsistently isolated from galleries, which suggests a strong association between Xyleborus volvulus and both R. arxii and C. berthetii These results suggest that R. arxii is the primary nutritional symbiont of X. volvulus and that yeast species may be pioneer colonizers that assist with the growth of fungal symbionts.IMPORTANCE Ambrosia beetles cultivate fungi in tunnels bored into weakened host trees. This obligate interaction is required for their survival as beetles feed on these symbiotic fungi, and the fungi benefit from transportation by the beetles. Xyleborus volvulus carries many nonpathogenic symbionts; however, recently the acquisition of Raffaelea lauricola (the causal agent of a lethal vascular disease of lauraceous trees) by this beetle has altered its status from wood degrader to potential pest in avocado. We conducted a study to understand the relationship of this beetle and its fungal associates. Our results show that X. volvulus has a multipartite flexible association with different Raffaelea species. The lack of fidelity in the mutualistic association may explain the acquisition of R. lauricola Knowing the beetle biology and its mutualistic interactions furthers an understanding of the beetle's role as a potential vector and in disease transmission.}, } @article {pmid31375484, year = {2019}, author = {Sun, YW and Li, Y and Hu, Y and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {Coordinated Regulation of the Size and Number of Polyhydroxybutyrate Granules by Core and Accessory Phasins in the Facultative Microsymbiont Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {31375484}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cytoplasmic Granules/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydroxybutyrates/*metabolism ; Plant Lectins/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Vigna/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The exact roles of various granule-associated proteins (GAPs) of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) are poorly investigated, particularly for bacteria associated with plants. In this study, four structural GAPs, named phasins PhaP1 to PhaP4, were identified and demonstrated as true phasins colocalized with PHB granules in Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234, a facultative microsymbiont of Vigna unguiculata and many other legumes. The conserved PhaP2 dominated in regulation of granule size under both free-living and symbiotic conditions. PhaP1, another conserved phasin, made a higher contribution than accessory phasins PhaP4 and PhaP3 to PHB biosynthesis at stationary phase. PhaP3, with limited phyletic distribution on the symbiosis plasmid of Sinorhizobium, was more important than PhaP1 in regulating PHB biosynthesis in V. unguiculata nodules. Under the test conditions, no significant symbiotic defects were observed for mutants lacking individual or multiple phaP genes. The mutant lacking two PHB synthases showed impaired symbiotic performance, while mutations in individual PHB synthases or a PHB depolymerase yielded no symbiotic defects. This phenomenon is not related to either the number or size of PHB granules in test mutants within nodules. Distinct metabolic profiles and cocktail pools of GAPs of different phaP mutants imply that core and accessory phasins can be differentially involved in regulating other cellular processes in the facultative microsymbiont S. fredii NGR234.IMPORTANCE Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) granules are a store of carbon and energy in bacteria and archaea and play an important role in stress adaptation. Recent studies have highlighted distinct roles of several granule-associated proteins (GAPs) in regulating the size, number, and localization of PHB granules in free-living bacteria, though our knowledge of the role of GAPs in bacteria associated with plants is still limited. Here we report distinct roles of core and accessory phasins associated with PHB granules of Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234, a broad-host-range microsymbiont of diverse legumes. Core phasins PhaP2 and PhaP1 are conserved major phasins in free-living cells. PhaP2 and accessory phasin PhaP3, encoded by an auxiliary gene on the symbiosis plasmid, are major phasins in nitrogen-fixing bacteroids in cowpea nodules. GAPs and metabolic profiles can vary in different phaP mutants. Contrasting symbiotic performances between mutants lacking PHB synthases, depolymerase, or phasins were revealed.}, } @article {pmid31375436, year = {2020}, author = {Kajla, MK}, title = {Symbiotic Bacteria as Potential Agents for Mosquito Control.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {4-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2019.07.003}, pmid = {31375436}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/microbiology ; Insecticides/*metabolism ; *Mosquito Control ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species are symbiotic bacteria of the insect-pathogenic soil nematodes that produce insecticidal compounds lethal to prey insects. Recently, there has been much interest in adapting these insecticidals for mosquito control. Here, I advocate the potential of Xenorhabdus/Photorhabdus as natural sources of mosquitocides (larvicides, adulticides) and feeding-deterrents.}, } @article {pmid31373843, year = {2019}, author = {Stern, Z and Stylianou, DC and Kostrikis, LG}, title = {The development of inovirus-associated vector vaccines using phage-display technologies.}, journal = {Expert review of vaccines}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {913-920}, pmid = {31373843}, issn = {1744-8395}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Surface Display Techniques/*methods ; Drug Design ; Epitopes/immunology ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Inovirus/*immunology ; Peptides ; Viral Vaccines/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Introduction: Inovirus-associated vectors (IAVs) are derived from bacterial filamentous viruses (phages). As vaccine carriers, they have elicited both cellular and humoral responses against a variety of pathogens causing infectious diseases and other non-infectious diseases. By displaying specific antigen epitopes or proteins on their coat proteins, IAVs have merited much study, as their unique abilities are exploited for widespread vaccine development. Areas covered: The architectural traits of filamentous viruses and their derivatives, IAVs, facilitate the display of specific antigenic peptides which induce antibody production to prevent or curtail infection. Inoviruses provide a foundation for cost-efficient large-scale specific phage display. In this paper, the development of different applications of inovirus-based phage display vaccines across a broad range of pathogens and hosts is reviewed. The references cited in this review were selected from established databases based on the authors' knowledge of the study subject. Expert commentary: The importance of phage-display technology has been recently highlighted by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018 awarded to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter. Furthermore, the symbiotic nature of filamentous viruses infecting intestinal F[+]E. coli strains offers an attractive platform for the development of novel vaccines that stimulate mucosal immunity.}, } @article {pmid31373013, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, W and Yuan, J and Cheng, T and Tang, MJ and Sun, K and Song, SL and Xu, FJ and Dai, CC}, title = {Flowering-mediated root-fungus symbiosis loss is related to jasmonate-dependent root soluble sugar deprivation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {12}, pages = {3208-3226}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13636}, pmid = {31373013}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/microbiology ; Ascomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Biological Transport ; Circadian Rhythm/physiology ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Flowers/*physiology ; Fructose/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Phloem/metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Solubility ; Sugars/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; beta-Fructofuranosidase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The role of flowering in root-fungal symbiosis is not well understood. Because flowering and fungal symbionts are supported by carbohydrates, we hypothesized that flowering modulates root-beneficial fungal associations through alterations in carbohydrate metabolism and transport. We monitored fungal colonization and soluble sugars in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana following inoculation with a mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari across different plant developmental stages. Jasmonate signalling of wild-type plants, sugar transport, and root invertase of wild-type and jasmonate-insensitive plants were exploited to assess whether and how jasmonate-dependent sugar dynamics are involved in flowering-mediated fungal colonization alterations. We found that flowering restricts root-fungal colonization and activates root jasmonate signalling upon fungal inoculation. Jasmonates reduce the constitutive and fungus-induced accumulation of root glucose and fructose at the flowering stage. Further experiments with sugar transport and metabolism mutant lines revealed that root glucose and fructose positively influence fungal colonization. Diurnal, jasmonate-dependent inhibitions of sugar transport and soluble invertase activity were identified as likely mechanisms for flowering-mediated root sugar depletion upon fungal inoculation. Collectively, our results reveal that flowering drives root-fungus cooperation loss, which is related to jasmonate-dependent root soluble sugar depletion. Limiting the spread of root-fungal colonization may direct more resources to flower development.}, } @article {pmid31372335, year = {2019}, author = {McElwain, A and Warren, MB and Pereira, FB and Ksepka, SP and Bullard, SA}, title = {Pathobiology and first report of larval nematodes (Ascaridomorpha sp.) infecting freshwater mussels (Villosa nebulosa, Unionidae), including an inventory of nematode infections in freshwater and marine bivalves.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {41-58}, pmid = {31372335}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {Little information is available on host-parasite relationships between bivalves and larval nematodes. Herein, we describe nematode larvae (likely stage 2) in the infraorder Ascaridomorpha infecting the foot, intestine, and mantle of a freshwater mussel (Alabama rainbow, Villosa nebulosa [Conrad, 1834]) and detail histopathological changes to infected tissues. A total of 43 live mussels from the South Fork of Terrapin Creek, Alabama, were collected between 2010 and 2014, with 14 sectioned for histopathology and 29 dissected. Of the 14 sectioned mussels, 5 appeared to be uninfected, and 7, 1, and 1 had histozoic infections observed in the foot and intestine, intestine only, and mantle edge and foot, respectively. Twenty-three of 29 (79%) of the mussels dissected were infected by live nematodes, and mean nematode abundance was 8.3 (CL = 5.23-13), with 2 mussels infected with >100 nematodes each. Thus, with a total of 32 of the 43 collected mussels observed with nematodes, overall infection prevalence was 74.4% (CL = 0.594-0.855). The 18S rDNA of this nematode was 99% similar to that of several ascaridids (species of Kathlaniidae Lane, 1914 and Quimperiidae Baylis, 1930) that mature in aquatic/semi-aquatic vertebrates; the recovered 18S phylogenetic tree indicated this nematode from V. nebulosa shares a recent common ancestor with Ichthyobronema hamulatum (Ascaridomorpha: Quimperiidae; GenBank Accession Number KY476351). Pathological changes to tissue associated with these infections comprised focal tissue damage, but a cellular response was not evident. The Alabama rainbow possibly represents an intermediate or paratenic host. Given these results, the nematode is likely not pathogenic under normal stream conditions; however, high intensity infections in the foot could inhibit pedal extension and retraction; which would have demonstrable health consequences to a freshwater mussel. Based on our review of the bivalve mollusc parasite literature, a collective biodiversity of 61 nematodes reportedly exhibit some degree of symbiosis (from commensal to parasitic) with 21 bivalves (28 nematode spp. from 17 marine bivalve spp.; 33 nematode spp. from 4 freshwater bivalve spp.); only four records exist of putatively parasitic nematodes from Unionida. The present study represents the first description of a nematode species that invades the tissues of a Unionidae species.}, } @article {pmid31371739, year = {2019}, author = {Ullah, I and Magdy, M and Wang, L and Liu, M and Li, X}, title = {Genome-wide identification and evolutionary analysis of TGA transcription factors in soybean.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {11186}, pmid = {31371739}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Autophagy/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Components, Aerial/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gain of function in genes and gene families is a continuous process and is a key factor in understanding gene and genome evolution in plants. TGACG-Binding (TGA) transcription factors (TFs) have long been known for their essential roles in plant defence in Arabidopsis, but their roles in legume symbiosis are yet to be explored. Here, we identified a total of 25 TGA (named GmTGA1-GmTGA25) genes in soybean. Through phylogenetic analysis, we discovered a clade of GmTGA proteins that appear to be legume-specific. Among them, two GmTGAs were unique by possessing the autophagy sequence in their proteins, while the third one was an orphan gene in soybean. GmTGAs were structurally different from AtTGAs, and their expression patterns also differed with the dominant expression of AtTGAs and GmTGAs in aerial and underground parts, respectively. Moreover, twenty-five GmTGAs showed a strong correlation among the gene expression in roots, nodules, and root hairs. The qRT-PCR analysis results revealed that among 15 tested GmTGAs, six were induced and four were suppressed by rhizobia inoculation, while 11 of these GmTGAs were induced by high nitrate. Our findings suggested the important roles of GmTGAs in symbiotic nodulation and in response to nitrogen availability in soybean.}, } @article {pmid31369894, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, W and Zhang, D and Cai, X and Xia, L and Luo, Y and Cheng, X and An, S}, title = {Significant alterations in soil fungal communities along a chronosequence of Spartina alterniflora invasion in a Chinese Yellow Sea coastal wetland.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {693}, number = {}, pages = {133548}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.354}, pmid = {31369894}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon ; China ; *Introduced Species ; Microbiota ; Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Plants ; Poaceae/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Plant invasion typically alters the microbial communities of soils, which affects ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles. The responses of the soil fungal communities to plant invasion along its chronosequence remain poorly understood. For this study, we investigated variations in soil fungal communities through Illumina MiSeq sequencing analyses of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), along a chronosequence (i.e., 9-, 13-, 20- and 23-year-old) of invasive Spartina alterniflora. We compared these variations with those of bare flat in a Chinese Yellow Sea coastal wetland. Our results highlighted that the abundance of soil fungi, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), species richness, and Shannon diversity indices for soil fungal communities were highest in 9-year-old S. alterniflora soil, which gradually declined along the invasion chronosequence. The relative abundance of copiotrophic Basidiomycota revealed significant decreasing trend, while the relative abundance of oligotrophic Ascomycota gradually increased along the S. alterniflora invasion chronosequence. The relative abundance of soil saprotrophic fungi (e.g., undefined saprotrophs) was gradually reduced while symbiotic fungi (e.g., ectomycorrhizal fungi) and pathotrophic fungi (e.g., plant and animal pathogens) progressively increased along the S. alterniflora invasion chronosequence. Our results suggested that S. alterniflora invasion significantly altered soil fungal abundance and diversity, community composition, trophic modes, and functional groups along a chronosequence, via substantially reduced soil litter inputs, and gradually decreased soil pH, moisture, and soil nutrient substrates along the invasion chronosequence, from 9 to 23 years. These changes in soil fungal communities, particularly their trophic modes and functional groups along the S. alterniflora invasion chronosequence could well impact the decomposition and accumulation of soil C and N, while potentially altering ecosystem C and N sinks in a Chinese Yellow Sea coastal wetland.}, } @article {pmid31368540, year = {2019}, author = {Pereira, J and Simões, M and Silva, JL}, title = {Microalgal assimilation of vitamin B12 toward the production of a superfood.}, journal = {Journal of food biochemistry}, volume = {43}, number = {8}, pages = {e12911}, doi = {10.1111/jfbc.12911}, pmid = {31368540}, issn = {1745-4514}, mesh = {Animals ; Food Technology ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Vitamin B 12/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A network of components from different metabolic pathways is the building scaffold of an indispensable compound in the human organism-vitamin B12 . The biosynthesis of this compound is restricted to a limited number of representatives of bacteria and archaea, while vitamin B12 -dependent enzymes are spread through several domains of life. Different attempts have been performed to increase vitamin B12 levels in dietary products, particularly in vegetarian and vegan dietary regimes. The integration of vitamin B12 in microalgae through symbiosis with microorganisms generally recognized as safe, for example the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri, can even increase the nutritional value of the microalgal biomass. This study reviews the microbial production of vitamin B12 based on genetic analyses and chemical studies. Recent genetic approaches are focused, particularly potential metabolic engineering targets to increase vitamin B12 production. The bioincorporation of vitamin B12 in microalgae as an attempt to provide a superfood is also reviewed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Novel food habits (i.e., vegan lifestyle) may lack relevant nutrients, including vitamin B12 . Therefore, there is an increased demand for dietary products rich in vitamin B12 . Of potential interest is the provision of microbial-based superfood rich in numerous nutrients, including this vitamin. This manuscript provides an in-depth and timely overview on vitamin B12 biosynthesis and the major advances on metabolic engineering for improved vitamin B12 production by probiotic bacteria and other microorganisms generally recognized as safe. A relevant advance would result from the bioincorporation of vitamin B12 in alternative microorganisms (non-vitamin B12 producers) increasingly recognized as superfood, that is microalgae.}, } @article {pmid31368478, year = {2019}, author = {Nguyen, TV and Wibberg, D and Vigil-Stenman, T and Berckx, F and Battenberg, K and Demchenko, KN and Blom, J and Fernandez, MP and Yamanaka, T and Berry, AM and Kalinowski, J and Brachmann, A and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Frankia-Enriched Metagenomes from the Earliest Diverging Symbiotic Frankia Cluster: They Come in Teams.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {2273-2291}, pmid = {31368478}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Frankia/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Frankia strains induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on roots of actinorhizal plants. Phylogenetically, Frankia strains can be grouped in four clusters. The earliest divergent cluster, cluster-2, has a particularly wide host range. The analysis of cluster-2 strains has been hampered by the fact that with two exceptions, they could never be cultured. In this study, 12 Frankia-enriched metagenomes of Frankia cluster-2 strains or strain assemblages were sequenced based on seven inoculum sources. Sequences obtained via DNA isolated from whole nodules were compared with those of DNA isolated from fractionated preparations enhanced in the Frankia symbiotic structures. The results show that cluster-2 inocula represent groups of strains, and that strains not represented in symbiotic structures, that is, unable to perform symbiotic nitrogen fixation, may still be able to colonize nodules. Transposase gene abundance was compared in the different Frankia-enriched metagenomes with the result that North American strains contain more transposase genes than Eurasian strains. An analysis of the evolution and distribution of the host plants indicated that bursts of transposition may have coincided with niche competition with other cluster-2 Frankia strains. The first genome of an inoculum from the Southern Hemisphere, obtained from nodules of Coriaria papuana in Papua New Guinea, represents a novel species, postulated as Candidatus Frankia meridionalis. All Frankia-enriched metagenomes obtained in this study contained homologs of the canonical nod genes nodABC; the North American genomes also contained the sulfotransferase gene nodH, while the genome from the Southern Hemisphere only contained nodC and a truncated copy of nodB.}, } @article {pmid31361937, year = {2020}, author = {Li, X and Wang, H and Tong, W and Feng, L and Wang, L and Rahman, SU and Wei, G and Tao, S}, title = {Exploring the evolutionary dynamics of Rhizobium plasmids through bipartite network analysis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {934-951}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14762}, pmid = {31361937}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {31771474//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 41830755//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genus Rhizobium usually has a multipartite genome architecture with a chromosome and several plasmids, making these bacteria a perfect candidate for plasmid biology studies. As there are no universally shared genes among typical plasmids, network analyses can complement traditional phylogenetics in a broad-scale study of plasmid evolution. Here, we present an exhaustive analysis of 216 plasmids from 49 complete genomes of Rhizobium by constructing a bipartite network that consists of two classes of nodes, the plasmids and homologous protein families that connect them. Dissection of the network using a hierarchical clustering strategy reveals extensive variety, with 34 homologous plasmid clusters. Four large clusters including one cluster of symbiotic plasmids and two clusters of chromids carrying some truly essential genes are widely distributed among Rhizobium. In contrast, the other clusters are quite small and rare. Symbiotic clusters and rare accessory clusters are exogenetic and do not appear to have co-evolved with the common accessory clusters; the latter ones have a large coding potential and functional complementarity for different lifestyles in Rhizobium. The bipartite network also provides preliminary evidence of Rhizobium plasmid variation and formation including genetic exchange, plasmid fusion and fission, exogenetic plasmid transfer, host plant selection, and environmental adaptation.}, } @article {pmid31359038, year = {2019}, author = {Kashkouli, M and Fathipour, Y and Mehrabadi, M}, title = {Heritable Gammaproteobacterial Symbiont Improves the Fitness of Brachynema germari Kolenati (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {48}, number = {5}, pages = {1079-1087}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvz089}, pmid = {31359038}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Hemiptera ; *Heteroptera ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Ovum ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The pistachio green stink bug, Brachynema germari Kolenati, is an abundant and economic insect pest in most pistachio-growing regions. Some physiological and ecological features of this pest have been studied, but the microbiological nature of symbiotic bacteria and biological aspects of this host-symbiont interaction have been poorly understood. In the present study, we explored the host-associated environment, phylogeny, and acquisition features of the bacterial symbiont of the insect. Furthermore, the importance of the symbiont on the biological (i.e., lifespan, stage composition, and body weight) and behavioral characteristics (i.e., resting/wandering behaviors of the newborn nymphs) of the host were investigated. We found that a rod-shaped gammaproteobacterium was persistently colonized the fourth midgut region of the insect. Molecular phylogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses strongly suggest that this symbiont should be placed in the genus Pantoea of the Enterobacteriales. Egg surface sterilization resulted in the aposymbiotic insects suggesting the vertical transmission of symbiont via egg surface smearing upon oviposition. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic B. germari showed no significant differences in the wandering behaviors of the first nymphal stages, whereas the symbiont-free insects exhibited retarded growth, lower longevity, and adult body weight. Taken together, these data provide a better understanding of the relationship between the bacterial symbiont and B. germari and demonstrate that the insect is heavily affected by the deprival of its gut symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31357928, year = {2019}, author = {Ogier, JC and Pagès, S and Galan, M and Barret, M and Gaudriault, S}, title = {rpoB, a promising marker for analyzing the diversity of bacterial communities by amplicon sequencing.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {171}, pmid = {31357928}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification ; DNA, Bacterial ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/genetics ; Genes, Essential ; *Genetic Markers ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbiome composition is frequently studied by the amplification and high-throughput sequencing of specific molecular markers (metabarcoding). Various hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene are classically used to estimate bacterial diversity, but other universal bacterial markers with a finer taxonomic resolution could be employed. We compared specificity and sensitivity between a portion of the rpoB gene and the V3 V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS: We first designed universal primers for rpoB suitable for use with Illumina sequencing-based technology and constructed a reference rpoB database of 45,000 sequences. The rpoB and V3 V4 markers were amplified and sequenced from (i) a mock community of 19 bacterial strains from both Gram-negative and Gram-positive lineages; (ii) bacterial assemblages associated with entomopathogenic nematodes. In metabarcoding analyses of mock communities with two analytical pipelines (FROGS and DADA2), the estimated diversity captured with the rpoB marker resembled the expected composition of these mock communities more closely than that captured with V3 V4. The rpoB marker had a higher level of taxonomic affiliation, a higher sensitivity (detection of all the species present in the mock communities), and a higher specificity (low rates of spurious OTU detection) than V3 V4. We compared the performance of the rpoB and V3 V4 markers in an animal ecosystem model, the infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema glaseri carrying the symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus poinarii. Both markers showed the bacterial community associated with this nematode to be of low diversity (< 50 OTUs), but only rpoB reliably detected the symbiotic bacterium X. poinarii.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that different microbiota composition data may be obtained with different markers. We found that rpoB was a highly appropriate marker for assessing the taxonomic structure of mock communities and the nematode microbiota. Further studies on other ecosystems should be considered to evaluate the universal usefulness of the rpoB marker. Our data highlight two crucial elements that should be taken into account to ensure more reliable and accurate descriptions of microbial diversity in high-throughput amplicon sequencing analyses: i) the need to include mock communities as controls; ii) the advantages of using a multigenic approach including at least one housekeeping gene (rpoB is a good candidate) and one variable region of the 16S rRNA gene. This study will be useful to the growing scientific community describing bacterial communities by metabarcoding in diverse ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31355948, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Rubio, MC and Xin, X and Zhang, B and Fan, Q and Wang, Q and Ning, G and Becana, M and Duanmu, D}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of leghemoglobin genes in Lotus japonicus uncovers their synergistic roles in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {224}, number = {2}, pages = {818-832}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16077}, pmid = {31355948}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/*physiology ; Isoenzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Leghemoglobin/*genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; }, abstract = {Legume nodules contain high concentrations of leghemoglobins (Lbs) encoded by several genes. The reason for this multiplicity is unknown. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to generate stable mutants of the three Lbs of Lotus japonicus. The phenotypes were characterized at the physiological, biochemical and molecular levels. Nodules of the triple mutants were examined by electron microscopy and subjected to RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Complementation studies revealed that Lbs function synergistically to maintain optimal N2 fixation. The nodules of the triple mutants overproduced superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, which was probably linked to activation of NADPH oxidases and changes in superoxide dismutase isoforms expression. The mutant nodules showed major ultrastructural alterations, including vacuolization, accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and disruption of mitochondria. RNA-seq of c. 20 000 genes revealed significant changes in expression of carbon and nitrogen metabolism genes, transcription factors, and proteinases. Lb-deficient nodules had c. 30-50-fold less heme but similar transcript levels of heme biosynthetic genes, suggesting a post-translational regulatory mechanism of heme synthesis. We conclude that Lbs act additively in nodules and that the lack of Lbs results in early nodule senescence. Our observations also provide insight into the reprogramming of the gene expression network associated with Lb deficiency, probably as a result of uncontrolled intracellular free O2 concentration.}, } @article {pmid31354772, year = {2019}, author = {Li, X and He, XL and Zhou, Y and Hou, YT and Zuo, YL}, title = {Effects of Dark Septate Endophytes on the Performance of Hedysarum scoparium Under Water Deficit Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {903}, pmid = {31354772}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Hedysarum scoparium, a species characterized by rapid growth and high drought resistance, has been used widely for vegetative restoration of arid regions in Northwest China that are prone to desertification. Desert soil is typically deficient in available water and the alleviation of drought stress to host plants by endophytes could be an efficient strategy to increase the success of desert restoration. With the objective to seek more beneficial symbionts that can be used in the revegetation strategies, we addressed the question whether H. scoparium can benefit from inoculation by dark septate endophytes (DSEs) isolated from other desert plants. We investigated the influences of four non-host DSE strains (Phialophora sp., Knufia sp., Leptosphaeria sp., and Embellisia chlamydospora) isolated from other desert plants on the performance of H. scoparium under different soil water conditions. Differences in plant performance, such as plant growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous concentration under all the treatments, were examined. Four DSE strains could colonize the roots of H. scoparium successfully, and they established a positive symbiosis with the host plants depending on DSE species and water availability. The greatest benefits of DSE inoculation occurred in water stress treatment. Specifically, Phialophora sp. and Leptosphaeria sp. improved the root biomass, total biomass, nutrient concentration, and antioxidant enzyme activities of host plants under water deficit conditions. These data contribute to the understanding of the ecological function of DSE fungi in drylands.}, } @article {pmid31354767, year = {2019}, author = {Wilkinson, TDJ and Miranda, JP and Ferrari, J and Hartley, SE and Hodge, A}, title = {Aphids Influence Soil Fungal Communities in Conventional Agricultural Systems.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {895}, pmid = {31354767}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with the roots of most plant species, including cereals. AMF can increase the uptake of nutrients including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and of silicon (Si) as well as increase host resistance to various stresses. Plants can simultaneously interact with above-ground insect herbivores such as aphids, which can alter the proportion of plant roots colonized by AMF. However, it is unknown if aphids impact the structure of AMF communities colonizing plants or the extent of the extraradical mycelium produced in the soil, both of which can influence the defensive and nutritional benefit a plant derives from the symbiosis. This study investigated the effect of aphids on the plant-AMF interaction in a conventionally managed agricultural system. As plants also interact with other soil fungi, the non-AMF fungal community was also investigated. We hypothesized that aphids would depress plant growth, and reduce intraradical AMF colonization, soil fungal hyphal density and the diversity of AM and non-AM fungal communities. To test the effects of aphids, field plots of barley enclosed with insect proof cages were inoculated with Sitobion avenae or remained uninoculated. AMF specific and total fungal amplicon sequencing assessed root fungal communities 46 days after aphid addition. Aphids did not impact above-ground plant biomass, but did increase the grain N:P ratio. Whilst aphid presence had no impact on AMF intraradical colonization, soil fungal hyphal length density, or AMF community characteristics, there was a trend for the aphid treatment to increase vesicle numbers and the relative abundance of the AMF family Gigasporaceae. Contrary to expectations, the aphid treatment also increased the evenness of the total fungal community. This suggests that aphids can influence soil communities in conventional arable systems, a result that could have implications for multitrophic feedback loops between crop pests and soil organisms across the above-below-ground interface.}, } @article {pmid31354674, year = {2019}, author = {Bomberg, M and Claesson Liljedahl, L and Lamminmäki, T and Kontula, A}, title = {Highly Diverse Aquatic Microbial Communities Separated by Permafrost in Greenland Show Distinct Features According to Environmental Niches.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1583}, pmid = {31354674}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Greenland Analog Project (GAP) study area in the vicinity of Kangarlussuaq, Western Greenland, was sampled for surface water and deep groundwater in order to determine the composition and estimate the metabolic features of the microbial communities in water bodies separated by permafrost. The sampling sites comprised a freshwater pond, talik lake, deep anoxic groundwater, glacier ice and supraglacial river, meltwater river and melting permafrost active layer. The microbial communities were characterized by amplicon sequencing of the bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS1 spacer. In addition, bacterial, archaeal and fungal numbers were determined by qPCR and plate counts, and the utilization pattern of carbon and nitrogen substrates was determined with Biolog AN plates and metabolic functions were predicted with FAPROTAX. Different sample types were clearly distinguishable from each other based on community composition, microbial numbers, and substrate utilization patterns, forming four groups, (1) pond/lake, (2) deep groundwater, (3) glacial ice, and (4) meltwater. Bacteria were the most abundant microbial domain, ranging from 0.2-1.4 × 10[7] 16S rRNA gene copies mL[-1] in pond/lake and meltwater, 0.1-7.8 × 10[6] copies mL[-1] in groundwater and less than 10[4] copies mL[-1] in ice. The number of archaeal 16S and fungal 5.8S rRNA genes was generally less than 6.0 × 10[3] and 1.5 × 10[3], respectively. N2-fixing and methane-oxidizing Actinomycetes, Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia were the dominant microorganisms in the pond/lake samples, whereas iron reducing Desulfosporosinus sp. dominated the deep anaerobic groundwater. The glacial ice was inhabited by Cyanobacteria, which were mostly Chloroplast-like. The meltwater contained methano- and methylotrophic Proteobacteria, but had also high relative abundances of the nano-sized Parcubacteria. The archaea composed approximately 1% of the 16S rRNA gene pool in the pond/lake samples with nano-sized Woesearchaeota as the dominating taxon, while in the other sample types archaea were almost negligent. Fungi were also most common in the pond/lake communities, were zoospore-forming Chytridiomycetes dominated. Our results show highly diverse microbial communities inhabiting the different cold Greenlandic aqueous environments and show clear segregation of the microbial communities according to habitat, with distinctive dominating metabolic features specifically inhabiting defined environmental niches and a high relative abundance of putatively parasitic or symbiotic nano-sized taxa.}, } @article {pmid31352211, year = {2019}, author = {Xu, H and Shao, H and Lu, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and related soil microbial activity drive carbon mineralization in the maize rhizosphere.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {109476}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109476}, pmid = {31352211}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Zea mays/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {This research is aimed to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi on soil microbial activity and carbon mineralization in the maize rhizosphere under potted condition. Glomus etunicatum was used for our experiment. Results showed that AM symbiosis increased the levels of microorganism in the maize rhizosphere soil, and enhanced activity of soil microbial enzymes. After inoculating AM fungi, the contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and readily oxidizable carbon (ROC) in the rhizosphere soil of maize increased with varying degrees. We obtained strong evidence that higher contents of MBC, DOC, ROC, superior number of microbes and stronger soil enzyme activities could be responsible for the higher rate of carbon mineralization in AM fungi treatment. AM fungi inoculation was confirmed to be effective to improve the soil quality for larger-scale ecoengineering.}, } @article {pmid31351601, year = {2019}, author = {Antoniou, NA and Zorpas, AA}, title = {Quality protocol and procedure development to define end-of-waste criteria for tire pyrolysis oil in the framework of circular economy strategy.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {95}, number = {}, pages = {161-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2019.05.035}, pmid = {31351601}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {Construction Materials ; *Incineration ; *Pyrolysis ; }, abstract = {The requirements to define End-of-Waste Criteria (EWC) were set in the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), Article 6 and the detailed data collected are considered to be the baseline for the elaboration of the operational EWC through several steps. Such waste stream (which is produced from End of Life Tires-ELT) could be a valuable source for energy recovery and can be used on a pan-European basis as an alternative fuel, for co-incineration in cement plants or furthermore in internal compunctions engines. The exploration for sustainable energy is one of the most dynamic areas of research currently. This study aims to investigate the ability to manage and exploit the energy content of Tire Pyrolysis Oil (TPO), through pyrolysis technology as incineration/co-incineration technology for ELTs presents significant environmental issues. However, TPO, must be declassified from waste in order to be able to be use as an alternative fuel in internal combustion engines for power generation participating in the loop of circular economy and industrial symbiosis. This paper focus on the development of a Quality Protocol (QP) and the procedure how to develop EWC for the declassification of TPO in order to replace Light Fuel Oil (LFO).}, } @article {pmid31351186, year = {2019}, author = {Lebovitz, Y and Kowalski, EA and Wang, X and Kelly, C and Lee, M and McDonald, V and Ward, R and Creasey, M and Mills, W and Gudenschwager Basso, EK and Hazy, A and Hrubec, T and Theus, MH}, title = {Lactobacillus rescues postnatal neurobehavioral and microglial dysfunction in a model of maternal microbiome dysbiosis.}, journal = {Brain, behavior, and immunity}, volume = {81}, number = {}, pages = {617-629}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbi.2019.07.025}, pmid = {31351186}, issn = {1090-2139}, mesh = {Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/microbiology ; CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism ; Lactobacillus/*metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Microglia/physiology ; Neurodevelopmental Disorders/*microbiology ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism/microbiology ; Pregnancy ; Social Behavior ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Increasing reports of pregnancy events leading to maternal microbiome dysbiosis (MMD) show strong correlates with atypical neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the mechanism(s) driving microbiome-mediated behavioral dysfunction in offspring remain understudied. Here, we demonstrate the presence of a novel gut commensal bacterium strain, Lactobacillus murinus HU-1, was sufficient to rescue behavioral deficits and brain region-specific microglial activationobserved in MMD-reared murine offspring. We furtheridentified a postnatal window of susceptibility that could prevent social impairments with timed maternal administration of the symbiotic bacterium. Moreover, MMD increased expression of microglial senescence genes, Trp53 and Il1β, and Cx3cr1 protein in the prefrontal cortex, which correlated with dysfunctional modeling of synapses and accompanied dysbiosis-induced microglial activation. MMD male offspring harboring Lactobacillus murinus HU-1 or lacking Cx3cr1 showed amelioration of these effects. The current study describes a new avenue of influence by which maternally transferred Lactobacillus drives proper development of social behavior in the offspring through microglia-specific regulation of Cx3cr1 signaling.}, } @article {pmid31349995, year = {2019}, author = {Bouhnik, O and ElFaik, S and Alami, S and Talbi, C and Lamin, H and Abdelmoumen, H and Tortosa Muñoz, G and J Bedmar, E and Missbah El Idrissi, M}, title = {Ensifer fredii symbiovar vachelliae nodulates endemic Vachellia gummifera in semiarid Moroccan areas.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {125999}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.06.004}, pmid = {31349995}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Host Specificity ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/*classification/genetics/growth & development ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The purpose of this work was to study the genetic diversity of the nodule-forming bacteria associated with native populations of Vachellia gummifera growing wild in Morocco. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences from three selected strains, following ARDRA and REP-PCR results, revealed they were members of the genus Ensifer and the sequencing of the housekeeping genes recA, gyrB, dnaK and rpoB, and their concatenated phylogenetic analysis, showed that the 3 strains belong to the species E. fredii. Based on the nodC and nodA phylogenies, the 3 strains clearly diverged from the type and other reference strains of E. fredii and formed a clearly separated cluster. The strains AGA1, AGA2 and AGB23 did not form nodules on Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris and Medicago truncatula, and effectively nodulated V. gummifera, Acacia cyanophylla, Prosopis chilensis and Leucaena leucocephala. Based on similarities of the nodC and nodA symbiotic genes and differences in the host range, the strains isolated from Moroccan endemic V. gummifera may form a different symbiovar within Ensifer species, for which the name "vachelliae" is proposed.}, } @article {pmid31348534, year = {2019}, author = {Song, Y and Wang, M and Zeng, R and Groten, K and Baldwin, IT}, title = {Priming and filtering of antiherbivore defences among Nicotiana attenuata plants connected by mycorrhizal networks.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {11}, pages = {2945-2961}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13626}, pmid = {31348534}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {293926/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Diterpenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycosides/metabolism ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Isoleucine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Manduca/parasitology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tobacco/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic associations with a majority of terrestrial plants to form underground common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that connect neighbouring plants. Because Nicotiana attenuata plants do not respond to herbivory-elicited volatiles from neighbours, we used this ecological model system to evaluate if CMNs function in interplant transmission of herbivory-elicited responses. A mesocosm system was designed to establish and remove CMNs linking N. attenuata plants to examine the herbivory-elicited metabolic and hormone responses in CMNs-connected "receiver" plants after the elicitation of "donor" plants by wounding (W) treated with Manduca sexta larval oral secretions (OS). AMF colonization increased constitutive jasmonate (JA and JA-Ile) levels in N. attenuata roots but did not affect well-characterized JAs-regulated defensive metabolites in systemic leaves. Interestingly, larger JAs bursts, and higher levels of several amino acids and particular sectors of hydroxygeranyllinalool diterpene glycoside metabolism were elevated in the leaves of W + OS-elicited "receivers" with CMN connections with "donors" that had been W + OS-elicited 6 hr previously. Our results demonstrate that AMF colonization alone does not enhance systemic defence responses but that sectors of systemic responses in leaves can be primed by CMNs, suggesting that CMNs can transmit and even filter defence signalling among connected plants.}, } @article {pmid31346602, year = {2019}, author = {Petersen, G and Darby, H and Lam, VKY and Pedersen, HÆ and Merckx, VSFT and Zervas, A and Seberg, O and Graham, SW}, title = {Mycoheterotrophic Epirixanthes (Polygalaceae) has a typical angiosperm mitogenome but unorthodox plastid genomes.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {5}, pages = {791-807}, pmid = {31346602}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Genome, Plastid ; Heterotrophic Processes ; *Magnoliopsida ; Phylogeny ; *Polygalaceae ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fully mycoheterotrophic plants derive carbon and other nutrients from root-associated fungi and have lost the ability to photosynthesize. While mycoheterotroph plastomes are often degraded compared with green plants, the effect of this unusual symbiosis on mitochondrial genome evolution is unknown. By providing the first complete organelle genome data from Polygalaceae, one of only three eudicot families that developed mycoheterotrophy, we explore how both organellar genomes evolved after loss of photosynthesis.

METHODS: We sequenced and assembled four complete plastid genomes and a mitochondrial genome from species of Polygalaceae, focusing on non-photosynthetic Epirixanthes. We compared these genomes with those of other mycoheterotroph and parasitic plant lineages, and assessed whether organelle genes in Epirixanthes experienced relaxed or intensified selection compared with autotrophic relatives.

KEY RESULTS: Plastomes of two species of Epirixanthes have become substantially degraded compared with that of autotrophic Polygala. Although the lack of photosynthesis is presumably homologous in the genus, the surveyed Epirixanthes species have marked differences in terms of plastome size, structural rearrangements, gene content and substitution rates. Remarkably, both apparently replaced a canonical plastid inverted repeat with large directly repeated sequences. The mitogenome of E. elongata incorporated a considerable number of fossilized plastid genes, by intracellular transfer from an ancestor with a less degraded plastome. Both plastid and mitochondrial genes in E. elongata have increased substitution rates, but the plastid genes of E. pallida do not. Despite this, both species have similar selection patterns operating on plastid housekeeping genes.

CONCLUSIONS: Plastome evolution largely fits with patterns of gene degradation seen in other heterotrophic plants, but includes highly unusual directly duplicated regions. The causes of rate elevation in the sequenced Epirixanthes mitogenome and of rate differences in plastomes of related mycoheterotrophic species are not currently understood.}, } @article {pmid31345767, year = {2019}, author = {Rueckert, S and Betts, EL and Tsaousis, AD}, title = {The Symbiotic Spectrum: Where Do the Gregarines Fit?.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {35}, number = {9}, pages = {687-694}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.013}, pmid = {31345767}, issn = {1471-5007}, support = {BB/M009971/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Apicomplexa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Invertebrates/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gregarine apicomplexans are closely related to parasites such as Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Cryptosporidium, which are causing severe health and economic burdens. Colonizing only invertebrates and having no obvious medical relevance, they are mostly ignored in 'omics' studies, although gregarines are the most basal apicomplexans and therefore key players in the understanding of the evolution of parasitism in the Apicomplexa from free-living ancestors. They belong to the largest exclusively parasitic phylum, but is this perception actually true? The effects of gregarines on their hosts seem to cover the whole spectrum of symbiosis from mutualistic to parasitic. We suggest future research directions to understand the evolutionary role of gregarines, by elucidating their biology and interaction with their hosts and the hosts' microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31344052, year = {2019}, author = {Paludo, CR and Pishchany, G and Andrade-Dominguez, A and Silva-Junior, EA and Menezes, C and Nascimento, FS and Currie, CR and Kolter, R and Clardy, J and Pupo, MT}, title = {Microbial community modulates growth of symbiotic fungus required for stingless bee metamorphosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {e0219696}, pmid = {31344052}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Fungi/*growth & development ; *Metamorphosis, Biological ; *Microbiota ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The Brazilian stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis requires the brood cells-associated fungus Zygosaccharomyces sp. as steroid source for metamorphosis. Besides the presence of Zygosaccharomyces sp., other fungi inhabit S. depilis brood cells, but their biological functions are unknown. Here we show that Candida sp. and Monascus ruber, isolated from cerumen of S. depilis brood provisions, interact with Zygosaccharomyces sp. and modulate its growth. Candida sp. produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that stimulate Zygosacchromyces sp. development. Monascus ruber inhibits Zygosacchromyces sp. growth by producing lovastatin, which blocks steroid biosynthesis. We also observed that in co-cultures M. ruber inhibits Candida sp. through the production of monascin. The modulation of Zygosaccharomyces sp. growth by brood cell-associated fungi suggests their involvement in S. depilis larval development. This tripartite fungal community opens new perspectives in the research of microbial interactions with bees.}, } @article {pmid31342139, year = {2019}, author = {Ogawa, W and Takeda, Y and Endo, N and Yamashita, S and Takayama, T and Fukuda, M and Yamada, A}, title = {Repeated fruiting of Japanese golden chanterelle in pot culture with host seedlings.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {519-530}, pmid = {31342139}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Reproduction ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Yellow chanterelles are among the most popular wild edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms worldwide. The representative European golden chanterelle, Cantharellus cibarius, has only once been reported to fruit under greenhouse conditions, due to the difficulty of establishing pure culture. Recently, we developed a new technique for establishing a pure culture of a Japanese golden chanterelle (Cantharellus anzutake), and conducted in vitro ectomycorrhizal synthesis using established strains and Pinus densiflora. Acclimated pine mycorrhizal seedlings colonized with C. anzutake in a pot system under laboratory conditions produced small but distinct basidiomata with developed basidiospores. C. anzutake mycorrhizae were established on Quercus serrata seedlings by inoculation of mycorrhizal root tips of the fungus synthesized on P. densiflora. A scaled-up C. anzutake-host system in larger pots (4 L soil volume) exhibited repeated fruiting at 20-24 °C under continuous light illumination at 150 μmol m[-2] s[-1] during a 2-year incubation period. Therefore, a C. anzutake cultivation trial is practical under controlled environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid31341671, year = {2019}, author = {Sugiyama, A}, title = {The soybean rhizosphere: Metabolites, microbes, and beyond-A review.}, journal = {Journal of advanced research}, volume = {19}, number = {}, pages = {67-73}, pmid = {31341671}, issn = {2090-1232}, abstract = {The rhizosphere is the region close to a plant's roots, where various interactions occur. Recent evidence indicates that plants influence rhizosphere microbial communities by secreting various metabolites and, in turn, the microbes influence the growth and health of the plants. Despite the importance of plant-derived metabolites in the rhizosphere, relatively little is known about their spatiotemporal distribution and dynamics. In addition to being an important crop, soybean (Glycine max) is a good model plant with which to study these rhizosphere interactions, because soybean plants have symbiotic relationships with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and secrete various specialized metabolites, such as isoflavones and saponins, into the soil. This review summarizes the characteristics of the soybean rhizosphere from the viewpoint of specialized metabolites and microbes and discusses future research perspectives. In sum, secretion of these metabolites is developmentally and nutritionally regulated and potentially alters the rhizosphere microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid31338107, year = {2019}, author = {Miro-Blanch, J and Yanes, O}, title = {Epigenetic Regulation at the Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {638}, pmid = {31338107}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Gut microbiota communities have coevolved for millions of years in a symbiotic relationship with their mammalian hosts. Elucidating and understanding the molecular mechanisms by which microbiota interacts with its host and how this contributes to the homeostasis of the host is crucial. One of these molecular relationships is the so-called chemical crosstalk between microbiota and host metabolisms, including the poorly explored epigenetic regulation of host tissues by the metabolic activity of gut microbiota in response to changes in diet. DNA methylation and histone modifications are epigenetic marks partly regulated by enzymes such as methylases and acetylases, whose activity depend on host and microbiota metabolites that act as substrates and cofactors for these reactions. However, providing a complete mechanistic description of the regulatory interactions between both metabolisms and the impact on the expression of host genes through an epigenetic modulation, remains elusive. This article presents our perspective on how metabolomic, metagenomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic data can be used to investigate the "microbiota-nutrient metabolism-epigenetics axis." We also discuss the implications and opportunities this knowledge may have for basic and applied science, such as the impact on the way we structure future research, understand, and prevent diseases like type 2 diabetes or obesity.}, } @article {pmid31338104, year = {2019}, author = {Ferguson, BJ and Minamisawa, K and Muñoz, NB and Lam, HM}, title = {Editorial: Metabolic Adjustments and Gene Expression Reprogramming for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {898}, pmid = {31338104}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid31338082, year = {2019}, author = {Bernasconi, R and Stat, M and Koenders, A and Paparini, A and Bunce, M and Huggett, MJ}, title = {Establishment of Coral-Bacteria Symbioses Reveal Changes in the Core Bacterial Community With Host Ontogeny.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1529}, pmid = {31338082}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial communities are fundamental symbionts of corals. However, the process by which bacterial communities are acquired across the life history of corals, particularly in larval and early juvenile stages, is still poorly characterized. Here, transfer of bacteria of the Scleractinian coral Acropora digitifera from adults to spawned egg-sperm bundles was analyzed, as well as acquisition across early developmental stages (larvae and newly settled spat), and 6-month-old juveniles. Larvae were reared under manipulated environmental conditions to determine the source (maternal, seawater, or sediment) of bacteria likely to establish symbiotic relationships with the host using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Maternal colonies directly transferred bacteria from the families Rhodobacteraceae, Cryomorphaceae, and Endozoicimonaceae to egg-sperm bundles. Furthermore, significant differences in the microbial community structure were identified across generations, yet the structure of the coral bacterial community across early life history stages was not impacted by different environmental rearing conditions. These data indicate that the uptake and structure of bacterial communities is developmentally, rather than environmentally, regulated. Both maternal coral colonies and ubiquitous bacteria found across environmental substrates represent a potential source of symbionts important in establishing the coral microbiome. Uniquely, we report the presence of variation with ontogeny of both the core and resident bacterial communities, supporting the hypothesis that microbial communities are likely to play specific roles within the distinct life history stages of the coral host.}, } @article {pmid31337682, year = {2019}, author = {Feng, H and Edwards, N and Anderson, CMH and Althaus, M and Duncan, RP and Hsu, YC and Luetje, CW and Price, DRG and Wilson, ACC and Thwaites, DT}, title = {Trading amino acids at the aphid-Buchnera symbiotic interface.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {32}, pages = {16003-16011}, pmid = {31337682}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/*metabolism ; Buchnera/*metabolism ; Insect Proteins/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant sap-feeding insects are widespread, having evolved to occupy diverse environmental niches despite exclusive feeding on an impoverished diet lacking in essential amino acids and vitamins. Success depends exquisitely on their symbiotic relationships with microbial symbionts housed within specialized eukaryotic bacteriocyte cells. Each bacteriocyte is packed with symbionts that are individually surrounded by a host-derived symbiosomal membrane representing the absolute host-symbiont interface. The symbiosomal membrane must be a dynamic and selectively permeable structure to enable bidirectional and differential movement of essential nutrients, metabolites, and biosynthetic intermediates, vital for growth and survival of host and symbiont. However, despite this crucial role, the molecular basis of membrane transport across the symbiosomal membrane remains unresolved in all bacteriocyte-containing insects. A transport protein was immunolocalized to the symbiosomal membrane separating the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum from its intracellular symbiont Buchnera aphidicola The transporter, A. pisum nonessential amino acid transporter 1, or ApNEAAT1 (gene: ACYPI008971), was characterized functionally following heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes, and mediates both inward and outward transport of small dipolar amino acids (serine, proline, cysteine, alanine, glycine). Electroneutral ApNEAAT1 transport is driven by amino acid concentration gradients and is not coupled to transmembrane ion gradients. Previous metabolite profiling of hemolymph and bacteriocyte, alongside metabolic pathway analysis in host and symbiont, enable prediction of a physiological role for ApNEAAT1 in bidirectional host-symbiont amino acid transfer, supplying both host and symbiont with indispensable nutrients and biosynthetic precursors to facilitate metabolic complementarity.}, } @article {pmid31337355, year = {2019}, author = {Armaleo, D and Müller, O and Lutzoni, F and Andrésson, ÓS and Blanc, G and Bode, HB and Collart, FR and Dal Grande, F and Dietrich, F and Grigoriev, IV and Joneson, S and Kuo, A and Larsen, PE and Logsdon, JM and Lopez, D and Martin, F and May, SP and McDonald, TR and Merchant, SS and Miao, V and Morin, E and Oono, R and Pellegrini, M and Rubinstein, N and Sanchez-Puerta, MV and Savelkoul, E and Schmitt, I and Slot, JC and Soanes, D and Szövényi, P and Talbot, NJ and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Xavier, BB}, title = {The lichen symbiosis re-viewed through the genomes of Cladonia grayi and its algal partner Asterochloris glomerata.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {605}, pmid = {31337355}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Fungal ; Lichens/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens, encompassing 20,000 known species, are symbioses between specialized fungi (mycobionts), mostly ascomycetes, and unicellular green algae or cyanobacteria (photobionts). Here we describe the first parallel genomic analysis of the mycobiont Cladonia grayi and of its green algal photobiont Asterochloris glomerata. We focus on genes/predicted proteins of potential symbiotic significance, sought by surveying proteins differentially activated during early stages of mycobiont and photobiont interaction in coculture, expanded or contracted protein families, and proteins with differential rates of evolution.

RESULTS: A) In coculture, the fungus upregulated small secreted proteins, membrane transport proteins, signal transduction components, extracellular hydrolases and, notably, a ribitol transporter and an ammonium transporter, and the alga activated DNA metabolism, signal transduction, and expression of flagellar components. B) Expanded fungal protein families include heterokaryon incompatibility proteins, polyketide synthases, and a unique set of G-protein α subunit paralogs. Expanded algal protein families include carbohydrate active enzymes and a specific subclass of cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrases. The alga also appears to have acquired by horizontal gene transfer from prokaryotes novel archaeal ATPases and Desiccation-Related Proteins. Expanded in both symbionts are signal transduction components, ankyrin domain proteins and transcription factors involved in chromatin remodeling and stress responses. The fungal transportome is contracted, as are algal nitrate assimilation genes. C) In the mycobiont, slow-evolving proteins were enriched for components involved in protein translation, translocation and sorting.

CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed genes affect stress resistance, signaling, genome reprogramming, nutritional and structural interactions. The alga carries many genes likely transferred horizontally through viruses, yet we found no evidence of inter-symbiont gene transfer. The presence in the photobiont of meiosis-specific genes supports the notion that sexual reproduction occurs in Asterochloris while they are free-living, a phenomenon with implications for the adaptability of lichens and the persistent autonomy of the symbionts. The diversity of the genes affecting the symbiosis suggests that lichens evolved by accretion of many scattered regulatory and structural changes rather than through introduction of a few key innovations. This predicts that paths to lichenization were variable in different phyla, which is consistent with the emerging consensus that ascolichens could have had a few independent origins.}, } @article {pmid31336773, year = {2019}, author = {DalCorso, G and Fasani, E and Manara, A and Visioli, G and Furini, A}, title = {Heavy Metal Pollutions: State of the Art and Innovation in Phytoremediation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {31336773}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biotransformation ; *Environmental Pollution ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods/standards ; *Metals, Heavy/analysis/chemistry ; Photochemical Processes ; Plants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mineral nutrition of plants greatly depends on both environmental conditions, particularly of soils, and the genetic background of the plant itself. Being sessile, plants adopted a range of strategies for sensing and responding to nutrient availability to optimize development and growth, as well as to protect their metabolisms from heavy metal toxicity. Such mechanisms, together with the soil environment, meaning the soil microorganisms and their interaction with plant roots, have been extensively studied with the goal of exploiting them to reclaim polluted lands; this approach, defined phytoremediation, will be the subject of this review. The main aspects and innovations in this field are considered, in particular with respect to the selection of efficient plant genotypes, the application of improved cultural strategies, and the symbiotic interaction with soil microorganisms, to manage heavy metal polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid31334752, year = {2019}, author = {Rejili, M and Msaddak, A and Filali, I and Benabderrahim, MA and Mars, M and Marín, M}, title = {New chromosomal lineages within Microvirga and Bradyrhizobium genera nodulate Lupinus angustifolius growing on different Tunisian soils.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz118}, pmid = {31334752}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Methylobacteriaceae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Thirty-one rhizobial isolates nodulating native Lupinus angustifolius (blue lupine) plants growing in Northern Tunisian soils were isolated and analysed using different chromosomal and symbiotic gene markers. Phylogenetic analyses based on recA partial sequences grouped them into at least five groups: four of them within the genus Bradyrhizobium (26 isolates) and one into the genus Microvirga (5 isolates). Representative strains were analysed by multilocus sequence analysis of three housekeeping genes rrs-recA-glnII and rrs-gyrB-dnaK for Bradyrhizobium and Microvirga isolates, respectively. Based on this analysis, eight isolates clustered with the previously described strains Bradyrhizobium lupini USDA3051 and Bradyrhizobium canariense BTA-1. However, five of the isolates clustered separately and may constitute a new species within the Bradyrhizobium genus. The remaining five isolates were closely related to the strain Microvirga sp. LmiM8 and may constitute a new Microvirga species. The analysis of the nodC gene showed that all Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating blue lupine belong to the symbiovar genistearum, whereas the Microvirga isolates are associated with the symbiovar mediterranense. The results of this study support that the L. angustifolius root nodule symbionts isolated in Northern Tunisia belong mostly to the B. canariense/B. lupini lineages. However, new clades of Bradyrhizobium and Microvirga have been identified as L. angustifolius endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid31333627, year = {2019}, author = {Ruiz, B and Le Scornet, A and Sauviac, L and Rémy, A and Bruand, C and Meilhoc, E}, title = {The Nitrate Assimilatory Pathway in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Contribution to NO Production.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1526}, pmid = {31333627}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The interaction between rhizobia and their legume host plants culminates in the formation of specialized root organs called nodules in which differentiated endosymbiotic bacteria (bacteroids) fix atmospheric nitrogen to the benefit of the plant. Interestingly, nitric oxide (NO) has been detected at various steps of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis where it has been shown to play multifaceted roles. It is recognized that both bacterial and plant partners of the Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago truncatula symbiosis are involved in NO synthesis in nodules. S. meliloti can also produce NO from nitrate when living as free cells in the soil. S. meliloti does not possess any NO synthase gene in its genome. Instead, the denitrification pathway is often described as the main driver of NO production with nitrate as substrate. This pathway includes the periplasmic nitrate reductase (Nap) which reduces nitrate into nitrite, and the nitrite reductase (Nir) which reduces nitrite into NO. However, additional genes encoding putative nitrate and nitrite reductases (called narB and nirB, respectively) have been identified in the S. meliloti genome. Here we examined the conditions where these genes are expressed, investigated their involvement in nitrate assimilation and NO synthesis in culture and their potential role in planta. We found that narB and nirB are expressed under aerobic conditions in absence of ammonium in the medium and most likely belong to the nitrate assimilatory pathway. Even though these genes are clearly expressed in the fixation zone of legume root nodule, they do not play a crucial role in symbiosis. Our results support the hypothesis that in S. meliloti, denitrification remains the main enzymatic way to produce NO while the assimilatory pathway involving NarB and NirB participates indirectly to NO synthesis by cooperating with the denitrification pathway.}, } @article {pmid31333602, year = {2019}, author = {Nouioui, I and Cortés-Albayay, C and Carro, L and Castro, JF and Gtari, M and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Klenk, HP and Tisa, LS and Sangal, V and Goodfellow, M}, title = {Genomic Insights Into Plant-Growth-Promoting Potentialities of the Genus Frankia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1457}, pmid = {31333602}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {This study was designed to determine the plant growth promoting (PGP) potential of members of the genus Frankia. To this end, the genomes of 21 representative strains were examined for genes associated directly or indirectly with plant growth. All of the Frankia genomes contained genes that encoded for products associated with the biosynthesis of auxins [indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthases, anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferases (trpD), anthranilate synthases, and aminases (trpA and B)], cytokinins (11 well-conserved genes within the predicted biosynthetic gene cluster), siderophores, and nitrogenases (nif operon except for atypical Frankia) as well as genes that modulate the effects of biotic and abiotic environmental stress (e.g., alkyl hydroperoxide reductases, aquaporin Z, heat shock proteins). In contrast, other genes were associated with strains assigned to one or more of four host-specific clusters. The genes encoding for phosphate solubilization (e.g., low-affinity inorganic phosphate transporters) and lytic enzymes (e.g., cellulases) were found in Frankia cluster 1 genomes, while other genes were found only in cluster 3 genomes (e.g., alkaline phosphatases, extracellular endoglucanases, pectate lyases) or cluster 4 and subcluster 1c genomes (e.g., NAD(P) transhydrogenase genes). Genes encoding for chitinases were found only in the genomes of the type strains of Frankia casuarinae, F. inefficax, F. irregularis, and F. saprophytica. In short, these in silico genome analyses provide an insight into the PGP abilities of Frankia strains of known taxonomic provenance. This is the first study designed to establish the underlying genetic basis of cytokinin production in Frankia strains. Also, the discovery of additional genes in the biosynthetic gene cluster involved in cytokinin production opens up the prospect that Frankia may have novel molecular mechanisms for cytokinin biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid31332951, year = {2020}, author = {Gilbert, SF}, title = {Developmental symbiosis facilitates the multiple origins of herbivory.}, journal = {Evolution & development}, volume = {22}, number = {1-2}, pages = {154-164}, doi = {10.1111/ede.12291}, pmid = {31332951}, issn = {1525-142X}, support = {IOS-145177//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Herbivory ; Invertebrates/*growth & development ; Life History Traits ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Developmental bias toward particular evolutionary trajectories can be facilitated through symbiosis. Organisms are holobionts, consisting of zygote-derived cells and a consortia of microbes, and the development, physiology, and immunity of animals are properties of complex interactions between the zygote-derived cells and microbial symbionts. Such symbionts can be agents of developmental plasticity, allowing an organism to develop in particular directions. This plasticity can lead to genetic assimilation either through the incorporation of microbial genes into host genomes or through the direct maternal transmission of the microbes. Such plasticity can lead to niche construction, enabling the microbes to remodel host anatomy and/or physiology. In this article, I will focus on the ability of symbionts to bias development toward the evolution of herbivory. I will posit that the behavioral and morphological manifestations of herbivorous phenotypes must be preceded by the successful establishment of a community of symbiotic microbes that can digest cell walls and detoxify plant poisons. The ability of holobionts to digest plant materials can range from being a plastic trait, dependent on the transient incorporation of environmental microbes, to becoming a heritable trait of the holobiont organism, transmitted through the maternal propagation of symbionts or their genes.}, } @article {pmid31332487, year = {2019}, author = {Singh, RP}, title = {Glycan utilisation system in Bacteroides and Bifidobacteria and their roles in gut stability and health.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {18}, pages = {7287-7315}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-10012-z}, pmid = {31332487}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacteroides/genetics/*metabolism ; Bifidobacterium/genetics/*metabolism ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/*physiology ; Genomics ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gut residential hundred trillion microbial cells are indispensable for maintaining gut homeostasis and impact on host physiology, development and immune systems. Many of them have displayed excellence in utilising dietary- and host-derived complex glycans and are producing useful postbiotics including short-chain fatty acids to primarily fuel different organs of the host. Therefore, employing individual microbiota is nowadays becoming a propitious target in biomedical for improving gut dysbiosis conditions of the host. Among other gut microbial communities, Bacteroides and Bifidobacteria are coevolved to utilise diverse ranges of diet- and host-derived glycans through harmonising distinct glycan utilisation systems. These gut symbionts frequently share digested oligosaccharides, carbohydrate-active enzymes and fermentable intermediate molecules for sustaining gut microbial symbiosis and improving fitness of own or other communities. Genomics approaches have provided unprecedented insights into these functions, but their precise mechanisms of action have poorly known. Sympathetic glycan-utilising strategy of each gut commensal will provide overview of mechanistic dynamic nature of the gut environment and will then assist in applying aptly personalised nutritional therapy. Thus, the review critically summarises cutting edge understanding of major plant- and host-derived glycan-utilising systems of Bacteroides and Bifidobacteria. Their evolutionary adaptation to gut environment and roles of postbiotics in human health are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid31331977, year = {2019}, author = {Guckes, KR and Cecere, AG and Wasilko, NP and Williams, AL and Bultman, KM and Mandel, MJ and Miyashiro, T}, title = {Incompatibility of Vibrio fischeri Strains during Symbiosis Establishment Depends on Two Functionally Redundant hcp Genes.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {31331977}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM129133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI117262/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Multigene Family ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis ; Type VI Secretion Systems/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria that have the capacity to fill the same niche will compete with one another for the space and resources available within an ecosystem. Such competition is heightened among different strains of the same bacterial species. Nevertheless, different strains often inhabit the same host. The molecular mechanisms that impact competition between different strains within the same host are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, the type VI secretion system (T6SS), which is a mechanism for bacteria to kill neighboring cells, was examined in the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri Different strains of V. fischeri naturally colonize the light organ of the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes The genome of FQ-A001, a T6SS-positive strain, features two hcp genes that are predicted to encode identical subunits of the T6SS. Coincubation assays showed that either hcp gene is sufficient for FQ-A001 to kill another strain via the T6SS in vitro Additionally, induction of hcp expression is sufficient to induce killing activity in an FQ-A001 mutant lacking both hcp genes. Squid colonization assays involving inocula of FQ-A001-derived strains mixed with ES114 revealed that both hcp genes must be deleted for FQ-A001 and ES114 to occupy the same space within the light organ. These experimental results provide insight into the genetic factors necessary for the T6SS of V. fischeri to function in vivo, thereby increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms that impact strain diversity within a host.IMPORTANCE Different bacterial strains compete to occupy the same niche. The outcome of such competition can be affected by the type VI secretion system (T6SS), an intercellular killing mechanism of bacteria. Here an animal-bacterial symbiosis is used as a platform for study of the genetic factors that promote the T6SS-mediated killing of one strain by another. Identification of the molecular determinants of T6SS function in vivo contributes to the understanding of how different strains interact within a host.}, } @article {pmid31331976, year = {2019}, author = {Lynch, JB and Schwartzman, JA and Bennett, BD and McAnulty, SJ and Knop, M and Nyholm, SV and Ruby, EG}, title = {Ambient pH Alters the Protein Content of Outer Membrane Vesicles, Driving Host Development in a Beneficial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {31331976}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {P41 RR002301/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Extracellular Vesicles/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Proteomics/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are continuously produced by Gram-negative bacteria and are increasingly recognized as ubiquitous mediators of bacterial physiology. In particular, OMVs are powerful effectors in interorganismal interactions, driven largely by their molecular contents. These impacts have been studied extensively in bacterial pathogenesis but have not been well documented within the context of mutualism. Here, we examined the proteomic composition of OMVs from the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which forms a specific mutualism with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes We found that V. fischeri upregulates transcription of its major outer membrane protein, OmpU, during growth at an acidic pH, which V. fischeri experiences when it transitions from its environmental reservoir to host tissues. We used comparative genomics and DNA pulldown analyses to search for regulators of ompU and found that differential expression of ompU is governed by the OmpR, H-NS, and ToxR proteins. This transcriptional control combines with nutritional conditions to govern OmpU levels in OMVs. Under a host-encountered acidic pH, V. fischeri OMVs become more potent stimulators of symbiotic host development in an OmpU-dependent manner. Finally, we found that symbiotic development could be stimulated by OMVs containing a homolog of OmpU from the pathogenic species Vibrio cholerae, connecting the role of a well-described virulence factor with a mutualistic element. This work explores the symbiotic effects of OMV variation, identifies regulatory machinery shared between pathogenic and mutualistic bacteria, and provides evidence of the role that OMVs play in animal-bacterium mutualism.IMPORTANCE Beneficial bacteria communicate with their hosts through a variety of means. These communications are often carried out by a combination of molecules that stimulate responses from the host and are necessary for development of the relationship between these organisms. Naturally produced bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) contain many of those molecules and can stimulate a wide range of responses from recipient organisms. Here, we describe how a marine bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, changes the makeup of its OMVs under conditions that it experiences as it goes from its free-living lifestyle to associating with its natural host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid. This work improves our understanding of how bacteria change their signaling profile as they begin to associate with their beneficial partner animals.}, } @article {pmid31330021, year = {2019}, author = {Ji, J and Luo, CL and Zou, X and Lv, XH and Xu, YB and Shu, DM and Qu, H}, title = {Association of host genetics with intestinal microbial relevant to body weight in a chicken F2 resource population.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {98}, number = {9}, pages = {4084-4093}, doi = {10.3382/ps/pez199}, pmid = {31330021}, issn = {1525-3171}, mesh = {Animals ; Avian Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Body Weight/*genetics ; Breeding ; Chickens/*genetics/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Intestines/microbiology ; Male ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; }, abstract = {Host-microbiota interactions describe a co-evolution and mutualistic symbiosis. Gut microbial communities are important for diverse host functions. However, in birds, the relationship between the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the genetic variation of the host is not clearly understood. To dissect these interactions, a Chinese yellow broiler line (genetically selected for a high growth rate) and Huiyang Beard chickens (low growth rate) were crossed, generating an F2 population. The population structures of the gut microbes in the phenotypically high and low 91-d body weight individuals of both sexes in the F2 population were studied. Interestingly, a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that the microbiota of the high-weight and low-weight females was clearly separated into 2 clusters. A β-diversity analysis showed that the locus rs16775833 within the doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor (DMRT) gene cluster accounted for approximately 21% of the variation in the population structure of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, the 2 genetic loci rs15142709 and rs15142674 were significantly associated with specific species of Methanobacterium. These loci are located in the pleiomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) and lck/yes-related novel tyrosine kinase (LYN) genes, which are involved in cell differentiation and growth. This finding suggests evidence for the influence of the host genetics on the composition of the gut microbiota in birds and the importance and utility of the host-microbe status to better understand its effect on the potential growth of birds.}, } @article {pmid31329832, year = {2019}, author = {Cardós, JLH and Prieto, M and Jylhä, M and Aragón, G and Molina, MC and Martínez, I and Rikkinen, J}, title = {A case study on the re-establishment of the cyanolichen symbiosis: where do the compatible photobionts come from?.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {3}, pages = {379-388}, pmid = {31329832}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Ecosystem ; *Lichens ; *Nostoc ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In order to re-establish lichen symbiosis, fungal spores must first germinate and then associate with a compatible photobiont. To detect possible establishment limitations in a sexually reproducing cyanolichen species, we studied ascospore germination, photobiont growth and photobiont association patterns in Pectenia plumbea.

METHODS: Germination tests were made with ascospores from 500 apothecia under different treatments, and photobiont growth was analysed in 192 isolates obtained from 24 thalli. We determined the genotype identity [tRNALeu (UAA) intron] of the Nostoc cyanobionts from 30 P. plumbea thalli from one population. We also sequenced cyanobionts of 41 specimens of other cyanolichen species and 58 Nostoc free-living colonies cultured from the bark substrate.

KEY RESULTS: Not a single fungal ascospore germinated and none of the photobiont isolates produced motile hormogonia. Genetic analyses revealed that P. plumbea shares Nostoc genotypes with two other cyanolichen species of the same habitat, but these photobionts were hardly present in the bark substrate.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to the inability of both symbionts to thrive independently, the establishment of P. plumbea seems to depend on Dendriscocaulon umhausense, the only cyanolichen species in the same habitat that reproduces asexually and acts as a source of appropriate cyanobionts. This provides support to the hypothesis about facilitation among lichens.}, } @article {pmid31329626, year = {2019}, author = {Tseng, LC and Huang, SP and Das, S and Chen, IS and Shao, KT and Hwang, JS}, title = {A slender symbiotic goby hiding in burrows of mud shrimp Austinogebia edulis in western Taiwan.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {e0219815}, pmid = {31329626}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Biodiversity ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Perciformes/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The present study recorded the population of the goby fish (Perciformes: Gobiidae), Eutaeniichthys cf. gilli Jordan & Snyder, 1901, from the tunnel burrowed by the mud shrimp Austinogebia edulis Ngo-Ho and Chan, 1992 in a mudflat in Shengang and Wangong of Changhua County, western Taiwan. This finding is not only a new record of the genus in Taiwan, it is also the first record of this species in a mudflat near an industrial park. In total, 56 individuals of E. cf. gilli were collected from June 2016 to September 2018. Morphological traits of males and females were measured. The resin casting method trapped bodies of E. cf. gilli that were present in the tunnel burrow and proved that the fish inhabits burrows of the mud shrimp A. edulis. In addition, a species of snapping shrimp was also found in the same tunnel. Symbiotic interaction may occur between E. cf. gilli, A. eduli and the snapping shrimp. The China Coastal Current (CCC) runs along the coastlines of Japan, Korea, China, and reaches western Taiwan during the northeast monsoon period. The CCC, therefore, might play an important role in the biogeographic distribution of E. cf. gilli in the western Pacific Ocean. Since E. cf. gilli is listed in the Red List as an endangered species of Japan for many years, Taiwan waters may provide a refuge for this fish species warranting a broader investigation. Since Taiwan is some distance away from the previously recorded locations in Japan, Korea, the Yellow Sea, and the Bohai Sea, a phylogenic analysis is warranted for population and species differentiation in the future.}, } @article {pmid31328784, year = {2019}, author = {Muñoz-Gómez, SA and Durnin, K and Eme, L and Paight, C and Lane, CE and Saffo, MB and Slamovits, CH}, title = {Nephromyces Represents a Diverse and Novel Lineage of the Apicomplexa That Has Retained Apicoplasts.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {2727-2740}, pmid = {31328784}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R03 AI124092/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Apicomplexa/classification/*genetics ; Apicoplasts/*genetics ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; *Genome ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {A most interesting exception within the parasitic Apicomplexa is Nephromyces, an extracellular, probably mutualistic, endosymbiont found living inside molgulid ascidian tunicates (i.e., sea squirts). Even though Nephromyces is now known to be an apicomplexan, many other questions about its nature remain unanswered. To gain further insights into the biology and evolutionary history of this unusual apicomplexan, we aimed to 1) find the precise phylogenetic position of Nephromyces within the Apicomplexa, 2) search for the apicoplast genome of Nephromyces, and 3) infer the major metabolic pathways in the apicoplast of Nephromyces. To do this, we sequenced a metagenome and a metatranscriptome from the molgulid renal sac, the specialized habitat where Nephromyces thrives. Our phylogenetic analyses of conserved nucleus-encoded genes robustly suggest that Nephromyces is a novel lineage sister to the Hematozoa, which comprises both the Haemosporidia (e.g., Plasmodium) and the Piroplasmida (e.g., Babesia and Theileria). Furthermore, a survey of the renal sac metagenome revealed 13 small contigs that closely resemble the genomes of the nonphotosynthetic reduced plastids, or apicoplasts, of other apicomplexans. We show that these apicoplast genomes correspond to a diverse set of most closely related but genetically divergent Nephromyces lineages that co-inhabit a single tunicate host. In addition, the apicoplast of Nephromyces appears to have retained all biosynthetic pathways inferred to have been ancestral to parasitic apicomplexans. Our results shed light on the evolutionary history of the only probably mutualistic apicomplexan known, Nephromyces, and provide context for a better understanding of its life style and intricate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31327928, year = {2019}, author = {Xie, L and Chen, YL and Long, YY and Zhang, Y and Liao, ST and Liu, B and Qin, LP and Nong, Q and Zhang, WL}, title = {Three new species of Conlarium from sugarcane rhizosphere in southern China.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, pmid = {31327928}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Three new species isolated from sugarcane rhizosphere in China, namely Conlariumbaiseense sp. nov., C.nanningense sp. nov., and C.sacchari sp. nov., are described and illustrated. Molecular evidence (phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, SSU, ITS and RPB2 sequence data) and phenotypical characters support their independent status from related and similar species. The new species, as dark spetate endophytes, inhabit sugarcane rhizosphere and can form a symbiosis with sugarcane.}, } @article {pmid31327121, year = {2019}, author = {Fileccia, V and Ingraffia, R and Amato, G and Giambalvo, D and Martinelli, F}, title = {Identification of microRNAS differentially regulated by water deficit in relation to mycorrhizal treatment in wheat.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {5163-5174}, pmid = {31327121}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Droughts ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; Triticum/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil microrganisms that establish symbiosis with plants positively influencing their resistance to abiotic stresses. The aim of this work was to identify wheat miRNAs differentially regulated by water deficit conditions in presence or absence of AMF treatment. Small RNA libraries were constructed for both leaf and root tissues considering four conditions: control (irrigated) or water deficit in presence/absence of mycorrhizal (AMF) treatment. A total of 12 miRNAs were significantly regulated by water deficit in leaves: five in absence and seven in presence of AMF treatment. In roots, three miRNAs were water deficit-modulated in absence of mycorrhizal treatment while six were regulated in presence of it. The most represented miRNA family was miR167 that was regulated by water deficit in both leaf and root tissues. Interestingly, miR827-5p was differentially regulated in leaves in the absence of mycorrhizal treatment while it was water deficit-modulated in roots irrespective of AMF treatment. In roots, water deficit repressed miR827-5p, miR394, miR6187, miR167e-3p, and miR9666b-3p affecting transcription, RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and protein modifications. In leaves, mycorrhizae modulated miR5384-3p and miR156e-3p affecting trafficking and cell redox homeostasis. DNA replication and transcription regulation should be targeted by the repression of miR1432-5p and miR166h-3p. This work provided interesting insights into the post-transcriptional mechanisms of wheat responses to water deficit in relation to mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31325911, year = {2019}, author = {Perez-Lamarque, B and Morlon, H}, title = {Characterizing symbiont inheritance during host-microbiota evolution: Application to the great apes gut microbiota.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {1659-1671}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13063}, pmid = {31325911}, issn = {1755-0998}, support = {PANDA/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; /ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Hominidae/*microbiology ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbiota play a central role in the functioning of multicellular life, yet understanding their inheritance during host evolutionary history remains an important challenge. Symbiotic microorganisms are either acquired from the environment during the life of the host (i.e. environmental acquisition), transmitted across generations with a faithful association with their hosts (i.e. strict vertical transmission), or transmitted with occasional host switches (i.e. vertical transmission with horizontal switches). These different modes of inheritance affect microbes' diversification, which at the two extremes can be independent from that of their associated host or follow host diversification. The few existing quantitative tools for investigating the inheritance of symbiotic organisms rely on cophylogenetic approaches, which require knowledge of both host and symbiont phylogenies, and are therefore often not well adapted to DNA metabarcoding microbial data. Here, we develop a model-based framework for identifying vertically transmitted microbial taxa. We consider a model for the evolution of microbial sequences on a fixed host phylogeny that includes vertical transmission and horizontal host switches. This model allows estimating the number of host switches and testing for strict vertical transmission and independent evolution. We test our approach using simulations. Finally, we illustrate our framework on gut microbiota high-throughput sequencing data of the family Hominidae and identify several microbial taxonomic units, including fibrolytic bacteria involved in carbohydrate digestion, that tend to be vertically transmitted.}, } @article {pmid31325057, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, S and Kondorosi, É and Kereszt, A}, title = {An anthocyanin marker for direct visualization of plant transformation and its use to study nitrogen-fixing nodule development.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {132}, number = {5}, pages = {695-703}, pmid = {31325057}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics ; Anthocyanins/*physiology ; Biomarkers/analysis ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The development and functioning of the nitrogen fixing symbiosis between legume plants and soil bacteria collectively called rhizobia requires continuous chemical dialogue between the partners using different molecules such as flavonoids, lipo-chitooligosaccharides, polysaccharides and peptides. Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated hairy root transformation of legumes is widely used to study the function of plant genes involved in the process. The identification of transgenic plant tissues is based on antibiotics/herbicide selection and/or the detection of different reporter genes that usually require special equipment such as fluorescent microscopes or destructive techniques and chemicals to visualize enzymatic activity. Here, we developed and efficiently used in hairy root experiments binary vectors containing the MtLAP1 gene driven by constitutive and tissue-specific promoters that facilitate the production of purple colored anthocyanins in transgenic tissues and thus allowing the identification of transformed roots by naked eye. Anthocyanin producing roots were able to establish effective symbiosis with rhizobia. Moreover, it was shown that species-specific allelic variations and a mutation preventing posttranslational acetyl modification of an essential nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide, NCR169, do not affect the symbiotic interaction of Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong with Sinorhizobium medicae strain WSM419. Based on the experiments, it could be concluded that it is preferable to use the vectors with tissue-specific promoters that restrict anthocyanin production to the root vasculature for studying biotic interactions of the roots such as symbiotic nitrogen fixation or mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31323808, year = {2019}, author = {Faluaburu, MS and Nakai, R and Imura, S and Naganuma, T}, title = {Phylotypic Characterization of Mycobionts and Photobionts of Rock Tripe Lichen in East Antarctica.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31323808}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Saxicolous rock ripe lichens that grow on rocks in the East Antarctic fellfields were sampled for phylotypic characterization of its constituent mycobionts (fungi) and photobionts (algae and cyanobacteria). The rock tripe lichen-forming fungal and algal phylotypes were classified under the common lichen-forming genera of ascomycetes, namely, Umbilicaria, and green algae, namely, Trebouxia and Coccomyxa. However, phylotypes of the green algal chloroplasts and the lichen-associated cyanobacteria showed unexpectedly high diversity. The detected chloroplast phylotypes were not fully affiliated with the green algal genera Trebouxia or Coccomyxa. The predominant chloroplast phylotype demonstrated maximum resemblance to Neglectella solitaria, which is neither a known Antarctic species nor a typical lichen photobiont. Another dominant chloroplast phylotype belonged to the atypical Antarctic green algae family. Cyanobacterial phylotypes were dominated by those affiliated with the Microcoleus species rather than the well-known lichen-associates, Nostoc species. The occurrences of these Microcoleus-affiliated cyanobacterial phylotypes were specifically abundant within the Yukidori Valley site, one of the Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA). The ASPA site, along with another 50 km-distant site, yielded most of the cryptic diversity in the phylotypes of chloroplasts and cyanobacteria, which may contribute to the phenotypic variability within the rock tripe lichen photobionts.}, } @article {pmid31323076, year = {2019}, author = {Cheng, D and Chen, S and Huang, Y and Pierce, NE and Riegler, M and Yang, F and Zeng, L and Lu, Y and Liang, G and Xu, Y}, title = {Symbiotic microbiota may reflect host adaptation by resident to invasive ant species.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e1007942}, pmid = {31323076}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/*physiology ; Diet ; Ecosystem ; Feeding Behavior ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; *Introduced Species ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Vitamin B Complex/metabolism ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Exotic invasive species can influence the behavior and ecology of native and resident species, but these changes are often overlooked. Here we hypothesize that the ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum, living in areas that have been invaded by the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, displays behavioral differences to interspecific competition that are reflected in both its trophic position and symbiotic microbiota. We demonstrate that T. melanocephalum workers from S. invicta invaded areas are less aggressive towards workers of S. invicta than those inhabiting non-invaded areas. Nitrogen isotope analyses reveal that colonies of T. melanocephalum have protein-rich diets in S. invicta invaded areas compared with the carbohydrate-rich diets of colonies living in non-invaded areas. Analysis of microbiota isolated from gut tissue shows that T. melanocephalum workers from S. invicta invaded areas also have different bacterial communities, including a higher abundance of Wolbachia that may play a role in vitamin B provisioning. In contrast, the microbiota of workers of T. melanocephalum from S. invicta-free areas are dominated by bacteria from the orders Bacillales, Lactobacillales and Enterobacteriales that may be involved in sugar metabolism. We further demonstrate experimentally that the composition and structure of the bacterial symbiont communities as well as the prevalence of vitamin B in T. melanocephalum workers from S. invicta invaded and non-invaded areas can be altered if T. melanocephalum workers are supplied with either protein-rich or carbohydrate-rich food. Our results support the hypothesis that bacterial symbiont communities can help hosts by buffering behavioral changes caused by interspecies competition as a consequence of biological invasions.}, } @article {pmid31323069, year = {2019}, author = {Morishima, SY and Yamashita, H and O-Hara, S and Nakamura, Y and Quek, VZ and Yamauchi, M and Koike, K}, title = {Study on expelled but viable zooxanthellae from giant clams, with an emphasis on their potential as subsequent symbiont sources.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {e0220141}, pmid = {31323069}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Larva ; Photoperiod ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Unlike most bivalve shellfishes, giant clams (tridacnines) harbor symbiotic microalgae (zooxanthellae) in their fleshy bodies. Zooxanthellae are not maternally inherited by tridacnine offspring, hence, the larvae must acquire zooxanthellae from external sources, although such algal populations or sources in the environment are currently unknown. It is well known that giant clams expel fecal pellets that contain viable zooxanthellae cells, but whether these cells are infectious or just an expelled overpopulation from the giant clams has not been investigated. In this study, we observed the ultrastructural and photosynthetic competencies of zooxanthellae in the fecal pellets of Tridacna crocea and further tested the ability of these cells to infect T. squamosa juveniles. The ultrastructure of the zooxanthellae cells showed that the cells were intact and had not undergone digestion. Additionally, these zooxanthellae cells showed a maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) as high as those retained in the mantle of the giant clam. Under the assumption that feces might provide symbionts to the larvae of other giant clams, fecal pellets from Tridacna squamosa and T. crocea were given to artificially hatched 1-day-old T. squamosa larvae. On the 9th day, 15-34% of the larvae provided with the fecal pellets took up zooxanthellae in their stomach, and on the 14th day, zooxanthellae cells reached the larval margin, indicating the establishment of symbiosis. The rate reaching this stage was highest, ca. 5.3%, in the larvae given whole (nonhomogenized) pellets from T. crocea. The composition of zooxanthellae genera contained in the larvae were similar to those in the fecal pellets, although the abundance ratios were significantly different. This study is the first to demonstrate the potential of giant clam fecal pellets as symbiont vectors to giant clam larvae. These results also demonstrate the possibility that fecal pellets are a source of zooxanthellae in coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid31321745, year = {2019}, author = {Tapoi, L and Ureche, C and Sascau, R and Badarau, S and Covic, A}, title = {Atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease conundrum: an update.}, journal = {Journal of nephrology}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {909-917}, pmid = {31321745}, issn = {1724-6059}, mesh = {Anticoagulants/*therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation/*complications/drug therapy ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*complications ; Thromboembolism/*etiology/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and it is frequently encountered in chronic kidney disease (CKD) subjects. CKD patients are already at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) complications and the addition of AF further aggravates the prognosis. Data is missing regarding on how to best approach CKD patients with AF, due to lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). AF and CKD have a double edged-sword relationship. On one hand, there are kidney-specific mechanisms which can alter cardiac structure and predispose to AF, and on the other hand the development of AF itself can accelerate the progression of CKD. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of these two entities raises serious issues concerning the balance between bleeding and thrombotic risk. Anticoagulant treatment can be challenging, especially in end stage renal disease (ESRD), where the net clinical benefit is still unclear. The decision of rate vs. rhythm control lies mostly on general consensus, rather than on RCTs. The purpose of this review is to reinforce the symbiotic relationship between AF and CKD, to briefly summarize the current state of the therapeutic approach in this particular population and to highlight novel potential therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid31321528, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, Z and Gao, W and Liu, X and Chen, P and Lu, W and Wang, F and Li, H and Sun, Q and Zhang, H}, title = {Efficient production of polysaccharide by Chaetomium globosum CGMCC 6882 through co-culture with host plant Gynostemma pentaphyllum.}, journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering}, volume = {42}, number = {11}, pages = {1731-1738}, doi = {10.1007/s00449-019-02169-8}, pmid = {31321528}, issn = {1615-7605}, mesh = {Chaetomium/*growth & development ; *Fungal Polysaccharides/biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Gynostemma/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungus, as a new kind of microbial resources and separated from plants, has attracted increasing attention due to its ability to synthesize the same or similar bioactive secondary metabolites as the host plants. Nevertheless, the effects of the symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and elicitors existed in host plant on metabolite production are not adequately understood. In the present work, the impacts of elicitors (ginseng saponin and puerarin) and symbiotic microorganisms on endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum CGMCC 6882 synthesizing polysaccharide were evaluated. Results show that the polysaccharide titers increased from 2.36 to 3.88 g/L and 3.67 g/L with the addition of 16 μg/L ginseng saponin and puerarin, respectively. Moreover, the maximum polysaccharide titer reached 4.55 g/L when C. globosum CGMCC 6882 was co-cultured with UV-irradiated G. pentaphyllum. This work brings a significant contribution to the research and interpretation of the relationship between endophytic fungus and its host plant.}, } @article {pmid31317283, year = {2019}, author = {Ali, HRK and Hemeda, NF and Abdelaliem, YF}, title = {Symbiotic cellulolytic bacteria from the gut of the subterranean termite Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux and their role in cellulose digestion.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {111}, pmid = {31317283}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {The subterranean termite Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux is considered as an important pest that could cause severe damage to buildings, furniture, silos of grain and crops or any material containing cellulose. This species of termites is widespread in Egypt and Africa. The lower termite's ability to digest cellulose depends on the association of symbiotic organisms gut that digest cellulose (flagellates and bacteria). In this study, 33 different bacterial isolates were obtained from the gut of the termite P. hypostoma which were collected using cellulose traps. Strains were grown on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a sole source of carbon. Cellulolytic strains were isolated in two different cellulose medium (mineral salt medium containing carboxymethylcellulose as the sole carbon source and agar cellulose medium). Five isolates showed significant cellulolytic activity identified by a Congo red assay which gives clear zone. Based on biochemical tests and sequencing of 16s rRNA genes these isolates were identified as Paenibacillus lactis, Lysinibacillus macrolides, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Lysinibacillus fusiformis and Bacillus cereus, that deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MG991563, MG991564, MG991565, MG991566 and MG991567, respectively.}, } @article {pmid31316089, year = {2019}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Kukwa, M and Rikkinen, J and Schmidt, AR}, title = {Crustose lichens with lichenicolous fungi from Paleogene amber.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {10360}, pmid = {31316089}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Amber ; Fossils/*microbiology ; Fungi/classification/*isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Russia ; }, abstract = {Lichens, symbiotic consortia of lichen-forming fungi and their photosynthetic partners have long had an extremely poor fossil record. However, recently over 150 new lichens were identified from European Paleogene amber and here we analyse crustose lichens from the new material. Three fossil lichens belong to the extant genus Ochrolechia (Ochrolechiaceae, Lecanoromycetes) and one fossil has conidiomata similar to those produced by modern fungi of the order Arthoniales (Arthoniomycetes). Intriguingly, two fossil Ochrolechia specimens host lichenicolous fungi of the genus Lichenostigma (Lichenostigmatales, Arthoniomycetes). This confirms that both Ochrolechia and Lichenostigma already diversified in the Paleogene and demonstrates that also the specific association between the fungi had evolved by then. The new fossils provide a minimum age constraint for both genera at 34 million years (uppermost Eocene).}, } @article {pmid31315786, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, H and Suo, J and Zhu, J}, title = {[Therapeutic Relevance of Human Microbiota and Lung Cancer].}, journal = {Zhongguo fei ai za zhi = Chinese journal of lung cancer}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {464-469}, pmid = {31315786}, issn = {1999-6187}, mesh = {Carcinogenesis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*microbiology/pathology/*therapy ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome is closely related to human health status. Disruption of the symbiotic balance of the human microbiome is commonly found in systematic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and chronic gastric diseases. The human microbiome confers benefits or disease susceptibility to the human body through multiple pathways, associated with approximately 20% of malignancies. The incidence and mortality of lung cancer (LC) in men in China are the highest among all malignancies, which is a serious threat to human health. Emerging evidence has suggested that the human microbiota may be closely related to lung cancer at multiple levels, e.g., by affecting metabolic, inflammatory, or immune pathways. At the same time, the human microbiota affects the efficacy of lung cancer on chemoradiotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy and other treatments. Immunotherapy is a promising method for the treatment of malignancies such as lung cancer, but the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients is heterogeneous. Preclinical studies based on lung cancer cell lines suggest that the intestinal microbiota can modulate responses to anti--PD-1 therapy through interactions with the host immune system. But for lung cancer patients, whether the intestinal flora can still regulate immunotherapy remains controversial. In this mini-review, we summarize current research findings describing therapeutic relevance of human microbiota and lung cancer. A better knowledge of the interplay between the human microbiome and lung cancer may promote the development of innovative strategies for prevention and personalized treatment in lung cancer.}, } @article {pmid31315633, year = {2019}, author = {Durandau, G and Farina, D and Asín-Prieto, G and Dimbwadyo-Terrer, I and Lerma-Lara, S and Pons, JL and Moreno, JC and Sartori, M}, title = {Voluntary control of wearable robotic exoskeletons by patients with paresis via neuromechanical modeling.}, journal = {Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {91}, pmid = {31315633}, issn = {1743-0003}, support = {803035/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; 611695//FP7 Ideas: European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adult ; *Computer Simulation ; Electromyography/methods ; *Exoskeleton Device ; Humans ; Male ; Neurological Rehabilitation/*instrumentation/methods ; Paresis/*rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord Injuries/rehabilitation ; Stroke Rehabilitation/instrumentation ; *User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Research efforts in neurorehabilitation technologies have been directed towards creating robotic exoskeletons to restore motor function in impaired individuals. However, despite advances in mechatronics and bioelectrical signal processing, current robotic exoskeletons have had only modest clinical impact. A major limitation is the inability to enable exoskeleton voluntary control in neurologically impaired individuals. This hinders the possibility of optimally inducing the activity-driven neuroplastic changes that are required for recovery.

METHODS: We have developed a patient-specific computational model of the human musculoskeletal system controlled via neural surrogates, i.e., electromyography-derived neural activations to muscles. The electromyography-driven musculoskeletal model was synthesized into a human-machine interface (HMI) that enabled poststroke and incomplete spinal cord injury patients to voluntarily control multiple joints in a multifunctional robotic exoskeleton in real time.

RESULTS: We demonstrated patients' control accuracy across a wide range of lower-extremity motor tasks. Remarkably, an increased level of exoskeleton assistance always resulted in a reduction in both amplitude and variability in muscle activations as well as in the mechanical moments required to perform a motor task. Since small discrepancies in onset time between human limb movement and that of the parallel exoskeleton would potentially increase human neuromuscular effort, these results demonstrate that the developed HMI precisely synchronizes the device actuation with residual voluntary muscle contraction capacity in neurologically impaired patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Continuous voluntary control of robotic exoskeletons (i.e. event-free and task-independent) has never been demonstrated before in populations with paretic and spastic-like muscle activity, such as those investigated in this study. Our proposed methodology may open new avenues for harnessing residual neuromuscular function in neurologically impaired individuals via symbiotic wearable robots.}, } @article {pmid31314912, year = {2019}, author = {Galindo-Castañeda, T and Brown, KM and Kuldau, GA and Roth, GW and Wenner, NG and Ray, S and Schneider, H and Lynch, JP}, title = {Root cortical anatomy is associated with differential pathogenic and symbiotic fungal colonization in maize.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {11}, pages = {2999-3014}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13615}, pmid = {31314912}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Fusarium/pathogenicity ; Mycelium/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zea mays/*anatomy & histology/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Root anatomical phenotypes vary among maize (Zea mays) cultivars and may have adaptive value by modifying the metabolic cost of soil exploration. However, the microbial trade-offs of these phenotypes are unknown. We hypothesized that nodal roots of maize with contrasting cortical anatomy have different patterns of mutualistic and pathogenic fungal colonization. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in the field and mesocosms, root rots in the field, and Fusarium verticillioides colonization in mesocosms were evaluated in maize genotypes with contrasting root cortical anatomy. Increased aerenchyma and decreased living cortical area were associated with decreased mycorrhizal colonization in mesocosm and field experiments with inbred genotypes. In contrast, mycorrhizal colonization of hybrids increased with larger aerenchyma lacunae; this increase coincided with larger root diameters of hybrid roots. F. verticillioides colonization was inversely correlated with living cortical area in mesocosm-grown inbreds, and no relation was found between root rots and living cortical area or aerenchyma in field-grown hybrids. Root rots were positively correlated with cortical cell file number and inversely correlated with cortical cell size. Mycorrhizae and root rots were inversely correlated in field-grown hybrids. We conclude that root anatomy is associated with differential effects on pathogens and mycorrhizal colonization of nodal roots in maize.}, } @article {pmid31314666, year = {2019}, author = {Martínez-Medina, A and Fernández, I and Pescador, L and Romero-Puertas, MC and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Trichoderma harzianum triggers an early and transient burst of nitric oxide and the upregulation of PHYTOGB1 in tomato roots.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {1640564}, pmid = {31314666}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptional Activation/genetics ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; *Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {We recently demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) accumulation and PHYTOGB1 transcriptional regulation are early components of the regulatory pathway that is activated in tomato roots during the onset of the mycorrhizal symbiosis between Rhizophagus irregularis and tomato roots. We further showed that the mycorrhizal interaction was associated with a specific NO-related signature, different from that triggered by the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Here, we extend our investigation by exploring the NO- and PHYTOGB1-related root responses elicited by another root mutualistic endosymbiotic fungus: Trichoderma harzianum T-78. By using T-78 in vitro-grown cultures, we found that T-78 triggered an early and transient burst of NO in tomato roots during the first hours after the interaction. T-78 also elicited the early upregulation of PHYTOGB1, which was maintained during the analyzed timespan. By using glass-house bioassays, we found that in a well-established tomato-T-78 symbiosis, NO root levels were maintained at basal level while PHYTOGB1 expression remained upregulated. Our results demonstrate that the T-78 symbiosis is associated with a rapid and transient burst of NO in the host roots and the transcriptional activation of PHYTOGB1 from early stages of the interaction until the establishment of the symbiosis, most likely to control NO levels and favor the mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31314571, year = {2019}, author = {Gorreja, F and Rush, ST and Kasper, DL and Meng, D and Walker, WA}, title = {The developmentally regulated fetal enterocyte gene, ZP4, mediates anti-inflammation by the symbiotic bacterial surface factor polysaccharide A on Bacteroides fragilis.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology}, volume = {317}, number = {4}, pages = {G398-G407}, pmid = {31314571}, issn = {1522-1547}, support = {P30 DK040561/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R25 DK103579/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P01 DK033506/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Bacteroides fragilis/*chemistry ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CXCL5/biosynthesis/genetics ; Enterocytes/drug effects/*metabolism ; Fetus/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/drug effects ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-8/biosynthesis/genetics ; Polysaccharides/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism ; Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Initial colonizing bacteria play a critical role in completing the development of the immune system in the gastrointestinal tract of infants. Yet, the interaction of colonizing bacterial organisms with the developing human intestine favors inflammation over immune homeostasis. This characteristic of bacterial-intestinal interaction partially contributes to the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating premature infant intestinal inflammatory disease. However, paradoxically some unique pioneer bacteria (initial colonizing species) have been shown to have a beneficial effect on the homeostasis of the immature intestine and the prevention of inflammation. We have reported that one such pioneer bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis), and its surface component polysaccharide A (PSA) inhibit IL-1β-induced inflammation in a human primary fetal small intestinal cell line (H4 cells). In this study, using transcription profiling of H4 cellular RNA after pretreatment with or without PSA before an inflammatory stimulation of IL-1β, we have begun to further determine the cellular mechanism for anti-inflammation. We show that a developmentally regulated gene, zona pellucida protein 4 (ZP4), is uniquely elevated after IL-1β stimulation and reduced with PSA exposure. ZP4 was known as a sperm receptor-mediating species-specific binding protein in the initial life of mammals. However, its intestinal epithelial function is unclear. We found that ZP4 is a developmentally regulated gene involved with immune function and regulated by both Toll-like receptor 2 and 4. Knockdown of ZP4-affected PSA inhibited IL-8 mRNA expression in response to IL-1β. This represents an initial study of ZP4 innate immune function in immature enterocytes. This study may lead to new opportunity for efficient treatment of NEC.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study extends previous observations to define the cellular mechanisms of polysaccharide A-induced anti-inflammation in immature enterocytes using transcription profiling of enterocyte genes after preexposure to polysaccharide A before an inflammatory stimulus with IL-1β.}, } @article {pmid31313689, year = {2019}, author = {Guerreiro, M and Sousa Guerreiro, C and Cravo, M}, title = {Irritable bowel syndrome: how can symptoms and quality of life be improved with diet?.}, journal = {Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {377-382}, doi = {10.1097/MCO.0000000000000589}, pmid = {31313689}, issn = {1473-6519}, mesh = {Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Glutens/metabolism ; Humans ; *Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diet therapy/physiopathology ; Polymers/metabolism ; Prebiotics ; *Quality of Life ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article aims to review the current scientific evidence of dietary approaches to control the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

RECENT FINDINGS: In the last decade, there was an important evolution in the study of the low fermentable oligo, di, mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet (LFD). Current scientific evidence suggests a significant efficacy in the overall control of symptoms. LFD seems to be effective in improving quality of life. Recent studies suggest that LFD is effective and nutritionally well tolerated also in the long term, and longer adherence may contribute to greater effectiveness in improving depression. There is insufficient scientific evidence for the recommendation of gluten exclusion in IBS therapy, and some authors still suggest that the efficacy of this approach results from the limited ingestion of fructans. There is a promising efficacy of pre, pro, and symbiotic supplements, but there is no consensus on the most appropriate and effective strains in each case.

SUMMARY: Given the poor evidence and the pathophysiological variability of IBS, the interest of each therapeutic option should be always evaluated individually. Nevertheless, LFD is currently the dietary approach with a higher degree of scientific evidence.}, } @article {pmid31313020, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, M and Soyano, T and Yano, K and Hayashi, M and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {ERN1 and CYCLOPS coordinately activate NIN signaling to promote infection thread formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {132}, number = {5}, pages = {641-653}, pmid = {31313020}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes engage in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, collectively called rhizobia, under nitrogen-limited conditions. In many legumes, the root invasion of rhizobia is mediated by infection threads (ITs), tubular invaginations of the host cell wall and plasma membrane, developed from infection foci of deformed root hairs. IT formation is regulated by a series of signal transduction in host root. Nodulation signals activate the host transcription factor (TF), CYCLOPS, which directly induces expression of two TF genes, ERF REQUIRED FOR NODULATION1 (ERN1) and NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), essential for IT development. Here, we explored the relationship among these three symbiotic TF genes in the model legume Lotus japonicus and examined how their interplay contributes to IT formation. qRT-PCR analysis showed that NIN expression induced by rhizobial infection was attenuated in ern1-1, and further declined in cyclops-3 ern1-1. ERN1 overexpression led to induction of NIN expression in cyclops-3 ern1-1 in the presence of rhizobia. Thus, in addition to CYCLOPS, ERN1 is able to increase the NIN expression level depending on infection. Furthermore, consistent with this transcriptional hierarchy, ectopic expression of ERN1 as well as NIN suppressed the IT-deficient cyclops-3 phenotype, but ERN1 failed to confer ITs in the nin-2 root. However, the ern1-1 symbiotic epidermal phenotype was not suppressed by the NIN ectopic expression. The cyclops-3 ern1-1 double mutant was less sensitive to rhizobial infection than the single mutants and defective in the symbiotic root hair response at earlier stages. This more severe phenotype of the double mutant suggests a role for ERN1 that independent of the CYCLOPS-mediated transcriptional regulation. We conclude that ERN1 is involved in regulating NIN expression in addition to CYCLOPS, and these TFs coordinately promote the symbiotic root hair response and IT development. Our data help to reveal the extensive role of ERN1 in root nodule symbiosis signaling.}, } @article {pmid31312870, year = {2020}, author = {Shih, JL and Selph, KE and Wall, CB and Wallsgrove, NJ and Lesser, MP and Popp, BN}, title = {Trophic Ecology of the Tropical Pacific Sponge Mycale grandis Inferred from Amino Acid Compound-Specific Isotopic Analyses.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {495-510}, pmid = {31312870}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Amino Acids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Isotopes/analysis ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many sponges host abundant and active microbial communities that may play a role in the uptake of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by the sponge holobiont, although the mechanism of DOM uptake and metabolism is uncertain. Bulk and compound-specific isotopic analysis of whole sponge, isolated sponge cells, and isolated symbiotic microbial cells of the shallow water tropical Pacific sponge Mycale grandis were used to elucidate the trophic relationships between the host sponge and its associated microbial community. δ[15]N and δ[13]C values of amino acids in M. grandis isolated sponge cells are not different from those of its bacterial symbionts. Consequently, there is no difference in trophic position of the sponge and its symbiotic microbes indicating that M. grandis sponge cell isolates do not display amino acid isotopic characteristics typical of metazoan feeding. Furthermore, both the isolated microbial and sponge cell fractions were characterized by a similarly high ΣV value-a measure of bacterial-re-synthesis of organic matter calculated from the sum of variance among individual δ[15]N values of trophic amino acids. These high ΣV values observed in the sponge suggest that M. grandis is not reliant on translocated photosynthate from photosymbionts or feeding on water column picoplankton, but obtains nutrition through the uptake of amino acids of bacterial origin. Our results suggest that direct assimilation of bacterially synthesized amino acids from its symbionts, either in a manner similar to translocation observed in the coral holobiont or through phagotrophic feeding, is an important if not primary pathway of amino acid acquisition for M. grandis.}, } @article {pmid31311876, year = {2019}, author = {Xie, XG and Zhang, FM and Yang, T and Chen, Y and Li, XG and Dai, CC}, title = {Endophytic Fungus Drives Nodulation and N2 Fixation Attributable to Specific Root Exudates.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31311876}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Arachis/physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Models, Biological ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenols/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi play important roles in the modification of ecosystem productivity; however, the underlying mechanisms are only partly understood. A 2-year field plot experiment verified that the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris increased peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields and significantly increased nodulation and N2 fixation regardless of whether N fertilizers were added. Root exudates collected from P. liquidambaris-colonized plants significantly improved nodulation and N2 fixation. Rhizosphere stimulation experiments further showed that colonized root exudates had significantly decreased soil nitrate (NO3[-]) concentrations, with decreased abundance and diversity of ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA). In contrast, the abundance and diversity of diazotrophs significantly increased, and most diazotrophs identified were peanut nodulation-related strains (Bradyrhizobium sp.). P. liquidambaris symbiosis increased the expression of phenolic and flavonoid synthesis-related genes, and the derived phenolics and flavonoids could effectively increase the chemotaxis, biofilm formation, and nodC gene expression (nodulation-related biological processes) of the Bradyrhizobium strain. Metabolic pattern analysis showed that phenolics and flavonoids are more likely to accumulate to higher levels in the rhizosphere soil of peanuts colonized with P. liquidambaris Finally, a synthetic root exudate experiment further confirmed the underlying mechanisms for the P. liquidambaris-induced improvement in nodulation and N2 fixation, i.e., that the specific root exudates derived from P. liquidambaris colonization decrease nitrate concentration and increase the population and biological activities of peanut nodulation-related Bradyrhizobium species, which beneficially enhance peanut-Bradyrhizobium interactions. Therefore, this study is the first to provide new insight into a positive relationship between an exotic endophytic fungus, crop nodulation, and N2 fixation increase.IMPORTANCE Endophytic fungi play an important role in balancing the ecosystem and boosting host growth; however, the underpinning mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we found that endophytic fungal colonization with P. liquidambaris significantly increased the productivity, nodulation, and N2 fixation of peanuts through the secretion of specific root exudates. We provide a reasonable mechanism explaining how P. liquidambaris promotes peanut nodulation and N2 fixation, whereby the specific root exudates produced by P. liquidambaris colonization decrease rhizosphere soil nitrate (NO3[-]) and increase the population and biological activities of peanut-nodulating-related Bradyrhizobium strains, which is beneficial to enhancing the peanut-Bradyrhizobium symbiotic interaction. Our study provides reliable empirical evidence to show the mechanism of how an exotic endophytic fungus drives an increase in nodulation and N2 fixation, which will be helpful in erecting a resource-efficient and sustainable agricultural system.}, } @article {pmid31311139, year = {2019}, author = {Nóbrega, V and Faria, M and Quintana, A and Kaufmann, M and Ferreira, A and Cordeiro, N}, title = {From a Basic Microalga and an Acetic Acid Bacterium Cellulose Producer to a Living Symbiotic Biofilm.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {31311139}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) has recently been the subject of a considerable amount of research, not only for its environmentally friendly biosynthesis, but also for its high potential in areas such as biomedicine or biomaterials. A symbiotic relationship between a photosynthetic microalga, Chlamydomonas debaryana, and a cellulose producer bacterium, Komagataeibacter saccharivorans, was established in order to obtain a viable and active biofilm. The effect of the growth media composition ratio on the produced living material was investigated, as well as the microalgae biomass quantity, temperature, and incubation time. The optimal temperature for higher symbiotic biofilm production was 30 °C with an incubation period of 14 days. The high microalgae presence, 0.75% w/v, and 60:40 HS:BG-11 medium (v/v) induced a biofilm microalgae incorporation rate of 85%. The obtained results report, for the first time, a successful symbiotic interaction developed in situ between an alkaline photosynthetic microalga and an acetic acid bacterium. These results are promising and open a new window to BC living biofilm applications in medical fields that have not yet been explored.}, } @article {pmid31310638, year = {2019}, author = {Sinnesael, A and Leroux, O and Janssens, SB and Smets, E and Panis, B and Verstraete, B}, title = {Is the bacterial leaf nodule symbiosis obligate for Psychotria umbellata? The development of a Burkholderia-free host plant.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {e0219863}, pmid = {31310638}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Burkholderia ; Environment ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Psychotria/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: The bacterial leaf nodule symbiosis is an interaction where bacteria are housed in specialised structures in the leaves of their plant host. In the Rubiaceae plant family, host plants interact with Burkholderia bacteria. This interaction might play a role in the host plant defence system. It is unique due to its high specificity; the vertical transmission of the endophyte to the next generation of the host plant; and its supposedly obligatory character. Although previous attempts have been made to investigate this obligatory character by developing Burkholderia-free plants, none have succeeded and nodulating plants were still produced. In order to investigate the obligatory character of this endosymbiosis, our aims were to develop Burkholderia-free Psychotria umbellata plants and to investigate the effect of the absence of the endophytes on the host in a controlled environment.

METHODS: The Burkholderia-free plants were obtained via embryo culture, a plant cultivation technique. In order to analyse the endophyte-free status, we screened the plants morphologically, microscopically and molecularly over a period of three years. To characterise the phenotype and growth of the in vitro aposymbiotic plants, we compared the growth of the Burkholderia-free plants to the nodulating plants under the same in vitro conditions.

KEY RESULTS: All the developed plants were Burkholderia-free and survived in a sterile in vitro environment. The growth analysis showed that plants without endophytes had a slower development.

CONCLUSIONS: Embryo culture is a cultivation technique with a high success rate for the development of Burkholderia-free plants of P. umbellata. The increased growth rate in vitro when the specific endophyte is present cannot be explained by possible benefits put forward in previous studies. This might indicate that the benefits of the endosymbiosis are not yet completely understood.}, } @article {pmid31309928, year = {2019}, author = {Brown, DG and Soto, R and Yandamuri, S and Stone, C and Dickey, L and Gomes-Neto, JC and Pastuzyn, ED and Bell, R and Petersen, C and Buhrke, K and Fujinami, RS and O'Connell, RM and Stephens, WZ and Shepherd, JD and Lane, TE and Round, JL}, title = {The microbiota protects from viral-induced neurologic damage through microglia-intrinsic TLR signaling.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31309928}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {GM007464/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; Investigator of Pathogenesis//Burroughs Wellcome Fund/International ; T32HD007491/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HG008962/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; DP2AT008746-01/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; AI055434/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI123106-04/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01AG047956/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; Center Grant/MSS_/Multiple Sclerosis Society/United Kingdom ; T32 HD007491/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Encephalitis, Viral/*pathology/*prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Germ-Free Life ; Mice ; Microglia/*immunology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes impact the function and development of the central nervous system (CNS); however, little is known about the contribution of the microbiota during viral-induced neurologic damage. We identify that commensals aid in host defense following infection with a neurotropic virus through enhancing microglia function. Germfree mice or animals that receive antibiotics are unable to control viral replication within the brain leading to increased paralysis. Microglia derived from germfree or antibiotic-treated animals cannot stimulate viral-specific immunity and microglia depletion leads to worsened demyelination. Oral administration of toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands to virally infected germfree mice limits neurologic damage. Homeostatic activation of microglia is dependent on intrinsic signaling through TLR4, as disruption of TLR4 within microglia, but not the entire CNS (excluding microglia), leads to increased viral-induced clinical disease. This work demonstrates that gut immune-stimulatory products can influence microglia function to prevent CNS damage following viral infection.}, } @article {pmid31307572, year = {2019}, author = {Bonfante, P}, title = {Algae and fungi move from the past to the future.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31307572}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Fungi ; Hyphae ; *Mycelium ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ability of photosynthetic algae to enter the hyphae of a soil fungus could tell us more about the evolution of these species and their potential for applications in the production of biofuel.}, } @article {pmid31307571, year = {2019}, author = {Du, ZY and Zienkiewicz, K and Vande Pol, N and Ostrom, NE and Benning, C and Bonito, GM}, title = {Algal-fungal symbiosis leads to photosynthetic mycelium.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31307571}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {DE-FG02-91ER20021//U.S. Department of Energy/International ; DE-SC0018409//U.S. Department of Energy/International ; DE-FC02-07ER64494//U.S. Department of Energy/International ; FP7/2007-2013 n° [627266]//European Union Seventh Framework Programme/International ; DEB 1737898//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Biofuels ; *Endocytosis ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mortierella/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycelium/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Stramenopiles/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions between free-living algae and fungi are widespread in nature and are hypothesized to have facilitated the evolution of land plants and lichens. In all known algal-fungal mutualisms, including lichens, algal cells remain external to fungal cells. Here, we report on an algal-fungal interaction in which Nannochloropsis oceanica algal cells become internalized within the hyphae of the fungus Mortierella elongata. This apparent symbiosis begins with close physical contact and nutrient exchange, including carbon and nitrogen transfer between fungal and algal cells as demonstrated by isotope tracer experiments. This mutualism appears to be stable, as both partners remain physiologically active over months of co-cultivation, leading to the eventual internalization of photosynthetic algal cells, which persist to function, grow and divide within fungal hyphae. Nannochloropsis and Mortierella are biotechnologically important species for lipids and biofuel production, with available genomes and molecular tool kits. Based on the current observations, they provide unique opportunities for studying fungal-algal mutualisms including mechanisms leading to endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31306759, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, H and Wang, M and Zhang, H and Wang, H and Lv, Z and Zhou, L and Zhong, Z and Lian, C and Cao, L and Li, C}, title = {An LRR-domain containing protein identified in Bathymodiolus platifrons serves as intracellular recognition receptor for the endosymbiotic methane-oxidation bacteria.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {354-360}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2019.07.032}, pmid = {31306759}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Mytilidae/*genetics/*immunology ; Phylogeny ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/chemistry/*genetics/*immunology ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {As domain species in seep and vent ecosystem, Bathymodioline mussels has been regarded as a model organism in investigating deep sea chemosymbiosis. However, mechanisms underlying their symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria, especially how the host recognizes symbionts, have remained largely unsolved. In the present study, a modified pull-down assay was conducted using enriched symbiotic methane-oxidation bacteria as bait and gill proteins of Bathymodiolus platifrons as a target to isolate pattern recognition receptors involved in the immune recognition of symbionts. As a result, a total of 47 proteins including BpLRR-1 were identified from the pull-down assay. It was found that complete cDNA sequence of BpLRR-1 contained an open reading frame of 1479 bp and could encode a protein of 492 amino acid residues with no signal peptide or transmembrane region but eight LRR motif and two EFh motif. The binding patterns of BpLRR-1 against microbial associated molecular patterns were subsequently investigated by surface plasmon resonance analysis and LPS pull-down assay. Consequently, BpLRR-1 was found with high binding affinity with LPS and suggested as a key molecule in recognizing symbionts. Besides, transcripts of BpLRR-1 were found decreased significantly during symbiont depletion assay yet increased rigorously during symbionts or nonsymbiotic Vibrio alginolyticus challenge, further demonstrating its participation in the chemosynthetic symbiosis. Collectively, these results suggest that BpLRR-1 could serve as an intracellular recognition receptor for the endosymbionts, providing new hints for understanding the immune recognition in symbiosis of B. platifrons.}, } @article {pmid31306482, year = {2019}, author = {Ntoukakis, V and Gifford, ML}, title = {Plant-microbe interactions: tipping the balance.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {18}, pages = {4583-4586}, pmid = {31306482}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology/virology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid31304965, year = {2019}, author = {Tian, H and Wang, R and Li, M and Dang, H and Solaiman, ZM}, title = {Molecular signal communication during arbuscular mycorrhizal formation induces significant transcriptional reprogramming of wheat (Triticum aestivum) roots.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {6}, pages = {1109-1119}, pmid = {31304965}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; *Triticum ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis begins with molecular signal communication (MSC) between AM fungi and the roots of the host plant. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the transcriptional profiles of wheat roots can be changed significantly by AM symbiotic signals, without direct contact.

METHODS: Non-mycorrhizal (NM) and MSC treatments involved burying filter membrane bags containing sterilized and un-sterilized inoculum of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, respectively. The bags physically separated roots and AM structures but allowed molecular signals to pass through. Extracted RNA from wheat roots was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS: Shoot total nitrogen and phosphorus content of wheat plants was decreased by the MSC treatment. A total of 2360 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1888 up-regulated DEGs and 472 down-regulated DEGs, were found dominantly distributed on chromosomes 2A, 2B, 2D, 3B, 5B and 5D. The expression of 59 and 121 genes was greatly up- and down-regulated, respectively. Only a portion of DEGs could be enriched into known terms during gene ontology analysis, and were mostly annotated to 'catalytic activity', 'protein metabolic process' and 'membrane' in the molecular function, biological process and cellular component ontology categories, respectively. More than 120 genes that may be involved in key processes during AM symbiosis development were regulated at the pre-physical contact stages.

CONCLUSIONS: The transcriptional profiles of wheat roots can be changed dramatically by MSC. Much of the information provided by our study is of great importance for understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31304328, year = {2018}, author = {Warraich, HJ and Califf, RM and Krumholz, HM}, title = {The digital transformation of medicine can revitalize the patient-clinician relationship.}, journal = {NPJ digital medicine}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {49}, pmid = {31304328}, issn = {2398-6352}, abstract = {Health professionals within the medical community feel that the principles of humanism in medicine have not been a point of emphasis for information and computer technology in healthcare. There is concern that the electronic health record is eroding the patient-clinician relationship and distancing clinicians from their patients. New analytic technologies, on the contrary, by taking over repetitive and mundane tasks, can provide an avenue to make medical care more patient-centered by freeing clinicians' time, and the time of the whole clinical care team, to engage with patients. Technology such as advanced speech recognition that optimizes clinicians' workflow could revitalize the patient-clinician relationship and perhaps also improve clinician well-being. Digital phenotyping can gain invaluable additional data from patients using technology that is already used for personal reasons by the majority of patients. The digital transformation of healthcare has the potential to make healthcare more humane and personalized, however, several important steps are needed to avoid the pitfalls that have come with prior iterations of information technology in medicine such as a heightened emphasis on data security and transparency. Both patients and clinicians should be involved from the early stages of development of medical technologies to ensure that they are person-centric. Technologists and engineers developing healthcare technologies should have experiences with the delivery of healthcare and the lives of patients and clinicians. These steps are necessary to develop a common commitment to the design concept that technology and humane care are not mutually exclusive, and in fact, can be symbiotic.}, } @article {pmid31303813, year = {2019}, author = {Vohník, M and Borovec, O and Kolaříková, Z and Sudová, R and Réblová, M}, title = {Extensive sampling and high-throughput sequencing reveal Posidoniomycesatricolor gen. et sp. nov. (Aigialaceae, Pleosporales) as the dominant root mycobiont of the dominant Mediterranean seagrass Posidoniaoceanica.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {59-86}, pmid = {31303813}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Seagrasses provide invaluable ecosystem services yet very little is known about their root mycobiont diversity and distribution. Here we focused on the dominant Mediterranean seagrass Posidoniaoceanica and assessed its root mycobiome at 32 localities covering most of the ecoregions in the NW Mediterranean Sea using light and scanning electron microscopy and tag-encoded 454-pyrosequencing. Microscopy revealed that the recently discovered dark septate endophytic association specific for P.oceanica is present at all localities and pyrosequencing confirmed that the P.oceanica root mycobiome is dominated by a single undescribed pleosporalean fungus, hitherto unknown from other hosts and ecosystems. Its numerous slow-growing isolates were obtained from surface-sterilised root segments at one locality and after prolonged cultivation, several of them produced viable sterile mycelium. To infer their phylogenetic relationships we sequenced and analysed the large (LSU) and small (SSU) subunit nrDNA, the ITS nrDNA and the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (RPB2). The fungus represents an independent marine biotrophic lineage in the Aigialaceae (Pleosporales) and is introduced here as Posidoniomycesatricolor gen. et sp. nov. Its closest relatives are typically plant-associated saprobes from marine, terrestrial and freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia and Central America. This study expands our knowledge and diversity of the Aigialaceae, adds a new symbiotic lifestyle to this family and provides a formal name for the dominant root mycobiont of the dominant Mediterranean seagrass.}, } @article {pmid31998413, year = {2019}, author = {Fehrer, J and Réblová, M and Bambasová, V and Vohník, M}, title = {The root-symbiotic Rhizoscyphus ericae aggregate and Hyaloscypha (Leotiomycetes) are congeneric: Phylogenetic and experimental evidence.}, journal = {Studies in mycology}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {195-225}, pmid = {31998413}, issn = {0166-0616}, abstract = {Data mining for a phylogenetic study including the prominent ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoscyphus ericae revealed nearly identical ITS sequences of the bryophilous Hyaloscypha hepaticicola suggesting they are conspecific. Additional genetic markers and a broader taxonomic sampling furthermore suggested that the sexual Hyaloscypha and the asexual Meliniomyces may be congeneric. In order to further elucidate these issues, type strains of all species traditionally treated as members of the Rhizoscyphus ericae aggregate (REA) and related taxa were subjected to phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, nrLSU, mtSSU, and rpb2 markers to produce comparable datasets while an in vitro re-synthesis experiment was conducted to examine the root-symbiotic potential of H. hepaticicola in the Ericaceae. Phylogenetic evidence demonstrates that sterile root-associated Meliniomyces, sexual Hyaloscypha and Rhizoscyphus, based on R. ericae, are indeed congeneric. To this monophylum also belongs the phialidic dematiaceous hyphomycetes Cadophora finlandica and Chloridium paucisporum. We provide a taxonomic revision of the REA; Meliniomyces and Rhizoscyphus are reduced to synonymy under Hyaloscypha. Pseudaegerita, typified by P. corticalis, an asexual morph of H. spiralis which is a core member of Hyaloscypha, is also transferred to the synonymy of the latter genus. Hyaloscypha melinii is introduced as a new root-symbiotic species from Central Europe. Cadophora finlandica and C. paucisporum are confirmed conspecific, and four new combinations in Hyaloscypha are proposed. Based on phylogenetic analyses, some sexually reproducing species can be attributed to their asexual counterparts for the first time whereas the majority is so far known only in the sexual or asexual state. Hyaloscypha bicolor sporulating in vitro is reported for the first time. Surprisingly, the mycological and mycorrhizal sides of the same coin have never been formally associated, mainly because the sexual and asexual morphs of these fungi have been studied in isolation by different research communities. Evaluating all these aspects allowed us to stabilize the taxonomy of a widespread and ecologically well-studied group of root-associated fungi and to link their various life-styles including saprobes, bryophilous fungi, root endophytes as well as fungi forming ericoid mycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae.}, } @article {pmid31966273, year = {2018}, author = {Sensui, N and Hirose, E}, title = {Cytoplasmic UV-R Absorption in an Integumentary Matrix (tunic) of Photosymbiotic Ascidian Colonies.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {57}, number = {}, pages = {e33}, pmid = {31966273}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {Noburu Sensui and Euichi Hirose (2018) In didemnid ascidians with cyanobacterial symbionts, the tunic has a specific peak absorbing ultraviolet radiation (UV-R) due to the presence of ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing compounds, which probably include mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The UV-R absorbing tunic is supposed to protect the symbionts in the common cloacal cavity of the host colony. The histological distribution of UV-R absorption in the tunic was examined using a UV light microscope equipped with a digital camera, from which the low-pass filter of the UV-sensitive image sensor was removed. The cell peripheries of tunic bladder cells and cell-like objects were visualized with the trans-illumination of UV light, indicating UV-R absorption at that site. In contrast, tunic matrix and vacuolar content of tunic bladder cells appeared to lack of UV-R absorption, allowing damaging wavelengths to penetrate. Accordingly, UV-absorbing compounds are expected to be contained in the cytoplasmic matrix of tunic bladder cells and possibly other types of tunic cells.}, } @article {pmid32004361, year = {2018}, author = {Ninness, C and Ninness, SK and Rumph, M and Lawson, D}, title = {The Emergence of Stimulus Relations: Human and Computer Learning.}, journal = {Perspectives on behavior science}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {121-154}, pmid = {32004361}, issn = {2520-8977}, abstract = {Traditionally, investigations in the area of stimulus equivalence have employed humans as experimental participants. Recently, however, artificial neural network models (often referred to as connectionist models [CMs]) have been developed to simulate performances seen among human participants when training various types of stimulus relations. Two types of neural network models have shown particular promise in recent years. RELNET has demonstrated its capacity to approximate human acquisition of stimulus relations using simulated matching-to-sample (MTS) procedures (e.g., Lyddy & Barnes-Holmes Journal of Speech and Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis, 2, 14-24, 2007). Other newly developed connectionist algorithms train stimulus relations by way of compound stimuli (e.g., Tovar & Chavez The Psychological Record, 62, 747-762, 2012; Vernucio & Debert The Psychological Record, 66, 439-449, 2016). What makes all of these CMs interesting to many behavioral researchers is their apparent ability to simulate the acquisition of diversified stimulus relations as an analogue to human learning; that is, neural networks learn over a series of training epochs such that these models become capable of deriving novel or untrained stimulus relations. With the goal of explaining these quickly evolving approaches to practical and experimental endeavors in behavior analysis, we offer an overview of existing CMs as they apply to behavior-analytic theory and practice. We provide a brief overview of derived stimulus relations as applied to human academic remediation, and we argue that human and simulated human investigations have symbiotic experimental potential. Additionally, we provide a working example of a neural network referred to as emergent virtual analytics (EVA). This model demonstrates a process by which artificial neural networks can be employed by behavior-analytic researchers to understand, simulate, and predict derived stimulus relations made by human participants.}, } @article {pmid31504077, year = {2017}, author = {Dupre, C and Grasis, JA and Steele, RE and Schnitzler, CE and Juliano, CE}, title = {Hydroidfest 2016: celebrating a renaissance in hydrozoan research.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {7}, pmid = {31504077}, issn = {2041-9139}, abstract = {Hydroidfest 2016 took place on September 23-25 at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay, CA. The meeting brought together cnidarian researchers, with an emphasis on those studying hydrozoans, from North America and other parts of the world. The scientific topics discussed were diverse, including sessions focused on development, regeneration, aging, immunology, symbiosis, and neurobiology. Thanks to the application of modern biological technologies, hydrozoans and other cnidarians are now fertile ground for research in numerous disciplines. Moreover, their amenability to comparative approaches is a powerful asset that was repeatedly showcased during the meeting. Here, we give a brief account of the work that was presented and the opportunities that emerged from the ensuing discussions.}, } @article {pmid31390419, year = {2017}, author = {Bishop, MGH}, title = {The Athenæum Club, the Royal Society and the reform of dentistry in nineteenth-century Britain: A research report.}, journal = {Notes and records of the Royal Society of London}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {61-70}, doi = {10.1098/rsnr.2016.0006}, pmid = {31390419}, issn = {0035-9149}, abstract = {In 1978 M. J. Peterson examined the role played by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) in nineteenth-century dental reform, noting the establishment of its Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) in 1859. In a paper published in Notes and Records in 2010, the present author described the influential role played by Fellows of the Royal Society during the nineteenth-century campaign for dental reform led by Sir John Tomes. Key players in this campaign, including the dentists Samuel Cartwright, Thomas Bell and James Salter, were, as well as being Fellows of the Royal Society, members of the Athenæum Club. The present research report indicates the roles played by those members of the Athenæum Club who were also Fellows of the Royal Society in the scientific and professional reform of nineteenth-century dentistry. Although it does not attempt to document meetings at the Club, it suggests the potential for a symbiotic effect between the Royal Society and the Athenæum. Where the previous paper proposed an active scientific role for the Royal Society in reforming dentistry, this paper presents the Athenæum as a significant extension of the sphere of influence into the cultural realm for those who did enjoy membership of both organizations.}, } @article {pmid31961542, year = {2017}, author = {Hitzenberger, JF and Dral, PO and Meinhardt, U and Clark, T and Thiel, W and Kivala, M and Drewello, T}, title = {Stability of Odd- Versus Even-Electron Gas-Phase (Quasi)Molecular Ions Derived from Pyridine-Substituted N-Heterotriangulenes.}, journal = {ChemPlusChem}, volume = {82}, number = {2}, pages = {163}, doi = {10.1002/cplu.201600596}, pmid = {31961542}, issn = {2192-6506}, abstract = {Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany and at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Germany. The cover picture shows the symbiosis of quantum chemical theory and gas-phase collision experiment investigating the influence of the electronic state on stability of the radical cation ([M][+] [.]) and protonated triangulene ([M+H][+]). The dissociation of the radical cation requires less energy due to the formation of an energetically favored extended aromatic π-system. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.201600416.}, } @article {pmid31966164, year = {2016}, author = {Yuyama, I and Nakamura, T and Higuchi, T and Hidaka, M}, title = {Different Stress Tolerances of Juveniles of the Coral Acropora tenuis Associated with Clades C1 and D Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {e19}, pmid = {31966164}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {Ikuko Yuyama, Takashi Nakamura, Tomihiko Higuchi, and Michio Hidaka (2016) Reef-building corals are often associated with multiple clades of symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium spp., where the relative composition of Symbiodinium can alter the phylogenetic properties (e.g., stress responsiveness, growth rate) of the host coral. The genus Symbiodinium contains nine clades, some of which behave differently in response to strong light and/or temperature stresses, for example, clade D Symbiodinium are thermally tolerant. However, previous studies are based on corals present in the field, and it is possible that the corals used in previous experiments did not contain single Symbiodinium clades. For an accurate assessment of the effects of each Symbiodinium clade on host thermal stress resistance, monoclonal cultures of clades C1 and D were inoculated into aposymbiotic juvenile polyps. Photosynthetic efficiency (maximum quantum yield: F v /F m) showed a decline at 30°C than at 25°C in both clades. Symbiodinium clade C1 showed a consistently higher rETRmax with larger fluctuations than clade D, with a lower survival rate of juveniles during thermal stress treatment. Under strong light exposure, corals containing clade C1 showed a greater decline in F v /F m (-74%), compared to decline in corals associated with clade D (-50%) after 3 hours. This is the first study to assess stress tolerances of juvenile corals in association with the monoclonal Symbiodinium clades C and D, and our results indicated greater tolerance of corals associated with clade D to strong light (500 μmol m[-2] s[-1]). However, it is difficult to determine the impact of high-temperature stress on coral-algae symbiosis from photosynthetic activity. At high temperatures, clade C1 Symbiodinium exhibited high photosynthetic activity, but host survival rates were higher in corals associated with clade D Symbiodinium. Since clade C1 has a relatively high photosynthetic activity under high temperatures, clade C1 symbiosis at high temperatures might have a negative impact on corals compared with clade D.}, } @article {pmid31966152, year = {2016}, author = {Limviriyakul, P and Tseng, LC and Hwang, JS and Shih, TW}, title = {Anomuran and Brachyuran Symbiotic Crabs in Coastal Areas between the Southern Ryukyu arc and the Coral Triangle.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {e7}, pmid = {31966152}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {Parinya Limviriyakul, Li-Chun Tseng, Jiang-Shiou Hwang, and Tung-Wei Shih (2016) Symbiotic anomuran and brachyuran crabs were identified after extensive surveys of reef zones, especially from sponges, scleractinian corals, crinoids, and sea urchins, in the coastal areas of the southern East China Sea. Twenty-nine species belonging to 17 genera, 9 families, and 2 infraorders were identified (3 were identified to the generic level). More crabs belonged to the infraorder Brachyura (82.8%) than to Anomura (17.2%). Two anomuran symbionts (Allogalathea elegans and Petrolisthes virgatus) and 5 brachyuran symbionts (Tetralia glaberrima, Tetralia rubridactyla, Trapezia cymodoce, Trapezia septata, and Cymo melanodactylus) are common in this area. Two species of Anomura (Lauriea simulata, Petrolisthes virgatus) and 3 of Brachyura (Gonatonotus nasutus, Tetralia aurantistellata and Tetralia nigrolineata) were identified for the first time from waters adjacent to Taiwan. These records represent the northernmost recorded of L. simulata and T. aurantistellata. The occurrence of P. virgatus is the second in the western Pacific Ocean. This study revealed the geospatial distribution of symbiotic crabs, which connects the region from the southern Ryukyu arc to the Coral Triangle, and provides the supporting taxonomic account of symbiotic anomuran and brachyuran crab fauna inhabiting the reef zone in northern Taiwan.}, } @article {pmid31529916, year = {2016}, author = {Titov, VN and Parchimovitch, RM}, title = {[The phylogenetic theory of general pathology. The becoming of function of at mitochondria at symbiosis of bacterial cells and archaea. Inconsistency of Randle cycle, regulation metabolism of fatty acids and glucose by insulin.].}, journal = {Klinicheskaia laboratornaia diagnostika}, volume = {61}, number = {7}, pages = {388-396}, doi = {10.18821/0860-2084-2016-61-7-388-396}, pmid = {31529916}, issn = {0869-2084}, abstract = {The implementation of Randle rule is not a cycle; fatty acids C4 - ketone bodies at interrelationships with glucose metabolite - pyruvate regulate production of mitochondria of acetyl-KoA by induction of substrate and its conversion in Krebs cycle, reactions of respiratory chain, oxidative phosphorylation and formation of ATP. In phylogenesis, the early substrate for formation of ATP by mitochondria is acetyl-KoA from C4 fatty acids 4; this is alternative A of induction by substrate adopted from archaea. The alternative B of induction in bacteria is based on synthesis of acetyl-KoA by mitohondria from pyruvate developed in cytosol from exogenous glucose. The insulin is late activator of absorption by glucose cells in phylogenesis; using induction by substrate, insulin inhibits absorption of fatty acids by cells and specifically activates absorption of glucose by them. The insulin activates absorption of glucose only by insulin-dependent cells by force of decreasing of "bioavailability" of fatty acids. These cells are preferred to be metabolize by mitochondria from times of archaea. The insulin, blocking lipolysis in insulin-dependent adipocytes "forces" mitochondria, instead of formation of acetyl-KoA from fatty acids, to produce it from pyruvate at activation of glycolysis and pyruvate-dehydrogenased complex. Under effect of insulin, mitochondria form acetyl-KoA and synthesize ATP from oleic mono-saturated fatty acids but not from palmitic saturated fatty acids. The kinetic parameters of second reaction and formation of ATP per unit of time (effectiveness) are much higher than in first reaction. The effectiveness of i9mplementation of alternative A in synthesis of ATP, kinetic parameters of production of acetyl-KoA in mitochondria in alternative A are more effective than in case of alternative B and metabolic conversion of glucose. The syndrome of resistance to insulin is, at the first place, pathology of metabolism of fatty acids and only in the second place metabolism of glucose. The incapacity of insulin to block lipolysis in the phylogenetically earlier visceral fatty cells is the basis of resistance.}, } @article {pmid31966139, year = {2015}, author = {Haryanti, D and Yasuda, N and Harii, S and Hidaka, M}, title = {High tolerance of symbiotic larvae of Pocillopora damicornis to thermal stress.}, journal = {Zoological studies}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {e52}, pmid = {31966139}, issn = {1810-522X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: When coral planulae, which use a horizontal mode of symbiont transmission, are inoculated with Symbiodinium, they suffer greater oxidative stress under strong light or high-temperature stress than non-symbiotic counterparts. Thus, dinoflagellate symbionts may become a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under stress. However, it remains unknown whether vertically transmitted symbionts negatively affect coral larvae under stress. We investigated the thermal tolerance of symbiotic planulae of a vertical transmitter coral, Pocillopora damicornis.

RESULTS: P. damicornis larvae, which have a large number of symbionts, survived the high-temperature treatment (32 °C) for 2 weeks. Significant reductions in Symbiodinium cell density were observed, but these did not lead to increased mortality of planulae during the 2-week experimental period. Although no significant difference was detected in the percentage of apoptotic cells between temperature treatment groups, pre-bleaching larvae exposed to 31 °C tended to exhibit higher percentages of apoptotic (TUNEL-positive) cells in the gastrodermis than 32 °C-treated larvae, which contained reduced numbers of Symbiodiniumcells.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotic larvae of P. damicornis survived well under high-temperature conditions, although their Symbiodinium cell density decreased. This suggests that P. damicornis larvae have the capacity to reduce the symbiont cell density without a harmful effect on their survivorship under thermal stress. Further studies on antioxidant systems and possible suppression of apoptotic pathways are necessary to elucidate the mechanism underlying the high thermal tolerance of symbiotic larvae of P.damicornis.}, } @article {pmid31766793, year = {2008}, author = {Fabricius, KE and De'ath, G}, title = {PHOTOSYNTHETIC SYMBIONTS AND ENERGY SUPPLY DETERMINE OCTOCORAL BIODIVERSITY IN CORAL REEFS.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {89}, number = {11}, pages = {3163-3173}, doi = {10.1890/08-0005.1}, pmid = {31766793}, issn = {1939-9170}, abstract = {Many coral reef organisms live in symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic microalgae. This symbiosis extends the energy resources available to reef organisms, thereby potentially influencing biodiversity. In octocorals, about one-half of the taxa contain photosynthetic symbionts while the rest do not, and thus octocorals are an ideal model to assess the relationships between biodiversity, spatial and environmental factors, and photosynthetic symbionts. Data collected from 1106 sites on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, between 12° and 24° S showed that taxa with photosynthetic symbionts (phototrophs) had higher abundances, wider ranges, and a wider spread of locations than taxa without symbionts (heterotrophs). In phototrophic assemblages, spatial turnover comprised both exchange and loss of taxa, and their richness was high across a broad range of environmental conditions. In contrast, heterotrophs were uncommon, had short ranges, and were located where energy supply was highest and disturbance lowest. Turnover between heterotrophic assemblages comprised taxonomic loss rather than exchange of taxa. The biodiversity patterns and differences between phototrophic and heterotrophic octocorals are similar to those recorded in more spatially limited studies of phototrophic sponges and hard corals, and heterotrophic sponges. This study therefore suggests that the association, or not, with photosynthetic symbionts, and spatial and environmental factors related to energy supply and disturbance are principal drivers of biodiversity, community composition, and ranges of coral reef benthos.}, } @article {pmid31302359, year = {2019}, author = {Oliva, G and Ángeles, R and Rodríguez, E and Turiel, S and Naddeo, V and Zarra, T and Belgiorno, V and Muñoz, R and Lebrero, R}, title = {Comparative evaluation of a biotrickling filter and a tubular photobioreactor for the continuous abatement of toluene.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {380}, number = {}, pages = {120860}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.120860}, pmid = {31302359}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Carbon Dioxide/chemistry ; Filtration/*instrumentation ; Microalgae/genetics/metabolism ; *Photobioreactors ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Toluene/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The negative effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on humans' health and the environment have boosted the enforcement of regulations, resulting in the need of effective and environmentally friendly off-gas treatment technologies. In this work, the synergism between microalgae and bacteria was investigated as a sustainable platform to enhance the biological degradation of toluene, herein selected as a model VOC. An innovative algal-bacterial tubular photobioreactor (TPBR) was systematically compared with a conventional biotrickling filter (BTF). The BTF supported average removal efficiencies close to those obtained in the TPBR (86 ± 9% and 88 ± 4%, respectively) at the highest inlet load (∼23 g m[3] h[-1]) and lowest gas residence time (0.75 min). However, the BTF was more sensitive towards the accumulation of secondary metabolites. In this regard, photosynthetic O2 supplementation (resulting in dissolved oxygen concentrations of ∼7.3 mg O2 L[-1]) and CO2 consumption by microalgae (which reduced the impact of acidification) enhanced toluene abatement performance and process stability.}, } @article {pmid31301004, year = {2019}, author = {Li, JKM and Chiu, PKF and Ng, CF}, title = {The impact of microbiome in urological diseases: a systematic review.}, journal = {International urology and nephrology}, volume = {51}, number = {10}, pages = {1677-1697}, pmid = {31301004}, issn = {1573-2584}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; Urologic Diseases/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The term microbiome is used to signify the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that share our body space, in which there were increasing evidences to suggest that they might have potential roles in various medical conditions. While the study of microbiome in the urinary system is not as robust as the systems included in the Human Microbiome Project, there are still evidences in the literature showing that microbiome may have a role in urological diseases. Therefore, we would like to perform a systematic review on the topic and summarize the available evidence on the impact of microbiome on urological diseases.

METHODOLOGY: This review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. After screening 589 abstracts and including additional studies (such as references from review papers), 76 studies were included for review and discussion.

RESULTS: Studies had suggested that there were correlations of microbiome of different body cavities (e.g., fecal, urinary and seminal fluid) with urological diseases. Also, different diseases would have different microbiome profile in different body cavities. Unfortunately, the studies on the association of microbiome and urological diseases were still either weak or inconsistent.

CONCLUSION: Studies suggested that there might be some relationship between microbiome and various urological diseases. However, further large-scale studies with control of confounding factors should be performed under a standardized methodology in order to have better understanding of the relationship. Also, more standardized reporting protocol for microbiome studies should be considered for better communications in future studies.}, } @article {pmid31300838, year = {2020}, author = {White, JA and Styer, A and Rosenwald, LC and Curry, MM and Welch, KD and Athey, KJ and Chapman, EG}, title = {Endosymbiotic Bacteria Are Prevalent and Diverse in Agricultural Spiders.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {472-481}, pmid = {31300838}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Entomology/*methods ; Food Deprivation ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Kentucky ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spiders/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts are common in arthropods, but their distribution and prevalence are poorly characterized in many host taxa. Initial surveys have suggested that vertically transmitted symbionts may be particularly common in spiders (Araneae). Here, we used diagnostic PCR and high-throughput sequencing to evaluate symbiont infection in 267 individual spiders representing 14 species (3 families) of agricultural spiders. We found 27 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that are likely endosymbiotic, including multiple strains of Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Cardinium, which are all vertically transmitted and frequently associated with reproductive manipulation of arthropod hosts. Additional strains included Rickettsiella, Spiroplasma, Rhabdochlamydia, and a novel Rickettsiales, all of which could range from pathogenic to mutualistic in their effects upon their hosts. Seventy percent of spider species had individuals that tested positive for one or more endosymbiotic OTUs, and specimens frequently contained multiple symbiotic strain types. The most symbiont-rich species, Idionella rugosa, had eight endosymbiotic OTUs, with as many as five present in the same specimen. Individual specimens within infected spider species had a variety of symbiotypes, differing from one another in the presence or absence of symbiotic strains. Our sample included both starved and unstarved specimens, and dominant bacterial OTUs were consistent per host species, regardless of feeding status. We conclude that spiders contain a remarkably diverse symbiotic microbiota. Spiders would be an informative group for investigating endosymbiont population dynamics in time and space, and unstarved specimens collected for other purposes (e.g., food web studies) could be used, with caution, for such investigations.}, } @article {pmid31299138, year = {2019}, author = {Metz, S and Singer, D and Domaizon, I and Unrein, F and Lara, E}, title = {Global distribution of Trebouxiophyceae diversity explored by high-throughput sequencing and phylogenetic approaches.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {10}, pages = {3885-3895}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14738}, pmid = {31299138}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {PICT-2014-1290//ANPCyT 'Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica'/International ; PICT-2016-1079//ANPCyT 'Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica'/International ; SNF 31003A_163254//Swiss National Fund/International ; SNF P2NEP3_178543//Swiss National Fund/International ; 2017-T1/AMB-5210 4//Comunidad de Madrid/International ; }, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; Chlorophyta/*classification/*genetics ; Fresh Water ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lichens/*cytology ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/*cytology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Trebouxiophyceae are a ubiquitous class of Chlorophyta encountered in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Most taxa are photosynthetic, and many acts as photobionts in symbiotic relationships, while others are free-living. Trebouxiophyceae have also been widely investigated for their use for biotechnological applications. In this work, we aimed at obtaining a comprehensive image of their diversity by compiling the information of 435 freshwater, soil and marine environmental DNA samples surveyed with Illumina sequencing technology in order to search for the most relevant environments for bioprospecting. Freshwater and soil were most diverse and shared more than half of all operational taxonomic units (OTUs), however, their communities were significantly distinct. Oceans hosted the highest genetic novelty, and did not share any OTUs with the other environments; also, marine samples host more diversity in warm waters. Symbiotic genera usually found in lichens such as Trebouxia, Myrmecia and Symbiochloris were also abundantly detected in the ocean, suggesting either free-living lifestyles or unknown symbiotic relationships with marine planktonic organisms. Altogether, our study opens the way to new prospection for trebouxiophycean strains, especially in understudied environments like the ocean.}, } @article {pmid31299058, year = {2019}, author = {Ried, MK and Banhara, A and Hwu, FY and Binder, A and Gust, AA and Höfle, C and Hückelhoven, R and Nürnberger, T and Parniske, M}, title = {A set of Arabidopsis genes involved in the accommodation of the downy mildew pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {e1007747}, pmid = {31299058}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Ion Channels/genetics ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics ; Oomycetes/*pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/*microbiology ; Protein Kinases/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The intracellular accommodation structures formed by plant cells to host arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and biotrophic hyphal pathogens are cytologically similar. Therefore we investigated whether these interactions build on an overlapping genetic framework. In legumes, the malectin-like domain leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase SYMRK, the cation channel POLLUX and members of the nuclear pore NUP107-160 subcomplex are essential for symbiotic signal transduction and arbuscular mycorrhiza development. We identified members of these three groups in Arabidopsis thaliana and explored their impact on the interaction with the oomycete downy mildew pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa). We report that mutations in the corresponding genes reduced the reproductive success of Hpa as determined by sporangiophore and spore counts. We discovered that a developmental transition of haustorial shape occurred significantly earlier and at higher frequency in the mutants. Analysis of the multiplication of extracellular bacterial pathogens, Hpa-induced cell death or callose accumulation, as well as Hpa- or flg22-induced defence marker gene expression, did not reveal any traces of constitutive or exacerbated defence responses. These findings point towards an overlap between the plant genetic toolboxes involved in the interaction with biotrophic intracellular hyphal symbionts and pathogens in terms of the gene families involved.}, } @article {pmid31298466, year = {2019}, author = {Gutiérrez-Repiso, C and Hernández-García, C and García-Almeida, JM and Bellido, D and Martín-Núñez, GM and Sánchez-Alcoholado, L and Alcaide-Torres, J and Sajoux, I and Tinahones, FJ and Moreno-Indias, I}, title = {Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation in a Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet on Weight Loss Achievement and Gut Microbiota: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.}, journal = {Molecular nutrition & food research}, volume = {63}, number = {19}, pages = {e1900167}, doi = {10.1002/mnfr.201900167}, pmid = {31298466}, issn = {1613-4133}, mesh = {Adult ; Anthropometry ; Bacteria/classification ; *Caloric Restriction ; *Diet, Ketogenic ; Dietary Supplements ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/diet therapy/microbiology ; Pilot Projects ; Placebos ; Single-Blind Method ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; *Weight Loss ; }, abstract = {SCOPE: Little is known about the changes that a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) produces in gut microbiota or the effect of synbiotics during the diet. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in gut microbiota produced by a VLCKD and synbiotic supplementation.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A randomized, single-blind, parallel-design trial is conducted in 33 obese patients who follow a weight-loss program (PnK-Method) that include a VLCKD followed by a low-calorie diet (LCD). Subjects are randomly allocated to three groups: one supplemented with synbiotics, a second group supplemented with a placebo during the VLCKD and synbiotics during the LCD phase, and a control group given a placebo. Although symbiotic administration do not produce an effect on microbial diversity, an increase in short-chain fatty aciding producing bacteria and anti-inflammatory mediator signals such as Odoribacter and Lachnospira is shown. The administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis and prebiotics fiber during the LCD is significantly associated with the percentage of weight loss and change in glucose, C-reactive protein and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein.

CONCLUSIONS: VLCKD produces important changes in gut microbiota. The administration of synbiotics during VLCKD can improve weight loss through the amelioration of inflammation, which may be mediated by the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31296165, year = {2019}, author = {Igiehon, NO and Babalola, OO and Aremu, BR}, title = {Genomic insights into plant growth promoting rhizobia capable of enhancing soybean germination under drought stress.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {159}, pmid = {31296165}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Africa, Southern ; Droughts ; Germination ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; *Rhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soybeans/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The role of soil microorganisms in plant growth, nutrient utilization, drought tolerance as well as biocontrol activity cannot be over-emphasized, especially in this era when food crisis is a global challenge. This research was therefore designed to gain genomic insights into plant growth promoting (PGP) Rhizobium species capable of enhancing soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds germination under drought condition.

RESULTS: Rhizobium sp. strain R1, Rhizobium tropici strain R2, Rhizobium cellulosilyticum strain R3, Rhizobium taibaishanense strain R4 and Ensifer meliloti strain R5 were found to possess the entire PGP traits tested. Specifically, these rhizobial strains were able to solubilize phosphate, produce exopolysaccharide (EPS), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), siderophore and indole-acetic-acid (IAA). These strains also survived and grew at a temperature of 45 °C and in an acidic condition with a pH 4. Consequently, all the Rhizobium strains enhanced the germination of soybean seeds (PAN 1532 R) under drought condition imposed by 4% poly-ethylene glycol (PEG); nevertheless, Rhizobium sp. strain R1 and R. cellulosilyticum strain R3 inoculations were able to improve seeds germination more than R2, R4 and R5 strains. Thus, genomic insights into Rhizobium sp. strain R1 and R. cellulosilyticum strain R3 revealed the presence of some genes with their respective proteins involved in symbiotic establishment, nitrogen fixation, drought tolerance and plant growth promotion. In particular, exoX, htrA, Nif, nodA, eptA, IAA and siderophore-producing genes were found in the two rhizobial strains.

CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the availability of the whole genome sequences of R1 and R3 strains may further be exploited to comprehend the interaction of drought tolerant rhizobia with soybean and other legumes and the PGP ability of these rhizobial strains can also be harnessed for biotechnological application in the field especially in semiarid and arid regions of the globe.}, } @article {pmid31296160, year = {2019}, author = {Richards, S and Rose, LE}, title = {The evolutionary history of LysM-RLKs (LYKs/LYRs) in wild tomatoes.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {141}, pmid = {31296160}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Solanum lycopersicum/*enzymology/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Protein Domains ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The LysM receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) are important to both plant defense and symbiosis. Previous studies described three clades of LysM-RLKs: LysM-I/LYKs (10+ exons per gene and containing conserved kinase residues), LysM-II/LYRs (1-5 exons per gene, lacking conserved kinase residues), and LysM-III (two exons per gene, with a kinase unlike other LysM-RLK kinases and restricted to legumes). LysM-II gene products are presumably not functional as conventional receptor kinases, but several are known to operate in complexes with other LysM-RLKs. One aim of our study was to take advantage of recently mapped wild tomato transcriptomes to evaluate the evolutionary history of LysM-RLKs within and between species. The second aim was to place these results into a broader phylogenetic context by integrating them into a sequence analysis of LysM-RLKs from other functionally well-characterized model plant species. Furthermore, we sought to assess whether the Group III LysM-RLKs were restricted to the legumes or found more broadly across Angiosperms.

RESULTS: Purifying selection was found to be the prevailing form of natural selection within species at LysM-RLKs. No signatures of balancing selection were found in species-wide samples of two wild tomato species. Most genes showed a greater extent of purifying selection in their intracellular domains, with the exception of SlLYK3 which showed strong purifying selection in both the extracellular and intracellular domains in wild tomato species. The phylogenetic analysis did not reveal a clustering of microbe/functional specificity to groups of closely related proteins. We also discovered new putative LysM-III genes in a range of Rosid species, including Eucalyptus grandis.

CONCLUSIONS: The LysM-III genes likely originated before the divergence of E. grandis from other Rosids via a fusion of a Group II LysM triplet and a kinase from another RLK family. SlLYK3 emerges as an especially interesting candidate for further study due to the high protein sequence conservation within species, its position in a clade of LysM-RLKs with distinct LysM domains, and its close evolutionary relationship with LYK3 from Arabidopsis thaliana.}, } @article {pmid31295658, year = {2019}, author = {Amirikhah, R and Etemadi, N and Sabzalian, MR and Nikbakht, A and Eskandari, A}, title = {Physiological consequences of gamma ray irradiation in tall fescue with elimination potential of Epichloë fungal endophyte.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {109412}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109412}, pmid = {31295658}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Endophytes/growth & development/*radiation effects ; Epichloe/growth & development/*radiation effects ; Festuca/microbiology/physiology/*radiation effects ; *Gamma Rays ; Iran ; Radiation Dosage ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology/radiation effects ; Seeds/microbiology/physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Perennial plants and their associated microorganisms grow in the areas that may be contaminated with long-lived gamma-emitting radionuclides. This will induce gamma stress response in plants and their accompanying microorganisms. The present work investigated the growth and physiological responses of Epichloe endophyte infected tall fescue to gamma radiation, as well as whether the endophyte could persist and infect the host plant once exposed to gamma radiation. Seeds of Iranian native genotype of 75B[+] of tall fescue were exposed to different doses, including 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 30.0 and 40.0 krad of gamma ray from a [60]Co source. Irradiated and unirradiated seeds were sown in pots and grown under controlled conditions in the greenhouse. The growth and physiological parameters associated with plant tolerance to oxidative stress of host plants, as well as endophytic infection frequency (% of plants infected) and intensity (mean number of endophytic hyphae per the field of view), were examined in 3 months-old seedlings. The results indicated that all gamma radiation doses (except 5.0 kr) significantly reduced the height and survival percentage of the host plant. Days to the emergence of seedling increased gradually as gamma doses rose. A dose-rate dependent induction was seen for photosynthetic pigments and proline content. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content grew with elevation of irradiation doses. Depending on the dose and time, the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the host plant responded differently to gamma radiation. Gamma radiation altered the enzyme activities with sever decline in SOD and CAT activities. However, it had barely any effect on in APX and POD activities. The results also revealed that the persistence and intensity of endophyte were affected after gamma-ray irradiation. The initial percentage of tall fescue seeds infected with the endophyte was 91% in un-irradiated seeds. Presence of the viable endophyte started to decline significantly (23%) at 5.0 kr of gamma radiation. A dramatic reduction in the presence and intensity of endophyte occurred at 10.0 to 40.0 kr intensities. Gamma radiation × trait (GT)-biplot analysis indicated positive correlations between the endophyte symbiosis and antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, negative correlations were observed between the endophyte and MDA content in the host plant. Our results suggest that radiation stress (doses over 5.0 kr) caused reduction in the growth and antioxidant enzyme activities of the host plant that accompanied by a dramatic reduction in the persistence and intensity of endophyte fungi. Our findings have provided the basic information for future studies on the effect of gamma irradiation on the interaction between endophytic fungi and its host plant.}, } @article {pmid31295349, year = {2019}, author = {Han, LL and Wang, Q and Shen, JP and Di, HJ and Wang, JT and Wei, WX and Fang, YT and Zhang, LM and He, JZ}, title = {Multiple factors drive the abundance and diversity of the diazotrophic community in typical farmland soils of China.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz113}, pmid = {31295349}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Bradyrhizobium ; China ; Farms ; Gram-Negative Aerobic Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation plays an important role in nitrogen cycling by transferring atmospheric N2 to plant-available N in the soil. However, the diazotrophic activity and distribution in different types of soils remain to be further explored. In this study, 152 upland soils were sampled to examine the diazotrophic abundance, nitrogenase activity, diversity and community composition by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, acetylene reduction assay and the MiSeq sequencing of nifH genes, respectively. The results showed that diazotrophic abundance and nitrogenase activity varied among the three soil types. The diazotrophic community was mainly dominated by Bradyrhizobium, Azospirillum, Myxobacter, Desulfovibrio and Methylobacterium. The symbiotic diazotroph Bradyrhizobium was widely distributed among soils, while the distribution of free-living diazotrophs showed large variation and was greatly affected by multiple factors. Crop type and soil properties directly affected the diazotrophic ɑ-diversity, while soil properties, climatic factors and spatial distance together influenced the diazotrophic community. Network structures were completely different among all three types of soils, with most complex interactions observed in the Red soil. These findings suggest that diazotrophs have various activities and distributions in the three soil types, which played different roles in nitrogen input in agricultural soil in China, being driven by multiple environmental factors.}, } @article {pmid31294874, year = {2019}, author = {Law, SR}, title = {Eucalypt seedlings are aided by phosphorus in the face of drought.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {166}, number = {4}, pages = {892-893}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12999}, pmid = {31294874}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Australia ; *Droughts ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Seedlings/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Drought is an increasingly common climatic event that can devastate ecosystems, as well as surrounding agricultural and forestry industries. Few places face this challenge more than Australia, where millennia of droughts linked to geography and climatic drivers, such as El Niño, have shaped the flora and fauna into forms predicated on resilience and economy. How an organism responds to these cyclic challenges is a combination of the inherent tolerance mechanisms encoded in their genome and outside influences, such as the effect of nutrients and symbiotic interactions. In this issue of Physiologia Plantarum, Tariq et al. (2019) describes how the presence of the element phosphorus can bolster the physiological and biochemical response of eucalypt seedlings to severe drought conditions.}, } @article {pmid31292767, year = {2019}, author = {Ogura-Tsujita, Y and Yamamoto, K and Hirayama, Y and Ebihara, A and Morita, N and Imaichi, R}, title = {Fern gametophytes of Angiopteris lygodiifolia and Osmunda japonica harbor diverse Mucoromycotina fungi.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {132}, number = {5}, pages = {581-588}, pmid = {31292767}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/analysis ; Ferns/*microbiology ; Fungi/classification/*physiology ; Germ Cells, Plant/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis between plants and fungi is ubiquitous, and has been played key roles in plant terrestrialization and diversification. Although arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses with Glomeromycotina fungi have long been recognized as both ancient and widespread symbionts, recent studies showed that Mucoromycotina fungi were also ancestral symbionts and would thus be expected to co-exist with many land plants. To explore whether Mucoromycotina colonize fern gametophytes, we subjected fungal associations with gametophytes of two distantly related ferns, Angiopteris lygodiifolia (Marattiales) and Osmunda japonica (Osmundales), to molecular analysis. Direct PCR amplification from intracellular hyphal coils was also performed. We detected Mucoromycotina sequences in the gametophytes of A. lygodiifolia and O. japonica at rates of 41% (7/17) and 50% (49/98) of gametophytes, respectively, and assigned them to 10 operational taxonomic units of Endogonales lineages. In addition, we used AM fungal-specific primers and detected Glomeromycotina sequences in all individuals examined. The results suggest that Glomeromycotina and Mucoromycotina colonized fern gametophytes simultaneously. We found that Mucoromycotina were present in fern gametophytes of Marratiales and Osmundales, which implies that a variety of fern taxa have Mucoromycotina associations.}, } @article {pmid31292499, year = {2019}, author = {Hoadley, KD and Lewis, AM and Wham, DC and Pettay, DT and Grasso, C and Smith, R and Kemp, DW and LaJeunesse, TC and Warner, ME}, title = {Host-symbiont combinations dictate the photo-physiological response of reef-building corals to thermal stress.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {9985}, pmid = {31292499}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/*physiology ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hot Temperature ; Photochemical Processes ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {High sea surface temperatures often lead to coral bleaching wherein reef-building corals lose significant numbers of their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae). These increasingly frequent bleaching events often result in large scale coral mortality, thereby devasting reef systems throughout the world. The reef habitats surrounding Palau are ideal for investigating coral responses to climate perturbation, where many inshore bays are subject to higher water temperature as compared with offshore barrier reefs. We examined fourteen physiological traits in response to high temperature across various symbiotic dinoflagellates in four common Pacific coral species, Acropora muricata, Coelastrea aspera, Cyphastrea chalcidicum and Pachyseris rugosa found in both offshore and inshore habitats. Inshore corals were dominated by a single homogenous population of the stress tolerant symbiont Durusdinium trenchii, yet symbiont thermal response and physiology differed significantly across coral species. In contrast, offshore corals harbored specific species of Cladocopium spp. (ITS2 rDNA type-C) yet all experienced similar patterns of photoinactivation and symbiont loss when heated. Additionally, cell volume and light absorption properties increased in heated Cladocopium spp., leading to a greater loss in photo-regulation. While inshore coral temperature response was consistently muted relative to their offshore counterparts, high physiological variability in D. trenchii across inshore corals suggests that bleaching resilience among even the most stress tolerant symbionts is still heavily influenced by their host environment.}, } @article {pmid31291473, year = {2019}, author = {Montesinos-Navarro, A and Valiente-Banuet, A and Verdú, M}, title = {Plant facilitation through mycorrhizal symbiosis is stronger between distantly related plant species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {224}, number = {2}, pages = {928-935}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16051}, pmid = {31291473}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Host Specificity ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plants/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The tendency of closely related plant species to share natural enemies has been suggested to limit their co-occurrence and performance, but we lack a deep understanding on how mutualistic interactions such as the mycorrhizal symbiosis affect plant-plant interactions depending on the phylogenetic relatedness of the interacting plants. We hypothesise that the effect of the mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant-plant facilitative interactions depends on the phylogenetic distance between the nurse and facilitated plants. A recently published meta-analysis compiled the strength of plant facilitative interactions in the presence or absence (or reduced abundance) of mycorrhizal fungi. We use phylogenetically informed Bayesian linear models to test whether the effect size is influenced by the phylogenetic distance between the plant species involved in each plant facilitative interaction. Conspecific facilitative interactions are more strongly enhanced by mycorrhizal fungi than interactions between closely related species. In heterospecific interactions, the effect of the mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant facilitation increases with the phylogenetic distance between the nurse and facilitated plant species. Our result showing that the effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the facilitation interactions between plants depends on their phylogenetic relatedness provides new mechanisms to understand how facilitation is assembling ecological communities.}, } @article {pmid31291312, year = {2019}, author = {Marqués-Gálvez, JE and Morte, A and Navarro-Ródenas, A and García-Carmona, F and Pérez-Gilabert, M}, title = {Purification and characterization of Terfezia claveryi TcCAT-1, a desert truffle catalase upregulated in mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {e0219300}, pmid = {31291312}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Catalase/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Cistaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry ; Mycelium/enzymology ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Terfezia claveryi Chatin is a mycorrhizal fungus that forms ectendomycorrhizal associations with plants of Helianthemum genus. Its appreciated edibility and drought resistance make this fungus a potential alternative crop in arid and semiarid areas of the Mediterranean region. In order to increase the knowledge about the biology of this fungus in terms of mycorrhiza formation and response to drought stress, a catalase from T. claveryi (TcCAT-1) has been purified to apparent homogeneity and biochemically characterized; in addition, the expression pattern of this enzyme during different stages of T. claveryi biological cycle and under drought stress conditions are reported. The results obtained, together with the phylogenetic analysis and homology modeling, indicate that TcCAT-1 is a homotetramer large subunit size monofunctional-heme catalase belonging to Clade 2. The highest expression of this enzyme occurs in mature mycorrhiza, revealing a possible role in mycorrhiza colonization, but it is not upregulated under drought stress. However, the H2O2 content of mycorrhizal plants submitted to drought stress is lower than in well watered treatments, suggesting that mycorrhization improves the plant's oxidative stress response, although not via TcCAT-1 upregulation.}, } @article {pmid31289176, year = {2019}, author = {Keebaugh, ES and Yamada, R and Ja, WW}, title = {The Nutritional Environment Influences the Impact of Microbes on Drosophila melanogaster Life Span.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31289176}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AG045036/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Longevity ; *Microbiota ; *Nutrients ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbes can extend Drosophila melanogaster life span by contributing to the nutritional value of malnourishing fly culture medium. The beneficial effect of microbes during malnutrition is dependent on their individual ability to proliferate in the fly environment and is mimicked by lifelong supplementation of equivalent levels of heat-killed microbes or dietary protein, suggesting that microbes can serve directly as a protein-rich food source. Here, we use nutritionally rich fly culture medium to demonstrate how changes in dietary composition influence monocolonized fly life span; microbes that extend fly life span on malnourishing diets can shorten life on rich diets. The mechanisms employed by microbes to affect host health likely differ on low- or high-nutrient diets. Our results demonstrate how Drosophila-associated microbes can positively or negatively influence fly life span depending on the nutritional environment. Although controlled laboratory environments allow focused investigations on the interaction between fly microbiota and nutrition, the relevance of these studies is not straightforward, because it is difficult to mimic the nutritional ecology of natural Drosophila-microbe interactions. As such, caution is needed in designing and interpreting fly-microbe experiments and before categorizing microbes into specific symbiotic roles based on results obtained from experiments testing limited conditions.IMPORTANCED. melanogaster ingests microorganisms growing within its rotting vegetation diet. Some of these microbes form associations with flies, while others pass through the gut with meals. Fly-microbe-diet interactions are dynamic, and changes to the fly culture medium can influence microbial growth in the overall environment. In turn, these alterations in microbial growth may not only impact the nutritional value of fly meals but also modulate behavior and health, at least in part due to direct contributions to fly nutrition. The interactive ecology between flies, microbes, and their environment can cause a specific microbe to be either beneficial or detrimental to fly life span, indicating that the environment should be considered a key influential factor in host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid31288964, year = {2019}, author = {Uroz, S and Courty, PE and Oger, P}, title = {Plant Symbionts Are Engineers of the Plant-Associated Microbiome.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {905-916}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2019.06.008}, pmid = {31288964}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Microbiota ; Plant Development ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants interact throughout their lives with environmental microorganisms. These interactions determine plant development, nutrition, and fitness in a dynamic and stressful environment, forming the basis for the holobiont concept in which plants and plant-associated microbes are not considered as independent entities but as a single evolutionary unit. A primary open question concerns whether holobiont structure is shaped by its microbial members or solely by the plant. Current knowledge of plant-microbe interactions argues that the establishment of symbiosis directly and indirectly conditions the plant-associated microbiome. We propose to define the impact of the symbiont on the plant microbiome as the 'symbiosis cascade effect', in which the symbionts and their plant host jointly shape the plant microbiome.}, } @article {pmid31287975, year = {2019}, author = {Wu, Y and Wickham, JD and Zhao, L and Sun, J}, title = {CO2 drives the pine wood nematode off its insect vector.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {13}, pages = {R619-R620}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.033}, pmid = {31287975}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Coleoptera/*parasitology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Vectors/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/parasitology ; Tylenchida/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Insects have developed special organs, spiracles and the trachea, for oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange to adapt to terrestrial life. The plant-parasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, also known as pine wood nematode (PWN), is vectored by pine sawyer beetles (Monochamus spp.) and causes destructive pine wilt disease, threatening the safety and stability of pine forest ecosystems. Unlike the free-living nematode model species Caenorhabditis elegans, PWN have two distinct life stages (dispersive and propagative), each requiring a unique host relationship ranging from symbiotic/commensal to parasitic. Its symbiotic vector beetle and the pine tree it ultimately infects represent dramatically different host environments within which it needs to successfully maneuver. In Asia, the symbiotic relationship between PWN and its host vector M. alternatus is very close (Figure S1A, see Supplemental Information). Previous studies have shown that third-stage juveniles (JIII) are attracted by specific terpenes produced by mature insect larvae and aggregate around pupal chambers in diseased trees [1] and fourth-stage juveniles (JIV) are attracted to newly eclosed adults by ascarosides the beetles secrete [2]. These JIV, sometimes up to 200,000 per beetle [3], then enter the tracheal system of the newly eclosed beetle, which is full of CO2, for dispersal. Later, those nematodes depart from the spiracles to invade new healthy trees via the feeding wounds on pine branches made during beetles' feeding, thus starting a new cycle of infection, propagation and dispersal. The mechanism mediating the nematodes' departure remains unknown and remains an important unsolved focal point in the PWN life cycle. Our experimental evidence suggests acute CO2 avoidance triggers this behavior.}, } @article {pmid31287538, year = {2019}, author = {Suzuki, N}, title = {Glycan diversity in the course of vertebrate evolution.}, journal = {Glycobiology}, volume = {29}, number = {9}, pages = {625-644}, doi = {10.1093/glycob/cwz038}, pmid = {31287538}, issn = {1460-2423}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Glycosyltransferases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Polysaccharides/*chemistry/*genetics ; Species Specificity ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {Vertebrates are estimated to have arisen over 500 million years ago in the Cambrian Period. Species that survived the Big Five extinction events at a global scale underwent repeated adaptive radiations along with habitat expansions from the sea to the land and sky. The development of the endoskeleton and neural tube enabled more complex body shapes. At the same time, vertebrates became suitable for the invasion and proliferation of foreign organisms. Adaptive immune systems were acquired for responses to a wide variety of pathogens, and more sophisticated systems developed during the evolution of mammals and birds. Vertebrate glycans consist of common core structures and various elongated structures, such as Neu5Gc, Galα1-3Gal, Galα1-4Gal, and Galβ1-4Gal epitopes, depending on the species. During species diversification, complex glycan structures were generated, maintained or lost. Whole-genome sequencing has revealed that vertebrates harbor numerous and even redundant glycosyltransferase genes. The production of various glycan structures is controlled at the genetic level in a species-specific manner. Because cell surface glycans are often targets of bacterial and viral infections, glycan structural diversity is presumed to be protective against infections. However, the maintenance of apparently redundant glycosyltransferase genes and investment in species-specific glycan structures, even in higher vertebrates with highly developed immune systems, are not well explained. This fact suggests that glycans play important roles in unknown biological processes.}, } @article {pmid31287368, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, X and Xie, Z}, title = {Inactivation of the Phosphatase CheZ Alters Cell-Surface Properties of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 and Symbiotic Association with Sesbania rostrata.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {1547-1556}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-19-0143-R}, pmid = {31287368}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Azorhizobium caulinodans/enzymology/genetics ; Enzyme Activation ; Mutation ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; *Sesbania/microbiology ; Surface Properties ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans can form root and stem nodules with the host plant Sesbania rostrata. The role of the CheZ phosphatase in the A. caulinodans chemotaxis pathway was previously explored using the nonchemotactic cheZ mutant strain (AC601). This mutant displayed stronger attachment to the root surface, enhancing early colonization; however, this did not result in increased nodulation efficiency. In this study, we further investigated the role of CheZ in the interaction between strain ORS571 and the roots of its host plant. By tracking long-term colonization dynamic of cheZ mutant marked with LacZ, we found a decrease of colonization of the cheZ mutant during this process. Furthermore, the cheZ mutant could not spread on the root surface freely and was gradually outcompeted by the wild type in original colonization sites. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analyses showed that exp genes encoding exopolysaccharides synthesis, including oac3, were highly expressed in the cheZ mutant. Construction of a strain carrying a deletion of both cheZ and oac3 resulted in a mutant strain defective in the colonization process to the same extent as found with the oac3 single-mutant strain. This result suggested that the enhanced colonization of the cheZ mutant may be achieved through regulating the formation of exopolysaccharides. This shows the importance of the chemotactic proteins in the interaction between rhizobia and host plants, and expands our understanding of the symbiosis interaction between rhizobium and host plant.}, } @article {pmid31286804, year = {2020}, author = {Larabi, A and Barnich, N and Nguyen, HTT}, title = {New insights into the interplay between autophagy, gut microbiota and inflammatory responses in IBD.}, journal = {Autophagy}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {38-51}, pmid = {31286804}, issn = {1554-8635}, support = {P30 MH062261/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism ; Autophagy/*physiology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*metabolism ; Intestines/pathology ; }, abstract = {One of the most significant challenges of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research is to understand how alterations in the symbiotic relationship between the genetic composition of the host and the intestinal microbiota, under impact of specific environmental factors, lead to chronic intestinal inflammation. Genome-wide association studies, followed by functional studies, have identified a role for numerous autophagy genes in IBD, especially in Crohn disease. Studies using in vitro and in vivo models, in addition to human clinical studies have revealed that autophagy is pivotal for intestinal homeostasis maintenance, gut ecology regulation, appropriate intestinal immune responses and anti-microbial protection. This review describes the latest researches on the mechanisms by which dysfunctional autophagy leads to disrupted intestinal epithelial function, gut dysbiosis, defect in anti-microbial peptide secretion by Paneth cells, endoplasmic reticulum stress response and aberrant immune responses to pathogenic bacteria. A better understanding of the role of autophagy in IBD pathogenesis may provide better sub-classification of IBD phenotypes and novel approaches for disease management.Abbreviations: AIEC: adherent-invasive Escherichia coli; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATF6: activating transcription factor 6; ATG: autophagy related; Atg16l1[ΔIEC] mice: mice with Atg16l1 depletion specifically in intestinal epithelial cells; Atg16l1[HM] mice: mice hypomorphic for Atg16l1 expression; BCL2: B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2; BECN1: beclin 1, autophagy related; CALCOCO2: calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 2; CASP: caspase; CD: Crohn disease; CGAS: cyclic GMP-AMP synthase; CHUK/IKKA: conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase; CLDN2: claudin 2; DAPK1: death associated protein kinase 1; DCs: dendritic cells; DSS: dextran sulfate sodium; EIF2A: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A; EIF2AK: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; ERBIN: Erbb2 interacting protein; ERN1/IRE1A: ER to nucleus signaling 1; FNBP1L: formin binding protein 1-like; FOXP3: forkhead box P3; GPR65: G-protein coupled receptor 65; GSK3B: glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; IECs: intestinal epithelial cells; IFN: interferon; IL: interleukin; IL10R: interleukin 10 receptor; IRGM: immunity related GTPase M; ISC: intestinal stem cell; LAMP1: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1; LAP: LC3-associated phagocytosis; MAP1LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; LRRK2: leucine-rich repeat kinase 2; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MHC: major histocompatibility complex; MIF: macrophage migration inhibitory factor; MIR/miRNA: microRNA; MTMR3: myotubularin related protein 3; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; MYD88: myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88; NLRP3: NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3; NOD2: nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2; NPC: Niemann-Pick disease type C; NPC1: NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1; OMVs: outer membrane vesicles; OPTN: optineurin; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PRR: pattern-recognition receptor; PTPN2: protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 2; PTPN22: protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 22 (lymphoid); PYCARD/ASC: PYD and CARD domain containing; RAB2A: RAB2A, member RAS oncogene family; RELA: v-rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (avian); RIPK2: receptor (TNFRSF)-interacting serine-threonine kinase 2; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SNPs: single nucleotide polymorphisms; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TAX1BP1: Tax1 binding protein 1; Th: T helper 1; TIRAP/TRIF: toll-interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor protein; TLR: toll-like receptor; TMEM173/STING: transmembrane protein 173; TMEM59: transmembrane protein 59; TNF/TNFA: tumor necrosis factor; Treg: regulatory T; TREM1: triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1; UC: ulcerative colitis; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; WT: wild-type; XBP1: X-box binding protein 1; XIAP: X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis.}, } @article {pmid31285778, year = {2019}, author = {Viennois, E and Chassaing, B and Tahsin, A and Pujada, A and Wang, L and Gewirtz, AT and Merlin, D}, title = {Host-derived fecal microRNAs can indicate gut microbiota healthiness and ability to induce inflammation.}, journal = {Theranostics}, volume = {9}, number = {15}, pages = {4542-4557}, pmid = {31285778}, issn = {1838-7640}, support = {R01 DK099071/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; I01 BX002526/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; R01 DK107739/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK083890/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK071594/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; IK6 BX004476/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; R01 DK116306/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis/microbiology/pathology ; Feces/*chemistry ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Germ-Free Life ; Inflammation/*pathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; }, abstract = {Disruption of intestine-microbiota symbiosis can result in chronic gut inflammation. We hypothesize that assessing the initial inflammatory potential of the microbiota in patients is essential and that host-derived miRNAs, which can be found in feces, could fulfill this function. We investigated whether the gut microbiota composition impacts the fecal miRNA profile and thereby indicates its ability to influence intestinal inflammation. Methods: We used high-throughput qPCR to compare fecal miRNA profile between germ-free and conventional mice. Conventionalization of germfree mice by various colitogenic and non-colitogenic microbiotas (IL10[-/-] and TLR5[-/-] associated microbiota) was performed. Results: We identified 12 fecal miRNAs impacted by the presence of a microbiota. Conventionalization of germfree mice by various colitogenic and non-colitogenic microbiotas associated with the development of intestinal inflammation (IL10[-/-] and TLR5[-/-] associated microbiota) yielded distinctively altered fecal miRNA profiles compared to that of mice receiving a "healthy" microbiota. Correlation analysis revealed the existence of interactions between the 12 abovementioned miRNAs and specific microbiota members. Conclusion: These results showed that fecal miRNA profile can be differentially and specifically impacted by microbiota composition, and that miRNA could importantly serve as markers of the colitogenic potential of the microbiota. This is particularly relevant to assess individual state of the microbiota in patients with dysbiosis-related disorders, such as IBD and potentially determine their ability to respond to therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid31285560, year = {2019}, author = {Labbé, J and Muchero, W and Czarnecki, O and Wang, J and Wang, X and Bryan, AC and Zheng, K and Yang, Y and Xie, M and Zhang, J and Wang, D and Meidl, P and Wang, H and Morrell-Falvey, JL and Cope, KR and Maia, LGS and Ané, JM and Mewalal, R and Jawdy, SS and Gunter, LE and Schackwitz, W and Martin, J and Le Tacon, F and Li, T and Zhang, Z and Ranjan, P and Lindquist, E and Yang, X and Jacobson, DA and Tschaplinski, TJ and Barry, K and Schmutz, J and Chen, JG and Tuskan, GA}, title = {Mediation of plant-mycorrhizal interaction by a lectin receptor-like kinase.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {5}, number = {7}, pages = {676-680}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-019-0469-x}, pmid = {31285560}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Laccaria/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Populus/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The molecular mechanisms underlying mycorrhizal symbioses, the most ubiquitous and impactful mutualistic plant-microbial interaction in nature, are largely unknown. Through genetic mapping, resequencing and molecular validation, we demonstrate that a G-type lectin receptor-like kinase (lecRLK) mediates the symbiotic interaction between Populus and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. This finding uncovers an important molecular step in the establishment of symbiotic plant-fungal associations and provides a molecular target for engineering beneficial mycorrhizal relationships.}, } @article {pmid31285337, year = {2019}, author = {Greenlon, A and Chang, PL and Damtew, ZM and Muleta, A and Carrasquilla-Garcia, N and Kim, D and Nguyen, HP and Suryawanshi, V and Krieg, CP and Yadav, SK and Patel, JS and Mukherjee, A and Udupa, S and Benjelloun, I and Thami-Alami, I and Yasin, M and Patil, B and Singh, S and Sarma, BK and von Wettberg, EJB and Kahraman, A and Bukun, B and Assefa, F and Tesfaye, K and Fikre, A and Cook, DR}, title = {Global-level population genomics reveals differential effects of geography and phylogeny on horizontal gene transfer in soil bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {30}, pages = {15200-15209}, pmid = {31285337}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Conjugation, Genetic ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Metagenomics/methods ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Soil/classification ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Although microorganisms are known to dominate Earth's biospheres and drive biogeochemical cycling, little is known about the geographic distributions of microbial populations or the environmental factors that pattern those distributions. We used a global-level hierarchical sampling scheme to comprehensively characterize the evolutionary relationships and distributional limitations of the nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbionts of the crop chickpea, generating 1,027 draft whole-genome sequences at the level of bacterial populations, including 14 high-quality PacBio genomes from a phylogenetically representative subset. We find that diverse Mesorhizobium taxa perform symbiosis with chickpea and have largely overlapping global distributions. However, sampled locations cluster based on the phylogenetic diversity of Mesorhizobium populations, and diversity clusters correspond to edaphic and environmental factors, primarily soil type and latitude. Despite long-standing evolutionary divergence and geographic isolation, the diverse taxa observed to nodulate chickpea share a set of integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) that encode the major functions of the symbiosis. This symbiosis ICE takes 2 forms in the bacterial chromosome-tripartite and monopartite-with tripartite ICEs confined to a broadly distributed superspecies clade. The pairwise evolutionary relatedness of these elements is controlled as much by geographic distance as by the evolutionary relatedness of the background genome. In contrast, diversity in the broader gene content of Mesorhizobium genomes follows a tight linear relationship with core genome phylogenetic distance, with little detectable effect of geography. These results illustrate how geography and demography can operate differentially on the evolution of bacterial genomes and offer useful insights for the development of improved technologies for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31285273, year = {2019}, author = {Pederson, ERA and Warshan, D and Rasmussen, U}, title = {Genome Sequencing of Pleurozium schreberi: The Assembled and Annotated Draft Genome of a Pleurocarpous Feather Moss.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {2791-2797}, pmid = {31285273}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Bryopsida/*genetics ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomics/methods ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {The pleurocarpous feather moss Pleurozium schreberi is a ubiquitous moss species which plays a fundamental role in many terrestrial ecosystems, for instance within the boreal forest, the Earth's largest terrestrial biome, this species plays a significant role in driving ecosystem nitrogen and carbon inputs and fluxes. By hosting dinitrogen (N2)-fixing cyanobacteria, the moss-cyanobacteria symbiosis constitutes the main nitrogen input into the ecosystem and by the high productivity and the low decomposability of the moss litter, Pschreberi contributes significantly to build-up soil organic matter, and therefore long-term C sequestration. Knowledge on P. schreberi genome will facilitate the development of 'omics' and system's biology approaches to gain a more complete understanding of the physiology and ecological adaptation of the moss and the mechanisms underpinning the establishment of the symbiosis. Here we present the de novo assembly and annotation of P. schreberi genome that will help investigating these questions. The sequencing was performed using the HiSeq X platform with Illumina paired-end and mate-pair libraries prepared with CTAB extracted DNA. In total, the assembled genome was approximately 318 Mb, while repetitive elements account for 28.42% of the genome and 15,992 protein-coding genes were predicted from the genome, of which 84.23% have been functionally annotated. We anticipate that the genomic data generated will constitute a significant resource to study ecological and evolutionary genomics of P. schreberi, and will be valuable for evo-devo investigations as well as our understanding of the evolution of land plants by providing the genome of a pleurocarpous moss.}, } @article {pmid31283892, year = {2020}, author = {Philip, N and Leishman, SJ and Bandara, HMHN and Healey, DL and Walsh, LJ}, title = {Randomized Controlled Study to Evaluate Microbial Ecological Effects of CPP-ACP and Cranberry on Dental Plaque.}, journal = {JDR clinical and translational research}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {118-126}, doi = {10.1177/2380084419859871}, pmid = {31283892}, issn = {2380-0852}, mesh = {Australia ; Caseins ; Corynebacterium ; *Dental Caries ; *Dental Plaque ; Humans ; Neisseria ; Plant Extracts ; Tooth Remineralization ; *Vaccinium macrocarpon ; Veillonella ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Ecological approaches to dental caries prevention play a key role in attaining long-term control over the disease and maintaining a symbiotic oral microbiome.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the microbial ecological effects of 2 interventional dentifrices: a casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) dentifrice and the same dentifrice supplemented with a polyphenol-rich cranberry extract.

METHODS: The interventional toothpastes were compared with each other and with an active control fluoride dentifrice in a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis was used to determine changes in the bacterial loads of 14 key bacterial species (8 caries associated and 6 health associated) in the dental plaque of trial participants after they used the dentifrices for 5 to 6 wk.

RESULTS: From the baseline to the recall visit, significant differences were observed between the treatment groups in the bacterial loads of 2 caries-associated bacterial species (Streptococcus mutans [P < 0.001] and Veillonella parvula [P < 0.001]) and 3 health-associated bacterial species (Corynebacterium durum [P = 0.008], Neisseria flavescens [P = 0.005], and Streptococcus sanguinis [P < 0.001]). Compared to the fluoride control dentifrice, the CPP-ACP dentifrice demonstrated significant differences for S. mutans (P = 0.032), C. durum (P = 0.007), and S. sanguinis (P < 0.001), while combination CPP-ACP-cranberry dentifrice showed significant differences for S. mutans (P < 0.001), V. parvula (P < 0.001), N. flavescens (P = 0.003), and S. sanguinis (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in the bacterial load comparisons between the CPP-ACP and combination dentifrices for any of the targeted bacterial species (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results indicate that dentifrices containing CPP-ACP and polyphenol-rich cranberry extracts can influence a species-level shift in the ecology of the oral microbiome, resulting in a microbial community less associated with dental caries (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ANZCTR 12618000095268).

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The results of this randomized controlled trial indicate that dentifrices containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and polyphenol-rich cranberry extracts were able to beneficially modulate the microbial ecology of dental plaque in a group of high caries-risk patients. This could contribute toward lowering the risk of developing new caries lesions, an important goal sought by patients, clinicians, and policy makers.}, } @article {pmid31283888, year = {2019}, author = {Harish, ER and ManiChellappan, and MakeshKumar, T and Mathew, D and Ranjith, MT and Girija, D}, title = {Next-generation sequencing reveals endosymbiont variability in cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, across the agro-ecological zones of Kerala, India.}, journal = {Genome}, volume = {62}, number = {9}, pages = {571-584}, doi = {10.1139/gen-2018-0050}, pmid = {31283888}, issn = {1480-3321}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; India ; Manihot/*parasitology ; Molecular Typing ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the most notorious invasive insect pests, infesting more than 900 species of plants and spreading more than 200 viral diseases. This polyphagous agricultural pest harbours diverse bacterial communities in its gut, which perform multiple functions in whiteflies, including nutrient provisioning, amino acid biosynthesis, and virus transmission. The present exploratory study compares the bacterial communities associated with silverleaf whitefly infesting cassava, also known as cassava whitefly, collected from two different zones (zone P: plains; zone H: high ranges), from Kerala, India, using next-generation sequencing of 16S rDNA. The data sets for these two regions consisted of 1 321 906 and 690 661 high-quality paired-end sequences with mean length of 150 bp. Highly diverse bacterial communities were present in the sample, containing approximately 3513 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Sequence analysis showed a marked difference in the relative abundance of bacteria in the populations. A total of 16 bacterial phyla, 27 classes, 56 orders, 91 families, 236 genera, and 409 species were identified from the P population, against 16, 31, 60, 88, 225, and 355, respectively, in the H population. Arsenophonus sp. (Enterobacteriaceae), which is important for virus transmission by whiteflies, was relatively abundant in the P population, whereas in the H population Bacillus sp. was the most dominant group. The association of whitefly biotypes and secondary symbionts suggests a possible contribution of these bacteria to host characteristics such as virus transmission, host range, insecticide resistance, and speciation.}, } @article {pmid31283836, year = {2019}, author = {Chu, Q and Sha, Z and Maruyama, H and Yang, L and Pan, G and Xue, L and Watanabe, T}, title = {Metabolic reprogramming in nodules, roots, and leaves of symbiotic soybean in response to iron deficiency.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {11}, pages = {3027-3043}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13608}, pmid = {31283836}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Chromatography, Gas ; Iron/*metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolome/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/enzymology/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/enzymology/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/enzymology/*metabolism ; Soybeans/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sugars/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To elucidate the mechanism of adaptation of leguminous plants to iron (Fe)-deficient environment, comprehensive analyses of soybean (Glycine max) plants (sampled at anthesis) were conducted under Fe-sufficient control and Fe-deficient treatment using metabolomic and physiological approach. Our results show that soybeans grown under Fe-deficient conditions showed lower nitrogen (N) fixation efficiency; however, ureides increased in different tissues, indicating potential N-feedback inhibition. N assimilation was inhibited as observed in the repressed amino acids biosynthesis and reduced proteins in roots and nodules. In Fe-deficient leaves, many amino acids increased, accompanied by the reduction of malate, fumarate, succinate, and α-ketoglutarate, which implies the N reprogramming was stimulated by the anaplerotic pathway. Accordingly, many organic acids increased in roots and nodules; however, enzymes involved in the related metabolic pathway (e.g., Krebs cycle) showed opposite activity between roots and nodules, indicative of different mechanisms. Sugars increased or maintained at constant level in different tissues under Fe deficiency, which probably relates to oxidative stress, cell wall damage, and feedback regulation. Increased ascorbate, nicotinate, raffinose, galactinol, and proline in different tissues possibly helped resist the oxidative stress induced by Fe deficiency. Overall, Fe deficiency induced the coordinated metabolic reprogramming in different tissues of symbiotic soybean plants.}, } @article {pmid31283433, year = {2019}, author = {Thapa, SP and Davis, EW and Lyu, Q and Weisberg, AJ and Stevens, DM and Clarke, CR and Coaker, G and Chang, JH}, title = {The Evolution, Ecology, and Mechanisms of Infection by Gram-Positive, Plant-Associated Bacteria.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {57}, number = {}, pages = {341-365}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-082718-100124}, pmid = {31283433}, issn = {1545-2107}, mesh = {Ecology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; *Infections ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gram-positive bacteria are prominent members of plant-associated microbial communities. Although many are hypothesized to be beneficial, some are causative agents of economically important diseases of crop plants. Because the features of Gram-positive bacteria are fundamentally different relative to those of Gram-negative bacteria, the evolution and ecology as well as the mechanisms used to colonize and infect plants also differ. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of Gram-positive, plant-associated bacteria and provide a framework for future research directions on these important plant symbionts.}, } @article {pmid31283425, year = {2020}, author = {Apprill, A}, title = {The Role of Symbioses in the Adaptation and Stress Responses of Marine Organisms.}, journal = {Annual review of marine science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {291-314}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-010419-010641}, pmid = {31283425}, issn = {1941-0611}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology/parasitology ; Aquatic Organisms/*physiology ; Bacteria ; Climate Change ; Fishes/physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ocean ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented rates of climate and anthropogenic change, which can often initiate stress in marine organisms. Symbioses, or associations between different organisms, are plentiful in the ocean and could play a significant role in facilitating organismal adaptations to stressful ocean conditions. This article reviews current knowledge about the role of symbiosis in marine organismal acclimation and adaptation. It discusses stress and adaptations in symbioses from coral reef ecosystems, which are among the most affected environments in the ocean, including the relationships between corals and microalgae, corals and bacteria, anemones and clownfish, and cleaner fish and client fish. Despite the importance of this subject, knowledge of how marine organisms adapt to stress is still limited, and there are vast opportunities for research and technological development in this area. Attention to this subject will enhance our understanding of the capacity of symbioses to alleviate organismal stress in the oceans.}, } @article {pmid31283172, year = {2019}, author = {Niehs, SP and Dose, B and Scherlach, K and Pidot, SJ and Stinear, TP and Hertweck, C}, title = {Genome Mining Reveals Endopyrroles from a Nonribosomal Peptide Assembly Line Triggered in Fungal-Bacterial Symbiosis.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {1811-1818}, doi = {10.1021/acschembio.9b00406}, pmid = {31283172}, issn = {1554-8937}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Depsipeptides/*biosynthesis ; Genome, Bacterial/physiology ; Genomics/methods ; Multigene Family/physiology ; Proof of Concept Study ; Pyrroles/*metabolism ; Rhizopus/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The bacterial endosymbiont (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) of the rice seedling blight fungus (Rhizopus microsporus) harbors a large number of cryptic biosynthesis gene clusters. Genome mining and sequence similarity networks based on an encoded nonribosomal peptide assembly line and the associated pyrrole-forming enzymes in the symbiont indicated that the encoded metabolites are unique among a large number of tentative pyrrole natural products in diverse and unrelated bacterial phyla. By performing comparative metabolic profiling using a mutant generated with an improved pheS Burkholderia counterselection marker, we found that the symbionts' biosynthetic pathway is mainly activated under salt stress and exclusively in symbiosis with the fungal host. The cryptic metabolites were fully characterized as novel pyrrole-substituted depsipeptides (endopyrroles). A broader survey showed that endopyrrole production is a hallmark of geographically distant endofungal bacteria, which produce the peptides solely under symbiotic conditions.}, } @article {pmid31282031, year = {2019}, author = {Durante, MK and Baums, IB and Williams, DE and Vohsen, S and Kemp, DW}, title = {What drives phenotypic divergence among coral clonemates of Acropora palmata?.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {13}, pages = {3208-3224}, pmid = {31282031}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; DNA Methylation ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Florida ; *Microbiota ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phenotype ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary rescue of populations depends on their ability to produce phenotypic variation that is heritable and adaptive. DNA mutations are the best understood mechanisms to create phenotypic variation, but other, less well-studied mechanisms exist. Marine benthic foundation species provide opportunities to study these mechanisms because many are dominated by isogenic stands produced through asexual reproduction. For example, Caribbean acroporid corals are long lived and reproduce asexually via breakage of branches. Fragmentation is often the dominant mode of local population maintenance. Thus, large genets with many ramets (colonies) are common. Here, we observed phenotypic variation in stress responses within genets following the coral bleaching events in 2014 and 2015 caused by high water temperatures. This was not due to genetic variation in their symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium "fitti") because each genet of this coral species typically harbours a single strain of S. "fitti". Characterization of the microbiome via 16S tag sequencing correlated the abundance of only two microbiome members (Tepidiphilus, Endozoicomonas) with a bleaching response. Epigenetic changes were significantly correlated with the host's genetic background, the location of the sampled polyps within the colonies (e.g., branch vs. base of colony), and differences in the colonies' condition during the bleaching event. We conclude that long-term microenvironmental differences led to changes in the way the ramets methylated their genomes, contributing to the differential bleaching response. However, most of the variation in differential bleaching response among clonemates of Acropora palmata remains unexplained. This research provides novel data and hypotheses to help understand intragenet variability in stress phenotypes of sessile marine species.}, } @article {pmid31281920, year = {2019}, author = {de Oliveira, ISR and Jesus, EDC and Ribeiro, TG and Santos Reis de Andrade da Silva, M and Tenorio, JO and Martins, LMV and de Faria, SM}, title = {Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. adapts to rhizobia populations with differential taxonomy and symbiotic effectiveness outside of its location of origin.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz109}, pmid = {31281920}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae ; Forests ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. is a legume native to the semi-arid region of Brazil, in the Northeast. Its successful adaptation to other locations, such as the Atlantic Forest in the Southeast region, may be related to its ability to establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, especially β-rhizobia of the genus Paraburkholderia. The objective of this work was to determine whether M. caesalpiniifolia adapted to bacterial symbionts in locals where it was introduced. Bacteria were recovered from nodules of M. caesalpiniifolia and characterized at the genetic level by BOX-PCR and sequencing of the 16S rRNA, recA, nifH, and nodC genes. Their symbiotic effectiveness was assessed under axenic conditions. M. caesalpiniifolia nodulated mainly with Paraburkholderia sabiae and a few strains of Rhizobium in the Southeast. On the other hand, the symbionts found in the Northeast were, predominantly, Paraburkholderia diazotrophica. Regardless of its origin, P. diazotrophica promoted a superior accumulation of plant biomass than other bacterial species. The results presented here demonstrate the ability of M. caesalpiniifolia to adapt to bacterial populations outside its location of origin, and indicate that, in this case, the symbiotic effectiveness was associated with the taxonomical classification of the strains.}, } @article {pmid31281266, year = {2019}, author = {Gonella, E and Mandrioli, M and Tedeschi, R and Crotti, E and Pontini, M and Alma, A}, title = {Activation of Immune Genes in Leafhoppers by Phytoplasmas and Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {795}, pmid = {31281266}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Insect immunity is a crucial process in interactions between host and microorganisms and the presence of pathogenic, commensal, or beneficial bacteria may result in different immune responses. In Hemiptera vectors of phytoplasmas, infected insects are amenable to carrying high loads of phytopathogens, besides hosting other bacterial affiliates, which have evolved different strategies to be retained; adaptation to host response and immunomodulation are key aspects of insect-symbiont interactions. Most of the analyses published to date has investigated insect immune response to pathogens, whereas few studies have focused on the role of host immunity in microbiota homeostasis and vectorial capacity. Here the expression of immune genes in the leafhopper vector of phytoplasmas Euscelidius variegatus was investigated following exposure to Asaia symbiotic bacteria, previously demonstrated to affect phytoplasma acquisition by leafhoppers. The expression of four genes related to major components of immunity was measured, i.e., defensin, phenoloxidase, kazal type 1 serine protease inhibitor and Raf, a component of the Ras/Raf pathway. The response was separately tested in whole insects, midguts and cultured hemocytes. Healthy individuals were assessed along with specimens undergoing early- and late-stage phytoplasma infection. In addition, the adhesion grade of Asaia strains was examined to assess whether symbionts could establish a physical barrier against phytoplasma colonization. Our results revealed a specific activation of Raf in midguts after double infection by Asaia and flavescence dorée phytoplasma. Increased expression was observed already in early stages of phytoplasma colonization. Gut-specific localization and timing of Raf activation are consistent with the role played by Asaia in limiting phytoplasma acquisition by E. variegatus, supporting the involvement of this gene in the anti-pathogen activity. However, limited attachment capability was found for Asaia under in vitro experimental conditions, suggesting a minor contribution of physical phytoplasma exclusion from the vector gut wall. By providing evidence of immune modulation played by Asaia, these results contribute to elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating interference with phytoplasma infection in E. variegatus. The involvement of Raf suggests that in the presence of reduced immunity (reported in Hemipterans), immune genes can be differently regulated and recruited to play additional functions, generally played by genes lost by hemipterans.}, } @article {pmid31279967, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, Y and White, MM and Moncalvo, JM}, title = {Diversification of the gut fungi Smittium and allies (Harpellales) co-occurred with the origin of complete metamorphosis of their symbiotic insect hosts (lower Diptera).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {139}, number = {}, pages = {106550}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106550}, pmid = {31279967}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biodiversity ; Fungi/*classification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Smittium (Harpellales, Kickxellomycotina) includes fungal symbionts associated with the digestive tracts of immature aquatic stages of various Diptera, including Chironomidae, Culicidae, Dixidae, Simuliidae, Thaumaleidae, and Tipulidae. With 84 species and the largest collection of cultured strains, Smittium has served as a model to understand the biology of these enigmatic trichomycetes gut fungi, from aspects of biodiversity, evolution, genomics, immunology, and physiology. However, evolutionary histories between Smittium species and their hosts are still not firmly established. Robust phylogenies of both Smittium sensu lato (s.l.) and their lower Diptera hosts have been reconstructed separately, facilitating comparative evolutionary studies between the two. The divergence time of the Smittium s.l. clade was estimated for the first time and compared with the evolutionary history of the insect hosts. The insect gut fungi diversified around 272 Ma (204-342 Ma), which co-occurred with the origin of complete metamorphosis of the insect hosts, presumably between 280 Ma and 355 Ma (~270 Ma for Diptera). A co-phylogenetic pattern was recovered for the insects and their symbiotic gut fungi using the statistical method ParaFit. Ancestral state reconstructions of the symbiotic relationship suggest that the ancestor of the Chironomidae may have contributed to the initiation of these insect-fungus symbiotic interactions. Further sampling and sequencing of Smittium and allies as well as their hosts are needed to uncover more patterns and interactions that may occur in this type of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31278835, year = {2020}, author = {Cedrola, F and Senra, MV and D'Agosto, M and Dias, RJP}, title = {Helmet-shaped Body of Entodiniomorphid Ciliates (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida), a Synapomorphy or a Homoplasy?.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {1}, pages = {140-143}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12749}, pmid = {31278835}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ciliophora/*classification/cytology/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; }, abstract = {Triadinium was created to include Triadinium caudatum. Further, four other species were included, T. minimum, T. galea, T. elongatum, and T. magnum, all sharing a characteristic helmet-shaped body. Wolska and Grain argued that the inclusion of T. minimum and T. galea into Triadinium was done based on superficial morphological aspects, and established two new genera to accommodate these species: Circodinium and Gassovskiella. Although the phylogenetic relationships within Entodiniomorphida have been investigated by multiple authors, none of them discussed the evolutionary relationship of helmet-shaped entodiniomorphids. We performed molecular phylogenetics and revisited old literature digging for morphological data to explain our results. According to our analyses, the helmet-shaped body is homoplastic and may have evolved from at least three different entodiniomorphid ancestors. Circodinium minimum is phylogenetically related to members of Blepharocorythidae, T. caudatum emerged within Spirodiniidae and G. galea within Polydiniellidae. This phylogenetic hypothesis is partially supported by information on infraciliature and ultrastructure of C. minimum and T. caudatum. However, such morphological information is not available for polydiniellids. In order to shed some light into the evolution of the helmet-shaped ciliates, future works should focus to collect information on the infraciliature and the ultrastructure of Polydiniella mysorea and of other Triadinium species.}, } @article {pmid31278129, year = {2019}, author = {Ahmed, S and Hasan, A and Kim, Y}, title = {Overexpression of PGE2 synthase by in vivo transient expression enhances immunocompetency along with fitness cost in a lepidopteran insect.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.207019}, pmid = {31278129}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gene Expression ; Genetic Fitness/*immunology ; Immunity, Cellular/*genetics ; Immunocompetence ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Larva/enzymology/genetics/immunology ; Prostaglandin-E Synthases/*genetics/metabolism ; Spodoptera/enzymology/*genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Prostaglandins (PGs) mediate various physiological functions in insects. Specifically, PGE2 is known to mediate immunity and egg-laying behavior in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua A PGE2 synthase 2 (Se-PGES2) has been identified to catalyze the final step to produce PGE2 in S. exigua Its expression is inducible in response to immune challenge. Inhibition of the gene expression results in immunosuppression. In contrast, any physiological alteration induced by its uncontrolled overexpression was not recognized in insects. This study used the in vivo transient expression (IVTE) technique to induce overexpression and assessed subsequent physiological alteration in S. exiguaSe-PGES2 was cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector and transfected to Sf9 cells to monitor its heterologous expression. The Sf9 cells expressed the recombinant Se-PGES2 (rSe-PGES2) at an expected size (∼47 kDa), which was localized in the cytoplasm. The recombinant expression vector was then used to transfect larvae of S. exigua Hemocytes collected from the larvae treated with IVTE expressed the rSe-PGES2 gene for at least 48 h. The larvae treated with IVTE exhibited an enhanced competency in cellular immune response measured by hemocyte nodule formation. In addition, IVTE treatment of Se-PGES2 induced gene expression of antimicrobial peptides without any immune challenge. The larvae treated with IVTE became significantly resistant to infection of an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum, or to infection to its symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii However, IVTE-treated S. exigua larvae suffered from reduced pupal size and fecundity.}, } @article {pmid31277573, year = {2019}, author = {Rodrigues, CM and Takita, MA and Silva, NV and Ribeiro-Alves, M and Machado, MA}, title = {Comparative genome analysis of Phyllosticta citricarpa and Phyllosticta capitalensis, two fungi species that share the same host.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {554}, pmid = {31277573}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/*pathogenicity ; Citrus/*microbiology ; Endophytes/genetics ; Enzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Citrus are among the most important crops in the world. However, there are many diseases that affect Citrus caused by different pathogens. Citrus also hosts many symbiotic microorganisms in a relationship that may be advantageous for both organisms. The fungi Phyllosticta citricarpa, responsible for citrus black spot, and Phyllosticta capitalensis, an endophytic species, are examples of closely related species with different behavior in citrus. Both species are always biologically associated and are morphologically very similar, and comparing their genomes could help understanding the different lifestyles. In this study, a comparison was carried to identify genetic differences that could help us to understand the biology of P. citricarpa and P. capitalensis.

RESULTS: Drafts genomes were assembled with sizes close to 33 Mb for both fungi, carrying 15,206 and 14,797 coding sequences for P. citricarpa and P. capitalensis, respectively. Even though the functional categories of these coding sequences is similar, enrichment analysis showed that the pathogenic species presents growth and development genes that may be necessary for the pathogenicity of P. citricarpa. On the other hand, family expansion analyses showed the plasticity of the genome of these species. Particular families are expanded in the genome of an ancestor of P. capitalensis and a recent expansion can also be detected among this species. Additionally, evolution could be driven by environmental cues in P. citricarpa.

CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrated genomic differences between P. citricarpa and P. capitalensis. Although the idea that these differences could explain the different lifestyles of these fungi, we were not able to confirm this hypothesis. Genome evolution seems to be of real importance among the Phyllosticta isolates and it is leading to different biological characteristics of these species.}, } @article {pmid31277471, year = {2019}, author = {Fukudome, M and Watanabe, E and Osuki, KI and Uchi, N and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Ectopic or Over-Expression of Class 1 Phytoglobin Genes Confers Flooding Tolerance to the Root Nodules of Lotus japonicus by Scavenging Nitric Oxide.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31277471}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Flooding limits biomass production in agriculture. Leguminous plants, important agricultural crops, use atmospheric dinitrogen gas as nitrogen nutrition by symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia, but this root-nodule symbiosis is sometimes broken down by flooding of the root system. In this study, we analyzed the effect of flooding on the symbiotic system of transgenic Lotus japonicus lines which overexpressed class 1 phytoglobin (Glb1) of L. japonicus (LjGlb1-1) or ectopically expressed that of Alnus firma (AfGlb1). In the roots of wild-type plants, flooding increased nitric oxide (NO) level and expression of senescence-related genes and decreased nitrogenase activity; in the roots of transgenic lines, these effects were absent or less pronounced. The decrease of chlorophyll content in leaves and the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in roots and leaves caused by flooding were also suppressed in these lines. These results suggest that increased levels of Glb1 help maintain nodule symbiosis under flooding by scavenging NO and controlling ROS.}, } @article {pmid31276914, year = {2019}, author = {Li, N and Zeng, W and Guo, Y and Li, C and Ma, C and Peng, Y}, title = {Nitrogen-associated niche characteristics and bacterial community estimated by [15]N-DNA-stable isotope probing in one-stage partial nitritation/anammox process with different ammonium loading.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {603-612}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.06.110}, pmid = {31276914}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; DNA ; Isotopes ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with partial nitritation is critical for cleaner production in sewage treatment. The long-term effects of high- and low-strength influent ammonium (NH4[+]-N) on the anammox activity, ecological niche characteristics and active microbial community were investigated in a one-stage partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) process. The total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was up to 90% with influent NH4[+]-N of 192 mg/L. The [15]N-isotope pairing technique illustrated that the potential anammox rate could reach to 3507.8 nmoL/g-sludge/h, accounting for 73.2% of dinitrogen production. As the influent NH4[+]-N decreased to 63 mg/L, the anammox population significantly decreased and the Nitrospira became the dominant specialized species in the PN/A system. The Nitrobacter had the smallest niche overlap value and the furthest ecological distance to the anammox bacteria among the seven investigated nitrogen conversion-related genes along the influent NH4[+]-N concentration gradient, indicating different ecological similarities. The redundancy analysis showed that the rise of dissolved oxygen caused by low NH4[+]-N might be the main cause of the excessive proliferation of the Nitrospira. The [15]N-DNA-stable isotope probing illustrated that both the class Anaerolineae and Proteobacteria had closely symbiotic relations with the Planctomycetacia in this in situ surveys. This study provides a deep understanding of PN/A process treating low-ammonium mainstream wastewater from the viewpoint of microecology.}, } @article {pmid31276660, year = {2019}, author = {Chellappan, DK and Sze Ning, QL and Su Min, SK and Bin, SY and Chern, PJ and Shi, TP and Ee Mei, SW and Yee, TH and Qi, OJ and Thangavelu, L and Rajeshkumar, S and Negi, P and Chellian, J and Wadhwa, R and Gupta, G and Collet, T and Hansbro, PM and Dua, K}, title = {Interactions between microbiome and lungs: Paving new paths for microbiome based bio-engineered drug delivery systems in chronic respiratory diseases.}, journal = {Chemico-biological interactions}, volume = {310}, number = {}, pages = {108732}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108732}, pmid = {31276660}, issn = {1872-7786}, mesh = {Chronic Disease ; Drug Delivery Systems/*methods ; Humans ; Lung/*microbiology ; Lung Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Microbiota/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The human body is a home to thousands of microbiotas. It is defined as a community of symbiotic, commensal and pathogenic microorganisms that have existed in all exposed sites of the body, which have co-evolved with diet, lifestyle, genetic factors and immune factors. Human microbiotas have been studied for years on their effects with relation to health and diseases.

METHODS: Relevant published studies, literature and reports were searched from accessible electronic databases and related institutional databases. We used keywords, viz; microbiome, microbiota, microbiome drug delivery and respiratory disease. Selected articles were carefully read through, clustered, segregated into subtopics and reviewed.

FINDINGS: The traditional belief of sterile lungs was challenged by the emergence of culture-independent molecular techniques and the recently introduced invasive broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) sampling method. The constitution of a lung microbiome mainly depends on three main ecological factors, which include; firstly, the immigration of microbes into airways, secondly, the removal of microbes from airways and lastly, the regional growth conditions. In healthy conditions, the microbial communities that co-exist in our lungs can build significant pulmonary immunity and could act as a barrier against diseases, whereas, in an adverse way, microbiomes may interact with other pathogenic bacteriomes and viromes, acting as a cofactor in inflammation and host immune responses, which may lead to the progression of a disease. Thus, the use of microbiota as a target, and as a drug delivery system in the possible modification of a disease state, has started to gain massive attention in recent years. Microbiota, owing to its unique characteristics, could serve as a potential drug delivery system, that could be bioengineered to suit the interest. The engineered microbiome-derived therapeutics can be delivered through BC, bacteriophage, bacteria-derived lipid vesicles and microbe-derived extracellular vesicles. This review highlights the relationships between microbiota and different types of respiratory diseases, the importance of microbiota towards human health and diseases, including the role of novel microbiome drug delivery systems in targeting various respiratory diseases.}, } @article {pmid31276591, year = {2019}, author = {Gutleben, J and Koehorst, JJ and McPherson, K and Pomponi, S and Wijffels, RH and Smidt, H and Sipkema, D}, title = {Diversity of tryptophan halogenases in sponges of the genus Aplysina.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31276591}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Caribbean Region ; Chloroflexi/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Cyanobacteria/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Hydrolases/chemistry ; Oxidoreductases/*chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/enzymology/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are a prolific source of novel enzymes with promising biotechnological potential. Especially halogenases, which are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of brominated and chlorinated secondary metabolites, possess interesting properties towards the production of pharmaceuticals that are often halogenated. In this study we used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based screening to simultaneously examine and compare the richness and diversity of putative tryptophan halogenase protein sequences and bacterial community structures of six Aplysina species from the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas. At the phylum level, bacterial community composition was similar amongst all investigated species and predominated by Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Proteobacteria. We detected four phylogenetically diverse clades of putative tryptophan halogenase protein sequences, which were only distantly related to previously reported halogenases. The Mediterranean species Aplysina aerophoba harbored unique halogenase sequences, of which the most predominant was related to a sponge-associated Psychrobacter-derived sequence. In contrast, the Caribbean species shared numerous novel halogenase sequence variants and exhibited a highly similar bacterial community composition at the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level. Correlations of relative abundances of halogenases with those of bacterial taxa suggest that prominent sponge symbiotic bacteria, including Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria, are putative producers of the detected enzymes and may thus contribute to the chemical defense of their host.}, } @article {pmid31276218, year = {2020}, author = {Burghardt, LT}, title = {Evolving together, evolving apart: measuring the fitness of rhizobial bacteria in and out of symbiosis with leguminous plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {228}, number = {1}, pages = {28-34}, doi = {10.1111/nph.16045}, pmid = {31276218}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Fabaceae/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most plant-microbe interactions are facultative, with microbes experiencing temporally and spatially variable selection. How this variation affects microbial evolution is poorly understood. Given its tractability and ecological and agricultural importance, the legume-rhizobia nitrogen-fixing symbiosis is a powerful model for identifying traits and genes underlying bacterial fitness. New technologies allow high-throughput measurement of the relative fitness of bacterial mutants, strains and species in mixed inocula in the host, rhizosphere and soil environments. I consider how host genetic variation (G × G), other environmental factors (G × E), and host life-cycle variation may contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation and adaptive trajectories of rhizobia - and, potentially, other facultative symbionts. Lastly, I place these findings in the context of developing beneficial inoculants in a changing climate.}, } @article {pmid31275282, year = {2019}, author = {He, C and Wang, W and Hou, J}, title = {Characterization of Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi and Improve the Performance of Liquorice Under Organic Residue Treatment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1364}, pmid = {31275282}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi is a diverse group of Ascomycetes fungi that colonize the plants roots, and may facilitate plant growth and fitness, however, their ecological roles need further clarification. This study aimed to evaluate the growth promoting effects of DSE fungi in a medicinal plant, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), under additional organic residues. First, we isolated, identified and characterized, two DSE fungal species (Acrocalymma vagum and Paraboeremia putaminum) harboring inside the roots of liquorice growing in arid areas of China. Second, we examined the performance and rhizosphere soil parameters of liquorice plants inoculated with these fungi under additional sterilized organic residues and unsterilized organic residue (containing Trichoderma viride population) in a growth chamber. The results showed that two DSE strains could effectively colonize plant roots and formed a strain-dependent symbiosis with liquorice. DSE inoculation alone increased the plant biomass, and glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhizin content. It also improved the root system and N and P absorption by plants, consequently depleting these macronutrients in the soil. Residues alone increased soil organic matter, available phosphorus (P), and available nitrogen (N) content, and plant biomass, N, P, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhizin content. Mantel test and structural equation model (SEM) analysis demonstrated that DSE associated with residues significantly positively influenced soil organic matter, available P and available N, and plant biomass, glycyrrhizin, N, P, and root surface area. Variation in plant growth and glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhizin accumulation can be attributed to the effects of DSE inoculation. DSE associated with residues exhibited a general synergistic effect on the growth and accumulation of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhizin of liquorice. We demonstrate for the first time, two DSE fungi in the liquorice roots that have potential use as promoter for the cultivation of medicinal plant.}, } @article {pmid31275276, year = {2019}, author = {Aghai, MM and Khan, Z and Joseph, MR and Stoda, AM and Sher, AW and Ettl, GJ and Doty, SL}, title = {The Effect of Microbial Endophyte Consortia on Pseudotsuga menziesii and Thuja plicata Survival, Growth, and Physiology Across Edaphic Gradients.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1353}, pmid = {31275276}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Increased frequency of droughts and degraded edaphic conditions decreases the success of many reforestation efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Microbial endophyte consortia have been demonstrated to contribute to plant growth promotion and protection from abiotic and biotic stresses - specifically drought conditions - across a number of food crops but for limited tree species. Our research aimed to investigate the potential to improve establishment of economically and ecologically important conifers through a series of in situ field trials and ex situ simulations. Microbial endophyte consortia from Salicaceae, previously shown to confer drought tolerance, and conifer endophyte strains with potentially symbiotic traits were selected for trials with Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Reductive experimentation was used to subject seedlings to a spectrum of simulated drought levels or presence/absence of fertilizer, testing hypotheses that endophyte consortia impart improved drought resistance and growth promotion, respectively. Inoculation from Salicaceae consortia significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved survival among seedlings of both species subject to increasing drought stress, with T. plicata seedlings surviving at twofold higher rates in extreme drought conditions. Both species demonstrated improved growth 540 days after inoculation of seed with conifer derived consortia. In the carefully controlled greenhouse experiments with both species, seedling Fv/Fm and SPAD values remained significantly (p ≤ 0.05) more stable in inoculated treatment groups as stress increased. Our findings confirm that multi-strain consortia may be applied as seed or field amendment to conifers, and the approach is efficient in garnering a positive growth response and can mitigate abiotic stressors.}, } @article {pmid31275258, year = {2019}, author = {Wen, Y and Jin, R and Chen, H}, title = {Interactions Between Gut Microbiota and Acute Childhood Leukemia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1300}, pmid = {31275258}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Childhood leukemia, the commonest childhood cancer, mainly consists of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Though great progresses have been made in the survival rates of childhood leukemia, the long-term health problems of long-term childhood leukemia survivors remain remarkable. In addition, the deep links between risk factors and childhood leukemia need to be elucidated. What can be done to improve the prevention and the prognosis of childhood leukemia is an essential issue. Gut microbiota, referred to as one of the largest symbiotic microorganisms that is accommodated in the gastrointestinal tract of human or animals, is found to be involved in the progression of various diseases. It is reported that microbiota may keep people in good health by participating in metabolism processes and regulating the immune system. Studies have also explored the potential relationships between gut microbiota and childhood leukemia. This review is meant to illustrate the roles of gut microbiota in the onset of acute childhood leukemia, as well as in the progress and prognosis of leukemia and how the treatments for leukemia affect gut microbiota. Besides, this review is focused on the possibility of building or rebuilding a healthy gut microbiota by adjusting the diet construction so as to help clinicians deal with childhood leukemia.}, } @article {pmid31275256, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, B and Yu, K and Liang, J and Huang, W and Wang, G and Su, H and Qin, Z and Huang, X and Pan, Z and Luo, W and Luo, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Latitudinal Variation in the Molecular Diversity and Community Composition of Symbiodiniaceae in Coral From the South China Sea.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1278}, pmid = {31275256}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Coral reefs are continuing to decline worldwide due to anthropogenic climate change. The study of the molecular diversity and biogeographical patterns of Symbiodiniaceae, is essential to understand the adaptive potential and resilience of coral-algal symbiosis. Next generation sequencing was used to analyze the Symbiodiniaceae rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 marker genes from 178 reef-building coral samples in eight coral habitats across approximately 13° of latitude in the South China Sea (SCS). A total of three Symbiodiniaceae genera, Cladocopium, Durusdinium, and Gerakladium, as well as 31 dominant Symbiodiniaceae types, were identified. Symbiodiniaceae richness, diversity, and community composition varied according to latitude; intermediate and low latitude coral reefs (IR and LR) have higher Symbiodiniaceae richness and diversity than high latitude coral habitats (HC and HR). A PERMANOVA analysis found significant differences in the Symbiodiniaceae community composition in the SCS (F = 14.75, R [2] = 0.20, p = 0.001 < 0.01). The major dominant Symbiodiniaceae types were C1 in the HC and the HR, C1/Cspc/C50/C15 and D1 in the IR, and C3u and C15 in the LR. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the relative abundance of different Symbiodiniaceae types is affected by multiple environmental factors. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Symbiodiniaceae type Cladocopium, which shared common ancestors, shows similar environmental adaptability. Based on these results, we suggest that coral host species played a relatively small role in the identity of the dominant Symbiodiniaceae type. Therefore, the biogeographical patterns of Symbiodiniaceae may be mainly affected by environmental factors. Our research provides a comprehensive overview of the biogeography of Symbiodiniaceae in the SCS, where coral communities and reefs are widely distributed across different latitude regions and have variable environmental conditions. Our data will provide support for further study of the regional diversification of Symbiodiniaceae and the ecological resilience of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbioses.}, } @article {pmid31274160, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, X and Huo, H and Luo, Y and Liu, D and Zhao, L and Zong, L and Chou, M and Chen, J and Wei, G}, title = {Type III secretion systems impact Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 compatibility with Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {39}, number = {9}, pages = {1533-1550}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpz077}, pmid = {31274160}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Mesorhizobium ; *Robinia ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and legume plants are famous mutualistic symbiosis partners who provide nitrogen nutrition to the natural environment. Rhizobial type III secretion systems (T3SSs) deliver effectors that manipulate the metabolism of eukaryotic host cells. Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 (GS0123) contains two T3SS gene clusters, T3SS-I and T3SS-II. T3SS-I contains all the basal components for an integrated T3SS, and the expression of T3SS-I genes is up-regulated in the presence of flavonoids. In contrast, T3SS-II lacks the primary extracellular elements of T3SSs, and the expression of T3SS-II genes is down-regulated in the presence of flavonoids. Inoculation tests on Robinia pseudoacacia displayed considerable differences in gene expression patterns and levels among roots inoculated with GS0123 and T3SS-deficient mutant (GS0123ΔrhcN1 (GS0123ΔT1), GS0123ΔrhcN2 (GS0123ΔT2) and GS0123ΔrhcN1ΔrhcN2 (GS0123ΔS)). Compared with the GS0123-inoculated plants, GS0123ΔT1-inoculated roots formed very few infection threads and effective nodules, while GS0123ΔT2-inoculated roots formed a little fewer infection threads and effective nodules with increased numbers of bacteroids enclosed in one symbiosome. Moreover, almost no infection threads or effective nodules were observed in GS0123ΔS-inoculated roots. In addition to evaluations of plant immunity signals, we observed that the coexistence of T3SS-I and T3SS-II promoted infection by suppressing host defense response in the reactive oxygen species defense response pathway. Future studies should focus on identifying rhizobial T3SS effectors and their host target proteins.}, } @article {pmid31274095, year = {2019}, author = {Clémençon, P and Letourneur, D and Ratchinski, P and Yandiev, S}, title = {[A plant, a caterpillar, a wasp, and symbiotic microorganisms: nested multitrophic interactions].}, journal = {Medecine sciences : M/S}, volume = {35}, number = {6-7}, pages = {586-588}, doi = {10.1051/medsci/2019116}, pmid = {31274095}, issn = {1958-5381}, mesh = {Animals ; Catechol Oxidase/biosynthesis ; Glucose Oxidase/biosynthesis ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*physiology/virology ; Oviposition ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/virology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Polydnaviridae/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trypsin Inhibitors/metabolism ; Wasps/*physiology/virology ; }, } @article {pmid31272899, year = {2019}, author = {Plassard, C and Becquer, A and Garcia, K}, title = {Phosphorus Transport in Mycorrhiza: How Far Are We?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {794-801}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2019.06.004}, pmid = {31272899}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Phosphate Transport Proteins ; Phosphorus ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi considerably improve plant nutrition and help them to cope with changing environments. Particularly, these fungi express proteins to transfer inorganic phosphate (Pi) from the soil to colonized roots through symbiotic interfaces. The mechanisms involved in Pi transfer from fungal to plant cells are still largely unknown. Here, we discuss the recent progress made on the description of these mechanisms and we propose the most promising hypotheses and alternative mechanisms for this process. Specifically, we present a phylogenetic survey of candidate Pi transporters of mycorrhizal fungi that might ensure Pi unload into the symbiotic interfaces. Gathering additional knowledge on mycorrhizal Pi transport will improve the Pi-useefficiency in agroecological systems and will guide towards addressing future research challenges.}, } @article {pmid31271695, year = {2021}, author = {Harman, GE and Doni, F and Khadka, RB and Uphoff, N}, title = {Endophytic strains of Trichoderma increase plants' photosynthetic capability.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {130}, number = {2}, pages = {529-546}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14368}, pmid = {31271695}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Carbon/analysis/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The world faces two enormous challenges that can be met, at least in part and at low cost, by making certain changes in agricultural practices. There is need to produce enough food and fibre for a growing population in the face of adverse climatic trends, and to remove greenhouse gases to avert the worst consequences of global climate change. Improving photosynthetic efficiency of crop plants can help meet both challenges. Fortuitously, when crop plants' roots are colonized by certain root endophytic fungi in the genus Trichoderma, this induces up-regulation of genes and pigments that improve the plants' photosynthesis. Plants under physiological or environmental stress suffer losses in their photosynthetic capability through damage to photosystems and other cellular processes caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). But certain Trichoderma strains activate biochemical pathways that reduce ROS to less harmful molecules. This and other mechanisms described here make plants more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. The net effect of these fungi's residence in plants is to induce greater shoot and root growth, increasing crop yields, which will raise future food production. Furthermore, if photosynthesis rates are increased, more CO2 will be extracted from the atmosphere, and enhanced plant root growth means that more sequestered C will be transferred to roots and stored in the soil. Reductions in global greenhouse gas levels can be accelerated by giving incentives for climate-friendly carbon farming and carbon cap-and-trade programmes that reward practices transferring carbon from the atmosphere into the soil, also enhancing soil fertility and agricultural production.}, } @article {pmid31271530, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, Q and Lopez, D and Evans, JD}, title = {Shared and unique microbes between Small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) and their honey bee hosts.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e899}, pmid = {31271530}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Bees/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Insect Vectors/growth & development/*microbiology/*virology ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; RNA Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {The small hive beetle (SHB) is an opportunistic parasite that feeds on bee larvae, honey, and pollen. While SHBs can also feed on fruit and other plant products, like its plant-feeding relatives, SHBs prefer to feed on hive resources and only reproduce inside bee colonies. As parasites, SHBs are inevitably exposed to bee-associated microbes, either directly from the bees or from the hive environment. These microbes have unknown impacts on beetles, nor is it known how extensively beetles transfer microbes among their bee hosts. To identify sets of beetle microbes and the transmission of microbes from bees to beetles, a metagenomic analysis was performed. We identified sets of herbivore-associated bacteria, as well as typical bee symbiotic bacteria for pollen digestion, in SHB larvae and adults. Deformed wing virus was highly abundant in beetles, which colonize SHBs as suggested by a controlled feeding trial. Our data suggest SHBs are vectors for pathogen transmission among bees and between colonies. The dispersal of host pathogens by social parasites via floral resources and the hive environment increases the threats of these parasites to honey bees.}, } @article {pmid31271506, year = {2019}, author = {Moeller, FU and Webster, NS and Herbold, CW and Behnam, F and Domman, D and Albertsen, M and Mooshammer, M and Markert, S and Turaev, D and Becher, D and Rattei, T and Schweder, T and Richter, A and Watzka, M and Nielsen, PH and Wagner, M}, title = {Characterization of a thaumarchaeal symbiont that drives incomplete nitrification in the tropical sponge Ianthella basta.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {10}, pages = {3831-3854}, pmid = {31271506}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITM Symbiomics//Marie Curie Initial Training Networks/International ; Research grants 15510; 16578//VILLUM FONDEN/International ; Advanced Grant project NITRICARE 294343/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; /MCCC_/Marie Curie/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Animals ; Archaea/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nitrification/physiology ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges represent one of the few eukaryotic groups that frequently harbour symbiotic members of the Thaumarchaeota, which are important chemoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizers in many environments. However, in most studies, direct demonstration of ammonia-oxidation by these archaea within sponges is lacking, and little is known about sponge-specific adaptations of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). Here, we characterized the thaumarchaeal symbiont of the marine sponge Ianthella basta using metaproteogenomics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, qPCR and isotope-based functional assays. 'Candidatus Nitrosospongia ianthellae' is only distantly related to cultured AOA. It is an abundant symbiont that is solely responsible for nitrite formation from ammonia in I. basta that surprisingly does not harbour nitrite-oxidizing microbes. Furthermore, this AOA is equipped with an expanded set of extracellular subtilisin-like proteases, a metalloprotease unique among archaea, as well as a putative branched-chain amino acid ABC transporter. This repertoire is strongly indicative of a mixotrophic lifestyle and is (with slight variations) also found in other sponge-associated, but not in free-living AOA. We predict that this feature as well as an expanded and unique set of secreted serpins (protease inhibitors), a unique array of eukaryotic-like proteins, and a DNA-phosporothioation system, represent important adaptations of AOA to life within these ancient filter-feeding animals.}, } @article {pmid31271473, year = {2019}, author = {Leeks, A and Dos Santos, M and West, SA}, title = {Transmission, relatedness, and the evolution of cooperative symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {1036-1045}, pmid = {31271473}, issn = {1420-9101}, support = {BB/M011224/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; *Models, Biological ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Cooperative interactions between species, termed mutualisms, play a key role in shaping natural ecosystems, economically important agricultural systems, and in influencing human health. Across different mutualisms, there is significant variation in the benefit that hosts receive from their symbionts. Empirical data suggest that transmission mode can help explain this variation: vertical transmission, where symbionts infect their host's offspring, leads to symbionts that provide greater benefits to their hosts than horizontal transmission, where symbionts leave their host and infect other hosts in the population. However, two different theoretical explanations have been given for this pattern: firstly, vertical transmission aligns the fitness interests of hosts and their symbionts; secondly, vertical transmission leads to increased relatedness between symbionts sharing a host, favouring cooperation between symbionts. We used a combination of analytical models and dynamic simulations to tease these factors apart, in order to compare their separate influences and see how they interact. We found that relatedness between symbionts sharing a host, rather than transmission mode per se, was the most important factor driving symbiont cooperation. Transmission mode mattered mainly because it determined relatedness. We also found evolutionary branching throughout much of our simulation, suggesting that a combination of transmission mode and multiplicity of infections could lead to the stable coexistence of different symbiont strategies.}, } @article {pmid31271421, year = {2019}, author = {Sørensen, MES and Lowe, CD and Minter, EJA and Wood, AJ and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA}, title = {The role of exploitation in the establishment of mutualistic microbial symbioses.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31271421}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary theory suggests that the conditions required for the establishment of mutualistic symbioses through mutualism alone are highly restrictive, often requiring the evolution of complex stabilising mechanisms. Exploitation, whereby initially the host benefits at the expense of its symbiotic partner and mutual benefits evolve subsequently through trade-offs, offers an arguably simpler route to the establishment of mutualistic symbiosis. In this review, we discuss the theoretical and experimental evidence supporting a role for host exploitation in the establishment and evolution of mutualistic microbial symbioses, including data from both extant and experimentally evolved symbioses. We conclude that exploitation rather than mutualism may often explain the origin of mutualistic microbial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid31269590, year = {2019}, author = {Wen, ZL and Chen, DC}, title = {[Clinical significance of intestinal micro-ecological symbiosis disruption in critically ill patients].}, journal = {Zhonghua yi xue za zhi}, volume = {99}, number = {25}, pages = {1921-1924}, doi = {10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.2019.25.001}, pmid = {31269590}, issn = {0376-2491}, mesh = {*Critical Illness ; Humans ; Intestines ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid31268231, year = {2020}, author = {Xu, XR and Li, NN and Bao, XY and Douglas, AE and Luan, JB}, title = {Patterns of host cell inheritance in the bacterial symbiosis of whiteflies.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {938-946}, pmid = {31268231}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Halomonadaceae/*physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Heredity ; Oocytes/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Whiteflies possess bacterial symbionts Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidium that are housed in specialized cells called bacteriocytes and are faithfully transmitted via the ovary to insect offspring. In one whitefly species studied previously, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, transmission is mediated by somatic inheritance of bacteriocytes, with a single bacteriocyte transferred to each oocyte and persisting through embryogenesis to the next generation. Here, we investigate the mode of bacteriocyte transmission in two whitefly species, B. tabaci MED, the sister species of MEAM1, and the phylogenetically distant species Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Microsatellite analysis supported by microscopical studies demonstrates that B. tabaci MED bacteriocytes are genetically different from other somatic cells and persist through embryogenesis, as for MEAM1, but T. vaporariorum bacteriocytes are genetically identical to other somatic cells of the insect, likely mediated by the degradation of maternal bacteriocytes in the embryo. These two alternative modes of transmission provide a first demonstration among insect symbioses that the cellular processes underlying vertical transmission of bacterial symbionts can diversify among related host species associated with a single lineage of symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid31267762, year = {2019}, author = {Lima-Barbero, JF and Díaz-Sanchez, S and Sparagano, O and Finn, RD and de la Fuente, J and Villar, M}, title = {Metaproteomics characterization of the alphaproteobacteria microbiome in different developmental and feeding stages of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778).}, journal = {Avian pathology : journal of the W.V.P.A}, volume = {48}, number = {sup1}, pages = {S52-S59}, doi = {10.1080/03079457.2019.1635679}, pmid = {31267762}, issn = {1465-3338}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Chickens/*parasitology ; Female ; *Microbiota ; Mites/*microbiology ; Poultry Diseases/*parasitology ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778), is a worldwide distributed ectoparasite and considered a major pest affecting the laying hen industry in Europe. Based on available information in other ectoparasites, the mite microbiome might participate in several biological processes and the acquisition, maintenance and transmission of pathogens. However, little is known about the role of PRM as a mechanical carrier or a biological vector in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Herein, we used a metaproteomics approach to characterize the alphaproteobacteria in the microbiota of PRM, and variations in its profile with ectoparasite development (nymphs vs. adults) and feeding (unfed vs. fed). The results showed that the bacterial community associated with D. gallinae was mainly composed of environmental and commensal bacteria. Putative symbiotic bacteria of the genera Wolbachia, C. Tokpelaia and Sphingomonas were identified, together with potential pathogenic bacteria of the genera Inquilinus, Neorickettsia and Roseomonas. Significant differences in the composition of alphaproteobacterial microbiota were associated with mite development and feeding, suggesting that bacteria have functional implications in metabolic pathways associated with blood feeding. These results support the use of metaproteomics for the characterization of alphaproteobacteria associated with the D. gallinae microbiota that could provide relevant information for the understanding of mite-host interactions and the development of potential control interventions. Research highlights Metaproteomics is a valid approach for microbiome characterization in ectoparasites. Alphaproteobacteria putative bacterial symbionts were identified in D. gallinae. Mite development and feeding were related to variations in bacterial community. Potentially pathogenic bacteria were identified in mite microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31266522, year = {2019}, author = {Cappelli, A and Valzano, M and Cecarini, V and Bozic, J and Rossi, P and Mensah, P and Amantini, C and Favia, G and Ricci, I}, title = {Killer yeasts exert anti-plasmodial activities against the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in the vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi and in mice.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {329}, pmid = {31266522}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {842429/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology/parasitology ; Antimalarials/*pharmacology ; Female ; Malaria/parasitology/*prevention & control/transmission ; Mice ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology/parasitology ; Mycotoxins/*pharmacology ; Plasmodium berghei/*drug effects ; Saccharomycetales/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wickerhamomyces anomalus is a yeast associated with different insects including mosquitoes, where it is proposed to be involved in symbiotic relationships with hosts. Different symbiotic strains of W. anomalus display a killer phenotype mediated by protein toxins with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. In particular, a killer toxin purified from a W. anomalus strain (WaF17.12), previously isolated from the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi, has shown strong in vitro anti-plasmodial activity against early sporogonic stages of the murine malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei.

RESULTS: Here, we provide evidence that WaF17.12 cultures, properly stimulated to induce the expression of the killer toxin, can directly affect in vitro P. berghei early sporogonic stages, causing membrane damage and parasite death. Moreover, we demonstrated by in vivo studies that mosquito dietary supplementation with activated WaF17.12 cells interfere with ookinete development in the midgut of An. stephensi. Besides the anti-sporogonic action of WaF17.12, an inhibitory effect of purified WaF17.12-killer toxin was observed on erythrocytic stages of P. berghei, with a consequent reduction of parasitaemia in mice. The preliminary safety tests on murine cell lines showed no side effects.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the anti-plasmodial activity of WaF17.12 against different developmental stages of P. berghei. New studies on P. falciparum are needed to evaluate the use of killer yeasts as innovative tools in the symbiotic control of malaria.}, } @article {pmid31265771, year = {2019}, author = {Zolnikova, OY and Ivaschkin, KV and Bueverova, EL and Ivaschkin, VT}, title = {[Intestinal microbiota, nutrients and probiotics viewed from the «gut-lung» axis].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {88}, number = {3}, pages = {13-22}, doi = {10.24411/0042-8833-2019-10025}, pmid = {31265771}, issn = {0042-8833}, mesh = {*Asthma/microbiology/physiopathology/therapy ; Bacteria/growth & development ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Intestines/microbiology/physiopathology ; Lung/microbiology/physiopathology ; *Nutrients ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; *Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/microbiology/physiopathology/therapy ; }, abstract = {Disturbance of the bronchopulmonary system are among the most common and socially significant diseases, so, the prevention and treatment of these disorders are the priority tasks of practical health care. Being based on the accumulated literature data on the interaction of the intestinal microflora and respiratory tract, the role of symbiotic bacteria of the intestinal biotope has been discussed in the respiratory diseases' pathogenesis. The aim of the work was to analyze the results of experimental and clinical studies confirming the effect of intestinal microflora on the development and progression of respiratory diseases. The analysis of the available data on the risk reducing of occurrence, duration and severity of symptoms of bronchial asthma when taking probiotics, both in childhood and in the adult population, has been carried out. The effectiveness of the probiotic microorganisms' intake for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, viral infection, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer has been analyzed. The main possible molecular mechanisms of the symbiotic bacteria prevention of the bronchopulmonary diseases development have been discussed in the article. Conclusion. The probiotics usage in the complex treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases demonstrates encouraging results. Its potential may be useful in the treatment of various lung diseases. However, a number of questions have been related to the individual selection of specific strains, the dosage and duration of use to achieve sustained remission for a patient.}, } @article {pmid31265361, year = {2019}, author = {Nouwen, N and Gargani, D and Giraud, E}, title = {The Modification of the Flavonoid Naringenin by Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain ORS285 Changes the nod Genes Inducer Function to a Growth Stimulator.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {1517-1525}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-19-0133-R}, pmid = {31265361}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; *Fabaceae ; *Flavanones/genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {As inducers of nodulation (nod) genes, flavonoids play an important role in the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legumes. However, in addition to the control of expression of nod genes, many other effects of flavonoids on rhizobial cells have been described. Here, we show that the flavonoid naringenin stimulates the growth of the photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285. This growth-stimulating effect was still observed for strain ORS285 with nodD1, nodD2, or the naringenin-degrading fde operon deleted. Phenotypic microarray analysis indicates that in cells grown in the presence of naringenin, the glycerol and fatty acid metabolism is activated. Moreover, electron microscopic and enzymatic analyses show that polyhydroxy alkanoate metabolism is altered in cells grown in the presence of naringenin. Although strain ORS285 was able to degrade naringenin, a fraction was converted into an intensely yellow-colored molecule with an m/z (+) of 363.0716. Further analysis indicates that this molecule is a hydroxylated and O-methylated form of naringenin. In contrast to naringenin, this derivative did not induce nod gene expression, but it did stimulate the growth of strain ORS285. We hypothesize that the growth stimulation and metabolic changes induced by naringenin are part of a mechanism to facilitate the colonization and infection of naringenin-exuding host plants.}, } @article {pmid31264424, year = {2019}, author = {Jakobsen, LMA and Sundekilde, UK and Andersen, HJ and Nielsen, DS and Bertram, HC}, title = {Lactose and Bovine Milk Oligosaccharides Synergistically Stimulate B. longum subsp. longum Growth in a Simplified Model of the Infant Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {3086-3098}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00211}, pmid = {31264424}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/drug effects/growth & development ; Bifidobacterium/*drug effects/growth & development ; Cattle ; Clostridium perfringens/drug effects/growth & development ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/growth & development ; Galactose/metabolism/pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Lactose/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Milk/chemistry/microbiology ; Oligosaccharides/chemistry/pharmacology ; Prebiotics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Increasing awareness of the importance of a healthy Bifidobacterium-rich microbiome has led to a need for more knowledge on how different prebiotic carbohydrates specifically impact the infant microbiome, especially as a community instead of single bacterial targets. In this study, we combined proton nuclear magnetic resonance ([1]H NMR) metabolomics and molecular biology methods for quantification of bacteria to compare the prebiotic effect of bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) and synthetic galacto oligosaccharides (GOS) using mono- and cocultures of eight major bacteria related to a healthy infant microbiome. The results revealed that BMO treatments supported growth of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum and Parabacteroides distasonis, while at the same time growth of Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli was inhibited. In addition, there was a synergistic effect of combining lactose and BMO in regards to reducing C. perfringens, maintaining stable numbers of P. distasonis and simultaneously increasing numbers of the beneficial B. longum subsp. longum. These results indicate that the oligosaccharide composition plays a vital role in shaping the developing microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31264399, year = {2019}, author = {Dutta, K and Bochicchio, D and Ribbe, AE and Alfandari, D and Mager, J and Pavan, GM and Thayumanavan, S}, title = {Symbiotic Self-Assembly Strategy toward Lipid-Encased Cross-Linked Polymer Nanoparticles for Efficient Gene Silencing.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {11}, number = {28}, pages = {24971-24983}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.9b04731}, pmid = {31264399}, issn = {1944-8252}, mesh = {*Drug Carriers/chemistry/pharmacokinetics/pharmacology ; Endosomes/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Silencing ; *Genetic Therapy ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; *Lipids/chemistry/pharmacokinetics/pharmacology ; *Nanoparticles/chemistry/therapeutic use ; *Polymers/chemistry/pharmacokinetics/pharmacology ; *RNA, Small Interfering/chemistry/genetics/pharmacokinetics/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {A novel "symbiotic self-assembly" strategy that integrates the advantages of biocompatible lipids with a structurally robust polymer to efficiently encapsulate and deliver siRNAs is reported. The assembly process is considered to be symbiotic because none of the assembling components are capable of self-assembly but can form well-defined nanostructures in the presence of others. The conditions of the self-assembly process are simple but have been chosen such that it offers the ability to arrive at a system that is noncationic for mitigating carrier-based cytotoxicity, efficiently encapsulate siRNA to minimize cargo loss, be effectively camouflaged to protect the siRNA from nuclease degradation, and efficiently escape the endosome to cause gene knockdown. The lipid-siRNA-polymer (L-siP) nanoassembly formation and its disassembly in the presence of an intracellular trigger have been extensively characterized experimentally and through computational modeling. The complexes have been evaluated for the delivery of four different siRNA molecules in six different cell lines, where an efficient gene knockdown is demonstrated. The reported generalized strategy has the potential to make an impact on the development of a safe and effective delivery agent for RNAi-mediated gene therapy that holds the promise of targeting several hard-to-cure diseases.}, } @article {pmid31262532, year = {2019}, author = {Biedermann, PHW and Müller, J and Grégoire, JC and Gruppe, A and Hagge, J and Hammerbacher, A and Hofstetter, RW and Kandasamy, D and Kolarik, M and Kostovcik, M and Krokene, P and Sallé, A and Six, DL and Turrini, T and Vanderpool, D and Wingfield, MJ and Bässler, C}, title = {Bark Beetle Population Dynamics in the Anthropocene: Challenges and Solutions.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {914-924}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2019.06.002}, pmid = {31262532}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; *Picea ; Plant Bark ; Population Dynamics ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Tree-killing bark beetles are the most economically important insects in conifer forests worldwide. However, despite >200 years of research, the drivers of population eruptions and crashes are still not fully understood and the existing knowledge is thus insufficient to face the challenges posed by the Anthropocene. We critically analyze potential biotic and abiotic drivers of population dynamics of an exemplary species, the European spruce bark beetle (ESBB) (Ips typographus) and present a multivariate approach that integrates the many drivers governing this bark beetle system. We call for hypothesis-driven, large-scale collaborative research efforts to improve our understanding of the population dynamics of this and other bark beetle pests. Our approach can serve as a blueprint for tackling other eruptive forest insects.}, } @article {pmid31262007, year = {2019}, author = {Pilon-Smits, EAH}, title = {On the Ecology of Selenium Accumulation in Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31262007}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plants accumulate and tolerate Se to varying degrees, up to 15,000 mg Se/kg dry weight for Se hyperaccumulators. Plant Se accumulation may exert positive or negative effects on other species in the community. The movement of plant Se into ecological partners may benefit them at low concentrations, but cause toxicity at high concentrations. Thus, Se accumulation can protect plants against Se-sensitive herbivores and pathogens (elemental defense) and reduce surrounding vegetation cover via high-Se litter deposition (elemental allelopathy). While hyperaccumulators negatively impact Se-sensitive ecological partners, they offer a niche for Se-tolerant partners, including beneficial microbial and pollinator symbionts as well as detrimental herbivores, pathogens, and competing plant species. These ecological effects of plant Se accumulation may facilitate the evolution of Se resistance in symbionts. Conversely, Se hyperaccumulation may evolve driven by increasing Se resistance in herbivores, pathogens, or plant neighbors; Se resistance also evolves in mutualist symbionts, minimizing the plant's ecological cost. Interesting topics to address in future research are whether the ecological impacts of plant Se accumulation may affect species composition across trophic levels (favoring Se resistant taxa), and to what extent Se hyperaccumulators form a portal for Se into the local food chain and are important for Se cycling in the local ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid31261721, year = {2019}, author = {Haro, R and Benito, B}, title = {The Role of Soil Fungi in K[+] Plant Nutrition.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {31261721}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fungi/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Magnoliopsida/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Potassium/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {K[+] is an essential cation and the most abundant in plant cells. After N, its corresponding element, K, is the nutrient required in the largest amounts by plants. Despite the numerous roles of K in crop production, improvements in the uptake and efficiency of use of K have not been major focuses in conventional or transgenic breeding studies in the past. In research on the mineral nutrition of plants in general, and K in particular, this nutrient has been shown to be essential to soil-dwelling-microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, etc.) that form mutualistic associations and that can influence the availability of mineral nutrients for plants. Therefore, this article aims to provide an overview of the role of soil microorganisms in supplying K[+] to plants, considering both the potassium-solubilizing microorganisms and the potassium-facilitating microorganisms that are in close contact with the roots of plants. These microorganisms can influence the active transporter-mediated transfer of K[+]. Regarding the latter group of microorganisms, special focus is placed on the role of endophytic fungus. This review also includes a discussion on productivity through sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31260457, year = {2019}, author = {Guo, EZ and Desrosiers, DC and Zalesak, J and Tolchard, J and Berbon, M and Habenstein, B and Marlovits, T and Loquet, A and Galán, JE}, title = {A polymorphic helix of a Salmonella needle protein relays signals defining distinct steps in type III secretion.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {e3000351}, pmid = {31260457}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {R01 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Models, Molecular ; Multiprotein Complexes/chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Mutation ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Transport/genetics ; Salmonella typhimurium/genetics/*metabolism ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Type III protein-secretion machines are essential for the interactions of many pathogenic or symbiotic bacterial species with their respective eukaryotic hosts. The core component of these machines is the injectisome, a multiprotein complex that mediates the selection of substrates, their passage through the bacterial envelope, and ultimately their delivery into eukaryotic target cells. The injectisome is composed of a large cytoplasmic complex or sorting platform, a multiring base embedded in the bacterial envelope, and a needle-like filament that protrudes several nanometers from the bacterial surface and is capped at its distal end by the tip complex. A characteristic feature of these machines is that their activity is stimulated by contact with target host cells. The sensing of target cells, thought to be mediated by the distal tip of the needle filament, generates an activating signal that must be transduced to the secretion machine by the needle filament. Here, through a multidisciplinary approach, including solid-state NMR (SSNMR) and cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analyses, we have identified critical residues of the needle filament protein of a Salmonella Typhimurium type III secretion system that are involved in the regulation of the activity of the secretion machine. We found that mutations in the needle filament protein result in various specific phenotypes associated with different steps in the type III secretion process. More specifically, these studies reveal an important role for a polymorphic helix of the needle filament protein and the residues that line the lumen of its central channel in the control of type III secretion.}, } @article {pmid31260142, year = {2019}, author = {Pellegrin, C and Daguerre, Y and Ruytinx, J and Guinet, F and Kemppainen, M and Frey, NFD and Puech-Pagès, V and Hecker, A and Pardo, AG and Martin, FM and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {Laccaria bicolor MiSSP8 is a small-secreted protein decisive for the establishment of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {10}, pages = {3765-3779}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14727}, pmid = {31260142}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//European Fund for Regional Development/International ; Plant-Microbe Interfaces Scientific Focus Area//Genomic Science Program, US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research/International ; ANR-11-LABX-0002_ARBRE//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/International ; //Région Lorraine Research council/International ; }, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Laccaria/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Populus/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is a predominant tree-microbe interaction in forest ecosystems sustaining tree growth and health. Its establishment and functioning implies a long-term and intimate relationship between the soil-borne fungi and the roots of trees. Mycorrhiza-induced Small-Secreted Proteins (MiSSPs) are hypothesized as keystone symbiotic proteins, required to set up the symbiosis by modifying the host metabolism and/or building the symbiotic interfaces. L. bicolor MiSSP8 is the third most highly induced MiSSPs in symbiotic tissues and it is also expressed in fruiting bodies. The MiSSP8-RNAi knockdown mutants are strongly impaired in their mycorrhization ability with Populus, with the lack of fungal mantle and Hartig net development due to the lack of hyphal aggregation. MiSSP8 C-terminus displays a repetitive motif containing a kexin cleavage site, recognized by KEX2 in vitro. This suggests MiSSP8 protein might be cleaved into small peptides. Moreover, the MiSSP8 repetitive motif is found in other proteins predicted secreted by both saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Thus, our data indicate that MiSSP8 is a small-secreted protein involved at early stages of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, likely by regulating hyphal aggregation and pseudoparenchyma formation.}, } @article {pmid31260050, year = {2019}, author = {Carrier, TJ and Dupont, S and Reitzel, AM}, title = {Geographic location and food availability offer differing levels of influence on the bacterial communities associated with larval sea urchins.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz103}, pmid = {31260050}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Food ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Sea Urchins/*microbiology ; *Seawater ; }, abstract = {Determining the factors underlying the assembly, structure, and diversity of symbiont communities remains a focal point of animal-microbiome research. Much of these efforts focus on taxonomic variation of microbiota within or between animal populations, but rarely test the proportional impacts of ecological components that may affect animal-associated microbiota. Using larvae from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, we test the hypothesis that, under natural conditions, inter-population differences in the composition of larval-associated bacterial communities are larger than intra-population variation due to a heterogeneous feeding environment. Despite significant differences in bacterial community structure within each S. droebachiensis larval population based on food availability, development, phenotype, and time, variation in OTU membership and community composition correlated more strongly with geographic location. Moreover, 20-30% of OTUs associated with larvae were specific to a single location while less than 10% were shared. Taken together, these results suggest that inter-populational variation in symbiont communities may be more pronounced than intra-populational variation, and that this difference may suggest that broad-scale ecological variables (e.g., across ocean basins) may mask smaller scale ecological variables (e.g., food availability).}, } @article {pmid31258519, year = {2019}, author = {Lüneberg, K and Schneider, D and Brinkmann, N and Siebe, C and Daniel, R}, title = {Land Use Change and Water Quality Use for Irrigation Alters Drylands Soil Fungal Community in the Mezquital Valley, Mexico.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1220}, pmid = {31258519}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil fungal communities provide important ecosystem services, however, some soil borne representatives damage agricultural productivity. Composition under land-use change scenarios, especially in drylands, is rarely studied. Here, the soil fungal community composition and diversity of natural shrubland was analyzed and compared with agricultural systems irrigated with different water quality, namely rain, fresh water, dam-stored, and untreated wastewater. Superficial soil samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons. Amplicon-based sequencing of the ITS2 region was performed on total DNA extractions and used the amplicon sequence variants to predict specific fungal trophic modes with FUNGuild. Additionally, we screened for potential pathogens of crops and humans and assessed potential risks. Fungal diversity and richness were highest in shrubland and least in the wastewater-irrigated soil. Soil moisture together with soil pH and exchangeable sodium were the strongest drivers of the fungal community. The abundance of saprophytic fungi remained constant among the land use systems, while symbiotic and pathogenic fungi of plants and animals had the lowest abundance in soil irrigated with untreated wastewater. We found lineage-specific adaptations to each land use system: fungal families associated to shrubland, rainfed and part of the freshwater were adapted to drought, hence sensitive to exchangeable sodium content and most of them to N and P content. Taxa associated to freshwater, dam wastewater and untreated wastewater irrigated systems show the opposite trend. Additionally, we identified potentially harmful human pathogens that might be a health risk for the population.}, } @article {pmid31257129, year = {2019}, author = {Wein, T and Romero Picazo, D and Blow, F and Woehle, C and Jami, E and Reusch, TBH and Martin, WF and Dagan, T}, title = {Currency, Exchange, and Inheritance in the Evolution of Symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {10}, pages = {836-849}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2019.05.010}, pmid = {31257129}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Chloroplasts ; *Eukaryota ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Mitochondria ; *Organelles ; *Symbiosis ; *Wills ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between eukaryotes and prokaryotes are widespread in nature. Here we offer a conceptual framework to study the evolutionary origins and ecological circumstances of species in beneficial symbiosis. We posit that mutual symbiotic interactions are well described by three elements: a currency, the mechanism of currency exchange, and mechanisms of symbiont inheritance. Each of these elements may be at the origin of symbiosis, with the other elements developing with time. The identity of currency in symbiosis depends on the ecological context of the symbiosis, while the specificity of the exchange mechanism underlies molecular adaptations for the symbiosis. The inheritance regime determines the degree of partner dependency and the symbiosis evolutionary trajectory. Focusing on these three elements, we review examples and open questions in the research on symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31256251, year = {2020}, author = {Shamasbi, SG and Ghanbari-Homayi, S and Mirghafourvand, M}, title = {The effect of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on hormonal and inflammatory indices in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {European journal of nutrition}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {433-450}, pmid = {31256251}, issn = {1436-6215}, mesh = {Androgens/metabolism ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate/metabolism ; Female ; Hormones/*metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation/*drug therapy/etiology/metabolism ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/complications/*drug therapy/metabolism ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin/drug effects/metabolism ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; Testosterone/metabolism ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is among the most prevalent endocrine disorders in women and can lead to many other disorders and chronic diseases. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome is important. Using probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics supplementations to treat PCOS seems appropriate because of their useful effects and low complications.

AIMS: To assess the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on hormonal indices such as testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), sex hormone binding globulin, Free Androgen Index (FAI), and inflammatory indices, such as high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as the primary outcomes and the hirsutism score as the secondary outcome.

METHODS: All published articles from the beginning until 10 November 2018 in English (Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest) and Persian (SID and Magiran) databases were searched. The effect of interventions on the outcomes was reported with a standard mean difference (SMD) and confidence interval of 95%. In case of high heterogeneity, the random effect model was used instead of the fixed effect model. The statistical heterogeneity of the included clinical trials was tested using the Chi square test and I[2].

RESULTS: Thirteen studies with 855 participants with PCOS(438 women in the intervention group and 417 women in the control group) were included in the meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis showed that the SHBG (SMD: 0.56; 95% CI 0.26-0.86; P = 0.0002) and NO (SMD: 0.38; 95% CI 0.09-0.68; P = 0.01) concentration increased significantly in the probiotics and synbiotics groups compared to the placebo group. FAI (SMD: - 0.58; 95% CI - 0.95 to - 0.21; P = 0.002) and MDA (SMD: - 0.76; 95% CI - 1.46 to - 0.05; P = 0.03) concentration in the probiotics and synbiotics groups reduced significantly compared to the placebo group. The results of meta-analyses on other hormonal and inflammatory indices such as testosterone, DHEAS, GSH, hsCRP, TAC, and hirsutism score showed that there were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups.

CONCLUSION: Using synbiotics and probiotics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome improve hormonal (FAI, SHBG) and inflammatory (NO, MDA) indices in these patients.}, } @article {pmid31254821, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, XC and Han, ZZ and Ruan, XY and Chai, J and Jiang, SW and Zheng, R}, title = {Composting swine carcasses with nitrogen transformation microbial strains: Succession of microbial community and nitrogen functional genes.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {688}, number = {}, pages = {555-566}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.283}, pmid = {31254821}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; *Composting ; Denitrification ; Genes, Bacterial ; Microbiota ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Swine ; }, abstract = {In this study, nitrogen transformation strains, including three ammonium transformation strains, one nitrite strain and one nitrogen fixer, were inoculated at different swine carcass composting stages to regulate the nitrogen transformation and control the nitrogen loss. The final total nitrogen content was significantly increased (p < 0.01). The bacterial communities were assessed by amplicon sequencing and association analysis. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the four most dominant phyla.,Brevibacterium, Streptomyces and Ochrobactrum had a significant (p < 0.05) and positive correlation with total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen content in both groups. The quantitative results of nitrogen transformation genes showed that ammonification, nitrification, denitrification and nitrogen fixation were simultaneously present in the composting process of swine carcasses, with the latter two accounting for a higher proportion. The ammonium transformation strains significantly (p < 0.05) strengthened nitrogen fixation and remarkably (p < 0.01) weakened nitrification and denitrification, which, however, were notably (p < 0.05) enhanced by the nitrite strain and nitrogen fixer. In this research, the inoculated strains changed the bacterial structure by regulating the abundance and activity of the highly connected taxa, which facilitated the growth of nitrogen transformation bacteria and regulated the balance/symbiosis of nitrogen transformation processes to accelerate the accumulation of nitrogen.}, } @article {pmid31254637, year = {2019}, author = {Bouletreau, P and Makaremi, M and Ibrahim, B and Louvrier, A and Sigaux, N}, title = {Artificial Intelligence: Applications in orthognathic surgery.}, journal = {Journal of stomatology, oral and maxillofacial surgery}, volume = {120}, number = {4}, pages = {347-354}, doi = {10.1016/j.jormas.2019.06.001}, pmid = {31254637}, issn = {2468-7855}, mesh = {Artificial Intelligence ; Forecasting ; *Orthognathic Surgery ; *Orthognathic Surgical Procedures ; }, abstract = {Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications have already invaded our everyday life, and the last 10 years have seen the emergence of very promising applications in the field of medicine. However, the literature dealing with the potential applications of IA in Orthognathic Surgery is remarkably poor to date. Yet, it is very likely that due to its amazing power in image recognition AI will find tremendous applications in dento-facial deformities recognition in a near future. In this article, we point out the state-of-the-art AI applications in medicine and its potential applications in the field of orthognathic surgery. AI is a very powerful tool and it is the responsibility of the entire medical profession to achieve a positive symbiosis between clinical sense and AI.}, } @article {pmid31254599, year = {2019}, author = {Combs, MD and Hamlin, A and Quinn, JC}, title = {A single exposure to the tremorgenic mycotoxin lolitrem B inhibits voluntary motor activity and spatial orientation but not spatial learning or memory in mice.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {168}, number = {}, pages = {58-66}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.06.228}, pmid = {31254599}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; Escape Reaction/drug effects ; Indole Alkaloids/*toxicity ; Indoles/toxicity ; Memory/*drug effects ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Motor Activity/*drug effects ; Mycotoxins/*toxicity ; Orientation, Spatial/*drug effects ; Spatial Learning/*drug effects ; Tremor/chemically induced/psychology ; }, abstract = {The indole diterpenoid toxin lolitrem B is a tremorgenic agent found in the common grass species, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The toxin is produced by a symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae (var. lolii) and ingestion of infested grass with sufficient toxin levels causes a movement disorder in grazing herbivores known as 'ryegrass staggers'. Beside ataxia, lolitrem B intoxicated animals frequently show indicators of cognitive dysfunction or exhibition of erratic and unpredictable behaviours during handling. Evidence from field cases in livestock and controlled feeding studies in horses have indicated that intoxication with lolitrem B may affect higher cortical or subcortical functioning. In order to define the role of lolitrem B in voluntary motor control, spatial learning and memory under controlled conditions, mice were exposed to a known dose of purified lolitrem B toxin and tremor, coordination, voluntary motor activity and spatial learning and memory assessed. Motor activity, coordination and spatial memory were compared to tremor intensity using a novel quantitative piezo-electronic tremor analysis. Peak tremor was observed as frequencies between 15 and 25Hz compared to normal movement at approximately 1.4-10Hz. A single exposure to a known tremorgenic dose of lolitrem B (2 mg/kg IP) induced measureable tremor for up to 72 h in some animals. Initially, intoxication with lolitrem B significantly decreased voluntary movement. By 25 h post exposure a return to normal voluntary movement was observed in this group, despite continuing evidence of tremor. This effect was not observed in animals exposed to the short-acting tremorgenic toxin paxilline. Lolitrem B intoxicated mice demonstrated a random search pattern and delayed latency to escape a 3 h post intoxication, however by 27 h post exposure latency to escape matched controls and mice had returned to normal searching behavior indicating normal spatial learning and memory. Together these data indicate that the tremor exhibited by lolitrem B intoxicated mice does not directly impair spatial learning and memory but that exposure does reduce voluntary motor activity in intoxicated animals. Management of acutely affected livestock suffering toxicosis should be considered in the context of their ability to spatially orientate with severe toxicity.}, } @article {pmid31254009, year = {2019}, author = {Kelly, M and Price, SL and de Oliveira Ramalho, M and Moreau, CS}, title = {Diversity of Wolbachia Associated with the Giant Turtle Ant, Cephalotes atratus.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {76}, number = {11}, pages = {1330-1337}, pmid = {31254009}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between organisms are common throughout the tree of life, and often these organisms share an evolutionary history. In turtle ants (Cephalotes), symbiotic associations with bacteria are known to be especially important for supplementing the nutrients that their herbivorous diets do not provide. However, much remains unknown about the diversity of many common bacterial symbionts with turtle ants, such as Wolbachia. Here, we surveyed the diversity of Wolbachia, focusing on one species of turtle ant with a particularly wide geographic range, Cephalotes atratus. Colonies were collected from the entire range of C. atratus, and we detected the presence of Wolbachia by sequencing multiple individuals per colony for wsp. Then, using the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach, we determined each individual's unique sequence type (ST) based on comparison to sequences published in the Wolbachia MLST Database (https://pubmlst.org/wolbachia/). The results of this study suggest that there is a high level of diversity of Wolbachia strains among colonies from different regions, while the diversity within colonies is very low. Additionally, 13 novel variants (alleles) were uncovered. These results suggest that the level of diversity of Wolbachia within species is affected by geography, and the high level of diversity observed among Cephalotes atratus populations may be explained by their wide geographic range.}, } @article {pmid31253759, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, CW and Breakspear, A and Stacey, N and Findlay, K and Nakashima, J and Ramakrishnan, K and Liu, M and Xie, F and Endre, G and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Oldroyd, GED and Udvardi, MK and Fournier, J and Murray, JD}, title = {A protein complex required for polar growth of rhizobial infection threads.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2848}, pmid = {31253759}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {TULIP ANR-10-LABX-41 (TULIP)/COME-IN ANR-14-CE35-0007-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; BB/L010305/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; BB/L010305/1//RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; }, mesh = {Agrobacterium ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {During root nodule symbiosis, intracellular accommodation of rhizobia by legumes is a prerequisite for nitrogen fixation. For many legumes, rhizobial colonization initiates in root hairs through transcellular infection threads. In Medicago truncatula, VAPYRIN (VPY) and a putative E3 ligase LUMPY INFECTIONS (LIN) are required for infection thread development but their cellular and molecular roles are obscure. Here we show that LIN and its homolog LIN-LIKE interact with VPY and VPY-LIKE in a subcellular complex localized to puncta both at the tip of the growing infection thread and at the nuclear periphery in root hairs and that the punctate accumulation of VPY is positively regulated by LIN. We also show that an otherwise nuclear and cytoplasmic exocyst subunit, EXO70H4, systematically co-localizes with VPY and LIN during rhizobial infection. Genetic analysis shows that defective rhizobial infection in exo70h4 is similar to that in vpy and lin. Our results indicate that VPY, LIN and EXO70H4 are part of the symbiosis-specific machinery required for polar growth of infection threads.}, } @article {pmid31253704, year = {2019}, author = {Hamm, JN and Erdmann, S and Eloe-Fadrosh, EA and Angeloni, A and Zhong, L and Brownlee, C and Williams, TJ and Barton, K and Carswell, S and Smith, MA and Brazendale, S and Hancock, AM and Allen, MA and Raftery, MJ and Cavicchioli, R}, title = {Unexpected host dependency of Antarctic Nanohaloarchaeota.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {29}, pages = {14661-14670}, pmid = {31253704}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; DNA, Archaeal/genetics/isolation & purification ; Flow Cytometry ; Genome, Archaeal/genetics ; Halorubrum/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoarchaeota/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Salinity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In hypersaline environments, Nanohaloarchaeota (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, Nanohaloarchaeota [DPANN] superphylum) are thought to be free-living microorganisms. We report cultivation of 2 strains of Antarctic Nanohaloarchaeota and show that they require the haloarchaeon Halorubrum lacusprofundi for growth. By performing growth using enrichments and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, we demonstrated successful cultivation of Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeum antarcticus, purification of Ca. Nha. antarcticus away from other species, and growth and verification of Ca. Nha. antarcticus with Hrr. lacusprofundi; these findings are analogous to those required for fulfilling Koch's postulates. We use fluorescent in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy to assess cell structures and interactions; metagenomics to characterize enrichment taxa, generate metagenome assembled genomes, and interrogate Antarctic communities; and proteomics to assess metabolic pathways and speculate about the roles of certain proteins. Metagenome analysis indicates the presence of a single species, which is endemic to Antarctic hypersaline systems that support the growth of haloarchaea. The presence of unusually large proteins predicted to function in attachment and invasion of hosts plus the absence of key biosynthetic pathways (e.g., lipids) in metagenome assembled genomes of globally distributed Nanohaloarchaeota indicate that all members of the lineage have evolved as symbionts. Our work expands the range of archaeal symbiotic lifestyles and provides a genetically tractable model system for advancing understanding of the factors controlling microbial symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid31251718, year = {2019}, author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S and Nguyen, HDT}, title = {Description and complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium amphicarpaeae sp. nov., harbouring photosystem and nitrogen-fixation genes.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2841-2848}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003569}, pmid = {31251718}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Canada ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Vigna/microbiology ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {A bacterial strain, designated 39S1MB[T], isolated from a root nodule of a soybean plant that had been inoculated with root-zone soil of Amphicarpaea bracteata (hog peanut) growing in Canada, was previously characterized and placed in a novel lineage within the genus Bradyrhizobium. The taxonomic status of strain 39S1MB[T] was verified by genomic and phenotypic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of individual and concatenated protein-encoding gene sequences (atpD, glnII, recA, gyrB and rpoB) placed 39S1MB[T] in a lineage distinct from named species. Data for sequence similarities of concatenated genes relative to type strains of named species supported the phylogenetic data. Average nucleotide identity values of genome sequences (84.5-91.7 %) were well below the threshold value for bacterial species circumscription. Based on these data, Bradyrhizobium ottawaense OO99[T] and Bradyrhizobium shewense ERR11[T] are close relatives of 39S1MB[T]. The complete genome of 39S1MB[T] consists of a single 7.04 Mbp chromosome without a symbiosis island; G+C content is 64.7 mol%. Present in the genome are key photosystem and nitrogen-fixation genes, but not nodulation and type III secretion system genes. Sequence analysis of the nitrogen fixation gene, nifH, placed 39S1MB[T] in a novel lineage distinct from named Bradyrhizobium species. Data for phenotypic tests including growth characteristics and carbon source utilization supported the sequence-based analyses. Based on the data presented here, a novel species with the name Bradyrhizobium amphicarpaeae sp. nov. is proposed with 39S1MB[T] (=LMG 29934[T]=HAMBI 3680[T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid31250115, year = {2019}, author = {Michalik, A and Michalik, K and Grzywacz, B and Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk, M and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Molecular characterization, ultrastructure, and transovarial transmission of Tremblaya phenacola in six mealybugs of the Phenacoccinae subfamily (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coccomorpha).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {256}, number = {6}, pages = {1597-1608}, pmid = {31250115}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemiptera/*chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Insecta/*chemistry/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Mealybugs (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) are plant sap-sucking insects which require close association with nutritional microorganisms for their proper development and reproduction. Here, we present the results of histological, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses of symbiotic systems of six mealybugs belonging to the Phenacoccinae subfamily: Phenacoccus aceris, Rhodania porifera, Coccura comari, Mirococcus clarus, Peliococcus calluneti, and Ceroputo pilosellae. Molecular analyses based on bacterial 16S rRNA genes have revealed that all the investigated species of Phenacoccinae are host to only one type of symbiotic bacteria-a large pleomorphic betaproteobacteria-Tremblaya phenacola. In all the species examined, bacteria are localized in the specialized cells of the host-insect termed bacteriocytes and are transovarially transmitted between generations. The mode of transovarial transmission is similar in all of the species investigated. Infection takes place in the neck region of the ovariole, between the tropharium and vitellarium. The co-phylogeny between mealybugs and bacteria Tremblaya has been also analyzed.}, } @article {pmid31250075, year = {2020}, author = {Lee, J and Han, G and Kim, JW and Jeon, CO and Hyun, S}, title = {Taxon-Specific Effects of Lactobacillus on Drosophila Host Development.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {241-251}, pmid = {31250075}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Female ; Lactobacillus/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Larva/growth & development/*microbiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Commensal microbiota heavily influence metazoan host physiology. Drosophila melanogaster has been proven a valuable animal model for studying many aspects of host-microbiota interaction. Lactobacillus are the most common human probiotics and are also one of the major symbiotic bacteria in Drosophila. Although the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus on fly development and physiology have been recognized, how broadly these effects are observed across the Lactobacillus taxa remains largely unknown. In this study, four Lactobacillus species including five strains of L. plantarum were examined for their effects on fly larval development. Monoassociation of germ-free flies with L. rhamnosus (GG) most strongly accelerated fly larval development. Monoassociation with L. plantarum moderately accelerated fly development, but monoassociation with L. reuteri or L. sakei had marginal effects, despite similar bacterial loads in the host gut. An L. plantarum strain previously isolated from our lab rarely enhanced larval development, confirming the strain-specific effects of L. plantarum. The correlation between development-promoting effects and protein digestion activity in the host gut was found only among the members of L. plantarum species. Moreover, the cytoprotective response in the host gut known to be induced by L. plantarum was not correlated with development-promoting effects among any of the bacteria tested. Our results suggest that a broad range of Lactobacillus taxa are able to reside in the fly gut, but their ability to enhance host larval development is highly varied. This study may aid our understanding of the basic principles underlying the beneficial effects of probiotic commensal bacteria on metazoan development.}, } @article {pmid31249389, year = {2019}, author = {Meunier, V and Bonnet, S and Pernice, M and Benavides, M and Lorrain, A and Grosso, O and Lambert, C and Houlbrèque, F}, title = {Bleaching forces coral's heterotrophy on diazotrophs and Synechococcus.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {2882-2886}, pmid = {31249389}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*microbiology/parasitology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Global Warming ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Synechococcus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are threatened by global warming, which disrupts the symbiosis between corals and their photosynthetic symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae), leading to mass coral bleaching. Planktonic diazotrophs or dinitrogen (N2)-fixing prokaryotes are abundant in coral lagoon waters and could be an alternative nutrient source for corals. Here we incubated untreated and bleached coral colonies of Stylophora pistillata with a [15]N2-pre-labelled natural plankton assemblage containing diazotrophs. [15]N2 assimilation rates in Symbiodiniaceae cells and tissues of bleached corals were 5- and 30-fold higher, respectively, than those measured in untreated corals, demonstrating that corals incorporate more nitrogen derived from planktonic diazotrophs under bleaching conditions. Bleached corals also preferentially fed on Synechococcus, nitrogen-rich picophytoplanktonic cells, instead of Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes, which have a lower cellular nitrogen content. By providing an alternative source of bioavailable nitrogen, both the incorporation of nitrogen derived from planktonic diazotrophs and the ingestion of Synechococcus may have profound consequences for coral bleaching recovery, especially for the many coral reef ecosystems characterized by high abundance and activity of planktonic diazotrophs.}, } @article {pmid31248009, year = {2019}, author = {Le Pennec, G and Gardères, J}, title = {The Challenge of the Sponge Suberites domuncula (Olivi, 1792) in the Presence of a Symbiotic Bacterium and a Pathogen Bacterium.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31248009}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; Caspase 7/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; Immunity ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Macrophages/immunology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism ; Pseudoalteromonas/drug effects/metabolism/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Suberites/genetics/*immunology/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptors/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sponges, which are in close contact with numerous bacteria in prey/predator, symbiotic and pathogenic relationships, must provide an appropriate response in such situations. This starts with a discriminating recognition of the partner either by a physical contact or through secreted molecules or both. We investigated the expression of the Toll-like receptor, Caspase 3/7, Tumor Necrosis Factor receptor-associated factor 6, Bcl-2 homology protein-2 and macrophage expressed genes of axenic sponge cells in the presence of a symbiotic bacterium (Endozoicomonas sp. Hex311), a pathogen bacterium (Pseudoalteromonas sp. 1A1), their exoproducts and lipopolysaccharides. The vast majority of answers are in line with what could be observed with the symbiotic bacterium. The pathogenic bacterium seems to profit from the eukaryotic cell: suppression of the production of the antibacterial compound, inhibition of the apoptosis caspase-dependent pathway, deregulation of bacterial recognition. This work contributes new scientific knowledge in the field of immunology and apoptosis in early branching metazoan harboring within its tissue and cells a large number of symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid31247947, year = {2019}, author = {Expósito, JR and Martín San Román, S and Barreno, E and Reig-Armiñana, J and García-Breijo, FJ and Catalá, M}, title = {Inhibition of NO Biosynthetic Activities during Rehydration of Ramalina farinacea Lichen Thalli Provokes Increases in Lipid Peroxidation.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31247947}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Lichens are poikilohydrous symbiotic associations between a fungus, photosynthetic partners, and bacteria. They are tolerant to repeated desiccation/rehydration cycles and adapted to anhydrobiosis. Nitric oxide (NO) is a keystone for stress tolerance of lichens; during lichen rehydration, NO limits free radicals and lipid peroxidation but no data on the mechanisms of its synthesis exist. The aim of this work is to characterize the synthesis of NO in the lichen Ramalina farinacea using inhibitors of nitrate reductase (NR) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), tungstate, and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), respectively. Tungstate suppressed the NO level in the lichen and caused an increase in malondialdehyde during rehydration in the hyphae of cortex and in phycobionts, suggesting that a plant-like NR is involved in the NO production. Specific activity of NR in R. farinacea was 91 μU/mg protein, a level comparable to those in the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens and Arabidopsis thaliana. L-NAME treatment did not suppress the NO level in the lichens. On the other hand, NADPH-diaphorase activity cytochemistry showed a possible presence of a NOS-like activity in the microalgae where it is associated with cytoplasmatic vesicles. These data provide initial evidence that NO synthesis in R. farinacea involves NR.}, } @article {pmid31247638, year = {2019}, author = {Vincent, B and Juillot, F and Fritsch, E and Klonowska, A and Gerbert, N and Acherar, S and Grangeteau, C and Hannibal, L and Galiana, A and Ducousso, M and Jourand, P}, title = {A leguminous species exploiting alpha- and beta-rhizobia for adaptation to ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary soils: an endemic Acacia spirorbis model from New Caledonia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz099}, pmid = {31247638}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Burkholderiaceae/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Metals/*metabolism ; New Caledonia ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Acacia spirorbis subsp. spirorbis Labill. is a widespread tree legume endemic to New Caledonia that grows in ultramafic (UF) and volcano-sedimentary (VS) soils. The aim of this study was to assess the symbiotic promiscuity of A. spirorbis with nodulating and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in harsh edaphic conditions. Forty bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules and characterized through (i) multilocus sequence analyses, (ii) symbiotic efficiency and (iii) tolerance to metals. Notably, 32.5% of the rhizobia belonged to the Paraburkholderia genus and were only found in UF soils. The remaining 67.5%, isolated from both UF and VS soils, belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus. Strains of the Paraburkholderia genus showed significantly higher nitrogen-fixing capacities than those of Bradyrhizobium genus. Strains of the two genera isolated from UF soils showed high metal tolerance and the respective genes occurred in 50% of strains. This is the first report of both alpha- and beta-rhizobia strains associated to an Acacia species adapted to UF and VS soils. Our findings suggest that A. spirorbis is an adaptive plant that establishes symbioses with whatever rhizobia is present in the soil, thus enabling the colonization of contrasted ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31245768, year = {2019}, author = {Kramer, EM and Statter, SA and Yi, HJ and Carlson, JW and McClelland, DHR}, title = {Flowering plant immune repertoires expand under mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {e00125}, pmid = {31245768}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {Immune perception in flowering plants is mediated by a repertoire of cytoplasmic and cell-surface receptors that detect invading microbes and their effects on cells. Here, we show that several large families of immune receptors exhibit size variations related to a plant's competence to host symbiotic root fungi (mycorrhiza). Plants that do not participate in mycorrhizal associations have significantly smaller immune repertoires, while the most promiscuous symbiotic hosts (ectomycorrhizal plant species) have significantly larger immune repertoires. By contrast, we find no significant increase in immune repertoire size among legumes competent to form a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia). To explain these observations, we hypothesize that plant immune repertoire size expands with symbiote species diversity.}, } @article {pmid31245757, year = {2019}, author = {Kaur, H and Peel, A and Acosta, K and Gebril, S and Ortega, JL and Sengupta-Gopalan, C}, title = {Comparison of alfalfa plants overexpressing glutamine synthetase with those overexpressing sucrose phosphate synthase demonstrates a signaling mechanism integrating carbon and nitrogen metabolism between the leaves and nodules.}, journal = {Plant direct}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {e00115}, pmid = {31245757}, issn = {2475-4455}, abstract = {Alfalfa, like other legumes, establishes a symbiotic relationship with the soil bacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti, which results in the formation of the root nodules. Nodules contain the bacteria enclosed in a membrane-bound vesicle, the symbiosome where it fixes atmospheric N2 and converts it into ammonia using the bacterial enzyme, nitrogenase. The ammonia released into the cytoplasm from the symbiosome is assimilated into glutamine (Gln) using carbon skeletons produced by the metabolism of sucrose (Suc), which is imported into the nodules from the leaves. The key enzyme involved in the synthesis of Suc in the leaves is sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and glutamine synthetase (GS) is the enzyme with a role in ammonia assimilation in the root nodules. Alfalfa plants, overexpressing SPS or GS, or both showed increased growth and an increase in nodule function. The endogenous genes for the key enzymes in C/N metabolism showed increased expression in the nodules of both sets of transformants. Furthermore, the endogenous SPS and GS genes were also induced in the leaves and nodules of the transformants, irrespective of the transgene, suggesting that the two classes of plants share a common signaling pathway regulating C/N metabolism in the nodules. This study reaffirms the utility of the nodulated legume plant to study C/N interaction and the cross talk between the source and sink for C and N.}, } @article {pmid31245305, year = {2019}, author = {Peng, J and Lu, X and Xie, K and Xu, Y and He, R and Guo, L and Han, Y and Wu, S and Dong, X and Lu, Y and Liu, Z and Cao, W and Gong, M}, title = {Dynamic Alterations in the Gut Microbiota of Collagen-Induced Arthritis Rats Following the Prolonged Administration of Total Glucosides of Paeony.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {204}, pmid = {31245305}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Ankle Joint/pathology ; Arthritis, Experimental/chemically induced/*drug therapy/pathology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Collagen/*adverse effects ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Dysbiosis ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Glucosides/*pharmacology ; Immunity ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunomodulation ; Inflammation ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism ; Male ; Paeonia/*chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects ; Th1 Cells/drug effects ; Th17 Cells/drug effects ; Th2 Cells/drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; }, abstract = {Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease linked to chronic inflammation. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been proposed to contribute to the risk of RA, and a large number of researchers have investigated the gut-joint axis hypothesis using the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. However, previous studies mainly involved short-term experiments; very few used the CIA model to investigate changes in gut microbiota over time. Moreover, previous research failed to use the CIA model to carry out detailed investigations of the effects of drug treatments upon inflammation in the joints, hyperplasia of the synovium, imbalance in the ratios of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells, intestinal cytokines and the gut microbiota following long-term intervention. In the present study, we carried out a 16-week experiment to investigate changes in the gut microbiota of CIA rats, and evaluated the modulatory effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP), an immunomodulatory agent widely used in the treatment of RA, after 12 weeks of administration. We found that taxonomic differences developed in the microbial structure between the CIA group and the Control group. Furthermore, the administration of TGP was able to correct 78% of these taxonomic differences, while also increase the relative abundance of certain forms of beneficial symbiotic bacteria. By the end of the experiment, TGP had reduced body weight, thymus index and inflammatory cell infiltration in the ankle joint of CIA rats. Furthermore, the administration of TGP had down-regulated the synovial content of VEGF and the levels of Th1 cells and Th17 cells in CIA rats, and up-regulated the levels of Th2 cells and Treg cells. The administration of TGP also inhibited the levels of intestinal cytokines, secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In conclusion, the influence of TGP on dynamic changes in gut microbiota, along with the observed improvement of indicators related to CIA symptoms during 12 weeks of administration, supported the hypothesis that the microbiome may play a role in TGP-mediated therapeutic effects in CIA rats. The present study also indicated that the mechanism underlying these effects may be related to the regulation of intestinal mucosal immunity remains unknown and deserves further research attention.}, } @article {pmid31244787, year = {2019}, author = {Heise, P and Liu, Y and Degenkolb, T and Vogel, H and Schäberle, TF and Vilcinskas, A}, title = {Antibiotic-Producing Beneficial Bacteria in the Gut of the Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1178}, pmid = {31244787}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant human pathogens is a growing public concern and there is intense pressure to identify new antibacterial compounds that can be developed into antibiotics with novel mode of action. Evolutionary theory predicts that insects that have evolved to occupy sophisticated ecological niches by feeding and reproducing on carcasses will depend on their gut microbiome to prevent colonization by invading pathogens taken up with the diet. This inspired our hypothesis that the complex interactions between the core microbiome and the more flexible microbial communities dependent on the environment may promote the outsourcing of antibiotic synthesis to beneficial microbes. We tested this hypothesis by cultivating and characterizing bacteria isolated from the gut of the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, which feeds and reproduces on small vertebrate carcasses buried in the soil to avoid competitors such as fly maggots. The extracts of isolated bacteria were screened for activity against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. More than 400 strains were isolated, among which the crude extract of Serratia marcescens 2MH3-2 displayed promising activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Bioactivity-guided fractionation enabled purification of the primary antimicrobial compound of the extract. By LC-MS and NMR experiments, it was identified as serrawettin W2 (C38H61N5O9), the antibacterial and nematostatic activity of which was corroborated in our study. We postulate that this antibiotic could contribute to the control of both bacteria and phoretic nematodes in the gut, which compete for food when transferred to the carcass. Our study shows that the gut microbiome of N. vespilloides is a promising resource for the screening of antibiotic-producing bacteria.}, } @article {pmid31243442, year = {2019}, author = {Vuong, HQ and McFrederick, QS}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Wild Bee and Flower Isolated Lactobacillus Reveals Potential Adaptation to the Bee Host.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {2151-2161}, pmid = {31243442}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Bees/*microbiology ; Flowers/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/*methods ; Lactobacillus/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with bacteria is common across insects, resulting in adaptive host phenotypes. The recently described bacterial symbionts Lactobacillus micheneri, Lactobacillus timberlakei, and Lactobacillus quenuiae are found in wild bee pollen provisions, bee guts, and flowers but have small genomes in comparison to other lactobacilli. We sequenced, assembled, and analyzed 27 new L. micheneri clade genomes to identify their possible ecological functions in flower and bee hosts. We determined possible key functions for the L. micheneri clade by identifying genes under positive selection, balancing selection, genes gained or lost, and population structure. A host adherence factor shows signatures of positive selection, whereas other orthologous copies are variable within the L. micheneri clade. The host adherence factors serve as strong evidence that these lactobacilli are adapted to animal hosts as their targets are found in the digestive tract of insects. Next, the L. micheneri clade is adapted toward a nutrient-rich environment, corroborating observations of where L. micheneri is most abundant. Additionally, genes involved in osmotolerance, pH tolerance, temperature resistance, detoxification, and oxidative stress response show signatures of selection that allow these bacteria to thrive in pollen and nectar masses in bee nests and in the bee gut. Altogether, these findings not only suggest that the L. micheneri clade is primarily adapted to the wild bee gut but also exhibit genomic features that would be beneficial to survival in flowers.}, } @article {pmid31243438, year = {2019}, author = {Nelson, JM and Hauser, DA and Gudiño, JA and Guadalupe, YA and Meeks, JC and Salazar Allen, N and Villarreal, JC and Li, FW}, title = {Complete Genomes of Symbiotic Cyanobacteria Clarify the Evolution of Vanadium-Nitrogenase.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {1959-1964}, pmid = {31243438}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Multigene Family/*genetics ; Nitrogenase/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant endosymbiosis with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria has independently evolved in diverse plant lineages, offering a unique window to study the evolution and genetics of plant-microbe interaction. However, very few complete genomes exist for plant cyanobionts, and therefore little is known about their genomic and functional diversity. Here, we present four complete genomes of cyanobacteria isolated from bryophytes. Nanopore long-read sequencing allowed us to obtain circular contigs for all the main chromosomes and most of the plasmids. We found that despite having a low 16S rRNA sequence divergence, the four isolates exhibit considerable genome reorganizations and variation in gene content. Furthermore, three of the four isolates possess genes encoding vanadium (V)-nitrogenase (vnf), which is uncommon among diazotrophs and has not been previously reported in plant cyanobionts. In two cases, the vnf genes were found on plasmids, implying possible plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfers. Comparative genomic analysis of vnf-containing cyanobacteria further identified a conserved gene cluster. Many genes in this cluster have not been functionally characterized and would be promising candidates for future studies to elucidate V-nitrogenase function and regulation.}, } @article {pmid31242259, year = {2019}, author = {Li, C and Wang, L and Li, J and Gao, C and Luo, Y and Ren, L}, title = {Thermal survival limits of larvae and adults of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {e0218888}, pmid = {31242259}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Cold Temperature ; Introduced Species ; Larva/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Temperature can be a major factor for the distribution of insects, especially among invasive insects. Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) has invaded many regions in China, causing enormous ecological and economic losses. We aimed to explore the trend and potential of diffusion by researching the thermal survival limits of S. noctilio. We measured the supercooling point (SCP), critical thermal temperature (CTmax), high lethal temperature (HLT) and low lethal temperature (LLT) for S. noctilio population in China and assessed life stage-related variation in thermal tolerance. Moreover, we determined the temperature tolerance range of S. noctilio and identified the temperature parameters for its potential invasive distribution risk analysis. The SCP of adults was -11.78 ± 0.67 (mean ± SEM), the CTmax was 37.67 ± 0.54, and those of larvae were -20.77 ± 0.44 and 40.53 ± 0.27, respectively. The LLT increased with exposure time, and the HLT was generally near 43°C. S. noctilio adults can tolerate higher temperatures than larvae, and the larvae showed high resistance to cold temperature. We calculated several temperature indexes based on our results, such as the lower temperature threshold (DV0) at -2.7°C, the upper temperature threshold (DV3) at 31°C, the temperature threshold for both heat stress (TTHS) at 35°C and cold stress (TTCS) at -32.5°C. We observed that, S. noctilio was not resistant to high temperatures, its CTmax is slightly lower than the lethal temperature, and the adults were more tolerant than larvae. Our next goal was to combine the temperature tolerance of symbiotic fungi, information on climate change and the current distribution of this species to predict its potential global distribution.}, } @article {pmid31241164, year = {2019}, author = {Kameoka, H and Maeda, T and Okuma, N and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Structure-Specific Regulation of Nutrient Transport and Metabolism in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {10}, pages = {2272-2281}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz122}, pmid = {31241164}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Daucus carota/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Library ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/physiology ; Hyphae ; Mycelium ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic relationships with most land plants, mainly for the purpose of nutrient exchange. Many studies have revealed the regulation of processes in AMF, such as nutrient absorption from soil, metabolism and exchange with host plants, and the genes involved. However, the spatial regulation of the genes within the structures comprising each developmental stage is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate the structure-specific transcriptome of the model AMF species, Rhizophagus irregularis. We performed an ultra-low input RNA-seq analysis, SMART-seq2, comparing five extraradical structures, germ tubes, runner hyphae, branched absorbing structures (BAS), immature spores and mature spores. In addition, we reanalyzed the recently reported RNA-seq data comparing intraradical mycelium and arbuscule. Our analyses captured the distinct features of each structure and revealed the structure-specific expression patterns of genes related to nutrient transport and metabolism. Of note, the transcriptional profiles suggest distinct functions of BAS in nutrient absorption. These findings provide a comprehensive dataset to advance our understanding of the transcriptional dynamics of fungal nutrition in this symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid31239506, year = {2019}, author = {Van Treuren, W and Brower, KK and Labanieh, L and Hunt, D and Lensch, S and Cruz, B and Cartwright, HN and Tran, C and Fordyce, PM}, title = {Live imaging of Aiptasia larvae, a model system for coral and anemone bleaching, using a simple microfluidic device.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {9275}, pmid = {31239506}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {T32 GM120007/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/parasitology/*physiology ; Climate Change ; Ecosystem ; *Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Larva/parasitology/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Molecular Imaging ; *Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/parasitology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs, and their associated diverse ecosystems, are of enormous ecological importance. In recent years, coral health has been severely impacted by environmental stressors brought on by human activity and climate change, threatening the extinction of several major reef ecosystems. Reef damage is mediated by a process called 'coral bleaching' where corals, sea anemones, and other cnidarians lose their photosynthetic algal symbionts (family Symbiodiniaceae) upon stress induction, resulting in drastically decreased host energy harvest and, ultimately, coral death. The mechanism by which this critical cnidarian-algal symbiosis is lost remains poorly understood. The larvae of the sea anemone, Exaiptasia pallida (commonly referred to as 'Aiptasia') are an attractive model organism to study this process, but they are large (∼100 mm in length, ∼75 mm in diameter), deformable, and highly motile, complicating long-term imaging and limiting study of this critical endosymbiotic relationship in live organisms. Here, we report 'Traptasia', a simple microfluidic device with multiple traps designed to isolate and image individual, live larvae of Aiptasia and their algal symbionts over extended time courses. Using a trap design parameterized via fluid flow simulations and polymer bead loading tests, we trapped Aiptasia larvae containing algal symbionts and demonstrated stable imaging for >10 hours. We visualized algae within Aiptasia larvae and observed algal expulsion under an environmental stressor. To our knowledge, this device is the first to enable time-lapsed, high-throughput live imaging of cnidarian larvae and their algal symbionts and, in further implementation, could provide important insights into the cellular mechanisms of cnidarian bleaching under different environmental stressors. The 'Traptasia' device is simple to use, requires minimal external equipment and no specialized training to operate, and can easily be adapted using the trap optimization data presented here to study a variety of large, motile organisms.}, } @article {pmid31239394, year = {2019}, author = {Turon, M and Uriz, MJ and Martin, D}, title = {Multipartner Symbiosis across Biological Domains: Looking at the Eukaryotic Associations from a Microbial Perspective.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31239394}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Sponges establish tight associations with both micro- and macroorganisms. However, while studies on sponge microbiomes are numerous, nothing is currently known about the microbiomes of sponge-associated polychaetes and their relationships with those of their host sponges. We analyzed the bacterial communities of symbiotic polychaetes (Haplosyllis spp.) and their host sponges (Clathria reinwardti, Amphimedon paraviridis, Neofibularia hartmani, and Aaptos suberitoides) to assess the influence of the sponges on the polychaete microbiomes. We identified both eukaryote partners by molecular (16S and COI genes) and morphological features, and we identified their microbial communities by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (V4 region). We unravel the existence of six Haplosyllis species (five likely undescribed) associated at very high densities with the study sponge species in Nha Trang Bay (central Vietnam). A single polychaete species inhabited A. paraviridis and was different from the single species that inhabited A. suberitoides Conversely, two different polychaete species were found in C. reinwardti and N. hartmani, depending on the two host locations. Regardless of the host sponge, polychaete microbiomes were species specific, which is a widespread feature in marine invertebrates. More than half of the polychaete bacteria were also found in the host sponge microbiome but at contrasting abundances. Thus, the associated polychaetes seemed to be able to select, incorporate, and enrich part of the sponge microbiome, a selection that appears to be polychaete species specific. Moreover, the bacterial diversity is similar in both eukaryotic partners, which additionally confirms the influence of food (host sponge) on the structure of the polychaete microbiome.IMPORTANCE The symbiotic lifestyle represents a fundamental cryptic contribution to the diversity of marine ecosystems. Sponges are ideal targets to improve understanding the symbiotic relationships from evolutionary and ecological points of view, because they are the most ancient metazoans on earth, are ubiquitous in the marine benthos, and establish complex symbiosis with both prokaryotes and animals, which in turn also harbor their own bacterial communities. Here, we study the microbiomes of sponge-polychaete associations and confirm that polychaetes feed on their host sponges. The study worms select and enrich part of the sponge microbiome to shape their own species-specific bacterial communities. Moreover, worm microbiome diversity runs parallel to that of its food host sponge. Considering our results on symbiotic polychaetes and previous studies on fishes and mammals, diet appears to be an important source of bacteria for animals to shape their species-specific microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid31239380, year = {2019}, author = {Seah, BKB and Antony, CP and Huettel, B and Zarzycki, J and Schada von Borzyskowski, L and Erb, TJ and Kouris, A and Kleiner, M and Liebeke, M and Dubilier, N and Gruber-Vodicka, HR}, title = {Sulfur-Oxidizing Symbionts without Canonical Genes for Autotrophic CO2 Fixation.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31239380}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; *Autotrophic Processes ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Carbon Cycle/*genetics ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Ciliophora/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Italy ; Oxidation-Reduction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the discovery of symbioses between sulfur-oxidizing (thiotrophic) bacteria and invertebrates at hydrothermal vents over 40 years ago, it has been assumed that autotrophic fixation of CO2 by the symbionts drives these nutritional associations. In this study, we investigated "Candidatus Kentron," the clade of symbionts hosted by Kentrophoros, a diverse genus of ciliates which are found in marine coastal sediments around the world. Despite being the main food source for their hosts, Kentron bacteria lack the key canonical genes for any of the known pathways for autotrophic carbon fixation and have a carbon stable isotope fingerprint that is unlike other thiotrophic symbionts from similar habitats. Our genomic and transcriptomic analyses instead found metabolic features consistent with growth on organic carbon, especially organic and amino acids, for which they have abundant uptake transporters. All known thiotrophic symbionts have converged on using reduced sulfur to gain energy lithotrophically, but they are diverse in their carbon sources. Some clades are obligate autotrophs, while many are mixotrophs that can supplement autotrophic carbon fixation with heterotrophic capabilities similar to those in Kentron. Here we show that Kentron bacteria are the only thiotrophic symbionts that appear to be entirely heterotrophic, unlike all other thiotrophic symbionts studied to date, which possess either the Calvin-Benson-Bassham or the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle for autotrophy.IMPORTANCE Many animals and protists depend on symbiotic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as their main food source. These bacteria use energy from oxidizing inorganic sulfur compounds to make biomass autotrophically from CO2, serving as primary producers for their hosts. Here we describe a clade of nonautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing symbionts, "Candidatus Kentron," associated with marine ciliates. They lack genes for known autotrophic pathways and have a carbon stable isotope fingerprint heavier than other symbionts from similar habitats. Instead, they have the potential to oxidize sulfur to fuel the uptake of organic compounds for heterotrophic growth, a metabolic mode called chemolithoheterotrophy that is not found in other symbioses. Although several symbionts have heterotrophic features to supplement primary production, in Kentron they appear to supplant it entirely.}, } @article {pmid31239345, year = {2019}, author = {Wong, JEMM and Nadzieja, M and Madsen, LH and Bücherl, CA and Dam, S and Sandal, NN and Couto, D and Derbyshire, P and Uldum-Berentsen, M and Schroeder, S and Schwämmle, V and Nogueira, FCS and Asmussen, MH and Thirup, S and Radutoiu, S and Blaise, M and Andersen, KR and Menke, FLH and Zipfel, C and Stougaard, J}, title = {A Lotus japonicus cytoplasmic kinase connects Nod factor perception by the NFR5 LysM receptor to nodulation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {28}, pages = {14339-14348}, pmid = {31239345}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Cytoplasm/enzymology ; Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/*genetics ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Phosphotransferases/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development ; Rhizobium/genetics/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tobacco/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of nitrogen-fixing root nodules in legume-rhizobia symbiosis requires an intricate communication between the host plant and its symbiont. We are, however, limited in our understanding of the symbiosis signaling process. In particular, how membrane-localized receptors of legumes activate signal transduction following perception of rhizobial signaling molecules has mostly remained elusive. To address this, we performed a coimmunoprecipitation-based proteomics screen to identify proteins associated with Nod factor receptor 5 (NFR5) in Lotus japonicus. Out of 51 NFR5-associated proteins, we focused on a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK), which we named NFR5-interacting cytoplasmic kinase 4 (NiCK4). NiCK4 associates with heterologously expressed NFR5 in Nicotiana benthamiana, and directly binds and phosphorylates the cytoplasmic domains of NFR5 and NFR1 in vitro. At the cellular level, Nick4 is coexpressed with Nfr5 in root hairs and nodule cells, and the NiCK4 protein relocates to the nucleus in an NFR5/NFR1-dependent manner upon Nod factor treatment. Phenotyping of retrotransposon insertion mutants revealed that NiCK4 promotes nodule organogenesis. Together, these results suggest that the identified RLCK, NiCK4, acts as a component of the Nod factor signaling pathway downstream of NFR5.}, } @article {pmid31237779, year = {2019}, author = {Oh, HYP and Visvalingam, V and Wahli, W}, title = {The PPAR-microbiota-metabolic organ trilogy to fine-tune physiology.}, journal = {FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology}, volume = {33}, number = {9}, pages = {9706-9730}, doi = {10.1096/fj.201802681RR}, pmid = {31237779}, issn = {1530-6860}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human gut is colonized by commensal microorganisms, predominately bacteria that have coevolved in symbiosis with their host. The gut microbiota has been extensively studied in recent years, and many important findings on how it can regulate host metabolism have been unraveled. In healthy individuals, feeding timing and type of food can influence not only the composition but also the circadian oscillation of the gut microbiota. Host feeding habits thus influence the type of microbe-derived metabolites produced and their concentrations throughout the day. These microbe-derived metabolites influence many aspects of host physiology, including energy metabolism and circadian rhythm. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate various metabolic processes such as fatty acid metabolism. Similar to the gut microbiota, PPAR expression in various organs oscillates diurnally, and studies have shown that the gut microbiota can influence PPAR activities in various metabolic organs. For example, short-chain fatty acids, the most abundant type of metabolites produced by anaerobic fermentation of dietary fibers by the gut microbiota, are PPAR agonists. In this review, we highlight how the gut microbiota can regulate PPARs in key metabolic organs, namely, in the intestines, liver, and muscle. Knowing that the gut microbiota impacts metabolism and is altered in individuals with metabolic diseases might allow treatment of these patients using noninvasive procedures such as gut microbiota manipulation.-Oh, H. Y. P., Visvalingam, V., Wahli, W. The PPAR-microbiota-metabolic organ trilogy to fine-tune physiology.}, } @article {pmid31237728, year = {2019}, author = {Nadal-Jimenez, P and Griffin, JS and Davies, L and Frost, CL and Marcello, M and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Genetic manipulation allows in vivo tracking of the life cycle of the son-killer symbiont, Arsenophonus nasoniae, and reveals patterns of host invasion, tropism and pathology.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {8}, pages = {3172-3182}, pmid = {31237728}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {708232//H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions/International ; 704382//H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions/International ; NE/I01067X/1//Natural Environment Research Council/International ; BB/L014947/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Insecta ; Larva ; Pupa ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tropism ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maternally heritable symbionts are common in arthropods and represent important partners and antagonists. A major impediment to understanding the mechanistic basis of these symbioses has been lack of genetic manipulation tools, for instance, those enabling transgenic GFP expression systems for in vivo visualization. Here, we transform the 'son-killer' reproductive parasite Arsenophonus nasoniae that infects the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis with the plasmid pOM1-gfp, re-introduce this strain to N. vitripennis and then used this system to track symbiont life history in vivo. These data revealed transfer of the symbiont into the fly pupa by N. vitripennis during oviposition and N. vitripennis larvae developing infection over time through feeding. A strong tropism of A. nasoniae to the N. vitripennis ovipositor developed during wasp pupation, which aids onward transmission. The symbiont was also visualized in diapause larvae. Occasional necrotic diapause larvae were observed which displayed intense systemic infection alongside widespread melanotic nodules indicative of an active but failed immune response. Our results provide the foundation for the study of this symbiosis through in vivo tracking of the fate of symbionts through host development, which is rarely achieved in heritable microbe/insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid31236967, year = {2019}, author = {Chomicki, G and Renner, SS}, title = {Farming by ants remodels nutrient uptake in epiphytes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {4}, pages = {2011-2023}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15855}, pmid = {31236967}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Animals ; Ants/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Crops, Agricultural/growth & development ; *Food ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {True agriculture - defined by habitual planting, cultivation, harvesting and dependence of a farmer on a crop - is known from fungi farmed by ants, termites or beetles, and plants farmed by humans or ants. Because farmers supply their crops with nutrients, they have the potential to modify crop nutrition over evolutionary time. Here we test this hypothesis in ant/plant farming symbioses. We used field experiments, phylogenetic-comparative analyses and computed-tomography scanning to investigate how the evolution of farming by ants has impacted the nutrition of locally coexisting species in the epiphytic genus Squamellaria (Rubiaceae). Using isotope-labelled mineral and organic nitrogen, we show that specialised ants actively and exclusively fertilise hyperabsorptive warts on the inner walls of plant-formed structures (domatia) where they nest, sharply contrasting with nitrogen provisioning by ants in nonfarming generalist symbioses. Similar hyperabsorptive warts have evolved repeatedly in lineages colonised by farming ants. Our study supports the idea that millions of years of ant agriculture have remodelled plant physiology, shifting from ant-derived nutrients as by-products to active and targeted fertilisation on hyperabsorptive sites. The increased efficiency of ant-derived nutrient provisioning appears to stem from a combination of farming ant behaviour and plant 'crop' traits.}, } @article {pmid31236871, year = {2019}, author = {Rolim, L and Santiago, TR and Dos Reis Junior, FB and de Carvalho Mendes, I and do Vale, HMM and Hungria, M and Silva, LP}, title = {Identification of soybean Bradyrhizobium strains used in commercial inoculants in Brazil by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {905-914}, pmid = {31236871}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Brazil ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soybeans/*microbiology/physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) with the soybean crop probably represents the major sustainable technology worldwide, saving billions of dollars in N fertilizers and decreasing water pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. Accordingly, the identification of strains occupying nodules under field conditions represents a critical step in studies that are aimed at guaranteeing increased BNF contribution. Current methods of identification are mostly based on serology, or on DNA profiles. However, the production of antibodies is restricted to few laboratories, and to obtain DNA profiles of hundreds of isolates is costly and time-consuming. Conversely, the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS technique might represent a golden opportunity for replacing serological and DNA-based methods. However, MALDI-TOF databases of environmental microorganisms are still limited, and, most importantly, there are concerns about the discrimination of protein profiles at the strain level. In this study, we investigated four soybean rhizobial strains carried in commercial inoculants used in over 35 million hectares in Brazil and also in other countries of South America and Africa. A supplementary MALDI-TOF database with the protein profiles of these rhizobial strains was built and allowed the identification of unique profiles statistically supported by multivariate analysis and neural networks. To test this new database, the nodule occupancy by Bradyrhizobium strains in symbiosis with soybean was characterized in a field experiment and the results were compared with serotyping of bacteria by immuno-agglutination. The results obtained by both techniques were highly correlated and confirmed the viability of using the MALDI-TOF MS technique to effectively distinguish bacteria at the strain level.}, } @article {pmid31236592, year = {2019}, author = {Kenny, NJ and Plese, B and Riesgo, A and Itskovich, VB}, title = {Symbiosis, Selection, and Novelty: Freshwater Adaptation in the Unique Sponges of Lake Baikal.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {36}, number = {11}, pages = {2462-2480}, pmid = {31236592}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {Freshwater sponges (Spongillida) are a unique lineage of demosponges that secondarily colonized lakes and rivers and are now found ubiquitously in these ecosystems. They developed specific adaptations to freshwater systems, including the ability to survive extreme thermal ranges, long-lasting dessication, anoxia, and resistance to a variety of pollutants. Although spongillids have colonized all freshwater systems, the family Lubomirskiidae is endemic to Lake Baikal and plays a range of key roles in this ecosystem. Our work compares the genomic content and microbiome of individuals of three species of the Lubomirskiidae, providing hypotheses for how molecular evolution has allowed them to adapt to their unique environments. We have sequenced deep (>92% of the metazoan "Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs" [BUSCO] set) transcriptomes from three species of Lubomirskiidae and a draft genome resource for Lubomirskia baikalensis. We note Baikal sponges contain unicellular algal and bacterial symbionts, as well as the dinoflagellate Gyrodinium. We investigated molecular evolution, gene duplication, and novelty in freshwater sponges compared with marine lineages. Sixty one orthogroups have consilient evidence of positive selection. Transporters (e.g., zinc transporter-2), transcription factors (aristaless-related homeobox), and structural proteins (e.g. actin-3), alongside other genes, are under strong evolutionary pressure in freshwater, with duplication driving novelty across the Spongillida, but especially in the Lubomirskiidae. This addition to knowledge of freshwater sponge genetics provides a range of tools for understanding the molecular biology and, in the future, the ecology (e.g., colonization and migration patterns) of these key species.}, } @article {pmid31235587, year = {2019}, author = {Nakayama, T and Nomura, M and Takano, Y and Tanifuji, G and Shiba, K and Inaba, K and Inagaki, Y and Kawata, M}, title = {Single-cell genomics unveiled a cryptic cyanobacterial lineage with a worldwide distribution hidden by a dinoflagellate host.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {32}, pages = {15973-15978}, pmid = {31235587}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Dinoflagellida/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/*methods ; *Geography ; Likelihood Functions ; Metagenomics ; *Phylogeny ; Single-Cell Analysis/*methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are one of the most important contributors to oceanic primary production and survive in a wide range of marine habitats. Much effort has been made to understand their ecological features, diversity, and evolution, based mainly on data from free-living cyanobacterial species. In addition, symbiosis has emerged as an important lifestyle of oceanic microbes and increasing knowledge of cyanobacteria in symbiotic relationships with unicellular eukaryotes suggests their significance in understanding the global oceanic ecosystem. However, detailed characteristics of these cyanobacteria remain poorly described. To gain better insight into marine cyanobacteria in symbiosis, we sequenced the genome of cyanobacteria collected from a cell of a pelagic dinoflagellate that is known to host cyanobacterial symbionts within a specialized chamber. Phylogenetic analyses using the genome sequence revealed that the cyanobacterium represents an underdescribed lineage within an extensively studied, ecologically important group of marine cyanobacteria. Metagenomic analyses demonstrated that this cyanobacterial lineage is globally distributed and strictly coexists with its host dinoflagellates, suggesting that the intimate symbiotic association allowed the cyanobacteria to escape from previous metagenomic studies. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the protein repertoire with related species indicated that the lineage has independently undergone reductive genome evolution to a similar extent as Prochlorococcus, which has the most reduced genomes among free-living cyanobacteria. Discovery of this cyanobacterial lineage, hidden by its symbiotic lifestyle, provides crucial insights into the diversity, ecology, and evolution of marine cyanobacteria and suggests the existence of other undiscovered cryptic cyanobacterial lineages.}, } @article {pmid31234762, year = {2019}, author = {Balandin, SV and Sheremeteva, EV and Ovchinnikova, TV}, title = {Pediocin-Like Antimicrobial Peptides of Bacteria.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {84}, number = {5}, pages = {464-478}, doi = {10.1134/S000629791905002X}, pmid = {31234762}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Enterococcus/drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/immunology/*metabolism ; Listeria/drug effects ; Pediocins/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System/chemistry/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Bacteriocins are bacterial antimicrobial peptides that, unlike classical peptide antibiotics, are products of ribosomal synthesis and usually have a narrow spectrum of antibacterial activity against species closely related to the producers. Pediocin-like bacteriocins (PLBs) belong to the class IIa of the bacteriocins of Gram-positive bacteria. PLBs possess high activity against pathogenic bacteria from Listeria and Enterococcus genera. Molecular target for PLBs is a membrane protein complex - bacterial mannose-phosphotransferase. PLBs can be synthesized by components of symbiotic microflora and participate in the maintenance of homeostasis in various compartments of the digestive tract and on the surface of epithelial tissues contacting the external environment. PLBs could give a rise to a new group of antibiotics of narrow spectrum of activity.}, } @article {pmid31234272, year = {2019}, author = {Lan, Q and Liu, C and Ling, S}, title = {Research on Measurement of Symbiosis Degree Between National Fitness and the Sports Industry from the Perspective of Collaborative Development.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31234272}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {China ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; *Physical Fitness ; Research ; *Sports ; }, abstract = {Clarifying the symbiotic relationship between national fitness and the sports industry has important theoretical and practical significance for the collaborative development of the two. In order to measure and verify the symbiotic relationship between national fitness and the sports industry, we introduce a "symbiosis degree" model test method for the measurement of the symbiotic relationship during 2000-2017 between the two. Our results show that national fitness and the sports industry have symbiotic sufficient and necessary conditions, for both of which there is a symbiotic relationship, and a non-symmetric reciprocal symbiotic mode long-term. Overall, the impact of national fitness on the sports industry is greater than the impact of the sports industry on national fitness. From a structural perspective, there is a certain difference in the mutual influence of national fitness and the sports industry in the field of sports goods and sports services. In a dynamic forecast, we found that national fitness and the sports industry have the development trend of a symmetric reciprocal symbiotic state. Through theoretical studies, data measured and simulated projections, we believe that the symbiosis degree of the measurement model for the detection and prediction of the symbiotic unit of the symbiotic relationship between them to be of practical value.}, } @article {pmid31233506, year = {2019}, author = {Cui, G and Liew, YJ and Li, Y and Kharbatia, N and Zahran, NI and Emwas, AH and Eguiluz, VM and Aranda, M}, title = {Host-dependent nitrogen recycling as a mechanism of symbiont control in Aiptasia.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {e1008189}, pmid = {31233506}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Amino Acids/chemistry/*genetics ; Ammonium Compounds/chemistry/metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon/chemistry/*metabolism ; Feedback, Physiological ; Nitrogen/chemistry/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Sea Anemones/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The metabolic symbiosis with photosynthetic algae allows corals to thrive in the oligotrophic environments of tropical seas. Different aspects of this relationship have been investigated using the emerging model organism Aiptasia. However, many fundamental questions, such as the nature of the symbiotic relationship and the interactions of nutrients between the partners remain highly debated. Using a meta-analysis approach, we identified a core set of 731 high-confidence symbiosis-associated genes that revealed host-dependent recycling of waste ammonium and amino acid synthesis as central processes in this relationship. Subsequent validation via metabolomic analyses confirmed that symbiont-derived carbon enables host recycling of ammonium into nonessential amino acids. We propose that this provides a regulatory mechanism to control symbiont growth through a carbon-dependent negative feedback of nitrogen availability to the symbiont. The dependence of this mechanism on symbiont-derived carbon highlights the susceptibility of this symbiosis to changes in carbon translocation, as imposed by environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid31231867, year = {2019}, author = {Szigeti-Buck, K and Manuelidis, L}, title = {Prokaryotic SPHINX replication sequences are conserved in mammalian brain and participate in neurodegeneration.}, journal = {Journal of cellular biochemistry}, volume = {120}, number = {10}, pages = {17687-17698}, doi = {10.1002/jcb.29035}, pmid = {31231867}, issn = {1097-4644}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Brain/pathology/*virology ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal/pathology/virology ; Cell Body/metabolism ; Conserved Sequence/*genetics ; DNA Replication/*genetics ; DNA, Viral/*genetics ; Fluorescence ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Mammals/*virology ; Mice ; Nerve Degeneration/*genetics/pathology/*virology ; Prokaryotic Cells/*virology ; Purkinje Cells/metabolism ; Synapses/metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {A new class of viral mammalian Slow Progressive Hidden INfections of variable (X) latency ("SPHINX") DNAs, represented by the 1.8 and 2.4 kb nuclease-protected circular elements, were discovered in highly infectious cytoplasmic particles isolated from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and scrapie samples. These DNAs contained replication initiation sequences (REPs) with approximately 70% homology to those of environmental Acinetobacter phage. Antibodies against REP peptides from the 1.8 kb DNA highlighted a 41 kDa protein (spx) on Western blots, and in situ studies previously revealed its peripheral tissue expression, for example, in pancreatic islet cells, keratinocytes, kidney tubules, and oocytes but not pancreatic exocrine cells, alveoli, and striated muscle. To determine if spx concentrated in specific neurons and synapses, and also maintained a conserved pattern of architectural organization in mammalian brains, we evaluated mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig (GP), and human samples. Most outstanding was the cross-species concentration of spx in huge excitatory synapses of mossy fibers and small internal granule neuron synapses, the only excitatory neuron within the cerebellum. Spx also localized to excitatory glutamate type synapses in the hippocampus, and both cerebellar and hippocampal synaptic spx was demonstrable ultrastructurally. Studies of two well-characterized models of sporadic CJD (sCJD) revealed novel spx pathology. Vacuolar loss of cerebellar synaptic complexes, thinning of the internal granule cell layer, and fibrillar spx accumulations within Purkinje neurons were prominent in sCJD GP brains. In rats, comparable spx fibrillar changes appeared in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, and they preceded prion protein misfolding. Hence, spx is an integral player in progressive neurodegeneration. The evolutionary origin, spread, and neuropathology of SPHINX 1.8 REP sequences opens another unanticipated chapter for mammalian symbiotic interactions with environmental microbes.}, } @article {pmid31231402, year = {2019}, author = {Bapaume, L and Laukamm, S and Darbon, G and Monney, C and Meyenhofer, F and Feddermann, N and Chen, M and Reinhardt, D}, title = {VAPYRIN Marks an Endosomal Trafficking Compartment Involved in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {666}, pmid = {31231402}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a symbiosis between plants and AM fungi that requires the intracellular accommodation of the fungal partner in the host. For reciprocal nutrient exchange, AM fungi form intracellular arbuscules that are surrounded by the peri-arbuscular membrane. This membrane, together with the fungal plasma membrane, and the space in between, constitute the symbiotic interface, over which nutrients are exchanged. Intracellular establishment of AM fungi requires the VAPYRIN protein which is induced in colonized cells, and which localizes to numerous small mobile structures of unknown identity (Vapyrin-bodies). In order to characterize the identity and function of the Vapyrin-bodies we pursued a dual strategy. First, we co-expressed fluorescently tagged VAPYRIN with a range of subcellular marker proteins, and secondly, we employed biochemical tools to identify interacting partner proteins of VAPYRIN. As an important tool for the quantitative analysis of confocal microscopic data sets from co-expression of fluorescent proteins, we developed a semi-automated image analysis pipeline that allows for precise spatio-temporal quantification of protein co-localization and of the dynamics of organelle association from movies. Taken together, these experiments revealed that Vapyrin-bodies have an endosomal identity with trans-Golgi features, and that VAPYRIN interacts with a symbiotic R-SNARE of the VAMP721 family, that localizes to the same compartment.}, } @article {pmid31231333, year = {2019}, author = {Miozzi, L and Vaira, AM and Catoni, M and Fiorilli, V and Accotto, GP and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Plant Friend or Foe in the Fight Against Viruses?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1238}, pmid = {31231333}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant roots establish interactions with several beneficial soil microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In addition to promoting plant nutrition and growth, AMF colonization can prime systemic plant defense and enhance tolerance to a wide range of environmental stresses and below-ground pathogens. A protective effect of the AMF against above-ground pathogens has also been described in different plant species, but it seems to largely rely on the type of attacker. Viruses are obligate biotrophic pathogens able to infect a large number of plant species, causing massive losses in crop yield worldwide. Despite their economic importance, information on the effect of the AM symbiosis on viral infection is limited and not conclusive. However, several experimental evidences, obtained under controlled conditions, show that AMF colonization may enhance viral infection, affecting susceptibility, symptomatology and viral replication, possibly related to the improved nutritional status and to the delayed induction of pathogenesis-related proteins in the mycorrhizal plants. In this review, we give an overview of the impact of the AMF colonization on plant infection by pathogenic viruses and summarize the current knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. For the cases where AMF colonization increases the susceptibility of plants to viruses, the term "mycorrhiza-induced susceptibility" (MIS) is proposed.}, } @article {pmid31230564, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, H and Senthilkumar, R and Ma, G and Zou, Q and Zhu, K and Shen, X and Tian, D and Hua, MS and Oelmüller, R and Yeh, KW}, title = {Piriformospora indica-induced phytohormone changes and root colonization strategies are highly host-specific.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {1632688}, pmid = {31230564}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/drug effects/*physiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/drug effects/genetics ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; *Host Specificity/drug effects ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/genetics ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/cytology/drug effects/*microbiology ; Plants/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, has a wide host range and promotes the performance of mono- and eudicot plants. Here, we compare the interaction of P. indica with the roots of seven host plants (Anthurium andraeanum, Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica campestris, Lycopersicon esculentum, Oncidium orchid, Oryza sativa, and Zea mays). Microscopical analyses showed that the colonization time and the mode of hyphal invasion into the roots differ in the symbiotic interactions. Substantial differences between the species were also observed for the levels and accumulation of jasmonate (JA) and gibberellin (GA) and the transcript levels for genes involved in their syntheses. No obvious correlation could be detected between the endogenous JA and/or GA levels and the time point of root colonization in a given plant species. Our results suggest that root colonization strategies and changes in the two phytohormone levels are highly host-specific.}, } @article {pmid31230256, year = {2019}, author = {Petrzik, K}, title = {Evolutionary forces at work in partitiviruses.}, journal = {Virus genes}, volume = {55}, number = {5}, pages = {563-573}, pmid = {31230256}, issn = {1572-994X}, mesh = {Capsid Proteins/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Mutation ; RNA Viruses/*genetics ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics ; }, abstract = {The family Partitiviridae consists of dsRNA viruses with genome separated into two segments and encoding replicase and capsid protein only. We examined the nucleotide diversity expressed as the ratio dN/dS of nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions, which has been calculated for 12 representative viruses of all five genera of partitiviruses. We can state that strong purifying selection works on both the RdRp and CP genes and propose that putative positive selection occurs also on the RdRp genes in two viruses. Among the 95 evaluated viruses, wherein both segments had been sequenced, 8 viruses in betapartitiviruses and 9 in alphapartitiviruses were identified as reassortment candidates because they differ extremely in their CP identity even as they are related in terms of RdRp. Furthermore, there are indications that reassortants are present among isolates of different viruses.}, } @article {pmid31229798, year = {2019}, author = {Roper, C and Castro, C and Ingel, B}, title = {Xylella fastidiosa: bacterial parasitism with hallmarks of commensalism.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {140-147}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2019.05.005}, pmid = {31229798}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Plant Diseases ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; *Xylella ; }, abstract = {All organisms evolve in the presence of other organisms and these intimate associations are major drivers of evolution. Broadly speaking, these interactions are considered symbioses and can take on a full range of positive, negative or seemingly neutral interactions. Just two examples of these symbiotic interactions are parasitism and commensalism. Parasitism results in one partner benefitting while one partner suffers adverse consequences. Commensalism is a form of symbiosis where one partner benefits and the other partner is neutrally affected. Research efforts are more often focused on understanding parasitic symbioses related to disease, hence, much research is performed on identifying virulence factors to understand the fundamentals of pathogenesis. In turn, much less is understood about the fundamentals of commensal relationships. Here, we will take an introspective look at the plant-associated bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa. In some of its many plant hosts, this bacterium participates in seemingly commensal relationships while in other hosts, it causes devastating diseases that result in epidemics, making it a good model for exploring the determinants of where bacteria fall on the spectrum of parasitic and commensal relationships from both the microbial and the plant host perspective. Recent discoveries in how pathogenic X. fastidiosa imposes self-limiting behaviors upon itself indicate that even in its parasitic form, X. fastidiosa displays hallmarks of a commensal lifestyle. Understanding how commensalism can 'go wrong' and manifest into pathologies in specific hosts is a useful vantage point from which to study the determinants of virulence and pathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid31229565, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, R and Yang, Y and Wang, J and Lin, Y and Yan, Y}, title = {Synthetic symbiosis combining plasmid displacement enables rapid construction of phenotype-stable strains.}, journal = {Metabolic engineering}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {85-91}, doi = {10.1016/j.ymben.2019.06.011}, pmid = {31229565}, issn = {1096-7184}, mesh = {*Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Metabolic Engineering ; *Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plasmid-based microbial systems have been a major workhorse for chemical and pharmaceutical production. The biosafety issues and elevated industrial cost of antibiotic usage have led to the development of alternative strategies for plasmid selection and maintenance. Such strategies, including auxotrophy complementation, post-segregational killing, operator-repressor and RNA-based interactions often require extensive engineering of various elements and may result in extra metabolic burden in the cells. Herein, we report a design of synthetic symbiosis combining plasmid displacement to construct a phenotype-stable microbial system. By sequestrating an endogenous essential gene folP, cells obtained long-term plasmid maintenance with minimum cost. The phenotype performance was also inherited for up to 80 generations demonstrated by the production of salicylic acid in Escherichia coli. Meanwhile, the temperature-induced curing method of the intermediate plasmids enables rapid engineering. This design can lead to broad applications as a reliable and convenient plasmid-based expression system.}, } @article {pmid31228837, year = {2019}, author = {Dhaouefi, Z and Toledo-Cervantes, A and Ghedira, K and Chekir-Ghedira, L and Muñoz, R}, title = {Decolorization and phytotoxicity reduction in an innovative anaerobic/aerobic photobioreactor treating textile wastewater.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {234}, number = {}, pages = {356-364}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.106}, pmid = {31228837}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbon/isolation & purification ; Chlorophyta/metabolism ; Color ; Nitrogen/isolation & purification ; Phosphorus/isolation & purification ; Photobioreactors/*microbiology ; *Textiles ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater/analysis/*toxicity ; Water Purification/instrumentation/*methods ; }, abstract = {The potential of a novel anaerobic/aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor for the treatment of synthetic textile wastewater (STWW) was here assessed. Algal-bacterial symbiosis supported total organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous removal efficiencies of 78 ± 2%, 47 ± 2% and 26 ± 2%, respectively, at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8 days. A decrease in the HRT from 8 to 4 and 2 days resulted in a slight decrease in organic carbon and phosphate removal, but a sharp decrease in nitrogen removal. Moreover, an efficient decolorization of 99 ± 1% and 96 ± 3% for disperse orange-3 and of disperse blue-1, respectively, was recorded. The effective STWW treatment supported by the anaerobic/aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor was confirmed by the reduction in wastewater toxicity towards Raphanus sativus seed germination and growth. These results highlighted the potential of this innovative algal-bacterial photobioreactor configuration for the treatment of textile wastewater and water reuse.}, } @article {pmid31228645, year = {2019}, author = {Meng, Y and Zhang, X and Guo, N and Fang, W}, title = {MrSt12 implicated in the regulation of transcription factor AFTF1 by Fus3-MAPK during cuticle penetration by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {131}, number = {}, pages = {103244}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2019.103244}, pmid = {31228645}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Animals ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Larva/microbiology ; Lepidoptera/*microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Metarhizium/*metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Plasmids/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/physiology ; Spores, Fungal/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Metarhizium robertsii is a versatile fungus with multifactorial lifestyles, and it is an emerging fungal model for investigating the mechanisms of multiple lifestyle transitions that involve trans-kingdom host jumping. Penetration of the insect cuticle is the necessary step for the transition from saprophytic or symbiotic to pathogenic lifestyle. Previously, we found the transcription factor AFTF1 plays an important role in cuticle penetration, which is precisely regulated by Fus3-MAPK, Slt2-MAPK, and the membrane protein Mr-OPY2. Here, we identified a transcription factor (MrSt12) that directly regulated the transcription of Aftf1 by physically interacting with the cis-acting element (ATGAAACA) in the promoter of Aftf1. The deletion mutant of MrSt12 failed to form the infection structure appressorium and was thus nonpathogenic. We further found that the regulation of Aftf1 by MrSt12 was directly controlled by the Fus3-MAPK. In conclusion, we found a new signaling cascade containing Fus3-MAPK, MrSt12, and AFTF1, which regulates cuticle penetration by M. robertsii.}, } @article {pmid31227910, year = {2019}, author = {Babadi, M and Zalaghi, R and Taghavi, M}, title = {A non-toxic polymer enhances sorghum-mycorrhiza symbiosis for bioremediation of Cd.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {375-387}, pmid = {31227910}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biological Transport ; Cadmium/analysis/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Sorghum/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, the effect of a mycorrhizal symbiosis on the translocation of Cd from Cd-polluted soil to sorghum roots was investigated using rhizoboxes. A factorial experiment (two factors including fungus inoculation and Cd contamination) in a completely randomized design with three replicates was performed. In the rhizobox rhizosphere compartment, plants were cultivated in uncontaminated soil and mycorrhizal inoculation (inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum or non-inoculated) was performed, and in the other compartment, the soil was contaminated with Cadmium (Cd) at one of three levels (0, 100 mg kg[-1] using a non-toxic organic polymer (poly (N-vinyl succinate))-Cd, or 100 mg kg[-1] using Cd-nitrate). Cd pollution resulted in a significant decrease in shoot dry weight (from 7.52 to 6.18 and 6.68 g pot[-1], from control to polymer-Cd and nitrate-Cd respectively), root mycorrhizal colonization (from 32.33% to 8.16% and 8.33%), shoot phosphorus concentration (from 3.14 to 2.80 and 2.76 g kg[-1]), and soil carbohydrate (from 12.05 to 10.74 and 10.24 mg g[-1]), and also resulted in significant increases in soil glomalin (from 595.55 to 660.52 and 690.39 μg g[-1]). The use of mycorrhizal fungi increased the glomalin content of the soil and improved the studied parameters. The results revealed the key role of Claroideoglomus etunicatum in translocation of Cd in the rhizobox and also in precise control of Cd concentration of plant tissues (increase or decrease of them depending on Cd composition and Cd availability). Poly(N-vinyl succinate) increased Cd availability and Cd concentration of shoot tissue (5.19 mg kg[-1]) compared to nitrate-Cd (3.68 mg kg[-1]) and could be recommended for improving phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid31227866, year = {2019}, author = {Mei, YZ and Zhu, YL and Huang, PW and Yang, Q and Dai, CC}, title = {Strategies for gene disruption and expression in filamentous fungi.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {15}, pages = {6041-6059}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-09953-2}, pmid = {31227866}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Fungi/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Knockout Techniques/*methods ; Genetics, Microbial/*methods ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {Filamentous fungi can produce many valuable secondary metabolites; among these fungi, endophytic fungi play an ecological role in mutualistic symbiosis with plants, including promoting plant growth, disease resistance, and stress resistance. However, the biosynthesis of most secondary metabolites remains unclear, and knowledge of the interaction mechanisms between endophytes and plants is still limited, especially for some novel fungi, due to the lack of genetic manipulation tools for novel species. Herein, we review the newly discovered strategies of gene disruption, such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system, the site-specific recombination Cre/loxP system, and the I-SceI endonuclease-mediated system in filamentous fungi. Gene expression systems contain using integration of target genes into the genome, host-dependent expression cassette construction depending on the host, a host-independent, universal expression system independent of the host, and reporter-guided gene expression for filamentous fungi. Furthermore, the Newly CRISPRi, CRISPRa, and the selection markers were also discussed for gene disruption and gene expression were also discussed. These studies lay the foundation for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in these organisms and aid in understanding the ecological function of filamentous fungi.}, } @article {pmid31227556, year = {2019}, author = {Webster, TM and Fierer, N}, title = {Microbial Dynamics of Biosand Filters and Contributions of the Microbial Food Web to Effective Treatment of Wastewater-Impacted Water Sources.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {31227556}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Filtration ; Food Chain ; Sand/*microbiology ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; Water Purification/*instrumentation ; }, abstract = {Biosand filtration systems are widely used for drinking water treatment, from household-level, intermittently operated filters to large-scale continuous municipal systems. While it is well-established that microbial activity within the filter is essential for the removal of potential pathogens and other contaminants, the microbial ecology of these systems and how microbial succession relates to their performance remain poorly resolved. We determined how different source waters influence the composition, temporal dynamics, and performance of microbial communities in intermittently operated biosand filters. We operated lab-scale biosand filters, adding daily inputs from two contrasting water sources with differing nutrient concentrations and found that total coliform removal increased and became less variable after 4 weeks, regardless of water source. Total effluent biomass was also lower than total influent biomass for both water sources. Bacterial community composition, assessed via cultivation-independent DNA sequencing, varied by water source, sample type (influent, effluent, or sand), and time. Despite these differences, we identified specific taxa that were consistently removed, including common aquatic and wastewater bacteria. In contrast, taxa consistently more abundant in the sand and effluent included predatory, intracellular, and symbiotic bacteria.IMPORTANCE Although microbial activities are known to contribute to the effectiveness of biosand filtration for drinking water treatment, we have a limited understanding of what microbial groups are most effectively removed, colonize the sand, or make it through the filter. This study tracked the microbial communities in the influent, sand, and effluent of lab-scale, intermittently operated biosand filters over 8 weeks. These results represent the most detailed and time-resolved investigation of the microbial communities in biosand filters typical of those implemented at the household level in many developing countries. We show the importance of the microbial food web in biosand filtration, and we identified taxa that are preferentially removed from wastewater-impacted water sources. We found consistent patterns in filter effectiveness from source waters with differing nutrient loads and, likewise, identified specific bacterial taxa that were consistently more abundant in effluent waters, taxa that are important targets for further study and posttreatment.}, } @article {pmid31227553, year = {2019}, author = {Vikuk, V and Young, CA and Lee, ST and Nagabhyru, P and Krischke, M and Mueller, MJ and Krauss, J}, title = {Infection Rates and Alkaloid Patterns of Different Grass Species with Systemic Epichloë Endophytes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {31227553}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*analysis ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dactylis/chemistry/microbiology ; Endophytes/*chemistry/physiology ; Epichloe/*chemistry/physiology ; Festuca/chemistry/microbiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Germany ; Livestock ; Lolium/chemistry/microbiology ; Poaceae/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic Epichloë species are fungal endophytes of cool-season grasses that can produce alkaloids with toxicity to vertebrates and/or invertebrates. Monitoring infections and presence of alkaloids in grasses infected with Epichloë species can provide an estimate of possible intoxication risks for livestock. We sampled 3,046 individuals of 13 different grass species in three regions on 150 study sites in Germany. We determined infection rates and used PCR to identify Epichloë species diversity based on the presence of different alkaloid biosynthesis genes, then confirmed the possible chemotypes with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements. Infections of Epichloë spp. were found in Festuca pratensis Huds. (81%), Festuca ovina L. aggregate (agg.) (73%), Lolium perenne L. (15%), Festuca rubra L. (15%) and Dactylis glomerata L. (8%). The other eight grass species did not appear to be infected. For the majority of Epichloë-infected L. perenne samples (98%), the alkaloids lolitrem B and peramine were present, but ergovaline was not detected, which was consistent with the genetic evaluation, as dmaW, the gene encoding the first step of the ergot alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, was absent. Epichloë uncinata in F. pratensis produced anti-insect loline compounds. The Epichloë spp. observed in the F. ovina agg. samples showed the greatest level of diversity, and different intermediates of the indole-diterpene pathway could be detected. Epichloë infection rates alone are insufficient to estimate intoxication risks for livestock, as other factors, like the ability of the endophyte to produce the alkaloids, also need to be assessed.IMPORTANCE Severe problems of livestock intoxication from Epichloë-infected forage grasses have been reported from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, but much less frequently from Europe, and particularly not from Germany. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor infection rates and alkaloids of grasses with Epichloë fungi to estimate possible intoxication risks. Most studies focus on agricultural grass species like Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea, but other cool-season grass species can also be infected. We show that in Germany, infection rates and alkaloids differ between grass species and that some of the alkaloids can be toxic to livestock. Changes in grassland management due to changing climate, especially with a shift toward grasslands dominated with Epichloë-infected species such as Lolium perenne, may result in greater numbers of intoxicated livestock in the near future. We therefore suggest regular monitoring of grass species for infections and alkaloids and call for maintaining heterogenous grasslands for livestock.}, } @article {pmid31226773, year = {2019}, author = {Song, H and Fu, Y and Wan, D and Xia, W and Lyu, F and Liu, L and Shen, L}, title = {Mytoxin B and Myrothecine A Induce Apoptosis in Human Hepatocarcinoma Cell Line SMMC-7721 via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31226773}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Caspase 3/genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Mice ; Mitochondria/drug effects ; Neoplasm Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Trichothecenes/chemistry/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Trichothecene macrolides comprise a class of valuable leading compounds in developing anticancer drugs, however, there are few reports concerning their anticancer mechanisms, especially the anticancer mechanism of the 10,13-cyclotrichothecane derivatives that are found mainly in symbiotic fungi. In vitro anticancer activity of two trichothecene macrolides mytoxin B and myrothecine A against the human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 was investigated in the present study. MTT assay showed that mytoxin B and myrothecine A inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining assay revealed that mytoxin B and myrothecine A both could induce SMMC-7721 cells apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The decreased expression level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the increased expression level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax were observed apparently in Western blot analysis. The reduced ratio of Bcl-2/Bax further confirmed the apoptosis-inducing effect of mytoxin B and myrothecine A on SMMC-7721 cells. Moreover, the expression levels of caspases-3, -8, and -9, and cleaved caspases-3, -8, and -9 were all upregulated in both mytoxin B and myrothecine A-treated cells in Western blot analysis, which indicated that both compounds might induce SMMC-7721 cells apoptosis through not only the death receptor pathway but also the mitochondrial pathway. Finally, mytoxin B and myrothecine A were found to reduce the activity of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway that was similar to the effect of LY294002 (a potent and specific PI3K inhibitor), suggesting that both mytoxin B and myrothecine A might induce SMMC-7721 cells apoptosis via PI3K/Akt pathway.}, } @article {pmid31226028, year = {2020}, author = {Pawlik, JR and McMurray, SE}, title = {The Emerging Ecological and Biogeochemical Importance of Sponges on Coral Reefs.}, journal = {Annual review of marine science}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {315-337}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-010419-010807}, pmid = {31226028}, issn = {1941-0611}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Cycle/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Porifera/*physiology ; Seawater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {With the decline of reef-building corals on tropical reefs, sponges have emerged as an important component of changing coral reef ecosystems. Seemingly simple, sponges are highly diverse taxonomically, morphologically, and in terms of their relationships with symbiotic microbes, and they are one of nature's richest sources of novel secondary metabolites. Unlike most other benthic organisms, sponges have the capacity to disrupt boundary flow as they pump large volumes of seawater into the water column. This seawater is chemically transformed as it passes through the sponge body as a consequence of sponge feeding, excretion, and the activities of microbial symbionts, with important effects on carbon and nutrient cycling and on the organisms in the water column and on the adjacent reef. In this review, we critically evaluate developments in the recently dynamic research area of sponge ecology on tropical reefs and provide a perspective for future studies.}, } @article {pmid31223496, year = {2019}, author = {Sapi, E and Gupta, K and Wawrzeniak, K and Gaur, G and Torres, J and Filush, K and Melillo, A and Zelger, B}, title = {Borrelia and Chlamydia Can Form Mixed Biofilms in Infected Human Skin Tissues.}, journal = {European journal of microbiology & immunology}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {46-55}, pmid = {31223496}, issn = {2062-509X}, abstract = {Our research group has recently shown that Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium, is capable of forming biofilms in Borrelia-infected human skin lesions called Borrelia lymphocytoma (BL). Biofilm structures often contain multiple organisms in a symbiotic relationship, with the goal of providing shelter from environmental stressors such as antimicrobial agents. Because multiple co-infections are common in Lyme disease, the main questions of this study were whether BL tissues contained other pathogenic species and/or whether there is any co-existence with Borrelia biofilms. Recent reports suggested Chlamydia-like organisms in ticks and Borrelia-infected human skin tissues; therefore, Chlamydia-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were performed in Borrelia-positive BL tissues. Analyses of the sequence of the positive PCR bands revealed that Chlamydia spp. DNAs are indeed present in these tissues, and their sequences have the best identity match to Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Fluorescent immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization methods demonstrated the presence of Chlamydia antigen and DNA in 84% of Borrelia biofilms. Confocal microscopy revealed that Chlamydia locates in the center of Borrelia biofilms, and together, they form a well-organized mixed pathogenic structure. In summary, our study is the first to show Borrelia-Chlamydia mixed biofilms in infected human skin tissues, which raises the questions of whether these human pathogens have developed a symbiotic relationship for their mutual survival.}, } @article {pmid31223102, year = {2020}, author = {Noman, MS and Liu, L and Bai, Z and Li, Z}, title = {Tephritidae bacterial symbionts: potentials for pest management.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {1-14}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485319000403}, pmid = {31223102}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Microbiota ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tephritidae is a large family that includes several fruit and vegetable pests. These organisms usually harbor a variegated bacterial community in their digestive systems. Symbiotic associations of bacteria and fruit flies have been well-studied in the genera Anastrepha, Bactrocera, Ceratitis, and Rhagoletis. Molecular and culture-based techniques indicate that many genera of the Enterobacteriaceae family, especially the genera of Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pectobacterium, Citrobacter, Erwinia, and Providencia constitute the most prevalent populations in the gut of fruit flies. The function of symbiotic bacteria provides a promising strategy for the biological control of insect pests. Gut bacteria can be used for controlling fruit fly through many ways, including attracting as odors, enhancing the success of sterile insect technique, declining the pesticide resistance, mass rearing of parasitoids and so on. New technology and recent research improved our knowledge of the gut bacteria diversity and function, which increased their potential for pest management. In this review, we discussed the diversity of bacteria in the economically important fruit fly and the use of these bacteria for controlling fruit fly populations. All the information is important for strengthening the future research of new strategies developed for insect pest control by the understanding of symbiotic relationships and multitrophic interactions between host plant and insects.}, } @article {pmid31222610, year = {2019}, author = {Miki, K and Kawashima, S and Takahashi, Y and Yonemura, S}, title = {Potential survival of the lichen Caloplaca flavovirescens under high helium-beam doses.}, journal = {Radiation and environmental biophysics}, volume = {58}, number = {3}, pages = {449-454}, pmid = {31222610}, issn = {1432-2099}, mesh = {*Cosmic Radiation ; *Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Exobiology ; Extraterrestrial Environment ; Helium ; Lichens/physiology/*radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; Physical Phenomena ; }, abstract = {Testing the limits of survivability in space is the primary focus in astrobiological research. Although a number of previous studies have examined terrestrial life survival in an extraterrestrial environment, only a few have investigated how life systems respond to high doses of alpha cosmic ray, the main component of cosmic rays. We used respiration and photosynthetic rates as indicators of the vital signs of the lichen Caloplaca flavovirescens, which is a symbiotic life form including fungi and algae. Our experiment demonstrated that the photosynthetic rate decreased with increased helium-beam doses, whereas the respiration rate was relatively unaffected. Specifically, under a helium-beam dose greater than 10 Gy, the respiration rate remained nearly constant regardless of further increases in the radiation rate. Our results indicate that the different metabolic systems of terrestrial life forms might exhibit different survival characteristics when they are in space.}, } @article {pmid31222171, year = {2019}, author = {Edgcomb, V}, title = {Symbiotic magnetic motility.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {7}, pages = {1066-1067}, pmid = {31222171}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Eukaryota ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid31222170, year = {2019}, author = {López-García, P and Moreira, D}, title = {Eukaryogenesis, a syntrophy affair.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {7}, pages = {1068-1070}, pmid = {31222170}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {322669/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Archaea ; Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryotic Cells ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotes evolved from a symbiosis involving alphaproteobacteria and archaea phylogenetically nested within the Asgard clade. Two recent studies explore the metabolic capabilities of Asgard lineages, supporting refined symbiotic metabolic interactions that might have operated at the dawn of eukaryogenesis.}, } @article {pmid31222010, year = {2019}, author = {Kanzaki, N and Liang, WR and Chiu, CI and Yang, CT and Hsueh, YP and Li, HF}, title = {Nematode-free agricultural system of a fungus-growing termite.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {8917}, pmid = {31222010}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Animals ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Isoptera/*physiology ; *Nematoda ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites forage dead plant materials from the field to cultivate symbiotic Termitomyces fungi in the nest. Termite foraging behavior and the entry of symbiotic arthropod inquilines may transfer nematodes into a nest and adversely affect fungus production. To test whether nematodes were transferred to fungus gardens by termites and inquilines, we examined the occurrence of nematodes in fungus gardens, five termite castes, and nine species of inquilines of a fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes formosanus. Our results revealed that nematodes were commonly carried by foraging termites and beetle inquilines. Numerous nematodes were found under the beetle elytra. No nematodes were found on termite larvae, eggs, and wingless inquilines. In addition, nematodes rarely occurred in the fungus garden. By observing the response of nematodes to three species of Termitomyces spp. and the fungus gardens, we confirmed that the fungus and fungus gardens are not actually toxic to nematodes. We suggest that nematodes were suppressed through grooming behavior and gut antimicrobial activity in termites, rather than through the antimicrobial activity of the fungus.}, } @article {pmid31219214, year = {2019}, author = {Muletz-Wolz, CR and Kurata, NP and Himschoot, EA and Wenker, ES and Quinn, EA and Hinde, K and Power, ML and Fleischer, RC}, title = {Diversity and temporal dynamics of primate milk microbiomes.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {81}, number = {10-11}, pages = {e22994}, pmid = {31219214}, issn = {1098-2345}, support = {R24 OD020347/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R24OD020347//Smithsonian Competitive Grant for Science/International ; R24 OD010962/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK077639/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; //American Society of Primatologists/International ; DDIG 0525025//NSF/International ; RR000169/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R24 RR019970/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; //Directorate for Biological Sciences/International ; DDIG: 0746320//NSF/International ; P51 RR000169/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Lactation/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Milk/chemistry/*microbiology ; Milk, Human/chemistry/*microbiology ; Primates/*microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Milk is inhabited by a community of bacteria and is one of the first postnatal sources of microbial exposure for mammalian young. Bacteria in breast milk may enhance immune development, improve intestinal health, and stimulate the gut-brain axis for infants. Variation in milk microbiome structure (e.g., operational taxonomic unit [OTU] diversity, community composition) may lead to different infant developmental outcomes. Milk microbiome structure may depend on evolutionary processes acting at the host species level and ecological processes occurring over lactation time, among others. We quantified milk microbiomes using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing for nine primate species and for six primate mothers sampled over lactation. Our data set included humans (Homo sapiens, Philippines and USA) and eight nonhuman primate species living in captivity (bonobo [Pan paniscus], chimpanzee [Pan troglodytes], western lowland gorilla [Gorilla gorilla gorilla], Bornean orangutan [Pongo pygmaeus], Sumatran orangutan [Pongo abelii], rhesus macaque [Macaca mulatta], owl monkey [Aotus nancymaae]) and in the wild (mantled howler monkey [Alouatta palliata]). For a subset of the data, we paired microbiome data with nutrient and hormone assay results to quantify the effect of milk chemistry on milk microbiomes. We detected a core primate milk microbiome of seven bacterial OTUs indicating a robust relationship between these bacteria and primate species. Milk microbiomes differed among primate species with rhesus macaques, humans and mantled howler monkeys having notably distinct milk microbiomes. Gross energy in milk from protein and fat explained some of the variations in microbiome composition among species. Microbiome composition changed in a predictable manner for three primate mothers over lactation time, suggesting that different bacterial communities may be selected for as the infant ages. Our results contribute to understanding ecological and evolutionary relationships between bacteria and primate hosts, which can have applied benefits for humans and endangered primates in our care.}, } @article {pmid31218790, year = {2019}, author = {Khatabi, B and Gharechahi, J and Ghaffari, MR and Liu, D and Haynes, PA and McKay, MJ and Mirzaei, M and Salekdeh, GH}, title = {Plant-Microbe Symbiosis: What Has Proteomics Taught Us?.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {19}, number = {16}, pages = {e1800105}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201800105}, pmid = {31218790}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/microbiology ; Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Proteomics/*methods ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microbes have a positive impact on the productivity and fitness of the host plant. A better understanding of the biological impacts and underlying mechanisms by which the host derives these benefits will help to address concerns around global food production and security. The recent development of omics-based technologies has broadened our understanding of the molecular aspects of beneficial plant-microbe symbiosis. Specifically, proteomics has led to the identification and characterization of several novel symbiosis-specific and symbiosis-related proteins and post-translational modifications that play a critical role in mediating symbiotic plant-microbe interactions and have helped assess the underlying molecular aspects of the symbiotic relationship. Integration of proteomic data with other "omics" data can provide valuable information to assess hypotheses regarding the underlying mechanism of symbiosis and help define the factors affecting the outcome of symbiosis. Herein, an update is provided on the current and potential applications of symbiosis-based "omic" approaches to dissect different aspects of symbiotic plant interactions. The application of proteomics, metaproteomics, and secretomics as enabling approaches for the functional analysis of plant-associated microbial communities is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid31218402, year = {2019}, author = {Motaharpoor, Z and Taheri, H and Nadian, H}, title = {Rhizophagus irregularis modulates cadmium uptake, metal transporter, and chelator gene expression in Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {389-395}, pmid = {31218402}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Aminoacyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago sativa/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Metallothionein/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered a potential biotechnological tool for mitigating heavy metal (HM) toxicity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the impacts of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on cadmium (Cd) uptake, mycorrhizal colonization, and some plant growth parameters of Medicago sativa (alfalfa) in Cd-polluted soils. In addition, expression of two metal chelators (MsPCS1 (phytochelatin synthase) and MsMT2 (metallothionein)) and two metal transporter genes (MsIRT1 and MsNramp1) was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cd addition had a significant negative effect on mycorrhizal colonization. However, AMF symbiosis promoted the accumulation of biomass under both stressed and unstressed conditions compared with non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants. Results also showed that inoculation with R. irregularis significantly reduced shoot Cd concentration in polluted soils. Transcripts abundance of MsPCS1, MsMT2, MsIRT1, and MsNRAMP1 genes were downregulated compared with NM plants indicating that metal sequestration within hyphal fungi probably made Cd concentration insufficient in root cells for induction of these genes. These results suggest that reduction of shoot Cd concentration in M. sativa colonized by R. irregularis could be a promising strategy for safe production of this plant in Cd-polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid31218384, year = {2020}, author = {Della Mónica, IF and Godeas, AM and Scervino, JM}, title = {In Vivo Modulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Soil Quality by Fungal P Solubilizers.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {21-29}, pmid = {31218384}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/classification/*physiology ; Glomeromycota/classification/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Triticum/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient with low bioavailability in soils for plant growth. The use of P solubilization fungi (PSF) has arisen as an eco-friendly strategy to increase this nutrient's bioavailability. The effect of PSF inoculation and its combination with P-transporting organisms (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF) on plant growth has been previously studied. However, these studies did not evaluate the combined effect of PSF and AMF inoculation on plant growth, symbiosis, and soil quality. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the impact of PSF on the AMF-wheat symbiosis establishment and efficiency, considering the effect on plant growth and soil quality. We performed a greenhouse experiment with wheat under different treatments (+/-AMF: Rhizophagus irregularis; +/-PSF strains: Talaromyces flavus, T. helicus L7B, T. helicus N24, and T. diversus) and measured plant growth, AMF root colonization, symbiotic efficiency, and soil quality indicators. No interaction between PSF and R. irregularis was found in wheat growth, showcasing that their combination is not better than single inoculation. T. helicus strains did not interfere with the AMF-wheat symbiosis establishment, while T. diversus and T. flavus decreased it. The symbiotic efficiency was increased by T. flavus and T. helicus N24, and unchanged with T. helicus L7B and T. diversus inoculation. The soil quality indicators were higher with microbial co-inoculation, particularly the alkaline phosphatases parameter, showing the beneficial role of fungi in soil. This work highlights the importance of microbial interactions in the rhizosphere for crop sustainability and soil quality improvement, assessing the effects of PSF on AMF-wheat symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31217550, year = {2019}, author = {Otani, S and Challinor, VL and Kreuzenbeck, NB and Kildgaard, S and Krath Christensen, S and Larsen, LLM and Aanen, DK and Rasmussen, SA and Beemelmanns, C and Poulsen, M}, title = {Disease-free monoculture farming by fungus-growing termites.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {8819}, pmid = {31217550}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Isoptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Principal Component Analysis ; Termitomyces/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites engage in an obligate mutualistic relationship with Termitomyces fungi, which they maintain in monocultures on specialised fungus comb structures, without apparent problems with infectious diseases. While other fungi have been reported in the symbiosis, detailed comb fungal community analyses have been lacking. Here we use culture-dependent and -independent methods to characterise fungus comb mycobiotas from three fungus-growing termite species (two genera). Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene analyses using 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina MiSeq showed that non-Termitomyces fungi were essentially absent in fungus combs, and that Termitomyces fungal crops are maintained in monocultures as heterokaryons with two or three abundant ITS variants in a single fungal strain. To explore whether the essential absence of other fungi within fungus combs is potentially due to the production of antifungal metabolites by Termitomyces or comb bacteria, we performed in vitro assays and found that both Termitomyces and chemical extracts of fungus comb material can inhibit potential fungal antagonists. Chemical analyses of fungus comb material point to a highly complex metabolome, including compounds with the potential to play roles in mediating these contaminant-free farming conditions in the termite symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31217427, year = {2019}, author = {Crespo-Piazuelo, D and Migura-Garcia, L and Estellé, J and Criado-Mesas, L and Revilla, M and Castelló, A and Muñoz, M and García-Casco, JM and Fernández, AI and Ballester, M and Folch, JM}, title = {Association between the pig genome and its gut microbiota composition.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {8791}, pmid = {31217427}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; *Genome ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Rectum/microbiology ; Swine/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota has been evolving with its host along the time creating a symbiotic relationship. In this study, we assess the role of the host genome in the modulation of the microbiota composition in pigs. Gut microbiota compositions were estimated through sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene from rectal contents of 285 pigs. A total of 1,261 operational taxonomic units were obtained and grouped in 18 phyla and 101 genera. Firmicutes (45.36%) and Bacteroidetes (37.47%) were the two major phyla obtained, whereas at genus level Prevotella (7.03%) and Treponema (6.29%) were the most abundant. Pigs were also genotyped with a high-throughput method for 45,508 single nucleotide polymorphisms that covered the entire pig genome. Subsequently, genome-wide association studies were made among the genotypes of these pigs and their gut microbiota composition. A total of 52 single-nucleotide polymorphisms distributed in 17 regions along the pig genome were associated with the relative abundance of six genera; Akkermansia, CF231, Phascolarctobacterium, Prevotella, SMB53, and Streptococcus. Our results suggest 39 candidate genes that may be modulating the microbiota composition and manifest the association between host genome and gut microbiota in pigs.}, } @article {pmid31217361, year = {2019}, author = {Shinohara, A and Nohara, M and Kondo, Y and Jogahara, T and Nagura-Kato, GA and Izawa, M and Koshimoto, C}, title = {Comparison of the gut microbiotas of laboratory and wild Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus) based on cloned 16S rRNA sequences.}, journal = {Experimental animals}, volume = {68}, number = {4}, pages = {531-539}, pmid = {31217361}, issn = {1881-7122}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Laboratory/microbiology ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*analysis ; Shrews/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The Asian house shrew, Suncus murinus, is an insectivore (Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) and an important laboratory animal for life-science studies. The gastrointestinal tract of Suncus is simple: the length of the entire intestine is very short relative to body size, the large intestine is quite short, and there are no fermentative chambers such as the forestomach or cecum. These features imply that Suncus has a different nutritional physiology from those of humans and mice, but little is known about whether Suncus utilizes microbial fermentation in the large (LI) or small (SI) intestine. In addition, domestication may affect the gastrointestinal microbial diversity of Suncus. Therefore, we compared the gastrointestinal microbial diversity of Suncus between laboratory and wild Suncus and between the SI and LI (i.e., four groups: Lab-LI, Lab-SI, Wild-LI, and Wild-SI) using bacterial 16S rRNA gene library sequencing analyses with a sub-cloning method. We obtained 759 cloned sequences (176, 174, 195, and 214 from the Lab-LI, Lab-SI, Wild-LI, and Wild-SI samples, respectively), which revealed that the gastrointestinal microbiota of Suncus is rich in Firmicutes (mostly lactic acid bacteria), with few Bacteroidetes. We observed different bacterial communities according to intestinal region in laboratory Suncus, but not in wild Suncus. Furthermore, the gastrointestinal microbial diversity estimates were lower in laboratory Suncus than in wild Suncus. These results imply that Suncus uses lactic acid fermentation in the gut, and that the domestication process altered the gastrointestinal bacterial diversity.}, } @article {pmid31216282, year = {2019}, author = {Sieber, M and Pita, L and Weiland-Bräuer, N and Dirksen, P and Wang, J and Mortzfeld, B and Franzenburg, S and Schmitz, RA and Baines, JF and Fraune, S and Hentschel, U and Schulenburg, H and Bosch, TCG and Traulsen, A}, title = {Neutrality in the Metaorganism.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {e3000298}, pmid = {31216282}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Models, Theoretical ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Almost all animals and plants are inhabited by diverse communities of microorganisms, the microbiota, thereby forming an integrated entity, the metaorganism. Natural selection should favor hosts that shape the community composition of these microbes to promote a beneficial host-microbe symbiosis. Indeed, animal hosts often pose selective environments, which only a subset of the environmentally available microbes are able to colonize. How these microbes assemble after colonization to form the complex microbiota is less clear. Neutral models are based on the assumption that the alternatives in microbiota community composition are selectively equivalent and thus entirely shaped by random population dynamics and dispersal. Here, we use the neutral model as a null hypothesis to assess microbiata composition in host organisms, which does not rely on invoking any adaptive processes underlying microbial community assembly. We show that the overall microbiota community structure from a wide range of host organisms, in particular including previously understudied invertebrates, is in many cases consistent with neutral expectations. Our approach allows to identify individual microbes that are deviating from the neutral expectation and are therefore interesting candidates for further study. Moreover, using simulated communities, we demonstrate that transient community states may play a role in the deviations from the neutral expectation. Our findings highlight that the consideration of neutral processes and temporal changes in community composition are critical for an in-depth understanding of microbiota-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid31216220, year = {2019}, author = {Plett, KL and Raposo, AE and Anderson, IC and Piller, SC and Plett, JM}, title = {Protein Arginine Methyltransferase Expression Affects Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis and the Regulation of Hormone Signaling Pathways.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {1291-1302}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-19-0007-R}, pmid = {31216220}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/physiology ; *Eucalyptus ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The genomes of all eukaryotic organisms, from small unicellular yeasts to humans, include members of the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family. These enzymes affect gene transcription, cellular signaling, and function through the posttranslational methylation of arginine residues. Mis-regulation of PRMTs results in serious developmental defects, disease, or death, illustrating the importance of these enzymes to cellular processes. Plant genomes encode almost the full complement of PRMTs found in other higher organisms, plus an additional PRMT found uniquely in plants, PRMT10. Here, we investigate the role of these highly conserved PRMTs in a process that is unique to perennial plants-the development of symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal fungi. We show that PRMT expression and arginine methylation is altered in the roots of the model tree Eucalyptus grandis by the presence of its ectomycorrhizal fungal symbiont Pisolithus albus. Further, using transgenic modifications, we demonstrate that E. grandis-encoded PRMT1 and PRMT10 have important but opposing effects in promoting this symbiosis. In particular, the plant-specific EgPRMT10 has a potential role in the expression of plant hormone pathways during the colonization process and its overexpression reduces fungal colonization success.}, } @article {pmid31215669, year = {2019}, author = {Page, CE and Leggat, W and Heron, SF and Choukroun, SM and Lloyd, J and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {Seeking Resistance in Coral Reef Ecosystems: The Interplay of Biophysical Factors and Bleaching Resistance under a Changing Climate: The Interplay of a Reef's Biophysical Factors Can Mitigate the Coral Bleaching Response.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {41}, number = {7}, pages = {e1800226}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201800226}, pmid = {31215669}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Climate ; *Coral Reefs ; *Global Warming ; Hot Temperature ; *Hydrodynamics ; Oceans and Seas ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {If we are to ensure the persistence of species in an increasingly warm world, of interest is the identification of drivers that affect the ability of an organism to resist thermal stress. Underpinning any organism's capacity for resistance is a complex interplay between biological and physical factors occurring over multiple scales. Tropical coral reefs are a unique system, in that their function is dependent upon the maintenance of a coral-algal symbiosis that is directly disrupted by increases in water temperature. A number of physical factors have been identified as affecting the biological responses of the coral organism under broadscale thermal anomalies. One such factor is water flow, which is capable of modulating both organismal metabolic functioning and thermal environments. Understanding the physiological and hydrodynamic drivers of organism response to thermal stress improves predictive capabilities and informs targeted management responses, thereby increasing the resilience of reefs into the future.}, } @article {pmid31215061, year = {2019}, author = {Law, SR}, title = {The genetic program at the root of the biological stock exchange.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {166}, number = {3}, pages = {709-711}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12980}, pmid = {31215061}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Beneath the gardens, farmlands and forest floors that surround us, a hidden world blooms in careful cooperation and intense competition. The mutualistic symbiosis of the thread-like hyphae of fungi and plant roots (collectively termed mycorrhizae from the Greek mýkēs - meaning 'fungus', and rhiza - for 'root') is present in the vast majority of plant species. As with most intimate relationships, this symbiosis functions on a principle of 'give and take'. As an autotroph, the plant is able to synthesize all the sugars it requires through photosynthesis; however, its immobility hinders its capacity to forage for nutrients vital for its growth and survival. With an expansive network of hyphae, the heterotrophic fungus is able to locate and remobilize water and nutrients, such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), and barter them for precious sugars with the plant. An article in this issue of Physiologia Plantarum (Zhao et al. 2019) describes alterations in the genetic programming that takes place in the plant root upon the establishment of this fascinating relationship, which has profound implications for plant productivity and soil management methods.}, } @article {pmid31214691, year = {2019}, author = {Phillips, AJ and Dornburg, A and Zapfe, KL and Anderson, FE and James, SW and Erséus, C and Moriarty Lemmon, E and Lemmon, AR and Williams, BW}, title = {Phylogenomic Analysis of a Putative Missing Link Sparks Reinterpretation of Leech Evolution.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {3082-3093}, pmid = {31214691}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Leeches/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Leeches (Hirudinida) comprise a charismatic, yet often maligned group of organisms. Despite their ecological, economic, and medical importance, a general consensus on the phylogenetic relationships of major hirudinidan lineages is lacking. This absence of a consistent, robust phylogeny of early-diverging lineages has hindered our understanding of the underlying processes that enabled evolutionary diversification of this clade. Here, we used an anchored hybrid enrichment-based phylogenomic approach, capturing hundreds of loci to investigate phylogenetic relationships among major hirudinidan lineages and their closest living relatives. Our results suggest that a dramatic reinterpretation of early leech evolution is warranted. We recovered Branchiobdellida as sister to a clade that includes all major lineages of hirudinidans, but found Acanthobdella to be nested within Oceanobdelliformes. These results cast doubt on the utility of Acanthobdella as a "missing link" used to explain the origin of blood-feeding in hirudineans. Further, our results support a deep divergence between predominantly marine and freshwater lineages, while not supporting the reciprocal monophyly of jawed and proboscis-bearing leeches. To sum up, our phylogenomic resolution of early-diverging leeches provides a necessary foundation for illuminating the evolution of host-symbiont associations and key adaptations that have allowed leeches to colonize a wide diversity of habitats worldwide.}, } @article {pmid31214211, year = {2019}, author = {Billault-Penneteau, B and Sandré, A and Folgmann, J and Parniske, M and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Dryas as a Model for Studying the Root Symbioses of the Rosaceae.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {661}, pmid = {31214211}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis is restricted to four plant orders: Fabales (legumes), Fagales, Cucurbitales and Rosales (Elaeagnaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Rosaceae). Interestingly all of the Rosaceae genera confirmed to contain nodulating species (i.e., Cercocarpus, Chamaebatia, Dryas, and Purshia) belong to a single subfamily, the Dryadoideae. The Dryas genus is particularly interesting from an evolutionary perspective because it contains closely related nodulating (Dryas drummondii) and non-nodulating species (Dryas octopetala). The close phylogenetic relationship between these two species makes Dryas an ideal model genus to study the genetic basis of nodulation by whole genome comparison and classical genetics. Therefore, we established methods for plant cultivation, transformation and DNA extraction for these species. We optimized seed surface sterilization and germination methods and tested growth protocols ranging from pots and Petri dishes to a hydroponic system. Transgenic hairy roots were obtained by adapting Agrobacterium rhizogenes-based transformation protocols for Dryas species. We compared several DNA extraction protocols for their suitability for subsequent molecular biological analysis. Using CTAB extraction, reproducible PCRs could be performed, but CsCl gradient purification was essential to obtain DNA in sufficient purity for high quality de novo genome sequencing of both Dryas species. Altogether, we established a basic toolkit for the culture, transient transformation and genetic analysis of Dryas sp.}, } @article {pmid31214134, year = {2019}, author = {Medrano, E and Merselis, DG and Bellantuono, AJ and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Proteomic Basis of Symbiosis: A Heterologous Partner Fails to Duplicate Homologous Colonization in a Novel Cnidarian- Symbiodiniaceae Mutualism.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1153}, pmid = {31214134}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Reef corals and sea anemones form symbioses with unicellular symbiotic dinoflagellates. The molecular circumventions that underlie the successful intracellular colonization of hosts by symbionts are still largely unknown. We conducted proteomic analyses to determine molecular differences of Exaiptasia pallida anemones colonized by physiologically different symbiont species, in comparison with symbiont-free (aposymbiotic) anemones. We compared one homologous species, Symbiodinium linucheae, that is natively associated with the clonal Exaiptasia strain (CC7) to another heterologous species, Durusdinium trenchii, a thermally tolerant species that colonizes numerous coral species. This approach allowed the discovery of a core set of host genes that are differentially regulated as a function of symbiosis regardless of symbiont species. The findings revealed that symbiont colonization at higher densities requires circumvention of the host cellular immunological response, enhancement of ammonium regulation, and suppression of phagocytosis after a host cell in colonized. Furthermore, the heterologous symbionts failed to duplicate the same level of homologous colonization within the host, evidenced by substantially lower symbiont densities. This reduced colonization of D. trenchii correlated with its inability to circumvent key host systems including autophagy-suppressing modulators, cytoskeletal alteration, and isomerase activity. The larger capability of host molecular circumvention by homologous symbionts could be the result of a longer evolutionary history of host/symbiont interactions, which translates into a more finely tuned symbiosis. These findings are of great importance within the context of the response of reef corals to climate change since it has been suggested that coral may acclimatize to ocean warming by changing their dominant symbiont species.}, } @article {pmid31214110, year = {2019}, author = {Santos, SF and de Oliveira, HL and Yamada, ES and Neves, BC and Pereira, A}, title = {The Gut and Parkinson's Disease-A Bidirectional Pathway.}, journal = {Frontiers in neurology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {574}, pmid = {31214110}, issn = {1664-2295}, abstract = {Humans evolved a symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiome, a complex microbial community composed of bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses, including bacteriophages. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a gateway for the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut, mostly through the vagus nerve (VN). Environmental exposure plays a pivotal role in both the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome and may contribute to susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The neuropathological hallmark of PD is the widespread appearance of alpha-synuclein aggregates in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the ENS. Many studies suggest that gut toxins can induce the formation of α-syn aggregates in the ENS, which may then be transmitted in a prion-like manner to the CNS through the VN. PD is strongly associated with aging and its negative effects on homeostatic mechanisms protecting from inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein malfunction. In this mini-review, we revisit some landmark discoveries in the field of Parkinson's research and focus on the gut-brain axis. In the process, we highlight evidence showing gut-associated dysbiosis and related microbial-derived components as important players and risk factors for PD. Therefore, the gut microbiome emerges as a potential target for protective measures aiming to prevent PD onset.}, } @article {pmid31213566, year = {2019}, author = {Van Leuven, JT and Mao, M and Xing, DD and Bennett, GM and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Cicada Endosymbionts Have tRNAs That Are Correctly Processed Despite Having Genomes That Do Not Encode All of the tRNA Processing Machinery.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31213566}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P20 GM104420/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Protein Modification, Translational ; RNA, Transfer/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gene loss and genome reduction are defining characteristics of endosymbiotic bacteria. The most highly reduced endosymbiont genomes have lost numerous essential genes related to core cellular processes such as replication, transcription, and translation. Computational gene predictions performed for the genomes of the two bacterial symbionts of the cicada Diceroprocta semicincta, "Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola" (Alphaproteobacteria) and "Ca Sulcia muelleri" (Bacteroidetes), have found only 26 and 16 tRNA genes and 15 and 10 aminoacyl tRNA synthetase genes, respectively. Furthermore, the original "Ca Hodgkinia cicadicola" genome annotation was missing several essential genes involved in tRNA processing, such as those encoding RNase P and CCA tRNA nucleotidyltransferase as well as several RNA editing enzymes required for tRNA maturation. How these cicada endosymbionts perform basic translation-related processes remains unknown. Here, by sequencing eukaryotic mRNAs and total small RNAs, we show that the limited tRNA set predicted by computational annotation of "Ca Sulcia muelleri" and "Ca Hodgkinia cicadicola" is likely correct. Furthermore, we show that despite the absence of genes encoding tRNA processing activities in the symbiont genomes, symbiont tRNAs have correctly processed 5' and 3' ends and seem to undergo nucleotide modification. Surprisingly, we found that most "Ca Hodgkinia cicadicola" and "Ca Sulcia muelleri" tRNAs exist as tRNA halves. We hypothesize that "Ca Sulcia muelleri" and "Ca Hodgkinia cicadicola" tRNAs function in bacterial translation but require host-encoded enzymes to do so.IMPORTANCE The smallest bacterial genomes, in the range of about 0.1 to 0.5 million base pairs, are commonly found in the nutritional endosymbionts of insects. These tiny genomes are missing genes that encode proteins and RNAs required for the translation of mRNAs, one of the most highly conserved and important cellular processes. In this study, we found that the bacterial endosymbionts of cicadas have genomes which encode incomplete tRNA sets and lack genes required for tRNA processing. Nevertheless, we found that endosymbiont tRNAs are correctly processed at their 5' and 3' ends and, surprisingly, that mostly exist as tRNA halves. We hypothesize that the cicada host must supply its symbionts with these missing tRNA processing activities.}, } @article {pmid31212139, year = {2019}, author = {Müller, LM and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Phytohormones, miRNAs, and peptide signals integrate plant phosphorus status with arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {132-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2019.05.004}, pmid = {31212139}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*MicroRNAs ; *Mycorrhizae ; Peptides ; Phosphorus ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plant species engage in a beneficial interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in order to increase mineral nutrient acquisition, in particular the major macronutrient phosphorus (P). Initiation, development, and maintenance of the symbiosis are largely under the control of the host plant and strongly influenced by the plants' P status. Recent advances reveal that phytohormones, microRNAs, and secreted peptides all regulate and integrate development of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with the P status of the plant. This occurs through a complex, multi-layered signaling network with crosstalk between phosphate (Pi) starvation signaling pathways and AM symbiosis signaling, and also via direct effects on the AM fungal symbiont. Multiple checkpoints allow the plant to fine-tune symbiosis based on its P status.}, } @article {pmid31211975, year = {2019}, author = {McCutcheon, JP and Lekberg, Y}, title = {Symbiosis: Fungi as Shrewd Trade Negotiators.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {R570-R572}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.002}, pmid = {31211975}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Carbon ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic fungi associated with plant roots can shuttle a key nutrient through their hyphal network in response to resource inequality. This need-based transport optimizes trade conditions for carbon with plants.}, } @article {pmid31209720, year = {2020}, author = {Bahrudin, MF and Abdul Rani, R and Tamil, AM and Mokhtar, NM and Raja Ali, RA}, title = {Effectiveness of Sterilized Symbiotic Drink Containing Lactobacillus helveticus Comparable to Probiotic Alone in Patients with Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome.}, journal = {Digestive diseases and sciences}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {541-549}, pmid = {31209720}, issn = {1573-2568}, support = {FF-2016-186//ETIKA SDN. BHD (15978-V/International ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Constipation/physiopathology/*therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Feces/chemistry ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; Glucans/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/physiopathology/*therapy ; *Lactobacillus helveticus ; Male ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: This study aimed to objectively investigate whether the addition of polydextrose to sterilized probiotic containing Lactobacillus helveticus will confer benefits to constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients.

METHODS: A total of 163 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A to consume 350 mL of sterilized probiotic with 5.85 g polydextrose daily for 1 week and Group B without polydextrose. Intestinal transit time, fecal pH, fecal weight, and modified Garrigues questionnaires for pre- and post-consumption were assessed.

RESULTS: Median intestinal transit time was significantly reduced from 58 (IQR 43-72) to 45 (IQR 24-59) hours and 48 (IQR 31-72) to 30 (IQR 24-49) hours for Groups A and B, respectively (p < 0.01). Fecal pH for Groups A and B was significantly reduced from 6.57 ± 0.96 to 6.13 ± 0.95 (p = 0.003) and 6.58 ± 1.0 to 5.87 ± 0.83 (p < 0.001), respectively. Fecal weight for Group A was significantly increased from 8 g ± 6.4 g to 9.8 g ± 7.6 g (p = 0.003), but it was reduced for Group B from 13.3 g ± 19.4 g to 11.2 g ± 6.6 g (p = 0.308). Constipation-related symptoms were significantly improved for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The addition of polydextrose to sterilized probiotic containing L. helveticus did not show significant benefits to constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients. However, daily consumption of sterilized probiotic containing L. helveticus with or without polydextrose for a week alleviated constipation-related symptoms and objectively reduced both fecal pH and intestinal transit time.}, } @article {pmid31208116, year = {2019}, author = {Cui, C and Wang, H and Hong, L and Xu, Y and Zhao, Y and Zhou, C}, title = {MtBZR1 Plays an Important Role in Nodule Development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31208116}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nuclear Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Brassinosteroid (BR) is an essential hormone in plant growth and development. The BR signaling pathway was extensively studied, in which BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) functions as a key regulator. Here, we carried out a functional study of the homolog of BZR1 in Medicago truncatula R108, whose expression was induced in nodules upon Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 inoculation. We identified a loss-of-function mutant mtbzr1-1 and generated 35S:MtBZR1 transgenic lines for further analysis at the genetic level. Both the mutant and the overexpression lines of MtBZR1 showed no obvious phenotypic changes under normal growth conditions. After S. meliloti 1021 inoculation, however, the shoot and root dry mass was reduced in mtbzr1-1 compared with the wild type, caused by partially impaired nodule development. The transcriptomic analysis identified 1319 differentially expressed genes in mtbzr1-1 compared with wild type, many of which are involved in nodule development and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate the role of MtBZR1 in nodule development in M. truncatula, shedding light on the potential role of BR in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31207947, year = {2019}, author = {Dominguez, H and Loret, EP}, title = {Ulva lactuca, A Source of Troubles and Potential Riches.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31207947}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; Chlorophyta/chemistry ; Humans ; Mediterranean Sea ; Salinity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Ulva/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Ulva lactuca is a green macro alga involved in devastating green tides observed worldwide. These green tides or blooms are a consequence of human activities. Ulva blooms occur mainly in shallow waters and the decomposition of this alga can produce dangerous vapors. Ulva lactuca is a species usually resembling lettuce, but genetic analyses demonstrated that other green algae with tubular phenotypes were U. lactuca clades although previously described as different species or even genera. The capacity for U. lactuca to adopt different phenotypes can be due to environment parameters, such as the degree of water salinity or symbiosis with bacteria. No efficient ways have been discovered to control these green tides, but the Mediterranean seas appear to be protected from blooms, which disappear rapidly in springtime. Ulva contains commercially valuable components, such as bioactive compounds, food or biofuel. The biomass due to this alga collected on beaches every year is beginning to be valorized to produce valuable compounds. This review describes different processes and strategies developed to extract these different valuable components.}, } @article {pmid31206517, year = {2019}, author = {Steimle, A and Menz, S and Bender, A and Ball, B and Weber, ANR and Hagemann, T and Lange, A and Maerz, JK and Parusel, R and Michaelis, L and Schäfer, A and Yao, H and Löw, HC and Beier, S and Tesfazgi Mebrhatu, M and Gronbach, K and Wagner, S and Voehringer, D and Schaller, M and Fehrenbacher, B and Autenrieth, IB and Oelschlaeger, TA and Frick, JS}, title = {Flagellin hypervariable region determines symbiotic properties of commensal Escherichia coli strains.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {e3000334}, pmid = {31206517}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis/chemically induced/immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Escherichia coli/genetics/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics ; Female ; Flagellin/*genetics/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Toll-Like Receptor 5/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Escherichia coli represents a classical intestinal gram-negative commensal. Despite this commensalism, different E. coli strains can mediate disparate immunogenic properties in a given host. Symbiotic E. coli strains such as E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) are attributed beneficial properties, e.g., promotion of intestinal homeostasis. Therefore, we aimed to identify molecular features derived from symbiotic bacteria that might help to develop innovative therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of intestinal immune disorders. This study was performed using the dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, which is routinely used to evaluate potential therapeutics for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs). We focused on the analysis of flagellin structures of different E. coli strains. EcN flagellin was found to harbor a substantially longer hypervariable region (HVR) compared to other commensal E. coli strains, and this longer HVR mediated symbiotic properties through stronger activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)5, thereby resulting in interleukin (IL)-22-mediated protection of mice against DSS-induced colitis. Furthermore, using bone-marrow-chimeric mice (BMCM), CD11c+ cells of the colonic lamina propria (LP) were identified as the main mediators of these flagellin-induced symbiotic effects. We propose flagellin from symbiotic E. coli strains as a potential therapeutic to restore intestinal immune homeostasis, e.g., for the treatment of IBD patients.}, } @article {pmid31205584, year = {2019}, author = {Vasquez, EC and Pereira, TMC and Peotta, VA and Baldo, MP and Campos-Toimil, M}, title = {Probiotics as Beneficial Dietary Supplements to Prevent and Treat Cardiovascular Diseases: Uncovering Their Impact on Oxidative Stress.}, journal = {Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {3086270}, pmid = {31205584}, issn = {1942-0994}, mesh = {Cardiovascular Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control ; *Dietary Supplements ; Dysbiosis/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/microbiology ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota, the ecosystem formed by a wide symbiotic community of nonpathogenic microorganisms that are present in the distal part of the human gut, plays a prominent role in the normal physiology of the organism. The gut microbiota's imbalance, gut dysbiosis, is directly related to the origin of various processes of acute or chronic dysfunction in the host. Therefore, the ability to intervene in the gut microbiota is now emerging as a possible tactic for therapeutic intervention in various diseases. From this perspective, evidence is growing that a functional dietary intervention with probiotics, which maintain or restore beneficial bacteria of the digestive tract, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for interventions in cardiovascular diseases and also reduces the risk of their occurrence. In the present work, we review the importance of maintaining the balance of the intestinal microbiota to prevent or combat such processes as arterial hypertension or endothelial dysfunction, which underlie many cardiovascular disorders. We also review how the consumption of probiotics can improve autonomic control of cardiovascular function and provide beneficial effects in patients with heart failure. Among the known effects of probiotics is their ability to decrease the generation of reactive oxygen species and, therefore, reduce oxidative stress. Therefore, in this review, we specifically focus on this antioxidant capacity and its relationship with the beneficial cardiovascular effects described for probiotics.}, } @article {pmid31204904, year = {2019}, author = {Zou, H and Zhang, NN and Pan, Q and Zhang, JH and Chen, J and Wei, GH}, title = {Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation in Soybean-Rhizobia Symbiotic System.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {8}, pages = {972-985}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-19-0003-R}, pmid = {31204904}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gasotransmitters/pharmacology ; *Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology ; *Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; *Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; *Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiotic system is crucial for nitrogen cycle balance in agriculture. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous signaling molecule, may regulate various physiological processes in plants. However, whether H2S has regulatory effect in this symbiotic system remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the possible role of H2S in the symbiosis between soybean (Glycine max) and rhizobium (Sinorhizobium fredii). Our results demonstrated that an exogenous H2S donor (sodium hydrosulfide [NaHS]) treatment promoted soybean growth, nodulation, and nitrogenase (Nase) activity. Western blotting analysis revealed that the abundance of Nase component nifH was increased by NaHS treatment in nodules. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data showed that NaHS treatment upregulated the expressions of symbiosis-related genes nodA, nodC, and nodD of S. fredii. In addition, expression of soybean nodulation marker genes, including early nodulin 40 (GmENOD40), ERF required for nodulation (GmERN), nodulation signaling pathway 2b (GmNSP2b), and nodulation inception genes (GmNIN1a, GmNIN2a, and GmNIN2b), were upregulated. Moreover, the expressions of glutamate synthase (GmGOGAT), asparagine synthase (GmAS), nitrite reductase (GmNiR), ammonia transporter (GmSAT1), leghemoglobin (GmLb), and nifH involved in nitrogen metabolism were upregulated in NaHS-treated soybean roots and nodules. Together, our results suggested that H2S may act as a positive signaling molecule in the soybean-rhizobia symbiotic system and enhance the system's nitrogen fixation ability.}, } @article {pmid31204704, year = {2019}, author = {Mothay, D and Ramesh, KV}, title = {Evolutionary history and genetic diversity study of heat-shock protein 60 of Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Journal of genetics}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {31204704}, issn = {0973-7731}, mesh = {Chaperonin 60/*genetics/metabolism ; Codon ; Databases, Genetic ; Dyslexia/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Glomeromycota/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; Odds Ratio ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Despite the ubiquitous occurrence of heat-shock protein 60 (Hsp60) and their role in maintenance of cell activity and integrity, this protein remains poorly characterized in many of the symbiotic soil mycorrhizal fungi such as Rhizophagus irregularis. Thus, in the current study, an attempt has been made to elucidate the evolutionary history, time of divergence followed by estimation of population genetic parameters of hsp60 using R. irregularis as a model organism. Sequence alignment reported here identified several close homologues for hsp60 (gene) and Hsp60 (protein) from diverse taxa, while the output from protein-based phylogenetic tree indicates that mitochondrial Hsp60 of R. irregularis shares close evolutionary relationship with classical α-proteobacteria. This is perhaps the first line of evidence elucidating the likelihood of hsp60 from fungal taxa sharing a close evolutionary relationship with classical α-proteobacteria as a common ancestor. Comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial hsp60 from selected fungal taxa from the evolutionary point of view explains the possibility of gene duplication and or horizontal gene transfer of this gene across various fungal species. Synteny relationships and population genetics credibly explain high genetic variability associated with fungal hsp60 presumably brought by random genetic recombination events. The results presented here also confirm a high level of genetic differentiation of hsp60 among all the three fungal populations analysed. In this context, the outcome of the current study, basedon computational approach, stands as a testimony for explaining the possibility of increased genetic differentiation experienced by hsp60 of R. irregularis.}, } @article {pmid31201867, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Sun, Z and Su, C and Wang, Y and Yan, Q and Chen, J and Ott, T and Li, X}, title = {A GmNINa-miR172c-NNC1 Regulatory Network Coordinates the Nodulation and Autoregulation of Nodulation Pathways in Soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {1211-1226}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2019.06.002}, pmid = {31201867}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic root nodules are root lateral organs of plants in which nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. The formation and number of nodules in legumes are precisely controlled by a rhizobia-induced signal cascade and host-controlled autoregulation of nodulation (AON). However, how these pathways are integrated and their underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we report that microRNA172c (miR172c) activates soybean (Glycine max) Rhizobia-Induced CLE1 (GmRIC1) and GmRIC2 by removing the transcriptional repression of these genes by Nodule Number Control 1 (NNC1), leading to the activation of the AON pathway. NNC1 interacts with GmNINa, the soybean ortholog of Lotus NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), and hampers its transcriptional activation of GmRIC1 and GmRIC2. Importantly, GmNINa acts as a transcriptional activator of miR172c. Intriguingly, NNC1 can transcriptionally repress miR172c expression, adding a negative feedback loop into the NNC1 regulatory network. Moreover, GmNINa interacts with NNC1 and can relieve the NNC1-mediated repression of miR172c transcription. Thus, the GmNINa-miR172c-NNC1 network is a master switch that coordinately regulates and optimizes NF and AON signaling, supporting the balance between nodulation and AON in soybean.}, } @article {pmid31201384, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Q and Pan, Y and Zeng, B and Zheng, X and Wang, H and Shen, X and Li, H and Jiang, Q and Zhao, J and Meng, ZX and Li, P and Chen, Z and Wei, H and Liu, Z}, title = {Intestinal lysozyme liberates Nod1 ligands from microbes to direct insulin trafficking in pancreatic beta cells.}, journal = {Cell research}, volume = {29}, number = {7}, pages = {516-532}, pmid = {31201384}, issn = {1748-7838}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Insulin/*metabolism ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Lactobacillus plantarum/metabolism ; Lactococcus lactis/metabolism ; Ligands ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Muramidase/*metabolism ; Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein/*metabolism ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Long-range communication between intestinal symbiotic bacteria and extra-intestinal organs can occur through circulating bacterial signal molecules, through neural circuits, or through cytokines or hormones from host cells. Here we report that Nod1 ligands derived from intestinal bacteria act as signal molecules and directly modulate insulin trafficking in pancreatic beta cells. The cytosolic peptidoglycan receptor Nod1 and its downstream adapter Rip2 are required for insulin trafficking in beta cells in a cell-autonomous manner. Mechanistically, upon recognizing cognate ligands, Nod1 and Rip2 localize to insulin vesicles, recruiting Rab1a to direct insulin trafficking through the cytoplasm. Importantly, intestinal lysozyme liberates Nod1 ligands into the circulation, thus enabling long-range communication between intestinal microbes and islets. The intestine-islet crosstalk bridged by Nod1 ligands modulates host glucose tolerance. Our study defines a new type of inter-organ communication based on circulating bacterial signal molecules, which has broad implications for understanding the mutualistic relationship between microbes and host.}, } @article {pmid31200330, year = {2019}, author = {Jiang, J and Lu, Y}, title = {Metabolite profiling of Breviolum minutum in response to acidification.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {213}, number = {}, pages = {105215}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.05.017}, pmid = {31200330}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Acids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Coral Reefs ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Photosynthesis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are in significant decline globally due to climate change and environmental pollution. The ocean is becoming more acidic due to rising atmospheric pCO2, and ocean acidification is considered a major threat to coral reefs. However, little is known about the exact mechanism by which acidification impacts coral symbiosis. As an important component of the symbiotic association, to explore the responses of symbionts could greatly enhance our understanding of this issue. The present work aimed to identify metabolomic changes of Breviolum minutum in acidification (low pH) condition, and investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was applied to determine metabolite profiles after exposure to ambient and acidic conditions. We analysed the resulting metabolite data, and acidification appeared to have little effect on photosynthetic parameters, but it inhibited growth. Marked alterations in metabolite pools were observed in response to acidification that may be important in acclimation to climate change. Acidification may affect the biosynthesis of amino acids and proteins, and thereby inhibit the growth of B. minutum. Metabolites identified using this approach provide targets for future analyses aimed at understanding the responses of Symbiodiniaceae to environmental disturbance.}, } @article {pmid31197972, year = {2019}, author = {Rader, B and McAnulty, SJ and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Persistent symbiont colonization leads to a maturation of hemocyte response in the Euprymna scolopes/Vibrio fischeri symbiosis.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e858}, pmid = {31197972}, issn = {2045-8827}, support = {1R15GM119100/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*growth & development/*immunology ; Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Cell Differentiation ; Decapodiformes/*immunology/*microbiology ; Hemocytes/*immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Phagocytosis ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrio/growth & development/immunology ; }, abstract = {The binary association between the squid, Euprymna scolopes, and its symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, serves as a model system to study interactions between beneficial bacteria and the innate immune system. Previous research demonstrated that binding of the squid's immune cells, hemocytes, to V. fischeri is altered if the symbiont is removed from the light organ, suggesting that host colonization alters hemocyte recognition of V. fischeri. To investigate the influence of symbiosis on immune maturation during development, we characterized hemocyte binding and phagocytosis of V. fischeri and nonsymbiotic Vibrio harveyi from symbiotic (sym) and aposymbiotic (apo) juveniles, and wild-caught and laboratory-raised sym and apo adults. Our results demonstrate that while light organ colonization by V. fischeri did not alter juvenile hemocyte response, these cells bound a similar number of V. fischeri and V. harveyi yet phagocytosed only V. harveyi. Our results also indicate that long-term colonization altered the adult hemocyte response to V. fischeri but not V. harveyi. All hemocytes from adult squid, regardless of apo or sym state, both bound and phagocytosed a similar number of V. harveyi while hemocytes from both wild-caught and sym-raised adults bound significantly fewer V. fischeri, although more V. fischeri were phagocytosed by hemocytes from wild-caught animals. In contrast, hemocytes from apo-raised squid bound similar numbers of both V. fischeri and V. harveyi, although more V. harveyi cells were engulfed, suggesting that blood cells from apo-raised adults behaved similarly to juvenile hosts. Taken together, these data suggest that persistent colonization by the light organ symbiont is required for hemocytes to differentially bind and phagocytose V. fischeri. The cellular immune system of E. scolopes likely possesses multiple mechanisms at different developmental stages to promote a specific and life-long interaction with the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid31197351, year = {2019}, author = {Martínez-Medina, A and Pescador, L and Terrón-Camero, LC and Pozo, MJ and Romero-Puertas, MC}, title = {Nitric oxide in plant-fungal interactions.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {17}, pages = {4489-4503}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erz289}, pmid = {31197351}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Whilst many interactions with fungi are detrimental for plants, others are beneficial and result in improved growth and stress tolerance. Thus, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to restrict pathogenic interactions while promoting mutualistic relationships. Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of plant defence against fungal pathogens. NO triggers a reprograming of defence-related gene expression, the production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties, and the hypersensitive response. More recent studies have shown a regulatory role of NO during the establishment of plant-fungal mutualistic associations from the early stages of the interaction. Indeed, NO has been recently shown to be produced by the plant after the recognition of root fungal symbionts, and to be required for the optimal control of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Although studies dealing with the function of NO in plant-fungal mutualistic associations are still scarce, experimental data indicate that different regulation patterns and functions for NO exist between plant interactions with pathogenic and mutualistic fungi. Here, we review recent progress in determining the functions of NO in plant-fungal interactions, and try to identify common and differential patterns related to pathogenic and mutualistic associations, and their impacts on plant health.}, } @article {pmid31197117, year = {2019}, author = {Lipa, P and Vinardell, JM and Janczarek, M}, title = {Transcriptomic Studies Reveal that the Rhizobium leguminosarum Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatase PssZ has a Role in the Synthesis of Cell-Surface Components, Nutrient Utilization, and Other Cellular Processes.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {31197117}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil bacterium capable of establishing symbiotic associations with clover plants (Trifolium spp.). Surface polysaccharides, transport systems, and extracellular components synthesized by this bacterium are required for both the adaptation to changing environmental conditions and successful infection of host plant roots. The pssZ gene located in the Pss-I region, which is involved in the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharide, encodes a protein belonging to the group of serine/threonine protein phosphatases. In this study, a comparative transcriptomic analysis of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii wild-type strain Rt24.2 and its derivative Rt297 carrying a pssZ mutation was performed. RNA-Seq data identified a large number of genes differentially expressed in these two backgrounds. Transcriptome profiling of the pssZ mutant revealed a role of the PssZ protein in several cellular processes, including cell signalling, transcription regulation, synthesis of cell-surface polysaccharides and components, and bacterial metabolism. In addition, we show that inactivation of pssZ affects the rhizobial ability to grow in the presence of different sugars and at various temperatures, as well as the production of different surface polysaccharides. In conclusion, our results identified a set of genes whose expression was affected by PssZ and confirmed the important role of this protein in the rhizobial regulatory network.}, } @article {pmid31196985, year = {2019}, author = {Zan, J and Li, Z and Tianero, MD and Davis, J and Hill, RT and Donia, MS}, title = {A microbial factory for defensive kahalalides in a tripartite marine symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {364}, number = {6445}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/science.aaw6732}, pmid = {31196985}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {DP2 AI124441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Chlorophyta ; Flavobacteriaceae/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Gastropoda ; Glycosides/*metabolism ; *Predatory Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; Triterpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chemical defense against predators is widespread in natural ecosystems. Occasionally, taxonomically distant organisms share the same defense chemical. Here, we describe an unusual tripartite marine symbiosis, in which an intracellular bacterial symbiont ("Candidatus Endobryopsis kahalalidefaciens") uses a diverse array of biosynthetic enzymes to convert simple substrates into a library of complex molecules (the kahalalides) for chemical defense of the host, the alga Bryopsis sp., against predation. The kahalalides are subsequently hijacked by a third partner, the herbivorous mollusk Elysia rufescens, and employed similarly for defense. "Ca E. kahalalidefaciens" has lost many essential traits for free living and acts as a factory for kahalalide production. This interaction between a bacterium, an alga, and an animal highlights the importance of chemical defense in the evolution of complex symbioses.}, } @article {pmid31196520, year = {2019}, author = {Godinho, VM and de Paula, MTR and Silva, DAS and Paresque, K and Martins, AP and Colepicolo, P and Rosa, CA and Rosa, LH}, title = {Diversity and distribution of hidden cultivable fungi associated with marine animals of Antarctica.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {7}, pages = {507-516}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.05.001}, pmid = {31196520}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Extremophiles/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Mycobiome/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {In the present study, we surveyed the distribution and diversity of fungal assemblages associated with 10 species of marine animals from Antarctica. The collections yielded 83 taxa from 27 distinct genera, which were identified using molecular biology methods. The most abundant taxa were Cladosporium sp. 1, Debaryomyces hansenii, Glaciozyma martinii, Metschnikowia australis, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Thelebolus cf. globosus, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Tolypocladium tundrense, Metschnikowia australis, and different Penicillium species. The diversity, richness, and dominance of fungal assemblages ranged among the host; however, in general, the fungal community, which was composed of endemic and cold-adapted cosmopolitan taxa distributed across the different sites of Antarctic Peninsula, displayed high diversity, richness, and dominance indices. Our results contribute to knowledge about fungal diversity in the marine environment across the Antarctic Peninsula and their phylogenetic relationships with species that occur in other cold, temperate, and tropical regions of the World. Additionally, despite their extreme habitats, marine Antarctic animals shelter cryptic and complex fungal assemblages represented by endemic and cosmopolitan cold-adapted taxa, which may represent interesting models to study different symbiotic associations between fungi and their animal hosts in the extreme conditions of Antarctica.}, } @article {pmid31196178, year = {2019}, author = {Li, F and Li, C and Chen, Y and Liu, J and Zhang, C and Irving, B and Fitzsimmons, C and Plastow, G and Guan, LL}, title = {Host genetics influence the rumen microbiota and heritable rumen microbial features associate with feed efficiency in cattle.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {92}, pmid = {31196178}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; Animals ; Archaea/classification/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/metabolism ; Breeding ; Cattle/*genetics/microbiology ; Female ; Fermentation ; Genotype ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Rumen/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic rumen microbiota is essential for the digestion of plant fibers and contributes to the variation of production and health traits in ruminants. However, to date, the heritability of rumen microbial features and host genetic components associated with the rumen microbiota, as well as whether such genetic components are animal performance relevant, are largely unknown.

RESULTS: In the present study, we assessed rumen microbiota from a cohort of 709 beef cattle and showed that multiple factors including breed, sex, and diet drove the variation of rumen microbiota among animals. The diversity indices, the relative abundance of ~ 34% of microbial taxa (59 out of 174), and the copy number of total bacteria had a heritability estimate (h[2]) ≥ 0.15, suggesting that they are heritable elements affected by host additive genetics. These moderately heritable rumen microbial features were also found to be associated with host feed efficiency traits and rumen metabolic measures (volatile fatty acids). Moreover, 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on 12 bovine chromosomes were found to be associated with 14 (12 of them had h[2] ≥ 0.15) rumen microbial taxa, and five of these SNPs were known quantitative trait loci for feed efficiency in cattle.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that some rumen microbial features are heritable and could be influenced by host genetics, highlighting a potential to manipulate and obtain a desirable and efficient rumen microbiota using genetic selection and breeding. It could be a useful strategy to further improve feed efficiency and optimize rumen fermentation through targeting both cattle and their rumen microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31195965, year = {2019}, author = {Dreyer, J and Rautenbach, M and Booysen, E and van Staden, AD and Deane, SM and Dicks, LMT}, title = {Xenorhabdus khoisanae SB10 produces Lys-rich PAX lipopeptides and a Xenocoumacin in its antimicrobial complex.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {132}, pmid = {31195965}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacillus subtilis/drug effects ; Bacterial Proteins ; Benzopyrans/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Candida albicans/drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Lipopeptides/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Xenorhabdus spp. live in close symbiosis with nematodes of the Steinernema genus. Steinernema nematodes infect an insect larva and release their symbionts into the haemocoel of the insect. Once released into the haemocoel, the bacteria produce bioactive compounds to create a semi-exclusive environment by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds. The antimicrobial compounds thus far identified are xenocoumacins, xenortides, xenorhabdins, indole derivatives, xenoamicins, bicornutin and a number of antimicrobial peptides. The latter may be linear peptides such as the bacteriocins xenocin and xenorhabdicin, rhabdopeptides and cabanillasin, or cyclic, such as PAX lipopeptides, taxlllaids, xenobactin and szentiamide. Thus far, production of antimicrobial compounds have been reported for Xenorhabdus nematophila, Xenorhabdus budapestensis, Xenorhabdus cabanillasii, Xenorhabdus kozodoii, Xenorhabdus szentirmaii, Xenorhabdus doucetiae, Xenorhabdus mauleonii, Xenorhabdus indica and Xenorhabdus bovienii. Here we describe, for the first time, PAX lipopeptides and xenocoumacin 2 produced by Xenorhabdus khoisanae. These compounds were identified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography, linked to high resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: Cell-free supernatants of X. khoisanae SB10 were heat stable and active against Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Five lysine-rich lipopeptides from the PAX group were identified in HPLC fractions, with PAX1' and PAX7 present in the highest concentrations. Three novel PAX7 peptides with putative enoyl modifications and two linear analogues of PAX1' were also detected. A small antibiotic compound, yellow in colour and λmax of 314 nm, was recovered from the HPLC fractions and identified as xenocoumacin 2. The PAX lipopeptides and xenocoumacin 2 correlated with the genes and gene clusters in the genome of X. khoisanae SB10.

CONCLUSION: With UPLC-MS and MS[e] analyses of compounds in the antimicrobial complex of X. khoisanae SB10, a number of PAX peptides and a xenocoumacin were identified. The combination of pure PAX1' peptide with xenocoumacin 2 resulted in high antimicrobial activity. Many of the fractions did, however, contain labile compounds and some fractions were difficult to resolve. It is thus possible that strain SB10 may produce more antimicrobial compounds than reported here, as suggested by the APE Ec biosynthetic complex. Further research is required to develop these broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds into drugs that may be used in the fight against microbial infections.}, } @article {pmid31195952, year = {2020}, author = {Ikram, M and Ali, N and Jan, G and Jan, FG and Khan, N}, title = {Endophytic Fungal Diversity and their Interaction with Plants for Agriculture Sustainability Under Stressful Condition.}, journal = {Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {115-123}, doi = {10.2174/2212798410666190612130139}, pmid = {31195952}, issn = {1876-1429}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; *Endophytes ; *Fungi ; *Plants ; Species Specificity ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are an interesting group of organisms that colonize the healthy internal tissues of living plants, and do not cause any symptoms of disease in the host plants. Several decades of study and research have rustled the co-existing endophytes with their host plants, which can significantly influence the formation of metabolic products in plants, as they have the ability to produce a new interesting bioactive compound, which is of pharmaceutical, industrial and agricultural importance. Empirical evidences have indicated that endophytic fungi can confer profound impacts on plant communities by enhancing their growth, increasing their fitness, strengthening their tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, enhancing the defense mechanism and promoting the accumulation of secondary metabolites that provide immunity against pathogens. Many of these compounds are novel products and could be granted patents. Further, there are growing interests of multinational companies using these patents prepared in special formula to sell in international markets. This review addresses biodiversity and biological roles of endophytic fungi in association with their host plants through reviewing published research data obtained from the last 30 years and highlights their importance for plants, industry as well as ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid31195052, year = {2019}, author = {Lee, J and Kim, CH and Jang, HA and Kim, JK and Kotaki, T and Shinoda, T and Shinada, T and Yoo, JW and Lee, BL}, title = {Burkholderia gut symbiont modulates titer of specific juvenile hormone in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {99}, number = {}, pages = {103399}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.103399}, pmid = {31195052}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Female ; Fertility/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hemolymph/metabolism ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Juvenile Hormones/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; Vitellogenins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have provided molecular evidence that gut symbiotic bacteria modulate host insect development, fitness and reproduction. However, the molecular mechanisms through which gut symbionts regulate these aspects of host physiology remain elusive. To address these questions, we prepared two different Riptortus-Burkholderia insect models, Burkholderia gut symbiont-colonized (Sym) Riptortus pedestris insects and gut symbiont-noncolonized (Apo) insects. Upon LC-MS analyses, juvenile hormone III skipped bisepoxide (JHSB3) was newly identified from Riptortus Apo- and Sym-female and male adults' insect hemolymph and JHSB3 titer in the Apo- and Sym-female insects were measured because JH is important for regulating reproduction in adult insects. The JHSB3 titer in the Sym-females were consistently higher compared to those of Apo-females. Since previous studies reported that Riptortus hexamerin-α and vitellogenin proteins were upregulated by the topical abdominal application of a JH-analog, chemically synthesized JHSB3 was administered to Apo-females. As expected, the hexamerin-α and vitellogenin proteins were dramatically increased in the hemolymph of JHSB3-treated Apo-females, resulting in increased egg production compared to that in Sym-females. Taken together, these results demonstrate that colonization of Burkholderia gut symbiont in the host insect stimulates biosynthesis of the heteroptera-specific JHSB3, leading to larger number of eggs produced and enhanced fitness in Riptortus host insects.}, } @article {pmid31194818, year = {2019}, author = {Jung, M and Lee, DH}, title = {Abundance and diversity of gut-symbiotic bacteria, the genus Burkholderia in overwintering Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) populations and soil in South Korea.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {e0218240}, pmid = {31194818}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fabaceae ; Hemiptera/microbiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Riptortus pedestris is a major agricultural pest on leguminous plants in South Korea and Japan. Recent studies have revealed that R. pedestris can form beneficial symbiosis with bacteria belonging to genus Burkholderia acquired from soil newly for every generation. Although their physiological interactions are relatively well-understood, infection rate and abundance of the Burkholderia in overwintering natural populations of R. pedestris remain unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize Burkholderia infection ratio and clade composition of overwintering R. pedestris populations as well as prevalence and diversity of the genus Burkholderia in soil by conducting a two-year field survey. From the field survey, we found 29 overwintering R. pedestris adults in forested areas nearby soybean fields. Diagnostic PCR analysis revealed that overall infection rate of the symbiotic Burkholderia was 93.1% from overwintering adults. Among the Burkholderia-infected R. pedestris, 70.4% of individuals harbored unclassified Burkholderia clades whereas 22.2% and 7.4% of R. pedestris harbor stinkbug-associated beneficial and environmental (SBE) group and Burkholderia cepacia and complex (BCC), respectively. All R. pedestris were infected with a single clade of Burkholderia. In soil, 56.2% of soil samples were Burkholderia positive, and unlike R. pedestris, multiple Burkholderia clades were detected from 62.2% of those samples. Clade composition of the genus Burkholderia in the samples with the bacteria was 91.1%, 60.0%, 31.1% and 8.8% for plant-associated beneficial and environment (PBE), BCC, SBE and unclassified clade, respectively.}, } @article {pmid31194572, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, C and Thongpoo, P and Juri, C and Wang, LH and Meng, PJ and Kuo, FW and Tsai, S}, title = {Cryopreservation of a Thermotolerant Lineage of the Coral Reef Dinoflagellate Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Biopreservation and biobanking}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {520-529}, doi = {10.1089/bio.2019.0019}, pmid = {31194572}, issn = {1947-5543}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/parasitology ; Cryopreservation/*methods ; Cryoprotective Agents/*pharmacology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide/pharmacology ; Dinoflagellida/*cytology/growth & development ; Ethylene Glycol/pharmacology ; Glycerol/pharmacology ; Methanol/pharmacology ; Propylene Glycol/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium form symbiotic relationships with corals, other marine invertebrates, and protists; thus, they are considered as important species in coral reef ecosystems. If Symbiodinium could be successfully cryopreserved, the cell bank generated could prove to be a valuable resource for researchers interested in basic biological research of Symbiodinium-invertebrate symbioses. Herein, successful cryopreservation of clade D Symbiodinium was achieved using a two-step freezing protocol. Symbiodinium cells were exposed to cryoprotectants (CPAs) for 30 minutes before being vapor frozen for 20 minutes in liquid nitrogen (LN2); afterward, cells were immediately immersed in LN2 for 2 hours or 10 days. The initial experiment was conducted with the following CPAs at 1, 2, and 3 M concentrations: methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, ethylene glycol (EG), and propylene glycol (PG). It was found that infiltration with 2 M EG and PG yielded cells with the highest percentage viability. Upon thawing, culture of these Symbiodinium was carried out for 2 months in a growth chamber, and cells continued to grow and proliferate over this period. This represents successful cryopreservation of a dominant reef coral symbiont, a feat that will ideally aid in future research of this important lineage of dinoflagellate.}, } @article {pmid31192811, year = {2019}, author = {Nogueira, AR and Shoenfeld, Y}, title = {Microbiome and autoimmune diseases: cause and effect relationship.}, journal = {Current opinion in rheumatology}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {471-474}, doi = {10.1097/BOR.0000000000000628}, pmid = {31192811}, issn = {1531-6963}, mesh = {Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*immunology ; Autoimmune Diseases/*immunology ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; *Immune Tolerance ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The human body is the host of trillions of different prokaryotic microorganisms that colonize the skin and the mucosae. The interaction between human cells and these organisms is mediated by the immune system, sustaining a very complex and fragile balance. The immune cells need to prevent uncontrolled growth of pathogenic microbes and promote tolerance toward the existence of the beneficial ones. Growing evidence associates the disruption of this symbiotic relationship with the development of autoimmune diseases.

RECENT FINDINGS: Human studies led to the identification of gut dysbiosis patterns in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. Interestingly, the inoculation of pathogenic bacteria in animal models was associated with the development of these autoimmune diseases.

SUMMARY: A better understanding of the microbiota-human interaction will enable the development of novel treatment choices. Currently, new molecules using helminth compounds are under investigation and have already revealed promising results.}, } @article {pmid31192354, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, Z and Chen, W and Jiao, S and Wang, X and Fan, M and Wang, E and Wei, G}, title = {New Insight into the Evolution of Symbiotic Genes in Black Locust-Associated Rhizobia.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {1736-1750}, pmid = {31192354}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Robinia/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation in legumes occurs via symbiosis with rhizobia. This process involves packages of symbiotic genes on mobile genetic elements that are readily transferred within or between rhizobial species, furnishing the recipient with the ability to interact with plant hosts. However, it remains elusive whether plant host migration has played a role in shaping the current distribution of genetic variation in symbiotic genes. Herein, we examined the genetic structure and phylogeographic pattern of symbiotic genes in 286 symbiotic strains of Mesorhizobium nodulating black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), a cross-continental invasive legume species that is native to North America. We conducted detailed phylogeographic analysis and approximate Bayesian computation to unravel the complex demographic history of five key symbiotic genes. The sequencing results indicate an origin of symbiotic genes in Germany rather than North America. Our findings provide strong evidence of prehistoric lineage splitting and spatial expansion events resulting in multiple radiations of descendent clones from founding sequence types worldwide. Estimates of the timescale of divergence in North American and Chinese subclades suggest that black locust-specific symbiotic genes have been present in these continent many thousands of years before recent migration of plant host. Although numerous crop plants, including legumes, have found their centers of origin as centers of evolution and diversity, the number of legume-specific symbiotic genes with a known geographic origin is limited. This work sheds light on the coevolution of legumes and rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid31192321, year = {2019}, author = {Carvalho, NM and Teixeira, F and Silva, S and Madureira, AR and Pintado, ME}, title = {Potential prebiotic activity of Tenebrio molitor insect flour using an optimized in vitro gut microbiota model.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {3909-3922}, doi = {10.1039/c8fo01536h}, pmid = {31192321}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; Bifidobacterium/growth & development ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Flour ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactobacillus/growth & development ; Microbial Viability ; Nutritive Value ; *Prebiotics ; Stress, Psychological ; Symbiosis ; Tenebrio/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The Tenebrio molitor insect flour (TMIF) is considered a nutritive food ingredient, but its impact at the gut microbiota level and its potential prebiotic activity still need be assessed. For such studies, an in vitro simulation model of gut microbiota was optimized. Pure cultures of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains in monocultures and co-cultures (pairs and consortium) were used in this model to evaluate the effect of TMIF on the viability and metabolic activity of those bacteria. The optimization of the in vitro model of the gut microbiota was successful, and growth of the most important groups of bacteria in the gut microbiota was observed. So this model can be used to study the effects of other ingredients at that level. It also enabled pinpointing the prebiotic effects of the studied TMIF suggesting possible symbiotic interactions. In addition, the direct effect of the TMIF on bacterial cells, when in nutritive stress was also evaluated. In terms of TMIF effects on probiotic bacteria viability and growth, no negative effects were observed, and even an enhancement of growth and an increase of production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactate, in most of the cases, was observed. Also, this study showed that TMIF helps in maintaining the viability of bacteria during incubation time when these are under nutritional stress conditions. A potential prebiotic effect of TMIF is then predictable with this study, opening a path to new research on this subject.}, } @article {pmid31191571, year = {2019}, author = {Defrenne, CE and Philpott, TJ and Guichon, SHA and Roach, WJ and Pickles, BJ and Simard, SW}, title = {Shifts in Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities and Exploration Types Relate to the Environment and Fine-Root Traits Across Interior Douglas-Fir Forests of Western Canada.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {643}, pmid = {31191571}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Large-scale studies that examine the responses of ectomycorrhizal fungi across biogeographic gradients are necessary to assess their role in mediating current and predicted future alterations in forest ecosystem processes. We assessed the extent of environmental filtering on interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco) ectomycorrhizal fungal communities across regional gradients in precipitation, temperature, and soil fertility in interior Douglas-fir dominated forests of western Canada. We also examined relationships between fine-root traits and mycorrhizal fungal exploration types by combining root and fungal trait measurements with next-generation sequencing. Temperature, precipitation, and soil C:N ratio affected fungal community dissimilarity and exploration type abundance but had no effect on α-diversity. Fungi with rhizomorphs (e.g., Piloderma sp.) or proteolytic abilities (e.g., Cortinarius sp.) dominated communities in warmer and less fertile environments. Ascomycetes (e.g., Cenococcum geophilum) or shorter distance explorers, which potentially cost the plant less C, were favored in colder/drier climates where soils were richer in total nitrogen. Environmental filtering of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities is potentially related to co-evolutionary history between Douglas-fir populations and fungal symbionts, suggesting success of interior Douglas-fir as climate changes may be dependent on maintaining strong associations with local communities of mycorrhizal fungi. No evidence for a link between root and fungal resource foraging strategies was found at the regional scale. This lack of evidence further supports the need for a mycorrhizal symbiosis framework that is independent of root trait frameworks, to aid in understanding belowground plant uptake strategies across environments.}, } @article {pmid31191510, year = {2019}, author = {Habineza, P and Muhammad, A and Ji, T and Xiao, R and Yin, X and Hou, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {The Promoting Effect of Gut Microbiota on Growth and Development of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) by Modulating Its Nutritional Metabolism.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1212}, pmid = {31191510}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is a destructive pest for palm trees worldwide. Recent studies have shown that RPW gut is colonized by microbes and alterations in gut microbiota can significantly modify its hemolymph nutrition content. However, the exact effects of gut microbiota on RPW phenotype and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here germ-free (GF) RPW larvae were generated from dechorionated eggs which were reared on sterilized artificial food under axenic conditions. Compared with controls, the larval development of GF RPW individuals was markedly depressed and their body mass was reduced as well. Furthermore, the content of hemolymph protein, glucose and triglyceride were dropped significantly in GF RPW larvae. Interestingly, introducing gut microbiota into GF individuals could significantly increase the levels of the three nutrition indices. Additionally, it has also been demonstrated that RPW larvae monoassociated with Lactococcus lactis exhibited the same level of protein content with the CR (conventionally reared) insects while feeding Enterobacter cloacae to GF larvae increased their hemolymph triglyceride and glucose content markedly. Consequently, our findings suggest that gut microbiota profoundly affect the development of this pest by regulating its nutrition metabolism and different gut bacterial species show distinct impact on host physiology. Taken together, the establishment of GF and gnotobiotic RPW larvae will advance the elucidation of molecular mechanisms behind the interactions between RPW and its gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31190864, year = {2019}, author = {Nagano, T and Otoshi, T and Hazama, D and Kiriu, T and Umezawa, K and Katsurada, N and Nishimura, Y}, title = {Novel cancer therapy targeting microbiome.}, journal = {OncoTargets and therapy}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {3619-3624}, pmid = {31190864}, issn = {1178-6930}, abstract = {In the human intestinal tract, there are more than 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria, which form the gut microbiota. Approximately 70% of the human immune system is in the intestinal tract, which prevents infection by pathogenic bacteria. When the intestinal microbiota is disturbed, causing dysbiosis, it can lead to obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder and cancer. Recent metabolomics analyses have also made the association between the microbiota and carcinogenesis clear. Here, we review the current evidence on the association between the microbiota and gastric, bladder, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, lung and colorectal cancer. Moreover, several animal studies have revealed that probiotics seem to be effective for the prevention of carcinogenesis to some extent. In this review, we focused on this relationship between the microbiota and cancer, and considered how to prevent cancer using strategies involving the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid31190648, year = {2020}, author = {Kashkouli, M and Fathipour, Y and Mehrabadi, M}, title = {Habitat visualization, acquisition features and necessity of the gammaproteobacterial symbiont of pistachio stink Bug, Acrosternum heegeri (Hem.: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {22-33}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485319000245}, pmid = {31190648}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Ovary/microbiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-sucking stinkbugs are especially associated with mutualistic gut bacterial symbionts. Here, we explored the symbiotic relationship of a pistachio stinkbug, Acrosternum heegeri Fieber by histological, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), real-time PCR and molecular phylogenetic techniques. Furthermore, the effects of the symbiont on the resting/wandering behaviors of the newborn nymphs, pre-adult survival rates, and stage compositions were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy and real-time PCR analyses showed that a rod-shaped gammaproteobacterium was persistently located within the posterior midgut crypts. Molecular phylogenetic and FISH techniques strongly suggested that this symbiont should be placed in the genus Pantoea of the Enterobacteriales. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the bacterial cells on the egg surface which the surface sterilization of the eggs resulted in the successful removal of the symbiont from the eggs. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. heegeri showed no significant differences in the wandering behaviors of the first nymphal stages, while the symbiont-free insects suffered retarded growth and lower survivability. Together, the results highlight the habitat and acquisition features of Pantoea symbiont and its contribution in A. heegeri biology that might help us for better pest management in the future.}, } @article {pmid31190278, year = {2019}, author = {Lee, SJ and Morse, D and Hijri, M}, title = {Holobiont chronobiology: mycorrhiza may be a key to linking aboveground and underground rhythms.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {403-412}, pmid = {31190278}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Microbiota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Circadian clocks are nearly ubiquitous timing mechanisms that can orchestrate rhythmic behavior and gene expression in a wide range of organisms. Clock mechanisms are becoming well understood in fungal, animal, and plant model systems, yet many of these organisms are surrounded by a complex and diverse microbiota which should be taken into account when examining their biology. Of particular interest are the symbiotic relationships between organisms that have coevolved over time, forming a unit called a holobiont. Several studies have now shown linkages between the circadian rhythms of symbiotic partners. Interrelated regulation of holobiont circadian rhythms seems thus important to coordinate shifts in activity over the day for all the partners. Therefore, we suggest that the classical view of "chronobiological individuals" should include "a holobiont" rather than an organism. Unfortunately, mechanisms that may regulate interspecies temporal acclimation and the evolution of the circadian clock in holobionts are far from being understood. For the plant holobiont, our understanding is particularly limited. In this case, the holobiont encompasses two different ecosystems, one above and the other below the ground, with the two potentially receiving timing information from different synchronizing signals (Zeitgebers). The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, formed by plant roots and fungi, is one of the oldest and most widespread associations between organisms. By mediating the nutritional flux between the plant and the many microbes in the soil, AM symbiosis constitutes the backbone of the plant holobiont. Even though the importance of the AM symbiosis has been well recognized in agricultural and environmental sciences, its circadian chronobiology remains almost completely unknown. We have begun to study the circadian clock of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and we compile and here discuss the available information on the subject. We propose that analyzing the interrelated temporal organization of the AM symbiosis and determining its underlying mechanisms will advance our understanding of the role and coordination of circadian clocks in holobionts in general.}, } @article {pmid31190074, year = {2019}, author = {Omoarelojie, LO and Kulkarni, MG and Finnie, JF and Van Staden, J}, title = {Strigolactones and their crosstalk with other phytohormones.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {5}, pages = {749-767}, pmid = {31190074}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {*Cytokinins ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Lactones ; Plant Development ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; Plants ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Strigolactones (SLs) are a diverse class of butenolide-bearing phytohormones derived from the catabolism of carotenoids. They are associated with an increasing number of emerging regulatory roles in plant growth and development, including seed germination, root and shoot architecture patterning, nutrient acquisition, symbiotic and parasitic interactions, as well as mediation of plant responses to abiotic and biotic cues.

SCOPE: Here, we provide a concise overview of SL biosynthesis, signal transduction pathways and SL-mediated plant responses with a detailed discourse on the crosstalk(s) that exist between SLs/components of SL signalling and other phytohormones such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonates and salicylic acid.

CONCLUSION: SLs elicit their control on physiological and morphological processes via a direct or indirect influence on the activities of other hormones and/or integrants of signalling cascades of other growth regulators. These, among many others, include modulation of hormone content, transport and distribution within plant tissues, interference with or complete dependence on downstream signal components of other phytohormones, as well as acting synergistically or antagonistically with other hormones to elicit plant responses. Although much has been done to evince the effects of SL interactions with other hormones at the cell and whole plant levels, research attention must be channelled towards elucidating the precise molecular events that underlie these processes. More especially in the case of abscisic acid, cytokinins, gibberellin, jasmonates and salicylic acid for which very little has been reported about their hormonal crosstalk with SLs.}, } @article {pmid31189767, year = {2019}, author = {Gazdag, O and Kovács, R and Parádi, I and Füzy, A and Ködöböcz, L and Mucsi, M and Szili-Kovács, T and Inubushi, K and Takács, T}, title = {Density and Diversity of Microbial Symbionts under Organic and Conventional Agricultural Management.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {234-243}, pmid = {31189767}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; *Biodiversity ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; Population Density ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The influence of organic and conventional farming and agroecology on the diversity and functioning of indigenous soil microbial communities was examined using a multifactorial analysis based on an extended minimum data set of classical status and functional tests. Main soil physicochemical properties and selected microbiological indicators, the quantity of heterotrophic or aerobic spore-forming bacteria, basal and substrate-induced respiration, catabolic activity with MicroResp[™], and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activity were characterized. A pot experiment applying the most probable number method was designed with soil dilution series using Pisum sativum L. and Triticum spelta L. to assess the symbiotic infectivity and genetic diversity of key indicator groups of the plant microbiome, e.g. nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Soil pH, humus content, CFU, enzyme activity, and soil respiration were significantly higher in organic soils. The activity of soil microorganisms was mainly related to clay, humus, calcium, and magnesium parameters. A redundancy analysis test of catabolic activities showed that samples were grouped according to different substrate utilization patterns and land uses were also clearly separated from each other. Farming practice influenced the abundance and diversity of microbial populations. Dark septate endophytic fungi were only found in conventional soils. In addition to confirming soil health improvements by organic management, our results highlight the importance of a complex evaluation including both classical status and functional parameters of soil microbiota, which may more reliably indicate a shift in the quality status of soils.}, } @article {pmid31189014, year = {2019}, author = {Guo, X and Zhao, Z and Mar, SS and Zhang, D and Saunders, RMK}, title = {A symbiotic balancing act: arbuscular mycorrhizal specificity and specialist fungus gnat pollination in the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia (Thismiaceae).}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {2}, pages = {331-342}, pmid = {31189014}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Flowers ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Pollination ; Seeds ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mycorrhizal associations in mycoheterotrophic plants are generally more specialized than in autotrophs. Mycoheterotrophs typically bear small, inconspicuous flowers that often self-pollinate to maximize seed set, although some have structurally complex flowers indicative of xenogamy. A trade-off has previously been proposed between specialization in these above- and below-ground symbioses, although empirical data are lacking.

METHODS: We used next-generation DNA sequencing to compare the mycorrhizal communities from the roots of a mycoheterotrophic species, Thismia tentaculata (Thismiaceae), and its neighbouring autotrophs. We furthermore conducted detailed assessments of floral phenology and pollination ecology, and performed artificial pollination experiments to determine the breeding system.

KEY RESULTS: Thismia tentaculata maintains a symbiotic association with a single arbuscular mycorrhizal Rhizophagus species. The flowers are pollinated by a single species of fungus gnats (Corynoptera, Sciaridae), which are attracted by the yellow pigments and are temporarily restrained within the perianth chamber before departing via apertures between the anthers. The plants are self-compatible but predominantly xenogamous.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that T. tentaculata maintains highly specialized associations with pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi, both of which are widely distributed. We suggest that specialization in multiple symbiotic interactions is possible in mycoheterotrophs if redundant selective pressures are not exerted to further restrict an already constrained suite of life-history traits.}, } @article {pmid31187114, year = {2019}, author = {Feng, G and Zhang, F and Banakar, S and Karlep, L and Li, Z}, title = {Analysis of functional gene transcripts suggests active CO2 assimilation and CO oxidation by diverse bacteria in marine sponges.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz087}, pmid = {31187114}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Carbon Monoxide/*metabolism ; Host Specificity ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/classification/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Bacteria are the dominant symbionts in sponges and are regarded as important contributors to ocean nutrient cycling; however, their roles in carbon utilization in sponge holobionts are seldom identified. Here, the in situ active bacteria and their CO2 assimilation and CO oxidation functions in sponges Theonella swinhoei, Plakortis simplex and Phakellia fusca were evaluated using the analysis of functional gene transcripts. Phylogenetically diverse bacteria belonging to 16 phyla were detected by 16S rRNA analysis. Particularly, some of the active bacteria appeared to be sponge-specific or even sponge species-specific. Transcribed autotrophic CO2 assimilation genes rbcL and rbcM, anaplerotic CO2 assimilation gene accC and aerobic CO oxidation gene coxL were uncovered and assigned to a wide variety of bacterial lineages. Some of these carbon metabolism genes showed specificity to sponge species or different transcriptional activity among the sponge species. This study uncovered the phylogenetic diversity of transcriptionally active bacteria especially with CO2 assimilation or CO oxidation functions, providing insights into the ecological functions of the sponge-symbiotic bacteria regarding carbon metabolism.}, } @article {pmid31186513, year = {2019}, author = {Gabay, Y and Parkinson, JE and Wilkinson, SP and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Inter-partner specificity limits the acquisition of thermotolerant symbionts in a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {2489-2499}, pmid = {31186513}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Models, Biological ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ability of corals and other cnidarians to survive climate change depends partly on the composition of their endosymbiont communities. The dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae is genetically and physiologically diverse, and one proposed mechanism for cnidarians to acclimate to rising temperatures is to acquire more thermally tolerant symbionts. However, cnidarian-dinoflagellate associations vary in their degree of specificity, which may limit their capacity to alter symbiont communities. Here, we inoculated symbiont-free polyps of the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida (commonly referred to as 'Aiptasia'), a model system for the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, with simultaneous or sequential mixtures of thermally tolerant and thermally sensitive species of Symbiodiniaceae. We then monitored symbiont success (relative proportional abundance) at normal and elevated temperatures across two to four weeks. All anemones showed signs of bleaching at high temperature. During simultaneous inoculations, the native, thermally sensitive Breviolum minutum colonized polyps most successfully regardless of temperature when paired against the non-native but more thermally tolerant Symbiodinium microadriaticum or Durusdinium trenchii. Furthermore, anemones initially colonized with B. minutum and subsequently exposed to S. microadriaticum failed to acquire the new symbiont. These results highlight how partner specificity may place strong limitations on the ability of certain cnidarians to acquire more thermally tolerant symbionts, and hence their adaptive potential under climate change.}, } @article {pmid31186318, year = {2019}, author = {Chrostek, E and Gerth, M}, title = {Is Anopheles gambiae a Natural Host of Wolbachia?.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31186318}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Africa ; Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial ; Malaria/transmission ; Male ; Metagenomics ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales) is an intraovarially transmitted symbiont of insects able to exert striking phenotypes, including reproductive manipulations and pathogen blocking. These phenotypes make Wolbachia a promising tool to combat mosquito-borne diseases. Although Wolbachia is present in the majority of terrestrial arthropods, including many disease vectors, it was considered absent from Anopheles gambiae mosquitos, the main vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2014, Wolbachia sequences were detected in A. gambiae samples collected in Burkina Faso. Subsequently, similar evidence came from collections all over Africa, revealing a high Wolbachia 16S rRNA sequence diversity, low abundance, and a lack of congruence between host and symbiont phylogenies. Here, we reanalyze and discuss recent evidence on the presence of Wolbachia sequences in A. gambiae. We find that although detected at increasing frequencies, the unusual properties of these Wolbachia sequences render them insufficient to diagnose natural infections in A. gambiae Future studies should focus on uncovering the origin of Wolbachia sequence variants in Anopheles and seeking sequence-independent evidence for this new symbiosis. Understanding the ecology of Anopheles mosquitos and their interactions with Wolbachia will be key in designing successful, integrative approaches to limit malaria spread. Although the prospect of using Wolbachia to fight malaria is intriguing, the newly discovered strains do not bring it closer to realization.IMPORTANCEAnopheles gambiae mosquitos are the main vectors of malaria, threatening around half of the world's population. The bacterial symbiont Wolbachia can interfere with disease transmission by other important insect vectors, but until recently, it was thought to be absent from natural A. gambiae populations. Here, we critically analyze the genomic, metagenomic, PCR, imaging, and phenotypic data presented in support of the presence of natural Wolbachia infections in A. gambiae We find that they are insufficient to diagnose Wolbachia infections and argue for the need of obtaining robust data confirming basic Wolbachia characteristics in this system. Determining the Wolbachia infection status of Anopheles is critical due to its potential to influence Anopheles population structure and Plasmodium transmission.}, } @article {pmid31186308, year = {2019}, author = {Septer, AN}, title = {The Vibrio-Squid Symbiosis as a Model for Studying Interbacterial Competition.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31186308}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The symbiosis between Euprymna scolopes squid and its bioluminescent bacterial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, is a valuable model system to study a natural, coevolved host-microbe association. Over the past 30 years, researchers have developed and optimized many experimental methods to study both partners in isolation and during symbiosis. These powerful tools, along with a strong foundational knowledge about the system, position the Vibrio-squid symbiosis at the forefront of host-microbe interactions because this system is uniquely suited to investigation of symbiosis from both host and bacterial perspectives. Moreover, the ability to isolate and characterize different strains of V. fischeri has revealed exciting new insights about how different genotypes evolve to compete for a host niche, including deploying interbacterial weapons early during host colonization. This Perspective explores how interbacterial warfare influences the diversity and spatial structure of the symbiotic population, as well as the possible effects that intraspecific competition might have on the host.}, } @article {pmid31185869, year = {2019}, author = {Dharampal, PS and Carlson, C and Currie, CR and Steffan, SA}, title = {Pollen-borne microbes shape bee fitness.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1904}, pages = {20182894}, pmid = {31185869}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*physiology ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Food Chain ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Larva/*physiology ; *Nutritive Value ; Pollen/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Teeming within pollen provisions are diverse communities of symbiotic microbes, which provide a variety of benefits to bees. Microbes themselves may represent a major dietary resource for developing bee larvae. Despite their apparent importance in sustaining bee health, evidence linking pollen-borne microbes to larval health is currently lacking. We examined the effects of microbe-deficient diets on the fitness of larval mason bees. In a series of diet manipulations, microbe-rich maternally collected pollen provisions were replaced with increasing fractions of sterilized, microbe-deficient pollen provisions before being fed to developing larvae. Convergent findings from amino acid and fatty acid trophic biomarker analyses revealed that larvae derived a substantial amount of nutrition from microbial prey and occupied a significantly higher trophic position than that of strict herbivores. Larvae feeding on increasingly sterile diets experienced significant adverse effects on growth rates, biomass and survivorship. When completely deprived of pollen-borne microbes, larvae consistently exhibited marked decline in fitness. We conclude that microbes associated with aged pollen provisions are central to bee health, not only as nutritional mutualists, but also as a major dietary component. In an era of global bee decline, the conservation of such bee-microbe interactions may represent an important facet of pollinator protection strategies.}, } @article {pmid31185211, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, P and Zhao, D and Li, J and Liang, X and Li, J and Chang, A and Henry, VK and Lan, Z and Spring, DJ and Rao, G and Wang, YA and DePinho, RA}, title = {Symbiotic Macrophage-Glioma Cell Interactions Reveal Synthetic Lethality in PTEN-Null Glioma.}, journal = {Cancer cell}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {868-884.e6}, pmid = {31185211}, issn = {1878-3686}, support = {P30 CA016672/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA117969/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CRI2458/CRI/Cancer Research Institute/United States ; K99 CA226360/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS094615/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; 8808.0/CRI/Cancer Research Institute/United States ; R01 CA231349/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA084628/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology ; Biomarkers, Tumor/deficiency/*genetics ; Brain Neoplasms/drug therapy/enzymology/*genetics/pathology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Female ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 2/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glioma/drug therapy/enzymology/*genetics/pathology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Integrin beta1/genetics/metabolism ; Macrophages/drug effects/*enzymology/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mice, SCID ; Osteopontin/genetics/metabolism ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/deficiency/*genetics ; *Paracrine Communication/drug effects ; Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Signal Transduction ; *Synthetic Lethal Mutations ; THP-1 Cells ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; }, abstract = {Heterotypic interactions across diverse cell types can enable tumor progression and hold the potential to expand therapeutic interventions. Here, combined profiling and functional studies of glioma cells in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) models establish that PTEN deficiency activates YAP1, which directly upregulates lysyl oxidase (LOX) expression. Mechanistically, secreted LOX functions as a potent macrophage chemoattractant via activation of the β1 integrin-PYK2 pathway in macrophages. These infiltrating macrophages secrete SPP1, which sustains glioma cell survival and stimulates angiogenesis. In PTEN-null GBM models, LOX inhibition markedly suppresses macrophage infiltration and tumor progression. Correspondingly, YAP1-LOX and β1 integrin-SPP1 signaling correlates positively with higher macrophage density and lower overall survival in GBM patients. This symbiotic glioma-macrophage interplay provides therapeutic targets specifically for PTEN-deficient GBM.}, } @article {pmid31184576, year = {2019}, author = {Gomes, DF and Tullio, LD and Del Cerro, P and Nakatani, AS and Rolla-Santos, AAP and Gil-Serrano, A and Megías, M and Ollero, FJ and Hungria, M}, title = {Regulation of hsnT, nodF and nodE genes in Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and their roles in the synthesis of Nod factors and in the symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {165}, number = {9}, pages = {990-1000}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000824}, pmid = {31184576}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899 possesses outstanding agronomic properties as it displays tolerance to environmental stresses, a broad host range and high effectiveness in fixing nitrogen with the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.); in addition, it carries intriguing features such as five copies of the regulatory nodD gene, and the capacity to synthesize a variety of nodulation factors (NFs), even in a flavonoid-independent manner, when submitted to abiotic stresses. However, the roles of several nod genes of the repertoire of CIAT 899 remain to be determined. In this study, we obtained mutants for the hsnT, nodF and nodE genes of CIAT 899 and investigated their expression, NF structures and symbiotic properties. Either in the presence of the flavonoid apigenin, or of salt the expression of hsnT, nodF and nodE in wild-type CIAT 899 was highly up-regulated in comparison to the mutants of all five copies of nodD, indicating the roles that regulatory nodD genes play in the activation of hsnT, nodF and nodE; however, NodD1 was recognized as the main inducer. In total, 29 different NF structures were synthesized by wild-type CIAT 899 induced by apigenin, and 36 when induced by salt, being drastically reduced by mutations in hsnT, nodF and nodE, especially under osmotic stress, with specific changes related to each gene, indicating that the three genes participate in the synthesis of NFs. Mutations in hsnT, nodF and nodE affected differently symbiotic performance (nodule number and shoot dry weight), according to the host plant. Our results indicate that the expression of hsnT, nodF and nodE genes of CIAT 899 is mediated by nodD genes, and although these three genes do not belong to the main set of genes controlling nodulation, they contribute to the synthesis of NFs that will impact symbiotic performance and host specificity.}, } @article {pmid31184525, year = {2020}, author = {Lu, H and Zhu, J and Yu, J and Chen, X and Kang, L and Cui, F}, title = {A Symbiotic Virus Facilitates Aphid Adaptation to Host Plants by Suppressing Jasmonic Acid Responses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {55-65}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-19-0016-R}, pmid = {31184525}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/virology ; *Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/parasitology/virology ; *Oxylipins/metabolism ; Peas/parasitology/virology ; Plants/parasitology/virology ; *RNA Viruses/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia/parasitology/virology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic viruses exist in many insects; however, their functions in host insects are not well understood. In this study, we explored the role of acyrthosiphon pisum virus (APV) in the interaction of its host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum with plants. APV is primarily located in aphid salivary glands and gut and propagated in the insect. APV is horizontally transmitted to host plants during aphid feeding, but the virus does not replicate in the host plant. When the pea host race of aphids colonized two low-fitness plants, Medicago truncatula and Vicia villosa, the virus titers in both the aphids and plants significantly increased. Furthermore, APV infection strongly promoted the survival rate of the pea host race on V. villosa. Transcriptomic analysis showed that only 0.85% of aphid genes responded to APV infection when aphids fed on V. villosa, with a fold change in transcript levels of no more than fourfold. The improved survival due to APV infection was apparently related to the inhibitory effect of the virus on levels of phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) and JA-isoleucine. Our data suggest a benefit of the symbiotic virus to its aphid host and demonstrate a novel case of symbiotic virus-mediated three-species interaction.}, } @article {pmid31182796, year = {2019}, author = {Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Leisch, N and Kleiner, M and Hinzke, T and Liebeke, M and McFall-Ngai, M and Hadfield, MG and Dubilier, N}, title = {Two intracellular and cell type-specific bacterial symbionts in the placozoan Trichoplax H2.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {1465-1474}, pmid = {31182796}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Placozoa/cytology/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/microbiology ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Placozoa is an enigmatic phylum of simple, microscopic, marine metazoans[1,2]. Although intracellular bacteria have been found in all members of this phylum, almost nothing is known about their identity, location and interactions with their host[3-6]. We used metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing of single host individuals, plus metaproteomic and imaging analyses, to show that the placozoan Trichoplax sp. H2 lives in symbiosis with two intracellular bacteria. One symbiont forms an undescribed genus in the Midichloriaceae (Rickettsiales)[7,8] and has a genomic repertoire similar to that of rickettsial parasites[9,10], but does not seem to express key genes for energy parasitism. Correlative image analyses and three-dimensional electron tomography revealed that this symbiont resides in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of its host's internal fibre cells. The second symbiont belongs to the Margulisbacteria, a phylum without cultured representatives and not known to form intracellular associations[11-13]. This symbiont lives in the ventral epithelial cells of Trichoplax, probably metabolizes algal lipids digested by its host and has the capacity to supplement the placozoan's nutrition. Our study shows that one of the simplest animals has evolved highly specific and intimate associations with symbiotic, intracellular bacteria and highlights that symbioses can provide access to otherwise elusive microbial dark matter.}, } @article {pmid31182620, year = {2019}, author = {Yadav, S and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Participation of the Serine Protease Jonah66Ci in the Drosophila Antinematode Immune Response.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {87}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31182620}, issn = {1098-5522}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*immunology ; Feeding Behavior ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Insect ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*immunology ; Nematode Infections/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Serine proteases and serine protease homologs form the second largest gene family in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Certain genes in the Jonah multigene family encoding serine proteases have been implicated in the fly antiviral immune response. Here, we report the involvement of Jonah66Ci in the Drosophila immune defense against Steinernema carpocapsae nematode infection. We find that Drosophila Jonah66Ci is upregulated in response to symbiotic (carrying the mutualistic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila) or axenic (lacking Xenorhabdus) Steinernema nematodes and is expressed exclusively in the gut of Drosophila larvae. Inactivation of Jonah66Ci provides a survival advantage to larvae against axenic nematodes and results in differential expression of Toll and Imd pathway effector genes, specifically in the gut. Also, inactivation of Jonah66Ci increases the numbers of enteroendocrine and mitotic cells in the gut of uninfected larvae, and infection with Steinernema nematodes reduces their numbers, whereas the numbers of intestinal stem cells are unaffected by nematode infection. Jonah66Ci knockdown further reduces nitric oxide levels in response to infection with symbiotic Steinernema nematodes. Finally, we show that Jonah66Ci knockdown does not alter the feeding rates of uninfected Drosophila larvae; however, infection with axenic Steinernema nematodes lowers larval feeding. In conclusion, we report that Jonah66Ci participates in maintaining homeostasis of certain physiological processes in Drosophila larvae in the context of Steinernema nematode infection. Similar findings will take us a step further toward understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms that take place during parasitic nematode infection in insects.}, } @article {pmid31182497, year = {2019}, author = {Lamouche, F and Chaumeret, A and Guefrachi, I and Barrière, Q and Pierre, O and Guérard, F and Gilard, F and Giraud, E and Dessaux, Y and Gakière, B and Timchenko, T and Kereszt, A and Mergaert, P and Alunni, B}, title = {From Intracellular Bacteria to Differentiated Bacteroids: Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis in Aeschynomene Nodules Using the Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain ORS285 bclA Mutant.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {31182497}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; *Metabolome ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Soil bacteria called rhizobia trigger the formation of root nodules on legume plants. The rhizobia infect these symbiotic organs and adopt an intracellular lifestyle within the nodule cells, where they differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Several legume lineages force their symbionts into an extreme cellular differentiation, comprising cell enlargement and genome endoreduplication. The antimicrobial peptide transporter BclA is a major determinant of this process in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285, a symbiont of Aeschynomene spp. In the absence of BclA, the bacteria proceed until the intracellular infection of nodule cells, but they cannot differentiate into enlarged polyploid and functional bacteroids. Thus, the bclA nodule bacteria constitute an intermediate stage between the free-living soil bacteria and the nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Metabolomics on whole nodules of Aeschynomene afraspera and Aeschynomene indica infected with the wild type or the bclA mutant revealed 47 metabolites that differentially accumulated concomitantly with bacteroid differentiation. Bacterial transcriptome analysis of these nodules demonstrated that the intracellular settling of the rhizobia in the symbiotic nodule cells is accompanied by a first transcriptome switch involving several hundred upregulated and downregulated genes and a second switch accompanying the bacteroid differentiation, involving fewer genes but ones that are expressed to extremely elevated levels. The transcriptomes further suggested a dynamic role for oxygen and redox regulation of gene expression during nodule formation and a nonsymbiotic function of BclA. Together, our data uncover the metabolic and gene expression changes that accompany the transition from intracellular bacteria into differentiated nitrogen-fixing bacteroids.IMPORTANCE Legume-rhizobium symbiosis is a major ecological process, fueling the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle with reduced nitrogen. It also represents a promising strategy to reduce the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture, thereby improving its sustainability. This interaction leads to the intracellular accommodation of rhizobia within plant cells of symbiotic organs, where they differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. In specific legume clades, this differentiation process requires the bacterial transporter BclA to counteract antimicrobial peptides produced by the host. Transcriptome analysis of Bradyrhizobium wild-type and bclA mutant bacteria in culture and in symbiosis with Aeschynomene host plants dissected the bacterial transcriptional response in distinct phases and highlighted functions of the transporter in the free-living stage of the bacterial life cycle.}, } @article {pmid31182168, year = {2019}, author = {Kellogg, CA}, title = {Microbiomes of stony and soft deep-sea corals share rare core bacteria.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {90}, pmid = {31182168}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification ; Biodiversity ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that bacteria form stable associations with host corals and have focused on identifying conserved "core microbiomes" of bacterial associates inferred to be serving key roles in the coral holobiont. Because studies tend to focus on only stony corals (order Scleractinia) or soft corals (order Alcyonacea), it is currently unknown if there are conserved bacteria that are shared by both. A meta-analysis was done of 16S rRNA amplicon data from multiple studies generated via identical methodology to allow direct comparisons of bacterial associates across seven deep-sea corals, including both stony and soft species: Anthothela grandiflora, Anthothela sp., Lateothela grandiflora, Lophelia pertusa, Paramuricea placomus, Primnoa pacifica, and Primnoa resedaeformis.

RESULTS: Twenty-three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were consistently present in greater than 50% of the coral samples. Seven amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), five of which corresponded to a conserved OTU, were consistently present in greater than 30% of the coral samples including five or greater coral species. A majority of the conserved sequences had close matches with previously identified coral-associated bacteria. While known to dominate tropical and temperate coral microbiomes, Endozoicomonas were extremely rare or absent from these deep-sea corals. An Endozoicomonas OTU associated with Lo. pertusa in this study was most similar to those from shallow-water stony corals, while an OTU associated with Anthothela spp. was most similar to those from shallow-water gorgonians.

CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial sequences have been identified that are conserved at the level of class Anthozoa (i.e., found in both stony and soft corals, shallow and deep). These bacterial associates are therefore hypothesized to play important symbiotic roles and are highlighted for targeted future study. These conserved bacterial associates include taxa with the potential for nitrogen and sulfur cycling, detoxification, and hydrocarbon degradation. There is also some overlap with kit contaminants that need to be resolved. Rarely detected Endozoicomonas sequences are partitioned by whether the host is a stony coral or a soft coral, and the finer clustering pattern reflects the hosts' phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid31182035, year = {2019}, author = {Brown, BP and Wernegreen, JJ}, title = {Genomic erosion and extensive horizontal gene transfer in gut-associated Acetobacteraceae.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {472}, pmid = {31182035}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {S10 OD018164/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Ants/microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genomics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships between animals and bacteria have profound impacts on the evolutionary trajectories of each partner. Animals and gut bacteria engage in a variety of relationships, occasionally persisting over evolutionary timescales. Ants are a diverse group of animals that engage in many types of associations with taxonomically distinct groups of bacterial associates. Here, we bring into culture and characterize two closely-related strains of gut associated Acetobacteraceae (AAB) of the red carpenter ant, Camponotus chromaiodes.

RESULTS: Genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation of both strains delineate stark patterns of genomic erosion and sequence divergence in gut associated AAB. We found widespread horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in these bacterial associates and report elevated gene acquisition associated with energy production and conversion, amino acid and coenzyme transport and metabolism, defense mechanisms, and lysine export. Both strains have acquired the complete NADH-quinone oxidoreductase complex, plausibly from an Enterobacteriaceae origin, likely facilitating energy production under diverse conditions. Conservation of several lysine biosynthetic and salvage pathways and accumulation of lysine export genes via HGT implicate L-lysine supplementation by both strains as a potential functional benefit for the host. These trends are contrasted by genome-wide erosion of several amino acid biosynthetic pathways and pathways in central metabolism. We perform phylogenomic analyses on both strains as well as several free living and host associated AAB. Based on their monophyly and deep divergence from other AAB, these C. chromaiodes gut associates may represent a novel genus. Together, our results demonstrate how extensive horizontal transfer between gut associates along with genome-wide deletions leads to mosaic metabolic pathways. More broadly, these patterns demonstrate that HGT and genomic erosion shape metabolic capabilities of persistent gut associates and influence their genomic evolution.

CONCLUSIONS: Using comparative genomics, our study reveals substantial changes in genomic content in persistent associates of the insect gastrointestinal tract and provides evidence for the evolutionary pressures inherent to this environment. We describe patterns of genomic erosion and horizontal acquisition that result in mosaic metabolic pathways. Accordingly, the phylogenetic position of both strains of these associates form a divergent, monophyletic clade sister to gut associates of honey bees and more distantly to Gluconobacter.}, } @article {pmid31181739, year = {2019}, author = {Hao, Z and Xie, W and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Affects Plant Immunity to Viral Infection and Accumulation.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31181739}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*immunology/virology ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Shoots/*immunology/microbiology/virology ; Plants/immunology/microbiology/virology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, as root symbionts of most terrestrial plants, improve plant growth and fitness. In addition to the improved plant nutritional status, the physiological changes that trigger metabolic changes in the root via AM fungi can also increase the host ability to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant viruses are one of the important limiting factors for the commercial cultivation of various crops. The effect of AM fungi on viral infection is variable, and considerable attention is focused on shoot virus infection. This review provides an overview of the potential of AM fungi as bioprotection agents against viral diseases and emphasizes the complex nature of plant-fungus-virus interactions. Several mechanisms, including modulated plant tolerance, manipulation of induced systemic resistance (ISR), and altered vector pressure are involved in such interactions. We propose that using "omics" tools will provide detailed insights into the complex mechanisms underlying mycorrhizal-mediated plant immunity.}, } @article {pmid31181676, year = {2019}, author = {Ho, YS}, title = {Comment to: Qi, Yi, et al. "Bibliometric Analysis of Algal-Bacterial Symbiosis in Wastewater Treatment", Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1077.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31181676}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Bibliometrics ; *Public Health ; Symbiosis ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Qi et al. recently published an article in the journal, entitled "Bibliometric Analysis of Algal-Bacterial Symbiosis in Wastewater Treatment" [...].}, } @article {pmid31180643, year = {2019}, author = {Fakhrullina, G and Khakimova, E and Akhatova, F and Lazzara, G and Parisi, F and Fakhrullin, R}, title = {Selective Antimicrobial Effects of Curcumin@Halloysite Nanoformulation: A Caenorhabditis elegans Study.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {11}, number = {26}, pages = {23050-23064}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.9b07499}, pmid = {31180643}, issn = {1944-8252}, mesh = {Aluminum Silicates/chemistry ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/pharmacokinetics/*pharmacology ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*drug effects/microbiology ; Clay/chemistry ; Curcumin/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Dextrins/chemistry ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Nanotubes/chemistry ; Thermogravimetry ; }, abstract = {Alterations in the normal gastrointestinal microbial community caused by unhealthy diet, environmental factors, and antibiotic overuse may severely affect human health and well-being. Novel antimicrobial drug formulations targeting pathogenic microflora while not affecting or even supporting symbiotic microflora are urgently needed. Here we report fabrication of a novel antimicrobial nanocontainer based on halloysite nanotubes loaded with curcumin and protected with a dextrin outer layer (HNTs+Curc/DX) and its effective use to suppress the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. Nanocontainers have been obtained using vacuum-facilitated loading of hydrophobic curcumin into halloysite lumens. We have applied UV-vis and infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and microscopy to characterize the HNTs+Curc/DX nanocontainers. In experiments in vitro we found that HNTs+Curc/DX effectively suppressed the growth of Serratia marcescens cells, whereas Escherichia coli bacteria were not affected. We applied HNTs+Curc/DX nanocontainers to alleviate the S. marcescens infection in C. elegans nematodes in vivo. The nematodes ingest HNTs+Curc/DX at 4-6 ng per worm, which results in improvement of the nematodes' fertility and life expectancy. Remarkably, treatment of S. marcescens-infected nematodes with HNTs+Curc/DX nanocontainers completely restored the longevity, demonstrating the enhanced bioavailability of hydrophobic curcumin. We believe that our results reported here open new avenues for fabrication of effective antimicrobial nanoformulations based on hydrophobic drugs and clay nanotubes.}, } @article {pmid31180143, year = {2019}, author = {Fox, M and Knorr, DA and Haptonstall, KM}, title = {Alzheimer's disease and symbiotic microbiota: an evolutionary medicine perspective.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1449}, number = {1}, pages = {3-24}, pmid = {31180143}, issn = {1749-6632}, support = {K01 DK105110/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aging/physiology ; Alzheimer Disease/*microbiology/*pathology ; Biological Evolution ; Brain/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Mouth/microbiology ; Nasal Cavity/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms resident in our bodies participate in a variety of regulatory and pathogenic processes. Here, we describe how etiological pathways implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be regulated or disturbed by symbiotic microbial activity. Furthermore, the composition of symbiotic microbes has changed dramatically across human history alongside the rise of agriculturalism, industrialization, and globalization. We postulate that each of these lifestyle transitions engendered progressive depletion of microbial diversity and enhancement of virulence, thereby enhancing AD risk pathways. It is likely that the human life span extended into the eighth decade tens of thousands of years ago, yet little is known about premodern geriatric epidemiology. We propose that microbiota of the gut, oral cavity, nasal cavity, and brain may modulate AD pathogenesis, and that changes in the microbial composition of these body regions across history suggest escalation of AD risk. Dysbiosis may promote immunoregulatory dysfunction due to inadequate education of the immune system, chronic inflammation, and epithelial barrier permeability. Subsequently, proinflammatory agents-and occasionally microbes-may infiltrate the brain and promote AD pathogenic processes. APOE genotypes appear to moderate the effect of dysbiosis on AD risk. Elucidating the effect of symbiotic microbiota on AD pathogenesis could contribute to basic and translational research.}, } @article {pmid31179246, year = {2019}, author = {Thapa, V and Roossinck, MJ}, title = {Determinants of Coinfection in the Mycoviruses.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {169}, pmid = {31179246}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Coinfection/*virology ; Fungal Viruses/genetics/*physiology ; Fungi/*virology ; Genome, Viral ; Host Specificity ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/virology ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, } @article {pmid31178849, year = {2019}, author = {Kawai, S and Kamiya, N and Matsuura, K and Haruta, S}, title = {Symbiotic Growth of a Thermophilic Sulfide-Oxidizing Photoautotroph and an Elemental Sulfur-Disproportionating Chemolithoautotroph and Cooperative Dissimilatory Oxidation of Sulfide to Sulfate.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1150}, pmid = {31178849}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A thermophilic filamentous anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium, Chloroflexus aggregans, is widely distributed in neutral to slightly alkaline hot springs. Sulfide has been suggested as an electron donor for autotrophic growth in microbial mats dominated with C. aggregans, but remarkable photoautotrophic growth of isolated C. aggregans has not been observed with sulfide as the sole electron source. From the idea that sulfide is oxidized to elemental sulfur by C. aggregans and the accumulation of elemental sulfur may have an inhibitory effect for the growth, the effects of an elemental sulfur-disproportionating bacterium that consumes elemental sulfur was examined on the autotrophic growth of C. aggregans, strain NA9-6, isolated from Nakabusa hot spring. A sulfur-disproportionating bacterium, Caldimicrobium thiodismutans strain TF1, also isolated from Nakabusa hot spring was co-cultured with C. aggregans. C. aggregans and C. thiodismutans were successfully co-cultured in a medium containing thiosulfate as the sole electron source and bicarbonate as the sole carbon source. Quantitative conversion of thiosulfate to sulfate and a small transient accumulation of sulfide was observed in the co-culture. Then the electron source of the established co-culture was changed from thiosulfate to sulfide, and the growth of C. aggregans and C. thiodismutans was successfully observed with sulfide as the sole electron donor for the autotrophic growth of the co-culture. During the cultivation in the light, simultaneous consumption and accumulation of sulfide and sulfate, respectively, were observed, accompanied with the increase of cellular DNAs of both species. C. thiodismutans likely works as an elemental sulfur scavenger for C. aggregans, and C. aggregans seems to work as a sulfide scavenger for C. thiodismutans. These results suggest that C. aggregans grows autotrophically with sulfide as the electron donor in the co-culture with C. thiodismutans, and the consumption of elemental sulfur by C. thiodismutans enabled the continuous growth of the C. aggregans in the symbiotic system. This study shows a novel symbiotic relationship between a sulfide-oxidizing photoautotroph and an elemental sulfur-disproportionating chemolithoautotroph via cooperative dissimilatory sulfide oxidation to sulfate.}, } @article {pmid31178314, year = {2019}, author = {Whiteside, MD and Werner, GDA and Caldas, VEA and Van't Padje, A and Dupin, SE and Elbers, B and Bakker, M and Wyatt, GAK and Klein, M and Hink, MA and Postma, M and Vaitla, B and Noë, R and Shimizu, TS and West, SA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Mycorrhizal Fungi Respond to Resource Inequality by Moving Phosphorus from Rich to Poor Patches across Networks.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {2043-2050.e8}, pmid = {31178314}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {335542/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Daucus carota/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nutrients ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Quantum Dots ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The world's ecosystems are characterized by an unequal distribution of resources [1]. Trade partnerships between organisms of different species-mutualisms-can help individuals cope with such resource inequality [2-4]. Trade allows individuals to exchange commodities they can provide at low cost for resources that are otherwise impossible or more difficult to access [5, 6]. However, as resources become increasingly patchy in time or space, it is unknown how organisms alter their trading strategies [7, 8]. Here, we show how a symbiotic fungus mediates trade with a host root in response to different levels of resource inequality across its network. We developed a quantum-dot-tracking technique to quantify phosphorus-trading strategies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi simultaneously exposed to rich and poor resource patches. By following fluorescent nanoparticles of different colors across fungal networks, we determined where phosphorus was hoarded, relocated, and transferred to plant hosts. We found that increasing exposure to inequality stimulated trade. Fungi responded to high resource variation by (1) increasing the total amount of phosphorus distributed to host roots, (2) decreasing allocation to storage, and (3) differentially moving resources within the network from rich to poor patches. Using single-particle tracking and high-resolution video, we show how dynamic resource movement may help the fungus capitalize on value differences across the trade network, physically moving resources to areas of high demand to gain better returns. Such translocation strategies can help symbiotic organisms cope with exposure to resource inequality.}, } @article {pmid31178238, year = {2020}, author = {Spagnoletti, FN and Chiocchio, VM}, title = {Tolerance of dark septate endophytic fungi (DSE) to agrochemicals in vitro.}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {43-49}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2019.02.003}, pmid = {31178238}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {Agrochemicals/*pharmacology ; Alternaria/*drug effects ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Argentina ; Ascomycota/*drug effects ; Benzimidazoles/pharmacology ; Carbamates/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Endophytes/*drug effects ; Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; Glycine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Insecticides/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; Triticum ; }, abstract = {Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are a heterogeneous group of fungi, mostly belonging to the Phylum Ascomycota, that are involved in a mutualistic symbiosis with plant roots. The aim of this study is to evaluate the behavior of two strains of DSE isolated from wheat roots of two cropping areas in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, against some agrochemicals. Of all the isolates obtained, two strains were identified as Alternaria alternata and Cochliobolus sp. These DSE were found to be tolerant to glyphosate, carbendazim and cypermethrin when evaluated at the recommended agronomic dose (AD), 2 AD and, in some cases, 10 AD. This work contributes to the study of the biology of this group of fungi and their tolerance in the presence of xenobiotics widely used in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31177643, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, S and Lu, T and Xue, Q and Xu, K and Cheng, G}, title = {Antioxidation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation function of prxA gene in Mesorhizobium huakuii.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e889}, pmid = {31177643}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Astragalus Plant/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidative Stress ; Peroxiredoxins/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play an essential role in the antioxidant activity and symbiotic capacity of Mesorhizobium huakuii. A mutation in the M. huakuii prxA gene (encoding a Prx5-like peroxiredoxin) was generated by homologous recombination. The mutation of prxA did not affect M. huakuii growth, but the strain displayed decreased antioxidative capacity under organic cumene hydroperoxide (CUOOH) conditions. The higher resistance of the prxA mutant strain compared with the wild-type strain to more than 1 mmol/L H2 O2 was associated with a significantly higher level of glutathione reductase activity and a significantly lower level of intracellular hydrogen peroxide content. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that under 1 mmol/L H2 O2 conditions, expression of the stress-responsive genes katG and katE was significantly upregulated in the prxA mutant. Although the prxA mutant can form nodules, the symbiotic ability was severely impaired, which led to an abnormal nodulation phenotype coupled to a 53.25% reduction in nitrogen fixation capacity. This phenotype was linked to an absence of bacteroid differentiation and deregulation of the transcription of the symbiotic genes nifH, nifD, and fdxN. Expression of the prxA gene was induced during symbiosis. Thus, the PrxA protein is essential for antioxidant capacity and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, playing independent roles in bacterial differentiation and cellular antioxidative systems.}, } @article {pmid31177395, year = {2020}, author = {Liu, H and Wu, M and Liu, J and Qu, Y and Gao, Y and Ren, A}, title = {Tripartite Interactions Between Endophytic Fungi, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Leymus chinensis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {98-109}, pmid = {31177395}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Poaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Grasses often establish multiple simultaneous symbiotic associations with endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Many studies have examined pair-wise interactions between plants and endophytic fungi or between plants and AMF, overlooking the interplays among multiple endosymbionts and their combined impacts on hosts. Here, we examined both the way in which each symbiont affects the other symbionts and the tripartite interactions between leaf endophytic fungi, AMF, and Leymus chinensis. As for AMF, different species (Glomus etunicatum, GE; Glomus mosseae, GM; Glomus claroideum, GC; and Glomus intraradices, GI) and AMF richness (no AMF, single AMF taxa, double AMF mixtures, triple AMF mixtures, and all four together) were considered. Our results showed that significant interactions were observed between endophytes and AMF, with endophytes interacting antagonistically with GM but synergistically with GI. No definitive interactions were observed between the endophytes and GE or GC. Additionally, the concentration of endophytes in the leaf sheath was positively correlated with the concentration of AMF in the roots under low AMF richness. The shoot biomass of L. chinensis was positively related to both endophyte concentration and AMF concentration, with only endophytes contributing to shoot biomass more than AMF. Endophytes and AMF increased shoot growth by contributing to phosphorus uptake. The interactive effects of endophytes and AMF on host growth were affected by the identity of AMF species. The beneficial effect of the endophytes decreased in response to GM but increased in response to GI. However, no influences were observed with other GC and GE. In addition, endophyte presence can alter the response of host plants to AMF richness. When leaf endophytes were absent, shoot biomass increased with higher AMF richness, only the influence of AMF species identity outweighed that of AMF richness. However, when leaf endophytes were present, no significant association was observed between AMF richness and shoot biomass. AMF species identity rather than AMF richness promoted shoot growth. The results of this study demonstrate that the outcomes of interspecific symbiotic interactions are very complex and vary with partner identity such that the effects of simultaneous symbioses cannot be generalized and highlight the need for studies to evaluate fitness response of all three species, as the interactive effects may not be the same for each partner.}, } @article {pmid31176943, year = {2019}, author = {Rempel, A and de Souza Sossella, F and Margarites, AC and Astolfi, AL and Steinmetz, RLR and Kunz, A and Treichel, H and Colla, LM}, title = {Bioethanol from Spirulina platensis biomass and the use of residuals to produce biomethane: An energy efficient approach.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {288}, number = {}, pages = {121588}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121588}, pmid = {31176943}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; *Microalgae ; *Spirulina ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to produce bioethanol using Spirulina platensis biomass and the use of saccharification and fermentation wastes of bioethanol production to produce biomethane. The potential for energy generation in each technological route was quantified. Both, the enzymatic hydrolysis of the microalgae polysaccharides and the fermentation process, presented efficiencies above 80%. The fermentation of the hydrolyzate into ethanol was possible without the addition of synthetic nutrients to the must. The direct conversion of Spirulina biomass to biomethane had an energy potential of 16,770 kJ.kg[-1], while bioethanol production from the hydrolysed biomass presented 4,664 kJ.kg[-1]. However, the sum of the energy potential obtained by producing bioethanol followed by the production of biomethane with the saccharification and fermentation residues was 13,945 kJ.kg[-1]. Despite this, the same raw material was able to produce both biofuels, demonstrating that Spirulina microalgae is a promising alternative to contribute in the field of renewable energies.}, } @article {pmid31176662, year = {2019}, author = {Olivieri, E and Epis, S and Castelli, M and Varotto Boccazzi, I and Romeo, C and Desirò, A and Bazzocchi, C and Bandi, C and Sassera, D}, title = {Tissue tropism and metabolic pathways of Midichloria mitochondrii suggest tissue-specific functions in the symbiosis with Ixodes ricinus.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {1070-1077}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.05.019}, pmid = {31176662}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Italy ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Rickettsiales/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Viral Tropism ; }, abstract = {A wide range of arthropod species harbour bacterial endosymbionts in various tissues, many of them playing important roles in the fitness and biology of their hosts. In several cases, many different symbionts have been reported to coexist simultaneously within the same host and synergistic or antagonistic interactions can occur between them. While the associations with endosymbiotic bacteria have been widely studied in many insect species, in ticks such interactions are less investigated. The females and immatures of Ixodes ricinus (Ixodidae), the most common hard tick in Europe, harbour the intracellular endosymbiont "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii" with a prevalence up to 100%, suggesting a mutualistic relationship. Considering that the tissue distribution of a symbiont might be indicative of its functional role in the physiology of the host, we investigated M. mitochondrii specific localization pattern and the corresponding abundance in selected organs of I. ricinus females. We paired these experiments with in silico analysis of the metabolic pathways of M. mitochondrii, inferred from the available genome sequence, and additionally compared the presence of these pathways in seven other symbionts commonly harboured by ticks to try to obtain a comparative understanding of their biological effects on the tick hosts. M. mitochondrii was found to be abundant in ovaries and tracheae of unfed I. ricinus, and in ovaries, Malpighian tubules and salivary glands of semi-engorged females. These results, together with the in silico metabolic reconstruction allow to hypothesize that the bacterium could play multiple tissue-specific roles in the host, both enhancing the host fitness (supplying essential nutrients, enhancing the reproductive fitness, helping in the anti-oxidative defence, in the energy production and in the maintenance of homeostasis and water balance) and/or for ensuring its presence in the host population (nutrients acquisition, vertical and horizontal transmission). The ability of M. mitochondrii to colonize different tissues allows to speculate that distinctive sub-populations may display different specializations in accordance with tissue tropism. Our hypotheses should be corroborated with future nutritional and physiological experiments for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid31175450, year = {2019}, author = {Nick, P}, title = {Symbiotic secrets.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {256}, number = {4}, pages = {881-882}, pmid = {31175450}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Humans ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, } @article {pmid31175441, year = {2019}, author = {Pietras, M}, title = {First record of North American fungus Rhizopogon pseudoroseolus in Australia and prediction of its occurrence based on climatic niche and symbiotic partner preferences.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {397-401}, pmid = {31175441}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Australia ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Climate ; New Zealand ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tasmania ; }, abstract = {In 2017 a North American fungus, Rhizopogon pseudoroseolus (Boletales, Basidiomycota), formerly known in Oceania as only occurring in New Zealand, was found for the first time in South Australia. The morphological identification of collected specimens was confirmed using an internal transcribed spacer barcoding approach. In this study, the biogeography of R. pseudoroseolus is also presented, based on sporocarp and ectomycorrhiza records. Species distribution modeling implemented in MaxEnt was used to estimate the distribution of the potential range of R. pseudoroseolus in Australia and New Zealand. The obtained model illustrates, in the background of climatic variables and distribution of a symbiotic partner, its wide range of suitable habitats in New Zealand, South-East Australia, and Tasmania. Precipitation of the coldest quarters and annual mean temperature are important factors influencing the potential distribution of the fungus. The occurrence of Pinus radiata, the ectomycorrhizal partner of R. pseudoroseolus, is also an important factor limiting expansion of the fungus' invasion range.}, } @article {pmid31174466, year = {2019}, author = {Baião, GC and Schneider, DI and Miller, WJ and Klasson, L}, title = {The effect of Wolbachia on gene expression in Drosophila paulistorum and its implications for symbiont-induced host speciation.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {465}, pmid = {31174466}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {P 22634/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 28255/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Drosophila/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; *Genetic Speciation ; Immunity/genetics ; Lipid Metabolism/genetics ; Male ; Muscles/metabolism ; Pheromones/metabolism ; Proteolysis ; RNA-Seq ; Reproduction/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Neotropical fruit fly Drosophila paulistorum (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a species complex in statu nascendi comprising six reproductively isolated semispecies, each harboring mutualistic Wolbachia strains. Although wild type flies of each semispecies are isolated from the others by both pre- and postmating incompatibilities, mating between semispecies and successful offspring development can be achieved once flies are treated with antibiotics to reduce Wolbachia titer. Here we use RNA-seq to study the impact of Wolbachia on D. paulistorum and investigate the hypothesis that the symbiont may play a role in host speciation. For that goal, we analyze samples of heads and abdomens of both sexes of the Amazonian, Centro American and Orinocan semispecies of D. paulistorum.

RESULTS: We identify between 175 and 1192 differentially expressed genes associated with a variety of biological processes that respond either globally or according to tissue, sex or condition in the three semispecies. Some of the functions associated with differentially expressed genes are known to be affected by Wolbachia in other species, such as metabolism and immunity, whereas others represent putative novel phenotypes involving muscular functions, pheromone signaling, and visual perception.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Wolbachia affect a large number of biological functions in D. paulistorum, particularly when present in high titer. We suggest that the significant metabolic impact of the infection on the host may cause several of the other putative and observed phenotypes. We also speculate that the observed differential expression of genes associated with chemical communication and reproduction may be associated with the emergence of pre- and postmating barriers between semispecies, which supports a role for Wolbachia in the speciation of D. paulistorum.}, } @article {pmid31172251, year = {2019}, author = {Taboada, H and Dunn, MF and Meneses, N and Vargas-Lagunas, C and Buchs, N and Andrade-Domínguez, A and Encarnación, S}, title = {Qualitative changes in proteins contained in outer membrane vesicles produced by Rhizobium etli grown in the presence of the nod gene inducer naringenin.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {9}, pages = {1173-1194}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01682-4}, pmid = {31172251}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Binding Sites/genetics ; Flavanones/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/genetics/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Proteome/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this work, we compared the proteomic profiles of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) isolated from Rhizobium etli CE3 grown in minimal medium (MM) with and without exogenous naringenin. One-hundred and seven proteins were present only in OMVs from naringenin-containing cultures (N-OMVs), 57 proteins were unique to OMVs from control cultures lacking naringenin (C-OMVs) and 303 proteins were present in OMVs from both culture conditions (S-OMVs). Although we found no absolute predominance of specific types of proteins in the N-, C- or S-OMV classes, there were categories of proteins that were significantly less or more common in the different OMV categories. Proteins for energy production, translation and membrane and cell wall biogenesis were overrepresented in C-OMVs relative to N-OMVs. Proteins for carbohydrate metabolism and transport and those classified as either general function prediction only, function unknown, or without functional prediction were more common in N-OMVs than C-OMVs. This indicates that naringenin increased the proportion of these proteins in the OMVs, although NodD binding sites were only slightly more common in the promoters of genes for proteins found in the N-OMVs. In addition, OMVs from naringenin-containing cultures contained nodulation factor.}, } @article {pmid31170026, year = {2019}, author = {Belin, BJ and Tookmanian, EM and de Anda, J and Wong, GCL and Newman, DK}, title = {Extended Hopanoid Loss Reduces Bacterial Motility and Surface Attachment and Leads to Heterogeneity in Root Nodule Growth Kinetics in a Bradyrhizobium-Aeschynomene Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {1415-1428}, pmid = {31170026}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {K99 GM126141/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM126141/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Kinetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hopanoids are steroid-like bacterial lipids that enhance membrane rigidity and promote bacterial growth under diverse stresses. Hopanoid biosynthesis genes are conserved in nitrogen-fixing plant symbionts, and we previously found that the extended (C35) class of hopanoids in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens are required for efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the tropical legume host Aeschynomene afraspera. Here, we demonstrate that the nitrogen-fixation defect conferred by extended hopanoid loss can be fully explained by a reduction in root nodule sizes rather than per-bacteroid nitrogen-fixation levels. Using a single-nodule tracking approach to quantify A. afraspera nodule development, we provide a quantitative model of root nodule development in this host, uncovering both the baseline growth parameters for wild-type nodules and a surprising heterogeneity of extended hopanoid mutant developmental phenotypes. These phenotypes include a delay in root nodule initiation and the presence of a subpopulation of nodules with slow growth rates and low final volumes, which are correlated with reduced motility and surface attachment in vitro and lower bacteroid densities in planta, respectively. This work provides a quantitative reference point for understanding the phenotypic diversity of ineffective symbionts in A. afraspera and identifies specific developmental stages affected by extended hopanoid loss for future mechanistic work.}, } @article {pmid31169917, year = {2019}, author = {Gu, W and Neph, R and Ruan, D and Zou, W and Dong, L and Sheng, K}, title = {Robust beam orientation optimization for intensity-modulated proton therapy.}, journal = {Medical physics}, volume = {46}, number = {8}, pages = {3356-3370}, pmid = {31169917}, issn = {2473-4209}, support = {R01CA188300/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R44CA183390/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R43 CA183390/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R43CA183390/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA188300/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R44 CA183390/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA230278/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01CA230278/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Proton Therapy/*methods ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/*methods ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Dose conformality and robustness are equally important in intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Despite the obvious implication of beam orientation on both dosimetry and robustness, an automated, robust beam orientation optimization algorithm has not been incorporated due to the problem complexity and paramount computational challenge. In this study, we developed a novel IMPT framework that integrates robust beam orientation optimization (BOO) and robust fluence map optimization (FMO) in a unified framework.

METHODS: The unified framework is formulated to include a dose fidelity term, a heterogeneity-weighted group sparsity term, and a sensitivity regularization term. The L2, 1/2-norm group sparsity is used to reduce the number of active beams from the initial 1162 evenly distributed noncoplanar candidate beams, to between two and four. A heterogeneity index, which evaluates the lateral tissue heterogeneity of a beam, is used to weigh the group sparsity term. With this index, beams more resilient to setup uncertainties are encouraged. There is a symbiotic relationship between the heterogeneity index and the sensitivity regularization; the integrated optimization framework further improves beam robustness against both range and setup uncertainties. This Sensitivity regularization and Heterogeneity weighting based BOO and FMO framework (SHBOO-FMO) was tested on two skull-base tumor (SBT) patients and two bilateral head-and-neck (H&N) patients. The conventional CTV-based optimized plans (Conv) with SHBOO-FMO beams (SHBOO-Conv) and manual beams (MAN-Conv) were compared to investigate the beam robustness of the proposed method. The dosimetry and robustness of SHBOO-FMO plan were compared against the manual beam plan with CTV-based voxel-wise worst-case scenario approach (MAN-WC).

RESULTS: With SHBOO-FMO method, the beams with superior range robustness over manual beams were selected while the setup robustness was maintained or improved. On average, the lowest [D95%, V95%, V100%] of CTV were increased from [93.85%, 91.06%, 70.64%] in MAN-Conv plans, to [98.62%, 98.61%, 96.17%] in SHBOO-Conv plans with range uncertainties. With setup uncertainties, the average lowest [D98%, D95%, V95%, V100%] of CTV were increased from [92.06%, 94.83%, 94.31%, 78.93%] in MAN-Conv plans, to [93.54%, 96.61%, 97.01%, 91.98%] in SHBOO-Conv plans. Compared with the MAN-WC plans, the final SHBOO-FMO plans achieved comparable plan robustness and better OAR sparing, with an average reduction of [Dmean, Dmax] of [6.31, 6.55] GyRBE for the SBT cases and [1.89, 5.08] GyRBE for the H&N cases from the MAN-WC plans.

CONCLUSION: We developed a novel method to integrate robust BOO and robust FMO into IMPT optimization for a unified solution of both BOO and FMO, generating plans with superior dosimetry and good robustness.}, } @article {pmid31168635, year = {2019}, author = {Ipsilantis, I and Lotos, L and Tsialtas, IT}, title = {Diversity and nodulation effectiveness of rhizobia and mycorrhizal presence in climbing dry beans grown in Prespa lakes plain, Greece.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {9}, pages = {1151-1161}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01679-z}, pmid = {31168635}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Greece ; Lakes ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Prespa lakes plain is an isolated area where about 1000 ha are seeded to Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus coccineus L. Nodulation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) presence and the genetic diversity of rhizobia were evaluated by 16S-ITS-23S-RFLP patterns and by sequencing. The bean rhizobial population in the region was diverse, despite its geographic isolation. No biogeographic relationships were detected, apart from a Rhizobium tropici-related strain that originated from an acidic soil. No clear pattern was detected in clustering with bean species and all isolates formed nodules with both bean species. Most strains were related to Rhizobium leguminosarum and a number of isolates were falling outside the already characterized species of genus Rhizobium. Application of heavy fertilization has resulted in high soil N and P levels, which most likely reduced nodulation and AMF spore presence. However, considerable AMF root length colonization was found in most of the fields.}, } @article {pmid31167992, year = {2019}, author = {Ohbayashi, T and Itoh, H and Lachat, J and Kikuchi, Y and Mergaert, P}, title = {Burkholderia Gut Symbionts Associated with European and Japanese Populations of the Dock Bug Coreus marginatus (Coreoidea: Coreidae).}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {219-222}, pmid = {31167992}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Europe ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Heteroptera/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Japan ; Male ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects of the heteropteran superfamilies Coreoidea and Lygaeoidea are consistently associated with symbionts of a specific group of the genus Burkholderia, called the "stinkbug-associated beneficial and environmental (SBE)" group. The symbiosis is maintained by the environmental transmission of symbionts. We investigated European and Japanese populations of the dock bug Coreus marginatus (Coreoidea: Coreidae). High nymphal mortality in reared aposymbiotic insects suggested an obligate host-symbiont association in this species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that all 173 individuals investigated were colonized by Burkholderia, which were further assigned to different subgroups of the SBE in a region-dependent pattern.}, } @article {pmid31166161, year = {2019}, author = {Sazanova, AL and Safronova, VI and Kuznetsova, IG and Karlov, DS and Belimov, AA and Andronov, EE and Chirak, ER and Popova, JP and Verkhozina, AV and Willems, A and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Bosea caraganae sp. nov. a new species of slow-growing bacteria isolated from root nodules of the relict species Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir. originating from Mongolia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2687-2695}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003509}, pmid = {31166161}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobiaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Caragana/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mongolia ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two Gram-stain-negative strains, RCAM04680[T] and RCAM04685, were isolated from root nodules of the relict legume Caragana jubata (Pall.) Poir. originating from the south-western shore of Lake Khuvsgul (Mongolia). The 16S rRNA gene (rrs) sequencing data showed that these novel isolates belong to the genus Bosea and are phylogenetically closest to the type strains Bosea lathyri LMG 26379[T], Bosea vaviloviae LMG 28367[T], Bosea massiliensis LMG 26221[T] and Bosea lupini LMG 26383[T] (the rrs-similarity levels were 98.7-98.8 %). The recA gene of strain RCAM04680[T] showed the highest sequence similarity to the type strain B. lupini LMG 26383[T] (95.4 %), while its atpD gene was closest to that of B. lathyri LMG 26379[T] (94.4 %). The ITS, dnaK and gyrB sequences of this isolate were most similar to the B. vaviloviae LMG 28367[T] (86.8 % for ITS, 90.4 % for the other genes). The most abundant fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c (40.8 %). The whole genomes of strains RCAM04680[T] and RCAM04685 were identical (100 % average nucleotide identity). The highest average nucleotide identity value (82.8 %) was found between the genome of strain RCAM04680[T] and B. vaviloviae LMG 28367[T]. The common nodABC genes required for legume nodulation were absent in both strains; however, some other symbiotic nol, nod, nif and fix genes were detected. Based on the genetic study, as well as analyses of the whole-cell fatty acid compositions and phenotypic properties, a new species, Boseacaraganae sp. nov. (type strain RCAM04680[T] (=LMG 31125[T]), is proposed.}, } @article {pmid31166074, year = {2019}, author = {Guerrieri, A and Dong, L and Bouwmeester, HJ}, title = {Role and exploitation of underground chemical signaling in plants.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {75}, number = {9}, pages = {2455-2463}, pmid = {31166074}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Pest Control ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The soil ecosystem is composed of a mixture of living organisms and non-living matter as well as the complex interactions between them. In the past 100 years or so, agricultural soil ecosystems have been strongly affected by agricultural practices such as tillage and the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which strongly affect soil nutrient composition, pH and biodiversity. In modern pest management, however, the focus is gradually shifting from crop production through agricultural practices to soil ecosystem protection. In this review we discuss how the underground chemical signals secreted by plant roots play a role in keeping the soil ecosystem in balance and how they affect plant fitness by shaping the root biome, increasing nutrient availability, promoting symbiosis, and attracting beneficial organisms and repelling harmful ones, including other plants. We review a number of fascinating cases, such as signaling molecules with dual, positive and negative, functions and bacterial quorum sensing mimicking molecules. Finally, examples of how these compounds can be exploited in modern pest management are reviewed, and the prospects for future developments discussed. © 2019 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid31165947, year = {2019}, author = {Sakamoto, K and Ogiwara, N and Kaji, T and Sugimoto, Y and Ueno, M and Sonoda, M and Matsui, A and Ishida, J and Tanaka, M and Totoki, Y and Shinozaki, K and Seki, M}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of soybean (Glycine max) root genes differentially expressed in rhizobial, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and dual symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {132}, number = {4}, pages = {541-568}, pmid = {31165947}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) roots establish associations with nodule-inducing rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Both rhizobia and AM fungi have been shown to affect the activity of and colonization by the other, and their interactions can be detected within host plants. Here, we report the transcription profiles of genes differentially expressed in soybean roots in the presence of rhizobial, AM, or rhizobial-AM dual symbiosis, compared with those in control (uninoculated) roots. Following inoculation, soybean plants were grown in a glasshouse for 6 weeks; thereafter their root transcriptomes were analyzed using an oligo DNA microarray. Among the four treatments, the root nodule number and host plant growth were highest in plants with dual symbiosis. We observed that the expression of 187, 441, and 548 host genes was up-regulated and 119, 1,439, and 1,298 host genes were down-regulated during rhizobial, AM, and dual symbiosis, respectively. The expression of 34 host genes was up-regulated in each of the three symbioses. These 34 genes encoded several membrane transporters, type 1 metallothionein, and transcription factors in the MYB and bHLH families. We identified 56 host genes that were specifically up-regulated during dual symbiosis. These genes encoded several nodulin proteins, phenylpropanoid metabolism-related proteins, and carbonic anhydrase. The nodulin genes up-regulated by the AM fungal colonization probably led to the observed increases in root nodule number and host plant growth. Some other nodulin genes were down-regulated specifically during AM symbiosis. Based on the results above, we suggest that the contribution of AM fungal colonization is crucial to biological N2-fixation and host growth in soybean with rhizobial-AM dual symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31164991, year = {2019}, author = {Oishi, S and Moriyama, M and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Morphogenesis and development of midgut symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Zoological letters}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {31164991}, issn = {2056-306X}, abstract = {Diverse insects are intimately associated with microbial symbionts, which play a variety of biological roles in their adaptation to and survival in the natural environment. Such insects often possess specialized organs for hosting the microbial symbionts. What developmental processes and mechanisms underlie the formation of the host organs for microbial symbiosis is of fundamental biological interest but poorly understood. Here we investigate the morphogenesis of the midgut symbiotic organ and the process of symbiont colonization therein during the developmental course of the stinkbug Plautia stali. Upon hatching, the midgut is a simple and smooth tube. Subsequently, symbiont colonization to the posterior midgut occurs, and thickening and folding of the midgut epithelium proceed during the first instar period. By the second instar, rudimentary crypts have formed, and their inner cavities are colonized by the symbiotic bacteria. From the second instar to the fourth instar, while the alimentary tract grows and the posterior midgut is established as the symbiotic organ with numerous crypts, the anterior midgut and the posterior midgut are structurally and functionally isolated by a strong constriction in the middle. By the early fifth instar, the midgut symbiotic organ attains the maximal length, but toward the mid fifth instar, the basal region of each crypt starts to constrict and narrow, which deforms the midgut symbiotic organ as a whole into a shorter, thicker and twisted shape. By the late fifth instar to adulthood, the crypts are constricted off, by which the symbiotic bacteria are confined in the crypt cavities and isolated from the midgut main tract, and concurrently, the strong midgut constriction in the middle becomes loose and open, by which the food flow from the anterior midgut to the posterior midgut recovers. This study provides the most detailed and comprehensive descriptions ever reported on the morphogenesis of the symbiotic organ and the process of symbiont colonization in an obligatory insect-bacterium gut symbiotic system. Considering that P. stali is recently emerging as a useful model system for experimentally studying the intimate insect-microbe gut symbiosis, the knowledge obtained in this study establishes the foundation for the further development of this research field.}, } @article {pmid31164869, year = {2019}, author = {Belforte, FS and Fernandez, N and Tonín Monzón, F and Rosso, AD and Quesada, S and Cimolai, MC and Millán, A and Cerrone, GE and Frechtel, GD and Burcelin, R and Coluccio Leskow, F and Penas-Steinhardt, A}, title = {Getting to Know the Gut Microbial Diversity of Metropolitan Buenos Aires Inhabitants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {965}, pmid = {31164869}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {T37 MD001452/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the field of immunology has been revolutionized by the growing understanding of the fundamental role of microbiota in the immune system function. The immune system has evolved to maintain a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. The aim of our study was to know in depth the uncharacterized metagenome of the Buenos Aires (BA) city population and its metropolitan area, being the second most populated agglomeration in the southern hemisphere. For this purpose, we evaluated 30 individuals (age: 35.23 ± 8.26 years and BMI: 23.91 ± 3.4 kg/m[2]), from the general population of BA. The hypervariable regions V3-V4 of the bacterial 16S gene was sequenced by MiSeq-Illumina system, obtaining 47526 ± 4718 sequences/sample. The dominant phyla were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria. Additionally, we compared the microbiota of BA with other westernized populations (Santiago de Chile, Rosario-Argentina, United States-Human-microbiome-project, Bologna-Italy) and the Hadza population of hunter-gatherers. The unweighted UniFrac clustered together all westernized populations, leaving the hunter-gatherer population from Hadza out. In particular, Santiago de Chile's population turns out to be the closest to BA's, principally due to the presence of Verrucomicrobiales of the genus Akkermansia. These microorganisms have been proposed as a hallmark of a healthy gut. Finally, westernized populations showed more abundant metabolism related KEEG pathways than hunter-gatherers, including carbohydrate metabolism (amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism), amino acid metabolism (alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism), lipid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and sulfur metabolism. These findings contribute to promote research and comparison of the microbiome in different human populations, in order to develop more efficient therapeutic strategies for the restoration of a healthy dialogue between host and environment.}, } @article {pmid31164126, year = {2019}, author = {Kong, W and Huang, C and Shi, J and Li, Y and Jiang, X and Duan, Q and Huang, Y and Duan, Y and Zhu, X}, title = {Recycling of Chinese herb residues by endophytic and probiotic fungus Aspergillus cristatus CB10002 for the production of medicinal valuable anthraquinones.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {102}, pmid = {31164126}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Anthraquinones/*metabolism ; Aspergillus/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*metabolism ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Plants, Medicinal/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The global prevalence of traditional Chinese medicine stimulates the prosperous development of herb medicines, but the annual generation of massive herb residues becomes big issues about environmental pollution and waste of resources. Microbes play important roles in the circulation of substances in nature, and endophytes represent an underexplored microbial resource possessing the unique symbiotic relationship with plants, not only for discovery of secondary metabolites, but also for potential green recycling of herb residues.

RESULTS: The recycling capacities of several endophytic strains were respectively evaluated via solid state fermentation with herb residues of commercial Huazhenghuisheng oral-liquid (HOL). Among them, Aspergillus cristatus CB10002, a probiotic fungus isolated from Chinese Fu-brick tea, was competent to recycle HOL residues for the production of medicinal valuable anthraquinones, in which four of them, especially citreorosein with significant anti-obesity activity, were first discovered in A. cristatus. Subsequent quantitative analysis showed that about 2.0 mg/g citreorosein and 7.5 mg/g total anthraquinones could be obtained after 35-day fermentation, which was very competitive and economically beneficial. Further nutritional comparisons also revealed that the recycling process indeed ameliorated the nutrients of HOL residues, and thus proposed a possibility to directly dispose the final leftovers as a compost organic fertilizer.

CONCLUSIONS: The endophytic and probiotic fungus A. cristatus CB10002 isolated from Chinese Fu-brick tea was screened out to effectively reutilize HOL residues for the production of nine medicinal valuable anthraquinones, whose biosynthesis may be regulated by the induction of HOL residues. The competitive yields of these anthraquinones, as well as the certain composting properties of final leftovers, have made the microbial recycling of HOL residues economically beneficial. Our work demonstrated a promising applied potential of A. cristatus in reutilization of herb residues, and provided a practical strategy for sustainable and value-added microbial recycling of herb residues.}, } @article {pmid31163164, year = {2019}, author = {Havird, JC and Forsythe, ES and Williams, AM and Werren, JH and Dowling, DK and Sloan, DB}, title = {Selfish Mitonuclear Conflict.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {R496-R511}, pmid = {31163164}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {F32 GM116361/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/physiology ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*physiology ; Plastids/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria, a nearly ubiquitous feature of eukaryotes, are derived from an ancient symbiosis. Despite billions of years of cooperative coevolution - in what is arguably the most important mutualism in the history of life - the persistence of mitochondrial genomes also creates conditions for genetic conflict with the nucleus. Because mitochondrial genomes are present in numerous copies per cell, they are subject to both within- and among-organism levels of selection. Accordingly, 'selfish' genotypes that increase their own proliferation can rise to high frequencies even if they decrease organismal fitness. It has been argued that uniparental (often maternal) inheritance of cytoplasmic genomes evolved to curtail such selfish replication by minimizing within-individual variation and, hence, within-individual selection. However, uniparental inheritance creates conditions for cytonuclear conflict over sex determination and sex ratio, as well as conditions for sexual antagonism when mitochondrial variants increase transmission by enhancing maternal fitness but have the side-effect of being harmful to males (i.e., 'mother's curse'). Here, we review recent advances in understanding selfish replication and sexual antagonism in the evolution of mitochondrial genomes and the mechanisms that suppress selfish interactions, drawing parallels and contrasts with other organelles (plastids) and bacterial endosymbionts that arose more recently. Although cytonuclear conflict is widespread across eukaryotes, it can be cryptic due to nuclear suppression, highly variable, and lineage-specific, reflecting the diverse biology of eukaryotes and the varying architectures of their cytoplasmic genomes.}, } @article {pmid31162896, year = {2019}, author = {Polienko, AK}, title = {[Peculiarities morphology and structure of the uroliths].}, journal = {Urologiia (Moscow, Russia : 1999)}, volume = {}, number = {2}, pages = {21-25}, pmid = {31162896}, issn = {1728-2985}, mesh = {Humans ; Microscopy/*methods ; Minerals/*analysis ; Urinary Calculi/*chemistry/*diagnostic imaging/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {THE AIM: According to statistical data of a number of the countries, have an urolithic disease from 5% to 15% of the population today. A recurrence arises at 50-85% of patients. The purpose of this work was complex studying of morphology, structure, mineral structure of urolit, identification of regularities of their formation, establishment of interrelation between mineral and organic matter in structure of urolit.

MATERIALS: the urinary stones from the urology departments of hospitals and clinics of the Tomsk region (Russia).

METHOD: s: crystallomorphological (the study of the surface morphology of uroliths binocular and trinocular microscopes); polarizing optical (study of the mineral composition of uroliths on a polarizing microscope); x-ray crystallography (the study of spectral composition on the apparatus DRON-3); electron microscopic (study of the peculiarities of morphology of crystals in an electron microscope).

RESULTS: On features of morphology of a surface four types of urolit are allocated: druzovidny, sferolitovy, combined, korallovidny. Structural kinds of urolit: crystal and granular, dendritovidny, combined, rhythmic - zone. In structure of urolit the following types of rhythms are established: zone, granular, combined. In the urolitakh with rhythmic - the zone structure allocated elements of their building: kernel, layer, zone, rhythm. A mineral part of uric stones is presented by the crystals belonging to the classes: oxalates, phosphates, urat .

SUMMARY: The peculiarities of the morphology of the selected four types of uroliths: druzoid, with, combined, coral. Structural variations uroliths: crystal-grained Shelly, dendritic, combined, rhythmically zoned. In the structure of uroliths, the following types of rhythms: zoned, granular, combined. In urolith with rhythmically zoned structure selected elements of their structure: core, layer, area, rhythm.

DISCUSSION: Morphological and structural features of the structure of urolites, especially the presence of rhythmic zoning, due to the alternation of layers of mineral and organic matter, indicate a close relationship between the living organism and the organo-mineral aggregate in the human urinary system. With a high degree of confidence we can talk about the symbiosis of living and mineral matter in the human body; as a result of this symbiosis, organic-mineral formations are formed, which are often the further cause of some diseases (for example, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis).

CONCLUSION: The complex research of uric stones allows to obtain important information on their structure, structure and features of morphology. Morphological and structural features of the structure of urolit, in particular existence of the rhythmic zonality caused by alternation of layers of mineral and organic matter demonstrate close interrelation between a live organism and the organo-mineral unit in an urinary system of the person.}, } @article {pmid31162610, year = {2019}, author = {Etienne-Mesmin, L and Chassaing, B and Desvaux, M and De Paepe, K and Gresse, R and Sauvaitre, T and Forano, E and de Wiele, TV and Schüller, S and Juge, N and Blanquet-Diot, S}, title = {Experimental models to study intestinal microbes-mucus interactions in health and disease.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {457-489}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuz013}, pmid = {31162610}, issn = {1574-6976}, support = {BBS/E/F/00044452/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Mice ; *Microbial Interactions ; Models, Animal ; Mucins/chemistry/metabolism ; Mucus/*microbiology ; Rats ; }, abstract = {A close symbiotic relationship exists between the intestinal microbiota and its host. A critical component of gut homeostasis is the presence of a mucus layer covering the gastrointestinal tract. Mucus is a viscoelastic gel at the interface between the luminal content and the host tissue that provides a habitat to the gut microbiota and protects the intestinal epithelium. The review starts by setting up the biological context underpinning the need for experimental models to study gut bacteria-mucus interactions in the digestive environment. We provide an overview of the structure and function of intestinal mucus and mucins, their interactions with intestinal bacteria (including commensal, probiotics and pathogenic microorganisms) and their role in modulating health and disease states. We then describe the characteristics and potentials of experimental models currently available to study the mechanisms underpinning the interaction of mucus with gut microbes, including in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models. We then discuss the limitations and challenges facing this field of research.}, } @article {pmid31161557, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, X and Zou, X}, title = {Modeling the Potential Role of Engineered Symbiotic Bacteria in Malaria Control.}, journal = {Bulletin of mathematical biology}, volume = {81}, number = {7}, pages = {2569-2595}, doi = {10.1007/s11538-019-00619-8}, pmid = {31161557}, issn = {1522-9602}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/microbiology/parasitology ; Bioengineering ; *Biological Control Agents ; Cameroon ; Female ; Humans ; Malaria/*prevention & control/transmission ; Male ; Mathematical Concepts ; *Models, Biological ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/parasitology ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Recent experimental study suggests that the engineered symbiotic bacteria Serratia AS1 may provide a novel, effective and sustainable biocontrol of malaria. These recombinant bacteria have been shown to be able to rapidly disseminate throughout mosquito populations and to efficiently inhibit development of malaria parasites in mosquitoes in controlled laboratory experiments. In this paper, we develop a climate-based malaria model which involves both vertical and horizontal transmissions of the engineered Serratia AS1 bacteria in mosquito population. We show that the dynamics of the model system is totally determined by the vector reproduction ratio [Formula: see text], and the basic reproduction ratio [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text], then the mosquito-free state is globally attractive. If [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then the disease-free periodic solution is globally attractive. If [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then the positive periodic solution is globally attractive. Numerically, we verify the obtained analytic result and evaluate the effects of releasing the engineered Serratia AS1 bacteria in field by conducting a case study for Douala, Cameroon. We find that ideally, by using Serratia AS1 alone, it takes at least 25 years to eliminate malaria from Douala. This implies that continued long-term investment is needed in the fight against malaria and confirms the necessity of integrating multiple control measures.}, } @article {pmid31161428, year = {2020}, author = {Oakley, D and Onggo, BS and Worthington, D}, title = {Symbiotic simulation for the operational management of inpatient beds: model development and validation using Δ-method.}, journal = {Health care management science}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {153-169}, pmid = {31161428}, issn = {1386-9620}, mesh = {Bed Occupancy/*methods ; *Computer Simulation ; Efficiency, Organizational ; Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration ; Hospital Administration/*methods ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients/statistics & numerical data ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data ; Models, Statistical ; Patient Admission/*statistics & numerical data ; Resource Allocation ; }, abstract = {In many modern hospitals, resources are shared between patients who require immediate care, and must be dealt with as they arrive (emergency patients), and those whose care requirements are partly known to the hospital some time in advance (elective patients). Catering for these two types of patients is a challenging short-term operational decision-making problem, since some portion of each resource must be set aside for emergency patients when planning for the number and type of elective patients to admit. This paper shows how symbiotic simulation can help hospitals with important short-term operational decision making. We demonstrate how a symbiotic simulation model can be developed from an existing simulation model by adding the ability to load the state of the physical system at run-time and by making use of conditional length-of-stay distributions. The model is parameterised using 18 months of patient administrative data from an Anonymised General Hospital. Further, we propose a new Δ-Method that is suitable for validating a stochastic symbiotic simulation model. We demonstrate the benefit of our symbiotic simulation by showing how it can be used as an early warning system, and how additional patient-level information which might only become available after admission, can affect the predicted bed census.}, } @article {pmid31161283, year = {2019}, author = {Mu, X and Luo, J}, title = {Evolutionary analyses of NIN-like proteins in plants and their roles in nitrate signaling.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {76}, number = {19}, pages = {3753-3764}, pmid = {31161283}, issn = {1420-9071}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/classification/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important essential macro-elements for plant growth and development, and nitrate represents the most abundant inorganic form of N in soils. The nitrate uptake and assimilation processes are finely tuned according to the available nitrate in the surroundings as well as by the internal finely coordinated signaling pathways. The NIN-like proteins (NLPs) harbor both RWP-RK, and Phox and Bem1 (PB1) domains, and they belong to the well-characterized plant-specific RWP-RK transcription factor gene family. NLPs are known to be involved in the nitrate signaling pathway by activating downstream target genes, and thus they are implicated in the primary nitrate response in the nucleus via their RWP-RK domains. The PB1 domain is a ubiquitous protein-protein interaction domain and it comprises another regulatory layer for NLPs via the protein interactions within NLPs or with other essential components. Recently, Ca[2+]-Ca[2+] sensor protein kinase-NLP signaling cascades have been identified and they allow NLPs to have central roles in mediating the nitrate signaling pathway. NLPs play essential roles in many aspects of plant growth and development via the finely tuned nitrate signaling pathway. Furthermore, recent studies have highlighted the emerging roles played by NLPs in the N starvation response, nodule formation in legumes, N and P interactions, and root cap release in higher plants. In this review, we consider recent advances in the identification, evolution, molecular characteristics, and functions of the NLP gene family in plant growth and development.}, } @article {pmid31161092, year = {2019}, author = {Tine, RC and Dia, L and Sylla, K and Sow, D and Lelo, S and Ndour, CT}, title = {Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma infections among women with vaginal discharge at Fann teaching hospital in Senegal.}, journal = {Tropical parasitology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {45-53}, pmid = {31161092}, issn = {2229-5070}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trichomonas vaginalis and genital Mycoplasmas are two synergistic pathogens, but in many settings, limited data on the co-infection by Trichomonas and Mycoplasma are available.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing Mycoplasma prevalence and its association with Trichomonas vaginalis among women with vaginal discharge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of laboratory records (2012 and 2013) from patients referred at the Fann teaching hospital in Dakar Senegal for vaginal discharge was carried out. Detection of genital mycoplasmas was based on the commercial Kit Mycoplasma Duo Bio-Rad™ using endo-cervical swabs. Vaginal swabs were collected and examined using optic microscopy with 40x magnification to detect T. vaginalis.

RESULTS: Overall, data from 1257 women were analysed. Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis represented 57.4%, 95%CI(54.6-60.1), versus 54.9%, 95%CI(52.1-57.5) for Ureaplasma urealyticum. Trichomonas vaginalis infection was observed with a frequency of 3%. Out of the 50 patients with trichomoniasis, 76% of them were co-infected by Mycoplasma hominis and patients with Trichomonas vaginalis had an increased risk of acquiring Mycoplasma infection (adjusted OR:2.5, 95%CI(1.2-5.2);p=0.02)).

CONCLUSION: Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasmas are two closely associated pathogens in the urogenital tract of women. This clinically significant symbiotic action may require systematic screening of Mycoplasma among patients with trichomoniasis for optimal management of sexually transmitted infections.}, } @article {pmid31160984, year = {2019}, author = {Trinchera, A and Ciaccia, C and Testani, E and Baratella, V and Campanelli, G and Leteo, F and Canali, S}, title = {Mycorrhiza-mediated interference between cover crop and weed in organic winter cereal agroecosystems: The mycorrhizal colonization intensity indicator.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {5593-5604}, pmid = {31160984}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The mycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic organisms able to provide many benefits to crop production by supplying a set of ecosystem functions. A recent ecological approach based on the ability of the fungi community to influence plant-plant interactions by extraradical mycelium development may be applied to diversified, herbaceous agroecosystems. Our hypothesis is that the introduction of a winter cereal cover crop (CC) as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-host plant in an organic rotation can boosts the AMF colonization of the other plants, influencing crop-weed interference. In a 4-years organic rotation, the effect of two winter cereal CC, rye and spelt, on weed density and AMF colonization was evaluated. The AMF extraradical mycelium on CC and weeds roots was observed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. By joining data of plant density and mycorrhization, we built the mycorrhizal colonization intensity of the Agroecosystem indicator (MA%). Both the CC were colonized by soil AMF, being the mycorrhizal colonization intensity (M%) affected by environmental conditions. Under CC, the weed density was reduced, due to the increase of the reciprocal competition in favor of CC, which benefited from mycorrhizal colonization and promoted the development of AMF extraradical mycelium. Even though non-host plants, some weed species showed an increased mycorrhizal colonization in presence of CC respect to the control. Under intense rainfall, the MA% was less sensitive to the CC introduction. On the opposite, under highly competitive conditions, both the CC boosted significantly the mycorrhization of coexistent plants in the agroecosystem. The proposed indicator measured the agroecological service provided by the considered CCs in promoting or inhibiting the overall AMF colonization of the studied agroecosystems, as affected by weed selection and growth: It informs about agroecosystem resilience and may be profitably applied to indicate the extent of the linkage of specific crop traits to agroecosystem services, contributing to further develop the functional biodiversity theory.}, } @article {pmid31160787, year = {2019}, author = {Klimovich, A and Wittlieb, J and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Transgenesis in Hydra to characterize gene function and visualize cell behavior.}, journal = {Nature protocols}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {2069-2090}, doi = {10.1038/s41596-019-0173-3}, pmid = {31160787}, issn = {1750-2799}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Blastomeres ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Hydra/*cytology/embryology/*genetics ; Microinjections ; RNA, Small Interfering ; }, abstract = {The freshwater polyp Hydra is a cnidarian used as a model organism in a number of fields, including the study of the origin and evolution of developmental mechanisms, aging, symbiosis and host-microbe interactions. Here, we describe a procedure for the establishment of stable transgenic Hydra lines by embryo microinjection. The three-stage protocol comprises (i) the design and preparation of a transgenic construct, (ii) the microinjection of the vector into early embryos of Hydra vulgaris, and (iii) the selection and enrichment of mosaic animals in order to develop uniformly transgenic clonal lines. The preparation of a transgenic construct requires ~2 weeks, and transgenic lines can be obtained within 3 months. The method allows constitutive or inducible gain- and loss-of-function approaches, as well as in vivo tracing of individual cells. Hydra polyps carrying transgenic cells reveal functional properties of the ancestral circuitry controlling animal development.}, } @article {pmid31160352, year = {2019}, author = {Chiu, CH and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Erratum: Mechanisms and Impact of Symbiotic Phosphate Acquisition.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/cshperspect.a038281}, pmid = {31160352}, issn = {1943-0264}, } @article {pmid31159921, year = {2019}, author = {Hambleton, EA and Jones, VAS and Maegele, I and Kvaskoff, D and Sachsenheimer, T and Guse, A}, title = {Sterol transfer by atypical cholesterol-binding NPC2 proteins in coral-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {31159921}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {GU 1128/3-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG//European Commission/International ; 724715//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/International ; Exploration Grant//Boehringer Ingelheim Stiftung/International ; LTF//European Molecular Biology Organization/International ; Excellence Initiative//Universität Heidelberg/International ; TRR83//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; SFB1324//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cholesterol/genetics/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Pancreatic Elastase/*genetics/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/genetics/metabolism ; Sterols/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals depend on intracellular dinoflagellate symbionts that provide nutrients. Besides sugars, the transfer of sterols is essential for corals and other sterol-auxotrophic cnidarians. Sterols are important cell components, and variants of the conserved Niemann-Pick Type C2 (NPC2) sterol transporter are vastly up-regulated in symbiotic cnidarians. Types and proportions of transferred sterols and the mechanism of their transfer, however, remain unknown. Using different pairings of symbiont strains with lines of Aiptasia anemones or Acropora corals, we observe both symbiont- and host-driven patterns of sterol transfer, revealing plasticity of sterol use and functional substitution. We propose that sterol transfer is mediated by the symbiosis-specific, non-canonical NPC2 proteins, which gradually accumulate in the symbiosome. Our data suggest that non-canonical NPCs are adapted to the symbiosome environment, including low pH, and play an important role in allowing corals to dominate nutrient-poor shallow tropical seas worldwide.}, } @article {pmid31159860, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, L and Xie, F and Sun, D and Liu, J and Zhu, W and Mao, S}, title = {Ruminal microbiome-host crosstalk stimulates the development of the ruminal epithelium in a lamb model.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {83}, pmid = {31159860}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Acetates/metabolism ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/metabolism ; Butyrates/metabolism ; Epithelium/microbiology/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rumen/*microbiology/physiology ; Sheep/growth & development/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The development of the rumen is an important physiological challenge for young ruminants. Previous studies have shown that starter feeding can effectively facilitate the growth and development of the rumen in ruminants. However, the mechanism through which starter feeding stimulates the development of the rumen is not clear. Here, we performed an integrated analysis in ruminal microbiota and a host transcriptomic profile in a lamb model with the intervention of starter feed to understand the ruminal microbiome-host crosstalk in stimulating the development of the ruminal epithelium.

RESULTS: Decreased ruminal pH and increased acetate and butyrate concentrations in the rumen, followed by increasing rumen organ index, were observed in lambs supplemented with starter. Using metagenome sequencing in combination with 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, the results showed the abundance of acetate-producing Mitsuokella spp., lactate-producing Sharpea spp., lactate-utilizing Megasphaera spp., and Entodinium spp. was enriched in rumen microbial communities in the starter-feed group. The abundances of genes involved in sugar degradation were decreased in starter-feed lambs, but the GH13 encoding α-amylase was obviously increased. Rumen epithelial transcriptome analysis revealed that seven differentially expressed genes, including MAPK1, PIK3CB, TNFSF10, ITGA6, SNAI2, SAV1, and DLG, related to the cell growth module were upregulated, and BAD's promotion of cell death was downregulated. Correlation analysis revealed that the increase in the concentrations of acetate and butyrate significantly correlated with the expression of these genes, which indicates acetate and butyrate likely acted as important drivers in the ruminal microbiome-host crosstalk.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study comprehensively describes the symbiotic relationship between the rumen microbiota and the host in lambs after starter feeding. Our data demonstrates that the microbiome-driven generation of acetate and butyrate mediated the growth-related genes' regulation of the growth-associated signalling pathway in the ruminal epithelium. These co-development networks regulated many physiological processes in the epithelium, including papillae morphology and rumen epithelial growth.}, } @article {pmid31159445, year = {2019}, author = {Shen, G and Ju, W and Liu, Y and Guo, X and Zhao, W and Fang, L}, title = {Impact of Urea Addition and Rhizobium Inoculation on Plant Resistance in Metal Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31159445}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Metals/*analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Shoots/chemistry ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; Urea/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis has been heavily investigated for their potential to enhance plant metal resistance in contaminated soil. However, the extent to which plant resistance is associated with the nitrogen (N) supply in symbiont is still uncertain. This study investigates the effect of urea or/and rhizobium (Sinorhizobium meliloti) application on the growth of Medicago sativa and resistance in metals contaminated soil (mainly with Cu). The results show that Cu uptake in plant shoots increased by 41.7%, 69%, and 89.3% with urea treatment, rhizobium inoculation, and their combined treatment, respectively, compared to the control group level. In plant roots, the corresponding values were 1.9-, 1.7-, and 1.5-fold higher than the control group values, respectively. Statistical analysis identified that N content was the dominant variable contributing to Cu uptake in plants. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between plant oxidative stress and N content, indicating that N plays a key role in plant resistance. Oxidative damage decreased after rhizobium inoculation as the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase in roots and peroxidase in plant shoots) were stimulated, enhancing plant resistance and promoting plant growth. Our results suggest that individual rhizobium inoculation, without urea treatment, is the most recommended approach for effective phytoremediation of contaminated land.}, } @article {pmid31158486, year = {2019}, author = {Titus, BM and Benedict, C and Laroche, R and Gusmão, LC and Van Deusen, V and Chiodo, T and Meyer, CP and Berumen, ML and Bartholomew, A and Yanagi, K and Reimer, JD and Fujii, T and Daly, M and Rodríguez, E}, title = {Phylogenetic relationships among the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {139}, number = {}, pages = {106526}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106526}, pmid = {31158486}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Models, Biological ; *Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/*classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis has been a model system for understanding fundamental evolutionary and ecological processes. However, our evolutionary understanding of this symbiosis comes entirely from studies of clownfishes. A holistic understanding of a model mutualism requires systematic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic insight into both partners. Here, we conduct the largest phylogenetic analysis of sea anemones (Order Actiniaria) to date, with a focus on expanding the biogeographic and taxonomic sampling of the 10 nominal clownfish-hosting species. Using a combination of mtDNA and nuDNA loci we test (1) the monophyly of each clownfish-hosting family and genus, (2) the current anemone taxonomy that suggests symbioses with clownfishes evolved multiple times within Actiniaria, and (3) whether, like the clownfishes, there is evidence that host anemones have a Coral Triangle biogeographic origin. Our phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrates widespread poly- and para-phyly at the family and genus level, particularly within the family Stichodactylidae and genus Stichodactyla, and suggests that symbioses with clownfishes evolved minimally three times within sea anemones. We further recover evidence for a Tethyan biogeographic origin for some clades. Our data provide the first evidence that clownfish and some sea anemone hosts have different biogeographic origins, and that there may be cryptic species of host anemones. Finally, our findings reflect the need for a major taxonomic revision of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.}, } @article {pmid31156674, year = {2019}, author = {Gómez-Gallego, T and Benabdellah, K and Merlos, MA and Jiménez-Jiménez, AM and Alcon, C and Berthomieu, P and Ferrol, N}, title = {The Rhizophagus irregularis Genome Encodes Two CTR Copper Transporters That Mediate Cu Import Into the Cytosol and a CTR-Like Protein Likely Involved in Copper Tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {604}, pmid = {31156674}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increase fitness of their host plants under Cu deficient and toxic conditions. In this study, we have characterized two Cu transporters of the CTR family (RiCTR1 and RiCTR2) and a CTR-like protein (RiCTR3A) of Rhizophagus irregularis. Functional analyses in yeast revealed that RiCTR1 encodes a plasma membrane Cu transporter, RiCTR2 a vacuolar Cu transporter and RiCTR3A a plasma membrane protein involved in Cu tolerance. RiCTR1 was more highly expressed in the extraradical mycelia (ERM) and RiCTR2 in the intraradical mycelia (IRM). In the ERM, RiCTR1 expression was up-regulated by Cu deficiency and down-regulated by Cu toxicity. RiCTR2 expression increased only in the ERM grown under severe Cu-deficient conditions. These data suggest that RiCTR1 is involved in Cu uptake by the ERM and RiCTR2 in mobilization of vacuolar Cu stores. Cu deficiency decreased mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscule frequency, but increased RiCTR1 and RiCTR2 expression in the IRM, which suggest that the IRM has a high Cu demand. The two alternatively spliced products of RiCTR3, RiCTR3A and RiCTR3B, were more highly expressed in the ERM. Up-regulation of RiCTR3A by Cu toxicity and the yeast complementation assays suggest that RiCTR3A might function as a Cu receptor involved in Cu tolerance.}, } @article {pmid31156662, year = {2019}, author = {Pucciariello, C and Boscari, A and Tagliani, A and Brouquisse, R and Perata, P}, title = {Exploring Legume-Rhizobia Symbiotic Models for Waterlogging Tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {578}, pmid = {31156662}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Unexpected and increasingly frequent extreme precipitation events result in soil flooding or waterlogging. Legumes have the capacity to establish a symbiotic relationship with endosymbiotic atmospheric dinitrogen-fixing rhizobia, thus contributing to natural nitrogen soil enrichment and reducing the need for chemical fertilization. The impact of waterlogging on nitrogen fixation and legume productivity needs to be considered for crop improvement. This review focuses on the legumes-rhizobia symbiotic models. We aim to summarize the mechanisms underlying symbiosis establishment, nodule development and functioning under waterlogging. The mechanisms of oxygen sensing of the host plant and symbiotic partner are considered in view of recent scientific advances.}, } @article {pmid31156660, year = {2019}, author = {von Sivers, L and Jaspar, H and Johst, B and Roese, M and Bitterlich, M and Franken, P and Kühn, C}, title = {Brassinosteroids Affect the Symbiosis Between the AM Fungus Rhizoglomus irregularis and Solanaceous Host Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {571}, pmid = {31156660}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Together with several proteins involved in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling and synthesis, the membrane steroid binding protein 1 (MSBP1) was identified within the interactome of the sucrose transporter of tomato (SlSUT2). We asked whether MSBP1 is also involved in BR signaling as assumed for the AtMSBP1 protein from Arabidopsis and whether it impacts root colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in a similar way as shown previously for SlSUT2. In addition, we asked whether brassinosteroids per se affect efficiency of root colonization by AM fungi. We carried out a set of experiments with transgenic tobacco plants with increased and decreased MSBP1 expression levels. We investigated the plant and the mycorrhizal phenotype of these transgenic plants and tested the involvement of MSBP1 in BR metabolism by application of epi-brassinolide and brassinazole, an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis. We show that the phenotype of the transgenic tobacco plants with increased or reduced MSBP1 expression is consistent with an inhibitory role of MSBP1 in BR signaling. MSBP1 overexpression could be mimicked by brassinazole treatment. Interestingly, manipulation of MSBP1 expression in transgenic tobacco plants not only affected plant growth and development, but also the host plant responses toward colonization with AM fungi, as well as arbuscular architecture. Moreover, we observed that brassinosteroids indeed have a direct impact on the nutrient exchange in AM symbiosis and on the biomass production of colonized host plants. Furthermore, arbuscular morphology is affected by changes in MSBP1 expression and brassinolide or brassinazole treatments. We conclude that host plant growth responses and nutrient exchange within the symbiosis with AM fungi is controlled by brassinosteroids and might be impeded by the MSBP1 protein.}, } @article {pmid31156595, year = {2019}, author = {Bertolazi, AA and de Souza, SB and Ruas, KF and Campostrini, E and de Rezende, CE and Cruz, C and Melo, J and Colodete, CM and Varma, A and Ramos, AC}, title = {Inoculation With Piriformospora indica Is More Efficient in Wild-Type Rice Than in Transgenic Rice Over-Expressing the Vacuolar H[+]-PPase.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1087}, pmid = {31156595}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Achieving food security in a context of environmental sustainability is one of the main challenges of the XXI century. Two competing strategies to achieve this goal are the use of genetically modified plants and the use of plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs). However, few studies assess the response of genetically modified plants to PGPMs. The aim of this study was to compare the response of over-expressing the vacuolar H[+]-PPase (AVP) and wild-type rice types to the endophytic fungus; Piriformospora indica. Oryza sativa plants (WT and AVP) were inoculated with P. indica and 30 days later, morphological, ecophysiological and bioenergetic parameters, and nutrient content were assessed. AVP and WT plant heights were strongly influenced by inoculation with P. indica, which also promoted increases in fresh and dry matter of shoot in both genotypes. This may be related with the stimulatory effect of P. indica on ecophysiological parameters, especially photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intrinsic water use efficiency and carboxylation efficiency. However, there were differences between the genotypes concerning the physiological mechanisms leading to biomass increment. In WT plants, inoculation with P. indica stimulated all H[+] pumps. However, in inoculated AVP plants, H[+]-PPase was stimulated, but P- and V-ATPases were inhibited. Fungal inoculation enhanced nutrient uptake in both shoots and roots of WT and AVP plants, compared to uninoculated plants; but among inoculated genotypes, the nutrient uptake was lower in AVP than in WT plants. These results clearly demonstrate that the symbiosis between P. indica and AVP plants did not benefit those plants, which may be related to the inefficient colonization of this fungus on the transgenic plants, demonstrating an incompatibility of this symbiosis, which needs to be further studied.}, } @article {pmid31156578, year = {2019}, author = {Ramírez-Valdespino, CA and Casas-Flores, S and Olmedo-Monfil, V}, title = {Trichoderma as a Model to Study Effector-Like Molecules.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1030}, pmid = {31156578}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants are capable of perceiving microorganisms by coordinating processes to establish different forms of plant-microbe relationships. Plant colonization is governed in fungal and bacterial systems by secreted effector molecules, suppressing plant defense responses and modulating plant physiology to promote either virulence or compatibility. Proteins, secondary metabolites, and small RNAs have been described as effector molecules that use different mechanisms to establish the interaction. Effector molecules have been studied in more detail due to their involvement in harmful interactions, leading to a negative impact on agriculture. Recently, research groups have started to study the effectors in symbiotic interactions. Interestingly, most symbiotic effectors are members of the same families present in phytopathogens. Nevertheless, the quantity and ratio of secreted effectors depends on the microorganism and the host, suggesting a complex mechanism of recognition between the plant and their associated microorganisms. Fungi belonging to Trichoderma genus interact with plants by inducing their defense system and promoting plant growth. Research suggests that some of these effects are associated with effector molecules that Trichoderma delivers during the association with the plant. In this review, we will focus on the main findings concerning the effector molecules reported in Trichoderma spp. and their role during the interaction with plants, mainly in the molecular dialogue that takes place between them.}, } @article {pmid31155362, year = {2019}, author = {Russell, SL and Chappell, L and Sullivan, W}, title = {A symbiont's guide to the germline.}, journal = {Current topics in developmental biology}, volume = {135}, number = {}, pages = {315-351}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.04.007}, pmid = {31155362}, issn = {1557-8933}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Movement ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/microbiology ; Germ Cells/*physiology ; Stem Cells/cytology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbioses exhibit astounding adaptations, yet all symbionts face the problem of how to reliably associate with host offspring every generation. A common strategy is vertical transmission, in which symbionts are directly transmitted from the female to her offspring. The diversity of symbionts and vertical transmission mechanisms is as expansive as the diversity of eukaryotic host taxa that house them. However, there are several common themes among these mechanisms based on the degree to which symbionts associate with the host germline during transmission. In this review, we detail three distinct vertical transmission strategies, starting with associations that are transmitted from host somatic cells to offspring somatic cells, either due to lacking a germline or avoiding it. A second strategy involves somatically-localized symbionts that migrate into the germline during host development. The third strategy we discuss is one in which the symbiont maintains continuous association with the germline throughout development. Unexpectedly, the vast majority of documented vertically inherited symbionts rely on the second strategy: soma-to-germline migration. Given that not all eukaryotes contain a sequestered germline and instead produce offspring from somatic stem cell lineages, this soma-to-germline migration is discussed in the context of multicellular evolution. Lastly, as recent genomics data have revealed an abundance of horizontal gene transfer events from symbiotic and non-symbiotic bacteria to host genomes, we discuss their impact on eukaryotic host evolution.}, } @article {pmid31154510, year = {2019}, author = {Hemrová, L and Kotilínek, M and Konečná, M and Paulič, R and Jersáková, J and Těšitelová, T and Knappová, J and Münzbergová, Z}, title = {Identification of drivers of landscape distribution of forest orchids using germination experiment and species distribution models.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {190}, number = {2}, pages = {411-423}, pmid = {31154510}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Orchidaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The family of orchids involves a number of critically endangered species. Understanding of drivers of their landscape distribution could provide a valuable insight into their decline. Our objectives were to develop models predicting distribution of selected orchid species-four co-occurring forest orchid species, Cephalanthera rubra, Epipactis atrorubens, E. helleborine, and Neottia nidus-avis-at a landscape scale using a wide range of habitat characteristics. Subsequently, we compared the model predictions with species occurrence and the results of the field germination experiment while considering two germination stages-asymbiotic (early stage) and symbiotic. And finally, we attempted to identify possible drivers of species' landscape distribution (i.e., dispersal, availability of habitat patches, or fungal associates). We have discovered that different habitat characteristics determined the distribution of different orchids. The species also differed in terms of availability of suitable habitat patches and patch occupancy (the highest being E. atrorubens with 80%). Landscape distribution of the species was primarily restricted by the availability of fungal associates (the most important factor for C. rubra) and by the availability of suitable habitat patches (the most important in case of N. nidus-avis). Despite expected easy dispersal of spores, orchid distribution seems to be limited by the availability of fungal associates in the landscape. In contrast, the availability of orchid seeds does not seem to limit their distribution. These results can provide useful guidelines for conservation of the studied species.}, } @article {pmid31153721, year = {2019}, author = {Sobotková, K and Parker, W and Levá, J and Růžková, J and Lukeš, J and Jirků Pomajbíková, K}, title = {Helminth Therapy - From the Parasite Perspective.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {501-515}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2019.04.009}, pmid = {31153721}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Chronic Disease/therapy ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Helminths/*immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*parasitology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {Studies in animal models and humans suggest that intentional exposure to helminths or helminth-derived products may hold promise for treating chronic inflammatory-associated diseases (CIADs). Although the mechanisms underlying 'helminth therapy' are being evaluated, little attention has been paid to the actual organisms in use. Here we examine the notion that, because of the complexity of biological symbiosis, intact helminths rather than helminth-derived products are likely to prove more useful for clinical purposes. Further, weighing potential cost/benefit ratios of various helminths along with other factors, such as feasibility of production, we argue that the four helminths currently in use for CIAD treatments in humans were selected more by happenstance than by design, and that other candidates not yet tested may prove superior.}, } @article {pmid31152905, year = {2019}, author = {Rostami, M and Rostami, S}, title = {Effect of salicylic acid and mycorrhizal symbiosis on improvement of fluoranthene phytoremediation using tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb).}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {70-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.05.171}, pmid = {31152905}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Festuca/*metabolism/microbiology ; Fluorenes ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are an important group of pollutants that are widely distributed in the environment. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of salicylic acid (a phenolic phytohormone) and mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and phytoremediation ability of tall fescue in the soil contaminated by fluoranthene. The initial concentrations of fluoranthene in this study were 100, 200, and 300 mg kg[-1]. The experimental treatments were included: T0 uncultivated soil; T1 cultivated soil with tall fescue; T2 cultivated soil with tall fescue + salicylic acid application; T3 cultivated soil with tall fescue + application of mycorrhizal fungi; T4 cultivated soil with tall fescue + salicylic acid and mycorrhizal fungi application; and P planting tall fescue in uncontaminated soil. The removal of fluoranthene was measured after 90 days. Furthermore, at the end of the experiment, the amount of shoot and root biomass, soil bacteria, and dehydrogenase activity were measured. According to the results, in all levels of contamination, removal of fluoranthene in cultivated treatments significantly was higher than uncultivated treatments. Increasing the concentration of fluoranthene had a negative effect on the shoot and root biomass in different treatments. Salicylic acid and mycorrhizal fungi significantly increased the shoot and root biomass and also the number of soil bacteria, dehydrogenase activity, and fluoranthene removal in T2, T3, and T4 treatments compared to T1. At the highest concentration of fluoranthene, as a result of simultaneous application of salicylic acid and mycorrhizal fungi (T4), the fluoranthene removal increased by 63, 21, 13, and 16% in comparison with T0, T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Based on the results, salicylic acid and mycorrhizal fungi, either alone or in combination, have a significant effect on the improvement of phytoremediation potential in tall fescue.}, } @article {pmid31152194, year = {2019}, author = {Ghorbani, A and Omran, VOG and Razavi, SM and Pirdashti, H and Ranjbar, M}, title = {Piriformospora indica confers salinity tolerance on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) through amelioration of nutrient accumulation, K[+]/Na[+] homeostasis and water status.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {1151-1163}, pmid = {31152194}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Salinity ; Salt Tolerance ; Sodium/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica confers salt tolerance in tomato seedlings by increasing the uptake of nutrients such as N, P and Ca, improving K[+]/Na[+] homoeostasis by regulating the expression of NHXs, SOS1 and CNGC15 genes, maintaining water status by regulating the expression of aquaporins. Piriformospora indica, an endophytic basidiomycete, has been shown to increase the growth and improve the plants tolerance to stressful conditions, especially salinity, by establishing the arbuscular mycorrhiza-like symbiotic relationship in various plant hosts. In the present research, the effect of NaCl treatment (150 mM) and P. indica inoculation on growth, accumulation of nutrients, the transcription level of genes involved in ionic homeostasis (NHXs, SOS1 and CNGC15) and regulating water status (PIP1;2, PIP2;4, TIP1;1 and TIP2;2) in roots and leaves of tomato seedlings were investigated. The P. indica improved the uptake of N, P, Ca and K, and reduced Na accumulation, and had no significant effect on Cl accumulation in roots and leaves. The endophytic fungus also increased in K[+]/Na[+] ratio in roots and leaves of tomato by regulating the expression of NHX isoforms and upregulating SOS1 and CNGC15 expression. Salinity stress increased the transcription of PIP2;4 gene and reduced the transcription of PIP1;2, TIP1;1 and TIP2;2 genes compared to the control treatment. However, P. indica inoculation upregulated the expression of PIP1;2 and PIP2;4 genes versus non-inoculated plants but did not have a significant effect on TIP1;1 and TIP2;2 expression. These results conclude that the positive effects of P. indica on nutrients accumulation, ionic homeostasis and water status lead to the increased salinity tolerance and the improved plant growth under NaCl treatment.}, } @article {pmid31152017, year = {2019}, author = {Pesce, C and Oshone, R and Hurst, SG and Kleiner, VA and Tisa, LS}, title = {Stable Transformation of the Actinobacteria Frankia spp.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {31152017}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Frankia/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Salt Tolerance/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A stable and efficient plasmid transfer system was developed for nitrogen-fixing symbiotic actinobacteria of the genus Frankia, a key first step in developing a genetic system. Four derivatives of the broad-host-range cloning vector pBBR1MCS were successfully introduced into different Frankia strains by a filter mating with Escherichia coli strain BW29427. Initially, plasmid pHKT1 that expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) was introduced into Frankia casuarinae strain CcI3 at a frequency of 4.0 × 10[-3], resulting in transformants that were tetracycline resistant and exhibited GFP fluorescence. The presence of the plasmid was confirmed by molecular approaches, including visualization on agarose gel and PCR. Several other pBBR1MCS plasmids were also introduced into F. casuarinae strain CcI3 and other Frankia strains at frequencies ranging from 10[-2] to 10[-4], and the presence of the plasmids was confirmed by PCR. The plasmids were stably maintained for over 2 years and through passage in a plant host. As a proof of concept, a salt tolerance candidate gene from the highly salt-tolerant Frankia sp. strain CcI6 was cloned into pBBR1MCS-3. The resulting construct was introduced into the salt-sensitive F. casuarinae strain CcI3. Endpoint reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) showed that the gene was expressed in F. casuarinae strain CcI3. The expression provided an increased level of salt tolerance for the transformant. These results represent stable plasmid transfer and exogenous gene expression in Frankia spp., overcoming a major hurdle in the field. This step in the development of genetic tools in Frankia spp. will open up new avenues for research on actinorhizal symbiosis.IMPORTANCE The absence of genetic tools for Frankia research has been a major hindrance to the associated field of actinorhizal symbiosis and the use of the nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria. This study reports on the introduction of plasmids into Frankia spp. and their functional expression of green fluorescent protein and a cloned gene. As the first step in developing genetic tools, this technique opens up the field to a wide array of approaches in an organism with great importance to and potential in the environment.}, } @article {pmid31151153, year = {2019}, author = {Montes-Grajales, D and Esturau-Escofet, N and Esquivel, B and Martinez-Romero, E}, title = {Exo-Metabolites of Phaseolus vulgaris-Nodulating Rhizobial Strains.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31151153}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Rhizobia are able to convert dinitrogen into biologically available forms of nitrogen through their symbiotic association with leguminous plants. This results in plant growth promotion, and also in conferring host resistance to different types of stress. These bacteria can interact with other organisms and survive in a wide range of environments, such as soil, rhizosphere, and inside roots. As most of these processes are molecularly mediated, the aim of this research was to identify and quantify the exo-metabolites produced by Rhizobium etli CFN42, Rhizobium leucaenae CFN299, Rhizobium tropici CIAT899, Rhizobium phaseoli Ch24-10, and Sinorhizobium americanum CFNEI156, by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Bacteria were grown in free-living cultures using minimal medium containing sucrose and glutamate. Interestingly, we found that even when these bacteria belong to the same family (Rhizobiaceae) and all form nitrogen-fixing nodules on Phaseolus vulgaris roots, they exhibited different patterns and concentrations of chemical species produced by them.}, } @article {pmid31150238, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, W and Mace, WJ and Matthew, C and Card, SD}, title = {The Impact of Endophyte Infection, Seed Aging, and Imbibition on Selected Sugar Metabolite Concentrations in Seed.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {67}, number = {25}, pages = {6921-6929}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.9b01618}, pmid = {31150238}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Festuca/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Seeds/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Sugars/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study investigated effects of seed aging and imbibition on sugar metabolite concentrations in Epichloë endophyte-infected and endophyte-free seed of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Two treatments, namely, accelerated aging and imbibition, were applied to the seeds, with embryo and endosperm tissues analyzed separately. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection was employed for analysis of sugar metabolites within the seed tissues. Mannitol, ribitol, and trehalose were more abundant in embryo than endosperm tissues and were identified at consistently higher concentrations within endophyte-infected compared to endophyte-free seeds. The ratio of raffinose to sucrose significantly increased with seed aging in both endophyte-free and endophyte-infected embryo tissues, while significantly lower concentrations of trehalose were detected in tissues dissected from aged-seed regardless of endophyte status. This research provides fundamental insight into the metabolic details of endophyte survival in seed and provides a first evaluation of key carbohydrates present in the fungal-plant symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31150064, year = {2019}, author = {Weis, VM}, title = {Cell Biology of Coral Symbiosis: Foundational Study Can Inform Solutions to the Coral Reef Crisis.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {59}, number = {4}, pages = {845-855}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icz067}, pmid = {31150064}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/immunology/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Global Warming ; *Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Nutrients/physiology ; Sea Anemones/genetics/immunology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/immunology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are faced with almost complete destruction by the end of the century due to global warming unless humanity can cap global temperature rise. There is now a race to develop a diverse set of solutions to save coral reefs. In this perspective, a case is made for understanding the cell biology of coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis to help inform development of solutions for saving reefs. Laboratory model systems for the study of coral symbiosis, including the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida, are featured as valuable tools in the fight to save corals. The roles of host innate immunity and inter-partner nutrient dynamics in the onset, ongoing maintenance, and dysregulation of symbiosis are reviewed and discussed. Key innate immune genes and pathways, such as glycan-lectin interactions, the sphingosine rheostat, and the cytokine transforming growth factor beta are shown to modulate a host immune response in the symbiotic state. An upset in the homeostatic inorganic nutrient balance during heat stress and high exogenous nutrient availability is credited with driving the partnership toward dysregulation and coral bleaching. Specific examples are given where knowledge of the cell biology of symbiosis is informing the development of solutions, including studies showing clear limitations in the value of partner switching and acclimatization protocols. Finally, emphasis is placed on rapid advancement of knowledge to try to meet the urgent need for solutions. This includes real-time open communication with colleagues on successes and failures, sharing of resources and information, and working together in the spirit of a collective mission to save coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid31148289, year = {2019}, author = {Rubio, MC and Calvo-Begueria, L and Díaz-Mendoza, M and Elhiti, M and Moore, M and Matamoros, MA and James, EK and Díaz, I and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Villar, I and Sein-Echaluce, VC and Hebelstrup, KH and Dietz, KJ and Becana, M}, title = {Phytoglobins in the nuclei, cytoplasm and chloroplasts modulate nitric oxide signaling and interact with abscisic acid.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {100}, number = {1}, pages = {38-54}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14422}, pmid = {31148289}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*metabolism ; Cytoplasm/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/*genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Stomata/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Binding ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic hemoglobins provide O2 to N2 -fixing bacteria within legume nodules, but the functions of non-symbiotic hemoglobins or phytoglobins (Glbs) are much less defined. Immunolabeling combined with confocal microscopy of the Glbs tagged at the C-terminus with green fluorescent protein was used to determine their subcellular localizations in Arabidopsis and Lotus japonicus. Recombinant proteins were used to examine nitric oxide (NO) scavenging in vitro and transgenic plants to show S-nitrosylation and other in vivo interactions with NO and abscisic acid (ABA) responses. We found that Glbs occur in the nuclei, chloroplasts and amyloplasts of both model plants, and also in the cytoplasm of Arabidopsis cells. The proteins show similar NO dioxygenase activities in vitro, are nitrosylated in Cys residues in vivo, and scavenge NO in the stomatal cells. The Cys/Ser mutation does not affect NO dioxygenase activity, and S-nitrosylation does not significantly consume NO. We demonstrate an interaction between Glbs and ABA on several grounds: Glb1 and Glb2 scavenge NO produced in stomatal guard cells following ABA supply; plants overexpressing Glb1 show higher constitutive expression of the ABA responsive genes Responsive to ABA (RAB18), Responsive to Dehydration (RD29A) and Highly ABA-Induced 2 (HAI2), and are more tolerant to dehydration; and ABA strongly upregulates class 1 Glbs. We conclude that Glbs modulate NO and interact with ABA in crucial physiological processes such as the plant's response to dessication.}, } @article {pmid31148173, year = {2019}, author = {An, J and Zeng, T and Ji, C and de Graaf, S and Zheng, Z and Xiao, TT and Deng, X and Xiao, S and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E and Pan, Z}, title = {A Medicago truncatula SWEET transporter implicated in arbuscule maintenance during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {224}, number = {1}, pages = {396-408}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15975}, pmid = {31148173}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Alleles ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Dominant ; Glucose/metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Membranes/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Mycelium/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants form a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which facilitates the acquisition of scarce minerals from the soil. In return, the host plants provide sugars and lipids to its fungal partner. However, the mechanism by which the AM fungi obtain sugars from the plant has remained elusive. In this study we investigated the role of potential SWEET family sugar exporters in AM symbiosis in Medicago truncatula. We show that M. truncatula SWEET1b transporter is strongly upregulated in arbuscule-containing cells compared to roots and localizes to the peri-arbuscular membrane, across which nutrient exchange takes place. Heterologous expression of MtSWEET1b in a yeast hexose transport mutant showed that it mainly transports glucose. Overexpression of MtSWEET1b in M. truncatula roots promoted the growth of intraradical mycelium during AM symbiosis. Surprisingly, two independent Mtsweet1b mutants, which are predicted to produce truncated protein variants impaired in glucose transport, exhibited no significant defects in AM symbiosis. However, arbuscule-specific overexpression of MtSWEET1b[Y57A/G58D] , which are considered to act in a dominant-negative manner, resulted in enhanced collapse of arbuscules. Taken together, our results reveal a (redundant) role for MtSWEET1b in the transport of glucose across the peri-arbuscular membrane to maintain arbuscules for a healthy mutually beneficial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31146078, year = {2019}, author = {Jeon, MS and Oh, JJ and Kim, JY and Han, SI and Sim, SJ and Choi, YE}, title = {Enhancement of growth and paramylon production of Euglena gracilis by co-cultivation with Pseudoalteromonas sp. MEBiC 03485.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {288}, number = {}, pages = {121513}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121513}, pmid = {31146078}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Euglena gracilis ; Glucans ; *Pseudoalteromonas ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the putative effects of co-cultivation of Euglena gracilis with Pseudoalteromonas sp. MEBiC 03485 on the growth of E. gracilis and its paramylon production. The strain MEBiC 03485 had beneficial effects on the growth and paramylon contents of E. gracilis. To determine the optimal conditions for co-cultivation, the effects of algal to bacterial inoculum ratios and E. gracilis growth stages were examined. Under optimal conditions, the biomass productivity and paramylon production were increased by more than 23% and 34%, respectively. These effects were attributed to the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from the strain MEBiC 03485. GC-MS and HPAEC were carried out to analyze the composition of EPS. It was found that the EPS consisted of rhamnose, galactose, glucose, and mannose. These results suggest a novel approach for potentially enhancing the growth of E. gracilis as well as its paramylon production, via co-culturing with the symbiotic strain MEBiC 03485.}, } @article {pmid31144773, year = {2019}, author = {Sieow, BF and Nurminen, TJ and Ling, H and Chang, MW}, title = {Meta-Omics- and Metabolic Modeling-Assisted Deciphering of Human Microbiota Metabolism.}, journal = {Biotechnology journal}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {e1800445}, doi = {10.1002/biot.201800445}, pmid = {31144773}, issn = {1860-7314}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; Metagenome/*genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The human microbiota is a complex community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microbes that play a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of human health. Such a homeostasis is maintained through the collective functioning of enzymatic genes responsible for the production of metabolites, enabling the interaction and signaling within microbiota as well as between microbes and the human host. Understanding microbial genes, their associated chemistries and functions would be valuable for engineering systemic metabolic pathways within the microbiota to manage human health and diseases. Given that there are many unknown gene metabolic functions and interactions, increasing efforts have been made to gain insights into the underlying functions of microbiota metabolism. This can be achieved through culture-independent metagenomic approaches and metabolic modeling to simulate the microenvironment of human microbiota. In this article, the recent advances in metagenome mining and functional profiling for the discovery of the genetic and biochemical links in human microbiota metabolism as well as metabolic modeling for simulation and prediction of metabolic fluxes in the human microbiota are reviewed. This review provides useful insights into the understanding, reconstruction, and modulation of the human microbiota guided by the knowledge acquired from the basic understanding of the human microbiota metabolism.}, } @article {pmid31144269, year = {2019}, author = {de Alencar Menezes Júnior, I and Feitosa de Matos, G and Moura de Freitas, K and da Conceição Jesus, E and Rouws, LFM}, title = {Occurrence of diverse Bradyrhizobium spp. in roots and rhizospheres of two commercial Brazilian sugarcane cultivars.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {50}, number = {3}, pages = {759-767}, pmid = {31144269}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Saccharum/*microbiology ; Vigna/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The genus Bradyrhizobium harbors many endosymbionts of legumes, but recent research has shown their widespread presence in soils and in non-legumes, notably in roots of sugarcane. This study aimed to investigate the Bradyrhizobium sp. community density in the endosphere and the rhizosphere of two commercial sugarcane cultivars. Samples of the rhizosphere and root endosphere of two Brazilian sugarcane cultivars (RB867515 and IACSP95-5000) were collected, serially diluted, and inoculated on axenic cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and the induction of nodules was evaluated. Based on the results, a density was estimated of at least 1.6 × 10[4] rhizobia g root[-1] in rhizosphere samples and up to 105 rhizobia g root [-1] in endosphere. BOX-PCR profiling of 93 Bradyrhizobium isolates revealed genetic variability, with some dominant (up to 18 representants) and less dominant genotypes. 16S rRNA and ITS sequence analyses confirmed nine phylotypes, six of which pertained to the B. elkanii clade and three to the B. japonicum clade. Five isolates were genetically similar to the recently described species B. sacchari. There was no effect of the factors "plant cultivar" and "root compartment" on Bradyrhizobium sp. community composition and the most abundant genotypes occurred both in rhizosphere and endosphere of both cultivars. Therefore, this study confirms the natural presence of diverse Bradyrhizobium spp. in sugarcane root systems (mainly the rhizosphere) and indicates that certain Bradyrhizobium phylotypes have a special affinity for sugarcane root colonization.}, } @article {pmid31142780, year = {2019}, author = {Di Salvo, M and Calcagnile, M and Talà, A and Tredici, SM and Maffei, ME and Schönrogge, K and Barbero, F and Alifano, P}, title = {The Microbiome of the Maculinea-Myrmica Host-Parasite Interaction.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {8048}, pmid = {31142780}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animal Communication ; Animals ; Ants/microbiology/*parasitology ; Butterflies/*microbiology/physiology ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Endangered Species ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Larva/*microbiology/physiology ; Metagenome/genetics ; Pheromones/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Serratia/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Serratia marcescens/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Maculinea (=Phengaris) are endangered butterflies that are characterized by a very complex biological cycle. Maculinea larvae behave as obligate parasites whose survival is strictly dependent on both particular food plants and species-specific Myrmica ants. In this interaction, Maculinea caterpillars induce Myrmica workers to retrieve and rear them in the nest by chemical and acoustic deception. Social insect symbiotic microorganisms play a key role in intraspecific and interspecific communication; therefore, it is possible that the Maculinea caterpillar microbiome might be involved in the chemical cross-talk by producing deceptive semiochemicals for host ants. To address this point, the microbiota of Maculinea alcon at different larval stages (phytophagous early larvae, intermediate larvae, carnivorous late larvae) was analyzed by using 16S rRNA-guided metabarcoding approach and compared to that of the host ant Myrmica scabrinodis. Structural and deduced functional profiles of the microbial communities were recorded, which were used to identify specific groups of microorganisms that may be involved in the chemical cross-talk. One of the most notable features was the presence in all larval stages and in the ants of two bacteria, Serratia marcescens and S. entomophila, which are involved in the chemical cross-talk between the microbes and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid31141960, year = {2019}, author = {Ali, A and Imran Ghani, M and Li, Y and Ding, H and Meng, H and Cheng, Z}, title = {Hiseq Base Molecular Characterization of Soil Microbial Community, Diversity Structure, and Predictive Functional Profiling in Continuous Cucumber Planted Soil Affected by Diverse Cropping Systems in an Intensive Greenhouse Region of Northern China.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {31141960}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {China ; Crop Production/*methods ; Cucumis/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cover crops are key determinants of the ecological stability and sustainability of continuous cropping soils. However, their agro-ecological role in differentially reshaping the microbiome structure and functioning under a degraded agroecosystem remains poorly investigated. Therefore, structural and metabolic changes in soil bacterial community composition in response to diverse plant species were assessed. Winter catch leafy vegetables crops were introduced as cover plants in a cucumber-fallow period. The results indicate that cover crop diversification promoted beneficial changes in soil chemical and biological attributes, which increased crop yields in a cucumber double-cropping system. Illumina high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes indicated that the bacterial community composition and diversity changed through changes in the soil properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) coupled with non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis reveals that the cover planting shaped the soil microbiome more than the fallow planting (FC). Among different cropping systems, spinach-cucumber (SC) and non-heading Chinese cabbage-cucumber (NCCC) planting systems greatly induced higher soil nutrient function, biological activity, and bacterial diversity, thus resulting in higher cucumber yield. Quantitative analysis of linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) indicated that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteria were the potentially functional and active soil microbial taxa. Rhizospheres of NCCC, leaf lettuce-cucumber (LLC), coriander-cucumber (CC), and SC planting systems created hotspots for metabolic capabilities of abundant functional genes, compared to FC. In addition, the predictive metabolic characteristics (metabolism and detoxification) associated with host-plant symbiosis could be an important ecological signal that provides direct evidence of mediation of soil structure stability. Interestingly, the plant density of non-heading Chinese cabbage and spinach species was capable of reducing the adverse effect of arsenic (As) accumulation by increasing the function of the arsenate reductase pathway. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the relative abundance of the core microbiome can be directly and indirectly influenced by certain environmental determinants. These short-term findings stress the importance of studying cover cropping systems as an efficient biological tool to protect the ecological environment. Therefore, we can speculate that leafy crop diversification is socially acceptable, economically justifiable, and ecologically adaptable to meet the urgent demand for intensive cropping systems to promote positive feedback between crop-soil sustainable intensification.}, } @article {pmid31141718, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, XL and Ye, S and Cheng, CY and Li, HW and Lu, B and Yang, WJ and Yang, JS}, title = {Identification and characterization of a symbiotic agglutination-related C-type lectin from the hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2019.05.057}, pmid = {31141718}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Arthropod Proteins/chemistry/genetics/immunology ; Base Sequence ; Decapoda/*genetics/*immunology ; Escherichia coli/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Lectins, C-Type/chemistry/*genetics/*immunology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rimicaris exoculata (Decapoda: Bresiliidae) is one of the dominant species of hydrothermal vent communities, which inside its gill chamber harbors ectosymbioses with taxonomic invariability while compositional flexibility. Several studies have revealed that the establishment of symbiosis can be initiated and selected by innate immunity-related pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as C-type lectins (CTLs). In this research, a CTL was identified in R. exoculata (termed RCTL), which showed high expression at both mRNA and protein levels in the scaphognathite, an organ where the ectosymbionts are attached outside its setae. Linear correlationships were observed between the relative quantities of two major symbionts and the expression of RCTL based on analyzing different shrimp individuals. The recombinant protein of RCTL could recognize and agglutinate the cultivable γ-proteobacterium of Escherichia coli in a Ca[2+]-dependent manner, obeying a dose-dependent and time-cumulative pattern. Unlike conventional crustacean CTLs, the involvement of RCTL could not affect the bacterial growth, which is a key issue for the successful establishment of symbiosis. These results implied that RCTL might play a critical role in symbiotic recognition and attachment to R. exoculata. It also provides insights to understand how R. exoculata adapted to such a chemosynthesis-based environment.}, } @article {pmid31140970, year = {2019}, author = {Lynn-Bell, NL and Strand, MR and Oliver, KM}, title = {Bacteriophage acquisition restores protective mutualism.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {165}, number = {9}, pages = {985-989}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000816}, pmid = {31140970}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; *Bacteriophages ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Enterobacteriaceae/*virology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps ; }, abstract = {Insects are frequently infected with inherited facultative symbionts known to provide a range of conditionally beneficial services, including host protection. Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) often harbour the bacterium Hamiltonella defensa, which together with its associated bacteriophage A. pisum secondary endosymbiont (APSE) confer protection against an important natural enemy, the parasitic wasp Aphidius ervi. Previous studies showed that spontaneous loss of phage APSE resulted in the complete loss of the protective phenotype. Here, we demonstrate that APSEs can be experimentally transferred into phage-free (i.e. non-protecting) Hamiltonella strains. Unexpectedly, trials using injections of phage particles alone failed, with successful transfer occurring only when APSE and Hamiltonella were simultaneously injected. After transfer, stable establishment of APSE fully restored anti-parasitoid defenses. Thus, phages associated with heritable bacterial symbionts can move horizontally among symbiont strains facilitating the rapid transfer of ecologically important traits although natural barriers may preclude regular exchange.}, } @article {pmid31139503, year = {2019}, author = {Pochon, X and Wecker, P and Stat, M and Berteaux-Lecellier, V and Lecellier, G}, title = {Towards an in-depth characterization of Symbiodiniaceae in tropical giant clams via metabarcoding of pooled multi-gene amplicons.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6898}, pmid = {31139503}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {High-throughput sequencing is revolutionizing our ability to comprehensively characterize free-living and symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, a diverse dinoflagellate group that plays a critical role in coral reef ecosystems. Most studies however, focus on a single marker for metabarcoding Symbiodiniaceae, potentially missing important ecological traits that a combination of markers may capture. In this proof-of-concept study, we used a small set of symbiotic giant clam (Tridacna maxima) samples obtained from nine French Polynesian locations and tested a dual-index sequence library preparation method that pools and simultaneously sequences multiple Symbiodiniaceae gene amplicons per sample for in-depth biodiversity assessments. The rationale for this approach was to allow the metabarcoding of multiple genes without extra costs associated with additional single amplicon dual indexing and library preparations. Our results showed that the technique effectively recovered very similar proportions of sequence reads and dominant Symbiodiniaceae clades among the three pooled gene amplicons investigated per sample, and captured varying levels of phylogenetic resolution enabling a more comprehensive assessment of the diversity present. The pooled Symbiodiniaceae multi-gene metabarcoding approach described here is readily scalable, offering considerable analytical cost savings while providing sufficient phylogenetic information and sequence coverage.}, } @article {pmid31139173, year = {2019}, author = {Iturralde, ET and Covelli, JM and Alvarez, F and Pérez-Giménez, J and Arrese-Igor, C and Lodeiro, AR}, title = {Soybean-Nodulating Strains With Low Intrinsic Competitiveness for Nodulation, Good Symbiotic Performance, and Stress-Tolerance Isolated From Soybean-Cropped Soils in Argentina.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1061}, pmid = {31139173}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soybean is the most important oilseed in the world, cropped in 120-130 million hectares each year. The three most important soybean producers are Argentina, Brazil, and United States, where soybean crops are routinely inoculated with symbiotic N2-fixing Bradyrhizobium spp. This extended inoculation gave rise to soybean-nodulating allochthonous populations (SNAPs) that compete against new inoculant for nodulation, thus impairing yield responses. Competitiveness depends on intrinsic factors contributed by genotype, extrinsic ones determined by growth and environmental conditions, and strain persistence in the soil. To assess these factors in Argentinean SNAPs, we studied 58 isolates from five sites of the main soybean cropping area. BOX-A1R DNA fingerprint distributed these isolates in 10 clades that paralleled the pHs of their original soils. By contrast, reference Bradyrhizobium spp. strains, including those used as soybean-inoculants, were confined to a single clade. More detailed characterization of a subset of 11 SNAP-isolates revealed that five were Bradyrhizobium japonicum, two Bradyrhizobium elkanii, two Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens), one Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, and one Paenibacillus glycanilyticus-which did not nodulate when inoculated alone, and therefore was excluded from further characterization. The remaining subset of 10 SNAP-isolates was used for deeper characterization. All SNAP-isolates were aluminum- and heat-tolerant, and most of them were glyphosate-tolerant. Meanwhile, inoculant strains tested were sensitive to aluminum and glyphosate. In addition, all SNAP-isolates were motile to different degrees. Only three SNAP-isolates were deficient for N2-fixation, and none was intrinsically more competitive than the inoculant strain. These results are in contrast to the general belief that rhizobia from soil populations evolved as intrinsically more competitive for nodulation and less N2-fixing effective than inoculants strains. Shoot:root ratios, both as dry biomass and as total N, were highly correlated with leaf ureide contents, and therefore may be easy indicators of N2-fixing performance, suggesting that highly effective N2-fixing and well-adapted strains may be readily selected from SNAPs. In addition, intrinsic competitiveness of the inoculants strains seems already optimized against SNAP strains, and therefore our efforts to improve nodules occupation by inoculated strains should focus on the optimization of extrinsic competitiveness factors, such as inoculant formulation and inoculation technology.}, } @article {pmid31139158, year = {2019}, author = {Ahmed, HI and Herrera, M and Liew, YJ and Aranda, M}, title = {Long-Term Temperature Stress in the Coral Model Aiptasia Supports the "Anna Karenina Principle" for Bacterial Microbiomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {975}, pmid = {31139158}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The understanding of host-microbial partnerships has become a hot topic during the last decade as it has been shown that associated microbiota play critical roles in the host physiological functions and susceptibility to diseases. Moreover, the microbiome may contribute to host resilience to environmental stressors. The sea anemone Aiptasia is a good laboratory model system to study corals and their microbial symbiosis. In this regard, studying its bacterial microbiota provides a better understanding of cnidarian metaorganisms as a whole. Here, we investigated the bacterial communities of different Aiptasia host-symbiont combinations under long-term heat stress in laboratory conditions. Following a 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach we were able to detect significant differences in the bacterial composition and structure of Aiptasia reared at different temperatures. A higher number of taxa (i.e., species richness), and consequently increased α-diversity and β-dispersion, were observed in the microbiomes of heat-stressed individuals across all host strains and experimental batches. Our findings are in line with the recently proposed Anna Karenina principle (AKP) for animal microbiomes, which states that dysbiotic or stressed organisms have a more variable and unstable microbiome than healthy ones. Microbial interactions affect the fitness and survival of their hosts, thus exploring the AKP effect on animal microbiomes is important to understand host resilience. Our data contributes to the current knowledge of the Aiptasia holobiont and to the growing field of study of host-associated microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid31138619, year = {2019}, author = {Saint-Leandre, B and Nguyen, SC and Levine, MT}, title = {Diversification and collapse of a telomere elongation mechanism.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {920-931}, pmid = {31138619}, issn = {1549-5469}, support = {R00 GM107351/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM124684/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Drosophila melanogaster/physiology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retroelements ; Telomerase/metabolism ; Telomere/*genetics/*metabolism ; Telomere Homeostasis ; }, abstract = {In most eukaryotes, telomerase counteracts chromosome erosion by adding repetitive sequence to terminal ends. Drosophila melanogaster instead relies on specialized retrotransposons that insert exclusively at telomeres. This exchange of goods between host and mobile element-wherein the mobile element provides an essential genome service and the host provides a hospitable niche for mobile element propagation-has been called a "genomic symbiosis." However, these telomere-specialized, jockey family retrotransposons may actually evolve to "selfishly" overreplicate in the genomes that they ostensibly serve. Under this model, we expect rapid diversification of telomere-specialized retrotransposon lineages and, possibly, the breakdown of this ostensibly symbiotic relationship. Here we report data consistent with both predictions. Searching the raw reads of the 15-Myr-old melanogaster species group, we generated de novo jockey retrotransposon consensus sequences and used phylogenetic tree-building to delineate four distinct telomere-associated lineages. Recurrent gains, losses, and replacements account for this retrotransposon lineage diversity. In Drosophila biarmipes, telomere-specialized elements have disappeared completely. De novo assembly of long reads and cytogenetics confirmed this species-specific collapse of retrotransposon-dependent telomere elongation. Instead, telomere-restricted satellite DNA and DNA transposon fragments occupy its terminal ends. We infer that D. biarmipes relies instead on a recombination-based mechanism conserved from yeast to flies to humans. Telomeric retrotransposon diversification and disappearance suggest that persistently "selfish" machinery shapes telomere elongation across Drosophila rather than completely domesticated, symbiotic mobile elements.}, } @article {pmid31138368, year = {2019}, author = {Basholli-Salihu, M and Kryeziu, TL and Nebija, D and Salar-Behzadi, S and Viernstein, H and Mueller, M}, title = {Prebiotics as excipients for enhancement of stability and functionality of Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis with potential application as symbiotics in food and pharmaceuticals.}, journal = {Die Pharmazie}, volume = {74}, number = {6}, pages = {326-333}, doi = {10.1691/ph.2019.9007}, pmid = {31138368}, issn = {0031-7144}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis/*growth & development ; *Excipients ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Prebiotics/*microbiology ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Objective: Formulations containing probiotics are promoted due to health benefits. During lyophilization and subsequent storage in the gastrointestinal tract, bacteria are exposed to stress conditions that can lead to impairment and loss of viability. Methods: The suitability of various excipients for enhancing the stability and functionality of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis during storage as freeze-dried powder and through exposure to acid and bile was investigated. Cells were lyophilized in the presence of sucrose, trehalose, lactose, cellobiose and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and stored at 4 °C or 25 °C. The effect of diverse protectants on the persistence after exposure to acid and bile environment was examined through determination of the colony forming units, the β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase activity and the membrane integrity changes. Results: Cells freeze-dried in the presence of cryoprotectants had comparable survivability during storage at 4 °C whereas the survival rate at 25 °C of cells protected by cellobiose and FOS was higher than for those protected with sucrose and trehalose. Furthermore, the respective excipients used as cryoprotectants enhanced the stability of cells exposed to simulated gastric and small intestinal medium. Stabilization may be achieved through different mechanism of action such as protecting the membrane integrity and as metabolizable substrates. Overall, prebiotic and thus metabolizable protectants including cellobiose and FOS were superior to other protectants used. Conclusion: In symbiotic formulas with B. infantis, these sugars might serve as prebiotics and stabilizers of this probiotic strain during lyophilization, storage and in gastrointestinal conditions simultaneously, potentially increasing its health-promoting effects.}, } @article {pmid31134014, year = {2019}, author = {Wasala, SK and Brown, AMV and Kang, J and Howe, DK and Peetz, AB and Zasada, IA and Denver, DR}, title = {Variable Abundance and Distribution of Wolbachia and Cardinium Endosymbionts in Plant-Parasitic Nematode Field Populations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {964}, pmid = {31134014}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia interacts with different invertebrate hosts, engaging in diverse symbiotic relationships. Wolbachia is often a reproductive parasite in arthropods, but an obligate mutualist in filarial nematodes. Wolbachia was recently discovered in plant-parasitic nematodes, and, is thus far known in just two genera Pratylenchus and Radopholus, yet the symbiont's function remains unknown. The occurrence of Wolbachia in these economically important plant pests offers an unexplored biocontrol strategy. However, development of Wolbachia-based biocontrol requires an improved understanding of symbiont-host functional interactions and the symbiont's prevalence among nematode field populations. This study used a molecular-genetic approach to assess the prevalence of a Wolbachia lineage (wPpe) in 32 field populations of Pratylenchus penetrans. Populations were examined from eight different plant species in Washington, Oregon, and California. Nematodes were also screened for the endosymbiotic bacterium Cardinium (cPpe) that was recently shown to co-infect P. penetrans. Results identified wPpe in 9/32 and cPpe in 1/32 of P. penetrans field populations analyzed. No co-infection was observed in field populations. Wolbachia was detected in nematodes from 4/8 plant-hosts examined (raspberry, strawberry, clover, and lily), and in all three states surveyed. Cardinium was detected in nematodes from mint in Washington. In the wPpe-infected P. penetrans populations collected from raspberry, the prevalence of wPpe infection ranged from 11 to 58%. This pattern is unlike that in filarial nematodes where Wolbachia is an obligate mutualist and occurs in 100% of the host. Further analysis of wPpe-infected populations revealed female-skewed sex ratios (up to 96%), with the degree of skew positively correlating with wPpe prevalence. Uninfected nematode populations had approximately equal numbers of males and females. Comparisons of 54 wPpe 16S ribosomal RNA sequences revealed high similarity across the geographic isolates, with 45 of 54 isolates being identical at this locus. The complete absence of wPpe among some populations and low prevalence in others suggest that this endosymbiont is not an obligate mutualist of P. penetrans. The observed sex ratio bias in wPpe-infected nematode populations is similar to that observed in arthropods where Wolbachia acts as a reproductive manipulator, raising the question of a similar role in plant-parasitic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid31134003, year = {2019}, author = {Fernández, N and Cabrera, JJ and Varadarajan, AR and Lutz, S and Ledermann, R and Roschitzki, B and Eberl, L and Bedmar, EJ and Fischer, HM and Pessi, G and Ahrens, CH and Mesa, S}, title = {An Integrated Systems Approach Unveils New Aspects of Microoxia-Mediated Regulation in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {924}, pmid = {31134003}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The adaptation of rhizobia from the free-living state in soil to the endosymbiotic state comprises several physiological changes in order to cope with the extremely low oxygen availability (microoxia) within nodules. To uncover cellular functions required for bacterial adaptation to microoxia directly at the protein level, we applied a systems biology approach on the key rhizobial model and soybean endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 (formerly B. japonicum USDA 110). As a first step, the complete genome of B. diazoefficiens 110spc4, the model strain used in most prior functional genomics studies, was sequenced revealing a deletion of a ~202 kb fragment harboring 223 genes and several additional differences, compared to strain USDA 110. Importantly, the deletion strain showed no significantly different phenotype during symbiosis with several host plants, reinforcing the value of previous OMICS studies. We next performed shotgun proteomics and detected 2,900 and 2,826 proteins in oxically and microoxically grown cells, respectively, largely expanding our knowledge about the inventory of rhizobial proteins expressed in microoxia. A set of 62 proteins was significantly induced under microoxic conditions, including the two nitrogenase subunits NifDK, the nitrogenase reductase NifH, and several subunits of the high-affinity terminal cbb 3 oxidase (FixNOQP) required for bacterial respiration inside nodules. Integration with the previously defined microoxia-induced transcriptome uncovered a set of 639 genes or proteins uniquely expressed in microoxia. Finally, besides providing proteogenomic evidence for novelties, we also identified proteins with a regulation similar to that of FixK2: transcript levels of these protein-coding genes were significantly induced, while the corresponding protein abundance remained unchanged or was down-regulated. This suggested that, apart from fixK 2, additional B. diazoefficiens genes might be under microoxia-specific post-transcriptional control. This hypothesis was indeed confirmed for several targets (HemA, HemB, and ClpA) by immunoblot analysis.}, } @article {pmid31133991, year = {2019}, author = {Macedo-Raygoza, GM and Valdez-Salas, B and Prado, FM and Prieto, KR and Yamaguchi, LF and Kato, MJ and Canto-Canché, BB and Carrillo-Beltrán, M and Di Mascio, P and White, JF and Beltrán-García, MJ}, title = {Enterobacter cloacae, an Endophyte That Establishes a Nutrient-Transfer Symbiosis With Banana Plants and Protects Against the Black Sigatoka Pathogen.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {804}, pmid = {31133991}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Banana (Musa spp.) is an important crop worldwide, but black Sigatoka disease caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora fijiensis threatens fruit production. In this work, we examined the potential of the endophytes of banana plants Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as antagonists of P. fijiensis and support plant growth in nutrient limited soils by N-transfer. The two bacterial isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and corroborated by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Both bacteria were positive for beneficial traits such as N-fixation, indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization, negative for 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid deaminase and were antagonistic to P. fijiensis. To measure the effects on plant growth, the two plant bacteria and an E. coli strain (as non-endophyte), were inoculated weekly for 60 days as active cells (AC) and heat-killed cells (HKC) into plant microcosms without nutrients and compared to a water only treatment, and a mineral nutrients solution (MMN) treatment. Bacterial treatments increased growth parameters and prevented accelerated senescence, which was observed for water and mineral nutrients solution (MMN) treatments used as controls. Plants died after the first 20 days of being irrigated with water; irrigation with MMN enabled plants to develop some new leaves, but plants lost weight (-30%) during the same period. Plants treated with bacteria showed good growth, but E. cloacae AC treated plants had significantly greater biomass than the E. cloacae HKC. After 60 days, plants inoculated with E. cloacae AC showed intracellular bacteria within root cells, suggesting that a stable symbiosis was established. To evaluate the transference of organic N from bacteria into the plants, the 3 bacteria were grown with [15]NH4Cl or Na[15]NO3 as the nitrogen source. The [15]N transferred from bacteria to plant tissues was measured by pheophytin isotopomer abundance. The relative abundance of the isotopomers m/z 872.57, 873.57, 874.57, 875.57, 876.57 unequivocally demonstrated that plants acquired [15]N atoms directly from bacterial cells, using them as a source of N, to support plant growth in restricted nutrient soils. E. cloacae might be a new alternative to promote growth and health of banana crops.}, } @article {pmid31132110, year = {2019}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Sanders, JG and Fierer, N}, title = {Not all animals need a microbiome.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz117}, pmid = {31132110}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is often taken for granted that all animals host and depend upon a microbiome, yet this has only been shown for a small proportion of species. We propose that animals span a continuum of reliance on microbial symbionts. At one end are the famously symbiont-dependent species such as aphids, humans, corals and cows, in which microbes are abundant and important to host fitness. In the middle are species that may tolerate some microbial colonization but are only minimally or facultatively dependent. At the other end are species that lack beneficial symbionts altogether. While their existence may seem improbable, animals are capable of limiting microbial growth in and on their bodies, and a microbially independent lifestyle may be favored by selection under some circumstances. There is already evidence for several 'microbiome-free' lineages that represent distantly related branches in the animal phylogeny. We discuss why these animals have received such little attention, highlighting the potential for contaminants, transients, and parasites to masquerade as beneficial symbionts. We also suggest ways to explore microbiomes that address the limitations of DNA sequencing. We call for further research on microbiome-free taxa to provide a more complete understanding of the ecology and evolution of macrobe-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid31129541, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, JL and Wang, HH and Alam, F and Cui, YW}, title = {Granulation of halophilic sludge inoculated with estuarine sediments for saline wastewater treatment.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {682}, number = {}, pages = {532-540}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.197}, pmid = {31129541}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Ammonia ; Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Estuaries ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; Nitrites ; Nitrogen ; Pressure ; Sewage/chemistry ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Wastewater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {As a solution of the sludge loss in the treatment of saline wastewater, the granulation of halophilic sludge was explored in this study. The inoculated estuarine sediment was granulated to an average diameter of 1155 ± 102 μm under the selective settling pressure in the airlift sequencing batch reactor (SBR) when the influent organic loading rate (OLR) was doubled to 0.36 g COD/L·day. The results indicated that the OLR doubled the amount of total extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and that protein was predominant in the EPS (72.8 ± 2.0%). The correlation between aggregate size and protein content was better than that between aggregate size and polysaccharide content. The amount of alginate-like exopolysaccharides (ALE) increased linearly at the mature granular stage, co-occurring with the compact and elastic structure of the granules. According to the results of 16S rRNA high -throughput sequencing, the Shannon-Weaver index of mature granule decreased by >50% compared to the inoculated sediment. Bacteria of Propionibacteriaceae family constituted 34% of the population in granules and were in symbiotic relationship with halophiles of family Rhodocyclaceae, Vibrionaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Cryomorphaceae. The aerobic halophilic granular sludge showed COD removal efficiency of 90.9 ± 0.8% and ammonia removal efficiency of 72.6 ± 4.0% for 30 g/L saline wastewater. An average nitrite accumulation ratio of 94.5 ± 2.9% was observed during nitrification. Granulation of halophilic sludge provides an effective solution to the saline sludge loss problem, which is a step forward to realize the biological treatment of saline wastewater by halophiles.}, } @article {pmid31129217, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, N and Wang, Y and Kan, J and Wu, X and Zhang, X and Tang, S and Sun, R and Liu, J and Qian, C and Jin, C}, title = {In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of water-soluble polysaccharide from Arctium lappa.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {135}, number = {}, pages = {717-724}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.05.171}, pmid = {31129217}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Arctium/*chemistry ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cytokines/blood/metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Solubility ; Water/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {In this study, the purified water-soluble polysaccharide (ALP-1) from Arctium lappa was used to intervene lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 macrophage and systemic inflammatory mice. Our results showed that ALP-1 could effectively accommodate the levels of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages and serum of mice, including increased anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-10) and down-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α). Moreover, according to our data from 16 s high-throughput sequencing, as compared with LPS model group, the composition of gut microbiota in mice was ameliorated in ALP-1 treatment group. There were higher levels of several probiotics in the stools of ALP-1 treatment group, such as Lactobacillius, Alistipes, Odoribacter, and Phascolarctobacterium. Simultaneously, symbiotic bacteria like Bacteroides were inhibited by ALP-1. Besides, ALP-1 could significantly enhance the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in gut.}, } @article {pmid31128701, year = {2019}, author = {Yin, Y and Tian, L and Li, X and Huang, M and Liu, L and Wu, P and Li, M and Jiang, H and Wu, G and Chen, Y}, title = {The role of endogenous thiamine produced via THIC in root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {283}, number = {}, pages = {311-320}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.011}, pmid = {31128701}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Lotus/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism/physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium/metabolism/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Thiamine/*metabolism/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Thiamine is a pivotal primary metabolite which is indispensable to all organisms. Although its biosynthetic pathway has been well documented, the mechanism by which thiamine influences the legume-rhizobium symbiosis remains uncertain. Here, we used overexpressing transgenic plants, mutants and grafting experiments to investigate the roles played by thiamine in Lotus japonicus nodulation. ljthic mutants displayed lethal phenotypes and the defect could be overcome by supplementation of thiamine or by overexpression of LjTHIC. Reciprocal grafting between L. japonicus wild-type Gifu B-129 and ljthic showed that the photosynthetic products of the aerial part made a major contribution to overcoming the nodulation defect in ljthic. Overexpression of LjTHIC in Lotus japonicus (OE-LjTHIC) decreased shoot growth and increased the activity of the enzymes 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase. OE-LjTHIC plants exhibited an increase in the number of infection threads and also developed more nodules, which were of smaller size but unchanged nitrogenase activity compared to the wildtype. Taken together, our results suggest that endogenous thiamine produced via LjTHIC acts as an essential nutrient provided by the host plant for rhizobial infection and nodule growth in the Lotus japonicus - rhizobium interaction.}, } @article {pmid31128651, year = {2019}, author = {Horváthová, T and Babik, W and Kozłowski, J and Bauchinger, U}, title = {Vanishing benefits - The loss of actinobacterial symbionts at elevated temperatures.}, journal = {Journal of thermal biology}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {222-228}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.04.015}, pmid = {31128651}, issn = {0306-4565}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Hot Temperature ; Isopoda/*microbiology/physiology ; Oxygen/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Only a few insect species are known to engage in symbiotic associations with antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria and profit from this kind of protection against pathogens. However, it still remains elusive how widespread the symbiotic interactions with Actinobacteria in other organisms are and how these partnerships benefit the hosts in terms of the growth and survival. We characterized a drastic temperature-induced change in the occurrence of Actinobacteria in the gut of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber reared under two different temperature (15 °C and 22 °C) and oxygen conditions (10% and 22% O2) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We show that the relative abundance of actinobacterial gut symbionts correlates with increased host growth at lower temperature. Actinobacterial symbionts were almost completely absent at 22 °C under both high and low oxygen conditions. In addition, we identified members of nearly half of the known actinobacterial families in the isopod microbiome, and most of these include members that are known to produce antibiotics. Our study suggests that hosting diverse actinobacterial symbionts may provide conditions favorable for host growth. These findings show how a temperature-driven decline in microbiome diversity may cause a loss of beneficial functions with negative effects on ectotherms.}, } @article {pmid31127515, year = {2019}, author = {Symeonides, D and Loizia, P and Zorpas, AA}, title = {Tire waste management system in Cyprus in the framework of circular economy strategy.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {35}, pages = {35445-35460}, pmid = {31127515}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Construction Materials ; Cyprus ; Rubber/*analysis ; Waste Management/*economics ; }, abstract = {Worldwide, waste raised from tires counts 1.3-1.5 billion tonnes/year and by the end of 2025, is expected to be more than 2.5 billion tonnes. On 2013, the EU countries reached 3.6 million tonnes of used tires. However, the cheapest treatment method since now is landfilling and is considered to be a major threat for the environment and the public health. In Cyprus, the total tires that were imported on 2015 was 835,142 pieces (5.8% more than the 2014), which were equal to 9638 t, while at the same time, the total waste from those tires were 6629 tonnes. Moreover, the cement industry used 6691 tonnes of tires as alternative fuel. Until now, there are three management systems in place in Cyprus, for the end-of-life tires (ELTs). The collection of ELTs on 2011 was 1817 tonnes while at the end of 2016 was 7201 tonnes. The main treatment methods in Cyprus are the use of ELTs as alternative fuel in cement industry or to produce rubber granules (609-2738 tonnes/year) to be used to construct artificial surfaces or substrate for artificial lawn grounds and limited to pyrolysis (324-837 tonnes/year). At the same time, the environmental fees for the collection of tires varies and depends on the tire category. Furthermore, the market share of ELTs is up to 1.5 million € and the total recovery index from the market is closed to 90% the last 6 years (2013-2017). This paper evaluates and assess the existing tire waste management system (TWMS) in Cyprus in order to promote strength and weakness as well as to propose a holistic management system in insular communities in order to adopt the targets set by the concept of circular economy. The SWOT analysis identified as the main weaknesses the absence from the legislation of specific target for the recovery index of tires and the absence of any centralized logistic system to control the existing management systems while the main threats includes bureaucracy and the absence of technical and economic data which will guarantee the financial viability of a centralized treatment unit.}, } @article {pmid31125808, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, X and Han, C and Gao, H and Cao, Y}, title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis of the garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) reveals the molecular mechanism for growth with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under salinity stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {20-29}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.05.013}, pmid = {31125808}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Asparagus Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Library ; Genome, Plant ; Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Photochemistry ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics ; Salinity ; *Salt Stress ; Salt Tolerance ; Salts/chemistry ; Seedlings ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Soil salinity is one of the most abiotic stress factors that severely affects the growth and development of many plants, which can ultimately threaten crop yield. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) has been proven to be effective in mitigating salinity stress by symbiosis in many crops. Asparagus officinalis are perennial plants grown in saline-alkaline soil, however, limited information on their molecular mechanisms has restricted efficient application of AMF to garden asparagus under salinity stress. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome analysis on the leaves of garden asparagus to identify gene expression under salinity stress. Seedlings were grown in 4 treatments, including non-inoculated AMF using distilled water (NI), inoculated AMF using distilled water (AMF), non-inoculated with salinity stress (NI + S), and inoculated with salinity stress (AMF + S). A total of 6019 novel genes were obtained based on the reference-guided assembly of the garden asparagus transcriptome. Results revealed that 455 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified when comparing NI + S to AMF + S. However, among the up-regulated DEGs, 41 DEGs were down-regulated, while 242 DEGs had no differences in their expression levels when comparing NI to NI + S. These DEGs' expression patterns may be key induced by AMF under salinity stress. Additionally, the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of 455 DEGs revealed that these genes mainly participate in the improvement of the internal environment in plant cells, nitrogen metabolic-related processes, and possible photoprotection mechanisms. These findings provide insight into enhanced salinity stress adaptation by AMF inoculation, as well as salt-tolerant candidate genes for further functional analyses.}, } @article {pmid31125438, year = {2019}, author = {Lahari, Z and Ullah, C and Kyndt, T and Gershenzon, J and Gheysen, G}, title = {Strigolactones enhance root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) infection in rice by antagonizing the jasmonate pathway.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {224}, number = {1}, pages = {454-465}, pmid = {31125438}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Biosynthetic Pathways/drug effects ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; Hexanones/pharmacology ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Oryza/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/*parasitology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/genetics/*parasitology ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/parasitology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*parasitology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Triazoles/pharmacology ; Tylenchoidea/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant hormones that also act in the rhizosphere to stimulate germination of root-parasitic plants and enhance plant symbiosis with beneficial microbes. Here, the role of SLs was investigated in the interaction of rice (Oryza sativa) roots with the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola. Genetic approaches and chemical sprays were used to manipulate SL signaling in rice before infection with M. graminicola. Then, nematode performance was evaluated and plant defense hormones were quantified. Meloidogyne graminicola infection induced SL biosynthesis and signaling and suppressed jasmonic acid (JA)-based defense in rice roots, suggesting a potential role of SLs during nematode infection. Whereas the application of a low dose of the SL analogue GR24 increased nematode infection and decreased jasmonate accumulation, the SL biosynthesis and signaling d mutants were less susceptible to M. graminicola, and constitutively accumulated JA and JA-isoleucine compared with wild-type plants. Spraying with 0.1 μM GR24 restored nematode susceptibility in SL-biosynthesis mutants but not in the signaling mutant. Furthermore, foliar application of the SL biosynthesis inhibitor TIS108 impeded nematode infection and increased jasmonate levels in rice roots. In conclusion, SL signaling in rice suppresses jasmonate accumulation and promotes root-knot nematode infection.}, } @article {pmid31125425, year = {2019}, author = {Xue, L and Almario, J and Fabiańska, I and Saridis, G and Bucher, M}, title = {Dysfunction in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis has consistent but small effects on the establishment of the fungal microbiota in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {224}, number = {1}, pages = {409-420}, pmid = {31125425}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; *Mycobiome/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Soil ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Most land plants establish mutualistic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Intracellular accommodation of AM fungal symbionts remodels important host traits like root morphology and nutrient acquisition. How mycorrhizal colonization impacts plant microbiota is unclear. To understand the impact of AM symbiosis on fungal microbiota, ten Lotus japonicus mutants impaired at different stages of AM formation were grown in non-sterile natural soil and their root-associated fungal communities were studied. Plant mutants lacking the capacity to form mature arbuscules (arb[-]) exhibited limited growth performance associated with altered phosphorus (P) acquisition and reduction-oxidation (redox) processes. Furthermore, arb[-] plants assembled moderately but consistently different root-associated fungal microbiota, characterized by the depletion of Glomeromycota and the concomitant enrichment of Ascomycota, including Dactylonectria torresensis. Single and co-inoculation experiments showed a strong reduction of root colonization by D. torresensis in the presence of AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, particularly in arbuscule-forming plants. Our results suggest that impairment of central symbiotic functions in AM host plants leads to specific changes in root microbiomes and in tripartite interactions between the host plant, AM and non-AM fungi. This lays the foundation for mechanistic studies on microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions in AM symbiosis of the model L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid31125282, year = {2019}, author = {Kang, X and Wang, L and Guo, Y and Ul Arifeen, MZ and Cai, X and Xue, Y and Bu, Y and Wang, G and Liu, C}, title = {A Comparative Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis of Hexaploid Wheat's Responses to Colonization by Bacillus velezensis and Gaeumannomyces graminis, Both Separately and Combined.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {1336-1347}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-19-0066-R}, pmid = {31125282}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/physiology ; *Bacillus/physiology ; *Proteome ; *Transcriptome ; *Triticum/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tritrophic interactions involving a biocontrol agent, a pathogen, and a plant have been analyzed predominantly from the perspective of the biocontrol agent. To explore the adaptive strategies of wheat in response to beneficial, pathogenic, and combined microorganisms, we performed the first comprehensive transcriptomic, proteomic, and biochemical analysis in wheat roots after exposure to Bacillus velezensis CC09, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, and their combined colonization, respectively. The transcriptional or translational programming of wheat roots inoculated with beneficial B. velezensis showed mild alterations compared with that of pathogenic G. graminis var. tritici. However, the combination of B. velezensis and G. graminis var. tritici activated a larger transcriptional or translational program than for each single microorganism, although the gene expression pattern was similar to that of individual infection by G. graminis var. tritici, suggesting a prioritization of defense against G. graminis var. tritici infection. Surprisingly, pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity made wheat pretreated with B. velezensis more sensitive to subsequent G. graminis var. tritici infection. Additionally, B. velezensis triggered a salicylic acid (SA)-dependent mode of induced systemic resistance that resembles pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance. Wheat plants mainly depend on SA-mediated resistance, and not that mediated by jasmonic acid (JA), against the necrotrophic pathogen G. graminis var. tritici. Moreover, SA-JA interactions resulted in antagonistic effects regardless of the type of microorganisms in wheat. Further enhancement of SA-dependent defense responses such as lignification to the combined infection was shown to reduce the level of induced JA-dependent defense against subsequent infection with G. graminis var. tritici. Altogether, our results demonstrate how the hexaploid monocot wheat responds to beneficial or pathogenic microorganisms and prolongs the onset of take-all disease through modulation of cell reprogramming and signaling events.}, } @article {pmid31124196, year = {2019}, author = {McIntosh, M and Serrania, J and Lacanna, E}, title = {A novel LuxR-type solo of Sinorhizobium meliloti, NurR, is regulated by the chromosome replication coordinator, DnaA and activates quorum sensing.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {678-698}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.14312}, pmid = {31124196}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA Replication ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Quorum Sensing ; Regulon ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Trans-Activators/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The genome of Sinorhizobium meliloti, a model for studying plant-bacteria symbiosis, contains eight genes coding for LuxR-like proteins. Two of these, SinR and ExpR, are essential for quorum sensing (QS). Roles and regulation surrounding the others are mostly unknown. Here, we reveal the DNA recognition sequence and regulon of the LuxR-like protein SMc00877. Unlike ExpR, which uses the long-chain acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as inducers, SMc00877 functioned independently of AHLs and was even functional in Escherichia coli. A target of SMc00877 is SinR, the major regulator of AHL production in S. meliloti. Disruption of SMc00877 decreased AHL production. A weaker production of AHLs resulted in smaller microcolonies, starting from single cells, and delayed AHL-dependent regulation. SMc00877 was expressed only in growing cells in the presence of replete nutrients. Therefore, we renamed it NurR (nutrient sensitive LuxR-like regulator). We traced this nutrient-sensitive expression to transcription control by the DNA replication initiation factor, DnaA, which is essential for growth. These results indicate that NurR has a role in modulating the threshold of QS activation according to growth. We propose growth behavior as an additional prerequisite to population density for the activation of QS in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid31121904, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Y and Hu, L and Yu, D and Xu, K and Zhang, J and Li, X and Wang, P and Chen, G and Liu, Z and Peng, C and Li, C and Guo, T}, title = {Integrative Analysis of the Wheat PHT1 Gene Family Reveals A Novel Member Involved in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Phosphate Transport and Immunity.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31121904}, issn = {2073-4409}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Triticum/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the main growth-limiting factors for plants. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can significantly promote P uptake. Generally, PHT1 transporters play key roles in plants' P uptake, and thus, PHT1 genes have been investigated in some plants, but the regulation and functions of these genes in wheat (TaPHT1) during AM symbiosis have not been studied in depth. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of TaPHT1 genes was performed, including sequence, phylogeny, cis-elements, expression, subcellular localization and functions, to elucidate their roles in AM-associated phosphate transport and immunity. In total, 35 TaPHT1s were identified in the latest high-quality bread wheat genome, 34 of which were unevenly distributed on 13 chromosomes, and divided into five groups. Sequence analysis indicated that there are 11 types of motif architectures and five types of exon-intron structures in the TaPHT1 family. Duplication mode analysis indicated that the TaPHT1 family has expanded mainly through segmental and tandem duplication events, and that all duplicated gene pairs have been under purifying selection. Transcription analysis of the 35 TaPHT1s revealed that not only known the mycorrhizal-specific genes TaPht-myc, TaPT15-4B (TaPT11) and TaPT19-4D (TaPT10), but also four novel mycorrhizal-specific/inducible genes (TaPT3-2D, TaPT11-4A, TaPT29-6A, and TaPT31-7A) are highly up-regulated in AM wheat roots. Furthermore, the mycorrhizal-specific/inducible genes are significantly induced in wheat roots at different stages of infection by colonizing fungi. Transient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation expression in onion epidermal cells showed that TaPT29-6A is a membrane-localized protein. In contrast to other AM-specific/inducible PHT1 genes, TaPT29-6A is apparently required for the symbiotic and direct Pi pathway. TaPT29-6A-silenced lines exhibited reduced levels of AM fungal colonization and arbuscules, but increased susceptibility to biotrophic, hemi-biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. In conclusion, TaPT29-6A was not only essential for the AM symbiosis, but also played vital roles in immunity.}, } @article {pmid31120967, year = {2019}, author = {Thomas, J and Kim, HR and Rahmatallah, Y and Wiggins, G and Yang, Q and Singh, R and Glazko, G and Mukherjee, A}, title = {RNA-seq reveals differentially expressed genes in rice (Oryza sativa) roots during interactions with plant-growth promoting bacteria, Azospirillum brasilense.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {e0217309}, pmid = {31120967}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {P20 GM103429/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Models, Biological ; Mutation ; Oryza/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; RNA-Seq ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Major non-legume crops can form beneficial associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Azospirillum brasilense. Our current understanding of the molecular aspects and signaling that occur between important crops like rice and these nitrogen-fixing bacteria is limited. In this study, we used an experimental system where the bacteria could colonize the plant roots and promote plant growth in wild type rice and symbiotic mutants (dmi3 and pollux) in rice. Our data suggest that plant growth promotion and root penetration is not dependent on these genes. We then used this colonization model to identify regulation of gene expression at two different time points during this interaction: at 1day post inoculation (dpi), we identified 1622 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in rice roots, and at 14dpi, we identified 1995 DEGs. We performed a comprehensive data mining to classify the DEGs into the categories of transcription factors (TFs), protein kinases (PKs), and transporters (TRs). Several of these DEGs encode proteins that are involved in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, defense, and hormone signaling pathways. We identified genes that are involved in nitrate and sugar transport and are also implicated to play a role in other plant-microbe interactions. Overall, findings from this study will serve as an excellent resource to characterize the host genetic pathway controlling the interactions between non-legumes and beneficial bacteria which can have long-term implications towards sustainably improving agriculture.}, } @article {pmid31120621, year = {2019}, author = {Zheng, M and Zhou, Z and Luo, Y and Zhao, P and Mo, J}, title = {Global pattern and controls of biological nitrogen fixation under nutrient enrichment: A meta-analysis.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {3018-3030}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14705}, pmid = {31120621}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Forests ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nutrients ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen (N) fixation (BNF), an important source of N in terrestrial ecosystems, plays a critical role in terrestrial nutrient cycling and net primary productivity. Currently, large uncertainty exists regarding how nutrient availability regulates terrestrial BNF and the drivers responsible for this process. We conducted a global meta-analysis of terrestrial BNF in response to N, phosphorus (P), and micronutrient (Micro) addition across different biomes (i.e, tropical/subtropical forest, savanna, temperate forest, grassland, boreal forest, and tundra) and explored whether the BNF responses were affected by fertilization regimes (nutrient-addition rates, duration, and total load) and environmental factors (mean annual temperature [MAT], mean annual precipitation [MAP], and N deposition). The results showed that N addition inhibited terrestrial BNF (by 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.7%-20.3%); hereafter), Micro addition stimulated terrestrial BNF (30.4% [25.7%-35.3%]), and P addition had an inconsistent effect on terrestrial BNF, i.e., inhibiting free-living N fixation (7.5% [4.4%-10.6%]) and stimulating symbiotic N fixation (85.5% [25.8%-158.7%]). Furthermore, the response ratios (i.e., effect sizes) of BNF to nutrient addition were smaller in low-latitude (<30°) biomes (8.5%-36.9%) than in mid-/high-latitude (≥30°) biomes (32.9%-61.3%), and the sensitivity (defined as the absolute value of response ratios) of BNF to nutrients in mid-/high-latitude biomes decreased with decreasing latitude (p ≤ 0.009; linear/logarithmic regression models). Fertilization regimes did not affect this phenomenon (p > 0.05), but environmental factors did affect it (p < 0.001) because MAT, MAP, and N deposition accounted for 5%-14%, 10%-32%, and 7%-18% of the variance in the BNF response ratios in cold (MAT < 15°C), low-rainfall (MAP < 2,500 mm), and low-N-deposition (<7 kg ha[-1] year[-1]) biomes, respectively. Overall, our meta-analysis depicts a global pattern of nutrient impacts on terrestrial BNF and indicates that certain types of global change (i.e., warming, elevated precipitation and N deposition) may reduce the sensitivity of BNF in response to nutrient enrichment in mid-/high-latitude biomes.}, } @article {pmid31119103, year = {2019}, author = {Echazarreta, MA and Klose, KE}, title = {Vibrio Flagellar Synthesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {131}, pmid = {31119103}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {R25 GM060655/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Flagella/*metabolism ; *Organelle Biogenesis ; Vibrio/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vibrio spp. are highly motile Gram-negative bacteria, ubiquitously found in aquatic environments. Some Vibrios are responsible for disease and morbidity of marine invertebrates and humans, while others are studied for their symbiotic interactions. Vibrio spp. are motile due to synthesis of flagella that rotate and propel the bacteria. Many Vibrio spp. synthesize monotrichous polar flagella (e.g., V. cholerae, V. alginolyticus); however, some synthesize peritrichous or lophotrichous flagella. Flagellar-mediated motility is intimately connected to biological and cellular processes such as chemotaxis, biofilm formation, colonization, and virulence of Vibrio spp. This review focuses on the polar flagellum and its regulation in regard to Vibrio virulence and environmental persistence.}, } @article {pmid31119081, year = {2019}, author = {Jian, L and Bai, X and Zhang, H and Song, X and Li, Z}, title = {Promotion of growth and metal accumulation of alfalfa by coinoculation with Sinorhizobium and Agrobacterium under copper and zinc stress.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6875}, pmid = {31119081}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis has been proposed as a promising technique for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils due to its beneficial activity in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, numerous studies have shown that excessive heavy metals reduce the efficiency of symbiotic nodulation with Rhizobium and inhibit plant growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of IAA-producing bacteria and Rhizobium on Medicago lupulina growth under Cu and Zn stress. Pot experiments showed that 400 mg kg[-1] Cu[2 +] and Zn[2 +] greatly inhibited plant growth, but dual inoculation of Medicago lupulina with Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 significantly increased the number of nodules and plant biomass by enhancing antioxidant activities. Under double stress of 400 mg kg[-1] Cu[2 +] and Zn[2 +], the nodule number and nitrogenase activities of dual-inoculated plants were 48.5% and 154.4% higher, respectively, than those of plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti. The root and above-ground portion lengths of the dual-inoculated plants were 32.6% and 14.1% greater, respectively, than those of the control, while the root and above-ground portion dry weights were 34.3% and 32.2% greater, respectively, than those of the control. Compared with S. meliloti and A. tumefaciens single inoculation, coinoculation increased total Cu uptake by 39.1% and 47.5% and increased total Zn uptake by 35.4% and 44.2%, respectively, under double metal stress conditions. Therefore, coinoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti and Agrobacterium tumefaciens enhances metal phytoextraction by increasing plant growth and antioxidant activities under Cu/Zn stress, which provides a new approach for bioremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid31118473, year = {2019}, author = {Sproles, AE and Oakley, CA and Matthews, JL and Peng, L and Owen, JG and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Proteomics quantifies protein expression changes in a model cnidarian colonised by a thermally tolerant but suboptimal symbiont.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {2334-2345}, pmid = {31118473}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Oxidative Stress ; Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Proteome/*genetics/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Sea Anemones/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The acquisition of thermally tolerant algal symbionts by corals has been proposed as a natural or assisted mechanism of increasing coral reef resilience to anthropogenic climate change, but the cell-level processes determining the performance of new symbiotic associations are poorly understood. We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to investigate the effects of an experimentally induced symbiosis on the host proteome of the model sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida. Aposymbiotic specimens were colonised by either the homologous dinoflagellate symbiont (Breviolum minutum) or a thermally tolerant, ecologically invasive heterologous symbiont (Durusdinium trenchii). Anemones containing D. trenchii exhibited minimal expression of Niemann-Pick C2 proteins, which have predicted biochemical roles in sterol transport and cell recognition, and glutamine synthetases, which are thought to be involved in nitrogen assimilation and recycling between partners. D. trenchii-colonised anemones had higher expression of methionine-synthesising betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferases and proteins with predicted oxidative stress response functions. Multiple lysosome-associated proteins were less abundant in both symbiotic treatments compared with the aposymbiotic treatment. The differentially abundant proteins are predicted to represent pathways that may be involved in nutrient transport or resource allocation between partners. These results provide targets for specific experiments to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning compensatory physiology in the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31117564, year = {2019}, author = {Mahajani, NS and Meador, RIL and Smith, TJ and Canarelli, SE and Adhikari, AA and Shah, JP and Russo, CM and Wallach, DR and Howard, KT and Millimaci, AM and Chisholm, JD}, title = {Ester Formation via Symbiotic Activation Utilizing Trichloroacetimidate Electrophiles.}, journal = {The Journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {84}, number = {12}, pages = {7871-7882}, pmid = {31117564}, issn = {1520-6904}, support = {R15 GM116054/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetamides/*chemistry ; Carboxylic Acids/chemistry ; Chloroacetates/*chemistry ; *Electrons ; Esters/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Trichloroacetimidates are useful reagents for the synthesis of esters under mild conditions that do not require an exogenous promoter. These conditions avoid the undesired decomposition of substrates with sensitive functional groups that are often observed with the use of strong Lewis or Brønsted acids. With heating, these reactions have been extended to benzyl esters without electron-donating groups. These inexpensive and convenient methods should find application in the formation of esters in complex substrates.}, } @article {pmid31117021, year = {2019}, author = {Beinart, RA}, title = {The Significance of Microbial Symbionts in Ecosystem Processes.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31117021}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {It is increasingly accepted that the microbial symbionts of eukaryotes can have profound effects on host ecology and evolution. However, the relative contribution that they make directly to ecosystem processes, like energy and nutrient flows, is less explicitly acknowledged and, in many cases, only poorly constrained. Here, I explore the idea that, in some habitats, host-associated microbes may have an outsized role in ecosystem processes relative to functionally equivalent free-living microbes due to key aspects of the physiology, ecology, and evolution of symbiotic interactions. My research quantifying symbiont metabolism has shown that microbial symbionts have the potential to make a substantial impact on carbon and sulfur cycling. It is my perspective that direct measurement of symbiont activity and comparison to free-living counterparts will expand our understanding of the significance of microbial symbioses and, more broadly, the role of microbial processes in ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid31117019, year = {2019}, author = {Kleiner, M}, title = {Metaproteomics: Much More than Measuring Gene Expression in Microbial Communities.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31117019}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Metaproteomics is the large-scale identification and quantification of proteins from microbial communities and thus provides direct insight into the phenotypes of microorganisms on the molecular level. Initially, metaproteomics was mainly used to assess the "expressed" metabolism and physiology of microbial community members. However, recently developed metaproteomic tools allow quantification of per-species biomass to determine community structure, in situ carbon sources of community members, and the uptake of labeled substrates by community members. In this perspective, I provide a brief overview of the questions that we can currently address, as well as new metaproteomics-based approaches that we and others are developing to address even more questions in the study of microbial communities and plant and animal microbiota. I also highlight some areas and technologies where I anticipate developments and potentially major breakthroughs in the next 5 years and beyond.}, } @article {pmid31116294, year = {2020}, author = {Li, F and He, X and Tang, M and Tang, X and Liu, J and Yi, Y}, title = {Adaptation of plants to high-calcium content kart regions: possible involvement of symbiotic microorganisms and underlying mechanisms.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {209-214}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.186437}, pmid = {31116294}, issn = {1678-4375}, mesh = {*Calcium ; Endophytes ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes can help their hosts absorb nutrients and regulate the levels of plant hormones. Moreover, they can modulate the expressions of host genes, assist hosts in eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secreting volatile organic compounds. Therefore, rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes are considered as determinant factors driving processes involved in the growth of host plants. However, the physiological and ecological functions, as well as the molecular mechanism underlying the behavior of rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes in their role in the adaptive capacity of host plants in the karstic high-calcium environment have not been systematically studied. This review summarizes the physiological and molecular mechanisms of rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes which help host plants to adapt to various kinds of adverse environments. The adaptive capacities of plants growing in adverse environments, partly, or totally, depends on microorganisms co-existing with the host plants.}, } @article {pmid31115057, year = {2020}, author = {Imai, A and Ohtani, M and Nara, A and Tsukakoshi, A and Narita, A and Hirakawa, H and Sato, S and Suganuma, N}, title = {The Lotus japonicus nucleoporin GLE1 is involved in symbiotic association with rhizobia.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {590-600}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12996}, pmid = {31115057}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Lotus/microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nucleoporins are components of the nuclear pore complexes, channels that regulate the transport of macromolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The nucleoporin GLE1 (GLFG lethal1) functions in the export of messenger RNAs containing poly(A) tails from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Here we investigated a mutant of the model legume Lotus japonicus that was defective in GLE1, which we designated Ljgle1. The growth of Ljgle1 was retarded under symbiotic association with rhizobia, and the nitrogen-fixation activities of the nodules were around one-third of those in the wild-type plant. The growth of Ljgle1 was not substantialy recovered by supplemention of combined nitrogen. Nodules formed on the Ljgle1 were smaller than those on the wild-type and colored faint pink. The numbers of infected cells of nodules on the Ljgle1 were smaller than on the wild-type plant, and the former cells remained undeveloped. Rhizobia in the cells of the Ljgle1 exhibited disordered forms, and the symbiosome membrane was closely attached to the bacterial membrane. These results indicate that GLE1 plays a distinct role in the symbiotic association between legumes and rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid31114600, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, YS and Geng, JC and Sha, XY and Zhao, YX and Hu, TM and Yang, PZ}, title = {Effect of Rhizobium Symbiosis on Low-Temperature Tolerance and Antioxidant Response in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {538}, pmid = {31114600}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Low temperature-induced stress is a major environmental factor limiting the growth and development of plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a legume well known for its tolerance of extreme environments. In this study, we sought to experimentally investigate the role of rhizobium symbiosis in alfalfa's performance under a low-temperature stress condition. To do this, alfalfa "Ladak[+]" plants carrying active nodules (AN), inactive nodules (IN), or no nodules (NN) were exposed to an imposed low temperature stress and their survivorship calculated. The antioxidant defense responses, the accumulation of osmotic regulation substances, the cell membrane damage, and the expression of low temperature stress-related genes were determined in both the roots and the shoots of alfalfa plants. We found that more plants with AN survived than those with IN or NN under the same low temperature-stress condition. Greater activity of oxidation protective enzymes was observed in the AN and IN groups, conferring higher tolerance to low temperature in these plants. In addition, rhizobia nodulation also enhanced alfalfa's ability to tolerate low temperature by altering the expression of regulatory and metabolism-associated genes, which resulted in the accumulation of soluble proteins and sugars in the nodulated plants. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that rhizobium inoculation offers a practical way to promote the persistence and growth potential of alfalfa "Ladak[+]" in cold areas.}, } @article {pmid31114559, year = {2019}, author = {González, V and Santamaría, RI and Bustos, P and Pérez-Carrascal, OM and Vinuesa, P and Juárez, S and Martínez-Flores, I and Cevallos, MÁ and Brom, S and Martínez-Romero, E and Romero, D}, title = {Phylogenomic Rhizobium Species Are Structured by a Continuum of Diversity and Genomic Clusters.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {910}, pmid = {31114559}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The bacterial genus Rhizobium comprises diverse symbiotic nitrogen-fixing species associated with the roots of plants in the Leguminosae family. Multiple genomic clusters defined by whole genome comparisons occur within Rhizobium, but their equivalence to species is controversial. In this study we investigated such genomic clusters to ascertain their significance in a species phylogeny context. Phylogenomic inferences based on complete sets of ribosomal proteins and stringent core genome markers revealed the main lineages of Rhizobium. The clades corresponding to R. etli and R. leguminosarum species show several genomic clusters with average genomic nucleotide identities (ANI > 95%), and a continuum of divergent strains, respectively. They were found to be inversely correlated with the genetic distance estimated from concatenated ribosomal proteins. We uncovered evidence of a Rhizobium pangenome that was greatly expanded, both in its chromosomes and plasmids. Despite the variability of extra-chromosomal elements, our genomic comparisons revealed only a few chromid and plasmid families. The presence/absence profile of genes in the complete Rhizobium genomes agreed with the phylogenomic pattern of species divergence. Symbiotic genes were distributed according to the principal phylogenomic Rhizobium clades but did not resolve genome clusters within the clades. We distinguished some types of symbiotic plasmids within Rhizobium that displayed different rates of synonymous nucleotide substitutions in comparison to chromosomal genes. Symbiotic plasmids may have been repeatedly transferred horizontally between strains and species, in the process displacing and substituting pre-existing symbiotic plasmids. In summary, the results indicate that Rhizobium genomic clusters, as defined by whole genomic identities, might be part of a continuous process of evolutionary divergence that includes the core and the extrachromosomal elements leading to species formation.}, } @article {pmid31113823, year = {2019}, author = {Serra, L and Macchietto, M and Macias-Muñoz, A and McGill, CJ and Rodriguez, IM and Rodriguez, B and Murad, R and Mortazavi, A}, title = {Hybrid Assembly of the Genome of the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema carpocapsae Identifies the X-Chromosome.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {2687-2697}, pmid = {31113823}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genome ; *Genomics/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; Nematoda/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; *X Chromosome ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes from the genus Steinernema are lethal insect parasites that quickly kill their insect hosts with the help of their symbiotic bacteria. Steinernema carpocapsae is one of the most studied entomopathogens due to its broad lethality to diverse insect species and its effective commercial use as a biological control agent for insect pests, as well as a genetic model for studying parasitism, pathogenesis, and symbiosis. In this study, we used long-reads from the Pacific Biosciences platform and BioNano Genomics Irys system to assemble the most complete genome of the S. carpocapsae ALL strain to date, comprising 84.5 Mb in 16 scaffolds, with an N50 of 7.36 Mb. The largest scaffold, with 20.9 Mb, was identified as chromosome X based on sex-specific genome sequencing. The high level of contiguity allowed us to characterize gene density, repeat content, and GC content. RNA-seq data from 17 developmental stages, spanning from embryo to adult, were used to predict 30,957 gene models. Using this improved genome, we performed a macrosyntenic analysis to Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus and found S. carpocapsae's chromosome X to be primarily orthologous to C. elegans' and P. pacificus' chromosome II and IV. We also investigated the expansion of protein families and gene expression differences between adult male and female stage nematodes. This new genome and more accurate set of annotations provide a foundation for additional comparative genomic and gene expression studies within the Steinernema clade and across the Nematoda phylum.}, } @article {pmid31113635, year = {2019}, author = {Monticelli, LS and Outreman, Y and Frago, E and Desneux, N}, title = {Impact of host endosymbionts on parasitoid host range - from mechanisms to communities.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {77-82}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2018.11.005}, pmid = {31113635}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Appetitive Behavior ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Insecta/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In insects, bacterial endosymbionts are known to influence the ecology of their hosts by modifying interactions with natural enemies such as parasitoids. Symbionts can modulate both parasitoid behavioral and/or physiological traits as well as host behaviors and life-history traits. Together these suggest that endosymbionts may impact the host range of parasitoids. For example, endosymbionts may narrow parasitoid host range through first, reducing parasitoid ability to locate hosts and/or larval survival, second, affecting fitness traits of the emerging adult parasitoid and/or third, modulating the outcome of interference and exploitative competition between parasitoid species. From both a fundamental and applied point of view, these symbiotic effects would influence the ecology and evolution of parasitoids and associated population-level processes and ecosystem services (e.g. biocontrol).}, } @article {pmid31113629, year = {2019}, author = {Ballinger, MJ and Perlman, SJ}, title = {The defensive Spiroplasma.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {36-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2018.10.004}, pmid = {31113629}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Fungi ; Nematoda ; Saporins ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Wasps ; }, abstract = {Defensive microbes are of great interest for their roles in arthropod health, disease transmission, and biocontrol efforts. Obligate bacterial passengers of arthropods, such as Spiroplasma, confer protection against the natural enemies of their hosts to improve their own fitness. Although known for less than a decade, Spiroplasma's defensive reach extends to diverse parasites, both microbial and multicellular. We provide an overview of known defensive phenotypes against nematodes, parasitoid wasps, and fungi, and highlight recent studies supporting the role of Spiroplasma-encoded ribosome-inactivating proteins in protection. With cellular features well-suited for life in the hemolymph, broad distribution among invertebrate hosts, and the capacity to repeatedly evolve vertical transmission, Spiroplasma may be uniquely equipped to form intimate, defensive associations to combat extracellular parasites. Along with insights into defensive mechanisms, recent significant advances have been made in male-killing - a phenotype with interesting evolutionary ties to defense. Finally, we look forward to an exciting decade using the genetic tools of Drosophila, and the rapidly-advancing tractability of Spiroplasma itself, to better understand mechanisms and evolution in defensive symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31110241, year = {2019}, author = {Brookshire, ENJ and Wurzburger, N and Currey, B and Menge, DNL and Oatham, MP and Roberts, C}, title = {Symbiotic N fixation is sufficient to support net aboveground biomass accumulation in a humid tropical forest.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {7571}, pmid = {31110241}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation has been shown to support carbon storage in young regenerating tropical forests, but N-fixing trees can also be strong competitors with non-fixing trees, making it unclear which mechanism drives long term patterns in biomass accretion. Many tropical forests have excess N, but factors such as rising atmospheric CO2 or selective cutting practices might induce additional N demand. Here we combine decades of stem inventory data, in-situ measures of symbiotic N fixation, and simulations of N demand to evaluate demographic and biogeochemical controls on biomass dynamics in legume-rich lowland forests of Trinidad. We document sustained net biomass accumulation and high rates of N fixation in these forests, regardless of the timing of selective timber harvests, including an old growth stand. The biomass accumulation was explained by growth of non-fixing trees, not N-fixing trees, but the total amount of symbiotic N fixation was sufficient to account for most of net above ground N demands, suggesting that N-fixers could contribute to the long-term C sink in these forests via fertilizing non-fixers.}, } @article {pmid31109137, year = {2019}, author = {Ji, J and Zhang, C and Sun, Z and Wang, L and Duanmu, D and Fan, Q}, title = {Genome Editing in Cowpea Vigna unguiculata Using CRISPR-Cas9.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {31109137}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {CRISPR-Cas Systems ; *Gene Editing/methods ; Genome, Plant ; Mutagenesis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; RNA, Guide, Kinetoplastida/genetics ; Vigna/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is widely cultivated across the world. Due to its symbiotic nitrogen fixation capability and many agronomically important traits, such as tolerance to low rainfall and low fertilization requirements, as well as its high nutrition and health benefits, cowpea is an important legume crop, especially in many semi-arid countries. However, research in Vigna unguiculata is dramatically hampered by the lack of mutant resources and efficient tools for gene inactivation in vivo. In this study, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9). We applied the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technology to efficiently disrupt the representative symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) gene in Vigna unguiculata. Our customized guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting symbiosis receptor-like kinase (SYMRK) achieved ~67% mutagenic efficiency in hairy-root-transformed plants, and nodule formation was completely blocked in the mutants with both alleles disrupted. Various types of mutations were observed near the PAM region of the respective gRNA. These results demonstrate the applicability of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in Vigna unguiculata, and therefore should significantly stimulate functional genomics analyses of many important agronomical traits in this unique crop legume.}, } @article {pmid31109096, year = {2019}, author = {Saridis, G and Chorianopoulou, SN and Ventouris, YE and Sigalas, PP and Bouranis, DL}, title = {An Exploration of the Roles of Ferric Iron Chelation-Strategy Components in the Leaves and Roots of Maize Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31109096}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plants have developed sophisticated mechanisms for acquiring iron from the soil. In the graminaceous species, a chelation strategy is in charge, in order to take up ferric iron from the rhizosphere. The ferric iron chelation-strategy components may also be present in the aerial plant parts. The aim of this work was to search for possible roles of those components in maize leaves. To this end, the expression patterns of ferric iron chelation-strategy components were monitored in the leaves and roots of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal sulfur-deprived maize plants, both before and after sulfate supply. The two levels of sulfur supply were chosen due to the strong impact of this nutrient on iron homeostasis, whilst mycorrhizal symbiosis was chosen as a treatment that forces the plant to optimize its photosynthetic efficiency, in order to feed the fungus. The results, in combination with the findings of our previous works, suggest a role for the aforementioned components in ferric chelation and/or unloading from the xylem vessels to the aerial plant parts. It is proposed that the gene expression of the DMA exporter ZmTOM1 can be used as an early indicator for the establishment of a mycorrhizal symbiotic relationship in maize.}, } @article {pmid31107632, year = {2019}, author = {Forester, NT and Lane, GA and McKenzie, CM and Lamont, IL and Johnson, LJ}, title = {The Role of SreA-Mediated Iron Regulation in Maintaining Epichloë festucae-Lolium perenne Symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {1324-1335}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-19-0060-R}, pmid = {31107632}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Epichloe/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; *GATA Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; *Lolium/microbiology ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, iron-responsive GATA-type transcriptional repressors are involved in regulating iron homeostasis, notably to prevent iron toxicity through control of iron uptake. To date, it has been unknown whether this iron regulator contributes toward mutualistic endosymbiosis of microbes with plants, a system where the endophyte must function within the constraints of an in-host existence, including a dependency on the host for nutrient acquisition. Functional characterization of one such protein, SreA from Epichloë festucae, a fungal endosymbiont of cool-season grasses, indicates that regulation of iron homeostasis processes is important for symbiotic maintenance. The deletion of the sreA gene (ΔsreA) led to iron-dependent aberrant hyphal growth and the gradual loss of endophyte hyphae from perennial ryegrass. SreA negatively regulates the siderophore biosynthesis and high-affinity iron uptake systems of E. festucae, similar to other fungi, resulting in iron accumulation in mutants. Our evidence suggests that SreA is involved in the processes that moderate Epichloë iron acquisition from the plant apoplast, because overharvesting of iron in ΔsreA mutants was detected as premature chlorosis of the host using a hydroponic plant growth assay. E. festucae appears to have a tightly regulated iron management system, involving SreA that balances endophyte growth with its survival and prevents overcompetition with the host for iron in the intercellular niche, thus promoting mutualistic associations. Mutations that interfere with Epichloë iron management negatively affect iron-dependent fungal growth and destabilize mutualistic Epichloë -ryegrass associations.}, } @article {pmid31106828, year = {2019}, author = {Rigo, R and Bazin, JRM and Crespi, M and Charon, CL}, title = {Alternative Splicing in the Regulation of Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {9}, pages = {1906-1916}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz086}, pmid = {31106828}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Alternative Splicing ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay ; Plants/*genetics/microbiology ; Protein Isoforms/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {As sessile organisms, plants are continuously exposed to a wide range of biotic interactions. While some biotic interactions are beneficial or even essential for the plant (e.g. rhizobia and mycorrhiza), others such as pathogens are detrimental and require fast adaptation. Plants partially achieve this growth and developmental plasticity by modulating the repertoire of genes they express. In the past few years, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing have revealed that, in addition to transcriptional control of gene expression, post-transcriptional processes, notably alternative splicing (AS), emerged as a key mechanism for gene regulation during plant adaptation to the environment. AS not only can increase proteome diversity by generating multiple transcripts from a single gene but also can reduce gene expression by yielding isoforms degraded by mechanisms such as nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. In this review, we will summarize recent discoveries detailing the contribution of AS to the regulation of plant-microbe interactions, with an emphasis on the modulation of immunity receptor function and other components of the signaling pathways that deal with pathogen responses. We will also discuss emerging evidences that AS could contribute to dynamic reprogramming of the plant transcriptome during beneficial interactions, such as the legume-symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid31106065, year = {2019}, author = {Wright, RM and Strader, ME and Genuise, HM and Matz, M}, title = {Effects of thermal stress on amount, composition, and antibacterial properties of coral mucus.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6849}, pmid = {31106065}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The surface mucus layer of reef-building corals supports feeding, sediment clearing, and protection from pathogenic invaders. As much as half of the fixed carbon supplied by the corals' photosynthetic symbionts is incorporated into expelled mucus. It is therefore reasonable to expect that coral bleaching (disruption of the coral-algal symbiosis) would affect mucus production. Since coral mucus serves as an important nutrient source for the entire reef community, this could have substantial ecosystem-wide consequences. In this study, we examined the effects of heat stress-induced coral bleaching on the composition and antibacterial properties of coral mucus. In a controlled laboratory thermal challenge, stressed corals produced mucus with higher protein (β = 2.1, p < 0.001) and lipid content (β = 15.7, p = 0.02) and increased antibacterial activity (likelihood ratio = 100, p < 0.001) relative to clonal controls. These results are likely explained by the expelled symbionts in the mucus of bleached individuals. Our study suggests that coral bleaching could immediately impact the nutrient flux in the coral reef ecosystem via its effect on coral mucus.}, } @article {pmid31106055, year = {2019}, author = {Boland, JM and Woodward, DL}, title = {Impacts of the invasive shot hole borer (Euwallacea kuroshio) are linked to sewage pollution in southern California: the Enriched Tree Hypothesis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6812}, pmid = {31106055}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer (KSHB, Euwallacea kuroshio) and the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (E. whitfordiodendrus; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) have recently invaded southern California and are attacking live trees in commercial agriculture groves, urban parks and native riparian forests. Among native forests the worst impacts observed to date have been in the Tijuana River Valley in south San Diego County, where approximately 30% of the native willows (Salix spp.), or 120,000 trees, have died as a result of a KSHB infestation. This paper examines wood densities, wood moisture contents, KSHB infestation rates, and KSHB-induced mortality rates in two willow species (Salix lasiolepis and S. gooddingii) at sites near and far from sewage input. Comparisons were made on two spatial scales: broadly among sites within San Diego County; and locally among sites within the Tijuana River Valley. The results showed that, on average, willow trees growing closest to sewage pollution had significantly lower wood density, higher wood moisture content, higher KSHB infestation rates, and higher KSHB-induced willow mortality rates than those growing farther away. We present the Enriched Tree Hypothesis to explain the link between sewage pollution and KSHB impacts; it is as follows: (A) Riparian trees subject to nutrient enrichment from frequent sewage pollution grow quickly, and their fast growth results in wood of low density and high moisture content. If attacked by the KSHB, the trunks and branches of these nutrient-enriched trees provide an environment conducive to the fast growth of the symbiotic fungi upon which the KSHB feeds. With an abundant food supply, the KSHB population increases rapidly and the trees are heavily damaged by thousands of KSHB galleries in their trunks and branches. (B) Riparian trees not subject to frequent sewage pollution grow more slowly and have denser, drier wood. Conditions in their trunks and branches are not conducive to the fast growth of the KSHB's symbiotic fungi. The KSHB generally ignores, or has low abundances in, these slow-growing trees. This new hypothesis explains current patterns of KSHB impact in San Diego County and focuses attention on the important roles of the environment and preexisting conditions of trees in determining the extent of KSHB impact. It highlights the Tijuana River Valley as an unusual site due to high sewage inputs and predicts that the high KSHB-induced willow mortality seen there should not occur in other natural riparian habitats in southern California. Most importantly, by identifying sewage pollution (or nutrient enrichment) as a major risk factor for KSHB impacts, the hypothesis ratchets down the KSHB-threat level for most riparian sites in southern California and directs attention to other nutrient-enriched sites as those most at risk.}, } @article {pmid31105677, year = {2019}, author = {Guo, Y and Ghirardo, A and Weber, B and Schnitzler, JP and Benz, JP and Rosenkranz, M}, title = {Trichoderma Species Differ in Their Volatile Profiles and in Antagonism Toward Ectomycorrhiza Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {891}, pmid = {31105677}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are economically important due to their plant growth- and performance-promoting effects, such as improved nutrient supply, mycoparasitism of plant-pathogens and priming of plant defense. Due to their mycotrophic lifestyle, however, they might also be antagonistic to other plant-beneficial fungi, such as mycorrhiza-forming species. Trichoderma spp. release a high diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which likely play a decisive role in the inter-species communication. It has been shown that Trichoderma VOCs can inhibit growth of some plant pathogens, but their inhibition potentials during early interactions with mutualistic fungi remain unknown. Laccaria bicolor is a common ectomycorrhizal fungus which in symbiotic relationship is well known to facilitate plant performance. Here, we investigated the VOC profiles of three strains of Trichoderma species, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma Hamatum, and Trichoderma velutinum, as well as L. bicolor by stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (SBSE-GC-MS). We further examined the fungal performance and the VOC emission profiles during confrontation of the Trichoderma species with L. bicolor in different co-cultivation scenarios. The VOC profiles of the three Trichoderma species were highly species-dependent. T. harzianum was the strongest VOC emitter with the most diverse compound pattern, followed by T. hamatum and T. velutinum. Co-cultivation of Trichoderma spp. and L. bicolor altered the VOC emission patterns dramatically in some scenarios. The co-cultivations also revealed contact degree-dependent inhibition of one of the fungal partners. Trichoderma growth was at least partially inhibited when sharing the same headspace with L. bicolor. In direct contact between both mycelia, however, L. bicolor growth was impaired, indicating that Trichoderma and L. bicolor apply different effectors when defending their territory. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that all examined individual fungal species in axenic cultures, as well as their co-cultivations were characterized by a distinct VOC emission pattern. The results underline the importance of VOCs in fungal interactions and reveal unexpected adjustability of the VOC emissions according to the specific biotic environments.}, } @article {pmid31103464, year = {2020}, author = {Vander Linden, C and Corbet, C}, title = {Reconciling environment-mediated metabolic heterogeneity with the oncogene-driven cancer paradigm in precision oncology.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {202-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.05.016}, pmid = {31103464}, issn = {1096-3634}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology ; Humans ; Lactates/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/drug effects/metabolism ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/*genetics/pathology ; Oncogenes/*genetics ; *Precision Medicine ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Precision oncology is the practice of matching one therapy to one specific patient, based on particular genetic tumor alterations, in order to achieve the best clinical response. Despite an expanding arsenal of targeted therapies, many patients still have a poor outcome because tumor cells show a remarkable capacity to develop drug resistance, thereby leading to tumor relapse. Besides genotype-driven resistance mechanisms, tumor microenvironment (TME) peculiarities strongly contribute to generate an intratumoral phenotypic heterogeneity that affects disease progression and treatment outcome. In this Review, we describe how TME-mediated metabolic heterogeneities actively participate to therapeutic failure. We report how a lactate-based metabolic symbiosis acts as a mechanism of adaptive resistance to targeted therapies and we describe the role of mitochondrial metabolism, in particular oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), to support the growth and survival of therapy-resistant tumor cells in a variety of cancers. Finally, we detail potential metabolism-interfering therapeutic strategies aiming to eradicate OXPHOS-dependent relapse-sustaining malignant cells and we discuss relevant (pre)clinical models that may help integrate TME-driven metabolic heterogeneity in precision oncology.}, } @article {pmid31103182, year = {2019}, author = {Perry, VEA and Copping, KJ and Miguel-Pacheco, G and Hernandez-Medrano, J}, title = {The Effects of Developmental Programming upon Neonatal Mortality.}, journal = {The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {289-302}, doi = {10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.02.002}, pmid = {31103182}, issn = {1558-4240}, mesh = {Animal Husbandry/*methods ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Birth Weight ; Cattle/embryology/growth & development/*physiology ; Cattle Diseases ; Diet/veterinary ; Dystocia/veterinary ; Female ; Fetal Development/physiology ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Animal/*physiology ; Stillbirth/veterinary ; }, abstract = {The greatest loss in ruminant production systems occurs during the neonatal period. The maternal environment (nutrition and physiologic status) influences neonatal mortality and morbidity as it reportedly affects (a) Dystocia, both via increasing birth weight and placental dysfunction; (b) Neonatal thermoregulation, both via altering the amount of brown adipose tissue and its ability to function via effects upon the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis; (c) Modification of the developing immune system and its symbiotic nutrient sources; (d) Modification of maternal and neonatal behavior.}, } @article {pmid31102315, year = {2019}, author = {Tobias, NJ and Parra-Rojas, C and Shi, YN and Shi, YM and Simonyi, S and Thanwisai, A and Vitta, A and Chantratita, N and Hernandez-Vargas, EA and Bode, HB}, title = {Cyclo(tetrahydroxybutyrate) production is sufficient to distinguish between Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolates in Thailand.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {8}, pages = {2921-2932}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14685}, pmid = {31102315}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung/International ; //Alfons und Gertrud Kassel-Stiftung/International ; //LOEWE Zentrum TBG/International ; R2560B073//Naresuan University/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Hydroxybutyrates/*metabolism ; Photorhabdus/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Thailand ; Xenorhabdus/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genera Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus produce a plethora of natural products to support their similar symbiotic life cycles. For many of these compounds, the specific bioactivities are unknown. One common challenge in natural product research when trying to prioritize research efforts is the rediscovery of identical (or highly similar) compounds from different strains. Linking genome sequence to metabolite production can help in overcoming this problem. However, sequences are typically not available for entire collections of organisms. Here, we perform a comprehensive metabolic screening using HPLC-MS data associated with a 114-strain collection (58 Photorhabdus and 56 Xenorhabdus) across Thailand and explore the metabolic variation among the strains, matched with several abiotic factors. We utilize machine learning in order to rank the importance of individual metabolites in determining all given metadata. With this approach, we were able to prioritize metabolites in the context of natural product investigations, leading to the identification of previously unknown compounds. The top three highest ranking features were associated with Xenorhabdus and attributed to the same chemical entity, cyclo(tetrahydroxybutyrate). This work also addresses the need for prioritization in high-throughput metabolomic studies and demonstrates the viability of such an approach in future research.}, } @article {pmid31102241, year = {2019}, author = {Steinfeld, L and Vafaei, A and Rösner, J and Merzendorfer, H}, title = {Chitin Prevalence and Function in Bacteria, Fungi and Protists.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1142}, number = {}, pages = {19-59}, doi = {10.1007/978-981-13-7318-3_3}, pmid = {31102241}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Bacteria/*chemistry ; Chitin/*chemistry/immunology ; Fungi/*chemistry ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chitin is an important structural polysaccharide, which supports and organizes extracellular matrices in a variety of taxonomic groups including bacteria, fungi, protists, and animals. Additionally, chitin has been recognized as a molecule that is required for Rhizobia-legume symbiosis and involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal signaling in the symbiotic interaction between terrestrial plants and fungi. Moreover, it serves as a unique molecular pattern in the plant defense system against pathogenic fungi and parasites, and in the innate and adaptive immune response of mammals and humans. In this review, we will focus on the prevalence and structural function of chitin in bacteria, fungi, and protists, with a particular focus on the evolution of chitin synthases and the function of chitin oligosaccharides as a signaling molecule in symbiosis and immunity.}, } @article {pmid31101941, year = {2019}, author = {Doni, F and Mispan, MS and Suhaimi, NSM and Ishak, N and Uphoff, N}, title = {Roles of microbes in supporting sustainable rice production using the system of rice intensification.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {13}, pages = {5131-5142}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-09879-9}, pmid = {31101941}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Oryza/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The system of rice intensification (SRI) is an agroecological approach to rice cultivation that seeks to create optimal conditions for healthy plant growth by minimizing inter-plant competition, transplanting widely spaced young single seedlings, and optimizing favorable soil conditions with organic amendments, increased soil aeration by weeding, and controlled water management. These practices improve rice plant growth with yields up to three times more than with conventional cultivation methods, and increase crop resilience under biotic and abiotic stresses. This review discusses the roles of beneficial microbes in improving rice plant growth, yield, and resilience when SRI practices are used, and how these modifications in plant, soil, water, and nutrient management affect the populations and diversity of soil microorganisms. Mechanisms whereby symbiotic microbes support rice plants' growth and performance are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid31101921, year = {2019}, author = {Queralt, M and Walker, JKM and de Miguel, AM and Parladé, J and Anderson, IC and Hortal, S}, title = {The ability of a host plant to associate with different symbiotic partners affects ectomycorrhizal functioning.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz069}, pmid = {31101921}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Eucalyptus/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some plants that associate with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are also able to simultaneously establish symbiosis with other types of partners. The presence of alternative partners that may provide similar benefits may affect ECM functioning. Here we compared potential leucine-aminopeptidase (LA) and acid phosphatase (AP) enzyme activity (involved in N and P cycling, respectively) in ECM fungi of three hosts planted under the same conditions but differing in the type of partners: Pinus (ECM fungi only), Eucalyptus (ECM and arbuscular mycorrhizal -AM- fungi) and Acacia (ECM, AM fungi and rhizobial bacteria). We found that the ECM community on Acacia and Eucalyptus had higher potential AP activity than the Pinus community. The ECM community in Acacia also showed increased potential LA activity compared to Pinus. Morphotypes present in more than one host showed higher potential AP and LA activity when colonizing Acacia than when colonizing another host. Our results suggest that competition with AM fungi and rhizobial bacteria could promote increased ECM activity in Eucalyptus and Acacia. Alternatively, other host-related differences such as ECM community composition could also play a role. We found evidence for ECM physiological plasticity when colonizing different hosts, which might be key for adaptation to future climate scenarios.}, } @article {pmid31101610, year = {2019}, author = {Feldman, D and Amedi, N and Carmeli, S and Yarden, O and Hadar, Y}, title = {Manipulating the Expression of Small Secreted Protein 1 (Ssp1) Alters Patterns of Development and Metabolism in the White-Rot Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {31101610}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Pleurotus/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The function of small secreted proteins (SSPs) in saprotrophic fungi is, for the most part, unknown. The white-rot mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus produces considerable amounts of SSPs at the onset of secondary metabolism, during colony development, and in response to chemical compounds such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and aryl alcohols. Genetic manipulation of Ssp1, by knockdown (KDssp1) or overexpression (OEssp1), indicated that they are, in fact, involved in the regulation of the ligninolytic system. To elucidate their potential involvement in fungal development, quantitative secretome analysis was performed during the trophophase and the idiophase and at a transition point between the two growth phases. The mutations conferred a time shift in the secretion and expression patterns: OEssp1 preceded the entrance to idiophase and secondary metabolism, while KDssp1 was delayed. This was also correlated with expression patterns of selected genes. The KDssp1 colony aged at a slower pace, accompanied by a slower decline in biomass over time. In contrast, the OEssp1 strain exhibited severe lysis and aging of the colony at the same time point. These phenomena were accompanied by variations in yellow pigment production, characteristic of entrance of the wild type into idiophase. The pigment was produced earlier and in a larger amount in the OEssp1 strain and was absent from the KDssp1 strain. Furthermore, the dikaryon harboring OEssp1 exhibited a delay in the initiation of fruiting body formation as well as earlier aging. We propose that Ssp1 might function as a part of the fungal communication network and regulate the pattern of fungal development and metabolism in P. ostreatusIMPORTANCE Small secreted proteins (SSPs) are common in fungal saprotrophs, but their roles remain elusive. As such, they comprise part of a gene pool which may be involved in governing fungal lifestyles not limited to symbiosis and pathogenicity, in which they are commonly referred to as "effectors." We propose that Ssp1 in the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus regulates the transition from primary to secondary metabolism, development, aging, and fruiting body initiation. Our observations uncover a novel regulatory role of effector-like SSPs in a saprotroph, suggesting that they may act in fungal communication as well as in response to environmental cues. The presence of Ssp1 homologues in other fungal species supports a common potential role in environmental sensing and fungal development.}, } @article {pmid31101011, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Y and Chen, Q and Xie, JY and Yeung, YH and Xiao, B and Liao, B and Xu, J and Qiu, JW}, title = {Development of a transcriptomic database for 14 species of scleractinian corals.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {387}, pmid = {31101011}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification/*genetics ; Computational Biology/*methods ; *Databases, Genetic ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Scleractinian corals are important reef builders, but around the world they are under the threat of global climate change as well as local stressors. Molecular resources are critical for understanding a species' stress responses and resilience to the changing environment, but such resources are unavailable for most scleractinian corals, especially those distributed in the South China Sea. We therefore aimed to provide transcriptome resources for 14 common species, including a few structure forming species, in the South China Sea.

DESCRIPTION: We sequenced the transcriptome of 14 species of scleractinian corals using high-throughput RNA-seq and conducted de novo assembly. For each species, we produced 7.4 to 12.0 gigabases of reads, and assembled them into 271 to 762 thousand contigs with a N50 value of 629 to 1427 bp. These contigs included 66 to 114 thousand unigenes with a predicted open reading frame, and 74.3 to 80.5% of the unigenes were functionally annotated. In the azooxanthelate species Tubastraea coccinea, 41.5% of the unigenes had at least a best-hit sequence from corals. In the other thirteen species, 20.2 to 48.9% of the annotated unigenes had best-hit sequences from corals, and 28.3 to 51.6% from symbiotic algae belonging to the family Symbiodinaceae. With these resources, we developed a transcriptome database (CoralTBase) which features online BLAST and keyword search for unigenes/functional terms through a user friendly Internet interface.

SHORT CONCLUSION: We developed comprehensive transcriptome resources for 14 species of scleractinian corals and constructed a publicly accessible database (www.comp.hkbu.edu.hk/~db/CoralTBase). CoralTBase will facilitate not only functional studies using these corals to understand the molecular basis of stress responses and adaptation, but also comparative transcriptomic studies with other species of corals and more distantly related cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid31100210, year = {2019}, author = {Pickard, JM and Núñez, G}, title = {Pathogen Colonization Resistance in the Gut and Its Manipulation for Improved Health.}, journal = {The American journal of pathology}, volume = {189}, number = {7}, pages = {1300-1310}, pmid = {31100210}, issn = {1525-2191}, support = {F32 DK118800/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK091191/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095782/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mammals have coevolved with a large community of symbiotic, commensal, and some potentially pathogenic microbes. The trillions of bacteria and hundreds of species in our guts form a relatively stable community that resists invasion by outsiders, including pathogens. This powerful protective force is referred to as colonization resistance. We discuss the variety of proposed or demonstrated mechanisms that can mediate colonization resistance and some potential ways to manipulate them for improved human health. Instances in which certain bacterial pathogens can overcome colonization resistance are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid31099411, year = {2019}, author = {Bosch, TCG and Guillemin, K and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Evolutionary "Experiments" in Symbiosis: The Study of Model Animals Provides Insights into the Mechanisms Underlying the Diversity of Host-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {41}, number = {10}, pages = {e1800256}, pmid = {31099411}, issn = {1521-1878}, support = {P01 GM125576/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P50 GM098911/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Current work in experimental biology revolves around a handful of animal species. Studying only a few organisms limits science to the answers that those organisms can provide. Nature has given us an overwhelming diversity of animals to study, and recent technological advances have greatly accelerated the ability to generate genetic and genomic tools to develop model organisms for research on host-microbe interactions. With the help of such models the authors therefore hope to construct a more complete picture of the mechanisms that underlie crucial interactions in a given metaorganism (entity consisting of a eukaryotic host with all its associated microbial partners). As reviewed here, new knowledge of the diversity of host-microbe interactions found across the animal kingdom will provide new insights into how animals develop, evolve, and succumb to the disease.}, } @article {pmid31097480, year = {2019}, author = {Ishii, Y and Maruyama, S and Takahashi, H and Aihara, Y and Yamaguchi, T and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Kawata, M and Ueno, N and Minagawa, J}, title = {Global Shifts in Gene Expression Profiles Accompanied with Environmental Changes in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Endosymbiosis.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {2337-2347}, pmid = {31097480}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/*genetics/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/metabolism ; *Environment ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Stable endosymbiotic relationships between cnidarian animals and dinoflagellate algae are vital for sustaining coral reef ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that elevated seawater temperatures can cause the collapse of their endosymbiosis, known as 'bleaching', and result in mass mortality. However, the molecular interplay between temperature responses and symbiotic states still remains unclear. To identify candidate genes relevant to the symbiotic stability, we performed transcriptomic analyses under multiple conditions using the symbiotic and apo-symbiotic (symbiont free) Exaiptasia diaphana, an emerging model sea anemone. Gene expression patterns showed that large parts of differentially expressed genes in response to heat stress were specific to the symbiotic state, suggesting that the host sea anemone could react to environmental changes in a symbiotic state-dependent manner. Comparative analysis of expression profiles under multiple conditions highlighted candidate genes potentially important in the symbiotic state transition under heat-induced bleaching. Many of these genes were functionally associated with carbohydrate and protein metabolisms in lysosomes. Symbiont algal genes differentially expressed in hospite encode proteins related to heat shock response, calcium signaling, organellar protein transport, and sugar metabolism. Our data suggest that heat stress alters gene expression in both the hosts and symbionts. In particular, heat stress may affect the lysosome-mediated degradation and transportation of substrates such as carbohydrates through the symbiosome (phagosome-derived organelle harboring symbiont) membrane, which potentially might attenuate the stability of symbiosis and lead to bleaching-associated symbiotic state transition.}, } @article {pmid31096131, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, H and Bai, X and Li, Y and Jing, L and Chen, R and Teng, Y}, title = {Characterization and source-tracking of antibiotic resistomes in the sediments of a peri-urban river.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {679}, number = {}, pages = {88-96}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.063}, pmid = {31096131}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*analysis ; Bacteria/drug effects/genetics/*isolation & purification ; China ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Metals/analysis ; Microbiota/drug effects/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Rivers/chemistry/*microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The peri-urban rivers are one of the critical interfaces between urban-rural symbiotic ecosystems and appear to be a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. To prevent the transmission risks of ARGs between peri-urban river and human, it is essential to explore the prevalence and source of ARGs in the environment for designing potential mitigation strategies. In this study, we focused on the characterization and source-tracking of ARGs in the sediments of a typical peri-urban river in Beijing, Chaobai River. Twenty-seven ARGs frequently reported in the environment, and two integrons (intI1 and intI2) were detected using high-throughput quantitative PCR. The profile of bacterial community was determined by performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Meanwhile, crAssphage, a novel recently-discovered DNA bacteriophage, was employed for tracking the contribution of human fecal pollution to the prevalence of ARGs. Results showed that the targeted ARGs were detected widely in the sediments of Chaobai River. Relatively, the abundances of ARGs in downstream were higher than those in the upstream, likely suggesting a gradient impact of anthropogenic activities along the river. Remarkably, the int1 gene was correlated significantly with most of the ARGs and might be the key factor influencing the shaping of ARGs in the river sediments. However, no significant correlations were observed between the ARGs and selective pressure factors, including antibiotics and metals. Of the identified 1039 genera, Escherichia-Shigella, Bacteroides, Arcobacter, Dechloromonas and Pseudomonas were the top most abundant organisms. Microbial source tracking based on the crAssphage annotation suggested that human sewage might be one of the potential sources of resistance bacteria in the river sediments. The study can advance our knowledge about ARGs in the peri-urban river and provides a management reference for ARG pollution control.}, } @article {pmid31095296, year = {2019}, author = {Dabo, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Phylogenetic evidence of allopatric speciation of bradyrhizobia nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp) in South African and Mozambican soils.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {31095296}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; *Genetic Speciation ; Molecular Typing ; Mozambique ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The legume host and soil environment play a major role in establishing effective symbiosis with diverse rhizobia for plant growth promotion and nodule formation. The aim of this study was to assess the morpho-physiology, distribution and phylogenetic position of rhizobia nodulating cowpea from South Africa and Mozambique. The results showed that the isolates were highly diverse in their appearance on yeast mannitol agar plates. The isolates tested also showed an ability to produce IAA at concentrations ranging from 0.64 to 56.46 μg.ml-1 and to solubilise phosphorus at levels from 0 to 3.55 index. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that soil pH and mineral nutrients significantly influenced bradyrhizobial distribution. Analysis of BOX-PCR placed the isolates in eight major clusters with 0.01 to 1.00 similarity coefficient which resulted in 45 unique BOX-types. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, gyrB and recA gene sequences showed distinct novel evolutionary lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium, with some of them being closely related to Bradyrhizobium kavangense, B. subterraneum and B. pachyrhizi. Furthermore, symbiotic gene phylogenies suggested that the isolates' sym loci probably relates to the isolates' geographical origin. The results indicated that geographical origin did affect the isolates' phylogenetic placement and could be the basis for allopatric speciation.}, } @article {pmid31095275, year = {2019}, author = {Karimi, S and Askari Seyahooei, M and Izadi, H and Bagheri, A and Khodaygan, P}, title = {Effect of Arsenophonus Endosymbiont Elimination on Fitness of the Date Palm Hopper, Ommatissus lybicus (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {614-622}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvz047}, pmid = {31095275}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae ; *Hemiptera ; Insecta ; *Phoeniceae ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The date palm hopper, Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin, is one of the most important pests of the date palm in the Middle East and North Africa. This insect uses its needle-like sucking mouthparts to feed on phloem, which is devoid of most essential amino acids and many vitamins. The absence of essential nutrient in its diet is suggested to be ameliorated by endosymbionts in O. lybicus. Arsenophonus is one of the main bacterial endosymbionts widely prevalent in O. lybicus. In this study, we used antibiotics to eliminate Arsenophonus from O. lybicus originating from three populations (Fin, Qale'e Qazi, and Roodan) and studied the effects on the fitness of the pest. Our results revealed that the removal of Arsenophonus increased the developmental time of the immature stages and reduced the values of different life-history parameters including nymphal survival rate and adult longevity in the host. Furthermore, elimination of Arsenophonus completely obliterated offspring production in all O. lybicus populations investigated. These results confirm the dependency of O. lybicus on Arsenophonus for fitness and give a new insight regarding the possibility of symbiotic control of O. lybicus.}, } @article {pmid31093948, year = {2019}, author = {Cantrell, TP and Freeman, CJ and Paul, VJ and Agarwal, V and Garg, N}, title = {Mass Spectrometry-Based Integration and Expansion of the Chemical Diversity Harbored Within a Marine Sponge.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {1373-1384}, pmid = {31093948}, issn = {1879-1123}, support = {R00 ES026620/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R00-ES026620/NIEHS NIH HHS/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/*analysis/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; Indole Alkaloids/*analysis/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Metabolomics/methods ; Peptides/*analysis/metabolism ; Polyketides/*analysis/metabolism ; Porifera/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Terpenes/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges and their associated symbionts produce a structurally diverse and complex set of natural products including alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides, lipids, and steroids. A single sponge with its symbionts can produce all of the above-mentioned classes of molecules and their analogs. Most approaches to evaluating sponge chemical diversity have focused on major metabolites that can be isolated and characterized; therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of intra- (within a molecular family; analogs) and inter-chemical diversity within a single sponge remains incomplete. We use a combination of metabolomics tools, including a supervised approach via manual library search and literature search, and an unsupervised approach via molecular networking and MS2LDA analysis to describe the intra and inter-chemical diversity present in Smenospongia aurea. Furthermore, we use imaging mass spectrometry to link this chemical diversity to either the sponge or the associated cyanobacteria. Using these approaches, we identify seven more molecular features that represent analogs of four previously known peptide/polyketide smenamides and assign the biosynthesis of these molecules to the symbiotic cyanobacteria by imaging mass spectrometry. We extend this analysis to a wide diversity of molecular classes including indole alkaloids and meroterpenes.}, } @article {pmid31093760, year = {2019}, author = {Tripp, EA and Lendemer, JC and McCain, CM}, title = {Habitat quality and disturbance drive lichen species richness in a temperate biodiversity hotspot.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {190}, number = {2}, pages = {445-457}, pmid = {31093760}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Appalachian Region ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; *Lichens ; }, abstract = {The impacts of disturbance on biodiversity and distributions have been studied in many systems. Yet, comparatively less is known about how lichens-obligate symbiotic organisms-respond to disturbance. Successful establishment and development of lichens require a minimum of two compatible yet usually unrelated species to be present in an environment, suggesting disturbance might be particularly detrimental. To address this gap, we focused on lichens, which are obligate symbiotic organisms that function as hubs of trophic interactions. Our investigation was conducted in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. We conducted complete biodiversity inventories of lichens (all growth forms, reproductive modes, substrates) across 47, 1-ha plots to test classic models of responses to disturbance (e.g., linear, unimodal). Disturbance was quantified in each plot using a standardized suite of habitat quality variables. We additionally quantified woody plant diversity, forest density, rock density, as well as environmental factors (elevation, temperature, precipitation, net primary productivity, slope, aspect) and analyzed their impacts on lichen biodiversity. Our analyses recovered a strong, positive, linear relationship between lichen biodiversity and habitat quality: lower levels of disturbance correlate to higher species diversity. With few exceptions, additional variables failed to significantly explain variation in diversity among plots for the 509 total lichen species, but we caution that total variation in some of these variables was limited in our study area. Strong, detrimental impacts of disturbance on lichen biodiversity raises concerns about conservation and land management practices that fail to incorporate complete estimates of biodiversity, especially from ecologically important organisms such as lichens.}, } @article {pmid31092941, year = {2019}, author = {Steidinger, BS and Crowther, TW and Liang, J and Van Nuland, ME and Werner, GDA and Reich, PB and Nabuurs, GJ and de-Miguel, S and Zhou, M and Picard, N and Herault, B and Zhao, X and Zhang, C and Routh, D and Peay, KG and , }, title = {Climatic controls of decomposition drive the global biogeography of forest-tree symbioses.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {569}, number = {7756}, pages = {404-408}, pmid = {31092941}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {*Climate ; *Forests ; *Geographic Mapping ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rain ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The identity of the dominant root-associated microbial symbionts in a forest determines the ability of trees to access limiting nutrients from atmospheric or soil pools[1,2], sequester carbon[3,4] and withstand the effects of climate change[5,6]. Characterizing the global distribution of these symbioses and identifying the factors that control this distribution are thus integral to understanding the present and future functioning of forest ecosystems. Here we generate a spatially explicit global map of the symbiotic status of forests, using a database of over 1.1 million forest inventory plots that collectively contain over 28,000 tree species. Our analyses indicate that climate variables-in particular, climatically controlled variation in the rate of decomposition-are the primary drivers of the global distribution of major symbioses. We estimate that ectomycorrhizal trees, which represent only 2% of all plant species[7], constitute approximately 60% of tree stems on Earth. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis dominates forests in which seasonally cold and dry climates inhibit decomposition, and is the predominant form of symbiosis at high latitudes and elevation. By contrast, arbuscular mycorrhizal trees dominate in aseasonal, warm tropical forests, and occur with ectomycorrhizal trees in temperate biomes in which seasonally warm-and-wet climates enhance decomposition. Continental transitions between forests dominated by ectomycorrhizal or arbuscular mycorrhizal trees occur relatively abruptly along climate-driven decomposition gradients; these transitions are probably caused by positive feedback effects between plants and microorganisms. Symbiotic nitrogen fixers-which are insensitive to climatic controls on decomposition (compared with mycorrhizal fungi)-are most abundant in arid biomes with alkaline soils and high maximum temperatures. The climatically driven global symbiosis gradient that we document provides a spatially explicit quantitative understanding of microbial symbioses at the global scale, and demonstrates the critical role of microbial mutualisms in shaping the distribution of plant species.}, } @article {pmid31092601, year = {2019}, author = {Hu, H and da Costa, RR and Pilgaard, B and Schiøtt, M and Lange, L and Poulsen, M}, title = {Fungiculture in Termites Is Associated with a Mycolytic Gut Bacterial Community.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31092601}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/enzymology/genetics ; *Diet ; Fungi/*growth & development ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/enzymology/microbiology ; Isoptera/*enzymology/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Plant Cells/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Termites forage on a range of substrates, and it has been suggested that diet shapes the composition and function of termite gut bacterial communities. Through comparative analyses of gut metagenomes in nine termite species with distinct diets, we characterize bacterial community compositions and use peptide-based functional annotation method to determine biomass-degrading enzymes and the bacterial taxa that encode them. We find that fungus-growing termite guts have relatively more fungal cell wall-degrading enzyme genes, while wood-feeding termite gut communities have relatively more plant cell wall-degrading enzyme genes. Interestingly, wood-feeding termite gut bacterial genes code for abundant chitinolytic enzymes, suggesting that fungal biomass within the decaying wood likely contributes to gut bacterial or termite host nutrition. Across diets, the dominant biomass-degrading enzymes are predominantly coded for by the most abundant bacterial taxa, suggesting tight links between diet and gut community composition, with the most marked difference being the communities coding for the mycolytic capacity of the fungus-growing termite gut.IMPORTANCE Understanding functional capacities of gut microbiomes is important to improve our understanding of symbiotic associations. Here, we use peptide-based functional annotation to show that the gut microbiomes of fungus-farming termites code for a wealth of enzymes that likely target the fungal diet the termites eat. Comparisons to other termites showed that fungus-growing termite guts have relatively more fungal cell wall-degrading enzyme genes, whereas wood-feeding termite gut communities have relatively more plant cell wall-degrading enzyme genes. Across termites with different diets, the dominant biomass-degrading enzymes are predominantly coded for by the most abundant bacterial taxa, suggesting tight links between diet and gut community compositions.}, } @article {pmid31091180, year = {2019}, author = {Huo, Y and Tong, W and Wang, J and Wang, F and Bai, W and Wang, E and Shi, P and Chen, W and Wei, G}, title = {Rhizobium chutanense sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris in China.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {7}, pages = {2049-2056}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.003430}, pmid = {31091180}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Peas ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strains (C5[T] and C16), isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Jiangxi Province, PR China, were characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomical approach. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and three concatenated housekeeping genes (recA-glnII-atpD) revealed that C5[T] and C16 were members of the genus Rhizobium, yet were distinct from known species. The case for strain C5[T] representing a novel species was supported by genomic results. Pairwise digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values were much lower than the proposed and generally accepted species boundaries. The genome-based phylogenetic tree reconstructed by using the up-to-date bacterial core gene set consisting of 92 genes showed that the strains formed a monophyletic branch, further supporting this result. The symbiotic genes of nodC and nifH were identified in both strains; each could nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris and Glycine max but not Leucaena leucocephala, Pisum sativum or Medicago sativa plants. Major cellular fatty acids of C5[T] were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c; 58.8 %), C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl (14.2 %) and C18 : 0 (8.1 %). The DNA G+C content of C5[T] was 61.4 mol%. Based on these genomic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, we propose a novel species: Rhizobium chutanense sp. nov. The type strain is C5[T] (=CCTCC AB 2018143[T]=LMG 30777[T]).}, } @article {pmid31090586, year = {2019}, author = {Chernikova, D and Yuan, I and Shaker, M}, title = {Prevention of allergy with diverse and healthy microbiota: an update.}, journal = {Current opinion in pediatrics}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {418-425}, doi = {10.1097/MOP.0000000000000766}, pmid = {31090586}, issn = {1531-698X}, mesh = {*Asthma/microbiology ; Cesarean Section ; Child ; *Dermatitis, Atopic/microbiology ; Female ; *Food Hypersensitivity/microbiology ; Humans ; Infant ; *Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Microbiota consist of symbiotic microscopic neighbors that interact on and within our bodies in diverse and incompletely understood ways throughout our lifetime. Though various associations with allergic disease have been described, clear effective therapeutic interventions to prevent allergy have been elusive.

RECENT FINDINGS: The human microbiome is influenced by multiple factors, including: mode of infant delivery (vaginal vs. cesarean section), breastfeeding, diet, presence of siblings and pets, exposure to antibiotics and other medications (particularly antacids), lifestyle, and developmental context. Microbial species promoting atopic responses and tolerance have been described. Specific microbiota likely act through distinct metabolic pathways to promote the health of their human hosts, optimally directing the developing immune system away from pro-allergic, Th2-dominated responses to more T-regulatory-influenced behaviors.

SUMMARY: Evidence suggests that specific healthy infant microbiome signatures may influence development of some components of the allergic march of childhood by decreasing atopic dermatitis, asthma, and food allergy. Further understanding of factors that influence healthy microbiota may lead to specific strategies tailored for early intervention and disease prevention.}, } @article {pmid31090135, year = {2019}, author = {Bandara, HMHN and Samaranayake, LP}, title = {Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections of the oral mucosa: Types, incidence, predisposing factors, diagnostic algorithms, and management.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {148-176}, doi = {10.1111/prd.12273}, pmid = {31090135}, issn = {1600-0757}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Causality ; Humans ; Incidence ; *Mouth Mucosa ; *Mycoses ; }, abstract = {For millions of years, microbiota residing within us, including those in the oral cavity, coexisted in a harmonious symbiotic fashion that provided a quintessential foundation for human health. It is now clear that disruption of such a healthy relationship leading to microbial dysbiosis causes a wide array of infections, ranging from localized, mild, superficial infections to deep, disseminated life-threatening diseases. With recent advances in research, diagnostics, and improved surveillance we are witnessing an array of emerging and re-emerging oral infections and orofacial manifestations of systemic infections. Orofacial infections may cause significant discomfort to the patients and unnecessary economic burden. Thus, the early recognition of such infections is paramount for holistic patient management, and oral clinicians have a critical role in recognizing, diagnosing, managing, and preventing either new or old orofacial infections. This paper aims to provide an update on current understanding of well-established and emerging viral, bacterial, and fungal infections manifesting in the human oral cavity.}, } @article {pmid31089128, year = {2019}, author = {Ramakrishna, C and Kujawski, M and Chu, H and Li, L and Mazmanian, SK and Cantin, EM}, title = {Bacteroides fragilis polysaccharide A induces IL-10 secreting B and T cells that prevent viral encephalitis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {2153}, pmid = {31089128}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {K99 DK110534/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DK110534/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acyclovir/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Bacteroides fragilis/*immunology/metabolism ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Disease Models, Animal ; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex/drug therapy/*immunology/virology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Herpesvirus 1, Human/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Host Microbial Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*immunology/metabolism ; Symbiosis/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Vero Cells ; }, abstract = {The gut commensal Bacteroides fragilis or its capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) can prevent various peripheral and CNS sterile inflammatory disorders. Fatal herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) results from immune pathology caused by uncontrolled invasion of the brainstem by inflammatory monocytes and neutrophils. Here we assess the immunomodulatory potential of PSA in HSE by infecting PSA or PBS treated 129S6 mice with HSV1, followed by delayed Acyclovir (ACV) treatment as often occurs in the clinical setting. Only PSA-treated mice survived, with dramatically reduced brainstem inflammation and altered cytokine and chemokine profiles. Importantly, PSA binding by B cells is essential for induction of regulatory CD4[+] and CD8[+] T cells secreting IL-10 to control innate inflammatory responses, consistent with the lack of PSA mediated protection in Rag[-/-], B cell- and IL-10-deficient mice. Our data reveal the translational potential of PSA as an immunomodulatory symbiosis factor to orchestrate robust protective anti-inflammatory responses during viral infections.}, } @article {pmid31088928, year = {2019}, author = {Schorn, MA and Jordan, PA and Podell, S and Blanton, JM and Agarwal, V and Biggs, JS and Allen, EE and Moore, BS}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Cyanobacterial Symbionts Reveals Distinct, Specialized Metabolism in Tropical Dysideidae Sponges.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {31088928}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R00 ES026620/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES030316/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Genomics ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/metabolism ; Indoles/metabolism ; *Metagenomics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Pyrroles/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are recognized as valuable sources of bioactive metabolites and renowned as petri dishes of the sea, providing specialized niches for many symbiotic microorganisms. Sponges of the family Dysideidae are well documented to be chemically talented, often containing high levels of polyhalogenated compounds, terpenoids, peptides, and other classes of bioactive small molecules. This group of tropical sponges hosts a high abundance of an uncultured filamentous cyanobacterium, Hormoscilla spongeliae Here, we report the comparative genomic analyses of two phylogenetically distinct Hormoscilla populations, which reveal shared deficiencies in essential pathways, hinting at possible reasons for their uncultivable status, as well as differing biosynthetic machinery for the production of specialized metabolites. One symbiont population contains clustered genes for expanded polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE) biosynthesis, while the other instead harbors a unique gene cluster for the biosynthesis of the dysinosin nonribosomal peptides. The hybrid sequencing and assembly approach utilized here allows, for the first time, a comprehensive look into the genomes of these elusive sponge symbionts.IMPORTANCE Natural products provide the inspiration for most clinical drugs. With the rise in antibiotic resistance, it is imperative to discover new sources of chemical diversity. Bacteria living in symbiosis with marine invertebrates have emerged as an untapped source of natural chemistry. While symbiotic bacteria are often recalcitrant to growth in the lab, advances in metagenomic sequencing and assembly now make it possible to access their genetic blueprint. A cell enrichment procedure, combined with a hybrid sequencing and assembly approach, enabled detailed genomic analysis of uncultivated cyanobacterial symbiont populations in two chemically rich tropical marine sponges. These population genomes reveal a wealth of secondary metabolism potential as well as possible reasons for historical difficulties in their cultivation.}, } @article {pmid31088825, year = {2019}, author = {Yoneyama, K}, title = {How Do Strigolactones Ameliorate Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants?.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31088825}, issn = {1943-0264}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Fungi ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*pharmacology ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; *Nutrients ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/physiology ; Rhizobium ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), a group of plant secondary metabolites, play an important role as a host recognition signal for symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the rhizosphere. SLs promote symbioses with other beneficial microbes, including root nodule bacteria. Root parasitic weeds also take advantage of SLs as a clue to locate living host roots. In plants, SLs function as plant hormones regulating various growth and developmental processes including shoot and root architectures. Plants under nutrient deficiencies, especially that of phosphate, promote SL production and exudation to attract symbionts and to optimize shoot and root architecture.}, } @article {pmid31088345, year = {2019}, author = {Tan, S and Debellé, F and Gamas, P and Frugier, F and Brault, M}, title = {Diversification of cytokinin phosphotransfer signaling genes in Medicago truncatula and other legume genomes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {373}, pmid = {31088345}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Histidine Kinase/*genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes can establish on nitrogen-deprived soils a symbiotic interaction with Rhizobia bacteria, leading to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Cytokinin phytohormones are critical for triggering root cortical cell divisions at the onset of nodule initiation. Cytokinin signaling is based on a Two-Component System (TCS) phosphorelay cascade, involving successively Cytokinin-binding Histidine Kinase receptors, phosphorelay proteins shuttling between the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and Type-B Response Regulator (RRB) transcription factors activating the expression of cytokinin primary response genes. Among those, Type-A Response Regulators (RRA) exert a negative feedback on the TCS signaling. To determine whether the legume plant nodulation capacity is linked to specific features of TCS proteins, a genome-wide identification was performed in six legume genomes (Cajanus cajan, pigeonpea; Cicer arietinum, chickpea; Glycine max, soybean; Phaseolus vulgaris, common bean; Lotus japonicus; Medicago truncatula). The diversity of legume TCS proteins was compared to the one found in two non-nodulating species, Arabidopsis thaliana and Vitis vinifera, which are references for functional analyses of TCS components and phylogenetic analyses, respectively.

RESULTS: A striking expansion of non-canonical RRBs was identified, notably leading to the emergence of proteins where the conserved phosphor-accepting aspartate residue is replaced by a glutamate or an asparagine. M. truncatula genome-wide expression datasets additionally revealed that only a limited subset of cytokinin-related TCS genes is highly expressed in different organs, namely MtCHK1/MtCRE1, MtHPT1, and MtRRB3, suggesting that this "core" module potentially acts in most plant organs including nodules.

CONCLUSIONS: Further functional analyses are required to determine the relevance of these numerous non-canonical TCS RRBs in symbiotic nodulation, as well as of canonical MtHPT1 and MtRRB3 core signaling elements.}, } @article {pmid31088273, year = {2019}, author = {Bell-Roberts, L and Douglas, AE and Werner, GDA}, title = {Match and mismatch between dietary switches and microbial partners in plant sap-feeding insects.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1902}, pages = {20190065}, pmid = {31088273}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Diet ; Hemiptera/classification/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some animal groups associate with the same vertically transmitted microbial symbionts over extended periods of evolutionary time, punctuated by occasional symbiont switches to different microbial taxa. Here we test the oft-repeated suggestion that symbiont switches are linked with host diet changes, focusing on hemipteran insects of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. These insects include the only animals that feed on plant xylem sap through the life cycle, as well as taxa that feed on phloem sap and plant parenchyma cells. Ancestral state reconstruction provides strong statistical support for a xylem feeding auchenorrhynchan ancestor bearing the dual symbiosis with the primary symbiont Sulcia (Bacteroidetes) and companion symbiont 'β-Sym' (β-proteobacteria). We identified seven dietary transitions from xylem feeding (six to phloem feeding, one to parenchyma feeding), but no reversions to xylem feeding; five evolutionary losses of Sulcia, including replacements by yeast symbionts, exclusively in phloem/parenchyma-feeding lineages; and 14-15 losses of β-Sym, including nine transitions to a different bacterial companion symbiont. Our analysis indicates that, although companion symbiont switching is not associated with shifts in host diet, Sulcia is probably required for xylem-feeding. Furthermore, the ancestral auchenorrhynchan bearing Sulcia and β-Sym probably represents the sole evolutionary origin of xylem feeding in the animal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid31087819, year = {2019}, author = {Venter, L}, title = {Emergency and rural medicine: A symbiotic training pathway.}, journal = {Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {469-470}, doi = {10.1111/1742-6723.13310}, pmid = {31087819}, issn = {1742-6723}, mesh = {Education/*methods ; Education, Medical, Graduate/methods ; Emergency Medicine/*education/methods ; Humans ; Internship and Residency/*methods/trends ; New Zealand ; Rural Health Services/*trends ; Rural Population/trends ; }, } @article {pmid31087679, year = {2019}, author = {Nardi, JB and Miller, LA and Bee, CM}, title = {Interfaces between microbes and membranes of host epithelial cells in hemipteran midguts.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {280}, number = {7}, pages = {1046-1060}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.21000}, pmid = {31087679}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Communication ; Cell Membrane/*microbiology ; Digestive System/*cytology/*microbiology ; Epithelial Cells/*cytology/*microbiology ; Hemiptera/*cytology/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Certain families of plant-feeding insects in the order Hemiptera (infraorder Pentatomomorpha) have established symbiotic relationships with microbes that inhabit specific pouches (caeca) of their midgut epithelium. The placement of these caeca in a well-delineated region at the most posterior end of the midgut bordering the hindgut is conserved in these families; in situ the convoluted midgut is predictably folded so that this caecal region lies adjacent to the anterior-most region of the midgut. Depending on the hemipteran family, caeca vary in their number and configuration at a given anterior-posterior location. At the host-microbe interface, epithelial plasma membranes of midgut epithelial cells interact with nonself antigens of microbial surfaces. In the different hemipteran species examined, a continuum of interactions is observed between microbes and host membranes. Bacteria can exist as free living cells within the midgut lumen without contacting host membranes while other host cells physically interact extensively with microbial surfaces by extending numerous processes that interdigitate with microbes; and, in many instances, processes completely envelope the microbes. The host cells can embrace the foreign microbes, completely enveloping each with a single host membrane or sometimes enveloping each with the two additional host membranes of a phagosome.}, } @article {pmid31087385, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, Y and Ge, S and Jin, L and Yao, K and Wang, Y and Wu, X and Zhou, J and Xia, X and Shi, K and Foyer, CH and Yu, J}, title = {A novel CO2 -responsive systemic signaling pathway controlling plant mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {224}, number = {1}, pages = {106-116}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15917}, pmid = {31087385}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lactones/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) concentrations promote symbiosis between roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), modifying plant nutrient acquisition and cycling of carbon, nitrogen and phosphate. However, the biological mechanisms by which plants transmit aerial eCO2 cues to roots, to alter the symbiotic associations remain unknown. We used a range of interdisciplinary approaches, including gene silencing, grafting, transmission electron microscopy, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), biochemical methodologies and gene transcript analysis to explore the complexities of environmental signal transmission from the point of perception in the leaves at the apex to the roots. Here we show that eCO2 triggers apoplastic hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2)-dependent auxin production in tomato shoots followed by systemic signaling that results in strigolactone biosynthesis in the roots. This redox-auxin-strigolactone systemic signaling cascade facilitates eCO2 -induced AMF symbiosis and phosphate utilization. Our results challenge the current paradigm of eCO2 effects on AMF and provide new insights into potential targets for manipulation of AMF symbiosis for high nutrient utilization under future climate change scenarios.}, } @article {pmid31086829, year = {2019}, author = {Burgsdorf, I and Handley, KM and Bar-Shalom, R and Erwin, PM and Steindler, L}, title = {Life at Home and on the Roam: Genomic Adaptions Reflect the Dual Lifestyle of an Intracellular, Facultative Symbiont.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {31086829}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {"Candidatus Synechococcus feldmannii" is a facultative intracellular symbiont of the Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis. Genomic information of sponge-associated cyanobacteria derives thus far from the obligate and extracellular symbiont "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum." Here we utilized a differential methylation-based approach for bacterial DNA enrichment combined with metagenomics to obtain the first draft genomes of "Ca. Synechococcus feldmannii." By comparative genomics, we revealed that some genomic features (e.g., iron transport mediated by siderophores, eukaryotic-like proteins, and defense mechanisms, like CRISPR-Cas [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated proteins]) are unique to both symbiont types and absent or rare in the genomes of taxonomically related free-living cyanobacteria. These genomic features likely enable life under the conditions found inside the sponge host. Interestingly, there are many genomic features that are shared by "Ca. Synechococcus feldmannii" and free-living cyanobacteria, while they are absent in the obligate symbiont "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum." These include genes related to cell surface structures, genetic regulation, and responses to environmental stress, as well as the composition of photosynthetic genes and DNA metabolism. We speculate that the presence of these genes confers on "Ca. Synechococcus feldmannii" its facultative nature (i.e., the ability to respond to a less stable environment when free-living). Our comparative analysis revealed that distinct genomic features depend on the nature of the symbiotic interaction: facultative and intracellular versus obligate and extracellular. IMPORTANCE Given the evolutionary position of sponges as one of the earliest phyla to depart from the metazoan stem lineage, studies on their distinct and exceptionally diverse microbial communities should yield a better understanding of the origin of animal-bacterium interactions. While genomes of several extracellular sponge symbionts have been published, the intracellular symbionts have, so far, been elusive. Here we compare the genomes of two unicellular cyanobacterial sponge symbionts that share an ancestor but followed different evolutionary paths-one became intracellular and the other extracellular. Counterintuitively, the intracellular cyanobacteria are facultative, while the extracellular ones are obligate. By sequencing the genomes of the intracellular cyanobacteria and comparing them to the genomes of the extracellular symbionts and related free-living cyanobacteria, we show how three different cyanobacterial lifestyles are reflected by adaptive genomic features.}, } @article {pmid31084944, year = {2019}, author = {González-Pech, RA and Bhattacharya, D and Ragan, MA and Chan, CX}, title = {Genome Evolution of Coral Reef Symbionts as Intracellular Residents.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {9}, pages = {799-806}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2019.04.010}, pmid = {31084944}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Genome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are sustained by symbioses between corals and symbiodiniacean dinoflagellates. These symbioses vary in the extent of their permanence in and specificity to the host. Although dinoflagellates are primarily free-living, Symbiodiniaceae diversified mainly as symbiotic lineages. Their genomes reveal conserved symbiosis-related gene functions and high sequence divergence. However, the evolutionary mechanisms that underpin the transition from the free-living lifestyle to symbiosis remain poorly understood. Here, we discuss the genome evolution of Symbiodiniaceae in diverse ecological niches across the broad spectrum of symbiotic associations, from free-living to putative obligate symbionts. We pose key questions regarding genome evolution vis-à-vis the transition of dinoflagellates from free-living to symbiotic and propose strategies for future research to better understand coral-dinoflagellate and other eukaryote-eukaryote symbioses.}, } @article {pmid31084866, year = {2019}, author = {Ortiz-Castro, R and López-Bucio, J}, title = {Review: Phytostimulation and root architectural responses to quorum-sensing signals and related molecules from rhizobacteria.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {284}, number = {}, pages = {135-142}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.04.010}, pmid = {31084866}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/physiology ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria rely on chemical communication to sense the environment and to retrieve information on their population densities. Accordingly, a vast repertoire of molecules is released, which synchronizes expression of genes, coordinates behavior through a process termed quorum-sensing (QS), and determines the relationships with eukaryotic species. Already identified QS molecules from Gram negative bacteria can be grouped into two main classes, N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and cyclodipeptides (CDPs), with roles in biofilm formation, bacterial virulence or symbiotic interactions. Noteworthy, plants detect each of these molecules, change their own gene expression programs, re-configurate root architecture, and activate defense responses, improving in this manner their adaptation to natural and agricultural ecosystems. AHLs may act as alarm signals, pathogen and/or microbe-associated molecular patterns, whereas CDPs function as hormonal mimics for plants via their putative interactions with the auxin receptor Transport Inhibitor Response1 (TIR1). A major challenge is to identify the molecular pathways of QS-mediated crosstalk and the plant receptors and interacting proteins for AHLs, CDPs and related signals.}, } @article {pmid31084367, year = {2019}, author = {Ng, SL and Crukley, J and Kangasjarvi, E and Poost-Foroosh, L and Aiken, S and Phelan, SK}, title = {Clinician, student and faculty perspectives on the audiology-industry interface: implications for ethics education.}, journal = {International journal of audiology}, volume = {58}, number = {9}, pages = {576-586}, doi = {10.1080/14992027.2019.1602737}, pmid = {31084367}, issn = {1708-8186}, mesh = {Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Audiologists/*psychology ; Audiology/education/*ethics ; Canada ; Faculty/*psychology ; Female ; Grounded Theory ; Health Care Sector/*ethics ; Humans ; Interprofessional Relations/*ethics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Students, Medical/*psychology ; United States ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Objective: Supporting audiologists to work ethically with industry requires theory-building research. This study sought to answer: How do audiologists view their relationship with industry in terms of ethical implications? What do audiologists do when faced with ethical tensions? How do social and systemic structures influence these views and actions? Design: A constructivist grounded theory study was conducted using semi-structured interviews of clinicians, students and faculty. Study sample: A purposive sample of 19 Canadian and American audiologists was recruited with representation across clinical, academic, educational and industry work settings. Theoretical sampling of grey literature occurred alongside audiologist sampling. Interpretations were informed by the concepts of ethical tensions as ethical uncertainty, dilemmas and distress. Results: Findings identified the audiology-industry relationship as symbiotic but not wholly positive. A range of responses included denying ethical tensions to avoiding any industry interactions altogether. Several of our participants who had experienced ethical distress quit their jobs to resolve the distress. Systemic influences included the economy, professional autonomy and the hidden curriculum. Conclusions: In direct response to our findings, the authors suggest a move to include virtues-based practice, an explicit curriculum for learning ethical industry relations, theoretically-aligned ethics education approaches and systemic and structural change.}, } @article {pmid31083576, year = {2019}, author = {Hoepner, CM and Abbott, CA and Burke da Silva, K}, title = {The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31083576}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; Artemia/drug effects ; Cnidarian Venoms/*metabolism/toxicity ; Erythrocytes/drug effects ; Hemolysis/drug effects ; *Light ; Nematocyst/drug effects ; Proteins/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/metabolism/*radiation effects ; Sheep ; }, abstract = {Cnidarians are amongst the most venomous animals on the planet. They are also under significant threat due to the impacts of climate change. Corals and anemones undergo climate-induced bleaching during extreme environmental conditions, where a loss of symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) causes whitening in colour, loss of internal food supply, and reduction in health, which can ultimately lead to death. What has yet to be determined is whether bleaching causes a reduction in the production or quality of venom. In this study, the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor was exposed to long-term light-induced bleaching to examine the effect that bleaching has on venom. Venom quality and quantity, as determined through lethality and haemolysis measures and nematocyst production was highly preserved over the five-month imposed bleaching event. Maintenance of venom and nematocyst production, despite a loss of an internal food source provided by endosymbiotic algae, indicates both the ecological importance of maintaining toxicity and a remarkable resilience that anemones have to major environmental stressors.}, } @article {pmid31083542, year = {2019}, author = {Li, J and Wang, J and Wang, W and Zhang, X}, title = {Symbiotic Aerogel Fibers Made via In-Situ Gelation of Aramid Nanofibers with Polyamidoxime for Uranium Extraction.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31083542}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Gels/*chemistry ; Nanofibers/*chemistry ; Oximes/*chemistry ; Polymers/*chemistry ; Uranium/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The uranium reserve in seawater is enormous, but its concentration is extremely low and plenty of interfering ions exist; therefore, it is a great challenge to extract uranium from seawater with high efficiency and high selectivity. In this work, a symbiotic aerogel fiber (i.e., PAO@ANF) based on polyamidoxime (PAO) and aramid nanofiber (ANF) is designed and fabricated via in-situ gelation of ANF with PAO in dimethyl sulfoxide and subsequent freeze-drying of the corresponding fibrous gel precursor. The resulting flexible porous aerogel fiber possesses high specific surface area (up to 165 m[2]·g[-1]), excellent hydrophilicity and high tensile strength (up to 4.56 MPa) as determined by BET, contact angle, and stress-strain measurements. The batch adsorption experiments indicate that the PAO@ANF aerogel fibers possess a maximal adsorption capacity of uranium up to 262.5 mg·g[-1], and the absorption process is better fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm model, indicating an adsorption mechanism of the monolayer chemical adsorption. Moreover, the PAO@ANF aerogel fibers exhibit selective adsorption to uranium in the presence of coexisting ions, and they could well maintain good adsorption ability and integrated porous architecture after five cycles of adsorption-desorption process. It would be expected that the symbiotic aerogel fiber could be produced on a large scale and would find promising application in uranium ion extraction from seawater.}, } @article {pmid31081746, year = {2019}, author = {Elizalde-Díaz, JP and Hernández-Lucas, I and Medina-Aparicio, L and Dávalos, A and Leija, A and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and García-García, JD and Hernández, G and Garcia-de Los Santos, A}, title = {Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 copA gene plays a fundamental role in copper tolerance in both free life and symbiosis with Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {165}, number = {6}, pages = {651-661}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000803}, pmid = {31081746}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Copper/*metabolism/toxicity ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; Phaseolus/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium tropici/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is a facultative symbiotic diazotroph able to deal with stressful concentrations of metals. Nevertheless the molecular mechanisms involved in metal tolerance have not been elucidated. Copper (Cu[2+]) is a metal component essential for the heme-copper respiratory oxidases and enzymes that catalyse redox reactions, however, it is highly toxic when intracellular trace concentrations are surpassed. In this study, we report that R. tropici CIAT 899 is more tolerant to Cu[2+] than other Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium species. Through Tn5 random mutagenesis we identify a R. tropici mutant strain with a severe reduction in Cu[2+] tolerance. The Tn5 insertion disrupted the gene RTCIAT899_CH17575, encoding a putative heavy metal efflux P1B-1-type ATPase designated as copA. Phaseolus vulgaris plants inoculated with the copA::Tn5 mutant in the presence of toxic Cu[2+] concentrations showed a drastic reduction in plant and nodule dry weight, as well as nitrogenase activity. Nodules induced by the copA::Tn5 mutant present an increase in H2O2 concentration, lipoperoxidation and accumulate 40-fold more Cu[2+] than nodules formed by the wild-type strain. The copA::Tn5 mutant complemented with the copA gene recovered the wild-type symbiotic phenotypes. Therefore, the copA gene is essential for R. tropici CIAT 899 to survive in copper-rich environments in both free life and symbiosis with P. vulgaris plants.}, } @article {pmid31080889, year = {2019}, author = {Parekh, VS and Jacobs, MA}, title = {Deep learning and radiomics in precision medicine.}, journal = {Expert review of precision medicine and drug development}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {59-72}, pmid = {31080889}, issn = {2380-8993}, support = {P30 CA006973/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA100184/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA190299/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 CA140204/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The radiological reading room is undergoing a paradigm shift to a symbiosis of computer science and radiology using artificial intelligence integrated with machine and deep learning with radiomics to better define tissue characteristics. The goal is to use integrated deep learning and radiomics with radiological parameters to produce a personalized diagnosis for a patient.

AREAS COVERED: This review provides an overview of historical and current deep learning and radiomics methods in the context of precision medicine in radiology. A literature search for 'Deep Learning', 'Radiomics', 'Machine learning', 'Artificial Intelligence', 'Convolutional Neural Network', 'Generative Adversarial Network', 'Autoencoders', Deep Belief Networks", Reinforcement Learning", and 'Multiparametric MRI' was performed in PubMed, ArXiv, Scopus, CVPR, SPIE, IEEE Xplore, and NIPS to identify articles of interest.

EXPERT OPINION: In conclusion, both deep learning and radiomics are two rapidly advancing technologies that will unite in the future to produce a single unified framework for clinical decision support with a potential to completely revolutionize the field of precision medicine.}, } @article {pmid31079999, year = {2019}, author = {Schlöffel, MA and Käsbauer, C and Gust, AA}, title = {Interplay of plant glycan hydrolases and LysM proteins in plant-Bacteria interactions.}, journal = {International journal of medical microbiology : IJMM}, volume = {309}, number = {3-4}, pages = {252-257}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmm.2019.04.004}, pmid = {31079999}, issn = {1618-0607}, mesh = {Bacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitinases/*metabolism ; Chitosan ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Lysine ; Oligosaccharides ; Peptidoglycan/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Plants are always found together with bacteria and other microbes. Although plants can be attacked by phytopathogenic bacteria, they are more often engaged in neutral or mutualistic bacterial interactions. In the soil, plants associate with rhizobia or other plant growth promoting rhizosphere bacteria; above ground, bacteria colonise plants as epi- and endophytes. For mounting appropriate responses, such as permitting colonisation by beneficial symbionts while at the same time fending off pathogenic invaders, plants need to distinguish between the "good" and the "bad". Plants make use of proteins containing the lysin motif (LysM) for perception of N-acetylglucosamine containing carbohydrate structures, such as chitooligosaccharides functioning as symbiotic nodulation factors or bacterial peptidoglycan. Moreover, plant hydrolytic enzymes of the chitinase family, which are able to cleave bacterial peptidoglycan or chitooligosaccharides, are essential for cellular signalling induced by rhizobial nodulation factors during symbiosis as well as bacterial peptidoglycan during pathogenesis. Hence, LysM receptors seem to work in concert with hydrolytic enzymes that fine-tune ligand availability to either allow symbiotic interactions or trigger plant immunity.}, } @article {pmid31078551, year = {2019}, author = {Verdonk, CJ and Sullivan, JT and Williman, KM and Nicholson, L and Bastholm, TR and Hynes, MF and Ronson, CW and Bond, CS and Ramsay, JP}, title = {Delineation of the integrase-attachment and origin-of-transfer regions of the symbiosis island ICEMlSym[R7A].}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {104}, number = {}, pages = {102416}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2019.102416}, pmid = {31078551}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Cloning, Molecular ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA Nucleotidyltransferases ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Order ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genomic Islands ; Integrases/*metabolism ; Nucleotide Motifs ; Protein Binding ; Recombination, Genetic ; *Replication Origin ; Symbiosis ; Viral Proteins ; }, abstract = {Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are chromosomally-integrated mobile genetic elements that excise from their host chromosome and transfer to other bacteria via conjugation. ICEMlSym[R7A] is the prototypical member of a large family of "symbiosis ICEs" which confer upon their hosts the ability to form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with a variety of legume species. Mesorhizobial symbiosis ICEs carry a common core of mobilisation genes required for integration, excision and conjugative transfer. IntS of ICEMlSym[R7A] enables recombination between the ICEMlSym[R7A] attachment site attP and the 3' end of the phe-tRNA gene. Here we identified putative IntS attP arm (P) sites within the attP region and demonstrated that the outermost P1 and P5 sites demarcated the minimal region for efficient IntS-mediated integration. We also identified the ICEMlSym[R7A] origin-of-transfer (oriT) site directly upstream of the relaxase-gene rlxS. The ICEMlSym[R7A] conjugation system mobilised a plasmid carrying the cloned oriT to Escherichia coli in an rlxS-dependent manner. Surprisingly, an in-frame, markerless deletion mutation in the ICEMlSym[R7A] recombination directionality factor (excisionase) gene rdfS, but not a mutation in intS, abolished mobilisation, suggesting the rdfS deletion tentatively has downstream effects on conjugation or its regulation. In summary, this work defines two critical cis-acting regions required for excision and transfer of ICEMlSym[R7A] and related ICEs.}, } @article {pmid31077522, year = {2019}, author = {Songwattana, P and Tittabutr, P and Wongdee, J and Teamtisong, K and Wulandari, D and Teulet, A and Fardoux, J and Boonkerd, N and Giraud, E and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Symbiotic properties of a chimeric Nod-independent photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strain obtained by conjugative transfer of a symbiotic plasmid.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {3442-3454}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14650}, pmid = {31077522}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {The lateral transfer of symbiotic genes converting a predisposed soil bacteria into a legume symbiont has occurred repeatedly and independently during the evolution of rhizobia. We experimented the transfer of a symbiotic plasmid between Bradyrhizobium strains. The originality of the DOA9 donor is that it harbours a symbiotic mega-plasmid (pDOA9) containing nod, nif and T3SS genes while the ORS278 recipient has the unique property of inducing nodules on some Aeschynomene species in the absence of Nod factors (NFs). We observed that the chimeric strain ORS278-pDOA9* lost its ability to develop a functional symbiosis with Aeschynomene. indica and Aeschynomene evenia. The mutation of rhcN and nodB led to partial restoration of nodule efficiency, indicating that T3SS effectors and NFs block the establishment of the NF-independent symbiosis. Conversely, ORS278-pDOA9* strain acquired the ability to form nodules on Crotalaria juncea and Macroptillium artropurpureum but not on NF-dependent Aeschynomene (A. afraspera and A. americana), suggesting that the ORS278 strain also harbours incompatible factors that block the interaction with these species. These data indicate that the symbiotic properties of a chimeric rhizobia cannot be anticipated due to new combination of symbiotic and non-symbiotic determinants that may interfere during the interaction with the host plant.}, } @article {pmid31076886, year = {2019}, author = {Tian, L and Chang, C and Ma, L and Nasir, F and Zhang, J and Li, W and Tran, LP and Tian, C}, title = {Comparative study of the mycorrhizal root transcriptomes of wild and cultivated rice in response to the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {35}, pmid = {31076886}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rice, which serves as a staple food for more than half of the world's population, is very susceptible to the pathogenic fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. However, common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), which is the ancestor of Asian cultivated rice (O. sativa), has significant potential as a genetic source of resistance to M. oryzae. Recent studies have shown that the domestication of rice has altered its relationship to symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizae. A comparative response of wild and domestic rice inhabited by mycorrhizae to infection by M. oryzae has not been documented.

RESULTS: In the current study, roots of wild and cultivated rice colonized with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (AMF) Rhizoglomus intraradices were used to compare the transcriptomic responses of the two species to infection by M. oryzae. Phenotypic analysis indicated that the colonization of wild and cultivated rice with R. intraradices improved the resistance of both genotypes to M. oryzae. Wild AM rice, however, was more resistant to M. oryzae than the cultivated AM rice, as well as nonmycorrhizal roots of wild rice. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the mechanisms regulating the responses of wild and cultivated AM rice to M. oryzae invasion were significantly different. The expression of a greater number of genes was changed in wild AM rice than in cultivated AM rice in response to the pathogen. Both wild and cultivated AM rice exhibited a shared response to M. oryzae which included genes related to the auxin and salicylic acid pathways; all of these play important roles in pathogenesis-related protein synthesis. In wild AM rice, secondary metabolic and biotic stress-related analyses indicated that the jasmonic acid synthesis-related α-linolenic acid pathway, the phenolic and terpenoid pathways, as well as the phenolic and terpenoid syntheses-related mevalonate (MVA) pathway were more affected by the pathogen. Genes related to these pathways were more significantly enriched in wild AM rice than in cultivated AM rice in response to M. oryzae. On the other hand, genes associated with the 'brassinosteroid biosynthesis' were more enriched in cultivated AM rice.

CONCLUSIONS: The AMF R. intraradices-colonized rice plants exhibited greater resistance to M. oryzae than non-AMF-colonized plants. The findings of the current study demonstrate the potential effects of crop domestication on the benefits received by the host via root colonization with AMF(s), and provide new information on the underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, results of this study can also help develop guidelines for the applications of AMF(s) when planting rice.}, } @article {pmid31076773, year = {2019}, author = {Shiratake, K and Notaguchi, M and Makino, H and Sawai, Y and Borghi, L}, title = {Petunia PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 1 Is a Strigolactone Short-Distance Transporter with Long-Distance Outcomes.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {8}, pages = {1722-1733}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz081}, pmid = {31076773}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Petunia/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phytohormones of the strigolactone (SL) family have been characterized as negative regulators of lateral bud outgrowth and triggers of symbioses between plants and mycorrhizal fungi. SLs and their precursors are synthesized in root tips as well as along shoot and root vasculature; they either move shoot-wards and regulate plant architecture or are exuded from roots into the soil to establish mycorrhizal symbiosis. Owing to the difficulty in quantification of SL in shoot tissues because of low abundance, it is not yet clear how SL distribution in plants is regulated at short- and long-distances from SL biosynthetic and target tissues. To address this question, we grafted wild-type scions and rootstocks from different petunia mutants for SL biosynthesis/transport and investigated SL activity by quantifying lateral bud outgrowth in the main shoot. Based on these results, we show that (i) the previously reported petunia SL transporter PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 1 (PDR1) directly accounts for short-distance SL transport and (ii) long-distance transport of SLs seems to be partially and not directly dependent on PDR1. These data suggest that the root-to-shoot transport of SLs occurs either via the vasculature bundle through transporters other than PDR1 or involves SL precursors that are not substrates of PDR1.}, } @article {pmid31076245, year = {2019}, author = {Brunk, CF and Martin, WF}, title = {Archaeal Histone Contributions to the Origin of Eukaryotes.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {703-714}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2019.04.002}, pmid = {31076245}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Archaea/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA ; Eukaryotic Cells/*physiology ; Histones/*physiology ; Mitochondria/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The eukaryotic lineage arose from bacterial and archaeal cells that underwent a symbiotic merger. At the origin of the eukaryote lineage, the bacterial partner contributed genes, metabolic energy, and the building blocks of the endomembrane system. What did the archaeal partner donate that made the eukaryotic experiment a success? The archaeal partner provided the potential for complex information processing. Archaeal histones were crucial in that regard by providing the basic functional unit with which eukaryotes organize DNA into nucleosomes, exert epigenetic control of gene expression, transcribe genes with CCAAT-box promoters, and a manifest cell cycle with condensed chromosomes. While mitochondrial energy lifted energetic constraints on eukaryotic protein production, histone-based chromatin organization paved the path to eukaryotic genome complexity, a critical hurdle en route to the evolution of complex cells.}, } @article {pmid31074496, year = {2019}, author = {Chaudhary, S and Gupta, P and Srivastava, S and Adholeya, A}, title = {Understanding dynamics of Rhizophagus irregularis ontogenesis in axenically developed coculture through basic and advanced microscopic techniques.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {8}, pages = {767-774}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201900138}, pmid = {31074496}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Axenic Culture ; Biological Ontologies ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Hyphae/growth & development ; *Microscopy/instrumentation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Detailed information on structural changes that occur during ontogenesis of Rhizophagus irregularis in axenically developed coculture is limited. Our study aims to investigate the series of events that occur during mycorrhizal ontogenesis under axenic condition through basic and advanced microscopic techniques followed by comparison among these to identify the suitable technique for rapid and detailed analysis of mycorrhizal structures. Three stages were identified in mycorrhizal ontogenesis from initiation (preinfection stage of hyphae; its branching, infection and appressoria formation; epidermal opening; and hyphal entry), progression (arbuscular development; hyphal coils and vesicles) to maturity (extraradical spores). Scanning electron microscopy was found to be an efficient tool for studying spatial three-dimensional progression. Adding to the advantages of advanced microscopy, potential of autofluorescence to explore the stages of symbiosis nondestructively was also established. We also report imaging of ultrathin sections by bright field microscopy to provide finer details at subcellular interface. Owing to the merits of nondestructive sampling, ease of sample preparation, autofluorescence (no dye required), no use of toxic chemicals, rapid analysis and in depth characterization confocal laser scanning microscopy was identified as the most preferred technique. The method thus developed can be used for detailed structural inquisition of mycorrhizal symbiosis both in in planta and in an in vitro system.}, } @article {pmid31073281, year = {2019}, author = {Gao, M and Benge, A and Wu, TJ and Javier, R}, title = {Use of Plasmid pVMG to Make Transcriptional ß-Glucuronidase Reporter Gene Fusions in the Rhizobium Genome for Monitoring the Expression of Rhizobial Genes In Vivo.}, journal = {Biological procedures online}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {8}, pmid = {31073281}, issn = {1480-9222}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and its allies are important nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbionts that cause N2-fixing nodules on the roots of legumes. Chromosomal ß-glucuronidase gene (uidA) transcriptional fusions are frequently used to monitor the expression of bacterial genes during the symbiosis. However, the construction of the fusions is laborious.

RESULTS: The narrow-host-range, fusion selective plasmid pVMG was constructed and used as a vector for the construction of chromosomal uidA transcriptional fusions in the S. meliloti genome. Translation termination codons were added in all three reading frames upstream of the promoterless uidA in this vector to ensure transcriptional fusions. pVMG replicated to high copy number in Escherichia coli, offering advantages for the isolation of fusion-containing plasmids and the restriction analysis. Genomic locations of uidA fusions were verified in a simple PCR experiment. All these helps reduce the sample processing time and efforts. As a demonstration of its usefulness, the N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signal synthase gene promoter was fused to uidA and shown to be expressed by S. meliloti in the senescence zone of the nodule on the host plant, M. truncatula. This indicates the presence of AHL signals at the late stages of symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: A simple, pVMG-based method for construction of chromosomal uidA transcriptional fusions has been successfully used in the model rhizobium S. meliloti. It is also applicable for other rhizobial strains.}, } @article {pmid31072343, year = {2019}, author = {Chamberlain, NB and Mehari, YT and Hayes, BJ and Roden, CM and Kidane, DT and Swehla, AJ and Lorenzana-DeWitt, MA and Farone, AL and Gunderson, JH and Berk, SG and Farone, MB}, title = {Infection and nuclear interaction in mammalian cells by 'Candidatus Berkiella cookevillensis', a novel bacterium isolated from amoebae.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {91}, pmid = {31072343}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Amoeba/*microbiology ; Cell Nucleus/*microbiology ; Cytoplasm/microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology/ultrastructure ; HeLa Cells ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Monocytes/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; THP-1 Cells ; U937 Cells ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: 'Candidatus Berkiella cookevillensis' and 'Ca. Berkiella aquae' have previously been described as intranuclear bacteria of amoebae. Both bacteria were isolated from amoebae and were described as appearing within the nuclei of Acanthamoeba polyphaga and ultimately lysing their host cells within 4 days. Both bacteria are Gammaproteobacteria in the order Legionellales with the greatest similarity to Coxiella burnetii. Neither bacterium grows axenically in artificial culture media. In this study, we further characterized 'Ca. B. cookevillensis' by demonstrating association with nuclei of human phagocytic and nonphagocytic cell lines.

RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal microscopy were used to confirm nuclear co-localization of 'Ca. B. cookevillensis' in the amoeba host A. polyphaga with 100% of cells having bacteria co-localized with host nuclei by 48 h. TEM and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the bacterium was also observed to be closely associated with nuclei of human U937 and THP-1 differentiated macrophage cell lines and nonphagocytic HeLa human epithelial-like cells. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that the bacteria-containing vacuole invaginates the nuclear membranes and appears to cross from the cytoplasm into the nucleus as an intact vacuole.

CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that a novel coccoid bacterium isolated from amoebae can infect human cell lines by associating with the host cell nuclei, either by crossing the nuclear membranes or by deeply invaginating the nuclear membranes. When associated with the nuclei, the bacteria appear to be bound within a vacuole and replicate to high numbers by 48 h. We believe this is the first report of such a process involving bacteria and human cell lines.}, } @article {pmid31071427, year = {2019}, author = {Rahnama, M and Maclean, P and Fleetwood, DJ and Johnson, RD}, title = {The LaeA orthologue in Epichloë festucae is required for symbiotic interaction with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {129}, number = {}, pages = {74-85}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2019.05.001}, pmid = {31071427}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Epichloe/*genetics/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Lolium/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Secondary Metabolism ; Sequence Deletion ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {LaeA is a conserved global regulator of secondary metabolism and development in fungi. It is often required for successful pathogenic interactions. In this study, the laeA homologue in the fungal grass endophyte E. festucae was deleted and functionally characterised in vitro and its role in the mutualistic E. festucae interaction with Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) was determined. We showed that laeA in E. festucae is required for normal hyphal morphology, resistance to oxidative stress, and conidiation under nutrient-limited in vitro conditions. In planta studies revealed that laeA is expressed in a tissue-specific manner and is required to form a compatible plant interaction, with the majority of seedlings inoculated with a laeA deletion mutant either dying or being uninfected. In mature infected plants no difference was observed in the number or morphology of endophytic hyphae. However, the number of epiphyllous hyphae were greatly increased. Comparative transcriptomics analyses suggested roles for plant cell wall degradation, fungal cell wall composition, secondary metabolism and small-secreted proteins in Epichloë foliar symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31071294, year = {2019}, author = {Brown, EM and Ke, X and Hitchcock, D and Jeanfavre, S and Avila-Pacheco, J and Nakata, T and Arthur, TD and Fornelos, N and Heim, C and Franzosa, EA and Watson, N and Huttenhower, C and Haiser, HJ and Dillow, G and Graham, DB and Finlay, BB and Kostic, AD and Porter, JA and Vlamakis, H and Clish, CB and Xavier, RJ}, title = {Bacteroides-Derived Sphingolipids Are Critical for Maintaining Intestinal Homeostasis and Symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {668-680.e7}, pmid = {31071294}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 AT009708/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK040561/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK043351/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK036836/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R24 DK110499/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Germ-Free Life ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/prevention & control ; Intestines/drug effects/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mice ; Sphingolipids/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Sphingolipids are structural membrane components and important eukaryotic signaling molecules. Sphingolipids regulate inflammation and immunity and were recently identified as the most differentially abundant metabolite in stool from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Commensal bacteria from the Bacteroidetes phylum also produce sphingolipids, but the impact of these metabolites on host pathways is largely uncharacterized. To determine whether bacterial sphingolipids modulate intestinal health, we colonized germ-free mice with a sphingolipid-deficient Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron strain. A lack of Bacteroides-derived sphingolipids resulted in intestinal inflammation and altered host ceramide pools in mice. Using lipidomic analysis, we described a sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway and revealed a variety of Bacteroides-derived sphingolipids including ceramide phosphoinositol and deoxy-sphingolipids. Annotating Bacteroides sphingolipids in an IBD metabolomic dataset revealed lower abundances in IBD and negative correlations with inflammation and host sphingolipid production. These data highlight the role of bacterial sphingolipids in maintaining homeostasis and symbiosis in the gut.}, } @article {pmid31070991, year = {2019}, author = {Lindsay, PL and Williams, BN and MacLean, A and Harrison, MJ}, title = {A Phosphate-Dependent Requirement for Transcription Factors IPD3 and IPD3L During Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {1277-1290}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-19-0006-R}, pmid = {31070991}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Phosphates ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, activation of a symbiosis signaling pathway induces gene expression necessary for accommodation of AM fungi. Here, we focus on pathway components Medicago truncatula INTERACTING PROTEIN OF DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 3 (IPD3) and IPD3 LIKE (IPD3L), which are potential orthologs of Lotus japonicus CYCLOPS, a transcriptional regulator essential for AM symbiosis. In the double mutant ipd3 ipd3l, hyphal entry through the epidermis and overall colonization levels are reduced relative to the wild type but fully developed arbuscules are present in the cortex. In comparison with the wild type, colonization of ipd3 ipd3l is acutely sensitive to higher phosphate levels in the growth medium, with a disproportionate decrease in epidermal penetration, overall colonization, and symbiotic gene expression. When constitutively expressed in ipd3 ipd3l, an autoactive DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 3 induces the expression of transcriptional regulators REDUCED ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA 1 and REQUIRED for ARBUSCULE DEVELOPMENT 1, providing a possible avenue for arbuscule development in the absence of IPD3 and IPD3L. An increased sensitivity of ipd3 ipd3l to GA3 suggests an involvement of DELLA. The data reveal partial redundancy in the symbiosis signaling pathway, which may ensure robust signaling in low-phosphorus environments, while IPD3 and IPD3L maintain signaling in higher-phosphorus environments. The latter may buffer the pathway from short-term variation in phosphorus levels encountered by roots during growth in heterogeneous soil environments.}, } @article {pmid31070001, year = {2019}, author = {Banks, KC and Ericsson, AC and Reinero, CR and Giuliano, EA}, title = {Veterinary ocular microbiome: Lessons learned beyond the culture.}, journal = {Veterinary ophthalmology}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {716-725}, doi = {10.1111/vop.12676}, pmid = {31070001}, issn = {1463-5224}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Eye/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Typing ; }, abstract = {Ocular pathogens cause many painful and vision-threatening diseases such as infectious keratitis, uveitis, and endophthalmitis. While virulent pathogens and pathobionts play important roles in disease pathogenesis, the scientific community has long assumed disruption of the ocular surface occurs prior to microbial colonization and subsequent infection. While nonpathogenic bacteria are often detected in corneal and conjunctival cultures from healthy eyes, cultures also frequently fail to yield growth of common ocular pathogens or nonpathogenic bacteria. This prompts the following question: Is the ocular surface populated by a stable microbial population that cannot be detected using standard culture techniques? The study of the microbiome has recently become a widespread focus in physician and veterinary medicine. Research suggests a pivotal symbiotic relationship with these microbes to maintain healthy host tissues, and when altered is associated with various disease states ("dysbiosis"). The microbiota that lives within and on mammalian bodies have long been known to influence health and susceptibility to infection. However, limitations of traditional culture methods have resulted in an incomplete understanding of what many now call the "forgotten organ," that is, the microbiome. With the introduction of high-throughput sequencing, physician ophthalmology has recognized an ocular surface with much more diverse microbial communities than suspected based on traditional culture. This article reviews the salient features of the ocular surface microbiome and highlights important future applications following the advent of molecular techniques for microbial identification, including characterizing ocular surface microbiomes in our veterinary species and their potential role in management of infectious and inflammatory ocular diseases.}, } @article {pmid31068617, year = {2019}, author = {Hoyer, E and Knöppel, J and Liebmann, M and Steppert, M and Raiwa, M and Herczynski, O and Hanspach, E and Zehner, S and Göttfert, M and Tsushima, S and Fahmy, K and Oertel, J}, title = {Calcium binding to a disordered domain of a type III-secreted protein from a coral pathogen promotes secondary structure formation and catalytic activity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {7115}, pmid = {31068617}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Binding Sites ; *Biocatalysis ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calorimetry ; EF Hand Motifs ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; *Protein Domains ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/chemistry/*metabolism ; Vibrio/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strains of the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio coralliilyticus cause the bleaching of corals due to decomposition of symbiotic microalgae. The V. coralliilyticus strain ATCC BAA-450 (Vc450) encodes a type III secretion system (T3SS). The gene cluster also encodes a protein (locus tag VIC_001052) with sequence homology to the T3SS-secreted nodulation proteins NopE1 and NopE2 of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (USDA110). VIC_001052 has been shown to undergo auto-cleavage in the presence of Ca[2+] similar to the NopE proteins. We have studied the hitherto unknown secondary structure, Ca[2+]-binding affinity and stoichiometry of the "metal ion-inducible autocleavage" (MIIA) domain of VIC_001052 which does not possess a classical Ca[2+]-binding motif. CD and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the MIIA domain is largely intrinsically disordered. Binding of Ca[2+] and other di- and trivalent cations induced secondary structure and hydrophobic packing after partial neutralization of the highly negatively charged MIIA domain. Mass spectrometry and isothermal titration calorimetry showed two Ca[2+]-binding sites which promote structure formation with a total binding enthalpy of -110 kJ mol[-1] at a low micromolar Kd. Putative binding motifs were identified by sequence similarity to EF-hand domains and their structure analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations. The stoichiometric Ca[2+]-dependent induction of structure correlated with catalytic activity and may provide a "host-sensing" mechanism that is shared among pathogens that use a T3SS for efficient secretion of disordered proteins.}, } @article {pmid31067698, year = {2019}, author = {Vaz Martins, T and Livina, VN}, title = {What Drives Symbiotic Calcium Signalling in Legumes? Insights and Challenges of Imaging.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {31067698}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {BB/J004553/1; BB/P012574/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Calcium Signaling ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods ; Rhizobium/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We review the contribution of bioimaging in building a coherent understanding of Ca 2 + signalling during legume-bacteria symbiosis. Currently, two different calcium signals are believed to control key steps of the symbiosis: a Ca 2 + gradient at the tip of the legume root hair is involved in the development of an infection thread, while nuclear Ca 2 + oscillations, the hallmark signal of this symbiosis, control the formation of the root nodule, where bacteria fix nitrogen. Additionally, different Ca 2 + spiking signatures have been associated with specific infection stages. Bioimaging is intrinsically a cross-disciplinary area that requires integration of image recording, processing and analysis. We used experimental examples to critically evaluate previously-established conclusions and draw attention to challenges caused by the varying nature of the signal-to-noise ratio in live imaging. We hypothesise that nuclear Ca 2 + spiking is a wide-range signal involving the entire root hair and that the Ca 2 + signature may be related to cytoplasmic streaming.}, } @article {pmid31066947, year = {2019}, author = {Muletz-Wolz, CR and Fleischer, RC and Lips, KR}, title = {Fungal disease and temperature alter skin microbiome structure in an experimental salamander system.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {2917-2931}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15122}, pmid = {31066947}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Chytridiomycota/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Likelihood Functions ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/*microbiology ; Skin/*microbiology ; Survival Analysis ; *Temperature ; Urodela/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Pathogens compete with host microbiomes for space and resources. Their shared environment impacts pathogen-microbiome-host interactions, which can lead to variation in disease outcome. The skin microbiome of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) can reduce infection by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) at moderate infection loads, with high species richness and high abundance of competitors as putative mechanisms. However, it is unclear if the skin microbiome can reduce epizootic Bd loads across temperatures. We conducted a laboratory experiment to quantify skin microbiome and host responses (P. cinereus: n = 87) to Bd at mimicked epizootic loads across temperatures (13, 17 and 21°C). We quantified skin microbiomes using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and identified operational taxonomic units (OTUs) taxonomically similar to culturable bacteria known to kill Bd (anti-Bd OTUs). Prior to pathogen exposure, temperature changed the microbiome (OTU richness decreased by 12% and the abundance of anti-Bd OTUs increased by 18% per degree increase in temperature), but these changes were not predictive of disease outcome. After exposure, Bd changed the microbiome (OTU richness decreased by 0.1% and the abundance of anti-Bd OTUs increased by 0.2% per 1% increase in Bd load) and caused high host mortality across temperatures (35/45: 78%). Temperature indirectly impacted microbiome change and mortality through its direct effect on pathogen load. We did not find support for the microbiome impacting Bd load or host survival. Our research reveals complex host, pathogen, microbiome and environmental interactions to demonstrate that during epizootic events the microbiome will be unlikely to reduce pathogen invasion, even for putatively Bd-resistant species.}, } @article {pmid31066909, year = {2019}, author = {Martínez-Medina, A and Pescador, L and Fernández, I and Rodríguez-Serrano, M and García, JM and Romero-Puertas, MC and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Nitric oxide and phytoglobin PHYTOGB1 are regulatory elements in the Solanum lycopersicum-Rhizophagus irregularis mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {1560-1574}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15898}, pmid = {31066909}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The regulatory role of nitric oxide (NO) and phytoglobins in plant response to pathogenic and mutualistic microbes has been evidenced. However, little is known about their function in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. We investigated whether NO and phytoglobin PHYTOGB1 are regulatory components in the AM symbiosis. Rhizophagus irregularis in vitro-grown cultures and tomato plants were used to monitor AM-associated NO-related root responses as compared to responses triggered by the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. A genetic approach was conducted to understand the role of PHYTOGB1 on NO signaling during both interactions. After a common early peak in NO levels in response to both fungi, a specific NO accumulation pattern was triggered in tomato roots during the onset of the AM interaction. PHYTOGB1 was upregulated by the AM interaction. By contrast, the pathogen triggered a continuous NO accumulation and a strong downregulation of PHYTOGB1. Manipulation of PHYTOGB1 levels in overexpressing and silenced roots led to a deregulation of NO levels and altered mycorrhization and pathogen infection. We demonstrate that the onset of the AM symbiosis is associated with a specific NO-related signature in the host root. We propose that NO regulation by PHYTOGB1 is a regulatory component of the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31065398, year = {2019}, author = {Harman, GE and Uphoff, N}, title = {Symbiotic Root-Endophytic Soil Microbes Improve Crop Productivity and Provide Environmental Benefits.}, journal = {Scientifica}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {9106395}, pmid = {31065398}, issn = {2090-908X}, abstract = {Plants should not be regarded as entities unto themselves, but as the visible part of plant-microbe complexes which are best understood as "holobiomes." Some microorganisms when given the opportunity to inhabit plant roots become root symbionts. Such root colonization by symbiotic microbes can raise crop yields by promoting the growth of both shoots and roots, by enhancing uptake, fixation, and/or more efficient use of nutrients, by improving plants' resistance to pests, diseases, and abiotic stresses that include drought, salt, and other environmental conditions, and by enhancing plants' capacity for photosynthesis. We refer plant-microbe associations with these capabilities that have been purposefully established as enhanced plant holobiomes (EPHs). Here, we consider four groups of phylogenetically distinct and distant symbiotic endophytes: (1) Rhizobiaceae bacteria; (2) plant-obligate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); (3) selected endophytic strains of fungi in the genus Trichoderma; and (4) fungi in the Sebicales order, specifically Piriformospora indica. Although these exhibit quite different "lifestyles" when inhabiting plants, all induce beneficial systemic changes in plants' gene expression that are surprisingly similar. For example, all induce gene expression that produces proteins which detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are increased by environmental stresses on plants or by overexcitation of photosynthetic pigments. Gene overexpression results in a cellular environment where ROS levels are controlled and made more compatible with plants' metabolic processes. EPHs also frequently exhibit increased rates of photosynthesis that contribute to greater plant growth and other capabilities. Soil organic matter (SOM) is augmented when plant root growth is increased and roots remain in the soil. The combination of enhanced photosynthesis, increasing sequestration of CO2 from the air, and elevation of SOM removes C from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil. Reductions in global greenhouse gas levels can be accelerated by incentives for carbon farming and carbon cap-and-trade programs that reward such climate-friendly agriculture. The development and spread of EPHs as part of such initiatives has potential both to enhance farm productivity and incomes and to decelerate global warming.}, } @article {pmid31065250, year = {2019}, author = {Irisarri, P and Cardozo, G and Tartaglia, C and Reyno, R and Gutiérrez, P and Lattanzi, FA and Rebuffo, M and Monza, J}, title = {Selection of Competitive and Efficient Rhizobia Strains for White Clover.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {768}, pmid = {31065250}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The practice of inoculating forage legumes with rhizobia strains is widespread. It is assumed that the inoculated strain determines the performance of the symbiosis and nitrogen fixation rates. However, native-naturalized strains can be competitive, and actual nodule occupancy is often scarcely investigated. In consequence, failures in establishment, and low productivity attributed to poor performance of the inoculant may merely reflect the absence of the inoculated strain in the nodules. This study lays out a strategy followed for selecting a Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strain for white clover (Trifolium repens) with competitive nodule occupancy. First, the competitiveness of native-naturalized rhizobia strains selected for their efficiency to fix N2 in clover and tagged with gusA was evaluated in controlled conditions with different soils. Second, three of these experimental strains with superior nodule occupancy plus the currently recommended commercial inoculant, an introduced strain, were tested in the field in 2 years and at two sites. Plant establishment, herbage productivity, fixation of atmospheric N2 ([15]N natural abundance), and nodule occupancy (ERIC-PCR genomic fingerprinting) were measured. In both years and sites, nodule occupancy of the native-naturalized experimental strains was either higher or similar to that of the commercial inoculant in both primary and secondary roots. The difference was even greater in stolon roots nodules, where nodule occupancy of the native-naturalized experimental strains was at least five times greater. The amount of N fixed per unit plant mass was consistently higher with native-naturalized experimental strains, although the proportion of N derived from atmospheric fixation was similar for all strains. Plant establishment and herbage production, as well as clover contribution in oversown native grasslands, were either similar or higher in white clover inoculated with the native-naturalized experimental strains. These results support the use of our implemented strategy for developing a competitive inoculant from native-naturalized strains.}, } @article {pmid31065037, year = {2019}, author = {Bellec, L and Bonavita, MC and Hourdez, S and Jebbar, M and Tasiemski, A and Durand, L and Gayet, N and Zeppilli, D}, title = {Chemosynthetic ectosymbionts associated with a shallow-water marine nematode.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {7019}, pmid = {31065037}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Prokaryotes and free-living nematodes are both very abundant and co-occur in marine environments, but little is known about their possible association. Our objective was to characterize the microbiome of a neglected but ecologically important group of free-living benthic nematodes of the Oncholaimidae family. We used a multi-approach study based on microscopic observations (Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) coupled with an assessment of molecular diversity using metabarcoding based on the 16S rRNA gene. All investigated free-living marine nematode specimens harboured distinct microbial communities (from the surrounding water and sediment and through the seasons) with ectosymbiosis seemed more abundant during summer. Microscopic observations distinguished two main morphotypes of bacteria (rod-shaped and filamentous) on the cuticle of these nematodes, which seemed to be affiliated to Campylobacterota and Gammaproteobacteria, respectively. Both ectosymbionts belonged to clades of bacteria usually associated with invertebrates from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The presence of the AprA gene involved in sulfur metabolism suggested a potential for chemosynthesis in the nematode microbial community. The discovery of potential symbiotic associations of a shallow-water organism with taxa usually associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vents, is new for Nematoda, opening new avenues for the study of ecology and bacterial relationships with meiofauna.}, } @article {pmid31062682, year = {2019}, author = {Gruninger, RJ and Ribeiro, GO and Cameron, A and McAllister, TA}, title = {Invited review: Application of meta-omics to understand the dynamic nature of the rumen microbiome and how it responds to diet in ruminants.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {1843-1854}, doi = {10.1017/S1751731119000752}, pmid = {31062682}, issn = {1751-732X}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Animals ; Archaea/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Computational Biology ; Diet/veterinary ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/veterinary ; Rumen/metabolism ; Ruminants/*microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary ; }, abstract = {Ruminants are unique among livestock due to their ability to efficiently convert plant cell wall carbohydrates into meat and milk. This ability is a result of the evolution of an essential symbiotic association with a complex microbial community in the rumen that includes vast numbers of bacteria, methanogenic archaea, anaerobic fungi and protozoa. These microbes produce a diverse array of enzymes that convert ingested feedstuffs into volatile fatty acids and microbial protein which are used by the animal for growth. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analyses have helped to reveal how the composition of the rumen microbiome varies significantly during the development of the ruminant host, and with changes in diet. These sequencing efforts are also beginning to explain how shifts in the microbiome affect feed efficiency. In this review, we provide an overview of how meta-omics technologies have been applied to understanding the rumen microbiome, and the impact that diet has on the rumen microbial community.}, } @article {pmid31062028, year = {2019}, author = {Becerra-Rivera, VA and Dunn, MF}, title = {Polyamine biosynthesis and biological roles in rhizobia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz084}, pmid = {31062028}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Polyamines are ubiquitous molecules containing two or more amino groups that fulfill varied and often essential physiological and regulatory roles in all organisms. In the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia, putrescine and homospermidine are invariably produced while spermidine and norspermidine synthesis appears to be restricted to the alfalfa microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. Studies with rhizobial mutants deficient in the synthesis of one or more polyamines have shown that these compounds are important for growth, stress resistance, motility, exopolysaccharide production and biofilm formation. In this review, we describe these studies and examine how polyamines are synthesized and regulated in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid31061106, year = {2019}, author = {Pislariu, CI and Sinharoy, S and Torres-Jerez, I and Nakashima, J and Blancaflor, EB and Udvardi, MK}, title = {The Nodule-Specific PLAT Domain Protein NPD1 Is Required for Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {180}, number = {3}, pages = {1480-1497}, pmid = {31061106}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Domains ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by rhizobia in legume root nodules is a key source of nitrogen for sustainable agriculture. Genetic approaches have revealed important roles for only a few of the thousands of plant genes expressed during nodule development and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Previously, we isolated >100 nodulation and nitrogen fixation mutants from a population of Tnt1-insertion mutants of Medigaco truncatula Using Tnt1 as a tag to identify genetic lesions in these mutants, we discovered that insertions in a M. truncatula nodule-specific polycystin-1, lipoxygenase, α-toxin (PLAT) domain-encoding gene, MtNPD1, resulted in development of ineffective nodules. Early stages of nodule development and colonization by the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti appeared to be normal in the npd1 mutant. However, npd1 nodules ceased to grow after a few days, resulting in abnormally small, ineffective nodules. Rhizobia that colonized developing npd1 nodules did not differentiate completely into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids and quickly degraded. MtNPD1 expression was low in roots but increased significantly in developing nodules 4 d postinoculation, and expression accompanied invading rhizobia in the nodule infection zone and into the distal nitrogen fixation zone. A functional MtNPD1:GFP fusion protein localized in the space surrounding symbiosomes in infected cells. When ectopically expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves, MtNPD1 colocalized with vacuoles and the endoplasmic reticulum. MtNPD1 belongs to a cluster of five nodule-specific single PLAT domain-encoding genes, with apparent nonredundant functions.}, } @article {pmid31059378, year = {2020}, author = {Aasen, DM and Vergara, MN}, title = {New Drug Discovery Paradigms for Retinal Diseases: A Focus on Retinal Organoids.}, journal = {Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {18-24}, pmid = {31059378}, issn = {1557-7732}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Organoids/cytology/*metabolism ; Retina/cytology/*metabolism ; Retinal Diseases/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {Retinal disease represents a growing global problem, both in terms of quality of life and economic impact, yet new therapies are not being developed at a sufficient rate to meet this mounting need. In this context, retinal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells hold significant promise for improving upon the current drug development process, increasing the speed and efficiency of moving potential therapeutic agents from bench to bedside. These organoid systems display the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, cellular heterogeneity, and physiological responses reflective of human biology and, thus, have the ability to replicate retinal disease pathology in a way that 2-dimensional cell cultures and animal models have been heretofore unable to achieve. However, organoid technology is not yet mature enough to meet the high-throughput demands of the first stages of drug screening. Hence, the augmentation of the existing drug development pipeline with retinal organoids, rather than the replacement of existing pathway components, may provide a way to harness the benefits of this improved pathological modeling. In this study, we outline the possible benefits of such a symbiosis, discuss other potential uses, and highlight barriers that remain to be overcome.}, } @article {pmid31059123, year = {2019}, author = {Sorroche, F and Walch, M and Zou, L and Rengel, D and Maillet, F and Gibelin-Viala, C and Poinsot, V and Chervin, C and Masson-Boivin, C and Gough, C and Batut, J and Garnerone, AM}, title = {Endosymbiotic Sinorhizobium meliloti modulate Medicago root susceptibility to secondary infection via ethylene.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {1505-1515}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15883}, pmid = {31059123}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Epidermis/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A complex network of pathways coordinates nodulation and epidermal root hair infection in the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legume plants. Whereas nodule formation was known to be autoregulated, it was so far unclear whether a similar control is exerted on the infection process. We assessed the capacity of Medicago plants nodulated by Sinorhizobium meliloti to modulate root susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection or to purified Nod factors in split-root and volatile assays using bacterial and plant mutant combinations. Ethylene implication in this process emerged from gas production measurements, use of a chemical inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis and of a Medicago mutant affected in ethylene signal transduction. We identified a feedback mechanism that we named AOI (for Autoregulation Of Infection) by which endosymbiotic bacteria control secondary infection thread formation by their rhizospheric peers. AOI involves activation of a cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) cascade in endosymbiotic bacteria, which decreases both root infectiveness and root susceptibility to bacterial Nod factors. These latter two effects are mediated by ethylene. AOI is a novel component of the complex regulatory network controlling the interaction between Sinorhizobium meliloti and its host plants that emphasizes the implication of endosymbiotic bacteria in fine-tuning the interaction.}, } @article {pmid31059122, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, L and Yuan, L and Staehelin, C and Li, Y and Ruan, J and Liang, Z and Xie, Z and Wang, W and Xie, J and Huang, S}, title = {The LYSIN MOTIF-CONTAINING RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1 protein of banana is required for perception of pathogenic and symbiotic signals.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {1530-1546}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15888}, pmid = {31059122}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Lotus/metabolism ; Musa/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Domains ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How plants can distinguish pathogenic and symbiotic fungi remains largely unknown. Here, we characterized the role of MaLYK1, a lysin motif receptor kinase of banana. Live cell imaging techniques were used in localization studies. RNA interference (RNAi)-silenced transgenic banana plants were generated to analyze the biological role of MaLYK1. The MaLYK1 ectodomain, chitin beads, chitooligosaccharides (COs) and mycorrhizal lipochitooligosaccharides (Myc-LCOs) were used in pulldown assays. Ligand-induced MaLYK1 complex formation was tested in immunoprecipitation experiments. Chimeric receptors were expressed in Lotus japonicus to characterize the function of the MaLYK1 kinase domain. MaLYK1 was localized to the plasma membrane. MaLYK1 expression was induced by Foc4 (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4) and diverse microbe-associated molecular patterns. MaLYK1-silenced banana lines showed reduced chitin-triggered defense responses, increased Foc4-induced disease symptoms and reduced mycorrhization. The MaLYK1 ectodomain was pulled down by chitin beads and LCOs or COs impaired this process. Ligand treatments induced MaLYK1 complex formation in planta. The kinase domain of MaLYK1 could functionally replace that of the chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 (AtCERK1) in Arabidopsis thaliana and of a rhizobial LCO (Nod factor) receptor (LjNFR1) in L. japonicus. MaLYK1 represents a central molecular switch that controls defense- and symbiosis-related signaling.}, } @article {pmid31058830, year = {2019}, author = {Ngangbam, AK and Mouatt, P and Smith, J and Waters, DLE and Benkendorff, K}, title = {Bromoperoxidase Producing Bacillus spp. Isolated from the Hypobranchial Glands of a Muricid Mollusc Are Capable of Tyrian Purple Precursor Biogenesis.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {31058830}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Branchial Region/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastropoda/*microbiology ; Indoles/analysis ; Mollusca ; Peroxidases/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The secondary metabolite Tyrian purple, also known as shellfish purple and royal purple, is a dye with historical importance for humans. The biosynthetic origin of Tyrian purple in Muricidae molluscs is not currently known. A possible role for symbiotic bacteria in the production of tyrindoxyl sulphate, the precursor to Tyrian purple stored in the Australian species, Dicathais orbita, has been proposed. This study aimed to culture bacterial symbionts from the purple producing hypobranchial gland, and screen the isolates for bromoperoxidase genes using molecular methods. The ability of bromoperoxidase positive isolates to produce the brominated indole precursor to Tyrian purple was then established by extraction of the culture, and analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In total, 32 bacterial isolates were cultured from D. orbita hypobranchial glands, using marine agar, marine agar with hypobranchial gland aqueous extracts, blood agar, thiosulphate citrate bile salts sucrose agar, and cetrimide agar at pH 7.2. These included 26 Vibrio spp., two Bacillus spp., one Phaeobacter sp., one Shewanella sp., one Halobacillus sp. and one Pseudoalteromonas sp. The two Bacillus species were the only isolates found to have coding sequences for bromoperoxidase enzymes. LC-MS analysis of the supernatant and cell pellets from the bromoperoxidase producing Bacillus spp. cultured in tryptone broth, supplemented with KBr, confirmed their ability to produce the brominated precursor to Tyrian purple, tyrindoxyl sulphate. This study supports a potential role for symbiotic Bacillus spp. in the biosynthesis of Tyrian purple.}, } @article {pmid31058335, year = {2019}, author = {Gibelin-Viala, C and Amblard, E and Puech-Pages, V and Bonhomme, M and Garcia, M and Bascaules-Bedin, A and Fliegmann, J and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and le Signor, C and Jacquet, C and Gough, C}, title = {The Medicago truncatula LysM receptor-like kinase LYK9 plays a dual role in immunity and the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {1516-1529}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15891}, pmid = {31058335}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Aphanomyces/physiology ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis ; Chitosan ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant -specific lysin-motif receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) are implicated in the perception of N-acetyl glucosamine-containing compounds, some of which are important signal molecules in plant-microbe interactions. Among these, both lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and chitooligosaccharides (COs) are proposed as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiotic signals. COs can also activate plant defence, although there are scarce data about CO production by pathogens, especially nonfungal pathogens. We tested Medicago truncatula mutants in the LysM-RLK MtLYK9 for their abilities to interact with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the oomycete pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. This prompted us to analyse whether A. euteiches can produce COs. Compared with wild-type plants, Mtlyk9 mutants had fewer infection events and were less colonised by the AM fungus. By contrast, Mtlyk9 mutants were more heavily infected by A. euteiches and showed more disease symptoms. Aphanomyces euteiches was also shown to produce short COs, mainly CO II, but also CO III and CO IV, and traces of CO V, both ex planta and in planta. MtLYK9 thus has a dual role in plant immunity and the AM symbiosis, which raises questions about the functioning and the ancestral origins of such a receptor protein.}, } @article {pmid31058096, year = {2019}, author = {Moreno-Altamirano, MMB and Kolstoe, SE and Sánchez-García, FJ}, title = {Virus Control of Cell Metabolism for Replication and Evasion of Host Immune Responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {95}, pmid = {31058096}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Eukaryotic Cells/immunology/metabolism/*virology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Immune Evasion ; *Immunity, Cellular ; Metabolism ; Viral Proteins/*metabolism ; Virulence Factors/*metabolism ; Viruses/*growth & development/immunology/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Over the last decade, there has been significant advances in the understanding of the cross-talk between metabolism and immune responses. It is now evident that immune cell effector function strongly depends on the metabolic pathway in which cells are engaged in at a particular point in time, the activation conditions, and the cell microenvironment. It is also clear that some metabolic intermediates have signaling as well as effector properties and, hence, topics such as immunometabolism, metabolic reprograming, and metabolic symbiosis (among others) have emerged. Viruses completely rely on their host's cell energy and molecular machinery to enter, multiply, and exit for a new round of infection. This review explores how viruses mimic, exploit or interfere with host cell metabolic pathways and how, in doing so, they may evade immune responses. It offers a brief outline of key metabolic pathways, mitochondrial function and metabolism-related signaling pathways, followed by examples of the mechanisms by which several viral proteins regulate host cell metabolic activity.}, } @article {pmid31057592, year = {2019}, author = {Polcyn, W and Paluch-Lubawa, E and Lehmann, T and Mikuła, R}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza in Highly Fertilized Maize Cultures Alleviates Short-Term Drought Effects but Does Not Improve Fodder Yield and Quality.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {496}, pmid = {31057592}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Under fertilization levels specific to intensive farming, the impact of compensation of soil nutritional value by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) might be limited. Therefore, the question arises whether modern crop varieties, selected for high NPK assimilation rate, are able to gain symbiotic benefits under other challenging field conditions, such as drought. Accordingly, in this study we aimed to evaluate the contribution of Rhizophagus irregularis to the drought response of a stay-green corn hybrid in pot cultures equally fertilized until silking, compared to non-mycorrhizal (NM) counterparts. The highest tested fertilization regime not detrimental to the long-term vitality of intraradical hyphae reached the levels recommended for field cultivation of silage corn, except phosphorus application restricted to 60%. Under normal watering, mycorrhiza increased leaf nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition but only in cultures supplied with low NPK levels. At high fertilization levels, only the older leaves retained AM dependency, whereas for other leaf positions the AM-NM differences were leveled out. The similar size and nutritional status of highly fertilized AM and NM cultures, used in this study, eliminated fungal benefits before and during the 2-week drought progression. Nevertheless, mycorrhizal contribution became evident at the time of renewed watering, when AM plants showed much faster reversal of drought-induced leaf senescence symptoms: impaired photosynthesis and nitrogen management. Our results suggest that mycorrhiza can alter drought-induced senescence even in stay-green mutants. Moreover, this effect was apparently not mediated by AM-improved growth but triggered by activation of fungal transport at the time of recovery. Interestingly, the fungal protective potential was shown to be preserved at the expense of lowering AM vesicle number. It can be interpreted as engagement of hyphal nutritional resources targeted to maintain the symbiotic relationship despite the reduced vitality of the host. Finally, we compared the productivity of AM and NM cultures subjected to short-term drought at silking time and further fertilized with moderate or high NPK doses until the grain-filling stage. The yield and nutritive value of green forage showed that alleviation of drought-induced senescence by AM was not sufficient to have a significant positive effect on the final productivity compared to NM plants.}, } @article {pmid31057581, year = {2019}, author = {Hossain, MS and Hoang, NT and Yan, Z and Tóth, K and Meyers, BC and Stacey, G}, title = {Characterization of the Spatial and Temporal Expression of Two Soybean miRNAs Identifies SCL6 as a Novel Regulator of Soybean Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {475}, pmid = {31057581}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control expression of endogenous target genes through transcript cleavage or translational inhibition. Legume plants can form a specialized organ, the nodule, through interaction with nitrogen fixing soil bacteria. To understand the regulatory roles of miRNAs in the nodulation process, we functionally validated gma-miR171o and gma-miR171q and their target genes in soybean. These two miRNA sequences are identical in sequence but their miRNA genes are divergent and show unique, tissue-specific expression patterns. The expression levels of the two miRNAs are negatively correlated with that of their target genes. Ectopic expression of these miRNAs in transgenic hairy roots resulted in a significant reduction in nodule formation. Both gma-miR171o and gma-miR171q target members of the GRAS transcription factor superfamily, namely GmSCL-6 and GmNSP2. Transient interaction of miRNAs and their target genes in tobacco cells further confirmed their cleavage activity. The results suggest that gma-miR171o and gma-miR171q regulate GmSCL-6 and GmNSP2, which in turn, influence expression of the Nodule inception (NIN), Early Nodulin 40 (ENOD40), and Ethylene Response Factor Required for Nodulation (ERN) genes during the Bradyrhizobium japonicum-soybean nodulation process. Collectively, our data suggest a role for two miRNAs, gma-miR171o and gma-miR171q, in regulating the spatial and temporal aspects of soybean nodulation.}, } @article {pmid31057515, year = {2019}, author = {Methou, P and Hernández-Ávila, I and Aube, J and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Gayet, N and Amand, L and Shillito, B and Pradillon, F and Cambon-Bonavita, MA}, title = {Is It First the Egg or the Shrimp? - Diversity and Variation in Microbial Communities Colonizing Broods of the Vent Shrimp Rimicaris exoculata During Embryonic Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {808}, pmid = {31057515}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rimicaris exoculata is one of the most well-known and emblematic species of endemic vent fauna. Like many other species from these ecosystems, Rimicaris shrimps host important communities of chemosynthetic bacteria living in symbiosis with their host inside the cephalothorax and gut. For many of these symbiotic partners, the mode of transmission remains to be elucidated and the starting point of the symbiotic relationship is not yet defined, but could begin with the egg. In this study, we explored the proliferation of microbial communities on R. exoculata broods through embryonic development using a combination of NGS sequencing and microscopy approaches. Variations in abundance and diversity of egg microbial communities were analyzed in broods at different developmental stages and collected from mothers at two distinct vent fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (TAG and Snake Pit). We also assessed the specificity of the egg microbiome by comparing communities developing on egg surfaces with those developing on the cuticle of pleopods, which are thought to be exposed to similar environmental conditions because the brood is held under the female's abdomen. In terms of abundance, bacterial colonization clearly increases with both egg developmental stage and the position of the egg within the brood: those closest to the exterior having a higher bacterial coverage. Bacterial biomass increase also accompanies an increase of mineral precipitations and thus clearly relates to the degree of exposure to vent fluids. In terms of diversity, most bacterial lineages were found in all samples and were also those found in the cephalothorax of adults. However, significant variation occurs in the relative abundance of these lineages, most of this variation being explained by body surface (egg vs. pleopod), vent field, and developmental stage. The occurrence of symbiont-related lineages of Epsilonbacteraeota, Gammaproteobacteria, Zetaproteobacteria, and Mollicutes provide a basis for discussion on both the acquisition of symbionts and the potential roles of these bacterial communities during egg development.}, } @article {pmid31057502, year = {2019}, author = {Rebollar, EA and Harris, RN}, title = {Editorial: Ecology of Amphibian-Microbial Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {766}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2019.00766}, pmid = {31057502}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid31057485, year = {2019}, author = {Zhao, D and Yu, Y and Shen, Y and Liu, Q and Zhao, Z and Sharma, R and Reiter, RJ}, title = {Melatonin Synthesis and Function: Evolutionary History in Animals and Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {249}, pmid = {31057485}, issn = {1664-2392}, abstract = {Melatonin is an ancient molecule that can be traced back to the origin of life. Melatonin's initial function was likely that as a free radical scavenger. Melatonin presumably evolved in bacteria; it has been measured in both α-proteobacteria and in photosynthetic cyanobacteria. In early evolution, bacteria were phagocytosed by primitive eukaryotes for their nutrient value. According to the endosymbiotic theory, the ingested bacteria eventually developed a symbiotic association with their host eukaryotes. The ingested α-proteobacteria evolved into mitochondria while cyanobacteria became chloroplasts and both organelles retained their ability to produce melatonin. Since these organelles have persisted to the present day, all species that ever existed or currently exist may have or may continue to synthesize melatonin in their mitochondria (animals and plants) and chloroplasts (plants) where it functions as an antioxidant. Melatonin's other functions, including its multiple receptors, developed later in evolution. In present day animals, via receptor-mediated means, melatonin functions in the regulation of sleep, modulation of circadian rhythms, enhancement of immunity, as a multifunctional oncostatic agent, etc., while retaining its ability to reduce oxidative stress by processes that are, in part, receptor-independent. In plants, melatonin continues to function in reducing oxidative stress as well as in promoting seed germination and growth, improving stress resistance, stimulating the immune system and modulating circadian rhythms; a single melatonin receptor has been identified in land plants where it controls stomatal closure on leaves. The melatonin synthetic pathway varies somewhat between plants and animals. The amino acid, tryptophan, is the necessary precursor of melatonin in all taxa. In animals, tryptophan is initially hydroxylated to 5-hydroxytryptophan which is then decarboxylated with the formation of serotonin. Serotonin is either acetylated to N-acetylserotonin or it is methylated to form 5-methoxytryptamine; these products are either methylated or acetylated, respectively, to produce melatonin. In plants, tryptophan is first decarboxylated to tryptamine which is then hydroxylated to form serotonin.}, } @article {pmid31057424, year = {2019}, author = {Skaljac, M and Vogel, H and Wielsch, N and Mihajlovic, S and Vilcinskas, A}, title = {Transmission of a Protease-Secreting Bacterial Symbiont Among Pea Aphids via Host Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {438}, pmid = {31057424}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Aphids are economically important pest insects that damage plants by phloem feeding and the transmission of plant viruses. Their ability to feed exclusively on nutritionally poor phloem sap is dependent on the obligatory symbiotic bacterium Buchnera aphidicola, but additional facultative symbionts may also be present, a common example of which is Serratia symbiotica. Many Serratia species secrete extracellular enzymes, so we hypothesised that S. symbiotica may produce proteases that help aphids to feed on plants. Molecular analysis, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), revealed that S. symbiotica colonises the gut, salivary glands and mouthparts (including the stylet) of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, providing a mechanism to transfer the symbiont into host plants. S. symbiotica was also detected in plant tissues wounded by the penetrating stylet and was transferred to naïve aphids feeding on plants containing this symbiont. The maintenance of S. symbiotica by repeated transmission via plants may explain the high frequency of this symbiont in aphid populations. Proteomic analysis of the supernatant from a related but cultivable S. symbiotica strain cultured in liquid medium revealed the presence of known and novel proteases including metalloproteases. The corresponding transcripts encoding these S. symbiotica enzymes were detected in A. pisum and in plants carrying the symbiont, although the mRNA was much more abundant in the aphids. Our data suggest that enzymes from S. symbiotica may facilitate the digestion of plant proteins, thereby helping to suppress plant defense, and that the symbionts are important mediators of aphid-plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid31054574, year = {2019}, author = {Carotenuto, G and Sciascia, I and Oddi, L and Volpe, V and Genre, A}, title = {Size matters: three methods for estimating nuclear size in mycorrhizal roots of Medicago truncatula by image analysis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {180}, pmid = {31054574}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Cell Nucleus Size ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Medicago truncatula/*ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/*ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi involves a profound molecular reprogramming of the host cell architecture and metabolism, based on the activation of a symbiotic signaling pathway. In analogy with other plant biotrophs, AM fungi are reported to trigger cell cycle reactivation in their host tissues, possibly in support of the enhanced metabolic demand required for the symbiosis.

RESULTS: We here compare the efficiency of three Fiji/ImageJ image analysis plugins in localizing and quantifying the increase in nuclear size - a hallmark of recursive events of endoreduplication - in M. truncatula roots colonized by the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita. All three approaches proved to be versatile and upgradeable, allowing the investigation of nuclear changes in a complex tissue; 3D Object Counter provided more detailed information than both TrackMate and Round Surface Detector plugins. On this base we challenged 3D Object Counter with two case studies: verifying the lack of endoreduplication-triggering responses in Medicago truncatula mutants with a known non-symbiotic phenotype; and analysing the correlation in space and time between the induction of cortical cell division and endoreduplication upon AM colonization. Both case studies revealed important biological aspects. Mutant phenotype analyses have demonstrated that the knock-out mutation of different key genes in the symbiotic signaling pathway block AM-associated endoreduplication. Furthermore, our data show that cell divisions occur during initial stages of root colonization and are followed by recursive activation of the endocycle in preparation for arbuscule accommodation.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results indicate 3D Object Counter as the best performing Fiji/ImageJ image analysis script in plant root thick sections and its application highlighted endoreduplication as a major feature of the AM pre-penetration response in root cortical cells.}, } @article {pmid31053961, year = {2019}, author = {Beukes, CW and Steenkamp, ET and van Zyl, E and Avontuur, J and Chan, WY and Hassen, AI and Palmer, M and Mthombeni, LS and Phalane, FL and Sereme, TK and Venter, SN}, title = {Paraburkholderia strydomiana sp. nov. and Paraburkholderia steynii sp. nov.: rhizobial symbionts of the fynbos legume Hypocalyptus sophoroides.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {9}, pages = {1369-1385}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-019-01269-5}, pmid = {31053961}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytosol/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Twelve nodulating Paraburkholderia strains isolated from indigenous South African fynbos legume Hypocalyptus sophoroides were investigated to determine their taxonomic status. Genealogical concordance analysis, based on six loci (16S rRNA, atpD, recA, rpoB, lepA and gltB), revealed that they separate into two consistent and exclusive groups. Average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA hybridisation comparisons indicated that they were sufficiently divergent from their closest known phylogenetic relatives (Paraburkholderia caledonica and Paraburkholderia terrae, respectively) to be regarded as novel species. This was also supported by the results of fatty acid analysis and metabolic characterisation. For these two isolate groups, we accordingly propose the new species Paraburkholderia strydomiana sp. nov. with WK1.1f[T] (= LMG 28731[T] = SARCC1213[T]) as its type strain and Paraburkholderia steynii sp. nov. with HC1.1ba[T] (= LMG 28730[T] = SARCC696[T]) as its type strain. Our data thus showed that H. sophoroides may be considered a promiscuous symbiotic partner due to its ability to associate with multiple species of Paraburkholderia.}, } @article {pmid31053805, year = {2019}, author = {Kelsey, R}, title = {Magnetotactic symbiosis in marine sediments.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {398}, pmid = {31053805}, issn = {1740-1534}, } @article {pmid31053328, year = {2019}, author = {Poinar, G and Vega, FE}, title = {A mid-Cretaceous trichomycete, Priscadvena corymbosa gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {5}, pages = {393-396}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.02.007}, pmid = {31053328}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Amber ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; *Fossils ; Fungi/*classification/cytology/*isolation & purification ; Microscopy ; Mouth/microbiology ; Myanmar ; }, abstract = {Priscadvena corymbosa gen. et sp. nov., is described from thalli and sporangia emerging from the oral cavity of a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil contains several features unknown in extant Trichomycetes including a click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) host, spiny, aerial thalli with the entire thallus bearing numerous small uninucleate globular spores and stalks attached to the oral cavity of its host. Based on these features, P. corymbosa gen. et sp. nov. is placed in a new family, Priscadvenaceae fam. nov., and new order, Priscadvenales ord. nov. The new morphological and behavioral features of the fossil add to the diversity of the trichomycetes as currently defined.}, } @article {pmid31051397, year = {2019}, author = {Moshiri, F and Ebrahimi, H and Ardakani, MR and Rejali, F and Mousavi, SM}, title = {Biogeochemical distribution of Pb and Zn forms in two calcareous soils affected by mycorrhizal symbiosis and alfalfa rhizosphere.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {241-248}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.055}, pmid = {31051397}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/genetics ; Iran ; Lead/*analysis ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Research Design ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Using of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has emerged as a new technique to alleviate the toxic metals stress through changing their chemical behavior. The present work was conducted as a factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to study the inoculation effects of Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae and Glomus etunicatum, on Pb and Zn fractions in the rhizosphere of alfalfa by using rhizobox technique in two agricultural soils with different Zn and Pb concentrations [with low (LH) and high (HH) concentration levels]. The results showed that AMF colonization promoted plant growth and lowered the shoot and root Pb and shoot Zn concentrations in the studied soils compared to uninoculated treatments. Mycorrhizal colonization significantly increased the Ca(NO3)2- extractable Zn and ORG-Zn (respectively 500 and 59.6% more than the uninoculated treatment) and decreased the OXI-Zn (20.32% less than the none inoculated treatment) in the HH soil. By contrast, mycorrhizae slightly increased the CARB, OXI and ORG-Zn forms in the LH soil compared to the uninoculation condition. In the AMF- treated HH soil, an increase was recorded in the Ca(NO3)2- extractable Pb, EXCH-Pb and CARB-Pb (respectively, 17.65, 3.09 and 14.22% compared to the none inoculated treatment) and a decrease in the OXI and ORG-Pb forms (respectively, 28.79 and 13.51% compared to the uninoculated treatment). A reverse status was observed for Pb changes in the LH soil. Depending on the contamination level, the mycorrhizal inoculation differentially affected the Pb and Zn fractions at different distances from the root surface. In the LH soil, at <5 mm distance (i.e. rhizospheric soil), the mycorrhizal inoculation decreased the CARB (about 17.99%) and OXI -Zn (about 29.63%) forms compared to bulk soil (i.e. > 5 mm distance) while ORG-Zn was increased up to 48.63%. However, Ca(NO3)2- extractable, CARB and ORG-Pb was increased in rhizosphere soil (respectively, 89.33, 3.84 and 6.14%) and OXI-Pb was decreased up to 10.36% compared to the bulk soil. In the HH soil, mycorrhizal inoculation increased the CARB and OXI-Zn (respectively, 1.76 and 5.71%) and OXI-Pb fractions (11.56%) compared to the <5 mm distances. Whereas, it reduced the Ca(NO3)2- extractable, EXCH, and ORG-Zn (Respectively, 52.70, 19.19 and 30.16%) and Ca(NO3)2- extractable, CARB and ORG-Pb (respectively, 47.18, 3.70 and 5.79%). These results revealed that depending on the soil contamination level and nature of the element, AMF colonization affects biogeochemical fractions of the metals and their accumulation in the plant tissues.}, } @article {pmid31051335, year = {2019}, author = {Molinero-Rosales, N and Martín-Rodríguez, JÁ and Ho-Plágaro, T and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Identification and expression analysis of the arbuscular mycorrhiza-inducible Rieske non-heme oxygenase Ptc52 gene from tomato.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {237}, number = {}, pages = {95-103}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2019.04.009}, pmid = {31051335}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Solanum lycopersicum/enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxygenases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) formation enhances plant growth and fitness through improved uptake of water and mineral nutrients in exchange for carbon compounds to the AM fungus. The fungal structure for the reciprocal exchange of nutrients in the symbiosis is the arbuscule, and defence genes expressed in cells containing arbuscules could play a role in the control of hyphal spread and arbuscule formation in the root. We characterized and analyzed the Ptc52 gene from tomato (SlPtc52), a member of the gene family of non-heme oxygenases, whose function has been related to the lethal leaf spot 1 (Lls1) lesion mimic phenotype in plants which is sometimes associated with enhanced disease resistance. Sequence analysis of the SlPTC52 protein revealed conserved typical motifs from non-heme oxygenases, including a Rieske [2Fe-2S] motif, a mononuclear non-heme iron-binding motif and a C-terminal CxxC motif. The level of transcript accumulation was low in stem, flower and green fruits, and high in leaves. Although SlPtc52 expression was perceptible at low levels in roots, its expression increased concomitantly with AM fungus root colonization. Tomato non-mycorrhizal hairy roots expressing the GUS protein under the control of promoter SlPtc52 exhibited GUS activity in the endodermis, the apical meristem of the root tip and in the lateral root primordium. AM fungal colonization also resulted in intensive GUS activity that clearly corresponds to cortical cells containing arbuscules. SlPtc52 gene silencing led to a delay in root colonization and a decrease in arbuscular abundance, suggesting that SlPTC52 plays a regulatory role during AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31049565, year = {2019}, author = {Samba-Louaka, A and Delafont, V and Rodier, MH and Cateau, E and Héchard, Y}, title = {Free-living amoebae and squatters in the wild: ecological and molecular features.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {415-434}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuz011}, pmid = {31049565}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Amoeba/genetics/*physiology/virology ; Bacteria/*classification/virology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; }, abstract = {Free-living amoebae are protists frequently found in water and soils. They feed on other microorganisms, mainly bacteria, and digest them through phagocytosis. It is accepted that these amoebae play an important role in the microbial ecology of these environments. There is a renewed interest for the free-living amoebae since the discovery of pathogenic bacteria that can resist phagocytosis and of giant viruses, underlying that amoebae might play a role in the evolution of other microorganisms, including several human pathogens. Recent advances, using molecular methods, allow to bring together new information about free-living amoebae. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the newly gathered insights into (1) the free-living amoeba diversity, assessed with molecular tools, (2) the gene functions described to decipher the biology of the amoebae and (3) their interactions with other microorganisms in the environment.}, } @article {pmid31049371, year = {2019}, author = {Rahnama, M and Maclean, P and Fleetwood, DJ and Johnson, RD}, title = {Comparative transcriptomics analysis of compatible wild type and incompatible ΔlaeA mutant strains of Epichloë festucae in association with perennial ryegrass.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {24}, number = {}, pages = {103843}, pmid = {31049371}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Epichloë festucae fungi form bioprotective endophytic symbioses with perennial ryegrass. Although this interaction is economically important, relatively little is known about the molecular processes and regulatory genes that are involved in establishing a compatible symbiosis. The present study utilised next-generation sequencing to investigate the genes required for establishing a compatible symbiotic interaction between E. festucae and perennial ryegrass. A comparative transcriptomics study, comparing the compatible symbiotic interaction of E. festucae/perennial ryegrass with the incompatible interaction of a ΔlaeA mutant strain of E. festucae/perennial ryegrass, was performed two weeks after inoculation. Differentially expressed genes were identified and classified according to gene ontology and functional annotation analyses. The raw data of this study have been deposited at SRA database with the BioProject ID PRJNA513830.}, } @article {pmid31043757, year = {2019}, author = {Zhuang, W and Chen, H and Yang, M and Wang, J and Pandey, MK and Zhang, C and Chang, WC and Zhang, L and Zhang, X and Tang, R and Garg, V and Wang, X and Tang, H and Chow, CN and Wang, J and Deng, Y and Wang, D and Khan, AW and Yang, Q and Cai, T and Bajaj, P and Wu, K and Guo, B and Zhang, X and Li, J and Liang, F and Hu, J and Liao, B and Liu, S and Chitikineni, A and Yan, H and Zheng, Y and Shan, S and Liu, Q and Xie, D and Wang, Z and Khan, SA and Ali, N and Zhao, C and Li, X and Luo, Z and Zhang, S and Zhuang, R and Peng, Z and Wang, S and Mamadou, G and Zhuang, Y and Zhao, Z and Yu, W and Xiong, F and Quan, W and Yuan, M and Li, Y and Zou, H and Xia, H and Zha, L and Fan, J and Yu, J and Xie, W and Yuan, J and Chen, K and Zhao, S and Chu, W and Chen, Y and Sun, P and Meng, F and Zhuo, T and Zhao, Y and Li, C and He, G and Zhao, Y and Wang, C and Kavikishor, PB and Pan, RL and Paterson, AH and Wang, X and Ming, R and Varshney, RK}, title = {The genome of cultivated peanut provides insight into legume karyotypes, polyploid evolution and crop domestication.}, journal = {Nature genetics}, volume = {51}, number = {5}, pages = {865-876}, pmid = {31043757}, issn = {1546-1718}, mesh = {Arachis/embryology/*genetics/physiology ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Domestication ; Droughts ; Ecotype ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Plant ; Karyotype ; Peanut Oil/metabolism ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; Plant Proteins, Dietary/metabolism ; Polyploidy ; Seeds/anatomy & histology/genetics ; }, abstract = {High oil and protein content make tetraploid peanut a leading oil and food legume. Here we report a high-quality peanut genome sequence, comprising 2.54 Gb with 20 pseudomolecules and 83,709 protein-coding gene models. We characterize gene functional groups implicated in seed size evolution, seed oil content, disease resistance and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The peanut B subgenome has more genes and general expression dominance, temporally associated with long-terminal-repeat expansion in the A subgenome that also raises questions about the A-genome progenitor. The polyploid genome provided insights into the evolution of Arachis hypogaea and other legume chromosomes. Resequencing of 52 accessions suggests that independent domestications formed peanut ecotypes. Whereas 0.42-0.47 million years ago (Ma) polyploidy constrained genetic variation, the peanut genome sequence aids mapping and candidate-gene discovery for traits such as seed size and color, foliar disease resistance and others, also providing a cornerstone for functional genomics and peanut improvement.}, } @article {pmid31042485, year = {2019}, author = {Greenhalgh, K and Ramiro-Garcia, J and Heinken, A and Ullmann, P and Bintener, T and Pacheco, MP and Baginska, J and Shah, P and Frachet, A and Halder, R and Fritz, JV and Sauter, T and Thiele, I and Haan, S and Letellier, E and Wilmes, P}, title = {Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Modeling Delineates the Molecular Effects of a Synbiotic Regimen on Colorectal-Cancer-Derived Cells.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {1621-1632.e9}, doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.001}, pmid = {31042485}, issn = {2211-1247}, mesh = {Caco-2 Cells ; Cells, Cultured ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology ; *Computer Simulation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/pathogenicity ; Prebiotics/microbiology ; Probiotics/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {By modulating the human gut microbiome, prebiotics and probiotics (combinations of which are called synbiotics) may be used to treat diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Methodological limitations have prevented determining the potential combinatorial mechanisms of action of such regimens. We expanded our HuMiX gut-on-a-chip model to co-culture CRC-derived epithelial cells with a model probiotic under a simulated prebiotic regimen, and we integrated the multi-omic results with in silico metabolic modeling. In contrast to individual prebiotic or probiotic treatments, the synbiotic regimen caused downregulation of genes involved in procarcinogenic pathways and drug resistance, and reduced levels of the oncometabolite lactate. Distinct ratios of organic and short-chain fatty acids were produced during the simulated regimens. Treatment of primary CRC-derived cells with a molecular cocktail reflecting the synbiotic regimen attenuated self-renewal capacity. Our integrated approach demonstrates the potential of modeling for rationally formulating synbiotics-based treatments in the future.}, } @article {pmid31038750, year = {2019}, author = {Gomes, SIF and van Bodegom, PM and Merckx, VSFT and Soudzilovskaia, N}, title = {Environmental drivers for cheaters of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tropical rainforests.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {1575-1583}, pmid = {31038750}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Linear Models ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; *Rainforest ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Hundreds of nonphotosynthetic mycoheterotrophic plant species cheat the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Their patchy local occurrence suggests constraints by biotic and abiotic factors, among which the role of soil chemistry and nutrient status has not been investigated. Here, we examine the edaphic drivers predicting the local-scale distribution of mycoheterotrophic plants in two lowland rainforests in South America. We compared soil chemistry and nutrient status in plots where mycoheterotrophic plants were present with those without these plants. Soil pH, soil nitrate, and the interaction between soil potassium and nitrate concentrations were the best predictors for the occurrence of mycoheterotrophic plants in these tropical rainforests. Mycoheterotrophic plant occurrences decreased with a rise in each of these predictors. This indicates that these plants are associated with low-fertility patches. Such low-fertility conditions coincide with conditions that potentially favour a weak mutualism between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to the trade balance model. Our study points out which soil properties favour the cheating of arbuscular mycorrhizal networks in tropical forests. The patchy occurrence of mycoheterotrophic plants suggests that local soil heterogeneity causes the stability of arbuscular mycorrhizal networks to vary at a very small scale.}, } @article {pmid31037804, year = {2019}, author = {Bañuelos-Vazquez, LA and Torres Tejerizo, G and Cervantes-De La Luz, L and Girard, L and Romero, D and Brom, S}, title = {Conjugative transfer between Rhizobium etli endosymbionts inside the root nodule.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {3430-3441}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14645}, pmid = {31037804}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {Since the discovery that biological nitrogen fixation ensues in nodules resulting from the interaction of rhizobia with legumes, nodules were thought to be exclusive for hosting nitrogen-fixing and plant growth promoting bacteria. In this work, we uncover a novel function of nodules, as a niche permissive to acquisition of plasmids via conjugative transfer. We used Rhizobium etli CFN42, which nodulates Phaseolus vulgaris. The genome of R. etli CFN42 contains a chromosome and six plasmids. pRet42a is a conjugative plasmid regulated by Quorum-Sensing (QS), and pRet42d is the symbiotic plasmid. Here, using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, we show that pRet42a transfers on the root's surface, and unexpectedly, inside the nodules. Conjugation still took place inside nodules, even when it was restricted on the plant surface by placing the QS traI regulator under the promoter of the nitrogenase gene, which is only expressed inside the nodules, or by inhibiting the QS transcriptional induction of transfer genes with a traM antiactivator on an unstable vector maintained on the plant surface and lost inside the nodules. These results conclusively confirm the occurrence of conjugation in these structures, defining them as a protected environment for bacterial diversification.}, } @article {pmid31037067, year = {2019}, author = {Pons, I and Renoz, F and Noël, C and Hance, T}, title = {Circulation of the Cultivable Symbiont Serratia symbiotica in Aphids Is Mediated by Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {764}, pmid = {31037067}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiosis is a common phenomenon in nature that substantially affects organismal ecology and evolution. Fundamental questions regarding how mutualistic associations arise and evolve in nature remain, however, poorly studied. The aphid-Serratia symbiotica bacterium interaction represents a valuable model to study mechanisms shaping these symbiotic interspecific interactions. S. symbiotica strains capable of living independently of aphid hosts have recently been isolated. These strains probably resulted from horizontal transfers and could be an evolutionary link to an intra-organismal symbiosis. In this context, we used the tripartite interaction between the aphid Aphis fabae, a cultivable S. symbiotica bacterium, and the host plant Vicia faba to evaluate the bacterium ability to circulate in this system, exploring its environmental acquisition by aphids and horizontal transmission between aphids via the host plant. Using molecular analyses and fluorescence techniques, we showed that the cultivable S. symbiotica can enter the plants and induce new bacterial infections in aphids feeding on these new infected plants. Remarkably, we also found that the bacterium can have positive effects on the host plant, mainly at the root level. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that cultivable S. symbiotica can be horizontally transferred from infected to uninfected aphids sharing the same plant, providing first direct evidence that plants can mediate horizontal transmission of certain strains of this symbiont species. These findings highlight the importance of considering symbiotic associations in complex systems where microorganisms can circulate between different compartments. Our study can thus have major implications for understanding the multifaceted interactions between microbes, insects and plants.}, } @article {pmid31036911, year = {2019}, author = {Monteil, CL and Vallenet, D and Menguy, N and Benzerara, K and Barbe, V and Fouteau, S and Cruaud, C and Floriani, M and Viollier, E and Adryanczyk, G and Leonhardt, N and Faivre, D and Pignol, D and López-García, P and Weld, RJ and Lefevre, CT}, title = {Ectosymbiotic bacteria at the origin of magnetoreception in a marine protist.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {7}, pages = {1088-1095}, pmid = {31036911}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {322669/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biological Coevolution ; Deltaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Euglenozoa/classification/*microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Eukaryota ; Ferrosoferric Oxide/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry/microbiology ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Locomotion/physiology ; *Magnetic Fields ; Magnetosomes/genetics/ultrastructure ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses are often a source of evolutionary innovation and drivers of biological diversification[1]. Widely distributed in the microbial world, particularly in anoxic settings[2,3], they often rely on metabolic exchanges and syntrophy[2,4]. Here, we report a mutualistic symbiosis observed in marine anoxic sediments between excavate protists (Symbiontida, Euglenozoa)[5] and ectosymbiotic Deltaproteobacteria biomineralizing ferrimagnetic nanoparticles. Light and electron microscopy observations as well as genomic data support a multi-layered mutualism based on collective magnetotactic motility with division of labour and interspecies hydrogen-transfer-based syntrophy[6]. The guided motility of the consortia along the geomagnetic field is allowed by the magnetic moment of the non-motile ectosymbiotic bacteria combined with the protist motor activity, which is a unique example of eukaryotic magnetoreception[7] acquired by symbiosis. The nearly complete deltaproteobacterial genome assembled from a single consortium contains a full magnetosome gene set[8], but shows signs of reduction, with the probable loss of flagellar genes. Based on the metabolic gene content, the ectosymbiotic bacteria are anaerobic sulfate-reducing chemolithoautotrophs that likely reduce sulfate with hydrogen produced by hydrogenosome-like organelles[6] underlying the plasma membrane of the protist. In addition to being necessary hydrogen sinks, ectosymbionts may provide organics to the protist by diffusion and predation, as shown by magnetosome-containing digestive vacuoles. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes from magnetotactic consortia in marine sediments across the Northern and Southern hemispheres indicate a host-ectosymbiont specificity and co-evolution. This suggests a historical acquisition of magnetoreception by a euglenozoan ancestor from Deltaproteobacteria followed by subsequent diversification. It also supports the cosmopolitan nature of this type of symbiosis in marine anoxic sediments.}, } @article {pmid31036280, year = {2019}, author = {Shah, NK}, title = {Decision Support in Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking.}, journal = {Clinics in laboratory medicine}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {269-279}, doi = {10.1016/j.cll.2019.01.006}, pmid = {31036280}, issn = {1557-9832}, mesh = {*Blood Banks ; *Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; *Decision Support Systems, Clinical ; Humans ; *Transfusion Medicine ; }, abstract = {Clinical decision support (CDS) can greatly enhance patient blood management through optimizing ordering and providing patient-specific information. At present, modeling and prediction have small roles in inventory management; they will likely have increasing applications to help guide donor center collections based on real-time demand to meet more dispersed needs. Transfusion side-effects management for both donor and recipients is an area ripe for intervention by CDS to enable proactive actions. Last, CDS and broader prediction will 1 day function alongside and seamlessly along many of our major processes to create a human-computer symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31035831, year = {2019}, author = {Pandey, S}, title = {Heterotrimeric G-Protein Signaling in Plants: Conserved and Novel Mechanisms.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {213-238}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-050718-100231}, pmid = {31035831}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {*Eukaryota ; *Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; Plant Proteins ; Plants ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins are key regulators of a multitude of signaling pathways in all eukaryotes. Although the core G-protein components and their basic biochemistries are broadly conserved throughout evolution, the regulatory mechanisms of G proteins seem to have been rewired in plants to meet specific needs. These proteins are currently the focus of intense research in plants due to their involvement in many agronomically important traits, such as seed yield, organ size regulation, biotic and abiotic stress responses, symbiosis, and nitrogen use efficiency. The availability of massive sequence information from a variety of plant species, extensive biochemical data generated over decades, and impressive genetic resources for plant G proteins have made it possible to examine their role, unique properties, and novel regulation. This review focuses on some recent advances in our understanding of the mechanistic details of this critical signaling pathway to enable the precise manipulation and generation of plants to meet future needs.}, } @article {pmid31033207, year = {2019}, author = {Horta, A and Alves, C and Pinteus, S and Lopes, C and Fino, N and Silva, J and Ribeiro, J and Rodrigues, D and Francisco, J and Rodrigues, A and Pedrosa, R}, title = {Identification of Asparagopsis armata-associated bacteria and characterization of their bioactive potential.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e00824}, pmid = {31033207}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents/*metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; *Biota ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodophyta/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Macroalgae-associated bacteria have already proved to be an interesting source of compounds with therapeutic potential. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to characterize Asparagopsis armata-associated bacteria community and evaluate their capacity to produce substances with antitumor and antimicrobial potential. Bacteria were selected according to their phenotype and isolated by the streak plate technique. The identification was carried out by the RNA ribosomal 16s gene amplification through PCR techniques. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against seven microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans) by following their growth through spectrophotometric readings. Antitumor activities were evaluated in vitro on human cell lines derived from hepatocellular (HepG-2) and breast carcinoma (MCF-7) using the MTT method. The present work identified a total of 21 bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio, Staphylococcus, Shewanella, Alteromonadaceae, Bacillus, Cobetia, and Photobacterium, with Vibrio being the most abundant (42.86%). The extract of Shewanella sp. ASP 26 bacterial strain induced the highest antimicrobial activity, namely against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with an IC50 of 151.1 and 346.8 μg/mL, respectively. These bacteria (Shewanella sp.) were also the ones with highest antitumor potential, demonstrating antiproliferative activity on HepG-2 cells. Asparagopsis armata-associated bacteria revealed to be a potential source of compounds with antitumor and antibacterial activity.}, } @article {pmid31033101, year = {2019}, author = {Taerum, SJ and Jasso-Selles, DE and Wilson, M and Ware, JL and Sillam-Dussès, D and Šobotník, J and Gile, GH}, title = {Molecular Identity of Holomastigotes (Spirotrichonymphea, Parabasalia) with Descriptions of Holomastigotes flavipes n. sp. and Holomastigotes tibialis n. sp.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {6}, pages = {882-891}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12739}, pmid = {31033101}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Digestive System/parasitology ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Parabasalidea/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Holomastigotes is a protist genus (Parabasalia: Spirotrichonymphea) that resides in the hindguts of "lower" termites. It can be distinguished from other parabasalids by spiral flagellar bands that run along the entire length of the cell, an anterior nucleus, a reduced or absent axostyle, the presence of spherical vesicles inside the cells, and the absence of ingested wood particles. Eight species have been described based on their morphology so far, although no molecular data were available prior to this study. We determined the 18S rRNA gene sequences of Holomastigotes from the hindguts of Hodotermopsis sjostedti, Reticulitermes flavipes, Reticulitermes lucifugus, and Reticulitermes tibialis. Phylogenetic analyses placed all sequences in an exclusive and well-supported clade with the type species, Holomastigotes elongatum from R. lucifugus. However, the phylogenetic position of Holomastigotes within the Spirotrichonymphea was not resolved. We describe two new species, Holomastigotes flavipes n. sp. and Holomastigotes tibialis n. sp., inhabiting the hindguts of R. flavipes and R. tibialis, respectively.}, } @article {pmid31031793, year = {2019}, author = {Evelin, H and Devi, TS and Gupta, S and Kapoor, R}, title = {Mitigation of Salinity Stress in Plants by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Current Understanding and New Challenges.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {470}, pmid = {31031793}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Modern agriculture is facing twin challenge of ensuring global food security and executing it in a sustainable manner. However, the rapidly expanding salinity stress in cultivable areas poses a major peril to crop yield. Among various biotechnological techniques being used to reduce the negative effects of salinity, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is considered to be an efficient approach for bio-amelioration of salinity stress. AMF deploy an array of biochemical and physiological mechanisms that act in a concerted manner to provide more salinity tolerance to the host plant. Some of the well-known mechanisms include improved nutrient uptake and maintenance of ionic homeostasis, superior water use efficiency and osmoprotection, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, preservation of cell ultrastructure, and reinforced antioxidant metabolism. Molecular studies in past one decade have further elucidated the processes involved in amelioration of salt stress in mycorrhizal plants. The participating AMF induce expression of genes involved in Na[+] extrusion to the soil solution, K[+] acquisition (by phloem loading and unloading) and release into the xylem, therefore maintaining favorable Na[+]:K[+] ratio. Colonization by AMF differentially affects expression of plasma membrane and tonoplast aquaporins (PIPs and TIPs), which consequently improves water status of the plant. Formation of AM (arbuscular mycorrhiza) surges the capacity of plant to mend photosystem-II (PSII) and boosts quantum efficiency of PSII under salt stress conditions by mounting the transcript levels of chloroplast genes encoding antenna proteins involved in transfer of excitation energy. Furthermore, AM-induced interplay of phytohormones, including strigolactones, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid have also been associated with the salt tolerance mechanism. This review comprehensively covers major research advances on physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms implicated in AM-induced salt stress tolerance in plants. The review identifies the challenges involved in the application of AM in alleviation of salt stress in plants in order to improve crop productivity.}, } @article {pmid31031789, year = {2019}, author = {Hajheidari, M and Koncz, C and Bucher, M}, title = {Chromatin Evolution-Key Innovations Underpinning Morphological Complexity.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {454}, pmid = {31031789}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The history of life consists of a series of major evolutionary transitions, including emergence and radiation of complex multicellular eukaryotes from unicellular ancestors. The cells of multicellular organisms, with few exceptions, contain the same genome, however, their organs are composed of a variety of cell types that differ in both structure and function. This variation is largely due to the transcriptional activity of different sets of genes in different cell types. This indicates that complex transcriptional regulation played a key role in the evolution of complexity in eukaryotes. In this review, we summarize how gene duplication and subsequent evolutionary innovations, including the structural evolution of nucleosomes and chromatin-related factors, contributed to the complexity of the transcriptional system and provided a basis for morphological diversity.}, } @article {pmid31031734, year = {2019}, author = {Sollai, M and Villanueva, L and Hopmans, EC and Keil, RG and Sinninghe Damsté, JS}, title = {Archaeal Sources of Intact Membrane Lipid Biomarkers in the Oxygen Deficient Zone of the Eastern Tropical South Pacific.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {765}, pmid = {31031734}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Archaea are ubiquitous in the modern ocean where they are involved in the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. However, the majority of Archaea remain uncultured. Archaeal specific membrane intact polar lipids (IPLs) are biomarkers of the presence and abundance of living cells. They comprise archaeol and glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) attached to various polar headgroups. However, little is known of the IPLs of uncultured marine Archaea, complicating their use as biomarkers. Here, we analyzed suspended particulate matter (SPM) obtained in high depth resolution from a coastal and open ocean site in the eastern tropical South Pacific (ETSP) oxygen deficient zone (ODZ) with the aim of determining possible biological sources of archaeal IPL by comparing their composition by Ultra High Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry with the archaeal diversity by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and their abundance by quantitative PCR. Thaumarchaeotal Marine Group I (MGI) closely related to Ca. Nitrosopelagicus and Nitrosopumilus dominated the oxic surface and upper ODZ water together with Marine Euryarchaeota Group II (MGII). High relative abundance of hexose phosphohexose- (HPH) crenarchaeol, the specific biomarker for living Thaumarchaeota, and HPH-GDGT-0, dihexose- (DH) GDGT-3 and -4 were detected in these water masses. Within the ODZ, DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaea) of the Woesearchaeota DHVE-6 group and Marine Euryarchaeota Group III (MGIII) were present together with a higher proportion of archaeol-based IPLs, which were likely made by MGIII, since DPANN archaea are supposedly unable to synthesize their own IPLs and possibly have a symbiotic or parasitic partnership with MGIII. Finally, in deep suboxic/oxic waters a different MGI population occurred with HPH-GDGT-1, -2 and DH-GDGT-0 and -crenarchaeol, indicating that here MGI synthesize membranes with IPLs in a different relative abundance which could be attributed to the different detected population or to an environmental adaptation. Our study sheds light on the complex archaeal community of one of the most prominent ODZs and on the IPL biomarkers they potentially synthesize.}, } @article {pmid31031015, year = {2019}, author = {Tounsi-Hammami, S and Le Roux, C and Dhane-Fitouri, S and De Lajudie, P and Duponnois, R and Ben Jeddi, F}, title = {Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with root nodules of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) in Tunisian calcareous soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {448-456}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.04.002}, pmid = {31031015}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Genetic Variation ; Lupinus/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {With a view to introducing white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) for cultivation in Tunisian calcareous soils, compatible indigenous rhizobia for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis were investigated and characterized. Two L. albus varieties, Mekna and Lumen, were used to trap rhizobia in soil samples collected from 56 sites with high active lime contents (0-49%). Nodulation occurred in only 15 soils. The local variety, Mekna, developed significantly more root nodules and had a trapping capacity in more soils than the imported variety Lumen. A phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 16S-23S ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) of three chromosomal housekeeping genes, recA, atpD and dnaK, showed that strains were affiliated to Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, and Neorhizobium, with large internal diversity, including separate lineages. Infectivity tests highlighted some nodulation specificity at the plant variety level, since the strains originating from Mekna could only nodulate this variety, while strains trapped in Lumen could nodulate both varieties. When inoculated, almost all strains resulted in a significant increase in plant shoot dry weight on L. albus. Although Agrobacterium sp. strains isolated from L. albus could nodulate and had a plant growth promoting effect, no nodA and nodC genes could be amplified. This is discussed together with the absence of bradyrhizobia and the general infrequency of L. albus-nodulating rhizobia in Tunisian soils. The adapted and efficient rhizobial strains reported here were promising candidates for inoculant development and represent a contribution towards successful cultivation of L. albus in Tunisia, especially the most promising Mekna variety.}, } @article {pmid31030919, year = {2019}, author = {Sun, HZ and Plastow, G and Guan, LL}, title = {Invited review: Advances and challenges in application of feedomics to improve dairy cow production and health.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {102}, number = {7}, pages = {5853-5870}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2018-16126}, pmid = {31030919}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animals ; *Cattle ; Dairying/*methods ; *Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Lactation ; Milk/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Dairy cattle science has evolved greatly over the past century, contributing significantly to the improvement in milk production achieved today. However, a new approach is needed to meet the increasing demand for milk production and address the increased concerns about animal health and welfare. It is now easy to collect and access large and complex data sets consisting of molecular, physiological, and metabolic data as well as animal-level data (such as behavior). This provides new opportunities to better understand the mechanisms regulating cow performance. The recently proposed concept of feedomics could help achieve this goal by increasing our understanding of interactions between the different components or levels and their impact on animal production. Feedomics is an emerging field that integrates a range of omics technologies (e.g., genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics) to provide these insights. In this way, we can identify the best strategies to improve overall animal productivity, product quality, welfare, and health. This approach can help research communities elucidate the complex interactions among nutrition, environment, management, animal genetics, metabolism, physiology, and the symbiotic microbiota. In this review, we summarize the outcomes of the most recent research on omics in dairy cows and highlight how an integrated feedomics approach could be applied in the future to improve dairy cow production and health. Specifically, we focus on 2 topics: (1) improving milk yield and milk quality, and (2) understanding metabolic physiology in transition dairy cows, which are 2 important challenges faced by the dairy industry worldwide.}, } @article {pmid31030399, year = {2019}, author = {Arora, N and Patel, A and Mehtani, J and Pruthi, PA and Pruthi, V and Poluri, KM}, title = {Co-culturing of oleaginous microalgae and yeast: paradigm shift towards enhanced lipid productivity.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {17}, pages = {16952-16973}, pmid = {31030399}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biofuels/*analysis ; Biomass ; Coculture Techniques ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Microalgae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Oleaginous microalgae and yeast are the two major propitious factories which are sustainable sources for biodiesel production, as they can accumulate high quantities of lipids inside their bodies. To date, various microalgal and yeast species have been exploited singly for biodiesel production. However, despite the ongoing efforts, their low lipid productivity and the high cost of cultivation are still the major bottlenecks hindering their large-scale deployment. Co-culturing of microalgae and yeast has the potential to increase the overall lipid productivity by minimizing its production cost as both these organisms can utilize each other's by-products. Microalgae act as an O2 generator for yeast while consuming the CO2 and organic acids released by the yeast cells. Further, yeast can break complex sugars in the medium, which can then be utilized by microalgae thereby opening new options for copious and low-cost feedstocks such as agricultural residues. The current review provides a historical and technical overview of the existing studies on co-culturing of yeast and microalgae and elucidates the crucial factors that affect the symbiotic relationship between these two organisms. Furthermore, the review also highlighted the advantages and the future perspectives for paving a path towards a sustainable biodiesel product.}, } @article {pmid31030239, year = {2019}, author = {Omae, K and Fukuyama, Y and Yasuda, H and Mise, K and Yoshida, T and Sako, Y}, title = {Diversity and distribution of thermophilic hydrogenogenic carboxydotrophs revealed by microbial community analysis in sediments from multiple hydrothermal environments in Japan.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {7}, pages = {969-982}, pmid = {31030239}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Carbon Monoxide/metabolism ; Firmicutes/physiology ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Hot Springs/*microbiology ; Hydrogenase/*genetics/metabolism ; Japan ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism ; Multigene Family/genetics ; }, abstract = {In hydrothermal environments, carbon monoxide (CO) utilisation by thermophilic hydrogenogenic carboxydotrophs may play an important role in microbial ecology by reducing toxic levels of CO and providing H2 for fuelling microbial communities. We evaluated thermophilic hydrogenogenic carboxydotrophs by microbial community analysis. First, we analysed the correlation between carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH)-energy-converting hydrogenase (ECH) gene cluster and taxonomic affiliation by surveying an increasing genomic database. We identified 71 genome-encoded CODH-ECH gene clusters, including 46 whose owners were not reported as hydrogenogenic carboxydotrophs. We identified 13 phylotypes showing > 98.7% identity with these taxa as potential hydrogenogenic carboxydotrophs in hot springs. Of these, Firmicutes phylotypes such as Parageobacillus, Carboxydocella, Caldanaerobacter, and Carboxydothermus were found in different environmental conditions and distinct microbial communities. The relative abundance of the potential thermophilic hydrogenogenic carboxydotrophs was low. Most of them did not show any symbiotic networks with other microbes, implying that their metabolic activities might be low.}, } @article {pmid31029964, year = {2019}, author = {Ryszka, P and Lichtscheidl, I and Tylko, G and Turnau, K}, title = {Symbiotic microbes of Saxifraga stellaris ssp. alpigena from the copper creek of Schwarzwand (Austrian Alps) enhance plant tolerance to copper.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {228}, number = {}, pages = {183-194}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.084}, pmid = {31029964}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Austria ; Bacteria ; Copper/*toxicity ; *Drug Tolerance ; Ecology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Saxifragaceae/*microbiology ; Soil Pollutants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Saxifraga stellaris var. alpigena grows as one of the very few higher plants in the copper rich area of the "blue creek" in Austria. Two endophytes were isolated from it: Mortierella sp. (fungus), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (bacterium). Both microbes were practically inseparable due to resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotics tested. On PDA media, the fungus showed higher tolerance to copper than the bacterium, which disappeared from both the media and the surface of the fungus in the presence of 150 μM of Cu. However, at this Cu concentration, the bacteria were still detectable inside the mycelium and reappeared on the outside when transferred to media of lower Cu concentration. Microscopic studies of in vitro cultivated plants showed that the fungus was present in both, the roots and shoots of the plant. The effects of endophytes on plant performance were assessed in rhizoboxes filled with Cu-rich substratum; plants inoculated with both microbes showed better growth, survival and photosynthesis performance than the non-inoculated controls. The results of this study prove the beneficial influence of the isolated endophytes on the Cu tolerance of S. stellaris, and indicate the ecological potential of applying microbial consortia to plants under extreme environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid31029716, year = {2019}, author = {Buyuktimkin, B and Zafar, H and Saier, MH}, title = {Comparative genomics of the transportome of Ten Treponema species.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {87-99}, pmid = {31029716}, issn = {1096-1208}, support = {R01 GM077402/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Carrier Proteins/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome Size ; Genomics/*methods ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune Evasion ; Porins/genetics/immunology ; Proteome ; Species Specificity ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Syphilis/microbiology ; Treponema/*classification/*genetics/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Treponema pallidum/genetics ; }, abstract = {Treponema is a diverse bacterial genus, the species of which can be pathogenic, symbiotic, or free living. These treponemes can cause various diseases in humans and other animals, such as periodontal disease, bovine digital dermatitis and animal skin lesions. However, the most important and well-studied disease of treponemes that affects humans is 'syphilis'. This disease is caused by Treponema pallidum subspecie pallidum with 11-12 million new cases around the globe on an annual basis. In this study we analyze the transportome of ten Treponema species, with emphasis on the types of encoded transport proteins and their substrates. Of the ten species examined, two (T. primitia and T. azonutricium) reside as symbionts in the guts of termites; six (T. pallidum, T. paraluiscuniculi, T. pedis, T. denticola, T. putidum and T. brennaborense) are pathogens of either humans or animals, and T. caldarium and T. succinifaciens are avirulent species, the former being thermophilic. All ten species have a repertoire of transport proteins that assists them in residing in their respective ecological niches. For instance, oral pathogens use transport proteins that take up nutrients uniquely present in their ecosystem; they also encode multiple multidrug/macromolecule exporters that protect against antimicrobials and aid in biofilm formation. Proteins of termite gut symbionts convert cellulose into other sugars that can be metabolized by the host. As often observed for pathogens and symbionts, several of these treponemes have reduced genome sizes, and their small genomes correlate with their dependencies on the host. Overall, the transportomes of T. pallidum and other pathogens have a conglomerate of parasitic lifestyle-assisting proteins. For example, a T. pallidum repeat protein (TprK) mediates immune evasion; outer membrane proteins (OMPs) allow nutrient uptake and end product export, and several ABC transporters catalyze sugar uptake, considered pivotal to parasitic lifestyles. Taken together, the results of this study yield new information that may help open new avenues of treponeme research.}, } @article {pmid31028027, year = {2019}, author = {Onchuru, TO and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Established Cotton Stainer Gut Bacterial Mutualists Evade Regulation by Host Antimicrobial Peptides.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {31028027}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gene Silencing ; Heteroptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Nymph/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbioses with microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and confer important ecological traits to animal hosts but also require control mechanisms to ensure homeostasis of the symbiotic interactions. In addition to protecting hosts against pathogens, animal immune systems recognize, respond to, and regulate mutualists. The gut bacterial symbionts of the cotton stainer bug, Dysdercus fasciatus, elicit an immune response characterized by the upregulation of c-type lysozyme and the antimicrobial peptide pyrrhocoricin in bugs with their native gut microbiota compared to that in dysbiotic insects. In this study, we investigated the impact of the elicited antimicrobial immune response on the established cotton stainer gut bacterial symbiont populations. To this end, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down immunity-related genes hypothesized to regulate the symbionts, and we subsequently measured the effect of this silencing on host fitness and on the abundance of the major gut bacterial symbionts. Despite successful downregulation of target genes by both ingestion and injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the silencing of immunity-related genes had no effect on either host fitness or the qualitative and quantitative composition of established gut bacterial symbionts, indicating that the host immune responses are not actively involved in the regulation of the nutritional and defensive gut bacterial mutualists. These results suggest that close associations of bacterial symbionts with their hosts can result in the evolution of mechanisms ensuring that symbionts remain insensitive to host immunological responses, which may be important for the evolutionary stability of animal-microbe symbiotic associations.IMPORTANCE Animal immune systems are central for the protection of hosts against enemies by preventing or eliminating successful infections. However, in the presence of beneficial bacterial mutualists, the immune system must strike a balance of not killing the beneficial symbionts while at the same time preventing enemy attacks. Here, using the cotton stainer bug, we reveal that its long-term associated bacterial symbionts are insensitive to the host's immune effectors, suggesting adaptation to the host's defenses, thereby strengthening the stability of the symbiotic relationship. The ability of the symbionts to elicit host immune responses but remain insensitive themselves may be a mechanism by which the symbionts prime hosts to fight future pathogenic infections.}, } @article {pmid31027924, year = {2019}, author = {Alami, S and Lamin, H and Bouhnik, O and El Faik, S and Filali-Maltouf, A and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and Missbah El Idrissi, M}, title = {Astragalus algarbiensis is nodulated by the genistearum symbiovar of Bradyrhizobium spp. in Morocco.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {440-447}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.03.004}, pmid = {31027924}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics ; Cytisus/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Morocco ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Astragalus algarbiensis is a wild herbaceous legume growing in Maamora, the most important cork oak forest in northern Africa. It is a plant of great importance as fodder in silvopastoral systems, and in the restoration of poor and degraded soils. The purpose of this study was to describe the biodiversity of rhizobia nodulating this plant and determine their identity. Out of 80 bacterial isolates, 56 strains isolated from root nodules of A. algarbiensis were characterized. ERIC-PCR fingerprinting grouped the strains in two main clusters containing 29 and 27 isolates, respectively, and the amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) generated two different ribotypes. Based on both the ERIC-PCR and ARDRA results, representative strains As21 and As36 were selected for further genetic studies. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences of As21 and As36 showed that they were closely related to Bradyrhizobium cytisi CTAW11[T] with similarity values of 99.84% and 99.77%, respectively. Concatenation of atpD, recA, gyrB and dnaK housekeeping gene sequences indicated that strains As21 and As36 had a 95.22% similarity but they showed values of 95.80% and 94.97% with B. cytisi CTAW11[T], respectively. The sequencing of the symbiotic nodC gene of the two strains revealed 97.20% and 97.76% identities, respectively, with that of B. cytisi CTAW11[T] isolated from Cytisus villosus growing in the Moroccan Rif Mountains. Furthermore, the phylogenic analysis showed that the strains isolated from A. algarbiensis clustered with B. cytisi and B. rifense within the bradyrhizobia genistearum symbiovar and may constitute two novel genospecies.}, } @article {pmid31027729, year = {2019}, author = {Duchatelet, L and Delroisse, J and Flammang, P and Mahillon, J and Mallefet, J}, title = {Etmopterus spinax, the velvet belly lanternshark, does not use bacterial luminescence.}, journal = {Acta histochemica}, volume = {121}, number = {4}, pages = {516-521}, doi = {10.1016/j.acthis.2019.04.010}, pmid = {31027729}, issn = {1618-0372}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Luminescence ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Sharks/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Marine organisms are able to produce light using either their own luminous system, called intrinsic bioluminescence, or symbiotic luminous bacteria, called extrinsic bioluminescence. Among bioluminescent vertebrates, Osteichthyes are known to harbor both types of bioluminescence, while no study has so far addressed the potential use of intrinsic/extrinsic luminescence in elasmobranchs. In sharks, two families are known to emit light: Etmopteridae and Dalatiidae. The deep-sea bioluminescent Etmopteridae, Etmopterus spinax, has received a particular interest over the past fifteen years and its bioluminescence control was investigated in depth. However, the nature of the shark luminous system still remains enigmatic. The present work was undertaken to assess whether the light of this shark species originates from a bioluminescent bacterial symbiosis. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image analyses, this study supports the conclusion that the bioluminescence in the deep-sea lanternshark, Etmopterus spinax, is not of bacterial origin.}, } @article {pmid31025899, year = {2019}, author = {Smigielski, L and Laubach, EM and Pesch, L and Glock, JML and Albrecht, F and Slusarenko, A and Panstruga, R and Kuhn, H}, title = {Nodulation Induces Systemic Resistance of Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum Against Erysiphe pisi and Primes for Powdery Mildew-Triggered Salicylic Acid Accumulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {9}, pages = {1243-1255}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-18-0304-R}, pmid = {31025899}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Ascomycota/physiology ; *Disease Resistance/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Peas/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants encounter beneficial and detrimental microorganisms both above- and belowground and the health status of the plant depends on the composition of this pan-microbiome. Beneficial microorganisms contribute to plant nutrition or systemically or locally protect plants against pathogens, thus facilitating adaptation to a variety of environments. Induced systemic resistance, caused by root-associated microbes, manifests as aboveground resistance against necrotrophic pathogens and is mediated by jasmonic acid/ethylene-dependent signaling. By contrast, systemic acquired resistance relies on salicylic acid (SA) signaling and confers resistance against secondary infection by (hemi)biotrophic pathogens. To investigate whether symbiotic rhizobia that are ubiquitously found in natural ecosystems are able to modulate resistance against biotrophs, we tested the impact of preestablished nodulation of Medicago truncatula and pea (Pisum sativum) plants against infection by the powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe pisi. We found that root symbiosis interfered with fungal penetration of M. truncatula and reduced asexual spore formation on pea leaves independently of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Improved resistance of nodulated plants correlated with elevated levels of free SA and SA-dependent marker gene expression upon powdery mildew infection. Our results suggest that nodulation primes the plants systemically for E. pisi-triggered SA accumulation and defense gene expression, resulting in increased resistance.}, } @article {pmid31025880, year = {2019}, author = {Togo, A and Dufour, JC and Lagier, JC and Dubourg, G and Raoult, D and Million, M}, title = {Repertoire of human breast and milk microbiota: a systematic review.}, journal = {Future microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {623-641}, doi = {10.2217/fmb-2018-0317}, pmid = {31025880}, issn = {1746-0921}, mesh = {Abscess/microbiology ; Archaea/classification/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Breast/*microbiology ; Breast Feeding ; Colostrum/microbiology ; Databases, Factual ; Dysbiosis ; Female ; Humans ; Mastitis/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Milk, Human/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Breastfeeding is a major determinant of human health. Breast milk is not sterile and ecological large-scale sequencing methods have revealed an unsuspected microbial diversity that plays an important role. However, microbiological analysis at the species level has been neglected while it is a prerequisite before understanding which microbe is associated with symbiosis or dysbiosis, and health or disease. We review the currently known bacterial repertoire from the human breast and milk microbiota using a semiautomated strategy. Total 242 articles from 38 countries, 11,124 women and 15,489 samples were included. Total 820 species were identified mainly composed of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. We report variations according to the analytical method (culture or molecular method), the anatomical site (breast, colostrum or milk) and the infectious status (healthy control, mastitis, breast abscess, neonatal infection). In addition, we compared it with the other human repertoires. Finally, we discuss its putative origin and role in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid31024611, year = {2019}, author = {Janwa, H and Massey, SE and Velev, J and Mishra, B}, title = {On the Origin of Biomolecular Networks.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {240}, pmid = {31024611}, issn = {1664-8021}, support = {U54 CA193313/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Biomolecular networks have already found great utility in characterizing complex biological systems arising from pairwise interactions amongst biomolecules. Here, we explore the important and hitherto neglected role of information asymmetry in the genesis and evolution of such pairwise biomolecular interactions. Information asymmetry between sender and receiver genes is identified as a key feature distinguishing early biochemical reactions from abiotic chemistry, and a driver of network topology as biomolecular systems become more complex. In this context, we review how graph theoretical approaches can be applied not only for a better understanding of various proximate (mechanistic) relations, but also, ultimate (evolutionary) structures encoded in such networks from among all types of variations they induce. Among many possible variations, we emphasize particularly the essential role of gene duplication in terms of signaling game theory, whereby sender and receiver gene players accrue benefit from gene duplication, leading to a preferential attachment mode of network growth. The study of the resulting dynamics suggests many mathematical/computational problems, the majority of which are intractable yet yield to efficient approximation algorithms, when studied through an algebraic graph theoretic lens. We relegate for future work the role of other possible generalizations, additionally involving horizontal gene transfer, sexual recombination, endo-symbiosis, etc., which enrich the underlying graph theory even further.}, } @article {pmid31024597, year = {2019}, author = {Dolgikh, AV and Kirienko, AN and Tikhonovich, IA and Foo, E and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {The DELLA Proteins Influence the Expression of Cytokinin Biosynthesis and Response Genes During Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {432}, pmid = {31024597}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The key event that initiates nodule organogenesis is the perception of bacterial signal molecules, the Nod factors, triggering a complex of responses in epidermal and cortical cells of the root. The Nod factor signaling pathway interacts with plant hormones, including cytokinins and gibberellins. Activation of cytokinin signaling through the homeodomain-containing transcription factors KNOX is essential for nodule formation. The main regulators of gibberellin signaling, the DELLA proteins are also involved in regulation of nodule formation. However, the interaction between the cytokinin and gibberellin signaling pathways is not fully understood. Here, we show in Pisum sativum L. that the DELLA proteins can activate the expression of KNOX and BELL transcription factors involved in regulation of cytokinin metabolic and response genes. Consistently, pea la cry-s (della1 della2) mutant showed reduced ability to upregulate expression of some cytokinin metabolic genes during nodulation. Our results suggest that DELLA proteins may regulate cytokinin metabolism upon nodulation.}, } @article {pmid31024537, year = {2019}, author = {Pantazi, E and Powell, N}, title = {Group 3 ILCs: Peacekeepers or Troublemakers? What's Your Gut Telling You?!.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {676}, pmid = {31024537}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; }, abstract = {A complex network of interactions exists between the microbiome, the epithelium, and immune cells that reside along the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. The intestinal immune system has been assigned with the difficult task of discriminating between commensal, harmless bacteria, and invading pathogens that translocate across the epithelial monolayer. Importantly, it is trained to maintain tolerance against commensals, and initiate protective immune responses against pathogens to secure intestinal homeostasis. Breakdown of this fine balance between the host and its intestinal microbiota can lead to intestinal inflammation and subsequently to development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A decade since their discovery, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are now recognized as important regulators of intestinal homeostasis. ILC3s have emerged as a critical subset in the gut. They are the most phenotypically diverse ILC population and interact directly with numerous different cell types (haematopoietic and non-haematopoeitic), as well as interface with the bacterial flora. In addition to their contribution to intestinal pathogen immunity, they also mitigate against tissue damage occurring following acute injury, by facilitating tissue repair and regeneration, a key function in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. However, in chronic inflammation the tables are turned and ILC3s may acquire a pro-inflammatory phenotype in the gut. Chronic ILC activation can lead to persistent inflammation contributing to IBD and/or colorectal cancer. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of group 3 ILCs and their contributions to intestinal homeostasis and disease leading to novel therapeutic targets and clinical approaches that may inform novel treatment strategies for immune-mediated disorders, including IBD.}, } @article {pmid31022406, year = {2019}, author = {Eckstein, S and Heermann, R}, title = {Regulation of Phenotypic Switching and Heterogeneity in Photorhabdus luminescens Cell Populations.}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology}, volume = {431}, number = {23}, pages = {4559-4568}, doi = {10.1016/j.jmb.2019.04.015}, pmid = {31022406}, issn = {1089-8638}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Biological Variation, Population ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/*physiology ; Pigmentation/genetics ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial cell populations allows genetically identical organisms to different behavior under similar environmental conditions. The Gram-negative bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens is an excellent organism to study phenotypic heterogeneity since their life cycle involves a symbiotic interaction with soil nematodes as well as a pathogenic association with insect larvae. Phenotypic heterogeneity is highly distinct in P. luminescens. The bacteria exist in two phenotypic forms that differ in various morphologic and phenotypic traits and are therefore distinguished as primary (1°) and secondary (2°) cells. The 1 cells are bioluminescent, pigmented, produce several secondary metabolites and exo-enzymes, and support nematode growth and development. The 2° cells lack all these 1°-specific phenotypes. The entomopathogenic nematodes carry 1° cells in their upper gut and release them into an insect's body after slipping inside. During insect infection, up to the half number of 1° cells undergo phenotypic switching and convert to 2° cells. Since the 2° cells are not able to live in nematode symbiosis any more, they cannot re-associate with their symbiosis partners after the infection and remain in the soil. Phenotypic switching in P. luminescens has to be tightly regulated since a high switching frequency would lead to a complete break-down of the nematode-bacteria life cycle. Here, we present the main regulatory mechanisms known to-date that are important for phenotypic switching in P. luminescens cell populations and discuss the biological reason as well as the fate of the 2° cells in the soil.}, } @article {pmid31021099, year = {2019}, author = {Bhattacharya, A and Paul, A and Chakrabarti, D and DasGupta, M}, title = {Gatekeeper-Activation Loop Cross-Talk Determines Distinct Autoactivation States of Symbiosis Receptor Kinase.}, journal = {Biochemistry}, volume = {58}, number = {19}, pages = {2419-2431}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00071}, pmid = {31021099}, issn = {1520-4995}, mesh = {Arachis/*metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Molecular ; Mutant Proteins/genetics ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tyrosine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) have a Tyr in the "gatekeeper" position adjacent to the hinge region. The gatekeeper is phosphorylated in several RLKs, including symbiosis receptor kinase (SYMRK), but the significance of this remains unknown. Gatekeeper substitution did not inactivate Arachis hypogaea SYMRK but affected autophosphorylation at selected sites. Herein, we show that nonphosphorylatable gatekeepers (Y670F and Y670A) restrict SYMRK to be a Ser/Thr kinase with a basal level of phosphorylation (∼5 P/polypeptide, termed state I) whereas phosphorylatable gatekeepers (Y670 and Y670T) allowed SYMRK to be dual specific (Ser/Thr/Tyr) with a maximal level of phosphorylation (∼10 P/polypeptide, termed state II). State II SYMRKs were phosphorylated on gatekeeper residues, and the phosphocode in their activation segment was distinct from state I. The kcat/ Km for substrate phosphorylation was ∼10-fold higher for state II, though for autophosphorylation, it was comparable with those of state I SYMRKs. To identify other determinants of state I features, we mutagenized all nine sites where phosphorylation was affected by nonphosphorylatable gatekeepers (Y670F and Y670A). Only two such mutants, S754A and S757A, located on the activation loop failed to phosphorylate gatekeeper Tyr and restricted SYMRK in state I. Double mutants like Y670F/S754A retained the features of state I, but Y670F/S757A was significantly inactivated, indicating a nonphosphorylatable gatekeeper can bypass phosphorylation of S754 but not S757 in the activation segment. We propose a working model for the hierarchical phosphorylation of SYMRK on gatekeeper and activation segments for its pS757-mediated activation as a Ser/Thr kinase in selfie mode (autophosphorylation) to a pS754/pY670-mediated activation as a Ser/Thr/Tyr kinase that functions in dual mode (both autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation).}, } @article {pmid31020397, year = {2019}, author = {Tsyganova, AV and Seliverstova, EV and Brewin, NJ and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Bacterial release is accompanied by ectopic accumulation of cell wall material around the vacuole in nodules of Pisum sativum sym33-3 allele encoding transcription factor PsCYCLOPS/PsIPD3.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {256}, number = {5}, pages = {1449-1453}, pmid = {31020397}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Alleles ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Peas/*chemistry ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Transcription Factor 3/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pisum sativum symbiotic mutant SGEFix[-]-2 carries the sym33-3 allele of the gene Sym33, encoding transcription factor PsCYCLOPS/PsIPD3. Previously, strong host cell defence reactions were identified in nodules of this mutant. In the present study, new manifestations of defence reactions were revealed in 28-day-old white nodules in which bacterial release had occurred. These nodules were investigated using histochemical staining of pectin and suberin and by immunogold localisation of three components of pectin: highly methyl-esterified homogalacturonan (HG) recognised by monoclonal antibody JIM7, low methyl-esterified HG recognised by JIM5 and linear (1-4)-β-D-galactan side-chain of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG I) recognised by LM5. In the mutant, but not in the wild-type, cell wall material was deposited around the vacuole in the uninfected cells, in cells containing infection threads and in the infected cells. The deposits around the vacuole were marked with JIM7 and LM5 antibodies but not with JIM5, suggesting that they contain newly formed cell wall material. Deposition was accompanied by suberin accumulation. This is the first report that deposition of cell wall material around the vacuole may be associated with the defence reaction in ineffective nodules. In addition, hypertrophic infection droplets labelled with JIM7 were identified. In the matrix of some infection threads, RG I recognised a pectic gel component. Callose deposits in the cell walls and in the walls of infection threads were occasionally observed. The observations suggest that an important function of transcriptional factor CYCLOPS/IPD3 is the suppression of defence reactions during establishment of the legume-rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31019270, year = {2019}, author = {Khojandi, N and Haselkorn, TS and Eschbach, MN and Naser, RA and DiSalvo, S}, title = {Intracellular Burkholderia Symbionts induce extracellular secondary infections; driving diverse host outcomes that vary by genotype and environment.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {2068-2081}, pmid = {31019270}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Amoeba/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Burkholderia/genetics/*physiology ; Dictyostelium/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; *Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations impact and are impacted by their surrounding ecosystem. The association between Burkholderia bacteria and the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a tractable model to unravel the biology underlying symbiont-endowed phenotypes and their impacts. Several Burkholderia species stably associate with D. discoideum and typically reduce host fitness in food-rich environments while increasing fitness in food-scarce environments. Burkholderia symbionts are themselves inedible to their hosts but induce co-infections with secondary bacteria that can serve as a food source. Thus, Burkholderia hosts are "farmers" that carry food bacteria to new environments, providing a benefit when food is scarce. We examined the ability of specific Burkholderia genotypes to induce secondary co-infections and assessed host fitness under a range of co-infection conditions and environmental contexts. Although all Burkholderia symbionts intracellularly infected Dictyostelium, we found that co-infections are predominantly extracellular, suggesting that farming benefits are derived from extracellular infection of host structures. Furthermore, levels of secondary infection are linked to conditional host fitness; B. agricolaris infected hosts have the highest level of co-infection and have the highest fitness in food-scarce environments. This study illuminates the phenomenon of co-infection induction across Dictyostelium associated Burkholderia species and exemplifies the contextual complexity of these associations.}, } @article {pmid31018578, year = {2019}, author = {Mamontova, T and Afonin, AM and Ihling, C and Soboleva, A and Lukasheva, E and Sulima, AS and Shtark, OY and Akhtemova, GA and Povydysh, MN and Sinz, A and Frolov, A and Zhukov, VA and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Profiling of Seed Proteome in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Lines Characterized with High and Low Responsivity to Combined Inoculation with Nodule Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31018578}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development ; Biomass ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fungi/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Genotype ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Peas/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Proteome/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Proteomics/methods ; Seeds/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Legume crops represent the major source of food protein and contribute to human nutrition and animal feeding. An essential improvement of their productivity can be achieved by symbiosis with beneficial soil microorganisms-rhizobia (Rh) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The efficiency of these interactions depends on plant genotype. Recently, we have shown that, after simultaneous inoculation with Rh and AM, the productivity gain of pea (Pisum sativum L) line K-8274, characterized by high efficiency of interaction with soil microorganisms (EIBSM), was higher in comparison to a low-EIBSM line K-3358. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this effect are still uncharacterized. Therefore, here, we address the alterations in pea seed proteome, underlying the symbiosis-related productivity gain, and identify 111 differentially expressed proteins in the two lines. The high-EIBSM line K-8274 responded to inoculation by prolongation of seed maturation, manifested by up-regulation of proteins involved in cellular respiration, protein biosynthesis, and down-regulation of late-embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. In contrast, the low-EIBSM line K-3358 demonstrated lower levels of the proteins, related to cell metabolism. Thus, we propose that the EIBSM trait is linked to prolongation of seed filling that needs to be taken into account in pulse crop breeding programs. The raw data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD013479.}, } @article {pmid31018159, year = {2019}, author = {Béthencourt, L and Boubakri, H and Taib, N and Normand, P and Armengaud, J and Fournier, P and Brochier-Armanet, C and Herrera-Belaroussi, A}, title = {Comparative genomics and proteogenomics highlight key molecular players involved in Frankia sporulation.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {170}, number = {4-5}, pages = {202-213}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2019.04.002}, pmid = {31018159}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Frankia/*genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/genetics ; Proteogenomics ; Proteome/genetics/metabolism ; Spores, Bacterial/*genetics/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sporulation is a microbial adaptive strategy to resist inhospitable conditions for vegetative growth and to disperse to colonise more favourable environments. This microbial trait is widespread in Actinobacteria. Among them, Frankia strains are able to differentiate sporangia in pure culture, while others can sporulate even when in symbiosis with sporulation occurring within host cells. The molecular determinants controlling Frankia sporulation have not been yet described. In order to highlight, for the first time, the molecular players potentially involved in Frankia sporulation, we conducted (i) a comparison of protein contents between Frankia spores and hyphae and (ii) a comparative genomic analysis of Frankia proteomes with sporulating and non-sporulating Actinobacteria. Among the main results, glycogen-metabolism related proteins, as well as oxidative stress response and protease-like proteins were overdetected in hyphae, recalling lytic processes that allow Streptomyces cells to erect sporogenic hyphae. Several genes encoding transcriptional regulators, including GntR-like, appeared up-regulated in spores, as well as tyrosinase, suggesting their potential role in mature spore metabolism. Finally, our results highlighted new proteins potentially involved in Frankia sporulation, including a pyrophosphate-energized proton pump and YaaT, described as involved in the phosphorelay allowing sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, leading us to discuss the role of a phosphorelay in Frankia sporulation.}, } @article {pmid31016002, year = {2019}, author = {Pogoda, CS and Keepers, KG and Nadiadi, AY and Bailey, DW and Lendemer, JC and Tripp, EA and Kane, NC}, title = {Genome streamlining via complete loss of introns has occurred multiple times in lichenized fungal mitochondria.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {4245-4263}, pmid = {31016002}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Reductions in genome size and complexity are a hallmark of obligate symbioses. The mitochondrial genome displays clear examples of these reductions, with the ancestral alpha-proteobacterial genome size and gene number having been reduced by orders of magnitude in most descendent modern mitochondrial genomes. Here, we examine patterns of mitochondrial evolution specifically looking at intron size, number, and position across 58 species from 21 genera of lichenized Ascomycete fungi, representing a broad range of fungal diversity and niches. Our results show that the cox1gene always contained the highest number of introns out of all the mitochondrial protein-coding genes, that high intron sequence similarity (>90%) can be maintained between different genera, and that lichens have undergone at least two instances of complete, genome-wide intron loss consistent with evidence for genome streamlining via loss of parasitic, noncoding DNA, in Phlyctis boliviensisand Graphis lineola. Notably, however, lichenized fungi have not only undergone intron loss but in some instances have expanded considerably in size due to intron proliferation (e.g., Alectoria fallacina and Parmotrema neotropicum), even between closely related sister species (e.g., Cladonia). These results shed light on the highly dynamic mitochondrial evolution that is occurring in lichens and suggest that these obligate symbiotic organisms are in some cases undergoing recent, broad-scale genome streamlining via loss of protein-coding genes as well as noncoding, parasitic DNA elements.}, } @article {pmid31015561, year = {2019}, author = {Ye, S and Badhiwala, KN and Robinson, JT and Cho, WH and Siemann, E}, title = {Thermal plasticity of a freshwater cnidarian holobiont: detection of trans-generational effects in asexually reproducing hosts and symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {2058-2067}, pmid = {31015561}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animals ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Cnidaria/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Food ; Fresh Water ; Hot Temperature ; Hydra/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding factors affecting the susceptibility of organisms to thermal stress is of enormous interest in light of our rapidly changing climate. When adaptation is limited, thermal acclimation and deacclimation abilities of organisms are critical for population persistence through a period of thermal stress. Holobionts (hosts plus associated symbionts) are key components of various ecosystems, such as coral reefs, yet the contributions of their two partners to holobiont thermal plasticity are poorly understood. Here, we tested thermal plasticity of the freshwater cnidarian Hydra viridissima (green hydra) using individual behavior and population responses. We found that algal presence initially reduced hydra thermal tolerance. Hydra with algae (symbiotic hydra) had comparable acclimation rates, deacclimation rates, and thermal tolerance after acclimation to those without algae (aposymbiotic hydra) but they had higher acclimation capacity. Acclimation of the host (hydra) and/or symbiont (algae) to elevated temperatures increased holobiont thermal tolerance and these effects persisted for multiple asexual generations. In addition, acclimated algae presence enhanced hydra fitness under prolonged sublethal thermal stress, especially when food was limited. Our study indicates while less intense but sublethal stress may favor symbiotic organisms by allowing them to acclimate, sudden large, potentially lethal fluctuations in climate stress likely favor aposymbiotic organisms. It also suggests that thermally stressed colonies of holobionts could disperse acclimated hosts and/or symbionts to other colonies, thereby reducing their vulnerability to climate change.}, } @article {pmid31015559, year = {2019}, author = {Akami, M and Njintang, NY and Gbaye, OA and Andongma, AA and Rashid, MA and Niu, CY and Nukenine, EN}, title = {Gut bacteria of the cowpea beetle mediate its resistance to dichlorvos and susceptibility to Lippia adoensis essential oil.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {6435}, pmid = {31015559}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/classification/drug effects/isolation & purification/physiology ; Coleoptera/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Dichlorvos/*pharmacology ; Firmicutes/classification/drug effects/isolation & purification/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/physiology ; Insecticide Resistance/physiology ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Lippia/*chemistry ; Longevity/drug effects ; Oils, Volatile/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Proteobacteria/classification/drug effects/isolation & purification/physiology ; Seeds/parasitology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Vigna/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria inhabiting the gut of insects provide many benefits to their hosts, such as aiding in food digestion, reproduction, and immunity, tissue homeostasis, adaptation to environment and resistance to pathogen and pesticides. The cowpea beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, is a serious cosmopolitan pest of pulses. This beetle has lent itself as a guinea pig for several ecological studies. It harbors a consortium of bacterial communities in its gut, but the evidence for their role in its physiology is fragmentary. In this work, we hypothesized that gut microbiota mediates C. maculatus resistance to dichlorvos (DDVP or O,O-dimethyl O-2,2-dichlorovinylphosphate) and represent the target of Lippia adoensis (Gambian Tea Bush) essential oil (EO). Symbiotic and aposymbiotic beetles were exposed to artificial cowpea seeds earlier treated with DDVP or EO. Adult mortality and changes in gut bacterial community composition and abundance were examined at F1 and F5 generations. The susceptibility of experimental beetles to DDVP was significantly affected by their symbiotic status. The adult mortality decreased across generations in DDVP treatments, and remained significantly higher in aposymbiotic groups. In EO treatments, the mortality was consistent irrespective of symbiotic status and experimental generations. When compared to DDVP and the Control, EO treatments had significantly lower bacterial richness and diversity, as well as lower abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. These results support our hypothesis and describe the responses of gut microbial communities to pesticide treatments. This could be of interest for developing new management strategies of this pest.}, } @article {pmid31015519, year = {2019}, author = {Ouyang, H and Liu, Z and Li, N and Shi, B and Zou, Y and Xie, F and Ma, Y and Li, Z and Li, H and Zheng, Q and Qu, X and Fan, Y and Wang, ZL and Zhang, H and Li, Z}, title = {Symbiotic cardiac pacemaker.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {1821}, pmid = {31015519}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Arrhythmia, Sinus/etiology/*surgery ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/instrumentation/methods ; Cell Line ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Equipment Design ; Heart/*physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Nanomedicine/*instrumentation/methods ; Nylons/chemistry ; *Pacemaker, Artificial ; Polytetrafluoroethylene/chemistry ; Prosthesis Implantation/instrumentation/methods ; Sus scrofa ; }, abstract = {Self-powered implantable medical electronic devices that harvest biomechanical energy from cardiac motion, respiratory movement and blood flow are part of a paradigm shift that is on the horizon. Here, we demonstrate a fully implanted symbiotic pacemaker based on an implantable triboelectric nanogenerator, which achieves energy harvesting and storage as well as cardiac pacing on a large-animal scale. The symbiotic pacemaker successfully corrects sinus arrhythmia and prevents deterioration. The open circuit voltage of an implantable triboelectric nanogenerator reaches up to 65.2 V. The energy harvested from each cardiac motion cycle is 0.495 μJ, which is higher than the required endocardial pacing threshold energy (0.377 μJ). Implantable triboelectric nanogenerators for implantable medical devices offer advantages of excellent output performance, high power density, and good durability, and are expected to find application in fields of treatment and diagnosis as in vivo symbiotic bioelectronics.}, } @article {pmid31014953, year = {2019}, author = {Salcedo-Porras, N and Lowenberger, C}, title = {The innate immune system of kissing bugs, vectors of chagas disease.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {119-128}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.04.007}, pmid = {31014953}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Chagas Disease/*genetics/immunology/parasitology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Genomics/methods ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Insect Vectors/*genetics/parasitology ; Rhodnius/*genetics/parasitology ; Trypanosoma cruzi/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Kissing bugs have long served as models to study many aspects of insect physiology. They also serve as vectors for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that causes Chagas disease in humans. The overall success of insects is due, in part, to their ability to recognize parasites and pathogens as non-self and to eliminate them using their innate immune system. This immune system comprises physical barriers, cellular responses (phagocytosis, nodulation and encapsulation), and humoral factors (antimicrobial peptides and the prophenoloxidase cascade). Trypanosoma cruzi survives solely in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the vector; if it migrates to the hemocoel it is eliminated. Kissing bugs may not mount a vigorous immune response in the GI tract to avoid eliminating obligate symbiotic microbes on which they rely for survival. Here we describe the current knowledge of innate immunity in kissing bugs and new opportunities using genomic and transcriptomic approaches to study the complex triatomine-trypanosome-microbiome interactions.}, } @article {pmid31014818, year = {2018}, author = {Souza, BMPS and Lambert, SM and Nishi, SM and Saldaña, GF and Oliveira, GGS and Vieira, LS and Madruga, CR and Almeida, MAO}, title = {Collectins and galectins in the abomasum of goats susceptible and resistant to gastrointestinal nematode infection.}, journal = {Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {99-105}, doi = {10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.12.001}, pmid = {31014818}, issn = {2405-9390}, mesh = {Abomasum/*immunology ; Animals ; Collectins/*genetics/immunology ; Disease Resistance/immunology ; Female ; Galectins/*genetics/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/immunology/parasitology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/parasitology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Goat Diseases/*immunology/*parasitology ; Goats/parasitology ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-4/genetics ; Male ; Nematode Infections/*immunology ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum Globulins/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Originally described in cattle, conglutinin belongs to the collectin family and is involved in innate immune defense. It is thought that conglutinin provides the first line of defense by maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the microbes in the rumen while inhibiting inflammatory reactions caused by antibodies leaking into the bloodstream. Due to the lack of information on the similar lectins and sequence detection in goats, we characterized the goat conglutinin gene using RACE and evaluated the differences in its gene expression profile, as well as in the gene expression profiles for surfactant protein A, galectins 14 and 11, interleukin 4 and interferon-gamma in goats. We used Saanen and Anglo Nubian F2 crossbred goats monitored over a period of four months and characterized them as resistant (R) or susceptible (S) based on the average values of EPG counts. Goat conglutinin was similar to bovine conglutinin, but its gene expression varied among different tissues. However, as with bovine conglutinin, it was most highly expressed in the liver. Variation in conglutinin (R=24.3±3.9; S=23.5±2.6, p=0.059), protein surfactant A (R=23.8±5.2, S=24.4±2.3, p=0.16), galectin 14 (R=15.9±3.5, S=14.7±6.2, p=0.49) and galectin l1 gene expression (R=25.4±2.6, S=25.8±3.7, p=0.53) was not significant between groups. However, there were weak correlations between interleukin 4 and the protein surfactant A gene (r=0.459, p=0.02) and between interleukin 4 and galectin 11 (r=0.498, p=0.01). Strong correlation between interferon-gamma and galectin 14 (r=0.744, p=0.00) was observed. Galectin 14 was negatively correlated with the number of nematodes in the goat (r=-0.416, p=0.04) as well as the EPG count (r=-0.408, p=0.04). This is the first study to date that identifies the gene expression of conglutinin, surfactant protein A and galectins 14 and 11 in the goat abomasum. In conclusion, we present evidence that lectin is involved in the immune response to gastrointestinal nematodes, which suggests that collectins and galectins are involved in the molecular recognition of helminths.}, } @article {pmid31013805, year = {2019}, author = {Krishnan, HB and Oehrle, NW and Alaswad, AA and Stevens, WG and Maria John, KM and Luthria, DL and Natarajan, SS}, title = {Biochemical and Anatomical Investigation of Sesbania herbacea (Mill.) McVaugh Nodules Grown under Flooded and Non-Flooded Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {31013805}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Enzyme Activation ; *Floods ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/chemistry/cytology/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*anatomy & histology/*chemistry/cytology/metabolism ; Sesbania/*anatomy & histology/*chemistry/cytology/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Sesbania herbacea, a native North American fast-growing legume, thrives in wet and waterlogged conditions. This legume enters into symbiotic association with rhizobia, resulting in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots. A flooding-induced anaerobic environment imposes a challenge for the survival of rhizobia and negatively impacts nodulation. Very little information is available on how S. herbacea is able to thrive and efficiently fix N2 in flooded conditions. In this study, we found that Sesbania plants grown under flooded conditions were significantly taller, produced more biomass, and formed more nodules when compared to plants grown on dry land. Transmission electron microscopy of Sesbania nodules revealed bacteroids from flooded nodules contained prominent polyhydroxybutyrate crystals, which were absent in non-flooded nodules. Gas and ion chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of nodule metabolites revealed a marked decrease in asparagine and an increase in the levels of gamma aminobutyric acid in flooded nodules. 2-D gel electrophoresis of nodule bacteroid proteins revealed flooding-induced changes in their protein profiles. Several of the bacteroid proteins that were prominent in flooded nodules were identified by mass spectrometry to be members of the ABC transporter family. The activities of several key enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism was altered in Sesbania flooded nodules. Aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), an enzyme with a vital role in the assimilation of reduced nitrogen, was dramatically elevated in flooded nodules. The results of our study highlight the potential of S. herbacea as a green manure and sheds light on the morphological, structural, and biochemical adaptations that enable S. herbacea to thrive and efficiently fix N2 in flooded conditions.}, } @article {pmid31011805, year = {2019}, author = {Guerrero-Galán, C and Calvo-Polanco, M and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis helps plants to challenge salt stress conditions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {291-301}, pmid = {31011805}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Salt Stress ; Sodium/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Soil salinity is an environmental condition that is currently increasing worldwide. Plant growth under salinity induces osmotic stress and ion toxicity impairing root water and nutrient absorption, but the association with beneficial soil microorganisms has been linked to an improved adaptation to this constraint. The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis has been proposed as a key factor for a better tolerance of woody species to salt stress, thanks to the reduction of sodium (Na[+]) uptake towards photosynthetic organs. Although no precise mechanisms for this enhanced plant salt tolerance have been described yet, in this review, we summarize the knowledge accumulated so far on the role of ECM symbiosis. Moreover, we propose several strategies by which ECM fungi might help plants, including restriction of Na[+] entrance into plant tissues and improvement of mineral nutrition and water balances. This positive effect of ECM fungi has been proven in field assays and the results obtained point to a promising application in forestry cultures and reforestation.}, } @article {pmid31011585, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, S and Ye, Q and Zeng, X and Qiao, S}, title = {Functions of Macrophages in the Maintenance of Intestinal Homeostasis.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {1512969}, pmid = {31011585}, issn = {2314-7156}, mesh = {Animals ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Intestines/immunology/physiology ; Macrophages/*immunology ; Mice ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Intestinal macrophages constitute the largest pool of macrophages in the body and have emerged as crucial sentinels for pathogen recognition and elimination. The source and development of intestinal macrophages, as well as their distinct properties have been well documented. Intestinal macrophages exert their functions in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis by shaping host-microbiota symbiosis, managing gut inflammation, crosstalking with T cells, and facilitating wound repair. Recently, nutritional regulation of intestinal macrophages has attracted substantial attention and is becoming a promising approach to disease prevention and control. Understanding the mechanisms employed by intestinal macrophages in mediating intestinal immune homeostasis and inflammation, as well as the mode of action of dietary nutrients in the modulating functions of intestinal macrophages, represents an opportunity to prevent and control inflammatory bowel diseases.}, } @article {pmid31010817, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, L and Higginbotham, JN and Liu, L and Zhao, G and Acra, SA and Peek, RM and Polk, DB and Li, H and Yan, F}, title = {Production of a Functional Factor, p40, by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Is Promoted by Intestinal Epithelial Cell-Secreted Extracellular Vesicles.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {87}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {31010817}, issn = {1098-5522}, support = {R01 DK081134/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK108648/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA077955/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK054993/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK056008/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA116087/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK058587/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/*microbiology ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/*microbiology ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/genetics/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Secretory Vesicles/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiome and the host provides a nutrient-rich environment for gut microbes and has beneficial effects on host health. Although the composition of the gut microbiome is known to be influenced by both host genetics and environmental factors, host effects on the activities and functions of the gut microbial communities remain poorly understood. Intestinal epithelial cells exert front-line responses to gut microbes and contribute to maintaining a healthy intestinal homeostasis. Here, seeking to elucidate whether intestinal epithelial cells modulate Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) functions, we examined the production of p40, an LGG-derived secretory protein that protects intestinal epithelial cells against inflammation. We found that growth medium conditioned with colonic epithelial cell-derived components promotes p40 protein synthesis and secretion by LGG and enhances LGG-stimulated protective responses in intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, when LGG was cultured with the colonic luminal contents from healthy mice, p40 production was upregulated but was attenuated with luminal contents from mice with intestinal inflammation. Importantly, the colonic epithelial cell-derived components potentiated LGG-produced p40 levels in a mouse model of colitis and enhanced LGG-mediated amelioration of intestinal inflammation in this model. Notably, we found that colonic epithelial cell-secreted extracellular vesicles participate in communicating with LGG and that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in these vesicles might mediate the promotion of p40 production. These results reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism by which the anti-inflammatory effect of LGG is reinforced by intestinal epithelial cells and thereby maintains intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid31010694, year = {2020}, author = {Shah, P and Zuckerman, SP and Thompson, C and Pantel, AR and Rubinstein, NA and Galperin-Aizenberg, M and Scanlon, MH and Nachiappan, AC}, title = {First-Year Radiology Residents Teaching Anatomy to First-Year Medical Students: A Symbiotic Relationship.}, journal = {Current problems in diagnostic radiology}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {157-160}, doi = {10.1067/j.cpradiol.2019.02.006}, pmid = {31010694}, issn = {1535-6302}, mesh = {Anatomy/*education ; *Curriculum ; Humans ; Internship and Residency/*methods ; Radiology/*education ; *Students, Medical ; Teaching ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Our institution has developed an educational program in which first-year radiology residents teach first-year medical students during gross anatomy laboratory sessions. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of this program on medical student knowledge and perceptions of radiology, and on resident attitudes toward teaching.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: First-year resident pairs taught small groups of medical students during weekly 15-minute interactive sessions, and were evaluated on teaching skills by senior residents. A survey about attitudes toward radiology and a knowledge quiz were sent to the medical students, and a survey about attitudes toward teaching was sent to the first-year radiology residents, both pre-course and post-course.

RESULTS: Students' radiology knowledge significantly increased between the pre-course and post-course survey across all categories tested (P < 0.001). Additionally, there were significant improvements in terms of students' confidence in radiologic anatomy skills, perceived importance of radiology for medical training, familiarity with the field of radiology, and perception that radiologists are friendly (P < 0.001). Radiology residents felt more confident in their teaching proficiency (P < 0.001) by the conclusion of the course.

CONCLUSIONS: Resident-led small-group teaching sessions during anatomy laboratory are mutually beneficial for medical students and radiology residents. The program also allows radiology residents to be exposed early on in residency to teaching and academic medicine.}, } @article {pmid31009898, year = {2019}, author = {Rudolph, W and Remane, D and Wissenbach, DK and Peters, FT}, title = {Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based determination of ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, hypoglycin A, lolitrem B, methylene cyclopropyl acetic acid carnitine, N-acetylloline, N-formylloline, paxilline, and peramine in equine hair.}, journal = {Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences}, volume = {1117}, number = {}, pages = {127-135}, doi = {10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.04.016}, pmid = {31009898}, issn = {1873-376X}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*analysis ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Environmental Exposure/*analysis ; Hair/*chemistry ; Horses ; Hypoglycins/*analysis ; Limit of Detection ; Linear Models ; Mycotoxins/*analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; }, abstract = {Ingestion of hypoglycin A (HGA) in maple seeds or alkaloids produced by symbiotic fungi in pasture grasses is thought to be associated with various syndromes in grazing animals. This article describes analytical methods for monitoring long-term exposure to HGA, its metabolite MCPA-carnitine, as well as ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, lolitrem B, N-acetylloline, N-formylloline, peramine, and paxilline in equine hair. After extraction of hair samples separation was achieved using two ultra high performance liquid chromatographic systems (HILIC or RP-C18, ammonium formate:acetonitrile). A benchtop orbitrap instrument was used for high resolution tandem mass spectrometric detection. All analytes were sensitively detected with limits of detection between 1 pg/mg and 25 pg/mg. Irreproducible extraction or ubiquitous presence in horse hair precluded quantitative validation of lolitrem B/paxilline and N-acetylloline/N-formylloline, respectively. For the other analytes validation showed no interferences in blank hair. Other validation parameters were as follows: limits of quantification (LOQ), 10 to 100 pg/mg; recoveries, 18.3 to 91.0%; matrix effects, -48.2 - 24.4%; linearity, LOQ - 1000 pg/mg; accuracy, -14.9 - 6.4%, precision RSDs ≤10.7%. The method allows sensitive detection of all analytes and quantification of ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, HGA, MCPA-carnitine, and peramine in horse hair. Applicability was proven for N-acetylloline and N-formylloline by analyzing hair of 13 horses.}, } @article {pmid31009217, year = {2019}, author = {Veličkovic, D and Liao, HL and Vilgalys, R and Chu, RK and Anderton, CR}, title = {Spatiotemporal Transformation in the Alkaloid Profile of Pinus Roots in Response to Mycorrhization.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {82}, number = {5}, pages = {1382-1386}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b01050}, pmid = {31009217}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Alkaloids/biosynthesis/*chemistry ; Basidiomycota ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Morphogenesis ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Pinus/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Piperidines/chemistry ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {Root alkaloids remain highly unexplored in ectomycorrhizae development studies. By employing ultrahigh mass resolution mass spectrometry imaging techniques, we showed substantial relocation and transformation of piperidine alkaloids in pine root tips in response to Suillus mycorrhization. We imaged, in the time frame of ectomycorrhizae formation, a completely different alkaloid profile in Pinus strobus, where basidiospores of Suillus spraguei induce morphogenesis of symbiotic tissues, than in Pinus taeda, where such interaction fails to induce morphogenesis. On the basis of spatial colocalization studies, we proposed some alternative routes for biosynthesis of these alkaloids that supplement existing literature data.}, } @article {pmid31008572, year = {2019}, author = {Green, KA and Eaton, CJ and Savoian, MS and Scott, B}, title = {A homologue of the fungal tetraspanin Pls1 is required for Epichloë festucae expressorium formation and establishment of a mutualistic interaction with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {961-975}, pmid = {31008572}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Epichloe/growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Fungal Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Hyphae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Lolium/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Phenotype ; *Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Symbiosis ; Tetraspanins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae is an endophytic fungus that forms a mutualistic symbiotic association with the grass host Lolium perenne. Endophytic hyphae exit the host by an appressorium-like structure known as an expressorium. In plant-pathogenic fungi, the tetraspanin Pls1 and the NADPH oxidase component Nox2 are required for appressorium development. Previously we showed that the homologue of Nox2, NoxB, is required for E. festucae expressorium development and establishment of a mutualistic symbiotic interaction with the grass host. Here we used a reverse genetics approach to functionally characterize the role of the E. festucae homologue of Pls1, PlsA. The morphology and growth of ΔplsA in axenic culture was comparable to wild-type. The tiller length of plants infected with ΔplsA was significantly reduced. Hyphae of ΔplsA had a proliferative pattern of growth within the leaves of L. perenne with increased colonization of the intercellular spaces and the vascular bundles. The ΔplsA mutant was also defective in expressorium development although the phenotype was not as severe as for ΔnoxB, highlighting potentially distinct roles for PlsA and NoxB in signalling through the NoxB complex. Hyphae of ΔplsA proliferate below the cuticle surface but still occasionally form an expressorium-like structure that enables the mutant hyphae to exit the leaf to grow on the surface. These expressoria still form a septin ring-like structure at the point of cuticle exit as found in the wild-type strain. These results establish that E. festucae PlsA has an important, but distinct, role to NoxB in expressorium development and plant symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid31007867, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Y and Shi, W and Song, Y and Wang, J}, title = {Metatranscriptomic analysis of an in vitro biofilm model reveals strain-specific interactions among multiple bacterial species.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {1599670}, pmid = {31007867}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {Interactions among bacteria can affect biofilm properties. Method: Here, we investigated the role of different bacteria in functional dysbiosis of an in vitro polymicrobial subgingival plaque model using both 16S rRNA and metatranscriptomic sequencing. Results: We found that high-virulence Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 had greater effects on the symbiotic species than the low-virulence P. gingivalis ATCC33277, and that Prevotella intermedia exacerbated the effects of W83. P. gingivalis significantly influenced the expression of genes related to metabolic pathways and quorum sensing of commensal oral species in a strain-specific manner. P. intermedia exerted synergistic effects with P. gingivalis W83 but antagonistic effects with strain ATCC33277, which may regulate the expression of virulence factors of P. gingivalis through the clp regulator. Discussion: The interaction networks indicated that the strongest correlation was between Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus mitis, which demonstrated their bridge and cornerstone roles in biofilm. Changes in the expression of genes relating to outer membrane proteins in F. nucleatum indicated that the addition of different bacteria can interfere with the co-adherence among F. nucleatum and other partners. Conclusion: We report here the existence of strain-specific interactions in subgingival plaque, which may enhance our understanding of periodontal micro-ecology and facilitate the development of improved plaque control strategies.}, } @article {pmid31006112, year = {2019}, author = {Kazenel, MR and Kivlin, SN and Taylor, DL and Lynn, JS and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Altitudinal gradients fail to predict fungal symbiont responses to warming.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {100}, number = {8}, pages = {e02740}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2740}, pmid = {31006112}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Altitude ; Climate Change ; *Fungi ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Climate change is shifting altitudinal species ranges, with potential to disrupt species interactions. Altitudinal gradient studies and warming experiments can both increase understanding of climate effects on species interactions, but few studies have used both together to improve predictions. We examined whether plant-fungal symbioses responded similarly to altitude and 23 yr of experimental warming. Root- and leaf-associated fungi, which can mediate plants' climate sensitivity, responded divergently to elevation vs. warming. Fungal colonization, diversity, and composition varied with altitude, but climate variables were generally weak predictors; other factors such as host plant identity, plant community composition, or edaphic variables likely drive fungal altitudinal distributions. Manipulated warming altered fungal colonization, but not composition or diversity. Leaf symbionts were more sensitive to climate and experimental warming than root symbionts. Altitudinal patterns and responses to warming differed among host plant species and fungal groups, indicating that predicting climate effects on symbioses will require tracking both host and symbiont identities. Combining experimental and observational methods can yield valuable insight into how climate change may alter plant-symbiont interactions, but our results indicate that altitude does not always serve as an adequate proxy for warming effects on fungal symbionts of plants.}, } @article {pmid31005641, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, S and Feng, S and Xu, Z and Qin, L and Shang, C and Feng, P and Wang, Z and Yuan, Z}, title = {Cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris on unsterilized dairy-derived liquid digestate for simultaneous biofuels feedstock production and pollutant removal.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {285}, number = {}, pages = {121353}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121353}, pmid = {31005641}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Environmental Pollutants ; *Microalgae ; }, abstract = {In order to assess viability of microalgae cultivation using unsterilized dairy-derived liquid digestate (DLD) for simultaneous biofuels feedstock production and contaminant removal, four DLD concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were used to grow Chlorella vulgaris in batch photobioreactors (PBRs). The 25% DLD was an ideal alternative medium in that high growth rate (0.69 d[-1]), high lipid productivity (112.9 mg L[-1] d[-1]) as well as high nutrient removal were attained. The high DLD concentration caused inhibition of microalgal growth, where COD was more inhibitive than ammonium. The presence of bacteria did not influence microalgae production because of limited growth. Microalgal growth reduced the richness and diversity of bacterial community. Furthermore, the species of Bacteroidetes, Candidatus Saccharibacteria, and Chlamydiae rather than Proteobacteria benefited microalgal-bacterial symbiosis. These findings contribute to better application of microalgal-bacterial system for large-scale microalgae cultivation as well as environmental sustainability.}, } @article {pmid31003984, year = {2019}, author = {Ogran, A and Yardeni, EH and Keren-Paz, A and Bucher, T and Jain, R and Gilhar, O and Kolodkin-Gal, I}, title = {The Plant Host Induces Antibiotic Production To Select the Most-Beneficial Colonizers.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {31003984}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis ; Bacillus subtilis/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Brassicaceae/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polyenes/metabolism ; Serratia/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial ecosystems tightly associated with a eukaryotic host are widespread in nature. The genetic and metabolic networks of the eukaryotic hosts and the associated microbes have coevolved to form a symbiotic relationship. Both the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and the Gram-negative Serratia plymuthica can form biofilms on plant roots and thus can serve as a model system for the study of interspecies interactions in a host-associated ecosystem. We found that B. subtilis biofilms expand collectively and asymmetrically toward S. plymuthica, while expressing a nonribosomal antibiotic bacillaene and an extracellular protease. As a result, B. subtilis biofilms outcompeted S. plymuthica for successful colonization of the host. Strikingly, the plant host was able to enhance the efficiency of this killing by inducing bacillaene synthesis. In turn, B. subtilis biofilms increased the resistance of the plant host to pathogens. These results provide an example of how plant-bacterium symbiosis promotes the immune response of the plant host and the fitness of the associated bacteria.IMPORTANCE Our study sheds mechanistic light on how multicellular biofilm units compete to successfully colonize a eukaryote host, using B. subtilis microbial communities as our lens. The microbiota and its interactions with its host play various roles in the development and prevention of diseases. Using competing beneficial biofilms that are essential microbiota members on the plant host, we found that B. subtilis biofilms activate collective migration to capture their prey, followed by nonribosomal antibiotic synthesis. Plant hosts increase the efficiency of antibiotic production by B. subtilis biofilms, as they activate the synthesis of polyketides; therefore, our study provides evidence of a mechanism by which the host can indirectly select for beneficial microbiota members.}, } @article {pmid31002929, year = {2019}, author = {Devi, G and Harikrishnan, R and Paray, BA and Al-Sadoon, MK and Hoseinifar, SH and Balasundaram, C}, title = {Effect of symbiotic supplemented diet on innate-adaptive immune response, cytokine gene regulation and antioxidant property in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas hydrophila.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {89}, number = {}, pages = {687-700}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2019.04.036}, pmid = {31002929}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Aeromonas hydrophila/physiology ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Cyprinidae/*immunology ; Cytokines/genetics/metabolism ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements/*analysis ; Fish Diseases/*immunology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/immunology ; *Immunity, Innate/drug effects ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; Synbiotics/administration & dosage ; Transcription, Genetic/immunology ; }, abstract = {Administration of probiotic, prebiotic or symbiotic supplemented diets boosts the antioxidant property, pro and/or anti-inflammatory cytokine gene transcription, innate-adaptive immunity, growth rate and feed digestibility with very low or no mortality in healthy and infected (both groups) in Labeo rohita against Aeromonas hydrophila is reported. The probiotic diet increased the white blood cell (WBC) count and globulin (GB) level significantly on or after 6th week whereas with the symbiotic diet the increase was noted two weeks earlier in both groups; the total protein (TP) level also increased significantly when fed with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8, whereas with symbiotic diet the significant increase manifested earlier at 4th week itself. The serum phagocytic activity (PA), respiratory burst activity (RBA), complement C3 (CC3) level, alternative complement pathway (ACP), lysozyme activity (LA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels in head kidney (HK) leucocytes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups fed with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8; with symbiotic diet from weeks 2-8; but with prebiotic diet only on 8th week. With probiotic diet the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased significantly (P < 0.05) on weeks 6 and 8; with symbiotic diet from weeks 4-8 but the prebiotics diet only on 8th week. However, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased significantly (P < 0.05) with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8 and with symbiotic diet from weeks 4-8. When healthy fish fed with any supplementation diet for a period of 30 days there was no mortality while 5%, 10%, and 10% mortality was observed in infected group fed with symbiotic, probiotic, and prebiotic supplementation diets. In head kidney (HK) leucocytes, the IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, and NF-κB gene transcriptions were significantly up-regulation in both groups when fed with probiotic diet on weeks 6 and 8, symbiotic diet from weeks 4-8 while the prebiotic diet only on 8th week. The iNOS expression was up-regulation significantly in both groups fed with probiotic and symbiotic diets on weeks 6 and 8; however, with any diet, the relative IL-10 and TGF-β gene expressions were down-regulated. The present study suggested that dietary administration of symbiotic diet elicited earlier antioxidant activity, innate-adaptive immune response, immune related cytokine gene modulation, and disease protection earlier i.e. on 4th week than with probiotic or prebiotic diets in L. rohita against A. hydrophila.}, } @article {pmid31001838, year = {2019}, author = {Konstantinou, D and Voultsiadou, E and Panteris, E and Zervou, SK and Hiskia, A and Gkelis, S}, title = {Leptothoe, a new genus of marine cyanobacteria (Synechococcales) and three new species associated with sponges from the Aegean Sea.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {882-897}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12866}, pmid = {31001838}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {*Cyanobacteria ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacterial diversity associated with sponges remains underestimated, though it is of great scientific interest in order to understand the ecology and evolutionary history of the symbiotic relationships between the two groups. Of the filamentous cyanobacteria, the genus Leptolyngbya is the most frequently found in association with sponges as well as the largest and obviously polyphyletic group. In this study, five Leptolyngbya-like sponge-associated isolates were investigated using a combination of molecular, chemical, and morphological approach and revealed a novel marine genus herein designated Leptothoe gen. nov. In addition, three new species of Leptothoe, Le. sithoniana, Le. kymatousa, and Le. spongobia, are described based on a suite of distinct characters compared to other marine Leptolyngbyaceae species/strains. The three new species, hosted by four sponge species, showed different degrees of host specificity. Leptothoe sithoniana and Le. kymatousa hosted by the sponges Petrosia ficiformis and Chondrilla nucula, respectively, seem to be more specialized than Le. spongobia, which was hosted by the sponges Dysidea avara and Acanthella acuta. All three species contained nitrogen-fixing genes and may contribute to the nitrogen budget of sponges. Leptothoe spongobia TAU-MAC 1115 isolated from Acanthella acuta was shown to produce microcystin-RR indicating that microcystin production among marine cyanobacteria could be more widespread than previously determined.}, } @article {pmid31001762, year = {2020}, author = {Kuzma, J and Chmelař, D and Hájek, M and Lochmanová, A and Čižnár, I and Rozložník, M and Klugar, M}, title = {The role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {17-24}, pmid = {31001762}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology/pathology ; Cytokines/immunology ; Diet ; *Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/*physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between intestinal microbiota and the host is a major mechanism of prevention against the development of chronic and metabolic diseases. The intestinal microbiota provides several physiological functions of the organism from the creation of a natural functional barrier with a subsequent immunostimulatory activity up to affecting the energy metabolism of the host. Disruption of physiological intestinal microbiota is reported as one of the major etiological factors of initiation and progression of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with the development of CRC, through the production of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. CRC occurs in association with high-protein and high-fat diets in combination with low-fiber intake. The problem of intestinal dysbiosis and oncological diseases is a multidisciplinary problem and it is necessary to focus on several fields of medicine such as public health, clinical pharmacology, and internal medicine. The aim of this review is describing the role of gut dysbiosis in pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma.}, } @article {pmid31001690, year = {2019}, author = {Michalik, K and Szklarzewicz, T and Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk, M and Michalik, A}, title = {Bacterial associates of Orthezia urticae, Matsucoccus pini, and Steingelia gorodetskia - scale insects of archaeoccoid families Ortheziidae, Matsucoccidae, and Steingeliidae (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {256}, number = {5}, pages = {1205-1215}, pmid = {31001690}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*ultrastructure ; Insecta/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {The biological nature, ultrastructure, distribution, and mode of transmission between generations of the microorganisms associated with three species (Orthezia urticae, Matsucoccus pini, Steingelia gorodetskia) of primitive families (archaeococcoids = Orthezioidea) of scale insects were investigated by means of microscopic and molecular methods. In all the specimens of Orthezia urticae and Matsucoccus pini examined, bacteria Wolbachia were identified. In some examined specimens of O. urticae, apart from Wolbachia, bacteria Sodalis were detected. In Steingelia gorodetskia, the bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas were found. In contrast to most plant sap-sucking hemipterans, the bacterial associates of O. urticae, M. pini, and S. gorodetskia are not harbored in specialized bacteriocytes, but are dispersed in the cells of different organs. Ultrastructural observations have shown that bacteria Wolbachia in O. urticae and M. pini, Sodalis in O. urticae, and Sphingomonas in S. gorodetskia are transovarially transmitted from mother to progeny.}, } @article {pmid31001301, year = {2019}, author = {Lamouche, F and Bonadé-Bottino, N and Mergaert, P and Alunni, B}, title = {Symbiotic Efficiency of Spherical and Elongated Bacteroids in the Aeschynomene-Bradyrhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {377}, pmid = {31001301}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis is a major supplier of fixed nitrogen in the biosphere and constitutes a key step of the nitrogen biogeochemical cycle. In some legume species belonging to the Inverted Repeat Lacking Clade (IRLC) and the Dalbergioids, the differentiation of rhizobia into intracellular nitrogen-fixing bacteroids is terminal and involves pronounced cell enlargement and genome endoreduplication, in addition to a strong loss of viability. In the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium spp. system, the extent of bacteroid differentiation correlates with the level of symbiotic efficiency. Here, we used different physiological measurements to compare the symbiotic efficiency of photosynthetic bradyrhizobia in different Aeschynomene spp. (Dalbergioids) hosts inducing different bacteroid morphotypes associated with increasing ploidy levels. The strongly differentiated spherical bacteroids were more efficient than the less strongly differentiated elongated ones, providing a higher mass gain to their hosts. However, symbiotic efficiency is not solely correlated with the extent of bacteroid differentiation especially in spherical bacteroid-inducing plants, suggesting the existence of other factors controlling symbiotic efficiency.}, } @article {pmid31001297, year = {2019}, author = {Preiner, J and Wienkoop, S and Weckwerth, W and Oburger, E}, title = {Molecular Mechanisms of Tungsten Toxicity Differ for Glycine max Depending on Nitrogen Regime.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {367}, pmid = {31001297}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Tungsten (W) finds increasing application in military, aviation and household appliance industry, opening new paths into the environment. Since W shares certain chemical properties with the essential plant micronutrient molybdenum (Mo), it is proposed to inhibit enzymatic activity of molybdoenzymes [e.g., nitrate reductase (NR)] by replacing the Mo-ion bound to the co-factor. Recent studies suggest that W, much like other heavy metals, also exerts toxicity on its own. To create a comprehensive picture of tungsten stress, this study investigated the effects of W on growth and metabolism of soybean (Glycine max), depending on plant nitrogen regime [nitrate fed (N fed) vs. symbiotic N2 fixation (N fix)] by combining plant physiological data (biomass production, starch and nutrient content, N2 fixation, nitrate reductase activity) with root and nodule proteome data. Irrespective of N regime, NR activity and total N decreased with increasing W concentrations. Nodulation and therefore also N2 fixation strongly declined at high W concentrations, particularly in N fix plants. However, N2 fixation rate (g N fixed g[-1] nodule dwt) remained unaffected by increasing W concentrations. Proteomic analysis revealed a strong decline in leghemoglobin and nitrogenase precursor levels (NifD), as well as an increase in abundance of proteins involved in secondary metabolism in N fix nodules. Taken together this indicates that, in contrast to the reported direct inhibition of NR, N2 fixation appears to be indirectly inhibited by a decrease in nitrogenase synthesis due to W induced changes in nodule oxygen levels of N fix plants. Besides N metabolism, plants exhibited a strong reduction of shoot (both N regimes) and root (N fed only) biomass, an imbalance in nutrient levels and a failure of carbon metabolic pathways accompanied by an accumulation of starch at high tungsten concentrations, independent of N-regime. Proteomic data (available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD010877) demonstrated that the response to high W concentrations was independent of nodule functionality and dominated by several peroxidases and other general stress related proteins. Based on an evaluation of several W responsive proteotypic peptides, we identified a set of protein markers of W stress and possible targets for improved stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid31001223, year = {2019}, author = {Sun, Y and Xie, Z and Sui, F and Liu, X and Cheng, W}, title = {Identification of Cbp1, a c-di-GMP Binding Chemoreceptor in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 Involved in Chemotaxis and Nodulation of the Host Plant.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {638}, pmid = {31001223}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cbp1, a chemoreceptor containing a PilZ domain was identified in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a nitrogen-fixing free-living soil bacterium that induces nodule formation in both the roots and stems of the host legume Sesbania rostrata. Chemoreceptors are responsible for sensing signals in the chemotaxis pathway, which guides motile bacteria to beneficial niches and plays an important role in the establishment of rhizobia-legume symbiosis. PilZ domain proteins are known to bind the second messenger c-di-GMP, an important regulator of motility, biofilm formation and virulence. Cbp1 was shown to bind c-di-GMP through the conserved RxxxR motif of its PilZ domain. A mutant strain carrying a cbp1 deletion was impaired in chemotaxis, a feature that could be restored by genetic complementation. Compared with the wild type strain, the Δcbp1 mutant displayed enhanced aggregation and biofilm formation. The Δcbp1 mutant induced functional nodules when inoculated individually. However, the Δcbp1 mutant was less competitive than the wild type in competitive root colonization and nodulation. These data are in agreement with the hypothesis that the c-di-GMP binding chemoreceptor Cbp1 in A. caulinodans is involved in chemotaxis and nodulation.}, } @article {pmid31001143, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, Z and Zhao, S and Tang, J and Liu, Z and Wu, Y and Wang, Y and Lin, S}, title = {Altered Immune Landscape and Disrupted Coral-Symbiodinium Symbiosis in the Scleractinian Coral Pocillopora damicornis by Vibrio coralliilyticus Challenge.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {366}, pmid = {31001143}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Vibrio coralliilyticus is known to cause coral diseases, especially under environmental perturbation, but its impact on coral physiology and underpinning mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated cytological, immunological, and metatranscriptomic responses of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis to V. coralliilyticus infection. The density and chlorophyll content of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased significantly at 12 and 24 h after Vibrio challenge. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, nitric oxide synthase, phenoloxidase (PO), and the activation level of caspase3 all rose significantly in P. damicornis after Vibrio challenge. In the metatranscriptomic analysis, we found 10 significantly upregulated genes in the symbionts at 24 h after the challenge, which were mostly involved in the metabolism of nucleic acid and polysaccharide, and 133 significantly down-regulated symbiont genes, which were mainly related to amino acid catabolism and transport. Meanwhile, 1432 significantly upregulated coral genes were revealed, highly overrepresented in GO terms that are mostly related to the regulation of immune response, the regulation of cytokine production, and innate immune response. Furthermore, at 24 h after Vibrio challenge, 890 coral genes were significantly downregulated, highly overrepresented in four GO terms implicated in defense response. These results in concert suggest that V. coralliilyticus infection triggered the innate immune response including the redox, PO, and apoptosis systems, but repressed the response of the complement system in the scleractinian coral P. damicornis, accompanied by symbiont density decrease and symbiosis collapse through disordering the metabolism of the symbionts. These findings shed light on the molecular regulatory processes underlying bleaching and degradation of P. damicornis resulting from the infection of V. coralliilyticus.}, } @article {pmid31000761, year = {2019}, author = {Fortier, J and Truax, B and Gagnon, D and Lambert, F}, title = {Abiotic and biotic factors controlling fine root biomass, carbon and nutrients in closed-canopy hybrid poplar stands on post-agricultural land.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {6296}, pmid = {31000761}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biomass ; Canada ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; *Forests ; Humans ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Populus/*growth & development/metabolism ; Seasons ; Soil/chemistry ; Trees/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fine roots (diameter <2 mm) have a pivotal role in resource acquisition, symbiosis development, and for elemental cycling in forests. Various abiotic and biotic factors affect their biomass and nutrient content. Understanding the effect of these factors on root traits could improve biogeochemical modelling, nutrient management and ecosystem services provision in planted forests. Data from 14-year old poplars planted along a fertility/climatic gradient in Southeastern Canada, show that live fine root biomass varied with genotype and environment, was negatively correlated to soil fertility, and uncorrelated to tree size. Dead fine root biomass varied with genotype and peaked during fall and in colder environments with slower element cycling. Root chemistry also varied with environment, genotype and season. The genotype producing recalcitrant leaf litter had the highest root biomass, suggesting a compensation strategy. Along the studied gradient, plasticity level observed for some root traits (biomass, element contents) was genotype-specific and high for some genotypes. Regionally, such plasticity patterns should be considered in elemental budgets, for nutrient management and ecosystem services provision in plantations (carbon storage, nutrient retention). The small inter-site aboveground productivity differences observed suggest that plasticity in fine root growth may contribute to overcome nutrient limitations on less fertile marginal lands.}, } @article {pmid31000547, year = {2019}, author = {Langleib, M and Beracochea, M and Zabaleta, M and Battistoni, F and Sotelo-Silveira, J and Fabiano, E and Iriarte, A and Platero, R}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Paraburkholderia sp. UYCP14C, a Rhizobium Strain Isolated from Root Nodules of Calliandra parvifolia.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {31000547}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Here, we present the draft genome sequence of strain UYCP14C, a rhizobium isolated from Calliandra parvifolia nodules. The assembled genome size was around 9.8 million bp, containing 9,031 predicted protein-coding sequences, including several symbiotic and nitrogen fixation genes. UYCP14C appears to be a novel species of the plant growth-promoting Paraburkholderia genus.}, } @article {pmid30999182, year = {2019}, author = {Bharti, A and Garg, N}, title = {SA and AM symbiosis modulate antioxidant defense mechanisms and asada pathway in chickpea genotypes under salt stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {178}, number = {}, pages = {66-78}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.025}, pmid = {30999182}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; Cicer/drug effects/*metabolism/microbiology ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism/*pharmacology ; *Salt Stress ; Salt Tolerance ; Seeds/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salt stress disturbs redox homeostasis by perturbing equilibrium between generation and removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which alters the normal metabolism of plants through membrane damage, lipid peroxidation and denaturation of proteins. Salicylic acid (SA) seed priming and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi impart salt tolerance in legumes by maintaining redox balance. The present investigation focused on the relative and combined applications of SA and Rhizoglomus intraradices in scavenging ROS in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) genotypes (salt tolerant-PBG 5, relatively sensitive-BG 256) subjected to salt stress. Despite the enhanced antioxidant mechanisms under salt stress, ROS (superoxide, O2- and hydrogen peroxide, H2O2) accumulation increased significantly and induced lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, which disrupted membrane stability, more in BG 256 than PBG 5. Salt stress also caused redox imbalance by lowering ascorbate/dehydroascorbate (ASA/DHA) and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratios, indicating that redox-homeostasis was crucial for salt-tolerance. Exogenous SA was more promising in reducing ROS-generation and lipid-peroxidation, which provided higher membrane stability as compared to AM inoculation. Although, the enzymatic antioxidants were more active in SA treated plants, yet, AM inoculation outperformed in increasing reformative enzyme activities of Foyer-Halliwell-Asada cycle, which resulted in higher plant biomass in a genotype-dependent manner. SA increased AM root colonization and provided functional complementarity to R. intraradices and thereby strengthening antioxidant defense mechanisms through their cumulative contribution. The study suggested the use of +SA+AM as an eco-friendly tool in imparting salt tolerance in chickpea genotypes subjected to long-term salinity.}, } @article {pmid30995278, year = {2019}, author = {Leinonen, PH and Helander, M and Vázquez-de-Aldana, BR and Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Local adaptation in natural European host grass populations with asymmetric symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {e0215510}, pmid = {30995278}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Europe ; *Festuca/microbiology/physiology ; *Seeds/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Recent work on microbiomes is revealing the wealth and importance of plant-microbe interactions. Microbial symbionts are proposed to have profound effects on fitness of their host plants and vice versa, especially when their fitness is tightly linked. Here we studied local adaptation of host plants and possible fitness contribution of such symbiosis in the context of abiotic environmental factors. We conducted a four-way multi-year reciprocal transplant experiment with natural populations of the perennial grass Festuca rubra s.l. from northern and southern Finland, Faroe Islands and Spain. We included F. rubra with and without transmitted symbiotic fungus Epichloë that is vertically transmitted via host seed. We found local adaptation across the European range, as evidenced by higher host fitness of the local geographic origin compared with nonlocals at three of the four studied sites, suggesting that selection pressures are driving evolution in different directions. Abiotic factors did not result in strong fitness effects related to Epichloë symbiosis, indicating that other factors such as herbivory are more likely to contribute to fitness differences between plants naturally occurring with or without Epichloë. Nevertheless, in the case of asymmetric symbiosis that is obligatory for the symbiont, abiotic conditions that affect performance of the host, may also cause selective pressure for the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid30992349, year = {2019}, author = {Aleti, G and Baker, JL and Tang, X and Alvarez, R and Dinis, M and Tran, NC and Melnik, AV and Zhong, C and Ernst, M and Dorrestein, PC and Edlund, A}, title = {Identification of the Bacterial Biosynthetic Gene Clusters of the Oral Microbiome Illuminates the Unexplored Social Language of Bacteria during Health and Disease.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30992349}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {F32 DE026947/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE024543/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Computational Biology ; Dental Caries/microbiology ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metagenome ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mouth/*microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; Periodontitis/microbiology ; Saliva/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Small molecules are the primary communication media of the microbial world. Recent bioinformatic studies, exploring the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) which produce many small molecules, have highlighted the incredible biochemical potential of the signaling molecules encoded by the human microbiome. Thus far, most research efforts have focused on understanding the social language of the gut microbiome, leaving crucial signaling molecules produced by oral bacteria and their connection to health versus disease in need of investigation. In this study, a total of 4,915 BGCs were identified across 461 genomes representing a broad taxonomic diversity of oral bacteria. Sequence similarity networking provided a putative product class for more than 100 unclassified novel BGCs. The newly identified BGCs were cross-referenced against 254 metagenomes and metatranscriptomes derived from individuals either with good oral health or with dental caries or periodontitis. This analysis revealed 2,473 BGCs, which were differentially represented across the oral microbiomes associated with health versus disease. Coabundance network analysis identified numerous inverse correlations between BGCs and specific oral taxa. These correlations were present in healthy individuals but greatly reduced in individuals with dental caries, which may suggest a defect in colonization resistance. Finally, corroborating mass spectrometry identified several compounds with homology to products of the predicted BGC classes. Together, these findings greatly expand the number of known biosynthetic pathways present in the oral microbiome and provide an atlas for experimental characterization of these abundant, yet poorly understood, molecules and socio-chemical relationships, which impact the development of caries and periodontitis, two of the world's most common chronic diseases.IMPORTANCE The healthy oral microbiome is symbiotic with the human host, importantly providing colonization resistance against potential pathogens. Dental caries and periodontitis are two of the world's most common and costly chronic infectious diseases and are caused by a localized dysbiosis of the oral microbiome. Bacterially produced small molecules, often encoded by BGCs, are the primary communication media of bacterial communities and play a crucial, yet largely unknown, role in the transition from health to dysbiosis. This study provides a comprehensive mapping of the BGC repertoire of the human oral microbiome and identifies major differences in health compared to disease. Furthermore, BGC representation and expression is linked to the abundance of particular oral bacterial taxa in health versus dental caries and periodontitis. Overall, this study provides a significant insight into the chemical communication network of the healthy oral microbiome and how it devolves in the case of two prominent diseases.}, } @article {pmid30991927, year = {2019}, author = {Dixon, GB and Kenkel, CD}, title = {Molecular convergence and positive selection associated with the evolution of symbiont transmission mode in stony corals.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1901}, pages = {20190111}, pmid = {30991927}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbioses have been critical for the evolution of life. The genetic consequences of evolving a heritable symbiosis from the perspective of the symbiont are well established, but concomitant changes in the host remain unresolved. In stony corals, heritable, vertical transmission has evolved repeatedly, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the genomic basis of this complex trait. We conducted a comparative analysis of 25 coral transcriptomes to identify orthologous genes exhibiting signatures of positive selection and convergent amino acid substitutions in vertically transmitting lineages. The frequency of convergence events tends to be higher among vertically transmitting lineages, consistent with the proposed role of selection in driving the evolution of convergent transmission mode phenotypes. Of 10 774 orthologous genes, 403 exhibited at least one molecular convergence event and evidence of positive selection in at least one vertically transmitting lineage. Functional enrichments among these top candidate genes include processes previously implicated in symbiosis including endocytosis, immune response, cytoskeletal protein binding and cytoplasmic membrane-bounded vesicles. Finally, several novel candidates were identified among 100 genes showing evidence of positive selection at the particular convergence event, highlighting the value of our approach for generating new insight into host mechanisms associated with the evolution of heritable symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30991290, year = {2019}, author = {Ezra, H}, title = {On the relationship between road safety research and the practice of road design and operation.}, journal = {Accident; analysis and prevention}, volume = {128}, number = {}, pages = {114-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.aap.2019.03.016}, pmid = {30991290}, issn = {1879-2057}, mesh = {Accident Prevention/*methods ; Accidents, Traffic/prevention & control ; Built Environment/*standards ; *Decision Making ; Humans ; Research/standards ; Safety ; }, abstract = {How do the findings of road safety research affect the practice by which the road infrastructure is built and operated? The question is seldom asked. I discuss the complexities of the research-practice symbiosis in the light of two historical anecdotes. These allow me to point out several issues of concern. My general conclusion is that the relationship, as it evolved over time, is unpremeditated and occasionally dysfunctional. Issues of concern are the lightness with which decisions affecting road-user safety can be based on opinion that is unsupported by evidence, that such opinions can trump inconvenient evidence, that research findings can be willfully distorted or disregarded, that questionable results can be given a ring of consensual truth, and that the questions which research asks and what findings get published are at times influenced by external interest. In sum, the concern is that practice is not sufficiently evidence-based. Road users have a right to expect that decisions substantially affecting their safety take into account fact-based expectation of safety consequences. It is therefore time to endow the research-practice relationship with a premeditated and purposeful structure.}, } @article {pmid30990223, year = {2019}, author = {Mathé-Hubert, H and Kaech, H and Ganesanandamoorthy, P and Vorburger, C}, title = {Evolutionary costs and benefits of infection with diverse strains of Spiroplasma in pea aphids.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {73}, number = {7}, pages = {1466-1481}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13740}, pmid = {30990223}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {CRSII3_154396//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*parasitology ; *Biological Evolution ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Spiroplasma/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The heritable endosymbiont Spiroplasma infects many insects and has repeatedly evolved the ability to protect its hosts against different parasites. Defenses do not come for free to the host, and theory predicts that more costly symbionts need to provide stronger benefits to persist in host populations. We investigated the costs and benefits of Spiroplasma infections in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), testing 12 bacterial strains from three different clades. Virtually all strains decreased aphid lifespan and reproduction, but only two had a (weak) protective effect against the parasitoid Aphidius ervi, an important natural enemy of pea aphids. Spiroplasma-induced fitness costs were variable, with strains from the most slowly evolving clade reaching higher titers and curtailing aphid lifespan more strongly than other strains. Some Spiroplasma strains shared their host with a second endosymbiont, Regiella insecticola. Although the result of an unfortunate handling error, these co-infections proved instructive, because they showed that the cost of infection with Spiroplasma may be attenuated in the presence of Regiella. These results suggest that mechanisms other than protection against A. ervi maintain pea aphid infections with diverse strains of Spiroplasma, and that studying them in isolation will not provide a complete picture of their effects on host fitness.}, } @article {pmid30990167, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, YL and Ślipiński, A and Ren, D and Parker, J}, title = {A Mesozoic clown beetle myrmecophile (Coleoptera: Histeridae).}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30990167}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {31402008//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 20150064//International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Coleoptera/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; *Fossils ; Myanmar ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Complex interspecies relationships are widespread among metazoans, but the evolutionary history of these lifestyles is poorly understood. We describe a fossil beetle in 99-million-year-old Burmese amber that we infer to have been a social impostor of the earliest-known ant colonies. Promyrmister kistneri gen. et sp. nov. belongs to the haeteriine clown beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae), a major clade of 'myrmecophiles'-specialized nest intruders with dramatic anatomical, chemical and behavioral adaptations for colony infiltration. Promyrmister reveals that myrmecophiles evolved close to the emergence of ant eusociality, in colonies of stem-group ants that predominate Burmese amber, or with cryptic crown-group ants that remain largely unknown at this time. The clown beetle-ant relationship has been maintained ever since by the beetles host-switching to numerous modern ant genera, ultimately diversifying into one of the largest radiations of symbiotic animals. We infer that obligate behavioral symbioses can evolve relatively rapidly, and be sustained over deep time.}, } @article {pmid30990122, year = {2019}, author = {Shah, S and Thapa, BB and Chand, K and Pradhan, S and Singh, A and Varma, A and Sen Thakuri, L and Joshi, P and Pant, B}, title = {Piriformospora indica promotes the growth of the in-vitro-raised Cymbidium aloifolium plantlet and their acclimatization.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1596716}, pmid = {30990122}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biological Assay ; Orchidaceae/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Cymbidium aloifolium is known for its ornamental and medicinal values. It has been listed as threatened orchid species. In this study, in vitro propagated C. aloifolium plantlets were interacted with the Piriformospora indica. The growth assay was performed for 45 days; the plant growth pattern such as number and length of roots and shoots were measured. Microscopic study of the root section stained by trypan blue was done to detect the peloton formation. The methanol extracts of the fungal colonized plant as well as uncolonized (control) plant were prepared and various metabolites were identified by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Acclimatization was done in a substrate composition of coco peat: gravel: charcoal in ratio 2:2:1. P. indica-colonized plantlet showed the highest growth with the formation of clamdospore in the root section. The growth regulator such as auxin, ascorbic acid, andrographolide, hexadecanoic acid, and DL-proline were identified. After three months of field transfer, plantlet colonized by P. indica survived and remained healthy as compared to uncolonized control plantlet.}, } @article {pmid30989977, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, JW and Liu, J and Zhou, JH and Yuan, Y and Yang, Q and Huang, LQ}, title = {[Bioinformatics analysis and expression of chitinase genes in Armillaria gallica].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {1151-1155}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20190129.014}, pmid = {30989977}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Armillaria ; Chitinases ; Computational Biology ; *Trichoderma ; }, abstract = {Armillaria gallica is a facultative parasitic fungus which is the only nutrient source of Gastrodia elata during its cultivation.Chitinase,as a glycosidic hydrolytic enzyme,plays an important role in the growth,development,stress tolerance and symbiotic signal transduction of A. gallica. There were 22 chitinase genes in A. gallica. Bioinformatics analysis of amino acid sequence of these chitinase genes revealed that 12 chitinase genes contained glycosidase 18 family(GH18) domain. Chitinase amino acid sequences of A. gallica,A. ostoyae,G. elata,Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Trichoderma harzianum were analyzed byclustering trees,so as to further predict the gene function of chitinase in A. gallica. Induction of A. gallica branching with strigolactone analogue GR24,high-throughput sequencing technology based on the induction of branch group(MHJ1),uninduced branch group(MHJ2) and blank control group(MHJ3) is used to detect the expression quantity,the transcription level data of 22 chitinase genes were obtained and the heat map was generated for expression pattern analysis. It was found that 8 genes may be involved in physiological processes such as A. gallica branching,cell wall degradation and remodeling. In this paper,the function of chitinase gene in A. gallica was just preliminarily analyzed and predicted.}, } @article {pmid30989804, year = {2019}, author = {Mediavilla, O and Geml, J and Olaizola, J and Oria-de-Rueda, JA and Baldrian, P and Martín-Pinto, P}, title = {Effect of forest fire prevention treatments on bacterial communities associated with productive Boletus edulis sites.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {1188-1198}, pmid = {30989804}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Basidiomycota/*growth & development ; Cistus/growth & development/*microbiology ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Metagenomics ; Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Soil Microbiology ; Wildfires/*prevention & control ; }, abstract = {Cistus ladanifer scrublands, traditionally considered as unproductive, have nonetheless been observed to produce large quantities of king bolete (Boletus edulis) fruitbodies. These pyrophytic scrublands are prone to wildfires, which severely affect fungi, hence the need for fire prevention in producing C. ladanifer scrublands. In addition, B. edulis productions have severely decreased in the last years. A deeper understanding of the B. edulis life cycle and of biotic and abiotic factors influencing sporocarp formation is needed to implement management practices that facilitate B. edulis production. For example, some bacteria likely are involved in sporocarp production, representing a key part in the triple symbiosis (plant-fungus-bacteria). In this study, we used soil DNA metabarcoding in C. ladanifer scrublands to (i) assess the effect of site history and fire prevention treatment on bacterial richness and community composition; (ii) test if there was any correlation between various taxonomic groups of bacteria and mycelial biomass and sporocarp production of B. edulis; and to (iii) identify indicator bacteria associated with the most productive B. edulis sites. Our results show that site history drives bacterial richness and community composition, while fire prevention treatments have a weaker, but still detectable effect, particularly in the senescent plots. Sporocarp production correlated positively with genera in Verrucomicrobia. Several genera, e.g. Azospirillum and Gemmatimonas, were identified as indicators of the most productive sites, suggesting a potential biological role in B. edulis fructification. This study provides a better understanding of the triple symbiosis (plant-fungus-bacteria) involved in C. ladanifer-B. edulis systems.}, } @article {pmid30989446, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, Z and Ke, D and Hu, M and Zhang, C and Deng, L and Li, Y and Li, J and Zhao, H and Cheng, L and Wang, L and Yuan, H}, title = {Quantitative phosphoproteomic analyses provide evidence for extensive phosphorylation of regulatory proteins in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {100}, number = {3}, pages = {265-283}, pmid = {30989446}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 6/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphoproteins/physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; RNA Splicing ; RNA, Plant/metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcription Factors ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in root nodules of grain legumes is essential for high yielding. Protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation plays important role in root nodule development. Differences in the phosphoproteomes may either be developmental specific and related to nitrogen fixation activity. An iTRAQ-based quantitative phosphoproteomic analyses during nodule development enables identification of specific phosphorylation signaling in the Lotus-rhizobia symbiosis. During evolution, legumes (Fabaceae) have evolved a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, which fix atmospheric nitrogen and produce ammonia that host plants can then absorb. Root nodule development depends on the activation of protein phosphorylation-mediated signal transduction cascades. To investigate possible molecular mechanisms of protein modulation during nodule development, we used iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analyses to identify root phosphoproteins during rhizobial colonization and infection of Lotus japonicus. 1154 phosphoproteins with 2957 high-confidence phosphorylation sites were identified. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of functional groups of these genes revealed that the biological processes mediated by these proteins included cellular processes, signal transduction, and transporter activity. Quantitative data highlighted the dynamics of protein phosphorylation during nodule development and, based on regulatory trends, seven groups were identified. RNA splicing and brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathways were extensively affected by phosphorylation, and most Ser/Arg-rich (SR) proteins were multiply phosphorylated. In addition, many proposed kinase-substrate pairs were predicted, and in these MAPK6 substrates were found to be highly enriched. This study offers insights into the regulatory processes underlying nodule development, provides an accessible resource cataloging the phosphorylation status of thousands of Lotus proteins during nodule development, and develops our understanding of post-translational regulatory mechanisms in the Lotus-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30989396, year = {2019}, author = {Deveau, A and Clowez, P and Petit, F and Maurice, JP and Todesco, F and Murat, C and Harroué, M and Ruelle, J and Le Tacon, F}, title = {New insights into black truffle biology: discovery of the potential connecting structure between a Tuber aestivum ascocarp and its host root.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {219-226}, pmid = {30989396}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*physiology ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {According to isotopic labeling experiments, most of the carbon used by truffle (Tuber sp.) fruiting bodies to develop underground is provided by host trees, suggesting that trees and truffles are physically connected. However, such physical link between trees and truffle fruiting bodies has never been observed. We discovered fruiting bodies of Tuber aestivum adhering to the walls of a belowground quarry and we took advantage of this unique situation to analyze the physical structure that supported these fruiting bodies in the open air. Observation of transversal sections of the attachment structure indicated that it was organized in ducts made of gleba-like tissue and connected to a network of hyphae traveling across soil particles. Only one mating type was detected by PCR in the gleba and in the attachment structure, suggesting that these two organs are from maternal origin, leaving open the question of the location of the opposite paternal mating type.}, } @article {pmid30989224, year = {2019}, author = {Chong, RA and Park, H and Moran, NA}, title = {Genome Evolution of the Obligate Endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {36}, number = {7}, pages = {1481-1489}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msz082}, pmid = {30989224}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology ; Buchnera/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An evolutionary consequence of uniparentally transmitted symbiosis is degradation of symbiont genomes. We use the system of aphids and their maternally inherited obligate endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, to explore the evolutionary process of genome degradation. We compared complete genome sequences for 39 Buchnera strains, including 23 newly sequenced symbiont genomes from diverse aphid hosts. We reconstructed the genome of the most recent shared Buchnera ancestor, which contained 616 protein-coding genes, and 39 RNA genes. The extent of subsequent gene loss varied across lineages, resulting in modern genomes ranging from 412 to 646 kb and containing 354-587 protein-coding genes. Loss events were highly nonrandom across loci. Genes involved in replication, transcription, translation, and amino acid biosynthesis are largely retained, whereas genes underlying ornithine biosynthesis, stress responses, and transcriptional regulation were lost repeatedly. Aside from losses, gene order is almost completely stable. The main exceptions involve movement between plasmid and chromosome locations of genes underlying tryptophan and leucine biosynthesis and supporting nutrition of aphid hosts. This set of complete genomes enabled tests for signatures of positive diversifying selection. Of 371 Buchnera genes tested, 29 genes show strong support for ongoing positive selection. These include genes encoding outer membrane porins that are expected to be involved in direct interactions with hosts. Collectively, these results indicate that extensive genome reduction occurred in the ancestral Buchnera prior to aphid diversification and that reduction has continued since, with losses greater in some lineages and for some loci.}, } @article {pmid30987816, year = {2019}, author = {Morris, LA and Voolstra, CR and Quigley, KM and Bourne, DG and Bay, LK}, title = {Nutrient Availability and Metabolism Affect the Stability of Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Symbioses.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {678-689}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2019.03.004}, pmid = {30987816}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/growth & development/physiology ; Microbiota ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs rely upon the highly optimized coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, making them sensitive to environmental change and susceptible to anthropogenic stress. Coral bleaching is predominantly attributed to photo-oxidative stress, yet nutrient availability and metabolism underpin the stability of symbioses. Recent studies link symbiont proliferation under nutrient enrichment to bleaching; however, the interactions between nutrients and symbiotic stability are nuanced. Here, we demonstrate how bleaching is regulated by the forms and ratios of available nutrients and their impacts on autotrophic carbon metabolism, rather than algal symbiont growth. By extension, historical nutrient conditions mediate host-symbiont compatibility and bleaching tolerance over proximate and evolutionary timescales. Renewed investigations into the coral nutrient metabolism will be required to truly elucidate the cellular mechanisms leading to coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid30986120, year = {2019}, author = {Si, Z and Yang, Q and Liang, R and Chen, L and Chen, D and Li, Y}, title = {Digalactosyldiacylglycerol Synthase Gene MtDGD1 Plays an Essential Role in Nodule Development and Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {9}, pages = {1196-1209}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-18-0322-R}, pmid = {30986120}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; *Galactosyltransferases/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Little is known about the genes participating in digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) synthesis during nodule symbiosis. Here, we identified full-length MtDGD1, a synthase of DGDG, and characterized its effect on symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed that MtDGD1 was located on the symbiosome membranes in the infected cells. β-Glucuronidase histochemical staining revealed that MtDGD1 was highly expressed in the infection zone of young nodules as well as in the whole mature nodules. Compared with the control, MtDGD1-RNA interference transgenic plants exhibited significant decreases in nodule number, symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity, and DGDG abundance in the nodules, as well as abnormal nodule and symbiosome development. Overexpression of MtDGD1 resulted in enhancement of nodule number and nitrogen fixation activity. In response to phosphorus starvation, the MtDGD1 expression level was substantially upregulated and the abundance of nonphospholipid DGDG was significantly increased in the roots and nodules, accompanied by corresponding decreases in the abundance of phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol. Overall, our results indicate that DGD1 contributes to effective nodule organogenesis and nitrogen fixation by affecting the synthesis and content of DGDG during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30984121, year = {2019}, author = {Deja-Sikora, E and Mercy, L and Baum, C and Hrynkiewicz, K}, title = {The Contribution of Endomycorrhiza to the Performance of Potato Virus Y-Infected Solanaceous Plants: Disease Alleviation or Exacerbation?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {516}, pmid = {30984121}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Solanaceae, comprising meaningful crops (as potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant, and tobacco), can benefit from a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which improve plant fitness and support plant defense against pathogens. Currently, those crops are likely the most impacted by Potato virus Y (PVY). Unfortunately, the effects of AM symbiosis on the severity of disease induced by PVY in solanaceous crops remain uncertain, partly because the interplay between AMF and PVY is poorly characterized. To shed some light on this issue, available studies on interactions in tripartite association between the host plant, its fungal colonizer, and viral pathogen were analyzed and discussed. Although the best-documented PVY transmission pathway is aphid-dependent, PVY infections are also observed in the absence of insect vector. We hypothesize the existence of an additional pathway for virus transmission involving AMF, in which the common mycorrhizal network (CMN) may act as a potential bridge. Therefore, we reviewed (1) the significance of AM colonization for the course of disease, (2) the potential of AMF networks to act as vectors for PVY, and (3) the consequences for crop breeding and production of AM biofertilizers.}, } @article {pmid30984118, year = {2019}, author = {Ek-Ramos, MJ and Gomez-Flores, R and Orozco-Flores, AA and Rodríguez-Padilla, C and González-Ochoa, G and Tamez-Guerra, P}, title = {Bioactive Products From Plant-Endophytic Gram-Positive Bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {463}, pmid = {30984118}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytes constitute plant-colonizing microorganisms in a mutualistic symbiosis relationship. They are found in most ecosystems reducing plant crops' biotic and abiotic stressors by stimulating immune responses, excluding plant pathogens by niche competition, and participating in antioxidant activities and phenylpropanoid metabolism, whose activation produces plant defense, structural support, and survival molecules. In fact, metabolomic studies have demonstrated that endophyte genes associated to specific metabolites are involved in plant growth promotion (PGP) by stimulating plant hormones production such as auxins and gibberellins or as plant protective agents against microbial pathogens, cancer, and insect pests, but eco-friendly and eco-safe. A number of metabolites of Gram-positive endophytes isolated from agriculture, forest, mangrove, and medicinal plants, mainly related to the Firmicutes phyla, possess distinctive biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activities. In general, Actinobacteria and Bacillus endophytes produce aromatic compounds, lipopeptides, plant hormones, polysaccharides, and several enzymes linked to phenylpropanoid metabolism, thus representing high potential for PGP and crop management strategies. Furthermore, Actinobacteria have been shown to produce metabolites with antimicrobial and antitumor activities, useful in agriculture, medicine, and veterinary areas. The great endophytes diversity, their metabolites production, and their adaptation to stress conditions make them a suitable and unlimited source of novel metabolites, whose application could reduce agrochemicals usage in food and drugs production.}, } @article {pmid30982447, year = {2019}, author = {Nikniaz, L and Mahavi, R and Ostadrahimi, A and Nikniaz, Z and Taghipour, S}, title = {Synbiotic supplementation is not effective on breast milk selenium concentrations and growth of exclusively breast fed infants: a pilot study.}, journal = {International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition}, volume = {89}, number = {1-2}, pages = {73-79}, doi = {10.1024/0300-9831/a000549}, pmid = {30982447}, issn = {0300-9831}, mesh = {Breast Feeding ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lactation ; Milk, Human/*chemistry/metabolism ; Pilot Projects ; *Selenium/chemistry ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 57 lactating mothers were randomly allocated into two groups to receive a daily supplement of synbiotic (n = 30) which contained different probiotic strains (2.0 × 10[8] CFU) and fructooligosaccharide (394 mg) or a placebo (n = 27) for 30 days. Dietary intake was collected from lactating women by 24-hour recall method. Breast milk selenium contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace. Weight for age Z-score (WAZ) and Height for age Z-score (HAZ) were evaluated for infants. Data analyses were assessed using nutritionist IV, Epi Info and SPSS software and presented as mean ± sd or SEM. The total mean breast milk selenium levels were 50.1 ± 16.1 mcg L[-1]. At the baseline, the mean breast milk selenium concentrations in the synbiotic and placebo groups were 51.7 ± 20.2 and 48.5 ± 12.1 mcg L[-1]. The mean breast milk selenium levels increased and decreased in the symbiotic and placebo groups respectively, which were not significant (p > 0.05). Also, comparison of the changes in breast milk selenium concentration showed no significant difference between the two study groups after the intervention. At the baseline, the mean WAZ and HAZ of infants whose mothers' milk selenium was more than 60 mcg/l was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than for others. In this pilot study, no significant effect was observed by synbiotic supplementation, however, for concise conclusion, more human studies with higher doses of supplements and longer duration of supplementation are needed to determine the effects of synbiotic supplementation on breast milk selenium contents and infants' growth.}, } @article {pmid30982151, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, J and Wang, J and Li, Q and Wang, J and Liu, Y and Li, J and Chen, L and Shi, Y and Li, S and Zhang, Y and Liu, X and Ma, C and Liu, H and Wen, Y and Sun, Z and Chang, H and Wang, N and Li, C and Yin, Z and Hu, Z and Wu, X and Jiang, H and Liu, C and Qi, Z and Chen, Q and Xin, D}, title = {QTL analysis of nodule traits and the identification of loci interacting with the type III secretion system in soybean.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {294}, number = {4}, pages = {1049-1058}, pmid = {30982151}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is the main source of nitrogen for soybean growth. Since the genotypes of rhizobia and soybean germplasms vary, the nitrogen-fixing ability of soybean after inoculation also varies. A few studies have reported that quantitative trait loci (QTLs) control biological nitrogen fixation traits, even soybean which is an important crop. The present study reported that the Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 gene rhcJ belongs to the tts (type III secretion) cluster and that the mutant HH103ΩrhcJ can clearly decrease the number of nodules in American soybeans. However, few QTLs of nodule traits have been identified. This study used a soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) 'Charleston' × 'Dongnong 594' (C × D, n = 150) recombinant inbred line (RIL). Nodule traits were analysed in the RIL population after inoculation with S. fredii HH103 and the mutant HH103ΩrhcJ. Plants were grown in a greenhouse with a 16-h light cycle at 26 °C and an 8-h dark cycle at 18 °C. Then, 4 weeks after inoculation, plants were harvested for evaluation of nodule traits. Through QTL mapping, 16 QTLs were detected on 8 chromosomes. Quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and RNA-seq analysis determined that the genes Glyma.04g060600, Glyma.18g159800 and Glyma.13g252600 might interact with rhcJ.}, } @article {pmid30982089, year = {2019}, author = {Zwiazek, JJ and Equiza, MA and Karst, J and Senorans, J and Wartenbe, M and Calvo-Polanco, M}, title = {Role of urban ectomycorrhizal fungi in improving the tolerance of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) seedlings to salt stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {303-312}, pmid = {30982089}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology/physiology ; *Salt Stress ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/*metabolism ; Trees/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {With large forested urban areas, the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, faces high annual costs of replacing trees injured by deicing salts that are commonly used for winter road maintenance. Ectomycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with tree roots that allow trees to tolerate the detrimental effects of polluted soils. Here, we examined mycorrhizal colonization of Pinus contorta by germinating seeds in soils collected from different locations: (1) two urban areas within the city of Edmonton, and (2) an intact pine forest just outside Edmonton. We then tested the responses of seedlings to 0-, 60-, and 90-mM NaCl. Our results showed lower abundance and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in seedlings colonized with the urban soils compared to those from the pine forest soil. However, when subsequently exposed to NaCl treatments, only seedlings inoculated with one of the urban soils containing fungi from the genera Tuber, Suillus, and Wilcoxina, showed reduced shoot Na accumulation and higher growth rates. Our results indicate that local ectomycorrhizal fungi that are adapted to challenging urban sites may offer a potential suitable source for inoculum for conifer trees designated for plating in polluted urban environments.}, } @article {pmid30978919, year = {2019}, author = {Farkash, Y and Feldman, M and Ginsburg, I and Steinberg, D and Shalish, M}, title = {Polyphenols Inhibit Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation.}, journal = {Dentistry journal}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30978919}, issn = {2304-6767}, abstract = {Background: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) are two major contributors to dental caries. They have a symbiotic relationship, allowing them to create an enhanced biofilm. Our goal was to examine whether two natural polyphenols (Padma hepaten (PH) and a polyphenol extraction from green tea (PPFGT)) could inhibit the caries-inducing properties of S. mutans and C. albicans. Methods: Co-species biofilms of S. mutans and C. albicans were grown in the presence of PH and PPFGT. Biofilm formation was tested spectrophotometrically. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) secretion was quantified using confocal scanning laser microscopy. Biofilm development was also tested on orthodontic surfaces (Essix) to assess biofilm inhibition ability on such an orthodontic appliance. Results: PPFGT and PH dose-dependently inhibited biofilm formation without affecting the planktonic growth. We found a significant reduction in biofilm total biomass using 0.625 mg/mL PPFGT and 0.16 mg/mL PH. A concentration of 0.31 mg/mL PPFGT and 0.16 mg/mL PH inhibited the total cell growth by 54% and EPS secretion by 81%. A reduction in biofilm formation and EPS secretion was also observed on orthodontic PVC surfaces. Conclusions: The polyphenolic extractions PPFGT and PH have an inhibitory effect on S. mutans and C. albicans biofilm formation and EPS secretion.}, } @article {pmid30978547, year = {2019}, author = {Munzi, S and Cruz, C and Corrêa, A}, title = {When the exception becomes the rule: An integrative approach to symbiosis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {672}, number = {}, pages = {855-861}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.038}, pmid = {30978547}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis, mainly due to the advances in -omics technology and to the microbiome revolution, is being increasingly acknowledged as fundamental to explain any aspect of life existence. Previously considered an exception, a peculiar characteristic of few systems like lichens, corals and mycorrhizas, symbiosis is nowadays recognized as the rule, with the microbiome being part of all living entities and systems. However, our knowledge of the ecological meaning and functioning of many symbiotic systems is still limited. Here, we discuss a new, integrative approach based on current findings that looks at commonalities among symbiotic systems to produce theoretical models and conceptual knowledge that would allow a more efficient exploitation of symbiosis-based biotechnologies. The microbiome recruitment and assemblage processes are indicated as one of the potential targets where a holistic approach could bring advantages. Finally, we reflect on the potential socio-economic and environmental consequences of a symbiotic view of the world, where co-dependence is the matrix of life.}, } @article {pmid30977796, year = {2019}, author = {Salinero-Lanzarote, A and Pacheco-Moreno, A and Domingo-Serrano, L and Durán, D and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Martínez-Romero, E and Albareda, M and Palacios, JM and Rey, L}, title = {The Type VI secretion system of Rhizobium etli Mim1 has a positive effect in symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz054}, pmid = {30977796}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) allow bacteria to translocate effector proteins to other bacteria or to eukaryotic cells. However, little is known about the role of T6SS in endosymbiotic bacteria. In this work we describe the T6SS of Rhizobium etli Mim1, a bacteria able to effectively nodulate common beans. Structural genes and those encoding possible effectors have been identified in a 28-gene DNA region of R. etli Mim1 pRetMIM1f plasmid. Immunodetection of Hcp protein, a conserved key structural component of T6SS systems, indicates that this secretion system is active at high cell densities, in the presence of root exudates, and in bean nodules. Rhizobium etli mutants affected in T6SS structural genes produced plants with lower dry weight and smaller nodules than the wild-type strain, indicating for the first time that the T6SS plays a positive role in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30977533, year = {2019}, author = {Wu, Z and Wang, M and Yang, S and Chen, S and Chen, X and Liu, C and Wang, S and Wang, H and Zhang, B and Liu, H and Qin, R and Wang, X}, title = {A global coexpression network of soybean genes gives insights into the evolution of nodulation in nonlegumes and legumes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {4}, pages = {2104-2119}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15845}, pmid = {30977533}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Gene Duplication ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A coexpression network is a powerful tool for revealing genes' relationship with many biological processes. Mass transcriptomic and genomic data from different plant species provide the foundation for understanding the evolution of nodulation across the Viridiplantae at a systematic level. We used weighted coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to mine a nodule-related module (NRM) in Glycine max. Comparative genomic analysis of 78 green plant species revealed that NRM genes are recruited from different evolutionary nodes along with gene duplication events. A set of core coexpressed genes within legumes may play vital roles in regulating nodule environments essential for nitrogen fixation, including oxygen concentrations, sulfur transport, and iron homeostasis (such as GmCHY). The regulation of these genes occurred mainly at the transcription level, although some of them, such as sulfate transporters, may also undergo positive selection at protein level. We revealed that ancient orthologs and duplication events before the origin of legumes were preadapted for symbiosis. Conserved coregulated genes found within legumes paved the way for nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. These findings provide significant insights into the evolution of nodulation and indicate promising candidates for identifying other key components of legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid30976320, year = {2019}, author = {Luo, C and Li, Y and Chen, Y and Fu, C and Long, W and Xiao, X and Liao, H and Yang, Y}, title = {Bamboo lignocellulose degradation by gut symbiotic microbiota of the bamboo snout beetle Cyrtotrachelus buqueti.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {70}, pmid = {30976320}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gut symbiotic microbiota plays a critical role in nutrient supply, digestion, and absorption. The bamboo snout beetle, Cyrtotrachelus buqueti, a common pest of several bamboo species, exhibits high lignocellulolytic enzyme activity and contains various CAZyme genes. However, to date, no studies have evaluated the role of gut symbiotic microbiota of the snout beetle on bamboo lignocellulose degradation. Therefore, the present study investigated the role of gut symbiotic microbiota of C. buqueti on bamboo lignocellulose degradation.

RESULTS: Gut symbiotic microbiota of female (CCJ), male (XCJ), and larvae (YCJ) beetles was used to treat bamboo shoot particles (BSPs) in vitro for 6 days. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant destruction of the lignocellulose structure after treatment, which was consistent with the degradation efficiencies of CCJ, XCJ, and YCJ for cellulose (21.11%, 17.58% and 18.74%, respectively); hemicellulose (22.22%, 27.18% and 34.20%, respectively); and lignin (19.83%, 24.30% and 32.97%, respectively). Gut symbiotic microbiota of adult and larvae beetles was then identified using 16sRNA sequencing, which revealed that four microbes: Lactococcus, Serratia, Dysgonomonas and Enterococcus, comprise approximately 84% to 94% of the microbiota. Moreover, the genomes of 45 Lactococcus, 72 Serratia, 86 Enterococcus and 4 Dysgonomonas microbes were used to analyse resident CAZyme genes. These results indicated that gut symbiotic microbiota of adult and larvae C. buqueti is involved in the lignocellulose degradation traits shown by the host.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the gut symbiotic microbiota of C. buqueti participates in bamboo lignocellulose degradation, providing innovative findings for bamboo lignocellulose bioconversion. Furthermore, the results of this study will allow us to further isolate lignocellulose-degrading microbiota for use in bamboo lignocellulose bioconversion.}, } @article {pmid30976084, year = {2019}, author = {Kim, GB and Son, SU and Yu, HJ and Mun, JH}, title = {MtGA2ox10 encoding C20-GA2-oxidase regulates rhizobial infection and nodule development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {5952}, pmid = {30976084}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/*pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gibberellin (GA) plays a controversial role in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Recent studies have shown that the GA level in legumes must be precisely controlled for successful rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. However, regulation of the GA level via catabolism in legume roots has not been reported to date. Here, we investigate a novel GA inactivating C20-GA2-oxidase gene MtGA2ox10 in Medicago truncatula. RNA sequencing analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that MtGA2ox10 was induced as early as 6 h post-inoculation (hpi) of rhizobia and reached peak transcript abundance at 12 hpi. Promoter::β-glucuronidase fusion showed that the promoter activity was localized in the root infection/differentiation zone during the early stage of rhizobial infection and in the vascular bundle of the mature nodule. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion mutation of MtGA2ox10 suppressed infection thread formation, which resulted in reduced development and retarded growth of nodules on the Agrobacterium rhizogenes-transformed roots. Over-expression of MtGA2ox10 in the stable transgenic plants caused dwarfism, which was rescued by GA3 application, and increased infection thread formation but inhibition of nodule development. We conclude that MtGA2ox10 plays an important role in the rhizobial infection and the development of root nodules through fine catabolic tuning of GA in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid30976027, year = {2019}, author = {Lefoulon, E and Vaisman, N and Frydman, HM and Sun, L and Voland, L and Foster, JM and Slatko, BE}, title = {Large Enriched Fragment Targeted Sequencing (LEFT-SEQ) Applied to Capture of Wolbachia Genomes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {5939}, pmid = {30976027}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aedes/microbiology ; Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a major force of evolutionary change, influencing virtually all aspects of biology, from population ecology and evolution to genomics and molecular/biochemical mechanisms of development and reproduction. A remarkable example is Wolbachia endobacteria, present in some parasitic nematodes and many arthropod species. Acquisition of genomic data from diverse Wolbachia clades will aid in the elucidation of the different symbiotic mechanisms(s). However, challenges of de novo assembly of Wolbachia genomes include the presence in the sample of host DNA: nematode/vertebrate or insect. We designed biotinylated probes to capture large fragments of Wolbachia DNA for sequencing using PacBio technology (LEFT-SEQ: Large Enriched Fragment Targeted Sequencing). LEFT-SEQ was used to capture and sequence four Wolbachia genomes: the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, wBm, (21-fold enrichment), Drosophila mauritiana flies (2 isolates), wMau (11-fold enrichment), and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, wAlbB (200-fold enrichment). LEFT-SEQ resulted in complete genomes for wBm and for wMau. For wBm, 18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), relative to the wBm reference, were identified and confirmed by PCR. A limit of LEFT-SEQ is illustrated by the wAlbB genome, characterized by a very high level of insertion sequences elements (ISs) and DNA repeats, for which only a 20-contig draft assembly was achieved.}, } @article {pmid30975078, year = {2019}, author = {Sahm, A and Almaida-Pagán, P and Bens, M and Mutalipassi, M and Lucas-Sánchez, A and de Costa Ruiz, J and Görlach, M and Cellerino, A}, title = {Analysis of the coding sequences of clownfish reveals molecular convergence in the evolution of lifespan.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {89}, pmid = {30975078}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Exons/genetics ; Fish Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Ontology ; Longevity/*genetics ; Open Reading Frames/*genetics ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Perciformes/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Standard evolutionary theories of aging postulate that reduced extrinsic mortality leads to evolution of longevity. Clownfishes of the genus Amphiprion live in a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones that provide protection from predators. We performed a survey and identified at least two species with a lifespan of over 20 years. Given their small size and ease of captive reproduction, clownfish lend themselves as experimental models of exceptional longevity. To identify genetic correlates of exceptional longevity, we sequenced the transcriptomes of Amphiprion percula and A. clarkii and performed a scan for positively-selected genes (PSGs).

RESULTS: The PSGs that we identified in the last common clownfish ancestor were compared with PSGs detected in long-lived mole rats and short-lived killifishes revealing convergent evolution in processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis. Among individual genes, the Mitochondrial Transcription Termination Factor 1 (MTERF1), was positively-selected in all three clades, whereas the Glutathione S-Transferase Kappa 1 (GSTK1) was under positive selection in two independent clades. For the latter, homology modelling strongly suggested that positive selection targeted enzymatically important residues.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that specific pathways were recruited in independent lineages evolving an exceptionally extended or shortened lifespan and point to mito-nuclear balance as a key factor.}, } @article {pmid30972251, year = {2019}, author = {Zhernakov, AI and Shtark, OY and Kulaeva, OA and Fedorina, JV and Afonin, AM and Kitaeva, AB and Tsyganov, VE and Afonso-Grunz, F and Hoffmeier, K and Rotter, B and Winter, P and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {Mapping-by-sequencing using NGS-based 3'-MACE-Seq reveals a new mutant allele of the essential nodulation gene Sym33 (IPD3) in pea (Pisum sativum L.).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6662}, pmid = {30972251}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Large collections of pea symbiotic mutants were accumulated in the 1990s, but the causal genes for a large portion of the mutations are still not identified due to the complexity of the task. We applied a Mapping-by-Sequencing approach including Bulk Segregant Analysis and Massive Analysis of cDNA Ends (MACE-Seq) sequencing technology for genetic mapping the Sym11 gene of pea which controls the formation of symbioses with both nodule bacteria and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi. For mapping we developed an F 2-population from the cross between pea line N24 carrying the mutant allele of sym11 and the wild type NGB1238 (=JI0073) line. Sequencing libraries were prepared from bulks of 20 plants with mutant and 12 with wild-type phenotype. MACE-Seq differential gene expression analysis between mutant-phenotype and wild-type-phenotype bulks revealed 2,235 genes, of which 514 (23%) were up-regulated and 1,721 (77%) were down-regulated in plant roots inoculated with rhizobia as a consequence of sym11 mutation. MACE-Seq also detected single nucleotide variants between bulks in 217 pea genes. Using a novel mathematical model we calculated the recombination frequency (RF) between the Sym11 gene and these 217 polymorphic genes. Six genes with the lowest RF were converted into CAPS or dCAPS markers and genetically mapped on the complete mapping population of 108 F 2-plants which confirmed their tight linkage to Sym11 and to each other. The Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (Mt) homologs of these genes are located in a distinct region of Mt chromosome 5, which corresponds to linkage group I of pea. Among 94 candidate genes from this region only one was down-regulated-the pea Sym33 homolog of the Mt IPD3 gene which is essential for nodulation. Sequencing of the Sym33 allele of the N24 (sym11) mutant revealed a single nucleotide deletion (c.C319del) in its third exon resulting in a codon shift in the open reading frame and premature translation termination. Thus, we identified a novel mutant allele sym33-4 most probably responsible for the mutant phenotype of the N24 (sym11) line, thereby demonstrating that mapping by MACE-Seq can be successfully used for genetic mapping of mutations and identification of candidate genes in pea.}, } @article {pmid30972043, year = {2019}, author = {Mills, JG and Brookes, JD and Gellie, NJC and Liddicoat, C and Lowe, AJ and Sydnor, HR and Thomas, T and Weinstein, P and Weyrich, LS and Breed, MF}, title = {Relating Urban Biodiversity to Human Health With the 'Holobiont' Concept.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {550}, pmid = {30972043}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A relatively unaccounted ecosystem service from biodiversity is the benefit to human health via symbiotic microbiota from our environment. This benefit occurs because humans evolved alongside microbes and have been constantly exposed to diverse microbiota. Plants and animals, including humans, are organised as a host with symbiotic microbiota, whose collective genome and life history form a single holobiont. As such, there are interdependencies between biodiversity, holobionts, and public health which lead us to argue that human health outcomes could be improved by increasing contact with biodiversity in an urban context. We propose that humans, like all holobionts, likely require a diverse microbial habitat to appropriate resources for living healthy, long lives. We discuss how industrial urbanisation likely disrupts the symbiosis between microbiota and their hosts, leading to negative health outcomes. The industrialised urban habitat is low in macro and microbial biodiversity and discourages contact with beneficial environmental microbiota. These habitat factors, alongside diet, antibiotics, and others, are associated with the epidemic of non-communicable diseases in these societies. We suggest that restoration of urban microbial biodiversity and micro-ecological processes through microbiome rewilding can benefit holobiont health and aid in treating the urban non-communicable disease epidemic. Further, we identify research gaps and some solutions to economic and strategic hurdles in applying microbiome rewilding into daily urban life.}, } @article {pmid30971921, year = {2019}, author = {Dang, Z and Li, Q and Sun, S and Wang, Y and Lin, R and Zhang, Y and Dai, J and Zheng, N}, title = {The Medicinal Plant Pair Bupleurum chinense-Scutellaria baicalensis - Metabolomics and Metallomics Analysis in a Model for Alcoholic Liver Injury.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {254}, pmid = {30971921}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a complex natural herbal medicine system, has increasingly attracted attention from all over the world. Most research has illustrated the mechanism of TCM based on the active components or single herbs. It was fruitful and effective but far from satisfactory as it failed to gain insights into the interactivity and combined effects of TCM. In this work, we used Bupleurum chinense (B. chinense DC, a species in the genus Bupleurum, family Apiaceae) and Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis Georgi, a species in the genus Scutellaria, family Lamiaceae), an herbal pair in TCM, to illustrate the combined effect. We compared the diverse effects between the B. chinense-S. baicalensis herbal pair and its compositions in an animal model of Alcoholic Liver Injury to highlight the advantages of the formula. Biochemical and histological indicators revealed that the effect of B. chinense-S. baicalensis was better than its individual parts. Furthermore, metabolite profiling of the serum, liver tissue, and feces were conducted to reveal that the herbal pair largely presented its effects through enhanced tissue penetration to maintain liver-located intervention with less global and symbiotic disturbance. Furthermore, we analyzed the distribution of the metal elements in extracts of the serum and liver tissue and found that the herbal pair significantly regulated the distribution of endogenous selenium in liver tissue. As selenium plays an important role in the anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects, it may be the reason for combined effects in BS formula. This research could open new perspectives for exploring the material basis of combined effects in natural herbal medicine.}, } @article {pmid30971198, year = {2019}, author = {Malinich, EA and Wang, K and Mukherjee, PK and Kolomiets, M and Kenerley, CM}, title = {Differential expression analysis of Trichoderma virens RNA reveals a dynamic transcriptome during colonization of Zea mays roots.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {280}, pmid = {30971198}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Energy Metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Trichoderma/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Zea mays/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trichoderma spp. are majorly composed of plant-beneficial symbionts widely used in agriculture as bio-control agents. Studying the mechanisms behind Trichoderma-derived plant benefits has yielded tangible bio-industrial products. To better take advantage of this fungal-plant symbiosis it is necessary to obtain detailed knowledge of which genes Trichoderma utilizes during interaction with its plant host. In this study, we explored the transcriptional activity undergone by T. virens during two phases of symbiosis with maize; recognition of roots and after ingress into the root cortex.

RESULTS: We present a model of T. virens - maize interaction wherein T. virens experiences global repression of transcription upon recognition of maize roots and then induces expression of a broad spectrum of genes during colonization of maize roots. The genes expressed indicate that, during colonization of maize roots, T. virens modulates biosynthesis of phytohormone-like compounds, secretes a plant-environment specific array of cell wall degrading enzymes and secondary metabolites, remodels both actin-based and cell membrane structures, and shifts metabolic activity. We also highlight transcription factors and signal transduction genes important in future research seeking to unravel the molecular mechanisms of T. virens activity in maize roots.

CONCLUSIONS: T. virens displays distinctly different transcriptional profiles between recognizing the presence of maize roots and active colonization of these roots. A though understanding of these processes will allow development of T. virens as a bio-control agent. Further, the publication of these datasets will target future research endeavors specifically to genes of interest when considering T. virens - maize symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30968126, year = {2019}, author = {Berger, A and Boscari, A and Frendo, P and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Nitric oxide signaling, metabolism and toxicity in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {17}, pages = {4505-4520}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erz159}, pmid = {30968126}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between legumes and rhizobia lead to the establishment of a symbiotic relationship characterized by the formation of a new organ, the nodule, which facilitates the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) by nitrogenase through the creation of a hypoxic environment. Significant amounts of nitric oxide (NO) accumulate at different stages of nodule development, suggesting that NO performs specific signaling and/or metabolic functions during symbiosis. NO, which regulates nodule gene expression, accumulates to high levels in hypoxic nodules. NO accumulation is considered to assist energy metabolism within the hypoxic environment of the nodule via a phytoglobin-NO-mediated respiration process. NO is a potent inhibitor of the activity of nitrogenase and other plant and bacterial enzymes, acting as a developmental signal in the induction of nodule senescence. Hence, key questions concern the relative importance of the signaling and metabolic functions of NO versus its toxic action and how NO levels are regulated to be compatible with nitrogen fixation functions. This review analyses these paradoxical roles of NO at various stages of symbiosis, and highlights the role of plant phytoglobins and bacterial hemoproteins in the control of NO accumulation.}, } @article {pmid30968090, year = {2019}, author = {Hajinazar, S and Sandoval, ED and Cullo, AJ and Kolmogorov, AN}, title = {Multitribe evolutionary search for stable Cu-Pd-Ag nanoparticles using neural network models.}, journal = {Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP}, volume = {21}, number = {17}, pages = {8729-8742}, doi = {10.1039/c9cp00837c}, pmid = {30968090}, issn = {1463-9084}, abstract = {We present an approach based on two bio-inspired algorithms to accelerate the identification of nanoparticle ground states. We show that a symbiotic co-evolution of nanoclusters across a range of sizes improves the search efficiency considerably, while a neural network constructed with a recently introduced stratified training scheme delivers an accurate description of interactions in multielement systems. The method's performance has been examined in extensive searches for stable elemental (30-80 atoms), binary (50, 55, and 80 atoms), and ternary (50, 55, and 80 atoms) Cu-Pd-Ag clusters. The best candidate structures identified with the neural network model have consistently lower energy at the density functional theory level compared with those found with traditional interatomic potentials.}, } @article {pmid30967024, year = {2019}, author = {Kang, L}, title = {Overview: biotic signalling for smart pest management.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {374}, number = {1767}, pages = {20180306}, pmid = {30967024}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Perception ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biotic signalling refers to species or phylogenetic-clade-specific signals that elicit adaptive and acceptable responses within and among organisms. It is not only the molecular basis of the ecological relationships among different species, such as parasitism, symbiosis and predation, but also serves as ideal targets that can be used to manipulate these ecological relationships. This concept was proposed by a group of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and actively pursued in a five-year research project in 2014 funded by the CAS ($40 million), entitled 'Decoding biotic interactions and mechanism for target management of agricultural pests'. The multi-disciplinary project aimed at a systematic investigation of the intra-species and inter-species and interactions via biotic signalling, with the ultimate goal being the development of novel methods to manage the pest insects and diseases. We hereby propose a topic 'Biotic signalling sheds light on smart pest control' as a theme issue for the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. It contains a total of 18 reviews and research articles under the topic of signalling manipulation for pest management. Unravelling these complex interactions among plants, microbial pathogens and insects holds promise for developing novel strategies to protect crop plants without compromising agricultural productivity and environmental health. This article is part of the theme issue 'Biotic signalling sheds light on smart pest management'.}, } @article {pmid30963950, year = {2019}, author = {Uchiumi, Y and Ohtsuki, H and Sasaki, A}, title = {Evolution of self-limited cell division of symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1895}, pages = {20182238}, pmid = {30963950}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Biological Coevolution ; Cell Division/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In mutualism between unicellular hosts and their endosymbionts, symbiont's cell division is often synchronized with its host's, ensuring the permanent relationship between endosymbionts and their hosts. The evolution of synchronized cell division thus has been considered to be an essential step in the evolutionary transition from symbionts to organelles. However, if symbionts would accelerate their cell division without regard for the synchronization with the host, they would proliferate more efficiently. Thus, it is paradoxical that symbionts evolve to limit their own division for synchronized cell division. Here, we theoretically explore the condition for the evolution of self-limited cell division of symbionts, by assuming that symbionts control their division rate and that hosts control symbionts' death rate by intracellular digestion and nutrient supply. Our analysis shows that symbionts can evolve to limit their own cell division. Such evolution occurs if not only symbiont's but also host's benefit through symbiosis is large. Moreover, the coevolution of hosts and symbionts leads to either permanent symbiosis where symbionts proliferate to keep pace with their host, or the arms race between symbionts that behave as lytic parasites and hosts that resist them by rapid digestion.}, } @article {pmid30963860, year = {2019}, author = {Skelton, J and Johnson, AJ and Jusino, MA and Bateman, CC and Li, Y and Hulcr, J}, title = {A selective fungal transport organ (mycangium) maintains coarse phylogenetic congruence between fungus-farming ambrosia beetles and their symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1894}, pages = {20182127}, pmid = {30963860}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Thousands of species of ambrosia beetles excavate tunnels in wood to farm fungi. They maintain associations with particular lineages of fungi, but the phylogenetic extent and mechanisms of fidelity are unknown. We test the hypothesis that selectivity of their mycangium enforces fidelity at coarse phylogenetic scales, while permitting promiscuity among closely related fungal mutualists. We confirm a single evolutionary origin of the Xylosandrus complex-a group of several xyleborine genera that farm fungi in the genus Ambrosiella. Multi-level co-phylogenetic analysis revealed frequent symbiont switching within major Ambrosiella clades, but not between clades. The loss of the mycangium in Diuncus, a genus of evolutionary cheaters, was commensurate with the loss of fidelity to fungal clades, supporting the hypothesis that the mycangium reinforces fidelity. Finally, in vivo experiments tracked symbiotic compatibility throughout the symbiotic life cycle of Xylosandrus compactus and demonstrated that closely related Ambrosiella symbionts are interchangeable, but the probability of fungal uptake in the mycangium was significantly lower in more phylogenetically distant species of symbionts. Symbiont loads in experimental subjects were similar to wild-caught beetles. We conclude that partner choice in ambrosia beetles is achieved in the mycangium, and co-phylogenetic inferences can be used to predict the likelihood of specific symbiont switches.}, } @article {pmid30962916, year = {2019}, author = {von Cräutlein, M and Leinonen, PH and Korpelainen, H and Helander, M and Väre, H and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Postglacial colonization history reflects in the genetic structure of natural populations of Festuca rubra in Europe.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {3661-3674}, pmid = {30962916}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {We conducted a large-scale population genetic survey of genetic diversity of the host grass Festuca rubra s.l., which fitness can be highly dependent on its symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae, to evaluate genetic variation and population structure across the European range. The 27 studied populations have previously been found to differ in frequencies of occurrence of the symbiotic fungus E. festucae and ploidy levels. As predicted, we found decreased genetic diversity in previously glaciated areas in comparison with nonglaciated regions and discovered three major maternal genetic groups: southern, northeastern, and northwestern Europe. Interestingly, host populations from Greenland were genetically similar to those from the Faroe Islands and Iceland, suggesting gene flow also between those areas. The level of variation among populations within regions is evidently highly dependent on the postglacial colonization history, in particular on the number of independent long-distance seed colonization events. Yet, also anthropogenic effects may have affected the population structure in F. rubra. We did not observe higher fungal infection rates in grass populations with lower levels of genetic variability. In fact, the fungal infection rates of E. festucae in relation to genetic variability of the host populations varied widely among geographical areas, which indicate differences in population histories due to colonization events and possible costs of systemic fungi in harsh environmental conditions. We found that the plants of different ploidy levels are genetically closely related within geographic areas indicating independent formation of polyploids in different maternal lineages.}, } @article {pmid30962361, year = {2019}, author = {Jäckle, O and Seah, BKB and Tietjen, M and Leisch, N and Liebeke, M and Kleiner, M and Berg, JS and Gruber-Vodicka, HR}, title = {Chemosynthetic symbiont with a drastically reduced genome serves as primary energy storage in the marine flatworm Paracatenula.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {17}, pages = {8505-8514}, pmid = {30962361}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Chemoautotrophic Growth/genetics/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Platyhelminths/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; *Rhodospirillaceae/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Hosts of chemoautotrophic bacteria typically have much higher biomass than their symbionts and consume symbiont cells for nutrition. In contrast to this, chemoautotrophic Candidatus Riegeria symbionts in mouthless Paracatenula flatworms comprise up to half of the biomass of the consortium. Each species of Paracatenula harbors a specific Ca Riegeria, and the endosymbionts have been vertically transmitted for at least 500 million years. Such prolonged strict vertical transmission leads to streamlining of symbiont genomes, and the retained physiological capacities reveal the functions the symbionts provide to their hosts. Here, we studied a species of Paracatenula from Sant'Andrea, Elba, Italy, using genomics, gene expression, imaging analyses, as well as targeted and untargeted MS. We show that its symbiont, Ca R. santandreae has a drastically smaller genome (1.34 Mb) than the symbiont´s free-living relatives (4.29-4.97 Mb) but retains a versatile and energy-efficient metabolism. It encodes and expresses a complete intermediary carbon metabolism and enhanced carbon fixation through anaplerosis and accumulates massive intracellular inclusions such as sulfur, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and carbohydrates. Compared with symbiotic and free-living chemoautotrophs, Ca R. santandreae's versatility in energy storage is unparalleled in chemoautotrophs with such compact genomes. Transmission EM as well as host and symbiont expression data suggest that Ca R. santandreae largely provisions its host via outer-membrane vesicle secretion. With its high share of biomass in the symbiosis and large standing stocks of carbon and energy reserves, it has a unique role for bacterial symbionts-serving as the primary energy storage for its animal host.}, } @article {pmid30959166, year = {2019}, author = {Marón, CF and Kohl, KD and Chirife, A and Di Martino, M and Fons, MP and Navarro, MA and Beingesser, J and McAloose, D and Uzal, FA and Dearing, MD and Rowntree, VJ and Uhart, M}, title = {Symbiotic microbes and potential pathogens in the intestine of dead southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) calves.}, journal = {Anaerobe}, volume = {57}, number = {}, pages = {107-114}, doi = {10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.04.003}, pmid = {30959166}, issn = {1095-8274}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Argentina ; Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques ; *Cadaver ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Whales/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Between 2003 and 2017, at least 706 southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) calves died at the Península Valdés calving ground in Argentina. Pathogenic microbes are often suggested to be the cause of stranding events in cetaceans; however, to date there is no evidence supporting bacterial infections as a leading cause of right whale calf deaths in Argentina. We used high-throughput sequencing and culture methods to characterize the bacterial communities and to detect potential pathogens from the intestine of stranded calves. We analyzed small and large intestinal contents from 44 dead calves that stranded at Península Valdés from 2005 to 2010 and found 108 bacterial genera, most identified as Firmicutes or Bacteroidetes, and 9 genera that have been previously implicated in diseases of marine mammals. Only one operational taxonomic unit was present in all samples and identified as Clostridium perfringens type A. PCR results showed that all C. perfringens isolates (n = 38) were positive for alpha, 50% for beta 2 (n = 19) and 47% for enterotoxin (CPE) genes (n = 18). The latter is associated with food-poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases in humans and possibly other animals. The prevalence of the cpe gene found in the Valdés' calves is unusually high compared with other mammals. However, insufficient histologic evidence of gastrointestinal inflammation or necrosis (the latter possibly masked by autolysis) in the gut of stranded calves, and absence of enterotoxin detection precludes conclusions about the role of C. perfringens in calf deaths. Further work is required to determine whether C. perfringens or other pathogens detected in this study are causative agents of calf deaths at Península Valdés.}, } @article {pmid30959049, year = {2019}, author = {Tabrizi, R and Ostadmohammadi, V and Lankarani, KB and Akbari, M and Akbari, H and Vakili, S and Shokrpour, M and Kolahdooz, F and Rouhi, V and Asemi, Z}, title = {The effects of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers among patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.}, journal = {European journal of pharmacology}, volume = {852}, number = {}, pages = {254-264}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.04.003}, pmid = {30959049}, issn = {1879-0712}, mesh = {Biomarkers/metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; *Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to evaluate the effect of probiotic and symbiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers among patients with diabetes. Clinical trials were searched using Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science online databases for relevant trials published until April 2018. Two independent investigators evaluated study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included clinical trials. Cochran's Q test and I-square (I[2]) statistic were used to detect heterogeneity among the included. Data were pooled by using the random-effect model and standardized mean difference (SMD) was considered as the summary effect size. From 986 originally identified publications 18 clinical trials with a total of 1337 patients were included. Findings showed that probiotic and synbiotic supplementation among patients with diabetes significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (SMD = -2.99; 95% CI, -4.77, -1.20; P = 0.001; I[2]: 96.3), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = -0.87; 95% CI, -1.27, -0.48; P < 0.001; I[2]: 90.2); while significantly increased nitric oxide (NO) concentrations (SMD = 1.49; 95% CI, 0.81, 2.16; P < 0.001; I[2]: 92.1). There were no effects of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (SMD = -0.65; 95% CI, -1.88, 0.59; P = 0.30; I[2]: 94.7). In summary, the current meta-analysis demonstrated probiotic and synbiotic supplementation among patients with diabetes significantly decreased CRP and TNF-α, and increased NO levels, but did not affect IL-6 levels.}, } @article {pmid30957896, year = {2019}, author = {Seidlein, AH and Buchholz, I and Buchholz, M and Salloch, S}, title = {Relationships and burden: An empirical-ethical investigation of lived experience in home nursing arrangements.}, journal = {Bioethics}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {448-456}, doi = {10.1111/bioe.12586}, pmid = {30957896}, issn = {1467-8519}, mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Attitude ; *Caregivers ; Chronic Disease ; Cost of Illness ; *Emotions ; *Family ; Family Relations ; Female ; Home Nursing/*ethics/psychology ; Humans ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Moral Obligations ; Nurse-Patient Relations/ethics ; *Nurses ; Professional-Family Relations/ethics ; Professionalism ; Self Concept ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Work ; }, abstract = {Quantitative research has called attention to the burden associated with informal caregiving in home nursing arrangements. Less emphasis has been placed, however, on care recipients' subjective feelings of being a burden and on caregivers' willingness to carry the burden in home care. This article uses empirical material from semi-structured interviews conducted with older people affected by multiple chronic conditions and in need of long-term home care, and with informal and professional caregivers, as two groups of relevant others. The high burden of home-care arrangements is unanimously stressed by all three groups involved in the triangle of care. An empirical-ethical investigation of what can be legitimately expected from family members and informal caregivers, informed by Frith's symbiotic empirical ethics approach, was undertaken. Key tenets from the special goods theory and nursing professionalism are used as analytical tools. The study concludes that the current situation may hinder professional development and can reinforce feelings of being a burden to relevant others.}, } @article {pmid30957149, year = {2019}, author = {Wu, QS and He, JD and Srivastava, AK and Zou, YN and Kuča, K}, title = {Mycorrhizas enhance drought tolerance of citrus by altering root fatty acid compositions and their saturation levels.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {39}, number = {7}, pages = {1149-1158}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpz039}, pmid = {30957149}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {*Citrus ; Droughts ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Poncirus ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) have the ability to enhance drought tolerance of citrus, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. Considering the strong association of cell membrane fatty acid (FA) unsaturation with plant drought tolerance, the present study hypothesized that AM fungi (AMF) modulated the composition and unsaturation of FAs to enhance drought tolerance of host plants. Drought-sensitive citrus rootstocks, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings, were inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) for 3 months and were subsequently exposed to drought stress (DS) for 8 weeks. Mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited better plant growth performance, higher leaf water potential and lower root abscisic acid concentrations under both well-watered (WW) and DS conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus inoculation considerably increased root methyl oleate (C18:1), methyl linoleate (C18:2) and methyl linolenate (C18:3N3) concentrations under both WW and DS conditions, and root methyl palmitoleate (C16:1) concentrations under WW, while it decreased root methyl stearate (C18:0) levels under both WW and DS. These changes in the composition of FAs of mycorrhized roots resulted in higher unsaturation index of root FAs, which later aided in reducing the oxidative damage on account of lower concentration of malondialdehyde and superoxide radicals. The changes of these FAs were a result of AMF-up-regulating root FA desaturase 2 (PtFAD2), FA desaturase 6 (PtFAD6) and Δ9 FA desaturase (PtΔ9) genes under WW and PtFAD2, PtFAD6 and Δ15 FA desaturase (PtΔ15) genes under DS conditions. Our results confirmed that mycorrhization brought significant changes in root FA compositions, in addition to regulation of gene expression responsible for increasing the unsaturation level of FAs, a predisposing physiological event for better drought tolerance of citrus.}, } @article {pmid30955777, year = {2019}, author = {McCauley, M and Goulet, TL}, title = {Caribbean gorgonian octocorals cope with nutrient enrichment.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {621-628}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.067}, pmid = {30955777}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Carbon ; Caribbean Region ; Chlorophyll ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals inhabit oligotrophic waters, thriving amidst limited nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. When nutrient levels increase, usually due to human activity, the symbiosis of dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) with scleractinian corals can break down. Although gorgonian corals dominate many Caribbean reefs, the impact of enrichment on them and their algae is understudied. We exposed two gorgonian species, Pseudoplexaura porosa and Eunicea tourneforti, to elevated concentrations of either ammonium (10 μM or 50 μM) or phosphate (4 μM). Enrichment with 10 μM ammonium increased chlorophyll content and algal density in both species, whereas the host biochemical composition was unaffected. Exposure to 50 μM ammonium only reduced the quantum yield in P. porosa and mitotic indices in both species. Conversely, algal carbon and nitrogen content within E. tourneforti increased with 4 μM phosphate exposure. These gorgonian species coped with short-term nutrient enrichment, furthering our understanding of the success of Caribbean gorgonians.}, } @article {pmid30953569, year = {2019}, author = {Arimoto, A and Hikosaka-Katayama, T and Hikosaka, A and Tagawa, K and Inoue, T and Ueki, T and Yoshida, MA and Kanda, M and Shoguchi, E and Hisata, K and Satoh, N}, title = {A draft nuclear-genome assembly of the acoel flatworm Praesagittifera naikaiensis.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30953569}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology/methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Helminth ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Genomics/methods ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phenotype ; Platyhelminths/anatomy & histology/*genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Transcriptome ; Web Browser ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Acoels are primitive bilaterians with very simple soft bodies, in which many organs, including the gut, are not developed. They provide platforms for studying molecular and developmental mechanisms involved in the formation of the basic bilaterian body plan, whole-body regeneration, and symbiosis with photosynthetic microalgae. Because genomic information is essential for future research on acoel biology, we sequenced and assembled the nuclear genome of an acoel, Praesagittifera naikaiensis.

FINDINGS: To avoid sequence contamination derived from symbiotic microalgae, DNA was extracted from embryos that were free of algae. More than 290x sequencing coverage was achieved using a combination of Illumina (paired-end and mate-pair libraries) and PacBio sequencing. RNA sequencing and Iso-Seq data from embryos, larvae, and adults were also obtained. First, a preliminary ∼17-kilobase pair (kb) mitochondrial genome was assembled, which was deleted from the nuclear sequence assembly. As a result, a draft nuclear genome assembly was ∼656 Mb in length, with a scaffold N50 of 117 kb and a contig N50 of 57 kb. Although ∼70% of the assembled sequences were likely composed of repetitive sequences that include DNA transposons and retrotransposons, the draft genome was estimated to contain 22,143 protein-coding genes, ∼99% of which were substantiated by corresponding transcripts. We could not find horizontally transferred microalgal genes in the acoel genome. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs analyses indicated that 77% of the conserved single-copy genes were complete. Pfam domain analyses provided a basic set of gene families for transcription factors and signaling molecules.

CONCLUSIONS: Our present sequencing and assembly of the P. naikaiensis nuclear genome are comparable to those of other metazoan genomes, providing basic information for future studies of genic and genomic attributes of this animal group. Such studies may shed light on the origins and evolution of simple bilaterians.}, } @article {pmid30953430, year = {2019}, author = {Landmann, F}, title = {The Wolbachia Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.BAI-0018-2019}, pmid = {30953430}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology ; Filarioidea/microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Insecta/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/pathogenicity/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The Wolbachia endosymbionts encompass a large group of intracellular bacteria of biomedical and veterinary relevance, closely related to Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia. This genus of Gram-negative members of the Alphaproteobacteria does not infect vertebrates but is instead restricted to ecdysozoan species, including terrestrial arthropods and a family of parasitic filarial nematodes, the Onchocercidae. The Wolbachia profoundly impact not only the ecology and evolution but also the reproductive biology of their hosts, through a wide range of symbiotic interactions. Because they are essential to the survival and reproduction of their filarial nematode hosts, they represent an attractive target to fight filariasis. Their abilities to spread through insect populations and to affect vector competence through pathogen protection have made Wolbachia a staple for controlling vector-borne diseases. Estimated to be present in up to 66% of insect species, the Wolbachia are probably the most abundant endosymbionts on earth. Their success resides in their unique capacity to infect and manipulate the host germ line to favor their vertical transmission through the maternal lineage. Because the Wolbachia resist genetic manipulation and growth in axenic culture, our understanding of their biology is still in its infancy. Despite these limitations, the "-omics" revolution combined with the use of well-established and emerging experimental host models is accelerating our comprehension of the host phenotypes caused by Wolbachia, and the identification of Wolbachia effectors is ongoing.}, } @article {pmid30953092, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, X and Qiu, W and Rao, B and Cao, Y and Fang, X and Yang, J and Jiang, G and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {Bacterioferritin comigratory protein is important in hydrogen peroxide resistance, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation in Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {6}, pages = {823-831}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01654-8}, pmid = {30953092}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cytochrome b Group/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Ferritins/genetics/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*pharmacology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species are not only harmful for rhizobia but also required for the establishment of symbiotic interactions between rhizobia and their legume hosts. In this work, we first investigated the preliminary role of the bacterioferritin comigratory protein (BCP), a member of the peroxiredoxin family, in the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azorhizobium caulinodans. Our data revealed that the bcp-deficient strain of A. caulinodans displayed an increased sensitivity to inorganic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but not to two organic peroxides in a growth-phase-dependent manner. Meanwhile, BCP was found to be involved in catalase activity under relatively low H2O2 conditions. Furthermore, nodulation and N2 fixation were significantly impaired by mutation of the bcp gene in A. caulinodans. Our work initially documented the importance of BCP in the bacterial defence against H2O2 in the free-living stage of rhizobia and during their symbiotic interactions with legumes. Molecular signalling in vivo is required to decipher the holistic functions of BCP in A. caulinodans as well as in other rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid30952658, year = {2019}, author = {Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Insights into the Phylogeny, Nodule Function, and Biogeographic Distribution of Microsymbionts Nodulating the Orphan Kersting's Groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Marechal & Baudet] in African Soils.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30952658}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Ghana ; Mozambique ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Photosynthesis ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Kersting's groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Marechal & Baudet] is a neglected indigenous African legume adapted to growth in N-deficient soils due to its ability to fix atmospheric N2 via symbiosis with rhizobia. Despite its nutritional and medicinal uses, to date there is little information on the phylogeny and functional traits of its microsymbionts, aspects that are much needed for its conservation and improvement. This study explored the morphogenetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and N2-fixing efficiency of Kersting's groundnut rhizobial isolates from contrasting environments in Ghana, South Africa, and Mozambique. BOX-PCR fingerprinting revealed high diversity among the rhizobial populations, which was influenced by geographic origin. Of the 164 isolates evaluated, 130 BOX-PCR types were identified at a 70% similarity coefficient, indicating that they were not clones. Soil pH and mineral concentrations were found to influence the distribution of bradyrhizobial populations in African soils. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes and multilocus sequence analysis of protein-coding genes (atpD, glnII, gyrB, and rpoB) and symbiotic genes (nifH and nodC) showed that Kersting's groundnut is primarily nodulated by members of the genus Bradyrhizobium, which are closely related to Bradyrhizobium vignae 7-2[T], Bradyrhizobium kavangense 14-3[T], Bradyrhizobium subterraneum 58-2-1[T], Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi PAC48[T], the type strain of Bradyrhizobium elkanii, and novel groups of Bradyrhizobium species. The bradyrhizobial populations identified exhibited high N2 fixation and induced greater nodulation, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and photosynthetic rates in their homologous host than did the 5 mM KNO3-fed plants and/or the commercial Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB756, suggesting that they could be good candidates for inoculant formulations upon field testing.IMPORTANCE Rhizobia play important roles in agroecosystems, where they contribute to improving overall soil health through their symbiotic relationship with legumes. This study explored the microsymbionts nodulating Kersting's groundnut, a neglected orphan legume. The results revealed the presence of different bradyrhizobial populations with high N2-fixing efficiencies as the dominant symbionts of this legume across diverse agroecologies in Africa. Our findings represent a useful contribution to the literature in terms of the community of microsymbionts nodulating a neglected cultivated legume and its potential for elevation as a major food crop. The presence of potentially novel bradyrhizobial symbionts of Kersting's groundnut found in this study offers an opportunity for future studies to properly describe, characterize, and delineate these isolates functionally and phylogenetically for use in inoculant production to enhance food/nutritional security.}, } @article {pmid30952451, year = {2019}, author = {Camacho, M and Medina, C and Rodríguez-Navarro, DN and Temprano Vera, F}, title = {Biodiversity of rhizobia present in plant nodules of Biserrula pelecinus across Southwest Spain.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {415-421}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.03.005}, pmid = {30952451}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Carbon/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/analysis ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plasmids ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biodiversity studies of native Mesorhizobium spp. strains able to nodulate the annual herbaceous legume Biserrula pelecinus L. in soils from Southwest Spain have been carried out. One or two isolates per plant, 30 in total, were randomly selected for further characterization. There was no association between the presence of mesorhizobia nodulating-B. pelecinus and the chemical or textural properties of the soils. The isolates were tested for their symbiotic effectiveness on this forage legume under greenhouse conditions and characterized on the basis of physiological parameters: carbon source utilisation (API 50CH), 16S rRNA sequencing and ERIC-PCR, lipopolysaccharide, protein and plasmid profiles. Our results show that in spite of the great diversity found among the native isolates, most of them belong to the genus Mesorhizobium, the exception being strain B24 which sequence matches 97.52% with Neorhizobium huautlense; this is the first description of a Neorhizobium strain effectively nodulating-biserrula plants. Results of a field trial indicated that some of these isolates could be recommended as inoculants for this legume. B24=DSM 28743=CECT 8815; ENA (HF955513) 16S rRNA sequences of isolates B13, B18, B26, B30 and B1 are deposited at ENA under numbers LS999402 to LS999406, respectively.}, } @article {pmid30951191, year = {2019}, author = {Benavent-González, A and Raggio, J and Villagra, J and Blanquer, JM and Pintado, A and Rozzi, R and Green, TGA and Sancho, LG}, title = {High nitrogen contribution by Gunnera magellanica and nitrogen transfer by mycorrhizas drive an extraordinarily fast primary succession in sub-Antarctic Chile.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {2}, pages = {661-674}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15838}, pmid = {30951191}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Carbon Cycle ; Chile ; Isotope Labeling ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Soil ; Tracheophyta/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Chronosequences at the forefront of retreating glaciers provide information about colonization rates of bare surfaces. In the northern hemisphere, forest development can take centuries, with rates often limited by low nutrient availability. By contrast, in front of the retreating Pia Glacier (Tierra del Fuego, Chile), a Nothofagus forest is in place after only 34 yr of development, while total soil nitrogen (N) increased from near zero to 1.5%, suggesting a strong input of this nutrient. We measured N-fixation rates, carbon fluxes, leaf N and phosphorus contents and leaf δ[15] N in the dominant plants, including the herb Gunnera magellanica, which is endosymbiotically associated with a cyanobacterium, in order to investigate the role of N-fixing and mycorrhizal symbionts in N-budgets during successional transition. G. magellanica presented some of the highest nitrogenase activities yet reported (potential maximal contribution of 300 kg N ha[-1] yr[-1]). Foliar δ[15] N results support the framework of a highly efficient N-uptake and transfer system based on mycorrhizas, with c. 80% of N taken up by the mycorrhizas potentially transferred to the host plant. Our results suggest the symbiosis of G. magellanica with cyanobacteria, and trees and shrubs with mycorrhizas, to be the key processes driving this rapid succession.}, } @article {pmid30949751, year = {2019}, author = {Hughey, MC and Sokol, ER and Walke, JB and Becker, MH and Belden, LK}, title = {Ecological Correlates of Large-Scale Turnover in the Dominant Members of Pseudacris crucifer Skin Bacterial Communities.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {832-842}, pmid = {30949751}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Skin/*microbiology ; Virginia ; }, abstract = {Animals host a wide diversity of symbiotic microorganisms that contribute important functions to host health, and our knowledge of what drives variation in the composition of these complex communities continues to grow. Microbiome studies at larger spatial scales present opportunities to evaluate the contribution of large-scale factors to variation in the microbiome. We conducted a large-scale field study to assess variation in the bacterial symbiont communities on adult frog skin (Pseudacris crucifer), characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We found that skin bacterial communities on frogs were less diverse than, and structurally distinct from, the surrounding habitat. Frog skin was typically dominated by one of two bacterial OTUs: at western sites, a Proteobacteria dominated the community, whereas eastern sites were dominated by an Actinobacteria. Using a metacommunity framework, we then sought to identify factors explaining small- and large-scale variation in community structure-that is, among hosts within a pond, and among ponds spanning the study transect. We focused on the presence of a fungal skin pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) as one potential driver of variation. We found no direct link between skin bacterial community structure and Bd infection status of individual frog hosts. Differences in pond-level community structure, however, were explained by Bd infection prevalence. Importantly, Bd infection prevalence itself was correlated with numerous other environmental factors; thus, skin bacterial diversity may be influenced by a complex suite of extrinsic factors. Our findings indicate that large-scale factors and processes merit consideration when seeking to understand microbiome diversity.}, } @article {pmid30949677, year = {2019}, author = {Pillonel, T and Bertelli, C and Aeby, S and de Barsy, M and Jacquier, N and Kebbi-Beghdadi, C and Mueller, L and Vouga, M and Greub, G}, title = {Sequencing the Obligate Intracellular Rhabdochlamydia helvetica within Its Tick Host Ixodes ricinus to Investigate Their Symbiotic Relationship.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {1334-1344}, pmid = {30949677}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlamydiales/*genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Rhabdochlamydiaceae family is one of the most widely distributed within the phylum Chlamydiae, but most of its members remain uncultivable. Rhabdochlamydia 16S rRNA was recently reported in more than 2% of 8,534 pools of ticks from Switzerland. Shotgun metagenomics was performed on a pool of five female Ixodes ricinus ticks presenting a high concentration of chlamydial DNA, allowing the assembly of a high-quality draft genome. About 60% of sequence reads originated from a single bacterial population that was named "Candidatus Rhabdochlamydia helvetica" whereas only few thousand reads mapped to the genome of "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii," a symbiont normally observed in all I. ricinus females. The 1.8 Mbp genome of R. helvetica is smaller than other Chlamydia-related bacteria. Comparative analyses with other chlamydial genomes identified transposases of the PD-(D/E)XK nuclease family that are unique to this new genome. These transposases show evidence of interphylum horizontal gene transfers between multiple arthropod endosymbionts, including Cardinium spp. (Bacteroidetes) and diverse proteobacteria such as Wolbachia, Rickettsia spp. (Rickettsiales), and Caedimonas varicaedens (Holosporales). Bacterial symbionts were previously suggested to provide B-vitamins to hematophagous hosts. However, incomplete metabolic capacities including for B-vitamin biosynthesis, high bacterial density and limited prevalence suggest that R. helvetica is parasitic rather than symbiotic to its host. The identification of novel Rhabdochlamydia strains in different hosts and their sequencing will help understanding if members of this genus have become highly specialized parasites with reduced genomes, like the Chlamydiaceae, or if they could be pathogenic to humans using ticks as a transmission vector.}, } @article {pmid30946516, year = {2019}, author = {Wei, X and Feng, C and Li, XH and Mao, XX and Luo, HB and Zhang, DM and Rong, L and Xie, ZY and Yu, X and Li, J and Ye, WC and Huang, XJ and Zhang, CX}, title = {Enantiomeric Polyketides from the Starfish-Derived Symbiotic Fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {e1900052}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.201900052}, pmid = {30946516}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects ; Humans ; Molecular Conformation ; Penicillium/chemistry/*metabolism ; Polyketides/*chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Starfish/*microbiology ; Stereoisomerism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One new racemic mixture, penicilliode A (1) and four pairs of enantiomeric polyketides, penicilliode B and C (2 and 3) and coniochaetone B and C (4 and 5), were obtained from the starfish-derived symbiotic fungus Penicillium sp. GGF16-1-2. Interestingly, the strain GGF16-1-2 can produce enantiomers. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and the absolute configurations of 2-4 were determined by the optical rotation (OR) values and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1-5 were firstly isolated from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium as racemates, and 2-5 were separated by HPLC with a chiral stationary phase. All the compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial, cytotoxic and inhibitory activities against PDE4D2.}, } @article {pmid30945200, year = {2019}, author = {Paytuvi-Gallart, A and Sanseverino, W and Aiese Cigliano, R}, title = {A Walkthrough to the Use of GreeNC: The Plant lncRNA Database.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1933}, number = {}, pages = {397-414}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9045-0_25}, pmid = {30945200}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics ; Computational Biology/*methods ; *Databases, Nucleic Acid ; *Genome, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; *Molecular Sequence Annotation ; RNA, Long Noncoding/*genetics ; RNA, Plant/*genetics ; Search Engine ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; }, abstract = {Experimentally validated plant lncRNAs have been shown to regulate important agronomic traits such as phosphate starvation response, flowering time, and interaction with symbiotic organisms, making them of great interest in plant biology and in breeding. We developed a pipeline to annotate lncRNAs and applied it to 37 plant species and 6 algae, resulting in the annotation of more than 120,000 lncRNAs. To facilitate the study of lncRNAs for the plant research community, the information gathered is organized in the Green Non-Coding Database (GreeNC, http://greenc.sciencedesigners.com/) . This chapter contains a detailed explanation of the content of GreeNC and how to access both programmatically and with a web browser.}, } @article {pmid30944875, year = {2019}, author = {Vannier, N and Mony, C and Bittebiere, AK and Theis, KR and Rosenberg, E and Vandenkoornhuyse, P}, title = {Clonal Plants as Meta-Holobionts.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30944875}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The holobiont concept defines a given organism and its associated symbionts as a potential level of selection over evolutionary time. In clonal plants, recent experiments demonstrated vertical transmission of part of the microbiota from one ramet (i.e., potentially autonomous individual) to another within the clonal network (i.e., connections by modified stems present in ∼35% of all plants). Because of this heritability, and potentially reciprocal exchange of microbes between generations of ramets, we propose to extend the existing holobiont framework to the concept of meta-holobiont. A meta-holobiont is a network of holobionts that can exchange biomolecules and microbiota across generations, thus impacting the fitness of both biological scales: holobionts and meta-holobionts. Specifically, meta-holobiont dynamics can result in sharing, specialization, and division of labor across plant clonal generations. This paper, which coins the meta-holobiont concept, is expected to stimulate discussion and to be applied beyond the context of networked clonal plants (e.g., to social insects).}, } @article {pmid30944804, year = {2019}, author = {An, Q and Wu, XJ and Dai, YC}, title = {Comparative genomics of 40 edible and medicinal mushrooms provide an insight into the evolution of lignocellulose decomposition mechanisms.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {157}, pmid = {30944804}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Diversity comparison and phylogenetic analyses of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), auxiliary activities (AAs) and cytochromes P450 among 40 fungi, which are based on different nutritional pathways, help clarify and explain their divergence and improvement of various life-styles. Molecular clock analyses allow us to understand the evolutionary and developmental rules in decomposition gene families. Our results suggested that fungi in different ecological types acquired an obvious preference on specific decomposing gene families during evolutionary selection. White rot and litter saprotrophic fungi possessed more complete types of varied degradation gene families and were superior in quantities. With evolution and development of lignocellulose decomposition mechanism, certain families (like CBM1, GH6, GH7, GH10, and CYP53) disappeared in brown rot fungi and symbiotic fungi. In addition, the earlier time of phylogenetic divergence determined the more integrated and larger decomposition families. And various gains and losses in gene quantity of varied decomposition families led in particularly phylogenetic clades or nodes, then accelerated in forming varied ecotypes of species.}, } @article {pmid30944491, year = {2019}, author = {Kwong, WK and Del Campo, J and Mathur, V and Vermeij, MJA and Keeling, PJ}, title = {A widespread coral-infecting apicomplexan with chlorophyll biosynthesis genes.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {568}, number = {7750}, pages = {103-107}, pmid = {30944491}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Apicomplexa/cytology/*genetics/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll/*biosynthesis ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/genetics/metabolism ; Genes, Protozoan/*genetics ; Genome, Protozoan/genetics ; Photosynthesis ; *Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Apicomplexa is a group of obligate intracellular parasites that includes the causative agents of human diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis. Apicomplexans evolved from free-living phototrophic ancestors, but how this transition to parasitism occurred remains unknown. One potential clue lies in coral reefs, of which environmental DNA surveys have uncovered several lineages of uncharacterized basally branching apicomplexans[1,2]. Reef-building corals have a well-studied symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates (for example, Symbiodinium[3]), but the identification of other key microbial symbionts of corals has proven to be challenging[4,5]. Here we use community surveys, genomics and microscopy analyses to identify an apicomplexan lineage-which we informally name 'corallicolids'-that was found at a high prevalence (over 80% of samples, 70% of genera) across all major groups of corals. Corallicolids were the second most abundant coral-associated microeukaryotes after the Symbiodiniaceae, and are therefore core members of the coral microbiome. In situ fluorescence and electron microscopy confirmed that corallicolids live intracellularly within the tissues of the coral gastric cavity, and that they possess apicomplexan ultrastructural features. We sequenced the genome of the corallicolid plastid, which lacked all genes for photosystem proteins; this indicates that corallicolids probably contain a non-photosynthetic plastid (an apicoplast[6]). However, the corallicolid plastid differs from all other known apicoplasts because it retains the four ancestral genes that are involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Corallicolids thus share characteristics with both their parasitic and their free-living relatives, which suggests that they are evolutionary intermediates and implies the existence of a unique biochemistry during the transition from phototrophy to parasitism.}, } @article {pmid30944488, year = {2019}, author = {Richards, TA and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Coral symbiosis is a three-player game.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {568}, number = {7750}, pages = {41-42}, pmid = {30944488}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {P20 GM103546/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Chlorophyll ; Coral Reefs ; Ecology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30941441, year = {2019}, author = {Parihar, M and Meena, VS and Mishra, PK and Rakshit, A and Choudhary, M and Yadav, RP and Rana, K and Bisht, JK}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza: a viable strategy for soil nutrient loss reduction.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {6}, pages = {723-735}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-019-01653-9}, pmid = {30941441}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Nutrients/analysis/*metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi's (AMF) role in plant nutrition and stress management is well known, but very few researches and studies have been conducted so far on the fungal ability to reduce different nutrient losses (runoff, leaching and volatilization) from the soil system. This important ecosystem service of AMF had been neglected largely. From the recent findings, it has been confirmed that mycorrhizal symbiosis has potential to check the losses of applied nutrients. The role of soil biota in nutrient cycling is indispensable and determines the nutrient availability to plants. Among these biota, AMF's association with plants is the most prevalent, but the exact mechanisms followed by AMF in nutrient cycling, transformation and reducing nutrient loss ability are still inconclusive. In this review, we will try to unlock this particular aspect of AMF which is important to achieve global food demand in a sustainable way.}, } @article {pmid30940812, year = {2019}, author = {Kou-Giesbrecht, S and Menge, D}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing trees could exacerbate climate change under elevated nitrogen deposition.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {1493}, pmid = {30940812}, issn = {2041-1723}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation can fuel CO2 sequestration by forests but can also stimulate soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. Here we use a theoretical model to suggest that symbiotic nitrogen-fixing trees could either mitigate (CO2 sequestration outweighs soil N2O emissions) or exacerbate (vice versa) climate change relative to non-fixing trees, depending on their nitrogen fixation strategy (the degree to which they regulate nitrogen fixation to balance nitrogen supply and demand) and on nitrogen deposition. The model posits that nitrogen-fixing trees could exacerbate climate change globally relative to non-fixing trees by the radiative equivalent of 0.77 Pg C yr[-1] under nitrogen deposition rates projected for 2030. This value is highly uncertain, but its magnitude suggests that this subject requires further study and that improving the representation of biological nitrogen fixation in climate models could substantially decrease estimates of the extent to which forests will mitigate climate change.}, } @article {pmid30940052, year = {2019}, author = {Matthews, AC and Mikonranta, L and Raymond, B}, title = {Shifts along the parasite-mutualist continuum are opposed by fundamental trade-offs.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1900}, pages = {20190236}, pmid = {30940052}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {MR/N013824/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Enterobacter cloacae/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Moths/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Theory suggests that symbionts can readily evolve more parasitic or mutualistic strategies with respect to hosts. However, many symbionts have stable interactions with hosts that improve nutrient assimilation or confer protection from pathogens. We explored the potential for evolution of increased parasitism or decreased parasitism and mutualism in a natural gut symbiosis between larvae of Plutella xylostella and the microbe Enterobacter cloacae. We focused on interactions with the pathogen, Bacillus thuringiensis: selecting for parasitism in terms of facilitating pathogen infection, or increased mutualism in terms of host protection. Selection for parasitism led to symbionts increasing pathogen-induced mortality but reduced their competitive ability with pathogens and their in vitro growth rates. Symbionts did not evolve to confer protection from pathogens. However, several lineages evolved reduced parasitism, primarily in terms of moderating impacts on host growth, potentially because prudence pays dividends through increased host size. Overall, the evolution of increased parasitism was achievable but was opposed by trade-offs likely to reduce fitness. The evolution of protection may not have occurred because suppressing growth of B. thuringiensis in the gut might provide only weak protection or because evolution towards protective interactions was opposed by the loss of competitive fitness in symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30939810, year = {2019}, author = {Kirienko, AN and Vishnevskaya, NA and Kitaeva, AB and Shtark, OY and Kozyulina, PY and Thompson, R and Dalmais, M and Bendahmane, A and Tikhonovich, IA and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Structural Variations in LysM Domains of LysM-RLK PsK1 May Result in a Different Effect on Pea[-]Rhizobial Symbiosis Development.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30939810}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fusarium/pathogenicity ; *Genomic Structural Variation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Peas/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Protein Domains ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/*genetics ; Rhizobium/pathogenicity ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lysin-motif receptor-like kinase PsK1 is involved in symbiosis initiation and the maintenance of infection thread (IT) growth and bacterial release in pea. We verified PsK1 specificity in relation to the Nod factor structure using k1 and rhizobial mutants. Inoculation with nodO and nodE nodO mutants significantly reduced root hair deformations, curling, and the number of ITs in k1-1 and k1-2 mutants. These results indicated that PsK1 function may depend on Nod factor structures. PsK1 with replacement in kinase domain and PsSYM10 co-production in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves did not induce a hypersensitive response (HR) because of the impossibility of signal transduction into the cell. Replacement of P169S in LysM3 domain of PsK1 disturbed the extracellular domain (ECD) interaction with PsSYM10's ECD in Y2H system and reduced HR during the co-production of full-length PsK1 and PsSYM0 in N. benthamiana. Lastly, we explored the role of PsK1 in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi; no significant differences between wild-type plants and k1 mutants were found, suggesting a specific role of PsK1 in legume[-]rhizobial symbiosis. However, increased sensitivity to a highly aggressive Fusarium culmorum strain was found in k1 mutants compared with the wild type, which requires the further study of the role of PsK1 in immune response regulation.}, } @article {pmid30939335, year = {2019}, author = {Pereda-Goikoetxea, B and Marín-Fernández, B and Liceaga-Otazu, NE and Elorza-Puyadena, MI}, title = {A qualitative study of hospital birth perceptions: The helix of priority needs.}, journal = {Midwifery}, volume = {74}, number = {}, pages = {91-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.midw.2019.03.018}, pmid = {30939335}, issn = {1532-3099}, mesh = {Adult ; Delivery, Obstetric/nursing/psychology/*standards ; Female ; *Hospitalization ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic/methods ; Mothers/*psychology ; *Perception ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies ; Qualitative Research ; Spain ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To understand which needs are considered priorities in the hospital birth experience from the perspectives of postpartum women.

DESIGN: This qualitative prospective study used a phenomenological approach. Data were collected through participant observations and semi-structured interviews recorded at eight weeks and eight months after childbirth. The data were analysed using a thematic approach.

PARTICIPANTS: The study cohort consisted of 43 participants at eight weeks after childbirth and 33 participants eight months after childbirth.

SETTING: Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain, in 2016-2017.

FINDINGS: Through the analysis, the following four main themes emerged, each in different categories: (a) Professional care: symbiosis between the woman and the professional: (a.1) professional treatment and its characteristics, (a.2) professional competence, and (a.3) professional information and listening: pillars in the support relationship. (b) Control and hospital safety: (b.1) hospital environment: external control. (c) Presence of the partner: (c.1) support, guidance, and participation. (d) Perception of observed feelings: (d.1) fear of complications or separation from the child, (d.2) fear of internal lack of control, and (d.3) fear of an instrumental delivery and/or caesarean section.

The core of the hospital birth experience is constituted by the need to establish a supportive relationship based on mutual trust, exchange information that offers internal and external control and the security necessary to overcome feelings of fear, and obtain support and guidance from an involved partner.}, } @article {pmid30939203, year = {2019}, author = {Hernandez-Agreda, A and Leggat, W and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {A place for taxonomic profiling in the study of the coral prokaryotic microbiome.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz063}, pmid = {30939203}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The enormous variability in richness, abundance and diversity of unknown bacterial organisms inhabiting the coral microbiome have challenged our understanding of their functional contribution to coral health. Identifying the attributes of the healthy meta-organism is paramount for contemporary approaches aiming to manipulate dysbiotic stages of the coral microbiome. This review evaluates the current knowledge on the structure and mechanisms driving bacterial communities in the coral microbiome and discusses two topics requiring further research to define the healthy coral microbiome. (i) We examine the necessity to establish microbial baselines to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of the healthy coral microbiome and summarise conceptual and logistic challenges to consider in the design of these baselines. (ii) We propose potential mechanical, physical and chemical mechanisms driving bacterial distribution within coral compartments and suggest experiments to test them. Finally, we highlight aspects of the use of 16S amplicon sequencing requiring standardization and discuss its contribution to other multi-omics approaches.}, } @article {pmid30939072, year = {2019}, author = {Charron-Lamoureux, V and Beauregard, PB}, title = {Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings Influence Bacillus subtilis Spore Formation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {9}, pages = {1188-1195}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-18-0278-R}, pmid = {30939072}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/microbiology ; *Bacillus subtilis/growth & development ; Bacterial Proteins ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Seedlings/microbiology ; *Spores, Bacterial/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium exerting many beneficial effects on plant health. Because they secrete antimicrobial compounds and elicit induced systemic resistance, B. subtilis and phylogenetically related species are of particular interest as antifungals in organic agriculture. These bacteria are also known for their capacity to differentiate phenotypically into endospores able to withstand many environmental stresses. However, although B. subtilis is often inoculated on plants as spores, dynamics of germination and sporulation on roots remain unexplored. Using a hydroponic culture system and a soil system for Arabidopsis thaliana, we observed that B. subtilis spores germinate rapidly on contact with plants. However, the vegetative cells are abundant on roots for only a few days before reversing back to spores. We observed that the germinant receptor GerK and sporulation kinases KinA and KinB identified in vitro control sporulation dynamics on plants. Surprisingly, when plants are inoculated with B. subtilis, free-living cells sporulate more rapidly than plant-associated cells. However, direct contact between plant and bacteria is required for the induction of sporulation in the surrounding B. subtilis. This study has fundamental implications for our understanding of interactions between Bacillus spp. and plants, and particularly for a more efficient usage of B. subtilis as a biofertilizer or biofungicide.}, } @article {pmid30938771, year = {2019}, author = {Lama, S and Broda, M and Abbas, Z and Vaneechoutte, D and Belt, K and Säll, T and Vandepoele, K and Van Aken, O}, title = {Neofunctionalization of Mitochondrial Proteins and Incorporation into Signaling Networks in Plants.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {36}, number = {5}, pages = {974-989}, pmid = {30938771}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial ; F-Box Proteins/genetics ; *Gene Duplication ; Gene Expression ; Genome, Plant ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*genetics ; *Multigene Family ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Because of their symbiotic origin, many mitochondrial proteins are well conserved across eukaryotic kingdoms. It is however less obvious how specific lineages have obtained novel nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins. Here, we report a case of mitochondrial neofunctionalization in plants. Phylogenetic analysis of genes containing the Domain of Unknown Function 295 (DUF295) revealed that the domain likely originated in Angiosperms. The C-terminal DUF295 domain is usually accompanied by an N-terminal F-box domain, involved in ubiquitin ligation via binding with ASK1/SKP1-type proteins. Due to gene duplication, the gene family has expanded rapidly, with 94 DUF295-related genes in Arabidopsis thaliana alone. Two DUF295 family subgroups have uniquely evolved and quickly expanded within Brassicaceae. One of these subgroups has completely lost the F-box, but instead obtained strongly predicted mitochondrial targeting peptides. We show that several representatives of this DUF295 Organellar group are effectively targeted to plant mitochondria and chloroplasts. Furthermore, many DUF295 Organellar genes are induced by mitochondrial dysfunction, whereas F-Box DUF295 genes are not. In agreement, several Brassicaceae-specific DUF295 Organellar genes were incorporated in the evolutionary much older ANAC017-dependent mitochondrial retrograde signaling pathway. Finally, a representative set of DUF295 T-DNA insertion mutants was created. No obvious aberrant phenotypes during normal growth and mitochondrial dysfunction were observed, most likely due to the large extent of gene duplication and redundancy. Overall, this study provides insight into how novel mitochondrial proteins can be created via "intercompartmental" gene duplication events. Moreover, our analysis shows that these newly evolved genes can then be specifically integrated into relevant, pre-existing coexpression networks.}, } @article {pmid30936859, year = {2019}, author = {Mewalal, R and Yin, H and Hu, R and Jawdy, S and Vion, P and Tuskan, GA and Le Tacon, F and Labbé, JL and Yang, X}, title = {Identification of Populus Small RNAs Responsive to Mutualistic Interactions With Mycorrhizal Fungi, Laccaria bicolor and Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {515}, pmid = {30936859}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ecto- and endo-mycorrhizal colonization of Populus roots have a positive impact on the overall tree health and growth. A complete molecular understanding of these interactions will have important implications for increasing agricultural or forestry sustainability using plant:microbe-based strategies. These beneficial associations entail extensive morphological changes orchestrated by the genetic reprogramming in both organisms. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of two Populus species (Populus deltoides and P. trichocarpa) that were colonized by either an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AmF), Rhizophagus irregularis or an ectomycorrhizal fungus (EmF), Laccaria bicolor, to describe the small RNA (sRNA) landscape including small open reading frames (sORFs) and micro RNAs (miRNAs) involved in these mutualistic interactions. We identified differential expression of sRNAs that were, to a large extent, (1) within the genomic regions lacking annotated genes in the Populus genome and (2) distinct for each fungal interaction. These sRNAs may be a source of novel sORFs within a genome, and in this regard, we identified potential sORFs encoded by the sRNAs. We predicted a higher number of differentially-expressed miRNAs in P. trichocarpa (4 times more) than in P. deltoides (conserved and novel). In addition, 44 miRNAs were common in P. trichocarpa between the EmF and AmF treatments, and only 4 miRNAs were common in P. deltoides between the treatments. Root colonization by either fungus was more effective in P. trichocarpa than in P. deltoides, thus the relatively few differentially-expressed miRNAs predicted in P. deltoides might reflect the extent of the symbiosis. Finally, we predicted several genes targets for the plant miRNAs identified here, including potential fungal gene targets. Our findings shed light on additional molecular tiers with a role in Populus-fungal mutualistic associations and provides a set of potential molecular targets for future enhancement.}, } @article {pmid30936484, year = {2019}, author = {Tianero, MD and Balaich, JN and Donia, MS}, title = {Localized production of defence chemicals by intracellular symbionts of Haliclona sponges.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {7}, pages = {1149-1159}, pmid = {30936484}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {DP2 AI124441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA072720/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Genome Size ; Haliclona/*chemistry/cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Metagenome ; Molecular Structure ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Tetrahydroisoquinolines/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges often house small-molecule-producing symbionts extracellularly in their mesohyl, providing the host with a means of chemical defence against predation and microbial infection. Here, we report an intriguing case of chemically mediated symbiosis between the renieramycin-containing sponge Haliclona sp. and its herein discovered renieramycin-producing symbiont Candidatus Endohaliclona renieramycinifaciens. Remarkably, Ca. E. renieramycinifaciens has undergone extreme genome reduction where it has lost almost all necessary elements for free living while maintaining a complex, multi-copy plasmid-encoded biosynthetic gene cluster for renieramycin biosynthesis. In return, the sponge houses Ca. E. renieramycinifaciens in previously uncharacterized cellular reservoirs (chemobacteriocytes), where it can acquire nutrients from the host and avoid bacterial competition. This relationship is highly specific to a single clade of Haliclona sponges. Our study reveals intracellular symbionts as an understudied source for defence chemicals in the oldest-living metazoans and paves the way towards discovering similar systems in other marine sponges.}, } @article {pmid30936458, year = {2019}, author = {Ippolito, L and Morandi, A and Taddei, ML and Parri, M and Comito, G and Iscaro, A and Raspollini, MR and Magherini, F and Rapizzi, E and Masquelier, J and Muccioli, GG and Sonveaux, P and Chiarugi, P and Giannoni, E}, title = {Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote prostate cancer malignancy via metabolic rewiring and mitochondrial transfer.}, journal = {Oncogene}, volume = {38}, number = {27}, pages = {5339-5355}, pmid = {30936458}, issn = {1476-5594}, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Citric Acid Cycle ; Fibroblasts/pathology ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; Male ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; NAD/metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha/metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major cellular stromal component of many solid tumors. In prostate cancer (PCa), CAFs establish a metabolic symbiosis with PCa cells, contributing to cancer aggressiveness through lactate shuttle. In this study, we report that lactate uptake alters the NAD[+]/NADH ratio in the cancer cells, which culminates with SIRT1-dependent PGC-1α activation and subsequent enhancement of mitochondrial mass and activity. The high exploitation of mitochondria results in tricarboxylic acid cycle deregulation, accumulation of oncometabolites and in the altered expression of mitochondrial complexes, responsible for superoxide generation. Additionally, cancer cells hijack CAF-derived functional mitochondria through the formation of cellular bridges, a phenomenon that we observed in both in vitro and in vivo PCa models. Our work reveals a crucial function of tumor mitochondria as the energy sensors and transducers of CAF-dependent metabolic reprogramming and underscores the reliance of PCa cells on CAF catabolic activity and mitochondria trading.}, } @article {pmid30936154, year = {2019}, author = {Oerlemans, MMP and Moons, SJ and Heming, JJA and Boltje, TJ and de Jonge, MI and Langereis, JD}, title = {Uptake of Sialic Acid by Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Increases Complement Resistance through Decreasing IgM-Dependent Complement Activation.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {87}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {30936154}, issn = {1098-5522}, mesh = {Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology ; Biological Transport ; Complement Activation ; Complement System Proteins/*immunology ; Haemophilus Infections/*immunology/microbiology ; Haemophilus influenzae/genetics/growth & development/immunology/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M/*immunology ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/immunology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Although nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a human-specific nasopharyngeal commensal bacterium, it also causes upper respiratory tract infections in children and lower respiratory tract infections in the elderly, resulting in frequent antibiotic use. The transition from symbiotic colonizing bacterium to opportunistic pathogen is not completely understood. Incorporation of sialic acids into lipooligosaccharides is thought to play an important role in bacterial virulence. It has been known for more than 25 years that sialic acids increase resistance to complement-mediated killing; however, the mechanism of action has not been elucidated thus far. Here, we provide evidence that growth of NTHi in the presence of sialic acids Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc decreases complement-mediated killing through abrogating the classical pathway of complement activation by preventing mainly IgM antibody binding to the bacterial surface. Therefore, strategies that interfere with uptake or incorporation of sialic acids into the lipooligosaccharide, such as novel antibiotics and vaccines, might be worth exploring to prevent or treat NTHi infections.}, } @article {pmid30935957, year = {2019}, author = {Shibasaki, S}, title = {The evolutionary game of interspecific mutualism in the multi-species model.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {471}, number = {}, pages = {51-58}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.03.026}, pmid = {30935957}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Game Theory ; *Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interspecific interactions, including Müllerian mimicry and division of labor, are common in nature. In contrast to antagonistic interactions, where faster evolution is favored, mutualism can favor slower evolution under certain conditions. This is called the Red King effect. Since Bergstrom and Lachmann (2003) proposed the Red King effect, it has been investigated only in two-species models. However, biological examples suggest that mutualism can include three or more species. Here, I modeled the evolutionary dynamics of mutualism in communities where involving two or more species, and in which all species mutually interact. Regardless of the number of species in the community, it is possible to derive conditions for stable equilibria. Although nonlinear relationships exist between the evolutionary rates and the evolutionary fate of each species in the multi-species communities, the model suggests that it is possible to predict whether faster evolution is favored or disfavored for the relatively rapidly evolving species; however, it is difficult to predict the evolutionary fate of species that evolve relatively slowly because their evolutionary dynamics are affected by the evolutionary fate of species evolving rapidly.}, } @article {pmid30934751, year = {2019}, author = {Ali, A and Ghani, MI and Ding, H and Fan, Y and Cheng, Z and Iqbal, M}, title = {Co-Amended Synergistic Interactions between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and the Organic Substrate-Induced Cucumber Yield and Fruit Quality Associated with the Regulation of the AM-Fungal Community Structure under Anthropogenic Cultivated Soil.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30934751}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Cucumis sativus/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Fruit/microbiology/*standards ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; *Human Activities ; Humans ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Organic Chemicals/*pharmacology ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Principal Component Analysis ; Seasons ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Monotonous cucumber double-cropping systems under plastic greenhouse vegetable cultivation (PGVC) previously intensified by long-term anthropogenic activities and manipulative treatments leads to a crop productivity reduction and soil biota disturbances. In this study, the role of the indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal strain (AM: Glomus versiforme L.) and organic substrate (GS: Garlic stalk) application were assessed for plant microbe interaction and crop productivity feedback in a greenhouse (2016[-]2018) under a cultivated Anthrosol characterized as a replanted degraded soil. We found that repetitively adding AM inocula with organic substrates (GS) improved the cucumber growth and physiology. The useful trait of AM symbiosis with C-amended organic substrates preferentially manifested as increased root colonization, hyphal density proliferation, AM sporulation, root activity, and suppressed Fusarium incidence. The post AM development further prevailed the synergistic interaction, and the co-inoculation effect resulted in an increase in fruit nutrition uptake, seasonal cucumber yield and fruit quality attributes. Illumina MiSeq analysis of the 18S rRNA gene amplicons revealed that the dominant AM genera that are particularly enriched with the Glomus taxon may be important ecological drivers associated with plant productivity and fruit quality characteristics. These results suggest that the AM-organic substrate association might be a pragmatic option for use as an economic and efficient biological resource and as a newly-sustainable plant microbe mediator to enhance the regional ecosystem services and plant productivity of the anthropogenic PGVC of this region.}, } @article {pmid30934700, year = {2019}, author = {Shan, H and Yang, J and Wei, G}, title = {Industrial Symbiosis Systems: Promoting Carbon Emission Reduction Activities.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30934700}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Carbon/*analysis ; China ; Industry/*organization & administration ; *Interinstitutional Relations ; }, abstract = {The carbon emission problem in China needs to be solved urgently. Industrial symbiosis, as an effective means to improve resource efficiency, can better alleviate the carbon emission problem. Under such a circumstance, this paper regards an industrial symbiosis system as a collection of producers, consumers and decomposers, and analyzes the strategic selections and behavioral characteristics of their carbon emission reduction activities through a tripartite evolutionary game model, and then the effects of related parameters on the evolutionary stable strategies of stakeholders are discussed. The results demonstrate that: (1) the regular return and the rate of return determine the ability of stakeholders to undertake carbon reduction activities; (2) the initial willingness of stakeholders to participate will affect the evolutionary speed of the strategies; (3) a high opportunity cost reduces the inertia of stakeholders to carry out carbon emission reductions; (4) producers, consumers and decomposers can avoid "free rides" by signing agreements or adopting punitive measures.}, } @article {pmid30930920, year = {2019}, author = {Serova, TA and Tsyganova, AV and Tikhonovich, IA and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Gibberellins Inhibit Nodule Senescence and Stimulate Nodule Meristem Bifurcation in Pea (Pisum sativum L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {285}, pmid = {30930920}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The development of nitrogen-fixing nodules formed during Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is strongly controlled by phytohormones. In this study, we investigated the effect of gibberellins (GAs) on senescence of pea (Pisum sativum) symbiotic nodules. Pea wild-type line SGE, as well as corresponding mutant lines SGEFix[-]-1 (sym40), SGEFix[-]-2 (sym33), SGEFix[-]-3 (sym26), and SGEFix[-]-7 (sym27), blocked at different stages of nodule development, were used in the study. An increase in expression of the GA2ox1 gene, encoding an enzyme involved in GA deactivation (GA 2-oxidase), and a decrease in the transcript abundance of the GA20ox1 gene, encoding one of the enzymes involved in GA biosynthesis (GA 20-oxidase), were observed in analyzed genotypes during nodule aging. A reduction in the amount of bioactive GA3 was demonstrated by immunolocalization in the early senescent mutant and wild-type lines during aging of symbiotic nodules. Down-regulated expression of senescence-associated genes encoding cysteine proteases 1 and 15a, thiol protease, bZIP transcription factor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase, ACC oxidase, and aldehyde oxidase was observed in the nodules of wild-type plants treated with exogenous GA3 relative to the untreated plants. GA3-treated plants also showed increases in nodule size and the nitrogen fixation zone, and decreases in the number of nodules and the senescence zone. Immunogold localization revealed higher levels of GA3 in the peribacteroid spaces in symbiosomes than in the matrix of infection threads. Furthermore, a decrease in GA3 label in mature and senescent symbiosomes in comparison with juvenile symbiosomes was observed. These results suggest a negative effect of GAs on the senescence of the pea symbiotic nodule and possible involvement of GAs in functioning of the mature nodule. Simultaneously, GA3 treatment led to nodule meristem bifurcation, indicating a possible role of GAs in nodule meristem functioning.}, } @article {pmid30930916, year = {2019}, author = {McGuiness, PN and Reid, JB and Foo, E}, title = {The Role of Gibberellins and Brassinosteroids in Nodulation and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Associations.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {269}, pmid = {30930916}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant hormones play key roles in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations. These two agriculturally and ecologically important symbioses enable plants to gain access to nutrients, in particular, nitrogen in the case of nodulation and phosphorous in the case of AM. Work over the past few decades has revealed how symbioses with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, restricted almost exclusively to legumes, evolved in part from ancient AM symbioses formed by more than 80% of land plants. Although overlapping, these symbiotic programs also have important differences, including the de novo development of a new organ found only in nodulation. One emerging area of research is the role of two plant hormone groups, the gibberellins (GAs) and brassinosteroids (BRs), in the development and maintenance of these symbioses. In this review, we compare and contrast the roles of these hormones in the two symbioses, including potential interactions with other hormones. This not only focuses on legumes, most of which can host both symbionts, but also examines the role of these in AM development in non-legumes. GA acts by suppressing DELLA, and this regulatory module acts to negatively influence both rhizobial and mycorrhizal infection but appears to promote nodule organogenesis. While an overall positive role for BRs in nodulation and AM has been suggested by studies using mutants disrupted in BR biosynthesis or response, application studies indicate that BR may play a more complex role in nodulation. Given the nature of these symbioses, with events regulated both spatially and temporally, future studies should examine in more detail how GAs and BRs may influence precise events during these symbioses, including interactions with other hormone groups.}, } @article {pmid30930915, year = {2019}, author = {Ho-Plágaro, T and Molinero-Rosales, N and Fariña Flores, D and Villena Díaz, M and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Identification and Expression Analysis of GRAS Transcription Factor Genes Involved in the Control of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Development in Tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {268}, pmid = {30930915}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The formation and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis are complex and tightly regulated processes. Transcriptional regulation mechanisms have been reported to mediate gene expression changes closely associated with arbuscule formation, where nutrients move between the plant and fungus. Numerous genes encoding transcription factors (TFs), with those belonging to the GRAS family being of particular importance, are induced upon mycorrhization. In this study, a screening for candidate transcription factor genes differentially regulated in AM tomato roots showed that more than 30% of known GRAS tomato genes are upregulated upon mycorrhization. Some AM-upregulated GRAS genes were identified as encoding for transcription factors which are putative orthologs of previously identified regulators of mycorrhization in other plant species. The symbiotic role played by other newly identified AM-upregulated GRAS genes remains unknown. Preliminary results on the involvement of tomato SlGRAS18, SlGRAS38, and SlGRAS43 from the SCL3, SCL32, and SCR clades, respectively, in mycorrhization are presented. All three showed high transcript levels in the late stages of mycorrhization, and the analysis of promoter activity demonstrated that SlGRAS18 and SlGRAS43 are significantly induced in cells containing arbuscules. When SlGRAS18 and SlGRAS38 genes were silenced using RNA interference in hairy root composite tomato plants, a delay in mycorrhizal infection was observed, while an increase in mycorrhizal colonization was observed in SlGRAS43 RNAi roots. The possible mode of action of these TFs during mycorrhization is discussed, with a particular emphasis on the potential involvement of the SHR/SCR/SCL3 module of GRAS TFs in the regulation of gibberellin signaling during mycorrhization, which is analogous to other plant developmental processes.}, } @article {pmid30930885, year = {2019}, author = {Safronova, V and Belimov, A and Sazanova, A and Chirak, E and Kuznetsova, I and Andronov, E and Pinaev, A and Tsyganova, A and Seliverstova, E and Kitaeva, A and Tsyganov, V and Tikhonovich, I}, title = {Two Broad Host Range Rhizobial Strains Isolated From Relict Legumes Have Various Complementary Effects on Symbiotic Parameters of Co-inoculated Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {514}, pmid = {30930885}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Two bacterial strains Ach-343 and Opo-235 were isolated, respectively from nodules of Miocene-Pliocene relict legumes Astragalus chorinensis Bunge and Oxytropis popoviana Peschkova originated from Buryatia (Baikal Lake region, Russia). For identification of these strains the sequencing of 16S rRNA (rrs) gene was used. Strain Opo-235 belonged to the species Mesorhizobium japonicum, while the strain Ach-343 was identified as M. kowhaii (100 and 99.9% rrs similarity with the type strains MAFF 303099[T] and ICMP 19512[T], respectively). Symbiotic genes of these strains as well as some genes that promote plant growth (acdS, gibberellin- and auxin-synthesis related genes) were searched throughout the whole genome sequences. The sets of plant growth-promoting genes found were almost identical in both strains, whereas the sets of symbiotic genes were different and complemented each other with several nod, nif, and fix genes. Effects of mono- and co-inoculation of Astragalus sericeocanus, Oxytropis caespitosa, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Medicago sativa, and Trifolium pratense plants with the strains M. kowhaii Ach-343 and M. japonicum Opo-235 expressing fluorescent proteins mCherry (red) and EGFP (green) were studied in the gnotobiotic plant nodulation assay. It was shown that both strains had a wide range of host specificity, including species of different legume genera from two tribes (Galegeae and Trifolieae). The effects of co-microsymbionts on plants depended on the plant species and varied from decrease, no effect, to increase in the number of nodules, nitrogen-fixing activity and plant biomass. One of the reasons for this phenomenon may be the discovered complementarity in co-microsymbionts of symbiotic genes responsible for the specific modification of Nod-factors and nitrogenase activity. Localization and co-localization of the strains in nodules was confirmed by the confocal microscopy. Analysis of histological and ultrastructural organization of A. chorinensis and O. popoviana root nodules was performed. It can be concluded that the strains M. kowhaii Ach-343 and M. japonicum Opo-235 demonstrate lack of high symbiotic specificity that is characteristic for primitive legume-rhizobia systems. Further study of the root nodule bacteria having complementary sets of symbiotic genes will contribute to clarify the evolutionary paths of legume-rhizobia relationships and the mechanisms of effective integration between partners.}, } @article {pmid30930857, year = {2019}, author = {Domka, AM and Rozpaądek, P and Turnau, K}, title = {Are Fungal Endophytes Merely Mycorrhizal Copycats? The Role of Fungal Endophytes in the Adaptation of Plants to Metal Toxicity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {371}, pmid = {30930857}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The contamination of soil with toxic metals is a worldwide problem, resulting in the disruption of plant vegetation and subsequent crop production. Thus, remediation techniques for contaminated soil and water remain a constant interest of researchers. Phytoremediation, which utilizes plants to remove or stabilize contaminants, is perceived to be a promising strategy. However, phytoremediation's use to date is limited because of constraints associated with such factors as slow plant growth rates or metal toxicity. Microbial-assisted phytoremediation serves as an alternative solution, since the impact of the microbial symbionts on plant growth and stress tolerance has frequently been described. Endophytic fungi occur in almost every plant in the natural environment and contribute to plant growth and tolerance to environmental stress conditions. Although this group of symbiotic fungi was found to form association with a wide range of hosts, including the non-mycorrhizal Brassicaceae metallophytes, their role in the response of plants to metal toxicity has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the role of endophytic fungi in the tolerance of plants to toxic metals and highlights the similarities and differences between this group of symbiotic fungi and mycorrhizal associations in terms of the survival of the plant during heavy metal stress.}, } @article {pmid30929328, year = {2020}, author = {Kim, YS and Unno, T and Kim, BY and Park, MS}, title = {Sex Differences in Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {The world journal of men's health}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {48-60}, pmid = {30929328}, issn = {2287-4208}, support = {2019H1C3A1032224/NRF/National Research Foundation of Korea/Korea ; 2016R1A6A1A03012862/NRF/National Research Foundation of Korea/Korea ; }, abstract = {Humans carry numerous symbiotic microorganisms in their body, most of which are present in the gut. Although recent technological advances have produced extensive research data on gut microbiota, there are various confounding factors (e.g., diet, race, medications) to consider. Sex is one of the important variables affecting the gut microbiota, but the association has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Although the results are inconsistent, several animal and human studies have shown sex differences in gut microbiota. Herein, we review these studies to discuss the sex-dependent differences as well as the possible mechanisms involved.}, } @article {pmid30928704, year = {2019}, author = {Castellani, LG and Nilsson, JF and Wibberg, D and Schlüter, A and Pühler, A and Brom, S and Pistorio, M and Torres Tejerizo, G}, title = {Insight into the structure, function and conjugative transfer of pLPU83a, an accessory plasmid of Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {103}, number = {}, pages = {9-16}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2019.03.004}, pmid = {30928704}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Load ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plasmids/*chemistry/classification/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plasmids are widely distributed in rhizobia, a group of bacteria able to establish symbiotic relationships with the roots of legume plants. Two types of conjugative transfer (CT) regulation of these elements have been described in more detail. The most prevalent is through Quorum-Sensing (QS), mediated by the interaction of the TraR regulator protein and its cognate acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) synthesized by TraI. In this study, we analyzed rhizobial plasmids classified according to their TraR regulators into four different groups. Each group has a particular genomic architecture. In one of the groups (I-C), represented by pLPU83a from Rhizobium favelukesii LPU83, CT induction requires TraR. With manual annotation, a traI was located in the plasmid distant to the traR gene. These features make pLPU83a an interesting plasmid for studying novel mechanisms of CT regulation. We mutagenized the traI gene, and found that it does not participate in CT regulation. Furthermore, we studied whether pLPU83a is subject to QS regulation by determining CT at different growth stages (cell densities). Our results showed no positive correlation between increase in culture densities and CT induction, on the contrary a slight decrease in CT was found at higher culture densities, unlike other TraR-depending plasmids. Our results show that transfer of pLPU83a is not regulated in a QS-dependent manner, and suggest that molecules not yet identified may activate its CT. Also, accumulation of a putative inhibitor cannot be disregarded.}, } @article {pmid30928523, year = {2019}, author = {Romanó de Orte, M and Clowez, S and Caldeira, K}, title = {Response of bleached and symbiotic sea anemones to plastic microfiber exposure.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {249}, number = {}, pages = {512-517}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2019.02.100}, pmid = {30928523}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Artemia/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Nanostructures/*toxicity ; Nylons/toxicity ; Plastics/*toxicity ; Polyesters/toxicity ; Polypropylenes/toxicity ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Water Pollutants/*analysis/*metabolism ; Water Pollution/analysis ; }, abstract = {Microplastics are emerging contaminants in the marine environment. They enter the ocean in a variety of sizes and shapes, with plastic microfiber being the prevalent form in seawater and in the guts of biota. Most of the laboratory experiments on microplastics has been performed with spheres, so knowledge on the interactions of microfibers and marine organisms is limited. In this study we examined the ingestion of microfibers by the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida using three different types of polymers: nylon, polyester and polypropylene. The polymers were offered to both symbiotic (with algal symbionts) and bleached (without algal symbionts) anemones. The polymers were introduced either alone or mixed with brine shrimp homogenate. We observed a higher percentage of nylon ingestion compared to the other polymers when plastic was offered in the absence of shrimp. In contrast, we observed over 80% of the anemones taking up all types of polymers when the plastics were offered in the presence of shrimp. Retention time differed significantly between symbiotic and bleached anemones with faster egestion in symbiotic anemones. Our results suggest that ingestion of microfibers by sea anemones is dependent both on the type of polymers and on the presence of chemical cues of prey in seawater. The decreased ability of bleached anemones to reject plastic microfiber indicates that the susceptibility of anthozoans to plastic pollution is exacerbated by previous exposure to other stressors. This is particularly concerning given that coral reef ecosystems are facing increases in the frequency and intensity of bleaching events due to ocean warming.}, } @article {pmid30928367, year = {2019}, author = {Sharma, C and Bhardwaj, NK}, title = {Biotransformation of fermented black tea into bacterial nanocellulose via symbiotic interplay of microorganisms.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {166-177}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.202}, pmid = {30928367}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Cellulose/*chemistry/*metabolism ; *Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics ; Nanostructures/*chemistry ; Sugars/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tea/chemistry/*microbiology ; Temperature ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a natural origin biopolymer with multi-dimensional applications has captured a great deal of attention owing to its implausible properties. However, low yield of BNC accompanied with high production cost is challenging its usage in various technological applications. In this study, BNC production has been reported utilizing fermented black tea broth brewed from fresh tea leaves (FBTBF) as well as from used tea leaves (FBTBU) as a cost-effective and high-quality BNC yielding medium. The symbiotic combination of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) was exploited here to bring fermentation in tea broth. The production yields on dry weight basis were 13.3 g L[-1] in FBTBF and 12.8 g L[-1] in FBTBU, obtained with 60 g L[-1] of glucose in 20 days. The conversion yields of 0.32 and 0.31 g BNC/g sugar were obtained with both the tea broths. The study of produced pellicle using ATR-FTIR, FE-SEM and XRD confirmed its structural, morphological and chemical nature similar to that of BNC. Thus, fermented black tea broth appears to be a potential medium for BNC production. The use of fermented tea broth for the industrial scale production of BNC might significantly reduce its production cost.}, } @article {pmid30928040, year = {2019}, author = {Yoshino, K and Yamamoto, K and Hara, K and Sonoda, M and Yamamoto, Y and Sakamoto, K}, title = {The conservation of polyol transporter proteins and their involvement in lichenized Ascomycota.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {123}, number = {4}, pages = {318-329}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2019.01.006}, pmid = {30928040}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polymers/*metabolism ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {In lichen symbiosis, polyol transfer from green algae is important for acquiring the fungal carbon source. However, the existence of polyol transporter genes and their correlation with lichenization remain unclear. Here, we report candidate polyol transporter genes selected from the genome of the lichen-forming fungus (LFF) Ramalina conduplicans. A phylogenetic analysis using characterized polyol and monosaccharide transporter proteins and hypothetical polyol transporter proteins of R. conduplicans and various ascomycetous fungi suggested that the characterized yeast' polyol transporters form multiple clades with the polyol transporter-like proteins selected from the diverse ascomycetous taxa. Thus, polyol transporter genes are widely conserved among Ascomycota, regardless of lichen-forming status. In addition, the phylogenetic clusters suggested that LFFs belonging to Lecanoromycetes have duplicated proteins in each cluster. Consequently, the number of sequences similar to characterized yeast' polyol transporters were evaluated using the genomes of 472 species or strains of Ascomycota. Among these, LFFs belonging to Lecanoromycetes had greater numbers of deduced polyol transporter proteins. Thus, various polyol transporters are conserved in Ascomycota and polyol transporter genes appear to have expanded during the evolution of Lecanoromycetes.}, } @article {pmid30925791, year = {2019}, author = {Somerville, J and Zhou, L and Raymond, B}, title = {Aseptic Rearing and Infection with Gut Bacteria Improve the Fitness of Transgenic Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30925791}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {BB/L00819X/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Mass insect rearing can have a range of applications, for example in biological control of pests. The competitive fitness of released insects is extremely important in a number of applications. Here, we investigated how to improve the fitness of a transgenic diamondback moth, which has shown variation in mating ability when reared in different insectaries. Specifically we tested whether infection with a gut bacteria, Enterobacter cloacae, and aseptic rearing of larvae could improve insect growth and male performance. All larvae were readily infected with E. cloacae. Under aseptic rearing, pupal weights were reduced and there was a marginal reduction in larval survival. However, aseptic rearing substantially improved the fitness of transgenic males. In addition, under aseptic rearing, inoculation with E. cloacae increased pupal weights and male fitness, increasing the proportion of transgenic progeny from 20% to 30% relative to uninfected insects. Aseptic conditions may improve the fitness of transgenic males by excluding microbial contaminants, while symbiont inoculation could further improve fitness by providing additional protection against infection, or by normalizing insect physiology. The simple innovation of incorporating antibiotic into diet, and inoculating insects with symbiotic bacteria that are resistant to that antibiotic, could provide a readily transferable tool for other insect rearing systems.}, } @article {pmid30925664, year = {2019}, author = {da Costa, RR and Hu, H and Li, H and Poulsen, M}, title = {Symbiotic Plant Biomass Decomposition in Fungus-Growing Termites.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30925664}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Termites are among the most successful animal groups, accomplishing nutrient acquisition through long-term associations and enzyme provisioning from microbial symbionts. Fungus farming has evolved only once in a single termite sub-family: Macrotermitinae. This sub-family has become a dominant decomposer in the Old World; through enzymatic contributions from insects, fungi, and bacteria, managed in an intricate decomposition pathway, the termites obtain near-complete utilisation of essentially any plant substrate. Here we review recent insights into our understanding of the process of plant biomass decomposition in fungus-growing termites. To this end, we outline research avenues that we believe can help shed light on how evolution has shaped the optimisation of plant-biomass decomposition in this complex multipartite symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30923350, year = {2019}, author = {Raina, JB and Fernandez, V and Lambert, B and Stocker, R and Seymour, JR}, title = {The role of microbial motility and chemotaxis in symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {284-294}, pmid = {30923350}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Chemotaxis ; Genome, Bacterial ; Movement ; Phylogeny ; Phytoplankton/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many symbiotic relationships rely on the acquisition of microbial partners from the environment. However, the mechanisms by which microbial symbionts find and colonize their hosts are often unknown. We propose that the acquisition of environmental symbionts often necessitates active migration and colonization by the symbionts through motility and chemotaxis. The pivotal role of these behaviours in the onset and maintenance of symbiotic interactions is well established in a small number of model systems but remains largely overlooked for the many symbioses that involve the recruitment of microbial partners from the environment. In this Review, we highlight when, where and how chemotaxis and motility can enable symbiont recruitment and propose that these symbiont behaviours are important across a wide range of hosts and environments.}, } @article {pmid30922601, year = {2019}, author = {Buysse, M and Plantard, O and McCoy, KD and Duron, O and Menard, C}, title = {Tissue localization of Coxiella-like endosymbionts in three European tick species through fluorescence in situ hybridization.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {798-804}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.03.014}, pmid = {30922601}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Coxiella/*isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Dermacentor/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Europe ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Ixodidae/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Malpighian Tubules/microbiology ; Ovary/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Ticks/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ticks are commonly infected by Coxiella-like endosymbionts (Coxiella-LE) which are thought to supply missing B vitamin nutrients required for blood digestion.While this nutritional symbiosis is essential for the survival and reproduction of infected tick species, our knowledge of where Coxiella-LE is localized in tick tissues is partial at best since previous studies have focused on a limited number of Asian or American tick species. To fill this gap, we investigated the tissue localization of Coxiella-LE in three European tick species, Ornithodoros maritimus, Dermacentor marginatus and Ixodes hexagonus, using a diagnostic fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay, combined with PCR-based detection. Specific fluorescent foci were observed in several tick tissues. We visualized a pronounced tissue tropism of Coxiella-LE for tick ovaries and Malpighian tubules, a pattern suggestive of a high degree of lifestyle specialization toward mutualism: infection of the ovaries is indicative of transovarial transmission, whereas infection of the Malpighian tubules suggests a nutritional function. We postulate that Malpighian tubules are key organs for the nutritional symbiosis, notably the synthesis of B vitamins by Coxiella-LE, whereas the infection of the ovaries ensures vertical transmission of the symbionts to future generations. We also detected occasional infections in other organs, such as salivary glands and the midgut. Finally, we discuss the potential significance of the different tissue tropism for tick biology.}, } @article {pmid30920344, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, X and Xie, Z and Wang, Y and Sun, Y and Dang, X and Sun, H}, title = {A Dual Role of Amino Acids from Sesbania rostrata Seed Exudates in the Chemotaxis Response of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {9}, pages = {1134-1147}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-19-0059-R}, pmid = {30920344}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Amino Acids/metabolism ; *Azorhizobium caulinodans/drug effects ; *Chemotaxis/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Seeds/chemistry ; *Sesbania/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 can induce nodule formation on the roots and the stems of its host legume, Sesbania rostrata. Plant exudates are essential in the dialogue between microbes and their host plant and, in particular, amino acids can play an important role in the chemotactic response of bacteria. Histidine, arginine, and aspartate, which are the three most abundant amino acids present in S. rostrata seed exudates, behave as chemoattractants toward A. caulinodans. A position-specific-iterated BLAST analysis of the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) (chemoreceptors) in the genome of A. caulinodans was performed. Among the 43 MCP homologs, two MCPs harboring a dCache domain were selected as possible cognate amino acid MCPs. After analysis of relative gene expression levels and construction of a gene-deleted mutant strain, one of them, AZC_0821 designed as TlpH, was confirmed to be responsible for the chemotactic response to the three amino acids. In addition, it was found that these three amino acids can also influence chemotaxis of A. caulinodans independently of the chemosensory receptors, by being involved in the increase of the expression level of several che and fla genes involved in the chemotaxis pathway and flagella synthesis. Thus, the contribution of amino acids present in seed exudates is directly related to the role as chemoattractants and indirectly related to the role in the regulation of expression of key genes involved in chemotaxis and motility. This "dual role" is likely to influence the formation of biofilms by A. caulinodans and the host root colonization properties of this bacterium.}, } @article {pmid30919981, year = {2019}, author = {Field, KJ and Bidartondo, MI and Rimington, WR and Hoysted, GA and Beerling, D and Cameron, DD and Duckett, JG and Leake, JR and Pressel, S}, title = {Functional complementarity of ancient plant-fungal mutualisms: contrasting nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon exchanges between Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina fungal symbionts of liverworts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {2}, pages = {908-921}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15819}, pmid = {30919981}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/M026825//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Endophytes/ultrastructure ; Glomeromycota/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Hepatophyta/*microbiology ; Linear Models ; Mucor/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Liverworts, which are amongst the earliest divergent plant lineages and important ecosystem pioneers, often form nutritional mutualisms with arbuscular mycorrhiza-forming Glomeromycotina and fine-root endophytic Mucoromycotina fungi, both of which coevolved with early land plants. Some liverworts, in common with many later divergent plants, harbour both fungal groups, suggesting these fungi may complementarily improve plant access to different soil nutrients. We tested this hypothesis by growing liverworts in single and dual fungal partnerships under a modern atmosphere and under 1500 ppm [CO2 ], as experienced by early land plants. Access to soil nutrients via fungal partners was investigated with [15] N-labelled algal necromass and [33] P orthophosphate. Photosynthate allocation to fungi was traced using [14] CO2 . Only Mucoromycotina fungal partners provided liverworts with substantial access to algal [15] N, irrespective of atmospheric CO2 concentration. Both symbionts increased [33] P uptake, but Glomeromycotina were often more effective. Dual partnerships showed complementarity of nutrient pool use and greatest photosynthate allocation to symbiotic fungi. We show there are important functional differences between the plant-fungal symbioses tested, providing new insights into the functional biology of Glomeromycotina and Mucoromycotina fungal groups that form symbioses with plants. This may explain the persistence of the two fungal lineages in symbioses across the evolution of land plants.}, } @article {pmid30918652, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, R and Wang, C and Ye, H and Gao, F and Cheng, J and Zhang, T and Guo, M}, title = {Effects of feeding hyperlipidemia rats with symbiotic oat-based frozen yogurt on serum triglycerides and cholesterol.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {1096-1103}, pmid = {30918652}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {Ice cream is one of the most popular dairy foods in the world. But it has long been recognized as a high-calorie food and may not be suitable for certain segments of the population. Oat-based food products are considered as functional foods due to its rich β-glucan. A symbiotic oat-based frozen yogurt (SOFY) containing fermented oat, probiotics, and inulin (prebiotic) was developed, and its effects on serum lipids in rats were evaluated. The new product had 4.10% protein, 8.50% fat, and 2.10% fiber, respectively. Bifidobacterium remained 10[6] CFU/ml up to 8 weeks. Triglycerides levels of the rats fed with 30% or 35% SOFY were significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels of experimental rat groups decreased with increased SOFY, and the difference was very significant between group with 35% SOFY and control groups (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in high-density lipoprotein between each two groups (p > 0.05). Hepatic cell cords of rats after administration of SOFY showed orderly manner and normal hepatocyte morphology compared with those of rats in control group. Results indicated that consumption of oat-based frozen yogurt could lower serum lipids levels in rats.}, } @article {pmid30918316, year = {2019}, author = {Nissinen, R and Helander, M and Kumar, M and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Heritable Epichloë symbiosis shapes fungal but not bacterial communities of plant leaves.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {5253}, pmid = {30918316}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Microbiota ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology/*virology ; Poaceae/*microbiology/*virology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Keystone microbial species have driven eco-evolutionary processes since the origin of life. However, due to our inability to detect the majority of microbiota, members of diverse microbial communities of fungi, bacteria and viruses have largely been ignored as keystone species in past literature. Here we tested whether heritable Epichloë species of pooidae grasses modulate microbiota of their shared host plant.}, } @article {pmid30917916, year = {2019}, author = {Hajialilo, E and Rezaeian, M and Niyyati, M and Pourmand, MR and Mohebali, M and Norouzi, M and Razavi Pashabeyg, K and Rezaie, S and Khodavaisy, S}, title = {Molecular characterization of bacterial, viral and fungal endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba isolates in keratitis patients of Iran.}, journal = {Experimental parasitology}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {48-54}, doi = {10.1016/j.exppara.2019.03.013}, pmid = {30917916}, issn = {1090-2449}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/isolation & purification/microbiology/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*complications ; Adenoviruses, Human/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Cloning, Molecular ; Communicable Diseases/microbiology/transmission ; Contact Lenses/parasitology ; Cornea/parasitology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Fungi/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Iran ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; Vero Cells ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Free-living amoebae belong to the genus Acanthamoeba; can feed on microbial population by phagocytosis, and with the capability to act as a reservoir and a vehicle of microorganisms to susceptible host. Therefore, the role of endosymbiosis in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba is complex and not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to identify bacterial, fungal, and human adenovirus (HADV) endosymbionts as well as evaluating the endosymbionts role of such organisms in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba in keratitis patients living in Iran. Fifteen Acanthamoeba (T4 genotype) isolates were recovered from corneal scrapes and contact lenses of patients with keratitis. Cloning and purification was performed for all isolate. Gram staining was performed to identify bacterial endosymbionts. DNA extraction, PCR, and nested PCR was set up to identify endosymbiont of amoeba. Evaluation of pathogenicity was conducted by osmo-tolerance and thermo-tolerance assays and cell culture, and then CPE (cytopathic effect) was survey. Statistical analysis was used between Acanthamoeba associated endosymbionts and Acanthamoeba without endosymbiont at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. A p value < 0.05 was considered as significant, statistically. A total of 9 (60%) Acanthamoeba (T4 genotypes) isolates were successfully cloned for detecting microorganism endosymbionts. The only isolate negative for the presence of endosymbiont was ICS9. ICS7 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus sp., and human adenovirus endosymbionts) and ICS2 (Escherichia coli endosymbiont) isolates were considered as Acanthamoeba associated endosymbionts. ICS7 and ICS2 isolates were highly pathogen whereas ICS9 isolate showed low pathogenicity in pathogenicity evaluated. Positive CPE for ICS7 and ICS2 isolates and negative CPE for ICS9 isolate were observed in cell culture. The average number of cells, trophozoites, and cysts among ICS7, ICS2, and ICS9 isolates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h was significant. This is the first survey on microbial endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba in keratitis patients of Iran, and also the first report of Aspergillus sp, Achromobacter sp., Microbacterium sp., Brevibacillus sp, Brevundimonas sp and Mastadenovirus sp in Acanthamoeba as endosymbionts. Our study demonstrated that microbial endosymbionts can affect the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba; however, further research is required to clarify the exact pattern of symbiosis, in order to modify treatment protocol.}, } @article {pmid30917551, year = {2019}, author = {Qi, Y and Chen, X and Hu, Z and Song, C and Cui, Y}, title = {Bibliometric Analysis of Algal-Bacterial Symbiosis in Wastewater Treatment.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {30917551}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {*Aquatic Organisms ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bibliometrics ; International Cooperation ; Publishing/*statistics & numerical data ; *Symbiosis ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the algae-bacteria symbiotic system has played a significant role in the sustainable development of wastewater treatment. With the continuous expansion of research outputs, publications related to wastewater treatment via algal-bacterial consortia appear to be on the rise. Based on SCI-EXPANDED database, this study investigated the research activities and tendencies of algae-bacteria symbiotic wastewater treatment technology by bibliometric method from 1998 to 2017. The results indicated that environmental sciences and ecology was the most productive subject categories, followed by engineering. Bioresource Technology was the most prominent journal in this field with considerable academic influence. China (146), USA (139) and Spain (76) had the largest amount of publications. Among them, USA was in a leading position in international cooperation, with the highest h-index (67) in 79 countries/territories. The cooperation between China and USA was the closest. The cooperative publishing rate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was 83.33%, but most of them were in cooperation with domestic institutions, while international cooperation was relatively limited. Methane production, biofuel production, and extracellular polymeric substance were future focal frontiers of research, and this field had gradually become a multi-perspective and inter-disciplinary approach combining biological, environmental and energy technologies.}, } @article {pmid30917525, year = {2019}, author = {Salgado-Morales, R and Martínez-Ocampo, F and Obregón-Barboza, V and Vilchis-Martínez, K and Jiménez-Pérez, A and Dantán-González, E}, title = {Assessing the Pathogenicity of Two Bacteria Isolated from the Entomopathogenic Nematode Heterorhabditis indica against Galleria mellonella and Some Pest Insects.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30917525}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis are parasites of insects and are associated with mutualist symbiosis enterobacteria of the genus Photorhabdus; these bacteria are lethal to their host insects. Heterorhabditis indica MOR03 was isolated from sugarcane soil in Morelos state, Mexico. The molecular identification of the nematode was confirmed using sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the D2/D3 expansion segment of the 28S rRNA gene. In addition, two bacteria HIM3 and NA04 strains were isolated from the entomopathogenic nematode. The genomes of both bacteria were sequenced and assembled de novo. Phylogenetic analysis was confirmed by concatenated gene sequence datasets as Photorhabdus luminescens HIM3 (16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, dnaN, gyrA, and gyrB genes) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NA04 (16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and gyrB genes). H. indica MOR03 infects Galleria mellonella, Tenebrio molitor, Heliothis subflexa, and Diatraea magnifactella larvae with LC50 values of 1.4, 23.5, 13.7, and 21.7 IJs/cm[2], respectively, at 48 h. These bacteria are pathogenic to various insects and have high injectable insecticide activity at 24 h.}, } @article {pmid30917411, year = {2019}, author = {Pujic, P and Alloisio, N and Fournier, P and Roche, D and Sghaier, H and Miotello, G and Armengaud, J and Berry, AM and Normand, P}, title = {Omics of the early molecular dialogue between Frankia alni and Alnus glutinosa and the cellulase synton.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {3328-3345}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14606}, pmid = {30917411}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {The early Frankia-Alnus symbiotic molecular exchanges were analyzed in detail by protein and RNA omics. For this, Frankia cells were placed in the presence of Alnus roots but separated by a dialysis membrane for 64 h. The bacterial cells were then harvested and analyzed by high-throughput proteomics and transcriptomics (RNA-seq). The most upregulated gene clusters were found to be the potassium transporter operon kdp and an ABC transporter operon of uncharacterized function. The most upregulated proteins were found to be acyl dehydrogenases and the potassium transporter Kdp. These suggest a preadaptation to the impending stresses linked to the penetration into isotonic host tissues and a possible rearrangement of the membrane. Another cluster among the 60 most upregulated ones that comprised two cellulases and a cellulose synthase was conserved among the Frankia and other actinobacteria such as Streptomyces. Cellulase activity was detected on CMC all along the length of the root but not away from it. Frankia alni ACN14a was found to be unable to respire or grow on glucose as sole carbon source. The cellulose synthase was found active at the tip of hyphae in response to Alnus root exudates, resulting in a calcofluor stained tip.}, } @article {pmid30917160, year = {2019}, author = {Del Cerro, P and Megías, M and López-Baena, FJ and Gil-Serrano, A and Pérez-Montaño, F and Ollero, FJ}, title = {Osmotic stress activates nif and fix genes and induces the Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 Nod factor production via NodD2 by up-regulation of the nodA2 operon and the nodA3 gene.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e0213298}, pmid = {30917160}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Diuretics, Osmotic/pharmacology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mannitol/pharmacology ; *Operon ; *Osmotic Pressure ; Rhizobium tropici/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes is characterized by a complex molecular dialogue in which the bacterial NodD protein plays a major role due to its capacity to activate the expression of the nodulation genes in the presence of appropiate flavonoids. These genes are involved in the synthesis of molecules, the nodulation factors (NF), responsible for launching the nodulation process. Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, a rhizobial strain that nodulates Phaseolus vulgaris, is characterized by its tolerance to multiple environmental stresses such as high temperatures, acidity or elevated osmolarity. This strain produces nodulation factors under saline stress and the same set of CIAT 899 nodulation genes activated by inducing flavonoids are also up-regulated in a process controlled by the NodD2 protein. In this paper, we have studied the effect of osmotic stress (high mannitol concentrations) on the R. tropici CIAT 899 transcriptomic response. In the same manner as with saline stress, the osmotic stress mediated NF production and export was controlled directly by NodD2. In contrast to previous reports, the nodA2FE operon and the nodA3 and nodD1 genes were up-regulated with mannitol, which correlated with an increase in the production of biologically active NF. Interestingly, in these conditions, this regulatory protein controlled not only the expression of nodulation genes but also the expression of other genes involved in protein folding and synthesis, motility, synthesis of polysaccharides and, surprinsingly, nitrogen fixation. Moreover, the non-metabolizable sugar dulcitol was also able to induce the NF production and the activation of nod genes in CIAT 899.}, } @article {pmid30916398, year = {2019}, author = {Quiroga, G and Erice, G and Ding, L and Chaumont, F and Aroca, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis regulates aquaporins activity and improves root cell water permeability in maize plants subjected to water stress.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {7}, pages = {2274-2290}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13551}, pmid = {30916398}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Aquaporins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Biomass ; Dehydration ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Permeability ; Phosphorylation ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; Zea mays/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Studies have suggested that increased root hydraulic conductivity in mycorrhizal roots could be the result of increased cell-to-cell water flux via aquaporins. This study aimed to elucidate if the key effect of the regulation of maize aquaporins by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is the enhancement of root cell water transport capacity. Thus, water permeability coefficient (Pf) and cell hydraulic conductivity (Lpc) were measured in root protoplast and intact cortex cells of AM and non-AM plants subjected or not to water stress. Results showed that cells from droughted-AM roots maintained Pf and Lpc values of nonstressed plants, whereas in non-AM roots, these values declined drastically as a consequence of water deficit. Interestingly, the phosphorylation status of PIP2 aquaporins increased in AM plants subjected to water deficit, and Pf values higher than 12 μm s[-1] were found only in protoplasts from AM roots, revealing the higher water permeability of AM root cells. In parallel, the AM symbiosis increased stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, and related parameters, showing a higher photosynthetic capacity in these plants. This study demonstrates a better performance of AM root cells in water transport under water deficit, which is connected to the shoot physiological performance in terms of photosynthetic capacity.}, } @article {pmid30915091, year = {2019}, author = {Goh, DM and Cosme, M and Kisiala, AB and Mulholland, S and Said, ZMF and Spíchal, L and Emery, RJN and Declerck, S and Guinel, FC}, title = {A Stimulatory Role for Cytokinin in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis of Pea.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {262}, pmid = {30915091}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis between terrestrial plants and AM fungi is regulated by plant hormones. For most of these, a role has been clearly assigned in this mutualistic interaction; however, there are still contradictory reports for cytokinin (CK). Here, pea plants, the wild type (WT) cv. Sparkle and its mutant E151 (Pssym15), were inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. E151 has previously been characterized as possessing high CK levels in non-mycorrhizal (myc[-]) roots and exhibiting high number of fungal structures in mycorrhizal (myc[+]) roots. Myc[-] and myc[+] plants were treated 7, 9, and 11 days after inoculation (DAI) with synthetic compounds known to alter CK status. WT plants were treated with a synthetic CK [6-benzylaminopurine (BAP)] or the CK degradation inhibitor INCYDE, whereas E151 plants were treated with the CK receptor antagonist PI-55. At 13 DAI, plant CK content was analyzed by mass spectrometry. The effects of the synthetic compounds on AM colonization were assessed at 28 (WT) or 35 (E151) DAI via a modified magnified intersections method. The only noticeable difference seen between myc[-] and myc[+] plants in terms of CK content was in the levels of nucleotides (NTs). Whereas WT plants responded to fungi by lowering their NT levels, E151 plants did not. Since NTs are thought to be converted into active CK forms, this result suggests that active CKs were synthesized more effectively in WT than in E151. In general, myc[+] and myc[-] WT plants responded similarly to INCYDE by lowering significantly their NT levels and increasing slightly their active CK levels; these responses were less obvious in BAP-treated WT plants. In contrast, the response of E151 plants to PI-55 depended on the plant mycorrhizal status. Whereas treated myc[-] plants exhibited high NT and low active CK levels, treated myc[+] plants displayed low levels of both NTs and active CKs. Moreover, treated WT plants were more colonized than treated E151 plants. We concluded that CKs have a stimulatory role in AM colonization because increased active CK levels were paralleled with increased AM colonization while decreased CK levels corresponded to reduced AM colonization.}, } @article {pmid30914318, year = {2019}, author = {Xiao, R and Wang, X and Xie, E and Ji, T and Li, X and Muhammad, A and Yin, X and Hou, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {An IMD-like pathway mediates the intestinal immunity to modulate the homeostasis of gut microbiota in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae).}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {20-27}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.03.013}, pmid = {30914318}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/immunology ; Fat Body/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Hemolymph/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Homeostasis/genetics/*immunology ; Insect Proteins/classification/genetics/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Larva/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA Interference ; Signal Transduction/genetics/*immunology ; Weevils/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most animals have established the mutualistic interactions with their intestinal microbes which provide multiple benefits to their host physiology. However, the mechanisms behind hosts determine the load and composition of gut microbiota are still poorly understood outside dipteran insects. Here, the gene, encoding the NF-κB-like transcription factor Relish, being designated as RfRelish, was identified and analyzed in red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier. We revealed that the abundance of RfRelish transcripts in the fat body, hemolymph and gut are significantly higher than that in non-immunity-related tissues, and its expression level can be markedly induced by bacterial challenges. When RfRelish was silenced, the ability of individuals to clear the pathogenic bacteria in body cavity and gut was significantly compromised, suggesting that both the systemic and gut local immunity were impaired dramatically by RfRelish knockdown. Additionally, the silenced insects exhibited increased gut bacterial load, and the relative abundance of some gut bacteria was changed as compared to controls. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the IMD-like pathway restricts the proliferation of gut bacteria and shapes the commensal community structure in the intestine of R. ferrugineus by mediating the secretion of antimicrobial peptides. We provide a striking example on how an insect pest maintains the homeostasis of gut microbiota via a conserved immune pathway without compromising the advantages of the mutualistic relationships.}, } @article {pmid30913327, year = {2019}, author = {Fan, J and Qin, H and Zhang, Y and Jiang, S}, title = {Degradation of 4-chlorophenol by BM Fe/Cu-O2 system: The symbiosis of · O 2 - and ·OH radicals.}, journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation}, volume = {91}, number = {8}, pages = {770-779}, doi = {10.1002/wer.1107}, pmid = {30913327}, issn = {1554-7531}, mesh = {Chlorophenols/*chemistry ; Copper/*chemistry ; Iron/*chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {In this study, Fe/Cu bimetal composite was prepared by high-energy ball milling (BM) method for the removal of refractory organics. The BM Fe/Cu bimetal was characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, and XPS. Evenly distributed Fe and Cu was observed in the EDS mapping. In contrasting experiments, the removal rate of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) by BM Fe/Cu materials was about 10-fold faster than that by chemical substitution deposition (CSD) of Fe/Cu material. Complete 4-CP removal and 66.7% of total organic carbon (TOC) mineralization in the BM Fe/Cu-O2 system were achieved. Dissolved oxygen plays a crucial role for 4-CP degradation through the in situ generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2 O2 , ·OH, and · O 2 - via oxygen activation reactions. The predominant reactive radicals were identified to be · O 2 - and ·OH through ESR technique and inhibition experiments. The coexistence of oxidation and reduction of 4-CP in the BM Fe/Cu-O2 system was proposed. PRACTITIONER POINTS: 4-CP removal rate by BM Fe/Cu is 10-fold faster than that by CSD Fe/Cu at the same conditions. Complete 4-CP removal and 66.7% of TOC reduction were achieved. All three ROS including ·OH, · O 2 - , and H2 O2 coexisted in the BM Fe/Cu-O2 system. A harmonious coexistence of oxidation and reduction mechanism was proposed.}, } @article {pmid30912399, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, ZF and Wang, SH}, title = {Research progress in scyphozoan polyp strobilation-induced factors and regulation mechanism.}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {1057-1066}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201903.039}, pmid = {30912399}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Animals ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Salinity ; *Scyphozoa ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Strobilation is a key stage for polyp-to-jellyfish transition. Knowledge about the strobilation-induced factors and the underlying molecular regulation mechanism could help control jellyfish bloom in nature, improve jellyfish artificial breeding, as well as get insight about the ancestral molecular origin of metamorphosis of amphibians, insect and cnidarians. Natural factors, including temperature, illumination, salinity, and symbiotic zooxanthellae, could induce strobilation. The mode of strobilation and how these natural factors irritate strobilation are distinct in different jellyfish species. Chemicals including indole derivates, 9-cis retinoic acid, elemental iodine, hydrogen peroxide, could also induce strobilation in laboratory. Indole derivates are effective inducers to most scyphozoan species. The molecular mechanism of strobilation is unclear. Results from moon jelly reveal that RxR signaling pathway plays an important role during strobilation. A secreted moon jelly-special protein named CL390 may serve as a strobilation-induced hormone precursor. These results imply that morphological differences in medusa production may mask similarities at the cellular level in different jellyfish species. The molecular mechanism of metamorphosis in jellyfish may share some consistency with amphibians and insects.}, } @article {pmid30912397, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, BD and Yu, M and Hao, ZP and Xie, W and Zhang, X}, title = {Research progress in arbuscular mycorrhizal technology.}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {1035-1046}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201903.037}, pmid = {30912397}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis facilitates plant mineral nutrient acquisition and plays key roles in plant adaptation to environmental stresses. The application of AM fungi is a component of sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration. We introduced the current status of AM fungi collections, production of commercial inocula and AM fungi related patents, summarized the research advances in inoculum production, inoculation techniques, and factors influencing the success of inoculation practice in the field, based on case studies of mycorrhizal technology in agriculture, horticulture, and ecological restoration. Finally, we proposed some basic scientific questions and technical bottleneck that deserve futher studies, to promote the development and application of mycorrhizal technologies.}, } @article {pmid30911658, year = {2018}, author = {Oliver Goetze, T and Al-Batran, SE and Pabst, U and Reymond, M and Tempfer, C and Bechstein, WO and Bankstahl, U and Gockel, I and Königsrainer, A and Kraus, T and Mönig, SP and Rau, B and Schwarzbach, M and Piso, P}, title = {Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) in combination with standard of care chemotherapy in primarily untreated chemo naïve upper gi-adenocarcinomas with peritoneal seeding - a phase II/III trial of the AIO/CAOGI/ACO.}, journal = {Pleura and peritoneum}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {20180113}, pmid = {30911658}, issn = {2364-768X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Peritoneal metastasis is a common and dismal evolution of several gastrointestinal (GI) tumors, including gastric, colorectal, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and other cancers. The therapy of peritoneal metastasis is largely palliative; with the aim of prolonging life and preserving its quality. In the meantime, a significant pharmacological advantage of intraperitoneal chemotherapy was documented in the preclinical model, and numerous clinical studies have delivered promising clinical results.

METHODS: This is a prospective, open, randomized multicenter phase III clinical study with two arms that aims to evaluate the effects of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) combined with systemic chemotherapy vs. intravenous systemic chemotherapy alone on patients with metastatic upper GI tumors with a peritoneal seeding. Upper GI-adenocarcinomas originated from biliary tract, pancreas and stomach, or esophago- gastric junction are eligible. Patients in the study are treated with standard of care systemic palliative chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6) vs. PIPAC with intravenous (i.v.) chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6). Patients in first line with first diagnosed peritoneal seeding are eligible. Primary outcome is progression free survival (PFS).

CONCLUSIONS: PIPAC-procedure is explicit a palliative method but it delivers cytotoxic therapy like in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)-procedure directly to the tumor in a minimally invasive technique, without the need for consideration of the peritoneal-plasma barrier. The technique of PIPAC is minimally invasive and very gentle and the complete procedure takes only round about 45 min and, therefore, optimal in a clearly palliative situation where cure is not the goal. It is also ideal for using this approach in a first line situation, where deepest response should be achieved. The symbiosis of systemic therapy and potentially effective surgery has to be well-planned without deterioration of the patient due to aggressive way of surgery like in cytoreductive surgery (CRS)+HIPEC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT: 2018-001035-40.}, } @article {pmid30911076, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Ren, L and Li, C and Gao, C and Liu, X and Wang, M and Luo, Y}, title = {Effects of endophytic fungi diversity in different coniferous species on the colonization of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {5077}, pmid = {30911076}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Female ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tracheophyta/microbiology ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Diversity of endophyte communities of the host tree affects the oviposition behavior of Sirex noctilio and the growth of its symbiotic fungus Amylostereum areolatum. In this study, we evaluated the structure and distribution of endophyte communities in the host tree (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) of S. noctilio and eight potential host tree species in China. Overall, 1626 fungal strains were identified by using internal transcribed spacer sequencing and morphological features. Each tree species harbored a fungal endophyte community with a unique structure, with the genus Trichoderma common to different communities. The isolation and colonization rate of endophytes from Pinus tabulaeformis, followed by P. sylvestris var. mongolica, were lower than those of other species. The proportion of endophytic fungi that strongly inhibited S. noctilio and symbiotic fungus growth was significantly lower in P. tabulaeformis, P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. yunnanensis. Further, the diversity of the endophyte communities appeared to be predominantly influenced by tree species and the region, and, to a lesser extent, by the trunk height. Collectively, the data indicated that P. tabulaeformis might be at a higher risk of invasion and colonization by S. noctilio than other trees.}, } @article {pmid30910773, year = {2019}, author = {Chiu, CH and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Mechanisms and Impact of Symbiotic Phosphate Acquisition.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {30910773}, issn = {1943-0264}, support = {BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phosphorous is important for life but often limiting for plants. The symbiotic pathway of phosphate uptake via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is evolutionarily ancient and today occurs in natural and agricultural ecosystems alike. Plants capable of this symbiosis can obtain up to all of the phosphate from symbiotic fungi, and this offers potential means to develop crops less dependent on unsustainable P fertilizers. Here, we review the mechanisms and insights gleaned from the fine-tuned signal exchanges that orchestrate the intimate mutualistic symbiosis between plants and AMF. As the currency of trade, nutrients have signaling functions beyond being the nutritional goal of mutualism. We propose that such signaling roles and metabolic reprogramming may represent commitments for a mutualistic symbiosis that act across the stages of symbiosis development.}, } @article {pmid30909699, year = {2019}, author = {Hogenová, HT and Zákostelská, ZJ and Petanová, J and Kverka, M}, title = {Microbiota, immunity and immunologically-mediated diseases.}, journal = {Vnitrni lekarstvi}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {98-107}, pmid = {30909699}, issn = {0042-773X}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Immune System Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Each individual is colonized by broad spectrum of microbes. Recent surge of interest in microbiota across all fields of medicine was motivated by an increasing body of knowledge on how commensals influence human health. This is most notable in the gut, where most microbes reside, but microbes colonizing other niches, such as oral cavity or skin, may influence health as well. Microbiota fundamentally influences the immune system development and its perturbation, i.e. dysbiosis, is associated with many inflammatory, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. Microbiota forms a symbiotic relationship with the host - maintaining balanced and efficient immune response and protects from colonization by pathogens. Modern medicine may benefit greatly by adopting these ideas for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. These may include manipulation with microbiota by diet, changes in lifestyle or directly by probiotics or fecal microbiota transfer.}, } @article {pmid30909122, year = {2019}, author = {Cooper, D and Wuebbolt, C and Heryanto, C and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {The prophenoloxidase system in Drosophila participates in the anti-nematode immune response.}, journal = {Molecular immunology}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {88-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.molimm.2019.03.008}, pmid = {30909122}, issn = {1872-9142}, mesh = {Animals ; Catechol Oxidase/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Drosophila Proteins/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/enzymology/genetics/*immunology/*parasitology ; Enzyme Precursors/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Insect ; Hemocytes/metabolism ; *Immunity ; Larva ; Nematoda/*physiology ; Survival Analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Drosophila melanogaster relies on an evolutionarily conserved innate immune system to protect itself from potentially deadly pathogens. One of the earliest pathways activated after injury or infection is the melanization pathway, which is responsible for synthesizing and depositing melanin at the site of injury, or onto invading microbes. Three genes, PPO1-3, encoding prophenoloxidase (PPO), an inactive precursor of phenoloxidase (PO), are responsible for the production of melanin after their activation via immune challenge. One pathogen capable of infecting D. melanogaster are entomopathogenic nematodes. Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes exist in a mutualistic relationship with Xenorhabdus nematophila bacteria and are an important biological control agent for controlling insect pests. The nematode-bacteria complex (symbiotic nematodes) can be separated, creating "axenic" nematodes, devoid of their associated bacteria, which are still capable of infecting and killing D. melanogaster. In order to investigate how the D. melanogaster melanization pathway contributes to the anti-nematode immune response, symbiotic and axenic S. carpocapsae were used to study D. melanogaster survival, PPO gene expression, and activation of PPO to PO. Our research suggests that the expression of all three D. melanogaster PPO genes contributes to survival, however only PPO1 or PPO3 appear to be up-regulated during axenic or symbiotic nematode infection. Additionally, we present data suggesting that a complex regulatory system exists between PPOs, potentially allowing for the compensation of PPOs by one another. Further, we found that axenic nematode infection leads to higher levels of PO, suggesting that X. nematophila suppresses this activation. We also report for the first time the differentiation of lamellocytes, a specialized type of hemocytes in D. melanogaster, in response to symbiotic S. carpocapsae nematode infection. Our results suggest an important role played by the melanization pathway in response to nematode infection, and demonstrate how this response can be manipulated by S. carpocapsae nematodes and their mutualistic X. nematophila bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30908017, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, RK and Wang, SS and Liu, DX and Li, X and Song, JM and Xia, YH and Zhou, DD and Huang, J and Zhang, WX and Chen, XM}, title = {Supercooling Behavior and Dipole-Glass-like Relaxation in a Three-Dimensional Water Framework.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {141}, number = {14}, pages = {5645-5649}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.9b01866}, pmid = {30908017}, issn = {1520-5126}, abstract = {The dynamic behaviors of a new type of three-dimensional (3D) water framework symbiotic with 1D stacking organic guests, including an order-disorder transition of hydrogen atoms, a supercooling phenomenon during phase transition, and a dipole-glass-like relaxation behavior due to locally trapped water molecules, are presented. This extremely scarce 3D water framework, together with the rich dynamic behaviors it exhibits, provides new clues to design new ice-like models for promoting the fundamental understanding of the dynamic behavior of water in diverse solid-states.}, } @article {pmid30906449, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, J and Zhou, Z and Ji, P and Ma, M and Guo, J and Jiang, S}, title = {Effect of fecal microbiota transplantation on experimental colitis in mice.}, journal = {Experimental and therapeutic medicine}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {2581-2586}, pmid = {30906449}, issn = {1792-0981}, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on the acute inflammatory response in a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, and to delineate the putative underlying mechanism(s). Mice were divided into four groups, namely the normal control, DSS, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and FMT group. Mice in the DSS, 5-ASA and FMT groups were orally administered 3% DSS (w/v) solution for 7 days to induce colitis. On days 1, 3, 5 and 7, mice in the DSS, 5-ASA and FMT groups were respectively administered 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium, 5-ASA suspension and fecal suspension by enema. The disease activity index of each mouse was calculated on a daily basis. All mice were sacrificed on day 8, and the length of their colons was measured. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in the colon tissues of each group were also measured. Compared with that in the DSS group, FMT ameliorated the severity of inflammation due to ulcerative colitis in mice, which was accompanied by a significantly decreased MPO activity, reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, and an increased level of IL-10 in colon tissue (all P<0.05). Taken together, these results demonstrated that FMT exerted a therapeutic effect on experimental colitis in mice, and the associated mechanism is likely to involve the remodeling of the intestinal flora and regulation of intestinal T-cell immunity homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid30905896, year = {2019}, author = {Uchi, N and Fukudome, M and Nozaki, N and Suzuki, M and Osuki, KI and Shigenobu, S and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Antimicrobial Activities of Cysteine-rich Peptides Specific to Bacteriocytes of the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {155-160}, pmid = {30905896}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Aphids/*metabolism/microbiology ; Buchnera/physiology ; Cell Membrane Permeability/drug effects/genetics ; Cysteine/*chemistry ; Escherichia coli/cytology/drug effects/genetics ; Insect Proteins/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Mutation ; Peptides/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids have a mutualistic relationship with the bacterial endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola. We previously reported seven cysteine-rich peptides in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and named them Bacteriocyte-specific Cysteine-Rich (BCR) peptides; these peptides are exclusively expressed in bacteriocytes, special aphid cells that harbor symbionts. Similar symbiotic organ-specific cysteine-rich peptides identified in the root nodules of leguminous plants are named Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptides. NCR peptides target rhizobia in the nodules and are essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. A BacA (membrane protein) mutant of Sinorhizobium is sensitive to NCR peptides and is unable to establish symbiosis. Based on the structural and expressional similarities between BCR peptides and NCR peptides, we hypothesized that aphid BCR peptides exhibit antimicrobial activity, similar to some NCR peptides. We herein synthesized BCR peptides and investigated their antimicrobial activities and effects on the bacterial membrane of Escherichia coli. The peptides BCR1, BCR3, BCR5, and BCR8 exhibited antimicrobial activities with increased membrane permeability. An sbmA mutant of E. coli, a homolog of bacA of S. meliloti, was more sensitive to BCR peptides than the wild type. Our results suggest that BCR peptides have properties that may be required to control the endosymbiont, similar to NCR peptides in legumes.}, } @article {pmid30905198, year = {2019}, author = {Bartolomaeus, H and Markó, L and Wilck, N and Luft, FC and Forslund, SK and Muller, DN}, title = {Precarious Symbiosis Between Host and Microbiome in Cardiovascular Health.}, journal = {Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)}, volume = {73}, number = {5}, pages = {926-935}, doi = {10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.11786}, pmid = {30905198}, issn = {1524-4563}, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid30904975, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, B and Wang, L and Hussain, M and Zhang, X and Tian, J and Qi, S and Liu, X and Xiang, M}, title = {Microbiota analysis revealed vertical transmission and microbial adjusting function of symbiotic fungus in the attelabid weevil fungiculture.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {62}, number = {12}, pages = {1717-1721}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-018-9475-9}, pmid = {30904975}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host Specificity ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Streptophyta/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Weevils/genetics/*metabolism ; }, } @article {pmid30904535, year = {2019}, author = {Javaheri-Kermani, M and Asoodeh, A}, title = {A novel beta-1,4 glucanase produced by symbiotic Bacillus sp. CF96 isolated from termite (Anacanthotermes).}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {131}, number = {}, pages = {752-759}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.124}, pmid = {30904535}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/classification/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Chemical Phenomena ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Stability ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*chemistry/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Solvents ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {A novel beta-1,4-glucanase was purified and characterized from symbiotic Bacillus sp. CF96 of termite. The SDS-PAGE and zymogram analyses revealed a molecular mass of 35.6 kDa. Optimal activity was at 50 °C and pH 5.5, while the enzyme was active over a wide range of temperature 20-80 °C and pH 4-10 and interestingly more than 60% of the maximum activity remained up to pH 9. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of hexane, chloroform and methanol (20% v/v). while, the enzyme activity was inhibited by metal ions such as Mn[2+], Hg[2+], Cu[2+], Zn[2+], Mg[2+], Fe[2+]. The isolated enzyme was able to degrade carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel and cellulose. Cellobiose was the hydrolytic product of enzymatic reaction based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. Regarding beta-1,4 endo/exoglucanase activity and high temperature, pH and solvent stability, the enzyme has potential for various industrial applications especially in designing pesticide for termite.}, } @article {pmid30903405, year = {2019}, author = {Kord, H and Fakheri, B and Ghabooli, M and Solouki, M and Emamjomeh, A and Khatabi, B and Sepehri, M and Salekdeh, GH and Ghaffari, MR}, title = {Salinity-associated microRNAs and their potential roles in mediating salt tolerance in rice colonized by the endophytic root fungus Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {659-672}, pmid = {30903405}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/pathogenicity ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Oryza/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Salt Tolerance ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica (P. indica), an endophytic root fungus, supports the growth and enhanced tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. Several recent studies showed the significant role of small RNA (sRNA) molecules including microRNAs (miRNAs) in plant adaption to environmental stress, but little is known concerning the symbiosis-mediated salt stress tolerance regulated at miRNAs level. The overarching goal of this research is to elucidate the impact of miRNAs in regulating the P. indica-mediated salt tolerance in rice. Applying sRNA-seq analysis led to identify a set of 547 differentially abundant miRNAs in response to P. indica inoculation and salt stress. These included 206 rice-specific and 341 previously known miRNAs from other plant species. In silico analysis of miRNAs predictions of the differentially abundant miRNAs led to identifying of 193 putatively target genes, most of which were encoded either genes or transcription factors involved in nutrient uptake, sodium ion transporters, growth regulators, and auxin- responsive proteins. The rice-specific miRNAs targeted the transcription factors involved in the import of potassium ions into the root cells, the export of sodium ions, and plant growth and development. Interestingly, P. indica affected the differential abundance of miRNAs regulated genes and transcription factors linked to salt stress tolerance. Our data helps to understand the molecular basis of salt stress tolerance mediated by symbionts in plant and the potential impact of miRNAs for genetic improvement of rice varieties for tolerance to salt stress.}, } @article {pmid30900053, year = {2019}, author = {Ricks, KD and Koide, RT}, title = {Biotic filtering of endophytic fungal communities in Bromus tectorum.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {189}, number = {4}, pages = {993-1003}, pmid = {30900053}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Bromus ; Fungi ; Introduced Species ; *Mycobiome ; Utah ; }, abstract = {The assembly of horizontally transmitted endophytic fungi within plant tissues may be affected by "biotic filtering". In other words, only particular endophytic fungal taxa from the available inoculum pool may be able to colonize a given plant species. We tested that hypothesis in Bromus tectorum, an important invasive species in the arid, western United States. We collected seed from Bromus tectorum and sources of inoculum for endophytic fungi including soil and various kinds of plant litter at a field site in central Utah. We characterized, using Illumina sequencing, the endophytic fungal communities in the various inoculum sources, inoculated Bromus tectorum seedlings under gnotobiotic conditions with the various sources, and then characterized the communities of endophytic fungi that assembled in their roots and leaves. Different inoculum sources containing significantly different endophytic fungal communities produced complex communities of endophytic fungi in leaves and roots of Bromus tectorum. In leaves, the communities assembling from the various inoculum sources were not significantly different from each other and, in roots, they were only slightly different from each other, mainly due to variation in a single fungal OTU, Coprinopsis brunneofibrillosa. Consequently, there was significantly more variation in the structure of the communities of endophytic fungi among the inoculum sources than in the resultant endophytic fungal communities in the leaves and roots of Bromus tectorum. These results are consistent with biotic filtering playing a significant role in endophytic fungal community assembly.}, } @article {pmid30898860, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, D and Frenette, PS}, title = {Cross talk between neutrophils and the microbiota.}, journal = {Blood}, volume = {133}, number = {20}, pages = {2168-2177}, pmid = {30898860}, issn = {1528-0020}, support = {R01 DK056638/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK112976/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL069438/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK116312/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology/microbiology ; Inflammation Mediators/immunology ; *Microbiota ; Neoplasms/*immunology/microbiology ; Neutrophils/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The microbiota has emerged as an important regulator of the host immunity by the induction, functional modulation, or suppression of local and systemic immune responses. In return, the host immune system restricts translocation and fine tunes the composition and distribution of the microbiota to maintain a beneficial symbiosis. This paradigm applies to neutrophils, a critical component of the innate immunity, allowing their production and function to be influenced by microbial components and metabolites derived from the microbiota, and engaging them in the process of microbiota containment and regulation. The cross talk between neutrophils and the microbiota adjusts the magnitude of neutrophil-mediated inflammation on challenge while preventing neutrophil responses against commensals under steady state. Here, we review the major molecular and cellular mediators of the interactions between neutrophils and the microbiota and discuss their interplay and contribution in chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.}, } @article {pmid30894837, year = {2019}, author = {Tolley, SJA and Nonacs, P and Sapountzis, P}, title = {Wolbachia Horizontal Transmission Events in Ants: What Do We Know and What Can We Learn?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {296}, pmid = {30894837}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {While strict vertical transmission insures the durability of intracellular symbioses, phylogenetic incongruences between hosts and endosymbionts suggest horizontal transmission must also occur. These horizontal acquisitions can have important implications for the biology of the host. Wolbachia is one of the most ecologically successful prokaryotes in arthropods, infecting an estimated 50-70% of all insect species. Much of this success is likely due to the fact that, in arthropods, Wolbachia is notorious for manipulating host reproduction to favor transmission through the female germline. However, its natural potential for horizontal transmission remains poorly understood. Here we evaluate the fundamental prerequisites for successful horizontal transfer, including necessary environmental conditions, genetic potential of bacterial strains, and means of mediating transfers. Furthermore, we revisit the relatedness of Wolbachia strains infecting the Panamanian leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex echinatior, and its inquiline social parasite, Acromyrmex insinuator, and compare our results to a study published more than 15 years ago by Van Borm et al. (2003). The results of this pilot study prompt us to reevaluate previous notions that obligate social parasitism reliably facilitates horizontal transfer and suggest that not all Wolbachia strains associated with ants have the same genetic potential for horizontal transmission.}, } @article {pmid30894042, year = {2019}, author = {Bor, B and Bedree, JK and Shi, W and McLean, JS and He, X}, title = {Saccharibacteria (TM7) in the Human Oral Microbiome.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {98}, number = {5}, pages = {500-509}, pmid = {30894042}, issn = {1544-0591}, support = {F32 DE025548/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; K99 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE020102/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE026186/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; T90 DE022734/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; F31 DE026057/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {Bacteria from the Saccharibacteria phylum (formerly known as TM7) are ubiquitous members of the human oral microbiome and are part of the Candidate Phyla Radiation. Recent studies have revealed remarkable 16S rRNA diversity in environmental and mammalian host-associated members across this phylum, and their association with oral mucosal infectious diseases has been reported. However, due to their recalcitrance to conventional cultivation, TM7's physiology, lifestyle, and role in health and diseases remain elusive. The recent cultivation and characterization of Nanosynbacter lyticus type strain TM7x (HMT_952)-the first Saccharibacteria strain coisolated as an ultrasmall obligate parasite with its bacterial host from the human oral cavity-provide a rare glimpse into the novel symbiotic lifestyle of these enigmatic human-associated bacteria. TM7x is unique among all bacteria: it has an ultrasmall size and lives on the surface of its host bacterium. With a highly reduced genome, it lacks the ability to synthesize any of its own amino acids, vitamins, or cell wall precursors and must parasitize other oral bacteria. TM7x displays a highly dynamic interaction with its bacterial hosts, as reflected by the reciprocal morphologic and physiologic changes in both partners. Furthermore, depending on environmental conditions, TM7x can exhibit virulent killing of its host bacterium. Thus, Saccharibacteria potentially affect oral microbial ecology by modulating the oral microbiome structure hierarchy and functionality through affecting the bacterial host's physiology, inhibiting the host's growth dynamics, or affecting the relative abundance of the host via direct killing. At this time, several other uncharacterized members of this phylum have been detected in various human body sites at high prevalence. In the oral cavity alone, at least 6 distinct groups vary widely in relative abundance across anatomic sites. Here, we review the current knowledge on the diversity and unique biology of this recently uncovered group of ultrasmall bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30893001, year = {2019}, author = {Rodríguez-López, J and López, AH and Estrada-Navarrete, G and Sánchez, F and Díaz-Camino, C}, title = {The Noncanonical Heat Shock Protein PvNod22 Is Essential for Infection Thread Progression During Rhizobial Endosymbiosis in Common Bean.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {8}, pages = {939-948}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-19-0041-R}, pmid = {30893001}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; *Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phaseolus/microbiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the establishment of plant-rhizobial symbiosis, the plant hosts express nodulin proteins during root nodule organogenesis. A limited number of nodulins have been characterized, and these perform essential functions in root nodule development and metabolism. Most nodulins are expressed in the nodule and at lower levels in other plant tissues. Previously, we isolated Nodulin 22 (PvNod22) from a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cDNA library derived from Rhizobium-infected roots. PvNod22 is a noncanonical, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized, small heat shock protein that confers protection against oxidative stress when overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Virus-induced gene silencing of PvNod22 resulted in necrotic lesions in the aerial organs of P. vulgaris plants cultivated under optimal conditions, activation of the ER-unfolded protein response (UPR), and, finally, plant death. Here, we examined the expression of PvNod22 in common bean plants during the establishment of rhizobial endosymbiosis and its relationship with two cellular processes associated with plant immunity, the UPR and autophagy. In the RNA interference lines, numerous infection threads stopped their progression before reaching the cortex cell layer of the root, and nodules contained fewer nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Collectively, our results suggest that PvNod22 has a nonredundant function during legume-rhizobia symbiosis associated with infection thread elongation, likely by sustaining protein homeostasis in the ER.}, } @article {pmid30891762, year = {2019}, author = {Gavito, ME and Jakobsen, I and Mikkelsen, TN and Mora, F}, title = {Direct evidence for modulation of photosynthesis by an arbuscular mycorrhiza-induced carbon sink strength.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {2}, pages = {896-907}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15806}, pmid = {30891762}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Carbon Sequestration ; Cucumis sativus/microbiology/physiology ; Linear Models ; Models, Biological ; Mycelium/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {It has been suggested that plant carbon (C) use by symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may be compensated by higher photosynthetic rates because fungal metabolism creates a strong C sink that prevents photosynthate accumulation and downregulation of photosynthesis. This mechanism remains largely unexplored and lacks experimental evidence. We report here two experiments showing that the experimental manipulation of the mycorrhizal C sink significantly affected the photosynthetic rates of cucumber host plants. We expected that a sudden reduction in sink strength would cause a significant reduction in photosynthetic rates, at least temporarily. Excision of part of the extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium from roots, and causing no disturbance to the plant, induced a sustained (10-40%) decline in photosynthetic rates that lasted from 30 min to several hours in plants that were well-nourished and hydrated, and in the absence of growth or photosynthesis promotion by mycorrhizal inoculation. This effect was though minor in plants growing at high (700 ppm) atmospheric CO2 . This is the first direct experimental evidence for the C sink strength effects exerted by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbionts on plant photosynthesis. It encourages further experimentation on mycorrhizal source-sink relations, and may have strong implications in large-scale assessments and modelling of plant photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid30891218, year = {2019}, author = {Bayliss, SLJ and Scott, ZR and Coffroth, MA and terHorst, CP}, title = {Genetic variation in Breviolum antillogorgium, a coral reef symbiont, in response to temperature and nutrients.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {2803-2813}, pmid = {30891218}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Symbionts within the family Symbiodiniaceae are important on coral reefs because they provide significant amounts of carbon to many different reef species. The breakdown of this mutualism that occurs as a result of increasingly warmer ocean temperatures is a major threat to coral reef ecosystems globally. Recombination during sexual reproduction and high rates of somatic mutation can lead to increased genetic variation within symbiont species, which may provide the fuel for natural selection and adaptation. However, few studies have asked whether such variation in functional traits exists within these symbionts. We used several genotypes of two closely related species, Breviolum antillogorgium and B. minutum, to examine variation of traits related to symbiosis in response to increases in temperature or nitrogen availability in laboratory cultures. We found significant genetic variation within and among symbiont species in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, and growth rate. Two genotypes showed decreases in traits in response to increased temperatures predicted by climate change, but one genotype responded positively. Similarly, some genotypes within a species responded positively to high-nitrogen environments, such as those expected within hosts or eutrophication associated with global change, while other genotypes in the same species responded negatively, suggesting context-dependency in the strength of mutualism. Such variation in traits implies that there is potential for natural selection on symbionts in response to temperature and nutrients, which could confer an adaptive advantage to the holobiont.}, } @article {pmid30889385, year = {2019}, author = {Gladfelter, AS and James, TY and Amend, AS}, title = {Marine fungi.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {R191-R195}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.009}, pmid = {30889385}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/classification/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/*physiology ; *Life History Traits ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {Fungi play a dominant role in terrestrial environments where they thrive in symbiotic associations with plants and animals and are integral to nutrient cycling in diverse ecosystems. Everywhere that moisture and a carbon source coexist in the terrestrial biosphere, fungi are expected to occur. We know that fungi can be devastating to agricultural crops, both in the field and during their storage, and cause mortality in immunocompromised patients in numbers that rival the deaths from malaria. Yet fungi can also be harnessed as sources of food, chemicals and biofuels when humans exploit fungal metabolism. Despite their central role in the health and disease of the terrestrial biosphere, much less is known about the function and potential of marine fungi. Are fungi ubiquitous in marine environments as they are on land? Do they play the same or similar roles in these ecosystems? Here we describe the state of knowledge about the abundance and functions of fungi in the marine environment with a goal to stimulate new inquiry in this very open area.}, } @article {pmid30887877, year = {2019}, author = {Polzin, J and Arevalo, P and Nussbaumer, T and Polz, MF and Bright, M}, title = {Polyclonal symbiont populations in hydrothermal vent tubeworms and the environment.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {286}, number = {1896}, pages = {20181281}, pmid = {30887877}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; *Genotype ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Metagenomics ; Pacific Ocean ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; Seawater/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Horizontally transmitted symbioses usually house multiple and variable symbiont genotypes that are acquired from a much more diverse environmental pool via partner choice mechanisms. However, in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila (Vestimentifera, Siboglinidae), it has been suggested that the Candidatus Endoriftia persephone symbiont is monoclonal. Here, we show with high-coverage metagenomics that adult R. pachyptila house a polyclonal symbiont population consisting of one dominant and several low-frequency variants. This dominance of one genotype is confirmed by multilocus gene sequencing of amplified housekeeping genes in a broad range of host individuals where three out of four loci (atpA, uvrD and recA) revealed no genomic differences, while one locus (gyrB) was more diverse in adults than in juveniles. We also analysed a metagenome of free-living Endoriftia and found that the free-living population showed greater sequence variability than the host-associated population. Most juveniles and adults shared a specific dominant genotype, while other genotypes can dominate in few individuals. We suggest that although generally permissive, partner choice is selective enough to restrict uptake of some genotypes present in the environment.}, } @article {pmid30887662, year = {2019}, author = {Gano-Cohen, KA and Wendlandt, CE and Stokes, PJ and Blanton, MA and Quides, KW and Zomorrodian, A and Adinata, ES and Sachs, JL}, title = {Interspecific conflict and the evolution of ineffective rhizobia.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {914-924}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13247}, pmid = {30887662}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Bradyrhizobium ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts exhibit broad genotypic variation in their fitness effects on hosts, leaving hosts vulnerable to costly partnerships. Interspecific conflict and partner-maladaptation are frameworks to explain this variation, with different implications for mutualism stability. We investigated the mutualist service of nitrogen fixation in a metapopulation of root-nodule forming Bradyrhizobium symbionts in Acmispon hosts. We uncovered Bradyrhizobium genotypes that provide negligible mutualist services to hosts and had superior in planta fitness during clonal infections, consistent with cheater strains that destabilise mutualisms. Interspecific conflict was also confirmed at the metapopulation level - by a significant negative association between the fitness benefits provided by Bradyrhizobium genotypes and their local genotype frequencies - indicating that selection favours cheating rhizobia. Legumes have mechanisms to defend against rhizobia that fail to fix sufficient nitrogen, but these data support predictions that rhizobia can subvert plant defenses and evolve to exploit hosts.}, } @article {pmid30887618, year = {2019}, author = {Anasontzis, GE and Lebrun, MH and Haon, M and Champion, C and Kohler, A and Lenfant, N and Martin, F and O'Connell, RJ and Riley, R and Grigoriev, IV and Henrissat, B and Berrin, JG and Rosso, MN}, title = {Broad-specificity GH131 β-glucanases are a hallmark of fungi and oomycetes that colonize plants.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {8}, pages = {2724-2739}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14596}, pmid = {30887618}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02//French National Agency for Research/International ; ANR-13-BIME-0002//French National Agency for Research/International ; ANR-14-CE06-0020-01//French National Agency for Research/International ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy/International ; FP7-26719//Seventh Framework Programme/International ; FP7-26719//EU's Seventh Framework Programme/International ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/enzymology/genetics ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Fungi/*enzymology/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Oomycetes/*enzymology/genetics ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-tissue-colonizing fungi fine-tune the deconstruction of plant-cell walls (PCW) using different sets of enzymes according to their lifestyle. However, some of these enzymes are conserved among fungi with dissimilar lifestyles. We identified genes from Glycoside Hydrolase family GH131 as commonly expressed during plant-tissue colonization by saprobic, pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. By searching all the publicly available genomes, we found that GH131-coding genes were widely distributed in the Dikarya subkingdom, except in Taphrinomycotina and Saccharomycotina, and in phytopathogenic Oomycetes, but neither other eukaryotes nor prokaryotes. The presence of GH131 in a species was correlated with its association with plants as symbiont, pathogen or saprobe. We propose that GH131-family expansions and horizontal-gene transfers contributed to this adaptation. We analysed the biochemical activities of GH131 enzymes whose genes were upregulated during plant-tissue colonization in a saprobe (Pycnoporus sanguineus), a plant symbiont (Laccaria bicolor) and three hemibiotrophic-plant pathogens (Colletotrichum higginsianum, C. graminicola, Zymoseptoria tritici). These enzymes were all active on substrates with β-1,4, β-1,3 and mixed β-1,4/1,3 glucosidic linkages. Combined with a cellobiohydrolase, GH131 enzymes enhanced cellulose degradation. We propose that secreted GH131 enzymes unlock the PCW barrier and allow further deconstruction by other enzymes during plant tissue colonization by symbionts, pathogens and saprobes.}, } @article {pmid30886436, year = {2019}, author = {Shi, YM and Brachmann, AO and Westphalen, MA and Neubacher, N and Tobias, NJ and Bode, HB}, title = {Dual phenazine gene clusters enable diversification during biosynthesis.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {331-339}, doi = {10.1038/s41589-019-0246-1}, pmid = {30886436}, issn = {1552-4469}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Proteins ; Multigene Family/genetics/physiology ; Nematoda/metabolism ; Phenazines/*metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) bridging genotype and phenotype continuously evolve through gene mutations and recombinations to generate chemical diversity. Phenazine BGCs are widespread in bacteria, and the biosynthetic mechanisms of the formation of the phenazine structural core have been illuminated in the last decade. However, little is known about the complex phenazine core-modification machinery. Here, we report the diversity-oriented modifications of the phenazine core through two distinct BGCs in the entomopathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus szentirmaii, which lives in symbiosis with nematodes. A previously unidentified aldehyde intermediate, which can be modified by multiple enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions, is a common intermediate bridging the pathways encoded by these BGCs. Evaluation of the antibiotic activity of the resulting phenazine derivatives suggests a highly effective strategy to convert Gram-positive specific phenazines into broad-spectrum antibiotics, which might help the bacteria-nematode complex to maintain its special environmental niche.}, } @article {pmid30885744, year = {2019}, author = {Qi, XZ and Tu, X and Zha, JW and Huang, AG and Wang, GX and Ling, F}, title = {Immunosuppression-induced alterations in fish gut microbiota may increase the susceptibility to pathogens.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {88}, number = {}, pages = {540-545}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2019.03.035}, pmid = {30885744}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects ; Bacteria/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Carps/*immunology/microbiology ; Dexamethasone/adverse effects ; Disease Susceptibility/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Immunosuppression Therapy/*adverse effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Intestinal bacteria play an important role in the health and provide a variety of beneficial effects to host. Immunosuppressant can reduce the immunity of host and increase the susceptibility to pathogens. But it is not clear whether the increased susceptibility caused by immunosuppressant is related to changes of gut microbiota. In this study, we used crucian carp administrated with dexamethasone to explore the effects of immunosuppressants on gut microbial communities and further evaluate the potential association between changes in gut microbiota and susceptibility to pathogens. The results of MANOVA based on the top 10 PCoA axis scores from unweighed/weighted UniFrac distances showed that administration of dexamethasone (P = 0.021) and the administration time (P = 0.027) had a significant impact on the gut microbial composition, regardless of pathogens infection status (P = 0.35). After administration with dexamethasone, the fish had higher abundance of Cetobacterium and lower abundance of Bacillus and Lactococcus, and the abundance of genus Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Lactococcus decreased along with prolong administration time of dexamethasone. The results may help us understand the correlation between the host susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria and gut microbial community shift, and extend our knowledge regarding the role of gut microbiota in keeping the balance between pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30884285, year = {2019}, author = {Azmat, R and Moin, S}, title = {The remediation of drought stress under VAM inoculation through proline chemical transformation action.}, journal = {Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology}, volume = {193}, number = {}, pages = {155-161}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2019.03.002}, pmid = {30884285}, issn = {1873-2682}, mesh = {Carotenoids/chemistry ; Catalase/metabolism ; Combretaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; *Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Proline/chemistry/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Singlet Oxygen/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This article discussed the enhanced drought tolerance under arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation and normal growth of plants which linked with the activity of photoreceptors. The photoreceptor action in dual symbiosis under drought stress showed not only the high photosynthetic activity but also provide information about the broad range of physiological responses. The pot experiment conducted in a natural environment where drought condition was observed twice a week via regular irrigation with water up to twelve months. Plants analysis showed the high contents of water, hydrogen peroxide, carotenoids, proline, antioxidant enzymes like super dismutase (SOD) and catalase(CAT) in both leaves and roots with a large surface area of leaves over control. The elevated concentration of hydrogen peroxide (0.04 ± 0.0 μmol/g) coupled with singlet oxygen species was the main modified molecular mechanism which was operative in drought condition. The accretion of proline under drought stress in dual symbiosis (32.3 ± 0.3 μg/mL) was related to the highest branching pattern of young leaves and the chemical transformation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including H2O2 and [3]O2 into useful molecules like water and triplet molecular oxygen. The higher contents of carotenoids (5.0 ± 1.2 mg/g) in drought over control (4.8 ± 1.6 mg/g) and AM plant (4.9 ± 1.2 mg/g) was found to be supportive in the conversion of singlet oxygen into triplet one.}, } @article {pmid30883790, year = {2019}, author = {Fernández, I and Cosme, M and Stringlis, IA and Yu, K and de Jonge, R and van Wees, SM and Pozo, MJ and Pieterse, CMJ and van der Heijden, MGA}, title = {Molecular dialogue between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the nonhost plant Arabidopsis thaliana switches from initial detection to antagonism.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {2}, pages = {867-881}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15798}, pmid = {30883790}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Lactones/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Approximately 29% of all vascular plant species are unable to establish an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Despite this, AM fungi (Rhizophagus spp.) are enriched in the root microbiome of the nonhost Arabidopsis thaliana, and Arabidopsis roots become colonized when AM networks nurtured by host plants are available. Here, we investigated the nonhost-AM fungus interaction by analyzing transcriptional changes in Rhizophagus, Arabidopsis and the host plant Medicago truncatula while growing in the same mycorrhizal network. In early interaction stages, Rhizophagus activated the Arabidopsis strigolactone biosynthesis genes CCD7 and CCD8, suggesting that detection of AM fungi is not completely impaired. However, in colonized Arabidopsis roots, fungal nutrient transporter genes GintPT, GintAMT2, GintMST2 and GintMST4, essential for AM symbiosis, were not activated. RNA-seq transcriptome analysis pointed to activation of costly defenses in colonized Arabidopsis roots. Moreover, Rhizophagus colonization caused a 50% reduction in shoot biomass, but also led to enhanced systemic immunity against Botrytis cinerea. This suggests that early signaling between AM fungi and Arabidopsis is not completely impaired and that incompatibility appears at later interaction stages. Moreover, Rhizophagus-mediated defenses coincide with reduced Arabidopsis growth, but also with systemic disease resistance, highlighting the multifunctional role of AM fungi in host and nonhost interactions.}, } @article {pmid30883651, year = {2019}, author = {Khalid, M and Rahman, SU and Huang, D}, title = {Molecular mechanism underlying Piriformospora indica-mediated plant improvement/protection for sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {229-242}, doi = {10.1093/abbs/gmz004}, pmid = {30883651}, issn = {1745-7270}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Germination ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Sustainable Growth ; }, abstract = {The beneficial endophytic microorganisms have received significant attention in agriculture because of their exceptional capabilities to facilitate functions like nutrient enrichment, water status, and stress tolerance (biotic and abiotic). This review signifies the molecular mechanisms to better understand the Piriformospora indica-mediated plants improvement or protection for sustainable agriculture. P. indica, an endophytic fungus, belonging to the order Sebacinales (Basidiomycota), is versatile in building mutualistic associations with a variety of plants including pteridophytes, bryophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. P. indica has enormous potential to manipulate the hormonal pathway such as the production of indole-3-acetic acid which in turn increases root proliferation and subsequently improves plant nutrient acquisition. P. indica also enhances components of the antioxidant system and expression of stress-related genes which induce plant stress tolerance under adverse environmental conditions. P. indica has tremendous potential for crop improvement because of its multi-dimensional functions such as plant growth promotion, immunomodulatory effect, biofertilizer, obviates biotic (pathogens) and abiotic (metal toxicity, water stress, soil structure, salt, and pH) stresses, phytoremediator, and bio-herbicide. Considering the above points, herein, we reviewed the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying P. indica-mediated plants improvement or protection under diverse agricultural environment. The first part of the review focuses on the symbiotic association of P. indica with special reference to biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and host plant root colonization mechanisms, respectively. Emphasis is given to the expression level of essential genes involved in the processes that induce changes at the cellular level. The last half emphasizes critical aspects related to the seed germination, plant yield, and nutrients acquisition.}, } @article {pmid30883647, year = {2019}, author = {Hassani, D and Khalid, M and Huang, D and Zhang, YD}, title = {Morphophysiological and molecular evidence supporting the augmentative role of Piriformospora indica in mitigation of salinity in Cucumis melo L.}, journal = {Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {301-312}, doi = {10.1093/abbs/gmz007}, pmid = {30883647}, issn = {1745-7270}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Cucumis melo/*physiology ; Electrolytes/metabolism ; Proline/analysis ; RNA Editing ; Salinity ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salinity is one of the major limiting factors in plant growth and productivity. Cucumis melo L. is a widely cultivated plant, but its productivity is significantly influenced by the level of salinity in soil. Symbiotic colonization of plants with Piriformospora indica has shown a promotion in plants growth and tolerance against biotic stress. In this study, physiological markers such as ion analysis, antioxidant determination, proline content, electrolyte leakage and chlorophyll measurement were assessed in melon cultivar under two concentrations (100 and 200 mM) of NaCl with and without P. indica inoculation. Results showed that the endophytic inoculation consistently upregulated the level of antioxidants, enhanced plants to antagonize salinity stress. The expression level of an RNA editing factor (SLO2) which is known to participate in mitochondria electron transport chain was analyzed, and its full mRNA sequence was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Under salinity stress, the expression level of SLO2 was increased, enhancing the plant's capability to adapt to the stress. However, P. indica inoculation further elevated the expression level of SLO2. These findings suggested that the symbiotic association of fungi could help the plants to tolerate the salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid30882293, year = {2019}, author = {Hapeshi, A and Benarroch, JM and Clarke, DJ and Waterfield, NR}, title = {Iso-propyl stilbene: a life cycle signal?.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {165}, number = {5}, pages = {516-526}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000790}, pmid = {30882293}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Photorhabdus/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Quorum Sensing ; Secondary Metabolism ; Stilbenes/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Members of the Gram-negative bacterial genus Photorhabdus are all highly insect pathogenic and exist in an obligate symbiosis with the entomopathogenic nematode worm Heterorhabditis. All members of the genus produce the small-molecule 3,5-dihydroxy-4-isopropyl-trans-stilbene (IPS) as part of their secondary metabolism. IPS is a multi-potent compound that has antimicrobial, antifungal, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities and also plays an important role in symbiosis with the nematode. In this study we have examined the response of Photorhabdus itself to exogenous ectopic addition of IPS at physiologically relevant concentrations. We observed that the bacteria had a measureable phenotypic response, which included a decrease in bioluminescence and pigment production. This was reflected in changes in its transcriptomic response, in which we reveal a reduction in transcript levels of genes relating to many fundamental cellular processes, such as translation and oxidative phosphorylation. Our observations suggest that IPS plays an important role in the biology of Photorhabdus bacteria, fulfilling roles in quorum sensing, antibiotic-competition advantage and maintenance of the symbiotic developmental cycle.}, } @article {pmid30881924, year = {2019}, author = {Tribble, GD and Angelov, N and Weltman, R and Wang, BY and Eswaran, SV and Gay, IC and Parthasarathy, K and Dao, DV and Richardson, KN and Ismail, NM and Sharina, IG and Hyde, ER and Ajami, NJ and Petrosino, JF and Bryan, NS}, title = {Frequency of Tongue Cleaning Impacts the Human Tongue Microbiome Composition and Enterosalivary Circulation of Nitrate.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {39}, pmid = {30881924}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; Chlorhexidine/*administration & dosage ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Mouthwashes/administration & dosage ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tongue/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The oral microbiome has the potential to provide an important symbiotic function in human blood pressure physiology by contributing to the generation of nitric oxide (NO), an essential cardiovascular signaling molecule. NO is produced by the human body via conversion of arginine to NO by endogenous nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) but eNOS activity varies by subject. Oral microbial communities are proposed to supplement host NO production by reducing dietary nitrate to nitrite via bacterial nitrate reductases. Unreduced dietary nitrate is delivered to the oral cavity in saliva, a physiological process termed the enterosalivary circulation of nitrate. Previous studies demonstrated that disruption of enterosalivary circulation via use of oral antiseptics resulted in increases in systolic blood pressure. These previous studies did not include detailed information on the oral health of enrolled subjects. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis, we determined whether introduction of chlorhexidine antiseptic mouthwash for 1 week was associated with changes in tongue bacterial communities and resting systolic blood pressure in healthy normotensive individuals with documented oral hygiene behaviors and free of oral disease. Tongue cleaning frequency was a predictor of chlorhexidine-induced changes in systolic blood pressure and tongue microbiome composition. Twice-daily chlorhexidine usage was associated with a significant increase in systolic blood pressure after 1 week of use and recovery from use resulted in an enrichment in nitrate-reducing bacteria on the tongue. Individuals with relatively high levels of bacterial nitrite reductases had lower resting systolic blood pressure. These results further support the concept of a symbiotic oral microbiome contributing to human health via the enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway. These data suggest that management of the tongue microbiome by regular cleaning together with adequate dietary intake of nitrate provide an opportunity for the improvement of resting systolic blood pressure.}, } @article {pmid30880586, year = {2019}, author = {Bamba, M and Aoki, S and Kajita, T and Setoguchi, H and Watano, Y and Sato, S and Tsuchimatsu, T}, title = {Exploring Genetic Diversity and Signatures of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Nodule Bacteria Associated with Lotus japonicus in Natural Environments.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {9}, pages = {1110-1120}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-19-0039-R}, pmid = {30880586}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genetic Variation ; *Lotus/microbiology ; *Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {To investigate the genetic diversity and understand the process of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in nodule bacteria associated with Lotus japonicus, we analyzed sequences of three housekeeping and five symbiotic genes using samples from a geographically wide range in Japan. A phylogenetic analysis of the housekeeping genes indicated that L. japonicus in natural environments was associated with diverse lineages of Mesorhizobium spp., whereas the sequences of symbiotic genes were highly similar between strains, resulting in remarkably low nucleotide diversity at both synonymous and nonsynonymous sites. Guanine-cytosine content values were lower in symbiotic genes, and relative frequencies of recombination between symbiotic genes were also lower than those between housekeeping genes. An analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic differentiation among populations in both symbiotic and housekeeping genes. These results confirm that the Mesorhizobium genes required for symbiosis with L. japonicus behave as a genomic island (i.e., a symbiosis island) and suggest that this island has spread into diverse genomic backgrounds of Mesorhizobium via HGT events in natural environments. Furthermore, our data compilation revealed that the genetic diversity of symbiotic genes in L. japonicus-associated symbionts was among the lowest compared with reports of other species, which may be related to the recent population expansion proposed in Japanese populations of L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid30879203, year = {2019}, author = {Kohlmeier, MG and White, CE and Fowler, JE and Finan, TM and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {Galactitol catabolism in Sinorhizobium meliloti is dependent on a chromosomally encoded sorbitol dehydrogenase and a pSymB-encoded operon necessary for tagatose catabolism.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {294}, number = {3}, pages = {739-755}, pmid = {30879203}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Galactitol/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hexoses/*metabolism ; L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase/*genetics/metabolism ; Operon/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The legume endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti can utilize a broad range of carbon compounds to support its growth. The linear, six-carbon polyol galactitol is abundant in vascular plants and is metabolized in S. meliloti by the contribution of two loci SMb21372-SMb21377 and SMc01495-SMc01503 which are found on pSymB and the chromosome, respectively. The data suggest that several transport systems, including the chromosomal ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter smoEFGK, contribute to the uptake of galactitol, while the adjacent gene smoS encodes a protein for oxidation of galactitol into tagatose. Subsequently, genes SMb21374 and SMb21373, encode proteins that phosphorylate and epimerize tagatose into fructose-6-phosphate, which is further metabolized by the enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Of note, it was found that SMb21373, which was annotated as a 1,6-bis-phospho-aldolase, is homologous to the E. coli gene gatZ, which is annotated as encoding the non-catalytic subunit of a tagatose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase heterodimer. When either of these genes was introduced into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain that carries a tagatose-6-phosphate epimerase mutation, they are capable of complementing the galactitol growth deficiency associated with this mutation, strongly suggesting that these genes are both epimerases. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein family (IPR012062) to which these enzymes belong, suggests that this misannotation is systemic throughout the family. S. meliloti galactitol catabolic mutants do not exhibit symbiotic deficiencies or the inability to compete for nodule occupancy.}, } @article {pmid30879199, year = {2019}, author = {Sugiyama, Y and Murata, M and Kanetani, S and Nara, K}, title = {Towards the conservation of ectomycorrhizal fungi on endangered trees: native fungal species on Pinus amamiana are rarely conserved in trees planted ex situ.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {195-205}, pmid = {30879199}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Endangered Species ; Forests ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is essential for the survival of both host trees and associated ECM fungi. However, during conservation activities of endangered tree species, their ECM symbionts are largely ignored. Here, we investigated ECM fungi in ex situ populations established for the conservation of Pinus amamiana, an endangered species distributed on Yakushima Island, Japan. Our objective was to determine whether ECM fungi in natural forests are conserved in ex situ populations on the same island. In particular, we focused on the existence of Rhizopogon yakushimensis, which is specific to P. amamiana and the most dominant in natural P. amamiana forests. Molecular identification of ECM fungi in resident tree roots and soil propagule banks indicated that ECM fungal species native to natural forests were rarely conserved in ex situ populations. Furthermore, R. yakushimensis was not confirmed in any of the resident root or spore bioassay samples from the ex situ populations. Thus, ECM fungal spores may not be effectively dispersed from natural forests located on the same island. Instead, ECM fungi distributed in other geographical regions occurred more frequently in the ex situ populations, indicating unintentional introductions of non-native ECM fungi from the nurseries where seedlings were raised before transplanting. These findings imply that the current ex situ conservation practices of endangered tree do not work for the conservation of native ECM fungi, and instead may need modification to avoid the risk of introducing non-native ECM fungi near the endangered forest sites.}, } @article {pmid30877310, year = {2019}, author = {Frank, AC}, title = {Molecular host mimicry and manipulation in bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz038}, pmid = {30877310}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Mimicry ; *Eukaryota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is common among intracellular bacterial pathogens to use eukaryotic-like proteins that mimic and manipulate host cellular processes to promote colonization and intracellular survival. Eukaryotic-like proteins are bacterial proteins with domains that are rare in bacteria, and known to function in the context of a eukaryotic cell. Such proteins can originate through horizontal gene transfer from eukaryotes or, in the case of simple repeat proteins, through convergent evolution. Recent studies of microbiomes associated with several eukaryotic hosts suggest that similar molecular strategies are deployed by cooperative bacteria that interact closely with eukaryotic cells. Some mimics, like ankyrin repeats, leucine rich repeats and tetratricopeptide repeats are shared across diverse symbiotic systems ranging from amoebae to plants, and may have originated early, or evolved independently in multiple systems. Others, like plant-mimicking domains in members of the plant microbiome are likely to be more recent innovations resulting from horizontal gene transfer from the host, or from microbial eukaryotes occupying the same host. Host protein mimics have only been described in a limited set of symbiotic systems, but are likely to be more widespread. Systematic searches for eukaryote-like proteins in symbiont genomes could lead to the discovery of novel mechanisms underlying host-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid30877285, year = {2019}, author = {De Meyer, F and Danneels, B and Acar, T and Rasolomampianina, R and Rajaonah, MT and Jeannoda, V and Carlier, A}, title = {Adaptations and evolution of a heritable leaf nodule symbiosis between Dioscorea sansibarensis and Orrella dioscoreae.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {1831-1844}, pmid = {30877285}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 203141/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Alcaligenaceae/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Dioscorea/metabolism/*microbiology ; Endophytes ; Madagascar ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Various plant species establish intimate symbioses with bacteria within their aerial organs. The bacteria are contained within nodules or glands often present in distinctive patterns on the leaves in what is commonly referred to as leaf nodule symbiosis. We describe here a highly specific symbiosis between a wild yam species from Madagascar, Dioscorea sansibarensis and bacteria of the species Orrella dioscoreae. Using whole-genome sequencing of plastids and bacteria from wild-collected samples, we show phylogenetic patterns consistent with a dominant vertical mode of transmission of the symbionts. Unique so far among leaf nodule symbioses, the bacteria can be cultured and are amenable to comparative transcriptomics, revealing a potential role in complementing the host's arsenal of secondary metabolites. We propose a recent establishment of a vertical mode of transmission in this symbiosis which, together with a large effective population size explains the cultivability and apparent lack of genome reductive evolution in O. dioscoreae. We leverage these unique features to reveal pathways and functions under positive selection in these specialized endophytes, highlighting the candidate mechanisms enabling a permanent association in the phyllosphere.}, } @article {pmid30877228, year = {2019}, author = {Chan, CYL and Hiong, KC and Choo, CYL and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Increased apical sodium-dependent glucose transporter abundance in the ctenidium of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa upon illumination.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.195644}, pmid = {30877228}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/genetics/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Gills/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; *Light ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 1/*genetics/metabolism ; Urea/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Giant clams contain phototrophic zooxanthellae, and live in nutrient-deficient tropical waters where light is available. We obtained the complete cDNA coding sequence of a homolog of mammalian sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) - SGLT1-like - from the ctenidium of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosaSGLT1-like had a host origin and was expressed predominantly in the ctenidium. Molecular characterizations reveal that SGLT1-like of T. squamosa could transport urea, in addition to glucose, as other SGLT1s do. It has an apical localization in the epithelium of ctenidial filaments and water channels, and the apical anti-SGLT1-like immunofluorescence was stronger in individuals exposed to light than to darkness. Furthermore, the protein abundance of SGLT1-like increased significantly in the ctenidium of individuals exposed to light for 12 h, although the SGLT1-like transcript level remained unchanged. As expected, T. squamosa could perform light-enhanced glucose absorption, which was impeded by exogenous urea. These results denote the close relationships between light-enhanced glucose absorption and light-enhanced SGLT1-like expression in the ctenidium of T. squamosa Although glucose absorption could be trivial compared with the donation of photosynthates from zooxanthellae in symbiotic adults, SGLT1-like might be essential for the survival of aposymbiotic larvae, leading to its retention in the symbiotic stage. A priori, glucose uptake through SGLT1-like might be augmented by the surface microbiome through nutrient cycling, and the absorbed glucose could partially fulfill the metabolic needs of the ctenidial cells. Additionally, SGLT1-like could partake in urea absorption, as T. squamosa is known to conduct light-enhanced urea uptake to benefit the nitrogen-deficient zooxanthellae.}, } @article {pmid30875770, year = {2019}, author = {Adler, PH and Courtney, GW}, title = {Ecological and Societal Services of Aquatic Diptera.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30875770}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {More than any other group of macro-organisms, true flies (Diptera) dominate the freshwater environment. Nearly one-third of all flies-roughly 46,000 species-have some developmental connection with an aquatic environment. Their abundance, ubiquity, and diversity of adaptations to the aquatic environment position them as major drivers of ecosystem processes and as sources of products and bioinspiration for the benefit of human society. Larval flies are well represented as ecosystem engineers and keystone species that alter the abiotic and biotic environments through activities such as burrowing, grazing, suspension feeding, and predation. The enormous populations sometimes achieved by aquatic flies can provide the sole or major dietary component for other organisms. Harnessing the services of aquatic Diptera for human benefit depends on the ingenuity of the scientific community. Aquatic flies have played a role as indicators of water quality from the earliest years of bioassessment. They serve as indicators of historical and future ecological and climate change. As predators and herbivores, they can serve as biological control agents. The association of flies with animal carcasses in aquatic environments provides an additional set of tools for forensic science. The extremophilic attributes of numerous species of Diptera offer solutions for human adaptation to harsh terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. The potential pharmaceutical and industrial applications of the symbiotic microbial community in extremophilic Diptera are better explored than are those of dipteran chemistry. Many flies provide valuable ecological and human services as aquatic immatures, but are also pests and vectors of disease agents as terrestrial adults. The scientific community, thus, is challenged with balancing the benefits and costs of aquatic Diptera, while maintaining sustainable populations as more species face extinction.}, } @article {pmid30873199, year = {2019}, author = {Rípodas, C and Castaingts, M and Clúa, J and Villafañe, J and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {The PvNF-YA1 and PvNF-YB7 Subunits of the Heterotrimeric NF-Y Transcription Factor Influence Strain Preference in the Phaseolus vulgaris-Rhizobium etli Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {221}, pmid = {30873199}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Transcription factors of the Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) family play essential functions in plant development and plasticity, including the formation of lateral root organs such as lateral root and symbiotic nodules. NF-Ys mediate transcriptional responses by acting as heterotrimers composed of three subunits, NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC, which in plants are encoded by relatively large gene families. We have previously shown that, in the Phaseolus vulgaris × Rhizobium etli interaction, the PvNF-YC1 subunit is involved not only in the formation of symbiotic nodules, but also in the preference exhibited by the plant for rhizobial strains that are more efficient and competitive in nodule formation. PvNF-YC1 forms a heterotrimer with the PvNF-YA1 and PvNF-YB7 subunits. Here, we used promoter:reporter fusions to show that both PvNF-YA1 and PvNF-YB7 are expressed in symbiotic nodules. In addition, we report that knock-down of PvNF-YA1 and its close paralog PvNF-YA9 abolished nodule formation by either high or low efficient strains and arrested rhizobial infection. On the other hand, knock-down of PvNF-YB7 only affected the symbiotic outcome of the high efficient interaction, suggesting that other symbiotic NF-YB subunits might be involved in the more general mechanisms of nodule formation. More important, we present functional evidence supporting that both PvNF-YA1 and PvNF-YB7 are part of the mechanisms that allow P. vulgaris plants to discriminate and select those bacterial strains that perform better in nodule formation, most likely by acting in the same heterotrimeric complex that PvNF-YC1.}, } @article {pmid30872804, year = {2019}, author = {Kandasamy, D and Gershenzon, J and Andersson, MN and Hammerbacher, A}, title = {Volatile organic compounds influence the interaction of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) with its fungal symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {1788-1800}, pmid = {30872804}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Europe ; Female ; Fungi/*chemistry/physiology ; Male ; Picea/*parasitology ; Plant Bark/parasitology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*pharmacology ; Weevils/drug effects/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Insects have mutualistic symbioses with a variety of microorganisms. However, the chemical signals that maintain these insect-microbe relationships are poorly known compared to those from insect-plant symbioses. The spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, the most destructive forest pest in Europe, has a symbiotic relationship with several fungi that are believed to contribute to its successful invasion of Norway spruce. Here we tested the hypothesis that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from fungal symbionts could be cues for bark beetles to recognize and distinguish among members of its microbial community. Behavioral experiments with fungi showed that immature adults of I. typographus are attracted to food sources colonized by their fungal symbionts but not to saprophytic fungi and that this attraction is mediated by volatile cues. GC-MS measurements revealed that the symbionts emitted VOCs. Testing the activity of these compounds on beetle antennae using single sensillum recordings showed that beetles detect many fungal volatiles and possess olfactory sensory neurons specialized for these compounds. Finally, synthetic blends of fungal volatiles attracted beetles in olfactometer experiments. These findings indicate that volatile compounds produced by fungi may act as recognition signals for bark beetles to maintain specific microbial communities that might have impact on their fitness.}, } @article {pmid30872027, year = {2019}, author = {Skiada, V and Faccio, A and Kavroulakis, N and Genre, A and Bonfante, P and Papadopoulou, KK}, title = {Colonization of legumes by an endophytic Fusarium solani strain FsK reveals common features to symbionts or pathogens.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {60-74}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2019.03.003}, pmid = {30872027}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Fusarium/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant cellular responses to endophytic filamentous fungi are scarcely reported, with the majority of described colonization processes in plant-fungal interactions referring to either pathogens or true symbionts. Fusarium solani strain K (FsK) is a root endophyte of Solanum lycopersicum, which protects against root and foliar pathogens. Here, we investigate the association of FsK with two legumes (Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula) and report on colonization patterns and plant responses during the establishment of the interaction. L. japonicus plants colonized by FsK complete their life cycle and exhibit no apparent growth defects under normal conditions. We followed the growth of FsK within root-inoculated plants spatiotemporally and showed the capability of the endophyte to migrate to the stem. In a bipartite system comprising of the endophyte and either whole plants or root organ cultures, we studied the plant sub-cellular responses to FsK recognition, using optical, confocal and transmission electron microscopy. A polarized reorganization of the root cell occurs: endoplasmic reticulum/cytoplasm accumulation and nuclear placement at contact sites, occasional development of papillae underneath hyphopodia and membranous material rearrangements towards penetrating hyphae. Fungal hyphae proliferate within the vascular bundle of the plant. Plant cell death is involved in fungal colonization of the root. Our data suggest that the establishment of FsK within legume tissues requires fungal growth adaptations and plant cell-autonomous responses, known to occur during both symbiotic and pathogenic plant-fungal interactions. We highlight the overlooked plasticity of endophytic fungi upon plant colonization, and introduce a novel plant-endophyte association.}, } @article {pmid30870807, year = {2019}, author = {Harvey, AJ}, title = {Mitochondria in early development: linking the microenvironment, metabolism and the epigenome.}, journal = {Reproduction (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {157}, number = {5}, pages = {R159-R179}, doi = {10.1530/REP-18-0431}, pmid = {30870807}, issn = {1741-7899}, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; Blastocyst/*metabolism ; Cellular Microenvironment/*physiology ; Embryonic Development/*physiology ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Epigenome/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mitochondria/metabolism/*physiology ; Oogenesis/genetics/physiology ; Pregnancy ; Stem Cell Niche/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria, originally of bacterial origin, are highly dynamic organelles that have evolved a symbiotic relationship within eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria undergo dynamic, stage-specific restructuring and redistribution during oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development, necessary to support key developmental events. Mitochondria also fulfil a wide range of functions beyond ATP synthesis, including the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and calcium regulation, and are active participants in the regulation of signal transduction pathways. Communication between not only mitochondria and the nucleus, but also with other organelles, is emerging as a critical function which regulates preimplantation development. Significantly, perturbations and deficits in mitochondrial function manifest not only as reduced quality and/or poor oocyte and embryo development but contribute to post-implantation failure, long-term cell function and adult disease. A growing body of evidence indicates that altered availability of metabolic co-factors modulate the activity of epigenetic modifiers, such that oocyte and embryo mitochondrial activity and dynamics have the capacity to establish long-lasting alterations to the epigenetic landscape. It is proposed that preimplantation embryo development may represent a sensitive window during which epigenetic regulation by mitochondria is likely to have significant short- and long-term effects on embryo, and offspring, health. Hence, mitochondrial integrity, communication and metabolism are critical links between the environment, the epigenome and the regulation of embryo development.}, } @article {pmid30869611, year = {2020}, author = {Sulam, J and Aberdam, A and Beck, A and Elad, M}, title = {On Multi-Layer Basis Pursuit, Efficient Algorithms and Convolutional Neural Networks.}, journal = {IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence}, volume = {42}, number = {8}, pages = {1968-1980}, doi = {10.1109/TPAMI.2019.2904255}, pmid = {30869611}, issn = {1939-3539}, abstract = {Parsimonious representations are ubiquitous in modeling and processing information. Motivated by the recent Multi-Layer Convolutional Sparse Coding (ML-CSC) model, we herein generalize the traditional Basis Pursuit problem to a multi-layer setting, introducing similar sparse enforcing penalties at different representation layers in a symbiotic relation between synthesis and analysis sparse priors. We explore different iterative methods to solve this new problem in practice, and we propose a new Multi-Layer Iterative Soft Thresholding Algorithm (ML-ISTA), as well as a fast version (ML-FISTA). We show that these nested first order algorithms converge, in the sense that the function value of near-fixed points can get arbitrarily close to the solution of the original problem. We further show how these algorithms effectively implement particular recurrent convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that generalize feed-forward ones without introducing any parameters. We present and analyze different architectures resulting from unfolding the iterations of the proposed pursuit algorithms, including a new Learned ML-ISTA, providing a principled way to construct deep recurrent CNNs. Unlike other similar constructions, these architectures unfold a global pursuit holistically for the entire network. We demonstrate the emerging constructions in a supervised learning setting, consistently improving the performance of classical CNNs while maintaining the number of parameters constant.}, } @article {pmid30868162, year = {2019}, author = {Bruand, C and Meilhoc, E}, title = {Nitric oxide in plants: pro- or anti-senescence.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {17}, pages = {4419-4427}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erz117}, pmid = {30868162}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Nitric Oxide/*metabolism/*toxicity ; Plant Leaves/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Senescence is a regulated process of tissue degeneration that can affect any plant organ and consists of the degradation and remobilization of molecules to other growing tissues. Senescent organs display changes at the microscopic level as well as modifications to internal cellular structure and differential gene expression. A large number of factors influencing senescence have been described including age, nutrient supply, and environmental interactions. Internal factors such as phytohormones also affect the timing of leaf senescence. A link between the senescence process and the production of nitric oxide (NO) in senescing tissues has been known for many years. Remarkably, this link can be either a positive or a negative correlation depending upon the organ. NO can be both a signaling or a toxic molecule and is known to have multiple roles in plants; this review considers the duality of NO roles in the senescence process of two different plant organs, namely the leaves and root nodules.}, } @article {pmid30867583, year = {2019}, author = {Dick, GJ}, title = {The microbiomes of deep-sea hydrothermal vents: distributed globally, shaped locally.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {271-283}, pmid = {30867583}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Archaea/classification ; Bacteria/classification ; *Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The discovery of chemosynthetic ecosystems at deep-sea hydrothermal vents in 1977 changed our view of biology. Chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea form the foundation of vent ecosystems by exploiting the chemical disequilibrium between reducing hydrothermal fluids and oxidizing seawater, harnessing this energy to fix inorganic carbon into biomass. Recent research has uncovered fundamental aspects of these microbial communities, including their relationships with underlying geology and hydrothermal geochemistry, interactions with animals via symbiosis and distribution both locally in various habitats within vent fields and globally across hydrothermal systems in diverse settings. Although 'black smokers' and symbioses between microorganisms and macrofauna attract much attention owing to their novelty and the insights they provide into life under extreme conditions, habitats such as regions of diffuse flow, subseafloor aquifers and hydrothermal plumes have important roles in the global cycling of elements through hydrothermal systems. Owing to sharp contrasts in physical and chemical conditions between these various habitats and their dynamic, extreme and geographically isolated nature, hydrothermal vents provide a valuable window into the environmental and ecological forces that shape microbial communities and insights into the limits, origins and evolution of microbial life.}, } @article {pmid30867545, year = {2019}, author = {Rebollar, EA and Bridges, T and Hughey, MC and Medina, D and Belden, LK and Harris, RN}, title = {Integrating the role of antifungal bacteria into skin symbiotic communities of three Neotropical frog species.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {1763-1775}, pmid = {30867545}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/*pharmacology ; Anura/*microbiology ; Bacteria/chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Chytridiomycota/drug effects/*physiology ; *Host Specificity ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/microbiology/prevention & control/*veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Skin/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has led to population declines and extinctions of frog species around the world. While it is known that symbiotic skin bacteria can play a protective role against pathogens, it is not known how these defensive bacteria are integrated into the bacterial community on amphibian skin. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, culturing and Bd inhibition bioassays to characterize the communities of skin bacteria on three Neotropical frog species that persist in a Bd-infected area in Panama and determined the abundance and integration of anti-Bd bacteria into the community. We found that the two treefrog species had a similar bacterial community structure, which differed from the more diverse community found on the terrestrial frog. Co-occurrence networks also revealed differences between frog species such that the treefrogs had a significantly higher number of culturable Bd-inhibitory OTUs with high centrality scores compared with the terrestrial frog. We found that culture-dependent OTUs captured between 21 and 39% of the total relative abundance revealed in culture-independent communities. Our results suggest different ecological strategies occurring within skin antifungal communities on host species that have not succumbed to Bd infections in the wild.}, } @article {pmid30864121, year = {2019}, author = {Alvarez, CA and Cobb, BA}, title = {Purification of Capsular Polysaccharide Complex from Gram-Negative Bacteria.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1954}, number = {}, pages = {25-35}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-9154-9_3}, pmid = {30864121}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {R01 GM082916/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM115234/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI089474/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Capsules/*chemistry ; Bacteroides Infections/microbiology ; Bacteroides fragilis/*chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation/*instrumentation/methods ; Chemical Precipitation ; Chromatography/methods ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel/methods ; Equipment Design ; Ethers/chemistry ; Humans ; Phenols/chemistry ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Capsular polysaccharides are a dominant class of antigens from bacteria, both pathogenic and symbiotic or commensal. With the rise of awareness for the influence of the microbiota over immune system development and immune homeostasis, analysis of the antigens is more important than ever. Here we describe a method for the isolation of capsular polysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria, with the purification of polysaccharide from the commensal bacterium Bacteroides fragilis serving as an example. The method efficiently removes all detectable endotoxins and other lipid components, proteins, and nucleic acids, providing a source of capsular polysaccharide for immunologic study.}, } @article {pmid30863680, year = {2019}, author = {Leppyanen, IV and Kirienko, AN and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Pisum sativum L. roots as a tool for studying the mycorrhizal and root nodule symbioses.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6552}, pmid = {30863680}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {In this study, we demonstrated the successful transformation of two pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars using Agrobacterium rhizogenes, whereby transgenic roots in the resulting composite plants showed expression of the gene encoding the green fluorescent protein. Subsequent to infection with A. rhizogenes, approximately 70%-80% of pea seedlings developed transgenic hairy roots. We found out that the transgenic roots can be efficiently nodulated by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae and infected by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The morphology of nodules in the transgenic roots was found to be identical to that of nodules observed in wild-type roots, and we also observed the effective induction of markers typical of the symbiotic association with AM fungi. The convenient protocol for highly efficient A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation developed in this study would be a rapid and effective tool for investigating those genes involved in the development of the two types of symbioses found in pea plants.}, } @article {pmid30863606, year = {2019}, author = {Maddi, A and Sabharwal, A and Violante, T and Manuballa, S and Genco, R and Patnaik, S and Yendamuri, S}, title = {The microbiome and lung cancer.}, journal = {Journal of thoracic disease}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {280-291}, pmid = {30863606}, issn = {2072-1439}, abstract = {It has become increasingly clear that we live in a symbiotic relationship with microbes within us. We are just beginning to unravel the nature and strength of this relationship and its impact on both physiology and by extension, pathology. While microorganisms have long been known to have carcinogenic potential, their role may have been underestimated. The knowledge of the role of the microbiome in carcinogenesis is rapidly evolving. This evolution has reached a tipping point with current omics technologies used for cataloguing the microbiome. The lung is an organ constantly exposed to the environment. It is now clear that the lung has a distinct microbiome and that this may influence the development of lung cancer. In addition, evidence suggests that this microbiome originates from the oral microbiome. This review summarizes current knowledge about the role of microbiome, especially the oral and lung microbiome in human lung cancer. The goal of the manuscript is to provide a summary of this rapidly evolving field while providing a context of the general role of the microbiome in carcinogenesis. In addition, a primer of the current technology used in evaluating the microbiome is provided to familiarize the practicing clinician with the experimental methods used to generate the information that will likely impact the field of lung cancer.}, } @article {pmid30861573, year = {2019}, author = {Livingston, D and Tuong, T and Nogueira, M and Sinclair, T}, title = {Three-dimensional reconstruction of soybean nodules provides an update on vascular structure.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {106}, number = {3}, pages = {507-513}, pmid = {30861573}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Root Nodules, Plant/*anatomy & histology ; Soybeans/*anatomy & histology ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: In many cases, the functioning of a biological system cannot be correctly understood if its physical anatomy is incorrectly described. Accurate knowledge of the anatomy of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] nodules and its connection with the root vasculature is important for understanding its function in supplying the plant with nitrogenous compounds. Previous two-dimensional anatomical observations of soybean nodules led to the assumption that vascular bundles terminate within the cortex of the nodule and that a single vascular bundle connects the nodule to the root. We wanted to see whether these anatomical assumptions would be verified by digitally reconstructing soybean nodules in three dimensions.

METHODS: Nodules were dehydrated, embedded in paraffin, and cut into 15 μm thick sections. Over 200 serial sections were stained with safranin and fast green, and then photographed using light microscopy. Images were digitally cleared, aligned, and assembled into a three-dimensional (3D) volume using the Adobe program After Effects.

KEY RESULTS: In many cases, vascular bundles had a continuous connection around the nodules. The 3D reconstruction also revealed a dual vascular connection originating in the nodule and leading to the root in 22 of the 24 nodules. Of the 22 dual connections, 11 maintained two separate vascular bundles into the root with independent connections to the root vasculature.

CONCLUSIONS: A more robust and complex anatomical pathway for vascular transport between nodules and root xylem in soybean plants is indicated by these observations and will contribute to a better understanding of the symbiotic relationship between soybean plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria within the nodules.}, } @article {pmid30861374, year = {2019}, author = {Crombez, H and Motte, H and Beeckman, T}, title = {Tackling Plant Phosphate Starvation by the Roots.}, journal = {Developmental cell}, volume = {48}, number = {5}, pages = {599-615}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2019.01.002}, pmid = {30861374}, issn = {1878-1551}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant responses to phosphate deprivation encompass a wide range of strategies, varying from altering root system architecture, entering symbiotic interactions to excreting root exudates for phosphorous release, and recycling of internal phosphate. These processes are tightly controlled by a complex network of proteins that are specifically upregulated upon phosphate starvation. Although the different effects of phosphate starvation have been intensely studied, the full extent of its contribution to altered root system architecture remains unclear. In this review, we focus on the effect of phosphate starvation on the developmental processes that shape the plant root system and their underlying molecular pathways.}, } @article {pmid30860585, year = {2019}, author = {Barros-Carvalho, GA and Hungria, M and Lopes, FM and Van Sluys, MA}, title = {Brazilian-adapted soybean Bradyrhizobium strains uncover IS elements with potential impact on biological nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz046}, pmid = {30860585}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Genomic Islands/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens CPAC 7 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum CPAC 15 are broadly used in commercial inoculants in Brazil, contributing to most of the nitrogen required by the soybean crop. These strains differ in their symbiotic properties: CPAC 7 is more efficient in fixing nitrogen, whereas CPAC 15 is more competitive. Comparative genomics revealed many transposases close to genes associated with symbiosis in the symbiotic island of these strains. Given the importance that insertion sequences (IS) elements have to bacterial genomes, we focused on identifying the local impact of these elements in the genomes of these and other related Bradyrhizobium strains to further understand their phenotypic differences. Analyses were performed using bioinformatics approaches. We found IS elements disrupting and inserted at regulatory regions of genes involved in symbiosis. Further comparative analyses with 21 Bradyrhizobium genomes revealed insertional polymorphism with distinguishing patterns between B. diazoefficiens and B. japonicum lineages. Finally, 13 of these potentially impacted genes are differentially expressed under symbiotic conditions in B. diazoefficiens USDA 110. Thus, IS elements are associated with the diversity of Bradyrhizobium, possibly by providing mechanisms for natural variation of symbiotic effectiveness.}, } @article {pmid30857983, year = {2019}, author = {Wu, Y and Zhou, Z and Wang, J and Luo, J and Wang, L and Zhang, Y}, title = {Temperature regulates the recognition activities of a galectin to pathogen and symbiont in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {103-110}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.03.003}, pmid = {30857983}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*immunology/microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coral Reefs ; Escherichia coli/immunology ; Galectins/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Streptococcus mutans/immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; *Temperature ; Vibrio/immunology ; }, abstract = {Lectins serve as essential pattern recognition receptors, and play important roles in the recognition of non-self and mediation of innate immune response in metazoans. Scleractinian corals are vulnerable to pathogen infection and endosymbiosis disruption under heat stress that can finally lead to coral bleaching. In this study, a cDNA sequence encoding one galectin was cloned in scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis (PdGLT-1). The deduced PdGLT-1 protein shared highest amino acid sequence similarity (99%) with galectin from Stylophora pistillata (XP_022806650.1), and was composed of one signal peptide, one Collagen domain and one Gal-Lectin domain. PdGLT-1 recombinant protein (rPdGLT-1) was expressed and purified in vitro. Binding activities of rPdGLT-1 to bacteria and symbiont were determined using western blotting method. Results showed that rPdGLT-1 was able to bind to gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans, gram-negative bacteria Vibrio coralliilyticus and Escherichia coli, with the highest activity for V. coralliilyticus, and further agglutinated them. The bound rPdGLT-1 to Symbiodinium (10-10[4] cells mL[-1]) was detectable, and its binding ability was concentration-dependent. Furthermore, dual binding activities were determined under different temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35 °C), and the optimal temperatures were found to be 25 and 30 °C for V. coralliilyticus and Symbiodinium, respectively. Results suggested that PdGLT-1 could recognize pathogenic bacteria and symbiotic dinoflagellates Symbiodinium. However, their recognition activities were repressed under high temperature (>30 °C). This study provided insights into the underlying mechanism of lectin modulation to heat bleaching through its pathogen and Symbiodinium recognition in the scleractinian coral P. damicornis.}, } @article {pmid30857919, year = {2019}, author = {Brinker, P and Fontaine, MC and Beukeboom, LW and Falcao Salles, J}, title = {Host, Symbionts, and the Microbiome: The Missing Tripartite Interaction.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {480-488}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2019.02.002}, pmid = {30857919}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Environment ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between microbial associates and a host is a ubiquitous feature of life on earth, modulating host phenotypes. In addition to endosymbionts, organisms harbour a collection of host-associated microbes, the microbiome that can impact important host traits. In this opinion article we argue that the mutual influences of the microbiome and endosymbionts, as well as their combined influence on the host, are still understudied. Focusing on the endosymbiont Wolbachia, we present growing evidence indicating that host phenotypic effects are exerted in interaction with the remainder microbiome and the host. We thus advocate that only through an integrated approach that considers multiple interacting partners and environmental influences will we be able to gain a better understanding of host-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid30857310, year = {2019}, author = {Sańko-Sawczenko, I and Łotocka, B and Mielecki, J and Rekosz-Burlaga, H and Czarnocka, W}, title = {Transcriptomic Changes in Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus Root Nodules during Drought Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30857310}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Drought is one of the major environmental factors limiting biomass and seed yield production in agriculture. In this research, we focused on plants from the Fabaceae family, which has a unique ability for the establishment of symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and are relatively susceptible to water limitation. We have presented the changes in nitrogenase activity and global gene expression occurring in Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus root nodules during water deficit. Our results proved a decrease in the efficiency of nitrogen fixation, as well as extensive changes in plant and bacterial transcriptomes, shortly after watering cessation. We showed for the first time that not only symbiotic plant components but also Sinorhizobium meliloti and Mesorhizobium loti bacteria residing in the root nodules of M. truncatula and L. japonicus, respectively, adjust their gene expression in response to water shortage. Although our results demonstrated that both M. truncatula and L. japonicus root nodules were susceptible to water deprivation, they indicated significant differences in plant and bacterial response to drought between the tested species, which might be related to the various types of root nodules formed by these species.}, } @article {pmid30856237, year = {2019}, author = {Ingraffia, R and Amato, G and Frenda, AS and Giambalvo, D}, title = {Impacts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on nutrient uptake, N2 fixation, N transfer, and growth in a wheat/faba bean intercropping system.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e0213672}, pmid = {30856237}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Biomass ; Crops, Agricultural/growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nutrients ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Triticum/*growth & development ; Vicia faba/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can play a key role in natural and agricultural ecosystems affecting plant nutrition, soil biological activity and modifying the availability of nutrients by plants. This research aimed at expanding the knowledge of the role played by AMF in the uptake of macro- and micronutrients and N transfer (using a 15N stem-labelling method) in a faba bean/wheat intercropping system. It also investigates the role of AMF in biological N fixation (using the natural isotopic abundance method) in faba bean grown in pure stand and in mixture. Finally, it examines the role of AMF in driving competition and facilitation between faba bean and wheat. Durum wheat and faba bean were grown in pots (five pots per treatment) as sole crops or in mixture in the presence or absence of AMF. Root colonisation by AMF was greater in faba bean than in wheat and increased when species were mixed compared to pure stand (particularly for faba bean). Mycorrhizal symbiosis positively influenced root biomass, specific root length, and root density and increased the uptake of P, Fe, and Zn in wheat (both in pure stand and in mixture) but not in faba bean. Furthermore, AMF symbiosis increased the percentage of N derived from the atmosphere in the total N biomass of faba bean grown in mixture (+20%) but not in pure stand. Nitrogen transfer from faba bean to wheat was low (2.5-3.0 mg pot-1); inoculation with AMF increased N transfer by 20%. Overall, in terms of above- and belowground growth and uptake of nutrients, mycorrhization favoured the stronger competitor in the mixture (wheat) without negatively affecting the companion species (faba bean). Results of this study confirm the role of AMF in driving biological interactions among neighbouring plants.}, } @article {pmid30853969, year = {2019}, author = {Bahmani, R and Kim, D and Na, J and Hwang, S}, title = {Expression of the Tobacco Non-symbiotic Class 1 Hemoglobin Gene Hb1 Reduces Cadmium Levels by Modulating Cd Transporter Expression Through Decreasing Nitric Oxide and ROS Level in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {201}, pmid = {30853969}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Hemoglobin (Hb) proteins are ubiquitous in plants, and non-symbiotic class 1 hemoglobin (Hb1) is involved in various biotic and abiotic stress responses. Here, the expression of the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) hemoglobin gene NtHb1 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) showed higher cadmium (Cd) tolerance and lower accumulations of Cd, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). NtHb1-expressing Arabidopsis exhibited a reduced induction of NO levels in response to Cd, suggesting scavenging of NO by Hb1. In addition, transgenic plants had reduced accumulation of ROS and increased activities of antioxidative enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase) in response to Cd. While the expression of the Cd exporters ABC transporter (PDR8) and Ca[2+]/H[+] exchangers (CAXs) was increased, that of the Cd importers iron responsive transporter 1 (IRT1) and P-type 2B Ca[2+] ATPase (ACA10) was reduced in response to Cd. When Col-0 plants were treated with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and H2O2, the expression pattern of Cd transporters (PDR8, CAX3, IRT1, and ACA10) was reversed, suggesting that NtHb1 expression decreased the Cd level by regulating the expression of Cd transporters via decreased NO and ROS. Correspondingly, NtHb1-expressing Arabidopsis showed increased Cd export. In summary, the expression of NtHb1 reduces Cd levels by regulating Cd transporter expression via decreased NO and ROS levels in Arabidopsis.}, } @article {pmid30853777, year = {2018}, author = {Patelunas, AJ and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Vascular architecture in the bacteriogenic light organ of Euprymna tasmanica (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae).}, journal = {Invertebrate biology : a quarterly journal of the American Microscopical Society and the Division of Invertebrate Zoology/ASZ}, volume = {137}, number = {3}, pages = {240-249}, pmid = {30853777}, issn = {1077-8306}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between southern dumpling squid, Euprymna tasmanica (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae), and its luminescent symbiont, the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, provides an experimentally tractable system to examine interactions between the eukaryotic host and its bacterial partner. Luminescence emitted by the symbiotic bacteria provides light for the squid in a behavior termed "counter-illumination," which allows the squid to mask its shadow amidst downwelling moonlight. Although this association is beneficial, light generated from the bacteria requires large quantities of oxygen to maintain this energy-consuming reaction. Therefore, we examined the vascular network within the light organ of juveniles of E. tasmanica with and without V. fischeri. Vessel type, diameter, and location of vessels were measured. Although differences between symbiotic and aposymbiotic squid demonstrated that the presence of V. fischeri does not significantly influence the extent of vascular branching at early stages of symbiotic development, these finding do provide an atlas of blood vessel distribution in the organ. Thus, these results provide a framework to understand how beneficial bacteria influence the development of a eukaryotic closed vascular network and provide insight to the evolutionary developmental dynamics that form during mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid30852466, year = {2019}, author = {Shi, L and Deng, X and Yang, Y and Jia, Q and Wang, C and Shen, Z and Chen, Y}, title = {A Cr(VI)-tolerant strain, Pisolithus sp1, with a high accumulation capacity of Cr in mycelium and highly efficient assisting Pinus thunbergii for phytoremediation.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {224}, number = {}, pages = {862-872}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.03.015}, pmid = {30852466}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chromium/analysis/*metabolism ; Hebeloma/*metabolism ; Mycelium/chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Pinus/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can improve the growth of pine trees and enhance their tolerance to heavy metal stress, and may also be useful during the afforestation and phytoremediation of polluted regions with pine trees. Hebeloma vinosophyllum (Cr(VI)-sensitive strain) and Pisolithus sp1 ((Cr(VI)-tolerant strain) were selected through liquid culture experiment, and were used in symbiosis with Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) in pot experiments, to determine their potential for improving phytoremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soils. Our results indicated that Pisolithus sp1 also had a significantly higher accumulation of Cr than H. vinosophyllum in mycelium under the same Cr(VI) treatments in liquid culture experiment. The tolerance index of Pisolithus sp1 ECM seedlings' shoots and roots to Cr(VI) were significantly higher than that of H. vinosophyllum ECM and non-ectomycorrhizal (NM) seedlings while the total accumulated Cr per seedling in Pisolithus sp1 ECM seedlings were 1.50-1.96 and 2.83-27.75 fold higher that of H. vinosophyllum ECM and NM seedlings, respectively, within 0-800 mg kg[-1] Cr(VI) treatments in pot experiments. In addition, the significant differences ratios of photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and intercellular CO2 concentration between Pisolithus sp1 ECM and NM seedlings were significantly higher than those between H. vinosophyllum ECM and NM seedlings under 400 and 800 mg kg[-1] Cr(VI) treatments. Compared with the control (no plant), and planting NM or H. vinosophyllum ECM seedlings, the planting of Pisolithus sp1 ECM seedlings significantly reduced the percentage content of exchangeable Cr in the soil.}, } @article {pmid30852185, year = {2019}, author = {Hudson, J and Kumar, V and Egan, S}, title = {Comparative genome analysis provides novel insight into the interaction of Aquimarina sp. AD1, BL5 and AD10 with their macroalgal host.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {8-15}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2019.02.005}, pmid = {30852185}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Flavobacteriaceae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; *Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Microalgae/*genetics/*microbiology ; Rhodophyta/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Aquimarina genus is widely distributed throughout the marine environment, however little is understood regarding its ecological role, particularly when in association with eukaryotic hosts. Here, we examine the genomes of two opportunistic pathogens, Aquimarina sp. AD1 and BL5, and a non-pathogenic strain Aquimarina sp. AD10, that were isolated from diseased individuals of the red alga Delisea pulchra. Each strain encodes multiple genes for the degradation of marine carbohydrates and vitamin biosynthesis. These traits are hypothesised to promote nutrient exchange between the Aquimarina strains and their algal host, facilitating a close symbiotic relationship. Moreover, each strain harbours the necessary genes for the assembly of a Type 9 Secretion System (T9SS) and the associated gliding motility apparatus. In addition to these common features, pathogenic strains AD1 and BL5, encode genes for the production of flexirubin type pigments and a number of unique non-ribosomal peptide synthesis (NRPS) gene clusters, suggesting a role for these uncharacterised traits in virulence. This study provides valuable insight into the potential ecological role of Aquimarina in the marine environment and the complex factors driving pathogenesis and symbiosis in this genus.}, } @article {pmid30851051, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, ML and Huang, JY and Kao, CY and Fang, TJ}, title = {Fermented soymilk and soy and cow milk mixture, supplemented with orange peel fiber or Tremella flava fermented powder as prebiotics for high exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus pentosus SLC 13.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {99}, number = {9}, pages = {4373-4382}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.9671}, pmid = {30851051}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Citrus sinensis/chemistry/metabolism/*microbiology ; Culture Media/chemistry/metabolism ; Cultured Milk Products/analysis/*microbiology ; Fermentation ; Fruit/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; Lactobacillus pentosus/growth & development/*metabolism ; Milk/chemistry/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Prebiotics/analysis ; Soy Milk/*metabolism ; Taste ; Waste Products/analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A high exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus pentosus SLC 13 strain was isolated from mustard pickles and showed the characteristics of a probiotic. Orange peel fiber powder (OPFP) and Tremella flava fermented powder (TFP) were shown to be potential prebiotics for L. pentosus SLC 13. The present study aimed to further develop new symbiotic fermented lactic acid beverages using SLC 13 with different proportions of cow milk and soymilk as food substrates, as well as with OPFP or TFP as prebiotics.

RESULTS: Acidification rate (soymilk groups, 3.02-4.37 mU min[-1] ; soymilk/milk mixture groups, 1.33-2.84 mU min[-1]) and fermentation time (soymilk groups, 7.09-9.25 h; soymilk/milk mixture groups, 12.51-27.34 h) indicated that soymilk represents a suitable substrate for SLC 13-mediated fermentation. Moreover, OPFP and TFP induced a higher exopolysaccharide production of SLC 13 and a higher water holding capacity of fermented beverages. Sensory evaluations suggested that soymilk groups fermented with 10 g kg[-1] OPFP (SF-1.0P) and that with 5 g kg[-1] TFP (SF-0.5T) and also soymilk/milk mixture groups fermented with 5 g kg[-1] OPFP (HSMF-0.5P) and that with 10 g kg[-1] TFP (HSMF-1.0T) represent potential fermented drinks. Additionally, SF-1.0P and SF-0.5T products could be preserved for at least 21 days at 4 °C, with high viable cell counts (> 8.8 log10 CFU mL[-1]) and water holding capacity.

CONCLUSION: In the present study, we developed SF-1.0P and SF-0.5T products as a new symbiotic fermented lactic acid beverages. However, in the future, consumer acceptability could be improved by properly regulating the ratio of sugar to acid or seasoning. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid30850539, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Delgado-Baquerizo, M and Wang, D and Isbell, F and Liu, J and Feng, C and Liu, J and Zhong, Z and Zhu, H and Yuan, X and Chang, Q and Liu, C}, title = {Diversifying livestock promotes multidiversity and multifunctionality in managed grasslands.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {13}, pages = {6187-6192}, pmid = {30850539}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animal Husbandry/*methods ; Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Cattle ; Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; Ecosystem ; *Grassland ; *Livestock ; Sheep ; }, abstract = {Increasing plant diversity can increase ecosystem functioning, stability, and services in both natural and managed grasslands, but the effects of herbivore diversity, and especially of livestock diversity, remain underexplored. Given that managed grazing is the most extensive land use worldwide, and that land managers can readily change livestock diversity, we experimentally tested how livestock diversification (sheep, cattle, or both) influenced multidiversity (the diversity of plants, insects, soil microbes, and nematodes) and ecosystem multifunctionality (including plant biomass production, plant leaf N and P, above-ground insect abundance, nutrient cycling, soil C stocks, water regulation, and plant-microbe symbiosis) in the world's largest remaining grassland. We also considered the potential dependence of ecosystem multifunctionality on multidiversity. We found that livestock diversification substantially increased ecosystem multifunctionality by increasing multidiversity. The link between multidiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality was always stronger than the link between single diversity components and functions. Our work provides insights into the importance of multitrophic diversity to maintain multifunctionality in managed ecosystems and suggests that diversifying livestock could promote both multidiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality in an increasingly managed world.}, } @article {pmid30850436, year = {2019}, author = {Jenkins, SP}, title = {Is the four quadrant approach to military medical ethics a cargo cult? A call for more unity between philosophers and practitioners.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps}, volume = {165}, number = {4}, pages = {270-272}, doi = {10.1136/jramc-2019-001183}, pmid = {30850436}, issn = {2052-0468}, mesh = {*Ethical Analysis ; *Ethics, Medical ; Humans ; Military Medicine/*ethics ; Military Personnel ; Morals ; *Philosophy, Medical ; }, abstract = {Moral theory should be practically useful, but without oversight from the philosophical community, the practical application of ethics by other institutions such as the military may drift into forms that are not theoretically robust. Ethical approaches that drift in this way run the risk of becoming 'cargo cults': simulations that will never properly fulfil their intended purpose. The four quadrant approach, a systematic method of ethical analysis that applies moral principles to clinical cases, has gained popularity in the last 10 years in a variety of medical contexts, especially the military. This paper considers whether the four quadrant approach is a cargo cult or whether it has theoretical value, with particular reference to the more popular four principles approach. This analysis concludes that the four quadrant approach has theoretical advantages over the four principles approach, if used in the right way (namely, with all four quadrants being used). The principal advantage is that the four quadrant approach leaves more room for clinical judgement, and thus avoids the charge of being too algorithmic, which has been levelled at the four principles approach. I suggest that it is the fourth quadrant, which invites the user to consider wider, contextual features of the case, which gives the approach this key advantage. Finally, I make a more general proposal that theoretical ethicists should work closely with those practitioners who apply ethics in the world, and I call for a symbiotic relationship between these two camps.}, } @article {pmid30850430, year = {2019}, author = {Pons, I and Renoz, F and Noël, C and Hance, T}, title = {New Insights into the Nature of Symbiotic Associations in Aphids: Infection Process, Biological Effects, and Transmission Mode of Cultivable Serratia symbiotica Bacteria.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30850430}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms are widespread in nature and can play a major role in the ecology and evolution of animals. The aphid-Serratia symbiotica bacterium interaction provides a valuable model to study the mechanisms behind these symbiotic associations. The recent discovery of cultivable S. symbiotica strains with a free-living lifestyle allowed us to simulate their environmental acquisition by aphids to examine the mechanisms involved in this infection pathway. Here, after oral ingestion, we analyzed the infection dynamics of cultivable S. symbiotica during the host's lifetime using quantitative PCR and fluorescence techniques and determined the immediate fitness consequences of these bacteria on their new host. We further examined the transmission behavior and phylogenetic position of cultivable strains. Our study revealed that cultivable S. symbiotica bacteria are predisposed to establish a symbiotic association with a new aphid host, settling in its gut. We show that cultivable S. symbiotica bacteria colonize the entire aphid digestive tract following infection, after which the bacteria multiply exponentially during aphid development. Our results further reveal that gut colonization by the bacteria induces a fitness cost to their hosts. Nevertheless, it appeared that the bacteria also offer an immediate protection against parasitoids. Interestingly, cultivable S. symbiotica strains seem to be extracellularly transmitted, possibly through the honeydew, while S. symbiotica is generally considered a maternally transmitted bacterium living within the aphid body cavity and bringing some benefits to its hosts, despite its costs. These findings provide new insights into the nature of symbiosis in aphids and the mechanisms underpinning these interactions.IMPORTANCES. symbiotica is one of the most common symbionts among aphid populations and includes a wide variety of strains whose degree of interdependence on the host may vary considerably. S. symbiotica strains with a free-living capacity have recently been isolated from aphids. By using these strains, we established artificial associations by simulating new bacterial acquisitions involved in aphid gut infections to decipher their infection processes and biological effects on their new hosts. Our results showed the early stages involved in this route of infection. So far, S. symbiotica has been considered a maternally transmitted aphid endosymbiont. Nevertheless, we show that our cultivable S. symbiotica strains occupy and replicate in the aphid gut and seem to be transmitted over generations through an environmental transmission mechanism. Moreover, cultivable S. symbiotica bacteria are both parasites and mutualists given the context, as are many aphid endosymbionts. Our findings give new perception of the associations involved in bacterial mutualism in aphids.}, } @article {pmid30849101, year = {2019}, author = {Teschima, MM and Garrido, A and Paris, A and Nunes, FLD and Zilberberg, C}, title = {Biogeography of the endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) community associated with the brooding coral Favia gravida in the Atlantic Ocean.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {e0213519}, pmid = {30849101}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Phylogeography ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Zooxanthellate corals live in symbiosis with phototrophic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, enabling the host coral to dwell in shallow, nutrient-poor marine waters. The South Atlantic Ocean is characterized by low coral diversity with high levels of endemism. However, little is known about coral-dinoflagellate associations in the region. This study examined the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae associated with the scleractinian coral Favia gravida across its distributional range using the ITS-2 marker. This brooding coral endemic to the South Atlantic can be found across a wide range of latitudes and longitudes, including the Mid-Atlantic islands. Even though it occurs primarily in shallower environments, F. gravida is among the few coral species that live in habitats with extreme environmental conditions (high irradiance, temperature, and turbidity) such as very shallow tide pools. In the present study, we show that F. gravida exhibits some degree of flexibility in its symbiotic association with zooxanthellae across its range. F. gravida associates predominantly with Cladocopium C3 (ITS2 type Symbiodinium C3) but also with Symbiodinium A3, Symbiodinium linucheae (ITS2 type A4), Cladocopium C1, Cladocopium C130, and Fugacium F3. Symbiont diversity varied across biogeographic regions (Symbiodinium A3 and S. linucheae were found in the Tropical Eastern Atlantic, Cladocopium C1 in the Mid-Atlantic, and other subtypes in the Southwestern Atlantic) and was affected by local environmental conditions. In addition, Symbiodiniaceae diversity was highest in a southwestern Atlantic oceanic island (Rocas Atoll). Understanding the relationship between corals and their algal symbionts is critical in determining the factors that control the ecological niches of zooxanthellate corals and their symbionts, and identifying host-symbiont pairs that may be more resistant to environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid30848930, year = {2019}, author = {Song, X and Li, Y and Cao, X and Qi, Y}, title = {MicroRNAs and Their Regulatory Roles in Plant-Environment Interactions.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {489-525}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-050718-100334}, pmid = {30848930}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Animals ; Argonaute Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; *MicroRNAs ; Plants ; }, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 20-24 nucleotide noncoding RNAs abundant in plants and animals. The biogenesis of plant miRNAs involves transcription of miRNA genes, processing of primary miRNA transcripts by DICER-LIKE proteins into mature miRNAs, and loading of mature miRNAs into ARGONAUTE proteins to form miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC). By targeting complementary sequences, miRISC negatively regulates gene expression, thereby coordinating plant development and plant-environment interactions. In this review, we present and discuss recent updates on the mechanisms and regulation of miRNA biogenesis, miRISC assembly and actions as well as the regulatory roles of miRNAs in plant developmental plasticity, abiotic/biotic responses, and symbiotic/parasitic interactions. Finally, we suggest future directions for plant miRNA research.}, } @article {pmid30848026, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, CC and Chen, YN and Liou, JM and Wu, MS and , }, title = {From germ theory to germ therapy.}, journal = {The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {73-82}, doi = {10.1002/kjm2.12011}, pmid = {30848026}, issn = {2410-8650}, mesh = {Clinical Trials as Topic ; Disease ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Germ Theory of Disease ; Humans ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Germ theory of disease and Koch's postulates has been governing our understanding of the role of microbes in human health since 19th century. The discovery of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and H. pylori associated diseases has typically represented the concept and framework of Koch's postulates. Eradication of H. pylori to prevent peptic ulcers recurrence and gastric cancer is the triumph of this microbiology paradigm. Advances of next generation sequencing provide great insight into the unculturable microbes and show trillions of microbes have evolved with human beings. Research into the microbiome-the microbial communities (microbiota) and the host environment that they inhabit-has changed our understanding about microbes in human health and disease. The gut microbiota, the largest reservoir of the microbiome in human, plays a critical role in our catabolic-metabolism and immunity. This review will show the changes of the view of microbes on human health. We will briefly discuss dysbiosis, the disruption of symbiotic relationship between the host and microbiota, and the associated diseases. This leads to an idea to manipulate the microbiota, either by restoring missing functions or by eliminating harmful functions, to prevent or treat a variety of diseases. Current evidences of two common germ therapies, fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotics, in treating diseases will be reviewed.}, } @article {pmid30847086, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, D and Zhang, L and Shao, W and Li, X and Liu, X and Wu, H and Rao, Q}, title = {Phylogenetic analyses and characteristics of the microbiomes from five mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {1972-1984}, pmid = {30847086}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Associations between Sternorrhyncha insects and intracellular bacteria are common in nature. Mealybugs are destructive pests that seriously threaten the production of agriculture and forestry. Mealybugs have evolved intimate endosymbiotic relationships with bacteria, which provide them with essential amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients. In this study, the divergence of five mealybugs was analyzed based up the sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI). Meanwhile, the distinct regions of the 16S rRNA gene of primary symbionts in the mealybugs were sequenced. Finally, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques were used to study the microbial abundance and diversity in mealybugs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that these five mealybugs were subdivided into two different clusters. One cluster of mealybugs (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes, Pseudococcus comstocki, and Planococcus minor) harbored the primary endosymbiont "Candidatus Tremblaya princeps," and another cluster (Phenacoccus solenopsis and Phenacoccus solani) harbored "Ca. Tremblaya phenacola." The mtCOI sequence divergence between the two clusters was similar to the 16S rRNA sequence divergence between T. princeps and T. phenacola. Thus, we concluded that the symbiont phylogeny was largely concordant with the host phylogeny. The HTS showed that the microbial abundance and diversity within P. solani and P. solenopsis were highly similar, and there was lower overall species richness compared to the other mealybugs. Among the five mealybugs, we also found significant differences in Shannon diversity and observed species. These results provide a theoretical basis for further research on the coevolution of mealybugs and their symbiotic microorganisms. These findings are also useful for research on the effect of symbiont diversity on the pest status of mealybugs in agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid30847067, year = {2019}, author = {Schmidtberg, H and Shukla, SP and Halitschke, R and Vogel, H and Vilcinskas, A}, title = {Symbiont-mediated chemical defense in the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {1715-1729}, pmid = {30847067}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The volatile alkylpyrazines methyl- and methoxypyrazines (MPs) present in the reflex bleeds of coccinellid beetles such as the harlequin ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis are important semiochemicals that function in antipredatory defense behavior. Pyrazines have also been coadapted from a primarily defensive role into pheromones that function in intraspecific communication, attraction, and aggregation behavior. However, the biosynthesis of MPs in ladybird beetles is poorly understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MPs could be produced by microbial symbionts in H. axyridis, which generates four different MPs. The evaluation of tissue-specific MP production showed that MP concentrations were highest in the gut tissue and hemolymph of the beetles rather than the fat body tissue as the presumed site of MP biosynthesis. Furthermore, manipulation of gut microbiota by antibiotic-containing diets resulted in a lower MP content in adult beetles. The analysis of the bacterial community of the digestive tract revealed the presence of bacteria of the genera Serratia and Lactococcus which are reportedly able to produce MPs. In line with the known diet-dependent production of MP in H. axyridis, we determined that the presence or relative abundance of some of the potential MP producers (Enterococcus and Staphylococcus) is also diet-dependent. We hypothesize a potential role of the microbiota in MP production in H. axyridis as a possible example for outsourcing the synthesis of ecologically important semiochemicals to its gut bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30844705, year = {2019}, author = {Xourgia, E and Papazafiropoulou, A and Papanas, N and Melidonis, A}, title = {Anti-diabetic treatment leads to changes in gut microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {688-699}, doi = {10.2741/4743}, pmid = {30844705}, issn = {2768-6698}, mesh = {Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4/metabolism ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Dysbiosis/chemically induced ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/agonists ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/*pharmacology ; Incretins/metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Metabolism ; Metformin/pharmacology ; Mice ; Obesity/metabolism ; Permeability ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors/pharmacology ; alpha-Glucosidases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Numerous micro-organisms naturally reside in the human body assuming a symbiotic, or, at times, even a dysbiotic relationship with the host. These microbial populations are referred to as the human microbiota. Host microbial populations are an important mediator of gastro-intestinal mucosal permeability, bile acid metabolism, short-chain fatty acids synthesis, fermentation of dietary polysaccharides and FXR/TGR5 signaling. Variations in the composition and function of gut microbiota have been observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and obesity, as well as in inflammatory bowel diseases. The microbial imbalance induced by such pathological processes is described as dysbiosis. In this review, we describe the pathophysiological links between type 2 diabetes mellitus and gut microbiota, explore the effect of anti-diabetic drugs on gut microbiota and suggest possible therapeutic targets.}, } @article {pmid30844108, year = {2019}, author = {Szczałba, M and Kopta, T and Gąstoł, M and Sękara, A}, title = {Comprehensive insight into arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma spp. and plant multilevel interactions with emphasis on biostimulation of horticultural crops.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {127}, number = {3}, pages = {630-647}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14247}, pmid = {30844108}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sustainability and a more environment-friendly approach is an emerging issue relevant to crop production. Abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, heat, cold or heavy metal pollution can severely compromise yields, and in this respect, plant protection practices should be highly efficient as well as safe for the environment and people. Among the many ways to achieve high productivity of healthy, safe and tasty food, the use of beneficial micro-organisms as biostimulants is the most promising one. Two types of soil fungi can be considered efficient natural plants stimulants: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma spp. (TR). Generally, most investigations indicated AMF and TR were effective, as well as safe, for use as natural biopreparations dedicated to horticultural crops, although some reports pointed to their negative impact on plants. This review focuses on the mutual interaction of AMF and TR, as well as complex relationships with plants analysed on a multidimensional level: biochemical, morphological, ecological and agrotechnical. AMF and TR were found to be effective elicitors of root system development, nutrient uptake, plant stress response and production of secondary metabolites. As natural plant stimulants, beneficial fungi are compatible with modern trends of crop management, environmental conservation and functional food production. Herein, we demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of AMF and TR use in horticulture and their prospects, as well as the points that need further exploring.}, } @article {pmid30843545, year = {2019}, author = {Deicke, M and Mohr, JF and Roy, S and Herzsprung, P and Bellenger, JP and Wichard, T}, title = {Metallophore profiling of nitrogen-fixing Frankia spp. to understand metal management in the rhizosphere of actinorhizal plants.}, journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {810-821}, doi = {10.1039/c8mt00344k}, pmid = {30843545}, issn = {1756-591X}, mesh = {Copper/metabolism ; Frankia/growth & development/*physiology ; Iron/metabolism ; Metals/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Frankia spp. are widespread nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, which often live in symbiosis with a broad range of hosts. Metal homeostasis plays a crucial role in the success of the symbiosis regarding the acquisition of essential trace metals and detoxification of potentially toxic elements. We have hypothesised that Frankia releases many organic ligands with a broad spectrum of affinity for essential and toxic metals. We coined the term 'ligandosphere' to describe the entirety of excreted metal complexing agents and ligands derived from the dissolved organic matter. Using metal isotope-coded profiling (MICP); metallophores of physiological important and toxic trace metals were identified by the addition of stable metal isotope pairs such as 54Fe/58Fe, 63Cu/65Cu, 66Zn/68Zn or 95Mo/98Mo. Liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer revealed strong variations of the metallophore profile in between the 14 test-strains. In total, about 83 organic ligands were identified as binding to one of the tested metals. The predicted sum formula of the major Fe binding ligands and MS/MS experiments suggested that several metallophore candidates have a similar molecular backbone. Growth experiments with a hyper-producer of metallophores revealed a positive relationship between metallophore production and the concentration of Cu in the growth medium. The present study provides the first comprehensive overview of the complexity of Frankia's ligandosphere. It opens a path to a deeper understanding of mechanisms that regulate metal homeostasis in frankiae. Deciphering these mechanisms is important since the fitness of actinorhizal plants and their potential in ecological restoration relies heavily on their symbiosis with frankiae.}, } @article {pmid30843315, year = {2019}, author = {Yoneyama, K and Xie, X and Yoneyama, K and Nomura, T and Takahashi, I and Asami, T and Mori, N and Akiyama, K and Kusajima, M and Nakashita, H}, title = {Regulation of biosynthesis, perception, and functions of strigolactones for promoting arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and managing root parasitic weeds.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {75}, number = {9}, pages = {2353-2359}, doi = {10.1002/ps.5401}, pmid = {30843315}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*parasitology ; Plant Weeds/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Weed Control ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant secondary metabolites that play important roles in various aspects of plant growth and development as plant hormones, and in rhizosphere communications with symbiotic microbes and also root parasitic weeds. Therefore, sophisticated regulation of the biosynthesis, perception and functions of SLs is expected to promote symbiosis of beneficial microbes including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and also to retard parasitism by devastating root parasitic weeds. We have developed SL mimics with different skeletons, SL biosynthesis inhibitors acting at different biosynthetic steps, SL perception inhibitors that covalently bind to the SL receptor D14, and SL function inhibitors that bind to the serine residue at the catalytic site. In greenhouse pot tests, TIS108, an azole-type SL biosynthesis inhibitor effectively reduced numbers of attached root parasites Orobanche minor and Striga hermonthica without affecting their host plants; tomato and rice, respectively. AM colonization resulted in weak but distinctly enhanced plant resistance to pathogens. SL mimics can be used to promote AM symbiosis and to reduce the application rate of systemic-acquired resistance inducers which are generally phytotoxic to horticultural crops. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid30843207, year = {2019}, author = {Wipf, D and Krajinski, F and van Tuinen, D and Recorbet, G and Courty, PE}, title = {Trading on the arbuscular mycorrhiza market: from arbuscules to common mycorrhizal networks.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {1127-1142}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15775}, pmid = {30843207}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Commerce ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Sustainable Development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis occurs between obligate biotrophic fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota and most land plants. The exchange of nutrients between host plants and AM fungi (AMF) is presumed to be the main benefit for the two symbiotic partners. In this review article, we outline the current concepts of nutrient exchanges within this symbiosis (mechanisms and regulation). First, we focus on phosphorus and nitrogen transfer from the fungal partner to the host plant, and on the reciprocal transfer of carbon compounds, with a highlight on a possible interplay between nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition during AM symbiosis. We further discuss potential mechanisms of regulation of these nutrient exchanges linked to membrane dynamics. The review finally addresses the common mycorrhizal networks formed AMF, which interconnect plants from similar and/or different species. Finally the best way to integrate this knowledge and the ensuing potential benefits of AM into sustainable agriculture is discussed.}, } @article {pmid30842767, year = {2019}, author = {Wagner, K and Krause, K and Gallegos-Monterrosa, R and Sammer, D and Kovács, ÁT and Kothe, E}, title = {The Ectomycorrhizospheric Habitat of Norway Spruce and Tricholoma vaccinum: Promotion of Plant Growth and Fitness by a Rich Microorganismic Community.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {307}, pmid = {30842767}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The contribution of the mycorrhizospheric microbes in a stand of ectomycorrhizal Norway spruce (Picea abies) featuring mycorrhiza with the basidiomycete Tricholoma vaccinum was addressed by microbiome analysis and in vitro reconstruction of microbial as well as plant-microbe interactions. The protective role of the mycorrhizal fungus with respect to pathogen attack could be validated against Botrytis cinerea and Heterobasidion annosum in co-cultures revealing reduced pathogen growth, higher survival rate of the spruce trees and reduced symptoms on needles upon symbiosis with T. vaccinum. The community structure was shown to yield a high diversity in ECM forming basidiomycetes of Thelephorales and Agaricales associated with a rich bacterial diversity dominated by Rhizobiales with the most abundant Nitrobacter winogradski (3.9%). Isolated bacteria were then used to address plant growth promoting abilities, which included production of the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (performed by 74% of the bacterial isolates), siderophores (22%), and phosphate mobilization (23%). Among the isolates, mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB) were identified, with Bacillus cereus MRZ-1 inducing hyperbranching in T. vaccinum, supporting tree germination, shoot elongation, and root formation as well as higher mycorrhization rates. Thus, a huge pool of potential MHB and fungal community with widely distributed auxin-production potential extended the ability of T. vaccinum to form ectomycorrhiza. The forest community profited from the mycorrhizal fungus T. vaccinum, with spruce survival enhanced by 33% in microcosms using soil from the native habitat. A higher fungal abundance and diversity in cases where the tree had died during the experiment, showing that decomposition of plant litter from a dead tree supported a different community. T. vaccinum thus actively structured the community of microorganisms in its habitat.}, } @article {pmid30842763, year = {2019}, author = {Tipton, L and Darcy, JL and Hynson, NA}, title = {A Developing Symbiosis: Enabling Cross-Talk Between Ecologists and Microbiome Scientists.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {292}, pmid = {30842763}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Like all interactions, the success of cross-discipline collaborations relies on effective communication. Ecology offers theoretical frameworks and lexicons to study microbiomes. Yet some of the terms and concepts borrowed from ecology are being used discordantly by microbiome studies from their traditional definitions. Here we define some of the ecological terms and concepts as they are used in ecology and the study of microbiomes. Where applicable, we have provided the historical context of the terms, highlighted examples from microbiome studies, and considered the research methods involved. We divided these concepts into four sections: Biomes, Diversity, Symbiosis, and Succession. Biomes encompass the interactions within the biotic and abiotic features of an environment. This extends to the term "microbiome," derived from "biome," and includes an environment and all the microbes within it. Diversity encompasses patterns of species richness, abundance, and biogeography, all of which are important to understanding the distribution of microbiomes. Symbiosis emphasizes the relationships between organisms within a community. Symbioses are often misunderstood to be synonymous with mutualism. We discard that implication, in favor of a broader, more historically accurate definition which spans the continuum from parasitism to mutualism. Succession includes classical succession, alternative stable states, community assembly frameworks, and r/K-selection. Our hope is that as microbiome researchers continue to apply ecological terms, and as ecologists continue to gain interest in microbiomes, each will do so in a way that enables cross-talk between them. We recommend initiating these collaborations by using a common lexicon, from which new concepts can emerge.}, } @article {pmid30840620, year = {2019}, author = {Dingwell, JB and Cusumano, JP}, title = {Humans use multi-objective control to regulate lateral foot placement when walking.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {e1006850}, pmid = {30840620}, issn = {1553-7358}, support = {R01 AG049735/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; *Foot ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; *Psychomotor Performance ; *Walking ; }, abstract = {A fundamental question in human motor neuroscience is to determine how the nervous system generates goal-directed movements despite inherent physiological noise and redundancy. Walking exhibits considerable variability and equifinality of task solutions. Existing models of bipedal walking do not yet achieve both continuous dynamic balance control and the equifinality of foot placement humans exhibit. Appropriate computational models are critical to disambiguate the numerous possibilities of how to regulate stepping movements to achieve different walking goals. Here, we extend a theoretical and computational Goal Equivalent Manifold (GEM) framework to generate predictive models, each posing a different experimentally testable hypothesis. These models regulate stepping movements to achieve any of three hypothesized goals, either alone or in combination: maintain lateral position, maintain lateral speed or "heading", and/or maintain step width. We compared model predictions against human experimental data. Uni-objective control models demonstrated clear redundancy between stepping variables, but could not replicate human stepping dynamics. Most multi-objective control models that balanced maintaining two of the three hypothesized goals also failed to replicate human stepping dynamics. However, multi-objective models that strongly prioritized regulating step width over lateral position did successfully replicate all of the relevant step-to-step dynamics observed in humans. Independent analyses confirmed this control was consistent with linear error correction and replicated step-to-step dynamics of individual foot placements. Thus, the regulation of lateral stepping movements is inherently multi-objective and balances task-specific trade-offs between competing task goals. To determine how people walk in their environment requires understanding both walking biomechanics and how the nervous system regulates movements from step-to-step. Analogous to mechanical "templates" of locomotor biomechanics, our models serve as "control templates" for how humans regulate stepping movements from each step to the next. These control templates are symbiotic with well-established mechanical templates, providing complimentary insights into walking regulation.}, } @article {pmid30839331, year = {2020}, author = {Charbonneau-Dahlen, B}, title = {Symbiotic Allegory as Innovative Indigenous Research Methodology.}, journal = {ANS. Advances in nursing science}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {E25-E35}, doi = {10.1097/ANS.0000000000000257}, pmid = {30839331}, issn = {1550-5014}, mesh = {Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events/*psychology ; Communication ; Cultural Competency ; Data Collection/methods ; Humans ; Indians, North American/*psychology ; Indigenous Peoples/*psychology ; *Narration ; }, abstract = {This article introduces symbiotic allegory, an innovative research method designed by the researcher, an American Indian Chippewa. Symbiotic allegory incorporates traditional methods (storytelling, the Dream Catcher-Medicine Wheel, traditional grounding ceremonies) with Western interview methodology to evoke trust and candor among Plains Indians who had never voiced the traumatic stories of their childhood boarding school experiences. Implications reflect the importance of creating methodologies that incorporate the ways of knowing of the group being studied, which is best accomplished by a researcher who comes from within the ranks of the population being studied.}, } @article {pmid30839140, year = {2019}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Rodríguez-Navarro, DN and Kawaharada, Y and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Gil-Serrano, A and Soria-Díaz, ME and Pérez-Montaño, F and Fernández-Perea, J and Niu, Y and Alias-Villegas, C and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Navarro-Gómez, P and López-Baena, FJ and Kelly, S and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 nolR and nodD2 mutants gain capacity for infection thread invasion of Lotus japonicus Gifu and Lotus burttii.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {1718-1739}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14584}, pmid = {30839140}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BIO2016-78409-R//Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spanish Government)/International ; P07-CVI-07500//Proyecto de excelencia, Junta de Andalucía/International ; DNRF79//Danish National Research Foundation/International ; P07-CVI-07500//Andalusia Government/International ; }, mesh = {Host Specificity ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Rif[R] , a broad-host-range rhizobial strain, forms ineffective nodules with Lotus japonicus but induces nitrogen-fixing nodules in Lotus burttii roots that are infected by intercellular entry. Here we show that HH103 Rif[R] nolR or nodD2 mutants gain the ability to induce infection thread formation and to form nitrogen-fixing nodules in L. japonicus Gifu. Microscopy studies showed that the mode of infection of L. burttii roots by the nodD2 and nolR mutants switched from intercellular entry to infection threads (ITs). In the presence of the isoflavone genistein, both mutants overproduced Nod-factors. Transcriptomic analyses showed that, in the presence of Lotus japonicus Gifu root exudates, genes related to Nod factors production were overexpressed in both mutants in comparison to HH103 Rif[R] . Complementation of the nodD2 and nolR mutants provoked a decrease in Nod-factor production, the incapacity to form nitrogen-fixing nodules with L. japonicus Gifu and restored the intercellular way of infection in L. burttii. Thus, the capacity of S. fredii HH103 Rif[R] nodD2 and nolR mutants to infect L. burttii and L. japonicus Gifu by ITs and fix nitrogen L. japonicus Gifu might be correlated with Nod-factor overproduction, although other bacterial symbiotic signals could also be involved.}, } @article {pmid30838204, year = {2019}, author = {Acuña-Rodríguez, IS and Hansen, H and Gallardo-Cerda, J and Atala, C and Molina-Montenegro, MA}, title = {Antarctic Extremophiles: Biotechnological Alternative to Crop Productivity in Saline Soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {22}, pmid = {30838204}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Salinization of soils is one of the main sources of soil degradation worldwide, particularly in arid and semiarid ecosystems. High salinity results in osmotic stress and it can negatively impact plant grow and survival. Some plant species, however, can tolerate salinity by accumulating osmolytes like proline and maintaining low Na[+] concentrations inside the cells. Another mechanism of saline stress tolerance is the association with symbiotic microorganism, an alternative that can be used as a biotechnological tool in susceptible crops. From the immense diversity of plant symbionts, those found in extreme environments such as Antarctica seems to be the ones with most potential since they (and their host) evolved in harsh and stressful conditions. We evaluated the effect of the inoculation with a consortium of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPB) and endosymbiotic fungi isolated from an Antarctic plant on saline stress tolerance in different crops. To test this we established 4 treatments: (i) uninoculated plants with no saline stress, (ii) uninoculated plants subjected to saline stress (200 mM NaCl), (iii) plants inoculated with the microorganism consortium with no saline stress, and (iv) inoculated plants subjected to saline stress. First, we assessed the effect of symbiont consortium on survival of four different crops (cayenne, lettuce, onion, and tomato) in order to obtain a more generalized response of this biological interaction. Second, in order to deeply the mechanisms involved in salt tolerance, in lettuce plants we measured the ecophysiological performance (Fv/Fm) and lipid peroxidation to estimate the impact of saline stress on plants. We also measured proline accumulation and NHX1 antiporter gene expression (involved in Na[+] detoxification) to search for possible mechanism of stress tolerance. Additionally, root, shoot, and total biomass was also obtained as an indicator of productivity. Overall, plants inoculated with microorganisms from Antarctica increased the fitness related traits in several crops. In fact, three of four crops selected to assess the general response increased its survival under salt conditions compared with those uninoculated plants. On the other hand, saline stress negatively impacted all measured trait, but inoculated plants were significantly less affected. In control osmotic conditions, there were no differences in proline accumulation and lipid peroxidation between inoculation treatments. Interestingly, even in control salinity, Fv/Fm was higher in inoculated plants after 30 and 60 days. Under osmotic stress, Fv/Fm, proline accumulation and NHX1 expression was significantly higher and lipid peroxidation lower in inoculated plants compared to uninoculated individuals. Moreover, inoculated plants exposed to saline stress had a similar final biomass (whole plant) compared to individuals under no stress. We conclude that Antarctic extremophiles can effectively reduce the physiological impact of saline stress in a salt-susceptible crops and also highlight extreme environments such as Antarctica as a key source of microorganism with high biotechnological potential.}, } @article {pmid30837987, year = {2019}, author = {Groeger, S and Meyle, J}, title = {Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {208}, pmid = {30837987}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines/biosynthesis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Epithelial Cells/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunomodulation ; Immunophenotyping ; Intercellular Junctions ; Mouth Mucosa/*immunology/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptors/immunology ; }, abstract = {Cellular Phenotype and Apoptosis: The function of epithelial tissues is the protection of the organism from chemical, microbial, and physical challenges which is indispensable for viability. To fulfill this task, oral epithelial cells follow a strongly regulated scheme of differentiation that results in the formation of structural proteins that manage the integrity of epithelial tissues and operate as a barrier. Oral epithelial cells are connected by various transmembrane proteins with specialized structures and functions. Keratin filaments adhere to the plasma membrane by desmosomes building a three-dimensional matrix. Cell-Cell Contacts and Bacterial Influence: It is known that pathogenic oral bacteria are able to affect the expression and configuration of cell-cell junctions. Human keratinocytes up-regulate immune-modulatory receptors upon stimulation with bacterial components. Periodontal pathogens including P. gingivalis are able to inhibit oral epithelial innate immune responses through various mechanisms and to escape from host immune reaction, which supports the persistence of periodontitis and furthermore is able to affect the epithelial barrier function by altering expression and distribution of cell-cell interactions including tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs). In the pathogenesis of periodontitis a highly organized biofilm community shifts from symbiosis to dysbiosis which results in destructive local inflammatory reactions. Cellular Receptors: Cell-surface located toll like receptors (TLRs) and cytoplasmatic nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) belong to the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs recognize microbial parts that represent pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). A multimeric complex of proteins known as inflammasome, which is a subset of NLRs, assembles after activation and proceeds to pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Cytokine Production and Release: Cytokines and bacterial products may lead to host cell mediated tissue destruction. Keratinocytes are able to produce diverse pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Infection by pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) can induce a differentiated production of these cytokines. Immuno-modulation, Bacterial Infection, and Cancer Cells: There is a known association between bacterial infection and cancer. Bacterial components are able to up-regulate immune-modulatory receptors on cancer cells. Interactions of bacteria with tumor cells could support malignant transformation an environment with deficient immune regulation. The aim of this review is to present a set of molecular mechanisms of oral epithelial cells and their reactions to a number of toxic influences.}, } @article {pmid30837650, year = {2019}, author = {Corriero, G and Pierri, C and Mercurio, M and Nonnis Marzano, C and Onen Tarantini, S and Gravina, MF and Lisco, S and Moretti, M and De Giosa, F and Valenzano, E and Giangrande, A and Mastrodonato, M and Longo, C and Cardone, F}, title = {A Mediterranean mesophotic coral reef built by non-symbiotic scleractinians.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {3601}, pmid = {30837650}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development ; *Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; Invertebrates/*physiology ; Mediterranean Region ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This is the first description of a Mediterranean mesophotic coral reef. The bioconstruction extended for 2.5 km along the Italian Adriatic coast in the bathymetric range -30/-55 m. It appeared as a framework of coral blocks mostly built by two scleractinians, Phyllangia americana mouchezii (Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897) and Polycyathus muellerae (Abel, 1959), which were able to edify a secondary substrate with high structural complexity. Scleractinian corallites were cemented by calcified polychaete tubes and organized into an interlocking meshwork that provided the reef stiffness. Aggregates of several individuals of the bivalve Neopycnodonte cochlear (Poli, 1795) contributed to the compactness of the structure. The species composition of the benthic community showed a marked similarity with those described for Mediterranean coralligenous communities and it appeared to be dominated by invertebrates, while calcareous algae, which are usually considered the main coralligenous reef-builders, were poorly represented. Overall, the studied reef can be considered a unique environment, to be included in the wide and diversified category of Mediterranean bioconstructions. The main reef-building scleractinians lacked algal symbionts, suggesting that heterotrophy had a major role in the metabolic processes that supported the production of calcium carbonate. The large amount of available suspended organic matter in the area could be the main nutritional source for these species, as already suggested in the literature referred to Mediterranean cold-water corals.}, } @article {pmid30835731, year = {2019}, author = {Di Lelio, I and Illiano, A and Astarita, F and Gianfranceschi, L and Horner, D and Varricchio, P and Amoresano, A and Pucci, P and Pennacchio, F and Caccia, S}, title = {Evolution of an insect immune barrier through horizontal gene transfer mediated by a parasitic wasp.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {e1007998}, pmid = {30835731}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Hemolymph/immunology/virology ; Larva/genetics/*immunology/virology ; Phylogeny ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis/genetics/immunology ; Wasps/genetics/*immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {Genome sequencing data have recently demonstrated that eukaryote evolution has been remarkably influenced by the acquisition of a large number of genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) across different kingdoms. However, in depth-studies on the physiological traits conferred by these accidental DNA acquisitions are largely lacking. Here we elucidate the functional role of Sl gasmin, a gene of a symbiotic virus of a parasitic wasp that has been transferred to an ancestor of the moth species Spodoptera littoralis and domesticated. This gene is highly expressed in circulating immune cells (haemocytes) of larval stages, where its transcription is rapidly boosted by injection of microorganisms into the body cavity. RNAi silencing of Sl gasmin generates a phenotype characterized by a precocious suppression of phagocytic activity by haemocytes, which is rescued when these immune cells are incubated in plasma samples of control larvae, containing high levels of the encoded protein. Proteomic analysis demonstrates that the protein Sl gasmin is released by haemocytes into the haemolymph, where it opsonizes the invading bacteria to promote their phagocytosis, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results show that important physiological traits do not necessarily originate from evolution of pre-existing genes, but can be acquired by HGT events, through unique pathways of symbiotic evolution. These findings indicate that insects can paradoxically acquire selective advantages with the help of their natural enemies.}, } @article {pmid30834977, year = {2019}, author = {Kumawat, KC and Sharma, P and Sirari, A and Singh, I and Gill, BS and Singh, U and Saharan, K}, title = {Synergism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (LSE-2) nodule endophyte with Bradyrhizobium sp. (LSBR-3) for improving plant growth, nutrient acquisition and soil health in soybean.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {47}, pmid = {30834977}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Endophytes ; India ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis ; *Nutrients ; Oxidoreductases/analysis ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/analysis ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/chemistry/microbiology ; Potassium/analysis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Solubility ; Soybeans/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The present study was aimed to assess the scope of native potential endophyte Pseudomonas aeruginosa (LSE-2) strain (KX925973) with recommended Bradyrhizobium sp. (LSBR-3) (KF906140) for synergistic effect to develop as consortium biofertilizer of soybean. A total of 28 non-rhizobial endophytic bacteria were isolated from cultivated and wild sp. of soybean. All isolates were screened for multifarious PGP traits viz. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), phosphate (P) and zinc (Zn) solubilization, siderophore, cell wall degrading enzymes and pathogenicity. Compatible of LSBR-3 and LSE-2 enhanced IAA, P-solubilization, 1-aminocyclopropane-carboxylate deaminase and biofilm formation over the single inoculant treatment. Further, consortium was evaluated in vivo for growth, symbiotic traits, nutrient acquisition, soil quality parameters and yield attributes of soybean. Improvement in growth parameters were recorded with dual inoculant LSBR-3 + LSE-2 as compared to LSBR-3 alone and un-inoculated control treatments. Significantly (p ≥ 0.05) high symbiotic and soil quality parameters (phosphatase and soil dehydrogenase activity) was recorded with LSBR-3 + LSE-2 at vegetative and flowering stage as compared to LSBR-3 alone and un-inoculated control treatments. Single inoculation of LSBR-3 improved grain yield by 4.25% over the un-inoculated control treatment, further, enhancement in yield was recorded with consortium inoculant (LSBR-3 and LSE-2) by 3.47% over the LSBR-3 alone. Application of consortium inoculant (LSBR-3 + LSE-2) gave an additional income of Rs. 5089/ha over the un-inoculated control treatment. The results, thus strongly suggest that endophytic diazotroph LSE-2 can be used as potent bio-inoculant along with LSBR-3 as bio-enhancer for improving soybean productivity in a sustainable system.}, } @article {pmid30834262, year = {2019}, author = {Paço, A and da-Silva, JR and Eliziário, F and Brígido, C and Oliveira, S and Alexandre, A}, title = {traG Gene Is Conserved across Mesorhizobium spp. Able to Nodulate the Same Host Plant and Expressed in Response to Root Exudates.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {3715271}, pmid = {30834262}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Cicer/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Evidences for an involvement of the bacterial type IV secretion system (T4SS) in the symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and legumes have been pointed out by several recent studies. However, information regarding this secretion system in Mesorhizobium is still very scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phylogeny and expression of the traG gene, which encodes a substrate receptor of the T4SS. In addition, the occurrence and genomic context of this and other T4SS genes, namely, genes from tra/trb and virB/virD4 complexes, were also analyzed in order to unveil the structural and functional organization of T4SS in mesorhizobia. The location of the T4SS genes in the symbiotic region of the analyzed rhizobial genomes, along with the traG phylogeny, suggests that T4SS genes could be horizontally transferred together with the symbiosis genes. Regarding the T4SS structural organization in Mesorhizobium, the virB/virD4 genes were absent in all chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) microsymbionts and in the Lotus symbiont Mesorhizobium japonicum MAFF303099[T]. Interestingly, the presence of genes belonging to another secretion system (T3SS) was restricted to these strains lacking the virB/virD4 genes. The traG gene expression was detected in M. mediterraneum Ca36[T] and M. ciceri LMS-1 strains when exposed to chickpea root exudates and also in the early nodules formed by M. mediterraneum Ca36[T], but not in older nodules. This study contributes to a better understanding of the importance of T4SS in mutualistic symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30833646, year = {2019}, author = {Hartmann, RM and Schaepe, S and Nübel, D and Petersen, AC and Bertolini, M and Vasilev, J and Küster, H and Hohnjec, N}, title = {Insights into the complex role of GRAS transcription factors in the arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {3360}, pmid = {30833646}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {To improve access to limiting nutrients, the vast majority of land plants forms arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses with Glomeromycota fungi. We show here that AM-related GRAS transcription factors from different subgroups are upregulated during a time course of mycorrhization. Based on expression studies in mutants defective in arbuscule branching (ram1-1, with a deleted MtRam1 GRAS transcription factor gene) or in the formation of functional arbuscules (pt4-2, mutated in the phosphate transporter gene MtPt4), we demonstrate that the five AM-related GRAS transcription factor genes MtGras1, MtGras4, MtGras6, MtGras7, and MtRad1 can be differentiated by their dependency on MtRAM1 and MtPT4, indicating that the network of AM-related GRAS transcription factors consists of at least two regulatory modules. One module involves the MtRAM1- and MtPT4-independent transcription factor MtGRAS4 that activates MtGras7. Another module is controlled by the MtRAM1- and MtPT4-dependent transcription factor MtGRAS1. Genome-wide expression profiles of mycorrhized MtGras1 knockdown and ram1-1 roots differ substantially, indicating different targets. Although an MtGras1 knockdown reduces transcription of AM-related GRAS transcription factor genes including MtRam1 and MtGras7, MtGras1 overexpression alone is not sufficient to activate MtGras genes. MtGras1 knockdown roots display normal fungal colonization, with a trend towards the formation of smaller arbuscules.}, } @article {pmid30833394, year = {2019}, author = {Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Koch, EJ and Bussan, H and Romano, K and Belcaid, M and Rey, FE and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Critical symbiont signals drive both local and systemic changes in diel and developmental host gene expression.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {16}, pages = {7990-7999}, pmid = {30833394}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/physiology ; Animals ; *Circadian Rhythm/genetics/physiology ; *Decapodiformes/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression ; Luminescence ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; *Transcriptome/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The colonization of an animal's tissues by its microbial partners creates networks of communication across the host's body. We used the natural binary light-organ symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous bacterial partner, Vibrio fischeri, to define the impact of colonization on transcriptomic networks in the host. A night-active predator, E. scolopes coordinates the bioluminescence of its symbiont with visual cues from the environment to camouflage against moon and starlight. Like mammals, this symbiosis has a complex developmental program and a strong day/night rhythm. We determined how symbiont colonization impacted gene expression in the light organ itself, as well as in two anatomically remote organs: the eye and gill. While the overall transcriptional signature of light organ and gill were more alike, the impact of symbiosis was most pronounced and similar in light organ and eye, both in juvenile and adult animals. Furthermore, the presence of a symbiosis drove daily rhythms of transcription within all three organs. Finally, a single mutation in V. fischeri-specifically, deletion of the lux operon, which abrogates symbiont luminescence-reduced the symbiosis-dependent transcriptome of the light organ by two-thirds. In addition, while the gills responded similarly to light-organ colonization by either the wild-type or mutant, luminescence was required for all of the colonization-associated transcriptional responses in the juvenile eye. This study defines not only the impact of symbiont colonization on the coordination of animal transcriptomes, but also provides insight into how such changes might impact the behavior and ecology of the host.}, } @article {pmid30833352, year = {2019}, author = {Schäper, S and Wendt, H and Bamberger, J and Sieber, V and Schmid, J and Becker, A}, title = {A Bifunctional UDP-Sugar 4-Epimerase Supports Biosynthesis of Multiple Cell Surface Polysaccharides in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30833352}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Epimerases/genetics/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Uridine Diphosphate Galactose/metabolism ; Uridine Diphosphate Glucose/metabolism ; Uridine Diphosphate Sugars/metabolism ; Uridine Diphosphate Xylose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti produces multiple extracellular glycans, including among others, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and the exopolysaccharides (EPS) succinoglycan (SG) and galactoglucan (GG). These polysaccharides serve cell protective roles. Furthermore, SG and GG promote the interaction of S. meliloti with its host Medicago sativa in root nodule symbiosis. ExoB has been suggested to be the sole enzyme catalyzing synthesis of UDP-galactose in S. meliloti (A. M. Buendia, B. Enenkel, R. Köplin, K. Niehaus, et al. Mol Microbiol 5:1519-1530, 1991, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.1991.tb00799.x). Accordingly, exoB mutants were previously found to be affected in the synthesis of the galactose-containing glycans LPS, SG, and GG and consequently, in symbiosis. Here, we report that the S. meliloti Rm2011 uxs1-uxe-apsS-apsH1-apsE-apsH2 (SMb20458-63) gene cluster directs biosynthesis of an arabinose-containing polysaccharide (APS), which contributes to biofilm formation, and is solely or mainly composed of arabinose. Uxe has previously been identified as UDP-xylose 4-epimerase. Collectively, our data from mutational and overexpression analyses of the APS biosynthesis genes and in vitro enzymatic assays indicate that Uxe functions as UDP-xylose 4- and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase catalyzing UDP-xylose/UDP-arabinose and UDP-glucose/UDP-galactose interconversions, respectively. Overexpression of uxe suppressed the phenotypes of an exoB mutant, evidencing that Uxe can functionally replace ExoB. We suggest that under conditions stimulating expression of the APS biosynthesis operon, Uxe contributes to the synthesis of multiple glycans and thereby to cell protection, biofilm formation, and symbiosis. Furthermore, we show that the C2H2 zinc finger transcriptional regulator MucR counteracts the previously reported CuxR-c-di-GMP-mediated activation of the APS biosynthesis operon. This integrates the c-di-GMP-dependent control of APS production into the opposing regulation of EPS biosynthesis and swimming motility in S. melilotiIMPORTANCE Bacterial extracellular polysaccharides serve important cell protective, structural, and signaling roles. They have particularly attracted attention as adhesives and matrix components promoting biofilm formation, which significantly contributes to resistance against antibiotics. In the root nodule symbiosis between rhizobia and leguminous plants, extracellular polysaccharides have a signaling function. UDP-sugar 4-epimerases are important enzymes in the synthesis of the activated sugar substrates, which are frequently shared between multiple polysaccharide biosynthesis pathways. Thus, these enzymes are potential targets to interfere with these pathways. Our finding of a bifunctional UDP-sugar 4-epimerase in Sinorhizobium meliloti generally advances the knowledge of substrate promiscuity of such enzymes and specifically of the biosynthesis of extracellular polysaccharides involved in biofilm formation and symbiosis in this alphaproteobacterium.}, } @article {pmid30832582, year = {2019}, author = {Silvestri, A and Fiorilli, V and Miozzi, L and Accotto, GP and Turina, M and Lanfranco, L}, title = {In silico analysis of fungal small RNA accumulation reveals putative plant mRNA targets in the symbiosis between an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and its host plant.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {169}, pmid = {30832582}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Computer Simulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Small Untranslated/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Small RNAs (sRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules (20-30 nt) that regulate gene expression at transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels in many eukaryotic organisms, through a mechanism known as RNA interference (RNAi). Recent studies have highlighted that they are also involved in cross-kingdom communication: sRNAs can move across the contact surfaces from "donor" to "receiver" organisms and, once in the host cells of the receiver, they can target specific mRNAs, leading to a modulation of host metabolic pathways and defense responses. Very little is known about RNAi mechanism and sRNAs occurrence in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), an important component of the plant root microbiota that provide several benefits to host plants, such as improved mineral uptake and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

RESULTS: Taking advantage of the available genomic resources for the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis we described its putative RNAi machinery, which is characterized by a single Dicer-like (DCL) gene and an unusual expansion of Argonaute-like (AGO-like) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene families. In silico investigations of previously published transcriptomic data and experimental assays carried out in this work provided evidence of gene expression for most of the identified sequences. Focusing on the symbiosis between R. irregularis and the model plant Medicago truncatula, we characterized the fungal sRNA population, highlighting the occurrence of an active sRNA-generating pathway and the presence of microRNA-like sequences. In silico analyses, supported by host plant degradome data, revealed that several fungal sRNAs have the potential to target M. truncatula transcripts, including some specific mRNA already shown to be modulated in roots upon AMF colonization.

CONCLUSIONS: The identification of RNAi-related genes, together with the characterization of the sRNAs population, suggest that R. irregularis is equipped with a functional sRNA-generating pathway. Moreover, the in silico analysis predicted 237 plant transcripts as putative targets of specific fungal sRNAs suggesting that cross-kingdom post-transcriptional gene silencing may occur during AMF colonization.}, } @article {pmid30832430, year = {2019}, author = {Alaswad, AA and Oehrle, NW and Krishnan, HB}, title = {Classical Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) Symbionts, Sinorhizobium fredii USDA191 and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, Reveal Contrasting Symbiotic Phenotype on Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30832430}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Cajanus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phenotype ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Soybeans/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics ; }, abstract = {Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) is cultivated widely in semiarid agricultural regions in over 90 countries around the world. This important legume can enter into symbiotic associations with a wide range of rhizobia including Bradyrhizobium and fast-growing rhizobia. In comparison with other major legumes such as soybean and common bean, only limited information is available on the symbiotic interaction of pigeon pea with rhizobia. In this study, we investigated the ability of two classical soybean symbionts-S. fredii USDA191 and B. diazoefficiens USDA110-and their type 3 secretion system (T3SS) mutants, to nodulate pigeon pea. Both S. fredii USDA191 and a T3SS mutant S. fredii RCB26 formed nitrogen-fixing nodules on pigeon pea. Inoculation of pigeon pea roots with B. diazoefficiens USDA110 and B. diazoefficiens Δ136 (a T3SS mutant) resulted in the formation of Fix- and Fix+ nodules, respectively. Light and transmission electron microscopy of Fix- nodules initiated by B. diazoefficiens USDA110 revealed the complete absence of rhizobia within these nodules. In contrast, Fix+ nodules formed by B. diazoefficiens Δ136 revealed a central region that was completely filled with rhizobia. Ultrastructural investigation revealed the presence of numerous bacteroids surrounded by peribacteroid membranes in the infected cells. Analysis of nodule proteins by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that leghemoglobin was absent in B. diazoefficiens USDA110 nodules, while it was abundantly present in B. diazoefficiens Δ136 nodules. Results of competitive nodulation assays indicated that B. diazoefficiens Δ136 had greater competitiveness for nodulation on pigeon pea than did the wild type strain. Our results suggest that this T3SS mutant of B. diazoefficiens, due to its greater competitiveness and ability to form Fix+ nodules, could be exploited as a potential inoculant to boost pigeon pea productivity.}, } @article {pmid30832272, year = {2019}, author = {Chatterjee, S and Yadav, S}, title = {The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30832272}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Information is the currency of life, but the origin of prebiotic information remains a mystery. We propose transitional pathways from the cosmic building blocks of life to the complex prebiotic organic chemistry that led to the origin of information systems. The prebiotic information system, specifically the genetic code, is segregated, linear, and digital, and it appeared before the emergence of DNA. In the peptide/RNA world, lipid membranes randomly encapsulated amino acids, RNA, and peptide molecules, which are drawn from the prebiotic soup, to initiate a molecular symbiosis inside the protocells. This endosymbiosis led to the hierarchical emergence of several requisite components of the translation machine: transfer RNAs (tRNAs), aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS), messenger RNAs (mRNAs), ribosomes, and various enzymes. When assembled in the right order, the translation machine created proteins, a process that transferred information from mRNAs to assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains. This was the beginning of the prebiotic information age. The origin of the genetic code is enigmatic; herein, we propose an evolutionary explanation: the demand for a wide range of protein enzymes over peptides in the prebiotic reactions was the main selective pressure for the origin of information-directed protein synthesis. The molecular basis of the genetic code manifests itself in the interaction of aaRS and their cognate tRNAs. In the beginning, aminoacylated ribozymes used amino acids as a cofactor with the help of bridge peptides as a process for selection between amino acids and their cognate codons/anticodons. This process selects amino acids and RNA species for the next steps. The ribozymes would give rise to pre-tRNA and the bridge peptides to pre-aaRS. Later, variants would appear and evolution would produce different but specific aaRS-tRNA-amino acid combinations. Pre-tRNA designed and built pre-mRNA for the storage of information regarding its cognate amino acid. Each pre-mRNA strand became the storage device for the genetic information that encoded the amino acid sequences in triplet nucleotides. As information appeared in the digital languages of the codon within pre-mRNA and mRNA, and the genetic code for protein synthesis evolved, the prebiotic chemistry then became more organized and directional with the emergence of the translation and genetic code. The genetic code developed in three stages that are coincident with the refinement of the translation machines: the GNC code that was developed by the pre-tRNA/pre-aaRS /pre-mRNA machine, SNS code by the tRNA/aaRS/mRNA machine, and finally the universal genetic code by the tRNA/aaRS/mRNA/ribosome machine. We suggest the coevolution of translation machines and the genetic code. The emergence of the translation machines was the beginning of the Darwinian evolution, an interplay between information and its supporting structure. Our hypothesis provides the logical and incremental steps for the origin of the programmed protein synthesis. In order to better understand the prebiotic information system, we converted letter codons into numerical codons in the Universal Genetic Code Table. We have developed a software, called CATI (Codon-Amino Acid-Translator-Imitator), to translate randomly chosen numerical codons into corresponding amino acids and vice versa. This conversion has granted us insight into how the genetic code might have evolved in the peptide/RNA world. There is great potential in the application of numerical codons to bioinformatics, such as barcoding, DNA mining, or DNA fingerprinting. We constructed the likely biochemical pathways for the origin of translation and the genetic code using the Model-View-Controller (MVC) software framework, and the translation machinery step-by-step. While using AnyLogic software, we were able to simulate and visualize the entire evolution of the translation machines, amino acids, and the genetic code.}, } @article {pmid30830220, year = {2019}, author = {Helber, SB and Steinert, G and Wu, YC and Rohde, S and Hentschel, U and Muhando, CA and Schupp, PJ}, title = {Sponges from Zanzibar host diverse prokaryotic communities with potential for natural product synthesis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz026}, pmid = {30830220}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Porifera/chemistry/classification/*microbiology ; Prokaryotic Cells/*classification/metabolism ; Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Tanzania ; }, abstract = {Sponges are one of the most dominant organisms in marine ecosystems. One reason for their success is their association with microorganisms that are besides the host itself responsible for the chemical defence. Sponge abundances have been increasing on coral reefs in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and are predicted to increase further with rising anthropogenic impacts on coral reefs. However, there is a paucity of information on chemical ecology of sponges from the WIO and their prokaryotic community composition. We used a combination of Illumina sequencing and a predictive metagenomic analysis to (i) assess the prokaryotic community composition of sponges from Zanzibar, (ii) predict the presence of KEGG metabolic pathways responsible for bioactive compound production and (iii) relate their presence to the degree of observed chemical defence in their respective sponge host. We found that sponges from Zanzibar host diverse prokaryotic communities that are host species-specific. Sponge-species and respective specimens that showed strong chemical defences in previous studies were also predicted to be highly enriched in various pathways responsible for secondary metabolite production. Hence, the combined sequencing and predictive metagenomic approach proved to be a useful indicator for the metabolic potential of sponge holobionts.}, } @article {pmid30829120, year = {2019}, author = {Harichund, C and Karim, QA and Kunene, P and Simelane, S and Moshabela, M}, title = {Exploring factors that influence the integration of HIVST with HCT using a qualitative comparative cross-over design in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.}, journal = {Global public health}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {1275-1287}, doi = {10.1080/17441692.2019.1587638}, pmid = {30829120}, issn = {1744-1706}, mesh = {Adult ; *Counseling ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Patient Preference ; Prevalence ; Qualitative Research ; *Self Care ; South Africa/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {The World Health Organization recommends using HIV self-testing (HIVST) to improve HIV testing coverage by integrating self-testing for HIV into public domain primary healthcare (PHC) clinics in areas with a high burden of HIV. However, an understanding of the relationship and interaction between HIVST and the standard HIV counselling and testing (HCT), the primary HIV testing approach within public PHC clinics, is limited. We therefore sought to compare experiences of people seeking an HIV test, specifically, how HIVST can be used to enhance HCT when introduced together. A cross-over study design was used wherein participants were randomly exposed to either HCT followed by HIVST or HIVST followed by HCT. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the baseline, and after each testing exposure. Forty volunteers were enrolled and 119 interviews were completed. Although a higher preference for HIVST was reported, a symbiotic relationship between HIVST and HCT was identified, where benefits of one testing approach overcame barriers of the other. Introducing HIVST as an additional testing approach with HCT within PHC facilities in South Africa could positively influence HIV testing given their complementary relationship. HIVST and HCT should accommodate HIV testing situations among HIV testing naïve and repeat testing populations.}, } @article {pmid30828777, year = {2019}, author = {Vitanović, E and Aldrich, JR and Winterton, SL and Boundy-Mills, K and Lopez, JM and Zalom, FG}, title = {Attraction of the Green Lacewing Chrysoperla comanche (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to Yeast.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {388-391}, pmid = {30828777}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Neoptera/*physiology ; Pheromones/*metabolism ; Saccharomycetales/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Many adult Chrysoperla comanche (Stephens) green lacewings were caught in traps baited with live yeast cultures during tests designed to catch olive fruit flies. All 13 yeast species tested were more attractive than the industry-standard dried torula yeast (Cyberlindnera jadinii; syn. Candida utilis). Live C. jadinii culture attracted significantly more lacewings than the inactive dried-pellet form of the same yeast species, demonstrating that volatiles from live yeast cultures attract adults of this lacewing. Odor profiles for two of the highly active yeasts tested herein (Lachancea thermotolerans and Solicoccozyma terrea) were similar to that for Metschnikowia pulcherrima, a yeast species isolated earlier from the gut diverticulum of Chrysoperla rufilabris. A new Metschnikowia species (M. chrysoperlae), along with two new Candida spp. that were recently realigned to one of the Metschnikowia clades (M. picachoensis and M. pimensis), were also identified from the diverticulum of C. comanche. Thus, one clade of Metschnikowia yeasts that commonly occur in floral nectar appears to exhibit mutualistic symbioses with Chrysoperla green lacewings. Both male and female C. comanche adults were attracted in the present study, and we speculate that males have exploited this symbiosis by offering Metschnikowia-laden regurgitant, including attractive volatiles, to females ('mating trophallaxis') as a nuptial gift.}, } @article {pmid30828497, year = {2019}, author = {Traylor-Knowles, N}, title = {Heat stress compromises epithelial integrity in the coral, Acropora hyacinthus.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6510}, pmid = {30828497}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {It is well understood that heat stress causes bleaching in corals. Much work has focused on the way heat stress disrupts corals' symbiotic relationship with endosymbiotic algal dinoflagellate, Symbiodiniaceae, a process called bleaching. However, the damage to the coral tissue that occurs during the bleaching process and, importantly, the factors that contribute to subsequent recovery, are not well understood. I hypothesize that the host tissue damage created by heat stress initiates cascades of wound healing factors that maintain epithelial integrity. These factors may be found to contribute to the coral's potential capacity to recover. In this study, I present evidence that heat stress causes damage to the coral host tissue and that collagen is present in the gastrodermis of heat-stressed corals. I found that, during the early stages of bleaching, an important transcription factor for wound healing, Grainyhead, is expressed throughout the gastrodermis, where the cellular and tissue rearrangements occur. Lastly, using phylogenetics, I found that cnidarian Grainyhead proteins evolved three distinct groups and that evolution of this protein family likely happened within each taxonomic group. These findings have important implications for our study of coral resiliency in the face of climate change.}, } @article {pmid30828341, year = {2019}, author = {Fernandez-Göbel, TF and Deanna, R and Muñoz, NB and Robert, G and Asurmendi, S and Lascano, R}, title = {Redox Systemic Signaling and Induced Tolerance Responses During Soybean-Bradyrhizobium japonicum Interaction: Involvement of Nod Factor Receptor and Autoregulation of Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {141}, pmid = {30828341}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia induces local and systemic responses, which ultimately lead to nodule formation. The autoregulation of nodulation (AON) is a systemic mechanism related to innate immunity that controls nodule development and involves different components ranging from hormones, peptides, receptors to small RNAs. Here, we characterized a rapid systemic redox changes induced during soybean-Bradyrhizobium japonicum symbiotic interaction. A transient peak of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was found in soybean leaves after 30 min of root inoculation with B. japonicum. The ROS response was accompanied by changes in the redox state of glutathione and by activation of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the ROS peak and antioxidant enzyme activation were abolished in leaves by the addition, in either root or leaf, of DPI, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor. Likewise, these systemic redox changes primed the plant increasing its tolerance to photooxidative stress. With the use of non-nodulating nfr5-mutant and hyper-nodulating nark-mutant soybean plants, we subsequently studied the systemic redox changes. The nfr5-mutant lacked the systemic redox changes after inoculation, whereas the nark-mutant showed a similar redox systemic signaling than the wild type plants. However, neither nfr5- nor nark-mutant exhibited tolerance to photooxidative stress condition. Altogether, these results demonstrated that (i) the early redox systemic signaling during symbiotic interaction depends on a Nod factor receptor, and that (ii) the induced tolerance response depends on the AON mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid30827917, year = {2019}, author = {Decelle, J and Stryhanyuk, H and Gallet, B and Veronesi, G and Schmidt, M and Balzano, S and Marro, S and Uwizeye, C and Jouneau, PH and Lupette, J and Jouhet, J and Maréchal, E and Schwab, Y and Schieber, NL and Tucoulou, R and Richnow, H and Finazzi, G and Musat, N}, title = {Algal Remodeling in a Ubiquitous Planktonic Photosymbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {968-978.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2019.01.073}, pmid = {30827917}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Cell Division ; Cell Size ; Haptophyta/cytology/metabolism/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Rhizaria/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Photosymbiosis between single-celled hosts and microalgae is common in oceanic plankton, especially in oligotrophic surface waters. However, the functioning of this ecologically important cell-cell interaction and the subcellular mechanisms allowing the host to accommodate and benefit from its microalgae remain enigmatic. Here, using a combination of quantitative single-cell structural and chemical imaging techniques (FIB-SEM, nanoSIMS, Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence), we show that the structural organization, physiology, and trophic status of the algal symbionts (the haptophyte Phaeocystis) significantly change within their acantharian hosts compared to their free-living phase in culture. In symbiosis, algal cell division is blocked, photosynthesis is enhanced, and cell volume is increased by up to 10-fold with a higher number of plastids (from 2 to up to 30) and thylakoid membranes. The multiplication of plastids can lead to a 38-fold increase of the total plastid volume in a cell. Subcellular mapping of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and their stoichiometric ratios shows that symbiotic algae are impoverished in phosphorous and suggests a higher investment in energy-acquisition machinery rather than in growth. Nanoscale imaging also showed that the host supplies a substantial amount of trace metals (e.g., iron and cobalt), which are stored in algal vacuoles at high concentrations (up to 660 ppm). Sulfur mapping reveals a high concentration in algal vacuoles that may be a source of antioxidant molecules. Overall, this study unveils an unprecedented morphological and metabolic transformation of microalgae following their integration into a host, and it suggests that this widespread symbiosis is a farming strategy wherein the host engulfs and exploits microalgae.}, } @article {pmid30826731, year = {2019}, author = {Koehler, L and Flemming, FE and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {Towards an ecological understanding of the killer trait - A reproducible protocol for testing its impact on freshwater ciliates.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {108-120}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2019.02.002}, pmid = {30826731}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Ciliophora/*microbiology/*physiology ; Fresh Water ; Paramecium/microbiology/physiology ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Paramecium strains with the ability to kill other paramecia often harbour intracellular bacteria belonging to the genera Caedibacter or Caedimonas. Central structures of this killer trait are refractile bodies (R-bodies) produced by the endosymbionts. Once ingested by a sensitive Paramecium, R-bodies presumably act as delivery system for an unidentified toxin which causes the death of endosymbiont-free paramecia while those infected gain resistance from their symbionts. The killer trait is therefore considered as competitive advantage for the hosts of R-body producers. While its effectiveness against paramecia is well documented, the effects on other aquatic ciliates are much less studied. In order to address the broadness of the killer trait, a reproducible killer test assay considering the effects on predatory ciliates (Climacostomum virens and Dileptus jonesi) as well as potential bacterivorous Paramecium competitors (Dexiostoma campyla, Euplotes aediculatus, Euplotes woodruffi, and Spirostomum teres) as possibly susceptible species was established. All used organisms were molecularly characterized to increase traceability and reproducibility. The absence of any lethal effects in both predators and competitors after exposure to killer paramecia strongly suggests a narrow action range for the killer trait. Thus, R-body producing bacteria provide their host with a complex, costly strategy to outcompete symbiont-free congeners only.}, } @article {pmid30825941, year = {2019}, author = {Tang, MJ and Zhu, Q and Zhang, FM and Zhang, W and Yuan, J and Sun, K and Xu, FJ and Dai, CC}, title = {Enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus activation with an optimized bacterial community by endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari in paddy soil.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {221}, number = {}, pages = {50-59}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2019.02.005}, pmid = {30825941}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/microbiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari play a key role in habitat adaptation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) with potential multiple beneficial. However, our previous published work on this subject remains incomplete. Here, we performed a soil nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) transformation with related functional genes and elucidated how rhizosphere microbiota vary their response to P. liquidambari interaction throughout the plant's life cycle under field conditions by Illumina Miseq sequencing platforms in a nutrient-limited paddy soil. Our results showed that P. liquidambari symbiosis decreased the nitrogen and phosphorus loss by 24.59% and 17.46% per pot, respectively. Additionally, we suggest that the application of P. liquidambari altered the activation of soil nitrogen and phosphorus functional genes to accelerate nutrient turnover in the rice rhizosphere. High-throughput sequencing with co-occurrence network and species-related network analysis further revealed that P. liquidambari colonization influenced the patterns of microbiota shift in the rhizosphere, especially during the heading stages. This led to an optimized microbial community through the promotion and inhibition of indigenous soil microbes with a higher level of available nutrient supplies. Our study strongly proposes rice-P. liquidambari symbiosis as a useful candidate for improving N and P acquisition and utilization.}, } @article {pmid30825304, year = {2019}, author = {Jeon, Y and Park, SG and Lee, N and Weber, JA and Kim, HS and Hwang, SJ and Woo, S and Kim, HM and Bhak, Y and Jeon, S and Lee, N and Jo, Y and Blazyte, A and Ryu, T and Cho, YS and Kim, H and Lee, JH and Yim, HS and Bhak, J and Yum, S}, title = {The Draft Genome of an Octocoral, Dendronephthya gigantea.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {949-953}, pmid = {30825304}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Genome ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs composed of stony corals are threatened by global marine environmental changes. However, soft coral communities of octocorallian species, appear more resilient. The genomes of several cnidarians species have been published, including from stony corals, sea anemones, and hydra. To fill the phylogenetic gap for octocoral species of cnidarians, we sequenced the octocoral, Dendronephthya gigantea, a nonsymbiotic soft coral, commonly known as the carnation coral. The D. gigantea genome size is ∼276 Mb. A high-quality genome assembly was constructed from PacBio long reads (29.85 Gb with 108× coverage) and Illumina short paired-end reads (35.54 Gb with 128× coverage) resulting in the highest N50 value (1.4 Mb) reported thus far among cnidarian genomes. About 12% of the genome is repetitive elements and contained 28,879 predicted protein-coding genes. This gene set is composed of 94% complete BUSCO ortholog benchmark genes, which is the second highest value among the cnidarians, indicating high quality. Based on molecular phylogenetic analysis, octocoral and hexacoral divergence times were estimated at 544 MYA. There is a clear difference in Hox gene composition between these species: unlike hexacorals, the Antp superclass Evx gene was absent in D. gigantea. Here, we present the first genome assembly of a nonsymbiotic octocoral, D. gigantea to aid in the comparative genomic analysis of cnidarians, including stony and soft corals, both symbiotic and nonsymbiotic. The D. gigantea genome may also provide clues to mechanisms of differential coping between the soft and stony corals in response to scenarios of global warming.}, } @article {pmid30825301, year = {2019}, author = {Coyne, MJ and Comstock, LE}, title = {Type VI Secretion Systems and the Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30825301}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R01 AI093771/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI120633/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Bacteria/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins ; Colon/microbiology ; Ecology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Proteobacteria/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {The human colonic microbiota is a dense ecosystem comprised of numerous microbes, including bacteria, phage, fungi, archaea, and protozoa, that compete for nutrients and space. Studies are beginning to reveal the antagonistic mechanisms that gut bacteria use to compete with other members of this ecosystem. In the healthy human colon, the majority of the Gram-negative bacteria are of the order Bacteroidales. Proteobacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are numerically fewer but confer important properties to the host, such as colonization resistance. Several enteric pathogens use type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) to antagonize symbiotic gut E. coli, facilitating colonization and disease progression. T6SS loci are also widely distributed in human gut Bacteroidales, which includes three predominant genera: Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Prevotella. There are three distinct genetic architectures of T6SS loci among the gut Bacteroidales, termed GA1, GA2, and GA3. GA1 and GA2 T6SS loci are contained on integrative and conjugative elements and are the first T6SS loci shown to be readily transferred in the human gut between numerous species and families of Bacteroidales. In contrast, the GA3 T6SSs are present exclusively in Bacteroides fragilis. There are divergent regions in all three T6SS GAs that contain genes encoding effector and immunity proteins, many of which function by unknown mechanisms. To date, only the GA3 T6SSs have been shown to antagonize bacteria, and they target nearly all gut Bacteroidales species analyzed. This review delves more deeply into properties of the T6SSs of these human gut bacteria and the ecological outcomes of their synthesis in vivo.}, } @article {pmid30824326, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, D and Chen, X and Wang, J and Lou, Q and Lou, Y and Li, L and Wang, H and Chen, J and Wu, M and Song, X and Qian, Y}, title = {Dysregulated Lung Commensal Bacteria Drive Interleukin-17B Production to Promote Pulmonary Fibrosis through Their Outer Membrane Vesicles.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {50}, number = {3}, pages = {692-706.e7}, doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2019.02.001}, pmid = {30824326}, issn = {1097-4180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Bacteroides/metabolism ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Interleukin-17/*metabolism ; Lung/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism ; Neutrophils/metabolism ; Prevotella/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Toll-Like Receptors/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe form of lung fibrosis with a high mortality rate. However, the etiology of IPF remains unknown. Here, we report that alterations in lung microbiota critically promote pulmonary fibrosis pathogenesis. We found that lung microbiota was dysregulated, and the dysregulated microbiota in turn induced production of interleukin-17B (IL-17B) during bleomycin-induced mouse lung fibrosis. Either lung-microbiota depletion or IL-17B deficiency ameliorated the disease progression. IL-17B cooperated with tumor necrosis factor-α to induce expression of neutrophil-recruiting genes and T helper 17 (Th17)-cell-promoting genes. Three pulmonary commensal microbes, which belong to the genera Bacteroides and Prevotella, were identified to promote fibrotic pathogenesis through IL-17R signaling. We further defined that the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that were derived from the identified commensal microbes induced IL-17B production through Toll-like receptor-Myd88 adaptor signaling. Together our data demonstrate that specific pulmonary symbiotic commensals can promote lung fibrosis by regulating a profibrotic inflammatory cytokine network.}, } @article {pmid30824056, year = {2019}, author = {Das, DR and Horváth, B and Kundu, A and Kaló, P and DasGupta, M}, title = {Functional conservation of CYCLOPS in crack entry legume Arachis hypogaea.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {281}, number = {}, pages = {232-241}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.12.003}, pmid = {30824056}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis in legumes is established following interaction of compatible rhizobia that activates an array of genes, commonly known as symbiotic-pathway, resulting in nodule development. In model legumes, bacterial entry mainly occurs through infection thread involving the expression of transcription factor CYCLOPS/IPD3. Here we show the functional analysis of AhCYCLOPS in Arachis hypogaea where bacteria invade roots through epidermal cracks. Exploiting significant cross-species domain conservation, trans-complementation experiments involving ectopic expression of AhCYCLOPS in transgenic hairy-roots of Medicago truncatula ipd3 mutants resulted in functional complementation of Medicago nodules. Moreover, native promoter of AhCYCLOPS was sufficient for this cross-species complementation irrespective of the different modes of infection of roots by rhizobia and nodule ontology. To unravel the role of AhCYCLOPS during 'crack-entry' nodulation in A. hypogaea, RNAi of AhCYCLOPS was performed which resulted in delayed nodule inception followed by drastic reduction in nodule number on transgenic hairy-roots. The infection zone of a significant number of RNAi nodules showed presence of infected cells with enlarged nucleus and rod shaped undifferentiated bacteria. Expression analysis showed downregulation of several nodulation responsible effectors endorsing the compromised condition of RNAi roots. Together, the results indicated that AhCYCLOPS plays an important role in A. hypogaea nodule development.}, } @article {pmid30824024, year = {2019}, author = {Ferrol, N and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Pérez-Tienda, J}, title = {Review: Arbuscular mycorrhizas as key players in sustainable plant phosphorus acquisition: An overview on the mechanisms involved.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {280}, number = {}, pages = {441-447}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.11.011}, pmid = {30824024}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Mycelium ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Soil/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a poorly available macronutrient essential for plant growth and development and consequently for successful crop yield and ecosystem productivity. To cope with P limitations plants have evolved strategies for enhancing P uptake and/or improving P efficiency use. The universal 450-million-yr-old arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) (fungus-root) symbioses are one of the most successful and widespread strategies to maximize access of plants to available P. AM fungi biotrophically colonize the root cortex of most plant species and develop an extraradical mycelium which overgrows the nutrient depletion zone of the soil surrounding plant roots. This hyphal network is specialized in the acquisition of low mobility nutrients from soil, particularly P. During the last years, molecular biology techniques coupled to novel physiological approaches have provided fascinating contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of symbiotic P transport. Mycorrhiza-specific plant phosphate transporters, which are required not only for symbiotic P transfer but also for maintenance of the symbiosis, have been identified. The present review provides an overview of the contribution of AM fungi to plant P acquisition and an update of recent findings on the physiological, molecular and regulatory mechanisms of P transport in the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30823634, year = {2019}, author = {Philip, N and Walsh, LJ}, title = {Cranberry Polyphenols: Natural Weapons against Dental Caries.}, journal = {Dentistry journal}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30823634}, issn = {2304-6767}, abstract = {Bioactive polyphenol components of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are known to have virulence attenuating effects against several cariogenic virulence properties responsible for dental caries pathogenesis. In particular, cranberry A-type proanthocyanidins and flavonols have demonstrated potent inhibitory effects against cariogenic virulence targets such as bacterial acidogenicity, aciduricity, glucan synthesis, and hydrophobicity. Cranberry phenols have the ability to disrupt these cariogenic virulence properties without being bactericidal, a key quality essential for retaining the benefits of the symbiotic resident oral microbiome and preventing the emergence of resistant microbes. This review discusses the cariostatic mechanisms of specific cranberry phytochemicals and their potential use as therapeutic agents against cariogenic bacteria in the prevention and control of dental caries.}, } @article {pmid30823538, year = {2019}, author = {Gil, R and Latorre, A}, title = {Unity Makes Strength: A Review on Mutualistic Symbiosis in Representative Insect Clades.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30823538}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Settled on the foundations laid by zoologists and embryologists more than a century ago, the study of symbiosis between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is an expanding field. In this review, we present several models of insect[-]bacteria symbioses that allow for the detangling of most known features of this distinctive way of living, using a combination of very diverse screening approaches, including molecular, microscopic, and genomic techniques. With the increasing the amount of endosymbiotic bacteria genomes available, it has been possible to develop evolutionary models explaining the changes undergone by these bacteria in their adaptation to the intracellular host environment. The establishment of a given symbiotic system can be a root cause of substantial changes in the partners' way of life. Furthermore, symbiont replacement and/or the establishment of bacterial consortia are two ways in which the host can exploit its interaction with environmental bacteria for endosymbiotic reinvigoration. The detailed study of diverse and complex symbiotic systems has revealed a great variety of possible final genomic products, frequently below the limit considered compatible with cellular life, and sometimes with unanticipated genomic and population characteristics, raising new questions that need to be addressed in the near future through a wider exploration of new models and empirical observations.}, } @article {pmid30822525, year = {2019}, author = {Peng, X and Liu, H and Chen, P and Tang, F and Hu, Y and Wang, F and Pi, Z and Zhao, M and Chen, N and Chen, H and Zhang, X and Yan, X and Liu, M and Fu, X and Zhao, G and Yao, P and Wang, L and Dai, H and Li, X and Xiong, W and Xu, W and Zheng, H and Yu, H and Shen, S}, title = {A Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) Provides New Insights into Its Forage and Papermaking Usage.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {661-677}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2019.01.021}, pmid = {30822525}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Broussonetia/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Cellulose/biosynthesis ; Chromosomes, Plant/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Flavonoids/biosynthesis ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; *Genomics ; Lignin/biosynthesis ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Paper ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is a well-known woody tree historically used for Cai Lun papermaking, one of the four great inventions of ancient China. More recently, Paper mulberry has also been used as forage to address the shortage of feedstuff because of its digestible crude fiber and high protein contents. In this study, we obtained a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Paper mulberry using integrated approaches, including Illumina and PacBio sequencing platform as well as Hi-C, optical, and genetic maps. The assembled Paper mulberry genome consists of 386.83 Mb, which is close to the estimated size, and 99.25% (383.93 Mb) of the assembly was assigned to 13 pseudochromosomes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed the expansion and contraction in the flavonoid and lignin biosynthetic gene families, respectively, accounting for the enhanced flavonoid and decreased lignin biosynthesis in Paper mulberry. Moreover, the increased ratio of syringyl-lignin to guaiacyl-lignin in Paper mulberry underscores its suitability for use in medicine, forage, papermaking, and barkcloth making. We also identified the root-associated microbiota of Paper mulberry and found that Pseudomonas and Rhizobia were enriched in its roots and may provide the source of nitrogen for its stems and leaves via symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Collectively, these results suggest that Paper mulberry might have undergone adaptive evolution and recruited nitrogen-fixing microbes to promote growth by enhancing flavonoid production and altering lignin monomer composition. Our study provides significant insights into genetic basis of the usefulness of Paper mulberry in papermaking and barkcloth making, and as forage. These insights will facilitate further domestication and selection as well as industrial utilization of Paper mulberry worldwide.}, } @article {pmid30819893, year = {2019}, author = {Maire, J and Vincent-Monégat, C and Balmand, S and Vallier, A and Hervé, M and Masson, F and Parisot, N and Vigneron, A and Anselme, C and Perrin, J and Orlans, J and Rahioui, I and Da Silva, P and Fauvarque, MO and Mengin-Lecreulx, D and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Weevil pgrp-lb prevents endosymbiont TCT dissemination and chronic host systemic immune activation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {12}, pages = {5623-5632}, pmid = {30819893}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/immunology/*physiology ; Cytotoxins ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology/physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Larva/metabolism ; Peptidoglycan/immunology/metabolism ; Protein Isoforms ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Weevils/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Long-term intracellular symbiosis (or endosymbiosis) is widely distributed across invertebrates and is recognized as a major driving force in evolution. However, the maintenance of immune homeostasis in organisms chronically infected with mutualistic bacteria is a challenging task, and little is known about the molecular processes that limit endosymbiont immunogenicity and host inflammation. Here, we investigated peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP)-encoding genes in the cereal weevil Sitophilus zeamais's association with Sodalis pierantonius endosymbiont. We discovered that weevil pgrp-lb generates three transcripts via alternative splicing and differential regulation. A secreted isoform is expressed in insect tissues under pathogenic conditions through activation of the PGRP-LC receptor of the immune deficiency pathway. In addition, cytosolic and transmembrane isoforms are permanently produced within endosymbiont-bearing organ, the bacteriome, in a PGRP-LC-independent manner. Bacteriome isoforms specifically cleave the tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), a peptidoglycan monomer released by endosymbionts. pgrp-lb silencing by RNAi results in TCT escape from the bacteriome to other insect tissues, where it chronically activates the host systemic immunity through PGRP-LC. While such immune deregulations did not impact endosymbiont load, they did negatively affect host physiology, as attested by a diminished sexual maturation of adult weevils. Whereas pgrp-lb was first described in pathogenic interactions, this work shows that, in an endosymbiosis context, specific bacteriome isoforms have evolved, allowing endosymbiont TCT scavenging and preventing chronic endosymbiont-induced immune responses, thus promoting host homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid30819117, year = {2019}, author = {Fortin, M and Meunier, J and Laverré, T and Souty-Grosset, C and Richard, FJ}, title = {Joint effects of group sex-ratio and Wolbachia infection on female reproductive success in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {65}, pmid = {30819117}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Fertility ; Isopoda/microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; Phenotype ; Reproduction ; *Sex Ratio ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In species that reproduce with sexual reproduction, males and females often have opposite strategies to maximize their own fitness. For instance, males are typically expected to maximize their number of mating events, whereas an excessive number of mating events can be costly for females. Although the risk of sexual harassment by males and resulting costs for females are expected to increase with the proportion of males, it remains unknown whether and how parasitic distorters of a host population's sex-ratio can shape this effect on the fitness of females. Here, we addressed this question using Armadillidium vulgare and its parasite Wolbachia that alters the sex-ratio of a population. We set up Wolbachia-free and Wolbachia-infected females in experimental groups exhibiting 100, 80, 50% or 20% females for 1 year, during which we measured changes in survival, fertility and fecundity.

RESULTS: Wolbachia infection shaped the effects of both population sex-ratio and reproductive season on female fecundity. Compared to Wolbachia-free females, Wolbachia-infected females were less likely to be gravid in populations exhibiting an excess of females and did not exhibit the otherwise negative effect of seasons on this likelihood. Group sex-ratio and Wolbachia infection have independent effects on other measured traits. Male-biased populations had females both exhibiting the lowest survival rate after 6 months and producing the smallest number of offspring, independent of Wolbachia infection. Conversely, Wolbachia-infected females had the lowest likelihood of producing at least one offspring, independent of group sex-ratio. Wolbachia infection had no effect on female survival rate.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that male-biased sex-ratio and the presence of Wolbachia are costly for females due to sexual harassment by males and bacterial infection, respectively. Interestingly, Wolbachia infection triggers another negative effect. This effect does not come from an excess of males and its associated sexual harassment of females but instead from a lack of males and the associated risk for females of remaining unmated. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of social pressures and infection on female fitness and provide insights into our general understanding of the joint and opposite effects of these two parameters in the evolution of reproductive strategies.}, } @article {pmid30816051, year = {2019}, author = {Abdelhameed, RE and Metwally, RA}, title = {Alleviation of cadmium stress by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {663-671}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2018.1556584}, pmid = {30816051}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Cadmium ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Owing to the realization of the harmful effect of cadmium on the environment and plants and as the plants are sessile organisms, they need to increase the protective mechanisms to cope with Cd stress. Inoculation the plant with soil microbes at the place of their growing is an important strategy to support the plants against stresses. In this study, trigonella plants were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi under different CdCl2 concentrations (0, 2.25, and 6.25 mM). AM inoculation increased growth parameters, chlorophyll, and protein contents. Root colonization was significantly increased at low Cd concentration (2.25 mM) and decreased at high one (6.25 mM). Also, with AM fungal inoculation, the translocation factor of trigonella plants significantly decreased as compared to non-AM ones at both low and high Cd concentrations. In addition, it was clearly that malondialdehyde content of trigonella plants increased significantly at both Cd concentrations and with AM fungal inoculation its content decreased compared to those of non-AM ones. AM inoculation significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activities compared to non-AM ones. Consequently, this study showed a tolerance strategy of AM trigonella plants against Cd stress, thus mycorrhizal symbiosis becomes a promising and suitable as phytostabilizers of Cd stressed soil.}, } @article {pmid30814981, year = {2019}, author = {Cherni, AE and Perret, X}, title = {Deletion of rRNA Operons of Sinorhizobium fredii Strain NGR234 and Impact on Symbiosis With Legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {154}, pmid = {30814981}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {During their lifecycle, from free-living soil bacteria to endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteroids of legumes, rhizobia must colonize, and cope with environments where nutrient concentrations and compositions vary greatly. Bacterial colonization of legume rhizospheres and of root surfaces is subject to a fierce competition for plant exudates. By contrast root nodules offer to rhizobia sheltered nutrient-rich environments within which the cells that successfully propagated via infection threads can rapidly multiply. To explore the effects on symbiosis of a slower rhizobia growth and metabolism, we deleted one or two copies of the three functional rRNA operons of the promiscuous Sinorhizobium fredii strain NGR234 and examined the impact of these mutations on free-living and symbiotic lifestyles. Strains with two functional rRNA operons (NGRΔrRNA1 and NGRΔrRNA3) grew almost as rapidly as NGR234, and NGRΔrRNA1 was as proficient as the parent strain on all of the five legume species tested. By contrast, the NGRΔrRNA1,3 double mutant, which carried a single rRNA operon and grew significantly slower than NGR234, had a reduced symbiotic proficiency on Cajanus cajan, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Tephrosia vogelii, and Vigna unguiculata. In addition, while NGRΔrRNA1 and NGR234 equally competed for nodulation of V. unguiculata, strain NGRΔrRNA1,3 was clearly outcompeted by wild-type. Surprisingly, on Leucaena leucocephala, NGRΔrRNA1,3 was the most proficient strain and competed equally NGR234 for nodule occupation. Together, these results indicate that for strains with otherwise identical repertoires of symbiotic genes, a faster growth on roots and/or inside plant tissues may contribute to secure access to nodules of some hosts. By contrast, other legumes such as L. leucocephala appear as less selective and capable of providing symbiotic environments susceptible to accommodate strains with a broader spectrum of competences.}, } @article {pmid30814906, year = {2019}, author = {Montoya, QV and Martiarena, MJS and Danilo Augusto Polezel, and Akazu, S and Rodrigues, A}, title = {More pieces to a huge puzzle: Two new Escovopsis species from fungus gardens of attine ants.}, journal = {MycoKeys}, volume = {}, number = {46}, pages = {97-118}, pmid = {30814906}, issn = {1314-4049}, abstract = {Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales, Hypocreaceae) is the only known parasite of the mutualistic fungi cultivated by fungus-growing ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini: Attina, the "attines"). Despite its ecological role, the taxonomy and systematics of Escovopsis have been poorly addressed. Here, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses with three molecular markers (internal transcribed spacer, large subunit ribosomal RNA and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha), we describe Escovopsisclavatus and E.multiformis as new species isolated from fungus gardens of Apterostigma ant species. Our analysis shows that E.clavatus and E.multiformis belong to the most derived Escovopsis clade, whose main character is the presence of conidiophores with vesicles. Nevertheless, the most outstanding feature of both new species is the presence of a swollen region in the central hypha of the conidiophore named swollen cell, which is absent in all previously described Escovopsis species. The less derived Escovopsis clades lack vesicles and their phylogenetic position within the Hypocreaceae still remains unclear. Considering the high genetic diversity in Escovopsis, the description of these new species adds barely two pieces to a huge taxonomic puzzle; however, this discovery is an important piece for building the systematics of this group of fungi.}, } @article {pmid30814067, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, MF and Takahashi, S and Forêt, S and Davy, SK and Miller, DJ}, title = {Transcriptomic analyses highlight the likely metabolic consequences of colonization of a cnidarian host by native or non-native Symbiodinium species.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30814067}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Reef-building corals and some other cnidarians form symbiotic relationships with members of the dinoflagellate family Symbiodinaceae. As Symbiodinaceae is a highly diverse taxon, the physiological interactions between its members and their hosts are assumed to differ between associations. The presence of different symbiont types is known to affect expression levels of specific host genes, but knowledge of the effects on the transcriptome more broadly remains limited. In the present study, transcriptome profiling was conducted on the tropical corallimorpharian, Ricordea yuma, following the establishment of symbiosis with either the 'homologous' symbiont Symbiodinium goreaui (also known as Cladocopium goreaui; ITS2 type C1) or 'heterologous' symbionts (predominantly S. trenchii, which is also known as Durusdinium trenchii; ITS2 type D1a) isolated from a different corallimorpharian host (Rhodactis indosinensis). Transcriptomic analyses showed that genes encoding host glycogen biosynthesis pathway components are more highly induced during colonization by the homologous symbiont than by the heterologous symbiont. Similar patterns were also observed for several other genes thought to facilitate symbiotic nutrient exchange, including those involved in lipid translocation/storage and metabolite transport. The gene expression results presented here imply that colonization by homologous or heterologous Symbiodinium types may have very different metabolic consequences for the Ricordea host, supporting the notion that even though some cnidarians may be able to form novel symbioses after bleaching, the metabolic performance of these may be compromised.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.}, } @article {pmid30813983, year = {2019}, author = {Corabian, P and Guo, B and Moga, C and Scott, NA}, title = {Adaptive Evolution in Rapid Assessments: A 25-Year Perspective.}, journal = {International journal of technology assessment in health care}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {77-81}, doi = {10.1017/S0266462319000035}, pmid = {30813983}, issn = {1471-6348}, mesh = {Alberta ; Humans ; *Public Health Administration ; Retrospective Studies ; Technology Assessment, Biomedical/*organization & administration/trends ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This article retrospectively examines the evolution of rapid assessments (RAs) produced by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program at the Institute of Health Economics over its 25-year relationship with a single requester, the Alberta Health Ministry (AHM).

METHODS: The number, types, and methodological attributes of RAs produced over the past 25 years were reviewed. The reasons for developmental changes in RA processes and products over time were charted to document the push-pull tension between AHM needs and the HTA Program's drive to meet those needs while responding to changing methodological benchmarks.

RESULTS: The review demonstrated the dynamic relationship required for HTA researchers to meet requester needs while adhering to good HTA practice. The longstanding symbiotic relationship between the HTA Program and the AHM initially led to increased diversity in RA types, followed by controlled extinction of the less fit (useful) "transition species." Adaptations in RA methodology were mainly driven by changes in best practice standards, requester needs, the healthcare environment, and staff expertise and technology.

CONCLUSIONS: RAs are a useful component of HTA programs. To remain relevant and useful, RAs need to evolve according to need within the constraints of HTA best practice.}, } @article {pmid30813886, year = {2019}, author = {Bykov, RА and Yudina, MA and Gruntenko, NE and Zakharov, IK and Voloshina, MA and Melashchenko, ES and Danilova, MV and Mazunin, IO and Ilinsky, YY}, title = {Prevalence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbiont and mtDNA in Palearctic populations of Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {19}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {48}, pmid = {30813886}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {F32 MH010832/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genomics ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Prevalence ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/cytology/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Maternally inherited Wolbachia symbionts infect D. melanogaster populations worldwide. Infection rates vary greatly. Genetic diversity of Wolbachia in D. melanogaster can be subdivided into several closely related genotypes coinherited with certain mtDNA lineages. mtDNA haplotypes have the following global distribution pattern: mtDNA clade I is mostly found in North America, II and IV in Africa, III in Europe and Africa, V in Eurasia, VI is global but very rare, and VIII is found in Asia. The wMel Wolbachia genotype is predominant in D. melanogaster populations. However, according to the hypothesis of global Wolbachia replacement, the wMelCS genotype was predominant before the XX century when it was replaced by the wMel genotype. Here we analyse over 1500 fly isolates from the Palearctic region to evaluate the prevalence, genetic diversity and distribution pattrern of the Wolbachia symbiont, occurrence of mtDNA variants, and finally to discuss the Wolbachia genotype global replacement hypothesis.

RESULTS: All studied Palearctic populations of D. melanogaster were infected with Wolbachia at a rate of 33-100%. We did not observe any significant correlation between infection rate and longitude or latitude. Five previously reported Wolbachia genotypes were found in Palearctic populations with a predominance of the wMel variant. The mtDNA haplotypes of the I_II_III clade and V clade were prevalent in Palearctic populations. To test the recent Wolbachia genotype replacement hypothesis, we examined three genomic regions of CS-like genotypes. Low genetic diversity was observed, only two haplotypes of the CS genotypes with a 'CCG' variant predominance were found.

CONCLUSION: The results of our survey of Wolbachia infection prevalence and genotype diversity in Palearctic D. melanogaster populations confirm previous studies. Wolbachia is ubiquitous in the Palearctic region. The wMel genotype is dominant with local occurrence of rare genotypes. Together with variants of the V mtDNA clade, the variants of the 'III+' clade are dominant in both infected and uninfected flies of Palearctic populations. Based on our data on Wolbachia and mtDNA in different years in some Palearctic localities, we can conclude that flies that survive the winter make the predominant symbiont contribution to the subsequent generation. A comprehensive overview of mtDNA and Wolbachia infection of D. melanogaster populations worldwide does not support the recent global Wolbachia genotype replacement hypothesis. However, we cannot exclude wMelCS genotype rate fluctuations in the past.}, } @article {pmid30811772, year = {2019}, author = {Pringle, EG}, title = {Convergence, constraint and the potential for mutualism between ants and gut microbes.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {699-702}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14998}, pmid = {30811772}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ants are a hugely diverse family of eusocial insects that dominate terrestrial ecosystems all over the planet. Did mutualistic gut microbes help ants to achieve their diversity and ecological dominance? Initial studies suggested the potential for widespread convergence in ant gut bacterial communities based on dietary niche, but it now seems possible that dedicated bacterial symbionts are restricted to a minority of ant lineages (Russell et al.,). Nevertheless, as most ants are omnivores, the evidence so far has suggested a broad, positive correlation between the evolution of dietary specialization and ant investment in nutrient-provisioning gut bacteria. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Sapountzis et al. () and Rubin et al. () examine the evolution of gut bacterial communities in two iconic ant taxa-the attine fungus farmers and the Pseudomyrmex plant bodyguards, respectively-in a comparative context. By comparing gut bacteria between ant species of differing dietary specialization within each taxon, these studies demonstrate a hint of convergence in the midst of widespread apparent constraints. These results raise numerous interesting questions about the nature of these apparent constraints and whether they are causes or consequences of varying investment by ants to mutualism with their gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid30811604, year = {2019}, author = {Carotenuto, G and Volpe, V and Russo, G and Politi, M and Sciascia, I and de Almeida-Engler, J and Genre, A}, title = {Local endoreduplication as a feature of intracellular fungal accommodation in arbuscular mycorrhizas.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {430-446}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15763}, pmid = {30811604}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus Size ; *Endoreduplication ; Genetic Markers ; Intracellular Space/*microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Ploidies ; S Phase ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {The intracellular accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is a paradigmatic feature of this plant symbiosis that depends on the activation of a dedicated signaling pathway and the extensive reprogramming of host cells, including striking changes in nuclear size and transcriptional activity. By combining targeted sampling of early root colonization sites, detailed confocal imaging, flow cytometry and gene expression analyses, we demonstrate that local, recursive events of endoreduplication are triggered in the Medicago truncatula root cortex during AM colonization. AM colonization induces an increase in ploidy levels and the activation of endocycle specific markers. This response anticipates the progression of fungal colonization and is limited to arbusculated and neighboring cells in the cortical tissue. Furthermore, endoreduplication is not induced in M. truncatula mutants for symbiotic signaling pathway genes. On this basis, we propose endoreduplication as part of the host cell prepenetration responses that anticipate AM fungal accommodation in the root cortex.}, } @article {pmid30811315, year = {2019}, author = {Ganin, H and Kemper, N and Meir, S and Rogachev, I and Ely, S and Massalha, H and Mandaby, A and Shanzer, A and Keren-Paz, A and Meijler, MM and Malitsky, S and Aharoni, A and Kolodkin-Gal, I}, title = {Indole Derivatives Maintain the Status Quo Between Beneficial Biofilms and Their Plant Hosts.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {8}, pages = {1013-1025}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-18-0327-R}, pmid = {30811315}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacillus subtilis/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biofilms ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/physiology ; *Indoles/chemistry/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Biofilms formed by bacteria on plant roots play an important role in maintaining an optimal rhizosphere environment that supports plant growth and fitness. Bacillus subtilis is a potent plant growth promoter, forming biofilms that play a key role in protecting the host from fungal and bacterial infections. In this work, we demonstrate that the development of B. subtilis biofilms is antagonized by specific indole derivatives that accumulate during symbiotic interactions with plant hosts. Indole derivatives are more potent signals when the plant polysaccharide xylan serves as a carbon source, a mechanism to sustain beneficial biofilms at a biomass that can be supported by the plant. Moreover, B. subtilis biofilms formed by mutants resistant to indole derivatives become deleterious to the plants due to their capacity to consume and recycle plant polysaccharides. These results demonstrate how a dynamic metabolite-based dialogue can promote homeostasis between plant hosts and their beneficial biofilm communities.}, } @article {pmid30810937, year = {2019}, author = {Aroua, I and Abid, G and Souissi, F and Mannai, K and Nebli, H and Hattab, S and Borgi, Z and Jebara, M}, title = {Identification of two pesticide-tolerant bacteria isolated from Medicago sativa nodule useful for organic soil phytostabilization.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {111-120}, doi = {10.1007/s10123-018-0033-y}, pmid = {30810937}, issn = {1139-6709}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Carbon/analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Pesticides/metabolism ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions such as rhizobacteria legumes are interesting in organic farming that has undergone significant expansion in the world. The organic agriculture is as an environment-friendly technique and a sustainable alternative to intensive agricultural system. Three types of soil were chosen, organic (ORG), conventional (CON), and fallow land (NA) to isolate soil bacteria-nodulating Medicago sativa, in order to develop microbial inoculants for use in agricultural sustainable system. Soil analysis revealed significant higher amounts of total nitrogen, organic carbon, total phosphorus, and matter detected in ORG. As for heavy metals, ORG showed high Cu content due to the authorized chemical use in organic farming. A sample of 130 bacteria was isolated from Medicago sativa nodule, genetically characterized by PCR/RFLP of ribosomal 16S RNAs, and a great dominance of Sinorhizobium meliloti (88.4%, 73.8%, and 55.5%) is obtained among NA-, CON-, and ORG-managed soils, respectively. The ORG showed the high bacterial diversity with 13.3% of non-identified strains. The resistance against five pesticides (Prosper, Cuivox, Fungastop, Nimbecidine, and Maneb) revealed a maximum of inhibitory concentration about 10 mg l[-1] of Prosper, 12 mg l[-1] of Cuivox, 6 ml l[-1] of Fungastop, 7.5 ml l[-1]of Nimbecidine, and 25 ml l[-1] of Maneb. The analysis of the symbiotic properties and plant growth-promoting potential revealed two efficient strains significantly increased alfalfa dry weight through producing siderophores, phosphorus, and indole acetic acid (13.6 mg ml[-1] and 19.9 mg ml[-1] respectively). Hence, we identify two tolerant and efficient strains, Achromobacter spanium and Serratia plymuthica, isolated from Medicago sativa nodule with valuable potential able to phytostabilize pesticide-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid30810928, year = {2019}, author = {Tsegaye, B and Balomajumder, C and Roy, P}, title = {Isolation and Characterization of Novel Lignolytic, Cellulolytic, and Hemicellulolytic Bacteria from Wood-Feeding Termite Cryptotermes brevis.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {29-39}, doi = {10.1007/s10123-018-0024-z}, pmid = {30810928}, issn = {1139-6709}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Bacillus/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Ochrobactrum/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Wood ; Xylans/metabolism ; Xylose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In a natural ecosystem, various organisms digest and hydrolyze lignocellulose biomass efficiently. Termites are one of them. They digest lignocellulose biomass with the help of symbiotic microorganisms in their gut. Therefore, termites gut may harbor potential sources of microorganisms capable to degrade lignocellulose biomass. In this study, termite gut microbiomes of Cryptotermes brevis species were isolated and identified for their capability to degrade lignin and polysaccharides. Alkali lignin, carboxymethylcellulose, and xylan were used as the only carbon sources in the medium to isolate lignin-, cellulose-, and hemicellulose-degrading bacteria. By this method, two bacteria strains, Bacillus sp. BMP01 and Ochrobactrum oryzae BMP03 strain were isolated and identified. Bacillus sp. BMP01 strain has capabilities to hydrolyze carboxymethylcellulose and xylan to glucose and xylose, respectively. This strain showed high xylanase activity (about 0.21 U/ml) and carboxymethyl cellulase activity (about 0.25 U/ml). The ability to hydrolyze both carboxymethylcellulose and xylan makes it superior to other known cellulolytic bacteria. Ochrobactrum oryzae BMP03 strain showed laccase activity, which indicates its ability to depolymerize lignin. Lignocellulose-degrading bacteria play a vital role in the biological conversion of lignocellulose biomass to biofuel. Overall, this study shows that termite's gut microbiomes are potential sources of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria that can be cultured and used in the biological conversion of lignocellulose biomass to biofuel.}, } @article {pmid30810877, year = {2019}, author = {Amarelle, V and Koziol, U and Fabiano, E}, title = {Highly conserved nucleotide motifs present in the 5'UTR of the heme-receptor gene shmR are required for HmuP-dependent expression of shmR in Ensifer meliloti.}, journal = {Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {273-291}, doi = {10.1007/s10534-019-00184-6}, pmid = {30810877}, issn = {1572-8773}, mesh = {5' Untranslated Regions/*genetics ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Conserved Sequence/*genetics ; Nucleotide Motifs/*genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Heme may represent a major iron-source for bacteria. In the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Ensifer meliloti 1021, iron acquisition from heme depends on the outer-membrane heme-receptor ShmR. Expression of shmR gene is repressed by iron in a RirA dependent manner while under iron-limitation its expression requires the small protein HmuP. In this work, we identified highly conserved nucleotide motifs present upstream the shmR gene. These motifs are widely distributed among Alpha and Beta Proteobacteria, and correlate with the presence of HmuP coding sequences in bacterial genomes. According to data presented in this work, we named these new motifs as HmuP-responsive elements (HPREs). In the analyzed genomes, the HPREs were always present upstream of genes encoding putative heme-receptors. Moreover, in those Alpha and Beta Proteobacteria where transcriptional start sites for shmR homologs are known, HPREs were located in the 5'UTR region. In this work we show that in E. meliloti 1021, HPREs are involved in HmuP-dependent shmR expression. Moreover, we show that changes in sequence composition of the HPREs correlate with changes in a predicted RNA secondary structure element and affect shmR gene expression.}, } @article {pmid30809766, year = {2019}, author = {Kutschera, U and Hoppe, T}, title = {Plasmodial slime molds and the evolution of microbial husbandry.}, journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften}, volume = {138}, number = {1}, pages = {127-132}, pmid = {30809766}, issn = {1611-7530}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Models, Biological ; Myxomycetes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Detailed analyses into the life cycle of the soil-dwelling microbe Dictyostelium discoideum led to the conclusion that this "social amoeba" practices some form of "non-monoculture farming" via the transfer of bacteria to novel environments. Herein, we show that in myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) a similar "farming symbiosis" has evolved. Based on laboratory studies of two representative species in the genera Fuligo and Didymium, the sexual life cycle of these enigmatic microbes that feed on bacteria was reconstructed, with reference to plasmo- and karyogamy. We document that the spores carry and transfer bacteria and hence may inoculate new habitats. The significance of this finding with respect to Ernst Haeckel's work on myxomycetes and his concept of ecology are addressed.}, } @article {pmid30809447, year = {2019}, author = {Siozios, S and Pilgrim, J and Darby, AC and Baylis, M and Hurst, GDD}, title = {The draft genome of strain cCpun from biting midges confirms insect Cardinium are not a monophyletic group and reveals a novel gene family expansion in a symbiont.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6448}, pmid = {30809447}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: It is estimated that 13% of arthropod species carry the heritable symbiont Cardinium hertigii. 16S rRNA and gyrB sequence divides this species into at least four groups (A-D), with the A group infecting a range of arthropods, the B group infecting nematode worms, the C group infecting Culicoides biting midges, and the D group associated with the marine copepod Nitocra spinipes. To date, genome sequence has only been available for strains from groups A and B, impeding general understanding of the evolutionary history of the radiation. We present a draft genome sequence for a C group Cardinium, motivated both by the paucity of genomic information outside of the A and B group, and the importance of Culicoides biting midge hosts as arbovirus vectors.

METHODS: We reconstructed the genome of cCpun, a Cardinium strain from group C that naturally infects Culicoides punctatus, through Illumina sequencing of infected host specimens.

RESULTS: The draft genome presented has high completeness, with BUSCO scores comparable to closed group A Cardinium genomes. Phylogenomic analysis based on concatenated single copy core proteins do not support Cardinium from arthropod hosts as a monophyletic group, with nematode Cardinium strains nested within the two groups infecting arthropod hosts. Analysis of the genome of cCpun revealed expansion of a variety of gene families classically considered important in symbiosis (e.g., ankyrin domain containing genes), and one set-characterized by DUF1703 domains-not previously associated with symbiotic lifestyle. This protein group encodes putative secreted nucleases, and the cCpun genome carried at least 25 widely divergent paralogs, 24 of which shared a common ancestor in the C group. The genome revealed no evidence in support of B vitamin provisioning to its haematophagous host, and indeed suggests Cardinium may be a net importer of biotin.

DISCUSSION: These data indicate strains of Cardinium within nematodes cluster within Cardinium strains found in insects. The draft genome of cCpun further produces new hypotheses as to the interaction of the symbiont with the midge host, in particular the biological role of DUF1703 nuclease proteins that are predicted as being secreted by cCpun. In contrast, the coding content of this genome provides no support for a role for the symbiont in provisioning the host with B vitamins.}, } @article {pmid30809207, year = {2019}, author = {Chakravarti, LJ and Negri, AP and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Thermal and Herbicide Tolerances of Chromerid Algae and Their Ability to Form a Symbiosis With Corals.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {173}, pmid = {30809207}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Reef-building corals form an obligate symbiosis with photosynthetic microalgae in the family Symbiodiniaceae that meet most of their energy requirements. This symbiosis is under threat from the unprecedented rate of ocean warming as well as the simultaneous pressure of local stressors such as poor water quality. Only 1°C above mean summer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) can trigger the loss of Symbiodiniaceae from the host, and very low concentrations of the most common herbicide, diuron, can disrupt the photosynthetic activity of microalgae. In an era of rapid environmental change, investigation into the assisted evolution of the coral holobiont is underway in an effort to enhance the resilience of corals. Apicomplexan-like microalgae were discovered in 2008 and the Phylum Chromerida (chromerids) was created. Chromerids have been isolated from corals and contain a functional photosynthetic plastid. Their discovery therefore opens a new avenue of research into the use of alternative/additional photosymbionts of corals. However, only two studies to-date have investigated the symbiotic nature of Chromera velia with corals and thus little is known about the coral-chromerid relationship. Furthermore, the response of chromerids to environmental stressors has not been examined. Here we tested the performance of four chromerid strains and the common dinoflagellate symbiont Cladocopium goreaui (formerly Symbiodinium goreaui, ITS2 type C1) in response to elevated temperature, diuron and their combined exposure. Three of the four chromerid strains exhibited high thermal tolerances and two strains showed exceptional herbicide tolerances, greater than observed for any photosynthetic microalgae, including C. goreaui. We also investigated the onset of symbiosis between the chromerids and larvae of two common GBR coral species under ambient and stress conditions. Levels of colonization of coral larvae with the chromerid strains were low compared to colonization with C. goreaui. We did not observe any overall negative or positive larval fitness effects of the inoculation with chromerid algae vs. C. goreaui. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that chromerid algae may have more important roles in later coral life stages and recommend this be the focus of future studies.}, } @article {pmid30808908, year = {2019}, author = {Ren, CG and Kong, CC and Yan, K and Xie, ZH}, title = {Transcriptome analysis reveals the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on Sesbania cannabina expose to high salinity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2780}, pmid = {30808908}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Salinity ; Salt Tolerance ; Sesbania/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza can improve the salt-tolerance of host plant. A systematic study of mycorrhizal plant responses to salt stress may provide insights into the acquired salt tolerance. Here, the transcriptional profiles of mycorrhizal Sesbania cannabina shoot and root under saline stress were obtained by RNA-Seq. Using weighted gene coexpression network analysis and pairwise comparisons, we identified coexpressed modules, networks and hub genes in mycorrhizal S. cannabina in response to salt stress. In total, 10,371 DEGs were parsed into five coexpression gene modules. One module was positively correlated with both salt treatment and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation, and associated with photosynthesis and ROS scavenging in both enzymatic and nonenzymatic pathways. The hub genes in the module were mostly transcription factors including WRKY, MYB, ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR, and TCP members involved in the circadian clock and might represent central regulatory components of acquired salinity tolerance in AM S. cannabina. The expression patterns of 12 genes involved in photosynthesis, oxidation-reduction processes, and several transcription factors revealed by qRT-PCR confirmed the RNA-Seq data. This large-scale assessment of Sesbania genomic resources will help in exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-AM fungi interaction in salt stress responses.}, } @article {pmid30806744, year = {2019}, author = {Cussotto, S and Clarke, G and Dinan, TG and Cryan, JF}, title = {Psychotropics and the Microbiome: a Chamber of Secrets….}, journal = {Psychopharmacology}, volume = {236}, number = {5}, pages = {1411-1432}, pmid = {30806744}, issn = {1432-2072}, support = {12/RC/2273//Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; }, mesh = {Antidepressive Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Antipsychotic Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Mental Disorders/drug therapy/psychology ; Microbiota/drug effects/physiology ; Psychotropic Drugs/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The human gut contains trillions of symbiotic bacteria that play a key role in programming different aspects of host physiology in health and disease. Psychotropic medications act on the central nervous system (CNS) and are used in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. There is increasing emphasis on the bidirectional interaction between drugs and the gut microbiome. An expanding body of evidence supports the notion that microbes can metabolise drugs and vice versa drugs can modify the gut microbiota composition. In this review, we will first give a comprehensive introduction about this bidirectional interaction, then we will take into consideration different classes of psychotropics including antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, anticonvulsants/mood stabilisers, opioid analgesics, drugs of abuse, alcohol, nicotine and xanthines. The varying effects of these widely used medications on microorganisms are becoming apparent from in vivo and in vitro studies. This has important implications for the future of psychopharmacology pipelines that will routinely need to consider the host microbiome during drug discovery and development.}, } @article {pmid30806338, year = {2019}, author = {Durand, AA and Constant, P and Déziel, E and Guertin, C}, title = {The symbiotic complex of Dendroctonus simplex: implications in the beetle attack and its life cycle.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {109}, number = {6}, pages = {723-732}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485319000051}, pmid = {30806338}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Larix/microbiology/parasitology ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Microbiota ; Quebec ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex Le Conte) is recognized as a serious destructive forest pest in the upper part of North America. Under epidemic conditions, this beetle can attack healthy trees, causing severe damages to larch stands. Dendroctonus species are considered as holobionts, as they engage in multipartite interactions with microorganisms, such as bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts, which are implicated in physiological processes of the insect, such as nutrition. They also play a key role in the beetle's attack, as they are responsible for the detoxification of the subcortical environment and weaken the tree's defense mechanisms. The eastern larch beetle is associated with bacteria and fungi, but their implication in the success of the beetle remains unknown. Here, we investigated the bacterial and fungal microbiota of this beetle pest throughout its ontogeny (pioneer adults, larvae and pupae) by high-throughput sequencing. A successional microbial assemblage was identified throughout the beetle developmental stages, reflecting the beetle's requirements. These results indicate that a symbiotic association between the eastern larch beetle and some of these microorganisms takes place and that this D. simplex symbiotic complex is helping the insect to colonize its host tree and survive the conditions encountered.}, } @article {pmid30805248, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, X and Ye, L and Kang, Z and Zou, J and Zhang, X and Li, X}, title = {Mycorrhization of Quercus acutissima with Chinese black truffle significantly altered the host physiology and root-associated microbiomes.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {e6421}, pmid = {30805248}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Our aim was to explore how the ectomycorrhizae of an indigenous tree, Quercus acutissima, with a commercial truffle, Chinese black truffle (Tuber indicum), affects the host plant physiology and shapes the associated microbial communities in the surrounding environment during the early stage of symbiosis.

METHODS: To achieve this, changes in root morphology and microscopic characteristics, plant physiology indices, and the rhizosphere soil properties were investigated when six-month-old ectomycorrhizae were synthesized. Meanwhile, next-generation sequencing technology was used to analyze the bacterial and fungal communities in the root endosphere and rhizosphere soil inoculated with T. indicum or not.

RESULTS: The results showed that colonization by T. indicum significantly improved the activity of superoxide dismutase in roots but significantly decreased the root activity. The biomass, leaf chlorophyll content and root peroxidase activity did not obviously differ. Ectomycorrhization of Q. acutissima with T. indicum affected the characteristics of the rhizosphere soil, improving the content of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and available nitrogen. The bacterial and fungal community composition in the root endosphere and rhizosphere soil was altered by T. indicum colonization, as was the community richness and diversity. The dominant bacteria in all the samples were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and the dominant fungi were Eukaryota_norank, Ascomycota, and Mucoromycota. Some bacterial communities, such as Streptomyces, SM1A02, and Rhizomicrobium were more abundant in the ectomycorrhizae or ectomycorrhizosphere soil. Tuber was the second-most abundant fungal genus, and Fusarium was present at lower amounts in the inoculated samples.

DISCUSSION: Overall, the symbiotic relationship between Q. acutissima and T. indicum had an obvious effect on host plant physiology, soil properties, and microbial community composition in the root endosphere and rhizosphere soil, which could improve our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between Q. acutissima and T. indicum, and may contribute to the cultivation of truffle.}, } @article {pmid30804181, year = {2019}, author = {Perakis, SS and Pett-Ridge, JC}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing red alder trees tap rock-derived nutrients.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {11}, pages = {5009-5014}, pmid = {30804181}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Alnus/*metabolism ; Calcium/analysis ; Forests ; Geologic Sediments/*chemistry ; Isotopes ; Minerals/*metabolism ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil/chemistry ; Strontium/analysis ; Trees/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing trees supply significant N inputs to forest ecosystems, leading to increased soil fertility, forest growth, and carbon storage. Rapid growth and stoichiometric constraints of N fixers also create high demands for rock-derived nutrients such as phosphorus (P), while excess fixed N can generate acidity and accelerate leaching of rock-derived nutrients such as calcium (Ca). This ability of N-fixing trees to accelerate cycles of Ca, P, and other rock-derived nutrients has fostered speculation of a direct link between N fixation and mineral weathering in terrestrial ecosystems. However, field evidence that N-fixing trees have enhanced access to rock-derived nutrients is lacking. Here we use strontium (Sr) isotopes as a tracer of nutrient sources in a mixed-species temperate rainforest to show that N-fixing trees access more rock-derived nutrients than nonfixing trees. The N-fixing tree red alder (Alnus rubra), on average, took up 8 to 18% more rock-derived Sr than five co-occurring nonfixing tree species, including two with high requirements for rock-derived nutrients. The increased access to rock-derived nutrients occurred despite spatial variation in community-wide Sr sources across the forest, and only N fixers had foliar Sr isotopes that differed significantly from soil exchangeable pools. We calculate that increased uptake of rock-derived nutrients by N-fixing alder requires a 64% increase in weathering supply of nutrients over nonfixing trees. These findings provide direct evidence that an N-fixing tree species can also accelerate nutrient inputs from rock weathering, thus increasing supplies of multiple nutrients that limit carbon uptake and storage in forest ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30803810, year = {2019}, author = {Puozaa, DK and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Phylogeny and distribution of Bradyrhizobium symbionts nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and their association with the physicochemical properties of acidic African soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {403-414}, pmid = {30803810}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Ghana ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In the N2-fixing symbiosis, the choice of a symbiotic partner is largely influenced by the host plant, the rhizobial symbiont, as well as soil factors. Understanding the soil environment conducive for the survival and multiplication of root-nodule bacteria is critical for microbial ecology. In this study, we collected cowpea-nodules from acidic soils in Ghana and South Africa, and nodule DNA isolates were characterized using 16S-23S rRNA-RFLP, phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping and symbiotic genes, and bradyrhizobial community structure through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The CCA ordination plot results showed that arrow of soil pH was overlapping on CCA2 axis and was the most important to the ordination. The test nodule DNA isolates from Ghana were positively influenced by soil Zn, Na and K while nodule DNA isolates from South Africa were influenced by P. The amplified 16S-23S rRNA region yielded single polymorphic bands of varying lengths (573-1298bp) that were grouped into 28 ITS types. The constructed ITS-dendrogram placed all the nodule DNA isolates in five major clusters at low cut-off of approx. 0.1 Jaccard's similarity coefficient. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB, and atpD) formed distinct Bradyrhizobium groups in the phylogenetic trees. It revealed the presence of highly diverse bradyrhizobia (i.e. Bradyrhizobium vignae, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium iriomotense, Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi, and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense) together with novel/unidentified bradyrhizobia in the acidic soils from Ghana and South Africa. Discrepancies noted in the phylogenies of some nodule DNA isolates could be attributed to horizontal gene transfer or recombination.}, } @article {pmid30803109, year = {2019}, author = {Obando, M and Correa-Galeote, D and Castellano-Hinojosa, A and Gualpa, J and Hidalgo, A and Alché, JD and Bedmar, E and Cassán, F}, title = {Analysis of the denitrification pathway and greenhouse gases emissions in Bradyrhizobium sp. strains used as biofertilizers in South America.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {127}, number = {3}, pages = {739-749}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14233}, pmid = {30803109}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; *Denitrification ; Environmental Pollution/analysis/prevention & control ; Greenhouse Gases/*analysis/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Nitrous Oxide/analysis/metabolism ; South America ; Soybeans/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Greenhouse gases are considered as potential atmospheric pollutants, with agriculture being one of the main emission sources. The practice of inoculating soybean seeds with Bradyrhizobium sp. might contribute to nitrous oxide (N2 O) emissions. We analysed this capacity in five of the most used strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. in South America.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the denitrification pathway and N2 O production by Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 and CPAC15, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens CPAC7 and B. elkanii SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019, both in free-living conditions and in symbiosis with soybean. The in silico analysis indicated the absence of nosZ genes in B. japonicum and the presence of all denitrification genes in B. diazoefficiens strains, as well as the absence of nirK, norC and nosZ genes in B. elkanii. The in planta analysis confirmed N2 O production under saprophytic conditions or symbiosis with soybean root nodules. In the case of symbiosis, up to 26.1 and 18.4 times higher in plants inoculated with SEMIA5019 and E109, respectively, than in those inoculated with USDA110.

CONCLUSIONS: The strains E109, SEMIA 5019, CPAC15 and SEMIA 587 showed the highest N2 O production both as free-living cells and in symbiotic conditions in comparison with USDA110 and CPAC7, which do have the nosZ gene. Although norC and nosZ could not be identified in silico or in vitro in SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019, these strains showed the capacity to produce N2 O in our experimental conditions.

This is the first report to analyse and confirm the incomplete denitrification capacity and N2 O production in four of the five most used strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. for soybean inoculation in South America.}, } @article {pmid30801761, year = {2019}, author = {Spicer, A and Fairhurst, DJ and Newton, MI and Morris, RH}, title = {An evaluation of kefir grain size with magnetic resonance imaging to observe the fermentation of milk.}, journal = {Magnetic resonance in chemistry : MRC}, volume = {57}, number = {9}, pages = {730-737}, doi = {10.1002/mrc.4853}, pmid = {30801761}, issn = {1097-458X}, abstract = {Kefirian milk is a fermented beverage consumed worldwide. Originally produced in animal skins, it is now prepared both industrially and at home by adding symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast known as kefir grains to fresh milk. There is significant literature on the biological aspects of this process but little focus on the fermentation effects on the bulk milk as a function of the grain morphology. Changes in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) signal as measured using a whole body clinical magnetic resonance imaging scanner are found to be proportional to traditional gas measurements with correlation coefficients in excess of 0.95. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is then also used to determine the effect of grain size on the rate of fermentation of milk. It is found that larger grains result in signal intensity changes on the order of 0.03 a.u per hour, but by breaking the grains into pieces around 3mm, the reaction rate can be more than doubled to 0.07 a.u. per hour. It is thought that this shows promise as a method to improve the speed of production of kefirian milk and by arresting the process partway through fermentation, gives control over the properties of the end product.}, } @article {pmid30797940, year = {2019}, author = {Pfeiffer, JM and Breinholt, JW and Page, LM}, title = {Unioverse: A phylogenomic resource for reconstructing the evolution of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionoida).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {137}, number = {}, pages = {114-126}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.02.016}, pmid = {30797940}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Bivalvia/*classification/*genetics ; *Fresh Water ; Genetic Loci ; Likelihood Functions ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Freshwater mussels (order Unionoida) are a diverse radiation of parasitic bivalves that require temporary larval encystment on vertebrate hosts to complete metamorphosis to free-living juveniles. The freshwater mussel-fish symbiosis represents a useful relationship for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics in freshwater ecosystems but the practicality of this promising model system is undermined by the absence of a stable freshwater mussel phylogeny. Inadequate character sampling is the primary analytical impediment obfuscating a coherent phylogeny of freshwater mussels, specifically the lack of nuclear molecular markers appropriate for reconstructing supraspecific relationships and testing macroevolutionary hypotheses. The objective of this study is to develop a phylogenomic resource, specifically an anchored hybrid enrichment probe set, capable of capturing hundreds of molecular markers from taxa distributed across the entirety of freshwater mussel biodiversity. Our freshwater mussel specific anchored hybrid enrichment probe set, called Unioverse, successfully captures hundreds of nuclear protein-coding loci from all major lineages of the Unionoida and will facilitate more data-rich and taxonomically inclusive reconstructions of freshwater mussel evolution. We demonstrate the utility of this resource at three disparate evolutionary scales by estimating a backbone phylogeny of the Bivalvia with a focus on the Unionoida, reconstructing the subfamily-level relationships of the Unionidae, and recovering the systematic position of the phylogenetically unstable genus Plectomerus.}, } @article {pmid30797939, year = {2019}, author = {Steinová, J and Škaloud, P and Yahr, R and Bestová, H and Muggia, L}, title = {Reproductive and dispersal strategies shape the diversity of mycobiont-photobiont association in Cladonia lichens.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {134}, number = {}, pages = {226-237}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.02.014}, pmid = {30797939}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification ; *Biodiversity ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics ; Europe ; Geography ; Lichens/*classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction ; Seed Dispersal/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological preferences, partner compatibility, or partner availability are known to be important factors shaping obligate and intimate lichen symbioses. We considered a complex of Cladonia species, traditionally differentiated by the extent of sexual reproduction and the type of vegetative propagules, to assess if the reproductive and dispersal strategies affect mycobiont-photobiont association patterns. In total 85 lichen thalli from 72 European localities were studied, two genetic markers for both Cladonia mycobionts and Asterochloris photobionts were analyzed. Variance partitioning analysis by multiple regression on distance matrices was performed to describe and partition variance in photobiont genetic diversity. Asexually reproducing Cladonia in our study were found to be strongly specific to their photobionts, associating with only two closely related Asterochloris species. In contrast, sexually reproducing lichens associated with seven unrelated Asterochloris lineages, thus being photobiont generalists. The reproductive mode had the largest explanatory power, explaining 44% of the total photobiont variability. Reproductive and dispersal strategies are the key factors shaping photobiont diversity in this group of Cladonia lichens. A strict photobiont specialisation observed in two studied species may steer both evolutionary flexibility and responses to ecological changes of these organisms, and considerably limit their distribution ranges.}, } @article {pmid30796304, year = {2019}, author = {Chomicki, G and Renner, SS}, title = {Climate and symbioses with ants modulate leaf/stem scaling in epiphytes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2624}, pmid = {30796304}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/*physiology ; Plant Stems/*physiology ; Rubiaceae/anatomy & histology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In most seed plants, leaf size is isometrically related to stem cross-sectional area, a relationship referred to as Corner's rule. When stems or leaves acquire a new function, for instance in ant-plant species with hollow stems occupied by ants, their scaling is expected to change. Here we use a lineage of epiphytic ant-plants to test how the evolution of ant-nesting structures in species with different levels of symbiotic dependence has impacted leaf/stem scaling. We expected that leaf size would correlate mostly with climate, while stem diameter would change with domatium evolution. Using a trait dataset from 286 herbarium specimens, field and greenhouse observations, climatic data, and a range of phylogenetic-comparative analyses, we detected significant shifts in leaf/stem scaling, mirroring the evolution of specialized symbioses. Our analyses support both predictions, namely that stem diameter change is tied to symbiosis evolution (ant-nesting structures), while leaf size is independently correlated with rainfall variables. Our study highlights how independent and divergent selective pressures can alter allometry. Because shifts in scaling relationships can impact the costs and benefits of mutualisms, studying allometry in mutualistic interactions may shed unexpected light on the stability of cooperation among species.}, } @article {pmid30796064, year = {2019}, author = {Newton, ILG and Slatko, BE}, title = {Symbiosis Comes of age at the 10[th] Biennial Meeting of Wolbachia Researchers.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {30796064}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is an alpha-proteobacterial, obligate intracellular microbe and arguably the most successful infection on our planet, colonizing 40-60% of insect species. Wolbachia are also present in most, but not all, filarial nematodes where they are obligate mutualists and are the targets for anti-filarial drug discovery. Although Wolbachia are related to important human pathogens they do not infect mammals, but instead are well known for their reproductive manipulations of insect populations, inducing the following phenotypes: male-killing, feminization, parthenogenesis induction, or cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). The most common of these, CI, results in a sperm-egg incompatibility and increases the relative fecundity of infected females in a population. In the last decade, Wolbachia have also been shown to provide a benefit to insects, where the infection can inhibit RNA virus replication within the host. Wolbachia cannot be cultivated outside of host cells and no genetic tools are available in the symbiont, limiting approaches available to its study. This means that many questions fundamental to our understanding of Wolbachia basic biology remained unknown for decades. The tenth biennial international Wolbachia conference, "Wolbachia Evolution, Ecology, Genomics and Cell Biology: A Chronicle of the Most Ubiquitous Symbiont", was held on June 17-22, 2018, Salem, MA USA. In the review below we highlight the new science presented at the meeting, link it to prior efforts to answer these questions across the Wolbachia genus, and the importance to the field of symbiosis. The topics covered in this review are based on the presentations at the conference.}, } @article {pmid30794924, year = {2019}, author = {Zheng, HJ and Guo, J and Jia, Q and Huang, YS and Huang, WJ and Zhang, W and Zhang, F and Liu, WJ and Wang, Y}, title = {The effect of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {142}, number = {}, pages = {303-313}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2019.02.016}, pmid = {30794924}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Biomarkers/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus/*metabolism ; *Dietary Supplements ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {The role of gut microbiota in the management of diabetes has been shown. Several current trials are investigating the effect of probiotics and prebiotics, which are widely used to modulate intestinal microbiota, on inflammatory factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress in diabetic patients; however, their findings are controversial. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and biomarkers of oxidative stress in diabetic patients. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases from the inception to October 31, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which reported the effect of probiotics or synbiotics on circulating (serum and plasma) inflammatory marker (hs-CRP) and oxidative stress indicators (malondialdehyde [MDA], glutathione [GSH], nitric oxide [NO], and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) among patients with diabetes were included. Eligible studies were assessed for risk of bias and subjected to qualitative and quantitative synthesis using either fixed- or random-effects models accounting for clinical heterogeneity. Our meta-analysis identified 16 eligible RCTs (n = 1060). The methodological quality varied across these trials. Pooled data from these trials demonstrated that probiotic and synbiotic consumption significantly decreased hs-CRP level (standardized mean difference [SMD]=-0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]:-0.51,-0.24; P = 0.000) and MDA (SMD=-0.61; 95% CI: -0.89, -0.32; P = 0.000) in diabetic patients compared to those in subjects receiving placebos. In addition, probiotic and symbiotic supplementation was found to increase TAC (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.52; P = 0.006), NO (SMD, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.99; P = 0.001) and GSH (SMD = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.55, P = 0.000) levels. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that probiotic and synbiotic supplementation may help to improve biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic patients. Further studies are needed to develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of inflammation and oxidative stress in these patients.}, } @article {pmid30793878, year = {2019}, author = {Gao, J and Wang, J and Zhou, L and Cai, X and Zhan, D and Hou, M and Lai, L}, title = {Co2P@N,P-Codoped Carbon Nanofiber as a Free-Standing Air Electrode for Zn-Air Batteries: Synergy Effects of CoNx Satellite Shells.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {10364-10372}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.8b20003}, pmid = {30793878}, issn = {1944-8252}, abstract = {Here, a free-standing electrode composed of cobalt phosphides (Co2P) supported by cobalt nitride moieties (CoNx) and an N,P-codoped porous carbon nanofiber (CNF) in one-step electrospinning of environmentally friendly benign phosphorous precursors is reported. Physiochemical characterization revealed the symbiotic relationship between a Co2P crystal and surrounding nanometer-sized CoNx moieties embedded in an N,P-codoped porous carbon matrix. Co2P@CNF shows high oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction performance owing to the synergistic effect of Co2P nanocrystals and the neighboring CoNx moieties, which have the optimum binding strength of reactants and facilitate the mass transfer. The free-standing Co2P@CNF air-cathode-based Zn-air batteries deliver a power density of 121 mW cm[-2] at a voltage of 0.76 V. The overall overpotential of Co2P@CNF-based Zn-air batteries can be significantly reduced, with low discharge-charge voltage gap (0.81 V at 10 mA cm[-2]) and high cycling stability, which outperform the benchmark Pt/C-based Zn-air batteries. The one-step electrospinning method can serve as a universal platform to develop other high-performance transition-metal phosphide catalysts benefitting from the synergy effect of transition nitride satellite shells. The free-standing and flexible properties of Co2P@CNF make it a potential candidate for wearable electronic devices.}, } @article {pmid30793221, year = {2019}, author = {Tsyganova, AV and Seliverstova, EV and Brewin, NJ and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Comparative analysis of remodelling of the plant-microbe interface in Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula symbiotic nodules.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {256}, number = {4}, pages = {983-996}, pmid = {30793221}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Epitopes ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mucoproteins/immunology/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Peas/genetics/*microbiology ; Pectins/immunology/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/immunology/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Infection of host cells by nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, known as rhizobia, involves the progressive remodelling of the plant-microbe interface. This process was examined by using monoclonal antibodies to study the subcellular localisation of pectins and arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in wild-type and ineffective nodules of Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula. The highly methylesterified homogalacturonan (HG), detected by monoclonal antibody JIM7, showed a uniform localisation in the cell wall, regardless of the cell type in nodules of P. sativum and M. truncatula. Low methylesterified HG, recognised by JIM5, was detected mainly in the walls of infection threads in nodules of both species. The galactan side chain of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), recognised by LM5, was present in the nodule meristem in both species and in the infection thread walls in P. sativum, but not in M. truncatula. The membrane-anchored AGP recognised by JIM1 was observed on the plasma membrane in nodules of P. sativum and M. truncatula. In P. sativum, the AGP epitope recognised by JIM1 was present on mature symbiosome membranes of wild-type nodules, but JIM1 labelling was absent from symbiosome membranes in the mutant Sprint-2Fix[-] (sym31) with undifferentiated bacteroids, suggesting a possible involvement of AGP in the maturation of symbiosomes. Thus, the common and species-specific traits of cell wall remodelling during nodule differentiation were demonstrated.}, } @article {pmid30793170, year = {2019}, author = {Harun, S and Abdullah-Zawawi, MR and A-Rahman, MRA and Muhammad, NAN and Mohamed-Hussein, ZA}, title = {SuCComBase: a manually curated repository of plant sulfur-containing compounds.}, journal = {Database : the journal of biological databases and curation}, volume = {2019}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30793170}, issn = {1758-0463}, mesh = {*Data Curation ; *Databases as Topic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Plant ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Sulfur Compounds/*metabolism ; User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {Plants produce a wide range of secondary metabolites that play important roles in plant defense and immunity, their interaction with the environment and symbiotic associations. Sulfur-containing compounds (SCCs) are a group of important secondary metabolites produced in members of the Brassicales order. SCCs constitute various groups of phytochemicals, but not much is known about them. Findings from previous studies on SCCs were scattered in published literatures, hence SuCComBase was developed to store all molecular information related to the biosynthesis of SCCs. Information that includes genes, proteins and compounds that are involved in the SCC biosynthetic pathway was manually identified from databases and published scientific literatures. Sets of co-expression data was analyzed to search for other possible (previously unknown) genes that might be involved in the biosynthesis of SCC. These genes were named as potential SCC-related encoding genes. A total of 147 known and 92 putative Arabidopsis thaliana SCC-related genes from literatures were used to identify other potential SCC-related encoding genes. We identified 778 potential SCC-related encoding genes, 4026 homologs to the SCC-related encoding genes and 116 SCCs as shown on SuCComBase homepage. Data entries are searchable from the Main page, Search, Browse and Datasets tabs. Users can easily download all data stored in SuCComBase. All publications related to SCCs are also indexed in SuCComBase, which is currently the first and only database dedicated to plant SCCs. SuCComBase aims to become a manually curated and au fait knowledge-based repository for plant SCCs.}, } @article {pmid30790700, year = {2019}, author = {Aujoulat, F and Pagès, S and Masnou, A and Emboulé, L and Teyssier, C and Marchandin, H and Gaudriault, S and Givaudan, A and Jumas-Bilak, E}, title = {The population structure of Ochrobactrum isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes indicates interactions with the symbiotic system.}, journal = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {131-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.meegid.2019.02.016}, pmid = {30790700}, issn = {1567-7257}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region/epidemiology ; Dominican Republic/epidemiology ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Ochrobactrum/*genetics ; Photorhabdus ; Phylogeny ; Puerto Rico/epidemiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) form specific mutualistic associations with bioluminescent enterobacteria. In Heterorhabditidis indica, Ochrobactrum spp. was identified beside the symbiont Photorhabdus luminescens but its involvement in the symbiotic association in the EPNs remains unclear. This study describe the population structure and the diversity in Ochrobactrum natural populations isolated from EPNs in the Caribbean basin in order to question the existence of EPN-specialized clones and to gain a better insight into Ochrobactrum-EPNs relationships. EPN-associated Ochrobactrum and Photorhabdus strains were characterized by multi-locus sequence typing, Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis fingerprinting and phenotypic traits. Population study showed the absence of EPN-specialized clones in O. intermedium and O. anthropi but suggested the success of some particular lineages. A low level of genetic and genomic diversification of Ochrobactrum isolated from the natural population of Caribbean nematodes was observed comparatively to the diversity of human-associated Ochrobactrum strains. Correspondences between Ochrobactrum and P. luminescens PFGE clusters have been observed, particularly in the case of nematodes from Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. O. intermedium and O. anthropi associated to EPNs formed less biofilm than human-associated strains. These results evoke interactions between Ochrobactrum and the EPN symbiotic system rather than transient contamination. The main hypothesis to investigate is a toxic/antitoxic relationship because of the ability of Ochrobactrum to resist to antimicrobial and toxic compounds produced by Photorhabdus.}, } @article {pmid30790227, year = {2019}, author = {Afonso, J and Pinto, T and Simões-Sousa, S and Schmitt, F and Longatto-Filho, A and Pinheiro, C and Marques, H and Baltazar, F}, title = {Clinical significance of metabolism-related biomarkers in non-Hodgkin lymphoma - MCT1 as potential target in diffuse large B cell lymphoma.}, journal = {Cellular oncology (Dordrecht)}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {303-318}, pmid = {30790227}, issn = {2211-3436}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Female ; *Glycolysis ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/*metabolism/pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/*metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Pyrimidinones/pharmacology ; Symporters/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Thiophenes/pharmacology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Increased glycolytic activity with accumulation of extracellular lactate is regarded as a hallmark of cancer. In lymphomas, FDG-PET has undeniable diagnostic and prognostic value, corroborating that these tumours are avid for glucose. However, the role of glycolytic metabolism-related molecules in lymphoma is not well known. Here, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of a panel of glycolytic metabolism-related molecules in primary non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and to test in vitro the putative therapeutic impact of lactate transport inhibition.

METHODS: We assessed, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of the metabolism-related molecules MCT1, MCT2, MCT4, CD147, GLUT1, LDHA and CAIX in both tumour and stroma compartments of tissue sections obtained from 104 NHL patients. In addition, the lymphoma-derived cell lines OZ and DOHH-2 were used to evaluate the effect of AZD3965 on their viability and on apoptosis induction, as well as on extracellular lactate accumulation.

RESULTS: We found that expression of MCT1 in the NHL tumour compartment was significantly associated with a poor clinicopathological profile. We also found that MCT4 and CAIX were present in the stromal compartment and correlated with an aggressive phenotype, while MCT1 was absent in this compartment. In addition, we found that AZD3965-mediated disruption of MCT1 activity led to inhibited NHL cell viability and extracellular lactate accumulation, while increasing apoptotic cell death.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that elevated glycolytic activity is associated with NHL aggressiveness, pointing at metabolic cooperation, mediated by MCT1 and MCT4, between tumour cells and their surrounding stroma. MCT1 may serve as a target to treat NHL (diffuse large B cell lymphoma) patients with high MCT1/low MCT4 expressing tumours. Further (pre-)clinical studies are required to allow the design of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at e.g. reprogramming the tumour microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid30789995, year = {2019}, author = {Martinez, AFC and de Almeida, LG and Moraes, LAB and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Microbial Diversity and Chemical Multiplicity of Culturable, Taxonomically Similar Bacterial Symbionts of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Acromyrmex coronatus.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {1067-1081}, pmid = {30789995}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*chemistry/*classification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brazil ; Chromatography, Liquid ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Insects are a highly diverse group, exploit a wide range of habitats, and harbor bacterial symbionts of largely unknown diversity. Insect-associated bacterial symbionts are underexplored but promising sources of bioactive compounds. The community of culturable bacteria associated with the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex coronatus (Fabricius) and the diversity of their metabolites produced were investigated. Forty-six phylotypes belonging to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were identified. The chemical profiles of 65 isolates were further analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and principal components analysis (PCA) was used to group the isolates according to their chemical profiles. Historically, selection of bacterial strains for drug discovery has been based on phenotypic and/or genotypic traits. Use of such traits may well impede the discovery of new compounds; in this study, several indistinguishable phylotypes cultured in identical nutritional and environmental conditions produced completely different chemical profiles. Our data also demonstrated the wide chemical diversity to be explored in insect-associated symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30788565, year = {2019}, author = {Londoño, DMM and Meyer, E and González, D and Hernández, AG and Soares, CRFS and Lovato, PE}, title = {Landrace maize varieties differ from conventional and genetically modified hybrid maize in response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {237-249}, pmid = {30788565}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Brazil ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*microbiology ; Seasons ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Zea mays/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Land area planted with genetically modified (GM) crops has grown rapidly, and Brazil has the second largest area with those plants. There is, however, limited information on the possible effects of that technology on non-target organisms, especially root symbionts, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We evaluated AMF symbiosis development in five maize genotypes: one landrace, two conventional hybrids (DKB 240 and Formula), and two GM hybrids (DKB 240-VT Pro and Formula TL). We evaluated symbiosis response in two separate experiments: one in autumn and the other in summer. Plants were inoculated with Rhizophagus clarus (Rc) and Gigaspora margarita (Gm) and compared to plants without inoculation. We evaluated root colonization, spore number, and plant biomass and phosphorous accumulation 30 and 60 days after inoculation. There were no consistent effects of GM crops, but AMF species and maize genotype affected symbiosis development. Formula genotype (isoline and GM) had a negative response to inoculation, with a decrease of around 30% in biomass and P concentration in Rc-inoculated plants. The maize landrace had a positive response, with increases of 17% and 14% in the same variables. DKB genotype (isoline and GM) showed negative, positive, and neutral effects. The results show that plant genetic identity is a determinant factor in symbiosis performance, suggesting that plants selected in low P availability can make better use of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Given the role that AMF play in different ecosystem processes, use of landrace maize may contribute to agrobiodiversity conservation.}, } @article {pmid30787909, year = {2019}, author = {Alex, A and Antunes, A}, title = {Whole-Genome Comparisons Among the Genus Shewanella Reveal the Enrichment of Genes Encoding Ankyrin-Repeats Containing Proteins in Sponge-Associated Bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {30787909}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The bacterial members of the genus Shewanella are widely distributed and inhabit both freshwater and marine environments. Some members of Shewanella have gained considerable attention due to its ability to survive in redox-stratified environments. However, a gap of knowledge exists on the key genomic features of the sponge-associated Shewanella sp. involving the successful host-bacteria interaction, as sponge-symbiotic Shewanella are largely underrepresented in the public repositories. With the aim of identifying the genomic signatures of sponge-Shewanella association, we generated a high-quality genome data of a sponge-associated, Shewanella sp. OPT22, isolated from the intertidal marine sponge Ophlitaspongia papilla and performed comprehensive comparative analyses of 68 genome strains of the genus Shewanella including two previously reported genomes of sponge-associated bacteria, Shewanella spongiae KCTC 22492 and Shewanella sp. Alg231_23. The 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic reconstruction showed the well-supported affiliation of OPT22 and KCTC 22492 with previously reported sponge-associated bacteria, affirming the "sponge-specific" nature of these two bacterial strains isolated from different marine sponge species from the Atlantic and Pacific (East Sea) Oceans, respectively. The genome comparison of the 68 strains of Shewanella inhabiting different habitats revealed the unusual/previously unreported abundance of genes encoding for ankyrin-repeat containing proteins (ANKs) in the genomes of the two sponge-associated strains, OPT22 (ANKs; n = 45) and KCTC 22492 (ANKs; n = 52), which might be involved in sponge-Shewanella interactions. Focused analyses detected the syntenic organization of the gene cluster encoding major secretion system (type III/IV/VI) components and the presence of effector homologs in OPT22 and KCTC 22492 that seem to play a role in the virulence of the sponge bacteria. The genomic island (GI) of Shewanella sp. OPT22 was identified to localize a gene cluster encoding T4SS components and ANK (n = 1), whereas S. spongiae KCTC 22492 harbored a total of seven ANKs within multiple GIs. GIs may play a pivotal role in the dissemination of symbioses-related genes (ANKs) through the horizontal gene transfer, contributing to the diversification and adaptation of sponge-associated Shewanella. Overall, the genome analyses of Shewanella isolates from marine sponges revealed genomic repertoires that might be involved in establishing successful symbiotic relationships with the sponge hosts.}, } @article {pmid30786854, year = {2019}, author = {Garcia-Arraez, MG and Masson, F and Escobar, JCP and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Functional analysis of RIP toxins from the Drosophila endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {30786854}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {339970/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Toxins/*genetics/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/microbiology ; Female ; Hemocytes ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Longevity ; Male ; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Spiroplasma/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects frequently live in close relationship with symbiotic bacteria that carry out beneficial functions for their host, like protection against parasites and viruses. However, in some cases, the mutualistic nature of such associations is put into question because of detrimental phenotypes caused by the symbiont. One example is the association between the vertically transmitted facultative endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii and its natural host Drosophila melanogaster. Whereas S. poulsonii protects its host against parasitoid wasps and nematodes by the action of toxins from the family of Ribosome Inactivating Proteins (RIPs), the presence of S. poulsonii has been reported to reduce host's life span and to kill male embryos by a toxin called Spaid. In this work, we investigate the harmful effects of Spiroplasma RIPs on Drosophila in the absence of parasite infection.

RESULTS: We show that only two Spiroplasma RIPs (SpRIP1 and SpRIP2) among the five RIP genes encoded in the S. poulsonii genome are significantly expressed during the whole Drosophila life cycle. Heterologous expression of SpRIP1 and 2 in uninfected flies confirms their toxicity, as indicated by a reduction of Drosophila lifespan and hemocyte number. We also show that RIPs can cause the death of some embryos, including females.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that RIPs released by S. poulsonii contribute to the reduction of host lifespan and embryo mortality. This suggests that SpRIPs may impact the insect-symbiont homeostasis beyond their protective function against parasites.}, } @article {pmid30785282, year = {2019}, author = {Li, HT and Zhou, H and Duan, RT and Li, HY and Tang, LH and Yang, XQ and Yang, YB and Ding, ZT}, title = {Inducing Secondary Metabolite Production by Co-culture of the Endophytic Fungus Phoma sp. and the Symbiotic Fungus Armillaria sp.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {1009-1013}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00685}, pmid = {30785282}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Armillaria/*metabolism ; Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Circular Dichroism ; Coculture Techniques ; Fermentation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Co-culturing the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. YUD17001 from Gastrodia elata with Armillaria sp. in liquid nutrient medium resulted in the production of five new secondary metabolites, including two phenolic compounds, phexandiols A and B (1 and 2), three aliphatic ester derivatives, phomesters A-C (3-5), and a known fatty acid (6). The structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were elucidated by the interpretation of data from detailed spectroscopic analysis, Mosher's method, and electronic circular dichroism spectra, together with consideration of the biogenetic origins. None of the five new compounds were detected in single-strain cultures under identical fermentation conditions. The results of this work indicated that the production of 1-5 involved a complicated interaction process. None of the new compounds possessed significant cytotoxicity or antimicrobial activities.}, } @article {pmid30785204, year = {2019}, author = {Cognato, AI and Smith, SM and Li, Y and Pham, TH and Hulcr, J}, title = {Genetic Variability Among Xyleborus glabratus Populations Native to Southeast Asia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) and the Description of Two Related Species.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {112}, number = {3}, pages = {1274-1284}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toz026}, pmid = {30785204}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Asia, Southeastern ; *Coleoptera ; *Ophiostomatales ; Phylogeny ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is native to Southeast Asia, where it specializes on Lauraceae trees. It forms a symbiosis with the ambrosia fungus Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva, which can act as a pathogen in living host trees. The beetle and fungus were recently introduced into the United States, where they have killed millions of native Lauraceae trees and threaten the avocado industry. These introduced populations have limited genetic variation. In the native range, the fungi are genetically variable, but the native genetic variability of the beetles is unknown. It is important to assess the beetle's native genetic variation because different lineages may vary in the capacity to vector this fungus, which may affect disease etiology. Here, we analyzed genetic variation in several Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese populations of X. glabratus using mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear DNA (CAD) markers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed nine COI haplotypes and four CAD genotypes. Uncorrected 'p' distance for intrapopulation comparisons ranged from 0 to 0.1 and 0 to 0.013 and interpopulation comparisons ranged from 0.137 to 0.168 and 0.015 to 0.032 for COI and CAD, respectively. Two populations exceeded the range of intraspecific nucleotide differences for both genes. Given that individuals from these populations also exhibited consistent morphological differences, they are described as two new species: Xyleborus insidiosus Cognato & Smith, n. sp. and Xyleborus mysticulus Cognato & Smith, n. sp. Xyleborus glabratus was redescribed and a lectotype was designated to facilitate its recognition in light of these new species. These results indicate that X. glabratus is genetically variable and is related to two morphologically similar species. Whether these new species and X. glabratus lineages associate with different fungal strains is unknown. Given that the biology and host colonization of these new species are unknown, preventing their introduction to other regions is prudent.}, } @article {pmid30784795, year = {2019}, author = {Simón-Grao, S and Nieves, M and Martínez-Nicolás, JJ and Alfosea-Simón, M and Cámara-Zapata, JM and Fernández-Zapata, JC and García-Sánchez, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis improves tolerance of Carrizo citrange to excess boron supply by reducing leaf B concentration and toxicity in the leaves and roots.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {173}, number = {}, pages = {322-330}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.02.030}, pmid = {30784795}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Boron/*metabolism ; Citrus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study explores the possibility of using mycorrhization as a novel technique for diminishing the negative effects of boron (B) in the nutrient solution on seedlings of Carrizo citrange rootstock plants. For this, an experiment was planned for studying the physiological (gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters), morphological (vegetative growth parameters), nutritional (organic solutes, carbohydrates) and oxidative stress responses of seedlings that were either mycorrhized (+AM, Rhizophagus irregularis; previously known as Glomus intraradices) or not mycorrhized (-AM), and irrigated with water containing different concentrations of B (0.5, 5 and 10 mg L[-1]). It was observed that an excess of B in the nutrient solution decreased the vegetative growth in both +AM and -AM plants, but this decrease was greater in -AM plants. Mycorrhized plants (+AM) under high B concentration accumulated less B in the leaves, and had a smaller reduction of net assimilation rate of CO2 and lower MDA concentration than non-mycorrhized plants. Thus, it can be concluded that mycorrhization increased the tolerance to high boron concentration in the irrigation water of citrange Carrizo seedlings by reducing both the B concentration in the plant tissue and the B toxicity in the physiological processes. The study of organic solutes and carbohydrates also pointed to a different response model between +AM and -AM plants that could be related to the different tolerance observed between these plants.}, } @article {pmid30782966, year = {2019}, author = {Laffont, C and Huault, E and Gautrat, P and Endre, G and Kalo, P and Bourion, V and Duc, G and Frugier, F}, title = {Independent Regulation of Symbiotic Nodulation by the SUNN Negative and CRA2 Positive Systemic Pathways.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {180}, number = {1}, pages = {559-570}, pmid = {30782966}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant systemic signaling pathways allow the integration and coordination of shoot and root organ metabolism and development at the whole-plant level depending on nutrient availability. In legumes, two systemic pathways have been reported in the Medicago truncatula model to regulate root nitrogen-fixing symbiotic nodulation. Both pathways involve leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases acting in shoots and proposed to perceive signaling peptides produced in roots depending on soil nutrient availability. In this study, we characterized in the M. truncatula Jemalong A17 genotype a mutant allelic series affecting the Compact Root Architecture2 (CRA2) receptor. These analyses revealed that this pathway acts systemically from shoots to positively regulate nodulation and is required for the activity of carboxyl-terminally encoded peptides (CEPs). In addition, we generated a double mutant to test genetic interactions of the CRA2 systemic pathway with the CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION peptide (CLE)/Super Numeric Nodule (SUNN) receptor systemic pathway negatively regulating nodule number from shoots, which revealed an intermediate nodule number phenotype close to the wild type. Finally, we showed that the nitrate inhibition of nodule numbers was observed in cra2 mutants but not in sunn and cra2 sunn mutants. Overall, these results suggest that CEP/CRA2 and CLE/SUNN systemic pathways act independently from shoots to regulate nodule numbers.}, } @article {pmid30782630, year = {2019}, author = {Rotman, ER and Bultman, KM and Brooks, JF and Gyllborg, MC and Burgos, HL and Wollenberg, MS and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Natural Strain Variation Reveals Diverse Biofilm Regulation in Squid-Colonizing Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {30782630}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM079300/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM086262/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI117262/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genetic Variation ; Hawaii ; Mediterranean Sea ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiont Vibrio fischeri builds a symbiotic biofilm during colonization of squid hosts. Regulation of the exopolysaccharide component, termed Syp, has been examined in strain ES114, where production is controlled by a phosphorelay that includes the inner membrane hybrid histidine kinase RscS. Most strains that lack RscS or encode divergent RscS proteins cannot colonize a squid host unless RscS from a squid symbiont is heterologously expressed. In this study, we examine V. fischeri isolates worldwide to understand the landscape of biofilm regulation during beneficial colonization. We provide a detailed study of three distinct evolutionary groups of V. fischeri and find that while the RscS-Syp biofilm pathway is required in one of the groups, two other groups of squid symbionts require Syp independent of RscS. Mediterranean squid symbionts, including V. fischeri SR5, colonize without an RscS homolog encoded by their genome. Additionally, group A V. fischeri strains, which form a tightly related clade of Hawaii isolates, have a frameshift in rscS and do not require the gene for squid colonization or competitive fitness. These same strains have a frameshift in sypE, and we provide evidence that this group A sypE allele leads to an upregulation in biofilm activity. Thus, this work describes the central importance of Syp biofilm in colonization of diverse isolates and demonstrates that significant evolutionary transitions correspond to regulatory changes in the syp pathway.IMPORTANCE Biofilms are surface-associated, matrix-encased bacterial aggregates that exhibit enhanced protection to antimicrobial agents. Previous work has established the importance of biofilm formation by a strain of luminous Vibrio fischeri bacteria as the bacteria colonize their host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid. In this study, expansion of this work to many natural isolates revealed that biofilm genes are universally required, yet there has been a shuffling of the regulators of those genes. This work provides evidence that even when bacterial behaviors are conserved, dynamic regulation of those behaviors can underlie evolution of the host colonization phenotype. Furthermore, this work emphasizes the importance of investigating natural diversity as we seek to understand molecular mechanisms in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30779767, year = {2019}, author = {Vangelisti, A and Mascagni, F and Giordani, T and Sbrana, C and Turrini, A and Cavallini, A and Giovannetti, M and Natali, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi induce the expression of specific retrotransposons in roots of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e0212371}, pmid = {30779767}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Library ; Helianthus/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics ; RNA, Plant/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Retroelements/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Retrotransposon expression during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonisation of sunflower roots (Helianthus annuus) was analysed using Illumina RNA-Seq, in order to verify whether mycorrhizal symbiosis can activate retrotransposable elements. Illumina cDNA libraries were produced from RNAs isolated from the roots of sunflower plants at 4 and 16 days after inoculation with the AM fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare and from their respective control plants. Illumina reads were mapped to a library of reverse transcriptase-encoding sequences, putatively belonging to long terminal repeat retrotransposons of Gypsy and Copia superfamilies. Forty-six different reverse transcriptase sequences were transcribed, although at a low rate, in mycorrhizal or control roots and only four were significantly over-expressed at day 16, compared with control roots. Almost all expressed or over-expressed sequences belonged to low-copy elements, mostly, of the Copia superfamily. A meta-analysis, using publicly available Illumina cDNA libraries obtained from sunflower plants treated with different hormones and chemicals, mimicking stimuli produced by abiotic and biotic stresses, was also conducted. Such analyses indicated that the four reverse transcriptase sequences over-expressed in mycorrhizal roots were explicitly induced only by AM symbiosis, showing the specificity of AM stimuli compared to that of other fungal/plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid30779489, year = {2019}, author = {Lavy, I}, title = {[DEMODEX PARASITES AND CHRONIC BLEPHARITIS].}, journal = {Harefuah}, volume = {158}, number = {2}, pages = {112-114}, pmid = {30779489}, issn = {0017-7768}, mesh = {Animals ; *Blepharitis/parasitology ; *Eyelashes ; Humans ; *Mite Infestations ; *Mites ; *Parasites ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; }, abstract = {In the current issue of 'Harefuah', Livny et al present an article on the prevalence of Demodex parasites in patients with chronic blepharitis and healthy controls in Israel. This prospective case controlled study describes the quantitative connection between the number of parasites found on 6-8 sample eyelashes and chronic blepharitis, one of the most prevalent conditions in the general population and especially prevalent in the ophthalmologist office visits. Blepharitis symptoms may vary from being asymptomatic, chronic condition, dry eye, and sometimes even a severe compromise of ocular surface with a morbid impact on patient quality of life. In recent decades, progress was presented in a number of published articles including one meta-analysis that connects blepharitis with Demodex and the treatment of both with tea tree oil. Also, two different species of Demodex were identified which prefer to inhabit different areas of the eyelid. While the presented data do indicate a quantitative connection between Demodex and blepharitis, questions are raised as to whether there is a causative relationship between them? Can Demodex cause chronic blepharitis as an only factor? Or a symbiotic parasite which proliferate in blepharitis by consuming the debris and byproducts of blepharitis? Is it both? Although many theories exist, the answer is yet to be proven, but the consensus today is to combine anti-Demodex products while treating refractory chronic blepharitis.}, } @article {pmid30778241, year = {2019}, author = {Neumann, C and Blume, J and Roy, U and Teh, PP and Vasanthakumar, A and Beller, A and Liao, Y and Heinrich, F and Arenzana, TL and Hackney, JA and Eidenschenk, C and Gálvez, EJC and Stehle, C and Heinz, GA and Maschmeyer, P and Sidwell, T and Hu, Y and Amsen, D and Romagnani, C and Chang, HD and Kruglov, A and Mashreghi, MF and Shi, W and Strowig, T and Rutz, S and Kallies, A and Scheffold, A}, title = {c-Maf-dependent Treg cell control of intestinal TH17 cells and IgA establishes host-microbiota homeostasis.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {471-481}, doi = {10.1038/s41590-019-0316-2}, pmid = {30778241}, issn = {1529-2916}, mesh = {Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Colitis/immunology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Dysbiosis ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Homeostasis ; Immunoglobulin A/*biosynthesis ; Interleukin-10/biosynthesis ; Intestines/*immunology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Microbiota ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/enzymology/*immunology ; Th17 Cells/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Foxp3[+] regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are crucial for the maintenance of immune homeostasis both in lymphoid tissues and in non-lymphoid tissues. Here we demonstrate that the ability of intestinal Treg cells to constrain microbiota-dependent interleukin (IL)-17-producing helper T cell (TH17 cell) and immunoglobulin A responses critically required expression of the transcription factor c-Maf. The terminal differentiation and function of several intestinal Treg cell populations, including RORγt[+] Treg cells and follicular regulatory T cells, were c-Maf dependent. c-Maf controlled Treg cell-derived IL-10 production and prevented excessive signaling via the kinases PI(3)K (phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase) and Akt and the metabolic checkpoint kinase complex mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin) and expression of inflammatory cytokines in intestinal Treg cells. c-Maf deficiency in Treg cells led to profound dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota, which when transferred to germ-free mice was sufficient to induce exacerbated intestinal TH17 responses, even in a c-Maf-competent environment. Thus, c-Maf acts to preserve the identity and function of intestinal Treg cells, which is essential for the establishment of host-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30777812, year = {2019}, author = {Green, RT and East, AK and Karunakaran, R and Downie, JA and Poole, PS}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis of Rhizobium leguminosarum bacteroids in determinate and indeterminate nodules.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30777812}, issn = {2057-5858}, support = {BB/J007749/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J007749/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Peas/*microbiology ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Plasmids ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two common classes of nitrogen-fixing legume root nodules are those that have determinate or indeterminate meristems, as in Phaseolus bean and pea, respectively. In indeterminate nodules, rhizobia terminally differentiate into bacteroids with endoreduplicated genomes, whereas bacteroids from determinate nodules are less differentiated and can regrow. We used RNA sequencing to compare bacteroid gene expression in determinate and indeterminate nodules using two Rhizobium leguminosarum strains whose genomes differ due to replacement of the symbiosis (Sym) plasmid pRP2 (strain Rlp4292) with pRL1 (strain RlvA34), thereby switching symbiosis hosts from Phaseolus bean (determinate nodules) to pea (indeterminate nodules). Both bacteroid types have gene expression patterns typical of a stringent response, a stressful environment and catabolism of dicarboxylates, formate, amino acids and quaternary amines. Gene expression patterns were indicative that bean bacteroids were more limited for phosphate, sulphate and iron than pea bacteroids. Bean bacteroids had higher levels of expression of genes whose products are predicted to be associated with metabolite detoxification or export. Pea bacteroids had increased expression of genes associated with DNA replication, membrane synthesis and the TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle. Analysis of bacteroid-specific transporter genes was indicative of distinct differences in sugars and other compounds in the two nodule environments. Cell division genes were down-regulated in pea but not bean bacteroids, while DNA synthesis was increased in pea bacteroids. This is consistent with endoreduplication of pea bacteroids and their failure to regrow once nodules senesce.}, } @article {pmid30777324, year = {2019}, author = {Mellal, H and Yacine, B and Boukaous, L and Khouni, S and Benguedouar, A and Castellano-Hinojosa, A and Bedmar, EJ}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from root nodules of Lupinus angustifolius grown wild in the North East of Algeria.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {397-402}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2019.01.003}, pmid = {30777324}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Algeria ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {From a total of 80 bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of Lupinus angustifolius grown wild in the North-Eastern Algerian region of El Tarf, 64 plant host-nodulating strains clustered into 17 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting groups. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence from the representative strain of each group revealed they were closely related to members of the genus Bradyrhizobium of the Alphaproteobacteria, but their affiliation at the species level was not clear. Sequencing of the housekeeping genes glnII and recA, and their concatenated phylogenetic analysis, showed that 12 strains belong to B. lupini, other 2 strains affiliated with B. diazoefficiens and that 1 strain was closely related to B. japonicum. The remaining two strains showed similarity values ≤95% with B. cytisi and could represent new lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium. Sequencing of the symbiotic nodC gene from 4 selected bradyrhizobial strains showed they were all similar to those of the species included in symbiovar genistearum.}, } @article {pmid30777183, year = {2019}, author = {Buckley, KM and Schuh, NW and Heyland, A and Rast, JP}, title = {Analysis of immune response in the sea urchin larva.}, journal = {Methods in cell biology}, volume = {150}, number = {}, pages = {333-355}, doi = {10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.10.009}, pmid = {30777183}, issn = {0091-679X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Movement/immunology ; Gene Regulatory Networks/immunology ; Immunity/*immunology ; Larva/*immunology ; Sea Urchins/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Sea urchin larvae deploy a complex immune system in the context of relatively simple morphology. Several types of phagocytic or granular immune cells respond rapidly to microbes and microbial components within the body cavity. Many of these cells also respond to microbial disturbances in the gut lumen. In the course of immune response, hundreds of genes are up- and downregulated, many of which have homologs involved in immunity in other species. Thus, the larval sea urchin provides an experimentally advantageous model for investigating the response to immune challenge at the level of cell behavior and gene regulatory networks. Importantly, the morphological simplicity and optical clarity of these larvae allow studies to be carried out within the intact animal. Here, we outline techniques to probe and visualize the immune system of the feeding sea urchin larva, particularly for quantifying gene expression and cell migration as the animal responds to both pathogens and symbionts. Techniques addressed in this chapter include (1) exposure of larvae to microbes and microbial products in sea water and by blastocoelar microinjection, (2) time-lapse imaging of immune response, (3) isolation of culturable bacteria associated with feeding larvae, (4) quantification of larval associations with isolated bacterial strains and (5) preparation of secreted products from isolated bacteria for testing in larval culture.}, } @article {pmid30776682, year = {2019}, author = {Grant, JA and Zeidan, F}, title = {Employing pain and mindfulness to understand consciousness: a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Current opinion in psychology}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {192-197}, pmid = {30776682}, issn = {2352-2518}, support = {K99 AT008238/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; L30 AT006838/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R00 AT008238/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT009693/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Brain/*physiology/physiopathology ; Consciousness/*physiology ; Humans ; *Mindfulness ; Pain/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Consciousness, defined here as the quality of awareness of self and the corresponding sensory environment, is considered to be one of most enigmatic and contentious areas of scholarly dissection and investigation. The subjective experience of pain is constructed and modulated by a myriad of sensory, cognitive and affective dimensions. Thus, the study of pain can provide many inroads to a concept like consciousness that the traditional sense modalities do not. Mindfulness defined here as non-reactive awareness of the present moment, can uniquely control and/or modulate particular substrates of conscious experience. Thus, in combination with brain imaging methodologies, we propose that the interactions between pain and mindfulness could serve as a more comprehensive platform to disentangle the biological and psychological substrates of conscious experience. The present review provides a brief synopsis on how combining the study of pain and mindfulness can inform the study of consciousness, delineates the multiple, unique brain mechanisms supporting mindfulness-based pain relief, and describes how mindfulness uniquely improves the affective dimension of pain, an important consideration for the treatment of chronic pain.}, } @article {pmid30776419, year = {2019}, author = {Cui, JH and Dong, SM and Chen, CX and Xiao, W and Cai, QC and Zhang, LD and He, HJ and Zhang, W and Zhang, XW and Liu, T and Ding, L and Yang, Y and Lai, JH and Zhu, QS and Luo, KJ}, title = {Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus modulates innate immune suppression through the eIF4E-eIF4A axis in the insect Spodoptera litura.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {95}, number = {}, pages = {101-107}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2019.02.010}, pmid = {30776419}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics/immunology ; Cell Line ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Polydnaviridae/*immunology ; RNA Interference ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Spodoptera/*immunology/parasitology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Wasps/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is regulated during the innate immune response. However, its translational regulation under innate immune suppression remains largely unexplored. Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus (MbBV), a symbiotic virus harbored by the parasitoid wasp, Microplitis bicoloratus, suppresses innate immunity in parasitized Spodoptera litura. Here, we generated eIF4E dsRNA and used it to silence the eIF4E gene of S. litura, resulting in a hallmark immunosuppressive phenotype characterized by increased apoptosis of hemocytes and retardation of head capsule width development. In response to natural parasitism, loss of eIF4E function was associated with similar immunosuppression, and we detected no significant differences between the response to parasitism and treatment with eIF4E RNAi. Under MbBV infection, eIF4E overexpression significantly suppressed MbBV-induced increase in apoptosis and suppressed apoptosis to the same extent as co-expression of both eIF4E and eIF4A. There were no significant differences between MbBV-infected and uninfected larvae in which eIF4E was overexpressed. More importantly, in the eIF4E RNAi strain, eIF4A RNAi did not increase apoptosis. Collectively, our results indicate that eIF4E plays a nodal role in the MbBV-suppressed innate immune response via the eIF4E-eIF4A axis.}, } @article {pmid30776138, year = {2019}, author = {Humphreys, GJ and McBain, AJ}, title = {Antagonistic effects of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus probiotics in pharyngeal biofilms.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {4}, pages = {303-312}, doi = {10.1111/lam.13133}, pmid = {30776138}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Antibiosis/*physiology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Humans ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus plantarum/*metabolism ; Microbiota ; Pharynx/microbiology ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Streptococcus pyogenes/*growth & development ; Streptococcus salivarius/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Direct antagonism towards pathogens including Streptococcus pyogenes is a proposed mechanism of pharyngeal probiosis but off-target effects on the symbiotic microbiota of the throat are possible and may be beneficial, harmful or neutral. We have assessed the bacteriological effects of two candidate Lactobacillus probiotics and the established pharyngeal probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12. Antagonism towards S. pyogenes and potential off-target effects were determined using sessile monospecies biofilms and pharyngeal microcosms, respectively. The candidate probiotics were antagonistic towards S. pyogenes (rank order of increasing potency, Lactobacillus acidophilus < Lactobacillus plantarum < Streptococcus salivarius) in the absence of significant acidification or cell-cell contact. Streptococcus salivarius and L. plantarum caused significant reductions in viable counts of streptococci in pharyngeal microbiotas, whilst S. salivarius also caused reductions in staphylococci. In contrast, changes in pharyngeal eubacterial DNA profiles were limited overall. In summary, the three candidate probiotics suppressed axenic Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms by mechanisms that did not depend on cell-cell contact or acidification and did not markedly destabilize complex pharyngeal microbiotas derived from healthy individuals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Candidate probiotic bacteria deployed to prevent or treat bacterial pharyngitis will interact with the target bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes as well as with the microbiota of the throat, where off-target effects are possible. Three candidate probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus salivarius reduced viability within extant S. pyogenes biofilms through the elaboration of diffusible factors other than fermentation acids but did not markedly disrupt ex situ pharyngeal microcosms. This work demonstrates the application of in vitro pharyngeal models in the preclinical testing of the safety and efficacy of candidate pharyngeal probiotics.}, } @article {pmid30775775, year = {2019}, author = {Liang, J and Klingl, A and Lin, YY and Boul, E and Thomas-Oates, J and Marín, M}, title = {A subcompatible rhizobium strain reveals infection duality in Lotus.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {6}, pages = {1903-1913}, pmid = {30775775}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Lotus/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lotus species develop infection threads to guide rhizobia into nodule cells. However, there is evidence that some species have a genetic repertoire to allow other modes of infection. By conducting confocal and electron microscopy, quantification of marker gene expression, and phenotypic analysis of transgenic roots infected with mutant rhizobia, we elucidated the infection mechanism used by Rhizobium leguminosarum Norway to colonize Lotus burttii. Rhizobium leguminosarum Norway induces a distinct host transcriptional response compared with Mesorhizobium loti. It infects L. burttii utilizing an epidermal and transcellular infection thread-independent mechanism at high frequency. The entry into plant cells occurs directly from the apoplast and is primarily mediated by 'peg'-like structures, the formation of which is dependent on the production of Nod factor by the rhizobia. These results demonstrate that Lotus species can exhibit duality in their infection mechanisms depending on the rhizobial strain that they encounter. This is especially relevant in the context of interactions in the rhizosphere where legumes do not encounter single strains, but complex rhizobial communities. Additionally, our findings support a perception mechanism at the nodule cell entry interface, reinforcing the idea that there are successive checkpoints during rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid30773816, year = {2019}, author = {Krupovic, M and Makarova, KS and Wolf, YI and Medvedeva, S and Prangishvili, D and Forterre, P and Koonin, EV}, title = {Integrated mobile genetic elements in Thaumarchaeota.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {2056-2078}, pmid = {30773816}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {ANR-17-CE15-0005-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; UE 340440//H2020 European Research Council/International ; 685778//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/International ; intramural program//U.S. National Library of Medicine/International ; RSF 14-14-00988//Campus France/International ; }, mesh = {Archaea/classification/enzymology/*genetics/virology ; Archaeal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To explore the diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGE) associated with archaea of the phylum Thaumarchaeota, we exploited the property of most MGE to integrate into the genomes of their hosts. Integrated MGE (iMGE) were identified in 20 thaumarchaeal genomes amounting to 2 Mbp of mobile thaumarchaeal DNA. These iMGE group into five major classes: (i) proviruses, (ii) casposons, (iii) insertion sequence-like transposons, (iv) integrative-conjugative elements and (v) cryptic integrated elements. The majority of the iMGE belong to the latter category and might represent novel families of viruses or plasmids. The identified proviruses are related to tailed viruses of the order Caudovirales and to tailless icosahedral viruses with the double jelly-roll capsid proteins. The thaumarchaeal iMGE are all connected within a gene sharing network, highlighting pervasive gene exchange between MGE occupying the same ecological niche. The thaumarchaeal mobilome carries multiple auxiliary metabolic genes, including multicopper oxidases and ammonia monooxygenase subunit C (AmoC), and stress response genes, such as those for universal stress response proteins (UspA). Thus, iMGE might make important contributions to the fitness and adaptation of their hosts. We identified several iMGE carrying type I-B CRISPR-Cas systems and spacers matching other thaumarchaeal iMGE, suggesting antagonistic interactions between coexisting MGE and symbiotic relationships with the ir archaeal hosts.}, } @article {pmid30772172, year = {2019}, author = {Yu, H and Bao, H and Zhang, Z and Cao, Y}, title = {Immune Signaling Pathway during Terminal Bacteroid Differentiation in Nodules.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {299-302}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2019.01.010}, pmid = {30772172}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins ; *Root Nodules, Plant ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant innate immunity plays an important role in regulating symbiotic associations with rhizobia, including during rhizobial infection, rhizobial colonization, and bacteroid differentiation in leguminous plants. Here we propose that an immune signaling pathway similar to plant pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) is required for the regulation of bacteroid differentiation in Medicago truncatula nodules.}, } @article {pmid30770902, year = {2019}, author = {Zhao, T and Ganji, S and Schiebe, C and Bohman, B and Weinstein, P and Krokene, P and Borg-Karlson, AK and Unelius, CR}, title = {Convergent evolution of semiochemicals across Kingdoms: bark beetles and their fungal symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {1535-1545}, pmid = {30770902}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/metabolism ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Pheromones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Picea/microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Bark/microbiology/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Convergent evolution of semiochemical use in organisms from different Kingdoms is a rarely described phenomenon. Tree-killing bark beetles vector numerous symbiotic blue-stain fungi that help the beetles colonize healthy trees. Here we show for the first time that some of these fungi are able to biosynthesize bicyclic ketals that are pheromones and other semiochemicals of bark beetles. Volatile emissions of five common bark beetle symbionts were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. When grown on fresh Norway spruce bark the fungi emitted three well-known bark beetle aggregation pheromones and semiochemicals (exo-brevicomin, endo-brevicomin and trans-conophthorin) and two structurally related semiochemical candidates (exo-1,3-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and endo-1,3-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) that elicited electroantennogram responses in the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. When grown on malt agar with [13]C D-Glucose, the fungus Grosmannia europhioides incorporated [13]C into exo-brevicomin and trans-conophthorin. The enantiomeric compositions of the fungus-produced ketals closely matched those previously reported from bark beetles. The production of structurally complex bark beetle pheromones by symbiotic fungi indicates cross-kingdom convergent evolution of signal use in this system. This signaling is susceptible to disruption, providing potential new targets for pest control in conifer forests and plantations.}, } @article {pmid30770885, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, H and Mi, L and Xu, L and Yu, C and Li, C and Chen, C}, title = {Genome-wide identification, characterization, interaction network and expression profile of GRAS gene family in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2156}, pmid = {30770885}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Citrus sinensis/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; *Multigene Family ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {GRAS genes are suggested to be grouped into plant-specific transcriptional regulatory families that have been reported to participate in multiple processes, including plant development, phytohormone signaling, the formation of symbiotic relationships, and response to environmental signals. GRAS genes have been characterized in a number of plant species, but little is known about this gene family in Citrus sinensis. In this study, we identified a total of 50 GRAS genes and characterized the gene structures, conserved motifs, genome localizations and cis-elements within their promoter regions. According to their structural and phylogenetic features, the identified sweet orange GRAS members were divided into 11 subgroups, of which subfamily CsGRAS34 was sweet orange-specific. Based on publicly available RNA-seq data generated from callus, flower, leaf and fruit in sweet orange, we found that some sweet orange GRAS genes exhibited tissue-specific expression patterning. Three of the six members of subfamily AtSHR, particularly CsGRAS9, and two of the six members of subfamily AtPAT1 were preferentially expressed in leaf. Moreover, protein-protein interactions with CsGRAS were predicted. Gene expression analysis was performed under conditions of phosphate deficiency, and GA3 and NaCl treatment to identify the potential functions of GRAS members in regulating stress and hormone responses. This study provides the first comprehensive understanding of the GRAS gene family in the sweet orange genome. As such, the study generates valuable information for further gene function analysis and identifying candidate genes to improve abiotic stress tolerance in citrus plants.}, } @article {pmid30769886, year = {2019}, author = {Damodaran, S and Dubois, A and Xie, J and Ma, Q and Hindié, V and Subramanian, S}, title = {GmZPR3d Interacts with GmHD-ZIP III Proteins and Regulates Soybean Root and Nodule Vascular Development.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30769886}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics ; Leucine Zippers/genetics ; Meristem/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Development/genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fabaceans produce two major classes of symbiotic nodules: the indeterminate type characterized by a persistent meristem, and the determinate type that lacks a persistent meristem. The class III homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-ZIP III) transcription factor family influence development of multiple lateral organs and meristem maintenance, but their role in determinate nodule development is not known. HD-ZIP III protein activity is post-translationally regulated by members of the small leucine zipper protein (ZPR) family in arabidopsis. We characterized the ZPR gene family in soybean and evaluated their ability to interact with two key members of GmHD-ZIP III family through yeast two-hybrid assays. GmZPR3d displayed the strongest interaction with GmHD-ZIP III-2 among the different pairs evaluated. GmHD-ZIP III-1, -2, and GmZPR3d showed overlapping expression patterns in the root stele and in nodule parenchyma tissues. Over-expression of GmZPR3d resulted in ectopic root secondary xylem formation, and enhanced expression of vessel-specific master switch genes in soybean. The nodules in ZPR3d over-expressing roots were larger in size, had a relatively larger central zone and displayed increased nodule vascular branching. The results from this study point to a key role for GmZPR3d in soybean root and nodule development.}, } @article {pmid30769763, year = {2019}, author = {, and Singh, BR and Gupta, VK and Deeba, F and Bajpai, R and Pandey, V and Naqvi, AH and Upreti, DK and Gathergood, N and Jiang, Y and El Enshasy, HA and Sholkamy, EN and Mostafa, AA and Hesham, AE and Singh, BN}, title = {Non-Toxic and Ultra-Small Biosilver Nanoclusters Trigger Apoptotic Cell Death in Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans via Ras Signaling.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30769763}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Candida albicans/cytology/*drug effects ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Fungal/*drug effects ; Fluconazole/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Lichens/chemistry/metabolism ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Particle Size ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Silver/chemistry/*metabolism ; Surface Properties ; }, abstract = {Silver-based nanostructures are suitable for many biomedical applications, but to be useful therapeutic agents, the high toxicity of these nanomaterials must be eliminated. Here, we biosynthesize nontoxic and ultra-small silver nanoclusters (rsAg@NCs) using metabolites of usnioid lichen (a symbiotic association of algae and fungi) that exhibit excellent antimicrobial activity against fluconazole (FCZ)-resistant Candida albicans that is many times higher than chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and FCZ. The rsAg@NCs trigger apoptosis via reactive oxygen species accumulation that leads to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA fragmentation, chromosomal condensation, and the activation of metacaspases. The proteomic analysis clearly demonstrates that rsAg@NCs exposure significantly alters protein expression. Most remarkable among the down-regulated proteins are those related to glycolysis, metabolism, free radical scavenging, anti-apoptosis, and mitochondrial function. In contrast, proteins involved in plasma membrane function, oxidative stress, cell death, and apoptosis were upregulated. Eventually, we also established that the apoptosis-inducing potential of rsAg@NCs is due to the activation of Ras signaling, which confirms their application in combating FCZ-resistant C. albicans infections.}, } @article {pmid30766917, year = {2019}, author = {Santini, A and Azamfirei, L and Moldovan, C}, title = {The Symbiotic Relationship between Authors, Medical Journals, Editors and the Peer Review System.}, journal = {Journal of critical care medicine (Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie din Targu-Mures)}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {3-5}, pmid = {30766917}, issn = {2393-1809}, } @article {pmid30765781, year = {2019}, author = {Yoshida, T and Furihata, HY and To, TK and Kakutani, T and Kawabe, A}, title = {Genome defense against integrated organellar DNA fragments from plastids into plant nuclear genomes through DNA methylation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2060}, pmid = {30765781}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Nuclear genomes are always faced with the modification of themselves by insertions and integrations of foreign DNAs and intrinsic parasites such as transposable elements. There is also substantial number of integrations from symbiotic organellar genomes to their host nuclear genomes. Such integration might have acted as a beneficial mutation during the evolution of symbiosis, while most of them have more or less deleterious effects on the stability of current genomes. Here we report the pattern of DNA substitution and methylation on organellar DNA fragments integrated from plastid into plant nuclear genomes. The genome analyses of 17 plants show homology-dependent DNA substitution bias. A certain number of these sequences are DNA methylated in the nuclear genome. The intensity of DNA methylation also decays according to the increase of relative evolutionary times after being integrated into nuclear genomes. The methylome data of epigenetic mutants shows that the DNA methylation of organellar DNA fragments in nuclear genomes are mainly dependent on the methylation maintenance machinery, while other mechanisms may also affect on the DNA methylation level. The DNA methylation on organellar DNA fragments may contribute to maintaining the genome stability and evolutionary dynamics of symbiotic organellar and their host's genomes.}, } @article {pmid30765481, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, D and Li, Y and Wang, X and Xie, F and Chen, D and Ma, B and Li, Y}, title = {Mesorhizobium huakuii HtpG Interaction with nsLTP AsE246 Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {180}, number = {1}, pages = {509-528}, pmid = {30765481}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Domains ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {Plant nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are involved in a number of biological processes including root nodule symbiosis. However, the role of nsLTPs in legume-rhizobium symbiosis remains poorly understood, and no rhizobia proteins that interact with nsLTPs have been reported to date. In this study, we used a bacteria two-hybrid system and identified the high temperature protein G (HtpG) from Mesorhizobium huakuii that interacts with the nsLTP AsE246. The interaction between HtpG and AsE246 was confirmed by far-Western blotting and bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Our results indicated that the heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) domain of HtpG mediates the HtpG-AsE246 interaction. Immunofluorescence assay showed that HtpG was colocalized with AsE246 in infected nodule cells and symbiosome membranes. Expression of the htpG gene was relatively higher in young nodules and was highly expressed in the infection zones. Further investigation showed that htpG expression affects lipid abundance and profiles in root nodules and plays an essential role in nodule development and nitrogen fixation. Our findings provide further insights into the functional mechanisms behind the transport of symbiosome lipids via nsLTPs in root nodules.}, } @article {pmid30763666, year = {2019}, author = {Cao-Pham, AH and Hiong, KC and Boo, MV and Choo, CYL and Pang, CZ and Wong, WP and Neo, ML and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Molecular characterization, cellular localization, and light-enhanced expression of Beta-Na[+]/H[+] Exchanger-like in the whitish inner mantle of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, denote its role in light-enhanced shell formation.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {695}, number = {}, pages = {101-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2019.02.009}, pmid = {30763666}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*genetics/physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Epithelium/chemistry/metabolism ; Light ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/chemistry/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, lives in symbiosis with photosynthetic zooxanthellae, and can engage in light-enhanced growth and shell formation. Light-enhanced shell formation necessitates the elimination of excess H[+] from the extrapallial fluid adjacent to the shell. This study aimed to clone Na[+]/H[+]Exchanger (NHE) from the whitish inner mantle adjacent to the extrapallial fluid of T. squamosa, to determine its cellular and subcellular localization, and to evaluate the effect of light exposure on its mRNA expression level and protein abundance therein. The complete coding cDNA sequence of NHE obtained was identified as a homolog of beta NHE (βNHE-like). It consisted of 2925 bp, encoding for a polypeptide of 974 amino acids and 107.1 kDa, and was expressed predominantly in the inner mantle. There, βNHE-like was localized in the apical membrane of the seawater-facing epithelium by immunofluorescence microscopy. After exposure to light for 12 h, the seawater-facing epithelium of the inner mantle displayed consistently stronger immunostaining than that of the control exposed to 12 h of darkness. Western blotting confirmed that light exposure significantly enhanced the protein abundance of βNHE-like in the inner mantle. These results denote that some of the excess H[+] generated during light-enhanced shell formation can be excreted through the light-dependent βNHE-like of the seawater-facing epithelium to minimize the impact on the whole-body pH. Importantly, the excreted H[+] could dehydrate exogenous HCO3[-], and facilitate the absorption of inorganic carbon through the seawater-facing epithelium dedicated for light-enhanced shell formation due to its close proximity with the shell-facing epithelium. NUCLEOTIDE SYMBOL COMBINATIONS: Pairs: R = A/G; W = A/T; Y = C/T. Triples: D = A/G/T.}, } @article {pmid30763358, year = {2019}, author = {Abi Khattar, Z and Lanois, A and Hadchity, L and Gaudriault, S and Givaudan, A}, title = {Spatiotemporal expression of the putative MdtABC efflux pump of Phtotorhabdus luminescens occurs in a protease-dependent manner during insect infection.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e0212077}, pmid = {30763358}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Copper/pharmacology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, MDR/genetics ; Locusta migratoria/*microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mutation ; Operon/genetics ; Peptide Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/drug effects/*genetics/*physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens is an enterobacterium establishing a mutualistic symbiosis with nematodes, that also kills insects after septicaemia and connective tissue colonization. The role of the bacterial mdtABC genes encoding a putative multidrug efflux system from the resistance/nodulation/cell division family was investigated. We showed that a mdtA mutant and the wild type had similar levels of resistance to antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides, metals, detergents and bile salts. The mdtA mutant was also as pathogenic as the wild-type following intrahaemocoel injection in Locusta migratoria, but had a slightly attenuated phenotype in Spodoptera littoralis. A transcriptional fusion of the mdtA promoter (PmdtA) and the green fluorescent protein (gfp) encoding gene was induced by copper in bacteria cultured in vitro. The PmdtA-gfp fusion was strongly induced within bacterial aggregates in the haematopoietic organ during late stages of infection in L. migratoria, whereas it was only weakly expressed in insect plasma throughout infection. A medium supplemented with haematopoietic organ extracts induced the PmdtA-gfp fusion ex vivo, suggesting that site-specific mdtABC expression resulted from insect signals from the haematopoietic organ. Finally, we showed that protease inhibitors abolished ex vivo activity of the PmdtA-gfp fusion in the presence of haematopoietic organ extracts, suggesting that proteolysis by-products play a key role in upregulating the putative MdtABC efflux pump during insect infection with P. luminescens.}, } @article {pmid30762152, year = {2019}, author = {Reina, JC and Torres, M and Llamas, I}, title = {Stenotrophomonas maltophilia AHL-Degrading Strains Isolated from Marine Invertebrate Microbiota Attenuate the Virulence of Pectobacterium carotovorum and Vibrio coralliilyticus.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {276-290}, pmid = {30762152}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Animals ; Artemia/microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Holothuria/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Pectobacterium carotovorum/*pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Sea Anemones/microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/microbiology ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Vibrio/*pathogenicity ; Vibrio Infections/metabolism ; *Virulence ; }, abstract = {Many Gram-negative aquacultural and agricultural pathogens control virulence factor expression through a quorum-sensing (QS) mechanism involving the production of N-acylhomoserine (AHL) signalling molecules. Thus, the interruption of QS systems by the enzymatic degradation of signalling molecules, known as quorum quenching (QQ), has been proposed as a novel strategy to combat these infections. Given that the symbiotic bacteria of marine invertebrates are considered to be an important source of new bioactive molecules, this study explores the presence of AHL-degrading bacteria among 827 strains previously isolated from the microbiota of anemones and holothurians. Four of these strains (M3-1, M1-14, M3-13 and M9-54-2), belonging to the species Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, were selected on the basis of their ability to degrade a broad range of AHLs, and the enzymes involved in their activity were identified. Strain M9-54-2, which showed the strongest AHL-degrading activity, was selected for further study. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry confirmed that the QQ enzyme is not a lactonase. Strain M9-54-2 degraded AHL accumulation and reduced the production of enzymatic activity in Pectobacterium carotovorum CECT 225[T] and Vibrio coralliilyticus VibC-Oc-193 in in vitro co-cultivation experiments. The effect of AHL inactivation was confirmed by a reduction in potato tuber maceration and brine shrimp (Artemia salina) mortality caused by P. carotovorum and Vibrio coralliilyticus, respectively. This study strengthens the evidence of marine organisms as an underexplored and promising source of QQ enzymes, useful to prevent infections in aquaculture and agriculture. To our knowledge, this is the first time that anemones and holothurians have been studied for this purpose.}, } @article {pmid30761341, year = {2018}, author = {Pushpakumara, BLDU and Gunawardana, D}, title = {Preliminary data on the presence of an alternate vanadium nitrogenase in a culturable cyanobiont of Azolla pinnata R. Brown: Implications on Chronic Kidney Disease of an unknown etiology (CKDu).}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {2590-2597}, pmid = {30761341}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {In a recent paper titled "How a taxonomically-ambiguous cyanobiont and vanadate assist in the phytoremediation of cadmium by Azolla pinnata: implications for CKDu" (Atugoda et al., 2018) [1] it was shown by us, that plant health and phytoremediation capacities, of Azolla pinnata R. Brown, were elevated in the presence of vanadate, a vanadium containing ion. This highlighted a possibility, that either the major or minor cyanobionts of Azolla pinnata, could possess a vanadium dependent nitrogenase enzyme, as an alternate nitrogenase, in addition to the molybdenum counterpart. In this data article, we report the isolation of a minor cyanobiont which we name as Fischerella uthpalarensis. We grew Fischerella uthpalarensis, exclusively in N-free media, with only molybdenum (Mo+ V-), with only vanadium (V+ Mo-) and with neither (negative control), to find out the growth patterns in the relevant media. While F. uthpalarensis grew as green colored consistencies, increasing gradually in turbidity, for 4 weeks in culture, both, in the presence of molybdenum (Mo+ V-), as well as vanadium (V+ Mo-), the negative control, showed no, or very little growth. This alludes to the presence of dual nitrogenases in Fischerella uthpalarensis. An attempt was also made by us to unravel the vnf genes, responsible for the V-nitrogenase. However, it was not possible to PCR amplify the vnf genes, from both, the unculturable major (using total DNA from the Azolla-Nostoc azollae symbiosis) and minor (DNA directly from the cultured F. uthpalarensis) cyanobionts. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that an endosymbiotic cyanobacterium inside a plant compartment, has been shown to contain two possible nitrogenase systems.}, } @article {pmid30761173, year = {2019}, author = {Van Holle, S and Van Damme, EJM}, title = {Messages From the Past: New Insights in Plant Lectin Evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {36}, pmid = {30761173}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Lectins are a large and diverse class of proteins, found in all kingdoms of life. Plants are known to express different types of carbohydrate-binding proteins, each containing at least one particular lectin domain which enables them to specifically recognize and bind carbohydrate structures. The group of plant lectins is heterogeneous in terms of structure, biological activity and function. Lectins control various aspects of plant development and defense. Some lectins facilitate recognition of exogenous danger signals or play a role in endogenous signaling pathways, while others are considered as storage proteins or involved in symbiotic relationships. In this study, we revisit the origin of the different plant lectin families in view of the recently reshaped tree of life. Due to new genomic sampling of previously unknown microbial lineages, the tree of life has expanded and was reshaped multiple times. In addition, more plant genomes especially from basal Phragmoplastophyta, bryophytes, and Salviniales (e.g., Chara braunii, Marchantia polymorpha, Physcomitrella patens, Azolla filiculoides, and Salvinia cucullata) have been analyzed, and annotated genome sequences have become accessible. We searched 38 plant genome sequences including core eudicots, monocots, gymnosperms, fern, lycophytes, bryophytes, charophytes, chlorophytes, glaucophytes, and rhodophytes for lectin motifs, performed an extensive comparative analysis of lectin domain architectures, and determined the phylogenetic and evolutionary history of lectins in the plant lineage. In conclusion, we describe the conservation of particular domains in plant lectin sequences obtained from algae to higher plants. The strong conservation of several lectin motifs highlights their significance for plants.}, } @article {pmid30761120, year = {2018}, author = {Iacob, S and Iacob, DG and Luminos, LM}, title = {Intestinal Microbiota as a Host Defense Mechanism to Infectious Threats.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {3328}, pmid = {30761120}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota is a complex microbial community, with diverse and stable populations hosted by the gastrointestinal tract since birth. This ecosystem holds multiple anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, and immune modulating roles decisive for intestinal homeostasis. Among these, colonization resistance refers to the dynamic antagonistic interactions between commensals and pathogenic flora. Hence, gut bacteria compete for the same intestinal niches and substrates, while also releasing antimicrobial substances such as bacteriocines and changing the environmental conditions. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) generated in anaerobic conditions prompt epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that favor a tolerogenic immune response. In addition, the commensal flora is involved in the synthesis of bactericidal products, namely secondary biliary acids or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as cathellicidin-LL37, an immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing peptide. Gut microbiota is protected through symbiotic relations with the hosting organism and by quorum sensing, a specific cell-to-cell communication system. Any alterations of these relationships favor the uncontrollable multiplication of the resident pathobionts or external entero-pathogens, prompting systemic translocations, inflammatory reactions, or exacerbations of bacterial virulence mechanisms (T6SS, T3SS) and ultimately lead to gastrointestinal or systemic infections. The article describes the metabolic and immunological mechanisms through which the intestinal microbiota is both an ally of the organism against enteric pathogens and an enemy that favors the development of infections.}, } @article {pmid30761097, year = {2019}, author = {Sánchez-Baracaldo, P and Bianchini, G and Di Cesare, A and Callieri, C and Chrismas, NAM}, title = {Insights Into the Evolution of Picocyanobacteria and Phycoerythrin Genes (mpeBA and cpeBA).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {45}, pmid = {30761097}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Marine picocyanobacteria, Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, substantially contribute to marine primary production and have been the subject of extensive ecological and genomic studies. Little is known about their close relatives from freshwater and non-marine environments. Phylogenomic analyses (using 136 proteins) provide strong support for the monophyly of a clade of non-marine picocyanobacteria consisting of Cyanobium, Synechococcus and marine Sub-cluster 5.2; this clade itself is sister to marine Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus. The most basal lineage within the Syn/Pro clade, Sub-Cluster 5.3, includes marine and freshwater strains. Relaxed molecular clock (SSU, LSU) analyses show that while ancestors of the Syn/Pro clade date as far back as the end of the Pre-Cambrian, modern crown groups evolved during the Carboniferous and Triassic. Comparative genomic analyses reveal novel gene cluster arrangements involved in phycobilisome (PBS) metabolism in freshwater strains. Whilst PBS genes in marine Synechococcus are mostly found in one type of phycoerythrin (PE) rich gene cluster (Type III), strains from non-marine habitats, so far, appear to be more diverse both in terms of pigment content and gene arrangement, likely reflecting a wider range of habitats. Our phylogenetic analyses show that the PE genes (mpeBA) evolved via a duplication of the cpeBA genes in an ancestor of the marine and non-marine picocyanobacteria and of the symbiotic strains Synechococcus spongiarum. A 'primitive' Type III-like ancestor containing cpeBA and mpeBA had thus evolved prior to the divergence of the Syn/Pro clade and S. spongiarum. During the diversification of Synechococcus lineages, losses of mpeBA genes may explain the emergence of pigment cluster Types I, II, IIB, and III in both marine and non-marine habitats, with few lateral gene transfer events in specific taxa.}, } @article {pmid30760820, year = {2019}, author = {Karimi, E and Keller-Costa, T and Slaby, BM and Cox, CJ and da Rocha, UN and Hentschel, U and Costa, R}, title = {Genomic blueprints of sponge-prokaryote symbiosis are shared by low abundant and cultivatable Alphaproteobacteria.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {1999}, pmid = {30760820}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/*genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are early-branching, filter-feeding metazoans that usually host complex microbiomes comprised of several, currently uncultivatable symbiotic lineages. Here, we use a low-carbon based strategy to cultivate low-abundance bacteria from Spongia officinalis. This approach favoured the growth of Alphaproteobacteria strains in the genera Anderseniella, Erythrobacter, Labrenzia, Loktanella, Ruegeria, Sphingorhabdus, Tateyamaria and Pseudovibrio, besides two likely new genera in the Rhodobacteraceae family. Mapping of complete genomes against the metagenomes of S. officinalis, seawater, and sediments confirmed the rare status of all the above-mentioned lineages in the marine realm. Remarkably, this community of low-abundance Alphaproteobacteria possesses several genomic attributes common to dominant, presently uncultivatable sponge symbionts, potentially contributing to host fitness through detoxification mechanisms (e.g. heavy metal and metabolic waste removal, degradation of aromatic compounds), provision of essential vitamins (e.g. B6 and B12 biosynthesis), nutritional exchange (especially regarding the processing of organic sulphur and nitrogen) and chemical defence (e.g. polyketide and terpenoid biosynthesis). None of the studied taxa displayed signs of genome reduction, indicative of obligate mutualism. Instead, versatile nutrient metabolisms along with motility, chemotaxis, and tight-adherence capacities - also known to confer environmental hardiness - were inferred, underlying dual host-associated and free-living life strategies adopted by these diverse sponge-associated Alphaproteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid30760664, year = {2019}, author = {Girard, L and Blanchet, E and Stien, D and Baudart, J and Suzuki, M and Lami, R}, title = {Evidence of a Large Diversity of N-acyl-Homoserine Lactones in Symbiotic Vibrio fischeri Strains Associated with the Squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {99-103}, pmid = {30760664}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*chemistry/metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*chemistry/genetics ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Phenotype ; *Quorum Sensing ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri possesses a complex AHL-mediated Quorum-sensing (QS) system including two pathways, LuxI/R (3-oxo-C6-HSL and C6-HSL) and AinS/R (C8-HSL), which are important for the regulation of physiological traits. Diverse QS-dependent functional phenotypes have been described in V. fischeri; however, AHL diversity is still underestimated. In the present study, we investigated AHL diversity in five symbiotic V. fischeri strains with distinct phenotypic properties using UHPLC-HRMS/MS. The results obtained (1) revealed an unexpectedly high diversity of signaling molecules, (2) emphasized the complexity of QS in V. fischeri, and (3) highlight the importance of understanding the specificity of AHL-mediated QS.}, } @article {pmid30760639, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, J and Liu, J and Liu, J and Cui, M and Huang, Y and Tian, Y and Chen, A and Xu, G}, title = {The Potassium Transporter SlHAK10 Is Involved in Mycorrhizal Potassium Uptake.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {180}, number = {1}, pages = {465-479}, pmid = {30760639}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lotus/chemistry ; Solanum lycopersicum/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Potassium/metabolism/*pharmacokinetics ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts/genetics ; }, abstract = {Most terrestrial plants form a root symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which receive fixed carbon from the plant and enhance the plant's uptake of mineral nutrients. AM symbiosis improves the phosphorous and nitrogen nutrition of host plants; however, little is known about the role of AM symbiosis in potassium (K[+]) nutrition. Here, we report that inoculation with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis improved tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant growth and K[+] acquisition and that K[+] deficiency has a negative effect on root growth and AM colonization. Based on its homology to a Lotus japonicus AM-induced K[+] transporter, we identified a mycorrhiza-specific tomato K[+] transporter, SlHAK10 (Solanum lycopersicum High-affinity Potassium Transporter10), that was exclusively expressed in arbuscule-containing cells. SlHAK10 could restore a yeast K[+] uptake-defective mutant in the low-affinity concentration range. Loss of function of SlHAK10 led to a significant decrease in mycorrhizal K[+] uptake and AM colonization rate under low-K[+] conditions but did not affect arbuscule development. Overexpressing SlHAK10 from the constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter or the AM-specific Solanum melongena Phosphate Transporter4 not only improved plant growth and K[+] uptake but also increased AM colonization efficiency and soluble sugar content in roots supplied with low K[+] Our results indicate that tomato plants have a SlHAK10-mediated mycorrhizal K[+] uptake pathway and that improved plant K[+] nutrition could increase carbohydrate accumulation in roots, which facilitates AM fungal colonization.}, } @article {pmid30760264, year = {2019}, author = {Detman, A and Mielecki, D and Chojnacka, A and Salamon, A and Błaszczyk, MK and Sikora, A}, title = {Cell factories converting lactate and acetate to butyrate: Clostridium butyricum and microbial communities from dark fermentation bioreactors.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {36}, pmid = {30760264}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Acetates/*metabolism ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Butyrates/*metabolism ; Clostridium butyricum/genetics/*metabolism ; *Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Interactions between microorganisms during specific steps of anaerobic digestion determine metabolic pathways in bioreactors and consequently the efficiency of fermentation processes. This study focuses on conversion of lactate and acetate to butyrate by bacteria of dark fermentation. The recently recognized flavin-based electron bifurcation as a mode of energy coupling by anaerobes increases our knowledge of anaerobic lactate oxidation and butyrate formation.

RESULTS: Microbial communities from dark fermentation bioreactors or pure culture of Clostridium butyricum are able to convert lactate and acetate to butyrate in batch experiments. The ability of C. butyricum to transform lactate and acetate to butyrate was shown for the first time, with ethanol identified as an additional end product of this process. A search for genes encoding EtfAB complexes and their gene neighbourhood in C. butyricum and other bacteria capable of lactate and acetate conversion to butyrate as well as butyrate-producers only and the lactate oxidiser Acetobacterium woodii, revealed that the Etf complexes involved in (i) lactate oxidation and (ii) butyrate synthesis, form separate clusters. There is a more extent similarity between Etf subunits that are involved in lactate oxidation in various species (e.g. A. woodii and C. butyricum) than between the different etf gene products within the same species of butyrate producers. A scheme for the metabolic pathway of lactate and acetate transformation to butyrate in C. butyricum was constructed.

CONCLUSIONS: Studies on the conversion of lactate and acetate to butyrate by microbial communities from dark fermentation bioreactors or Clostridium butyricum suggest that a phenomenon analogous to cross-feeding of lactate in gastrointestinal tract also occurs in hydrogen-yielding reactors. A scheme of lactate and acetate transformation pathway is proposed, based on the example of C. butyricum, which employs flavin-based electron bifurcation. This process utilizes electron-transferring flavoprotein (Etf) complexes specific for (i) lactate oxidation and (ii) butyrate formation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that such complexes are encoded in the genomes of other bacteria capable of lactate and acetate conversion to butyrate. These findings contribute significantly to our understanding of the metabolic pathways and symbiotic interactions between bacteria during the acidogenic step of anaerobic digestion.}, } @article {pmid30759832, year = {2019}, author = {Jia, T and Wang, J and Chang, W and Fan, X and Sui, X and Song, F}, title = {Proteomics Analysis of E. angustifolia Seedlings Inoculated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi under Salt Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30759832}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Elaeagnaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Salt Stress/*physiology ; Salt Tolerance/physiology ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/metabolism ; Seedlings/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {To reveal the mechanism of salinity stress alleviation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we investigated the growth parameter, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and protein abundance pattern of E. angustifolia seedlings that were cultured under salinity stress (300 mmol/L NaCl) and inoculated by Rhizophagus irregularis (RI). Furthermore, a label-free quantitative proteomics approach was used to reveal the stress-responsive proteins in the leaves of E. angustifolia. The result indicates that the abundance of 75 proteins in the leaves was significantly influenced when E. angustifolia was inoculated with AMF, which were mainly involved in the metabolism, signal transduction, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Furthermore, we identified chorismate mutase, elongation factor mitochondrial, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, calcium-dependent kinase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, NADH dehydrogenase, alkaline neutral invertase, peroxidase, and other proteins closely related to the salt tolerance process. The proteomic results indicated that E. angustifolia seedlings inoculated with AMF increased the secondary metabolism level of phenylpropane metabolism, enhanced the signal transduction of Ca[2+] and ROS scavenging ability, promoted the biosynthesis of protein, accelerated the protein folding, and inhibited the degradation of protein under salt stress. Moreover, AMF enhanced the synthesis of ATP and provided sufficient energy for plant cell activity. This study implied that symbiosis of halophytes and AMF has potential as an application for the improvement of saline-alkali soils.}, } @article {pmid30759803, year = {2019}, author = {Crespo-Rivas, JC and Navarro-Gómez, P and Alias-Villegas, C and Shi, J and Zhen, T and Niu, Y and Cuéllar, V and Moreno, J and Cubo, T and Vinardell, JM and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Acosta-Jurado, S and Soto, MJ}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 RirA Is Required for Oxidative Stress Resistance and Efficient Symbiosis with Soybean.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30759803}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oxidative Stress/*genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics ; Siderophores/genetics ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {Members of Rhizobiaceae contain a homologue of the iron-responsive regulatory protein RirA. In different bacteria, RirA acts as a repressor of iron uptake systems under iron-replete conditions and contributes to ameliorate cell damage during oxidative stress. In Rhizobium leguminosarum and Sinorhizobium meliloti, mutations in rirA do not impair symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this study, a rirA mutant of broad host range S. fredii HH103 has been constructed (SVQ780) and its free-living and symbiotic phenotypes evaluated. No production of siderophores could be detected in either the wild-type or SVQ780. The rirA mutant exhibited a growth advantage under iron-deficient conditions and hypersensitivity to hydrogen peroxide in iron-rich medium. Transcription of rirA in HH103 is subject to autoregulation and inactivation of the gene upregulates fbpA, a gene putatively involved in iron transport. The S. fredii rirA mutant was able to nodulate soybean plants, but symbiotic nitrogen fixation was impaired. Nodules induced by the mutant were poorly infected compared to those induced by the wild-type. Genetic complementation reversed the mutant's hypersensitivity to H2O2, expression of fbpA, and symbiotic deficiency in soybean plants. This is the first report that demonstrates a role for RirA in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30759733, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, HX and Nan, Y and Yang, Y}, title = {Multi-UAV Reconnaissance Task Assignment for Heterogeneous Targets Based on Modified Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30759733}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {Aircraft/*instrumentation ; Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Monte Carlo Method ; }, abstract = {This paper considers a reconnaissance task assignment problem for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with different sensor capacities. A modified Multi-Objective Symbiotic Organisms Search algorithm (MOSOS) is adopted to optimize UAVs' task sequence. A time-window based task model is built for heterogeneous targets. Then, the basic task assignment problem is formulated as a Multiple Time-Window based Dubins Travelling Salesmen Problem (MTWDTSP). Double-chain encoding rules and several criteria are established for the task assignment problem under logical and physical constraints. Pareto dominance determination and global adaptive scaling factors is introduced to improve the performance of original MOSOS. Numerical simulation and Monte-Carlo simulation results for the task assignment problem are also presented in this paper, whereas comparisons with non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and original MOSOS are made to verify the superiority of the proposed method. The simulation results demonstrate that modified SOS outperforms the original MOSOS and NSGA-II in terms of optimality and efficiency of the assignment results in MTWDTSP.}, } @article {pmid30759164, year = {2019}, author = {Hassing, B and Winter, D and Becker, Y and Mesarich, CH and Eaton, CJ and Scott, B}, title = {Analysis of Epichloë festucae small secreted proteins in the interaction with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e0209463}, pmid = {30759164}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; Computational Biology ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Endophytes/genetics/*metabolism ; Epichloe/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Escherichia coli ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Host Microbial Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Lolium/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mutation ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Sequence Analysis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae is an endophyte of the agriculturally important perennial ryegrass. This species systemically colonises the aerial tissues of this host where its growth is tightly regulated thereby maintaining a mutualistic symbiotic interaction. Recent studies have suggested that small secreted proteins, termed effectors, play a vital role in the suppression of host defence responses. To date only a few effectors with important roles in mutualistic interactions have been described. Here we make use of the fully assembled E. festucae genome and EffectorP to generate a suite of 141 effector candidates. These were analysed with respect to their genome location and expression profiles in planta and in several symbiosis-defective mutants. We found an association between effector candidates and a class of transposable elements known as MITEs, but no correlation with other dynamic features of the E. festucae genome, such as transposable element-rich regions. Three effector candidates and a small GPI-anchored protein were chosen for functional analysis based on their high expression in planta compared to in culture and their differential regulation in symbiosis defective E. festucae mutants. All three candidate effector proteins were shown to possess a functional signal peptide and two could be detected in the extracellular medium by western blotting. Localization of the effector candidates in planta suggests that they are not translocated into the plant cell, but rather, are localized in the apoplastic space or are attached to the cell wall. Deletion and overexpression of the effector candidates, as well as the putative GPI-anchored protein, did not affect the plant growth phenotype or restrict growth of E. festucae mutants in planta. These results indicate that these proteins are either not required for the interaction at the observed life stages or that there is redundancy between effectors expressed by E. festucae.}, } @article {pmid30753553, year = {2019}, author = {Gautrat, P and Mortier, V and Laffont, C and De Keyser, A and Fromentin, J and Frugier, F and Goormachtig, S}, title = {Unraveling new molecular players involved in the autoregulation of nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {4}, pages = {1407-1417}, pmid = {30753553}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The number of legume root nodules resulting from a symbiosis with rhizobia is tightly controlled by the plant. Certain members of the CLAVATA3/Embryo Surrounding Region (CLE) peptide family, specifically MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 in Medicago truncatula, act in the systemic autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway that negatively regulates the number of nodules. Little is known about the molecular pathways that operate downstream of the AON-related CLE peptides. Here, by means of a transcriptome analysis, we show that roots ectopically expressing MtCLE13 deregulate only a limited number of genes, including three down-regulated genes encoding lysin motif receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs), among which are the nodulation factor (NF) receptor NF Perception gene (NFP) and two up-regulated genes, MtTML1 and MtTML2, encoding Too Much Love (TML)-related Kelch-repeat containing F-box proteins. The observed deregulation was specific for the ectopic expression of nodulation-related MtCLE genes and depended on the Super Numeric Nodules (SUNN) AON RLK. Moreover, overexpression and silencing of these two MtTML genes demonstrated that they play a role in the negative regulation of nodule numbers. Hence, the identified MtTML genes are the functional counterpart of the Lotus japonicus TML gene shown to be central in the AON pathway. Additionally, we propose that the down-regulation of a subset of LysM-RLK-encoding genes, among which is NFP, might contribute to the restriction of further nodulation once the first nodules have been formed.}, } @article {pmid30753410, year = {2019}, author = {Plouznikoff, K and Asins, MJ and de Boulois, HD and Carbonell, EA and Declerck, S}, title = {Genetic analysis of tomato root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {124}, number = {6}, pages = {933-946}, pmid = {30753410}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Fungi ; *Solanum lycopersicum ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; *Solanum ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in plant nutrition and protection against pests and diseases, as well as in soil structuration, nutrient cycling and, generally speaking, in sustainable agriculture, particularly under drought, salinity and low input or organic agriculture. However, little is known about the genetics of the AMF-plant association in tomato. The aim of this study was the genetic analysis of root AMF colonization in tomato via the detection of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved.

METHODS: A population of 130 recombinant inbred lines derived from the wild species Solanum pimpinellifolium, genotyped for 1899 segregating, non-redundant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the SolCAP tomato panel, was characterized for intensity, frequency and arbuscular abundance of AMF colonization to detect the QTLs involved and to analyse the genes within their peaks (2-2.6 Mbp).

KEY RESULTS: The three AMF colonization parameters were highly correlated (0.78-0.97) and the best one, with the highest heritability (0.23), corresponded to colonization intensity. A total of eight QTLs in chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 were detected. Seven of them simultaneously affected intensity and arbuscule abundance. The allele increasing the expression of the trait usually came from the wild parent in accordance with the parental means, and several epistatic interactions were found relevant for breeding purposes. SlCCaMK and SlLYK13 were found among the candidate genes. Carbohydrate transmembrane transporter activity, lipid metabolism and transport, metabolic processes related to nitrogen and phosphate-containing compounds, regulation of carbohydrates, and other biological processes involved in the plant defence were found to be over-represented within the QTL peaks.

CONCLUSIONS: Intensity is genetically the best morphological measure of tomato root AMF colonization. Wild alleles can improve AMF colonization, and the gene contents of AMF colonization QTLs might be important for explaining the establishment and functioning of the AMF-plant symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30744890, year = {2019}, author = {Pradeep Kumar, R and Dinesh Babu, KV and Evans, DA}, title = {Isolation, characterization and mode of action of a larvicidal compound, 22-hydroxyhopane from Adiantum latifolium Lam. against Oryctes rhinoceros Linn.}, journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {153}, number = {}, pages = {161-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.11.018}, pmid = {30744890}, issn = {1095-9939}, mesh = {*Adiantum ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; Bacillus cereus/drug effects ; Coleoptera/*drug effects/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/enzymology ; Hemolymph/drug effects ; Insecticides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; Larva/*drug effects/physiology ; Metamorphosis, Biological/drug effects ; Plant Leaves ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/drug effects ; Triterpenes/chemistry/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Oryctes rhinoceros Linn. is one of the most serious pests of coconuts and other palms. Following bioassay guided method, a larvicidal compound, 22-hydroxyhopane has been isolated for the first time from methanol extract of leaves of Adiantum latifolium Lam. against the pest (LC50 value 20.81 μg/g). It is a hopanoid triterpene with molecular mass of 442.42 g/mol. The compound exhibited antibacterial activity against symbiotic gut bacteria, caused histolysis of midgut tissues and inhibited secretion of digestive enzymes such as protease, amylase and trehalase resulting in weight loss of larvae. Enzyme immunoassay showed an elevation of 20-hydroxyecdysone level in haemolymph causing disruption of metamorphosis of larvae.}, } @article {pmid30744707, year = {2019}, author = {Augustinos, AA and Moraiti, CA and Drosopoulou, E and Kounatidis, I and Mavragani-Tsipidou, P and Bourtzis, K and Papadopoulos, NT}, title = {Old residents and new arrivals of Rhagoletis species in Europe.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {109}, number = {6}, pages = {701-712}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485319000063}, pmid = {30744707}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Europe ; Insect Control/methods ; Introduced Species ; Population Dynamics ; Tephritidae/*classification/genetics/microbiology ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {The genus Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) comprises more than 65 species distributed throughout Europe, Asia and America, including many species of high economic importance. Currently, there are three Rhagoletis species that infest fruits and nuts in Europe. The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (may have invaded Europe a long time ago from the Caucasian area of West Asia), and two invasive species (recently introduced from North America): the eastern American cherry fruit fly, R. cingulata, and the walnut husk fly, R. completa. The presence of different Rhagoletis species may enhance population dynamics and establish an unpredictable economic risk for several fruit and nut crops in Europe. Despite their excessive economic importance, little is known on population dynamics, genetics and symbiotic associations for making sound pest control decisions in terms of species-specific, environmental friendly pest control methods. To this end, the current paper (a) summarizes recently accumulated genetic and population data for the European Rhagoletis species and their association with the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, and (b) explores the possibility of using the current knowledge for implementing the innovative biological control methods of sterile insect technique and incompatible insect technique.}, } @article {pmid30744677, year = {2019}, author = {Blakeley-Ruiz, JA and Erickson, AR and Cantarel, BL and Xiong, W and Adams, R and Jansson, JK and Fraser, CM and Hettich, RL}, title = {Metaproteomics reveals persistent and phylum-redundant metabolic functional stability in adult human gut microbiomes of Crohn's remission patients despite temporal variations in microbial taxa, genomes, and proteomes.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {18}, pmid = {30744677}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {UH2 DK083991/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/analysis ; Adult ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Crohn Disease/*microbiology/surgery ; Cytidine Monophosphate N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/analysis ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/analysis ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in the human host's overall health by contributing key biological functions such as expanded metabolism and pathogen defense/immune control. In a healthy individual, the gut microbiome co-exists within the human host in a symbiotic, non-inflammatory relationship that enables mutual benefits, such as microbial degradation of indigestible food products into small molecules that the host can utilize, and enhanced pathogen defense. In abnormal conditions, such as Crohn's disease, this favorable metabolic relationship breaks down and a variety of undesirable activities result, including chronic inflammation and other health-related issues. It has been difficult, however, to elucidate the overall functional characteristics of this relationship because the microbiota can vary substantially in composition for healthy humans and possibly even more in individuals with gut disease conditions such as Crohn's disease. Overall, this suggests that microbial membership composition may not be the best way to characterize a phenotype. Alternatively, it seems to be more informative to examine and characterize the functional composition of a gut microbiome. Towards that end, this study examines 25 metaproteomes measured in several Crohn's disease patients' post-resection surgery across the course of 1 year, in order to examine persistence of microbial taxa, genes, proteins, and metabolic functional distributions across time in individuals whose microbiome might be more variable due to the gut disease condition.

RESULTS: The measured metaproteomes were highly personalized, with all the temporally-related metaproteomes clustering most closely by individual. In general, the metaproteomes were remarkably distinct between individuals and to a lesser extent within individuals. This prompted a need to characterize the metaproteome at a higher functional level, which was achieved by annotating identified protein groups with KEGG orthologous groups to infer metabolic modules. At this level, similar and redundant metabolic functions across multiple phyla were observed across time and between individuals. Tracking through these various metabolic modules revealed a clear path from carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid degradation to central metabolism and finally the production of fermentation products.

CONCLUSIONS: The human gut metaproteome can vary quite substantially across time and individuals. However, despite substantial intra-individual variation in the metaproteomes, there is a clear persistence of conserved metabolic functions across time and individuals. Additionally, the persistence of these core functions is redundant across multiple phyla but is not always observable in the same sample. Finally, the gut microbiome's metabolism is not driven by a set of discrete linear pathways but a web of interconnected reactions facilitated by a network of enzymes that connect multiple molecules across multiple pathways.}, } @article {pmid30744592, year = {2019}, author = {Lines, LA and , and Jardine, CG}, title = {Connection to the land as a youth-identified social determinant of Indigenous Peoples' health.}, journal = {BMC public health}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {176}, pmid = {30744592}, issn = {1471-2458}, support = {IPH 143070//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; *Indians, North American ; Northwest Territories ; *Social Determinants of Health ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Social determinants of Indigenous health are known to include structural determinants such as history, political climate, and social contexts. Relationships, interconnectivity, and community are fundamental to these determinants. Understanding these determinants from the perspective of Indigenous youth is vital to identifying means of alleviating future inequities.

METHODS: In 2016, fifteen Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) youth in the Canadian Northwest Territories participated in the 'On-the-Land Health Leadership Camp'. Using a strength- and community-based participatory approach through an Indigenous research lens, the YKDFN Wellness Division and university researchers crafted the workshop to provide opportunities for youth to practice cultural skills, and to capture the youth's perspectives of health and health agency. Perspectives of a healthy community, health issues, and health priorities were collected from youth through sharing circles, PhotoVoice, mural art, and surveys.

RESULTS: The overall emerging theme was that a connection to the land is an imperative determinant of YKDFN health. Youth identified the importance of a relationship to land including practicing cultural skills, Elders passing on traditional knowledge, and surviving off the land. The youth framed future health research to include roles for youth and an on-the-land component that builds YKDFN culture, community relations, and traditional knowledge transfer. Youth felt that a symbiotic relationship between land, environment, and people is fundamental to building a healthy community.

CONCLUSION: Our research confirmed there is a direct and critical relationship between structural context and determinants of Indigenous Peoples' health, and that this should be incorporated into health research and interventions.}, } @article {pmid30742016, year = {2019}, author = {Ohbayashi, T and Futahashi, R and Terashima, M and Barrière, Q and Lamouche, F and Takeshita, K and Meng, XY and Mitani, Y and Sone, T and Shigenobu, S and Fukatsu, T and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Comparative cytology, physiology and transcriptomics of Burkholderia insecticola in symbiosis with the bean bug Riptortus pedestris and in culture.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {1469-1483}, pmid = {30742016}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Culture Media/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {In the symbiosis of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris with Burkholderia insecticola, the bacteria occupy an exclusive niche in the insect midgut and favor insect development and reproduction. In order to understand how the symbiotic bacteria stably colonize the midgut crypts and which services they provide to the host, we compared the cytology, physiology, and transcriptomics of free-living and midgut-colonizing B. insecticola. The analyses revealed that midgut-colonizing bacteria were smaller in size and had lower DNA content, they had increased stress sensitivity, lost motility, and an altered cell surface. Transcriptomics revealed what kinds of nutrients are provided by the bean bug to the Burkholderia symbiont. Transporters and metabolic pathways of diverse sugars such as rhamnose and ribose, and sulfur compounds like sulfate and taurine were upregulated in the midgut-colonizing symbionts. Moreover, pathways enabling the assimilation of insect nitrogen wastes, i.e. allantoin and urea, were also upregulated. The data further suggested that the midgut-colonizing symbionts produced all essential amino acids and B vitamins, some of which are scarce in the soybean food of the host insect. Together, these findings suggest that the Burkholderia symbiont is fed with specific nutrients and also recycles host metabolic wastes in the insect gut, and in return, the bacterial symbiont provides the host with essential nutrients limited in the insect food, contributing to the rapid growth and enhanced reproduction of the bean bug host.}, } @article {pmid30740571, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Y and Li, N and Chen, T and Gong, Y}, title = {Generation and characterization of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from coralloid root cDNA library of Cycas debaoensis.}, journal = {Plant diversity}, volume = {40}, number = {5}, pages = {245-252}, pmid = {30740571}, issn = {2468-2659}, abstract = {A normalized full-length cDNA library was constructed from the coralloid roots of Cycas debaoensis by the DSN (duplex-specific nuclease) normalization method combined with the SMART (Switching Mechanism At 5' end of the RNA Transcript) technique. The titer of the original cDNA library was about 1.5 × 10[6] cfu·mL[-1] and the average insertion size was about 1 kb with a high recombination rate (97%). The 5011 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained from 5393 randomly picked cDNA clones. Clustering and assembly of ESTs resulted in 2984 unique sequences, consisting of 618 contigs and 2366 singlets. EST sequence annotation revealed that 2333 and 1901 unigenes were functionally annotated in the NCBI non-redundant database and Swiss-Prot protein database, respectively. Functional analysis demonstrated that 1495 (50.1%) unigenes were associated with 4082 Gene Ontology (GO) terms. A total of 847 unigenes were grouped into 22 Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG) functional categories. Based on the EST dataset, 22 ESTs that encoded putative receptor-like protein kinase (RLK) genes were screened. Furthermore, a total of 94 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were discovered, of which 20 loci were successfully amplified in C. debaoensis. This study is the first EST analysis for the coralloid roots of C. debaoensis and provides a valuable genomic resource for novel gene discovery, gene expression and comparative genomics, conservation and management studies as well as applications in C. debaoensis and related cycad species.}, } @article {pmid30740120, year = {2018}, author = {Nogales, A and Santos, ES and Abreu, MM and Arán, D and Victorino, G and Pereira, HS and Lopes, CM and Viegas, W}, title = {Mycorrhizal Inoculation Differentially Affects Grapevine's Performance in Copper Contaminated and Non-contaminated Soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1906}, pmid = {30740120}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is increasingly employed to enhance productivity and sustainability in agricultural ecosystems. In the present study, the potential benefits of AMF inoculation on young grapevines replanted in pots containing vineyard soil with high Cu concentration were evaluated. For this purpose, one-year-old cv. Touriga Nacional grapevines grafted onto 1103P rootstocks were further inoculated with Rhizoglomus irregulare or Funneliformis mosseae, or left non-inoculated, and maintained in a sterilized substrate under greenhouse conditions for three months. After this time, half of the plants were transplanted to containers filled with an Arenosol from a vineyard which had been artificially contaminated or not with 300 mg kg[-1] of Cu. At the end of the growing season, soil nutrient concentration, soil dehydrogenase activity and mycorrhizal colonization rate were analyzed. Grapevine performance was assessed by measuring several vegetative growth and physiological parameters as well as nutrient concentrations in leaves and roots. In the non-contaminated soil, R. irregulare- and F. mosseae-inoculated plants had significantly greater root biomass than the non-inoculated ones. However, the opposite effect was observed in the Cu-contaminated soil, where non-inoculated plants performed better regarding shoot and root development. Concerning nutrient levels, an increase in Cu, Mg and Mn concentrations was observed in the roots of plants growing in the contaminated soil, although only Mn was translocated to leaves. This led to a large increase in leaf Mn concentrations, which was significantly higher in non-inoculated and F. mosseae- inoculated plants than in the R. irregulare- inoculated ones. Copper contamination induced a general decrease in leaf N, P and Fe concentrations as well as chlorosis symptoms. The largest decrease in N and P was observed in F. mosseae- inoculated plants, with 73 and 31.2%, respectively. However, these plants were the ones with the least decrease in Fe concentration (10% vs. almost 30% in the other two inoculation treatments). In conclusion, this study indicates that soil Cu levels can modify the outcome of AMF inoculations in young grapevines, disclosing new AMF-plant associations potentially relevant in vineyards with a tradition of Cu-based fungicide application.}, } @article {pmid30738662, year = {2019}, author = {Yasui, R and Seto, Y and Ito, S and Kawada, K and Itto-Nakama, K and Mashiguchi, K and Yamaguchi, S}, title = {Chemical screening of novel strigolactone agonists that specifically interact with DWARF14 protein.}, journal = {Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters}, volume = {29}, number = {7}, pages = {938-942}, doi = {10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.01.010}, pmid = {30738662}, issn = {1464-3405}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Lactones/administration & dosage/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Mutation ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics/*metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones that regulate shoot branching as well as being known as root-derived signals for parasitic and symbiotic interactions. The physical interaction between SLs and the DWARF14 (D14) receptor family can be examined by differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) that monitors the changes in protein melting temperature (Tm). The Tm of D14 is lowered by bioactive SLs in DSF analysis. In this report, we screened the compounds that lower the Tm of Arabidopsis D14 (AtD14) as potential candidates for SL agonists using DSF analysis. Subsequent physiological analyzes revealed that 113D10 acts as a novel SL agonist in a D14-dependent manner. Intriguingly, 113D10 has a chemical structure different from natural SLs in that it does not possess an enol ether bond that connects to a methylbutenolide moiety. Moreover, 113D10 does not stimulate seed germination of root parasitic plants. Accordingly, 113D10 can be a useful tool for SL studies and agricultural applications.}, } @article {pmid30737512, year = {2019}, author = {Ivanov, S and Austin, J and Berg, RH and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Extensive membrane systems at the host-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus interface.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {194-203}, pmid = {30737512}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Electron Microscope Tomography ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Cells/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*cytology/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, cells within the root cortex develop a matrix-filled apoplastic compartment in which differentiated AM fungal hyphae called arbuscules reside. Development of the compartment occurs rapidly, coincident with intracellular penetration and rapid branching of the fungal hypha, and it requires much of the plant cell's secretory machinery to generate the periarbuscular membrane that delimits the compartment. Despite recent advances, our understanding of the development of the periarbuscular membrane and the transfer of molecules across the symbiotic interface is limited. Here, using electron microscopy and tomography, we reveal that the periarbuscular matrix contains two types of membrane-bound compartments. We propose that one of these arises as a consequence of biogenesis of the periarbuscular membrane and may facilitate movement of molecules between symbiotic partners. Additionally, we show that the arbuscule contains massive arrays of membrane tubules located between the protoplast and the cell wall. We speculate that these tubules may provide the absorptive capacity needed for nutrient assimilation and possibly water absorption to enable rapid hyphal expansion.}, } @article {pmid30737510, year = {2019}, author = {Limpens, E}, title = {Extracellular membranes in symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {131-132}, pmid = {30737510}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Extracellular Vesicles ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30734808, year = {2019}, author = {Abreu, I and Mihelj, P and Raimunda, D}, title = {Transition metal transporters in rhizobia: tuning the inorganic micronutrient requirements to different living styles.}, journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {735-755}, doi = {10.1039/c8mt00372f}, pmid = {30734808}, issn = {1756-591X}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Iron/metabolism ; Metals/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A group of bacteria known as rhizobia are key players in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in partnership with legumes. After a molecular exchange, the bacteria end surrounded by a plant membrane forming symbiosomes, organelle-like structures, where they differentiate to bacteroids and fix nitrogen. This symbiotic process is highly dependent on dynamic nutrient exchanges between the partners. Among these are transition metals (TM) participating as inorganic and organic cofactors of fundamental enzymes. While the understanding of how plant transporters facilitate TMs to the very near environment of the bacteroid is expanding, our knowledge on how bacteroid transporters integrate to TM homeostasis mechanisms in the plant host is still limited. This is significantly relevant considering the low solubility and scarcity of TMs in soils, and the in crescendo gradient of TM bioavailability rhizobia faces during the infection and bacteroid differentiation processes. In the present work, we review the main metal transporter families found in rhizobia, their role in free-living conditions and, when known, in symbiosis. We focus on discussing those transporters which could play a significant role in TM-dependent biochemical and physiological processes in the bacteroid, thus paving the way towards an optimized SNF.}, } @article {pmid30733794, year = {2018}, author = {Satyanarayana, SDV and Krishna, MSR and Pavan Kumar, P and Jeereddy, S}, title = {In silico structural homology modeling of nif A protein of rhizobial strains in selective legume plants.}, journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {731-737}, pmid = {30733794}, issn = {2090-5920}, abstract = {Symbiosis is a complex genetic regulatory biological evolution which is highly specific pertaining to plant species and microbial strains. Biological nitrogen fixation in legumes is a functional combination of nodulation by nod genes and regulation by nif, fix genes. Three rhizobial strains (Rhizobium leguminosarum, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Mesorhizobium ciceri) that we considered for in silico analysis of nif A are proved to be the best isolates with respect to N2 fixing for ground nut, chick pea and soya bean (in vitro) out of 47 forest soil samples. An attempt has been made to understand the structural characteristics and variations of nif genes that may reveal the factors influencing the nitrogen fixation. The primary, secondary and tertiary structure of nif A protein was analyzed by using multiple bioinformatics tools such as chou-Fasman, GOR, ExPasy ProtParam tools, Prosa -web. Literature shows that the homology modeling of nif A protein have not been explored yet which insisted the immediate development for better understanding of nif A structure and its influence on biological nitrogen fixation. In the present predicted 3D structure, the nif A protein was analyzed by three different software tools (Phyre2, Swiss model, Modeller) and validated accordingly which can be considered as an acceptable model. However further in silico studies are suggested to determine the specific factors responsible for nitrogen fixing in the present three rhizobial strains.}, } @article {pmid30733713, year = {2018}, author = {da Mota, FF and Castro, DP and Vieira, CS and Gumiel, M and de Albuquerque, JP and Carels, N and Azambuja, P}, title = {In vitro Trypanocidal Activity, Genomic Analysis of Isolates, and in vivo Transcription of Type VI Secretion System of Serratia marcescens Belonging to the Microbiota of Rhodnius prolixus Digestive Tract.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {3205}, pmid = {30733713}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Serratia marcescens is a bacterium with the ability to colonize several niches, including some eukaryotic hosts. S. marcescens have been recently found in the gut of hematophagous insects that act as parasite vectors, such as Anopheles, Rhodnius, and Triatoma. While some S. marcescens strains have been reported as symbiotic or pathogenic to other insects, the role of S. marcescens populations from the gut microbiota of Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of Chagas' disease, remains unknown. Bacterial colonies from R. prolixus gut were isolated on BHI agar. After BOX-PCR fingerprinting, the genomic sequences of two isolates RPA1 and RPH1 were compared to others S. marcescens from the NCBI database in other to estimate their evolutionary divergence. The in vitro trypanolytic activity of these two bacterial isolates against Trypanosoma cruzi (DM28c clone and Y strain) was assessed by microscopy. In addition, the gene expression of type VI secretion system (T6SS) was detected in vivo by RT-PCR. Comparative genomics of RPA1 and RPH1 revealed, besides plasmid presence and genomic islands, genes related to motility, attachment, and quorum sensing in both genomes while genes for urea hydrolysis and type II secretion system (T2SS) were found only in the RPA1 genome. The in vitro trypanolytic activity of both S. marcescens strains was stronger in their stationary phases of growth than in their exponential ones, with 65-70 and 85-90% of epimastigotes (Dm28c clone and Y strain, respectively) being lysed after incubation with RPA1 or RPH1 in stationary phase. Although T6SS transcripts were detected in guts up to 40 days after feeding (DAF), R. prolixus morbidity or mortality did not appear to be affected. In this report, we made available two trypanolytic S. marcescens strains from R. prolixus gut to the scientific community together with their genomic sequences. Here, we describe their genomic features with the purpose of bringing new insights into the S. marcescens adaptations for colonization of the specific niche of triatomine guts. This study provides the basis for a better understanding of the role of S. marcescens in the microbiota of R. prolixus gut as a potential antagonist of T. cruzi in this complex system.}, } @article {pmid30731202, year = {2019}, author = {Chujo, T and Lukito, Y and Eaton, CJ and Dupont, PY and Johnson, LJ and Winter, D and Cox, MP and Scott, B}, title = {Complex epigenetic regulation of alkaloid biosynthesis and host interaction by heterochromatin protein I in a fungal endophyte-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {125}, number = {}, pages = {71-83}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2019.02.001}, pmid = {30731202}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Chromobox Protein Homolog 5 ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/*genetics ; Diterpenes/metabolism ; Endophytes/genetics/growth & development ; Epichloe/*genetics/growth & development ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Ergot Alkaloids/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Heterochromatin/genetics ; Hyphae/genetics/growth & development ; Lolium/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae forms mutualistic symbiotic interactions with grasses of the Lolium and Festuca genera. Protection from insect and mammalian herbivory are the best-documented host benefits of these associations. The two main classes of anti-mammalian alkaloids synthesized by E. festucae are the ergot alkaloids and indole diterpenes, of which ergovaline and lolitrems are the principal terminal products. Synthesis of both metabolites require multiple gene products encoded by clusters of 11 genes located at the subtelomeric regions of chromosomes I and III respectively. These loci are essentially unexpressed in axenic culture but among the most highly expressed genes in planta. We show here that heterochromatin 1 protein (HepA) is an important component of the regulatory machinery that maintains these loci in a silent state in culture. Deletion of this gene led to derepression of eas and ltm gene expression under non-symbiotic culture conditions. Although there was no obvious culture phenotype, RNAseq analysis revealed that around 1000 genes were differentially expressed in the ΔhepA mutant compared to wild type with just one-third upregulated. Inoculation of the ΔhepA mutants into seedlings of Lolium perenne led to a severe host interaction phenotype characterized by a reduction in tiller length but an increase in tiller number. Hyphae within the leaves of these associations were much more abundant in the intercellular spaces of the leaves and aberrantly colonized the vascular bundles. This physiological change was accompanied by a dramatic change in the transcriptome with around 900 genes differentially expressed, with two thirds of these upregulated. This major physiological change was accompanied by a decrease in ltm gene expression and loss of the ability to synthesize lolitrems. These results show that HepA has an important role in controlling the chromatin state of these sub-telomeric secondary metabolite genes, including their symbiosis-specific regulation.}, } @article {pmid30730567, year = {2019}, author = {Li, C and Zhou, J and Wang, X and Liao, H}, title = {A purple acid phosphatase, GmPAP33, participates in arbuscule degeneration during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in soybean.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {2015-2027}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13530}, pmid = {30730567}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glucuronidase ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phospholipids ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscules are the central structures of the symbiotic association between terrestrial plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However, arbuscules are also ephemeral structures, and following development, these structures are soon digested and ultimately disappear. Currently, little is known regarding the mechanism underlying the digestion of senescent arbuscules. Here, biochemical and functional analyses were integrated to test the hypothesis that a purple acid phosphatase, GmPAP33, controls the hydrolysis of phospholipids during arbuscule degeneration. The expression of GmPAP33 was enhanced by AM fungal inoculation independent of the P conditions in soybean roots. Promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter assays revealed that the expression of GmPAP33 was mainly localized to arbuscule-containing cells during symbiosis. The recombinant GmPAP33 exhibited high hydrolytic activity towards phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidic acid. Furthermore, soybean plants overexpressing GmPAP33 exhibited increased percentages of large arbuscules and improved yield and P content compared with wild-type plants when inoculated with AM fungi. Mycorrhizal RNAi plants had high phospholipid levels and a large percentage of small arbuscules. These results in combination with the subcellular localization of GmPAP33 at the plasma membrane indicate that GmPAP33 participates in arbuscule degeneration during AM symbiosis via involvement in phospholipid hydrolysis.}, } @article {pmid30729921, year = {2019}, author = {Simo, G and Kanté, ST and Madinga, J and Kame, G and Farikou, O and Ilombe, G and Geiger, A and Lutumba, P and Njiokou, F}, title = {Molecular identification of Wolbachia and Sodalis glossinidius in the midgut of Glossina fuscipes quanzensis from the Democratic Republic of Congo.}, journal = {Parasite (Paris, France)}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {30729921}, issn = {1776-1042}, mesh = {Animals ; Coinfection/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Democratic Republic of the Congo ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Insect Vectors/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {During the last 30 years, investigations on the microbiome of different tsetse species have generated substantial data on the bacterial flora of these cyclical vectors of African trypanosomes, with the overarching goal of improving the control of trypanosomiases. It is in this context that the presence of Wolbachia and Sodalis glossinidius was studied in wild populations of Glossina fuscipes quanzensis from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tsetse flies were captured with pyramidal traps. Of the 700 Glossina f. quanzensis captured, 360 were dissected and their midguts collected and analyzed. Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia were identified by PCR. The Wolbachia-positive samples were genetically characterized with five molecular markers. PCR revealed 84.78% and 15.55% midguts infected by Wolbachia and S. glossinidius, respectively. The infection rates varied according to capture sites. Of the five molecular markers used to characterize Wolbachia, only the fructose bis-phosphate aldolase gene was amplified for about 60% of midguts previously found with Wolbachia infections. The sequencing results confirmed the presence of Wolbachia and revealed the presence of S. glossinidius in the midgut of Glossina f. quanzensis. A low level of midguts were naturally co-infected by both bacteria. The data generated in this study open a framework for investigations aimed at understanding the contribution of these symbiotic microorganisms to the vectorial competence of Glossina fuscipes quanzensis.}, } @article {pmid30729580, year = {2019}, author = {}, title = {Kalliope Papadopoulou.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {1701-1702}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15622}, pmid = {30729580}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Botany ; Endophytes ; Female ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; *Research ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30727955, year = {2019}, author = {Détrée, C and Haddad, I and Demey-Thomas, E and Vinh, J and Lallier, FH and Tanguy, A and Mary, J}, title = {Global host molecular perturbations upon in situ loss of bacterial endosymbionts in the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus assessed using proteomics and transcriptomics.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {109}, pmid = {30727955}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Gills/microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Microbiota ; Mytilidae/genetics/*microbiology ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Colonization of deep-sea hydrothermal vents by most invertebrates was made efficient through their adaptation to a symbiotic lifestyle with chemosynthetic bacteria, the primary producers in these ecosystems. Anatomical adaptations such as the establishment of specialized cells or organs have been evidenced in numerous deep-sea invertebrates. However, very few studies detailed global inter-dependencies between host and symbionts in these ecosystems. In this study, we proposed to describe, using a proteo-transcriptomic approach, the effects of symbionts loss on the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus' molecular biology. We induced an in situ depletion of symbionts and compared the proteo-transcriptome of the gills of mussels in three conditions: symbiotic mussels (natural population), symbiont-depleted mussels and aposymbiotic mussels.

RESULTS: Global proteomic and transcriptomic results evidenced a global disruption of host machinery in aposymbiotic organisms. We observed that the total number of proteins identified decreased from 1118 in symbiotic mussels to 790 in partially depleted mussels and 761 in aposymbiotic mussels. Using microarrays we identified 4300 transcripts differentially expressed between symbiont-depleted and symbiotic mussels. Among these transcripts, 799 were found differentially expressed in aposymbiotic mussels and almost twice as many in symbiont-depleted mussels as compared to symbiotic mussels. Regarding apoptotic and immune system processes - known to be largely involved in symbiotic interactions - an overall up-regulation of associated proteins and transcripts was observed in symbiont-depleted mussels.

CONCLUSION: Overall, our study showed a global impairment of host machinery and an activation of both the immune and apoptotic system following symbiont-depletion. One of the main assumptions is the involvement of symbiotic bacteria in the inhibition and regulation of immune and apoptotic systems. As such, symbiotic bacteria may increase their lifespan in gill cells while managing the defense of the holobiont against putative pathogens.}, } @article {pmid30727901, year = {2019}, author = {Halawa, MR and El-Salam, MA and Mostafa, BM and Sallout, SS}, title = {The Gut Microbiome, Lactobacillus acidophilus; Relation with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.}, journal = {Current diabetes reviews}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {480-485}, doi = {10.2174/1573399815666190206162143}, pmid = {30727901}, issn = {1875-6417}, mesh = {Case-Control Studies ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Lactobacillus acidophilus/physiology ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic interactions of microorganisms are widespread in nature, and support fundamentally important processes linking health and disease to the bacterial ecology. Intestinal microbiota is the largest source of microbial stimulation that exerts both harmful and beneficial effects on human health. It participates in the development of the postnatal immune system as well as oral tolerance and immunity. The recently explored impact of the microbiota on energy metabolism, gut hormone regulation and the gut-brain axis was judged to be a fascinating topic and of great value in the future, and can have a clinical role in the management of obesity and diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the gut microbe, Lactobacillus acidophilus, in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (controlled and uncontrolled) compared to healthy individuals, as a preliminary approach to future treatment with probiotics, prebiotics or diet modulation.

METHODS: A case control study was conducted on 30 diabetic patients and 10 control individuals. All patients were subjected to full history, thorough clinical examination, and laboratory measurement of fasting blood sugar, 2 hours post prandial, Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C), CRP (C-Reactive Protein), Lipid profile, and Identification of stool Lactobacillus acidophilus by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique.

RESULTS: Significantly lower Stool Lactobacillus acidophilus PCR count among diabetic patients when compared to healthy control individuals.

CONCLUSION: Stool Lactobacillus acidophilus PCR count was lower among type 2 diabetic patients, which may show relationship of lactobacillus with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, further studies are needed to determine correlation or causation of this relationship.}, } @article {pmid30726794, year = {2019}, author = {Matsuoka, JI and Ishizuna, F and Ogawa, T and Hidaka, M and Siarot, L and Aono, T}, title = {Localization of the reb operon expression is inconsistent with that of the R-body production in the stem nodules formed by Azorhizobium caulinodans mutants having a deletion of praR.}, journal = {The Journal of general and applied microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {4}, pages = {209-213}, doi = {10.2323/jgam.2018.09.003}, pmid = {30726794}, issn = {1349-8037}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; *Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Operon ; Plant Stems/*microbiology ; Sesbania/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans, a kind of rhizobia, has a reb operon encoding pathogenic R-body components, whose expression is usually repressed by a transcription factor PraR. Mutation on praR induced a high expression of reb operon and the formation of aberrant nodules, in which both morphologically normal and shrunken host cells were observed. Histochemical GUS analyses of praR mutant expressing reb operon-uidA fusion revealed that the bacterial cells within the normal host cells highly expressed the reb operon, but rarely produced R-bodies. On the other hand, the bacterial cells within the shrunken host cells frequently produced R-bodies but rarely expressed the reb operon. This suggests that R-body production is not only regulated at the transcriptional level, but by other regulatory mechanisms as well.}, } @article {pmid30726789, year = {2019}, author = {Hashami, SZ and Nakamura, H and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Kojima, K and Djedidi, S and Fukuhara, I and Haidari, MD and Sekimoto, H and Yokoyama, T}, title = {Evaluation of Immune Responses Induced by Simultaneous Inoculations of Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) with Soil Bacteria and Rhizobia.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {64-75}, pmid = {30726789}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*immunology ; Root Nodules, Plant/immunology/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form root nodules and fix atmospheric nitrogen by establishing symbiosis with rhizobia. However, excessive root nodules are harmful to plants because of the resulting overconsumption of energy from photosynthates. The delay of an inoculation of the soybean super-nodulation mutant NOD1-3 with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110[T] by 5 d after an inoculation with several soil bacteria confirmed that one bacterial group significantly decreased root nodules throughout the study period. Moreover, no significant changes were observed in nitrogen fixation by root nodules between an inoculation with USDA 110[T] only and co-inoculation treatments. To clarify the potential involvement of PR proteins in the restriction of nodule formation in the plants tested, the relative expression levels of PR-1, PR-2, PR-5, and PDF1.2 in NOD1-3 roots were measured using real-time PCR. One group of soil bacteria (Gr.3), which markedly reduced nodule numbers, significantly induced the expression of PR-1, PR-5 and PDF1.2 genes by day 5 after the inoculation. By days 7, 10, and 20 after the inoculation, the expression levels of PR-2 and PR-5 were lower than those with the uninoculated treatment. Inoculations with this group of soil bacteria resulted in lower root nodule numbers than with other tested soil bacteria exerting weak inhibitory effects on nodulation, and were accompanied by the induction of plant defense-related genes. Thus, PR genes appear to play important roles in the mechanisms that suppresses nodule formation on soybean roots.}, } @article {pmid30724686, year = {2019}, author = {Paulson, D and James, N and Brush, D}, title = {Quality of Life Enhancement Research Program: Lessons Learned.}, journal = {Journal of gerontological social work}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {392-398}, doi = {10.1080/01634372.2019.1575135}, pmid = {30724686}, issn = {1540-4048}, mesh = {Assisted Living Facilities ; Community-Institutional Relations/*standards ; Humans ; Nursing Homes ; *Program Evaluation ; *Quality of Life ; Research Design/standards ; }, abstract = {The attempted Quality of Life Enhancement program appeared to be a novel method for creating a symbiotic and sustainable relationship between a large Southeastern university and local nursing home and assisted living facilities (ALF), through which ALF residents would attend university arts and sporting events. During implementation, it was discovered that this project was unsustainable, undesired, unneeded by many care centers, difficult to implement, and required a dedicated and specialized staff. After attempting to enroll 14 local care facilities, only 2 were interested in becoming involved and produced 5 eligible participants. During the program itself, coordination with facilities and residents was difficult to maintain and unique transportation and accommodation needs were challenging to overcome. Finally, data collection was time consuming and generally unfruitful. Ultimately the project was discontinued after a year of attempted recruitment and implementation of inclusive changes to protocol. While creating an ongoing relationship with local care facilities and local universities may enhance opportunities for residents and research into important areas, such relationships take time, effort, and specialized staff to maintain.}, } @article {pmid30724150, year = {2019}, author = {Dellagnola, FA and Montes, MM and Martorelli, SR and Vega, IA}, title = {Morphological characterization and molecular phylogeny of zoonotic trematodes in the freshwater snail Asolene platae.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {146}, number = {7}, pages = {839-848}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182019000027}, pmid = {30724150}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animals ; Cercaria ; Cyclooxygenase 1/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Lakes/parasitology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Snails/*parasitology ; South America ; Trematoda/*anatomy & histology/*classification ; }, abstract = {In the context of a broader program dealing with the symbiotic associations of apple snails, we sampled three species that coexist in Lake Regatas (Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina). The population of Asolene platae, (but not those of Pomacea canaliculata and Pomacea scalaris) showed trematode larvae (echinocercariae and xiphidiocercariae) in haemocoelic spaces and connective tissue of the digestive gland. The echinocercariae resembled those of the genus Echinochasmus, but lacked sensory hairs on their body and tail; whereas xiphidiocercariae were similar to the xiphidiocercariae armatae belonging to the Opisthoglyphe type. The phylogenetical positions of these trematodes were inferred by the 28S rRNA, ITS1 and mtCOXI gene sequences. The 28S rRNA gene linked the echinocercarial sequences with the polyphyletic genus Echinochasmus (Echinochasmidae), while the xiphidiocercarial sequences were linked with the genus Phaneropsolus (Phaneropsolidae). The molecular markers used were able to distinguish two cryptic molecular entities of the single echinocercarial morphotype. Although ITS1 and mtCOXI did not allow resolving phylogeny beyond the family level because of the scarce number of sequences in the molecular databases, both cercariae (echinocercariae and xiphidiocercariae) could be distinguished by the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 amplicon size. This is the first correlative morphological and molecular study of zoonotic trematodes in Neotropical ampullariids.}, } @article {pmid30723470, year = {2019}, author = {Cohen, IR and Efroni, S}, title = {The Immune System Computes the State of the Body: Crowd Wisdom, Machine Learning, and Immune Cell Reference Repertoires Help Manage Inflammation.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {10}, pmid = {30723470}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Susceptibility ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/anatomy & histology/cytology/immunology/metabolism ; *Immune System Phenomena ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunologic Memory ; *Immunomodulation ; Inflammation/etiology/metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Here, we outline an overview of the mammalian immune system that updates and extends the classical clonal selection paradigm. Rather than focusing on strict self-not-self discrimination, we propose that the system orchestrates variable inflammatory responses that maintain the body and its symbiosis with the microbiome while eliminating the threat from pathogenic infectious agents and from tumors. The paper makes four points: The immune system classifies healthy and pathologic states of the body-including both self and foreign elements-by deploying individual lymphocytes as cellular computing machines; immune cells transform input signals from the body into an output of specific immune reactions.Rather than independent clonal responses, groups of individually activated immune-system cells co-react in lymphoid organs to make collective decisions through a type of self-organizing swarm intelligence or crowd wisdom.Collective choices by swarms of immune cells, like those of schools of fish, are modified by relatively small numbers of individual regulators responding to shifting conditions-such collective inflammatory responses are dynamically responsive.Self-reactive autoantibody and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires shared by healthy individuals function in a biological version of experience-based supervised machine learning. Immune system decisions are primed by formative experience with training sets of self-antigens encountered during lymphocyte development; these initially trained T cell and B cell repertoires form a Wellness Profile that then guides immune responses to test sets of antigens encountered later. This experience-based machine learning strategy is analogous to that deployed by supervised machine-learning algorithms. We propose experiments to test these ideas. This overview of the immune system bears clinical implications for monitoring wellness and for treating autoimmune disease, cancer, and allograft reactions.}, } @article {pmid30721680, year = {2019}, author = {Jenkins, B and Richards, TA}, title = {Symbiosis: Wolf Lichens Harbour a Choir of Fungi.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {R88-R90}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.12.034}, pmid = {30721680}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Basidiomycota ; Fungi ; *Lichens ; Symbiosis ; *Wolves ; }, abstract = {Identification of the fungus Tremella as a consistent fourth component of wolf lichens further challenges the conventional view of lichen symbiosis as a mutualistic interaction between two players.}, } @article {pmid30721677, year = {2019}, author = {King, KC}, title = {Defensive symbionts.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {R78-R80}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.028}, pmid = {30721677}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*physiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Invertebrates/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Interactions in nature vary from competitive to neutral to symbiotic. An interesting case of symbiosis is seen when one organism provides protection to the other-a relationship termed 'defensive symbiosis'. Kayla King highlights this interesting type of relationship, which can be found throughout the tree of life.}, } @article {pmid30721330, year = {2019}, author = {Rahman, S and Rahman, L and Khalil, AT and Ali, N and Zia, D and Ali, M and Shinwari, ZK}, title = {Endophyte-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their biological applications.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {6}, pages = {2551-2569}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-019-09661-x}, pmid = {30721330}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Humans ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nanotechnology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Silver/*chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Biosynthesis has emerged as a frontier technology for fabrication of functionally diverse nanoparticles that possess tremendous therapeutic implications. Various biological resources have already demonstrated their potential to produce nanoparticles with interesting features. Endophytic microbes live in a symbiotic relationship with plants possessing a unique and versatile reservoir of potentially therapeutic secondary metabolites having the tendency to reduce metallic ions into nanoparticles. Successful biosynthesis of AgNPs using endophytic organisms has already been reported; however, the overall picture about its synthesis and applications is still not clear. In the current article, a comprehensive review of literature was performed for comparing different physical and biological properties of endophytic microbe-derived AgNPs. In addition, the present paper mechanistically explains the synthesis of AgNPs and their diverse pharmacognostic properties. Further studies are encouraged to understand the mechanism of biopharmaceutical effects of these endophyte-mediated NPs.}, } @article {pmid30719666, year = {2019}, author = {Chakraborty, S and Mishra, A and Verma, E and Tiwari, B and Mishra, AK and Singh, SS}, title = {Physiological mechanisms of aluminum (Al) toxicity tolerance in nitrogen-fixing aquatic macrophyte Azolla microphylla Kaulf: phytoremediation, metabolic rearrangements, and antioxidative enzyme responses.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {9041-9054}, pmid = {30719666}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Aluminum/*metabolism/toxicity ; Anabaena/metabolism ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Catalase/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Tracheophyta/*drug effects/enzymology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To investigate the extent of aluminum toxicity tolerance of eco-friendly, fast-growing, fresh water, pteridophytic Azolla-Anabaena symbiotic association in terms of altered physiological signals; Azolla microphylla Kaulf was exposed to 0 (control), 100, 250, 500, and 750 μM AlCl3, at pH 4.5 for 6 days. The adversity of Al was increased in a dose-dependent manner and the highest was recorded at 750 μM AlCl3. Despite the significant loss in membrane integrity (80% electrolyte leakage) due to an enhanced generation of H2O2, A. microphylla reflected only 50% growth inhibition (fresh and dry weight) at 500 μM AlCl3 (LD50). However, the average root length of Azolla was drastically reduced at high concentration due to their direct contact with aluminum-containing growth medium. Contrary to this, the whole association maintained moderate chlorophyll, carbohydrate content, photosynthetic efficiency, nitrogen-fixing ability, and nitrogen content at high Al concentration. Probably, growth protection was pertained through significant detoxification of H2O2 by employing an efficient antioxidative defense system including antioxidative enzymes (SOD, APX, and CAT) and non-enzymatic antioxidant carotenoids. An enhanced level of phenolics and flavonoids in the root exudates possibly maintained a non-toxic level of aluminum inside the cell (195.8 μg Al/g FW) which makes A. microphylla a suitable pteridophytic plant to not only remove toxic Al from the contaminated sites but also to improve nitrogen status of those regions. Graphical abstract ᅟ.}, } @article {pmid30719639, year = {2019}, author = {Cornejo Ulloa, P and van der Veen, MH and Krom, BP}, title = {Review: modulation of the oral microbiome by the host to promote ecological balance.}, journal = {Odontology}, volume = {107}, number = {4}, pages = {437-448}, pmid = {30719639}, issn = {1618-1255}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The indivisible relationship between the human host and its oral microbiome has been shaped throughout the millennia, by facing various changes that have forced the adaptation of oral microorganisms to new environmental conditions. In this constant crosstalk between the human host and its microbiome, a bidirectional relationship has been established. The microorganisms provide the host with functions it cannot perform on its own and at the same time the host provides its microbes with a suitable environment for their growth and development. These host factors can positively affect the microbiome, promoting diversity and balance between different species, resulting in a state of symbiosis and absence of pathology. In contrast, other host factors can negatively influence the composition of the oral microbiome and drive the interaction towards a dysbiotic state, where the balance tilts towards a harmful relationship between the host and its microbiome. The aim of this review is to describe the role host factors play in cultivating and maintaining a healthy oral ecology and discuss mechanisms that can prevent its drift towards dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30718591, year = {2019}, author = {Beedessee, G and Hisata, K and Roy, MC and Van Dolah, FM and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E}, title = {Diversified secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene repertoire revealed in symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {1204}, pmid = {30718591}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome ; Peptide Synthases/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics ; Polyketides/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates possess smaller nuclear genomes than other dinoflagellates and produce structurally specialized, biologically active, secondary metabolites. Till date, little is known about the evolution of secondary metabolism in dinoflagellates as comparative genomic approaches have been hampered by their large genome sizes. Here, we overcome this challenge by combining genomic and metabolomics approaches to investigate how chemical diversity arises in three decoded Symbiodiniaceae genomes (clades A3, B1 and C). Our analyses identify extensive diversification of polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase genes from two newly decoded genomes of Symbiodinium tridacnidorum (A3) and Cladocopium sp. (C). Phylogenetic analyses indicate that almost all the gene families are derived from lineage-specific gene duplications in all three clades, suggesting divergence for environmental adaptation. Few metabolic pathways are conserved among the three clades and we detect metabolic similarity only in the recently diverged clades, B1 and C. We establish that secondary metabolism protein architecture guides substrate specificity and that gene duplication and domain shuffling have resulted in diversification of secondary metabolism genes.}, } @article {pmid30718370, year = {2019}, author = {Aichelman, HE and Zimmerman, RC and Barshis, DJ}, title = {Adaptive signatures in thermal performance of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {222}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.189225}, pmid = {30718370}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Global Warming ; *Hot Temperature ; Rhode Island ; Symbiosis ; Virginia ; }, abstract = {Variation in environmental characteristics and divergent selection pressures can drive adaptive differentiation across a species' range. Astrangia poculata is a temperate scleractinian coral that provides unique opportunities to understand the roles of phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptation in coral physiological tolerance limits. This species inhabits hard-bottom ecosystems from the northwestern Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico and withstands an annual temperature range of up to 20°C. Additionally, A. poculata is facultatively symbiotic and co-occurs in both symbiotic ('brown') and aposymbiotic ('white') states. Here, brown and white A. poculata were collected from Virginia (VA) and Rhode Island (RI), USA, and exposed to heat (18-32°C) and cold (18-6°C) stress, during which respiration of the coral host along with photosynthesis and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of Breviolum psygmophilum photosymbionts were measured. Thermal performance curves (TPCs) of respiration revealed a pattern of countergradient variation with RI corals exhibiting higher respiration rates overall, and specifically at 6, 15, 18, 22 and 26°C. Additionally, thermal optimum (Topt) analyses show a 3.8°C (brown) and 6.9°C (white) higher Topt in the VA population, corresponding to the warmer in situ thermal environment in VA. In contrast to respiration, no origin effect was detected in photosynthesis rates or Fv/Fm, suggesting a possible host-only signature of adaptation. This study is the first to consider A. poculata's response to both heat and cold stress across symbiotic states and geography, and provides insight into the potential evolutionary mechanisms behind the success of this species along the East Coast of the USA.}, } @article {pmid30716127, year = {2019}, author = {Piquet, B and Shillito, B and Lallier, FH and Duperron, S and Andersen, AC}, title = {High rates of apoptosis visualized in the symbiont-bearing gills of deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {e0211499}, pmid = {30716127}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Bivalvia/*cytology/*physiology ; Gills/*cytology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between Bathymodiolus and Gammaproteobacteria allows these deep-sea mussels to live in toxic environments such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. The quantity of endosymbionts within the gill-bacteriocytes appears to vary according to the hosts environment; however, the mechanisms of endosymbiont population size regulation remain obscure. We investigated the possibility of a control of endosymbiont density by apoptosis, a programmed cell death, in three mussel species. Fluorometric TUNEL and active Caspase-3-targeting antibodies were used to visualize and quantify apoptotic cells in mussel gills. To control for potential artefacts due to depressurization upon specimen recovery from the deep-sea, the apoptotic rates between mussels recovered unpressurised, versus mussels recovered in a pressure-maintaining device, were compared in two species from hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Bathymodiolus azoricus and B. puteoserpentis. Results show that pressurized recovery had no significant effect on the apoptotic rate in the gill filaments. Apoptotic levels were highest in the ciliated zone and in the circulating hemocytes, compared to the bacteriocyte zone. Apoptotic gill-cells in B. aff. boomerang from cold seeps off the Gulf of Guinea show similar distribution patterns. Deep-sea symbiotic mussels have much higher rates of apoptosis in their gills than the coastal mussel Mytilus edulis, which lacks chemolithoautotrophic symbionts. We discuss how apoptosis might be one of the mechanisms that contribute to the adaptation of deep-sea mussels to toxic environments and/or to symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30715465, year = {2019}, author = {Tornkvist, A and Liu, C and Moschou, PN}, title = {Proteolysis and nitrogen: emerging insights.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {7}, pages = {2009-2019}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erz024}, pmid = {30715465}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/metabolism ; *Homeostasis ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; *Proteolysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is a core component of fertilizers used in modern agriculture to increase yields and thus to help feed a growing global population. However, this comes at a cost to the environment, through run-off of excess N as a result of poor N-use efficiency (NUE) by crops. An obvious remedy to this problem would therefore be the improvement of NUE, which requires advancing our understanding on N homeostasis, sensing, and uptake. Proteolytic pathways are linked to N homeostasis as they recycle proteins that contain N and carbon; however, emerging data suggest that their functions extend beyond this simple recycling. Here, we highlight roles of proteolytic pathways in non-symbiotic and symbiotic N uptake and in systemic N sensing. We also offer a novel view in which we suggest that proteolytic pathways have roles in N homeostasis that differ from their accepted function in recycling.}, } @article {pmid30715356, year = {2019}, author = {Pizarro, D and Dal Grande, F and Leavitt, SD and Dyer, PS and Schmitt, I and Crespo, A and Thorsten Lumbsch, H and Divakar, PK}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence Data Uncover Widespread Heterothallism in the Largest Group of Lichen-Forming Fungi.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {721-730}, pmid = {30715356}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Genes, Mating Type, Fungal/*genetics ; *Genome, Fungal ; Lichens/*genetics ; *Reproduction, Asexual ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungal reproduction is regulated by the mating-type (MAT1) locus, which typically comprises two idiomorphic genes. The presence of one or both allelic variants at the locus determines the reproductive strategy in fungi-homothallism versus heterothallism. It has been hypothesized that self-fertility via homothallism is widespread in lichen-forming fungi. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the MAT1 locus of 41 genomes of lichen-forming fungi representing a wide range of growth forms and reproductive strategies in the class Lecanoromycetes, the largest group of lichen-forming fungi. Our results show the complete lack of genetic homothallism suggesting that lichens evolved from a heterothallic ancestor. We argue that this may be related to the symbiotic lifestyle of these fungi, and may be a key innovation that has contributed to the accelerated diversification rates in this fungal group.}, } @article {pmid30715337, year = {2019}, author = {Sinha, A and Li, Z and Sun, L and Carlow, CKS}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of the Wolbachia wAlbB Endosymbiont of Aedes albopictus.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {706-720}, pmid = {30715337}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Ankyrins/genetics ; Cell Line ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Prophages/genetics ; Proteome ; Type IV Secretion Systems ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia, an alpha-proteobacterium closely related to Rickettsia, is a maternally transmitted, intracellular symbiont of arthropods and nematodes. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are naturally infected with Wolbachia strains wAlbA and wAlbB. Cell line Aa23 established from Ae. albopictus embryos retains only wAlbB and is a key model to study host-endosymbiont interactions. We have assembled the complete circular genome of wAlbB from the Aa23 cell line using long-read PacBio sequencing at 500× median coverage. The assembled circular chromosome is 1.48 megabases in size, an increase of more than 300 kb over the published draft wAlbB genome. The annotation of the genome identified 1,205 protein coding genes, 34 tRNA, 3 rRNA, 1 tmRNA, and 3 other ncRNA loci. The long reads enabled sequencing over complex repeat regions which are difficult to resolve with short-read sequencing. Thirteen percent of the genome comprised insertion sequence elements distributed throughout the genome, some of which cause pseudogenization. Prophage WO genes encoding some essential components of phage particle assembly are missing, while the remainder are found in five prophage regions/WO-like islands or scattered around the genome. Orthology analysis identified a core proteome of 535 orthogroups across all completed Wolbachia genomes. The majority of proteins could be annotated using Pfam and eggNOG analyses, including ankyrins and components of the Type IV secretion system. KEGG analysis revealed the absence of five genes in wAlbB which are present in other Wolbachia. The availability of a complete circular chromosome from wAlbB will enable further biochemical, molecular, and genetic analyses on this strain and related Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid30715290, year = {2019}, author = {Cruz-Paredes, C and Svenningsen, NB and Nybroe, O and Kjøller, R and Frøslev, TG and Jakobsen, I}, title = {Suppression of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal activity in a diverse collection of non-cultivated soils.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz020}, pmid = {30715290}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Microbial Interactions ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mycelium/metabolism/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most plants form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF increase the uptake of plant nutrients by extending their extra-radical mycelium (ERM) in the soil where other groups of microorganisms may suppress the activity of the ERM. However, little is known about such suppression in natural soils. This work aimed to investigate the incidence of AMF suppression among soils sampled from highly variable natural ecosystems, and used 33P uptake by the ERM to evaluate AMF activity. A second aim was to identify factors behind the observed AMF-suppression. We found that AMF-suppressiveness varied markedly among natural soils and occurred more frequently in low pH than in high pH soils. A previous study for cultivated soils revealed a strong biological component of suppressiveness against AMF, and in accordance we found that the composition of both fungal and bacterial communities differed significantly between AMF-suppressive and non-suppressive natural soils. Acidobacteria, Acidothermus, Xanthomonadaceae, Archaeorhizomyces sp., Mortierella humilis and some Mycena spp. were significantly more abundant in AMF-suppressive soils and may therefore be direct antagonists of AMF. This implies that the functioning of AMF in natural ecosystems is strongly modulated by specific soil microbes.}, } @article {pmid30715218, year = {2019}, author = {Schoenherr, AP and Rizzo, E and Jackson, N and Manosalva, P and Gomez, SK}, title = {Mycorrhiza-Induced Resistance in Potato Involves Priming of Defense Responses Against Cabbage Looper (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {370-381}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvy195}, pmid = {30715218}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Body Weight ; *Herbivory ; Larva ; *Moths ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Solanum tuberosum/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that are ubiquitous in soils. Through this symbiosis, plants can withstand abiotic and biotic stresses. The underlying molecular mechanisms involved in mediating mycorrhiza-induced resistance against insects needs further research, and this is particularly true for potato (Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae)), which is the fourth most important crop worldwide. In this study, the tripartite interaction between potato, the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (Glomerales: Glomeraceae), and cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was examined to determine whether potato exhibits mycorrhiza-induced resistance against this insect. Plant growth, insect fitness, AM fungal colonization of roots, and transcript levels of defense-related genes were measured in shoots and roots after 5 and 8 d of herbivory on mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. AM fungal colonization of roots did not have an effect on potato growth, but root colonization levels increased by herbivory. Larval weight gain was reduced after 8 d of feeding on mycorrhizal plants compared with nonmycorrhizal plants. Systemic upregulation of Allene Oxide Synthase 1 (AOS1), 12-Oxo-Phytodienoate Reductase 3 (OPR3) (jasmonic acid pathway), Protease Inhibitor Type I (PI-I) (anti-herbivore defense), and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL) transcripts (phenylpropanoid pathway) was found during the tripartite interaction. Together, these findings suggest that potato may exhibit mycorrhiza-induced resistance to cabbage looper by priming anti-herbivore defenses aboveground. This study illustrates how mycorrhizal potato responds to herbivory by a generalist-chewing insect and serves as the basis for future studies involving tripartite interactions with other pests.}, } @article {pmid30714149, year = {2019}, author = {Nasto, MK and Winter, K and Turner, BL and Cleveland, CC}, title = {Nutrient acquisition strategies augment growth in tropical N2 -fixing trees in nutrient-poor soil and under elevated CO2.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {100}, number = {4}, pages = {e02646}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2646}, pmid = {30714149}, issn = {1939-9170}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nutrients ; *Soil ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Tropical forests play a dominant role in the global carbon (C) cycle, and models predict increases in tropical net primary productivity (NPP) and C storage in response to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. The extent to which increasing CO2 will enhance NPP depends in part on the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to support growth. Some tropical trees can potentially overcome nutrient limitation by acquiring N via symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixation, which may provide a benefit in acquiring P via investment in N-rich phosphatase enzymes or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. We conducted a seedling experiment to investigate the effects of elevated CO2 and soil nutrient availability on the growth of two N2 -fixing and two non-N2 -fixing tropical tree species. We hypothesized that under elevated CO2 and at low nutrient availability (i.e., low N and P), N2 fixers would have higher growth rates than non-N2 fixers because N2 fixers have a greater capacity to acquire both N and P. We also hypothesized that differences in growth rates between N2 fixers and non-N2 fixers would decline as nutrient availability increases because N2 fixers no longer have an advantage in nutrient acquisition. We found that the N2 fixers had higher growth rates than the non-N2 fixers under elevated CO2 and at low nutrient availability, and that the difference in growth rates between the N2 and non-N2 fixers declined as nutrient availability increased, irrespective of CO2 . Overall, N2 fixation, root phosphatase activity, and AM colonization decreased with increasing nutrient availability, and increased under elevated CO2 at low nutrient availability. Further, AM colonization was positively related to the growth of the non-N2 fixers, whereas both N2 fixation and root phosphatase activity were positively related to the growth of the N2 fixers. Though our results indicate all four tree species have the capacity to up- or down-regulate nutrient acquisition to meet their stoichiometric demands, the greater capacity for the N2 fixers to acquire both N and P may enable them to overcome nutritional constraints to NPP under elevated CO2 , with implications for the response of tropical forests to future environmental change.}, } @article {pmid30713436, year = {2019}, author = {Baulieu, F and Knee, W and Nowell, V and Schwarzfeld, M and Lindo, Z and Behan-Pelletier, VM and Lumley, L and Young, MR and Smith, I and Proctor, HC and Mironov, SV and Galloway, TD and Walter, DE and Lindquist, EE}, title = {Acari of Canada.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {819}, pages = {77-168}, pmid = {30713436}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Summaries of taxonomic knowledge are provided for all acarine groups in Canada, accompanied by references to relevant publications, changes in classification at the family level since 1979, and notes on biology relevant to estimating their diversity. Nearly 3000 described species from 269 families are recorded in the country, representing a 56% increase from the 1917 species reported by Lindquist et al. (1979). An additional 42 families are known from Canada only from material identified to family- or genus-level. Of the total 311 families known in Canada, 69 are newly recorded since 1979, excluding apparent new records due solely to classification changes. This substantial progress is most evident in Oribatida and Hydrachnidia, for which many regional checklists and family-level revisions have been published. Except for recent taxonomic leaps in a few other groups, particularly of symbiotic mites (Astigmata: feather mites; Mesostigmata: Rhinonyssidae), knowledge remains limited for most other taxa, for which most species records are unpublished and may require verification. Taxonomic revisions are greatly needed for a large majority of families in Canada. Based in part on species recorded in adjacent areas of the USA and on hosts known to be present here, we conservatively estimate that nearly 10,000 species of mites occur in Canada, but the actual number could be 15,000 or more. This means that at least 70% of Canada's mite fauna is yet unrecorded. Much work also remains to match existing molecular data with species names, as less than 10% of the ~7500 Barcode Index Numbers for Canadian mites in the Barcode of Life Database are associated with named species. Understudied hosts and terrestrial and aquatic habitats require investigation across Canada to uncover new species and to clarify geographic and ecological distributions of known species.}, } @article {pmid30712873, year = {2019}, author = {Kobayashi, T and Voisin, B and Kim, DY and Kennedy, EA and Jo, JH and Shih, HY and Truong, A and Doebel, T and Sakamoto, K and Cui, CY and Schlessinger, D and Moro, K and Nakae, S and Horiuchi, K and Zhu, J and Leonard, WJ and Kong, HH and Nagao, K}, title = {Homeostatic Control of Sebaceous Glands by Innate Lymphoid Cells Regulates Commensal Bacteria Equilibrium.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {176}, number = {5}, pages = {982-997.e16}, pmid = {30712873}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {Z99 AG999999/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Epithelium/immunology ; Hair Follicle/metabolism/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukin-7/metabolism ; Lymphocytes/*immunology/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Microbiota/immunology ; Receptors, CCR6/metabolism ; Receptors, Notch/metabolism ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/metabolism ; Sebaceous Glands/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Skin/metabolism ; Skin Physiological Phenomena ; Symbiosis ; Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin ; }, abstract = {Immune cells and epithelium form sophisticated barrier systems in symbiotic relationships with microbiota. Evidence suggests that immune cells can sense microbes through intact barriers, but regulation of microbial commensalism remain largely unexplored. Here, we uncovered spatial compartmentalization of skin-resident innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and modulation of sebaceous glands by a subset of RORγt[+] ILCs residing within hair follicles in close proximity to sebaceous glands. Their persistence in skin required IL-7 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and localization was dependent on the chemokine receptor CCR6. ILC subsets expressed TNF receptor ligands, which limited sebocyte growth by repressing Notch signaling pathway. Consequently, loss of ILCs resulted in sebaceous hyperplasia with increased production of antimicrobial lipids and restricted commensalism of Gram-positive bacterial communities. Thus, epithelia-derived signals maintain skin-resident ILCs that regulate microbial commensalism through sebaceous gland-mediated tuning of the barrier surface, highlighting an immune-epithelia circuitry that facilitates host-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30710053, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, CW and Breakspear, A and Guan, D and Cerri, MR and Jackson, K and Jiang, S and Robson, F and Radhakrishnan, GV and Roy, S and Bone, C and Stacey, N and Rogers, C and Trick, M and Niebel, A and Oldroyd, GED and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Murray, JD}, title = {NIN Acts as a Network Hub Controlling a Growth Module Required for Rhizobial Infection.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {179}, number = {4}, pages = {1704-1722}, pmid = {30710053}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/L010305/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/010305/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gibberellins/biosynthesis ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic infection of root cells by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia during nodulation requires the transcription factor Nodule Inception (NIN). Our root hair transcriptomic study extends NIN's regulon to include Rhizobium Polar Growth and genes involved in cell wall modification, gibberellin biosynthesis, and a comprehensive group of nutrient (N, P, and S) uptake and assimilation genes, suggesting that NIN's recruitment to nodulation was based on its role as a growth module, a role shared with other NIN-Like Proteins. The expression of jasmonic acid genes in nin suggests the involvement of NIN in the resolution of growth versus defense outcomes. We find that the regulation of the growth module component Nodulation Pectate Lyase by NIN, and its function in rhizobial infection, are conserved in hologalegina legumes, highlighting its recruitment as a major event in the evolution of nodulation. We find that Nodulation Pectate Lyase is secreted to the infection chamber and the lumen of the infection thread. Gene network analysis using the transcription factor mutants for ERF Required for Nodulation1 and Nuclear Factor-Y Subunit A1 confirms hierarchical control of NIN over Nuclear Factor-Y Subunit A1 and shows that ERF Required for Nodulation1 acts independently to control infection. We conclude that while NIN shares functions with other NIN-Like Proteins, the conscription of key infection genes to NIN's control has made it a central regulatory hub for rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid30709488, year = {2019}, author = {Moeder, W and Phan, V and Yoshioka, K}, title = {Ca[2+] to the rescue - Ca[2+]channels and signaling in plant immunity.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {279}, number = {}, pages = {19-26}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.04.012}, pmid = {30709488}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism/physiology ; Calcium Channels/*metabolism ; *Plant Immunity/physiology ; Plants/immunology/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Ca[2+] is a universal second messenger in many signaling pathways in all eukaryotes including plants. Transient changes in [Ca[2+]]cyt are rapidly generated upon a diverse range of stimuli such as drought, heat, wounding, and biotic stresses (infection by pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms), as well as developmental cues. It has been known for a while that [Ca[2+]]cyt transient signals play crucial roles to activate plant immunity and recently significant progresses have been made in this research field. However the identity and regulation of ion channels that are involved in defense related Ca[2+] signals are still enigmatic. Members of two ligand gated ion channel families, glutamate receptor-like channels (GLRs) and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs) have been implicated in immune responses; nevertheless more precise data to understand their direct involvement in the creation of Ca[2+] signals during immune responses is necessary. Furthermore, the study of other ion channel groups is also required to understand the whole picture of the intra- and inter-cellular Ca[2+] signalling network. In this review we summarize Ca[2+] signals in plant immunity from an ion channel point of view and discuss future challenges in this exciting research field.}, } @article {pmid30709144, year = {2019}, author = {Owolabi, KM and Hammouch, Z}, title = {Mathematical modeling and analysis of two-variable system with noninteger-order derivative.}, journal = {Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {013145}, doi = {10.1063/1.5086909}, pmid = {30709144}, issn = {1089-7682}, abstract = {The aim of this paper is to apply the newly trending Atangana-Baluanu derivative operator to model some symbiosis systems describing commmensalism and predator-prey processes. The choice of using this derivative is due to the fact that it combines nonlocal and nonsingular properties in its formulation, which are the essential ingredients when dealing with models of real-life applications. In addition, it is only the Atangana-Baleanu derivative that has both Markovian and non-Markovian properties. Also, its waiting time takes into account the power, exponential, and Mittag-Leffler laws in its formulation. Mathematical analysis of these dynamical models is considered to guide in the correct use of parameters therein, with chaotic and spatiotemporal results reported for some instances of fractional power α.}, } @article {pmid30708940, year = {2019}, author = {Mei, L and Yang, X and Cao, H and Zhang, T and Guo, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter Plant and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometries Under Warming and Nitrogen Input in a Semiarid Meadow of China.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30708940}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {China ; *Climate Change ; Grassland ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis/metabolism ; Nutrients/analysis/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/analysis/metabolism ; Poaceae/classification/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Ecological stoichiometry has been widely used to determine how plant-soil systems respond to global change and to reveal which factors limit plant growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase plants' uptake of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), thereby altering plant and soil stoichiometries. To understand the regulatory effect of AMF feedback on plants and soil stoichiometry under global change, a microcosm experiment was conducted with warming and N input. The C4 grass Setaria viridis, C3 grass Leymus chinensis, and Chenopodiaceae species Suaeda corniculata were studied. The results showed that the mycorrhizal benefits for the C4 grass S. viridis were greater than those for the C3 grass L. chinensis, whereas for the Chenopodiaceae species S. corniculata, AMF symbiosis was antagonistic. Under N input and a combination of warming and N input, AMF significantly decreased the N:P ratios of all three species. Under N input, the soil N content and the N:P ratio were decreased significantly in the presence of AMF, whereas the soil C:N ratio was increased. These results showed that AMF can reduce the P limitation caused by N input and improve the efficiency of nutrient utilization, slow the negative influence of global change on plant growth, and promote grassland sustainability.}, } @article {pmid30708045, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, J and Bai, X and Hua, Y and Zhang, H and Wang, H}, title = {Fusariumins C and D, two novel antimicrobial agents from Fusarium oxysporum ZZP-R1 symbiotic on Rumex madaio Makino.}, journal = {Fitoterapia}, volume = {134}, number = {}, pages = {1-4}, doi = {10.1016/j.fitote.2019.01.016}, pmid = {30708045}, issn = {1873-6971}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; China ; Coumarins/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Fermentation ; Fusarium/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Rumex/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract of fermentation broth of one symbiotic strain Fusarium oxysporum ZZP-R1 derived from coastal plant Rumex madaio Makino, one traditional Chinese medicine used as a treatment of inflammation and toxication, yielded two novel compounds, fusariumins C (1) and D (2). Chemical structures of 1 and 2 were respectively determined as one meroterpene with cyclohexanone moiety and a sesquiterpene ester with a conjugated triene and an unusual oxetene ring by a combination of spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data. Bioassay results indicated that compound 1 displayed potent activity against Staphyloccocus aureus with an MIC value of 6.25 μM, and compound 2 had a moderate inhibitory effect on S. aureus with an MIC value of 25.0 μM. It was the first report that phytochemical investigation of Fusarium strain from R. madaio Makino led to isolation of new antimicrobial agents.}, } @article {pmid30707488, year = {2019}, author = {Popović-Djordjević, J and Marjanović, ŽS and Gršić, N and Adžić, T and Popović, B and Bogosavljević, J and Brčeski, I}, title = {Essential Elements as a Distinguishing Factor between Mycorrhizal Potentials of Two Cohabiting Truffle Species in Riparian Forest Habitat in Serbia.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {e1800693}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.201800693}, pmid = {30707488}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Metals/*analysis ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry ; Plant Tubers/*chemistry ; Serbia ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {True truffles (Tuber sp.) that establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis (ECM) with trees in the Mediterranean and temporal regions have species specific abilities to assimilate soil born elements. Suitable habitats are usually inhabited by few truffle species, while distinguishing their symbiotic potentials appeared very difficult. Two species that commonly inhabit riparian forests in Serbia are the most prized one, Tuber magnatum Pico (Piedmont white truffle) and not so highly valued Tuber brumale Vitt. In order to assess potential differences between their assimilation and accumulation abilities, the differences between contents of elements that may be the subjects of the symbiotic trade between the host plant and fungi were evaluated in accumulation target (ascocarps) and their source (the soil). Essential (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, P, S, and Zn) and essential trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Se) in truffles and soil samples were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Their concentrations (mg/kg) in ascocarps were in the range from 1.364±0.591 (Cr) to 10760.862±16.058 (K), while in soil ranged from 23.035±0.010 (Cr) to 20809.300±122.934 (Fe). Element accumulation potential (bioaccumulation factor) was calculated in the system truffle/soil. The statistical approaches were used for establishing the differences, while the possible differentiation between symbiotic potentials of two mycelia in the defined soil conditions was discussed.}, } @article {pmid30706742, year = {2019}, author = {Lee, YP and Chiu, CC and Lin, TJ and Hung, SW and Huang, WC and Chiu, CF and Huang, YT and Chen, YH and Chen, TH and Chuang, HL}, title = {The germ-free mice monocolonization with Bacteroides fragilis improves azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {207-213}, doi = {10.1080/08923973.2019.1569047}, pmid = {30706742}, issn = {1532-2513}, mesh = {Animals ; Azoxymethane/*toxicity ; Bacteroides fragilis/*immunology ; *Colitis/chemically induced/immunology/pathology/prevention & control ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/chemically induced/immunology/pathology/prevention & control ; Dextran Sulfate/*toxicity ; *Germ-Free Life ; Male ; Mice ; }, abstract = {Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is generally considered as a major risk factor in the progression of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Previous studies have indicated that the composition of gut microflora may be involved in CAC induction and progress. Bacteroides fragilis (BF) is a Gram-negative anaerobe belonging to colonic symbiotic bacteria of the host. This study was aimed to investigate the protective role of BF in a colorectal cancer (CRC) model induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in germ-free (GF) mice. Materials and methods: Total 22 GF mice were divided into two groups: GF and BF group. Half of the GF mice were colonized with BF for 28 days before CRC induction by AOM/DSS. Results: BF colonization increased animal survival (100%). Cecum weight and cecum/body weight ratio significantly decreased in BF/AOM/DSS group. Interestingly, there was a significant decrease in tumor number and tumor incidence in the BF/AOM/DSS group as compared to the GF/AOM/DSS group. The adenocarcinoma/adenoma incidence and histologic score were also decreased in the BF/AOM/DSS group. In addition, immunohistochemistry staining found decreased numbers of cell proliferation (PCNA) and inflammatory cell (granulocytes) infiltration in the colon mucosa of the BF group. The β-catenin staining in the BF/AOM/DSS group had fewer and weaker positive signal expressions. Taking together, the BF colonization significantly ameliorated AOM/DSS-induced CRC by suppressing the activity of cell proliferation-related molecules and reducing the number of inflammatory cells. Conclusions: Symbiotic BF may play a pivotal role in maintaining the gastrointestinal immunophysiologic balance and regulating anti-tumorigenesis responses.}, } @article {pmid30706343, year = {2019}, author = {Martínez-García, S and Ortiz-García, CI and Cruz-Aguilar, M and Zenteno, JC and Murrieta-Coxca, JM and Pérez-Tapia, SM and Rodríguez-Martínez, S and Cancino-Diaz, ME and Cancino-Diaz, JC}, title = {Competition/antagonism associations of biofilm formation among Staphylococcus epidermidis Agr groups I, II, and III.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {57}, number = {2}, pages = {143-153}, pmid = {30706343}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Catheter-Related Infections/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Operon ; Quorum Sensing ; Skin/microbiology ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology ; Staphylococcus epidermidis/*genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Trans-Activators/*classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Staphylococci have quorum-sensing (QS) systems that enable cell-to-cell communication, as well as the regulation of numerous colonization and virulence factors. The accessory gene regulator (Agr) operon is one of the Staphylococcus genus QS systems. Three groups (I, II, and III) are present in Staphylococcus epidermidis Agr operon. To date, it is unknown whether Agr groups can interact symbiotically during biofilm development. This study analyzed a symbiotic association among Agr groups during biofilm formation in clinical and commensal isolates. Different combinations among Agr group isolates was used to study biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo (using a mouse catheter-infection model). The analysis of Agr groups were also performed from samples of human skin (head, armpits, and nostrils). Different predominant coexistence was found within biofilms, suggesting symbiosis type. In vitro, Agr I had a competition with Agr II and Agr III. Agr II had a competition with Agr III, and Agr II was an antagonist to Agr I and III when the three strains were combined. In vivo, Agr II had a competition to Agr I, but Agr I and II were antagonists to Agr III. The associations found in vitro and in vivo were also found in different sites of the skin. Besides, other associations were observed: Agr III antagonized Agr I and II, and Agr III competed with Agr I and Agr II. These results suggest that, in S. epidermidis, a symbiotic association of competition and antagonism occurs among different Agr groups during biofilm formation.}, } @article {pmid30705269, year = {2019}, author = {Chevrette, MG and Carlson, CM and Ortega, HE and Thomas, C and Ananiev, GE and Barns, KJ and Book, AJ and Cagnazzo, J and Carlos, C and Flanigan, W and Grubbs, KJ and Horn, HA and Hoffmann, FM and Klassen, JL and Knack, JJ and Lewin, GR and McDonald, BR and Muller, L and Melo, WGP and Pinto-Tomás, AA and Schmitz, A and Wendt-Pienkowski, E and Wildman, S and Zhao, M and Zhang, F and Bugni, TS and Andes, DR and Pupo, MT and Currie, CR}, title = {The antimicrobial potential of Streptomyces from insect microbiomes.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {516}, pmid = {30705269}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Biological Products/*pharmacology ; Genomics ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Metabolomics ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; *Microbiota ; Streptomyces/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis and few novel antimicrobials have been discovered in recent decades. Natural products, particularly from Streptomyces, are the source of most antimicrobials, yet discovery campaigns focusing on Streptomyces from the soil largely rediscover known compounds. Investigation of understudied and symbiotic sources has seen some success, yet no studies have systematically explored microbiomes for antimicrobials. Here we assess the distinct evolutionary lineages of Streptomyces from insect microbiomes as a source of new antimicrobials through large-scale isolations, bioactivity assays, genomics, metabolomics, and in vivo infection models. Insect-associated Streptomyces inhibit antimicrobial-resistant pathogens more than soil Streptomyces. Genomics and metabolomics reveal their diverse biosynthetic capabilities. Further, we describe cyphomycin, a new molecule active against multidrug resistant fungal pathogens. The evolutionary trajectories of Streptomyces from the insect microbiome influence their biosynthetic potential and ability to inhibit resistant pathogens, supporting the promise of this source in augmenting future antimicrobial discovery.}, } @article {pmid30705119, year = {2019}, author = {Sivakumar, R and Ranjani, J and Vishnu, US and Jayashree, S and Lozano, GL and Miles, J and Broderick, NA and Guan, C and Gunasekaran, P and Handelsman, J and Rajendhran, J}, title = {Evaluation of INSeq To Identify Genes Essential for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PGPR2 Corn Root Colonization.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {651-661}, pmid = {30705119}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Genes, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The reciprocal interaction between rhizosphere bacteria and their plant hosts results in a complex battery of genetic and physiological responses. In this study, we used insertion sequencing (INSeq) to reveal the genetic determinants responsible for the fitness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PGPR2 during root colonization. We generated a random transposon mutant library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PGPR2 comprising 39,500 unique insertions and identified genes required for growth in culture and on corn roots. A total of 108 genes were identified as contributing to the fitness of strain PGPR2 on roots. The importance in root colonization of four genes identified in the INSeq screen was verified by constructing deletion mutants in the genes and testing them for the ability to colonize corn roots singly or in competition with the wild type. All four mutants were affected in corn root colonization, displaying 5- to 100-fold reductions in populations in single inoculations, and all were outcompeted by the wild type by almost 100-fold after seven days on corn roots in mixed inoculations of the wild type and mutant. The genes identified in the screen had homology to genes involved in amino acid catabolism, stress adaptation, detoxification, signal transduction, and transport. INSeq technology proved a successful tool to identify fitness factors in Paeruginosa PGPR2 for root colonization.}, } @article {pmid30704343, year = {2019}, author = {Dalton, A and Mermier, C and Zuhl, M}, title = {Exercise influence on the microbiome-gut-brain axis.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {555-568}, pmid = {30704343}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/growth & development/metabolism ; Brain/*physiology ; *Exercise ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/*physiology ; Humans ; Probiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The microbiome in the gut is a diverse environment, housing the majority of our bacterial microbes. This microecosystem has a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding multicellular organism, and a balance and diversity of specific phyla of bacteria support general health. When gut bacteria diversity diminishes, there are systemic consequences, such as gastrointestinal and psychological distress. This pathway of communication is known as the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Interventions such as probiotic supplementation that influence microbiome also improve both gut and brain disorders. Recent evidence suggests that aerobic exercise improves the diversity and abundance of genera from the Firmcutes phylum, which may be the link between the positive effects of exercise on the gut and brain. The purpose of this review is to explain the complex communication pathway of the microbiome-gut-brain axis and further examine the role of exercise on influencing this communication highway.}, } @article {pmid30703144, year = {2019}, author = {Suzuki, Y and Suzuki, T and Awai, K and Shioi, Y}, title = {Isolation and characterization of a tandem-repeated cysteine protease from the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. KB8.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e0211534}, pmid = {30703144}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cysteine Proteases/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/*enzymology/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*drug effects ; Substrate Specificity ; *Tandem Repeat Sequences ; }, abstract = {A cysteine protease belonging to peptidase C1A superfamily from the eukaryotic, symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp. strain KB8, was characterized. The protease was purified to near homogeneity (566-fold) by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, ultrafiltration, and column chromatography using a fluorescent peptide, butyloxycarbonyl-Val-Leu-Lys-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Boc-VLK-MCA), as a substrate for assay purposes. The enzyme was termed VLKP (VLK protease), and its activity was strongly inhibited by cysteine protease inhibitors and activated by reducing agents. Based on the results for the amino acid sequence determined by liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry, a cDNA encoding VLKP was synthesized. VLKP was classified into the peptidase C1A superfamily of cysteine proteases (C1AP). The predicted amino acid sequence of VLKP indicated a tandem array of highly conserved precursors of C1AP with a molecular mass of approximately 71 kDa. The results of gel-filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE suggested that VLKP exists as a monomer of 31-32 kDa, indicating that the tandem array is likely divided into two mass-equivalent halves that undergo equivalent posttranslational modifications. The VLKP precursor contains an inhibitor prodomain that might become activated after acidic autoprocessing at approximately pH 4. Both purified and recombinant VLKPs had a similar substrate specificity and kinetic parameters for common C1AP substrates. Most C1APs reside in acidic organelles such as the vacuole and lysosomes, and indeed VLKP was most active at pH 4.5. Since VLKP exhibited maximum activity during the late logarithmic growth phase, these attributes suggest that, VLKP is involved in the metabolism of proteins in acidic organelles.}, } @article {pmid30703093, year = {2019}, author = {Suzaki, T and Takeda, N and Nishida, H and Hoshino, M and Ito, M and Misawa, F and Handa, Y and Miura, K and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Correction: LACK OF SYMBIONT ACCOMMODATION controls intracellular symbiont accommodation in root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e1007966}, pmid = {30703093}, issn = {1553-7404}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007865.].}, } @article {pmid30700990, year = {2018}, author = {Sogawa, A and Yamazaki, A and Yamasaki, H and Komi, M and Manabe, T and Tajima, S and Hayashi, M and Nomura, M}, title = {SNARE Proteins LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b Are Required for Root Symbiosis and Root Hair Formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1992}, pmid = {30700990}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {SNARE (soluble N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins mediate membrane trafficking in eukaryotic cells. Both LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b are members of R-SNARE and belong to a symbiotic subgroup of VAMP72 in Lotus japonicus. Their sequences are closely related and both were induced in the root upon rhizobial inoculation. The expression level of LjVAMP72a in the nodules was higher than in the leaves or roots; however, LjVMAP72b was expressed constitutively in the leaves, roots, and nodules. Immunoblot analysis showed that not only LjVAMP72a but also LjVAMP72b were accumulated in a symbiosome-enriched fraction, suggesting its localization in the symbiosome membrane during nodulation. Since there was 89% similarity between LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b, knockdown mutant by RNAi suppressed both genes. The suppression of both genes impaired root nodule symbiosis (RNS). The number of bacteroids and the nitrogen fixation activity were severely curtailed in the nodules formed on knockdown roots (RNAi-LjVAMP72a/72b). Arbuscular mycorrhization (AM) was also attenuated in knockdown roots, indicating that LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b were required to establish not only RNS but also AM. In addition, transgenic hairy roots of RNAi-LjVAMP72a/72b suppressed the elongation of root hairs without infections by rhizobia or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Amino acid alignment showed the symbiotic subclade of VAMP72s containing LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b were a conserved six amino acid region (HHQAQD) within the SNARE motif. Taken together, our data suggested that LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b positively controlled both symbioses and root hair formation by affecting the secretory pathway.}, } @article {pmid30698284, year = {2019}, author = {Taylor, BN and Chazdon, RL and Menge, DNL}, title = {Successional dynamics of nitrogen fixation and forest growth in regenerating Costa Rican rainforests.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {100}, number = {4}, pages = {e02637}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2637}, pmid = {30698284}, issn = {1939-9170}, support = {//Andrew W. Mellon Foundation/International ; DEB-0424767//NSF/International ; DEB-0639393//NSF/International ; DEB-1147429//NSF/International ; //NASA Terrestrial Ecology Program/International ; //University of Connecticut Research Foundation/International ; //Garden Club of America/International ; //Institute for Latin American Studies/International ; //Columbia University/International ; }, mesh = {Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rainforest ; Soil ; Trees ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Regenerating tropical forests have an immense capacity to capture carbon and harbor biodiversity. The recuperation of the nitrogen cycle following disturbance can fuel biomass regeneration, but few studies have evaluated the successional dynamics of nitrogen and nitrogen inputs in tropical forests. We assessed symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, soil inorganic nitrogen concentrations, and tree growth in a well-studied series of five tropical forest plots ranging from 19 yr in age to old-growth forests. Wet-season soil inorganic nitrogen concentrations were high in all plots, peaking in the 29-yr-old plot. Inputs from symbiotic nitrogen fixation declined through succession, while asymbiotic nitrogen fixation peaked in the 37-yr-old plot. Consequently, the dominant nitrogen fixation input switched from symbiotic fixation in the younger plots to asymbiotic fixation in the older plots. Tree growth was highest in the youngest plots and declined through succession. Interestingly, symbiotic nitrogen fixation was negatively correlated with the basal area of nitrogen-fixing trees across our study plots, highlighting the danger in using nitrogen-fixing trees as a proxy for rates of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our results demonstrate that the nitrogen cycle has largely recuperated by 19 yr following disturbance, allowing for rapid biomass regeneration at our site. This work provides important insight into the sources and dynamics of nitrogen that support growth and carbon capture in regenerating Neotropical forests.}, } @article {pmid30697746, year = {2019}, author = {Gibert, A and Tozer, W and Westoby, M}, title = {Plant performance response to eight different types of symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {1}, pages = {526-542}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15392}, pmid = {30697746}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Australian Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Databases as Topic ; Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; Publication Bias ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Almost all plant species interact with one or more symbioses somewhere within their distribution range. Bringing together plant trait data and growth responses to symbioses spanning 552 plant species, we provide for the first time on a large scale (597 studies) a quantitative synthesis on plant performance differences between eight major types of symbiosis, including mycorrhizas, N-fixing bacteria, fungal endophytes and ant-plant interactions. Frequency distributions of plant growth responses varied considerably between different types of symbiosis, in terms of both mean effect and 'risk', defined here as percentage of experiments reporting a negative effect of symbiosis on plants. Contrary to expectation, plant traits were poor predictors of growth response across and within all eight symbiotic associations. Our analysis showed no systematic additive effect when a host plant engaged in two functionally different symbioses. This synthesis suggests that plant species' ecological strategies have little effect in determining the influence of a symbiosis on host plant growth. Reliable quantification of differences in plant performance across symbioses will prove valuable for developing general hypotheses on how species become engaged in mutualisms without a guarantee of net returns.}, } @article {pmid30696553, year = {2019}, author = {Lynge Pedersen, AM and Belstrøm, D}, title = {The role of natural salivary defences in maintaining a healthy oral microbiota.}, journal = {Journal of dentistry}, volume = {80 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S3-S12}, doi = {10.1016/j.jdent.2018.08.010}, pmid = {30696553}, issn = {1879-176X}, mesh = {Dental Pellicle ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Saliva ; Salivary Proteins and Peptides ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To provide an update on our current understanding of how saliva and its various constituents directly and indirectly affect oral bacteria and thereby play a role in the modulation and maintenance of a healthy oral microbiota and also the associations with symbiosis and dysbiosis.

METHODS: The search for biomedical literature on saliva and its antimicrobial activities (years 1966 to 2017) was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases.

RESULTS: This review underlines that saliva plays an essential role in shaping and maintaining the ecological equilibrium of the resident oral microbiota. Saliva contributes to the formation of the salivary pellicle, which covers the oral hard and soft tissues, and thereby determines the initial adhesion and colonisation of microorganisms. Saliva facilitates clearance of dietary carbohydrates and microorganisms from the oral cavity, but also supplies bacteria with nutrients through enzymatic breakdown of dietary starch and proteins and salivary glycoproteins. In addition, saliva comprises proteins such as mucins, which block the adherence of certain microorganisms to oral surfaces through binding and aggregating mechanisms. Saliva also provides antimicrobial activity through numerous proteins and peptides including mucins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, statherin, histatins and secretory immunoglobulin A.

CONCLUSIONS: A balanced oral microbiome is important for the maintenance of oral health and symbiosis. Conditions associated with salivary gland hypofunction, impaired oral clearance, low salivary pH and altered salivary composition, often lead to perturbation of the function and composition of the oral microbiome causing dysbiosis, and an associated risk of oral disease.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Saliva plays a significant role in keeping the relationship between the host and oral microbiota in a symbiotic state. In conditions with salivary gland dysfunction, the natural balance of the oral microbiome is often disturbed, leading to dysbiosis and associated risks of gingivitis, caries and fungal infection.}, } @article {pmid30694431, year = {2019}, author = {Yin, J and Guan, X and Zhang, H and Wang, L and Li, H and Zhang, Q and Chen, T and Xu, Z and Hong, Z and Cao, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {An MAP kinase interacts with LHK1 and regulates nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {62}, number = {9}, pages = {1203-1217}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-018-9444-9}, pmid = {30694431}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis receptor-like kinase (SymRK) is a key protein mediating the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. Our previous work has identified an MAP kinase kinase, SIP2, as a SymRK-interacting protein to positively regulate nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus, suggesting that an MAPK cascade might be involved in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. In this study, LjMPK6 was identified as a phosphorylation target of SIP2. Stable transgenic L. japonicus with RNAi silencing of LjMPK6 decreased the numbers of nodule primordia (NP) and nodule, while plants overexpressing LjMPK6 increased the numbers of nodule, infection threads (ITs), and NP, indicating that LjMPK6 plays a positive role in nodulation. LjMPK6 could interact with a cytokinin receptor, LHK1 both in vivo and in vitro. LjMPK6 was shown to compete with LHP1 to bind to the receiver domain (RD) of LHK1and to downregulate the expression of two LjACS (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase) genes and ethylene levels during nodulation. This study demonstrated an important role of LjMPK6 in regulation of nodule organogenesis and ethylene production in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid30687918, year = {2019}, author = {Gomez-Eguilaz, M and Ramon-Trapero, JL and Perez-Martinez, L and Blanco, JR}, title = {[The microbiota-gut-brain axis and its great projections].}, journal = {Revista de neurologia}, volume = {68}, number = {3}, pages = {111-117}, pmid = {30687918}, issn = {1576-6578}, mesh = {Aging ; Brain/*physiology ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Cytokines/physiology ; Fatty Acids/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Hormones/physiology ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nervous System Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/etiology/microbiology/physiopathology/therapy ; Neurotransmitter Agents/physiology ; Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiology ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics ; Vagus Nerve/physiology ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The microbiota is the set of millions of microorganisms that coexist in a symbiotic way in our body. It is mainly located in the digestive tract, being distributed in function of the chemical properties and the functions of the different organs. The factors that influence its composition are multiple (diet, individual habits, diseases or drugs). It also participates in several functions of the organism such as metabolism, immunity or even the function of the central nervous system.

DEVELOPMENT: This last interrelationship is called: gut-brain axis. For years the relationship between the microbiota and the central nervous system has been known and how they influence one over the other. It is postulated that communication occurs through three systems: the vagus nerve, the systemic pathway (with the release of hormones, metabolites and neurotransmitters) and the immune system (by the action of cytokines).

CONCLUSIONS: There are still many unknowns to be clarified in this field, but this microbiota-intestine-brain relationship is postulated as a possible pathogenic basis for neurological diseases of great health impact such as Alzheimer, Parkinson or multiple sclerosis. There are currently studies with probiotics with hopeful results in patients with Alzheimer's disease.}, } @article {pmid30687830, year = {2019}, author = {Le Quéré, A and Gully, D and Teulet, A and Navarro, E and Gargani, D and Fardoux, J and Cruveiller, S and Neyra, M and Giraud, E and Krasova Wade, T}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain ORS3257, an Efficient Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium Isolated from Cowpea in Senegal.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30687830}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS3257, which forms efficient symbioses with cowpea, peanut, or groundnut. These genomic data will be useful to identify genes associated with symbiotic performance and host compatibility on several legumes, including Aeschynomene species, with which a Nod-independent type III secretion system (T3SS)-dependent symbiosis can be established.}, } @article {pmid30687394, year = {2018}, author = {Schwab, DB and Casasa, S and Moczek, AP}, title = {On the Reciprocally Causal and Constructive Nature of Developmental Plasticity and Robustness.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {735}, pmid = {30687394}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Exposure to environmental variation is a characteristic feature of normal development, one that organisms can respond to during their lifetimes by actively adjusting or maintaining their phenotype in order to maximize fitness. Plasticity and robustness have historically been studied by evolutionary biologists through quantitative genetic and reaction norm approaches, while more recent efforts emerging from evolutionary developmental biology have begun to characterize the molecular and developmental genetic underpinnings of both plastic and robust trait formation. In this review, we explore how our growing mechanistic understanding of plasticity and robustness is beginning to force a revision of our perception of both phenomena, away from our conventional view of plasticity and robustness as opposites along a continuum and toward a framework that emphasizes their reciprocal, constructive, and integrative nature. We do so in three sections. Following an introduction, the first section looks inward and reviews the genetic, epigenetic, and developmental mechanisms that enable organisms to sense and respond to environmental conditions, maintaining and adjusting trait formation in the process. In the second section, we change perspective and look outward, exploring the ways in which organisms reciprocally shape their environments in ways that influence trait formation, and do so through the lens of behavioral plasticity, niche construction, and host-microbiota interactions. In the final section, we revisit established plasticity and robustness concepts in light of these findings, and highlight research opportunities to further advance our understanding of the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of these ubiquitous, and interrelated, phenomena.}, } @article {pmid30683833, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, H and Wu, MA and Woo, YJ}, title = {Photosynthetic symbiotic therapy.}, journal = {Aging}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {843-844}, pmid = {30683833}, issn = {1945-4589}, support = {R01 HL089315/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Transplantation ; Hypoxia/*therapy ; *Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30683743, year = {2019}, author = {Buse, HY and J Morris, B and Struewing, IT and Szabo, JG}, title = {Chlorine and Monochloramine Disinfection of Legionella pneumophila Colonizing Copper and Polyvinyl Chloride Drinking Water Biofilms.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30683743}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biofilms/*drug effects/growth & development ; Chloramines/*pharmacology ; Chlorine/*pharmacology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Copper ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Disinfectants/pharmacology ; Disinfection/*methods ; Drinking Water/*microbiology ; Legionella pneumophila/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; *Polyvinyl Chloride ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Water Microbiology ; Water Supply ; }, abstract = {Building water systems promote the regrowth and survival of opportunistic pathogens, such as Legionella pneumophila, especially within biofilms, where most drinking water microbes reside. However, compared to their planktonic form, disinfection efficacy for the biofilm-associated forms of water-based pathogens is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of free chlorine and monochloramine in the inactivation of biofilm-associated L. pneumophila strain Philadelphia-1 serogroup 1 (LpP1s1). Mature (1.5- to 2-year-old) drinking water biofilms were developed on copper (Cu) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) slides within biofilm annular reactors, then colonized with LpP1s1 at approximately 4 log10 CFU cm[-2] and exposed to 2 mg liter[-1] of free chlorine or monochloramine. Ct (disinfectant concentration × time, expressed as mg min liter[-1]) inactivation values for 2-, 3-, and 4-log10 reductions of planktonic and biofilm LpP1s1 were determined. For planktonic LpP1s1, free chlorine was more effective at inactivation than was monochloramine treatment, and for biofilm-associated LpP1s1, monochloramine was more effective on Cu biofilms while free chlorine was more effective on PVC biofilms. In contrast to monochloramine, free chlorine treatment of Cu and PVC biofilms, negatively impacted LpP1s1 16S rRNA gene transcript levels and may act synergistically with Cu surfaces to further reduce transcript levels. Moreover, LpP1s1 cells shed from biofilms into the bulk water were more resistant to disinfection than were prepared planktonic LpP1s1 cells. Results from this study indicate that biofilm association, disinfectant type, and substratum play an important role in the survival of Legionella pneumophila in building water systems.IMPORTANCE Microbial regrowth within building water systems are promoted by water stagnation, low disinfectant residual, high surface-to-volume ratio, amenable growth temperatures, and colonization of drinking water biofilms. Moreover, biofilms provide protection from environmental stresses, access to higher levels of nutrients, and opportunities for symbiotic interactions with other microbes. Disinfectant efficacy information is historically based on inactivation of pathogens in their planktonic, free-floating forms. However, due to the ecological importance of drinking water biofilms for pathogen survival, this study evaluated the efficacy of two common disinfectants, free chlorine and monochloramine, on Legionella pneumophila colonizing mature, drinking water biofilms established on copper and PVC surfaces. Results showed that inactivation was dependent on the disinfectant type and biofilm substratum. Overall, this, and other related research, will provide a better understanding of Legionella ecological stability and survival and aid policy makers in the management of exposure risks to water-based pathogens within building water systems.}, } @article {pmid30681912, year = {2018}, author = {Vostinar, AE and Ofria, C}, title = {Spatial Structure Can Decrease Symbiotic Cooperation.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {229-249}, doi = {10.1162/artl_a_00273}, pmid = {30681912}, issn = {1530-9185}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Spatial Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms occur when at least two species provide a net fitness benefit to each other. These types of interactions are ubiquitous in nature, with more being discovered regularly. Mutualisms are vital to humankind: Pollinators and soil microbes are critical in agriculture, bacterial microbiomes regulate our health, and domesticated animals provide us with food and companionship. Many hypotheses exist on how mutualisms evolve; however, they are difficult to evaluate without bias, due to the fragile and idiosyncratic systems most often investigated. Instead, we have created an artificial life simulation, Symbulation, which we use to examine mutualism evolution based on (1) the probability of vertical transmission (symbiont being passed to offspring) and (2) the spatial structure of the environment. We found that spatial structure can lead to less mutualism at intermediate vertical transmission rates. We provide evidence that this effect is due to the ability of quasi species to purge parasites, reducing the diversity of available symbionts. Our simulation is easily extended to test many additional hypotheses about the evolution of mutualism and serves as a general model to quantitatively compare how different environments affect the evolution of mutualism.}, } @article {pmid30681888, year = {2019}, author = {Marczak, M and Żebracki, K and Koper, P and Turska-Szewczuk, A and Mazur, A and Wydrych, J and Wójcik, M and Skorupska, A}, title = {Mgl2 Is a Hypothetical Methyltransferase Involved in Exopolysaccharide Production, Biofilm Formation, and Motility in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {899-911}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-19-0026-R}, pmid = {30681888}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Biofilms/growth & development ; *Methyltransferases/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/enzymology/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study, functional characterization of the mgl2 gene located near the Pss-I exopolysaccharide biosynthesis region in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 is described. The hypothetical protein encoded by the mgl2 gene was found to be similar to methyltransferases (MTases). Protein homology and template-based modeling facilitated prediction of the Mgl2 structure, which greatly resembled class I MTases with a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-binding cleft. The Mgl2 protein was engaged in exopolysaccharide, but not lipopolysaccharide, synthesis. The mgl2 deletion mutant produced exopolysaccharide comprised of only low molecular weight fractions, while overexpression of mgl2 caused overproduction of exopolysaccharide with a normal low to high molecular weight ratio. The deletion of the mgl2 gene resulted in disturbances in biofilm formation and a slight increase in motility in minimal medium. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) inoculated with the mgl2 mutant formed effective nodules, and the appearance of the plants indicated active nitrogen fixation. The mgl2 gene was preceded by an active and strong promoter. Mgl2 was defined as an integral membrane protein and formed homodimers in vivo; however, it did not interact with Pss proteins encoded within the Pss-I region. The results are discussed in the context of the possible involvement of the newly described potential MTase in various metabolic traits, such as the exopolysaccharide synthesis and motility that are important for rhizobial saprophytic and symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid30680683, year = {2019}, author = {Garg, N and Kashyap, L}, title = {Joint effects of Si and mycorrhiza on the antioxidant metabolism of two pigeonpea genotypes under As (III) and (V) stress.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {7821-7839}, pmid = {30680683}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Arsenates ; Arsenic/*toxicity ; Arsenites ; Ascorbic Acid ; Biomass ; Cajanus/*physiology ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota ; Glutathione ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots ; Silicon/*metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Vanadium/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) is the most hazardous soil contaminant, which inactivates metabolic enzymes and restrains plant growth. To withstand As stress conditions, use of some alleviative tools, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and silicon (Si), has gained importance. Therefore, the present study evaluated comparative and interactive effects of Si and arbuscular mycorrhiza-Rhizophagus irregularis on phytotoxicity of arsenate (As V) and arsenite (As III) on plant growth, ROS generation, and antioxidant defense responses in pigeonpea genotypes (Tolerant-Pusa 2002; Sensitive-Pusa 991). Roots of As III treated plants accumulated significantly higher total As than As V supplemented plants, more in Pusa 991 than Pusa 2002, which corresponded to proportionately decreased plant growth, root to biomass ratio, and oxidative burst. Although Si nutrition and AM inoculations improved plant growth by significantly reducing As uptake and the resultant oxidative burst, AM was relatively more efficient in upregulating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense responses as well as ascorbate-glutathione pathway when compared with Si. Pusa 2002 was more receptive to Si nourishment due to its ability to establish more efficient mycorrhizal symbiosis, which led to higher Si uptake and lower As concentrations. Moreover, +Si+AM bestowed better metalloid resistance by further reducing ROS and strengthening antioxidants. Results demonstrated that the genotype with more efficient AM symbiosis in As-contaminated soils could accrue higher benefits of Si fertilization in terms of metalloid tolerance in pigeonpea.}, } @article {pmid30680600, year = {2019}, author = {Kadel, D and Zhang, Y and Sun, HR and Zhao, Y and Dong, QZ and Qin, LX}, title = {Current perspectives of cancer-associated fibroblast in therapeutic resistance: potential mechanism and future strategy.}, journal = {Cell biology and toxicology}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {407-421}, pmid = {30680600}, issn = {1573-6822}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/*metabolism/physiology ; Disease Progression ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/*physiology ; Fibroblasts/pathology ; Humans ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The goal of cancer eradication has been overshadowed despite the continuous improvement in research and generation of novel cancer therapeutic drugs. One of the undeniable existing problems is drug resistance due to which the paradigm of killing all cancer cells is ineffective. Tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in inducing drug resistance besides cancer development and progression. Recently, many efforts have been devoted to understand the role of tumor microenvironment in cancer drug resistance as it provides the shelter, nutrition, and paracrine niche for cancer cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), one major component of tumor microenvironment, reside in symbiotic relationship with cancer cells, supporting them to survive from cancer drugs. The present review summarizes the recent understandings in the role of CAFs in drug resistance in various tumors. Acknowledging the fact that drug resistance depends not only upon cancer cells but also upon the microenvironment niche could guide us to formulate novel cancer drugs and provide the optimal cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid30680589, year = {2019}, author = {Gohain, A and Sarma, RK and Debnath, R and Saikia, J and Singh, BP and Sarmah, R and Saikia, R}, title = {Phylogenetic affiliation and antimicrobial effects of endophytic actinobacteria associated with medicinal plants: prevalence of polyketide synthase type II in antimicrobial strains.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {481-496}, doi = {10.1007/s12223-018-00673-0}, pmid = {30680589}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; *Antibiosis ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; India ; *Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal/*microbiology ; Polyketide Synthases/*genetics/metabolism ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The most diverse and versatile endophytic actinobacteria are relatively unexplored potential sources of bioactive metabolites useful for different medical, agricultural, and other commercial applications. Their diversity in symbiotic association with traditionally utilized medicinal plants of northeast India is scantly available. The present investigation assessed the genetic diversity of endophytic actinobacteria (n = 120) distributed around the root, stem, and leaf tissues of six selected medicinal plants (Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, T. arjuna, Murraya koenigii, Rauwolfia serpentina, and Azadirachta indica) from three different protected areas of evergreen forest-the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary (GWS), the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), and the North East Ecological Park (NEEP) of Assam, India. The samples were collected in two seasons (summer and winter). The overall phylogenetic analysis showed significant genetic diversity with 18 distinct genera belonging to 12 families. Overall, the occurrence of Streptomyces genus was predominant across all three sampling sites (76.66%), in both the sampling season (summer and winter). Shannon's and Simpson's diversity estimates showed their presence at A. indica (1.496, 0.778), R. serpentina (1.470, 0.858), and E. officinalis (0.975, 0.353). Among the site sampled, GWS had the most diverse community of actinobacteria (Shannon = 0.86 and Simpson = 0.557). The isolates were antagonistically more active against the investigated plant pathogenic bacteria than fungal pathogens. Further analysis revealed the prevalence of polyketide synthase genes (PKS) type II (84%) and PKS type I (16%) in the genome of the antimicrobial isolates. The overall findings confirmed the presence of biosynthetically active diverse actinobacterial members in the selected medicinal plants which offer potential opportunities towards the exploration of biologically active compounds.}, } @article {pmid30680151, year = {2019}, author = {Ferrier-Pagès, C and Leal, MC}, title = {Stable isotopes as tracers of trophic interactions in marine mutualistic symbioses.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {723-740}, pmid = {30680151}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Mutualistic nutritional symbioses are widespread in marine ecosystems. They involve the association of a host organism (algae, protists, or marine invertebrates) with symbiotic microorganisms, such as bacteria, cyanobacteria, or dinoflagellates. Nutritional interactions between the partners are difficult to identify in symbioses because they only occur in intact associations. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) has proven to be a useful tool to highlight original nutrient sources and to trace nutrients acquired by and exchanged between the different partners of the association. However, although SIA has been extensively applied to study different marine symbiotic associations, there is no review taking into account of the different types of symbiotic associations, how they have been studied via SIA, methodological issues common among symbiotic associations, and solutions that can be transferred from one type of association with another. The present review aims to fill such gaps in the scientific literature by summarizing the current knowledge of how isotopes have been applied to key marine symbioses to unravel nutrient exchanges between partners, and by describing the difficulties in interpreting the isotopic signal. This review also focuses on the use of compound-specific stable isotope analysis and on statistical advances to analyze stable isotope data. It also highlights the knowledge gaps that would benefit from future research.}, } @article {pmid30680121, year = {2019}, author = {Helmkampf, M and Bellinger, MR and Frazier, M and Takabayashi, M}, title = {Symbiont type and environmental factors affect transcriptome-wide gene expression in the coral Montipora capitata.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {378-392}, pmid = {30680121}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Reef-building corals may harbor genetically distinct lineages of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium, which have been shown to affect important colony properties, including growth rates and resilience against environmental stress. However, the molecular processes underlying these differences are not well understood. In this study, we used whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to assess gene expression differences between 27 samples of the coral Montipora capitata predominantly hosting two different Symbiodinium types in clades C and D. The samples were further characterized by their origin from two field sites on Hawai'i Island with contrasting environmental conditions. We found that transcriptome-wide gene expression profiles clearly separated by field site first, and symbiont clade second. With 273 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 1.3% of all host transcripts), symbiont clade had a measurable effect on host gene expression, but the effect of field site proved almost an order of magnitude higher (1,957 DEGs, 9.6%). According to SNP analysis, we found moderate evidence for host genetic differentiation between field sites (F ST = 0.046) and among corals harboring alternative symbiont clades (F ST = 0.036), suggesting that site-related gene expression differences are likely due to a combination of local adaptation and acclimatization to environmental factors. The correlation between host gene expression and symbiont clade may be due to several factors, including host genotype or microhabitat selecting for alternative clades, host physiology responding to different symbionts, or direct modulation of host gene expression by Symbiodinium. However, the magnitude of these effects at the level of transcription was unexpectedly small considering the contribution of symbiont type to holobiont phenotype.}, } @article {pmid30679075, year = {2019}, author = {Moraïs, S and Mizrahi, I}, title = {The Road Not Taken: The Rumen Microbiome, Functional Groups, and Community States.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {538-549}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2018.12.011}, pmid = {30679075}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animal Feed/microbiology ; Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; Food Chain ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Methane/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Rumen/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The rumen ecosystem represents a classic example of host-microbiome symbiosis. In this obligatory relationship, the host feeds on plant fibers that can only be degraded through a set of complex metabolic cascades, exclusively encoded in rumen-associated microbes. These various metabolic pathways are distributed across a multitude of microbial populations. Application of basic ecological principles to this ecosystem can contribute to profound understanding of the rules that shape it. Here, we discuss recent studies by examining the mapping between host attributes, rumen ecosystem composition, and functionality to propose simple, yet powerful concepts to guide the interpretation of microbiome data and enable a better understanding of how the system responds to perturbations.}, } @article {pmid30678653, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, HF and Xiong, J and Zhou, HM and Chen, CM and Lin, FZ and Xu, XM and Oelmüller, R and Xu, WF and Yeh, KW}, title = {Growth promotion and disease resistance induced in Anthurium colonized by the beneficial root endophyte Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {40}, pmid = {30678653}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Araceae/growth & development/*immunology/microbiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Disease Resistance ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Anthurium andraeanum, an important ornamental flower, has to go through a growth-delaying period after transfer from tissue culture to soil, which requires time and extra costs. Furthermore, during this period, the plantlets are highly susceptible to bacterial infections, which results in impaired development and severe losses. Here, we aimed to address whether application of the endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica protects the A. andraeanum root system during the critical propagation period, and whether P. indica reduce the mortality rate by stimulating the host's resistance against diseases.

RESULTS: We demonstrate that P. indica shortens the recovery period of Anthurium, promotes growth and confers disease resistance. The beneficial effect of P. indica results in faster elongation of Anthurium roots early in the interaction. P. indica-colonized plants absorb more phosphorus and exhibit higher photosynthesis rates than uncolonized control plants. Moreover, higher activities of stress-related enzymes, of jasmonic acid levels and mRNA levels of jasmonic acid-responsive genes suggest that the fungus prepares the plant to respond more efficiently to potentially upcoming threats, including bacterial wilt.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that P. indica is a helpful symbiont for promoting Anthurium rooting and development. All our evidences are sufficient to support the disease resistance conferred by P. indica through the plant-fungal symbiosis. Furthermore, it implicates that P. indica has strong potential as bio-fertilizer for utilization in ornamental plant cultivation.}, } @article {pmid30677671, year = {2019}, author = {Li, X and Yuan, Y and Huang, Y and Bi, Z}, title = {Simultaneous removal of ammonia and nitrate by coupled S[0]-driven autotrophic denitrification and Anammox process in fluorine-containing semiconductor wastewater.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {661}, number = {}, pages = {235-242}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.164}, pmid = {30677671}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Ammonia/*analysis ; Autotrophic Processes ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Denitrification ; Fluorine/analysis ; Industrial Waste/analysis ; Nitrates/*analysis ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Semiconductors ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Wastewater/*analysis ; }, abstract = {To achieve the simultaneous removal of NH4[+]-N and NO3[-]-N in F[-]-containing semiconductor wastewater by coupled S[0]-driven autotrophic denitrification and Anammox process, the effect of variable F[-] concentration on the Anammox process was investigated by batch experiments. The denitrifying ammonium oxidation (Deamox) reactor was then started-up to explore the feasibility of the coupling of Anammox and sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SADN) for the treatment of semiconductor wastewater. Short-term variation of F[-] concentration has an obviously effect on the activity of Anammox sludge, but didn't affect the nitrogen conversion rate. The activity of Anammox obviously decreased after long-term operation of the Deamox reactor when influent F[-] concentrations reached 552 mg/L. The sensitivity of Anammox bacteria to F[-] concentration is stronger than that of SADN bacteria. Total nitrogen removal efficiency of 98% and total nitrogen removal rate of 4.11 kg/(m[3]·d) were achieved in the Deamox reactor, when the F[-] was pre-treated by calcium ions. Moreover, the high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that variation in F[-] concentrations could influence the structure and functional of microbial communities in the Deamox process. Candidatus Kuenenia, Thiobacillus and Sulfurimonas were main functional bacteria that achieved symbiotic.}, } @article {pmid30676313, year = {2019}, author = {Cambronero-Heinrichs, JC and Matarrita-Carranza, B and Murillo-Cruz, C and Araya-Valverde, E and Chavarría, M and Pinto-Tomás, AA}, title = {Phylogenetic analyses of antibiotic-producing Streptomyces sp. isolates obtained from the stingless-bee Tetragonisca angustula (Apidae: Meliponini).}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {165}, number = {3}, pages = {292-301}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000754}, pmid = {30676313}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Bees/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Fungi/drug effects ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbiota/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Streptomyces/*classification/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Many insects have been associated with actinobacteria in protective symbiosis where antimicrobial metabolites inhibit host pathogens. However, the microbiota of neotropical insects such as the stingless-bee Tetragonisca angustula is poorly explored. T. angustula is a meliponid bee widely distributed in Latin America, its honey is traditionally exploited because of its ethno-pharmacological properties and its antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated. Also, the well-structured nest of this species allows exploration of the microbiota of its different components. Even though Streptomyces spp. have been cultured from stingless-bees, little is known about their role in this insect-microbe relationship. In this study, we examined the association between culturable actinobacteria and T. angustula, and evaluated the isolates' potential as antimicrobial producers. We isolated 51 actinobacteria from adult bees and different substrates of the hive of T. angustula (pollen and honey storage, garbage pellets and cerumen). We then performed a 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis that clusters the bacteria to previously described lineages of host-associated Streptomyces. In addition, all the isolates were classified according to their antibacterial activity against human pathogens, measured by a growth inhibition test based on diffusion in agar. More than 50 % of our isolates exhibit antimicrobial activity, mainly to Gram-positive bacteria and fungi and only two against Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, we obtained electron micrographs of adult bees with what appears to be patches of hyphae with Streptomyces-like cell morphology on their body surface. Our results suggest that T. angustula possibly uptakes and transfers actinobacteria from the environment, acting as vectors for these potentially beneficial organisms. This research provides new insights regarding the microbiota associated with T. angustula and justify future studies exploring the full diversity of the microbial community associated with the hive and the possible exchange of microbes with the crops they pollinate.}, } @article {pmid30673440, year = {2018}, author = {Na, F and Carrillo, JD and Mayorquin, JS and Ndinga-Muniania, C and Stajich, JE and Stouthamer, R and Huang, YT and Lin, YT and Chen, CY and Eskalen, A}, title = {Two Novel Fungal Symbionts Fusarium kuroshium sp. nov. and Graphium kuroshium sp. nov. of Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer (Euwallacea sp. nr. fornicatus) Cause Fusarium Dieback on Woody Host Species in California.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {102}, number = {6}, pages = {1154-1164}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-07-17-1042-RE}, pmid = {30673440}, issn = {0191-2917}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*genetics/physiology ; California ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fusarium/*genetics/physiology ; Persea/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Shot hole borer (SHB)-Fusarium dieback (FD) is a new pest-disease complex affecting numerous tree species in California and is vectored by two distinct, but related ambrosia beetles (Euwallacea sp. nr. fornicatus) called polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) and Kuroshio shot hole borer (KSHB). These pest-disease complexes cause branch dieback and tree mortality on numerous wildland and landscape tree species, as well as agricultural tree species, primarily avocado. The recent discovery of KSHB in California initiated an investigation of fungal symbionts associated with the KSHB vector. Ten isolates of Fusarium sp. and Graphium sp., respectively, were recovered from the mycangia of adult KSHB females captured in three different locations within San Diego County and compared with the known symbiotic fungi of PSHB. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1-α), and RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB1, RPB2) regions as well as morphological comparisons revealed that two novel fungal associates Fusarium kuroshium sp. nov. and Graphium kuroshium sp. nov. obtained from KSHB were related to, but distinct from the fungal symbionts F. euwallaceae and G. euwallaceae associated with PSHB in California. Pathogenicity tests on healthy, young avocado plants revealed F. kuroshium and G. kuroshium to be pathogenic. Lesion lengths from inoculation of F. kuroshium were found to be significantly shorter compared with those caused by F. euwallaceae, while no difference in symptom severity was detected between Graphium spp. associated with KSHB and PSHB. These findings highlight the pest disease complexes of KSHB-FD and PSHB-FD as distinct, but collective threats adversely impacting woody hosts throughout California.}, } @article {pmid30673148, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, L and Guo, MY and Thibaud, JB and Véry, AA and Sentenac, H}, title = {A repertoire of cationic and anionic conductances at the plasma membrane of Medicago truncatula root hairs.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {98}, number = {3}, pages = {418-433}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14238}, pmid = {30673148}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Anions/*metabolism ; Cations/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Root hairs, as lateral extensions of epidermal cells, provide large absorptive surfaces to the root and are major actors in plant hydromineral nutrition. In contact with the soil they also constitute a site of interactions between the plant and rhizospheric microorganisms. In legumes, initiation of symbiotic interactions with N2 -fixing rhizobia is often triggered at the root hair cell membrane in response to nodulation factors secreted by rhizobia, and involves early signaling events with changes in H[+] , Ca[2+] , K[+] and Cl[-] fluxes inducing transient depolarization of the cell membrane. Here, we aimed to build a functional repertoire of the major root hair conductances to cations and anions in the sequenced legume model Medicago truncatula. Five root hair conductances were characterized through patch-clamp experiments on enzymatically recovered root hair protoplasts. These conductances displayed varying properties of voltage dependence, kinetics and ion selectivity. They consisted of hyperpolarization- and depolarization-activated conductances for K[+] , cations or Cl[-] . Among these, one weakly outwardly rectifying cationic conductance and one hyperpolarization-activated slowly inactivating anionic conductance were not known as active in root hairs. All five conductances were detected in apical regions of young growing root hairs using membrane spheroplasts obtained by laser-assisted cell-wall microdissection. Combined with recent root hair transcriptomes of M. truncatula, this functional repertoire of conductances is expected to help the identification of candidate genes for reverse genetics studies to investigate the possible role of each conductance in root hair growth and interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment.}, } @article {pmid30671951, year = {2019}, author = {Clark, TJ and Friel, CA and Grman, E and Friesen, ML and Shachar-Hill, Y}, title = {Unfair trade underground revealed by integrating data with Nash bargaining models.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {3}, pages = {1325-1337}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15703}, pmid = {30671951}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {T32-GM110523//National Institutes of Health Training Program in Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability/International ; 1342793//NSF DEB/International ; 1354878//NSF DEB/International ; T32 GM110523/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DBI-0939454//NSF DEB/International ; }, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; *Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutually beneficial resource exchange is fundamental to global biogeochemical cycles and plant and animal nutrition. However, there is inherent potential conflict in mutualisms, as each organism benefits more when the exchange ratio ('price') minimizes its own costs and maximizes its benefits. Understanding the bargaining power that each partner has in these interactions is key to our ability to predict the exchange ratio and therefore the functionality of the cell, organism, community and ecosystem. We tested whether partners have symmetrical ('fair') or asymmetrical ('unfair') bargaining power in a legume-rhizobia nitrogen-fixing symbiosis using measurements of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a mathematical modeling framework derived from economic theory. A model of symmetric bargaining power was not consistent with our data. Instead, our data indicate that the growth benefit to the plant (Medicago truncatula) has greater weight in determining trade dynamics than the benefit to the bacteria. Quantitative estimates of the relative power of the plant revealed that the plant's influence rises as soil nitrogen availability decreases and trade benefits to both partners increase. Our finding that M. truncatula legumes have more bargaining power than their rhizobial partner at lower nitrogen availabilities highlights the importance of context-dependence for the evolution of mutualism with increasing nutrient deposition.}, } @article {pmid30671587, year = {2019}, author = {Kamfwa, K and Cichy, KA and Kelly, JD}, title = {Identification of quantitative trait loci for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in common bean.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {132}, number = {5}, pages = {1375-1387}, pmid = {30671587}, issn = {1432-2242}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phaseolus/*genetics/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Rhizobium/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {QTL were identified for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in common bean. These QTL were detected in both greenhouse and field studies, and many overlapped with previously reported QTL in diverse mapping populations. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity can be improved through the genetic enhancement of its symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) capacity. This study was aimed at understanding the genetic architecture of SNF through QTL analysis of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population contrasting for SNF potential. The mapping population consisted of 188 F4:5 RILs derived from a cross of Solwezi and AO-1012-29-3-3A that were evaluated for SNF in the greenhouse and field in Zambia. The population was genotyped with 5398 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. QTL for shoot biomass, nitrogen percentage in shoot biomass, nitrogen percentage in seed, total nitrogen derived from atmosphere (Ndfa) and percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) were identified. Three QTL for %Ndfa were identified on chromosomes Pv01, Pv04 and Pv09. Five QTL for Ndfa were identified on Pv04, Pv06, Pv07, Pv09 and Pv11. The QTL Ndfa9.1[SA] identified in the current study overlapped with a previously reported QTL for SNF. A major QTL Ndfa7.1[DB, SA] (R[2] = 14.9%) was consistently identified in two greenhouse studies and overlapped with previously reported QTL. The QTL Ndfa4.2[SA] identified from the greenhouse experiment is novel and overlapped with the QTL %NB4.3[SA], %NS4.2[SA] and %Ndfa4.2[SA] from the field experiment. These QTL identified in both greenhouse and field experiments, which overlap with previously reported QTL, could potentially be deployed by marker-assisted breeding to accelerate development of bean cultivars with enhanced SNF.}, } @article {pmid30671290, year = {2019}, author = {Vesala, R and Harjuntausta, A and Hakkarainen, A and Rönnholm, P and Pellikka, P and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Termite mound architecture regulates nest temperature and correlates with species identities of symbiotic fungi.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e6237}, pmid = {30671290}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Large and complex mounds built by termites of the genus Macrotermes characterize many dry African landscapes, including the savannas, bushlands, and dry forests of the Tsavo Ecosystem in southern Kenya. The termites live in obligate symbiosis with filamentous fungi of the genus Termitomyces. The insects collect dead plant material from their environment and deposit it into their nests where indigestible cell wall compounds are effectively decomposed by the fungus. Above-ground mounds are built to enhance nest ventilation and to maintain nest interior microclimates favorable for fungal growth.

OBJECTIVES: In Tsavo Ecosystem two Macrotermes species associate with three different Termitomyces symbionts, always with a monoculture of one fungal species within each termite nest. As mound architecture differs considerably both between and within termite species we explored potential relationships between nest thermoregulatory strategies and species identity of fungal symbionts.

METHODS: External dimensions were measured from 164 Macrotermes mounds and the cultivated Termitomyces species were identified by sequencing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. We also recorded the annual temperature regimes of several termite mounds to determine relations between mound architecture and nest temperatures during different seasons.

RESULTS: Mound architecture had a major effect on nest temperatures. Relatively cool temperatures were always recorded from large mounds with open ventilation systems, while the internal temperatures of mounds with closed ventilation systems and small mounds with open ventilation systems were consistently higher. The distribution of the three fungal symbionts in different mounds was not random, with one fungal species confined to "hot nests."

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that different Termitomyces species have different temperature requirements, and that one of the cultivated species is relatively intolerant of low temperatures. The dominant Macrotermes species in our study area can clearly modify its mound architecture to meet the thermal requirements of several different symbionts. However, a treacherous balance seems to exist between symbiont identity and mound architecture, as the maintenance of the thermophilic fungal species obviously requires reduced mound architecture that, in turn, leads to inadequate gas exchange. Hence, our study concludes that while the limited ventilation capacity of small mounds sets strict limits to insect colony growth, in this case, improving nest ventilation would invariable lead to excessively low nest temperatures, with negative consequences to the symbiotic fungus.}, } @article {pmid30671068, year = {2018}, author = {Gauthier-Coles, C and White, RG and Mathesius, U}, title = {Nodulating Legumes Are Distinguished by a Sensitivity to Cytokinin in the Root Cortex Leading to Pseudonodule Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1901}, pmid = {30671068}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is a feature confined to a single clade of plants, the Fabids. Among Fabids capable of RNS, legumes form root cortex-based nodules in symbioses with rhizobia, while actinorhizal species form lateral root-based nodules with actinomycetes. Cytokinin has previously been shown to be sufficient for "pseudonodule" initiation in model legumes. Here, we tested whether this response correlates with the ability to nodulate across a range of plant species. We analyzed the formation of pseudonodules in 17 nodulating and non-nodulating legume species, and 11 non-legumes, including nodulating actinorhizal species, using light and fluorescence microscopy. Cytokinin-induced pseudonodules arising from cortical cell divisions occurred in all nodulating legume species, but not in any of the other species, including non-nodulating legumes. Pseudonodule formation was dependent on the CRE1 cytokinin receptor in Medicago truncatula. Inhibition of root growth by cytokinin occurred across plant groups, indicating that pseudonodule development is the result of a specific cortical cytokinin response unique to nodulating legumes. Lack of a cortical cytokinin response from the Arabidopsis thaliana cytokinin reporter TCSn::GFP supported this hypothesis. Our results suggest that the ability to form cortical cell-derived nodules was gained in nodulating legumes, and likely lost in non-nodulating legumes, due to a specific root cortical response to cytokinin.}, } @article {pmid30670649, year = {2019}, author = {Brunetti, AE and Lyra, ML and Melo, WGP and Andrade, LE and Palacios-Rodríguez, P and Prado, BM and Haddad, CFB and Pupo, MT and Lopes, NP}, title = {Symbiotic skin bacteria as a source for sex-specific scents in frogs.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {6}, pages = {2124-2129}, pmid = {30670649}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura ; *Bacteria/classification ; Biodiversity ; Female ; Male ; Sex Factors ; Skin/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Amphibians are known to possess a wide variety of compounds stored in their skin glands. While significant progress has been made in understanding the chemical diversity and biological relevance of alkaloids, amines, steroids, and peptides, most aspects of the odorous secretions are completely unknown. In this study, we examined sexual variations in the volatile profile from the skin of the tree frog Boana prasina and combined culture and culture-independent methods to investigate if microorganisms might be a source of these compounds. We found that sesquiterpenes, thioethers, and methoxypyrazines are major contributors to the observed sex differences. We also observed that each sex has a distinct profile of methoxypyrazines, and that the chemical origin of these compounds can be traced to a Pseudomonas sp. strain isolated from the frog's skin. This symbiotic bacterium was present in almost all individuals examined from different sites and was maintained in captive conditions, supporting its significance as the source of methoxypyrazines in these frogs. Our results highlight the potential relevance of bacteria as a source of chemical signals in amphibians and contribute to increasing our understanding of the role that symbiotic associations have in animals.}, } @article {pmid30670646, year = {2019}, author = {Aihara, Y and Maruyama, S and Baird, AH and Iguchi, A and Takahashi, S and Minagawa, J}, title = {Green fluorescence from cnidarian hosts attracts symbiotic algae.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {6}, pages = {2118-2123}, pmid = {30670646}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/microbiology ; Cnidaria/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*physiology ; *Fluorescence ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals thrive in nutrient-poor marine environments because of an obligate symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium Symbiosis is established in most corals through the uptake of Symbiodinium from the environment. Corals are sessile for most of their life history, whereas free-living Symbiodinium are motile; hence, a mechanism to attract Symbiodinium would greatly increase the probability of encounter between host and symbiont. Here, we examined whether corals can attract free-living motile Symbiodinium by their green fluorescence, emitted by the excitation of endogenous GFP by purple-blue light. We found that Symbiodinium have positive and negative phototaxis toward weak green and strong purple-blue light, respectively. Under light conditions that cause corals to emit green fluorescence, (e.g., strong blue light), Symbiodinium were attracted toward live coral fragments. Symbiodinium were also attracted toward an artificial green fluorescence dye with similar excitation and emission spectra to coral-GFP. In the field, more Symbiodinium were found in traps painted with a green fluorescence dye than in controls. Our results revealed a biological signaling mechanism between the coral host and its potential symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30670547, year = {2019}, author = {Sinha, A and Nyongesa, S and Viau, C and Gruenheid, S and Veyrier, FJ and Le Moual, H}, title = {PmrC (EptA) and CptA Negatively Affect Outer Membrane Vesicle Production in Citrobacter rodentium.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30670547}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Citrobacter rodentium/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Endopeptidases/genetics/*metabolism ; Ethanolaminephosphotransferase/genetics/*metabolism ; Extracellular Vesicles/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Iron/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are naturally produced by Gram-negative bacteria by a bulging of the outer membrane (OM) and subsequent release into the environment. By serving as vehicles for various cargos, including proteins, nucleic acids and small metabolites, OMVs are central to interbacterial interactions and both symbiotic and pathogenic host bacterial interactions. However, despite their importance, the mechanism of OMV formation remains unclear. Recent evidence indicates that covalent modifications of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) influence OMV biogenesis. Several enteric bacteria modify LPS with phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) using the iron-regulated PmrC (EptA) and CptA pEtN transferases. In wild-type Citrobacter rodentium, the presence of increasing subtoxic concentrations of iron was found to stimulate OMV production 4- to 9-fold above baseline. C. rodentium uses the two-component system PmrAB to sense and adapt to environmental iron. Compared to the wild type, the C. rodentium ΔpmrAB strain exhibited heightened OMV production at similar iron concentrations. PmrAB regulates transcription of pmrC (also known as eptA) and cptA OMV production in strains lacking either pmrC (eptA) or cptA was similarly increased in comparison to that of the wild type. Importantly, plasmid complementation of C. rodentium strains with either pmrC (eptA) or cptA resulted in a drastic inhibition of OMV production. Finally, we showed that β-lactamase and CroP, two enzymes found in the C. rodentium periplasm and outer membrane (OM), respectively, are associated with OMVs. These data suggest a novel mechanism by which C. rodentium and possibly other Gram-negative bacteria can negatively affect OMV production through the PmrAB-regulated genes pmrC (eptA) and cptAIMPORTANCE Although OMVs secreted by Gram-negative bacteria fulfill multiple functions, the molecular mechanism of OMV biogenesis remains ill defined. Our group has previously shown that PmrC (also known as EptA) and CptA maintain OM integrity and provide resistance to iron toxicity and antibiotics in the murine pathogen Citrobacter rodentium In several enteric bacteria, these proteins modify the lipid A and core regions of lipopolysaccharide with phosphoethanolamine moieties. Here, we show that these proteins also repress OMV production in response to environmental iron in C. rodentium These data support the emerging understanding that lipopolysaccharide modifications are important regulators of OMV biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30670545, year = {2019}, author = {Ogden, AJ and McAleer, JM and Kahn, ML}, title = {Characterization of the Sinorhizobium meliloti HslUV and ClpXP Protease Systems in Free-Living and Symbiotic States.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30670545}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {T32 GM008336/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Endopeptidase Clp/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Ribosomal Proteins/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/genetics/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in the interaction between the soil bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti and legume plant Medicago sativa is carried out in specialized root organs called nodules. During nodule development, each symbiont must drastically alter their proteins, transcripts, and metabolites in order to support nitrogen fixation. Moreover, bacteria within the nodules are under stress, including challenges by plant antimicrobial peptides, low pH, limited oxygen availability, and strongly reducing conditions, all of which challenge proteome integrity. S. meliloti stress adaptation, proteome remodeling, and quality control are controlled in part by the large oligomeric protease complexes HslUV and ClpXP1. To improve understanding of the roles of S. meliloti HslUV and ClpXP1 under free-living conditions and in symbiosis with M. sativa, we generated ΔhslU, ΔhslV, ΔhslUV, and ΔclpP1 knockout mutants. The shoot dry weight of M. sativa plants inoculated with each deletion mutant was significantly reduced, suggesting a role in symbiosis. Further, slower free-living growth of the ΔhslUV and ΔclpP1 mutants suggests that HslUV and ClpP1 were involved in adapting to heat stress, the while ΔhslU and ΔclpP1 mutants were sensitive to kanamycin. All deletion mutants produced less exopolysaccharide and succinoglycan, as shown by replicate spot plating and calcofluor binding. We also generated endogenous C-terminal enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) fusions to HslU, HslV, ClpX, and ClpP1 in S. meliloti Using anti-eGFP antibodies, native coimmunoprecipitation experiments with proteins from free-living and nodule tissues were performed and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The results suggest that HslUV and ClpXP were closely associated with ribosomal and proteome quality control proteins, and they identified several novel putative protein-protein interactions.IMPORTANCE Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is the primary means by which biologically available nitrogen enters the biosphere, and it is therefore a critical component of the global nitrogen cycle and modern agriculture. SNF is the result of highly coordinated interactions between legume plants and soil bacteria collectively referred to as rhizobia, e.g., Medicago sativa and S. meliloti, respectively. Accomplishing SNF requires significant proteome changes in both organisms to create a microaerobic environment suitable for high-level bacterial nitrogenase activity. The bacterial protease systems HslUV and ClpXP are important in proteome quality control, in metabolic remodeling, and in adapting to stress. This work shows that S. meliloti HslUV and ClpXP are involved in SNF, in exopolysaccharide production, and in free-living stress adaptation.}, } @article {pmid30669397, year = {2019}, author = {Chialva, M and Fangel, JU and Novero, M and Zouari, I and di Fossalunga, AS and Willats, WGT and Bonfante, P and Balestrini, R}, title = {Understanding Changes in Tomato Cell Walls in Roots and Fruits: The Contribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30669397}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Cell Wall/chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Fruit/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*physiology ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics/methods ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Cells/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; Polymers/chemistry ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Modifications in cell wall composition, which can be accompanied by changes in its structure, were already reported during plant interactions with other organisms, such as the mycorrhizal fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are among the most widespread soil organisms that colonize the roots of land plants, where they facilitate mineral nutrient uptake from the soil in exchange for plant-assimilated carbon. In AM symbiosis, the host plasma membrane invaginates and proliferates around all the developing intracellular fungal structures, and cell wall material is laid down between this membrane and the fungal cell surface. In addition, to improve host nutrition and tolerance/resistance to environmental stresses, AM symbiosis was shown to modulate fruit features. In this study, Comprehensive Microarray Polymer Profiling (CoMMP) technique was used to verify the impact of the AM symbiosis on the tomato cell wall composition both at local (root) and systemic level (fruit). Multivariate data analyses were performed on the obtained datasets looking for the effects of fertilization, inoculation with AM fungi, and the fruit ripening stage. Results allowed for the discernment of cell wall component modifications that were correlated with mycorrhizal colonization, showing a different tomato response to AM colonization and high fertilization, both at the root and the systemic level.}, } @article {pmid30668787, year = {2019}, author = {Chebbi, MA and Becking, T and Moumen, B and Giraud, I and Gilbert, C and Peccoud, J and Cordaux, R}, title = {The Genome of Armadillidium vulgare (Crustacea, Isopoda) Provides Insights into Sex Chromosome Evolution in the Context of Cytoplasmic Sex Determination.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {727-741}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msz010}, pmid = {30668787}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Genome ; Isopoda/*genetics ; Male ; *Sex Chromosomes ; *Sex Determination Processes ; Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {The terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare is an original model to study the evolution of sex determination and symbiosis in animals. Its sex can be determined by ZW sex chromosomes, or by feminizing Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts. Here, we report the sequence and analysis of the ZW female genome of A. vulgare. A distinguishing feature of the 1.72 gigabase assembly is the abundance of repeats (68% of the genome). We show that the Z and W sex chromosomes are essentially undifferentiated at the molecular level and the W-specific region is extremely small (at most several hundreds of kilobases). Our results suggest that recombination suppression has not spread very far from the sex-determining locus, if at all. This is consistent with A. vulgare possessing evolutionarily young sex chromosomes. We characterized multiple Wolbachia nuclear inserts in the A. vulgare genome, none of which is associated with the W-specific region. We also identified several candidate genes that may be involved in the sex determination or sexual differentiation pathways. The A. vulgare genome serves as a resource for studying the biology and evolution of crustaceans, one of the most speciose and emblematic metazoan groups.}, } @article {pmid30668688, year = {2019}, author = {Fernández-Brime, S and Muggia, L and Maier, S and Grube, M and Wedin, M}, title = {Bacterial communities in an optional lichen symbiosis are determined by substrate, not algal photobionts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiz012}, pmid = {30668688}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Chlorophyta/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/physiology ; Lichens/genetics/*microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Plant Bark/microbiology ; Populus/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sweden ; *Symbiosis ; Wood/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Borderline lichens are simple mutualistic symbioses between fungi and algae, where the fungi form loose mycelia interweaving algal cells, instead of forming a lichen thallus. Schizoxylon albescens shows two nutritional modes: it can either live as a borderline lichen on Populus tremula bark or as a saprotroph on Populus wood. This enables us to investigate the microbiota diversity in simple fungal-algal associations and to study the impact of lichenization on the structure of bacterial communities. We sampled three areas in Sweden covering the distribution of Schizoxylon, and using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and fluorescence in situ hybridization we characterized the associated microbiota. Bacterial communities in lichenized and saprotrophic Schizoxylon were clearly distinct, but when comparing the microbiota with the respective substrates, only the fruiting bodies show clear differences in composition and abundance from the communities in the substrates. The colonization by either lichenized or saprotrophic mycelia of Schizoxylon did not significantly influence the microbiota in the substrate. This suggests that in a morphologically simple form of lichenization, as represented by the Schizoxylon-Coccomyxa system, algal-fungal interactions do not significantly influence bacterial communities, but a more complex structure of the lichen thallus is likely required for hosting specific microbiota.}, } @article {pmid30668330, year = {2019}, author = {Taş, İ and Han, J and Park, SY and Yang, Y and Zhou, R and Gamage, CDB and Van Nguyen, T and Lee, JY and Choi, YJ and Yu, YH and Moon, KS and Kim, KK and Ha, HH and Kim, SK and Hur, JS and Kim, H}, title = {Physciosporin suppresses the proliferation, motility and tumourigenesis of colorectal cancer cells.}, journal = {Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {10-20}, doi = {10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.219}, pmid = {30668330}, issn = {1618-095X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Humans ; Lichens/chemistry ; Male ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Oxepins/administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics/*pharmacology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; beta Catenin/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens, which represent symbiotic associations of fungi and algae, are potential sources of numerous natural products. Physciosporin (PHY) is a potent secondary metabolite found in lichens and was recently reported to inhibit the motility of lung cancer cells via novel mechanisms.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the anticancer potential of PHY on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

METHODS: PHY was isolated from lichen extract by preparative TLC. The effect of PHY on cell viability, motility and tumourigenicity was elucidated by MTT assay, hoechst staining, flow cytometric analysis, transwell invasion and migration assay, soft agar colony formation assay, Western blotting, qRT-PCR and PCR array in vitro as well as tumorigenicity study in vivo.

RESULTS: PHY decreased the viability of various CRC cell lines (Caco2, CT26, DLD1, HCT116 and SW620). Moreover, PHY elicited cytotoxic effects by inducing apoptosis at toxic concentrations. At non-toxic concentrations, PHY dose-dependently suppressed the invasion, migration and colony formation of CRC cells. PHY inhibited the motility of CRC cells by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and downregulating actin-based motility markers. In addition, PHY downregulated β-catenin and its downstream target genes cyclin-D1 and c-Myc. Moreover, PHY modulated KAI1 C-terminal-interacting tetraspanin and KAI1 expression, and downregulated the downstream transcription factors c-jun and c-fos. Finally, PHY administration showed considerable bioavailability and effectively decreased the growth of CRC xenografts in mice without causing toxicity.

CONCLUSION: PHY suppresses the growth and motility of CRC cells via novel mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid30666969, year = {2019}, author = {Kamarlı Altun, H and Akal Yıldız, E and Akın, M}, title = {Effects of synbiotic therapy in mild-to-moderately active ulcerative colitis: A randomized placebo-controlled study.}, journal = {The Turkish journal of gastroenterology : the official journal of Turkish Society of Gastroenterology}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {313-320}, pmid = {30666969}, issn = {2148-5607}, mesh = {Adult ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative/blood/microbiology/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the effects of probiotics and prebiotics on ulcerative colitis (UC). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of synbiotic therapy on the clinical and endoscopic activities of the disease in patients with mild-to-moderately active UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 40 patients with mild-to-moderate UC activity were included in the study and were randomized to the synbiotic and control groups. Synbiotic therapy was administered in the synbiotic group and placebo was administered in the control group for 8 weeks. Both groups were evaluated and compared in terms of the acute phase reactants and clinical and endoscopic activities of the disease at the beginning and at the end of the 8-week therapy.

RESULTS: At the end of the study duration, the decrease in the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and sedimentation values in the synbiotic group was statistically significant (p=0.003). In both groups, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the clinical and endoscopic activity levels at the end of the treatment (symbiotic: p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively; control: p=0.005 and p=0.001, respectively). When the groups were compared with each other, improvement in the clinical activity was significantly higher in the synbiotic group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The use of synbiotic therapy in patients with UC has a significant effect on the improvement in clinical activity. Moreover, although it appears to positively affect the acute phase reactants and endoscopic activity levels, the difference was not significant when compared with the patients who did not receive synbiotic therapy.}, } @article {pmid30666424, year = {2019}, author = {Xie, S and Lan, Y and Sun, C and Shao, Y}, title = {Insect microbial symbionts as a novel source for biotechnology.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {25}, pmid = {30666424}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Industrial Microbiology/*methods ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insecta is the most diverse and largest class of animals on Earth, appearing together with the emergence of the first terrestrial ecosystem. Owing to this great diversity and long-term coexistence, an amazing variety of symbiotic microorganisms have adapted specifically to insects as hosts. Insect symbionts not only participate in many relationships with the hosts but also represent a novel resource for biotechnological applications. The exploitation of mutualistic symbiosis represents a promising area to search for bioactive compounds and new enzymes for potential clinical, industrial or environmental applications. Moreover, the manipulation of parasitic symbiosis has particular potential to solve practical problems for the control of agricultural pests and disease vectors. Although the study of microbial symbionts has been impaired by the unculturability of most symbionts, the rapidly growing catalogue of microbial genomes and the application of modern genetic techniques provide an alternative approach to using these microbes. This minireview presents examples of microbial symbionts isolated from insects for emerging biotechnological use and illuminates new ways for discovering microorganisms of applied value from a particularly promising source.}, } @article {pmid30665024, year = {2019}, author = {Kitamoto, M and Tokuda, G and Watanabe, H and Arioka, M}, title = {Characterization of CBM36-containing GH11 endoxylanase NtSymX11 from the hindgut metagenome of higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis displaying prominent catalytic activity.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {474}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2019.01.003}, pmid = {30665024}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacteria/*chemistry/enzymology/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Calcium/chemistry ; Cloning, Molecular ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/genetics/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors/chemistry/metabolism ; Glucuronates/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestines/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Kinetics ; Metagenome ; Oligosaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; Xylans/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbionts in the gut of termites are expected to be large sources of enzymes involved in lignocellulose degradation, but their biotechnological potential has not been fully explored. In this study, we expressed, purified, and biochemically characterized a glycoside hydrolase family 11 xylanase, NtSymX11, from a symbiotic bacterium of the higher termite, Nasutitermes takasagoensis. NtSymX11 is a multimodular enzyme consisting of a catalytic domain and two tandem carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM36). The pH and temperature optima of NtSymX11 were pH 6.0 and 40 °C, respectively. By comparing the properties of full-length and truncated variants of NtSymX11, it was shown that CBM36 decreases the enzyme stability at acidic pH and high temperature. The main products from xylohexaose and various xylan substrates were X1-X3 xylooligosaccharides. Analysis of kinetic parameters indicated that NtSymX11 displays an outstanding catalytic performance when compared to other reported xylanases, and CBM36 enhances the activity by increasing the affinity to the substrate. Addition of Ca[2+] boosted the activity of full-length enzyme, but not the truncated variant lacking the CBM, against the insoluble substrate, suggesting that CBM36 plays a role in the Ca[2+]-dependent increase of catalytic efficiency.}, } @article {pmid30664238, year = {2019}, author = {Sato, H and Toju, H}, title = {Timing of evolutionary innovation: scenarios of evolutionary diversification in a species-rich fungal clade, Boletales.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {4}, pages = {1924-1935}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15698}, pmid = {30664238}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Acquisition of mutualistic symbiosis could provide hosts and/or symbionts with novel ecological opportunities for evolutionary diversification. Such a mechanism is one of the major components of coevolutionary diversification. However, whether the origin of mycorrhizal symbiosis promotes diversification in fungi still requires clarification. Here, we aimed to reveal evolutionary diversification in a clade comprising ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Based on a phylogenic tree inferred from the sequences of 87 single-copy genes, we reconstructed the origins of ECM symbiosis in a species-rich basidiomycetous order, Boletales. High-resolution phylogeny of Boletales revealed that ECM symbiosis independently evolved from non-ECM states at least four times in the group. Among them, only the second most recent event, occurring in the clade of Boletaceae, was inferred to involve an almost synchronous rapid diversification and rapid transition from non-ECM to ECM symbiosis. Our results contradict the hypothesis of evolutionary priority effect, which postulates the greatest ecological opportunities in the oldest lineages. Therefore, the novel resources that had not been pre-empted by the old ECM fungal lineages - supposedly the coevolving angiosperm hosts - could be available for the young ECM fungal lineages, which resulted in evolutionary diversification occurring only in the young ECM fungal lineages.}, } @article {pmid30664233, year = {2019}, author = {Trujillo, DI and Silverstein, KAT and Young, ND}, title = {Nodule-specific PLAT domain proteins are expanded in the Medicago lineage and required for nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {3}, pages = {1538-1550}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15697}, pmid = {30664233}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {MN22-082//Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station/International ; IOS-1237993//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Protein Domains ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes is mediated by an interplay of signaling processes between plant hosts and rhizobial symbionts. In legumes, several secreted protein families have undergone expansions and play key roles in nodulation. Thus, identifying lineage-specific expansions (LSEs) of nodulation-associated genes can be a strategy to discover candidate gene families. Using bioinformatic tools, we identified 13 LSEs of nodulation-related secreted protein families, each unique to either Glycine, Arachis or Medicago lineages. In the Medicago lineage, nodule-specific Polycystin-1, Lipoxygenase, Alpha Toxin (PLAT) domain proteins (NPDs) expanded to five members. We examined NPD function using CRISPR/Cas9 multiplex genome editing to create Medicago truncatula NPD knockout lines, targeting one to five NPD genes. Mutant lines with differing combinations of NPD gene inactivations had progressively smaller nodules, earlier onset of nodule senescence, or ineffective nodules compared to the wild-type control. Double- and triple-knockout lines showed dissimilar nodulation phenotypes but coincided in upregulation of a DHHC-type zinc finger and an aspartyl protease gene, possible candidates for the observed disturbance of proper nodule function. By postulating that gene family expansions can be used to detect candidate genes, we identified a family of nodule-specific PLAT domain proteins and confirmed that they play a role in successful nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid30662731, year = {2018}, author = {Muller, KE and Denison, RF}, title = {Resource acquisition and allocation traits in symbiotic rhizobia with implications for life-history outside of legume hosts.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {181124}, pmid = {30662731}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Resources that microbial symbionts obtain from hosts may enhance fitness during free-living stages when resources are comparatively scarce. For rhizobia in legume root nodules, diverting resources from nitrogen fixation to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has been discussed as a source of host-symbiont conflict. Yet, little is known about natural variation in PHB storage and its implications for rhizobial evolution. We therefore measured phenotypic variation in natural rhizobia populations and investigated how PHB might contribute to fitness in the free-living stage. We found that natural populations of rhizobia from Glycine max and Chamaecrista fasciculata had substantial, heritable variation in PHB acquisition during symbiosis. A model simulating temperature-dependent metabolic activity showed that the observed range of stored PHB per cell could support survival for a few days, for active cells, or over a century for sufficiently dormant cells. Experiments with field-isolated Bradyrhizobium in starvation culture suggest PHB is partitioned asymmetrically in dividing cells, consistent with individual-level bet-hedging previously demonstrated in E. meliloti. High-PHB isolates used more PHB over the first month, yet still retained more PHB for potential long-term survival in a dormant state. These results suggest that stored resources like PHB may support both short-term and long-term functions that contribute to fitness in the free-living stage.}, } @article {pmid30661799, year = {2019}, author = {Tuovinen, V and Ekman, S and Thor, G and Vanderpool, D and Spribille, T and Johannesson, H}, title = {Two Basidiomycete Fungi in the Cortex of Wolf Lichens.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {476-483.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.12.022}, pmid = {30661799}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Lichens/*physiology ; Parmeliaceae/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the late 1800s, mycologists have been detecting fungi above and beyond the assumed single fungus in lichen thalli [1-6]. Over the last century, these fungi have been accorded roles ranging from commensalists to pathogens. Recently, Cyphobasidiales yeasts were shown to be ubiquitous in the cortex layer of many macrolichens [7], but for most species, little is known of their cellular distribution and constancy beyond visible fruiting structures. Here, we demonstrate the occurrence of an additional and distantly related basidiomycete, Tremella, in 95% of studied thalli in a global sample of one of the most intensively studied groups of lichens, the wolf lichens (genus Letharia). Tremella species are reported from a wide range of lichen genera [8], but until now, their biology was deduced from fruiting bodies (basidiomata) formed on lichen thalli. Based on this, they have been thought to be uncommon to rare, to occur exclusively in a hyphal form, and to be parasitic on the dominant fungal partner [9, 10]. We show that, in wolf lichens, Tremella occurs as yeast cells also in thalli that lack basidiomata and infer that this is its dominant stage in nature. We further show that the hyphal stage, when present in Letharia, is in close contact with algal cells, challenging the assumption that lichen-associated Tremella species are uniformly mycoparasites. Our results suggest that extent of occurrence and cellular interactions of known fungi within lichens have historically been underestimated and raise new questions about their function in specific lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30658977, year = {2019}, author = {Li, Y and Pinto-Tomás, AA and Rong, X and Cheng, K and Liu, M and Huang, Y}, title = {Population Genomics Insights into Adaptive Evolution and Ecological Differentiation in Streptomycetes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30658977}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Ecology ; Ecosystem ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Flow ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Homologous Recombination ; Insecta/microbiology ; *Metagenomics ; Multigene Family/genetics ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/metabolism ; Organic Chemicals/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Soil Microbiology ; Streptomyces/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Deciphering the genomic variation that represents microevolutionary processes toward species divergence is key to understanding microbial speciation, which has long been under debate. Streptomycetes are filamentous bacteria that are ubiquitous in nature and the richest source of antibiotics; however, their speciation processes remain unknown. To tackle this issue, we performed a comprehensive population genomics analysis on Streptomyces albidoflavus residing in different habitats and with a worldwide distribution and identified and characterized the foundational changes within the species. We detected three well-defined phylogenomic clades, of which clades I and III mainly contained free-living (soil/marine) and insect-associated strains, respectively, and clade II had a mixed origin. By performing genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we identified a number of genetic variants associated with free-living or entomic (denoting or relating to insects) habitats in both the accessory and core genomes. These variants contributed collectively to the population structure and had annotated or confirmed functions that likely facilitate differential adaptation of the species. In addition, we detected higher levels of homologous recombination within each clade and in the free-living group than within the whole species and in the entomic group. A subset of the insect-associated strains (clade III) showed a relatively independent evolutionary trajectory with more symbiosis-favorable genes but little genetic interchange with the other lineages. Our results demonstrate that ecological adaptation promotes genetic differentiation in S. albidoflavus, suggesting a model of ecological speciation with gene flow in streptomycetes.IMPORTANCE Species are the fundamental units of ecology and evolution, and speciation leads to the astounding diversity of life on Earth. Studying speciation is thus of great significance to understand, protect, and exploit biodiversity, but it is a challenge in the microbial world. In this study, using population genomics, we placed Streptomyces albidoflavus strains in a spectrum of speciation and showed that the genetic differences between phylogenomic clusters evolved mainly by environmental selection and gene-specific sweeps. These findings highlight the role of ecology in structuring recombining bacterial species, making a step toward a deeper understanding of microbial speciation. Our results also raise concerns of an underrated microbial diversity at the intraspecies level, which can be utilized for mining of ecologically relevant natural products.}, } @article {pmid30658971, year = {2019}, author = {Smercina, DN and Evans, SE and Friesen, ML and Tiemann, LK}, title = {To Fix or Not To Fix: Controls on Free-Living Nitrogen Fixation in the Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {30658971}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Panicum/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Free-living nitrogen fixation (FLNF) in the rhizosphere, or N fixation by heterotrophic bacteria living on/near root surfaces, is ubiquitous and a significant source of N in some terrestrial systems. FLNF is also of interest in crop production as an alternative to chemical fertilizer, potentially reducing production costs and ameliorating negative environmental impacts of fertilizer N additions. Despite this interest, a mechanistic understanding of controls (e.g., carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and nutrient availability) on FLNF in the rhizosphere is lacking but necessary. FLNF is distinct from and occurs under more diverse and dynamic conditions than symbiotic N fixation; therefore, predicting FLNF rates and understanding controls on FLNF has proven difficult. This has led to large gaps in our understanding of FLNF, and studies aimed at identifying controls on FLNF are needed. Here, we provide a mechanistic overview of FLNF, including how various controls may influence FLNF in the rhizosphere in comparison with symbiotic N fixation occurring in plant nodules where environmental conditions are moderated by the plant. We apply this knowledge to a real-world example, the bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), to provide context of how FLNF may function in a managed system. We also highlight future challenges to assessing FLNF and understanding how FLNF functions in the environment and significantly contributes to plant N availability and productivity.}, } @article {pmid30658671, year = {2019}, author = {Soro, B and Koné, NA and Vanié-Léabo, LPL and Konaté, S and Bakayoko, A and Koné, D}, title = {Phytogeographical and sociolinguistical patterns of the diversity, distribution, and uses of wild mushrooms in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.}, journal = {Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, pmid = {30658671}, issn = {1746-4269}, mesh = {*Agaricales/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Cote d'Ivoire ; Demography ; Ethnicity ; Food ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Linguistics ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many fungal species in tropical Africa are useful, with high added value, and play essential roles in the structure and dynamic of ecosystems. However, the diversity, distribution, and uses by local populations of these non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and their respective habitats are still very poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa in general and more specifically in Côte d'Ivoire. This study aims at (i) inventorying the wild useful mushrooms of Côte d'Ivoire within its major protected areas and their respective surrounding sociolinguistical groups, according to climatic and phytogeographical gradients, and (ii) recording ethnomycological knowledge and considerations of these local people.

METHODS: Field and ethnomycological surveys were conducted in the main and highest protected areas of Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé, Marahoué, and Taï national parks) and a set of their respective surrounding villages, along climatic and phytogeographical gradients. Standardized methods (permanent plots and opportunistic searches) were used for field surveys. In addition, a total 748 respondents belonging to 13 ethnic groups were interviewed at a rate of 300 interviewees during the preliminary investigations and 448 persons during the proper ethnomycological surveys.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight useful wild fungal species, belonging to 17 families and 23 genera, were listed and collected. Four categories of usage were reported by the rural people (food, medicinal, belief and recreational), with a dominance of food and medicinal uses. Fifty-six species were reported to be used as food and 16 species as medicinal fungi. These uses varied not only from one sociolinguistical group to another but also from a visited village to another. The high number (41) of the reported useful species was found in the Sudano-Guinean savanna zone while 28 species were collected in the forest zone and 22 species in the forest-savanna mosaic zone. These mushrooms were either saprotrophic or symbiotic (ectomycorrhizal or termitophilic). Auricularia sp3, Psathyrella tuberculata, and Termitomyces spp. were found as the most commonly used mushrooms.

CONCLUSIONS: These national scale field and ethnomycological surveys give one of the more complete but non-exhaustive list of useful mushrooms of Côte d'Ivoire. Mushrooms are relatively well known and used by the Ivorian people within the main phytogeographical zone of the country. These people also have an interest in all the functional groups with an important phytogeographical zone-fungal-specific used species. However, protected areas of the visited zones seem to represent the last sanctuaries of these organisms due to high rate of loss of natural habitats.}, } @article {pmid30658579, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, D and He, J and Yang, Z and Wang, M and Jia, R and Chen, S and Liu, M and Zhao, X and Yang, Q and Wu, Y and Zhang, S and Liu, Y and Zhang, L and Yu, Y and You, Y and Chen, X and Cheng, A}, title = {Comparative analysis reveals the Genomic Islands in Pasteurella multocida population genetics: on Symbiosis and adaptability.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {63}, pmid = {30658579}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomic Islands/*genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Humans ; Pasteurella Infections/microbiology ; Pasteurella multocida/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is a widespread opportunistic pathogen that infects human and various animals. Genomic Islands (GIs) are one of the most important mobile components that quickly help bacteria acquire large fragments of foreign genes. However, the effects of GIs on P. multocida are unknown in the evolution of bacterial populations.

RESULTS: Ten avian-sourced P. multocida obtained through high-throughput sequencing together with 104 publicly available P. multocida genomes were used to analyse their population genetics, thus constructed a pan-genome containing 3948 protein-coding genes. Through the pan-genome, the open evolutionary pattern of P. multocida was revealed, and the functional components of 944 core genes, 2439 accessory genes and 565 unique genes were analysed. In addition, a total of 280 GIs were predicted in all strains. Combined with the pan-genome of P. multocida, the GIs accounted for 5.8% of the core genes in the pan-genome, mainly related to functional metabolic activities; the accessory genes accounted for 42.3%, mainly for the enrichment of adaptive genes; and the unique genes accounted for 35.4%, containing some defence mechanism-related genes.

CONCLUSIONS: The effects of GIs on the population genetics of P. multocida evolution and adaptation to the environment are reflected by the proportion and function of the pan-genome acquired from GIs, and the large quantities of GI data will aid in additional population genetics studies.}, } @article {pmid30658517, year = {2019}, author = {Quezada, EH and García, GX and Arthikala, MK and Melappa, G and Lara, M and Nanjareddy, K}, title = {Cysteine-Rich Receptor-Like Kinase Gene Family Identification in the Phaseolus Genome and Comparative Analysis of Their Expression Profiles Specific to Mycorrhizal and Rhizobial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30658517}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phaseolus/*genetics/microbiology ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Rhizome/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are conserved upstream signaling molecules that regulate several biological processes, including plant development and stress adaptation. Cysteine (C)-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) are an important class of RLK that play vital roles in disease resistance and cell death in plants. Genome-wide analyses of CRK genes have been carried out in Arabidopsis and rice, while functional characterization of some CRKs has been carried out in wheat and tomato in addition to Arabidopsis. A comprehensive analysis of the CRK gene family in leguminous crops has not yet been conducted, and our understanding of their roles in symbiosis is rather limited. Here, we report the comprehensive analysis of the PhaseolusCRK gene family, including identification, sequence similarity, phylogeny, chromosomal localization, gene structures, transcript expression profiles, and in silico promoter analysis. Forty-six CRK homologs were identified and phylogenetically clustered into five groups. Expression analysis suggests that PvCRK genes are differentially expressed in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Further, transcriptomic analysis revealed that shared and unique CRK genes were upregulated during arbuscular mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbiosis. Overall, the systematic analysis of the PvCRK gene family provides valuable information for further studies on the biological roles of CRKs in various Phaseolus tissues during diverse biological processes, including Phaseolus-mycorrhiza/rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30658297, year = {2019}, author = {Company, R and Antúnez, O and Cosson, RP and Serafim, A and Shillito, B and Cajaraville, M and Bebianno, MJ and Torreblanca, A}, title = {Protein expression profiles in Bathymodiolus azoricus exposed to cadmium.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {621-630}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.01.031}, pmid = {30658297}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/drug effects/metabolism ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gills/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Mytilidae/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; *Proteome/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Proteomic changes in the "gill-bacteria complex" of the hydrothermal vent mussel B. azoricus exposed to cadmium in pressurized chambers ((Incubateurs Pressurises pour l'Observation en Culture d'Animaux Marins Profonds - IPOCAMP) were analyzed and compared with the non-exposed control group. 2-D Fluorescence Difference Gel Electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) showed that less than 1.5% of the proteome of mussels and symbiotic bacteria were affected by a short-term (24 h) Cd exposure. Twelve proteins of the more abundant differentially expressed proteins of which six were up-regulated and six were down-regulated were excised, digested and identified by mass spectrometry. The identified proteins included structural proteins (actin/actin like proteins), metabolic proteins (calreticulin/calnexin, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, aminotransferase class-III, electron transfer flavoprotein, proteasome, alpha-subunit and carbonic anhydrase) and stress response proteins (chaperone protein htpG, selenium-binding protein and glutathione transferases). All differently expressed proteins are tightly connected to Cd exposure and are affected by oxidative stress. It was also demonstrated that B. azoricus was well adapted to Cd contamination therefore B. azoricus from hydrothermal vent areas may be considered a good bioindicator.}, } @article {pmid30658091, year = {2019}, author = {Breton, M and Dahmouni, I and Zaccour, G}, title = {Equilibria in a two-species fishery.}, journal = {Mathematical biosciences}, volume = {309}, number = {}, pages = {78-91}, doi = {10.1016/j.mbs.2019.01.004}, pmid = {30658091}, issn = {1879-3134}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Fisheries/statistics & numerical data ; *Fishes ; *Models, Biological ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {In this paper, we consider a two-species fishery model where the species can have different biological interactions, namely, competitive, symbiotic or prey-predator relationships. Each species is harvested by a group of fisherpersons. We characterize and compare equilibrium harvesting strategies, steady-state stocks and total discounted utilities under different modes of play, that is, noncooperation in both groups, cooperation in each of the groups and cooperation in only one group of fisherpersons. Our main results are as follows: (i) In all scenarios, the equilibrium strategy of an agent fishing either species consists of harvesting, in each period, a proportion of the available stock. (ii) The dividend of cooperation in a given group is increasing with the number of members in that group. (iii) Coordination between agents fishing a given species may be detrimental (biologically and economically) to the other species.}, } @article {pmid30657885, year = {2019}, author = {Jiang, G and Yang, J and Li, X and Cao, Y and Liu, X and Ling, J and Wang, H and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase is important for oxidative stress resistance and symbiosis in Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz014}, pmid = {30657885}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/drug effects/*enzymology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress/*genetics ; Peroxiredoxins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are not only toxic products of oxygen from aerobic metabolism or stress but also signalling molecules involved in the development of the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. To assess the importance of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpCD) in the nitrogen-fixating bacterium Azorhizobium caulinodans, we investigated the phenotypes of the ∆ahpCD strain with regards to ROS resistance and symbiotic interactions with Sesbania rostrata. The ∆ahpCD strain was notably more sensitive than its parent strain to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but not to two organic peroxides, in the early log phase. The expression of ahpCD was not controlled by a LysR-type transcriptional activator either in vitro or in vivo. The catalase activity of the ∆ahpCD strain was affected at a relatively low level of H2O2 stress. Furthermore, the ∆ahpCD strain induced a reduced number of stem nodules in S. rostrata with lowering of nitrogenase activity. These data suggest that A. caulinodans AhpCD is not only important for H2O2 detoxification in vitro but also critical for symbiosis with S. rostrata. Functional analysis of AhpCD is worth investigating in other rhizobia to gain a comprehensive view of its contributions to ROS defence and symbiotic association with legumes.}, } @article {pmid30657593, year = {2019}, author = {Rillig, MC and Aguilar-Trigueros, CA and Camenzind, T and Cavagnaro, TR and Degrune, F and Hohmann, P and Lammel, DR and Mansour, I and Roy, J and van der Heijden, MGA and Yang, G}, title = {Why farmers should manage the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {3}, pages = {1171-1175}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15602}, pmid = {30657593}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//German Federal Ministry for Education/International ; //European Union/International ; //World Food System Center and Mercator Foundation Switzerland/International ; 727230//Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges/International ; 166079/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; //Gebert Rüf Foundation/International ; SERI//Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation/International ; 17.00090//Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation/International ; //Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture (FOAG)/International ; //Alexander von Humboldt-CAPES/International ; }, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural ; Farmers ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30657177, year = {2019}, author = {Ryan, MH and Graham, JH and Morton, JB and Kirkegaard, JA}, title = {Research must use a systems agronomy approach if management of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is to contribute to sustainable intensification.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {3}, pages = {1176-1178}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15600}, pmid = {30657177}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {FT140100103//ARC Future Fellowship/International ; }, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural ; Farmers ; Humans ; *Mycorrhizae ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30656552, year = {2019}, author = {Mosca, F and Gianni, ML and Rescigno, M}, title = {Can Postbiotics Represent a New Strategy for NEC?.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1125}, number = {}, pages = {37-45}, doi = {10.1007/5584_2018_314}, pmid = {30656552}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; *Dietary Supplements ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/*microbiology/prevention & control ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Infant, Premature ; Intestines/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence indicates that many of the health beneficial effects associated with the establishment of a symbiotic gut microbiota are driven by bacterial metabolic by-products.The term "postbiotics" indicates any soluble factor resulting from the metabolic activity of a live bacteria or any released molecule capable of providing health benefits through a direct or indirect mechanism.Alterations in preterm gut colonization associated with the intestinal barrier immaturity and the increased reactivity of the intestinal mucosa to colonizing bacteria have been implicated in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. Recent advances in the comprehension of the postbiotic biological effects and related mechanisms, some of them reviewed here, indicate that postbiotics may be a promising effective preventive strategy against necrotizing enterocolitis while avoiding the risk of administering live microorganisms to preterm infants that could translocate and cause infection. However, data from trials investigating the efficacy of postbiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants are needed, and issues regarding their optimal regimen and start and duration of treatment need to be addressed.}, } @article {pmid30655873, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, CJ and Zhang, YL and Shang, Y and Wu, B and Yang, E and Luo, YY and Li, XR}, title = {Intestinal bacteria detected in cancer and adjacent tissue from patients with colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Oncology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {1115-1127}, pmid = {30655873}, issn = {1792-1074}, abstract = {Intestinal bacteria are symbiotic microbiota within the human gut and are implicated in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The current study investigated the changes in bacterial composition prior to and following surgery, as well as the differences in the bacterial community structure between cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue. The diversity of the bacterial community and the composition of the bacteria were assessed. In addition, phylogenetic analysis and principle component analysis (PCA) were performed. The results revealed that cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue exhibited similar bacterial compositions. However, a significant difference was identified in the composition of intestinal bacteria in stool samples collected from patients following surgery compared with stool samples collected prior to surgery. Each patient had their own unique intestinal bacterial community, likely due to a number of factors, including diet, genetic factors and health status. In addition, phylogenetic trees revealed that the most abundant operational taxonomic unit, 0001, was associated with Escherichia coli in all samples. Finally, PCA suggested that the bacterial community structure in all patient stools was similar following surgery. The current study provides information regarding the diversity of the intestinal bacterial community of patients with CRC and provides a basis for postoperative intestinal assessments.}, } @article {pmid30654557, year = {2019}, author = {Nuzzo, G and Gomes, BA and Gallo, C and Amodeo, P and Sansone, C and Pessoa, ODL and Manzo, E and Vitale, RM and Ianora, A and Santos, EA and Costa-Lotufo, LV and Fontana, A}, title = {Potent Cytotoxic Analogs of Amphidinolides from the Atlantic Octocoral Stragulum bicolor.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30654557}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Macrolides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; }, abstract = {Amphidinolides are cytotoxic macrolides produced by symbiotic unicellular microalgae of the genus Amphidinium. Here we describe the identification of four related molecules belonging to this macrolide family isolated from the invertebrate Stragulum bicolor. The new molecules, named amphidinolide PX1-PX3 and stragulin A (1[-]4), show an unprecedented carbon skeleton whose complete stereochemistry has been determined by spectroscopic and computational methods. Differences in the structures of these molecules modulate their biological activity in a panel of tumor cell lines, but the opened derivative stragulin (4) shows a very potent and specific cytotoxic activity (IC50 0.18 µM) against the aggressive human melanoma cell A2058.}, } @article {pmid30651068, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, C and Leng, D and Sun, S and Zhang, XD}, title = {Re-analysis of the coral Acropora digitifera transcriptome reveals a complex lncRNAs-mRNAs interaction network implicated in Symbiodinium infection.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {48}, pmid = {30651068}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Alternative Splicing/genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*parasitology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Being critically important to the ecosystem, the stability of coral reefs is directly related to the marine and surrounding terrestrial environments. However, coral reefs are now undergoing massive and accelerating devastation due to bleaching. The fact that the breakdown of symbiosis between coral and the dinoflagellate, zooxanthellae, has been well elucidated as the main cause of bleaching, implying the establishment of symbiosis with zooxanthellae plays a crucial role in maintaining coral survival. However, the relevant molecular and cellular mechanisms have not been well studied yet. In this study, based on the deep RNA-sequencing data derived from Mohamed, A. R. et al., an integrated transcriptome analysis was performed to deeply investigate global transcriptome changes of the coral Acropora digitifera in response to infection by dinoflagellate of the genus Symbiodinium.

RESULTS: The results revealed that compared to RefTranscriptome_v1.0 (A. digitifera transcriptome assembly v1.0), numerous novel transcripts and isoforms were identified, the Symbiodinium-infected coral larvae at 4 h generated the highest proportion of specific isoforms. Alternative splicing analysis showed that intron retention predominated in all alternative transcripts among six statuses. Additionally, 8117 lncRNAs were predicted via a stringent stepwise filtering pipeline. A complex lncRNAs-mRNAs network including 815 lncRNAs and 6395 mRNAs were established, in which 21 lncRNAs were differentially expressed at 4 h post infection. Functional clustering analysis for those differentially lncRNAs-coexpressed mRNAs demonstrated that several biological processes and pathways related to protein kinase activity, metabolic pathways, mitochondrion, ribosome, etc. were enriched.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study not only refined A. digitifera transcriptome via identification of novel transcripts and isoforms, but also predicted a high-confidence dataset of lncRNAs. Functional study based on the construction of lncRNAs-mRNAs co-expression network has disclosed a complex lncRNA-mediated regulation in response to Symbiodinium infection exhibited in A. digitifera. Once validated, these lncRNAs could be good potential targets for treatment and prevention of bleaching in coral.}, } @article {pmid30650116, year = {2019}, author = {Akami, M and Andongma, AA and Zhengzhong, C and Nan, J and Khaeso, K and Jurkevitch, E and Niu, CY and Yuval, B}, title = {Intestinal bacteria modulate the foraging behavior of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e0210109}, pmid = {30650116}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Larva/physiology ; Male ; Pupa/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tephritidae/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome of insects directly or indirectly affects the metabolism, immune status, sensory perception and feeding behavior of its host. Here, we examine the hypothesis that in the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis, Diptera: Tephritidae), the presence or absence of gut symbionts affects foraging behavior and nutrient ingestion. We offered protein-starved flies, symbiotic or aposymbiotic, a choice between diets containing all amino acids or only the non-essential ones. The different diets were presented in a foraging arena as drops that varied in their size and density, creating an imbalanced foraging environment. Suppressing the microbiome resulted in significant changes of the foraging behavior of both male and female flies. Aposymbiotic flies responded faster to the diets offered in experimental arenas, spent more time feeding, ingested more drops of food, and were constrained to feed on time-consuming patches (containing small drops of food), when these offered the full complement of amino acids. We discuss these results in the context of previous studies on the effect of the gut microbiome on host behavior, and suggest that these be extended to the life history dimension.}, } @article {pmid30649463, year = {2019}, author = {Sun, Y and Wu, Z and Wang, Y and Yang, J and Wei, G and Chou, M}, title = {Identification of Phytocyanin Gene Family in Legume Plants and their Involvement in Nodulation of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {900-915}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcz007}, pmid = {30649463}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbiosis between legume and rhizobium results in the formation of nodule. Phytocyanins (PCs) are a class of plant-specific blue copper proteins, playing critical roles in plant development including nodule formation. Although a few PC genes have been isolated from nodules, their functions are still unclear. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of PC family in seven sequenced legume species (Medicago truncatula, Glycine max, Cicer arietinum, Cajanus cajan, Lotus japonicus, Vigna angularis and Phaseolus vulgaris) and found PCs experienced a remarkable expansion in M. truncatula and G. max. Further, we conducted an in-depth analysis of PC family in the model legume M. truncatula. Briefly, 82 MtPCs were divided into four subfamilies and clustered into seven clades, with a large proportion of tandem duplications and various cross-tissues expression patterns. Importantly, some PCs, such as MtPLC1, MtENODL27 and MtENODL28 were preferentially expressed in nodules. Further, RNA interference (RNAi) experiment revealed the knockdown of MtENDOL27 and MtENDOL28 impaired rhizobia infection, nodule numbers and nitrogenase activity. Moreover, in the MtENODL27-RNAi nodules, the infected cells were reduced and the symbiosomes did not reach the elongated stage, indicating MtENDOL27 is required for rhizobia infection and nodule development. In addition, co-expression analysis showed MtPLC1, MtENODL27 and MtENODL28 were grouped into two different functional modules and co-expressed with the known symbiotic nitrogen fixation-related genes, suggesting that they might participate in nodulation via different ways. In summary, this study provides a useful resource for future researches on the structure and function of PCs in nodulation.}, } @article {pmid30649416, year = {2019}, author = {Grosman, DM and Eskalen, A and Brownie, C}, title = {Evaluation of Emamectin Benzoate and Propiconazole for Management of a New Invasive Shot Hole Borer (Euwallacea nr. fornicatus, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Symbiotic Fungi in California Sycamores.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {112}, number = {3}, pages = {1267-1273}, pmid = {30649416}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; California ; *Coleoptera ; Ivermectin/analogs & derivatives ; Triazoles ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {The polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea nr. fornicatus, Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), an exotic and invasive ambrosia beetle, was recently found attacking a number of tree species in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties in southern California. Their colonization and subsequent inoculation of a suite of symbiotic fungi that cause Fusarium Dieback, has resulted in extensive mortality of some tree species, including, California sycamore (Platanus racemose Nutt.). There are no sustainable control options for polyphagous shot hole borer other than maintaining tree vigor and removal of severely infested host material. The effectiveness of therapeutic treatments of an injected systemic insecticide containing emamectin benzoate (EB) alone and in combination with a systemic fungicide, propiconazole (P), was evaluated over a 4-yr period for maintaining the health of individual sycamore trees infested by polyphagous shot hole borer. All treatments containing EB reduced levels of polyphagous shot hole borer colonization and associated sap flow at attack sites compared to untreated controls. A second trial evaluated preventative treatments of EB and P alone or combined to protect individual sycamore from colonization by polyphagous shot hole borer. After 45 mo posttreatment, all treatments significantly reduced polyphagous shot hole borer attack levels and successful attacks compared to untreated controls (EB + P > EB alone > P alone). We concluded that EB alone or combined with P are acceptable therapeutic and preventative treatments for management of polyphagous shot hole borer in California sycamore in southern California.}, } @article {pmid30649338, year = {2019}, author = {Russell, SL}, title = {Transmission mode is associated with environment type and taxa across bacteria-eukaryote symbioses: a systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnz013}, pmid = {30649338}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; *Environment ; Eukaryota/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between bacteria and eukaryotes exhibit a range of transmission strategies. The rates and distributions of transmission modes have not been thoroughly investigated across associations, despite their consequences on symbiont and host evolution. To address this empirically, I compiled data from the literature on bacteria-multicellular eukaryote associations for which transmission mode data was available. Of the total 528 analyzed symbioses, 21.2% were strictly horizontally transmitted, 36.0% exhibited some form of mixed mode transmission and 42.8% were strictly vertically transmitted. Controlling for phylogenetically independent symbiosis events revealed modes were approximately equally distributed among the 113 independent associations, at 32.1%+/-0.57% horizontal, 37.8%+/-1.4% mixed mode and 31.1%+/-1.3% vertical transmission. Binning symbioses by environment revealed an abundance of vertical transmission on land and a lack of it in aquatic environments. The naturally occurring uneven distribution of taxa among environments prevented controlling for host/symbiont phylogeny. However, the results were robust over a large number of independently evolved associations, suggesting that many vertically transmitted bacteria are capable of mixed mode transmission and barriers exist that reduce the rate of horizontal transmission events. Thus, both the environment type and host/symbiont taxa influence symbiont transmission mode evolution.}, } @article {pmid30648935, year = {2019}, author = {Soto, W and Travisano, M and Tolleson, AR and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Symbiont evolution during the free-living phase can improve host colonization.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {165}, number = {2}, pages = {174-187}, pmid = {30648935}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {K12 GM088021/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 52006952/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Biofilms/growth & development ; *Biological Evolution ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Ecotype ; Host Specificity ; Locomotion ; Mutation ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {For micro-organisms cycling between free-living and host-associated stages, where reproduction occurs in both of these lifestyles, an interesting inquiry is whether evolution during the free-living stage can be positively pleiotropic to microbial fitness in a host environment. To address this topic, the squid host Euprymna tasmanica and the marine bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri were utilized. Microbial ecological diversification in static liquid microcosms was used to simulate symbiont evolution during the free-living stage. Thirteen genetically distinct V. fischeri strains from a broad diversity of ecological sources (e.g. squid light organs, fish light organs and seawater) were examined to see if the results were reproducible in many different genetic settings. Genetic backgrounds that are closely related can be predisposed to considerable differences in how they respond to similar selection pressures. For all strains examined, new mutations with striking and facilitating effects on host colonization arose quickly during microbial evolution in the free-living stage, regardless of the ecological context under consideration for a strain's genetic background. Microbial evolution outside a host environment promoted host range expansion, improved host colonization for a micro-organism, and diminished the negative correlation between biofilm formation and motility.}, } @article {pmid30648847, year = {2019}, author = {Haji, MN and Drysdale, JA and Buesseler, KO and Slocum, AH}, title = {Results of an Ocean Trial of the Symbiotic Machine for Ocean uRanium Extraction.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {2229-2237}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.8b05100}, pmid = {30648847}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater ; *Uranium ; *Water Pollutants, Radioactive ; }, abstract = {Amidoxime-based adsorbents have become highly promising for seawater uranium extraction. However, current deployment schemes are stand-alone, intermittent operation systems that have significant practical and economic challenges. This paper presents two 1:10 scale prototypes of a Symbiotic Machine for Ocean uRanium Extraction (SMORE) which pairs with an existing offshore structure. This pairing reduces mooring and deployment costs while enabling continuous, autonomous uranium extraction. Utilizing a shell enclosure to decouple the mechanical and chemical requirements of the adsorbent, one design concept prototyped continuously moves the shells through the water while the other keeps them stationary. Water flow in the shells on each prototype was determined using the measurement of radium adsorbed by MnO2 impregnated acrylic fibers contained within each enclosure. The results from a nine-week ocean trial show that while movement of the shells through the water may not have an effect on uranium adsorption by the fibers encased, it could help reduce biofouling if above a certain threshold speed (resulting in increased uptake), while also allowing for the incorporation of design elements to further mitigate biofouling such as bristle brushes and UV lamps. The trace metal uptake by the AI8 adsorbents in this trial also varied greatly from previous marine deployments, suggesting that uranium uptake may depend greatly upon the seawater concentrations of other elements such as vanadium and copper. The results from this study will be used to inform future work on the seawater uranium production cost from a full-scale SMORE system.}, } @article {pmid30648503, year = {2018}, author = {Dinić, J and Podolski-Renić, A and Jeremić, M and Pešić, M}, title = {Potential of Natural-Based Anticancer Compounds for P-Glycoprotein Inhibition.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical design}, volume = {24}, number = {36}, pages = {4334-4354}, doi = {10.2174/1381612825666190112164211}, pmid = {30648503}, issn = {1873-4286}, mesh = {ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Biological Products/*pharmacology ; Drug Design ; Drug Discovery/methods ; Drug Resistance, Multiple/drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology ; }, abstract = {Medicinal value of natural products comes from symbiotic and competitive evolution in Earth's complex biosphere. Billions of years of co-evolutionary interactions among millions of species have produced a large repertoire of defense molecules effective in fighting bacteria, viral, and fungal pathogens. Each species contains millions of different and useful molecules and new research technologies enabled the screening of molecules and complex mixtures from diverse biological sources. Traditional use of plants and other species led to the discovery of many bioactive compounds with various properties. In the last four decades, a large number of them were evaluated for their potential to treat cancer. Penetration of drugs into the cancer cell is necessary for their lethal pharmacological effect through interaction with intracellular target molecules. Increased activity of membrane efflux pumps reduces the intracellular drug accumulation, thereby preventing drug-target interactions. The discovery of the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells prompted the efforts in overcoming drug resistance by P-gp inhibition. The search for nontoxic anticancer agents from natural sources able to overcome MDR has been imperative in the field of drug design and discovery. Herein, we review various natural compounds from diverse sources emphasizing their potential to inhibit P-gp activity and/or expression.}, } @article {pmid30647460, year = {2019}, author = {Rubin-Blum, M and Antony, CP and Sayavedra, L and Martínez-Pérez, C and Birgel, D and Peckmann, J and Wu, YC and Cardenas, P and MacDonald, I and Marcon, Y and Sahling, H and Hentschel, U and Dubilier, N}, title = {Fueled by methane: deep-sea sponges from asphalt seeps gain their nutrition from methane-oxidizing symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {1209-1225}, pmid = {30647460}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {340535/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Hydrocarbons ; Metagenomics ; Methane/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges host a remarkable diversity of microbial symbionts, however, the benefit their microbes provide is rarely understood. Here, we describe two new sponge species from deep-sea asphalt seeps and show that they live in a nutritional symbiosis with methane-oxidizing (MOX) bacteria. Metagenomics and imaging analyses revealed unusually high amounts of MOX symbionts in hosts from a group previously assumed to have low microbial abundances. These symbionts belonged to the Marine Methylotrophic Group 2 clade. They are host-specific and likely vertically transmitted, based on their presence in sponge embryos and streamlined genomes, which lacked genes typical of related free-living MOX. Moreover, genes known to play a role in host-symbiont interactions, such as those that encode eukaryote-like proteins, were abundant and expressed. Methane assimilation by the symbionts was one of the most highly expressed metabolic pathways in the sponges. Molecular and stable carbon isotope patterns of lipids confirmed that methane-derived carbon was incorporated into the hosts. Our results revealed that two species of sponges, although distantly related, independently established highly specific, nutritional symbioses with two closely related methanotrophs. This convergence in symbiont acquisition underscores the strong selective advantage for these sponges in harboring MOX bacteria in the food-limited deep sea.}, } @article {pmid30647457, year = {2019}, author = {Mateus, ID and Masclaux, FG and Aletti, C and Rojas, EC and Savary, R and Dupuis, C and Sanders, IR}, title = {Dual RNA-seq reveals large-scale non-conserved genotype × genotype-specific genetic reprograming and molecular crosstalk in the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {1226-1238}, pmid = {30647457}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Genotype ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; Manihot/*genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) impact plant growth and are a major driver of plant diversity and productivity. We quantified the contribution of intra-specific genetic variability in cassava (Manihot esculenta) and Rhizophagus irregularis to gene reprogramming in symbioses using dual RNA-sequencing. A large number of cassava genes exhibited altered transcriptional responses to the fungus but transcription of most of these plant genes (72%) responded in a different direction or magnitude depending on the plant genotype. Two AMF isolates displayed large differences in their transcription, but the direction and magnitude of the transcriptional responses for a large number of these genes was also strongly influenced by the genotype of the plant host. This indicates that unlike the highly conserved plant genes necessary for the symbiosis establishment, most of the plant and fungal gene transcriptional responses are not conserved and are greatly influenced by plant and fungal genetic differences, even at the within-species level. The transcriptional variability detected allowed us to identify an extensive gene network showing the interplay in plant-fungal reprogramming in the symbiosis. Key genes illustrated that the two organisms jointly program their cytoskeleton organization during growth of the fungus inside roots. Our study reveals that plant and fungal genetic variation has a strong role in shaping the genetic reprograming in response to symbiosis, indicating considerable genotype × genotype interactions in the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Such variation needs to be considered in order to understand the molecular mechanisms between AMF and their plant hosts in natural communities.}, } @article {pmid30644356, year = {2019}, author = {Shaikevich, E and Bogacheva, A and Ganushkina, L}, title = {Dirofilaria and Wolbachia in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in central European Russia and on the Black Sea coast.}, journal = {Parasite (Paris, France)}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {2}, pmid = {30644356}, issn = {1776-1042}, mesh = {Animals ; Black Sea ; Culex/microbiology/parasitology ; Culicidae/*microbiology/*parasitology ; DNA, Helminth/isolation & purification ; Dirofilaria immitis/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Dirofilaria repens/isolation & purification/physiology ; Dirofilariasis/*epidemiology/*transmission ; Dog Diseases/epidemiology ; Dogs ; Female ; Larva/microbiology/parasitology ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/parasitology ; Russia/epidemiology ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Dirofilariasis is endemic in Russia, as well as in many other European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of mosquitoes to transfer Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in regions with temperate and subtropical climates. The possible impact of the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia on Dirofilaria transmission was also investigated. 5333 female mosquitoes were collected at 11 points in central European Russia and on the Black Sea coast during the period 2013-2017. Out of 20 mosquito species examined, 14 were infected with D. repens and 13 with D. immitis. Both species of Dirofilaria were found in different climatic regions. The total Dirofilaria spp. estimated infection rate (EIR) in the central part of Russia varied from 3.1% to 3.7% and, in the southern region, from 1.1% to 3.0%. The highest estimated infection rate was found in Anopheles messeae, the lowest in Culex pipiens. The greatest epidemiological danger was represented by Aedes aegypti, Ae. geniculatus, An. messeae and Ae. communis. Six out of 20 mosquito species were infected with Wolbachia. Pools of Aedes albopictus, Cx. pipiens and Coquillettidia richiardii were simultaneously infected with Dirofilaria and Wolbachia. After checking mosquitoes individually, it was found that there was no development of Dirofilaria to the infective larval stage in specimens infected with Wolbachia. Twenty-two Dirofilaria-infective pools were Wolbachia-free and only two mosquito pools were Wolbachia-infected. The potential for transmission of Dirofilaria in mosquito species naturally uninfected with the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia is higher than in species infected with the bacterium.}, } @article {pmid30644058, year = {2019}, author = {Fukuhara, T}, title = {Endornaviruses: persistent dsRNA viruses with symbiotic properties in diverse eukaryotes.}, journal = {Virus genes}, volume = {55}, number = {2}, pages = {165-173}, pmid = {30644058}, issn = {1572-994X}, mesh = {Eukaryota/genetics/*virology ; Fungi/virology ; Genome, Viral/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Plants/virology ; RNA Viruses/*genetics ; RNA, Double-Stranded/*genetics ; Viral Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Endornaviruses are unique, persistent, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses with symbiotic properties that infect diverse eukaryotes, such as plants, fungi, and oomycetes. Endornaviruses contain a linear dsRNA genome of approximately 10 to 17 kbp in length and are classified in the family Endornaviridae, which consists of two genera, Alphaendornavirus and Betaendornavirus. The endornaviruses encode a single long open reading frame encoding approximately 3200 to 5800 amino acid residues of conserved viral RNA helicase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains, and some endornaviruses contain a site-specific nick in the coding strand of their dsRNA genome. Acute plant viruses propagate rapidly and systemically, eventually killing the host plant, and are then transmitted horizontally. In contrast, plant endornaviruses have several common persistent (symbiotic) properties: a stable low copy number in the host plant, no obvious effect on the host plant, and efficient vertical transmission via gametes. Plant endornaviruses are likely maintained within host plants for hundreds of generations, so the host must stringently regulate their propagation. Whereas RNA silencing functions as a defense system against acute viruses in plants, it may be necessary for the persistent infection (symbiotic life cycle) of endornaviruses. This process includes the stringent regulation of low virus copy number (steady replication before every host cell division) and efficient vertical transmission of the virus to the next generation.}, } @article {pmid30643907, year = {2019}, author = {Baturina, OA and Muntyan, VS and Afonin, AM and Cherkasova, ME and Simarov, BV and Kabilov, MR and Roumiantseva, ML}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain CXM1-105.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30643907}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a Gram-negative bacterium which fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with Medicago spp. We report the draft genome sequence of S. meliloti strain CXM1-105, associated with nodules of Medicago sativa subsp. varia (Martyn) Arcang.}, } @article {pmid30643201, year = {2019}, author = {Faure, E and Not, F and Benoiston, AS and Labadie, K and Bittner, L and Ayata, SD}, title = {Mixotrophic protists display contrasted biogeographies in the global ocean.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {1072-1083}, pmid = {30643201}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Eukaryota/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeography ; Plankton/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mixotrophy, or the ability to acquire carbon from both auto- and heterotrophy, is a widespread ecological trait in marine protists. Using a metabarcoding dataset of marine plankton from the global ocean, 318,054 mixotrophic metabarcodes represented by 89,951,866 sequences and belonging to 133 taxonomic lineages were identified and classified into four mixotrophic functional types: constitutive mixotrophs (CM), generalist non-constitutive mixotrophs (GNCM), endo-symbiotic specialist non-constitutive mixotrophs (eSNCM), and plastidic specialist non-constitutive mixotrophs (pSNCM). Mixotrophy appeared ubiquitous, and the distributions of the four mixotypes were analyzed to identify the abiotic factors shaping their biogeographies. Kleptoplastidic mixotrophs (GNCM and pSNCM) were detected in new zones compared to previous morphological studies. Constitutive and non-constitutive mixotrophs had similar ranges of distributions. Most lineages were evenly found in the samples, yet some of them displayed strongly contrasted distributions, both across and within mixotypes. Particularly divergent biogeographies were found within endo-symbiotic mixotrophs, depending on the ability to form colonies or the mode of symbiosis. We showed how metabarcoding can be used in a complementary way with previous morphological observations to study the biogeography of mixotrophic protists and to identify key drivers of their biogeography.}, } @article {pmid30642845, year = {2019}, author = {Nizam, S and Qiang, X and Wawra, S and Nostadt, R and Getzke, F and Schwanke, F and Dreyer, I and Langen, G and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Serendipita indica E5'NT modulates extracellular nucleotide levels in the plant apoplast and affects fungal colonization.}, journal = {EMBO reports}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30642845}, issn = {1469-3178}, mesh = {Adenosine Diphosphate ; Adenosine Monophosphate ; Adenosine Triphosphate/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Extracellular Space/metabolism ; Hordeum ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hydrolysis ; Models, Molecular ; Nucleotides/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Protein Conformation ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (eATP) is an essential signaling molecule that mediates different cellular processes through its interaction with membrane-associated receptor proteins in animals and plants. eATP regulates plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Its accumulation in the apoplast induces ROS production and cytoplasmic calcium increase mediating a defense response to invading microbes. We show here that perception of extracellular nucleotides, such as eATP, is important in plant-fungus interactions and that during colonization by the beneficial root endophyte Serendipita indica eATP accumulates in the apoplast at early symbiotic stages. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and cytological and functional analysis, we show that S. indica secrets SiE5'NT, an enzymatically active ecto-5'-nucleotidase capable of hydrolyzing nucleotides in the apoplast. Arabidopsis thaliana lines producing extracellular SiE5'NT are significantly better colonized, have reduced eATP levels, and altered responses to biotic stresses, indicating that SiE5'NT functions as a compatibility factor. Our data suggest that extracellular bioactive nucleotides and their perception play an important role in fungus-root interactions and that fungal-derived enzymes can modify apoplastic metabolites to promote fungal accommodation.}, } @article {pmid30640903, year = {2019}, author = {Rabillé, H and Billoud, B and Tesson, B and Le Panse, S and Rolland, É and Charrier, B}, title = {The brown algal mode of tip growth: Keeping stress under control.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e2005258}, pmid = {30640903}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Cell Shape ; Cell Wall ; Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching/methods ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Phaeophyta/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Tip growth has been studied in pollen tubes, root hairs, and fungal and oomycete hyphae and is the most widely distributed unidirectional growth process on the planet. It ensures spatial colonization, nutrient predation, fertilization, and symbiosis with growth speeds of up to 800 μm h-1. Although turgor-driven growth is intuitively conceivable, a closer examination of the physical processes at work in tip growth raises a paradox: growth occurs where biophysical forces are low, because of the increase in curvature in the tip. All tip-growing cells studied so far rely on the modulation of cell wall extensibility via the polarized excretion of cell wall-loosening compounds at the tip. Here, we used a series of quantitative measurements at the cellular level and a biophysical simulation approach to show that the brown alga Ectocarpus has an original tip-growth mechanism. In this alga, the establishment of a steep gradient in cell wall thickness can compensate for the variation in tip curvature, thereby modulating wall stress within the tip cell. Bootstrap analyses support the robustness of the process, and experiments with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) confirmed the active vesicle trafficking in the shanks of the apical cell, as inferred from the model. In response to auxin, biophysical measurements change in agreement with the model. Although we cannot strictly exclude the involvement of a gradient in mechanical properties in Ectocarpus morphogenesis, the viscoplastic model of cell wall mechanics strongly suggests that brown algae have evolved an alternative strategy of tip growth. This strategy is largely based on the control of cell wall thickness rather than fluctuations in cell wall mechanical properties.}, } @article {pmid30639376, year = {2019}, author = {Felizardo, RJF and Watanabe, IKM and Dardi, P and Rossoni, LV and Câmara, NOS}, title = {The interplay among gut microbiota, hypertension and kidney diseases: The role of short-chain fatty acids.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {366-377}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.019}, pmid = {30639376}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*complications/metabolism/therapy ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hypertension/*etiology/metabolism/therapy ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*etiology/metabolism/therapy ; }, abstract = {The bacteria community living in the gut maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host and its unbalance has been associated with progression of a wide range of intestinal and extra intestinal conditions. Hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are closely associated diseases with high incidence rates all over the world. Increasing data have supported the involvement of gut microbiome in the blood pressure regulation and the impairment of CKD prognosis. In hypertension, the reduced number of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing bacteria is associated with modifications in gut environment, involving reduction of the hypoxic gut profile and worsening of the microbial balance, leading to a loss of epithelial barrier integrity, development of gut inflammation and the reduction of SCFAs plasma levels. These modifications compromise the blood pressure regulation and, as a consequence, favor the end organ damage, also affecting the kidneys. In CKD, impaired renal function leads to accumulation of high levels of uremic toxins that reach the intestine and cause alterations in bacteria composition and fecal metabolite profile, inducing a positive feedback that allows translocation of endotoxins into the bloodstream, which enhances local kidney inflammation and exacerbate kidney injury, compromising even more CKD prognosis. In line with these data, the use of prebiotics, probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation are becoming efficient therapies to improve the gut dysbiosis aiming hypertension and CKD treatment. This review describes how changes in gut microbiota composition can affect the development of hypertension and the progression of kidney diseases, highlighting the importance of the gut microbial composition uncovering to improve human health maintenance and, especially, for the development of new alternative therapies.}, } @article {pmid30637407, year = {2019}, author = {Baturina, OA and Muntyan, VS and Cherkasova, ME and Saksaganskaya, AS and Dzuybenko, NI and Kabilov, MR and Roumiantseva, ML}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain AK170.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30637407}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Root nodule bacteria of Sinorhizobium meliloti species live in a symbiotic relationship with alfalfa plants. We report here the draft genome sequence of S. meliloti strain AK170, recovered from nodules of Medicago orthoceras (Kar. & Kir.) growing in an area impacted by salinization.}, } @article {pmid30637337, year = {2018}, author = {Bayer, K and Jahn, MT and Slaby, BM and Moitinho-Silva, L and Hentschel, U}, title = {Marine Sponges as Chloroflexi Hot Spots: Genomic Insights and High-Resolution Visualization of an Abundant and Diverse Symbiotic Clade.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {30637337}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Members of the widespread bacterial phylum Chloroflexi can dominate high-microbial-abundance (HMA) sponge microbiomes. In the Sponge Microbiome Project, Chloroflexi sequences amounted to 20 to 30% of the total microbiome of certain HMA sponge genera with the classes/clades SAR202, Caldilineae, and Anaerolineae being the most prominent. We performed metagenomic and single-cell genomic analyses to elucidate the functional gene repertoire of Chloroflexi symbionts of Aplysina aerophoba. Eighteen draft genomes were reconstructed and placed into phylogenetic context of which six were investigated in detail. Common genomic features of Chloroflexi sponge symbionts were related to central energy and carbon converting pathways, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, and respiration. Clade-specific metabolic features included a massively expanded genomic repertoire for carbohydrate degradation in Anaerolineae and Caldilineae genomes, but only amino acid utilization by SAR202. While Anaerolineae and Caldilineae import cofactors and vitamins, SAR202 genomes harbor genes encoding components involved in cofactor biosynthesis. A number of features relevant to symbiosis were further identified, including CRISPR-Cas systems, eukaryote-like repeat proteins, and secondary metabolite gene clusters. Chloroflexi symbionts were visualized in the sponge extracellular matrix at ultrastructural resolution by the fluorescence in situ hybridization-correlative light and electron microscopy (FISH-CLEM) method. Carbohydrate degradation potential was reported previously for "Candidatus Poribacteria" and SAUL, typical symbionts of HMA sponges, and we propose here that HMA sponge symbionts collectively engage in degradation of dissolved organic matter, both labile and recalcitrant. Thus, sponge microbes may not only provide nutrients to the sponge host, but they may also contribute to dissolved organic matter (DOM) recycling and primary productivity in reef ecosystems via a pathway termed the sponge loop. IMPORTANCE Chloroflexi represent a widespread, yet enigmatic bacterial phylum with few cultivated members. We used metagenomic and single-cell genomic approaches to characterize the functional gene repertoire of Chloroflexi symbionts in marine sponges. The results of this study suggest clade-specific metabolic specialization and that Chloroflexi symbionts have the genomic potential for dissolved organic matter (DOM) degradation from seawater. Considering the abundance and dominance of sponges in many benthic environments, we predict that the role of sponge symbionts in biogeochemical cycles is larger than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid30636349, year = {2019}, author = {Morin, E and Miyauchi, S and San Clemente, H and Chen, ECH and Pelin, A and de la Providencia, I and Ndikumana, S and Beaudet, D and Hainaut, M and Drula, E and Kuo, A and Tang, N and Roy, S and Viala, J and Henrissat, B and Grigoriev, IV and Corradi, N and Roux, C and Martin, FM}, title = {Comparative genomics of Rhizophagus irregularis, R. cerebriforme, R. diaphanus and Gigaspora rosea highlights specific genetic features in Glomeromycotina.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {3}, pages = {1584-1598}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15687}, pmid = {30636349}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DE-AC02-05CH11231//US DOE JGI/International ; DEB 1441677//US National Science Foundation/International ; //Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design/International ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/International ; //Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC-Discovery)/International ; ER13-09-190//Ministry of Research and Innovation/International ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Laboratory of Excellence TULIP/International ; }, mesh = {Conserved Sequence ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Genomics ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; Lignin/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Glomeromycotina is a lineage of early diverging fungi that establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with land plants. Despite their major ecological role, the genetic basis of their obligate mutualism remains largely unknown, hindering our understanding of their evolution and biology. We compared the genomes of Glomerales (Rhizophagus irregularis, Rhizophagus diaphanus, Rhizophagus cerebriforme) and Diversisporales (Gigaspora rosea) species, together with those of saprotrophic Mucoromycota, to identify gene families and processes associated with these lineages and to understand the molecular underpinning of their symbiotic lifestyle. Genomic features in Glomeromycotina appear to be very similar with a very high content in transposons and protein-coding genes, extensive duplications of protein kinase genes, and loss of genes coding for lignocellulose degradation, thiamin biosynthesis and cytosolic fatty acid synthase. Most symbiosis-related genes in R. irregularis and G. rosea are specific to Glomeromycotina. We also confirmed that the present species have a homokaryotic genome organisation. The high interspecific diversity of Glomeromycotina gene repertoires, affecting all known protein domains, as well as symbiosis-related orphan genes, may explain the known adaptation of Glomeromycotina to a wide range of environmental settings. Our findings contribute to an increasingly detailed portrait of genomic features defining the biology of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid30636324, year = {2019}, author = {Miri, M and Janakirama, P and Huebert, T and Ross, L and McDowell, T and Orosz, K and Markmann, K and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Inside out: root cortex-localized LHK1 cytokinin receptor limits epidermal infection of Lotus japonicus roots by Mesorhizobium loti.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {3}, pages = {1523-1537}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15683}, pmid = {30636324}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {3277A01//National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)/International ; 2499//Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/International ; }, mesh = {Cell Division ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Epidermis/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {During Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium loti symbiosis, the LOTUS HISTIDINE KINASE1 (LHK1) cytokinin receptor regulates both the initiation of nodule formation and the scope of root infection. However, the exact spatiotemporal mechanism by which this receptor exerts its symbiotic functions has remained elusive. In this study, we performed cell type-specific complementation experiments in the hyperinfected lhk1-1 mutant background, targeting LHK1 to either the root epidermis or the root cortex. We also utilized various genetic backgrounds to characterize expression of several genes regulating symbiotic infection. We show here that expression of LHK1 in the root cortex is required and sufficient to regulate both nodule formation and epidermal infections. The LHK1-dependent signalling that restricts subsequent infection events is triggered before initial cell divisions for nodule primordium formation. We also demonstrate that AHK4, the Arabidopsis orthologue of LHK1, is able to regulate M. loti infection in L. japonicus, suggesting that an endogenous cytokinin receptor could be sufficient for engineering nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis in nonlegumes. Our data provide experimental evidence for the existence of an LHK1-dependent root cortex-to-epidermis feedback mechanism regulating rhizobial infection. This root-localized regulatory module functionally links with the systemic autoregulation of nodulation (AON) to maintain the homeostasis of symbiotic infection.}, } @article {pmid30635418, year = {2019}, author = {Belcaid, M and Casaburi, G and McAnulty, SJ and Schmidbaur, H and Suria, AM and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Pankey, MS and Oakley, TH and Kremer, N and Koch, EJ and Collins, AJ and Nguyen, H and Lek, S and Goncharenko-Foster, I and Minx, P and Sodergren, E and Weinstock, G and Rokhsar, DS and McFall-Ngai, M and Simakov, O and Foster, JS and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Symbiotic organs shaped by distinct modes of genome evolution in cephalopods.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {8}, pages = {3030-3035}, pmid = {30635418}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P 30686/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cephalopoda/genetics/microbiology ; Decapodiformes/genetics/microbiology ; Genome/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Octopodiformes/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbes have been critical drivers of evolutionary innovation in animals. To understand the processes that influence the origin of specialized symbiotic organs, we report the sequencing and analysis of the genome of Euprymna scolopes, a model cephalopod with richly characterized host-microbe interactions. We identified large-scale genomic reorganization shared between E. scolopes and Octopus bimaculoides and posit that this reorganization has contributed to the evolution of cephalopod complexity. To reveal genomic signatures of host-symbiont interactions, we focused on two specialized organs of E. scolopes: the light organ, which harbors a monoculture of Vibrio fischeri, and the accessory nidamental gland (ANG), a reproductive organ containing a bacterial consortium. Our findings suggest that the two symbiotic organs within E. scolopes originated by different evolutionary mechanisms. Transcripts expressed in these microbe-associated tissues displayed their own unique signatures in both coding sequences and the surrounding regulatory regions. Compared with other tissues, the light organ showed an abundance of genes associated with immunity and mediating light, whereas the ANG was enriched in orphan genes known only from E. scolopes Together, these analyses provide evidence for different patterns of genomic evolution of symbiotic organs within a single host.}, } @article {pmid30635058, year = {2019}, author = {Simon, JC and Marchesi, JR and Mougel, C and Selosse, MA}, title = {Host-microbiota interactions: from holobiont theory to analysis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, pmid = {30635058}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Food Microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the recent years, the holobiont concept has emerged as a theoretical and experimental framework to study the interactions between hosts and their associated microbial communities in all types of ecosystems. The spread of this concept in many branches of biology results from the fairly recent realization of the ubiquitous nature of host-associated microbes and their central role in host biology, ecology, and evolution. Through this special series "Host-microbiota interactions: from holobiont theory to analysis," we wanted to promote this field of research which has considerable implications for human health, food production, and ecosystem protection. In this preface, we highlight a collection of articles selected for this special issue that show, use, or debate the concept of holobiont to approach taxonomically and ecologically diverse organisms, from humans and plants to sponges and insects. We also identify some theoretical and methodological challenges and propose directions for future research on holobionts.}, } @article {pmid30632641, year = {2019}, author = {Piculell, BJ and José Martínez-García, P and Nelson, CD and Hoeksema, JD}, title = {Association mapping of ectomycorrhizal traits in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {2088-2099}, doi = {10.1111/mec.15013}, pmid = {30632641}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Phenotype ; Pinus taeda/*genetics/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {To understand how diverse mutualisms coevolve and how species adapt to complex environments, a description of the underlying genetic basis of the traits involved must be provided. For example, in diverse coevolving mutualisms, such as the interaction of host plants with a suite of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, a key question is whether host plants can coevolve independently with multiple species of symbionts, which depends on whether those interactions are governed independently by separate genes or pleiotropically by shared genes. To provide insight into this question, we employed an association mapping approach in a clonally replicated field experiment of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) to identify genetic components of host traits governing ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbioses (mycorrhizal traits). The relative abundances of different EM fungi as well as the total number of root tips per cm root colonized by EM fungi were analyzed as separate mycorrhizal traits of loblolly pine. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within candidate genes of loblolly pine were associated with loblolly pine mycorrhizal traits, mapped to the loblolly pine genome, and their putative protein function obtained when available. The results support the hypothesis that ectomycorrhiza formation is governed by host genes of large effect that apparently have independent influences on host interactions with different symbiont species.}, } @article {pmid30631646, year = {2019}, author = {Bai, N and Zhang, H and Li, S and Zheng, X and Zhang, J and Zhang, H and Zhou, S and Sun, H and Lv, W}, title = {Long-term effects of straw and straw-derived biochar on soil aggregation and fungal community in a rice-wheat rotation system.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e6171}, pmid = {30631646}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Soil aggregation is fundamental for soil functioning and agricultural productivity. Aggregate formation depends on microbial activity influencing the production of exudates and hyphae, which in turn act as binding materials. Fungi are also important for improving soil quality and promoting plant growth in a symbiotic manner. There is a scarcity of findings comparing the long-term impacts of different yearly double-crop straw return modes (e.g., straw return to the field and straw-derived biochar return to the field) on soil aggregation and fungal community structure in rice-wheat rotation systems.

METHODS: The effects of 6-year continuous straw and straw-derived biochar amendment on soil physicochemical properties and the fungal community were evaluated in an intensively managed crop rotation system (rice-wheat). Soil samples of different aggregates (macroaggregates, microaggregates, and silt clay) from four different fertilization regimes (control, CK; traditional inorganic fertilization, CF; straw returned to field, CS; straw-derived biochar addition, CB) were obtained, and Illumina MiSeq sequencing analysis of the fungal internal transcribed spacer gene was performed.

RESULTS: Compared to CF, CS and CB enhanced soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and aggregation in 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil, with CB exhibiting a stronger effect. Additionally, agrowaste addition increased the mean weight diameter and the geometric diameter and decreased the fractal dimension (p < 0.05). Principal coordinates analysis indicated that fertilization management affected fungal community structure and aggregation distribution. In addition, CS increased fungal community richness and diversity, compared to CK, CB decreased these aspects. Ascomycota, unclassified_k_Fungi, and Basidiomycota were the dominant phyla in all soil samples. At the genus level, CB clearly increased fungi decomposing biosolids (Articulospora in macroaggregates in 0-20 cm soil and Neurospora in macroaggregates in 20-40 cm soil); decreased pathogenic fungi (Monographella in macroaggregates and Gibberella in microaggregates in 0-20 cm soil) and CO2-emission-related fungi (Pyrenochaetopsis in microaggregates and silt clay in 0-40 cm soil) (p < 0.05). Straw and biochar with inorganic fertilizer counteracted some of the adverse effects of the inorganic fertilizer with biochar showing better effects than straw.}, } @article {pmid30631330, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, J and Andersen, SU and Ratet, P}, title = {Editorial: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of the Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1839}, pmid = {30631330}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid30630415, year = {2019}, author = {Thomet, M and Trautwetter, A and Ermel, G and Blanco, C}, title = {Characterization of HicAB toxin-antitoxin module of Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {10}, pmid = {30630415}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Antitoxins/*genetics ; Bacterial Toxins/*genetics ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Protein Binding ; Protein Domains ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/pharmacology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are little genetic units generally composed of two genes encoding antitoxin and toxin. These systems are known to be involved in many functions that can lead to growth arrest and cell death. Among the different types of TA systems, the type II gathers together systems where the antitoxin directly binds and inhibits the toxin. Among these type II TA systems, the HicAB module is widely distributed in free-living Bacteria and Archaea and the toxin HicA functions via RNA binding and cleavage. The genome of the symbiotic Sinorhizobium meliloti encodes numerous TA systems and only a few of them are functional. Among the predicted TA systems, there is one homologous to HicAB modules.

RESULTS: In this study, we characterize the HicAB toxin-antitoxin module of S. meliloti. The production of the HicA of S. meliloti in Escherichia coli cells abolishes growth and decreases cell viability. We show that expression of the HicB of S. meliloti counteracts HicA toxicity. The results of double hybrid assays and co-purification experiments allow demonstrating the interaction of HicB with the toxin HicA. Purified HicA, but not HicAB complex, is able to degrade ribosomal RNA in vitro. The analysis of separated domains of HicB protein permits us to define the antitoxin activity and the operator-binding domain.

CONCLUSIONS: This study points out the first characterization of the HicAB system of the symbiotic S. meliloti whereas HicA is a toxin with ribonuclease activity and HicB has two domains: the COOH-terminal one that binds the operator and the NH2-terminal one that inhibits the toxin.}, } @article {pmid30629747, year = {2019}, author = {Reyes, ML and Laughton, AM and Parker, BJ and Wichmann, H and Fan, M and Sok, D and Hrček, J and Acevedo, T and Gerardo, NM}, title = {The influence of symbiotic bacteria on reproductive strategies and wing polyphenism in pea aphids responding to stress.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {4}, pages = {601-611}, pmid = {30629747}, issn = {1365-2656}, support = {K12 GM000680/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Bacteria ; Peas ; Symbiosis ; Wings, Animal ; }, abstract = {Environmental stressors can be key drivers of phenotypes, including reproductive strategies and morphological traits. The response to stress may be altered by the presence of microbial associates. For example, in aphids, facultative (secondary) bacterial symbionts can provide protection against natural enemies and stress induced by elevated temperatures. Furthermore, aphids exhibit phenotypic plasticity, producing winged (rather than wingless) progeny that may be better able to escape danger, and the combination of these factors improves the response to stress. How symbionts and phenotypic plasticity, both of which shape aphids' stress response, influence one another, and together influence host fitness, remains unclear. In this study, we investigate how environmental stressors drive shifts in fecundity and winged/wingless offspring production, and how secondary symbionts influence the process. We induced production of winged offspring through distinct environmental stressors, including exposure to aphid alarm pheromone and crowding, and, in one experiment, we assessed whether the aphid response is influenced by host plant. In the winged morph, energy needed for wing maintenance may lead to trade-offs with other traits, such as reproduction or symbiont maintenance. Potential trade-offs between symbiont maintenance and fitness have been proposed but have not been tested. Thus, beyond studying the production of offspring of alternative morphs, we also explore the influence of symbionts across wing/wingless polyphenism as well as symbiont interaction with cross-generational impacts of environmental stress on reproductive output. All environmental stressors resulted in increased production of winged offspring and shifts in fecundity rates. Additionally, in some cases, aphid host-by-symbiont interactions influenced fecundity. Stress on first-generation aphids had cross-generational impacts on second-generation adults, and the impact on fecundity was further influenced by the presence of secondary symbionts and presence/absence of wings. Our study suggests a complex interaction between beneficial symbionts and environmental stressors. Winged aphids have the advantage of being able to migrate out of danger with more ease, but energy needed for wing production and maintenance may come with reproductive costs for their mothers and for themselves, where in certain cases, these costs are altered by secondary symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30629179, year = {2019}, author = {Dombrowski, N and Lee, JH and Williams, TA and Offre, P and Spang, A}, title = {Genomic diversity, lifestyles and evolutionary origins of DPANN archaea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30629179}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Archaea/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Archaeal ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Archaea-a primary domain of life besides Bacteria-have for a long time been regarded as peculiar organisms that play marginal roles in biogeochemical cycles. However, this picture changed with the discovery of a large diversity of archaea in non-extreme environments enabled by the use of cultivation-independent methods. These approaches have allowed the reconstruction of genomes of uncultivated microorganisms and revealed that archaea are diverse and broadly distributed in the biosphere and seemingly include a large diversity of putative symbiotic organisms, most of which belong to the tentative archaeal superphylum referred to as DPANN. This archaeal group encompasses at least 10 different lineages and includes organisms with extremely small cell and genome sizes and limited metabolic capabilities. Therefore, many members of DPANN may be obligately dependent on symbiotic interactions with other organisms and may even include novel parasites. In this contribution, we review the current knowledge of the gene repertoires and lifestyles of members of this group and discuss their placement in the tree of life, which is the basis for our understanding of the deep microbial roots and the role of symbiosis in the evolution of life on Earth.}, } @article {pmid30629176, year = {2019}, author = {Caputo, A and Nylander, JAA and Foster, RA}, title = {The genetic diversity and evolution of diatom-diazotroph associations highlights traits favoring symbiont integration.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {366}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30629176}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Diatoms/classification/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diatom diazotroph associations (DDAs) are a widespread marine planktonic symbiosis between several diatom genera and di-nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteria. Combining single cell confocal microscopy observations and molecular genetic approaches on individual field collected cells, we determined the phylogenetic diversity, distribution and evolution of the DDAs. Confocal analyses coupled with 3-D imaging re-evaluated the cellular location of DDA symbionts. DDA diversity was resolved by paired gene sequencing (18S rRNA and rbcL genes, 16S rRNA and nifH genes). A survey using the newly acquired sequences against public databases found sequences with high similarity (99-100%) to either host (18S rRNA) or symbiont (16S rRNA) in atypical regions for DDAs (high latitudes, anoxic basin and copepod gut). Concatenated phylogenies were congruent for the host and cyanobacteria sequences and implied co-evolution. Time-calibrated trees dated the appearance of N2 fixing planktonic symbiosis from 100-50Mya and were consistent with the symbiont cellular location: symbioses with internal partners are more ancient. An ancestral state reconstruction traced the evolution of traits in DDAs and highlight that the adaptive radiation to the marine environment was likely facilitated by the symbiosis. Our results present the evolutionary nature of DDAs and provide new genetic and phenotypic information for these biogeochemically relevant populations.}, } @article {pmid30628192, year = {2019}, author = {Piromyou, P and Songwattana, P and Teamtisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Tantasawat, PA and Giraud, E and Göttfert, M and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Mutualistic co-evolution of T3SSs during the establishment of symbiotic relationships between Vigna radiata and Bradyrhizobia.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e00781}, pmid = {30628192}, issn = {2045-8827}, abstract = {This study supports the idea that the evolution of type III secretion system (T3SS) is one of the factors that controls Vigna radiata-bradyrhizobia symbiosis. Based on phylogenetic tree data and gene arrangements, it seems that the T3SSs of the Thai bradyrhizobial strains SUTN9-2, DOA1, and DOA9 and the Senegalese strain ORS3257 may share the same origin. Therefore, strains SUTN9-2, DOA1, DOA9, and ORS3257 may have evolved their T3SSs independently from other bradyrhizobia, depending on biological and/or geological events. For functional analyses, the rhcJ genes of ORS3257, SUTN9-2, DOA9, and USDA110 were disrupted. These mutations had cultivar-specific effects on nodulation properties. The T3SSs of ORS3257 and DOA9 showed negative effects on V. radiata nodulation, while the T3SS of SUTN9-2 showed no effect on V. radiata symbiosis. In the roots of V. radiata CN72, the expression levels of the PR1 gene after inoculation with ORS3257 and DOA9 were significantly higher than those after inoculation with ORS3257 ΩT3SS, DOA9 ΩT3SS, and SUTN9-2. The T3Es from ORS3257 and DOA9 could trigger PR1 expression, which ultimately leads to abort nodulation. In contrast, the T3E from SUTN9-2 reduced PR1 expression. It seems that the mutualistic relationship between SUTN9-2 and V. radiata may have led to the selection of the most well-adapted combination of T3SS and symbiotic bradyrhizobial genotype.}, } @article {pmid30627761, year = {2019}, author = {Fokin, SI and Serra, V and Ferrantini, F and Modeo, L and Petroni, G}, title = {"Candidatus Hafkinia simulans" gen. nov., sp. nov., a Novel Holospora-Like Bacterium from the Macronucleus of the Rare Brackish Water Ciliate Frontonia salmastra (Oligohymenophorea, Ciliophora): Multidisciplinary Characterization of the New Endosymbiont and Its Host.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {1092-1106}, pmid = {30627761}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Holosporaceae/classification/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Italy ; Macronucleus/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Peniculina/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We characterized a novel Holospora-like bacterium (HLB) (Alphaproteobacteria, Holosporales) living in the macronucleus of the brackish water ciliate Frontonia salmastra. This bacterium was morphologically and ultrastructurally investigated, and its life cycle and infection capabilities were described. We also obtained its 16S rRNA gene sequence and performed in situ hybridization experiments with a specifically-designed probe. A new taxon, "Candidatus Hafkinia simulans", was established for this HLB. The phylogeny of the family Holosporaceae based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was inferred, adding to the already available data both the sequence of the novel bacterium and those of other Holospora and HLB species recently characterized. Our phylogenetic analysis provided molecular support for the monophyly of HLBs and placed the new endosymbiont as the sister genus of Holospora. Additionally, the host ciliate F. salmastra, recorded in Europe for the first time, was concurrently described through a multidisciplinary study. Frontonia salmastra's phylogenetic position in the subclass Peniculia and the genus Frontonia was assessed according to 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Comments on the biodiversity of this genus were added according to past and recent literature.}, } @article {pmid30627123, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, YY and Yang, JS and Liu, C and Wang, ET and Wang, RN and Qiu, XQ and Li, BZ and Chen, WF and Yuan, HL}, title = {Water-Soluble Humic Materials Regulate Quorum Sensing in Sinorhizobium meliloti Through a Novel Repressor of expR.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {3194}, pmid = {30627123}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) plays an important role in the growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation of rhizobia. In this study, we show that water-soluble humic materials (WSHM) repress the expression of the QS related genes sinI, sinR, and expR in Sinorhizobium meliloti. This decreased the production of N-acetyl homoserine lactones (AHL) and exopolysaccharides (EPS), and ultimately increased S. meliloti cell density. We also identified a novel regulator, SMc03890 (renamed QsrR), which binds directly to the expR promoter. Deletion of qsrR increased expR expression. WSHM repressed the expression of expR by augmenting the interaction between QsrR and the expR promoter; this was determined by a bacterial-one-hybrid assay. These effects of WSHM on the QS system in S. meliloti may be the underlying mechanism by which WSHM increase the symbiotic nitrogen fixation of Medicago sativa inoculated with S. meliloti. This study provides the first evidence that humic acids regulate the QS of rhizobia and suggests that WSHM could be used as fertilizers to improve the efficiency of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid30626679, year = {2019}, author = {Dunigan, DD and Al-Sammak, M and Al-Ameeli, Z and Agarkova, IV and DeLong, JP and Van Etten, JL}, title = {Chloroviruses Lure Hosts through Long-Distance Chemical Signaling.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {93}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30626679}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {DNA Viruses/*genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Phycodnaviridae/*genetics ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {Chloroviruses exist in aquatic systems around the planet and they infect certain eukaryotic green algae that are mutualistic endosymbionts in a variety of protists and metazoans. Natural chlorovirus populations are seasonally dynamic, but the precise temporal changes in these populations and the mechanisms that underlie them have heretofore been unclear. We recently reported the novel concept that predator/prey-mediated virus activation regulates chlorovirus population dynamics, and in the current study, we demonstrate virus-packaged chemotactic modulation of prey behavior.IMPORTANCE Viruses have not previously been reported to act as chemotactic/chemoattractive agents. Rather, viruses as extracellular entities are generally viewed as non-metabolically active spore-like agents that await further infection events upon collision with appropriate host cells. That a virus might actively contribute to its fate via chemotaxis and change the behavior of an organism independent of infection is unprecedented.}, } @article {pmid30626325, year = {2019}, author = {Hsu, CC and Lai, PH and Chen, TC and Tsai, WC and Hsu, JL and Hsiao, YY and Wu, WL and Tsai, CH and Chen, WH and Chen, HH}, title = {PePIF1, a P-lineage of PIF-like transposable element identified in protocorm-like bodies of Phalaenopsis orchids.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {25}, pmid = {30626325}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Open Reading Frames ; Orchidaceae/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Terminal Repeat Sequences/genetics ; Transposases/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Orchids produce a colorless protocorm by symbiosis with fungi upon seed germination. For mass production of orchids, the prevailing approaches are both generation of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) from callus and multiplication of adventitious buds on inflorescence. However, somaclonal variations occur during micropropagation.

RESULTS: We isolated the two most expressed transposable elements belonging to P Instability Factor (PIF)-like transposons. Among them, a potential autonomous element was identified by similarity analysis against the whole-genome sequence of Phalaenopsis equestris and named PePIF1. It contains a 19-bp terminal inverted repeat flanked by a 3-bp target site duplication and two coding regions encoding ORF1- and transposase-like proteins. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PePIF1 belongs to a new P-lineage of PIF. Furthermore, two distinct families, PePIF1a and PePIF1b, with 29 and 37 putative autonomous elements, respectively, were isolated, along with more than 3000 non-autonomous and miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE)-like elements. Among them, 828 PePIF1-related elements were inserted in 771 predicted genes. Intriguingly, PePIF1 was transposed in the somaclonal variants of Phalaenopsis cultivars, as revealed by transposon display, and the newly inserted genes were identified and sequenced.

CONCLUSION: A PIF-like element, PePIF1, was identified in the Phalaenopsis genome and actively transposed during micropropagation. With the identification of PePIF1, we have more understanding of the Phalaenopsis genome structure and somaclonal variations during micropropagation for use in orchid breeding and production.}, } @article {pmid30625663, year = {2019}, author = {Chou, M and Sun, Y and Yang, J and Wang, Y and Li, Y and Yuan, G and Zhang, D and Wang, J and Wei, G}, title = {Comprehensive analysis of phenotype, microstructure and global transcriptional profiling to unravel the effect of excess copper on the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and Medicago lupulina.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {656}, number = {}, pages = {1346-1357}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.005}, pmid = {30625663}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Copper/*adverse effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Medicago/*drug effects/genetics/physiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*physiology ; *Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Soil Pollutants/*adverse effects ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobial symbiosis plays an important role in agriculture and ecological restoration. However, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms, especially the microstructure and global transcriptional profiling, of the symbiosis process under heavy metal contamination is limited. In this study, a heavy metal-tolerant legume, Medicago lupulina, was treated with different concentrations of copper (Cu). The results showed that the early infection process was inhibited and the nodule ultrastructure was changed under 200 mg kg[-1] Cu stress. Most infection threads (ITs) were prevented from entering the nodule cells, and few rhizobia were released into the host cells, in which thickening of the plant cell wall and IT wall was observed, demonstrating that rhizobial invasion was inhibited under Cu stress. RNA-seq analysis indicated that a strong shift in gene expression occurred (3257 differentially expressed genes, DEGs). The most pronounced effect was the upregulation of a set of 71 of 73 DEGs for nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides, which have been shown to control the terminal differentiation of rhizobia in the nodules and to have antimicrobial activity. Various genes for metal transport, chelation binding and antioxidant defence were regulated. In particular, the DEGs for Cu trafficking and detoxification were induced during nodule formation. The DEGs for ethylene (ET) biosynthesis and signalling were also differentially expressed during nodulation, suggesting that the inhibition of nodulation by Cu occurred partially through ET signalling. Furthermore, the genes related to the cell wall were mostly upregulated and most likely involved in cell wall thickening. These findings provide an integrated understanding of the effects of Cu on legume nodule symbiosis at the molecular and phenotypic levels.}, } @article {pmid30624116, year = {2018}, author = {Dossi, FCA and da Silva, EP and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Shifting the Balance: Heat Stress Challenges the Symbiotic Interactions of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera, Liviidae).}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {235}, number = {3}, pages = {195-203}, doi = {10.1086/699755}, pmid = {30624116}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemiptera/*physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Global warming may impact biodiversity by disrupting biological interactions, including long-term insect-microbe mutualistic associations. Symbiont-mediated insect tolerance to high temperatures is an ecologically important trait that significantly influences an insect's life history. Disruption of microbial symbionts that are required by insects would substantially impact their pest status. Diaphorina citri, a worldwide citrus pest, is associated with the mutualistic symbionts Candidatus Carsonella ruddii and Candidatus Profftella armatura. Wolbachia is also associated with D. citri, but its contribution to the host is unknown. Symbiont density is dependent on a range of factors, including the thermosensitivity of the host and/or symbiont to heat stress. Here, we predicted that short-term heat stress of D. citri would disrupt the host-symbiont phenological synchrony and differentially affect the growth and density of symbionts. We investigated the effects of exposing D. citri eggs to different temperatures for different periods of time on the growth dynamics of symbionts during the nymphal development of D. citri (first instar to fifth instar) by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Symbiont densities were assessed as the number of gene copies, using specific molecular markers: 16S rRNA for Carsonella and Profftella and ftsZ for Wolbachia. Statistical modeling of the copy numbers of symbionts revealed differences in their growth patterns, particularly in the early instars of heat-shocked insects. Wolbachia was the only symbiont to benefit from heat-shock treatment. Although the symbionts responded differently to heat stress, the lack of differences in symbiont densities between treated and control late nymphs suggests the existence of an adaptive genetic process to restore phenological synchrony during the development of immatures in preparation for adult life. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the potential deleterious effects of high temperatures on host-symbiont interactions. Our data also suggest that the effects of host exposure to high temperatures in symbiont growth are highly variable and dependent on the interactions among members of the community of symbionts harbored by a host. Such dependence points to unpredictable consequences for agroecosystems worldwide due to climate change-related effects on the ecological traits of symbiont-dependent insect pests.}, } @article {pmid30622429, year = {2018}, author = {Belizário, JE and Faintuch, J and Garay-Malpartida, M}, title = {Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Immunometabolism: New Frontiers for Treatment of Metabolic Diseases.}, journal = {Mediators of inflammation}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {2037838}, pmid = {30622429}, issn = {1466-1861}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism ; Metabolic Diseases/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maintenance of healthy human metabolism depends on a symbiotic consortium among bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and host eukaryotic cells throughout the human gastrointestinal tract. Microbial communities provide the enzymatic machinery and the metabolic pathways that contribute to food digestion, xenobiotic metabolism, and production of a variety of bioactive molecules. These include vitamins, amino acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and metabolites, which are essential for the interconnected pathways of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid/Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. Recent studies have been elucidating how nutrients that fuel the metabolic processes impact on the ways immune cells, in particular, macrophages, respond to different stimuli under physiological and pathological conditions and become activated and acquire a specialized function. The two major inflammatory phenotypes of macrophages are controlled through differential consumption of glucose, glutamine, and oxygen. M1 phenotype is triggered by polarization signal from bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Th1 proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β, or both, whereas M2 phenotype is triggered by Th2 cytokines such as interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and TGFβ, or glucocorticoids. Glucose utilization and production of chemical mediators including ATP, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and NADPH support effector activities of M1 macrophages. Dysbiosis is an imbalance of commensal and pathogenic bacteria and the production of microbial antigens and metabolites. It is now known that the gut microbiota-derived products induce low-grade inflammatory activation of tissue-resident macrophages and contribute to metabolic and degenerative diseases, including diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Here, we update the potential interplay of host gut microbiome dysbiosis and metabolic diseases. We also summarize on advances on fecal therapy, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, and nutrients and small molecule inhibitors of metabolic pathway enzymes as prophylactic and therapeutic agents for metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid30622405, year = {2019}, author = {Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Alqarawi, AA and Wirth, S and Egamberdieva, D}, title = {Comparing symbiotic performance and physiological responses of two soybean cultivars to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under salt stress.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {38-48}, pmid = {30622405}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {The presented experiments evaluated the symbiotic performance of soybean genotypes with contrasting salt stress tolerance to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation. In addition, the physiological stress tolerance mechanisms in plants derived from mutualistic interactions between AMF and the host plants were evaluated. Plant growth, nodulation, nitrogenase activity and levels of endogenous growth hormones, such as indole acetic acid and indole butyric acid, of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive soybean genotypes significantly decreased at 200 mM NaCl. The inoculation of soybean with AMF improved the symbiotic performance of both soybean genotypes by improving nodule formation, leghemoglobin content, nitrogenase activity and auxin synthesis. AMF colonization also protected soybean genotypes from salt-induced membrane damage and reduced the production of hydrogen peroxide, subsequently reducing the production of TBARS and reducing lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, the results of the present investigation indicate that AMF improve the symbiotic performance of soybean genotypes regardless of their salt stress tolerance ability by mitigating the negative effect of salt stress and stimulating endogenous level of auxins that contribute to an improved root system and nutrient acquisition under salt stress.}, } @article {pmid30621755, year = {2018}, author = {Osmanovic, D and Kessler, DA and Rabin, Y and Soen, Y}, title = {Darwinian selection of host and bacteria supports emergence of Lamarckian-like adaptation of the system as a whole.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {24}, pmid = {30621755}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/genetics ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Models, Genetic ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The relatively fast selection of symbiotic bacteria within hosts and the potential transmission of these bacteria across generations of hosts raise the question of whether interactions between host and bacteria support emergent adaptive capabilities beyond those of germ-free hosts.

RESULTS: To investigate possibilities for emergent adaptations that may distinguish composite host-microbiome systems from germ-free hosts, we introduce a population genetics model of a host-microbiome system with vertical transmission of bacteria. The host and its bacteria are jointly exposed to a toxic agent, creating a toxic stress that can be alleviated by selection of resistant individuals and by secretion of a detoxification agent ("detox"). We show that toxic exposure in one generation of hosts leads to selection of resistant bacteria, which in turn, increases the toxic tolerance of the host's offspring. Prolonged exposure to toxin over many host generations promotes anadditional form of emergent adaptation due to selection of hosts based on detox produced by their bacterial community as a whole (as opposed to properties of individual bacteria).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that interactions between pure Darwinian selections of host and its bacteria can give rise to emergent adaptive capabilities, including Lamarckian-like adaptation of the host-microbiome system.

REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Eugene Koonin, Yuri Wolf and Philippe Huneman.}, } @article {pmid30621489, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, L and Xu, L and Jia, Q and Pan, R and Oelmüller, R and Zhang, W and Wu, C}, title = {Arms race: diverse effector proteins with conserved motifs.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {1557008}, pmid = {30621489}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Oomycetes/*pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Effector proteins play important roles in the infection by pathogenic oomycetes and fungi or the colonization by endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi. They are either translocated into the host plant cells via specific translocation mechanisms and function in the host's cytoplasm or nucleus, or they reside in the apoplast of the plant cells and act at the extracellular host-microbe interface. Many effector proteins possess conserved motifs (such as the RXLR, CRN, LysM, RGD, DELD, EAR, RYWT, Y/F/WXC or CFEM motifs) localized in their N- or C-terminal regions. Analysis of the functions of effector proteins, especially so-called "core effectors", is crucial for the understanding of pathogenicity/symbiosis mechanisms and plant defense strategies, and helps to develop breeding strategies for pathogen-resistant cultivars, and to increase crop yield and quality as well as abiotic stress resistance. This review summarizes current knowledge about these effector proteins with the conversed motifs and their involvement in pathogenic or mutualistic plant/fungal interactions.}, } @article {pmid30619423, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, A and Contador, CA and Fan, K and Lam, HM}, title = {Interaction and Regulation of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Metabolisms in Root Nodules of Legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1860}, pmid = {30619423}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Members of the plant family Leguminosae (Fabaceae) are unique in that they have evolved a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia (a group of soil bacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen). Rhizobia infect and form root nodules on their specific host plants before differentiating into bacteroids, the symbiotic form of rhizobia. This complex relationship involves the supply of C4-dicarboxylate and phosphate by the host plants to the microsymbionts that utilize them in the energy-intensive process of fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, which is in turn made available to the host plants as a source of nitrogen, a macronutrient for growth. Although nitrogen-fixing bacteroids are no longer growing, they are metabolically active. The symbiotic process is complex and tightly regulated by both the host plants and the bacteroids. The metabolic pathways of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate are heavily regulated in the host plants, as they need to strike a fine balance between satisfying their own needs as well as those of the microsymbionts. A network of transporters for the various metabolites are responsible for the trafficking of these essential molecules between the two partners through the symbiosome membrane (plant-derived membrane surrounding the bacteroid), and these are in turn regulated by various transcription factors that control their expressions under different environmental conditions. Understanding this complex process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation is vital in promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing soil fertility.}, } @article {pmid30619411, year = {2018}, author = {Zhao, A and Liu, L and Xu, T and Shi, L and Xie, W and Zhang, W and Fu, S and Feng, H and Chen, B}, title = {Influences of Canopy Nitrogen and Water Addition on AM Fungal Biodiversity and Community Composition in a Mixed Deciduous Forest of China.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1842}, pmid = {30619411}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) deposition and precipitation could profoundly influence the structure and function of forest ecosystems. However, conventional studies with understory additions of nitrogen and water largely ignored canopy-associated ecological processes and may have not accurately reflected the natural situations. Additionally, most studies only made sampling at one time point, overlooked temporal dynamics of ecosystem response to environmental changes. Here we carried out a field trial in a mixed deciduous forest of China with canopy addition of N and water for 4 years to investigate the effects of increased N deposition and precipitation on the diversity and community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the ubiquitous symbiotic fungi for the majority of terrestrial plants. We found that (1) in the 1st year, N addition, water addition and their interactions all exhibited significant influences on AM fungal community composition; (2) in the 2nd year, only water addition significantly reduced AM fungal alpha-diversity (richness and Shannon index); (3) in the next 2 years, both N addition and water addition showed no significant effect on AM fungal community composition or alpha-diversity, with an exception that water addition significantly changed AM fungal community composition in the 4th year; (4) the increment of N or water tended to decrease the abundance and richness of the dominant genus Glomus and favored other AM fungi. (5) soil pH was marginally positively related with AM fungal community composition dissimilarity, soil NH4 [+]-N and N/P showed significant/marginal positive correlation with AM fungal alpha-diversity. We concluded that the effect of increased N deposition and precipitation on AM fungal community composition was time-dependent, mediated by soil factors, and possibly related to the sensitivity and resilience of forest ecosystem to environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid30619390, year = {2018}, author = {Bedini, A and Mercy, L and Schneider, C and Franken, P and Lucic-Mercy, E}, title = {Unraveling the Initial Plant Hormone Signaling, Metabolic Mechanisms and Plant Defense Triggering the Endomycorrhizal Symbiosis Behavior.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1800}, pmid = {30619390}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish probably one of the oldest mutualistic relationships with the roots of most plants on earth. The wide distribution of these fungi in almost all soil ecotypes and the broad range of host plant species demonstrate their strong plasticity to cope with various environmental conditions. AM fungi elaborate fine-tuned molecular interactions with plants that determine their spread within root cortical tissues. Interactions with endomycorrhizal fungi can bring various benefits to plants, such as improved nutritional status, higher photosynthesis, protection against biotic and abiotic stresses based on regulation of many physiological processes which participate in promoting plant performances. In turn, host plants provide a specific habitat as physical support and a favorable metabolic frame, allowing uptake and assimilation of compounds required for the life cycle completion of these obligate biotrophic fungi. The search for formal and direct evidences of fungal energetic needs raised strong motivated projects since decades, but the impossibility to produce AM fungi under axenic conditions remains a deep enigma and still feeds numerous debates. Here, we review and discuss the initial favorable and non-favorable metabolic plant context that may fate the mycorrhizal behavior, with a focus on hormone interplays and their links with mitochondrial respiration, carbon partitioning and plant defense system, structured according to the action of phosphorus as a main limiting factor for mycorrhizal symbiosis. Then, we provide with models and discuss their significances to propose metabolic targets that could allow to develop innovations for the production and application of AM fungal inocula.}, } @article {pmid30619219, year = {2018}, author = {Nguyen, HP and Ratu, STN and Yasuda, M and Göttfert, M and Okazaki, S}, title = {InnB, a Novel Type III Effector of Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61, Controls Symbiosis With Vigna Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {3155}, pmid = {30619219}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 is incompatible with mung bean (Vigna radiata cv. KPS1) and soybean (Glycine max cv. BARC2) and unable to nodulate either plant. This incompatibility is due to the presence of a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that translocates effector protein into host cells. We previously identified five genes in B. elkanii that are responsible for its incompatibility with KPS1 plants. Among them, a novel gene designated as innB exhibited some characteristics associated with the T3SS and was found to be responsible for the restriction of nodulation on KPS1. In the present study, we further characterized innB by analysis of gene expression, protein secretion, and symbiotic phenotypes. The innB gene was found to encode a hypothetical protein that is highly conserved among T3SS-harboring rhizobia. Similar to other rhizobial T3SS-associated genes, the expression of innB was dependent on plant flavonoids and a transcriptional regulator TtsI. The InnB protein was secreted via the T3SS and was not essential for secretion of other nodulation outer proteins. In addition, T3SS-dependent translocation of InnB into nodule cells was confirmed by an adenylate cyclase assay. According to inoculation tests using several Vigna species, InnB promoted nodulation of at least one V. mungo cultivar. These results indicate that innB encodes a novel type III effector controlling symbiosis with Vigna species.}, } @article {pmid30618841, year = {2018}, author = {Huitzil, S and Sandoval-Motta, S and Frank, A and Aldana, M}, title = {Modeling the Role of the Microbiome in Evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1836}, pmid = {30618841}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {There is undeniable evidence showing that bacteria have strongly influenced the evolution and biological functions of multicellular organisms. It has been hypothesized that many host-microbial interactions have emerged so as to increase the adaptive fitness of the holobiont (the host plus its microbiota). Although this association has been corroborated for many specific cases, general mechanisms explaining the role of the microbiota in the evolution of the host are yet to be understood. Here we present an evolutionary model in which a network representing the host adapts in order to perform a predefined function. During its adaptation, the host network (HN) can interact with other networks representing its microbiota. We show that this interaction greatly accelerates and improves the adaptability of the HN without decreasing the adaptation of the microbial networks. Furthermore, the adaptation of the HN to perform several functions is possible only when it interacts with many different bacterial networks in a specialized way (each bacterial network participating in the adaptation of one function). Disrupting these interactions often leads to non-adaptive states, reminiscent of dysbiosis, where none of the networks the holobiont consists of can perform their respective functions. By considering the holobiont as a unit of selection and focusing on the adaptation of the host to predefined but arbitrary functions, our model predicts the need for specialized diversity in the microbiota. This structural and dynamical complexity in the holobiont facilitates its adaptation, whereas a homogeneous (non-specialized) microbiota is inconsequential or even detrimental to the holobiont's evolution. To our knowledge, this is the first model in which symbiotic interactions, diversity, specialization and dysbiosis in an ecosystem emerge as a result of coevolution. It also helps us understand the emergence of complex organisms, as they adapt more easily to perform multiple tasks than non-complex ones.}, } @article {pmid30618722, year = {2018}, author = {Romo-Araiza, A and Gutiérrez-Salmeán, G and Galván, EJ and Hernández-Frausto, M and Herrera-López, G and Romo-Parra, H and García-Contreras, V and Fernández-Presas, AM and Jasso-Chávez, R and Borlongan, CV and Ibarra, A}, title = {Probiotics and Prebiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy to Improve Memory in a Model of Middle-Aged Rats.}, journal = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {416}, pmid = {30618722}, issn = {1663-4365}, abstract = {Aging is associated with morphological, physiological and metabolic changes, leading to multiorgan degenerative pathologies, such as cognitive function decline. It has been suggested that memory loss also involves a decrease in neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In recent years, microbiota has been proposed as an essential player in brain development, as it is believed to activate BDNF secretion through butyrate production. Thus, microbiota modulation by supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics may impact cognitive decline. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics and prebiotics supplementation on the memory of middle-aged rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomized in four groups (n = 13 per group): control (water), probiotic (E. faecium), prebiotic (agave inulin), symbiotic (E. faecium + inulin), which were administered for 5 weeks by oral gavage. Spatial and associative memory was analyzed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Pavlovian autoshaping tests, respectively. Hippocampus was obtained to analyze cytokines [interleukin (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)], BDNF and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Butyrate concentrations were also evaluated in feces. The symbiotic group showed a significantly better performance in MWM (p < 0.01), but not in Pavlovian autoshaping test. It also showed significantly lower concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (p < 0.01) and the reduction in IL-1β correlated with a better performance of the symbiotic group in MWM (p < 0.05). Symbiotic group also showed the highest BDNF and butyrate levels (p < 0.0001). Finally, we compared the electrophysiological responses of control (n = 8) and symbiotic (n = 8) groups. Passive properties of CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs) exhibited changes in response to the symbiotic treatment. Likewise, this group showed an increase in the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA)/AMPA ratio and exhibited robust long-term potentiation (LTP; p < 0.01). Integrated results suggest that symbiotics could improve age-related impaired memory.}, } @article {pmid30618212, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, H and Cai, Y and Li, X and Christie, P and Zhang, J and Gai, J}, title = {Temperature-mediated phylogenetic assemblage of fungal communities and local adaptation in mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {215-226}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12729}, pmid = {30618212}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Recent work demonstrates that habitat conditions exert striking effects on symbiont performance by mediating trade-offs in plants, AM fungi and environmental interactions. However, how local temperature conditions influence the functional diversity of mycorrhizal symbioses and the genetics of coexisting AM fungi at the local scale remain unclear. In the present study, we conducted a reciprocal inoculation experiment to explore the performance of sympatric associations against allopatric associations under contrasting temperatures and the AM fungal community in colonized roots. No local adaptation of plant biomass was found under both temperature conditions investigated, but a consistent local versus foreign effect was found in AM fungal performance. The temperature and the origin of the inoculum relative to the plant origin were important in explaining symbiotic function. Correspondingly, the community structure and Nearest Relatedness Index of the AM fungal community of the root symbiont varied with inoculum source, and assemblages with more closely related taxa led to a decline in plant biomass and stronger disequilibrium among AM fungi in roots. Our findings suggest that functional divergence exists in naturally coexisting communities of AM fungi from contrasting climatic origins, and fungal relatedness is an important driver of plant growth.}, } @article {pmid30618110, year = {2019}, author = {Shan, S and Wang, W and Song, C and Wang, M and Sun, B and Li, Y and Fu, Y and Gu, X and Ruan, W and Rasmann, S}, title = {The symbiotic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis of the entomopathogenic nematodes Oscheius spp. exhibit potential biocontrol of plant- and entomopathogenic fungi.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {459-471}, pmid = {30618110}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Alcaligenes faecalis/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Antifungal Agents/metabolism ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Soil-dwelling entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) kill arthropod hosts by injecting their symbiotic bacteria into the host hemolymph and feed on the bacteria and the tissue of the dying host for several generations cycles until the arthropod cadaver is completely depleted. The EPN-bacteria-arthropod cadaver complex represents a rich energy source for the surrounding opportunistic soil fungal biota and other competitors. We hypothesized that EPNs need to protect their food source until depletion and that the EPN symbiotic bacteria produce volatile and non-volatile exudations that deter different soil fungal groups in the soil. We isolated the symbiotic bacteria species (Alcaligenes faecalis) from the EPN Oscheius spp. and ran infectivity bioassays against entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) as well as against plant pathogenic fungi (PPF). We found that both volatile and non-volatile symbiotic bacterial exudations had negative effects on both EPF and PPF. Such deterrent function on functionally different fungal strains suggests a common mode of action of A. faecalis bacterial exudates, which has the potential to influence the structure of soil microbial communities, and could be integrated into pest management programs for increasing crop protection against fungal pathogens.}, } @article {pmid30617861, year = {2019}, author = {Bogar, L and Peay, K and Kornfeld, A and Huggins, J and Hortal, S and Anderson, I and Kennedy, P}, title = {Plant-mediated partner discrimination in ectomycorrhizal mutualisms.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {97-111}, pmid = {30617861}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Larix/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although ectomycorrhizal fungi have well-recognized effects on ecological processes ranging from plant community dynamics to carbon cycling rates, it is unclear if plants are able to actively influence the structure of these fungal communities. To address this knowledge gap, we performed two complementary experiments to determine (1) whether ectomycorrhizal plants can discriminate among potential fungal partners, and (2) to what extent the plants might reward better mutualists. In experiment 1, split-root Larix occidentalis seedlings were inoculated with spores from three Suillus species (S. clintonianus, S. grisellus, and S. spectabilis). In experiment 2, we manipulated the symbiotic quality of Suillus brevipes isolates on split-root Pinus muricata seedlings by changing the nitrogen resources available, and used carbon-13 labeling to track host investment in fungi. In experiment 1, we found that hosts can discriminate in multi-species settings. The split-root seedlings inhibited colonization by S. spectabilis whenever another fungus was available, despite similar benefits from all three fungi. In experiment 2, we found that roots and fungi with greater nitrogen supplies received more plant carbon. Our results suggest that plants may be able to regulate this symbiosis at a relatively fine scale, and that this regulation can be integrated across spatially separated portions of a root system.}, } @article {pmid30616707, year = {2019}, author = {Dessì, D and Margarita, V and Cocco, AR and Marongiu, A and Fiori, PL and Rappelli, P}, title = {Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis: new tales of two old friends.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {146}, number = {9}, pages = {1150-1155}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182018002135}, pmid = {30616707}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Microbiota ; Mycoplasma Infections/*microbiology ; Mycoplasma hominis/immunology/*physiology ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/immunology/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Totiviridae/metabolism ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/*parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Vagina/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic protist, responsible for the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection in humans. One of the most intriguing aspects of T. vaginalis pathobiology is the complex relationship with intracellular microbial symbionts: a group of dsRNA viruses belonging to family of Totiviridae (T. vaginalis virus), and eubacteria belonging to the Mycoplasma genus, in particular Mycoplasma hominis. Both microorganisms seem to strongly influence the lifestyle of T. vaginalis, suggesting a role of the symbiosis in the high variability of clinical presentation and sequelae during trichomoniasis. In the last few years many aspects of this unique symbiotic relationship have been investigated: M. hominis resides and replicates in the protozoan cell, and T. vaginalis is able to pass the bacterial infection to both mycoplasma-free protozoan isolates and human epithelial cells; M. hominis synergistically upregulates the proinflammatory response of human monocytes to T. vaginalis. Furthermore, the influence of M. hominis over T. vaginalis metabolism and physiology has been characterized. The identification of a novel species belonging to the class of Mollicutes (Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii) exclusively associated to T. vaginalis opens new perspectives in the research of the complex series of events taking place in the multifaceted world of the vaginal microbiota, both under normal and pathological conditions.}, } @article {pmid30616668, year = {2019}, author = {Karimian, F and Vatandoost, H and Rassi, Y and Maleki-Ravasan, N and Mohebali, M and Shirazi, MH and Koosha, M and Choubdar, N and Oshaghi, MA}, title = {Aerobic midgut microbiota of sand fly vectors of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis from northern Iran, a step toward finding potential paratransgenic candidates.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {10}, pmid = {30616668}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria, Aerobic/*physiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology/parasitology ; Iran/epidemiology ; Leishmania/*physiology ; Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology/parasitology/*transmission ; Male ; Phlebotomus/*microbiology/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Zoonoses ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania parasites and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected sand flies. Development of Leishmania to infective metacyclic promastigotes occurs within the sand fly gut where the gut microbiota influences development of the parasite. Paratransgenesis is a new control method in which symbiotic bacteria are isolated, transformed and reintroduced into the gut through their diet to express anti-parasitic molecules. In the present study, the midgut microbiota of three sand fly species from a steppe and a mountainous region of northern Iran, where zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) is endemic, was investigated.

METHODS: Briefly, adult female sand flies was collected during summer 2015 and, after dissection, the bacterial composition of the guts were analyzed using a culture-dependent method. Bacterial DNA from purified colonies was extracted to amplify the 16S rRNA gene which was then sequenced.

RESULTS: Three ZVL sand fly vectors including Phlebotomus major, P. kandelakii and P. halepensis were found in the highlighted regions. In total, 39 distinct aerobic bacterial species were found in the sand fly midguts. The sand fly microbiota was dominated by Proteobacteria (56.4%) and Firmicutes (43.6%). Bacterial richness was significantly higher in the steppe region than in the mountainous region (32 vs 7 species). Phlebotomus kandelakii, the most important ZVL vector in the study area, had the highest bacterial richness among the three species. Bacillus subtilis and Pantoea agglomerans were isolated from the guts of the sand flies; these are already used for the paratransgenesis of sand flies and mosquitoes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The existence of B. subtilis and P. agglomerans in the ZVL vectors and other sand fly species studied so far suggests that these two bacterial species are potential candidates for paratransgenic approach to prevent ZVL transmission. Further research needs to test the possible relationship between the gut microbiome richness and the vector competence of the ZVL vectors.}, } @article {pmid30616152, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, XF and Hu, ZH and Yan, TX and Lu, RR and Peng, CL and Li, SS and Jing, YX}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviate Cd phytotoxicity by altering Cd subcellular distribution and chemical forms in Zea mays.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {352-360}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.12.097}, pmid = {30616152}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cadmium/analysis/*metabolism/*toxicity ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; *Glomeromycota ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phytochelatins/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; Zea mays/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) can relieve Cd phytotoxicity and improve plant growth, but the mechanisms involved in this process have still been not completely known. In the present work, a pot experiment was conducted to examine productions of glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs), and absorption, chemical forms and subcellular distribution of Cd in maize (Zea mays) inoculated with or without AMF (Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) and Glomus versiforme (Gv)) in Cd-amended soils (0, 1 and 5 mg Cd kg[-1] soil). In general, both Ri and Gv inoculation dramatically enhanced biomass production and reduced Cd concentrations in shoots and roots of maize when compared to the non-mycorrhizal treatment. Moreover, both Ri and Gv symbiosis obviously increased contents of GSH and PCs, both in shoots and roots. Subcellular distribution of Cd in maize indicated that most of Cd (more than 90%) was accumulated in cell wall and soluble fraction. In addition, Cd proportions in soluble fractions in shoots of maize inoculated with Gv or Ri were considerably increased, but reduced in cell wall fractions compared to non-mycorrhizal maize, indicating that mycorrhizal symbiosis promoted Cd transfer to vacuoles. Furthermore, proportions of Cd in inorganic and water-soluble forms were declined, but elevated in pectates and proteins-integrated forms in mycorrhizal maize, which suggested that Gv and Ri could convert Cd into inactive forms. These observations could provide a further understanding of potential Cd detoxification mechanism in maize inoculated with AMF.}, } @article {pmid30615203, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, XW and Dunn, DW and Wen, XL and Sun, BF and Wang, RW}, title = {Differential deployment of sanctioning mechanisms by male and female host trees in a gynodioecious fig-wasp mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {100}, number = {3}, pages = {e02597}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2597}, pmid = {30615203}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Ficus ; Male ; Pollination ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {In some insect nursery pollination mutualisms, plant hosts impose net costs to uncooperative "cheater" symbionts. These "sanctions" promote mutualism stability but their precise adaptive nature remains unclear. In fig-wasp mutualisms host trees (Ficus spp.) are only pollinated by female agaonid wasps whose larvae only use galled fig flowers as food. In actively pollinated systems, if wasps fail to pollinate, sanctions can result via fig abortion, killing all wasp offspring, or by increased offspring mortality within un-aborted figs. These sanctions result from selective investment to pollinated inflorescences, a mechanism present in almost all angiosperms. To more fully understand how selective investment functions as sanctions requires the measurement of variation in their costs and benefits to both hosts and symbionts. Gynodioecious fig-tree-fig-wasp mutualisms are particularly suitable for this because pollen and wasps are produced only in the figs of "male" trees and seeds only in the figs of "female" trees. Male and female trees thus incur different net costs of pollen absence, and costs of sanctions to pollen-free "cheater" wasps only occur in male trees. We used the actively pollinated host tree Ficus hispida and introduced into male and female figs either 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 all pollen-laden "cooperative" (P+) or all pollen-free "cheater" (P-) wasps. Abortion in both male and female trees was highest in P- figs, with P- fig abortion higher in females (~90%) than in males (~40%). Fig abortion was negatively associated with foundress number mainly in P+ figs; in P- figs abortion was only weakly associated with the number of "cheater" wasps, especially in female figs. In un-aborted male figs, wasp offspring mortality was higher in P- figs than in P+ figs, and in P- figs correlated positively with foundress (cheater) number. Increased offspring mortality was biased against female wasp offspring and likely resulted from reduced larval nutrition in unpollinated flowers. Variation in selective investment to P- figs thus reflects costs and benefits of pollen absence/presence to hosts, variation that translates directly to net costs to cheater wasps.}, } @article {pmid30613897, year = {2019}, author = {Shang, N and Ding, M and Dai, M and Si, H and Li, S and Zhao, G}, title = {Biodegradation of malachite green by an endophytic bacterium Klebsiella aerogenes S27 involving a novel oxidoreductase.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {5}, pages = {2141-2153}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-09583-0}, pmid = {30613897}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biotransformation/physiology ; Chenopodiaceae/microbiology ; Coloring Agents/metabolism ; Enterobacter aerogenes/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/*metabolism ; Rosaniline Dyes/*metabolism ; Trityl Compounds/metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Endophytic microorganisms can metabolize organic contaminants and assist in plant growth, thus facilitating the phytoremediation of polluted environments. An endophytic bacterium capable of decoloring malachite green (MG) was isolated from the leaves of the wetland plant Suaeda salsa and was identified as Klebsiella aerogenes S27. Complete decolorization of MG (100 mg/l) was achieved in 8 h at 30 °C and pH 7.0. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses indicated the degradation of MG by the isolate. The enzymic assays of the strain showed the triphenylmethane reductase (TMR) activity. A gene encoding putative TMR-like protein (named as KaTMR) was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. KaTMR showed only 42.6-43.3% identities in amino acids compared with well-studied TMRs, and it phylogenetically formed a new branch in the family of TMRs. The degraded metabolites by recombinant KaTMR were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, showing differences from the products of reported TMRs. The biotransformation pathway of MG was proposed. Phytotoxicity studies revealed the less-toxic nature of the degraded metabolites compared to the dye. This study presented the first report of an endophyte on the degradation and detoxification of triphenylmethane dye via a novel oxidoreductase, thus facilitating the study of the plant-endophyte symbiosis in the bioremediation processes.}, } @article {pmid30612723, year = {2019}, author = {Ramírez-Puebla, ST and Hernández, MAR and Guerrero Ruiz, G and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Martinez-Romero, JC and Servín-Garcidueñas, LE and Núñez-de la Mora, A and Amescua-Villela, G and Negrete-Yankelevich, S and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Nodule bacteria from the cultured legume Phaseolus dumosus (belonging to the Phaseolus vulgaris cross-inoculation group) with common tropici phenotypic characteristics and symbiovar but distinctive phylogenomic position and chromid.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {373-382}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.12.007}, pmid = {30612723}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Mexico ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phaseolus/classification/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Replicon/genetics ; Rhizobium/chemistry/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus dumosus is an endemic species from mountain tops in Mexico that was found in traditional agriculture areas in Veracruz, Mexico. P. dumosus plants were identified by ITS sequences and their nodules were collected from agricultural fields or from trap plant experiments in the laboratory. Bacteria from P. dumosus nodules were identified as belonging to the phaseoli-etli-leguminosarum (PEL) or to the tropici group by 16S rRNA gene sequences. We obtained complete closed genomes from two P. dumosus isolates CCGE531 and CCGE532 that were phylogenetically placed within the tropici group but with a distinctive phylogenomic position and low average nucleotide identity (ANI). CCGE531 and CCGE532 had common phenotypic characteristics with tropici type B rhizobial symbionts. Genome synteny analysis and ANI showed that P. dumosus isolates had different chromids and our analysis suggests that chromids have independently evolved in different lineages of the Rhizobium genus. Finally, we considered that P. dumosus and Phaseolus vulgaris plants belong to the same cross-inoculation group since they have conserved symbiotic affinites for rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid30612193, year = {2019}, author = {Voříšková, A and Jansa, J and Püschel, D and Vosátka, M and Šmilauer, P and Janoušková, M}, title = {Abiotic contexts consistently influence mycorrhiza functioning independently of the composition of synthetic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {127-139}, pmid = {30612193}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Droughts ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; *Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Sunlight ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The relationship between mycorrhiza functioning and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities is an important but experimentally still rather little explored topic. The main aim of this study was thus to link magnitude of plant benefits from AM symbiosis in different abiotic contexts with quantitative changes in AM fungal community composition. A synthetic AM fungal community inoculated to the model host plant Medicago truncatula was exposed to four different abiotic contexts, namely drought, elevated phosphorus availability, and shading, as compared to standard cultivation conditions, for two cultivation cycles. Growth and phosphorus uptake of the host plants was evaluated along with the quantitative composition of the synthetic AM fungal community. Abiotic context consistently influenced mycorrhiza functioning in terms of plant benefits, and the effects were clearly linked to the P requirement of non-inoculated control plants. In contrast, the abiotic context only had a small and transient effect on the quantitative AM fungal community composition. Our findings suggest no relationship between the degree of mutualism in AM symbiosis and the relative abundances of AM fungal species in communities in our simplified model system. The observed progressive dominance of one AM fungal species indicates an important role of different growth rates of AM fungal species for the establishment of AM fungal communities in simplified systems such as agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30612010, year = {2019}, author = {Cui, G and Ai, S and Chen, K and Wang, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza augments cadmium tolerance in soybean by altering accumulation and partitioning of nutrient elements, and related gene expression.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {231-239}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.12.093}, pmid = {30612010}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/*metabolism/toxicity ; Drug Tolerance ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Models, Theoretical ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism/toxicity ; Soybeans/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can protect plants against cadmium (Cd) stress, and are the most prominent symbiotic fungi for contribution to phytoremediation. However, the tolerance mechanism for AM symbiosis on Cd toxicity still remains unclear, especially the related molecular mechanisms. In this study, different Cd treatments were applied to two soybean genotypes with different Cd tolerance in the presence or absence of AM fungal inoculation. The results showed that Cd addition obviously decreased AM colonization. AM symbiosis significantly increased plant dry weight, root growth, and P acquisition in Cd-tolerant HX3 genotype at Cd addition treatments. The effectiveness was associated with a concomitant increased expression of the AM inducible phosphate (Pi) transporter genes GmPT8, GmPT9, GmPT10, and upregulated expression of P-type heavy metal ATPase gene GmHMA19. Additionally, AM fungal inoculation effectively impacted the partitioning of Mg, Cu and Zn, including increased Mg, and decreased Cu and Zn relative concentrations in shoots of Cd tolerant HX3. Taken together, these results suggest that AM symbiosis can alleviate Cd toxicity in soybean through enhanced P nutrition, up-regulated expression of AM inducible GmPTs and GmHMA19, as well as, the alteration of the partitioning of essential nutrient elements.}, } @article {pmid30611207, year = {2019}, author = {Kamm, K and Schierwater, B and DeSalle, R}, title = {Innate immunity in the simplest animals - placozoans.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, pmid = {30611207}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Genome/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Invertebrates/genetics/immunology ; *Phylogeny ; Placozoa/genetics/*immunology ; Symbiosis/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Innate immunity provides the core recognition system in animals for preventing infection, but also plays an important role in managing the relationship between an animal host and its symbiont. Most of our knowledge about innate immunity stems from a few animal model systems, but substantial variation between metazoan phyla has been revealed by comparative genomic studies. The exploration of more taxa is still needed to better understand the evolution of immunity related mechanisms. Placozoans are morphologically the simplest organized metazoans and the association between these enigmatic animals and their rickettsial endosymbionts has recently been elucidated. Our analyses of the novel placozoan nuclear genome of Trichoplax sp. H2 and its associated rickettsial endosymbiont genome clearly pointed to a mutualistic and co-evolutionary relationship. This discovery raises the question of how the placozoan holobiont manages symbiosis and, conversely, how it defends against harmful microorganisms. In this study, we examined the annotated genome of Trichoplax sp. H2 for the presence of genes involved in innate immune recognition and downstream signaling.

RESULTS: A rich repertoire of genes belonging to the Toll-like and NOD-like receptor pathways, to scavenger receptors and to secreted fibrinogen-related domain genes was identified in the genome of Trichoplax sp. H2. Nevertheless, the innate immunity related pathways in placozoans deviate in several instances from well investigated vertebrates and invertebrates. While true Toll- and NOD-like receptors are absent, the presence of many genes of the downstream signaling cascade suggests at least primordial Toll-like receptor signaling in Placozoa. An abundance of scavenger receptors, fibrinogen-related domain genes and Apaf-1 genes clearly constitutes an expansion of the immunity related gene repertoire specific to Placozoa.

CONCLUSIONS: The found wealth of immunity related genes present in Placozoa is surprising and quite striking in light of the extremely simple placozoan body plan and their sparse cell type makeup. Research is warranted to reveal how Placozoa utilize this immune repertoire to manage and maintain their associated microbiota as well as to fend-off pathogens.}, } @article {pmid30610167, year = {2019}, author = {Liu, J and Rutten, L and Limpens, E and van der Molen, T and van Velzen, R and Chen, R and Chen, Y and Geurts, R and Kohlen, W and Kulikova, O and Bisseling, T}, title = {A Remote cis-Regulatory Region Is Required for NIN Expression in the Pericycle to Initiate Nodule Primordium Formation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {68-83}, pmid = {30610167}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis results in nitrogen-fixing root nodules, and their formation involves both intracellular infection initiated in the epidermis and nodule organogenesis initiated in inner root cell layers. NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is a nodule-specific transcription factor essential for both processes. These NIN-regulated processes occur at different times and locations in the root, demonstrating a complex pattern of spatiotemporal regulation. We show that regulatory sequences sufficient for the epidermal infection process are located within a 5 kb region directly upstream of the NIN start codon in Medicago truncatula Furthermore, we identify a remote upstream cis-regulatory region required for the expression of NIN in the pericycle, and we show that this region is essential for nodule organogenesis. This region contains putative cytokinin response elements and is conserved in eight more legume species. Both the cytokinin receptor 1, which is essential for nodule primordium formation, and the B-type response regulator RR1 are expressed in the pericycle in the susceptible zone of the uninoculated root. This, together with the identification of the cytokinin-responsive elements in the NIN promoter, strongly suggests that NIN expression is initially triggered by cytokinin signaling in the pericycle to initiate nodule primordium formation.}, } @article {pmid30606121, year = {2019}, author = {Shinde, S and Zerbs, S and Collart, FR and Cumming, JR and Noirot, P and Larsen, PE}, title = {Pseudomonas fluorescens increases mycorrhization and modulates expression of antifungal defense response genes in roots of aspen seedlings.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {30606121}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics ; Laccaria/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Immunity/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Populus/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Seedlings/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants, fungi, and bacteria form complex, mutually-beneficial communities within the soil environment. In return for photosynthetically derived sugars in the form of exudates from plant roots, the microbial symbionts in these rhizosphere communities provide their host plants access to otherwise inaccessible nutrients in soils and help defend the plant against biotic and abiotic stresses. One role that bacteria may play in these communities is that of Mycorrhizal Helper Bacteria (MHB). MHB are bacteria that facilitate the interactions between plant roots and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi and, while the effects of MHB on the formation of plant-fungal symbiosis and on plant health have been well documented, the specific molecular mechanisms by which MHB drive gene regulation in plant roots leading to these benefits remain largely uncharacterized.

RESULTS: Here, we investigate the effects of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 (SBW25) on aspen root transcriptome using a tripartite laboratory community comprised of Populus tremuloides (aspen) seedlings and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor (Laccaria). We show that SBW25 has MHB activity and promotes mycorrhization of aspen roots by Laccaria. Using transcriptomic analysis of aspen roots under multiple community compositions, we identify clusters of co-regulated genes associated with mycorrhization, the presence of SBW25, and MHB-associated functions, and we generate a combinatorial logic network that links causal relationships in observed patterns of gene expression in aspen seedling roots in a single Boolean circuit diagram. The predicted regulatory circuit is used to infer regulatory mechanisms associated with MHB activity.

CONCLUSIONS: In our laboratory conditions, SBW25 increases the ability of Laccaria to form ectomycorrhizal interactions with aspen seedling roots through the suppression of aspen root antifungal defense responses. Analysis of transcriptomic data identifies that potential molecular mechanisms in aspen roots that respond to MHB activity are proteins with homology to pollen recognition sensors. Pollen recognition sensors integrate multiple environmental signals to down-regulate pollenization-associated gene clusters, making proteins with homology to this system an excellent fit for a predicted mechanism that integrates information from the rhizosphere to down-regulate antifungal defense response genes in the root. These results provide a deeper understanding of aspen gene regulation in response to MHB and suggest additional, hypothesis-driven biological experiments to validate putative molecular mechanisms of MHB activity in the aspen-Laccaria ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30605528, year = {2019}, author = {Castro, J and Smith, SM and Cognato, AI and Lanfranco, D and Martinez, M and Guachambala, M}, title = {Life Cycle and Development of Coptoborus ochromactonus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a pest of balsa.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {729-735}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toy403}, pmid = {30605528}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bombacaceae ; *Coleoptera ; Ecuador ; Female ; Male ; Pupa ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {Coptoborus ochromactonus Smith and Cognato is a recently described xyleborine ambrosia beetle pest associated with balsa, Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. Ex Lam.) Urb., in Ecuador. This pest has caused significant loss of cultivated balsa in Ecuador, but little is known of its biology and ecology. Based on examination of multiple gallery systems, this study describes the gallery pattern and life cycle of C. ochromactonus and confirms the generic identity of the symbiotic fungus. Females initiated attack, excavating a gallery perpendicular to the bole. The primary tunnel branched into a secondary tunnel at a mean 3.13 mm. This first secondary tunnel was excavated in a horizontal plane between the phloem and xylem for a mean 18.0 mm. Along its length, two tertiary tunnels were constructed on each side, measuring a mean 26.0 and 20.0 mm, respectively. Conidiophores and conidia of an unidentified Fusarium sp. grew on the tunnel walls and were fed upon by the beetle and her progeny. Coptoborus ochromactonus exhibits sexual dimorphism. The female is 2.6 mm long and possesses a round pronotum, whereas the male is 2.2 mm long and has a quadrate pronotum. The developmental stages last a mean 6, 14, 6, 4 and 30 d for egg, larva, pupa, teneral adult, and adult, respectively, when reared at 25°C. Three larval instars were present, with mean head capsule widths of 0.23, 0.31, and 0.42 mm, respectively. In general, the life cycle of C. ochromactonus is similar to those described for other xyleborine ambrosia beetle species.}, } @article {pmid30605473, year = {2019}, author = {Suzaki, T and Takeda, N and Nishida, H and Hoshino, M and Ito, M and Misawa, F and Handa, Y and Miura, K and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {LACK OF SYMBIONT ACCOMMODATION controls intracellular symbiont accommodation in root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e1007865}, pmid = {30605473}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with plant roots and these are established by precise regulation of symbiont accommodation within host plant cells. In model legumes such as Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, rhizobia enter into roots through an intracellular invasion system that depends on the formation of a root-hair infection thread (IT). While IT-mediated intracellular rhizobia invasion is thought to be the most evolutionarily derived invasion system, some studies have indicated that a basal intercellular invasion system can replace it when some nodulation-related factors are genetically modified. In addition, intracellular rhizobia accommodation is suggested to have a similar mechanism as AMF accommodation. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying genetic mechanisms is incomplete. Here we identify a L. japonicus nodulation-deficient mutant, with a mutation in the LACK OF SYMBIONT ACCOMMODATION (LAN) gene, in which root-hair IT formation is strongly reduced, but intercellular rhizobial invasion eventually results in functional nodule formation. LjLAN encodes a protein that is homologous to Arabidopsis MEDIATOR 2/29/32 possibly acting as a subunit of a Mediator complex, a multiprotein complex required for gene transcription. We also show that LjLAN acts in parallel with a signaling pathway including LjCYCLOPS. In addition, the lan mutation drastically reduces the colonization levels of AMF. Taken together, our data provide a new factor that has a common role in symbiont accommodation process during root nodule and AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30603790, year = {2019}, author = {Franzini, VI and Azcón, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Aroca, R}, title = {Rhizobial symbiosis modifies root hydraulic properties in bean plants under non-stressed and salinity-stressed conditions.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {249}, number = {4}, pages = {1207-1215}, pmid = {30603790}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Dehydration ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Potassium/metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism ; Sodium/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial symbiosis improved the water status of bean plants under salinity-stress conditions, in part by increasing their osmotic root water flow. One of the main problems for agriculture worldwide is the increasing salinization of farming lands. The use of soil beneficial microorganisms stands up as a way to tackle this problem. One approach is the use of rhizobial N2-fixing, nodule-forming bacteria. Salinity-stress causes leaf dehydration due to an imbalance between water lost through stomata and water absorbed by roots. The aim of the present study was to elucidate how rhizobial symbiosis modulates the water status of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants under salinity-stress conditions, by assessing the effects on root hydraulic properties. Bean plants were inoculated or not with a Rhizobium leguminosarum strain and subjected to moderate salinity-stress. The rhizobial symbiosis was found to improve leaf water status and root osmotic water flow under such conditions. Higher content of nitrogen and lower values of sodium concentration in root tissues were detected when compared to not inoculated plants. In addition, a drop in the osmotic potential of xylem sap and increased amount of PIP aquaporins could favour higher root osmotic water flow in the inoculated plants. Therefore, it was found that rhizobial symbiosis may also improve root osmotic water flow of the host plants under salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid30603701, year = {2018}, author = {Nascimento, FX and Tavares, MJ and Rossi, MJ and Glick, BR}, title = {The modulation of leguminous plant ethylene levels by symbiotic rhizobia played a role in the evolution of the nodulation process.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {e01068}, pmid = {30603701}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Ethylene plays an important role in regulating the rhizobial nodulation process. Consequently, numerous strains of rhizobia possess the ability to decrease plant ethylene levels by the expression of the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase or via the production of rhizobitoxine, thus, leading to an increased ability to nodulate leguminous plants. Nevertheless, not much is understood about the prevalence of these ethylene modulation genes in different rhizobial groups nor their role in the evolution of the symbiotic process. In this work, we analyze the prevalence and evolution of the enzymes ACC deaminase (AcdS) and dihydrorhizobitoxine desaturase (RtxC) in 395 NodC[+] genomes from different rhizobial strains isolated from a wide range of locations and plant hosts, and discuss their importance in the evolution of the symbiotic process. The obtained results show that AcdS and RtxC are differentially prevalent in rhizobial groups, indicating the existence of several selection mechanisms governed by the rhizobial strain itself and its evolutionary origin, the environment, and, importantly, the leguminous plant host (co-evolution). Moreover, it was found that the prevalence of AcdS and RtxC is increased in Bradyrhizobium and Paraburkholderia, and lower in other groups. Data obtained from phylogenetic, evolutionary as well as gene localization analysis support the previous hypotheses regarding the ancient origin of the nodulation abilities in Bradyrhizobium and Paraburkholderia, and brings a new perspective for the importance of ethylene modulation genes in the development of the symbiotic process. The acquisition of AcdS by horizontal gene transfer and a positive selection in other rhizobial groups indicates that this enzyme plays an important role in the nodulation process of many rhizobia. On the other hand, RtxC is negatively selected in most symbioses. Understanding the evolution of ethylene modulation genes in rhizobia may be the key to the development of new strategies aiming for an increased nodulation and nitrogen fixation process.}, } @article {pmid30602582, year = {2019}, author = {Muñoz-Marín, MDC and Shilova, IN and Shi, T and Farnelid, H and Cabello, AM and Zehr, JP}, title = {The Transcriptional Cycle Is Suited to Daytime N2 Fixation in the Unicellular Cyanobacterium "Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa" (UCYN-A).}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30602582}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Circadian Clocks ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Haptophyta/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Sunlight ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between a marine alga and a N2-fixing cyanobacterium (Cyanobacterium UCYN-A) is geographically widespread in the oceans and is important in the marine N cycle. UCYN-A is uncultivated and is an unusual unicellular cyanobacterium because it lacks many metabolic functions, including oxygenic photosynthesis and carbon fixation, which are typical in cyanobacteria. It is now presumed to be an obligate symbiont of haptophytes closely related to Braarudosphaera bigelowii N2-fixing cyanobacteria use different strategies to avoid inhibition of N2 fixation by the oxygen evolved in photosynthesis. Most unicellular cyanobacteria temporally separate the two incompatible activities by fixing N2 only at night, but, surprisingly, UCYN-A appears to fix N2 during the day. The goal of this study was to determine how the unicellular UCYN-A strain coordinates N2 fixation and general metabolism compared to other marine cyanobacteria. We found that UCYN-A has distinct daily cycles of many genes despite the fact that it lacks two of the three circadian clock genes found in most cyanobacteria. We also found that the transcription patterns in UCYN-A are more similar to those in marine cyanobacteria that are capable of aerobic N2 fixation in the light, such as Trichodesmium and heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria, than to those in Crocosphaera or Cyanothece species, which are more closely related to unicellular marine cyanobacteria evolutionarily. Our findings suggest that the symbiotic interaction has resulted in a shift of transcriptional regulation to coordinate UCYN-A metabolism with that of the phototrophic eukaryotic host, thus allowing efficient coupling of N2 fixation (by the cyanobacterium) to the energy obtained from photosynthesis (by the eukaryotic unicellular alga) in the light.IMPORTANCE The symbiotic N2-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A, which is closely related to Braarudosphaera bigelowii, and its eukaryotic algal host have been shown to be globally distributed and important in open-ocean N2 fixation. These unique cyanobacteria have reduced metabolic capabilities, even lacking genes for oxygenic photosynthesis and carbon fixation. Cyanobacteria generally use energy from photosynthesis for nitrogen fixation but require mechanisms for avoiding inactivation of the oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase enzyme by ambient oxygen (O2) or the O2 evolved through photosynthesis. This study showed that symbiosis between the N2-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A and its eukaryotic algal host has led to adaptation of its daily gene expression pattern in order to enable daytime aerobic N2 fixation, which is likely more energetically efficient than fixing N2 at night, as found in other unicellular marine cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid30602581, year = {2019}, author = {Hall, RJ and Flanagan, LA and Bottery, MJ and Springthorpe, V and Thorpe, S and Darby, AC and Wood, AJ and Thomas, GH}, title = {A Tale of Three Species: Adaptation of Sodalis glossinidius to Tsetse Biology, Wigglesworthia Metabolism, and Host Diet.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30602581}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; BB/M011151/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/N010426/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J017698/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; WT095024MA//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Disease Vectors ; Energy Metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Feeding Behavior ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glutamates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Thiamine/metabolism ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The tsetse fly is the insect vector for the Trypanosoma brucei parasite, the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis. The colonization and spread of the trypanosome correlate positively with the presence of a secondary symbiotic bacterium, Sodalis glossinidius The metabolic requirements and interactions of the bacterium with its host are poorly understood, and herein we describe a metabolic model of S. glossinidius metabolism. The model enabled the design and experimental verification of a defined medium that supports S. glossinidius growth ex vivo This has been used subsequently to analyze in vitro aspects of S. glossinidius metabolism, revealing multiple unique adaptations of the symbiont to its environment. Continued dependence on a sugar, and the importance of the chitin monomer N-acetyl-d-glucosamine as a carbon and energy source, suggests adaptation to host-derived molecules. Adaptation to the amino acid-rich blood diet is revealed by a strong dependence on l-glutamate as a source of carbon and nitrogen and by the ability to rescue a predicted l-arginine auxotrophy. Finally, the selective loss of thiamine biosynthesis, a vitamin provided to the host by the primary symbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidia, reveals an intersymbiont dependence. The reductive evolution of S. glossinidius to exploit environmentally derived metabolites has resulted in multiple weaknesses in the metabolic network. These weaknesses may become targets for reagents that inhibit S. glossinidius growth and aid the reduction of trypanosomal transmission.IMPORTANCE Human African trypanosomiasis is caused by the Trypanosoma brucei parasite. The tsetse fly vector is of interest for its potential to prevent disease spread, as it is essential for T. brucei life cycle progression and transmission. The tsetse's mutualistic endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius has a link to trypanosome establishment, providing a disease control target. Here, we describe a new, experimentally verified model of S. glossinidius metabolism. This model has enabled the development of a defined growth medium that was used successfully to test aspects of S. glossinidius metabolism. We present S. glossinidius as uniquely adapted to life in the tsetse, through its reliance on the blood diet and host-derived sugars. Additionally, S. glossinidius has adapted to the tsetse's obligate symbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidia by scavenging a vitamin it produces for the insect. This work highlights the use of metabolic modeling to design defined growth media for symbiotic bacteria and may provide novel inhibitory targets to block trypanosome transmission.}, } @article {pmid30602523, year = {2019}, author = {Rubin-Blum, M and Dubilier, N and Kleiner, M}, title = {Genetic Evidence for Two Carbon Fixation Pathways (the Calvin-Benson-Bassham Cycle and the Reverse Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle) in Symbiotic and Free-Living Bacteria.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30602523}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Chromatiaceae/*physiology ; *Citric Acid Cycle ; DNA, Bacterial ; *Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Very few bacteria are able to fix carbon via both the reverse tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycles, such as symbiotic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria that are the sole carbon source for the marine tubeworm Riftia pachyptila, the fastest-growing invertebrate. To date, the coexistence of these two carbon fixation pathways had not been found in a cultured bacterium and could thus not be studied in detail. Moreover, it was not clear if these two pathways were encoded in the same symbiont individual, or if two symbiont populations, each with one of the pathways, coexisted within tubeworms. With comparative genomics, we show that Thioflavicoccus mobilis, a cultured, free-living gammaproteobacterial sulfur oxidizer, possesses the genes for both carbon fixation pathways. Here, we also show that both the CBB and rTCA pathways are likely encoded in the genome of the sulfur-oxidizing symbiont of the tubeworm Escarpia laminata from deep-sea asphalt volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, we provide genomic and transcriptomic data suggesting a potential electron flow toward the rTCA cycle carboxylase 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, via a rare variant of NADH dehydrogenase/heterodisulfide reductase in the E. laminata symbiont. This electron-bifurcating complex, together with NAD(P)[+] transhydrogenase and Na[+] translocating Rnf membrane complexes, may improve the efficiency of the rTCA cycle in both the symbiotic and the free-living sulfur oxidizer.IMPORTANCE Primary production on Earth is dependent on autotrophic carbon fixation, which leads to the incorporation of carbon dioxide into biomass. Multiple metabolic pathways have been described for autotrophic carbon fixation, but most autotrophic organisms were assumed to have the genes for only one of these pathways. Our finding of a cultivable bacterium with two carbon fixation pathways in its genome, the rTCA and the CBB cycle, opens the possibility to study the potential benefits of having these two pathways and the interplay between them. Additionally, this will allow the investigation of the unusual and potentially very efficient mechanism of electron flow that could drive the rTCA cycle in these autotrophs. Such studies will deepen our understanding of carbon fixation pathways and could provide new avenues for optimizing carbon fixation in biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid30602367, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, YY and Chen, DQ and Chen, L and Liu, JR and Vaziri, ND and Guo, Y and Zhao, YY}, title = {Microbiome-metabolome reveals the contribution of gut-kidney axis on kidney disease.}, journal = {Journal of translational medicine}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, pmid = {30602367}, issn = {1479-5876}, support = {81673578//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 81603271//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 81872985//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Kidney/*microbiology ; Kidney Diseases/*microbiology ; *Metabolome ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Dysbiosis represents changes in composition and structure of the gut microbiome community (microbiome), which may dictate the physiological phenotype (health or disease). Recent technological advances and efforts in metagenomic and metabolomic analyses have led to a dramatical growth in our understanding of microbiome, but still, the mechanisms underlying gut microbiome-host interactions in healthy or diseased state remain elusive and their elucidation is in infancy. Disruption of the normal gut microbiota may lead to intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and bacterial translocation. Excessive uremic toxins are produced as a result of gut microbiota alteration, including indoxyl sulphate, p-cresyl sulphate, and trimethylamine-N-oxide, all implicated in the variant processes of kidney diseases development. This review focuses on the pathogenic association between gut microbiota and kidney diseases (the gut-kidney axis), covering CKD, IgA nephropathy, nephrolithiasis, hypertension, acute kidney injury, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in clinic. Targeted interventions including probiotic, prebiotic and symbiotic measures are discussed for their potential of re-establishing symbiosis, and more effective strategies for the treatment of kidney diseases patients are suggested. The novel insights into the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in kidney diseases are helpful to develop novel therapeutic strategies for preventing or attenuating kidney diseases and complications.}, } @article {pmid30598000, year = {2018}, author = {Mannaa, M and Park, I and Seo, YS}, title = {Genomic Features and Insights into the Taxonomy, Virulence, and Benevolence of Plant-Associated Burkholderia Species.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30598000}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Burkholderia/classification/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The members of the Burkholderia genus are characterized by high versatility and adaptability to various ecological niches. With the availability of the genome sequences of numerous species of Burkholderia, many studies have been conducted to elucidate the unique features of this exceptional group of bacteria. Genomic and metabolic plasticity are common among Burkholderia species, as evidenced by their relatively large multi-replicon genomes that are rich in insertion sequences and genomic islands and contain a high proportion of coding regions. Such unique features could explain their adaptability to various habitats and their versatile lifestyles, which are reflected in a multiplicity of species including free-living rhizospheric bacteria, plant endosymbionts, legume nodulators, and plant pathogens. The phytopathogenic Burkholderia group encompasses several pathogens representing threats to important agriculture crops such as rice. Contrarily, plant-beneficial Burkholderia have also been reported, which have symbiotic and growth-promoting roles. In this review, the taxonomy of Burkholderia is discussed emphasizing the recent updates and the contributions of genomic studies to precise taxonomic positioning. Moreover, genomic and functional studies on Burkholderia are reviewed and insights are provided into the mechanisms underlying the virulence and benevolence of phytopathogenic and plant-beneficial Burkholderia, respectively, on the basis of cutting-edge knowledge.}, } @article {pmid30597740, year = {2019}, author = {Gao, X and Li, W and Luo, J and Zhang, L and Ji, J and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Zhang, S and Cui, J}, title = {Biodiversity of the microbiota in Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {126}, number = {4}, pages = {1199-1208}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14190}, pmid = {30597740}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/parasitology ; Female ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Spodoptera/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Spodoptera exigua is a serious pest of many agricultural crops. However, the bacterial communities of S. exigua are poorly studied, particularly over their entire life cycle. We aimed to study the biodiversity of the microbiota across the life cycle of S. exigua and to provide a better and obtain insight into new pest control strategies.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The bacterial diversity across the life cycle of S. exigua was studied using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Spodoptera exigua is dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, with a total relative abundance of 90·03%. Enterococcus (24·6%), Pseudomonas (12·2%) and Asaia (45·9%) were abundant and active in eggs, while Methylobacterium (18·7%) and Halomonas (16·5%) dominated freshly eclosed larvae. The 3rd and 5th instar larvae were dominated by Enterococcus (76·3 and 62·0%). Pupal stages had the highest microbial diversity. There was no significant difference between newly emerged males and females. Symbionts of eggs were extremely similar and probably vertically transmitted by males during mating.

CONCLUSIONS: The result showed that the bacterial community was affected by the host developmental stages. Our results also suggest that symbionts of egg mass are probably vertically transmitted control by male spawning adults.

Our study documents the symbiont bacteria across the life cycle of S. exigua. Understanding the microbial symbionts may provide clues to develop potential biocontrol techniques against this pest.}, } @article {pmid30597068, year = {2019}, author = {Fukudome, M and Watanabe, E and Osuki, KI and Imaizumi, R and Aoki, T and Becana, M and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Stably Transformed Lotus japonicus Plants Overexpressing Phytoglobin LjGlb1-1 Show Decreased Nitric Oxide Levels in Roots and Nodules as Well as Delayed Nodule Senescence.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {816-825}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy245}, pmid = {30597068}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Cyclic/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {The class 1 phytoglobin, LjGlb1-1, is expressed in various tissues of the model legume Lotus japonicus, where it may play multiple functions by interacting with nitric oxide (NO). One of such functions is the onset of a proper symbiosis with Mesorhizobium loti resulting in the formation of actively N2-fixing nodules. Stable overexpression lines (Ox1 and Ox2) of LjGlb1-1 were generated and phenotyped. Both Ox lines showed reduced NO levels in roots and enhanced nitrogenase activity in mature and senescent nodules relative to the wild-type (WT). Physiological and cytological observations indicated that overexpression of LjGlb1-1 delayed nodule senescence. The application to WT nodules of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine (SNAP) or the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) repressed nitrogenase activity, induced the expression of three senescence-associated genes and caused cytological changes evidencing nodule senescence. These effects were almost completely reverted by the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide. Our results reveal that overexpression of LjGlb1-1 improves the activity of mature nodules and delays nodule senescence in the L.japonicus-M.loti symbiosis. These beneficial effects are probably mediated by the participation of LjGlb1-1 in controlling the concentration of NO that may be produced downstream in the phytohormone signaling pathway in nodules.}, } @article {pmid30596477, year = {2018}, author = {Shu, L and Brock, DA and Geist, KS and Miller, JW and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE and DiSalvo, S}, title = {Symbiont location, host fitness, and possible coadaptation in a symbiosis between social amoebae and bacteria.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30596477}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Burkholderia/*growth & development/*physiology ; Dictyostelium/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent symbioses, particularly facultative ones, are well suited for unravelling the evolutionary give and take between partners. Here we look at variation in natural isolates of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and their relationships with bacterial symbionts, Burkholderia hayleyella and Burkholderia agricolaris. Only about a third of field-collected amoebae carry a symbiont. We cured and cross-infected amoebae hosts with different symbiont association histories and then compared host responses to each symbiont type. Before curing, field-collected clones did not vary significantly in overall fitness, but infected hosts produced morphologically different multicellular structures. After curing and reinfecting, host fitness declined. However, natural B. hayleyella hosts suffered fewer fitness costs when reinfected with B. hayleyella, indicating that they have evolved mechanisms to tolerate their symbiont. Our work suggests that amoebae hosts have evolved mechanisms to tolerate specific acquired symbionts; exploring host-symbiont relationships that vary within species may provide further insights into disease dynamics.}, } @article {pmid30595344, year = {2019}, author = {Gangwar, M and Jha, R and Goyal, M and Srivastava, M}, title = {Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Recombinase A from Wolbachia endosymbiont of filarial nematode Brugia malayi (wBmRecA).}, journal = {Vaccine}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {571-580}, doi = {10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.12.015}, pmid = {30595344}, issn = {1873-2518}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Brugia malayi/*microbiology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cytokines/immunology ; Elephantiasis, Filarial/immunology/prevention & control ; Female ; *Immunogenicity, Vaccine ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Mice ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics/*immunology ; Spleen/immunology ; Wolbachia/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Lymphatic filariasis causes global morbidity. Wolbachia, an endo-symbiotic intracellular bacterium of the filarial nematode helps in their growth and development, regulates fecundity in female worms and contributes to the immunopathogenesis of the disease. However, genes and proteins of Wolbachia that may act as putative vaccine candidates are not known. In this study, we cloned recombinase-A protein of Wolbachia from Brugia malayi (wBmRecA) and carried out its detailed biochemical and immunological characterization. Bioinformatics analysis, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectral studies showed significant sequence and structural similarities between wBmRecA and RecA of other alpha-proteo- bacterial species. wBmRecA was ubiquitously expressed in all the three major life stages of B. malayi, including excretory-secretory products of the adult worm. In silico studies suggested immunogenic potential of wBmRecA, and mice immunized with wBmRecA exhibited elevated levels of immunoglobulins IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 in their serum along with increased percentages of CD4[+], CD8[+] T cells and CD19[+] B cells in their spleens. Notably, splenocytes from immunized mice showed increased m-RNA expression of T-bet, elevated proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12, while peritoneal MФs exhibited increased levels of iNOS, downregulated Arg-1 and secreted copious amounts of nitric oxide which contributed to severely impaired development of the infective larvae (Bm-L3). Interestingly, sera from immunized mice promoted significant cellular adherence and cytotoxicity against microfilariae and Bm-L3. Importantly, wBmRecA demonstrated strong immuno-reactivity with bancroftian sera from endemic normal individuals. These results suggest that wBmRecA is highly immunogenic, and should be explored further as a putative vaccine candidate against lymphatic filariasis.}, } @article {pmid30589877, year = {2018}, author = {Thürich, J and Meichsner, D and Furch, ACU and Pfalz, J and Krüger, T and Kniemeyer, O and Brakhage, A and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Arabidopsis thaliana responds to colonisation of Piriformospora indica by secretion of symbiosis-specific proteins.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0209658}, pmid = {30589877}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*microbiology/*physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Computational Biology/methods ; Disease Resistance ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mutation ; Plant Development ; Proteome ; Proteomics/methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants interact with a wide variety of fungi in a mutualistic, parasitic or neutral way. The associations formed depend on the exchange of nutrients and signalling molecules between the partners. This includes a diverse set of protein classes involved in defence, nutrient uptake or establishing a symbiotic relationship. Here, we have analysed the secretomes of the mutualistic, root-endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica and Arabidopsis thaliana when cultivated alone or in a co-culture. More than one hundred proteins were identified as differentially secreted, including proteins associated with growth, development, abiotic and biotic stress response and mucilage. While some of the proteins have been associated before to be involved in plant-microbial interaction, other proteins are newly described in this context. One plant protein found in the co-culture is PLAT1 (Polycystin, Lipoxygenase, Alpha-toxin and Triacylglycerol lipase). PLAT1 has not been associated with plant-fungal-interaction and is known to play a role in abiotic stress responses. In colonised roots PLAT1 shows an altered gene expression in a stage specific manner and plat1 knock-out plants are colonised stronger. It co-localises with Brassicaceae-specific endoplasmic reticulum bodies (ER-bodies) which are involved in the formation of the defence compound scopolin. We observed degraded ER-bodies in infected Arabidopsis roots and a change in the scopolin level in response to the presence of the fungus.}, } @article {pmid30588210, year = {2018}, author = {Swain Ewald, HA and Ewald, PW}, title = {Natural Selection, The Microbiome, and Public Health.}, journal = {The Yale journal of biology and medicine}, volume = {91}, number = {4}, pages = {445-455}, pmid = {30588210}, issn = {1551-4056}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Breast Feeding ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; *Public Health ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbiome is composed of hundreds of interacting species that have co-evolved with the host and alterations in microbiome composition have been associated with health and disease. Insights from evolutionary ecology may aid efforts to ameliorate microbiome-associated diseases. One step toward this goal involves recognition that the idea of commensalism has been applied too broadly to human/microbe symbioses. Commensalism is most accurately viewed on a symbiosis continuum as a dividing line that separates a spectrum of mutualisms of decreasing positive interdependence from parasitisms of increasing severity. Insights into the evolution of the gut microbial symbiosis continuum will help distinguish between human actions that will advance or hinder health. Theory and research indicate that a major benefit of mutualistic microbes will be protection against pathogens. Mismatches between current and ancestral diets may disfavor mutualists, resulting in microbiome effects on health problems, including obesity, diabetes, autism, and childhood allergy. Evolutionary theory indicates that mutualisms will be favored when symbionts depend on resources that are not used by the host. These resources, which are referred to as human-inaccessible microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (HIMACs), can be supplied naturally through diet. Public health interventions need to consider the position of gut microbes on the mutualist-parasite continuum and the specific associations between prebiotics, such as HIMACs, and the mutualists they support. Otherwise interventions may fail to restore the match between human adaptations, diet, and microbiome function and may thereby fail to improve health and even inadvertently promote illness.}, } @article {pmid30587804, year = {2018}, author = {Ugarelli, K and Laas, P and Stingl, U}, title = {The Microbial Communities of Leaves and Roots Associated with Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum) and Manatee Grass (Syringodium filliforme) are Distinct from Seawater and Sediment Communities, but Are Similar between Species and Sampling Sites.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30587804}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Seagrasses are vital members of coastal systems, which provide several important ecosystem services such as improvement of water quality, shoreline protection, and serving as shelter, food, and nursery to many species, including economically important fish. They also act as a major carbon sink and supply copious amounts of oxygen to the ocean. A decline in seagrasses has been observed worldwide, partly due to climate change, direct and indirect human activities, diseases, and increased sulfide concentrations in the coastal porewaters. Several studies have shown a symbiotic relationship between seagrasses and their microbiome. For instance, the sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon cycles are important biochemical pathways that seem to be linked between the plant and its microbiome. The microbiome presumably also plays a key role in the health of the plant, for example in oxidizing phyto-toxic sulfide into non-toxic sulfate, or by providing protection for seagrasses from pathogens. Two of the most abundant seagrasses in Florida include Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) and Syringodium filliforme (manatee grass), yet there is little data on the composition of the microbiome of these two genera. In this study, the microbial composition of the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme were compared to water and sediment controls using amplicon sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbial composition of the leaves, roots, seawater, and sediment differ from one another, but are similar between the two species of seagrasses.}, } @article {pmid30586967, year = {2018}, author = {Buczek, A and Bartosik, K and Buczek, W and Buczek, AM and Kulina, D and Kulisz, J and Tomasiewicz, K}, title = {A unique phenomenon of oral-anal contact between ticks observed in two tick species Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus.}, journal = {Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {686-689}, doi = {10.26444/aaem/99054}, pmid = {30586967}, issn = {1898-2263}, mesh = {Anal Canal/*physiology ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Dermacentor/*physiology ; Europe ; Female ; Ixodes/*physiology ; Male ; Mouth/*physiology ; }, abstract = {For the first time in the world literature, the presented study describes oral-anal contact between two sympatric Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, which are the vectors of many pathogens in Europe. Among the specimens collected in nature, an I. ricinus male was found with the hypostome and chelicerae inserted in the anal aperture of a D. reticulatus female. Given the biological and physiological traits of both species and microorganisms colonising these arthropods, it seems that the interspecific oral-anal contacts between ticks may be an unknown alternative route of transmission of pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms present in ticks' alimentary tract, faeces, body surface, and in the haemolymph and organs, taking place when the male's mouthparts are inserted into the female's body. The authors suggest that interspecific contacts between ticks in natural conditions can contribute to the spread of some icroorganisms among different tick species and their hosts..}, } @article {pmid30583535, year = {2018}, author = {Blaz, J and Barrera-Redondo, J and Vázquez-Rosas-Landa, M and Canedo-Téxon, A and Aguirre von Wobeser, E and Carrillo, D and Stouthamer, R and Eskalen, A and Villafán, E and Alonso-Sánchez, A and Lamelas, A and Ibarra-Juarez, LA and Pérez-Torres, CA and Ibarra-Laclette, E}, title = {Genomic Signals of Adaptation towards Mutualism and Sociality in Two Ambrosia Beetle Complexes.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {30583535}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiosis and eusociality have developed through gradual evolutionary processes at different times in specific lineages. Like some species of termites and ants, ambrosia beetles have independently evolved a mutualistic nutritional symbiosis with fungi, which has been associated with the evolution of complex social behaviors in some members of this group. We sequenced the transcriptomes of two ambrosia complexes (Euwallacea sp. near fornicatus[-]Fusarium euwallaceae and Xyleborus glabratus[-]Raffaelea lauricola) to find evolutionary signatures associated with mutualism and behavior evolution. We identified signatures of positive selection in genes related to nutrient homeostasis; regulation of gene expression; development and function of the nervous system, which may be involved in diet specialization; behavioral changes; and social evolution in this lineage. Finally, we found convergent changes in evolutionary rates of proteins across lineages with phylogenetically independent origins of sociality and mutualism, suggesting a constrained evolution of conserved genes in social species, and an evolutionary rate acceleration related to changes in selective pressures in mutualistic lineages.}, } @article {pmid30583042, year = {2019}, author = {Elias-Costa, AJ and Confalonieri, VA and Lanteri, AA and Rodriguero, MS}, title = {Game of clones: Is Wolbachia inducing speciation in a weevil with a mixed reproductive mode?.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {133}, number = {}, pages = {42-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2018.12.027}, pmid = {30583042}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Argentina ; Biological Evolution ; Brazil ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Female ; Genetic Speciation ; Male ; Mitochondria/genetics ; *Parthenogenesis ; Reproduction ; Weevils/classification/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Parthenogenesis is widely distributed in Metazoa but it is especially frequent in weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with one fifth of all known cases. Previous studies have shown that in the tribe Naupactini parthenogenetic reproduction most likely originated with an infection of the endoparasitic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. In particular, Pantomorus postfasciatus possess a mixed reproductive mode: some populations have males while in others they are absent, and females produce clones by thelytoky. To better understand this scenario, we studied the population structure and infection status in 64 individuals of P. postfasciatus from Argentina and Brazil. We sequenced two mitochondrial (COI and COII) and one nuclear (ITS-1) fragments and obtained two very divergent haplogroups, one corresponding to the sexual populations uninfected with Wolbachia, and another conforming a monophyletic parthenogenetic (or presumptively parthenogenetic) and infected clade. Each of these haplogroups was identified as an independently evolutionary unit by all species delimitation analyses accomplished: multilocus *BEAST and BP&P, and single locus GMYC and K/θ rule. Additionally, present evidence suggests that Wolbachia infection occurred at least twice in all-female populations of P. postfasciatus with two different bacterial strains. Speciation mediated by Wolbachia is a recently described phenomenon and the case of P. postfasciatus is the first known case in a diplo-diploid insect. A model that describes how thelytoky-inducing phenotypes of Wolbachia could generate new lineages is discussed.}, } @article {pmid30581847, year = {2018}, author = {Burlaka, AP and Ganusevich, II and Vovk, AV and Burlaka, AA and Gafurov, MR and Lukin, SN}, title = {Colorectal Cancer and Mitochondrial Dysfunctions of the Adjunct Adipose Tissues: A Case Study.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {2169036}, pmid = {30581847}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/*metabolism/*physiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria/metabolism/pathology ; Mitochondrial Diseases/*metabolism/*pathology ; Obesity/metabolism/pathology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Superoxides/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Excess body weight has been causally linked to an increased risk of different cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC) but the mechanisms underlying this association are practically unknown. We investigate redox state-superoxide (SO) generation rate, activity of complex I in electron transport chain (ETC) of mitochondria and of dinitrosyl iron complexes by electron paramagnetic resonance; activity of matrix metalloproteinase (gelatinase) MMP-2 and MMP-9 by gel zymography of adipose tissues (AT) from 46 patients (64.0 ± 1.6 y.o.) with CRC (II-III stages, pT2-3N0-2M0) in the AT adjacent to tumor (ATAT) and at a distance of 3 cm from the tumor (ATD) to follow the connection of the AT redox state with some of the tumor microenvironment indicators. We have incubated the AT species with the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) to follow its influence on the measured values. As a control, normal AT (NAT) obtained during the liposuction is used. Tumor-induced changes in mitochondrial ETC of ATAT, particularly for Complex I, lead to the enhanced SO generation and consequent oxidative modifications of DNA in ATAT (up to 6.1 times higher than that in NAT and 3.7 times higher than that in ATD, p < 0.05). Gelatinase activity in ATAT is significantly higher than in ATD. A considerable effect of TNF-α on ATAT and ATD (but not on NAT, i.e., only on the tissues where the reprogramming of metabolism has already occurred under the influence of tumor) manifested in increase of cellular hypoxia, gelatinase activity, and SO generation rate is observed. The results can be used for better understanding the mechanism(s) of metabolic symbiosis of tumor and AT as well as serving as a basis for new therapeutic approaches.}, } @article {pmid30581476, year = {2018}, author = {Niang, EHA and Bassene, H and Fenollar, F and Mediannikov, O}, title = {Biological Control of Mosquito-Borne Diseases: The Potential of Wolbachia-Based Interventions in an IVM Framework.}, journal = {Journal of tropical medicine}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {1470459}, pmid = {30581476}, issn = {1687-9686}, abstract = {People living in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world face an enormous health burden due to mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and filariasis. Historically and today, targeting mosquito vectors with, primarily, insecticide-based control strategies have been a key control strategy against major mosquito-borne diseases. However, the success to date of such approaches is under threat from multiple insecticide resistance mechanisms while vector control (VC) options are still limited. The situation therefore requires the development of innovative control measures against major mosquito-borne diseases. Transinfecting mosquitos with symbiotic bacteria that can compete with targeted pathogens or manipulate host biology to reduce their vectorial capacity are a promising and innovative biological control approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge about the association between mosquitoes and Wolbachia, emphasizing the limitations of different mosquito control strategies and the use of mosquitoes' commensal microbiota as innovative approaches to control mosquito-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid30578745, year = {2019}, author = {Watts-Williams, SJ and Emmett, BD and Levesque-Tremblay, V and MacLean, AM and Sun, X and Satterlee, JW and Fei, Z and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Diverse Sorghum bicolor accessions show marked variation in growth and transcriptional responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {1758-1774}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13509}, pmid = {30578745}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Energy Metabolism/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sorghum/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Sorghum is an important crop grown worldwide for feed and fibre. Like most plants, it has the capacity to benefit from symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and its diverse genotypes likely vary in their responses. Currently, the genetic basis of mycorrhiza-responsiveness is largely unknown. Here, we investigated transcriptional and physiological responses of sorghum accessions, founders of a bioenergy nested association mapping panel, for their responses to four species of AM fungi. Transcriptome comparisons across four accessions identified mycorrhiza-inducible genes; stringent filtering criteria revealed 278 genes that show mycorrhiza-inducible expression independent of genotype and 55 genes whose expression varies with genotype. The latter suggests variation in phosphate transport and defence across these accessions. The mycorrhiza growth and nutrient responses of 18 sorghum accessions varied tremendously, ranging from mycorrhiza-dependent to negatively mycorrhiza-responsive. Additionally, accessions varied in the number of AM fungi to which they showed positive responses, from one to several fungal species. Mycorrhiza growth and phosphorus responses were positively correlated, whereas expression of two mycorrhiza-inducible phosphate transporters, SbPT8 and SbPT9, correlated negatively with mycorrhizal growth responses. AM fungi improve growth and mineral nutrition of sorghum, and the substantial variation between lines provides the potential to map loci influencing mycorrhiza responses.}, } @article {pmid30576511, year = {2019}, author = {Xu, X and Fang, P and Zhang, H and Chi, C and Song, L and Xia, X and Shi, K and Zhou, Y and Zhou, J and Yu, J}, title = {Strigolactones positively regulate defense against root-knot nematodes in tomato.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {4}, pages = {1325-1337}, pmid = {30576511}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Animals ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*immunology/parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis ; Plant Immunity/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Tylenchoidea/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived phytohormones that are known to influence various aspects of plant growth and development. As root-derived signals, SLs can enhance symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, little is known about the roles of SLs in plant defense against soil-borne pathogens. Here, we determined that infection with root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne incognita) induced SL biosynthesis in roots of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Silencing of SL biosynthesis genes compromised plant defense against RKNs, whilst application of the SL analog racGR24 enhanced it. Accumulation of endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) in the roots in response to RKN infection was enhanced by silencing of SL biosynthetic genes and was suppressed by application of racGR24. Genetic evidence showed that JA was a positive regulator of defense against RKNs while ABA was a negative regulator. In addition, racGR24 enhanced the defense against nematode in a JA-deficient mutant but not in an ABA-deficient mutant. Silencing of SL biosynthetic genes resulted in up-regulation of MYC2, which negatively regulated defense against RKNs. Our results demonstrate that SLs play a positive role in nematode defense in tomato and that MYC2 negatively regulates this defense, potentially by mediating hormone crosstalk among SLs, ABA and JA.}, } @article {pmid30576446, year = {2019}, author = {Ballinger, MJ and Gawryluk, RMR and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Toxin and Genome Evolution in a Drosophila Defensive Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {253-262}, pmid = {30576446}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Drosophila/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Male ; Rhabditida ; Saporins/*genetics/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Defenses conferred by microbial symbionts play a vital role in the health and fitness of their animal hosts. An important outstanding question in the study of defensive symbiosis is what determines long term stability and effectiveness against diverse natural enemies. In this study, we combine genome and transcriptome sequencing, symbiont transfection and parasite protection experiments, and toxin activity assays to examine the evolution of the defensive symbiosis between Drosophila flies and their vertically transmitted Spiroplasma bacterial symbionts, focusing in particular on ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), symbiont-encoded toxins that have been implicated in protection against both parasitic wasps and nematodes. Although many strains of Spiroplasma, including the male-killing symbiont (sMel) of Drosophila melanogaster, protect against parasitic wasps, only the strain (sNeo) that infects the mycophagous fly Drosophila neotestacea appears to protect against parasitic nematodes. We find that RIP repertoire is a major differentiating factor between strains that do and do not offer nematode protection, and that sMel RIPs do not show activity against nematode ribosomes in vivo. We also discovered a strain of Spiroplasma infecting a mycophagous phorid fly, Megaselia nigra. Although both the host and its Spiroplasma are distantly related to D. neotestacea and its symbiont, genome sequencing revealed that the M. nigra symbiont encodes abundant and diverse RIPs, including plasmid-encoded toxins that are closely related to the RIPs in sNeo. Our results suggest that distantly related Spiroplasma RIP toxins may perform specialized functions with regard to parasite specificity and suggest an important role for horizontal gene transfer in the emergence of novel defensive phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid30576265, year = {2019}, author = {Wippel, K and Long, SR}, title = {Symbiotic Performance of Sinorhizobium meliloti Lacking ppGpp Depends on the Medicago Host Species.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {717-728}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-18-0306-R}, pmid = {30576265}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Host Specificity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Ligases/genetics ; *Medicago/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Host specificity in the root-nodule symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia is crucial for the establishment of a successful interaction and ammonia provision to the plant. The specificity is mediated by plant-bacterial signal exchange during early stages of interaction. We observed that a Sinorhizobium meliloti mutant ∆relA, which is deficient in initiating the bacterial stringent response, fails to nodulate Medicago sativa (alfalfa) but successfully infects Medicago truncatula. We used biochemical, histological, transcriptomic, and imaging approaches to compare the behavior of the S. meliloti ∆relA mutant and wild type (WT) on the two plant hosts. ∆relA performed almost WT-like on M. truncatula, except for reduced nitrogen-fixation capacity and a disorganized positioning of bacteroids within nodule cells. In contrast, ∆relA showed impaired root colonization on alfalfa and failed to infect nodule primordia. Global transcriptome analyses of ∆relA cells treated with the alfalfa flavonoid luteolin and of mature nodules induced by the mutant on M. truncatula revealed normal nod gene expression but overexpression of exopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes and a slight suppression of plant defense-like reactions. Many RelA-dependent transcripts overlap with the hypo-osmolarity-related FeuP regulon or are characteristic of stress responses. Based on our findings, we suggest that RelA is not essential until the late stages of symbiosis with M. truncatula, in which it may be involved in processes that optimize nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid30575731, year = {2018}, author = {Lutzoni, F and Nowak, MD and Alfaro, ME and Reeb, V and Miadlikowska, J and Krug, M and Arnold, AE and Lewis, LA and Swofford, DL and Hibbett, D and Hilu, K and James, TY and Quandt, D and Magallón, S}, title = {Contemporaneous radiations of fungi and plants linked to symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {5451}, pmid = {30575731}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Embryophyta ; *Fungi ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between fungi and plants, including parasitism, mutualism, and saprotrophy, have been invoked as key to their respective macroevolutionary success. Here we evaluate the origins of plant-fungal symbioses and saprotrophy using a time-calibrated phylogenetic framework that reveals linked and drastic shifts in diversification rates of each kingdom. Fungal colonization of land was associated with at least two origins of terrestrial green algae and preceded embryophytes (as evidenced by losses of fungal flagellum, ca. 720 Ma), likely facilitating terrestriality through endomycorrhizal and possibly endophytic symbioses. The largest radiation of fungi (Leotiomyceta), the origin of arbuscular mycorrhizae, and the diversification of extant embryophytes occurred ca. 480 Ma. This was followed by the origin of extant lichens. Saprotrophic mushrooms diversified in the Late Paleozoic as forests of seed plants started to dominate the landscape. The subsequent diversification and explosive radiation of Agaricomycetes, and eventually of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, were associated with the evolution of Pinaceae in the Mesozoic, and establishment of angiosperm-dominated biomes in the Cretaceous.}, } @article {pmid30575161, year = {2019}, author = {Haselkorn, TS and DiSalvo, S and Miller, JW and Bashir, U and Brock, DA and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {The specificity of Burkholderia symbionts in the social amoeba farming symbiosis: Prevalence, species, genetic and phenotypic diversity.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {847-862}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14982}, pmid = {30575161}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {1256416//Division of Integrative Organismal Systems/International ; 1656756//Division of Integrative Organismal Systems/International ; 43667//John Templeton Foundation/International ; 1146375//Division of Environmental Biology/International ; NSF IOS 1656756//National Science Foundation/International ; NSF DEB1146375//National Science Foundation/International ; NSF IOS 1256416//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Amoeba/*microbiology ; Burkholderia/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Dictyostelium/classification/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbioses between eukaryotic hosts and bacterial symbionts in nature is a dynamic process. The formation of such relationships depends on the life history of both partners. Bacterial symbionts of amoebae may have unique evolutionary trajectories to the symbiont lifestyle, because bacteria are typically ingested as prey. To persist after ingestion, bacteria must first survive phagocytosis. In the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, certain strains of Burkholderia bacteria are able to resist amoebal digestion and maintain a persistent relationship that includes carriage throughout the amoeba's social cycle that culminates in spore formation. Some Burkholderia strains allow their host to carry other bacteria, as food. This carried food is released in new environments in a trait called farming. To better understand the diversity and prevalence of Burkholderia symbionts and the traits they impart to their amoebae hosts, we first screened 700 natural isolates of D. discoideum and found 25% infected with Burkholderia. We next used a multilocus phylogenetic analysis and identified two independent transitions by Burkholderia to the symbiotic lifestyle. Finally, we tested the ability of 38 strains of Burkholderia from D. discoideum, as well as strains isolated from other sources, for traits relevant to symbiosis in D. discoideum. Only D. discoideum native isolates belonging to the Burkholderia agricolaris, B. hayleyella, and B. bonniea species were able to form persistent symbiotic associations with D. discoideum. The Burkholderia-Dictyostelium relationship provides a promising arena for further studies of the pathway to symbiosis in a unique system.}, } @article {pmid30575076, year = {2019}, author = {Foyer, CH and Nguyen, H and Lam, HM}, title = {Legumes-The art and science of environmentally sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {1-5}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13497}, pmid = {30575076}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {BB/N004914/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Crop Production ; Crops, Agricultural/*growth & development/physiology ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/physiology ; *Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which is carried out by the legume-rhizobia partnership, is a major source of nitrogen acquisition in natural ecosystems and in agriculture. The benefits to the plant gained through the rhizobial-legume symbiosis can be further enhanced by associations of the legume with arbuscular mycorrhiza. The progressive engagement of the legume host with the rhizobial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi requires an extensive exchange of signalling molecules. These signals alter the transcriptional profiles of the partners, guiding and enabling extensive microbial and fungal proliferation in the roots. Such interactions and associations are greatly influenced by environmental stresses, which also severely limit the productivity of legume crops. Part II of the Special Issue on Legumes provides new insights into the mechanisms that underpin sustainable symbiotic partnerships, as well as the effects of abiotic stresses, such as drought, waterlogging, and salinity on legume biology. The requirement for germplasm and new breeding methods is discussed as well as the future of legume production in the face of climate change.}, } @article {pmid30575036, year = {2019}, author = {Majzoobi, M and Aghdam, MBK and Eskandari, MH and Farahnaky, A}, title = {Quality and microbial properties of symbiotic bread produced by straight dough and frozen part-baking methods.}, journal = {Journal of texture studies}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {165-171}, doi = {10.1111/jtxs.12386}, pmid = {30575036}, issn = {1745-4603}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; Bread/*microbiology ; Color ; Cooking/*methods ; *Food Microbiology ; Food Quality ; Food Storage/*methods ; Freezing ; Functional Food ; India ; Inulin ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Water ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bread was produced by straight dough and frozen part-baking methods using inulin as a prebiotic (0-7.5% in straight dough method and 5% in frozen part baked bread) and GanedenBC 30 as a probiotic. With addition of inulin, dough water absorption and softening reduced, but dough development time and stability time increased. Inulin prevented excessive moisture loss during bread storage and enhanced crust darkness and crumb firmness while reduced bread volume. Increasing the frozen storage time (up to 56 days) had no effect on bread moisture content, but it reduced volume and increased firmness and crust lightness. Samples produced by straight dough method had acceptable levels of probiotic (7.45, 6.45, and 7.43 log cfu/g, respectively) complying with the WHO recommendation. Frozen storage had no effect on the probiotic content of the samples and it increased to 7.35 log cfu/g (above the minimum recommended level) after re-baking and storage at room temperature. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Symbiotic foods are products that contain both probiotics (useful bacteria) and prebiotics (carbohydrate source for probiotics). Development of symbiotic bread is required to add variety to the existing types of functional breads and satisfy costumers particularly those avoiding dairy products which are traditionally enriched with probiotics. Part-baked bread industry is growing rapidly around the world; however, to remain in the market it requires innovation to satisfy consumers' demand for healthy products. This research can find practical application for ordinary and part-baked bread industry to produce bread with improved health benefits and acceptable quality.}, } @article {pmid30573737, year = {2018}, author = {Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Distribution and correlation between phylogeny and functional traits of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)-nodulating microsymbionts from Ghana and South Africa.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {18006}, pmid = {30573737}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis/genetics ; Geography ; Ghana ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Spatial Analysis ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is indigenous to Africa, and highly valued for its N2-fixing trait and the nutritional attributes of its grain and leaves. The species' ability to establish effective symbiosis with diverse rhizobial populations gives it survival and growth advantage in N-limited environments. To explore the functional diversity and phylogenetic positions of rhizobia nodulating cowpea in Africa, nodules were collected from various cowpea varieties grown in soils from the Guinea savanna and Sudano-sahelian agroecologies of Northern Ghana, and from the lowveld and middleveld areas of Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Box-PCR profiling and multilocus sequence analysis revealed the presence of diverse microsymbionts responsible for cowpea nodulation across the study sites. BOX-PCR amplifications yielded variable band sizes, ranging from 618 bp to 5354 bp, which placed the isolates in six major clusters (Cluster A-F). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, gyrB, rpoB, nifH and nodC genes revealed the presence of diverse Bradyrhizobium sp. closely related to Bradyrhizobium daqingense, Bradyrhizobium subterraneum, Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, Bradyrhizobium embrapense, Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi, Bradyrhizobium elkanii and novel Bradyrhizobium species in the soils studied, a finding that could be attributed to the unique edapho-climatic conditions of the contrasting environments. The test isolates exhibited distinct symbiotic efficiencies, and also induced variable (p ≤ 0.001) photosynthetic rates, leaf transpiration, total chlorophyll and shoot biomass accumulation on cowpea (their homologous host). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the distribution of these microsymbionts was influenced by the concentrations of macro- and micronutrients in soils. The pairwise genetic distances derived from phylogenies and nodule functioning showed significant (p < 0.05) correlation, which suggests that local environmental factors played a major role in the cowpea-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30572705, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, X and Xiang, S and Feng, X and Wang, H and Tian, S and Xu, Y and Shi, L and Yang, L and Li, M and Shen, Y and Chen, J and Chen, Y and Han, J}, title = {Impact of Cyanocobalamin and Methylcobalamin on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Intestinal Microbiota Composition.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {67}, number = {3}, pages = {916-926}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05730}, pmid = {30572705}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phylogeny ; Vitamin B 12/*administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives ; }, abstract = {Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are usually advised to supplement various types of vitamin B12, because vitamin B12 is generally absorbed in the colon. Thus, in the current study, the influence of cyanocobalamin (CNCBL) or methylcobalamin (MECBL) ingestion on IBD symptoms will be investigated. Then, whether and how the application of various cobalamins would modify the taxonomic and functional composition of the gut microbiome in mice will be examined carefully. Dextran-sulfate-sodium-induced IBD mice were treated with MECBL or CNCBL; disease activity index (DAI) scores and intestinal inflammatory conditions of mice were evaluated. Fecal samples were collected; microbiota composition was determined with a 16s rRNA analysis; functional profiles were predicted by phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt); and short-chain fatty acids were measured. The consequence of higher relative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae and isomeric short-chain fatty acids by cobalamin treatment revealed that a high concentration of CNCBL but not MECBL supplementation obviously aggravated IBD. A microbial ecosystem rich in Escherichia/ Shigella and low in Lactobacillus, Blautia, and Clostridium XVIII was observed in IBD mice after a high concentration of CNCBL supplementation. In cobalamin-dependent enzymes, CNCBL was more efficient in the adenosylcobalamin system than MECBL and vice versa in the MECBL system. The distinct effects of various cobalamins were associated with the distribution and efficiency of vitamin-B12-dependent riboswitches. CNCBL had a strong inhibitory effect on all riboswitches, especially on btuB and pocR riboswitches from Enterobacteriaceae. CNCBL aggravated IBD via enhancing the proportion of Enterobacteriaceae organisms through riboswitch and enzyme systems. The present study provides a critical reference for offering a suitable amount and type of cobalamin during a symbiotic condition.}, } @article {pmid30570783, year = {2019}, author = {Garagounis, C and Tsikou, D and Plitsi, PK and Psarrakou, IS and Avramidou, M and Stedel, C and Anagnostou, M and Georgopoulou, ME and Papadopoulou, KK}, title = {Lotus SHAGGY-like kinase 1 is required to suppress nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {228-242}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.14207}, pmid = {30570783}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism ; Lotus/*genetics/*metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Glycogen synthase kinase/SHAGGY-like kinases (SKs) are a highly conserved family of signaling proteins that participate in many developmental, cell-differentiation, and metabolic signaling pathways in plants and animals. Here, we investigate the involvement of SKs in legume nodulation, a process requiring the integration of multiple signaling pathways. We describe a group of SKs in the model legume Lotus japonicus (LSKs), two of which respond to inoculation with the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Mesorhizobium loti. RNAi knock-down plants and an insertion mutant for one of these genes, LSK1, display increased nodulation. Ηairy-root lines overexpressing LSK1 form only marginally fewer mature nodules compared with controls. The expression levels of genes involved in the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) mechanism are affected in LSK1 knock-down plants at low nitrate levels, both at early and late stages of nodulation. At higher levels of nitrate, these same plants show the opposite expression pattern of AON-related genes and lose the hypernodulation phenotype. Our findings reveal an additional role for the versatile SK gene family in integrating the signaling pathways governing legume nodulation, and pave the way for further study of their functions in legumes.}, } @article {pmid30569615, year = {2019}, author = {Genre, A and Timmers, T}, title = {The symbiotic role of the actin filament cytoskeleton.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {2}, pages = {611-613}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15506}, pmid = {30569615}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actins ; Cytoskeleton ; *Medicago truncatula ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30569614, year = {2019}, author = {}, title = {Sally E. Smith.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {2}, pages = {648-649}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15569}, pmid = {30569614}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Botany/*history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; }, } @article {pmid30568663, year = {2018}, author = {Lehnert, H and Serfling, A and Friedt, W and Ordon, F}, title = {Genome-Wide Association Studies Reveal Genomic Regions Associated With the Response of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Mycorrhizae Under Drought Stress Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1728}, pmid = {30568663}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the majority of wheat growing areas worldwide, the incidence of drought stress has increased significantly resulting in a negative impact on plant development and grain yield. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is known to improve drought stress tolerance of wheat. However, quantitative trait loci (QTL) involved in the response to drought stress conditions in the presence of mycorrhizae are largely unknown. Therefore, a diverse set consisting of 94 bread wheat genotypes was phenotyped under drought stress and well watered conditions in the presence and absence of mycorrhizae. Grain yield and yield components, drought stress related traits as well as response to mycorrhizae were assessed. In parallel, wheat accessions were genotyped by using the 90k iSelect chip, resulting in a set of 15511 polymorphic and mapped SNP markers, which were used for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). In general, drought stress tolerance of wheat was significantly increased in the presence of mycorrhizae compared to drought stress tolerance in the absence of mycorrhizae. However, genotypes differed in their response to mycorrhizae under drought stress conditions. Several QTL regions on different chromosomes were detected associated with grain yield and yield components under drought stress conditions. Furthermore, two genome regions on chromosomes 3D and 7D were found to be significantly associated with the response to mycorrhizae under drought stress conditions. Overall, the results reveal that inoculation of wheat with mycorrhizal fungi significantly improves drought stress tolerance and that QTL regions associated with the response to mycorrhizae under drought stress conditions exist in wheat. Further research is necessary to validate detected QTL regions. However, this study may be the starting point for the identification of candidate genes associated with drought stress tolerance and response to mycorrhizae under drought stress conditions. Maybe in future, these initial results will help to contribute to use mycorrhizal fungi effectively in agriculture and combine new approaches i.e., use of genotypic variation in response to mycorrhizae under drought stress conditions with existing drought tolerance breeding programs to develop new drought stress tolerant genotypes.}, } @article {pmid30568637, year = {2018}, author = {Ni, G and Simone, D and Palma, D and Broman, E and Wu, X and Turner, S and Dopson, M}, title = {A Novel Inorganic Sulfur Compound Metabolizing Ferroplasma-Like Population Is Suggested to Mediate Extracellular Electron Transfer.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2945}, pmid = {30568637}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mining and processing of metal sulfide ores produces waters containing metals and inorganic sulfur compounds such as tetrathionate and thiosulfate. If released untreated, these sulfur compounds can be oxidized to generate highly acidic wastewaters [termed 'acid mine drainage (AMD)'] that cause severe environmental pollution. One potential method to remediate mining wastewaters is the maturing biotechnology of 'microbial fuel cells' that offers the sustainable removal of acid generating inorganic sulfur compounds alongside producing an electrical current. Microbial fuel cells exploit the ability of bacterial cells to transfer electrons to a mineral as the terminal electron acceptor during anaerobic respiration by replacing the mineral with a solid anode. In consequence, by substituting natural minerals with electrodes, microbial fuel cells also provide an excellent platform to understand environmental microbe-mineral interactions that are fundamental to element cycling. Previously, tetrathionate degradation coupled to the generation of an electrical current has been demonstrated and here we report a metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis of the microbial community. Reconstruction of inorganic sulfur compound metabolism suggested the substrate tetrathionate was metabolized by the Ferroplasma-like and Acidithiobacillus-like populations via multiple pathways. Characterized Ferroplasma species do not utilize inorganic sulfur compounds, suggesting a novel Ferroplasma-like population had been selected. Oxidation of intermediate sulfide, sulfur, thiosulfate, and adenylyl-sulfate released electrons and the extracellular electron transfer to the anode was suggested to be dominated by candidate soluble electron shuttles produced by the Ferroplasma-like population. However, as the soluble electron shuttle compounds also have alternative functions within the cell, it cannot be ruled out that acidophiles use novel, uncharacterized mechanisms to mediate extracellular electron transfer. Several populations within the community were suggested to metabolize intermediate inorganic sulfur compounds by multiple pathways, which highlights the potential for mutualistic or symbiotic relationships. This study provided the genetic base for acidophilic microbial fuel cells utilized for the remediation of inorganic sulfur compounds from AMD.}, } @article {pmid30568635, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, J and Zhao, R and Zhang, J and Zhang, G and Yu, K and Li, X and Li, B}, title = {Occurrence and Fate of Ultramicrobacteria in a Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment Plant.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2922}, pmid = {30568635}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ultramicrobacteria (UMB) are omnipresent and numerically dominate in freshwater, as microbes can present in drinking water systems, however, the UMB communities that occur and their removal behaviors remain poorly characterized in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). To gain insights into these issues, we profiled bacterial cell density, community structure and functions of UMB and their counterpart large bacteria (LB) using flow cytometry and filtration paired with 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing in a full-scale DWTP. Contrary to the reduction of bacterial density and diversity, the proportion of UMB in the total bacteria community increased as the drinking water treatment process progressed, and biological activated carbon facilitated bacterial growth. Moreover, UMB were less diverse than LB, and their community structure and predicted functions were significantly different. In the DWTP, UMB indicator taxa were mainly affiliated with α/β/γ-Proteobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, and Dependentiae. In particular, the exclusive clustering of UMB at the phylum level, e.g., Parcubacteria, Elusimicrobia, and Saccharibacteria, confirmed the fact that the ultra-small size of UMB is a naturally and evolutionarily conserved trait. Additionally, the streamlined genome could be connected to UMB, such as candidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria, following a symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle, which then leads to the observed high connectedness, i.e., non-random intra-taxa co-occurrence patterns within UMB. Functional prediction analysis revealed that environmental information processing and DNA replication and repair likely contribute to the higher resistance of UMB to drinking water treatment processes in comparison to LB. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the occurrence and fate of UMB regarding community structure, phylogenetic characteristics and potential functions in a full-scale DWTP, and it is a useful reference for beneficial manipulation of the drinking water microbiome.}, } @article {pmid30565261, year = {2019}, author = {Dreyer, I and Spitz, O and Kanonenberg, K and Montag, K and Handrich, MR and Ahmad, S and Schott-Verdugo, S and Navarro-Retamal, C and Rubio-Meléndez, ME and Gomez-Porras, JL and Riedelsberger, J and Molina-Montenegro, MA and Succurro, A and Zuccaro, A and Gould, SB and Bauer, P and Schmitt, L and Gohlke, H}, title = {Nutrient exchange in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis from a thermodynamic point of view.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {2}, pages = {1043-1053}, pmid = {30565261}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {SFB 1208//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; 1150054//Fondecyt/International ; 3170434//Fondecyt/International ; PAI77170035//Convocatoria nacional subvención a la instalación en la academia/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {To obtain insights into the dynamics of nutrient exchange in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, we modelled mathematically the two-membrane system at the plant-fungus interface and simulated its dynamics. In computational cell biology experiments, the full range of nutrient transport pathways was tested for their ability to exchange phosphorus (P)/carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) sources. As a result, we obtained a thermodynamically justified, independent and comprehensive model of the dynamics of the nutrient exchange at the plant-fungus contact zone. The predicted optimal transporter network coincides with the transporter set independently confirmed in wet-laboratory experiments previously, indicating that all essential transporter types have been discovered. The thermodynamic analyses suggest that phosphate is released from the fungus via proton-coupled phosphate transporters rather than anion channels. Optimal transport pathways, such as cation channels or proton-coupled symporters, shuttle nutrients together with a positive charge across the membranes. Only in exceptional cases does electroneutral transport via diffusion facilitators appear to be plausible. The thermodynamic models presented here can be generalized and adapted to other forms of mycorrhiza and open the door for future studies combining wet-laboratory experiments with computational simulations to obtain a deeper understanding of the investigated phenomena.}, } @article {pmid30563556, year = {2018}, author = {Cziesielski, MJ and Liew, YJ and Aranda, M}, title = {Summarized datasheet for multi-omics response of three Exaiptasia strains to heat stress: a new way to process omics data.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {905}, pmid = {30563556}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coral Reefs ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hawaii ; Heat-Shock Response/*genetics ; Indian Ocean ; Models, Animal ; North Carolina ; Proteome/*genetics ; Proteomics ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Corals, the building blocks of reef ecosystems, have been severely threatened by climate change. Coral bleaching, the loss of the coral's endosymbiotic algae, occurs as a consequence of increasing ocean temperature. To understand mechanisms of stress tolerance in symbiotic cnidarians, the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida from different regions was heat stressed. The three strains originated from the Red Sea, Hawaii and North Carolina, each with different temperature profiles, enabling a comparative study of local adaptation strategies.

DATA DESCRIPTION: Whole transcriptome and proteome data were collected from all anemones at control and stress condition. As part of the analysis of this large, multi-omic data, we wrote a script that creates a tabular datasheet that summarized the transcriptomic and proteomic changes for every gene. It facilitates the search of individual genes, or a group of genes, their up- or downregulation during stress and whether this change in expression was statistically significant. Furthermore, it enables examining if changes in RNA correspond to those in proteins. The datasheet can be used for future comparisons, as well as search and development of biomarkers.}, } @article {pmid30563061, year = {2018}, author = {Alloing, G and Mandon, K and Boncompagni, E and Montrichard, F and Frendo, P}, title = {Involvement of Glutaredoxin and Thioredoxin Systems in the Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis between Legumes and Rhizobia.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30563061}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {Leguminous plants can form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria, during which plants provide bacteria with carbohydrates and an environment appropriate to their metabolism, in return for fixed atmospheric nitrogen. The symbiotic interaction leads to the formation of a new organ, the root nodule, where a coordinated differentiation of plant cells and bacteria occurs. The establishment and functioning of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis involves a redox control important for both the plant-bacteria crosstalk and the regulation of nodule metabolism. In this review, we discuss the involvement of thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems in the two symbiotic partners during symbiosis. The crucial role of glutathione in redox balance and S-metabolism is presented. We also highlight the specific role of some thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems in bacterial differentiation. Transcriptomics data concerning genes encoding components and targets of thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems in connection with the developmental step of the nodule are also considered in the model system Medicago truncatula[-]Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, } @article {pmid30562535, year = {2018}, author = {Gutjahr, C}, title = {Symbiosis: Plasmodesmata Link Root-Nodule Organogenesis with Infection.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {24}, pages = {R1400-R1403}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.013}, pmid = {30562535}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Glucans ; Humans ; *Infections ; Plant Proteins ; Plasmodesmata ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During the establishment of root-nodule symbioses between plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, nodule organogenesis in the inner cortex needs to be precisely coordinated with the rhizobial infection site at the root epidermis. A new study shows that rhizobia induce localized callose turnover at plasmodesmata to allow spatiotemporal synchronization of the two processes through symplastic connections.}, } @article {pmid30561673, year = {2019}, author = {Amos, BA and Hayes, RA and Leemon, DM and Furlong, MJ}, title = {Small Hive Beetle (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and the Yeast, Kodamaea ohmeri: A Facultative Relationship Under Laboratory Conditions.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {515-524}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toy378}, pmid = {30561673}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Coleoptera ; Larva ; Pollen ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; *Yeast, Dried ; }, abstract = {The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray, is a pest of honeybees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). We investigated the significance of its association with the yeast, Kodamaea ohmeri (Etchells & Bell) (Ascomycota: Saccharomycotina), in laboratory experiments. The mean (± SEM) viability of A. tumida eggs was 84 (± 3)%; the viability was not affected if eggs were separated from clutches or if mucilage containing K. ohmeri was removed from the egg surface. Life tables of conventional (= K. ohmeri contaminated) A. tumida and K. ohmeri-free A. tumida revealed no differences in stage-specific mortality between the treatments; in both cases, the highest mortality occurred in the first larval instar. There was no significant difference in the initial egg production of conventionally reared and K. ohmeri-free A. tumida under laboratory conditions. The volatile profiles of pollen dough (Bee Build) fed on by conventional and K. ohmeri-free A. tumida larvae were qualitatively and quantitatively different; the volatiles produced by pollen dough fed on by conventional A. tumida were more attractive to adult beetles. There was a clear difference between growth of K. ohmeri on pollen dough substrate in the presence and absence of A. tumida. Results suggest that this association is facultative for A. tumida under laboratory conditions but has benefit for the yeast associate, K. ohmeri. A clearer understanding of the nature of this fungus-insect association is essential for the development of management strategies for this pest, especially in the development of fermentate-based attractants in trapping systems.}, } @article {pmid30561420, year = {2018}, author = {Manfredi, M and Gaiani, F and Kayali, S and Bizzarri, B and Iuliano, S and Minelli, R and Leandro, G and Di Mario, F and De' Angelis, GL}, title = {How and when investigating and treating Helicobacter pylori infection in children.}, journal = {Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis}, volume = {89}, number = {8-S}, pages = {65-71}, pmid = {30561420}, issn = {2531-6745}, mesh = {Amoxicillin/therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Biopsy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clarithromycin/therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Gastritis/*diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections/*diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; *Helicobacter pylori/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Metronidazole/therapeutic use ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Tinidazole/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {For thousands of years humans have lived in symbiosis with Helicobacter pylori. This infection is acquired mainly during childhood and, despite it represents one of the most common infections in humans, only a minority of infected people may develop health issues and life-threatening diseases. For diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection in children we can use, at first, non-invasive diagnostic tests, if clinical pattern and/or history are of suspicion. Then, invasive tests i.e. gastroscopy are necessary to confirm the infection. As antibiotics are not widely available in children affected by Helicobacter pylori infection, they should be chosen based on individual antibiotic susceptibility testing obtained by gastric biopsy specimens or the local antibiotic resistance pattern, in empirical treatment is chosen. Test and treat strategy in children should be avoided. In this brief review we summarize how and in which children the infection should be investigate and which the most appropriate eradication treatment should be chosen.}, } @article {pmid30558358, year = {2018}, author = {Skonieczna-Żydecka, K and Kaczmarczyk, M and Łoniewski, I and Lara, LF and Koulaouzidis, A and Misera, A and Maciejewska, D and Marlicz, W}, title = {A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression Evaluating the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Probiotics and Synbiotics in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections and Surgery-Related Complications.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30558358}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota play an important role in the pathogenesis of surgical site infections (SSIs) and other surgery-related complications (SRCs). Probiotics and synbiotics were found to lower the risk of surgical infections and other surgery-related adverse events. We systematically reviewed the approach based on the administration of probiotics and synbiotics to diminish SSIs/SRCs rates in patients undergoing various surgical treatments and to determine the mechanisms responsible for their effectiveness. A systematic literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE/Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from the inception of databases to June 2018 for trials in patients undergoing surgery supplemented with pre/pro/synbiotics and randomized to the intervention versus placebo/no treatment and reporting on primarily: (i) putative mechanisms of probiotic/symbiotic action, and secondarily (ii) SSIs and SRCs outcomes. Random-effect model meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of outcomes was done. Thirty-five trials comprising 3028 adult patients were included; interventions were probiotics (n = 16) and synbiotics (n = 19 trials). We found that C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly decreased (SMD: -0.40, 95% CI [-0.79, -0.02], p = 0.041; SMD: -0.41, 95% CI [-0.70, -0.02], p = 0.006, respectively) while concentration of acetic, butyric, and propionic acids were elevated in patients supplemented with probiotics (SMD: 1.78, 95% CI [0.80, 2.76], p = 0.0004; SMD: 0.67, 95% CI [0.37, -0.97], p = 0.00001; SMD: 0.46, 95% CI [0.18, 0.73], p = 0.001, respectively). Meta-analysis confirmed that pro- and synbiotics supplementation was associated with significant reduction in the incidence of SRCs including abdominal distention, diarrhea, pneumonia, sepsis, surgery site infection (including superficial incisional), and urinary tract infection, as well as the duration of antibiotic therapy, duration of postoperative pyrexia, time of fluid introduction, solid diet, and duration of hospital stay (p < 0.05). Probiotics and synbiotics administration counteract SSIs/SRCs via modulating gut-immune response and production of short chain fatty acids.}, } @article {pmid30558255, year = {2018}, author = {Heo, YM and Kim, K and Ryu, SM and Kwon, SL and Park, MY and Kang, JE and Hong, JH and Lim, YW and Kim, C and Kim, BS and Lee, D and Kim, JJ}, title = {Diversity and Ecology of Marine Algicolous Arthrinium Species as a Source of Bioactive Natural Products.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30558255}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Antioxidants/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/drug effects ; Biological Assay/methods ; Biological Products/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Chromobacterium/drug effects ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/isolation & purification ; Enzyme Inhibitors/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors ; Oocytes/microbiology ; Perciformes/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Quorum Sensing/drug effects ; Seaweed/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xylariales/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In our previous study, all Arthrinium isolates from Sargassum sp. showed high bioactivities, but studies on marine Arthrinium spp. are insufficient. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis of 28 Arthrinium isolates from seaweeds and egg masses of Arctoscopus japonicus was conducted using internal transcribed spacers, nuclear large subunit rDNA, β-tubulin, and translation elongation factor region sequences, and their bioactivities were investigated. They were analyzed as 15 species, and 11 of them were found to be new species. Most of the extracts exhibited radical-scavenging activity, and some showed antifungal activities, tyrosinase inhibition, and quorum sensing inhibition. It was implied that marine algicolous Arthrinium spp. support the regulation of reactive oxygen species in symbiotic algae and protect against pathogens and bacterial biofilm formation. The antioxidant from Arthrinium sp. 10 KUC21332 was separated by bioassay-guided isolation and identified to be gentisyl alcohol, and the antioxidant of Arthrinium saccharicola KUC21221 was identical. These results demonstrate that many unexploited Arthrinium species still exist in marine environments and that they are a great source of bioactive compounds.}, } @article {pmid30557379, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, X and Li, C and Wang, M and Zheng, P}, title = {Stable isotope signatures and nutritional sources of some dominant species from the PACManus hydrothermal area and the Desmos caldera.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0208887}, pmid = {30557379}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Isotopes/*analysis ; *Crustacea ; *Ecosystem ; Geologic Sediments ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Nitrogen Isotopes/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the western Pacific are increasingly explored for potential mineral extraction. The study of the composition of the food web plays an important guiding role in the ecological protection and restoration of potential mining areas. The general picture of the nutritional sources of species should be established to assess the potential impacts of future mining activities on the biological composition and food sources. To provide basic information, we analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of the dominant macrofauna (mussels, commensal scale worms, crustaceans, gastropods, and vestimentiferans) at three different sites in the PACManus hydrothermal area and the Desmos caldera. The δ13C ratio was significantly different between species: mussels and commensal scale worms showed lighter δ13C ratios, whereas crustaceans showed heavier ratios. In terms of δ15N, mussels had the lowest values and the crustaceans had the highest values. By taking into account these stable isotope signatures, we were able to develop inferences of the food sources for vent community organisms. We found that the food web was based on various species of chemoautotrophic bacteria. Mussels appeared to rely primarily on sulfur-based endosymbionts, which use the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle and RuBisCO form I as the CO2-fixing enzyme. Commensal polychaetes mostly obtained their nutrition from their hosts. Crustacean species were omnivorous, feeding on chemosynthetic bacteria, sedimentary debris, or even animals according to the local environment. In contrast, gastropods relied mainly on symbiotic bacteria with some supplementary consumption of detritus. Vestimentiferans obtained food from symbiotic bacteria using the RuBisCO form II enzyme in the CBB cycle and may have several symbionts using different fixation pathways. Although most macrofauna relied on symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria, our study suggested a closer trophic relationship between animals. Therefore, to evaluate the potential impacts of deep sea mining, it is necessary to study the cascade effects on the food web of the whole ecosystem. Before exploiting deep-sea resources, further systematic investigations concerning the protection of deep-sea ecosystems are necessary.}, } @article {pmid30555338, year = {2018}, author = {Dionísio, G and Faleiro, F and Bispo, R and Lopes, AR and Cruz, S and Paula, JR and Repolho, T and Calado, R and Rosa, R}, title = {Distinct Bleaching Resilience of Photosynthetic Plastid-Bearing Mollusks Under Thermal Stress and High CO2 Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1675}, pmid = {30555338}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The impact of temperature on photo-symbiotic relationships has been highly studied in the tropical reef-forming corals but overlooked in less charismatic groups such as solar-powered sacoglossan sea slugs. These organisms display one of the most puzzling symbiotic features observed in the animal kingdom, i.e., their mollusk-plastid association, which enables them to retain photosynthetic active chloroplasts (i.e., kleptoplasts) retrieved from their algae feed sources. Here we analyze the impact of thermal stress (+4°C) and high pCO2 conditions (ΔpH = 0.4) in survival, photophysiology (i.e., bleaching, photosynthetic efficiency, and metabolism) and stress defense mechanisms (i.e., heat shock and antioxidant response) of solar-powered sacoglossan sea slugs, from tropical (Elysia crispata) and temperate (E. viridis) environments. High temperature was the main factor affecting the survival of both species, while pH only affected the survival of the temperate model. The photobiology of E. viridis remained stable under the combined scenario, while photoinhibition was observed for E. crispata under high temperature and high pCO2. In fact, bleaching was observed within all tropical specimens exposed to warming (but not in the temperate ones), which constitutes the first report where the incidence of bleaching in tropical animals hosting photosynthetic symbionts, other than corals, occurs. Yet, the expulsion of kleptoplasts by the tropical sea slug, allied with metabolic depression, constituted a physiological response that did not imply signs of vulnerability (i.e., mortality) in the host itself. Although the temperate species revealed greater heat shock and antioxidant enzyme response to environmental stress, we argue that the tropical (stenotherm) sea slug species may display a greater scope for acclimatization than the temperate (eurytherm) sea slug. E. crispata may exhibit increased capacity for phenotypic plasticity by increasing fitness in a much narrower thermal niche (minimizing maintenance costs), which ultimately may allow to face severe environmental conditions more effectively than its temperate generalist counterpart (E. viridis).}, } @article {pmid30555063, year = {2018}, author = {Thakur, J and Dwivedi, MD and Uniyal, PL}, title = {Ultrastructural studies and molecular characterization of root-associated fungi, of Crepidium acuminatum (D.Don) Szlach.: a threatened and medicinally important taxon.}, journal = {Journal of genetics}, volume = {97}, number = {5}, pages = {1139-1146}, pmid = {30555063}, issn = {0973-7731}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/*ultrastructure ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/*ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/*ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Crepidium acuminatum (Orchidaceae) is a threatened medicinal orchid that grows under shady and moist forest floor where light remains for a very short period of time. Mycorrhizal association is known to be essential for seed germination and seedling establishment in amajority of orchids. Identification of fungi that form mycorrhizae with orchids is of crucial importance for orchid conservation. We used both morphological as well as molecular approaches to study this plant-fungal interaction. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fungi grow and proliferate in the middle layers of the cortex. Also, spiral-root hairs were foundalong with root hairs, which is an unusual observation. Spiral-root hairs provide more surface area for fluid absorption and entrance of colonizers. Further, total root genomic DNA was isolated and fungal internal-transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified using specific primer combinations ITS1F/ITS4 and ITS1/ITS4tul. ITS sequences were obtainedand analysed to know the closest sequence matche in the GenBank using BLASTn hosted by NLM-NCBI. Subject sequences were identified to be belonging to three main genera, namely, Tulasnella, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Results indicate that mycorrhizal association is necessary for the growth and development of the plant. In addition, this symbiosis influences the distribution and rarity of this medicinally valuable taxon. Specific fungal partners may lead to an enhanced seed germination rate and increased efficiency of nutrient exchange between both the partners. Hence, knowledge of mycorrhizal fungi is essential for future in vitro germination and seedling establishment programmes, because they rely on fungi for germination. Identification of mycorrhizal fungi can be usedfor orchid propagation and conservation programmes.}, } @article {pmid30554405, year = {2019}, author = {Le Marquer, M and Bécard, G and Frei Dit Frey, N}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi possess a CLAVATA3/embryo surrounding region-related gene that positively regulates symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {2}, pages = {1030-1042}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15643}, pmid = {30554405}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; *Genes, Fungal ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Peptides/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a beneficial association established between land plants and the members of a subphylum of fungi, the Glomeromycotina. How the two symbiotic partners regulate their association is still enigmatic. Secreted fungal peptides are candidates for regulating this interaction. We searched for fungal peptides with similarities with known plant signalling peptides. We identified CLAVATA (CLV)/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION (ESR)-RELATED PROTEIN (CLE) genes in phylogenetically distant AM fungi: four Rhizophagus species and one Gigaspora species. These CLE genes encode a signal peptide for secretion and the conserved CLE C-terminal motif. They seem to be absent in the other fungal clades. Rhizophagus irregularis and Gigaspora rosea CLE genes (RiCLE1 and GrCLE1) are transcriptionally induced in symbiotic vs asymbiotic conditions. Exogenous application of synthetic RiCLE1 peptide on Medicago truncatula affects root architecture, by slowing the apical growth of primary roots and stimulating the formation of lateral roots. In addition, pretreatment of seedlings with RiCLE1 peptide stimulates mycorrhization. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that in addition to plants and nematodes, AM fungi also possess CLE genes. These results pave the way for deciphering new mechanisms by which AM fungi modulate plant cellular responses during the establishment of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30552673, year = {2018}, author = {Sudová, R and Kohout, P and Kolaříková, Z and Rydlová, J and Voříšková, J and Suda, J and Španiel, S and Müller-Schärer, H and Mráz, P}, title = {Sympatric diploid and tetraploid cytotypes of Centaurea stoebe s.l. do not differ in arbuscular mycorrhizal communities and mycorrhizal growth response.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {105}, number = {12}, pages = {1995-2007}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1206}, pmid = {30552673}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {SNF 31003A_125314//Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; NPUI LO1417//Charles University/International ; //The Czech Academy of Sciences/International ; }, mesh = {Centaurea/*genetics/*microbiology ; Diploidy ; Fertilizers ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Tetraploidy ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Genome duplication is associated with multiple changes at different levels, including interactions with pollinators and herbivores. Yet little is known whether polyploidy may also shape belowground interactions.

METHODS: To elucidate potential ploidy-specific interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we compared mycorrhizal colonization and assembly of AMF communities in roots of diploid and tetraploid Centaurea stoebe s.l. (Asteraceae) co-occurring in a Central European population. In a follow-up greenhouse experiment, we tested inter-cytotype differences in mycorrhizal growth response by combining ploidy, substrate, and inoculation with native AMF in a full-factorial design.

KEY RESULTS: All sampled plants were highly colonized by AMF, with the Glomeraceae predominating. AMF-community composition revealed by 454-pyrosequencing reflected the spatial distribution of the hosts, but not their ploidy level or soil characteristics. In the greenhouse experiment, the tetraploids produced more shoot biomass than the diploids did when grown in a more fertile substrate, while no inter-cytotype differences were found in a less fertile substrate. AMF inoculation significantly reduced plant growth and improved P uptake, but its effects did not differ between the cytotypes.

CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support our hypotheses that the cytotype structure in a mixed-ploidy population of C. stoebe is mirrored in AMF-community composition and that ploidy-specific fungal communities contribute to cytotype co-existence. Causes and implications of the observed negative growth response to AMF are discussed.}, } @article {pmid30551767, year = {2018}, author = {Onchuru, TO and Javier Martinez, A and Ingham, CS and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Transmission of mutualistic bacteria in social and gregarious insects.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {50-58}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2018.05.002}, pmid = {30551767}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Insecta/*physiology ; Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes can confer a range of benefits to social, sub-social, and gregarious insects that include contributions to nutrition, digestion, and defense. Transmission of beneficial symbionts to the next generation in these insects sometimes occurs transovarially as in many solitary insects, but primarily through social contact such as coprophagy in gregarious taxa, and trophallaxis in eusocial insects. While these behaviors benefit reliable transmission of multi-microbial assemblages, they may also come at the cost of inviting the spread of parasites and pathogens. Nonetheless, the overall benefit of social symbiont transmission may be one of several important factors that reinforce the evolution of social behaviors and insect eusociality.}, } @article {pmid30551580, year = {2018}, author = {Ibarra-Juarez, LA and Desgarennes, D and Vázquez-Rosas-Landa, M and Villafan, E and Alonso-Sánchez, A and Ferrera-Rodríguez, O and Moya, A and Carrillo, D and Cruz, L and Carrión, G and López-Buenfil, A and García-Avila, C and Ibarra-Laclette, E and Lamelas, A}, title = {Impact of Rearing Conditions on the Ambrosia Beetle's Microbiome.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30551580}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles, along with termites and leafcutter ants, are the only fungus-farming lineages within the tree of life. Bacteria harbored by ambrosia beetles may play an essential role in the nutritional symbiotic interactions with their associated fungi; however, little is known about the impact of rearing conditions on the microbiota of ambrosia beetles. We have used culture-independent methods to explore the effect of rearing conditions on the microbiome associated with Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus bispinatus, and Xyleborus volvulus, evaluating different media in laboratory-controlled conditions and comparing wild and laboratory conditions. Our results revealed that rearing conditions affected the fungal and bacterial microbiome structure and had a strong influence on bacterial metabolic capacities. We propose that the rearing conditions influence the ambrosia-associated fungal and bacterial communities. Furthermore, bacterial microbiome flexibility may help beetles adapt to different substrates.}, } @article {pmid30551119, year = {2019}, author = {McClave, SA and Martindale, RG}, title = {Why do current strategies for optimal nutritional therapy neglect the microbiome?.}, journal = {Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {100-105}, doi = {10.1016/j.nut.2018.09.024}, pmid = {30551119}, issn = {1873-1244}, mesh = {Critical Illness/*therapy ; Dysbiosis/*immunology/*therapy ; Enteral Nutrition/methods ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Nutritional Support/*methods ; }, abstract = {Strategies for providing optimal nutritional therapy have evolved over time, with the emphasis on specific directives (such as route, use of immunonutrition, high protein, organ-specific formulas, etc.), achieving variable degrees of success for improving outcomes in the intensive care unit. As the largest immune organ in the body comprising the largest interface between the host and the external environment, the gut can have an amplifying effect on a pattern of dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, and multiple organ failure seen in the critically ill patient. Conversely, maintenance of gut integrity can serve to restore a pattern of homeostasis, appropriate immune responses, symbiosis, and clinical recovery. Simply providing refined polymeric formulas as enteral nutrition may not take full advantage of the potential for optimal outcome that could be derived by giving therapy designed to directly stimulate gut defenses and support the intestinal microbiota. This article describes a series of strategies (such as use of intact whole food formulas, soluble fiber, fecal microbial transplantation, serum bovine immunoglobulin, or agents to promote commensal behavior) that should modulate the gut microbiome and shift the critically ill patient toward a pattern of health and recovery.}, } @article {pmid30550604, year = {2018}, author = {Sinnesael, A and Eeckhout, S and Janssens, SB and Smets, E and Panis, B and Leroux, O and Verstraete, B}, title = {Detection of Burkholderia in the seeds of Psychotria punctata (Rubiaceae) - Microscopic evidence for vertical transmission in the leaf nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0209091}, pmid = {30550604}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Burkholderia/*physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Psychotria/*microbiology ; Seeds/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The bacterial leaf nodule symbiosis is a close interaction between endophytes and their plant hosts, mainly within the coffee family. The interaction between Rubiaceae species and Burkholderia bacteria is unique due to its obligate nature, high specificity, and predominantly vertical transmission of the endophytes to the next generation of host plants. This vertical transmission is intriguing since it is the basis for the uniqueness of the symbiosis. However, unequivocal evidence of the location of the endophytes in the seeds is lacking. The aim of this paper is therefore to demonstrate the presence of the host specific endophyte in the seeds of Psychotria punctata and confirm its precise location. In addition, the suggested location of the endophyte in other parts of the host plant is investigated.

METHODS: To identify and locate the endophyte in Psychotria punctata, a two-level approach was adopted using both a molecular screening method and fluorescent in situ hybridisation microscopy.

KEY RESULTS: The endophytes, molecularly identified as Candidatus Burkholderia kirkii, were detected in the leaves, vegetative and flower buds, anthers, gynoecium, embryos, and young twigs. In addition, they were in situ localised in leaves, flowers and shoot apical meristems, and, for the first time, in between the cotyledons of the embryos.

CONCLUSIONS: Both independent techniques detected the host specific endophyte in close proximity to the shoot apical meristem of the embryo, which confirms for the first time the exact location of the endophytes in the seeds. This study provides reliable proof that the endophytes are maintained throughout the growth and development of the host plant and are transmitted vertically to the offspring.}, } @article {pmid30550591, year = {2018}, author = {Chase, TJ and Pratchett, MS and Frank, GE and Hoogenboom, MO}, title = {Coral-dwelling fish moderate bleaching susceptibility of coral hosts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0208545}, pmid = {30550591}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; *Coral Reefs ; Fishes/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Global environmental change has the potential to disrupt well established species interactions, with impacts on nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. On coral reefs, fish living within the branches of coral colonies can promote coral performance, and it has been hypothesized that the enhanced water flow and nutrients provided by fish to corals could ameliorate coral bleaching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of small, aggregating damselfish on the health of their host corals (physiology, recovery, and survival) before, during, and after a thermal-bleaching event. When comparing coral colonies with and without fish, those with resident fish exhibited higher Symbiodinium densities and chlorophyll in both field and experimentally-induced bleaching conditions, and higher protein concentrations in field colonies. Additionally, colonies with damselfish in aquaria exhibited both higher photosynthetic efficiency (FV/FM) during bleaching stress and post-bleaching recovery, compared to uninhabited colonies. These results demonstrate that symbiotic damselfishes, and the services they provide, translate into measureable impacts on coral tissue, and can influence coral bleaching susceptibility/resilience and recovery. By mediating how external abiotic stressors influence coral colony health, damselfish can affect the functional responses of these interspecific interactions in a warming ocean.}, } @article {pmid30546856, year = {2018}, author = {Brodl, E and Winkler, A and Macheroux, P}, title = {Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Bioluminescence.}, journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {551-564}, pmid = {30546856}, issn = {2001-0370}, abstract = {Bioluminescence refers to the production of light by living organisms. Bioluminescent bacteria with a variety of bioluminescence emission characteristics have been identified in Vibrionaceae, Shewanellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Bioluminescent bacteria are mainly found in marine habitats and they are either free-floating, sessile or have specialized to live in symbiosis with other marine organisms. On the molecular level, bioluminescence is enabled by a cascade of chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes encoded by the lux operon with the gene order luxCDABEG. The luxA and luxB genes encode the α- and β- subunits, respectively, of the enzyme luciferase producing the light emitting species. LuxC, luxD and luxE constitute the fatty acid reductase complex, responsible for the synthesis of the long-chain aldehyde substrate and luxG encodes a flavin reductase. In bacteria, the heterodimeric luciferase catalyzes the monooxygenation of long-chain aliphatic aldehydes to the corresponding acids utilizing reduced FMN and molecular oxygen. The energy released as a photon results from an excited state flavin-4a-hydroxide, emitting light centered around 490 nm. Advances in the mechanistic understanding of bacterial bioluminescence have been spurred by the structural characterization of protein encoded by the lux operon. However, the number of available crystal structures is limited to LuxAB (Vibrio harveyi), LuxD (Vibrio harveyi) and LuxF (Photobacterium leiognathi). Based on the crystal structure of LuxD and homology models of LuxC and LuxE, we provide a hypothetical model of the overall structure of the LuxCDE fatty acid reductase complex that is in line with biochemical observations.}, } @article {pmid30546353, year = {2018}, author = {Nagel, R and Bieber, JE and Schmidt-Dannert, MG and Nett, RS and Peters, RJ}, title = {A Third Class: Functional Gibberellin Biosynthetic Operon in Beta-Proteobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2916}, pmid = {30546353}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM109773/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM131885/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The ability of plant-associated microbes to produce gibberellin A (GA) phytohormones was first described for the fungal rice pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi in the 1930s. Recently the capacity to produce GAs was shown for several bacteria, including symbiotic alpha-proteobacteria (α-rhizobia) and gamma-proteobacteria phytopathogens. All necessary enzymes for GA production are encoded by a conserved operon, which appears to have undergone horizontal transfer between and within these two phylogenetic classes of bacteria. Here the operon was shown to be present and functional in a third class, the beta-proteobacteria, where it is found in several symbionts (β-rhizobia). Conservation of function was examined by biochemical characterization of the enzymes encoded by the operon from Paraburkholderia mimosarum LMG 23256[T]. Despite the in-frame gene fusion between the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase and ferredoxin, the encoded enzymes exhibited the expected activity. Intriguingly, together these can only produce GA9, the immediate precursor to the bioactive GA4, as the cytochrome P450 (CYP115) that catalyzes the final hydroxylation reaction is missing, similar to most α-rhizobia. However, phylogenetic analysis indicates that the operon from β-rhizobia is more closely related to examples from gamma-proteobacteria, which almost invariably have CYP115 and, hence, can produce bioactive GA4. This indicates not only that β-rhizobia acquired the operon by horizontal gene transfer from gamma-proteobacteria, rather than α-rhizobia, but also that they independently lost CYP115 in parallel to the α-rhizobia, further hinting at the possibility of detrimental effects for the production of bioactive GA4 by these symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30546113, year = {2019}, author = {Brennan, CA and Garrett, WS}, title = {Fusobacterium nucleatum - symbiont, opportunist and oncobacterium.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {156-166}, pmid = {30546113}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {R01 CA154426/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 CA207021/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology ; Fusobacterium Infections ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/genetics/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Mouth/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fusobacterium nucleatum has long been found to cause opportunistic infections and has recently been implicated in colorectal cancer; however, it is a common member of the oral microbiota and can have a symbiotic relationship with its hosts. To address this dissonance, we explore the diversity and niches of fusobacteria and reconsider historic fusobacterial taxonomy in the context of current technology. We also undertake a critical reappraisal of fusobacteria with a focus on F. nucleatum as a mutualist, infectious agent and oncogenic microorganism. In this Review, we delve into recent insights and future directions for fusobacterial research, including the current genetic toolkit, our evolving understanding of its mechanistic role in promoting colorectal cancer and the challenges of developing diagnostics and therapeutics for F. nucleatum.}, } @article {pmid30544819, year = {2018}, author = {Strodtman, KN and Frank, S and Stevenson, S and Thelen, JJ and Emerich, DW}, title = {Proteomic Characterization of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Bacteroids Reveals a Post-Symbiotic, Hemibiotrophic-Like Lifestyle of the Bacteria within Senescing Soybean Nodules.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30544819}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bacteroides/enzymology/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; Hydroxybutyrates/metabolism ; Leghemoglobin/metabolism ; Periplasm/metabolism ; Polyesters/metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The form and physiology of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens after the decline of symbiotic nitrogen fixation has been characterized. Proteomic analyses showed that post-symbiotic B. diazoefficiens underwent metabolic remodeling as well-defined groups of proteins declined, increased or remained unchanged from 56 to 119 days after planting, suggesting a transition to a hemibiotrophic-like lifestyle. Enzymatic analysis showed distinct patterns in both the cytoplasm and the periplasm. Similar to the bacteroid, the post-symbiotic bacteria rely on a non-citric acid cycle supply of succinate and, although viable, they did not demonstrate the ability to grow within the senescent nodule.}, } @article {pmid30544498, year = {2018}, author = {Franck, S and Strodtman, KN and Qiu, J and Emerich, DW}, title = {Transcriptomic Characterization of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Bacteroids Reveals a Post-Symbiotic, Hemibiotrophic-Like Lifestyle of the Bacteria within Senescing Soybean Nodules.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30544498}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteroides/genetics/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The transcriptional activity of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficens isolated from soybean nodules was monitored over the period from symbiosis to late plant nodule senescence. The bacteria retained a near constant level of RNA throughout this period, and the variation in genes demonstrating increased, decreased, and/or patterned transcriptional activity indicates that the bacteria are responding to the changing environment within the nodule as the plant cells progress from an organized cellular structure to an unorganized state of internal decay. The transcriptional variation and persistence of the bacteria suggest that the bacteria are adapting to their environment and acting similar to hemibiotrophs, which survive both as saprophytes on live plant tissues and then as necrophytes on decaying plant tissues. The host plant restrictions of symbiosis make B. diazoefficiens a highly specialized, restricted hemibiotroph.}, } @article {pmid30544020, year = {2019}, author = {Saito, R and Kabeya, M and Nemoto, Y and Oomachi, H}, title = {Monitoring [137]Cs concentrations in bird species occupying different ecological niches; game birds and raptors in Fukushima Prefecture.}, journal = {Journal of environmental radioactivity}, volume = {197}, number = {}, pages = {67-73}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.016}, pmid = {30544020}, issn = {1879-1700}, mesh = {Animals ; Birds/*metabolism ; Cesium Radioisotopes/*metabolism ; Food Chain ; Fukushima Nuclear Accident ; Japan ; *Radiation Monitoring ; Raptors ; }, abstract = {This study was conducted to assess radiocesium accumulation in birds after the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, with a particular focus on [137]Cs, which has a long physical half-life. Results of [137]Cs monitoring in four game bird species including two pheasant species and two duck species (copper pheasant, green pheasant, spot-billed duck and mallard) were assessed in Fukushima Prefecture. We also obtained samples from rescued raptors that died during treatment or rehabilitation at the Wildlife Symbiosis Centre in Fukushima Prefecture because of severe injury. We measured the muscle concentrations of [137]Cs in four of these raptor species (black kite, northern goshawk, peregrine falcon and ural owl). Comparison of the two pheasant species showed that the copper pheasants inhabiting forested areas had higher [137]Cs concentrations in muscle (Bq/kg, fresh mass) than the green pheasants inhabiting mountainous areas near human habitation (i.e., Satoyama). No clear tendencies were observed in [137]Cs concentration in muscle of copper pheasants over time, but a tendency to decrease was observed in green pheasants over time. The difference in tendencies between species may be attributable to differences in their food habits and its [137]Cs concentration, and also differences in the situation of [137]Cs accumulation in their habitat. No significant differences were observed in [137]Cs concentration in muscle between the resident spot-billed duck and migratory mallard because of the comparatively short biological of effective half-life of radiocesium. Analysis of [137]Cs concentration in muscle of raptor revealed that the concentration was similar to, or lower than, those of pheasants and ducks.}, } @article {pmid30543027, year = {2019}, author = {Strachan, A and Harrington, Z and McIlwaine, C and Jerreat, M and Belfield, LA and Kilar, A and Jackson, SK and Foey, A and Zaric, S}, title = {Subgingival lipid A profile and endotoxin activity in periodontal health and disease.}, journal = {Clinical oral investigations}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {3527-3534}, pmid = {30543027}, issn = {1436-3771}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Chronic Periodontitis ; *Dental Plaque/metabolism/microbiology ; *Endotoxins/metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid A/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Periodontitis/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) chemical composition, particularly its lipid A domain, is an important, naturally occurring mechanism that drives bacteria-host immune system interactions into either a symbiotic or pathogenic relationship. Members of the subgingival oral microbiota can critically modulate host immuno-inflammatory responses by synthesizing different LPS isoforms. The objectives of this study were to analyze subgingival lipid A profiles and endotoxin activities in periodontal health and disease and to evaluate the use of the recombinant factor C assay as a new, lipid A-based biosensor for personalized, point-of-care periodontal therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from healthy individuals and chronic periodontitis patients before and after periodontal therapy. Chemical composition of subgingival lipid A moieties was determined by ESI-Mass Spectrometry. Endotoxin activity of subgingival LPS extracts was assessed using the recombinant factor C assay, and their inflammatory potential was examined in THP-1-derived macrophages by measuring TNF-α and IL-8 production.

RESULTS: Characteristic lipid A molecular signatures, corresponding to over-acylated, bi-phosphorylated lipid A isoforms, were observed in diseased samples. Healthy and post-treatment samples were characterized by lower m/z peaks, related to under-acylated, hypo-phosphorylated lipid A structures. Endotoxin activity levels and inflammatory potentials of subgingival LPS extracts from periodontitis patients were significantly higher compared to healthy and post-treatment samples.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to consider structure-function-clinical implications of different lipid A isoforms present in the subgingival niche and sheds new light on molecular pathogenic mechanisms of subgingival biofilm communities.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Subgingival endotoxin activity (determined by lipid A chemical composition) could be a reliable, bacterially derived biomarker and a risk assessment tool for personalized periodontal care.}, } @article {pmid30542338, year = {2018}, author = {Campos, C and Carvalho, M and Brígido, C and Goss, MJ and Nobre, T}, title = {Symbiosis Specificity of the Preceding Host Plant Can Dominate but Not Obliterate the Association Between Wheat and Its Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Partners.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2920}, pmid = {30542338}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis established between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and roots of most land plants plays a key role in plant nutrient acquisition and alleviation of environmental stresses. Despite the ubiquity of the symbiosis, AMF and host species display significant specificity in their interactions. To clarify preferential associations between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and AMF, we characterized root AMF communities in the transition from two first host species, ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) and yellow-serradella (Ornithopus compressus), grown separately or together, to a second host (wheat), by sequencing the large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) gene. The response of AMF communities in wheat to prior soil disturbance - and consequently of the mycelial network [intact extraradical mycelium (ERM) vs. disrupted mycelium] established with either of the first hosts - was also investigated. Since the outcome of a specific host-symbiont interaction depends on the molecular responses of the host plant upon microbial colonization, we studied the expression of six key symbiosis-related genes in wheat roots. AMF communities on L. rigidum and O. compressus roots were clearly distinct. Within an undisturbed ERM, wheat AMF communities were similar to that of previous host, and O. compressus-wheat-AMF interactions supported a greater growth of wheat than L. rigidum-wheat-AMF interactions. This effect declined when ERM was disrupted, but generated a greater activation of symbiotic genes in wheat, indicating that plant symbiotic program depends on some extent on the colonizing symbiont propagule type. When a mixture of L. rigidum and O. compressus was planted, the wheat colonization pattern resembled that of O. compressus, although this was not reflected in a greater growth. These results show a lasting effect of previous hosts in shaping wheat AMF communities through an efficient use of the established ERM, although not completely obliterating host-symbiont specificity.}, } @article {pmid30542077, year = {2019}, author = {Gibbin, E and Gavish, A and Krueger, T and Kramarsky-Winter, E and Shapiro, O and Guiet, R and Jensen, L and Vardi, A and Meibom, A}, title = {Vibrio coralliilyticus infection triggers a behavioural response and perturbs nutritional exchange and tissue integrity in a symbiotic coral.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {989-1003}, pmid = {30542077}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/anatomy & histology/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Nutrients ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Vibrio/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Under homoeostatic conditions, the relationship between the coral Pocillopora damicornis and Vibrio coralliilyticus is commensal. An increase in temperature, or in the abundance of V. coralliilyticus, can turn this association pathogenic, causing tissue lysis, expulsion of the corals' symbiotic algae (genus Symbiodinium), and eventually coral death. Using a combination of microfluidics, fluorescence microscopy, stable isotopes, electron microscopy and NanoSIMS isotopic imaging, we provide insights into the onset and progression of V. coralliilyticus infection in the daytime and at night, at the tissue and (sub-)cellular level. The objective of our study was to connect the macro-scale behavioural response of the coral to the micro-scale nutritional interactions that occur between the host and its symbiont. In the daytime, polyps enhanced their mucus production, and actively spewed pathogens. Vibrio infection primarily resulted in the formation of tissue lesions in the coenosarc. NanoSIMS analysis revealed infection reduced [13]C-assimilation in Symbiodinium, but increased [13]C-assimilation in the host. In the night incubations, no mucus spewing was observed, and a mucus film was formed on the coral surface. Vibrio inoculation and infection at night showed reduced [13]C-turnover in Symbiodinium, but did not impact host [13]C-turnover. Our results show that both the nutritional interactions that occur between the two symbiotic partners and the behavioural response of the host organism play key roles in determining the progression and severity of host-pathogen interactions. More generally, our approach provides a new means of studying interactions (ranging from behavioural to metabolic scales) between partners involved in complex holobiont systems, under both homoeostatic and pathogenic conditions.}, } @article {pmid30541614, year = {2018}, author = {Kanté, ST and Melachio, T and Ofon, E and Njiokou, F and Simo, G}, title = {Detection of Wolbachia and different trypanosome species in Glossina palpalis palpalis populations from three sleeping sickness foci of southern Cameroon.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {630}, pmid = {30541614}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Cameroon/epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosoma/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Trypanosomiasis, African/epidemiology/*parasitology/transmission ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: African trypanosomiases are caused by trypanosomes that are cyclically transmitted by tsetse. Investigations aiming to generate knowledge on the bacterial fauna of tsetse have revealed distinct symbiotic microorganisms. Furthermore, studies addressing the tripartite association between trypanosomes-tsetse-symbionts relationship have so far been contradictory. Most studies included Sodalis glossinudius and, consequently, the association involving Wolbachia is poorly understood. Understanding the vectorial competence of tsetse requires decrypting these tripartite associations. In this study, we identified Wolbachia and trypanosomes in Glossina palpalis palpalis from three human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) foci in southern Cameroon.

METHODS: Tsetse flies were captured with pyramidal traps in the Bipindi, Campo and Fontem HAT foci. After morphological identification, DNA was extracted from whole tsetse flies and Wolbachia and trypanosomes were identified by PCR using different trypanosome-specific primers and two Wolbachia-specific primers (Wolbachia surface protein and 16S rRNA genes). Statistical analyses were performed to compare the trypanosome and Wolbachia infection rates between villages and different foci and to look for an association between these microorganisms.

RESULTS: From a total of 2122 tsetse flies, 790 G. p. palpalis were analyzed. About 25.32% of flies hosted Wolbachia and 31.84% of non-teneral flies were infected by at least one trypanosome species. There was no significant difference between the global Wolbachia prevalence revealed by the two markers while some differences were observed between HAT foci. From 248 G. p. palpalis with trypanosome infections, 62.90% were with T. vivax, 34.68% with T. congolense forest, 16.13% with T. brucei (s.l.) and 2.42% with T. congolense savannah. Of all trypanosome-infected flies, 29.84% hosted Wolbachia and no association was observed between Wolbachia and trypanosome co-infections.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed differences in the prevalence of Wolbachia and trypanosomes in G. p. palpalis according to HAT foci. The use of only one marker has underestimated the prevalence of Wolbachia, thus more markers in subsequent studies may improve its detection. The presence of Wolbachia seems to have no impact on the establishment of trypanosomes in G. p. palpalis. The tripartite association between tsetse, Wolbachia and trypanosomes varies according to studied areas. Studies aiming to evaluate the genetic polymorphism of Wolbachia and its density in tsetse flies could help to better understand this association.}, } @article {pmid30540788, year = {2018}, author = {Pietri, JE and Tiffany, C and Liang, D}, title = {Disruption of the microbiota affects physiological and evolutionary aspects of insecticide resistance in the German cockroach, an important urban pest.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0207985}, pmid = {30540788}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Blattellidae/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Insecticide Resistance/drug effects ; Insecticides/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Male ; Microbiota/drug effects/*physiology ; Oxazines/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The German cockroach, Blatella germanica, is a common pest in urban environments and is among the most resilient insects in the world. The remarkable ability of the German cockroach to develop resistance when exposed to toxic insecticides is a prime example of adaptive evolution and makes control of this insect an ongoing struggle. Like many other organisms, the German cockroach is host to a diverse community of symbiotic microbes that play important roles in its physiology. In some insect species, there is a strong correlation between the commensal microbial community and insecticide resistance. In particular, several bacteria have been implicated in the detoxification of xenobiotics, including synthetic insecticides. While multiple mechanisms that mediate insecticide resistance in cockroaches have been discovered, significant knowledge gaps still exist in this area of research. Here, we examine the effects of altering the microbiota on resistance to a common insecticide using antibiotic treatments. We describe an indoxacarb-resistant laboratory strain in which treatment with antibiotic increases susceptibility to orally administered insecticide. We further reveal that this strains harbors a gut microbial community that differs significantly from that of susceptible cockroaches in which insecticide resistance is unaffected by antibiotic. More importantly, we demonstrate that transfer of gut microbes from the resistant to the susceptible strain via fecal transplant increases its resistance. Lastly, our data show that antibiotic treatment adversely affects several reproductive life-history traits that may contribute to the dynamics of resistance at the population level. Together these results suggest that the microbiota contributes to both physiological and evolutionary aspects of insecticide resistance and that targeting this community may be an effective strategy to control the German cockroach.}, } @article {pmid30540238, year = {2019}, author = {Altamia, MA and Shipway, JR and Concepcion, GP and Haygood, MG and Distel, DL}, title = {Thiosocius teredinicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic endosymbiont cultivated from the gills of the giant shipworm, Kuphus polythalamius.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {3}, pages = {638-644}, pmid = {30540238}, issn = {1466-5034}, support = {U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Gills/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Philippines ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Thiosulfates ; }, abstract = {A chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing, diazotrophic, facultatively heterotrophic, endosymbiotic bacterium, designated as strain 2141T, was isolated from the gills of the giant shipworm Kuphus polythalamius (Teredinidae: Bivalvia). Based on its 16S rRNA sequence, the endosymbiont falls within a clade that includes the as-yet-uncultivated thioautotrophic symbionts of a marine ciliate and hydrothermal vent gastropods, uncultivated marine sediment bacteria, and a free-living sulfur-oxidizing bacterium ODIII6, all of which belong to the Gammaproteobacteria. The endosymbiont is Gram-negative, rod-shaped and has a single polar flagellum when grown in culture. This bacterium can be grown chemolithoautotrophically on a chemically defined medium supplemented with either hydrogen sulfide, thiosulfate, tetrathionate or elemental sulfur. The closed-circular genome has a DNA G+C content of 60.1 mol% and is 4.79 Mbp in size with a large nitrogenase cluster spanning nearly 40 kbp. The diazotrophic capability was confirmed by growing the strain on chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate-based medium without a combined source of fixed nitrogen. The bacterium is also capable of heterotrophic growth on organic acids such as acetate and propionate. The pH, temperature and salinity optima for chemolithoautotrophic growth on thiosulfate were found to be 8.5, 34 °C and 0.2 M NaCl, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pure culture of a thioautotrophic animal symbiont. The type strain of Thiosocius teredinicola is PMS-2141T.STBD.0c.01a[T] (=DSM 108030[T]).}, } @article {pmid30538897, year = {2018}, author = {Bordoni, B and Simonelli, M}, title = {The Awareness of the Fascial System.}, journal = {Cureus}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e3397}, pmid = {30538897}, issn = {2168-8184}, abstract = {Fascia is a cacophony of functions and information, a completely adaptable entropy complex. The fascial system has a solid and a liquid component, acting in a perfect symbiotic synchrony. Each cell communicates with the other cells by sending and receiving signals; this concept is a part of quantum physics and it is known as quantum entanglement: a physical system cannot be described individually, but only as a juxtaposition of multiple systems, where the measurement of a quantity determines the value for other systems. Fascial continuum serves as a target for different manual approaches, such as physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic. Cellular behaviour and the inclusion of quantum physics background are hardly being considered to find out what happens between the operator and the patient during a manual physical contact. The article examines these topics. According to the authors' knowledge, this is the first scientific text to offer manual operators' new perspectives to understand what happens during palpatory contact. A fascial cell has not only memory but also the awareness of the mechanometabolic information it feels, and it has the anticipatory predisposition in preparing itself for alteration of its natural environment.}, } @article {pmid30538693, year = {2018}, author = {George, F and Daniel, C and Thomas, M and Singer, E and Guilbaud, A and Tessier, FJ and Revol-Junelles, AM and Borges, F and Foligné, B}, title = {Occurrence and Dynamism of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Distinct Ecological Niches: A Multifaceted Functional Health Perspective.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2899}, pmid = {30538693}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are representative members of multiple ecosystems on earth, displaying dynamic interactions within animal and plant kingdoms in respect with other microbes. This highly heterogeneous phylogenetic group has coevolved with plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, establishing either mutualism, symbiosis, commensalism, or even parasitism-like behavior with their hosts. Depending on their location and environment conditions, LAB can be dominant or sometimes in minority within ecosystems. Whatever their origins and relative abundance in specific anatomic sites, LAB exhibit multifaceted ecological and functional properties. While some resident LAB permanently inhabit distinct animal mucosal cavities, others are provided by food and may transiently occupy the gastrointestinal tract. It is admitted that the overall gut microbiome has a deep impact on health and diseases. Here, we examined the presence and the physiological role of LAB in the healthy human and several animal microbiome. Moreover, we also highlighted some dysbiotic states and related consequences for health, considering both the resident and the so-called "transionts" microorganisms. Whether LAB-related health effects act collectively or follow a strain-specificity dogma is also addressed. Besides the highly suggested contribution of LAB to interplay with immune, metabolic, and even brain-axis regulation, the possible involvement of LAB in xenobiotic detoxification processes and metal equilibrium is also tackled. Recent technological developments such as functional metagenomics, metabolomics, high-content screening and design in vitro and in vivo experimental models now open new horizons for LAB as markers applied for disease diagnosis, susceptibility, and follow-up. Moreover, identification of general and more specific molecular mechanisms based on antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties of LAB currently extends their selection and promising use, either as probiotics, in traditional and functional foods, for dedicated treatments and mostly for maintenance of normobiosis and homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid30538687, year = {2018}, author = {Paymaneh, Z and Gryndler, M and Konvalinková, T and Benada, O and Borovička, J and Bukovská, P and Püschel, D and Řezáčová, V and Sarcheshmehpour, M and Jansa, J}, title = {Soil Matrix Determines the Outcome of Interaction Between Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Biochar for Andropogon gerardii Growth and Nutrition.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2862}, pmid = {30538687}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Biochar has been heralded as a multipurpose soil amendment to sustainably increase soil fertility and crop yields, affect soil hydraulic properties, reduce nutrient losses, and sequester carbon. Some of the most spectacular results of biochar (and organic nutrient) inputs are the terra preta soils in the Amazon, dark anthropogenic soils with extremely high fertility sustained over centuries. Such soil improvements have been particularly difficult to achieve on a short run, leading to speculations that biochar may need to age (weather) in soil to show its best. Further, interaction of biochar with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), important root symbionts of a great majority of terrestrial plants including most agricultural crops, remains little explored. To study the effect of aged biochar on highly mycotrophic Andropogon gerardii plants and their associated AMF, we made use of softwood biochar, collected from a historic charcoal burning site. This biochar (either untreated or chemically activated, the latter serving as a proxy for freshly prepared biochar) was added into two agricultural soils (acid or alkaline), and compared to soils without biochar. These treatments were further crossed with inoculation with a synthetic AMF community to address possible interactions between biochar and the AMF. Biochar application was generally detrimental for growth and mineral nutrition of our experimental plants, but had no effect on the extent of their root colonized by the AMF, nor did it affect composition of their root-borne AMF communities. In contrast, biochar affected development of two out of five AMF (Claroideoglomus and Funneliformis) in the soil. Establishment of symbiosis with AMF largely mitigated biochar-induced suppression of plant growth and mineral nutrition, mainly by improving plant acquisition of phosphorus. Both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants grew well in the acid soil without biochar application, whereas non-mycorrhizal plants remained stunted in the alkaline soils under all situations (with or without biochar). These different and strong effects indicate that response of plants to biochar application are largely dependent on soil matrix and also on microbes such as AMF, and call for further research to enable qualified predictions of the effects of different biochar applications on field-grown crops and soil processes.}, } @article {pmid30538275, year = {2019}, author = {Nicolás, C and Martin-Bertelsen, T and Floudas, D and Bentzer, J and Smits, M and Johansson, T and Troein, C and Persson, P and Tunlid, A}, title = {The soil organic matter decomposition mechanisms in ectomycorrhizal fungi are tuned for liberating soil organic nitrogen.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {977-988}, pmid = {30538275}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Many trees form ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with fungi. During symbiosis, the tree roots supply sugar to the fungi in exchange for nitrogen, and this process is critical for the nitrogen and carbon cycles in forest ecosystems. However, the extents to which ectomycorrhizal fungi can liberate nitrogen and modify the soil organic matter and the mechanisms by which they do so remain unclear since they have lost many enzymes for litter decomposition that were present in their free-living, saprotrophic ancestors. Using time-series spectroscopy and transcriptomics, we examined the ability of two ectomycorrhizal fungi from two independently evolved ectomycorrhizal lineages to mobilize soil organic nitrogen. Both species oxidized the organic matter and accessed the organic nitrogen. The expression of those events was controlled by the availability of glucose and inorganic nitrogen. Despite those similarities, the decomposition mechanisms, including the type of genes involved as well as the patterns of their expression, differed markedly between the two species. Our results suggest that in agreement with their diverse evolutionary origins, ectomycorrhizal fungi use different decomposition mechanisms to access organic nitrogen entrapped in soil organic matter. The timing and magnitude of the expression of the decomposition activity can be controlled by the below-ground nitrogen quality and the above-ground carbon supply.}, } @article {pmid30538206, year = {2018}, author = {Harding, K and Turk-Kubo, KA and Sipler, RE and Mills, MM and Bronk, DA and Zehr, JP}, title = {Symbiotic unicellular cyanobacteria fix nitrogen in the Arctic Ocean.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {52}, pages = {13371-13375}, pmid = {30538206}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Haptophyta/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater/chemistry ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation is an important source of nitrogen (N) in low-latitude open oceans. The unusual N2-fixing unicellular cyanobacteria (UCYN-A)/haptophyte symbiosis has been found in an increasing number of unexpected environments, including northern waters of the Danish Straight and Bering and Chukchi Seas. We used nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) to measure [15]N2 uptake into UCYN-A/haptophyte symbiosis and found that UCYN-A strains identical to low-latitude strains are fixing N2 in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, at rates comparable to subtropical waters. These results show definitively that cyanobacterial N2 fixation is not constrained to subtropical waters, challenging paradigms and models of global N2 fixation. The Arctic is particularly sensitive to climate change, and N2 fixation may increase in Arctic waters under future climate scenarios.}, } @article {pmid31294219, year = {2018}, author = {Glassner, K and Quigley, EM and Franco, L and Victor, DW}, title = {Autoimmune liver disease and the enteric microbiome.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {334-346}, pmid = {31294219}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {The human enteric microbiome is highly complex and has more than 150 times more genes within it than its host. The host and the microbiome have a commensurate relationship that can evolve over time. The typically symbiotic relationship between the two can become pathogenic. The microbiome composition in adults reflects their history of exposure to bacteria and environmental factors during early life, their genetic background, age, interactions with the immune system, geographical location, and, most especially, their diet. Similarly, these factors are thought to contribute to the development of autoimmune disease. It is possible that alterations in the intestinal microbiome could lead to liver disease. There is emerging data for the contribution of the microbiome in development of primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis; liver disorders associated with aberrant immune function in genetically susceptible individuals.}, } @article {pmid31294213, year = {2018}, author = {Barros, I and Froufe, H and Marnellos, G and Egas, C and Delaney, J and Clamp, M and Santos, RS and Bettencourt, R}, title = {Metatranscriptomics profile of the gill microbial community during Bathymodiolus azoricus aquarium acclimatization at atmospheric pressure.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {240-260}, pmid = {31294213}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The deep-sea mussels Bathymodiolus azoricus (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) are the dominant macrofauna subsisting at the hydrothermal vents site Menez Gwen in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). Their adaptive success in such challenging environments is largely due to their gill symbiotic association with chemosynthetic bacteria. We examined the response of vent mussels as they adapt to sea-level environmental conditions, through an assessment of the relative abundance of host-symbiont related RNA transcripts to better understand how the gill microbiome may drive host-symbiont interactions in vent mussels during hypothetical venting inactivity.

RESULTS: The metatranscriptome of B. azoricus was sequenced from gill tissues sampled at different time-points during a five-week acclimatization experiment, using Next-Generation-Sequencing. After Illumina sequencing, a total of 181,985,262 paired-end reads of 150 bp were generated with an average of 16,544,115 read per sample. Metatranscriptome analysis confirmed that experimental acclimatization in aquaria accounted for global gill transcript variation. Additionally, the analysis of 16S and 18S rRNA sequences data allowed for a comprehensive characterization of host-symbiont interactions, which included the gradual loss of gill endosymbionts and signaling pathways, associated with stress responses and energy metabolism, under experimental acclimatization. Dominant active transcripts were assigned to the following KEGG categories: "Ribosome", "Oxidative phosphorylation" and "Chaperones and folding catalysts" suggesting specific metabolic responses to physiological adaptations in aquarium environment.

CONCLUSIONS: Gill metagenomics analyses highlighted microbial diversity shifts and a clear pattern of varying mRNA transcript abundancies and expression during acclimatization to aquarium conditions which indicate change in bacterial community activity. This approach holds potential for the discovery of new host-symbiont associations, evidencing new functional transcripts and a clearer picture of methane metabolism during loss of endosymbionts. Towards the end of acclimatization, we observed trends in three major functional subsystems, as evidenced by an increment of transcripts related to genetic information processes; the decrease of chaperone and folding catalysts and oxidative phosphorylation transcripts; but no change in transcripts of gluconeogenesis and co-factors-vitamins.}, } @article {pmid31258230, year = {2018}, author = {Jaiswal, SK and Naamala, J and Dakora, FD}, title = {Nature and mechanisms of aluminium toxicity, tolerance and amelioration in symbiotic legumes and rhizobia.}, journal = {Biology and fertility of soils}, volume = {54}, number = {3}, pages = {309-318}, pmid = {31258230}, issn = {0178-2762}, abstract = {Recent findings on the effect of aluminium (Al) on the functioning of legumes and their associated microsymbionts are reviewed here. Al represents 7% of solid matter in the Earth's crust and is an important abiotic factor that alters microbial and plant functioning at very early stages. The trivalent Al (Al[3+]) dominates at pH < 5 in soils and becomes a constraint to legume productivity through its lethal effect on rhizobia, the host plant and their interaction. Al[3+] has lethal effects on many aspects of the rhizobia/legume symbiosis, which include a decrease in root elongation and root hair formation, lowered soil rhizobial population, and suppression of nitrogen metabolism involving nitrate reduction, nitrite reduction, nitrogenase activity and the functioning of uptake of hydrogenases (Hup), ultimately impairing the N2 fixation process. At the molecular level, Al is known to suppress the expression of nodulation genes in symbiotic rhizobia, as well as the induction of genes for the formation of hexokinase, phosphodiesterase, phosphooxidase and acid/alkaline phosphatase. Al toxicity can also induce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and callose, in addition to lipoperoxidation in the legume root elongation zone. Al tolerance in plants can be achieved through over-expression of citrate synthase gene in roots and/or the synthesis and release of organic acids that reverse Al-induced changes in proteins, as well as metabolic regulation by plant-secreted microRNAs. In contrast, Al tolerance in symbiotic rhizobia is attained via the production of exopolysaccharides, the synthesis of siderophores that reduce Al uptake, induction of efflux pumps resistant to heavy metals and the expression of metal-inducible (dmeRF) gene clusters in symbiotic Rhizobiaceae. In soils, Al toxicity is usually ameliorated through liming, organic matter supply and use of Al-tolerant species. Our current understanding of crop productivity in high Al soils suggests that a much greater future accumulation of Al is likely to occur in agricultural soils globally if crop irrigation is increased under a changing climate.}, } @article {pmid31089666, year = {2018}, author = {Cazzolla Gatti, R}, title = {endogenosymbiosis: from hypothesis to empirical evidence towards a Unified Symbiogenetic Theory (UST).}, journal = {Theoretical biology forum}, volume = {111}, number = {1-2}, pages = {13-26}, doi = {10.19272/201811402002}, pmid = {31089666}, issn = {2282-2593}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Phylogeny ; Plastids ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In 1967 Lynn (Sagan) Margulis proposed that mitochondria, photosynthetic plastids and cilia were acquired prokaryotes and evolved symbiotically to form anaerobic bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria and eventually algae. Although most of this theory is well-accepted now, the hypothesis that endosymbiotic spirochaetes developed into eukaryotic flagella and cilia, and the following proposals of an endosymbiotic origin of other eukaryotic organelles such as peroxisomes, glyoxysomes, etc. have not received much acceptance, since evidence suggests they lack a genome and do not show ultrastructural similarities to bacteria or archaea. Nevertheless, the idea that over millennia mitochondria, plastids, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and even flagella and peroxisomes, as either primary or secondary endosymbionts, transferred some or all of their own DNA to the host cell’s nucleus through a process called «endogenosymbiosis» (i.e. a symbiotic gene transfer, such as the internalisation of the endosymbiont’s DNA with lateral transfer) has been recently suggested. This endogenosymbiosis could take place during the evolutionary transition from the symbiotic interacting community, invoked by Margulis, to a fully-integrated (either prokaryotic or eukaryotic) cell. This process could explain the missing evidence of the presence of DNA in flagella and peroxisomes whose ancestor endosymbionts, during the long endogenosymbiotic evolution, could have transferred their whole genome to the host cell that subsequently integrated it in its own genome, directly controlling its expression. Furthermore, the endogenosymbiosis hypothesis could be the explanation of the transition between an RNA to a DNA world and of some cases of true sympatric evolution of species, apparently inexplicable by the canonical speciation processes. Here, after an introduction to the theoretical basis of endogenosymbiosis and a discussion of the empirical confirming evidence, I show a graphical summary of the integration between this and the former endosymbiosis theories. The Serial Endosymbiosis Theory and the Secondary Endosymbiosis are merged with the Endogenosymbiosis Theory in a Unified Symbiogenetic Theory (UST).}, } @article {pmid30996486, year = {2018}, author = {Barbosa, N and Portilla, E and Buendia, HF and Raatz, B and Beebe, S and Rao, I}, title = {Genotypic differences in symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability and seed yield of climbing bean.}, journal = {Plant and soil}, volume = {428}, number = {1}, pages = {223-239}, pmid = {30996486}, issn = {0032-079X}, abstract = {AIMS: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) contributes to improve grain yield under nitrogen (N) deficiency. Climbing beans are known to be superior to bush beans in their potential for SNF. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) quantify genotypic differences in SNF ability of climbing beans using [15]N natural abundance method; (ii) identify climbing bean genotypes that combine high SNF ability with high yield potential that could serve as parents in the breeding program; and (iii) test whether δ[15]N in seed can be used instead of δ[15]N in shoot for estimating SNF ability.

METHODS: 98 Climbing bean genotypes were evaluated for SNF ability in terms of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa). Field trials were conducted at two locations in Colombia.

RESULTS: Significant genotypic differences were observed in SNF ability. Good yielding lines with 4.6 t ha[-1] fixed as much as 60% of their N (up to 92 kg of N fixed ha[-1]) without application of N fertilizer to soil.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on evaluations from both locations, seven climbing bean lines (ENF 235, ENF 234, ENF 28, ENF 21, MAC 27, CGA 10 and PO07AT49) were identified as promising genotypes. Seed samples can be used to determine SNF ability, to select for genotypes with superior SNF ability.}, } @article {pmid30973141, year = {2018}, author = {Heu, K and Gendrin, M}, title = {[Mosquito microbiota and its influence on disease vectorial transmission].}, journal = {Biologie aujourd'hui}, volume = {212}, number = {3-4}, pages = {119-136}, doi = {10.1051/jbio/2019003}, pmid = {30973141}, issn = {2105-0686}, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/*microbiology/virology ; *Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Disease Vectors ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology/virology ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are found worldwide. Around 100 among 3500 mosquito species are known to be vectors of parasites and viruses, responsible for infectious diseases including malaria and dengue. Mosquitoes host diverse microbial communities that influence disease transmission, either by direct interference or via affecting host immunity and physiology. These microbial communities are present within diverse tissues, including the digestive tract, and vary depending on the sex of the mosquito, its developmental stage, and ecological factors. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the mosquito microbiota, defined as a community of commensal, symbiotic or pathogenic microbes harboured by a host. We first describe the current knowledge on the diversity of the microbiota, that includes bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses and on its modes of acquisition throughout the mosquito life cycle. We then focus on microbial interactions within the mosquito gut, which notably affect vector competence, and on host-microbe interactions affecting mosquito fitness. Finally, we discuss current or potential methods based on the use of microbes or microbial products to interfere with pathogen transmission or to reduce mosquito lifespan and reproduction.}, } @article {pmid30956539, year = {2018}, author = {Gomes, SIF and Merckx, VSFT and Hynson, NA}, title = {Biological invasions increase the richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from a Hawaiian subtropical ecosystem.}, journal = {Biological invasions}, volume = {20}, number = {9}, pages = {2421-2437}, pmid = {30956539}, issn = {1387-3547}, abstract = {Biological invasions can have various impacts on the diversity of important microbial mutualists such as mycorrhizal fungi, but few studies have tested whether the effects of invasions on mycorrhizal diversity are consistent across spatial gradients. Furthermore, few of these studies have taken place in tropical ecosystems that experience an inordinate rate of invasions into native habitats. Here, we examined the effects of plant invasions dominated by non-native tree species on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in Hawaii. To test the hypothesis that invasions result in consistent changes in AM fungal diversity across spatial gradients relative to native forest habitats, we sampled soil in paired native and invaded sites from three watersheds and used amplicon sequencing to characterize AM fungal communities. Whether our analyses considered phylogenetic relatedness or not, we found that invasions consistently increased the richness of AM fungi. However, AM fungal species composition was not related to invasion status of the vegetation nor local environment, but stratified by watershed. Our results suggest that while invasions can lead to an overall increase in the diversity of microbial mutualists, the effects of plant host identity or geographic structuring potentially outweigh those of invasive species in determining the community membership of AM fungi. Thus, host specificity and spatial factors such as dispersal need to be taken into consideration when examining the effects of biological invasions on symbiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid30830326, year = {2017}, author = {Hillyer, KE and Dias, D and Lutz, A and Roessner, U and Davy, SK}, title = {[13]C metabolomics reveals widespread change in carbon fate during coral bleaching.}, journal = {Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {30830326}, issn = {1573-3890}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/chemistry ; Coral Reefs ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Heat-Shock Response ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Rising seawater temperatures are threatening the persistence of coral reefs; where above critical thresholds, thermal stress results in a breakdown of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis and the loss of algal symbionts (coral bleaching). As symbiont-derived organic products typically form a major portion of host energy budgets, this has major implications for the fitness and persistence of symbiotic corals.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine change in autotrophic carbon fate within individual compounds and downstream metabolic pathways in a coral symbiosis exposed to varying degrees of thermal stress and bleaching.

METHODS: We applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to a stable isotope tracer ([13]C), to track change in autotrophic carbon fate, in symbiont and host individually, following exposure to elevated water temperature.

RESULTS: Thermal stress resulted in partner-specific changes in carbon fate, which progressed with heat stress duration. We detected modifications to carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism, lipogenesis, and homeostatic responses to thermal, oxidative and osmotic stress. Despite pronounced photodamage, remaining in hospite symbionts continued to produce organic products de novo and translocate to the coral host. However as bleaching progressed, we observed minimal [13]C enrichment of symbiont long-chain fatty acids, also reflected in [13]C enrichment of host fatty acid pools.

CONCLUSION: These data have major implications for our understanding of coral symbiosis function during bleaching. Our findings suggest that during early stage bleaching, remaining symbionts continue to effectively translocate a variety of organic products to the host, however under prolonged thermal stress there is likely a reduction in the quality of these products.}, } @article {pmid31294199, year = {2017}, author = {Stamou, GP and Konstadinou, S and Monokrousos, N and Mastrogianni, A and Orfanoudakis, M and Hassiotis, C and Menkissoglu-Spiroudi, U and Vokou, D and Papatheodorou, EM}, title = {The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and essential oil on soil microbial community and N-related enzymes during the fungal early colonization phase.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {938-959}, pmid = {31294199}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the essential oils are both agents of sustainable agriculture, and their independent effects on the community of free-living soil microbes have been explored. In a tomato pot experiment, conducted in a sandy loam mixture, we examined the independent and joint effects of inoculation with the fungus Rhizophagous irregularis and the addition of Mentha spicata essential oil on the structure of the soil microbial community and the activity of soil enzymes involved in the N-cycle, during the pre-symbiosis phase. Plants were grown for 60 days and were inoculated with R. irregularis. Then pots were treated with essential oil (OIL) weekly for a period of a month. Two experimental series were run. The first targeted to examine the effect of inoculation on the microbial community structure by the phospholipid fatty acids analysis (PLFAs), and enzyme activity, and the second to examine the effects of inoculation and essential oil addition on the same variables, under the hypothesis that the joint effect of the two agents would be synergistic, resulting in higher microbial biomass compared to values recorded in singly treated pots. In the AMF pots, N-degrading enzyme activity was dominated by the activity of urease while in the non-inoculated ones by the activities of arylamidase and glutaminase. Higher microbial biomass was found in singly-treated pots (137 and 174% higher in AMF and OIL pots, respectively) compared with pots subjected to both treatments. In these latter pots, higher activity of asparaginase (202 and 162% higher compared to AMF and OIL pots, respectively) and glutaminase (288 and 233% higher compared to AMF and OIL pots, respectively) was found compared to singly-treated ones. Soil microbial biomasses and enzyme activity were negatively associated across all treatments. Moreover, different community composition was detected in pots only inoculated and pots treated only with oil. We concluded that the two treatments produced diverging than synergistic effects on the microbial community composition whereas their joint effect on the activity of asparaginase and glutaminase were synergistic.}, } @article {pmid30605507, year = {2017}, author = {Vera-Ponce de León, A and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Ramírez-Puebla, ST and Rosenblueth, M and Degli Esposti, M and Martínez-Romero, J and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Candidatus Dactylopiibacterium carminicum, a Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiont of Dactylopius Cochineal Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae).}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {2237-2250}, pmid = {30605507}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Ovary/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhodocyclaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The domesticated carmine cochineal Dactylopius coccus (scale insect) has commercial value and has been used for more than 500 years for natural red pigment production. Besides the domesticated cochineal, other wild Dactylopius species such as Dactylopius opuntiae are found in the Americas, all feeding on nutrient poor sap from native cacti. To compensate nutritional deficiencies, many insects harbor symbiotic bacteria which provide essential amino acids or vitamins to their hosts. Here, we characterized a symbiont from the carmine cochineal insects, Candidatus Dactylopiibacterium carminicum (betaproteobacterium, Rhodocyclaceae family) and found it in D. coccus and in D. opuntiae ovaries by fluorescent in situ hybridization, suggesting maternal inheritance. Bacterial genomes recovered from metagenomic data derived from whole insects or tissues both from D. coccus and from D. opuntiae were around 3.6 Mb in size. Phylogenomics showed that dactylopiibacteria constituted a closely related clade neighbor to nitrogen fixing bacteria from soil or from various plants including rice and other grass endophytes. Metabolic capabilities were inferred from genomic analyses, showing a complete operon for nitrogen fixation, biosynthesis of amino acids and vitamins and putative traits of anaerobic or microoxic metabolism as well as genes for plant interaction. Dactylopiibacterium nif gene expression and acetylene reduction activity detecting nitrogen fixation were evidenced in D. coccus hemolymph and ovaries, in congruence with the endosymbiont fluorescent in situ hybridization location. Dactylopiibacterium symbionts may compensate for the nitrogen deficiency in the cochineal diet. In addition, this symbiont may provide essential amino acids, recycle uric acid, and increase the cochineal life span.}, } @article {pmid30971046, year = {2017}, author = {Dima, SO and Panaitescu, DM and Orban, C and Ghiurea, M and Doncea, SM and Fierascu, RC and Nistor, CL and Alexandrescu, E and Nicolae, CA and Trică, B and Moraru, A and Oancea, F}, title = {Bacterial Nanocellulose from Side-Streams of Kombucha Beverages Production: Preparation and Physical-Chemical Properties.}, journal = {Polymers}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {30971046}, issn = {2073-4360}, abstract = {We focused on preparing cellulose nanofibrils by purification, separation, and mechanical treatment of Kombucha membranes (KM) resulted as secondary product from beverage production by fermentation of tea broth with symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). We purified KM using two alkaline solutions, 1 and 4 M NaOH, which afterwards were subjected to various mechanical treatments. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to evaluate the purification degree, the size and aspect of cellulose fibrils after each treatment step, the physical-chemical properties of intermediary and final product, and for comparison with micro-crystalline cellulose from wooden sources. We determined that 1 M NaOH solution leads to approx. 85% purification, while a higher concentration assures almost 97% impurities removal. XRD analysis evidenced an increase in crystallinity from 37% to 87% after purification, the characteristic diffractograms of Iα and Iβ cellulose allomorphs, and a further decrease in crystallinity to 46% after microfluidization, fact correlated with a drastically decrease in fibrils' size. FTIR analysis evidenced the appearance of new chain ends by specific transmission bands at 2941 and 2843cm[-1].}, } @article {pmid31294180, year = {2017}, author = {de Souza Vandenberghe, LP and Garcia, LMB and Rodrigues, C and Camara, MC and de Melo Pereira, GV and de Oliveira, J and Soccol, CR}, title = {Potential applications of plant probiotic microorganisms in agriculture and forestry.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {629-648}, pmid = {31294180}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {Agriculture producers, pushed by the need for high productivity, have stimulated the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers. Unfortunately, negative effects on water, soil, and human and animal health have appeared as a consequence of this indiscriminate practice. Plant probiotic microorganisms (PPM), also known as bioprotectants, biocontrollers, biofertilizers, or biostimulants, are beneficial microorganisms that offer a promising alternative and reduce health and environmental problems. These microorganisms are involved in either a symbiotic or free-living association with plants and act in different ways, sometimes with specific functions, to achieve satisfactory plant development. This review deals with PPM presentation and their description and function in different applications. PPM includes the plant growth promoters (PGP) group, which contain bacteria and fungi that stimulate plant growth through different mechanisms. Soil microflora mediate many biogeochemical processes. The use of plant probiotics as an alternative soil fertilization source has been the focus of several studies; their use in agriculture improves nutrient supply and conserves field management and causes no adverse effects. The species related to organic matter and pollutant biodegradation in soil and abiotic stress tolerance are then presented. As an important way to understand not only the ecological role of PPM and their interaction with plants but also the biotechnological application of these cultures to crop management, two main approaches are elucidated: the culture-dependent approach where the microorganisms contained in the plant material are isolated by culturing and are identified by a combination of phenotypic and molecular methods; and the culture-independent approach where microorganisms are detected without cultivating them, based on extraction and analyses of DNA. These methods combine to give a thorough knowledge of the microbiology of the studied environment.}, } @article {pmid31294170, year = {2017}, author = {Muñoz-Azcarate, O and González, AM and Santalla, M}, title = {Natural rhizobial diversity helps to reveal genes and QTLs associated with biological nitrogen fixation in common bean.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {435-466}, pmid = {31294170}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {Common bean is one of the most important crops for human feed, and the most important legume for direct consumption by millions of people, especially in developing countries. It is a promiscuous host legume in terms of nodulation, able to associate with a broad and diverse range of rhizobia, although the competitiveness for nodulation and the nitrogen fixation capacity of most of these strains is generally low. As a result, common bean is very inefficient for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and nitrogen has to be supplied with chemical fertilizers. In the last years, symbiotic nitrogen fixation has received increasing attention as a sustainable alternative to nitrogen fertilizers, and also as a more economic and available one in poor countries. Therefore, optimization of nitrogen fixation of bean-rhizobia symbioses and selection of efficient rhizobial strains should be a priority, which begins with the study of the natural diversity of the symbioses and the rhizobial populations associated. Natural rhizobia biodiversity that nodulates common bean may be a source of adaptive alleles acting through phenotypic plasticity. Crosses between accessions differing for nitrogen fixation may combine alleles that never meet in nature. Another way to discover adaptive genes is to use association genetics to identify loci that common bean plants use for enhanced biological nitrogen fixation and, in consequence, for marker assisted selection for genetic improvement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this review, rhizobial biodiversity resources will be discussed, together with what is known about the loci that underlie such genetic variation, and the potential candidate genes that may influence the symbiosis' fitness benefits, thus achieving an optimal nitrogen fixation capacity in order to help reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizers in common bean.}, } @article {pmid31294167, year = {2017}, author = {da-Silva, JR and Alexandre, A and Brígido, C and Oliveira, S}, title = {Can stress response genes be used to improve the symbiotic performance of rhizobia?.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {365-382}, pmid = {31294167}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria able to form symbioses with legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form that can be assimilated by the plant. The biological nitrogen fixation is a possible strategy to reduce the environmental pollution caused by the use of chemical N-fertilizers in agricultural fields. Successful colonization of the host root by free-living rhizobia requires that these bacteria are able to deal with adverse conditions in the soil, in addition to stresses that may occur in their endosymbiotic life inside the root nodules. Stress response genes, such as otsAB, groEL, clpB, rpoH play an important role in tolerance of free-living rhizobia to different environmental conditions and some of these genes have been shown to be involved in the symbiosis. This review will focus on stress response genes that have been reported to improve the symbiotic performance of rhizobia with their host plants. For example, chickpea plants inoculated with a Mesorhizobium strain modified with extra copies of the groEL gene showed a symbiotic effectiveness approximately 1.5 fold higher than plants inoculated with the wild-type strain. Despite these promising results, more studies are required to obtain highly efficient and tolerant rhizobia strains, suitable for different edaphoclimatic conditions, to be used as field inoculants.}, } @article {pmid31294160, year = {2017}, author = {Silva, LR and Bento, C and Gonçalves, AC and Flores-Félix, JD and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Peix, A and Velázquez, E}, title = {Legume bioactive compounds: influence of rhizobial inoculation.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {267-278}, pmid = {31294160}, issn = {2471-1888}, abstract = {Legumes consumption has been recognized as beneficial for human health, due to their content in proteins, fiber, minerals and vitamins, and their cultivation as beneficial for sustainable agriculture due to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. The inoculation with these baceria induces metabolic changes in the plant, from which the more studied to date are the increases in the nitrogen and protein contents, and has been exploited in agriculture to improve the crop yield of several legumes. Nevertheless, legumes also contain several bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, bioactive peptides, isoflavones and other phenolic compounds, carotenoids, tocopherols and fatty acids, which makes them functional foods included into the nutraceutical products. Therefore, the study of the effect of the rhizobial inoculation in the legume bioactive compounds content is gaining interest in the last decade. Several works reported that the inoculation of different genera and species of rhizobia in several grain legumes, such as soybean, cowpea, chickpea, faba bean or peanut, produced increases in the antioxidant potential and in the content of some bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, flavonoids, organic acids, proteins and fatty acids. Therefore, the rhizobial inoculation is a good tool to enhance the yield and quality of legumes and further studies on this field will allow us to have plant probiotic bacteria that promote the plant growth of legumes improving their functionality.}, } @article {pmid30566798, year = {2017}, author = {Mizuno, S and Kanai, T}, title = {Fecal microbiota transplantation.}, journal = {Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {492-497}, pmid = {30566798}, issn = {0047-1852}, mesh = {Colitis, Ulcerative/microbiology/*therapy ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Various strains of microorganisms inhabit the human intestinal tract, and disturbance of intestinal flora, dysbiosis, is thought to be pathogenesis of various diseases. Inducing symbiosis of intestinal flora has therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal diseases, but there are limited therapeutic options including probiotics.'Previous reports suggested that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was a very useful choice in treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. FMT for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients is proposed as a potential treatment for resolving dysbiosis. There is some debate as to whether FMT for UC patients is effective or not. It remains a challenge for future research to make more sophisticated and convenient methods of FMT.}, } @article {pmid30721615, year = {2017}, author = {Bogacheva, AS and Shaikevich, EV and Rakova, VM and Ganushkina, LA}, title = {[(THE FAUNA OF BLOODSUCKING MOSQUITOES IN THE NIZHNY NOVGOROD REGION, THEIR INFECTION WITH DIROFILARIA AND ENDOSYMBIOTIC BACTERIA)].}, journal = {Meditsinskaia parazitologiia i parazitarnye bolezni}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {43-47}, pmid = {30721615}, issn = {0025-8326}, mesh = {Aedes/microbiology/parasitology ; Animals ; DNA, Helminth/genetics ; Dirofilaria immitis/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Dirofilaria repens/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Dirofilariasis/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Humans ; Mosquito Vectors/genetics/*microbiology/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The fauna of bloodsucking mosquitoes in the Nizhny Novgorod Region is represented by 11 species from 5 genera of the family Culicidae. During 2014-2015, the predominant species were Ochlerotatus cantans and Aedes cinereus mosqui- toes in both a population aggregate and woodland. The infected mosquitoes accounted for 1.3% of their total number and were registered only in the village of Fokino. The investigators identified two human pathogenic nematode species: Diro- filaria immits and Dirofilaria repens (0.9% and 0.4% respectively). The effective carriers of Dirofilaria in the examined area can be Ae.cinereus and Och.cantans as only these species were found to have an invasive stage of the parasite. The symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia was detected in the mosquitoes that were not infected with dirofilariasis. This is the first study in Russia to investigate the effects of Wolbachia on the susceptibility of dirofilariasis vectors to infection.}, } @article {pmid30620802, year = {2017}, author = {Vaziri, ND and Suematsu, Y and Shimomura, A and Vaziri, ND}, title = {[Uremic toxins and gut micro biome].}, journal = {Nihon Jinzo Gakkai shi}, volume = {59}, number = {4}, pages = {535-544}, pmid = {30620802}, issn = {0385-2385}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*microbiology/*urine ; }, abstract = {In the past, little attention had been paid to the intestine and its microbial flora as a potential source of systemic inflammation in chronic kidney disease(CKD). Systemic inflammation plays a central role in progression of CKD and its cardiovascular and various other complications. The gastrointestinal tract houses a large community of microbes that have a symbiotic relationship with the host. The normal microbial flora protects the host against pathogenic microorganisms. It also contributes to the energy metabolism, micronutrient homeostasis and nitrogen bal- ance. Recent studies have revealed significant changes in the composition and function of the microbial flora in CKD patients and animals. These changes are driven by altered intestinal bio- chemical environment caused by: I-heavy influx of urea and uric acid from body fluids into the gastrointestinal tract, II- restrictions of potassium-rich food including fruits and vegetables which as the main source of indigestible complex carbohydrates are the essential nutrients for the guts' symbiotic microbial com- munity, and III- various medications such as phosphate binders, antibiotics etc. Together the changes in intestinal milieu and the resultant microbial dysbiosis play a major role in systemic inflammation and uremic toxicity by several mechanisms : I-generation of several microbial derived uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate, p-cresol sulfate and trimethylamine-N-oxide etc. II-reduction of microbial derived micronutrients such a short chain fatty acids (SCFA) which are the main source of nutrients for colonocytes. This is caused by diminished substrates (indigestible complex carbohydrates) which leads to depletion of SCFA-making bacteria. In addition, III-Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier by ammonia and ammonium hydroxide generated from hydrolysis of urea by urease-possessing microbial species which are common complications of CKD, and bowel ischemia caused by excessive use of diuretics (in CKD patients) and aggressive ultrafiltration by hemodialysis (in ESRD patients) can impair gastrointestinal epithelial barrier. The resulting breakdown of the gut epithelial barrier (tight junction complex) leads to influx of endotoxin, microbial fragments, and other noxious luminal products in the sub-epithelial tissue and systemic circulation leading to local and systemic inflammation and oxidative stress which are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in CKD population. This review is intended to provide an overview of the effects of CKD on the gut microbiome and intestinal epithelial barrier structure and the potential interventions aimed at mitigating these abnormalities.}, } @article {pmid30592861, year = {2017}, author = {Fisinin, VI and Egorov, IA and Laptev, GY and Lenkova, TN and Nikonov, IN and Ilyina, LA and Manukyan, VA and Grozina, AA and Egorova, TA and Novikova, NI and Yildyrym, EA}, title = {[Antibiotic-free poultry production based on innovative nutritional programs with the involvement of probiotics].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {86}, number = {6}, pages = {114-124}, doi = {10.24411/0042-8833-2017-00013}, pmid = {30592861}, issn = {0042-8833}, abstract = {EU banned antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) for farm animals and poultry since 2006 in relation to the problem of drug resistance. This requires alternative products for equally efficient prevention and treatment of certain alimentary poultry diseases. One of the most actual trends is the development of innovative nutritional strategies for poultry providing an effective symbiosis between the host and its intestinal microbiota. The study presented was aimed at the comparative evaluation of productivity, nutritive value of meat, and composition of intestinal microbial populations in broiler chicks fed different diets (corn - soybean meal, wheat - sunflower cake, barley - sunflower cake) supplemented with AGP or a probiotic (cellulolytic and lactic microorganisms). In three trials straight-run Cobb 500 broilers reared from 1 to 36 days of age were fed these diets supplemented with bacitracin from 1 to 29 days of age (control) or probiotic preparation from 1 to 36 days of age (70 birds per dietary treatment in each trial). There were no differences in live bodyweight and carcass yield between the treatments in all three trials. In the two trials with sunflower cake, protein content in breast meat was significantly higher by in birds fed probiotic in compare to birds fed AGP (by 10.0 and 6.8%, p<0.05), while fat content in thigh meat was lower by 12.0% (p<0.05) and 14.1% (p<0.01), respectively. Content of amino acids in meat did not differ. Vitamin content in the poultry meat of the experimental groups was significantly higher compared to control (p<0.001). The resulting concentrations of bacitracin in meat in control treatments (no more than 0.02 U/g) did not exceed local legislative limitations. The substitution of the probiotic for AGP beneficially affected the composition of bacterial populations in the duodenum and cecae determined using T-RFLP analysis. It was concluded that the supplementation of diets with probiotic allows to produce antibiotic-free broiler meat without detrimental effects on the productive performance.}, } @article {pmid30653883, year = {2016}, author = {Kyrychenko, OV}, title = {[THE COMPLEX ESTIMATE OF THE RHIZOBIUM NODULATION ABILITY AND THE FEATURES OF SOYBEAN SYMBIOTIC SYSTEMS FORMATION AT THE MICROBIAL COMPOSITIONS SEED INOCULATION].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {90-101}, pmid = {30653883}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Azotobacter/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry/pharmacology ; Plant Lectins/pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Seeds/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Soybean Proteins/pharmacology ; Soybeans/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; Wheat Germ Agglutinins/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The features of the soybean symbiotic systems formation and carry out the complex es- timate of the rhizobium nodulation ability at the seed inoculation of the microbial composi- tions on the bases of nodule bacteria, azotobacter and phytolectins (soybean seeds lectin, wheat germ agglutinin) were studied in the green-house experiments with a soil cultures. It was shown, that complex inoculants accelerate the process of becoming infected of plants by rhizobia in the early stages of soybean development; contribute to the expansion of the spectrum of genetically determined ability of nodule bacteria in the formation of a certain number of nodules on the host plant during the growing season as well as the formation of more root nodules with more of their weight during the second half of the growing season of soybean and significant increase mass of the one nodule and also slow the root nodules aging process at the end of the growing season compared with a rhizobial monoinoculant. It was proposed to use a complex of criteria in the estimating of the rhizobia nodulation ability in the microbial compositions: "nodulation activity", "nodulation range", "the num- ber of nodules on the plant", "mass of nodules per plant", "mass of one nodule", which are indicative for different stages of the symbiosis formation.}, } @article {pmid30653880, year = {2016}, author = {Vozniuk, SV and Tytova, LV and Ratushinska, OV and Iutynska, GO}, title = {[FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF SYMBIOTIC SYSTEMS AND RHIZOSPHERE MICROBIOCENISIS OF SOYBEAN UNDER VARIOUS FUNGICIDES APPLICATION].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {78}, number = {4}, pages = {59-70}, pmid = {30653880}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Carboxin/*pharmacology ; Fungicides, Industrial/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Root Nodulation/*drug effects/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Seeds/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Soybeans/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The Relevance. At the recent years in soybean crops the quantity of plant pathogenic fungi has increased. The fungicides of systemic and contact action have been applicated intensively against of them. After introducing into the soil fungicides and/or their deg- radation products can to disrupt the activities of non-target objects - beneficial soil mi- croorganisms, inhibit nodulation process and the nitrogen-fixing activity of diazotrophs. The purpose of the work was to investigate the impact of combined application of fungi- cides with inoculation on the soybean symbiotic system and rhizosphere microorganisms. The Methods. The microbiological and statistical methods, gas chromatography method. The Results. Inoculation of seeds by the highly active Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum UCM B-6035, UCM B-6018 and UCM B-6023 strains the activity of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic systems increased by 1.4-3.4 times in comparison with the variant without of fungicides application and bacterization. Seed treatment by Vitavaks 200 FF fungicide caused a de- crease of'nitrogen-fixing activity of rhizobia industrial strains in symbiosis with soybean by 3-5 times. The seeds inoculation by B. japonicum UCM B-6035 strain promoted to reduce the negative impact of the Maxim Star 025 FS fungicide on the nitrogenase activity of nodulation apparatus. The positive effect of seeds bacterization was observed in the in- crease of the quantity of rhizosphere microorganisms of main ecological trophic groups. In the variant with seed treatment by Maxim Star 025 FS and Kinto duo fungicides was found a decrease in the number of microorganisms of studied groups in comparison with the control variant; the Vitavaks 200 FF fungicide application promoted to improve of these microorganisms development compared with the variant without the fungicides application and bacterization. At the inoculation of rhizobia industrial strains the negative effect of the Maxim Star 025 FS and Kinto duo fungicides to oligoazotrophic and prototrophic micro- organisms was not observed. The Conclusion. The symbiotic system of variant with the combined application of the Kinto duo fungicide with B. japonicum UCM B-6023 strain characterized by the highest nodulation and nitrogen-fixing activity.}, } @article {pmid30601630, year = {2016}, author = {Nemtchenko, UM and Savelkaieva, MV and Rakova, EB and Ivanova, EI and Serdyuk, LV}, title = {[The micro-ecological characteristic of intestinal biocenosis of children with functional disorders of gastrointestinal tract].}, journal = {Klinicheskaia laboratornaia diagnostika}, volume = {61}, number = {6}, pages = {368-371}, pmid = {30601630}, issn = {0869-2084}, mesh = {Child, Preschool ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology/pathology ; Feces/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines/microbiology ; Male ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {The study was carried out to investigate micro-ecological characteristics of intestinal microbiocenosis in children with functional disorders of gastro-intestinal tract. All patients were applied general clinical and laboratory examination (feces microscopy and analysis on intestinal dysbacteriosis). The micro-ecological coefficients were calculated i.e. permanence indicator and Jaccard's coefficient of community. The analysis of obtained data demonstrated that in children the risk factors of functional disorders of functioning of digestive organs are compromised heredity on diseases of digestive organs; frequent cold diseases; dysbiosis disorders in intestinal microbiota. In children with functional disorders of gastro-intestinal tract permanent microflora contained representatives of transitory opportunistic microflora entering into symbiotic relationships both with indigent microflora and with each other. The obtained data testify necessity of making in patients with functional disorders of digestive organs along with standard diagnostic procedures of evaluation of intestinal microflora. the reason is that main indices of micro-ecological balance of intestinal microbiota are important criteria reflecting severity of course of disease and effectiveness of applied treatment.}, } @article {pmid30759337, year = {2016}, author = {Abdurashytov, SF and Volkohon, VV}, title = {NEW ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATIONS FROM SOILS OF CRIMEAN STEPPE.}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {63-70}, pmid = {30759337}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Grassland ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; Ukraine ; }, abstract = {The primary selection ofarbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)fungifrom soils of Crimean Steppe was conducted The most effective associations P3, P5, S1, S3, S8 and S9 were identified using morphological characteristics of Sorgum sudanense roots colonization and spores surface appearance. It was shown that AMfitngiform Arum-type symbiosis contain well- established spores' kinds specific to individual associations. The molecular identification was performed in addition to the morphological data. AMfungi associations P3, P5, S1, S3, S8 and S9 were identified as Rhizophagus genus while SI association as Funneliformis genus.}, } @article {pmid30695562, year = {2016}, author = {Sidelnikov, GD and Valikhov, AR}, title = {[On the role of endogenous retroviruses in tumor growth biology].}, journal = {Voprosy onkologii}, volume = {62}, number = {6}, pages = {758-766}, pmid = {30695562}, issn = {0507-3758}, mesh = {Animals ; *Endogenous Retroviruses/genetics/immunology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/genetics/immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {Retrotransposons are the mobile part of the genetic material in mammals. Such a close proximity is a unique in its kind example of the genetic symbiosis. As a result of long-term co-evolution retroviruses purchased the actual immortality and protection from adverse factors, providing instead the recombinant opportunities of its genetic apparatus for the implementation of the evolutionary, adaptive and biological processes that are vital to the host organism. The consequence of the violation of the established biological balance is the pathological activity of retrotransposons that can affect the expression of any gene. This review examines the point of view on the key role of retrotrasposons in the biology of tumor development as a result of aggressive parasitism and speculates about the causes of the violations of adequate immune response in the process of tumor growth.}, } @article {pmid30645900, year = {2016}, author = {Shumakova, AA and Shipelin, VA and Efimochkina, NR and Minaeva, LP and Bykova, IB and Markova, YM and Trushina, EN and Mustafina, OK and Gmoshinsky, IV and Khanferyan, RA and Khotimchenko, SA and Sheveleva, SA and Tutelyan, VA}, title = {[Toxicological evaluation of colloidal nano-sized silver stabilized polyvinylpyrrolidone. IV. Influence on intestinal microbiota, immune indexes].}, journal = {Voprosy pitaniia}, volume = {85}, number = {3}, pages = {27-35}, doi = {10.24411/0042-8833-2016-00032}, pmid = {30645900}, issn = {0042-8833}, abstract = {Nano-sized colloidal silver (NCS) stabilized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) containing nanoparticles (NPs) of silver with a diameter of 10-80 nm was administered to growing male rats (body weight 80±10 g) during the first 30 days by intragastric gavage and then for 62 days with diet consumed in doses of 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg/kg of body weight per day based on silver (Ag). The control animals received deionized water and PVP. The composition of microbiota from the cecum was studied using standard microbiological methods with determination of the main and transient components, together with antagonistic activity of symbiotic bifidobacteria. Expression of antigens CD45RA, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD161a on lymphocytes (Ly) of peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry; blood serum levels of cytokines IL10, IL13, TNFα were examined by ELISA. It was shown that subacute administration of colloidal Ag in all studied doses did not lead to significant changes in the composition of the main components of normal microbiota, providing, however, the inhibitory effect on the growth of some transitory components probably including opportunistic species of microorganisms. Among the studied immunological parameters decreased amount of B-Ly was noticed at the highest dose of the NCS, while changes in the other parameters of the immune system were depended ambiguously on the dose of the product. The results were analyzed in conjunction with the data of previous publications concerning the impact on the NCS on integrated, morphological, hematological, biochemical and enzymological indexes of animals in the 92-day experiment. It was concluded that significant symptoms of NCS sub-acute oral toxicity manifested starting from a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight of Ag, and the maximum not observed adverse effect dose (NOAEL) can be estimated as 0.1 mg/kg body weight.}, } @article {pmid31245437, year = {2015}, author = {Ono, C and Yoshida, M and Kawano, N and Miyado, K and Umezawa, A}, title = {Staphylococcus epidermidis is involved in a mechanism for female reproduction in mice.}, journal = {Regenerative therapy}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {11-17}, pmid = {31245437}, issn = {2352-3204}, abstract = {Both external and internal surfaces of organs (e.g., skin, mouth, gut, and intestine) are covered with bacteria, which often contribute to physiological events in host animals. Despite externally opened organs, the presence of bacteria in the mammalian female reproductive tract is uncertain. Here we assessed this problem using wild-type strains of mice, C57BL/6N and ICR. We first demonstrated that bacterial colonies were formed from the oviductal fluid in the C57BL/6N mice with birth experience ("parous"), but not in the mice without birth experience ("non-parous"). Sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) revealed that Staphylococcus epidermidis existed in the oviductal fluid of the parous mice, confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, extinction of bacterial population with intraperitoneal injection of antibiotics, penicillin G and streptomycin, disturbed the regularly implanted pattern of embryos in ICR mice. Our results indicate that symbiotic S. epidermidis plays a role in interaction between embryo and uterus upon implantation in mice.}, } @article {pmid30722573, year = {2013}, author = {Ploetz, RC and Hulcr, J and Wingfield, MJ and de Beer, ZW}, title = {Destructive Tree Diseases Associated with Ambrosia and Bark Beetles: Black Swan Events in Tree Pathology?.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {97}, number = {7}, pages = {856-872}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-01-13-0056-FE}, pmid = {30722573}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Diseases associated with ambrosia and bark beetles comprise some of the most significant problems that have emerged on trees in the last century. They are caused by fungi in the Ophiostomatales, Microascales, and Hypocreales, and have vectors in the Scolytinae (ambrosia and bark beetles) and Platypodinae (ambrosia beetles) subfamilies of the Curculionidae (Coleoptera). Some of these problems, such as Dutch elm disease, have a long history, have been extensively researched, and are fairly well understood. In contrast, other similar diseases developed recently and are poorly or partially understood. The emergence and unexpected importance of these tree diseases are discussed in this article. An underlying factor in most of these interactions is the absence of a coevolved history between the so-called "naïve" or "new encounter" host trees and the pathogens and/or beetles. For the ambrosia beetles, these interactions are associated with susceptibility to what are typically benign fungi and atypical relationships with healthy trees (ambrosia beetles favor trees that are dead or stressed). Interestingly, the pathogens for both the ambrosia and bark beetle-associated diseases often have symbiotic relationships with the insects that are not based on phytopathogenicity. Some of the most alarming and damaging of these diseases are considered "black swan events". Black swan developed as a metaphor for a supposed impossibility that is contradicted with new information. Today, Black Swan Theory focuses on unexpected events of large magnitude and consequence.}, } @article {pmid30722538, year = {2013}, author = {Eskalen, A and Stouthamer, R and Lynch, SC and Rugman-Jones, PF and Twizeyimana, M and Gonzalez, A and Thibault, T}, title = {Host Range of Fusarium Dieback and Its Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) Vector in Southern California.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {97}, number = {7}, pages = {938-951}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-11-12-1026-RE}, pmid = {30722538}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) is an invasive ambrosia beetle that forms a symbiosis with a new, as-yet-undescribed Fusarium sp., together causing Fusarium dieback on avocado and other host plants in California and Israel. In California, PSHB was first reported on black locust in 2003 but there were no records of fungal damage until 2012, when a Fusarium sp. was recovered from the tissues of several backyard avocado trees infested with PSHB in Los Angeles County. The aim of this study was to determine the plant host range of the beetle-fungus complex in two heavily infested botanical gardens in Los Angeles County. Of the 335 tree species observed, 207 (62%), representing 58 plant families, showed signs and symptoms consistent with attack by PSHB. The Fusarium sp. was recovered from 54% of the plant species attacked by PSHB, indicated by the presence of the Fusarium sp. at least at the site of the entry hole. Trees attacked by PSHB included 11 species of California natives, 13 agriculturally important species, and many common street trees. Survey results also revealed 19 tree species that function as reproductive hosts for PSHB. Additionally, approximately a quarter of all tree individuals planted along the streets of southern California belong to a species classified as a reproductive host. These data suggest the beetle-disease complex potentially may establish in a variety of plant communities locally and worldwide.}, } @article {pmid30727226, year = {2012}, author = {Eskalen, A and Gonzalez, A and Wang, DH and Twizeyimana, M and Mayorquin, JS and Lynch, SC}, title = {First Report of a Fusarium sp. and Its Vector Tea Shot Hole Borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) Causing Fusarium Dieback on Avocado in California.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {96}, number = {7}, pages = {1070}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-03-12-0276-PDN}, pmid = {30727226}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Per capita consumption of avocado in the United States has nearly doubled between 2000 and 2010. The California avocado industry supplies almost 40% of U.S. demand and the remaining 60% is supplied by imports from Latin America and New Zealand. The Tea Shot Hole Borer (TSHB) is an ambrosia beetle from Asia that forms a symbiosis with a new, yet undescribed Fusarium sp. and is a serious problem for the Israeli avocado industry (3). The beetle also causes severe damage on the branches of tea (Camelia sinensis) in Sri Lanka and India (1). In California, TSHB was first reported on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in 2003, but there are no records of fungal damage (4). In 2012, nine backyard avocado trees (cvs. Hass, Bacon, Fuerte, and Nabal) exhibiting branch dieback were observed throughout the residential neighborhoods of South Gate, Downey, and Pico Rivera in Los Angeles County. Upon inspection, symptoms of white powdery exudate, either dry or surrounded by wet discoloration of the outer bark in association with a single beetle exit hole, were found on the trunk and main branches of the tree. Examination of the cortex and wood under the exit hole revealed brown discolored necrosis. The TSHB was also found within galleries that were 1 to 4 cm long going against the grain. Symptomatic cortex and sapwood tissues were plated onto potato dextrose agar amended with 0.01% tetracycline (PDA-tet). The TSHB was dissected and plated onto PDA-tet after surface disinfestation following methods described by Kajimura and Hijii (2). After 5 days of incubation at room temperature, regular fungal colonies with aerial mycelia and reddish brown margins were produced. Single spore isolations were used to establish pure culture of the fungus. Fifty conidia were hyaline, clavate with a rounded apex, and initially aseptate (4.1 to 12.0 × 2.4 to 4.1 μm) becoming one- to three-septate (7.6 to 15.1 × 2.8 to 4.5 μm, 9.2 to 17.2 × 3.4 to 4.8 μm, and 13.5 to 17.6 × 4.3 to 4.7 μm, respectively). Identity of the fungal isolates was determined by amplification of the rDNA genes with primers ITS4/5 and EF1/2, respectively. Sequences were deposited into GenBank under Accession Nos. JQ723753, JQ723760, JQ723756, and JQ723763. A BLASTn search revealed 100% similarity to Fusarium sp. (Accession Nos. JQ038020 and JQ038013). Detached green shoots of healthy 1-year-old avocado were wounded to a depth of 1 to 2 mm and 5-mm mycelial plugs from 5-day-old cultures (UCR 1781 and UCR 1837) were placed mycelial side down onto the freshly wounded surfaces and then wrapped with Parafilm. Control shoots were inoculated with sterile agar plugs and five replicates per treatment were used. Shoots were incubated at 25 ± 1°C in moist chambers for 3 weeks. Lesions were observed on all inoculated shoots except for the control. Mean lesion lengths were 10.7 and 12.8 cm for UCR1781 and UCR1837, respectively, and were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) from the control. Both isolates were reisolated from 100% of symptomatic tissues of inoculated shoots to complete Koch's postulates. This experiment was conducted twice and similar results were obtained. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium sp. and its vector E. fornicatus causing Fusarium dieback on Avocado in California. References: (1) W. Danthanarayana. Tea Quarterly 39:61, 1968. (2) H. Kajimura and N. Hijii. Ecol. Res. 7:107, 1992; (3) Mendel et al., Phytoparasitica, DOI 10.1007/s12600-012-0223-7, 2012. (4) R. J. Rabaglia. Annals Entomol. Soc. Amer. 99:1034, 2006.}, } @article {pmid30769510, year = {2008}, author = {Bergeron, MJ and Hamelin, RC and Leal, I and Davis, C and de Groot, P}, title = {First Report of Amylostereum areolatum, the Fungal Symbiont of Sirex noctilio, on Pinus spp. in Canada.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {92}, number = {7}, pages = {1138}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-92-7-1138A}, pmid = {30769510}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {Amylostereum areolatum (Fr.) Boidin (Russulales: Stereaceae) is a white rot fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with several woodwasps including Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). The vectored fungus together with a phytotoxic mucus, both injected during oviposition by the female S. noctilio, rapidly weaken the host tree, rendering it susceptible to larval development (3). Host trees of A. areolatum include species of Pinus (mainly), Abies, Larix, and Picea and Cryptomeria japonica and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Fungal Databases [online]; USDA). The siricid woodwasp is native to Eurasia and North Africa and has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa (1). In July of 2005, the first established North American population of S. noctilio was reported in Oswego, NY. Prompted by this initial discovery, a trap survey of Ontario counties located along the Canada-U.S. border, close to Upstate New York, was conducted in September and October of 2005. S. noctilio females were captured in four locations in southern Ontario. Two additional locations for S. noctilio were also reported in a survey conducted independently (2). In September and October of 2006, logs of Scots pines showing current Sirex oviposition sites were harvested from the Ontario area bordered by Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario to determine the presence of the species-specific fungal symbiont of S. noctilio, A. areolatum. Fungal isolates were obtained by surface sterilizing wood chips showing decay columns followed by incubation at 20°C on 2% malt extract agar. Cultures with morphological characteristics typical of A. areolatum-presence of clamp connections and arthrospores-were used for DNA analysis to confirm species identification. DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal RNA gene were queried against the NCBI GenBank database. There was a 99 to 100% match between the ITS sequences from the Ontario isolates and sequences from European and Asian A. areolatum isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. EU249343 and EU249344 versus AF454428, AF506405, AY781245, and AF218389). Matches with A. chailletii (Pers.) Boidin, a native related species, were around 97%. These results confirmed the presence of A. areolatum in the infested material. Cultures were deposited in the National Mycological Herbarium of Canada (DAOM 239280-DAOM 239295). To our knowledge, this represents the first report of A. areolatum in Canada. In its natural range, the insect-fungal complex exists in equilibrium with its host trees and parasites, thus, few negative impacts are observed. However, in the Southern Hemisphere where it has been introduced, it has become a major pest, attacking many important commercial North American species planted as exotics (1). Conifer forests in Canada are threatened by the spread of the S. noctilio/A. areolatum complex, particularly plantations and stands of Pinus banksiana, P. contorta, P. ponderosa, P. resinosa, P. strobus, and P. sylvestris. A survey of Eastern Canada to detect the presence of S. noctilio is on going, and genetics work is being conducted to determine the origin of the introduction of A. areolatum. References: (1) W. M. Ciesla. J. For. 101:18, 2003. (2) P. de Groot et al. Gt. Lakes Entomol. 39:49, 2006. (3) B. Slippers et al. S. Afr. J. Sci. 99:70, 2003.}, } @article {pmid30780965, year = {2006}, author = {Petit, E and Gubler, WD}, title = {Influence of Glomus intraradices on Black Foot Disease Caused by Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum on Vitis rupestris Under Controlled Conditions.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {90}, number = {12}, pages = {1481-1484}, doi = {10.1094/PD-90-1481}, pmid = {30780965}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {We examined the influence of an arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices (INVAM CA 501), on black foot disease caused by the fungus Cylindrocarpon macrodidymum on Vitis rupestris cv. St. George under controlled conditions. Mycorrhizal or nonmycorrhizal grape rootings were inoculated with the pathogen. Eight months following inoculation with the pathogen, we evaluated disease severity, vine growth, and mycorrhizal colonization. Mycorrhizal plants developed significantly less leaf and root symptoms than nonmycorrhizal plants (P = 0.04 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Only nonmycorrhizal grape rootings inoculated with the pathogen had significantly less dry root and leaf weights compared with the noninoculated control (P = 0.0021 and P = 0.0017, respectively). Mycorrhizal colonization was high (48.3% for the noninfected control and 54.5% for plants infected with C. macrodidymum) and not significantly affected by inoculation with C. macrodidymum (P = 0.2256). Thus, V. rupestris preinoculated with G. intraradices were less susceptible to black foot disease than nonmycorrhizal plants. Results from this study suggest that preplant applications of G. intraradices may help prevent black foot disease in the nursery and in the vineyard.}, } @article {pmid30781289, year = {2006}, author = {Clarke, BB and White, JF and Hurley, RH and Torres, MS and Sun, S and Huff, DR}, title = {Endophyte-Mediated Suppression of Dollar Spot Disease in Fine Fescues.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {90}, number = {8}, pages = {994-998}, doi = {10.1094/PD-90-0994}, pmid = {30781289}, issn = {0191-2917}, abstract = {In 1989, a close association was found between single-plant progenies of strong creeping red fescue infected with the endophyte Epichloë festucae and enhanced suppression of dollar spot, a widespread foliar disease of turfgrass caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. From this limited observation, extensive field evaluations were conducted on a wide range of fine fescue germplasm obtained throughout the United States and Europe to determine the frequency and magnitude of this association. In five field trials established between 1985 and 1991, endophyte-infected Chewings, hard, blue, and strong creeping red fescue cultivars, selections, and crosses consistently exhibited endophyte-mediated suppression of dollar spot, when compared with closely related endophyte-free entries. Endophyte-infected Chewings and hard fescue cultivars and selections also had greater turf density and supported less foliar mycelium of S. homoeocarpa than endophyte-free entries.}, } @article {pmid30744248, year = {1998}, author = {Schwencke, J and Bureau, JM and Crosnier, MT and Brown, S}, title = {Cytometric determination of genome size and base composition of tree species of three genera of Casuarinaceae.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {18}, number = {3-4}, pages = {346-349}, doi = {10.1007/s002990050584}, pmid = {30744248}, issn = {1432-203X}, abstract = {The genome size and base composition of diploid plant species from three genera of the Casuarinaceae family were determined by flow cytometry. Casuarina glauca Sieb. ex Spring. and Gymnostoma deplancheana (Miq.) L. Johnson showed a small genome with 2C = 0.70 pg, 58.6% AT, 40.5% GC for the first species and 2C = 0.75 pg, 58.7% AT, 40.5% GC for the second. Allocasuarina verticillata (Lam.) L. Johnson had a larger genome: 2C = 1.90 pg, 59.3% AT, 41.1% GC. One haploid genome of C. glauca is therefore about 340×10[6] base pairs. In leaves, roots or bark of these three species, polysomaty was virtually absent: a maximum frequency of 4C nuclei of only 0.08 was found in bark of C. glauca. The genome sizes of C. glauca and G. deplancheana are among the smallest described for higher plants. Small genome size, diploidy and the absence of polysomaty are advantageous traits for facilitating molecular approaches to improvement of these actinorhizal plants and developing the study of their symbiotic interactions with Frankia.}, } @article {pmid30536933, year = {2019}, author = {Brown, A and Akçay, E}, title = {Evolution of transmission mode in conditional mutualisms with spatial variation in symbiont quality.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {73}, number = {2}, pages = {128-144}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13656}, pmid = {30536933}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {Teaching Assistant Fellowship//University of Pennsylvania/International ; //Department of Defense/International ; Kek Futures Initiative//National Academy of Sciences/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Computer Simulation ; Demography ; Longevity ; *Models, Biological ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Many symbioses have costs and benefits to their hosts that vary with the environmental context, which itself may vary in space. The same symbiont may be a mutualist in one location and a parasite in another. Such spatially conditional mutualisms pose a dilemma for hosts, who might evolve (higher or lower) horizontal or vertical transmission to increase their chances of being infected only where the symbiont is beneficial. To determine how transmission in hosts might evolve, we modeled transmission evolution where the symbiont had a spatially conditional effect on either host lifespan or fecundity. We found that over ecological time, symbionts that affected lifespan but not fecundity led to high frequencies of infected hosts in areas where the symbiont was beneficial and low frequencies elsewhere. In response, hosts evolved increased horizontal transmission only when the symbiont affected lifespan. We also modeled transmission evolution in symbionts, which evolved high horizontal and vertical transmission, indicating a possible host-symbiont conflict over transmission mode. Our results suggest an eco-evolutionary feedback where the component of host fitness affected by a conditionally mutualistic symbiont in turn determines its distribution in the population, and, through this, the transmission mode that evolves.}, } @article {pmid30535938, year = {2019}, author = {Tullio, LD and Nakatani, AS and Gomes, DF and Ollero, FJ and Megías, M and Hungria, M}, title = {Revealing the roles of y4wF and tidC genes in Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899: biosynthesis of indolic compounds and impact on symbiotic properties.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {2}, pages = {171-183}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-018-1607-y}, pmid = {30535938}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Carboxy-Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Indoles/metabolism ; Mutation ; Phaseolus/microbiology/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/biosynthesis ; Rhizobium tropici/chemistry/enzymology/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is a strain known by its ability to nodulate a broad range of legume species, to synthesize a variety of Nod factors, its tolerance of abiotic stresses, and its high capacity to fix atmospheric N2, especially in symbiosis with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Genes putatively related to the synthesis of indole acetic acid (IAA) have been found in the symbiotic plasmid of CIAT 899, in the vicinity of the regulatory nodulation gene nodD5, and, in this study, we obtained mutants for two of these genes, y4wF and tidC (R. tropiciindole-3-pyruvic acid decarboxylase), and investigated their expression in the absence and presence of tryptophan (TRP) and apigenin (API). In general, mutations of both genes increased exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis and did not affect swimming or surface motility; mutations also delayed nodule formation, but increased competitiveness. We found that the indole-3-acetamide (IAM) pathway was active in CIAT 899 and not affected by the mutations, and-noteworthy-that API was required to activate the tryptamine (TAM) and the indol-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA) pathways in all strains, particularly in the mutants. High up-regulation of y4wF and tidC genes was observed in both the wild-type and the mutant strains in the presence of API. The results obtained revealed an intriguing relationship between IAA metabolism and nod-gene-inducing activity in R. tropici CIAT 899. We discuss the IAA pathways, and, based on our results, we attribute functions to the y4wF and tidC genes of R. tropici.}, } @article {pmid30535916, year = {2019}, author = {Albecker, MA and Belden, LK and McCoy, MW}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Anuran Amphibian Skin Microbiomes Across Inland and Coastal Wetlands.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {78}, number = {2}, pages = {348-360}, pmid = {30535916}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/classification/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Islands ; *Microbiota ; Skin/*microbiology ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Amphibians host a community of microbes on their skin that helps resist infectious disease via the dual influence of anti-pathogenic microbial species and emergent community dynamics. Many frogs rely on freshwater habitats, but salinization is rapidly increasing saltwater concentrations in wetlands around the globe, increasing the likelihood that frogs will come into contact with salt-contaminated habitats. Currently, we know little about how increased salt exposure will affect the symbiotic relationship between the skin microbes and frog hosts. To better understand how salt exposure in a natural context affects the frog skin microbiome, we use Hyla cinerea, a North American treefrog species that can inhabit brackish wetlands, to explore three questions. First, we determine the extent that microbial communities in the environment and on frog skin are similar across populations. Second, we assess the microbial species richness and relative abundance on frogs from habitats with different salinity levels to determine how salinity affects the microbiome. Third, we test whether the relative abundances of putatively pathogen-resistant bacterial species differ between frogs from inland and coastal environments. We found that the frog microbiome is more similar among frogs than to the microbial communities found in surface water and soil, but there is overlap between frog skin and the environmental samples. Skin microbial community richness did not differ among populations, but the relative abundances of microbes were different across populations and salinities. We found no differences in the relative abundances of the anti-fungal bacteria Janthinobacterium lividum, the genus Pseudomonas, and Serratia marcescens, suggesting that environmental exposure to saltwater has a limited influence on these putatively beneficial bacterial taxa.}, } @article {pmid30535886, year = {2019}, author = {Qi, YF and Sun, JN and Ren, LF and Cao, XL and Dong, JH and Tao, K and Guan, XM and Cui, YN and Su, W}, title = {Intestinal Microbiota Is Altered in Patients with Gastric Cancer from Shanxi Province, China.}, journal = {Digestive diseases and sciences}, volume = {64}, number = {5}, pages = {1193-1203}, pmid = {30535886}, issn = {1573-2568}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; China/epidemiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks/*genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Stomach Neoplasms/epidemiology/*genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many diseases have been associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Host-microbial interactions regulate immune function, which influences the development of gastric cancer.

AIMS: The aims were to investigate the characteristics of intestinal microbiota composition in gastric cancer patients and correlations between the intestinal microbiota and cellular immunity.

METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 116 gastric cancer patients and 88 healthy controls from Shanxi Province, China. The intestinal microbiota was investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Peripheral blood samples were also collected from the 66 gastric cancer patients and 46 healthy controls. The populations of peripheral T lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The intestinal microbiota in gastric cancer patients was characterized by increased species richness, decreased butyrate-producing bacteria, and the enrichment of other symbiotic bacteria, especially Lactobacillus, Escherichia, and Klebsiella. Lactobacillus and Lachnospira were key species in the network of gastric cancer-associated bacterial genera. The combination of the genera Lachnospira, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Veillonella, and Tyzzerella_3 showed good performance in distinguishing gastric cancer patients from healthy controls. There was no significant difference in enterotype distribution between healthy controls and gastric cancer patients. The percentage of CD3[+] T cells was positively correlated with the abundance of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus, and CD3[+] T cells, CD4[+] T cells, and NK cells were associated with Lachnospiraceae taxa.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a dysbiotic intestinal microbiota in gastric cancer patients. The abundance of some intestinal bacterial genera was correlated with the population of peripheral immune cells.}, } @article {pmid30535374, year = {2019}, author = {Chang, Y and Liu, H and Liu, M and Liao, X and Sahu, SK and Fu, Y and Song, B and Cheng, S and Kariba, R and Muthemba, S and Hendre, PS and Mayes, S and Ho, WK and Yssel, AEJ and Kendabie, P and Wang, S and Li, L and Muchugi, A and Jamnadass, R and Lu, H and Peng, S and Van Deynze, A and Simons, A and Yana-Shapiro, H and Van de Peer, Y and Xu, X and Yang, H and Wang, J and Liu, X}, title = {The draft genomes of five agriculturally important African orphan crops.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30535374}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Crops, Agricultural/*genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The expanding world population is expected to double the worldwide demand for food by 2050. Eighty-eight percent of countries currently face a serious burden of malnutrition, especially in Africa and south and southeast Asia. About 95% of the food energy needs of humans are fulfilled by just 30 species, of which wheat, maize, and rice provide the majority of calories. Therefore, to diversify and stabilize the global food supply, enhance agricultural productivity, and tackle malnutrition, greater use of neglected or underutilized local plants (so-called orphan crops, but also including a few plants of special significance to agriculture, agroforestry, and nutrition) could be a partial solution.

RESULTS: Here, we present draft genome information for five agriculturally, biologically, medicinally, and economically important underutilized plants native to Africa: Vigna subterranea, Lablab purpureus, Faidherbia albida, Sclerocarya birrea, and Moringa oleifera. Assembled genomes range in size from 217 to 654 Mb. In V. subterranea, L. purpureus, F. albida, S. birrea, and M. oleifera, we have predicted 31,707, 20,946, 28,979, 18,937, and 18,451 protein-coding genes, respectively. By further analyzing the expansion and contraction of selected gene families, we have characterized root nodule symbiosis genes, transcription factors, and starch biosynthesis-related genes in these genomes.

CONCLUSIONS: These genome data will be useful to identify and characterize agronomically important genes and understand their modes of action, enabling genomics-based, evolutionary studies, and breeding strategies to design faster, more focused, and predictable crop improvement programs.}, } @article {pmid30534962, year = {2019}, author = {Gutiérrez-García, K and Bustos-Díaz, ED and Corona-Gómez, JA and Ramos-Aboites, HE and Sélem-Mojica, N and Cruz-Morales, P and Pérez-Farrera, MA and Barona-Gómez, F and Cibrián-Jaramillo, A}, title = {Cycad Coralloid Roots Contain Bacterial Communities Including Cyanobacteria and Caulobacter spp. That Encode Niche-Specific Biosynthetic Gene Clusters.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {319-334}, pmid = {30534962}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Caulobacter/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Cycadopsida/*microbiology ; Endophytes ; Multigene Family ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cycads are the only early seed plants that have evolved a specialized root to host endophytic bacteria that fix nitrogen. To provide evolutionary and functional insights into this million-year old symbiosis, we investigate endophytic bacterial sub-communities isolated from coralloid roots of species from Dioon (Zamiaceae) sampled from their natural habitats. We employed a sub-community co-culture experimental strategy to reveal both predominant and rare bacteria, which were characterized using phylogenomics and detailed metabolic annotation. Diazotrophic plant endophytes, including Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, and Nostoc species, dominated the epiphyte-free sub-communities. Draft genomes of six cyanobacteria species were obtained after shotgun metagenomics of selected sub-communities. These data were used for whole-genome inferences that suggest two Dioon-specific monophyletic groups, and a level of specialization characteristic of co-evolved symbiotic relationships. Furthermore, the genomes of these cyanobacteria were found to encode unique biosynthetic gene clusters, predicted to direct the synthesis of specialized metabolites, mainly involving peptides. After combining genome mining with detection of pigment emissions using multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy, we also show that Caulobacter species co-exist with cyanobacteria, and may interact with them by means of a novel indigoidine-like specialized metabolite. We provide an unprecedented view of the composition of the cycad coralloid root, including phylogenetic and functional patterns mediated by specialized metabolites that may be important for the evolution of ancient symbiotic adaptations.}, } @article {pmid30534351, year = {2018}, author = {Liang, J and Hoffrichter, A and Brachmann, A and Marín, M}, title = {Complete genome of Rhizobium leguminosarum Norway, an ineffective Lotus micro-symbiont.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {36}, pmid = {30534351}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Rhizobia bacteria engage in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis, a mutualistic interaction with legume plants in which a bidirectional nutrient exchange takes place. Occasionally, this interaction is suboptimal resulting in the formation of ineffective nodules in which little or no atmospheric nitrogen fixation occurs. Rhizobium leguminosarum Norway induces ineffective nodules in a wide range of Lotus hosts. To investigate the basis of this phenotype, we sequenced the complete genome of Rl Norway and compared it to the genome of the closely related strain R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841. The genome comprises 7,788,085 bp, distributed on a circular chromosome containing 63% of the genomic information and five large circular plasmids. The functionally classified bacterial gene set is distributed evenly among all replicons. All symbiotic genes (nod, fix, nif) are located on the pRLN3 plasmid. Whole genome comparisons revealed differences in the metabolic repertoire and in protein secretion systems, but not in classical symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid30534119, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, D and Couderc, F and Tian, CF and Gu, W and Liu, LX and Poinsot, V}, title = {Conserved Composition of Nod Factors and Exopolysaccharides Produced by Different Phylogenetic Lineage Sinorhizobium Strains Nodulating Soybean.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2852}, pmid = {30534119}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The structural variation of symbiotic signals released by rhizobia determines the specificity of their interaction with legume plants. Previous studies showed that Sinorhizobium strains from different phylogenetic lineages had different symbiotic performance on certain cultivated soybeans. Whether they released similar or different symbiotic signals remained unclear. In this study, we compared their nod and exo gene clusters and made a detailed structural analysis of Nod factors and EPS by ESI-MS/MS and two dimensions NMR. Even if there are some differences among nod or exo gene clusters; they produced much conserved Nod factor and EPS compositions. The Nod factors consist of a cocktail of β-(1, 4)-linked tri-, tetra-, and pentamers of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc). The C2 position on the non-reducing terminal end is modified by a lipid chain that contains 16 or 18 atoms of carbon-with or without unsaturations-, and the C6 position on the reducing residue is decorated by a fucose or a 2-O-methylfucose. Their EPS are composed of glucose, galactose, glucuronic acid, pyruvic acid in the ratios 5:1:2:1 or 6:1:2:1. These findings indicate that soybean cultivar compatibility of Sinorhizobium strains does not result from Nod factor or EPS structure variations. The structure comparison of the soybean microbionts with other Sinorhizobium strains showed that Nod factor structures of soybean microbionts are much conserved, although there are no specific genes shared by the soybean microsymbionts. EPS produced by Sinorhizobium strains are different from those of Bradyrhizobium. All above is consistent with the previous deduction that Nod factor structures are related to host range, while those of EPS are connected with phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid30533911, year = {2018}, author = {Montecillo, AD and Raymundo, AK and Papa, IA and Aquino, GMB and Rosana, ARR}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Rhizobium sp. Strain 11515TR, Isolated from Tomato Rhizosphere in the Philippines.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30533911}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Rhizobium sp. strain 11515TR was isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato in Laguna, Philippines. The 7.07-Mb complete genome comprises three replicons, one chromosome, and two plasmids, with a G+C content of 59.4% and 6,720 protein-coding genes. The genome encodes gene clusters supporting rhizosphere processes, plant symbiosis, and secondary bioactive metabolites.}, } @article {pmid30533842, year = {2018}, author = {Nguyen, HDT and Cloutier, S and Bromfield, ESP}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium ottawaense OO99[T], an Efficient Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiont of Soybean.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {7}, number = {21}, pages = {}, pmid = {30533842}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We present the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium ottawaense strain OO99[T], a nitrogen-fixing bacterium from root nodules of soybean. The genome consists of a single 8.6-Mb chromosome and includes a symbiosis island. Genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, stress response, resistance to antibiotics, and toxic compounds were detected.}, } @article {pmid30533809, year = {2018}, author = {Kopac, S and Beatty, H and Gialopsos, P and Huntemann, M and Clum, A and Spunde, A and Pillay, M and Palaniappan, K and Varghese, N and Mikhailova, N and Stamatis, D and Reddy, TBK and Daum, C and Ng, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Woyke, T and Klassen, JL}, title = {High-Quality Draft Genome Sequences of Eight Bacteria Isolated from Fungus Gardens Grown by Trachymyrmex septentrionalis Ants.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30533809}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {For their food source, Trachymyrmex septentrionalis ants raise symbiotic fungus gardens that contain bacteria whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we report the genome sequences of eight bacteria isolated from these fungus gardens to better describe the ecology of these strains and their potential to produce secondary metabolites in this niche.}, } @article {pmid30533398, year = {2018}, author = {Brock, DA and Haselkorn, TS and Garcia, JR and Bashir, U and Douglas, TE and Galloway, J and Brodie, F and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Diversity of Free-Living Environmental Bacteria and Their Interactions With a Bactivorous Amoeba.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {411}, pmid = {30533398}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Amoeba/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Deer ; Dictyostelium/microbiology ; Feces/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phagocytosis ; Phylogeny ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Virginia ; }, abstract = {A small subset of bacteria in soil interact directly with eukaryotes. Which ones do so can reveal what is important to a eukaryote and how eukaryote defenses might be breached. Soil amoebae are simple eukaryotic organisms and as such could be particularly good for understanding how eukaryote microbiomes originate and are maintained. One such amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum, has both permanent and temporary associations with bacteria. Here we focus on culturable bacterial associates in order to interrogate their relationship with D. discoideum. To do this, we isolated over 250 D. discoideum fruiting body samples from soil and deer feces at Mountain Lake Biological Station. In one-third of the wild D. discoideum we tested, one to six bacterial species were found per fruiting body sorus (spore mass) for a total of 174 bacterial isolates. The remaining two-thirds of D. discoideum fruiting body samples did not contain culturable bacteria, as is thought to be the norm. A majority (71.4%) of the unique bacterial haplotypes are in Proteobacteria. The rest are in either Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, or Firmicutes. The highest bacterial diversity was found in D. discoideum fruiting bodies originating from deer feces (27 OTUs), greater than either of those originating in shallow (11 OTUs) or in deep soil (4 OTUs). Rarefaction curves and the Chao1 estimator for species richness indicated the diversity in any substrate was not fully sampled, but for soil it came close. A majority of the D. discoideum-associated bacteria were edible by D. discoideum and supported its growth (75.2% for feces and 81.8% for soil habitats). However, we found several bacteria genera were able to evade phagocytosis and persist in D. discoideum cells through one or more social cycles. This study focuses not on the entire D. discoideum microbiome, but on the culturable subset of bacteria that have important eukaryote interactions as prey, symbionts, or pathogens. These eukaryote and bacteria interactions may provide fertile ground for investigations of bacteria using amoebas to gain an initial foothold in eukaryotes and of the origins of symbiosis and simple microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid30533318, year = {2018}, author = {Kenkel, CD and Bay, LK}, title = {Exploring mechanisms that affect coral cooperation: symbiont transmission mode, cell density and community composition.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e6047}, pmid = {30533318}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The coral symbiosis is the linchpin of the reef ecosystem, yet the mechanisms that promote and maintain cooperation between hosts and symbionts have not been fully resolved. We used a phylogenetically controlled design to investigate the role of vertical symbiont transmission, an evolutionary mechanism in which symbionts are inherited directly from parents, predicted to enhance cooperation and holobiont fitness. Six species of coral, three vertical transmitters and their closest horizontally transmitting relatives, which exhibit environmental acquisition of symbionts, were fragmented and subjected to a 2-week thermal stress experiment. Symbiont cell density, photosynthetic function and translocation of photosynthetically fixed carbon between symbionts and hosts were quantified to assess changes in physiological performance and cooperation. All species exhibited similar decreases in symbiont cell density and net photosynthesis in response to elevated temperature, consistent with the onset of bleaching. Yet baseline cooperation, or translocation of photosynthate, in ambient conditions and the reduction in cooperation in response to elevated temperature differed among species. Although Porites lobata and Galaxea acrhelia did exhibit the highest levels of baseline cooperation, we did not observe universally higher levels of cooperation in vertically transmitting species. Post hoc sequencing of the Symbiodinium ITS-2 locus was used to investigate the potential role of differences in symbiont community composition. Interestingly, reductions in cooperation at the onset of bleaching tended to be associated with increased symbiont community diversity among coral species. The theoretical benefits of evolving vertical transmission are based on the underlying assumption that the host-symbiont relationship becomes genetically uniform, thereby reducing competition among symbionts. Taken together, our results suggest that it may not be vertical transmission per se that influences host-symbiont cooperation, but genetic uniformity of the symbiont community, although additional work is needed to test this hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid30533314, year = {2018}, author = {Kariman, K and Barker, SJ and Tibbett, M}, title = {Structural plasticity in root-fungal symbioses: diverse interactions lead to improved plant fitness.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e6030}, pmid = {30533314}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Root-fungal symbioses such as mycorrhizas and endophytes are key components of terrestrial ecosystems. Diverse in trophy habits (obligate, facultative or hemi-biotrophs) and symbiotic relations (from mutualism to parasitism), these associations also show great variability in their root colonization and nutritional strategies. Specialized interface structures such as arbuscules and Hartig nets are formed by certain associations while others are restricted to non-specialized intercellular or intracellular hyphae in roots. In either case, there are documented examples of active nutrient exchange, reinforcing the fact that specialized structures used to define specific mycorrhizal associations are not essential for reciprocal exchange of nutrients and plant growth promotion. In feremycorrhiza (with Austroboletus occidentalis and eucalypts), the fungal partner markedly enhances plant growth and nutrient acquisition without colonizing roots, emphasizing that a conventional focus on structural form of associations may have resulted in important functional components of rhizospheres being overlooked. In support of this viewpoint, mycobiome studies using the state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technologies have unearthed much more complexity in root-fungal relationships than those discovered using the traditional morphology-based approaches. In this review, we explore the existing literature and most recent findings surrounding structure, functioning, and ecology of root-fungal symbiosis, which highlight the fact that plant fitness can be altered by taxonomically/ecologically diverse fungal symbionts regardless of root colonization and interface specialization. Furthermore, transition from saprotrophy to biotrophy seems to be a common event that occurs in diverse fungal lineages (consisting of root endophytes, soil saprotrophs, wood decayers etc.), and which may be accompanied by development of specialized interface structures and/or mycorrhiza-like effects on plant growth and nutrition.}, } @article {pmid30533255, year = {2018}, author = {Koné, NA and Soro, B and Vanié-Léabo, LPL and Konaté, S and Bakayoko, A and Koné, D}, title = {Diversity, phenology and distribution of Termitomyces species in Côte d'Ivoire.}, journal = {Mycology}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {307-315}, pmid = {30533255}, issn = {2150-1203}, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis between termites of the Macrotermitinae subfamily (Isoptera: Termitidae) and fungi of the genus Termitomyces (Basidiomycota: Lyophyllaceae) is of great ecological and socio-economic importance. Seasonal fruit bodies of the symbiotic fungi are regularly collected and sold in Côte d'Ivoire. However, there are very few studies on their diversity, phenology, distribution and especially the socio-economic scope of the fruit bodies of these fungi at a national scale. This study aims at (i) assessing the diversity of Termitomyces fruit bodies in Côte d'Ivoire and (ii) mapping their fructification areas through a determination of their spatiotemporal distribution according to a climatic and phytogeographic gradients. Using ethnomycological surveys all over the Ivorian territory, information was collected from rural populations on the fructification of Termitomyces and their socio-economic importance. Based on these surveys, sampling efforts of these fungi were properly structured and oriented. The results revealed a diversity of 16 species of Termitomyces, including 9 species new to Côte d'Ivoire and 2 probably new to science. Five species were found in the forest zone, nine in theGuinean savannah zone and four in the Sudano-Guinean zone. Termitomyces's fructifications were observed throughout the year, with specific period for each species. All listed species are regularly consumed by populations. However, only Termitomyces letestui (Pat.) R. Heim and Termitomyces schimperi (Pat.) R. Heim are marketed on a relatively large scale.}, } @article {pmid30530738, year = {2019}, author = {Newman-Griffis, AH and Del Cerro, P and Charpentier, M and Meier, I}, title = {Medicago LINC Complexes Function in Nuclear Morphology, Nuclear Movement, and Root Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {179}, number = {2}, pages = {491-506}, pmid = {30530738}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/P007112/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Actins/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Medicago/cytology/*physiology ; Multiprotein Complexes/genetics/*metabolism ; Nuclear Envelope/*metabolism ; Nuclear Matrix/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nuclear movement is involved in cellular and developmental processes across eukaryotic life, often driven by Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes, which bridge the nuclear envelope (NE) via the interaction of Klarsicht/ANC-1/Syne-1 Homology (KASH) and Sad1/UNC-84 (SUN) proteins. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) LINC complexes are involved in nuclear movement and positioning in several cell types. Observations since the 1950s have described targeted nuclear movement and positioning during symbiosis initiation between legumes and rhizobia, but it has not been established whether these movements are functional or incidental. Here, we identify and characterize LINC complexes in the model legume Medicago truncatula We show that LINC complex characteristics such as NE localization, dependence of KASH proteins on SUN protein binding for NE enrichment, and direct SUN-KASH binding are conserved between plant species. Using a SUN dominant-negative strategy, we demonstrate that LINC complexes are necessary for proper nuclear shaping and movement in Medicago root hairs, and are important for infection thread initiation and nodulation.}, } @article {pmid30530198, year = {2019}, author = {Hu, D and Baskin, JM and Baskin, CC and Wang, Z and Zhang, S and Yang, X and Huang, Z}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and achene mucilage have independent functions in seedling growth of a desert shrub.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2018.11.010}, pmid = {30530198}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Artemisia/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Aspergillus niger/genetics/physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Desert Climate ; Fruit/metabolism/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/physiology ; Plant Mucilage/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can play a role in improving seedling establishment in deserts, and it has been suggested that achene mucilage facilitates seedling establishment in sandy deserts and that mucilage biodegradation products may improve seedling growth. We aimed to determine if AM symbiosis interacts with achene mucilage in regulating seedling growth in sand dunes. Up to 20 A M fungal taxa colonized Artemisia sphaerocephala roots in the field, and mycorrhizal frequency and colonization intensity exhibited seasonal dynamics. In the greenhouse, total biomass of AM fungal-colonized plants decreased, whereas the root/shoot ratio increased. AM symbiosis resulted in increased concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll and decreased concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Achene mucilage had a weaker effect on biomass and on nutrient, chlorophyll, and phytohormone concentration than did AM symbiosis. We suggest that AM symbiosis and achene mucilage act independently in enhancing seedling establishment in sandy deserts.}, } @article {pmid30529448, year = {2019}, author = {Suesdek, L}, title = {Microevolution of medically important mosquitoes - A review.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {162-171}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.12.013}, pmid = {30529448}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {Aedes/*genetics ; Animals ; Anopheles/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Culex/*genetics ; Culicidae/*genetics ; Disease Vectors ; Insect Vectors/genetics ; Insecticide Resistance/*genetics ; Mosquito Vectors/*genetics ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; }, abstract = {This review intends to discuss central issues regarding the microevolution of mosquito (Culicidae) vectors of several pathogens and how this process impacts vector biology, disease transmission, and vector control attempts. On the microevolutionary context, it comparatively discusses the current knowledge on the population genetics of representatives of the genera Aedes, Anopheles and Culex, and comments on insecticide resistance of culicids. It also discusses other biological aspects of culicids that are not usually addressed in microevolutionary studies, such as vectorial competence, endosymbiosis, and wing morphology. One conclusion is that mosquitoes are highly genetically variable, adaptable, fast evolving, and have versatile vectorial competence. Unveiling microevolutionary patterns is fundamental for the design and maintenance of all control programs. Sampling methods for assessing microevolution must be standardized and must follow meaningful guidelines, such as those of "landscape genetics". A good understanding of microevolution requires more than a collection of case studies on population genetics and resistance. Future research could deal not only with the microevolution sensu stricto, but also with evolutionarily meaningful issues, such as inheritable characters, epigenetics, physiological cost-free plasticity, vector immunity, symbiosis, pathogen-mosquito co-evolution and environmental variables. A genotyping panel for seeking adaptive phenotypes as part of the standardization of population genetics methods is proposed. The investigative paradigm should not only be retrospective but also prospective, despite the unpredictability of evolution. If we integrate all suggestions to tackle mosquito evolution, a global revolution to counter vector-borne diseases can be provoked.}, } @article {pmid30528928, year = {2019}, author = {Eroglu, C and Cimen, H and Ulug, D and Karagoz, M and Hazir, S and Cakmak, I}, title = {Acaricidal effect of cell-free supernatants from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae).}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {160}, number = {}, pages = {61-66}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2018.12.004}, pmid = {30528928}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {*Acaricides/pharmacology ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/pharmacology ; Female ; Larva/drug effects/microbiology ; Male ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tetranychidae/*drug effects/microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The effects of secondary metabolites produced by the following symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus szentirmaii, X. nematophila, X. bovienii, X. cabanillasii, Photorhabdus luminescens and P. temperata, associated with entomopathogenic nematodes, were investigated against various developmental stages of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) using cell-free bacterial supernatants in Petri dishes. In addition, the effects of the most active bacterial supernatant(s) found in Petri dish experiments were tested on T. urticae in pot experiments. All studies were conducted at 25 ± 1 °C temperature, 70 ± 5% relative humidity and a light cycle of 16 h in a climate room. The result of the Petri dish experiments showed that the supernatants had little or no effect on the egg stage, as less than 4% mortality was recorded. Depending on the bacterial supernatant, mortality in the other stages was 46-97% for larvae, 30-96% for protonymphs, 41-92% for deutonymphs, 92-100% for adult males and 46-93% for adult females. Control mortalities ranged from 1-7% for larvae, 2-9% for protonymphs, 4-10% for deutonymphs, 6-10% for adult males and 4-8% for adult females. Among supernatants tested, X. szentirmaii and X. nematophila were the most efficacious with mortality greater than 90% on the mobile stages of T. urticae. According to the results from pot experiments, the supernatants of X. szentirmaii and X. nematophila, singularly and in combination, significantly reduced the T. urticae population. However, the mixture of X. szentirmaii and X. nematophila supernatants did not increase efficiency to reduce T. urticae population compared to each supernatant alone. Further studies are warranted to find the active compound(s) in the supernatants of X. szentirmaii or and X. nematophila and assess whether the supernatant(s) has the potential of being a practical and economical control agent for T. urticae.}, } @article {pmid30528638, year = {2019}, author = {Aryal, SK and Lu, D and Le, K and Allison, L and Gerke, C and Dillman, AR}, title = {Sand crickets (Gryllus firmus) have low susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematodes and their pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {160}, number = {}, pages = {54-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2018.12.002}, pmid = {30528638}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*parasitology ; Biological Control Agents ; Disease Susceptibility/parasitology ; Gryllidae/microbiology/*parasitology ; *Nematode Infections/parasitology ; Rhabditida/*pathogenicity ; Serratia/pathogenicity ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema scapterisci, a specialist parasite of crickets, has been successfully used to combat the southern mole cricket, Neoscapteriscus borellii, which is an invasive pest of turf grass. As an entomopathogenic nematode, S. scapterisci causes rapid death of the insects it infects and uses bacteria to facilitate its parasitism. However, our understanding of the relative contributions of the nematode, S. scapterisci, and its bacterial symbiont, Xenorhabdus innexi, to parasitism remains limited. Here we utilized the sand cricket, Gryllus firmus, as a model host to evaluate the contributions of the EPNs S. scapterisci and S. carpocapsae, as well as their symbiotic bacteria, X. innexi and X. nematophila, respectively, to the virulence of the nematode-bacterial complex. We found that G. firmus has reduced susceptibility to infection from both S. scapterisci and the closely related generalist parasite S. carpocapsae, but that S. scapterisci is much more virulent than S. carpocapsae. Further, we found that N. borellii has reduced susceptibility to X. nematophila, and that G. firmus has reduced susceptibility to X. nematophila, X. innexi, and Serratia marcescens, much more so than other insects that have been studied. We found that the reduced susceptibility of G. firmus to bacterial infection is dependent on development, with adults being less susceptible to infection than nymphs. Our data provide evidence that unlike other EPNs, the virulence of S. scapterisci to crickets is dependent on the nematode rather than the bacterial symbiont that it carries and we speculate that S. scapterisci may be evolving independence from X. innexi.}, } @article {pmid30528004, year = {2019}, author = {Sun, L and Zuo, W and Tian, Y and Zhang, J and Liu, J and Sun, N and Li, J}, title = {Performance and microbial community analysis of an algal-activated sludge symbiotic system: Effect of activated sludge concentration.}, journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {121-132}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2018.04.010}, pmid = {30528004}, issn = {1001-0742}, mesh = {Bacteria/cytology/*metabolism ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phosphorus/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sewage/chemistry/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It was focused on the effect of different sludge concentrations on the performances of an algal-activated sludge symbiotic system in terms of wastewater treatment, algal-activated sludge characteristics and community structure. The results showed that the highest nutrient removal efficiencies were obtained in the reactor R2 with soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) and phosphate (PO4[3-] -P) removal efficiencies of (90.6±2.3)%, (97.69±2.6)% and (83.81±2.3)%, respectively. Further investigation exhibited that sludge concentration has a great effect on the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, the pH, the growth of algae and the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, which resulted in influencing the settleability and the performance of symbiotic system. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis demonstrated that the sludge concentration had a selective power for particular members of algae. Meantime, the stimulated algal population would selectively excite the members of bacteria benefited for the formation of algal-bacterial consortia. The variation of microbial compositions, which was influenced by the different sludge concentrations, might be ultimately responsible for the different treatment performances.}, } @article {pmid30527539, year = {2019}, author = {Hanachi, M and Manichanh, C and Schoenenberger, A and Pascal, V and Levenez, F and Cournède, N and Doré, J and Melchior, JC}, title = {Altered host-gut microbes symbiosis in severely malnourished anorexia nervosa (AN) patients undergoing enteral nutrition: An explicative factor of functional intestinal disorders?.}, journal = {Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {2304-2310}, doi = {10.1016/j.clnu.2018.10.004}, pmid = {30527539}, issn = {1532-1983}, mesh = {Adult ; *Anorexia Nervosa/complications/epidemiology/therapy ; Case-Control Studies ; *Dysbiosis/epidemiology/etiology/microbiology ; *Enteral Nutrition ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases ; Male ; *Malnutrition/epidemiology/etiology/therapy ; Middle Aged ; Symbiosis ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Functional intestinal disorders (FIDs) are frequently observed in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Relationship between FIDs and a potential gut microbiota dysbiosis has been poorly explored.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine an association between FIDs severity and dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota in a severely malnourished patient population with AN undergoing enteral nutrition.

DESIGN: Faecal microbiota of AN (DSM IVr criteria) female inpatients were collected and compared to healthy controls based on 16S rRNA profiling. The severity of FIDs was evaluated in patients and healthy controls using Francis Score.

RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (BMI: 11,7 ± 1,5; Age: 32 ± 12) and 22 healthy controls (BMI: 21 ± 2; age: 36 ± 12) were included. A marked dysbiosis was identified in AN patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.03). Some potentially pathogenic bacterial genera (Klebsiella, Salmonella) were more abundant in AN patients whereas, other bacterial symbionts (Eubacterium and Roseburia) involved in immune balance were significantly less abundant in patients than controls. Severity of FIDs was strongly correlated with several microbial genera (r = -0.581 for an unknown genus belonging to Peptostreptococcaceae family; r = 0.392 for Dialister, r = 0.444 for Robinsoniella and r = 0.488 for Enterococcus). Other associations between dysbiosis, clinical and biological characteristics were identified including severity of undernutrition (BMI).

CONCLUSION: Observed gut microbiota dysbiosis in malnourished patients with anorexia nervosa is correlated with the severity of FIDs and other metabolic disturbances, which strongly suggests an altered host-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30525855, year = {2018}, author = {De Loera Rodríguez, LH and Ortiz, GG and Rivero Moragrega, P and Velázquez Brizuela, IE and Santoscoy Gutiérrez, JF and Rincón Sánchez, AR and Charles Niño, CL and Cruz Serrano, JA and Celis de la Rosa, AJ and Pacheco Moisés, FP and Medrano González, MDR}, title = {Effect of symbiotic supplementation on fecal calprotectin levels and lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella DNA in patients with cervical cancer.}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {1394-1400}, doi = {10.20960/nh.1762}, pmid = {30525855}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects ; Bifidobacterium/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Feces/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/etiology/prevention & control ; Humans ; Inflammation/etiology/prevention & control ; Lactobacillales/genetics ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex/*analysis ; Middle Aged ; Placebos ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Radiotherapy/adverse effects ; Salmonella/genetics ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/complications/*therapy ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: patients with cervical cancer (CC) receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy have several gastrointestinal adverse effects.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effect of dietary symbiotic supplementation on fecal calprotectin (FCP), bacterial DNA levels, and gastrointestinal adverse effects in patients with CC.

METHODS: clinical, controlled, randomized, double-blind trial. Patients consumed symbiotics or placebo three times a day for seven weeks. FCP was assessed by Elisa method. DNA from probiotic and pathogenic bacteria were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Diarrheal evacuations were evaluated with the Bristol stool form scale and nausea and vomiting were measured using the scale of the National Institute of Cancerology of the United States.

RESULTS: after a seven-week treatment, FCP concentration was lower in the symbiotic group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Stool consistency in the placebo and symbiotic groups was similar at baseline. A significant improvement in stool consistency was obtained in both groups at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001). The concentrations and total proportions of the probiotic and pathogenic bacteria were similar in both groups. Nausea significantly diminished in both groups (p < 0.001) at the end of the trial. Furthermore, the symbiotic group had a statistically significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of vomiting when compared to the control group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: the symbiotic treatment decreases significantly the FCP levels and the frequency and intensity of vomiting in patients with CC.}, } @article {pmid30521551, year = {2018}, author = {Vernocchi, P and Del Chierico, F and Russo, A and Majo, F and Rossitto, M and Valerio, M and Casadei, L and La Storia, A and De Filippis, F and Rizzo, C and Manetti, C and Paci, P and Ercolini, D and Marini, F and Fiscarelli, EV and Dallapiccola, B and Lucidi, V and Miccheli, A and Putignani, L}, title = {Gut microbiota signatures in cystic fibrosis: Loss of host CFTR function drives the microbiota enterophenotype.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e0208171}, pmid = {30521551}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Cystic Fibrosis/drug therapy/genetics/*physiopathology ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/*genetics ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/physiopathology ; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency/genetics/physiopathology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/*physiopathology ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Metagenomics ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disorder affecting the respiratory, digestive, reproductive systems and sweat glands. This lethal hereditary disease has known or suspected links to the dysbiosis gut microbiota. High-throughput meta-omics-based approaches may assist in unveiling this complex network of symbiosis modifications.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide a predictive and functional model of the gut microbiota enterophenotype of pediatric patients affected by CF under clinical stability.

METHODS: Thirty-one fecal samples were collected from CF patients and healthy children (HC) (age range, 1-6 years) and analysed using targeted-metagenomics and metabolomics to characterize the ecology and metabolism of CF-linked gut microbiota. The multidimensional data were low fused and processed by chemometric classification analysis.

RESULTS: The fused metagenomics and metabolomics based gut microbiota profile was characterized by a high abundance of Propionibacterium, Staphylococcus and Clostridiaceae, including Clostridium difficile, and a low abundance of Eggerthella, Eubacterium, Ruminococcus, Dorea, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Lachnospiraceae, associated with overexpression of 4-aminobutyrate (GABA), choline, ethanol, propylbutyrate, and pyridine and low levels of sarcosine, 4-methylphenol, uracil, glucose, acetate, phenol, benzaldehyde, and methylacetate. The CF gut microbiota pattern revealed an enterophenotype intrinsically linked to disease, regardless of age, and with dysbiosis uninduced by reduced pancreatic function and only partially related to oral antibiotic administration or lung colonization/infection.

CONCLUSIONS: All together, the results obtained suggest that the gut microbiota enterophenotypes of CF, together with endogenous and bacterial CF biomarkers, are direct expression of functional alterations at the intestinal level. Hence, it's possible to infer that CFTR impairment causes the gut ecosystem imbalance.This new understanding of CF host-gut microbiota interactions may be helpful to rationalize novel clinical interventions to improve the affected children's nutritional status and intestinal function.}, } @article {pmid30520354, year = {2018}, author = {Yoshikawa, A and Goto, R and Asakura, A}, title = {Morphology and Habitats of the Hermit-Crab-Associated Calyptraeid Gastropod Ergaea walshi.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {494-504}, doi = {10.2108/zs180046}, pmid = {30520354}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animal Shells ; Animals ; Anomura/*physiology ; Gastropoda/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ergaea walshi, a gastropod with a markedly flat shell, often lives inside empty snail shells occupied by hermit crabs. We investigated its lifestyle, shell growth pattern, and habitat preference for host hermit crabs and host snail shells. Four hundred sixteen snail shells, including 363 shells with hermit crabs and 53 empty shells, were collected from intertidal zones of sandy and muddy flats around Kii Peninsula, Japan. The specimens comprised seven hermit crab species occupying 24 shell species; E. walshi was harbored in 13.2% of snail shells with hermit crabs and 17.0% of those without hermit crabs. Although no preference was detected for particular species of hermit crab or snail shell, E. walshi preferred to live inside of snail shells with wider apertures used by comparatively bigger hermit crabs. This suggests that the occurrence of E. walshi was influenced by host size rather than host species. When looking at growth patterns, we found that the attached shell portion of E. walshi continued to be enlarged horizontally, while growth in shell height slowed at approximately 5.0 mm. The conspicuously flattened shell of E. walshi is considered as a growth pattern for adapting to the narrow space within the snail shell occupied by hermit crabs. Consistent with this idea, our comparison of shell growth patterns in 23 calyptraeid species showed that shell of E. walshi is the flattest in this family.}, } @article {pmid30520104, year = {2018}, author = {Foyer, CH and Nguyen, HT and Lam, HM}, title = {A seed change in our understanding of legume biology from genomics to the efficient cooperation between nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {9}, pages = {1949-1954}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13419}, pmid = {30520104}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {//Worldwide University Network (WUN)/International ; }, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds/*physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Grain legumes play a significant role in global food security. They have an advantage over cereals in that they can form symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making them self-sufficient in terms of nitrogen acquisition. In addition to this superior agronomic trait, grain legumes have excellent nutritional properties and are thus widely used as animal feed as well as in human nutrition. Current global trends towards increased legume consumption and availability of value-added products, as well as legume production in developing countries require the provision of improved cultivars with better productivity and adaptability. Intensive efforts are thus underway to elaborate genomic resources and gain an improved knowledge base in a number of legume crops. There is also an emerging understanding of the beneficial interactions between legume-associated organisms, particularly rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which result in improved nodulation and nutrient acquisition. The emerging focus on legume breeding for high sustainable yields as well as improved biotic and abiotic stress tolerance traits will serve to close the current gap between grain legume production and demand. With the support from policymakers, this increase in knowledge can be readily translated into increased crop production to meet the demands of an increasing global population.}, } @article {pmid30519984, year = {2019}, author = {Bogusławska-Wąs, E and Dłubała, A and Laskowska, M}, title = {The role of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in selected biological process of wild fish.}, journal = {Fish physiology and biochemistry}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {511-521}, pmid = {30519984}, issn = {1573-5168}, mesh = {Animals ; Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination ; Fishes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Rhodotorula/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Defense mechanisms of fish are investigated in many aspects. One of the most interesting systems is that based on non-specific immune factors whose mechanisms of biocontrol have evolved in complex processes of microbiological co-existence. The wild fish devoid of probiotic stimulation have developed their own system to control the biosynthesis of immunostimulating compounds based on commensal microflora. Results of this study demonstrated the gastrointestinal tract (GI) of wild fish (Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus, Perca fluviatilis) was colonized by permanently residing strains of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. The genetic profile of the tested strains (PCR-random amplification of polymorphic DNA) indicated their affinity only to the GI of the analyzed fish. The capability for biosynthesis of β-carotene, torulene, torularhodin, and exopolysaccharides (EPS) under conditions of fish gastrointestinal tract was found to be a strain-specific trait. Rhodotorula spp. interactions with fish should be considered as a mechanism of symbiotic relations based on the stimulation of non-specific mechanisms of fish immunoprotection and antioxidative properties of yeast.}, } @article {pmid30519652, year = {2018}, author = {Kountche, BA and Novero, M and Jamil, M and Asami, T and Bonfante, P and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Effect of the strigolactone analogs methyl phenlactonoates on spore germination and root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {4}, number = {11}, pages = {e00936}, pmid = {30519652}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), a novel class of plant hormones, are key regulator of plant architecture and mediator of biotic interactions in the rhizosphere. Root-released SLs initiate the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis by inducing spore germination and hyphal branching in AM fungi (AMF). However, these compounds also trigger the germination of root parasitic weeds, paving the way for deleterious infestation. Availability of SLs is required for investigating of their functions and also for application in agriculture. However, natural SLs are difficult to synthesize due to their complex structure and cannot be isolated at large scale, as they are released at very low concentrations. Therefore, there is a need for synthetic SL analogs. Recently, we reported on the development of simple SL analogs, methyl phenlactonoates (MPs), which show high SL activity in plants. Here, we investigate the effect of MP1, MP3 and the widely used SL-analog GR24 on AMF spore germination and host root colonization. Our results show that MP1 and MP3 inhibit AMF spore germination, but promote the intra-radical root colonization, both more efficiently than GR24. These results indicate that field application of MP1 and MP3 does not have negative impact on mycorrhizal fungi. In conclusion, our data together with the previously reported simple synthesis, high activity in regulating plant architecture and inducing Striga seed germination, demonstrate the utility of MP1 and MP3 as for field application in combating root parasitic weeds by inducing germination in host's absence.}, } @article {pmid30519411, year = {2018}, author = {Bertoloni Meli, S and Bashey, F}, title = {Trade-off between reproductive and anti-competitor abilities in an insect-parasitic nematode-bacteria symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {22}, pages = {10847-10856}, pmid = {30519411}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Mutualistic symbionts can provide diverse benefits to their hosts and often supply key trait variation for host adaptation. The bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes play a crucial role in successful colonization of and reproduction in the insect host. Additionally, these symbionts can produce a diverse array of antimicrobial compounds to deter within-host competitors. Natural isolates of the symbiont, Xenorhabdus bovienii, show considerable variation in their ability to target sympatric competitors via bacteriocins, which can inhibit the growth of sensitive Xenorhabdus strains. Both the bacteria and its nematode partner have been shown to benefit from bacteriocin production when within-host competition with a sensitive competitor occurs. Despite this benefit, several isolates of Xenorhabdus do not inhibit sympatric strains. To understand how this variation in allelopathy could be maintained, we tested the hypothesis that inhibiting isolates face a reproductive cost in the absence of competition. We tested this hypothesis by examining the reproductive success of inhibiting and non-inhibiting isolates coupled with their natural nematode host in a non-competitive context. We found that nematodes carrying non-inhibitors killed the insect host more rapidly and were more likely to successfully reproduce than nematodes carrying inhibitors. Lower reproductive success of inhibiting isolates was repeatable across nematode generations and across insect host species. However, no difference in insect mortality was observed between inhibiting and non-inhibiting isolates when bacteria were injected into insects without their nematode partners. Our results indicate a trade-off between the competitive and reproductive roles of symbionts, such that inhibiting isolates, which are better in the face of within-host competition, pay a reproductive cost in the absence of competition. Furthermore, our results support the hypothesis that symbiont variation within populations can be maintained through context-dependent fitness benefits conferred to their hosts. As such, our study offers novel insights into the selective forces maintaining variation within a single host-symbiont population and highlights the role of competition in mutualism evolution.}, } @article {pmid30519408, year = {2018}, author = {Burmester, EM and Breef-Pilz, A and Lawrence, NF and Kaufman, L and Finnerty, JR and Rotjan, RD}, title = {The impact of autotrophic versus heterotrophic nutritional pathways on colony health and wound recovery in corals.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {22}, pages = {10805-10816}, pmid = {30519408}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {For animals that harbor photosynthetic symbionts within their tissues, such as corals, the different relative contributions of autotrophy versus heterotrophy to organismal energetic requirements have direct impacts on fitness. This is especially true for facultatively symbiotic corals, where the balance between host-caught and symbiont-produced energy can be altered substantially to meet the variable demands of a shifting environment. In this study, we utilized a temperate coral-algal system (the northern star coral, Astrangia poculata, and its photosynthetic endosymbiont, Symbiodinium psygmophilum) to explore the impacts of nutritional sourcing on the host's health and ability to regenerate experimentally excised polyps. For fed and starved colonies, wound healing and total colony tissue cover were differentially impacted by heterotrophy versus autotrophy. There was an additive impact of positive nutritional and symbiotic states on a coral's ability to initiate healing, but a greater influence of symbiont state on the recovery of lost tissue at the lesion site and complete polyp regeneration. On the other hand, regardless of symbiont state, fed corals maintained a higher overall colony tissue cover, which also enabled more active host behavior (polyp extension) and endosymbiont behavior (photosynthetic ability of Symbiondinium). Overall, we determined that the impact of nutritional state and symbiotic state varied between biological functions, suggesting a diversity in energetic sourcing for each of these processes.}, } @article {pmid30519403, year = {2018}, author = {Bolin, LG and Benning, JW and Moeller, DA}, title = {Mycorrhizal interactions do not influence plant-herbivore interactions in populations of Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana spanning from center to margin of the geographic range.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {22}, pages = {10743-10753}, pmid = {30519403}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Multispecies interactions can be important to the expression of phenotypes and in determining patterns of individual fitness in nature. Many plants engage in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but the extent to which AMF modulate other species interactions remains poorly understood. We examined multispecies interactions among plants, AMF, and insect herbivores under drought stress using a greenhouse experiment and herbivore choice assays. The experiment included six populations of Clarkia xantiana (Onagraceae), which span a complex environmental gradient in the Southern Sierra Nevada of California. Clarkia xantiana's developing fruits are commonly attacked by grasshoppers at the end of the growing season, and the frequency of attack is more common in populations from the range center than range margin. We found that AMF negatively influenced all metrics of plant growth and reproduction across all populations, presumably because plants supplied carbon to AMF but did not benefit substantially from resources potentially supplied by the AMF. The fruits of plants infected with AMF did not differ from those without AMF in their resistance to grasshoppers. There was significant variation among populations in damage from herbivores but did not reflect the center-to-margin pattern of herbivory observed in the field. In sum, our results do not support the view that AMF interactions modulate plant-herbivore interactions in this system.}, } @article {pmid30519234, year = {2018}, author = {Temprano-Vera, F and Rodríguez-Navarro, DN and Acosta-Jurado, S and Perret, X and Fossou, RK and Navarro-Gómez, P and Zhen, T and Yu, D and An, Q and Buendía-Clavería, AM and Moreno, J and López-Baena, FJ and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii Strains HH103 and NGR234 Form Nitrogen Fixing Nodules With Diverse Wild Soybeans (Glycine soja) From Central China but Are Ineffective on Northern China Accessions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2843}, pmid = {30519234}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii indigenous populations are prevalent in provinces of Central China whereas Bradyrhizobium species (Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. diazoefficiens, B. elkanii, and others) are more abundant in northern and southern provinces. The symbiotic properties of different soybean rhizobia have been investigated with 40 different wild soybean (Glycine soja) accessions from China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. Bradyrhizobial strains nodulated all the wild soybeans tested, albeit efficiency of nitrogen fixation varied considerably among accessions. The symbiotic capacity of S. fredii HH103 with wild soybeans from Central China was clearly better than with the accessions found elsewhere. S. fredii NGR234, the rhizobial strain showing the broadest host range ever described, also formed nitrogen-fixing nodules with different G. soja accessions from Central China. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing an effective symbiosis between S. fredii NGR234 and G. soja. Mobilization of the S. fredii HH103 symbiotic plasmid to a NGR234 pSym-cured derivative (strain NGR234C) yielded transconjugants that formed ineffective nodules with G. max cv. Williams 82 and G. soja accession CH4. By contrast, transfer of the symbiotic plasmid pNGR234a to a pSym[-]cured derivative of S. fredii USDA193 generated transconjugants that effectively nodulated G. soja accession CH4 but failed to nodulate with G. max cv. Williams 82. These results indicate that intra-specific transference of the S. fredii symbiotic plasmids generates new strains with unpredictable symbiotic properties, probably due to the occurrence of new combinations of symbiotic signals.}, } @article {pmid30518840, year = {2018}, author = {Tena, G}, title = {Symbiosis gatekeeper.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {982}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-018-0333-4}, pmid = {30518840}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Glucans ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30518817, year = {2019}, author = {Lim, SJ and Davis, BG and Gill, DE and Walton, J and Nachman, E and Engel, AS and Anderson, LC and Campbell, BJ}, title = {Taxonomic and functional heterogeneity of the gill microbiome in a symbiotic coastal mangrove lucinid species.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {902-920}, pmid = {30518817}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Gills/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sulfides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Lucinidae clams harbor gammaproteobacterial thioautotrophic gill endosymbionts that are environmentally acquired. Thioautotrophic lucinid symbionts are related to metabolically similar symbionts associated with diverse marine host taxa and fall into three distinct phylogenetic clades. Most studies on the lucinid-bacteria chemosymbiosis have been done with seagrass-dwelling hosts, whose symbionts belong to the largest phylogenetic clade. In this study, we examined the taxonomy and functional repertoire of bacterial endosymbionts at an unprecedented resolution from Phacoides pectinatus retrieved from mangrove-lined coastal sediments, which are underrepresented in chemosymbiosis studies. The P. pectinatus thioautotrophic endosymbiont expressed metabolic gene variants for thioautotrophy, respiration, and nitrogen assimilation distinct from previously characterized lucinid thioautotrophic symbionts and other marine symbionts. At least two other bacterial species with different metabolisms were also consistently identified in the P. pectinatus gill microbiome, including a Kistimonas-like species and a Spirochaeta-like species. Bacterial transcripts involved in adhesion, growth, and virulence and mixotrophy were highly expressed, as were host-related hemoglobin and lysozyme transcripts indicative of sulfide/oxygen/CO2 transport and bactericidal activity. This study suggests the potential roles of P. pectinatus and its gill microbiome species in mangrove sediment biogeochemistry and offers insights into host and microbe metabolisms in the habitat.}, } @article {pmid30518342, year = {2018}, author = {Brottier, L and Chaintreuil, C and Simion, P and Scornavacca, C and Rivallan, R and Mournet, P and Moulin, L and Lewis, GP and Fardoux, J and Brown, SC and Gomez-Pacheco, M and Bourges, M and Hervouet, C and Gueye, M and Duponnois, R and Ramanankierana, H and Randriambanona, H and Vandrot, H and Zabaleta, M and DasGupta, M and D'Hont, A and Giraud, E and Arrighi, JF}, title = {A phylogenetic framework of the legume genus Aeschynomene for comparative genetic analysis of the Nod-dependent and Nod-independent symbioses.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {333}, pmid = {30518342}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Genomics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Ploidies ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Among semi-aquatic species of the legume genus Aeschynomene, some have the property of being nodulated by photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium lacking the nodABC genes necessary for the synthesis of Nod factors. Knowledge of the specificities underlying this Nod-independent symbiosis has been gained from the model legume Aeschynomene evenia but our understanding remains limited due to the lack of comparative genetics with related taxa using a Nod factor-dependent process. To fill this gap, we combined different approaches to perform a thorough comparative analysis in the genus Aeschynomene.

RESULTS: This study significantly broadened previous taxon sampling, including in allied genera, in order to construct a comprehensive phylogeny. In the phylogenetic tree, five main lineages were delineated, including a novel lineage, the Nod-independent clade and another one containing a polytomy that comprised several Aeschynomene groups and all the allied genera. This phylogeny was matched with data on chromosome number, genome size and low-copy nuclear gene sequences to reveal the diploid species and a polytomy containing mostly polyploid taxa. For these taxa, a single allopolyploid origin was inferred and the putative parental lineages were identified. Finally, nodulation tests with different Bradyrhizobium strains revealed new nodulation behaviours and the diploid species outside of the Nod-independent clade were compared for their experimental tractability and genetic diversity.

CONCLUSIONS: The extended knowledge of the genetics and biology of the different lineages sheds new light of the evolutionary history of the genus Aeschynomene and they provide a solid framework to exploit efficiently the diversity encountered in Aeschynomene legumes. Notably, our backbone tree contains all the species that are diploid and it clarifies the genetic relationships between the Nod-independent clade and the Nod-dependent lineages. This study enabled the identification of A. americana and A. patula as the most suitable species to undertake a comparative genetic study of the Nod-independent and Nod-dependent symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30518016, year = {2019}, author = {Nahar, S and Jeong, MH and Hur, JS}, title = {Lichen-Associated Bacterium, a Novel Bioresource of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production and Simultaneous Degradation of Naphthalene and Anthracene.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {79-90}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1808.08037}, pmid = {30518016}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Anthracenes/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Caproates/metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Gene Expression ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Naphthalenes/*metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Phylogeny ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Pseudomonas/classification/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Lichens are generally known as self-sufficient, symbiotic life-forms between fungi and algae/cyanobacteria, and they also provide shelter for a wide range of beneficial bacteria. Currently, bacterial-derived biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is grabbing the attention of many researchers as a promising alternative to non-degradable plastics. This study was conducted to develop a new method of PHA production using unexplored lichen-associated bacteria, which can simultaneously degrade two ubiquitous industrial toxins, anthracene and naphthalene. Here, 49 lichen-associated bacteria were isolated and tested for PHA synthesis. During the GC-MS analysis, a potential strain of EL19 was found to be a 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3-HHx) accumulator and identified as Pseudomonas sp. based on the 16S rRNA sequencing. GC analysis revealed that EL19 was capable of accumulating 30.62% and 19.63% of 3-HHx from naphthalene and anthracene, respectively, resulting in significant degradation of 98% and 96% of naphthalene and anthracene, respectively, within seven days. Moreover, the highly expressed phaC gene verified the genetic basis of PHAmcl production under nitrogen starvation conditions. Thus, this study strongly supports the hypothesis that lichen-associated bacteria can detoxify naphthalene and anthracene, store energy for extreme conditions, and probably help the associated lichen to live in extreme conditions. So far, this is the first investigation of lichen-associated bacteria that might utilize harmful toxins as feasible supplements and convert anthracene and naphthalene into eco-friendly 3-HHx. Implementation of the developed method would reduce the production cost of PHAmcl while removing harmful waste products from the environment.}, } @article {pmid30508325, year = {2019}, author = {Hsiao, CC and Sieber, S and Georgiou, A and Bailly, A and Emmanouilidou, D and Carlier, A and Eberl, L and Gademann, K}, title = {Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Novel Growth Inhibitor Streptol Glucoside, Isolated from an Obligate Plant Symbiont.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {1722-1726}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201805693}, pmid = {30508325}, issn = {1521-3765}, mesh = {Biological Products/chemical synthesis/chemistry/pharmacology ; Burkholderia/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Cyclohexanols/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Glucosides/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Glycosylation ; Lettuce/growth & development ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Psychotria/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development ; Stereoisomerism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The plant Psychotria kirkii hosts an obligatory bacterial symbiont, Candidatus Burkholderia kirkii, in nodules on their leaves. Recently, a glucosylated derivative of (+)-streptol, (+)-streptol glucoside, was isolated from the nodulated leaves and was found to possess a plant growth inhibitory activity. To establish a structure-activity relationship study, a convergent strategy was developed to obtain several pseudosugars from a single synthetic precursor. Furthermore, the glucosylation of streptol was investigated in detail and conditions affording specifically the α or β glucosidic anomer were identified. Although (+)-streptol was the most active compound, its concentration in P. kirkii plant leaves extract was approximately ten-fold lower than that of (+)-streptol glucoside. These results provide compelling evidence that the glucosylation of (+)-streptol protects the plant host against the growth inhibitory effect of the compound, which might constitute a molecular cornerstone for this successful plant-bacteria symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30506600, year = {2019}, author = {Wasilko, NP and Larios-Valencia, J and Steingard, CH and Nunez, BM and Verma, SC and Miyashiro, T}, title = {Sulfur availability for Vibrio fischeri growth during symbiosis establishment depends on biogeography within the squid light organ.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {621-636}, pmid = {30506600}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R00 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM097032/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The fitness of host-associated microbes depends on their ability to access nutrients in vivo. Identifying these mechanisms is significant for understanding how microbes have evolved to fill specific ecological niches within a host. Vibrio fischeri is a bioluminescent bacterium that colonizes and proliferates within the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, which provides an opportunity to study how bacteria grow in vivo. Here, the transcription factor CysB is shown to be necessary for V. fischeri both to grow on several sulfur sources in vitro and to establish symbiosis with juvenile squid. CysB is also found to regulate several genes involved in sulfate assimilation and to contribute to the growth of V. fischeri on cystine, which is the oxidized form of cysteine. A mutant that grows on cystine but not sulfate could establish symbiosis, suggesting that V. fischeri acquires nutrients related to this compound within the host. Finally, CysB-regulated genes are shown to be differentially expressed among the V. fischeri populations occupying the various colonization sites found within the light organ. Together, these results suggest the biogeography of V. fischeri populations within the squid light organ impacts the physiology of this symbiotic bacterium in vivo through CysB-dependent gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid30505297, year = {2018}, author = {Pardo-De la Hoz, CJ and Magain, N and Lutzoni, F and Goward, T and Restrepo, S and Miadlikowska, J}, title = {Contrasting Symbiotic Patterns in Two Closely Related Lineages of Trimembered Lichens of the Genus Peltigera.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2770}, pmid = {30505297}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Species circumscription is key to the characterization of patterns of specificity in symbiotic systems at a macroevolutionary scale. Here, a worldwide phylogenetic framework was used to assess the biodiversity and symbiotic patterns of association among partners in trimembered lichens from the genus Peltigera, section Chloropeltigera. We sequenced six loci of the main fungal partner and performed species discovery and validation analyses to establish putative species boundaries. Single locus phylogenies were used to establish the identity of both photobionts, Nostoc (cyanobacterium) and Coccomyxa (green alga). Distribution and specificity patterns were compared to the closely related clade, section Peltidea, which includes mainly Peltigera species with trimembered thalli. For section Chloropeltigera, eight fungal species (including five newly delimited putative species) were found in association with nine Nostoc phylogroups and two Coccomyxa species. In contrast, eight fungal species (including three newly delimited putative species) in section Peltidea were found in association with only four Nostoc phylogroups and the same two Coccomyxa species as for section Chloropeltigera. This difference in cyanobiont biodiversity between these two sections can potentially be explained by a significantly higher frequency of sexual reproductive structures in species from section Chloropeltigera compared to section Peltidea. Therefore, horizontal transmission of the cyanobiont might be more prevalent in Chloropeltigera species, while vertical transmission might be more common in Peltidea species. All Peltigera species in section Chloropeltigera are generalists in their association with Nostoc compared to more specialized Peltigera species in section Peltidea. Constrained distributions of Peltigera species that associate strictly with one species of green algae (Coccomyxa subellipsoidea) indicate that the availability of the green alga and the specificity of the interaction might be important factors limiting geographic ranges of trimembered Peltigera, in addition to constraints imposed by their interaction with Nostoc partners and by climatic factors.}, } @article {pmid30504321, year = {2018}, author = {Nazha, A}, title = {The MDS genomics-prognosis symbiosis.}, journal = {Hematology. American Society of Hematology. Education Program}, volume = {2018}, number = {1}, pages = {270-276}, pmid = {30504321}, issn = {1520-4383}, support = {K12 CA076917/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Disease-Free Survival ; *Genomics ; Humans ; *Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis/genetics/metabolism/mortality ; *Myelodysplastic Syndromes/diagnosis/genetics/metabolism/mortality ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate ; }, abstract = {Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders characterized by the accumulation of complex genomic abnormalities that define disease phenotype, prognosis, and the risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. The clinical manifestations and overall outcomes of MDS are very heterogeneous with an overall survival that can be measured in years for some patients to a few months for others. Prognostic scoring systems are important staging tools that aid physicians in their treatment recommendations and decision-making and can help patients understand their disease trajectory and expectations. Several scoring systems have been developed in MDS with the International Prognostic Scoring System and its revised version, the most widely used systems in clinical practice and trial eligibility. These models and others use mainly clinical variables that are obtained from bone marrow biopsy and peripheral blood measurements. Adding molecular data to current models may improve its predictive power but the ultimate method to incorporate this information remains a work in progress. Novel methods to develop a personalized prediction model that provides outcomes that are specific for a patient are currently under way and may change how we think about risk stratification in MDS patients in the future.}, } @article {pmid30504145, year = {2018}, author = {Tokuda, G and Mikaelyan, A and Fukui, C and Matsuura, Y and Watanabe, H and Fujishima, M and Brune, A}, title = {Fiber-associated spirochetes are major agents of hemicellulose degradation in the hindgut of wood-feeding higher termites.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {51}, pages = {E11996-E12004}, pmid = {30504145}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulases/genetics/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Metagenome/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spirochaetales/*enzymology/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wood/*metabolism ; Xylans/metabolism ; Xylosidases/classification/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in wood-feeding higher termites (family Termitidae) is a two-step process that involves endogenous host cellulases secreted in the midgut and a dense bacterial community in the hindgut compartment. The genomes of the bacterial gut microbiota encode diverse cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes, but the contributions of host and bacterial symbionts to lignocellulose degradation remain ambiguous. Our previous studies of Nasutitermes spp. documented that the wood fibers in the hindgut paunch are consistently colonized not only by uncultured members of Fibrobacteres, which have been implicated in cellulose degradation, but also by unique lineages of Spirochaetes. Here, we demonstrate that the degradation of xylan, the major component of hemicellulose, is restricted to the hindgut compartment, where it is preferentially hydrolyzed over cellulose. Metatranscriptomic analysis documented that the majority of glycoside hydrolase (GH) transcripts expressed by the fiber-associated bacterial community belong to family GH11, which consists exclusively of xylanases. The substrate specificity was further confirmed by heterologous expression of the gene encoding the predominant homolog. Although the most abundant transcripts of GH11 in Nasutitermes takasagoensis were phylogenetically placed among their homologs of Firmicutes, immunofluorescence microscopy, compositional binning of metagenomics contigs, and the genomic context of the homologs indicated that they are encoded by Spirochaetes and were most likely obtained by horizontal gene transfer among the intestinal microbiota. The major role of spirochetes in xylan degradation is unprecedented and assigns the fiber-associated Treponema clades in the hindgut of wood-feeding higher termites a prominent part in the breakdown of hemicelluloses.}, } @article {pmid30503960, year = {2019}, author = {Gholizadeh, P and Mahallei, M and Pormohammad, A and Varshochi, M and Ganbarov, K and Zeinalzadeh, E and Yousefi, B and Bastami, M and Tanomand, A and Mahmood, SS and Yousefi, M and Asgharzadeh, M and Kafil, HS}, title = {Microbial balance in the intestinal microbiota and its association with diabetes, obesity and allergic disease.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {48-55}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2018.11.031}, pmid = {30503960}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Diabetes Mellitus/*epidemiology/microbiology/prevention & control/therapy ; Dysbiosis/*complications ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/microbiology/prevention & control/therapy ; Obesity/*epidemiology/microbiology/prevention & control/therapy ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have been considered to symbiotic interactions of the human gastrointestinal microbiota and human lifestyle-related disorders. The human gastrointestinal microbiota continuously stimulates the immune system against opportunistic and pathogen bacteria from infancy. Changes in gastrointestinal microbiota have been associated with numbers of human diseases such as allergic diseases, autoimmune encephalitis, atherosclerosis, colorectal cancer, obesity, diabetes etc. In this review article, we evaluate studies on the roles of human gastrointestinal microbiota and interference pathogenicity in allergic diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Several studies indicated association between allergic diseases and changes in bacterial balance such as increased of Clostridium spp., some species of Bifidobacterium spp., or decreased of Bacteroidetes phylum and some species of Bifiobacterium spp. and production of specific short-chain fatty acids due to food type, delivery modes of infant, infant evolvement environment and time of getting bacteria at an early-life age. In addition, obesity and diabetes are associated with food type, production of short chain fatty acids undergo fermentation of the intestinal microbiota, metabolic endotoxemia, endocannabinoid system and properties of the immune system. Well-characterized underlying mechanisms may provide novel strategies for using prebiotic and probiotic to prevent and treatment of allergic diseases, obesity, diabetes, and other lifestyle-related disorders.}, } @article {pmid30503958, year = {2019}, author = {Shaaban, M and Elgaml, A and Habib, EE}, title = {Biotechnological applications of quorum sensing inhibition as novel therapeutic strategies for multidrug resistant pathogens.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {138-143}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2018.11.043}, pmid = {30503958}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*drug effects ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*drug effects/*physiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Humans ; Quorum Sensing/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {High incidence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial clinical isolates necessitates the discovery of new targets for inhibition of microbial pathogenicity, without stimulation of microbial resistance. This could be achieved by targeting virulence determinants, which cause host damage and disease. Many pathogenic bacteria elaborate signaling molecules for cellular communication. This signaling system is named quorum sensing system (QS), and it is contingent on the bacterial population density and mediated by signal molecules called pheromones or autoinducers (AIs). Bacteria utilize QS to regulate activities and behaviors including competence, conjugation, symbiosis, virulence, motility, sporulation, antibiotic production, and biofilm formation. Hence, targeting bacterial communicating signals and suppression of QS exhibit a fundamental approach for competing microbial communication. In this review, we illustrate the common up to date approaches to utilize QS circuits in pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio fischeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii, as novel therapeutic targets.}, } @article {pmid30502748, year = {2019}, author = {Dargahi, N and Johnson, J and Donkor, O and Vasiljevic, T and Apostolopoulos, V}, title = {Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics: Can they be used to treat allergies and autoimmune diseases?.}, journal = {Maturitas}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {25-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.11.002}, pmid = {30502748}, issn = {1873-4111}, mesh = {Autoimmune Diseases/immunology/therapy ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/immunology/therapy ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/therapy ; Leukocytes/*immunology ; Mononuclear Phagocyte System/*immunology ; Multiple Sclerosis/immunology/therapy ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {As a person ages, physiological, immunological and gut microbiome changes collectively result in an array of chronic conditions. According to the 'hygiene hypothesis' the increasing prevalence of immune-mediated disorders may be related to intestinal dysbiosis, leading to immune dysfunction and associated conditions such as eczema, asthma, allergies and autoimmune diseases. Beneficial probiotic bacteria can be utilized by increasing their abundance within the gastrointestinal lumen, which in turn will modulate immune cells, such as, T helper (Th)-1, Th2, Th17, regulatory T (Treg) cells and B cells, which have direct relevance to human health and the pathogenesis of immune disorders. Here, we describe the cross-talk between probiotics and the gastrointestinal immune system, and their effects in relation to inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, allergies and atopic dermatitis.}, } @article {pmid30502467, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, H and Tang, W and Zhang, R and Ding, S}, title = {Analysis of enzyme activity, antibacterial activity, antiparasitic activity and physico-chemical stability of skin mucus derived from Amphiprion clarkii.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {653-661}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2018.11.066}, pmid = {30502467}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase/analysis ; Animals ; Cathepsin B/analysis ; Fish Diseases/*enzymology/microbiology/parasitology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mucus/*chemistry/enzymology ; Muramidase/analysis ; *Perciformes ; Peroxidase/analysis ; Protein Stability ; Skin/*chemistry/enzymology ; }, abstract = {Recently, mucosal surfaces, especially fish skin and its secreted mucus, have attracted significant interest from immunologists. Amphiprion clarkii, a member of the family Pomacentridae, lives symbiosis with sea anemones and has a good resistance to common seawater bacterial diseases and parasites owing to the protection from its abundant skin mucus. In the present work, the activity of immune-related enzymes (lysozyme, protease, antiprotease, cathepsin B, alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase), the antibacterial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria and five Gram-negative bacteria, the antiparasitic activity against the pathogen of marine white spot disease (Cryptocaryon irritans theronts) and the physico-chemical stability (to pH and heat) of the skin mucus of A. clarkii were analysed. The results showed that the levels of lysozyme and peroxidase were very similar (from 2 to 4 U mg[-1] protein). However, cathepsin B was detected of 63.32 U mg[-1] protein and alkaline phosphatase was only 0.12 U mg[-1] protein. Moreover, protease showed a higher percentage of activity than antiprotease. A. clarkii skin mucus showed a strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, particularly against Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahaemolyticus but showed no effect on Gram-positive bacteria at the tested concentrations. The bactericidal activity functioned within a short time in a distinct time- and dose-dependent manner. SEM showed that after treated with A. clarkii skin mucus, the V. parahaemolyticus cells distorted and piled together, and the filaments appeared and became into cotton-shaped or quasi-honeycomb texture to adhere cells. Meanwhile, A. clarkii skin mucus showed an apparent antiparasitic activity against C. irritans theronts with a distinct dose- and time-dependent relationship. LM and SEM observation showed that after treated with skin mucus, the theronts quickly stopped their swimming and cilia movement, cells became rounded, cilia shed, small bubbles formed on the surface, cell nucleolus enlarged, cytoskeleton deformed, cell membranes ruptured and cell content leaked out. Antibacterial activity was not affected by 30-90 °C heat treatment but was slightly suppressed by 100 °C. In the pH treatment groups, antibacterial activity was not affected by the moderate pH treatment of 5.0-8.0, but slightly suppressed by weak acid and weak base. Therefore, we speculated that the skin mucus of A. clarkii might be a potential source of novel antibacterial and antiparasitic components for fish or human health-related applications. This study broadened our understanding of the role of skin mucus in the innate immune system and provided a basis for the further isolation and purification of active substances.}, } @article {pmid30517276, year = {2019}, author = {Fuente, AL and Urcuyo, RJ and Vega, GH}, title = {Protists and other organisms on a minute snail periostracum.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia}, volume = {79}, number = {3}, pages = {521-526}, doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.186837}, pmid = {30517276}, issn = {1678-4375}, mesh = {Animals ; Diatoms/classification/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nicaragua ; Rainforest ; Snails/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the foundation of the Malacological Center in 1980, Universidad Centro Americana (UCA), Managua-Nicaragua, has been monitoring and collecting the marine, terrestrial, fluvial and lake mollusk population of the country. Many specimens have been photographed by Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), and in one of these, observation of the hairy periostracum reveals a seemingly thriving population of minute protists in possible symbiosis with their host. Adequate magnification and comparison with previous studies allowed the determination of these hosts as diatoms, testaceous amoebae, yeast, phacus, spores and other undetermined organisms which occur in tropical forests on rocks, trees and leaves. Here illustrated are diatoms and other organisms detected for the first time on the periostracum of a tropical rainforest mollusk.}, } @article {pmid30516827, year = {2019}, author = {Rozpądek, P and Nosek, M and Domka, A and Ważny, R and Jędrzejczyk, R and Tokarz, K and Pilarska, M and Niewiadomska, E and Turnau, K}, title = {Acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus and alterations in sugar metabolism in response to inoculation with endophytic fungi.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {1408-1423}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13485}, pmid = {30516827}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Arabidopsis/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Blotting, Western ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; *Mucor ; *Photosynthesis ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {The role of an endophytic Zygomycete Mucor sp. in growth promotion and adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to increased energy demands of its hosts Arabidopsis arenosa and Arabidopsis thaliana was evaluated. Inoculation with the fungus improved the water use efficiency of the plants and allowed for them to utilize incident light for photochemistry more effectively by upregulating the expression of several photosystem I- and II-related genes and their respective proteins, proteins involved in light harvesting in PSII and PSI and carbon assimilation. This effect was independent of the ability of the plants to acquire nutrients from the soil. We hypothesize that the accelerated growth of the symbiotic plants resulted from an increase in their demand for carbohydrates and carbohydrate turnover (sink strength) that triggered a simultaneous upregulation of carbon assimilation. Arabidopsis plants inoculated with Mucor sp. exhibited upregulated expression in several genes encoding proteins involved in carbohydrate catabolism, sugar transport, and smaller starch grains that indicate a significant upregulation of carbohydrate metabolism.}, } @article {pmid30515715, year = {2019}, author = {French, PW and Ludowyke, R and Guillemin, GJ}, title = {Fungal Neurotoxins and Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.}, journal = {Neurotoxicity research}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {969-980}, pmid = {30515715}, issn = {1476-3524}, mesh = {Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/epidemiology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Animals ; Brain/metabolism/*microbiology ; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Humans ; Motor Neurons/drug effects/metabolism ; Mycoses/*complications ; Mycotoxins/*metabolism ; Neurotoxins/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase-1/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We review several lines of evidence that point to a potential fungal origin of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is the most common form of motor neuron disease (MND) in adults. It is a progressive and fatal disease. Approximately 90% cases of ALS are sporadic, and 5-10% are due to genetic mutations (familial). About 25 genes implicated in familial ALS have been identified so far, including SOD1 and TARDBP, the gene encoding 43 kDa transactive response (TAR) DNA-binding protein (TDP-43). Despite intensive research over many decades, the aetiology of sporadic ALS is still unknown. An environmental cause, including grass or soil-associated fungal infections, is suggested from a range of widely diverse lines of evidence. Clusters of ALS have been reported in soccer players, natives of Guam and farmers. Grass-associated fungi are known to produce a range of neurotoxins and, in symbiotic associations, high levels of fungal SOD1. Exposure of neurons to fungal neurotoxins elicits a significant increase in glutamate production. High levels of glutamate stimulate TDP-43 translocation and modification, providing a link between fungal infection and one of the molecular and histologic hallmarks of sporadic ALS. A recent study provided evidence of a variety of fungi in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of ALS patients. This review provides a rational explanation for this observation. If a fungal infection could be confirmed as a potential cause of ALS, this could provide a straightforward treatment strategy for this fatal and incurable disease.}, } @article {pmid30515182, year = {2018}, author = {Gil-Martínez, M and López-García, Á and Domínguez, MT and Navarro-Fernández, CM and Kjøller, R and Tibbett, M and Marañón, T}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities and Their Functional Traits Mediate Plant-Soil Interactions in Trace Element Contaminated Soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1682}, pmid = {30515182}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {There is an increasing consensus that microbial communities have an important role in mediating ecosystem processes. Trait-based ecology predicts that the impact of the microbial communities on ecosystem functions will be mediated by the expression of their traits at community level. The link between the response of microbial community traits to environmental conditions and its effect on plant functioning is a gap in most current microbial ecology studies. In this study, we analyzed functional traits of ectomycorrhizal fungal species in order to understand the importance of their community assembly for the soil-plant relationships in holm oak trees (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) growing in a gradient of exposure to anthropogenic trace element (TE) contamination after a metalliferous tailings spill. Particularly, we addressed how the ectomycorrhizal composition and morphological traits at community level mediate plant response to TE contamination and its capacity for phytoremediation. Ectomycorrhizal fungal taxonomy and functional diversity explained a high proportion of variance of tree functional traits, both in roots and leaves. Trees where ectomycorrhizal fungal communities were dominated by the abundant taxa Hebeloma cavipes and Thelephora terrestris showed a conservative root economics spectrum, while trees colonized by rare taxa presented a resource acquisition strategy. Conservative roots presented ectomycorrhizal functional traits characterized by high rhizomorphs formation and low melanization which may be driven by resource limitation. Soil-to-root transfer of TEs was explained substantially by the ectomycorrhizal fungal species composition, with the highest transfer found in trees whose roots were colonized by Hebeloma cavipes. Leaf phosphorus was related to ectomycorrhizal species composition, specifically higher leaf phosphorus was related to the root colonization by Thelephora terrestris. These findings support that ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition and their functional traits mediate plant performance in metal-contaminated soils, and have a high influence on plant capacity for phytoremediation of contaminants. The study also corroborates the overall effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on ecosystem functioning through their mediation over the plant economics spectrum.}, } @article {pmid30513975, year = {2018}, author = {Nath, A and Molnár, MA and Csighy, A and Kőszegi, K and Galambos, I and Huszár, KP and Koris, A and Vatai, G}, title = {Biological Activities of Lactose-Based Prebiotics and Symbiosis with Probiotics on Controlling Osteoporosis, Blood-Lipid and Glucose Levels.}, journal = {Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)}, volume = {54}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {30513975}, issn = {1648-9144}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Gastrointestinal Agents/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia/*diet therapy/metabolism ; Hyperlipidemias/*diet therapy/metabolism ; Lactose/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Lactulose/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis/*diet therapy/metabolism ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Probiotics/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Lactose-based prebiotics are synthesized by enzymatic- or microbial- biotransformation of lactose and have unique functional values. In this comprehensive review article, the biochemical mechanisms of controlling osteoporosis, blood-lipid, and glucose levels by lactose-based prebiotics and symbiosis with probiotics are reported along with the results of clinical investigations. Interaction between lactose-based prebiotics and probiotics reduces osteoporosis by (a) transforming insoluble inorganic salts to soluble and increasing their absorption to gut wall; (b) maintaining and protecting mineral absorption surface in the intestine; (c) increasing the expression of calcium-binding proteins in the gut wall; (d) remodeling osteoclasts and osteoblasts formation; (e) releasing bone modulating factors; and (f) degrading mineral complexing phytic acid. Lactose-based prebiotics with probiotics control lipid level in the bloodstream and tissue by (a) suppressing the expressions of lipogenic- genes and enzymes; (b) oxidizing fatty acids in muscle, liver, and adipose tissue; (c) binding cholesterol with cell membrane of probiotics and subsequent assimilation by probiotics; (d) enzymatic-transformations of bile acids; and (e) converting cholesterol to coprostanol and its defecation. Symbiosis of lactose-based prebiotics with probiotics affect plasma glucose level by (a) increasing the synthesis of gut hormones plasma peptide-YY, glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon-like peptide-2 from entero-endocrine L-cells; (b) altering glucose assimilation and metabolism; (c) suppressing systematic inflammation; (d) reducing oxidative stress; and (e) producing amino acids. Clinical investigations show that lactose-based prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharide improves mineral absorption and reduces hyperlipidemia. Another lactose-based prebiotic, lactulose, improves mineral absorption, and reduces hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. It is expected that this review article will be of benefit to food technologists and medical practitioners.}, } @article {pmid30513647, year = {2018}, author = {Pang, P and Yu, B and Shi, Y and Deng, L and Xu, H and Wu, S and Chen, X}, title = {Alteration of Intestinal Flora Stimulates Pulmonary microRNAs to Interfere with Host Antiviral Immunity in Influenza.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30513647}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Antiviral Agents/*immunology ; Biodiversity ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; *Immunity ; Lung/*metabolism/pathology/virology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections/*genetics/*immunology/virology ; RNA, Viral/genetics/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The intestinal flora may be an important and modifiable factor that contributes to the immune response in influenza. To investigate the effect of intestinal flora alteration induced by antibiotic interference on microRNA (miRNA) communication in antiviral immunity, BALB/c mice received two weeks of antibiotic treatment before infection with the influenza A virus. The changes in intestinal flora and pulmonary flora were detected and analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. The amplification of the influenza virus in the lungs was measured by RT-PCR. The involvement of pulmonary miRNA was explored using miRNA microarray analysis. The results showed that the antibiotics destroyed the symbiotic relationship of the intestinal flora, resulting in a reduction in bacterial diversity, but they did not affect the pulmonary flora. The alteration of intestinal flora affected the expression of pulmonary miRNAs and resulted in an enhancement of pulmonary influenza virus amplification. The conclusion is that alteration of intestinal flora induced by antibiotic interference affected the expression of pulmonary miRNAs to interfere with host antiviral immunity, of which miR-146b and miR-29c might be good resources of resistance to influenza under antibiotic abuse.}, } @article {pmid30512024, year = {2018}, author = {Tyuleva, SN and Allen, N and White, LJ and Pépés, A and Shepherd, HJ and Saines, PJ and Ellaby, RJ and Mulvihill, DP and Hiscock, JR}, title = {A symbiotic supramolecular approach to the design of novel amphiphiles with antibacterial properties against MSRA.}, journal = {Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {95-98}, pmid = {30512024}, issn = {1364-548X}, mesh = {Anthracenes/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Conformation ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Herein, we identify supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles (SSAs) as a novel class of antibacterials with activity towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Structure-activity relationships have been identified in the solid, solution and gas phases. Finally, we show that when supplied in combination, SSAs exhibit increased antibacterial efficacy against these clinically relevant microbes.}, } @article {pmid30511528, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, S and Shao, G and Shao, F and Zhang, M}, title = {[Diffusion-weighted imaging texture features in differentiation of malignant from benign nonpalpable breast lesions for patients with microcalcifications-only in mammography].}, journal = {Zhejiang da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {400-404}, doi = {10.3785/j.issn.1008-9292.2018.08.12}, pmid = {30511528}, issn = {1008-9292}, mesh = {Breast/diagnostic imaging ; *Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging ; Calcinosis/diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; *Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; *Mammography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of MR diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI) texture features in differentiation of malignant from benign nonpalpable breast lesion for patients with microcalcifications-only in mammography.

METHODS: The clinical and MR-DWI data of 61 patients with microcalcifications, who underwent three-dimensional positioning of breast X-ray wire from October 2012 to December 2015 in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed, including 38 patients with malignant lesions and 23 patients with benign lesions. Two radiologists independently drew the regions of interest (ROI) on DWI for image segmentation, and 6 histogram features and 16 grayscale symbiosis matrix (GLCM) texture features were extracted on each ROI. The random forest algorithm was applied to select the features and built the classification model. The leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) was used to validate the classifier, and the performance of the classifier was evaluated by ROC curve.

RESULTS: Six features were selected, including histogram features of mean, variance, skewness, entropy, as well as contrast (0°) and correlation (45°) in GLCM. The histogram features of mean, variance, skewness and entropy were significantly different between the benign and malignant breast lesions (all P<0.05). The AUC of the model was 0.76, and the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were 77.05%, 84.21% and 65.21%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The texture feature analysis of DWI can improve the diagnostic accuracy of differentiating benign and malignant breast nonpalpable lesions with microcalcifications-only in mammography. Histogram features of mean, variance, skewness, entropy of DWI may be used as important imaging markers.}, } @article {pmid30510528, year = {2018}, author = {Hernandez, AE and Claussenius-Kalman, HL and Ronderos, J and Vaughn, KA}, title = {Symbiosis, Parasitism and Bilingual Cognitive Control: A Neuroemergentist Perspective.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2171}, pmid = {30510528}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Interest in the intersection between bilingualism and cognitive control and accessibility to neuroimaging methods has resulted in numerous studies with a variety of interpretations of the bilingual cognitive advantage. Neurocomputational Emergentism (or Neuroemergentism for short) is a new framework for understanding this relationship between bilingualism and cognitive control. This framework considers Emergence, in which two small elements are recombined in an interactive manner, yielding a non-linear effect. Added to this is the notion that Emergence can be captured in neural systems using computationally inspired models. This review poses that bilingualism and cognitive control, as examined through the Neuroemergentist framework, are interwoven through development and involve the non-linear growth of cognitive processing encompassing brain areas that combine and recombine, in symbiotic and parasitic ways, in order to handle more complex types of processing. The models that have sought to explain the neural substrates of bilingual cognitive differences will be discussed with a reinterpretation of the entire bilingual cognitive advantage within a Neuroemergentist framework incorporating its neural bases. It will conclude by discussing how this new Neuroemergentist approach alters our view of the effects of language experience on cognitive control. Avenues to move beyond the simple notion of a bilingual advantage or lack thereof will be proposed.}, } @article {pmid30510292, year = {2018}, author = {Brasseur, L and Caulier, G and Lepoint, G and Gerbaux, P and Eeckhaut, I}, title = {Echinometra mathaei and its ectocommensal shrimps: the role of sea urchin spinochrome pigments in the symbiotic association.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {17540}, pmid = {30510292}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Naphthoquinones/*metabolism ; Pigmentation/*physiology ; Sea Urchins/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Tuleariocaris holthuisi and Arete indicus are two ectocommensal shrimps closely associated with the tropical sea urchin Echinometra mathaei. This study provides a comparison of these two E. mathaei symbiotic crustaceans and particularly focuses on the relationship between T. holthuisi and its host's pigments (i.e. spinochromes), and its dependency on its host. While all the analyses underline a close association between A. indicus and E. mathaei, they reveal a particularly close interaction between T. holthuisi and its host. Chemical analyses reveal that these shrimps present the same spinochrome composition as E. mathaei, and have similar colouration, allowing camouflage. Isotopic composition and pigment loss after host separation suggest that these pigments are certainly assimilated upon feeding on the urchin. Moreover, symbiont isolation experiments demonstrate the high dependency of T. holthuisi on its host and the importance of the host's pigments on their survival capacity. Finally, some host recognition mechanisms are investigated for T. holthuisi and show the probable implication of spinochromes in host selection, through chemical recognition. Hence, all the results suggest the essential roles of spinochromes for T. holthuisi, which, in turn, suggests the potential implication of these pigments in the shrimps' metabolism.}, } @article {pmid30509987, year = {2019}, author = {Hassall, C and Billington, J and Sherratt, TN}, title = {Climate-induced phenological shifts in a Batesian mimicry complex.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {929-933}, pmid = {30509987}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biobehavioral Sciences ; Biological Mimicry/*physiology ; *Climate Change ; Diptera/*physiology ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Climate-induced changes in spatial and temporal occurrence of species, as well as species traits such as body size, each have the potential to decouple symbiotic relationships. Past work has focused primarily on direct interactions, particularly those between predators and prey and between plants and pollinators, but studies have rarely demonstrated significant fitness costs to the interacting, coevolving organisms. Here, we demonstrate that changing phenological synchrony in the latter part of the 20th century has different fitness outcomes for the actors within a Batesian mimicry complex, where predators learn to differentiate harmful "model" organisms (stinging Hymenoptera) from harmless "mimics" (hoverflies, Diptera: Syrphidae). We define the mimetic relationships between 2,352 pairs of stinging Hymenoptera and their Syrphidae mimics based on a large-scale citizen science project and demonstrate that there is no relationship between the phenological shifts of models and their mimics. Using computer game-based experiments, we confirm that the fitness of models, mimics, and predators differs among phenological scenarios, creating a phenologically antagonistic system. Finally, we show that climate change is increasing the proportion of mimetic interactions in which models occur first and reducing mimic-first and random patterns of occurrence, potentially leading to complex fitness costs and benefits across all three actors. Our results provide strong evidence for an overlooked example of fitness consequences from changing phenological synchrony.}, } @article {pmid30509793, year = {2018}, author = {Baquiran, JIP and Conaco, C}, title = {Sponge-microbe partnerships are stable under eutrophication pressure from mariculture.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {125-134}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.011}, pmid = {30509793}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; *Eutrophication ; Fisheries ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Philippines ; *Porifera/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbor a great diversity of symbiotic microorganisms. However, environmental stresses can affect this partnership and influence the health and abundance of the host sponges. In Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines, chronic input of organic materials from mariculture activities contributes to a eutrophic coastal environment. To understand how these conditions might affect sponge-microbial partnerships, transplantation experiments were conducted with the marine sponge Gelliodes obtusa. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that the associated microbial community of the sponges did not exhibit significant shifts after six weeks of transplantation at a eutrophic fish farm site compared to sponges grown at a coral reef or a seagrass area. However, sponges at the fish farm revealed higher abundance of the amoA gene, suggesting that microbiome members are responsive to increased ammonium levels at the site. The stable association between G. obtusa and its microbiome indicates that the sponge holobiont can withstand eutrophication pressure from mariculture.}, } @article {pmid30500814, year = {2018}, author = {Lopes, LE and Waldis, SJ and Terrell, SM and Lindgren, KA and Charkoudian, LK}, title = {Vibrant symbiosis: Achieving reciprocal science outreach through biological art.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {e3000061}, pmid = {30500814}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Adult ; Art ; Communication ; Community-Institutional Relations/trends ; Education of Intellectually Disabled/*methods ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Science/*education ; Students ; Universities ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Scientific outreach efforts traditionally involve formally trained scientists teaching the general public about the methods, significance, and excitement of science. We recently experimented with an alternative "symbiotic outreach" model that prioritizes building a reciprocal relationship between formally trained and "outsider" scientists to facilitate active two-way communication. Herein, we present the results of our outreach effort involving college students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities working together to make biological and multimedia art. By discussing the steps others can take to cultivate reciprocal outreach within their local communities, we hope to lower the barrier for widespread adoption of similar approaches and ultimately to decrease the gap between formally trained scientists and the general public.}, } @article {pmid30497879, year = {2019}, author = {Tsaftaris, SA and Scharr, H}, title = {Sharing the Right Data Right: A Symbiosis with Machine Learning.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {99-102}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2018.10.016}, pmid = {30497879}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Machine Learning ; Phenotype ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In 2014 plant phenotyping research was not benefiting from the machine learning (ML) revolution because appropriate data were lacking. We report the success of the first open-access dataset suitable for ML in image-based plant phenotyping suitable for machine learning, fuelling a true interdisciplinary symbiosis, increased awareness, and steep performance improvements on key phenotyping tasks.}, } @article {pmid30496253, year = {2018}, author = {Ikram, M and Ali, N and Jan, G and Jan, FG and Rahman, IU and Iqbal, A and Hamayun, M}, title = {IAA producing fungal endophyte Penicillium roqueforti Thom., enhances stress tolerance and nutrients uptake in wheat plants grown on heavy metal contaminated soils.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0208150}, pmid = {30496253}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Triticum/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals contaminated soil is a serious environmental concern that has a negative impact on agriculture and ecosystem. Economical and efficient ways are needed to address this problem worldwide. In this regard, exploration and application of proficient microbial strains that can help the crop plants to thrive in agricultural soils that are greatly contaminated with heavy metals. The present study mainly focused on the effect of IAA producing endophytic fungi Penicillium ruqueforti Thom., on wheat plants cultivated in soil rich in heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb). P. ruqueforti has induced great resistance in wheat inoculated plants grown in heavy metal contaminated soil. Application of the isolated strain of P. ruqueforti restricted the transfer of heavy metals from soil to the plants by secreting indole acetic acid (IAA). Furthermore, P. ruqueforti inoculated wheat seedlings watered with waste water had higher plant growth, nutrient uptake and low concentrations of heavy metals in shoot and roots. On the contrary, non-inoculated wheat plants under heavy metal stress had stunted growth with symptoms of chlorosis. From the results, it is concluded that P. ruqueforti inoculation can establish a symbiotic relationship with host plants, which is useful for phytostabilization of heavy metals or in other words helping the host crops to flourish through soil that are highly contaminated with heavy metals.}, } @article {pmid30488371, year = {2019}, author = {Paulitsch, F and Klepa, MS and da Silva, AR and do Carmo, MRB and Dall'Agnol, RF and Delamuta, JRM and Hungria, M and da Silva Batista, JS}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of rhizobia nodulating native Mimosa gymnas grown in a South Brazilian ecotone.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {529-540}, pmid = {30488371}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Mimosa/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Floristic surveys performed in "Campos Gerais" (Paraná, Brazil), an ecotone of Mata Atlântica and Cerrado biomes, highlights the richness and relative abundance of the family Fabaceae and point out the diversity and endemism of Mimosa spp. Our study reports the genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of native/endemic Mimosa gymnas Barneby in three areas of Guartelá State Park, an important conservation unit of "Campos Gerais". Soils of the sample areas were characterized as sandy, acid, poor in nutrients and organic matter. The genetic variability among the isolates was revealed by BOX-PCR genomic fingerprinting. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene grouped the strains in a large cluster including Paraburkholderia nodosa and P. bannensis, while recA-gyrB phylogeny separated the strains in two groups: one including P. nodosa and the other without any described Paraburkholderia species. MLSA confirmed the separate position of this second group of strains within the genus Paraburkholderia and the nucleotide identity of the five concatened housekeeping genes was 95.9% in relation to P. nodosa BR 3437[T]. Phylogram based on symbiosis-essential nodC gene was in agreement with 16S rRNA analysis. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis support that Paraburkholderia are the main symbionts of native Mimosa in specific edaphic conditions found in South America and reveal the importance of endemic/native leguminous plants as reservoirs of novel rhizobial species.}, } @article {pmid30487804, year = {2018}, author = {Salgado, MG and van Velzen, R and Nguyen, TV and Battenberg, K and Berry, AM and Lundin, D and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Comparative Analysis of the Nodule Transcriptomes of Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (Rhamnaceae, Rosales) and Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae, Cucurbitales).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1629}, pmid = {30487804}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Two types of nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses are known, rhizobial and actinorhizal symbioses. The latter involve plants of three orders, Fagales, Rosales, and Cucurbitales. To understand the diversity of plant symbiotic adaptation, we compared the nodule transcriptomes of Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae, Cucurbitales) and Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (Rhamnaceae, Rosales); both species are nodulated by members of the uncultured Frankia clade, cluster II. The analysis focused on various features. In both species, the expression of orthologs of legume Nod factor receptor genes was elevated in nodules compared to roots. Since arginine has been postulated as export form of fixed nitrogen from symbiotic Frankia in nodules of D. glomerata, the question was whether the nitrogen metabolism was similar in nodules of C. thyrsiflorus. Analysis of the expression levels of key genes encoding enzymes involved in arginine metabolism revealed up-regulation of arginine catabolism, but no up-regulation of arginine biosynthesis, in nodules compared to roots of D. glomerata, while arginine degradation was not upregulated in nodules of C. thyrsiflorus. This new information corroborated an arginine-based metabolic exchange between host and microsymbiont for D. glomerata, but not for C. thyrsiflorus. Oxygen protection systems for nitrogenase differ dramatically between both species. Analysis of the antioxidant system suggested that the system in the nodules of D. glomerata leads to greater oxidative stress than the one in the nodules of C. thyrsiflorus, while no differences were found for the defense against nitrosative stress. However, induction of nitrite reductase in nodules of C. thyrsiflorus indicated that here, nitrite produced from nitric oxide had to be detoxified. Additional shared features were identified: genes encoding enzymes involved in thiamine biosynthesis were found to be upregulated in the nodules of both species. Orthologous nodule-specific subtilisin-like proteases that have been linked to the infection process in actinorhizal Fagales, were also upregulated in the nodules of D. glomerata and C. thyrsiflorus. Nodule-specific defensin genes known from actinorhizal Fagales and Cucurbitales, were also found in C. thyrsiflorus. In summary, the results underline the variability of nodule metabolism in different groups of symbiotic plants while pointing at conserved features involved in the infection process.}, } @article {pmid30487350, year = {2018}, author = {Evans, JS and López-Legentil, S and Erwin, PM}, title = {Comparing Two Common DNA Extraction Kits for the Characterization of Symbiotic Microbial Communities from Ascidian Tissue.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {435-439}, pmid = {30487350}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Genetic Techniques/*standards ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Various DNA extraction methods are often used interchangeably for the characterization of microbial communities despite indications that different techniques produce disparate results. The microbiomes of two ascidian species were herein characterized using two common DNA extraction kits, the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen) and the PowerSoil DNA Isolation Kit (Mo Bio Laboratories), followed by next-generation (Illumina) sequencing of partial 16S rRNA genes. Significant differences were detected in microbial community diversity and structure between ascidian species, but not between kits, suggesting similar recovery of biological variation and low technical variation between the two extraction methods for ascidian microbiome characterization.}, } @article {pmid30487315, year = {2018}, author = {Matthews, JL and Oakley, CA and Lutz, A and Hillyer, KE and Roessner, U and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Partner switching and metabolic flux in a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1892}, pages = {}, pmid = {30487315}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Energy Metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metabolite exchange is fundamental to the viability of the cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis and survival of coral reefs. Coral holobiont tolerance to environmental change might be achieved through changes in Symbiodiniaceae species composition, but differences in the metabolites supplied by different Symbiodiniaceae species could influence holobiont fitness. Using [13]C stable-isotope labelling coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we characterized newly fixed carbon fate in the model cnidarian Exaiptasia pallida (Aiptasia) when experimentally colonized with either native Breviolum minutum or non-native Durusdinium trenchii Relative to anemones containing B. minutum, D. trenchii-colonized hosts exhibited a 4.5-fold reduction in [13]C-labelled glucose and reduced abundance and diversity of [13]C-labelled carbohydrates and lipogenesis precursors, indicating symbiont species-specific modifications to carbohydrate availability and lipid storage. Mapping carbon fate also revealed significant alterations to host molecular signalling pathways. In particular, D. trenchii-colonized hosts exhibited a 40-fold reduction in [13]C-labelled scyllo-inositol, a potential interpartner signalling molecule in symbiosis specificity. [13]C-labelling also highlighted differential antioxidant- and ammonium-producing pathway activities, suggesting physiological responses to different symbiont species. Such differences in symbiont metabolite contribution and host utilization may limit the proliferation of stress-driven symbioses; this contributes valuable information towards future scenarios that select in favour of less-competent symbionts in response to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid30487259, year = {2018}, author = {Harrison, TL and Simonsen, AK and Stinchcombe, JR and Frederickson, ME}, title = {More partners, more ranges: generalist legumes spread more easily around the globe.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30487259}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; *Plant Dispersal ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How does mutualism affect range expansion? On the one hand, mutualists might thrive in new habitats thanks to the resources, stress tolerance or defence provided by their partners. On the other, specialized mutualists might fail to find compatible partners beyond their range margins, limiting further spread. A recent global analysis of legume ranges found that non-symbiotic legumes have been successfully introduced to more ranges than legumes that form symbioses with rhizobia, but there is still abundant unexplained variation in introduction success within symbiotic legumes. We test the hypothesis that generalist legumes have spread to more ranges than specialist legumes. We used published data and rhizobial 16S rRNA sequences from GenBank to quantify the number of rhizobia partners that associate with 159 legume species, spanning the legume phylogeny and the globe. We found that generalist legumes occur in more introduced ranges than specialist legumes, suggesting that among mutualists, specialization hinders range expansions.}, } @article {pmid30486126, year = {2018}, author = {Nielsen, GJ and Kaminski, LA}, title = {Immature stages of the Rubiaceae-feeding metalmark butterflies (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), and a new function for the tentacle nectary organs.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4524}, number = {1}, pages = {1-32}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4524.1.1}, pmid = {30486126}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Butterflies ; Larva ; Ovum ; Pupa ; *Rubiaceae ; }, abstract = {Metalmark butterfly (Riodinidae) diversity is heavily concentrated in the Neotropical lowland forests but despite their prevalence basic information on immature stages is still scarce. Here we describe the life cycle of seven taxa in the Rubiaceae-feeding section of the Mesosemiina, including three Mesosemia Hübner, [1819], three Leucochimona Stichel, 1909, and the first information for Semomesia Westwood, 1851. Immature stage morphology of Mesosemia cippus Hewitson, 1859 is described in detail through scanning electron microscopy. Generally, eggs are laid singly and caterpillars are folivorous with a cryptic green coloration except for M. cippus which has gregarious caterpillars with a bright yellow color pattern. Immature stages of all analyzed species are morphologically similar and characterized by: oblate spheroid eggs with small spines on the rib intersections; nonmyrmecophilous larvae with sparse long setae on chalazae or pinnacles, perforated cupola organs (PCOs) and tentacle nectary organs (TNOs) in all instars; pupae attached longitudinally to the substrate by the cremaster and a silk girdle that crosses over abdominal segments A1 or A2. Functionality of the TNOs is documented for the first time in the "Mesosemia section" of the Mesosemiina, but they are not used to facilitate symbiotic interactions between caterpillars and ants. When molested, caterpillars everted the TNOs secreting a conspicuous drop of opaque and viscous liquid with a defensive function. A summary of the host plants in the "Mesosemia section" is presented, confirming the preponderance of oligophagy in the Rubiaceae. The morphological and behavioral traits here described are discussed in the context of defense against natural enemies and constitute key information to understanding the evolution of ant-organs and myrmecophily in riodinids.}, } @article {pmid30484227, year = {2018}, author = {Trosko, JE}, title = {The Role of the Mitochondria in the Evolution of Stem Cells, Including MUSE Stem Cells and Their Biology.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1103}, number = {}, pages = {131-152}, doi = {10.1007/978-4-431-56847-6_7}, pmid = {30484227}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Adult Stem Cells/cytology ; *Biological Evolution ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/cytology ; Mitochondria/*physiology ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/*cytology ; }, abstract = {From the transition of single-cell organisms to multicellularity of metazoans, evolutionary pressures selected new genes and phenotypes to cope with the oxygenation of the Earth's environment, especially via the symbiotic acquisition of the mitochondrial organelle. There were many new genes and phenotypes that appeared, namely, stem cells, low-oxygen-micro-environments to house these genes ("niches"), new epigenetic mechanisms to regulate , selectively, the gene repertoire to control proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, senescence and DNA protection mechanisms, including antioxidant genes and DNA repair. This transition required a critical regulation of the metabolism of glucose to produce energy for both the stem cell quiescent state and the energy-requiring differentiated state. While the totipotent-, embryonic-, pluripotent-, and a few adult organ-specific stem cells were recognized, only relatively recently, because of the isolation of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) stem cells and "induced pluripotent stem" cells, challenges to the origin of these "iPS" cells have been made. The isolation and characterization of human MUSE stem cells and more adult organ-specific adult stem cells have indicated that these MUSE cells have many shared characteristics of the "iPS" cells, yet they do not form teratomas but can give rise to the trigeminal cell layers. While the MUSE cells are a subset of human fibroblastic cells, they have not been characterized, yet, for the mitochondrial metabolic genes, either in the stem cell state or during their differentiation processes. A description of other human adult stem cells will be made to set future studies of how the MUSE stem cells compare to all other stem cells.}, } @article {pmid30483906, year = {2019}, author = {Chan, CK and Rosic, N and Lorenc, MT and Visendi, P and Lin, M and Kaniewska, P and Ferguson, BJ and Gresshoff, PM and Batley, J and Edwards, D}, title = {A differential k-mer analysis pipeline for comparing RNA-Seq transcriptome and meta-transcriptome datasets without a reference.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {363-371}, pmid = {30483906}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics ; Datasets as Topic ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods/standards ; *Metagenome ; Reference Standards ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods/standards ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Next-generation DNA sequencing technologies, such as RNA-Seq, currently dominate genome-wide gene expression studies. A standard approach to analyse this data requires mapping sequence reads to a reference and counting the number of reads which map to each gene. However, for many transcriptome studies, a suitable reference genome is unavailable, especially for meta-transcriptome studies which assay gene expression from mixed populations of organisms. Where a reference is unavailable, it is possible to generate a reference by the de novo assembly of the sequence reads. However, the high cost of generating high-coverage data for de novo assembly hinders this approach and more importantly the accurate assembly of such data is challenging, especially for meta-transcriptome data, and resulting assemblies frequently suffer from collapsed regions or chimeric sequences. As an alternative to the standard reference mapping approach, we have developed a k-mer-based analysis pipeline (DiffKAP) to identify differentially expressed reads between RNA-Seq datasets without the requirement for a reference. We compared the DiffKAP approach with the traditional Tophat/Cuffdiff method using RNA-Seq data from soybean, which has a suitable reference genome. We subsequently examined differential gene expression for a coral meta-transcriptome where no reference is available, and validated the results using qRT-PCR. We conclude that DiffKAP is an accurate method to study differential gene expression in complex meta-transcriptomes without the requirement of a reference genome.}, } @article {pmid30483288, year = {2018}, author = {Takács, T and Cseresnyés, I and Kovács, R and Parádi, I and Kelemen, B and Szili-Kovács, T and Füzy, A}, title = {Symbiotic Effectivity of Dual and Tripartite Associations on Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Cultivars Inoculated With Bradyrhizobium japonicum and AM Fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1631}, pmid = {30483288}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) is regarded worldwide as indisputably one of the most important crops for human food and animal feed. The presence of symbiotic bacteria and fungi is essential for soybean breeding, especially in low-input agricultural systems. Research on the cooperation between different microbial symbionts is a key to understanding how the health and productivity of the plant is supported. The symbiotic effectivity of dual and tripartite symbiotic agents was investigated in two pot experiments on different soybean cultivars with special regard to compatibility. In the Selection experiment, two out of sixteen soybean cultivars (Aliz, Emese) were chosen on the basis of their drought tolerance and used in all the other investigations. In the Compatibility experiment, the compatible coupling of symbiotic partners was selected based on the efficiency of single and co-inoculation with two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains and two commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) products. Significant differences were found in the infectivity and effectivity of the microsymbionts. The rhizobial and AMF inoculation generally improved plant production, photosynthetic efficiency and root activity, but this effect depended on the type of symbiotic assotiation. Despite the low infectivity of AMF, inocula containing fungi were more beneficial than those containing only rhizobia. In the Drought Stress (DS) experiment, co-inoculated and control plants were grown in chernozem soil originating from organic farms. Emese was more resistant to drought stress than Aliz and produced a bigger root system. Under DS, the growth parameters of both microbially inoculated cultivars were better than that of control, proving that even drought tolerant genotypes can strengthen their endurance due to inoculation with AMF and nitrogen fixing bacteria. Root electrical capacitance (CR) showed a highly significant linear correlation with root and shoot dry mass and leaf area. The same root biomass was associated with higher CR in inoculated hosts. As CR method detects the absorptive surface increasing due to inoculation, it may be used to check the efficiency of the microbial treatment.}, } @article {pmid30483280, year = {2018}, author = {Gagic, M and Faville, MJ and Zhang, W and Forester, NT and Rolston, MP and Johnson, RD and Ganesh, S and Koolaard, JP and Easton, HS and Hudson, D and Johnson, LJ and Moon, CD and Voisey, CR}, title = {Seed Transmission of Epichloë Endophytes in Lolium perenne Is Heavily Influenced by Host Genetics.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1580}, pmid = {30483280}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Vertical transmission of symbiotic Epichloë endophytes from host grasses into progeny seed is the primary mechanism by which the next generation of plants is colonized. This process is often imperfect, resulting in endophyte-free seedlings which may have poor ecological fitness if the endophyte confers protective benefits to its host. In this study, we investigated the influence of host genetics and environment on the vertical transmission of Epichloë festucae var. lolii strain AR37 in the temperate forage grass Lolium perenne. The efficiency of AR37 transmission into the seed of over 500 plant genotypes from five genetically diverse breeding populations was determined. In Populations I-III, which had undergone previous selection for high seed infection by AR37, mean transmission was 88, 93, and 92%, respectively. However, in Populations IV and V, which had not undergone previous selection, mean transmission was 69 and 70%, respectively. The transmission values, together with single-nucleotide polymorphism data obtained using genotyping-by-sequencing for each host, was used to develop a genomic prediction model for AR37 seed transmission. The predictive ability of the model was estimated at r = 0.54. While host genotype contributed greatly to differences in AR37 seed transmission, undefined environmental variables also contributed significantly to seed transmission across different years and geographic locations. There was evidence for a small host genotype-by-environment effect; however this was less pronounced than genotype or environment alone. Analysis of endophyte infection levels in parent plants within Populations I and IV revealed a loss of endophyte infection over time in Population IV only. This population also had lower average tiller infection frequencies than Population I, suggesting that AR37 failed to colonize all the daughter tillers and therefore seeds. However, we also observed that infection of seed by AR37 may fail during or after initiation of floral development from plants where all tillers remained endophyte-infected over time. While the effects of environment and host genotype on fungal endophyte transmission have been evaluated previously, this is the first study that quantifies the relative impacts of host genetics and environment on endophyte vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid30483277, year = {2018}, author = {Mohammadi-Dehcheshmeh, M and Niazi, A and Ebrahimi, M and Tahsili, M and Nurollah, Z and Ebrahimi Khaksefid, R and Ebrahimi, M and Ebrahimie, E}, title = {Unified Transcriptomic Signature of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Colonization in Roots of Medicago truncatula by Integration of Machine Learning, Promoter Analysis, and Direct Merging Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1550}, pmid = {30483277}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant root symbiosis with Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi improves uptake of water and mineral nutrients, improving plant development under stressful conditions. Unraveling the unified transcriptomic signature of a successful colonization provides a better understanding of symbiosis. We developed a framework for finding the transcriptomic signature of Arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization and its regulating transcription factors in roots of Medicago truncatula. Expression profiles of roots in response to AM species were collected from four separate studies and were combined by direct merging meta-analysis. Batch effect, the major concern in expression meta-analysis, was reduced by three normalization steps: Robust Multi-array Average algorithm, Z-standardization, and quartiling normalization. Then, expression profile of 33685 genes in 18 root samples of Medicago as numerical features, as well as study ID and Arbuscular mycorrhiza type as categorical features, were mined by seven models: RELIEF, UNCERTAINTY, GINI INDEX, Chi Squared, RULE, INFO GAIN, and INFO GAIN RATIO. In total, 73 genes selected by machine learning models were up-regulated in response to AM (Z-value difference > 0.5). Feature weighting models also documented that this signature is independent from study (batch) effect. The AM inoculation signature obtained was able to differentiate efficiently between AM inoculated and non-inoculated samples. The AP2 domain class transcription factor, GRAS family transcription factors, and cyclin-dependent kinase were among the highly expressed meta-genes identified in the signature. We found high correspondence between the AM colonization signature obtained in this study and independent RNA-seq experiments on AM colonization, validating the repeatability of the colonization signature. Promoter analysis of upregulated genes in the transcriptomic signature led to the key regulators of AM colonization, including the essential transcription factors for endosymbiosis establishment and development such as NF-YA factors. The approach developed in this study offers three distinct novel features: (I) it improves direct merging meta-analysis by integrating supervised machine learning models and normalization steps to reduce study-specific batch effects; (II) seven attribute weighting models assessed the suitability of each gene for the transcriptomic signature which contributes to robustness of the signature (III) the approach is justifiable, easy to apply, and useful in practice. Our integrative framework of meta-analysis, promoter analysis, and machine learning provides a foundation to reveal the transcriptomic signature and regulatory circuits governing Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and is transferable to the other biological settings.}, } @article {pmid30482513, year = {2019}, author = {Díaz-Sánchez, S and Hernández-Jarguín, A and Torina, A and de Mera, IGF and Blanda, V and Caracappa, S and Gortazar, C and de la Fuente, J}, title = {Characterization of the bacterial microbiota in wild-caught Ixodes ventalloi.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {336-343}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.014}, pmid = {30482513}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Anaplasma/genetics ; Animals ; Borrelia/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sicily ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Exploring the microbial diversity of ticks is crucial to understand geographical dispersion and pathogen transmission. Tick microbes participate in many biological processes implicated in the acquisition, maintenance, and transmission of pathogens, and actively promote host phenotypic changes, and adaptation to new environments. The microbial community of Ixodes ventalloi still remains unexplored. In this study, the bacterial microbiota of wild-caught I. ventalloi was characterized using shotgun-metagenomic sequencing in samples from unfed adults collected during December 2013-January 2014 in two locations from Sicily, Italy. The microbiota identified in I. ventalloi was mainly composed of symbiotic, commensal, and environmental bacteria. Interestingly, we identified the genera Anaplasma and Borrelia as members of the microbiota of I. ventalloi. These results advance our information on I. ventalloi microbiota composition, with potential implications in tick-host adaptation, geographic expansion, and vector competence.}, } @article {pmid30481660, year = {2019}, author = {Zuccaro, G and Steyer, JP and van Lis, R}, title = {The algal trophic mode affects the interaction and oil production of a synergistic microalga-yeast consortium.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {273}, number = {}, pages = {608-617}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2018.11.063}, pmid = {30481660}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; Lipomyces/*metabolism ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Oils/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The use of non-food feedstocks to produce renewable microbial resources can limit our dependence on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions. Since microalgae display a virtuous CO2 and O2 exchange with heterotrophs, the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was combined with the oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi, known for their production of oil, base material for biodiesel. The coupled growth was shown to be synergistic for biomass and lipid production. The species were truly symbiotic since synergistic growth occurred even when the alga cannot use the organic carbon in the feedstock and in absence of air, thus depending entirely on CO2-O2 exchange. Since addition of acetate as the algal carbon source lowered the performance of the consortium, the microbial system design should take into account algal mixotrophy. The mixed biomass was found be suitable for biodiesel production, and whereas lipid production increased in the consortium, yields should be improved in future studies.}, } @article {pmid30479610, year = {2018}, author = {Bauça, JM}, title = {Reflections on the Mentor-Mentee Relationship: A Symbiosis.}, journal = {EJIFCC}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {230-233}, pmid = {30479610}, issn = {1650-3414}, } @article {pmid30478939, year = {2019}, author = {Seró, R and Núñez, N and Núñez, O and Camprubí, A and Grases, JM and Saurina, J and Moyano, E and Calvet, C}, title = {Modified distribution in the polyphenolic profile of rosemary leaves induced by plant inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {99}, number = {6}, pages = {2966-2973}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.9510}, pmid = {30478939}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/*physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/*chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polyphenols/*chemistry/metabolism ; Rosmarinus/*chemistry/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rosemary forms an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with a group of soilborne fungi belonging to the phylum Glomeromycota, which can modify the plant metabolome responsible for the antioxidant capacity and other health beneficial properties of rosemary.

RESULTS: The effect of inoculating rosemary plants with an AM fungus on their growth via their polyphenolic fingerprinting was evaluated after analyzing leaf extracts from non-inoculated and inoculated rosemary plants by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Plant growth parameters indicated that mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased plant height and biomass. Chemical modifications in the plant polyphenolic profile distribution were found after a principal components analysis (PCA) loading plots study. Four compounds hosting strong antioxidant properties - ferulic acid, asiatic acid, carnosol, and vanillin - were related to mycorrhizal rosemary plants while caffeic and chlorogenic acids had a higher influence on non-mycorrhizal plants.

CONCLUSION: Mycorrhization was found to stimulate growth to obtain a higher biomass of plant leaves in a short time, avoiding chemical fertilization, while analytical results demonstrate that there is an alteration in the distribution of polyphenols in plants colonized by the symbiotic fungus, which can be related to an improvement in nutritional properties with future industrial significance. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid30477837, year = {2018}, author = {Anheyer, D and Kern, C and Dobos, G and Cramer, H}, title = {"I think you can achieve quite a lot if all of the staff stands behind it"-A qualitative study about the experience, knowledge and application of complementary therapies and integrative medicine in pediatrics.}, journal = {Complementary therapies in medicine}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {186-191}, doi = {10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.025}, pmid = {30477837}, issn = {1873-6963}, mesh = {Adult ; *Attitude of Health Personnel ; Complementary Therapies/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine/*statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nurses/statistics & numerical data ; Physicians/statistics & numerical data ; Qualitative Research ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the United States there is an increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as well as integrative medicine (IM) in pediatrics. This study investigates the extent of knowledge and practical application of and attitudes towards the use and integration of CAM/IM therapies in two German pediatric clinics.

METHODS: A semi-standardized qualitative interview study was conducted in a rural children's hospital in Bavaria and in a children's clinic in the metropolitan area of Ruhr. Sixteen employees (7 nurses, 9 medical doctors, 68.8% female), who had volunteered through a local contact, were questioned during their shift on CAM/IM therapies. The data collected were analyzed with MAXQDA 12 using a qualitative technique for content analysis (by Mayring).

RESULTS: On average all respondents had little to superficial knowledge about the possibilities or evidence base of the therapies concerned, but did believe that CAM/IM could be an enhancement. In addition, many took interest in learning more about CAM/IM medical options. Nurses desired more practical and theoretical knowledge; while medical doctors focused on standardization and evidence base. All of them agreed that self-care strategies could enhance parental independence when treating symptoms of minor illnesses. They further agreed, that a symbiosis of conventional medicine and CAM/IM has great potential for patients and employees. It was stated that training of staff would be indispensable in order to implement standardized procedures.

CONCLUSIONS: There is great potential and interest in CAM/IM among pediatric care employees. Regardless of the challenges, this investigation did find that implementing CAM/IM might be a promising extension to the daily care routine.}, } @article {pmid30477264, year = {2018}, author = {Almendras, K and García, J and Carú, M and Orlando, J}, title = {Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria Associated with Peltigera Cyanolichens and Cladonia Chlorolichens.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {30477264}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Ascomycota/classification/*physiology ; Molecular Typing/methods ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens have been extensively studied and described; however, recent evidence suggests that members of the bacterial community associated with them could contribute new functions to the symbiotic interaction. In this work, we compare the nitrogen-fixing guild associated with bipartite terricolous lichens with different types of photobiont: Peltigera cyanolichens and Cladonia chlorolichens. Since cyanobacteria contribute nitrogen to the symbiosis, we propose that chlorolichens have more diverse bacteria with the ability to fix nitrogen compared to cyanolichens. In addition, since part of these bacteria could be recruited from the substrate where lichens grow, we propose that thalli and substrates share some bacteria in common. The structure of the nitrogen-fixing guild in the lichen and substrate bacterial communities of both lichens was determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) of the nifH gene. Multivariate analyses showed that the nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with both types of lichen were distinguishable from those present in their substrates. Likewise, the structure of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in the cyanolichens was different from that of chlorolichens. Finally, the diversity of this bacterial guild calculated using the Shannon index confirms the hypothesis that chlorolichens have a higher diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria than cyanolichens.}, } @article {pmid30476897, year = {2019}, author = {Qin, D and Shen, W and Wang, J and Han, M and Chai, F and Duan, X and Yan, X and Guo, J and Gao, T and Zuo, S and Dong, J}, title = {Enhanced production of unusual triterpenoids from Kadsura angustifolia fermented by a symbiont endophytic fungus, Penicillium sp. SWUKD4.1850.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {158}, number = {}, pages = {56-66}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.11.005}, pmid = {30476897}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry/pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fermentation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Kadsura/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; Triterpenes/*chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Highly oxygenated schitriterpenoids are interesting for study of their structures, bioactivities and synthesis. From Kadsura angustifolia fermented by an associated symbiotic endophytic fungus, Penicillium sp. SWUKD4.1850, nine undescribed triterpenoids, kadhenrischinins A-H, and 7β-schinalactone C together with four known triterpenoids, henrischinins A and B, schinalactone C and nigranoic acid were isolated and established by the extensive 1D-, 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS and ECD data analysis. Except nigranoic acid, all these metabolites have been first detected in non-fermented K. angustifolia. Structurally, kadhenrischinins A-D belong to the relatively rare class of highly oxygenated schitriterpenoids that contain a unique 3-one-2-oxabicyclo [3,2,1]-octane motif, while kadhenrischinins E-H feature a cyclopentane ring in a side chain rarely found in the family Schisandraceae. These results indicated that fermentation of K. angustifolia with SWUKD4.1850 induced the production of highly oxygenated schitriterpenoids from nigranoic acid, which provided a guidance to obtain desired compounds from those plants initially thought not to produce. This is the first report on the fermentation of K. angustifolia medical plant and the first discovery of highly oxygenated schitriterpenoids by microbial technology.}, } @article {pmid30476329, year = {2019}, author = {Valdés-López, O and Jayaraman, D and Maeda, J and Delaux, PM and Venkateshwaran, M and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Reyero-Saavedra, MR and Sánchez-Correa, MS and Verastegui-Vidal, MA and Delgado-Buenrostro, N and Van Ness, L and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Sussman, MR and Ané, JM}, title = {A Novel Positive Regulator of the Early Stages of Root Nodule Symbiosis Identified by Phosphoproteomics.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {60}, number = {3}, pages = {575-586}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy228}, pmid = {30476329}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Signals and signaling pathways underlying the symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia have been studied extensively over the past decades. In a previous phosphoproteomic study on the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis, we identified plant proteins that are differentially phosphorylated upon the perception of rhizobial signals, called Nod factors. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that one of these proteins, Early Phosphorylated Protein 1 (EPP1), is required for the initiation of this symbiosis. Upon inoculation with rhizobia, MtEPP1 expression was induced in curled root hairs. Down-regulation of MtEPP1 in M. truncatula roots almost abolished calcium spiking, reduced the expression of essential symbiosis-related genes (MtNIN, MtNF-YB1, MtERN1 and MtENOD40) and strongly decreased nodule development. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that orthologs of MtEPP1 are present in legumes and specifically in plant species able to host arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, suggesting a possible role in this association too. Short chitin oligomers induced the phosphorylation of MtEPP1 like Nod factors. However, the down-regulation of MtEPP1 affected the colonization of M. truncatula roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi only moderately. Altogether, these findings indicate that MtEPP1 is essential for the establishment of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis but might plays a limited role in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30476071, year = {2019}, author = {Alonso, DP and Mancini, MV and Damiani, C and Cappelli, A and Ricci, I and Alvarez, MVN and Bandi, C and Ribolla, PEM and Favia, G}, title = {Genome Reduction in the Mosquito Symbiont Asaia.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {30476071}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics ; Animals ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; Female ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is now recognized as a driving force in evolution, a role that finds its ultimate expression in the variety of associations bonding insects with microbial symbionts. These associations have contributed to the evolutionary success of insects, with the hosts acquiring the capacity to exploit novel ecological niches, and the symbionts passing from facultative associations to obligate, mutualistic symbioses. In bacterial symbiont of insects, the transition from the free-living life style to mutualistic symbiosis often resulted in a reduction in the genome size, with the generation of the smallest bacterial genomes thus far described. Here, we show that the process of genome reduction is still occurring in Asaia, a group of bacterial symbionts associated with a variety of insects. Indeed, comparative genomics of Asaia isolated from different mosquito species revealed a substantial genome size and gene content reduction in Asaia from Anopheles darlingi, a South-American malaria vector. We thus propose Asaia as a novel model to study genome reduction dynamics, within a single bacterial taxon, evolving in a common biological niche.}, } @article {pmid30472007, year = {2019}, author = {Wu, W and Gu, D and Yan, S and Li, Z}, title = {RNA interference of endoglucanases in the formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) by dsRNA injection or ingestion.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {112}, number = {}, pages = {15-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.11.007}, pmid = {30472007}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cellulase/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Insect Control/*methods ; Isoptera/*enzymology ; Phenylurea Compounds ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Double-Stranded/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Termites obtain energy and nutrition from wood and wood-related materials by utilizing endogenous and symbiotic cellulases. Endoglucanase is one of the key cellulases in cellulose digestion. Previous studies have shown that the inhibition of the cellulase enzyme system would be a plausible approach for termite control. In the present study, we studied the effect of RNAi on termites by targeting a conserved region of five endoglucanase genes from Coptotermes formosanus (CfEGs). Both dsRNA injection and oral delivery resulted in significant gene silencing of CfEGs and consequently led to mortality, reduced enzyme activity, and reduced weight compared to control worker termites. An injection dose of 150 ng and a feeding dose of 2 μg/cm[2] provided for the best RNAi efficiency. dsCfEG was further combined with flufenoxuron, an insect growth regulator used to manage/suppress subterranean termites, and when fed to workers, caused a lower enzyme activity compared to the dsCfEG- or flufenoxuron-only treatment. The weight loss (∼0.598 mg) and mortality (∼28%) observed in the combined dsCfEG and flufenoxuron treatment differed significantly from those observed in the flufenoxuron-only treatment (∼0.208 mg and ∼16%, respectively). Although the effects of these dsCfEG treatments on mortality were insufficient to serve as termiticides, dsCfEGs could be used in combination with other treatments to increase efficacy. This study provides a research basis for the use of RNAi in termiticides.}, } @article {pmid30471496, year = {2019}, author = {Yang, T and Cheng, H and Wang, H and Drews, M and Li, S and Huang, W and Zhou, H and Chen, CM and Diao, X}, title = {Comparative study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) in corals, surrounding sediments and surface water at the Dazhou Island, China.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {218}, number = {}, pages = {157-168}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.063}, pmid = {30471496}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Geologic Sediments/*chemistry ; Metals, Heavy/*analysis ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*analysis ; Seasons ; Water/*chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {This study investigated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content in corals (Acropora sp.), surficial sediments, and surface seawater, and heavy metals (HMs) contents in corals and sediments from Dazhou Island, Hainan, China. Concentrations of PAHs in seawater and sediment seasonally ranged from 191.5 ng L[-1] to 587.7 ng L[-1], and from 37.9 ng g[-1] to 233 ng g[-1], while levels in corals were higher (185.2-545.0 ng g[-1]) compared to those found in sediments, demonstrating bioaccumulation of PAHs by corals. A similar seasonally variation of PAHs was observed in water/sediments and corals, and the proportions of low molecular weight PAHs (LPAHs) in seawater and corals were higher. Pyrolytic and petrogenic contaminations were identified to be the main sources of PAHs. Lower HMs concentrations were detected in corals (9.8-39.4 μg g[-1]) than in sediments (65.0-83.3 μg g[-1]), but HMs bioaccumulation still occurs in corals. Higher concentrations of HMs in sediment and corals were detected in March and December, especially Mn and Zn. Application of an enrichment factor showed that Cu in corals was delivered from non-crustal materials, and anthropogenic inputs were possibly the main sources. According to Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor, corals could strongly bioaccumulate LPAHs and Cd, and PAHs at a higher (p < 0.05) rate than HMs. There was a lack of correlation between the accumulation of PAHs and HMs in corals based on the cluster analysis. Dual hierarchical clustering analysis result revealed that feeding, instead of symbiosis, might be the main process responsible for the bioaccumulation of PAHs and HMs.}, } @article {pmid30471301, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, LD and Cai, QC and Cui, JH and Zhang, W and Dong, SM and Xiao, W and Li, J and Kou, TC and Zhang, XW and He, HJ and Ding, L and Yang, Y and Lai, JH and Li, M and Zhu, QS and Luo, KJ}, title = {A secreted-Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase from Microplitis bicoloratus reduces reactive oxygen species triggered by symbiotic bracovirus.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {129-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2018.11.014}, pmid = {30471301}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Granulocytes/*physiology ; Hemocytes/physiology ; Hemolymph/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; Larva ; Polydnaviridae/*physiology ; Proteome ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Spodoptera/*physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase-1/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the parasitoid/polydnavirus/host system, polydnaviruses protect larva development in the host hemocoel by suppressing the host immune response. However, the negative effects on the parasitoid and the strategy of the parasitoid to deal with this disadvantage are still unknown. Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus induces granulocyte apoptosis to suppress immune responses, resulting in an apoptotic haemolymph environment in which immature M. bicoloratus larva develop. Here, we determined the transcriptional profiles of immature M. bicoloratus across five time-points throughout the immature developmental process from egg to third instar. Dynamic gene expression pattern analysis revealed clear rapid changes in gene expression characteristic of each developmental stage, indicating faster sequential unambiguous functional division during development. Combined with the proteome of the host haemolymph, immature parasitoids likely secreted a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase to reduce reactive oxygen species generation by symbiotic bracovirus. These data established a basis for further studies of parasitoid/host interactions and identified a novel positive self-protection mechanism for the parasitoid.}, } @article {pmid30470198, year = {2018}, author = {Scolari, F and Attardo, GM and Aksoy, E and Weiss, B and Savini, G and Takac, P and Abd-Alla, A and Parker, AG and Aksoy, S and Malacrida, AR}, title = {Symbiotic microbes affect the expression of male reproductive genes in Glossina m. morsitans.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {169}, pmid = {30470198}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {R21 AI109263/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Insect Control ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Reproduction/genetics ; Sex Factors ; *Symbiosis ; Testis ; Transcriptome ; Tsetse Flies/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tsetse flies (Diptera, Glossinidae) display unique reproductive biology traits. Females reproduce through adenotrophic viviparity, nourishing the growing larva into their modified uterus until parturition. Males transfer their sperm and seminal fluid, produced by both testes and male accessory glands, in a spermatophore capsule transiently formed within the female reproductive tract upon mating. Both sexes are obligate blood feeders and have evolved tight relationships with endosymbionts, already shown to provide essential nutrients lacking in their diet. However, the partnership between tsetse and its symbionts has so far been investigated, at the molecular, genomic and metabolomics level, only in females, whereas the roles of microbiota in male reproduction are still unexplored.

RESULTS: Here we begin unravelling the impact of microbiota on Glossina m. morsitans (G. morsitans) male reproductive biology by generating transcriptomes from the reproductive tissues of males deprived of their endosymbionts (aposymbiotic) via maternal antibiotic treatment and dietary supplementation. We then compared the transcriptional profiles of genes expressed in the male reproductive tract of normal and these aposymbiotic flies. We showed that microbiota removal impacts several male reproductive genes by depressing the activity of genes in the male accessory glands (MAGs), including sequences encoding seminal fluid proteins, and increasing expression of genes in the testes. In the MAGs, in particular, the expression of genes related to mating, immunity and seminal fluid components' synthesis is reduced. In the testes, the absence of symbionts activates genes involved in the metabolic apparatus at the basis of male reproduction, including sperm production, motility and function.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings mirrored the complementary roles male accessory glands and testes play in supporting male reproduction and open new avenues for disentangling the interplay between male insects and endosymbionts. From an applied perspective, unravelling the metabolic and functional relationships between tsetse symbionts and male reproductive physiology will provide fundamental information useful to understanding the biology underlying improved male reproductive success in tsetse. This information is of particular importance in the context of tsetse population control via Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and its impact on trypanosomiasis transmission.}, } @article {pmid30470196, year = {2018}, author = {Doudoumis, V and Augustinos, A and Saridaki, A and Parker, A and Abd-Alla, AMM and Bourtzis, K and Tsiamis, G}, title = {Different laboratory populations similar bacterial profile? The case of Glossina palpalis gambiensis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {148}, pmid = {30470196}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Male ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/genetics ; Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbiota plays an important role in the biology, ecology and evolution of insects including tsetse flies. The bacterial profile of 3 Glossina palpalis gambiensis laboratory colonies was examined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the dynamics of the bacterial diversity within and between each G. p. gambiensis colony.

RESULTS: The three G. p. gambiensis laboratory colonies displayed similar bacterial diversity indices and OTU distribution. Larval guts displayed a higher diversity when compared with the gastrointestinal tract of adults while no statistically significant differences were observed between testes and ovaries. Wigglesworthia and Sodalis were the most dominant taxa. In more detail, the gastrointestinal tract of adults was more enriched by Wigglesworthia while Sodalis were prominent in gonads. Interestingly, in larval guts a balanced co-existence between Wigglesworthia and Sodalis was observed. Sequences assigned to Wolbachia, Propionibacterium, and Providencia were also detected but to a much lesser degree. Clustering analysis indicated that the bacterial profile in G. p. gambiensis exhibits tissue tropism, hence distinguishing the gut bacterial profile from that present in reproductive organs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that age, gender and the origin of the laboratory colonies did not significantly influence the formation of the bacterial profile, once these populations were kept under the same rearing conditions. Within the laboratory populations a tissue tropism was observed between the gut and gonadal bacterial profile.}, } @article {pmid30470190, year = {2018}, author = {Augustinos, AA and Meki, IK and Demirbas-Uzel, G and Ouédraogo, GMS and Saridaki, A and Tsiamis, G and Parker, AG and Abd-Alla, AMM and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Nuclear and Wolbachia-based multimarker approach for the rapid and accurate identification of tsetse species.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {147}, pmid = {30470190}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Insect Vectors/*classification ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Molecular Typing/economics/*methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tsetse Flies/*classification/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are solely responsible for the transmission of African trypanosomes, causative agents of sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock. Due to the lack of efficient vaccines and the emergence of drug resistance, vector control approaches such as the sterile insect technique (SIT), remain the most effective way to control disease. SIT is a species-specific approach and therefore requires accurate identification of natural pest populations at the species level. However, the presence of morphologically similar species (species complexes and sub-species) in tsetse flies challenges the successful implementation of SIT-based population control.

RESULTS: In this study, we evaluate different molecular tools that can be applied for the delimitation of different Glossina species using tsetse samples derived from laboratory colonies, natural populations and museum specimens. The use of mitochondrial markers, nuclear markers (including internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and different microsatellites), and bacterial symbiotic markers (Wolbachia infection status) in combination with relatively inexpensive techniques such as PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, and to some extent sequencing provided a rapid, cost effective, and accurate identification of several tsetse species.

CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of SIT benefits from the fine resolution of species limits in nature. The present study supports the quick identification of large samples using simple and cost effective universalized protocols, which can be easily applied by countries/laboratories with limited resources and expertise.}, } @article {pmid30470188, year = {2018}, author = {Engl, T and Michalkova, V and Weiss, BL and Uzel, GD and Takac, P and Miller, WJ and Abd-Alla, AMM and Aksoy, S and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Effect of antibiotic treatment and gamma-irradiation on cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and mate choice in tsetse flies (Glossina m. morsitans).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {145}, pmid = {30470188}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {P 22634/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 28255/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ampicillin/pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Female ; Hydrocarbons/*analysis ; Insect Proteins/*chemistry/radiation effects ; Male ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects/radiation effects ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; Tsetse Flies/*physiology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic microbes represent a driving force of evolutionary innovation by conferring novel ecological traits to their hosts. Many insects are associated with microbial symbionts that contribute to their host's nutrition, digestion, detoxification, reproduction, immune homeostasis, and defense. In addition, recent studies suggest a microbial involvement in chemical communication and mating behavior, which can ultimately impact reproductive isolation and, hence, speciation. Here we investigated whether a disruption of the microbiota through antibiotic treatment or irradiation affects cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, and possibly mate choice behavior in the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans morsitans. Four independent experiments that differentially knock down the multiple bacterial symbionts of tsetse flies were conducted by subjecting tsetse flies to ampicillin, tetracycline, or gamma-irradiation and analyzing their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in comparison to untreated controls by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. In two of the antibiotic experiments, flies were mass-reared, while individual rearing was done for the third experiment to avoid possible chemical cross-contamination between individual flies.

RESULTS: All three antibiotic experiments yielded significant effects of antibiotic treatment (particularly tetracycline) on cuticular hydrocarbon profiles in both female and male G. m. morsitans, while irradiation itself had no effect on the CHC profiles. Importantly, tetracycline treatment reduced relative amounts of 15,19,23-trimethyl-heptatriacontane, a known compound of the female contact sex pheromone, in two of the three experiments, suggesting a possible implication of microbiota disturbance on mate choice decisions. Concordantly, both female and male flies preferred non-treated over tetracycline-treated flies in direct choice assays.

CONCLUSIONS: While we cannot exclude the possibility that antibiotic treatment had a directly detrimental effect on fly vigor as we are unable to recolonize antibiotic treated flies with individual symbiont taxa, our results are consistent with an effect of the microbiota, particularly the obligate nutritional endosymbiont Wigglesworthia, on CHC profiles and mate choice behavior. These findings highlight the importance of considering host-microbiota interactions when studying chemical communication and mate choice in insects.}, } @article {pmid30470187, year = {2018}, author = {Ouedraogo, GMS and Demirbas-Uzel, G and Rayaisse, JB and Gimonneau, G and Traore, AC and Avgoustinos, A and Parker, AG and Sidibe, I and Ouedraogo, AG and Traore, A and Bayala, B and Vreysen, MJB and Bourtzis, K and Abd-Alla, AMM}, title = {Prevalence of trypanosomes, salivary gland hypertrophy virus and Wolbachia in wild populations of tsetse flies from West Africa.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {153}, pmid = {30470187}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Africa, Western ; Animals ; Cytomegalovirus/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Geography ; Ghana ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/microbiology/parasitology/virology ; Prevalence ; Spiroplasma/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosoma/*isolation & purification ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*parasitology/*virology ; Wolbachia/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomes, protozoan parasites that cause sleeping sickness (or human African trypanosomosis) in humans and nagana (or animal African trypanosomosis) in livestock. In addition to trypanosomes, four symbiotic bacteria Wigglesworthia glossinidia, Sodalis glossinidius, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and one pathogen, the salivary gland hypertrophy virus (SGHV), have been reported in different tsetse species. We evaluated the prevalence and coinfection dynamics between Wolbachia, trypanosomes, and SGHV in four tsetse species (Glossina palpalis gambiensis, G. tachinoides, G. morsitans submorsitans, and G. medicorum) that were collected between 2008 and 2015 from 46 geographical locations in West Africa, i.e. Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal.

RESULTS: The results indicated an overall low prevalence of SGHV and Wolbachia and a high prevalence of trypanosomes in the sampled wild tsetse populations. The prevalence of all three infections varied among tsetse species and sample origin. The highest trypanosome prevalence was found in Glossina tachinoides (61.1%) from Ghana and in Glossina palpalis gambiensis (43.7%) from Senegal. The trypanosome prevalence in the four species from Burkina Faso was lower, i.e. 39.6% in Glossina medicorum, 18.08%; in Glossina morsitans submorsitans, 16.8%; in Glossina tachinoides and 10.5% in Glossina palpalis gambiensis. The trypanosome prevalence in Glossina palpalis gambiensis was lowest in Mali (6.9%) and Guinea (2.2%). The prevalence of SGHV and Wolbachia was very low irrespective of location or tsetse species with an average of 1.7% for SGHV and 1.0% for Wolbachia. In some cases, mixed infections with different trypanosome species were detected. The highest prevalence of coinfection was Trypanosoma vivax and other Trypanosoma species (9.5%) followed by coinfection of T. congolense with other trypanosomes (7.5%). The prevalence of coinfection of T. vivax and T. congolense was (1.0%) and no mixed infection of trypanosomes, SGHV and Wolbachia was detected.

CONCLUSION: The results indicated a high rate of trypanosome infection in tsetse wild populations in West African countries but lower infection rate of both Wolbachia and SGHV. Double or triple mixed trypanosome infections were found. In addition, mixed trypanosome and SGHV infections existed however no mixed infections of trypanosome and/or SGHV with Wolbachia were found.}, } @article {pmid30470183, year = {2018}, author = {Geiger, A and Malele, I and Abd-Alla, AM and Njiokou, F}, title = {Blood feeding tsetse flies as hosts and vectors of mammals-pre-adapted African Trypanosoma: current and expected research directions.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {162}, pmid = {30470183}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; *Blood ; Ecosystem ; *Feeding Behavior ; Insect Vectors/microbiology ; Mammals/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosoma/physiology ; Trypanosomiasis, African/prevention & control/*transmission ; Tsetse Flies/parasitology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Research on the zoo-anthropophilic blood feeding tsetse flies' biology conducted, by different teams, in laboratory settings and at the level of the ecosystems- where also co-perpetuate African Trypanosoma- has allowed to unveil and characterize key features of tsetse flies' bacterial symbionts on which rely both (a) the perpetuation of the tsetse fly populations and (b) the completion of the developmental program of the African Trypanosoma. Transcriptomic analyses have already provided much information on tsetse fly genes as well as on genes of the fly symbiotic partners Sodalis glossinidius and Wigglesworthia, which account for the successful onset or not of the African Trypanosoma developmental program. In parallel, identification of the non- symbiotic bacterial communities hosted in the tsetse fly gut has recently been initiated: are briefly introduced those bacteria genera and species common to tsetse flies collected from distinct ecosystems, that could be further studied as potential biologicals preventing the onset of the African Trypanosoma developmental program. Finally, future work will need to concentrate on how to render tsetse flies refractory, and the best means to disseminate them in the field in order to establish an overall refractory fly population.}, } @article {pmid30470176, year = {2018}, author = {Zaidman-Rémy, A and Vigneron, A and Weiss, BL and Heddi, A}, title = {What can a weevil teach a fly, and reciprocally? Interaction of host immune systems with endosymbionts in Glossina and Sitophilus.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {150}, pmid = {30470176}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Enterobacteriaceae/immunology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Pest Control ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Tsetse Flies/immunology/*microbiology ; Weevils/immunology/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/immunology ; Wolbachia/immunology ; }, abstract = {The tsetse fly (Glossina genus) is the main vector of African trypanosomes, which are protozoan parasites that cause human and animal African trypanosomiases in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the frame of the IAEA/FAO program 'Enhancing Vector Refractoriness to Trypanosome Infection', in addition to the tsetse, the cereal weevil Sitophilus has been introduced as a comparative system with regards to immune interactions with endosymbionts. The cereal weevil is an agricultural pest that destroys a significant proportion of cereal stocks worldwide. Tsetse flies are associated with three symbiotic bacteria, the multifunctional obligate Wigglesworthia glossinidia, the facultative commensal Sodalis glossinidius and the parasitic Wolbachia. Cereal weevils house an obligatory nutritional symbiosis with the bacterium Sodalis pierantonius, and occasionally Wolbachia. Studying insect host-symbiont interactions is highly relevant both for understanding the evolution of symbiosis and for envisioning novel pest control strategies. In both insects, the long co-evolution between host and endosymbiont has led to a stringent integration of the host-bacteria partnership. These associations were facilitated by the development of specialized host traits, including symbiont-housing cells called bacteriocytes and specific immune features that enable both tolerance and control of the bacteria. In this review, we compare the tsetse and weevil model systems and compile the latest research findings regarding their biological and ecological similarities, how the immune system controls endosymbiont load and location, and how host-symbiont interactions impact developmental features including cuticle synthesis and immune system maturation. We focus mainly on the interactions between the obligate symbionts and their host's immune systems, a central theme in both model systems. Finally, we highlight how parallel studies on cereal weevils and tsetse flies led to mutual discoveries and stimulated research on each model, creating a pivotal example of scientific improvement through comparison between relatively distant models.}, } @article {pmid30467509, year = {2018}, author = {Libault, M}, title = {Transcriptional Reprogramming of Legume Genomes: Perspective and Challenges Associated With Single-Cell and Single Cell-Type Approaches During Nodule Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1600}, pmid = {30467509}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Transcriptomic approaches revealed thousands of genes differentially or specifically expressed during nodulation, a biological process resulting from the symbiosis between leguminous plant roots and rhizobia, atmospheric nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria. Ultimately, nodulation will lead to the development of a new root organ, the nodule. Through functional genomic studies, plant transcriptomes have been used by scientists to reveal plant genes potentially controlling nodulation. However, it is important to acknowledge that the physiology, transcriptomic programs, and biochemical properties of the plant cells involved in nodulation are continuously regulated. They also differ between the different cell-types composing the nodules. To generate a more accurate picture of the transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, and metabolome of the cells infected by rhizobia and cells composing the nodule, there is a need to implement plant single-cell and single cell-types strategies and methods. Accessing such information would allow a better understanding of the infection of plant cells by rhizobia and will help understanding the complex interactions existing between rhizobia and the plant cells. In this mini-review, we are reporting the current knowledge on legume nodulation gained by plant scientists at the level of single cell-types, and provide perspectives on single cell/single cell-type approaches when applied to legume nodulation.}, } @article {pmid30467359, year = {2018}, author = {Pirone, L and Pitzer, JE and D'Abrosca, G and Fattorusso, R and Malgieri, G and Pedone, EM and Pedone, PV and Roop, RM and Baglivo, I}, title = {Identifying the region responsible for Brucella abortus MucR higher-order oligomer formation and examining its role in gene regulation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {17238}, pmid = {30467359}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {R21 AI112745/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; CUP C75E17000050001//Ministero della Salute (Ministry of Health, Italy)/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Brucella abortus/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Point Mutation/genetics ; Prokaryotic Cells/physiology ; Zinc Fingers/genetics ; }, abstract = {MucR is a member of the Ros/MucR family of prokaryotic zinc-finger proteins found in the α-proteobacteria which regulate the expression of genes required for the successful pathogenic and symbiotic interactions of these bacteria with the eukaryotic hosts. The structure and function of their distinctive zinc-finger domain has been well-studied, but only recently the quaternary structure of the full length proteins was investigated demonstrating their ability to form higher-order oligomers. The aim of this study was to identify the region of MucR involved in higher-order oligomer formation by analysing deletion and point mutants of this protein by Light Scattering, and to determine the role that MucR oligomerization plays in the regulatory function of this protein. Here we demonstrate that a conserved hydrophobic region at the N-terminus of MucR is responsible for higher-order oligomer formation and that MucR oligomerization is essential for its regulatory function in Brucella. All these features of MucR are shared by the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein, (H-NS), leading us to propose that the prokaryotic zinc-finger proteins in the MucR/Ros family control gene expression employing a mechanism similar to that used by the H-NS proteins, rather than working as classical transcriptional regulators.}, } @article {pmid30467310, year = {2018}, author = {Pollock, FJ and McMinds, R and Smith, S and Bourne, DG and Willis, BL and Medina, M and Thurber, RV and Zaneveld, JR}, title = {Coral-associated bacteria demonstrate phylosymbiosis and cophylogeny.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {4921}, pmid = {30467310}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics/*microbiology ; Archaea/classification/*genetics ; Australia ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Geography ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals' microbial symbionts influence host health, yet how coral microbiomes assembled over evolution is not well understood. We survey bacterial and archaeal communities in phylogenetically diverse Australian corals representing more than 425 million years of diversification. We show that coral microbiomes are anatomically compartmentalized in both modern microbial ecology and evolutionary assembly. Coral mucus, tissue, and skeleton microbiomes differ in microbial community composition, richness, and response to host vs. environmental drivers. We also find evidence of coral-microbe phylosymbiosis, in which coral microbiome composition and richness reflect coral phylogeny. Surprisingly, the coral skeleton represents the most biodiverse coral microbiome, and also shows the strongest evidence of phylosymbiosis. Interactions between bacterial and coral phylogeny significantly influence the abundance of four groups of bacteria-including Endozoicomonas-like bacteria, which divide into host-generalist and host-specific subclades. Together these results trace microbial symbiosis across anatomy during the evolution of a basal animal lineage.}, } @article {pmid30466096, year = {2018}, author = {Antonopoulos, CN and Liapis, CD}, title = {Aneurysms and Diabetes Mellitus: A Strange Symbiosis?.}, journal = {Cardiology}, volume = {141}, number = {2}, pages = {123-124}, doi = {10.1159/000490925}, pmid = {30466096}, issn = {1421-9751}, mesh = {*Aneurysm ; *Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30465353, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, H and Kang, D and Zhou, XD and Li, YQ}, title = {[Prevention of infectious diseases through microecology modulation techniques].}, journal = {Hua xi kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Huaxi kouqiang yixue zazhi = West China journal of stomatology}, volume = {36}, number = {5}, pages = {564-567}, pmid = {30465353}, issn = {2618-0456}, mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/microbiology ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The microbe is small in volume, but large in quantity and species. The symbiotic microbe, which is far more than human cells, code millions times of genes than human being. Somatic cells and these symbiotic microbe distributing in human body skin, respiratory tract, oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract and other parts form a complex ecosystem whose dynamic balance is highly related to body health. With the successful implementation of Human Microbiome Project, more attentions have been paid to the next generation microbiome technologies. New tools and methods for ecological regulation of human microbiome are emerging. The way we improve the world of human microbiology will be more convenient. This paper will make a review on the modulation techniques of human microbiome.}, } @article {pmid30465068, year = {2019}, author = {Hubert, J and Nesvorna, M and Kopecky, J and Erban, T and Klimov, P}, title = {Population and Culture Age Influence the Microbiome Profiles of House Dust Mites.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {1048-1066}, pmid = {30465068}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/classification ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Fungi/classification ; *Microbiota ; Population Dynamics ; Pyroglyphidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Fungal/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Interactions with microorganisms might enable house dust mites (HDMs) to derive nutrients from difficult-to-digest structural proteins and to flourish in human houses. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the effects of changes in the mite culture growth and population of two HDM species on HDM microbiome composition and fitness. Growing cultures of laboratory and industrial allergen-producing populations of Dermatophagoides farinae (DFL and DFT, respectively) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DPL and DPT, respectively) were sampled at four time points. The symbiotic microorganisms of the mites were characterized by DNA barcode sequencing and quantified by qPCR using universal/specific primers. The population growth of mites and nutrient contents of mite bodies were measured and correlated with the changes in bacteria in the HDM microbiome. The results showed that both the population and culture age significantly influenced the microbiome profiles. Cardinium formed 93% and 32% of the total sequences of the DFL and DFT bacterial microbiomes, respectively, but this bacterial species was less abundant in the DPL and DPT microbiomes. Staphylococcus abundance was positively correlated with increased glycogen contents in the bodies of mites, and increased abundances of Aspergillus, Candida, and Kocuria were correlated with increased lipid contents in the bodies of mites. The xerophilic fungus Wallemia accounted for 39% of the fungal sequences in the DPL microbiome, but its abundance was low in the DPT, DFL, and DFT microbiomes. With respect to the mite culture age, we made three important observations: the mite population growth from young cultures was 5-8-fold higher than that from old cultures; specimens from old cultures had greater abundances of fungi and bacteria in their bodies; and yeasts predominated in the gut contents of specimens from young cultures, whereas filamentous mycelium prevailed in specimens from old cultures. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that mites derive nutrients through associations with microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid30464192, year = {2018}, author = {Stephens, TG and Ragan, MA and Bhattacharya, D and Chan, CX}, title = {Core genes in diverse dinoflagellate lineages include a wealth of conserved dark genes with unknown functions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {17175}, pmid = {30464192}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {DP150101875//Australian Research Council (ARC)/International ; DP150101875//Australian Research Council (ARC)/International ; DP150101875//Australian Research Council (ARC)/International ; }, mesh = {*Conserved Sequence ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genes, Protozoan ; *Genome, Protozoan ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Protein Conformation ; Protozoan Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of unicellular primary producers and grazers that exhibit some of the most remarkable features known among eukaryotes. These include gigabase-sized nuclear genomes, permanently condensed chromosomes and highly reduced organelle DNA. However, the genetic inventory that allows dinoflagellates to thrive in diverse ecological niches is poorly characterised. Here we systematically assess the functional capacity of 3,368,684 predicted proteins from 47 transcriptome datasets spanning eight dinoflagellate orders. We find that 1,232,023 proteins do not share significant sequence similarity to known sequences, i.e. are "dark". Of these, we consider 441,006 (13.1% of overall proteins) that are found in multiple taxa, or occur as alternative splice variants, to comprise the high-confidence dark proteins. Even with unknown function, 43.3% of these dark proteins can be annotated with conserved structural features using an exhaustive search against available data, validating their existence and importance. Furthermore, these dark proteins and their putative homologs are largely lineage-specific and recovered in multiple taxa. We also identified conserved functions in all dinoflagellates, and those specific to toxin-producing, symbiotic, and cold-adapted lineages. Our results demonstrate the remarkable divergence of gene functions in dinoflagellates, and provide a platform for investigations into the diversification of these ecologically important organisms.}, } @article {pmid30463949, year = {2018}, author = {Mao, M and Yang, X and Bennett, GM}, title = {Evolution of host support for two ancient bacterial symbionts with differentially degraded genomes in a leafhopper host.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {50}, pages = {E11691-E11700}, pmid = {30463949}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/physiology ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Duplication ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Insect ; Hemiptera/cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Plant sap-feeding insects (Hemiptera) rely on bacterial symbionts for nutrition absent in their diets. These bacteria experience extreme genome reduction and require genetic resources from their hosts, particularly for basic cellular processes other than nutrition synthesis. The host-derived mechanisms that complete these processes have remained poorly understood. It is also unclear how hosts meet the distinct needs of multiple bacterial partners with differentially degraded genomes. To address these questions, we investigated the cell-specific gene-expression patterns in the symbiotic organs of the aster leafhopper (ALF), Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Cicadellidae). ALF harbors two intracellular symbionts that have two of the smallest known bacterial genomes: Nasuia (112 kb) and Sulcia (190 kb). Symbionts are segregated into distinct host cell types (bacteriocytes) and vary widely in their basic cellular capabilities. ALF differentially expresses thousands of genes between the bacteriocyte types to meet the functional needs of each symbiont, including the provisioning of metabolites and support of cellular processes. For example, the host highly expresses genes in the bacteriocytes that likely complement gene losses in nucleic acid synthesis, DNA repair mechanisms, transcription, and translation. Such genes are required to function in the bacterial cytosol. Many host genes comprising these support mechanisms are derived from the evolution of novel functional traits via horizontally transferred genes, reassigned mitochondrial support genes, and gene duplications with bacteriocyte-specific expression. Comparison across other hemipteran lineages reveals that hosts generally support the incomplete symbiont cellular processes, but the origins of these support mechanisms are generally specific to the host-symbiont system.}, } @article {pmid30463525, year = {2018}, author = {Toju, H and Sato, H and Yamamoto, S and Tanabe, AS}, title = {Structural diversity across arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal, and endophytic plant-fungus networks.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {292}, pmid = {30463525}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Below-ground linkage between plant and fungal communities is one of the major drivers of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics. However, we still have limited knowledge of how such plant-fungus associations vary in their community-scale properties depending on fungal functional groups and geographic locations.

METHODS: By compiling a high-throughput sequencing dataset of root-associated fungi in eight forests along the Japanese Archipelago, we performed a comparative analysis of arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal, and saprotrophic/endophytic associations across a latitudinal gradient from cool-temperate to subtropical regions.

RESULTS: In most of the plant-fungus networks analyzed, host-symbiont associations were significantly specialized but lacked "nested" architecture, which has been commonly reported in plant-pollinator and plant-seed disperser networks. In particular, the entire networks involving all functional groups of plants and fungi and partial networks consisting of ectomycorrhizal plant and fungal species/taxa displayed "anti-nested" architecture (i.e., negative nestedness scores) in many of the forests examined. Our data also suggested that geographic factors affected the organization of plant-fungus network structure. For example, the southernmost subtropical site analyzed in this study displayed lower network-level specificity of host-symbiont associations and higher (but still low) nestedness than northern localities.

CONCLUSIONS: Our comparative analyses suggest that arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal, and saprotrophic/endophytic plant-fungus associations often lack nested network architecture, while those associations can vary, to some extent, in their community-scale properties along a latitudinal gradient. Overall, this study provides a basis for future studies that will examine how different types of plant-fungus associations collectively structure terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30463523, year = {2018}, author = {Sui, X and Wu, Q and Chang, W and Fan, X and Song, F}, title = {Proteomic analysis of the response of Funnelifor mismosseae/Medicago sativa to atrazine stress.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {289}, pmid = {30463523}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Atrazine/metabolism/*toxicity ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*metabolism ; Herbicides/metabolism/*toxicity ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Proteome/*drug effects ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with host plants can protect host plants against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses, and promote biodegradation of various contaminants. However, the molecular mechanisms of how the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant association on atrazine stress were still poorly understood. To better characterize how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant interactions increase atrazine stress, we performed physiological and proteomic analysis of Funneliformis mosseae (mycorrhizal fungi) and Medicago sativa (alfalfa) association under atrazine stress.

RESULTS: The results showed that in the Arbuscular mycorrhizal, protective enzymes were up regulated and the malondialdehyde content increased relative to those of non-mycorrhizal M.sativa. We also examined the atrazine degradation rates within the nutrient solution, and a 44.43% reduction was observed with the mycorrhizal M.sativa, with 30.83% of the reduction attributed to F. mosseae. The accumulation content in root and stem of mycorrhizal M.sativa were obviously increased 11.89% and 16.33% than those of non- mycorrhizal M.sativa. The activity of PPO, POD, CAT and SOD in mycorrhizal M.sativa were obviously higher than non mycorrhizal M.sativa under atrazine stess. We identified differential root proteins using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantization coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, with 533 proteins identified (276 unregulated and 257 downregulated). The differentially expressed proteins were further examined using GO, BLAST comparisons, and a literature inquiry and were classified into the categories of atrazine degradation (37.1%); atrazine stress response (28.6%); plant immune responses (14.3%); translation, synthesis, and processing (10%); and signal transduction and biological processes (10%). Furthermore, we identified glycosyl transferase, glutathione S-transferase, laccase, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, peroxidase, and other proteins closely related to the degradation process.

CONCLUSIONS: Mycorrhizal Medicago showed improved atrazine degradation within the culturing medium and increased atrazine enrichment in the roots and stems. Additionally, AMF increased the plant root response to atrazine, with relevant enzymes up regulated and toxic effects alleviated. Overall, the findings of this study show that AMF played an important role in easing atrazine stress in plants and contributed to atrazine remediation and further contributed to the understanding of the molecular mechanism associated with atrazine stresses and potential mycorrhizal contributions in M.sativa.}, } @article {pmid30462254, year = {2019}, author = {Hernández-López, A and Díaz, M and Rodríguez-López, J and Guillén, G and Sánchez, F and Díaz-Camino, C}, title = {Uncovering Bax inhibitor-1 dual role in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis in common bean roots.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {3}, pages = {1049-1061}, pmid = {30462254}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Apoptosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium tropici/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bax-inhibitor 1 (BI-1) is a cell death suppressor conserved in all eukaryotes that modulates cell death in response to abiotic stress and pathogen attack in plants. However, little is known about its role in the establishment of symbiotic interactions. Here, we demonstrate the functional relevance of an Arabidopsis thaliana BI-1 homolog (PvBI-1a) to symbiosis between the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Rhizobium tropici. We show that the changes in expression of PvBI-1a observed during early symbiosis resemble those of some defence response-related proteins. By using gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we demonstrate that the overexpression of PvBI-1a in the roots of common bean increases the number of rhizobial infection events (and therefore the final number of nodules per root), but induces the premature death of nodule cells, affecting their nitrogen fixation efficiency. Nodule morphological alterations are known to be associated with changes in the expression of genes tied to defence, autophagy, and vesicular trafficking. Results obtained in the present work suggest that BI-1 has a dual role in the regulation of programmed cell death during symbiosis, extending our understanding of its critical function in the modulation of host immunity while responding to beneficial microbes.}, } @article {pmid30460828, year = {2018}, author = {Song, YY and Xia, M and Lin, YB and Lin, XH and Ding, CH and Wang, J and Hu, L and Zeng, RS}, title = {[Colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae enhanced the responses of tomato plants to mechanical wounding].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {3811-3818}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201811.035}, pmid = {30460828}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect herbivore feeding causes mechanical damage to plants, which can activate plant defense responses. Whether symbiosis with beneficial microorganisms can enhance the responses of plants to mechanical damage is of importance for plant anti-herbivore resistance. In this study, defense responses of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants to mechanical wounding was investigated after the tomato roots being infected by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Funneliformis mosseae. The results showed that in response to leaf mechanical wounding, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and catalase (CAT) in the leaves of tomato pre-inoculated with AMF (FD), as well as transcript levels of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and β-1,3-glucanase (PR2) in the leaves and roots were significantly higher in relative to sole mechanical wounding (D), sole mycorrhizal inoculation (F), and control without mechanical wounding and mycorrhizal inoculation (CK). Although the activities of protective enzyme and transcript levels of the two defense-related genes were induced in the plants of sole mechanical wounding (D) and sole mycorrhizal inoculation (F), the induction was faster and stronger in the plants with leaf mechanical wounding and mycorrhizal pre-inoculation (FD). Our findings indicated that arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization could prime quicker and stronger defense responses of tomato plants to mechanical damage.}, } @article {pmid30459800, year = {2018}, author = {Grosche, C and Genau, AC and Rensing, SA}, title = {Evolution of the Symbiosis-Specific GRAS Regulatory Network in Bryophytes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1621}, pmid = {30459800}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza is one of the most common plant symbiotic interactions observed today. Due to their nearly ubiquitous occurrence and their beneficial impact on both partners it was suggested that this mutualistic interaction was crucial for plants to colonize the terrestrial habitat approximately 500 Ma ago. On the plant side the association is established via the common symbiotic pathway (CSP). This pathway allows the recognition of the fungal symbiotic partner, subsequent signaling to the nucleus, and initiation of the symbiotic program with respect to specific gene expression and cellular re-organization. The downstream part of the CSP is a regulatory network that coordinates the transcription of genes necessary to establish the symbiosis, comprising multiple GRAS transcription factors (TFs). These regulate their own expression as an intricate transcriptional network. Deduced from non-host genome data the loss of genes encoding CSP components coincides with the loss of the interaction itself. Here, we analyzed bryophyte species with special emphasis on the moss Physcomitrella patens, supposed to be a non-host, for the composition of the GRAS regulatory network components. We show lineage specific losses and expansions of several of these factors in bryophytes, potentially coinciding with the proposed host/non-host status of the lineages. We evaluate losses and expansions and infer clade-specific evolution of GRAS TFs.}, } @article {pmid30459731, year = {2018}, author = {Chun, SC and Paramasivan, M and Chandrasekaran, M}, title = {Proline Accumulation Influenced by Osmotic Stress in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiotic Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2525}, pmid = {30459731}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Salinity and drought are the major osmotic stress limitations that affect plant growth and crop yield in agriculture worldwide. The alternative response mediated by plants in response to salinity and drought are principally proline accumulation which regulates stress combat strategies owing to sustainable production in the realm of agricultural production even under severe stress. Symbiotic and soil associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are regarded as efficient biofertilizers in several crops under these stresses. Summarily AMF is renowned for effective scavengers of free radicals in soil thereby increasing soil parameters optimal for plant growth. AMF contribute to augment host plant tolerance to stress specifically salinity and drought. Mycorrhizal colonization positively regulates root uptake of available nutrients and enhance growth even when bestowed by water constraints which has contributory roles due to proline accumulation providing several intriguing researches on AMF symbiosis pertaining to plant productivity and yield. Mycorrhizal plants and their non-mycorrhizal counterparts show varied expression pattern regarding proline amass. Hence, the precise role of proline with respect to stress tolerance and equivocal mechanisms involved in evasion of osmotic stress has not been extensively reviewed earlier. Further molecular forecasting in this arena is still an underexploited research field. This review comprehensively addresses the observable facts pertaining to proline accumulation upon AMF association and adherence relevant to stress tolerance and host plant efficiency and efficacy.}, } @article {pmid30459726, year = {2018}, author = {Brown, AMV and Wasala, SK and Howe, DK and Peetz, AB and Zasada, IA and Denver, DR}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Wolbachia-Cardinium Dual Endosymbiosis in a Plant-Parasitic Nematode.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2482}, pmid = {30459726}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Wolbachia and Cardinium are among the most important and widespread of all endosymbionts, occurring in nematodes and more than half of insect and arachnid species, sometimes as coinfections. These symbionts are of significant interest as potential biocontrol agents due to their abilities to cause major effects on host biology and reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility, sex ratio distortion, or obligate mutualism. The ecological and metabolic effects of coinfections are not well understood. This study examined a Wolbachia-Cardinium coinfection in the plant-parasitic nematode (PPN), Pratylenchus penetrans, producing the first detailed study of such a coinfection using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and comparative genomic analysis. Results from FISH and single-nematode PCR showed 123/127 individuals in a focal population carried Cardinium (denoted strain cPpe), and 48% were coinfected with Wolbachia strain wPpe. Both endosymbionts showed dispersed tissue distribution with highest densities in the anterior intestinal walls and gonads. Phylogenomic analyses confirmed an early place of cPpe and long distance from a sister strain in another PPN, Heterodera glycines, supporting a long history of both Cardinium and Wolbachia in PPNs. The genome of cPpe was 1.36 Mbp with 35.8% GC content, 1,131 predicted genes, 41% having no known function, and missing biotin and lipoate synthetic capacity and a plasmid present in other strains, despite having a slightly larger genome compared to other sequenced Cardinium. The larger genome revealed expansions of gene families likely involved in host-cellular interactions. More than 2% of the genes of cPpe and wPpe were identified as candidate horizontally transferred genes, with some of these from eukaryotes, including nematodes. A model of the possible Wolbachia-Cardinium interaction is proposed with possible complementation in function for pathways such as methionine and fatty acid biosynthesis and biotin transport.}, } @article {pmid30459295, year = {2018}, author = {Rubio, AO and Kupferberg, SJ and Vargas García, V and Ttito, A and Shepack, A and Catenazzi, A}, title = {Widespread occurrence of the antifungal cutaneous bacterium Janthinobacterium lividum on Andean water frogs threatened by fungal disease.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {131}, number = {3}, pages = {233-238}, doi = {10.3354/dao03298}, pmid = {30459295}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents ; Anura ; *Chytridiomycota ; *Mycoses/veterinary ; Peru ; Water ; }, abstract = {Amphibian diversity has declined due to the infectious disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Coexistence between amphibian hosts and this pathogen in some locations is attributed to the presence of the cutaneous bacterium Janthinobacterium lividum (Jliv). This microbe inhibits the growth of Bd on the host, reduces morbidity, and improves survival. Andean water frogs in the genus Telmatobius seem to be particularly vulnerable to the disease yet populations of T. intermedius and T. marmoratus persist in southern and central Peru. We investigated the presence of Jliv on these 2 frog species and assessed the relationship of Jliv presence with prevalence and intensity of Bd infection. By sampling 125 frogs from 7 streams (3323-3950 m a.s.l.) and 27 from a city market, we found spatial variation in the mutualism among populations (range 0-40% proportion of Jliv-positives). Overall, 57% of frogs were infected with Bd, 12.5% of frogs hosted both Jliv and Bd, while 7.2% hosted just Jliv. We found that the probability of an individual being infected with Bd was independent of the presence of Jliv; however, we did detect a protective effect of Jliv with respect to intensity of infection. The extent of Jliv distribution in the high Andes stands in stark contrast to the rarity of Jliv on frogs in lower elevation cloud forest biomes.}, } @article {pmid30458424, year = {2019}, author = {Salducci, MD and Folzer, H and Issartel, J and Rabier, J and Masotti, V and Prudent, P and Affre, L and Hardion, L and Tatoni, T and Laffont-Schwob, I}, title = {How can a rare protected plant cope with the metal and metalloid soil pollution resulting from past industrial activities? Phytometabolites, antioxidant activities and root symbiosis involved in the metal tolerance of Astragalus tragacantha.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {217}, number = {}, pages = {887-896}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.078}, pmid = {30458424}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Antioxidants ; Astragalus Plant/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Endophytes ; France ; Metalloids/*toxicity ; Metals/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Trace Elements ; }, abstract = {Astragalus tragacantha is a protected plant species in France that grows even in the trace metal and metalloid (TMM) polluted soils of the Calanques National Park (PNCal). Soils are mainly contaminated by lead, copper, zinc and arsenic. An ex situ experiment was conducted, firstly to determine the molecular responses and root traits involved in the TMM tolerance of this plant species by growing individuals in a soil from the surroundings of one of the brownfields of the PNCal, known as l'Escalette, where this plant species grows spontaneously. Secondly, in order to determine the plasticity of these responses, seeds were collected from three different populations, at l'Escalette (polluted site), one from the Frioul archipelago (non-polluted, insular site) and one from La Seyne (non-polluted, littoral site). The results of this study confirmed the capacity of A. tragacantha to germinate and grow in TMM contaminated soils. Only moderate significant variations in chlorophyll and flavonol indices, proline content and antioxidant activities were detected between polluted and control soil conditions for all populations. The main driver for A. tragacantha TMM tolerance seemed to be its ability to be associated with root symbionts i.e. arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes, corresponding to a nutrient-uptake strategy trait. This work provides support for the challenge of A. tragacantha conservation along the littoral of the PNCal, because increasing the number of A. tragacantha individuals would both increase vegetation cover of the polluted soils to reduce the pollution transfer and reinforce the populations of this species.}, } @article {pmid30458311, year = {2019}, author = {Yu, J and Wang, M and Liu, B and Yue, X and Li, C}, title = {Gill symbionts of the cold-seep mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons: Composition, environmental dependency and immune control.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {246-252}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2018.11.041}, pmid = {30458311}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gills/metabolism/*microbiology ; Methane/metabolism ; Mytilidae/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; R-SNARE Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels depend on the organic carbon supplied by symbionts inside their gills. In this study, optimized methods of quantitative real-time PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization targeted to both mRNA and 16S rRNA were used to investigate the gill symbionts of the cold-seep mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons, including species composition, environmental dependency and immune control by the host. Our results showed that methanotrophs were the major symbiotic bacteria in the gills of B. platifrons, while thiotrophs were scarce. In the mussels freshly collected from the deep sea, methanotrophs were housed in bacteriocytes in a unique circular pattern, and a lysosome-related gene (VAMP) encoding a vesicle-associated membrane protein was expressed at a high level and presented exactly where the methanotrophs occurred. After the mussels were reared for three months in aquaria without methane supply, the abundance of methanotrophs decreased significantly and their circle-shaped distribution pattern disappeared; in addition, the expression of VAMP decreased significantly. These results suggest that the symbiosis between B. platifrons and methanotrophs is influenced by the environment and that the lysosomal system plays an important immune role in controlling the abundance of endosymbionts in host. This study provides a reliable method for investigating symbionts in deep-sea mussels and enriches the knowledge about symbionts in B. platifrons.}, } @article {pmid30458058, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, D and Wu, J and Jin, D and Wang, B and Cao, H}, title = {Fecal microbiota transplantation in cancer management: Current status and perspectives.}, journal = {International journal of cancer}, volume = {145}, number = {8}, pages = {2021-2031}, pmid = {30458058}, issn = {1097-0215}, support = {17JCYBJC24900//Tianjin Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology of China/International ; 81741075//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 81570478//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; }, mesh = {Clostridioides difficile/physiology ; Clostridium Infections/microbiology/therapy ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/physiopathology ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/*methods/trends ; Feces/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/physiology ; Neoplasms/microbiology/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The human gut is home to a large and diverse microbial community, comprising about 1,000 bacterial species. The gut microbiota exists in a symbiotic relationship with its host, playing a decisive role in the host's nutrition, immunity and metabolism. Accumulating studies have revealed the associations between gut dysbiosis or some special bacteria and various cancers. Emerging data suggest that gut microbiota can modulate the effectiveness of cancer therapies, especially immunotherapy. Manipulating the microbial populations with therapeutic intent has become a hot topic of cancer research, and the most dramatic manipulation of gut microbiota refers to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy individuals to patients. FMT has demonstrated remarkable clinical efficacy against Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and it is highly recommended for the treatment of recurrent or refractory CDI. Lately, interest is growing in the therapeutic potential of FMT for other diseases, including cancers. We briefly reviewed the current researches about gut microbiota and its link to cancer, and then summarized the recent preclinical and clinical evidence to indicate the potential of FMT in cancer management as well as cancer-treatment associated complications. We also presented the rationale of FMT for cancer management such as reconstruction of intestinal microbiota, amelioration of bile acid metabolism, and modulation of immunotherapy efficacy. This article would help to better understand this new therapeutic approach for cancer patients by targeting gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid30456772, year = {2019}, author = {Ross, CL and DeCarlo, TM and McCulloch, MT}, title = {Environmental and physiochemical controls on coral calcification along a latitudinal temperature gradient in Western Australia.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {431-447}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14488}, pmid = {30456772}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Carbonates/chemistry ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Temperature ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {The processes that occur at the micro-scale site of calcification are fundamental to understanding the response of coral growth in a changing world. However, our mechanistic understanding of chemical processes driving calcification is still evolving. Here, we report the results of a long-term in situ study of coral calcification rates, photo-physiology, and calcifying fluid (cf) carbonate chemistry (using boron isotopes, elemental systematics, and Raman spectroscopy) for seven species (four genera) of symbiotic corals growing in their natural environments at tropical, subtropical, and temperate locations in Western Australia (latitudinal range of ~11°). We find that changes in net coral calcification rates are primarily driven by pHcf and carbonate ion concentration [ CO 3 2 - ]cf in conjunction with temperature and DICcf . Coral pHcf varies with latitudinal and seasonal changes in temperature and works together with the seasonally varying DICcf to optimize [ CO 3 2 - ]cf at species-dependent levels. Our results indicate that corals shift their pHcf to adapt and/or acclimatize to their localized thermal regimes. This biological response is likely to have critical implications for predicting the future of coral reefs under CO2 -driven warming and acidification.}, } @article {pmid30454661, year = {2019}, author = {Sánchez-Cruz, R and Tpia Vázquez, I and Batista-García, RA and Méndez-Santiago, EW and Sánchez-Carbente, MDR and Leija, A and Lira-Ruan, V and Hernández, G and Wong-Villarreal, A and Folch-Mallol, JL}, title = {Isolation and characterization of endophytes from nodules of Mimosa pudica with biotechnological potential.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {218}, number = {}, pages = {76-86}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.09.008}, pmid = {30454661}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Alternaria/growth & development ; Chitinases/metabolism ; Endophytes/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Enterobacter/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fusarium/growth & development ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Mimosa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phaseolus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phytophthora/growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Serratia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish symbiotic relationships with different microorganisms, which could function as plant growth promotion microorganisms (PGPM). The finding of new PGPM strains is important to increase plant production avoiding or diminishing the use of industrial fertilizers. Thus, in this work we evaluated the plant growth promotion traits of ten strains isolated from Mimosa pudica root nodules. According to the 16S rDNA sequence, the microorganisms were identified as Enterobacter sp. and Serratia sp. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report describing and endophytic interaction between Mimosa pudica and Enterobacter sp. These strains have some plant growth promoting traits such as phosphate solubilization, auxin production and cellulase and chitinase activity. Strains identified as Serratia sp. inhibited the growth of the phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium sp., and Alternaria solani and the oomycete Phytophthora capsici. According to their biochemical characteristics, three strains were selected to test their plant growth promoting activity in a medium with an insoluble phosphate source. These bacteria show low specificity for their hosts as endophytes, since they were able to colonize two very different legumes: Phaseolus vulgaris and M. pudica. Seedlings of P. vulgaris were inoculated and grown for fifteen days. Enterobacter sp. NOD1 and NOD10, promoted growth as reflected by an increase in shoot height as well as an increase in the size and emergence of the first two trifolia. We could localize NOD5 as an endophyte in roots in P. vulgaris by transforming the strain with a Green Fluorescent Protein carrying plasmid. Experiments of co-inoculation with different Rhizobium etli strains allowed us to discard that NOD5 can fix nitrogen in the nodules formed by a R. etli Fix[-] strain. The isolates described in this work show biotechnological potential for plant growth promoting activity and production of indoleacetic acid and siderophores.}, } @article {pmid30454656, year = {2019}, author = {Iyer, B and Rajkumar, S}, title = {Genome sequence and comparative genomics of Rhizobium sp. Td3, a novel plant growth promoting phosphate solubilizing Cajanus cajan symbiont.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {218}, number = {}, pages = {32-40}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.09.007}, pmid = {30454656}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Cajanus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Gluconates/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium sp. Td3 is a Sesbania plant growth promoting, Cajanus cajan nodulating rhizobia. Studying its whole genome was important as it is a potent phosphate solubilizer with constitutive gluconic acid production ability through operation of the periplasmic glucose oxidation pathway even under conditions of catabolite repression. This is in contrast to the other explored phosphate solubilizers. Rhizobial isolates sequenced so far are known to lack components of the direct glucose oxidation pathway and cannot produce gluconic acid on its own. Here, we present the genome sequence of Rhizobium sp. Td3. Genome comprises of a single chromosome of size 5,606,547 bp (5.6 Mb) with no symbiotic plasmid. Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae USDA2370 was the closest whole genome known. 109 genes responsible for diverse plant growth promoting activities like P solubilization, synthesis of acetoin, nitric oxide, indole-3 acetic acid, exopolysaccharide, siderophore and trehalose have been identified. Flagellar proteins, genes encoding antibiotic and metal resistance, enzymes required for combating oxidative stress as well as attachment and colonization in the plant rhizosphere are also present. Availability of genome sequence of such a versatile plant growth promoting agent will help in exploiting all the phyto-beneficial traits of Td3 for its use as a biofertilizer.}, } @article {pmid30450833, year = {2019}, author = {Zhang, YC and Zou, YN and Liu, LP and Wu, QS}, title = {Common mycorrhizal networks activate salicylic acid defense responses of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata).}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {61}, number = {10}, pages = {1099-1111}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12743}, pmid = {30450833}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Poncirus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism ; Xanthomonas axonopodis/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri ('Xac'), is an important quarantine disease in citrus crops. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic interactions with host plants and further affect their disease resistance, possibly by modulating the activity of salicylic acid (SA), a key phytohormone in disease resistance. Common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) can interconnect plants, but it is not yet clear whether CMNs promote resistance to citrus canker and, if so, whether SA signaling is involved in this process. To test this possibility, we used a two-chambered rootbox to establish CMNs between trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings in chambers inoculated (treated) or not (neighboring) with the AMF, Paraglomus occultum. A subset of the AMF-inoculated seedlings were also inoculated with Xac (+AMF+Xac). At 2 d post-inoculation (dpi), compared with the +AMF-Xac treatment, neighboring seedlings in +AMF+Xac treatment had lower expression levels of the SA biosynthetic genes, PtPAL, PtEPS1, and PtPBS3, but higher SA levels, which attributed to the upregulation of PtPAL and PtPBS3 in treated seedlings and the transfer of SA, via CMNs, to the neighboring seedlings. At 4 dpi, the pathogenesis-related (PR) protein genes, PtPR1, PtPR4, and PtPR5, and the transcriptional regulatory factor gene, PtNPR1, were activated in neighboring seedlings of +AMF+Xac treatment. At 9 dpi, root phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and total soluble phenol and lignin concentrations increased in neighboring seedlings of +AMF+Xac treatment, likely due to the linkage and signal transfer, via CMNs. These findings support the hypothesis that CMNs transfer the SA signal from infected to neighboring healthy seedlings, to activate defense responses and affording protection to neighboring plants against citrus canker infection.}, } @article {pmid30450723, year = {2019}, author = {Prazeres, M and Renema, W}, title = {Evolutionary significance of the microbial assemblages of large benthic Foraminifera.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {828-848}, pmid = {30450723}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Foraminifera/genetics/*microbiology ; Microalgae/*classification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Large benthic Foraminifera (LBF) are major carbonate producers on coral reefs, and are hosts to a diverse symbiotic microbial community. During warm episodes in the geological past, these reef-building organisms expanded their geographical ranges as subtropical and tropical belts moved into higher latitudes. During these range-expansion periods, LBF were the most prolific carbonate producers on reefs, dominating shallow carbonate platforms over reef-building corals. Even though the fossil and modern distributions of groups of species that harbour different types of symbionts are known, the nature, mechanisms, and factors that influence their occurrence remain elusive. Furthermore, the presence of a diverse and persistent bacterial community has only recently gained attention. We examined recent advances in molecular identification of prokaryotic (i.e. bacteria) and eukaryotic (i.e. microalgae) associates, and palaeoecology, and place the partnership with bacteria and algae in the context of climate change. In critically reviewing the available fossil and modern data on symbiosis, we reveal a crucial role of microalgae in the response of LBF to ocean warming, and their capacity to colonise a variety of habitats, across both latitudes and broad depth ranges. Symbiont identity is a key factor enabling LBF to expand their geographic ranges when the sea-surface temperature increases. Our analyses showed that over the past 66 million years (My), diatom-bearing species were dominant in reef environments. The modern record shows that these species display a stable, persistent eukaryotic assemblage across their geographic distribution range, and are less dependent on symbiotic photosynthesis for survival. By contrast, dinoflagellate and chlorophytic species, which show a provincial distribution, tend to have a more flexible eukaryotic community throughout their range. This group is more dependent on their symbionts, and flexibility in their symbiosis is likely to be the driving force behind their evolutionary history, as they form a monophyletic group originating from a rhodophyte-bearing ancestor. The study of bacterial assemblages, while still in its infancy, is a promising field of study. Bacterial communities are likely to be shaped by the local environment, although a core bacterial microbiome is found in species with global distributions. Cryptic speciation is also an important factor that must be taken into consideration. As global warming intensifies, genetic divergence in hosts in addition to the range of flexibility/specificity within host-symbiont associations will be important elements in the continued evolutionary success of LBF species in a wide range of environments. Based on fossil and modern data, we conclude that the microbiome, which includes both algal and bacterial partners, is a key factor influencing the evolution of LBF. As a result, the microbiome assists LBF in colonising a wide range of habitats, and allowed them to become the most important calcifiers on shallow platforms worldwide during periods of ocean warming in the geologic past. Since LBF are crucial ecosystem engineers and prolific carbonate producers, the microbiome is a critical component that will play a central role in the responses of LBF to a changing ocean, and ultimately in shaping the future of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid30450139, year = {2018}, author = {Najafi, A and Moradinasab, M and Seyedabadi, M and Haghighi, MA and Nabipour, I}, title = {First Molecular Identification of Symbiotic Archaea in a Sponge Collected from the Persian Gulf, Iran.}, journal = {The open microbiology journal}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {323-332}, pmid = {30450139}, issn = {1874-2858}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine sponges are associated with numerically vast and phylogenetically diverse microbial communities at different geographical locations. However, little is known about the archaeal diversity of sponges in the Persian Gulf. The present study was aimed to identify the symbiotic archaea with a sponge species gathered from the Persian Gulf, Iran.

METHODS: Sponge sample was collected from a depth of 3 m offshore Bushehr, Persian Gulf, Iran. Metagenomic DNA was extracted using a hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method. The COI mtDNA marker was used for molecular taxonomy identification of sponge sample. Also, symbiotic archaea were identified using the culture-independent analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and PCR- cloning.

RESULTS: In this study, analysis of multilocus DNA marker and morphological characteristics revealed that the sponge species belonged to Chondrilla australiensis isolate PG_BU4. PCR cloning and sequencing showed that all of the sequences of archaeal 16S rRNA gene libraries clustered into the uncultured archaeal group.

CONCLUSION: The present study is the first report of the presence of the genus of Chondrilla in the Persian Gulf. Traditional taxonomy methods, when used along with molecular techniques, could play a significant role in the accurate taxonomy of sponges. Also, the uncultured archaea may promise a potential source for bioactive compounds. Further functional studies are needed to explore the role of the sponge-associated uncultured archaea as a part of the marine symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30450084, year = {2018}, author = {Gong, S and Chai, G and Xiao, Y and Xu, L and Yu, K and Li, J and Liu, F and Cheng, H and Zhang, F and Liao, B and Li, Z}, title = {Flexible Symbiotic Associations of Symbiodinium With Five Typical Coral Species in Tropical and Subtropical Reef Regions of the Northern South China Sea.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2485}, pmid = {30450084}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The coral symbiont Symbiodinium plays important roles in the adaptation of coral to environmental changes. However, coral-Symbiodinium symbiotic associations are not well-understood in the South China Sea (SCS) whilst considering environmental factors and host taxa. In this study, next-generation sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) marker gene was used to explore the symbiotic associations between Symbiodinium and five typical coral species across tropical and subtropical reef regions of the SCS. The results showed that Acropora sp., Galaxea fascicularis, Platygyra lamellina, and Sarcophyton glaucum exhibited distinct Symbiodinium compositions between tropical and subtropical reef regions, whereas Porites lutea had stable Symbiodinium compositions. More heterogeneous Symbiodinium compositions among different coral species were observed in the tropical region, but there were no statistically significant differences in Symbiodinium compositions among different coral species in subtropical reef regions. There was a correlation between the Symbiodinium compositions and environmental factors, except for the composition of P. lutea. Symbiodinium subclades D1, D2, C71, C71a, C21, C3b, and C161 were primarily explained by the seawater temperature, nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate. Several host-specific Symbiodinium subclades (e.g., C15, C15.6, and C91) were observed in P. lutea as well. The findings of this study demonstrate the relationship of Symbiodinium diversity with coral hosts and the environment are helpful for elucidating the adaptation of corals to global climate change and anthropogenic disturbance.}, } @article {pmid30449358, year = {2018}, author = {Aylward, J and Wingfield, BD and Dreyer, LL and Roets, F and Wingfield, MJ and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Genomic overview of closely related fungi with different Protea host ranges.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {122}, number = {12}, pages = {1201-1214}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2018.10.001}, pmid = {30449358}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Enzymes/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; *Host Specificity ; Proteaceae/*microbiology ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Genome comparisons of species with distinctive ecological traits can elucidate genetic divergence that influenced their differentiation. The interaction of a microorganism with its biotic environment is largely regulated by secreted compounds, and these can be predicted from genome sequences. In this study, we considered Knoxdaviesia capensis and Knoxdaviesia proteae, two closely related saprotrophic fungi found exclusively in Protea plants. We investigated their genome structure to compare their potential inter-specific interactions based on gene content. Their genomes displayed macrosynteny and were approximately 10 % repetitive. Both species had fewer secreted proteins than pathogens and other saprotrophs, reflecting their specialized habitat. The bulk of the predicted species-specific and secreted proteins coded for carbohydrate metabolism, with a slightly higher number of unique carbohydrate-degrading proteins in the broad host-range K. capensis. These fungi have few secondary metabolite gene clusters, suggesting minimal competition with other microbes and symbiosis with antibiotic-producing bacteria common in this niche. Secreted proteins associated with detoxification and iron sequestration likely enable these Knoxdaviesia species to tolerate antifungal compounds and compete for resources, facilitating their unusual dominance. This study confirms the genetic cohesion between Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species and reveals aspects of their ecology that have likely evolved in response to their specialist niche.}, } @article {pmid30449353, year = {2018}, author = {Poinar, GO and Vega, FE}, title = {A mid-Cretaceous ambrosia fungus, Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Ascomycota: Ophiostomatales) in Burmese (Myanmar) amber, and evidence for a femoral mycangium.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {122}, number = {12}, pages = {1159-1162}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2018.08.002}, pmid = {30449353}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Amber ; Animals ; Femur/microbiology ; Fossils/*microbiology ; Fungi/*cytology/*isolation & purification ; Microscopy ; Myanmar ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {An ambrosia fungus is described from filamentous sporodochia adjacent to a wood-boring ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Yeast-like propagules and hyphal fragments of Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. nov. et sp. nov. occur in glandular sac mycangia located inside the femur of the beetle. This is the first record of a fossil ambrosia fungus, showing that symbiotic associations between wood-boring insects and ectosymbiotic fungi date back some 100 million years ago. The present finding moves the origin of fungus-growing by insects from the Oligocene to the mid-Cretaceous and suggests a Gondwanan origin.}, } @article {pmid30448757, year = {2019}, author = {Ren, CG and Kong, CC and Wang, SX and Xie, ZH}, title = {Enhanced phytoremediation of uranium-contaminated soils by arbuscular mycorrhiza and rhizobium.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {217}, number = {}, pages = {773-779}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.085}, pmid = {30448757}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Aminoacyltransferases/metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Fabaceae/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Sesbania/enzymology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/pharmacokinetics ; *Symbiosis ; Uranium/*pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {Uranium phytoextraction is a promising technology, however, facing difficult that limited plant biomass due to nutrient deficiency in the contaminated sites. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of a symbiotic associations of a legume Sesbania rostrata, rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) for reclamation of uranium contaminated soils. Results showed AMF and rhizobia had a mutual beneficial relations in the triple symbiosis, which significantly increased plant biomass and uranium accumulation in S. rostrata plant. The highest uranium removal rates was observed in plant-AMF-rhizobia treated soils, in which 50.5-73.2% had been extracted, whereas 7.2-23.3% had been extracted in plant-treated soil. Also, the S. rostrata phytochelatin synthase (PCS) genes expression were increased in AMF and rhizobia plants compared with the plants. Meantime, content of malic acid, succinic acid and citric acid were elevated in S. rostrata root exudates of AMF and rhizobia inoculated plants. The facts suggest that the mutual interactions in the triple symbiosis help to improve phytoremediation efficiency of uranium by S. rostrata.}, } @article {pmid30447617, year = {2018}, author = {Hines, HN and Onsbring, H and Ettema, TJG and Esteban, GF}, title = {Molecular Investigation of the Ciliate Spirostomum semivirescens, with First Transcriptome and New Geographical Records.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {169}, number = {6}, pages = {875-886}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2018.08.001}, pmid = {30447617}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Chlorella/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ciliophora/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/microbiology ; Codon, Terminator ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Phylogeography ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sweden ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {The ciliate Spirostomum semivirescens is a large freshwater protist densely packed with endosymbiotic algae and capable of building a protective coating from surrounding particles. The species has been rarely recorded and it lacks any molecular investigations. We obtained such data from S. semivirescens isolated in the UK and Sweden. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of isolates from both countries, the transcriptome of S. semivirescens was generated. A phylogenetic analysis identified S. semivirescens as a close relative to S. minus. Additionally, rRNA sequence analysis of the green algal endosymbiont revealed that it is closely related to Chlorella vulgaris. Along with the molecular species identification, an analysis of the ciliates' stop codons was carried out, which revealed a relationship where TGA stop codon frequency decreased with increasing gene expression levels. The observed codon bias suggests that S. semivirescens could be in an early stage of reassigning the TGA stop codon. Analysis of the transcriptome indicates that S. semivirescens potentially uses rhodoquinol-dependent fumarate reduction to respire in the oxygen-depleted habitats where it lives. The data also shows that despite large geographical distances (over 1,600km) between the sampling sites investigated, a morphologically-identical species can share an exact molecular signature, suggesting that some ciliate species, even those over 1mm in size, could have a global biogeographical distribution.}, } @article {pmid30447602, year = {2019}, author = {Ma, J and Zhu, D and Chen, QL and Ding, J and Zhu, YG and Sheng, GD and Qiu, YP}, title = {Exposure to tetracycline perturbs the microbiome of soil oligochaete Enchytraeus crypticus.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {654}, number = {}, pages = {643-650}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.154}, pmid = {30447602}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*adverse effects ; Bacteria/drug effects/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/*drug effects/genetics ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/adverse effects ; Tetracycline/*adverse effects ; Toxicity Tests ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis is essential for the normal development and growth of hosts. Past attention has mostly been paid to its effects on plants and vertebrates. The effects of environmental pressures such as antibiotics on the microbiome of soil fauna remain largely elusive. We used bacterial 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing to examine the response of microbiome of soil invertebrate Enchytraeus crypticus to oral tetracycline exposure. After two-week exposure, tetracycline-free oat was used as food to monitor the restoration of E. crypticus microbiome. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes were the three dominant phyla in all samples, Rhizobiaceae and Kaistia were the most abundant family and genus in all samples, respectively. After 14 days tetracycline exposure, Planctomycetes declined dramatically from 33.05% to 3.28% (P = 0.016), but Actinobacteria elevated substantially from 2.47% to 23.65% (P = 0.004). The alpha-diversity of microbial community increased significantly after tetracycline exposure compared to the control (P = 0.014). Terminating tetracycline exposure led to the recovery of E. crypticus microbiome back to the background level within 14 days. Our results suggest that while tetracycline can disturb the microbiome in E. crypticus significantly, the effects of the antibiotic on E. crypticus microbiome may not be permanent but reversibly diminish after stopping exposure for a period of time. The results may contribute to extending our understanding of the effect of antibiotics on microbiome of soil invertebrates. CAPSULE: The microbiome of E. crypticus exposed to tetracycline is perturbed and reversibly restored after terminating the exposure.}, } @article {pmid30447333, year = {2018}, author = {Limpens, E and Geurts, R}, title = {Transcriptional Regulation of Nutrient Exchange in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {1421-1423}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2018.11.003}, pmid = {30447333}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Lipids ; Medicago ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; Plant Roots ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors ; }, } @article {pmid30443991, year = {2019}, author = {Schneider, S and Schintlmeister, A and Becana, M and Wagner, M and Woebken, D and Wienkoop, S}, title = {Sulfate is transported at significant rates through the symbiosome membrane and is crucial for nitrogenase biosynthesis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {1180-1189}, pmid = {30443991}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {W 1257-820/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Lotus/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nitrogenase/*biosynthesis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobiaceae/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobia symbioses play a major role in food production for an ever growing human population. In this symbiosis, dinitrogen is reduced ("fixed") to ammonia by the rhizobial nitrogenase enzyme complex and is secreted to the plant host cells, whereas dicarboxylic acids derived from photosynthetically produced sucrose are transported into the symbiosomes and serve as respiratory substrates for the bacteroids. The symbiosome membrane contains high levels of SST1 protein, a sulfate transporter. Sulfate is an essential nutrient for all living organisms, but its importance for symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodule metabolism has long been underestimated. Using chemical imaging, we demonstrate that the bacteroids take up 20-fold more sulfate than the nodule host cells. Furthermore, we show that nitrogenase biosynthesis relies on high levels of imported sulfate, making sulfur as essential as carbon for the regulation and functioning of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our findings thus establish the importance of sulfate and its active transport for the plant-microbe interaction that is most relevant for agriculture and soil fertility.}, } @article {pmid30443971, year = {2019}, author = {Motoyama, T and Nogawa, T and Hayashi, T and Hirota, H and Osada, H}, title = {Induction of Nectriapyrone Biosynthesis in the Rice Blast Fungus Pyricularia oryzae by Disturbance of the Two-Component Signal Transduction System.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {693-700}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201800620}, pmid = {30443971}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Genes, Fungal ; *Magnaporthe/genetics/metabolism ; Monoterpenes/*metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; }, abstract = {Most fungal secondary metabolism genes are poorly expressed under laboratory conditions. Nectriapyrones are known as secondary metabolites produced mainly by symbiotic fungi, including endophytes and plant pathogens. Herein, we show the induction of nectriapyrone production in the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae. The two-component signal transduction system was disturbed by disrupting OSM1 and PoYPD1, which encoded a HOG MAP kinase and a His-containing phosphotransfer (HPt) protein, respectively. This induced the production of two polyketide compounds: nectriapyrone and its hydroxylated analogue. The nectriapyrone biosynthetic gene cluster consists of a polyketide synthase gene (NEC1) and an O-methyltransferase gene (NEC2). Overexpression of the two genes induced overproduction of nectriapyrone and five nectriapyrone analogues, including a new derivative. Nectriapyrone production was not required for the infection of rice. The structure of nectriapyrone is similar to that of the germicidins produced by Streptomyces spp., and nectriapyrone inhibited the growth of Streptomyces griseus.}, } @article {pmid30443676, year = {2019}, author = {Hettiarachchige, IK and Elkins, AC and Reddy, P and Mann, RC and Guthridge, KM and Sawbridge, TI and Forster, JW and Spangenberg, GC}, title = {Genetic modification of asexual Epichloë endophytes with the perA gene for peramine biosynthesis.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {294}, number = {2}, pages = {315-328}, pmid = {30443676}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {Alkaloids/genetics ; Animals ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Epichloe/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Editing ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring/*metabolism ; Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Poaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Reproduction, Asexual/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Weevils/genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Development of grass-endophyte associations with minimal or no detrimental effects in combination with beneficial characteristics is important for pastoral agriculture. The feasibility of enhancing production of an endophyte-derived beneficial alkaloid through introduction of an additional gene copy was assessed in a proof-of-concept study. Sexual and asexual Epichloë species that form symbiotic associations with cool-season grasses of the Poaceae sub-family Pooideae produce bioactive alkaloids that confer resistance to herbivory by a number of organisms. Of these, peramine is thought to be crucial for protection of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) from the Argentinian stem weevil, an economically important exotic pest in New Zealand, contributing significantly to pasture persistence. A single gene (perA) has been identified as solely responsible for peramine biosynthesis and is distributed widely across Epichloë taxa. In the present study, a functional copy of the perA gene was introduced into three recipient endophyte genomes by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The target strains included some that do not produce peramine, and others containing different perA gene copies. Mitotically stable transformants generated from all three endophyte strains were able to produce peramine in culture and in planta at variable levels. In summary, this study provides an insight into the potential for artificial combinations of alkaloid biosynthesis in a single endophyte strain through transgenesis, as well as the possibility of using novel genome editing techniques to edit the perA gene of non-peramine producing strains.}, } @article {pmid30442721, year = {2018}, author = {Shrestha, M and Compton, KK and Mancl, JM and Webb, BA and Brown, AM and Scharf, BE and Schubot, FD}, title = {Structure of the sensory domain of McpX from Sinorhizobium meliloti, the first known bacterial chemotactic sensor for quaternary ammonium compounds.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {475}, number = {24}, pages = {3949-3962}, doi = {10.1042/BCJ20180769}, pmid = {30442721}, issn = {1470-8728}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Chemotaxis/*physiology ; Crystallization ; Molecular Docking Simulation/*methods ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {The α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti can live freely in the soil or engage in a symbiosis with its legume host. S. meliloti facilitates nitrogen fixation in root nodules, thus providing pivotal, utilizable nitrogen to the host. The organism has eight chemoreceptors, namely McpT to McpZ and IcpA that facilitate chemotaxis. McpX is the first known bacterial sensor of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) such as choline and betaines. Because QACs are exuded at chemotaxis-relevant concentrations by germinating alfalfa seeds, McpX has been proposed to contribute to host-specific chemotaxis. We have determined the crystal structure of the McpX periplasmic region (McpX[PR]) in complex with the proline betaine at 2.7 Å resolution. In the crystal, the protein forms a symmetric dimer with one proline betaine molecule bound to each monomer of McpX[PR] within membrane-distal CACHE module. The ligand is bound through cation-πinteractions with four aromatic amino acid residues. Mutational analysis in conjunction with binding studies revealed that a conserved aspartate residue is pivotal for ligand binding. We discovered that, in a striking example of convergent evolution, the ligand-binding site of McpX[PR] resembles that of a group of structurally unrelated betaine-binding proteins including ProX and OpuAC. Through this comparison and docking studies, we rationalized the specificity of McpX[PR] for this specific group of ligands. Collectively, our structural, biochemical, and molecular docking data have revealed the molecular determinants in McpX that are crucial for its rare ligand specificity for QACs.}, } @article {pmid30440041, year = {2018}, author = {Kawaka, F and Makonde, H and Dida, M and Opala, P and Ombori, O and Maingi, J and Muoma, J}, title = {Genetic diversity of symbiotic bacteria nodulating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in western Kenya.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0207403}, pmid = {30440041}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Kenya ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phaseolus/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legumes plays a critical role in improving soil fertility. Despite this vital role, there is limited information on the genetic diversity and BNF of bacteria nodulating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This study evaluated the genetic diversity and symbiotic nitrogen fixation of bacteria nodulating common bean in soils of Western Kenya. The genetic diversity was determined using 16S rRNA gene partial sequences while BNF was estimated in a greenhouse experiment. The sequences of the native isolates were closely affiliated with members from the genera Pantoea, Klebsiella, Rhizobium, Enterobacter and Bacillus. These results show that apart from rhizobia, there are non-rhizobial strains in the nodules of common bean. The symbiotic efficiency (SE) of native isolates varied and exhibited comparable or superior BNF compared to the local commercial inoculants (CIAT 899 and Strain 446). Isolates (MMUST 003 [KP027691], MMUST 004 [KP027687], MMUST 005 [KP027688], KSM 001 [KP027682], KSM 002 [KP027680], KSM 003 [KP027683] and KSM 005 [KP027685]) recorded equal or significantly higher SE (p < 0.05) compared to N supplemented treatments. The results demonstrate the presence of genetic diversity of native bacteria nodulating bean that are effective in N fixation. These elite bacterial strains should be exploited as candidates for the development of Phaseolus vulgaris inoculants.}, } @article {pmid30429501, year = {2018}, author = {Yuyama, I and Ishikawa, M and Nozawa, M and Yoshida, MA and Ikeo, K}, title = {Transcriptomic changes with increasing algal symbiont reveal the detailed process underlying establishment of coral-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {16802}, pmid = {30429501}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Seaweed ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {To clarify the establishment process of coral-algal symbiotic relationships, coral transcriptome changes during increasing algal symbiont densities were examined in juvenile corals following inoculation with the algae Symbiodinium goreaui (clade C) and S. trenchii (clade D), and comparison of their transcriptomes with aposymbiotic corals by RNA-sequencing. Since Symbiodinium clades C and D showed very different rates of density increase, comparisons were made of early onsets of both symbionts, revealing that the host behaved differently for each. RNA-sequencing showed that the number of differentially-expressed genes in corals colonized by clade D increased ca. two-fold from 10 to 20 days, whereas corals with clade C showed unremarkable changes consistent with a slow rate of density increase. The data revealed dynamic metabolic changes in symbiotic corals. In addition, the endocytosis pathway was also upregulated, while lysosomal digestive enzymes and the immune system tended to be downregulated as the density of clade D algae increased. The present dataset provides an enormous number of candidate symbiosis-related molecules that exhibit the detailed process by which coral-algal endosymbiosis is established.}, } @article {pmid30429307, year = {2018}, author = {Georgieva, MN and Little, CTS and Bailey, RJ and Ball, AD and Glover, AG}, title = {Microbial-tubeworm associations in a 440 million year old hydrothermal vent community.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1891}, pages = {}, pmid = {30429307}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*physiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; *Fossils ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Microbiota/physiology ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms are the chief primary producers within present-day deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems, and play a fundamental role in shaping the ecology of these environments. However, very little is known about the microbes that occurred within, and structured, ancient vent communities. The evolutionary history, diversity and the nature of interactions between ancient vent microorganisms and hydrothermal vent animals are largely undetermined. The oldest known hydrothermal vent community that includes metazoans is preserved within the Ordovician to early Silurian Yaman Kasy massive sulfide deposit, Ural Mountains, Russia. This deposit contains two types of tube fossil attributed to annelid worms. A re-examination of these fossils using a range of microscopy, chemical analysis and nano-tomography techniques reveals the preservation of filamentous microorganisms intimately associated with the tubes. The microfossils bear a strong resemblance to modern hydrothermal vent microbial filaments, including those preserved within the mineralized tubes of the extant vent polychaete genus Alvinella The Yaman Kasy fossil filaments represent the oldest animal-microbial associations preserved within an ancient hydrothermal vent environment. They allude to a diverse microbial community, and also demonstrate that remarkable fine-scale microbial preservation can also be observed in ancient vent deposits, suggesting the possible existence of similar exceptionally preserved microfossils in even older vent environments.}, } @article {pmid30428829, year = {2018}, author = {Baig, MA and Ahmad, J and Bagheri, R and Ali, AA and Al-Huqail, AA and Ibrahim, MM and Qureshi, MI}, title = {Proteomic and ecophysiological responses of soybean (Glycine max L.) root nodules to Pb and hg stress.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {283}, pmid = {30428829}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Ascorbate Peroxidases/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism ; Lead/*toxicity ; Mercury/*toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology/drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; *Proteomics ; Root Nodules, Plant/anatomy & histology/drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/anatomy & histology/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are persistent hazardous metals in industrially polluted soils which can be toxic in low quantities. Metal toxicity can cause changes at cellular and molecular level which should be studied for better understanding of tolerance mechanism in plants. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important oilseed crop of the world including India. Indian soils growing soybean are often contaminated by Pb and Hg. The aim of this study was to explore how soybean root nodule responds to Pb and Hg through proteomic and ecophysiological alterations in order to enhance tolerance to metal stress.

RESULTS: Soybean plants were exposed to Pb (30 ppm PbCl2) and Hg (0.5 ppm HgCl2) to study histological, histochemical, biochemical and molecular response of N2-fixing symbiotic nodules. Both Pb and Hg treatment increased the level of oxidative stress in leaves and nodules. Chlorosis in leaves and morphological/anatomical changes in nodules were observed. Activities of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase were also modulated. Significant changes were observed in abundance of 76 proteins by Pb and Hg. Pb and Hg influenced abundance of 33 proteins (17 up and 16 down) and 43 proteins (33 up and 10 down), respectively. MS/MS ion search identified 55 proteins which were functionally associated with numerous cellular functions. Six crucial proteins namely catalase (CAT), allene oxide synthase (AOS), glutathione S-transferase (GST), calcineurin B like (CBL), calmodulin like (CML) and rapid alkalinisation factor (RAF) were selected for transcript abundance estimation. The qRT-PCR based real time expression exhibited a positive correlation with proteomics expression except for GST and RAF.

CONCLUSION: Soybean root nodule responds to metal stress by increased abundance of defence, development and repair related proteins. An efficient proteomic modulation might lead to metal-induced stress tolerance in N2-fixing nodules. Although concentrations of Pb and Hg used in the study cannot be considered equimolar, yet Hg seems to induce more changes in nodule proteomic profile, and higher damage to both bacteroides and root anatomy.}, } @article {pmid30427852, year = {2018}, author = {Brito, TL and Campos, AB and Bastiaan von Meijenfeldt, FA and Daniel, JP and Ribeiro, GB and Silva, GGZ and Wilke, DV and de Moraes, DT and Dutilh, BE and Meirelles, PM and Trindade-Silva, AE}, title = {The gill-associated microbiome is the main source of wood plant polysaccharide hydrolases and secondary metabolite gene clusters in the mangrove shipworm Neoteredo reynei.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0200437}, pmid = {30427852}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/physiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Genomics ; Gills/microbiology ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Metagenome ; Microbiota ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Teredinidae are a family of highly adapted wood-feeding and wood-boring bivalves, commonly known as shipworms, whose evolution is linked to the acquisition of cellulolytic gammaproteobacterial symbionts harbored in bacteriocytes within the gills. In the present work we applied metagenomics to characterize microbiomes of the gills and digestive tract of Neoteredo reynei, a mangrove-adapted shipworm species found over a large range of the Brazilian coast. Comparative metagenomics grouped the gill symbiont community of different N. reynei specimens, indicating closely related bacterial types are shared. Similarly, the intestine and digestive gland communities were related, yet were more diverse than and showed no overlap with the gill community. Annotation of assembled metagenomic contigs revealed that the gill symbiotic community of N. reynei encodes a plethora of plant cell wall polysaccharides degrading glycoside hydrolase encoding genes, and Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs). In contrast, the digestive tract microbiomes seem to play little role in wood digestion and secondary metabolites biosynthesis. Metagenome binning recovered the nearly complete genome sequences of two symbiotic Teredinibacter strains from the gills, a representative of Teredinibacter turnerae "clade I" strain, and a yet to be cultivated Teredinibacter sp. type. These Teredinibacter genomes, as well as un-binned gill-derived gammaproteobacteria contigs, also include an endo-β-1,4-xylanase/acetylxylan esterase multi-catalytic carbohydrate-active enzyme, and a trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthase (trans-AT PKS) gene cluster with the gene cassette for generating β-branching on complex polyketides. Finally, we use multivariate analyses to show that the secondary metabolome from the genomes of Teredinibacter representatives, including genomes binned from N. reynei gills' metagenomes presented herein, stands out within the Cellvibrionaceae family by size, and enrichments for polyketide, nonribosomal peptide and hybrid BGCs. Results presented here add to the growing characterization of shipworm symbiotic microbiomes and indicate that the N. reynei gill gammaproteobacterial community is a prolific source of biotechnologically relevant enzymes for wood-digestion and bioactive compounds production.}, } @article {pmid30427559, year = {2019}, author = {Stabb, EV}, title = {Should they stay or should they go? Nitric oxide and the clash of regulators governing Vibrio fischeri biofilm formation.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {111}, number = {1}, pages = {1-5}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.14163}, pmid = {30427559}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {1557964//Division of Integrative Organismal Systems/International ; 1716232//Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences/International ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; Biofilms ; Decapodiformes ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Nitric Oxide ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A key regulatory decision for many bacteria is the switch between biofilm formation and motile dispersal, and this dynamic is well illustrated in the light-organ symbiosis between the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid. Biofilm formation mediated by the syp gene cluster helps V. fischeri transition from a dispersed planktonic lifestyle to a robust aggregate on the surface of the nascent symbiotic organ. However, the bacteria must then swim to pores and down into the deeper crypt tissues that they ultimately colonize. A number of positive and negative regulators control syp expression and biofilm formation, but until recently the environmental inputs controlling this clash between opposing regulatory mechanisms have been unclear. Thompson et al. have now shown that Syp-mediated biofilms can be repressed by a well-known host-derived molecule: nitric oxide. This regulation is accomplished by the NO sensor HnoX exerting control over the biofilm regulator HahK. The discoveries reported here by Thompson et al. cast new light on a critical early stage of symbiotic initiation in the V. fischeri-squid model symbiosis, and more broadly it adds to a growing understanding of the role(s) that NO and HnoX play in biofilm regulation by many bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30425894, year = {2018}, author = {Ornelas-García, P and Pajares, S and Sosa-Jiménez, VM and Rétaux, S and Miranda-Gamboa, RA}, title = {Microbiome differences between river-dwelling and cave-adapted populations of the fish Astyanax mexicanus (De Filippi, 1853).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5906}, pmid = {30425894}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between host and microbiome can play a major role in local adaptation. Previous studies with freshwater organisms have shown that microbiome performs numerous important biochemical functions for the host, playing a key role in metabolism, physiology or health. Experimental studies in fish groups have found an effect of enzymatic activity of gut microbiota on a variety of metabolic processes. The goal of this study was to compare stomach microbiome from cave and surface Astyanax mexicanus, in order to evaluate the potential response of microbiota to contrasting environmental conditions and physiological adaptations of the host. Stomach microbiota was obtained from three different populations: Pachón cave, and two surface rivers (Rascón and Micos rivers). The stomach microbiome was analyzed using the Ion 16S Metagenomic kit considering seven variable regions: V2, V3, V4, V6-7, V8 and V9. A high diversity was observed across samples, including 16 phyla, 120 families and 178 genera. Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Betaproteobacteria were the most abundant phyla across the samples. Although the relative abundance of the core OTUs at genus level were highly contrasting among populations, we did not recover differences in stomach microbiome between contrasting habitats (cave vs. surface rivers). Rather, we observed a consistent association between β-diversity and dissolved oxygen concentration in water. Therefore, and unexpectedly, the microbiota of A. mexicanus is not linked with the contrasting conditions of the habitat considered here but is related to water parameters.}, } @article {pmid30425882, year = {2018}, author = {McKibben, M and Henning, JA}, title = {Hemiparasitic plants increase alpine plant richness and evenness but reduce arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization in dominant plant species.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5682}, pmid = {30425882}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Hemiparasitic plants increase plant biodiversity by reducing the abundance of dominant plant species, allowing for the establishment of subordinate species. Hemiparasites reduce host resources by directly removing nutrients from hosts, competing for light and space, and may indirectly reduce host resources by disrupting plant associations with symbiotic root fungi, like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark-septate endophytes. Here, we explored how a generalist hemiparasite, Castilleja, influences plant richness, evenness, community composition, and mycorrhizal colonization patterns across a ∼1,000 m elevational gradient in the North American Rocky Mountains. We hypothesized that the presence of Castilleja would be associated with increased plant richness and evenness, shaping plant community composition, and would reduce mycorrhizal colonization within dominant plant taxa. However, the magnitude of the effects would be contingent upon climate contexts, that is, elevation. Overall, we found that the presence of Castilleja was associated with an 11% increase in plant richness and a 5% increase in plant evenness, regardless of elevation. However, we found that the presence of Castilleja influenced plant composition at only two of the five sites and at the remaining three of five sites, plot pairing was the only predictor that influenced composition. Additionally, we found that the presence of Castilleja reduced mycorrhizal fungal colonization within dominant plant species by ∼20%, regardless of elevation. Taken together, our results suggest that hemiparasites regulate plant diversity, evenness, and interactions with mycorrhizal fungi independent of abiotic and biotic contexts occurring at the site, although overall effect on community composition is likely driven by site-level factors.}, } @article {pmid30425806, year = {2018}, author = {Javanmard, A and Ashtari, S and Sabet, B and Davoodi, SH and Rostami-Nejad, M and Esmaeil Akbari, M and Niaz, A and Mortazavian, AM}, title = {Probiotics and their role in gastrointestinal cancers prevention and treatment; an overview.}, journal = {Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {284-295}, pmid = {30425806}, issn = {2008-2258}, abstract = {Cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) track are a serious global health problem. The human GI tract is home to trillions of microorganisms that known as gut microbiota and have established a symbiotic relationship with the host. The human intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the development of the gut immune system, metabolism, nutrition absorption, production of short-chain fatty acids and essential vitamins, resistance to pathogenic microorganisms, and modulates a normal immunological response. Microbiota imbalance has been involved in many disorders including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, asthma, psychiatric illnesses, and cancers. Oral administration of probiotics seems to play a protective role against cancer development as a kind of functional foods. Moreover, clinical application of probiotics has shown that some probiotic strains can reduce the incidence of post-operative inflammation in cancer patients. In the present narrative review, we carried out update knowledge on probiotic effects and underlying mechanism to GI cancers. Currently, it is accept that most commercial probiotic products are generally safe and can used as a supplement for cancer prevention and treatment. Nevertheless, well-designed, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled human studies are required to gain the acceptance of the potential probiotics as an alternative therapy for cancer control..}, } @article {pmid30425705, year = {2018}, author = {Farkas, A and Pap, B and Kondorosi, É and Maróti, G}, title = {Antimicrobial Activity of NCR Plant Peptides Strongly Depends on the Test Assays.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2600}, pmid = {30425705}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis specific NCR247 and NCR335 cationic plant peptides of Medicago truncatula have been shown to exert antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microbes. However, their antimicrobial efficiency is clearly limited by divalent cations. Here, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of NCR247 and NCR335 peptides were compared to those of the well-characterized peptide antibiotics polymyxin B and the aminoglycoside streptomycin on three model microbes, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as representatives of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as eukaryotic fungi. The aim of the study was to assess how the killing efficiency of these peptides depends on various, widely used antimicrobial susceptibility assays. Validated resazurin microdilution assay was used to determine minimal growth inhibitory concentrations in three general test media (MHB, MHBII and low-salt medium LSM). Bactericidal/fungicidal activities were determined by the commonly used drop plate assay. The natural plant peptides showed distinct characteristics, NCR247 had a generally high sensitivity for Ca[2+] and Mg[2+] in the medium, while NCR335 proved to be a robust and strong antimicrobial agent with comparable efficiency values to polymyxin B. Activity data were confirmed visually, both NCR247 and NCR335 treatments at minimal bactericidal concentrations induced complete disruption of the membranes and provoked cell lysis on all tested microorganisms as observed by scanning electron microscopy.}, } @article {pmid30425700, year = {2018}, author = {Hubert, J and Nesvorna, M and Sopko, B and Smrz, J and Klimov, P and Erban, T}, title = {Two Populations of Mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) Differ in Response to Feeding on Feces-Containing Diets.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2590}, pmid = {30425700}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Background: Tyrophagus putrescentiae is a ubiquitous mite species in soil, stored products and house dust and infests food and causes allergies in people. T. putrescentiae populations harbor different bacterial communities, including intracellular symbionts and gut bacteria. The spread of microorganisms via the fecal pellets of T. putrescentiae is a possibility that has not been studied in detail but may be an important means by which gut bacteria colonize subsequent generations of mites. Feces in soil may be a vector for the spread of microorganisms. Methods: Extracts from used mite culture medium (i.e., residual food, mite feces, and dead mite bodies) were used as a source of feces-inhabiting microorganisms as food for the mites. Two T. putrescentiae populations (L and P) were used for experiments, and they hosted the intracellular bacteria Cardinium and Wolbachia, respectively. The effects of the fecal fraction on respiration in a mite microcosm, mite nutrient contents, population growth and microbiome composition were evaluated. Results: Feces from the P population comprised more than 90% Bartonella-like sequences. Feces from the L population feces hosted Staphylococcus, Virgibacillus, Brevibacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacillus. The mites from the P population, but not the L population, exhibited increased bacterial respiration in the microcosms in comparison to no-mite controls. Both L- and P-feces extracts had an inhibitory effect on the respiration of the microcosms, indicating antagonistic interactions within feces-associated bacteria. The mite microbiomes were resistant to the acquisition of new bacterial species from the feces, but their bacterial profiles were affected. Feeding of P mites on P-feces-enriched diets resulted in an increase in Bartonella abundance from 6 to 20% of the total bacterial sequences and a decrease in Bacillus abundance. The population growth was fivefold accelerated on P-feces extracts in comparison to the control. Conclusion: The mite microbiome, to a certain extent, resists the acquisition of new bacteria when mites are fed on feces of the same species. However, a Bartonella-like bacteria-feces-enriched diet seems to be beneficial for mite populations with symbiotic Bartonella-like bacteria. Coprophagy on the feces of its own population may be a mechanism of bacterial acquisition in T. putrescentiae.}, } @article {pmid30423824, year = {2018}, author = {Lv, N and Wang, L and Sang, W and Liu, CZ and Qiu, BL}, title = {Effects of Endosymbiont Disruption on the Nutritional Dynamics of the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30423824}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) is a worldwide pest that feeds exclusively on the phloem sap of numerous host plants. It harbours a well-known primary endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola that helps to overcome the nutritional deficiency of a plant-based diet. However, how the Buchnera contributes to the nutritional and energy metabolism of its aphid host is unclear to date. In the current study, the function of Buchnera in relation to nutritional synthesis of pea aphid was investigated by disrupting the primary endosymbiont with an antibiotic rifampicin. Our findings revealed that the disruption of Buchnera led to infertility and higher loss in body mass of aphid hosts. Body length and width were also decreased significantly compared to healthy aphids. The detection of nutrition indicated that the quantity of proteins, soluble sugars, and glycogen in aposymbiotic pea aphids increased slowly with the growth of the aphid host. In comparison, the quantities of all the nutritional factors were significantly lower than those of symbiotic pea aphids, while the quantity of total lipid and neutral fat in aposymbiotic pea aphids were distinctly higher than those of symbiotic ones. Thus, we concluded that the significant reduction of the total amount of proteins, soluble sugars, and glycogen and the significant increase of neutral fats in aposymbiotic pea aphids were due to the disruption of Buchnera, which confirmed that the function of Buchnera is irreplaceable in the pea aphid.}, } @article {pmid30423810, year = {2018}, author = {Bozzi Cionci, N and Baffoni, L and Gaggìa, F and Di Gioia, D}, title = {Therapeutic Microbiology: The Role of Bifidobacterium breve as Food Supplement for the Prevention/Treatment of Paediatric Diseases.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30423810}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {*Bifidobacterium breve ; Celiac Disease/drug therapy ; Child ; Colic/drug therapy ; *Dysbiosis/complications/drug therapy ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/drug therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/drug therapy ; Infant ; Infant, Premature, Diseases/drug therapy ; Pediatric Obesity/drug therapy ; Pediatrics ; Postoperative Complications/drug therapy ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota, establishing a symbiotic relationship with the host, plays a significant role for human health. It is also well known that a disease status is frequently characterized by a dysbiotic condition of the gut microbiota. A probiotic treatment can represent an alternative therapy for enteric disorders and human pathologies not apparently linked to the gastrointestinal tract. Among bifidobacteria, strains of the species Bifidobacterium breve are widely used in paediatrics. B. breve is the dominant species in the gut of breast-fed infants and it has also been isolated from human milk. It has antimicrobial activity against human pathogens, it does not possess transmissible antibiotic resistance traits, it is not cytotoxic and it has immuno-stimulating abilities. This review describes the applications of B. breve strains mainly for the prevention/treatment of paediatric pathologies. The target pathologies range from widespread gut diseases, including diarrhoea and infant colics, to celiac disease, obesity, allergic and neurological disorders. Moreover, B. breve strains are used for the prevention of side infections in preterm newborns and during antibiotic treatments or chemotherapy. With this documentation, we hope to increase knowledge on this species to boost the interest in the emerging discipline known as "therapeutic microbiology".}, } @article {pmid30421109, year = {2019}, author = {La, A and Perré, P and Taidi, B}, title = {Process for symbiotic culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chlorella vulgaris for in situ CO2 mitigation.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {103}, number = {2}, pages = {731-745}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-9506-3}, pmid = {30421109}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Chlorella vulgaris/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques/*methods ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Industrial biotechnology relies heavily on fermentation processes that release considerable amounts of CO2. Apart from the fact that this CO2 represents a considerable part of the organic substrate, it has a negative impact on the environment. Microalgae cultures have been suggested as potential means of capturing the CO2 with further applications in high-value compounds production or directly for feed applications. We developed a sustainable process based on a mixed co-dominant culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chlorella vulgaris where the CO2 production and utilization controlled the microbial ecology of the culture. By mixing yeast and microalga in the same culture, the CO2 is produced in dissolved form and is available to the microalga avoiding degassing and dissolution phenomena. With this process, the CO2 production and utilization rates were balanced and a mutual symbiosis between the yeast and the microalga was set up in the culture. In this study, the reutilization of CO2 and growth of C. vulgaris was demonstrated. The two organism populations were balanced at approximately 20 × 10[6] cells ml[-1] and almost all the CO2 produced by yeast was reutilized by microalga within 168 h of culture. The C. vulgaris inoculum preparation played a key role in establishing co-dominance of the two organisms. Other key factors in establishing symbiosis were the inoculum ratio of the two organisms and the growth medium design. A new method allowed the independent enumeration of each organism in a mixed culture. This study could provide a basis for the development of green processes of low environmental impact.}, } @article {pmid30420841, year = {2018}, author = {Levy, B and Jami, E}, title = {Exploring the Prokaryotic Community Associated With the Rumen Ciliate Protozoa Population.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2526}, pmid = {30420841}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ciliate protozoa are an integral part of the rumen microbiome and were found to exert a large effect on the rumen ecosystem itself as well as their host animal physiology. Part of these effects have been attributed to their ability to harbor a diverse ecto- and endo-symbiotic community of prokaryotic cells. Studies on the relationship between the protozoa population and their associated prokaryotic community in the rumen mainly focused on the methanogens, revealing that protozoa play a major role in enhancing methanogenesis potential. In contrast, little is known about the composition and function of the bacteria associated with rumen protozoa and the extent of this association. In this study, we characterize the prokaryotic communities associated with different protozoa populations and compare their structure to the free-living prokaryotic population residing in the cow rumen. We show that the overall protozoa associated prokaryotic community structure differs significantly compared to the free-living community in terms of richness and composition. The methanogens proportion was significantly higher in all protozoa populations compared to the free-living fraction, while the Lachnospiraceae was the most prevalent bacterial family in the protozoa associated bacterial communities. Several taxa not detected or detected in extremely low abundance in the free-living community were enriched in the protozoa associated bacterial community. These include members of the Endomicrobia class, previously identified as protozoa symbionts in the termite gut. Our results show that rumen protozoa harbor prokaryotic communities that are compositionally different from their surroundings, which may be the result of specific tropism between the prokaryotic community and protozoa.}, } @article {pmid30420746, year = {2018}, author = {Murat, C and Payen, T and Noel, B and Kuo, A and Morin, E and Chen, J and Kohler, A and Krizsán, K and Balestrini, R and Da Silva, C and Montanini, B and Hainaut, M and Levati, E and Barry, KW and Belfiori, B and Cichocki, N and Clum, A and Dockter, RB and Fauchery, L and Guy, J and Iotti, M and Le Tacon, F and Lindquist, EA and Lipzen, A and Malagnac, F and Mello, A and Molinier, V and Miyauchi, S and Poulain, J and Riccioni, C and Rubini, A and Sitrit, Y and Splivallo, R and Traeger, S and Wang, M and Žifčáková, L and Wipf, D and Zambonelli, A and Paolocci, F and Nowrousian, M and Ottonello, S and Baldrian, P and Spatafora, JW and Henrissat, B and Nagy, LG and Aury, JM and Wincker, P and Grigoriev, IV and Bonfante, P and Martin, FM}, title = {Pezizomycetes genomes reveal the molecular basis of ectomycorrhizal truffle lifestyle.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {1956-1965}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-018-0710-4}, pmid = {30420746}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/physiology ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Life History Traits ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tuberaceae is one of the most diverse lineages of symbiotic truffle-forming fungi. To understand the molecular underpinning of the ectomycorrhizal truffle lifestyle, we compared the genomes of Piedmont white truffle (Tuber magnatum), Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum), Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum), pig truffle (Choiromyces venosus) and desert truffle (Terfezia boudieri) to saprotrophic Pezizomycetes. Reconstructed gene duplication/loss histories along a time-calibrated phylogeny of Ascomycetes revealed that Tuberaceae-specific traits may be related to a higher gene diversification rate. Genomic features in Tuber species appear to be very similar, with high transposon content, few genes coding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes, a substantial set of lineage-specific fruiting-body-upregulated genes and high expression of genes involved in volatile organic compound metabolism. Developmental and metabolic pathways expressed in ectomycorrhizae and fruiting bodies of T. magnatum and T. melanosporum are unexpectedly very similar, owing to the fact that they diverged ~100 Ma. Volatile organic compounds from pungent truffle odours are not the products of Tuber-specific gene innovations, but rely on the differential expression of an existing gene repertoire. These genomic resources will help to address fundamental questions in the evolution of the truffle lifestyle and the ecology of fungi that have been praised as food delicacies for centuries.}, } @article {pmid30420273, year = {2019}, author = {Ueki, T and Fujie, M and Romaidi, and Satoh, N}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria associated with ascidian vanadium accumulation identified by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {43}, number = {}, pages = {33-42}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2018.10.006}, pmid = {30420273}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/microbiology/*physiology ; Vanadium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ascidians belonging to Phlebobranchia accumulate vanadium to an extraordinary degree (≤ 350 mM). Vanadium levels are strictly regulated and vary among ascidian species; thus, they represent well-suited models for studies on vanadium accumulation. No comprehensive study on metal accumulation and reduction in marine organisms in relation to their symbiotic bacterial communities has been published. Therefore, we performed comparative 16S rRNA amplicon sequence analyses on samples from three tissues (branchial sac, intestine, and intestinal lumen) involved in vanadium absorption, isolated from two vanadium-rich (Ascidia ahodori and Ascidia sydneiensis samea) and one vanadium-poor species (Styela plicata). For each sample, the abundance of every bacteria and an abundance value normalized to their abundance in seawater were calculated and compared. Two bacterial genera, Pseudomonas and Ralstonia, were extremely abundant in the branchial sacs of vanadium-rich ascidians. Two bacterial genera, Treponema and Borrelia, were abundant and enriched in the intestinal content of vanadium-rich ascidians. The results suggest that specific selective forces maintain the bacterial population in the three ascidian tissues examined, which contribute to successful vanadium accumulation. This study furthers the understanding of the relationship between bacterial communities and metal accumulation in marine life.}, } @article {pmid30417315, year = {2019}, author = {Kalita, M and Małek, W}, title = {The ftsA gene as a molecular marker for phylogenetic studies in Bradyrhizobium and identification of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {Journal of applied genetics}, volume = {60}, number = {1}, pages = {123-126}, pmid = {30417315}, issn = {2190-3883}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Markers ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The use of ftsA gene sequences for taxonomic studies of the genus Bradyrhizobium bacteria was assessed. The ftsA gene codes for an actin-like protein involved in prokaryotic cell division. Up to now, this gene has not been used as a phylogenetic marker for analysis of bacteria establishing root nodule symbiosis with Fabaceae plants. In this study, the ftsA gene sequences obtained for bradyrhizobia forming N2 fixing symbiosis with four Genisteae tribe plants growing in Poland and most of the type strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium species were analyzed and evaluated as molecular markers for phylogenetic studies of these bacteria for the first time. The ftsA gene sequences of all bradyrhizobial strains with completely or partially sequenced genomes, available in the GenBank database, were also included into the analysis. The phylogeny of the ftsA gene was compared to the phylogenies of other chromosomal genes commonly used in the studies of Bradyrhizobium bacteria. The results showed that the phylogenies of ftsA and the core genes recA and glnII were congruent, making the ftsA gene useful as a phylogenetic marker. Analysis of the ftsA gene sequences revealed a single-nucleotide polymorphism unique to Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains, and the potential use of this SNP for identification of this species was discussed.}, } @article {pmid30416203, year = {2018}, author = {Treanor, D and Pamminger, T and Hughes, WOH}, title = {The evolution of caste-biasing symbionts in the social hymenoptera.}, journal = {Insectes sociaux}, volume = {65}, number = {4}, pages = {513-519}, pmid = {30416203}, issn = {0020-1812}, abstract = {The separation of individuals into reproductive and worker castes is the defining feature of insect societies. However, caste determination is itself a complex phenomenon, dependent on interacting genetic and environmental factors. It has been suggested by some authors that widespread maternally transmitted symbionts such as Wolbachia may be selected to interfere with caste determination, whilst others have discounted this possibility on theoretical grounds. We argue that there are in fact three distinct evolutionary scenarios in which maternally transmitted symbionts might be selected to influence the process of caste determination in a social hymenopteran host. Each of these scenarios generate testable predictions which we outline here. Given the increasing recognition of the complexity and multi-faceted nature of caste determination in social insects, we argue that maternally transmitted symbionts should also be considered as possible factors influencing the development of social hymenopterans.}, } @article {pmid30416059, year = {2018}, author = {Gaudioso-Pedraza, R and Beck, M and Frances, L and Kirk, P and Ripodas, C and Niebel, A and Oldroyd, GED and Benitez-Alfonso, Y and de Carvalho-Niebel, F}, title = {Callose-Regulated Symplastic Communication Coordinates Symbiotic Root Nodule Development.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {22}, pages = {3562-3577.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.031}, pmid = {30416059}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase/metabolism/physiology ; Glucans/*metabolism/physiology ; Intercellular Junctions/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Organogenesis, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Plasmodesmata/*metabolism ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules in legumes involves the initiation of synchronized programs in the root epidermis and cortex to allow rhizobial infection and nodule development. In this study, we provide evidence that symplastic communication, regulated by callose turnover at plasmodesmata (PD), is important for coordinating nodule development and infection in Medicago truncatula. Here, we show that rhizobia promote a reduction in callose levels in inner tissues where nodules initiate. This downregulation coincides with the localized expression of M. truncatula β-1,3-glucanase 2 (MtBG2), encoding a novel PD-associated callose-degrading enzyme. Spatiotemporal analyses revealed that MtBG2 expression expands from dividing nodule initials to rhizobia-colonized cortical and epidermal tissues. As shown by the transport of fluorescent molecules in vivo, symplastic-connected domains are created in rhizobia-colonized tissues and enhanced in roots constitutively expressing MtBG2. MtBG2-overexpressing roots additionally displayed reduced levels of PD-associated callose. Together, these findings suggest an active role for MtBG2 in callose degradation and in the formation of symplastic domains during sequential nodule developmental stages. Interfering with symplastic connectivity led to drastic nodulation phenotypes. Roots ectopically expressing β-1,3-glucanases (including MtBG2) exhibited increased nodule number, and those expressing MtBG2 RNAi constructs or a hyperactive callose synthase (under symbiotic promoters) showed defective nodulation phenotypes. Obstructing symplastic connectivity appears to block a signaling pathway required for the expression of NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) and its target NUCLEAR FACTOR-YA1 (NF-YA1) in the cortex. We conclude that symplastic intercellular communication is proactively enhanced by rhizobia, and this is necessary for appropriate coordination of bacterial infection and nodule development.}, } @article {pmid30416058, year = {2018}, author = {Decelle, J and Carradec, Q and Pochon, X and Henry, N and Romac, S and Mahé, F and Dunthorn, M and Kourlaiev, A and Voolstra, CR and Wincker, P and de Vargas, C}, title = {Worldwide Occurrence and Activity of the Reef-Building Coral Symbiont Symbiodinium in the Open Ocean.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {22}, pages = {3625-3633.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.024}, pmid = {30416058}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The dinoflagellate microalga Symbiodinium sustains coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems of the biosphere, through mutualistic endosymbioses with a wide diversity of benthic hosts [1]. Despite its ecological and economic importance, the presence of Symbiodinium in open oceanic waters remains unknown, which represents a significant knowledge gap to fully understand the eco-evolutionary trajectory and resilience of endangered Symbiodinium-based symbioses. Here, we document the existence of Symbiodinium (i.e., now the family Symbiodiniaceae [2]) in tropical- and temperate-surface oceans using DNA and RNA metabarcoding of size-fractionated plankton samples collected at 109 stations across the globe. Symbiodinium from clades A and C were, by far, the most prevalent and widely distributed lineages (representing 0.1% of phytoplankton reads), while other lineages (clades B, D, E, F, and G) were present but rare. Concurrent metatranscriptomics analyses using the Tara Oceans gene catalog [3] revealed that Symbiodinium clades A and C were transcriptionally active in the open ocean and expressed core metabolic pathways (e.g., photosynthesis, carbon fixation, glycolysis, and ammonium uptake). Metabarcodes and expressed genes of clades A and C were detected in small and large plankton size fractions, suggesting the existence of a free-living population and a symbiotic lifestyle within planktonic hosts, respectively. However, high-resolution genetic markers and microscopy are required to confirm the life history of oceanic Symbiodinium. Overall, the previously unknown, metabolically active presence of Symbiodinium in oceanic waters opens up new avenues for investigating the potential of this oceanic reservoir to repopulate coral reefs following stress-induced bleaching.}, } @article {pmid30415881, year = {2019}, author = {Flores-Félix, JD and Sánchez-Juanes, F and García-Fraile, P and Valverde, A and Mateos, PF and Gónzalez-Buitrago, JM and Velázquez, E and Rivas, R}, title = {Phaseolus vulgaris is nodulated by the symbiovar viciae of several genospecies of Rhizobium laguerreae complex in a Spanish region where Lens culinaris is the traditionally cultivated legume.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {240-247}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.10.009}, pmid = {30415881}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris and Lens culinaris are two legumes with different distribution centers that were introduced in Spain at different times, but in some regions L. culinaris has been traditionally cultivated and P. vulgaris did not. Here we analysed the rhizobia isolated from nodules of these two legumes in one of these regions. MALDI-TOF MS analysis showed that all isolated strains matched with Rhizobium laguerreae and the phylogenetic analysis of rrs, atpD and recA genes confirmed these results. The phylogenetic analysis of these core genes allowed the differentiation of several groups within R. laguerreae and unexpectedly, strains with housekeeping genes identical to that of the type strain of R. laguerreae presented some differences in the rrs gene. In some strains this gene contains an intervening sequence (IVS) identical to that found in Rhizobium strains nodulating several legumes in different geographical locations. The atpD, recA and nodC genes of all isolated strains clustered with those of strains nodulating L. culinaris in its distribution centers, but not with those nodulating P. vulgaris in theirs. Therefore, all these strains belong to the symbiovar viciae, including those isolated from P. vulgaris, which in the studied region established effective symbiosis with the common endosymbiont of L. culinaris, instead to with its common endosymbiont, the symbiovar phaseoli. These results are particularly interesting for biogeography studies, because they showed that, due its high promiscuity degree, P. vulgaris is able to establish symbiosis with local symbiovars well established in the soil after centuries of cultivation with other legumes.}, } @article {pmid30415160, year = {2019}, author = {Davison, JM and Wischmeyer, PE}, title = {Probiotic and synbiotic therapy in the critically ill: State of the art.}, journal = {Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {29-36}, doi = {10.1016/j.nut.2018.07.017}, pmid = {30415160}, issn = {1873-1244}, mesh = {Critical Care/*methods ; Critical Illness/*therapy ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/*therapy ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Recent medical history has largely viewed our bacterial symbionts as pathogens to be eradicated rather than as essential partners in optimal health. However, one of the most exciting scientific advances in recent years has been the realization that commensal microorganisms (our microbiome) play vital roles in human physiology in nutrition, vitamin synthesis, drug metabolism, protection against infection, and recovery from illness. Recent data show that loss of "health-promoting" microbes and overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis) in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) appears to contribute to nosocomial infections, sepsis, and poor outcomes. Dysbiosis results from many factors, including ubiquitous antibiotic use and altered nutrition delivery in illness. Despite modern antibiotic therapy, infections and mortality from often multidrug-resistant organisms are increasing. This raises the question of whether restoration of a healthy microbiome via probiotics or synbiotics (probiotic and prebiotic combinations) to intervene on ubiquitous ICU dysbiosis would be an optimal intervention in critical illness to prevent infection and to improve recovery. This review will discuss recent innovative experimental data illuminating mechanistic pathways by which probiotics and synbiotics may provide clinical benefit. Furthermore, a review of recent clinical data demonstrating that probiotics and synbiotics can reduce complications in ICU and other populations will be undertaken. Overall, growing data for probiotic and symbiotic therapy reveal a need for definitive clinical trials of these therapies, as recently performed in healthy neonates. Future studies should target administration of probiotics and synbiotics with known mechanistic benefits to improve patient outcomes. Optimally, future probiotic and symbiotic studies will be conducted using microbiome signatures to characterize actual ICU dysbiosis and determine, and perhaps even personalize, ideal probiotic and symbiotic therapies.}, } @article {pmid30414038, year = {2019}, author = {Votanopoulos, KI and Mazzocchi, A and Sivakumar, H and Forsythe, S and Aleman, J and Levine, EA and Skardal, A}, title = {Appendiceal Cancer Patient-Specific Tumor Organoid Model for Predicting Chemotherapy Efficacy Prior to Initiation of Treatment: A Feasibility Study.}, journal = {Annals of surgical oncology}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {139-147}, pmid = {30414038}, issn = {1534-4681}, support = {T32 EB014836/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Appendiceal Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; Organoids/drug effects/*pathology ; Peritoneal Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology ; Precision Medicine ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: We have hypothesized that biofabrication of appendiceal tumor organoids allows for a more personalized clinical approach and facilitates research in a rare disease.

METHODS: Appendiceal cancer specimens obtained during cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy procedures (CRS/HIPEC) were dissociated and incorporated into an extracellular matrix-based hydrogel system as three-dimensional (3D), patient-specific tumor organoids. Cells were not sorted, preserving tumor heterogeneity, including stroma and immune cell components. Following establishment of organoid sets, chemotherapy drugs were screened in parallel. Live/dead staining and quantitative metabolism assays recorded which chemotherapies were most effective in killing cancer cells for a specific patient. Maintenance of cancer phenotypes were confirmed by using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Biospecimens from 12 patients were applied for organoid development between November 2016 and May 2018. Successful establishment rate of viable organoid sets was 75% (9/12). Average time from organoid development to chemotherapy testing was 7 days. These tumors included three high-grade appendiceal (HGA) and nine low-grade appendiceal (LGA) primaries obtained from sites of peritoneal metastasis. All tumor organoids were tested with chemotherapeutic agents exhibited responses that were either similar to the patient response or within the variability of the expected clinical response. More specifically, HGA tumor organoids derived from different patients demonstrated variable chemotherapy tumor-killing responses, whereas LGA organoids tested with the same regimens showed no response to chemotherapy. One LGA set of organoids was immune-enhanced with cells from a patient-matched lymph node to demonstrate feasibility of a symbiotic 3D reconstruction of a patient matched tumor and immune system component.

CONCLUSIONS: Development of 3D appendiceal tumor organoids is feasible even in low cellularity LGA tumors, allowing for individual patient tumors to remain viable for research and personalized drug screening.}, } @article {pmid30413836, year = {2019}, author = {Villegas-Plazas, M and Wos-Oxley, ML and Sanchez, JA and Pieper, DH and Thomas, OP and Junca, H}, title = {Variations in Microbial Diversity and Metabolite Profiles of the Tropical Marine Sponge Xestospongia muta with Season and Depth.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {243-256}, pmid = {30413836}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Caribbean Region ; Coral Reefs ; *Microbiota ; Panama ; Phylogeny ; Seasons ; Seawater/*chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Xestospongia/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Xestospongia muta is among the most emblematic sponge species inhabiting coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea. Besides being the largest sponge species growing in the Caribbean, it is also known to produce secondary metabolites. This study aimed to assess the effect of depth and season on the symbiotic bacterial dynamics and major metabolite profiles of specimens of X. muta thriving in a tropical marine biome (Portobelo Bay, Panamá), which allow us to determine whether variability patterns are similar to those reported for subtropical latitudes. The bacterial assemblages were characterized using Illumina deep-sequencing and metabolomic profiles using UHPLC-DAD-ELSD from five depths (ranging 9-28 m) across two seasons (spring and autumn). Diverse symbiotic communities, representing 24 phyla with a predominance of Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi, were found. Although several thousands of OTUs were determined, most of them belong to the rare biosphere and only 23 to a core community. There was a significant difference between the structure of the microbial communities in respect to season (autumn to spring), with a further significant difference between depths only in autumn. This was partially mirrored in the metabolome profile, where the overall metabolite composition did not differ between seasons, but a significant depth gradient was observed in autumn. At the phyla level, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Spirochaete showed a mild-moderate correlation with the metabolome profile. The metabolomic profiles were mainly characterized by known brominated polyunsaturated fatty acids. This work presents findings about the composition and dynamics of the microbial assemblages of X. muta expanding and confirming current knowledge about its remarkable diversity and geographic variability as observed in this tropical marine biome.}, } @article {pmid30413093, year = {2018}, author = {Fagorzi, C and Checcucci, A and diCenzo, GC and Debiec-Andrzejewska, K and Dziewit, L and Pini, F and Mengoni, A}, title = {Harnessing Rhizobia to Improve Heavy-Metal Phytoremediation by Legumes.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30413093}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Rhizobia are bacteria that can form symbiotic associations with plants of the Fabaceae family, during which they reduce atmospheric di-nitrogen to ammonia. The symbiosis between rhizobia and leguminous plants is a fundamental contributor to nitrogen cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Rhizobial microsymbionts are a major reason why legumes can colonize marginal lands and nitrogen-deficient soils. Several leguminous species have been found in metal-contaminated areas, and they often harbor metal-tolerant rhizobia. In recent years, there have been numerous efforts and discoveries related to the genetic determinants of metal resistance by rhizobia, and on the effectiveness of such rhizobia to increase the metal tolerance of host plants. Here, we review the main findings on the metal resistance of rhizobia: the physiological role, evolution, and genetic determinants, and the potential to use native and genetically-manipulated rhizobia as inoculants for legumes in phytoremediation practices.}, } @article {pmid30411567, year = {2018}, author = {Qiu, L and Bi, YL and Zhang, YX and Cai, Y and Yu, HY}, title = {[Effect of film mulching and microbial inoculation on maize growth and water use efficiency under drought stress.].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {9}, pages = {2915-2924}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201809.034}, pmid = {30411567}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; China ; *Droughts ; Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Water ; Zea mays/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {To resolve the problem of soil nutrient and water deficiency in arid and semiarid regions of Northwest China, and considering the symbiotic relationship between microbes and crops, we set up two water regimes: drought stress (35% of the soil water holding capacity) and normal water supply (75% of the soil water holding capacity), two film mulching patterns (non-film mulching and film mulching), and four levels of microbial inoculation [single inoculation with AM fungi (AM), single inoculation with phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), co-inoculation of AM fungi with phosphate solubilizing bacteria (AM+PSB) and the control (CK)]. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of microbial inoculation on maize growth, nutrient absorption, and water use efficiency under different treatments of water regime and film mulching. Results showed that drought stress significantly increased the mycorrhizal colonization of inoculated plants, but significantly decreased soil external hyphal length, T-GRSP and EE-GRSP content. Under drought stress, AM inoculation showed the best promoting and mycorrhizal effect on maize growth by increasing biomass and water use efficiency, soil organic carbon content, the absorption and transportation of soil N, P, K, and thus increasing the N, P, K uptake. Under normal water supply, the inoculation effect of AM+PSB was better than that of AM or PSB treatment, especially combined with film mulching. Results from correlation analysis showed that plant biomass, leaf SPAD value, and nutrient uptake of maize aboveground were significantly positively correlated with soil external hyphal length, whereas water use efficiency was significantly negatively correlated with soil external hyphal length.}, } @article {pmid30411229, year = {2019}, author = {Navas Romero, AL and Herrera Moratta, MA and Rodríguez, MR and Quiroga, LB and Echegaray, M and Sanabria, EA}, title = {Toxicity of wine effluents and assessment of a depuration system for their control: assay with tadpoles of Rhinella arenarum (BUFONIDAE).}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {48-61}, pmid = {30411229}, issn = {1573-3017}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bufo arenarum ; Filtration ; Industrial Waste/*adverse effects ; Larva/drug effects ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; *Wine ; }, abstract = {We evaluated the toxicity of the winery effluent and the efficiency of a symbiotic depuration system by means an experiment with Rhinella arenarum tadpoles. The studied effluent was taken from warehouses during the cleaning season. These effluents subsequently subjected to the purification treatment under evaluation. The effluent samples differentiated into two treatment levels: "raw" where the effluent was evaluated with field conditions and "treated" where the effluent was previously filtered with the symbiotic depuration system. The results of the bioassays compared with the physicochemical parameters determined in the effluent samples. The lethal response had a clear-cut correspondence with the effluent quality assessed utilizing physicochemical parameters. In all cases, dilution of the samples resulted in a significant reduction of their toxicity. It concluded that (a) winery effluents could be harmful to tadpoles of R. arenarum, (b) the symbiotic purification system used to treat wine effluents it would produce a significant reduction in the contaminant levels of the effluent. However, this reduction in contaminant levels does not provide sufficient safety for the release of the effluents into the environment.}, } @article {pmid30411190, year = {2019}, author = {Rossi, A and Bellone, A and Fokin, SI and Boscaro, V and Vannini, C}, title = {Detecting Associations Between Ciliated Protists and Prokaryotes with Culture-Independent Single-Cell Microbiomics: a Proof-of-Concept Study.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {232-242}, pmid = {30411190}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Ciliophora/genetics/isolation & purification/*microbiology/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Metagenomics/*methods ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Pilot Projects ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between prokaryotes and microbial eukaryotes, particularly ciliated protists, have been studied for a long time. Nevertheless, researchers have focused only on a few host genera and species, mainly due to difficulties in cultivating the hosts, and usually have considered a single symbiont at a time. Here, we present a pilot study using a single-cell microbiomic approach to circumvent these issues. Unicellular ciliate isolation followed by simultaneous amplification of eukaryotic and prokaryotic markers was used. Our preliminary test gave reliable and satisfactory results both on samples collected from different habitats (marine and freshwater) and on ciliates belonging to different taxonomic groups. Results suggest that, as already assessed for many macro-organisms like plants and metazoans, ciliated protists harbor distinct microbiomes. The applied approach detected new potential symbionts as well as new hosts for previously described ones, with relatively low time and cost effort and without culturing. When further developed, single-cell microbiomics for ciliates could be applied to a large number of studies aiming to unravel the evolutionary and ecological meaning of these symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid30410727, year = {2018}, author = {Morris, JJ}, title = {What is the hologenome concept of evolution?.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30410727}, issn = {2046-1402}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Biota ; Genome ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {All multicellular organisms are colonized by microbes, but a gestalt study of the composition of microbiome communities and their influence on the ecology and evolution of their macroscopic hosts has only recently become possible. One approach to thinking about the topic is to view the host-microbiome ecosystem as a "holobiont". Because natural selection acts on an organism's realized phenotype, and the phenotype of a holobiont is the result of the integrated activities of both the host and all of its microbiome inhabitants, it is reasonable to think that evolution can act at the level of the holobiont and cause changes in the "hologenome", or the collective genomic content of all the individual bionts within the holobiont. This relatively simple assertion has nevertheless been controversial within the microbiome community. Here, I provide a review of recent work on the hologenome concept of evolution. I attempt to provide a clear definition of the concept and its implications and to clarify common points of disagreement.}, } @article {pmid30410449, year = {2018}, author = {Colella, S and Parisot, N and Simonet, P and Gaget, K and Duport, G and Baa-Puyoulet, P and Rahbé, Y and Charles, H and Febvay, G and Callaerts, P and Calevro, F}, title = {Bacteriocyte Reprogramming to Cope With Nutritional Stress in a Phloem Sap Feeding Hemipteran, the Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1498}, pmid = {30410449}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Nutritional symbioses play a central role in the ability of insects to thrive on unbalanced diets and in ensuring their evolutionary success. A genomic model for nutritional symbiosis comprises the hemipteran Acyrthosiphon pisum, and the gamma-3-proteobacterium, Buchnera aphidicola, with genomes encoding highly integrated metabolic pathways. A. pisum feeds exclusively on plant phloem sap, a nutritionally unbalanced diet highly variable in composition, thus raising the question of how this symbiotic system responds to nutritional stress. We addressed this by combining transcriptomic, phenotypic and life history trait analyses to determine the organismal impact of deprivation of tyrosine and phenylalanine. These two aromatic amino acids are essential for aphid development, are synthesized in a metabolic pathway for which the aphid host and the endosymbiont are interdependent, and their concentration can be highly variable in plant phloem sap. We found that this nutritional challenge does not have major phenotypic effects on the pea aphid, except for a limited weight reduction and a 2-day delay in onset of nymph laying. Transcriptomic analyses through aphid development showed a prominent response in bacteriocytes (the core symbiotic tissue which houses the symbionts), but not in gut, thus highlighting the role of bacteriocytes as major modulators of this homeostasis. This response does not involve a direct regulation of tyrosine and phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway and transporter genes. Instead, we observed an extensive transcriptional reprogramming of the bacteriocyte with a rapid down-regulation of genes encoding sugar transporters and genes required for sugar metabolism. Consistently, we observed continued overexpression of the A. pisum homolog of RRAD, a small GTPase implicated in repressing aerobic glycolysis. In addition, we found increased transcription of genes involved in proliferation, cell size control and signaling. We experimentally confirmed the significance of these gene expression changes detecting an increase in bacteriocyte number and cell size in vivo under tyrosine and phenylalanine depletion. Our results support a central role of bacteriocytes in the aphid response to amino acid deprivation: their transcriptional and cellular responses fine-tune host physiology providing the host insect with an effective way to cope with the challenges posed by the variability in composition of phloem sap.}, } @article {pmid30410018, year = {2018}, author = {Roth, R and Chiapello, M and Montero, H and Gehrig, P and Grossmann, J and O'Holleran, K and Hartken, D and Walters, F and Yang, SY and Hillmer, S and Schumacher, K and Bowden, S and Craze, M and Wallington, EJ and Miyao, A and Sawers, R and Martinoia, E and Paszkowski, U}, title = {A rice Serine/Threonine receptor-like kinase regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis at the peri-arbuscular membrane.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {4677}, pmid = {30410018}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Laser Capture Microdissection ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Membranes ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Oryza/*enzymology/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/*metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Zea mays/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In terrestrial ecosystems most plant species live in mutualistic symbioses with nutrient-delivering arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Establishment of AM symbioses includes transient, intracellular formation of fungal feeding structures, the arbuscules. A plant-derived peri-arbuscular membrane (PAM) surrounds the arbuscules, mediating reciprocal nutrient exchange. Signaling at the PAM must be well coordinated to achieve this dynamic cellular intimacy. Here, we identify the PAM-specific Arbuscular Receptor-like Kinase 1 (ARK1) from maize and rice to condition sustained AM symbiosis. Mutation of rice ARK1 causes a significant reduction in vesicles, the fungal storage structures, and a concomitant reduction in overall root colonization by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Arbuscules, although less frequent in the ark1 mutant, are morphologically normal. Co-cultivation with wild-type plants restores vesicle and spore formation, suggesting ARK1 function is required for the completion of the fungal life-cycle, thereby defining a functional stage, post arbuscule development.}, } @article {pmid30408885, year = {2019}, author = {Parakh, SK and Praveen, P and Loh, KC and Tong, YW}, title = {Wastewater treatment and microbial community dynamics in a sequencing batch reactor operating under photosynthetic aeration.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {215}, number = {}, pages = {893-903}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.085}, pmid = {30408885}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Microbiota/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Wastewater/analysis/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {A sequencing batch bioreactor (SBR) treating municipal wastewater was photosynthetically aerated using microalgae cultivated in a photobioreactor (PBR). Symbiotic interactions and CO2/O2 exchange were established between activated sludge in the SBR and microalgae in the PBR through hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes. Photosynthetic aeration enhanced COD removal in the SBR from 52.2% (without external aeration) to 90.3%, whereas N-NH4[+] and P-PO4[3-] removal increased by 63.5% and 90.4%, respectively. The SBR performance under photosynthetic aeration was comparable to that under mechanical aeration. However, no nitrification was observed in the SBR, indicating oxygen limitation and poor growth condition for nitrifiers. In the PBR, there was a rapid increase in biomass concentration and it stabilized at 3.0 g/L after 22 days of operation. High nitrogen demand in the PBR indicated the steady flow of inorganic carbon from the SBR through the membranes. Prolonged oxygen limitation and massive sludge attachment on the membranes resulted in low suspended sludge concentration in the SBR. Microbial community analysis indicated gradual enrichment of facultative and strictly anaerobic microorganisms in the SBR. These results highlight the potential of microalgae in lowering the cost of wastewater aeration and underline the challenges in sustaining symbiotic gas exchange during long-term.}, } @article {pmid30408037, year = {2018}, author = {Wu, HX and Chen, X and Chen, H and Lu, Q and Yang, Z and Ren, W and Liu, J and Shao, S and Wang, C and King-Jones, K and Chen, MS}, title = {Variation and diversification of the microbiome of Schlechtendalia chinensis on two alternate host plants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0200049}, pmid = {30408037}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bryopsida/*parasitology ; Cluster Analysis ; *Microbiota ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis/genetics ; Rhus/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Schlechtendalia chinensis, a gall-inducing aphid, has two host plants in its life cycle. Its wintering host is a moss (typically Plagiomnium maximoviczii) and its main host is Rhus chinensis (Sumac), on which it forms galls during the summer. This study investigated bacteria associated with S. chinensis living on the two different host plants by sequencing 16S rRNAs. A total of 183 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) from 50 genera were identified from aphids living on moss, whereas 182 OTUs from 49 genera were found from aphids living in Sumac galls. The most abundant bacterial genus among identified OTUs from aphids feeding on both hosts was Buchnera. Despite similar numbers of OTUs, the composition of bacterial taxa showed significant differences between aphids living on moss and those living on R. chinensis. Specifically, there were 12 OTUs from 5 genera (family) unique to aphids living on moss, and 11 OTUs from 4 genera (family) unique to aphids feeding in galls on R. chinensis. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) also revealed that bacteria from moss-residing aphids clustered differently from aphids collected from galls. Our results provide a foundation for future analyses on the roles of symbiotic bacteria in plant-aphid interactions in general, and how gall-specific symbionts differ in this respect.}, } @article {pmid30406145, year = {2018}, author = {Kallala, N and M'sehli, W and Jelali, K and Kais, Z and Mhadhbi, H}, title = {Inoculation with Efficient Nitrogen Fixing and Indoleacetic Acid Producing Bacterial Microsymbiont Enhance Tolerance of the Model Legume Medicago truncatula to Iron Deficiency.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {9134716}, pmid = {30406145}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Biomass ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Electrolytes/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Iron Deficiencies ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to assess the effect of symbiotic bacteria inoculation on the response of Medicago truncatula genotypes to iron deficiency. The present work was conducted on three Medicago truncatula genotypes: A17, TN8.20, and TN1.11. Three treatments were performed: control (C), direct Fe deficiency (DD), and induced Fe deficiency by bicarbonate (ID). Plants were nitrogen-fertilized (T) or inoculated with two bacterial strains: Sinorhizobium meliloti TII7 and Sinorhizobium medicae SII4. Biometric, physiological, and biochemical parameters were analyzed. Iron deficiency had a significant lowering effect on plant biomass and chlorophyll content in all Medicago truncatula genotypes. TN1.11 showed the highest lipid peroxidation and leakage of electrolyte under iron deficiency conditions, which suggest that TN1.11 was more affected than A17 and TN8.20 by Fe starvation. Iron deficiency affected symbiotic performance indices of all Medicago truncatula genotypes inoculated with both Sinorhizobium strains, mainly nodules number and biomass as well as nitrogen-fixing capacity. Nevertheless, inoculation with Sinorhizobium strains mitigates the negative effect of Fe deficiency on plant growth and oxidative stress compared to nitrogen-fertilized plants. The highest auxin producing strain, TII7, preserves relatively high growth and root biomass and length when inoculated to TN8.20 and A17. On the other hand, both TII7 and SII4 strains improve the performance of sensitive genotype TN1.11 through reduction of the negative effect of iron deficiency on chlorophyll and plant Fe content. The bacterial inoculation improved Fe-deficient plant response to oxidative stress via the induction of the activities of antioxidant enzymes.}, } @article {pmid30406117, year = {2018}, author = {Shang, Y and Kumar, S and Oakley, B and Kim, WK}, title = {Chicken Gut Microbiota: Importance and Detection Technology.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {254}, pmid = {30406117}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {Sustainable poultry meat and egg production is important to provide safe and quality protein sources in human nutrition worldwide. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract of chickens harbor a diverse and complex microbiota that plays a vital role in digestion and absorption of nutrients, immune system development and pathogen exclusion. However, the integrity, functionality, and health of the chicken gut depends on many factors including the environment, feed, and the GI microbiota. The symbiotic interactions between host and microbe is fundamental to poultry health and production. The diversity of the chicken GI microbiota is largely influenced by the age of the birds, location in the digestive tract and diet. Until recently, research on the poultry GI microbiota relied on conventional microbiological techniques that can only culture a small proportion of the complex community comprising the GI microbiota. 16S rRNA based next generation sequencing is a powerful tool to investigate the biological and ecological roles of the GI microbiota in chicken. Although several challenges remain in understanding the chicken GI microbiome, optimizing the taxonomic composition and biochemical functions of the GI microbiome is an attainable goal in the post-genomic era. This article reviews the current knowledge on the chicken GI function and factors that influence the diversity of gut microbiota. Further, this review compares past and current approaches that are used in chicken GI microbiota research. A better understanding of the chicken gut function and microbiology will provide us new opportunities for the improvement of poultry health and production.}, } @article {pmid30405668, year = {2018}, author = {Buendia, L and Girardin, A and Wang, T and Cottret, L and Lefebvre, B}, title = {LysM Receptor-Like Kinase and LysM Receptor-Like Protein Families: An Update on Phylogeny and Functional Characterization.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1531}, pmid = {30405668}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Members of plant specific families of receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and receptor-like proteins (RLPs), containing 3 extracellular LysMs have been shown to directly bind and/or to be involved in perception of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO), chitooligosaccharides (CO), and peptidoglycan (PGN), three types of GlcNAc-containing molecules produced by microorganisms. These receptors are involved in microorganism perception by plants and can activate different plant responses leading either to symbiosis establishment or to defense responses against pathogens. LysM-RLK/Ps belong to multigenic families. Here, we provide a phylogeny of these families in eight plant species, including dicotyledons and monocotyledons, and we discuss known or putative biological roles of the members in each of the identified phylogenetic groups. We also report and discuss known biochemical properties of the LysM-RLK/Ps.}, } @article {pmid30405662, year = {2018}, author = {De Ron, AM and Bebeli, PJ and Negri, V and Vaz Patto, MC and Revilla, P}, title = {Warm Season Grain Legume Landraces From the South of Europe for Germplasm Conservation and Genetic Improvement.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1524}, pmid = {30405662}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Currently, there is a high concern from consumers regarding food quality, with emphasis on the origin of food sources. We here review the current situation of beans (Phaseolus spp.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) landraces in the South of Europe focusing on morpho-agronomic and genetic diversity and physiological adaptation to the different agrosystems, including the symbiotic association with rhizobia. Despite the reduction in the production and consumption of grain legumes in Southern Europe, the variability of common bean, runner bean and cowpea landraces in this region is adequately preserved ex situ in germplasm banks and in breeder collections in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece; however, on-farm (in situ) conservation in isolated areas mainly in gardens and small fields for farmers own consumption and local markets is not guaranteed. This variability can be used for the genetic improvement of varieties, which will result in environmental-friendly improved legumes for a sustainable production in the South of Europe as well as in other regions of the World.}, } @article {pmid30405656, year = {2018}, author = {Cissoko, M and Hocher, V and Gherbi, H and Gully, D and Carré-Mlouka, A and Sane, S and Pignoly, S and Champion, A and Ngom, M and Pujic, P and Fournier, P and Gtari, M and Swanson, E and Pesce, C and Tisa, LS and Sy, MO and Svistoonoff, S}, title = {Actinorhizal Signaling Molecules: Frankia Root Hair Deforming Factor Shares Properties With NIN Inducing Factor.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1494}, pmid = {30405656}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants are able to establish a symbiotic relationship with Frankia bacteria leading to the formation of root nodules. The symbiotic interaction starts with the exchange of symbiotic signals in the soil between the plant and the bacteria. This molecular dialog involves signaling molecules that are responsible for the specific recognition of the plant host and its endosymbiont. Here we studied two factors potentially involved in signaling between Frankia casuarinae and its actinorhizal host Casuarina glauca: (1) the Root Hair Deforming Factor (CgRHDF) detected using a test based on the characteristic deformation of C. glauca root hairs inoculated with F. casuarinae and (2) a NIN activating factor (CgNINA) which is able to activate the expression of CgNIN, a symbiotic gene expressed during preinfection stages of root hair development. We showed that CgRHDF and CgNINA corresponded to small thermoresistant molecules. Both factors were also hydrophilic and resistant to a chitinase digestion indicating structural differences from rhizobial Nod factors (NFs) or mycorrhizal Myc-LCOs. We also investigated the presence of CgNINA and CgRHDF in 16 Frankia strains representative of Frankia diversity. High levels of root hair deformation (RHD) and activation of ProCgNIN were detected for Casuarina-infective strains from clade Ic and closely related strains from clade Ia unable to nodulate C. glauca. Lower levels were present for distantly related strains belonging to clade III. No CgRHDF or CgNINA could be detected for Frankia coriariae (Clade II) or for uninfective strains from clade IV.}, } @article {pmid30405434, year = {2018}, author = {Kong, X and Liu, H and Li, Y and Zhang, H}, title = {Two Novel Short Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (PGRPs) From the Deep Sea Vesicomyidae Clam Archivesica packardana: Identification, Recombinant Expression and Bioactivity.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1476}, pmid = {30405434}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Vesicomyidae clams are common species living in cold seeps, which incorporates symbiotic bacteria into their body maintaining endosymbiosis relationship. As members of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) family, peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns and play an important role in innate immunity. In present study, two short PGRPs (ApPGRP-1 and -2) were first identified from Vesicomyidae clam Archivesica packardana. Sequences analysis showed that they have both conserved Zn[2+] binding sites (H-H-C) and amidase catalytic sites (H-Y-H-T-C), and phylogenetic tree indicated that they clustered with short PGRPs of other molluscs. PGN assay showed that ApPGRPs could bind Lys-type PGN from Staphylococcus aureus and Dap-type PGN from Bacillus subtilis, and revealed amidase activity with selective zinc ion dependence. rApPGRP-1 and -2 (recombinant ApPGRP-1 and -2) could bind six bacteria with a broad spectrum and had both zinc-dependent and -independent bactericidal activity. ApPGRPs had the complete functions of effectors and partial functions of receptors from PGRPs. Further analyses showed that ApPGRPs from A. packardana might be involved in the endosymbiosis relationship between the host clam and endosymbiotic bacteria as a regulator. The results of these experiments suggested that ApPGRPs were involved in cold seep clams' immune response. This study provides basic information for further research on the immune mechanisms of deep sea organisms.}, } @article {pmid30404651, year = {2018}, author = {Hujber, Z and Horváth, G and Petővári, G and Krencz, I and Dankó, T and Mészáros, K and Rajnai, H and Szoboszlai, N and Leenders, WPJ and Jeney, A and Tretter, L and Sebestyén, A}, title = {GABA, glutamine, glutamate oxidation and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase expression in human gliomas.}, journal = {Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {271}, pmid = {30404651}, issn = {1756-9966}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation ; Glioma/*genetics/pathology ; Glutamic Acid/*metabolism ; Glutamine/*metabolism ; Humans ; Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase/*metabolism ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bioenergetic characterisation of malignant tissues revealed that different tumour cells can catabolise multiple substrates as salvage pathways, in response to metabolic stress. Altered metabolism in gliomas has received a lot of attention, especially in relation to IDH mutations, and the associated oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) that impact on metabolism, epigenetics and redox status. Astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, collectively called diffuse gliomas, are derived from astrocytes and oligodendrocytes that are in metabolic symbiosis with neurons; astrocytes can catabolise neuron-derived glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for supporting and regulating neuronal functions.

METHODS: Metabolic characteristics of human glioma cell models - including mitochondrial function, glycolytic pathway and energy substrate oxidation - in relation to IDH mutation status and after 2-HG incubation were studied to understand the Janus-faced role of IDH1 mutations in the progression of gliomas/astrocytomas. The metabolic and bioenergetic features were identified in glioma cells using wild-type and genetically engineered IDH1-mutant glioblastoma cell lines by metabolic analyses with Seahorse, protein expression studies and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: U251 glioma cells were characterised by high levels of glutamine, glutamate and GABA oxidation. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) expression was correlated to GABA oxidation. GABA addition to glioma cells increased proliferation rates. Expression of mutated IDH1 and treatment with 2-HG reduced glutamine and GABA oxidation, diminished the pro-proliferative effect of GABA in SSADH expressing cells. SSADH protein overexpression was found in almost all studied human cases with no significant association between SSADH expression and clinicopathological parameters (e.g. IDH mutation).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that SSADH expression may participate in the oxidation and/or consumption of GABA in gliomas, furthermore, GABA oxidation capacity may contribute to proliferation and worse prognosis of gliomas. Moreover, IDH mutation and 2-HG production inhibit GABA oxidation in glioma cells. Based on these data, GABA oxidation and SSADH activity could be additional therapeutic targets in gliomas/glioblastomas.}, } @article {pmid30404159, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, T and Song, Z and Wang, X and Xu, L and Sun, Q and Li, L}, title = {Functional Insights into the Roles of Hormones in the Dendrobium officinale-Tulasnella sp. Germinated Seed Symbiotic Association.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30404159}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Computational Biology/methods ; Dendrobium/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Germination ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/genetics/*metabolism ; Seeds/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Dendrobium is one of the largest genera in the Orchidaceae, and D. officinale is used in traditional medicine, particularly in China. D. officinale seeds are minute and contain limited energy reserves, and colonization by a compatible fungus is essential for germination under natural conditions. When the orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) initiates symbiotic interactions with germination-driven orchid seeds, phytohormones from the orchid or the fungus play key roles, but the details of the possible biochemical pathways are still poorly understood. In the present study, we established a symbiotic system between D. officinale and Tulasnella sp. for seed germination. RNA-Seq was used to construct libraries of symbiotic-germinated seeds (DoTc), asymbiotic-germinated seeds (Do), and free-living OMF (Tc) to investigate the expression profiles of biosynthesis and metabolism pathway genes for three classes of endogenous hormones: JA (jasmonic acid), ABA (abscisic acid) and SLs (strigolactones), in D. officinale seeds and OMF under symbiotic and asymbiotic conditions. Low concentrations of endogenous JA, ABA, or SLs were detected in the D. officinale-Tulasnella symbiont compared with the asymbiotic tissues. Gene annotation results suggest that the expression of DEGs (differentially expressed genes) related to JA and ABA biosynthesis from D. officinale were down-regulated, while most of the key DEGs related to SL biosynthesis from D. officinale were up-regulated in the symbiotic germinated seeds compared with the asymbiotic germinated seeds. Moreover, in the OMF, we found a significantly up-regulated differential expression of the JA and ABA biosynthesis-related genes in the symbiotic interaction, with the opposite expression trends to those found in Dendrobium. This indicates that Dendrobium seed symbiotic germination may be stimulated by the apparent involvement of the OMF in the production of hormones, and relatively low concentrations of endogenous JA, ABA, or SLs might be maintained to promote the growth of the D. officinale-Tulasnella symbiotic protocorm-like body. These results will increase our understanding of the possible roles played by endogenous hormones in the regulation of the orchid-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30403490, year = {2018}, author = {Somporn, P and Walters, L and Ash, J}, title = {Expectations of rural community-based medical education: a case study from Thailand.}, journal = {Rural and remote health}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {4709}, doi = {10.22605/RRH4709}, pmid = {30403490}, issn = {1445-6354}, mesh = {*Career Choice ; Education, Medical/*trends ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Motivation ; Physicians/*supply & distribution ; Program Development ; Qualitative Research ; Rural Health/*education ; Thailand ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Thailand has recognised and sought to remedy rural medical workforce shortages. The Collaborative Project to Increase Production of Rural Doctors (CPIRD) has improved rural workforce recruitment through publicly funding medical school places for students with rural backgrounds. However, challenges in rural retention continue. CPIRD is seeking to develop a Thai rural community-based medical education (RCBME) program in the southern region of Thailand to improve preparation for rural practice and rural medical retention rates. Prospective stakeholder consultations will allow the understanding of expectations and concerns of stakeholders required for successful RCBME implementation. This study aims to explore stakeholders' expectations of the Southern Thai RCBME initiative.

METHODS: A qualitative case study comprised a purposive sample of students, clinical educators, policymakers, rural health professionals and local community stakeholders, all likely to be involved in a new RCBME program in Songkhla Province, Thailand. Individual semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed in Thai and coded using Worley's symbiosis framework. Following this, text and quotes used in the initial analysis were translated into English, discussed and reanalysed for emergent themes across the framework.

RESULTS: A total of 21 participants contributed RCBME stakeholder perspectives. They demonstrated expectations and concerns in each of the relationship axes of the symbiosis model including the clinical, institutional, social and personal axes. Three major themes emerged from the data that integrated stakeholder perspectives on the implication of RCBME in Thailand. These themes were a dramatic shift in Thai medical education paradigm, seeing rural practice as a future career, and collaboration to improve education and health in rural services.

CONCLUSION: This study comprehensively describes Thai stakeholder expectations of RCBME and demonstrates that, although some principles of RCBME are universal, context does influence the expectations and capacity of stakeholders to contribute to RCBME. Prospective formal stakeholder engagement is recommended to ensure successful implementation of new educational innovations.}, } @article {pmid30403423, year = {2019}, author = {Sepp, SK and Davison, J and Jairus, T and Vasar, M and Moora, M and Zobel, M and Öpik, M}, title = {Non-random association patterns in a plant-mycorrhizal fungal network reveal host-symbiont specificity.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {365-378}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14924}, pmid = {30403423}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {//European Regional Development Fund/International ; IUT 20-28//Eesti Teadusagentuur/International ; }, mesh = {Biodiversity ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; Poaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate plant symbionts that have important functions in most terrestrial ecosystems, but there remains an incomplete understanding of host-fungus specificity and the relationships between species and functional groups of plants and AM fungi. Here, we aimed to provide a comprehensive description of plant-AM fungal interactions in a biodiverse semi-natural grassland. We sampled all plant species in a 1,000-m[2] homogeneous plot of dry calcareous grassland in two seasons (summer and autumn) and identified root-colonizing AM fungi by SSU rDNA sequencing. In the network of 33 plant and 100 AM fungal species, we found a significant effect of both host plant species and host plant functional group on AM fungal richness and community composition. Comparison with network null models revealed a larger-than-random degree of partner selectivity among plants. Grasses harboured a larger number of AM fungal partners and were more generalist in partner selection, compared with forbs. More generalist partner association and lower specialization were apparent among obligately, compared with facultatively, mycorrhizal plant species and among locally more abundant plant species. This study provides the most complete data set of co-occurring plant and AM fungal taxa to date, showing that at this particular site, the interaction network is assembled non-randomly, with moderate selectivity in associations between plant species and functional groups and their fungal symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30403141, year = {2018}, author = {Joshi, S and Cook, E and Mannoor, MS}, title = {Bacterial Nanobionics via 3D Printing.}, journal = {Nano letters}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {7448-7456}, doi = {10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b02642}, pmid = {30403141}, issn = {1530-6992}, mesh = {Bioelectric Energy Sources/*microbiology ; Bionics/methods ; Cells, Immobilized/cytology/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*cytology/metabolism ; Electron Transport ; Nanostructures/*chemistry ; Nanotechnology/*methods ; Photosynthesis ; *Printing, Three-Dimensional ; }, abstract = {Investigating the multidimensional integration between different microbiological kingdoms possesses potential toward engineering next-generation bionic architectures. Bacterial and fungal kingdom exhibits mutual symbiosis that can offer advanced functionalities to these bionic architectures. Moreover, functional nanomaterials can serve as probing agents for accessing newer information from microbial organisms due to their dimensional similarities. In this article, a bionic mushroom was created by intertwining cyanobacterial cells with graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) onto the umbrella-shaped pileus of mushroom for photosynthetic bioelectricity generation. These seamlessly merged GNRs function as agents for mediating extracellular electron transport from cyanobacteria resulting in photocurrent generation. Additionally, three-dimensional (3D) printing technique was used to assemble cyanobacterial cells in anisotropic, densely packed geometry resulting in adequate cell-population density for efficient collective behavior. These 3D printed cyanobacterial colonies resulted in comparatively higher photocurrent (almost 8-fold increase) than isotropically casted cyanobacteria of similar seeding density. An insight of the proposed integration between cyanobacteria and mushroom derives remarkable advantage that arises from symbiotic relationship, termed here as engineered bionic symbiosis. Existence of this engineered bionic symbiosis was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy and standard plate counting method. Taken together, the present study augments scientific understanding of multidimensional integration between the living biological microworld and functional abiotic nanomaterials to establish newer dimensionalities toward advancement of bacterial nanobionics.}, } @article {pmid30402759, year = {2018}, author = {Chashchina, OE and Chibilev, AA and Veselkin, DV and Kuyantseva, NB and Mumber, AG}, title = {The Natural Abundance of Heavy Nitrogen Isotope (15N) in Plants Increases near a Large Copper Smelter.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {482}, number = {1}, pages = {198-201}, pmid = {30402759}, issn = {1608-3105}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Copper/*analysis ; Environmental Pollutants/*analysis ; Forests ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis/*metabolism ; Plants/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The ratio of stable isotopes of nitrogen ([15]N and [14]N) has been assessed in leaves of the forest plants from different functional groups (with ectomycorrhiza, ericoid, and arbuscular mycorrhiza; in a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis) under the conditions of strong transformation of ecosystems by the Karabashsky Copper-Smelting Plant effluents in the Southern Urals. The abundance of [15]N in the plants generally increases in polluted habitats. The abundance of the heavy isotope [15]N increases significantly with pollution in ericaceous dwarf shrubs (by 3.3‰) and herbs with arbuscular mycorrhizae (by 2.8‰). This indicates a strong alteration in conditions or modes of plant mineral nutrition under the influence of heavy metal pollution of forest ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30402695, year = {2019}, author = {Alvarado-López, CJ and Dasgupta-Schubert, N and Ambriz, JE and Arteaga-Velazquez, JC and Villegas, JA}, title = {Lead uptake by the symbiotic Daucus carota L.-Glomus intraradices system and its effect on the morphology of extra- and intraradical fungal microstructures.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {381-391}, pmid = {30402695}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Daucus carota/microbiology/*physiology ; Glomeromycota ; Lead/*metabolism ; Mycelium ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This work examines the strategies adopted by an arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotic system to ameliorate environmental Pb stress by examining the concentrations of P, Fe, and Pb in the fungal microstructures and the host's root. In vitro cultures of Ri-T DNA-transformed carrot (Daucus carota L.) roots were inoculated with Glomus intraradices and treated with Pb(NO3)2 solution and the extraradical spores and mycelia (S/M) and the root with the vesicles, mycelia, and root cells were subsequently analyzed by polarized energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF) spectrometry. Upon Pb treatment, within the root, the percentages of mycorrhizal colonization, the vesicles, and mycelia increased as well as the areas of the vesicles and the (extraradical) spores, although the number of spores and arbuscules decreased. The S/M and the mycorrhizal root showed enhanced concentrations of Pb, Fe, and P. These were particularly marked for Fe in the Pb-treated cultures. This indicates a synergistic relationship between the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and the host that confers a higher Pb tolerance to the latter by the induction of higher Fe absorption in the host. The intraradical vesicle, mycelia, and arbuscule numbers are interpreted as a "tactic to divert" the intraradical Pb traffic away from the root cells to the higher affinity cell walls of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) microstructures in the apoplast. The results of this work show that the symbiosis between the AMF G. intraradices and the host plant D. carota distinctly improves the latter's Pb tolerance, and imply that the appropriate metal tolerant host-AMF combinations could be employed in process designs for the phytoremediation of Pb.}, } @article {pmid30401930, year = {2018}, author = {Jones, VAS and Bucher, M and Hambleton, EA and Guse, A}, title = {Microinjection to deliver protein, mRNA, and DNA into zygotes of the cnidarian endosymbiosis model Aiptasia sp.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {16437}, pmid = {30401930}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Actins/administration & dosage ; Animals ; DNA/*administration & dosage ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Embryonic Development ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/*administration & dosage ; Microinjections ; *Models, Biological ; RNA, Messenger/*administration & dosage ; Sea Anemones/*embryology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Zygote/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals depend on an intracellular symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates for their survival in nutrient-poor oceans. Symbionts are phagocytosed by coral larvae from the environment and transfer essential nutrients to their hosts. Aiptasia, a small tropical marine sea anemone, is emerging as a tractable model system for coral symbiosis; however, to date functional tools and genetic transformation are lacking. Here we have established an efficient workflow to collect Aiptasia eggs for in vitro fertilization and microinjection as the basis for experimental manipulations in the developing embryo and larvae. We demonstrate that protein, mRNA, and DNA can successfully be injected into live Aiptasia zygotes to label actin with recombinant Lifeact-eGFP protein; to label nuclei and cell membranes with NLS-eGFP and farnesylated mCherry translated from injected mRNA; and to transiently drive transgene expression from an Aiptasia-specific promoter, respectively, in embryos and larvae. These proof-of-concept approaches pave the way for future functional studies of development and symbiosis establishment in Aiptasia, a powerful model to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular coral-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30400148, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, J and Wang, J and Liu, C and Ma, C and Li, C and Zhang, Y and Qi, Z and Zhu, R and Shi, Y and Zou, J and Li, Q and Zhu, J and Wen, Y and Sun, Z and Liu, H and Jiang, H and Yin, Z and Hu, Z and Chen, Q and Wu, X and Xin, D}, title = {Identification of Soybean Genes Whose Expression is Affected by the Ensifer fredii HH103 Effector Protein NopP.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30400148}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Phenotype ; Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*physiology ; Soybeans/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In some legume[-]rhizobium symbioses, host specificity is influenced by rhizobial nodulation outer proteins (Nops). However, the genes encoding host proteins that interact with Nops remain unknown. We generated an Ensifer fredii HH103 NopP mutant (HH103ΩNopP), and analyzed the nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW) of 10 soybean germplasms inoculated with the wild-type E. fredii HH103 or the mutant strain. An analysis of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) revealed the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with NopP interactions. A soybean genomic region containing two overlapping QTLs was analyzed in greater detail. A transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR assay were used to identify candidate genes encoding proteins that interact with NopP. In some germplasms, NopP positively and negatively affected the NN and NDW, while NopP had different effects on NN and NDW in other germplasms. The QTL region in chromosome 12 was further analyzed. The expression patterns of candidate genes Glyma.12g031200 and Glyma.12g073000 were determined by qRT-PCR, and were confirmed to be influenced by NopP.}, } @article {pmid30399353, year = {2018}, author = {Wiedenmann, J and D'Angelo, C}, title = {Symbiosis: High-Carb Diet of Reef Corals as Seen from Space.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {21}, pages = {R1263-R1265}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.056}, pmid = {30399353}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon ; Diet ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {High levels of phytoplankton visible in satellite imagery are correlated with an increased uptake of carbon compounds by corals. This suggests that corals rely less on carbon production by photosynthetic symbionts when other resources are plentiful, and that the changes in the acquisition mode of carbon can be inferred by remote-sensing techniques.}, } @article {pmid30397259, year = {2018}, author = {Pecrix, Y and Staton, SE and Sallet, E and Lelandais-Brière, C and Moreau, S and Carrère, S and Blein, T and Jardinaud, MF and Latrasse, D and Zouine, M and Zahm, M and Kreplak, J and Mayjonade, B and Satgé, C and Perez, M and Cauet, S and Marande, W and Chantry-Darmon, C and Lopez-Roques, C and Bouchez, O and Bérard, A and Debellé, F and Muños, S and Bendahmane, A and Bergès, H and Niebel, A and Buitink, J and Frugier, F and Benhamed, M and Crespi, M and Gouzy, J and Gamas, P}, title = {Whole-genome landscape of Medicago truncatula symbiotic genes.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {1017-1025}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-018-0286-7}, pmid = {30397259}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {DNA Methylation ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Genomics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; RNA, Untranslated/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Advances in deciphering the functional architecture of eukaryotic genomes have been facilitated by recent breakthroughs in sequencing technologies, enabling a more comprehensive representation of genes and repeat elements in genome sequence assemblies, as well as more sensitive and tissue-specific analyses of gene expression. Here we show that PacBio sequencing has led to a substantially improved genome assembly of Medicago truncatula A17, a legume model species notable for endosymbiosis studies[1], and has enabled the identification of genome rearrangements between genotypes at a near-base-pair resolution. Annotation of the new M. truncatula genome sequence has allowed for a thorough analysis of transposable elements and their dynamics, as well as the identification of new players involved in symbiotic nodule development, in particular 1,037 upregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). We have also discovered that a substantial proportion (~35% and 38%, respectively) of the genes upregulated in nodules or expressed in the nodule differentiation zone colocalize in genomic clusters (270 and 211, respectively), here termed symbiotic islands. These islands contain numerous expressed lncRNA genes and display differentially both DNA methylation and histone marks. Epigenetic regulations and lncRNAs are therefore attractive candidate elements for the orchestration of symbiotic gene expression in the M. truncatula genome.}, } @article {pmid30395788, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, Y and Liu, F and Li, X and Cheng, B}, title = {The mycorrhiza-induced maize ZmPt9 gene affects root development and phosphate availability in nonmycorrhizal plant.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e1542240}, pmid = {30395788}, issn = {1559-2324}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-induced ZmPt9 gene is an orthologous to some AM-inducible phosphate (Pi) transporter genes involved in Pi-starvation responses. Promoter GFP assay confirmed its transcript was localized surrounding arbuscule in arbuscule-containing cells. But this gene was not an AM fungi-specific gene. Its function in nonmycorrhizal seedlings was verified through phenotypic analysis of ZmPt9-overexpression Arabidopsis. Overexpression of ZmPt9 in Arabidopsis exhibited increased primary root length and lateral root formation. Furthermore, ZmPt9-overexpression Arabidopsis plants contained more phosphorus (P) than that of wild type. The affection of ZmPt9 in nonmycorrhizal Arabidopsis leads to the hypothesis that symbiosis-inducible genes are also involved in root development and Pi accumulation in AM-independent manner.}, } @article {pmid30393787, year = {2018}, author = {Ellermann, M and Sartor, RB}, title = {Intestinal bacterial biofilms modulate mucosal immune responses.}, journal = {Journal of immunological sciences}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {13-18}, pmid = {30393787}, support = {P01 DK094779/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034987/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P40 OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK053347/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbial communities modulate numerous aspects of host physiology at the epithelial interface within mucosal environments. Perturbations to this symbiotic relationship between host and microbiota has been linked to numerous microbial-driven pathological states, including Crohn's disease (CD). This is in part driven by the outgrowth of aggressive resident bacterial strains such as adherent and invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) and changes in bacterial physiology and function that promote enhanced mucosal association of pathobionts and aberrant stimulation of mucosal immunity. Endogenous bacteria from host-associated microbial communities can adopt a sessile lifestyle and form multicellular structures known as biofilms that are generated through the expression of extracellular adhesion factors that include curli amyloid fibrils, cellulose and type 1 pili. In addition to enabling bacterial attachment to mucosal surfaces, biofilm components also stimulate immune responses and can therefore instigate or perpetuate microbial-driven inflammatory diseases such as CD. These host-bacterial interactions provide pharmacological targets that can potentially be exploited to limit mucosal adherence of aggressive enteric bacteria, inappropriate stimulation of inflammatory immune responses and consequent development of chronic intestinal inflammation.}, } @article {pmid30392013, year = {2019}, author = {Hendrikx, T and Schnabl, B}, title = {Antimicrobial proteins: intestinal guards to protect against liver disease.}, journal = {Journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {54}, number = {3}, pages = {209-217}, pmid = {30392013}, issn = {1435-5922}, support = {R01 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; I01 BX004594/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; R01 AA024726/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA021856/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA024726/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; I01 BX002213/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; U01 AA026939/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*physiology ; Bacterial Translocation/physiology ; Defensins/physiology ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/microbiology/physiopathology/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/physiology ; Intestines/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Lectins, C-Type/physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/microbiology/physiopathology/prevention & control ; Liver Diseases/microbiology/*physiopathology/*prevention & control ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/microbiology/physiopathology/prevention & control ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Alterations of gut microbes play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of many disorders including liver and gastrointestinal diseases. Both qualitative and quantitative changes in gut microbiota have been associated with liver disease. Intestinal dysbiosis can disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier leading to pathological bacterial translocation and the initiation of an inflammatory response in the liver. In order to sustain symbiosis and protect from pathological bacterial translocation, antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) such as a-defensins and C-type lectins are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of AMPs in different chronic liver disease such as alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis. In addition, potential approaches to modulate the function of AMPs and prevent bacterial translocation are discussed.}, } @article {pmid30390540, year = {2019}, author = {Meng, F and Xi, L and Liu, D and Huang, W and Lei, Z and Zhang, Z and Huang, W}, title = {Effects of light intensity on oxygen distribution, lipid production and biological community of algal-bacterial granules in photo-sequencing batch reactors.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {272}, number = {}, pages = {473-481}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2018.10.059}, pmid = {30390540}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Lipids/*biosynthesis ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Wastewater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The effects of light intensity (0-225 µmol m[-2] s[-1]) on oxygen distribution, lipid production and biological community structure of algal-bacterial granules were investigated in six identical photo-sequencing batch reactors (with a dark/light cycle of 12 h/12 h). Typically green algal-bacterial granules could be developed at a light intensity of ≥135 µmol m[-2] s[-1]. The lipid content was significantly increased under higher light intensity, while the percentage of saturated fatty acid methyl esters was remarkably decreased. Results showed that light intensity ≥90 µmol m[-2] s[-1] yielded enough O2 production from algae, creating aerobic/anoxic zone (0.3-0.6 mg-O2/L) in the core of granules and thus efficient algal-bacterial symbiosis system. Enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removals were achieved in the reactors with stronger light illumination, probably attributable to the enrichment of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (Comamonadaceae and Nitrosomonadaceae) and algae (Navicula and Stigeoclonium). Illuminance ≥180 µmol m[-2] s[-1] was found to be unfavorable for Nitrospiraceae.}, } @article {pmid30389767, year = {2019}, author = {Sommer, AJ and Newell, PD}, title = {Metabolic Basis for Mutualism between Gut Bacteria and Its Impact on the Drosophila melanogaster Host.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30389767}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acetobacter/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Levilactobacillus brevis/*genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between species shape the formation and function of microbial communities. In the gut microbiota of animals, cross-feeding of metabolites between microbes can enhance colonization and influence host physiology. We examined a mutually beneficial interaction between two bacteria isolated from the gut microbiota of Drosophila, i.e., Acetobacter fabarum and Lactobacillus brevis After developing an in vitro coculture assay, we utilized a genetic screen to identify A. fabarum genes required for enhanced growth with L. brevis The screen, and subsequent genetic analyses, showed that the gene encoding pyruvate phosphate dikinase (ppdK) is required for A. fabarum to benefit fully from coculture. By testing strains with mutations in a range of metabolic genes, we provide evidence that A. fabarum can utilize multiple fermentation products of L. brevis Mutualism between the bacteria in vivo affects gnotobiotic Drosophila melanogaster; flies associated with A. fabarum and L. brevis showed >1,000-fold increases in bacterial cell density and significantly lower triglyceride storage than monocolonized flies. Mutation of ppdK decreased A. fabarum density in flies cocolonized with L. brevis, consistent with the model in which Acetobacter employs gluconeogenesis to assimilate Lactobacillus fermentation products as a source of carbon in vivo We propose that cross-feeding between these groups is a common feature of microbiota in DrosophilaIMPORTANCE The digestive tracts of animals are home to a community of microorganisms, the gut microbiota, which affects the growth, development, and health of the host. Interactions among microbes in this inner ecosystem can influence which species colonize the gut and can lead to changes in host physiology. We investigated a mutually beneficial interaction between two bacterial species from the gut microbiota of fruit flies. By coculturing the bacteria in vitro, we were able to identify a metabolic gene required for the bacteria to grow better together than they do separately. Our data suggest that one species consumes the waste products of the other, leading to greater productivity of the microbial community and modifying the nutrients available to the host. This study provides a starting point for investigating how these and other bacteria mutually benefit by sharing metabolites and for determining the impact of mutualism on host health.}, } @article {pmid30388125, year = {2018}, author = {Apremont, V and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Cueff-Gauchard, V and François, D and Pradillon, F and Corbari, L and Zbinden, M}, title = {Gill chamber and gut microbial communities of the hydrothermal shrimp Rimicaris chacei Williams and Rona 1986: A possible symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {e0206084}, pmid = {30388125}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/cytology/growth & development/ultrastructure ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Decapoda/*microbiology ; Fluorescent Dyes/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/ultrastructure ; Gills/*microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rimicaris chacei Williams and Rona 1986, formerly named as Chorocaris chacei, is a caridean shrimp living in deep-sea hydrothermal ecosystems. This shrimp is endemic to the Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR) and lives at the periphery of aggregates of its well-known congeneric R. exoculata Williams and Rona 1986. Contrasting with the very dense and mobile clusters formed by R. exoculata, R. chacei lives in small groups of several individuals that are not very mobile. Although devoid of the characteristic hypertrophied cephalothorax of R. exoculata, which harbors the ectosymbionts, a microbial community has also been reported in the cephalothorax of R. chacei. Previous data on morphology, behavior and isotopic values indicate a diet based on a combination of feeding on its epibiotic bacteria and scavenging or occasional predation. In this study, our objective was to describe, for the first time, the distribution, morphology and phylogeny of the microbial communities associated with R. chacei. This species is significantly less studied than R. exoculata, but nevertheless represents the only other known example of symbiosis in crustaceans of MAR hydrothermal vent sites. Microbial communities have been observed at the same locations as in R. exoculata (mouthparts, branchiostegites and digestive tract). However, in R. chacei, the surfaces occupied by the bacteria are smaller. The main lineages are affiliated to Epsilon and Gammaproteobacteria in the cephalothorax and to Deferribacteres, Mollicutes, Epsilon and Gammaproteobacteria in the digestive tract. Comparison with the well-described bacterial communities of R. exoculata and hypotheses about the role of these communities in R. chacei are discussed.}, } @article {pmid30386575, year = {2018}, author = {Kreisinger, J and Schmiedová, L and Petrželková, A and Tomášek, O and Adámková, M and Michálková, R and Martin, JF and Albrecht, T}, title = {Fecal microbiota associated with phytohaemagglutinin-induced immune response in nestlings of a passerine bird.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {19}, pages = {9793-9802}, pmid = {30386575}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The vertebrate gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a diverse community of bacteria, the so-called gut microbiota (GM). Research on captive mammalian models has revealed tight mutual interactions between immune functions and GM. However, our knowledge of GM versus immune system interactions in wild populations and nonmammalian species remains poor. Here, we focus on the association between GM community structure and immune response measured via the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin swelling test in 12-day-old nestlings of a passerine bird, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). The PHA test, a widely used method in field ecoimmunology, assesses cell-mediated immunity. GM structure was inferred based on high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing of microbial communities in fecal samples. We did not find any association between PHA response and GM diversity; however, our data revealed that the intensity of PHA response was correlated with differences in GM composition at the whole-community level. Ten bacterial operational taxonomic units corresponding to both putative commensal and pathogens were identified as drivers of the compositional variation. In conclusion, our study suggests existence of GM versus immune system interactions in a free-living nonmammalian species, which corresponds with previous research on captive vertebrates.}, } @article {pmid30386564, year = {2018}, author = {Piculell, BJ and Eckhardt, LG and Hoeksema, JD}, title = {Genetically determined fungal pathogen tolerance and soil variation influence ectomycorrhizal traits of loblolly pine.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {19}, pages = {9646-9656}, pmid = {30386564}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Selection on genetically correlated traits within species can create indirect effects on one trait by selection on another. The consequences of these trait correlations are of interest because they may influence how suites of traits within species evolve under differing selection pressures, both natural and artificial. By utilizing genetic families of loblolly pine either tolerant (t) or susceptible (s) to two different suites of pathogenic fungi responsible for causing either pine decline or fusiform rust disease, we investigated trait variation and trait correlations within loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) by determining how ectomycorrhizal (EM) colonization relates to pathogen susceptibility. We detected interactions between susceptibility to pathogenic fungi and soil inoculation source on loblolly pine compatibility with the EM fungi Thelephora, and on relative growth rate of loblolly pine. Additionally, we detected spatial variation in the loblolly pine-EM fungi interaction, and found that variation in colonization rates by some members of the EM community is not dictated by genetic variation in the host plant but rather soil inoculation source alone. The work presented here illustrates the potential for indirect selection on compatibility with symbiotic EM fungi as a result of selection for resistance to fungal pathogens. Additionally, we present evidence that the host plant does not have a single "mycorrhizal trait" governing interactions with all EM fungi, but rather that it can interact with different fungal taxa independently. Synthesis. An understanding of the genetic architecture of essential traits in focal species is crucial if we are to anticipate and manage the results of natural and artificial selection. As demonstrated here, an essential but often overlooked symbiosis (that between plants and mycorrhizal fungi) may be indirectly influenced by directed selection on the host plant.}, } @article {pmid30386154, year = {2018}, author = {Conradi, M and Bandera, E and Mudrova, SV and Viatcheslav N Ivanenko, }, title = {Five new coexisting species of copepod crustaceans of the genus Spaniomolgus (Poecilostomatoida: Rhynchomolgidae), symbionts of the stony coral Stylophorapistillata (Scleractinia).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {791}, pages = {71-95}, pmid = {30386154}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Spaniomolgus is a symbiotic genus of copepods of the poecilostomatoid family Rhynchomolgidae and is known to be associated with shallow-water reef-building hermatypic corals. Three species of this genus were previously found only in washings of Acropora and Stylophora in northern Madagascar. Four coral morphotypes of Stylophorapistillata (Pocilloporidae) were collected by SCUBA at 1 to 28 m depth in five sites in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea in 2013. Copepods found on these colonies were studied using light, confocal and scanning electron microscopy. Five new, and one known, species of the genus Spaniomolgus were discovered in washings and inside the galls of the hermatypic coral S.pistillata. The description of these new species (Spaniomolgusglobus sp. n., S.stylophorus sp. n., S.dentatus sp. n., S.maculatus sp. n., and S.acutus sp. n.) and a key for the identification of all of its congeners is provided herein.}, } @article {pmid30385579, year = {2018}, author = {Tso, GHW and Reales-Calderon, JA and Tan, ASM and Sem, X and Le, GTT and Tan, TG and Lai, GC and Srinivasan, KG and Yurieva, M and Liao, W and Poidinger, M and Zolezzi, F and Rancati, G and Pavelka, N}, title = {Experimental evolution of a fungal pathogen into a gut symbiont.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {362}, number = {6414}, pages = {589-595}, doi = {10.1126/science.aat0537}, pmid = {30385579}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Candida albicans/genetics/growth & development/*immunology/*pathogenicity ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mutation ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Gut microbes live in symbiosis with their hosts, but how mutualistic animal-microbe interactions emerge is not understood. By adaptively evolving the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans in the mouse gastrointestinal tract, we selected strains that not only had lost their main virulence program but also protected their new hosts against a variety of systemic infections. This protection was independent of adaptive immunity, arose as early as a single day postpriming, was dependent on increased innate cytokine responses, and was thus reminiscent of "trained immunity." Because both the microbe and its new host gain some advantages from their interaction, this experimental system might allow direct study of the evolutionary forces that govern the emergence of mutualism between a mammal and a fungus.}, } @article {pmid30384912, year = {2018}, author = {Ankati, S and Rani, TS and Podile, AR}, title = {Partner-triggered proteome changes in the cell wall of Bacillus sonorensis and roots of groundnut benefit each other.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {217}, number = {}, pages = {91-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.10.003}, pmid = {30384912}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Antibiosis ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Bacillus/*metabolism ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Chemotaxis/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology ; *Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/isolation & purification ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Secondary Metabolism ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) promote plant growth and activate defense response against phytopathogens. At the subcellular level plant-PGPR interaction is less understood, which would be essential for future improvement(s) of PGPR formulations. In a rigorous screening process, that also involved efficient PGPR strains, Bacillus sonorensis RS4 was selected to study partner-triggered interactions. The potential of B. sonorensis RS4 to improve growth of groundnut, efficiency to colonize roots, and influence on root topology was assessed. Twenty four cell wall proteins of B. sonorensis RS4 [in presence of groundnut root exudates (REs)], and 22 groundnut root proteins (in RS4-bacterized plants) were differentially expressed. The alterations in cell wall proteins of B. sonorensis RS4 were primarily related to the amino acids synthesis, chemotaxis, antioxidant-metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, transporters, and antibiosis-related secondary metabolites. Root proteins that were differentially expressed during the interaction may be involved in plant growth, defense responses, and in transportation. The changes in B. sonorensis RS4 cell wall proteome and groundnut root proteome, suggest that at least a part of the proteome changes triggered by each of the partners appear to play a significant role in helping each other akin to symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30384908, year = {2018}, author = {Fan, M and Liu, Z and Nan, L and Wang, E and Chen, W and Lin, Y and Wei, G}, title = {Isolation, characterization, and selection of heavy metal-resistant and plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria from root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia in a Pb/Zn mining area.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {217}, number = {}, pages = {51-59}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.09.002}, pmid = {30384908}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Agrobacterium tumefaciens/drug effects/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/*drug effects/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Endophytes/classification/*drug effects/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lead/toxicity ; Mesorhizobium/drug effects/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; *Mining ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium ; Robinia/growth & development/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Multiple heavy metals (HMs) commonly coexist in mining areas, which highlights the necessity to select multiple HM-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria for improving phytoremediation efficiency. In this study, we isolated and characterized 82 endophytic bacteria from the root nodules of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) grown in a Pb-Zn mining area. There were 80 isolates showing resistance to four HMs, 0.01-18.0 mM/L for Cd, 0.2-40.0 mM/L for Zn, 0.3-2.2 mM/L for Pb, and 0.2-1.4 mM/L for Cu. Indole-3-acetic acid production, siderophore production, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity were detected in 43, 50, and 17 isolates, respectively. Two symbiotic isolates selected with the highest potential for HM resistance and PGP traits, designated Mesorhizobium loti HZ76 and Agrobacterium radiobacter HZ6, were evaluated for promotion of plant growth and metal uptake by R. pseudoacacia seedlings grown in pots containing different levels of Cd, Zn, Pb, or Cu. HZ76 significantly increased plant shoot biomass, while HZ6 did not, compared with non-inoculated controls. The results indicate that inoculation with HZ76 or HZ6 relieved HM stress in the plants, depending on the type and concentration of HM in the treatment. Mesorhizobium loti HZ76 may be a better candidate for application in phytoremediation than A. radiobacter HZ6. The microsymbiosis between HM-resistant rhizobia and R. pseudoacacia is an interesting mutualistic system for phytoremediation in mining areas contaminated with multiple HMs.}, } @article {pmid30384903, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, X and Zhu, J and Cai, Z and Lao, Y and Jin, H and Yu, K and Zhang, B and Zhou, J}, title = {Profiles of quorum sensing (QS)-related sequences in phycospheric microorganisms during a marine dinoflagellate bloom, as determined by a metagenomic approach.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {217}, number = {}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.08.015}, pmid = {30384903}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon-Sulfur Lyases/genetics/metabolism ; China ; Dinoflagellida/growth & development/*microbiology ; Eutrophication/physiology ; Marine Biology ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Microbiota/*genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sequence Homology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The complicated relationships among environmental microorganisms are regulated by quorum sensing (QS). Understanding QS-based signals could shed light on the interactions between microbial communities in certain environments. Although QS characteristics have been widely discussed, few studies have been conducted on the role of QS in phycospheric microorganisms. Here, we used metagenomics to examine the profile of AI-1 (AinS, HdtS, LuxI) and AI-2 (LuxS) autoinducers from a deeply sequenced microbial database, obtained from a complete dinoflagellate bloom. A total of 3001 putative AI-1 homologs and 130 AI-2 homologs were identified. The predominant member among the AI groups was HdtS. The abundance of HdtS, AinS, and LuxS increased as the bloom developed, whereas the abundance of LuxI showed the opposite trend. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that HdtS and LuxI synthase originated mainly from alpha-, beta-, and gamma-Proteobacteria, whereas AinS synthase originated solely from Vibrionales. In comparison to AI-1, the sequences related to AI-2 (LuxS) demonstrated a much wider taxonomic coverage. Some significant correlations were found between dominant species and QS signals. In addition to the QS, we also performed parallel analysis of the quorum quenching (QQ) sequences. In comparison to QS, the relative abundance of QQ signals was lower; however, an obvious frequency correlation was observed. These results suggested that QS and QQ signals co-participate in regulating microbial communities during an algal bloom. These data helped to reveal the characteristic behavior of algal symbiotic bacteria, and facilitated a better understanding of microbial dynamics during an algal bloom event from a chemical ecological perspective.}, } @article {pmid30384840, year = {2018}, author = {Ying, H and Cooke, I and Sprungala, S and Wang, W and Hayward, DC and Tang, Y and Huttley, G and Ball, EE and Forêt, S and Miller, DJ}, title = {Comparative genomics reveals the distinct evolutionary trajectories of the robust and complex coral lineages.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {175}, pmid = {30384840}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Genome ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genomics/*methods ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Despite the biological and economic significance of scleractinian reef-building corals, the lack of large molecular datasets for a representative range of species limits understanding of many aspects of their biology. Within the Scleractinia, based on molecular evidence, it is generally recognised that there are two major clades, Complexa and Robusta, but the genomic bases of significant differences between them remain unclear.

RESULTS: Draft genome assemblies and annotations were generated for three coral species: Galaxea fascicularis (Complexa), Fungia sp., and Goniastrea aspera (Robusta). Whilst phylogenetic analyses strongly support a deep split between Complexa and Robusta, synteny analyses reveal a high level of gene order conservation between all corals, but not between corals and sea anemones or between sea anemones. HOX-related gene clusters are, however, well preserved across all of these combinations. Differences between species are apparent in the distribution and numbers of protein domains and an apparent correlation between number of HSP20 proteins and stress tolerance. Uniquely amongst animals, a complete histidine biosynthesis pathway is present in robust corals but not in complex corals or sea anemones. This pathway appears to be ancestral, and its retention in the robust coral lineage has important implications for coral nutrition and symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: The availability of three new coral genomes enabled recognition of a de novo histidine biosynthesis pathway in robust corals which is only the second identified biosynthetic difference between corals. These datasets provide a platform for understanding many aspects of coral biology, particularly the interactions of corals with their endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid30383392, year = {2018}, author = {Parasyri, A and Papazi, A and Stamatis, N and Zerveas, S and Avramidou, EV and Doulis, AG and Pirintsos, S and Kotzabasis, K}, title = {Lichen as Micro-Ecosystem: Extremophilic Behavior with Astrobiotechnological Applications.}, journal = {Astrobiology}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {1528-1542}, doi = {10.1089/ast.2017.1789}, pmid = {30383392}, issn = {1557-8070}, mesh = {*Biotechnology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; DNA Methylation ; Desiccation ; *Ecosystem ; Ergosterol/metabolism ; *Exobiology ; Extremophiles/*physiology ; Fluorescence ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Lichens/*physiology ; Lipids/analysis ; Oxygen Consumption ; Polyamines/metabolism ; }, abstract = {This work demonstrates the tolerance of lichen Pleurosticta acetabulum under extreme conditions similar to those encountered in extraterrestrial environments. Specifically, the impact of three extreme Mars-like conditions-complete dehydration, extremely low temperature (-196°C/77K), and oxygen depletion-on lichens was investigated. The symbiosis of mycobiont and photobiont partners creates a micro-ecosystem that ensures viability of both symbiotic partners under prolonged desiccation and extremely low temperatures without any cultivation care. Changes in the molecular structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus, in the level of chlorophylls, polyamines, fatty acids, carbohydrates, ergosterol, efflux of K[+], and DNA methylation ensure the ecological integrity of the system and offer resistance of lichens to above-mentioned extreme environmental conditions. For the first time, we also demonstrate that the unprecedented polyextremophilic characteristic of lichens could be linked to biotechnological applications, following exposure to these extreme conditions, such that their ability to produce a high yield of hydrogen was unchanged. All these support that lichens are (a) ideal model systems for a space mission to inhabit other planets, supporting also the aspect that the panspermia theory could be extended to incorporate in the traveling entities not only single organisms but micro-ecosystems like lichens, and (b) ideal model systems for astrobiotechnological applications (hydrogen production), such as in the development of bioregeneration systems for extraterrestrial environments.}, } @article {pmid30382153, year = {2018}, author = {Cunning, R and Bay, RA and Gillette, P and Baker, AC and Traylor-Knowles, N}, title = {Comparative analysis of the Pocillopora damicornis genome highlights role of immune system in coral evolution.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {16134}, pmid = {30382153}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {OCE-1358699//National Science Foundation (NSF)/International ; OCE-1358699//National Science Foundation (NSF)/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*immunology ; *Biological Evolution ; Gene Ontology ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome ; Immune System/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Comparative analysis of the expanding genomic resources for scleractinian corals may provide insights into the evolution of these organisms, with implications for their continued persistence under global climate change. Here, we sequenced and annotated the genome of Pocillopora damicornis, one of the most abundant and widespread corals in the world. We compared this genome, based on protein-coding gene orthology, with other publicly available coral genomes (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Scleractinia), as well as genomes from other anthozoan groups (Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia), and two basal metazoan outgroup phlya (Porifera, Ctenophora). We found that 46.6% of P. damicornis genes had orthologs in all other scleractinians, defining a coral 'core' genome enriched in basic housekeeping functions. Of these core genes, 3.7% were unique to scleractinians and were enriched in immune functionality, suggesting an important role of the immune system in coral evolution. Genes occurring only in P. damicornis were enriched in cellular signaling and stress response pathways, and we found similar immune-related gene family expansions in each coral species, indicating that immune system diversification may be a prominent feature of scleractinian coral evolution at multiple taxonomic levels. Diversification of the immune gene repertoire may underlie scleractinian adaptations to symbiosis, pathogen interactions, and environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid30381385, year = {2018}, author = {Russell, SL and McCartney, E and Cavanaugh, CM}, title = {Transmission strategies in a chemosynthetic symbiosis: detection and quantification of symbionts in host tissues and their environment.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1890}, pages = {}, pmid = {30381385}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Ovary/microbiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Transmission of bacteria vertically through host tissues ensures offspring acquire symbionts; however, horizontal transmission is an effective strategy for many associations and plays a role in some vertically transmitted symbioses. The bivalve Solemya velum and its gammaproteobacterial chemosynthetic symbionts exhibit evolutionary evidence of both transmission modes, but the dominant strategy on an ecological time scale is unknown. To address this, a specific primer set was developed and validated for the S. velum symbiont using a novel workflow called specific marker design (SMD). Symbionts were quantified in spawned eggs and sediment and seawater samples from S. velum habitats with qPCR. Each egg was estimated to contain 50-100 symbiont genomes. By contrast, symbiont DNA was found at low abundance/occurrence in sediment and seawater, often co-occurring with host mitochondrial DNA, obscuring its origin. To ascertain when eggs become infected, histological sections of S. velum tissues were labelled for symbiont 16S rRNA via in situ hybridization. This revealed symbionts in the ovary walls and mature oocytes, suggesting association in late oogenesis. These data support the hypothesis that S. velum symbionts are vertically transmitted every host generation, thus genetic signatures of horizontal transmission are driven by ecologically infrequent events. This knowledge furthers our understanding of vertical and horizontal mode integration and provides insights across animal-bacterial chemosynthetic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30380004, year = {2019}, author = {Swift, S and Munroe, S and Im, C and Tipton, L and Hynson, NA}, title = {Remote tropical island colonization does not preclude symbiotic specialists: new evidence of mycorrhizal specificity across the geographic distribution of the Hawaiian endemic orchid Anoectochilus sandvicensis.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {123}, number = {4}, pages = {657-666}, pmid = {30380004}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Hawaii ; Islands ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; *Plant Dispersal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: For symbiotic organisms, their colonization and spread across remote oceanic islands should favour generalists. Plants that form obligate symbiotic associations with microbes dominate island ecosystems, but the relationship between island inhabitance and symbiotic specificity is unclear, especially in the tropics. To fill this gap, we examined the mycorrhizal specificity of the Hawaiian endemic orchid Anoectochilus sandvicensis across multiple populations encompassing its entire geographic distribution.

METHODS: By molecular phylogenetic approaches we identified the mycorrhizal fungi associated with A. sandvicensis across its entire geographic distribution and determined the relationship of these fungi to others found elsewhere around the globe. With richness estimators, we assessed the mycorrhizal specificity of A. sandvicensis within and among islands. We then tested whether geographic proximity of orchid populations was a significant predictor for the presence of particular mycorrhizal fungi and their community composition.

KEY RESULTS: We found that each population of A. sandvicensis forms specific associations with one of three fungi in the genus Ceratobasidium and that the closest relatives of these fungi are globally widespread. Based on diversity indices, A. sandvicensis populations were estimated to partner with one to four mycorrhizal taxa with an estimated total of four compatible mycorrhizal fungi across its entire distribution. However, the geographic proximity of orchid populations was not a significant predictor of mycorrhizal fungal community composition.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the colonization and survival of plant species on even the most remote oceanic islands is not restricted to symbiotic generalists, and that partnering with few, but cosmopolitan microbial symbionts is an alternative means for successful island establishment. We suggest that the spatial distribution and abundance of symbionts in addition to island age, size and isolation should also be taken into consideration for predictions of island biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid30379861, year = {2018}, author = {Passos, LF and Garcia, G and Young, RJ}, title = {Comparing the bacterial communities of wild and captive golden mantella frogs: Implications for amphibian conservation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {e0205652}, pmid = {30379861}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/*microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Microbiota/*physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial communities are frequently found in symbiotic associations with most animal species. The characteristically moist amphibian skin provides a good environment for the growth of some species of bacteria; among these a few can act as a first line defense mechanism against infections. Amphibians in the wild have relatively high exposure to bacteria through environmental transmission and through interactions with different conspecifics, whilst in captivity animals interact with fewer individuals, as well as experiencing a less complex environment through which to obtain their bacterial community. Here we compared the skin microbiota of captive and wild Mantella aurantiaca to investigate whether the captive environment was affecting individuals' skin associated bacteria. This could have survivorship implications if captive animals had a different skin microbial community in comparison to wild counterparts and they were to be used in a reintroduction program. The microbial community were characterized through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing methodology. Analyses showed that captive individuals had significantly lower diversity of bacterial species and lower relative abundant microbiota when compared to wild populations; this could result in captive frogs released back to the wild probably has greater susceptibility to infections due to inadequate skin microbiota.}, } @article {pmid30378690, year = {2019}, author = {Rey, T and André, O and Nars, A and Dumas, B and Gough, C and Bottin, A and Jacquet, C}, title = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharide signalling blocks a rapid pathogen-induced ROS burst without impeding immunity.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {2}, pages = {743-749}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15574}, pmid = {30378690}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Région Occitanie/International ; INEE 36//CNRS/International ; //Université Paul Sabatier/International ; //Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche/International ; ANR-08-BLAN-0208-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; ANR-10-GENM-0007//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; ANR-14-CE18-0008-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; ANR-10-LABX-41//'Laboratoire d'Excellence' (LABEX) entitled TULIP/International ; }, mesh = {Aphanomyces/*physiology ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Disease Resistance ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipids/*chemistry ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*immunology/*microbiology ; Oligosaccharides ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; *Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; }, abstract = {Molecular signals released by microbes at the surface of plant roots and leaves largely determine host responses, notably by triggering either immunity or symbiosis. How these signalling pathways cross-talk upon coincident perception of pathogens and symbionts is poorly described in plants forming symbiosis. Nitrogen fixing symbiotic Rhizobia spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi produce lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) to initiate host symbiotic programmes. In Medicago truncatula roots, the perception of LCOs leads to reduced efflux of reactive oxygen species (ROS). By contrast, pathogen perception generally triggers a strong ROS burst and activates defence gene expression. Here we show that incubation of M. truncatula seedlings with culture filtrate (CF) of the legume pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches alone or simultaneously with Sinorhizobium meliloti LCOs, resulted in a strong ROS release. However, this response was completely inhibited if CF was added after pre-incubation of seedlings with LCOs. By contrast, expression of immunity-associated genes in response to CF and disease resistance to A. euteiches remained unaffected by LCO treatment of M. truncatula roots. Our findings suggest that symbiotic plants evolved ROS inhibition response to LCOs to facilitate early steps of symbiosis whilst maintaining a parallel defence mechanisms toward pathogens.}, } @article {pmid30377970, year = {2019}, author = {Loizia, P and Neofytou, N and Zorpas, AA}, title = {The concept of circular economy strategy in food waste management for the optimization of energy production through anaerobic digestion.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {15}, pages = {14766-14773}, pmid = {30377970}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biofuels ; Bioreactors ; China ; Food ; Methane/*analysis/chemistry ; Sewage ; *Waste Management ; Zeolites/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Food waste management (FWM) is considered to be an extremely important social issue besides an environmental one. Worldwide, it is estimated that 1.3 billion t/year of foods are disposed of in landfills (including edible and inedible foods). Moreover, FAO indicated that if food waste (FW) was a country, it could be the 3rd biggest CO2 producer after China and the USA with more than 3.5-4.2 billion of t equivalence CO2. Each citizen in the entire EU produces approximately 179 kg/year FW equal more or less with 600 €/year. This paper focuses on the concept of circular economy (CE) and how can we optimize and improve the production of biogas from UASB-R (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor) using FW and natural minerals (clinoptilolite). The study was elaborated through laboratory scale experiments using different mixtures of FW, liquid waste from slaughterhouse (LWS), and natural clinoptilolite (Cli). The amount of biogas produced and the methane content of biogas were used as indicators in order to monitor and asses the performance of the anaerobic digester. The results of the present study were encouraging towards the use of FW in existing anaerobic treatment plants, suggesting selective collection at source of FW, diversion from landfills, and use as a secondary resource for energy recovery through a transition to a CE. The results indicate that the use of FW with zeolite duplicates the production of CH4 within the same days of production compared with the control sample.}, } @article {pmid30374735, year = {2019}, author = {Hashmi, TR and Devi, SR and Ahmad, A and Meshram, NM and Prasad, R}, title = {Genetic Status and Endosymbionts Diversity of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) on Hosts Belonging to Family Malvaceae in India.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {207-218}, pmid = {30374735}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {Abelmoschus ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; DNA Primers ; Gossypium ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; India ; *Malvaceae ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A study was instigated to examine the genetic status and distribution of known endosymbionts namely Portiera, Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Arsenophonus in the populations of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) from three host plants: cotton (Gossypium herbaceum), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.), and China rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) belonging to the family Malvaceae. The presence of four secondary endosymbionts Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Arsenophonus was checked in Bemisia tabaci populations. Phylogenetic analyses grounded on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (mtCO1) unveiled the presence of Asia 1, Asia II 1, and Asia II 7 genetic groups for Bemisia tabaci on abovementioned crops. Individuals were examined for symbiotic bacterial infection with specific primers amplifying the 16S rRNA gene for Portiera, Rickettsia, Cardinium, and Wolbachia, and the 23S rRNA gene for Arsenophonus. The results show that Portiera was present in all the Bemisia tabaci samples. However, variations were noted in the circulation frequencies of secondary endosymbionts among the Bemisia tabaci populations. A significant difference was noticed in the distribution frequency of Rickettsia between cotton and China rose or okra with their p values as 0.016 and 0.033 respectively. The uneven incidence of secondary endosymbionts ropes the assumption that each endosymbiotic bacterium not only has a role in the endurance but may contribute to the polyphagous nature of Bemisia tabaci. It also brings an uncomplicated evidence for progressive studies on control measures of this notorious insect pest.}, } @article {pmid30373382, year = {2019}, author = {Zhai, Q and Feng, S and Arjan, N and Chen, W}, title = {A next generation probiotic, Akkermansia muciniphila.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {59}, number = {19}, pages = {3227-3236}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2018.1517725}, pmid = {30373382}, issn = {1549-7852}, support = {BBS/E/F/00044453/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10353/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10356/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/OS/NW/000006/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Akkermansia ; Animals ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Mucins ; *Probiotics ; *Verrucomicrobia ; }, abstract = {Akkermansia muciniphila, a symbiotic bacterium of the mucus layer, can utilize mucin as its sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy source. As an abundant resident in the intestinal tract of humans and animals, the probiotic effects of A. muciniphila including metabolic modulation, immune regulation and gut health protection, have been widely investigated. Various diseases such as metabolic syndromes and auto-immnue diseases have been reported to be associated with the disturbance of the abundance of A. muciniphila. In this review, we describe the biological characterization of A. muciniphia, the factors that influence its colonization of the intestinal tract; and discuss the current state of our knowledge on its role in host health and disease.}, } @article {pmid30372538, year = {2019}, author = {Correia, M and Heleno, R and da Silva, LP and Costa, JM and Rodríguez-Echeverría, S}, title = {First evidence for the joint dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi and plant diaspores by birds.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {222}, number = {2}, pages = {1054-1060}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15571}, pmid = {30372538}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//FCT/MEC/International ; //FEDER/International ; SFRH/BD/96050/2013//COMPETE 2020/International ; IF/00441/2013//COMPETE 2020/International ; SFRH/BD/77746/2011//COMPETE 2020/International ; SFRH/BD/96292/2013//COMPETE 2020/International ; IF/00462/2013//COMPETE 2020/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Birds/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Rubus/microbiology ; Seed Dispersal/*physiology ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; }, abstract = {Seed dispersal allows plants to colonise new sites and escape from pathogens and intraspecific competition, maintaining plant genetic diversity and regulating plant distribution. Conversely, most plant species form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in a symbiosis established immediately after seed germination. Because AM fungi are obligate symbionts, using the same dispersal vector as their host should be highly advantageous for their survival, but the co-dispersal of seeds and AM fungal spores has never been confirmed. We aim to clarify the potential role of European birds, essential dispersers for many plant species, as co-dispersers of seeds and AM fungal spores. In total, 63 bird droppings with intact seeds were placed in sterilised soil and maintained for 4 months in a protected environment to avoid contamination. Additionally, 173 bird droppings and 729 gauze swabs used to clean birds' feet were inspected for AM fungal spores. Although no spores were detected by direct observation of these samples, seven Rubus ulmifolius seedlings obtained from four independent droppings of Erithacus rubecula and Sylvia melanocephala were colonised by AM fungi. Our results show that birds can effectively co-disperse viable seeds and AM fungal spores, potentially over long distances, providing a pivotal mechanism to understand the cosmopolitan distribution of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid30371901, year = {2019}, author = {Korhonen, A and Lehto, T and Heinonen, J and Repo, T}, title = {Whole-plant frost hardiness of mycorrhizal (Hebeloma sp. or Suillus luteus) and non-mycorrhizal Scots pine seedlings.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {526-535}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpy105}, pmid = {30371901}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Cold Temperature ; Freezing ; Hebeloma/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus sylvestris/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Transpiration ; Seasons ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal trees are common in the cold regions of the world, yet the role of the mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant cold tolerance is poorly known. Moreover, the standard methods for testing plant frost hardiness may not be adequate for roots and mycorrhizas. The aims of this study were to compare the frost hardiness of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings and to test the use of reverse-flow root hydraulic conductance (Kr) measurement for root frost hardiness determination. Mycorrhizal (Hebeloma sp. or Suillus luteus) and non-mycorrhizal seedlings were grown in controlled-environment chambers for 13 weeks. After this, half of the plants were allotted to a non-hardening treatment (long day and high temperature, same as during the preceding growing season) and the other half to a hardening (short day and low temperature) 'autumn' treatment for 4 weeks. The intact seedlings were exposed to whole-plant freezing tests and the needle frost hardiness was measured by relative electrolyte leakage (REL) method. The seedlings were grown for three more weeks for visual damage assessment and Kr measurements using a high-pressure flow meter (HPFM). Mycorrhizas did not affect the frost hardiness of seedlings in either hardening treatment. The effect of the hardening treatment on frost hardiness was shown by REL and visual assessment of the aboveground parts as well as Kr of roots. Non-mycorrhizal plants were larger than mycorrhizal ones while nitrogen and phosphorus contents (per unit dry mass) were similar in all mycorrhiza treatments. In plants with no frost exposure, the non-mycorrhizal treatment had higher Kr. There was no mycorrhizal effect on plant frost hardiness when nutritional effects were excluded. Further studies are needed on the role of mycorrhizas especially in the recovery of growth and nutrient uptake in cold soils in the spring. The HPFM is useful novel method for assessment of root damage.}, } @article {pmid30370620, year = {2019}, author = {Li, Y and Chen, Z and He, JZ and Wang, Q and Shen, C and Ge, Y}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi inoculation alleviates simulated acid rain effects on soil ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers in Masson pine forest.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {299-313}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14457}, pmid = {30370620}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {41671254//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; CAFRIFEEP201402//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; CAFRIFEEP201402//the Public Welfare Project of the National Scientific Research Institution/International ; XDB15020200//Chinese Academy of Sciences/International ; }, mesh = {Acid Rain/*adverse effects ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Archaea/classification/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biota/genetics ; Denitrification/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Genes, Archaeal ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle/genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Acid rain can cause severe effects on soil biota and nutrient biogeochemical cycles in the forest ecosystem, but how plant-symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi will modulate the effects remains unknown. Here, we conducted a full factorial field experiment in a Masson pine forest by simultaneously controlling the acidity of the simulated rain (pH 5.6 vs. pH 3.5) and the ectomycorrhizal fungi Pisolithus tinctorius inoculation (non-inoculation vs. inoculation), to investigate the effects on ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers. After 10 months, compared with the control (rain pH 5.6, and non-inoculation), simulated acid rain (pH 3.5) reduced soil nutrient content, decreased archaeal amoA gene abundance and inhibited denitrification enzyme activity. Also, simulated acid rain altered the community compositions of all the examined functional genes (archaeal amoA, bacterial amoA, nirK, nirS and nosZ). However, inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungi under acid rain stress recovered soil nutrient content, archaeal amoA gene abundance and denitrification enzyme activity to levels comparable to the control, suggesting that ectomycorrhizal fungi inoculation ameliorates simulated acid rain effects. Taken together, ectomycorrhizal fungi inoculation - potentially through improving soil substrate availability - could alleviate the deleterious effects of acid rain on nitrogen cycling microbes in forest soils.}, } @article {pmid30367543, year = {2018}, author = {Alcaraz, JP and Cinquin, P and Martin, DK}, title = {Tackling the Concept of Symbiotic Implantable Medical Devices with Nanobiotechnologies.}, journal = {Biotechnology journal}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e1800102}, doi = {10.1002/biot.201800102}, pmid = {30367543}, issn = {1860-7314}, mesh = {Biocompatible Materials ; *Biotechnology ; *Equipment and Supplies ; Humans ; *Nanotechnology ; *Prostheses and Implants ; Regenerative Medicine ; }, abstract = {This review takes an approach to implanted medical devices that considers whether the intention of the implanted device is to have any communication of energy or materials with the body. The first part describes some specific examples of three different classes of implants, analyzed with regards to the type of signal sent to cells. Through several examples, the authors describe that a one way signaling to the body leads to encapsulation or degradation. In most cases, those phenomena do not lead to major problems. However, encapsulation or degradation are critical for new kinds of medical devices capable of duplex communication, which are defined in this review as symbiotic devices. The concept the authors propose is that implanted medical devices that need to be symbiotic with the body also need to be designed with an intended duplex communication of energy and materials with the body. This extends the definition of a biocompatible system to one that requires stable exchange of materials between the implanted device and the body. Having this novel concept in mind will guide research in a new field between medical implant and regenerative medicine to create actual symbiotic devices.}, } @article {pmid30366462, year = {2018}, author = {Mujica, G and Rodriguez-Zurrunero, R and Wilby, M and Portilla, J and González, ABR and Araujo, A and Riesgo, T and Díaz, JJV}, title = {Edge and Fog Computing Platform for Data Fusion of Complex Heterogeneous Sensors.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30366462}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {The explosion of the Internet of Things has dramatically increased the data load on networks that cannot indefinitely increment their capacity to support these new services. Edge computing is a viable approach to fuse and process data on sensor platforms so that information can be created locally. However, the integration of complex heterogeneous sensors producing a great amount of diverse data opens new challenges to be faced. Rather than generating usable data straight away, complex sensors demand prior calculations to supply meaningful information. In addition, the integration of complex sensors in real applications requires a coordinated development from hardware and software teams that need a common framework to reduce development times. In this work, we present an edge and fog computing platform capable of providing seamless integration of complex sensors, with the implementation of an efficient data fusion strategy. It uses a symbiotic hardware/software design approach based on a novel messaging system running on a modular hardware platform. We have applied this platform to integrate Bluetooth vehicle identifiers and radar counters in a specific mobility use case, which exhibits an effective end-to-end integration using the proposed solution.}, } @article {pmid30365488, year = {2018}, author = {Tan, WH and Reyes, ML and Hoang, KL and Acevedo, T and Leon, F and Barbosa, JD and Gerardo, NM}, title = {How symbiosis and ecological context influence the variable expression of transgenerational wing induction upon fungal infection of aphids.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {e0201865}, pmid = {30365488}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Ecology ; Fungi/pathogenicity ; Mycoses/*genetics/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Wasps/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Wings, Animal/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Aphids, like most animals, mount a diverse set of defenses against pathogens. For aphids, two of the best studied defenses are symbiont-conferred protection and transgenerational wing induction. Aphids can harbor bacterial symbionts that provide protection against pathogens, parasitoids and predators, as well as against other environmental stressors. In response to signals of danger, aphids also protect not themselves but their offspring by producing more winged than unwinged offspring as a way to ensure that their progeny may be able to escape deteriorating conditions. Such transgenerational wing induction has been studied most commonly as a response to overcrowding of host plants and presence of predators, but recent evidence suggests that pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) may also begin to produce a greater proportion of winged offspring when infected with fungal pathogens. Here, we explore this phenomenon further by asking how protective symbionts, pathogen dosage and environmental conditions influence this response. Overall, while we find some evidence that protective symbionts can modulate transgenerational wing induction in response to fungal pathogens, we observe that transgenerational wing induction in response to fungal infection is highly variable. That variability cannot be explained entirely by symbiont association, by pathogen load or by environmental stress, leaving the possibility that a complex interplay of genotypic and environmental factors may together influence this trait.}, } @article {pmid30365393, year = {2018}, author = {Lagostina, E and Dal Grande, F and Andreev, M and Printzen, C}, title = {The use of microsatellite markers for species delimitation in Antarctic Usnea subgenus Neuropogon.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {110}, number = {6}, pages = {1047-1057}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2018.1512304}, pmid = {30365393}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Bayes Theorem ; Ecosystem ; Gene Flow ; Genome, Fungal ; Islands ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; *Phylogeny ; Principal Component Analysis ; Usnea/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a fungal (mycobiont) and one or more photosynthetic (photobionts) partners and are the dominant component, and most important primary producers, of Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. The most common lichens in the maritime Antarctic are Usnea antarctica and U. aurantiacoatra, a so-called "species pair" in which U. antarctica shows asexual reproduction and propagation via soredia and U. aurantiacoatra forms ascospores in apothecia. Previous molecular analyses were not able to unambiguously distinguish the two morphotypes as species. Therefore, the goal of this study was to find out whether fast-evolving SSR (single sequence repeat) markers are able to separate morphotypes more clearly and help to clarify their taxonomy. We investigate 190 individuals from five mixed stands of both morphotypes collected in King George Island and Elephant Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Based on 23 microsatellite markers designed from sequenced genomes, discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), Bayesian clustering analysis, and coalescent-based estimation of gene flow show clear evidence for the existence of two different species distinguishable by reproductive mode. We did not detect any statistical association between genetic clusters and three previously reported chemical races of each species.}, } @article {pmid30364181, year = {2018}, author = {Becana, M and Wienkoop, S and Matamoros, MA}, title = {Sulfur Transport and Metabolism in Legume Root Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1434}, pmid = {30364181}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Sulfur is an essential nutrient in plants as a constituent element of some amino acids, metal cofactors, coenzymes, and secondary metabolites. Not surprisingly, sulfur deficiency decreases plant growth, photosynthesis, and seed yield in both legumes and non-legumes. In nodulated legumes, sulfur supply is positively linked to symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and sulfur starvation causes three additional major effects: decrease of nodulation, inhibition of SNF, and slowing down of nodule metabolism. These effects are due, at least in part, to the impairment of nitrogenase biosynthesis and activity, the accumulation of nitrogen-rich amino acids, and the decline in leghemoglobin, ferredoxin, ATP, and glucose in nodules. During the last decade, some major advances have been made about the uptake and metabolism of sulfur in nodules. These include the identification of the sulfate transporter SST1 in the symbiosomal membrane, the finding that glutathione produced in the bacteroids and host cells is essential for nodule activity, and the demonstration that sulfur assimilation in the whole plant is reprogrammed during symbiosis. However, many crucial questions still remain and some examples follow. In the first place, it is of paramount importance to elucidate the mechanism by which sulfur deficiency limits SNF. It is unknown why homoglutahione replaces glutathione as a major water-soluble antioxidant, redox buffer, and sulfur reservoir, among other relevant functions, only in certain legumes and also in different tissues of the same legume species. Much more work is required to identify oxidative post-translational modifications entailing cysteine and methionine residues and to determine how these modifications affect protein function and metabolism in nodules. Likewise, most interactions of antioxidant metabolites and enzymes bearing redox-active sulfur with transcription factors need to be defined. Solving these questions will pave the way to decipher sulfur-dependent mechanisms that regulate SNF, thereby gaining a deep insight into how nodulated legumes adapt to the fluctuating availability of nutrients in the soil.}, } @article {pmid30364174, year = {2018}, author = {Gifford, I and Battenberg, K and Vaniya, A and Wilson, A and Tian, L and Fiehn, O and Berry, AM}, title = {Distinctive Patterns of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Roots and Nodules of Datisca glomerata and Medicago spp. Revealed by Metabolomic and Gene Expression Profiles.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1463}, pmid = {30364174}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {U24 DK097154/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U2C ES030158/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Plants within the Nitrogen-fixing Clade (NFC) of Angiosperms form root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Actinorhizal plants (in Cucurbitales, Fagales, Rosales) form symbioses with the actinobacteria Frankia while legumes (Fabales) form symbioses with proteobacterial rhizobia. Flavonoids, secondary metabolites of the phenylpropanoid pathway, have been shown to play major roles in legume root nodule symbioses: as signal molecules that in turn trigger rhizobial nodulation initiation signals and acting as polar auxin transport inhibitors, enabling a key step in nodule organogenesis. To explore a potentially broader role for flavonoids in root nodule symbioses across the NFC, we combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of roots and nodules of the actinorhizal host Datisca glomerata and legumes of the genus Medicago. Patterns of biosynthetic pathways were inferred from flavonoid metabolite profiles and phenylpropanoid gene expression patterns in the two hosts to identify similarities and differences. Similar classes of flavonoids were represented in both hosts, and an increase in flavonoids generally in the nodules was observed, with differences in flavonoids prominent in each host. While both hosts produced derivatives of naringenin, the metabolite profile in D. glomerata indicated an emphasis on the pinocembrin biosynthetic pathway, and an abundance of flavonols with potential roles in symbiosis. Additionally, the gene expression profile indicated a decrease in expression in the lignin/monolignol pathway. In Medicago sativa, by contrast, isoflavonoids were highly abundant featuring more diverse and derived isoflavonoids than D. glomerata. Gene expression patterns supported these differences in metabolic pathways, especially evident in a difference in expression of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), which was expressed at substantially lower levels in D. glomerata than in a Medicago truncatula transcriptome where it was highly expressed. C4H is a major rate-limiting step in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis that separates the pinocembrin pathway from the lignin/monolignol and naringenin-based flavonoid branches. Shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, the link between flavonoid biosynthesis and the lignin/monolignol pathway, was also expressed at much lower levels in D. glomerata than in M. truncatula. Our results indicate (a) a likely major role for flavonoids in actinorhizal nodules, and (b) differences in metabolic flux in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis between the different hosts in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30363063, year = {2018}, author = {Antonets, KS and Onishchuk, OP and Kurchak, ON and Volkov, KV and Lykholay, AN and Andreeva, EA and Andronov, EE and Pinaev, AG and Provorov, NA and Nizhnikov, AA}, title = {[Proteomic Profile of the Bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti Depends on Its Life Form and Host Plant Species].}, journal = {Molekuliarnaia biologiia}, volume = {52}, number = {5}, pages = {898-904}, doi = {10.1134/S0026898418050038}, pmid = {30363063}, issn = {0026-8984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Proteome ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The importance of root nodule bacteria in biotechnology is determined by their distinctive feature: symbiotic nitrogen fixation resulting in the production of organic nitrogen-containing compounds. While interacting with host legume plants, the cells of these bacteria undergo global changes at all levels of expression of genetic information leading to the formation in root nodules of so-called bacteroids functioning as nitrogen fixation factories. The molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbial symbiosis are actively investigated, and one of the most interesting and poorly studied aspects of this problem is the species-specificity of interaction between root nodule bacteria and host plants. In this work we have performed the proteomic analysis of the Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteroids isolated from two legume species: alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.). It has been shown that the S. meliloti bacteroids produce a lot of proteins (many of them associated with symbiosis) in a host-specific manner, i.e., only in certain host plant species. It has been demonstrated for the first time that the levels of expression in bacteroids of the genes encoding the ExoZ and MscL proteins responsible for the synthesis of surface lipopolysaccha-rides and formation of a large conductance mechanosensitive channel, respectively, depend on a host plant species that confirms the results of proteomic analysis. Overall, our data show that the regulation of bacteroid development by the host plant has species-specific features.}, } @article {pmid30360545, year = {2018}, author = {Shawer, R and Donati, I and Cellini, A and Spinelli, F and Mori, N}, title = {Insecticidal Activity of Photorhabdus luminescens against Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30360545}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Drosophila suzukii causes considerable economic damage to small and thin-skinned fruits including cherry, blueberry, raspberry, grape and strawberry. Since it attacks fruits at the ripening stage, the use of chemical pesticides is limited due to the high risk of residues on fruit. Biological control is thus expected to play an essential role in managing this pest. The Gram-negative bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens and its symbiotic Heterorhabditis spp. nematode have been shown to be highly pathogenic to insects, with a potential for replacing pesticides to suppress several pests. Insecticidal activity of P. luminescens at different bacterial cell concentrations and its cell-free supernatant were assessed against third-instar larvae and pupae of D. suzukii under laboratory conditions. P. luminescens suspensions had a significant oral and contact toxicity on D. suzukii larvae and pupae, with mortalities up to of 70[-]100% 10 days after treatment. Cell-free supernatant in the diet also doubled mortality rates of feeding larvae. Our results suggest that P. luminescens may be a promising candidate for biological control of D. suzukii, and its use in integrated pest management (IPM) programs is discussed.}, } @article {pmid30358444, year = {2018}, author = {Miyokawa, R and Tsuda, T and Kanaya, HJ and Kusumi, J and Tachida, H and Kobayakawa, Y}, title = {Horizontal Transmission of Symbiotic Green Algae Between Hydra Strains.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {235}, number = {2}, pages = {113-122}, doi = {10.1086/699705}, pmid = {30358444}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Chlorophyta/genetics/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Hydra/*physiology ; Reproduction, Asexual ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some hydra strains belonging to the vulgaris group show a symbiotic relationship with green algae Chlorococcum sp. The symbiotic green algae can escape from the host polyps and can form swimming zoospores (which have two flagella) in culture solution. We observed that co-culture with the symbiotic polyps caused horizontal transmission of the symbionts into some non-symbiotic hydra strains that have no symbionts in nature and that belong not only to the vulgaris group but also to other hydra species groups. Although most of the horizontal transmission has ended in transient symbioses, a newly formed symbiosis between the symbiotic Chlorococcum sp. and strain 105 of Hydra vulgaris (Hydra magnipapillata) has been sustained for more than five years and has caused morphological and behavioral changes in the host polyps. We named this strain 105G. The asexual proliferation rate by budding increased under light conditions, although the feeding activity decreased and the polyp size was reduced in strain 105G. This new symbiosis between Chlorococcum sp. and strain 105G of H. vulgaris provides us with an intriguing research system for investigating the origin of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30358047, year = {2018}, author = {Gabaldón, T}, title = {Relative timing of mitochondrial endosymbiosis and the "pre-mitochondrial symbioses" hypothesis.}, journal = {IUBMB life}, volume = {70}, number = {12}, pages = {1188-1196}, pmid = {30358047}, issn = {1521-6551}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Prokaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The origin of eukaryotes stands as a major open question in biology. Central to this question is the nature and timing of the origin of the mitochondrion, an ubiquitous eukaryotic organelle originated by the endosymbiosis of an alphaproteobacterial ancestor. Different hypotheses disagree, among other aspects, on whether mitochondria were acquired early or late during eukaryogenesis. Similarly, the nature and complexity of the receiving host is debated, with models ranging from a simple prokaryotic host to an already complex proto-eukaryote. Here, I will discuss recent findings from phylogenomics analyses of extant genomes that are shedding light into the evolutionary origins of the eukaryotic ancestor, and which suggest a later acquisition of alpha-proteobacterial derived proteins as compared to those with different bacterial ancestries. I argue that simple eukaryogenesis models that assume a binary symbiosis between an archaeon host and an alpha-proteobacterial proto-mitochondrion cannot explain the complex chimeric nature that is inferred for the eukaryotic ancestor. To reconcile existing hypotheses with the new data, I propose the "pre-mitochondrial symbioses" hypothesis that provides a framework for eukaryogenesis scenarios involving alternative symbiotic interactions that predate the acquisition of mitochondria. © 2018 The Authors. IUBMB Life published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 70(12):1188-1196, 2018.}, } @article {pmid30357592, year = {2019}, author = {Abujabhah, IS and Doyle, RB and Bound, SA and Bowman, JP}, title = {Short-term impact of biochar amendments on eukaryotic communities in three different soils.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {4}, pages = {615-632}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1191-9}, pmid = {30357592}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Charcoal/analysis/*pharmacology ; Eukaryota/classification/*drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/*drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Mycobiome ; Soil/chemistry/*parasitology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study determined the loading impacts of wood-based biochar on the eukaryotic community in three different soils (brown sandy loam-BSL, red loam-RL and a black clay loam-BCL) using a pot trial conducted over 10 months. Soil analysis and 18S rRNA gene sequencing performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform was carried out to evaluate the changes in eukaryotic community composition in relation to different added amounts of biochar. It was found that biochar addition had a negligible effect on diversity parameters in the brown sandy loam Kurosol (BSL) and red loam Dermosol (RL) soils. There were, however, significant changes in eukaryotic community composition of these biochar amended soils. These changes were most discernible in the lighter (low clay content) BSL soil for the fungal communities (F = 3.0106, p = 0.0003) present and also when total eukaryotes were considered (F = 2.3907, p = 0.0002). In this respect Glomeromycota seem to be slightly promoted in the lighter BSL soils, which might be due to increased soil porosity and soil chemical fertility. Clay rich BCL soil community structure correlated to a greater degree with soil chemistry influenced by biochar addition. The results showed that soil microeukaryotes were affected by short term carbon amendment, though to a limited extent. The limited effect of biochar loading rates on the soil microbiology could be due to the short incubation period, the lack of added fertiliser nutrients, and also the inherent stability of the soil eukaryotic community. The data suggested the impacts that were observed however included important plant symbiotic organisms. The results also imply biochar applications at different loading levels have differential effects on soil microeurokaryotes in relation to soil properties in particular clay content.}, } @article {pmid30357527, year = {2018}, author = {Parmentier, T and De Laender, F and Wenseleers, T and Bonte, D}, title = {Contrasting indirect effects of an ant host on prey-predator interactions of symbiotic arthropods.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {188}, number = {4}, pages = {1145-1153}, pmid = {30357527}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Arthropods ; Predatory Behavior ; *Spiders ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Indirect interactions occur when a species affects another species by altering the density (density-mediated interactions) or influencing traits (trait-mediated interactions) of a third species. We studied variation in these two types of indirect interactions in a network of red wood ants and symbiotic arthropods living in their nests. We tested whether the ant workers indirectly affected survival of a symbiotic prey species (Cyphoderus albinus) by changing the density and/or traits of three symbiotic predators, i.e., Mastigusa arietina, Thyreosthenius biovatus and Stenus aterrimus, provoking, respectively, low, medium and high ant aggression. An ant nest is highly heterogeneous in ant worker density and the number of aggressive interactions towards symbionts increases with worker density. We, therefore, hypothesized that varying ant density could indirectly impact prey-predator interactions of the associated symbiont community. Ants caused trait-mediated indirect effects in all three prey-predator interactions, by affecting the prey capture rate of the symbiotic predators at different worker densities. Prey capture rate of the highly and moderately aggressed spider predators M. arietina and T. biovatus decreased with ant density, whereas the prey capture rate of the weakly aggressed beetle predator S. aterrimus increased. Ants also induced density-mediated indirect interactions as high worker densities decreased the survival rate of the two predatory spider species. These results demonstrate for the first time that a host can indirectly mediate the trophic interactions between associated symbionts. In addition, we show that a single host can induce opposing indirect effects depending on its degree of aggression towards the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid30357253, year = {2018}, author = {D'Amore, A and Nasello, G and Luketich, SK and Denisenko, D and Jacobs, DL and Hoff, R and Gibson, G and Bruno, A and T Raimondi, M and Wagner, WR}, title = {Meso-scale topological cues influence extracellular matrix production in a large deformation, elastomeric scaffold model.}, journal = {Soft matter}, volume = {14}, number = {42}, pages = {8483-8495}, doi = {10.1039/c8sm01352g}, pmid = {30357253}, issn = {1744-6848}, abstract = {Physical cues are decisive factors in extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and elaboration. Their transduction across scale lengths is an inherently symbiotic phenomenon that while influencing ECM fate is also mediated by the ECM structure itself. This study investigates the possibility of enhancing ECM elaboration by topological cues that, while not modifying the substrate macro scale mechanics, can affect the meso-scale strain range acting on cells incorporated within the scaffold. Vascular smooth muscle cell micro-integrated, electrospun scaffolds were fabricated with comparable macroscopic biaxial mechanical response, but different meso-scale topology. Seeded scaffolds were conditioned on a stretch bioreactor and exposed to large strain deformations. Samples were processed to evaluate ECM quantity and quality via: biochemical assay, qualitative and quantitative histological assessment and multi-photon analysis. Experimental evaluation was coupled to a numerical model that elucidated the relationship between the scaffold micro-architecture and the strain acting on the cells. Results showed an higher amount of ECM formation for the scaffold type characterized by lowest fiber intersection density. The numerical model simulations associated this result with the differences found for the change in cell nuclear aspect ratio and showed that given comparable macro scale mechanics, a difference in material topology created significant differences in cell-scaffold meso-scale deformations. These findings reaffirmed the role of cell shape in ECM formation and introduced a novel notion for the engineering of cardiac tissue where biomaterial structure can be designed to both mimick the organ level mechanics of a specific tissue of interest and elicit a desirable cellular response.}, } @article {pmid30356788, year = {2018}, author = {Prazeres, M}, title = {Bleaching-Associated Changes in the Microbiome of Large Benthic Foraminifera of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2404}, pmid = {30356788}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ocean warming is known to cause detrimental effects in coral reef fauna that rely on photo-symbiosis for survival. Microbial associations can facilitate the success of species across a range of environmental conditions, and play a role in the capacity of organisms to respond to climate change. In 2016, the Great Barrier Reef experienced its third mass bleaching event, with sea surface temperature rising to 1.3°C above long-term monthly summer averages. Here, I investigate the effects of ocean warming on the chlorophyll a (chl a) content and microbiome of the large benthic Foraminifera Amphistegina radiata. Samples were collected in January and April 2016, before and after the mass bleaching event. In total, 71 specimens were collected from two different depths (6- and 18-m) to investigate depth-dependant responses associated with changes in chl a and microbiome. Pigment analysis showed a significant reduction in chl a between time points in specimens collected at both depths. Reduction in pigmentation was accompanied by changes in the microbiome, and a significant interaction of depth and time was observed. Genus-level bacterial community associated with A. radiata was significantly different across depth and time. However, ocean warming affected populations at both depths to a similar extent, and resulted in change from a Betaproteobacteria-dominated assemblage in January to a more diverse bacterial community by April. Analysis of presence/absence and relative abundance of bacterial taxa revealed significant differences between time points at both depths analyzed. OTUs classified as Firmicutes, which were either absent, or present in very low relative abundances (<0.1%) across all sample groups in January, were identified in abundances as high as ∼20% in specimens collected from 18-m depth in April. Class-level shifts were observed in shallow-dwelling specimens, from high abundances of Betaproteobacteria to a high abundance and diversity of Actinobacteria. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of LBF to the effects of ocean warming, for which depth did not provide protection, and highlights the capacity of LBF to re-assemble bacterial communities after a disturbance. This study provides the first molecular-based demonstration of changes in foraminifera-associated bacterial assemblages during a bleaching event on a natural reef system.}, } @article {pmid30356736, year = {2018}, author = {Vitetta, L and Vitetta, G and Hall, S}, title = {Immunological Tolerance and Function: Associations Between Intestinal Bacteria, Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Phages.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2240}, pmid = {30356736}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*immunology ; Bacteriophages/classification/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology/virology ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Post-birth there is a bacterial assault on all mucosal surfaces. The intestinal microbiome is an important participant in health and disease. The pattern of composition and concentration of the intestinal microbiome varies greatly. Therefore, achieving immunological tolerance in the first 3-4 years of life is critical for maintaining health throughout a lifetime. Probiotic bacteria are organisms that afford beneficial health effects to the host and in certain instances may protect against the development of disease. The potential benefits of modifying the composition of the intestinal microbial cohort for therapeutic benefit is evident in the use in high risks groups such as premature infants, children receiving antibiotics, rotavirus infections in non-vaccinated children and traveler's diarrhea in adults. Probiotics and prebiotics are postulated to have immunomodulating capabilities by influencing the intestinal microbial cohort and dampening the activity of pathobiont intestinal microbes, such as Klebsiella pneumonia and Clostridia perfringens. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are examples of probiotics found in the large intestine and so far, the benefits afforded to probiotics have varied in efficacy. Most likely the efficacy of probiotic bacteria has a multifactorial dependency, namely on a number of factors that include agents used, the dose, the pattern of dosing, and the characteristics of the host and the underlying luminal microbial environment and the activity of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages, are small viruses that infect and lyse intestinal bacteria. As such it can be posited that these viruses display an effective local protective control mechanism for the intestinal barrier against commensal pathobionts that indirectly may assist the host in controlling bacterial concentrations in the gut. A co-operative activity may be envisaged between the intestinal epithelia, mucosal immunity and the activity of bacteriophages to eliminate pathobiots, highlighting the potential role of bacteriophages in assisting with maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Hence bacteriophage local control of inflammation and immune responses may be an additional immunological defense mechanism that exploits bacteriophage-mucin glycoprotein interactions that controls bacterial diversity and abundance in the mucin layers of the gut. Moreover, and importantly the efficacy of probiotics may be dependent on the symbiotic incorporation of prebiotics, and the abundance and diversity of the intestinal microbiome encountered. The virome may be an important factor that determines the efficacy of some probiotic formulations.}, } @article {pmid30356724, year = {2018}, author = {Volpe, V and Chitarra, W and Cascone, P and Volpe, MG and Bartolini, P and Moneti, G and Pieraccini, G and Di Serio, C and Maserti, B and Guerrieri, E and Balestrini, R}, title = {The Association With Two Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Differently Affects Water Stress Tolerance in Tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1480}, pmid = {30356724}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are very widespread, forming symbiotic associations with ∼80% of land plant species, including almost all crop plants. These fungi are considered of great interest for their use as biofertilizer in low-input and organic agriculture. In addition to an improvement in plant nutrition, AM fungi have been reported to enhance plant tolerance to important abiotic and biotic environmental conditions, especially to a reduced availability of resources. These features, to be exploited and applied in the field, require a thorough identification of mechanisms involved in nutrient transfer, metabolic pathways induced by single and multiple stresses, physiological and eco-physiological mechanisms resulting in improved tolerance. However, cooperation between host plants and AM fungi is often related to the specificity of symbiotic partners, the environmental conditions and the availability of resources. In this study, the impact of two AM fungal species (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices) on the water stress tolerance of a commercial tomato cultivar (San Marzano nano) has been evaluated in pots. Biometric and eco-physiological parameters have been recorded and gene expression analyses in tomato roots have been focused on plant and fungal genes involved in inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake and transport. R. intraradices, which resulted to be more efficient than F. mosseae to improve physiological performances, was selected to assess the role of AM symbiosis on tomato plants subjected to combined stresses (moderate water stress and aphid infestation) in controlled conditions. A positive effect on the tomato indirect defense toward aphids in terms of enhanced attraction of their natural enemies was observed, in agreement with the characterization of volatile organic compound (VOC) released. In conclusion, our results offer new insights for understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in the tolerance toward water deficit as mediated by a specific AM fungus. Moreover, they open new perspectives for the exploitation of AM symbiosis to enhance crop tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses in a scenario of global change.}, } @article {pmid30356280, year = {2018}, author = {Winter, DJ and Ganley, ARD and Young, CA and Liachko, I and Schardl, CL and Dupont, PY and Berry, D and Ram, A and Scott, B and Cox, MP}, title = {Repeat elements organise 3D genome structure and mediate transcription in the filamentous fungus Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e1007467}, pmid = {30356280}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {AT Rich Sequence/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/*genetics ; Epichloe/*genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; GC Rich Sequence/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Hyphae/genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Structural features of genomes, including the three-dimensional arrangement of DNA in the nucleus, are increasingly seen as key contributors to the regulation of gene expression. However, studies on how genome structure and nuclear organisation influence transcription have so far been limited to a handful of model species. This narrow focus limits our ability to draw general conclusions about the ways in which three-dimensional structures are encoded, and to integrate information from three-dimensional data to address a broader gamut of biological questions. Here, we generate a complete and gapless genome sequence for the filamentous fungus, Epichloë festucae. We use Hi-C data to examine the three-dimensional organisation of the genome, and RNA-seq data to investigate how Epichloë genome structure contributes to the suite of transcriptional changes needed to maintain symbiotic relationships with the grass host. Our results reveal a genome in which very repeat-rich blocks of DNA with discrete boundaries are interspersed by gene-rich sequences that are almost repeat-free. In contrast to other species reported to date, the three-dimensional structure of the genome is anchored by these repeat blocks, which act to isolate transcription in neighbouring gene-rich regions. Genes that are differentially expressed in planta are enriched near the boundaries of these repeat-rich blocks, suggesting that their three-dimensional orientation partly encodes and regulates the symbiotic relationship formed by this organism.}, } @article {pmid30355963, year = {2018}, author = {Almendras, K and Leiva, D and Carú, M and Orlando, J}, title = {Carbon Consumption Patterns of Microbial Communities Associated with Peltigera Lichens from a Chilean Temperate Forest.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {30355963}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Chile ; *Forests ; Lichens/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus and a green alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. They can grow in practically any terrestrial environment and play crucial roles in ecosystems, such as assisting in soil formation and degrading soil organic matter. In their thalli, they can host a wide diversity of non-photoautotrophic microorganisms, including bacteria, which play important functions and are considered key components of the lichens. In this work, using the BioLog[®] EcoPlate system, we studied the consumption kinetics of different carbon-sources by microbial communities associated with the thallus and the substrate of Peltigera lichens growing in a Chilean temperate rain forest dominated by Nothofagus pumilio. Based on the similarity of the consumption of 31 carbon-sources, three groups were formed. Among them, one group clustered the microbial metabolic profiles of almost all the substrates from one of the sampling sites, which exhibited the highest levels of consumption of the carbon-sources, and another group gathered the microbial metabolic profiles from the lichen thalli with the most abundant mycobiont haplotypes. These results suggest that the lichen thallus has a higher impact on the metabolism of its microbiome than on the microbial community of its substrate, with the latter being more diverse in terms of the metabolized sources and whose activity level is probably related to the availability of soil nutrients. However, although significant differences were detected in the microbial consumption of several carbon-sources when comparing the lichen thallus and the underlying substrate, d-mannitol, l-asparagine, and l-serine were intensively metabolized by both communities, suggesting that they share some microbial groups. Likewise, some communities showed high consumption of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, d-galacturonic acid, and itaconic acid; these could serve as suitable sources of microorganisms as bioresources of novel bioactive compounds with biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid30355664, year = {2018}, author = {Epstein, B and Abou-Shanab, RAI and Shamseldin, A and Taylor, MR and Guhlin, J and Burghardt, LT and Nelson, M and Sadowsky, MJ and Tiffin, P}, title = {Genome-Wide Association Analyses in the Model Rhizobium Ensifer meliloti.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30355664}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {*Genetic Association Studies ; Genome-Wide Association Study/*methods ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can identify genetic variants responsible for naturally occurring and quantitative phenotypic variation. Association studies therefore provide a powerful complement to approaches that rely on de novo mutations for characterizing gene function. Although bacteria should be amenable to GWAS, few GWAS have been conducted on bacteria, and the extent to which nonindependence among genomic variants (e.g., linkage disequilibrium [LD]) and the genetic architecture of phenotypic traits will affect GWAS performance is unclear. We apply association analyses to identify candidate genes underlying variation in 20 biochemical, growth, and symbiotic phenotypes among 153 strains of Ensifer meliloti For 11 traits, we find genotype-phenotype associations that are stronger than expected by chance, with the candidates in relatively small linkage groups, indicating that LD does not preclude resolving association candidates to relatively small genomic regions. The significant candidates show an enrichment for nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) over gene presence-absence variation (PAV), and for five traits, candidates are enriched in large linkage groups, a possible signature of epistasis. Many of the variants most strongly associated with symbiosis phenotypes were in genes previously identified as being involved in nitrogen fixation or nodulation. For other traits, apparently strong associations were not stronger than the range of associations detected in permuted data. In sum, our data show that GWAS in bacteria may be a powerful tool for characterizing genetic architecture and identifying genes responsible for phenotypic variation. However, careful evaluation of candidates is necessary to avoid false signals of association.IMPORTANCE Genome-wide association analyses are a powerful approach for identifying gene function. These analyses are becoming commonplace in studies of humans, domesticated animals, and crop plants but have rarely been conducted in bacteria. We applied association analyses to 20 traits measured in Ensifer meliloti, an agriculturally and ecologically important bacterium because it fixes nitrogen when in symbiosis with leguminous plants. We identified candidate alleles and gene presence-absence variants underlying variation in symbiosis traits, antibiotic resistance, and use of various carbon sources; some of these candidates are in genes previously known to affect these traits whereas others were in genes that have not been well characterized. Our results point to the potential power of association analyses in bacteria, but also to the need to carefully evaluate the potential for false associations.}, } @article {pmid30353039, year = {2019}, author = {Bongrand, C and Ruby, EG}, title = {Achieving a multi-strain symbiosis: strain behavior and infection dynamics.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {698-706}, pmid = {30353039}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {GM099507//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)/International ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; OD011024//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | NIH Office of the Director (OD)/International ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/International ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Genes, Reporter ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/veterinary ; Phenotype ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strain diversity, while now recognized as a key driver underlying partner dynamics in symbioses, is usually difficult to experimentally manipulate and image in hosts with complex microbiota. To address this problem, we have used the luminous marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which establishes a symbiosis within the crypts of the nascent light organ of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Competition assays in newly hatched juvenile squid have shown that symbiotic V. fischeri are either niche-sharing "S strains", which share the light organ when co-inoculated with other S strains, or niche-dominant "D strains", which are typically found alone in the light organ after a co-colonization. To understand this D strain advantage, we determined the minimum time that different V. fischeri strains needed to initiate colonization and used confocal microscopy to localize the symbionts along their infection track. Further, we determined whether symbiont-induced host morphogenic events also occurred earlier during a D strain colonization. We conclude that D strains colonized more quickly than S strains. Nevertheless, light-organ populations in field-caught adult squid often contain both D and S strains. We determined experimentally that this symbiont population heterogeneity might be achieved in nature by a serial encounter of different strains in the environment.}, } @article {pmid30351431, year = {2019}, author = {Yoro, E and Nishida, H and Ogawa-Ohnishi, M and Yoshida, C and Suzaki, T and Matsubayashi, Y and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {PLENTY, a hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase, negatively regulates root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {507-517}, pmid = {30351431}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Golgi Apparatus/enzymology ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Pentosyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes can survive in nitrogen-deficient environments by forming root-nodule symbioses with rhizobial bacteria; however, forming nodules consumes energy, and nodule numbers must thus be strictly controlled. Previous studies identified major negative regulators of nodulation in Lotus japonicus, including the small peptides CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE)-RELATED-ROOT SIGNAL1 (CLE-RS1), CLE-RS2, and CLE-RS3, and their putative major receptor HYPERNODULATION AND ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION1 (HAR1). CLE-RS2 is known to be expressed in rhizobia-inoculated roots, and is predicted to be post-translationally arabinosylated, a modification essential for its activity. Moreover, all three CLE-RSs suppress nodulation in a HAR1-dependent manner. Here, we identified PLENTY as a gene responsible for the previously isolated hypernodulation mutant plenty. PLENTY encoded a hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase orthologous to ROOT DETERMINED NODULATION1 in Medicago truncatula. PLENTY was localized to the Golgi, and an in vitro analysis of the recombinant protein demonstrated its arabinosylation activity, indicating that CLE-RS1/2/3 may be substrates for PLENTY. The constitutive expression experiments showed that CLE-RS3 was the major candidate substrate for PLENTY, suggesting the substrate preference of PLENTY for individual CLE-RS peptides. Furthermore, a genetic analysis of the plenty har1 double mutant indicated the existence of another PLENTY-dependent and HAR1-independent pathway negatively regulating nodulation.}, } @article {pmid30350565, year = {2018}, author = {Craft, KM and Thomas, HC and Townsend, SD}, title = {Interrogation of Human Milk Oligosaccharide Fucosylation Patterns for Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Trends in Group B Streptococcus.}, journal = {ACS infectious diseases}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {1755-1765}, doi = {10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00234}, pmid = {30350565}, issn = {2373-8227}, support = {T32 GM065086/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biofilms/drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Milk, Human/*chemistry/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Streptococcal Infections/*microbiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {For newborns, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) serve as an important source of protection against bacterial pathogens. HMOs prevent infection by functioning as decoy receptors that bind pathogens to inhibit cellular adhesion. HMOs also play a protective role by acting as prebiotics that selectively promote the growth of symbiotic gut bacteria over pathogens. Fucosylated HMOs in particular are well-known for their roles as both decoy receptors and prebiotics. Recently, we discovered that HMOs possess antimicrobial activity against Group B Streptococcus (GBS) by increasing cellular permeability. HMO extracts from a single donor can contain over 100 different structures; however, studies using heterogeneous HMO mixtures do not provide insight into the specific structural requirements needed to achieve antimicrobial activity. In this study, we address this void by completing a structure activity study on the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of six neutral, fucosylated and five neutral, nonfucosylated HMOs against GBS. We determined that while the presence of fucose alone does not correlate to antimicrobial activity, the location and degree of fucosylation does play a key role in the antimicrobial activity of HMOs. Moreover, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of single HMOs were found to be strain-specific. This further supports our vision of developing narrow-spectrum antibacterial agents against GBS.}, } @article {pmid30350228, year = {2018}, author = {Menegatti, C and Da Paixão Melo, WG and Carrão, DB and De Oliveira, ARM and Do Nascimento, FS and Lopes, NP and Pupo, MT}, title = {Paenibacillus polymyxa Associated with the Stingless Bee Melipona scutellaris Produces Antimicrobial Compounds against Entomopathogens.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {12}, pages = {1158-1169}, pmid = {30350228}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/analysis/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bees/growth & development/*microbiology ; Depsipeptides/analysis/metabolism/pharmacology ; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests ; Fungi/*drug effects ; Lactates/analysis/metabolism/pharmacology ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Paenibacillus polymyxa/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {Social insects are frequently observed in symbiotic association with bacteria that produce antimicrobial natural products as a defense mechanism. There is a lack of studies on the microbiota associated with stingless bees and their antimicrobial compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the isolation of Paenibacillus polymyxa ALLI-03-01 from the larval food of the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris. The bacterial strain was cultured under different conditions and produced (L)-(-)-3-phenyllactic acid and fusaricidins, which were active against entomopathogenic fungi and Paenibacillus larvae. Our results indicate that such natural products could be related to colony protection, suggesting a defense symbiosis between P. polymyxa ALLI-03-01 and Melipona scutellaris.}, } @article {pmid30349546, year = {2018}, author = {Battenberg, K and Potter, D and Tabuloc, CA and Chiu, JC and Berry, AM}, title = {Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Actinorhizal Plants and the Legume Medicago truncatula Supports the Homology of Root Nodule Symbioses and Is Congruent With a Two-Step Process of Evolution in the Nitrogen-Fixing Clade of Angiosperms.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1256}, pmid = {30349546}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is a symbiotic interaction established between angiosperm hosts and nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria in specialized organs called root nodules. The host plants provide photosynthate and the microsymbionts supply fixed nitrogen. The origin of RNS represents a major evolutionary event in the angiosperms, and understanding the genetic underpinnings of this event is of major economic and agricultural importance. Plants that engage in RNS are restricted to a single angiosperm clade known as the nitrogen-fixing clade (NFC), yet occur in multiple lineages scattered within the NFC. It has been postulated that RNS evolved in two steps: a gain-of-predisposition event occurring at the base of the NFC, followed by a gain-of-function event in each host plant lineage. Here, we first explore the premise that RNS has evolved from a single common background, and then we explore whether a two-step process better explains the evolutionary origin of RNS than either a single-step process, or multiple origins. We assembled the transcriptomes of root and nodule of two actinorhizal plants, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus and Datisca glomerata. Together with the corresponding published transcriptomes of the model legume Medicago truncatula, the gene expression patterns in roots and nodules were compared across the three lineages. We found that orthologs of many genes essential for RNS in the model legumes are expressed in all three lineages, and that the overall nodule gene expression patterns were more similar to each other than expected by random chance, a finding that supports a common evolutionary background for RNS shared by the three lineages. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses suggested that a substantial portion of the genes experiencing selection pressure changes at the base of the NFC also experienced additional changes at the base of each host plant lineage. Our results (1) support the occurrence of an event that led to RNS at the base of the NFC, and (2) suggest a subsequent change in each lineage, most consistent with a two-step origin of RNS. Among several conserved functions identified, strigolactone-related genes were down-regulated in nodules of all three species, suggesting a shared function similar to that shown for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30349006, year = {2018}, author = {Daou, S and Barbour, H and Ahmed, O and Masclef, L and Baril, C and Sen Nkwe, N and Tchelougou, D and Uriarte, M and Bonneil, E and Ceccarelli, D and Mashtalir, N and Tanji, M and Masson, JY and Thibault, P and Sicheri, F and Yang, H and Carbone, M and Therrien, M and Affar, EB}, title = {Monoubiquitination of ASXLs controls the deubiquitinase activity of the tumor suppressor BAP1.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {4385}, pmid = {30349006}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R01 CA198138/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; Cell Cycle/genetics/physiology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Drosophila ; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoprecipitation ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/genetics/*metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Ubiquitination/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The tumor suppressor and deubiquitinase (DUB) BAP1 and its Drosophila ortholog Calypso assemble DUB complexes with the transcription regulators Additional sex combs-like (ASXL1, ASXL2, ASXL3) and Asx respectively. ASXLs and Asx use their DEUBiquitinase ADaptor (DEUBAD) domain to stimulate BAP1/Calypso DUB activity. Here we report that monoubiquitination of the DEUBAD is a general feature of ASXLs and Asx. BAP1 promotes DEUBAD monoubiquitination resulting in an increased stability of ASXL2, which in turn stimulates BAP1 DUB activity. ASXL2 monoubiquitination is directly catalyzed by UBE2E family of Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and regulates mammalian cell proliferation. Remarkably, Calypso also regulates Asx monoubiquitination and transgenic flies expressing monoubiquitination-defective Asx mutant exhibit developmental defects. Finally, the protein levels of ASXL2, BAP1 and UBE2E enzymes are highly correlated in mesothelioma tumors suggesting the importance of this signaling axis for tumor suppression. We propose that monoubiquitination orchestrates a molecular symbiosis relationship between ASXLs and BAP1.}, } @article {pmid30347912, year = {2018}, author = {Li, PY and Yang, G and Zhou, XT and Pu, CJ and Shao, AJ and Chen, ML}, title = {[Effect of soil pH on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {43}, number = {17}, pages = {3460-3465}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20180528.004}, pmid = {30347912}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {By comparing the effects of soil pH on the efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza, the study is aimed to provide guidance for the use of mycorrhiza in the cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza. In this experiment, the inoculant treated and the non-inoculant treated control were grown in different soil pH. The data was collected after 60 days of cultivation including rate of mycorrhizal infection, biomass, and three chemical constituents with known medicinal action. The results showed that Glomus versiforme was more apt to infect S. miltiorrhiza (F>94.00%; M>69.45%; m>73.66%) and promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza under pH 5-9 soil. The mycorrhizal contribution to the growth of S. miltiorrhiza was the highest when grown in pH 8 soil. Plants grown with mycorrhiza in pH 8 soil had above-ground biomass more than 2 times and root biomass more than 5 times. The uninoculated plants grew better under acidic and neutral conditions, but the inoculated plants grew better under alkaline (pH 8) conditions. This result showed mycorrhiza can play a role in the adaptability of S. miltiorrhiza to the environment. Inoculation of mycorrhiza significantly increased the accumulation of rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, and dihydrotanshinone by 6.59,5.03 and 2.20-folds. Based on our results alkaline soil (pH 8) is most suitable for the cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza by inoculation with the mycorrhiza G. versiforme.}, } @article {pmid30347908, year = {2018}, author = {He, DM and Lai Chang, JS and Yan, ZY and Huang, LQ}, title = {[Research and prospect of Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {43}, number = {17}, pages = {3417-3430}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20180510.006}, pmid = {30347908}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Humans ; *Materia Medica ; *Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; *Microbiota ; Research ; }, abstract = {In the long-term evolution, microbes and hosts coexist widely, forming a symbiotic microecosystem and resulting the complex interactions of the metabolism. With the application of microecological theory in Chinese materia medica science, two main points have been accepted gradually. On the one hand, the prevention and treatment of human diseases by traditional Chinese medicines can be achieved through the correction and adjustment of the imbalance of the human microecosystem. On the other hand, the microecosystem can regulate the quality of traditional Chinese medicines in real time, and further affect their curative effect. Thus, a new discipline, Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology, has been gradually established. In this review, the background, theoretical structure, research directions, key problems and the relationship with human microecology of Traditional Chinese Medical Microecology were systematically summarized and prospected for promoting its development. Moreover, this review provides a reference protocol for further discoursing the microecological mechanism involving the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines.}, } @article {pmid30347445, year = {2019}, author = {Buendia, L and Maillet, F and O'Connor, D and van de-Kerkhove, Q and Danoun, S and Gough, C and Lefebvre, B and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides promote lateral root formation and modify auxin homeostasis in Brachypodium distachyon.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {2190-2202}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15551}, pmid = {30347445}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {ANR-10-LABX-41//'Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX' TULIP/International ; ANR-16-CE20-0025-01//ANR 'WHEATSYM'/International ; ANR-14-CE18-0008-01//ANR 'NICECROPS'/International ; //INRA/SPE project 'LCAux'/International ; //Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique/International ; }, mesh = {Brachypodium/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Fluorescence ; *Homeostasis/drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/*pharmacology ; Indoles/metabolism ; Lipids/*pharmacology ; Models, Biological ; Oligosaccharides ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are microbial symbiotic signals that also influence root growth. In Medicago truncatula, LCOs stimulate lateral root formation (LRF) synergistically with auxin. However, the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon and whether it is restricted to legume plants are not known. We have addressed the capacity of the model monocot Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) to respond to LCOs and auxin for LRF. For this, we used a combination of root phenotyping assays, live-imaging and auxin quantification, and analysed the regulation of auxin homeostasis genes. We show that LCOs and a low dose of the auxin precursor indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) stimulated LRF in Brachypodium, while a combination of LCOs and IBA led to different regulations. Both LCO and IBA treatments locally increased endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content, whereas the combination of LCO and IBA locally increased the endogenous concentration of a conjugated form of IAA (IAA-Ala). LCOs, IBA and the combination differentially controlled expression of auxin homeostasis genes. These results demonstrate that LCOs are active on Brachypodium roots and stimulate LRF probably through regulation of auxin homeostasis. The interaction between LCO and auxin treatments observed in Brachypodium on root architecture opens interesting avenues regarding their possible combined effects during the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30347433, year = {2019}, author = {Ivanov, S and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Accumulation of phosphoinositides in distinct regions of the periarbuscular membrane.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {2213-2227}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15553}, pmid = {30347433}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DBI-0618969//US NSF Instrumentation Grant/International ; CO29155//NYSTEM/International ; S10OD018516/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; IOS-1353367//US National Science Foundation/International ; IOS-1127155//US National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Fluorescent Dyes/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositols/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phosphoinositides and phosphatidic acid are small anionic lipids that comprise a minor proportion of total membrane lipids in eukaryotic cells but influence a broad range of cellular processes including endomembrane trafficking, signaling, exocytosis and endocytosis. To investigate the spatial distribution of phosphoinositides during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, we generated fluorescent reporters of PI(4,5)P2 and PI4P, as well as phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol and used them to monitor lipid distribution on the cytoplasmic side of membrane bilayers in colonized cortical cells. The PI4P reporter accumulated strongly on the periarbuscular membrane (PAM) and transiently labeled Golgi bodies, while the PA reporter showed differential labeling of endomembranes and the PAM. Surprisingly, the PI(4,5)P2 reporter accumulated in small, discrete regions of the PAM on the arbuscule trunks, frequently in two regions on opposing sides of the hypha. A mutant reporter with reduced PI(4,5)P2 binding capacity did not show these accumulations. The PI(4,5)P2 -rich regions were detected at all phases of arbuscule development following branching, co-localized with membrane marker proteins potentially indicating high membrane bilayer content, and were associated with an alteration in morphology of the hypha. A possible analogy to the biotrophic interfacial membrane complex formed in rice infected with Magnaporthe orzyae is discussed.}, } @article {pmid30345347, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, G and Bollier, D and Gübeli, C and Peter, N and Arnold, P and Egli, M and Borghi, L}, title = {Simulated microgravity and the antagonistic influence of strigolactone on plant nutrient uptake in low nutrient conditions.}, journal = {NPJ microgravity}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {20}, pmid = {30345347}, issn = {2373-8065}, abstract = {Human-assisted space exploration will require efficient methods of food production. Large-scale farming in presence of an Earth-like atmosphere in space faces two main challenges: plant yield in microgravity and plant nutrition in extraterrestrial soils, which are likely low in nutrients compared to terrestrial farm lands. We propose a plant-fungal symbiosis (i.e. mycorrhiza) as an efficient tool to increase plant biomass production in extraterrestrial environments. We tested the mycorrhization of Solanaceae on the model plant Petunia hybrida using the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis under simulated microgravity (s0-g) conditions obtained through a 3-D random positioning machine. Our results show that s0-g negatively affects mycorrhization and plant phosphate uptake by inhibiting hyphal elongation and secondary branching. However, in low nutrient conditions, the mycorrhiza can still support plant biomass production in s0-g when colonized plants have increased SL root exudation. Alternatively, s0-g in high nutrient conditions boosts tissue-specific cell division and cell expansion and overall plant size in Petunia, which has been reported for other plants species. Finally, we show that the SL mimic molecule rac-GR24 can still induce hyphal branching in vitro under simulated microgravity. Based on these results, we propose that in nutrient limited conditions strigolactone root exudation can challenge the negative microgravity effects on mycorrhization and therefore might play an important role in increasing the efficiency of future space farming.}, } @article {pmid30344249, year = {2018}, author = {Nath, A and Haktanirlar, G and Varga, Á and Molnár, MA and Albert, K and Galambos, I and Koris, A and Vatai, G}, title = {Biological Activities of Lactose-Derived Prebiotics and Symbiotic with Probiotics on Gastrointestinal System.}, journal = {Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)}, volume = {54}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {30344249}, issn = {1648-9144}, mesh = {Cathartics/therapeutic use ; Colonic Neoplasms/prevention & control ; Constipation/prevention & control ; Diarrhea/microbiology/therapy ; Galactosides/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*prevention & control ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/microbiology ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/prevention & control ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/prevention & control ; Lactose/*chemistry ; Lactulose/therapeutic use ; Oligosaccharides/therapeutic use ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Sugar Alcohols/therapeutic use ; Trisaccharides/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Lactose-derived prebiotics provide wide ranges of gastrointestinal comforts. In this review article, the probable biochemical mechanisms through which lactose-derived prebiotics offer positive gastrointestinal health are reported along with the up-to-date results of clinical investigations; this might be the first review article of its kind, to the best of our knowledge. Lactose-derived prebiotics have unique biological and functional values, and they are confirmed as 'safe' by the Food and Drug Administration federal agency. Medical practitioners frequently recommend them as therapeutics as a pure form or combined with dairy-based products (yoghurt, milk and infant formulas) or fruit juices. The biological activities of lactose-derived prebiotics are expressed in the presence of gut microflora, mainly probiotics (Lactobacillus spp. in the small intestine and Bifidobacterium spp. in the large intestine). Clinical investigations reveal that galacto-oligosaccharide reduces the risks of several types of diarrhea (traveler's diarrhea, osmotic diarrhea and Clostridium difficile associated relapsing diarrhea). Lactulose and lactosucrose prevent inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). Lactulose and lactitol reduce the risk of hepatic encephalopathy. Furthermore, lactulose, galacto-oligosaccharide and lactitol prevent constipation in individuals of all ages. It is expected that the present review article will receive great attention from medical practitioners and food technologists.}, } @article {pmid30344114, year = {2018}, author = {Fox, MD and Williams, GJ and Johnson, MD and Radice, VZ and Zgliczynski, BJ and Kelly, ELA and Rohwer, FL and Sandin, SA and Smith, JE}, title = {Gradients in Primary Production Predict Trophic Strategies of Mixotrophic Corals across Spatial Scales.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {21}, pages = {3355-3363.e4}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.057}, pmid = {30344114}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes ; Carbon/*metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Oceans and Seas ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mixotrophy is among the most successful nutritional strategies in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The ability of organisms to supplement primary nutritional modes along continua of autotrophy and heterotrophy fosters trophic flexibility that can sustain metabolic demands under variable or stressful conditions. Symbiotic, reef-building corals are among the most broadly distributed and ecologically important mixotrophs, yet we lack a basic understanding of how they modify their use of autotrophy and heterotrophy across gradients of food availability. Here, we evaluate how one coral species, Pocillopora meandrina, supplements autotrophic nutrition through heterotrophy within an archipelago and test whether this pattern holds across species globally. Using stable isotope analysis (δ[13]C) and satellite-derived estimates of nearshore primary production (chlorophyll-a, as a proxy for food availability), we show that P. meandrina incorporates a greater proportion of carbon via heterotrophy when more food is available across five central Pacific islands. We then show that this pattern is consistent globally using data from 15 coral species across 16 locations spanning the Caribbean Sea and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Globally, surface chlorophyll-a explains 77% of the variation in coral heterotrophic nutrition, 86% for one genus across 10 islands, and 94% when controlling for coral taxonomy within archipelagos. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that satellite-derived estimates of nearshore primary production provide a globally relevant proxy for resource availability that can explain variation in coral trophic ecology. Thus, our model provides a pivotal step toward resolving the biophysical couplings between mixotrophic organisms and spatial patterns of resource availability in the coastal oceans.}, } @article {pmid30344015, year = {2019}, author = {Weger, BD and Gobet, C and Yeung, J and Martin, E and Jimenez, S and Betrisey, B and Foata, F and Berger, B and Balvay, A and Foussier, A and Charpagne, A and Boizet-Bonhoure, B and Chou, CJ and Naef, F and Gachon, F}, title = {The Mouse Microbiome Is Required for Sex-Specific Diurnal Rhythms of Gene Expression and Metabolism.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {362-382.e8}, pmid = {30344015}, issn = {1932-7420}, mesh = {Adipose Tissue, White/*metabolism ; Animals ; *Circadian Clocks ; Circadian Rhythm ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Ghrelin/*metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Liver/*metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Sex Characteristics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The circadian clock and associated feeding rhythms have a profound impact on metabolism and the gut microbiome. To what extent microbiota reciprocally affect daily rhythms of physiology in the host remains elusive. Here, we analyzed transcriptome and metabolome profiles of male and female germ-free mice. While mRNA expression of circadian clock genes revealed subtle changes in liver, intestine, and white adipose tissue, germ-free mice showed considerably altered expression of genes associated with rhythmic physiology. Strikingly, the absence of the microbiome attenuated liver sexual dimorphism and sex-specific rhythmicity. The resulting feminization of male and masculinization of female germ-free animals is likely caused by altered sexual development and growth hormone secretion, associated with differential activation of xenobiotic receptors. This defines a novel mechanism by which the microbiome regulates host metabolism.}, } @article {pmid30343835, year = {2019}, author = {Ji, Z and Liu, T and Zhang, J and Yan, H and Wang, E and Cui, Q and Chen, W and Chen, W}, title = {Genetic divergence among Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating wild and cultivated Kummerowia spp. in China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {223-231}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.10.003}, pmid = {30343835}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Flow ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; *Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Distribution of rhizobial species is affected by geographical isolation and selected by leguminous hosts, however, little is known about the molecular evolution of rhizobia nodulating the same legume in different eco-environments. In present study, the microevolution of Bradyrhizobium associated with the leguminous grass Kummerowia grown in exurban areas and cultivated in urban areas in China was investigated. Total 14 genospecies, including seven new groups, were identified based on a concatenated sequence analysis of taxonomic markers (SMc00019, truA and thrA) for 94 representative strains. Results demonstrated that lower levels of nucleotide diversity were found in the strains isolated from urban areas compared with those isolated from exurban areas, based on the evolutional analyses of three housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII and recA), two symbiosis-related genes (nodC and nifH), and the taxonomic markers. Moreover, compared with urban areas, gene exchange and recombination occurred more frequently among the genospecies isolated from exurban areas, regardless of the geographical distribution. Finally, the evolutionary lineage of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from urban areas was independent of that of the strains isolated from exurban areas. In summary, the evolutionary history of Kummerowia bradyrhizobia may have been gradually segregated to different evolutionary lineages, irrespective of distinct biogeography.}, } @article {pmid30340112, year = {2019}, author = {Xu, D and Bechtner, J and Behr, J and Eisenbach, L and Geißler, AJ and Vogel, RF}, title = {Lifestyle of Lactobacillus hordei isolated from water kefir based on genomic, proteomic and physiological characterization.}, journal = {International journal of food microbiology}, volume = {290}, number = {}, pages = {141-149}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.10.004}, pmid = {30340112}, issn = {1879-3460}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Genome ; Genomics ; Glycolysis ; Kefir/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Proteome ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Water kefir is a traditional fermented beverage made from sucrose, water, kefir granules, dried or fresh fruits. In our water kefir granules, Lactobacillus (L.) hordei is one of the predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species of this presumed symbiotic consortium. It faces abundant sucrose versus limitation of amino- and fatty acids in an acidic environment. Sequencing of the genome of L. hordei TMW 1.1822 revealed one chromosome plus three plasmids. The size of the chromosome was 2.42 Mbp with a GC content of 35% GC and 2461 predicted coding sequences. Furthermore, we identified 1474 proteins upon growth on water kefir medium. Metabolic prediction revealed all enzymes required for the glycolytic Embden-Meyerhof (EMP) and phosphoketolase (PKP) pathways. Genes encoding all enzymes involved in citrate, pyruvate and mannitol metabolism are present. Moreover, it was confirmed that L. hordei is prototrophic for 11 amino acids and auxotrophic for 6 amino acids when combining putative biosynthesis pathways for amino acids with physiological characterization. Still, for glycine, serine and methionine no sure auxotype could be determined. The OppABCDF peptide transport system is complete, and 13 genes encoding peptidases are present. The arginine deiminase system, was predicted to be complete except for carbamate kinase, thus enabling neutralization reactions via ammonium formation but no additional energy generation. Taken together our findings enable prediction of the L. hordei lifestyle in water kefir: Abundant sucrose is consumed directly via parallel EMP and PK pathways and is also extracellularly converted to dextran and fructose by a glucansucrase, leaving fructose as additional carbon source. Essential amino acids (in the form of peptides) and citrate are acquired from fruits. In the lack of FabB unsaturated fatty acids are synthesized by predicted alternative enzymes. Formation of acetoin and diacetyl as well as arginine conversion reactions enable acidification limitation. Other members of the water kefir consortium (yeasts, acetic acid bacteria) likely facilitate or support growth of L. hordei by delivering gluconate, mannitol, amino- and fatty acids and vitamins.}, } @article {pmid30339692, year = {2018}, author = {Liao, HL and Chen, Y and Vilgalys, R}, title = {Correction: Metatranscriptomic Study of Common and Host-Specific Patterns of Gene Expression between Pines and Their Symbiotic Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Genus Suillus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e1007742}, pmid = {30339692}, issn = {1553-7404}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006348.].}, } @article {pmid30333525, year = {2019}, author = {Kudo, R and Masuya, H and Endoh, R and Kikuchi, T and Ikeda, H}, title = {Gut bacterial and fungal communities in ground-dwelling beetles are associated with host food habit and habitat.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {676-685}, pmid = {30333525}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Fungi/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Japan ; *Microbiota ; *Mycobiome ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beetles (Coleoptera) have the highest species diversity among all orders, and they have diverse food habits. Gut microbes may have contributed to this diversification of food habits. Here, we identified the pattern of the relationship between ground-dwelling beetles and their gut microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) in the field. We collected 46 beetle species of five families from secondary deciduous forests and grasslands in Japan and extracted microbial DNA from whole guts for amplicon sequencing. The gut bacterial and fungal communities differed among all habitats and all food habits of their hosts (carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, and scavengers) except for the fungal communities between carnivores and scavengers. Specifically, the abundant bacterial group varied among food habits: Xanthomonadaceae were abundant in scavengers, whereas Enterobacteriaceae were abundant in carnivores and herbivores. Phylogenetically closely related beetles had phylogenetically similar communities of Enterobacteriaceae, suggesting that the community structure of this family is related to the evolutionary change in beetle ecology. One of the fungal groups, Yarrowia species, which has been reported to have a symbiotic relationship with silphid beetles, was also detected from various carnivorous beetles. Our results suggest that the symbiotic relationships between ground-dwelling beetles and these microbes are widespread.}, } @article {pmid30333206, year = {2018}, author = {Resl, P and Fernández-Mendoza, F and Mayrhofer, H and Spribille, T}, title = {The evolution of fungal substrate specificity in a widespread group of crustose lichens.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1889}, pages = {}, pmid = {30333206}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Lichens/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens exhibit varying degrees of specialization with regard to the surfaces they colonize, ranging from substrate generalists to strict substrate specialists. Though long recognized, the causes and consequences of substrate specialization are poorly known. Using a phylogeny of a 150-200 Mya clade of lichen fungi, we asked whether substrate niche is phylogenetically conserved, which substrates are ancestral, whether specialists arise from generalists or vice versa and how specialization affects speciation/extinction processes. We found strong phylogenetic signal for niche conservatism. Specialists evolved into generalists and back again, but transitions from generalism to specialism were more common than the reverse. Our models suggest that for this group of fungi, 'escape' from specialization for soil, rock and bark occurred, but specialization for wood foreclosed evolution away from that substrate type. In parallel, speciation models showed positive diversification rates for soil and rock dwellers but not other specialists. Patterns in the studied group suggest that fungal substrate specificity is a key determinant of evolutionary trajectory for the entire lichen symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30332850, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, Y and Zhu, S and Liu, F and Wang, W and Wang, X and Han, G and Cheng, B}, title = {Identification of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi Responsive microRNAs and Their Regulatory Network in Maize.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30332850}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Zea mays/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maize can form symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungus to increase productivity and resistance, but the miRNAs in maize responsible for this process have not been discovered. In this study, 155 known and 28 novel miRNAs were identified by performing high-throughput sequencing of sRNA in maize roots colonized by AM fungi. Similar to the profiles in other AM-capable plants, a large proportion of identified maize miRNAs were 24 nt in length. Fourteen and two miRNAs were significantly down- and up-regulated in response to AM fungus Glomus intraradices inoculation, respectively, suggesting potential roles of these miRNAs in AM symbiosis. Interestingly, 12 of 14 significantly down-regulated known maize miRNAs belong to the miR399 family, which was previously reported to be involved in the interaction between Medicago truncatula and AM fungi. This result indicated that the miR399 family should regulate AM symbiosis conservatively across different plant lineages. Pathway and network analyses showed that the differentially expressed miRNAs might regulate lipid metabolism and phosphate starvation response in maize during the symbiosis process via their target genes. Several members of the miR399 family and the miR397 family should be involved in controlling the fatty acid metabolism and promoting lipid delivering from plants to AM fungi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on miRNAs mediating fatty acids from plant to AM fungi. This study provides insight into the regulatory roles of miRNAs in the symbiosis between plants and AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid30332582, year = {2018}, author = {Winbourne, JB and Harrison, MT and Sullivan, BW and Alvarez-Clare, S and Lins, SR and Martinelli, L and Nasto, M and Piotto, D and Rolim, S and Wong, M and Porder, S}, title = {A New Framework for Evaluating Estimates of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Forests.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {192}, number = {5}, pages = {618-629}, doi = {10.1086/699828}, pmid = {30332582}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Brazil ; Computer Simulation ; Costa Rica ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rainforest ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) makes atmospheric nitrogen biologically available and regulates carbon storage in many terrestrial ecosystems. Despite its global importance, estimates of SNF rates are highly uncertain, particularly in tropical forests where rates are assumed to be high. Here we provide a framework for evaluating the uncertainty of sample-based SNF estimates and discuss its implications for quantifying SNF and thus understanding of forest function. We apply this framework to field data sets from six lowland tropical rainforests (mature and secondary) in Brazil and Costa Rica. We use this data set to estimate parameters influencing SNF estimation error, notably the root nodule abundance and variation in SNF rates among soil cores containing root nodules. We then use simulations to gauge the relationship between sampling effort and SNF estimation accuracy for a combination of parameters. Field data illuminate a highly right-skewed lognormal distribution of SNF rates among soil cores containing root nodules that were rare and spanned five orders of magnitude. Consequently, simulations demonstrated that sample sizes of hundreds to even thousands of soil cores are needed to obtain estimates of SNF that are within, for example, a factor of 2 of the actual rate with 75% probability. This represents sample sizes that are larger than most studies to date. As a result of this previously undescribed uncertainty, we suggest that current estimates of SNF in tropical forests are not sufficiently constrained to elucidate forest stand-level controls of SNF, which hinders our understanding of the impact of SNF on tropical forest ecosystem processes.}, } @article {pmid30332427, year = {2018}, author = {Chang, NN and Lin, LH and Tu, TH and Jeng, MS and Chikaraishi, Y and Wang, PL}, title = {Trophic structure and energy flow in a shallow-water hydrothermal vent: Insights from a stable isotope approach.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {e0204753}, pmid = {30332427}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Brachyura/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Chlorophyta/metabolism ; Diet ; *Ecosystem ; Energy Metabolism ; Food Chain ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Sea Anemones ; Taiwan ; Zooplankton/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Shallow-water hydrothermal vent ecosystems are distinct from the deep-sea counterparts, because they are in receipt of sustenance from both chemosynthetic and photosynthetic production and have a lack of symbiosis. The trophic linkage and energy flow in these ecosystems, however remain elusive, which allows us poor understanding of the whole spectrum of biological components distributed across such environmental gradients. In this study, a thorough isotopic survey was conducted on various biological specimens and suspended particulates collected along four transects across the venting features of a shallow-water hydrothermal field off Kueishan Island, Taiwan. The isotope data combined with a Bayesian-based mixing model indicate that the vent-associated particulate organic matter (vent POM), as primary contribution of chemoautotrophic populations, has a high δ13C value (-18.2 ± 1.1‰) and a low δ15N value (-1.7 ± 0.4‰). Zooplankton and epibenthic crustaceans, as the fundamental consumers, exhibit δ13C and δ15N values ranging from -21.3 to -19.8‰ and +5.1 to +7.5‰, respectively, and can utilize the vent POM for 38-53% of their diets. The vent-obligate crab Xenograpsus testudinatus shows a large variation in δ13C (from -18.8 to -13.9‰) and δ15N values (from 1.1 to 9.8‰), although an omnivorous trophic level (2.5) is identified for it using δ15N values of amino acids, and it can utilize the vent POM for 6-87% of its diet. The consistently low (< 10.0‰) and overlapping δ15N values for most of the analyzed macroinvertebrates suggest extensive ingestion of chemosynthetic production complementing the photosynthetic production, a weak prey-predator relationship and low trophic complexity possibly imposed by the extreme environmental contexts of shallow-water hydrothermal ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30332402, year = {2018}, author = {Pang, R and Chen, M and Yue, L and Xing, K and Li, T and Kang, K and Liang, Z and Yuan, L and Zhang, W}, title = {A distinct strain of Arsenophonus symbiont decreases insecticide resistance in its insect host.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {e1007725}, pmid = {30332402}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Animals ; Asia ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics ; Hemiptera ; Insecta/genetics ; Insecticide Resistance/*genetics/physiology ; Insecticides ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are important drivers of phenotypic diversity in insects. One of the widespread symbionts to have emerged belongs to the genus Arsenophonus, however, its biological functions in most host insects remain entirely unknown. Here we report two distinct Arsenophonus strains in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, a major pest insect in Asian countries that causes significant economic damage through rice crop destruction. Genomic resequencing data suggested that one Arsenophonus strain (S-type) negatively affected the insecticide resistance of the host. Indeed, replacement of the resident Arsenophonus with the S-type Arsenophonus significantly decreased host insecticide resistance. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed down-regulation of xenobiotic metabolism and increased amino acid accumulation in the S-type Arsenophonus infected host. This study demonstrates how a symbiont-mediated phenotypic change can occur. The results of this study will aid in developing strategies that work through imposing an ecological disadvantage on insect pests, which will be of great value for pest control in agricultural industry.}, } @article {pmid30326664, year = {2018}, author = {Isidra-Arellano, MC and Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Sánchez-Correa, MDS and Pingault, L and Sen, S and Joshi, T and Girard, L and Castro-Guerrero, NA and Mendoza-Cozatl, DG and Libault, M and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Phosphate Deficiency Negatively Affects Early Steps of the Symbiosis between Common Bean and Rhizobia.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30326664}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Phosphate (Pi) deficiency reduces nodule formation and development in different legume species including common bean. Despite significant progress in the understanding of the genetic responses underlying the adaptation of nodules to Pi deficiency, it is still unclear whether this nutritional deficiency interferes with the molecular dialogue between legumes and rhizobia. If so, what part of the molecular dialogue is impaired? In this study, we provide evidence demonstrating that Pi deficiency negatively affects critical early molecular and physiological responses that are required for a successful symbiosis between common bean and rhizobia. We demonstrated that the infection thread formation and the expression of PvNSP2, PvNIN, and PvFLOT2, which are genes controlling the nodulation process were significantly reduced in Pi-deficient common bean seedlings. In addition, whole-genome transcriptional analysis revealed that the expression of hormones-related genes is compromised in Pi-deficient seedlings inoculated with rhizobia. Moreover, we showed that regardless of the presence or absence of rhizobia, the expression of PvRIC1 and PvRIC2, two genes participating in the autoregulation of nodule numbers, was higher in Pi-deficient seedlings compared to control seedlings. The data presented in this study provides a mechanistic model to better understand how Pi deficiency impacts the early steps of the symbiosis between common bean and rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid30325166, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, YY and Zhang, HC and Xiang, XJ and Wang, DZ and Guo, XS and Guo, ZB and Sun, RB and Chu, HY}, title = {Effects of long-term fertilization on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in lime concretion black soil.}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {10}, pages = {3398-3406}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201810.035}, pmid = {30325166}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Calcium Compounds ; Crops, Agricultural ; Fertilizers ; Glomeromycota ; Manure ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oxides ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Triticum ; }, abstract = {In agroecosystem, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have mutually beneficial symbiosis with roots of many crops. Meanwhile, this special fungal community is also affected by agricultural mana-gements such as fertilization. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term fertilization managements (no fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, chemical fertilizer combined with straw, chemical fertilizer combined with manure) on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community (AM fungal community) in lime concretion black soil, and to identify the indicator species in each fertilization regime. The most dominant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phyla in lime concretion black soil were Archaeosporaceae, Diversisporaceae, Gigasporaceae, Claroideoglomeraceae, Glomeraceae and Paraglomeraceae. The genus Paraglomus was strongly and significantly associated with the application of chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer. Compared with the control, long-term application of chemical fertilizer greatly changed AM fungal community structure and resulted in the decrease of AM fungal diversity, and the addition of wheat straw further decreased the diversity, while the addition of manure could alleviate diversity loss resulted from chemical fertilization. Soil pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were the main factors affecting the changes of AM fungal community. In summary, long-term application of chemical fertilizer combined with different organic materials had different impacts on soil AM fungal community structure and diversity. The combination of chemical fertilizer and manure would be more conducive to the maintenance of AM fungal diversity.}, } @article {pmid30324505, year = {2019}, author = {Guillermo Bueno, C and Gerz, M and Zobel, M and Moora, M}, title = {Conceptual differences lead to divergent trait estimates in empirical and taxonomic approaches to plant mycorrhizal trait assignment.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {1-11}, pmid = {30324505}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Botany/*methods ; Europe ; Mycology/*methods ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Empirical and taxonomic approaches are the two main methods used to assign plant mycorrhizal traits to species lists. While the empirical approach uses only available empirical information, the taxonomic approach extrapolates certain core information about plant mycorrhizal types and statuses to related species. Despite recent claims that the taxonomic approach is now almost definitive, with little benefit to be gained from further empirical data collection, it has not been thoroughly compared with the empirical approach. Using the most complete available plant mycorrhizal trait information for Europe and both assignment approaches, we calculate the proportion of species for each trait, and model environmental drivers of trait distribution across the continent. We found large degrees of mismatch between approaches, with consequences for biogeographical interpretation, among facultatively mycorrhizal (FM; 91% of species mismatched), non-mycorrhizal (NM; 45%), and to a lesser extent arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM; 16%) plant species. This can partly be attributed to the taxonomic precision of the taxonomic approach and the use of different AM, NM, and FM concepts. Our results showed that the extrapolations of the taxonomic approach do not consistently match with empirical information and indicate that more empirical data are needed, in particular for FM, NM, and AM plant species. Clarifying certain concepts underlying mycorrhizal traits and empirically describing NM, AM, and FM species within plant families can greatly improve our understanding of the biogeography of mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30322931, year = {2018}, author = {Shukla, SP and Plata, C and Reichelt, M and Steiger, S and Heckel, DG and Kaltenpoth, M and Vilcinskas, A and Vogel, H}, title = {Microbiome-assisted carrion preservation aids larval development in a burying beetle.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {44}, pages = {11274-11279}, pmid = {30322931}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Cadaverine/metabolism ; Coleoptera/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Fungi/metabolism ; Larva/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Putrescine/metabolism ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The ability to feed on a wide range of diets has enabled insects to diversify and colonize specialized niches. Carrion, for example, is highly susceptible to microbial decomposers, but is kept palatable several days after an animal's death by carrion-feeding insects. Here we show that the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides preserves carrion by preventing the microbial succession associated with carrion decomposition, thus ensuring a high-quality resource for their developing larvae. Beetle-tended carcasses showed no signs of degradation and hosted a microbial community containing the beetles' gut microbiota, including the yeast Yarrowia In contrast, untended carcasses showed visual and olfactory signs of putrefaction, and their microbial community consisted of endogenous and soil-originating microbial decomposers. This regulation of the carcass' bacterial and fungal community and transcriptomic profile was associated with lower concentrations of putrescine and cadaverine (toxic polyamines associated with carcass putrefaction) and altered levels of proteases, lipases, and free amino acids. Beetle-tended carcasses develop a biofilm-like matrix housing the yeast, which, when experimentally removed, leads to reduced larval growth. Thus, tended carcasses hosted a mutualistic microbial community that promotes optimal larval development, likely through symbiont-mediated extraintestinal digestion and detoxification of carrion nutrients. The adaptive preservation of carrion coordinated by the beetles and their symbionts demonstrates a specialized resource-management strategy through which insects modify their habitats to enhance fitness.}, } @article {pmid30322750, year = {2018}, author = {Duron, O and Doublet, P and Vavre, F and Bouchon, D}, title = {The Importance of Revisiting Legionellales Diversity.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {1027-1037}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2018.09.008}, pmid = {30322750}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/pathogenicity ; Host Specificity/physiology ; Humans ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the order Legionellales, such as Legionella pneumophila, the agent of Legionnaires' disease, and Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, are widely recognized as human pathogens. While our view of the Legionellales is often limited to clinical isolates, ecological surveys are continually uncovering new members of the Legionellales that do not fall into the recognized pathogenic species. Here we emphasize that most of these Legionellales are nonpathogenic forms that have evolved symbiotic lifestyles with nonvertebrate hosts. The diversity of nonpathogenic forms remains, however, largely underexplored. We conjecture that its characterization, once contrasted with the data on pathogenic species, will reveal novel highlights on the mechanisms underlying lifestyle transitions of intracellular bacteria, including the emergence of pathogenesis and mutualism, transmission routes, and host specificity.}, } @article {pmid30322086, year = {2018}, author = {Liao, D and Wang, S and Cui, M and Liu, J and Chen, A and Xu, G}, title = {Phytohormones Regulate the Development of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30322086}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Gibberellins/pharmacology ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Most terrestrial plants are able to form a root symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi for enhancing the assimilation of mineral nutrients. AM fungi are obligate symbionts that depend on host plants as their sole carbon source. Development of an AM association requires a continuous signal exchange between the two symbionts, which triggers coordinated differentiation of both partners, to enable their interaction within the root cells. The control of the AM symbiosis involves a finely-tuned process, and an increasing number of studies have pointed to a pivotal role of several phytohormones, such as strigolactones (SLs), gibberellic acids (GAs), and auxin, in the modulation of AM symbiosis, through the early recognition of events up to the final arbuscular formation. SLs are involved in the presymbiotic growth of the fungus, while auxin is required for both the early steps of fungal growth and the differentiation of arbuscules. GAs modulate arbuscule formation in a dose-dependent manner, via DELLA proteins, a group of GRAS transcription factors that negatively control the GA signaling. Here, we summarize the recent findings on the roles of these plant hormones in AM symbiosis, and also explore the current understanding of how the DELLA proteins act as central regulators to coordinate plant hormone signaling, to regulate the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30320901, year = {2019}, author = {Dos Santos Lima Fagotti, D and Abrantes, JLF and Cerezini, P and Fukami, J and Nogueira, MA and Del Cerro, P and Valderrama-Fernández, R and Ollero, FJ and Megías, M and Hungria, M}, title = {Quorum sensing communication: Bradyrhizobium-Azospirillum interaction via N-acyl-homoserine lactones in the promotion of soybean symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {38-53}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201800324}, pmid = {30320901}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Azospirillum brasilense/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Brazil ; Coculture Techniques ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Quorum Sensing/genetics/*physiology ; Repressor Proteins/genetics ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Trans-Activators/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Quorum-sensing (QS) mechanisms are important in intra- and inter-specific communication among bacteria. We investigated QS mechanisms in Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain CPAC 15 and Azospirillum brasilense strains Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, used in commercial co-inoculants for the soybean crop in Brazil. A transconjugant of CPAC 15-QS with partial inactivation of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) was obtained and several parameters were evaluated; in vitro, CPAC 15 and the transconjugant differed in growth, but not in biofilm formation, and no differences were observed in the symbiotic performance in vivo. The genome of CPAC 15 carries functional luxI and luxR genes and low amounts of three AHL molecules were detected: 3-OH-C12-AHL, 3-OH-C14-AHL, and 3-oxo-C14-AHL. Multiple copies of luxR-like genes, but not of luxI are present in the genomes of Ab-V5 and Ab-V6, and differences in gene expression were observed when the strains were co-cultured with B. japonicum; we may infer that the luxR-genes of A. brasilense may perceive the AHL molecules of B. japonicum. Soybean symbiotic performance was improved especially by co-inoculation with Ab-V6, which, contrarily to Ab-V5, did not respond to the AHLs of CPAC 15. We concluded that A. brasilense Ab-V5, but not Ab-V6, responded to the QS signals of CPAC 15, and that the synergistic interaction may be credited, at least partially, to the QS interaction. In addition, we confirmed inter- and intra-species QS communication between B. japonicum and A. brasilense and, for Azospirillum, at the strain level, impacting several steps of the symbiosis, from cell growth to plant nodulation and growth.}, } @article {pmid30320217, year = {2018}, author = {Kremer, N and Koch, EJ and El Filali, A and Zhou, L and Heath-Heckman, EAC and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Persistent Interactions with Bacterial Symbionts Direct Mature-Host Cell Morphology and Gene Expression in the Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30320217}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In horizontally transmitted symbioses, structural, biochemical, and molecular features both facilitate host colonization by specific symbionts and mediate their persistent carriage. In the association between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous bacterial partner Vibrio fischeri, the symbionts interact with two epithelial fields; they interact (i) transiently with the superficial ciliated field that potentiates colonization and regresses within days of colonization and (ii) persistently with the cells that line the internal crypts, whose ultrastructure changes in response to the symbionts. Development of the association creates conditions that promote the symbiotic partner over the lifetime of the host. To determine whether light organ maturation requires continuous interactions with V. fischeri or only the signaling that occurs during its initiation, we compared 4-week-old squid that were uncolonized with those colonized either persistently by wild-type V. fischeri or transiently by a V. fischeri mutant that triggers early events in morphogenesis but does not persist. Microscopic analysis of the light organs showed that, while morphogenesis of the superficial ciliated field is greatly accelerated by V. fischeri colonization, its eventual outcome is largely independent of colonization state. In contrast, the symbiont-induced changes in crypt cell shape require persistent host-symbiont interaction, reflected in the similarity between uncolonized and transiently colonized animals. Transcriptomic analyses reflected the microscopy results; host gene expression at 4 weeks was due primarily to the persistent interactions of host and symbiont cells. Further, the transcriptomic signature of specific pathways reflected the daily rhythm of symbiont release and regrowth and required the presence of the symbionts. IMPORTANCE A long-term relationship between symbiotic partners is often characterized by development and maturation of host structures that harbor the symbiont cells over the host's lifetime. To understand the mechanisms involved in symbiosis maintenance more fully, we studied the mature bobtail squid, whose light-emitting organ, under experimental conditions, can be transiently or persistently colonized by Vibrio fischeri or remain uncolonized. Superficial anatomical changes in the organ were largely independent of symbiosis. However, both the microanatomy of cells with which symbionts interact and the patterns of gene expression in the mature animal were due principally to the persistent interactions of host and symbiont cells rather than to a response to early colonization events. Further, the characteristic pronounced daily rhythm on the host transcriptome required persistent V. fischeri colonization of the organ. This experimental study provides a window into how persistent symbiotic colonization influences the form and function of host animal tissues.}, } @article {pmid30319665, year = {2018}, author = {Buhian, WP and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Mini-Review: Nod Factor Regulation of Phytohormone Signaling and Homeostasis During Rhizobia-Legume Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1247}, pmid = {30319665}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The rhizobia-legume symbiosis is a mutualistic association in which bacteria provide plants with nitrogen compounds and the plant provides bacteria with carbon sources. A successful symbiotic interaction relies on a molecular dialog between the plant and the bacteria, and generally involves rhizobial lipo-chitooligosaccharide signals called Nod factors (NFs). In most cases, specific NF perception is required for rhizobia to enter root cells through newly formed intracellular structures called infection threads (ITs). Concomitantly to IT formation in root hairs, root cortical cells start to divide to create a new root organ called the nodule, which will provide the bacteria with a specific micro-environment required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. During all these steps of plant-bacteria interaction, new plant cellular compartments and developmental programs are activated. This interaction is costly for the plant that tightly controls symbiosis establishment and functioning. Phytohormones are key regulators of cellular and developmental plasticity in plants, and they are influential endogenous signals that rapidly control plant responses. Although early symbiotic responses were known for decades to be linked to phytohormone-related responses, new data reveal the molecular mechanisms involved and links between phytohormones and the control of early symbiotic events. Reciprocally, NF signaling also targets phytohormone signaling pathways. In this review, we will focus on the emerging notion of NF and phytohormone signaling crosstalk, and how it could contribute to the tight control of symbiosis establishment in legume host plants.}, } @article {pmid30319574, year = {2018}, author = {Santos-Garcia, D and Juravel, K and Freilich, S and Zchori-Fein, E and Latorre, A and Moya, A and Morin, S and Silva, FJ}, title = {To B or Not to B: Comparative Genomics Suggests Arsenophonus as a Source of B Vitamins in Whiteflies.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2254}, pmid = {30319574}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insect lineages feeding on nutritionally restricted diets such as phloem sap, xylem sap, or blood, were able to diversify by acquiring bacterial species that complement lacking nutrients. These bacteria, considered obligate/primary endosymbionts, share a long evolutionary history with their hosts. In some cases, however, these endosymbionts are not able to fulfill all of their host's nutritional requirements, driving the acquisition of additional symbiotic species. Phloem-feeding members of the insect family Aleyrodidae (whiteflies) established an obligate relationship with Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum, which provides its hots with essential amino acids and carotenoids. In addition, many whitefly species harbor additional endosymbionts which may potentially further supplement their host's diet. To test this hypothesis, genomes of several endosymbionts of the whiteflies Aleurodicus dispersus, Aleurodicus floccissimus and Trialeurodes vaporariorum were analyzed. In addition to Portiera, all three species were found to harbor one Arsenophonus and one Wolbachia endosymbiont. A comparative analysis of Arsenophonus genomes revealed that although all three are capable of synthesizing B vitamins and cofactors, such as pyridoxal, riboflavin, or folate, their genomes and phylogenetic relationship vary greatly. Arsenophonus of A. floccissimus and T. vaporariorum belong to the same clade, and display characteristics of facultative endosymbionts, such as large genomes (3 Mb) with thousands of genes and pseudogenes, intermediate GC content, and mobile genetic elements. In contrast, Arsenophonus of A. dispersus belongs to a different lineage and displays the characteristics of a primary endosymbiont-a reduced genome (670 kb) with ~400 genes, 32% GC content, and no mobile genetic elements. However, the presence of 274 pseudogenes suggests that this symbiotic association is more recent than other reported primary endosymbionts of hemipterans. The gene repertoire of Arsenophonus of A. dispersus is completely integrated in the symbiotic consortia, and the biosynthesis of most vitamins occurs in shared pathways with its host. In addition, Wolbachia endosymbionts have also retained the ability to produce riboflavin, flavin adenine dinucleotide, and folate, and may make a nutritional contribution. Taken together, our results show that Arsenophonus hold a pivotal place in whitefly nutrition by their ability to produce B vitamins.}, } @article {pmid30317668, year = {2019}, author = {Manuelidis, L}, title = {Prokaryotic SPHINX 1.8 REP protein is tissue-specific and expressed in human germline cells.}, journal = {Journal of cellular biochemistry}, volume = {120}, number = {4}, pages = {6198-6208}, doi = {10.1002/jcb.27907}, pmid = {30317668}, issn = {1097-4644}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/metabolism ; Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytoplasm/genetics/metabolism ; DNA Replication ; DNA, Circular/*metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal Inheritance ; Mice ; Oocytes/*metabolism ; Open Reading Frames ; Organ Specificity ; Spermatogonia/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Small circular DNAs of 1.8 and 2.4 kb were initially discovered in highly infectious Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and scrapie particles from mammalian brain and cultured cells. Surprisingly, these protected cytoplasmic "SPHINX" DNAs contained replication (REP) initiation sequences resembling those of Acinetobacter phage viruses. An antibody was generated against a REP peptide encoded by the SPHINX 1.8 open reading frame (ORF) that was not present in mammals. It bound to a 41kd "spx1" protein on Western blots. Cytologically, spx1 concentrated in spinal cord synapses and pancreatic islet, but not exocrine cells. We hypothesized that circular SPHINX DNAs are ancient symbiotic elements that can participate in functional differentiation and neurodegeneration. Cell and tissue-specific patterns of spx1 expression shown below implicate somatic cell-to-cell communication and differentiation functions that would favor conservation of SPHINX 1.8 in evolution. Remarkably, primary human oocytes and spermatogonia, but not mature sperm, displayed intense cytoplasmic spx1 signals that underscore the maternal inheritance of SPHINX 1.8. These findings should encourage investigations of unexplored networks of incorporated environmental infectious agents that can be key actors in progressive neurodegeneration, immunity, and cancer.}, } @article {pmid30317659, year = {2019}, author = {Chen, L and Qin, L and Zhou, L and Li, X and Chen, Z and Sun, L and Wang, W and Lin, Z and Zhao, J and Yamaji, N and Ma, JF and Gu, M and Xu, G and Liao, H}, title = {A nodule-localized phosphate transporter GmPT7 plays an important role in enhancing symbiotic N2 fixation and yield in soybean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {2013-2025}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15541}, pmid = {30317659}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {JSPS KAKENHI, 16H06296//Grant-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research/International ; XDB15030202//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/International ; 2016YFD0100700//China National Key Program for Research and Development/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Organ Specificity ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N2) fixation plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture. Efficient N2 fixation requires various materials, including phosphate (Pi); however, the molecular mechanism underlying the transport of Pi into nodules and bacteroids remains largely unknown. A nodule-localized Pi transporter, GmPT7, was functionally characterized in soybean (Glycine max) and its role in N2 fixation and yield was investigated via composite and whole transgenic plants. GmPT7 protein was localized to the plasma membrane and showed transport activity for Pi in yeast. Altered expression of GmPT7 changed [33] Pi uptake from rhizosphere and translocation to bacteroids. GmPT7 was mainly localized to the outer cortex and fixation zones of the nodules. Overexpression of GmPT7 promoted nodulation, and increased plant biomass, shoot nitrogen and phosphorus content, resulting in improved soybean yield by up to 36%. Double suppression of GmPT5 and GmPT7 led to nearly complete elimination of nodulation and over 50% reduction in plant biomass, shoot nitrogen and phosphorus content, indicating that both GmPT7 and GmPT5 contribute to Pi transport for N2 fixation. Taken together, our results indicate that GmPT7 is a transporter responsible for direct Pi entry to nodules and further to fixation zones, which is required for enhancing symbiotic N2 fixation and grain yield of soybean.}, } @article {pmid30317641, year = {2019}, author = {Fabiańska, I and Gerlach, N and Almario, J and Bucher, M}, title = {Plant-mediated effects of soil phosphorus on the root-associated fungal microbiota in Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {2123-2137}, pmid = {30317641}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {GA-2010-267243//FP7 Marie Curie Actions/International ; EXC 1028//Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences/International ; //International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) Cologne on 'Understanding Complex Plant Traits using Computational and Evolutionary Approaches'/International ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Mycobiome/drug effects/genetics ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Phosphorus/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Plants respond to phosphorus (P) limitation through an array of morphological, physiological and metabolic changes which are part of the phosphate (Pi) starvation response (PSR). This response influences the establishment of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in most land plants. It is, however, unknown to what extent available P and the PSR redefine plant interactions with the fungal microbiota in soil. Using amplicon sequencing of the fungal taxonomic marker ITS2, we examined the changes in root-associated fungal communities in the AM nonhost species Arabidopsis thaliana in response to soil amendment with P and to genetic perturbations in the plant PSR. We observed robust shifts in root-associated fungal communities of P-replete plants in comparison with their P-deprived counterparts, while bulk soil communities remained unaltered. Moreover, plants carrying mutations in the phosphate signaling network genes, phr1, phl1 and pho2, exhibited similarly altered root fungal communities characterized by the depletion of the chytridiomycete taxon Olpidium brassicae specifically under P-replete conditions. This study highlights the nutritional status and the underlying nutrient signaling network of an AM nonhost plant as previously unrecognized factors influencing the assembly of the plant fungal microbiota in response to P in nonsterile soil.}, } @article {pmid30316924, year = {2019}, author = {Chew, SF and Koh, CZY and Hiong, KC and Choo, CYL and Wong, WP and Neo, ML and Ip, YK}, title = {Light-enhanced expression of Carbonic Anhydrase 4-like supports shell formation in the fluted giant clam Tridacna squamosa.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {683}, number = {}, pages = {101-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2018.10.023}, pmid = {30316924}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animal Shells/metabolism/physiology ; Animals ; Bivalvia/genetics/*physiology ; Carbonic Anhydrase IV/*genetics/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular/*drug effects ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tissue Distribution ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Giant clams represent symbiotic associations between a host clam and its extracellular zooxanthellae. They are able to grow in nutrient-deficient tropical marine environments and conduct light-enhanced shell formation (calcification) with the aid of photosynthates donated by the symbiotic zooxanthellae. In light, there is a high demand for inorganic carbon (Ci) to support photosynthesis in the symbionts and light-enhanced calcification in the host. In this study, we cloned and characterized a host Carbonic Anhydrase 4 homolog (CA4-like) from the whitish inner mantle of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa. The full cDNA coding sequence of CA4-like consisted of 1002 bp, encoding for 334 amino acids of 38.5 kDa. The host CA4-like was phenogramically distinct from algal CAs. The transcript level of CA4-like in the inner mantle was ~3-fold higher than those in the colorful outer mantle and the ctenidium. In the inner mantle, CA4-like was immunolocalized in the apical membrane of the seawater-facing epithelial cells, but absent from the shell-facing epithelium. Hence, CA4-like was positioned to catalyze the conversion of HCO3[-] to CO2 in the ambient seawater which would facilitate CO2 uptake. The absorbed CO2 could be converted back to HCO3[-] by the cytoplasmic CA2-like. As the protein abundance of CA4-like increased in the inner mantle after 6 or 12 h of light exposure, there could be an augmentation of the total CA4-like activity to increase Ci uptake in light. It is plausible that the absorbed Ci was allocated preferentially for shell formation due to the close proximity of the seawater-facing epithelium to the shell-facing epithelium in the inner mantle that contains only few zooxanthellae.}, } @article {pmid30315860, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, Z and Liu, Z and Wang, L and Luo, J and Li, H}, title = {Oxidative stress, apoptosis activation and symbiosis disruption in giant clam Tridacna crocea under high temperature.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {84}, number = {}, pages = {451-457}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2018.10.033}, pmid = {30315860}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Bivalvia/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Hot Temperature/*adverse effects ; *Oxidative Stress ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Giant clams are one of the most important animals in coral reef ecosystem, and its growth and reproduction are being threatened by heat stress due to global warming. In the present study, the symbiont density, the crucial enzyme activities and the transcriptome were investigated in the outer mantle of giant clam Tridacna crocea after the acute exposure of high temperature. The density of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased significantly during 12-24 h, with the minimum level (7.75 × 10[5] cell cm[-2], p < 0.05) at 12 h after heat stress. The activities of superoxide dismutase in the heat stress group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 24 h after heat stress, while no significant change in the activities of catalase was observed during the entire stress process. The activation level of caspase3 began to increase significantly at 12 h (1.22-fold, p < 0.05), and reached the highest level at 24 h (1.38-fold, p < 0.05) after heat stress. Six paired-end libraries were sequenced in two groups, including the heat stress and control group at 12 h after heat stress. Through the assembling of 187,116,632 paired-end reads with lengths of 2 × 150 bp, a total of 26,676 genes were obtained which derived from giant clam. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 47 significantly upregulated and 88 significantly downregulated genes at 12 h after the treatment. There were 12 overrepresented GO terms for significantly upregulated genes, mostly related to unfolded protein binding and ATP binding, whereas no GO term was overrepresented for significantly downregulated genes. These results collectively suggest high temperature could induce excessive oxidative stress through the repressed antioxidant ability, the apoptosis activated by the unfolded protein response, and further the collapse of the symbiosis between host and symbiont, which has been threatening the growth and reproduction of the giant clam T. crocea.}, } @article {pmid30315373, year = {2019}, author = {Ribeiro-Barros, AI and Catarino, S and Moura, I and Ramalho, JC and Romeiras, MM and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F}, title = {Actinorhizal trees and shrubs from Africa: distribution, conservation and uses.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {31-46}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1174-x}, pmid = {30315373}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Africa ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Frankia/genetics/physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*classification/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; Trees/classification/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants are a group of perennial dicotyledonous angiosperms, comprised of more than 200 species, most of which can establish root-nodule symbiosis with the nitrogen fixing actinobacteria of the genus Frankia. They are key providers of fundamental goods and services and can give a major contribution to mitigate the combined effects of climate changes, human population growth and loss of biodiversity. This aspect is particularly relevant for the developing economies of many African countries, which are highly exposed to climate and anthropogenic disturbances. In this work we have analyzed the distribution, conservation and uses of actinorhizal species native to or introduced in Africa. A total of 42 taxa distributed over six botanical families (Betulaceae, Casuarinaceae, Myricaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Rhamnaceae and Coriariaceae) were identified. The vast majority is able to thrive under a range of diverse environments and has multiple ecological and economic potential. More than half of the identified species belong to the genus Morella (Myricaceae), most of them native to Middle, Eastern and Southern Africa. Although the information about the conservation status and uses of Morella spp. is largely incomplete, the available data is indicative of their potential in e.g. forestry and agroforestry, food and medicine. Therefore, efforts should be made to upgrade actinorhizal research in Africa towards the sustainable use of biodiversity at the service of local (bio)economies.}, } @article {pmid30313634, year = {2018}, author = {ŠobÁŇovÁ, A and ĎuriŠ, Z}, title = {Kaviengella jeffkinchi, a new genus and species of symbiotic shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Papua New Guinea.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4415}, number = {1}, pages = {118-134}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4415.1.5}, pmid = {30313634}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; Decapoda ; Islands ; *Palaemonidae ; Papua New Guinea ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {A very small adult specimen of symbiotic palaemonid shrimp collected from Kavieng Lagoon, N.W. New Ireland Island, Papua New Guinea, is described as a new genus and species. Due to the slender subcylindrical body, reduced rostrum, elongated eyes and distolaterally produced uropodal exopods, the new species is somewhat similar to shrimps of the endosymbiotic sponge genus Nippontonia. Both second pereiopods are lost, but the specimen is unique by its bidentate scaphocerites, an apical corona of spiniform teeth on the mandibular molar process, five posterior telson cuspidate setae from which the median and intermediate ones are long, hooked, and the broadly spoon-like dactyli of the first pereiopods chelae with marginal pectination. Based on those characters, the new genus is without parallel among all symbiotic palaemonid shrimps. Its close phylogenetic relationship to the spongobiotic genera Nippontonia, Onycocaridella, and Thaumastocaris, is also confirmed by molecular comparison.}, } @article {pmid30313392, year = {2018}, author = {Benzoni, F and Arrigoni, R and Berumen, ML and Taviani, M and Bongaerts, P and Frade, PR}, title = {Morphological and genetic divergence between Mediterranean and Caribbean populations of Madracis pharensis (Heller 1868) (Scleractinia, Pocilloporidae): too much for one species?.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4471}, number = {3}, pages = {473-492}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4471.3.3}, pmid = {30313392}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Atlantic Ocean ; Caribbean Region ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The colonial stony coral genus Madracis is cosmopolitan, lives in shallow and deep water habitats, and includes zooxanthellate, azooxanthellate and facultative symbiotic species. One of its species, Madracis pharensis, has been recorded from the Mediterranean and East Atlantic, where it forms small knobby and facultative zooxanthellate colonies (also named M. pharensis f. pharensis), and from the tropical Caribbean, where it also occurs in a massive and zooxanthellate form (named M. pharensis f. luciphila by some). These two forms have been previously found to host different Symbiodinium species. In this study, species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships between these two Madracis pharensis forms (from the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean), M. senaria, and the Indo-west Pacific M. kirbyi were analyzed through an integrated systematics approach, including corallite dimensions, micromorphology and two molecular markers (ITS and ATP8). Significant genetic and morphological differences were found between all the examined Madracis species, and between M. pharensis from the Mediterranean Sea and M. pharensis f. luciphila from the Caribbean in particular. Based on these results, the latter does not represent a zooxanthellate ecomorph of the former but a different species. Its identity remains to be ascertained and its relationship with the Caribbean M. decactis, with which it bears morphologic resemblance, must be investigated in further studies. Overall, the presence of cryptic Madracis species in the Easter and Central Atlantic Ocean remains to be evaluated.}, } @article {pmid30313270, year = {2018}, author = {Osawa, M and Naruse, T and Ng, PKL}, title = {New records of species of the Polyonyx sinensis group (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae) from Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia, with descriptions of two new species.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4429}, number = {2}, pages = {303-323}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4429.2.6}, pmid = {30313270}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; *Anomura ; Decapoda ; Islands ; Japan ; Malaysia ; Philippines ; Singapore ; }, abstract = {Five species of the genus Polyonyx Stimpson, 1858 are reported from southern Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Peninsular Malaysia. All of them belong to the P. sinensis group, which is morphologically defined by having the dactyli of the ambulatory legs each with the dorsal claw being much smaller than the ventral claw. Two species are described as new to science, one each from Peninsular Malaysia and the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, and their affinities are discussed. Polyonyx boucheti Osawa, 2007, P. heok Osawa Ng, 2016, and P. thai Werding, 2001, are also newly reported from southern Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. A key to the Indo-West Pacific species of the P. sinensis group is provided.}, } @article {pmid30313194, year = {2018}, author = {Campos, E}, title = {On the pea crabs found in the chiton Tonicia chilensis (Frembly, 1827) (Mollusca, Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) identified as "Orthotheres sp." by Melzer Schwabe (2008), and its reassignment to Calyptraeotheres Campos, 1990 (Crustacea: Pinnotheridae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4434}, number = {2}, pages = {385-390}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4434.2.11}, pmid = {30313194}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Chile ; Japan ; Kenya ; Male ; *Mollusca ; *Polyplacophora ; }, abstract = {Crabs of the family Pinnotheridae have been considered a phylogenetically heterogeneous group and taxonomically problematic (Palacios-Theil 2009, 2016; Tsang et al. 2018). The lack of knowledge of sexual dimorphism and morphological variation throughout the life history for many species have complicated its taxonomy and has resulted in errors in its classification (Campos 1989, 1993, 2016). Consequently, if the taxonomy of these symbiotic crabs had been based on juveniles and undeveloped character states, the problems get even more serious (Campos 1989, 1993). Melzer Schwabe (2008) studied three juvenile crabs living in the chiton Tonicia chilensis (Frembly, 1827) (Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) collected in Muelle Dichato, Chile, and they identified them as the putative invasive stage of a species of Orthotheres Sakai, 1969. The crabs are of the typical juvenile pinnotherid form with a masculine habitus, including a suborbicular carapace, large eyes and a slender pleon (= abdomen) with the telson well defined (Ocampo et al. 2017). Unpublished observations on juveniles and adults of several species of pinnotherid crabs by the author, for example, Juxtafabia muliniarum (Rathbun, 1918), Dissodactylus lockingtoni Glassell, 1935, D. xantusi Glassell, 1936, Calyptraeotheres granti (Glassell, 1933), Austinotheres angelicus (Lockington, 1877) and Tumidotheres margarita (Smith, 1870) have revealed that the third maxilliped exhibit little morphological variation through the post-larval stages of development (from juvenile to adult). This appendage, including the partial or total fusion of the ischium and merus (Fig. 1A-G; Fig 2A, C-G), has been considered a valuable feature for distinguishing genera in the family Pinnotheridae (Bürger 1895; Rathbun 1918; Manning 1993; Ahyong Ng 2007; Campos 2009). According to Melzer Schwabe (2008) the ischium and merus of the third maxilliped are completely fused, the carpus is larger than the propodus and the small dactylus is subterminally inserted on the propodus (Fig 1C), and as such the juveniles studied are possibly members of the genus Orthotheres Sakai, 1969. A detailed re-examination of the third maxilliped, chela of pereiopod 1 (cheliped) and pleon, however, has shown otherwise. Campos (1989) discussed the taxonomy of Orthotheres and treated all the species he recognised as belonging to this genus; characterising its members by its diagnostic third maxilliped palp structure. Ng Ho (2014) rediagnosed the genus based on the type species, O. turboe Sakai, 1969, from Japan, and restricted it for three Indo-West Pacific species; commenting that the American species as well as some Indo-West Pacific taxa will need to referred to other genera when a full revision is done. This revision is now in progress by the author, PKL Ng and ST Ahyong. Until the revision is complete, the genus is treated here in the broader sense of Campos (1989) and Geiger Martin (1999).}, } @article {pmid30313159, year = {2018}, author = {Pachelle, PPG and Leray, M and Anker, A and Lasley, R}, title = {Five new records of marine shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea, Stenopodidea) from the Caribbean coast of Panama.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4438}, number = {1}, pages = {128-136}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4438.1.5}, pmid = {30313159}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region ; *Decapoda ; Female ; Palaemonidae ; Panama ; }, abstract = {Five species of shrimps, four carideans and one stenopodidean, are recorded for the first time from the Caribbean coast of Panama: Lysmata vittata (Stimpson, 1860) [Lysmatidae Dana, 1852], Periclimenaeus ascidiarum Holthuis, 1951, P. bredini Chace, 1972, P. maxillulidens (Schmitt, 1936) [Palaemonidae Rafinesque, 1815], and Odontozona edyli Criales Lemaitre, 2017 [Stenopodidae Claus, 1872]. Rather surprisingly, L. vittata is recorded from the Caribbean Sea for the first time. However, the taxonomic status of all western Atlantic specimens currently assigned to L. vittata (including the Panamanian material and the Brazilian L. rauli Laubenheimer Rhyne, 2010) will need a much more careful reassessment, which will only be possible after determining the taxonomic identity of L. vittata in the Indo-West Pacific. The colour patterns of P. ascidiarum, P. bredini and O. edyli, herein illustrated for the first time, appear to be species-diagnostic and may serve as additional important taxonomic characters. For O. edyli, the previously unknown thoracic sternum of the female is illustrated, as well as the variation in the rostral dentition.}, } @article {pmid30312435, year = {2018}, author = {An, J and Sun, M and van Velzen, R and Ji, C and Zheng, Z and Limpens, E and Bisseling, T and Deng, X and Xiao, S and Pan, Z}, title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis of Poncirus trifoliata identifies a core set of genes involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {21}, pages = {5255-5264}, pmid = {30312435}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genes, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Poncirus/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The perennial woody plants of citrus are one of the most important fruit crops in the world and largely depends on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) to obtain essential nutrients from soil. However, the molecular aspects of AMS in citrus and perennial woody plants in general have largely been understudied. We used RNA-sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes in roots of Poncirus trifoliata upon mycorrhization by the AM fungus Glomus versiforme and evaluated their conservation by comparative transcriptome analyses with four herbaceous model plants. We identified 282 differentially expressed genes in P. trifoliata, including orthologs of 21 genes with characterized roles in AMS and 83 genes that are considered to be conserved in AM-host plants. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed a 'core set' of 156 genes from P. trifoliata whose orthologous genes from at least three of the five species also exhibited similar transcriptional changes during AMS. Functional analysis of one of these conserved AM-induced genes, a 3-keto-acyl-ACP reductase (FatG) involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, confirmed its involvement in AMS in Medicago truncatula. Our results identify a core transcriptional program for AMS that is largely conserved between P. trifoliata and other plants. The comparative transcriptomics approach adds to previous phylogenomics studies to identify conserved genes required for AMS.}, } @article {pmid30312413, year = {2018}, author = {Van Geel, M and Yu, K and Ceulemans, T and Peeters, G and van Acker, K and Geerts, W and Ramos, MA and Serafim, C and Kastendeuch, P and Najjar, G and Ameglio, T and Ngao, J and Saudreau, M and Waud, M and Lievens, B and Castro, PM and Somers, B and Honnay, O}, title = {Variation in ectomycorrhizal fungal communities associated with Silver linden (Tilia tomentosa) within and across urban areas.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy207}, pmid = {30312413}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Belgium ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; France ; Geography ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Mycobiome/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*growth & development ; Portugal ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tilia/*microbiology ; Trees/*microbiology ; Urban Population ; Urbanization ; }, abstract = {Trees in urban areas face harsh environmental conditions. Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM) form a symbiosis with many tree species and provide a range of benefits to their host through their extraradical hyphal network. Although our understanding of the environmental drivers and large scale geographical variation of EcM communities in natural ecosystems is growing, our knowledge of EcM communities within and across urban areas is still limited. Here, we characterized EcM communities using Illumina miseq sequencing on 175 root samples of the urban tree Tilia tomentosa from three European cities, namely Leuven (Belgium), Strasbourg (France) and Porto (Portugal). We found strong differences in EcM richness and community composition between cities. Soil acidity, organic matter and moisture content were significantly associated with EcM community composition. In agreement, the explained variability in EcM communities was mostly attributed to general soil characteristics, whereas very little variation was explained by city and heavy metal pollution. Overall, our results suggest that EcM communities in urban areas are significantly associated with soil characteristics, while heavy metal pollution and biogeography had little or no impact. These findings deliver new insights into EcM distribution patterns in urban areas and contribute to specific inoculation strategies to improve urban tree vitality.}, } @article {pmid30311875, year = {2018}, author = {Barelli, L and Moreira, CC and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Initial stages of endophytic colonization by Metarhizium involves rhizoplane colonization.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {164}, number = {12}, pages = {1531-1540}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000729}, pmid = {30311875}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; Endophytes/genetics/*growth & development ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Insecta/microbiology ; Metarhizium/genetics/*growth & development ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Here we assessed the time course of rhizoplane colonization by the endophytic insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii. We describe a method of quantifying root colonization of bean plants by M. robertsii using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results of this method were compared to the standard plate count method using colony-forming units (c.f.u.). Both the c.f.u. and qPCR methods were used to monitor the time-course of haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) colonization by a strain of M. robertsii that expresses the green fluorescent protein (ARSEF 2575-GFP) for colony verification. There was a strong correlation between the results of the c.f.u. and qPCR methods, indicating that both methods are well suited for the determination of colonization of P. vulgaris roots by M. robertsii. Primers for a catalase gene (cat) amplified DNA from M. robertsii, M. brunneum and M. guizhouense. Primers for a nitrogen response-regulator (nrr) additionally detected M. acridum and M. flavoviride, whereas Metarhizium perilipin-like protein (mpl) primers were specific to M. robertsii alone. However, cat was the only target that specifically amplified Metarhizium in experiments utilizing non-sterile soil. Endophytic colonization of P. vulgaris at 60 days post-inoculation with M. robertsii was detected from surface-sterilized roots with more sensitivity using our qPCR technique over the c.f.u. method. Our results suggest that there is a prolonged period of rhizoplane colonization by Metarhizium with transient, low-level endophytic colonization of the root system of P. vulgaris that persists for the entirety of the plant life cycle.}, } @article {pmid30311675, year = {2018}, author = {Leftwich, PT and Hutchings, MI and Chapman, T}, title = {Diet, Gut Microbes and Host Mate Choice: Understanding the significance of microbiome effects on host mate choice requires a case by case evaluation.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {40}, number = {12}, pages = {e1800053}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201800053}, pmid = {30311675}, issn = {1521-1878}, support = {BB/K000489/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Diet ; Drosophila melanogaster/physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Male ; Mating Preference, Animal/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {All organisms live in close association with microbes. However, not all such associations are meaningful in an evolutionary context. Current debate concerns whether hosts and microbes are best described as communities of individuals or as holobionts (selective units of hosts plus their microbes). Recent reports that assortative mating of hosts by diet can be mediated by commensal gut microbes have attracted interest as a potential route to host reproductive isolation (RI). Here, the authors discuss logical problems with this line of argument. The authors briefly review how microbes can affect host mating preferences and evaluate recent findings from fruitflies. Endosymbionts can potentially influence host RI given stable and recurrent co-association of hosts and microbes over evolutionary time. However, observations of co-occurrence of microbes and hosts are ripe for misinterpretation and such associations will rarely represent a meaningful holobiont. A framework in which hosts and their microbes are independent evolutionary units provides the only satisfactory explanation for the observed range of effects and associations.}, } @article {pmid30311476, year = {2018}, author = {Hasid, R and Jaya Arma, M and Nurmas, A}, title = {Existence Arbuscula Mycorrhiza and Its Application Effect to Several Variety of Corn Plant (<I>Zeal mays </I> L.) in Marginal Dry Land.}, journal = {Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS}, volume = {21}, number = {4}, pages = {199-204}, doi = {10.3923/pjbs.2018.199.204}, pmid = {30311476}, issn = {1028-8880}, mesh = {Indonesia ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zea mays/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Arbuscula mycorrhiza (AM) have a very large function in symbiosis with plant roots, it's very important to be studied further because AM utilization is an alternative solution to improve the yield of corn plant in poor land. Until now the productivity of corn plant, especially in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia is lower than it's genetic potential, one of the causes is the cultivation of many plant done in sub optimal land with low technology applications especially the use of organic and biological fertilizer very low. This study aimed to observe the presence of AM and evaluate the growth and productivity of corn plant that AM inoculated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted two series of experiments, namely (1) Existence arbuscula mycorrhiza in rhizosphere of dominant weed (bladygrass) in dry land in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, was observed descriptively, (2) Effect of arbuscula mycorrhiza to several variety of corn plant (Zea mays L.) in Marginal dry land. The experiment was arranged based Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisted of eight treatments corn variety.

RESULTS: The results showed that spore populations were found in rhizosphere of dominant weed was 792-901 spores 100 g-1 soil, 70-90% roots infection. Some genera found are Glomus, Gigasphora, Acaulospora, Entrophospora, Scutellospora. Symbiosis effect of arbuscula mycorrhiza with plant growth indicates that Phosphorus uptake was highest in Batu Putih variety. However the highest in yield was show in Dana variety. Compared with the lowest production, the production difference was higher in Dana 47.70%.

CONCLUSION: Existence of arbuscula mycorrhiza in dominant weed rhizosphere in dry land is very high. The response of various varieties of maize plants to arbuscula mycorrhiza indicates that local varieties have a higher adaptability compared with introduction varieties.}, } @article {pmid30311439, year = {2019}, author = {Zhu, YX and Song, YL and Hoffmann, AA and Jin, PY and Huo, SM and Hong, XY}, title = {A change in the bacterial community of spider mites decreases fecundity on multiple host plants.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {e00743}, pmid = {30311439}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Fertility ; Host Specificity ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Plants/parasitology ; Spiroplasma/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Tetranychidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts may influence the fitness of their herbivore hosts, but such effects have been poorly studied across most invertebrate groups. The spider mite, Tetranychus truncatus, is a polyphagous agricultural pest harboring various bacterial symbionts whose function is largely unknown. Here, by using a high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach, we characterized the bacterial diversity and community composition of spider mites fed on five host plants after communities were modified following tetracycline exposure. We demonstrated that spider mite bacterial diversity and community composition were significantly affected by host plants and antibiotics. In particular, the abundance of the maternally inherited endosymbionts Wolbachia and Spiroplasma significantly differed among spider mites that were reared on different plant species and were completely removed by antibiotics. There was an overall tendency for daily fecundity to be lower in the mites with reduced bacterial diversity following the antibiotic treatment. Our data suggest that host plants and antibiotics can shape spider mite bacterial communities and that bacterial symbionts improve mite performance.}, } @article {pmid30310524, year = {2018}, author = {Töpel, M and Pinder, MIM and Johansson, ON and Kourtchenko, O and Godhe, A and Clarke, AK}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence of the Novel Antarctobacter heliothermus Strain SMS3, Found in Association with the Marine Diatom Skeletonema marinoi.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {113-116}, pmid = {30310524}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {As part of an ongoing investigation into the microbiome of the marine diatom Skeletonema marinoi, the bacterial strain SMS3 was isolated from a culture of S. marinoi strain ST54, which had been propagated from a sample of top layer marine sediments taken from the Swedish west coast. We present here the sequenced genome of this bacterium, which we place in the taxon Antarctobacter heliothermus, based on a phylotaxonomic analysis and its high 16S rRNA sequence similarity to the A. heliothermus type strain DSM 11445[T]. Its 5,331,190 bp genome consists of a circular chromosome and three circular plasmids, and contains 5,019 CDSs. Strain SMS3 contains a phosphatidylcholine synthase gene, as well as genes involved in DMSP degradation, both of which imply a potential symbiotic relationship with its host.}, } @article {pmid30310130, year = {2018}, author = {Lin, C and Zhuo, JM and Chong, G and Wang, LH and Meng, PJ and Tsai, S}, title = {The effects of aquarium culture on coral oocyte ultrastructure.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {15159}, pmid = {30310130}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {MOST 105-2611-M-291-004//Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan)/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology/*ultrastructure ; *Endangered Species ; Oocytes/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {As the world's oceans are currently threatened by anthropogenic pollution and climate change, coral breeding has become an important conservation method, since it can limit marine organisms' exposure to sub-optimal environment conditions. However, the aquarium environment is inherently different from the ocean, and this could manifest in physiological changes in the reared organisms, particularly with respect to their reproduction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe and compare the ultrastructure of the oocytes from wild Oxypora lacera and Echinopora gemmacea with the oocytes from cultured corals using transmission electron microscope. The oocytes from Wild O. lacera and E. gemmacea were larger than cultured ones, though their microvillus layers were significantly thiner. Internally, lipid granule areas and yolk material density in the oocytes of wild O. lacera and E. gemmacea were ~25% lower than in their cultured counterparts. Food availability and the presence and availability of symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) may have played a role in driving these lipid-based differences, in particular, as cultured corals had limited potential for heterotrophic feeding. These data will aid in future coral husbandry efforts.}, } @article {pmid30309946, year = {2018}, author = {Thion, MS and Ginhoux, F and Garel, S}, title = {Microglia and early brain development: An intimate journey.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {362}, number = {6411}, pages = {185-189}, doi = {10.1126/science.aat0474}, pmid = {30309946}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain/*embryology/*immunology ; Cell Communication ; Mice ; Microbiota/physiology ; Microglia/*immunology ; Neurons/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Cross-talk between the nervous and immune systems has been well described in the context of adult physiology and disease. Recent advances in our understanding of immune cell ontogeny have revealed a notable interplay between neurons and microglia during the prenatal and postnatal emergence of functional circuits. This Review focuses on the brain, where the early symbiotic relationship between microglia and neuronal cells critically regulates wiring, contributes to sex-specific differences in neural circuits, and relays crucial information from the periphery, including signals derived from the microbiota. These observations underscore the importance of studying neurodevelopment as part of a broader framework that considers nervous system interactions with microglia in a whole-body context.}, } @article {pmid30307107, year = {2019}, author = {Akroume, E and Maillard, F and Bach, C and Hossann, C and Brechet, C and Angeli, N and Zeller, B and Saint-André, L and Buée, M}, title = {First evidences that the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus mobilizes nitrogen and carbon from saprotrophic fungus necromass.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {197-208}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14440}, pmid = {30307107}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Agaricales/*metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Pinus/chemistry/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Wood/chemistry/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungal succession in rotting wood shows a surprising abundance of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi during the late decomposition stages. To better understand the links between EM fungi and saprotrophic fungi, we investigated the potential capacities of the EM fungus Paxillus involutus to mobilize nutrients from necromass of Postia placenta, a wood rot fungus, and to transfer these elements to its host tree. In this aim, we used pure cultures of P. involutus in the presence of labelled Postia necromass ([15] N/[13] C) as nutrient source, and a monoxenic mycorrhized pine experiment composed of labelled Postia necromass and P. involutus culture in interaction with pine seedlings. The isotopic labelling was measured in both experiments. In pure culture, P. involutus was able to mobilize N, but C as well, from the Postia necromass. In the symbiotic interaction experiment, we measured high [15] N enrichments in all plant and fungal compartments. Interestingly, [13] C remains mainly in the mycelium and mycorrhizas, demonstrating that the EM fungus transferred essentially N from the necromass to the tree. These observations reveal that fungal organic matter could represent a significant N source for EM fungi and trees, but also a C source for mycorrhizal fungi, including in symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid30306463, year = {2019}, author = {Hocher, V and Ngom, M and Carré-Mlouka, A and Tisseyre, P and Gherbi, H and Svistoonoff, S}, title = {Signalling in actinorhizal root nodule symbioses.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {23-29}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1182-x}, pmid = {30306463}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants able to establish a nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis with the actinobacterium Frankia are called actinorhizal. These interactions lead to the formation of new root organs, called actinorhizal nodules, where the bacteria are hosted intracellularly and fix atmospheric nitrogen thus providing the plant with an almost unlimited source of nitrogen for its nutrition. Like other symbiotic interactions, actinorhizal nodulation involves elaborate signalling between both partners of the symbiosis, leading to specific recognition between the plant and its compatible microbial partner, its accommodation inside plant cells and the development of functional root nodules. Actinorhizal nodulation shares many features with rhizobial nodulation but our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in actinorhizal nodulation remains very scarce. However recent technical achievements for several actinorhizal species are allowing major discoveries in this field. In this review, we provide an outline on signalling molecules involved at different stages of actinorhizal nodule formation and the corresponding signalling pathways and gene networks.}, } @article {pmid30305437, year = {2018}, author = {Rimington, WR and Pressel, S and Duckett, JG and Field, KJ and Read, DJ and Bidartondo, MI}, title = {Ancient plants with ancient fungi: liverworts associate with early-diverging arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1888}, pages = {}, pmid = {30305437}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Glomeromycota/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Hepatophyta/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas are widespread in land plants including liverworts, some of the closest living relatives of the first plants to colonize land 500 million years ago (MYA). Previous investigations reported near-exclusive colonization of liverworts by the most recently evolved arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the Glomeraceae, indicating a recent acquisition from flowering plants at odds with the widely held notion that arbuscular mycorrhizal-like associations in liverworts represent the ancestral symbiotic condition in land plants. We performed an analysis of symbiotic fungi in 674 globally collected liverworts using molecular phylogenetics and electron microscopy. Here, we show every order of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizes early-diverging liverworts, with non-Glomeraceae being at least 10 times more common than in flowering plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in liverworts and other ancient plant lineages (hornworts, lycopods, and ferns) were delimited into 58 taxa and 36 singletons, of which at least 43 are novel and specific to liverworts. The discovery that early plant lineages are colonized by early-diverging fungi supports the hypothesis that arbuscular mycorrhizas are an ancestral symbiosis for all land plants.}, } @article {pmid30305320, year = {2018}, author = {Lang, C and Barnett, MJ and Fisher, RF and Smith, LS and Diodati, ME and Long, SR}, title = {Most Sinorhizobium meliloti Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factors Control Accessory Functions.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30305320}, issn = {2379-5042}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sigma Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria must sense alterations in their environment and respond with changes in function and/or structure in order to cope. Extracytoplasmic function sigma factors (ECF σs) modulate transcription in response to cellular and environmental signals. The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti carries genes for 11 ECF-like σs (RpoE1 to -E10 and FecI). We hypothesized that some of these play a role in mediating the interaction between the bacterium and its plant symbiotic partner. The bacterium senses changes in its immediate environment as it establishes contact with the plant root, initiates invasion of the plant as the root nodule is formed, traverses several root cell layers, and enters plant cortical cells via endocytosis. We used genetics, transcriptomics, and functionality to characterize the entire S. meliloti cohort of ECF σs. We discovered new targets for individual σs, confirmed others by overexpressing individual ECF σs, and identified or confirmed putative promoter motifs for nine of them. We constructed precise deletions of each ECF σ gene and its demonstrated or putative anti-σ gene and also a strain in which all 11 ECF σ and anti-σ genes were deleted. This all-ECF σ deletion strain showed no major defects in free-living growth, in Biolog Phenotype MicroArray assays, or in response to multiple stresses. None of the ECF σs were required for symbiosis on the host plants Medicago sativa and Medicago truncatula: the strain deleted for all ECF σ and anti-σ genes was symbiotically normal.IMPORTANCE Fixed (reduced) soil nitrogen plays a critical role in soil fertility and successful food growth. Much soil fertility relies on symbiotic nitrogen fixation: the bacterial partner infects the host plant roots and reduces atmospheric dinitrogen in exchange for host metabolic fuel, a process that involves complex interactions between the partners mediated by changes in gene expression in each partner. Here we test the roles of a family of 11 extracytoplasmic function (ECF) gene regulatory proteins (sigma factors [σs]) that interact with RNA polymerase to determine if they play a significant role in establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis or in responding to various stresses, including cell envelope stress. We discovered that symbiotic nitrogen fixation occurs even when all 11 of these regulatory genes are deleted, that most ECF sigma factors control accessory functions, and that none of the ECF sigma factors are required to survive envelope stress.}, } @article {pmid30305166, year = {2018}, author = {Guyomar, C and Legeai, F and Jousselin, E and Mougel, C and Lemaitre, C and Simon, JC}, title = {Multi-scale characterization of symbiont diversity in the pea aphid complex through metagenomic approaches.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {181}, pmid = {30305166}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most metazoans are involved in durable relationships with microbes which can take several forms, from mutualism to parasitism. The advances of NGS technologies and bioinformatics tools have opened opportunities to shed light on the diversity of microbial communities and to give some insights into the functions they perform in a broad array of hosts. The pea aphid is a model system for the study of insect-bacteria symbiosis. It is organized in a complex of biotypes, each adapted to specific host plants. It harbors both an obligatory symbiont supplying key nutrients and several facultative symbionts bringing additional functions to the host, such as protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. However, little is known on how the symbiont genomic diversity is structured at different scales: across host biotypes, among individuals of the same biotype, or within individual aphids, which limits our understanding on how these multi-partner symbioses evolve and interact.

RESULTS: We present a framework well adapted to the study of genomic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of the pea aphid holobiont from metagenomic read sets, based on mapping to reference genomes and whole genome variant calling. Our results revealed that the pea aphid microbiota is dominated by a few heritable bacterial symbionts reported in earlier works, with no discovery of new microbial associates. However, we detected a large and heterogeneous genotypic diversity associated with the different symbionts of the pea aphid. Partitioning analysis showed that this fine resolution diversity is distributed across the three considered scales. Phylogenetic analyses highlighted frequent horizontal transfers of facultative symbionts between host lineages, indicative of flexible associations between the pea aphid and its microbiota. However, the evolutionary dynamics of symbiotic associations strongly varied depending on the symbiont, reflecting different histories and possible constraints. In addition, at the intra-host scale, we showed that different symbiont strains may coexist inside the same aphid host.

CONCLUSIONS: We present a methodological framework for the detailed analysis of NGS data from microbial communities of moderate complexity and gave major insights into the extent of diversity in pea aphid-symbiont associations and the range of evolutionary trajectories they could take.}, } @article {pmid30305028, year = {2018}, author = {Osti, JF and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Escovopsioides as a fungal antagonist of the fungus cultivated by leafcutter ants.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {130}, pmid = {30305028}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Ants/*microbiology ; Brazil ; Fungi/*classification/isolation & purification ; Microbiota ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fungus gardens of fungus-growing (attine) ants harbor complex microbiomes in addition to the mutualistic fungus they cultivate for food. Fungi in the genus Escovopsioides were recently described as members of this microbiome but their role in the ant-fungus symbiosis is poorly known. In this study, we assessed the phylogenetic diversity of 21 Escovopsioides isolates obtained from fungus gardens of leafcutter ants (genera Atta and Acromyrmex) and non-leafcutter ants (genera Trachymyrmex and Apterostigma) sampled from several regions in Brazil.

RESULTS: Regardless of the sample locality or ant genera, phylogenetic analysis showed low genetic diversity among the 20 Escovopsisoides isolates examined, which prompted the identification as Escovopsioides nivea (the only described species in the genus). In contrast, one Escovopsioides isolate obtained from a fungus garden of Apterostigma megacephala was considered a new phylogenetic species. Dual-culture plate assays showed that Escovopsioides isolates inhibited the mycelium growth of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the mutualistic fungus cultivated by somes species of leafcutter ants. In addition, Escovopsioides growth experiments in fungus gardens with and without ant workers showed this fungus is detrimental to the ant-fungus symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Here, we provide clues for the antagonism of Escovopsioides towards the mutualistic fungus of leafcutter ants.}, } @article {pmid30304508, year = {2018}, author = {Li, Y and Ruan, Y and Kasson, MT and Stanley, EL and Gillett, CPDT and Johnson, AJ and Zhang, M and Hulcr, J}, title = {Structure of the Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Mycangia Revealed Through Micro-Computed Tomography.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30304508}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Animal Structures/*anatomy & histology ; Animals ; Fungi/physiology ; Paraffin Embedding/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Tomography/*methods ; Weevils/*anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; X-Ray Microtomography/methods ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) rely on a symbiosis with fungi for their nutrition. Symbiotic fungi are preserved and transported in specialized storage structures called mycangia. Although pivotal in the symbiosis, mycangia have been notoriously difficult to study, given their minute size and membranous structure. We compared the application of novel visualization methods for the study of mycangia, namely micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and laser ablation tomography (LATscan) with traditional paraffin sectioning. Micro-CT scanning has shown the greatest promise in new organ discovery, while sectioning remains the only method with sufficient resolution for cellular visualization. All three common types of mycangia (oral, mesonotal, and pronotal) were successfully visualized and presented for different species of ambrosia beetles: Ambrosiodmus minor (Stebbing) 1909, Euplatypus compositus (Say) 1823, Premnobius cavipennis Eichhoff 1878, Scolytoplatypus raja Blandford 1893, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) 1866 and X. amputatus (Blandford) 1894. A reconstruction of the mycangium and the surrounding musculature in X. amputatus is also presented. The advantages of micro-CT compared to the previously commonly used microtome sectioning include the easy visualization and recording of three-dimensional structures, their position in reference to other internal structures, the ability to distinguish natural aberrations from technical artifacts, and the unprecedented visualizations of the anatomic context of mycangia enabled by the integrated software.}, } @article {pmid30301859, year = {2018}, author = {Wiles, TJ and Wall, ES and Schlomann, BH and Hay, EA and Parthasarathy, R and Guillemin, K}, title = {Modernized Tools for Streamlined Genetic Manipulation and Comparative Study of Wild and Diverse Proteobacterial Lineages.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30301859}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {F32 AI112094/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P50 GM098911/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P01 GM125576/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA176579/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007759/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; *Genetic Techniques ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phenotype ; Plasmids ; Proteobacteria/*classification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Zebrafish/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Correlating the presence of bacteria and the genes they carry with aspects of plant and animal biology is rapidly outpacing the functional characterization of naturally occurring symbioses. A major barrier to mechanistic studies is the lack of tools for the efficient genetic manipulation of wild and diverse bacterial isolates. To address the need for improved molecular tools, we used a collection of proteobacterial isolates native to the zebrafish intestinal microbiota as a testbed to construct a series of modernized vectors that expedite genetic knock-in and knockout procedures across lineages. The innovations that we introduce enhance the flexibility of conventional genetic techniques, making it easier to manipulate many different bacterial isolates with a single set of tools. We developed alternative strategies for domestication-free conjugation, designed plasmids with customizable features, and streamlined allelic exchange using visual markers of homologous recombination. We demonstrate the potential of these tools through a comparative study of bacterial behavior within the zebrafish intestine. Live imaging of fluorescently tagged isolates revealed a spectrum of distinct population structures that differ in their biogeography and dominant growth mode (i.e., planktonic versus aggregated). Most striking, we observed divergent genotype-phenotype relationships: several isolates that are predicted by genomic analysis and in vitro assays to be capable of flagellar motility do not display this trait within living hosts. Together, the tools generated in this work provide a new resource for the functional characterization of wild and diverse bacterial lineages that will help speed the research pipeline from sequencing-based correlations to mechanistic underpinnings.IMPORTANCE A great challenge in microbiota research is the immense diversity of symbiotic bacteria with the capacity to impact the lives of plants and animals. Moving beyond correlative DNA sequencing-based studies to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which symbiotic bacteria influence the biology of their hosts is stalling because genetic manipulation of new and uncharacterized bacterial isolates remains slow and difficult with current genetic tools. Moreover, developing tools de novo is an arduous and time-consuming task and thus represents a significant barrier to progress. To address this problem, we developed a suite of engineering vectors that streamline conventional genetic techniques by improving postconjugation counterselection, modularity, and allelic exchange. Our modernized tools and step-by-step protocols will empower researchers to investigate the inner workings of both established and newly emerging models of bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30301849, year = {2018}, author = {Hernandez-Agreda, A and Leggat, W and Bongaerts, P and Herrera, C and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {Rethinking the Coral Microbiome: Simplicity Exists within a Diverse Microbial Biosphere.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30301849}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification ; Genetic Variation ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Studies of the coral microbiome predominantly characterize the microbial community of the host species as a collective, rather than that of the individual. This ecological perspective on the coral microbiome has led to the conclusion that the coral holobiont is the most diverse microbial biosphere studied thus far. However, investigating the microbiome of the individual, rather than that of the species, highlights common and conserved community attributes which can provide insights into the significance of microbial associations to the host. Here, we show there are consistent characteristics between individuals in the proposed three components of the coral microbiome (i.e., "environmentally responsive community," "resident or individual microbiome," and "core microbiome"). We found that the resident microbiome of a photoendosymbiotic coral harbored <3% (∼605 phylotypes) of the 16S rRNA phylotypes associated with all investigated individuals of that species ("species-specific microbiome") (∼21,654 phylotypes; individuals from Pachyseris speciosa [n = 123], Mycedium elephantotus [n = 95], and Acropora aculeus [n = 91] from 10 reef locations). The remaining bacterial phylotypes (>96%) (environmentally responsive community) of the species-specific microbiome were in fact not found in association with the majority of individuals of the species. Only 0.1% (∼21 phylotypes) of the species-specific microbiome of each species was shared among all individuals of the species (core microbiome), equating to ∼3.4% of the resident microbiome. We found taxonomic redundancy and consistent patterns of composition, structure, and taxonomic breadth across individual microbiomes from the three coral species. Our results demonstrate that the coral microbiome is structured at the individual level.IMPORTANCE We propose that the coral holobiont should be conceptualized as a diverse transient microbial community that is responsive to the surrounding environment and encompasses a simple, redundant, resident microbiome and a small conserved core microbiome. Most importantly, we show that the coral microbiome is comparable to the microbiomes of other organisms studied thus far. Accurately characterizing the coral-microbe interactions provides an important baseline from which the functional roles and the functional niches within which microbes reside can be deciphered.}, } @article {pmid30301104, year = {2018}, author = {Okubo, N and Takahashi, S and Nakano, Y}, title = {Microplastics disturb the anthozoan-algae symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {135}, number = {}, pages = {83-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.016}, pmid = {30301104}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/*physiology ; Artemia/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Ecotoxicology ; Food Chain ; Plastics/*toxicity ; Sea Anemones/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {World production of plastic has dramatically increased from the 1950's and now it reaches approximately 311 million tons per year. The resulting accumulation of small plastic detritus less than 5 mm in size, termed "microplastics", has started threatening the life cycles of marine organisms. Here we show the first evidence that microplastics disturb the initiation of symbiotic relationships in anthozoan-algae symbiosis. We found in both the aposymbiotic sea-anemone Aiptasia sp. and the coral Favites chinensis that the infectivity of symbiotic algae into the host is severely suppressed by microspheres fed either directly or indirectly through microsphere-fed Artemia sp. Similar trends were seen when microplastics collected from commercial facewash were used instead of microspheres. Therefore, ongoing accumulation of microplastics in the ocean might disturb the healthy anthozoan-algae symbiotic relationships, which are cornerstones of the biologically enriched coral reef ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid30300424, year = {2018}, author = {Kobayashi, G and Araya, JF}, title = {Southernmost records of Escarpia spicata and Lamellibrachia barhami (Annelida: Siboglinidae) confirmed with DNA obtained from dried tubes collected from undiscovered reducing environments in northern Chile.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {e0204959}, pmid = {30300424}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Chile ; DNA/*chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV/classification/genetics ; Hemoglobins/classification/genetics ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Protein Subunits/classification/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea fishing bycatch enables collection of samples of rare species that are not easily accessible, for research purposes. However, these specimens are often degraded, losing diagnostic morphological characteristics. Several tubes of vestimentiferans, conspicuous annelids endemic to chemosynthetic environments, were obtained from a single batch of deep-sea fishing bycatch at depths of around 1,500 m off Huasco, northern Chile, as part of an ongoing study examining bycatch species. DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and an intron region within the hemoglobin subunit B2 (hbB2i) were successfully determined using vestimentiferans' dried-up tubes and their degraded inner tissue. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequence identified the samples as Escarpia spicata Jones, 1985, and Lamellibrachia barhami Webb, 1969. These are the southernmost records, vastly extending the geographical ranges of both species from Santa Catalina Island, California to northern Chile for E. spicata (over 8,000 km), and from Vancouver Island Margin to northern Chile for L. barhami (over 10,000 km). We also determined a 16S rRNA sequence of symbiotic bacteria of L. barhami. The sequence of the bacteria is the same as that of E. laminata, Lamellibrachia sp. 1, and Lamellibrachia sp.2 known from the Gulf of Mexico. The present study provides sound evidence forthe presence of reducing environments along the continental margin of northern Chile.}, } @article {pmid30299554, year = {2019}, author = {Thompson, CM and Tischler, AH and Tarnowski, DA and Mandel, MJ and Visick, KL}, title = {Nitric oxide inhibits biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri via the nitric oxide sensor HnoX.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {111}, number = {1}, pages = {187-203}, pmid = {30299554}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM119627/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; IOS-1757297//NSF/International ; AI117262//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/International ; GM114288/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; IOS-1757297//Division of Integrative Organismal Systems/International ; R21 AI117262/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*drug effects/*growth & development ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*drug effects/*growth & development ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is an important defense molecule secreted by the squid Euprymna scolopes and sensed by the bacterial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, via the NO sensor HnoX. HnoX inhibits colonization through an unknown mechanism. The genomic location of hnoX adjacent to hahK, a recently identified positive regulator of biofilm formation, suggested that HnoX may inhibit colonization by controlling biofilm formation, a key early step in colonization. Indeed, the deletion of hnoX resulted in early biofilm formation in vitro, an effect that was dependent on HahK and its putative phosphotransfer residues. An allele of hnoX that encodes a protein with increased activity severely delayed wrinkled colony formation. Control occurred at the level of transcription of the syp genes, which produce the polysaccharide matrix component. The addition of NO abrogated biofilm formation and diminished syp transcription, effects that required HnoX. Finally, an hnoX mutant formed larger symbiotic biofilms. This work has thus uncovered a host-relevant signal controlling biofilm and a mechanism for the inhibition of biofilm formation by V. fischeri. The study of V. fischeri HnoX permits us to understand not only host-associated biofilm mechanisms, but also the function of HnoX domain proteins as regulators of important bacterial processes.}, } @article {pmid30299536, year = {2019}, author = {Dovrat, G and Sheffer, E}, title = {Symbiotic dinitrogen fixation is seasonal and strongly regulated in water-limited environments.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {1866-1877}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15526}, pmid = {30299536}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {508/16//Israel Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Israel ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Seasons ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants, especially perennials, growing in drylands and seasonally dry ecosystems are uniquely adapted to dry conditions. Legume shrubs and trees, capable of symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixation, often dominate in drylands. However, the strategies that allow symbiotic fixation in these ecosystems, and their influence on the nitrogen cycle, are largely unresolved. We evaluated the climatic, biogeochemical and ontogenetic factors influencing nitrogen fixation in an abundant Mediterranean legume shrub, Calicotome villosa. We measured nodulation, fixation rate, nitrogen allocation and soil biogeochemistry in three field sites over a full year. A controlled experiment evaluated differences in plant regulation of fixation as a function of soil nutrient availability and seedling and adult developmental stages. We found a strong seasonal pattern, shifting between high fixation rates during the rainy season at flowering and seed-set times to almost none in the rainless season. Under controlled conditions, plants downregulated fixation in response to soil nitrogen availability, but this response was stronger in seedlings than in adult shrubs. Finally, we did not find elevated soil nitrogen under N2 -fixing shrubs. We conclude that seasonal nitrogen fixation, regulation of fixation, and nitrogen conservation are key adaptations influencing the dominance of dryland legumes in the community, with broader consequences on the ecosystem nitrogen cycle.}, } @article {pmid30298548, year = {2018}, author = {Song, Y and Cai, ZH and Lao, YM and Jin, H and Ying, KZ and Lin, GH and Zhou, J}, title = {Antibiofilm activity substances derived from coral symbiotic bacterial extract inhibit biofouling by the model strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {1090-1105}, pmid = {30298548}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*chemistry/classification/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/*drug effects ; Biofouling ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*drug effects/pathogenicity/physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The mitigation of biofouling has received significant research attention, with particular focus on non-toxic and sustainable strategies. Here, we investigated quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) bacteria as a means of controlling biofouling in a laboratory-scale system. Approximately, 200 strains were isolated from coral (Pocillopora damicornis) and screened for their ability to inhibit quorum sensing (QS). Approximately, 15% of the isolates exhibited QSI activity, and a typical coral symbiotic bacterium, H12-Vibrio alginolyticus, was selected in order for us to investigate quorum sensing inhibitory activity further. Confocal microscopy revealed that V. alginolyticus extract inhibited biofilm formation from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. In addition, the secondary metabolites of V. alginolyticus inhibited PAO1 virulence phenotypes by downregulating motility ability, elastase activity and rhamnolipid production. NMR and MS spectrometry suggested that the potential bioactive compound involved was rhodamine isothiocyanate. Quantitative real-time PCR indicated that the bacterial extract induced a significant downregulation of QS regulatory genes (lasB, lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR) and virulence-related genes (pqsA, pqsR). The possible mechanism underlying the action of rhodamine isothiocyanate analogue involves the disruption of the las and/or rhl system of PAO1. Our results highlight coral microbes as a bioresource pool for developing QS inhibitors and identifying novel antifouling agents.}, } @article {pmid30297831, year = {2018}, author = {Lin, JS and Li, X and Luo, Z and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Xie, F}, title = {NIN interacts with NLPs to mediate nitrate inhibition of nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {11}, pages = {942-952}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-018-0261-3}, pmid = {30297831}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Nitrates/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants can assimilate inorganic nitrogen and have access to fixed nitrogen through symbiotic interaction with diazotrophic bacteria called rhizobia. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is an energy-consuming process and is strongly inhibited when sufficient levels of fixed nitrogen are available, but the molecular mechanisms governing this regulation are largely unknown. The transcription factor nodule inception (NIN) is strictly required for nodulation and belongs to a family of NIN-like proteins (NLPs), which have been implicated in the regulation of nitrogen homeostasis in Arabidopsis. Here, we show that mutation or downregulation of NLP genes prevents nitrate inhibition of infection, nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. We find that NIN and NLPs physically interact through their carboxy-terminal PB1 domains. Furthermore, we find that NLP1 is required for the expression of nitrate-responsive genes and that nitrate triggers NLP1 re-localization from the cytosol to the nucleus. Finally, we show that NLP1 can suppress NIN activation of CRE1 expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and Medicago truncatula. Our findings highlight a central role for NLPs in the suppression of nodulation by nitrate.}, } @article {pmid30296908, year = {2018}, author = {Soeterik, SM and Connolly, S and Riazi, A}, title = {"Neither a wife nor a widow": an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experiences of female family caregivers in disorders of consciousness.}, journal = {Neuropsychological rehabilitation}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {1392-1407}, doi = {10.1080/09602011.2018.1529603}, pmid = {30296908}, issn = {1464-0694}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Caregivers/*psychology ; *Consciousness Disorders/therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Middle Aged ; Qualitative Research ; Spouses/*psychology ; }, abstract = {Disorders of consciousness (DoC) disrupt close relationships. This study investigated the experience of a DoC in the family. Four main themes were identified from semi-structured interviews with nine females and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): (1) Loss without a name, (2) Relationship without a title, (3) Symbiotic relating and (4) Frozen futures. Participants' accounts showed complex losses and relationship transformations that were challenging to cope with. Participants embodied the person and experienced reductions in rehabilitation and social visits as personally abandoning and led to strong advocacy with professionals. The uncertainty created by the DoC meant participants lived in the present moment and struggled to make plans for their future. Psychological support to demonstrate a sensitivity and validation of this unique complex loss, a framework for naming the loss, provision of education about the condition and enhancing coping with a chronic situation are needed.}, } @article {pmid30296049, year = {2018}, author = {Palmer, AG and Senechal, AC and Haire, TC and Mehta, NP and Valiquette, SD and Blackwell, HE}, title = {Selection of Appropriate Autoinducer Analogues for the Modulation of Quorum Sensing at the Host-Bacterium Interface.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {3115-3122}, pmid = {30296049}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {R01 GM109403/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Amidohydrolases/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/*drug effects ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; F-Box Proteins/metabolism ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Plant Roots/drug effects ; Quorum Sensing/*drug effects ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria regulate a variety of phenotypes in response to their population density using quorum sensing (QS). This phenomenon is regulated by small molecule or peptide signals, the best characterized of which are the N-acyl l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) utilized by Gram-negative bacteria. As many QS-controlled phenotypes, notably pathogenicity and symbiosis, can profoundly impact host eukaryotes, there is significant interest in developing methods for modulating QS signaling and either ameliorating or augmenting these phenotypes. One strategy has been the use of non-native AHL analogues to agonize or antagonize specific AHL receptors. This approach is complicated, however, by the potential for prospective hosts to respond to both native AHLs and synthetic analogues. Accordingly, identifying AHL analogues with little or no activity toward eukaryotes is important in developing QS modulation as a strategy for the regulation of prokaryotic behaviors. Herein, we utilize the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize eukaryotic responses to a variety of synthetic AHL analogues to identify structural elements of existing scaffolds that may elicit responses in prospective hosts. Our results indicate that, while many of these compounds have no discernible effect on A. thaliana, some elicit strong phenotypes similar to those produced by auxin, a hormone involved in almost all aspects of plant development. We outline concentrations and chemical scaffolds that are ideal for deployment on plant hosts for the regulation of QS. This approach should be exportable to other eukaryotes for the selection of optimal AHL tools for the study of QS at the host-microbe interface.}, } @article {pmid30295579, year = {2019}, author = {Duan, L and Pei, J and Ren, Y and Li, H and Zhou, X and Zhu, H and Duanmu, D and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Cao, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {A Dihydroflavonol-4-Reductase-Like Protein Interacts with NFR5 and Regulates Rhizobial Infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {401-412}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-18-0104-R}, pmid = {30295579}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Alcohol Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; *Lotus/enzymology ; *Medicago truncatula ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In almost all symbiotic interactions between rhizobia and leguminous plants, host flavonoid-induced synthesis of Nod factors in rhizobia is required to initiate symbiotic response in plants. In this study, we found that Lotus japonicus Nod factor receptor 5 (LjNFR5) might directly regulate flavonoid biosynthesis during symbiotic interaction with rhizobia. A yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that a dihydroflavonol-4-reductase-like protein (LjDFL1) interacts with LjNFR5. The interaction between MtDFL1 and MtNFP, two Medicago truncatula proteins with homology to LjDFL1 and LjNFR5, respectively, was also shown, suggesting that interaction between these two proteins might be conserved in different legumes. LjDFL1 was highly expressed in root hairs and epidermal cells of root tips. Lotus ljdfl1 mutants and Medicago mtdfl1 mutants produced significantly fewer infection threads (ITs) than the wild-type control plants following rhizobial treatment. Furthermore, the roots of stable transgenic L. japonicus plants overexpressing LjDFL1 formed more ITs than control roots after exposure to rhizobia. These data indicated that LjDFL1 is a positive regulator of symbiotic signaling. However, the expression of LjDFL1 was suppressed by rhizobial treatment, suggesting that a negative feedback loop might be involved in regulation of the symbiotic response in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid30294759, year = {2018}, author = {Virili, C and Fallahi, P and Antonelli, A and Benvenga, S and Centanni, M}, title = {Gut microbiota and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.}, journal = {Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {293-300}, pmid = {30294759}, issn = {1573-2606}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Hashimoto Disease/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {About two third of the human microbial commensal community, namely the gut microbiota, is hosted by the gastrointestinal tract which represents the largest interface of the organism to the external environment. This microbial community co-evolved in a symbiotic relationship with the human beings. Growing evidence support the notion that the microbiota plays a significant role in maintaining nutritional, metabolic and immunologic homeostasis in the host. Microbiota, beside the expected role in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis also exerts metabolic functions in nutrients digestion and absorption, detoxification and vitamins' synthesis. Intestinal microbiota is also key in the correct development of the lymphoid system, 70% of which resides at the intestinal level. Available studies, both in murine models and humans, have shown an altered ratio between the different phyla, which characterize a" normal" gut microbiota, in a number of different disorders including obesity, to which a significant part of the studies on intestinal microbiota has been addressed so far. These variations in gut microbiota composition, known as dysbiosis, has been also described in patients bearing intestinal autoimmune diseases as well as type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Being Hashimoto's thyroiditis the most frequent autoimmune disorder worldwide, the analysis of the reciprocal influence with intestinal microbiota gained interest. The whole thyroid peripheral homeostasis may be sensitive to microbiota changes but there is also evidence that the genesis and progression of autoimmune thyroid disorders may be significantly affected from a changing intestinal microbial composition or even from overt dysbiosis. In this brief review, we focused on the main features which characterize the reciprocal influence between microbiota and thyroid autoimmunity described in the most recent literature.}, } @article {pmid30294317, year = {2018}, author = {Bellec, L and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Durand, L and Gayet, N and Zeppilli, D}, title = {A Nematode of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Hydrothermal Vents Harbors a Possible Symbiotic Relationship.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2246}, pmid = {30294317}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vent meiofauna have been the focus of recent research and the discovery of an abundant well-adapted free-living marine nematode on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge offers new perspectives on adaptations to the vent environment. Indeed, knowledge concerning biological interactions of microbes and meiofauna in marine extreme environments is scarce, especially for nematodes. In this study, we used microscopic observations [fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)] and metabarcoding of 16S rRNA to characterize the bacterial community of the nematode species Oncholaimus dyvae, an overlooked but ecologically important vent organism. Detection of bacteria in the buccal cavity and on the cuticle (SEM) and epibionts in its intestine (FISH) suggests that O. dyvae harbors its own bacterial community. Molecular results and phylogenetic analysis show that bacteria associated with this species are related to symbiotic lineages typical of hydrothermal vent fauna, such as sulfur-oxidizing bacteria related to Epsilonproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. This multi-approach study suggests a potential symbiotic role of bacteria with its nematode host and opens new research perspectives on vent meiofauna.}, } @article {pmid30292683, year = {2018}, author = {Jiang, Y and Xie, Q and Wang, W and Yang, J and Zhang, X and Yu, N and Zhou, Y and Wang, E}, title = {Medicago AP2-Domain Transcription Factor WRI5a Is a Master Regulator of Lipid Biosynthesis and Transfer during Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {1344-1359}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2018.09.006}, pmid = {30292683}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Lipids/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Most land plants have evolved a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi that improve nutrient acquisition from the soil. In return, up to 20% of host plant photosynthate is transferred to the mycorrhizal fungus in the form of lipids and sugar. Nutrient exchange must be regulated by both partners in order to maintain a reliable symbiotic relationship. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of lipid transfer from the plant to the AM fungus remain elusive. Here, we show that the Medicago truncatula AP2/EREBP transcription factor WRI5a, and likely its two homologs WRI5b/Erf1 and WRI5c, are master regulators of AM symbiosis controlling lipid transfer and periarbuscular membrane formation. We found that WRI5a binds AW-box cis-regulatory elements in the promoters of M. truncatula STR, which encodes a periarbuscular membrane-localized ABC transporter required for lipid transfer from the plant to the AM fungus, and MtPT4, which encodes a phosphate transporter required for phosphate transfer from the AM fungus to the plant. The hairy roots of the M. truncatula wri5a mutant and RNAi composite plants displayed impaired arbuscule formation, whereas overexpression of WRI5a resulted in enhanced expression of STR and MtPT4, suggesting that WRI5a regulates bidirectional symbiotic nutrient exchange. Moreover, we found that WRI5a and RAM1 (Required for Arbuscular Mycorrhization symbiosis 1), which encodes a GRAS-domain transcription factor, regulate each other at the transcriptional level, forming a positive feedback loop for regulating AM symbiosis. Collectively, our data suggest a role for WRI5a in controlling bidirectional nutrient exchange and periarbuscular membrane formation via the regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of fatty acids and phosphate uptake in arbuscule-containing cells.}, } @article {pmid30291510, year = {2018}, author = {Inagaki, T and Matsuura, K}, title = {Extended mutualism between termites and gut microbes: nutritional symbionts contribute to nest hygiene.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {105}, number = {9-10}, pages = {52}, pmid = {30291510}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All higher eukaryotes have established symbiotic relationships with diverse microorganisms. One of the most well-characterized symbiotic systems is that of termites and their intestinal microorganisms, which digest cellulose. Recently, diverse types of symbioses between gut microbes and host organisms including humans have received growing attention for various features of their complex interactions beyond nutrition. In termites, researchers are beginning to explore such function of gut symbionts, but only the contribution to internal immunity against entomopathogen is known in a few species. Here, we report that gut symbionts of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis protect nests from the spread of the commensal bacterium Serratia marcescens, which has pathogenic potential. Defaunated termites dispersed S. marcescens in the surrounding environment by feeding on the bacteria, which then survived passage through their alimentary tracts, while non-defaunated termites did not. Loss of gut symbionts caused a significant reduction in intestinal acetate, which is an important carbon source for termites. Culture experiments showed that acetate had significant inhibitory effects on S. marcescens at a concentration as low as 12 mM, which indicated that the intestinal acetate of non-defaunated termites (40-130 mM) was capable of suppressing this bacterium. These results suggest that digestive derivatives produced by intestinal symbionts play an essential role in nest hygiene in addition to their nutritional function for termites. Our study provides a better understanding of the multifunctionality of symbiotic relationships in diverse organisms beyond nutrition.}, } @article {pmid30291143, year = {2018}, author = {Liou, G and Chiang, YC and Wang, Y and Weng, JK}, title = {Mechanistic basis for the evolution of chalcone synthase catalytic cysteine reactivity in land plants.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {293}, number = {48}, pages = {18601-18612}, pmid = {30291143}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {P41 GM103403/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR029205/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Acyltransferases/chemistry/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Catalysis ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cysteine/*metabolism ; Embryophyta/classification/*enzymology/physiology ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Phylogeny ; Protein Conformation ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids are important polyphenolic natural products, ubiquitous in land plants, that play diverse functions in plants' survival in their ecological niches, including UV protection, pigmentation for attracting pollinators, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and defense against herbivores. Chalcone synthase (CHS) catalyzes the first committed step in plant flavonoid biosynthesis and is highly conserved in all land plants. In several previously reported crystal structures of CHSs from flowering plants, the catalytic cysteine is oxidized to sulfinic acid, indicating enhanced nucleophilicity in this residue associated with its increased susceptibility to oxidation. In this study, we report a set of new crystal structures of CHSs representing all five major lineages of land plants (bryophytes, lycophytes, monilophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms), spanning 500 million years of evolution. We reveal that the structures of CHS from a lycophyte and a moss species preserve the catalytic cysteine in a reduced state, in contrast to the cysteine sulfinic acid seen in all euphyllophyte CHS structures. In vivo complementation, in vitro biochemical and mutagenesis analyses, and molecular dynamics simulations identified a set of residues that differ between basal-plant and euphyllophyte CHSs and modulate catalytic cysteine reactivity. We propose that the CHS active-site environment has evolved in euphyllophytes to further enhance the nucleophilicity of the catalytic cysteine since the divergence of euphyllophytes from other vascular plant lineages 400 million years ago. These changes in CHS could have contributed to the diversification of flavonoid biosynthesis in euphyllophytes, which in turn contributed to their dominance in terrestrial ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30289375, year = {2018}, author = {Becquer, A and Garcia, K and Plassard, C}, title = {HcPT1.2 participates in Pi acquisition in Hebeloma cylindrosporum external hyphae of ectomycorrhizas under high and low phosphate conditions.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {e1525997}, pmid = {30289375}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hebeloma/*physiology ; Hyphae/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Pinus/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi improve tree phosphorus nutrition through transporters specifically localized at soil-hyphae and symbiotic interfaces. In the model symbiosis between the fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum and the maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), several transporters possibly involved in phosphate fluxes were identified, including three H[+]:Pi transporters. Among these three, we recently unraveled the function of one of them, named HcPT2, in both pure culture and symbiotic interaction with P. pinaster. Here we investigated the transporter named HcPT1.2, by analyzing inorganic phosphate transport ability in a yeast complementation assay, assessing its expression in the fungus associated or not with the plant, and immunolocalizing the proteins in ectomycorrhizas. We also evaluated the effect of external Pi concentration on expression and localization of HcPT1.2. Our results revealed that HcPT1.2 is involved in Pi acquisition by H. cylindrosporum mycelium, irrespective of the external Pi concentrations.}, } @article {pmid30288239, year = {2018}, author = {Neumann, K and Gambardella, A and Lilienkampf, A and Bradley, M}, title = {Tetrazine-mediated bioorthogonal prodrug-prodrug activation.}, journal = {Chemical science}, volume = {9}, number = {36}, pages = {7198-7203}, pmid = {30288239}, issn = {2041-6520}, support = {340469/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {The selective and biocompatible activation of prodrugs within complex biological systems remains a key challenge in medical chemistry and chemical biology. Herein we report, for the first time, a dual prodrug activation strategy that fully satisfies the principle of bioorthogonality by the symbiotic formation of two active drugs. This dual and traceless prodrug activation strategy takes advantage of the INVDA chemistry of tetrazines (here a prodrug), generating a pyridazine-based miR21 inhibitor and the anti-cancer drug camptothecin and offers a new concept in prodrug activation.}, } @article {pmid30287885, year = {2019}, author = {Utami, YD and Kuwahara, H and Igai, K and Murakami, T and Sugaya, K and Morikawa, T and Nagura, Y and Yuki, M and Deevong, P and Inoue, T and Kihara, K and Lo, N and Yamada, A and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Genome analyses of uncultured TG2/ZB3 bacteria in 'Margulisbacteria' specifically attached to ectosymbiotic spirochetes of protists in the termite gut.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {455-467}, pmid = {30287885}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Genome ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Spirochaetales/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated the phylogenetic diversity, localisation and metabolism of an uncultured bacterial clade, Termite Group 2 (TG2), or ZB3, in the termite gut, which belongs to the candidate phylum 'Margulisbacteria'. We performed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis and detected TG2/ZB3 sequences in 40 out of 72 termite and cockroach species, which exclusively constituted a monophyletic cluster in the TG2/ZB3 clade. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis in lower termites revealed that these bacteria are specifically attached to ectosymbiotic spirochetes of oxymonad gut protists. Draft genomes of four TG2/ZB3 phylotypes from a small number of bacterial cells were reconstructed, and functional genome analysis suggested that these bacteria hydrolyse and ferment cellulose/cellobiose to H2, CO2, acetate and ethanol. We also assembled a draft genome for a partner Treponema spirochete and found that it encoded genes for reductive acetogenesis from H2 and CO2. We hypothesise that the TG2/ZB3 bacteria we report here are commensal or mutualistic symbionts of the spirochetes, exploiting the spirochetes as H2 sinks. For these bacteria, we propose a novel genus, 'Candidatus Termititenax', which represents a hitherto uncharacterised class-level clade in 'Margulisbacteria'. Our findings add another layer, i.e., cellular association between bacteria, to the multi-layered symbiotic system in the termite gut.}, } @article {pmid30286722, year = {2018}, author = {Mancini, MV and Damiani, C and Accoti, A and Tallarita, M and Nunzi, E and Cappelli, A and Bozic, J and Catanzani, R and Rossi, P and Valzano, M and Serrao, A and Ricci, I and Spaccapelo, R and Favia, G}, title = {Estimating bacteria diversity in different organs of nine species of mosquito by next generation sequencing.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {126}, pmid = {30286722}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animal Structures/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Culicidae/classification/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiosis in insects is accumulating significant amount of studies: the description of a wide array of mutualistic associations across the evolutionary history of insects suggests that resident microbiota acts as a driving force by affecting several aspects of hosts biology. Among arthropods, mosquito midgut microbiota has been largely investigated, providing crucial insights on the role and implications of host-symbiont relationships. However, limited amount of studies addressed their efforts on the investigation of microbiota colonizing salivary glands and reproductive tracts, crucial organs for pathogen invasion and vertical transmission of symbiotic microorganisms. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based approach, we analysed the microbiota of gut, salivary glands and reproductive tracts of several mosquito species, representing some of the main vectors of diseases, aiming at describing the dynamics of bacterial communities within the individual.

RESULTS: We identified a shared core microbiota between different mosquito species, although interesting inter- and intra-species differences were detected. Additionally, our results showed deep divergences between genera, underlining microbiota specificity and adaptation to their host.

CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive landscape of the bacterial microbiota components may ultimately provide crucial insights and novel targets for possible application of symbionts in innovative strategies for the control of vector borne diseases, globally named Symbiotic Control (SC), and suggesting that the holobiont of different mosquito species may significantly vary. Moreover, mosquito species are characterized by distinctive microbiota in different organs, likely reflecting different functions and/or adaptation processes.}, } @article {pmid30286318, year = {2018}, author = {Higuchi, R and Song, C and Hoshina, R and Suzaki, T}, title = {Endosymbiosis-related changes in ultrastructure and chemical composition of Chlorella variabilis (Archaeplastida, Chlorophyta) cell wall in Paramecium bursaria (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {149-155}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2018.09.003}, pmid = {30286318}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Cell Wall/ultrastructure ; Chlorella/*chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Paramecium/parasitology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chlorella variabilis, a symbiotic alga, is usually present in the cytoplasm of Paramecium bursaria, although it can be cultured in host-free conditions. Morphological and chemical properties of its cell wall were compared between its free-living and symbiotic states. Transmission electron microscopy (quick-freezing and freeze-substitution methods) revealed that the cell wall thickness of symbiotic C. variabilis was reduced to about half that of the free-living one. Chemical properties of the cell wall were examined by treatment with three fluorescent reagents (calcofluor white M2R, FITC-WGA, and FITC-LFA) having specific binding affinities to different polysaccharides. When the algae were re-introduced into Paramecium host cells, calcofluor fluorescence intensity reduced by about 50%. Calcofluor stains β-d-glucopyranose polysaccharides such as cellulose, N-acetylglucosamine, sialic acid, and glycosaminoglycans. Because treatment with cellulase showed no effect on calcofluor fluorescence intensity, we consider that cellulose is not majorly responsible for the stainability of calcofluor. Staining intensities of FITC-WGA and FITC-LFA were similar in the free-living and symbiotic conditions, suggesting that N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid are also not responsible for the reduction in the stainability of calcofluor associated with intracellular symbiosis. The amount of glycosaminoglycans on the cell wall may decrease in C. variabilis present in the cytoplasm of P. bursaria.}, } @article {pmid30285618, year = {2018}, author = {Tsikou, D and Ramirez, EE and Psarrakou, IS and Wong, JE and Jensen, DB and Isono, E and Radutoiu, S and Papadopoulou, KK}, title = {A Lotus japonicus E3 ligase interacts with the Nod Factor Receptor 5 and positively regulates nodulation.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {217}, pmid = {30285618}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Post-translational modification of receptor proteins is involved in activation and de-activation of signalling systems in plants. Both ubiquitination and deubiquitination have been implicated in plant interactions with pathogens and symbionts.

RESULTS: Here we present LjPUB13, a PUB-ARMADILLO repeat E3 ligase that specifically ubiquitinates the kinase domain of the Nod Factor receptor NFR5 and has a direct role in nodule organogenesis events in Lotus japonicus. Phenotypic analyses of three LORE1 retroelement insertion plant lines revealed that pub13 plants display delayed and reduced nodulation capacity and retarded growth. LjPUB13 expression is spatially regulated during symbiosis with Mesorhizobium loti, with increased levels in young developing nodules.

CONCLUSION: LjPUB13 is an E3 ligase with a positive regulatory role during the initial stages of nodulation in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid30285612, year = {2018}, author = {Sánchez-Rangel, D and Hernández-Domínguez, EE and Pérez-Torres, CA and Ortiz-Castro, R and Villafán, E and Rodríguez-Haas, B and Alonso-Sánchez, A and López-Buenfil, A and Carrillo-Ortiz, N and Hernández-Ramos, L and Ibarra-Laclette, E}, title = {Environmental pH modulates transcriptomic responses in the fungus Fusarium sp. associated with KSHB Euwallacea sp. near fornicatus.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {721}, pmid = {30285612}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Environment ; Fusaric Acid/biosynthesis ; Fusarium/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Ambrosia Fusarium Clade phytopathogenic Fusarium fungi species have a symbiotic relationship with ambrosia beetles in the genus Euwallacea (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Related beetle species referred to as Euwallacea sp. near fornicatus have been spread in California, USA and are recognized as the causal agents of Fusarium dieback, a disease that causes mortality of many plant species. Despite the importance of this fungi, no transcriptomic resources have been generated. The datasets described here represent the first ever transcripts available for these species. We focused our study on the isolated species of Fusarium that is associated with one of the cryptic species referred to as Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer (KSHB) Euwallacea sp. near fornicatus.

RESULTS: Hydrogen concentration is a critical signal in fungi for growth and host colonization, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different pH conditions on growth and gene expression of the fungus Fusarium sp. associated with KSHB. An RNA-seq approach was used to compare the gene expression of the fungus grown for 2 weeks in liquid medium at three different pH levels (5.0, 6.0, and 7.0). An unbuffered treatment was included to evaluate the capability of the fungus to change the pH of its environment and the impact in gene expression. The results showed that the fungus can grow and modulate its genetic expression at different pH conditions; however, growth was stunted in acidic pH in comparison with neutral pH. The results showed a differential expression pattern in each pH condition even when acidic conditions prevailed at the end of the experiment. After comparing transcriptomics data from the three treatments, we found a total of 4,943 unique transcripts that were differentially expressed.

CONCLUSIONS: We identified transcripts related to pH signaling such as the conserved PAL/RIM pathway, some transcripts related to secondary metabolism and other transcripts that were differentially expressed. Our analysis suggests possible mechanisms involved in pathogenicity in this novel Fusarium species. This is the first report that shows transcriptomic data of this pathogen as well as the first report of genes and proteins involved in their metabolism identifying potential virulence factors.}, } @article {pmid30284535, year = {2018}, author = {Malolepszy, A and Kelly, S and Sørensen, KK and James, EK and Kalisch, C and Bozsoki, Z and Panting, M and Andersen, SU and Sato, S and Tao, K and Jensen, DB and Vinther, M and Jong, N and Madsen, LH and Umehara, Y and Gysel, K and Berentsen, MU and Blaise, M and Jensen, KJ and Thygesen, MB and Sandal, N and Andersen, KR and Radutoiu, S}, title = {A plant chitinase controls cortical infection thread progression and nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30284535}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {DNRF79//Danish National Research Foundation/International ; 201604910506//China Scholarship Council/International ; DNRF79//Danish Reasearch Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Chitinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipopolysaccharides/genetics ; Lotus/chemistry/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Morphogens provide positional information and their concentration is key to the organized development of multicellular organisms. Nitrogen-fixing root nodules are unique organs induced by Nod factor-producing bacteria. Localized production of Nod factors establishes a developmental field within the root where plant cells are reprogrammed to form infection threads and primordia. We found that regulation of Nod factor levels by Lotus japonicus is required for the formation of nitrogen-fixing organs, determining the fate of this induced developmental program. Our analysis of plant and bacterial mutants shows that a host chitinase modulates Nod factor levels possibly in a structure-dependent manner. In Lotus, this is required for maintaining Nod factor signalling in parallel with the elongation of infection threads within the nodule cortex, while root hair infection and primordia formation are not influenced. Our study shows that infected nodules require balanced levels of Nod factors for completing their transition to functional, nitrogen-fixing organs.}, } @article {pmid30283478, year = {2018}, author = {Zhu, X and Cao, Q and Sun, L and Yang, X and Yang, W and Zhang, H}, title = {Stomatal Conductance and Morphology of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Wheat Plants Response to Elevated CO2 and NaCl Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1363}, pmid = {30283478}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Stomata play a critical role in the regulation of gas exchange between the interior of the leaf and the exterior environment and are affected by environmental and endogenous stimuli. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, on the stomatal behavior of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants under combination with elevated CO2 and NaCl stress. Wheat seedlings were exposed to ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (700 ppm) CO2 concentrations and 0, 1, and 2 g kg[-1] dry soil NaCl treatments for 10 weeks. AM symbiosis increased the leaf area and stomatal density (SD) of the abaxial surface. Stomatal size and the aperture of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces were higher in the AM than non-AM plants under elevated CO2 and salinity stress. AM plants showed higher stomatal conductance (g s) and maximum rate of g s to water vapor (g smax) compared with non-AM plants. Moreover, leaf water potential (Ψ) was increased and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ[13]C) was decreased by AM colonization, and both were significantly associated with stomatal conductance. The results suggest that AM symbiosis alters stomatal morphology by changing SD and the size of the guard cells and stomatal pores, thereby improving the stomatal conductance and water relations of wheat leaves under combined elevated CO2 and salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid30283451, year = {2018}, author = {Lange, A and Schäfer, A and Bender, A and Steimle, A and Beier, S and Parusel, R and Frick, JS}, title = {Galleria mellonella: A Novel Invertebrate Model to Distinguish Intestinal Symbionts From Pathobionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2114}, pmid = {30283451}, issn = {1664-3224}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology/pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/parasitology ; Invertebrates/*immunology/physiology ; Mice ; Moths/*immunology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Virulence/immunology ; beta-Defensins/classification/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Insects and mammals share evolutionary conserved innate immune responses to maintain intestinal homeostasis. We investigated whether the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella may be used as an experimental organism to distinguish between symbiotic Bacteroides vulgatus and pathobiotic Escherichia coli, which are mammalian intestinal commensals. Oral application of the symbiont or pathobiont to G. mellonella resulted in clearly distinguishable innate immune responses that could be verified by analyzing similar innate immune components in mice in vivo and in vitro. The differential innate immune responses were initiated by the recognition of bacterial components via pattern recognition receptors. The pathobiont detection resulted in increased expression of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species related genes as well as antimicrobial peptide gene expression. In contrast, the treatment/application with symbiotic bacteria led to weakened immune responses in both mammalian and insect models. As symbionts and pathobionts play a crucial role in development of inflammatory bowel diseases, we hence suggest G. mellonella as a future replacement organism in inflammatory bowel disease research.}, } @article {pmid30282739, year = {2018}, author = {Li, H and Sosa-Calvo, J and Horn, HA and Pupo, MT and Clardy, J and Rabeling, C and Schultz, TR and Currie, CR}, title = {Convergent evolution of complex structures for ant-bacterial defensive symbiosis in fungus-farming ants.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {42}, pages = {10720-10725}, pmid = {30282739}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary adaptations for maintaining beneficial microbes are hallmarks of mutualistic evolution. Fungus-farming "attine" ant species have complex cuticular modifications and specialized glands that house and nourish antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria symbionts, which in turn protect their hosts' fungus gardens from pathogens. Here we reconstruct ant-Actinobacteria evolutionary history across the full range of variation within subtribe Attina by combining dated phylogenomic and ultramorphological analyses. Ancestral-state analyses indicate the ant-Actinobacteria symbiosis arose early in attine-ant evolution, a conclusion consistent with direct observations of Actinobacteria on fossil ants in Oligo-Miocene amber. qPCR indicates that the dominant ant-associated Actinobacteria belong to the genus Pseudonocardia Tracing the evolutionary trajectories of Pseudonocardia-maintaining mechanisms across attine ants reveals a continuum of adaptations. In Myrmicocrypta species, which retain many ancestral morphological and behavioral traits, Pseudonocardia occur in specific locations on the legs and antennae, unassociated with any specialized structures. In contrast, specialized cuticular structures, including crypts and tubercles, evolved at least three times in derived attine-ant lineages. Conspicuous caste differences in Pseudonocardia-maintaining structures, in which specialized structures are present in worker ants and queens but reduced or lost in males, are consistent with vertical Pseudonocardia transmission. Although the majority of attine ants are associated with Pseudonocardia, there have been multiple losses of bacterial symbionts and bacteria-maintaining structures in different lineages over evolutionary time. The early origin of ant-Pseudonocardia mutualism and the multiple evolutionary convergences on strikingly similar anatomical adaptations for maintaining bacterial symbionts indicate that Pseudonocardia have played a critical role in the evolution of ant fungiculture.}, } @article {pmid30282650, year = {2018}, author = {Hecht, LBB and Thompson, PC and Rosenthal, BM}, title = {Comparative demography elucidates the longevity of parasitic and symbiotic relationships.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1888}, pages = {}, pmid = {30282650}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/parasitology/physiology ; Demography/*methods ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Mosquito Vectors/parasitology/physiology ; Phytophthora infestans/physiology ; Plasmodium falciparum/physiology ; Population Growth ; Primates/physiology ; Sea Anemones/parasitology ; Solanum tuberosum/microbiology/physiology ; Swine/parasitology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trichinella spiralis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Parasitic and symbiotic relationships govern vast nutrient and energy flows, yet controversy surrounds their longevity. Enduring relationships may engender parallel phylogenies among hosts and parasites, but so may ephemeral relationships when parasites colonize related hosts. An understanding of whether symbiont and host populations have grown and contracted in concert would be useful when considering the temporal durability of these relationships. Here, we devised methods to compare demographic histories derived from genomic data. We compared the historical growth of the agent of severe human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, and its mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae, to human and primate histories, thereby discerning long-term parallels and anthropogenic population explosions. The growth history of Trichinella spiralis, a zoonotic parasite disseminated by swine, proved regionally specific, paralleling distinctive growth histories for wild boar in Asia and Europe. Parallel histories were inferred for an anemone and its algal symbiont (Exaiptasia pallida and Symbiodinium minutum). Concerted growth in potatoes and the agent of potato blight (Solanum tuberosum and Phytophthora infestans) did not commence until the age of potato domestication. Through these examples, we illustrate the utility of comparative historical demography as a new exploratory tool by which to interrogate the origins and durability of myriad ecological relationships. To facilitate future use of this approach, we introduce a tool called C-PSMC to align and evaluate the similarity of demographic history curves.}, } @article {pmid30281867, year = {2019}, author = {Lewis, AM and Chan, AN and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {New Species of Closely Related Endosymbiotic Dinoflagellates in the Greater Caribbean have Niches Corresponding to Host Coral Phylogeny.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {469-482}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12692}, pmid = {30281867}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Caribbean Region ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/physiology ; Florida ; Gulf of Mexico ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic dinoflagellates in the genus Breviolum (formerly Symbiodinium Clade B) dominate coral communities in shallow waters across the Greater Caribbean. While some formally described species exist, mounting genetic, and ecological evidence indicate that numerous more comprise this genus, many of which are closely related. To test this, colonies of common reef-building corals were sampled across a large geographical range. Phylogenetic and population genetic markers then used to examine evolutionary divergence and delineate boundaries of genetic recombination. Three new candidate species were distinguished by fixed differences in nucleotide sequences from nuclear and chloroplast DNA. Population connectivity was evident within each lineage over thousands of kilometers, however, substantial genetic structure persisted between lineages co-occurring within sampling locations, signifying reproductive isolation. While geographically widespread with overlapping distributions, each species is ecologically distinct, exhibiting specific mutualisms with phylogenetically distinct coral hosts. Moreover, significant differences in mean cell sizes provide some morphological evidence substantiating formal species distinctions. In providing evidence that satisfies the biological, phylogenetic, ecological, and morphological species concepts, we classify and formally name Breviolum faviinorum n. sp., primarily associated with Caribbean corals belonging to the Caribbean subfamily Faviinae; B. meandrinium n. sp., associated with corals belonging to the family Meandrinidae; and B. dendrogyrum n. sp., a symbiont harbored exclusively by the threatened coral Dendrogyra cylindrus. These findings support the primary importance of niche diversification (i.e. host habitat) in the speciation of symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid30280704, year = {2018}, author = {Jayakrishnan, L and Sudhikumar, AV and Aneesh, EM}, title = {Role of gut inhabitants on vectorial capacity of mosquitoes.}, journal = {Journal of vector borne diseases}, volume = {55}, number = {2}, pages = {69-78}, doi = {10.4103/0972-9062.242567}, pmid = {30280704}, issn = {0972-9062}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Culicidae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mosquito-borne diseases are spreading at an alarming rate. Globally millions of deaths occur due to the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, next to AIDS and tuberculosis. Several methods have been used to control these vectors and the diseases caused by them. Earlier studies have shown the potential role of mosquito gut inhabitants on disease transmission. Their findings can be used as an innovative approach for devising strategies to modify the survival of mosquitoes by reducing their lifespan, reproduction and disease transmission abilities. In this study, microbiome of the three genera of mosquitoes, namely Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex along with their vectorial capacity have been reviewed for assessing their role in mosquito control and transmission. Relevant articles were accessed using different databases, including LILACS, Embase, Science Direct and PubMed from inception to June 2017. The search keywords included "Aedes", "Anopheles", "Culex", "gut inhabitants", "vectors", and "mosquito". The titles, abstract, and keywords of the retrieved articles were screened, and eligible research articles were sorted. The review indicates that paratransgenesis may be considered as a versatile and effective strategy to eradicate the spurt of mosquito transmitting diseases. Enterobacter species is the most common type of gram-negative bacteria associated with the gut of all the three genera of mosquitoes. It was found to have a beneficial effect on humans as it helps in destroying dreadful disease-transmitting vectors. These symbiotic qualities of the microbes need to be thoroughly investigated further to reveal their antipathogenic effect on the vector.}, } @article {pmid30280428, year = {2019}, author = {Salah, AS and Ahmed-Farid, OA and El-Tarabany, MS}, title = {Carcass yields, muscle amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and antioxidant indices of broilers supplemented with synbiotic and/or organic acids.}, journal = {Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition}, volume = {103}, number = {1}, pages = {41-52}, doi = {10.1111/jpn.12994}, pmid = {30280428}, issn = {1439-0396}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*chemistry ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Antioxidants/*chemistry ; Body Composition/*drug effects ; Butyric Acid/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Chickens/*physiology ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements ; Fatty Acids/*chemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal/*chemistry/metabolism ; Synbiotics/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The objective of the current research was to explore the possible impacts of dietary supplementation with synbiotic and/or organic acids (OA) on the performance traits, carcass yields and muscle amino acid and fatty acid (FA) profiles of broilers. Randomly, a total of 160 day-old chicks (Ross 308) were assigned into four equal groups (40 birds each), with each group subdivided into eight replicates (five birds/pen). The control group (CON) fed the basal diet with no supplements, while diets of the treated groups were supplemented with OA (Sodium butyrate 40%; 1 g/kg), synbiotic (comprised Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerivisiae, Streptococcus faecium, Mannan-Oligosaccharides and β-Glucan; 1 g/kg) and equal mix of OA and synbiotic (2 g/kg). Broilers fed the diets supplemented with synbiotic or synbiotic plus OA produced a significantly higher feed utilization efficiency (p = 0.021) and carcass yields (p = 0.038) than the CON and OA-supplemented groups. The group fed the diet supplemented with the synbiotic showed lowered serum cholesterol (p = 0.049), triglycerides (p = 0.001) and very low density lipoprotein (p = 0.032) when compared with the CON group. Regarding the polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) of breast muscles, synbiotic-supplemented birds had significantly lower n-6:n-3 ratio (p = 0.047), however, a greater hypocholesterolaemic to hypercholesterolaemic FA (H/H) ratio was reported when compared with the CON group (p = 0.002). Among the essential amino acids, the contents of leucine and methionine in the breast (p = 0.032 and 0.007 respectively) and thigh (p = 0.023 and 0.003 respectively) muscles were greater in the synbiotic-supplemented birds compared with the CON group. In conclusion, the synbiotic-supplemented diet improved the PUFA:SFA, n-6:n-3 and H/H ratios by altering the FA composition of broiler muscles, which are important with regards to human health.}, } @article {pmid30278238, year = {2019}, author = {McFarland, LV and Goh, S}, title = {Are probiotics and prebiotics effective in the prevention of travellers' diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {Travel medicine and infectious disease}, volume = {27}, number = {}, pages = {11-19}, doi = {10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.09.007}, pmid = {30278238}, issn = {1873-0442}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Databases, Factual ; Diarrhea/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lactobacillus ; Military Personnel ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Saccharomyces boulardii ; Travel ; *Travel-Related Illness ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Travellers' diarrhea (TD) impacts annually over 20 million tourists, business travellers and military troops on a worldwide basis. Reliance on antibiotic prophylaxis and educational programs has not lead to a significant reduction in TD rates. Previous reviews of probiotics for TD have not accounted for the strain-specificity of probiotic efficacy nor have investigated prebiotics for the prevention of TD.

METHODS: Standard literature databases were searched from 1977 to June 2018 unrestricted by language. Inclusion criteria included: Probiotic, probiotic or symbiotic interventions, randomized, controlled clinical trials (RCTs) and ≥2 RCTs with the same probiotic strain or mixture.

RESULTS: Of 158 screened articles, 12 RCT were included in the systematic review and 6 RCTs (with nine treatment different arms) were included in the meta-analysis. Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 showed a significant reduction in TD incidence (RR = 0.79, 95% C.I. 0.72-0.87, p < 0.001), while L. rhamnosus GG showed a trend (p = 0.08) and L. acidophilus showed no significant (p = 0.16) reduction of TD.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of trials using probiotics or prebiotics for the prevention of TD continues to be limited in number. Only one of three probiotics showed significant efficacy for the prevention of TD. More research is needed for other probiotics strains and prebiotics to determine if they could also prevent TD.}, } @article {pmid30276936, year = {2019}, author = {González, AH and Morales Londoño, D and Pille da Silva, E and Nascimento, FXI and de Souza, LF and da Silva, BG and Canei, AD and de Armas, RD and Giachini, AJ and Soares, CRFS}, title = {Bradyrhizobium and Pseudomonas strains obtained from coal-mining areas nodulate and promote the growth of Calopogonium muconoides plants used in the reclamation of degraded areas.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {126}, number = {2}, pages = {523-533}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14117}, pmid = {30276936}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/isolation & purification/metabolism/*physiology ; *Coal Mining ; *Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Pseudomonas/isolation & purification/metabolism/*physiology ; Rhizobium/isolation & purification/metabolism/physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The objective of this work was to isolate and characterize indigenous rhizobia from coal-mining areas able to efficiently nodulate and fix nitrogen in association with Calopogonium mucunoides (calopo).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Isolation, authentication and morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization of the autochthonous rhizobia were performed and their symbiotic efficiency (SE) evaluated. Efficient rhizobial isolates suitable for the inoculation of calopo in coal-mining regions were obtained. A total of 30 isolates were obtained after nodulation authentication, of which five presented high SE with plant-growth promoting traits such as indole-3-acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization and biofilm formation. These isolates were identified as belonging to Bradyrhizobium, Pseudomonas and Rhizobium.

CONCLUSIONS: Bradyrhizobium sp. A2-10 and Pseudomonas sp. A6-05 were able to promote calopo plant growth using soil obtained from coal-mining degraded areas, thus indicating their potential as inoculants aiming at land reclamation.

To our knowledge, this is the first report of Pseudomonas nodule formation in calopo. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that autochthonous rhizobia obtained from degraded soils presented high SE in calopo and possess a wide range of plant-growth promoting traits. Ultimately, they may all contribute to an increased leguminous plant growth under stress conditions. The selected rhizobia strains may be used as inoculants and present a valuable role in the development of strategies aiming to recover coal-mining degraded areas. Bacterial inoculants would greatly reduce the use of often harmful nitrogen fertilizers vastly employed in revegetation programmes of degraded areas.}, } @article {pmid30276818, year = {2019}, author = {Giauque, H and Connor, EW and Hawkes, CV}, title = {Endophyte traits relevant to stress tolerance, resource use and habitat of origin predict effects on host plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {4}, pages = {2239-2249}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15504}, pmid = {30276818}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//University of Texas Green Fee/International ; //Texas Ecolab/International ; //University of Texas Plant Biology Graduate Program/International ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; *Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Soil ; *Stress, Physiological ; Water ; }, abstract = {All terrestrial plants are colonized by foliar endophytic fungi that can affect plant growth and physiology, but the prediction of these effects on the plant host remains a challenge. Here, we examined three paradigms that potentially control how endophytes affect plant hosts: habitat adaptation, evolutionary history and functional traits. We screened 35 plant-endophyte pairings in a microcosm experiment under well-watered and drought conditions with Panicum virgatum as the host. We related the measured plant responses to fungal phylogenetic relatedness, characteristics of fungal habitats across a rainfall gradient and functional traits of the fungi related to stress tolerance and resource use. The functional traits and habitat characteristics of the fungi predicted 26-53% of endophyte-mediated effects on measures of plant growth, physiology and survival. Overall, survival was higher for plants grown with more stress-tolerant fungi, and aboveground biomass was enhanced by fungi from warmer and drier habitats. Plant growth and physiology were also dependent on fungal resource use indicators; however, specific predictors were dependent on water availability. Simple ecological traits of foliar endophytic fungi observed in culture can translate to symbiotic lifestyles. These findings offer new insights and key testable predictions for likely pathways by which endophytes benefit the plant host.}, } @article {pmid30276423, year = {2019}, author = {Abdelkrim, S and Jebara, SH and Saadani, O and Chiboub, M and Abid, G and Mannai, K and Jebara, M}, title = {Heavy metal accumulation in Lathyrus sativus growing in contaminated soils and identification of symbiotic resistant bacteria.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {201}, number = {1}, pages = {107-121}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-018-1581-4}, pmid = {30276423}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacillus/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Copper/metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Lathyrus/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Lead/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Rhizobium/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study, two populations of leguminous plants Lathyrus sativus were grown in four soils that were collected from sites differently contaminated by heavy metals. Evaluations included basic soil properties, concentrations of major nutrients and four metals (copper, zinc, lead and cadmium) in these soils. Investigation of Lathyrus sativus response to contamination showed that the increase of heavy metal concentration in soils affected biomass of plant, number of nodules and plant metal uptake. Heavy metal tolerance of 46 isolated bacteria from the root nodules was evaluated and demonstrated that the maximum concentration of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn tolerated by strains were 0.8, 2.5, 0.2, and 0.5 mM, respectively. Twenty-two isolates were tested for their effects on plant biomass production and nodule formation and showed that only R. leguminosarum nodulated Lathyrus sativus, while some bacteria improved the shoot and root dry biomass. Sequences of their 16S rDNA gene fragments were also obtained and evaluated for tentative identification of the isolates which revealed different bacterial genera represented by Rhizobium sp, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Pseudomonas sp, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Luteibacter sp, Variovorax sp, Bacillus simplex and Bacillus megaterium. The existence of Pb- and Cd-resistant genes (PbrA and CadA) in these bacteria was determined by PCR, and it showed high homology with PbrA and CadA genes from other bacteria. The tested resistant population was able to accumulate high concentrations of Pb and Cd in all plant parts and, therefore, can be classified as a strong metal accumulator with suitable potential for phytoremediation of Pb and Cd polluted sites. Heavy metal resistant and efficient bacteria isolated from root nodules were chosen with Lathyrus sativus to form symbiotic associations for eventual bioremediation program, which could be tested to remove pollutants from contaminated sites.}, } @article {pmid30276419, year = {2019}, author = {Renoz, F and Pons, I and Vanderpoorten, A and Bataille, G and Noël, C and Foray, V and Pierson, V and Hance, T}, title = {Evidence for Gut-Associated Serratia symbiotica in Wild Aphids and Ants Provides New Perspectives on the Evolution of Bacterial Mutualism in Insects.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {159-169}, pmid = {30276419}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/microbiology/physiology ; Ants/*microbiology/physiology ; Aphids/classification/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestines/microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects engage in symbiotic associations with diverse assemblages of bacterial symbionts that can deeply impact on their ecology and evolution. The intraspecific variation of symbionts remains poorly assessed while phenotypic effects and transmission behaviors, which are key processes for the persistence and evolution of symbioses, may differ widely depending on the symbiont strains. Serratia symbiotica is one of the most frequent symbiont species in aphids and a valuable model to assess this intraspecific variation since it includes both facultative and obligate symbiotic strains. Despite evidence that some facultative S. symbiotica strains exhibit a free-living capacity, the presence of these strains in wild aphid populations, as well as in insects with which they maintain regular contact, has never been demonstrated. Here, we examined the prevalence, diversity, and tissue tropism of S. symbiotica in wild aphids and associated ants. We found a high occurrence of S. symbiotica infection in ant populations, especially when having tended infected aphid colonies. We also found that the S. symbiotica diversity includes strains found located within the gut of aphids and ants. In the latter, this tissue tropism was found restricted to the proventriculus. Altogether, these findings highlight the extraordinary diversity and versatility of an insect symbiont and suggest the existence of novel routes for symbiont acquisition in insects.}, } @article {pmid30275404, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, L and Hu, JS and Xu, JL and Shao, CL and Wang, GY}, title = {Biological and Chemical Diversity of Ascidian-Associated Microorganisms.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30275404}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Biological Products/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Humans ; Urochordata/*chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ascidians are a class of sessile filter-feeding invertebrates, that provide unique and fertile niches harboring various microorganisms, such as bacteria, actinobacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi. Over 1000 natural products, including alkaloids, cyclic peptides, and polyketides, have been isolated from them, which display diverse properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. Strikingly, direct evidence has confirmed that ~8% of natural products from ascidians are actually produced by symbiotic microorganisms. In this review, we present 150 natural products from microorganisms associated with ascidians that have been reported up to 2017.}, } @article {pmid30275294, year = {2018}, author = {Ledón-Rettig, CC and Moczek, AP and Ragsdale, EJ}, title = {Diplogastrellus nematodes are sexually transmitted mutualists that alter the bacterial and fungal communities of their beetle host.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {42}, pages = {10696-10701}, pmid = {30275294}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Female ; Fungi/*physiology ; Male ; Nematoda/*physiology ; *Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A recent accumulation of studies has demonstrated that nongenetic, maternally transmitted factors are often critical to the health and development of offspring and can therefore play a role in ecological and evolutionary processes. In particular, microorganisms such as bacteria have been championed as heritable, symbiotic partners capable of conferring fitness benefits to their hosts. At the same time, parents may also pass various nonmicrobial organisms to their offspring, yet the roles of such organisms in shaping the developmental environment of their hosts remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that the nematode Diplogastrellus monhysteroides is transgenerationally inherited and sexually transmitted by the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus By manipulating artificial chambers in which beetle offspring develop, we demonstrate that the presence of D. monhysteroides nematodes enhances the growth of beetle offspring, empirically challenging the paradigm that nematodes are merely commensal or even detrimental to their insect hosts. Finally, our research presents a compelling mechanism whereby the nematodes influence the health of beetle larvae: D. monhysteroides nematodes engineer the bacterial and fungal communities that also inhabit the beetle developmental chambers, including specific taxa known to be involved in biomass degradation, possibly allowing larval beetles better access to their otherwise recalcitrant, plant-based diet. Thus, our findings illustrate that nongenetic inheritance can include intermediately sized organisms that live and proliferate in close association with, and in certain cases enhance, the development of their hosts' offspring.}, } @article {pmid30273494, year = {2019}, author = {Kang, W and Xu, L and Jiang, Z and Shi, S}, title = {Genetic diversity and symbiotic efficiency difference of endophytic rhizobia of Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {68-83}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2018-0158}, pmid = {30273494}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Endophytes/*genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Research on rhizobium diversity has paved the way for diversification of rhizobial germplasm resources. Seventy-three endophytic bacterial isolates were collected from seven tissues of five alfalfa cultivars in three geographic locations in Gansu, China. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) fingerprinting of 16S rRNA and analysis of concatenated sequence of three housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII, and recA) and two symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH) were used for strain identification. Results showed that the endophytic strains were genetically diverse at different taxonomic levels, and Ensifer meliloti (31) and Agrobacterium radiobacter (12) are common Medicago sativa endophytic bacteria in Gansu, China. The nifH genes (97%-98% sequence identity) of E. meliloti strains were more diverse than the nodC genes (99%-100% sequence identity), even though the strains evolved from a common ancestor. The degree of dispersion of symbiotic phenotypes of E. meliloti strains on M. sativa 'Gannong No. 3', 'Gannong No. 9', and 'Qingshui' was much less than that on M. sativa 'Longzhong' and 'WL168HQ'. This suggested that the symbiotic efficiency of E. meliloti strains on the former three alfalfa cultivars was similar but on the latter two was discrepant. Their symbiotic efficiency differed primarily according to alfalfa cultivars and, to a lesser extent, to the tested strains, indicating the difference in the sensitivity of different alfalfa cultivars to rhizobial strains.}, } @article {pmid30273416, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, H and Stephens, TG and González-Pech, RA and Beltran, VH and Lapeyre, B and Bongaerts, P and Cooke, I and Aranda, M and Bourne, DG and Forêt, S and Miller, DJ and van Oppen, MJH and Voolstra, CR and Ragan, MA and Chan, CX}, title = {Erratum: Publisher Correction: Symbiodinium genomes reveal adaptive evolution of functions related to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {126}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-018-0117-4}, pmid = {30273416}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0098-3.].}, } @article {pmid30271996, year = {2018}, author = {Hoeksema, JD and Bever, JD and Chakraborty, S and Chaudhary, VB and Gardes, M and Gehring, CA and Hart, MM and Housworth, EA and Kaonongbua, W and Klironomos, JN and Lajeunesse, MJ and Meadow, J and Milligan, BG and Piculell, BJ and Pringle, A and Rúa, MA and Umbanhowar, J and Viechtbauer, W and Wang, YW and Wilson, GWT and Zee, PC}, title = {Evolutionary history of plant hosts and fungal symbionts predicts the strength of mycorrhizal mutualism.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {116}, pmid = {30271996}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {Most plants engage in symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi in soils and net consequences for plants vary widely from mutualism to parasitism. However, we lack a synthetic understanding of the evolutionary and ecological forces driving such variation for this or any other nutritional symbiosis. We used meta-analysis across 646 combinations of plants and fungi to show that evolutionary history explains substantially more variation in plant responses to mycorrhizal fungi than the ecological factors included in this study, such as nutrient fertilization and additional microbes. Evolutionary history also has a different influence on outcomes of ectomycorrhizal versus arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses; the former are best explained by the multiple evolutionary origins of ectomycorrhizal lifestyle in plants, while the latter are best explained by recent diversification in plants; both are also explained by evolution of specificity between plants and fungi. These results provide the foundation for a synthetic framework to predict the outcomes of nutritional mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid30271976, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, H and Stephens, TG and González-Pech, RA and Beltran, VH and Lapeyre, B and Bongaerts, P and Cooke, I and Aranda, M and Bourne, DG and Forêt, S and Miller, DJ and van Oppen, MJH and Voolstra, CR and Ragan, MA and Chan, CX}, title = {Symbiodinium genomes reveal adaptive evolution of functions related to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {95}, pmid = {30271976}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {Symbiosis between dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium and reef-building corals forms the trophic foundation of the world's coral reef ecosystems. Here we present the first draft genome of Symbiodinium goreaui (Clade C, type C1: 1.03 Gbp), one of the most ubiquitous endosymbionts associated with corals, and an improved draft genome of Symbiodinium kawagutii (Clade F, strain CS-156: 1.05 Gbp) to further elucidate genomic signatures of this symbiosis. Comparative analysis of four available Symbiodinium genomes against other dinoflagellate genomes led to the identification of 2460 nuclear gene families (containing 5% of Symbiodinium genes) that show evidence of positive selection, including genes involved in photosynthesis, transmembrane ion transport, synthesis and modification of amino acids and glycoproteins, and stress response. Further, we identify extensive sets of genes for meiosis and response to light stress. These draft genomes provide a foundational resource for advancing our understanding of Symbiodinium biology and the coral-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30271968, year = {2018}, author = {Maeda, T and Kobayashi, Y and Kameoka, H and Okuma, N and Takeda, N and Yamaguchi, K and Bino, T and Shigenobu, S and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Evidence of non-tandemly repeated rDNAs and their intragenomic heterogeneity in Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {87}, pmid = {30271968}, issn = {2399-3642}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) species are some of the most widespread symbionts of land plants. Our much improved reference genome assembly of a model AMF, Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM-181602 (total contigs = 210), facilitated a discovery of repetitive elements with unusual characteristics. R. irregularis has only ten or 11 copies of complete 45S rDNAs, whereas the general eukaryotic genome has tens to thousands of rDNA copies. R. irregularis rDNAs are highly heterogeneous and lack a tandem repeat structure. These findings provide evidence for the hypothesis that rDNA heterogeneity depends on the lack of tandem repeat structures. RNA-Seq analysis confirmed that all rDNA variants are actively transcribed. Observed rDNA/rRNA polymorphisms may modulate translation by using different ribosomes depending on biotic and abiotic interactions. The non-tandem repeat structure and intragenomic heterogeneity of AMF rDNA/rRNA may facilitate successful adaptation to various environmental conditions, increasing host compatibility of these symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid30271903, year = {2018}, author = {Davis, KE and De Grave, S and Delmer, C and Wills, MA}, title = {Freshwater transitions and symbioses shaped the evolution and extant diversity of caridean shrimps.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {30271903}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {BB/C006682/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Understanding the processes that shaped the strikingly irregular distribution of species richness across the Tree of Life is a major research agenda. Changes in ecology may go some way to explain the often strongly asymmetrical fates of sister clades, and we test this in the caridean shrimps. First appearing in the Lower Jurassic, there are now ~3500 species worldwide. Carideans experienced several independent transitions to freshwater from marine habitats, while many of the marine species have also evolved a symbiotic lifestyle. Here we use diversification rate analyses to test whether these ecological traits promote or inhibit diversity within a phylogenetic framework. We demonstrate that speciation rates are more than twice as high in freshwater clades, whilst symbiotic ecologies are associated with lower speciation rates. These lower rates amongst symbiotic species are of concern given that symbioses often occur in some of the most diverse, delicately balanced and threatened marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30271534, year = {2018}, author = {Birnbaum, C and Morald, TK and Tibbett, M and Bennett, RG and Standish, RJ}, title = {Effect of plant root symbionts on performance of native woody species in competition with an invasive grass in multispecies microcosms.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {17}, pages = {8652-8664}, pmid = {30271534}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The majority of terrestrial plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia (i.e., nitrogen-fixing bacteria). Understanding these associations has important implications for ecological theory and for restoration practice. Here, we tested whether the presence of AMF and rhizobia influences the performance of native woody plants invaded by a non-native grass in experimental microcosms. We planted eight plant species (i.e., Acacia acuminata, A. microbotrya, Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba, E. astringens, Calothamnus quadrifidus, Callistemon phoeniceus, Hakea lissocarpha and H. prostrata) in microcosms of field-conditioned soil with and without addition of AMF and rhizobia in a fully factorial experimental design. After seedling establishment, we seeded half the microcosms with an invasive grass Bromus diandrus. We measured shoot and root biomass of native plants and Bromus, and on roots, the percentage colonization by AMF, number of rhizobia-forming nodules and number of proteaceous root clusters. We found no effect of plant root symbionts or Bromus addition on performance of myrtaceous, and as predicted, proteaceous species as they rely little or not at all on AMF and rhizobia. Soil treatments with AMF and rhizobia had a strong positive effect (i.e., larger biomass) on native legumes (A. microbotrya and A. acuminata). However, the beneficial effect of root symbionts on legumes became negative (i.e., lower biomass and less nodules) if Bromus was present, especially for one legume, i.e., A. acuminata, suggesting a disruptive effect of the invader on the mutualism. We also found a stimulating effect of Bromus on root nodule production in A. microbotrya and AMF colonization in A. acuminata which could be indicative of legumes' increased resource acquisition requirement, i.e., for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, in response to the Bromus addition. We have demonstrated the importance of measuring belowground effects because the aboveground effects gave limited indication of the effects occurring belowground.}, } @article {pmid30271387, year = {2018}, author = {Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Sowley, ENK and Ahiabor, BDK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Symbiotic N2 Fixation and Grain Yield of Endangered Kersting's Groundnut Landraces in Response to Soil and Plant Associated Bradyrhizobium Inoculation to Promote Ecological Resource-Use Efficiency.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2105}, pmid = {30271387}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum Harms) is a neglected, endangered food and medicinal legume in Africa. Efforts to harness the benefits of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis have focused on few major legumes to the neglect of underutilized ones such as Kersting's groundnut. This study assessed plant growth, N-fixed and grain yield of five Kersting's groundnut landraces in response to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strain CB756 at two locations in the Northern Region of Ghana. The transferability of cowpea-derived Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers to Kersting's groundnut was also assessed. The symbiotic results revealed significant variation in nodulation, shoot biomass, δ[15]N, percent N derived from fixation, amount of N-fixed and soil N uptake. The cross-taxa SSR primers revealed monomorphic bands with sizes within the expected range in all the Kersting's groundnut landraces. The results of the aligned nucleotide sequences revealed marked genetic variability among the landraces. Kersting's groundnut was found to be a low N2-fixer, with 28-45% of its N derived from fixation at Nyankpala and 15-29% at Savelugu. Nitrogen contribution was 28-50 kg N-fixed·ha[-1] at Nyankpala, and 12-32 kg N-fixed·ha[-1] at Savelugu. Uninoculated plants of the Kersting's groundnut landraces Puffeun, Dowie, Sigiri and Boli, respectively, contributed 22, 16, 13, and 15 kg N-fixed·ha[-1] from symbiosis at Savelugu as opposed to 89, 82, 69, and 89 kg N·ha[-1] from soil. Landrace Puffeun was highly compatible with the introduced strain CB756 if based on δ[15]N and %Ndfa values, while Dowie, Funsi and Boli showed greater compatibility with native rhizobia in Ghanaian soils. The unimproved Kersting's groundnut in association with soil microsymbionts could produce grain yield of 1,137-1,556 kg ha[-1] at Nyankpala, and 921-1,192 kg ha[-1] at Savelugu. These findings suggest the need for further work to improve the efficiency of the Kersting's groundnut-rhizobia symbiosis for increased grain yield and resource-use efficiency in cropping systems.}, } @article {pmid30270751, year = {2018}, author = {Xia, C and Li, N and Zhang, Y and Li, C and Zhang, X and Nan, Z}, title = {Role of Epichloë Endophytes in Defense Responses of Cool-Season Grasses to Pathogens: A Review.}, journal = {Plant disease}, volume = {102}, number = {11}, pages = {2061-2073}, doi = {10.1094/PDIS-05-18-0762-FE}, pmid = {30270751}, issn = {0191-2917}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; *Disease Resistance ; *Endophytes ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/immunology/microbiology ; Poaceae/immunology/*microbiology ; Salicylates/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Various cool-season grasses are infected by Epichloë endophyte, and this symbiotic relationship is always of benefit to the host grass due to an increased resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Fungal diseases adversely affect the yield, quality, and economic benefits of rangelands, which affects the production of animal husbandry. Therefore, it is imperative to breed resistant cultivars and to better understand the role of fungal endophytes in order to protect grasses against pathogens. The present review introduces research regarding how these endophytes affect the growth of pathogens in vitro and how they change the resistance of host plants to plant diseases. From the perspective of physical defense, changes in physiological indexes, and secretion of chemical compounds, we summarize the potential mechanisms by which endophytes are able to enhance the disease resistance of a host grass. Through these, we aim to establish a solid theoretical foundation for plant disease control and disease resistance breeding by application of fungal endophytes. A broader understanding of fungal endophyte effects on hosts could create a new opportunity for managing or introducing fungal symbioses in both agronomic or non-agronomic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30270573, year = {2019}, author = {Timmermans, ML and Picott, KJ and Ucciferri, L and Ross, AC}, title = {Culturing marine bacteria from the genus Pseudoalteromonas on a cotton scaffold alters secondary metabolite production.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e00724}, pmid = {30270573}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Biological Factors/*metabolism ; Cotton Fiber ; Culture Media/*chemistry ; Pseudoalteromonas/*growth & development/metabolism ; *Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {The discovery of secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms is beset by numerous challenges including difficulties cultivating and subsequently eliciting expression of biosynthetic genes from marine microbes in the laboratory. In this paper, we describe a method of culturing three species from the marine bacterial genus Pseudoalteromonas using cotton scaffold supplemented liquid media. This simple cultivation method was designed to mimic the natural behavior of some members of the genus wherein they form epibiotic/symbiotic associations with higher organisms such as sponges and corals or attach to solid structures as a biofilm. Our scaffolded cultivation is highly effective at stimulating an attachment/biofilm phenotype and causes large changes to metabolite profiles for the microbes investigated. Metabolite changes include alteration to the production levels of known molecules such as violacein, thiomarinol A, and the alterochromide and prodiginine families of molecules. Finally and critically, our technique stimulates the production of unknown compounds that will serve as leads for future natural product discovery. These results suggest our cultivation approach could potentially be used as a general strategy for the activation of silent gene clusters in marine microbes to facilitate access to their full natural product biosynthetic capacity.}, } @article {pmid30268783, year = {2019}, author = {Mansfield, KM and Gilmore, TD}, title = {Innate immunity and cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae mutualism.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {199-209}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2018.09.020}, pmid = {30268783}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/*immunology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; *Immunity, Innate ; Protozoan Infections/*immunology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylum Cnidaria (sea anemones, corals, hydra, jellyfish) is one the most distantly related animal phyla to humans, and yet cnidarians harbor many of the same cellular pathways involved in innate immunity in mammals. In addition to its role in pathogen recognition, the innate immune system has a role in managing beneficial microbes and supporting mutualistic microbial symbioses. Some corals and sea anemones undergo mutualistic symbioses with photosynthetic algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae. These symbioses can be disrupted by anthropogenic disturbances of ocean environments, which can have devastating consequences for the health of coral reef ecosystems. Several studies of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis have implicated proteins in the host immune system as playing a role in both symbiont tolerance and loss of symbiosis (i.e., bleaching). In this review, we critically evaluate current knowledge about the role of host immunity in the regulation of symbiosis in cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid30268635, year = {2019}, author = {Soenens, A and Gomila, M and Imperial, J}, title = {Neorhizobium tomejilense sp. nov., first non-symbiotic Neorhizobium species isolated from a dryland agricultural soil in southern Spain.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {128-134}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.09.001}, pmid = {30268635}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Operon ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; }, abstract = {We describe for the first time a non-symbiotic species of the recently described genus Neorhizobium, lacking nodulation or nitrogen fixation genes. The strains were isolated from a dryland agricultural soil in southern Spain where no record of legume cultivation is available, thus we propose the name Neorhizobium tomejilense sp. nov. (type strain T17_20[T], LMG 30623[T] and CECT 9621[T]). N. tomejilense exhibit a clear distinct lineage from the other Neorhizobium species, Neorhizobium galegae, Neorhizobium alkalisoli and Neorhizobium huautlense, based on polyphasic evidence. Phylogenetic marker analysis of 16S rDNA, atpD, glnII, recA, rpoB and thrC genes and genomic identity data derived from the draft genomic sequences showed that N. tomejilense strains clearly separated from the other Neorhizobium species and that N. galegae represents the closest species, with Average Nucleotide Identities (ANIb) ranging from 90% (for type strain HAMBI 540[T]) to just under 95.0% (for two N. galegae sv. officinalis strains). Genomes from N. galegae and N. tomejilense, however, clearly differed in important traits, such as the number of rRNA operon copies or the number of tRNAs. Phenotypic characterisation of N. tomejilense also displayed differences with the other Neorhizobium species. Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser-desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (WC MALDI-TOF-MS) fingerprint analysis and the dendrogram derived from the fingerprint profiles, showed a clearly distinct group formed by the three N. tomejilense isolates (T17_20[T], T20_22 and T11_12) from the other Neorhizobium especies.}, } @article {pmid30266750, year = {2018}, author = {Li, X and Zheng, J and Yang, Y and Liao, H}, title = {INCREASING NODULE SIZE1 Expression Is Required for Normal Rhizobial Symbiosis and Nodule Development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {178}, number = {3}, pages = {1233-1248}, pmid = {30266750}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Deletion ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodulation is crucial for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legumes, but the molecular mechanisms underlying BNF have remained elusive. Here, we cloned a candidate gene underlying a major nodulation quantitative trait locus in soybean (Glycine max), INCREASING NODULE SIZE1 (GmINS1). GmINS1 encodes a cell wall β-expansin and is expressed primarily in vascular bundles, along with cortical and parenchyma cells of nodules. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms distinguishing the two parents were found in the GmINS1 promoter region. Among them, single-nucleotide polymorphism A/C has a significant effect on GmINS1 expression in the parental genotype P2, based on β-glucuronidase activity and promoter deletion analysis. The expression of GmINS1 and the P2 genotype promoter was strongly associated with nodule development, not only in the parents but also in 40 progeny lines and 40 genotypes selected from a soybean core collection. Overexpression of GmINS1 resulted in increases in the number, biomass, infection cell abundance, and nitrogenase activity of large nodules and subsequently changed the nitrogen content and biomass of soybean plants. GmINS1 suppression via RNA interference had the opposite effect. Double suppression of GmEXPB2 and GmINS1 dramatically inhibited soybean nodulation. Our results reveal that GmINS1 is a critical gene in nodule development and that GmEXPB2 and GmINS1 synergistically control nodulation in soybean. Our findings shed light on the genetic basis of soybean nodulation and provide a candidate gene for optimizing BNF capacity through molecular breeding in soybean.}, } @article {pmid30264343, year = {2019}, author = {Van Dexter, S and Boopathy, R}, title = {Biodegradation of phenol by Acinetobacter tandoii isolated from the gut of the termite.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {33}, pages = {34067-34072}, pmid = {30264343}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biofuels ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Environmental Pollutants/*metabolism ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Phenol/metabolism ; Phenols/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The diet of wood-feeding termites (WFT) consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are utilized by symbiotic protozoa as a carbon source. Protozoa produce acetate, which is the carbon source of the termite. Recently, the mechanisms by which lignin is modified by termites have been reported. Lignin is broken down into its phenylpropanoid monomers and phenolic compounds. Bacteria from WFT gut capable of degrading lignin metabolic products are potentially valuable for bioremediation and biofuel production. A bacterium was isolated from the gut of the WFT and identified as Acinetobacter tandoii. This bacterium was capable of utilizing phenol as the sole carbon source and was able to completely degrade phenol at the concentration of 280 mg/L. A. tandoii degraded phenol via the ortho and β-ketoadipase pathway. This bacterium is a known phenol degrader, but to our knowledge, this is the first time it was isolated and tested for phenol-degrading ability from termites.}, } @article {pmid30263799, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, C and Liang, S and Wang, H and Guo, M}, title = {Physiochemical properties and probiotic survivability of symbiotic oat-based beverage.}, journal = {Food science and biotechnology}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {735-743}, pmid = {30263799}, issn = {2092-6456}, abstract = {The objectives of this study were to develop a symbiotic oat-based beverage (SOB) and to analyze its physiochemical properties and the probiotic survivability. The beverage base was prepared by fermenting a mix containing oat flour (10%, w/w), sugar (4%, w/w), and inulin (1%, w/w) with a commercial Lactobacillus plantarum (0.003%, w/w) at 30 °C for 12 h. The SOB was formulated using the fermented oat base, sugar, stabilizers (pectin and λ-carrageenan), vitamin C, and citric acid. The beverage was analyzed for total solids (11.65 ± 0.22%), protein (0.58 ± 0.02%), fat (0.37 ± 0.02%), carbohydrate (10.70 ± 0.33%), ash (0.14 ± 0.01%), and dietary fiber (0.70 ± 0.05%). The pH value of the beverage was stable at about 3.60 during 7-week storage. Lactobacillus plantarum population in the beverage remained above 10[7] CFU/g throughout the storage. Oat-based beverage is a low fat and high dietary fiber symbiotic food.}, } @article {pmid30263059, year = {2018}, author = {Pouncey, AL and Scott, AJ and Alexander, JL and Marchesi, J and Kinross, J}, title = {Gut microbiota, chemotherapy and the host: the influence of the gut microbiota on cancer treatment.}, journal = {Ecancermedicalscience}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {868}, pmid = {30263059}, issn = {1754-6605}, abstract = {The gut microbiota exists in a dynamic balance between symbiosis and pathogenesis and can influence almost any aspect of host physiology. Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota not only plays a key role in carcinogenesis but also influences the efficacy and toxicity of anticancer therapy. The microbiota modulates the host response to chemotherapy via numerous mechanisms, including immunomodulation, xenometabolism and alteration of community structure. Furthermore, exploitation of the microbiota offers opportunities for the personalisation of chemotherapeutic regimens and the development of novel therapies. In this article, we explore the host-chemotherapeutic microbiota axis, from basic science to clinical research, and describe how it may change the face of cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid30261621, year = {2018}, author = {Xue, Y and Zhuang, Q and Zhu, S and Xiao, B and Liang, C and Liao, H and Tian, J}, title = {Genome Wide Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Complex Regulatory Mechanisms Underlying Phosphate Homeostasis in Soybean Nodules.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30261621}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; *Homeostasis ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major limitation for legume crop production. Although overall adaptations of plant roots to P deficiency have been extensively studied, only fragmentary information is available in regard to root nodule responses to P deficiency. In this study, genome wide transcriptome analysis was conducted using RNA-seq analysis in soybean nodules grown under P-sufficient (500 μM KH2PO4) and P-deficient (25 μM KH2PO4) conditions to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying soybean (Glycine max) nodule adaptation to phosphate (Pi) starvation. Phosphorus deficiency significantly decreased soybean nodule growth and nitrogenase activity. Nodule Pi concentrations declined by 49% in response to P deficiency, but this was well below the 87% and 88% decreases observed in shoots and roots, respectively. Nodule transcript profiling revealed that a total of 2055 genes exhibited differential expression patterns between Pi sufficient and deficient conditions. A set of (differentially expressed genes) DEGs appeared to be involved in maintaining Pi homeostasis in soybean nodules, including eight Pi transporters (PTs), eight genes coding proteins containing the SYG1/PHO81/XPR1 domain (SPXs), and 16 purple acid phosphatases (PAPs). The results suggest that a complex transcriptional regulatory network participates in soybean nodule adaption to Pi starvation, most notable a Pi signaling pathway, are involved in maintaining Pi homeostasis in nodules.}, } @article {pmid30261003, year = {2018}, author = {Frolov, AO and Malysheva, MN and Ganyukova, AI and Yurchenko, V and Kostygov, AY}, title = {Obligate development of Blastocrithidia papi (Trypanosomatidae) in the Malpighian tubules of Pyrrhocoris apterus (Hemiptera) and coordination of host-parasite life cycles.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {e0204467}, pmid = {30261003}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Epithelial Cells/parasitology/ultrastructure ; Feces/parasitology ; Hemiptera/*parasitology/ultrastructure ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Intestines/parasitology/ultrastructure ; Life Cycle Stages ; Malpighian Tubules/*parasitology/ultrastructure ; Oviposition ; Trypanosomatina/*growth & development/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Blastocrithidia papi is a unique trypanosomatid in that its life cycle is synchronized with that of its host, and includes an obligate stage of development in Malpighian tubules (MTs). This occurs in firebugs, which exited the winter diapause. In the short period, preceding the mating of overwintered insects, the flagellates penetrate MTs of the host, multiply attached to the epithelial surface with their flagella, and start forming cyst-like amastigotes (CLAs) in large agglomerates. By the moment of oviposition, a large number of CLAs are already available in the rectum. They are discharged on the eggs' surface with feces, used for transmission of bugs' symbiotic bacteria, which are compulsorily engulfed by the newly hatched nymphs along with the CLAs. The obligate development of B. papi in MTs is definitely linked to the life cycle synchronization. The absence of peristalsis allow the trypanosomatids to accumulate and form dense CLA-forming subpopulations, whereas the lack of peritrophic structures facilitates the extensive discharge of CLAs directly into the hindgut lumen. The massive release of CLAs associated with oviposition is indispensable for maximization of the infection efficiency at the most favorable time point.}, } @article {pmid30259496, year = {2018}, author = {Hinzke, T and Kleiner, M and Markert, S}, title = {Centrifugation-Based Enrichment of Bacterial Cell Populations for Metaproteomic Studies on Bacteria-Invertebrate Symbioses.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1841}, number = {}, pages = {319-334}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8695-8_22}, pmid = {30259496}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Centrifugation/methods ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; *Proteome ; *Proteomics/methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Owing to high sample complexity, metaproteomic investigations on bacteria-animal symbioses with two or more uncultured partners can be challenging. A selective isolation or enrichment of distinct (sub-)populations within those consortia can solve this problem. Subsequent discrete proteomic analyses benefit from increased sample purity and higher proteome coverage for each of the individual organisms. Here, we describe centrifugation-based methods that allow for a separation of the host and its bacterial symbiont population(s), or even for an enrichment of distinct symbiotic cell cycle stages in the deep-sea mussels Bathymodiolus azoricus and B. thermophilus, the gutless oligochaete Olavius algarvensis and the deep-sea tube worm Riftia pachyptila, respectively.}, } @article {pmid30258414, year = {2018}, author = {Lorite, MJ and Estrella, MJ and Escaray, FJ and Sannazzaro, A and Videira E Castro, IM and Monza, J and Sanjuán, J and León-Barrios, M}, title = {The Rhizobia-Lotus Symbioses: Deeply Specific and Widely Diverse.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2055}, pmid = {30258414}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between Lotus and rhizobia has been long considered very specific and only two bacterial species were recognized as the microsymbionts of Lotus: Mesorhizobium loti was considered the typical rhizobia for the L. corniculatus complex, whereas Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lotus) was the symbiont for L. uliginosus and related species. As discussed in this review, this situation has dramatically changed during the last 15 years, with the characterization of nodule bacteria from worldwide geographical locations and from previously unexplored Lotus spp. Current data support that the Lotus rhizobia are dispersed amongst nearly 20 species in five genera (Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Ensifer, and Aminobacter). As a consequence, M. loti could be regarded an infrequent symbiont of Lotus, and several plant-bacteria compatibility groups can be envisaged. Despite the great progress achieved with the model L. japonicus in understanding the establishment and functionality of the symbiosis, the genetic and biochemical bases governing the stringent host-bacteria compatibility pairships within the genus Lotus await to be uncovered. Several Lotus spp. are grown for forage, and inoculation with rhizobia is a common practice in various countries. However, the great diversity of the Lotus rhizobia is likely squandered, as only few bacterial strains are used as inoculants for Lotus pastures in very different geographical locations, with a great variety of edaphic and climatic conditions. The agroecological potential of the genus Lotus can not be fully harnessed without acknowledging the great diversity of rhizobia-Lotus interactions, along with a better understanding of the specific plant and bacterial requirements for optimal symbiotic nitrogen fixation under increasingly constrained environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid30255557, year = {2019}, author = {Hage-Ahmed, K and Rosner, K and Steinkellner, S}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their response to pesticides.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {583-590}, pmid = {30255557}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/physiology ; Pesticides/*adverse effects/*pharmacology ; Plants ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with the majority of plant species and can provide multiple benefits to the host plant. In agro-ecosystems, the abundance and community structure of AMF are affected by agricultural management practices. This review describes and discusses current knowledge on the effects of inorganic and organic chemical pesticides on AMF in the conflicting area between agricultural use and environmental concerns. Variable effects have been reported following chemical pesticide use, ranging from neutral to positive and negative. Moreover, a species-specific reaction has been documented. The reported effects of pesticides on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis are very diverse, and even when the same substance is investigated, the results are often contradictory. These effects depend on many parameters, such as the active substance, the mode of action, the mode of application and the dosage. In the field, determinants such as the physico-chemical behavior of the active substances, the soil type and other soil microorganisms contribute to the fate of pesticides and thus the amount of active substances to which AMF are exposed. This review highlights that the fate of AMF following pesticide use needs to be addressed in a broader agro-ecosystem context. © 2018 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid30255541, year = {2019}, author = {Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Muñoz-Marín, MDC and Turk-Kubo, KA and Royo-Llonch, M and Farnelid, H and Acinas, SG and Zehr, JP}, title = {UCYN-A3, a newly characterized open ocean sublineage of the symbiotic N2 -fixing cyanobacterium Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {111-124}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14429}, pmid = {30255541}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//Biosensomics to SGA (Convocatoria 2015 de ayudas Fundación BBVA a investigadores y creadores culturales)/International ; FPI (BES-2014-068285)//Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/International ; 493.01//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/International ; //Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship/International ; 329108//Simons Collaboration on Ocean Processes and Ecology (SCOPE)/International ; 545171//Simons Foundation/International ; //Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness/International ; VR 637-2013-7502//Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Haptophyta/microbiology/physiology ; Hawaii ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic unicellular cyanobacterium Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (UCYN-A) is one of the most abundant and widespread nitrogen (N2)-fixing cyanobacteria in the ocean. Although it remains uncultivated, multiple sublineages have been detected based on partial nitrogenase (nifH) gene sequences, including the four most commonly detected sublineages UCYN-A1, UCYN-A2, UCYN-A3 and UCYN-A4. However, very little is known about UCYN-A3 beyond the nifH sequences from nifH gene diversity surveys. In this study, single cell sorting, DNA sequencing, qPCR and CARD-FISH assays revealed discrepancies involving the identification of sublineages, which led to new information on the diversity of the UCYN-A symbiosis. 16S rRNA and nifH gene sequencing on single sorted cells allowed us to identify the 16S rRNA gene of the uncharacterized UCYN-A3 sublineage. We designed new CARD-FISH probes that allowed us to distinguish and observe UCYN-A2 in a coastal location (SIO Pier; San Diego) and UCYN-A3 in an open ocean location (Station ALOHA; Hawaii). Moreover, we reconstructed about 13% of the UCYN-A3 genome from Tara Oceans metagenomic data. Finally, our findings unveil the UCYN-A3 symbiosis in open ocean waters suggesting that the different UCYN-A sublineages are distributed along different size fractions of the plankton defined by the cell-size ranges of their prymnesiophyte hosts.}, } @article {pmid30254321, year = {2019}, author = {Flechas, SV and Acosta-González, A and Escobar, LA and Kueneman, JG and Sánchez-Quitian, ZA and Parra-Giraldo, CM and Rollins-Smith, LA and Reinert, LK and Vredenburg, VT and Amézquita, A and Woodhams, DC}, title = {Microbiota and skin defense peptides may facilitate coexistence of two sympatric Andean frog species with a lethal pathogen.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {361-373}, pmid = {30254321}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Chytridiomycota/*isolation & purification ; Colombia ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/microbiology/veterinary ; Peptides/analysis/*pharmacology ; Skin/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Sympatry ; }, abstract = {Management of hyper-virulent generalist pathogens is an emergent global challenge, yet for most disease systems we lack a basic understanding as to why some host species suffer mass mortalities, while others resist epizootics. We studied two sympatric species of frogs from the Colombian Andes, which coexist with the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), to understand why some species did not succumb to the infection. We found high Bd prevalence in juveniles for both species, yet infection intensities remained low. We also found that bacterial community composition and host defense peptides are specific to amphibian life stages. We detected abundant Bd-inhibitory skin bacteria across life stages and Bd-inhibitory defense peptides post-metamorphosis in both species. Bd-inhibitory bacteria were proportionally more abundant in adults of both species than in earlier developmental stages. We tested for activity of peptides against the skin microbiota and found that in general peptides did not negatively affect bacterial growth and in some instances facilitated growth. Our results suggest that symbiotic bacteria and antimicrobial peptides may be co-selected for, and that together they contribute to the ability of Andean amphibian species to coexist with the global pandemic lineage of Bd.}, } @article {pmid30254121, year = {2018}, author = {Ankrah, NYD and Chouaia, B and Douglas, AE}, title = {The Cost of Metabolic Interactions in Symbioses between Insects and Bacteria with Reduced Genomes.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {30254121}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Insect ; Hemiptera/genetics/microbiology ; Insecta/*genetics/microbiology ; Metabolic Flux Analysis ; Metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Xylem ; }, abstract = {Various intracellular bacterial symbionts that provide their host with essential nutrients have much-reduced genomes, attributed largely to genomic decay and relaxed selection. To obtain quantitative estimates of the metabolic function of these bacteria, we reconstructed genome- and transcriptome-informed metabolic models of three xylem-feeding insects that bear two bacterial symbionts with complementary metabolic functions: a primary symbiont, Sulcia, that has codiversified with the insects, and a coprimary symbiont of distinct taxonomic origin and with different degrees of genome reduction in each insect species (Hodgkinia in a cicada, Baumannia in a sharpshooter, and Sodalis in a spittlebug). Our simulations reveal extensive bidirectional flux of multiple metabolites between each symbiont and the host, but near-complete metabolic segregation (i.e., near absence of metabolic cross-feeding) between the two symbionts, a likely mode of host control over symbiont metabolism. Genome reduction of the symbionts is associated with an increased number of host metabolic inputs to the symbiont and also reduced metabolic cost to the host. In particular, Sulcia and Hodgkinia with genomes of ≤0.3 Mb are calculated to recycle ∼30 to 80% of host-derived nitrogen to essential amino acids returned to the host, while Baumannia and Sodalis with genomes of ≥0.6 Mb recycle 10 to 15% of host nitrogen. We hypothesize that genome reduction of symbionts may be driven by selection for increased host control and reduced host costs, as well as by the stochastic process of genomic decay and relaxed selection.IMPORTANCE Current understanding of many animal-microbial symbioses involving unculturable bacterial symbionts with much-reduced genomes derives almost entirely from nonquantitative inferences from genome data. To overcome this limitation, we reconstructed multipartner metabolic models that quantify both the metabolic fluxes within and between three xylem-feeding insects and their bacterial symbionts. This revealed near-complete metabolic segregation between cooccurring bacterial symbionts, despite extensive metabolite exchange between each symbiont and the host, suggestive of strict host controls over the metabolism of its symbionts. We extended the model analysis to investigate metabolic costs. The positive relationship between symbiont genome size and the metabolic cost incurred by the host points to fitness benefits to the host of bearing symbionts with small genomes. The multicompartment metabolic models developed here can be applied to other symbioses that are not readily tractable to experimental approaches.}, } @article {pmid30253368, year = {2019}, author = {Huang, W and She, Z and Gao, M and Wang, Q and Jin, C and Zhao, Y and Guo, L}, title = {Effect of anaerobic/aerobic duration on nitrogen removal and microbial community in a simultaneous partial nitrification and denitrification system under low salinity.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {651}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {859-870}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.218}, pmid = {30253368}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Anaerobiosis ; Denitrification ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Salinity ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Wastewater/chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study, the simultaneous partial nitrification and denitrification (SPND) process was investigated in a hybrid sequencing batch biofilm reactor (HSBBR) fed with synthetic wastewater with 1.2% salinity. Different anaerobic/aerobic (An/Ae) durations were selected for evaluating the removal performance of contaminants and the succession of the microbial community in the reactor. The highest organic matter removal efficiency was obtained at An/Ae hour ratio of 0/6.5, with an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 89.6% at the steady state. Similarly high nitrogen removal efficiencies were achieved at An/Ae hour ratios of 1/5.5, 1.5/5 and 2/4.5,with over 92% of average total nitrogen removed. This represents an increase of more than 10% compared to the mode with An/Ae hour ratio of 0/6.5. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the increase of the An/Ae hour ratio changed the characteristics of the community structures in the HSBBR. Azoarcus was the most dominant genus when the An/Ae hour ratio was 0/6.5 in both suspended sludge (S-sludge) and biofilm, while Candidatus_Competibacter was the most abundant genus at An/Ae hour ratios of 2/4.5 and 3/3.5. Nitrosomonas was the only ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) detected in this study. Nitrospira, a kind of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), was sensitive to salinity and altering the An/Ae mode; this was detected only in S-sludge samples in a fully aerobic mode with a low percentage of 0.1%. S-sludge and biofilm samples shared a similar bacterial composition. This research demonstrated that efficient nitrogen and carbon removal could be achieved via the SPND process by the symbiotic functional groups in a hybrid S-sludge and biofilm reactor.}, } @article {pmid30253284, year = {2018}, author = {Fan, X and Chang, W and Feng, F and Song, F}, title = {Responses of photosynthesis-related parameters and chloroplast ultrastructure to atrazine in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {166}, number = {}, pages = {102-108}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.09.030}, pmid = {30253284}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Atrazine/*toxicity ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/drug effects/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Medicago sativa/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Atrazine is an ingredient in photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides and has been widely used to combat weeds in farmland. However, most atrazine that is applied fails to degrade in the soil and subsequently affects non-target plants. In this study, we investigated the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae on the photosynthesis-related parameters, chlorophyll content, and chloroplast ultrastructure in alfalfa plants, some of which had been exposed to atrazine. Our results showed that the percentage of AMF hyphal colonization reached 91.23% 35 days after the alfalfa was planted, which suggests a symbiotic relationship between F. mosseae and alfalfa roots. F. mosseae alleviated the inhibition of net photosynthesis and stomatal function significantly in alfalfa exposed to atrazine for 24 h. A chlorophyll fluorescence analysis revealed that F. mosseae prevented a major reduction in the performance of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry in the presence of atrazine, such as the relative decrease of Fv/Fm between the non-mycorrhizal and F. mosseae mycorrhizal treatments was 4.4% and 5.8% after 24 and 48 h of atrazine exposure time. However, F. mosseae has no significant alleviation on a sharp reduction in the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content in alfalfa exposed to atrazine. For the chloroplast ultrastructure in alfalfa exposed to atrazine, the number of both plastoglobules and partial granal stacks was greater in the presence of F. mosseae. In general, our results indicate that the F. mosseae inoculation was beneficial to sustain photosynthesis-related performance, such as net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield (ΦPSII) of PSII photochemistry in alfalfa after exposure to atrazine, because the mycorrhizal alfalfa had a greater number of plastoglobules and granal stacks in the chloroplast, thereby enhancing its resistance to the oxidative damage induced by atrazine.}, } @article {pmid30253156, year = {2018}, author = {Schofield, WB and Palm, NW}, title = {Gut Microbiota: IgA Protects the Pioneers.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {18}, pages = {R1117-R1119}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.019}, pmid = {30253156}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestines ; }, abstract = {The secretory antibody immunoglobulin A counteracts pathogenic infections at mucosal surfaces. Recent work now reveals that IgA responses can also stabilize intestinal colonization by symbiotic microorganisms and confer resistance to future invasion by exogenous competitors.}, } @article {pmid30253017, year = {2019}, author = {Varga, S and Soulsbury, CD}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi change host plant DNA methylation systemically.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {278-283}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12917}, pmid = {30253017}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*DNA Methylation ; DNA, Plant/*genetics ; Geranium/genetics/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/genetics/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism regulating gene expression in plants. DNA methylation has been shown to vary among species and also among plant tissues. However, no study has evaluated whether arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi affect DNA methylation levels in a tissue-specific manner. We investigated whether symbiosis with AM fungi affects DNA methylation in the host, focusing on different plant tissues (roots versus leaves) and across time. We carried out a 6-month pot experiment using Geranium robertianum in symbiosis with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae. Our results show that the pattern of total DNA methylation differed between leaves and roots and was related to when plants were harvested, confirming that DNA methylation is a process that occurs dynamically throughout an organism's lifetime. More importantly, the presence of AM fungus in roots of our experimental plants had a positive effect on total DNA methylation in both tissues. This study shows that colonisation by AM fungi can affect DNA methylation levels in their hosts and that plant DNA methylation varies in an age- and tissue-specific manner.}, } @article {pmid30252618, year = {2019}, author = {Berrabah, F and Ratet, P and Gourion, B}, title = {Legume Nodules: Massive Infection in the Absence of Defense Induction.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {35-44}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-18-0205-FI}, pmid = {30252618}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Fabaceae/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Immunity ; *Rhizobium ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Plants of the legume family host massive intracellular bacterial populations in the tissues of specialized organs, the nodules. In these organs, the bacteria, named rhizobia, can fix atmospheric nitrogen and transfer it to the plant. This special metabolic skill provides to the legumes an advantage when they grow on nitrogen-scarce substrates. While packed with rhizobia, the nodule cells remain alive, metabolically active, and do not develop defense reactions. Here, we review our knowledge on the control of plant immunity during the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. We present the results of an evolutionary process that selected both divergence of microbial-associated molecular motifs and active suppressors of immunity on the rhizobial side and, on the legume side, active mechanisms that contribute to suppression of immunity.}, } @article {pmid30251133, year = {2018}, author = {Li, M and Wang, R and Tian, H and Gao, Y}, title = {Transcriptome responses in wheat roots to colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {747-759}, pmid = {30251133}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; Triticum/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization on the expression of genes in the roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at the transcriptome level is largely unknown. A pot experiment was established to study the responses of the transcriptome profile in the roots of wheat to colonization by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis using high through-put sequencing methods. The results indicated that the expression of 11,746 genes was regulated by AM colonization, and 64.7% of them were up-regulated genes. 1106 genes were only expressed in roots colonized by AM fungi, and 108 genes were only expressed in non-mycorrhizal roots. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily distributed on the 2B, 3B, 2A, 2D, and 5B chromosomes of wheat. The DEGs (including both up- and down- regulated) mainly located on membranes, and functioned in nucleotide binding and transferase activity during cellular protein modification and biosynthetic processes. The data revealed that AM colonization up-regulated genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and transcription factors which play vital roles in protecting plants from biotic or abiotic stresses. A number of key genes involved in molecular signal biosynthesis and recognition, epidermal cell colonization and arbuscule formation, carbon and nutrients exchange during AM symbiosis were found. All the ammonium transporter (AMT), iron-phytosiderophore transporter, boron, zinc, and magnesium transporter genes found in our study were up-regulated DEGs. One new AM-specific induced AMT and three new AM-specific induced nitrate transporter (NRT) genes were found in the roots of wheat colonized by AM fungi, even though a negative growth response of wheat to AM colonization occurred. The present study provided new information which is important for understanding the mechanisms behind the development and function of the symbiosis between wheat and AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid30250917, year = {2018}, author = {Linden, CV and Corbet, C}, title = {Killing two birds with one stone: Blocking the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier to inhibit lactate uptake by cancer cells and radiosensitize tumors.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular oncology}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {e1465016}, pmid = {30250917}, issn = {2372-3556}, abstract = {Lactate-based metabolic symbiosis between glycolytic and oxidative cancer cells is known to facilitate tumor growth. We have recently demonstrated that 7ACC2 blocks extracellular lactate uptake via the inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier. 7ACC2 also prevents compensatory glucose oxidation, induces tumor reoxygenation and potentiates radiotherapy, making it a promising anticancer drug.}, } @article {pmid30250634, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, X and Luo, Y and Liu, D and Wang, J and Wei, S and Zhao, L}, title = {Complete genome sequence of the Robinia pseudoacacia L. symbiont Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {18}, pmid = {30250634}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 was isolated in 2006, from effective nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia L. grown in lead-zinc mine tailing site, in Gansu Province, China. M. amorphae CCNWGS0123 is an aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod strain. This paper characterized M. amorphae CCNWGS0123 and presents its complete genome sequence information and genome annotation. The 7,374,589 bp long genome which encodes 7136 protein-coding genes and 63 RNA coding genes, contains one chromosome and four plasmids. Moreover, a chromosome with no gaps was assembled.}, } @article {pmid30249180, year = {2018}, author = {Minei, R and Hoshina, R and Ogura, A}, title = {De novo assembly of middle-sized genome using MinION and Illumina sequencers.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {700}, pmid = {30249180}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Chlorella/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Plant ; Models, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The plastid acquisition by secondary endosymbiosis is a driving force for the algal evolution, and the comparative genomics was required to examine the genomic change of symbiont. Therefore, we established a pipeline of a de novo assembly of middle-sized genomes at a low cost and with high quality using long and short reads.

RESULTS: We sequenced symbiotic algae Chlorella variabilis using Oxfofrd Nanopore MinION as the long-read sequencer and Illumina HiSeq 4000 as the short-read sequencer and then assembled the genomes under various conditions. Subsequently, we evaluated these assemblies by the gene model quality and RNA-seq mapping rate. We found that long-read only assembly could not be suitable for the comparative genomics studies, but with short reads, we could obtain the acceptable assembly. On the basis of this result, we established the pipeline of de novo assembly for middle-sized algal genome using MinION.

CONCLUSIONS: The genomic change during the early stages of plastid acquisition can now be revealed by sequencing and comparing many algal genomes. Moreover, this pipeline offers a solution for the assembly of various middle-sized eukaryotic genomes with high-quality and ease.}, } @article {pmid30249054, year = {2018}, author = {Uțoiu, E and Matei, F and Toma, A and Diguță, CF and Ștefan, LM and Mănoiu, S and Vrăjmașu, VV and Moraru, I and Oancea, A and Israel-Roming, F and Cornea, CP and Constantinescu-Aruxandei, D and Moraru, A and Oancea, F}, title = {Bee Collected Pollen with Enhanced Health Benefits, Produced by Fermentation with a Kombucha Consortium.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30249054}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/prevention & control ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/metabolism ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms/prevention & control ; Culture Media ; Drug Compounding/methods ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; Food Microbiology ; Humans ; *Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; Lactobacillaceae/*metabolism ; Mice ; Plant Extracts/metabolism/therapeutic use ; *Pollen/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Polyphenols/metabolism ; Silicon/*metabolism ; Sugars/metabolism ; *Tea/metabolism/microbiology ; Yeasts/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The bioavailability of pollen bioactive compounds for humans is limited. In this study, our aim was to enhance the health-related benefits of pollen by fermentation with a Kombucha/SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts) consortium. We performed the fermentation of pollen suspended from the beginning with SCOBY on sweetened green tea or on Kombucha vinegar, by adding pollen after 20 days of Kombucha fermentation. We analyzed: formation of bioactive compounds (anti-oxidant polyphenols, soluble silicon, hydroxy-acids, short chain fatty acids-SCFA); parameters related to Kombucha fermentation (dynamics of lactic acid bacteria-LAB, formation of organic acids, soluble sugar evolution on Kombucha vinegar); the influence of Kombucha fermentation on pollen morphology and ultrastructure; in vitro cytotoxic and antitumoral effects of the Kombucha fermented pollen. The pollen addition increases LAB proportion in the total number of SCOBY microbial strains. SEM images highlight the adhesion of the SCOBY bacteria to pollen. Ultrastructural analysis reveals the release of the pollen content. The content of bioactive compounds (polyphenols, soluble silicon species and SCFA) is higher in the fermented pollen and the product shows a moderate antitumoral effect on Caco-2 cells. The health benefits of pollen are enhanced by fermentation with a Kombucha consortium.}, } @article {pmid30248937, year = {2018}, author = {Janczarek, M and Vinardell, JM and Lipa, P and Karaś, M}, title = {Hanks-Type Serine/Threonine Protein Kinases and Phosphatases in Bacteria: Roles in Signaling and Adaptation to Various Environments.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {30248937}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Reversible phosphorylation is a key mechanism that regulates many cellular processes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In prokaryotes, signal transduction includes two-component signaling systems, which involve a membrane sensor histidine kinase and a cognate DNA-binding response regulator. Several recent studies indicate that alternative regulatory pathways controlled by Hanks-type serine/threonine kinases (STKs) and serine/threonine phosphatases (STPs) also play an essential role in regulation of many different processes in bacteria, such as growth and cell division, cell wall biosynthesis, sporulation, biofilm formation, stress response, metabolic and developmental processes, as well as interactions (either pathogenic or symbiotic) with higher host organisms. Since these enzymes are not DNA-binding proteins, they exert the regulatory role via post-translational modifications of their protein targets. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of STKs and STPs, and discuss how these enzymes mediate gene expression in prokaryotes. Many studies indicate that regulatory systems based on Hanks-type STKs and STPs play an essential role in the regulation of various cellular processes, by reversibly phosphorylating many protein targets, among them several regulatory proteins of other signaling cascades. These data show high complexity of bacterial regulatory network, in which the crosstalk between STK/STP signaling enzymes, components of TCSs, and the translational machinery occurs. In this regulation, the STK/STP systems have been proved to play important roles.}, } @article {pmid30246365, year = {2018}, author = {Murakami, T and Segawa, T and Takeuchi, N and Barcaza Sepúlveda, G and Labarca, P and Kohshima, S and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Metagenomic analyses highlight the symbiotic association between the glacier stonefly Andiperla willinki and its bacterial gut community.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {11}, pages = {4170-4183}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14420}, pmid = {30246365}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {16H04840//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 17K19423//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 22241005//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 23117003//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; 26241020//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; GS009//NEXT/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Ice Cover/*parasitology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; Metagenomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The glacier stonefly Andiperla willinki is the largest metazoan inhabiting the Patagonian glaciers. In this study, we analysed the gut microbiome of the aquatic nymphs by 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metagenomic sequencing. The bacterial gut community was consistently dominated by taxa typical of animal digestive tracts, such as Dysgonomonadaceae and Lachnospiraceae, as well as those generally indigenous to glacier environments, such as Polaromonas. Interestingly, the dominant Polaromonas phylotypes detected in the stonefly gut were almost never detected in the glacier surface habitat. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed that the bacterial lineages typical of animal guts colonized the gut wall in a co-aggregated form, while Polaromonas cells were not included in the aggregates. Draft genomes of several dominant bacterial lineages were reconstructed from metagenomic datasets and indicated that the predominant Dysgonomonadaceae bacterium is capable of degrading various polysaccharides derived from host-ingested food, such as algae, and that other dominant bacterial lineages ferment saccharides liberated by the polysaccharide degradation. Our results suggest that the gut bacteria-host association in the glacier stonefly contributes to host nutrition as well as material cycles in the glacier environment.}, } @article {pmid30245683, year = {2018}, author = {Hernandez-Agreda, A and Leggat, W and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {A Comparative Analysis of Microbial DNA Preparation Methods for Use With Massive and Branching Coral Growth Forms.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2146}, pmid = {30245683}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the last two decades, over 100 studies have investigated the structure of the coral microbiome. However, as yet there are no standardized methods applied to sample preservation and preparation, with different studies using distinct methods. There have also been several comparisons made of microbiome data generated across different studies, which have not addressed the influence of the methodology employed over each of the microbiome datasets. Here, we assess three different preservation methods; salt saturated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) - EDTA, snap freezing with liquid nitrogen and 4% paraformaldehyde solution, and two different preparation methodologies; bead beating and crushing, that have been applied to study the coral microbiome. We compare the resultant bacterial assemblage data for two coral growth forms, the massive coral Goniastrea edwardsi and the branching coral Isopora palifera. We show that microbiome datasets generated from differing preservation and processing protocols are comparable in composition (presence/absence). Significant discrepancies between preservation and homogenization methods are observed in structure (relative abundance), and in the occurrence and dominance of taxa, with rare (low abundance and low occurrence) phylotypes being the most variable fraction of the microbial community. Finally, we provide evidence to support chemical preservation with DMSO as effective as snap freezing samples for generating reliable and robust microbiome datasets. In conclusion, we recommend where possible a standardized preservation and extraction method be taken up by the field to provide the best possible practices for detailed assessments of symbiotic and conserved bacterial associations.}, } @article {pmid30245343, year = {2018}, author = {Duc, NH and Csintalan, Z and Posta, K}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate negative effects of combined drought and heat stress on tomato plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {297-307}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.09.011}, pmid = {30245343}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Biomass ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Fluorescence ; Genes, Plant ; Heat-Shock Response/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/enzymology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can alleviate drought and temperature stresses in plants, but it is unknown whether the benefits can be maintained when the plants are exposed to combined drought and heat stress. In this study, the impacts of AM fungi, Septoglomus deserticola and Septoglomus constrictum on tomato plant tolerance to combined drought and heat stress were investigated. No substantial differences in physiological parameters were found in all plants under non-stress conditions, except a higher expression of SlLOXD and SlPIP2.7 in plants + S. constrictum. Under drought, heat and drought + heat stress, both fungal symbionts could moderate oxidative stress by decreasing the lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide level and improving leaf and root antioxidant enzyme activities, however better performance in plants + S. constrictum. Under drought and the combined stress, inoculation with S. constrictum enhanced stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and relative water content, elevated Fv/Fm and biomass production of the hosts as compared to non-inoculated plants whilst these improvements in plants + S. deserticola were not obvious. Under the combined stress inoculation of S. constrictum did not change the expression of SlNCED and SlPIP2.7 in roots as under heat stress. Expression of SlLOXD in root were upregulated in plants + S. contrictum under drought + heat stress as in mycorrhizal roots under drought stress. Altogether, our results indicated that AM inoculation, particularly with S. constrictum had a positive influence on the tomato plant tolerance to drought + heat stress. Further studies are essential to add some light on molecular mechanisms of mycorrhizal plant tolerance to this combined stress.}, } @article {pmid30240427, year = {2018}, author = {Plytycz, B and Bigaj, J and Panz, T and Grzmil, P}, title = {Asymmetrical hybridization and gene flow between Eisenia andrei and E. fetida lumbricid earthworms.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {e0204469}, pmid = {30240427}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; Fluorescence ; *Gene Flow ; Genotype ; *Hybridization, Genetic ; Oligochaeta/*genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Pigmentation/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Uniformly pigmented Eisenia andrei (Ea) and striped E. fetida (Ef) lumbricid earthworms are hermaphrodites capable of self-fertilization, cross-fertilization, and asymmetrical hybridization. The latter was detected by genotyping of F1 and F2 progeny of the controlled Ea+Ef pairs by species-specific sequences of maternal mitochondrial COI genes and maternal/paternal nuclear S28 rRNA genes. Among F1offspring there were self-fertilized Ea (aAA), Ef (fFF), and cross-fertilized fertile Ea-derived hybrids (aAF); the latter mated with Ea and gave new generation of Ea and hybrids, while mated with Ef gave Ea, Ef, Ea-derived hybrids and sterile Ef-derived hybrids (fFA). Coelomic fluid of Ea exhibits unique fluorescence spectra called here the M-fluorescence considered as a molecular biomarker of this species. Since similar fluorescence was detected also in some Ef (hypothetical hybrids?), the aim of present investigations was to identify the M-positive earthworms among families genotyped previously. It was assumed that factor/s responsible for metabolic pathways leading to production of undefined yet M-fluorophore might be encoded/controlled by alleles of hypothetical nuclear gene of Eisenia sp. segregating independently from species-specific S28 rRNA nuclear genes, where 'MM' or 'Mm' alleles determine M-positivity while 'mm' alleles determine M-negative phenotypes. Spectra of M-fluorescence were detected in all 10 Ea (aAAMM) and 19 Ea-derived hybrids (aAFMm), three of four Ef-derived hybrids (fFAMm) and one 'atypical' Ef (fFFMm) among 13 Ef earthworms. Among progeny of 'atypical' M-positive Ef (fFFMm) reappeared 'typical' M-negative Ef (fFFmm), confirming such hypothesis. Alternatively, the M-fluorescence might be dependent on unknown gene products of vertically-transmitted Ea-specific symbiotic bacteria sexually transferred to the Ef partner. Hypotheses of intrinsic and external origin of M-fluorescence might complement each other. The presence/absence of M-fluorophore does not correspond with body pigmentation patterns; Ef-characteristic banding appeared in posterior parts of hybrids body. In conclusion, Ea/Ef hybridization may serve for further studies on bi-directional gene flow.}, } @article {pmid30240129, year = {2019}, author = {Sun, K and Cao, W and Hu, LY and Fu, WQ and Gong, JH and Kang, N and Dai, CC}, title = {Symbiotic fungal endophyte Phomopsis liquidambari-rice system promotes nitrogen transformation by influencing below-ground straw decomposition in paddy soil.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {126}, number = {1}, pages = {191-203}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14111}, pmid = {30240129}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Archaea/metabolism ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Stems/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To explore if and how symbiotic Phomopsis liquidambari-rice system influences below-ground straw decomposition and then nitrogen(N) transformation in response to environmental N levels.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Litter bag experiments were utilized to trace the decay process during rice growth phases (seedling (T1), tillering (T2), heading (T3) and maturing (T4) stage), with (E+) and without endophyte (E-), under low (LN), medium (MN) and high nitrogen (HN) supply. Litter, soil and plant samples were collected to evaluate the decay process, N transformations, plant quality and relative abundance of soil ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and P. liquidambari. The results showed that straw decomposition increased by 19·76% (LN, T2 stage), 14·05% (MN, T3 stage) and 16·88% (MN, T4 stage) in E+ pots when compared with E- pots. Further analysis revealed that no significant endophyte × N interaction was found for straw decay rate and that the decay rate was reduced by a higher N supply (LN, 37·16 ± 0·65%; MN, 32·27 ± 1·72%; HN, 29·44 ± 1·22%) at the T1 stage, whereas straw decay rate and N release increased by 9·38 and 11·16%, respectively, mainly by endophyte colonization at the T4 stage. The abundance of AOA and AOB were altered, corresponding with the decay rate. Soil mineral N, straw mineral N and plant quality were shown to increase in E+ pots, depending on environmental N conditions and growth phase. The yield increased by 2·98% for E+ plants under MN level.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotic P. liquidambari-rice system promoted below-ground straw decomposition and N transformation, depending on environmental N levels and plant growth phase.

This study provides evidence that fungal endophyte-plant systems are able to promote N transformation by increasing straw decomposition. A reasonable combination of N inputs could enhance its advantage in agriculture ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid30239843, year = {2018}, author = {Hess, J and Skrede, I and Chaib De Mares, M and Hainaut, M and Henrissat, B and Pringle, A}, title = {Rapid Divergence of Genome Architectures Following the Origin of an Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis in the Genus Amanita.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {35}, number = {11}, pages = {2786-2804}, pmid = {30239843}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Amanita/enzymology/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi are evolutionary shape shifters and adapt quickly to new environments. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbioses are mutualistic associations between fungi and plants and have evolved repeatedly and independently across the fungal tree of life, suggesting lineages frequently reconfigure genome content to take advantage of open ecological niches. To date analyses of genomic mechanisms facilitating EM symbioses have involved comparisons of distantly related species, but here, we use the genomes of three EM and two asymbiotic (AS) fungi from the genus Amanita as well as an AS outgroup to study genome evolution following a single origin of symbiosis. Our aim was to identify the defining features of EM genomes, but our analyses suggest no clear differentiation of genome size, gene repertoire size, or transposable element content between EM and AS species. Phylogenetic inference of gene gains and losses suggests the transition to symbiosis was dominated by the loss of plant cell wall decomposition genes, a confirmation of previous findings. However, the same dynamic defines the AS species A. inopinata, suggesting loss is not strictly associated with origin of symbiosis. Gene expansions in the common ancestor of EM Amanita were modest, but lineage specific and large gene family expansions are found in two of the three EM extant species. Even closely related EM genomes appear to share few common features. The genetic toolkit required for symbiosis appears already encoded in the genomes of saprotrophic species, and this dynamic may explain the pervasive, recurrent evolution of ectomycorrhizal associations.}, } @article {pmid30239659, year = {2018}, author = {Babcock, T and Borden, J and Gries, R and Carroll, C and Moore, M and Gries, G}, title = {Lachancea thermotolerans, a Yeast Symbiont of Yellowjackets, Enhances Attraction of Three Yellowjacket Species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) to Fruit Powder.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {47}, number = {6}, pages = {1553-1559}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvy139}, pmid = {30239659}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; *Fruit ; Insect Control/methods ; Pheromones/*analysis ; Saccharomycetales/*chemistry ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Previously, we showed that the symbiotic yeast Lachancea thermotolerans (Filippov) (Saccharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae) is attractive to its Vespula (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) yellowjacket hosts when grown on media supplemented with grape juice. We hypothesized that "Concerto", a commercial strain of this yeast, could be combined with fruit powder to form a shelf-stable bait for trapping yellowjackets. Using molecular techniques, we first confirmed that Concerto yeast is indeed the species L. thermotolerans. We then tested whether: 1) Concerto yeast produces volatiles similar to those produced by L. thermotolerans isolated from yellowjackets, 2) Concerto yeast enhances attraction of yellowjackets to fruit powder, 3) a Concerto yeast/fruit powder bait interacts synergistically with a yellowjacket semiochemical lure, and 4) a synthetic analog blend of Concerto-produced volatiles attracts yellowjackets. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that the chemical composition of Concerto-produced volatiles closely resembles that produced by a yellowjacket-isolated strain of L. thermotolerans. In field experiments, addition of Concerto to fruit powder doubled its attractiveness to yellowjackets. Addition of the Concerto/fruit powder bait to a heptyl butyrate-based wasp lure revealed a weak additive effect. A three-component synthetic analog blend of volatiles identified from the Concerto/fruit powder bait attracted Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure), but no other yellowjacket species. Our results suggest that commercial L. thermotolerans in combination with fruit powder could be used as a yellowjacket bait, and that addition of yeast-produced volatiles to a commercial wasp lure may improve its attractiveness to V. pensylvanica. Further research should determine why the synthetic volatile blend failed to attract Vespula species other than V. pensylvanica.}, } @article {pmid30238312, year = {2018}, author = {Frare, R and Ayub, N and Alleva, K and Soto, G}, title = {The Ammonium Channel NOD26 is the Evolutionary Innovation that Drives the Emergence, Consolidation, and Dissemination of Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis in Angiosperms.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {86}, number = {8}, pages = {554-565}, pmid = {30238312}, issn = {1432-1432}, support = {PICT-2015-0090//Agencia/International ; }, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Anaerobiosis/physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence indicates that N-fixing symbiosis has evolved several times in the N-fixing clade of angiosperms and that this evolution is driven by a single evolutionary innovation. However, the genetics of this ancestral predisposition to N-fixing symbiosis remains unclear. A natural candidate for such molecular innovation is the ammonium channel NOD26, the main protein component of the symbiosome membrane, which facilitates the plant uptake of the nitrogen fixed by symbiotic bacteria. Here, in concordance with the emergence of N-fixing symbiosis in angiosperms but not in ancestral plants, phylogenetic analysis showed that NOD26 belongs to an angiosperm-exclusive subgroup of aquaporins. Integrated genomic, phylogenetic, and gene expression analyses supported NOD26 occurrence in the N-fixing clade, the increase in the NOD26 copy number by block and tandem duplications in legumes, and the low-copy number or even the loss of NOD26 in non-legume species of the N-fixing clade, which correlated with the possibility to lose N-fixing symbiosis in legume and non-legume lineages. Metabolic reconstructions showed that retention of NOD26 in N-fixing precursor could represent an adaptive mechanism to bypass energy crisis during anaerobic stress by ammonium detoxification. Finally, we discuss the potential use of NOD26 to transfer N-fixation to non-N-fixing crops as cereals.}, } @article {pmid30238220, year = {2019}, author = {Romero-Luna, HE and Hernández-Sánchez, H and Ribas-Aparicio, RM and Cauich-Sánchez, PI and Dávila-Ortiz, G}, title = {Evaluation of the Probiotic Potential of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain (C41) Isolated from Tibicos by In Vitro Studies.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {794-800}, pmid = {30238220}, issn = {1867-1314}, mesh = {Antioxidants/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Beverages/*microbiology ; Fermented Foods/*microbiology ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Probiotics/chemistry/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Artisanal fermented beverages have been associated with beneficial effects for a long time. In Mexico, there are a wide variety of artisanal fermented beverages such as Tepache, where the fermentation is initiated by the addition of grains of a polysaccharide-containing biofilm matrix formed by a symbiotic association of bacteria and yeasts known as "Tibicos." These microorganisms can be responsible for the beneficial effect associated with fermented beverages inoculated with Tibicos. The probiotic potential of microorganisms has been widely studied, mainly in lactic acid bacteria, while despite the wide distribution of yeasts, these have not been so studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the probiotic potential properties of a yeast isolated from Tibicos. For this, the yeast was identified by molecular techniques as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which showed a good resistance to pH 2.0, bile salts and in vitro digestion. The results also showed a good ability to form cellular aggregates as a result of having a hydrophobic surface. In addition, it can be considered as safe since it does not show hemolytic activity and is sensitive to nystatin. Additionally, the yeast presented an excellent antioxidant capacity to reduce the DPPH radical. The S. cerevisiae strain C41 isolated from Tibicos was successfully compared by means of in vitro tests with the only recognized probiotic yeast, S. boulardii. These findings point Saccharomyces cerevisiae C41 as a potentially probiotic yeast; nevertheless, it is necessary to consider further in vitro and in vivo studies that establish the benefits that this yeast could provide.}, } @article {pmid30236886, year = {2018}, author = {Kropp, LM and Parsley, CB and Burnett, OL}, title = {Millepora species (Fire Coral) Sting: A Case Report and Review of Recommended Management.}, journal = {Wilderness & environmental medicine}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {521-526}, doi = {10.1016/j.wem.2018.06.012}, pmid = {30236886}, issn = {1545-1534}, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; Bites and Stings/diagnosis/*pathology/physiopathology/*therapy ; Cnidarian Venoms/antagonists & inhibitors/*poisoning ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diving ; Female ; Florida ; Histamine Antagonists/administration & dosage ; Humans ; *Hydrozoa ; Pain Management ; Recreation ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Fire corals (Millepora spp) are the second most common reef-forming organisms and are frequently found in tropical and subtropical waters. Fire corals are not true corals but rather hydrozoans more closely related to jellyfish and sea nettles. Rigidly affixed to the reef and with a branching structure, each fire coral is a colony of numerous individual hydrozoans forming a collective symbiotic organism. It is common for divers to accidentally make contact with fire corals. Fire coral contact is characterized by the immediate onset of burning pain caused by venom discharge from numerous tiny nematocysts located externally on the creature. Treatment consists of saltwater irrigation of the wound, nematocyst removal, and supportive care of the associated symptoms of pain, dermatitis, and pruritus. Rarely, fire coral can cause systemic toxicity. We present a case report of a 30-y-old recreational diver who experienced a fire coral sting of her left anterior thigh and review the recommended prevention and management of fire coral stings.}, } @article {pmid30233618, year = {2018}, author = {Bilal, S and Shahzad, R and Khan, AL and Kang, SM and Imran, QM and Al-Harrasi, A and Yun, BW and Lee, IJ}, title = {Endophytic Microbial Consortia of Phytohormones-Producing Fungus Paecilomyces formosus LHL10 and Bacteria Sphingomonas sp. LK11 to Glycine max L. Regulates Physio-hormonal Changes to Attenuate Aluminum and Zinc Stresses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1273}, pmid = {30233618}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The compatible microbial consortia containing fungal and bacterial symbionts acting synergistically are applied to improve plant growth and eco-physiological responses in extreme crop growth conditions. However, the interactive effects of phytohormones-producing endophytic fungal and bacterial symbionts plant growth and stress tolerance under heavy metal stress have been least known. In the current study, the phytohormones-producing endophytic Paecilomyces formosus LHL10 and Sphingomonas sp. LK11 revealed potent growth and tolerance during their initial screening against combined Al and Zn (2.5 mM each) stress. This was followed with their co-inoculation in the Al- and Zn-stressed Glycine max L. plants, showing significantly higher plant growth attributes (shoot/root length, fresh/dry weight, and chlorophyll content) than the plants solely inoculated with LHL10 or LK11 and the non-inoculated (control) plants under metal stresses. Interestingly, under metal stress, the consortia exhibited lower metal uptake and inhibited metal transport in roots. Metal-induced oxidative stresses were modulated in co-inoculated plants through reduced hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) in comparison to the non-inoculated plants. In addition, endophytic co-inoculation enhanced plant macronutrient uptake (P, K, S, and N) and modulated soil enzymatic activities under stress conditions. It significantly downregulated the expression of heavy metal ATPase genes GmHMA13, GmHMA18, GmHMA19, and GmPHA1 and upregulated the expression of an ariadne-like ubiquitin ligase gene GmARI1 under heavy metals stress. Furthermore, the endogenous phytohormonal contents of co-inoculated plants revealed significantly enhanced gibberellins and reduced abscisic acid and jasmonic acid contents, suggesting that this endophytic interaction mitigated the adverse effect of metal stresses in host plants. In conclusion, the co-inoculation of the endophytic fungus LHL10 and bacteria LK11 actively contributed to the tripartite mutualistic symbiosis in G. max under heavy metal stresses; this could be used an excellent strategy for sustainable agriculture in the heavy metal-contaminated fields.}, } @article {pmid30233616, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, M and Arato, M and Borghi, L and Nouri, E and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Beneficial Services of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi - From Ecology to Application.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1270}, pmid = {30233616}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is the most common symbiotic association of plants with microbes. AM fungi occur in the majority of natural habitats and they provide a range of important ecological services, in particular by improving plant nutrition, stress resistance and tolerance, soil structure and fertility. AM fungi also interact with most crop plants including cereals, vegetables, and fruit trees, therefore, they receive increasing attention for their potential use in sustainable agriculture. Basic research of the past decade has revealed the existence of a dedicated recognition and signaling pathway that is required for AM. Furthermore, recent evidence provided new insight into the exchange of nutritional benefits between the symbiotic partners. The great potential for application of AM has given rise to a thriving industry for AM-related products for agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping. Here, we discuss new developments in these fields, and we highlight future potential and limits toward the use of AM fungi for plant production.}, } @article {pmid30233614, year = {2018}, author = {Nadeau, MB and Laur, J and Khasa, DP}, title = {Mycorrhizae and Rhizobacteria on Precambrian Rocky Gold Mine Tailings: I. Mine-Adapted Symbionts Promote White Spruce Health and Growth.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1267}, pmid = {30233614}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {White spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] is a commercially valuable boreal tree that has been known for its ability to colonize deglaciated rock tailings. Over the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in using this species for the revegetation and successful restoration of abandoned mine spoils. Herein, we conducted a glasshouse experiment to screen mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria capable of improving the health and growth of white spruce seedlings growing directly on waste rocks (WRs) or fine tailings (FTs) from the Sigma-Lamaque gold mine located in the Canadian Abitibi region. After 32 weeks, measurements of health, growth, and mycorrhizal colonization variables of seedlings were performed. Overall, symbionts isolated from roots of healthy white spruce seedlings growing on the mining site, especially Cadophora finlandia Cad. fin. MBN0213 GenBank No. KC840625 and Pseudomonas putida MBN0213 GenBank No. AY391278, were more efficient in enhancing seedling health and growth than allochthonous species and constitute promising microbial symbionts. In general, mycorrhizae promoted plant health and belowground development, while rhizobacteria enhanced aboveground plant biomass. The observed beneficial effects were substrate-, strain-, and/or strains combination-specific. Therefore, preliminary experiments in control conditions such as the one described here can be part of an efficient and integrated strategy to select ecologically well-adapted symbiotic microorganisms, critical for the success of a long-term revegetation program.}, } @article {pmid30233541, year = {2018}, author = {Voß, S and Betz, R and Heidt, S and Corradi, N and Requena, N}, title = {RiCRN1, a Crinkler Effector From the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, Functions in Arbuscule Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2068}, pmid = {30233541}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is one of the most prominent and beneficial plant-microbe interactions that facilitates mineral nutrition and confers tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. AM fungi colonize the root cortex and develop specialized structures called arbuscules where the nutrient exchange takes place. Arbuscule development is a highly controlled and coordinated process requiring the involvement of many plant proteins recruited at that interface. In contrast, much less is known about the fungal proteins involved in this process. Here, we have identified an AM fungal effector that participates in this developmental step of the symbiosis. RiCRN1 is a crinkler (CRN) effector that belongs to a subfamily of secreted CRN proteins from R. irregularis. CRNs have been so far only functionally characterized in pathogenic microbes and shown to participate in processes controlling plant cell death and immunity. RiCRN1 accumulates during symbiosis establishment parallel to MtPT4, the gene coding for an arbuscule-specific phosphate transporter. Expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and in Medicago truncatula roots suggest that RiCRN1 is not involved in cell death processes. RiCRN1 dimerizes and localizes to nuclear bodies, suggesting that, similar to other CRNs, it functions in the plant nucleus. Downregulation of RiCRN1 using host-induced gene silencing led to an impairment of the symbiosis in M. truncatula and to a reduction of MtPT4, while ectopic expression of RiCRN1, surprisingly, led to a drastic reduction in arbuscule size that correlated with a decrease not only in MtPT4 but also in MtBCP1, a marker for initial stages of arbuscule development. Altogether, our results suggest that a tightly regulated expression in time and space of RiCRN1 is critical for symbiosis progression and for the proper initiation of arbuscule development.}, } @article {pmid30233528, year = {2018}, author = {Clerissi, C and Brunet, S and Vidal-Dupiol, J and Adjeroud, M and Lepage, P and Guillou, L and Escoubas, JM and Toulza, E}, title = {Protists Within Corals: The Hidden Diversity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {2043}, pmid = {30233528}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Previous observations suggested that microbial communities contribute to coral health and the ecological resilience of coral reefs. However, most studies of coral microbiology focused on prokaryotes and the endosymbiotic algae Symbiodinium. In contrast, knowledge concerning diversity of other protists is still lacking, possibly due to methodological constraints. As most eukaryotic DNA in coral samples was derived from hosts, protist diversity was missed in metagenome analyses. To tackle this issue, we designed blocking primers for Scleractinia sequences amplified with two primer sets that targeted variable loops of the 18S rRNA gene (18SV1V2 and 18SV4). These blocking primers were used on environmental colonies of Pocillopora damicornis sensu lato from two regions with contrasting thermal regimes (Djibouti and New Caledonia). In addition to Symbiodinium clades A/C/D, Licnophora and unidentified coccidia genera were found in many samples. In particular, coccidian sequences formed a robust monophyletic clade with other protists identified in Agaricia, Favia, Montastraea, Mycetophyllia, Porites, and Siderastrea coral colonies. Moreover, Licnophora and coccidians had different distributions between the two geographic regions. A similar pattern was observed between Symbiodinium clades C and A/D. Although we were unable to identify factors responsible for this pattern, nor were we able to confirm that these taxa were closely associated with corals, we believe that these primer sets and the associated blocking primers offer new possibilities to describe the hidden diversity of protists within different coral species.}, } @article {pmid30232679, year = {2019}, author = {Gtari, M and Nouioui, I and Sarkar, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Tisa, LS and Sen, A and Klenk, HP}, title = {An update on the taxonomy of the genus Frankia Brunchorst, 1886, 174[AL].}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {5-21}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1165-y}, pmid = {30232679}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Frankia/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the recognition of the name Frankia in the Approved Lists of bacterial names (1980), few amendments have been given to the genus description. Successive editions of Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria have broadly conflicting suprageneric treatments of the genus without any advances for subgeneric classification. This review focuses on recent results from taxongenomics and phenoarray approaches to the positioning and the structuring of the genus Frankia. Based on phylogenomic analyses, Frankia should be considered the single member of the family Frankiaceae within the monophyletic order, Frankiales. A polyphasic strategy incorporating genome to genome data and omniLog[®] phenoarrays, together with classical approaches, has allowed the designation and an amended description of a type strain of the type species Frankia alni, and the recognition of at least 10 novel species covering symbiotic and non symbiotic taxa within the genus. Genome to phenome data will be shortly incorporated in the scheme for proposing novel species including those recalcitrant to isolation in axenic culture.}, } @article {pmid30231855, year = {2018}, author = {Zeng, Z and Fu, Y and Guo, D and Wu, Y and Ajayi, OE and Wu, Q}, title = {Bacterial endosymbiont Cardinium cSfur genome sequence provides insights for understanding the symbiotic relationship in Sogatella furcifera host.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {688}, pmid = {30231855}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Cytophagaceae/*physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sogatella furcifera is a migratory pest that damages rice plants and causes severe economic losses. Due to its ability to annually migrate long distances, S. furcifera has emerged as a major pest of rice in several Asian countries. Symbiotic relationships of inherited bacteria with terrestrial arthropods have significant implications. The genus Cardinium is present in many types of arthropods, where it influences some host characteristics. We present a report of a newly identified strain of the bacterial endosymbiont Cardinium cSfur in S. furcifera.

RESULT: From the whole genome of S. furcifera previously sequenced by our laboratory, we assembled the whole genome sequence of Cardinium cSfur. The sequence comprised 1,103,593 bp with a GC content of 39.2%. The phylogenetic tree of the Bacteroides phylum to which Cardinium cSfur belongs suggests that Cardinium cSfur is closely related to the other strains (Cardinium cBtQ1 and cEper1) that are members of the Amoebophilaceae family. Genome comparison between the host-dependent endosymbiont including Cardinium cSfur and free-living bacteria revealed that the endosymbiont has a smaller genome size and lower GC content, and has lost some genes related to metabolism because of its special environment, which is similar to the genome pattern observed in other insect symbionts. Cardinium cSfur has limited metabolic capability, which makes it less contributive to metabolic and biosynthetic processes in its host. From our findings, we inferred that, to compensate for its limited metabolic capability, Cardinium cSfur harbors a relatively high proportion of transport proteins, which might act as the hub between it and its host. With its acquisition of the whole operon related to biotin synthesis and glycolysis related genes through HGT event, Cardinium cSfur seems to be undergoing changes while establishing a symbiotic relationship with its host.

CONCLUSION: A novel bacterial endosymbiont strain (Cardinium cSfur) has been discovered. A genomic analysis of the endosymbiont in S. furcifera suggests that its genome has undergone certain changes to facilitate its settlement in the host. The envisaged potential reproduction manipulative ability of the new endosymbiont strain in its S. furcifera host has vital implications in designing eco-friendly approaches to combat the insect pest.}, } @article {pmid30230652, year = {2018}, author = {Little, MS and Ervin, SM and Walton, WG and Tripathy, A and Xu, Y and Liu, J and Redinbo, MR}, title = {Active site flexibility revealed in crystal structures of Parabacteroides merdae β-glucuronidase from the human gut microbiome.}, journal = {Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {2010-2022}, pmid = {30230652}, issn = {1469-896X}, support = {P30 ES010126/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; DGS-1650116//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteroidaceae/*enzymology ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glucuronidase/*metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; }, abstract = {β-Glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract are involved in maintaining mammalian-microbial symbiosis and can play key roles in drug efficacy and toxicity. Parabacteroides merdae GUS was identified as an abundant mini-Loop 2 (mL2) type GUS enzyme in the Human Microbiome Project gut metagenomic database. Here, we report the crystal structure of P. merdae GUS and highlight the differences between this enzyme and extant structures of gut microbial GUS proteins. We find that P. merdae GUS exhibits a distinct tetrameric quaternary structure and that the mL2 motif traces a unique path within the active site, which also includes two arginines distinctive to this GUS. We observe two states of the P. merdae GUS active site; a loop repositions itself by more than 50 Å to place a functionally-relevant residue into the enzyme's catalytic site. Finally, we find that P. merdae GUS is able to bind to homo and heteropolymers of the polysaccharide alginic acid. Together, these data broaden our understanding of the structural and functional diversity in the GUS family of enzymes present in the human gut microbiome and point to specialization as an important feature of microbial GUS orthologs.}, } @article {pmid30229114, year = {2018}, author = {Bharudin, I and Abdul Rahim, SN and Abu Bakar, MF and Ibrahim, SN and Kamaruddin, S and Latif, MT and Samsudin, MW and Abdul Murad, AM and Abu Bakar, FD}, title = {De novo transcriptome resources of the lichens, Dirinaria sp. UKM-J1 and UKM-K1 collected from Jerantut and Klang, Malaysia.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {19}, number = {}, pages = {2416-2419}, pmid = {30229114}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Lichen is a symbiotic organism that exists as a single composite body consisting of a mycobiont (fungus) and a photobiont (algae or a cyanobacterium). Many lichen species are considered as extremophiles due to their tolerance to radiation, desiccation, temperature and pollution. However, not all lichen species are tolerant to harsh environmental conditions as several species are sensitive for example to nitrogen, sulphur, acidity, heavy metals, halogens (e.g. fluoride) and ozone. Thus, to better understand why some lichens can withstand exposure to pollutants as opposed to those that are susceptible, we focused on the lichen species of Dirinaria known for their wide distribution in the tropics, subtropics and pantropical, and moderate tolerance to air pollution. Their moderate tolerance to air pollution affords them to thrive in good air quality environments as well as polluted air environments. Lichen samples of Dirinaria sp., UKM-J1 and UKM-K1, were respectively collected from two areas with different levels of air quality based on Air Pollutant Index or API (with index pollutant criteria of PM10, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide) in the outskirt of Jerantut (UKM-J1), a rural area in the middle of Peninsular Malaysia and the township of Klang (UKM-K1), in a busy area of the Klang Valley, Malaysia. API was monitored throughout 2012-2013 whereby the sample collection site in Klang showed markedly higher concentrations of pollutants in all the index pollutant criteria as compared to that of Jerantut. We performed transcriptome sequencing using Illumina RNA-seq technology and de novo assembly of the transcripts from the lichen samples. Raw reads from both libraries were deposited in the NCBI database with the accession number SRP138994.}, } @article {pmid30227634, year = {2018}, author = {White, JF and Kingsley, KL and Verma, SK and Kowalski, KP}, title = {Rhizophagy Cycle: An Oxidative Process in Plants for Nutrient Extraction from Symbiotic Microbes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30227634}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {In this paper, we describe a mechanism for the transfer of nutrients from symbiotic microbes (bacteria and fungi) to host plant roots that we term the 'rhizophagy cycle.' In the rhizophagy cycle, microbes alternate between a root intracellular endophytic phase and a free-living soil phase. Microbes acquire soil nutrients in the free-living soil phase; nutrients are extracted through exposure to host-produced reactive oxygen in the intracellular endophytic phase. We conducted experiments on several seed-vectored microbes in several host species. We found that initially the symbiotic microbes grow on the rhizoplane in the exudate zone adjacent the root meristem. Microbes enter root tip meristem cells-locating within the periplasmic spaces between cell wall and plasma membrane. In the periplasmic spaces of root cells, microbes convert to wall-less protoplast forms. As root cells mature, microbes continue to be subjected to reactive oxygen (superoxide) produced by NADPH oxidases (NOX) on the root cell plasma membranes. Reactive oxygen degrades some of the intracellular microbes, also likely inducing electrolyte leakage from microbes-effectively extracting nutrients from microbes. Surviving bacteria in root epidermal cells trigger root hair elongation and as hairs elongate bacteria exit at the hair tips, reforming cell walls and cell shapes as microbes emerge into the rhizosphere where they may obtain additional nutrients. Precisely what nutrients are transferred through rhizophagy or how important this process is for nutrient acquisition is still unknown.}, } @article {pmid30223889, year = {2018}, author = {Jarett, JK and Nayfach, S and Podar, M and Inskeep, W and Ivanova, NN and Munson-McGee, J and Schulz, F and Young, M and Jay, ZJ and Beam, JP and Kyrpides, NC and Malmstrom, RR and Stepanauskas, R and Woyke, T}, title = {Single-cell genomics of co-sorted Nanoarchaeota suggests novel putative host associations and diversification of proteins involved in symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {161}, pmid = {30223889}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Archaea/isolation & purification/physiology ; Archaeal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Archaeal ; Genomics ; *Host Specificity ; Hot Springs/microbiology ; Nanoarchaeota/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Single-Cell Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nanoarchaeota are obligate symbionts of other Archaea first discovered 16 years ago, yet little is known about this largely uncultivated taxon. While Nanoarchaeota diversity has been detected in a variety of habitats using 16S rRNA gene surveys, genome sequences have been available for only three Nanoarchaeota and their hosts. The host range and adaptation of Nanoarchaeota to a wide range of environmental conditions has thus largely remained elusive. Single-cell genomics is an ideal approach to address these questions as Nanoarchaeota can be isolated while still attached to putative hosts, enabling the exploration of cell-cell interactions and fine-scale genomic diversity.

RESULTS: From 22 single amplified genomes (SAGs) from three hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, we derived a genome-based phylogeny of the phylum Nanoarchaeota, linking it to global 16S rRNA gene diversity. By exploiting sequencing of co-sorted tightly attached cells, we associated Nanoarchaeota with 6 novel putative hosts, 2 of which were found in multiple SAGs, and showed that the same host species may associate with multiple species of Nanoarchaeota. Comparison of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a population of Nanoarchaeota SAGs indicated that Nanoarchaeota attached to a single host cell in situ are likely clonal. In addition to an overall pattern of purifying selection, we found significantly higher densities of non-synonymous SNPs in hypothetical cell surface proteins, as compared to other functional categories. Genes implicated in interactions in other obligate microbe-microbe symbioses, including those encoding a cytochrome bd-I ubiquinol oxidase and a FlaJ/TadC homologue possibly involved in type IV pili production, also had relatively high densities of non-synonymous SNPs.

CONCLUSIONS: This population genetics study of Nanoarchaeota greatly expands the known potential host range of the phylum and hints at what genes may be involved in adaptation to diverse environments or different hosts. We provide the first evidence that Nanoarchaeota cells attached to the same host cell are clonal and propose a hypothesis for how clonality may occur despite diverse symbiont populations.}, } @article {pmid30223687, year = {2019}, author = {Lin, H and He, QY and Shi, L and Sleeman, M and Baker, MS and Nice, EC}, title = {Proteomics and the microbiome: pitfalls and potential.}, journal = {Expert review of proteomics}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {501-511}, doi = {10.1080/14789450.2018.1523724}, pmid = {30223687}, issn = {1744-8387}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Precision Medicine ; Proteomics/*methods ; }, abstract = {Introduction: Human symbiotic microbiota are now known to play important roles in human health and disease. Significant progress in our understanding of the human microbiome has been driven by recent technological advances in the fields of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. As a complementary method to metagenomics, proteomics is enabling detailed protein profiling of the microbiome to decipher its structure and function and to analyze its relationship with the human body. Fecal proteomics is being increasingly applied to discover and validate potential health and disease biomarkers, and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)-approved instrumentation and a range of clinical assays are being developed that will collectively play key roles in advancing personalized medicine. Areas covered: This review will introduce the complexity of the microbiome and its role in health and disease (in particular the gastrointestinal tract or gut microbiome), discuss current genomic and proteomic methods for studying this system, including the discovery of potential biomarkers, and outline the development of clinically accepted protocols leading to personalized medicine. Expert commentary: Recognition of the important role the microbiome plays in both health and disease is driving current research in this key area. A proteogenomics approach will be essential to unravel the biologies underlying this complex network.}, } @article {pmid30223644, year = {2018}, author = {Checcucci, A and diCenzo, GC and Ghini, V and Bazzicalupo, M and Becker, A and Decorosi, F and Döhlemann, J and Fagorzi, C and Finan, TM and Fondi, M and Luchinat, C and Turano, P and Vignolini, T and Viti, C and Mengoni, A}, title = {Creation and Characterization of a Genomically Hybrid Strain in the Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiotic Bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {2365-2378}, doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.8b00158}, pmid = {30223644}, issn = {2161-5063}, mesh = {Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Medicago/microbiology ; Metabolic Engineering/methods ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria, often associated with eukaryotic hosts and of relevance for biotechnological applications, harbor a multipartite genome composed of more than one replicon. Biotechnologically relevant phenotypes are often encoded by genes residing on the secondary replicons. A synthetic biology approach to developing enhanced strains for biotechnological purposes could therefore involve merging pieces or entire replicons from multiple strains into a single genome. Here we report the creation of a genomic hybrid strain in a model multipartite genome species, the plant-symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. We term this strain as cis-hybrid, since it is produced by genomic material coming from the same species' pangenome. In particular, we moved the secondary replicon pSymA (accounting for nearly 20% of total genome content) from a donor S. meliloti strain to an acceptor strain. The cis-hybrid strain was screened for a panel of complex phenotypes (carbon/nitrogen utilization phenotypes, intra- and extracellular metabolomes, symbiosis, and various microbiological tests). Additionally, metabolic network reconstruction and constraint-based modeling were employed for in silico prediction of metabolic flux reorganization. Phenotypes of the cis-hybrid strain were in good agreement with those of both parental strains. Interestingly, the symbiotic phenotype showed a marked cultivar-specific improvement with the cis-hybrid strains compared to both parental strains. These results provide a proof-of-principle for the feasibility of genome-wide replicon-based remodelling of bacterial strains for improved biotechnological applications in precision agriculture.}, } @article {pmid30222191, year = {2019}, author = {Montero, H and Choi, J and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal phenotyping: the dos and don'ts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {3}, pages = {1182-1186}, pmid = {30222191}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; //CONICYT Chile-Cambridge TRUST/International ; BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P003419/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; BB/N008723/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; //The Leverhulme Trust, UK/International ; ECF-2016-392//Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship/International ; }, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30221623, year = {2018}, author = {Neumann-Micheau, N and Tributsch, H}, title = {Luminescence light collection technology in the aragonite of stone corals.}, journal = {Bioinspiration & biomimetics}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {066006}, doi = {10.1088/1748-3190/aae1bf}, pmid = {30221623}, issn = {1748-3190}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Calcium Carbonate/*metabolism ; Luminescence ; Photolysis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Stone corals do not use calcium carbonate in the form of calcite, which has a calculated energy gap of 3.93 eV, but in the form of aragonite, which has a calculated energy gap of 2.88 eV (here experimentally determined to amount to 2.46 eV) as a building material. This enables the coral to harvest blue light, which is penetrating and filtering deep into the surface water of the ocean. White luminescence, which is composed of different wave lengths, is generated, and then conducted and redistributed within the aragonite structure to be supplied to the symbiotic photosynthetic algae. This mechanism of light concentration and adaptation via the aragonite structure leads to a smaller amount of light-absorbing phosphorescent pigments being required for the symbionts to survive. The resulting advantages are a significantly smaller exposure to photo-degradation, less effort for chemical synthesis and higher efficiency for solar energy conversion. The mechanism of luminescence light collection in the aragonite network is discussed on the basis of spectroscopic measurements on thin coral slices and in context with its architecture and the coral's living activities. The relevance of the stone coral's fractal geometry, both for broadband solar light harvesting and luminescence light collection within non-imaging optics, is emphasized. It is proposed that synthetic aragonite should be developed as a solar energy material.}, } @article {pmid30219638, year = {2018}, author = {Cremon, C and Barbaro, MR and Ventura, M and Barbara, G}, title = {Pre- and probiotic overview.}, journal = {Current opinion in pharmacology}, volume = {43}, number = {}, pages = {87-92}, doi = {10.1016/j.coph.2018.08.010}, pmid = {30219638}, issn = {1471-4973}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology/physiopathology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Prebiotics/adverse effects ; Probiotics/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The dynamic relationship between gut microbiota and its human host is also known as a trophic association that might range from commensalism, where only the microbe enjoys a positive effect from the relationship, to intestinal symbiosis where both host and microbe benefit from their interaction. In the last years, we have started to understand how alterations of the gut microbiota composition leading to the disruption of host-microbial interactions are associated and/or predispose individuals to disease conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel diseases to allergy and functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome. While we await important insights in this field, the microbiota is already a therapeutic target. Based on the actual definitions, prebiotics are defined as substrates that are selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit, while probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Although their health promoting activities encompasses numerous effects, including immunostimulation, competitive exclusion of pathogens, and gut barrier enhancement, the exact mechanism of action by which these compounds exert their beneficial actions in humans is only partially known. In this review, we highlight the current insights into the clinical applications of prebiotics and probiotics in gastroenterology.}, } @article {pmid30218546, year = {2018}, author = {Miyamoto, Y and Terashima, Y and Nara, K}, title = {Temperature niche position and breadth of ectomycorrhizal fungi: Reduced diversity under warming predicted by a nested community structure.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {5724-5737}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14446}, pmid = {30218546}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Forests ; *Global Warming ; Japan ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Temperature ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Species with narrow niche breadths are assumed to be more susceptible to environmental changes than those with wide niche breadths. Although information on niche properties is necessary for predicting biological responses to environmental changes, such information is largely missing for soil microbes. In this study, we present the temperature niche positions and breadths of a functionally important group of eukaryotic soil microbes, ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. We compiled high-quality EM fungal sequence data from 26 forested sites in Japan (with mean annual temperatures ranging from 1.6 to 23.6°C) to create temperature niche profiles for each individual fungal species. Nested theory and a newly developed weighted-randomization null model were applied to 75 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with high occurrence records to examine potential preferences for certain temperature positions and breadths. Our analyses revealed that (a) many EM fungal OTUs were restricted to habitats with low mean annual temperatures, (b) fungal OTUs observed at colder sites exhibited narrower temperature breadths than expected by chance, (c) the composition of EM fungal OTUs exhibited a nested pattern along the temperature gradient, and (d) EM fungal richness was highest at colder sites, where the greatest degree of overlap in OTU occurrence was observed. These findings imply that future warming may limit the distribution of many EM fungal species that are currently adapted to only cold climates. This could eventually reduce EM fungal biodiversity, which is linked to forest function through symbiotic associations with trees. This study demonstrates the distribution and environmental ranges of various EM fungal species and can contribute to develop species distribution models with the aim of conserving microbes in the face of climate change.}, } @article {pmid30218020, year = {2019}, author = {Porter, SS and Faber-Hammond, J and Montoya, AP and Friesen, ML and Sackos, C}, title = {Dynamic genomic architecture of mutualistic cooperation in a wild population of Mesorhizobium.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {301-315}, pmid = {30218020}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Genomics ; Genotype ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Mutation ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Research on mutualism seeks to explain how cooperation can be maintained when uncooperative mutants co-occur with cooperative kin. Gains and losses of the gene modules required for cooperation punctuate symbiont phylogenies and drive lifestyle transitions between cooperative symbionts and uncooperative free-living lineages over evolutionary time. Yet whether uncooperative symbionts commonly evolve from within cooperative symbiont populations or from within distantly related lineages with antagonistic or free-living lifestyles (i.e., third-party mutualism exploiters or parasites), remains controversial. We use genomic data to show that genotypes that differ in the presence or absence of large islands of symbiosis genes are common within a single wild recombining population of Mesorhizobium symbionts isolated from host tissues and are an important source of standing heritable variation in cooperation in this population. In a focal population of Mesorhizobium, uncooperative variants that lack a symbiosis island segregate at 16% frequency in nodules, and genome size and symbiosis gene number are positively correlated with cooperation. This finding contrasts with the genomic architecture of variation in cooperation in other symbiont populations isolated from host tissues in which the islands of genes underlying cooperation are ubiquitous and variation in cooperation is primarily driven by allelic substitution and individual gene gain and loss events. Our study demonstrates that uncooperative mutants within mutualist populations can comprise a significant component of genetic variation in nature, providing biological rationale for models and experiments that seek to explain the maintenance of mutualism in the face of non-cooperators.}, } @article {pmid30217853, year = {2018}, author = {Schwob, G and Roy, M and Pozzi, AC and Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Fernandez, MP}, title = {In Planta Sporulation of Frankia spp. as a Determinant of Alder-Symbiont Interactions.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {30217853}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology/physiology ; Frankia/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Fungi/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Bacterial/classification/*growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Alnus genus forms symbiosis with the actinobacteria Frankia spp. and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Two types of Frankia lineages can be distinguished based on their ability to sporulate in planta Spore-positive (Sp+) strains are predominant on Alnus incana and Alnus viridis in highlands, while spore-negative (Sp-) strains are mainly associated with Alnus glutinosa in lowlands. Here, we investigated whether the Sp+ predominance in nodules is due to host selection of certain Frankia genotypes from soil communities or the result of the ecological history of the alder stand soil, as well as the effect of the sporulation genotype on the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities. Trapping experiments were conducted using A. glutinosa, A. incana, and A. viridis plantlets on 6 soils, differing in the alder species and the frequency of Sp+ nodules in the field. Higher diversity of Frankia spp. and variation in Sp+ frequencies were observed in the trapping than in the fields. Both indigenous and trapping species shape Frankia community structure in trapped nodules. Nodulation impediments were observed under several trapping conditions in Sp+ soils, supporting a narrower host range of Sp+ Frankia species. A. incana and A. viridis were able to associate equally with compatible Sp+ and Sp- strains in the greenhouse. Additionally, no host shift was observed for Alnus-specific ECM, and the sporulation genotype of Frankia spp. defined the ECM communities on the host roots. The symbiotic association is likely determined by the host range, the soil history, and the type of in plantaFrankia species. These results provide an insight into the biogeographical drivers of alder symbionts in the Holarctic region.IMPORTANCE Most Frankia-actinorhiza plant symbioses are capable of high rates of nitrogen fixation comparable to those found on legumes. Yet, our understanding of the ecology and distribution of Frankia spp. is still very limited. Several studies have focused on the distribution patterns of Frankia spp., demonstrating a combination of host and pedoclimatic parameters in their biogeography. However, very few have considered the in planta sporulation form of the strain, although it is a unique feature among all symbiotic plant-associated microbes. Compared with Sp- Frankia strains, Sp+ strains would be obligate symbionts that are highly dependent on the presence of a compatible host species and with lower efficiency in nitrogen fixation. Understanding the biogeographical drivers of Sp+ Frankia strains might help elucidate the ecological role of in planta sporulation and the extent to which this trait mediates host-partner interactions in the alder-Frankia-ECM fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30217010, year = {2018}, author = {Benndorf, R and Guo, H and Sommerwerk, E and Weigel, C and Garcia-Altares, M and Martin, K and Hu, H and Küfner, M and de Beer, ZW and Poulsen, M and Beemelmanns, C}, title = {Natural Products from Actinobacteria Associated with Fungus-Growing Termites.}, journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30217010}, issn = {2079-6382}, abstract = {The chemical analysis of insect-associated Actinobacteria has attracted the interest of natural product chemists in the past years as bacterial-produced metabolites are sought to be crucial for sustaining and protecting the insect host. The objective of our study was to evaluate the phylogeny and bioprospecting of Actinobacteria associated with fungus-growing termites. We characterized 97 Actinobacteria from the gut, exoskeleton, and fungus garden (comb) of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis and used two different bioassays to assess their general antimicrobial activity. We selected two strains for chemical analysis and investigated the culture broth of the axenic strains and fungus-actinobacterium co-cultures. From these studies, we identified the previously-reported PKS-derived barceloneic acid A and the PKS-derived rubterolones. Analysis of culture broth yielded a new dichlorinated diketopiperazine derivative and two new tetracyclic lanthipeptides, named rubrominins A and B. The discussed natural products highlight that insect-associated Actinobacteria are highly prolific natural product producers yielding important chemical scaffolds urgently needed for future drug development programs.}, } @article {pmid30216955, year = {2018}, author = {Tsuji, K and Fukami, T}, title = {Community-wide consequences of sexual dimorphism: evidence from nectar microbes in dioecious plants.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {11}, pages = {2476-2484}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2494}, pmid = {30216955}, issn = {0012-9658}, support = {25451//JSPS fellows/International ; 40645280//Young Scientist/International ; //Kyoto University Foundation/International ; //Stanford University's Office of International Affairs/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Flowers ; Male ; *Plant Nectar ; Plants ; *Pollination ; Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {Intraspecific trait variation is receiving renewed interest as a factor affecting the structure of multi-species communities within and across trophic levels. One pervasive form of intraspecific trait variation is sexual dimorphism in animals and plants, which might exert large effects particularly on the communities of host-associated organisms, but the extent of these effects is not well understood. We investigated whether host-associated microbial communities developed differently in the floral nectar of female and male individuals of the dioecious shrubs, Eurya emarginata and E. japonica. We found that nectar-colonizing microbes such as bacteria and fungi were more than twice as prevalent and, overall, more than 10 times as abundant in male flowers as in female flowers. Microbial species composition also differed between flower sexes. To examine potential mechanisms behind these differences, we manipulated the frequency of flower visitation by animals and the order of arrival of microbial species to nectar. Animal visitation frequency affected microbial communities more greatly in male flowers, while arrival order affected them more in female flowers. These sex-specific effects appeared attributable to differences in how animals and microbes altered the chemical characteristics of nectar that limited microbial growth. Taken together, our results provide evidence that sexual dimorphism can have large effects on the structure of host-associated communities.}, } @article {pmid30210532, year = {2018}, author = {Saramago, M and Robledo, M and Matos, RG and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Arraiano, CM}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti RNase III: Catalytic Features and Impact on Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {350}, pmid = {30210532}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Members of the ribonuclease (RNase) III family of enzymes are metal-dependent double-strand specific endoribonucleases. They are ubiquitously found and eukaryotic RNase III-like enzymes include Dicer and Drosha, involved in RNA processing and RNA interference. In this work, we have addressed the primary characterization of RNase III from the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. The S. meliloti rnc gene does encode an RNase III-like protein (SmRNase III), with recognizable catalytic and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding domains that clusters in a branch with its α-proteobacterial counterparts. Purified SmRNase III dimerizes, is active at neutral to alkaline pH and behaves as a strict metal cofactor-dependent double-strand endoribonuclease, with catalytic features distinguishable from those of the prototypical member of the family, the Escherichia coli ortholog (EcRNase III). SmRNase III prefers Mn[2+] rather than Mg[2+] as metal cofactor, cleaves the generic structured R1.1 substrate at a site atypical for RNase III cleavage, and requires higher cofactor concentrations and longer dsRNA substrates than EcRNase III for optimal activity. Furthermore, the ultraconserved E125 amino acid was shown to play a major role in the metal-dependent catalysis of SmRNase III. SmRNase III degrades endogenous RNA substrates of diverse biogenesis with different efficiency, and is involved in the maturation of the 23S rRNA. SmRNase III loss-of-function neither compromises viability nor alters morphology of S. meliloti cells, but influences growth, nodulation kinetics, the onset of nitrogen fixation and the overall symbiotic efficiency of this bacterium on the roots of its legume host, alfalfa, which ultimately affects plant growth. Our results support an impact of SmRNase III on nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in plants.}, } @article {pmid30210473, year = {2018}, author = {Mars Brisbin, M and Mesrop, LY and Grossmann, MM and Mitarai, S}, title = {Intra-host Symbiont Diversity and Extended Symbiont Maintenance in Photosymbiotic Acantharea (Clade F).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1998}, pmid = {30210473}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Photosymbiotic protists contribute to surface primary production in low-nutrient, open-ocean ecosystems and constitute model systems for studying plastid acquisition via endosymbiosis. Little is known, however, about host-symbiont dynamics in these important relationships, and whether these symbioses are mutualistic is debated. In this study, we applied single-cell sequencing methods and advanced fluorescent microscopy to investigate host-symbiont dynamics in clade F acantharians, a major group of photosymbiotic protists in oligotrophic subtropical gyres. We amplified the 18S rRNA gene from single acantharian hosts and environmental samples to assess intra-host symbiont diversity and to determine whether intra-host symbiont community composition directly reflects the available symbiont community in the surrounding environment. Our results demonstrate that clade F acantharians simultaneously host multiple species from the haptophyte genera Phaeocystis and Chrysochromulina. The intra-host symbiont community composition was distinct from the external free-living symbiont community, suggesting that these acantharians maintain symbionts for extended periods of time. After selectively staining digestive organelles, fluorescent confocal microscopy showed that symbionts were not being systematically digested, which is consistent with extended symbiont maintenance within hosts. Extended maintenance within hosts may benefit symbionts through protection from grazing or viral lysis, and therefore could enhance dispersal, provided that symbionts retain reproductive capacity. The evidence for extended symbiont maintenance therefore allows that Phaeocystis could glean some advantage from the symbiosis and leaves the possibility of mutualism.}, } @article {pmid30210458, year = {2018}, author = {Kang, X and Yu, X and Zhang, Y and Cui, Y and Tu, W and Wang, Q and Li, Y and Hu, L and Gu, Y and Zhao, K and Xiang, Q and Chen, Q and Ma, M and Zou, L and Zhang, X and Kang, J}, title = {Inoculation of Sinorhizobium saheli YH1 Leads to Reduced Metal Uptake for Leucaena leucocephala Grown in Mine Tailings and Metal-Polluted Soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1853}, pmid = {30210458}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Metalliferous mine tailings have a negative impact on the soil environment near mining areas and render cultivable lands infertile. Phytoremediation involving the synergism of legume and rhizobia provides a useful technique in tackling this issue with cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and easy-to-use features under adverse soil conditions. Leucaena leucocephala has been found to build symbiotic relationships with native rhizobia in the iron-vanadium-titanium oxide (V-Ti magnetite) mine tailing soil. Rhizobia YH1, isolated from the root nodules of L. leucocephala, was classified as Sinorhizobium saheli according to similarity and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, housekeeping and nitrogen fixation genes. Besides nitrogen fixation, S. saheli YH1 also showed capabilities to produce indole-acetic acid (IAA) (166.77 ± 2.03 mg l[-1]) and solubilize phosphate (104.41 ± 7.48 mg l[-1]). Pot culture experiments showed that strain YH1 increased the biomass, plant height and root length of L. leucocephala by 67.2, 39.5 and 27.2% respectively. There was also an average increase in plant N (10.0%), P (112.2%) and K (25.0%) contents compared to inoculation-free control. The inoculation of YH1 not only reduced the uptake of all metals by L. leucocephala in the mine tailings, but also resulted in decreased uptake of Cd by up to 79.9% and Mn by up to 67.6% for plants grown in soils contaminated with Cd/Mn. It was concluded that S. saheli YH1 possessed multiple beneficial effects on L. leucocephala grown in metalliferous soils. Our findings highlight the role of S. saheli YH1 in improving plant health of L. leucocephala by reducing metal uptake by plants grown in heavy metal-polluted soils. We also suggest the idea of using L. leucocephala-S. saheli association for phytoremediation and revegetation of V-Ti mine tailings and soils polluted with Cd or Mn.}, } @article {pmid30209838, year = {2018}, author = {Hay, JJ and Rodrigo-Navarro, A and Petaroudi, M and Bryksin, AV and García, AJ and Barker, TH and Dalby, MJ and Salmeron-Sanchez, M}, title = {Bacteria-Based Materials for Stem Cell Engineering.}, journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)}, volume = {30}, number = {43}, pages = {e1804310}, doi = {10.1002/adma.201804310}, pmid = {30209838}, issn = {1521-4095}, support = {CZB/4/714/CSO_/Chief Scientist Office/United Kingdom ; JF20604/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/G008868/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; ERC306990/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Biomimetic Materials ; Biomimetics/methods ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Adhesion/physiology ; Cell Engineering/*methods ; Fibronectins/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; Lactococcus lactis/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology/*physiology ; Osteogenesis/physiology ; Tissue Scaffolds/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Materials can be engineered to deliver specific biological cues that control stem cell growth and differentiation. However, current materials are still limited for stem cell engineering as stem cells are regulated by a complex biological milieu that requires spatiotemporal control. Here a new approach of using materials that incorporate designed bacteria as units that can be engineered to control human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), in a highly dynamic-temporal manner, is presented. Engineered Lactococcus lactis spontaneously colonizes a variety of material surfaces (e.g., polymers, metals, and ceramics) and is able to maintain growth and induce differentiation of hMSCs in 2D/3D surfaces and hydrogels. Controlled, dynamic, expression of fibronectin fragments supports stem cell growth, whereas inducible-temporal regulation of secreted bone morphogenetic protein-2 drives osteogenesis in an on-demand manner. This approach enables stem cell technologies using material systems that host symbiotic interactions between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.}, } @article {pmid30209570, year = {2018}, author = {Moreira, EA and Alvarez, TM and Persinoti, GF and Paixão, DAA and Menezes, LR and Cairo, JPF and Squina, FM and Costa-Leonardo, AM and Carrijo, T and Arab, A}, title = {Microbial Communities of the Gut and Nest of the Humus- and Litter-Feeding Termite Procornitermes araujoi (Syntermitinae).}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {12}, pages = {1609-1618}, pmid = {30209570}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Ascomycota/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Molecular Typing ; Poaceae ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The evolution of the symbiotic association with microbes allowed termites to decompose ingested lignocellulose from plant-derived substrates, including herbivore dung and soil humus. Representatives of the Syntermitinae (Termitidae) range in their feeding habits from wood and litter-feeding to humus-feeding species. However, only limited information is available about their feeding ecology and associated microbial communities. Here we conducted a study of the microbial communities associated to the termite Procornitermes araujoi using Illumina sequencing of the 16S and ITS rRNA genes. This species has been previously included in different feeding guilds. However, most aspects of its feeding ecology are unknown, especially those associated to its symbiotic microbiota. Our results showed that the microbial communities of termite guts and nest substrates of P. araujoi differed significantly for bacteria and fungi. Firmicutes dominated the bacterial gut community of both workers and soldiers, whereas Actinobacteria was found in higher prevalence in the nest walls. Sordariomycetes was the most abundant fungal class in both gut and nest samples and distinguish P. araujoi from the grass/litter feeding Cornitermes cumulans. Our results also showed that diversity of gut bacteria were higher in P. araujoi and Silvestritermes euamignathus than in the grass/litter feeders (C. cumulans and Syntermes dirus), that could indicate an adaptation of the microbial community of polyphagous termites to the higher complexity of their diets.}, } @article {pmid30209475, year = {2018}, author = {Niehs, SP and Scherlach, K and Hertweck, C}, title = {Genomics-driven discovery of a linear lipopeptide promoting host colonization by endofungal bacteria.}, journal = {Organic & biomolecular chemistry}, volume = {16}, number = {37}, pages = {8345-8352}, doi = {10.1039/c8ob01515e}, pmid = {30209475}, issn = {1477-0539}, mesh = {Burkholderia/*genetics/*physiology ; Conserved Sequence ; *Genomics ; Lipopeptides/*metabolism ; Multigene Family/genetics ; Rhizopus/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rice seedling blight fungus Rhizopus microsporus weakens or kills plants by means of a potent toxin produced by endobacteria (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) that live within the fungal hyphae. The success of the highly attuned microbial interaction is partly based on the bacteria's ability to roam and re-colonize the fungal host. Yet, apart from the toxin, chemical mediators of the symbiosis have remained elusive. By genome mining and comparison we identified a cryptic NRPS gene cluster that is conserved among all sequenced Rhizopus endosymbionts. Metabolic profiling and targeted gene inactivation led to the discovery of a novel linear lipopeptide, holrhizin A, which was fully characterized. Through in vitro and in vivo assays we found that holrhizin acts (A) as a biosurfactant to reduce surface tension, (B) influences the formation of mature biofilms and thus cell motility behavior that ultimately supports the bacterial cells to (C) colonize and invade the fungal host, consequently supporting the re-establishment of the exceptional Burkholderia-Rhizopus symbiosis. We not only unveil structure and function of an linear lipopeptide from endofungal bacteria but also provide a functional link between the symbiont's orphan NRPS genes and a chemical mediator that promotes bacterial invasion into the fungal host.}, } @article {pmid30209216, year = {2018}, author = {Xue, L and Klinnawee, L and Zhou, Y and Saridis, G and Vijayakumar, V and Brands, M and Dörmann, P and Gigolashvili, T and Turck, F and Bucher, M}, title = {AP2 transcription factor CBX1 with a specific function in symbiotic exchange of nutrients in mycorrhizal Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {39}, pages = {E9239-E9246}, pmid = {30209216}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, a widespread mutualistic association between land plants and fungi, depends on reciprocal exchange of phosphorus driven by proton-coupled phosphate uptake into host plants and carbon supplied to AM fungi by host-dependent sugar and lipid biosynthesis. The molecular mechanisms and cis-regulatory modules underlying the control of phosphate uptake and de novo fatty acid synthesis in AM symbiosis are poorly understood. Here, we show that the AP2 family transcription factor CTTC MOTIF-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1 (CBX1), a WRINKLED1 (WRI1) homolog, directly binds the evolutionary conserved CTTC motif that is enriched in mycorrhiza-regulated genes and activates Lotus japonicus phosphate transporter 4 (LjPT4) in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the mycorrhiza-inducible gene encoding H[+]-ATPase (LjHA1), implicated in energizing nutrient uptake at the symbiotic interface across the periarbuscular membrane, is coregulated with LjPT4 by CBX1. Accordingly, CBX1-defective mutants show reduced mycorrhizal colonization. Furthermore, genome-wide-binding profiles, DNA-binding studies, and heterologous expression reveal additional binding of CBX1 to AW box, the consensus DNA-binding motif for WRI1, that is enriched in promoters of glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis genes. We show that CBX1 activates expression of lipid metabolic genes including glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase RAM2 implicated in acylglycerol biosynthesis. Our finding defines the role of CBX1 as a regulator of host genes involved in phosphate uptake and lipid synthesis through binding to the CTTC/AW molecular module, and supports a model underlying bidirectional exchange of phosphorus and carbon, a fundamental trait in the mutualistic AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30208626, year = {2018}, author = {Brivio, MF and Mastore, M}, title = {Nematobacterial Complexes and Insect Hosts: Different Weapons for the Same War.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30208626}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are widely used as biological control agents against insect pests, the efficacy of these organisms strongly depends on the balance between the parasitic strategies and the immune response of the host. This review summarizes roles and relationships between insect hosts and two well-known EPN species, Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema carpocapsae and outlines the main mechanisms of immune recognition and defense of insects. Analyzing information and findings about these EPNs, it is clear that these two species use shared immunosuppression strategies, mainly mediated by their symbiotic bacteria, but there are differences in both the mechanism of evasion and interference of the two nematodes with the insect host immune pathways. Based on published data, S. feltiae takes advantage of the cross reaction between its body surface and some host functional proteins, to inhibit defensive processes; otherwise, secretion/excretion products from S. carpocapsae seem to be the main nematode components responsible for the host immunosuppression.}, } @article {pmid30206732, year = {2018}, author = {Bertrand, RL and Sorensen, JL}, title = {A comprehensive catalogue of polyketide synthase gene clusters in lichenizing fungi.}, journal = {Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {45}, number = {12}, pages = {1067-1081}, pmid = {30206732}, issn = {1476-5535}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Lichens/enzymology/*genetics ; *Multigene Family ; Polyketide Synthases/*genetics/metabolism ; Polyketides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are fungi that form symbiotic partnerships with algae. Although lichens produce diverse polyketides, difficulties in establishing and maintaining lichen cultures have prohibited detailed studies of their biosynthetic pathways. Creative, albeit non-definitive, methods have been developed to assign function to biosynthetic gene clusters in lieu of techniques such as gene knockout and heterologous expressions that are commonly applied to easily cultivatable organisms. We review a total of 81 completely sequenced polyketide synthase (PKS) genes from lichenizing fungi, comprising to our best efforts all complete and reported PKS genes in lichenizing fungi to date. This review provides an overview of the approaches used to locate and sequence PKS genes in lichen genomes, current approaches to assign function to lichen PKS gene clusters, and what polyketides are proposed to be biosynthesized by these PKS. We conclude with remarks on prospects for genomics-based natural products discovery in lichens. We hope that this review will serve as a guide to ongoing research efforts on polyketide biosynthesis in lichenizing fungi.}, } @article {pmid30205357, year = {2018}, author = {Schnupf, P and Gaboriau-Routhiau, V and Cerf-Bensussan, N}, title = {Modulation of the gut microbiota to improve innate resistance.}, journal = {Current opinion in immunology}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {137-144}, doi = {10.1016/j.coi.2018.08.003}, pmid = {30205357}, issn = {1879-0372}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; }, abstract = {One major benefit from the association of hosts with the complex microbial communities that establish at body surfaces is the resistance to pathogen infection. This protective role of symbiotic microbes is becoming ever more relevant, given the alarming rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens and severe infections in patients following extensive antibiotic treatment. Herein, we highlight some recent mechanistic studies that have provided insights into how the highly dynamic dialogue amongst intestinal bacteria and between intestinal bacteria and their host can contribute to protect the host against pathogens in and outside the gut. We then discuss how delineating the rules of this dialogue can help design strategies to modulate the microbiota and improve host resistance to infections.}, } @article {pmid30205294, year = {2018}, author = {Santos, SR and Coffroth, MA}, title = {Revisiting "Genetic Diversity of Symbiotic Dinoflagellates in the Genus Symbiodinium".}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {169}, number = {5}, pages = {784-787}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2018.06.008}, pmid = {30205294}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid30205015, year = {2019}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Zamani, M and Checcucci, A and Fondi, M and Griffitts, JS and Finan, TM and Mengoni, A}, title = {Multidisciplinary approaches for studying rhizobium-legume symbioses.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {1-33}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2018-0377}, pmid = {30205015}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiosis is a major source of fixed nitrogen (ammonia) in the biosphere. The potential for this process to increase agricultural yield while reducing the reliance on nitrogen-based fertilizers has generated interest in understanding and manipulating this process. For decades, rhizobium research has benefited from the use of leading techniques from a very broad set of fields, including population genetics, molecular genetics, genomics, and systems biology. In this review, we summarize many of the research strategies that have been employed in the study of rhizobia and the unique knowledge gained from these diverse tools, with a focus on genome- and systems-level approaches. We then describe ongoing synthetic biology approaches aimed at improving existing symbioses or engineering completely new symbiotic interactions. The review concludes with our perspective of the future directions and challenges of the field, with an emphasis on how the application of a multidisciplinary approach and the development of new methods will be necessary to ensure successful biotechnological manipulation of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30204748, year = {2018}, author = {Kaur, N and Cooper, WR and Duringer, JM and Badillo-Vargas, IE and Esparza-Díaz, G and Rashed, A and Horton, DR}, title = {Survival and development of potato psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) on Convolvulaceae: Effects of a plant-fungus symbiosis (Periglandula).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {e0201506}, pmid = {30204748}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*growth & development ; Hemiptera/*growth & development ; Phylogeny ; *Solanum tuberosum/microbiology/parasitology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant species in the family Solanaceae are the usual hosts of potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae). However, the psyllid has also been shown to develop on some species of Convolvulaceae (bindweeds and morning glories). Developmental success on Convolvulaceae is surprising given the rarity of psyllid species worldwide associated with this plant family. We assayed 14 species of Convolvulaceae across four genera (Convolvulus, Calystegia, Ipomoea, Turbina) to identify species that allow development of potato psyllid. Two populations of psyllids were assayed (Texas, Washington). The Texas population overlaps extensively with native Convolvulaceae, whereas Washington State is noticeably lacking in Convolvulaceae. Results of assays were overlain on a phylogenetic analysis of plant species to examine whether Convolvulaceae distantly related to the typical host (potato) were less likely to allow development than species of Convolvulaceae more closely related. Survival was independent of psyllid population and location of the plant species on our phylogenetic tree. We then examined whether presence of a fungal symbiont of Convolvulaceae (Periglandula spp.) affected psyllid survival. These fungi associate with Convolvulaceae and produce a class of mycotoxins (ergot alkaloids) that may confer protection against plant-feeding arthropods. Periglandula was found in 11 of our 14 species, including in two genera (Convolvulus, Calystegia) not previously known to host the symbiont. Of these 11 species, leaf tissues from five contained large quantities of two classes of ergot alkaloids (clavines, amides of lysergic acid) when evaluated by LC-MS/MS. All five species also harbored Periglandula. No ergot alkaloids were detected in species free of the fungal symbiont. Potato psyllid rapidly died on the five species that harbored Periglandula and contained ergot alkaloids, but survived to adulthood on seven of the nine species in which ergot alkaloids were not detected. These results support the hypothesis that a plant-fungus symbiotic relationship affects the suitability of certain Convolvulaceae to potato psyllid.}, } @article {pmid30203358, year = {2019}, author = {Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Nouioui, I and Hezbri, K and Lundstedt, E and D'Angelo, T and McNutt, Z and Laplaze, L and Gherbi, H and Vaissayre, V and Svistoonoff, S and Ahmed, HB and Boudabous, A and Tisa, LS}, title = {The plant-growth-promoting actinobacteria of the genus Nocardia induces root nodule formation in Casuarina glauca.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {75-90}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1147-0}, pmid = {30203358}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Fagales/*growth & development/microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Nocardia/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants form a symbiotic association with the nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria Frankia. These plants have important economic and ecological benefits including land reclamation, soil stabilization, and reforestation. Recently, many non-Frankia actinobacteria have been isolated from actinorhizal root nodules suggesting that they might contribute to nodulation. Two Nocardia strains, BMG51109 and BMG111209, were isolated from Casuarina glauca nodules, and they induced root nodule-like structures in original host plant promoting seedling growth. The formed root nodule-like structures lacked a nodular root at the apex, were not capable of reducing nitrogen and had their cortical cells occupied with rod-shaped Nocardiae cells. Both Nocardia strains induced root hair deformation on the host plant. BMG111209 strain induced the expression of the ProCgNin:Gus gene, a plant gene involved in the early steps of the infection process and nodulation development. Nocardia strain BMG51109 produced three types of auxins (Indole-3-acetic acid [IAA], Indole-3-Byturic Acid [IBA] and Phenyl Acetic Acid [PAA]), while Nocardia BMG111209 only produced IAA. Analysis of the Nocardia genomes identified several important predicted biosynthetic gene clusters for plant phytohormones, secondary metabolites, and novel natural products. Co-infection studies showed that Nocardia strain BMG51109 plays a role as a "helper bacteria" promoting an earlier onset of nodulation. This study raises many questions on the ecological significance and functionality of Nocardia bacteria in actinorhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30203337, year = {2018}, author = {Bizarria, R and Moia, IC and Montoya, QV and Polezel, DA and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Soluble Compounds of Filamentous Fungi Harm the Symbiotic Fungus of Leafcutter Ants.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {12}, pages = {1602-1608}, pmid = {30203337}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Chemical compounds are key to understand symbiotic interactions. In the leafcutter ant-microbe symbiosis a plethora of filamentous fungi continuously gain access the ant colonies through plant substrate collected by workers. Many filamentous fungi are considered transient in attine ant colonies, however, their real ecological role in this environment still remains unclear. A possible role of these microorganisms is the antagonism towards Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the mutualistic fungus that serve as food for several leafcutter ant species. Here, we showed the antagonism of filamentous fungi isolated from different sources, and the negative impacts of their metabolites on the growth of the ant-fungal cultivar. Our results demonstrate that the chemical compounds produced by filamentous fungi can harm the mutualistic fungus of leafcutter ants.}, } @article {pmid30203242, year = {2018}, author = {Su, Y and Zhou, Z and Yu, X}, title = {Possible roles of glutamine synthetase in responding to environmental changes in a scleractinian coral.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {45}, number = {6}, pages = {2115-2124}, pmid = {30203242}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Aminobutyrates ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/*metabolism/physiology ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Glutamine/*metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Glutamine synthetase is an enzyme that plays an essential role in the metabolism of nitrogen by catalyzing the condensation of glutamate and ammonia to form glutamine. In this study, the activity and responses of glutamine synthetase towards environmental changes were investigated in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis. The identified glutamine synthetase (PdGS) was comprised of 362 amino acids and predicted to contain one Gln-synt_N and one Gln-synt_C domain. Expression of PdGS mRNA increased significantly after 12 h (1.28-fold, p < 0.05) of exposure to elevated ammonium, while glutamine synthetase activity increased significantly from 12 to 24 h, peaking at 12 h (54.80 U mg[-1], p < 0.05). The recombinant protein of the mature PdGS (rPdGS) was expressed in E. coli BL21, and its activities were detected under different temperature, pH and glufosinate levels. The highest levels of rPdGS activity were observed at 25 °C and pH 8 respectively, but decreased significantly at lower temperature, and higher or lower pH. Furthermore, the level of rPdGS activities was negatively correlated with the concentration of glufosinate, specifically decreasing at 10[-5] mol L[-1] glufosinate to be less than 50% (p < 0.05) of that in the blank. These results collectively suggest that PdGS, as a homologue of glutamine synthetase, was involved in the nitrogen assimilation in the scleractinian coral. Further, its physiological functions could be suppressed by high temperature, ocean acidification and residual glufosinate, which might further regulate the coral-zooxanthella symbiosis via the nitrogen metabolism in the scleractinian coral P. damicornis.}, } @article {pmid30201781, year = {2018}, author = {Compton, KK and Hildreth, SB and Helm, RF and Scharf, BE}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Chemoreceptor McpV Senses Short-Chain Carboxylates via Direct Binding.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {30201781}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; Calorimetry ; Carboxylic Acids/*metabolism ; Chemotactic Factors/*metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; Fluorometry ; Ligands ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Models, Molecular ; Periplasm/metabolism ; Plant Exudates ; Protein Domains ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil-dwelling endosymbiont of alfalfa that has eight chemoreceptors to sense environmental stimuli during its free-living state. The functions of two receptors have been characterized, with McpU and McpX serving as general amino acid and quaternary ammonium compound sensors, respectively. Both receptors use a dual Cache (calcium channels and chemotaxis receptors) domain for ligand binding. We identified that the ligand-binding periplasmic region (PR) of McpV contains a single Cache domain. Homology modeling revealed that McpV[PR] is structurally similar to a sensor domain of a chemoreceptor with unknown function from Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans, which crystallized with acetate in its binding pocket. We therefore assayed McpV for carboxylate binding and S. meliloti for carboxylate sensing. Differential scanning fluorimetry identified 10 potential ligands for McpV[PR] Nine of these are monocarboxylates with chain lengths between two and four carbons. We selected seven compounds for capillary assay analysis, which established positive chemotaxis of the S. meliloti wild type, with concentrations of peak attraction at 1 mM for acetate, propionate, pyruvate, and glycolate, and at 100 mM for formate and acetoacetate. Deletion of mcpV or mutation of residues essential for ligand coordination abolished positive chemotaxis to carboxylates. Using microcalorimetry, we determined that dissociation constants of the seven ligands with McpV[PR] were in the micromolar range. An McpV[PR] variant with a mutation in the ligand coordination site displayed no binding to isobutyrate or propionate. Of all the carboxylates tested as attractants, only glycolate was detected in alfalfa seed exudates. This work examines the relevance of carboxylates and their sensor to the rhizobium-legume interaction.IMPORTANCE Legumes share a unique association with certain soil-dwelling bacteria known broadly as rhizobia. Through concerted interorganismal communication, a legume allows intracellular infection by its cognate rhizobial species. The plant then forms an organ, the root nodule, dedicated to housing and supplying fixed carbon and nutrients to the bacteria. In return, the engulfed rhizobia, differentiated into bacteroids, fix atmospheric N2 into ammonium for the plant host. This interplay is of great benefit to the cultivation of legumes, such as alfalfa and soybeans, and is initiated by chemotaxis to the host plant. This study on carboxylate chemotaxis contributes to the understanding of rhizobial survival and competition in the rhizosphere and aids the development of commercial inoculants.}, } @article {pmid30199649, year = {2018}, author = {Yang, X and Hu, Q and Han, Z and Ruan, X and Jiang, S and Chai, J and Zheng, R}, title = {Effects of exogenous microbial inoculum on the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in swine carcass composting.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {12}, pages = {1042-1053}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2018-0303}, pmid = {30199649}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; *Composting ; *Microbiota ; Swine/*microbiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Composting is a widely accepted method for the disposal of deceased livestock. It is a biological self-heating process during which animal carcasses are converted to fertilizer products. Additional inoculants can facilitate the composting progress. This study investigated how the addition of microbial inoculants could improve the composting effectiveness and could change the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in the carcass composting process. Four strains of Bacillus were inoculated into the swine carcass composting piles. The groups with the additional inoculants showed a higher temperature in the thermophilic phase and higher germination indices in the composted products. The sequencing results showed that the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, and the dominant classified genera were Brevibacterium and Bacillus. Canonical correlation analysis showed that temperature and moisture exerted a stronger influence on the bacterial community diversity. The interaction network of dominant genera and the abundance variation of the bacterial community demonstrated that the inoculated bacterial agent changed the structure of bacterial communities and enriched the diversity of the species due to antagonism and symbiosis among the dominant bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid30199629, year = {2018}, author = {Zhao, Y and Liu, S and Jiang, B and Feng, Y and Zhu, T and Tao, H and Tang, X and Liu, S}, title = {Genome-Centered Metagenomics Analysis Reveals the Symbiotic Organisms Possessing Ability to Cross-Feed with Anammox Bacteria in Anammox Consortia.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {52}, number = {19}, pages = {11285-11296}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.8b02599}, pmid = {30199629}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bioreactors ; *Metagenomics ; Nitrogen ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Although using anammox communities for efficient wastewater treatment has attracted much attention, the pure anammox bacteria are difficult to obtain, and the potential roles of symbiotic bacteria in anammox performance are still elusive. Here, we combined long-term reactor operation, genome-centered metagenomics, community functional structure, and metabolic pathway reconstruction to reveal multiple potential cross-feedings during anammox reactor start-up according to the 37 recovered metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). We found Armatimonadetes and Proteobacteria could contribute the secondary metabolites molybdopterin cofactor and folate for anammox bacteria to benefit their activity and growth. Chloroflexi-affiliated bacteria encoded the function of biosynthesizing exopolysaccharides for anammox consortium aggregation, based on the partial nucleotide sugars produced by anammox bacteria. Chlorobi-affiliated bacteria had the ability to degrade extracellular proteins produced by anammox bacteria to amino acids to affect consortium aggregation. Additionally, the Chloroflexi-affiliated bacteria harbored genes for a nitrite loop and could have a dual role in anammox performance during reactor start-up. Cross-feeding in anammox community adds a different dimension for understanding microbial interactions and emphasizes the importance of symbiotic bacteria in the anammox process for wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid30198488, year = {2018}, author = {Krapivin, VA and Bagrov, SV and Varfolomeeva, MA}, title = {Effect of tidal level on abundance of symbionts in the White Sea blue mussel.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {130}, number = {2}, pages = {131-144}, doi = {10.3354/dao03259}, pmid = {30198488}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {Animals ; *Mytilus edulis/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; *Tidal Waves ; *Trematoda ; }, abstract = {In the White Sea, the blue mussel Mytilus edulis occupies a wide range of biotopes and is associated with numerous symbiotic organisms. At some sites, mussel cover spreads continuously from the intertidal to the subtidal zone. We checked whether the patterns of infection by different associated organisms differed among the upper subtidal, zero-depth and lower intertidal zones at 3 sites in the Kandalaksha Gulf and the Onega Bay of the White Sea. Organisms belonging to 13 taxa were found in mantle cavities and tissues of blue mussels. Parasitic green algae, a sporocyst and metacercariae of 5 species of digenean trematodes occupied mussel tissues; commensal ciliates, rhabdocoelans and some free-living invertebrates were found in mantle cavities. Quantitative composition of symbiotic communities of mussels was not the same at different tidal levels: Urastoma cyprinae (commensal rhabdocoelans) were more abundant in the subtidal and zero-depth zones, while encysted metacercariae of Renicola roscovita and Himasthla sp. were more abundant at the zero-depth and intertidal zones. We suggested several hypotheses to explain this heterogeneity.}, } @article {pmid30198373, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, J and Diaz-Meco, MT and Moscat, J}, title = {The macroenviromental control of cancer metabolism by p62.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {17}, number = {17}, pages = {2110-2121}, pmid = {30198373}, issn = {1551-4005}, support = {P30 CA030199/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA192642/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA218254/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK108743/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA211794/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/*metabolism ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis/metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism/physiology ; Neoplasms/*metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, but most studies focus on the molecular alterations in cancer cells and much less is known on the role of cancer metabolism, from a holistic perspective, for tumor initiation and progression. Increasing epidemiological evidence highlights the tremendous impact that cancer progression has on the host metabolism, especially in cachexia. However, how this benefits the tumor still is not completely understood. Here we review current studies on fatty acid oxidation in tumor cells as a potential therapeutic target in cancer, and how the redistribution of lipids from fat reservoirs to the cancer cell in the micro- and macro-environment impacts tumorigenesis by helping the tumor fulfill its energetic demands at the expense of fat. In this context, we also discuss the critical role of the signaling adaptor p62/Sequestosome 1(SQSTM1) in adipocytes in mediating tumor-induced fat reprograming and the feedback of adipose tissue on tumor aggressiveness via osteopontin and its potential implications in obesity-promoted cancer and fat cachexia. Collectively these studies highlight the importance of the symbiotic collaboration between adipose tissue and tumor to modulate the cancer metabolic fitness.}, } @article {pmid30198143, year = {2018}, author = {Bachman, BA and Kraus, R and Peterson, CT and Grubbs, RD and Peters, EC}, title = {Growth and reproduction of Echeneis naucrates from the eastern Gulf of Mexico.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {755-758}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.13790}, pmid = {30198143}, issn = {1095-8649}, mesh = {Animals ; *Elasmobranchii ; Female ; *Fertility ; Gulf of Mexico ; Male ; Perciformes/*growth & development ; *Reproduction ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study describes growth and reproductive characteristics of a facultative elasmobranch symbiont, Echeneis naucrates. Females grew slower but achieved a larger size than males (growth coefficient, K = 0.25 and 0.38 year[-1] , and mean maximum size, L∞ = 603 and 477 mm, respectively). Mean relative batch fecundity was 39.5 (s.d. = 13.1). Gonadosomatic indices peaked in July and August for males and females, respectively, with histology evidence of readiness to spawn or active spawning in August. Host-symbiont length ratios increased linearly with sharksucker length (y = 0.0402 + 0.0003x, adjusted R[2] = 0.56).}, } @article {pmid30197700, year = {2018}, author = {Igiehon, NO and Babalola, OO}, title = {Below-ground-above-ground Plant-microbial Interactions: Focusing on Soybean, Rhizobacteria and Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {The open microbiology journal}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {261-279}, pmid = {30197700}, issn = {1874-2858}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Organisms seldom exist in isolation and are usually involved in interactions with several hosts and these interactions in conjunction with the physicochemical parameters of the soil affect plant growth and development. Researches into below and aboveground microbial community are unveiling a myriad of intriguing interactions within the rhizosphere, and many of the interactions are facilitated by exudates that are secreted by plants roots. These interactions can be harnessed for beneficial use in agriculture to enhance crop productivity especially in semi-arid and arid environments.

THE RHIZOSPHERE: The rhizosphere is the region of soil close to plants roots that contain large number of diverse organisms. Examples of microbial candidates that are found in the rhizosphere include the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and rhizobacteria. These rhizosphere microorganisms use plant root secretions such as mucilage and flavonoids which are able to influence their diversity and function and also enhance their potential to colonize plants root.

In the natural environments, plants live in interactions with different microorganisms, which thrive belowground in the rhizosphere and aboveground in the phyllosphere. Some of the plant-microbial interactions (which can be in the form of antagonism, amensalism, parasitism and symbiosis) protect the host plants against detrimental microbial and non-microbial invaders and provide nutrients for plants while others negatively affect plants. These interactions can influence below-ground-above-ground plants' biomass development thereby playing significant role in sustaining plants. Therefore, understanding microbial interactions within the rhizosphere and phyllosphere is urgent towards farming practices that are less dependent on conventional chemical fertilizers, which have known negative impacts on the environments.

Drought stress is one of the major factors militating against agricultural productivity globally and is likely to further increase. Belowground rhizobacteria interactions could play important role in alleviating drought stress in plants. These beneficial rhizobacterial colonize the rhizosphere of plants and impart drought tolerance by up regulation or down regulation of drought responsive genes such as ascorbate peroxidase, S-adenosyl-methionine synthetase, and heat shock protein.

Investigating complex microbial community in the environment is a big challenge. Therefore, omic studies of microorganisms that inhabit the rhizosphere are important since this is where most plant-microbial interactions occur. One of the aims of this review is not to give detailed account of all the present omic techniques, but instead to highlight the current omic techniques that can possibly lead to detection of novel genes and their respective proteins within the rhizosphere which may be of significance in enhancing crop plants (such as soybean) productivity especially in semi-arid and arid environments.

Plant-microbial interactions are not totally understood, and there is, therefore, the need for further studies on these interactions in order to get more insights that may be useful in sustainable agricultural development. With the emergence of omic techniques, it is now possible to effectively monitor transformations in rhizosphere microbial community together with their effects on plant development. This may pave way for scientists to discover new microbial species that will interact effectively with plants. Such microbial species can be used as biofertilizers and/or bio-pesticides to increase crop yield and enhance global food security.}, } @article {pmid30197267, year = {2019}, author = {Al-Khafaji, AM and Clegg, SR and Pinder, AC and Luu, L and Hansford, KM and Seelig, F and Dinnis, RE and Margos, G and Medlock, JM and Feil, EJ and Darby, AC and McGarry, JW and Gilbert, L and Plantard, O and Sassera, D and Makepeace, BL}, title = {Multi-locus sequence typing of Ixodes ricinus and its symbiont Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii across Europe reveals evidence of local co-cladogenesis in Scotland.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {52-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.08.016}, pmid = {30197267}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Proteins/analysis ; Bacterial Proteins/analysis ; Europe ; *Genetic Variation ; Ixodes/*genetics/microbiology ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins/analysis ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nymph ; Rickettsiales/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ticks have relatively complex microbiomes, but only a small proportion of the bacterial symbionts recorded from ticks are vertically transmitted. Moreover, co-cladogenesis between ticks and their symbionts, indicating an intimate relationship over evolutionary history driven by a mutualistic association, is the exception rather than the rule. One of the most widespread tick symbionts is Candidatus Midichloria, which has been detected in all of the major tick genera of medical and veterinary importance. In some species of Ixodes, such as the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus (infected with Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii), the symbiont is fixed in wild adult female ticks, suggesting an obligate mutualism. However, almost no information is available on genetic variation in Candidatus M. mitochondrii or possible co-cladogenesis with its host across its geographic range. Here, we report the first survey of Candidatus M. mitochondrii in I. ricinus in Great Britain and a multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of tick and symbiont between British ticks and those collected in continental Europe. We show that while the prevalence of the symbiont in nymphs collected in England is similar to that reported from the continent, a higher prevalence in nymphs and adult males is apparent in Wales. In general, Candidatus M. mitochondrii exhibits very low levels of sequence diversity, although a consistent signal of host-symbiont coevolution was apparent in Scotland. Moreover, the tick MLST scheme revealed that Scottish specimens form a clade that is partially separated from other British ticks, with almost no contribution of continental sequence types in this north-westerly border of the tick's natural range. The low diversity of Candidatus M. mitochondrii, in contrast with previously reported high rates of polymorphism in I. ricinus mitogenomes, suggests that the symbiont may have swept across Europe recently via a horizontal, rather than vertical, transmission route.}, } @article {pmid30197044, year = {2018}, author = {Lin, Z and Wang, L and Chen, M and Chen, J}, title = {The acute transcriptomic response of coral-algae interactions to pH fluctuation.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {42}, number = {}, pages = {32-40}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2018.08.006}, pmid = {30197044}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; China ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Little is known about how the coral host and its endosymbiont interactions change when they are exposed to a sudden nonlinear environmental transformation, yet this is crucial to coral survival in extreme events. Here, we present a study that investigates the transcriptomic response of corals and their endosymbionts to an abrupt change in pH (pH 7.60 and 8.35). The transcriptome indicates that the endosymbiont demonstrates a synchronized downregulation in carbon acquisition and fixation processes and may result in photosynthetic dysfunction in endosymbiotic Symbiodinium, suggesting that the mutualistic continuum of coral-algae interactions is compromised in response to high-CO2 exposure. Transcriptomic data also shows that corals are still capable of calcifying in response to the low pH but could experience a series of negative effects on their energy dynamics, which including protein damage, DNA repair, ion transport, cellular apoptosis, calcification acclimation and maintenance of intracellular pH homeostasis and stress tolerance to pH swing. This suggests enhanced energy costs for coral metabolic adaptation. This study provides a deeper understanding of the biological basis related to the symbiotic corals in response to extreme future climate change and environmental variability.}, } @article {pmid30196243, year = {2018}, author = {Mukherjee, S and Joardar, N and Sengupta, S and Sinha Babu, SP}, title = {Gut microbes as future therapeutics in treating inflammatory and infectious diseases: Lessons from recent findings.}, journal = {The Journal of nutritional biochemistry}, volume = {61}, number = {}, pages = {111-128}, pmid = {30196243}, issn = {1873-4847}, mesh = {Autoimmune Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*microbiology/therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/microbiology/therapy ; Infections/*microbiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Neoplasms/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota has been the interest of extensive research in recent years and our knowledge on using the potential capacity of these microbes are growing rapidly. Microorganisms colonized throughout the gastrointestinal tract of human are coevolved through symbiotic relationship and can influence physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune functions of an individual. The gut microbes are directly involved in conferring protection against pathogen colonization by inducing direct killing, competing with nutrients and enhancing the response of the gut-associated immune repertoire. Damage in the microbiome (dysbiosis) is linked with several life-threatening outcomes viz. inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, obesity, allergy, and auto-immune disorders. Therefore, the manipulation of human gut microbiota came out as a potential choice for therapeutic intervention of the several human diseases. Herein, we review significant studies emphasizing the influence of the gut microbiota on the regulation of host responses in combating infectious and inflammatory diseases alongside describing the promises of gut microbes as future therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid30195930, year = {2019}, author = {St John, E and Liu, Y and Podar, M and Stott, MB and Meneghin, J and Chen, Z and Lagutin, K and Mitchell, K and Reysenbach, AL}, title = {A new symbiotic nanoarchaeote (Candidatus Nanoclepta minutus) and its host (Zestosphaera tikiterensis gen. nov., sp. nov.) from a New Zealand hot spring.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {94-106}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.08.005}, pmid = {30195930}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Desulfurococcaceae/*classification/genetics ; Genome, Archaeal ; Hot Springs/*microbiology ; New Zealand ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Three thermophilic Nanoarchaeota-Crenarchaeota symbiotic systems have been described. We obtained another stable anaerobic enrichment culture at 80°C, pH 6.0 from a New Zealand hot spring. The nanoarchaeote (Ncl-1) and its host (NZ3[T]) were isolated in co-culture and their genomes assembled. The small (∼200nm) flagellated cocci were often attached to larger cocci. Based on 16S rRNA gene similarity (88.4%) and average amino acid identity (52%), Ncl-1 is closely related to Candidatus Nanopusillus acidilobi. Their genomes both encode for archaeal flagella and partial glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, but lack ATP synthase genes. Like Nanoarchaeum equitans, Ncl-1 has a CRISPR-Cas system. Ncl-1 also relies on its crenarchaeotal host for most of its biosynthetic needs. The host NZ3[T] was isolated and grows on proteinaceous substrates but not on sugars, alcohols, or fatty acids. NZ3[T] requires thiosulfate and grows best at 82°C, pH 6.0. NZ3[T] is most closely related to the Desulfurococcaceae, Ignisphaera aggregans (∼92% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 45% AAI). Based on phylogenetic, physiological and genomic data, Ncl-1 and NZ3[T] represent novel genera in the Nanoarchaeota and the Desulfurococcaceae, respectively, with the proposed names Candidatus Nanoclepta minutus and Zestosphaera tikiterensis gen. nov., sp. nov., type strain NZ3[T] (=DSMZ 107634[T]=OCM 1213[T]).}, } @article {pmid30195323, year = {2018}, author = {Matiiv, AB and Chekunova, EM}, title = {Aureochromes - Blue Light Receptors.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {83}, number = {6}, pages = {662-673}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297918060044}, pmid = {30195323}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Fungi/metabolism ; Light ; Optogenetics ; Photoreceptors, Microbial/chemistry/classification/*metabolism ; Photoreceptors, Plant/chemistry/classification/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plants/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {A variety of living organisms including bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants use blue light (BL) to adapt to changing ambient light. Photosynthetic forms (plants and algae) require energy of light for photosynthesis, movements, development, and regulation of activity. Several complex light-sensitive systems evolved in eukaryotic cells to use the information of light efficiently with photoreceptors selectively absorbing various segments of the solar spectrum, being the first components in the light signal transduction chain. They are most diverse in algae. Photosynthetic stramenopiles, which received chloroplasts from red algae during secondary symbiosis, play an important role in ecosystems and aquaculture, being primary producers. These taxa acquired the ability to use BL for regulation of such processes as phototropism, chloroplast photo-relocation movement, and photomorphogenesis. A new type of BL receptor - aureochrome (AUREO) - was identified in Vaucheria frigida in 2007. AUREO consists of two domains: bZIP (basic-region leucine zipper) domain and LOV (light-oxygen-voltage-sensing) domain, and thus this photoreceptor is a BL-sensitive transcription factor. This review presents current data on the structure, mechanisms of action, and biochemical features of aureochromes.}, } @article {pmid30193959, year = {2018}, author = {Porter, NT and Luis, AS and Martens, EC}, title = {Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {966-967}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2018.08.005}, pmid = {30193959}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*physiology ; Dietary Fiber/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Plant Cells ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This infographic on Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) explores the ability of this microbe to digest a broad array of complex carbohydrates, alter its surface features, and its emerging role in gastrointestinal diseases. The infographic of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) illustrates two key facets of its symbiotic lifestyle in the human gut: a broad ability to digest dietary fiber polysaccharides and host glycans, and a dynamic cell-surface architecture that promotes both interactions with and evasion of the host immune system. The starch-utilization system (Sus) is a cell-surface and periplasmic system involved in starch cleavage and transport. Over 80 additional Sus-like systems utilize substrates ranging from host glycans to plant cell wall pectins. Bt has evolved intricate strategies to interact with other microbes or its host, including modification of its surface. Some nutrient utilization pathways select for or directly trigger changes in capsular polysaccharide (CPS) expression. Like other fermentative members of the gut microbiome, Bt produces host absorbable short-chain and organic acids, which can all be absorbed by the host as a source of energy.}, } @article {pmid30192637, year = {2018}, author = {Ausubel, FM}, title = {Tracing My Roots: How I Became a Plant Biologist.}, journal = {Annual review of genetics}, volume = {52}, number = {}, pages = {1-20}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-genet-120417-031722}, pmid = {30192637}, issn = {1545-2948}, mesh = {Animals ; Arabidopsis/*genetics/microbiology ; Biology/history ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*genetics/microbiology ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/genetics/pathogenicity ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {My trajectory to becoming a plant biologist was shaped by a complex mix of scientific, political, sociological, and personal factors. I was trained as a microbiologist and molecular biologist in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time of political upheaval surrounding the Vietnam War. My political activism taught me to be wary of the potential misuses of scientific knowledge and to promote the positive applications of science for the benefit of society. I chose agricultural science for my postdoctoral work. Because I was not trained as a plant biologist, I devised a postdoctoral project that took advantage of my microbiological training, and I explored using genetic technologies to transfer the ability to fix nitrogen from prokaryotic nitrogen-fixing species to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana with the ultimate goal of engineering crop plants. The invention of recombinant DNA technology greatly facilitated the cloning and manipulation of bacterial nitrogen-fixation (nif) genes, but it also forced me to consider how much genetic engineering of organisms, including human beings, is acceptable. My laboratory has additionally studied host-pathogen interactions using Arabidopsis and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as model hosts.}, } @article {pmid30192418, year = {2018}, author = {Ratib, NR and Sabio, EY and Mendoza, C and Barnett, MJ and Clover, SB and Ortega, JA and Dela Cruz, FM and Balderas, D and White, H and Long, SR and Chen, EJ}, title = {Genome-wide identification of genes directly regulated by ChvI and a consensus sequence for ChvI binding in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {110}, number = {4}, pages = {596-615}, pmid = {30192418}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 HG006836/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; T34 GM008612/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Binding Sites/genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Glucosyltransferases/genetics ; Protein Binding/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {ExoS/ChvI two-component signaling in the nitrogen-fixing α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti is required for symbiosis and regulates exopolysaccharide production, motility, cell envelope integrity and nutrient utilization in free-living bacteria. However, identification of many ExoS/ChvI direct transcriptional target genes has remained elusive. Here, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by microarray analysis (chIP-chip) to globally identify DNA regions bound by ChvI protein in S. meliloti. We then performed qRT-PCR with chvI mutant strains to test ChvI-dependent expression of genes downstream of the ChvI-bound DNA regions. We identified 64 direct target genes of ChvI, including exoY, rem and chvI itself. We also identified ChvI direct target candidates, like exoR, that are likely controlled by additional regulators. Analysis of upstream sequences from the 64 ChvI direct target genes identified a 15 bp-long consensus sequence. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and transcriptional fusions with exoY, SMb21440, SMc00084, SMc01580, chvI, and ropB1, we demonstrated this consensus sequence is important for ChvI binding to DNA and transcription of ChvI direct target genes. Thus, we have comprehensively identified ChvI regulon genes and a 'ChvI box' bound by ChvI. Many ChvI direct target genes may influence the cell envelope, consistent with the critical role of ExoS/ChvI in growth and microbe-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid30188575, year = {2018}, author = {Sverdlov, E}, title = {Missed Druggable Cancer Hallmark: Cancer-Stroma Symbiotic Crosstalk as Paradigm and Hypothesis for Cancer Therapy.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {40}, number = {11}, pages = {e1800079}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201800079}, pmid = {30188575}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/*pathology ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*pathology/*therapy ; Paracrine Communication/physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Stromal Cells/*physiology ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {During tumor evolution, cancer cells use the tumor-stroma crosstalk to reorganize the microenvironment for maximum robustness of the tumor. The success of immune checkpoint therapy foretells a new cancer therapy paradigm: an effective cancer treatment should not aim to influence the individual components of super complex intracellular interactomes (molecular targeting), but try to disrupt the intercellular interactions between cancer and stromal cells, thus breaking the tumor as a whole. Arguments are provided in favor of a hypothesis that such interactions include formation of synapse-like structures (interfaces) where the interacting cells are located at a distance of ∼10-15 nm. Within these interfaces, molecules initiating and strengthening the interaction are organized, and allow optimum cross-signaling; a very confined intercellular space facilitates the concentration of secreted cytokines, enhancing the paracrine cross-communication. These features of tumors form a druggable cancer hallmark the tumor-stroma symbiotic crosstalk-which represents a new target for efficient cancer drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid30188486, year = {2018}, author = {Woolforde, L}, title = {Nursing Professional Development Practitioners on Boards: A Symbiotic Relationship.}, journal = {Journal for nurses in professional development}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {293-294}, doi = {10.1097/NND.0000000000000475}, pmid = {30188486}, issn = {2169-981X}, mesh = {*Committee Membership ; Governing Board/*trends ; Humans ; Specialties, Nursing/*methods/trends ; Staff Development/trends ; }, } @article {pmid30187122, year = {2018}, author = {Stürmer, SL and Bever, JD and Morton, JB}, title = {Biogeography of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota): a phylogenetic perspective on species distribution patterns.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {587-603}, pmid = {30187122}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Geography ; Glomeromycota/*classification ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; Phylogeny ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Information on the biogeography of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is important because this group of obligately symbiotic soil microbes is a ubiquitous and functionally critical component of terrestrial ecosystems. In this paper, we utilize a biogeography database summarizing data on AMF species distribution linked to geographic and environmental conditions to describe global distribution patterns and interpret these patterns within a phylogenetic perspective. The data were obtained from accessions in living culture collections (INVAM, CICG), species descriptions, and other published literature from 1960 to 2012. The database contains 7105 records, 6396 of them from 768 published papers and the remaining 709 from culture accessions. Glomeromycotan species were recorded in all seven continents, 87 countries, 11 biogeographical realms, and 14 biomes. The distribution of families differed among climatic zones and continents, but they, together with all genera, appear to be cosmopolitan. Distribution of AMF species shows a slight decrease from low to high latitudes, but this decrease is steeper in the southern than in the northern hemisphere. A total of 189 species is shared between ancient supercontinents Gondwana and Laurasia and 78 species are common to all climatic zones. Ninety-five species (43% of the total) have known cosmopolitan distribution, including members of all genera except Redeckera. Some species have disjunct distribution and 26% of species have been registered from only one continent. Data on AMF distribution challenge the "Everything is everywhere" hypothesis in favor of the "moderate endemicity model" for species distribution. Data from this study provide a foundation to formulate and test hypotheses of biogeographic patterns and processes in Glomeromycota.}, } @article {pmid30187088, year = {2019}, author = {Vallesi, A and Sjödin, A and Petrelli, D and Luporini, P and Taddei, AR and Thelaus, J and Öhrman, C and Nilsson, E and Di Giuseppe, G and Gutiérrez, G and Villalobo, E}, title = {A New Species of the γ-Proteobacterium Francisella, F. adeliensis Sp. Nov., Endocytobiont in an Antarctic Marine Ciliate and Potential Evolutionary Forerunner of Pathogenic Species.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {3}, pages = {587-596}, pmid = {30187088}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Euplotes/*microbiology/physiology ; Francisella/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The study of the draft genome of an Antarctic marine ciliate, Euplotes petzi, revealed foreign sequences of bacterial origin belonging to the γ-proteobacterium Francisella that includes pathogenic and environmental species. TEM and FISH analyses confirmed the presence of a Francisella endocytobiont in E. petzi. This endocytobiont was isolated and found to be a new species, named F. adeliensis sp. nov.. F. adeliensis grows well at wide ranges of temperature, salinity, and carbon dioxide concentrations implying that it may colonize new organisms living in deeply diversified habitats. The F. adeliensis genome includes the igl and pdp gene sets (pdpC and pdpE excepted) of the Francisella pathogenicity island needed for intracellular growth. Consistently with an F. adeliensis ancient symbiotic lifestyle, it also contains a single insertion-sequence element. Instead, it lacks genes for the biosynthesis of essential amino acids such as cysteine, lysine, methionine, and tyrosine. In a genome-based phylogenetic tree, F. adeliensis forms a new early branching clade, basal to the evolution of pathogenic species. The correlations of this clade with the other clades raise doubts about a genuine free-living nature of the environmental Francisella species isolated from natural and man-made environments, and suggest to look at F. adeliensis as a pioneer in the Francisella colonization of eukaryotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid30186672, year = {2018}, author = {Ross, BJ and Hallock, P}, title = {Challenges in using CellTracker Green on foraminifers that host algal endosymbionts.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5304}, pmid = {30186672}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The uses of fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent probes, such as the metabolically activated probe CellTracker™ Green CMFDA (CTG), have become common in studies of living Foraminifera. This metabolic requirement, as well as the relatively quick production of the fluorescent reaction products, makes CTG a prime candidate for determining mortality in bioassay and other laboratory experiments. Previous work with the foraminifer Amphistegina gibbosa, which hosts diatom endosymbionts, has shown that the species is capable of surviving both acute chemical exposure and extended periods of total darkness by entering a low-activity dormant state. This paper explores the use of CTG and fluorescent microscopy to determine mortality in such experiments, as well as to explore the physiology of dormant foraminifers. The application of CTG was found to be complicated by the autofluorescence of the diatom symbionts, which masks the signal of the CTG, as well as by interactions between CTG and propylene glycol, a chemical of interest known to cause dormancy. These complications necessitated adapting methods from earlier studies using CTG. Here we present observations on CTG fluorescence and autofluorescence in A. gibbosa following both chemical exposure and periods of total darkness. While CTG can indicate vital activity in dormant foraminifers, complications include underestimates of total survival and recovery, and falsely indicating dead individuals as live due to rapid microbial colonization. Nonetheless, the brightness of the CTG signal in dormant individuals exposed to propylene glycol supports previously published results of survival patterns in A. gibbosa. Observations of CTG fluorescence in individuals kept for extended periods in aphotic conditions indicate uptake of CTG may begin within 30 min of exposure to light, suggesting darkness-induced dormancy and subsequent recovery can occur on short time scales. These results suggest that CTG accurately reflects changes associated with dormancy, and can be useful in laboratory experiments utilizing symbiont-bearing foraminifers.}, } @article {pmid30185979, year = {2018}, author = {Tena, G}, title = {Slimy symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {629}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-018-0257-z}, pmid = {30185979}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays ; }, } @article {pmid30184201, year = {2018}, author = {Rathi, S and Tak, N and Bissa, G and Chouhan, B and Ojha, A and Adhikari, D and Barik, SK and Satyawada, RR and Sprent, JI and James, EK and Gehlot, HS}, title = {Selection of Bradyrhizobium or Ensifer symbionts by the native Indian caesalpinioid legume Chamaecrista pumila depends on soil pH and other edaphic and climatic factors.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy180}, pmid = {30184201}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Chamaecrista/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Climate ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; India ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/anatomy & histology/ultrastructure ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nodules of Chamaecrista pumila growing in several locations in India were sampled for anatomical studies and for characterization of their rhizobial microsymbionts. Regardless of their region of origin, the nodules were indeterminate with their bacteroids contained within symbiosomes which were surrounded by pectin. More than 150 strains were isolated from alkaline soils from the Thar Desert (Rajasthan), wet-acidic soils of Shillong (Meghalaya), and from trap experiments using soils from four other states with different agro-ecological regions. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on five housekeeping (rrs, recA, glnII, dnaK andatpD) and two symbiotic (nodA and nifH) genes was performed for selected strains. Chamaecrista pumila was shown to be nodulated by niche-specific diverse strains of either Ensifer or Bradyrhizobium in alkaline (Thar Desert) to neutral (Tamil Nadu) soils and only Bradyrhizobium strains in acidic (Shillong) soils. Concatenated core gene phylogenies showed four novel Ensifer-MLSA types and nine Bradyrhizobium-MLSA types. Genetically diverse Ensifer strains harbored similar sym genes which were novel. In contrast, significant symbiotic diversity was observed in the Bradyrhizobium strains. The C. pumila strains cross-nodulated Vigna radiata and some wild papilionoid and mimosoid legumes. It is suggested that soil pH and moisture level played important roles in structuring the C. pumila microsymbiont community.}, } @article {pmid30184126, year = {2018}, author = {Foflonker, F and Mollegard, D and Ong, M and Yoon, HS and Bhattacharya, D}, title = {Genomic Analysis of Picochlorum Species Reveals How Microalgae May Adapt to Variable Environments.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {35}, number = {11}, pages = {2702-2711}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msy167}, pmid = {30184126}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/metabolism ; Environment ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Chloroplast ; Genomics ; Microalgae/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Salt Stress ; Synteny ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Understanding how microalgae adapt to rapidly changing environments is not only important to science but can help clarify the potential impact of climate change on the biology of primary producers. We sequenced and analyzed the nuclear genome of multiple Picochlorum isolates (Chlorophyta) to elucidate strategies of environmental adaptation. It was previously found that coordinated gene regulation is involved in adaptation to salinity stress, and here we show that gene gain and loss also play key roles in adaptation. We determined the extent of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from prokaryotes and their role in the origin of novel functions in the Picochlorum clade. HGT is an ongoing and dynamic process in this algal clade with adaptation being driven by transfer, divergence, and loss. One HGT candidate that is differentially expressed under salinity stress is indolepyruvate decarboxylase that is involved in the production of a plant auxin that mediates bacteria-diatom symbiotic interactions. Large differences in levels of heterozygosity were found in diploid haplotypes among Picochlorum isolates. Biallelic divergence was pronounced in P. oklahomensis (salt plains environment) when compared with its closely related sister taxon Picochlorum SENEW3 (brackish water environment), suggesting a role of diverged alleles in response to environmental stress. Our results elucidate how microbial eukaryotes with limited gene inventories expand habitat range from mesophilic to halophilic through allelic diversity, and with minor but important contributions made by HGT. We also explore how the nature and quality of genome data may impact inference of nuclear ploidy.}, } @article {pmid30179054, year = {2018}, author = {Turner, JH}, title = {An introduction to the clinical practice of theranostics in oncology.}, journal = {The British journal of radiology}, volume = {91}, number = {1091}, pages = {20180440}, pmid = {30179054}, issn = {1748-880X}, mesh = {Diffusion of Innovation ; Humans ; Interprofessional Relations ; Iodine Radioisotopes/therapeutic use ; Medical Oncology/*trends ; Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging/*therapy ; Oncologists ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography/trends ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Radiopharmaceuticals/therapeutic use ; Theranostic Nanomedicine/*trends ; }, abstract = {"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana 1905 "If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us! But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us!" Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1835 The medical speciality of theranostic nuclear oncology has taken three-quarters of a century to move the stern light cast retrospectively by single-centre clinical reports, to the forepeak in the bow of our theranostic craft, where prospective randomised controlled multicentre clinical trials now illuminate the way forward. This recent reorientation of nuclear medicine clinical research practice to align with that of standard medical and radiation oncology protocols, reflects the paradigm shift toward individualised molecular oncology and precision medicine. Theranostics is the epitome of personalised medicine. The specific tumour biomarker is quantitatively imaged on positron emission tomography (PET)/CT or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT. If it is clearly demonstrated that a tumoricidal radiation absorbed dose can be delivered, the theranostic beta or alpha-emitting radionuclide pair, coupled to the same targeted molecule, is then administered, to control advanced metastatic cancer in that individual patient. This prior selection of patients who may benefit from theranostic treatment is in direct contrast to the evolving oncological indirect treatments using immune-check point inhibitors, where there is an urgent need to define biomarkers which can reliably predict response, and thus avoid the high cost and toxicity of these agents in patients who are unlikely to benefit. The immune and molecular treatment approaches of oncology are a recent phenomenon and the efficacy and safety of immune-check point blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies are currently under evaluation in multicentre randomised controlled trials. Such objective evaluation is compromised by the inadequacy of conventional response evaluation criteria in solid tumour (RECIST) CT/MR anatomical/functional imaging to define tumour response, in both immune-oncology and theranostic nuclear oncology. This introduction to the clinical practice of theranostics explores ways in which nuclear physicians can learn from the lessons of history, and join with their medical, surgical and radiation oncology colleagues to establish a symbiotic collaboration to realise the potential of personalised molecular medicine to control advanced cancer and actually enhance quality of life whilst prolonging survival.}, } @article {pmid30177945, year = {2018}, author = {Kelly, S and Mun, T and Stougaard, J and Ben, C and Andersen, SU}, title = {Distinct Lotus japonicus Transcriptomic Responses to a Spectrum of Bacteria Ranging From Symbiotic to Pathogenic.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1218}, pmid = {30177945}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Lotus japonicus is a well-studied nodulating legume and a model organism for the investigation of plant-microbe interactions. The majority of legume transcriptome studies have focused on interactions with compatible symbionts, whereas responses to non-adapted rhizobia and pathogenic bacteria have not been well-characterized. In this study, we first characterized the transcriptomic response of L. japonicus to its compatible symbiont, Mesorhizobium loti R7A, through RNA-seq analysis of various plant tissues. Early symbiotic signaling was largely Nod factor-dependent and enhanced within root hairs, and we observed large-scale transcriptional reprogramming in nodule primordia and mature nitrogen-fixing nodules. We then characterized root transcriptional responses to a spectrum of L. japonicus interacting bacteria ranging from semi-compatible symbionts to pathogens. M. loti R7A and the semi-compatible strain Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 showed remarkably similar responses, allowing us to identify a small number of genes potentially involved in differentiating between fully and semi-compatible symbionts. The incompatible symbiont Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 induced a more attenuated response, but the weakest response was observed for the foliar pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, where the affected genes also responded to other tested bacteria, pointing to a small set of common bacterial response genes. In contrast, the root pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum JS763 induced a pronounced and distinct transcriptomic pathogen response, which we compared to the results of the other treatments. This comparative analysis did not support the concept that an early defense-like response is generally evoked by compatible rhizobia during establishment of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30175608, year = {2018}, author = {Hagymási, K and Bacsárdi, A and Egresi, A and Berta, E and Tulassay, Z and Lengyel, G}, title = {[The role of gut microbiota in chronic liver diseases, and treatment possibilities].}, journal = {Orvosi hetilap}, volume = {159}, number = {36}, pages = {1465-1474}, doi = {10.1556/650.2018.31178}, pmid = {30175608}, issn = {0030-6002}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Liver/*microbiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/microbiology ; Liver Diseases/microbiology/*physiopathology ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/microbiology ; Probiotics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The community of microorganisms in the intestine, namely gut microbiome lives in symbiosis with the host, contributing to its homeostasis and influencing it simultaneously. It can be suspected that gut microbiome plays a central role in the pathophysiology of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases: determining their development, progress and complications. Recently, intestinal microbiome has become a highlighted field of interest and important topic in research, especially in hepatology. It is in the focus of relevant research as the liver is the organ which meets nutrients, bacterial components, toxins and metabolites at first, as a filter. The evolvement of different liver diseases - just like alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma - correlates with the changed composition and activity of gut microbiome. Thus, it can be hypothesized that pre-, pro- and antibiotics could have an impact on the treatment of these diseases. In our review article, the relationship between intestinal flora and liver diseases with different etiologies as well as therapeutic possibilities are discussed. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(36): 1465-1474.}, } @article {pmid30172125, year = {2018}, author = {Tang, J and Ni, X and Zhou, Z and Wang, L and Lin, S}, title = {Acute microplastic exposure raises stress response and suppresses detoxification and immune capacities in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {243}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {66-74}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.045}, pmid = {30172125}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/enzymology/*immunology/metabolism/*physiology ; Catalase/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism ; Plastics/*toxicity ; Stress, Physiological/*drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microplastics are widespread emerging contaminants that have been found globally in the marine and freshwater ecosystem, but there is limited knowledge regarding its impact on coral reef ecosystem and underpinning mechanism. In the present study, using Pocillopora damicornis as a model, we investigated cytological, physiological, and molecular responses of a scleractinian coral to acute microplastic exposure. No significant changes were observed in the density of symbiotic zooxanthellae during the entire period of microplastic exposure, while its chlorophyll content increased significantly at 12 h of microplastic exposure. We observed significant increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, significant decrease in the detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase and the immune enzyme alkaline phosphatase, but no change in the other immune enzyme phenoloxidase during the whole experiment period. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 134 significantly up-regulated coral genes at 12 h after the exposure, enriched in 11 GO terms mostly related to stress response, zymogen granule, and JNK signal pathway. Meanwhile, 215 coral genes were significantly down-regulated at 12 h after exposure, enriched in 25 GO terms involved in sterol transport and EGF-ERK1/2 signal pathway. In contrast, only 12 zooxanthella genes exhibited significant up-regulation and 95 genes down-regulation at 12 h after the microplastic exposure; genes regulating synthesis and export of glucose and amino acids were not impacted. These results suggest that acute exposure of microplastics can activate the stress response of the scleractinian coral P. damicornis, and repress its detoxification and immune system through the JNK and ERK signal pathways. These demonstrate that microplastic exposure can compromise the anti-stress capacity and immune system of the scleractinian coral P. damicornis, despite the minimal impact on the abundance and major photosynthate translocation transporters of the symbiont in the short term.}, } @article {pmid30168644, year = {2019}, author = {Yao, S and Lyu, S and An, Y and Lu, J and Gjermansen, C and Schramm, A}, title = {Microalgae-bacteria symbiosis in microalgal growth and biofuel production: a review.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {126}, number = {2}, pages = {359-368}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14095}, pmid = {30168644}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Biofuels ; Biomass ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Microalgae/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic microalgae can capture solar energy and convert it to bioenergy and biochemical products. In nature or industrial processes, microalgae live together with bacterial communities and may maintain symbiotic relationships. In general interactions, microalgae exude dissolved organic carbon that becomes available to bacteria. In return, the bacteria remineralize sulphur, nitrogen and phosphorous to support the further growth of microalgae. In specific interactions, heterotrophic bacteria supply B vitamins as organic cofactors or produce siderophores to bind iron, which could be utilized by microalgae, while the algae supply fixed carbon to the bacteria in return. In this review, we focus on mutualistic relationship between microalgae and bacteria, summarizing recent studies on the mechanisms involved in microalgae-bacteria symbiosis. Symbiotic bacteria on promoting microalgal growth are described and the relevance of microalgae-bacteria interactions for biofuel production processes is discussed. Symbiotic microalgae-bacteria consortia could be utilized to improve microalgal biomass production and to enrich the biomass with valuable chemical and energy compounds. The suitable control of such biological interactions between microalgae and bacteria will help to improve the microalgae-based biomass and biofuel production in the future.}, } @article {pmid30168098, year = {2018}, author = {Qu, F and Chen, Q and Ding, Y and Liu, Z and Zhao, Y and Zhang, X and Liu, Z and Chen, J}, title = {Isolation of a feather-degrading strain of bacterium from spider gut and the purification and identification of its three key enzymes.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {45}, number = {6}, pages = {1681-1689}, pmid = {30168098}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Culture Media ; Feathers/*enzymology/microbiology ; Keratins/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Proteolysis ; Serine Endopeptidases/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Spiders/microbiology ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/*enzymology/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {A novel feather-degrading bacterium named CA-1 was isolated from the gut of the spider Chilobrachys guangxiensis, which degrades native whole chicken feathers within 20 h. The CA-1 was confirmed to belong to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia based on morphologic and molecular analysis. Maximum feather degradation activity of the bacterium was observed at 37 °C in basal feather medium (NaCl 0.5 g/L, KH2PO4 0.3 g/L, K2HPO4 0.4 g/L, feather powder 10.0 g/L, pH 8.0), which was inhibited when glucose and ammonium nitrate were added in the medium. Furthermore, the purified enzymes under the optimal and suppressive conditions were analyzed respectively by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. Three enzymes, namely alkaline serine protease (29.1 kDa), ABC transporter permease (27.5 kDa), and alkaline phosphatase (40.8 kDa), were isolated and identified from the supernatant of the optimal culture and were considered to play principal roles. On the other hand, the potential synergic effects of the three proteins in S. maltophilia CA-1 feather degradation system were analyzed theoretically. CA-1 may product outer-membrane vesicles comprised of membranes and periplasmic proteins in the feather medium. The newly identified CA-1 and its synergic enzymes provide a new insight into further understanding the molecular mechanism of feather degradation by microbes. They also have potential application in cost-effectively degrading feathers into feeds and fertilizers through careful optimization and engineering of the three newly identified enzymes.}, } @article {pmid30166437, year = {2018}, author = {Tsikou, D and Yan, Z and Holt, DB and Abel, NB and Reid, DE and Madsen, LH and Bhasin, H and Sexauer, M and Stougaard, J and Markmann, K}, title = {Systemic control of legume susceptibility to rhizobial infection by a mobile microRNA.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {362}, number = {6411}, pages = {233-236}, doi = {10.1126/science.aat6907}, pmid = {30166437}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Lotus/*microbiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology/*prevention & control ; Rhizobium/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodules on legumes result from two developmental processes, bacterial infection and nodule organogenesis. To balance symbiosis and plant growth, legume hosts restrict nodule numbers through an inducible autoregulatory process. Here, we present a mechanism where repression of a negative regulator ensures symbiotic susceptibility of uninfected roots of the host Lotus japonicus We show that microRNA miR2111 undergoes shoot-to-root translocation to control rhizobial infection through posttranscriptional regulation of the symbiosis suppressor TOO MUCH LOVE in roots. miR2111 maintains a susceptible default status in uninfected hosts and functions as an activator of symbiosis downstream of LOTUS HISTIDINE KINASE1-mediated cytokinin perception in roots and HYPERNODULATION ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION1, a shoot factor in autoregulation. The miR2111-TML node ensures activation of feedback regulation to balance infection and nodulation events.}, } @article {pmid30165827, year = {2018}, author = {Aguilar, A and Mora, Y and Dávalos, A and Girard, L and Mora, J and Peralta, H}, title = {Analysis of genome sequence and symbiotic ability of rhizobial strains isolated from seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {645}, pmid = {30165827}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development ; Seeds/*genetics/growth & development ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobia are alpha-proteobacteria commonly found in soil and root nodules of legumes. It was recently reported that nitrogen-fixing rhizobia also inhabit legume seeds. In this study, we examined whole-genome sequences of seven strains of rhizobia isolated from seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).

RESULTS: Rhizobial strains included in this study belonged to three different species, including Rhizobium phaseoli, R. leguminosarum, and R. grahamii. Genome sequence analyses revealed that six of the strains formed three pairs of highly related strains. Both strains comprising a pair shared all but one plasmid. In two out of three pairs, one of the member strains was effective in nodulation and nitrogen fixation, whereas the other was ineffective. The genome of the ineffective strain in each pair lacked several genes responsible for symbiosis, including nod, nif, and fix genes, whereas that of the effective strain harbored the corresponding genes in clusters, suggesting that recombination events provoked gene loss in ineffective strains. Comparisons of genomic sequences between seed strains and nodule strains of the same species showed high conservation of chromosomal sequences and lower conservation of plasmid sequences. Approximately 70% of all genes were shared among the strains of each species. However, paralogs were more abundant in seed strains than in nodule strains. Functional analysis showed that seed strains were particularly enriched in genes involved in the transport and metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates, biosynthesis of cofactors and in transposons and prophages. Genomes of seed strains harbored several intact prophages, one of which was inserted at exactly the same genomic position in three strains of R. phaseoli and R. leguminosarum. The R. grahamii strain carried a prophage similar to a gene transfer agent (GTA); this represents the first GTA reported for this genus.

CONCLUSIONS: Seeds represent a niche for bacteria; their access by rhizobia possibly triggered the infection of phages, recombination, loss or gain of plasmids, and loss of symbiosis genes. This process probably represents ongoing evolution that will eventually convert these strains into obligate endophytes.}, } @article {pmid30160099, year = {2018}, author = {Dose, B and Niehs, SP and Scherlach, K and Flórez, LV and Kaltenpoth, M and Hertweck, C}, title = {Unexpected Bacterial Origin of the Antibiotic Icosalide: Two-Tailed Depsipeptide Assembly in Multifarious Burkholderia Symbionts.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {2414-2420}, doi = {10.1021/acschembio.8b00600}, pmid = {30160099}, issn = {1554-8937}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism ; Burkholderia/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Peptide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Peptides, Cyclic/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Icosalide is an unusual two-tailed lipocyclopeptide antibiotic that was originally isolated from a fungal culture. Yet, its biosynthesis and ecological function have remained enigmatic. By genome mining and metabolic profiling of a bacterial endosymbiont (Burkholderia gladioli) of the pest beetle Lagria villosa, we unveiled a bacterial origin of icosalide. Functional analysis of the biosynthetic gene locus revealed an unprecedented nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) that incorporates two β-hydroxy acids by means of two starter condensation domains in different modules. This unusual assembly line, which may inspire new synthetic biology approaches, is widespread among many symbiotic Burkholderia species from diverse habitats. Biological assays showed that icosalide is active against entomopathogenic bacteria, thus adding to the chemical armory protecting beetle offspring. By creating a null mutant, we found that icosalide is a swarming inhibitor, which may play a role in symbiotic interactions and bears the potential for therapeutic applications.}, } @article {pmid30158542, year = {2018}, author = {Cavazzini, D and Grossi, G and Levati, E and Vallese, F and Montanini, B and Bolchi, A and Zanotti, G and Ottonello, S}, title = {Author Correction: A family of archaea-like carboxylesterases preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {13173}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-29606-0}, pmid = {30158542}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and the PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.}, } @article {pmid30157288, year = {2018}, author = {Allen, JL and McKenzie, SK and Sleith, RS and Alter, SE}, title = {First genome-wide analysis of the endangered, endemic lichen Cetradonia linearis reveals isolation by distance and strong population structure.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {105}, number = {9}, pages = {1556-1567}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1150}, pmid = {30157288}, issn = {1537-2197}, support = {1145511//National Science Foundation (NSF)/International ; }, mesh = {Appalachian Region ; Endangered Species ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Genome, Fungal/genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Lichens/*genetics/physiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Population Dynamics ; Reproduction ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Lichenized fungi are evolutionarily diverse and ecologically important, but little is known about the processes that drive their diversification and genetic differentiation. Distributions are often assumed to be wholly shaped by ecological requirements rather than dispersal limitations. Furthermore, although asexual and sexual reproductive structures are observable, the lack of information about recombination rates makes inferences about reproductive strategies difficult. We investigated the population genomics of Cetradonia linearis, a federally endangered lichen in the southern Appalachians of eastern North America, to test the relative contributions of environmental and geographic distance in shaping genetic structure, and to characterize the mating system and genome-wide recombination.

METHODS: Whole-genome shotgun sequencing was conducted to generate data for 32 individuals of C. linearis. A reference genome was assembled, and reads from all samples were aligned to generate a set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms for further analyses.

KEY RESULTS: We found evidence for low rates of recombination and for isolation by distance, but not for isolation by environment. The species is putatively unisexual, given that only one mating-type locus was found. Hindcast species distribution models and the distribution of genetic diversity support C. linearis having a larger range during the Last Glacial Maximum in the southern portion of its current extent.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings contribute to the understanding of factors that shape genetic diversity in C. linearis and in fungi more broadly. Because all populations are highly genetically differentiated, the extirpation of any population would mean the loss of unique genetic diversity; therefore, our results support the continued conservation of this species.}, } @article {pmid30156088, year = {2019}, author = {Guanziroli, E and Cazzaniga, M and Colombo, L and Basilico, S and Legnani, G and Molteni, F}, title = {Assistive powered exoskeleton for complete spinal cord injury: correlations between walking ability and exoskeleton control.}, journal = {European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine}, volume = {55}, number = {2}, pages = {209-216}, doi = {10.23736/S1973-9087.18.05308-X}, pmid = {30156088}, issn = {1973-9095}, mesh = {Adult ; Equipment Design ; *Exoskeleton Device ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurological Rehabilitation/*methods ; Software ; Spinal Cord Injuries/*rehabilitation ; Walk Test ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wearable powered robotic exoskeletons allow patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) to practice over-ground real-world gait scenarios. The global functional interaction subject-exoskeleton is a key factor to produce interlimb coordinated movements. Efficacy and efficiency of over-ground walking abilities using powered exoskeletons are related not only to the symbiotic sensory-motor interaction subject-exoskeleton but also to exoskeleton control.

AIM: Assess if walking ability of motor complete SCI patients at thoracic or lower level, using a wearable powered exoskeleton (ReWalk), can be influenced by different exoskeleton software control.

DESIGN: Observational study; an open, non-comparative, non-randomized study.

SETTING: A single neurological rehabilitation center for inpatients and outpatients.

POPULATION: Fifteen SCI chronic patients (4 females and 11 males) were recruited and divided in two groups: group 1, trained with the first software generation of ReWalk, and group 2, trained with the second software generation, a software upgrade of the previous version.

METHODS: Subjects were trained during three 60-minute sessions a week, during at least eight weeks using ReWalk, a wearable lower limb powered exoskeleton that allows thoracic or lower level motor-complete individuals with SCI to walk, stand, sit and climb/descend stairs. Outcome measures, collected at the end of the training period wearing the exoskeleton, were: 6-min Walking Test, 10-m Walking Test, and the time necessary to pass from sitting to standing and start to walk (STS-time). For each group Pearson Coefficient was calculated to explore correlations between the subjects' characteristics and gait performance reached at the end of the training period.

RESULTS: Group 1 showed correlation between performances and weight, height, neurological lesion level, while group 2 showed no correlation between performances weight and height, but correlation only with neurological lesion level. Group 2 covered more distance in 6 min (+124.52%) and required less time (-70.34%) to perform 10 mtWT and to STS-time (-38.25%) if compared to group 1.

CONCLUSIONS: ReWalk allows chronic complete spinal cord injury patients to perform over-ground walking. Different exoskeleton software control of the smoothness of the gait pattern improves functional outcome, eliminating the relationship between anthropometric factors and gait performances. The smoothness of the kinematic control of the lower limbs of the exoskeleton is a key factor to facilitate human-robot interaction and to increase walking abilities of the subject.

To underline how the kinematic control of the exoskeleton influences the walking abilities of the complex system subject-exoskeleton.}, } @article {pmid30154804, year = {2018}, author = {Matveeva, T and Provorov, N and Valkonen, JPT}, title = {Editorial: Cooperative Adaptation and Evolution in Plant-Microbe Systems.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1090}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2018.01090}, pmid = {30154804}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid30154059, year = {2019}, author = {Cafiso, A and Sassera, D and Romeo, C and Serra, V and Hervet, C and Bandi, C and Plantard, O and Bazzocchi, C}, title = {Midichloria mitochondrii, endosymbiont of Ixodes ricinus: evidence for the transmission to the vertebrate host during the tick blood meal.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {5-12}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.08.008}, pmid = {30154059}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/*blood ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology/*transmission ; Bacterial Proteins/*blood ; DNA, Bacterial/*blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Ixodes/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Kinetics ; Male ; Nymph/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Rabbits ; Rickettsiales/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ticks are important vectors of a variety of pathogens affecting humans and other animals, but they also harbor numerous microorganisms whose role is still limitedly investigated. Ixodes ricinus harbors the endosymbiont Midichloria mitochondrii, which is localized in ovaries and in salivary glands. The bacterium is vertically transmitted and is present in 100% of wild adult females, while prevalence values drop after some generations under laboratory conditions. Molecular and serological evidences showed that M. mitochondrii molecules are transmitted to the vertebrate hosts by I. ricinus during the blood meal. Our work was focused on monitoring M. mitochondrii antigens and DNA in a vertebrate model after infestation with I. ricinus for a time-span of four months. Two groups of rabbits were infested with I. ricinus females, respectively from the wild (naturally infected with the symbiont) and laboratory strain (lab; considered devoid of M. mitochondrii after quantitative PCR investigations) and screened using molecular and serological assays at nine time points. M. mitochondrii presence was detected in rabbits infested with wild I. ricinus ticks, but surprisingly also in those infested with lab ticks, albeit at later time points. This result prompted a more sensitive molecular screening of lab ticks, which were found to harbor very low symbiont loads. Our results indicate that transmission of the bacterium occurs even at low bacterial loads, and that antibody response against M. mitochondrii antigens begins within one week post-infestation with wild I. ricinus. Circulating DNA was detected in the blood of rabbits belonging to both groups up to the end of the experiment, suggesting a replication of the symbiont inside the vertebrate host.}, } @article {pmid30153857, year = {2018}, author = {Ugarte, A and Vicedomini, R and Bernardes, J and Carbone, A}, title = {A multi-source domain annotation pipeline for quantitative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic functional profiling.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {149}, pmid = {30153857}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Databases, Genetic ; Environmental Microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Molecular Sequence Annotation/*methods ; Protein Domains ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Biochemical and regulatory pathways have until recently been thought and modelled within one cell type, one organism and one species. This vision is being dramatically changed by the advent of whole microbiome sequencing studies, revealing the role of symbiotic microbial populations in fundamental biochemical functions. The new landscape we face requires the reconstruction of biochemical and regulatory pathways at the community level in a given environment. In order to understand how environmental factors affect the genetic material and the dynamics of the expression from one environment to another, we want to evaluate the quantity of gene protein sequences or transcripts associated to a given pathway by precisely estimating the abundance of protein domains, their weak presence or absence in environmental samples.

RESULTS: MetaCLADE is a novel profile-based domain annotation pipeline based on a multi-source domain annotation strategy. It applies directly to reads and improves identification of the catalog of functions in microbiomes. MetaCLADE is applied to simulated data and to more than ten metagenomic and metatranscriptomic datasets from different environments where it outperforms InterProScan in the number of annotated domains. It is compared to the state-of-the-art non-profile-based and profile-based methods, UProC and HMM-GRASPx, showing complementary predictions to UProC. A combination of MetaCLADE and UProC improves even further the functional annotation of environmental samples.

CONCLUSIONS: Learning about the functional activity of environmental microbial communities is a crucial step to understand microbial interactions and large-scale environmental impact. MetaCLADE has been explicitly designed for metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data and allows for the discovery of patterns in divergent sequences, thanks to its multi-source strategy. MetaCLADE highly improves current domain annotation methods and reaches a fine degree of accuracy in annotation of very different environments such as soil and marine ecosystems, ancient metagenomes and human tissues.}, } @article {pmid30152755, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, M and Schäfer, M and Li, D and Halitschke, R and Dong, C and McGale, E and Paetz, C and Song, Y and Li, S and Dong, J and Heiling, S and Groten, K and Franken, P and Bitterlich, M and Harrison, MJ and Paszkowski, U and Baldwin, IT}, title = {Blumenols as shoot markers of root symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30152755}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 276033540220041//European Innovation Partnership Agri/International ; 276033540220041//European Innovation Partnership Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability/International ; 293926/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; Advanced Grant ClockworkGreen (293926)/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; # DESC0012460//U.S. Department of Energy/International ; ClockworkGreen (293926)//ERC Advanced Grant/International ; Open-access funding//Max-Planck-Gesellschaft/International ; }, mesh = {Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cyclohexanones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {High-through-put (HTP) screening for functional arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-associations is challenging because roots must be excavated and colonization evaluated by transcript analysis or microscopy. Here we show that specific leaf-metabolites provide broadly applicable accurate proxies of these associations, suitable for HTP-screens. With a combination of untargeted and targeted metabolomics, we show that shoot accumulations of hydroxy- and carboxyblumenol C-glucosides mirror root AMF-colonization in Nicotiana attenuata plants. Genetic/pharmacologic manipulations indicate that these AMF-indicative foliar blumenols are synthesized and transported from roots to shoots. These blumenol-derived foliar markers, found in many di- and monocotyledonous crop and model plants (Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum tuberosum, Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon), are not restricted to particular plant-AMF interactions, and are shown to be applicable for field-based QTL mapping of AMF-related genes.}, } @article {pmid30152217, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, J and Liu, Y and Lv, H and Liu, Q and Li, M}, title = {[Research progress in human symbiotic bacteria and their antibacterial molecules].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {8}, pages = {1316-1325}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.170520}, pmid = {30152217}, issn = {1872-2075}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry ; Bacteria/*chemistry ; Genomics ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {With the emergence and globally spread of drug-resistant bacteria, the discovery and development of new antibacterial drugs is imminent. The symbiotic bacteria distributed in different parts of the body can produce a variety of antibacterial molecules to inhibit the colonization and infection of pathogenic bacteria. Human symbiotic bacteria provide a potential treasure house of resource for the research and development of new drugs with broad new molecular structures and action mechanism. With the further development of bioinformatics tools, synthetic biology and omics technology such as genomics, the mining of human symbiotic bacteria antibacterial molecules will be more in-depth and provide an effective way to solve the problem of drug resistance. Here, we review the antimicrobial molecules produced by human symbiotic bacteria and introduce several methods to explore the resources of natural antibacterial drugs. With the development of modern biotechnology, the antimicrobial molecules of human symbiotic bacteria will be more comprehensively and systematically explored and applied.}, } @article {pmid30152092, year = {2018}, author = {Ohlmann, M and Mazel, F and Chalmandrier, L and Bec, S and Coissac, E and Gielly, L and Pansu, J and Schilling, V and Taberlet, P and Zinger, L and Chave, J and Thuiller, W}, title = {Mapping the imprint of biotic interactions on β-diversity.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {1660-1669}, doi = {10.1111/ele.13143}, pmid = {30152092}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Biodiversity ; *Fungi ; Soil ; Spatial Analysis ; }, abstract = {Investigating how trophic interactions influence the β-diversity of meta-communities is of paramount importance to understanding the processes shaping biodiversity distribution. Here, we apply a statistical method for inferring the strength of spatial dependencies between pairs of species groups. Using simulated community data generated from a multi-trophic model, we showed that this method can approximate biotic interactions in multi-trophic communities based on β-diversity patterns across groups. When applied to soil multi-trophic communities along an elevational gradient in the French Alps, we found that fungi make a major contribution to the structuring of β-diversity across trophic groups. We also demonstrated that there were strong spatial dependencies between groups known to interact specifically (e.g. plant-symbiotic fungi, bacteria-nematodes) and that the influence of environment was less important than previously reported in the literature. Our method paves the way for a better understanding and mapping of multi-trophic communities through space and time.}, } @article {pmid30152051, year = {2019}, author = {Russo, G and Carotenuto, G and Fiorilli, V and Volpe, V and Chiapello, M and Van Damme, D and Genre, A}, title = {Ectopic activation of cortical cell division during the accommodation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {2}, pages = {1036-1048}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15398}, pmid = {30152051}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Compagnia di Sanpaolo (project REPROGRAM - Progetti di Ateneo 2012, Call 01)/International ; 2013-2014-2017//UNITO/International ; }, mesh = {Cell Division ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) between plants and soil fungi are widespread symbioses with a major role in soil nutrient uptake. In this study we investigated the induction of root cortical cell division during AM colonization by combining morphometric and gene expression analyses with promoter activation and protein localization studies of the cell-plate-associated exocytic marker TPLATE. Our results show that TPLATE promoter is activated in colonized cells of the root cortex where we also observed the appearance of cells that are half the size of the surrounding cells. Furthermore, TPLATE-green fluorescent protein recruitment to developing cell plates highlighted ectopic cell division events in the inner root cortex during early AM colonization. Lastly, transcripts of TPLATE, KNOLLE and Cyclinlike 1 (CYC1) are all upregulated in the same context, alongside endocytic markers Adaptor-Related Protein complex 2 alpha 1 subunit (AP2A1) and Clathrin Heavy Chain 2 (CHC2), known to be active during cell plate formation. This pattern of gene expression was recorded in wild-type Medicago truncatula roots, but not in a common symbiotic signalling pathway mutant where fungal colonization is blocked at the epidermal level. Altogether, these results suggest the activation of cell-division-related mechanisms by AM hosts during the accommodation of the symbiotic fungus.}, } @article {pmid30151965, year = {2019}, author = {Mason, CJ and Jones, AG and Felton, GW}, title = {Co-option of microbial associates by insects and their impact on plant-folivore interactions.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {1078-1086}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13430}, pmid = {30151965}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/microbiology/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; *Herbivory ; Insecta/microbiology/*physiology ; Lepidoptera/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Leaves/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants possess a suite of traits that make them challenging to consume by insect herbivores. Plant tissues are recalcitrant, have low levels of protein, and may be well defended by chemicals. Insects use diverse strategies for overcoming these barriers, including co-opting metabolic activities from microbial associates. In this review, we discuss the co-option of bacteria and fungi in the herbivore gut. We particularly focus upon chewing, folivorous insects (Coleoptera and Lepidoptera) and discuss the impacts of microbial co-option on herbivore performance and plant responses. We suggest that there are two components to microbial co-option: fixed and plastic relationships. Fixed relationships are involved in integral dietary functions and can be performed by microbial enzymes co-opted into the genome or by stably transferred associates. In contrast, the majority of gut symbionts appear to be looser and perform more facultative, context-dependent functions. This more plastic, variable co-option of bacteria likely produces a greater number of insect phenotypes, which interact differently with plant hosts. By altering plant detection of herbivory or mediating insect interactions with plant defensive compounds, microbes can effectively improve herbivore performance in real time within and between generations.}, } @article {pmid30151350, year = {2018}, author = {Das, S and De, TK}, title = {Microbial assay of N2 fixation rate, a simple alternate for acetylene reduction assay.}, journal = {MethodsX}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {909-914}, pmid = {30151350}, issn = {2215-0161}, abstract = {Nitrogen is an essential element for living creatures in every ecosystem but nitrogen cannot be absorbed by the plant itself directly from the atmosphere, so for nitrogen, plant depends on both free living and symbiotic microbes present in the soil. Nitrogen fixation potentiality of the soil thus reveals its fertility with respect to nitrogen. Researchers developed and modified techniques for measuring nitrogen fixation rate of the soil and acetylene reduction assay (ARA) technique became the most popular till now. At the same time this technique has few limitations especially for the researchers from third world country due to lack of special infrastructure in the laboratory and the most required instrument for this technique, gas chromatograph machine, is very expensive. Any alternation of this technique is deserved highly for the researchers from the developing countries. The present work/method explained a new approach for determination of nitrogen fixation rate and this new method was named as "Microbial bio-assay". In this technique nitrogen fixers were cultured in specific medium and condition and after required time of interval the amount of nitrogen fixed by them were calculated. Exploration of soil of the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem was performed regarding the microbial N2 fixing capacity of that particular ecosystem. •The nitrogen fixation rate measured by acetylene reduction assay (ARA) was 1.13 times lower than the N2 fixation rate measured by microbial bio-assay.•Microbial bio-assay can be used as an alternate of ARA method to measure N2 fixation rate. The rates of N2 fixation measured by both two methods were positively correlated with the population of N2 fixing bacteria present in the soil of that particular ecosystem (R[2] = 0.85, p < 0.005, n = 85 for microbial bio-assay and R[2] = 0.78, p < 0.005, n = 85 for ARA).}, } @article {pmid30151160, year = {2018}, author = {Coryell, RL and Turnham, KE and de Jesus Ayson, EG and Lavilla-Pltogo, C and Alcala, AC and Sotto, F and Gonzales, B and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Phylogeographic patterns in the Philippine archipelago influence symbiont diversity in the bobtail squid-Vibrio mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {15}, pages = {7421-7435}, pmid = {30151160}, issn = {2045-7758}, support = {K12 GM088021/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Marine microbes encounter a myriad of biotic and abiotic factors that can impact fitness by limiting their range and capacity to move between habitats. This is especially true for environmentally transmitted bacteria that cycle between their hosts and the surrounding habitat. As geologic history, biogeography, and other factors such as water temperature, salinity, and physical barriers can inhibit bacterial movement to novel environments, we chose to examine the genetic architecture of Euprymna albatrossae (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) and their Vibrio fischeri symbionts in the Philippine archipelago using a combined phylogeographic approach. Eleven separate sites in the Philippine islands were examined using haplotype estimates that were examined via nested clade analysis to determine the relationship between E. albatrossae and V. fischeri populations and their geographic location. Identical analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) were used to estimate variation within and between populations for host and symbiont genetic data. Host animals demonstrated a significant amount of variation within island groups, while symbiont variation was found within individual populations. Nested clade phylogenetic analysis revealed that hosts and symbionts may have colonized this area at different times, with a sudden change in habitat. Additionally, host data indicate restricted gene flow, whereas symbionts show range expansion, followed by periodic restriction to genetic flow. These differences between host and symbiont networks indicate that factors "outside the squid" influence distribution of Philippine V. fischeri. Our results shed light on how geography and changing environmental factors can impact marine symbiotic associations at both local and global scales.}, } @article {pmid30150842, year = {2018}, author = {İspirli, H and Demirbaş, F and Dertli, E}, title = {Glucan type exopolysaccharide (EPS) shows prebiotic effect and reduces syneresis in chocolate pudding.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {55}, number = {9}, pages = {3821-3826}, pmid = {30150842}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {Exopolysaccharides (EPS) of lactic acid bacteria are important biopolymers that can improve the physicochemical properties of food products and act as prebiotics. In this study the physicochemical role and the prebiotic effects of a glucan type EPS with (α1-3) and (α1-6) linkages were assessed in chocolate pudding containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG as a probiotic strain. The functions of EPS were determined by developing three different formulations: control, probiotic (Lactobacillus GG) and symbiotic pudding (Lactobacillus GG + EPS) samples. The pH and acidity of the symbiotic pudding sample were higher than the probiotic and the control samples during the 28-day of storage period. Similarly, an important level of increment in Lactobacillus GG levels in symbiotic sample was observed compared to the probiotic sample suggesting the prebiotic role of the α-glucan. Importantly, the syneresis in symbiotic pudding sample reduced significantly compared to other pudding samples which is related with the physicochemical role of glucan type EPS. This study reveals the prebiotic and physicochemical roles of α-glucan type EPS in a chocolate pudding model.}, } @article {pmid30150781, year = {2018}, author = {Rossi, S and Schubert, N and Brown, D and Soares, MO and Grosso, V and Rangel-Huerta, E and Maldonado, E}, title = {Linking host morphology and symbiont performance in octocorals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {12823}, pmid = {30150781}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Phenotype ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Octocorals represent an important group in reef communities throughout the tropical seas and, like scleractinian corals, they can be found in symbiosis with the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. However, while there is extensive research on this symbiosis and its benefits in scleractinians, research on octocorals has focused so far mainly on the host without addressing their symbiosis. Here, we characterized and compared the photophysiological features of nine Caribbean octocoral species with different colony morphologies (sea fan, plumes, whips and rods) and related key morphological features with their respective symbiont photobiology. Colony features (branch shape and thickness), as well as micromorphological features (polyp size, density), were found to be significantly correlated with symbiont performance. Sea fans and plumes, with thinner branches and smaller polyps, favor higher metabolic rates, compared to sea rods with thicker branches and larger polyps. Daily integrated photosynthesis to respiration ratios > 1 indicated that the autotrophic contribution to organisms' energy demands was important in all species, but especially in sea whips. This information represents an important step towards a better understanding of octocoral physiology and its relationship to host morphology, and might also explain to some extent species distribution and susceptibility to environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid30150232, year = {2018}, author = {Tsao, YF and Taylor, VL and Kala, S and Bondy-Denomy, J and Khan, AN and Bona, D and Cattoir, V and Lory, S and Davidson, AR and Maxwell, KL}, title = {Phage Morons Play an Important Role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phenotypes.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {30150232}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {MOP-136845//CIHR/Canada ; XNE-86943//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; *Genes, Viral ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lysogeny ; *Phenotype ; Prophages/*genetics ; Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology ; Pseudomonas Phages/*genetics/physiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/pathogenicity/*virology ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Virulence Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The viruses that infect bacteria, known as phages, play a critical role in controlling bacterial populations in many diverse environments, including the human body. This control stems not only from phages killing bacteria but also from the formation of lysogens. In this state, the phage replication cycle is suppressed, and the phage genome is maintained in the bacterial cell in a form known as a prophage. Prophages often carry genes that benefit the host bacterial cell, since increasing the survival of the host cell by extension also increases the fitness of the prophage. These highly diverse and beneficial phage genes, which are not required for the life cycle of the phage itself, have been referred to as "morons," as their presence adds "more on" the phage genome in which they are found. While individual phage morons have been shown to contribute to bacterial virulence by a number of different mechanisms, there have been no systematic investigations of their activities. Using a library of phages that infect two different clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, PAO1 and PA14, we compared the phenotypes imparted by the expression of individual phage morons. We identified morons that inhibit twitching and swimming motilities and observed an inhibition of the production of virulence factors such as rhamnolipids and elastase. This study demonstrates the scope of phage-mediated phenotypic changes and provides a framework for future studies of phage morons.IMPORTANCE Environmental and clinical isolates of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently contain viruses known as prophages. These prophages can alter the virulence of their bacterial hosts through the expression of nonessential genes known as "morons." In this study, we identified morons in a group of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages and characterized the effects of their expression on bacterial behaviors. We found that many morons confer selective advantages for the bacterial host, some of which correlate with increased bacterial virulence. This work highlights the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and prophages and illustrates how phage morons can help bacteria adapt to different selective pressures and contribute to human diseases.}, } @article {pmid30147704, year = {2018}, author = {Martín-Rodríguez, JÁ and Leija, A and Formey, D and Hernández, G}, title = {The MicroRNA319d/TCP10 Node Regulates the Common Bean - Rhizobia Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1175}, pmid = {30147704}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Micro-RNAs from legume plants are emerging as relevant regulators of the rhizobia nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. In this work we functionally characterized the role of the node conformed by micro-RNA319 (miR319) - TEOSINTE BRANCHED/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) transcription factor in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) - Rhizobium tropici symbiosis. The miR319d, one of nine miR319 isoforms from common bean, was highly expressed in root and nodules from inoculated plants as compared to roots from fertilized plants. The miR319d targets TCP10 (Phvul.005G067950), identified by degradome analysis, whose expression showed a negative correlation with miR319d expression. The phenotypic analysis of R. tropici-inoculated composite plants with transgenic roots/nodules overexpressing or silencing the function of miR319d demonstrated the relevant role of the miR319d/TCP10 node in the common bean rhizobia symbiosis. Increased miR319d resulted in reduced root length/width ratio, increased rhizobial infection evidenced by more deformed root hairs and infection threads, and decreased nodule formation and nitrogenase activity per plant. In addition, these plants with lower TCP10 levels showed decreased expression level of the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic gene: LOX2. The transcription of LOX2 by TCPs has been demonstrated for Arabidopsis and in several plants LOX2 level and JA content have been associate with TCP levels. On this basis, we propose that in roots/nodules of inoculated common bean plants TCP10 could be the transcriptional regulator of LOX2 and the miR319d/TCP10 node could affect nodulation through JA signaling. However, given the complexity of nodulation, the participation of other signaling pathways in the phenotypes observed cannot be ruled out.}, } @article {pmid30147680, year = {2018}, author = {Bodawatta, KH and Sam, K and Jønsson, KA and Poulsen, M}, title = {Comparative Analyses of the Digestive Tract Microbiota of New Guinean Passerine Birds.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1830}, pmid = {30147680}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The digestive tract microbiota (DTM) plays a plethora of functions that enable hosts to exploit novel niches. However, our understanding of the DTM of birds, particularly passerines, and the turnover of microbial communities along the digestive tract are limited. To better understand how passerine DTMs are assembled, and how the composition changes along the digestive tract, we investigated the DTM of seven different compartments along the digestive tract of nine New Guinean passerine bird species using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA. Overall, passerine DTMs were dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. We found bird species-specific DTM assemblages and the DTM of different compartments from the same species tended to cluster together. We also found a notable relationship between gut community similarity and feeding guilds (insectivores vs. omnivores). The dominant bacterial genera tended to differ between insectivores and omnivores, with insectivores mainly having lactic acid bacteria that may contribute to the breakdown of carbohydrates. Omnivorous DTMs were more diverse than insectivores and dominated by the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Tenericutes. These bacteria may contribute to nitrogen metabolism, and the diverse omnivorous DTMs may allow for more flexibility with varying food availability as these species have wider feeding niches. In well-sampled omnivorous species, the dominant bacterial genera changed along the digestive tracts, which was less prominent for insectivores. In conclusion, the DTMs of New Guinean passerines seem to be species specific and, at least in part, be shaped by bird diet. The sampling of DTM along the digestive tract improved capturing of a more complete set of members, with implications for our understanding of the interactions between symbiont and gut compartment functions.}, } @article {pmid30147222, year = {2018}, author = {Takagi, H and Kimoto, K and Fujiki, T and Moriya, K}, title = {Effect of nutritional condition on photosymbiotic consortium of cultured Globigerinoides sacculifer (Rhizaria, Foraminifera).}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {76}, number = {1}, pages = {25-39}, pmid = {30147222}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Several foraminifers found in warm and low-nutrient ocean surface water have photosynthetic algae as endosymbionts (photosymbiosis). To understand the trophic interactions, we studied Globigerinoides sacculifer, a spinose planktic foraminifer that has a dinoflagellate endosymbiont. We controlled two nutritional factors, feeding and inorganic nutrients in the seawater. The growth of the host and the symbionts and the photophysiological parameters were monitored under four experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that the holobionts primarily relied on phagotrophy for growth. The foraminifers grew considerably, and the chlorophyll a content per foraminifer, which is an indicator of the symbiont population, increased in the fed groups, but not in the unfed groups. The nutrient-rich seawater used for some of the cultures made no difference in either the growth or photophysiology of the holobionts. These observations indicated that the symbionts mainly utilized metabolites from the hosts for photosynthesis rather than inorganic nutrients in the seawater. Additionally, we observed that the symbionts in the starved hosts maintained their photosynthetic capability for at least 12 days, and that the hosts maintained at least some symbionts until gametogenesis was achieved. This suggests that the hosts have to retain the symbionts as an energy source for reproduction. The symbionts may also play an indispensable role in the metabolic activities of the hosts including waste transport or essential compound synthesis. Overall, our results revealed a novel mode of photosymbiosis in planktic foraminifers which contrasts with that found in benthic photosymbiotic foraminifers and corals.}, } @article {pmid30146159, year = {2018}, author = {Qi, B and Han, M}, title = {Microbial Siderophore Enterobactin Promotes Mitochondrial Iron Uptake and Development of the Host via Interaction with ATP Synthase.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {175}, number = {2}, pages = {571-582.e11}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2018.07.032}, pmid = {30146159}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism/physiology ; Biological Transport ; Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/metabolism ; Enterobactin/metabolism/*physiology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism/physiology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Iron/*metabolism/physiology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Siderophores/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Elucidating the benefits of individual microbiota-derived molecules in host animals is important for understanding the symbiosis between humans and their microbiota. The bacteria-secreted enterobactin (Ent) is an iron scavenging siderophore with presumed negative effects on hosts. However, the high prevalence of Ent-producing commensal bacteria in the human gut raises the intriguing question regarding a potential host mechanism to beneficially use Ent. We discovered an unexpected and striking role of Ent in supporting growth and the labile iron pool in C. elegans. We show that Ent promotes mitochondrial iron uptake and does so, surprisingly, by binding to the ATP synthase α subunit, which acts inside of mitochondria and independently of ATP synthase. We also demonstrated the conservation of this mechanism in mammalian cells. This study reveals a distinct paradigm for the "iron tug of war" between commensal bacteria and their hosts and an important mechanism for mitochondrial iron uptake and homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid30145935, year = {2019}, author = {Nagabhyru, P and Dinkins, RD and Schardl, CL}, title = {Transcriptomics of Epichloë-Grass Symbioses in Host Vegetative and Reproductive Stages.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {194-207}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-17-0251-R}, pmid = {30145935}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/physiology ; *Epichloe/genetics/physiology ; *Festuca/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Epichloë species are fungal symbionts (endophytes) of cool-season grasses that transmit vertically via inflorescence primordia (IP), ovaries (OV), and ultimately, embryos. Epichloë coenophiala, an endophyte of tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), provides multiple protective benefits to the grass. We conducted transcriptome analysis of the tall fescue-E. coenophiala symbiosis, comparing IP, OV, vegetative pseudostems (PS), and the lemma and palea (LP) (bracts) of the young floret. Transcriptomes of host OV and PS exhibited almost no significant differences attributable to endophyte presence or absence. Comparison of endophyte gene expression in different plant parts revealed numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The 150 endophyte DEGs significantly higher in PS over OV included genes for alkaloid biosynthesis and sugar or amino acid transport. The 277 endophyte DEGs significantly higher in OV over PS included genes for protein chaperones (including most heat-shock proteins), trehalose synthesis complex, a bax inhibitor-1 protein homolog, the CLC chloride ion channel, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Similar trends were apparent in the Brachypodium sylvaticum-Epichloë sylvatica symbiosis. Gene expression profiles in tall fescue IP and LP indicated that the endophyte transcriptome shift began early in host floral development. We discuss possible roles of the endophyte DEGs in colonization of reproductive grass tissues.}, } @article {pmid30145614, year = {2019}, author = {Tyburska-Woś, J and Nowak, K and Kieliszewska-Rokicka, B}, title = {Influence of leaf damage by the horse chestnut leafminer (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić) on mycorrhiza of Aesculus hippocastanum L.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {61-67}, pmid = {30145614}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Aesculus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Animals ; *Herbivory ; Introduced Species ; Larva/growth & development/physiology ; Moths/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/*physiology ; Poland ; }, abstract = {In many parts of Europe, the white horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) has been attacked by the horse chestnut leafminer (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić), which causes premature leaf dieback. A. hippocastanum L. establishes mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This study involved a comparison of mature A. hippocastanum individuals susceptible to C. ohridella and individuals resistant to this insect after a one-time treatment with a chemical preparation injected into the tree trunks 7 years before the investigation began. Concentration of macronutrients in soil and the activity of soil nonspecific dehydrogenase did not differ between soils under canopies of the treated and untreated trees. Concentrations of C and N were significantly higher in leaves of the treated than those of the untreated trees. The infestation by C. ohridella and defoliation of leaves of the untreated trees did not significantly influence the frequency and intensity of AM colonization compared to the chemically treated trees, although a tendency towards higher average AM colonization of roots of the untreated trees, infested by the herbivores, than roots of the non-infested trees was observed. The results also indicated a tendency for higher biomass of fine roots per soil volume under the trees treated against C. ohridella than under the trees invaded by the insect.}, } @article {pmid30145046, year = {2018}, author = {De Meyer, SE and Ruthrof, KX and Edwards, T and Hopkins, AJM and Hardy, G and O'Hara, G and Howieson, J}, title = {Diversity of endemic rhizobia on Christmas Island: Implications for agriculture following phosphate mining.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {6}, pages = {641-649}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.07.004}, pmid = {30145046}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Australia ; Bradyrhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Mining ; Phosphates ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Given that phosphate supplies may diminish and become uneconomic to mine after 2020, there is a compelling need to develop alternative industries to support the population on Christmas Island. Former mine sites could be turned into productive agricultural land, however, large-scale commercial agriculture has never been attempted, and, given the uniqueness of the island, the diversity of rhizobia prior to introducing legumes needed evaluation. Therefore, 84 rhizobia isolates were obtained from nine different hosts, both crop and introduced legumes, located at seven sites across the island. Based on 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence analysis, the isolates grouped into 13 clades clustering within the genus Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer, Cupriavidus and Rhizobium. According to the sequences of their symbiosis genes nodC and nifH, the isolates were classified into 12 and 11 clades, respectively, and clustered closest to tropical or crop legume isolates. Moreover, the symbiosis gene phylogeny and Multi Locus Sequence Analysis gene phylogeny suggested vertical transmission in the Alpha-rhizobia but horizontal transmission within the Beta-rhizobia. Furthermore, this study provides evidence of a large diversity of endemic rhizobia associated with both crop and introduced legumes, and highlights the necessity of inoculation for common bean, chickpea and soybean on the Island.}, } @article {pmid30141128, year = {2019}, author = {Li, H and Mishra, M and Ding, S and Miyamoto, MM}, title = {Diversity and Dynamics of "Candidatus Endobugula" and Other Symbiotic Bacteria in Chinese Populations of the Bryozoan, Bugula neritina.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {243-256}, pmid = {30141128}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Bryostatins/metabolism ; Bryozoa/growth & development/*microbiology ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Ecology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Geography ; Larva/microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Metagenomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bugula neritina is a common invasive cosmopolitan bryozoan that harbors (like many sessile marine invertebrates) a symbiotic bacterial (SB) community. Among the SB of B. neritina, "Candidatus Endobugula sertula" continues to receive the greatest attention, because it is the source of bryostatins. The bryostatins are potent bioactive polyketides, which have been investigated for their therapeutic potential to treat various cancers, Alzheimer's disease, and AIDS. In this study, we compare the metagenomics sequences for the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of the SB communities from different geographic and life cycle samples of Chinese B. neritina. Using a variety of approaches for estimating alpha/beta diversity and taxonomic abundance, we find that the SB communities vary geographically with invertebrate and fish mariculture and with latitude and environmental temperature. During the B. neritina life cycle, we find that the diversity and taxonomic abundances of the SB communities change with the onset of host metamorphosis, filter feeding, colony formation, reproduction, and increased bryostatin production. "Ca. Endobugula sertula" is confirmed as the symbiont of the Chinese "Ca. Endobugula"/B. neritina symbiosis. Our study extends our knowledge about B. neritina symbiosis from the New to the Old World and offers new insights into the environmental and life cycle factors that can influence its SB communities, "Ca. Endobugula," and bryostatins more globally.}, } @article {pmid30140262, year = {2018}, author = {Rosenblueth, M and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and López-López, A and Rogel, MA and Reyes-Hernández, BJ and Martínez-Romero, JC and Reddy, PM and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Nitrogen Fixation in Cereals.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1794}, pmid = {30140262}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cereals such as maize, rice, wheat and sorghum are the most important crops for human nutrition. Like other plants, cereals associate with diverse bacteria (including nitrogen-fixing bacteria called diazotrophs) and fungi. As large amounts of chemical fertilizers are used in cereals, it has always been desirable to promote biological nitrogen fixation in such crops. The quest for nitrogen fixation in cereals started long ago with the isolation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria from different plants. The sources of diazotrophs in cereals may be seeds, soils, and even irrigation water and diazotrophs have been found on roots or as endophytes. Recently, culture-independent molecular approaches have revealed that some rhizobia are found in cereal plants and that bacterial nitrogenase genes are expressed in plants. Since the levels of nitrogen-fixation attained with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in cereals are not high enough to support the plant's needs and never as good as those obtained with chemical fertilizers or with rhizobium in symbiosis with legumes, it has been the aim of different studies to increase nitrogen-fixation in cereals. In many cases, these efforts have not been successful. However, new diazotroph mutants with enhanced capabilities to excrete ammonium are being successfully used to promote plant growth as commensal bacteria. In addition, there are ambitious projects supported by different funding agencies that are trying to genetically modify maize and other cereals to enhance diazotroph colonization or to fix nitrogen or to form nodules with nitrogen-fixing symbiotic rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid30140257, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, L and Wu, C and Oelmüller, R and Zhang, W}, title = {Role of Phytohormones in Piriformospora indica-Induced Growth Promotion and Stress Tolerance in Plants: More Questions Than Answers.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1646}, pmid = {30140257}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Phytohormones play vital roles in the growth and development of plants as well as in interactions of plants with microbes such as endophytic fungi. The endophytic root-colonizing fungus Piriformospora indica promotes plant growth and performance, increases resistance of colonized plants to pathogens, insects and abiotic stress. Here, we discuss the roles of the phytohormones (auxins, cytokinin, gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, jasmonates, and brassinosteroids) in the interaction of P. indica with higher plant species, and compare available data with those from other (beneficial) microorganisms interacting with roots. Crosstalks between different hormones in balancing the plant responses to microbial signals is an emerging topic in current research. Furthermore, phytohormones play crucial roles in systemic signal propagation as well as interplant communication. P. indica interferes with plant hormone synthesis and signaling to stimulate growth, flowering time, differentiation and local and systemic immune responses. Plants adjust their hormone levels in the roots in response to the microbes to control colonization and fungal propagation. The available information on the roles of phytohormones in beneficial root-microbe interactions opens new questions of how P. indica manipulates the plant hormone metabolism to promote the benefits for both partners in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30140050, year = {2018}, author = {Krueger, T and Bodin, J and Horwitz, N and Loussert-Fonta, C and Sakr, A and Escrig, S and Fine, M and Meibom, A}, title = {Temperature and feeding induce tissue level changes in autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrient allocation in the coral symbiosis - A NanoSIMS study.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {12710}, pmid = {30140050}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/*physiology ; Autotrophic Processes/physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nutrients ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Corals access inorganic seawater nutrients through their autotrophic endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, but also capture planktonic prey through heterotrophic feeding. Correlating NanoSIMS and TEM imaging, we visualized and quantified the subcellular fate of autotrophic and heterotrophic C and N in the coral Stylophora pistillata using stable isotopes. Six scenarios were compared after 6 h: autotrophic pulse ([13]C-bicarbonate, [15]N-nitrate) in either unfed or regularly fed corals, and heterotrophic pulse ([13]C-, [15]N-labelled brine shrimps) in regularly fed corals; each at ambient and elevated temperature. Host assimilation of photosynthates was similar under fed and unfed conditions, but symbionts assimilated 10% more C in fed corals. Photoautotrophic C was primarily channelled into host lipid bodies, whereas heterotrophic C and N were generally co-allocated to the tissue. Food-derived label was detected in some subcellular structures associated with the remobilisation of host lipid stores. While heterotrophic input generally exceeded autotrophic input, it was more negatively affected by elevated temperature. The reduced input from both modes of nutrition at elevated temperature was accompanied by a shift in the partitioning of C and N, benefiting epidermis and symbionts. This study provides a unique view into the nutrient partitioning in corals and highlights the tight connection of nutrient fluxes in symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid30138667, year = {2018}, author = {de J R De-Paula, V and Forlenza, AS and Forlenza, OV}, title = {Relevance of gutmicrobiota in cognition, behaviour and Alzheimer's disease.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {29-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2018.07.007}, pmid = {30138667}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/metabolism/*microbiology ; Animals ; Behavior ; Brain/metabolism ; Cognition ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Approximately 95% of the symbiotic microbes in human body are located in the gut. This microbioma is involved in important homeostatic processes, not only related to gastrointestinal function but also to several complex modulatory processes, such as glucose and bone metabolism, inflammation and immune response, peripheral (enteric) and central neurotransmission. For that reason, recent studies proposed that abnormalities in gut microbiota may play a role in systemic and central nervous system (CNS) conditions. Therefore, the integrity of gut microbiota be relevant to the pathophysiology and control of important medical diseases like diabetes mellitus, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and even neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson's and Alzheimer disease. Gut microbiota may affect brain function and behaviour through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, in bidirectional interplay with top-down and bottom-up regulations. Through metabolic activity of non- pathogenical microorganisms and secretion of functional by-products that increase the permeability of the intestinal mucosa, the gut microbiota influences both the production and absorption of neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin and GABA), increasing their bioavailability to the CNS. It has been further shown some components of the gut microbiota - predominantly bacteria - synthesize and release amyloid peptides and lipopolysaccharides, which in turn activate inflammatory signalling through the release of cytokines, with potential effects on the pathophysiological cascade of Alzheimer disease.}, } @article {pmid30138419, year = {2018}, author = {Oliveira, JL and Cury, JC and Gurgel-Gonçalves, R and Bahia, AC and Monteiro, FA}, title = {Field-collected Triatoma sordida from central Brazil display high microbiota diversity that varies with regard to developmental stage and intestinal segmentation.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {e0006709}, pmid = {30138419}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Brazil ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Male ; Nymph ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Triatoma/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/METHODOLOGY: Triatomine bugs are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. Vector control has for decades relied upon insecticide spraying, but insecticide resistance has recently emerged in several triatomine populations. One alternative strategy to reduce T. cruzi transmission is paratransgenesis, whereby symbiotic bacteria are genetically engineered to produce T. cruzi-killing proteins in the vector's gut. This approach requires in-depth knowledge of the vectors' natural gut microbiota. Here, we use metagenomics (16S rRNA 454 pyrosequencing) to describe the gut microbiota of field-caught Triatoma sordida-likely the most common peridomestic triatomine in Brazil. For large nymphs (4th and 5th stage) and adults, we also studied separately the three main digestive-tract segments-anterior midgut, posterior midgut, and hindgut.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Bacteria of four phyla (12 genera) were present in both nymphs (all five stages) and adults, thus defining T. sordida's 'bacterial core': Actinobacteria (Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Dietzia, Gordonia, Nitriliruptor, Nocardia, Nocardiopsis, Rhodococcus, and Williamsia), Proteobacteria (Pseudomonas and Sphingobium), and Firmicutes (Staphylococcus). We found some clear differences in bacterial composition and relative abundance among development stages; overall, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria increased, but Actinobacteria decreased, through development. Finally, the bacterial microbiotas of the bugs' anterior midgut, posterior midgut, and hindgut were sharply distinct.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results identify the 'bacterial core set' of T. sordida and reveal important gut microbiota differences among development stages-particularly between 1st-3rd stage nymphs and adults. Further, we show that, within any given development stage, the vectors' gut cannot be regarded as a single homogeneous environment. Cultivable, non-pathogenic 'core' bacterial species may now be tested as candidates for paratransgenic control of T. cruzi transmission by T. sordida.}, } @article {pmid30137308, year = {2018}, author = {Shi, PQ and Wang, L and Liu, Y and An, X and Chen, XS and Ahmed, MZ and Qiu, BL and Sang, W}, title = {Infection dynamics of endosymbionts reveal three novel localization patterns of Rickettsia during the development of whitefly Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy165}, pmid = {30137308}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification ; Female ; Halomonadaceae/isolation & purification ; Hemiptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Rickettsia/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a severe agricultural pest that harbors at least seven endosymbionts. Many important aspects of the symbiosis mechanism between these bacterial endosymbionts and their hosts are poorly understood, such as endosymbiont proliferation dynamics, spatial distribution and titer regulation during host development. In this study, infection by bacterial endosymbionts in the whitefly B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor-1 (MEAM1, formerly B biotype) South China population, their infection titers in various stages of whitefly host development and their spatial localization were investigated. Results revealed that the MEAM1 B. tabaci harbors the primary symbiont Portiera and secondary symbionts Rickettsia and Hamiltonella. The titers of these three endosymbionts increased with the development of their B. tabaci host. Significant proliferation of Portiera and Hamiltonella mainly occurred during the second to fourth instar nymphal stages, while Rickettsia proliferated mainly during adult eclosion. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of B. tabaci adults revealed three novel infection patterns of Rickettsia: assemblage in the bacteriocytes that scattered through the entire abdomen of the female host, localization in wax glands and localization in the colleterial gland. These novel infection patterns may help to uncover the function of Rickettsia in its insect hosts.}, } @article {pmid30136892, year = {2018}, author = {Sorroche, F and Bogino, P and Russo, DM and Zorreguieta, A and Nievas, F and Morales, GM and Hirsch, AM and Giordano, W}, title = {Cell Autoaggregation, Biofilm Formation, and Plant Attachment in a Sinorhizobium meliloti lpsB Mutant.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {1075-1082}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-18-0004-R}, pmid = {30136892}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Mannosyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial surface molecules are crucial for the establishment of a successful rhizobia-legume symbiosis, and, in most bacteria, are also critical for adherence properties, surface colonization, and as a barrier for defense. Rhizobial mutants defective in the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), or capsular polysaccharides are usually affected in symbiosis with their plant hosts. In the present study, we evaluated the role of the combined effects of LPS and EPS II in cell-to-cell and cell-to-surface interactions in Sinorhizobium meliloti by studying planktonic cell autoaggregation, biofilm formation, and symbiosis with the host plant Medicago sativa. The lpsB mutant, which has a defective core portion of LPS, exhibited a reduction in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces as well as altered biofilm architecture compared with the wild-type Rm8530 strain. Atomic force microscopy and confocal laser microscopy revealed an increase in polar cell-to-cell interactions in the lpsB mutant, which might account for the biofilm deficiency. However, a certain level of biofilm development was observed in the lpsB strain compared with the EPS II-defective mutant strains. Autoaggregation experiments carried out with LPS and EPS mutant strains showed that both polysaccharides have an impact on the cell-to-cell adhesive interactions of planktonic bacteria. Although the lpsB mutation and the loss of EPS II production strongly stimulated early attachment to alfalfa roots, the number of nodules induced in M. sativa was not increased. Taken together, this work demonstrates that S. meliloti interactions with biotic and abiotic surfaces depend on the interplay between LPS and EPS II.}, } @article {pmid30136358, year = {2018}, author = {Koehler, S and Gaedeke, R and Thompson, C and Bongrand, C and Visick, KL and Ruby, E and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {The model squid-vibrio symbiosis provides a window into the impact of strain- and species-level differences during the initial stages of symbiont engagement.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30136358}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Among horizontally acquired symbioses, the mechanisms underlying microbial strain- and species-level specificity remain poorly understood. Here, confocal-microscopy analyses and genetic manipulation of the squid-vibrio association revealed quantitative differences in a symbiont's capacity to interact with the host during initial engagement. Specifically, dominant strains of Vibrio fischeri, 'D-type', previously named for their dominant, single-strain colonization of the squid's bioluminescent organ, were compared with 'S-type', or 'sharing', strains, which can co-colonize the organ. These D-type strains typically: (i) formed aggregations of 100s-1000s of cells on the light-organ surface, up to 3 orders of magnitude larger than those of S-type strains; (ii) showed dominance in co-aggregation experiments, independent of inoculum size or strain proportion; (iii) perturbed larger areas of the organ's ciliated surface; and, (iv) appeared at the pore of the organ approximately 4×s more quickly than S-type strains. At least in part, genes responsible for biofilm synthesis control the hyperaggregation phenotype of a D-type strain. Other marine vibrios produced relatively small aggregations, while an array of marine Gram-positive and -negative species outside of the Vibrionaceae did not attach to the organ's surface. These studies provide insight into the impact of strain variation on early events leading to establishment of an environmentally acquired symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30135694, year = {2018}, author = {Mens, C and Li, D and Haaima, LE and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Local and Systemic Effect of Cytokinins on Soybean Nodulation and Regulation of Their Isopentenyl Transferase (IPT) Biosynthesis Genes Following Rhizobia Inoculation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1150}, pmid = {30135694}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cytokinins are important regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation in plant development. Here, a role for this phytohormone group in soybean nodulation is shown through the exogenous application of cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine, N[6]-(Δ[2]-isopentenyl)-adenine and trans-zeatin) via either root drenching or a petiole feeding technique. Overall, nodule numbers were reduced by treatment with high cytokinin concentrations, but increased with lower concentrations. This was especially evident when feeding the solutions directly into the vasculature via petiole feeding. These findings highlight the importance of cytokinin in nodule development. To further investigate the role of cytokinin in controlling nodule numbers, the IPT gene family involved in cytokinin biosynthesis was characterized in soybean. Bioinformatic analyses identified 17 IPT genes in the soybean genome and homeologous duplicate gene partners were subsequently identified including GmIPT5 and GmIPT6, the orthologs of LjIPT3. Expression of GmIPT5 was upregulated in the shoot in response to nodulation, but this was independent of a functional copy of the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) receptor, GmNARK, which suggests it is unlikely to have a role in the negative feedback system called AON. Legumes also control nodule numbers in the presence of soil nitrogen through nitrate-dependent regulation of nodulation, a locally acting pathway in soybean. Upon nitrate treatment to the root, the tandem duplicates GmIPT3 and GmIPT15 were upregulated in expression indicating a role for these genes in the plant's response to soil nitrogen, potentially including the nitrate-dependent regulation of legume nodulation pathway. Additional roles for cytokinin and their IPT biosynthetic genes in nodulation and the control of nodule numbers are discussed.}, } @article {pmid30135681, year = {2018}, author = {Singh, R and Dubey, AK}, title = {Diversity and Applications of Endophytic Actinobacteria of Plants in Special and Other Ecological Niches.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1767}, pmid = {30135681}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Actinobacteria are wide spread in nature and represent the largest taxonomic group within the domain Bacteria. They are abundant in soil and have been extensively explored for their therapeutic applications. This versatile group of bacteria has adapted to diverse ecological habitats, which has drawn considerable attention of the scientific community in recent times as it has opened up new possibilities for novel metabolites that may help in solving some of the most challenging problems of the day, for example, novel drugs for drug-resistant human pathogens, affordable means to maintain ecological balance in various habitats, and alternative practices for sustainable agriculture. Traditionally, free dwelling soil actinobacteria have been the subject of intensive research. Of late, symbiotic actinobacteria residing as endophytes within the plant tissues have generated immense interest as potential source of novel compounds, which may find applications in medicine, agriculture, and environment. In the light of these possibilities, this review focuses on the diversity of endophytic actinobacteria isolated from the plants of extreme habitats and specific ecological niches. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to assign chemical class to the compounds obtained from endophytic actinobacteria. Potential therapeutic applications of these compounds and the utility of endophytic actinobacteria in agriculture and environment are discussed.}, } @article {pmid30135586, year = {2018}, author = {Hetherington, AJ and Dolan, L}, title = {Stepwise and independent origins of roots among land plants.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {561}, number = {7722}, pages = {235-238}, pmid = {30135586}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Cell Division ; Meristem/cytology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Epidermis/cytology ; Plant Roots/*classification/*cytology ; }, abstract = {Roots are one of the three fundamental organ systems of vascular plants[1], and have roles in anchorage, symbiosis, and nutrient and water uptake[2-4]. However, the fragmentary nature of the fossil record obscures the origins of roots and makes it difficult to identify when the sole defining characteristic of extant roots-the presence of self-renewing structures called root meristems that are covered by a root cap at their apex[1-9]-evolved. Here we report the discovery of what are-to our knowledge-the oldest meristems of rooting axes, found in the earliest-preserved terrestrial ecosystem[10] (the 407-million-year-old Rhynie chert). These meristems, which belonged to the lycopsid Asteroxylon mackiei[11-14], lacked root caps and instead developed a continuous epidermis over the surface of the meristem. The rooting axes and meristems of A. mackiei are unique among vascular plants. These data support the hypothesis that roots, as defined in extant vascular plants by the presence of a root cap[7], were a late innovation in the vascular lineage. Roots therefore acquired traits in a stepwise fashion. The relatively late origin in lycophytes of roots with caps is consistent with the hypothesis that roots evolved multiple times[2] rather than having a single origin[1], and the extensive similarities between lycophyte and euphyllophyte roots[15-18] therefore represent examples of convergent evolution. The key phylogenetic position of A. mackiei-with its transitional rooting organ-between early diverging land plants that lacked roots and derived plants that developed roots demonstrates how roots were 'assembled' during the course of plant evolution.}, } @article {pmid30132292, year = {2019}, author = {de la Torre, J and Banerjee, S and Baumgartner, J and Lin, GY and Burgoyne, AM and Kirane, A and Sicklick, J}, title = {Tumor Symbiosis: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor as a Host for Primary Peritoneal Mesothelioma.}, journal = {Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {879-881}, pmid = {30132292}, issn = {1873-4626}, support = {K08 CA168999/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA192072/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, } @article {pmid30132152, year = {2018}, author = {Hinojosa-Vidal, E and Marco, F and Martínez-Alberola, F and Escaray, FJ and García-Breijo, FJ and Reig-Armiñana, J and Carrasco, P and Barreno, E}, title = {Characterization of the responses to saline stress in the symbiotic green microalga Trebouxia sp. TR9.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {248}, number = {6}, pages = {1473-1486}, pmid = {30132152}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Ascomycota/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Chlorophyta/genetics/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Lichens/genetics/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Microalgae/genetics/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Salinity ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For the first time we provide a study on the physiological, ultrastructural and molecular effects of salt stress on a terrestrial symbiotic green microalga, Trebouxia sp. TR9. Although tolerance to saline conditions has been thoroughly studied in plants and, to an extent, free-living microalgae, scientific data regarding salt stress on symbiotic lichen microalgae is scarce to non-existent. Since lichen phycobionts are capable of enduring harsh, restrictive and rapidly changing environments, it is interesting to study the metabolic machinery operating under these extreme conditions. We aim to determine the effects of prolonged exposure to high salt concentrations on the symbiotic phycobiont Trebouxia sp. TR9, isolated from the lichen Ramalina farinacea. Our results suggest that, when this alga is confronted with extreme saline conditions, the cellular structures are affected to an extent, with limited chlorophyll content loss and photosynthetic activity remaining after 72 h of exposure to 5 M NaCl. Furthermore, this organism displays a rather different molecular response compared to land plants and free-living halophile microalgae, with no noticeable increase in ABA levels and ABA-related gene expression until the external NaCl concentration is raised to 3 M NaCl. Despite this, the ABA transduction pathway seems functional, since the ABA-related genes tested are responsive to exogenous ABA. These observations could suggest that this symbiotic green alga may have developed alternative molecular pathways to cope with highly saline environments.}, } @article {pmid30131883, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, Y and Liu, F and Han, G and Wang, W and Zhu, S and Li, X}, title = {Improvement of Lotus japonicus hairy root induction and development of a mycorrhizal symbiosis system.}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e1141}, pmid = {30131883}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: We describe a highly efficient in vitro Lotus japonicus hairy root transformation system that is useful for the investigation of mycorrhizal symbiosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method was improved based on the binary plasmid (pCAMBIA 1304) harboring green fluorescent protein and β-glucuronidase genes for rapid detection. Transgenic hairy roots were grown within 13 days. These in vitro-cultured hairy roots can be inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis, thus facilitating the investigation of the symbiosis between L. japonicus and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with existing techniques, our protocol provides a simple and efficient A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation system for L. japonicus. The rapid induction of hairy roots can shorten the experimental time by at least one week.}, } @article {pmid30131500, year = {2018}, author = {Pfau, T and Christian, N and Masakapalli, SK and Sweetlove, LJ and Poolman, MG and Ebenhöh, O}, title = {The intertwined metabolism during symbiotic nitrogen fixation elucidated by metabolic modelling.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {12504}, pmid = {30131500}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {222716//EC | Seventh Framework Programme (European Union Seventh Framework Programme)/International ; 316427//EC | Seventh Framework Programme (European Union Seventh Framework Programme)/International ; }, mesh = {Biomass ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genome-scale metabolic network models can be used for various analyses including the prediction of metabolic responses to changes in the environment. Legumes are well known for their rhizobial symbiosis that introduces nitrogen into the global nutrient cycle. Here, we describe a fully compartmentalised, mass and charge-balanced, genome-scale model of the clover Medicago truncatula, which has been adopted as a model organism for legumes. We employed flux balance analysis to demonstrate that the network is capable of producing biomass components in experimentally observed proportions, during day and night. By connecting the plant model to a model of its rhizobial symbiont, Sinorhizobium meliloti, we were able to investigate the effects of the symbiosis on metabolic fluxes and plant growth and could demonstrate how oxygen availability influences metabolic exchanges between plant and symbiont, thus elucidating potential benefits of inter organism amino acid cycling. We thus provide a modelling framework, in which the interlinked metabolism of plants and nodules can be studied from a theoretical perspective.}, } @article {pmid30131322, year = {2018}, author = {Soularue, E and Lepage, P and Colombel, JF and Coutzac, C and Faleck, D and Marthey, L and Collins, M and Chaput, N and Robert, C and Carbonnel, F}, title = {Enterocolitis due to immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review.}, journal = {Gut}, volume = {67}, number = {11}, pages = {2056-2067}, doi = {10.1136/gutjnl-2018-316948}, pmid = {30131322}, issn = {1468-3288}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/*adverse effects ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects ; Endoscopy/methods ; Enterocolitis/*chemically induced/diagnosis/therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1)/ligand are increasingly used to treat several types of cancer. These drugs enhance antitumour T-cell activity and therefore induce immune-related adverse effects (irAE), of which gastrointestinal (GI) irAE are among the most frequent and severe. This systematic literature review summarises the clinical manifestations, management and pathophysiology of GI irAE due to immune checkpoint inhibitors. GI irAE induced by anti-CTLA-4 are frequent, potentially severe and resemble IBD, whereas those induced by PD-1 blockade seem to be less frequent and clinically more diverse. Baseline symbiotic gut microbiota is associated with an enhanced antitumour response to immune checkpoint inhibitors and an increased susceptibility to developing enterocolitis, in patients treated with anti-CTLA-4. These findings open new perspectives for possible manipulation of the gut microbiota in order to better identify responders to immune checkpoint inhibitors and to increase their efficacy and safety.}, } @article {pmid30130506, year = {2018}, author = {Simpson, C}, title = {Evolution: Serving Up Light.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {16}, pages = {R873-R875}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.037}, pmid = {30130506}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Dinoflagellida ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellate algae form symbiotic partnerships with hosts from across a wide swath of the tree of life. New work shows that the genus Symbiodinium should now be considered a family, and importantly that the group is 110 million years older than previously thought. This expanded time period resolves long-standing questions about the evolution of photosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30129698, year = {2019}, author = {Lei, Y and Su, S and He, L and Hu, X and Luo, D}, title = {A member of the ALOG gene family has a novel role in regulating nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {61}, number = {4}, pages = {463-477}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12711}, pmid = {30129698}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Legumes can control the number of symbiotic nodules that form on their roots, thus balancing nitrogen assimilation and energy consumption. Two major pathways participate in nodulation: the Nod factor (NF) signaling pathway which involves recognition of rhizobial bacteria by root cells and promotion of nodulation, and the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway which involves long-distance negative feedback between roots and shoots. Although a handful of genes have a clear role in the maintenance of nodule number, additional unknown factors may also be involved in this process. Here, we identify a novel function for a Lotus japonicus ALOG (Arabidopsis LSH1 and Oryza G1) family member, LjALOG1, involved in positively regulating nodulation. LjALOG1 expression increased substantially after inoculation with rhizobia, with high levels of expression in whole nodule primordia and in the base of developing nodules. The ljalog1 mutants, which have an insertion of the LORE1 retroelement in LjALOG1, had significantly fewer nodules compared with wild type, along with increased expression of LjCLE-RS1 (L. japonicus CLE Root Signal 1), which encodes a nodulation suppressor in the AON pathway. In summary, our findings identified a novel factor that participates in controlling nodulation, possibly by suppressing the AON pathway.}, } @article {pmid30129677, year = {2018}, author = {Yu, H and Xiao, A and Dong, R and Fan, Y and Zhang, X and Liu, C and Wang, C and Zhu, H and Duanmu, D and Cao, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {Suppression of innate immunity mediated by the CDPK-Rboh complex is required for rhizobial colonization in Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {2}, pages = {425-434}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15410}, pmid = {30129677}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Start Funding from Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) and "One Thousand" Talent Plan Young Professional Program/International ; 31670240//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; 2662015PY165//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/International ; 2016YF0100700//The National Key R&D Program of China/International ; 2014BS23//Huazhong Agricultural University Independent Scientific & Technological Innovation Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {*Immunity, Innate ; Medicago truncatula/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phosphorylation ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Suppression of innate immunity is essential for rhizobial infection and colonization in compatible interactions with leguminous plants. In Medicago nad1 mutant plants, innate immunity is excessively activated, resulting in necrotic cell death after rhizobia are released from infection threads into symbiotic cells, suggesting that innate immunity plays a critical role in regulating bacteroid persistence. In this study, we identified three respiratory burst oxidase homologs (Rboh) and one calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) as key factors for the activation of immunity in Medicago nodules using genetic and biochemical methods. Knock-out of either MtRbohB or MtRbohD in nad1-1 mutant plants produced effective nodules with intact symbiotic cells, while knock-out of MtRbohC decreased brown pigment deposition, leading to less necrosis in nad1-1 mutant nodules. MtCDPK5 directly phosphorylated MtRbohB, MtRbohC and MtRbohD, which triggered immune responses in plants. Knock-out of MtCDPK5 in nad1-1 mutant plants partially restored nitrogen-fixing nodules. Overexpression of the constitutively activated variant MtCDPK5[VK] under the control of the NAD1 promoter elicited strong immune responses, resulting in ineffective nodules in wild-type plants. Our data provide direct evidence that host plants utilize innate immunity to regulate rhizobial colonization in symbiotic cells in Medicago truncatula.}, } @article {pmid30128189, year = {2018}, author = {Anderson, EE and Wilson, C and Knap, AH and Villareal, TA}, title = {Summer diatom blooms in the eastern North Pacific gyre investigated with a long-endurance autonomous surface vehicle.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5387}, pmid = {30128189}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Satellite chlorophyll a (chl a) observations have repeatedly noted summertime phytoplankton blooms in the North Pacific subtropical gyre (NPSG), a region of open ocean that is far removed from any land-derived or Ekman upwelling nutrient sources. These blooms are dominated by N2-fixing diatom-cyanobacteria associations of the diatom genera Rhizosolenia Brightwell and Hemiaulus Ehrenberg. Their nitrogen fixing endosymbiont, Richelia intracellularis J.A. Schmidt, is hypothesized to be critical to the development of blooms in this nitrogen limited region. However, due to the remote location and unpredictable duration of the summer blooms, prolonged in situ observations are rare outside of the Station ALOHA time-series off of Hawai'i. In summer, 2015, a proof-of-concept mission using the autonomous vehicle, Honey Badger (Wave Glider SV2; Liquid Robotics, a Boeing company, Sunnyvale, CA, USA), collected near-surface (<20 m) observations in the NPSG using hydrographic, meteorological, optical, and imaging sensors designed to focus on phytoplankton abundance, distribution, and physiology of this bloom-forming region. Hemiaulus and Rhizosolenia cell abundance was determined using digital holography for the entire June-November mission. Honey Badger was not able to reach the 30°N subtropical front region where most of the satellite chl a blooms have been observed, but near-real time navigational control allowed it to transect two blooms near 25°N. The two taxa did not co-occur in large numbers, rather the blooms were dominated by either Hemiaulus or Rhizosolenia. The August 2-4, 2015 bloom was comprised of 96% Hemiaulus and the second bloom, August 15-17, 2015, was dominated by Rhizosolenia (75%). The holograms also imaged undisturbed, fragile Hemiaulus aggregates throughout the sampled area at ∼10 L[-1]. Aggregated Hemiaulus represented the entire observed population at times and had a widespread distribution independent of the summer export pulse, a dominant annual event suggested to be mediated by aggregate fluxes. Aggregate occurrence was not consistent with a density dependent formation mechanism and may represent a natural growth form in undisturbed conditions. The photosynthetic potential index (Fv:Fm) increased from ∼0.4 to ∼0.6 during both blooms indicating a robust, active phytoplankton community in the blooms. The diel pattern of Fv:Fm (nocturnal maximum; diurnal minimum) was consistent with macronutrient limitation throughout the mission with no evidence of Fe-limitation despite the presence of nitrogen fixing diatom-diazotroph assemblages. During the 5-month mission, Honey Badger covered ∼5,690 km (3,070 nautical miles), acquired 9,336 holograms, and reliably transmitted data onshore in near real-time. Software issues developed with the active fluorescence sensor that terminated measurements in early September. Although images were still useful at the end of the mission, fouling of the LISST-Holo optics was considerable, and appeared to be the most significant issue facing deployments of this duration.}, } @article {pmid30127838, year = {2018}, author = {Khalife, A and Keller, RA and Billen, J and Hita Garcia, F and Economo, EP and Peeters, C}, title = {Skeletomuscular adaptations of head and legs of Melissotarsus ants for tunnelling through living wood.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {30}, pmid = {30127838}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: While thousands of ant species are arboreal, very few are able to chew and tunnel through living wood. Ants of the genus Melissotarsus (subfamily Myrmicinae) inhabit tunnel systems excavated under the bark of living trees, where they keep large numbers of symbiotic armoured scale insects (family Diaspididae). Construction of these tunnels by chewing through healthy wood requires tremendous power, but the adaptations that give Melissotarsus these abilities are unclear. Here, we investigate the morphology of the musculoskeletal system of Melissotarsus using histology, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectrometry, X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and 3D modelling.

RESULTS: Both the head and legs of Melissotarsus workers contain novel skeletomuscular adaptations to increase their ability to tunnel through living wood. The head is greatly enlarged dorsoventrally, with large mandibular closer muscles occupying most of the dorsal half of the head cavity, while ventrally-located opener muscles are also exceptionally large. This differs from the strong closing: opening asymmetry typical of most mandibulated animals, where closing the mandibles requires more force than opening. Furthermore, the mandibles are short and cone-shaped with a wide articulatory base that concentrates the force generated by the muscles towards the tips. The increased distance between the axis of mandibular rotation and the points of muscle insertion provides a mechanical advantage that amplifies the force from the closer and opener muscles. We suggest that the uncommonly strong opening action is required to move away crushed plant tissues during tunnelling and allow a steady forward motion. X-ray spectrometry showed that the tip of the mandibles is reinforced with zinc. Workers in this genus have aberrant legs, including mid- and hindlegs with hypertrophied coxae and stout basitarsi equipped with peg-like setae, and midleg femura pointed upward and close to the body. This unusual design famously prevents them from standing and walking on a normal two-dimensional surface. We reinterpret these unique traits as modifications to brace the body during tunnelling rather than locomotion per se.

CONCLUSIONS: Melissotarsus represents an extraordinary case study of how the adaptation to - and indeed engineering of - a novel ecological niche can lead to the evolutionary redesign of core biomechanical systems.}, } @article {pmid30127539, year = {2018}, author = {Betts, HC and Puttick, MN and Clark, JW and Williams, TA and Donoghue, PCJ and Pisani, D}, title = {Integrated genomic and fossil evidence illuminates life's early evolution and eukaryote origin.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {10}, pages = {1556-1562}, pmid = {30127539}, issn = {2397-334X}, support = {BB/N000919/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*genetics ; *Fossils ; *Genome ; }, abstract = {Establishing a unified timescale for the early evolution of Earth and life is challenging and mired in controversy because of the paucity of fossil evidence, the difficulty of interpreting it and dispute over the deepest branching relationships in the tree of life. Surprisingly, it remains perhaps the only episode in the history of life where literal interpretations of the fossil record hold sway, revised with every new discovery and reinterpretation. We derive a timescale of life, combining a reappraisal of the fossil material with new molecular clock analyses. We find the last universal common ancestor of cellular life to have predated the end of late heavy bombardment (>3.9 billion years ago (Ga)). The crown clades of the two primary divisions of life, Eubacteria and Archaebacteria, emerged much later (<3.4 Ga), relegating the oldest fossil evidence for life to their stem lineages. The Great Oxidation Event significantly predates the origin of modern Cyanobacteria, indicating that oxygenic photosynthesis evolved within the cyanobacterial stem lineage. Modern eukaryotes do not constitute a primary lineage of life and emerged late in Earth's history (<1.84 Ga), falsifying the hypothesis that the Great Oxidation Event facilitated their radiation. The symbiotic origin of mitochondria at 2.053-1.21 Ga reflects a late origin of the total-group Alphaproteobacteria to which the free living ancestor of mitochondria belonged.}, } @article {pmid30127409, year = {2018}, author = {Taylor, BN and Menge, DNL}, title = {Light regulates tropical symbiotic nitrogen fixation more strongly than soil nitrogen.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {655-661}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-018-0231-9}, pmid = {30127409}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Fabaceae/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Light ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*radiation effects ; Rhizobiaceae/metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Soil ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; Trees/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen limits primary production in almost every biome on Earth[1,2]. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, conducted by certain angiosperms and their endosymbiotic bacteria, is the largest potential natural source of new nitrogen into the biosphere[3], influencing global primary production, carbon sequestration and element cycling. Because symbiotic nitrogen fixation represents an alternative to soil nitrogen uptake, much of the work on symbiotic nitrogen fixation regulation has focused on soil nitrogen availability[4-8]. However, because symbiotic nitrogen fixation is an energetically expensive process[9], light availability to the plant may also regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation rates[10,11]. Despite the importance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation to biosphere functioning, the environmental factors that most strongly regulate this process remain unresolved. Here we show that light regulates symbiotic nitrogen fixation more strongly than does soil nitrogen and that light mediates the response of symbiotic nitrogen fixation to soil nitrogen availability. In a shadehouse experiment, low light levels (comparable with forest understories) completely shut down symbiotic nitrogen fixation, whereas soil nitrogen levels that far exceeded plant demand did not fully downregulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation at high light. For in situ forest seedlings, light was a notable predictor of symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity, but soil-extractable nitrogen was not. Light as a primary regulator of symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a departure from decades of focus on soil nitrogen availability. This shift in our understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation regulation can resolve a long-standing biogeochemical paradox[12], and it will improve our ability to predict how symbiotic nitrogen fixation will fuel the global forest carbon sink and respond to human alteration of the global nitrogen cycle.}, } @article {pmid30127013, year = {2018}, author = {Speare, L and Cecere, AG and Guckes, KR and Smith, S and Wollenberg, MS and Mandel, MJ and Miyashiro, T and Septer, AN}, title = {Bacterial symbionts use a type VI secretion system to eliminate competitors in their natural host.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {36}, pages = {E8528-E8537}, pmid = {30127013}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R00 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI117262/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Type IV Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Intraspecific competition describes the negative interaction that occurs when different populations of the same species attempt to fill the same niche. Such competition is predicted to occur among host-associated bacteria but has been challenging to study in natural biological systems. Although many bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri strains exist in seawater, only a few strains are found in the light-organ crypts of an individual wild-caught Euprymna scolopes squid, suggesting a possible role for intraspecific competition during early colonization. Using a culture-based assay to investigate the interactions of different V. fischeri strains, we found "lethal" and "nonlethal" isolates that could kill or not kill the well-studied light-organ isolate ES114, respectively. The killing phenotype of these lethal strains required a type VI secretion system (T6SS) encoded in a 50-kb genomic island. Multiple lethal and nonlethal strains could be cultured from the light organs of individual wild-caught adult squid. Although lethal strains eliminate nonlethal strains in vitro, two lethal strains could coexist in interspersed microcolonies that formed in a T6SS-dependent manner. This coexistence was destabilized upon physical mixing, resulting in one lethal strain consistently eliminating the other. When juvenile squid were coinoculated with lethal and nonlethal strains, they occupied different crypts, yet they were observed to coexist within crypts when T6SS function was disrupted. These findings, using a combination of natural isolates and experimental approaches in vitro and in the animal host, reveal the importance of T6SS in spatially separating strains during the establishment of host colonization in a natural symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30126132, year = {2018}, author = {Esposito, G and Teta, R and Della Sala, G and Pawlik, JR and Mangoni, A and Costantino, V}, title = {Isolation of Smenopyrone, a Bis-γ-Pyrone Polypropionate from the Caribbean Sponge Smenospongia aurea.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {30126132}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry ; Caribbean Region ; Halogenation ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Mollusca/chemistry ; Porifera/*chemistry ; Pyrones/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The organic extract of the Caribbean sponge Smenospongia aurea has been shown to contain an array of novel chlorinated secondary metabolites derived from a mixed PKS-NRPS biogenetic route such as the smenamides. In this paper, we report the presence of a biogenetically different compound known as smenopyrone, which is a polypropionate containing two γ-pyrone rings. The structure of smenopyrone including its relative and absolute stereochemistry was determined by spectroscopic analysis (NMR, MS, ECD) and supported by a comparison with model compounds from research studies. Pyrone polypropionates are unprecedented in marine sponges but are commonly found in marine mollusks where their biosynthesis by symbiotic bacteria has been hypothesized and at least in one case demonstrated. Since pyrones have recently been recognized as bacterial signaling molecules, we speculate that smenopyrone could mediate inter-kingdom chemical communication between S. aurea and its symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30125233, year = {2018}, author = {Bell, KC and Demboski, JR and Cook, JA}, title = {Sympatric Parasites Have Similar Host-Associated, but Asynchronous, Patterns of Diversification.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {192}, number = {3}, pages = {E106-E119}, doi = {10.1086/698300}, pmid = {30125233}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Oxyurida/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sciuridae/*parasitology ; *Sympatry ; }, abstract = {Parasitism is a common symbiotic interaction across diverse natural systems. Using a comparative evolutionary approach, we investigated the contributions of both host phylogeny and abiotic factors toward diversification of phylogenetically independent endoparasites that inhabit essentially the same physical space. We tested for host-parasite and parasite-parasite phylogenetic concordance in western North American chipmunks (Rodentia: Sciuridae) and two distantly related species of pinworms (Nematoda: Oxyurida). Deep structure in molecular phylogenies revealed signals of host-associated divergence in both parasite species, while shallower phylogeographic structure varied between the two parasites. This suggests that although these parasites experienced similar landscapes and cyclic climate processes, temporally distinctive diversification events were associated with differences in the initiation of their association with host lineages. When climate cycles initiate diversification, partially congruent, but asynchronous, host-associated parasite phylogenies may emerge.}, } @article {pmid30121874, year = {2018}, author = {Dastogeer, KMG}, title = {Influence of fungal endophytes on plant physiology is more pronounced under stress than well-watered conditions: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {248}, number = {6}, pages = {1403-1416}, pmid = {30121874}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Development ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Water/physiology ; }, abstract = {A meta-analysis of published articles shows that the influence of fungal endophytes on plant performance is dependent on plant water status. The magnitude of endophytic effects is higher in plants grown in water-limiting environments than those in adequate watering environments. The outcome of plant-endophyte interactions depends on the identity of the plant host and fungal symbionts. Water limitation often hinders plant productivity in both natural and agricultural settings. Endophytic fungal symbionts can mediate plant water stress responses by enhancing drought tolerance and avoidance, but these effects have not been quantified across plant-endophyte studies. A meta-analysis of published studies was performed to determine how endophytic fungal symbionts influence plant response under non-stressed versus water-stressed conditions. A significantly positive or neutral overall effect of fungal endophyte was noted under water-stressed conditions. In contrast, under non-stressed conditions, the overall effect of fungi on plants was mostly neutral. In general, the presence of fungal endophytes increased plant's total biomass, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance irrespective of water availability. In addition, plant shoot biomass, tiller density, plant height, maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), net photosynthesis, relative water content (RWC), amounts of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione (GSH), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and phenolics were significantly increased by endophyte colonisation under stressed conditions. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were reduced in endophytic plants under stress as compared with non-endophytic counterparts. Categorical analysis revealed that accumulation in plant biomass is influenced by factors such as host and fungi identity, the magnitude of which is greater under stressed than non-stressed conditions.}, } @article {pmid30120965, year = {2018}, author = {Barboza, KRM and Coco, LZ and Alves, GM and Peters, B and Vasquez, EC and Pereira, TMC and Meyrelles, SS and Campagnaro, BP}, title = {Gastroprotective effect of oral kefir on indomethacin-induced acute gastric lesions in mice: Impact on oxidative stress.}, journal = {Life sciences}, volume = {209}, number = {}, pages = {370-376}, doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2018.08.035}, pmid = {30120965}, issn = {1879-0631}, mesh = {Acute Disease ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/*toxicity ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/*administration & dosage ; Indomethacin/*toxicity ; *Kefir ; Male ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Protective Agents/*administration & dosage ; Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced/pathology/*prevention & control ; }, abstract = {AIMS: This study investigated the gastroprotective effects and the systemic oxidative status of oral kefir pretreatment in albino mice submitted to acute gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin.

MAIN METHODS: Male Swiss mice were divided into three groups (n = 7): Vehicle (0.3 mL of whole milk/100 g body weight, pH adjusted to 5.0), Kefir (0.3 mL of kefir/100 g body weight) and Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI, 30 mg/kg of lansoprazole), via gavage for 14 days. Animals were fasted for 16 h and treated orally with indomethacin (40 mg/kg). After 6 h the animals were euthanized, the blood samples were obtained and used for the determination of ROS production, oxidation of macromolecules and apoptosis. The stomachs were removed, opened by the greater curvature, and a macroscopic analysis of the gastric lesions was performed.

KEY FINDINGS: Our findings demonstrated that the symbiotic kefir significantly alleviated blood oxidative stress by reducing superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl/peroxynitrite radicals, thereby leading to reduced oxidative damage to macromolecules due to a decreased oxidative stress status in induced gastric lesions. These anti-oxidative properties might contribute favorably to the ulcer attenuation in the kefir group.

SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, these findings support a significant role played by the antioxidant actions of kefir in counteracting the gastric damage induced by this cyclooxygenase inhibitor. It is also worthy to mention that, kefir also exerted the gastroprotective property partly by inhibiting oxidative systemic damage. Based on these considerations, it was implied that kefir might be a contributor for the ROS-scavenging effect.}, } @article {pmid30120864, year = {2019}, author = {Pfeilmeier, S and George, J and Morel, A and Roy, S and Smoker, M and Stransfeld, L and Downie, JA and Peeters, N and Malone, JG and Zipfel, C}, title = {Expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana immune receptor EFR in Medicago truncatula reduces infection by a root pathogenic bacterium, but not nitrogen-fixing rhizobial symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {569-579}, pmid = {30120864}, issn = {1467-7652}, support = {//Norwich Research Park/International ; BB/J004553/1//BBSRC Institute Strategic Program/International ; //Gatsby Charitable Foundation/International ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Laboratoire d'Excellence (LABEX) TULIP/International ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/microbiology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Interfamily transfer of plant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) represents a promising biotechnological approach to engineer broad-spectrum, and potentially durable, disease resistance in crops. It is however unclear whether new recognition specificities to given pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) affect the interaction of the recipient plant with beneficial microbes. To test this in a direct reductionist approach, we transferred the Brassicaceae-specific PRR ELONGATION FACTOR-THERMO UNSTABLE RECEPTOR (EFR), conferring recognition of the bacterial EF-Tu protein, from Arabidopsis thaliana to the legume Medicago truncatula. Constitutive EFR expression led to EFR accumulation and activation of immune responses upon treatment with the EF-Tu-derived elf18 peptide in leaves and roots. The interaction of M. truncatula with the bacterial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is characterized by the formation of root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Although nodule numbers were slightly reduced at an early stage of the infection in EFR-Medicago when compared to control lines, nodulation was similar in all lines at later stages. Furthermore, nodule colonization by rhizobia, and nitrogen fixation were not compromised by EFR expression. Importantly, the M. truncatula lines expressing EFR were substantially more resistant to the root bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum. Our data suggest that the transfer of EFR to M. truncatula does not impede root nodule symbiosis, but has a positive impact on disease resistance against a bacterial pathogen. In addition, our results indicate that Rhizobium can either avoid PAMP recognition during the infection process, or is able to actively suppress immune signaling.}, } @article {pmid30120792, year = {2018}, author = {Kim, H and Choi, D and Jung, J and Kim, Y}, title = {Eicosanoid mediation of immune responses at early bacterial infection stage and its inhibition by Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata, an entomopathogenic bacterium.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {99}, number = {4}, pages = {e21502}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21502}, pmid = {30120792}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Eicosanoids/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; Larva/microbiology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*physiology ; Spodoptera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {An entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata (Ptt) infects insect hemocoel by the vectoring activity of its symbiotic nematode, Heterorhabditis megidis. The bacterium induces host immunosuppression by inhibiting eicosanoid biosynthesis. This study investigated the role of eicosanoids in immune responses of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, in the early bacterial infection stage (first 3 hr postinfection [PI]). After infection with the nonpathogenic Escherichia coli (Ec), the bacterium maintained its population for the first 3 hr PI, then rapidly decreased in numbers. During the 3 hr PI of Ptt, this pathogenic bacterium also did not show any significant change in bacterial population. However, Ptt rapidly increased its population size after the initial lag phase, inducing fatal septicemia. This study further analyzed cellular and humoral immune responses of the beet armyworm during the initial 3 hr PI. During this early stage, challenge with Ec stimulated hemocyte-spreading behavior along with extensive F-actin growth. However, Ptt infection suppressed hemocyte spreading. Expression levels of three antimicrobial peptides (lysozyme, gloverin, and gallerimycin) were significantly inhibited during Ptt infection. Phospholipase A2 activity was significantly induced during the early infection stage of Ec, but not during Ptt infection. Addition of eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors significantly reversed the initial immunosuppression. These results suggest that, during the early infection stage, Ptt can shutdown eicosanoid biosynthesis which can prevent acute immune responses of host insects.}, } @article {pmid30120789, year = {2018}, author = {He, L and Liu, B and Tian, J and Lu, F and Li, X and Tian, Y}, title = {Culturable epiphytic bacteria isolated from Teleogryllus occipitalus crickets metabolize insecticides.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {99}, number = {2}, pages = {e21501}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21501}, pmid = {30120789}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; China ; Glycine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Gryllidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Hydrolases/genetics ; *Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Nitriles/pharmacology ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {The development of insecticide resistance is attributed to evolutionary changes in pest insect genomes, such as alteration of drug target sites, upregulation of degrading enzymes, and enhancement of drug excretion. Beyond these well-known mechanisms, symbiotic bacteria may confer insecticide resistance to host crickets. The current study was designed to screen all possible culturable bacterial groups found living in and on the bodies of Teleogryllus occipitalis crickets. We recovered 263 visible bacterial colonies and cultured them individually. After identifying the colonies based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis, we shortlisted 55 bacterial strains belonging to 28 genera. Of these 55 bacterial strains, 18 degraded at least 50% of the original amount of 400 mg/L chlorpyrifos (CP) after 24 hr of coculture. Six of these strains degraded more than 70% of the original amount of 400 mg/L CP. Three strains had antagonistic effects on Bacillus thuringiensis growth. Additionally, the ability of the isolates to degrade glyphosate, phoxim, and esfenvalerate was assessed. We also detected extracellular hydrolase enzyme activities in these isolates. We propose that epiphytic bacterial strains play multiple roles in cricket biology, one of which contributes to chemical and biological pesticide resistance.}, } @article {pmid30120506, year = {2018}, author = {Aliverdi, A and Ahmadvand, G}, title = {Herbicide Toxicity to Soybean-Rhizobium Symbiosis as Affected by Soil pH.}, journal = {Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology}, volume = {101}, number = {4}, pages = {434-438}, doi = {10.1007/s00128-018-2417-2}, pmid = {30120506}, issn = {1432-0800}, mesh = {Benzothiadiazines/toxicity ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Triazines/toxicity ; Trifluralin/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The current study examined whether soil pH could influence the toxicity of herbicides to soybean-rhizobium symbiosis. This can be useful for farmers to minimize the toxicity of them to crop-rhizobium symbiosis via applying their reduced doses. The toxicity of bentazon, metribuzin, and trifluralin to soybean-rhizobium symbiosis was investigated in pH 6.4, 7.2, and 8 soils. Seed inoculation decreased shoot:root (S:R) ratio but increased height, shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW), shoot nitrogen content (SNC), root nitrogen content (RNC), and nitrogen fixation effectiveness (NFE) in the pH 7.2 soil without herbicide application. All herbicides decreased NFE in all soil pH regimes except metribuzin in the pH 6.4 soil. Unlike trifluralin, the toxicity of bentazon and metribuzin to soybean-rhizobium symbiosis was influenced by the soil pH. It can be concluded that soil acidification and alkalization, which can rapidly occur in agroecosystems, can decrease and increase the toxicity of bentazon and metribuzin to soybean-rhizobium symbiosis, respectively.}, } @article {pmid30120198, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, CC and Zhang, D and Hann, DR and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {Biochemical properties and in planta effects of NopM, a rhizobial E3 ubiquitin ligase.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {293}, number = {39}, pages = {15304-15315}, pmid = {30120198}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing)/chemistry/*genetics ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; MAP Kinase Kinase 1/chemistry/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phosphorylation ; Polyubiquitin/chemistry/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium/enzymology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/*chemistry/genetics ; Ubiquitination/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nodulation outer protein M (NopM) is an IpaH family type three (T3) effector secreted by the nitrogen-fixing nodule bacterium Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234. Previous work indicated that NopM is an E3 ubiquitin ligase required for an optimal symbiosis between NGR234 and the host legume Lablab purpureus Here, we continued to analyze the function of NopM. Recombinant NopM was biochemically characterized using an in vitro ubiquitination system with Arabidopsis thaliana proteins. In this assay, NopM forms unanchored polyubiquitin chains and possesses auto-ubiquitination activity. In a NopM variant lacking any lysine residues, auto-ubiquitination was not completely abolished, indicating noncanonical auto-ubiquitination of the protein. In addition, we could show intermolecular ubiquitin transfer from NopM to C338A (enzymatically inactive NopM form) in vitro Bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis provided clues about NopM-NopM interactions at plasma membranes in planta NopM, but not C338A, expressed in tobacco cells induced cell death, suggesting that E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of NopM induced effector-triggered immunity responses. Likewise, expression of NopM in Lotus japonicus caused reduced nodule formation, whereas expression of C338A showed no obvious effects on symbiosis. Further experiments indicated that serine residue 26 of NopM is phosphorylated in planta and that NopM can be phosphorylated in vitro by salicylic acid-induced protein kinase (NtSIPK), a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) of tobacco. Hence, NopM is a phosphorylated T3 effector that can interact with itself, with ubiquitin, and with MAPKs.}, } @article {pmid30116788, year = {2018}, author = {Söllinger, A and Tveit, AT and Poulsen, M and Noel, SJ and Bengtsson, M and Bernhardt, J and Frydendahl Hellwing, AL and Lund, P and Riedel, K and Schleper, C and Højberg, O and Urich, T}, title = {Holistic Assessment of Rumen Microbiome Dynamics through Quantitative Metatranscriptomics Reveals Multifunctional Redundancy during Key Steps of Anaerobic Feed Degradation.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30116788}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Ruminant livestock is a major source of the potent greenhouse gas methane. The complex rumen microbiome, consisting of bacteria, archaea, and microbial eukaryotes, facilitates anaerobic plant biomass degradation in the cow rumen, leading to methane emissions. Using an integrated approach combining multidomain quantitative metatranscriptomics with gas and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiling, we aimed at obtaining the most comprehensive picture of the active rumen microbiome during feed degradation to date. Bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic biomass, but also methane emissions and VFA concentrations, increased drastically within an hour after feed intake. mRNA profiling revealed a dynamic response of carbohydrate-active enzyme transcripts, transcripts involved in VFA production and methanogenesis. While the relative abundances of functional transcripts did not mirror observed processes, such as methane emissions, transformation to mRNA abundance per gram of rumen fluid echoed ruminant processes. The microbiome composition was highly individual, with, e.g., ciliate, Neocallimastigaceae, Prevotellaceae, Succinivibrionaceae, and Fibrobacteraceae abundances differing between cows. Microbiome individuality was accompanied by inter- and intradomain multifunctional redundancy among microbiome members during feed degradation. This likely enabled the robust performance of the anaerobic degradation process in each rumen. Neocallimastigaceae and ciliates contributed an unexpectedly large share of transcripts for cellulose- and hemicellulose-degrading enzymes, respectively. Methyl-reducing but not CO2-reducing methanogens were positively correlated with methane emissions. While Methanomassiliicoccales switched from methanol to methylamines as electron acceptors, Methanosphaera became the dominating methanol-reducing methanogen. This study for the first time linked rumen meta-omics with processes and enabled holistic insights into the contribution of all microbiome members to feed degradation. IMPORTANCE Ruminant animals, such as cows, live in a tight symbiotic association with microorganisms, allowing them to feed on otherwise indigestible plant biomass as food sources. Methane is produced as an end product of the anaerobic feed degradation in ruminants and is emitted to the atmosphere, making ruminant animals among the major anthropogenic sources of the potent greenhouse gas methane. Using newly developed quantitative metatranscriptomics for holistic microbiome analysis, we here identified bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic key players and the short-term dynamics of the rumen microbiome during anaerobic plant biomass degradation and subsequent methane emissions. These novel insights might pave the way for novel ecologically and economically sustainable methane mitigation strategies, much needed in times of global climate change.}, } @article {pmid30116782, year = {2018}, author = {Li, Y and Liew, YJ and Cui, G and Cziesielski, MJ and Zahran, N and Michell, CT and Voolstra, CR and Aranda, M}, title = {DNA methylation regulates transcriptional homeostasis of algal endosymbiosis in the coral model Aiptasia.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {4}, number = {8}, pages = {eaat2142}, pmid = {30116782}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *DNA Methylation ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; *Homeostasis ; Models, Biological ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/parasitology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between cnidarians and dinoflagellates is the cornerstone of coral reef ecosystems. Although research has focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying this symbiosis, the role of epigenetic mechanisms, that is, the study of heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, is unknown. To assess the role of DNA methylation in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, we analyzed genome-wide CpG methylation, histone associations, and transcriptomic states of symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones in the model system Aiptasia. We found that methylated genes are marked by histone 3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) and show significant reduction of spurious transcription and transcriptional noise, revealing a role of DNA methylation in the maintenance of transcriptional homeostasis. Changes in DNA methylation and expression show enrichment for symbiosis-related processes, such as immunity, apoptosis, phagocytosis recognition, and phagosome formation, and reveal intricate interactions between the underlying pathways. Our results demonstrate that DNA methylation provides an epigenetic mechanism of transcriptional homeostasis that responds to symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30116251, year = {2018}, author = {Karkanis, A and Ntatsi, G and Lepse, L and Fernández, JA and Vågen, IM and Rewald, B and Alsiņa, I and Kronberga, A and Balliu, A and Olle, M and Bodner, G and Dubova, L and Rosa, E and Savvas, D}, title = {Faba Bean Cultivation - Revealing Novel Managing Practices for More Sustainable and Competitive European Cropping Systems.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1115}, pmid = {30116251}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Faba beans are highly nutritious because of their high protein content: they are a good source of mineral nutrients, vitamins, and numerous bioactive compounds. Equally important is the contribution of faba bean in maintaining the sustainability of agricultural systems, as it is highly efficient in the symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. This article provides an overview of factors influencing faba bean yield and quality, and addresses the main biotic and abiotic constraints. It also reviews the factors relating to the availability of genetic material and the agronomic features of faba bean production that contribute to high yield and the improvement of European cropping systems. Emphasis is to the importance of using new high-yielding cultivars that are characterized by a high protein content, low antinutritional compound content, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. New cultivars should combine several of these characteristics if an increased and more stable production of faba bean in specific agroecological zones is to be achieved. Considering that climate change is also gradually affecting many European regions, it is imperative to breed elite cultivars that feature a higher abiotic-biotic stress resistance and nutritional value than currently used cultivars. Improved agronomical practices for faba bean crops, such as crop establishment and plant density, fertilization and irrigation regime, weed, pest and disease management, harvesting time, and harvesting practices are also addressed, since they play a crucial role in both the production and quality of faba bean.}, } @article {pmid30115904, year = {2018}, author = {Chelakkot, C and Ghim, J and Ryu, SH}, title = {Mechanisms regulating intestinal barrier integrity and its pathological implications.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {50}, number = {8}, pages = {1-9}, pmid = {30115904}, issn = {2092-6413}, mesh = {Animals ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology ; Intestines/*pathology ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract is a specialized organ in which dynamic interactions between host cells and the complex environment occur in addition to food digestion. Together with the chemical barrier of the mucosal layer and the cellular immune system, the epithelial cell layer performs a pivotal role as the first physical barrier against external factors and maintains a symbiotic relationship with commensal bacteria. The tight junction proteins, including occludin, claudins, and zonula occludens, are crucial for the maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity. To allow the transport of essential molecules and restrict harmful substances, the intracellular signaling transduction system and a number of extracellular stimuli such as cytokines, small GTPases, and post-translational modifications dynamically modulate the tight junction protein complexes. An imbalance in these regulations leads to compromised barrier integrity and is linked with pathological conditions. Despite the obscurity of the causal relationship, the loss of barrier integrity is considered to contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders. The elucidation of the role of diseases in barrier integrity and the underlying regulatory mechanisms have improved our understanding of the intestinal barrier to allow the development of novel and potent therapeutic approaches.}, } @article {pmid30115324, year = {2018}, author = {Taerum, SJ and de Beer, ZW and Marincowitz, S and Jankowiak, R and Wingfield, MJ}, title = {Ophiostoma quercus: An unusually diverse and globally widespread tree-infecting fungus.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {122}, number = {9}, pages = {900-910}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2018.05.005}, pmid = {30115324}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ophiostoma/*classification/*genetics ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ophiostoma quercus (Ascomycota, Ophiostomatales) is a globally widespread, insect-vectored fungus that colonizes a wide diversity of hardwood and conifer hosts. Although the fungus is considered to be non-pathogenic, it is closely related to the fungi that cause Dutch elm disease. We examined the global diversity of O. quercus based on a ribosomal RNA marker and three unlinked gene regions. The fungus exhibited substantial morphological diversity. In addition, O. quercus had high genetic diversity in every continent from which it was collected, although the fungus was most diverse in Eurasia. There was no evidence of geographical clustering of haplotypes based on phylogenetic and network analyses. In addition, the phylogenetic trees generated based on the different markers were non-congruent. These results suggest that O. quercus has been repeatedly moved around the globe, because of trade in wood products, and that the fungal species most likely outcrosses regularly. The high genetic diversity of the fungus, as well as its ability to utilize a wide variety of arthropod vectors and colonize a tremendous diversity of tree host species makes O. quercus truly unique among ophiostomatoid fungi.}, } @article {pmid30114746, year = {2018}, author = {Stowhas, T and Verdejo, J and Yáñez, C and Celis-Diez, JL and Martínez, CE and Neaman, A}, title = {Zinc alleviates copper toxicity to symbiotic nitrogen fixation in agricultural soil affected by copper mining in central Chile.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {209}, number = {}, pages = {960-963}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.166}, pmid = {30114746}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Chile ; Copper/*chemistry ; Mining/*methods ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*chemistry ; Zinc/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {According to the Terrestrial Biotic Ligand Model, other cations might compete with Cu[+2] for biotic ligand sites and provide a protective effect. In particular, evidence suggests Zn may alleviative Cu toxicity. No study, to the best of our knowledge, has focused explicitly on the alleviating effect Zn might have on Cu toxicity to soil microorganisms in field-contaminated soils. The aim of this study was to investigate the alleviating effect Zn might have on Cu toxicity to symbiotic nitrogen fixation in agricultural soils affected by copper mining in central Chile. The bioassay estimated the symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity of a population of rhizobia in a specified soil, using the soil as inocula for Phaseolus vulgaris L. grown in a soil-less system (pots with perlite) irrigated with a sterile nitrogen-free nutrient solution. Among all soil physicochemical characteristics, the Cu/Zn ratio best explained changes in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The effective concentration 50% (EC50) of Cu/Zn ratio for symbiotic nitrogen was equal to 1.2, with 95% confidence interval of 1.0-1.3. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation decreased with increased Cu/Zn ratio, thus suggesting that Zn alleviates Cu toxicity to nitrogen fixing microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid30114664, year = {2018}, author = {Filée, J}, title = {Giant viruses and their mobile genetic elements: the molecular symbiosis hypothesis.}, journal = {Current opinion in virology}, volume = {33}, number = {}, pages = {81-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.coviro.2018.07.013}, pmid = {30114664}, issn = {1879-6265}, mesh = {Eukaryota/*virology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Viral ; Giant Viruses/*genetics/*growth & development ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; }, abstract = {Among the virus world, Giant viruses (GVs) compose one of the most successful eukaryovirus families. By contrast with other eukaryoviruses, GV genomes contain a wide array of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that encompass diverse, mostly prokaryotic-like, transposable element families, introns, inteins, restriction-modification systems and enigmatic classes of mobile elements having little similarities with known families. Interestingly, several of these MGEs may be beneficial to the GVs, fulfilling two kinds of functions: (1) degrading host or competing virus/virophage DNA and (2) promoting viral genome integration, dissemination and excision into the host genomes. By providing fitness advantages to the virus in which they reside, these MGEs compose a kind of molecular symbiotic association in which both partners benefit from the presence of each other's. Thus, protective effects provided by some of these MGEs may have generated an arm race between competing GVs in order to encode the most diverse arsenal of anti-viral weapons, explaining the unusual abundance of MGEs in GV genomes by a kind of ratchet effect.}, } @article {pmid30113690, year = {2018}, author = {Garneau, MG and Tan, Q and Tegeder, M}, title = {Function of pea amino acid permease AAP6 in nodule nitrogen metabolism and export, and plant nutrition.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {21}, pages = {5205-5219}, pmid = {30113690}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/*genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Peas/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Vascular Bundle/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteroids in root nodules. Following fixation in pea (Pisum sativum L.) nodules, nitrogen is reduced to amino acids that are exported via the nodule xylem to the shoot, and in the phloem to roots in support of growth. However, the mechanisms involved in amino acid movement towards the nodule vasculature, and their importance for nodule function and plant nutrition, were unknown. We found that in pea nodules the apoplasmic pathway is an essential route for amino acid partitioning from infected cells to the vascular bundles, and that amino acid permease PsAAP6 is a key player in nitrogen retrieval from the apoplasm into inner cortex cells for nodule export. Using an miRNA interference (miR) approach, it was demonstrated that PsAAP6 function in nodules, and probably in roots, and affects both shoot and root nitrogen supply, which were strongly decreased in PsAAP6-miR plants. Further, reduced transporter function resulted in increased nodule levels of ammonium, asparagine, and other amino acids. Surprisingly, nitrogen fixation and nodule metabolism were up-regulated in PsAAP6-miR plants, indicating that under shoot nitrogen deficiency, or when plant nitrogen demand is high, systemic signaling leads to an increase in nodule activity, independent of the nodule nitrogen status.}, } @article {pmid30113661, year = {2018}, author = {Loman, BR and Hernández-Saavedra, D and An, R and Rector, RS}, title = {Prebiotic and probiotic treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.}, journal = {Nutrition reviews}, volume = {76}, number = {11}, pages = {822-839}, doi = {10.1093/nutrit/nuy031}, pmid = {30113661}, issn = {1753-4887}, support = {I01 BX003271/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/blood/microbiology/*therapy ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {CONTEXT: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent and underdiagnosed comorbidity of many chronic diseases that is associated with altered intestinal bacterial communities. This association has prompted research into alternative treatments aimed at modulating intestinal microbiota. Given the novelty of these treatments, scarce evidence regarding their effectiveness in clinical populations exists.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis sought to systemically review and quantitatively synthesize evidence on prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic therapies for patients with NAFLD in randomized controlled trials.

DATA SOURCES: PRISMA guidelines ensured transparent reporting of evidence. PICOS criteria defined the research question for the systematic review. A systematic keyword search in PubMed and EMBASE identified 25 studies: 9 assessed prebiotic, 11 assessed probiotic, and 7 assessed symbiotic therapies for a total of 1309 patients.

DATA EXTRACTION: Basic population characteristics, the primary variables of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (utilized for NAFLD diagnosis), and the secondary variables of body mass index (BMI), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and triglyceridges (TAG) were extracted. Pooled effect sizes of these variables were calculated by meta-analysis. No publication bias was identified using Begg's and Egger's tests or Cochrane bias assessment tool.

RESULTS: Meta-analysis indicated that microbial therapies significantly reduced BMI (-0.37 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.46 to -0.28; P < 0.001), hepatic enzymes (ALT, -6.9 U/L [95%CI, -9.4 to -4.3]; AST, -4.6 U/L [95%CI, -6.6 to -2.7]; γ-GT, -7.9 U/L [95%CI, -11.4 to -4.4]; P < 0.001), serum cholesterol (-10.1 mg/dL 95%CI, -13.6 to -6.6; P < 0.001), LDL-c (-4.5 mg/dL; 95%CI, -8.9 to -0.17; P < 0.001), and TAG (-10.1 mg/dL; 95%CI, -18.0 to -2.3; P < 0.001), but not inflammation (TNF-α, -2.0 ng/mL; [95%CI, -4.7 to 0.61]; CRP, -0.74 mg/L [95%CI, -1.9 to 0.37]). Subgroup analysis by treatment category indicated similar effects of prebiotics and probiotics on BMI and liver enzymes but not total cholesterol, HDL-c, and LDL-c.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis supports the potential use of microbial therapies in the treatment of NAFLD and sheds light on their potential mode of action. Further research into these treatments should consider the limitations of biomarkers currently used for the diagnosis and progression of NAFLD, in addition to the inherent challenges of personalized microbial-based therapies.}, } @article {pmid30113119, year = {2018}, author = {Niehs, SP and Dose, B and Scherlach, K and Roth, M and Hertweck, C}, title = {Genomics-Driven Discovery of a Symbiont-Specific Cyclopeptide from Bacteria Residing in the Rice Seedling Blight Fungus.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {19}, number = {20}, pages = {2167-2172}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201800400}, pmid = {30113119}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Burkholderia/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Peptide Synthases/metabolism ; *Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Rhizopus/*metabolism ; Seedlings/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rice seedling blight fungus Rhizopus microsporus harbors endosymbiotic bacteria (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) that produce the virulence factor rhizoxin and control host development. Genome mining indicated a massive inventory of cryptic nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes, which have not yet been linked to any natural products. The discovery and full characterization of a novel cyclopeptide from endofungal bacteria is reported. In silico analysis of an orphan, symbiont-specific NRPS predicted the structure of a nonribosomal peptide, which was targeted by LC-MS/MS profiling of wild-type and engineered null mutants. NMR spectroscopy and chemical derivatization elucidated the structure of the bacterial cyclopeptide. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the relationship of starter C domains for rare N-acetyl-capped peptides. Heptarhizin is produced under symbiotic conditions in geographically constrained strains from the Pacific clade; this indicates a potential ecological role of the peptide.}, } @article {pmid30112150, year = {2018}, author = {Zakaria, L and Aziz, WNW}, title = {Molecular Identification of Endophytic Fungi from Banana Leaves (Musa spp.).}, journal = {Tropical life sciences research}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {201-211}, pmid = {30112150}, issn = {1985-3718}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are part of microbial community found in various types of plant tissues including the leave, and display a range of symbiotic interactions with the plant host. In this study, endophytic fungi isolated from banana leaves were identified using ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer region) sequences of which 10 genera comprising 17 species were molecularly identified. Endophytic fungal species identified were Nigrospora oryzae, Nigrospora sphaerica, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum siamense, Fusarium equiseti, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Phoma sorghina, Pestalotiopsis oxyanthi, Pestalotiopsis theae, Pestalotiopsis eugeniae, Penicillium steckii, Penicillium purpurogenum, Bipolaris papendorfii, Bipolaris sp., Lasidiodiplodia theobromae, Cochliobolus intermedius dan Aspergillus niger. The present study showed that several endophytic fungal genera/species are common plant pathogen and there is a possibility that these endophytes can become pathogenic. Some of the fungal endophyte might be mutualist or saprophyte.}, } @article {pmid30110413, year = {2018}, author = {Zhu, X and Li, X and Jiu, S and Zhang, K and Wang, C and Fang, J}, title = {Analysis of the regulation networks in grapevine reveals response to waterlogging stress and candidate gene-marker selection for damage severity.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {172253}, pmid = {30110413}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Owing to the climate change impacts, waterlogging is one of the most hazardous abiotic stresses to crops, which also can result in a serious reduction in the quantity and quality of grape berry and wine production during the rainy season. Therefore, the exploration of the response mechanism of grape to waterlogging is necessary, for which the analysis of the transcriptomic regulation networks of grapevine leaves in response to waterlogging stress was carried out. In this study, 12 634 genes were detected in both waterlogging stress and control grapevine plants, out of which 6837 genes were differentially expressed. A comparative analysis revealed that genes functioning in the antioxidant system, glycolysis and fermentation pathway, chlorophyll metabolism, amino acid metabolism and hormones were activated to reduce injury to grapes under the waterlogging stress. Meanwhile, genes encoding class-2 non-symbiotic haemoglobin were determined as important in waterlogging acclimation. Additionally, the expression variations of three marker genes were found to be informative and can be used to predict the viability of the grapevines subjected to waterlogging. This research not only probes the molecular mechanism underlying grapevine waterlogging tolerance but also puts forward an idea about the application of gene expression information to practical management.}, } @article {pmid30109978, year = {2019}, author = {Karmakar, K and Kundu, A and Rizvi, AZ and Dubois, E and Severac, D and Czernic, P and Cartieaux, F and DasGupta, M}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis With the Progress of Symbiosis in 'Crack-Entry' Legume Arachis hypogaea Highlights Its Contrast With 'Infection Thread' Adapted Legumes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {3}, pages = {271-285}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-18-0174-R}, pmid = {30109978}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; *Arachis/genetics/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {In root-nodule symbiosis, rhizobial invasion and nodule organogenesis is host controlled. In most legumes, rhizobia enter through infection threads and nodule primordium in the cortex is induced from a distance. But in dalbergoid legumes like Arachis hypogaea, rhizobia directly invade cortical cells through epidermal cracks to generate the primordia. Herein, we report the transcriptional dynamics with the progress of symbiosis in A. hypogaea at 1 day postinfection (dpi) (invasion), 4 dpi (nodule primordia), 8 dpi (spread of infection in nodule-like structure), 12 dpi (immature nodules containing rod-shaped rhizobia), and 21 dpi (mature nodules with spherical symbiosomes). Expression of putative ortholog of symbiotic genes in 'crack entry' legume A. hypogaea was compared with infection thread-adapted model legumes. The contrasting features were i) higher expression of receptors like LYR3 and EPR3 as compared with canonical Nod factor receptors, ii) late induction of transcription factors like NIN and NSP2 and constitutive high expression of ERF1, EIN2, bHLH476, and iii) induction of divergent pathogenesis-responsive PR-1 genes. Additionally, symbiotic orthologs of SymCRK, ROP6, RR9, SEN1, and DNF2 were not detectable and microsynteny analysis indicated the absence of a RPG homolog in diploid parental genomes of A. hypogaea. The implications are discussed and a molecular framework that guides crack-entry symbiosis in A. hypogaea is proposed.}, } @article {pmid30109687, year = {2019}, author = {Pierart, A and Maes, AQ and Dumat, C and Sejalon-Delmas, N}, title = {Vermicompost addition influences symbiotic fungi communities associated with leek cultivated in metal-rich soils.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {20}, pages = {20040-20051}, pmid = {30109687}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; *Composting ; Metals/*pharmacokinetics ; Mycobiome/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae ; Onions/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*pharmacokinetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the context of urban agriculture, where soils are frequently contaminated with metal(loid)s (TM), we studied the influence of vermicompost amendments on symbiotic fungal communities associated with plants grown in two metal-rich soils. Leek (Allium porrum L.) plants were grown with or without vermicompost in two metal-rich soils characterized by either geogenic or anthropogenic TM sources, to assess the influence of pollutant origin on soil-plant transfer. Fungal communities associated with the leek roots were identified by high throughput Illumina MiSeq and TM contents were measured using mass spectrometry. Vermicompost addition led to a dramatic change in the fungal community with a loss of diversity in the two tested soils. This effect could partially explain the changes in metal transfer at the soil-AMF-plant interface. Our results suggest being careful while using composts when growing edibles in contaminated soils. More generally, this study highlights the need for further research in the field of fungal communities to refine practical recommendations to gardeners. Graphical abstract.}, } @article {pmid30109112, year = {2018}, author = {Sendova-Franks, AB and Franks, NR and Worley, A}, title = {Plant-animal worms round themselves up in circular mills on the beach.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {7}, pages = {180665}, pmid = {30109112}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Collective motion is a fascinating and intensely studied manifestation of collective behaviour. Circular milling is an impressive example. It occurs in fishes, processionary caterpillars and army ants, among others. Its adaptive significance, however, is not yet well understood. Recently, we demonstrated experimentally circular milling in the marine plant-animal worm Symsagittifera roscoffensis. We hypothesized that its function is to gather the worms and facilitate the dense films they form on the beach to promote the photosynthesis of their symbiotic algae. Here, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, the occurrence of S. roscoffensis circular mills in nature and show that it is by no means rare. The size and behaviour of circular mills in their natural environment is compatible with our earlier experimental results. This makes S. roscoffensis a good study system for understanding the proximate and ultimate mechanisms of circular milling.}, } @article {pmid30109092, year = {2018}, author = {Rubin, BER and Sanders, JG and Turner, KM and Pierce, NE and Kocher, SD}, title = {Social behaviour in bees influences the abundance of Sodalis (Enterobacteriaceae) symbionts.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {7}, pages = {180369}, pmid = {30109092}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Social interactions can facilitate transmission of microbes between individuals, reducing variation in gut communities within social groups. Thus, the evolution of social behaviours and symbiont community composition have the potential to be tightly linked. We explored this connection by characterizing the diversity of bacteria associated with both eusocial and solitary bee species within the behaviourally variable family Halictidae using 16S amplicon sequencing. Contrary to expectations, we found few differences in bacterial abundance or variation between social forms; most halictid species appear to share similar gut bacterial communities. However, several strains of Sodalis, a genus described as a symbiont in a variety of insects but yet to be characterized in bees, differ in abundance between eusocial and solitary bees. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on whole-genome alignments indicate that Sodalis has independently colonized halictids at least three times. These strains appear to be mutually exclusive within individual bees, although they are not host-species-specific and no signatures of vertical transmission were observed, suggesting that Sodalis strains compete for access to hosts. The symbiosis between halictids and Sodalis therefore appears to be in its early stages.}, } @article {pmid30109079, year = {2018}, author = {Andongma, AA and Wan, L and Dong, XP and Akami, M and He, J and Clarke, AR and Niu, CY}, title = {The impact of nutritional quality and gut bacteria on the fitness of Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {5}, number = {7}, pages = {180237}, pmid = {30109079}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {To examine how nutritional quality and resident gut bacteria interplay in improving the fitness of an oligophagous fruit fly, Bactrocera minax, artificial sucrose diets and full diets (sucrose, tryptone and yeast extract) were fed to flies with and without antibiotic supplementation. Furthermore, Klebsiella oxytoca and Citrobacter freundii were supplemented to sucrose-only diets. Flies were maintained in the laboratory and the fitness parameters, male and female longevity, number of copulations and female fecundity, were recorded. Full diet without bacterial depletion significantly increased fecundity and copulation. In the absence of gut bacteria, flies fed with full diets had significantly decreased mean fecundity and copulation rate. Flies that were fed with sucrose diet had a very low copulation rate and produced no eggs. Diet type and the presence of bacteria did not have any effect on the average longevity of male and female flies. Bacterial supplementation in sucrose diets did not improve any of the measured parameters. The results demonstrate that gut bacteria interact with diet to influence mating and reproduction in B. minax. Symbiotic bacteria significantly and positively impact reproduction in B. minax; however, their impact can only be fully realized when the flies are fed with a nutritionally complete diet.}, } @article {pmid30108566, year = {2018}, author = {Park, T and Yu, Z}, title = {Do Ruminal Ciliates Select Their Preys and Prokaryotic Symbionts?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1710}, pmid = {30108566}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ruminal ciliates both preys on and form symbiotic relationships with other members of the ruminal microbiota for their survival. However, it remains elusive if they have selectivity over their preys or symbionts. In the present study, we investigated the above selectivity by identifying and comparing the free-living prokaryotes (FLP) and the ciliate-associated prokaryotes (CAP) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. We used single ciliates cells of both monocultures of Entodinium caudatum and Epidinium caudatum and eight different ciliate genera isolated from fresh rumen fluid of dairy cows. Irrespective of the source (laboratory monocultures vs. fresh isolates) of the single ciliate cells, the CAP significantly differed from the FLP in microbiota community profiles. Many bacterial taxa were either enriched or almost exclusively found in the CAP across most of the ciliate genera. A number of bacteria were also found for the first time as ruminal bacteria in the CAP. However, no clear difference was found in methanogens between the CAP and the FLP, which was confirmed using methanogen-specific qPCR. These results suggest that ruminal ciliates probably select their preys and symbionts, the latter of which has rarely been found among the free-living ruminal prokaryotes. The bacteria enriched or exclusively found in the CAP can be target bacteria to detect and localize using specific probes designed from their 16S rRNA sequences, to characterize using single-cell genomics, or to isolate using new media designed based on genomic information.}, } @article {pmid30107817, year = {2018}, author = {Muturi, EJ and Lagos-Kutz, D and Dunlap, C and Ramirez, JL and Rooney, AP and Hartman, GL and Fields, CJ and Rendon, G and Kim, CH}, title = {Mosquito microbiota cluster by host sampling location.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {468}, pmid = {30107817}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Environment ; Firmicutes/genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mosquito Control ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbial communities that inhabit the mosquito body play an import role in host biology and may have potential for mosquito control. However, the forces that shape these microbial communities are poorly understood.

METHODS: To gain a better understanding of how host location influences the composition and diversity of mosquito microbiota, we performed a survey of microbial communities in mosquito samples collected from six USA states using HiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS: A total of 284 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 14 phyla were detected in nine mosquito species, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria accounting for 95% of total sequences. OTU richness varied markedly within and between mosquito species. The microbial composition and diversity was heavily influenced by the site of mosquito collection, suggesting that host location plays an important role in shaping the mosquito microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: Variation in microbial composition and diversity between mosquitoes from different locations may have important implications on vector competence and transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne pathogens. Future studies should investigate the environmental factors responsible for these variations and the role of key bacteria characterized in this study on mosquito biology and their potential application in symbiotic control of mosquito-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid30107431, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, SH and Chen, Y and Li, W and Tang, GH and Yang, Y and Jiang, HB and Dou, W and Wang, JJ}, title = {Diversity of Bacterial Communities in the Intestinal Tracts of Two Geographically Distant Populations of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {2861-2868}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toy231}, pmid = {30107431}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Geography ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sex Factors ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), is one of the most destructive agricultural pests and hosts diverse intestinal bacterial communities. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the microbial communities associated with the intestines of females and males from two B. dorsalis populations collected from Hainan and Guizhou Provinces of China. A total of 260,615 high-quality 16S rRNA gene reads with an average length of 253 bp were obtained. Highly diverse bacterial communities were observed across individuals, with communities containing between 691 and 1,262 bacterial operational taxonomic units. In addition, 37 bacterial phyla, 65 classes, 130 orders, 198 families, 201 genera, and 70 annotated species were identified, wherein the Proteobacteria were the most dominant phylum among all of the libraries, followed by the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Bacterial community composition varied by host sex and geographic location of the populations. Female gut communities comprised fewer bacterial families than males, and females had lower relative abundances of 33 of the 35 most abundant families. In addition, female gut communities harbored greater abundances of Enterobacteriaceae than males. The Hainan population gut communities contained fewer bacterial families than those of the Guizhou populations. However, 5 of the 35 most abundant families were more abundant in communities from the Hainan population than those of the Guizhou population. The results of this study help us better understand the importance of symbiotic bacteria in B. dorsalis and provide a foundation for assessing the use of gut microorganisms as bio-control agents for these serious pests.}, } @article {pmid30107179, year = {2018}, author = {Shivange, G and Urbanek, K and Przanowski, P and Perry, JSA and Jones, J and Haggart, R and Kostka, C and Patki, T and Stelow, E and Petrova, Y and Llaneza, D and Mayo, M and Ravichandran, KS and Landen, CN and Bhatnagar, S and Tushir-Singh, J}, title = {A Single-Agent Dual-Specificity Targeting of FOLR1 and DR5 as an Effective Strategy for Ovarian Cancer.}, journal = {Cancer cell}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {331-345.e11}, pmid = {30107179}, issn = {1878-3686}, support = {P30 CA044579/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA192399/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 CA009109/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Bispecific/*therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Folate Receptor 1/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Receptors, IgG/physiology ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/*antagonists & inhibitors ; }, abstract = {Therapeutic antibodies targeting ovarian cancer (OvCa)-enriched receptors have largely been disappointing due to limited tumor-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Here we report a symbiotic approach that is highly selective and superior compared with investigational clinical antibodies. This bispecific-anchored cytotoxicity activator antibody is rationally designed to instigate "cis" and "trans" cytotoxicity by combining specificities against folate receptor alpha-1 (FOLR1) and death receptor 5 (DR5). Whereas the in vivo agonist DR5 signaling requires FcγRIIB interaction, the FOLR1 anchor functions as a primary clustering point to retain and maintain a high level of tumor-specific apoptosis. The presented proof of concept study strategically makes use of a tumor cell-enriched anchor receptor for agonist death receptor targeting to potentially generate a clinically viable strategy for OvCa.}, } @article {pmid30107045, year = {2018}, author = {Yadav, S and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {The Imaginal Disc Growth Factors 2 and 3 participate in the Drosophila response to nematode infection.}, journal = {Parasite immunology}, volume = {40}, number = {10}, pages = {e12581}, doi = {10.1111/pim.12581}, pmid = {30107045}, issn = {1365-3024}, support = {R01 AI110675/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*immunology/*parasitology ; Drosophila Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Imaginal Discs/metabolism ; Larva/immunology/parasitology ; Nematode Infections/*immunology ; Species Specificity ; Strongyloidea/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/growth & development ; }, abstract = {The Drosophila imaginal disc growth factors (IDGFs) induce the proliferation of imaginal disc cells and terminate cell proliferation at the end of larval development. However, the participation of Idgf-encoding genes in other physiological processes of Drosophila including the immune response to infection is not fully understood. Here, we show the contribution of Idgf2 and Idgf3 in the Drosophila response to infection with Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes carrying or lacking their mutualistic Xenorhabdus nematophila bacteria (symbiotic or axenic nematodes, respectively). We find that Idgf2 and Idgf3 are upregulated in Drosophila larvae infected with symbiotic or axenic Steinernema and inactivation of Idgf2 confers a survival advantage to Drosophila larvae against axenic nematodes. Inactivation of Idgf2 induces the Imd and Jak/Stat pathways, whereas inactivation of Idgf3 induces the Imd, Toll and Jak/Stat pathways. We also show that inactivation of the Imd pathway receptor PGRP-LE upregulates Idgf2 against Steinernema nematode infection. Finally, we demonstrate that inactivation of Idgf3 induces the recruitment of larval haemocytes in response to Steinernema. Our results indicate that Idgf2 and Idgf3 might be involved in different yet crucial immune functions in the Drosophila antinematode immune response. Similar findings will promote the development of new targets for species-specific pest control strategies.}, } @article {pmid30105505, year = {2019}, author = {Castelli, M and Serra, V and Senra, MVX and Basuri, CK and Soares, CAG and Fokin, SI and Modeo, L and Petroni, G}, title = {The Hidden World of Rickettsiales Symbionts: "Candidatus Spectririckettsia obscura," a Novel Bacterium Found in Brazilian and Indian Paramecium caudatum.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {3}, pages = {748-758}, pmid = {30105505}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; India ; Paramecium caudatum/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsiales/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between bacteria and eukaryotes are widespread and may have significant impact on the evolutionary history of symbiotic partners. The order Rickettsiales is a lineage of intracellular Alphaproteobacteria characterized by an obligate association with a wide range of eukaryotic hosts, including several unicellular organisms, such as ciliates and amoebas. In this work, we characterized the Rickettsiales symbionts associated with two different genotypes of the freshwater ciliate Paramecium caudatum originated from freshwater environments in distant geographical areas. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene showed that the two symbionts are closely related to each other (99.4% identity), belong to the family Rickettsiaceae, but are far-related with respect to previously characterized Rickettsiales. Consequently, they were assigned to a new species of a novel genus, namely "Candidatus Spectririckettsia obscura." Screening on a database of short reads from 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based profiling studies confirmed that bacterial sequences related to the new symbiont are preferentially retrieved from freshwater environments, apparently with extremely scarce occurrence (< 0.1% positive samples). The present work provides new information on the still under-explored biodiversity of Rickettsiales, in particular those associated to ciliate host cells.}, } @article {pmid30103505, year = {2018}, author = {Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and García-Martín, AB and Martínez-García, Á and Soler, JJ and Valdivia, E and Martínez-Bueno, M}, title = {Seasonal and Sexual Differences in the Microbiota of the Hoopoe Uropygial Secretion.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {30103505}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The uropygial gland of hoopoe nestlings and nesting females hosts bacterial symbionts that cause changes in the characteristics of its secretion, including an increase of its antimicrobial activity. These changes occur only in nesting individuals during the breeding season, possibly associated with the high infection risk experienced during the stay in the hole-nests. However, the knowledge on hoopoes uropygial gland microbial community dynamics is quite limited and based so far on culture-dependent and molecular fingerprinting studies. In this work, we sampled wild and captive hoopoes of different sex, age, and reproductive status, and studied their microbiota using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and pyrosequencing. Surprisingly, we found a complex bacterial community in all individuals (including non-nesting ones) during the breeding season. Nevertheless, dark secretions from nesting hoopoes harbored significantly higher bacterial density than white secretions from breeding males and both sexes in winter. We hypothesize that bacterial proliferation may be host-regulated in phases of high infection risk (i.e., nesting). We also highlight the importance of specific antimicrobial-producing bacteria present only in dark secretions that may be key in this defensive symbiosis. Finally, we discuss the possible role of environmental conditions in shaping the uropygial microbiota, based on differences found between wild and captive hoopoes.}, } @article {pmid30102941, year = {2018}, author = {Shen, B and Song, J and Zhao, Y and Zhang, Y and Liu, G and Li, X and Guo, X and Li, W and Cao, Z and Wu, Y}, title = {Triintsin, a human pathogenic fungus-derived defensin with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.}, journal = {Peptides}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {61-67}, doi = {10.1016/j.peptides.2018.08.003}, pmid = {30102941}, issn = {1873-5169}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Defensins/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Female ; Foot Dermatoses/*microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Onychomycosis/*microbiology ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Domains ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Tinea/microbiology ; Trichophyton/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Since there is a symbiotic and competitive relationship between microorganisms in the same ecological niche, fungal defensins have been found to be important resources for antimicrobial peptides. Here, a fungal defensin, triintsin, was characterized in a clinical isolate of Trichophyton interdigitale from a patient with onychomycosis. The comparison of its genomic and mRNA sequences showed the gene organization and structure of three coding exons separated by two introns. The precursor peptide of triintsin contained 85 amino acid residues, which were composed of three parts including an N-terminal signal domain of 21 residues, a pro-peptide of 47 residues that ended at lysine-arginine and a mature peptide of 38 residues at the C-terminus. The 3D-structure established by homology modeling revealed that triintsin presented a representative typical cysteine-stabilized α-helical and β-sheet fold. The reductive linear peptide of triintsin was obtained by chemical synthesis. After cyclization to form three pairs of disulfide bonds, the oxidative-type peptide displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but also showed anti-fungal activity. Moreover, triintsin can effectively inhibit the growth of clinical strains. Altogether, the peptide is a human pathogenic fungus-derived defensin with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.}, } @article {pmid30102395, year = {2018}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A and Coeur d'acier, A and Clamens, AL and Orvain, C and Cruaud, C and Barbe, V and Jousselin, E}, title = {A Freeloader? The Highly Eroded Yet Large Genome of the Serratia symbiotica Symbiont of Cinara strobi.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {2178-2189}, pmid = {30102395}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Serratia/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genome reduction is pervasive among maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts. This genome reduction can eventually lead to serious deterioration of essential metabolic pathways, thus rendering an obligate endosymbiont unable to provide essential nutrients to its host. This loss of essential pathways can lead to either symbiont complementation (sharing of the nutrient production with a novel co-obligate symbiont) or symbiont replacement (complete takeover of nutrient production by the novel symbiont). However, the process by which these two evolutionary events happen remains somewhat enigmatic by the lack of examples of intermediate stages of this process. Cinara aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) typically harbor two obligate bacterial symbionts: Buchnera and Serratia symbiotica. However, the latter has been replaced by different bacterial taxa in specific lineages, and thus species within this aphid lineage could provide important clues into the process of symbiont replacement. In the present study, using 16S rRNA high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we determined that the aphid Cinara strobi harbors not two, but three fixed bacterial symbionts: Buchnera aphidicola, a Sodalis sp., and S. symbiotica. Through genome assembly and genome-based metabolic inference, we have found that only the first two symbionts (Buchnera and Sodalis) actually contribute to the hosts' supply of essential nutrients while S. symbiotica has become unable to contribute towards this task. We found that S. symbiotica has a rather large and highly eroded genome which codes only for a few proteins and displays extensive pseudogenization. Thus, we propose an ongoing symbiont replacement within C. strobi, in which a once "competent" S. symbiotica does no longer contribute towards the beneficial association. These results suggest that in dual symbiotic systems, when a substitute cosymbiont is available, genome deterioration can precede genome reduction and a symbiont can be maintained despite the apparent lack of benefit to its host.}, } @article {pmid30101804, year = {2018}, author = {Pastore, M and Sforza, E}, title = {Exploiting symbiotic interactions between Chlorella protothecoides and Brevundimonas diminuta for an efficient single-step urban wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {78}, number = {1-2}, pages = {216-224}, doi = {10.2166/wst.2018.155}, pmid = {30101804}, issn = {0273-1223}, mesh = {Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Caulobacteraceae/*metabolism ; Chlorella/*metabolism ; Microalgae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phosphorus/analysis/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wastewater/*chemistry ; Water Purification/*methods ; }, abstract = {The application of microalgal bacteria consortia to the treatment of wastewater is receiving increasing attention, meeting the demand for new green and efficient technologies for water remediation. The specificity of the consortium, however, may strongly affect the performance of the treatment. In fact, even though a general exploitation of the O2/CO2 exchange between microalgae and bacteria is effective, some specific interactions may increase the pollutant removal. With this aim, the co-cultivation of Chlorella protothecoides and Brevundimonas diminuta was tested, with particular attention to the removal capability of nitrogen, phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater. Batch experiments were carried out both for the consortium and, separately, for the bacteria and microalgae alone, in order to compare their performances. B. diminuta showed a remarkable capability for removing organic substances and transforming organic nitrogen to ammonium. C. protothecoides efficiently removed nitrogen and phosphorus. As the specific growth rates of the two organisms are different, the co-cultivation was also carried out also in a continuous system, and the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the steady-state biomass concentration and nutrient removal efficiency was verified. Residence time was found as the main operating variable for obtaining a significant reduction of pollutants from wastewater.}, } @article {pmid30101448, year = {2018}, author = {Walpole, C and McGrane, A and Al-Mousawi, H and Winter, D and Baird, A and Stewart, G}, title = {Investigation of facilitative urea transporters in the human gastrointestinal tract.}, journal = {Physiological reports}, volume = {6}, number = {15}, pages = {e13826}, pmid = {30101448}, issn = {2051-817X}, mesh = {Blotting, Western ; Colon/metabolism ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Ileum/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between humans and their intestinal microbiome is supported by urea nitrogen salvaging. Previous studies have shown that colonic UT-B urea transporters play a significant role in this important physiological process. This current study investigated UT-A and UT-B urea transporter expression along the human gastrointestinal tract. Initial end-point PCR experiments determined that UT-A RNA was predominantly expressed in the small intestine, while UT-B RNA was expressed in stomach, small intestine, and colon. Using western blotting experiments, a strong 40-60 kDa UT-B signal was found to be abundant in both ileum and colon. Importantly, this signal was deglycosylated by PNGaseF enzyme treatment to a core protein of 30 kDa in both tissues. Further immunolocalization studies revealed UT-B transporter proteins were present at the apical membrane of the villi in the ileum, but predominantly at the basolateral membrane of the colonic surface epithelial cells. Finally, a blind scoring immunolocalization study suggested that there was no significant difference in UT-B abundance throughout the colon (NS, ANOVA, N = 5-21). In conclusion, this current study suggested UT-B to be the main human intestinal urea transporter. Intriguingly, these data suggested that the same UT-B isoform was present in all intestinal epithelial cells, but that the precise cellular location varied.}, } @article {pmid30101405, year = {2018}, author = {Brial, F and Le Lay, A and Dumas, ME and Gauguier, D}, title = {Implication of gut microbiota metabolites in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {75}, number = {21}, pages = {3977-3990}, pmid = {30101405}, issn = {1420-9071}, mesh = {Biomarkers/*metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis/*genetics/microbiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Humans ; Metabolic Diseases/*genetics/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Evidence from the literature keeps highlighting the impact of mutualistic bacterial communities of the gut microbiota on human health. The gut microbita is a complex ecosystem of symbiotic bacteria which contributes to mammalian host biology by processing, otherwise, indigestible nutrients, supplying essential metabolites, and contributing to modulate its immune system. Advances in sequencing technologies have enabled structural analysis of the human gut microbiota and allowed detection of changes in gut bacterial composition in several common diseases, including cardiometabolic disorders. Biological signals sent by the gut microbiota to the host, including microbial metabolites and pro-inflammatory molecules, mediate microbiome-host genome cross-talk. This rapidly expanding line of research can identify disease-causing and disease-predictive microbial metabolite biomarkers, which can be translated into novel biodiagnostic tests, dietary supplements, and nutritional interventions for personalized therapeutic developments in common diseases. Here, we review results from the most significant studies dealing with the association of products from the gut microbial metabolism with cardiometabolic disorders. We underline the importance of these postbiotic biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of human disorders.}, } @article {pmid30100341, year = {2018}, author = {LaJeunesse, TC and Parkinson, JE and Gabrielson, PW and Jeong, HJ and Reimer, JD and Voolstra, CR and Santos, SR}, title = {Systematic Revision of Symbiodiniaceae Highlights the Antiquity and Diversity of Coral Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {16}, pages = {2570-2580.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.008}, pmid = {30100341}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The advent of molecular data has transformed the science of organizing and studying life on Earth. Genetics-based evidence provides fundamental insights into the diversity, ecology, and origins of many biological systems, including the mutualisms between metazoan hosts and their micro-algal partners. A well-known example is the dinoflagellate endosymbionts ("zooxanthellae") that power the growth of stony corals and coral reef ecosystems. Once assumed to encompass a single panmictic species, genetic evidence has revealed a divergent and rich diversity within the zooxanthella genus Symbiodinium. Despite decades of reporting on the significance of this diversity, the formal systematics of these eukaryotic microbes have not kept pace, and a major revision is long overdue. With the consideration of molecular, morphological, physiological, and ecological data, we propose that evolutionarily divergent Symbiodinium "clades" are equivalent to genera in the family Symbiodiniaceae, and we provide formal descriptions for seven of them. Additionally, we recalibrate the molecular clock for the group and amend the date for the earliest diversification of this family to the middle of the Mesozoic Era (∼160 mya). This timing corresponds with the adaptive radiation of analogs to modern shallow-water stony corals during the Jurassic Period and connects the rise of these symbiotic dinoflagellates with the emergence and evolutionary success of reef-building corals. This improved framework acknowledges the Symbiodiniaceae's long evolutionary history while filling a pronounced taxonomic gap. Its adoption will facilitate scientific dialog and future research on the physiology, ecology, and evolution of these important micro-algae.}, } @article {pmid30098586, year = {2018}, author = {Torres, N and Antolín, MC and Garmendia, I and Goicoechea, N}, title = {Nutritional properties of Tempranillo grapevine leaves are affected by clonal diversity, mycorrhizal symbiosis and air temperature regime.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {542-554}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.08.004}, pmid = {30098586}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Coumaric Acids/metabolism ; Flavonols/metabolism ; Fluorometry ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; *Nutritive Value ; Phenols/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Vitis/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tempranillo grapevine is widely cultivated in Spain and other countries over the world (Portugal, USA, France, Australia, and Argentina, among others) for its wine, but leaves are scarcely used for human or animal nutrition. Since high temperatures affect quality of fruits and leaves in grapevine and the association of Tempranillo with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhances the antioxidant properties of berries and leaves, we assessed the effect of elevated air temperature and mycorrhization, separately or combined, on the nutritional properties of Tempranillo leaves at the time of fruit harvest. Experimental assay included three clones (CL-260, CL-1048, and CL-1089) and two temperature regimes (24/14 °C or 28/18 °C day/night) during fruit ripening. Within each clone and temperature regime there were plants not inoculated or inoculated with AMF. The nutritional value of leaves increased under warming climate: elevated temperatures induced the accumulation of minerals, especially in CL-1089; antioxidant capacity and soluble sugars also increased in CL-1089; CL-260 showed enhanced amounts of pigments, and chlorophylls and soluble proteins increased in CL-1048. Results suggested the possibility of collecting leaves together with fruit harvest with different applications of every clone: those from CL-1089 would be adequate for an energetic diet and leaves from CL-260 and CL-1048 would be suitable for culinary processes. Mycorrhization improved the nutritional value of leaves by enhancing flavonols in all clones, hydroxycinnamic acids in CL-1089 and carotenoids in CL-260.}, } @article {pmid30097258, year = {2018}, author = {Solanki, KP and Desai, MA and Parikh, JK}, title = {Sono hydrodistillation for isolation of citronella oil: A symbiotic effect of sonication and hydrodistillation towards energy efficiency and environment friendliness.}, journal = {Ultrasonics sonochemistry}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {145-153}, doi = {10.1016/j.ultsonch.2018.07.038}, pmid = {30097258}, issn = {1873-2828}, mesh = {Chemical Fractionation/*methods ; Cymbopogon/chemistry ; Green Chemistry Technology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Plant Oils/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; *Sonication ; Water/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Environmental benign approach for extraction of essential oil was made. An essential oil rich in citronellol, linalool and citronellal was extracted from the leaves of Cymbopogon winterianus using a clean hybrid extraction technique, sono hydrodistillation. Sono hydrodistillation combines ultrasonic waves along with conventional hydrodistillation process to have symbiotic outcomes in terms of process improvement. Significant process parameters such as size of the plant material, extraction time, power, ultrasound amplitude, pulse interval and solid loading were investigated independently to study the effect on yield of oil and composition of oil. The water residue remained after extraction of volatile oil was analyzed using Folin-Ciocalteu method to determine the total phenolic content (TPC) which would help in assessing the residue as a useful by-product. Substantial reduction in time was observed with the inclusion of ultrasound compared to conventional hydrodistillation. Further, to optimize the extraction conditions, observe interactive effects of various parameters and develop mathematical model, response surface methodology was employed. The maximum yield of oil was found to be 4.118% (w/w) at 21 min extraction time, 5 g solid loading, 250 mL water volume, 500 W heating mantle power, 70% ultrasonic amplitude and 10:50 pulse interval. Total phenolic content was 13.84 mg GAE/g DM. The citronella oil was found to be composed of 27.47% of linalool, 11.52% of citronellal, 34.25% citronellol and 11.15% of elemol. Extraction time, solid loading and pulse interval had the significant influence on the yield of oil and total phenolic contents. Microscopic analysis has assisted in envisaging the probable mechanism indicating the role of sonication for rapid extraction. This novel technique was compared with the conventional hydrodistillation to ascertain the impact towards process intensification. Sono hydrodistillation was found to be a greener and cleaner process as energy consumption has been reduced by 40% while carbon footprint has shrunken by 47%.}, } @article {pmid30097019, year = {2018}, author = {Dotson, BR and Soltan, D and Schmidt, J and Areskoug, M and Rabe, K and Swart, C and Widell, S and Rasmusson, AG}, title = {The antibiotic peptaibol alamethicin from Trichoderma permeabilises Arabidopsis root apical meristem and epidermis but is antagonised by cellulase-induced resistance to alamethicin.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {165}, pmid = {30097019}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Alamethicin/antagonists & inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/*drug effects ; Cellulase/*pharmacology ; Meristem/*drug effects ; Permeability/drug effects ; Plant Epidermis/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/*drug effects ; Seedlings/drug effects ; Trichoderma/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trichoderma fungi live in the soil rhizosphere and are beneficial for plant growth and pathogen resistance. Several species and strains are currently used worldwide in co-cultivation with crops as a biocontrol alternative to chemical pesticides even though little is known about the exact mechanisms of the beneficial interaction. We earlier found alamethicin, a peptide antibiotic secreted by Trichoderma, to efficiently permeabilise cultured tobacco cells. However, pre-treatment with Trichoderma cellulase made the cells resistant to subsequent alamethicin, suggesting a potential mechanism for plant tolerance to Trichoderma, needed for mutualistic symbiosis.

RESULTS: We here investigated intact sterile-grown Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings germinated in water or growth medium. These could be permeabilised by alamethicin but not if pretreated with cellulase. By following the fluorescence from the membrane-impermeable DNA-binding probe propidium iodide, we found alamethicin to mainly permeabilise root tips, especially the apical meristem and epidermis cells, but not the root cap and basal meristem cells nor cortex cells. Alamethicin permeabilisation and cellulase-induced resistance were confirmed by developing a quantitative in situ assay based on NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase accessibility. The combined assays also showed that hyperosmotic treatment after the cellulase pretreatment abolished the induced cellulase resistance.

CONCLUSION: We here conclude the presence of cell-specific alamethicin permeabilisation, and cellulase-induced resistance to it, in root tip apical meristem and epidermis of the model organism A. thaliana. We suggest that contact between the plasma membrane and the cell wall is needed for the resistance to remain. Our results indicate a potential mode for the plant to avoid negative effects of alamethicin on plant growth and localises the point of potential damage and response. The results also open up for identification of plant genetic components essential for beneficial effects from Trichoderma on plants.}, } @article {pmid30091698, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, P and Turnbull, MW}, title = {Virus innexin expression in insect cells disrupts cell membrane potential and pH.}, journal = {The Journal of general virology}, volume = {99}, number = {10}, pages = {1444-1452}, doi = {10.1099/jgv.0.001132}, pmid = {30091698}, issn = {1465-2099}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Membrane/*drug effects ; Connexins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cytoplasm/chemistry ; Gene Expression ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Membrane Potentials/*drug effects ; Sf9 Cells ; Spodoptera ; Viral Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Certain parasitoid wasps are associated with Polydnaviruses, symbiotic viruses that encode virulence factors which are essential to successful parasitization by the wasp of a caterpillar host. Members of one group of Polydnaviruses, the Ichnoviruses, encode a multi-gene family known as Vinnexins. Vinnexins are homologues of insect gap junction genes, and form functional gap junctions that may affect host cell physiology. However, the role of Vinnexins in host pathology and the mechanism by which these affect their caterpillar host are largely unknown. In this article, we generated recombinant baculoviruses to express vinnexins in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. To measure cell physiological changes caused by Vinnexins, cells were probed with a membrane potential-sensitive probe, DiBac4(3), and a pH indicator, carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA). In addition, we utilized carbenoxolone and ouabain, respectively, to probe the role of gap junctions and hemi-channels, and Na+/K+-ATPase in establishing membrane potential in studied cells. Our results indicate that Vinnexins induce cell membrane depolarization and cytoplasmic alkalization to a degree specific to each tested Vinnexin, and that neither Vinnexin hemi-channels nor Na+/K+-ATPase appear to underlie these effects directly. These results hint that members of the Vinnexin protein family may affect host bio-electrical phenomena to disrupt host cell physiology, and that the individual proteins of the family may differentially affect host physiology.}, } @article {pmid30091610, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, L and Liu, JY and Gu, H and Du, Y and Zuo, JF and Zhang, Z and Zhang, M and Li, P and Dunwell, JM and Cao, Y and Zhang, Z and Zhang, YM}, title = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110- Glycine max Interactome Provides Candidate Proteins Associated with Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {3061-3074}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00209}, pmid = {30091610}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {14-3-3 Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Dicarboxylic Acid Transporters/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Ontology ; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Ion Channels/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; *Protein Interaction Maps ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; SNARE Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Although the legume-rhizobium symbiosis is a most-important biological process, there is a limited knowledge about the protein interaction network between host and symbiont. Using interolog- and domain-based approaches, we constructed an interspecies protein interactome containing 5115 protein-protein interactions between 2291 Glycine max and 290 Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 proteins. The interactome was further validated by the expression pattern analysis in nodules, gene ontology term semantic similarity, co-expression analysis, and luciferase complementation image assay. In the G. max-B. diazoefficiens interactome, bacterial proteins are mainly ion channel and transporters of carbohydrates and cations, while G. max proteins are mainly involved in the processes of metabolism, signal transduction, and transport. We also identified the top 10 highly interacting proteins (hubs) for each species. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis for each hub showed that a pair of 14-3-3 proteins (SGF14g and SGF14k) and 5 heat shock proteins in G. max are possibly involved in symbiosis, and 10 hubs in B. diazoefficiens may be important symbiotic effectors. Subnetwork analysis showed that 18 symbiosis-related soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor proteins may play roles in regulating bacterial ion channels, and SGF14g and SGF14k possibly regulate the rhizobium dicarboxylate transport protein DctA. The predicted interactome provide a valuable basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of nodulation in soybean.}, } @article {pmid30088243, year = {2019}, author = {Qin, L and Wei, D and Wang, Z and Alam, MA}, title = {Advantage Assessment of Mixed Culture of Chlorella vulgaris and Yarrowia lipolytica for Treatment of Liquid Digestate of Yeast Industry and Cogeneration of Biofuel Feedstock.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {187}, number = {3}, pages = {856-869}, doi = {10.1007/s12010-018-2854-8}, pmid = {30088243}, issn = {1559-0291}, mesh = {*Biofuels ; Chlorella vulgaris/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Feasibility Studies ; *Industrial Waste ; Nutrients/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Surface Properties ; Yarrowia/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Yeasts/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis potential of microalgae and yeast is inherited with distinct advantages, providing an economical venue for their scale-up application. To assess the advantage of the mixed culture of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and yeast Yarrowia lipolytica for treatment of liquid digestate of yeast industry (YILD) and cogeneration of biofuel feedstock, the cell growth characteristic, the nutrient removal efficiency, the energy storage potential of the mono, and mixed culture were investigated. The results indicated that the biomass concentration of the mixed culture (1.39-1.56 g/L of 5 times dilution group and 1.23-1.53 g/L of 10 times dilution group) was higher than those of mono cultures. The NH3-N and SO4[2-] removal rates of the mixed culture were superior to mono cultures. Besides the higher lipid yield (0.073-0.154 g/L of 5 times dilution group and 0.112-0.183 g/L of 10 times dilution group), the higher yield of higher heating value (20.06-29.76 kJ/L of 5 times dilution group and 21.83-29.85 kJ/L of 10 times dilution group) was also obtained in the mixed culture. This study provides feasibility for remediation of YILD and cogeneration of biofuel feedstock using the mixed culture of microalgae and yeast.}, } @article {pmid30087663, year = {2018}, author = {Wongdee, J and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N and Tittabutr, P and Giraud, E}, title = {Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation in Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain DOA9 Involves Two Distinct NifA Regulatory Proteins That Are Functionally Redundant During Symbiosis but Not During Free-Living Growth.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1644}, pmid = {30087663}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 strain displays the unusual properties to have a symbiotic plasmid and to fix nitrogen during both free-living and symbiotic growth. Sequence genome analysis shows that this strain contains the structural genes of dinitrogenase (nifDK) and the nifA regulatory gene on both the plasmid and chromosome. It was previously shown that both nifDK clusters are differentially expressed depending on growth conditions, suggesting different mechanisms of regulation. In this study, we examined the functional regulatory role of the two nifA genes found on the plasmid (nifAp) and chromosome (nifAc) that encode proteins with a moderate level of identity (55%) and different structural architectures. Using gusA (β-glucuronidase) reporter strains, we showed that both nifA genes were expressed during both the free-living and symbiotic growth stages. During symbiosis with Aeschynomene americana, mutants in only one nifA gene were not altered in their symbiotic properties, while a double nifA mutant was drastically impaired in nitrogen fixation, indicating that the two NifA proteins are functionally redundant during this culture condition. In contrast, under in vitro conditions, the nifAc mutant was unable to fix nitrogen, and no effect of the nifAp mutation was detected, indicating that NifAc is essential to activate nif genes during free-living growth. In accordance, the nitrogenase fixation deficiency of this mutant could be restored by the introduction of nifAc but not by nifAp or by two chimeric nifA genes encoding hybrid proteins with the N-terminus part of NifAc and the C-terminus of NifAp. Furthermore, transcriptional analysis by RT-qPCR of the WT and two nifA mutant backgrounds showed that NifAc and NifAp activated the expression of both chromosome and plasmid structural nifDK genes during symbiosis, while only NifAc activated the expression of nifDKc during free-living conditions. In summary, this study provides a better overview of the complex mechanisms of regulation of the nitrogenase genes in the DOA9 strain that involve two distinct NifA proteins, which are exchangeable during symbiosis for the activation of nif genes but not during free-living growth where NifAc is essential for the activation of nifDKc.}, } @article {pmid30087346, year = {2018}, author = {Sugawara, M and Takahashi, S and Umehara, Y and Iwano, H and Tsurumaru, H and Odake, H and Suzuki, Y and Kondo, H and Konno, Y and Yamakawa, T and Sato, S and Mitsui, H and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Variation in bradyrhizobial NopP effector determines symbiotic incompatibility with Rj2-soybeans via effector-triggered immunity.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {3139}, pmid = {30087346}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {15K20868//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/International ; 26252065//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/International ; }, mesh = {Alleles ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genotype ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Phosphorylation ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Genotype-specific incompatibility in legume-rhizobium symbiosis has been suggested to be controlled by effector-triggered immunity underlying pathogenic host-bacteria interactions. However, the rhizobial determinant interacting with the host resistance protein (e.g., Rj2) and the molecular mechanism of symbiotic incompatibility remain unclear. Using natural mutants of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 122, we identified a type III-secretory protein NopP as the determinant of symbiotic incompatibility with Rj2-soybean. The analysis of nopP mutations and variants in a culture collection reveal that three amino acid residues (R60, R67, and H173) in NopP are required for Rj2-mediated incompatibility. Complementation of rj2-soybean by the Rj2 allele confers the incompatibility induced by USDA 122-type NopP. In response to incompatible strains, Rj2-soybean plants activate defense marker gene PR-2 and suppress infection thread number at 2 days after inoculation. These results suggest that Rj2-soybeans monitor the specific variants of NopP and reject bradyrhizobial infection via effector-triggered immunity mediated by Rj2 protein.}, } @article {pmid30086814, year = {2018}, author = {Yurchenko, V and Lukeš, J}, title = {Parasites and their (endo)symbiotic microbes.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {145}, number = {10}, pages = {1261-1264}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182018001257}, pmid = {30086814}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Organelles ; Parasites/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Thanks to modern molecular biology methods, our understanding of the impact of (endo)symbiotic bacteria on parasitic protists and helminths is growing fast. In this issue, 9 papers have been brought together that describe various facets of the relationships between these microorganisms, reveal their range and high frequency, as well as their capacity to create novel biological complexity. Comparative analyses of these host-endosymbiont interactions indicate that there may be no discrete types of relationships but rather a continuum ranging from a dispensable endosymbiont minimally integrated within the host cell to organelles, such as mitochondria and plastids that evolved into an indispensable, deeply integrated components of the cell. We hope that this series of studies on parasites and (endo)symbiotic bacteria will increase awareness about these relationships and their representation in microbial ecology models.}, } @article {pmid30084396, year = {2018}, author = {Fushinobu, S}, title = {Conformations of the type-1 lacto-N-biose I unit in protein complex structures.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology communications}, volume = {74}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {473-479}, pmid = {30084396}, issn = {2053-230X}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Group Antigens/chemistry/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray/methods ; *Databases, Protein ; Humans ; Protein Conformation ; }, abstract = {The lacto-N-biose I (Galβ1-3GlcNAc; LNB) disaccharide is present as a core unit of type-1 blood group antigens of animal glycoconjugates and milk oligosaccharides. Type-1 antigens often serve as cell-surface receptors for infection by pathogens. LNB in human milk oligosaccharides functions as a prebiotic for bifidobacteria and plays a key role in the symbiotic relationship of commensal gut microbes in infants. Protein Data Bank (PDB) entries exhibiting the LNB unit were investigated using the GlycoMapsDB web tool. There are currently 159 β-LNB and nine α-LNB moieties represented in ligands in the database. β-LNB and α-LNB moieties occur in 74 and six PDB entries, respectively, as NCS copies. The protein and enzyme structures are from various organisms including humans (galectins), viruses (haemagglutinin and capsid proteins), a pathogenic fungus, a parasitic nematode and protist, pathogenic bacteria (adhesins) and a symbiotic bacterium (a solute-binding protein of an ABC transporter). The conformations of LNB-containing glycans in enzymes vary significantly according to their mechanism of substrate recognition and catalysis. Analysis of glycosidic bond conformations indicated that the binding modes are significantly different in proteins adapted for modified or unmodified glycans.}, } @article {pmid30084239, year = {2019}, author = {Kranabetter, JM and Harman-Denhoed, R and Hawkins, BJ}, title = {Saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungal sporocarp stoichiometry (C : N : P) across temperate rainforests as evidence of shared nutrient constraints among symbionts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {1}, pages = {482-492}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15380}, pmid = {30084239}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations/International ; }, mesh = {British Columbia ; Carbon/analysis ; Ecosystem ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Pseudotsuga ; *Rainforest ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Quantifying nutritional dynamics of free-living saprotrophs and symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi in the field is challenging, but the stoichiometry of fruiting bodies (sporocarps) may be an effective methodology for this purpose. Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations of soils, foliage and 146 sporocarp collections were analyzed from 14 Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii stands across a podzolization gradient on Vancouver Island (Canada). N and P concentrations were considerably higher in saprotrophic fungi. Fungal N% increased with soil N content at a greater rate for saprotrophs than ectomycorrhizal fungi, while fungal P% of saprotrophs was more constrained. Fungal N : P was more responsive to soil N : P for ectomycorrhizal fungi (homeostatic regulation coefficient 'H' = 2.9) than saprotrophs (H = 5.9), while N : P of ectomycorrhizal fungi and host tree foliage scaled almost identically. Results underscore the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi as nutrient conduits, supporting host trees, whereas saprotrophs maintain a greater degree of nutritional homeostasis. Site nutrient constraints were shared in equal measure between ectomycorrhizal fungi and host trees, particularly for P, suggesting neither partner benefits from enhanced nutrition at the expense of the other. Sporocarp stoichiometry provides new insights into mycorrhizal relationships and illustrates pervasive P deficiencies across temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.}, } @article {pmid30084172, year = {2019}, author = {Wendlandt, CE and Regus, JU and Gano-Cohen, KA and Hollowell, AC and Quides, KW and Lyu, JY and Adinata, ES and Sachs, JL}, title = {Host investment into symbiosis varies among genotypes of the legume Acmispon strigosus, but host sanctions are uniform.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {221}, number = {1}, pages = {446-458}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15378}, pmid = {30084172}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {1150278//NSF DEB/International ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Genotype ; Lotus/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Regression Analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Efficient host control predicts the extirpation of ineffective symbionts, but they are nonetheless widespread in nature. We tested three hypotheses for the maintenance of symbiotic variation in rhizobia that associate with a native legume: partner mismatch between host and symbiont, such that symbiont effectiveness varies with host genotype; resource satiation, whereby extrinsic sources of nutrients relax host control; and variation in host control among host genotypes. We inoculated Acmispon strigosus from six populations with three Bradyrhizobium strains that vary in symbiotic effectiveness on sympatric hosts. We measured proxies of host and symbiont fitness in single- and co-inoculations under fertilization treatments of zero added nitrogen (N) and near-growth-saturating N. We examined two components of host control: 'host investment' into nodule size during single- and co-inoculations, and 'host sanctions' against less effective strains during co-inoculations. The Bradyrhizobium strains displayed conserved growth effects on hosts, and host control did not decline under experimental fertilization. Host sanctions were robust in all hosts, but host lines from different populations varied significantly in measures of host investment in both single- and co-inoculation experiments. Variation in host investment could promote variation in symbiotic effectiveness and prevent the extinction of ineffective Bradyrhizobium from natural populations.}, } @article {pmid30083666, year = {2018}, author = {Borfecchia, E and Beato, P and Svelle, S and Olsbye, U and Lamberti, C and Bordiga, S}, title = {Cu-CHA - a model system for applied selective redox catalysis.}, journal = {Chemical Society reviews}, volume = {47}, number = {22}, pages = {8097-8133}, doi = {10.1039/c8cs00373d}, pmid = {30083666}, issn = {1460-4744}, abstract = {We review the structural chemistry and reactivity of copper-exchanged molecular sieves with chabazite (CHA) topology, as an industrially applied catalyst in ammonia mediated reduction of harmful nitrogen oxides (NH3-SCR) and as a general model system for red-ox active materials (also the recent results in the direct conversion of methane to methanol are considered). Notwithstanding the apparent structural simplicity of the material, a crystalline zeolite with only one crystallographically independent T site, the Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst reveals a high degree of complexity that has been decrypted by state of the art characterization tools. From the reviewed data, the following important aspects in the understanding of the Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst clearly emerged: (i) the structural dynamics of the Cu-species require precise control of the environmental conditions during activation and characterization; (ii) the availability of a large library of well-defined catalysts with different Si/Al and Cu/Al compositional ratios is key in unravelling the red-ox properties of the active Cu sites; (iii) a multi-technique approach is required, combining complementary techniques able to provide independent structural, electronic and vibrational information; (iv) synchrotron radiation based techniques (EXAFS, XANES, XES and time-resolved powder XRD) played a relevant role; (v) operando methodology (possibly supported by advanced chemometric approaches) is essential in obtaining structure-reactivity relations; (vi) the support of theoretical studies has been indispensable for the interpretation of the experimental output from characterization and for a critical assessment of mechanistic models. The old literature that classified Cu-exchanged zeolites in the category of single-site catalysts has been partially disproved by the recent advanced studies where it has been shown that the active site in the low temperature NH3-SCR catalyst is a mobile Cu-molecular entity that "lives in symbiosis" with an inorganic solid framework. Only in the high temperature NH3-SCR regime do the mobile Cu-species lose their ligands and find docking sites at the internal walls of the zeolite framework, thus reflecting the idea of a single-site catalyst. After a brief introduction, the review is divided into three main parts devoted to characterization (Section 2), reactivity (Section 3), and industrial applications (Section 4), followed by some concluding remarks and providing a perspective of the field.}, } @article {pmid30082826, year = {2018}, author = {Moriizumi, Y and Tabata, KV and Watanabe, R and Doura, T and Kamiya, M and Urano, Y and Noji, H}, title = {Hybrid cell reactor system from Escherichia coli protoplast cells and arrayed lipid bilayer chamber device.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {11757}, pmid = {30082826}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bioreactors/microbiology ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/*metabolism ; Lipid Bilayers/metabolism ; Plasmids/genetics ; Protoplasts/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; }, abstract = {We developed a novel hybrid cell reactor system via functional fusion of single Escherichia coli protoplast cells, that are deficient in cell wall and expose plasma membrane, with arrayed lipid bilayer chambers on a device in order to incorporate the full set of cytosolic and membrane constituents into the artificial chambers. We investigated gene expression activity to represent the viability of the hybrid cell reactors: over 20% of hybrid cells showed gene expression activity from plasmid or mRNA. This suggests that the hybrid cell reactors retained fundamental activity of genetic information transduction. To expand the applicability of the hybrid cell reactors, we also developed the E. coli-in-E. coli cytoplasm system as an artificial parasitism system. Over 30% of encapsulated E. coli cells exhibited normal cell division, showing that hybrid cells can accommodate and cultivate living cells. This novel artificial cell reactor technology would enable unique approaches for synthetic cell researches such as reconstruction of living cell, artificial parasitism/symbiosis system, or physical simulation to test functionality of synthetic genome.}, } @article {pmid30082253, year = {2018}, author = {Li, H and Li, S and Srinivasakannan, C and Zhang, L and Yin, S and Yang, K and Xie, H}, title = {Efficient cleaning extraction of silver from spent symbiosis lead-zinc mine assisted by ultrasound in sodium thiosulfate system.}, journal = {Ultrasonics sonochemistry}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {118-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.ultsonch.2018.07.034}, pmid = {30082253}, issn = {1873-2828}, abstract = {The process to fast recovery of silver from the spent symbiosis lead-zinc mine enhanced by ultrasound has been developed. A system composed of thiosulfate and the spent symbiosis lead-zinc mine under ultrasound radiation is researched and compared with regular methods to prove the superiority of ultrasound enhanced leaching. Oxygen is not provided by the usual way but by the cavitation of ultrasound, and the effect of ultrasonic enhanced leaching is more obvious than oxygen enhanced leaching effect. We are more authoritative by combining some valuable literature after conducting systematic experiments. The process mechanism was analyzed by fire assaying, XRD, XRF, SEM and EDS. The optimal conditions were found out through single factor experiments: stirring rate of 300 rpm, thiosulfate concentration of 75 g/L, leaching temperature of 303 K, PH of 5, leaching time of 2 h and the ultrasound power of 100 W. And the leaching rate is 77.34% under the best conditions. When the ultrasonic experiment has the same parameters as the normal, the leaching rate at five minutes under ultrasonic conditions was 73.88%, while the leaching rate was only 72.51% at two hours under normal conditions. The apparent activation energy under conventional and ultrasonic conditions is 12.47 kJ/mol and 12.35 kJ/mol, respectively, and it is proved that both are controlled by diffusion.}, } @article {pmid30081765, year = {2018}, author = {Rho, H and Doty, SL and Kim, SH}, title = {Estimating microbial respiratory CO2 from endophytic bacteria in rice.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {e1500067}, pmid = {30081765}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Oryza/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Endophytes are symbiotic microbes that live inside host plants. These endophytic symbionts receive photosynthesized carbohydrates from host plants while conferring symbiotic benefits to their host. During photosynthate-fueled respiration, endophytes release CO2 into the intercellular spaces of their host plants in which they reside. We evaluated the possibility for host plants' re-assimilation of microbial respiratory CO2. In planta and in vitro assays were conducted to examine respiratory characteristics of endophyte-symbiotic plants. Endophyte-inoculated plants had a greater in planta respiration rate. In vitro data demonstrated that respiration rates of endophytes are dependent on the total amount of endophytes and the concentration of carbohydrate supply. Assuming the host plant offers sufficient carbohydrates, we estimate that CO2 produced during microbial respiration in planta accounts for about 57% of the CO2 assimilated by the photosynthetic pathways of the symbiotic plant. This suggests that endophytes can produce significant amounts of CO2, which could then be re-assimilated by host plants.}, } @article {pmid30080634, year = {2018}, author = {Barraza, A and Coss-Navarrete, EL and Vizuet-de-Rueda, JC and Martínez-Aguilar, K and Hernández-Chávez, JL and Ordaz-Ortiz, JJ and Winkler, R and Tiessen, A and Alvarez-Venegas, R}, title = {Down-regulation of PvTRX1h increases nodule number and affects auxin, starch, and metabolic fingerprints in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {274}, number = {}, pages = {45-58}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.05.006}, pmid = {30080634}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Blotting, Western ; Down-Regulation ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Phaseolus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development ; Starch/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiotic relationship has been widely studied and characterized. However, little information is available about the role of histone lysine methyltransferases in the legume-rhizobium interaction and in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules in the common bean. Thus, this study aimed to gain a better understanding of the epigenetic control of nodulation in the common bean. Specifically, we studied the role of PvTRX1h, a histone lysine methyltransferase coding gene, in nodule development and auxin biosynthesis. Through a reverse genetics approach, we generated common bean composite plants to knock-down PvTRX1h expression. Here we found that the down-regulation of PvTRX1h increased the number of nodules per plant, but reduced the number of colony-forming units recovered from nodules. Genes coding for enzymes involved in the synthesis of the indole-3-acetic acid were up-regulated, as was the concentration of this hormone. In addition, PvTRX1h down-regulation altered starch accumulation as determined by the number of amyloplasts per nodule. Metabolic fingerprinting by direct liquid introduction-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DLI-ESI-MS) revealed that the root nodules were globally affected by PvTRX1h down-regulation. Therefore, PvTRX1h likely acts through chromatin histone modifications that alter the auxin signaling network to determine bacterial colonization, nodule number, starch accumulation, hormone levels, and cell proliferation.}, } @article {pmid30080626, year = {2018}, author = {Torres, N and Goicoechea, N and Zamarreño, AM and Carmen Antolín, M}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis affects ABA metabolism during berry ripening in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo grown under climate change scenarios.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {274}, number = {}, pages = {383-393}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.06.009}, pmid = {30080626}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism ; Anthocyanins/*metabolism ; Climate Change ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenols/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Vitis/*microbiology/physiology ; Water/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is a promising tool for improving the quality of grapes under changing environments. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine if the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance phenolic content (specifically, anthocyanins) in a climate change framework could be mediated by alterations in berry ABA metabolism during ripening. The study was carried out on fruit-bearing cuttings of cv. Tempranillo (CL-1048 and CL-1089) inoculated (+M) or not (-M) with AMF. Two experimental designs were implemented. In the first experiment +M and -M plants were subjected to two temperatures (24/14 °C or 28/18 °C (day/night)) from fruit set to berry maturity. In the second experiment, +M and -M plants were subjected to two temperatures (24/14 °C or 28/18 °C (day/night)) combined with two irrigation regimes (late water deficit (LD) and full irrigation (FI)). At 28/18 °C AMF contributed to an increase in berry anthocyanins and modulated ABA metabolism, leading to higher ABA-GE and 7'OH-ABA and lower phaseic acid (PA) in berries compared to -M plants. Under the most stressful scenario (LD and 28/18 °C), at harvest +M plants exhibited higher berry anthocyanins and 7´OH-ABA and lower PA and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) levels than -M plants. These findings highlight the involvement of ABA metabolism into the ability of AMF to improve some traits involved in the quality of grapes under global warming scenarios.}, } @article {pmid30078910, year = {2018}, author = {León-Sánchez, L and Nicolás, E and Goberna, M and Prieto, I and Maestre, FT and Querejeta, JI}, title = {Poor plant performance under simulated climate change is linked to mycorrhizal responses in a semiarid shrubland.}, journal = {The Journal of ecology}, volume = {106}, number = {3}, pages = {960-976}, pmid = {30078910}, issn = {0022-0477}, support = {242658/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; 647038/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Warmer and drier conditions associated with ongoing climate change will increase abiotic stress for plants and mycorrhizal fungi in drylands worldwide, thereby potentially reducing vegetation cover and productivity and increasing the risk of land degradation and desertification. Rhizosphere microbial interactions and feedbacks are critical processes that could either mitigate or aggravate the vulnerability of dryland vegetation to forecasted climate change.We conducted a four-year manipulative study in a semiarid shrubland in the Iberian Peninsula to assess the effects of warming (~2.5ºC; W), rainfall reduction (~30%; RR) and their combination (W+RR) on the performance of native shrubs (Helianthemum squamatum) and their associated mycorrhizal fungi.Warming (W and W+RR) decreased the net photosynthetic rates of H. squamatum shrubs by ~31% despite concurrent increases in stomatal conductance (~33%), leading to sharp decreases (~50%) in water use efficiency. Warming also advanced growth phenology, decreased leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents per unit area, reduced shoot biomass production by ~36% and decreased survival during a dry year in both W and W+RR plants. Plants under RR showed more moderate decreases (~10-20%) in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and shoot growth.Warming, RR and W+RR altered ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) community structure and drastically reduced the relative abundance of EMF sequences obtained by high-throughput sequencing, a response associated with decreases in the leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and dry matter contents of their host plants. In contrast to EMF, the community structure and relative sequence abundances of other non-mycorrhizal fungal guilds were not significantly affected by the climate manipulation treatments.Synthesis: Our findings highlight the vulnerability of both native plants and their symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi to climate warming and drying in semiarid shrublands, and point to the importance of a deeper understanding of plant-soil feedbacks to predict dryland vegetation responses to forecasted aridification. The interdependent responses of plants and ectomycorrhizal fungi to warming and rainfall reduction may lead to a detrimental feedback loop on vegetation productivity and nutrient pool size, which could amplify the adverse impacts of forecasted climate change on ecosystem functioning in EMF-dominated drylands.}, } @article {pmid30077583, year = {2018}, author = {Guo, Y and Matsuoka, Y and Miura, T and Nishizawa, T and Ohta, H and Narisawa, K}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Agrobacterium pusense VsBac-Y9, a bacterial symbiont of the dark septate endophytic fungus Veronaeopsis simplex Y34 with potential for improving fungal colonization in roots.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {284}, number = {}, pages = {31-36}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.07.045}, pmid = {30077583}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*genetics/physiology ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A Rhizobium-related bacterium (Rhizobium sp. VsBac-Y9) is a symbiont living with the dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungus Veronaeopsis simplex Y34. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium sp. VsBac-Y9 with V. simplex Y34 improves the fungal colonization of tomato roots, resulting in a significant increase in aboveground biomass. This study sequenced the complete genome of this V. simplex-helper bacterium using the PacBio and Illumina MiSeq platforms. Hybrid assembly using SPAdes outputted a circular chromosome, a linear chromid, and a circular plasmid for a total genome 5,321,211 bp in size with a G + C content of 59.2%. Analysis of concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD-dnaK-groEL-lepA-recA-rpoB-thrE) and calculation of average nucleotide identity, showed that VsBac-Y9 was affiliated with the species Agrobacterium pusense (syn. Rhizobium pusense). Genome analysis revealed that A. pusense VsBac-Y9 contains a series of genes responsible for the host interactions with both fungus and plant. Such genomic information will provide new insights into developing co-inoculants of endophytic fungus and its symbiotic bacterium in future agricultural innovation.}, } @article {pmid30077169, year = {2018}, author = {Church, J and Ryu, H and Sadmani, AHMA and Randall, AA and Santo Domingo, J and Lee, WH}, title = {Multiscale investigation of a symbiotic microalgal-integrated fixed film activated sludge (MAIFAS) process for nutrient removal and photo-oxygenation.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {268}, number = {}, pages = {128-138}, pmid = {30077169}, issn = {1873-2976}, support = {EPA999999//Intramural EPA/United States ; }, mesh = {Ammonia ; *Biofilms ; Bioreactors ; *Microalgae ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen ; *Sewage ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) process is an advanced biological wastewater treatment process that integrates biofilm carriers within conventional activated sludge to uncouple the sludge retention time for nitrifiers and heterotrophic bacteria. In this study, we incorporated microalgae into the IFAS configuration for photo-oxygenation and evaluated the symbiotic reaction between microalgae and bacteria for both suspended solids and IFAS biofilm media. In a sequencing batch mode, the microalgae-IFAS system removed more than 99% ammonia and 51% phosphorous without the need for mechanical aeration. Biofilm microprofiles revealed localized photo-oxygenation by the algal biofilm and nitrification by nitrifiers on the IFAS media. Genetic sequencing showed that the addition of microalgae to the IFAS system promoted significant changes in the bacterial community structure and altered metabolic activity of several bacterial groups. Overall, this research represents a novel strategy for reducing energy consumption while meeting stringent effluent standards using a hybrid symbiotic microalgae-IFAS technology.}, } @article {pmid30072970, year = {2018}, author = {Bell, SC and Garland, S and Alford, RA}, title = {Increased Numbers of Culturable Inhibitory Bacterial Taxa May Mitigate the Effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Australian Wet Tropics Frogs.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1604}, pmid = {30072970}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacterial communities resident on amphibian skin can benefit their hosts. For example, antibiotic production by community members can control the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and it is possible for these community members to be used as probiotics to reduce infection levels. In the early 1990s, the emergence of Bd caused declines and disappearances of frogs in the Australian Wet Tropics; the severity of its effects varied among species and sites. Some species have since recolonized despite enzootic Bd within their populations. This variation in history among species and sites provided an opportunity to investigate the role of anti-fungal cutaneous bacteria in protecting frogs against Bd infection. We collected cutaneous swab samples from three species of frogs at two upland and two lowland sites in the Wet Tropics, and used in vitro challenge assays to identify culturable Bd-inhibitory bacterial isolates for further analysis. We sequenced DNA from cultured inhibitory isolates to identify taxa, resulting in the classification of 16 Bd-inhibitory OTUs, and determined whether inhibitory taxa were associated with frog species, site, or intensity of infection. We present preliminary results showing that the upper limit of Bd infection intensity was negatively correlated with number of inhibitory OTUs present per frog indicating that increased numbers of Bd-inhibiting taxa may play a role in reducing the intensity of Bd infections, facilitating frog coexistence with enzootic Bd. One upland site had a significantly lower prevalence of Bd infection, a significantly higher proportion of frogs with one or more culturable Bd-inhibitory OTUs, a greater number of inhibitory bacterial genera present per frog, and statistically significant clustering of individual frogs with similar Bd-inhibitory signatures when compared to all other sites. This suggests that Bd-inhibitory taxa are likely to be particularly important to frogs at this site and may have played a role in their ability to recolonize following population declines. Our findings suggest that the use of multi-taxon Bd-inhibitory probiotics to support at-risk amphibian populations may be more effective than single-taxon alternatives.}, } @article {pmid30071618, year = {2018}, author = {Estrada-de Los Santos, P and Palmer, M and Chávez-Ramírez, B and Beukes, C and Steenkamp, ET and Briscoe, L and Khan, N and Maluk, M and Lafos, M and Humm, E and Arrabit, M and Crook, M and Gross, E and Simon, MF and Dos Reis Junior, FB and Whitman, WB and Shapiro, N and Poole, PS and Hirsch, AM and Venter, SN and James, EK}, title = {Whole Genome Analyses Suggests that Burkholderia sensu lato Contains Two Additional Novel Genera (Mycetohabitans gen. nov., and Trinickia gen. nov.): Implications for the Evolution of Diazotrophy and Nodulation in the Burkholderiaceae.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {30071618}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Burkholderia sensu lato is a large and complex group, containing pathogenic, phytopathogenic, symbiotic and non-symbiotic strains from a very wide range of environmental (soil, water, plants, fungi) and clinical (animal, human) habitats. Its taxonomy has been evaluated several times through the analysis of 16S rRNA sequences, concantenated 4[-]7 housekeeping gene sequences, and lately by genome sequences. Currently, the division of this group into Burkholderia, Caballeronia, Paraburkholderia, and Robbsia is strongly supported by genome analysis. These new genera broadly correspond to the various habitats/lifestyles of Burkholderia s.l., e.g., all the plant beneficial and environmental (PBE) strains are included in Paraburkholderia (which also includes all the N2-fixing legume symbionts) and Caballeronia, while most of the human and animal pathogens are retained in Burkholderia sensu stricto. However, none of these genera can accommodate two important groups of species. One of these includes the closely related Paraburkholderia rhizoxinica and Paraburkholderia endofungorum, which are both symbionts of the fungal phytopathogen Rhizopus microsporus. The second group comprises the Mimosa-nodulating bacterium Paraburkholderia symbiotica, the phytopathogen Paraburkholderia caryophylli, and the soil bacteria Burkholderia dabaoshanensis and Paraburkholderia soli. In order to clarify their positions within Burkholderia sensu lato, a phylogenomic approach based on a maximum likelihood analysis of conserved genes from more than 100 Burkholderia sensu lato species was carried out. Additionally, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and amino acid identity (AAI) were calculated. The data strongly supported the existence of two distinct and unique clades, which in fact sustain the description of two novel genera Mycetohabitans gen. nov. and Trinickia gen. nov. The newly proposed combinations are Mycetohabitans endofungorum comb. nov., Mycetohabitansrhizoxinica comb. nov., Trinickia caryophylli comb. nov., Trinickiadabaoshanensis comb. nov., Trinickia soli comb. nov., and Trinickiasymbiotica comb. nov. Given that the division between the genera that comprise Burkholderia s.l. in terms of their lifestyles is often complex, differential characteristics of the genomes of these new combinations were investigated. In addition, two important lifestyle-determining traits-diazotrophy and/or symbiotic nodulation, and pathogenesis-were analyzed in depth i.e., the phylogenetic positions of nitrogen fixation and nodulation genes in Trinickia via-à-vis other Burkholderiaceae were determined, and the possibility of pathogenesis in Mycetohabitans and Trinickia was tested by performing infection experiments on plants and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It is concluded that (1) T. symbiotica nif and nod genes fit within the wider Mimosa-nodulating Burkholderiaceae but appear in separate clades and that T. caryophyllinif genes are basal to the free-living Burkholderia s.l. strains, while with regard to pathogenesis (2) none of the Mycetohabitans and Trinickia strains tested are likely to be pathogenic, except for the known phytopathogen T. caryophylli.}, } @article {pmid30071473, year = {2018}, author = {Parniske, M}, title = {Uptake of bacteria into living plant cells, the unifying and distinct feature of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {164-174}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.05.016}, pmid = {30071473}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Despite the presence of complex microbiota on the surfaces of all plants, the uptake of bacteria into plant cells and the subsequent accommodation in a membrane-enclosed compartment is restricted to the nitrogen-fixing root nodule and the Gunnera-Nostoc symbiosis. The plant cell wall and the outward-directed turgor pressure are major constraints for bacterial uptake because localised lysis of the cell wall endangers the integrity of the protoplast. Host cell integrity is consistently maintained by turgescent neighbours, connected via apoplastic polymers that seal a bacteria-containing extracellular compartment prior to localized cell wall lysis. Its unifying and almost exclusive phylogenetic distribution pinpoints the ability to take up bacteria into living plant cells as a key step during the evolution of the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30070651, year = {2019}, author = {Alabid, I and Glaeser, SP and Kogel, KH}, title = {Endofungal Bacteria Increase Fitness of their Host Fungi and Impact their Association with Crop Plants.}, journal = {Current issues in molecular biology}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {59-74}, doi = {10.21775/cimb.030.059}, pmid = {30070651}, issn = {1467-3045}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biomarkers ; Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Microbial Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Plant Development ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Endofungal bacteria are bacterial symbionts of fungi that exist within fungal hyphae and spores. There is increasing evidence that these bacteria, alone or in combination with their fungal hosts play a critical role in tripartite symbioses with plants, where they may contribute to plant growth and disease resistance to microbial pathogens. As the frequency of bacteria in fungi is commonly very low, breakthroughs in technology such as molecular taxonomy and laser scanning microscopy were required to establish the functional contribution of these bacteria in complex symbioses. Yet, the overall biological significance of endofungal bacteria is largely unknown and further progress in understanding is hampered by a very few biological systems where endofungal bacteria have been described mechanistically. We review here the current knowledge on endobacteria (EB) and their role in different types of fungal symbioses with plants. We show that various attempts to cure fungal cells from endobacteria failed, further suggesting that they play a crucial role in the symbiosis. Moreover, isolation of some of the endobacteria from their fungal hosts allowed confirming their autonomous beneficial activity such as plant growth promotion and resistance-inducing activity. The review addresses the potential agricultural significance of endofungal bacteria and their role in supporting sustainable agriculture by promoting plant growth, improving plant resistance, and decreasing yield loss caused by many microbial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid30070648, year = {2019}, author = {Holden, N}, title = {You Are What You Can Find to Eat: Bacterial Metabolism in the Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Current issues in molecular biology}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.21775/cimb.030.001}, pmid = {30070648}, issn = {1467-3045}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Energy Metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metabolism is the underpinning force that sustains life. Within the rhizosphere it is a cyclic process, with substrates flowing between different compartments of the complete soil-plant-microbe system. The physiochemical and structural environment of the rhizosphere is shaped by a combination of plant genotype and soil type, both of which strongly impact the microbial community structure. External influences such as seasonality, the degree of water saturation and anthropomorphic inputs also play a role. Together these factors influence the flux of metabolites through the rhizosphere community, which in turn impacts on plant growth, development and disease. In this review, the focus is on metabolism within the bacterial population of the rhizosphere, since this group covers every type of plant-microbe interaction: from obligately symbiotic to destructively pathogenic, and includes those have little or no direct impact on plant hosts. The focus of the review is on metabolic functions that occur in the rhizosphere either during bacteria-plant interactions or bacteria-bacteria interactions and mainly covers heterotrophic metabolism of organic substrates. As such, many of the autotrophic (and phototrophic) reactions of inorganic compounds are not included.}, } @article {pmid30070615, year = {2019}, author = {Saad, MM and Michalet, S and Fossou, R and Putnik-Delić, M and Crèvecoeur, M and Meyer, J and de Malézieux, C and Hopfgartner, G and Maksimović, I and Perret, X}, title = {Loss of NifQ Leads to Accumulation of Porphyrins and Altered Metal-Homeostasis in Nitrogen-Fixing Symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {208-216}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-18-0188-R}, pmid = {30070615}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; *Metals/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Porphyrins/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation between legumes and rhizobia involves a coordinated expression of many plant and bacterial genes as well as finely tuned metabolic activities of micro- and macrosymbionts. In spite of such complex interactions, symbiotic proficiency remains a resilient process, with host plants apparently capable of compensating for some deficiencies in rhizobia. What controls nodule homeostasis is still poorly understood and probably varies between plant species. In this respect, the promiscuous Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii strain NGR234 has become a model to assess the relative contribution of single gene products to many symbioses. Here, we describe how a deletion in nifQ of NGR234 (strain NGRΔnifQ) makes nodules of Vigna unguiculata, V. radiata, and Macroptilium atropurpureum but not of the mimisoid tree Leucaena leucocephala, purple-red. This peculiar dark-nodule phenotype did not necessarily correlate with a decreased proficiency of NGRΔnifQ but coincided with a 20-fold or more accumulation of coproporphyrin III and uroporphyrin III in V. unguiculata nodules. Porphyrin accumulation was not restricted to plant cells infected with bacteroids but also extended to the nodule cortex. Nodule metal-homeostasis was altered but not sufficiently to prevent assembly and functioning of nitrogenase. Although the role of NifQ in donating molybdenum during assembly of nitrogenase cofactor FeMo-co makes it essential in free-living diazotrophs, our results highlight the dispensability of NifQ in many legume species.}, } @article {pmid30070049, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, LX and Ren, LL and Liu, XB and Shi, J and Wang, JZ and Luo, YQ}, title = {Effects of endophytic fungi in Mongolian pine on the selection behavior of woodwasp (Sirex noctilio) and the growth of its fungal symbiont.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {492-505}, doi = {10.1002/ps.5146}, pmid = {30070049}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Endophytes/growth & development/*physiology ; Female ; Hymenoptera/*physiology ; *Oviposition ; Pinus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, is a global invasive pest, attacking a wide variety of pine species by inoculating spores of a symbiotic fungus (Amylostereum areolatum) at oviposition. The woodwasp larvae depend on the growth of the symbiotic fungus to feed. The relationship among host endophytic fungi, symbiotic fungus and woodwasp remain elusive. Here, the effects of endophytes in Mongolian pine on the growth of Amylostereum areolatum and the selection behavior of female woodwasp were investigated by quantifying the mycelium growth rates and olfactometry assays.

RESULTS: The endophytic plant fungi, Trichoderma harzianum, Phlebiopsis gigantea, T. viride and T. atroviride, completely killed the mycelia of Amylostereum areolatum. Mycelium fermentation broth of Chaetomium globosum inhibited the growth of the symbiont. Moreover, we observed that volatiles of Ophiostoma minus and Aspergillus niger (acetophenone, acetylacetone, hexadecane, phenylethyl alcohol, and isopropyl myristate) had repellent effects on adult female woodwasp. While volatiles of Amylostereum areolatum ((-)-globulol, 2-hexene, cycloprop[e]indene-1a,2(1H)-dicarboxaldehyde, terpene and cyclopentanone) had a significant attractiveness to adult female woodwasp.

CONCLUSIONS: Some species of the host endophytic fungi had a significant negative effect on the growth and development of woodwasps, which could be useful in the monitoring and effective management of woodwasps. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid30069723, year = {2019}, author = {Gueddou, A and Swanson, E and Hezbri, K and Nouioui, I and Ktari, A and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Kelley Thomas, W and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Gtari, M and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft genome sequence of the symbiotic Frankia sp. strain BMG5.30 isolated from root nodules of Coriaria myrtifolia in Tunisia.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {67-74}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1138-1}, pmid = {30069723}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Frankia/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Magnoliopsida/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Frankia sp. strain BMG5.30 was isolated from root nodules of a Coriaria myrtifolia seedling on soil collected in Tunisia and represents the second cluster 2 isolate. Frankia sp. strain BMG5.30 was able to re-infect C. myrtifolia generating root nodules. Here, we report its 5.8-Mbp draft genome sequence with a G + C content of 70.03% and 4509 candidate protein-encoding genes.}, } @article {pmid30067862, year = {2018}, author = {Shik, JZ and Rytter, W and Arnan, X and Michelsen, A}, title = {Disentangling nutritional pathways linking leafcutter ants and their co-evolved fungal symbionts using stable isotopes.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {9}, pages = {1999-2009}, pmid = {30067862}, issn = {0012-9658}, support = {327940 INSEAME//Postdoctoral Fellowship from a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship/International ; //Centre for Social Evolution at the University of Copenhagen/International ; RYC-2015-18448//Ramón y Cajal research contract by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Argentina ; Fungi ; Isotopes ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leafcutter ants are the ultimate insect superorganisms, with up to millions of physiologically specialized workers cooperating to cut and transport vegetation and then convert it into compost used to cultivate co-evolved fungi, domesticated over millions of years. We tested hypotheses about the nutrient-processing dynamics governing this functional integration, tracing [15] N- and [13] C-enriched substrates through colonies of the leafcutter ant Atta colombica. Our results highlight striking performance efficiencies, including rapid conversion (within 2 d) of harvested nutrients into edible fungal tissue (swollen hyphal tips called gongylidia) in the center of fungus gardens, while also highlighting that much of each colony's foraging effort resulted in substrate placed directly in the trash. We also find nutrient-specific processing dynamics both within and across layers of the fungus garden, and in ant consumers. Larvae exhibited higher overall levels of [15] N and [13] C enrichment than adult workers, supporting that the majority of fungal productivity is allocated to colony growth. Foragers assimilated [13] C-labeled glucose during its ingestion, but required several days to metabolically process ingested [15] N-labeled ammonium nitrate. This processing timeline helps resolve a 40-yr old hypothesis, that foragers (but apparently not gardeners or larvae) bypass their fungal crops to directly assimilate some of the nutrients they ingest outside the nest. Tracing these nutritional pathways with stable isotopes helps visualize how physiological integration within symbiotic networks gives rise to the ecologically dominant herbivory of leafcutter ants in habitats ranging from Argentina to the southern United States.}, } @article {pmid30066215, year = {2018}, author = {Stencel, A and Wloch-Salamon, DM}, title = {Some theoretical insights into the hologenome theory of evolution and the role of microbes in speciation.}, journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften}, volume = {137}, number = {2}, pages = {197-206}, pmid = {30066215}, issn = {1611-7530}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Animals ; *Genetic Speciation ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Microbiota ; Philosophy ; Plants ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Research on symbiotic communities (microbiomes) of multicellular organisms seems to be changing our understanding of how species of plants and animals have evolved over millions of years. The quintessence of these discoveries is the emergence of the hologenome theory of evolution, founded on the concept that a holobiont (a host along with all of its associated symbiotic microorganisms) acts a single unit of selection in the process of evolution. Although the hologenome theory has become very popular among certain scientific circles, its principles are still being debated. In this paper, we argue, firstly, that only a very small number of symbiotic microorganisms are sufficiently integrated into multicellular organisms to act in concert with them as units of selection, thus rendering claims that holobionts are units of selection invalid. Secondly, even though holobionts are not units of selection, they can still constitute genuine units from an evolutionary perspective, provided we accept certain constraints: mainly, they should be considered units of co-operation. Thirdly, we propose a reconciliation of the role of symbiotic microorganisms with the theory of speciation through the use of a developed framework. Mainly, we will argue that, in order to understand the role of microorganisms in the speciation of multicellular organisms, it is not necessary to consider holobionts units of selection; it is sufficient to consider them units of co-operation.}, } @article {pmid30065740, year = {2018}, author = {Kereszt, A and Mergaert, P and Montiel, J and Endre, G and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Impact of Plant Peptides on Symbiotic Nodule Development and Functioning.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1026}, pmid = {30065740}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Ribosomally synthesized peptides have wide ranges of functions in plants being, for example, signal molecules, transporters, alkaloids, or antimicrobial agents. Legumes are an unprecedented rich source of peptides, which are used to control the symbiosis of these plants with the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. Here, we discuss the function and the evolution of these peptides playing an important role in the formation or functioning of the symbiotic organs, the root nodules. We distinguish peptides that can be either cell-autonomous or secreted short-range or long-range signals, carrying messages in or between plant cells or that can act as effectors interacting with the symbiotic bacteria. Peptides are further classified according to the stage of the symbiotic process where they act. Several peptide classes, including RALF, DLV, ENOD40, and others, control Rhizobium infection and the initiation of cell divisions and the formation of nodule primordia. CLE and CEP peptides are implicated in systemic and local control of nodule initiation during autoregulation of nodulation and in response to the nutritional demands of the plant. Still other peptides act at later stages of the symbiosis. The PSK peptide is thought to be involved in the suppression of immunity in nodules and the nodule-specific cysteine-rich, GRP, and SNARP (LEED..PEED) peptide families are essential in the functioning of the nitrogen fixing root nodules. The NCRs and possibly also the GRP and SNARPs are targeted to the endosymbionts and play essential roles in the terminal differentiation of these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30065090, year = {2018}, author = {Fast, D and Duggal, A and Foley, E}, title = {Monoassociation with Lactobacillus plantarum Disrupts Intestinal Homeostasis in Adult Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {30065090}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/*pathology ; *Homeostasis ; Lactobacillus plantarum/*growth & development ; Longevity ; Stem Cells/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Adult Drosophila melanogaster raised in the absence of symbiotic bacteria have fewer intestinal stem cell divisions and a longer life span than their conventionally reared counterparts. However, we do not know if increased stem cell divisions are essential for symbiont-dependent regulation of longevity. To determine if individual symbionts cause aging-dependent death in Drosophila, we examined the impacts of common symbionts on host longevity. We found that monoassociation of adult Drosophila with Lactobacillus plantarum, a widely reported fly symbiont and member of the probiotic Lactobacillus genus, curtails adult longevity relative to germfree counterparts. The effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on life span were independent of intestinal aging. Instead, we found that association with Lactobacillus plantarum causes an extensive intestinal pathology within the host, characterized by loss of stem cells, impaired epithelial renewal, and a gradual erosion of epithelial ultrastructure. Our study uncovers an unknown aspect of Lactobacillus plantarum-Drosophila interactions and establishes a simple model to characterize symbiont-dependent disruption of intestinal homeostasis.IMPORTANCE Under homeostatic conditions, gut bacteria provide molecular signals that support the organization and function of the host intestine. Sudden shifts in the composition or distribution of gut bacterial communities impact host receipt of bacterial cues and disrupt tightly regulated homeostatic networks. We used the Drosophila melanogaster model to determine the effects of prominent fly symbionts on host longevity and intestinal homeostasis. We found that monoassociation with Lactobacillus plantarum leads to a loss of intestinal progenitor cells, impaired epithelial renewal, and disruption of gut architecture as flies age. These observations uncover a novel phenotype caused by monoassociation of a germfree host with a common symbiont and establish a simple model to characterize symbiont-dependent loss of intestinal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid30065035, year = {2018}, author = {Armstrong, EJ and Roa, JN and Stillman, JH and Tresguerres, M}, title = {Symbiont photosynthesis in giant clams is promoted by V-type H[+]-ATPase from host cells.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {221}, number = {Pt 18}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.177220}, pmid = {30065035}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/*metabolism ; Animals ; Cardiidae/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Protozoan Proteins/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Giant clams (genus Tridacna) are the largest living bivalves and, like reef-building corals, host symbiotic dinoflagellate algae (Symbiodinium) that significantly contribute to their energy budget. In turn, Symbiodinium rely on the host to supply inorganic carbon (Ci) for photosynthesis. In corals, host 'proton pump' vacuolar-type H[+]-ATPase (VHA) is part of a carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) that promotes Symbiodinium photosynthesis. Here, we report that VHA in the small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) similarly promotes Symbiodinium photosynthesis. VHA was abundantly expressed in the apical membrane of epithelial cells of T. maxima's siphonal mantle tubule system, which harbors Symbiodinium Furthermore, application of the highly specific pharmacological VHA inhibitors bafilomycin A1 and concanamycin A significantly reduced photosynthetic O2 production by ∼40%. Together with our observation that exposure to light increased holobiont aerobic metabolism ∼5-fold, and earlier estimates that translocated fixed carbon exceeds metabolic demand, we conclude that VHA activity in the siphonal mantle confers strong energetic benefits to the host clam through increased supply of Ci to algal symbionts and subsequent photosynthetic activity. The convergent role of VHA in promoting Symbiodinium photosynthesis in the giant clam siphonal mantle tubule system and coral symbiosome suggests that VHA-driven CCM is a common exaptation in marine photosymbioses that deserves further investigation in other taxa.}, } @article {pmid30063199, year = {2018}, author = {Sannazzaro, AI and Torres Tejerizo, G and Fontana, MF and Cumpa Velásquez, LM and Hansen, LH and Pistorio, M and Estrella, MJ}, title = {Mesorhizobium sanjuanii sp. nov., isolated from nodules of Lotus tenuis in the saline-alkaline lowlands of Flooding Pampa, Argentina.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {9}, pages = {2936-2942}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002924}, pmid = {30063199}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Argentina ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Two rhizobial strains, BSA136[T] and BSA150, related to the genus Mesorhizobium were isolated from root nodules of Lotus tenuis grown in saline-alkaline lowlands soil from Argentina. These strains showed different repetitive element palindromic PCR fingerprinting patterns but shared more than 99 % sequence similarity for both 16S rRNA and recA genes. Despite the symbiotic nodC gene sequences of our strains being related to the canonical Lotus biovar species comprising Mesorhizobium loti and Mesorhizobium japonicum, the 16S rRNA phylogenetic marker suggests that their taxonomical identities are closely related to Mesorhizobium helmanticense, Mesorhizobium metallidurans, Mesorhizobium thianshanense, Mesorhizobium gobiense and Mesorhizobium tarimense. Multilocus sequence analysis performed with seven housekeeping genes confirmed that BSA136[T] belongs to a separate clade within the genus Mesorhizobium. The results of comparisons for in silico DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity indexes between the genomes of BSA136[T] and closest-related Mesorhizobium species were below the threshold for species delineation. Phenotypic features differentiated BSA136[T] from its closest-related species. On the basis of our results, BSA136[T] and BSA150 can be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the name Mesorhizobium sanjuanii sp. nov. is hereby proposed. The type strain of this species is BSA136[T] (=CECT 9305[T]=LMG 30060[T]), for which the draft genome sequence is available.}, } @article {pmid30059700, year = {2018}, author = {Kraberger, S and Hofstetter, RW and Potter, KA and Farkas, K and Varsani, A}, title = {Genomoviruses associated with mountain and western pine beetles.}, journal = {Virus research}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {17-20}, doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2018.07.019}, pmid = {30059700}, issn = {1872-7492}, mesh = {Animals ; Arizona ; Ascomycota/growth & development/virology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Viruses/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Genome, Viral ; Nematocera/microbiology/*virology ; Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic ; Sequence Homology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genomoviruses are circular single-stranded DNA viruses (∼2 kb in size) classified into nine genera, they are highly diverse and have been identified in a variety of samples ranging from fungi to animal sera. Here we identify five genomoviruses belonging to the Gemycircularvirus genus and one to the Gemykibivirus genus from mountain pine beetle and western pine beetle sampled in Arizona. Collectively these six viral genomes share <77% genome-wide pairwise identity and hence represent six new species of genomoviruses. Four of the gemycircularviruses from the mountain pine beetles are recombinant, with one having a recombinant region that spans the entire capsid protein. Pine beetles have a symbiotic relationship with certain tree pathogenic fungi. Therefore given that Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirulence-associated DNA virus 1, a gemycircularvirus, induces hypovirulence in the plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and infects the mycophagous insect Lycoriella ingenua, it is possible that the six genomoviruses identified here may be directly associated with the pine beetle fungal symbionts and/or with the insects themselves.}, } @article {pmid30059001, year = {2018}, author = {Normand, P and Nouioui, I and Pujic, P and Fournier, P and Dubost, A and Schwob, G and Klenk, HP and Nguyen, A and Abrouk, D and Herrera-Belaroussi, A and Pothier, JF and Pflüger, V and Fernandez, MP}, title = {Frankia canadensis sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Alnus incana subspecies rugosa.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {9}, pages = {3001-3011}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002939}, pmid = {30059001}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Frankia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Quebec ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vitamin K 2/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Strain ARgP5[T], an actinobacterium isolated from a root nodule present on an Alnus incana subspecies rugosa shrub growing in Quebec City, Canada, was the subject of polyphasic taxonomic studies to clarify its status within the genus Frankia. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and ANI values between ARgP5[T] and type strains of species of the genus Frankiawith validly published names were 98.8 and 82 % or less, respectively. The in silico DNA G+C content was 72.4 mol%. ARgP5[T] is characterised by the presence of meso-A2pm, galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose (trace), ribose and xylose as whole-organism hydrolysates; MK-9(H8) as predominant menaquinone; diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol as polar lipids and iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8c as major fatty acids. The proteomic results confirmed the distinct position of ARgP5[T] from its closest neighbours in Frankiacluster 1. ARgP5[T] was found to be infective on two alder (Alnus glutinosa and Alnusalnobetula subsp. crispa) and on one bayberry (Morella pensylvanica) species and to fix nitrogen in symbiosis and in pure culture. On the basis of phylogenetic (16S rRNA gene sequence), genomic, proteomic and phenotypic results, strain ARgP5[T] (=DSM 45898=CECT 9033) is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Frankia for which the name Frankia canadensis sp. nov., is proposed.}, } @article {pmid30057781, year = {2018}, author = {Beri, K}, title = {Skin microbiome & host immunity: applications in regenerative cosmetics & transdermal drug delivery.}, journal = {Future science OA}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {FSO302}, pmid = {30057781}, issn = {2056-5623}, abstract = {Recent advances in our understanding of the function of the skin and its microbiome have shown that there is a strong symbiotic relationship between the microbiota of the skin and its host immune functions. The dysbiosis or imbalance of the microbiome and other factors that have an influence on the surface microbiota can influence keratinocyte regulation and homeostasis as well as the skin barrier function. In this perspective paper, we review the evidence that connects the skin's microbiome and the barrier function of the epidermis and explore the future potential for applying this unique dialogue in developing innovative cosmetics and transdermal drugs for wellbeing and beauty.}, } @article {pmid30057302, year = {2018}, author = {Berg, M and Koskella, B}, title = {Nutrient- and Dose-Dependent Microbiome-Mediated Protection against a Plant Pathogen.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {15}, pages = {2487-2492.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.085}, pmid = {30057302}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Nutrients/physiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas syringae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant-associated microbial communities can promote plant nutrient uptake, growth, and resistance to pathogens [1-3]. Host resistance to infection can increase directly through commensal-pathogen interactions or indirectly through modulation of host defenses [4-6], the mechanisms of which are best described for rhizosphere-associated bacteria. For example, Arabidopsis plants infected with the foliar pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato (Pst), increase their root secretion of malate, which attracts Bacillus subtillis to the roots and leads to a stronger host response against Pst [7]. Although there are numerous examples of individual defensive symbionts (e.g., [8]), it is less clear whether this type of protection is an emergent property of whole microbial communities. In particular, relatively little is known about whether and how the presence of phyllosphere (above-ground) microbial communities can increase host resistance against pathogens. In this study, we examined the ability of augmented tomato phyllosphere microbiomes to confer resistance against the causal agent of bacterial speck, Pst. Across five independent experiments, the augmented phyllosphere microbiome was found to decrease pathogen colonization. Furthermore, the dose of commensal bacteria applied affected the degree of protection conferred, and although the effect is dependent on microbial composition, it is not clearly related to overall bacterial diversity. Finally, our results suggest that resources available to the phyllosphere microbial community may play an important role in protection, as the addition of fertilizer abolished the observed microbiome-mediated protection. Together, these results have clear relevance to microbiome-mediated protection within agricultural settings and the use of plant probiotics to increase disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid30054358, year = {2018}, author = {Qin, S and Feng, WW and Zhang, YJ and Wang, TT and Xiong, YW and Xing, K}, title = {Diversity of Bacterial Microbiota of Coastal Halophyte Limonium sinense and Amelioration of Salinity Stress Damage by Symbiotic Plant Growth-Promoting Actinobacterium Glutamicibacter halophytocola KLBMP 5180.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {30054358}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; China ; Endophytes/genetics/physiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Plumbaginaceae/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Salt Stress ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-associated microorganisms are considered a key determinant of plant health and growth. However, little information is available regarding the composition and ecological function of the roots' and leaves' bacterial microbiota of halophytes. Here, using both culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques, we characterized the bacterial communities of the roots and leaves as well as the rhizosphere and bulk soils of the coastal halophyte Limonium sinense in Jiangsu Province, China. We identified 49 representative bacterial strains belonging to 17 genera across all samples, with Glutamicibacter as the most dominant genus. All Glutamicibacter isolates showed multiple potential plant growth promotion traits and tolerated a high concentration of NaCl and a wide pH range. Interestingly, further inoculation experiments showed that the Glutamicibacter halophytocola strain KLBMP 5180 isolated from root tissue significantly promoted host growth under NaCl stress. Indeed, KLBMP 5180 inoculation increased the concentrations of total chlorophyll, proline, antioxidative enzymes, flavonoids, K[+], and Ca[2+] in the leaves; the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Na[+] were reduced. A transcriptome analysis identified 1,359 and 328 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in inoculated seedlings treated with 0 and 250 mM NaCl, respectively. We found that pathways related to phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis and ion transport and metabolism might play more important roles in host salt stress tolerance induced by KLBMP 5180 inoculation compared to that in noninoculated leaves. Our results provide novel insights into the complex composition and function of the bacterial microbiota of the coastal halophyte L. sinense and suggest that halophytes might recruit specific bacteria to enhance their tolerance of harsh environments.IMPORTANCE Halophytes are important coastal plants often used for the remediation of saline coastal soils. Limonium sinense is well known for its medical properties and phytoremediation of saline soils. However, excessive exploitation and utilization have made the wild resource endangered. The use of endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria may be one of the suitable ways to solve the problem. This study was undertaken to develop approaches to improve the growth of L. sinense using endophytes. The application of actinobacterial endophytes ameliorated salt stress damage of the host via complex physiological and molecular mechanisms. The results also highlight the potential of using habitat-adapted, symbiotic, indigenous endophytic bacteria to enhance the growth and ameliorate abiotic stress damage of host plants growing in special habitats.}, } @article {pmid30053907, year = {2018}, author = {Cheng, C and Wickham, JD and Chen, L and Xu, D and Lu, M and Sun, J}, title = {Bacterial microbiota protect an invasive bark beetle from a pine defensive compound.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {132}, pmid = {30053907}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Coleoptera/*growth & development/microbiology ; Flavanones/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*chemistry/parasitology ; Proteolysis ; Saccharomycetales/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that some devastating biotic invasions are facilitated by microbial symbionts. The red turpentine beetle (RTB), an innocuous secondary insect attacking weakened trees in North America, has formed an invasive complex with the fungus Leptographium procerum in China, and this invasive beetle-fungus symbiotic complex is capable of attacking and killing healthy pines. A previous study demonstrated that three Chinese-resident fungi, newly acquired by RTB in China, induce high levels of a phenolic defensive chemical, naringenin, in pines and this invasive beetle-fungus complex is suppressed by elevated levels of naringenin while the beetle uses its gallery as an external detoxification system in which particular yeast-like fungi and bacterial species biodegrade naringenin. However, the functional roles of key microbial players in the symbiosis, contained within the microbiome of the bark beetle gallery, have not been well elucidated.

RESULTS: In this report, the symbiotic naringenin-degrading microbiota were found to increase RTB survivorship in the presence of induced host defenses, and potential genes associated with degradation pathways were discovered. While fungi in the gallery microbiota had little involvement in naringenin degradation, bacterial community structure within the beetle gallery was highly correlated to naringenin degrading activity. Phylotypes of the Gram-negative bacterial genus Novosphingobium, which possessed genes involved in degradation pathways, were highly correlated to naringenin degradation activities and RTB associated with an isolated species of this genus acquired protection against naringenin and gained fitness.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that symbiotic bacterial community of RTB galleries enhances the survivorship and overall fitness of invasive beetles by degrading the host phenolic naringenin, ultimately overcoming the tree defenses and facilitating the success of the invasive beetle-fungi complex. This dynamic interplay between the invasive insect pest and multipartite microbes suggests a putative mechanism in invasion ecology for mitigating biotic resistance to symbiotic invasion.}, } @article {pmid30053369, year = {2018}, author = {McClatchy, DB and Yu, NK and Martínez-Bartolomé, S and Patel, R and Pelletier, AR and Lavalle-Adam, M and Powell, SB and Roberto, M and Yates, JR}, title = {Structural Analysis of Hippocampal Kinase Signal Transduction.}, journal = {ACS chemical neuroscience}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {3072-3085}, pmid = {30053369}, issn = {1948-7193}, support = {P41 GM103533/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MH067880/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA013498/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AA017447/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA017447/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; P60 AA006420/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA015566/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA021491/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/*metabolism ; Hippocampus/*metabolism ; Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels/*metabolism ; Immunoprecipitation ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/*metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism ; Potassium Channels/*metabolism ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Kinases are a major clinical target for human diseases. Identifying the proteins that interact with kinases in vivo will provide information on unreported substrates and will potentially lead to more specific methods for therapeutic kinase regulation. Here, endogenous immunoprecipitations of evolutionally distinct kinases (i.e., Akt, ERK2, and CAMK2) from rodent hippocampi were analyzed by mass spectrometry to generate three highly confident kinase protein-protein interaction networks. Proteins of similar function were identified in the networks, suggesting a universal model for kinase signaling complexes. Protein interactions were observed between kinases with reported symbiotic relationships. The kinase networks were significantly enriched in genes associated with specific neurodevelopmental disorders providing novel structural connections between these disease-associated genes. To demonstrate a functional relationship between the kinases and the network, pharmacological manipulation of Akt in hippocampal slices was shown to regulate the activity of potassium/sodium hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel(HCN1), which was identified in the Akt network. Overall, the kinase protein-protein interaction networks provide molecular insight of the spatial complexity of in vivo kinase signal transduction which is required to achieve the therapeutic potential of kinase manipulation in the brain.}, } @article {pmid30052904, year = {2018}, author = {Evans, JS and Erwin, PM and Shenkar, N and López-Legentil, S}, title = {A comparison of prokaryotic symbiont communities in nonnative and native ascidians from reef and harbor habitats.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy139}, pmid = {30052904}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Host Specificity ; Introduced Species ; *Microbiota/genetics ; North Carolina ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/classification/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Harbor systems represent passive gateways for the introduction of nonnative ascidians that compete with the surrounding benthos and may spread through localized dispersal, even populating adjacent natural reefs. To investigate the potential role of microbial symbionts in the success of ascidian introductions and spread, we evaluated the host-specificity of prokaryotic communities within two ascidian species commonly found off the North Carolina coast. Replicate samples of the native ascidian Eudistoma capsulatum, the nonnative ascidian Distaplia bermudensis and seawater were collected from artificial (harbor) and natural reef substrates. Prokaryotic communities in seawater samples and ascidian tunics were characterized via next-generation sequencing of partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. Ascidian microbiomes clustered strongly in response to host species, with significant differences in community structure between the two species and seawater. Further, symbiont community structure differed significantly between E. capsulatumindividuals collected from artificial and natural habitats, though this was not the case for D. bermudensis. These findings suggested that some ascidian species possess stable microbial symbiont communities that allow them to thrive in a wide range of habitats, while other species rely on the restructuring of their microbial communities with specific symbionts (e.g. Chelativorans) to survive under particular environmental conditions such as increased pollution.}, } @article {pmid30051940, year = {2018}, author = {Averill, C and Dietze, MC and Bhatnagar, JM}, title = {Continental-scale nitrogen pollution is shifting forest mycorrhizal associations and soil carbon stocks.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {4544-4553}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14368}, pmid = {30051940}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {//National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/International ; 1638577//National Science Foundation/International ; //Peter Paul Professorship/International ; }, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Climate Change ; *Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*toxicity ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most tree roots on Earth form a symbiosis with either ecto- or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Nitrogen fertilization is hypothesized to favor arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species at the expense of ectomycorrhizal species due to differences in fungal nitrogen acquisition strategies, and this may alter soil carbon balance, as differences in forest mycorrhizal associations are linked to differences in soil carbon pools. Combining nitrogen deposition data with continental-scale US forest data, we show that nitrogen pollution is spatially associated with a decline in ectomycorrhizal vs. arbuscular mycorrhizal trees. Furthermore, nitrogen deposition has contrasting effects on arbuscular vs. ectomycorrhizal demographic processes, favoring arbuscular mycorrhizal trees at the expense of ectomycorrhizal trees, and is spatially correlated with reduced soil carbon stocks. This implies future changes in nitrogen deposition may alter the capacity of forests to sequester carbon and offset climate change via interactions with the forest microbiome.}, } @article {pmid30051849, year = {2018}, author = {Bracewell, RR and Vanderpool, D and Good, JM and Six, DL}, title = {Cascading speciation among mutualists and antagonists in a tree-beetle-fungi interaction.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1881}, pages = {}, pmid = {30051849}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {S10 RR029668/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR027303/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*genetics/physiology ; Canada ; *Genetic Speciation ; Genome, Fungal ; Genome, Insect ; Ophiostomatales/*genetics/physiology ; Pinus/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trees ; United States ; Weevils/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Cascading speciation is predicted to occur when multiple interacting species diverge in parallel as a result of divergence in one species promoting adaptive differentiation in other species. However, there are few examples where ecological interactions among taxa have been shown to result in speciation that cascades across multiple trophic levels. Here, we test for cascading speciation occurring among the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis), its primary host tree (Pinus ponderosa), and the beetle's fungal mutualists (Ceratocystiopsis brevicomi and Entomocorticium sp. B). We assembled genomes for the beetle and a fungal symbiont and then generated reduced representation genomic data (RADseq) from range-wide samples of these three interacting species. Combined with published data for the host tree, we present clear evidence that the tree, the beetle, and the fungal symbionts are all genetically structured into at least two distinct groups that have strongly codiverged with geographical isolation. We then combine our genomic results with diverse population and laboratory-based data to show evidence for reproductive isolation at each level of the cascade and for coevolution of both antagonistic and mutualistic species interactions within this complex network.}, } @article {pmid30050553, year = {2018}, author = {Liao, D and Sun, X and Wang, N and Song, F and Liang, Y}, title = {Tomato LysM Receptor-Like Kinase SlLYK12 Is Involved in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1004}, pmid = {30050553}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a widespread symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi (Glomeromycota), which improves the supply of water and nutrients to host plants. AM symbiosis is set in motion by fungal chitooligosaccharides and lipochitooligosaccharides, which are perceived by plant-specific LysM-type receptor kinases (LYK). In rice this involves OsCERK1, a LYK also essential for chitin triggered innate immunity. In contrast in legumes, the CERK1 homologous gene experienced duplication events resulting in subfunctionalization. However, it remains unknown whether this subfunctionalization is legume-specific, or has occurred also in other dicot plant species. We identified four CERK1 homologs in tomato (SlLYK1, SlLYK11, SlLYK12, and SlLYK13) and investigated their roles in chitin signaling and AM symbiosis. We found that knockdown of SlLYK12 in tomato significantly reduced AM colonization, whereas chitin-induced responses were unaffected. In contrast, knockdown of SlLYK1 resulted in reduced responses to chitin, but did not alter responses to AM fungi. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of SlLYK1 and SlLYK13 in Nicotiana benthamiana induced cell death, whereas SlLYK12 overexpression did not. Based on our results and comparison with rice OsCERK1, we hypothesize that OsCERK1 orthologs in tomato underwent gene duplication, leading to the subfunctionalization of immunity and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30050543, year = {2018}, author = {Abdelrahman, M and El-Sayed, MA and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Alqarawi, AA and Burritt, DJ and Tran, LP}, title = {Metabolomics and Transcriptomics in Legumes Under Phosphate Deficiency in Relation to Nitrogen Fixation by Root Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {922}, pmid = {30050543}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Phosphate (Pi) deficiency is a critical environmental constraint that affects the growth and development of several legume crops that are usually cultivated in semi-arid regions and marginal areas. Pi deficiency is known to be a significant limitation for symbiotic nitrogen (N2) fixation (SNF), and variability in SNF is strongly interlinked with the concentrations of Pi in the nodules. To deal with Pi deficiency, plants trigger various adaptive responses, including the induction and secretion of acid phosphatases, maintenance of Pi homeostasis in nodules and other organs, and improvement of oxygen (O2) consumption per unit of nodule mass. These molecular and physiological responses can be observed in terms of changes in growth, photosynthesis, and respiration. In this mini review, we provide a brief introduction to the problem of Pi deficiency in legume crops. We then summarize the current understanding of how Pi deficiency is regulated in legumes by changes in the transcriptomes and metabolomes found in different plant organs. Finally, we will provide perspectives on future directions for research in this field.}, } @article {pmid30050425, year = {2018}, author = {Sandini, G and Mohan, V and Sciutti, A and Morasso, P}, title = {Social Cognition for Human-Robot Symbiosis-Challenges and Building Blocks.}, journal = {Frontiers in neurorobotics}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {34}, pmid = {30050425}, issn = {1662-5218}, abstract = {The next generation of robot companions or robot working partners will need to satisfy social requirements somehow similar to the famous laws of robotics envisaged by Isaac Asimov time ago (Asimov, 1942). The necessary technology has almost reached the required level, including sensors and actuators, but the cognitive organization is still in its infancy and is only partially supported by the current understanding of brain cognitive processes. The brain of symbiotic robots will certainly not be a "positronic" replica of the human brain: probably, the greatest part of it will be a set of interacting computational processes running in the cloud. In this article, we review the challenges that must be met in the design of a set of interacting computational processes as building blocks of a cognitive architecture that may give symbiotic capabilities to collaborative robots of the next decades: (1) an animated body-schema; (2) an imitation machinery; (3) a motor intentions machinery; (4) a set of physical interaction mechanisms; and (5) a shared memory system for incremental symbiotic development. We would like to stress that our approach is totally un-hierarchical: the five building blocks of the shared cognitive architecture are fully bi-directionally connected. For example, imitation and intentional processes require the "services" of the animated body schema which, on the other hand, can run its simulations if appropriately prompted by imitation and/or intention, with or without physical interaction. Successful experiences can leave a trace in the shared memory system and chunks of memory fragment may compete to participate to novel cooperative actions. And so on and so forth. At the heart of the system is lifelong training and learning but, different from the conventional learning paradigms in neural networks, where learning is somehow passively imposed by an external agent, in symbiotic robots there is an element of free choice of what is worth learning, driven by the interaction between the robot and the human partner. The proposed set of building blocks is certainly a rough approximation of what is needed by symbiotic robots but we believe it is a useful starting point for building a computational framework.}, } @article {pmid30049746, year = {2018}, author = {James, EB and Feng, H and Wilson, ACC}, title = {mTOR Complex 1 Implicated in Aphid/Buchnera Host/Symbiont Integration.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {3083-3091}, pmid = {30049746}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Buchnera/*physiology ; Gene Duplication ; *Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Obligate nutritional endosymbioses are arguably the most intimate of all interspecific associations. While many insect nutritional endosymbioses are well studied, a full picture of how two disparate organisms, a bacterial endosymbiont and a eukaryotic host, are integrated is still lacking. The mTOR pathway is known to integrate nutritional conditions with cell growth and survival in eukaryotes. Characterization and localization of amino acid transporters in aphids suggest the mTOR pathway as a point of integration between an aphid host and its amino acid-provisioning endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola The mTOR pathway is unannotated in aphids and unstudied in any nutritional endosymbiosis. We annotated mTOR pathway genes in two aphid species, Acyrthosiphon pisum and Myzus persicae, using both BLASTp searches and Hidden Markov Models. Using previously collected RNAseq data we constructed new reference transcriptomes for bacteriocyte, gut, and whole insect tissue for three lines of M. persicae Annotation of the mTOR pathway identified homologs of all known invertebrate mTOR genes in both aphid species with some duplications. Differential expression analysis showed that genes specific to the amino acid-sensitive mTOR Complex 1 were more highly expressed in bacteriocytes than genes specific to the amino acid-insensitive mTOR Complex 2. Almost all mTOR genes involved in sensing amino acids showed higher expression in bacteriocytes than in whole insect tissue. When compared to gut, the putative glutamine/arginine sensing transporter ACYPI000333, an ortholog of SLC38A9, showed 6.5 times higher expression in bacteriocytes. Our results suggest that the mTOR pathway may be functionally important in mediating integration of Buchnera into aphid growth and reproduction.}, } @article {pmid30048543, year = {2018}, author = {Reddi, G and Pruss, K and Cottingham, KL and Taylor, RK and Almagro-Moreno, S}, title = {Catabolism of mucus components influences motility of Vibrio cholerae in the presence of environmental reservoirs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e0201383}, pmid = {30048543}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 AI025096/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*metabolism ; Animals ; Chemotaxis ; Cholera/metabolism/*microbiology ; Crustacea/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mucus/*metabolism ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/*metabolism ; Vibrio cholerae/cytology/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Vibrio cholerae O1/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vibrio cholerae O1, the etiological agent of cholera, is a natural inhabitant of aquatic ecosystems. Motility is a critical element for the colonization of both the human host and its environmental reservoirs. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemotactic response of V. cholerae in the presence of some of its environmental reservoirs. We found that, from the several oligosaccharides found in mucin, two specifically triggered motility of V. cholerae O1: N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). We determined that the compounds need to be internally catabolized in order to trigger motility of V. cholerae. Interestingly, the catabolism of Neu5Ac and GlcNAc converges and the production of one molecule common to both pathways, glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6P), is essential to induce motility in the presence of both compounds. Mutants unable to produce GlcN-6P show greatly reduced motility towards mucin. Furthermore, we determined that the production of GlcN-6P is necessary to induce motility of V. cholerae in the presence of some of its environmental reservoirs such as crustaceans or cyanobacteria, revealing a molecular link between the two distinct modes of the complex life cycle of V. cholerae. Finally, cross-species comparisons revealed varied chemotactic responses towards mucin, GlcNAc, and Neu5Ac for environmental (non-pathogenic) strains of V. cholerae, clinical and environmental isolates of the human pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and fish and squid isolates of the symbiotic bacterium Vibrio fischeri. The data presented here suggest nuance in convergent strategies across species of the same bacterial family for motility towards suitable substrates for colonization.}, } @article {pmid30047576, year = {2018}, author = {Cai, K and Yin, J and Chao, H and Ren, Y and Jin, L and Cao, Y and Duanmu, D and Zhang, Z}, title = {A C3HC4-type RING finger protein regulates rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {60}, number = {9}, pages = {878-896}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12703}, pmid = {30047576}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/cytology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {During the establishment of rhizobia-legume symbiosis, the cytokinin receptor LHK1 (Lotus Histidine Kinase 1) is essential for nodule formation. However, the mechanism by which cytokinin signaling regulates symbiosis remains largely unknown. In this study, an LHK1-interacting protein, LjCZF1, was identified and further characterized. LjCZF1 is a C3HC4-type RING finger protein that is highly conserved in plants. LjCZF1 specifically interacted with LHK1 in yeast two-hybrid, in vitro pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays conducted in tobacco. Phosphomimetic mutation of the potential threonine (T167D) phosphorylation site enhanced the interaction between LjCZF1 and LHK1, whereas phosphorylation mutation (T167A) eliminated this interaction. Transcript abundance of LjCZF1 was up-regulated significantly after inoculation with rhizobia. The LORE1 insertion mutant and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9-mediated knockout mutant Lotus japonicus plants demonstrated significantly reduced number of infection threads and nodules. In contrast, plants over-expressing LjCZF1 exhibited increased numbers of infection threads and nodules. Collectively, these data support the notion that LjCZF1 is a positive regulator of symbiotic nodulation, possibly through interaction with LHK1.}, } @article {pmid30047196, year = {2018}, author = {Bennett, GM and Mao, M}, title = {Comparative genomics of a quadripartite symbiosis in a planthopper host reveals the origins and rearranged nutritional responsibilities of anciently diverged bacterial lineages.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {4461-4472}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14367}, pmid = {30047196}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {IOS1347116//Division of Integrative Organismal Systems/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects in the Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera: Suborder) established nutritional symbioses with bacteria approximately 300 million years ago (MYA). The suborder split early during its diversification (~ 250 MYA) into the Fulgoroidea (planthoppers) and Cicadomorpha (leafhoppers and cicadas). The two lineages share some symbionts, including Sulcia and possibly a Betaproteobacteria that collaboratively provide their hosts with 10 essential amino acids (EAA). Some hosts harbour three bacteria, as is common among planthoppers. However, genomic studies are currently restricted to the dual-bacterial symbioses found in Cicadomorpha, leaving the origins and functions of these more complex symbioses unclear. To address these questions, we sequenced the genomes and performed phylogenomic analyses of 'Candidatus Sulcia muelleri' (Bacteroidetes), 'Ca. Vidania fulgoroideae' (Betaproteobacteria) and 'Ca. Purcelliella pentastirinorum' (Gammaproteobacteria) from a planthopper (Cixiidae: Oliarus). In contrast to the Cicadomorpha, nutritional synthesis responsibilities are rearranged between the cixiid symbionts. Although Sulcia has a highly conserved genome across the Auchenorrhyncha, in the cixiids it is greatly reduced and provides only three EAAs. Vidania contributes the remaining seven EAAs. Phylogenomic results suggest that it represents an ancient symbiont lineage paired with Sulcia throughout the Auchenorrhyncha. Finally, Purcelliella was recently acquired from plant-insect associated bacteria (Pantoea-Erwinia) to provide B vitamins and metabolic support to its degenerate partners.}, } @article {pmid30043372, year = {2018}, author = {Roux, B and Rodde, N and Moreau, S and Jardinaud, MF and Gamas, P}, title = {Laser Capture Micro-Dissection Coupled to RNA Sequencing: A Powerful Approach Applied to the Model Legume Medicago truncatula in Interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1830}, number = {}, pages = {191-224}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8657-6_12}, pmid = {30043372}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Laser Capture Microdissection/*methods ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Models, Biological ; Paraffin Embedding ; RNA, Plant/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Tissue Fixation ; }, abstract = {Understanding the development of multicellular organisms requires the identification of regulators, notably transcription factors, and specific transcript populations associated with tissue differentiation. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is one of the techniques that enable the analysis of distinct tissues or cells within an organ. Coupling this technique with RNA sequencing (RNAseq) makes it extremely powerful to obtain a genome-wide and dynamic view of gene expression. Moreover, RNA sequencing allows two or potentially more interacting organisms to be analyzed simultaneously. In this chapter, a LCM-RNAseq protocol optimized for root and symbiotic root nodule analysis is presented, using the model legume Medicago truncatula (in interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti in the nodule samples). This includes the description of procedures for plant material fixation, embedding, and micro-dissection; it is followed by a presentation of techniques for RNA extraction and amplification, adapted for the simultaneous analysis of plant and bacterial cells in interaction or, more generally, polyadenylated and non-polyadenylated RNAs. Finally, step-by-step statistical analyses of RNAseq data are described. Those are critical for quality assessment of the whole procedure and for the identification of differentially expressed genes.}, } @article {pmid30043312, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, C and Ha, CM and Dixon, RA}, title = {Functional Genomics in the Study of Metabolic Pathways in Medicago truncatula: An Overview.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1822}, number = {}, pages = {315-337}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8633-0_20}, pmid = {30043312}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Association Studies ; *Genome, Plant ; *Genomics/methods ; Lignin/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mutation ; Phytochemicals/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Saponins/metabolism ; Triterpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In addition to its value as a model system for studies on symbiotic nitrogen fixation, Medicago truncatula has recently become an organism of choice for dissection of complex pathways of secondary metabolism. This work has been driven by two main reasons, both with practical implications. First Medicago species possess a wide range of flavonoid and terpenoid natural products, many of which, for example, the isoflavonoids and triterpene saponins, have important biological activities impacting both plant and animal (including human) health. Second, M. truncatula serves as an excellent model for alfalfa, the world's major forage legume, and forage quality is determined in large part by the concentrations of products of secondary metabolism, particularly lignin and condensed tannins. We here review recent progress in understanding the pathways leading to flavonoids, lignin, and triterpene saponins through utilization of genetic resources in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid30043308, year = {2018}, author = {Berrabah, F and Salem, EHA and Garmier, M and Ratet, P}, title = {The Multiple Faces of the Medicago-Sinorhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1822}, number = {}, pages = {241-260}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8633-0_16}, pmid = {30043308}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Aging ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Development/genetics ; Plant Immunity ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is able to perform a symbiotic association with Sinorhizobium spp. This interaction leads to the formation of a new root organ, the nodule, in which bacteria infect the host cells and fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant benefit. Multiple and complex processes are essential for the success of this interaction from the recognition phase to nodule formation and functioning, and a wide range of plant host genes is required to orchestrate this phenomenon. Thanks to direct and reverse genetic as well as transcriptomic approaches, numerous genes involved in this symbiosis have been described and improve our understanding of this fantastic association. Herein we propose to update the recent molecular knowledge of how M. truncatula associates to its symbiotic partner Sinorhizobium spp.}, } @article {pmid30043307, year = {2018}, author = {Proust, H and Hartmann, C and Crespi, M and Lelandais-Brière, C}, title = {Root Development in Medicago truncatula: Lessons from Genetics to Functional Genomics.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1822}, number = {}, pages = {205-239}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8633-0_15}, pmid = {30043307}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Environment ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Genomics/methods ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Development/*genetics ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics ; }, abstract = {This decade introduced "omics" approaches, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in association with reverse and forward genetic approaches, developed earlier, to try to identify molecular pathways involved in the development or in the response to environmental conditions as well as in animals and plants. This review summarizes studies that utilized "omics" strategies to unravel the root development in the model legume Medicago truncatula and how external factors such as soil mineral status or the presence of bacteria and fungi affect root system architecture in this species. We also compare these "omics" data to the knowledges concerning the Arabidopsis thaliana root development, nowadays considered as the model of allorhiz root systems. However, unlike legumes, this species is unable to interact with soil nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to develop novel root-derived symbiotic structures. Differences in root organization, development, and regulatory pathways between these two model species have been highlighted.}, } @article {pmid30043296, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, Y and Chen, R}, title = {Physical Mutagenesis in Medicago truncatula Using Fast Neutron Bombardment (FNB) for Symbiosis and Developmental Biology Studies.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1822}, number = {}, pages = {61-69}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8633-0_4}, pmid = {30043296}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Developmental Biology/methods ; Genome, Plant ; Genomics/methods ; Germination ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development ; *Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Plant Development/*genetics ; Seeds/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula has been selected as a model species for legume molecular genetics and functional genomics studies. With the completion of the Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong A17 genome sequencing, a major challenge is to determine the function of the large number of genes in the genome. Development of diverse mutant resources is crucial for gene functional studies. In the past years, M2 seeds from over 150,000 Medicago truncatula mutant lines in the Jemalong A17 background have been generated coordinately at the Noble Research Institute, USA, and the John Innes Centre, UK, using fast neutron bombardment (FNB) mutagenesis. These mutant resources have been used in screening and characterization of different categories of mutants including symbiotic nitrogen fixation, nodule development, and growth and patterning of leaf, stem, and root system architecture in the legume system. Here, we describe the detail procedure that has been used for screening of mutants derived from fast neutron bombardment mutagenesis in Medicago truncatula.}, } @article {pmid30043295, year = {2018}, author = {Burks, D and Azad, R and Wen, J and Dickstein, R}, title = {The Medicago truncatula Genome: Genomic Data Availability.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1822}, number = {}, pages = {39-59}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-8633-0_3}, pmid = {30043295}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; Consensus Sequence ; Databases, Genetic ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Library ; *Genome, Plant ; *Genomics/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; Web Browser ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula emerged in 1990 as a model for legumes, comprising the third largest land plant family. Most legumes form symbiotic nitrogen-fixing root nodules with compatible soil bacteria and thus are important contributors to the global nitrogen cycle and sustainable agriculture. Legumes and legume products are important sources for human and animal protein as well as for edible and industrial oils. In the years since M. truncatula was chosen as a legume model, many genetic, genomic, and molecular resources have become available, including reference quality genome sequences for two widely used genotypes. Accessibility of genomic data is important for many different types of studies with M. truncatula as well as for research involving crop and forage legumes. In this chapter, we discuss strategies to obtain archived M. truncatula genomic data originally deposited into custom databases that are no longer maintained but are now accessible in general databases. We also review key current genomic databases that are specific to M. truncatula as well as those that contain M. truncatula data in addition to data from other plants.}, } @article {pmid30043288, year = {2018}, author = {Kirienko, AN and Porozov, YB and Malkov, NV and Akhtemova, GA and Le Signor, C and Thompson, R and Saffray, C and Dalmais, M and Bendahmane, A and Tikhonovich, IA and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Role of a receptor-like kinase K1 in pea Rhizobium symbiosis development.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {248}, number = {5}, pages = {1101-1120}, pmid = {30043288}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Blotting, Western ; Genetic Engineering/methods ; Peas/*enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Leaves/enzymology/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/*physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {The LysM receptor-like kinase K1 is involved in regulation of pea-rhizobial symbiosis development. The ability of the crop legume Pisum sativum L. to perceive the Nod factor rhizobial signals may depend on several receptors that differ in ligand structure specificity. Identification of pea mutants defective in two types of LysM receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs), SYM10 and SYM37, featuring different phenotypic manifestations and impaired at various stages of symbiosis development, corresponds well to this assumption. There is evidence that one of the receptor proteins involved in symbiosis initiation, SYM10, has an inactive kinase domain. This implies the presence of an additional component in the receptor complex, together with SYM10, that remains unknown. Here, we describe a new LysM-RLK, K1, which may serve as an additional component of the receptor complex in pea. To verify the function of K1 in symbiosis, several P. sativum non-nodulating mutants in the k1 gene were identified using the TILLING approach. Phenotyping revealed the blocking of symbiosis development at an appropriately early stage, strongly suggesting the importance of LysM-RLK K1 for symbiosis initiation. Moreover, the analysis of pea mutants with weaker phenotypes provides evidence for the additional role of K1 in infection thread distribution in the cortex and rhizobia penetration. The interaction between K1 and SYM10 was detected using transient leaf expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and in the yeast two-hybrid system. Since the possibility of SYM10/SYM37 complex formation was also shown, we tested whether the SYM37 and K1 receptors are functionally interchangeable using a complementation test. The interaction between K1 and other receptors is discussed.}, } @article {pmid30043258, year = {2018}, author = {Kusakabe, R and Taniguchi, T and Goomaral, A and Undarmaa, J and Yamanaka, N and Yamato, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities under gradients of grazing in Mongolian grasslands of different aridity.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {621-634}, pmid = {30043258}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Animals ; Desert Climate ; Feeding Behavior ; *Grassland ; Livestock/physiology ; Mongolia ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in Mongolian grassland were characterized under gradients of grazing intensity at three study sites of different aridity: mountain forest steppe at Hustai National Park (Hustai), and desert steppe at Mandalgovi and Bulgan. Grazing intensity was classified into three categories: lightly grazed (LG), moderately grazed (MG), and heavily grazed (HG). With regard to floristic composition, grazing decreased the shoot biomass of Poaceae species, especially Stipa spp. Distinctness of the AM fungal communities was observed among the three study sites, but most of the AM fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that comprised over 1.0% of the total reads were ubiquitous. This result indicates that the AM fungal communities may be derived from similar AM fungal floras in correspondence with environmental factors. The composition of AM fungal communities differed significantly among the grazing intensities at all study sites. The relative abundance of the most dominant AM fungal OTU of the LG plots decreased with an increase in grazing intensity at all study sites. The mean proportions of the most dominant AM fungal OTUs also decreased with increased grazing intensity at Hustai. Dominance by a single AM fungal taxon may be a typical ecological feature of the AM fungal symbiosis, and grazing disturbs AM fungal community structure.}, } @article {pmid30043257, year = {2018}, author = {Garg, N and Bharti, A}, title = {Salicylic acid improves arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, and chickpea growth and yield by modulating carbohydrate metabolism under salt stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {727-746}, pmid = {30043257}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cicer/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism ; Salt Stress ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salt stress is a major abiotic stress restricting plant growth and reproductive yield. Salicylic acid (SA) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses play key roles in eliminating adverse effects of salt stress by modulating ion homeostasis and carbohydrate metabolism in crop plants. Sugars synthesized via carbohydrate metabolism act as osmotic adjustors and signaling molecules in activation of various defense responses against salt stress. The present study investigated the role of SA (0.5 mM) seed priming in establishment of AM symbiosis with Rhizoglomus intraradices and the impact on growth, ion-homeostasis, nutrient uptake, and sugar metabolism in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) genotypes under salt stress. Salinity had a negative correlation with plant growth and AM symbiosis in both genotypes with more negative effects in relatively salt-sensitive genotype than tolerant. SA enhanced the percent root colonization by significantly increasing the number of arbuscules and vesicles under salt stress. AM symbiosis was more effective in improving root biomass, root to shoot ratio, and nutrient acquisition than SA, while SA was more effective in maintaining ion equilibrium and modulating carbohydrate metabolism and reproductive yield when compared with AM inoculation. SA priming directed the utilization of total soluble sugars (TSS) towards reproductive attributes more efficiently than did AM inoculation by activating TSS metabolic consumption. In AM plants, TSS concentrations were more directed towards sink demand by the fungus itself rather than developing reproductive structures. SA priming further increased sugar export to roots of AM plants, thus favored AM symbiosis. Hence, SA seed priming-induced improvement in AM symbiosis can be a promising strategy in achieving sustainable production of chickpea genotypes under salt stress.}, } @article {pmid30042781, year = {2018}, author = {León-Mediavilla, J and Senovilla, M and Montiel, J and Gil-Díez, P and Saez, Á and Kryvoruchko, IS and Reguera, M and Udvardi, MK and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {MtMTP2-Facilitated Zinc Transport Into Intracellular Compartments Is Essential for Nodule Development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {990}, pmid = {30042781}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {335284/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Zinc (Zn) is an essential nutrient for plants that is involved in almost every biological process. This includes symbiotic nitrogen fixation, a process carried out by endosymbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) living within differentiated plant cells of legume root nodules. Zn transport in nodules involves delivery from the root, via the vasculature, release into the apoplast and uptake into nodule cells. Once in the cytosol, Zn can be used directly by cytosolic proteins or delivered into organelles, including symbiosomes of infected cells, by Zn efflux transporters. Medicago truncatula MtMTP2 (Medtr4g064893) is a nodule-induced Zn-efflux protein that was localized to an intracellular compartment in root epidermal and endodermal cells, as well as in nodule cells. Although the MtMTP2 gene is expressed in roots, shoots, and nodules, mtp2 mutants exhibited growth defects only under symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing conditions. Loss of MtMTP2 function resulted in altered nodule development, defects in bacteroid differentiation, and severe reduction of nitrogenase activity. The results presented here support a role of MtMTP2 in intracellular compartmentation of Zn, which is required for effective symbiotic nitrogen fixation in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid30042780, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, C and Reid, JB and Foo, E}, title = {The Art of Self-Control - Autoregulation of Plant-Microbe Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {988}, pmid = {30042780}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants interact with diverse microbes including those that result in nutrient-acquiring symbioses. In order to balance the energy cost with the benefit gained, plants employ a systemic negative feedback loop to control the formation of these symbioses. This is particularly well-understood in nodulation, the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, and is known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). However, much less is understood about the autoregulation of the ancient arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses that form between Glomeromycota fungi and the majority of land plants. Elegant physiological studies in legumes have indicated there is at least some overlap in the genes and signals that regulate these two symbioses but there are major gaps in our understanding. In this paper we examine the hypothesis that the autoregulation of mycorrhizae (AOM) pathway shares some elements with AON but that there are also some important differences. By reviewing the current knowledge of the AON pathway, we have identified important directions for future AOM studies. We also provide the first genetic evidence that CLV2 (an important element of the AON pathway) influences mycorrhizal development in a non-legume, tomato and review the interaction of the autoregulation pathway with plant hormones and nutrient status. Finally, we discuss whether autoregulation may play a role in the relationships plants form with other microbes.}, } @article {pmid30042740, year = {2018}, author = {Salem, I and Ramser, A and Isham, N and Ghannoum, MA}, title = {The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1459}, pmid = {30042740}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {P30 DK067629/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The adult intestine hosts a myriad of diverse bacterial species that reside mostly in the lower gut maintaining a symbiosis with the human habitat. In the current review, we describe the neoteric advancement in our comprehension of how the gut microbiota communicates with the skin as one of the main regulators in the gut-skin axis. We attempted to explore how this potential link affects skin differentiation and keratinization, its influence on modulating the cutaneous immune response in various diseases, and finally how to take advantage of this communication in the control of different skin conditions.}, } @article {pmid30042191, year = {2018}, author = {Nakajima, A and Vogelzang, A and Maruya, M and Miyajima, M and Murata, M and Son, A and Kuwahara, T and Tsuruyama, T and Yamada, S and Matsuura, M and Nakase, H and Peterson, DA and Fagarasan, S and Suzuki, K}, title = {IgA regulates the composition and metabolic function of gut microbiota by promoting symbiosis between bacteria.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental medicine}, volume = {215}, number = {8}, pages = {2019-2034}, pmid = {30042191}, issn = {1540-9538}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteroides/genetics/physiology ; Colon/metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glycosylation ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; MafF Transcription Factor/metabolism ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Middle Aged ; Models, Biological ; Mucus/metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism ; Ovalbumin/metabolism ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A (IgA) promotes health by regulating the composition and function of gut microbiota, but the molecular requirements for such homeostatic IgA function remain unknown. We found that a heavily glycosylated monoclonal IgA recognizing ovalbumin coats Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. theta), a prominent gut symbiont of the phylum Bacteroidetes. In vivo, IgA alters the expression of polysaccharide utilization loci (PUL), including a functionally uncharacterized molecular family provisionally named Mucus-Associated Functional Factor (MAFF). In both mice and humans, MAFF is detected predominantly in mucus-resident bacteria, and its expression requires the presence of complex microbiota. Expression of the MAFF system facilitates symbiosis with other members of the phylum Firmicutes and promotes protection from a chemically induced model of colitis. Our data reveal a novel mechanism by which IgA promotes symbiosis and colonic homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid30041474, year = {2018}, author = {Lipa, P and Vinardell, JM and Kopcińska, J and Zdybicka-Barabas, A and Janczarek, M}, title = {Mutation in the pssZ Gene Negatively Impacts Exopolysaccharide Synthesis, Surface Properties, and Symbiosis of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii with Clover.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30041474}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil bacterium capable of establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with clover plants (Trifolium spp.). This bacterium secretes large amounts of acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS), which plays an essential role in the symbiotic interaction with the host plant. This polymer is biosynthesized by a multi-enzymatic complex located in the bacterial inner membrane, whose components are encoded by a large chromosomal gene cluster, called Pss-I. In this study, we characterize R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain Rt297 that harbors a Tn5 transposon insertion located in the pssZ gene from the Pss-I region. This gene codes for a protein that shares high identity with bacterial serine/threonine protein phosphatases. We demonstrated that the pssZ mutation causes pleiotropic effects in rhizobial cells. Strain Rt297 exhibited several physiological and symbiotic defects, such as lack of EPS production, reduced growth kinetics and motility, altered cell-surface properties, and failure to infect the host plant. These data indicate that the protein encoded by the pssZ gene is indispensable for EPS synthesis, but also required for proper functioning of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii cells.}, } @article {pmid30041327, year = {2018}, author = {Prince Prakash Jebakumar, J and Nandhagopal, G and Rajan Babu, B and Ragumaran, S and Ravichandran, V}, title = {Impact of coastal power plant cooling system on planktonic diversity of a polluted creek system.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {133}, number = {}, pages = {378-391}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.053}, pmid = {30041327}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Cyanobacteria ; Diatoms ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; India ; Larva ; *Phytoplankton ; *Power Plants ; Rivers ; Seasons ; *Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Water Pollution ; *Zooplankton ; }, abstract = {A tropical coastal power plant with a once-through cooling system that pumped sea water along with tiny marine phytoplankton and zooplankton for waste heat discharge recorded reduction in the population density of these organisms by 64% and 93%, respectively, at the discharge site. The depletion of organic carbon is 0.69 tons per annum with loss of 20 to 24 lakhs fish fecundity. The synergistic effect of tropical summer ambiance and waste heat discharge from the power plant considerably reduced the phytoplankton population in the coolant water discharge point during April, June, and July. This resulted in changes in the phytoplankton community structure from Bacillariophyceae > Dyanophyceae > Cyanophyceae to Bacillariophyceae > Cyanophyceae > Dyanophyceae in the Ennore creek system. A unique epibiotic assemblage of the diatoms Licmophora juergensii and Licmophora flabellata was observed on Phormidium sp., a mat-forming Cyanobacterium preharbored along the 4.5-km-long transport channel of the cooling tower blow out of the thermal power plant. These pedunculate fouling diatoms have a symbiotic association with Phormidium sp., which grows few microns high above the substrate, thus creating obstructive flow in cooling water channels of the power plant. Further, loss of fish larvae during zooplankton population reduction creates an impact on the local fishery. However, the emerging scenario of global warming predicts that the migration of fish population toward cooler regions shall further aggravate the fishery reduction near the power plant cooling operation along the tropical coasts. The marine organisms living in tropical coastal waters operated at upper limits of thermal tolerance produce a demand for the regulatory bodies in India to enforce a drop in discharge criteria for coolant water, with the pre-existing power stations permitted to discharge up to 10 °C above the ambient temperature and newer power stations permitted to discharge a maximum of 7 °C. It becomes a requisite for power stations to draw additional seawater along with the plankton. Therefore, an emerging technology of subsurface intake systems called beachwell that resolves the issue of coolant water intake without biota was advocated.}, } @article {pmid30041184, year = {2018}, author = {Francavilla, R and Cristofori, F and Tripaldi, ME and Indrio, F}, title = {Intervention for Dysbiosis in Children Born by C-Section.}, journal = {Annals of nutrition & metabolism}, volume = {73 Suppl 3}, number = {}, pages = {33-39}, doi = {10.1159/000490847}, pmid = {30041184}, issn = {1421-9697}, mesh = {Breast Feeding ; Cesarean Section/*adverse effects ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Dysbiosis/*prevention & control ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between microbes and human is fundamental for a physiological development and health. The microbiome of the newborn undergoes to dramatic changes during the process of birth and in the first thousand days of life. Mother Nature provided us with the best possible start to achieve eubiosis: vaginal delivery to receive our mother's microbiome and breast milk that favours the establishment of beneficial bacteria. Infants deprived of one or both of these evolutionary gifts undergo to important modification of the microbial communities leading to a state of dysbiosis enhancing the chance of the emergence of a variety of immune, inflammatory and metabolic disorders. Are we able to imitate nature? Is there any intervention for dysbiosis in children born by cesarean section? In this review we will try to answer to this intriguing question on the basis of the most recent scientific evidences.}, } @article {pmid30040500, year = {2018}, author = {Lopetuso, LR and Napoli, M and Rizzatti, G and Scaldaferri, F and Franceschi, F and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {Considering gut microbiota disturbance in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection.}, journal = {Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {899-906}, doi = {10.1080/17474124.2018.1503946}, pmid = {30040500}, issn = {1747-4132}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/*drug effects/pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestines/*drug effects/microbiology ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Stomach/*drug effects/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection produces drastic changes in the gastric microenvironment, which, in turn, influence the gastric microbiota composition and might be correlated with large intestinal microbiota changes. This excellent perturbing actor could trigger important modifications in the homeostatic functions exerted by gut commensals leading to a new gastrointestinal balance. At the same time, the therapeutic strategies used to eradicate Hp can modulate this physiological symbiosis, but can be also conversely affected by its properties. Area covered: The purpose of this review is to explore the reciprocal interplay between Hp infection and gut microbiota and analyze how microbial changes can influence the management of Hp eradication therapies. Expert commentary: While many studies have described Hp-dependent gut microbiota alterations, their clinical implications are only partially clear, as well as the mechanism of actions that sustain these processes. This represents a clear challenge for future research projects that will also need to understand which role is exerted by viruses, parasites, and yeasts.}, } @article {pmid30039604, year = {2020}, author = {Garzo, E and Rizzo, E and Fereres, A and Gomez, SK}, title = {High levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus colonization on Medicago truncatula reduces plant suitability as a host for pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum).}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {99-112}, pmid = {30039604}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; Aphids/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; *Herbivory ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nutrients/analysis ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; }, abstract = {This study sheds light on a poorly understood area in insect-plant-microbe interactions, focusing on aphid probing and feeding behavior on plants with varying levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus root colonization. It investigates a commonly occurring interaction of three species: pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, barrel medic Medicago truncatula, and the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, examining whether aphid-feeding behavior changes when insects feed on plants at different levels of AM fungus colonization (42% and 84% root length colonized). Aphid probing and feeding behavior was monitored throughout 8 h of recording using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique, also, foliar nutrient content and plant growth were measured. Summarizing, aphids took longer to reach their 1st sustained phloem ingestion on the 84% AM plants than on the 42% AM plants or on controls. Less aphids showed phloem ingestion on the 84% AM plants relative to the 42% AM plants. Shoots of the 84% AM plants had higher percent carbon (43.7%) relative to controls (40.5%), and the 84% AM plants had reduced percent nitrogen (5.3%) relative to the 42% AM plants (6%). In conclusion, EPG and foliar nutrient data support the hypothesis that modifications in plant anatomy (e.g., thicker leaves), and poor food quality (reduced nitrogen) in the 84% AM plants contribute to reduced aphid success in locating phloem and ultimately to differences in phloem sap ingestion. This work suggests that M. truncatula plants benefit from AM symbiosis not only because of increased nutrient uptake but also because of reduced susceptibility to aphids.}, } @article {pmid30039484, year = {2019}, author = {Kraiem, K and Wahab, MA and Kallali, H and Fra-Vazquez, A and Pedrouso, A and Mosquera-Corral, A and Jedidi, N}, title = {Effects of short- and long-term exposures of humic acid on the Anammox activity and microbial community.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {19}, pages = {19012-19024}, pmid = {30039484}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Denitrification ; Heterotrophic Processes ; *Humic Substances ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; }, abstract = {Humic acid has a controversial effect on the biological treatment processes. Here, we have investigated humic acid effects on the Anammox activity by studying the nitrogen removal efficiencies in batch and continuous conditions and analyzing the microbial community using Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. The results showed that the Anammox activity was affected by the presence of humic acid at a concentration higher than 70 mg/L. In fact, in the presence of humic acid concentration of 200 mg/L, the Anammox activity decreased to 57% in batch and under continuous condition, the ammonium removal efficiencies of the reactor decreased from 78 to 41%. This reduction of Anammox activity after humic acid addition was highlighted by FISH analysis which revealed a considerable reduction of the abundance of Anammox bacteria and the bacteria living in symbiosis with them. Furthermore, a total inhibition of Candidatus Brocadia fulgida was observed. However, humic acid has promoted heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria which became dominant in the reactor. In fact, the evolution of the organic matter in the reactor showed that the added humic acid was used as carbon source by heterotrophic bacteria which explained the shift of metabolism to the favor of heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria. Accordingly, humic acid should be controlled in the influent to avoid Anammox activity inhibition.}, } @article {pmid30038864, year = {2018}, author = {West, NJ and Parrot, D and Fayet, C and Grube, M and Tomasi, S and Suzuki, MT}, title = {Marine cyanolichens from different littoral zones are associated with distinct bacterial communities.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5208}, pmid = {30038864}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The microbial diversity and function of terrestrial lichens have been well studied, but knowledge about the non-photosynthetic bacteria associated with marine lichens is still scarce. 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing was used to assess the culture-independent bacterial diversity in the strictly marine cyanolichen species Lichina pygmaea and Lichina confinis, and the maritime chlorolichen species Xanthoria aureola which occupy different areas on the littoral zone. Inland terrestrial cyanolichens from Austria were also analysed as for the marine lichens to examine further the impact of habitat/lichen species on the associated bacterial communities. The L. confinis and L. pygmaea communities were significantly different from those of the maritime Xanthoria aureola lichen found higher up on the littoral zone and these latter communities were more similar to those of the inland terrestrial lichens. The strictly marine lichens were dominated by the Bacteroidetes phylum accounting for 50% of the sequences, whereas Alphaproteobacteria, notably Sphingomonas, dominated the maritime and the inland terrestrial lichens. Bacterial communities associated with the two Lichina species were significantly different sharing only 33 core OTUs, half of which were affiliated to the Bacteroidetes genera Rubricoccus, Tunicatimonas and Lewinella, suggesting an important role of these species in the marine Lichina lichen symbiosis. Marine cyanolichens showed a higher abundance of OTUs likely affiliated to moderately thermophilic and/or radiation resistant bacteria belonging to the Phyla Chloroflexi, Thermi, and the families Rhodothermaceae and Rubrobacteraceae when compared to those of inland terrestrial lichens. This most likely reflects the exposed and highly variable conditions to which they are subjected daily.}, } @article {pmid30038763, year = {2018}, author = {Salas-Lizana, R and Oono, R}, title = {Double-digest RADseq loci using standard Illumina indexes improve deep and shallow phylogenetic resolution of Lophodermium, a widespread fungal endophyte of pine needles.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {13}, pages = {6638-6651}, pmid = {30038763}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The phylogenetic and population genetic structure of symbiotic microorganisms may correlate with important ecological traits that can be difficult to directly measure, such as host preferences or dispersal rates. This study develops and tests a low-cost double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) protocol to reveal among- and within-species genetic structure for Lophodermium, a genus of fungal endophytes whose evolutionary analyses have been limited by the scarcity of informative markers. The protocol avoids expensive barcoded adapters and incorporates universal indexes for multiplexing. We tested for reproducibility and functionality by comparing shared loci from sample replicates and assessed the effects of numbers of ambiguous sites and clustering thresholds on coverage depths, number of shared loci among samples, and phylogenetic reconstruction. Errors between technical replicates were minimal. Relaxing the quality-filtering criteria increased the mean coverage depth per locus and the number of loci recovered within a sample, but had little effect on the number of shared loci across samples. Increasing clustering threshold decreased the mean coverage depth per cluster and increased the number of loci recovered within a sample but also decreased the number of shared loci across samples, especially among distantly related species. The combination of low similarity clustering (70%) and relaxed quality-filtering (allowing up to 30 ambiguous sites per read) performed the best in phylogenetic analyses at both recent and deep genetic divergences. Hence, this method generated sufficient number of shared homologous loci to investigate the evolutionary relationships among divergent fungal lineages with small haploid genomes. The greater genetic resolution also revealed new structure within species that correlated with ecological traits, providing valuable insights into their cryptic life histories.}, } @article {pmid30037698, year = {2018}, author = {Simon, C}, title = {Introduction: Do microbes in the female reproductive function matter?.}, journal = {Fertility and sterility}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {325-326}, doi = {10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.06.041}, pmid = {30037698}, issn = {1556-5653}, mesh = {Embryo Implantation/physiology ; Endometrium/microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction/*physiology ; Uterus/microbiology/*physiology ; Vagina/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {For more than a century, the uterine cavity has been considered a sterile site maintained by the cervical plug. Humans are like coral that need symbiosis with microorganisms to be completely functional. In the era of precision medicine, the endometrial factor and specifically the microbiological view have long been neglected in reproduction, because it was considered an old concept with no potential improvement. In the last decade, important discoveries, led by improving technology, namely next generation sequencing, have been made in the study of microbial communities not only in the vagina but also in the endometrial cavity and its implication in reproductive health and disease, particularly chronic endometritis. From these studies, we have learned that microbes interact with the host cells along the female reproductive tract generating the physical, chemical and biological environment that the embryo will encounter during the peri-implantation period and throughout pregnancy.}, } @article {pmid30037122, year = {2018}, author = {Del Prete, S and Bua, S and Zoccola, D and Alasmary, FAS and AlOthman, Z and Alqahtani, LS and Techer, N and Supuran, CT and Tambutté, S and Capasso, C}, title = {Comparison of the Anion Inhibition Profiles of the α-CA Isoforms (SpiCA1, SpiCA2 and SpiCA3) from the Scleractinian Coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {30037122}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*enzymology ; Carbonic Anhydrases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are widespread metalloenzymes used by living organisms to accelerate the CO2 hydration/dehydration reaction at rates dramatically high compared to the uncatalyzed reaction. These enzymes have different isoforms and homologues and can be found in the form of cytoplasmic, secreted or membrane-bound proteins. CAs play a role in numerous physiological processes including biomineralization and symbiosis, as is the case in reef-building corals. Previously, molecular and biochemical data have been obtained at the molecular level in the branching coral Stylophora pistillata for two coral isoforms which differ significantly in their catalytic activity and susceptibility to inhibition with anions and sulfonamides. More recently it has been determined that the genome of S. pistillata encodes for 16 CAs. Here, we cloned, expressed, purified and characterized a novel α-CA, named SpiCA3, which is cytoplasmic and ubiquitously expressed in all the cell layers including the calcifying cells. SpiCA3 is the most effective CA among the coral isoforms investigated and the most efficient catalyst known up to date in Metazoa. We also investigated the inhibition profiles of SpiCA3 and compared it with those obtained for the two other isoforms in the presence of inorganic anions and other small molecules known to interfere with metalloenzymes. These results suggest that S. pistillata has adapted its CA isoforms to achieve the physiological functions in different physicochemical microenvironments.}, } @article {pmid30036752, year = {2018}, author = {He, Q and Chen, L and Zhang, S and Chen, R and Wang, H and Zhang, W and Song, J}, title = {Natural sunlight induced rapid formation of water-born algal-bacterial granules in an aerobic bacterial granular photo-sequencing batch reactor.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {359}, number = {}, pages = {222-230}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.07.051}, pmid = {30036752}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Bacteria, Aerobic/growth & development/metabolism/*radiation effects ; *Bioreactors ; Chlorophyta/growth & development/*radiation effects ; Diatoms/growth & development ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia ; Sewage ; *Sunlight ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Wastewater treatment by means of algal-bacterial granules has become a hot topic worldwide recently. Rapid granulation of algal-bacterial granules was achieved in an aerobic bacterial granular sequencing batch reactor (SBR) under natural sunlight exposure. Occurrence of abundant filamentous bacteria bridging the water-born algae, and overproduction of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) (especially polysaccharides (PS), tryptophan & protein-like, and humic acid-like substances) were observed on the first 3 days, while the algae grew into the inner side of the granules and mature granules were obtained on day 7. The growth of the water-born algae slightly decreased the settleability, mean sizes of the granules, but stimulated the bioactivity significantly. Whereas, the biomass retention decreased before day 3, and got stable soon with the maturation period with symbiotic growth of algal-bacterial biomass. Illumina results revealed that the introduction of algae reduced the richness and diversity of bacterial community. Besides, few changes in structure and some compositions shifts in bacterial communities were found, while the predominant algae shifted from Diatomea to green algae Chlorophyceae. The possible mechanism for natural sunlight induced granulation of algal-bacterial granules was thus proposed based on the interactions between algae and bacteria.}, } @article {pmid30034913, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, Z and Zhong, W}, title = {Targeting the gut barrier for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease.}, journal = {Liver research}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {197-207}, pmid = {30034913}, issn = {2096-2878}, support = {P30 DK056350/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA018844/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA020212/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Alcohol consumption remains one of the predominant causes of liver disease and liver-related death worldwide. Intriguingly, dysregulation of the gut barrier is a key factor promoting the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). A functional gut barrier, which consists of a mucus layer, an intact epithelial monolayer and mucosal immune cells, supports nutrient absorption and prevents bacterial penetration. Compromised gut barrier function is associated with the progression of ALD. Indeed, alcohol consumption disrupts the gut barrier, increases gut permeability, and induces bacterial translocation both in ALD patients and in experimental models with ALD. Moreover, alcohol consumption also causes enteric dysbiosis with both numerical and proportional perturbations. Here, we review and discuss mechanisms of alcohol-induced gut barrier dysfunction to better understand the contribution of the gut-liver axis to the pathogenesis of ALD. Unfortunately, there is no effectual Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for any stage of ALD. Therefore, we conclude with a discussion of potential strategies aimed at restoring the gut barrier in ALD. The principle behind antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics and fecal microbiota transplants is to restore microbial symbiosis and subsequently gut barrier function. Nutrient-based treatments, such as dietary supplementation with zinc, niacin or fatty acids, have been shown to regulate tight junction expression, reduce intestinal inflammation, and prevent endotoxemia as well as liver injury caused by alcohol in experimental settings. Interestingly, saturated fatty acids may also directly control the gut microbiome. In summary, clinical and experimental studies highlight the significance and efficacy of the gut barrier in treating ALD.}, } @article {pmid30033490, year = {2018}, author = {Zhao, L and Ahmad, F and Lu, M and Zhang, W and Wickham, JD and Sun, J}, title = {Ascarosides Promote the Prevalence of Ophiostomatoid Fungi and an Invasive Pathogenic Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {7-8}, pages = {701-710}, pmid = {30033490}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; China ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Glycolipids/*metabolism ; Insect Vectors/physiology ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Tylenchida/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding the coevolution of pathogens and their associated mycoflora depend upon a proper elucidation of the basis of their chemical communication. In the case of pine wilt disease, the mutual interactions between cerambycid beetles, invasive pathogenic nematodes, (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and their symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungi provide a unique opportunity to understand the role of small molecules in mediating their chemical communication. Nematodes produce ascarosides, a highly conserved family of small molecules that serve essential functions in nematode biology and ecology. Here we demonstrated that the associated fungi, one of the key natural food resources of pine wood nematodes, can detect and respond to these ascarosides. We found that ascarosides significantly increase the growth of L. pini-densiflorae and Sporothrix sp. 1, which are native fungal species in China that form a symbiotic relationship with pinewood nematodes. Hyphal mass of L. pini-densiflorae increased when treated with asc-C5 compared to other ophiostomatoid species. Field results demonstrated that in forests where higher numbers of PWN were isolated from beetle galleries, L. pini-densiflorae had been prevalent; the same results were confirmed in laboratory studies. Furthermore, when treated with asc-C5, L. pini-densiflorae responded by increasing its production of spores, which leads to a higher likelihood of dispersal by insect vectors, hence explaining the dominance of L. pini-densiflorae over S. sp. 1 in the Tianwang and Nanlu Mountains within the Northern Forestry Centre of China. These findings provide an emphatic representation of coevolution of pine wood nematode and its associated fungi. Our results lay a broader foundation for a better understanding of inter-kingdom mutualisms and the chemical signals that mediate their establishment.}, } @article {pmid30032781, year = {2018}, author = {Lenoir, A and Devers, S}, title = {Alkaloid secretion inhibited by antibiotics in Aphaenogaster ants.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {341}, number = {6}, pages = {358-361}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2018.06.004}, pmid = {30032781}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Ants ; Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Although alkaloids are frequent in the poison glands of ants of the genus Aphaenogaster, this is not the case for A. iberica. Hypothesizing that in the genus Aphaenogaster, alkaloids are produced by symbiotic bacteria, except for A. iberica, we treated an experimental lot of both A. iberica and a 'classical' Aphaenogaster species, A. senilis, with an antibiotic. Compared to workers from a control lot, this treatment reduced considerably alkaloid production in A. senilis, whereas A. iberica did not react to the treatment. Furthermore, the treatment induced an increase in cuticular hydrocarbon quantities in A. senilis, but not in A. iberica. An analysis of the ant microbiota will be the next step to confirm our hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid30032373, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Q and Tang, H and Yuan, X and Zuo, J and Zhang, J and Gao, Z and Hong, J}, title = {Investigating vulnerability of ecological industrial symbiosis network based on automatic control theory.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {25}, number = {27}, pages = {27321-27333}, pmid = {30032373}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Ecology ; *Industry ; Models, Theoretical ; Systems Theory ; }, abstract = {System fluctuations of eco-industrial symbiosis network (EISN) organization due to disturbance are very similar to the controller adjustment in the automatic control theory. Thus, a methodology is proposed in this study to assess the vulnerability of EISN based on the automatic control theory. The results show that the regulator plays a key role to enhance the resilience of the network system to vulnerability. Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen the real-time regulation and control of EISN so that the system stability is improved. In order to further explore the impact of various regulations on the system vulnerability, the influence of system stability is simulated by means of proportional, differential, and integral control. A case study with Guigang eco-industrial park (EIP) was undertaken to test this model. The results showed that when the system was disturbed at different positions, the key nodes which had great influence on system vulnerability could be selected according to the magnitude of simulation curve. By changing the ratio coefficient of proportional, differential, and integral units to adjust the ecological chain network, the system's resilience to vulnerability can be enhanced. Firstly, if basic conditions of EISN organization remain unchanged, the integral control of the policy support and infrastructure sharing should be strengthened. Secondly, the differential regulation should be improved continuously for the technological innovation capability of key node enterprises. Finally, the key chain filling projects should be introduced for proportional control so that the chain network design can be optimized from the source.}, } @article {pmid30031478, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, YH and Wang, ET and Jiao, YS and Tian, CF and Wang, L and Wang, ZJ and Guan, JJ and Singh, RP and Chen, WX and Chen, WF}, title = {Symbiotic characteristics of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 mutants associated with shrubby sophora (Sophora flavescens) and soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {214}, number = {}, pages = {19-27}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.05.012}, pmid = {30031478}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Deletion ; Host Specificity ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Sophora/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Site-specific insertion plasmid pVO155 was used to knockout the genes involved in the alternation of host range of strain Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 from its original determinate-nodule-forming host soybean (Glycine max), to promiscuous and indeterminate-nodule-forming shrubby legume sophora (Sophora flavescens). Symbiotic phenotypes of these mutants inoculated to these two legumes, were compared to those infected by wild-type strain USDA 110. Six genes of the total fourteen Tn5 transposon mutated genes were broken using the pVO155 plasmid. Both Tn5 and pVO155-inserted mutants could nodulate S. flavescens with different morphologies of low-efficient indeterminate nodules. One to several rod or irregular bacteroids, containing different contents of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate or polyphosphate were found within the symbiosomes in nodulated cells of S. flavescens infected by the pVO155-inserted mutants. Moreover, none of bacteroids were observed in the pseudonodules of S. flavescens, infected by wild-type strain USDA 110. These mutants had the nodulation ability with soybean but the symbiotic efficiency reduced to diverse extents. These findings enlighten the complicated interactions between rhizobia and legumes, i. e., mutation of genes involved in metabolic pathways, transporters, chemotaxis and mobility could alter the rhizobial entry and development of the bacteroid inside the nodules of a new host legume.}, } @article {pmid30030730, year = {2019}, author = {Nouioui, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Jando, M and Tisa, LS and Klenk, HP and Gtari, M}, title = {Frankia torreyi sp. nov., the first actinobacterium of the genus Frankia Brunchorst 1886, 174[AL] isolated in axenic culture.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {57-65}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1131-8}, pmid = {30030730}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Axenic Culture ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Frankia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Myricaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Strain CpI1[T] was, in 1978, the first isolate of the genus Frankia to be obtained from Comptonia peregrina root nodules. In this study, a polyphasic approach was performed to identify the taxonomic position of strain CpI1[T] among the members of the genus Frankia. The strain contains meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose and xylose as cell wall sugars. The polar lipids were found to consist of phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycophospholipids, phosphatidylglycerol, an aminophospholipid and unidentified phospholipids and lipids. The predominant menaquinone was identified as MK-9 (H8), while the major fatty acid are iso-C16:0 and C17:1ω 8c. The 16S rRNA gene sequence identity varies from 97.4 to 99.6% with the type strains of currently described Frankia species. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) using atp1, ftsZ, dnaK, gyrA and secA gene sequences showed that strain CpI1[T] is closely related to Frankia alni ACN14a[T]. The genome size of strain CpI1[T] is 7.6 Mb with a digital DNA G+C content of 72.4%. Digital DNA:DNA hybridization (values between strain CpI1[T] and its close phylogenetic relative F. alni ACN14a[T] was 44.1%, well below the threshold of 70% for distinguishing between bacterial genomic species. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strain CpI1[T] (= DSM44263[T] = CECT9035[T]) warrants classification as the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Frankia torreyi sp. nov. is proposed.}, } @article {pmid30030225, year = {2018}, author = {Thompson, CM and Marsden, AE and Tischler, AH and Koo, J and Visick, KL}, title = {Vibrio fischeri Biofilm Formation Prevented by a Trio of Regulators.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {30030225}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hawaii ; Histidine Kinase/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biofilms, complex communities of microorganisms surrounded by a self-produced matrix, facilitate attachment and provide protection to bacteria. A natural model used to study biofilm formation is the symbiosis between Vibrio fischeri and its host, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes Host-relevant biofilm formation is a tightly regulated process and is observed in vitro only with strains that have been genetically manipulated to overexpress or disrupt specific regulators, primarily two-component signaling (TCS) regulators. These regulators control biofilm formation by dictating the production of the symbiosis polysaccharide (Syp-PS), the major component of the biofilm matrix. Control occurs both at and below the level of transcription of the syp genes, which are responsible for Syp-PS production. Here, we probed the roles of the two known negative regulators of biofilm formation, BinK and SypE, by generating double mutants. We also mapped and evaluated a point mutation using natural transformation and linkage analysis. We examined traditional biofilm formation phenotypes and established a new assay for evaluating the start of biofilm formation in the form of microscopic aggregates in shaking liquid cultures, in the absence of the known biofilm-inducing signal calcium. We found that wrinkled colony formation is negatively controlled not only by BinK and SypE but also by SypF. SypF is both required for and inhibitory to biofilm formation. Together, these data reveal that these three regulators are sufficient to prevent wild-type V. fischeri from forming biofilms under these conditions.IMPORTANCE Bacterial biofilms promote attachment to a variety of surfaces and protect the constituent bacteria from environmental stresses, including antimicrobials. Understanding the mechanisms by which biofilms form will promote our ability to resolve them when they occur in the context of an infection. In this study, we found that Vibrio fischeri tightly controls biofilm formation using three negative regulators; the presence of a single one of these regulators was sufficient to prevent full biofilm development, while disruption of all three permitted robust biofilm formation. This work increases our understanding of the functions of specific regulators and demonstrates the substantial negative control that one benign microbe exerts over biofilm formation, potentially to ensure that it occurs only under the appropriate conditions.}, } @article {pmid30029077, year = {2018}, author = {Petersen, KL and Paytan, A and Rahav, E and Levy, O and Silverman, J and Barzel, O and Potts, D and Bar-Zeev, E}, title = {Impact of brine and antiscalants on reef-building corals in the Gulf of Aqaba - Potential effects from desalination plants.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {183-191}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2018.07.009}, pmid = {30029077}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Ecotoxicology/*methods ; Indian Ocean ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Osmosis ; Salinity ; Seawater/chemistry ; Water Purification/*methods ; }, abstract = {Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) is becoming an increasingly important source of potable water in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Discharge of brine-effluent from desalination facilities has been shown to significantly impact coastal marine ecosystems ranging from seagrass meadows to microbial communities. In this study, we examined the impacts of increased salinity (10% above ambient) and presence of antiscalants (0.2 mg L[-1], polyphosphonate-based) on three reef-building coral species; Stylophora pistillata, Acropora tenuis and Pocillopora verrucosa, from the Gulf of Aqaba (northern Red-Sea). Our results indicate that the corals, as well as associated bacteria and algae, were significantly impaired by the elevated salinity and antiscalants, leading to partial bleaching. Specifically, the abundance of bacteria and symbiotic algae as well as calcification rates were typically lower (20-85%, 50-90% and 40-50%, respectively) following incubations with both amendments. However, the impact of desalination brine was often species-specific. Thus, we propose that the ecotoxicological criteria used for hard corals should be determined based on the sensitivity of key species in the community dominating the area affected by desalination discharge.}, } @article {pmid30028635, year = {2018}, author = {Slone, HS and Buckner, JF and Hewson, K and Barr, MJ and Crawford, T and Woolf, SK}, title = {Economic impact of outreach athletic trainers on a health system: implications for program growth and sustainability.}, journal = {The Physician and sportsmedicine}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {460-465}, doi = {10.1080/00913847.2018.1502570}, pmid = {30028635}, issn = {2326-3660}, mesh = {Athletes ; *Employment ; Health Services/*economics ; Humans ; Orthopedics/economics ; Referral and Consultation ; Schools ; Sports ; Sports Medicine/*economics ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: There are numerous benefits of organized athletics, but there is an inherent risk with competitive participation. The need for proper care for high school and community athletes can be met with comprehensive community sports medicine programs, and the employment of certified athletic trainers (AT-Cs). The benefit of clinic-based AT-C has been clearly demonstrated, but there has been little published on the economics of outreach AT-C serving directly in the community. Our hypothesis was that outreach AT-Cs are economically sustainable to an academic health system.

METHODS: Evaluation of clinical business generated from the outreach Sports Medicine AT-C program at our institution was performed from fiscal years 2012 to 2015 to determine new referrals, billable patient encounters (bpe), and corresponding revenue generated. Data were retrieved from an existing aggregate business analysis, including both professional billing and hospital billing; data were restricted to the fiscal year of the initial referral. Both new patients and patients with established care were identified. Total revenue was determined, as well as the distribution across clinical departments within our health system.

RESULTS: 8570 bpe resulted from 843 patients referred into the system, yielding $2286,733 in total revenue. Of these, 187 were new patients, yielding 1602 bpe. Each patient generated an average of 10.17 bpe, by combining revenue across services; this yielded an average of $2712 per patient generated through the AT-C program.

CONCLUSION: Affiliation between a health system and community sports teams through an outreach AT-C program is an economically sustainable, symbiotic relationship. Additionally, there is not only a positive economic impact for sports medicine and orthopaedic providers but also a distinct benefit to the entire health system. This is the first study to demonstrate that an outreach AT-C program is financially sustainable and directly benefits the entire health system across many subspecialties.}, } @article {pmid30027377, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Q and Tang, H and Qiu, S and Yuan, X and Zuo, J}, title = {Robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network: a case study of China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {25}, number = {27}, pages = {27203-27213}, pmid = {30027377}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; *Industry ; *Models, Theoretical ; }, abstract = {As a complex network, eco-industrial symbiosis network is featured with complexity, openness, and non-linearity. A methodology is proposed to analyze and optimize the eco-industrial symbiosis network from the perspective of complex network theory. Structural robustness index and performance robustness index are established as the analysis model. Consequently, a robust method is developed to optimize the eco-industrial symbiosis network system based on the percolation theory. A conceptual framework is put forward to improve the robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network system by introducing the "spare core" enterprise which is validated by quantitative analysis. The empirical results show that the robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network varies under both random failure and intentional disturbance scenarios. However, eco-industrial symbiosis network system has strong self-regulation capability as long as the core enterprise is still in operation. It is recommended that supplementary chain could be added to those enterprises with lower network node connectivity to form "spare core" enterprise. This can not only effectively reduce the dependence of other enterprises on core enterprises, but also further improve the robustness of eco-industrial symbiosis network. This methodology is practically validated by a case analysis of eco-industrial park in China. The findings provide useful inputs to the design and operation of eco-industrial parks.}, } @article {pmid30026595, year = {2018}, author = {Gully, D and Czernic, P and Cruveiller, S and Mahé, F and Longin, C and Vallenet, D and François, P and Nidelet, S and Rialle, S and Giraud, E and Arrighi, JF and DasGupta, M and Cartieaux, F}, title = {Transcriptome Profiles of Nod Factor-independent Symbiosis in the Tropical Legume Aeschynomene evenia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {10934}, pmid = {30026595}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {IFC/5103-4/2014/543//Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la Recherche Avancée)/International ; IFC/5103-4/2014/543//Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la Recherche Avancée)/International ; IFC/5103-4/2014/543//Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la Recherche Avancée)/International ; ANR-SESAM-2010-BLAN-170801//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; ANR-SESAM-2010-BLAN-170801//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; ANR-SESAM-2010-BLAN-170801//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; ANR-SESAM-2010-BLAN-170801//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/growth & development/*physiology ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Nod factors (NF) were assumed to be indispensable for the establishment of a rhizobium-legume symbiosis until the discovery that certain Bradyrhizobium strains interacting with certain Aeschynomene species lack the canonical nodABC genes required for their synthesis. So far, the molecular dialogue between Aeschynomene and its symbionts remains an open question. Here we report a time course transcriptional analysis of Aeschynomene evenia in response to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium ORS278. The NF-independent symbiotic process was monitored at five time points between bacterial infection and nodule maturity. The five time points correspond to three specific events, root infection by crack entry, nodule organogenesis, and the establishment of the nitrogen fixing process. During the third stage, about 80 NCR-like genes and eight symbiotic genes known to be involved in signaling, bacterial infection or nodulation regulation were highly expressed. Comparative gene expression analyses at the five time points also enabled the selection of genes with an expression profile that makes them promising markers to monitor early plant responses to bacteria. Such markers could be used in bioassays to identify the nature of the bacterial signal(s). Our data represent valuable resources for investigation of this Nod factor-independent symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30026291, year = {2018}, author = {Magne, K and Couzigou, JM and Schiessl, K and Liu, S and George, J and Zhukov, V and Sahl, L and Boyer, F and Iantcheva, A and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Citerne, S and Oldroyd, GED and Ratet, P}, title = {MtNODULE ROOT1 and MtNODULE ROOT2 Are Essential for Indeterminate Nodule Identity.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {178}, number = {1}, pages = {295-316}, pmid = {30026291}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Meristem/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between legume plants and rhizobia result in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules, but the molecular actors and the mechanisms allowing for the maintenance of nodule identity are poorly understood. Medicago truncatula NODULE ROOT1 (MtNOOT1), Pisum sativum COCHLEATA1 (PsCOCH1), and Lotus japonicus NOOT-BOP-COCH-LIKE1 (LjNBCL1) are orthologs of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) AtBLADE-ON-PETIOLE1/2 and are members of the NBCL gene family, which has conserved roles in plant development and is essential for indeterminate and determinate nodule identity in legumes. The loss of function of MtNOOT1, PsCOCH1, and LjNBCL1 triggers a partial loss of nodule identity characterized by the development of ectopic roots arising from nodule vascular meristems. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a second gene involved in regulating indeterminate nodule identity in M. truncatula, MtNOOT2MtNOOT2 is the paralog of MtNOOT1 and belongs to a second legume-specific NBCL subclade, the NBCL2 clade. MtNOOT2 expression was induced during early nodule formation, and it was expressed primarily in the nodule central meristem. Mtnoot2 mutants did not present any particular symbiotic phenotype; however, the loss of function of both MtNOOT1 and MtNOOT2 resulted in the complete loss of nodule identity and was accompanied by drastic changes in the expression of symbiotic, defense, and root apical meristem marker genes. Mtnoot1 noot2 double mutants developed only nonfixing root-like structures that were no longer able to host symbiotic rhizobia. This study provides original insights into the molecular basis underlying nodule identity in legumes forming indeterminate nodules.}, } @article {pmid30025219, year = {2018}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Znojek, E}, title = {Localization of calreticulin and calcium ions in mycorrhizal roots of Medicago truncatula in response to aluminum stress.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {229}, number = {}, pages = {22-31}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2018.05.014}, pmid = {30025219}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Aluminum/*toxicity ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calreticulin/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Aluminum (Al) toxicity limits growth and symbiotic interactions of plants. Calcium plays essential roles in abiotic stresses and legume-Rhizobium symbiosis, but the sites and mechanism of Ca[2+] mobilization during mycorrhizae have not been analyzed. In this study, the changes of cytoplasmic Ca[2+] and calreticulin (CRT) in Medicago truncatula mycorrhizal (MR) and non-mycorrizal (NM) roots under short Al stress [50 μM AlCl3 pH 4.3 for 3 h] were analyzed. Free Ca[2+] ions were detected cytochemically by their reaction with potassium pyroantimonate and anti-CRT antibody was used to locate this protein in Medicago roots by immunocytochemical methods. In MR and NM roots, Al induced accumulation of CRT and free Ca[2+]. Similar calcium and CRT distribution in the MR were found at the surface of fungal structures (arbuscules and intercellular hyphae), cell wall and in plasmodesmata, and in plant and fungal intracellular compartments. Additionally, degenerated arbuscules were associated with intense Ca[2+] and CRT accumulation. In NM roots, Ca[2+] and CRT epitopes were observed in the stele, near wall of cortex and endodermis. The present study provides new insight into Ca[2+] storage and mobilization in mycorrhizae symbiosis. The colocalization of CRT and Ca[2+] suggests that CRT is essential for calcium mobilization for normal mycorrhiza development and response to Al stress.}, } @article {pmid30023820, year = {2018}, author = {Lee, SJ and Samala, M and Woo, SY and Hahn, D and Kim, D and Kadayat, TM and Jung, K and Kim, J and Kim, DS and Kwon, S and Kim, S and Kim, KH and Nam, SJ and Cho, SJ and Chin, J}, title = {Enantioselective Synthesis of a Novel Thiazoline Core as a Potent Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor δ Agonist.}, journal = {ACS omega}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {1970-1976}, pmid = {30023820}, issn = {2470-1343}, abstract = {The convergent and enantioselective synthesis of a highly potent human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonist is presented. More specifically, the thiazoline structure, which constitutes the biosynthetically distinctive core structure of pulicatin (a secondary metabolite of symbiotic bacteria), was synthesized from a commercially available and inexpensive chiral pool of l-threonine.}, } @article {pmid30022986, year = {2018}, author = {Gough, C and Cottret, L and Lefebvre, B and Bono, JJ}, title = {Evolutionary History of Plant LysM Receptor Proteins Related to Root Endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {923}, pmid = {30022986}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {LysM receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs), which are specific to plants, can control establishment of both the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and the rhizobium-legume (RL) symbioses in response to signal molecules produced, respectively, by the fungal and bacterial symbiotic partners. While most studies on these proteins have been performed in legume species, there are also important findings that demonstrate the roles of LysM-RLKs in controlling symbiosis in non-legume plants. Phylogenomic studies, which have revealed the presence or absence of certain LysM-RLKs among different plant species, have provided insight into the evolutionary mechanisms underlying both the acquisition and the loss of symbiotic properties. The role of a key nodulation LysM-RLK, NFP/NFR5, in legume plants has thus probably been co-opted from an ancestral role in the AM symbiosis, and has been lost in most plant species that have lost the ability to establish the AM or the RL symbiosis. Another LysM-RLK, LYK3/NFR1, that controls the RL symbiosis probably became neo-functionalised following two rounds of gene duplication. Evidence suggests that a third LysM-RLK, LYR3/LYS12, is also implicated in perceiving microbial symbiotic signals, and this protein could have roles in symbiosis and/or plant immunity in different plant species. By focusing on these three LysM-RLKs that are widespread in plants we review their evolutionary history and what this can tell us about the evolution of both the RL and the AM symbioses.}, } @article {pmid30022580, year = {2018}, author = {Samo, TJ and Kimbrel, JA and Nilson, DJ and Pett-Ridge, J and Weber, PK and Mayali, X}, title = {Attachment between heterotrophic bacteria and microalgae influences symbiotic microscale interactions.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {4385-4400}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14357}, pmid = {30022580}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {SCW1039//Department of Energy's Genome Sciences Program/International ; AC52-07NA27344//Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/International ; //Texas A&M University/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biofuels ; Carbon/metabolism ; Diatoms/metabolism/microbiology ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Microalgae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The surface and surroundings of microalgal cells (phycosphere) are critical interaction zones but have been difficult to functionally interrogate due to methodological limitations. We examined effects of phycosphere-associated bacteria for two biofuel-relevant microalgal species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Nannochloropsis salina) using stable isotope tracing and high spatial resolution mass spectrometry imaging (NanoSIMS) to quantify elemental exchanges at the single-cell level. Each algal species responded differently to bacterial attachment. In P. tricornutum, a high percentage of cells had attached bacteria (92%-98%, up to eight bacteria per alga) and fixed 64% more carbon with attached bacteria compared to axenic cells. In contrast, N. salina cells were less commonly associated with bacteria (42%-63%), harboured fewer bacteria per alga, and fixed 10% more carbon without attached bacteria compared to axenic cells. An uncultivated bacterium related to Haliscomenobacter sp. was identified as an effective mutualist; it increased carbon fixation when attached to P. tricornutum and incorporated 71% more algal-fixed carbon relative to other bacteria. Our results illustrate how phylogenetic identity and physical location of bacteria and algae facilitate diverse metabolic responses. Phycosphere-mediated, mutualistic chemical exchanges between autotrophs and heterotrophs may be a fruitful means to increase microalgal productivity for applied engineering efforts.}, } @article {pmid30022157, year = {2018}, author = {Li, Y and Liles, MR and Halanych, KM}, title = {Endosymbiont genomes yield clues of tubeworm success.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {2785-2795}, pmid = {30022157}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon Cycle ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Photosynthesis ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Forty years after discovery of chemosynthetic symbiosis in the tubeworm Riftia pachyptila, how organisms maintain their unique host-symbiont associations at the cellular level is still largely unknown. Previous studies primarily focus on symbionts associated with host lineages living in hydrothermal vents. To understand physiological adaptations and evolution in these holobiont systems in markedly different habitats, we characterized four novel siboglinid-symbiont genomes spanning deep-sea seep and sedimented environments. Our comparative analyses suggest that all sampled siboglinid chemoautotrophic symbionts, except for frenulate symbionts, can use both rTCA and Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. We hypothesize that over evolutionary time siboglinids have been able to utilize different bacterial lineages allowing greater metabolic flexibility of carbon fixation (e.g., rTCA) enabling tubeworms to thrive in more reducing habitats, such as vents and seeps. Moreover, we show that sulfur metabolism and molecular mechanisms related to initial infection are remarkably conserved across chemoautotrophic symbionts in different habitats. Unexpectedly, we find that the ability to use hydrogen, as an additional energy source, is potentially more widespread than previously recognized. Our comparative genomic results help elucidate potential mechanisms used to allow chemosynthetically dependent holobionts adapt to, and evolve in, different environments.}, } @article {pmid30019154, year = {2018}, author = {Scopel, W and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Culturable symbionts associated with the reproductive and digestive tissues of the Neotropical brown stinkbug Euschistus heros.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {12}, pages = {2413-2424}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1130-9}, pmid = {30019154}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Brazil ; Culture Media/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Enterococcaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Intestines/microbiology ; Male ; Ovary/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seminal Vesicles/microbiology ; Staphylococcaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbionts are widely distributed in eukaryotes, and potentially affect the physiology, ecology and evolution of their host. Most insects harbour free-living bacteria in their haemocoel and gut lumen, intracellular-living bacteria in a range of tissues or bacteria in host-derived specialized cells. Stinkbugs, as do many arthropods, harbour extracellular bacteria in the gut that may affect the fitness of their host. This study identified the culturable symbionts associated with the ovaries, spermatheca, seminal vesicle and posterior midgut region (V4) of males and females of Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Several culture media were used to isolate the bacteria associated with these structures. The selected colonies (morphotypes) were cultured in liquid medium, subjected to genomic DNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene amplification, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. Morphotypes with distinct RFLP patterns were purified and sequenced, and the sequences obtained were used for putative identification and phylogenetic analysis. Comparison of the sequences with those available in the EzTaxon-e database and the use of a matrix of paired distances grouped the isolates in phylotypes belonging to the Phylum Proteobacteria. Proteobacteria was represented by γ-Proteobacteria phylotypes belonging to Enterobacteriaceae, while Firmicutes had Bacilli phylotypes distributed in Enterococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae. Some of the phylotypes identified were associated exclusively with single structures, such as ovaries, spermatheca and the V4 midgut region of males and females. All culturable bacteria associated with the seminal vesicle were also associated with other tissues.}, } @article {pmid30018611, year = {2018}, author = {Berdeni, D and Cotton, TEA and Daniell, TJ and Bidartondo, MI and Cameron, DD and Evans, KL}, title = {The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation on Nutrient Status, Growth, Productivity, and Canker Resistance of Apple (Malus pumila).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1461}, pmid = {30018611}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {BB/L027925/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {We assess whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improve growth, nutritional status, phenology, flower and fruit production, and disease resistance in woody perennial crops using apple (Malus pumila) as a study system. In a fully factorial experiment, young trees were grown for 3 years with or without AMF (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis), and with industrial standard fertiliser applications or restricted fertiliser (10% of standard). We use two commercial scions (Dabinett and Michelin) and rootstocks (MM111 and MM106). Industrial standard fertiliser applications reduced AMF colonisation and root biomass, potentially increasing drought sensitivity. Mycorrhizal status was influenced by above ground genotypes (scion type) but not rootstocks, indicating strong interactions between above and below ground plant tissue. The AMF inoculation significantly increased resistance to Neonectria ditissima, a globally economically significant fungal pathogen of apple orchards, but did not consistently alter leaf nutrients, growth, phenology or fruit and flower production. This study significantly advances understanding of AMF benefits to woody perennial crops, especially increased disease resistance which we show is not due to improved tree nutrition or drought alleviation. Breeding programmes and standard management practises can limit the potential for these benefits.}, } @article {pmid30018360, year = {2018}, author = {Borovec, O and Vohník, M}, title = {Ontogenetic transition from specialized root hairs to specific root-fungus symbiosis in the dominant Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {10773}, pmid = {30018360}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Alismatales/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/physiology ; Mediterranean Sea ; Mycelium/physiology ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial plants typically take up nutrients through roots or mycorrhizae while freshwater plants additionally utilize leaves. Their nutrient uptake may be enhanced by root hairs whose occurrence is often negatively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization. Seagrasses utilize both leaves and roots and often form root hairs, but seem to be devoid of mycorrhizae. The Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica is an exception: its adults commonly lack root hairs and regularly form a specific association with a single pleosporalean fungus. Here we show that at two sites in the southern Adriatic, all its seedlings possessed abundant root hairs with peculiar morphology (swollen terminal parts) and anatomy (spirally formed cell walls) as apparent adaptations for better attachment to the substrate and increase of breaking strain. Later on, their roots became colonized by dark septate mycelium while root hairs were reduced. In adults, most of terminal fine roots possessed the specific fungal association while root hairs were absent. These observations indicate for the first time that processes regulating transition from root hairs to root fungal colonization exist also in some seagrasses. This ontogenetic shift in root traits may suggests an involvement of the specific root symbiosis in the nutrient uptake by the dominant Mediterranean seagrass.}, } @article {pmid30018085, year = {2018}, author = {Burke, GR and Walden, KKO and Whitfield, JB and Robertson, HM and Strand, MR}, title = {Whole Genome Sequence of the Parasitoid Wasp Microplitis demolitor That Harbors an Endogenous Virus Mutualist.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {2875-2880}, pmid = {30018085}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {F32 AI096552/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Genome, Viral ; *Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Proviruses/*genetics ; Viral Proteins/*genetics ; *Wasps/genetics/virology ; }, abstract = {Microplitis demolitor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a parasitoid used as a biological control agent to control larval-stage Lepidoptera and serves as a model for studying the function and evolution of symbiotic viruses in the genus Bracovirus Here we present the M. demolitor genome (assembly version 2.0), with a genome size of 241 Mb, and a N50 scaffold and contig size of 1.1 Mb and 14 Kb, respectively. Using RNA-Seq data and manual annotation of genes of viral origin, we produced a high-quality gene set that includes 18,586 eukaryotic and 171 virus-derived protein-coding genes. Bracoviruses are dsDNA viruses with unusual genome architecture, in which the viral genome is integrated into the wasp genome and is comprised of two distinct components: proviral segments that are amplified, circularized, and packaged into virions for export into the wasp's host via oviposition; and replication genes. This genome assembly revealed that at least two scaffolds contain both nudivirus-like genes and proviral segments, demonstrating that at least some of these components are near each other in the genome on a single chromosome. The updated assembly and annotation are available in several publicly accessible databases; including the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the Ag Data Commons. In addition, all raw sequence data available for M. demolitor have been consolidated and are available for visualization at the i5k Workspace. This whole genome assembly and annotation represents the only genome-scale, annotated assembly from the lineage of parasitoid wasps that has associations with bracoviruses (the 'microgastroid complex'), providing important baseline knowledge about the architecture of co-opted virus symbiont genomes.}, } @article {pmid30017857, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, L and Zhang, Y and Zhang, S and Deng, J and Lu, M and Zhang, L and Zhang, J}, title = {Comparative analysis of the immune system of an invasive bark beetle, Dendroctonus valens, infected by an entomopathogenic fungus.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {88}, number = {}, pages = {65-69}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2018.07.002}, pmid = {30017857}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/*immunology/pathogenicity ; China ; Coleoptera/*immunology/microbiology ; Forests ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Introduced Species ; Larva/immunology/microbiology ; Ophiostomatales/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Phylogeny ; Pinus ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Transcriptome/immunology ; }, abstract = {Dendroctonus valens LeConte is one of the most economically important forest pest in China. Leptographium procerum, a mutualistic fungus can assist the host beetle in overcoming the pine's chemical defenses, and Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus has shown high beetle killing efficiency. Considering that the D. valens immune system remains unknown at the genomic level, a mutualistic and antagonistic fungus associated with the beetle provides an ideal model for studying immune interactions between the insect and associated fungi. Here, B. bassiana killed most tested larvae more effectively than L. procerum and Tween. The entomopathogenic fungus provoked stronger responses than the symbiotic fungus at the transcriptome level. We identified 185 immunity-related genes, including pattern recognition receptors, signal modulators, members of immune pathways (Toll, IMD, and JAK/STAT), and immune effectors. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis confirmed that several recognition receptors and effector genes were activated at 1 or 2 days post infection, while the effector genes were suppressed at 4 days post infection by B. bassiana, respectively. In contrast, effector genes were upregulated in response to L. procerum. Together, this study provides a comprehensive sequence resource and insight into the D. valens immune system and lays a basis for understanding the molecular aspects of the interaction between the host and associated fungi.}, } @article {pmid30015613, year = {2018}, author = {Kato, J and Dey, S and Soto, JE and Butan, C and Wilkinson, MC and De Guzman, RN and Galan, JE}, title = {A protein secreted by the Salmonella type III secretion system controls needle filament assembly.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {30015613}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {AI074856/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI074856/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103418/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI079022/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P20GM103418/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI079022/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI079022/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; K12 GM063651/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; CpG Islands ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Models, Molecular ; Mutation/genetics ; Polymerization ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Salmonella typhimurium/cytology/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Type III Secretion Systems/*chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Type III protein secretion systems (T3SS) are encoded by several pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria. The central component of this nanomachine is the needle complex. Here we show in a Salmonella Typhimurium T3SS that assembly of the needle filament of this structure requires OrgC, a protein encoded within the T3SS gene cluster. Absence of OrgC results in significantly reduced number of needle substructures but does not affect needle length. We show that OrgC is secreted by the T3SS and that exogenous addition of OrgC can complement a ∆orgC mutation. We also show that OrgC interacts with the needle filament subunit PrgI and accelerates its polymerization into filaments in vitro. The structure of OrgC shows a novel fold with a shared topology with a domain from flagellar capping proteins. These findings identify a novel component of T3SS and provide new insight into the assembly of the type III secretion machine.}, } @article {pmid30015360, year = {2019}, author = {Tible, O and Mendez, M and von Gunten, A}, title = {Phenomenological contribution to understanding of vocally disruptive behaviour: A clinical case study in a patient with dementia.}, journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry}, volume = {34}, number = {9}, pages = {1294-1300}, doi = {10.1002/gps.4947}, pmid = {30015360}, issn = {1099-1166}, mesh = {Aged, 80 and over ; Anxiety, Separation/*complications ; Dementia/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Problem Behavior/*psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) cause great suffering in patients and their families. Phenomenology can help clarify the diagnosis and propose some new therapeutic responses using Daseinsanalyse. Separation issues understood using the phenomenological description of the melancholic type (MT) by Tellenbach may further shed light on our understanding of depression in dementia.

SUBJECT AND METHODS: In a 90-year-old woman presenting with advanced (Clinical Dementia Rating 3) mixed dementia and BPSD in the form of vocally disruptive behaviour (VDB), we discuss separation anxiety as the aetiopathogenic hypothesis. Depression and BPSD were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Cornell scale, and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale to confirm our second phenomenological diagnostic hypothesis, ie, melancholy. The Big Five Inventory scale filled in by a proxy was also used to evaluate the patient's premorbid personality. We then propose an explanatory frame of VDB and depression through the standard phenomenological assessment of its relation to time, space, self, and other.

RESULTS: Confirming MT, we found an inhibited temperament and low openness to experience in the patient, as well as a symbiotic relationship with a close relative (the other).

CONCLUSION: Separation anxiety may well explain the patient's MT expressed by VDB. Melancholic type and her symbiotic relationship led to a situation unbearable to the patient and her close relative unable to delegate care to a specialized team.

RUNNING HEAD: Phenomenology in vocally disruptive behaviour in dementia. We have found new explanations in similar clinical cases in dementia as follows. A patient presenting with vocally disruptive behaviour has a melancholic type, a behavioural-inhibited temperament, and marital violence in the past. Phenomenology may help explain this profile with neurobiological disorders. The life trajectory, from childhood into older age, must be taken into account to understand behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.}, } @article {pmid30013521, year = {2018}, author = {Recchia, GH and Konzen, ER and Cassieri, F and Caldas, DGG and Tsai, SM}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Leads to Differential Regulation of Drought-Responsive Genes in Tissue-Specific Root Cells of Common Bean.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1339}, pmid = {30013521}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization in plants promotes both local and systemic changes in the gene expression profiles of the host that might be relevant for drought-stress perception and response. Drought-tolerant common bean plants (cv. BAT 477), colonized by a mixture of AMF (Glomus clarum, Acaulospora scrobiculata, and Gigaspora rosea), were exposed to a water deprivation regime of 96 h during pre-flowering. Root transcriptomes were accessed through RNA-Seq revealing a set of 9,965 transcripts with significant differential regulation in inoculated plants during a water deficit event, and 10,569 in non-inoculated. These data include 1,589 transcripts that are exclusively regulated by AMF-inoculation, and 2,313 under non-inoculation conditions. Relative gene expression analyses of nine aquaporin-related transcripts were performed in roots and leaves of plants harvested at initial stages of treatment. Significant shifts in gene expression were detected in AM water deficit-treated roots, in relation to non-inoculated, between 48 and 72 h. Leaves also showed significant mycorrhizal influence in gene expression, especially after 96 h. Root cortical cells, harboring or not arbuscules, were collected from both inoculation treatments through a laser microdissection-based technique. This allowed the identification of transcripts, such as the aquaporin PvPIP2;3 and Glucan 1,3 β-Glucosidase, that are unique to arbuscule-containing cells. During the water deficit treatment, AMF colonization exerted a fine-tune regulation in the expression of genes in the host. That seemed to initiate in arbuscule-containing cells and, as the stressful condition persisted, propagated to the whole-plant through secondary signaling events. Collectively, these results demonstrate that arbuscular mycorrhization leads to shifts in common bean's transcriptome that could potentially impact its adaptation capacity during water deficit events.}, } @article {pmid30013185, year = {2018}, author = {Feijen, FAA and Vos, RA and Nuytinck, J and Merckx, VSFT}, title = {Evolutionary dynamics of mycorrhizal symbiosis in land plant diversification.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {10698}, pmid = {30013185}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics ; Basidiomycota/genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/isolation & purification ; Datasets as Topic ; Embryophyta/*genetics/microbiology ; *Genetic Speciation ; Glomeromycota/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis between soil fungi and land plants is one of the most widespread and ecologically important mutualisms on earth. It has long been hypothesized that the Glomeromycotina, the mycorrhizal symbionts of the majority of plants, facilitated colonization of land by plants in the Ordovician. This view was recently challenged by the discovery of mycorrhiza-like associations with Mucoromycotina in several early diverging lineages of land plants. Utilizing a large, species-level database of plants' mycorrhiza-like associations and a Bayesian approach to state transition dynamics we here show that the recruitment of Mucoromycotina is the best supported transition from a non-mycorrhizal state. We further found that transitions between different combinations of either or both of Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina occur at high rates, and found similar promiscuity among combinations that include either or both of Glomeromycotina and Ascomycota with a nearly fixed association with Basidiomycota. Our results portray an evolutionary scenario of evolution of mycorrhizal symbiosis with a prominent role for Mucoromycotina in the early stages of land plant diversification.}, } @article {pmid30011308, year = {2018}, author = {Kim, Y and Kumar, S}, title = {Persistent expression of Cotesia plutellae bracovirus genes in parasitized host, Plutella xylostella.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e0200663}, pmid = {30011308}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Baculoviridae/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/*physiology ; *Genes, Viral ; Viral Proteins/*biosynthesis ; *Wasps/metabolism/virology ; }, abstract = {Cotesia plutellae (= vestalis) bracovirus (CpBV) is symbiotic to an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae, and plays crucial roles in parasitism against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. CpBV virion genome consists of 35 circular DNAs encoding 157 putative open reading frames (ORFs). This study re-annotated 157 ORFs with update genome database and analyzed their gene expressions at early and late parasitic stages. Re-annotation has established 15 different viral gene families, to which 83 ORFs are assigned with remaining 74 hypothetical genes. Among 157 ORFs, 147 genes were expressed at early or late parasitic stages, among which 141 genes were expressed in both parasitic stages, indicating persistent nature of gene expression. Relative frequencies of different viral circles present in the ovarian lumen did not explain the expression variation of the viral ORFs. Furthermore, expression level of each viral gene was varied during parasitism along with host development. Highly up-regulated CpBV genes at early parasitic stage included BEN (BANP, E5R and NAC1), ELP (EP1-like protein), IkB (inhibitor kB), P494 (protein 494 kDa) family genes, while those at late stage were mostly hypothetical genes. Along with the viral gene expression, 362 host genes exhibited more than two fold changes in expression levels at early parasitic stage compared to nonparasitized host. At late stage, more number (1,858) of host genes was regulated. These results suggest that persistent expression of most CpBV genes may be necessary to regulate host physiological processes during C. plutellae parasitism.}, } @article {pmid30010524, year = {2018}, author = {Nouioui, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Rhode, M and Sangal, V and Klenk, HP and Gtari, M}, title = {Frankia irregularis sp. nov., an actinobacterium unable to nodulate its original host, Casuarina equisetifolia, but effectively nodulates members of the actinorhizal Rhamnales.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {9}, pages = {2883-2914}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002914}, pmid = {30010524}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Cell Wall/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diaminopimelic Acid/chemistry ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Frankia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Guadeloupe ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Peptidoglycan/chemistry ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; Pigmentation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Vitamin K 2/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A red pigmented actinobacterium designated G2[T], forming extremely branched vegetative hyphae, vesicles and mutilocular sporangia, was isolated from Casuarina equisetifolia nodules. The strain failed to nodulate its original host plant but effectively nodulated members of actinorhizal Rhamnales. The taxonomic position of G2[T] was determined using a polyphasic approach. The peptidoglycan of the strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diamino acid, galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose and xylose. The polar lipid pattern consisted of phosphatidylinositol (PI), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), glycophospholipids (GPL1-2), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), aminophospholipid (APL) and unknown lipids (L). The predominant menaquinones were MK-9 (H4) and MK-9 (H6) while the major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and C15 : 0. The size of the genome of G2[T] was 9.5 Mb and digital DNA G+C content was 70.9 %. The 16S rRNA gene showed 97.4-99.5 % sequence identity with the type strains of species of the genus Frankia. Digital DNA -DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values between G2[T] and its nearest phylogenetic neighbours Frankia elaeagniand Frankia discariaewere below the threshold of 70 %. On the basis of these results, strain G2[T] (=DSM 45899[T]=CECT 9038[T]) is proposed to represent the type strain of a novel species Frankia irregularis sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid30009271, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, X and Xiao, J and Jia, Y and Pan, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, the sole dominant and stable bacterial species, exhibits distinct morphotypes upon colonization in Tibetan kefir grains.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {e00649}, pmid = {30009271}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Tibetan kefir grains (TKGs), natural starters for milk fermentation, are believed to comprise diverse microflora of lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria. In order to better understand the bacterial community in TKGs, TKGs that had been cultured continuously either naturally or aseptically for 10 months were subject to analysis using both culture-dependent and various culture-independent methods. Results of DGGE, metagenomics, FISH, qPCR and isolation all demonstrated that Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens is the only dominant and stable bacterial species in TKGs regardless of culture conditions and time. FISH and SEM showed that L. kefiranofaciens exhibited two distinct morphotypes of short rod (3.0 μm in length) and long rod (10.0 μm in length) upon colonization of either the outer surface or inner component of TKGs, providing evidence for its trophic adaptation to the hollow globular grain structure of TKGs. These findings pave ways for further study of the specific symbiotic interaction between L. kefiranofaciens and the dominant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast in TKGs in vivo.}, } @article {pmid30008729, year = {2018}, author = {Torres, N and Antolín, MC and Goicoechea, N}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis as a Promising Resource for Improving Berry Quality in Grapevines Under Changing Environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {897}, pmid = {30008729}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Climate change and their resulting impacts are becoming a concern for winegrowers due to the high socioeconomic relevance of the winemaking sector worldwide. In fact, the projected climate change is expected to have detrimental impacts on the yield of grapevines, as well as on the quality and properties of grapes and wine. It is well known that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve the nutritional quality of edible parts of crops and play essential roles in the maintenance of host plant fitness under stressed environments, including grapevines. The future scenarios of climate change may also modify the diversity and the growth of AMF in soils as well as the functionality of the mycorrhizal symbiosis. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on the effects of climate change on grapevine metabolism, paying special attention to the secondary compounds involved in the organoleptic properties of grapes and wines and to the levels of the phytohormones implied in the control of berry development and fruit ripening. In this context, the potential role of AMF for maintaining fruit quality in future climate change scenarios is discussed.}, } @article {pmid30008590, year = {2018}, author = {Park, MK and Kang, YJ and Jo, JO and Baek, KW and Yu, HS and Choi, YH and Cha, HJ and Ock, MS}, title = {Effect of Muscle Strength by Trichinella spiralis Infection during Chronic Phase.}, journal = {International journal of medical sciences}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {802-807}, pmid = {30008590}, issn = {1449-1907}, mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; *Muscle Strength ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Republic of Korea ; Trichinella spiralis/*pathogenicity ; Trichinellosis/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Introduction:Trichinella spiralis establishes a chronic infection in skeletal muscle by developing nurse cells within muscle fibers. During symbiosis in host, changes in the muscle fibers and inflammation may affect muscle function. Methods: We investigated muscle strength and inflammation in T. spiralis-infected mice during 1 to 48 weeks after infection. Results: Muscle strength decreased compared to that in uninfected control mice during the late infection stage. Additionally, inflammatory related cytokines increased significantly during early stage of infection and then rapidly decreased. In pathological study, nuclear infiltration maintained from the early infection stage to chronic infection stage. Moreover, vacuoles and eosinophil infiltration were observed in infected muscle in chronic stage. Conclusion: These results suggest that infection by T. spiralis significantly affects muscle function was continuously being weakness because vacuoles formation and maintained nucleus and eosinophil infiltration during chronic phase of T. spiralis infection.}, } @article {pmid30008290, year = {2018}, author = {Martino, ME and Joncour, P and Leenay, R and Gervais, H and Shah, M and Hughes, S and Gillet, B and Beisel, C and Leulier, F}, title = {Bacterial Adaptation to the Host's Diet Is a Key Evolutionary Force Shaping Drosophila-Lactobacillus Symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {109-119.e6}, pmid = {30008290}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {//European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Acetate Kinase/genetics/metabolism ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Glutamine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Lactobacillus plantarum/*genetics/growth & development ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animal-microbe facultative symbioses play a fundamental role in ecosystem and organismal health. Yet, due to the flexible nature of their association, the selection pressures that act on animals and their facultative symbionts remain elusive. Here we apply experimental evolution to Drosophila melanogaster associated with its growth-promoting symbiont Lactobacillus plantarum, representing a well-established model of facultative symbiosis. We find that the diet of the host, rather than the host itself, is a predominant driving force in the evolution of this symbiosis. Furthermore, we identify a mechanism resulting from the bacterium's adaptation to the diet, which confers growth benefits to the colonized host. Our study reveals that bacterial adaptation to the host's diet may be the foremost step in determining the evolutionary course of a facultative animal-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30006910, year = {2018}, author = {Symanczik, S and Lehmann, MF and Wiemken, A and Boller, T and Courty, PE}, title = {Effects of two contrasted arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal isolates on nutrient uptake by Sorghum bicolor under drought.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {779-785}, pmid = {30006910}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; *Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sorghum/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Drought is a limiting factor for crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid climates. In this study, Sorghum bicolor plants were inoculated, or not, with Rhizophagus irregularis, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) strain typical for temperate climates, or Rhizophagus arabicus, a strain endemic to hyper-arid ecosystems. Plants were grown under well-watered or drought conditions in compartmented microcosms. Transpiration rates, plant growth, and nutrient uptake (using [15]N as a tracer) were determined to assess the impact of drought stress on sorghum plants in AM symbiosis. Although AM colonization did not affect the bulk biomass of host plants, R. arabicus improved their transpiration efficiency and drought tolerance more than R. irregularis. Moreover, R. arabicus was able to extract more [15]N from the soil under both water regimes, and AM-driven enhancement of the nitrogen and phosphorus content of sorghum, especially when water was limiting, was greater for R. arabicus-inoculated plants than for R. irregularis-inoculated plants. Our work demonstrates close links between AM hyphal phosphorus and nitrogen transport and uptake by AM plants for both AM fungal species. It also underscores that, under the drought stress conditions we applied, R. arabicus transfers significantly more nitrogen to sorghum than R. irregularis.}, } @article {pmid30006562, year = {2018}, author = {De Vita, P and Avio, L and Sbrana, C and Laidò, G and Marone, D and Mastrangelo, AM and Cattivelli, L and Giovannetti, M}, title = {Genetic markers associated to arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in durum wheat.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {10612}, pmid = {30006562}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Glomeromycota/*isolation & purification ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification ; Plant Breeding ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Triticum/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In this work we investigated the variability and the genetic basis of susceptibility to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of wheat roots. The mycorrhizal status of wild, domesticated and cultivated tetraploid wheat accessions, inoculated with the AM species Funneliformis mosseae, was evaluated. In addition, to detect genetic markers in linkage with chromosome regions involved in AM root colonization, a genome wide association analysis was carried out on 108 durum wheat varieties and two AM fungal species (F. mosseae and Rhizoglomus irregulare). Our findings showed that a century of breeding on durum wheat and the introgression of Reduced height (Rht) genes associated with increased grain yields did not select against AM symbiosis in durum wheat. Seven putative Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) linked with durum wheat mycorrhizal susceptibility in both experiments, located on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 5A, 6A, 7A and 7B, were detected. The individual QTL effects (r[2]) ranged from 7 to 16%, suggesting a genetic basis for this trait. Marker functional analysis identified predicted proteins with potential roles in host-parasite interactions, degradation of cellular proteins, homeostasis regulation, plant growth and disease/defence. The results of this work emphasize the potential for further enhancement of root colonization exploiting the genetic variability present in wheat.}, } @article {pmid30006405, year = {2018}, author = {Malmierca, MG and Pérez-Victoria, I and Martín, J and Reyes, F and Méndez, C and Olano, C and Salas, JA}, title = {Cooperative Involvement of Glycosyltransferases in the Transfer of Amino Sugars during the Biosynthesis of the Macrolactam Sipanmycin by Streptomyces sp. Strain CS149.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {30006405}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Amino Sugars/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cloning, Molecular ; Glycosylation ; Glycosyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Polyketides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Streptomyces/chemistry/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Macrolactams comprise a family of natural compounds with important bioactivities, such as antibiotic, antifungal, and antiproliferative activities. Sipanmycins A and B are two novel members of this family, with two sugar moieties attached to the aglycon. In the related macrolactam vicenistatin, the sugar moiety has been proven to be essential for cytotoxicity. In this work, the gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of sipanmycins (sip cluster) in Streptomyces sp. strain CS149 is described and the steps involved in the glycosylation of the final compounds unraveled. Also, the cooperation of two different glycosyltransferases in each glycosylation step is demonstrated. Additionally, the essential role of SipO2 as an auxiliary protein in the incorporation of the second deoxy sugar is addressed. In light of the results obtained by the generation of mutant strains and in silico characterization of the sip cluster, a biosynthetic pathway for sipanmycins and the two deoxy sugars attached is proposed. Finally, the importance of the hydroxyl group at C-10 of the macrolactam ring and the sugar moieties for cytotoxicity and antibiotic activity of sipanmycins is shown.IMPORTANCE The rapid emergence of infectious diseases and multiresistant pathogens has increased the necessity for new bioactive compounds; thus, novel strategies have to be developed to find them. Actinomycetes isolated in symbiosis with insects have attracted attention in recent years as producers of metabolites with important bioactivities. Sipanmycins are glycosylated macrolactams produced by Streptomyces sp. CS149, isolated from leaf-cutting ants, and show potent cytotoxic activity. Here, we characterize the sip cluster and propose a biosynthetic pathway for sipanmycins. As far as we know, it is the first time that the cooperation between two different glycosyltransferases is demonstrated to be strictly necessary for the incorporation of the same sugar. Also, a third protein with homology to P450 monooxygenases, SipO2, is shown to be essential in the second glycosylation step, forming a complex with the glycosyltransferase pair SipS9-SipS14.}, } @article {pmid30005404, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, J and Liu, YQ and Yan, XW and Wei, GH and Zhang, JH and Fang, LC}, title = {Rhizobium inoculation enhances copper tolerance by affecting copper uptake and regulating the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and phytochelatin biosynthesis-related gene expression in Medicago sativa seedlings.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {312-323}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.07.001}, pmid = {30005404}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Copper/*toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Medicago sativa/*drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Metallothionein/metabolism ; Phytochelatins/biosynthesis ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite numerous reports that legume-rhizobium symbiosis alleviates Cu stress in plants, the possible roles of legume-rhizobium symbiosis and the regulatory mechanisms in counteracting Cu toxicity remain unclear. Here, Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 was used for analyzing the effects of rhizobium inoculation on plant growth in Medicago sativa seedlings under Cu stress. Our results showed that rhizobium inoculation alleviated Cu-induced growth inhibition, and increased nitrogen concentration in M. sativa seedlings. Moreover, the total amount of Cu uptake in inoculated plants was significantly increased compared with non-inoculated plants, and the increase in the roots was much higher than that in the shoots, thus decreasing the transfer coefficient and promoting Cu phytostabilization. Cu stress induced lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species production, but rhizobium inoculation reduced these components' accumulation through altering antioxidant enzyme activities and regulating ascorbate-glutathione cycles. Furthermore, legume-rhizobium symbiosis regulated the gene expression involved in antioxidant responses, phytochelatin (PC) biosynthesis, and metallothionein biosynthesis in M. sativa seedlings under Cu stress. Our results demonstrate that rhizobium inoculation enhanced Cu tolerance by affecting Cu uptake, regulating antioxidant enzyme activities and the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, and influencing PC biosynthesis-related gene expression in M. sativa. The results provide an efficient strategy for phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid30003907, year = {2018}, author = {Jiménez-Cortés, JG and García-Contreras, R and Bucio-Torres, MI and Cabrera-Bravo, M and Córdoba-Aguilar, A and Benelli, G and Salazar-Schettino, PM}, title = {Bacterial symbionts in human blood-feeding arthropods: Patterns, general mechanisms and effects of global ecological changes.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {186}, number = {}, pages = {69-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.07.005}, pmid = {30003907}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Vectors/*microbiology ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Ecology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; *Public Health ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Due to their high impact on public health, human blood-feeding arthropods are one of the most relevant animal groups. Bacterial symbionts have been long known to play a role in the metabolism, and reproduction of these arthropod vectors. Nowadays, we have a more complete picture of their functions, acknowledging the wide influence of bacterial symbionts on processes ranging from the immune response of the arthropod host to the possible establishment of pathogens and parasites. One or two primary symbiont species have been found to co-evolve along with their host in each taxon (being ticks an exception), leading to various kinds of symbiosis, mostly mutualistic in nature. Moreover, several secondary symbiont species are shared by all arthropod groups. With respect to gut microbiota, several bacterial symbionts genera are hosted in common, indicating that these bacterial groups are prone to invade several hematophagous arthropod species feeding on humans. The main mechanisms underlying bacterium-arthropod symbiosis are discussed, highlighting that even primary symbionts elicit an immune response from the host. Bacterial groups in the gut microbiota play a key role in immune homeostasis, and in some cases symbiont bacteria could be competing directly or indirectly with pathogens and parasites. Finally, the effects climate change, great human migrations, and the increasingly frequent interactions of wild and domestic animal species are analyzed, along with their implications on microbiota alteration and their possible impacts on public health and the control of pathogens and parasites harbored in arthropod vectors of human parasites and pathogens.}, } @article {pmid30003590, year = {2018}, author = {Sousa-Castillo, A and Furini, LN and Tiu, BDB and Cao, PF and Topçu, B and Comesaña-Hermo, M and Rodríguez-González, B and Baaziz, W and Ersen, O and Advincula, RC and Pérez-Lorenzo, M and Correa-Duarte, MA}, title = {Plasmonic Retrofitting of Membrane Materials: Shifting from Self-Regulation to On-Command Control of Fluid Flow.}, journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)}, volume = {30}, number = {35}, pages = {e1707598}, doi = {10.1002/adma.201707598}, pmid = {30003590}, issn = {1521-4095}, abstract = {This work calls for a paradigm shift in order to change the operational patterns of self-regulated membranes in response to chemical signals. To this end, the fabrication of a retrofitting material is introduced aimed at developing an innovative generation of porous substrates endowed with symbiotic but fully independent sensing and actuating capabilities. This is accomplished by transferring carefully engineered plasmonic architectures onto commercial microfiltration membranes lacking of such features. The integration of these materials leads to the formation of a coating surface proficient for ultrasensitive detection and "on-command" gating. Both functionalities can be synergistically modulated by the spatial and temporal distribution of an impinging light beam offering an unprecedented control over the membrane performance in terms of permeability. The implementation of these hybrid nanocomposites in conventional polymeric porous materials holds great potential in applications ranging from intelligent fluid management to advanced filtration technologies and controlled release.}, } @article {pmid30002765, year = {2018}, author = {Dudek-Wicher, RK and Junka, A and Bartoszewicz, M}, title = {The influence of antibiotics and dietary components on gut microbiota.}, journal = {Przeglad gastroenterologiczny}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {85-92}, pmid = {30002765}, issn = {1895-5770}, abstract = {The gut microbiota acts as a real organ. It exerts important metabolic functions, and regulates the inflammatory response by stimulating the immune system. Gut microbial imbalance (dysbiosis) has been linked to important human diseases and inflammation-related disorders. The symbiotic interactions between resident microorganisms and the gastrointestinal tract significantly contribute to maintaining gut homeostasis. The present review summarizes our knowledge regarding the impact of different antibiotics causing such long-term consequences as decreased microbial diversity, modulation of the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, Clostridium difficile overgrowth, and increased expansion of the opportunistic pathogens Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia spp., and Klebsiella spp. Also, food additives, such as emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners, which are meant to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes, may actually increase the risk of diseases due to microbial alterations. On the other hand, dietary components such as polyphenols, omega-3 acids or curcumin may positively affect gut microbiota composition.}, } @article {pmid30002670, year = {2018}, author = {Benckiser, G and Hartmann, A and Kumar, K and Honermeier, B}, title = {Editorial: Plant-Microbe-Insect Interaction: Source for Bio-fertilizers, Bio-medicines and Agent Research.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {931}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2018.00931}, pmid = {30002670}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid30002474, year = {2018}, author = {Zhao, Q and Chen, AN and Hu, SX and Liu, Q and Chen, M and Liu, L and Shao, CL and Tang, XX and Wang, CY}, title = {Microalgal Microscale Model for Microalgal Growth Inhibition Evaluation of Marine Natural Products.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {10541}, pmid = {30002474}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism ; Biological Assay/*methods ; Biological Products/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Harmful Algal Bloom/*drug effects ; Microalgae/chemistry/*drug effects/growth & development ; Porifera/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine organisms especially sessile invertebrates, such as soft corals, gorgonians and sponges, can survive in the competitive environment mainly relying on their second metabolites with chemoecological effects including allelopathy and algal growth inhibition. It is well known that the microscale models are urgently needed in marine chemoecology assessment to evaluate the algal growth inhibition activity of trace quantity natural products. In this work, a microalgal growth inhibition model was established for microalgal inhibition evaluation of marine natural products with 96-well microplate by automatic fluorescence observation using microplate reader. Subsequently, this model was applied to bioassay-guided isolation and preliminary bioactivity screening of the secondary metabolites from soft corals, gorgonians, sponges and their symbiotic microbes collected from the South China Sea. As a result, fifteen compounds (1‒15) were found to exhibit microalgal growth inhibition activities against at least one of marine microalgae, Karenia mikimotoi, Isochrysis galbana, and Heterosigma akashiwo. Specifically, altersolanol C (13) demonstrated potent activity against K. mikimotoi with the 96h-EC50 value of 1.16 µg/mL, more than four times stronger than that of the positive control K2Cr2O7. It was suggested that the microalgal growth inhibition microscale model is suitable for bioassay-guided isolation and preliminary bioactivity screening of marine natural products.}, } @article {pmid30001518, year = {2018}, author = {Garrido-Oter, R and Nakano, RT and Dombrowski, N and Ma, KW and , and McHardy, AC and Schulze-Lefert, P}, title = {Modular Traits of the Rhizobiales Root Microbiota and Their Evolutionary Relationship with Symbiotic Rhizobia.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {155-167.e5}, pmid = {30001518}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {//European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Arabidopsis/growth & development/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a paraphyletic group of soil-borne bacteria that induce nodule organogenesis in legume roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen for plant growth. In non-leguminous plants, species from the Rhizobiales order define a core lineage of the plant microbiota, suggesting additional functional interactions with plant hosts. In this work, genome analyses of 1,314 Rhizobiales isolates along with amplicon studies of the root microbiota reveal the evolutionary history of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in this bacterial order. Key symbiosis genes were acquired multiple times, and the most recent common ancestor could colonize roots of a broad host range. In addition, root growth promotion is a characteristic trait of Rhizobiales in Arabidopsis thaliana, whereas interference with plant immunity constitutes a separate, strain-specific phenotype of root commensal Alphaproteobacteria. Additional studies with a tripartite gnotobiotic plant system reveal that these traits operate in a modular fashion and thus might be relevant to microbial homeostasis in healthy roots.}, } @article {pmid30001516, year = {2018}, author = {Ferretti, P and Pasolli, E and Tett, A and Asnicar, F and Gorfer, V and Fedi, S and Armanini, F and Truong, DT and Manara, S and Zolfo, M and Beghini, F and Bertorelli, R and De Sanctis, V and Bariletti, I and Canto, R and Clementi, R and Cologna, M and Crifò, T and Cusumano, G and Gottardi, S and Innamorati, C and Masè, C and Postai, D and Savoi, D and Duranti, S and Lugli, GA and Mancabelli, L and Turroni, F and Ferrario, C and Milani, C and Mangifesta, M and Anzalone, R and Viappiani, A and Yassour, M and Vlamakis, H and Xavier, R and Collado, CM and Koren, O and Tateo, S and Soffiati, M and Pedrotti, A and Ventura, M and Huttenhower, C and Bork, P and Segata, N}, title = {Mother-to-Infant Microbial Transmission from Different Body Sites Shapes the Developing Infant Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {133-145.e5}, pmid = {30001516}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {716575/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adult ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Longitudinal Studies ; Metagenomics ; Middle Aged ; *Mother-Child Relations ; Mouth/microbiology ; Skin/microbiology ; Time Factors ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The acquisition and development of the infant microbiome are key to establishing a healthy host-microbiome symbiosis. The maternal microbial reservoir is thought to play a crucial role in this process. However, the source and transmission routes of the infant pioneering microbes are poorly understood. To address this, we longitudinally sampled the microbiome of 25 mother-infant pairs across multiple body sites from birth up to 4 months postpartum. Strain-level metagenomic profiling showed a rapid influx of microbes at birth followed by strong selection during the first few days of life. Maternal skin and vaginal strains colonize only transiently, and the infant continues to acquire microbes from distinct maternal sources after birth. Maternal gut strains proved more persistent in the infant gut and ecologically better adapted than those acquired from other sources. Together, these data describe the mother-to-infant microbiome transmission routes that are integral in the development of the infant microbiome.}, } @article {pmid30001470, year = {2018}, author = {Lu, J and Magain, N and Miadlikowska, J and Coyle, JR and Truong, C and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Bioclimatic factors at an intrabiome scale are more limiting than cyanobiont availability for the lichen-forming genus Peltigera.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {105}, number = {7}, pages = {1198-1211}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1119}, pmid = {30001470}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Quebec ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Factors shaping spatiotemporal patterns of associations in mutualistic systems are poorly understood. We used the lichen-forming fungi Peltigera and their cyanobacterial partners Nostoc to investigate the spatial structure of this symbiosis at an intrabiome scale and to identify potential factors shaping these associations.

METHODS: Ninety-three thalli were sampled in Québec, Canada, along a south-north and an east-west transect of ~1300 km each. We identified the two main partners (Peltigera species and Nostoc phylogroups) using molecular markers and modeled the effects of environmental variables and partner occurrence on Peltigera-Nostoc distributions.

KEY RESULTS: Peltigera species showed a high degree of specialization toward cyanobionts, whereas two Nostoc phylogroups dominated both transects by associating with several Peltigera species. Peltigera species had narrower ranges than these two main cyanobionts. Distributions of three Peltigera species were highly associated with precipitation and temperature variables, which was not detected for Nostoc phylogroups at this spatial scale.

CONCLUSIONS: For these cyanolichens, factors driving patterns of symbiotic associations are scale dependent. Contrary to global-scale findings, generalist Peltigera species were not more widespread within the boreal biome than specialists. Nostoc availability was not the only driver of Peltigera species' geographic ranges; environmental factors also contributed to their intrabiome distributions. Climatic conditions (especially precipitation) limited the range of some Peltigera species more than the range of their cyanobacterial partners at an intrabiome (boreal) scale.}, } @article {pmid30001166, year = {2019}, author = {Lenting, K and Khurshed, M and Peeters, TH and van den Heuvel, CNAM and van Lith, SAM and de Bitter, T and Hendriks, W and Span, PN and Molenaar, RJ and Botman, D and Verrijp, K and Heerschap, A and Ter Laan, M and Kusters, B and van Ewijk, A and Huynen, MA and van Noorden, CJF and Leenders, WPJ}, title = {Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-mutated human gliomas depend on lactate and glutamate to alleviate metabolic stress.}, journal = {FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {557-571}, doi = {10.1096/fj.201800907RR}, pmid = {30001166}, issn = {1530-6860}, mesh = {4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism/*pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glioma/genetics/metabolism/*pathology ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Glutamic Acid/*metabolism ; Glutaminase/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase/*genetics/metabolism ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; *Mutation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; *Stress, Physiological ; Succinate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; }, abstract = {Diffuse gliomas often carry point mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1[mut]), resulting in metabolic stress. Although IDH[mut] gliomas are difficult to culture in vitro, they thrive in the brain via diffuse infiltration, suggesting brain-specific tumor-stroma interactions that can compensate for IDH-1 deficits. To elucidate the metabolic adjustments in clinical IDH[mut] gliomas that contribute to their malignancy, we applied a recently developed method of targeted quantitative RNA next-generation sequencing to 66 clinical gliomas and relevant orthotopic glioma xenografts, with and without the endogenous IDH-1[R132H] mutation. Datasets were analyzed in R using Manhattan plots to calculate distance between expression profiles, Ward's method to perform unsupervised agglomerative clustering, and the Mann Whitney U test and Fisher's exact tests for supervised group analyses. The significance of transcriptome data was investigated by protein analysis, in situ enzymatic activity mapping, and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy of orthotopic IDH1[mut]- and IDH[wt]-glioma xenografts. Gene set enrichment analyses of clinical IDH1[mut] gliomas strongly suggest a role for catabolism of lactate and the neurotransmitter glutamate, whereas, in IDH[wt] gliomas, processing of glucose and glutamine are the predominant metabolic pathways. Further evidence of the differential metabolic activity in these cancers comes from in situ enzymatic mapping studies and preclinical in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging. Our data support an evolutionary model in which IDH[mut] glioma cells exist in symbiosis with supportive neuronal cells and astrocytes as suppliers of glutamate and lactate, possibly explaining the diffuse nature of these cancers. The dependency on glutamate and lactate opens the way for novel approaches in the treatment of IDH[mut] gliomas.-Lenting, K., Khurshed, M., Peeters, T. H., van den Heuvel, C. N. A. M., van Lith, S. A. M., de Bitter, T., Hendriks, W., Span, P. N., Molenaar, R. J., Botman, D., Verrijp, K., Heerschap, A., ter Laan, M., Kusters, B., van Ewijk, A., Huynen, M. A., van Noorden, C. J. F., Leenders, W. P. J. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-mutated human gliomas depend on lactate and glutamate to alleviate metabolic stress.}, } @article {pmid29998535, year = {2018}, author = {}, title = {Corrigendum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {219}, number = {3}, pages = {1134}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15242}, pmid = {29998535}, issn = {1469-8137}, } @article {pmid29997418, year = {2018}, author = {Gyogluu, C and Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Kyei-Boahen, S and Dakora, FD}, title = {Assessing host range, symbiotic effectiveness, and photosynthetic rates induced by native soybean rhizobia isolated from Mozambican and South African soils.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {257-266}, pmid = {29997418}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Host range and cross-infectivity studies are important for identifying rhizobial strains with potential for use as inoculants. In this study, 10 native soybean rhizobia isolated from Mozambican and South African soils were evaluated for host range, symbiotic effectiveness and ability to induce high rates of photosynthesis leading to enhanced plant growth in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L. Verdc.), Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum Harm) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr). The test isolates had different growth rates and colony sizes. Molecular analysis based on enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR revealed high genetic diversity among the test isolates. The results further showed that isolate TUTLBC2B failed to elicit nodulation in all test plants, just as TUTNSN2A and TUTDAIAP3B were also unable to nodulate cowpea, Kersting's bean and Bambara groundnut. Although the remaining strains formed ineffective nodules on cowpea and Kersting's bean, they induced effective nodules on Bambara groundnut and the two soybean genotypes. Bacterial stimulation of nodule numbers, nodule dry weights and photosynthetic rates was generally greater with isolates TUTRSRH3A, TUTM19373A, TUTMCJ7B, TUTRLR3B and TUTRJN5A. As a result, these isolates elicited significantly increased accumulation of biomass in shoots and whole plants of Bambara groundnut and the two soybean genotypes. Whole-plant symbiotic nitrogen (N) of soybean and Bambara groundnut was highest for the commercial strains CB756 and WB74, as well as for TUTRLR3B, TUTMCJ7B and TUTRSRH3A, suggesting that the three native rhizobial isolates have potential for use as inoculants.}, } @article {pmid29997417, year = {2018}, author = {Samago, TY and Anniye, EW and Dakora, FD}, title = {Grain yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties is markedly increased by rhizobial inoculation and phosphorus application in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {245-255}, pmid = {29997417}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {A field experiment was conducted to assess plant growth, symbiotic performance and grain yield of common bean in response to rhizobial incoculation and phosphorus application at Galalicha in Southern Ethiopia during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons under rain-fed conditions. The treatments consisted of 2 released common bean varieties (Hawassa Dume and Ibbado), 3 levels of Rhizobium inoculation (uninoculated, inoculated with strain HB-429 or GT-9) and 4 levels of phosphorus application (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg P ha[-1]) using a split-split plot design with four replications. Here, phosphorus levels, Rhizobium inoculation and common bean varieties were assigned as main, sub- and sub-sub treatments, respectively. The results revealed marked varietal differences in plant growth, grain yield and symbiotic performance. Of the two common bean varieties studied, Hawassa Dume generally showed superior performance in most measured parameters in 2013. Rhizobium inoculation significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased plant growth, symbiotic performance and grain yield. Applying Rhizobium strain HB-429 to bean crop respectively increased plant growth, %Ndfa, amount of N-fixed and grain yield by 19, 17, 54 and 48% over uninoculated control. Similarly, the application of 20 kg P ha[-1] to bean plants respectively resulted in 36, 20, 96 and 143% increase in plant growth, %Ndfa, N-fixed and grain yield when compared to the control. These results clearly indicate that plant growth, symbiotic performance and grain yield of common bean can be significantly increased by Rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus fertilization in Ethiopia. Rhizobium inoculants are a cheaper source of nitrogen than chemical fertilizers and when combined with moderate phosphorus application can markedly increase grain yield for resource-poor farmers.}, } @article {pmid29997416, year = {2018}, author = {Oteng-Frimpong, R and Dakora, FD}, title = {Selecting elite groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) genotypes for symbiotic N nutrition, water-use efficiency and pod yield at three field sites, using [15]N and [13]C natural abundance.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {229-243}, pmid = {29997416}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {About 70% of the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) produced in Ghana is from the Guinea savanna. However, low soil nutrients, especially N, together with erratic rainfall distribution have often resulted in poor grain yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate plant growth, N2-fixing efficiency, N contribution, water-use efficiency and pod yield of 21 elite groundnut genotypes in the Guinea savanna of Ghana, using the [15]N natural abundance technique. The data revealed significant variations in plant growth, symbiotic N contribution, and pod yield among the 21 genotypes tested at each field site. Average N contribution by groundnut genotypes ranged from 48 to 108 kg N ha[-1]. Also, mean pod yield ranged from 0.58 to 2.1 t ha[-1]. Genotypes ICGV-IS 08837, ICG 6222, ICGV 03315 and NKATIESARI demonstrated superior plant growth, symbiotic N contribution and greater pod yield. In fact, ICGV-IS 08837 yielded almost 2.5 fold more than CHINESE which is the most widely cultivated variety in the region. Genotypes ICGV-IS 08837, ICG 6222, ICGV 03315 and ICGV 99247 are therefore recommended for development into varieties for the Guinea savanna of Ghana. Genotypes ICG (FDRS) 4, ICGV00362 and ICGV99247 exhibited increased water-use efficiency, but were low in N2 fixation and N contribution, and would therefore be good parental material in breeding programs aimed at enhancing water-use efficiency in high N2-fixing genotypes.}, } @article {pmid29997415, year = {2018}, author = {Mbah, GC and Dakora, FD}, title = {Nitrate inhibition of N2 fixation and its effect on micronutrient accumulation in shoots of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Vedc) and Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum Harms.).}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {205-216}, pmid = {29997415}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Although nitrate is known to inhibit nodulation and N2 fixation in symbiotic legumes, little is known about its effect on the uptake and accumulation of trace elements such as Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 5 mM NO3[-] supply, either with or without rhizobial inoculation, on nodulation, nodule functioning and micronutrient levels in the shoots of soybean (Glycine max L.Merr.), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Vedc) and Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum Harm). The results showed reduction in plant growth, nodule formation and nodule dry matter by the supply of 5 mM NO3[-] to inoculated seedlings of all three species. Nitrate inhibition respectively caused 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5-fold decrease in nodule number per plant in Bambara groundnut, soybean and Kersting's bean, which resulted in 2.3, 3.3 and 4.5-fold reduction in nodule dry weight of the test species (in that order). The application of 5 mM NO3[-] to soybean plants also resulted in 2.5, 4.0 and 5.4-fold decrease in shoot accumulation of Fe, Zn and Mn, respectively, when compared to the purely symbiotic control plants. Furthermore, we observed 1.3, 1.8 and 1.3-fold decreases in the concentration of Zn, Mn and Cu in shoots of inoculated Bambara groundnut with NO3[-] supply, levels lower than those found in soybean. With Kersting's groundnut, shoot concentration of Fe, Zn and Cu were higher with the application of 5 mM NO3[-] to inoculated plants when compared to the purely symbiotic treatment, which was opposite to soybean. But pure NO3[-]feeding of this species respectively resulted in 2.0, 1.4 and 1.3-fold decreases in Fe, Zn and Cu relative to inoculated NO3[-]-fed plants. Clearly, NO3[-] supply to landraces/genotypes of the three legume species did not only inhibit nodule formation and functioning, it also reduced shoot micronutrient levels in soybean and Bambara groundnut, but not Kersting's bean.}, } @article {pmid29997414, year = {2018}, author = {Beyan, SM and Wolde-Meskel, E and Dakora, FD}, title = {An assessment of plant growth and N2 fixation in soybean genotypes grown in uninoculated soils collected from different locations in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {189-203}, pmid = {29997414}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Achieving food and nutritional security is a major challenge in Ethiopia, especially with increasing human population and low crop productivity. Legumes offer an alternative choice to chemical fertilizers for increasing crop yields. The aim of this study was to assess, under glasshouse conditions, plant growth and symbiotic performance of uninoculated soybean genotypes planted in soils collected from different locations in Ethiopia. The results showed significant differences in plant growth and symbiotic performance among the soybean genotypes planted in different soils. There was a location-specific effect of soil on plant growth and symbiotic N nutrition of soybean. Whole-plant biomass was highest in soil from Amaro, followed by Boricha, Dorebafano, Pawe, and Mambuk. The δ[15]N values ranged from +0.82‰ for Pawe to +5.11‰ at Dorebafano. However, %Ndfa of soybean was greater in plants grown in Mambuk soil, followed by Pawe with the lowest %Ndfa being in Amaro soil. The amount of N-fixed followed similar pattern as %Ndfa. The significant interaction found between soil type and soybean genotype for plant DM, shoot N concentration, δ[15]N, %Ndfa, N-fixed and soil N-uptake clearly indicated the effect of soil factors. This study revealed the presence of native rhizobia in Ethiopian soils that are compatible with soybean. The N contribution of the soybean genotypes was variable, and strongly influenced by the soil factors.}, } @article {pmid29997413, year = {2018}, author = {Bernard, N and Losologolo, M and Batlang, U and Ngwako, S and Mashungwa, GN and Tselaesele, NM and Pule-Meulenberg, F}, title = {Symbiotic performance of grain and wild herbaceous legumes in the Okavango Delta and Tswapong region of Botswana.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {179-188}, pmid = {29997413}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {The low inherent soil fertility, especially nitrogen (N) constrains arable agriculture in Botswana. Nitrogen is usually added to soil through inorganic fertilizer application. In this study, biological nitrogen fixation by legumes is explored as an alternative source of N. The objectives of this study were to measure levels of N2 fixation by grain legumes such as cowpea, Bambara groundnut and groundnut in farmers' fields as well as to estimated N2 fixation by indigenous herbaceous legumes growing in the Okavango Delta. Four flowering plants per species were sampled from the panhandle part of the Okavango Delta and Tswapong area. Nitrogen fixation was measured using the [15]N stable isotope natural abundance technique. The δ[15]N values of indigenous herbaceous legumes indicated that they fixed N2 (-1.88 to +1.35 ‰) with the lowest value measured in Chamaecrista absus growing in Ngarange (Okavango Delta). The δ[15]N values of grain legumes growing on farmers' fields ranging from -1.2 ‰ to +3.3 ‰ indicated that they were fixing N2. For grain legumes growing at most farms, %Ndfa were above 50% indicating that they largely depended on symbiotic fixation for their N nutrition. With optimal planting density, Bambara groundnuts on farmers' fields could potentially fix over 90 kg N/ha in some parts of Tswapong area and about 60 kg N/ha in areas around the Okavango Delta. Results from this study have shown that herbaceous indigenous legumes and cultivated legumes play an important role in the cycling of N in the soil. It has also been shown that biological N2 on farmer's field could potentially supply the much needed N for the legumes and the subsequent cereal crops if plant densities are optimized with the potential to increase food security and mitigate climate change.}, } @article {pmid29992254, year = {2018}, author = {Felhofer, M and Prats-Mateu, B and Bock, P and Gierlinger, N}, title = {Antifungal stilbene impregnation: transport and distribution on the micron-level.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {38}, number = {10}, pages = {1526-1537}, pmid = {29992254}, issn = {1758-4469}, support = {Y 728/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Pinus sylvestris/cytology/*metabolism ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Stilbenes/*metabolism ; Wood/cytology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The transition from the living water-transporting sapwood to heartwood involves in many tree species impregnation with extractives. These differ in amount and composition, and enhance resistance against bacteria, insects or fungi. To understand the synthesis, transport and impregnation processes new insights into the biochemical processes are needed by in-situ methods. Here we show the extractive distribution in pine (Pinus sylvestris) microsections with a high lateral resolution sampled in a non-destructive manner using Confocal Raman Microscopy. Integrating marker bands of stilbenes and lipids enables to clearly track the rapid change from sapwood to heartwood within one tree ring. The higher impregnation of the cell corner, compound middle lamella, the S3 layer and pits reveals the optimization of decay resistance on the micron-level. Furthermore, deposits with changing chemical composition are elucidated in the rays and lumen of the tracheids. The spectral signature of these deposits shows the co-location of lipids and pinosylvins with changing ratios from the living to the dead tissue. The results demonstrate that the extractive impregnation on the micro- and nano-level is optimized by a symbiotic relationship of lipids and pinosylvins to enhance the tree's resistance and lifetime.}, } @article {pmid29992244, year = {2018}, author = {Cheng, H and Dove, NC and Mena, JM and Perez, T and Ul-Hasan, S}, title = {The Biota Project: A Case Study of a Multimedia, Grassroots Approach to Scientific Communication for Engaging Diverse Audiences.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {58}, number = {6}, pages = {1294-1303}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icy091}, pmid = {29992244}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Biota ; *Communication ; *Multimedia ; Science/*education ; *Science in the Arts ; }, abstract = {The Biota Project communicates science to populations historically ignored by the scientific community. The Biota Project is comprised of a team of young professionals from a myriad of backgrounds and locations with interests in promoting science accessibility and equity. We do this by highlighting research conducted by scientists from underrepresented groups in relatable yet underrated locations with the intention of increasing the participation of underrepresented populations in science. The Biota Project centers on the scientific definition of symbiosis as a tool for both educating and learning from its followers. We deliver stories on the environments of our own backyards by merging art and science and distributing these publicly available stories widely online through short films, media clips, drawings, paintings, blogs, and e-newsletters. This project demonstrates a fresh, transferable perspective on strengthening science communication in a way that conjoins scientific discovery with social justice through the promotion of critical thinking by its target audience. Likewise, contributors learn how to better support local communities with each new story and environment. The Biota Project thus sets a symbiotic tone for re-calibrating the balance between academics, researchers, and local communities. When science is made relevant through understanding, its quality and significance are enhanced, and public recognition of its value is increased.}, } @article {pmid29991760, year = {2018}, author = {Lind, AE and Lewis, WH and Spang, A and Guy, L and Embley, TM and Ettema, TJG}, title = {Genomes of two archaeal endosymbionts show convergent adaptations to an intracellular lifestyle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {2655-2667}, pmid = {29991760}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Ciliophora/*microbiology ; Euryarchaeota/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Genomics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis is a widespread phenomenon in the microbial world and can be based on diverse interactions between endosymbiont and host cell. The vast majority of the known endosymbiotic interactions involve bacteria that have invaded eukaryotic host cells. However, methanogenic archaea have been found to thrive in anaerobic, hydrogenosome-containing protists and it was suggested that this symbiosis is based on the transfer of hydrogen. Here, we used culture-independent genomics approaches to sequence the genomes of two distantly related methanogenic endosymbionts that have been acquired in two independent events by closely related anaerobic ciliate hosts Nyctotherus ovalis and Metopus contortus, respectively. The sequences obtained were then validated as originating from the ciliate endosymbionts by in situ probing experiments. Comparative analyses of these genomes and their closest free-living counterparts reveal that the genomes of both endosymbionts are in an early stage of adaptation towards endosymbiosis as evidenced by the large number of genes undergoing pseudogenization. For instance, the observed loss of genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis in both endosymbiont genomes indicates that the endosymbionts rely on their hosts for obtaining several essential nutrients. Furthermore, the endosymbionts appear to have gained significant amounts of genes of potentially secreted proteins, providing targets for future studies aiming to elucidate possible mechanisms underpinning host-interactions. Altogether, our results provide the first genomic insights into prokaryotic endosymbioses from the archaeal domain of life.}, } @article {pmid29990337, year = {2018}, author = {Ashworth, AJ and Toler, HD and Allen, FL and Augé, RM}, title = {Global meta-analysis reveals agro-grassland productivity varies based on species diversity over time.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e0200274}, pmid = {29990337}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Crop Production/statistics & numerical data ; Fabaceae/physiology ; Fertilizers ; *Grassland ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Poaceae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological research suggests increased diversity may improve ecosystem services, as well as yield stability; however, such theories are sometimes disproven by agronomic research, particularly at higher diversity levels. We conducted a meta-analysis on 2,753 studies in 48 articles published over the last 53 years to test: if biological N2 fixation (BNF) supplies adequate nitrogen (N) for plant growth relative to synthetic fertilizers; how crop physiological traits affect legume-grass symbiosis; and, how cultural practices affect BNF over a range of soils and climates overtime (in polycultures versus sole grasslands). Globally, net primary productivity (NPP; total aboveground production response of grass and legume in higher-diversity treatments) increased 44% via legume associations relative to sole grass controls (including both with and without N fertilizer). Several moderating variables affected NPP including: (i) plant photosynthetic pathway (mixtures of C3 grasses resulted in a 57% increase in NPP, whereas mixtures of C4 grasses resulted in a 31% increase; similarly cool-season legumes increased NPP 52% compared to a 27% increase for warm-season legumes relative to grasslands without diversity); (ii) legume life cycle [NPP response for perennial legume mixtures was 50% greater than sole grass controls, followed by a 28% increase for biennial, and a 0% increase for annual legumes)]; and, (iii) species richness (one leguminous species in a grassland agroecosystem resulted in 52% increase in NPP, whereas >2 legumes resulted in only 6% increases). Temporal and spatial effect sizes also influenced facilitation, considering facilitation was greatest (114% change) in Mediterranean climates followed by oceanic (84%), and tropical savanna (65%) environments; conversely, semiarid and subarctic systems had lowest Rhizobium-induced changes (5 and 0% change, respectively). Facilitation of grass production by legumes was also affected by soil texture. For example, a 122% NPP increase was observed in silt clay soils compared to 14% for silt loam soils. Niche complementarity effects were greatest prior to 1971 (61% change), compared to recent studies (2011-2016; -7% change), likely owing to reduced global sulfur deposition and increased ambient temperatures overtime. These historical trends suggest potential for legume intercrops to displace inorganic-N fertilizer and sustainably intensify global NPP. Results herein provide a framework for ecologists and agronomists to improve crop diversification systems, refine research goals, and heighten BNF capacities in agro-grasslands.}, } @article {pmid29989465, year = {2019}, author = {Durk, RP and Castillo, E and Márquez-Magaña, L and Grosicki, GJ and Bolter, ND and Lee, CM and Bagley, JR}, title = {Gut Microbiota Composition Is Related to Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Young Adults.}, journal = {International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {249-253}, pmid = {29989465}, issn = {1543-2742}, support = {UL1 GM118985/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteroidetes/isolation & purification ; *Cardiorespiratory Fitness ; Diet ; Exercise ; Female ; Firmicutes/isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Bacteria residing in the human gastrointestinal tract has a symbiotic relationship with its host. Animal models have demonstrated a relationship between exercise and gut microbiota composition. This was the first study to explore the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption, VO2max) and relative gut microbiota composition (Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio [F/B]) in healthy young adults in a free-living environment. Twenty males and 17 females (25.7 ± 2.2 years), who did not take antibiotics in the last 6 months, volunteered for this study. VO2max was measured using a symptom-limited graded treadmill test. Relative microbiota composition was determined by analyzing DNA extracted from stool samples using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction that specifically measured the quantity of a target gene (16S rRNA) found in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Relationships between F/B and potentially related dietary, anthropometric, and fitness variables were assessed using correlation analyses with an appropriate Bonferroni adjustment (p < .004). The average F/B ratio in all participants was 0.94 ± 0.03. The F/B ratio was significantly correlated to VO2max (r = .48, p < .003), but no other fitness, nutritional intake, or anthropometric variables (p > .004). VO2max explained ∼22% of the variance of an individual's relative gut bacteria as determined by the F/B ratio. These data support animal findings, demonstrating a relationship between relative human gut microbiota composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy young adults. Gastrointestinal bacteria is integral in regulating a myriad of physiological processes, and greater insight regarding ramifications of exercise and nutrition on gut microbial composition may help guide therapies to promote human health.}, } @article {pmid29988452, year = {2018}, author = {Li, H and Chen, M and Duan, L and Zhang, T and Cao, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {Domain Swap Approach Reveals the Critical Roles of Different Domains of SYMRK in Root Nodule Symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {697}, pmid = {29988452}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiosis receptor kinase (SYMRK) is a cell membrane-localized protein kinase containing extracellular malectin-like domain (MLD) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains, which is critically required for both root nodule symbiosis (RNS) and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). SYMRK is widely distributed in the genomes of different plant species; however, the contribution of different domains of SYMRK and its homologs from other plant species to RNS is largely unclear. In this study, SYMRK and its homologs from three typical plant species including Medicago truncatula (for both RNS and AMS), Oryza sativa (for AMS but not RNS), and Arabidopsis thaliana (for neither RNS or AMS) were investigated using domain swap approach in response to rhizobia in Lotus japonicus. Full-length SYMRK from rice and Medicago but not from Arabidopsis could complement Lotus symrk-409 mutant plants to contribute RNS. The chimeric protein with the extracellular domain (ED) of LjSYMRK and cytoplasmic domains (CD) of SYMRK from both Medicago and rice but not Arabidopsis could contribute to RNS in Lotus, suggesting that the CD of SYMRK is required for symbiotic signaling. The chimeric receptors containing the CD of LjSYMRK (SYMRK[CD]) and the EDs of MtDMI2 (MtDMI2[ED]), OsSYMRK (OsSYMRK[ED]), AtSYMRK (AtSYMRK[ED]), NFR1 (NFR1[ED]), and NFR5 (NFR5[ED]) could complement Lotus symrk-409 mutant plants to develop nodules. However, MtDMI2 could partially complement Lotus symrk-409 mutants to form both effective nodules and ineffective bumps, which is similar to the complementation results from MtDMI2[ED]-LjSYMRK[CD] and LjSYMRK[GDLC] in Lotus symrk-409 mutants, suggesting that ED of SYMRK has a very fine-tune regulation for RNS in Lotus. The deletion of either MLD or LRR on SYMRK[GDLC] (a mutant version of SYMRK with GDPC motif replaced by GDLC) could contribute to RNS when overexpressed in Lotus symrk-409 mutants, suggesting that MLD and LRR domains might work together to be involved in symbiotic signaling and the LRR domain might play a negative role in LjSYMRK[GDLC]-mediated RNS. By mutagenizing the conserved amino acids on LRR domain, five serine residues were found to be required for the function of LjSYMRK[GDLC] in RNS. These finding precisely refine the molecular mechanisms of SYMRK function in symbiotic signaling in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid29987521, year = {2018}, author = {Hua, M and Guo, J and Li, M and Chen, C and Zhang, Y and Song, C and Jiang, D and Du, P and Zeng, H}, title = {A Dual-Replicon Shuttle Vector System for Heterologous Gene Expression in a Broad Range of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {10}, pages = {1391-1400}, pmid = {29987521}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors/*genetics ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects/*genetics ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects/*genetics ; Plasmids ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; *Replicon ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {Origin of replication (ori in theta-replicating plasmids or dso in rolling circle replicating plasmids) initiates plasmid replication in a broad range of bacteria. These two kinds of plasmids were both identified in Streptococcus, a genus composed of both human commensal bacteria and pathogens with the ability to cause severe community-acquired infections, including meningitides, septicemia, and respiratory tract diseases. Given the important roles of Streptococcus in the exchange of genetic elements with other symbiotic microbes, the genotypes and phenotypes of both Streptococcus spp. and other symbiotic species could be changed during colonization of the host. Therefore, an improved plasmid system is required to study the functional, complicated, and changeable genomes of Streptococcus. In this study, a dual-replicon shuttle vector system named pDRE was constructed to achieve heterologous gene expression. The vector system contained theta replicon for Escherichia coli. The origin of rolling circle replicon was synthesized according to pMV158 in Gram-positive bacteria. By measuring the products of inserted genes at multiple cloning sites, the ability of this vector system in the replication and expression of heterologous genes was assessed in four Streptococcus and three other Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus lactis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that the newly constructed vector could simultaneously replicate and express heterologous genes in a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, thus providing a potentially powerful genetic tool for further functional analysis.}, } @article {pmid29986646, year = {2018}, author = {Minter, EJA and Lowe, CD and Sørensen, MES and Wood, AJ and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA}, title = {Variation and asymmetry in host-symbiont dependence in a microbial symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {108}, pmid = {29986646}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {NE/K011774/2//Natural Environment Research Council/International ; BB/M011151/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; PLP-2014-242//Leverhulme Trust/International ; UF090328//The Royal Society/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorella/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Fluorescence ; Paramecium/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiosis is a major source of evolutionary innovation and, by allowing species to exploit new ecological niches, underpins the functioning of ecosystems. The transition from free-living to obligate symbiosis requires the alignment of the partners' fitness interests and the evolution of mutual dependence. While symbiotic taxa are known to vary widely in the extent of host-symbiont dependence, rather less is known about variation within symbiotic associations.

RESULTS: Using experiments with the microbial symbiosis between the protist Paramecium bursaria and the alga Chlorella, we show variation between pairings in host-symbiont dependence, encompassing facultative associations, mutual dependence and host dependence upon the symbiont. Facultative associations, that is where both the host and the symbiont were capable of free-living growth, displayed higher symbiotic growth rates and higher per host symbiont loads than those with greater degrees of dependence.

CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the Paramecium-Chlorella interaction exists at the boundary between facultative and obligate symbiosis, and further suggest that the host is more likely to evolve dependence than the algal symbiont.}, } @article {pmid29984706, year = {2018}, author = {Wildgaard, L and Vendt, J and Wildgaard, K}, title = {[Information specialists improve the quality of systematic reviews].}, journal = {Ugeskrift for laeger}, volume = {180}, number = {28}, pages = {}, pmid = {29984706}, issn = {1603-6824}, mesh = {Databases, Bibliographic ; Humans ; *Information Services ; Information Storage and Retrieval/*methods ; Interprofessional Relations ; *Librarians ; Research Design/standards ; *Systematic Reviews as Topic ; }, abstract = {Systematic reviews (SR) are a recognised standard for synthesising clinical data in order to support evidence-based clinical decisions. A robust search strategy is the core of an SR, requiring theoretical and methodological considerations in the pre-, intra- and post-search stage. This review discusses the competencies necessary to design a search including the necessary symbiosis between medical knowledge and detailed knowledge of database architecture and corresponding semantics. Information specialists play an important role in high-quality SR.}, } @article {pmid29982997, year = {2018}, author = {Rivero, J and Álvarez, D and Flors, V and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Root metabolic plasticity underlies functional diversity in mycorrhiza-enhanced stress tolerance in tomato.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1322-1336}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15295}, pmid = {29982997}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {201440E046//CSIC/International ; 201440E099//CSIC/International ; AGL2015-64990-C2-1-R//MINECO/International ; CGL2015-69118-C2-2-P//MINECO/International ; FA1405//European Cooperation in Science and Technology/International ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects ; Alkaloids/metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Catechin/pharmacology ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/*microbiology/*physiology ; Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*metabolism ; Salt Tolerance/drug effects ; Sodium/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses can improve plant tolerance to multiple stresses. We compared three AM fungi (AMF) from different genera, one of them isolated from a dry and saline environment, in terms of their ability to increase tomato tolerance to moderate or severe drought or salt stress. Plant physiological parameters and metabolic profiles were compared in order to find the molecular mechanisms underlying plant protection against stress. Mycorrhizal growth response was determined, and ultrahigh-performance LC-MS was used to compare the metabolic profile of plants under the different treatments. All AMF increased plant tolerance to stress, and the positive effects of the symbiosis were correlated with the severity of the stress. The AMF isolated from the stressful environment was the most effective in improving plant tolerance to salt stress. Differentially accumulated compounds were identified and the antistress properties of some of them were confirmed. We demonstrate that AM symbioses increase plant metabolic plasticity to cope with stress. Some responses were common to all AMF tested, while others were specifically related to particular isolates. Important metabolism reprograming was evidenced upon salt stress, and we identified metabolic pathways and compounds differentially accumulated in mycorrhizas that may underlie their enhanced tolerance to stress.}, } @article {pmid29982978, year = {2018}, author = {Rocha, MLC and Cristaldo, PF and Cruz, JS and Sacramento, JJM and Ferreira, DV and Araújo, APA}, title = {Ants Associated with Turnera subulata (Turneraceae): Elaiosome Attraction, Seed Dispersion and Germination.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {47}, number = {6}, pages = {750-756}, pmid = {29982978}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Germination ; *Seed Dispersal ; Symbiosis ; Turnera/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between plants and ants include examples in which the plant provides shelter and/or food for ants that, in turn, act in the defense or in the dispersion of seeds from the host plant. Although traditionally referred as mutualistic, the results of these interactions may vary with the ecological context in which patterns are involved. A range of species have facultative association with Turnera subulata (Turneraceae). Here, using behavioral bioassays, we investigated the effects of the most frequent ant species associated with T. subulata (Brachymyrmex sp.1, Camponotus blandus (Smith), Dorymyrmex sp.1, Crematogaster obscurata Emery, and Solenopsis invicta Buren) in the dispersion of plant host seeds and in the number of seedlings around the associated ant nests. We also evaluated the effects of these ant species in the germination of T. subulata seeds, in the consumption of elaiosome, and in the attractiveness to elaiosome odor. Our results showed that the ant species associated with T. subulata presented variation in the attraction by the odor and in the rate of consumption of the elaiosomes. However, none of the ant species studied contributed significantly to the increase of seed germination and seedling growth. Our results suggest that the consumption of the elaiosome by ant species is not a determinant factor to the success of germination of T. subulata. However, such species could contribute indirectly to seed germination by carrying seeds to sites more fertile to germination. In general, our results help to elucidate the results of ecological interactions involving ants and plants.}, } @article {pmid29981324, year = {2018}, author = {Arenas, A and Roces, F}, title = {Appetitive and aversive learning of plants odors inside different nest compartments by foraging leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {85-92}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.07.001}, pmid = {29981324}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Appetitive Behavior/*physiology ; Basidiomycota ; Learning/*physiology ; Nesting Behavior/physiology ; *Odorants ; Plants/chemistry ; Smell/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cues inside the nest provide social insect foragers with information about resources currently exploited that may influence their decisions outside. Leaf-cutting ants harvest leaf fragments that are either further processed as substrate for their symbiotic fungus, or disposed of if unsuitable. We investigated whether Acromyrmex ambiguus foragers develop learned preferences for olfactory cues they experienced either in the fungus or in the waste chamber of the nest. Foragers' olfactory preferences were quantified as a choice between sugared papers disks scented with a novel odor and with the odor experienced in one of the nest compartments, before and after odor addition. Odors incorporated in the fungus chamber led to preferences towards paper disks smelling of them. Conversely, odors experienced in the waste chambers led to avoidance of similarly-scented disks. To investigate context-specificity of responses, we quantified learned preferences towards an odor that occurred first in the fungus chamber, and 14 h later in the waste chamber. Foragers initially developed a preference for the odor added in the fungus chamber that turned into avoidance when the same odor solely occurred later in the waste chamber. Avoidance of plants could also be induced in a more natural context, when fresh leaf disks of novel plants, privet or firethorn, were presented in the waste chamber. We conclude that learned acceptance or rejection of suitable plants by foragers depend on the learning context: smells can lead to appetitive learning when present in the fungus garden, or to avoidance learning when they occur at the dump.}, } @article {pmid29981276, year = {2018}, author = {Hume, BCC and D'Angelo, C and Smith, EG and Stevens, JR and Burt, JA and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Validation of the binary designation Symbiodinium thermophilum (Dinophyceae).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {54}, number = {5}, pages = {762-764}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12764}, pmid = {29981276}, issn = {1529-8817}, support = {NE/K00641X/1//Natural Environment Research Council/International ; FP7/2007-2013/ERC//European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme/International ; 311179//European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme/International ; }, mesh = {Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*classification ; Indian Ocean ; Symbiosis ; *Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {The binary designation Symbiodinium thermophilum was invalid due to the absence of an illustration as required by Article 44.2 of the ICN. Herein, it is validated. This species is the most common symbiont in reef corals in the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf, the world's hottest body of water sustaining reef coral growth.}, } @article {pmid29978521, year = {2018}, author = {Merilaita, S and Kelley, JL}, title = {Scary clowns: adaptive function of anemonefish coloration.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {1558-1571}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13350}, pmid = {29978521}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animal Communication ; Animals ; Biological Coevolution ; Ecosystem ; Perciformes/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Pigmentation/*physiology ; *Sea Anemones ; }, abstract = {Clownfishes, with their showy coloration, are well known for their symbiosis with sea anemones and for their hierarchical reproductive system, but the function of their coloration is unclear. We used a phylogeny of 27 clownfish species to test whether fish coloration (i) serves a protective function that involves their anemone hosts, or (ii) signals species identity in species with overlapping host ranges that can potentially share the same host. We tested for an association between fish colour pattern traits, host morphology and host toxicity and examined coloration in relation to host sharing and geographic proximity. Fish with fewer stripes occupied fewer anemone species, and hosts with shorter tentacles, than fish with multiple stripes. There was a negative relationship between anemone toxicity and tentacle length and these protective traits together were correlated with the evolution of stripes. Host sharing or range overlap was not associated with coloration divergence. We propose that ancestral anemonefishes had multiple stripes that served for hiding/camouflage among the hosts' long tentacles, whereas increased specialization towards fewer and more toxic hosts (with shorter tentacles) led to the use of coloration as an aposematic signal. The intriguing notion that an aposematic signal could advertise the defence of another species may reflect the unique symbiotic relationship between anemonefishes and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid29976412, year = {2018}, author = {Kerry, RG and Patra, JK and Gouda, S and Park, Y and Shin, HS and Das, G}, title = {Benefaction of probiotics for human health: A review.}, journal = {Journal of food and drug analysis}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {927-939}, pmid = {29976412}, issn = {2224-6614}, mesh = {Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Health ; Humans ; Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Obesity/drug therapy ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Humans are a unique reservoir of heterogeneous and vivacious group of microbes, which together forms the human-microbiome superorganism. Human gut serves as a home to over 100-1000 microbial species, which primarily modulate the host internal environment and thereby, play a major role in host health. This spectacular symbiotic relationship has attracted extensive research in this field. More specifically, these organisms play key roles in defense function, eupepsia along with catabolism and anabolism, and impact brain-gut responses. The emergence of microbiota with resistance and tolerance to existing conventional drugs and antibiotics has decreased the drug efficacies. Furthermore, the modern biotechnology mediated nano-encapsulated multiplex supplements appear to be high cost and inconvenient. Henceforth, a simple, low-cost, receptive and intrinsic approach to achieve health benefits is vital in the present era. Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics has shown promising results against various enteric pathogens due to their unique ability to compete with pathogenic microbiota for adhesion sites, to alienate pathogens or to stimulate, modulate and regulate the host's immune response by initiating the activation of specific genes in and outside the host intestinal tract. Probiotics have also been shown to regulate fat storage and stimulate intestinal angiogenesis. Hence, this study aims to underline the possible beneficial impact of probiotics for human health and medical sectors and for better lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid29976032, year = {2018}, author = {Vijayakumar, MM and P More, R and Rangasamy, A and R Gandhi, G and Muthugounder, M and Thiruvengadam, V and Samaddar, S and K Jalali, S and Sa, T}, title = {Gut Bacterial Diversity of Insecticide-Susceptible and -Resistant Nymphs of the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and Elucidation of Their Putative Functional Roles.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {976-986}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1711.11039}, pmid = {29976032}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Enzymes/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hemiptera/*drug effects/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Nymph/drug effects/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Knowledge about the gut bacterial communities associated with insects is essential to understand their roles in the physiology of the host. In the present study, the gut bacterial communities of a laboratory-reared insecticide-susceptible (IS), and a field-collected insecticide-resistant (IR) population of a major rice pest, the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, were evaluated. The deep-sequencing analysis of the V3 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed using Illumina and the sequence data were processed using QIIME. The toxicological bioassays showed that compared with the IS population, IR population exhibited 7.9-, 6.7-, 14.8-, and 18.7-fold resistance to acephate, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and buprofezin, respectively. The analysis of the alpha diversity indicated a higher bacterial diversity and richness associated with the IR population. The dominant phylum in the IS population was Proteobacteria (99.86%), whereas the IR population consisted of Firmicutes (46.06%), followed by Bacteroidetes (30.8%) and Proteobacteria (15.49%). Morganella, Weissella, and Enterococcus were among the genera shared between the two populations and might form the core bacteria associated with N. lugens. The taxonomic-to-phenotypic mapping revealed the presence of ammonia oxidizers, nitrogen fixers, sulfur oxidizers and reducers, xylan degraders, and aromatic hydrocarbon degraders in the metagenome of N. lugens. Interestingly, the IR population was found to be enriched with bacteria involved in detoxification functions. The results obtained in this study provide a basis for future studies elucidating the roles of the gut bacteria in the insecticide resistance-associated symbiotic relationship and on the design of novel strategies for the management of N. lugens.}, } @article {pmid29975783, year = {2018}, author = {Ezugwu, AE and Adeleke, OJ and Viriri, S}, title = {Symbiotic organisms search algorithm for the unrelated parallel machines scheduling with sequence-dependent setup times.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e0200030}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0200030}, pmid = {29975783}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Heuristics ; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {This paper addresses the problem of makespan minimization on unrelated parallel machines with sequence dependent setup times. The symbiotic organisms search (SOS) algorithm is a new and popular global optimization technique that has received wide acceptance in recent years from researchers in continuous and discrete optimization domains. An improved SOS algorithm is developed to solve the parallel machine scheduling problem. Since the standard SOS algorithm was originally developed to solve continuous optimization problems, a new solution representation and decoding procedure is designed to make the SOS algorithm suitable for the unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem (UPMSP). Similarly, to enhance the solution quality of the SOS algorithm, an iterated local search strategy based on combining variable numbers of insertion and swap moves is incorporated into the SOS algorithm. More so, to further improve the SOS optimization speed and performance, the longest processing time first (LPT) rule is used to design a machine assignment heuristic that assigns processing machines to jobs based on the machine dynamic load-balancing mechanism. Subsequently, the machine assignment scheme is incorporated into SOS algorithms and used to solve the UPMSP. The performances of the proposed methods are evaluated by comparing their solutions with other existing techniques from the literature. A number of statistical tests were also conducted to determine the variations in performance for each of the techniques. The experimental results showed that the SOS with LPT (SOS-LPT) heuristic has the best performance compared to other tested method, which is closely followed by SOS algorithm, indicating that the two proposed algorithms' solution approaches are reasonable and effective for solving large-scale UPMSPs.}, } @article {pmid29974784, year = {2018}, author = {Lopes, RCSO and Balbino, KP and Jorge, MP and Ribeiro, AQ and Martino, HSD and Alfenas, RCG}, title = {Modulation of intestinal microbiota, control of nitrogen products and inflammation by pre/probiotics in chronic kidney disease: a systematic review.}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {722-730}, doi = {10.20960/nh.1642}, pmid = {29974784}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*microbiology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {Dysbiosis may favor the occurrence of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease (CKD). It has been suggested that the intake of pre/probiotics may control the progression of chronic kidney disease. Thus, the objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on the effects of pre/probiotic intake on the intestinal microbiota, control of nitrogen products, oxidative stress, and inflammation in CKD patients.The literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library of Clinical Trials, and Science Direct. After careful evaluation by the reviewers, ten potentially relevant articles were selected for this study. Based on previous studies, intake of prebiotics appears to have the following effects: increased bifidobacteria and lactobacillus counts; reduced formation of uremic toxin, p-cresol, and its serum concentrations; improved lipid profiles; reduced systemic inflammatory state and concentrations of oxidative stress markers. Similarly, consumption of probiotics can reduce blood urea and serum phosphate concentrations. Furthermore, an increase in fecal volume and intestinal Bifidobacteriumand a reduction in p-cresol serum and blood urea concentrations were observed in response to symbiotic intake. These results suggest that consumption of pre/probiotics may modulate the intestinal microbiota, and promote the growth and metabolism of anaerobic bacteria by decreasing the production of uremic solutes, further causing oxidative stress and systemic inflammation in CKD patients.}, } @article {pmid29974467, year = {2018}, author = {Dhanushkodi, R and Matthew, C and McManus, MT and Dijkwel, PP}, title = {Drought-induced senescence of Medicago truncatula nodules involves serpin and ferritin to control proteolytic activity and iron levels.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {1}, pages = {196-208}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15298}, pmid = {29974467}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Down-Regulation/genetics ; *Droughts ; Ferritins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Iron/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Development/genetics ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Proteolysis ; RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Serpins/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Drought is a major constraint for legume growth and yield. Senescence of nitrogen-fixing nodules is one of the early drought responses and may cause nutrient stress in addition to water stress in legumes. For nodule senescence to function as part of a drought-survival strategy, we propose that the intrinsically destructive senescence process must be tightly regulated. Medicago truncatula protease inhibitor and iron scavenger-encoding genes, possibly involved in controlling nodule senescence, were identified. RNA interference (RNAi) lines were constructed in which expression of a serpin or ferritins was knocked down. Both wild-type and RNAi lines were subjected to drought stress and nodule activity and plant physiological responses were measured. Drought caused M. truncatula to initiate nodule senescence before plant growth was affected and before an increase in papain-like proteolytic activity and free iron levels was apparent. Knock-down expression of serpin6 and ferritins caused increased protease activity, free iron levels, early nodule senescence and reduced plant growth. The results suggest that M. truncatula nodule-expressed serpin6 and ferritins mediate ordered drought-induced senescence by regulating papain-like cysteine protease activity and free iron levels. This strategy may allow the drought-stressed plants to benefit maximally from residual nitrogen fixation and nutrient recovery resulting from break down of macromolecules.}, } @article {pmid29974051, year = {2018}, author = {Fankhauser, M and Moser, C and Nyfeler, T}, title = {Patents as Early Indicators of Technology and Investment Trends: Analyzing the Microbiome Space as a Case Study.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {84}, pmid = {29974051}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {The human microbiome is the collective of microbes living in symbiosis on and within humans. Modulating its composition and function has become an attractive means for the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases including cancer. Since the initiation of the human microbiome project in 2007, the number of academic publications and active patent families around the microbiome has grown exponentially. Screening patent databases can be useful for the early detection and the tracking of new technology trends. However, it is not sufficient to assess portfolio sizes because emerging players with small but high-quality patent portfolios will be missed within the noise of large but low-quality portfolio owners. Here we used the consolidated database and software tool PatentSight to benchmark patent portfolios, and to analyze key patent owners and innovators in the microbiome space. Our study shows how in-depth patent analyses combining qualitative and quantitative parameters can identify actionable early indicators of technology and investment trends from large patent datasets.}, } @article {pmid29973926, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, YX and Zou, L and Penttinen, P and Chen, Q and Li, QQ and Wang, CQ and Xu, KW}, title = {Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Nodulating Rhizobia in Panxi, China, Are Diverse at Species, Plant Growth Promoting Ability, and Symbiosis Related Gene Levels.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1338}, pmid = {29973926}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {We isolated 65 rhizobial strains from faba bean (Vicia faba L.) from Panxi, China, studied their plant growth promoting ability with nitrogen free hydroponics, genetic diversity with clustered analysis of combined ARDRA and IGS-RFLP, and phylogeny by sequence analyses of 16S rRNA gene, three housekeeping genes and symbiosis related genes. Eleven strains improved the plant shoot dry mass significantly comparing to that of not inoculated plants. According to the clustered analysis of combined ARDRA and IGS-RFLP the isolates were genetically diverse. Forty-one of 65 isolates represented Rhizobium anhuiense, and the others belonged to R. fabae, Rhizobium vallis, Rhizobium sophorae, Agrobacterium radiobacter, and four species related to Rhizobium and Agrobacterium. The isolates carried four and five genotypes of nifH and nodC, respectively, in six different nifH-nodC combinations. When looking at the species-nifH-nodC combinations it is noteworthy that all but two of the six R. anhuiense isolates were different. Our results suggested that faba bean rhizobia in Panxi are diverse at species, plant growth promoting ability and symbiosis related gene levels.}, } @article {pmid29972876, year = {2018}, author = {Onchuru, TO and Martinez, AJ and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {The cotton stainer's gut microbiota suppresses infection of a cotransmitted trypanosomatid parasite.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14788}, pmid = {29972876}, issn = {1365-294X}, abstract = {The evolutionary and ecological success of many insects is attributed to mutualistic partnerships with bacteria that confer hosts with novel traits including food digestion, nutrient supplementation, detoxification of harmful compounds and defence against natural enemies. Dysdercus fasciatus firebugs (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae), commonly known as cotton stainers, possess a simple but distinctive gut bacterial community including B vitamin-supplementing Coriobacteriaceae symbionts. In addition, their guts are often infested with the intestinal trypanosomatid parasite Leptomonas pyrrhocoris (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). In this study, using experimental bioassays and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we report on the protective role of the D. fasciatus gut bacteria against L. pyrrhocoris. We artificially infected 2nd instars of dysbiotic and symbiotic insects with a parasite culture and measured parasite titres, developmental time and survival rates. Our results show that L. pyrrhocoris infection increases developmental time and slightly modifies the quantitative composition of the gut microbiota. More importantly, we found significantly higher parasite titres and a tendency towards lower survival rates in parasite-infected dysbiotic insects compared to symbiotic controls, indicating that the gut bacteria successfully interfere with the establishment or proliferation of L. pyrrhocoris. The colonization of symbiotic bacteria on the peritrophic matrix along the gut wall, as revealed by FISH, likely acts as a barrier blocking parasite attachment or entry into the hemolymph. Our findings show that in addition to being nutritionally important, D. fasciatus' gut bacteria complement the host's immune system in preventing parasite invasions and that a stable gut microbial community is integral for the host's health.}, } @article {pmid29972800, year = {2018}, author = {Lundberg, JO and Carlström, M and Weitzberg, E}, title = {Metabolic Effects of Dietary Nitrate in Health and Disease.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {9-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.cmet.2018.06.007}, pmid = {29972800}, issn = {1932-7420}, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular System/*metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diet therapy/*metabolism ; Diet ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome/diet therapy/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrites/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO), generated from L-arginine and oxygen by NO synthases, is a pleiotropic signaling molecule involved in cardiovascular and metabolic regulation. More recently, an alternative pathway for the formation of this free radical has been explored. The inorganic anions nitrate (NO3[-]) and nitrite (NO2[-]), originating from dietary and endogenous sources, generate NO bioactivity in a process involving seemingly symbiotic oral bacteria and host enzymes in blood and tissues. The described cardio-metabolic effects of dietary nitrate from experimental and clinical studies include lowering of blood pressure, improved endothelial function, increased exercise performance, and reversal of metabolic syndrome, as well as antidiabetic effects. The mechanisms underlying the salutary metabolic effects of nitrate are being revealed and include interaction with mitochondrial respiration, activation of key metabolic regulatory pathways, and reduction of oxidative stress. Here we review the recent advances in the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, focusing on metabolic effects in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid29970951, year = {2018}, author = {Chibeba, AM and Kyei-Boahen, S and Guimarães, MF and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Feasibility of transference of inoculation-related technologies: A case study of evaluation of soybean rhizobial strains under the agro-climatic conditions of Brazil and Mozambique.}, journal = {Agriculture, ecosystems & environment}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {230-240}, pmid = {29970951}, issn = {0167-8809}, abstract = {The soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis can be very effective in fixing nitrogen and supply nearly all plant's demand on this nutrient, obviating the need for N-fertilizers. Brazil has been investing in research and use of inoculants for soybean for decades and with the expansion of the crop in African countries, the feasibility of transference of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) technologies between the continents should be investigated. We evaluated the performance of five strains (four Brazilian and one North American) in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 crop seasons in Brazil (four sites) and Mozambique (five sites). The experimental areas were located in relatively similar agro-climatic regions and had soybean nodulating rhizobial population ranging from ≪ 10 to 2 × 10[5] cells g[-1] soil. The treatments were: (1) NI, non-inoculated control with no N-fertilizer; (2) NI + N, non-inoculated control with 200 kg of N ha[-1]; and inoculated with (3) Bradyrhizobium japonicum SEMIA 5079; (4) B. diazoefficiens SEMIA 5080; (5) B. elkanii SEMIA 587; (6) B. elkanii SEMIA 5019; (7) B. diazoefficiens USDA 110; (8) SEMIA 5079 + 5080 (only tested in Brazil). The best inoculation treatments across locations and crop seasons in Brazil were SEMIA 5079 + 5080, SEMIA 5079 and USDA 110, with average grain yield gains of 4-5% in relation to the non-inoculated treatment. SEMIA 5079, SEMIA 5080, SEMIA 5019 and USDA 110 were the best strains in Mozambique, with average 20-29% grain yield gains over the non-inoculated treatment. Moreover, the four best performing strains in Mozambique resulted in similar or better yields than the non-inoculated + N treatment, confirming the BNF as an alternative to N-fertilizers. The results also confirm the feasibility to transfer soybean inoculation technologies between countries, speeding up the establishment of sustainable cropping systems.}, } @article {pmid29970949, year = {2018}, author = {van Heerwaarden, J and Baijukya, F and Kyei-Boahen, S and Adjei-Nsiah, S and Ebanyat, P and Kamai, N and Wolde-Meskel, E and Kanampiu, F and Vanlauwe, B and Giller, K}, title = {Soyabean response to rhizobium inoculation across sub-Saharan Africa: Patterns of variation and the role of promiscuity.}, journal = {Agriculture, ecosystems & environment}, volume = {261}, number = {}, pages = {211-218}, doi = {10.1016/j.agee.2017.08.016}, pmid = {29970949}, issn = {0167-8809}, abstract = {Improving bacterial nitrogen fixation in grain legumes is central to sustainable intensification of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. In the case of soyabean, two main approaches have been pursued: first, promiscuous varieties were developed to form effective symbiosis with locally abundant nitrogen fixing bacteria. Second, inoculation with elite bacterial strains is being promoted. Analyses of the success of these approaches in tropical smallholder systems are scarce. It is unclear how current promiscuous and non-promiscuous soyabean varieties perform in inoculated and uninoculated fields, and the extent of variation in inoculation response across regions and environmental conditions remains to be determined. We present an analysis of on-farm yields and inoculation responses across ten countries in Sub Saharan Africa, including both promiscuous and non-promiscuous varieties. By combining data from a core set of replicated on-farm trials with that from a large number of farmer-managed try-outs, we study the potential for inoculation to increase yields in both variety types and evaluate the magnitude and variability of response. Average yields were estimated to be 1343 and 1227 kg/ha with and without inoculation respectively. Inoculation response varied widely between trials and locations, with no clear spatial patterns at larger scales and without evidence that this variation could be explained by yield constraints or environmental conditions. On average, specific varieties had similar uninoculated yields, while responding more strongly to inoculation. Side-by side comparisons revealed that stronger responses were observed at sites where promiscuous varieties had superior uninoculated yields, suggesting the availability of compatible, effective bacteria as a yield limiting factor and as a determinant of the magnitude of inoculation response.}, } @article {pmid29970576, year = {2018}, author = {Morishima, A and Inagawa, H}, title = {Improvement in Protracted Wound Healing by Topical Cream Containing Lipopolysaccharide Derived from Pantoea agglomerans.}, journal = {Anticancer research}, volume = {38}, number = {7}, pages = {4375-4379}, doi = {10.21873/anticanres.12739}, pmid = {29970576}, issn = {1791-7530}, mesh = {Administration, Topical ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/*administration & dosage ; Male ; *Pantoea ; Wound Healing/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/AIM: The wound-healing effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reportedly results from its ability to induce the removal of foreign bodies, anti-inflammatory function, and tissue-repair function. We reported the improvement of patients with protracted wound healing after the dermal administration of topical cream containing LPS derived from Pantoea agglomerans, which is a symbiotic bacterium present in wheat and confirmed as safe.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Topical cream with LPS was applied on four patients who showed protracted wound healing, after their informed consent. The wound was evaluated on the basis of the change in the approximate wound volume calculated from the width, length, and depth of the wound.

RESULTS: Case 1: A 76-year-old man developed infection at the puncture site after endovascular laser treatment of the right lower extremity varicose veins and suffered protracted wound healing. The wound was treated with gentamicin application containing LPS, and shrank in two weeks. Case 2: A 72-year-old man developed a wound infection and had purulent drainage one week after endovascular laser treatment of the left lower extremity varicose veins. The wound was closed in one month using gentamicin application containing LPS. Case 3: A 67-year-old woman with protracted wound healing developed infection in the right inguinal region after the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection and experienced complete wound dehiscence. The wound shrank one week after gauze packing with LPS and was temporarily sutured. The wound was completely closed in two weeks with gentamicin application containing LPS. Case 4: An 86-year-old woman with protracted wound healing became bedridden after cerebral infarction and developed pressure ulcers in the sacral area. The ulcer disappeared in four months with LPS-containing sugar and povidone-iodine application twice a day. There were no adverse effects from LPS application in any of these patients.

CONCLUSION: In diabetes, one cause of protracted wound healing is the low innate immune function, such as the phagocytic activity of macrophages. LPS is expected to promote healing by improving innate immunity, and its beneficial effect of promoting wound healing was clearly demonstrated in the present cases. The topical application of LPS is clinically effective for wound healing and is considered a potentially novel treatment method.}, } @article {pmid29970413, year = {2018}, author = {Matamoros, MA and Kim, A and Peñuelas, M and Ihling, C and Griesser, E and Hoffmann, R and Fedorova, M and Frolov, A and Becana, M}, title = {Protein Carbonylation and Glycation in Legume Nodules.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {177}, number = {4}, pages = {1510-1528}, pmid = {29970413}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Leghemoglobin/metabolism ; Malate Dehydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/analysis/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Carbonylation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation is an agronomically and environmentally important process catalyzed by bacterial nitrogenase within legume root nodules. These unique symbiotic organs have high metabolic rates and produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species that may modify proteins irreversibly. Here, we examined two types of oxidative posttranslational modifications of nodule proteins: carbonylation, which occurs by direct oxidation of certain amino acids or by interaction with reactive aldehydes arising from cell membrane lipid peroxides; and glycation, which results from the reaction of lysine and arginine residues with reducing sugars or their autooxidation products. We used a strategy based on the enrichment of carbonylated peptides by affinity chromatography followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to identify 369 oxidized proteins in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nodules. Of these, 238 corresponded to plant proteins and 131 to bacterial proteins. Lipid peroxidation products induced most carbonylation sites. This study also revealed that carbonylation has major effects on two key nodule proteins. Metal-catalyzed oxidation caused the inactivation of malate dehydrogenase and the aggregation of leghemoglobin. In addition, numerous glycated proteins were identified in vivo, including three key nodule proteins: sucrose synthase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase. Label-free quantification identified 10 plant proteins and 18 bacterial proteins as age-specifically glycated. Overall, our results suggest that the selective carbonylation or glycation of crucial proteins involved in nitrogen metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and signaling may constitute a mechanism to control cell metabolism and nodule senescence.}, } @article {pmid29967517, year = {2018}, author = {Li, FW and Brouwer, P and Carretero-Paulet, L and Cheng, S and de Vries, J and Delaux, PM and Eily, A and Koppers, N and Kuo, LY and Li, Z and Simenc, M and Small, I and Wafula, E and Angarita, S and Barker, MS and Bräutigam, A and dePamphilis, C and Gould, S and Hosmani, PS and Huang, YM and Huettel, B and Kato, Y and Liu, X and Maere, S and McDowell, R and Mueller, LA and Nierop, KGJ and Rensing, SA and Robison, T and Rothfels, CJ and Sigel, EM and Song, Y and Timilsena, PR and Van de Peer, Y and Wang, H and Wilhelmsson, PKI and Wolf, PG and Xu, X and Der, JP and Schluepmann, H and Wong, GK and Pryer, KM}, title = {Fern genomes elucidate land plant evolution and cyanobacterial symbioses.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {7}, pages = {460-472}, pmid = {29967517}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Cyanobacteria ; Ferns/*genetics/microbiology ; Gene Duplication/genetics ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ferns are the closest sister group to all seed plants, yet little is known about their genomes other than that they are generally colossal. Here, we report on the genomes of Azolla filiculoides and Salvinia cucullata (Salviniales) and present evidence for episodic whole-genome duplication in ferns-one at the base of 'core leptosporangiates' and one specific to Azolla. One fern-specific gene that we identified, recently shown to confer high insect resistance, seems to have been derived from bacteria through horizontal gene transfer. Azolla coexists in a unique symbiosis with N2-fixing cyanobacteria, and we demonstrate a clear pattern of cospeciation between the two partners. Furthermore, the Azolla genome lacks genes that are common to arbuscular mycorrhizal and root nodule symbioses, and we identify several putative transporter genes specific to Azolla-cyanobacterial symbiosis. These genomic resources will help in exploring the biotechnological potential of Azolla and address fundamental questions in the evolution of plant life.}, } @article {pmid29965275, year = {2017}, author = {Chang, Q and Guo, W and Pan, L and Wang, QF and Zhou, XN and Yang, L and Li, E}, title = {[Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth and Uptake of La and Pb by Maize Grown in La and Pb-Contaminated Soil].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {3915-3926}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.201702041}, pmid = {29965275}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lanthanum/*metabolism ; Lead/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Claroideoglomus etunicatum (CE) and Rhizophagus intraradices (RI) on AM colonization rate, biomass, nutrient uptake, C:N:P stoichiometry, and the uptake and transport of lanthanum (La) and lead (Pb) by maize (Zea mays L.) grown in La-and Pb-contaminated soils (combined La-Pb concentrations of 50, 200, and 800 mg·kg[-1]). The aim was to provide a scientific basis for the remediation of soils contaminated by rare earth elements and heavy metals. The results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between the two isolates and maize, and the average AM colonization rate ranged from 26.7% to 95.8%. The increasing concentrations of La and Pb in soils significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate, biomass, and mineral nutrition concentrations of the maize, and significantly increased C:P and N:P ratios and the concentrations of La and Pb in shoots and roots of maize. The shoot and root dry weights of maize were significantly increased by 17.8%-158.9% with two AM fungi inoculations, while the P concentration of shoots and roots of the maize were significantly increased by 24.5%-153.8%. Inoculation with two AM fungi decreased the C:P and N:P ratios, consistent with the growth rate hypothesis. With AM fungi inoculation in three types of La-Pb co-contaminated soils, root Pb concentrations of the maize significantly increased by 51.3%-67.7%; shoot Pb concentrations of the maize significantly decreased by 16.0%-67.7%; and the transport rate of Pb from root to shoot of the maize decreased by 31.5%-54.7%. Meanwhile, inoculation with AM fungi significantly increased the shoot La concentrations in the maize grown in soils mildly contaminated with La-Pb, while it significantly decreased shoot La concentrations, increased root La concentrations of maize, and inhibited the transport of La from root to shoot of the maize grown in soils moderately contaminated with La-Pb, but had no significant effect in severely contaminated soils. The results showed that AM fungi had the potential to promote phytoremediation of soils contaminated with rare earth elements and heavy metals, with potential applications to revegetate such contaminated soil ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29965212, year = {2017}, author = {Tu, RJ and Jin, WB and Han, SF and Chen, HY}, title = {[Effects of Bacteria on the Growth of and Lipid Accumulation in Chlorella pyrenoidosa Cultivated in Municipal Wastewater].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {38}, number = {10}, pages = {4279-4285}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.201703054}, pmid = {29965212}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; Chlorella/*chemistry ; Lipids/*chemistry ; Microalgae/chemistry ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cultivating microalgae using municipal wastewater can treat wastewater and recover algal biofuel as an energy source. Wastewater provides necessary nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and water for microalgal growth. Due to the complexity of the components of municipal wastewater and the complex symbiotic and antagonistic relationship between microalgae and bacteria, it is necessary to select the suitable dominant bacterial species that can promote the microalgae to achieve high lipid production and algal biofuel production using municipal wastewater. Based on the microalgal growth and lipid production, we selected Photosynthetic bacteria and W4 bacteria from 13 different types of bacteria and analyzed the microbial community structure of the municipal wastewater at the end of the microalgal culture cycle. Laboratory test results showed that the amount of lipid production by Photosynthetic bacteria and W4 was 0.114 g·L[-1] and 0.113 g·L[-1], which is 22.58% and 21.50% higher than the production by the control group, respectively. According to the gas chromatography (GC) analysis of the lipids, Photosynthetic bacteria and W4 bacteria exerted a relatively low influence on the composition of fatty acids of Chlorella pyrenoidosa but increased the content of monounsaturated fatty acids that improve the grade of biodiesel. The results of the analysis of microbial community structure of the municipal wastewater showed that Photosynthetic and W4 bacteria reduced the richness and diversity of bacterial communities and have the potential to become the dominant bacterial community.}, } @article {pmid29963313, year = {2018}, author = {Selvakumar, G and Yi, PH and Lee, SE and Shagol, CC and Han, SG and Sa, T and Chung, BN}, title = {Effects of Long-Term Subcultured Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Red Pepper Plant Growth and Soil Glomalin Content.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {122-128}, pmid = {29963313}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are well-known for their ability to improve plant growth and help plants withstand abiotic stress conditions. Unlike other fungi and bacteria, AMF cannot be stored, as they are obligate biotrophs. Long-term preservation of AMF spores is challenging and may lead to the loss of viability and efficiency. This study aimed to understand the effect of prolonged subculture of AMF species on the growth and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) from red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). AMF spores were mass-produced using different techniques and subcultured in pots with sorghum sudangrass as the host plant for 3 years. Experimental soil samples were collected from natural grassland. Five different AMF inocula were used in triplicate as treatments. After 70 days of growth, red pepper plants were harvested and plant dry weight, plant nutrient content, mycorrhizal colonization, AMF spore count, and soil glomalin content were determined. AMF-treated plants displayed higher dry weight than controls, with only fruit dry weight being significantly different. Similarly, significant differences in phosphorous and potassium contents of the above-ground plant parts were observed between mycorrhizal and control treatments. In addition, soil GRSP content was significantly higher in plants inoculated with Rhizophagus sp. and Gigaspora margarita. The increased plant growth and GRSP content suggest that AMF can be maintained for 3 years without losing their efficiency if subcultured regularly with different symbiotic host plants.}, } @article {pmid29961129, year = {2018}, author = {Li, X and Xu, M and Christie, P and Li, X and Zhang, J}, title = {Large elevation and small host plant differences in the arbuscular mycorrhizal communities of montane and alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {605-619}, pmid = {29961129}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Altitude ; Carex Plant/*microbiology ; Fragaria/*microbiology ; *Grassland ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pennisetum/*microbiology ; Seasons ; *Soil Microbiology ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Understanding the diversity and community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in extreme conditions is fundamental to predict the occurrence and evolution of either symbiotic partner in alpine ecosystems. We investigated the AMF associations of three plant species at elevations ranging between 3105 and 4556 m a.s.l. on Mount Segrila on the Tibetan Plateau. Three of four locations were studied in two consecutive years. The AMF diversity and community composition in the roots of Carex pseudofoetida, Pennisetum centrasiaticum, and Fragaria moupinensis differed little. However, at high elevations, the abundance of members of Acaulosporaceae increased relative to that of Glomeraceae. Plants at lower elevation sites, where Glomeraceae predominated as root symbionts, had higher leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations than plants at higher elevation sites, where Acaulosporaceae predominated. The overall phylogenetic relatedness of the AMF increased with increasing elevation. This suggests that abiotic filtering may play an important role in the structuring of symbiotic AMF communities along elevational gradients. The functional role of Acaulosporaceae whose relative abundance was found to increase with elevation in alpine environments needs to be clarified in future studies.}, } @article {pmid29959893, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, H and Sandal, N and Andersen, KR and James, EK and Stougaard, J and Kelly, S and Kawaharada, Y}, title = {A genetic screen for plant mutants with altered nodulation phenotypes in response to rhizobial glycan mutants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {2}, pages = {526-538}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15293}, pmid = {29959893}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {DNRF79//Danish National Research Foundation/International ; 268523//ERC/International ; //Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC)/International ; }, mesh = {Alleles ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Ethylenes/analysis ; Genes, Suppressor ; *Genetic Testing ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; Mutation/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Polysaccharides/*genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodule primordia induced by rhizobial glycan mutants often remain uninfected. To identify processes involved in infection and organogenesis we used forward genetics to identify plant genes involved in perception and responses to bacterial glycans. To dissect the mechanisms underlying the negative plant responses to the Mesorhizobium loti R7AexoU and ML001cep mutants, a screen for genetic suppressors of the nodulation phenotypes was performed on a chemically mutagenized Lotus population. Two mutant lines formed infected nitrogen-fixing pink nodules, while five mutant lines developed uninfected large white nodules, presumably altered in processes controlling organogenesis. Genetic mapping identified a mutation in the cytokinin receptor Lhk1 resulting in an alanine to valine substitution adjacent to a coiled-coil motif in the juxta-membrane region of LHK1. This results in a spontaneous nodulation phenotype and increased ethylene production. The allele was renamed snf5, and segregation studies of snf5 together with complementation studies suggest that snf5 is a gain-of-function allele. This forward genetic approach to investigate the role of glycans in the pathway synchronizing infection and organogenesis shows that a combination of plant and bacterial genetics opens new possibilities to study glycan responses in plants as well as identification of mutant alleles affecting nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid29959645, year = {2019}, author = {Pal, P and Halder, A}, title = {Is There Any Role of Arsenic Toxicity in HPV Related Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma?.}, journal = {Biological trace element research}, volume = {188}, number = {2}, pages = {274-283}, doi = {10.1007/s12011-018-1419-6}, pmid = {29959645}, issn = {1559-0720}, mesh = {Arsenic/*analysis ; Arsenic Poisoning/complications/*epidemiology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/chemically induced/*epidemiology/virology ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Female ; Hair/chemistry ; Human papillomavirus 16/genetics/isolation & purification ; Humans ; India/epidemiology ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa/chemistry ; Mouth Neoplasms/chemically induced/*epidemiology/virology ; Papillomavirus Infections/complications/*epidemiology/virology ; Prevalence ; }, abstract = {Arsenic is a potent human carcinogen affecting the rate of cancer deaths worldwide. In India, West Bengal is the worst affected state by arsenic. To our best knowledge, this is the first study relating arsenic toxicity with oral carcinoma, along with HPV infection, the latter being well established in western countries. To find out a possible correlation between arsenic toxicity and oral carcinoma in the population of West Bengal, in or without any association with human papilloma virus infection. Ethical clearance of this study was obtained from the institutional committee. One hundred and four malignant and 103 premalignant cases were selected for this study along with 200 healthy age and sex-matched individuals selected as control (100 each for malignant and premalignant) (2013-2017). On proper consent, their buccal swab and hair samples were assessed for the presence of HPV DNA by DNA extraction, followed by PCR and arsenic estimation by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry respectively. A very highly significant correlation has been observed between arsenic toxicity, HPV infection and the occurrence of oral carcinoma (p value = 2.18e-06; p value = 0.00100 respectively). A correlation has also been observed between these two factors simultaneously, contributing to this malignancy (phi coefficient = 0.2194839). A statistically significant correlation observed between this metal toxicity and viral infection in the occurrence of oral carcinoma in this population indicates a possible symbiotic role between these two factors in this malignancy.}, } @article {pmid29957177, year = {2018}, author = {Murakami, E and Cheng, J and Gysel, K and Bozsoki, Z and Kawaharada, Y and Hjuler, CT and Sørensen, KK and Tao, K and Kelly, S and Venice, F and Genre, A and Thygesen, MB and Jong, N and Vinther, M and Jensen, DB and Jensen, KJ and Blaise, M and Madsen, LH and Andersen, KR and Stougaard, J and Radutoiu, S}, title = {Epidermal LysM receptor ensures robust symbiotic signalling in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {29957177}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipopolysaccharides/*genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Cells/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Recognition of Nod factors by LysM receptors is crucial for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in most legumes. The large families of LysM receptors in legumes suggest concerted functions, yet only NFR1 and NFR5 and their closest homologs are known to be required. Here we show that an epidermal LysM receptor (NFRe), ensures robust signalling in L. japonicus. Mutants of Nfre react to Nod factors with increased calcium spiking interval, reduced transcriptional response and fewer nodules in the presence of rhizobia. NFRe has an active kinase capable of phosphorylating NFR5, which in turn, controls NFRe downstream signalling. Our findings provide evidence for a more complex Nod factor signalling mechanism than previously anticipated. The spatio-temporal interplay between Nfre and Nfr1, and their divergent signalling through distinct kinases suggests the presence of an NFRe-mediated idling state keeping the epidermal cells of the expanding root system attuned to rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid29957169, year = {2018}, author = {De Meyer, SE and Cnockaert, M and Moulin, L and Howieson, JG and Vandamme, P}, title = {Symbiotic and non-symbiotic Paraburkholderia isolated from South African Lebeckia ambigua root nodules and the description of Paraburkholderia fynbosensis sp. nov.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {2607-2614}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002884}, pmid = {29957169}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; Quinones/chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nine Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from Lebeckia ambigua root nodules. All strains were able to nodulate and fix nitrogen with Lebeckia ambigua apart from WSM4178[T], WSM4181 and WSM4182. Based on the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, all strains were closely related to Paraburkholderia species (98.4-99.9 %), belonging to the Betaproteobacteria class and Burkholderiaceae family. According to 16S rRNA gene phylogeny the closest relative for WSM4174-WSM4177 and WSM4179-WSM4180 was Paraburkholderia tuberum(99.80-99.86 %), for WSM4178[T] was Paraburkholderia caledonica (98.42 %) and for WSM4181-WSM4182 was Paraburkholderia graminis (99.79 %). Analysis of the gyrB and recA housekeeping genes supported the assignment of WSM4181-WSM4182 to P. graminis and the other investigated strains could be assigned to the genus Paraburkholderia. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization, physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of WSM4178[T] from the closest validly published Paraburkholderia species. However, WSM4174-WSM4177 and WSM4179-WSM4180 could not reliably be distinguished from its closest neighbour and therefore complete genome comparison was performed between WSM4176 and P. tuberum STM678[T] which gave ANI values of 96-97 %. Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles and quinone data supported the assignment of the strains to the genus Paraburkholderia. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic data one novel species, Paraburkholderiafynbosensis sp. nov. (WSM4178[T]=LMG 27177[T]=HAMBI 3356[T]), is proposed and the isolation of P. tuberum and P. graminis from root nodules of Lebeckia ambigua is reported.}, } @article {pmid29954096, year = {2018}, author = {Andrews, M and De Meyer, S and James, EK and Stępkowski, T and Hodge, S and Simon, MF and Young, JPW}, title = {Horizontal Transfer of Symbiosis Genes within and Between Rhizobial Genera: Occurrence and Importance.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29954096}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Rhizobial symbiosis genes are often carried on symbiotic islands or plasmids that can be transferred (horizontal transfer) between different bacterial species. Symbiosis genes involved in horizontal transfer have different phylogenies with respect to the core genome of their ‘host’. Here, the literature on legume[-]rhizobium symbioses in field soils was reviewed, and cases of phylogenetic incongruence between rhizobium core and symbiosis genes were collated. The occurrence and importance of horizontal transfer of rhizobial symbiosis genes within and between bacterial genera were assessed. Horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial strains is of common occurrence, is widespread geographically, is not restricted to specific rhizobial genera, and occurs within and between rhizobial genera. The transfer of symbiosis genes to bacteria adapted to local soil conditions can allow these bacteria to become rhizobial symbionts of previously incompatible legumes growing in these soils. This, in turn, will have consequences for the growth, life history, and biogeography of the legume species involved, which provides a critical ecological link connecting the horizontal transfer of symbiosis genes between rhizobial bacteria in the soil to the above-ground floral biodiversity and vegetation community structure.}, } @article {pmid29954078, year = {2018}, author = {Marzec, M and Melzer, M}, title = {Regulation of Root Development and Architecture by Strigolactones under Optimal and Nutrient Deficiency Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29954078}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Flavonols/metabolism ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) constitute a group of plant hormones which are involved in multiple aspects of plant growth and development. Beside their role in shoot and root development and plant architecture in general, SLs are also involved in plant responses to nutrient deficiency by promoting interactions with symbiotic organisms and via promotion of root elongation. Recent observations on the cross talk between SLs and other hormones demonstrate that the inhibition of adventitious root formation by ethylene is independent of SLs. Additionally, it was shown that root exposure to SLs leads to the accumulation of secondary metabolites, such as flavonols or antioxidants. These data suggest pleiotropic effects of SLs, that influence root development. The discovery that the commonly used synthetic SL analogue racGR24 might also mimic the function of other plant growth regulators, such as karrikins, has led us to consider the previously published publications under the new aspects. This review summarizes present knowledge about the function of SLs in shaping root systems under optimal and nutrient deficiency conditions. Results which appear inconsistent with the various aspects of root development are singled out.}, } @article {pmid29953693, year = {2018}, author = {Rajasekharan, SK and Byun, J and Lee, J}, title = {Inhibitory effects of deoxynivalenol on pathogenesis of Candida albicans.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {125}, number = {5}, pages = {1266-1275}, doi = {10.1111/jam.14032}, pmid = {29953693}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {*Antifungal Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; Biofilms/*drug effects ; *Candida albicans/drug effects/pathogenicity ; *Trichothecenes/chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To probe the inhibitory effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) on growth and biofilms of yeast and bacterial pathogens.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Crystal violet quantification, XTT reduction assay, confocal and scanning electron microscopic imaging, and yeast-to-hyphal inhibition assays were performed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of DON. Our results show that DON and its modified form (3-acetyl-DON) caused dose-dependent inhibition of Candida albicans pathogenesis under in vitro conditions. DON significantly reduced C. albicans biofilm formation and metabolic activities, disrupted preformed biofilms without affecting planktonic cell growth, and inhibited hyphal protrusions in embedded colonies and free-living planktonic cells. We also show that DON and its derivatives function by interacting with lanosterol 14α-demethylase, thus mimicking the action mechanism of azole drugs.

CONCLUSIONS: Highlighting the importance of C. albicans biofilms and hyphal filamentations in inducing pathogen vigour, this study demonstrates the antihyphal and antibiofilm potential of DON against C. albicans.

Mycotoxin-producing moulds are able to dominate and control other microbes and insects in ecological niches. At times, they are known to eradicate biofilms of their intruders or symbiotic partners. In view of this coincident notion, the study proposes a role for mycotoxins as a biofilm inhibitor in ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid29951862, year = {2018}, author = {Qin, Y and Duan, G and Zhao, Z and Tian, H and Solaiman, ZM}, title = {[18]O-labeled phosphate applied to soil appears in the shoots of maize after uptake by roots but not after uptake by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {787-793}, pmid = {29951862}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxygen Isotopes/*analysis ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/*metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The application of [33]P or [32]P isotopes to directly trace phosphorus (P) uptake during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is limited by the radioactivity of the two P isotopes, especially under field conditions. A potential alternative method for tracing P uptake in plant-soil systems relies on the analysis of the stable oxygen (O) isotopes of ortho-phosphate (Pi); however, little is known about the fate of the P-O bond during Pi uptake in AM symbioses. This study investigated whether the abundance of [18]O in Pi extracted from the shoots of maize increased after [18]O-labeled Pi added to soil was taken up by either roots of maize or AM extraradical hyphae. A two-compartment culture system, consisting of a root and AM hyphal compartment (RHC, including both roots and AM hyphae) and an AM hyphal compartment (HC, including only hyphae) was designed, and the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae was used to inoculate the roots of maize. Our results indicated that the abundance of [18]O in Pi extracted from the maize shoots increased significantly 3 months after the addition of [18]O-labeled Pi to the soil in the pots which only contained roots. The abundance of [18]O was much lower than expected, however, which suggests a great majority of [18]O in labeled Pi was lost in the soil or during Pi metabolism in the shoots of maize. The abundance of [18]O in Pi extracted from the maize shoots did not increase 3 months after [18]O-labeled Pi was added to the HC, and therefore, loss of [18]O in labeled Pi may also occur during Pi metabolism in AM hyphae. Use of [18]O-labeled Pi as a qualitative tracer of P uptake during AM symbiosis appears unfeasible for such a long-term (3 months) experiment, although it should be investigated in a short-term labeling experiment.}, } @article {pmid29951039, year = {2018}, author = {Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Škochová, V and Rego, ROM and Schmidt, JO and Roachell, W and Hypša, V and Nováková, E}, title = {Microbiomes of North American Triatominae: The Grounds for Chagas Disease Epidemiology.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1167}, pmid = {29951039}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insect microbiomes influence many fundamental host traits, including functions of practical significance such as their capacity as vectors to transmit parasites and pathogens. The knowledge on the diversity and development of the gut microbiomes in various blood feeding insects is thus crucial not only for theoretical purposes, but also for the development of better disease control strategies. In Triatominae (Heteroptera: Reduviidae), the blood feeding vectors of Chagas disease in South America and parts of North America, the investigation of the microbiomes is in its infancy. The few studies done on microbiomes of South American Triatominae species indicate a relatively low taxonomic diversity and a high host specificity. We designed a comparative survey to serve several purposes: (I) to obtain a better insight into the overall microbiome diversity in different species, (II) to check the long term stability of the interspecific differences, (III) to describe the ontogenetic changes of the microbiome, and (IV) to determine the potential correlation between microbiome composition and presence of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Using 16S amplicons of two abundant species from the southern US, and four laboratory reared colonies, we showed that the microbiome composition is determined by host species, rather than locality or environment. The OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) determination confirms a low microbiome diversity, with 12-17 main OTUs detected in wild populations of T. sanguisuga and T. protracta. Among the dominant bacterial taxa are Acinetobacter and Proteiniphilum but also the symbiotic bacterium Arsenophonus triatominarum, previously believed to only live intracellularly. The possibility of ontogenetic microbiome changes was evaluated in all six developmental stages and feces of the laboratory reared model Rhodnius prolixus. We detected considerable changes along the host's ontogeny, including clear trends in the abundance variation of the three dominant bacteria, namely Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, and Arsenophonus. Finally, we screened the samples for the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi. Comparing the parasite presence with the microbiome composition, we assessed the possible significance of the latter in the epidemiology of the disease. Particularly, we found a trend toward more diverse microbiomes in Trypanosoma cruzi positive T. protracta specimens.}, } @article {pmid29949657, year = {2018}, author = {Mathieu, S and Cusant, L and Roux, C and Corradi, N}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: intraspecific diversity and pangenomes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1129-1134}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15275}, pmid = {29949657}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/International ; ER13-09-190//Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation/International ; ANR-10-LABX-41//French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI)/International ; }, mesh = {*Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plants/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1129 I. Introduction 1129 II. Intraspecific phenotypic variation and the plant host 1130 III. High inter-isolate genetic diversity in model AMF 1130 IV. Genome diversity within the model AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis 1131 V. Pangenomes and the future of AMF ecological genomics 1131 Acknowledgements 1133 References 1133 SUMMARY: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous plant symbionts with an intriguing population biology. Conspecific AMF strains can vary substantially at the genetic and phenotypic levels, leading to direct and quantifiable variation in plant growth. Recent studies have shown that high intraspecific diversity is very common in AMF, and not only found in model species. Studies have also revealed how the phenotype of conspecific isolates varies depending on the plant host, highlighting the functional relevance of intraspecific phenotypic plasticity for the AMF ecology and mycorrhizal symbiosis. Recent work has also demonstrated that conspecific isolates of the model AMF Rhizophagus irregularis harbor large and highly variable pangenomes, highlighting the potential role of intraspecific genome diversity for the ecological adaptation of these symbionts.}, } @article {pmid29948922, year = {2018}, author = {Kutschera, U}, title = {Systems biology of eukaryotic superorganisms and the holobiont concept.}, journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften}, volume = {137}, number = {2}, pages = {117-131}, pmid = {29948922}, issn = {1611-7530}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Biology/history ; Biomass ; Eukaryota ; Genotype ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, Ancient ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Philosophy, Medical ; Plants/genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; *Systems Biology ; Systems Theory ; }, abstract = {The founders of modern biology (Jean Lamarck, Charles Darwin, August Weismann etc.) were organismic life scientists who attempted to understand the morphology and evolution of living beings as a whole (i.e., the phenotype). However, with the emergence of the study of animal and plant physiology in the nineteenth century, this "holistic view" of the living world changed and was ultimately replaced by a reductionistic perspective. Here, I summarize the history of systems biology, i.e., the modern approach to understand living beings as integrative organisms, from genotype to phenotype. It is documented that the physiologists Claude Bernard and Julius Sachs, who studied humans and plants, respectively, were early pioneers of this discipline, which was formally founded 50 years ago. In 1968, two influential monographs, authored by Ludwig von Bertalanffy and Mihajlo D. Mesarović, were published, wherein a "systems theory of biology" was outlined. Definitions of systems biology are presented with reference to metabolic or cell signaling networks, analyzed via genomics, proteomics, and other methods, combined with computer simulations/mathematical modeling. Then, key insights of this discipline with respect to epiphytic microbes (Methylobacterium sp.) and simple bacteria (Mycoplasma sp.) are described. The principles of homeostasis, molecular systems energetics, gnotobiology, and holobionts (i.e., complexities of host-microbiota interactions) are outlined, and the significance of systems biology for evolutionary theories is addressed. Based on the microbe-Homo sapiens-symbiosis, it is concluded that human biology and health should be interpreted in light of a view of the biomedical sciences that is based on the holobiont concept.}, } @article {pmid29948435, year = {2018}, author = {Linnakoski, R and Kasanen, R and Lasarov, I and Marttinen, T and Oghenekaro, AO and Sun, H and Asiegbu, FO and Wingfield, MJ and Hantula, J and Heliövaara, K}, title = {Cadophora margaritata sp. nov. and other fungi associated with the longhorn beetles Anoplophora glabripennis and Saperda carcharias in Finland.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {11}, pages = {2195-2211}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-018-1112-y}, pmid = {29948435}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Finland ; Fungi/*physiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis with microbes is crucial for survival and development of wood-inhabiting longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Thus, knowledge of the endemic fungal associates of insects would facilitate risk assessment in cases where a new invasive pest occupies the same ecological niche. However, the diversity of fungi associated with insects remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate fungi associated with the native large poplar longhorn beetle (Saperda carcharias) and the recently introduced Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) infesting hardwood trees in Finland. We studied the cultivable fungal associates obtained from Populus tremula colonised by S. carcharias, and Betula pendula and Salix caprea infested by A. glabripennis, and compared these to the samples collected from intact wood material. This study detected a number of plant pathogenic and saprotrophic fungi, and species with known potential for enzymatic degradation of wood components. Phylogenetic analyses of the most commonly encountered fungi isolated from the longhorn beetles revealed an association with fungi residing in the Cadophora-Mollisia species complex. A commonly encountered fungus was Cadophora spadicis, a recently described fungus associated with wood-decay. In addition, a novel species of Cadophora, for which the name Cadophora margaritata sp. nov. is provided, was isolated from the colonised wood.}, } @article {pmid29948410, year = {2018}, author = {Prihatna, C and Larkan, NJ and Barbetti, MJ and Barker, SJ}, title = {Tomato CYCLOPS/IPD3 is required for mycorrhizal symbiosis but not tolerance to Fusarium wilt in mycorrhiza-deficient tomato mutant rmc.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {5-6}, pages = {495-507}, pmid = {29948410}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Disease Resistance ; Fusarium/pathogenicity ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/microbiology ; *Mutation ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis requires several common symbiosis genes including CYCLOPS/IPD3. The reduced mycorrhizal colonisation (rmc) tomato mutant has a deletion of five genes including CYCLOPS/IPD3, and rmc is more susceptible to Fusarium wilt than its wild-type parental line. This study investigated the genetic defects leading to both fungal interaction phenotypes and whether these were separable. Complementation was performed in rmc to test the requirement for CYCLOPS/IPD3 in mycorrhiza formation and Fusarium wilt tolerance. Promoter analysis via GFP expression in roots was conducted to determine the role of native regulatory elements in the proper functioning of CYCLOPS/IPD3. CYCLOPS/IPD3 regulated by its native promoter, but not a 2×35S promoter, restores mycorrhizal association in rmc. GFP regulated by the 2×35S promoter is not expressed in epidermal cells of roots, indicating that expression of CYCLOPS/IPD3 in these cells is required for colonisation by the fungi utilised in this research. CYCLOPS/IPD3 did not restore Fusarium wilt tolerance, however, showing that the genetic requirements for mycorrhizal association and Fusarium wilt tolerance are different. Our results confirm the expected role of CYCLOPS/IPD3 in mycorrhizal symbiosis and suggest that Fusarium tolerance is conferred by one of the other four genes affected by the deletion.}, } @article {pmid29948017, year = {2019}, author = {Mason, CJ and Campbell, AM and Scully, ED and Hoover, K}, title = {Bacterial and Fungal Midgut Community Dynamics and Transfer Between Mother and Brood in the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an Invasive Xylophage.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {230-242}, pmid = {29948017}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Acer/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Eggs/microbiology ; Female ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fusarium/classification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Mothers ; Oviposition ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts play pivotal roles in the ecology and physiology of insects feeding in woody plants. Both eukaryotic and bacterial members occur in these systems where they facilitate digestive and nutrient provisioning. The larval gut of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is associated with a microbial consortium that fulfills these metabolic roles. While members of the community vary in presence and abundance among individuals from different hosts, A. glabripennis is consistently associated with a fungus in the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). We used amplicon sequencing, taxon-specific PCR, culturing, and imaging to determine how bacterial and fungal communities differ between life stages and possible modes of symbiont transfer. The bacterial and fungal communities of adult guts were more diverse than those from larvae and eggs. The communities of larvae and eggs were more similar to those from oviposition sites than from adult female guts. FSSC isolates were not detected in the reproductive tissues of adult females, but were consistently detected on egg surfaces after oviposition and in frass. These results demonstrate that frass can serve as a vehicle of transmission of a subset for the beetle gut microbiota. Vertically transmitted symbionts are often beneficial to their host, warranting subsequent functional studies.}, } @article {pmid29947506, year = {2018}, author = {Misztal, PK and Lymperopoulou, DS and Adams, RI and Scott, RA and Lindow, SE and Bruns, T and Taylor, JW and Uehling, J and Bonito, G and Vilgalys, R and Goldstein, AH}, title = {Emission Factors of Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Environmental Bacteria and Fungi.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {52}, number = {15}, pages = {8272-8282}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.8b00806}, pmid = {29947506}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Fungi ; Humans ; *Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Knowledge of the factors controlling the diverse chemical emissions of common environmental bacteria and fungi is crucial because they are important signal molecules for these microbes that also could influence humans. We show here not only a high diversity of mVOCs but that their abundance can differ greatly in different environmental contexts. Microbial volatiles exhibit dynamic changes across microbial growth phases, resulting in variance of composition and emission rate of species-specific and generic mVOCs. In vitro experiments documented emissions of a wide range of mVOCs (>400 different chemicals) at high time resolution from diverse microbial species grown under different controlled conditions on nutrient media, or residential structural materials (N = 54, Ncontrol = 23). Emissions of mVOCs varied not only between microbial taxa at a given condition but also as a function of life stage and substrate type. We quantify emission factors for total and specific mVOCs normalized for respiration rates to account for the microbial activity during their stationary phase. Our VOC measurements of different microbial taxa indicate that a variety of factors beyond temperature and water activity, such as substrate type, microbial symbiosis, growth phase, and lifecycle affect the magnitude and composition of mVOC emission.}, } @article {pmid29946784, year = {2019}, author = {Sakoda, S and Aisu, K and Imagami, H and Matsuda, Y}, title = {Comparison of Actinomycete Community Composition on the Surface and Inside of Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) Tree Roots Colonized by the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Cenococcum geophilum.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {2}, pages = {370-379}, pmid = {29946784}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Ascomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Various bacteria are associated with ectomycorrhizal roots, which are symbiotic complexes formed between plant roots and fungi. Among these associated bacteria, actinomycetes have received attention for their ubiquity and diverse roles in forest ecosystems. Here, to examine the association of actinomycetes with ectomycorrhizal root tips, we compared the bacterial and actinomycete communities on the surface and inside of root tips of coastal Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) colonized by the fungus Cenococcum geophilum. Next-generation sequences of 16S rDNA of bacteria communities using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine showed that the number of bacterial classes in the surface of C. geophilum ECM roots was significantly higher than that in non-ECM roots. The bacterial community structure of surface, inside, and non-ECM roots was significantly discriminated each other. For an isolation method, a total of 762 and 335 actinomycete isolates were obtained from the surface and inside of the roots, respectively. In addition, the isolation ratio of actinomycetes in these root tips varied depending on the age of the tree and the season. Identification of the isolates based on partial 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that the isolates belonged to nine genera of the order Actinomycetales. On the surface of the roots, most of the isolates belonged to genus Streptomyces (90.4%); inside of the roots, most of the isolates belonged to genus Actinoallomurus (40.0%), which is a relatively new taxon. Our results suggest that actinomycetes as well as bacteria are ubiquitously associated with C. geophilum ectomycorrhizal roots of P. thunbergii, although their communities can vary either surface or inside of individual root tips.}, } @article {pmid29946739, year = {2018}, author = {Sajnaga, E and Kazimierczak, W and Skowronek, M and Lis, M and Skrzypek, T and Waśko, A}, title = {Steinernema poinari (Nematoda: Steinernematidae): a new symbiotic host of entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus bovienii.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {200}, number = {9}, pages = {1307-1316}, pmid = {29946739}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Poland ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Xenorhabdus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Three strains of symbiotic bacteria were isolated from an entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema poinari retrieved from soil in eastern Poland. Using 16S rDNA, recA, gltX, gyrB, and dnaN gene sequences for phylogenetic analysis, these strains were shown to belong to the species Xenorhabdus bovienii. The nucleotide identity between the studied S. poinari microsymbionts and other X. bovienii strains calculated for 16S rDNA and concatenated sequences of four protein-coding genes was 98.7-100% and 97.9-99.5%, respectively. The phenotypic properties of the isolates also supported their close phylogenetic relationship with X. bovienii. All three tested X. bovienii strains of different Steinernema clade origin supported the recovery of infective juveniles and subsequent development of the nematode population. However, the colonization degree of new infective juvenile generations was significantly affected by the bacterial host donor/recipient. The colonization degree of infective juveniles reared on bacterial symbionts deriving from a non-cognate clade of nematodes was extremely low, but proved the possible host-switching between non-related Steinernema species.}, } @article {pmid29946103, year = {2018}, author = {Flórez, LV and Scherlach, K and Miller, IJ and Rodrigues, A and Kwan, JC and Hertweck, C and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {An antifungal polyketide associated with horizontally acquired genes supports symbiont-mediated defense in Lagria villosa beetles.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2478}, pmid = {29946103}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/chemistry/*metabolism ; Burkholderia/*genetics/*metabolism ; Coleoptera/metabolism/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Multigene Family ; Ovum/microbiology ; Polyketides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts are often a source of chemical novelty and can contribute to host defense against antagonists. However, the ecological relevance of chemical mediators remains unclear for most systems. Lagria beetles live in symbiosis with multiple strains of Burkholderia bacteria that protect their offspring against pathogens. Here, we describe the antifungal polyketide lagriamide, and provide evidence supporting that it is produced by an uncultured symbiont, Burkholderia gladioli Lv-StB, which is dominant in field-collected Lagria villosa. Interestingly, lagriamide is structurally similar to bistramides, defensive compounds found in marine tunicates. We identify a gene cluster that is probably involved in lagriamide biosynthesis, provide evidence for horizontal acquisition of these genes, and show that the naturally occurring symbiont strains on the egg are protective in the soil environment. Our findings highlight the potential of microbial symbionts and horizontal gene transfer as influential sources of ecological innovation.}, } @article {pmid29946051, year = {2018}, author = {Hendry, TA and Freed, LL and Fader, D and Fenolio, D and Sutton, TT and Lopez, JV}, title = {Ongoing Transposon-Mediated Genome Reduction in the Luminous Bacterial Symbionts of Deep-Sea Ceratioid Anglerfishes.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29946051}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Fishes/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diverse marine fish and squid form symbiotic associations with extracellular bioluminescent bacteria. These symbionts are typically free-living bacteria with large genomes, but one known lineage of symbionts has undergone genomic reduction and evolution of host dependence. It is not known why distinct evolutionary trajectories have occurred among different luminous symbionts, and not all known lineages previously had genome sequences available. In order to better understand patterns of evolution across diverse bioluminescent symbionts, we de novo sequenced the genomes of bacteria from a poorly studied interaction, the extracellular symbionts from the "lures" of deep-sea ceratioid anglerfishes. Deep-sea anglerfish symbiont genomes are reduced in size by about 50% compared to free-living relatives. They show a striking convergence of genome reduction and loss of metabolic capabilities with a distinct lineage of obligately host-dependent luminous symbionts. These losses include reductions in amino acid synthesis pathways and abilities to utilize diverse sugars. However, the symbiont genomes have retained a number of categories of genes predicted to be useful only outside the host, such as those involved in chemotaxis and motility, suggesting that they may persist in the environment. These genomes contain very high numbers of pseudogenes and show massive expansions of transposable elements, with transposases accounting for 28 and 31% of coding sequences in the symbiont genomes. Transposon expansions appear to have occurred at different times in each symbiont lineage, indicating either independent evolutions of reduction or symbiont replacement. These results suggest ongoing genomic reduction in extracellular luminous symbionts that is facilitated by transposon proliferations.IMPORTANCE Many female deep-sea anglerfishes possess a "lure" containing luminous bacterial symbionts. Here we show that unlike most luminous symbionts, these bacteria are undergoing an evolutionary transition toward small genomes with limited metabolic capabilities. Comparative analyses of the symbiont genomes indicate that this transition is ongoing and facilitated by transposon expansions. This transition may have occurred independently in different symbiont lineages, although it is unclear why. Genomic reduction is common in bacteria that only live within host cells but less common in bacteria that, like anglerfish symbionts, live outside host cells. Since multiple evolutions of genomic reduction have occurred convergently in luminous bacteria, they make a useful system with which to understand patterns of genome evolution in extracellular symbionts. This work demonstrates that ecological factors other than an intracellular lifestyle can lead to dramatic gene loss and evolutionary changes and that transposon expansions may play important roles in this process.}, } @article {pmid29944191, year = {2018}, author = {Blackstone, NW and Golladay, JM}, title = {Why Do Corals Bleach? Conflict and Conflict Mediation in a Host/Symbiont Community.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {40}, number = {8}, pages = {e1800021}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201800021}, pmid = {29944191}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching has attracted considerable study, yet one central question remains unanswered: given that corals and their Symbiodinium symbionts have co-evolved for millions of years, why does this clearly maladaptive process occur? Bleaching may result from evolutionary conflict between the host corals and their symbionts. Selection at the level of the individual symbiont favors using the products of photosynthesis for selfish replication, while selection at the higher level favors using these products for growth of the entire host/symbiont community. To hold the selfish lower-level units in check, mechanisms of conflict mediation must evolve. Fundamental features of photosynthesis have been co-opted into conflict mediation so that symbionts that fail to export these products produce high levels of reactive oxygen species and undergo programmed cell death. These mechanisms function very well under most environmental conditions, but under conditions particularly detrimental to photosynthesis, it is these mechanisms of conflict mediation that trigger bleaching.}, } @article {pmid29944179, year = {2018}, author = {Becquer, A and Garcia, K and Amenc, L and Rivard, C and Doré, J and Trives-Segura, C and Szponarski, W and Russet, S and Baeza, Y and Lassalle-Kaiser, B and Gay, G and Zimmermann, SD and Plassard, C}, title = {The Hebeloma cylindrosporum HcPT2 Pi transporter plays a key role in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1185-1199}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15281}, pmid = {29944179}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {20160232//SOLEIL/International ; 2010 BLAN 1604 03//ANR/International ; ANR-10-LABX-04-0//ANR/International ; //French Minister of Research and Technology/International ; //INRA (France)/International ; NIFA 2017-67014-26530//United States Department of Agriculture/International ; }, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hebeloma/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphorus Radioisotopes ; Pinus/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Through a mutualistic relationship with woody plant roots, ectomycorrhizal fungi provide growth-limiting nutrients, including inorganic phosphate (Pi), to their host. Reciprocal trades occur at the Hartig net, which is the symbiotic interface of ectomycorrhizas where the two partners are symplasmically isolated. Fungal Pi must be exported to the symbiotic interface, but the proteins facilitating this transfer are unknown. In the present study, we combined transcriptomic, microscopy, whole plant physiology, X-ray fluorescence mapping, [32] P labeling and fungal genetic approaches to unravel the role of HcPT2, a fungal Pi transporter, during the Hebeloma cylindrosporum-Pinus pinaster ectomycorrhizal association. We localized HcPT2 in the extra-radical hyphae and the Hartig net and demonstrated its determinant role for both the establishment of ectomycorrhizas and Pi allocation towards P. pinaster. We showed that the host plant induces HcPT2 expression and that the artificial overexpression of HcPT2 is sufficient to significantly enhance Pi export towards the central cylinder. Together, our results reveal that HcPT2 plays an important role in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, affecting both Pi influx in the mycelium and efflux towards roots under the control of P. pinaster.}, } @article {pmid29943438, year = {2018}, author = {Hester, ER}, title = {How a System of Checks on Symbiosis Could Become Disastrous.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {40}, number = {8}, pages = {e1800106}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201800106}, pmid = {29943438}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid29942982, year = {2018}, author = {Zharikov, AN and Lubyansky, VG and Gladysheva, EK and Skiba, EA and Budaeva, VV and Semyonova, EN and Zharikov, AA and Sakovich, GV}, title = {Early morphological changes in tissues when replacing abdominal wall defects by bacterial nanocellulose in experimental trials.}, journal = {Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine}, volume = {29}, number = {7}, pages = {95}, pmid = {29942982}, issn = {1573-4838}, mesh = {Abdominal Wall/pathology/*surgery ; Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry ; *Biocompatible Materials ; *Cellulose ; Dogs ; Fibrin/biosynthesis ; Hernia, Abdominal/pathology/*surgery ; Materials Testing ; Nanostructures ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Polypropylenes ; Surgical Mesh ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Experimental trials were done on five dogs to explore if an anterior abdominal wall defect could be repaired using wet (99.9%), compact BNC membranes produced by the Мedusomyces gisevii Sa-12 symbiotic culture. The abdominal wall defect was simulated by middle-midline laparotomy, and a BNC membrane was then fixed to open aponeurotic edges with blanket suture (Prolene 4-0, Ethicon). A comparative study was also done to reinforce the aponeurotic defect with both the BNC membrane and polypropylene mesh (PPM) (Ultrapro, Ethicon). The materials were harvested at 14 and 60 days postoperative to visually evaluate their location in the abdominal tissues and evaluate the presence of BNC and PPM adhesions to the intestinal loops, followed by histologic examination of the tissue response to these prosthetics. The BNC exhibited good fixation to the anterior abdominal wall to form on the 14th day a capsule of loose fibrin around the BNC. Active reparative processes were observed at the BNC site at 60 days post-surgery to generate new, stable connective-tissue elements (macrophages, giant cells, fibroblasts, fibrin) and neocapillaries. Negligible intraperitoneal adhesions were detected between the BNC and the intestinal loops as compared to the case of PPM. There were no suppurative complications throughout the postsurgical period. We noticed on the 60[th] day after the BNC placement that collagenous elements and new capillary vessels were actively formed in the abdominal wall tissues, generating a dense postoperative cicatrix whose intraperitoneal adhesions to the intestinal loops were insignificant compared to the PPM graft.}, } @article {pmid29942701, year = {2018}, author = {Riascos, JM and Aguirre, W and Hopfe, C and Morales, D and Navarrete, Á and Tavera, J}, title = {Floating nurseries? Scyphozoan jellyfish, their food and their rich symbiotic fauna in a tropical estuary.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5057}, pmid = {29942701}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The anthropogenic modification of trophic pathways is seemingly prompting the increase of jellyfish populations at the expense of planktivorous fishes. However, gross generalizations are often made because the most basic aspects of trophic ecology and the diverse interactions of jellyfish with fishes remain poorly described. Here we inquire on the dynamics of food consumption of the medusoid stage of the scyphozoan jellyfish Stomolophus meleagris and characterize the traits and diversity of its symbiotic community.

METHODS: S. meleagris and their associated fauna were sampled in surface waters between November 2015 and April 2017 in Málaga Bay, an estuarine system at the Colombian Pacific. Stomach contents of medusae were examined and changes in prey composition and abundance over time analysed using a multivariate approach. The associated fauna was identified and the relationship between the size of medusae and the size those organisms tested using least-square fitting procedures.

RESULTS: The presence of S. meleagris medusa in surface waters was seasonal. The gut contents analysis revealed that algae, copepods and fish early life stages were the more abundant items, and PERMANOVA analysis showed that the diet differed within the seasons (P(perm) = 0.001) but not between seasons (P(perm) = 0.134). The majority of the collected medusae (50.4%) were associated with individuals of 11 symbiotic species, 95.3% of them fishes, 3.1% crustaceans and 1.6% molluscs. Therefore, this study reports 10 previously unknown associations. The bell diameter of S. meleagris was positively related to the body sizes of their symbionts. However, a stronger fit was observed when the size relationship between S. meleagris and the fish Hemicaranx zelotes was modelled.

DISCUSSION: The occurrence of S. meleagris was highly seasonal, and the observed patterns of mean body size through the seasons suggested the arrival of adult medusae to the estuary from adjacent waters. The diet of S. meleagris in the study area showed differences with previous reports, chiefly because of the abundance of algae that are seemingly ingested but not digested. The low number of zooplanktonic items in gut contents suggest the contribution of alternative food sources not easily identifiable. The observed changes in the composition of food in the guts probably reflect seasonal changes in the availability of prey items. The regular pattern in the distribution of symbionts among medusae (a single symbiont per host) and the positive host-symbiont size relationship reflects antagonistic intraspecific and interspecific behaviour of the symbiont. This strongly suggest that medusa represent an "economically defendable resource" that potentially increases the survival and recruitment of the symbionts to the adult population. We argue that, if this outcome of the symbiotic association can be proven, scyphozoan jellyfish can be regarded as floating nurseries.}, } @article {pmid29941972, year = {2018}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Vannini, C and Ortolani, F and Garcia-Seco, D and Chiapello, M and Novero, M and Domingo, G and Terzi, V and Morcia, C and Bagnaresi, P and Moulin, L and Bracale, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {Omics approaches revealed how arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances yield and resistance to leaf pathogen in wheat.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {9625}, pmid = {29941972}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Disease Resistance/genetics ; Environment, Controlled ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Proteomics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Triticum/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Besides improved mineral nutrition, plants colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi often display increased biomass and higher tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Notwithstanding the global importance of wheat as an agricultural crop, its response to AM symbiosis has been poorly investigated. We focused on the role of an AM fungus on mineral nutrition of wheat, and on its potential protective effect against Xanthomonas translucens. To address these issues, phenotypical, molecular and metabolomic approaches were combined. Morphological observations highlighted that AM wheat plants displayed an increased biomass and grain yield, as well as a reduction in lesion area following pathogen infection. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the mycorrhizal phenotype, we investigated changes of transcripts and proteins in roots and leaves during the double (wheat-AM fungus) and tripartite (wheat-AM fungus-pathogen) interaction. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling identified the main pathways involved in enhancing plant biomass, mineral nutrition and in promoting the bio-protective effect against the leaf pathogen. Mineral and amino acid contents in roots, leaves and seeds, and protein oxidation profiles in leaves, supported the omics data, providing new insight into the mechanisms exerted by AM symbiosis to confer stronger productivity and enhanced resistance to X. translucens in wheat.}, } @article {pmid29940639, year = {2018}, author = {Tamaş, C and Pintilie, CT and Atănăsoae, IV and Corduneanu, AM and Dabija, I and Olaru, FŞ and Hreniuc, IM and Tecuceanu, A and Munteanu, I and Dobre, C and Moraru, DC and Ianole, V and Tamaş, I and Costan, VV}, title = {Surgical reconstruction of post-tumoral facial defects.}, journal = {Romanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {285-291}, pmid = {29940639}, issn = {2066-8279}, mesh = {Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology/*surgery ; Facial Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: The face is an unfortunate location for any type of tumor - malignant or not - with significant esthetic and functional outcomes. To reconstruct a facial defect may seem simple, but can be rather complicated. The aim of this study is to analyze and discuss our results in order to conclude with specific surgical strategies correlated with the morphopathological results. The most important objective for us is to offer the highest level of expertise to our patients and to prove that the symbiosis between the surgical treatment and the work of the Department of Morphopathology is essential in order to maximize the quality of medical care provided for our patients.

A retrospective study was conducted on 116 patients diagnosed with facial malignant tumors, 70 of which were confirmed as basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), 35 confirmed as squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 11 malignant melanomas (MMs). Most BCC cases (57) showed ulceration, with a long clinical evolution (more than 10 years) in 48 cases. Only in 12 SCC cases, patients showed inflammation and ulceration, with a shorter evolution period (2-5 years). For complete microscopic diagnosis, immunohistochemical (IHC) examination was necessary in 46 cases. The BCC "deceiving" clinical behavior and the generally aggressive character of the MM were found in our patients as well.

RESULTS: The most frequent sites were the orbital region (27 cases) and the nasolabial sulcus (26 cases). In order to reconstruct the postexcisional defects, we had to perform local flaps in 62 cases (14 frontal flaps for orbital defects, 32 glabellar flaps for medial epicanthus, lower lid and nasal region, 15 nasolabial flaps for lower lid or nasal alae and one "Z"-plasty for the submental region). Oncological follow-up was performed in all patients and in 15 cases re-excision was necessary (11 BCCs, two SCCs and two MMs). Cervical lymph node metastasis occurred in six cases (three BCCs, one SCC and two MMs).

CONCLUSIONS: The cooperation between surgeons and pathologists allowed for good outcomes and the pathology examination can guide the surgical approach towards better results both functionally and esthetically.}, } @article {pmid29940074, year = {2019}, author = {Gil-Díez, P and Tejada-Jiménez, M and León-Mediavilla, J and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {MtMOT1.2 is responsible for molybdate supply to Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {310-320}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13388}, pmid = {29940074}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {ERC-2013-StG-335284/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron ; Molybdenum/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume root nodules requires a steady supply of molybdenum for synthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase. This nutrient has to be provided by the host plant from the soil, crossing several symplastically disconnected compartments through molybdate transporters, including members of the MOT1 family. Medicago truncatula Molybdate Transporter (MtMOT) 1.2 is a Medicago truncatula MOT1 family member located in the endodermal cells in roots and nodules. Immunolocalization of a tagged MtMOT1.2 indicates that it is associated to the plasma membrane and to intracellular membrane systems, where it would be transporting molybdate towards the cytosol, as indicated in yeast transport assays. Loss-of-function mot1.2-1 mutant showed reduced growth compared with wild-type plants when nitrogen fixation was required but not when nitrogen was provided as nitrate. While no effect on molybdenum-dependent nitrate reductase activity was observed, nitrogenase activity was severely affected, explaining the observed difference of growth depending on nitrogen source. This phenotype was the result of molybdate not reaching the nitrogen-fixing nodules, since genetic complementation with a wild-type MtMOT1.2 gene or molybdate-fortification of the nutrient solution, both restored wild-type levels of growth and nitrogenase activity. These results support a model in which MtMOT1.2 would mediate molybdate delivery by the vasculature into the nodules.}, } @article {pmid29939816, year = {2018}, author = {Guerrero-Galán, C and Garcia, K and Houdinet, G and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {HcTOK1 participates in the maintenance of K[+] homeostasis in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum, which is essential for the symbiotic K[+] nutrition of Pinus pinaster.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {e1480845}, pmid = {29939816}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics/*physiology ; Hebeloma/genetics/physiology ; Homeostasis ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants rely on root symbioses to complement or improve their mineral nutrition. Recent researches have put forward that mycorrhizal fungi efficiently absorb and transfer potassium (K[+]) from the soil to host plant roots, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not completely elucidated yet. We have recently revealed that K[+] is likely released from the fungal Hartig net to the plant by TOK channels in the ectomycorrhizal model Hebeloma cylindrosporum - Pinus pinaster. H. cylindrosporum harbours three TOK members. Herein, we report that one of them, HcTOK1, has similar features than the yeast ScTOK1. Moreover, we propose a role for this channel in the transport of K[+] from the medium to ectomycorrhizal roots under K[+] starvation.}, } @article {pmid29938809, year = {2018}, author = {Atencio, LA and Dal Grande, F and Young, GO and Gavilán, R and Guzmán, HM and Schmitt, I and Mejía, LC and Gutiérrez, M}, title = {Antimicrobial-producing Pseudoalteromonas from the marine environment of Panama shows a high phylogenetic diversity and clonal structure.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {9}, pages = {747-769}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201800087}, pmid = {29938809}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism/pharmacology ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Panama ; *Phylogeny ; Pseudoalteromonas/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Pseudoalteromonas is a genus of marine bacteria often found in association with other organisms. Although several studies have examined Pseudoalteromonas diversity and their antimicrobial activity, its diversity in tropical environments is largely unexplored. We investigated the diversity of Pseudoalteromonas in marine environments of Panama using a multilocus phylogenetic approach. Furthermore we tested their antimicrobial capacity and evaluated the effect of recombination and mutation in shaping their phylogenetic relationships. The reconstruction of clonal relationships among 78 strains including 15 reference Pseudoalteromonas species revealed 43 clonal lineages, divided in pigmented and non-pigmented strains. In total, 39 strains displayed moderate to high activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Linkage disequilibrium analyses showed that the Pseudoalteromonas strains of Panama have a highly clonal structure and that, although present, recombination is not frequent enough to break the association among alleles. This clonal structure is in contrast to the high rates of recombination generally reported for aquatic and marine bacteria. We propose that this structure is likely due to the symbiotic association with marine invertebrates of most strains analyzed. Our results also show that there are several putative new species of Pseudoalteromonas in Panama to be described.}, } @article {pmid29938093, year = {2018}, author = {Christian, N and Bever, JD}, title = {Carbon allocation and competition maintain variation in plant root mutualisms.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {5792-5800}, pmid = {29938093}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Plants engage in multiple root symbioses that offer varying degrees of benefit. We asked how variation in partner quality persists using a resource-ratio model of population growth. We considered the plant's ability to preferentially allocate carbon to mutualists and competition for plant carbon between mutualist and nonmutualist symbionts. We treated carbon as two nutritionally interchangeable, but temporally separated, resources-carbon allocated indiscriminately for the construction of the symbiosis, and carbon preferentially allocated to the mutualist after symbiosis establishment and assessment. This approach demonstrated that coexistence of mutualists and nonmutualists is possible when fidelity of the plant to the mutualist and the cost of mutualism mediate resource competition. Furthermore, it allowed us to trace symbiont population dynamics given varying degrees of carbon allocation. Specifically, coexistence occurs at intermediate levels of preferential allocation. Our findings are consistent with previous empirical studies as well the application of biological market theory to plantroot symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29938062, year = {2018}, author = {Bellis, ES and Edlund, RB and Berrios, HK and Lessios, HA and Denver, DR}, title = {Molecular signatures of host specificity linked to habitat specialization in Exaiptasia sea anemones.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {5413-5426}, pmid = {29938062}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Rising ocean temperatures associated with global climate change induce breakdown of the symbiosis between coelenterates and photosynthetic microalgae of the genus Symbiodinium. Association with more thermotolerant partners could contribute to resilience, but the genetic mechanisms controlling specificity of hosts for particular Symbiodinium types are poorly known. Here, we characterize wild populations of a sea anemone laboratory model system for anthozoan symbiosis, from contrasting environments in Caribbean Panama. Patterns of anemone abundance and symbiont diversity were consistent with specialization of holobionts for particular habitats, with Exaiptasia pallida/S. minutum (ITS2 type B1) abundant on vertical substrate in thermally stable, shaded environments but E. brasiliensis/Symbiodinium sp. (ITS2 clade A) more common in shallow areas subject to high temperature and irradiance. Population genomic sequencing revealed a novel E. pallida population from the Bocas del Toro Archipelago that only harbors S. minutum. Loci most strongly associated with divergence of the Bocas-specific population were enriched in genes with putative roles in cnidarian symbiosis, including activators of the complement pathway of the innate immune system, thrombospondin-type-1 repeat domain proteins, and coordinators of endocytic recycling. Our findings underscore the importance of unmasking cryptic diversity in natural populations and the role of long-term evolutionary history in mediating interactions with Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid29938049, year = {2018}, author = {Duarte, S and Nobre, T and Borges, PAV and Nunes, L}, title = {Symbiotic flagellate protists as cryptic drivers of adaptation and invasiveness of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei Clément.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {5242-5253}, pmid = {29938049}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Changes in flagellate protist communities of subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei across different locations were evaluated following four predictions: (i) Rural endemic (Portugal mainland) termite populations will exhibit high diversity of symbionts; (ii) invasive urban populations (Horta city, Faial island, Azores), on the contrary, will exhibit lower diversity of symbionts, showing high similarity of symbiont assemblages through environmental filtering; (iii) recent historical colonization of isolated regions-as the case of islands-will imply a loss of symbiont diversity; and (iv) island isolation will trigger a change in colony breeding structure toward a less aggressive behavior. Symbiont flagellate protist communities were morphologically identified, and species richness and relative abundances, as well as biodiversity indices, were used to compare symbiotic communities in colonies from urban and rural environments and between island invasive and mainland endemic populations. To evaluate prediction on the impact of isolation (iv), aggression tests were performed among termites comprising island invasive and mainland endemic populations. A core group of flagellates and secondary facultative symbionts was identified. Termites from rural environments showed, in the majority of observed colonies, more diverse and abundant protist communities, probably confirming prediction (i). Corroborating prediction (ii), the two least diverse communities belong to termites captured inside urban areas. The Azorean invasive termite colonies had more diverse protist communities than expected and prediction (iii) which was not verified within this study. Termites from mainland populations showed a high level of aggressiveness between neighboring colonies, in contrast to the invasive colonies from Horta city, which were not aggressive to neighbors according to prediction (iv). The symbiotic flagellate community of R. grassei showed the ability to change in a way that might be consistent with adaptation to available conditions, possibly contributing to optimization of the colonization of new habitats and spreading of its distribution area, highlighting R. grassei potential as an invasive species.}, } @article {pmid29937759, year = {2018}, author = {Prihatna, C and Barbetti, MJ and Barker, SJ}, title = {A Novel Tomato Fusarium Wilt Tolerance Gene.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1226}, pmid = {29937759}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The reduced mycorrhizal colonization (rmc) tomato mutant is unable to form mycorrhiza and is more susceptible to Fusarium wilt compared with its wild-type isogenic line 76R. The rmc mutant has a chromosomal deletion affecting five genes, one of which is similar to CYCLOPS. Loss of this gene is responsible for non-mycorrhizality in rmc but not enhanced Fusarium wilt susceptibility. Here, we describe assessment of a second gene in the rmc deletion, designated Solyc08g075770 that is expressed in roots. Sequence analyses show that Solyc08g075770 encodes a small transmembrane protein with putative phosphorylation and glycosylation sites. It is predicted to be localized in the plasma membrane and may function in transmembrane ion transport and/or as a cell surface receptor. Complementation and knock-out strategies were used to test its function. Some putative CRISPR/Cas-9 knock-out transgenic events exhibited Fusarium wilt susceptibility like rmc and some putative complementation lines were 76R-like, suggesting that the tomato Solyc08g075770 functions in Fusarium wilt tolerance. This is the first study to demonstrate that Solyc08g075770 is the contributor to the Tfw locus, conferring tolerance to Fusarium wilt in 76R which was lost in rmc.}, } @article {pmid29936165, year = {2018}, author = {Salazar, MJ and Menoyo, E and Faggioli, V and Geml, J and Cabello, M and Rodriguez, JH and Marro, N and Pardo, A and Pignata, ML and Becerra, AG}, title = {Pb accumulation in spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {643}, number = {}, pages = {238-246}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.199}, pmid = {29936165}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Environmental Monitoring ; Fungi ; Glomeromycota ; Lead/analysis/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {Heavy metal (HM) pollution of soils is one of the most important and unsolved environmental problems affecting the world, with alternative solutions currently being investigated through different approaches. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil inhabitants that form symbiotic relationships with plants. This alleviates HM toxicity in the host plant, thereby enhancing tolerance. However, the few investigations that have addressed the presence of metals in the fungus structures were performed under experimental conditions, with there being no results reported for Pb. The current study represents a first approximation concerning the capability of spores to accumulate Pb in the AMF community present in a Pb polluted soil under field conditions. Micro X-ray fluorescence was utilized to obtain a direct observation of Pb in spores, and the innovation of total reflection X-ray fluorescence was applied to obtain Pb quantification in spores. The AMF community included species of Ambisporaceae, Archaeosporaceae, Gigasporacea, Glomeraceae and Paraglomeraceae, and was tolerant to high Pb concentrations in soil. Pb accumulation in AMF spores was demonstrated at the community level and corroborated by direct observation of the most abundant spores, which belonged to the Gigasporaceae group. Spore Pb accumulation is possibly dependent on the AMF and host plant species.}, } @article {pmid29935729, year = {2018}, author = {Kiran, GS and Sekar, S and Ramasamy, P and Thinesh, T and Hassan, S and Lipton, AN and Ninawe, AS and Selvin, J}, title = {Marine sponge microbial association: Towards disclosing unique symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {140}, number = {}, pages = {169-179}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.04.017}, pmid = {29935729}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biodiversity ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges are sessile benthic filter-feeding animals, which harbor numerous microorganisms. The enormous diversity and abundance of sponge associated bacteria envisages sponges as hot spots of microbial diversity and dynamics. Many theories were proposed on the ecological implications and mechanism of sponge-microbial association, among these, the biosynthesis of sponge derived bioactive molecules by the symbiotic bacteria is now well-indicated. This phenomenon however, is not exhibited by all marine sponges. Based on the available reports, it has been well established that the sponge associated microbial assemblages keep on changing continuously in response to environmental pressure and/or acquisition of microbes from surrounding seawater or associated macroorganisms. In this review, we have discussed nutritional association of sponges with its symbionts, interaction of sponges with other eukaryotic organisms, dynamics of sponge microbiome and sponge-specific microbial symbionts, sponge-coral association etc.}, } @article {pmid29935536, year = {2018}, author = {Toju, H and Tanabe, AS and Sato, H}, title = {Network hubs in root-associated fungal metacommunities.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {116}, pmid = {29935536}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Forests ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Host Specificity ; Japan ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Although a number of recent studies have uncovered remarkable diversity of microbes associated with plants, understanding and managing dynamics of plant microbiomes remain major scientific challenges. In this respect, network analytical methods have provided a basis for exploring "hub" microbial species, which potentially organize community-scale processes of plant-microbe interactions.

METHODS: By compiling Illumina sequencing data of root-associated fungi in eight forest ecosystems across the Japanese Archipelago, we explored hubs within "metacommunity-scale" networks of plant-fungus associations. In total, the metadata included 8080 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected from 227 local populations of 150 plant species/taxa.

RESULTS: Few fungal OTUs were common across all the eight forests. However, in each of the metacommunity-scale networks representing northern four localities or southern four localities, diverse mycorrhizal, endophytic, and pathogenic fungi were classified as "metacommunity hubs," which were detected from diverse host plant taxa throughout a climatic region. Specifically, Mortierella (Mortierellales), Cladophialophora (Chaetothyriales), Ilyonectria (Hypocreales), Pezicula (Helotiales), and Cadophora (incertae sedis) had broad geographic and host ranges across the northern (cool-temperate) region, while Saitozyma/Cryptococcus (Tremellales/Trichosporonales) and Mortierella as well as some arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were placed at the central positions of the metacommunity-scale network representing warm-temperate and subtropical forests in southern Japan.

CONCLUSIONS: The network theoretical framework presented in this study will help us explore prospective fungi and bacteria, which have high potentials for agricultural application to diverse plant species within each climatic region. As some of those fungal taxa with broad geographic and host ranges have been known to promote the survival and growth of host plants, further studies elucidating their functional roles are awaited.}, } @article {pmid29935468, year = {2018}, author = {Li, J and Sun, Y and Zhang, X and Hu, Y and Li, T and Zhang, X and Wang, Z and Wu, S and Wu, Z and Chen, B}, title = {A methyltransferase gene from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi involved in arsenic methylation and volatilization.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {209}, number = {}, pages = {392-400}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.06.092}, pmid = {29935468}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Arsenic/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Methylation ; Methyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/genetics ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; *Volatilization ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), ubiquitous symbiotic fungi associated with the majority of terrestrial plants, were demonstrated to play important roles in arsenic (As) translocation and transformation in the plant-soil continuum, and substantially influence plant As tolerance. However, the direct involvement of AMF in As methylation and volatilization and their molecular mechanisms remain unsolved. Here, an arsenite methyltransferase gene RiMT-11 was identified and characterized from AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Heterologous expression of RiMT-11 enhanced arsenite resistance of E. coli (Δars) through methylating As into monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and ultimately volatile trimethyl arsine (TMAs). In a two-compartment in vitro monoxenic cultivation system, methylated and volatile As were also detected from AM symbioses with arsenate addition, accompanied by strong up-regulation of RiMT-11 expression in extraradical hyphae. The present study provided direct evidence and illustrated an underlying mechanism of As methylation and volatilization by AMF, leading to a deeper insight into the role of AMF in As biogeochemical cycling.}, } @article {pmid29934746, year = {2018}, author = {Fan, X and Song, F}, title = {Responses of nonenzymatic antioxidants to atrazine in arbuscular mycorrhizal roots of Medicago sativa L.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {5-6}, pages = {567-571}, pmid = {29934746}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*analysis ; Atrazine/*pharmacology ; Flavonoids/analysis ; Medicago sativa/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*drug effects/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Atrazine induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are detoxified by enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve on this first level of plant resistance to environmental stresses through the antioxidant defense system, but the way in which nonenzymatic antioxidants relate to atrazine in arbuscular mycorrhizal roots is not well-known. In this study, a symbiotic relationship between Funneliformis mosseae and Medicago sativa L. roots was established successfully. Then, a non-targeted metabolite analysis which was hypothesis-free concerning particular metabolites was used to provide a comprehensive metabolic fingerprint and to subsequently identify, quantify, and finally find different nonenzymatic antioxidants in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots following atrazine addition. Tocotrienol, (iso)flavonoids, and their derivate concentrations in F. mosseae-M. sativa mycorrhizal roots were significantly higher than in non-mycorrhizal roots. The majority of (iso)flavonoids and their derivates increased significantly via methylation or glycosylation, but dehydroascorbic acid in its oxidized form decreased significantly in mycorrhizal roots. In general, F. mosseae colonization results in significantly greater nonenzymatic antioxidant tocotrienol and (iso)flavonoids derivate concentrations in M. sativa roots, which may be associated with resistance to atrazine.}, } @article {pmid29934334, year = {2018}, author = {Judd, AM and Matthews, MK and Hughes, R and Veloz, M and Sexton, CE and Chaston, JM}, title = {Bacterial Methionine Metabolism Genes Influence Drosophila melanogaster Starvation Resistance.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {17}, pages = {}, pmid = {29934334}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acetobacter/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/genetics/metabolism ; Methionine/*metabolism ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Starvation/*prevention & control ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animal-associated microorganisms (microbiota) dramatically influence the nutritional and physiological traits of their hosts. To expand our understanding of such influences, we predicted bacterial genes that influence a quantitative animal trait by a comparative genomic approach, and we extended these predictions via mutant analysis. We focused on Drosophila melanogaster starvation resistance (SR). We first confirmed that D. melanogaster SR responds to the microbiota by demonstrating that bacterium-free flies have greater SR than flies bearing a standard 5-species microbial community, and we extended this analysis by revealing the species-specific influences of 38 genome-sequenced bacterial species on D. melanogaster SR. A subsequent metagenome-wide association analysis predicted bacterial genes with potential influence on D. melanogaster SR, among which were significant enrichments in bacterial genes for the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids and B vitamins. Dietary supplementation experiments established that the addition of methionine, but not B vitamins, to the diets significantly lowered D. melanogaster SR in a way that was additive, but not interactive, with the microbiota. A direct role for bacterial methionine metabolism genes in D. melanogaster SR was subsequently confirmed by analysis of flies that were reared individually with distinct methionine cycle Escherichia coli mutants. The correlated responses of D. melanogaster SR to bacterial methionine metabolism mutants and dietary modification are consistent with the established finding that bacteria can influence fly phenotypes through dietary modification, although we do not provide explicit evidence of this conclusion. Taken together, this work reveals that D. melanogaster SR is a microbiota-responsive trait, and specific bacterial genes underlie these influences.IMPORTANCE Extending descriptive studies of animal-associated microorganisms (microbiota) to define causal mechanistic bases for their influence on animal traits is an emerging imperative. In this study, we reveal that D. melanogaster starvation resistance (SR), a model quantitative trait in animal genetics, responds to the presence and identity of the microbiota. Using a predictive analysis, we reveal that the amino acid methionine has a key influence on D. melanogaster SR and show that bacterial methionine metabolism mutants alter normal patterns of SR in flies bearing the bacteria. Our data further suggest that these effects are additive, and we propose the untested hypothesis that, similar to bacterial effects on fruit fly triacylglyceride deposition, the bacterial influence may be through dietary modification. Together, these findings expand our understanding of the bacterial genetic basis for influence on a nutritionally relevant trait of a model animal host.}, } @article {pmid29933190, year = {2018}, author = {Tang, CC and Tian, Y and He, ZW and Zuo, W and Zhang, J}, title = {Performance and mechanism of a novel algal-bacterial symbiosis system based on sequencing batch suspended biofilm reactor treating domestic wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {265}, number = {}, pages = {422-431}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.033}, pmid = {29933190}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Biofilms ; Bioreactors ; Chlorella ; Chlorophyll ; Chlorophyll A ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; *Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {A novel algal-bacterial symbiosis system based on sequencing batch suspended biofilm reactor (A-SBSBR) was developed for simultaneously enhanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal from domestic wastewater. Results showed that the total N (TN) and P (TP) removal efficiencies in A-SBSBR increased to 69.91% and 94.78%, respectively. The mechanism analysis indicated that TN removal mainly occurred at non-aeration stage, and TP removal happened during the whole cycle in A-SBSBR. Compared to control SBSBR, TN removal by denitrification and anabolism and TP removal by anabolism in A-SBSBR increased by 12.70%, 7.64% and 50.13%, respectively. The Chlorophyll a accumulation in biofilm increased to 4.80 ± 0.08 mg/g. Algae related to Chlorella and Scenedesmus and bacteria related to Flavobacterium, Micropruina and Comamonadaceae were enriched in A-SBSBR and responsible for the enhanced nutrients removal effect. This study may provide a new solution to achieve nutrients removal enhancement from wastewater.}, } @article {pmid29931403, year = {2018}, author = {Lee, SJ and Kong, M and Morse, D and Hijri, M}, title = {Expression of putative circadian clock components in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {5-6}, pages = {523-534}, pmid = {29931403}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Circadian Clocks/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal ; Light ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligatory plant symbionts that live underground, so few studies have examined their response to light. Responses to blue light by other fungi can be mediated by White Collar-1 (WC-1) and WC-2 proteins. These wc genes, together with the frequency gene (frq), also form part of the endogenous circadian clock. The clock mechanism has never been studied in AMF, although circadian growth of their hyphae in the field has been reported. Using both genomic and transcriptomic data, we have found homologs of wc-1, wc-2, and frq and related circadian clock genes in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare (synonym Rhizophagus irregularis). Gene expression of wc-1, wc-2, and frq was analyzed using RT-qPCR on RNA extracted from germinating spores and from fungal material cultivated in vitro with transformed carrot roots. We found that all three core clock genes were expressed in both pre- and post-mycorrhizal stages of R. irregulare growth. Similar to the model fungus Neurospora crassa, the core circadian oscillator gene frq was induced by brief light stimulation. The presence of circadian clock and output genes in R. irregulare opens the door to the study of circadian clocks in the fungal partner of plant-AMF symbiosis. Our finding also provides new insight into the evolution of the circadian frq gene in fungi.}, } @article {pmid29931252, year = {2018}, author = {Lopez-Fernandez, M and Broman, E and Turner, S and Wu, X and Bertilsson, S and Dopson, M}, title = {Investigation of viable taxa in the deep terrestrial biosphere suggests high rates of nutrient recycling.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {29931252}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Chemoautotrophic Growth/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Groundwater/*microbiology ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Recycling ; }, abstract = {The deep biosphere is the largest 'bioreactor' on earth, and microbes inhabiting this biome profoundly influence global nutrient and energy cycles. An important question for deep biosphere microbiology is whether or not specific populations are viable. To address this, we used quantitative PCR and high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing of total and viable cells (i.e. with an intact cellular membrane) from three groundwaters with different ages and chemical constituents. There were no statistically significant differences in 16S rRNA gene abundances and microbial diversity between total and viable communities. This suggests that populations were adapted to prevailing oligotrophic conditions and that non-viable cells are rapidly degraded and recycled into new biomass. With higher concentrations of organic carbon, the modern marine and undefined mixed waters hosted a community with a larger range of predicted growth strategies than the ultra-oligotrophic old saline water. These strategies included fermentative and potentially symbiotic lifestyles by candidate phyla that typically have streamlined genomes. In contrast, the old saline waters had more 16S rRNA gene sequences in previously cultured lineages able to oxidize hydrogen and fix carbon dioxide. This matches the paradigm of a hydrogen and carbon dioxide-fed chemolithoautotrophic deep biosphere.}, } @article {pmid29931079, year = {2018}, author = {Tsuchiya, Y}, title = {Small Molecule Toolbox for Strigolactone Biology.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {8}, pages = {1511-1519}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy119}, pmid = {29931079}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Germination/physiology ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones associated with diverse developmental processes including plant architecture and stress responses. SLs are exuded to the soil as an ecological signal to attract symbiotic arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi. This ecological mechanism is also used by parasitic plants to detect the presence of host plants and initiate germination. The functional diversity of SLs makes SL biology so extensive that a single methodology is not sufficient to comprehend it. This review describes the theoretical and practical aspects of the design of small molecule probes that have been used to elucidate the functions of SLs. The lessons from the development of small molecules to tackle the unique questions in SL biology might be instructive in the extending field of chemical biology in plants.}, } @article {pmid29930808, year = {2018}, author = {Bamba, S and Takahashi, K and Imaeda, H and Nishida, A and Kawahara, M and Inatomi, O and Sugimoto, M and Sasaki, M and Andoh, A}, title = {Effect of fermented vegetable beverage containing Pediococcus pentosaceus in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.}, journal = {Biomedical reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {74-80}, pmid = {29930808}, issn = {2049-9434}, abstract = {In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), probiotics are often employed as an adjuvant therapeutic option. In the present study, a fermented vegetable beverage containing Pediococcus pentosaceus strain IDS885 was administered to patients with active UC for 8 weeks. A total of 11 patients with mildly to moderately active UC were randomly assigned into two groups: Group A (n=6), in which the subjects consumed the fermented beverage for 8 weeks immediately following enrollment, and Group B (n=5), in which the subjects were followed up for 8 weeks following enrollment and then consumed the beverage over the ensuring 8 weeks. The subjects whose Rachmilewitz clinical activity index (CAI) had decreased by ≥1 point were defined as responders, whereas the subjects whose score had either been unchanged or increased were defined as non-responders. A total of 7 subjects (5 in Group A and 2 in Group B) completed the 8-week consumption regimen. No significant changes were observed in the Rachmilewitz CAI and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity prior to and following the consumption period. Regarding the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), the total GSRS score and Question 12, 'Loose stools' were significantly improved following consumption (P=0.042 and 0.048, respectively). Organic acid analysis revealed that the levels of acetic acid, propionic acid and n-butyric acid tended to be continuously higher in the responders than in the non-responders. In conclusion, the fermented vegetable beverage ameliorated loose stool symptoms, although the activity of UC did not improve.}, } @article {pmid29930569, year = {2018}, author = {Lang, C and Smith, LS and Haney, CH and Long, SR}, title = {Corrigendum: Characterization of Novel Plant Symbiosis Mutants Using a New Multiple Gene-Expression Reporter Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {848}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2018.00848}, pmid = {29930569}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article on p. 76 in vol. 9, PMID: 29467773.].}, } @article {pmid29930051, year = {2018}, author = {Murat, C and Kuo, A and Barry, KW and Clum, A and Dockter, RB and Fauchery, L and Iotti, M and Kohler, A and LaButti, K and Lindquist, EA and Lipzen, A and Morin, E and Wang, M and Grigoriev, IV and Zambonelli, A and Martin, FM}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Tuber borchii Vittad., a Whitish Edible Truffle.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {6}, number = {25}, pages = {}, pmid = {29930051}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The ascomycete Tuber borchii (Pezizomycetes) is a whitish edible truffle that establishes ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with trees and shrubs. This fungus is ubiquitous in Europe and is also cultivated outside Europe. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of T. borchii strain Tbo3840 (97.18 Mb in 969 scaffolds, with 12,346 predicted protein-coding genes).}, } @article {pmid29929732, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, LS and Pellegrin, C and Kahmann, R}, title = {Repeat-containing effectors of filamentous pathogens and symbionts.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {123-130}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2018.01.007}, pmid = {29929732}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic and symbiotic filamentous microbes secrete effectors which suppress host immune responses and promote a successful colonization. Pathogen effectors are engaged in the arms race with their hosts and because of this they are subject to intense evolutionary pressure. Effectors particularly prone to rapid evolution display repeat-containing domains which can easily expand or contract and accumulate point mutations without altering their original function. In this review we address the diversity of function in such repeat-containing effectors, focus on new findings and point out avenues for future work.}, } @article {pmid29929338, year = {2018}, author = {Che, R and Deng, Y and Wang, F and Wang, W and Xu, Z and Hao, Y and Xue, K and Zhang, B and Tang, L and Zhou, H and Cui, X}, title = {Autotrophic and symbiotic diazotrophs dominate nitrogen-fixing communities in Tibetan grassland soils.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {639}, number = {}, pages = {997-1006}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.238}, pmid = {29929338}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Grassland ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation, conducted by soil diazotrophs, is the primary nitrogen source for natural grasslands. However, the diazotrophs in grassland soils are still far from fully investigated. Particularly, their regional-scale distribution patterns have never been systematically examined. Here, soils (0-5 cm) were sampled from 54 grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau to examine the diazotroph abundance, diversity, and community composition, as well as their distribution patterns and driving factors. The diazotroph abundance was expressed as nifH gene copies, measured using real-time PCR. The diversity and community composition of diazotrophs were analyzed through MiSeq sequencing of nifH genes. The results showed that Cyanobacteria (47.94%) and Proteobacteria (45.20%) dominated the soil diazotroph communities. Most Cyanobacteria were classified as Nostocales which are main components of biological crusts. Rhizobiales, most of which were identified as potential symbiotic diazotrophs, were also abundant in approximately half of the soil samples. The soil diazotroph abundance, diversity, and community composition followed the distribution patterns in line with mean annual precipitation. Moreover, they also showed significant correlations with prokaryotic abundance, plant biomass, vegetation cover, soil pH values, and soil nutrient contents. Among these environmental factors, the soil moisture, organic carbon, available phosphorus, and inorganic nitrogen contents could be the main drivers of diazotroph distribution due to their strong correlations with diazotroph indices. These findings suggest that autotrophic and symbiotic diazotrophs are the predominant nitrogen fixers in Tibetan grassland soils, and highlight the key roles of water and nutrient availability in determining the soil diazotroph distribution on the Tibetan Plateau.}, } @article {pmid29928757, year = {2018}, author = {Ye, Z and Vollhardt, IMG and Parth, N and Rubbmark, O and Traugott, M}, title = {Facultative bacterial endosymbionts shape parasitoid food webs in natural host populations: A correlative analysis.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {5}, pages = {1440-1451}, pmid = {29928757}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Female ; Food Chain ; Germany ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Oviposition ; Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Facultative bacterial endosymbionts can protect their aphid hosts from natural enemies such as hymenopteran parasitoids. As such, they have the capability to modulate interactions between aphids, parasitoids and hyperparasitoids. However, the magnitude of these effects in natural aphid populations and their associated parasitoid communities is currently unknown. Moreover, environmental factors such as plant fertilization and landscape complexity are known to affect aphid-parasitoid interactions but it remains unclear how such environmental factors affect the interplay between aphids, parasitoids and endosymbionts. Here, we tested whether facultative endosymbionts confer protection to parasitoids in natural populations of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, and if this is affected by plant fertilization and landscape complexity. Furthermore, we examined whether the effects of facultative endosymbionts can cascade up to the hyperparasitoid level and increase primary-hyperparasitoid food web specialization. Living aphids and mummies were collected in fertilized and unfertilized plots within 13 wheat fields in Central Germany. We assessed the occurrence of primary parasitoid, hyperparasitoid and endosymbiont species in aphids and mummies using a newly established molecular approach. Facultative endosymbiont infection rates were high across fields (~80%), independent of whether aphids were parasitized or unparasitized. Aphid mummies exhibited a significantly lower share of facultative endosymbiont infection (~38%). These findings suggest that facultative endosymbionts do not affect parasitoid oviposition behaviour, but decrease parasitoid survival in the host. Facultative endosymbiont infection rates were lower in mummies collected from fertilized compared to unfertilized plants, indicating that plant fertilization boosts the facultative endosymbiont protective effect. Furthermore, we found strong evidence for species-specific and negative cascading effects of facultative endosymbionts on primary and hyperparasitoids, respectively. Facultative endosymbionts impacted parasitoid assemblages and increased the specialization of primary-hyperparasitoid food webs: these effects were independent from and much stronger than other environmental factors. The current findings strongly suggest that facultative endosymbionts act as a driving force in aphid-parasitoid-hyperparasitoid networks: they shape insect community composition at different trophic levels and modulate, directly and indirectly, the interactions between aphids, parasitoids and their environment.}, } @article {pmid29928265, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, J and Richlen, ML and Sehein, TR and Kulis, DM and Anderson, DM and Cai, Z}, title = {Microbial Community Structure and Associations During a Marine Dinoflagellate Bloom.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1201}, pmid = {29928265}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {P01 ES021923/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Interactions between microorganisms and algae during bloom events significantly impacts their physiology, alters ambient chemistry, and shapes ecosystem diversity. The potential role these interactions have in bloom development and decline are also of particular interest given the ecosystem impacts of algal blooms. We hypothesized that microbial community structure and succession is linked to specific bloom stages, and reflects complex interactions among taxa comprising the phycosphere environment. This investigation used pyrosequencing and correlation approaches to assess patterns and associations among bacteria, archaea, and microeukaryotes during a spring bloom of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella. Within the bacterial community, Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were predominant during the initial bloom stage, while Alphaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the most abundant taxa present during bloom onset and termination. In the archaea biosphere, methanogenic members were present during the early bloom period while the majority of species identified in the late bloom stage were ammonia-oxidizing archaea and Halobacteriales. Dinoflagellates were the major eukaryotic group present during most stages of the bloom, whereas a mixed assemblage comprising diatoms, green-algae, rotifera, and other microzooplankton were present during bloom termination. Temperature and salinity were key environmental factors associated with changes in bacterial and archaeal community structure, respectively, whereas inorganic nitrogen and inorganic phosphate were associated with eukaryotic variation. The relative contribution of environmental parameters measured during the bloom to variability among samples was 35.3%. Interaction analysis showed that Maxillopoda, Spirotrichea, Dinoflagellata, and Halobacteria were keystone taxa within the positive-correlation network, while Halobacteria, Dictyochophyceae, Mamiellophyceae, and Gammaproteobacteria were the main contributors to the negative-correlation network. The positive and negative relationships were the primary drivers of mutualist and competitive interactions that impacted algal bloom fate, respectively. Functional predictions showed that blooms enhance microbial carbohydrate and energy metabolism, and alter the sulfur cycle. Our results suggest that microbial community structure is strongly linked to bloom progression, although specific drivers of community interactions and responses are not well understood. The importance of considering biotic interactions (e.g., competition, symbiosis, and predation) when investigating the link between microbial ecological behavior and an algal bloom's trajectory is also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid29926944, year = {2018}, author = {Chapple, ILC and Mealey, BL and Van Dyke, TE and Bartold, PM and Dommisch, H and Eickholz, P and Geisinger, ML and Genco, RJ and Glogauer, M and Goldstein, M and Griffin, TJ and Holmstrup, P and Johnson, GK and Kapila, Y and Lang, NP and Meyle, J and Murakami, S and Plemons, J and Romito, GA and Shapira, L and Tatakis, DN and Teughels, W and Trombelli, L and Walter, C and Wimmer, G and Xenoudi, P and Yoshie, H}, title = {Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: Consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions.}, journal = {Journal of periodontology}, volume = {89 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S74-S84}, doi = {10.1002/JPER.17-0719}, pmid = {29926944}, issn = {1943-3670}, mesh = {Consensus ; *Gingivitis ; Humans ; *Peri-Implantitis ; *Periodontitis ; Periodontium ; }, abstract = {Periodontal health is defined by absence of clinically detectable inflammation. There is a biological level of immune surveillance that is consistent with clinical gingival health and homeostasis. Clinical gingival health may be found in a periodontium that is intact, i.e. without clinical attachment loss or bone loss, and on a reduced periodontium in either a non-periodontitis patient (e.g. in patients with some form of gingival recession or following crown lengthening surgery) or in a patient with a history of periodontitis who is currently periodontally stable. Clinical gingival health can be restored following treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis. However, the treated and stable periodontitis patient with current gingival health remains at increased risk of recurrent periodontitis, and accordingly, must be closely monitored. Two broad categories of gingival diseases include non-dental plaque biofilm-induced gingival diseases and dental plaque-induced gingivitis. Non-dental plaque biofilm-induced gingival diseases include a variety of conditions that are not caused by plaque and usually do not resolve following plaque removal. Such lesions may be manifestations of a systemic condition or may be localized to the oral cavity. Dental plaque-induced gingivitis has a variety of clinical signs and symptoms, and both local predisposing factors and systemic modifying factors can affect its extent, severity, and progression. Dental plaque-induced gingivitis may arise on an intact periodontium or on a reduced periodontium in either a non-periodontitis patient or in a currently stable "periodontitis patient" i.e. successfully treated, in whom clinical inflammation has been eliminated (or substantially reduced). A periodontitis patient with gingival inflammation remains a periodontitis patient (Figure 1), and comprehensive risk assessment and management are imperative to ensure early prevention and/or treatment of recurrent/progressive periodontitis. Precision dental medicine defines a patient-centered approach to care, and therefore, creates differences in the way in which a "case" of gingival health or gingivitis is defined for clinical practice as opposed to epidemiologically in population prevalence surveys. Thus, case definitions of gingival health and gingivitis are presented for both purposes. While gingival health and gingivitis have many clinical features, case definitions are primarily predicated on presence or absence of bleeding on probing. Here we classify gingival health and gingival diseases/conditions, along with a summary table of diagnostic features for defining health and gingivitis in various clinical situations.}, } @article {pmid29926499, year = {2018}, author = {Chapple, ILC and Mealey, BL and Van Dyke, TE and Bartold, PM and Dommisch, H and Eickholz, P and Geisinger, ML and Genco, RJ and Glogauer, M and Goldstein, M and Griffin, TJ and Holmstrup, P and Johnson, GK and Kapila, Y and Lang, NP and Meyle, J and Murakami, S and Plemons, J and Romito, GA and Shapira, L and Tatakis, DN and Teughels, W and Trombelli, L and Walter, C and Wimmer, G and Xenoudi, P and Yoshie, H}, title = {Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: Consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions.}, journal = {Journal of clinical periodontology}, volume = {45 Suppl 20}, number = {}, pages = {S68-S77}, doi = {10.1111/jcpe.12940}, pmid = {29926499}, issn = {1600-051X}, mesh = {Consensus ; *Dental Plaque ; *Gingivitis ; Humans ; *Periodontitis ; Periodontium ; }, abstract = {Periodontal health is defined by absence of clinically detectable inflammation. There is a biological level of immune surveillance that is consistent with clinical gingival health and homeostasis. Clinical gingival health may be found in a periodontium that is intact, i.e. without clinical attachment loss or bone loss, and on a reduced periodontium in either a non-periodontitis patient (e.g. in patients with some form of gingival recession or following crown lengthening surgery) or in a patient with a history of periodontitis who is currently periodontally stable. Clinical gingival health can be restored following treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis. However, the treated and stable periodontitis patient with current gingival health remains at increased risk of recurrent periodontitis, and accordingly, must be closely monitored. Two broad categories of gingival diseases include non-dental plaque biofilm-induced gingival diseases and dental plaque-induced gingivitis. Non-dental plaque biofilm-induced gingival diseases include a variety of conditions that are not caused by plaque and usually do not resolve following plaque removal. Such lesions may be manifestations of a systemic condition or may be localized to the oral cavity. Dental plaque-induced gingivitis has a variety of clinical signs and symptoms, and both local predisposing factors and systemic modifying factors can affect its extent, severity, and progression. Dental plaque-induced gingivitis may arise on an intact periodontium or on a reduced periodontium in either a non-periodontitis patient or in a currently stable "periodontitis patient" i.e. successfully treated, in whom clinical inflammation has been eliminated (or substantially reduced). A periodontitis patient with gingival inflammation remains a periodontitis patient (Figure 1), and comprehensive risk assessment and management are imperative to ensure early prevention and/or treatment of recurrent/progressive periodontitis. Precision dental medicine defines a patient-centered approach to care, and therefore, creates differences in the way in which a "case" of gingival health or gingivitis is defined for clinical practice as opposed to epidemiologically in population prevalence surveys. Thus, case definitions of gingival health and gingivitis are presented for both purposes. While gingival health and gingivitis have many clinical features, case definitions are primarily predicated on presence or absence of bleeding on probing. Here we classify gingival health and gingival diseases/conditions, along with a summary table of diagnostic features for defining health and gingivitis in various clinical situations.}, } @article {pmid29925310, year = {2018}, author = {Chang, WH and Lai, AG}, title = {Mixed evolutionary origins of endogenous biomass-depolymerizing enzymes in animals.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {483}, pmid = {29925310}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofuels ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genomics/*methods ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Animals are thought to achieve lignocellulose digestion via symbiotic associations with gut microbes; this view leads to significant focus on bacteria and fungi for lignocellulolytic systems. The presence of biomass conversion systems hardwired into animal genomes has not yet been unequivocally demonstrated.

RESULTS: We perform an exhaustive search for glycoside hydrolase (GH) genes from 21 genomes representing major bilaterian (Ecdysozoa, Spiralia, Echinodermata and Chordata) and basal metazoan (Porifera and Cnidaria) lineages. We also assessed the genome of a unicellular relative of Metazoa, Capsaspora owczarzaki and together with comparative analyses on 126 crustacean transcriptomes, we found that animals are living bioreactors at a microscale as they encode enzymatic suites for biomass decomposition. We identified a total of 16,723 GH homologs (2373 genes from animal genomes and 14,350 genes from crustacean transcriptomes) that are further classified into 60 GH families. Strikingly, through phylogenetic analyses, we observed that animal lignocellulosic enzymes have multiple origins, either inherited vertically over millions of years from a common ancestor or acquired more recently from non-animal organisms.

CONCLUSION: We have conducted a systematic and comprehensive survey of GH genes across major animal lineages. The ability of biomass decay appears to be determined by animals' dietary strategies. Detritivores have genes that accomplish broad enzymatic functions while the number of GH families is reduced in animals that have evolved specialized diets. Animal GH candidates identified in this study will not only facilitate future functional genomics research but also provide an analysis platform to identify enzyme candidates with industrial potential.}, } @article {pmid29924441, year = {2018}, author = {Barfield, SJ and Aglyamova, GV and Bay, LK and Matz, MV}, title = {Contrasting effects of Symbiodinium identity on coral host transcriptional profiles across latitudes.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {15}, pages = {3103-3115}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14774}, pmid = {29924441}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals can increase their resistance to heat-induced bleaching through adaptation and acclimatization and/or by associating with a more thermo-tolerant strain of algal symbiont (Symbiodinium sp.). Here, we show that these two adaptive pathways interact. We collected Acropora millepora corals from two contrasting thermal environments on the Great Barrier Reef: cooler, mid-latitude Orpheus Island, where all corals hosted a heat-sensitive clade C Symbiodinium, and warmer, low-latitude Wilkie Island, where corals hosted either a clade C or a more thermo-tolerant clade D. Corals were kept in a benign common garden to reveal differences in baseline gene expression, reflecting prior adaptation/long-term acclimatization. Model-based analysis identified gene expression differences between Wilkie and Orpheus corals that were negatively correlated with previously described transcriptome-wide signatures of heat stress, signifying generally elevated thermotolerance of Wilkie corals. Yet, model-free analyses of gene expression revealed that Wilkie corals hosting clade C were distinct from Wilkie corals hosting clade D, whereas Orpheus corals were more variable. Wilkie corals hosting clade C symbionts exhibited unique functional signatures, including downregulation of histone proteins and ion channels and upregulation of chaperones and RNA processing genes, putatively representing constitutive "frontloading" of stress response genes. Furthermore, clade C Symbiodinium exhibited constitutive expression differences between Wilkie and Orpheus, indicative of contrasting life history strategies. Our results demonstrate that hosting alternative Symbiodinium types is associated with different pathways of local adaptation for the coral host. These interactions could play a significant role in setting the direction of genetic adaptation to global warming in the two symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid29922515, year = {2018}, author = {Quigley, KM and Strader, ME and Matz, MV}, title = {Relationship between Acropora millepora juvenile fluorescence and composition of newly established Symbiodinium assemblage.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e5022}, pmid = {29922515}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis is the key biological interaction enabling existence of modern-type coral reefs, but the mechanisms regulating initial host-symbiont attraction, recognition and symbiont proliferation thus far remain largely unclear. A common reef-building coral, Acropora millepora, displays conspicuous fluorescent polymorphism during all phases of its life cycle, due to the differential expression of fluorescent proteins (FPs) of the green fluorescent protein family. In this study, we examine whether fluorescent variation in young coral juveniles exposed to natural sediments is associated with the uptake of disparate Symbiodinium assemblages determined using ITS-2 deep sequencing. We found that Symbiodinium assemblages varied significantly when redness values varied, specifically in regards to abundances of clades A and C. Whether fluorescence was quantified as a categorical or continuous trait, clade A was found at higher abundances in redder juveniles. These preliminary results suggest juvenile fluorescence may be associated with Symbiodinium uptake, potentially acting as either an attractant to ecologically specific types or as a mechanism to modulate the internal light environment to control Symbiodinium physiology within the host.}, } @article {pmid29922321, year = {2018}, author = {Campos, P and Borie, F and Cornejo, P and López-Ráez, JA and López-García, Á and Seguel, A}, title = {Phosphorus Acquisition Efficiency Related to Root Traits: Is Mycorrhizal Symbiosis a Key Factor to Wheat and Barley Cropping?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {752}, pmid = {29922321}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are major crops cultivated around the world, thus playing a crucial role on human diet. Remarkably, the growing human population requires a significant increase in agricultural production in order to feed everybody. In this context, phosphorus (P) management is a key factor as it is component of organic molecules such as nucleic acids, ATP and phospholipids, and it is the most abundant macronutrient in biomass after nitrogen (N), although being one of the scarcest elements in the lithosphere. In general, P fertilization has low efficiency, as only a fraction of the applied P is acquired by roots, leaving a substantial amount to be accumulated in soil as not readily available P. Breeding for P-efficient cultivars is a relatively low cost alternative and can be done through two mechanisms: i) improving P use efficiency (PUE), and/or ii) P acquisition efficiency (PAE). PUE is related to the internal allocation/mobilization of P, and is usually represented by the amount of P accumulated per biomass. PAE relies on roots ability to acquire P from the soil, and is commonly expressed as the relative difference of P acquired under low and high P availability conditions. In this review, plant adaptations related to improved PAE are described, with emphasis on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, which is generally accepted to enhance plant P acquisition. A state of the art (1980-2018) of AM growth responses and P uptake in wheat and barley is made to discuss about the commonly accepted growth promoting effect and P increased uptake by AM fungi and the contrasting evidence about the generally accepted lack of positive responses in both plant species. Finally, the mechanisms by which AM symbiosis can affect wheat and barley PAE are discussed, highlighting the importance of considering AM functional diversity on future studies and the necessity to improve PAE definition by considering the carbon trading between all the directly related PAE traits and its return to the host plant.}, } @article {pmid29922319, year = {2018}, author = {Bernaola, L and Cosme, M and Schneider, RW and Stout, M}, title = {Belowground Inoculation With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increases Local and Systemic Susceptibility of Rice Plants to Different Pest Organisms.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {747}, pmid = {29922319}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants face numerous challenges from both aboveground and belowground stressors, and defend themselves against harmful insects and microorganisms in many ways. Because plant responses to biotic stresses are not only local but also systemic, belowground interactions can influence aboveground interactions in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soilborne organisms that form symbiotic associations with many plant roots and are thought to play a central role in plant nutrition, growth, and fitness. In the present study, we focused on the influence of AMF on rice defense against pests. We inoculated rice plants with AMF in several field and greenhouse experiments to test whether the interaction of AMF with rice roots changes the resistance of rice against two chewing insects, the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, RWW) and the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, FAW), and against infection by sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani, ShB). Both in field and greenhouse experiments, the performance of insects and the pathogen on rice was enhanced when plants were inoculated with AMF. In the field, inoculating rice plants with AMF resulted in higher numbers of RWW larvae on rice roots. In the greenhouse, more RWW first instars emerged from AMF-colonized rice plants than from non-colonized control plants. Weight gains of FAW larvae were higher on rice plants treated with AMF inoculum. Lesion lengths and susceptibility to ShB infection were higher in rice plants colonized by AMF. Although AMF inoculation enhanced the growth of rice plants, the nutritional analyses of root and shoot tissues indicated no major increases in the concentrations of nutrients in rice plants colonized by AMF. The large effects on rice susceptibility to pests in the absence of large effects on plant nutrition suggest that AMF colonization influences other mechanisms of susceptibility (e.g., defense signaling processes). This study represents the first study conducted in the U.S. in rice showing AMF-induced plant susceptibility to several antagonists that specialize on different plant tissues. Given the widespread occurrence of AMF, our findings will help to provide a different perspective into the causal basis of rice systemic resistance/susceptibility to insects and pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29922306, year = {2018}, author = {Li, YY and Chen, XM and Zhang, Y and Cho, YH and Wang, AR and Yeung, EC and Zeng, X and Guo, SX and Lee, YI}, title = {Immunolocalization and Changes of Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoproteins During Symbiotic Germination of Dendrobium officinale.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {552}, pmid = {29922306}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are abundant cell wall components involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis, but little is known about their function in orchid mycorrhizal association. To gain further insight into the role of HRGPs in orchid symbiosis, the location and function of HRGPs were investigated during symbiotic germination of Dendrobium officinale. The presence of JIM11 epitope in developing protocorms was determined using immunodot blots and immunohistochemical staining procedures. Real-time PCR was also employed to verify the expression patterns of genes coding for extensin-like genes selected from the transcriptomic database. The importance of HRGPs in symbiotic germination was further investigated using 3,4-dehydro-L-proline (3,4-DHP), an inhibitor of HRGP biosynthesis. In symbiotic cultures, immunodot blots of JIM11 signals were moderate in mature seeds, and the signals became stronger in swollen embryos. After germination, signal intensities decreased in developing protocorms. In contrast, in asymbiotic cultures, JIM11 signals were much lower as compared with those stages in symbiotic cultures. Immunofluorescence staining enabled the visualization of JIM11 epitope in mature embryo and protocorm cells. Positive signals were initially localized in the larger cells near the basal (suspensor) end of uninfected embryos, marking the future colonization site of fungal hyphae. After 1 week of inoculation, the basal end of embryos had been colonized, and a strong signal was detected mostly at the mid- and basal regions of the enlarging protocorm. As protocorm development progressed, the signal was concentrated in the colonized cells at the basal end. In colonized cells, signals were present in the walls and intracellularly associated with hyphae and the pelotons. The precise localization of JIM11 epitope is further examined by immunogold labeling. In the colonized cells, gold particles were found mainly in the cell wall and the interfacial matrix near the fungal cell wall. Four extensin-like genes were verified to be highly up-regulated in symbiotically germinated protocorms as compared to asymbiotically germinated ones. The 3,4-DHP treatment inhibited the accumulation of HRGPs and symbiotic seed germination. In these protocorms, fungal hyphae could be found throughout the protocorms. Our results indicate that HRGPs play an important role in symbiotic germination. They can serve as markers for fungal colonization, establishing a symbiotic compartment and constraining fungal colonization inside the basal cells of protocorms.}, } @article {pmid29922264, year = {2018}, author = {Yurgel, SN and Douglas, GM and Dusault, A and Percival, D and Langille, MGI}, title = {Dissecting Community Structure in Wild Blueberry Root and Soil Microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1187}, pmid = {29922264}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A complex network of functions and symbiotic interactions between a eukaryotic host and its microbiome is a the foundation of the ecological unit holobiont. However, little is known about how the non-fungal eukaryotic microorganisms fit in this complex network of host-microbiome interactions. In this study, we employed a unique wild blueberry ecosystem to evaluate plant-associated microbiota, encompassing both eukaryotic and bacterial communities. We found that, while soil microbiome serves as a foundation for root microbiome, plant-influenced species sorting had stronger effect on eukaryotes than on bacteria. Our study identified several fungal and protist taxa, which are correlated with decreased fruit production in wild blueberry agricultural ecosystems. The specific effect of species sorting in root microbiome resulted in an increase in relative abundance of fungi adapted to plant-associated life-style, while the relative abundance of non-fungal eukaryotes was decreased along the soil-endosphere continuum in the root, probably because of low adaptation of these microorganisms to host-plant defense responses. Analysis of community correlation networks indicated that bacterial and eukaryotic interactions became more complex along the soil-endosphere continuum and, in addition to extensive mutualistic interactions, co-exclusion also played an important role in shaping wild blueberry associated microbiome. Our study identified several potential hub taxa with important roles in soil fertility and/or plant-microbe interaction, suggesting the key role of these taxa in the interconnection between soils and plant health and overall microbial community structure. This study also provides a comprehensive view of the role of non-fungal eukaryotes in soil ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid29921018, year = {2018}, author = {Lamouche, F and Gully, D and Chaumeret, A and Nouwen, N and Verly, C and Pierre, O and Sciallano, C and Fardoux, J and Jeudy, C and Szücs, A and Mondy, S and Salon, C and Nagy, I and Kereszt, A and Dessaux, Y and Giraud, E and Mergaert, P and Alunni, B}, title = {Transcriptomic dissection of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 in symbiosis with Aeschynomene spp. inducing different bacteroid morphotypes with contrasted symbiotic efficiency.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14292}, pmid = {29921018}, issn = {1462-2920}, abstract = {To circumvent the paucity of nitrogen sources in the soil legume plants establish a symbiotic interaction with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria called rhizobia. During symbiosis, the plants form root organs called nodules, where bacteria are housed intracellularly and become active nitrogen fixers known as bacteroids. Depending on their host plant, bacteroids can adopt different morphotypes, being either unmodified (U), elongated (E) or spherical (S). E- and S-type bacteroids undergo a terminal differentiation leading to irreversible morphological changes and DNA endoreduplication. Previous studies suggest that differentiated bacteroids display an increased symbiotic efficiency (E > U and S > U). In this study, we used a combination of Aeschynomene species inducing E- or S-type bacteroids in symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS285 to show that S-type bacteroids present a better symbiotic efficiency than E-type bacteroids. We performed a transcriptomic analysis on E- and S-type bacteroids formed by Aeschynomene afraspera and Aeschynomene indica nodules and identified the bacterial functions activated in bacteroids and specific to each bacteroid type. Extending the expression analysis in E- and S-type bacteroids in other Aeschynomene species by qRT-PCR on selected genes from the transcriptome analysis narrowed down the set of bacteroid morphotype-specific genes. Functional analysis of a selected subset of 31 bacteroid-induced or morphotype-specific genes revealed no symbiotic phenotypes in the mutants. This highlights the robustness of the symbiotic program but could also indicate that the bacterial response to the plant environment is partially anticipatory or even maladaptive. Our analysis confirms the correlation between differentiation and efficiency of the bacteroids and provides a framework for the identification of bacterial functions that affect the efficiency of bacteroids.© 2018 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.}, } @article {pmid29920643, year = {2019}, author = {De Luca, F and Shoenfeld, Y}, title = {The microbiome in autoimmune diseases.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental immunology}, volume = {195}, number = {1}, pages = {74-85}, pmid = {29920643}, issn = {1365-2249}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases/immunology/*microbiology ; Dysbiosis/*immunology ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The microbiome is represented by microorganisms which live in a symbiotic way with the mammalian. Microorganisms have the ability to influence different physiological aspects such as the immune system, metabolism and behaviour. In recent years, several studies have highlighted the role of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Notably, in systemic lupus erythematosus an alteration of the intestinal flora (lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio) has been described. Conversely, changes to the gut commensal and periodontal disease have been proposed as important factors in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. At the same time, other autoimmune diseases (i.e. systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome and anti-phospholipid syndrome) also share modifications of the microbiome in the intestinal tract and oral flora. Herein, we describe the role of the microbiome in the maintenance homeostasis of the immune system and then the alterations of the microorganisms that occur in systemic autoimmune diseases. Finally, we will consider the use of probiotics and faecal transplantation as novel therapeutic targets.}, } @article {pmid29917104, year = {2018}, author = {Celis, JS and Wibberg, D and Ramírez-Portilla, C and Rupp, O and Sczyrba, A and Winkler, A and Kalinowski, J and Wilke, T}, title = {Binning enables efficient host genome reconstruction in cnidarian holobionts.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29917104}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Cnidaria/*genetics ; Computational Biology ; Coral Reefs ; DNA/analysis ; Ecology ; *Genome ; Genomics/*methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many cnidarians, including stony corals, engage in complex symbiotic associations, comprising the eukaryotic host, photosynthetic algae, and highly diverse microbial communities-together referred to as holobiont. This taxonomic complexity makes sequencing and assembling coral host genomes extremely challenging. Therefore, previous cnidarian genomic projects were based on symbiont-free tissue samples. However, this approach may not be applicable to the majority of cnidarian species for ecological reasons. We therefore evaluated the performance of an alternative method based on sequence binning for reconstructing the genome of the stony coral Porites rus from a hologenomic sample and compared it to traditional approaches.

RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that binning performs well for hologenomic data, producing sufficient reads for assembling the draft genome of P. rus. An assembly evaluation based on operational criteria showed results that were comparable to symbiont-free approaches in terms of completeness and usefulness, despite a high degree of fragmentation in our assembly. In addition, we found that binning provides sufficient data for exploratory k-mer estimation of genomic features, such as genome size and heterozygosity.

CONCLUSIONS: Binning constitutes a powerful approach for disentangling taxonomically complex coral hologenomes. Considering the recent decline of coral reefs on the one hand and previous limitations to coral genome sequencing on the other hand, binning may facilitate rapid and reliable genome assembly. This study also provides an important milestone in advancing binning from the metagenomic to the hologenomic and from the prokaryotic to the eukaryotic level.}, } @article {pmid29915958, year = {2018}, author = {Mi, S and Gu, C and Wu, P and Liu, H and Yan, X and Li, D and Tang, X and Duan, X and Wang, G and Zhang, J}, title = {Improvement of butanol production by the development and co-culture of C. acetobutylicum TSH1 and B. cereus TSH2.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {15}, pages = {6753-6763}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-9151-x}, pmid = {29915958}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Alcohol Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Bacillus cereus/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Butanols/analysis/*metabolism ; Clostridium acetobutylicum/drug effects/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Metabolic Engineering ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Butanol fermentation comprises two successive and distinct stages, namely acidogenesis and solventogenesis. The current lack of clarity regarding the underlying metabolic regulation of fermentation impedes improvements in biobutanol production. Here, a proteomics study was performed in the acidogenesis phase, the lowest pH point (transition point), and the solventogenesis phase in the butanol-producing symbiotic system TSH06. Forty-two Clostridium acetobutylicum proteins demonstrated differential expression levels at different stages. The protein level of butanol dehydrogenase increased in the solventogenesis phase, which was in accordance with the trend of butanol concentration. Stress proteins were upregulated either at the transition point or in the solventogenesis phase. The cell division-related protein Maf was upregulated at the transition point. We disrupted the maf gene in C. acetobutylicum TSH1, and Bacillus cereus TSH2 was added to form a new symbiotic system. TSH06△maf produced 13.9 ± 1.0 g/L butanol, which was higher than that of TSH06 (12.3 ± 0.9 g/L). Butanol was furtherly improved in fermentation at variable temperature with neutral red addition for both TSH06 and TSH06△maf. The butanol titer of the maf deletion strain was higher than that of the wild type, although the exact mechanism remains to be determined.}, } @article {pmid29915699, year = {2018}, author = {Yeom, J and Nikitin, MA and Ivanenko, VN and Lee, W}, title = {A new minute ectosymbiotic harpacticoid copepod living on the sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix in the East/Japan Sea.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4979}, pmid = {29915699}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The ectosymbiotic copepods, Vostoklaophonte eupenta gen. & sp. nov. associated with the sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix, was found in the subtidal zone of Peter the Great Bay, East/Japan Sea. The new genus, Vostoklaophonte, is similar to Microchelonia in the flattened body form, reduced mandible, maxillule and maxilla, but with well-developed prehensile maxilliped, and in the reduced segmentation and setation of legs 1-5. Most appendages of the new genus are more primitive than those of Microchelonia. The inclusion of the symbiotic genera Microchelonia and Vostoklaophonte gen. nov. in Laophontidae, as well as their close phylogenetic relationships, are supported by morphological observations and molecular data. This is the third record of laophontid harpacticoid copepods living in symbiosis with sea cucumbers recorded from the Korean and Californian coasts.}, } @article {pmid29915605, year = {2018}, author = {Jia, N and Zhu, Y and Xie, F}, title = {An Efficient Protocol for Model Legume Root Protoplast Isolation and Transformation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {670}, pmid = {29915605}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Transient gene expression systems using protoplasts have been widely used for rapid functional characterization of genes and high-throughput analysis in many model and crop species. Here, we describe a simplified and highly efficient root protoplast isolation and transient expression system in the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. Firstly, we presented an efficient protocol for isolating protoplasts from L. japonicus and M. truncatula roots. We then established an efficient transient expression system in these legumes root protoplasts. Using this protocol, the subcellular localization of two symbiosis related proteins (SYMRK and ERN1) were visualized in the plasma membrane and nuclei, respectively. Collectively, this efficient protoplast isolation and transformation protocol is sufficient for studies on protein subcellular localization, and should be suitable for many other molecular biology applications.}, } @article {pmid29915180, year = {2018}, author = {Vahdatzadeh, M and Splivallo, R}, title = {Improving truffle mycelium flavour through strain selection targeting volatiles of the Ehrlich pathway.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {9304}, pmid = {29915180}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Ascomycota/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*metabolism ; Humans ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycelium/*metabolism ; Nose ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Truffles (Tuber spp.) are the fruiting bodies of symbiotic fungi, which are prized food delicacies. The marked aroma variability observed among truffles of the same species has been attributed to a series of factors that are still debated. This is because factors (i.e. genetics, maturation, geographical location and the microbial community colonizing truffles) often co-vary in truffle orchards. Here, we removed the co-variance effect by investigating truffle flavour in axenic cultures of nine strains of the white truffle Tuber borchii. This allowed us to investigate the influence of genetics on truffle aroma. Specifically, we quantified aroma variability and explored whether strain selection could be used to improve human-sensed truffle flavour. Our results illustrate that aroma variability among strains is predominantly linked to amino acid catabolism through the Ehrlich pathway, as confirmed by [13]C labelling experiments. We furthermore exemplified through sensory analysis that the human nose is able to distinguish among strains and that sulfur volatiles derived from the catabolism of methionine have the strongest influence on aroma characteristics. Overall, our results demonstrate that genetics influences truffle aroma much more deeply than previously thought and illustrate the usefulness of strain selection for improving truffle flavour.}, } @article {pmid29915055, year = {2018}, author = {Hackenberg, C and Hakanpää, J and Cai, F and Antonyuk, S and Eigner, C and Meissner, S and Laitaoja, M and Jänis, J and Kerfeld, CA and Dittmann, E and Lamzin, VS}, title = {Structural and functional insights into the unique CBS-CP12 fusion protein family in cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {27}, pages = {7141-7146}, pmid = {29915055}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Chloroplast Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase/*genetics/metabolism ; Microcystis/*genetics/metabolism ; *Multigene Family ; Protein Domains ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are important photosynthetic organisms inhabiting a range of dynamic environments. This phylum is distinctive among photosynthetic organisms in containing genes encoding uncharacterized cystathionine β-synthase (CBS)-chloroplast protein (CP12) fusion proteins. These consist of two domains, each recognized as stand-alone photosynthetic regulators with different functions described in cyanobacteria (CP12) and plants (CP12 and CBSX). Here we show that CBS-CP12 fusion proteins are encoded in distinct gene neighborhoods, several unrelated to photosynthesis. Most frequently, CBS-CP12 genes are in a gene cluster with thioredoxin A (TrxA), which is prevalent in bloom-forming, marine symbiotic, and benthic mat cyanobacteria. Focusing on a CBS-CP12 from Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 encoded in a gene cluster with TrxA, we reveal that the domain fusion led to the formation of a hexameric protein. We show that the CP12 domain is essential for hexamerization and contains an ordered, previously structurally uncharacterized N-terminal region. We provide evidence that CBS-CP12, while combining properties of both regulatory domains, behaves different from CP12 and plant CBSX. It does not form a ternary complex with phosphoribulokinase (PRK) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Instead, CBS-CP12 decreases the activity of PRK in an AMP-dependent manner. We propose that the novel domain architecture and oligomeric state of CBS-CP12 expand its regulatory function beyond those of CP12 in cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid29914365, year = {2018}, author = {Kobayashi, Y and Maeda, T and Yamaguchi, K and Kameoka, H and Tanaka, S and Ezawa, T and Shigenobu, S and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {The genome of Rhizophagus clarus HR1 reveals a common genetic basis for auxotrophy among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {465}, pmid = {29914365}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Daucus carota/microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genome, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/classification/*genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mycorrhizal symbiosis is one of the most fundamental types of mutualistic plant-microbe interaction. Among the many classes of mycorrhizae, the arbuscular mycorrhizae have the most general symbiotic style and the longest history. However, the genomes of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are not well characterized due to difficulties in cultivation and genetic analysis. In this study, we sequenced the genome of the AM fungus Rhizophagus clarus HR1, compared the sequence with the genome sequence of the model species R. irregularis, and checked for missing genes that encode enzymes in metabolic pathways related to their obligate biotrophy.

RESULTS: In the genome of R. clarus, we confirmed the absence of cytosolic fatty acid synthase (FAS), whereas all mitochondrial FAS components were present. A KEGG pathway map identified the absence of genes encoding enzymes for several other metabolic pathways in the two AM fungi, including thiamine biosynthesis and the conversion of vitamin B6 derivatives. We also found that a large proportion of the genes encoding glucose-producing polysaccharide hydrolases, that are present even in ectomycorrhizal fungi, also appear to be absent in AM fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found several new genes that are absent from the genomes of AM fungi in addition to the genes previously identified as missing. Missing genes for enzymes in primary metabolic pathways imply that AM fungi may have a higher dependency on host plants than other biotrophic fungi. These missing metabolic pathways provide a genetic basis to explore the physiological characteristics and auxotrophy of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid29910665, year = {2018}, author = {de Gier, W and Fransen, CHJM}, title = {Odontonia plurellicola sp. n. and Odontonia bagginsi sp. n., two new ascidian-associated shrimp from Ternate and Tidore, Indonesia, with a phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {765}, pages = {123-160}, pmid = {29910665}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Two new species of palaemonid shrimp associated with ascidian hosts, Odontonia bagginsisp. n. from Tidore and Odontonia plurellicolasp. n., from Ternate, Indonesia are described and figured. Through phylogenetic analyses based on both morphological and molecular datasets (mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene and the 16S mitochondrial ribosomal gene) of the genus Odontonia, the phylogenetic positions of the new species have been reconstructed. Scanning Electron Microscopy has been used to observe additional characters on dactyli of the ambulatory pereiopods. Odontonia plurellicolasp. n. appears to be more closely related to O. simplicipes and O. seychellensis, but it differs most notably in the morphology of the rostrum and mouthparts. Odontonia plurellicolasp. n. appears to be the only Odontonia species living inside a phlebobranch ascidian Plurella sp. Odontonia bagginsisp. n. is closely related to O. sibogae, but differs markedly in the abundance of setae on the propodi of the ambulatory pereiopods. In the present paper, O. maldivensis Fransen, 2006 is regarded as a junior synonym of O. rufopunctata Fransen, 2002 based on both morphological and molecular aspects.}, } @article {pmid29910003, year = {2018}, author = {Cossart, P and Delseny, M and Dujon, B}, title = {Symbiosis and cohabitation.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {341}, number = {5}, pages = {275}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2018.06.001}, pmid = {29910003}, issn = {1768-3238}, } @article {pmid29909554, year = {2018}, author = {Hopkins, SR and McGregor, CM and Belden, LK and Wojdak, JM}, title = {Handling times and saturating transmission functions in a snail-worm symbiosis.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {188}, number = {1}, pages = {277-287}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-018-4206-3}, pmid = {29909554}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; Models, Biological ; Population Density ; Population Dynamics ; *Snails ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All dynamic species interaction models contain an assumption that describes how contact rates scale with population density. Choosing an appropriate contact-density function is important, because different functions have different implications for population dynamics and stability. However, this choice can be challenging, because there are many possible functions, and most are phenomenological and thus difficult to relate to underlying ecological processes. Using one such phenomenological function, we described a nonlinear relationship between field transmission rates and host density in a common snail-oligochaete symbiosis. We then used a well-known contact function from predator-prey models, the Holling Type II functional response, to describe and predict host snail contact rates in the laboratory. The Holling Type II functional response accurately described both the nonlinear contact-density relationship and the average contact duration that we observed. Therefore, we suggest that contact rates saturate with host density in this system because each snail contact requires a non-instantaneous handling time, and additional possible contacts do not occur during that handling time. Handling times and nonlinear contact rates might also explain the nonlinear relationship between symbiont transmission and snail density that we observed in the field, which could be confirmed by future work that controls for other potential sources of seasonal variation in transmission rates. Because most animal contacts are not instantaneous, the Holling Type II functional response might be broadly relevant to diverse host-symbiont systems.}, } @article {pmid29908997, year = {2018}, author = {Ivanenko, VN and Hoeksema, BW and Mudrova, SV and Nikitin, MA and Martínez, A and Rimskaya-Korsakova, NN and Berumen, ML and Fontaneto, D}, title = {Lack of host specificity of copepod crustaceans associated with mushroom corals in the Red Sea.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {770-780}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.024}, pmid = {29908997}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Copepoda/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; *Host Specificity ; Indian Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The radiation of symbiotic copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) living in association with stony corals (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) is considered host-specific and linked to the phylogenetic diversification of their hosts. However, symbiotic copepods are poorly investigated, occurrence records are mostly anecdotal, and no explicit analysis exists regarding their relationship with the hosts. Here, we analysed the occurrence of symbiotic copepods on different co-occurring and phylogenetically closely related scleractinian corals. We used an innovative approach of DNA extraction from single microscopic specimens that preserves the shape of the organisms for integrative morphological studies. The rationale of the study involved: (i) sampling of mushroom corals (Fungiidae) belonging to 13 species and eight genera on different reefs along the Saudi coastline in the Red Sea, (ii) extraction of all the associated copepods, (iii) morphological screening and identification of copepod species, (iv) use of DNA taxonomy on mitochondrial and nuclear markers to determine species boundaries for morphologically unknown copepod species, (v) reconstruction of phylogenies to understand their evolutionary relationships, and (vi) analysis of the ecological drivers of the occurrence, diversity and host specificity of the copepods. The seven species of coral-associated copepods, all new to science, did not show any statistically significant evidence of host-specificity or other pattern of ecological association. We thus suggest that, contrary to most assumptions and previous anecdotal evidence on this coral-copepod host-symbiont system, the association between copepods and their host corals is rather labile, not strict, and not phylogenetically constrained, changing our perception on evolutionary patterns and processes in symbiotic copepods.}, } @article {pmid29908581, year = {2018}, author = {Musthaq, S and Mazuy, A and Jakus, J}, title = {The microbiome in dermatology.}, journal = {Clinics in dermatology}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {390-398}, doi = {10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.03.012}, pmid = {29908581}, issn = {1879-1131}, mesh = {Acne Vulgaris/drug therapy/microbiology ; Bacteriophages ; Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy/microbiology ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Psoriasis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Rosacea/drug therapy/microbiology ; Skin/*microbiology ; Skin Diseases/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {The skin supports a delicate ecosystem of microbial elements. Although the skin typically acts as a barrier, these microbes interact with the internal body environment and imbalances from the "healthy" state that have been linked to several dermatologic diseases. Understanding the changes in microbial flora in disease states allows for the potential to treat by restoring equilibrium. With the rising popularity of holistic and natural consumerism, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotic, and other therapies are under study to find alternative treatments to these skin disorders through manipulation or supplementation of the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid29904275, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, C and Zou, G and Yan, X and Zhou, X}, title = {Screening of multimeric β-xylosidases from the gut microbiome of a higher termite, Globitermes brachycerastes.}, journal = {International journal of biological sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {608-615}, pmid = {29904275}, issn = {1449-2288}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length/genetics ; Xylosidases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Termite gut microbiome is a rich reservoir for glycoside hydrolases, a suite of enzymes critical for the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. To search for hemicellulases, we screened 12,000 clones from a fosmid gut library of a higher termite, Globitermes brachycerastes. As a common Southeastern Asian genus, Globitermes distributes predominantly in tropical rain forests and relies on the lignocellulases from themselves and bacterial symbionts to digest wood. In total, 22 positive clones with β-xylosidase activity were isolated, in which 11 representing different restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were pooled and subjected to 454 pyrosequencing. As a result, eight putative β-xylosidases were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 competent cells. After purification using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, recombinant G. brachycerastes symbiotic β-xylosidases were characterized enzymatically, including their pH and temperature optimum. In addition to β-xylosidase activity, four of them also exhibited either β-glucosidase or α-arabinosidases activities, suggesting the existence of bifunctional hemicellulases in the gut microbiome of G. brachycerastes. In comparison to multimeric protein engineering, the involvement of naturally occurring multifunctional biocatalysts streamlines the genetic modification procedures and simplifies the overall production processes. Alternatively, these multimeric enzymes could serve as the substitutes for β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase and α-arabinosidase to facilitate a wide range of industrial applications, including food processing, animal feed, environment and waste management, and biomass conversion.}, } @article {pmid29902626, year = {2018}, author = {Helander, M and Saloniemi, I and Omacini, M and Druille, M and Salminen, JP and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Glyphosate decreases mycorrhizal colonization and affects plant-soil feedback.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {642}, number = {}, pages = {285-291}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.377}, pmid = {29902626}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Glycine/*analogs & derivatives/toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/physiology ; Plant Roots ; *Plants ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {Our aim was to study the effects of glyphosate, tilling practice and cultivation history on mycorrhizal colonization and growth of target (weeds) and non-target (crops) plants. Glyphosate, the world's most widely used pesticide, inhibits an enzyme found in plants but also in microbes. We examined the effects of glyphosate treatment applied in the preceding fall on growth of a perennial weed, Elymus repens (target plant) and a forage grass, Festuca pratensis (non-target plant) and their arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonization in a field pot experiment. Non-target plants were sown in the following spring. Furthermore, we tested if glyphosate effects depend on tillage or soil properties modulated by long cultivation history of endophyte symbiotic grass (E+ grass). AMF root colonization, plant establishment and growth, glyphosate residues in plants, and soil chemistry were measured. Glyphosate reduced the mycorrhizal colonization and growth of both target and non-target grasses. The magnitude of reduction depended on tillage and soil properties due to cultivation history of E+ grass. We detected glyphosate residues in weeds and crop plants in the growing season following the glyphosate treatment. Residues were higher in plants growing in no-till pots compared to conspecifics in tilled pots. These results demonstrate negative effects of glyphosate on non-target organisms in agricultural environments and grassland ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29902436, year = {2018}, author = {Makki, K and Deehan, EC and Walter, J and Bäckhed, F}, title = {The Impact of Dietary Fiber on Gut Microbiota in Host Health and Disease.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {705-715}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2018.05.012}, pmid = {29902436}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {615362/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet ; Dietary Fiber/*metabolism ; Ecology ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Food Chain ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Obesity ; }, abstract = {Food is a primordial need for our survival and well-being. However, diet is not only essential to maintain human growth, reproduction, and health, but it also modulates and supports the symbiotic microbial communities that colonize the digestive tract-the gut microbiota. Type, quality, and origin of our food shape our gut microbes and affect their composition and function, impacting host-microbe interactions. In this review, we will focus on dietary fibers, which interact directly with gut microbes and lead to the production of key metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and discuss how dietary fiber impacts gut microbial ecology, host physiology, and health. Hippocrates' notion "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" remains highly relevant millennia later, but requires consideration of how diet can be used for modulation of gut microbial ecology to promote health.}, } @article {pmid29901729, year = {2018}, author = {Nash, MV and Anesio, AM and Barker, G and Tranter, M and Varliero, G and Eloe-Fadrosh, EA and Nielsen, T and Turpin-Jelfs, T and Benning, LG and Sánchez-Baracaldo, P}, title = {Metagenomic insights into diazotrophic communities across Arctic glacier forefields.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {29901729}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Arctic Regions ; Betaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Firmicutes/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Ice Cover/*microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial nitrogen fixation is crucial for building labile nitrogen stocks and facilitating higher plant colonisation in oligotrophic glacier forefield soils. Here, the diazotrophic bacterial community structure across four Arctic glacier forefields was investigated using metagenomic analysis. In total, 70 soil metagenomes were used for taxonomic interpretation based on 185 nitrogenase (nif) sequences, extracted from assembled contigs. The low number of recovered genes highlights the need for deeper sequencing in some diverse samples, to uncover the complete microbial populations. A key group of forefield diazotrophs, found throughout the forefields, was identified using a nifH phylogeny, associated with nifH Cluster I and III. Sequences related most closely to groups including Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. Using multiple nif genes in a Last Common Ancestor analysis revealed a diverse range of diazotrophs across the forefields. Key organisms identified across the forefields included Nostoc, Geobacter, Polaromonas and Frankia. Nitrogen fixers that are symbiotic with plants were also identified, through the presence of root associated diazotrophs, which fix nitrogen in return for reduced carbon. Additional nitrogen fixers identified in forefield soils were metabolically diverse, including fermentative and sulphur cycling bacteria, halophiles and anaerobes.}, } @article {pmid29900606, year = {2018}, author = {Vančurová, L and Muggia, L and Peksa, O and Řídká, T and Škaloud, P}, title = {The complexity of symbiotic interactions influences the ecological amplitude of the host: A case study in Stereocaulon (lichenized Ascomycota).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {14}, pages = {3016-3033}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14764}, pmid = {29900606}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*growth & development ; Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/genetics/*growth & development ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Lichens/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis plays a fundamental role in nature. Lichens are among the best known, globally distributed symbiotic systems whose ecology is shaped by the requirements of all symbionts forming the holobiont. The widespread lichen-forming fungal genus Stereocaulon provides a suitable model to study the ecology of microscopic green algal symbionts (i.e., phycobionts) within the lichen symbiosis. We analysed 282 Stereocaulon specimens, collected in diverse habitats worldwide, using the algal ITS rDNA and actin gene sequences and fungal ITS rDNA sequences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a great diversity among the predominant phycobionts. The algal genus Asterochloris (Trebouxiophyceae) was recovered in most sampled thalli, but two additional genera, Vulcanochloris and Chloroidium, were also found. We used variation-partitioning analyses to investigate the effects of climatic conditions, substrate/habitat characteristic, spatial distribution and mycobionts on phycobiont distribution. Based on an analogy, we examined the effects of climate, substrate/habitat, spatial distribution and phycobionts on mycobiont distribution. According to our analyses, the distribution of phycobionts is primarily driven by mycobionts and vice versa. Specificity and selectivity of both partners, as well as their ecological requirements and the width of their niches, vary significantly among the species-level lineages. We demonstrated that species-level lineages, which accept more symbiotic partners, have wider climatic niches, overlapping with the niches of their partners. Furthermore, the survival of lichens on substrates with high concentrations of heavy metals appears to be supported by their association with toxicity-tolerant phycobionts. In general, low specificity towards phycobionts allows the host to associate with ecologically diversified algae, thereby broadening its ecological amplitude.}, } @article {pmid29900079, year = {2018}, author = {Dat, TTH and Steinert, G and Thi Kim Cuc, N and Smidt, H and Sipkema, D}, title = {Archaeal and bacterial diversity and community composition from 18 phylogenetically divergent sponge species in Vietnam.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4970}, pmid = {29900079}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Sponge-associated prokaryotic diversity has been studied from a wide range of marine environments across the globe. However, for certain regions, e.g., Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore, an overview of the sponge-associated prokaryotic communities is still pending. In this study we characterized the prokaryotic communities from 27 specimens, comprising 18 marine sponge species, sampled from the central coastal region of Vietnam. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragments was used to investigate sponge-associated bacterial and archaeal diversity. Overall, 14 bacterial phyla and one archaeal phylum were identified among all 27 samples. The phylum Proteobacteria was present in all sponges and the most prevalent phylum in 15 out of 18 sponge species, albeit with pronounced differences at the class level. In contrast, Chloroflexi was the most abundant phylum in Halichondria sp., whereas Spirastrella sp. and Dactylospongia sp. were dominated by Actinobacteria. Several bacterial phyla such as Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Deferribacteres, Gemmatimonadetes, and Nitrospirae were found in two-thirds of the sponge species. Moreover, the phylum Thaumarchaeota (Archaea), which is known to comprise nitrifying archaea, was highly abundant among the majority of the 18 investigated sponge species. Altogether, this study demonstrates that the diversity of prokaryotic communities associated with Vietnamese sponges is comparable to sponge-prokaryotic assemblages from well-documented regions. Furthermore, the phylogenetically divergent sponges hosted species-specific prokaryotic communities, thus demonstrating the influence of host identity on the composition and diversity of the associated communities. Therefore, this high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis of Vietnamese sponge-prokaryotic communities provides a foundation for future studies on sponge symbiont function and sponge-derived bioactive compounds from this region.}, } @article {pmid29899508, year = {2018}, author = {Veličković, D and Agtuca, BJ and Stopka, SA and Vertes, A and Koppenaal, DW and Paša-Tolić, L and Stacey, G and Anderton, CR}, title = {Observed metabolic asymmetry within soybean root nodules reflects unexpected complexity in rhizobacteria-legume metabolite exchange.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {2335-2338}, pmid = {29899508}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*metabolism/microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, the three-dimensional spatial distributions of a number of metabolites involved in regulating symbiosis and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) within soybean root nodules were revealed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). While many metabolites exhibited distinct spatial compartmentalization, some metabolites were asymmetrically distributed throughout the nodule (e.g., S-adenosylmethionine). These results establish a more complex metabolic view of plant-bacteria symbiosis (and BNF) within soybean nodules than previously hypothesized. Collectively these findings suggest that spatial perspectives in metabolic regulation should be considered to unravel the overall complexity of interacting organisms, like those relating to associations of nitrogen-fixing bacteria with host plants.}, } @article {pmid29899267, year = {2018}, author = {R L Morlighem, JÉ and Huang, C and Liao, Q and Braga Gomes, P and Daniel Pérez, C and de Brandão Prieto-da-Silva, ÁR and Ming-Yuen Lee, S and Rádis-Baptista, G}, title = {The Holo-Transcriptome of the Zoantharian Protopalythoa variabilis (Cnidaria: Anthozoa): A Plentiful Source of Enzymes for Potential Application in Green Chemistry, Industrial and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29899267}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*enzymology/genetics ; Aquatic Organisms/*enzymology/genetics ; Biocatalysis ; *Biological Products ; Biotechnology/methods ; Enzymes/*genetics/metabolism ; Green Chemistry Technology/methods ; Industry/methods ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Marine invertebrates, such as sponges, tunicates and cnidarians (zoantharians and scleractinian corals), form functional assemblages, known as holobionts, with numerous microbes. This type of species-specific symbiotic association can be a repository of myriad valuable low molecular weight organic compounds, bioactive peptides and enzymes. The zoantharian Protopalythoa variabilis (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) is one such example of a marine holobiont that inhabits the coastal reefs of the tropical Atlantic coast and is an interesting source of secondary metabolites and biologically active polypeptides. In the present study, we analyzed the entire holo-transcriptome of P. variabilis, looking for enzyme precursors expressed in the zoantharian-microbiota assemblage that are potentially useful as industrial biocatalysts and biopharmaceuticals. In addition to hundreds of predicted enzymes that fit into the classes of hydrolases, oxidoreductases and transferases that were found, novel enzyme precursors with multiple activities in single structures and enzymes with incomplete Enzyme Commission numbers were revealed. Our results indicated the predictive expression of thirteen multifunctional enzymes and 694 enzyme sequences with partially characterized activities, distributed in 23 sub-subclasses. These predicted enzyme structures and activities can prospectively be harnessed for applications in diverse areas of industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid29898658, year = {2018}, author = {Shoguchi, E and Beedessee, G and Tada, I and Hisata, K and Kawashima, T and Takeuchi, T and Arakaki, N and Fujie, M and Koyanagi, R and Roy, MC and Kawachi, M and Hidaka, M and Satoh, N and Shinzato, C}, title = {Two divergent Symbiodinium genomes reveal conservation of a gene cluster for sunscreen biosynthesis and recently lost genes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {458}, pmid = {29898658}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Cyclohexanols/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Deletion ; Genes ; *Genome ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The marine dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium, is a well-known photosynthetic partner for coral and other diverse, non-photosynthetic hosts in subtropical and tropical shallows, where it comprises an essential component of marine ecosystems. Using molecular phylogenetics, the genus Symbiodinium has been classified into nine major clades, A-I, and one of the reported differences among phenotypes is their capacity to synthesize mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which absorb UV radiation. However, the genetic basis for this difference in synthetic capacity is unknown. To understand genetics underlying Symbiodinium diversity, we report two draft genomes, one from clade A, presumed to have been the earliest branching clade, and the other from clade C, in the terminal branch.

RESULTS: The nuclear genome of Symbiodinium clade A (SymA) has more gene families than that of clade C, with larger numbers of organelle-related genes, including mitochondrial transcription terminal factor (mTERF) and Rubisco. While clade C (SymC) has fewer gene families, it displays specific expansions of repeat domain-containing genes, such as leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and retrovirus-related dUTPases. Interestingly, the SymA genome encodes a gene cluster for MAA biosynthesis, potentially transferred from an endosymbiotic red alga (probably of bacterial origin), while SymC has completely lost these genes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrates that SymC appears to have evolved by losing gene families, such as the MAA biosynthesis gene cluster. In contrast to the conservation of genes related to photosynthetic ability, the terminal clade has suffered more gene family losses than other clades, suggesting a possible adaptation to symbiosis. Overall, this study implies that Symbiodinium ecology drives acquisition and loss of gene families.}, } @article {pmid29897808, year = {2018}, author = {Heath, JJ and Abbot, P and Stireman, JO}, title = {Adaptive Divergence in a Defense Symbiosis Driven from the Top Down.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {192}, number = {1}, pages = {E21-E36}, doi = {10.1086/697446}, pmid = {29897808}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Diptera/*genetics/microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; *Plant Tumors ; *Predatory Behavior ; *Selection, Genetic ; Solidago/genetics/microbiology/parasitology ; Wasps/physiology ; }, abstract = {Most studies of adaptive radiation in animals focus on resource competition as the primary driver of trait divergence. The roles of other ecological interactions in shaping divergent phenotypes during such radiations have received less attention. We evaluate natural enemies as primary agents of diversifying selection on the phenotypes of an actively diverging lineage of gall midges on tall goldenrod. In this system, the gall of the midge consists of a biotrophic fungal symbiont that develops on host-plant leaves and forms distinctly variable protective carapaces over midge larvae. Through field studies, we show that fungal gall morphology, which is induced by midges (i.e., it is an extended phenotype), is under directional and diversifying selection by parasitoid enemies. Overall, natural enemies disruptively select for either small or large galls, mainly along the axis of gall thickness. These results imply that predators are driving the evolution of phenotypic diversity in symbiotic defense traits in this system and that divergence in defensive morphology may provide ecological opportunities that help to fuel the adaptive radiation of this genus of midges on goldenrods. This enemy-driven phenotypic divergence in a diversifying lineage illustrates the potential importance of consumer-resource and symbiotic species interactions in adaptive radiation.}, } @article {pmid29897662, year = {2018}, author = {Redanz, S and Cheng, X and Giacaman, RA and Pfeifer, CS and Merritt, J and Kreth, J}, title = {Live and let die: Hydrogen peroxide production by the commensal flora and its role in maintaining a symbiotic microbiome.}, journal = {Molecular oral microbiology}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, pages = {337-352}, pmid = {29897662}, issn = {2041-1014}, support = {U01 DE023756/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE022083/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DE021726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE018893/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE021726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; K02 DE025280/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE023850/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Oral Health ; Pyruvate Oxidase/metabolism ; Streptococcus/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The majority of commensal oral streptococci are able to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2) during aerobic growth, which can diffuse through the cell membrane and inhibit competing species in close proximity. Competing H2 O2 production is mainly dependent upon the pyruvate oxidase SpxB, and to a lesser extent the lactate oxidase LctO, both of which are important for energy generation in aerobic environments. Several studies point to a broad impact of H2 O2 production in the oral environment, including a potential role in biofilm homeostasis, signaling, and interspecies interactions. Here, we summarize the current research regarding oral streptococcal H2 O2 generation, resistance mechanisms, and the ecological impact of H2 O2 production. We also discuss the potential therapeutic utility of H2 O2 for the prevention/treatment of dysbiotic diseases as well as its potential role as a biomarker of oral health.}, } @article {pmid29897399, year = {2018}, author = {Reiter, N and Lawrie, AC and Linde, CC}, title = {Matching symbiotic associations of an endangered orchid to habitat to improve conservation outcomes.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {122}, number = {6}, pages = {947-959}, pmid = {29897399}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Endangered Species ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Victoria ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An understanding of mycorrhizal variation, orchid seed germination temperature and the effect of co-occurring plant species could be critical for optimizing conservation translocations of endangered plants with specialized mycorrhizal associations.

METHODS: Focusing on the orchid Thelymitra epipactoides, we isolated mycorrhizal fungi from ten plants within each of three sites; Shallow Sands Woodland (SSW), Damp Heathland (DH) and Coastal Heathland Scrub (CHS). Twenty-seven fungal isolates were tested for symbiotic germination under three 24 h temperature cycles: 12 °C for 16 h-16 °C for 8 h, 16 °C for 16 h-24 °C for 8 h or 27 °C constant. Fungi were sequenced using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nuclear large subunit 1 (nLSU1), nLSU2 and mitochondrial large rRNA gene (mtLSU). Orchids were grown to maturity and co-planted with each of ten associated plant species in a glasshouse experiment with tuber width measured at 12 months after co-planting.

KEY RESULTS: Two Tulasnella fungal lineages were isolated and identified by phylogenetic analyses, operational taxonomic unit 1 (OTU1) and 'T. asymmetrica'. Fungal lineages were specific to sites and did not co-occur. OTU1 (from the SSW site) germinated seed predominantly at 12-16 °C (typical of autumn-winter temperature) whereas 'T. asymmetrica' (from the DH and CHS sites) germinated seed across all three temperature ranges. There was no difference in the growth of adult orchids germinated with different OTUs. There was a significant reduction in tuber size of T. epipactoides when co-planted with six of the commonly co-occurring plant species.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that orchid fungal lineages and their germination temperature can change with habitat, and established that translocation sites can be optimized with knowledge of co-occurring plant interactions. For conservation translocations, particularly under a changing climate, we recommend that plants should be grown with mycorrhizal fungi tailored to the recipient site.}, } @article {pmid29895637, year = {2018}, author = {Nikoh, N and Tsuchida, T and Maeda, T and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Genomic Insight into Symbiosis-Induced Insect Color Change by a Facultative Bacterial Endosymbiont, "Candidatus Rickettsiella viridis".}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29895637}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Color ; Coxiellaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Members of the genus Rickettsiella are bacterial pathogens of insects and other arthropods. Recently, a novel facultative endosymbiont, "Candidatus Rickettsiella viridis," was described in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, whose infection causes a striking host phenotype: red and green genetic color morphs exist in aphid populations, and upon infection with the symbiont, red aphids become green due to increased production of green polycyclic quinone pigments. Here we determined the complete genome sequence of the symbiont. The 1.6-Mb circular genome, harboring some 1,400 protein-coding genes, was similar to the genome of entomopathogenic Rickettsiella grylli (1.6 Mb) but was smaller than the genomes of phylogenetically allied human pathogens Coxiella burnetii (2.0 Mb) and Legionella pneumophila (3.4 Mb). The symbiont's metabolic pathways exhibited little complementarity to those of the coexisting primary symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, reflecting the facultative nature of the symbiont. The symbiont genome harbored neither polyketide synthase genes nor the evolutionarily allied fatty acid synthase genes that are suspected to catalyze the polycyclic quinone synthesis, indicating that the green pigments are produced not by the symbiont but by the host aphid. The symbiont genome retained many type IV secretion system genes and presumable effector protein genes, whose homologues in L. pneumophila were reported to modulate a variety of the host's cellular processes for facilitating infection and virulence. These results suggest the possibility that the symbiont is involved in the green pigment production by affecting the host's metabolism using the secretion machineries for delivering the effector molecules into the host cells.IMPORTANCE Insect body color is relevant to a variety of biological aspects such as species recognition, sexual selection, mimicry, aposematism, and crypsis. Hence, the bacterial endosymbiont "Candidatus Rickettsiella viridis," which alters aphid body color from red to green, is of ecological interest, given that different predators preferentially exploit either red- or green-colored aphids. Here we determined the complete 1.6-Mb genome of the symbiont and uncovered that, although the red-green color transition was ascribed to upregulated production of green polycyclic quinone pigments, the symbiont genome harbored few genes involved in the polycyclic quinone biosynthesis. Meanwhile, the symbiont genome contained type IV secretion system genes and presumable effector protein genes, whose homologues modulate eukaryotic cellular processes for facilitating infection and virulence in the pathogen Legionella pneumophila We propose the hypothesis that the symbiont may upregulate the host's production of polycyclic quinone pigments via cooption of secretion machineries and effector molecules for pathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid29892797, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, T and Song, Z and Wei, L and Li, L}, title = {Molecular characterization and expression analysis of WRKY family genes in Dendrobium officinale.}, journal = {Genes & genomics}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {265-279}, pmid = {29892797}, issn = {2092-9293}, support = {2013AA102607//National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program)/International ; }, mesh = {Acetates/pharmacology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; Dendrobium/cytology/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Germination ; *Multigene Family ; Oxylipins/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Seeds/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The WRKY family of transcription factors is one of the most important families of plant transcriptional regulators, and the members regulate multiple biological processes. However, there is limited information on WRKYs in Dendrobium officinale. In this study, 52 WRKY family genes of D. officinale were surveyed for the first time. Conserved domain, phylogenetic, exon-intron construction, and expression analyses were performed for the DoWRKY genes. Two major types of intron splicing (PR and VQR introns) were found, and the intron insertion position was observed to be relatively conserved in the conserved DoWRKY domains. The expression profiles of nine DoWRKYs were analyzed in cold- and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated D. officinale seedlings; the DoWRKYs showed significant expression changes at different levels, which suggested their vital roles in stress tolerance. Moreover, the expression trends of most of the DoWRKYs after the simultaneous cold stress and MeJA treatment were the opposite of those of DoWRKYs after the individual cold stress and MeJA treatments, suggesting that the two stresses might have antagonistic effects and affect the adaptive capacity of the plants to stresses. Twelve DoWRKY genes were differentially expressed between symbiotic and asymbiotic germinated seeds; all were upregulated in the symbiotic germinated seeds except DoWRKY16. These differences in expression of DoWRKYs might be involved in promoting in vitro symbiotic germination of seeds with Tulasnella-like fungi. Our findings will be useful for further studies on the WRKY family genes in orchids.}, } @article {pmid29891919, year = {2018}, author = {Balvín, O and Roth, S and Talbot, B and Reinhardt, K}, title = {Co-speciation in bedbug Wolbachia parallel the pattern in nematode hosts.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {8797}, pmid = {29891919}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bedbugs/*microbiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Biotin/biosynthesis ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia bacteria, vertically transmitted intracellular endosymbionts, are associated with two major host taxa in which they show strikingly different symbiotic modes. In some taxa of filarial nematodes, where Wolbachia are strictly obligately beneficial to the host, they show complete within- and among-species prevalence as well as co-phylogeny with their hosts. In arthropods, Wolbachia usually are parasitic; if beneficial effects occurs, they can be facultative or obligate, related to host reproduction. In arthropods, the prevalence of Wolbachia varies within and among taxa, and no co-speciation events are known. However, one arthropod species, the common bedbug Cimex lectularius was recently found to be dependent on the provision of biotin and riboflavin by Wolbachia, representing a unique case of Wolbachia providing nutritional and obligate benefits to an arthropod host, perhaps even in a mutualistic manner. Using the presence of presumably functional biotin gene copies, our study demonstrates that the obligate relationship is maintained at least in 10 out of 15 species of the genera Cimex and Paracimex. The remaining five species harboured Wolbachia as well, demonstrating the first known case of 100% prevalence of Wolbachia among higher arthropod taxa. Moreover, we show the predicted co-cladogenesis between Wolbachia and their bedbug hosts, also as the first described case of Wolbachia co-speciation in arthropods.}, } @article {pmid29891837, year = {2018}, author = {Clerissi, C and Touchon, M and Capela, D and Tang, M and Cruveiller, S and Genthon, C and Lopez-Roques, C and Parker, MA and Moulin, L and Masson-Boivin, C and Rocha, EPC}, title = {Parallels between experimental and natural evolution of legume symbionts.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2264}, pmid = {29891837}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {ANR-12-ADAP-0014-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; ANR-16-CE20-0011-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; ANR-10-INBS-09//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Cupriavidus/genetics/physiology ; *Directed Molecular Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Mimosa/microbiology ; Mutation ; Plasmids/genetics ; Ralstonia solanacearum/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The emergence of symbiotic interactions has been studied using population genomics in nature and experimental evolution in the laboratory, but the parallels between these processes remain unknown. Here we compare the emergence of rhizobia after the horizontal transfer of a symbiotic plasmid in natural populations of Cupriavidus taiwanensis, over 10 MY ago, with the experimental evolution of symbiotic Ralstonia solanacearum for a few hundred generations. In spite of major differences in terms of time span, environment, genetic background, and phenotypic achievement, both processes resulted in rapid genetic diversification dominated by purifying selection. We observe no adaptation in the plasmid carrying the genes responsible for the ecological transition. Instead, adaptation was associated with positive selection in a set of genes that led to the co-option of the same quorum-sensing system in both processes. Our results provide evidence for similarities in experimental and natural evolutionary transitions and highlight the potential of comparisons between both processes to understand symbiogenesis.}, } @article {pmid29891654, year = {2018}, author = {Matsuura, Y and Moriyama, M and Łukasik, P and Vanderpool, D and Tanahashi, M and Meng, XY and McCutcheon, JP and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Recurrent symbiont recruitment from fungal parasites in cicadas.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {26}, pages = {E5970-E5979}, pmid = {29891654}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/cytology/*metabolism ; Animals ; Ascomycota/cytology/*metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Flavobacteriaceae/cytology/*metabolism ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diverse insects are associated with ancient bacterial symbionts, whose genomes have often suffered drastic reduction and degeneration. In extreme cases, such symbiont genomes seem almost unable to sustain the basic cellular functioning, which comprises an open question in the evolution of symbiosis. Here, we report an insect group wherein an ancient symbiont lineage suffering massive genome erosion has experienced recurrent extinction and replacement by host-associated pathogenic microbes. Cicadas are associated with the ancient bacterial co-obligate symbionts Sulcia and Hodgkinia, whose streamlined genomes are specialized for synthesizing essential amino acids, thereby enabling the host to live on plant sap. However, our inspection of 24 Japanese cicada species revealed that while all species possessed Sulcia, only nine species retained Hodgkinia, and their genomes exhibited substantial structural instability. The remaining 15 species lacked Hodgkinia and instead harbored yeast-like fungal symbionts. Detailed phylogenetic analyses uncovered repeated Hodgkinia-fungus and fungus-fungus replacements in cicadas. The fungal symbionts were phylogenetically intermingled with cicada-parasitizing Ophiocordyceps fungi, identifying entomopathogenic origins of the fungal symbionts. Most fungal symbionts of cicadas were uncultivable, but the fungal symbiont of Meimuna opalifera was cultivable, possibly because it is at an early stage of fungal symbiont replacement. Genome sequencing of the fungal symbiont revealed its metabolic versatility, presumably capable of synthesizing almost all amino acids, vitamins, and other metabolites, which is more than sufficient to compensate for the Hodgkinia loss. These findings highlight a straightforward ecological and evolutionary connection between parasitism and symbiosis, which may provide an evolutionary trajectory to renovate deteriorated ancient symbiosis via pathogen domestication.}, } @article {pmid29891104, year = {2018}, author = {Salmi, A and Boulila, F and Bourebaba, Y and Le Roux, C and Belhadi, D and de Lajudie, P}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating Calicotome spinosa in the Northeast of Algeria.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {452-459}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.05.005}, pmid = {29891104}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Algeria ; *Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Fifty-two slow-growing strains were isolated from root nodules of Calicotome spinosa grown in the Northeast of Algeria and grouped in 24 rep-PCR clusters. One representative strain for each profile was further phylogenetically characterized. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that all strains were affiliated to Bradyrhizobium. Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) of the atpD, glnII and recA genes and of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) showed that these strains formed four divergent clusters: one close to Bradyrhizobium canariense and Bradyrhizobium lupini and three others separate from all the described species, representing three putative new Bradyrhizobium species. A phylogenetic analysis based on the nodC gene sequence affiliated the strains to either of the two symbiovars, genistearum or retamae.}, } @article {pmid29889602, year = {2018}, author = {Bedade, D and Deska, J and Bankar, S and Bejar, S and Singhal, R and Shamekh, S}, title = {Fermentative production of extracellular amylase from novel amylase producer, Tuber maculatum mycelium, and its characterization.}, journal = {Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {549-555}, doi = {10.1080/10826068.2018.1476876}, pmid = {29889602}, issn = {1532-2297}, mesh = {Amylases/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Biomass ; Cations ; Culture Media ; Enzyme Stability ; Extracellular Space/*enzymology ; *Fermentation ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mycelium/*enzymology ; Saccharomycetales/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Truffles are symbiotic hypogeous edible fungi (form of mushroom) that form filamentous mycelia in their initial phase of the growth cycle as well as a symbiotic association with host plant roots. In the present study, Tuber maculatum mycelia were isolated and tested for extracellular amylase production at different pH on solid agar medium. Furthermore, the mycelium was subjected to submerged fermentation for amylase production under different culture conditions such as variable carbon sources and their concentrations, initial medium pH, and incubation time. The optimized conditions after the experiments included soluble starch (0.5% w/v), initial medium pH of 7.0, and incubation time of 7 days, at room temperature (22 ± 2 °C) under static conditions which resulted in 1.41 U/mL of amylase. The amylase thus obtained was further characterized for its biocatalytic properties and found to have an optimum activity at pH 5.0 and a temperature of 50 °C. The enzyme showed good thermostability at 50 °C by retaining 98% of the maximal activity after 100 min of incubation. The amylase activity was marginally enhanced in presence of Cu[2+] and Na[+] and slightly reduced by K[+], Ca[2+], Fe[2+], Mg[2+], Co[2+], Zn[2+], and Mn[2+] ions at 1 mM concentration.}, } @article {pmid29888486, year = {2018}, author = {Barták, M and Pláteníková, E and Carreras, H and Hájek, J and Morkusová, J and Mateos, AC and Marečková, M}, title = {Effect of UV-B radiation on the content of UV-B absorbing compounds and photosynthetic parameters in Parmotrema austrosinense from two contrasting habitats.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {808-816}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12855}, pmid = {29888486}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Altitude ; Carotenoids/analysis/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/analysis/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Fluorescence ; Lichens/chemistry/metabolism/*radiation effects ; Photosynthesis/*radiation effects ; Salt Tolerance/radiation effects ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {We studied the resistance of Parmotrema austrosinense to UV-B stress. We focused on the effects of a high dose UV-B radiation on the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids and UV-B screening compounds. Photosynthetic parameters were measured by chlorophyll fluorescence (potential and effective quantum yields, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching) and evaluated in control and UV-B-treated lichens. Lichens from two different locations in Cordoba, Argentina, were selected: (i) high altitude and dry plots at (Los Gigantes) and (ii) lowland high salinity plots (Salinas Grandes). UV-B treatment led to a decrease in the content of photosynthetic pigments and UV-B screens (absorbance decrease in 220-350 nm) in the samples from Salinas Grandes, while in Los Gigantes samples, an increase in UV-B screen content was observed. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed a UV-B-induced decline in FV /FM , ΦPSII and qP indicating limitation of primary photosynthetic processes in photosystem II (PSII) of symbiotic alga, more pronounced in Salinas Grandes samples. Protective mechanism of PSII were activated by the UV-B treatment to a higher extent in samples from Salinas Grandes (NPQ 0.48) than in Los Gigantes samples (NPQ 0.26). We concluded that site-related characteristics, and in particular different UV-B radiation regimen, had a strong effect on resistance of the photosynthetic apparatus of P. austrosinense to UV-B radiation.}, } @article {pmid29887874, year = {2018}, author = {Li, M and Zhao, J and Tang, N and Sun, H and Huang, J}, title = {Horizontal Gene Transfer From Bacteria and Plants to the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {701}, pmid = {29887874}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belong to Glomeromycotina, and are mutualistic symbionts of many land plants. Associated bacteria accompany AMF during their lifecycle to establish a robust tripartite association consisting of fungi, plants and bacteria. Physical association among this trinity provides possibilities for the exchange of genetic materials. However, very few horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria or plants to AMF has been reported yet. In this study, we complement existing algorithms by developing a new pipeline, Blast2hgt, to efficiently screen for putative horizontally derived genes from a whole genome. Genome analyses of the glomeromycete Rhizophagus irregularis identified 19 fungal genes that had been transferred between fungi and bacteria/plants, of which seven were obtained from bacteria. Another 18 R. irregularis genes were found to be recently acquired from either plants or bacteria. In the R. irregularis genome, gene duplication has contributed to the expansion of three foreign genes. Importantly, more than half of the R. irregularis foreign genes were expressed in various transcriptomic experiments, suggesting that these genes are functional in R. irregularis. Functional annotation and available evidence showed that these acquired genes may participate in diverse but fundamental biological processes such as regulation of gene expression, mitosis and signal transduction. Our study suggests that horizontal gene influx through endosymbiosis is a source of new functions for R. irregularis, and HGT might have played a role in the evolution and symbiotic adaptation of this arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, } @article {pmid29887673, year = {2018}, author = {Osei, O and Abaidoo, RC and Ahiabor, BDK and Boddey, RM and Rouws, LFM}, title = {Bacteria related to Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense from Ghana are effective groundnut micro-symbionts.}, journal = {Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {41-50}, pmid = {29887673}, issn = {0929-1393}, abstract = {The identification of locally-adapted rhizobia for effective inoculation of grain legumes in Africa's semiarid regions is strategic for developing and optimizing cheap nitrogen fixation technologies for smallholder farmers. This study was aimed at selecting and characterising effective native rhizobia, from Ghanaian soils for groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) inoculation. From surface-disinfected root nodules of cowpea and groundnut plants grown on farmers' fields, 150 bacterial isolates were obtained, 30 of which were eventually found to nodulate groundnut plants. After testing the symbiotic potential of these isolates on groundnut on sterilized substrate, seven of them, designated as KNUST 1001-1007, were evaluated in an open field pot experiment using [15]N-labelled soil. Although [15]N dilution analyses did not indicate differences among treatments in the proportion of nitrogen (N) derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa), all seven strains increased total N derived from N2 fixation by inoculated groundnut plants as compared to the non-inoculated control. Inoculation with KNUST 1002 led to total N accumulation as high as that of the groundnut reference strain 32H1. Genetic characterisation of the isolates by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene, 16S - 23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region and nodC gene revealed that isolates KNUST 1003 and 1007 were related to Rhizobium tropici, a common bean symbiont. The other five isolates, including KNUST 1002 belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus, being closely related to Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense. Therefore, this study revealed novel native Ghanaian rhizobia with potential for the development of groundnut inoculants.}, } @article {pmid29887272, year = {2019}, author = {Pérez-Peralta, PJ and Ferrera-Cerrato, R and Alarcón, A and Trejo-Téllez, LI and Cruz-Ortega, R and Silva-Rojas, HV}, title = {[Responses of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 symbiosystem to induced allelopathy by Ipomoea purpurea L. Roth].}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {47-55}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2018.01.006}, pmid = {29887272}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {*Allelopathy ; *Ipomoea ; Phaseolus/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Rhizobium tropici/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Allelopathy is a phenomenon that involves the production of secondary metabolites that influence the growth of plants and microorganisms; however, this alellopathic effect has been scarcely studied on the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. The aims of this research were 1) to assess the allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts of Ipomoea purpurea L. Roth on seed germination and root length of common bean seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), 2) to determine its effects on the in vitro growth of Rhizobium tropici CIAT899, and 3) to evaluate the allelopathic potential of I. purpurea on the growth, nodulation and physiology of common bean plants inoculated with R. tropici. After 48h, 15% of the aqueous root extract of I. purpurea stimulated seed germination, whereas 4% of the aqueous shoot extracts stimulated such germination. Both the root or shoot extracts stimulated seed germination and e root length. In vitro growth of R. tropici was inhibited as a result of the application of both aqueous extracts. The presence of I. purpurea negatively affected both the growth and physiological responses of common bean plants, and this effect was attenuated after the inoculation of R. tropici; nevertheless, this allelopathic plant affected root nodulation. Our results suggest that the symbiosis of rhizobia and roots of common bean plants is an important element for attenuating the negative effects caused by the allelopathic plant.}, } @article {pmid29886861, year = {2018}, author = {Gross, M}, title = {Between Party, People, and Profession: The Many Faces of the 'Doctor' during the Cultural Revolution.}, journal = {Medical history}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {333-359}, doi = {10.1017/mdh.2018.23}, pmid = {29886861}, issn = {2048-8343}, mesh = {China ; Cultural Characteristics/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Physicians/*history ; }, abstract = {During the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-76), Chairman Mao fundamentally reformed medicine so that rural people received medical care. His new medical model has been variously characterised as: revolutionary Maoist medicine, a revitalised form of Chinese medicine; and the final conquest by Western medicine. This paper finds that instead of Mao's vision of a new 'revolutionary medicine', there was a new medical synthesis that drew from the Maoist ideal and Western and Chinese traditions, but fundamentally differed from all of them. Maoist medicine's ultimate aim was doctors as peasant carers. However, rural people and local governments valued treatment expertise, causing divergence from this ideal. As a result, Western and elite Chinese medical doctors sent to the countryside for rehabilitation were preferable to barefoot doctors and received rural support. Initially Western-trained physicians belittled elite Chinese doctors, and both looked down on barefoot doctors and indigenous herbalists and acupuncturists. However, the levelling effect of terrible rural conditions made these diverse conceptions of the doctor closer during the Cultural Revolution. Thus, urban doctors and rural medical practitioners developed a symbiotic relationship: barefoot doctors provided political protection and local knowledge for urban doctors; urban doctors' provided expertise and a medical apprenticeship for barefoot doctors; and both counted on the local medical knowledge of indigenous healers. This fragile conceptual nexus had fallen apart by the end of the Maoist era (1976), but the evidence of new medical syntheses shows the diverse range of alliances that become possible under the rubric of 'revolutionary medicine'.}, } @article {pmid29886381, year = {2018}, author = {Chang, Q and Diao, FW and Wang, QF and Pan, L and Dang, ZH and Guo, W}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on growth, nutrient and metal uptake by maize seedlings (Zea mays L.) grown in soils spiked with Lanthanum and Cadmium.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {241}, number = {}, pages = {607-615}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.003}, pmid = {29886381}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cadmium/*analysis/toxicity ; Glomeromycota ; Lanthanum/*analysis/toxicity ; Metals, Heavy/analysis ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*drug effects/physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/drug effects ; Seedlings/chemistry ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Zea mays/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Multiple contaminants can affect plant-microbial remediation processes because of their interactive effects on environmental behaviour, bioavailability and plant growth. Recent studies have suggested that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can facilitate the revegetation of soils co-contaminated with rare earth elements (REEs) and heavy metals. However, little is known regarding the role of AMF in the interaction of REEs and heavy metals. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Claroideoglomus etunicatum on the biomass, nutrient uptake, metal uptake and translocation of maize grown in soils spiked with Lanthanum (La) and Cadmium (Cd). The results indicated that individual and combined applications of La (100 mg kg[-1]) and Cd (5 mg kg[-1]) significantly decreased root colonization rates by 22.0%-35.0%. With AMF inoculation, dual-metal treatment significantly increased maize biomass by 26.2% compared to single-metal treatment. Dual-metal treatment significantly increased N, P and K uptake by 20.1%-76.8% compared to single-metal treatment. Dual-metal treatment significantly decreased shoot La concentration by 52.9% compared to single La treatment, whereas AM symbiosis caused a greater decrease of 87.8%. Dual-metal treatment significantly increased shoot and root Cd concentrations by 65.5% and 58.7% compared to single Cd treatment and the La translocation rate by 142.0% compared to single La treatment, whereas no difference was observed between their corresponding treatments with AMF inoculation. Furthermore, AMF had differential effects on the interaction of La and Cd on metal uptake and translocation under the background concentrations of soil metals. Taken together, these results indicated that AMF significantly affected the interaction between La and Cd, depending on metal types and concentrations in soils. These findings promote a further understanding of the contributions of AMF to the phytoremediation of co-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid29885666, year = {2018}, author = {Meng, A and Marchet, C and Corre, E and Peterlongo, P and Alberti, A and Da Silva, C and Wincker, P and Pelletier, E and Probert, I and Decelle, J and Le Crom, S and Not, F and Bittner, L}, title = {A de novo approach to disentangle partner identity and function in holobiont systems.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {105}, pmid = {29885666}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {ANR-15-CE02-0011//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (FR)/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/*parasitology ; Computational Biology ; *Coral Reefs ; Microalgae/metabolism ; Plankton/parasitology ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Rhizaria/*parasitology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Study of meta-transcriptomic datasets involving non-model organisms represents bioinformatic challenges. The production of chimeric sequences and our inability to distinguish the taxonomic origins of the sequences produced are inherent and recurrent difficulties in de novo assembly analyses. As the study of holobiont meta-transcriptomes is affected by challenges invoked above, we propose an innovative bioinformatic approach to tackle such difficulties and tested it on marine models as a proof of concept.

RESULTS: We considered three holobiont models, of which two transcriptomes were previously published and a yet unpublished transcriptome, to analyze and sort their raw reads using Short Read Connector, a k-mer based similarity method. Before assembly, we thus defined four distinct categories for each holobiont meta-transcriptome: host reads, symbiont reads, shared reads, and unassigned reads. Afterwards, we observed that independent de novo assemblies for each category led to a diminution of the number of chimeras compared to classical assembly methods. Moreover, the separation of each partner's transcriptome offered the independent and comparative exploration of their functional diversity in the holobiont. Finally, our strategy allowed to propose new functional annotations for two well-studied holobionts (a Cnidaria-Dinophyta, a Porifera-Bacteria) and a first meta-transcriptome from a planktonic Radiolaria-Dinophyta system forming widespread symbiotic association for which our knowledge is considerably limited.

CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to classical assembly approaches, our bioinformatic strategy generates less de novo assembled chimera and allows biologists to study separately host and symbiont data from a holobiont mixture. The pre-assembly separation of reads using an efficient tool as Short Read Connector is an effective way to tackle meta-transcriptomic challenges and offers bright perpectives to study holobiont systems composed of either well-studied or poorly characterized symbiotic lineages and ultimately expand our knowledge about these associations.}, } @article {pmid29885243, year = {2017}, author = {Regus, JU and Quides, KW and O'Neill, MR and Suzuki, R and Savory, EA and Chang, JH and Sachs, JL}, title = {Cell autonomous sanctions in legumes target ineffective rhizobia in nodules with mixed infections.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {104}, number = {9}, pages = {1299-1312}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1700165}, pmid = {29885243}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development ; Lotus/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Models, Biological ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: To maximize benefits from symbiosis, legumes must limit physiological inputs into ineffective rhizobia that nodulate hosts without fixing nitrogen. The capacity of legumes to decrease the relative fitness of ineffective rhizobia-known as sanctions-has been demonstrated in several legume species, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Sanctions are predicted to work at the whole-nodule level. However, whole-nodule sanctions would make the host vulnerable to mixed-nodule infections, which have been demonstrated in the laboratory and observed in natural settings. Here, we present and test a cell-autonomous model of legume sanctions that can resolve this dilemma.

METHODS: We analyzed histological and ultrastructural evidence of sanctions in two legume species, Acmispon strigosus and Lotus japonicus. For the former, we inoculated seedlings with rhizobia that naturally vary in their abilities to fix nitrogen. In the latter, we inoculated seedlings with near-isogenic strains that differ only in the ability to fix nitrogen.

KEY RESULTS: In both hosts, plants inoculated with ineffective rhizobia exhibited evidence for a cell autonomous and accelerated program of senescence within nodules. In plants that received mixed inoculations, only the plant cells harboring ineffective rhizobia exhibited features consistent with programmed cell death, including collapsed vacuoles, ruptured symbiosomes, and bacteroids that are released into the cytosol. These features were consistently linked with ultrastructural evidence of reduced survival of ineffective rhizobia in planta.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest an elegant cell autonomous mechanism by which legumes can detect and defend against ineffective rhizobia even when nodules harbor a mix of effective and ineffective rhizobial genotypes.}, } @article {pmid29884829, year = {2018}, author = {Davison, J and Moora, M and Öpik, M and Ainsaar, L and Ducousso, M and Hiiesalu, I and Jairus, T and Johnson, N and Jourand, P and Kalamees, R and Koorem, K and Meyer, JY and Püssa, K and Reier, Ü and Pärtel, M and Semchenko, M and Traveset, A and Vasar, M and Zobel, M}, title = {Microbial island biogeography: isolation shapes the life history characteristics but not diversity of root-symbiotic fungal communities.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {2211-2224}, pmid = {29884829}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry ; Humans ; Islands ; Life History Traits ; *Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Island biogeography theory is one of the most influential paradigms in ecology. That island characteristics, including remoteness, can profoundly modulate biological diversity has been borne out by studies of animals and plants. By contrast, the processes influencing microbial diversity in island systems remain largely undetermined. We sequenced arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal DNA from plant roots collected on 13 islands worldwide and compared AM fungal diversity on islands with existing data from mainland sites. AM fungal communities on islands (even those >6000 km from the closest mainland) comprised few endemic taxa and were as diverse as mainland communities. Thus, in contrast to patterns recorded among macro-organisms, efficient dispersal appears to outweigh the effects of taxogenesis and extinction in regulating AM fungal diversity on islands. Nonetheless, AM fungal communities on more distant islands comprised a higher proportion of previously cultured and large-spored taxa, indicating that dispersal may be human-mediated or require tolerance of significant environmental stress, such as exposure to sunlight or high salinity. The processes driving large-scale patterns of microbial diversity are a key consideration for attempts to conserve and restore functioning ecosystems in this era of rapid global change.}, } @article {pmid29880913, year = {2018}, author = {Sterkenburg, E and Clemmensen, KE and Ekblad, A and Finlay, RD and Lindahl, BD}, title = {Contrasting effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on early and late stage decomposition in a boreal forest.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {2187-2197}, pmid = {29880913}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen ; Soil Microbiology ; *Taiga ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi have received increasing attention as regulators of below-ground organic matter storage. They are proposed to promote organic matter accumulation by suppressing saprotrophs, but have also been suggested to play an active role in decomposition themselves. Here we show that exclusion of tree roots and associated ectomycorrhizal fungi in a boreal forest increased decomposition of surface litter by 11% by alleviating nitrogen limitation of saprotrophs-a "Gadgil effect". At the same time, root exclusion decreased Mn-peroxidase activity in the deeper mor layer by 91%. Our results show that ectomycorrhizal fungi may hamper short-term litter decomposition, but also support a crucial role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in driving long-term organic matter oxidation. These observations stress the importance of ectomycorrhizal fungi in regulation of below-ground organic matter accumulation. By different mechanisms they may either hamper or stimulate decomposition, depending upon stage of decomposition and location in the soil profile.}, } @article {pmid29880868, year = {2018}, author = {Heine, D and Holmes, NA and Worsley, SF and Santos, ACA and Innocent, TM and Scherlach, K and Patrick, EH and Yu, DW and Murrell, JC and Vieria, PC and Boomsma, JJ and Hertweck, C and Hutchings, MI and Wilkinson, B}, title = {Chemical warfare between leafcutter ant symbionts and a co-evolved pathogen.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {2208}, pmid = {29880868}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; G0801721/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*drug effects/physiology ; Agaricales/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Genome, Fungal/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Hypocreales/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Indole Alkaloids/isolation & purification/metabolism/*toxicity ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Acromyrmex leafcutter ants form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus and with Pseudonocardia bacteria. Both are vertically transmitted and actively maintained by the ants. The fungus garden is manured with freshly cut leaves and provides the sole food for the ant larvae, while Pseudonocardia cultures are reared on the ant-cuticle and make antifungal metabolites to help protect the cultivar against disease. If left unchecked, specialized parasitic Escovopsis fungi can overrun the fungus garden and lead to colony collapse. We report that Escovopsis upregulates the production of two specialized metabolites when it infects the cultivar. These compounds inhibit Pseudonocardia and one, shearinine D, also reduces worker behavioral defenses and is ultimately lethal when it accumulates in ant tissues. Our results are consistent with an active evolutionary arms race between Pseudonocardia and Escovopsis, which modifies both bacterial and behavioral defenses such that colony collapse is unavoidable once Escovopsis infections escalate.}, } @article {pmid29877789, year = {2018}, author = {Machado, RAR and Wüthrich, D and Kuhnert, P and Arce, CCM and Thönen, L and Ruiz, C and Zhang, X and Robert, CAM and Karimi, J and Kamali, S and Ma, J and Bruggmann, R and Erb, M}, title = {Whole-genome-based revisit of Photorhabdus phylogeny: proposal for the elevation of most Photorhabdus subspecies to the species level and description of one novel species Photorhabdus bodei sp. nov., and one novel subspecies Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. clarkei subsp. nov.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {2664-2681}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002820}, pmid = {29877789}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Photorhabdus/*classification/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts are crucial for the infectivity and success of entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control agents. The current understanding of the symbiotic relationships is limited by taxonomic uncertainties. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing and traditional techniques to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships between all described Photorhabdus species and subspecies as well as 11 newly isolated symbiotic bacteria of Heterorhabditis nematodes, including the unreported bacterial partner of H. beicherriana. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization, orthologous average nucleotide identity and nucleotide sequence identity of concatenated housekeeping genes scores were calculated and set into relation with current cut-off values for species delimitation in bacteria. Sequence data were complemented with biochemical and chemotaxonomic markers, and ribosomal protein fingerprinting profiles. This polyphasic approach resolves the ambiguous taxonomy of Photorhabdusand lead to the proposal for the elevation of most of them into a higher taxon and the creation of several new taxa: 15 new species, one of which is newly described: Photorhabdus bodei sp. nov. (type strain LJ24-63[T]=DSM 105690[T]=CCOS 1159[T]) and the other 14 arise through the proposal of elevating already described subspecies to species, and are proposed to be renamed as follows: Photorhabdus asymbioticasubsp. australis as Photorhabdus australis sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. akhurstii as Photorhabdus akhurstii sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. caribbeanensis as Photorhabdus caribbeanensis sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. hainanensis as Photorhabdus hainanensis sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. kayaii as Photorhabdus kayaii sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. kleinii as Photorhabdus kleinii sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. namnaonensis as Photorhabdus namnaonensis sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. noenieputensis as Photorhabdus noenieputensis sp. nov., Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp.laumondii as Photorhabdus laumondii sp. nov., Photorhabdus temperatasubsp. cinerea as Photorhabdus cinerea sp. nov., Photorhabdus temperatasubsp. khanii as Photorhabdus khanii sp. nov., Photorhabdus temperatasubsp. stackebrandtii as Photorhabdus stackebrandtii sp. nov., Photorhabdus temperatasubsp. tasmaniensis as Photorhabdus tasmaniensis sp. nov., and Photorhabdus temperatasubsp. thracensis as Photorhabdus thracensis sp. nov. In addition, we propose the creation of two new subspecies, one of which arises through the reduction of rank: Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii comb. nov. (basonym: P. luminescenssubsp. laumondii) and the second one is newly described: Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. clarkei subsp. nov. (type strain BOJ-47[T]=DSM 105531[T]=CCOS 1160[T]). Finally, we propose to emend the description of three species, which results from the proposal of elevating three subspecies to the species status: Photorhabdus asymbiotica, Photorhabdus temperata and Photorhabdus luminescens, formerly classified as Photorhabdus asymbioticasubsp. asymbiotica, Photorhabdus temperatasubsp.temperata and Photorhabdus luminescenssubsp. luminescens, respectively.}, } @article {pmid29875740, year = {2018}, author = {Egamberdieva, D and Jabborova, D and Wirth, SJ and Alam, P and Alyemeni, MN and Ahmad, P}, title = {Interactive Effects of Nutrients and Bradyrhizobium japonicum on the Growth and Root Architecture of Soybean (Glycine max L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {1000}, pmid = {29875740}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Understanding the symbiotic performance of rhizobia and responses of plant root systems to mineral nutrient supply will facilitate the development of strategies to enhance effective rhizobia-legume symbioses. Interactive effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) on the symbiotic performance of soybean (Glycine max L.) with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, nodulation, root architecture, and the N concentration in plant tissue under hydroponic conditions were studied. Plant growth was significantly higher under a high N supply combined with Mg (HNHMg) than in combination with P (HNHP), which was attributed to the interaction between N and Mg ions. The plants grown at a low N concentration combined with either high or low P or Mg (LNHP, LNHMg, LNLP, and LNLMg) showed a higher nodule dry weight compared to those grown under a high N supply. We observed that the N content in the roots and shoots of soybean plants was significantly lower under LNHP or LNLP, but it was higher under HNHMg or LNHMg, indicating that Mg promotes N acquisition by the plant tissues. Neither root nor shoot growth responded significantly to P availability regardless of the N supply. We observed significant positive relationships between the number of nodules, the N content in plant tissues and the root system architecture of soybean plants grown with a variable supply of Mg combined with N, which highlights the importance of N and Mg availability in the growth medium in regulating root system architecture and nodule formation. The number of rhizobial cells colonizing soybean roots was highest under the HNHMg treatment (6.78 × 10[4] CFUs/cm of root tip), followed by the HNLMg (4.72 × 10[4] CFUs/cm of root tip) and LNHMg (4.10 × 10[4] CFU/cm of root tip) treatments, and lowest under the LNLMg (1.84 × 10[4] CFUs/cm of root tip) nutrient conditions. The results of this study contribute to new insights for the improvement of the root system and the symbiotic performance of rhizobia inoculated on legumes, stressing the importance of a balanced supply of nutrients.}, } @article {pmid29874476, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, X and Du, L and Shi, R and Chen, Z and Zhou, Y and Li, Z}, title = {Early-life food nutrition, microbiota maturation and immune development shape life-long health.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {59}, number = {sup1}, pages = {S30-S38}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2018.1485628}, pmid = {29874476}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {*Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Infant ; Inflammation/therapy ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritive Value ; }, abstract = {The current knowledge about early-life nutrition and environmental factors that affect the interaction between the symbiotic microbiota and the host immune system has demonstrated novel regulatory target for treating allergic diseases, autoimmune disorders and metabolic syndrome. Various kinds of food nutrients (such as dietary fiber, starch, polyphenols and proteins) can provide energy resources for both intestinal microbiota and the host. The indigestible food components are fermented by the indigenous gut microbiota to produce diverse metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, bile acids and trimethylamine-N-oxide, which can regulate the host metabolized physiology, immunity homeostasis and health state. Therefore it is commonly believed early-life perturbation of the microbial community structure and the dietary nutrition interference on the child mucosal immunity contribute to the whole life susceptibility to chronic diseases. In all, the combined interrelationship between food ingredients nutrition, intestinal microbiota configurations and host system immunity provides new therapeutic targets to treat various kinds of pathogenic inflammations and chronic diseases.}, } @article {pmid29873545, year = {2018}, author = {Nafady, NA and Elgharably, A}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis and phosphorus fertilization effects on Zea mays growth and heavy metals uptake.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {20}, number = {9}, pages = {869-875}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2018.1438358}, pmid = {29873545}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Metals, Heavy ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote plant growth and reduce plant uptake of heavy metals. Phosphorus (P) fertilization can affect this relationship. We investigated maize (Zea mays L.) uptake of heavy metals after soil AMF inoculation and P fertilization. Maize biomass, glomaline and chlorophyll contents and uptake of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb have been determined in a soil inoculated with AMF (Glomus aggregatum, or Glomus intraradices) and treated with 30 or 60 µg P-K2HPO4 g[-1] soil. Consistent variations were found between the two mycorrhizal species with respect to the colonization and glomalin content. Shoot dry weight and chlorophyll content were higher with G. intraradices than with G. aggregatum inoculation. The biomass was highest with 30 µg P g[-1] soil. Shoot concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn decreased with G. aggregatum inoculation, but that of Cd and Pb increased with G. intraradices inoculation. Addition of P fertilizers decreased Cd and Zn concentrations in the shoot. AMF with P fertilization greatly reduced maize content of heavy metals. The results provide that native AMF with a moderate application rate of P fertilizers can be exploited in polluted soils to minimize the heavy metals uptake and to increase maize growth.}, } @article {pmid29873395, year = {2018}, author = {Nelson, CA and Kovarik, CL and Barbieri, JS}, title = {Human-computer symbiosis: enhancing dermatologic care while preserving the art of healing.}, journal = {International journal of dermatology}, volume = {57}, number = {8}, pages = {1015-1016}, doi = {10.1111/ijd.14071}, pmid = {29873395}, issn = {1365-4632}, mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; *Dermatology ; Humans ; Physician-Patient Relations ; }, } @article {pmid29872753, year = {2018}, author = {Robillard, PY and Dekker, G and Boukerrou, M and Le Moullec, N and Hulsey, TC}, title = {Relationship between pre-pregnancy maternal BMI and optimal weight gain in singleton pregnancies.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {e00615}, pmid = {29872753}, issn = {2405-8440}, support = {U54 GM104942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: There is a peculiar phenomenon: two separate individuals (mother and foetus) have a mutually interactive dependency concerning their respective weight. Very thin mothers have a higher risk of small for gestational age (SGA) infants, and rarely give birth to a large for gestational age (LGA) infant. While morbidly obese women often give birth to LGA infants, and rarely to SGA. Normal birthweight (AGA) infants (>10[th] and <90[th] centile of a neonatal population) typically have the lowest perinatal and long-term morbidity. The aim of the current study is (1) to determine the maternal body mass index (BMI) range associated with a balanced risk (10% SGA, 10% LGA), and (2) to investigate the interaction between maternal booking BMI, gestational weight gain (GWG) and neonatal birthweight centiles.

METHODS: 16.5 year-observational cohort study (2001-2017). The study population consisted of all consecutive singleton term (37 weeks onward) live births delivered at University's maternity in Reunion island, French Overseas Department.

FINDINGS: Of the 59,717 singleton term live births, we could define the booking BMI and the GWG in 52,092 parturients (87.2%). We had 2 major findings (1) Only women with a normal BMI achieve an equilibrium in the SGA/LGA risk (both 10%). We propose to call this crossing point the Maternal Fetal Corpulence Symbiosis (MFCS). (2) This MFCS shifts with increasing GWG. We tested the MFCS by 5 kg/m[2] incremental BMI categories. The result is a linear law:opGWG (kg) = -1.2 ppBMI (Kg/m²) + 42 ± 2 kg.

INTERPRETATION: IOM-2009 recommendations are adequate for normal and over-weighted women but not for thin and obese women: a thin woman (17 kg/m[2]) should gain 21.6 ± 2 kg (instead of 12.5-18). An obese 32 kg/m[2] should gain 3.6 kg (instead of 5-9). Very obese 40 kg/m[2] should lose 6 kg.}, } @article {pmid29872090, year = {2018}, author = {Paul, F and Otte, J and Schmitt, I and Dal Grande, F}, title = {Comparing Sanger sequencing and high-throughput metabarcoding for inferring photobiont diversity in lichens.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {8624}, pmid = {29872090}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascomycota/growth & development ; Chlorophyta/*classification/*genetics/growth & development ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/*methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Lichens/*growth & development ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The implementation of HTS (high-throughput sequencing) approaches is rapidly changing our understanding of the lichen symbiosis, by uncovering high bacterial and fungal diversity, which is often host-specific. Recently, HTS methods revealed the presence of multiple photobionts inside a single thallus in several lichen species. This differs from Sanger technology, which typically yields a single, unambiguous algal sequence per individual. Here we compared HTS and Sanger methods for estimating the diversity of green algal symbionts within lichen thalli using 240 lichen individuals belonging to two species of lichen-forming fungi. According to HTS data, Sanger technology consistently yielded the most abundant photobiont sequence in the sample. However, if the second most abundant photobiont exceeded 30% of the total HTS reads in a sample, Sanger sequencing generally failed. Our results suggest that most lichen individuals in the two analyzed species, Lasallia hispanica and L. pustulata, indeed contain a single, predominant green algal photobiont. We conclude that Sanger sequencing is a valid approach to detect the dominant photobionts in lichen individuals and populations. We discuss which research areas in lichen ecology and evolution will continue to benefit from Sanger sequencing, and which areas will profit from HTS approaches to assessing symbiont diversity.}, } @article {pmid29871803, year = {2018}, author = {Heddi, A and Zaidman-Rémy, A}, title = {Endosymbiosis as a source of immune innovation.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {341}, number = {5}, pages = {290-296}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2018.03.005}, pmid = {29871803}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Insecta/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Some years ago, Lynn Margulis proposed to envision symbiosis as a source of evolutionary innovation. Here we revisit this concept in the context of insect nutritional endosymbiosis, and discuss recent data suggesting that host-endosymbiont coevolution has led to the selection of innovative strategies towards endosymbiont maintenance and control by the host immune system.}, } @article {pmid29871605, year = {2018}, author = {Selvakumar, G and Shagol, CC and Kim, K and Han, S and Sa, T}, title = {Spore associated bacteria regulates maize root K[+]/Na[+] ion homeostasis to promote salinity tolerance during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {109}, pmid = {29871605}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; *Homeostasis ; Ion Transport ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Salt Tolerance ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology ; Sodium/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Spores, Fungal ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and AMF spore associated bacteria (SAB) were previously found to improve mycorrhizal symbiotic efficiency under saline stress, however, the information about the molecular basis of this interaction remain unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the response of maize plants to co-inoculation of AMF and SAB under salinity stress.

RESULTS: The co-inoculation of AMF and SAB significantly improved plant dry weight, nutrient content of shoot and root tissues under 25 or 50 mM NaCl. Importantly, co-inoculation significantly reduced the accumulation of proline in shoots and Na[+] in roots. Co-inoculated maize plants also exhibited high K[+]/Na[+] ratios in roots at 25 mM NaCl concentration. Mycorrhizal colonization significantly positively altered the expression of ZmAKT2, ZmSOS1, and ZmSKOR genes, to maintain K[+] and Na[+] ion homeostasis. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) view showed that SAB were able to move and localize into inter- and intracellular spaces of maize roots and were closely associated with the spore outer hyaline layer.

CONCLUSION: These new findings indicate that co-inoculation of AMF and SAB effectively alleviates the detrimental effects of salinity through regulation of SOS pathway gene expression and K[+]/Na[+] homeostasis to improve maize plant growth.}, } @article {pmid29869792, year = {2018}, author = {Mostofa, MG and Li, W and Nguyen, KH and Fujita, M and Tran, LP}, title = {Strigolactones in plant adaptation to abiotic stresses: An emerging avenue of plant research.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {10}, pages = {2227-2243}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13364}, pmid = {29869792}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Carotenoids/metabolism/physiology ; Lactones/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*metabolism ; Research ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Phytohormones play central roles in boosting plant tolerance to environmental stresses, which negatively affect plant productivity and threaten future food security. Strigolactones (SLs), a class of carotenoid-derived phytohormones, were initially discovered as an "ecological signal" for parasitic seed germination and establishment of symbiotic relationship between plants and beneficial microbes. Subsequent characterizations have described their functional roles in various developmental processes, including root development, shoot branching, reproductive development, and leaf senescence. SLs have recently drawn much attention due to their essential roles in the regulation of various physiological and molecular processes during the adaptation of plants to abiotic stresses. Reports suggest that the production of SLs in plants is strictly regulated and dependent on the type of stresses that plants confront at various stages of development. Recently, evidence for crosstalk between SLs and other phytohormones, such as abscisic acid, in responses to abiotic stresses suggests that SLs actively participate within regulatory networks of plant stress adaptation that are governed by phytohormones. Moreover, the prospective roles of SLs in the management of plant growth and development under adverse environmental conditions have been suggested. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion pertaining to SL-mediated plant responses and adaptation to abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid29868902, year = {2019}, author = {Bertelli, C and Tilley, KE and Brinkman, FSL}, title = {Microbial genomic island discovery, visualization and analysis.}, journal = {Briefings in bioinformatics}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {1685-1698}, pmid = {29868902}, issn = {1477-4054}, mesh = {Databases, Genetic ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Machine Learning ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (also called lateral gene transfer) is a major mechanism for microbial genome evolution, enabling rapid adaptation and survival in specific niches. Genomic islands (GIs), commonly defined as clusters of bacterial or archaeal genes of probable horizontal origin, are of particular medical, environmental and/or industrial interest, as they disproportionately encode virulence factors and some antimicrobial resistance genes and may harbor entire metabolic pathways that confer a specific adaptation (solvent resistance, symbiosis properties, etc). As large-scale analyses of microbial genomes increases, such as for genomic epidemiology investigations of infectious disease outbreaks in public health, there is increased appreciation of the need to accurately predict and track GIs. Over the past decade, numerous computational tools have been developed to tackle the challenges inherent in accurate GI prediction. We review here the main types of GI prediction methods and discuss their advantages and limitations for a routine analysis of microbial genomes in this era of rapid whole-genome sequencing. An assessment is provided of 20 GI prediction software methods that use sequence-composition bias to identify the GIs, using a reference GI data set from 104 genomes obtained using an independent comparative genomics approach. Finally, we present guidelines to assist researchers in effectively identifying these key genomic regions.}, } @article {pmid29868593, year = {2018}, author = {Masuko, K}, title = {A Potential Benefit of "Balanced Diet" for Rheumatoid Arthritis.}, journal = {Frontiers in medicine}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {141}, pmid = {29868593}, issn = {2296-858X}, abstract = {Although it is largely unknown how diet might modulate rheumatoid arthritis (RA), dietary interventions, including so-called "low-carbohydrate" diets, may be considered for RA patients because of the high incidence of cardiovascular comorbidity. However, it has been shown that restriction or skewed intake of particular nutrient may alter the components of the intestinal flora. Changes to the gut microbiota or dysbiosis may be relevant to the pathogenesis of RA because the gut microbiota is reported to regulate the T cell phenotype and T cell-mediated immunity. RA patients should be advised that a balanced diet that includes appropriate amounts of carbohydrate, especially dietary fiber, is important for maintaining the symbiosis of intestinal flora, which could be beneficial for preventing autoimmunity. The review attempts to focus current findings regarding the suggested relationship between diet-derived carbohydrate, gut microbiota, and the pathogenesis of RA.}, } @article {pmid29868500, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, ZP and Song, Y and Cai, ZH and Lin, ZJ and Lin, GH and Wang, Y and Zhou, J}, title = {Anti-quorum Sensing Activities of Selected Coral Symbiotic Bacterial Extracts From the South China Sea.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {144}, pmid = {29868500}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion/drug effects ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; China ; Chromobacterium ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Ligases/genetics ; Metalloendopeptidases/genetics ; Microbial Consortia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects/genetics ; Quorum Sensing/*drug effects/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Staphylococcus hominis/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Trans-Activators/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Virulence/genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {The worldwide increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens means that identification of alternative antibacterial drug targets and the subsequent development of new treatment strategies are urgently required. One such new target is the quorum sensing (QS) system. Coral microbial consortia harbor an enormous diversity of microbes, and are thus rich sources for isolating novel bioactive and pharmacologically valuable natural products. However, to date, the versatility of their bioactive compounds has not been broadly explored. In this study, about two hundred bacterial colonies were isolated from a coral species (Pocillopora damicornis) and screened for their ability to inhibit QS using the bioreporter strain Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Approximately 15% (30 isolates) exhibited anti-QS activity, against the indicator strain. Among them, a typical Gram-positive bacterium, D11 (Staphylococcus hominis) was identified and its anti-QS activity was investigated. Confocal microscopy observations showed that the bacterial extract inhibited the biofilm formation of clinical isolates of wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1 in a dose-dependent pattern. Chromatographic separation led to the isolation of a potent QS inhibitor that was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as DL-homocysteine thiolactone. Gene expression analyses using RT-PCR showed that strain D11 led to a significant down-regulation of QS regulatory genes (lasI, lasR, rhlI, and rhlR), as well as a virulence-related gene (lasB). From the chemical structure, the target compound (DL-homocysteine thiolactone) is an analog of the acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), and we presume that DL-homocysteine thiolactone outcompetes AHL in occupying the receptor and thereby inhibiting QS. Whole-genome sequence analysis of S. hominis D11 revealed the presence of predicted genes involved in the biosynthesis of homocysteine thiolactone. This study indicates that coral microbes are a resource bank for developing QS inhibitors and they will facilitate the discovery of new biotechnologically relevant compounds that could be used instead of traditional antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid29868087, year = {2018}, author = {Li, X and Feng, H and Wen, J and Dong, J and Wang, T}, title = {MtCAS31 Aids Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Protecting the Leghemoglobin MtLb120-1 Under Drought Stress in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {633}, pmid = {29868087}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legume root nodules injects millions of tons of nitrogen into agricultural lands and provides ammonia to non-legume crops under N-deficient conditions. During plant growth and development, environmental stresses, such as drought, salt, cold, and heat stress are unavoidable. This raises an interesting question as to how the legumes cope with the environmental stress along with SNF. Under drought stress, dehydrin proteins are accumulated, which function as protein protector and osmotic substances. In this study, we found that the dehydrin MtCAS31 (cold-acclimation-specific 31) functions in SNF in Medicago truncatula during drought stress. We found that MtCAS31 is expressed in nodules and interacts with leghemoglobin MtLb120-1. The interaction between the two proteins protects MtLb120-1 from denaturation under thermal stress in vivo. Compared to wild type, cas31 mutants display a lower nitrogenase activity, a lower ATP/ADP ratio, higher expression of nodule senescence genes and higher accumulation of amyloplasts under dehydration conditions. The results suggested that MtCAS31 protects MtLb120-1 from the damage of drought stress. We identified a new function for dehydrins in SNF under drought stress, which enriches the understanding of the molecular mechanism of dehydrins.}, } @article {pmid29868065, year = {2018}, author = {Wu, Q and Tang, Y and Dong, T and Liao, Y and Li, D and He, X and Xu, X}, title = {Additional AM Fungi Inoculation Increase Populus cathayana Intersexual Competition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {607}, pmid = {29868065}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Sex-specific responses to mycorrhiza have been reported in dioecious plant species, but little attention has been paid to the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on competitive ability under intersexual competition. To further address whether this competition is affected by an additional AM fungi supply, Populus cathayana saplings were chosen and subjected to two mycorrhizal treatments [inoculated and non-inoculated (control) with an additional AM fungi Funneliformis mosseae] while growing with the opposite sex for 3 months. Compared with the control, the additional AM fungi inoculation induced P. cathayana saplings to exhibit significant sexual differences in root structure and nutrient uptake (e.g., cortical layer, cross-section area, radius of root tips, and N, K, and Mg content), and enlarged sexual differences in morphology and biomass accumulation (e.g., leaf number increment, shoot height increment, total leaf area, total specific root length, stem dry mass, leaf dry mass, and total dry mass). Meanwhile, inoculated females presented higher values in most of these traits mentioned above than males under intersexual competition. Therefore, we conclude that the intersexual competition can be increased by an additional AM fungi supply, with females gaining more symbiosis-mediated benefits than males.}, } @article {pmid29867876, year = {2018}, author = {Li, X and Tong, W and Wang, L and Rahman, SU and Wei, G and Tao, S}, title = {A Novel Strategy for Detecting Recent Horizontal Gene Transfer and Its Application to Rhizobium Strains.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {973}, pmid = {29867876}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Recent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is crucial for enabling microbes to rapidly adapt to their novel environments without relying upon rare beneficial mutations that arise spontaneously. For several years now, computational approaches have been developed to detect HGT, but they typically lack the sensitivity and ability to detect recent HGT events. Here we introduce a novel strategy, named RecentHGT. The number of genes undergoing recent HGT between two bacterial genomes was estimated by a new algorithm derived from the expectation-maximization algorithm and is based on the theoretical sequence-similarity distribution of orthologous genes. We tested the proposed strategy by applying it to a set of 10 Rhizobium genomes, and detected several large-scale recent HGT events. We also found that our strategy was more sensitive than other available HGT detection methods. These HGT events were mainly mediated by symbiotic plasmids. Our new strategy can provide clear evidence of recent HGT events and thus it brings us closer to the goal of detecting these potentially adaptive evolution processes in rhizobia as well as pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29867872, year = {2018}, author = {Koskey, G and Mburu, SW and Kimiti, JM and Ombori, O and Maingi, JM and Njeru, EM}, title = {Genetic Characterization and Diversity of Rhizobium Isolated From Root Nodules of Mid-Altitude Climbing Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {968}, pmid = {29867872}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The increasing interest in the use of rhizobia as biofertilizers in smallholder agricultural farming systems of the Sub-Saharan Africa has prompted the identification of a large number of tropical rhizobia strains and led to studies on their diversity. Inoculants containing diverse strains of rhizobia have been developed for use as biofertilizers to promote soil fertility and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. In spite of this success, there is paucity of data on rhizobia diversity and genetic variation associated with the newly released and improved mid-altitude climbing (MAC) bean lines (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). In this study, 41 rhizobia isolates were obtained from the root nodules of MAC 13 and MAC 64 climbing beans grown in upper and lower midland agro-ecological zones of Eastern Kenya. Eastern Kenya was chosen because of its high production potential of diverse common bean cultivars. The rhizobia isolates were characterized phenotypically on the basis of colony morphology, growth and biochemical features. Rhizobia diversity from the different regions of Eastern Kenya was determined based on the amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes using Msp I, EcoR I, and Hae III restriction enzymes. Notably, native rhizobia isolates were morphologically diverse and grouped into nine different morphotypes. Correspondingly, the analysis of molecular variance based on restriction digestion of 16S rRNA genes showed that the largest proportion of significant (p < 0.05) genetic variation was distributed within the rhizobia population (97.5%) than among rhizobia populations (1.5%) in the four agro-ecological zones. The high degree of morphological and genotypic diversity of rhizobia within Eastern Kenya shows that the region harbors novel rhizobia strains worth exploiting to obtain strains efficient in biological nitrogen fixation with P. vulgaris L. Genetic sequence analysis of the isolates and testing for their symbiotic properties should be carried out to ascertain their identity and functionality in diverse environments.}, } @article {pmid29867786, year = {2018}, author = {den Blaauwen, T}, title = {Is Longitudinal Division in Rod-Shaped Bacteria a Matter of Swapping Axis?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {822}, pmid = {29867786}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The morphology of bacterial species shows a wealth of variation from star-shaped to spherical and rod- to spiral-shaped, to mention a few. Their mode of growth and division is also very diverse and flexible ranging from polar growth and lateral surface increase to midcell expansion and from perpendicular to longitudinal asymmetric division. Gammaproteobacterial rod-shaped species such as Escherchia coli divide perpendicularly and grow in length, whereas the genetically very similar rod-shaped symbiotic Thiosymbion divide longitudinally, and some species even divide asynchronously while growing in width. The ovococcal Streptococcus pneumoniae also lengthens and divides perpendicularly, yet it is genetically very different from E. coli. Are these differences as dramatic as is suggested by visual inspection, or can they all be achieved by subtle variation in the regulation of the same protein complexes that synthesize the cell envelope? Most bacteria rely on the cytoskeletal polymer FtsZ to organize cell division, but only a subset of species use the actin homolog MreB for length growth, although some of them are morphologically not that different. Poles are usually negative determinant for cell division. Curved cell poles can be inert or active with respect to peptidoglycan synthesis, can localize chemotaxis and other sensing proteins or other bacterial equipment, such as pili, depending on the species. But what is actually the definition of a pole? This review discusses the possible common denominators for growth and division of distinct and similar bacterial species.}, } @article {pmid29866043, year = {2018}, author = {Gagunashvili, AN and Andrésson, ÓS}, title = {Distinctive characters of Nostoc genomes in cyanolichens.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {434}, pmid = {29866043}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genomics ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nostoc/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Organophosphonates/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc are capable of forming symbioses with a wide range of organism, including a diverse assemblage of cyanolichens. Only certain lineages of Nostoc appear to be able to form a close, stable symbiosis, raising the question whether symbiotic competence is determined by specific sets of genes and functionalities.

RESULTS: We present the complete genome sequencing, annotation and analysis of two lichen Nostoc strains. Comparison with other Nostoc genomes allowed identification of genes potentially involved in symbioses with a broad range of partners including lichen mycobionts. The presence of additional genes necessary for symbiotic competence is likely reflected in larger genome sizes of symbiotic Nostoc strains. Some of the identified genes are presumably involved in the initial recognition and establishment of the symbiotic association, while others may confer advantage to cyanobionts during cohabitation with a mycobiont in the lichen symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents the first genome sequencing and genome-scale analysis of lichen-associated Nostoc strains. These data provide insight into the molecular nature of the cyanolichen symbiosis and pinpoint candidate genes for further studies aimed at deciphering the genetic mechanisms behind the symbiotic competence of Nostoc. Since many phylogenetic studies have shown that Nostoc is a polyphyletic group that includes several lineages, this work also provides an improved molecular basis for demarcation of a Nostoc clade with symbiotic competence.}, } @article {pmid29864760, year = {2018}, author = {Restek-Petrović, B and Mayer, N and Grah, M}, title = {Psychodynamic Group Psychoterapy in the Early Intervention Program for Patients with Psychosis (RIPEPP).}, journal = {Psychiatria Danubina}, volume = {30}, number = {Suppl 4}, pages = {198-202}, pmid = {29864760}, issn = {0353-5053}, mesh = {Croatia ; Humans ; *Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic ; *Psychotic Disorders ; *Schizophrenia ; }, abstract = {Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan" in Zagreb, Croatia, offers an outpatient Early intervention programme for patients with psychotic disorders (RIPEPP), consisting of psychoeducational workshops and group psychodynamic psychotherapy. Psychodynamic group psychotherapy presents a unique conceptual format not offered by other types of psychotherapy, and it is especially useful for population of patients with psychotic disorders. During group work, gradual establishment of communication and interactions, and creating a network of relations through experiences of corrective emotional symbiosis, affect the constellation of internal objects and relationships between members, and their restructuring. The function of group psychotherapy is not only to offer relief, support, and elements of education, but also to enable internal changes. Therapeutic factors contributing to the improvement of people with schizophrenia include supportive aspects such as universality, acceptance, cohesion, hope and altruism. This paper contains vignettes from inpatient and outpatient group dynamics.}, } @article {pmid29864429, year = {2018}, author = {Cazzolla Gatti, R and Fath, B and Hordijk, W and Kauffman, S and Ulanowicz, R}, title = {Niche emergence as an autocatalytic process in the evolution of ecosystems.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {454}, number = {}, pages = {110-117}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.05.038}, pmid = {29864429}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Catalysis ; *Ecosystem ; Fossils ; Homeostasis/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The utilisation of the ecospace and the change in diversity through time has been suggested to be due to the effect of niche partitioning, as a global long-term pattern in the fossil record. However, niche partitioning, as a way to coexist, could be a limited means to share the environmental resources and condition during evolutionary time. In fact, a physical limit impedes a high partitioning without a high restriction of the niche's variables. Here, we propose that niche emergence, rather than niche partitioning, is what mostly drives ecological diversity. In particular, we view ecosystems in terms of autocatalytic sets: catalytically closed and self-sustaining reaction (or interaction) networks. We provide some examples of such ecological autocatalytic networks, how this can give rise to an expanding process of niche emergence (both in time and space), and how these networks have evolved over time (so-called evoRAFs). Furthermore, we use the autocatalytic set formalism to show that it can be expected to observe a power-law in the size distribution of extinction events in ecosystems. In short, we elaborate on our earlier argument that new species create new niches, and that biodiversity is therefore an autocatalytic process.}, } @article {pmid29863996, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, YL and Bowman, EA and Massimo, NC and Garber, NP and U'Ren, JM and Sandberg, DC and Arnold, AE}, title = {Using collections data to infer biogeographic, environmental, and host structure in communities of endophytic fungi.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {47-62}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2018.1442078}, pmid = {29863996}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Arizona ; *Biological Specimen Banks ; Endophytes/*classification/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Fungi/*classification/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeography ; Plants/*microbiology ; Universities ; }, abstract = {Biodiversity collections contain a wealth of information encapsulated both in specimens and in their metadata, providing the foundation for diverse studies in fields such as ecology. Yet biodiversity repositories can present a challenge for ecological inferences because collections rarely are structured with ecological questions in mind: collections may be opportunistic in space or time, may focus on particular taxonomic groups, may reflect different collection strategies in different places or times, or may not be exhaustive in terms of retaining every specimen or having similar metadata for each record. In addition to its primary holdings, the Robert L. Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium at the University of Arizona holds a collection of living specimens of fungi isolated from the interior of healthy plants and lichens (i.e., endophytic and endolichenic fungi). Over the past decade, more than 7000 isolates from the southwestern United States were accessioned, including strains from diverse hosts in more than 50 localities across the biotically rich state of Arizona. This collection is distinctive in that metadata and barcode sequences are available for each specimen, many localities have been sampled with consistent methods, and all isolates obtained in surveys have been retained. Here, we use this herbarium collection to examine endophyte community structure in an ecological and evolutionary context. We then artificially restructure the collection to resemble collections more typical of biodiversity repositories, providing a case study for ecological insights that can be gleaned from collections that were not structured explicitly to address ecological questions. Overall, our analyses highlight the relevance of biogeography, climate, hosts, and geographic separation in endophyte community composition. This study showcases the importance of extensive metadata in collections and highlights the utility of biodiversity collections that can yield emergent insights from many surveys to answer ecological questions in mycology, ultimately providing information for understanding and conserving fungal biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid29863994, year = {2018}, author = {Mayers, CG and Bateman, CC and Harrington, TC}, title = {New Meredithiella species from mycangia of Corthylus ambrosia beetles suggest genus-level coadaptation but not species-level coevolution.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {63-78}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1400353}, pmid = {29863994}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Ambrosia ; Americas ; Animals ; Ascomycota/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Microscopy ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {Meredithiella norrisii (Microascales, Ceratocystidaceae) is an ambrosia fungus carried in mycangia of the North American ambrosia beetle, Corthylus punctatissimus. Reports on the identity of the fungal symbionts of other species of Corthylus have been inconsistent. This study tested the hypothesis that Meredithiella spp. are the primary symbionts of Corthylus spp. Cultures and/or internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA barcode sequences of Meredithiella spp. were obtained consistently from beetles and galleries of nine Corthylus spp. The ITS sequences of three putative species of Meredithiella were associated with C. consimilis and C. flagellifer in Mexico and C. calamarius in Costa Rica. The symbiont of C. columbianus in the USA was identified as M. norrisii. Two new Meredithiella spp. are described: M. fracta from C. papulans in Florida and Honduras, and M. guianensis associated with C. crassus and two unidentified Corthylus spp. in French Guyana. The Meredithiella spp. propagate in the mycangia of adult females by thallic-arthric growth, and the ambrosia growth in larval cradles comprises bead-like hyphal swellings or conidiophores, with or without terminal aleurioconidia. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of a combined 18S and 28S nuc rDNA and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) data set demonstrated that Meredithiella is a distinct monophyletic clade within the Ceratocystidaceae, but its phylogenetic placement with regard to the other ambrosial genera in the family remains ambiguous. The mycangia of C. punctatissimus and C. papulans are also compared using light microscopy and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging, revealing that they differ in both size and shape, but these differences may not correlate with different lineages of Meredithiella.}, } @article {pmid29863986, year = {2018}, author = {White, MM and Guàrdia Valle, L and Lichtwardt, RW and Siri, A and Strongman, DB and William, RT and Gause, WJ and Tretter, ED}, title = {New species and emendations of Orphella: taxonomic and phylogenetic reassessment of the genus to establish the Orphellales, for stonefly gut fungi with a twist.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {147-178}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2018.1448198}, pmid = {29863986}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Canada ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fungi/*classification/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Microscopy ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; United States ; }, abstract = {We consolidate and present data for the sexual stages of five North American species of Orphella, fungal members of trichomycetes previously classified within Harpellales. Three species emendations accommodate the newly recognized characters, including not only the coiled zygospores and accompanying cells but also other morphological traits not provided in the original descriptions for O. avalonensis, O. haysii, and O. hiemalis. We describe three new species, Orphella cataloochensis from both the Smoky Mountains in USA and two provinces in Canada as well as O. pseudoavalonensis and O. pseudohiemalis, both from the Cascade Range, in Oregon, USA. Key morphological features for all known species are summarized and reviewed, with illustrations of some of the North American taxa to update and supplement the literature. The entire suite of morphological characters is discussed, with emphasis on species relationships and hypotheses on possible vicariant origins. We also present a molecular phylogeny based on nuc rDNA 18S and 28S, which supports Orphella as a lineage distinct from Harpellales, and we establish a new order, Orphellales, for it. With the combination of sexual features, now known for 12 of the 14 species of Orphella, and new molecular data, the group is now better characterized, facilitating and hopefully also promoting future studies toward a better understanding of their relationships, origins, and evolutionary history as stonefly gut-dwelling fungi.}, } @article {pmid29863457, year = {2018}, author = {Takeshita, K and Tamaki, H and Ohbayashi, T and Meng, XY and Sone, T and Mitani, Y and Peeters, C and Kikuchi, Y and Vandamme, P}, title = {Burkholderia insecticola sp. nov., a gut symbiotic bacterium of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {7}, pages = {2370-2374}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002848}, pmid = {29863457}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Japan ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Ubiquinone/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, motile bacterium, designated strain RPE64[T], was isolated from the gut symbiotic organ of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, collected in Tsukuba, Japan, in 2007. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that this strain belongs to the Burkholderia glathei clade, exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Burkholderia peredens LMG 29314[T] (100 %), Burkholderia turbans LMG 29316[T] (99.52 %) and Burkholderia ptereochthonis LMG 29326[T] (99.04 %). Phylogenomic analyses based on 107 single-copy core genes and Genome blast Distance Phylogeny confirmed B. peredens LMG 29314[T], B. ptereochthonis LMG 29326[T] and several uncultivated, endophytic Burkholderia species as its nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization experiments unambiguously demonstrated that strain RPE64[T] represents a novel species in this lineage. The G+C content of its genome was 63.2 mol%. The isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8 and the predominant fatty acid components were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C17 : 0 cyclo. The absence of nitrate reduction and the capacity to grow at pH 8 clearly differentiated strain RPE64[T] from related Burkholderia species. Based on these genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain RPE64[T] is classified as representing a novel species of the genus Burkholderia, for which the name Burkholderia insecticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RPE64[T] (=NCIMB 15023[T]=JCM 31142[T]).}, } @article {pmid29861133, year = {2018}, author = {Duron, O and Morel, O and Noël, V and Buysse, M and Binetruy, F and Lancelot, R and Loire, E and Ménard, C and Bouchez, O and Vavre, F and Vial, L}, title = {Tick-Bacteria Mutualism Depends on B Vitamin Synthesis Pathways.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {1896-1902.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.038}, pmid = {29861133}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Female ; Francisella/*physiology ; Male ; Ornithodoros/microbiology/*physiology ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vitamin B Complex/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions with microbes have facilitated the radiation of major eukaryotic lineages [1, 2]. Microbes can notably provide biochemical abilities, allowing eukaryotes to adapt to novel habitats or to specialize on particular feeding niches [2-4]. To investigate the importance of mutualisms for the exclusive blood feeding habits of ticks, we focused on a bacterial genus of medical interest, Francisella, which is known to include both virulent intracellular pathogens of vertebrates [5, 6] and maternally inherited symbionts of ticks [7-9]. Through a series of physiological experiments, we identified a Francisella type, F-Om, as an obligate nutritional mutualist in the life cycle of the African soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. Francisella F-Om mutualism synthesizes B vitamins that are deficient in the blood meal of ticks. Indeed, experimental elimination of Francisella F-Om resulted in alteration of tick life history traits and physical abnormalities, deficiencies which were fully restored with an oral supplement of B vitamins. We also show that Francisella F-Om is maternally transmitted to all maturing tick oocytes, suggesting that this heritable symbiont is an essential adaptive element in the life cycle of O. moubata. The Francisella F-Om genome further revealed a recent origin from a Francisella pathogenic life style, as observed in other Francisella symbionts [6, 7, 10]. Though half of its protein-coding sequences are now pseudogenized or lost, Francisella F-Om has kept several B vitamin synthesis pathways intact, confirming the importance of these genes in evolution of its nutritional mutualism with ticks.}, } @article {pmid29860446, year = {2018}, author = {Nishida, H and Suzaki, T}, title = {Two Negative Regulatory Systems of Root Nodule Symbiosis: How Are Symbiotic Benefits and Costs Balanced?.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {9}, pages = {1733-1738}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy102}, pmid = {29860446}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis is one of the best characterized mutualistic relationships of plant-microbe symbiosis, where mainly leguminous species can obtain nitrogen sources fixed by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia through the formation of symbiotic organ root nodules. In order to drive this symbiotic process, plants need to provide carbon sources that should be used for their growth. Therefore, a balance between the benefits of obtaining nitrogen sources and the costs of losing carbon sources needs to be maintained during root nodule symbiosis. Plants have developed at least two negative regulatory systems of root nodule symbiosis. One strategy involves the regulation of nodule number in response to rhizobial infection. For this regulation, a systemic long-range signaling between roots and shoots called autoregulation of nodulation has a pivotal role. Another strategy involves the regulation of root nodule symbiosis in response to nitrate, the most abundant form of nitrogen nutrients in the soil. Recent studies indicate that long-distance signaling is shared between the two strategies, where NIN and NRSYM1, two paralogous RWP-RK transcription factors, can activate the production of nodulation-related CLE peptides in response to different inputs. Here, we provide an overview of such progress in our understanding of molecular mechanisms relevant to the control of the symbiotic balance, including their biological significance.}, } @article {pmid29860283, year = {2018}, author = {Tsai, YM and Chang, A and Kuo, CH}, title = {Horizontal Gene Acquisitions Contributed to Genome Expansion in Insect-Symbiotic Spiroplasma clarkii.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {1526-1532}, pmid = {29860283}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbohydrates/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Genome Size/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Spiroplasma/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome reduction is a recurring theme of symbiont evolution. The genus Spiroplasma contains species that are mostly facultative insect symbionts. The typical genome sizes of those species within the Apis clade were estimated to be ∼1.0-1.4 Mb. Intriguingly, Spiroplasma clarkii was found to have a genome size that is >30% larger than the median of other species within the same clade. To investigate the molecular evolution events that led to the genome expansion of this bacterium, we determined its complete genome sequence and inferred the evolutionary origin of each protein-coding gene based on the phylogenetic distribution of homologs. Among the 1,346 annotated protein-coding genes, 641 were originated from within the Apis clade while 233 were putatively acquired from outside of the clade (including 91 high-confidence candidates). Additionally, 472 were specific to S. clarkii without homologs in the current database (i.e., the origins remained unknown). The acquisition of protein-coding genes, rather than mobile genetic elements, appeared to be a major contributing factor of genome expansion. Notably, >50% of the high-confidence acquired genes are related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism, suggesting that these acquired genes contributed to the expansion of both genome size and metabolic capability. The findings of this work provided an interesting case against the general evolutionary trend observed among symbiotic bacteria and further demonstrated the flexibility of Spiroplasma genomes. For future studies, investigation on the functional integration of these acquired genes, as well as the inference of their contribution to fitness could improve our knowledge of symbiont evolution.}, } @article {pmid29859018, year = {2018}, author = {Parvin, S and Uddin, S and Bourgault, M and Roessner, U and Tausz-Posch, S and Armstrong, R and O'Leary, G and Fitzgerald, G and Tausz, M}, title = {Water availability moderates N2 fixation benefit from elevated [CO2 ]: A 2-year free-air CO2 enrichment study on lentil (Lens culinaris MEDIK.) in a water limited agroecosystem.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {10}, pages = {2418-2434}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13360}, pmid = {29859018}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Crop Production ; Dehydration ; Lens Plant/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Increased biomass and yield of plants grown under elevated [CO2 ] often corresponds to decreased grain N concentration ([N]), diminishing nutritional quality of crops. Legumes through their symbiotic N2 fixation may be better able to maintain biomass [N] and grain [N] under elevated [CO2 ], provided N2 fixation is stimulated by elevated [CO2 ] in line with growth and yield. In Mediterranean-type agroecosystems, N2 fixation may be impaired by drought, and it is unclear whether elevated [CO2 ] stimulation of N2 fixation can overcome this impact in dry years. To address this question, we grew lentil under two [CO2 ] (ambient ~400 ppm and elevated ~550 ppm) levels in a free-air CO2 enrichment facility over two growing seasons sharply contrasting in rainfall. Elevated [CO2 ] stimulated N2 fixation through greater nodule number (+27%), mass (+18%), and specific fixation activity (+17%), and this stimulation was greater in the high than in the low rainfall/dry season. Elevated [CO2 ] depressed grain [N] (-4%) in the dry season. In contrast, grain [N] increased (+3%) in the high rainfall season under elevated [CO2 ], as a consequence of greater post-flowering N2 fixation. Our results suggest that the benefit for N2 fixation from elevated [CO2 ] is high as long as there is enough soil water to continue N2 fixation during grain filling.}, } @article {pmid29859016, year = {2019}, author = {Kafle, A and Garcia, K and Wang, X and Pfeffer, PE and Strahan, GD and Bücking, H}, title = {Nutrient demand and fungal access to resources control the carbon allocation to the symbiotic partners in tripartite interactions of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {270-284}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13359}, pmid = {29859016}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legumes form tripartite interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia, and both root symbionts exchange nutrients against carbon from their host. The carbon costs of these interactions are substantial, but our current understanding of how the host controls its carbon allocation to individual root symbionts is limited. We examined nutrient uptake and carbon allocation in tripartite interactions of Medicago truncatula under different nutrient supply conditions, and when the fungal partner had access to nitrogen, and followed the gene expression of several plant transporters of the Sucrose Uptake Transporter (SUT) and Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET) family. Tripartite interactions led to synergistic growth responses and stimulated the phosphate and nitrogen uptake of the plant. Plant nutrient demand but also fungal access to nutrients played an important role for the carbon transport to different root symbionts, and the plant allocated more carbon to rhizobia under nitrogen demand, but more carbon to the fungal partner when nitrogen was available. These changes in carbon allocation were consistent with changes in the SUT and SWEET expression. Our study provides important insights into how the host plant controls its carbon allocation under different nutrient supply conditions and changes its carbon allocation to different root symbionts to maximize its symbiotic benefits.}, } @article {pmid29858918, year = {2018}, author = {de Moraes Akamine, DT and de Almeida Cozendey da Silva, D and de Lima Câmara, G and Carvalho, TV and Brienzo, M}, title = {Endoglucanase activity in Neoteredo reynei (Bivalvia, Teredinidae) digestive organs and its content.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {84}, pmid = {29858918}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/chemistry/*enzymology ; Cellulase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Gastrointestinal Tract/chemistry/enzymology ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; }, abstract = {Cellulolytic enzymes have been studied in several organisms, such as insects, molluscs and other organisms, which can have enzymes endogenously produced or by symbiotic microorganisms. These enzymes are responsible for breaking down the cellulosic material upon which these organisms feed, probably with the aim of assimilating the sugars and nutrients. As Teredinidae bivalves grown in mangrove trees, this study aimed to measure endo-β-1,4-glucanase activity in different organs and its content. Endo-β-1,4-glucanase activity was detected in different organs of the Teredinidae bivalves, including gills and digestive organs tissues and its content. Moreover, organisms such as teredinids grow up inside wood and this process could perhaps be related to creating growth space. All the endoglucanase extracts, from organs tissues and contents, showed maximum activity at 40 °C. The maximum activity was observed at pH 5.5 for all the extracts, except for intestine tissue, which maximum was at pH 6. Moreover, some of the extracts showed a different profile of the activity as a pH influence, suggesting different distribution of enzymes over the digestive system of the teredinids. The results suggested that the endo-β-1,4-glucanase from Teredinidae could be applied in process that requires low temperature, such as, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, since it presents lower optimum temperature in comparison to enzymes from terrestrial microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid29858203, year = {2018}, author = {Almeida, C and Silva Pereira, C and Gonzalez-Menendez, V and Bills, G and Pascual, J and Sánchez-Hidalgo, M and Kehraus, S and Genilloud, O}, title = {Unveiling Concealed Functions of Endosymbiotic Bacteria Harbored in the Ascomycete Stachylidium bicolor.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {29858203}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Ascomycota/chemistry/growth & development/*physiology ; Burkholderia/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Mycelium/chemistry/physiology ; Peptides, Cyclic/metabolism ; Sphingomonas/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Among the plethora of unusual secondary metabolites isolated from Stachylidium bicolor are the tetrapeptidic endolides A and B. Both tetrapeptides contain 3-(3-furyl)-alanine residues, previously proposed to originate from bacterial metabolism. Inspired by this observation, we aimed to identify the presence of endosymbiotic bacteria in S. bicolor and to discover the true producer of the endolides. The endobacterium Burkholderia contaminans was initially detected by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing from the fungal metagenome and was subsequently isolated. It was confirmed that the tetrapeptides were produced by the axenic B. contaminans only when in latency. Fungal colonies unable to produce conidia and the tetrapeptides were isolated and confirmed to be free of B. contaminans A second endosymbiont identified as related to Sphingomonas leidyi was also isolated. In situ imaging of the mycelium supported an endosymbiotic relationship between S. bicolor and the two endobacteria. Besides the technical novelty, our in situ analyses revealed that the two endobacteria are compartmentalized in defined fungal cells, prevailing mostly in latency when in symbiosis. Within the emerging field of intracellular bacterial symbioses, fungi are the least studied eukaryotic hosts. Our study further supports the Fungi as a valuable model for understanding endobacterial symbioses in eukaryotes.IMPORTANCE The discovery of two bacterial endosymbionts harbored in Stachylidium bicolor mycelium, Burkholderia contaminans and Sphingomonas leidyi, is described here. Production of tetrapeptides inside the mycelium is ensured by B. contaminans, and fungal sporulation is influenced by the endosymbionts. Here, we illustrate the bacterial endosymbiotic origin of secondary metabolites in an Ascomycota host.}, } @article {pmid29857828, year = {2018}, author = {Melo, AFP and Mendonça, MCP and Rosa-Castro, RM}, title = {The protective effects of fermented kefir milk on azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt formation in mice colon.}, journal = {Tissue & cell}, volume = {52}, number = {}, pages = {51-56}, doi = {10.1016/j.tice.2018.03.013}, pmid = {29857828}, issn = {1532-3072}, mesh = {Aberrant Crypt Foci/chemically induced/*pathology ; Animals ; Azoxymethane/toxicity ; Carcinogens/toxicity ; Colorectal Neoplasms/chemically induced/*pathology ; Female ; *Kefir ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; }, abstract = {Kefir is a probiotic fermented milk product produced from grains with a complex composition of bacteria and yeasts that live in a symbiotic association. Anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-mutagenic effects are some of the health beneficial properties of kefir grains. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether regular consumption of kefir milk would be capable of preventing the development of pre-neoplastic lesions induced by azoxymethane (AOM). Aberrant crypt foci were induced in BALB-c mice via 2 subcutaneous injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg) and kefir was administered by daily gavage for 8 weeks (5 ml/kg). Additionally, bacterial growth was monitored in pasteurized and ultra-high temperature (UHT) treated milk to compare different fermentation conditions. Our results showed that UHT milk presented better growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus colonies. The aberrant crypt foci were attenuated by approximately 43% (height) and 20% (width) in the kefir group compared to AOM group, suggesting that kefir treatment may contribute to prevent and control the growth of intestinal neoplastic cells.}, } @article {pmid29857505, year = {2018}, author = {Seifert, GJ}, title = {Fascinating Fasciclins: A Surprisingly Widespread Family of Proteins that Mediate Interactions between the Cell Exterior and the Cell Surface.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29857505}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Multigene Family ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {The Fasciclin 1 (FAS1) domain is an ancient structural motif in extracellular proteins present in all kingdoms of life and particularly abundant in plants. The FAS1 domain accommodates multiple interaction surfaces, enabling it to bind different ligands. The frequently observed tandem FAS1 arrangement might both positively and negatively regulate ligand binding. Additional protein domains and post-translational modifications are partially conserved between different evolutionary clades. Human FAS1 family members are associated with multiple aspects of health and disease. At the cellular level, mammalian FAS1 proteins are implicated in extracellular matrix structure, cell to extracellular matrix and cell to cell adhesion, paracrine signaling, intracellular trafficking and endocytosis. Mammalian FAS1 proteins bind to the integrin family of receptors and to protein and carbohydrate components of the extracellular matrix. FAS1 protein encoding plant genes exert effects on cellulosic and non-cellulosic cell wall structure and cellular signaling but to establish the modes of action for any plant FAS1 protein still requires biochemical experimentation. In fungi, eubacteria and archaea, the differential presence of FAS1 proteins in closely related organisms and isolated biochemical data suggest functions in pathogenicity and symbiosis. The inter-kingdom comparison of FAS1 proteins suggests that molecular mechanisms mediating interactions between cells and their environment may have evolved at the earliest known stages of evolution.}, } @article {pmid29856935, year = {2018}, author = {Choi, J and Summers, W and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Mechanisms Underlying Establishment of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbioses.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {135-160}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-080516-035521}, pmid = {29856935}, issn = {1545-2107}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants engage in mutually beneficial interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the fungus providing phosphate and nitrogen in exchange for fixed carbon. During presymbiosis, both organisms communicate via oligosaccharides and butenolides. The requirement for a rice chitin receptor in symbiosis-induced lateral root development suggests that cell division programs operate in inner root tissues during both AM and nodule symbioses. Furthermore, the identification of transcription factors underpinning arbuscule development and degeneration reemphasized the plant's regulatory dominance in AM symbiosis. Finally, the finding that AM fungi, as lipid auxotrophs, depend on plant fatty acids (FAs) to complete their asexual life cycle revealed the basis for fungal biotrophy. Intriguingly, lipid metabolism is also central for asexual reproduction and interaction of the fungal sister clade, the Mucoromycotina, with endobacteria, indicative of an evolutionarily ancient role for lipids in fungal mutualism.}, } @article {pmid29856506, year = {2018}, author = {Bacon, CW and Hinton, DM and Mitchell, TR and Palencia, ER}, title = {In situ ergot alkaloid detection in three Balansia epichloe-infected grass species.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {125}, number = {4}, pages = {976-985}, doi = {10.1111/jam.13941}, pmid = {29856506}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Endophytes/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Ergot Alkaloids/*chemistry/metabolism ; Hypocreales/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The objectives of this work were to characterize molecularly the morphologically described endophyte Balansia epichloe symbiotic on three grass species, and to determine the in situ production of ergot alkaloids on these three symbiota.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Balansia epichloe symbiotic with smut grass (Sporobolus poiretii), love grass (Eragrostis hirsuta) and lace grass (Eragrostis capillaries, a new host) were characterized using DNA barcoding. Laser ablation electro spray ionization (LAESI)-mass spectrometry was used to detect ergot alkaloids in situ for each symbiotum.

CONCLUSIONS: The three morphologically described symbionts on the three host grasses were indicated as belonging to the species B. epichloe, DNA barcoding suggested they were related although a cryptic species was suggested. LAESI-mass spectrometry showed that ergot alkaloids were produced in vivo in two hosts but not the third although this same symbiotum was related to one of the ergot alkaloid producing symbiota as revealed by the DNA-barcoding procedure.

These results established the accumulation of ergot alkaloids in pot culture by a morpho species although there were variations with each species of grass. Barcoding described divergence among species, but considering its limitation, the suggested existence of cryptic species among this morphospecies requires substantiation by studies that are more rigorous.}, } @article {pmid29856048, year = {2018}, author = {Peterson, BF and Scharf, ME}, title = {Metatranscriptomic Techniques for Identifying Cellulases in Termites and their Symbionts.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1796}, number = {}, pages = {85-101}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7877-9_7}, pmid = {29856048}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulases/*genetics ; Computational Biology ; Dissection ; Isoptera/*enzymology/*genetics ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; RNA/isolation & purification ; Sonication ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Characterizing symbiotic communities, like that of the termite hindgut, is essential for understanding their functionality and capabilities. However, the same complexity that allows termites to digest wood so efficiently also makes them difficult to study. With the expansion in technology and sequencing strategies the feasibility of sequencing entire consortiums or microecosystems is now possible. Here we present an adapted library preparation strategy which allows for the detection and measurement of expressed genes from all three domains of life in a single sample simultaneously. This technique effectively captures the transcriptome contributions by the various members of the consortium regardless of their taxonomic identity, which can then be annotated using custom-built databases and reciprocal BLASTing. Joining the universality of this library prep strategy with the power of bioinformatics allows for the identification of cellulases and other genes encoding carbohydrate active enzymes from complex communities using metatranscriptomics.}, } @article {pmid29855643, year = {2018}, author = {Tung, YC and Chang, WT and Li, S and Wu, JC and Badmeav, V and Ho, CT and Pan, MH}, title = {Citrus peel extracts attenuated obesity and modulated gut microbiota in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {3363-3373}, doi = {10.1039/c7fo02066j}, pmid = {29855643}, issn = {2042-650X}, mesh = {3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes/drug effects/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Citrus/*chemistry ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Obesity/*drug therapy/etiology/metabolism/*microbiology ; PPAR gamma/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/*administration & dosage/chemistry ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) and hydroxyl PMFs (HOPMFs) are mainly found in citrus peel and have shown anti-obesity potential in in vitro and in vivo studies. Herein, we have investigated the anti-obesity effects of two citrus peel extracts obtained via supercritical fluid extraction: PMF A, with a lower content of PMFs and HOPMFs, and PMF B, with a higher content of PMFs and HOPMFs. PMF A and PMF B were administered orally for 16 weeks to mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. The results showed that PMF B decreased the lipid content more statistically significantly (p < 0.05) than PMF A in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, reduced the adipocyte size, decreased the adipose tissue weight and alleviated the total body weight in the HFD mice. Both PMF A and PMF B reduced the adipocyte size in the perigonadal fat by markedly decreasing the levels of lipid droplets (LD) and perilipin 1 protein and Sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) expression. Compared to the case of the HFD group, PMF B altered the gut microbiota by increasing Prevotella and decreasing rc4-4 bacteria. The change in the composition of gut microbiota, the community of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms, may determine the metabolic health and be responsible for the anti-obesity mechanism. Our results indicate that the citrus peel extracts decrease lipid accumulation both in vivo and in vitro and should be considered for the management of overweight and obesity conditions.}, } @article {pmid29855137, year = {2018}, author = {Sun, L and Wang, C and Wang, X and Wang, L}, title = {Morphology Evolution and Control of Mo-polydopamine Coordination Complex from 2D Single Nanopetal to Hierarchical Microflowers.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {14}, number = {27}, pages = {e1800090}, doi = {10.1002/smll.201800090}, pmid = {29855137}, issn = {1613-6829}, abstract = {Controllable synthesis of functional materials is of widespread interest for particle engineering. Such a method has not been widely promoted due to the lack of recognition of the fundamental principle, especially for organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Here, as an entrance, the controllable synthesis of Mo-polydopamine coordination flowers is realized through a facile foaming method, and a 2D nanopetal as the building monomer of the flower is synthesized. Depending on the morphology evolution of Mo-dopamine complex under different conditions, and the surface iterative topology growth of the Mo-polydopamine petal, the reasons of why the Mo-polydopamine complex self-assembles into a flower structure can be attributed to the synergistic effect of multicore symbiosis and structural self-protective growth behaviors. Benefiting from the strong structure stability of the Mo-polydopamine nanopetal, a hybrid structure of MoO2 quantum dot in situ anchoring in the N-doped 2D carbon framework is prepared by direct pyrolysis, which shows a highly reversible performance in application for lithium-ion secondary batteries (LIBs). This work enhances the possibility for the controllable synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials by adjusting the multicore intergrowth and inhibiting the interfacial assembly.}, } @article {pmid29853205, year = {2018}, author = {Gyogluu, C and Jaiswal, SK and Kyei-Boahen, S and Dakora, FD}, title = {Identification and distribution of microsymbionts associated with soybean nodulation in Mozambican soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {506-515}, pmid = {29853205}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Mozambique ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Indigenous soybean rhizobial strains were isolated from root nodules sampled from farmers' fields in Mozambique to determine their identity, distribution and symbiotic relationships. Plant infection assays revealed variable nodulation and symbiotic effectiveness among the 43 bacterial isolates tested. Strains from Ruace generally promoted greater whole-plant growth than the others. 16S rRNA-RFLP analysis of genomic DNA extracted from the rhizobial isolates produced different banding patterns, a clear indication of high bacterial diversity. However, the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) data showed alignment of the isolates with B. elkanii species. The 16S rRNA sequences of representative soybean isolates selected from each 16S rRNA-RFLP cluster showed their relatedness to B. elkanii, as well as to other Bradyrhizobium species. But a concatenated phylogeny of two housekeeping genes (glnII and gyrB) identified the soybean nodulating isolates as Bradyrhizobium, with very close relatedness to B. elkanii. The nifH and nodC sequences also showed that the majority of the test soybean isolates were closely related to B. elkanii, albeit the inconsistency with some isolates. Taken together, these findings suggest that the B. elkanii group are the preferred dominant microsymbiont of soybean grown in Mozambican soils. Furthermore, the distribution of soybean rhizobia in the agricultural soils of Mozambique was found to be markedly influenced by soil pH, followed by the concentrations of plant-available P and Mn. This study suggested that the identified isolates TUTMJM5, TUTMIITA5A and TUTLBC2B can be used as inoculants for increased soybean production in Mozambique.}, } @article {pmid29852856, year = {2019}, author = {Rodrigues, CF and Rodrigues, ME and Henriques, MCR}, title = {Promising Alternative Therapeutics for Oral Candidiasis.}, journal = {Current medicinal chemistry}, volume = {26}, number = {14}, pages = {2515-2528}, doi = {10.2174/0929867325666180601102333}, pmid = {29852856}, issn = {1875-533X}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*therapeutic use ; Biofilms ; Candidiasis, Oral/*drug therapy ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Candida is the main human fungal pathogen causing infections (candidiasis), mostly in the elderly and immunocompromised hosts. Even though Candida spp. is a member of the oral microbiota in symbiosis, in some circumstances, it can cause microbial imbalance leading to dysbiosis, resulting in oral diseases. Alternative therapies are urgently needed to treat oral candidiasis (usually associated to biofilms), as several antifungal drugs' activity has been compromised. This has occurred especially due to an increasing occurrence of drugresistant in Candida spp. strains. The overuse of antifungal medications, systemic toxicity, cross-reactivity with other drugs and a presently low number of drug molecules with antifungal activity, have contributed to important clinical limitations. We undertook a structured search of bibliographic databases (PubMed Central, Elsevier's ScienceDirect, SCOPUS and Springer's SpringerLink) for peer-reviewed research literature using a focused review in the areas of alternatives to manage oral candidiasis. The keywords used were "candidiasis", "oral candidiasis", "biofilm + candida", "alternative treatment", "combination therapy + candida" and the reports from the last 10 to 15 years were considered for this review. This review identified several promising new approaches in the treatment of oral candidiasis: combination anti-Candida therapies, denture cleansers, mouth rinses as alternatives for disrupting candidal biofilms, natural compounds (e.g. honey, probiotics, plant extracts and essential oils) and photodynamic therapy. The findings of this review confirm the importance and the urgency of the development of efficacious therapies for oral candidal infections.}, } @article {pmid29852240, year = {2018}, author = {Cording, S and Medvedovic, J and Lecuyer, E and Aychek, T and Eberl, G}, title = {Control of pathogens and microbiota by innate lymphoid cells.}, journal = {Microbes and infection}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {317-322}, doi = {10.1016/j.micinf.2018.05.003}, pmid = {29852240}, issn = {1769-714X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytokines/immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology ; Lymphocytes/cytology/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Respiratory Mucosa/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the innate counterpart of T cells. Upon infection or injury, ILCs react promptly to direct the developing immune response to the one most adapted to the threat facing the organism. Therefore, ILCs play an important role early in resistance to infection, but also to maintain homeostasis with the symbiotic microbiota following perturbations induced by diet and pathogens. Such roles of ILCs have been best characterized in the intestine and lung, mucosal sites that are exposed to the environment and are therefore colonized with diverse but specific types of microbes. Understanding the dialogue between pathogens, microbiota and ILCs may lead to new strategies to re-inforce immunity for prevention, vaccination and therapy.}, } @article {pmid29851976, year = {2018}, author = {Hürter, AL and Fort, S and Cottaz, S and Hedrich, R and Geiger, D and Roelfsema, MRG}, title = {Mycorrhizal lipochitinoligosaccharides (LCOs) depolarize root hairs of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0198126}, pmid = {29851976}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/drug effects/metabolism ; Chitin/*chemistry ; Fungal Polysaccharides/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*drug effects ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry ; Plant Roots/*cytology/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Root Nodule Symbiosis are symbiotic interactions with a high benefit for plant growth and crop production. Thus, it is of great interest to understand the developmental process of these symbioses in detail. We analysed very early symbiotic responses of Medicago truncatula root hair cells, by stimulation with lipochitinoligosaccharides specific for the induction of nodules (Nod-LCOs), or the interaction with mycorrhiza (Myc-LCOs). Intracellular micro electrodes were used, in combination with Ca2+ sensitive reporter dyes, to study the relations between cytosolic Ca2+ signals and membrane potential changes. We found that sulfated Myc- as well as Nod-LCOs initiate a membrane depolarization, which depends on the chemical composition of these signaling molecules, as well as the genotype of the plants that were studied. A successive application of sulfated Myc-LCOs and Nod-LCOs resulted only in a single transient depolarization, indicating that Myc-LCOs can repress plasma membrane responses to Nod-LCOs. In contrast to current models, the Nod-LCO-induced depolarization precedes changes in the cytosolic Ca2+ level of root hair cells. The Nod-LCO induced membrane depolarization thus is most likely independent of cytosolic Ca2+ signals and nuclear Ca2+ spiking.}, } @article {pmid29851103, year = {2018}, author = {Perotto, S and Daghino, S and Martino, E}, title = {Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and their genomes: another side to the mycorrhizal symbiosis?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1141-1147}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15218}, pmid = {29851103}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endophytes/physiology ; *Genome, Fungal ; Models, Genetic ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1141 I. Introduction 1141 II. The ericoid mycorrhizal lifestyle 1141 III. Lessons from the mycorrhizal fungal genomes 1142 IV. ERM fungi: a discordant voice in the mycorrhizal choir 1143 V. An endophytic niche for ERM fungi 1144 VI. Specialised vs unspecialised mycorrhizal fungi? 1145 VII. Conclusions and perspectives 1145 Acknowledgements 1146 References 1146 SUMMARY: The genome of an organism bears the signature of its lifestyle, and organisms with similar life strategies are expected to share common genomic traits. Indeed, ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi share some genomic traits, such as the expansion of gene families encoding taxon-specific small secreted proteins, which are candidate effectors in the symbiosis, and a very small repertoire of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. A large gene family coding for candidate effectors was also revealed in ascomycetous ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi, but these fungal genomes are characterised by a very high number of genes encoding degradative enzymes, mainly acting on plant cell wall components. We suggest that the genomic signature of ERM fungi mirrors a versatile life strategy, which allows them to occupy several ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid29850548, year = {2018}, author = {Ziganshina, EE and Mohammed, WS and Shagimardanova, EI and Vankov, PY and Gogoleva, NE and Ziganshin, AM}, title = {Fungal, Bacterial, and Archaeal Diversity in the Digestive Tract of Several Beetle Larvae (Coleoptera).}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {6765438}, pmid = {29850548}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Fungi/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Interpretation of how partnerships between fungi, bacteria, archaea, and insects are maintained through the life of the hosts is a big challenge within the framework of symbiosis research. The main goal of this work was to characterize the gut microbiota in larvae of several Coleoptera species using sequencing of the bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Thus, larvae with various food preferences, including Amphimallon solstitiale, Oryctes nasicornis, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Schizotus pectinicornis, Rhagium mordax, and Rhagium inquisitor, were thoroughly investigated in this work. We revealed an association of these beetle species mainly with four bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, as well as with three fungal phyla, Ascomycota, Zygomycota, and Basidiomycota, but microbial communities varied depending on the beetle host, individual organism, and surrounding environment. Moreover, archaea within the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota in the hindgut content of O. nasicornis and A. solstitiale were additionally detected. The identified microbial communities suggest their potential role in the exploitation of various resources, providing nutritional needs for the host organism. These microorganisms can also represent a valuable source of novel metabolic capacities for their application in different biotechnologies.}, } @article {pmid29850475, year = {2018}, author = {Shchennikova, AV and Slugina, MA and Beletsky, AV and Filyushin, MA and Mardanov, AA and Shulga, OA and Kochieva, EZ and Ravin, NV and Skryabin, KG}, title = {The YABBY Genes of Leaf and Leaf-Like Organ Polarity in Leafless Plant Monotropa hypopitys.}, journal = {International journal of genomics}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {7203469}, pmid = {29850475}, issn = {2314-436X}, abstract = {Monotropa hypopitys is a mycoheterotrophic, nonphotosynthetic plant acquiring nutrients from the roots of autotrophic trees through mycorrhizal symbiosis, and, similar to other extant plants, forming asymmetrical lateral organs during development. The members of the YABBY family of transcription factors are important players in the establishment of leaf and leaf-like organ polarity in plants. This is the first report on the identification of YABBY genes in a mycoheterotrophic plant devoid of aboveground vegetative organs. Seven M. hypopitys YABBY members were identified and classified into four clades. By structural analysis of putative encoded proteins, we confirmed the presence of YABBY-defining conserved domains and identified novel clade-specific motifs. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses of different tissues revealed MhyYABBY transcriptional patterns, which were similar to those of orthologous YABBY genes from other angiosperms. These data should contribute to the understanding of the role of the YABBY genes in the regulation of developmental and physiological processes in achlorophyllous leafless plants.}, } @article {pmid29848439, year = {2018}, author = {Hamada, M and Schröder, K and Bathia, J and Kürn, U and Fraune, S and Khalturina, M and Khalturin, K and Shinzato, C and Satoh, N and Bosch, TC}, title = {Metabolic co-dependence drives the evolutionarily ancient Hydra-Chlorella symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {29848439}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Chlorella/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Darkness ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome ; Hydra/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Sugars/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many multicellular organisms rely on symbiotic associations for support of metabolic activity, protection, or energy. Understanding the mechanisms involved in controlling such interactions remains a major challenge. In an unbiased approach we identified key players that control the symbiosis between Hydra viridissima and its photosynthetic symbiont Chlorella sp. A99. We discovered significant up-regulation of Hydra genes encoding a phosphate transporter and glutamine synthetase suggesting regulated nutrition supply between host and symbionts. Interestingly, supplementing the medium with glutamine temporarily supports in vitro growth of the otherwise obligate symbiotic Chlorella, indicating loss of autonomy and dependence on the host. Genome sequencing of Chlorella sp. A99 revealed a large number of amino acid transporters and a degenerated nitrate assimilation pathway, presumably as consequence of the adaptation to the host environment. Our observations portray ancient symbiotic interactions as a codependent partnership in which exchange of nutrients appears to be the primary driving force.}, } @article {pmid29847572, year = {2018}, author = {de Bakker, DM and Webb, AE and van den Bogaart, LA and van Heuven, SMAC and Meesters, EH and van Duyl, FC}, title = {Quantification of chemical and mechanical bioerosion rates of six Caribbean excavating sponge species found on the coral reefs of Curaçao.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0197824}, pmid = {29847572}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coral Reefs ; Curacao ; *Mechanical Phenomena ; Porifera/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Excavating sponges are among the most important macro-eroders of carbonate substrates in marine systems. Their capacity to remove substantial amounts of limestone makes these animals significant players that can unbalance the reef carbonate budget of tropical coral reefs. Nevertheless, excavating sponges are currently rarely incorporated in standardized surveys and experimental work is often restricted to a few species. Here were provide chemical and mechanical bioerosion rates for the six excavating sponge species most commonly found on the shallow reef of Curaçao (southern Caribbean): Cliona caribbaea, C. aprica, C. delitrix, C. amplicavata, Siphonodictyon brevitubulatum and Suberea flavolivescens. Chemical, mechanical and total bioerosion rates were estimated based on various experimental approaches applied to sponge infested limestone cores. Conventional standing incubation techniques were shown to strongly influence the chemical dissolution signal. Final rates, based on the change in alkalinity of the incubation water, declined significantly as a function of incubation time. This effect was mitigated by the use of a flow-through incubation system. Additionally, we found that mechanically removed carbonate fragments collected in the flow-through chamber (1 h) as well as a long-term collection method (1 wk) generally yielded comparable estimates for the capacity of these sponges to mechanically remove substratum. Observed interspecific variation could evidently be linked to the adopted boring strategy (i.e. gallery-forming, cavity-forming or network-working) and presence or absence of symbiotic zooxanthellae. Notably, a clear diurnal pattern was found only in species that harbour a dense photosymbiotic community. In these species chemical erosion was substantially higher during the day. Overall, the sum of individually acquired chemical and mechanical erosion using flow-through incubations was comparable to rates obtained gravimetrically. Such consistency is a first in this field of research. These findings support the much needed confirmation that, depending on the scientific demand, the different approaches presented here can be implemented concurrently as standardized methods.}, } @article {pmid29845625, year = {2018}, author = {Sachs, JL and Quides, KW and Wendlandt, CE}, title = {Legumes versus rhizobia: a model for ongoing conflict in symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {219}, number = {4}, pages = {1199-1206}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15222}, pmid = {29845625}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1199 I. Introduction 1199 II. Selecting beneficial symbionts: one problem, many solutions 1200 III. Control and conflict over legume nodulation 1201 IV. Control and conflict over nodule growth and senescence 1204 V. Conclusion 1204 Acknowledgements 1205 References 1205 SUMMARY: The legume-rhizobia association is a powerful model of the limits of host control over microbes. Legumes regulate the formation of root nodules that house nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and adjust investment into nodule development and growth. However, the range of fitness outcomes in these traits reveals intense conflicts of interest between the partners. New work that we review and synthesize here shows that legumes have evolved varied mechanisms of control over symbionts, but that host control is often subverted by rhizobia. An outcome of this conflict is that both legumes and rhizobia have evolved numerous traits that can improve their own short-term fitness in this interaction, but little evidence exists for any net improvement in the joint trait of nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid29844191, year = {2018}, author = {Kleiner, M and Dong, X and Hinzke, T and Wippler, J and Thorson, E and Mayer, B and Strous, M}, title = {Metaproteomics method to determine carbon sources and assimilation pathways of species in microbial communities.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {24}, pages = {E5576-E5584}, pmid = {29844191}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/metabolism ; Environmental Microbiology ; Isotope Labeling/methods ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; Software ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Measurements of stable carbon isotope ratios (δ[13]C) are widely used in biology to address questions regarding food sources and metabolic pathways used by organisms. The analysis of these so-called stable isotope fingerprints (SIFs) for microbes involved in biogeochemical cycling and microbiota of plants and animals has led to major discoveries in environmental microbiology. Currently, obtaining SIFs for microbial communities is challenging as the available methods either only provide low taxonomic resolution, such as the use of lipid biomarkers, or are limited in throughput, such as nanoscale secondary ion MS imaging of single cells. Here we present "direct protein-SIF" and the Calis-p software package (https://sourceforge.net/projects/calis-p/), which enable high-throughput measurements of accurate δ[13]C values for individual species within a microbial community. We benchmark the method using 20 pure culture microorganisms and show that the method reproducibly provides SIF values consistent with gold-standard bulk measurements performed with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Using mock community samples, we demonstrate that SIF values can also be obtained for individual species within a microbial community. Finally, a case study of an obligate bacteria-animal symbiosis shows that direct protein-SIF confirms previous physiological hypotheses and can provide unexpected insights into the symbionts' metabolism. This confirms the usefulness of this approach to accurately determine δ[13]C values for different species in microbial community samples.}, } @article {pmid29808579, year = {2018}, author = {Melo Clavijo, J and Donath, A and Serôdio, J and Christa, G}, title = {Polymorphic adaptations in metazoans to establish and maintain photosymbioses.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {2006-2020}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12430}, pmid = {29808579}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Amphibians/*physiology ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Invertebrates/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses are common throughout the animal kingdom. Rather unusual is a form of symbiosis, photosymbiosis, where animals are symbiotic with photoautotrophic organisms. Photosymbiosis is found among sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, molluscs, ascidians and even some amphibians. Generally the animal host harbours a phototrophic partner, usually a cyanobacteria or a unicellular alga. An exception to this rule is found in some sea slugs, which only retain the chloroplasts of the algal food source and maintain them photosynthetically active in their own cytosol - a phenomenon called 'functional kleptoplasty'. Research has focused largely on the biodiversity of photosymbiotic species across a range of taxa. However, many questions with regard to the evolution of the ability to establish and maintain a photosymbiosis are still unanswered. To date, attempts to understand genome adaptations which could potentially lead to the evolution of photosymbioses have only been performed in cnidarians. This knowledge gap for other systems is mainly due to a lack of genetic information, both for non-symbiotic and symbiotic species. Considering non-photosymbiotic species is, however, important to understand the factors that make symbiotic species so unique. Herein we provide an overview of the diversity of photosymbioses across the animal kingdom and discuss potential scenarios for the evolution of this association in different lineages. We stress that the evolution of photosymbiosis is probably based on genome adaptations, which (i) lead to recognition of the symbiont to establish the symbiosis, and (ii) are needed to maintain the symbiosis. We hope to stimulate research involving sequencing the genomes of various key taxa to increase the genomic resources needed to understand the most fundamental question: how have animals evolved the ability to establish and maintain a photosymbiosis?}, } @article {pmid29808565, year = {2018}, author = {Hrček, J and Parker, BJ and McLean, AHC and Simon, JC and Mann, CM and Godfray, HCJ}, title = {Hosts do not simply outsource pathogen resistance to protective symbionts.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13512}, pmid = {29808565}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Microbial symbionts commonly protect their hosts from natural enemies, but it is unclear how protective symbionts influence the evolution of host immunity to pathogens. One possibility is that 'extrinsic' protection provided by symbionts allows hosts to reduce investment in 'intrinsic' immunological resistance mechanisms. We tested this idea using pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and their facultative bacterial symbionts that increase host resistance to the fungal pathogen Pandora neoaphidis. The pea aphid taxon is composed of multiple host plant associated populations called biotypes, which harbor characteristic communities of symbionts. We found that biotypes that more frequently carry protective symbionts have higher, rather than lower, levels of intrinsic resistance. Within a biotype there was no difference in intrinsic resistance between clones that did and did not carry a protective symbiont. The host plant on which an aphid feeds did not strongly influence intrinsic resistance. We describe a simple conceptual model of the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic resistance and suggest that our results may be explained by selection favoring both the acquisition of protective symbionts and enhanced intrinsic resistance in habitats with high pathogen pressure. Such combined protection is potentially more robust than intrinsic resistance alone.}, } @article {pmid29808564, year = {2019}, author = {Ferguson, BJ and Mens, C and Hastwell, AH and Zhang, M and Su, H and Jones, CH and Chu, X and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Legume nodulation: The host controls the party.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {41-51}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13348}, pmid = {29808564}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Global demand to increase food production and simultaneously reduce synthetic nitrogen fertilizer inputs in agriculture are underpinning the need to intensify the use of legume crops. The symbiotic relationship that legume plants establish with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria is central to their advantage. This plant-microbe interaction results in newly developed root organs, called nodules, where the rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into forms of nitrogen the plant can use. However, the process of developing and maintaining nodules is resource intensive; hence, the plant tightly controls the number of nodules forming. A variety of molecular mechanisms are used to regulate nodule numbers under both favourable and stressful growing conditions, enabling the plant to conserve resources and optimize development in response to a range of circumstances. Using genetic and genomic approaches, many components acting in the regulation of nodulation have now been identified. Discovering and functionally characterizing these components can provide genetic targets and polymorphic markers that aid in the selection of superior legume cultivars and rhizobia strains that benefit agricultural sustainability and food security. This review addresses recent findings in nodulation control, presents detailed models of the molecular mechanisms driving these processes, and identifies gaps in these processes that are not yet fully explained.}, } @article {pmid29807578, year = {2018}, author = {Druzhinin, VG and Matskova, LV and Fucic, A}, title = {Induction and modulation of genotoxicity by the bacteriome in mammals.}, journal = {Mutation research. Reviews in mutation research}, volume = {776}, number = {}, pages = {70-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.mrrev.2018.04.002}, pmid = {29807578}, issn = {1388-2139}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics/toxicity ; DNA Damage ; Escherichia coli/genetics/pathogenicity ; Helicobacter pylori/genetics/pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics/*physiology ; Mutagens/*toxicity ; Mutation ; Neoplasms/etiology/genetics/microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics/pathogenicity ; Salmonella typhi/genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The living environment is a multilevel physical and chemical xenobiotic complex with potentially mutagenic effects and health risks. In addition to inorganic exposures, all terrestrial and aquatic living forms interact with microbiota as selectively established communities of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Along these lines, the human organism should then be considered a "meta-organism" with complex dynamics of interaction between the environment and microbiome. Bacterial communities within the microbiome, bacteriome, by its mass, symbiotic or competitive position and composition are in a fragile balance with the host organisms and have a crucial impact on their homeostasis. Bacteriome taxonomic composition is modulated by age, sex and host genetic profile and may be changed by adverse environmental exposures and life style factors such as diet or drug intake. A changed and/or misbalanced bacteriome has genotoxic potential with significant impact on the pathogenesis of acute, chronic and neoplastic diseases in the host organism. Bacteria may produce genotoxins, express a variety of pathways in which they generate free radicals or affect DNA repair causing genome damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, modulate immune response and launch carcinogenesis in the host organism. Future investigations should focus on the interplay between exposure to xenobiotics and bacteriome composition, immunomodulation caused by misbalanced bacteriome, impact of the environment on bacteriome composition in children and its lifelong effect on health risks.}, } @article {pmid29807223, year = {2018}, author = {Singhvi, G and Girdhar, V and Patil, S and Gupta, G and Hansbro, PM and Dua, K}, title = {Microbiome as therapeutics in vesicular delivery.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {104}, number = {}, pages = {738-741}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2018.05.099}, pmid = {29807223}, issn = {1950-6007}, mesh = {Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/methods ; Drug Carriers/chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems/*methods ; Humans ; Liposomes/*chemistry ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Microbiome refers to an ecological community of various symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms, which plays a crucial role in human health and disease. The concept of novel drug delivery systems particularly the vesicular drug delivery systems is gaining massive attention. This emerging technology has started expanding its horizons in the area of microbiome delivery. This mini-review highlights the role of vesicular systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes etc. as a host/carrier for the microbiome in targeting various diseases. This review will be of interest for both the biological and formulation scientists to understand and explore the new vistas in the area of vesicular delivery system as carrier for microbiome delivery.}, } @article {pmid29807159, year = {2018}, author = {Vanhatalo, A and Blackwell, JR and L'Heureux, JE and Williams, DW and Smith, A and van der Giezen, M and Winyard, PG and Kelly, J and Jones, AM}, title = {Nitrate-responsive oral microbiome modulates nitric oxide homeostasis and blood pressure in humans.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {124}, number = {}, pages = {21-30}, pmid = {29807159}, issn = {1873-4596}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; MR/M008924/1//Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K003240/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bacteria/drug effects ; *Blood Pressure ; Cross-Over Studies ; *Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Middle Aged ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrites/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Retrospective Studies ; Saliva/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Vascular Stiffness/*drug effects/physiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Imbalances in the oral microbial community have been associated with reduced cardiovascular and metabolic health. A possible mechanism linking the oral microbiota to health is the nitrate (NO3[-])-nitrite (NO2[-])-nitric oxide (NO) pathway, which relies on oral bacteria to reduce NO3[-] to NO2[-]. NO (generated from both NO2[-] and L-arginine) regulates vascular endothelial function and therefore blood pressure (BP). By sequencing bacterial 16S rRNA genes we examined the relationships between the oral microbiome and physiological indices of NO bioavailability and possible changes in these variables following 10 days of NO3[-] (12 mmol/d) and placebo supplementation in young (18-22 yrs) and old (70-79 yrs) normotensive humans (n = 18). NO3[-] supplementation altered the salivary microbiome compared to placebo by increasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (+225%) and decreasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (-46%; P < 0.05). After NO3[-]supplementation the relative abundances of Rothia (+127%) and Neisseria (+351%) were greater, and Prevotella (-60%) and Veillonella (-65%) were lower than in the placebo condition (all P < 0.05). NO3[-] supplementation increased plasma concentration of NO2[-] and reduced systemic blood pressure in old (70-79 yrs), but not young (18-22 yrs), participants. High abundances of Rothia and Neisseria and low abundances of Prevotella and Veillonella were correlated with greater increases in plasma [NO2[-]] in response to NO3[-] supplementation. The current findings indicate that the oral microbiome is malleable to change with increased dietary intake of inorganic NO3[-], and that diet-induced changes in the oral microbial community are related to indices of NO homeostasis and vascular health in vivo.}, } @article {pmid29806959, year = {2018}, author = {Lanfranco, L and Fiorilli, V and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Partner communication and role of nutrients in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1031-1046}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15230}, pmid = {29806959}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {727929//European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme/International ; //German Federal Ministry of Education and Research/International ; //University of Torino/International ; GU1423/1-1//Emmy Noether program/International ; SFB924 (project B03)//DFG/International ; }, mesh = {Metabolome ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plants/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1031 I. Introduction 1031 II. Interkingdom communication enabling symbiosis 1032 III. Nutritional and regulatory roles for key metabolites in the AM symbiosis 1035 IV. The plant-fungus genotype combination determines the outcome of the symbiosis 1039 V. Perspectives 1039 Acknowledgements 1041 References 1041 SUMMARY: The evolutionary and ecological success of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis relies on an efficient and multifactorial communication system for partner recognition, and on a fine-tuned and reciprocal metabolic regulation of each symbiont to reach an optimal functional integration. Besides strigolactones, N-acetylglucosamine-derivatives released by the plant were recently suggested to trigger fungal reprogramming at the pre-contact stage. Remarkably, N-acetylglucosamine-based diffusible molecules also are symbiotic signals produced by AM fungi (AMF) and clues on the mechanisms of their perception by the plant are emerging. AMF genomes and transcriptomes contain a battery of putative effector genes that may have conserved and AMF- or host plant-specific functions. Nutrient exchange is the key feature of AM symbiosis. A mechanism of phosphate transport inside fungal hyphae has been suggested, and first insights into the regulatory mechanisms of root colonization in accordance with nutrient transfer and status were obtained. The recent discovery of the dependency of AMF on fatty acid transfer from the host has offered a convincing explanation for their obligate biotrophism. Novel studies highlighted the importance of plant and fungal genotypes for the outcome of the symbiosis. These findings open new perspectives for fundamental research and application of AMF in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid29806574, year = {2018}, author = {Varaldi, J and Lepetit, D}, title = {Deciphering the behaviour manipulation imposed by a virus on its parasitoid host: insights from a dual transcriptomic approach.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {145}, number = {14}, pages = {1979-1989}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182018000835}, pmid = {29806574}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Abdomen/virology ; Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Drosophila/parasitology ; Female ; Head/virology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Viruses/*genetics ; Larva/parasitology ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Wasps/*genetics/virology ; }, abstract = {Behaviour manipulation imposed by parasites is a fascinating phenomenon but our understanding is still very limited. We studied the interaction between a virus and the parasitic wasp Leptopilina boulardi that attacks Drosophila larvae. Wasps usually refrain to lay eggs into already parasitized hosts (superparasitism avoidance). On the contrary, females infected by the Leptopilina boulardi Filamentous Virus (LbFV) are much more incline to superparasitize. Interestingly, the host-sharing induced by this behaviour modification leads to the horizontal transmission of the virus, thus increasing its fitness at the expense of that of the wasp. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this behaviour manipulation, we studied by RNA sequencing the meta-transcriptome of LbFV and the parasitic wasp both in the abdomen and in the head. We found that the abundance of viral transcripts was independent of the wasp strain but strongly differed between tissues. Based on the tissue pattern of expression, we identified a set of 20 viral genes putatively involved in the manipulation process. In addition, we identified a set of wasp genes deregulated in the presence of the virus either in the abdomen or in the head, including genes with annotations suggesting involvement in behaviour (i.e. Potassium-channel protein). This dataset gives new insights into the behaviour manipulation and on the genetic basis of superparasitism in parasitoids.}, } @article {pmid29803733, year = {2018}, author = {Abronina, PI and Zinin, AI and Romashin, DA and Tereshina, VV and Chizhov, AO and Kononov, LO}, title = {Application of a Janus aglycon with dual function in benzyl-free synthesis of spacer-armed oligosaccharide fragments of polysaccharides from rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense sp7.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {464}, number = {}, pages = {28-43}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2018.05.005}, pmid = {29803733}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*chemistry ; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic ; Glycosylation ; Oligosaccharides/*chemical synthesis/*chemistry ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Both protective and pre-spacer features of 4-(2-chloroethoxy)phenyl (CEP) aglycon, which belong to the class of Janus aglycons, were engaged in a benzyl-free synthesis of oligosaccharide fragments of polysaccharides from rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense sp7. Introduction of α-1,4-linked L-fucose residue was performed using 3,4-di-O-benzoyl-2-O-triisopropylsilyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidate in excellent stereoselectivity and high yields. The obtained deprotected di-, tri- and tetrasaccharides contain 4-(2-azidoethoxy)phenyl (AEP) spacer aglycon, which allows straightforward preparation of neoglycoconjugates that will be used for the study of the role of lipopolysaccharide of rhizobacterium A. brasilense sp7 in plant-microbe symbiosis. The intermediate protected oligosaccharide building blocks with cleavable CEP/AEP aglycons have a strong potential for further application in the synthesis of more complex oligosaccharides.}, } @article {pmid29803609, year = {2018}, author = {Msaddak, A and Rejili, M and Durán, D and Rey, L and Palacios, JM and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Mars, M}, title = {Definition of two new symbiovars, sv. lupini and sv. mediterranense, within the genera Bradyrhizobium and Phyllobacterium efficiently nodulating Lupinus micranthus in Tunisia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {487-493}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.04.004}, pmid = {29803609}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phyllobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {In this study, a polyphasic approach was used to analyze three representative strains (LmiH4, LmiM2 and LmiT21) from a collection of six previously described strains isolated in Tunisia from root nodules of Lupinus micranthus. The phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated rrs, recA and glnII genes showed that strain LmiH4 had 100% concatenated gene sequence identity with the type strain Bradyrhizobium retamae Ro19T. Similarly, strain LmiM2 shared 100% concatenated gene sequence identity with the species Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3T. However, strain LmiT21 showed an identical concatenated gene sequence with reference strain Phyllobacterium sophorae CCBAU03422T. The recA-glnII concatenated protein-coding genes used produced incongruent phylogenies compared with 16S rDNA phylogeny. The nodC gene analysis showed that the strains were phylogenetically divergent to the Bradyrhizobium symbiovars defined to date, and represented two new symbiovars. Plant infection analysis revealed that the three strains showed moderate host range and symbiotic specificities. Based on their symbiotic characteristics, we propose that the three strains isolated from Lupinus micranthus nodules belong to two new symbiovars, with the first denominated lupini within the two species Bradyrhizobium valentinum (type strain LmiM2) and B. retamae (type strain LmiH4), and the second denominated mediterranense within the species P. sophorae (type strain LmiT21).}, } @article {pmid29803165, year = {2018}, author = {Biscéré, T and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Grover, R and Gilbert, A and Rottier, C and Wright, A and Payri, C and Houlbrèque, F}, title = {Enhancement of coral calcification via the interplay of nickel and urease.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {247-256}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.05.013}, pmid = {29803165}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Autotrophic Processes/drug effects ; Calcification, Physiologic/*drug effects ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Electron Transport/drug effects ; Heterotrophic Processes/drug effects ; Nickel/*toxicity ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Urease/*metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Corals are the main reef builders through the formation of calcium carbonate skeletons. In recent decades, coral calcification has however been impacted by many global (climate change) and local stressors (such as destructive fishing practices and changes in water quality). In this particular context, it is crucial to identify and characterize the various factors that promote coral calcification. We thus performed the first investigation of the effect of nickel and urea enrichment on the calcification rates of three coral species. These two factors may indeed interact with calcification through the activity of urease, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to produce inorganic carbon and ammonia that are involved in the calcification process. Experiments were performed with the asymbiotic coral Dendrophyllia arbuscula and, to further assess if urea and/or nickel has an indirect link with calcification through photosynthesis, results were compared with those obtained with two symbiotic corals, Acropora muricata and Pocillopora damicornis, for which we also measured photosynthetic rates. Ambient and enriched nickel (0.12 and 3.50 μg L[-1]) combined with ambient and enriched urea concentrations (0.26 and 5.52 μmol L[-1]) were tested during 4 weeks in aquaria. We demonstrate in the study that a nickel enrichment alone or combined with a urea enrichment strongly stimulated urea uptake rates of the three tested species. In addition, this enhancement of urea uptake and hydrolysis significantly increased the long-term calcification rates (i.e. growth) of the three coral species investigated, inducing a 1.49-fold to 1.64-fold increase, respectively for D. arbuscula and P. damicornis. Since calcification was greatly enhanced by nickel in the asymbiotic coral species - i.e. in absence of photosynthesis - we concluded that the effect of increased urease activity on calcification was mainly direct. According to our results, it can be assumed that corals in some fringing reefs, benefiting from seawater enriched in nickel may have advantages and might be able to use urea more effectively as a carbon and nitrogen source. It can also be suggested that urea, for which hotspots are regularly measured in reef waters may alleviate the negative consequences of thermal stress on corals.}, } @article {pmid29803114, year = {2018}, author = {Wilcox, JJS and Hollocher, H}, title = {Unprecedented Symbiont Eukaryote Diversity Is Governed by Internal Trophic Webs in a Wild Non-Human Primate.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {169}, number = {3}, pages = {307-320}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2018.03.001}, pmid = {29803114}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biota ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Feces/*parasitology ; Food Chain ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Macaca fascicularis/*parasitology ; Metagenomics ; Parasites/*classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Research on host-associated microbiomes has highlighted major divisions between the role of eukaryotes in free-living and symbiont systems. These trends call into question the relevance of macroecological processes to host-associated systems and the relative importance of parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism as evolutionary patterns across the domains of life. However, it is unclear as to whether these apparent differences reflect biological realities or methodologies in community characterization: free-living eukaryotes tend to be characterized using metabarcoding whereas symbiont eukaryotes are typically characterized with microscopy. Here, we utilize an Illumina high-throughput metabarcoding approach to characterize the diversity and dynamics of eukaryotic symbiont communities in the feces of a wild non-human primate, Macaca fascicularis, revealing functionally and taxonomically diverse communities of eukaryotes hitherto unreported from any vertebrate. Importantly, community assembly was consistent with top-down and bottom-up trophic food web dynamics, highlighting the applicability of macroecological principles to these communities. Ultimately, our findings highlight vertebrate-associated symbiont communities of the gut that are much more similar to free-living systems than previously realized. Additionally, our results support a role for symbiosis as a major recurrent life strategy among eukaryotes and highlight the potential for vertebrates to host vast reservoirs of unexplored eukaryotic diversity.}, } @article {pmid29803043, year = {2018}, author = {Turnau, K and Jędrzejczyk, R and Domka, A and Anielska, T and Piwowarczyk, R}, title = {Expansion of a holoparasitic plant, Orobanche lutea (Orobanchaceae), in post-industrial areas - a possible Zn effect.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {639}, number = {}, pages = {714-724}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.189}, pmid = {29803043}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Industrial Waste ; Metals, Heavy ; Orobanchaceae/physiology ; Orobanche/*physiology ; Poland ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Zinc/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Industrial waste sites, although extremely difficult to revegetate, may be suitable for rare plants such as Orobanche lutea that are condemned to extinction due to their low ability to compete in their natural habitats. The presence of potentially toxic metals seems to facilitate the expansion of O. lutea (parasitizing Medicago falcata) and was found in hundreds of exemplars per m[2] in south Poland and potentially could spread to other localities, causing yield loss in agricultural plants. The main aim of this research was to characterize the interaction between the host, the parasitic plant and symbiotic microbes under different metal concentration in the substratum. The parasite was more common on more polluted soil and when the parasite was connected to the host, potentially toxic metals (Zn, Cd and Pb) were shared by both plants; thus, the content and concentration of these potentially toxic metals in the host were lower than those in plants without parasites. While the performance index (PIABS) of photosynthesis was lower in parasitized plants on control soil, on metal-rich industrial waste soil, PIABS was higher in the parasitized plants than in cases where M. falcata grew alone. This result suggests a role of this parasite in toxicity attenuation, although the biomass of parasitized plants and those growing on polluted sites was lower than that in control sites. In the described case, mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscular richness in M. falcata were even more highly developed on polluted sites than in control ones. The data presented support the hypothesis that the expansion of O. lutea is most likely supported by the increased concentrations of Zn and Cd in areas connected with industrial waste. Although, on industrial wastes the host yield was decreased in the parasite presence, its photosynthetic capacity was even increased.}, } @article {pmid29801772, year = {2018}, author = {Tobias, NJ and Shi, YM and Bode, HB}, title = {Refining the Natural Product Repertoire in Entomopathogenic Bacteria.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {833-840}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2018.04.007}, pmid = {29801772}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/immunology/*microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Members of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are capable of producing a huge repertoire of different natural products to support a complex life cycle involving insect pathogenesis and nematode symbiosis. Many of the natural products have direct functions, specifically targeting different facets of nematode development or the insect immune system. These adaptations have allowed the bacteria to thrive in a unique environment and become highly efficient, versatile insect pathogens. Here, we discuss the ecological advantages afforded to the bacteria by the acquisition of the gene clusters responsible for producing this repertoire of chemical compounds.}, } @article {pmid29801436, year = {2018}, author = {Opatovsky, I and Santos-Garcia, D and Ruan, Z and Lahav, T and Ofaim, S and Mouton, L and Barbe, V and Jiang, J and Zchori-Fein, E and Freilich, S}, title = {Modeling trophic dependencies and exchanges among insects' bacterial symbionts in a host-simulated environment.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {402}, pmid = {29801436}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Environment ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Individual organisms are linked to their communities and ecosystems via metabolic activities. Metabolic exchanges and co-dependencies have long been suggested to have a pivotal role in determining community structure. In phloem-feeding insects such metabolic interactions with bacteria enable complementation of their deprived nutrition. The phloem-feeding whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) harbors an obligatory symbiotic bacterium, as well as varying combinations of facultative symbionts. This well-defined bacterial community in B. tabaci serves here as a case study for a comprehensive and systematic survey of metabolic interactions within the bacterial community and their associations with documented occurrences of bacterial combinations. We first reconstructed the metabolic networks of five common B. tabaci symbionts genera (Portiera, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Cardinium and Wolbachia), and then used network analysis approaches to predict: (1) species-specific metabolic capacities in a simulated bacteriocyte-like environment; (2) metabolic capacities of the corresponding species' combinations, and (3) dependencies of each species on different media components.

RESULTS: The predictions for metabolic capacities of the symbionts in the host environment were in general agreement with previously reported genome analyses, each focused on the single-species level. The analysis suggests several previously un-reported routes for complementary interactions and estimated the dependency of each symbiont in specific host metabolites. No clear association was detected between metabolic co-dependencies and co-occurrence patterns.

CONCLUSIONS: The analysis generated predictions for testable hypotheses of metabolic exchanges and co-dependencies in bacterial communities and by crossing them with co-occurrence profiles, contextualized interaction patterns into a wider ecological perspective.}, } @article {pmid29801220, year = {2018}, author = {Corinaldesi, C and Marcellini, F and Nepote, E and Damiani, E and Danovaro, R}, title = {Impact of inorganic UV filters contained in sunscreen products on tropical stony corals (Acropora spp.).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {637-638}, number = {}, pages = {1279-1285}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.108}, pmid = {29801220}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Seawater ; Sunscreening Agents/analysis/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Titanium ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Most coral reefs worldwide are threatened by natural and anthropogenic impacts. Among them, the release in seawater of sunscreen products commonly used by tourists to protect their skin against the harmful effects of UV radiations, can affect tropical corals causing extensive and rapid bleaching. The use of inorganic (mineral) filters, such as zinc and titanium dioxide (ZnO and TiO2) is increasing due to their broad UV protection spectrum and their limited penetration into the skin. In the present study, we evaluated through laboratory experiments, the impact on the corals Acropora spp. of uncoated ZnO nanoparticles and two modified forms of TiO2 (Eusolex®T2000 and Optisol™), largely utilized in commercial sunscreens together with organic filters. Our results demonstrate that uncoated ZnO induces a severe and fast coral bleaching due to the alteration of the symbiosis between coral and zooxanthellae. ZnO also directly affects symbiotic dinoflagellates and stimulates microbial enrichment in the seawater surrounding the corals. Conversely, Eusolex® T2000 and Optisol™ caused minimal alterations in the symbiotic interactions and did not cause bleaching, resulting more eco-compatible than ZnO. Due to the vulnerability of coral reefs to anthropogenic impacts and global change, our findings underline the need to accurately evaluate the effect of commercial filters on stony corals to minimize or avoid this additional source of impact to the life and resilience ability of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid29799607, year = {2018}, author = {Saddique, MAB and Ali, Z and Khan, AS and Rana, IA and Shamsi, IH}, title = {Inoculation with the endophyte Piriformospora indica significantly affects mechanisms involved in osmotic stress in rice.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {34}, pmid = {29799607}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rice is a drought susceptible crop. A symbiotic association between rice and mycorrhizal fungi could effectively protect the plant against sudden or frequent episodes of drought. Due to its extensive network of hyphae, the endophyte is able to deeply explore the soil and transfer water and minerals to the plant, some of them playing an important role in mitigating the effects of drought stress. Moreover, the endophyte could modify the expression of drought responsive genes and regulate antioxidants.

RESULTS: Three rice genotypes, WC-297 (drought tolerant), Caawa (moderately drought tolerant) and IR-64 (drought susceptible) were inoculated with Piriformospora indica (P. indica), a dynamic endophyte. After 20 days of co-cultivation with the fungus, rice seedlings were subjected to 15% polyethylene glycol-6000 induced osmotic stress. P. indica improved the growth of rice seedlings. It alleviated the destructive effects of the applied osmotic stress. This symbiotic association increased seedling biomass, the uptake of phosphorus and zinc, which are functional elements for rice growth under drought stress. It boosted the chlorophyll fluorescence, increased the production of proline and improved the total antioxidant capacity in leaves. The association with the endophyte also up regulated the activity of the Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), which is critical for the synthesis of proline.

CONCLUSION: A mycorrhizal association between P. indica and rice seedlings provided a multifaceted protection to rice plants under osmotic stress (- 0.295 MPa).}, } @article {pmid29797769, year = {2018}, author = {Beinart, RA and Rotterová, J and Čepička, I and Gast, RJ and Edgcomb, VP}, title = {The genome of an endosymbiotic methanogen is very similar to those of its free-living relatives.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {2538-2551}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14279}, pmid = {29797769}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Composition ; Ciliophora/*microbiology ; Euryarchaeota/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The methanogenic endosymbionts of anaerobic protists represent the only known intracellular archaea, yet, almost nothing is known about genome structure and content in these lineages. Here, an almost complete genome of an intracellular Methanobacterium species was assembled from a metagenome derived from its host ciliate, a Heterometopus species. Phylogenomic analysis showed that the endosymbiont was closely related to free-living Methanobacterium isolates, and when compared with the genomes of free-living Methanobacterium, the endosymbiont did not show significant reduction in genome size or GC content. Additionally, the Methanobacterium endosymbiont genome shared the majority of its genes with its closest relative, though it did also contain unique genes possibly involved in interactions with the host via membrane-associated proteins, the removal of toxic by-products from host metabolism and the production of small signalling molecules. Though anaerobic ciliates have been shown to transmit their endosymbionts to daughter cells during division, the results presented here could suggest that the endosymbiotic Methanobacterium did not experience significant genetic isolation or drift and/or that this lineage was only recently acquired. Altogether, comparative genomic analysis identified genes potentially involved in the establishment and maintenance of the symbiosis, as well provided insight into the genomic consequences for an intracellular archaeum.}, } @article {pmid29797656, year = {2020}, author = {Leybourne, DJ and Bos, JIB and Valentine, TA and Karley, AJ}, title = {The price of protection: a defensive endosymbiont impairs nymph growth in the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {69-85}, pmid = {29797656}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Genotype ; Nymph/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Scotland ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts have enabled aphids to adapt to a range of stressors, but their effects in many aphid species remain to be established. The bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus), is an important pest of cereals worldwide and has been reported to form symbiotic associations with Serratia symbiotica and Sitobion miscanthi L-type symbiont endobacteria, although the resulting aphid phenotype has not been described. This study presents the first report of R. padi infection with the facultative bacterial endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa. Individuals of R. padi were sampled from populations in Eastern Scotland, UK, and shown to represent seven R. padi genotypes based on the size of polymorphic microsatellite markers; two of these genotypes harbored H. defensa. In parasitism assays, survival of H. defensa-infected nymphs following attack by the parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani (Viereck) was 5 fold higher than for uninfected nymphs. Aphid genotype was a major determinant of aphid performance on two Hordeum species, a modern cultivar of barley H. vulgare and a wild relative H. spontaneum, although aphids infected with H. defensa showed 16% lower nymph mass gain on the partially resistant wild relative compared with uninfected individuals. These findings suggest that deploying resistance traits in barley will favor the fittest R. padi genotypes, but symbiont-infected individuals will be favored when parasitoids are abundant, although these aphids will not achieve optimal performance on a poor quality host plant.}, } @article {pmid29797399, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, F and Wu, X and Xu, L and Guo, S and Chen, G and Zhang, X}, title = {Repressed Beauveria bassiana infections in Delia antiqua due to associated microbiota.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, pages = {170-179}, doi = {10.1002/ps.5084}, pmid = {29797399}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/*physiology ; China ; Diptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Pest Control, Biological ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects form both mutualistic and antagonistic relationships with microbes, and some antagonistic microbes have been used as biocontrol agents (BCAs) in pest management. Contextually, BCAs may be inhibited by beneficial insect symbionts, which can become potential barriers to entomopathogen-dependent pest biocontrol. Using the symbioses formed by one devastating dipteran pest, Delia antiqua, and its associated microbes as a model system, we sought to determine whether the antagonistic interaction between BCAs and microbial symbionts could affect the outcome of entomopathogen-dependent pest biocontrol.

RESULTS: The result showed that in contrast to non-axenic D. antiqua larvae, i.e., onion maggots, axenic larvae lost resistance to the entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana, and the re-inoculation of microbiota increased the resistance of axenic larvae to B. bassiana. Furthermore, bacteria frequently isolated from larvae, including Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter ludwigii, Pseudomonas protegens, Serratia plymuthica, Sphingobacterium faecium and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, suppressed B. bassiana conidia germination and hyphal growth, and the re-inoculation of specific individual bacteria enhanced the resistance of axenic larvae to B. bassiana.

CONCLUSION: Bacteria associated with larvae, including C. freundii, E. ludwigii, P. protegens, S. plymuthica, S. faecium and S. maltophilia, can inhibit B. bassiana infection. Removing the microbiota can suppress larval resistance to fungal infection. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid29795571, year = {2018}, author = {Haney, S and Konen, J and Marcus, AI and Bazhenov, M}, title = {The complex ecosystem in non small cell lung cancer invasion.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {e1006131}, pmid = {29795571}, issn = {1553-7358}, support = {R01 CA194027/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U54 CA209992/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA201744/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HL134632/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DC012943/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Computational Biology ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Lung Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; *Models, Biological ; Signal Transduction ; *Tumor Microenvironment/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many tumors are characterized by genetic instability, producing an assortment of genetic variants of tumor cells called subclones. These tumors and their surrounding environments form complex multi-cellular ecosystems, where subclones compete for resources and cooperate to perform multiple tasks, including cancer invasion. Our recent empirical studies revealed existence of such distinct phenotypes of cancer cells, leaders and followers, in lung cancer. These two cellular subclones exchange a complex array of extracellular signals demonstrating a symbiotic relationship at the cellular level. Here, we develop a computational model of the microenvironment of the lung cancer ecosystem to explore how the interactions between subclones can advance or inhibit invasion. We found that, due to the complexity of the ecosystem, invasion may have very different dynamics characterized by the different levels of aggressiveness. By altering the signaling environment, we could alter the ecological relationship between the cell types and the overall ecosystem development. Competition between leader and follower cell populations (defined by the limited amount of resources), positive feedback within the leader cell population (controlled by the focal adhesion kinase and fibronectin signaling), and impact of the follower cells to the leaders (represented by yet undetermined proliferation signal) all had major effects on the outcome of the collective dynamics. Specifically, our analysis revealed a class of tumors (defined by the strengths of fibronectin signaling and competition) that are particularly sensitive to manipulations of the signaling environment. These tumors can undergo irreversible changes to the tumor ecosystem that outlast the manipulations of feedbacks and have a profound impact on invasive potential. Our study predicts a complex division of labor between cancer cell subclones and suggests new treatment strategies targeting signaling within the tumor ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid29795552, year = {2018}, author = {Jiao, J and Ni, M and Zhang, B and Zhang, Z and Young, JPW and Chan, TF and Chen, WX and Lam, HM and Tian, CF}, title = {Coordinated regulation of core and accessory genes in the multipartite genome of Sinorhizobium fredii.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {e1007428}, pmid = {29795552}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Replicon/genetics ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Prokaryotes benefit from having accessory genes, but it is unclear how accessory genes can be linked with the core regulatory network when developing adaptations to new niches. Here we determined hierarchical core/accessory subsets in the multipartite pangenome (composed of genes from the chromosome, chromid and plasmids) of the soybean microsymbiont Sinorhizobium fredii by comparing twelve Sinorhizobium genomes. Transcriptomes of two S. fredii strains at mid-log and stationary growth phases and in symbiotic conditions were obtained. The average level of gene expression, variation of expression between different conditions, and gene connectivity within the co-expression network were positively correlated with the gene conservation level from strain-specific accessory genes to genus core. Condition-dependent transcriptomes exhibited adaptive transcriptional changes in pangenome subsets shared by the two strains, while strain-dependent transcriptomes were enriched with accessory genes on the chromid. Proportionally more chromid genes than plasmid genes were co-expressed with chromosomal genes, while plasmid genes had a higher within-replicon connectivity in expression than chromid ones. However, key nitrogen fixation genes on the symbiosis plasmid were characterized by high connectivity in both within- and between-replicon analyses. Among those genes with host-specific upregulation patterns, chromosomal znu and mdt operons, encoding a conserved high-affinity zinc transporter and an accessory multi-drug efflux system, respectively, were experimentally demonstrated to be involved in host-specific symbiotic adaptation. These findings highlight the importance of integrative regulation of hierarchical core/accessory components in the multipartite genome of bacteria during niche adaptation and in shaping the prokaryotic pangenome in the long run.}, } @article {pmid29795447, year = {2018}, author = {Shu, L and Zhang, B and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Burkholderia bacteria use chemotaxis to find social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum hosts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {1977-1993}, pmid = {29795447}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {P41 GM103422/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Burkholderia/*physiology ; *Chemotaxis ; Dictyostelium/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A key question in cooperation is how to find the right partners and maintain cooperative relationships. This is especially challenging for horizontally transferred bacterial symbionts where relationships must be repeatedly established anew. In the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum farming symbiosis, two species of inedible Burkholderia bacteria (Burkholderia agricolaris and Burkholderia hayleyella) initiate stable associations with naive D. discoideum hosts and cause carriage of additional bacterial species. However, it is not clear how the association between D. discoideum and its carried Burkholderia is formed and maintained. Here, we look at precisely how Burkholderia finds its hosts. We found that both species of Burkholderia clones isolated from D. discoideum, but not other tested Burkholderia species, are attracted to D. discoideum supernatant, showing that the association is not simply the result of haphazard engulfment by the amoebas. The chemotactic responses are affected by both partners. We find evidence that B. hayleyella prefers D. discoideum clones that currently or previously carried Burkholderia, while B. agricolaris does not show this preference. However, we find no evidence of Burkholderia preference for their own host clone or for other hosts of their own species. We further investigate the chemical differences of D. discoideum supernatants that might explain the patterns shown above using a mass spectrometry based metabolomics approach. These results show that these bacterial symbionts are able to preferentially find and to some extent choose their unicellular partners. In addition, this study also suggests that bacteria can actively search for and target phagocytic cells, which may help us better understand how bacteria interact with immune systems.}, } @article {pmid29794220, year = {2018}, author = {Griesmann, M and Chang, Y and Liu, X and Song, Y and Haberer, G and Crook, MB and Billault-Penneteau, B and Lauressergues, D and Keller, J and Imanishi, L and Roswanjaya, YP and Kohlen, W and Pujic, P and Battenberg, K and Alloisio, N and Liang, Y and Hilhorst, H and Salgado, MG and Hocher, V and Gherbi, H and Svistoonoff, S and Doyle, JJ and He, S and Xu, Y and Xu, S and Qu, J and Gao, Q and Fang, X and Fu, Y and Normand, P and Berry, AM and Wall, LG and Ané, JM and Pawlowski, K and Xu, X and Yang, H and Spannagl, M and Mayer, KFX and Wong, GK and Parniske, M and Delaux, PM and Cheng, S}, title = {Phylogenomics reveals multiple losses of nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {361}, number = {6398}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/science.aat1743}, pmid = {29794220}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Fabaceae/classification/genetics/microbiology ; Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The root nodule symbiosis of plants with nitrogen-fixing bacteria affects global nitrogen cycles and food production but is restricted to a subset of genera within a single clade of flowering plants. To explore the genetic basis for this scattered occurrence, we sequenced the genomes of 10 plant species covering the diversity of nodule morphotypes, bacterial symbionts, and infection strategies. In a genome-wide comparative analysis of a total of 37 plant species, we discovered signatures of multiple independent loss-of-function events in the indispensable symbiotic regulator NODULE INCEPTION in 10 of 13 genomes of nonnodulating species within this clade. The discovery that multiple independent losses shaped the present-day distribution of nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis in plants reveals a phylogenetically wider distribution in evolutionary history and a so-far-underestimated selection pressure against this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29790908, year = {2018}, author = {Helgadóttir, Á and Suter, M and Gylfadóttir, TÓ and Kristjánsdóttir, TA and Lüscher, A}, title = {Grass-legume mixtures sustain strong yield advantage over monocultures under cool maritime growing conditions over a period of 5 years.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {122}, number = {2}, pages = {337-348}, pmid = {29790908}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; *Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Fabaceae/*growth & development ; Festuca/growth & development ; Grassland ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phleum/growth & development ; Poaceae/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Trifolium/growth & development ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Grassland-based livestock systems in cool maritime regions are commonly dominated by grass monocultures receiving relatively high levels of fertilizer. The current study investigated whether grass-legume mixtures can improve the productivity, resource efficiency and robustness of yield persistence of cultivated grassland under extreme growing conditions over a period of 5 years.

METHODS: Monocultures and mixtures of two grasses (Phleum pratense and Festuca pratensis) and two legumes (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens), one of which was fast establishing and the other temporally persistent, were sown in a field trial. Relative abundance of the four species in the mixtures was systematically varied at sowing. The plots were maintained under three N levels (20, 70 and 220 kg N ha-1 year-1) and harvested twice a year for five consecutive years. Yields of individual species and interactions between all species present were modelled to estimate the species diversity effects.

KEY RESULTS: Significant positive diversity effects in all individual years and averaged across the 5 years were observed. Across years, the four-species equi-proportional mixture was 71 % (N20: 20 kg N ha-1 year-1) and 51 % (N70: 70 kg N ha-1 year-1) more productive than the average of monocultures, and the highest yielding mixture was 36 % (N20) and 39 % (N70) more productive than the highest yielding monoculture. Importantly, diversity effects were also evident at low relative abundances of either species group, grasses or legumes in the mixture. Mixtures suppressed weeds significantly better than monocultures consistently during the course of the experiment at all N levels.

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that even in the less productive agricultural systems in the cool maritime regions grass-legume mixtures can contribute substantially and persistently to a more sustainable agriculture. Positive grass-legume interactions suggest that symbiotic N2 fixation is maintained even under these marginal conditions, provided that adapted species and cultivars are used.}, } @article {pmid29789469, year = {2018}, author = {Muggia, L and Grube, M}, title = {Fungal Diversity in Lichens: From Extremotolerance to Interactions with Algae.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29789469}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {Lichen symbioses develop long-living thallus structures even in the harshest environments on Earth. These structures are also habitats for many other microscopic organisms, including other fungi, which vary in their specificity and interaction with the whole symbiotic system. This contribution reviews the recent progress regarding the understanding of the lichen-inhabiting fungi that are achieved by multiphasic approaches (culturing, microscopy, and sequencing). The lichen mycobiome comprises a more or less specific pool of species that can develop symptoms on their hosts, a generalist environmental pool, and a pool of transient species. Typically, the fungal classes Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Sordariomycetes, and Tremellomycetes predominate the associated fungal communities. While symptomatic lichenicolous fungi belong to lichen-forming lineages, many of the other fungi that are found have close relatives that are known from different ecological niches, including both plant and animal pathogens, and rock colonizers. A significant fraction of yet unnamed melanized ('black') fungi belong to the classes Chaethothyriomycetes and Dothideomycetes. These lineages tolerate the stressful conditions and harsh environments that affect their hosts, and therefore are interpreted as extremotolerant fungi. Some of these taxa can also form lichen-like associations with the algae of the lichen system when they are enforced to symbiosis by co-culturing assays.}, } @article {pmid29789359, year = {2018}, author = {Spraker, JE and Wiemann, P and Baccile, JA and Venkatesh, N and Schumacher, J and Schroeder, FC and Sanchez, LM and Keller, NP}, title = {Conserved Responses in a War of Small Molecules between a Plant-Pathogenic Bacterium and Fungi.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29789359}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K12 HD055892/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM112739/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008500/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Botrytis/genetics/*physiology ; Fusarium/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Ralstonia solanacearum/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Xanthones/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Small-molecule signaling is one major mode of communication within the polymicrobial consortium of soil and rhizosphere. While microbial secondary metabolite (SM) production and responses of individual species have been studied extensively, little is known about potentially conserved roles of SM signals in multilayered symbiotic or antagonistic relationships. Here, we characterize the SM-mediated interaction between the plant-pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum and the two plant-pathogenic fungi Fusarium fujikuroi and Botrytis cinerea We show that cellular differentiation and SM biosynthesis in F. fujikuroi are induced by the bacterially produced lipopeptide ralsolamycin (synonym ralstonin A). In particular, fungal bikaverin production is induced and preferentially accumulates in fungal survival spores (chlamydospores) only when exposed to supernatants of ralsolamycin-producing strains of R. solanacearum Although inactivation of bikaverin biosynthesis moderately increases chlamydospore invasion by R. solanacearum, we show that other metabolites such as beauvericin are also induced by ralsolamycin and contribute to suppression of R. solanacearum growth in vitro Based on our findings that bikaverin antagonizes R. solanacearum and that ralsolamycin induces bikaverin biosynthesis in F. fujikuroi, we asked whether other bikaverin-producing fungi show similar responses to ralsolamycin. Examining a strain of B. cinerea that horizontally acquired the bikaverin gene cluster from Fusarium, we found that ralsolamycin induced bikaverin biosynthesis in this fungus. Our results suggest that conservation of microbial SM responses across distantly related fungi may arise from horizontal transfer of protective gene clusters that are activated by conserved regulatory cues, e.g., a bacterial lipopeptide, providing consistent fitness advantages in dynamic polymicrobial networks.IMPORTANCE Bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous neighbors in many environments, including the rhizosphere. Many of these organisms are notorious as economically devastating plant pathogens, but little is known about how they communicate chemically with each other. Here, we uncover a conserved antagonistic communication between the widespread bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum and plant-pathogenic fungi from disparate genera, Fusarium and Botrytis Exposure of Fusarium fujikuroi to the bacterial lipopeptide ralsolamycin resulted in production of the antibacterial metabolite bikaverin specifically in fungal tissues invaded by Ralstonia Remarkably, ralsolamycin induction of bikaverin was conserved in a Botrytis cinerea isolate carrying a horizontally transferred bikaverin gene cluster. These results indicate that horizontally transferred gene clusters may carry regulatory prompts that contribute to conserved fitness functions in polymicrobial environments.}, } @article {pmid29788835, year = {2018}, author = {Punjabi, PP}, title = {A symbiosis and a beginning.}, journal = {Perfusion}, volume = {33}, number = {1_suppl}, pages = {6}, doi = {10.1177/0267659118767314}, pmid = {29788835}, issn = {1477-111X}, mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid29788823, year = {2020}, author = {Louzada, ER and Ribeiro, SML}, title = {Synbiotic supplementation, systemic inflammation, and symptoms of brain disorders in elders: A secondary study from a randomized clinical trial.}, journal = {Nutritional neuroscience}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {93-100}, doi = {10.1080/1028415X.2018.1477349}, pmid = {29788823}, issn = {1476-8305}, mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)/blood ; Body Composition ; Brain Diseases/*epidemiology ; Brazil/epidemiology ; Cognition ; Depression/epidemiology ; Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation/*epidemiology ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Male ; Mental Status and Dementia Tests ; Placebos ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood ; }, abstract = {Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of a symbiotic substance on symptoms of brain disorders and inflammation in the elderly.Methods: Forty-nine elders, both genders, assigned into two groups: S-group (synbiotic) and P-group (placebo). Evaluations at the beginning and at the end of the experiment: geriatric depressive symptoms scale-15 (GDS-15); mini-mental status examination (MMSE); % of body fat (%fat); serum IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10; serum diamine-oxidase (DAO), intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (IFABP), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Results: Both groups had reduced their %Fat, TNF-α, and DAO. The IL-6, GDS-15, and MMSE were increased in both groups. IL-10 was significantly increased only in the S-group, and LPS was significantly reduced only in the P-group. The GDS-15final was negatively explained by DAO, IL-10, TNF-α, %Fat, being woman, and being allocated in the P-group. The variables that positively explained the GDS-15final were the IL-6, the IFABP, and the LPS. MMSEfinal was positively associated with the IL-10, DAO, being woman, and being allocated in the P-group; and negatively associated with IL-6, TNF-α, %Fat, IFABP, and LPS.Conclusions: We found weak effects of symbiotic on depressive symptoms and more optimistic effects on cognition in apparently healthy elderly. Other studies, with individuals diagnosed with depressive morbidity or cognitive decline, are needed.Registration of Clinical Studies - REBEC (RBR-6qr9xx)].}, } @article {pmid29788417, year = {2018}, author = {Patil, RD and Ellison, MJ and Wolff, SM and Shearer, C and Wright, AM and Cockrum, RR and Austin, KJ and Lamberson, WR and Cammack, KM and Conant, GC}, title = {Poor feed efficiency in sheep is associated with several structural abnormalities in the community metabolic network of their ruminal microbes.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {96}, number = {6}, pages = {2113-2124}, pmid = {29788417}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animals ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metagenomics ; Rumen/metabolism/microbiology ; Sheep/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ruminant animals have a symbiotic relationship with the microorganisms in their rumens. In this relationship, rumen microbes efficiently degrade complex plant-derived compounds into smaller digestible compounds, a process that is very likely associated with host animal feed efficiency. The resulting simpler metabolites can then be absorbed by the host and converted into other compounds by host enzymes. We used a microbial community metabolic network inferred from shotgun metagenomics data to assess how this metabolic system differs between animals that are able to turn ingested feedstuffs into body mass with high efficiency and those that are not. We conducted shotgun sequencing of microbial DNA from the rumen contents of 16 sheep that differed in their residual feed intake (RFI), a measure of feed efficiency. Metagenomic reads from each sheep were mapped onto a database-derived microbial metabolic network, which was linked to the sheep metabolic network by interface metabolites (metabolites transferred from microbes to host). No single enzyme was identified as being significantly different in abundance between the low and high RFI animals (P > 0.05, Wilcoxon test). However, when we analyzed the metabolic network as a whole, we found several differences between efficient and inefficient animals. Microbes from low RFI (efficient) animals use a suite of enzymes closer in network space to the host's reactions than those of the high RFI (inefficient) animals. Similarly, low RFI animals have microbial metabolic networks that, on average, contain reactions using shorter carbon chains than do those of high RFI animals, potentially allowing the host animals to extract metabolites more efficiently. Finally, the efficient animals possess community networks with greater Shannon diversity among their enzymes than do inefficient ones. Thus, our system approach to the ruminal microbiome identified differences attributable to feed efficiency in the structure of the microbes' community metabolic network that were undetected at the level of individual microbial taxa or reactions.}, } @article {pmid29788056, year = {2018}, author = {Miquel Guennoc, C and Rose, C and Labbé, J and Deveau, A}, title = {Bacterial biofilm formation on the hyphae of ectomycorrhizal fungi: a widespread ability under controls?.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy093}, pmid = {29788056}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ascomycota/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Hyphae/*metabolism ; Laccaria/*metabolism ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/genetics/*growth & development ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi establish symbiosis with roots of most trees of boreal and temperate ecosystems and are major drivers of nutrient fluxes between trees and the soil. ECM fungi constantly interact with bacteria all along their life cycle and the extended networks of hyphae provide a habitat for complex bacterial communities. Despite the important effects these bacteria can have on the growth and activities of ECM fungi, little is known about the mechanisms by which these microorganisms interact. Here we investigated the ability of bacteria to form biofilm on the hyphae of the ECM fungus Laccaria bicolor. We showed that the ability to form biofilms on the hyphae of the ECM fungus is widely shared among soil bacteria. Conversely, some fungi, belonging to the Ascomycete class, did not allow for the formation of bacterial biofilms on their surfaces. The formation of biofilms was also modulated by the presence of tree roots and ectomycorrhizae, suggesting that biofilm formation does not occur randomly in soil but that it is regulated by several biotic factors. In addition, our study demonstrated that the formation of bacterial biofilm on fungal hyphae relies on the production of networks of filaments made of extracellular DNA.}, } @article {pmid29786864, year = {2018}, author = {Cavazos, BR and Bohner, TF and Donald, ML and Sneck, ME and Shadow, A and Omacini, M and Rudgers, JA and Miller, TEX}, title = {Testing the roles of vertical transmission and drought stress in the prevalence of heritable fungal endophytes in annual grass populations.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {219}, number = {3}, pages = {1075-1084}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15215}, pmid = {29786864}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Droughts ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Lolium/microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Beneficial inherited symbionts are expected to reach high prevalence in host populations, yet many are observed at intermediate prevalence. Theory predicts that a balance of fitness benefits and efficiency of vertical transmission may interact to stabilize intermediate prevalence. We established populations of grass hosts (Lolium multiflorum) that varied in prevalence of a heritable fungal endophyte (Epichloё occultans), allowing us to infer long-term equilibria by tracking change in prevalence over one generation. We manipulated an environmental stressor (elevated precipitation), which we hypothesized would reduce the fitness benefits of symbiosis, and altered the efficiency of vertical transmission by replacing endophyte-positive seeds with endophyte-free seeds. Endophytes and elevated precipitation both increased host fitness, but symbiont effects were not stronger in the drier treatment, suggesting that benefits of symbiosis were unrelated to drought tolerance. Reduced transmission suppressed the inferred equilibrium prevalence from 42.6% to 11.7%. However, elevated precipitation did not modify prevalence, consistent with the result that it did not modify fitness benefits. Our results demonstrate that failed transmission can influence the prevalence of heritable microbes and that intermediate prevalence can be a stable equilibrium due to forces that allow symbionts to increase (fitness benefits) but prevent them from reaching fixation (failed transmission).}, } @article {pmid29785628, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, J and Yang, M and Song, Y and Acevedo, FE and Hoover, K and Zeng, R and Felton, GW}, title = {Gut-Associated Bacteria of Helicoverpa zea Indirectly Trigger Plant Defenses in Maize.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {7-8}, pages = {690-699}, pmid = {29785628}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Herbivory ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Moths/growth & development/*microbiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; Zea mays/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Insect-associated microbes can contribute to the physiological and ecological functions of insects. Despite a few examples in beetles and piercing-sucking insects, the varied mechanisms of how insect-associated bacteria mediate plant-insect interactions are still not fully understood. The polyphagous herbivore Helicoverpa zea is a major agricultural pest that harbors certain microbes in their digestive systems. Enterobacter ludwigii is one of the gut-associated bacteria identified from field-collected caterpillars, and it has been shown to indirectly induce defenses in the dicot plant tomato by triggering the biosynthesis of salivary elicitors, but there are no clear mechanisms to show how gut microbes alter these salivary cues and how a different host plant responds to these inducible elicitors. Here, we conducted a series of assays to determine whether infection with E. ludwigii affects H. zea larval growth, immunity, and salivary responses and thus influences induced defenses of maize to herbivory. Inoculating lab-reared caterpillars with E. ludwigii, did not significantly affect the growth of caterpillars, but two immunity-related genes glucose oxidase (GOX) and lysozyme (LYZ) were more highly expressed in both salivary glands and midguts compared with MgCl2 solution-treated caterpillars. Oral elicitors were evaluated for their role in triggering maize-specific defense responses. Our results show that saliva and its main component protein glucose oxidase (GOX) from E. ludwigii-inoculated caterpillars played a role in inducing maize anti-herbivore responses. These findings provide a novel concept that introducing bacteria to an herbivore may be an important approach to pest control through alteration of insect immune responses and thus indirect induction of plant resistance.}, } @article {pmid29785349, year = {2018}, author = {Soenens, A and Imperial, J}, title = {Novel, non-symbiotic isolates of Neorhizobium from a dryland agricultural soil.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4776}, pmid = {29785349}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Semi-selective enrichment, followed by PCR screening, resulted in the successful direct isolation of fast-growing Rhizobia from a dryland agricultural soil. Over 50% of these isolates belong to the genus Neorhizobium, as concluded from partial rpoB and near-complete 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Further genotypic and genomic analysis of five representative isolates confirmed that they form a coherent group within Neorhizobium, closer to N. galegae than to the remaining Neorhizobium species, but clearly differentiated from the former, and constituting at least one new genomospecies within Neorhizobium. All the isolates lacked nod and nif symbiotic genes but contained a repABC replication/maintenance region, characteristic of rhizobial plasmids, within large contigs from their draft genome sequences. These repABC sequences were related, but not identical, to repABC sequences found in symbiotic plasmids from N. galegae, suggesting that the non-symbiotic isolates have the potential to harbor symbiotic plasmids. This is the first report of non-symbiotic members of Neorhizobium from soil.}, } @article {pmid29785041, year = {2018}, author = {Li, X and He, X and Hou, L and Ren, Y and Wang, S and Su, F}, title = {Dark septate endophytes isolated from a xerophyte plant promote the growth of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus under drought condition.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {7896}, pmid = {29785041}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Droughts ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*growth & development ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seedlings/*growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dark septate endophytes (DSE) may facilitate plant growth and stress tolerance in stressful ecosystems. However, little is known about the response of plants to non-host DSE fungi isolated from other plants, especially under drought condition. This study aimed to seek and apply non-host DSE to evaluate their growth promoting effects in a desert species, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, under drought condition. Nine DSE strains isolated from a super-xerophytic shrub, Gymnocarpos przewalskii, were identified and used as the non-host DSE. And DSE colonization rate (30-35%) and species composition in the roots of G. przewalskii were first reported. The inoculation results showed that all DSE strains were effective colonizers and formed a strain-dependent symbiosis with A. mongolicus. Specifically, one Darksidea strain, Knufia sp., and Leptosphaeria sp. increased the total biomass of A. mongolicus compared to non-inoculated plants. Two Paraconiothyrium strains, Phialophora sp., and Embellisia chlamydospora exhibited significantly positive effects on plant branch number, potassium and calcium content. Two Paraconiothyrium and Darksidea strains particularly decreased plant biomass or element content. As A. mongolicus plays important roles in fixing moving sand and delay desertification, the ability of certain DSE strains to promote desert plant growth indicates their potential use for vegetation recovery in arid environments.}, } @article {pmid29783718, year = {2018}, author = {Lardi, M and Pessi, G}, title = {Functional Genomics Approaches to Studying Symbioses between Legumes and Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia.}, journal = {High-throughput}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29783718}, issn = {2571-5135}, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation gives legumes a pronounced growth advantage in nitrogen-deprived soils and is of considerable ecological and economic interest. In exchange for reduced atmospheric nitrogen, typically given to the plant in the form of amides or ureides, the legume provides nitrogen-fixing rhizobia with nutrients and highly specialised root structures called nodules. To elucidate the molecular basis underlying physiological adaptations on a genome-wide scale, functional genomics approaches, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have been used. This review presents an overview of the different functional genomics approaches that have been performed on rhizobial symbiosis, with a focus on studies investigating the molecular mechanisms used by the bacterial partner to interact with the legume. While rhizobia belonging to the alpha-proteobacterial group (alpha-rhizobia) have been well studied, few studies to date have investigated this process in beta-proteobacteria (beta-rhizobia).}, } @article {pmid29783703, year = {2018}, author = {Calatrava-Morales, N and McIntosh, M and Soto, MJ}, title = {Regulation Mediated by N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone Quorum Sensing Signals in the Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {29783703}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Soil-dwelling bacteria collectively referred to as rhizobia synthesize and perceive N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signals to regulate gene expression in a population density-dependent manner. AHL-mediated signaling in these bacteria regulates several functions which are important for the establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legume plants. Moreover, rhizobial AHL act as interkingdom signals triggering plant responses that impact the plant-bacteria interaction. Both the regulatory mechanisms that control AHL synthesis in rhizobia and the set of bacterial genes and associated traits under quorum sensing (QS) control vary greatly among the rhizobial species. In this article, we focus on the well-known QS system of the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium(Ensifer)meliloti. Bacterial genes, environmental factors and transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms that control AHL production in this Rhizobium, as well as the effects of the signaling molecule on bacterial phenotypes and plant responses will be reviewed. Current knowledge of S. meliloti QS will be compared with that of other rhizobia. Finally, participation of the legume host in QS by interfering with rhizobial AHL perception through the production of molecular mimics will also be addressed.}, } @article {pmid29783033, year = {2019}, author = {Xue, S and Biondi, EG}, title = {Coordination of symbiosis and cell cycle functions in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Gene regulatory mechanisms}, volume = {1862}, number = {7}, pages = {691-696}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbagrm.2018.05.003}, pmid = {29783033}, issn = {1876-4320}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cell Cycle ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen fixing species Sinorhizobium meliloti represents a remarkable model system for the class Alphaproteobacteria, which includes genera such as Caulobacter, Agrobacterium and Brucella. It is capable of living free in the soil, and is also able to establish a complex symbiosis with leguminous plants, during which its cell cycle program is completely rewired presumably due, at least in part, to the action of peptides secreted by the plant. Here we will discuss how the cell cycle regulation works in S. meliloti and the kinds of molecular mechanisms that take place during the infection. We will focus on the complex regulation of the master regulator of the S. meliloti cell cycle, the response regulator CtrA, discussing its implication in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29782030, year = {2018}, author = {Granada, CE and Vargas, LK and Sant'Anna, FH and Balsanelli, E and Baura, VA and Oliveira Pedrosa, F and Souza, EM and Falcon, T and Passaglia, LMP}, title = {The genomes of three Bradyrhizobium sp. isolated from root nodules of Lupinus albescens grown in extremely poor soils display important genes for resistance to environmental stress.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {502-506}, pmid = {29782030}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {Lupinus albescens is a resistant cover plant that establishes symbiotic relationships with bacteria belonging to the Bradyrhizobium genus. This symbiosis helps the development of these plants in adverse environmental conditions, such as the ones found in arenized areas of Southern Brazil. This work studied three Bradyrhizobium sp. (AS23, NAS80 and NAS96) isolated from L. albescens plants that grow in extremely poor soils (arenized areas and adjacent grasslands). The genomes of these three strains were sequenced in the Ion Torrent platform using the IonXpress library preparation kit, and presented a total number of bases of 1,230,460,823 for AS23, 1,320,104,022 for NAS80, and 1,236,105,093 for NAS96. The genome comparison with closest strains Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA6 and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 showed important variable regions (with less than 80% of similarity). Genes encoding for factors for resistance/tolerance to heavy metal, flagellar motility, response to osmotic and oxidative stresses, heat shock proteins (present only in the three sequenced genomes) could be responsible for the ability of these microorganisms to survive in inhospitable environments. Knowledge about these genomes will provide a foundation for future development of an inoculant bioproduct that should optimize the recovery of degraded soils using cover crops.}, } @article {pmid29780665, year = {2018}, author = {König, J and Guerreiro, MA and Peršoh, D and Begerow, D and Krauss, J}, title = {Knowing your neighbourhood-the effects of Epichloë endophytes on foliar fungal assemblages in perennial ryegrass in dependence of season and land-use intensity.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4660}, pmid = {29780665}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes associated with cool-season grass species can protect their hosts from herbivory and can suppress mycorrhizal colonization of the hosts' roots. However, little is known about whether or not Epichloë endophyte infection can also change the foliar fungal assemblages of the host. We tested 52 grassland study sites along a land-use intensity gradient in three study regions over two seasons (spring vs. summer) to determine whether Epichloë infection of the host grass Lolium perenne changes the fungal community structure in leaves. Foliar fungal communities were assessed by Next Generation Sequencing of the ITS rRNA gene region. Fungal community structure was strongly affected by study region and season in our study, while land-use intensity and infection with Epichloë endophytes had no significant effects. We conclude that effects on non-systemic endophytes resulting from land use practices and Epichloë infection reported in other studies were masked by local and seasonal variability in this study's grassland sites.}, } @article {pmid29779872, year = {2018}, author = {Funkhouser-Jones, LJ and van Opstal, EJ and Sharma, A and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {The Maternal Effect Gene Wds Controls Wolbachia Titer in Nasonia.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {1692-1702.e6}, pmid = {29779872}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {R21 HD086833/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD021630/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P30 EY008126/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK020593/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U24 DK059637/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA068485/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008554/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Maternal Inheritance ; Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Alignment ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wasps/*genetics/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Maternal transmission of intracellular microbes is pivotal in establishing long-term, intimate symbioses. For germline microbes that exert negative reproductive effects on their hosts, selection can theoretically favor the spread of host genes that counteract the microbe's harmful effects. Here, we leverage a major difference in bacterial (Wolbachia pipientis) titers between closely related wasp species with forward genetic, transcriptomic, and cytological approaches to map two quantitative trait loci that suppress bacterial titers via a maternal effect. Fine mapping and knockdown experiments identify the gene Wolbachia density suppressor (Wds), which dominantly suppresses bacterial transmission from mother to embryo. Wds evolved by lineage-specific non-synonymous changes driven by positive selection. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that a genetically simple change arose by positive Darwinian selection in less than a million years to regulate maternally transmitted bacteria via a dominant, maternal effect gene.}, } @article {pmid29779692, year = {2018}, author = {Rudolph, W and Remane, D and Wissenbach, DK and Peters, FT}, title = {Development and validation of an ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry assay for nine toxic alkaloids from endophyte-infected pasture grasses in horse serum.}, journal = {Journal of chromatography. A}, volume = {1560}, number = {}, pages = {35-44}, doi = {10.1016/j.chroma.2018.05.013}, pmid = {29779692}, issn = {1873-3778}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*blood/chemistry/toxicity ; Animal Feed/*poisoning ; Animals ; Biological Assay ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/*methods ; Endophytes/*pathogenicity ; Horses ; Plant Poisoning/etiology/*veterinary ; Poaceae/chemistry/*microbiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; }, abstract = {Endophyte fungi (e.g. Epichloë ssp. and Neotyphodium ssp.) in symbiosis with pasture grasses (e.g. Festuca arundinacaea and Lolium perenne) can produce toxic alkaloids, which are suspected to be involved in equine diseases such as fescue toxicosis, ryegrass staggers, and equine fescue oedema. The aim of this study was, therefore, to develop and validate a quantification method for these and related alkaloids: ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, lolitrem B, lysergic acid, N-acetylloline, N-formylloline, peramine, and paxilline in horse serum. Horse serum samples (1.5mL) were worked up by solid-phase extraction (OASIS HLB). The extracts were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS). Chromatographic separation was achieved by gradient elution with ammonium formate buffer and acetonitrile on a RP18 column (100×2.1mm; 1.7μm). HRMS/MS detection was performed on a QExactive Focus instrument with heated positive electrospray ionization and operated in the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode. Method validation included evaluation of selectivity, matrix effect, recovery, linearity, limit of quantification (LOQ), limit of detection (LOD), accuracy, and stability. With exception of lolitrem B solid phase extraction yielded high recoveries (73.6-104.6%) for all analytes. Chromatographic separation of all analytes was achieved with a run time of 25min. HRMS/MS allowed sensitive detection with LODs ranging from 0.05 to 0.5ng/mL and LOQs from 0.1 to 1.0ng/mL. Selectivity experiments showed no interferences from matrix or IS, but N-acetylloline and N-formylloline were found to be ubiquitous in horse serum. Newborn calf serum was therefore used as surrogate matrix for the validation study. Calibration ranges were analyte-dependent and in total covered concentrations from 0.1 to 50ng/mL. Lolitrem B and paxilline could be sensitively detected, but did not meet quantification requirements. For the other analytes, accuracy and precision were shown for 3 different concentrations (QC low, medium, high) with acceptable bias (-10, 5%-7.9%) and precision (CV 2.6%-12.5%). Matrix effects varied from 55.0% to 121% (RSD 7.8-18.5%) and were adequately compensated by IS. Matrix effects of N-acetylloline and N-formylloline could only be estimated in newborn calf serum (n=1) and ranged from 52.5-88.3%. All analytes were stable under autosampler conditions and over 3 freeze and thaw cycles. Applicability was proven by analyzing authentic horse serum samples (n=24). In conclusion, the presented method allows a sensitive detection of ergocrisitine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, lolitrem B, lysergic acid, N-acetylloline, N-formylloline, peramine, and paxilline in horse serum and reliable quantification of all but lolitrem B and paxilline.}, } @article {pmid29779088, year = {2018}, author = {Thal, B and Braun, HP and Eubel, H}, title = {Proteomic analysis dissects the impact of nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation on Vicia faba root nodule physiology.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {97}, number = {3}, pages = {233-251}, pmid = {29779088}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/isolation & purification/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/physiology ; Proteome ; Proteomics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Vicia faba/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in root nodules of legumes is a highly important biological process which is only poorly understood. Root nodule metabolism differs from that of roots. Differences in root and nodule metabolism are expressed by altered protein abundances and amenable to quantitative proteome analyses. Differences in the proteomes may either be tissue specific and related to the presence of temporary endosymbionts (the bacteroids) or related to nitrogen fixation activity. An experimental setup including WT bacterial strains and strains not able to conduct symbiotic nitrogen fixation as well as root controls enables identification of tissue and nitrogen fixation specific proteins. Root nodules are specialized plant organs housing and regulating the mutual symbiosis of legumes with nitrogen fixing rhizobia. As such, these organs fulfill unique functions in plant metabolism. Identifying the proteins required for the metabolic reactions of nitrogen fixation and those merely involved in sustaining the rhizobia:plant symbiosis, is a challenging task and requires an experimental setup which allows to differentiate between these two physiological processes. Here, quantitative proteome analyses of nitrogen fixing and non-nitrogen fixing nodules as well as fertilized and non-fertilized roots were performed using Vicia faba and Rhizobium leguminosarum. Pairwise comparisons revealed altered enzyme abundance between active and inactive nodules. Similarly, general differences between nodules and root tissue were observed. Together, these results allow distinguishing the proteins directly involved in nitrogen fixation from those related to nodulation. Further observations relate to the control of nodulation by hormones and provide supportive evidence for the previously reported correlation of nitrogen and sulfur fixation in these plant organs. Additionally, data on altered protein abundance relating to alanine metabolism imply that this amino acid may be exported from the symbiosomes of V. faba root nodules in addition to ammonia. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD008548.}, } @article {pmid29778978, year = {2018}, author = {Stonoha-Arther, C and Wang, D}, title = {Tough love: accommodating intracellular bacteria through directed secretion of antimicrobial peptides during the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {155-163}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.04.017}, pmid = {29778978}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis formed by nitrogen-fixing bacteria with plant hosts mainly in the legume family involves a very intimate interaction. Within the symbiotic organ (the nodule) the bacteria are fully internalized by the host cell to become an intracellular organelle surrounded by a host-derived membrane. This arrangement is probably necessary for the efficient provision of energy and the sequestration of free oxygen molecules, two conditions required for sustained nitrogen fixation. Recent advances made in model legume species, such as Medicago truncatula, are beginning to uncover the genetic components allowing rhizobia to access the host cytoplasm and establish chronic intracellular infections without overt detrimental effects. It is now known that the rhizobial compartment in M. truncatula cells, the symbiosome, retains some features of the extracellular space as the target for a redirected host protein secretory pathway. A set of vesicle trafficking proteins function specifically in symbiotic cells to ensure the faithful delivery of secretory proteins to the intracellular bacteria, or bacteroid. This system is co-opted from the more ancient association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi found in most land plants, highlighting the evolutionary origin of the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. In some legume lineages, this heightened capability to process secretory proteins is needed to deliver a large number of symbiosis-specific antimicrobial peptides to the bacteria. Known as NCR peptides, these molecules transform bacteroids into a state of terminal differentiation, where the microbe loses its ability to proliferate outside their host. Numbering in their hundreds, these peptides manipulate various aspects of rhizobial biology, and affect the outcome of this symbiosis in complex ways. The extreme size of the NCR peptide family seems to be the result of an evolutionary conflict between the two partners to extract maximum benefit from each other.}, } @article {pmid29778905, year = {2018}, author = {Römer, D and Bollazzi, M and Roces, F}, title = {Carbon dioxide sensing in the social context: Leaf-cutting ants prefer elevated CO2 levels to tend their brood.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {40-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.05.007}, pmid = {29778905}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*physiology ; Cues ; Female ; Nesting Behavior ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Social insects show temperature and humidity preferences inside their nests to successfully rear brood. In underground nests, ants also encounter rising CO2 concentrations with increasing depth. It is an open question whether they use CO2 as a cue to decide where to place and tend the brood. Leaf-cutting ants do show CO2 preferences for the culturing of their symbiotic fungus. We evaluated their CO2 choices for brood placement in laboratory experiments. Workers of Acromyrmex lundii in the process of relocating brood were offered a binary choice consisting of two interconnected chambers with different CO2 concentrations. Values ranged from atmospheric to high concentrations of 4% CO2. The CO2 preferences shown by workers for themselves and for brood placement were assessed by quantifying the number of workers and relocated brood in each chamber. Ants showed clear CO2 preferences for brood placement. They avoided atmospheric levels, 1% and 4% CO2, and showed a preference for levels of 3%. This is the first report of CO2 preferences for the maintenance of brood in social insects. The observed preferences for brood location were independent of the workers' own CO2 preferences, since they showed no clear-cut pattern. Workers' CO2 preferences for brood maintenance were slightly higher than those reported for fungus culturing, although brood is reared in the same chambers as the fungus in leaf-cutting ant nests. Workers' choices for brood placement in natural nests are likely the result of competing preferences for other environmental factors more crucial for brood survival, aside from those for CO2.}, } @article {pmid29778427, year = {2018}, author = {Gawade, P and Ghosh, P}, title = {Genomics driven approach for identification of novel therapeutic targets in Salmonella enterica.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {668}, number = {}, pages = {211-220}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2018.05.058}, pmid = {29778427}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Chemotaxis ; Computer Simulation ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Genomics ; Humans ; Peptidoglycan/biosynthesis ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Salmonella Infections/drug therapy ; Salmonella enterica/*genetics/metabolism ; Virulence Factors ; }, abstract = {Salmonella enterica is a causative agent of enteric and systemic salmonellosis that affects human and many other animal species. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, available drugs against S. enterica infection are no more effective as before. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies. The current study aims at prioritizing therapeutic targets by an in-silico genomics driven method. The method involves searching proteins of each Salmonella strain for essentiality, virulence and antibiotic-resistance and host-pathogen protein-protein interactions. Using subtractive genomics approach, we further confirmed that none of the selected protein shares sequence homology with any human (host) protein and also with proteins from human symbiotic gut flora. Pathway analysis of these screened proteins revealed associated biological processes. Presence of proteins in pathogen-specific pathways was used as one of the assessment property in the subsequent scoring scheme. Simultaneously proteins are screened based on parameters like druggability (sequence similarity with existing drug targets), sub-cellular localization and presence of transmembrane domain. The implemented scoring scheme depicted a final list of 14 potential therapeutic targets out of which 6 could be identified as 'high-confidence' targets based on extensive literature curation. Identified therapeutic targets can aid in the design and development of effective antibacterial agents against S. enterica. The genomics driven strategy adopted in this study can also be applied to screen therapeutic targets for other pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29778222, year = {2018}, author = {Morse, D and Tse, SPK and Lo, SCL}, title = {Exploring dinoflagellate biology with high-throughput proteomics.}, journal = {Harmful algae}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {16-26}, doi = {10.1016/j.hal.2018.03.010}, pmid = {29778222}, issn = {1878-1470}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Life History Traits ; *Proteomics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are notorious for their ability to form the harmful algal blooms known as "red tides," yet the mechanisms underlying bloom formation remain poorly understood. Despite recent advances in nucleic acid sequencing, which have generated transcriptomes from a wide range of species exposed to a variety of different conditions, measuring changes in RNA levels have not generally produced great insight into dinoflagellate cell biology or environmental physiology, nor do we have a thorough grasp on the molecular events underpinning bloom formation. Not only is the transcriptomic response of dinoflagellates to environmental change generally muted, but there is a markedly low degree of congruency between mRNA expression and protein expression in dinoflagellates. Herein we discuss the application of high-throughput proteomics to the study of dinoflagellate biology. By profiling the cellular protein complement (the proteome) instead of mRNA (the transcriptome), the biomolecular events that underlie the changes of phenotypes can be more readily evaluated, as proteins directly determine the structure and the function of the cell. Recent advances in proteomics have seen this technique become a high-throughput method that is now able to provide a perspective different from the more commonly employed nucleic acid sequencing. We suggest that the time is ripe to exploit these new technologies in addressing the many mysteries of dinoflagellate biology, such as how the symbiotic dinoflagellate inhabiting reef corals acclimate to increases in temperature, as well as how harmful algal blooms are initiated at the sub-cellular level. Furthermore, as dinoflagellates are not the only eukaryotes that demonstrate muted transcriptional responses, the techniques addressed within this review are amenable to a wide array of organisms.}, } @article {pmid29778095, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, CY and Li, Y and Gao, ZW and Liu, LC and Zhang, MY and Zhang, TY and Wu, CF and Zhang, YX}, title = {Establishing an innovative carbohydrate metabolic pathway for efficient production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid in Ketogulonicigenium robustum initiated by intronic promoters.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {81}, pmid = {29778095}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*physiology ; Metabolic Engineering/*methods ; Rhodobacteraceae/*metabolism ; Sorbose/analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: 2-Keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KGA), the precursor of vitamin C, is currently produced by two-step fermentation. In the second step, L-sorbose is transformed into 2-KGA by the symbiosis system composed of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare and Bacillus megaterium. Due to the different nutrient requirements and the uncertain ratio of the two strains, the symbiosis system significantly limits strain improvement and fermentation optimization.

RESULTS: In this study, Ketogulonicigenium robustum SPU_B003 was reported for its capability to grow well independently and to produce more 2-KGA than that of K. vulgare in a mono-culture system. The complete genome of K. robustum SPU_B003 was sequenced, and the metabolic characteristics were analyzed. Compared to the four reported K. vulgare genomes, K. robustum SPU_B003 contained more tRNAs, rRNAs, NAD and NADP biosynthetic genes, as well as regulation- and cell signaling-related genes. Moreover, the amino acid biosynthesis pathways were more complete. Two species-specific internal promoters, P1 (orf_01408 promoter) and P2 (orf_02221 promoter), were predicted and validated by detecting their initiation activity. To efficiently produce 2-KGA with decreased CO2 release, an innovative acetyl-CoA biosynthetic pathway (XFP-PTA pathway) was introduced into K. robustum SPU_B003 by expressing heterologous phosphoketolase (xfp) and phosphotransacetylase (pta) initiated by internal promoters. After gene optimization, the recombinant strain K. robustum/pBBR-P1_xfp2502-P2_pta2145 enhanced acetyl-CoA approximately 2.4-fold and increased 2-KGA production by 22.27% compared to the control strain K. robustum/pBBR1MCS-2. Accordingly, the transcriptional level of the 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (pgd) and pyruvate dehydrogenase genes (pdh) decreased by 24.33 ± 6.67 and 8.67 ± 5.51%, respectively. The key genes responsible for 2-KGA biosynthesis, sorbose dehydrogenase gene (sdh) and sorbosone dehydrogenase gene (sndh), were up-regulated to different degrees in the recombinant strain.

CONCLUSIONS: The genome-based functional analysis of K. robustum SPU_B003 provided a new understanding of the specific metabolic characteristics. The new XFP-PTA pathway was an efficient route to enhance acetyl-CoA levels and to therefore promote 2-KGA production.}, } @article {pmid29777375, year = {2018}, author = {Tayeri, V and Seidavi, A and Asadpour, L and Phillips, CJC}, title = {A comparison of the effects of antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and prebiotics on the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers.}, journal = {Veterinary research communications}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {195-207}, pmid = {29777375}, issn = {1573-7446}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Bambermycins/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Blood/drug effects ; Blood Chemical Analysis/veterinary ; Chickens/growth & development/immunology/microbiology/*physiology ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements/*analysis ; Male ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage/analysis ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/analysis/pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Synbiotics/administration & dosage/analysis ; Weight Gain ; }, abstract = {Routine use of the antibiotic flavomycin in broiler production may lead to resistance, and alternative growth promoters are used to enhance performance. Two hundred day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to five dietary supplements included from d 1-42: flavomycin, three possible alternatives, a probiotic, prebiotic and a synbiotic, as well as a control treatment. There were four replicate cages of 10 birds each in each treatment. Compared with the control and antibiotics treatments, the probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic treatments increased (p = 0.001) weight gain (64, 66, 73, 70 and 74 g/d, respectively). The synbiotic treatment reduced (p = 0.004) the feed conversion ratio, compared with the control and antibiotic treatments (1.70, 1.84, 1.83, respectively). Compared with the control and antibiotic treatments, the birds fed the synbiotic treatment had greater relative gizzard (+47%) and spleen weights (+115%), and lighter kidneys (-47%). The birds fed the symbiotic treatment also had thinner walls of the caudal gut segments. The prebiotic had the most beneficial effect on cecal microbiota, stimulating aerobic and lactic acid producing bacteria and reducing Escherichia coli bacteria. Enterococci were increased in the antibiotic treatment. We conclude that there were significant performance and health benefits of using prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics for broilers, rather than antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid29776924, year = {2018}, author = {Visick, KL and Hodge-Hanson, KM and Tischler, AH and Bennett, AK and Mastrodomenico, V}, title = {Tools for Rapid Genetic Engineering of Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {29776924}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics ; Cellulose ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA Nucleotidyltransferases ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri is used as a model for a number of processes, including symbiosis, quorum sensing, bioluminescence, and biofilm formation. Many of these studies depend on generating deletion mutants and complementing them. Engineering such strains, however, is a time-consuming, multistep process that relies on cloning and subcloning. Here, we describe a set of tools that can be used to rapidly engineer deletions and insertions in the V. fischeri chromosome without cloning. We developed a uniform approach for generating deletions using PCR splicing by overlap extension (SOEing) with antibiotic cassettes flanked by standardized linker sequences. PCR SOEing of the cassettes to sequences up- and downstream of the target gene generates a DNA product that can be directly introduced by natural transformation. Selection for the introduced antibiotic resistance marker yields the deletion of interest in a single step. Because these cassettes also contain FRT (FLP recognition target) sequences flanking the resistance marker, Flp recombinase can be used to generate an unmarked, in-frame deletion. We developed a similar methodology and tools for the rapid insertion of specific genes at a benign site in the chromosome for purposes such as complementation. Finally, we generated derivatives of these tools to facilitate different applications, such as inducible gene expression and assessing protein production. We demonstrated the utility of these tools by deleting and inserting genes known or predicted to be involved in motility. While developed for V. fischeri strain ES114, we anticipate that these tools can be adapted for use in other V. fischeri strains and, potentially, other microbes.IMPORTANCEVibrio fischeri is a model organism for studying a variety of important processes, including symbiosis, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing. To facilitate investigation of these biological mechanisms, we developed approaches for rapidly generating deletions and insertions and demonstrated their utility using two genes of interest. The ease, consistency, and speed of the engineering is facilitated by a set of antibiotic resistance cassettes with common linker sequences that can be amplified by PCR with universal primers and fused to adjacent sequences using splicing by overlap extension and then introduced directly into V. fischeri, eliminating the need for cloning and plasmid conjugation. The antibiotic cassettes are flanked by FRT sequences, permitting their removal using Flp recombinase. We augmented these basic tools with a family of constructs for different applications. We anticipate that these tools will greatly accelerate mechanistic studies of biological processes in V. fischeri and potentially other Vibrio species.}, } @article {pmid29776720, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, CT and Hish, KT and Wang, CN and Liu, CT and Kao, WY}, title = {Phylogenetic analyses of Bradyrhizobium symbionts associated with invasive Crotalaria zanzibarica and its coexisting legumes in Taiwan.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {6}, pages = {619-628}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.05.001}, pmid = {29776720}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Crotalaria/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Introduced Species ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {In this study, the genetic diversity and identification of Bradyrhizobium symbionts of Crotalaria zanzibarica, the most widely-distributed invasive legume in Taiwan, and other sympatric legume species growing along riverbanks of Taiwan were evaluated for the first time. In total, 59 and 54 Bradyrhizobium isolates were obtained from C. zanzibarica and its coexisting legume species, respectively. Based on the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of concatenated four housekeeping genes (dnaK-glnII-recA-rpoB gene sequences, 1901bp), the 113 isolates displayed 53 unique haplotypes and grouped into 21 clades. Of these clades, 11 were found to be congruent to already defined Bradyrhizobium species, while the other 10 clades were found to not be congruent to any defined species. In particular, the C. zanzibarica isolates belong to 14 MLSA clades, six of which overlapped with the isolates of coexisting legumes. According to the nodA gene sequences (555bp) obtained from the 105 isolates, these isolates were classified into three known nodA clades, III.2, III.3 and VII and were further clustered into 10 groups. Furthermore, the C. zanzibarica isolates were clustered into 8 nodA groups, five of which overlapped with the isolates from coexisting legumes. Additionally, the nodA genes of the isolates from native species were dominated by Asian origin, while those from C. zanzibarica were dominated by American origin. In conclusion, C. zanzibarica is a promiscuous host capable of recruiting diverse Bradyrhizobium symbionts, some of which are phylogenetically similar to the symbionts of coexisting legumes in Taiwan.}, } @article {pmid29776407, year = {2018}, author = {Lindsey, ARI and Kelkar, YD and Wu, X and Sun, D and Martinson, EO and Yan, Z and Rugman-Jones, PF and Hughes, DST and Murali, SC and Qu, J and Dugan, S and Lee, SL and Chao, H and Dinh, H and Han, Y and Doddapaneni, HV and Worley, KC and Muzny, DM and Ye, G and Gibbs, RA and Richards, S and Yi, SV and Stouthamer, R and Werren, JH}, title = {Comparative genomics of the miniature wasp and pest control agent Trichogramma pretiosum.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {54}, pmid = {29776407}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {U54 HG003273/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genomics ; Moths/parasitology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Wasps/*classification/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Whole Genome Sequencing/methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trichogrammatids are minute parasitoid wasps that develop within other insect eggs. They are less than half a millimeter long, smaller than some protozoans. The Trichogrammatidae are one of the earliest branching families of Chalcidoidea: a diverse superfamily of approximately half a million species of parasitoid wasps, proposed to have evolved from a miniaturized ancestor. Trichogramma are frequently used in agriculture, released as biological control agents against major moth and butterfly pests. Additionally, Trichogramma are well known for their symbiotic bacteria that induce asexual reproduction in infected females. Knowledge of the genome sequence of Trichogramma is a major step towards further understanding its biology and potential applications in pest control.

RESULTS: We report the 195-Mb genome sequence of Trichogramma pretiosum and uncover signatures of miniaturization and adaptation in Trichogramma and related parasitoids. Comparative analyses reveal relatively rapid evolution of proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis and function, transcriptional regulation, and ploidy regulation. Chalcids also show loss or especially rapid evolution of 285 gene clusters conserved in other Hymenoptera, including many that are involved in signal transduction and embryonic development. Comparisons between sexual and asexual lineages of Trichogramma pretiosum reveal that there is no strong evidence for genome degradation (e.g., gene loss) in the asexual lineage, although it does contain a lower repeat content than the sexual lineage. Trichogramma shows particularly rapid genome evolution compared to other hymenopterans. We speculate these changes reflect adaptations to miniaturization, and to life as a specialized egg parasitoid.

CONCLUSIONS: The genomes of Trichogramma and related parasitoids are a valuable resource for future studies of these diverse and economically important insects, including explorations of parasitoid biology, symbiosis, asexuality, biological control, and the evolution of miniaturization. Understanding the molecular determinants of parasitism can also inform mass rearing of Trichogramma and other parasitoids for biological control.}, } @article {pmid29775739, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, Z and Zhao, S and Ni, J and Su, Y and Wang, L and Xu, Y}, title = {Effects of environmental factors on C-type lectin recognition to zooxanthellae in the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {228-233}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2018.05.026}, pmid = {29775739}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*immunology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Lectins, C-Type/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {C-type lectin is a superfamily of Ca[2+]-dependent carbohydrate-recognition proteins that play significant roles in nonself-recognition and pathogen clearance. In the present study, a C-type lectin (PdC-Lectin) was chosen from stony coral Pocillopora damicornis to understand its recognition characteristics to zooxanthellae. PdC-Lectin protein contained a signal peptide and a carbohydrate-recognition domain with EPN motif in Ca[2+]-binding site 2. The PdC-Lectin recombinant protein was expressed and purified in vitro. The binding of PdC-Lectin protein to zooxanthellae was determined with western blotting method, and the bound protein to 10-10[5] cell mL[-1] zooxanthellae was detectable in a concentration-dependent manner. Less PdC-Lectin protein binding to zooxanthellae was observed for the incubation at 36 °C than that at 26 °C. Furthermore, the PAMP recognition spectrum of PdC-Lectin protein was tested through surface plasmon resonance method, and it bound to LPS and Lipid A, but not to LTA, β-glucan, mannose or Poly (I:C). When PdC-Lectin protein was preincubated with LPS, there was less protein binding to zooxanthellae compared with that in non-preincubation group. These results collectively suggest that PdC-Lectin could recognize zooxanthellae, and the recognition could be repressed by high temperature and pathogenic bacteria, which would help to further understand the molecular mechanism of coral bleaching and the establishment of coral-zooxanthella symbiosis in the stony coral P. damicornis.}, } @article {pmid29775460, year = {2018}, author = {Alex, A and Antunes, A}, title = {Genus-wide comparison of Pseudovibrio bacterial genomes reveal diverse adaptations to different marine invertebrate hosts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0194368}, pmid = {29775460}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vibrionaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudovibrio have been frequently found in association with a wide variety of marine eukaryotic invertebrate hosts, indicative of their versatile and symbiotic lifestyle. A recent comparison of the sponge-associated Pseudovibrio genomes has shed light on the mechanisms influencing a successful symbiotic association with sponges. In contrast, the genomic architecture of Pseudovibrio bacteria associated with other marine hosts has received less attention. Here, we performed genus-wide comparative analyses of 18 Pseudovibrio isolated from sponges, coral, tunicates, flatworm, and seawater. The analyses revealed a certain degree of commonality among the majority of sponge- and coral-associated bacteria. Isolates from other marine invertebrate host, tunicates, exhibited a genetic repertoire for cold adaptation and specific metabolic abilities including mucin degradation in the Antarctic tunicate-associated bacterium Pseudovibrio sp. Tun.PHSC04_5.I4. Reductive genome evolution was simultaneously detected in the flatworm-associated bacteria and the sponge-associated bacterium P. axinellae AD2, through the loss of major secretion systems (type III/VI) and virulence/symbioses factors such as proteins involved in adhesion and attachment to the host. Our study also unraveled the presence of a CRISPR-Cas system in P. stylochi UST20140214-052 a flatworm-associated bacterium possibly suggesting the role of CRISPR-based adaptive immune system against the invading virus particles. Detection of mobile elements and genomic islands (GIs) in all bacterial members highlighted the role of horizontal gene transfer for the acquisition of novel genetic features, likely enhancing the bacterial ecological fitness. These findings are insightful to understand the role of genome diversity in Pseudovibrio as an evolutionary strategy to increase their colonizing success across a wide range of marine eukaryotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid29774547, year = {2019}, author = {Druege, U and Franken, P}, title = {Petunia as model for elucidating adventitious root formation and mycorrhizal symbiosis: at the nexus of physiology, genetics, microbiology and horticulture.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {165}, number = {1}, pages = {58-72}, pmid = {29774547}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Petunia/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Adventitious root formation in cuttings and establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis reflect the enormous plasticity of plants and are key factors in the efficient and sustainable clonal propagation and production of ornamental crops. Based on the high importance of Petunia hybrida for the European and US annual bedding plant markets and its suitability as a model for basic plant sciences, petunia has been established as an experimental system for elucidating the molecular and physiological processes underlying adventitious root formation and mycorrhizal symbiosis. In the present review, we introduce the tools of the Petunia model system. Then, we discuss findings regarding the hormonal and metabolic control of adventitious rooting in the context of diverse environmental factors as well as findings on the function of arbuscular mycorrhiza related to nutrient uptake and resistance to root pathogens. Considering the recent publication of the genomes of the parental species of P. hybrida and other tools available in the petunia scientific community, we will outline the quality of petunia as a model for future system-oriented analysis of root development and function in the context of environmental and genetic control, which are at the heart of modern horticulture.}, } @article {pmid29773893, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, K and Zhang, Y and Jia, X}, title = {Co-cultivation of fungal-microalgal strains in biogas slurry and biogas purification under different initial CO2 concentrations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {7786}, pmid = {29773893}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biofuels/microbiology ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Coculture Techniques ; Fungi/*physiology ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Water Purification ; }, abstract = {The effects of five different microalgae-fungi on nutrient removal and CO2 removal were investigated under three different CO2 contents (35%, 45% and 55%). The results showed that the highest nutrient and CO2 removal efficiency were found at 55% CO2 by cocultivation of different microalgae and fungi. The effect of different initial CO2 concentration on the removal of CO2 from microalgae was significant, and the order of CO2 removal efficiency was 55% (v/v) >45% (v/v) >35% (v/v). The best nutrient removal and biogas purification could be achieved by co-cultivation of C. vulgaris and G. lucidum with 55% initial CO2 content. The maximum mean COD, TN, TP and CO2 removal efficiency can reach 68.29%, 61.75%, 64.21% and 64.68%, respectively under this condition. All highest COD, TN, TP and CO2 removal efficiency were more than 85%. The analysis of energy consumption economic efficiency revealed that this strategy resulted in the highest economic efficiency. The results of this work can promote simultaneously biological purification of wastewater and biogas using microalgal-fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29773467, year = {2018}, author = {Daliri, EB and Tango, CN and Lee, BH and Oh, DH}, title = {Human microbiome restoration and safety.}, journal = {International journal of medical microbiology : IJMM}, volume = {308}, number = {5}, pages = {487-497}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.05.002}, pmid = {29773467}, issn = {1618-0607}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Diet ; Dysbiosis/*therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/*adverse effects/methods ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiome consists of many bacteria which are in symbiotic relationship with human beings. The gut microbial metabolism, as well as the microbial-host co-metabolism, has been found to greatly influence health and disease. Factors such as diet, antibiotic use and lifestyle have been associated with alterations in the gut microbial community and may result in several pathological conditions. For this reason, several strategies including fecal microbiota transplant and probiotic administration have been applied and proven to be feasible and effective in restoring the gut microbiota in humans. Yet, safety concerns such as potential health risks that may arise from such interventions and how these strategies are regulated need to be addressed. Also, it will be important to know if these microbiome restoration strategies can have a profound impact on health. This review provides an overview of our current knowledge of the microbiome restoration strategies and safety issues on how these strategies are regulated.}, } @article {pmid29770190, year = {2018}, author = {Higashimura, Y and Baba, Y and Inoue, R and Takagi, T and Uchiyama, K and Mizushima, K and Hirai, Y and Ushiroda, C and Tanaka, Y and Naito, Y}, title = {Effects of molecular hydrogen-dissolved alkaline electrolyzed water on intestinal environment in mice.}, journal = {Medical gas research}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {6-11}, pmid = {29770190}, issn = {2045-9912}, abstract = {Increasing evidence indicates that molecular hydrogen-dissolved alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW) has various physiological activities such as antioxidative activity. Gut microbiota are deeply associated with our health through a symbiotic relationship. Recent reports have described that most gastrointestinal microbial species encode the genetic capacity to metabolize molecular hydrogen, meaning that molecular hydrogen might affect the gut microbial composition. Nevertheless, AEW effects on gut microbiota remain unknown. This study investigated AEW effects on the intestinal environment in mice, including microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid contents. After mice were administered AEW for 4 weeks, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses revealed their fecal microbiota profiles. Organic acid concentrations in cecal contents were measured using an HPLC system. Compared to the control group, AEW administration mice had significantly lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and alanine aminotransferase activity. Organic acid concentrations of propionic, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids were higher in AEW-administered mice. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses showed that the relative abundances of 20 taxa differed significantly in AEW-administered mice. Although the definitive role of gut microbes of AEW-administered mice remains unknown, our data demonstrate the possibility that AEW administration affects the gut microbial composition and that it has beneficial health effects in terms of cholesterol metabolism and liver protection.}, } @article {pmid29769762, year = {2018}, author = {Shaikh, HFM and Patil, SH and Pangam, TS and Rathod, KV}, title = {Polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis: An overview.}, journal = {Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {101-106}, pmid = {29769762}, issn = {0972-124X}, abstract = {The oral fissure is immensely inhabited with a number of polymicrobial colonies similar to the intestinal system. Periodontitis is a dysbiotic disease resulting from deviation in subgingival Gram-positive bacteria to Gram-negative bacteria shift from Gram-positive bacteria. The development of periodontal dysbiosis occurs over a broadened timeframe, which slowly turns the symbiotic association of host and microbe to pathogenic. This review highlights a recent paradigm of periodontitis progression has been postulated which challenges the traditional concept of periodontitis being induced by few particular periopathogens such as belonging to red complex, but by a more comprehensive dysbiotic-synergistic community.}, } @article {pmid29769571, year = {2018}, author = {Yan, Q and Wang, L and Li, X}, title = {GmBEHL1, a BES1/BZR1 family protein, negatively regulates soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {7614}, pmid = {29769571}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/pharmacology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Morphogenesis ; Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Triazoles/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Brassinosteroids (BRs) play an essential role in plant growth, and BRI1-EMS suppressor 1 (BES1)/brassinazole-resistant 1 (BZR1) family transcription factors integrate a variety of plant signaling pathways. Despite the fact that BRs inhibit nodulation in leguminous plants, how BRs modulate rhizobia-host interactions and nodule morphogenesis is unknown. Here, we show that GmBEHL1, a soybean homolog of Arabidopsis BES1/BZR1 homolog 1 (BEH1), is an interacting partner of Nodule Number Control 1, a transcriptional repressor that mediates soybean nodulation. GmBEHL1 was highly expressed at the basal parts of emerging nodules, and its expression gradually expanded during nodule maturation. The overexpression and downregulation of GmBEHL1 inhibited and enhanced the number of nodules, respectively, in soybean. Intriguingly, alterations in GmBEHL1 expression repressed the expression of genes in the BR biosynthesis pathway, including homologs of Arabidopsis Constitutive Photomorphogenesis and Dwarf and Dwarf 4. We also detected an interaction between GmBEHL1 and GmBIN2, a putative BR-insensitive 2 (BIN2) homolog, in soybean. Moreover, BR treatment reduced the number, but increased the size, of soybean nodules. Our results reveal GmBEHL1 to be a potent gene that integrates BR signaling with nodulation signaling pathways to regulate symbiotic nodulation.}, } @article {pmid29769291, year = {2018}, author = {Kim, D and Minhas, BF and Li-Byarlay, H and Hansen, AK}, title = {Key Transport and Ammonia Recycling Genes Involved in Aphid Symbiosis Respond to Host-Plant Specialization.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {2433-2443}, pmid = {29769291}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Buchnera ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbes are known to influence insect-plant interactions; however, it is unclear if host-plant diet influences the regulation of nutritional insect symbioses. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, requires its nutritional endosymbiont, Buchnera, for the production of essential amino acids. We hypothesize that key aphid genes that regulate the nutritional symbioses respond to host-plant diet when aphids feed on a specialized (alfalfa) compared to a universal host-plant diet (fava), which vary in amino acid profiles. Using RNA-Seq and whole genome bisulfite sequencing, we measured gene expression and DNA methylation profiles for such genes when aphids fed on either their specialized or universal host-plant diets. Our results reveal that when aphids feed on their specialized host-plant they significantly up-regulate and/or hypo-methylate key aphid genes in bacteriocytes related to the amino acid metabolism, including glutamine synthetase in the GOGAT cycle that recycles ammonia into glutamine and the glutamine transporter ApGLNT1 Moreover, regardless of what host-plant aphids feed on we observed significant up-regulation and differential methylation of key genes involved in the amino acid metabolism and the glycine/serine metabolism, a metabolic program observed in proliferating cancer cells potentially to combat oxidative stress. Based on our results, we suggest that this regulatory response of key symbiosis genes in bacteriocytes allows aphids to feed on a suboptimal host-plant that they specialize on.}, } @article {pmid29769197, year = {2018}, author = {Kumar, D and New, J and Vishwakarma, V and Joshi, R and Enders, J and Lin, F and Dasari, S and Gutierrez, WR and Leef, G and Ponnurangam, S and Chavan, H and Ganaden, L and Thornton, MM and Dai, H and Tawfik, O and Straub, J and Shnayder, Y and Kakarala, K and Tsue, TT and Girod, DA and Van Houten, B and Anant, S and Krishnamurthy, P and Thomas, SM}, title = {Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Drive Glycolysis in a Targetable Signaling Loop Implicated in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression.}, journal = {Cancer research}, volume = {78}, number = {14}, pages = {3769-3782}, pmid = {29769197}, issn = {1538-7445}, support = {P30 CA168524/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA047904/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103418/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 RR021940/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA190291/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 GM118247/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R33 ES025606/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103549/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism/*pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/physiology ; Disease Progression ; Glycolysis/*physiology ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/metabolism/*pathology ; Up-Regulation/physiology ; }, abstract = {Despite aggressive therapies, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with a less than 50% 5-year survival rate. Late-stage HNSCC frequently consists of up to 80% cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). We previously reported that CAF-secreted HGF facilitates HNSCC progression; however, very little is known about the role of CAFs in HNSCC metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that CAF-secreted HGF increases extracellular lactate levels in HNSCC via upregulation of glycolysis. CAF-secreted HGF induced basic FGF (bFGF) secretion from HNSCC. CAFs were more efficient than HNSCC in using lactate as a carbon source. HNSCC-secreted bFGF increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and HGF secretion from CAFs. Combined inhibition of c-Met and FGFR significantly inhibited CAF-induced HNSCC growth in vitro and in vivo (P < 0.001). Our cumulative findings underscore reciprocal signaling between CAF and HNSCC involving bFGF and HGF. This contributes to metabolic symbiosis and a targetable therapeutic axis involving c-Met and FGFR.Significance: HNSCC cancer cells and CAFs have a metabolic relationship where CAFs secrete HGF to induce a glycolytic switch in HNSCC cells and HNSCC cells secrete bFGF to promote lactate consumption by CAFs. Cancer Res; 78(14); 3769-82. ©2018 AACR.}, } @article {pmid29768658, year = {2018}, author = {Pain, RE and Shaw, RG and Sheth, SN}, title = {Detrimental effects of rhizobial inoculum early in the life of partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {105}, number = {4}, pages = {796-802}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1077}, pmid = {29768658}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Chamaecrista/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Dehydration ; Plant Leaves/growth & development ; Plant Stems/growth & development ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Mutualistic relationships with microbes may aid plants in overcoming environmental stressors and increase the range of abiotic environments where plants can persist. Rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with legumes, often confer fitness benefits to their host plants by increasing access to nitrogen in nitrogen-limited soils, but effects of rhizobia on host fitness under other stresses, such as drought, remain unclear.

METHODS: In this greenhouse study, we varied the application of rhizobia (Bradyrhizobium sp.) inoculum and drought to examine whether the fitness benefits of rhizobia to their host, partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), would differ between drought and well-watered conditions. Plants were harvested 9 weeks after seeds were sown.

KEY RESULTS: Young C. fasciculata plants that had been inoculated had lower biomass, leaf relative growth rate, and stem relative growth rate compared to young uninoculated plants in both drought and well-watered environments.

CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, the rhizobial interaction imposed a net cost to their hosts early in development. Potential reasons for this cost include allocating more carbon to nodule and root development than to aboveground growth and a geographic mismatch between the source populations of host plants and rhizobia. If developing plants incur such costs from rhizobia in nature, they may suffer an early disadvantage relative to other plants, whether conspecifics lacking rhizobia or heterospecifics.}, } @article {pmid29768135, year = {2018}, author = {Beattie, GA and Hatfield, BM and Dong, H and McGrane, RS}, title = {Seeing the Light: The Roles of Red- and Blue-Light Sensing in Plant Microbes.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {41-66}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-045931}, pmid = {29768135}, issn = {1545-2107}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism/radiation effects ; *Light ; Phytochrome/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plants collect, concentrate, and conduct light throughout their tissues, thus enhancing light availability to their resident microbes. This review explores the role of photosensing in the biology of plant-associated bacteria and fungi, including the molecular mechanisms of red-light sensing by phytochromes and blue-light sensing by LOV (light-oxygen-voltage) domain proteins in these microbes. Bacteriophytochromes function as major drivers of the bacterial transcriptome and mediate light-regulated suppression of virulence, motility, and conjugation in some phytopathogens and light-regulated induction of the photosynthetic apparatus in a stem-nodulating symbiont. Bacterial LOV proteins also influence light-mediated changes in both symbiotic and pathogenic phenotypes. Although red-light sensing by fungal phytopathogens is poorly understood, fungal LOV proteins contribute to blue-light regulation of traits, including asexual development and virulence. Collectively, these studies highlight that plant microbes have evolved to exploit light cues and that light sensing is often coupled with sensing other environmental signals.}, } @article {pmid29767790, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, F and Xu, Y and Han, G and Wang, W and Li, X and Cheng, B}, title = {Identification and Functional Characterization of a Maize Phosphate Transporter Induced by Mycorrhiza Formation.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {8}, pages = {1683-1694}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy094}, pmid = {29767790}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Zea mays/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant life, although it is frequently not readily available to crops. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) can improve plant P levels by inducing the expression of some phosphate (Pi) transporters. Symbiotic Pi uptake by Pi transporters is crucial for AMF colonization and arbuscule dynamics. However, the functions of mycorrhiza-inducible maize Pi transporters are largely unclear. We focused on the interaction between the Pi concentration and AMF colonization in maize, and detecting the induction of a Pi transporter. We investigated AMF colonization and arbuscular development in maize under high and low Pi environments. Low Pi increased AMF colonization and promoted arbuscular development. Further measurement of P concentration showed that AMF significantly improved the maize P status under low Pi conditions. Here, we identified the Pi transporter gene, ZmPt9, which was induced by mycorrhiza formation. In addition, ZmPt9-overexpressing roots were difficult to colonize by AMF. Pi response analysis showed that ZmPt9 complements a yeast mutant defective in Pi transporter activity and improves the P concentration in rice. Together, these data indicated that ZmPt9 is a mycorrhiza-inducible Pi transporter gene involved in Pi uptake.}, } @article {pmid29767334, year = {2018}, author = {Vitor, SC and do Amarante, L and Sodek, L}, title = {Are phloem-derived amino acids the origin of the elevated malate concentration in the xylem sap following mineral N starvation in soybean?.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {248}, number = {2}, pages = {437-449}, pmid = {29767334}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Malates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phloem/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/drug effects ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Soybeans/drug effects/*metabolism ; Urea/pharmacology ; Xylem/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A substantial increase in malate in the xylem sap of soybean subjected to mineral N starvation originates mainly from aspartate, a prominent amino acid of the phloem. A substantial increase in xylem malate was found when non-nodulated soybean plants were transferred to a N-free medium. Nodulated plants growing in the absence of mineral N and, therefore, dependent on symbiotic N2 fixation also contained elevated concentrations of malate in the xylem sap. When either nitrate or ammonium was supplied, malate concentrations in the xylem sap were low, both for nodulated and non-nodulated plants. Evidence was obtained that the elevated malate concentration of the xylem was derived from amino acids supplied by the phloem. Aspartate was a prominent component of the phloem sap amino acids and, therefore, a potential source of malate. Supplying the roots of intact plants with [13]C-aspartate revealed that malate of the xylem sap was readily labelled under N starvation. A hypothetical scheme is proposed whereby aspartate supplied by the phloem is metabolised in the roots and the products of this metabolism cycled back to the shoot. Under N starvation, aspartate metabolism is diverted from asparagine synthesis to supply N for the synthesis of other amino acids via transaminase activity. The by-product of aspartate transaminase activity, oxaloacetate, is transformed to malate and its export accounts for much of the elevated concentration of malate found in the xylem sap. This mechanism represents a new additional role for malate during mineral N starvation of soybean, beyond that of charge balance.}, } @article {pmid29766224, year = {2019}, author = {García-Bonilla, E and Brandão, PFB and Pérez, T and Junca, H}, title = {Stable and Enriched Cenarchaeum symbiosum and Uncultured Betaproteobacteria HF1 in the Microbiome of the Mediterranean Sponge Haliclona fulva (Demospongiae: Haplosclerida).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {25-36}, pmid = {29766224}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Bacteria ; Betaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Archaeal/analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; France ; Haliclona/*microbiology ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbor characteristic microbiomes derived from symbiotic relationships shaping their lifestyle and survival. Haliclona fulva is encrusting marine sponge species dwelling in coralligenous accretions or semidark caves of the Mediterranean Sea and the near Atlantic Ocean. In this work, we characterized the abundance and core microbial community composition found in specimens of H. fulva by means of electron microscopy and 16S amplicon Illumina sequencing. We provide evidence of its low microbial abundance (LMA) nature. We found that the H. fulva core microbiome is dominated by sequences belonging to the orders Nitrosomonadales and Cenarchaeales. Seventy percent of the reads assigned to these phylotypes grouped in a very small number of high-frequency operational taxonomic units, representing niche-specific species Cenarchaeum symbiosum and uncultured Betaproteobacteria HF1, a new eubacterial ribotype variant found in H. fulva. The microbial composition of H. fulva is quite distinct from those reported in sponge species of the same Haliclona genus. We also detected evidence of an excretion/capturing loop between these abundant microorganisms and planktonic microbes by analyzing shifts in seawater planktonic microbial content exposed to healthy sponge specimens maintained in aquaria. Our results suggest that horizontal transmission is very likely the main mechanism for symbionts' acquisition by H. fulva. So far, this is the first shallow water sponge species harboring such a specific and predominant assemblage composed of these eubacterial and archaeal ribotypes. Our data suggests that this symbiotic relationship is very stable over time, indicating that the identified core microbial symbionts may play key roles in the holobiont functioning.}, } @article {pmid29765384, year = {2018}, author = {Casarrubia, S and Daghino, S and Kohler, A and Morin, E and Khouja, HR and Daguerre, Y and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Martin, FM and Perotto, S and Martino, E}, title = {The Hydrophobin-Like OmSSP1 May Be an Effector in the Ericoid Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {546}, pmid = {29765384}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mutualistic and pathogenic plant-colonizing fungi use effector molecules to manipulate the host cell metabolism to allow plant tissue invasion. Some small secreted proteins (SSPs) have been identified as fungal effectors in both ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, but it is currently unknown whether SSPs also play a role as effectors in other mycorrhizal associations. Ericoid mycorrhiza is a specific endomycorrhizal type that involves symbiotic fungi mostly belonging to the Leotiomycetes (Ascomycetes) and plants in the family Ericaceae. Genomic and RNASeq data from the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Oidiodendron maius led to the identification of several symbiosis-upregulated genes encoding putative SSPs. OmSSP1, the most highly symbiosis up-regulated SSP, was found to share some features with fungal hydrophobins, even though it lacks the Pfam hydrophobin domain. Sequence alignment with other hydrophobins and hydrophobin-like fungal proteins placed OmSSP1 within Class I hydrophobins. However, the predicted features of OmSSP1 may suggest a distinct type of hydrophobin-like proteins. The presence of a predicted signal peptide and a yeast-based signal sequence trap assay demonstrate that OmSSP1 is secreted. OmSSP1 null-mutants showed a reduced capacity to form ericoid mycorrhiza with Vaccinium myrtillus roots, suggesting a role as effectors in the ericoid mycorrhizal interaction.}, } @article {pmid29765363, year = {2018}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Tivey, TR and Mandelare, PE and Adpressa, DA and Loesgen, S and Weis, VM}, title = {Subtle Differences in Symbiont Cell Surface Glycan Profiles Do Not Explain Species-Specific Colonization Rates in a Model Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {842}, pmid = {29765363}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mutualisms between cnidarian hosts and dinoflagellate endosymbionts are foundational to coral reef ecosystems. These symbioses are often re-established every generation with high specificity, but gaps remain in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that control symbiont recognition and uptake dynamics. Here, we tested whether differences in glycan profiles among different symbiont species account for the different rates at which they initially colonize aposymbiotic polyps of the model sea anemone Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida). First, we used a lectin array to characterize the glycan profiles of colonizing Symbiodinium minutum (ITS2 type B1) and noncolonizing Symbiodinium pilosum (ITS2 type A2), finding subtle differences in the binding of lectins Euonymus europaeus lectin (EEL) and Urtica dioica agglutinin lectin (UDA) that distinguish between high-mannoside and hybrid-type protein linked glycans. Next, we enzymatically cleaved glycans from the surfaces of S. minutum cultures and followed their recovery using flow cytometry, establishing a 48-72 h glycan turnover rate for this species. Finally, we exposed aposymbiotic host polyps to cultured S. minutum cells masked by EEL or UDA lectins for 48 h, then measured cell densities the following day. We found no effect of glycan masking on symbiont density, providing further support to the hypothesis that glycan-lectin interactions are more important for post-phagocytic persistence of specific symbionts than they are for initial uptake. We also identified several methodological and biological factors that may limit the utility of studying glycan masking in the Aiptasia system.}, } @article {pmid29765359, year = {2018}, author = {Ingala, MR and Simmons, NB and Wultsch, C and Krampis, K and Speer, KA and Perkins, SL}, title = {Comparing Microbiome Sampling Methods in a Wild Mammal: Fecal and Intestinal Samples Record Different Signals of Host Ecology, Evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {803}, pmid = {29765359}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gut microbiome is a community of host-associated symbiotic microbes that fulfills multiple key roles in host metabolism, immune function, and tissue development. Given the ability of the microbiome to impact host fitness, there is increasing interest in studying the microbiome of wild animals to better understand these communities in the context of host ecology and evolution. Human microbiome research protocols are well established, but wildlife microbiome research is still a developing field. Currently, there is no standardized set of best practices guiding the collection of microbiome samples from wildlife. Gut microflora are typically sampled either by fecal collection, rectal swabbing, or by destructively sampling the intestinal contents of the host animal. Studies rarely include more than one sampling technique and no comparison of these methods currently exists for a wild mammal. Although some studies have hypothesized that the fecal microbiome is a nested subset of the intestinal microbiome, this hypothesis has not been formally tested. To address these issues, we examined guano (feces) and distal intestinal mucosa from 19 species of free-ranging bats from Lamanai, Belize, using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to compare microbial communities across sample types. We found that the diversity and composition of intestine and guano samples differed substantially. In addition, we conclude that signatures of host evolution are retained by studying gut microbiomes based on mucosal tissue samples, but not fecal samples. Conversely, fecal samples retained more signal of host diet than intestinal samples. These results suggest that fecal and intestinal sampling methods are not interchangeable, and that these two microbiotas record different information about the host from which they are isolated.}, } @article {pmid29764946, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Y and Stata, M and Wang, W and Stajich, JE and White, MM and Moncalvo, JM}, title = {Comparative Genomics Reveals the Core Gene Toolbox for the Fungus-Insect Symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29764946}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Modern genomics has shed light on many entomopathogenic fungi and expanded our knowledge widely; however, little is known about the genomic features of the insect-commensal fungi. Harpellales are obligate commensals living in the digestive tracts of disease-bearing insects (black flies, midges, and mosquitoes). In this study, we produced and annotated whole-genome sequences of nine Harpellales taxa and conducted the first comparative analyses to infer the genomic diversity within the members of the Harpellales. The genomes of the insect gut fungi feature low (26% to 37%) GC content and large genome size variations (25 to 102 Mb). Further comparisons with insect-pathogenic fungi (from both Ascomycota and Zoopagomycota), as well as with free-living relatives (as negative controls), helped to identify a gene toolbox that is essential to the fungus-insect symbiosis. The results not only narrow the genomic scope of fungus-insect interactions from several thousands to eight core players but also distinguish host invasion strategies employed by insect pathogens and commensals. The genomic content suggests that insect commensal fungi rely mostly on adhesion protein anchors that target digestive system, while entomopathogenic fungi have higher numbers of transmembrane helices, signal peptides, and pathogen-host interaction (PHI) genes across the whole genome and enrich genes as well as functional domains to inactivate the host inflammation system and suppress the host defense. Phylogenomic analyses have revealed that genome sizes of Harpellales fungi vary among lineages with an integer-multiple pattern, which implies that ancient genome duplications may have occurred within the gut of insects.IMPORTANCE Insect guts harbor various microbes that are important for host digestion, immune response, and disease dispersal in certain cases. Bacteria, which are among the primary endosymbionts, have been studied extensively. However, fungi, which are also frequently encountered, are poorly known with respect to their biology within the insect guts. To understand the genomic features and related biology, we produced the whole-genome sequences of nine gut commensal fungi from disease-bearing insects (black flies, midges, and mosquitoes). The results show that insect gut fungi tend to have low GC content across their genomes. By comparing these commensals with entomopathogenic and free-living fungi that have available genome sequences, we found a universal core gene toolbox that is unique and thus potentially important for the insect-fungus symbiosis. This comparative work also uncovered different host invasion strategies employed by insect pathogens and commensals, as well as a model system to study ancient fungal genome duplication within the gut of insects.}, } @article {pmid29763309, year = {2018}, author = {Shimizu, H and Nakajima, M and Miyanaga, A and Takahashi, Y and Tanaka, N and Kobayashi, K and Sugimoto, N and Nakai, H and Taguchi, H}, title = {Characterization and Structural Analysis of a Novel exo-Type Enzyme Acting on β-1,2-Glucooligosaccharides from Parabacteroides distasonis.}, journal = {Biochemistry}, volume = {57}, number = {26}, pages = {3849-3860}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00385}, pmid = {29763309}, issn = {1520-4995}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry ; Bacteroidetes/*enzymology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Glucosidases/*chemistry ; *Molecular Docking Simulation ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry ; Protein Domains ; beta-Glucans/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {β-1,2-Glucan is a polysaccharide produced mainly by some Gram-negative bacteria as a symbiosis and infectious factor. We recently identified endo-β-1,2-glucanase from Chitinophaga pinensis (CpSGL) as an enzyme comprising a new family. Here, we report the characteristics and crystal structure of a CpSGL homologue from Parabacteroides distasonis, an intestinal bacterium (BDI_3064 protein), which exhibits distinctive properties of known β-1,2-glucan-degrading enzymes. BDI_3064 hydrolyzed linear β-1,2-glucan and β-1,2-glucooligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization (DPs) of ≥4 to produce sophorose specifically but did not hydrolyze cyclic β-1,2-glucan. This result indicates that BDI_3064 is a new exo-type enzyme. BDI_3064 also produced sophorose from β-1,2-glucooligosaccharide analogues that have a modified reducing end, indicating that BDI_3064 acts on its substrates from the nonreducing end. The crystal structure showed that BDI_3064 possesses additional N-terminal domains 1 and 2, unlike CpSGL. Superimposition of BDI_3064 and CpSGL complexed with ligands showed that R93 in domain 1 overlapped subsite -3 in CpSGL. Docking analysis involving a β-1,2-glucooligosaccharide with DP4 showed that R93 completely blocks the nonreducing end of the docked β-1,2-glucooligosaccharide. This indicates that BDI_3064 employs a distinct mechanism of recognition at the nonreducing end of substrates to act as an exo-type enzyme. Thus, we propose 2-β-d-glucooligosaccharide sophorohydrolase (nonreducing end) as a systematic name for BDI_3064.}, } @article {pmid29762699, year = {2018}, author = {Salmonová, H and Killer, J and Bunešová, V and Geigerová, M and Vlková, E}, title = {Cultivable bacteria from Pectinatella magnifica and the surrounding water in South Bohemia indicate potential new Gammaproteobacterial, Betaproteobacterial and Firmicutes taxa.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {365}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fny118}, pmid = {29762699}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Bryozoa/*microbiology ; Czech Republic ; Firmicutes/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Fresh Water/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Pectinatella magnifica is a freshwater bryozoan, which has become a subject of scientific interest because of its invasive expansion worldwide. To obtain a comprehensive overview of its influence on environments, information on associated bacteria is needed. In this study, cultivable bacteria associated with P. magnifica were investigated. In total, 253 isolates were selected for preliminary identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry and clustered based on repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR profiles. Among these, 169 strains were selected and identified using 16S rRNA gene comparative analyses. The sequences were grouped into 76 phylotypes and affiliated with 67 species. The majority of isolated bacteria belonged to Gammaproteobacteria, followed by Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. Most strains within the Betaproteobacteria were isolated exclusively from bryozoan colonies. Aeromonas was the genus predominantly isolated from both P. magnifica and the water samples. Based on 16S rDNA similarity values, 15 putative new species belonging to the genera Aeromonas, Aquitalea, Clostridium, Herbaspirillum, Chromobacterium, Chryseobacterium, Morganella, Paludibacterium, Pectobacterium, Rahnella, Rhodoferax and Serratia, and putative new genera belonging to families Clostridiaceae and Sporomusaceae were revealed. The majority of the detected bacteria were species widely distributed in the environments; nevertheless, a possible symbiotic association of two new putative species with P. magnifica cannot be excluded.}, } @article {pmid29761370, year = {2018}, author = {Bourrat, P and Griffiths, PE}, title = {Multispecies individuals.}, journal = {History and philosophy of the life sciences}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {33}, doi = {10.1007/s40656-018-0194-1}, pmid = {29761370}, issn = {0391-9714}, mesh = {Alismatales/growth & development/physiology ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/physiology ; Humans ; Individuality ; Life History Traits ; *Microbiota ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We assess the arguments for recognising functionally integrated multispecies consortia as genuine biological individuals, including cases of so-called 'holobionts'. We provide two examples in which the same core biochemical processes that sustain life are distributed across a consortium of individuals of different species. Although the same chemistry features in both examples, proponents of the holobiont as unit of evolution would recognize one of the two cases as a multispecies individual whilst they would consider the other as a compelling case of ecological dependence between separate individuals. Some widely used arguments in support of the 'holobiont' concept apply equally to both cases, suggesting that those arguments have misidentified what is at stake when seeking to identify a new level of biological individuality. One important aspect of biological individuality is evolutionary individuality. In line with other work on the evolution of individuality, we show that our cases can be distinguished by focusing on the fitness alignment between the partners of the consortia. We conclude that much of the evidence currently presented for the ubiquity and importance of multi-species individuals is simply not to the point, at least unless the issue of biological individuality is firmly divorced from the question of evolutionary individuality.}, } @article {pmid29761320, year = {2018}, author = {Chagnon, PL and Magain, N and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Strong specificity and network modularity at a very fine phylogenetic scale in the lichen genus Peltigera.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {187}, number = {3}, pages = {767-782}, pmid = {29761320}, issn = {1432-1939}, support = {DEB-1025930//National Science Foundation/International ; DEB-1556995//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; *Lichens ; *Nostoc ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Identifying the drivers and evolutionary consequences of species interactions is a major goal of community ecology. Network-based analyses can provide mathematical tools to detect non-random patterns of interactions, and potentially help predicting the consequences of such patterns on evolutionary dynamics of symbiotic systems. Here, we characterize the structure of a lichen network at a very fine phylogenetic scale, by identifying the photosynthetic partners (i.e., cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc) of lichenized fungi belonging to a monophyletic section of a single genus (i.e., section Polydactylon of the genus Peltigera), worldwide. Even at such a fine phylogenetic scale, we found that interactions were highly modular and anti-nested, indicating strong preferences in interactions. When considering local Peltigera communities, i.e., datasets at small spatial scales with only a slightly broader phylogenetic range, interactions remained modular but were asymmetric, with generalist Nostoc partners interacting with specialized Peltigera species. This asymmetry was not detected with our global spatial scale dataset. We discuss these results in the light of lichen community assembly, and explore how such interaction patterns may influence coevolution in lichens and the evolutionary stability of the mutualism in general.}, } @article {pmid29761037, year = {2018}, author = {Duplouy, A and Hornett, EA}, title = {Uncovering the hidden players in Lepidoptera biology: the heritable microbial endosymbionts.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4629}, pmid = {29761037}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The Lepidoptera is one of the most widespread and recognisable insect orders. Due to their remarkable diversity, economic and ecological importance, moths and butterflies have been studied extensively over the last 200 years. More recently, the relationship between Lepidoptera and their heritable microbial endosymbionts has received increasing attention. Heritable endosymbionts reside within the host's body and are often, but not exclusively, inherited through the female line. Advancements in molecular genetics have revealed that host-associated microbes are both extremely prevalent among arthropods and highly diverse. Furthermore, heritable endosymbionts have been repeatedly demonstrated to play an integral role in many aspects of host biology, particularly host reproduction. Here, we review the major findings of research of heritable microbial endosymbionts of butterflies and moths. We promote the Lepidoptera as important models in the study of reproductive manipulations employed by heritable endosymbionts, with the mechanisms underlying male-killing and feminisation currently being elucidated in moths and butterflies. We also reveal that the vast majority of research undertaken of Lepidopteran endosymbionts concerns Wolbachia. While this highly prevalent bacterium is undoubtedly important, studies should move towards investigating the presence of other, and interacting endosymbionts, and we discuss the merits of examining the microbiome of Lepidoptera to this end. We finally consider the importance of understanding the influence of endosymbionts under global environmental change and when planning conservation management of endangered Lepidoptera species.}, } @article {pmid29760765, year = {2018}, author = {Ho-Plágaro, T and Huertas, R and Tamayo-Navarrete, MI and Ocampo, JA and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {An improved method for Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of tomato suitable for the study of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {34}, pmid = {29760765}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Solanum lycopersicum, an economically important crop grown worldwide, has been used as a model for the study of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in non-legume plants for several years and several cDNA array hybridization studies have revealed specific transcriptomic profiles of mycorrhizal tomato roots. However, a method to easily screen candidate genes which could play an important role during tomato mycorrhization is required.

RESULTS: We have developed an optimized procedure for composite tomato plant obtaining achieved through Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. This protocol involves the unusual in vitro culture of composite plants between two filter papers placed on the culture media. In addition, we show that DsRed is an appropriate molecular marker for the precise selection of cotransformed tomato hairy roots. S. lycopersicum composite plant hairy roots appear to be colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis in a manner similar to that of normal roots, and a modified construct useful for localizing the expression of promoters putatively associated with mycorrhization was developed and tested.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we present an easy, fast and low-cost procedure to study AM symbiosis in tomato roots.}, } @article {pmid29760298, year = {2018}, author = {Shiu, JH and Ding, JY and Tseng, CH and Lou, SP and Mezaki, T and Wu, YT and Wang, HI and Tang, SL}, title = {A Newly Designed Primer Revealed High Phylogenetic Diversity of Endozoicomonas in Coral Reefs.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {172-185}, pmid = {29760298}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Japan ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Endozoicomonas bacteria are commonly regarded as having a potentially symbiotic relationship with their coral hosts. However, their diversity and phylogeny in samples collected from various sources remain unclear. Therefore, we designed an Endozoicomonas-specific primer paired with a bacterial universal primer to detect the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes of this taxon and conducted an in-depth investigation of the Endozoicomonas community structure in reef-building corals. The primer had high specificity in the V3-V4 region (95.6%) and its sensitivity was high, particularly when Endozoicomonas was rare in samples (e.g., in seawater, which had a higher alpha diversity of Endozoicomonas than corals). In coral samples, predominant V3-V4 ribotypes had greater divergence than predominant V1-V2 ribotypes, and were grouped into at least 9 novel clades in a phylogenetic tree, indicating Endozoicomonas had high phylogenetic diversity. Divergence within this genus was potentially higher than that among 7 outgroup genera based on the phylogenetic distances of partial 16S rDNA sequences, suggesting that the taxonomy of this genus needs to be revised. In conclusion, dominant Endozoicomonas populations had variable phylogenies; furthermore, the newly designed primers may be useful molecular tools for the reliable detection of the Endozoicomonas community in marine environments.}, } @article {pmid29759900, year = {2018}, author = {Ruan, H and Hu, M and Chen, J and Li, X and Li, T and Lai, Y and Wang, ET and Gu, J}, title = {Detection of the type III secretion system and its phylogenetic and symbiotic characterization in peanut bradyrhizobia isolated from Guangdong Province, China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {5}, pages = {437-443}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.03.006}, pmid = {29759900}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Multigene Family/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The distribution of rhcRST and rhcJ-C1 fragments located in different loci of the type III secretion system (T3SS) gene cluster in the peanut-nodulating bradyrhizobia isolated from Guangdong Province, China was investigated by PCR-based sequencing. T3SS was detected in approximately one-third of the peanut bradyrhizobial strains and the T3SS-harboring strains belonging to different Bradyrhizobium genomic species. Diverse T3SS groups corresponding to different symbiotic gene types were defined among the 23 T3SS-harboring strains. The same or similar T3SS genes were detected in different genospecies, indicating that interspecies horizontal transfer of symbiotic genes had occurred in the Bradyrhizobium genus.}, } @article {pmid29757250, year = {2018}, author = {Watters, DJ}, title = {Ascidian Toxins with Potential for Drug Development.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {29757250}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytoskeleton/drug effects ; *Drug Design ; Humans ; Marine Toxins/*pharmacology/therapeutic use/toxicity ; Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/drug therapy ; Protein Biosynthesis/drug effects ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Urochordata/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ascidians (tunicates) are invertebrate chordates, and prolific producers of a wide variety of biologically active secondary metabolites from cyclic peptides to aromatic alkaloids. Several of these compounds have properties which make them candidates for potential new drugs to treat diseases such as cancer. Many of these natural products are not produced by the ascidians themselves, rather by their associated symbionts. This review will focus mainly on the mechanism of action of important classes of cytotoxic molecules isolated from ascidians. These toxins affect DNA transcription, protein translation, drug efflux pumps, signaling pathways and the cytoskeleton. Two ascidian compounds have already found applications in the treatment of cancer and others are being investigated for their potential in cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases.}, } @article {pmid29756575, year = {2019}, author = {He, J and Guo, H and Zheng, W and Yao, W}, title = {Effects of Stress on the Mucus-microbial Interactions in the Gut.}, journal = {Current protein & peptide science}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {155-163}, doi = {10.2174/1389203719666180514152406}, pmid = {29756575}, issn = {1875-5550}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Mucus/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Stress shows both direct- and indirect-effects on the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular on the mucus physiology and the composition of microbiota. Mucus mainly consists of heavily glycosylated proteins called mucins, which are secreted by goblet cells. The gut mucus layer is a pivotal part of the intestinal protection and colonized by commensal microbes, essential for the development and health of the host. There is a symbiotic interaction between intestinal microbiota and the host cells. On the one hand, mucus provides nutrients for the growth and adhesion of microbes; on the other hand, mucin-degrading bacteria generate energy sources for the host epithelium. However, the mucusmicrobial interaction has rarely been considered in the context of stress exposure. Therefore, this paper principally reviews the effects of stress on both mucus secretion and gut microbiota and is hoped to provide a new perspective for future study.}, } @article {pmid29756204, year = {2018}, author = {Bowman, EA and Arnold, AE}, title = {Distributions of ectomycorrhizal and foliar endophytic fungal communities associated with Pinus ponderosa along a spatially constrained elevation gradient.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {105}, number = {4}, pages = {687-699}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1072}, pmid = {29756204}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Altitude ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus ponderosa/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Understanding distributions of plant-symbiotic fungi is important for projecting responses to environmental change. Many coniferous trees host ectomycorrhizal fungi (EM) in association with roots and foliar endophytic fungi (FE) in leaves. We examined how EM and FE associated with Pinus ponderosa each vary in abundance, diversity, and community structure over a spatially constrained elevation gradient that traverses four plant communities, 4°C in mean annual temperature, and 15 cm in mean annual precipitation.

METHODS: We sampled 63 individuals of Pinus ponderosa in 10 sites along a 635 m elevation gradient that encompassed a geographic distance of 9.8 km. We used standard methods to characterize each fungal group (amplified and sequenced EM from root tips; isolated and sequenced FE from leaves).

KEY RESULTS: Abundance and diversity of EM were similar across sites, but community composition and distributions of the most common EM differed with elevation (i.e., with climate, soil chemistry, and plant communities). Abundance and composition of FE did not differ with elevation, but diversity peaked in mid-to-high elevations.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest relatively tight linkages between EM and climate, soil chemistry, and plant communities. That FE appear less linked with these factors may speak to limitations of a culture-based approach, but more likely reflects the small spatial scale encompassed by our study. Future work should consider comparable methods for characterizing these functional groups, and additional transects to understand relationships of EM and FE to environmental factors that are likely to shift as a function of climate change.}, } @article {pmid29755207, year = {2018}, author = {Xiong, Y and Yang, R and Sun, X and Yang, H and Chen, H}, title = {Effect of the epiphytic bacterium Bacillus sp. WPySW2 on the metabolism of Pyropia haitanensis.}, journal = {Journal of applied phycology}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {1225-1237}, pmid = {29755207}, issn = {0921-8971}, abstract = {A variety of different symbiotic microbial communities are harbored on the surface of seaweeds, the interactions of which depend upon nutritional exchanges between the microbes and the hosts. Metabolomic profiling is able to provide a comprehensive and unbiased snapshot of the metabolites associated with seaweed-microbe interactions. In this study, the relationships between phycosphere bacteria and the red alga Pyropia haitanensis were investigated on a metabolomic basis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the pathways of the interactions between the seaweed and its associated phycospheric microbes were revealed. Bacillus sp. WPySW2, one bacterial species isolated from the phycosphere of Pyropia species, had a significant influence on the metabolomic profile of the algae. Some of the intracellular metabolites such as phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, tyrosine, threonine, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, and citric acid were downregulated in the thalli of P. haitanensis when it was co-cultured with Bacillus sp. WPySW2, while several special metabolites including melibiose, serine, glycerol-3-phosphate, galactosylglycerol, and alanine were upregulated. The results demonstrated that P. haitanensis grew better when it was co-cultured with Bacillus sp. WPySW2 at 20 °C. In conclusion, several main intracellular metabolites were downregulated and upregulated, which might have facilitated bacterial colonization.}, } @article {pmid29755204, year = {2018}, author = {Ridley, CJA and Day, JG and Smith, AG}, title = {Cryopreservation studies of an artificial co-culture between the cobalamin-requiring green alga Lobomonas rostrata and the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti.}, journal = {Journal of applied phycology}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {995-1003}, pmid = {29755204}, issn = {0921-8971}, abstract = {Algal-bacterial co-cultures, rather than cultures of algae alone, are regarded as having the potential to enhance productivity and stability in industrial algal cultivation. As with other inocula in biotechnology, to avoid loss of production strains, it is important to develop preservation methods for the long-term storage of these cultures, and one of the most commonly used approaches is cryopreservation. However, whilst there are many reports of cryopreserved xenic algal cultures, little work has been reported on the intentional preservation of both algae and beneficial bacteria in xenic cultures. Instead, studies have focused on the development of methods to conserve the algal strain(s) present, or to avoid overgrowth of bacteria in xenic isolates during the post-thaw recovery phase. Here, we have established a co-cryopreservation method for the long-term storage of both partners in a unialgal-bacterial co-culture. This is an artificial model mutualism between the alga Lobomonas rostrata and the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti, which provides vitamin B12 (cobalamin) to the alga in return for photosynthate. Using a Planer Kryo 360 controlled-rate cooler, post-thaw viability (PTV) values of 72% were obtained for the co-culture, compared to 91% for the axenic alga. The cultures were successfully revived after 6 months storage in liquid nitrogen, and continued to exhibit mutualism. Furthermore, the alga could be cryopreserved with non-symbiotic bacteria, without bacterial overgrowth occurring. It was also possible to use less controllable passive freezer chambers to cryopreserve the co-cultures, although the PTV was lower. Finally, we demonstrated that an optimised cryopreservation method may be used to prevent the overgrowth potential of non-symbiotic, adventitious bacteria in both axenic and co-cultures of L. rostrata after thawing.}, } @article {pmid29754180, year = {2019}, author = {Zhou, J and Duan, J and Gao, M and Wang, Y and Wang, X and Zhao, K}, title = {Diversity, Roles, and Biotechnological Applications of Symbiotic Microorganisms in the Gut of Termite.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {76}, number = {6}, pages = {755-761}, pmid = {29754180}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Fungi/classification/growth & development/*metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology/parasitology ; Isoptera/*microbiology/parasitology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Oxymonadida/classification/growth & development/*metabolism ; Parabasalidea/classification/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termites are global pests and can cause serious damage to buildings, crops, and plantation forests. The symbiotic intestinal flora plays an important role in the digestion of cellulose and nitrogen in the life of termites. Termites and their symbiotic microbes in the gut form a synergistic system. These organism work together to digest lignocellulose to make the termites grow on nitrogen deficient food. In this paper, the diversity of symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites, including protozoan, spirochetes, actinomycetes, fungus and bacteria, and their role in the digestion of lignocellulose and also the biotechnological applications of these symbiotic microorganisms are discussed. The high efficiency lignocellulose degradation systems of symbiotic microbes in termite gut not only provided a new way of biological energy development, but also has immense prospect in the application of cellulase enzymes. In addition, the study on the symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites will also provide a new method for the biological control of termites by the endophytic bacteria in the gut of termites.}, } @article {pmid29753881, year = {2018}, author = {Rogers, S and Honma, K and Mang, TS}, title = {Confocal fluorescence imaging to evaluate the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy depth on P. gingivalis and T. denticola biofilms.}, journal = {Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy}, volume = {23}, number = {}, pages = {18-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.pdpdt.2018.04.015}, pmid = {29753881}, issn = {1873-1597}, mesh = {Anthraquinones/*pharmacology ; Biofilms/*drug effects ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Microbial Viability ; Optical Imaging ; Photochemotherapy/*methods ; Photosensitizing Agents/*pharmacology ; Plankton/drug effects ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/*drug effects ; Treponema denticola/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola are both principally implicated in the incidence of both periodontal disease and peri-implantitis. Recent studies have demonstrated that these bacteria exhibit symbiotic growth in vitro and a synergistic virulence in co-infection of animal models. Found at varying depths throughout the biofilm, these bacteria present a significant challenge to traditional antimicrobial treatment modalities. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has yielded high success against bacterial biofilms, namely those found in the oral cavity. Data on the use of aPDT against these particular periodontal pathogens is, however, scarce. Here, we studied the qualitative killing efficacy and depth of drug and laser penetration into defined P. gingivalis and T. denticola biofilms.

METHODS: P. gingivalis and T. denticola were incubated under anaerobic (10%CO2, 10%H2, 80%N2) conditions for two days in diluted TSB with PBS (TYGVS for T. denticola maintenance) to elicit biofilm growth on coverslip-modified polystyrene dishes. Treated biofilms were exposed to a purpurin-based sensitizer (25 μg/mL in DMSO) for 30 min, and then aPDT was carried out using a diode laser at 664 nm. Light doses of 15 and 45 J/cm2 were used. All biofilms were then exposed to Filmtracer™ LIVE/DEAD[®] Biofilm Viability Kit (Cat No. L10316). Qualitative analysis was performed using a Zeiss LSM 510 Meta NLO Confocal Microscope with attached Zeiss Axioimager Z1 and Axiovert 200 M for visual data collection, and images were processed using the ZEN Digital Imaging for Light Microscopy software suite. Analysis was performed in 2 × 3 stacks to assess the entire depth of both the biofilm and presumed drug/laser penetration.

RESULTS: Initial planktonic studies confirmed that the bacteria in question were present in the grown cultures and susceptible to aPDT exposure. Biofilm control groups were found to have significant levels of surviving bacterial colonies. Both treatment groups featured complete bacterial kill throughout the entirety of the biofilm (average: 23.17 μm; range: 18.13-27.20 μm).

CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of the purpurin-based PS and aPDT is demonstrated to be effective at both high and low light doses. Bacterial kill was fully efficacious at each visualized biofilm layer (1.01 μm/z-level). This study serves as a proof of concept for future studies that must consider appropriate treatment parameters, including the amount of applied PS, and laser dose. These findings indicate that aPDT is a method that can be used to eliminate microorganisms associated with biofilms implicated in the etiology of peri-implantitis and periodontitis at large.}, } @article {pmid29753796, year = {2018}, author = {Cussotto, S and Sandhu, KV and Dinan, TG and Cryan, JF}, title = {The Neuroendocrinology of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: A Behavioural Perspective.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroendocrinology}, volume = {51}, number = {}, pages = {80-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.04.002}, pmid = {29753796}, issn = {1095-6808}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Addictive/metabolism/physiopathology ; Brain/metabolism/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Learning/*physiology ; Neurosecretory Systems/metabolism/*physiology ; Sexual Behavior/*physiology ; *Social Behavior ; *Stress, Psychological/metabolism/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {The human gut harbours trillions of symbiotic bacteria that play a key role in programming different aspects of host physiology in health and disease. These intestinal microbes are also key components of the gut-brain axis, the bidirectional communication pathway between the gut and the central nervous system (CNS). In addition, the CNS is closely interconnected with the endocrine system to regulate many physiological processes. An expanding body of evidence is supporting the notion that gut microbiota modifications and/or manipulations may also play a crucial role in the manifestation of specific behavioural responses regulated by neuroendocrine pathways. In this review, we will focus on how the intestinal microorganisms interact with elements of the host neuroendocrine system to modify behaviours relevant to stress, eating behaviour, sexual behaviour, social behaviour, cognition and addiction.}, } @article {pmid29753651, year = {2018}, author = {Hernández-Jarguín, A and Díaz-Sánchez, S and Villar, M and de la Fuente, J}, title = {Integrated metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics for the characterization of bacterial microbiota in unfed Ixodes ricinus.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {1241-1251}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.020}, pmid = {29753651}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Arachnid Vectors/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Biofilms ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Larva/*microbiology ; Lyme Disease/microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Proteomics/*methods ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {An innovative metaomics approach integrating metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics was used to characterize bacterial communities in the microbiota of the Lyme borreliosis spirochete vector, Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae). Whole internal tissues and salivary glands from unfed larvae and female ticks, respectively were used. Reused I. ricinus RNA-sequencing data for metranscriptomics analysis together with metaproteomics provided a better characterization of tick bacterial microbiota by increasing bacteria identification and support for identified bacteria with putative functional implications. The results showed the presence of symbiotic, commensal, soil, environmental, and pathogenic bacteria in the I. ricinus microbiota, including previously unrecognized commensal and soil microorganisms. The results of the metaomics approach may have implications in the characterization of putative mechanisms by which pathogen infection manipulates tick microbiota to facilitate infection. Metaomics approaches integrating different omics datasets would provide a better description of tick microbiota compositions, and insights into tick interactions with microbiota, pathogens and hosts.}, } @article {pmid29753631, year = {2018}, author = {Cosme, M and Fernández, I and Van der Heijden, MGA and Pieterse, CMJ}, title = {Non-Mycorrhizal Plants: The Exceptions that Prove the Rule.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {577-587}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2018.04.004}, pmid = {29753631}, issn = {1878-4372}, support = {269072/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/microbiology ; Brassicaceae/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*pathogenicity ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The widespread symbiotic interaction between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi relies on a complex molecular dialog with reciprocal benefits in terms of nutrition, growth, and protection. Approximately 29% of all vascular plant species do not host AM symbiosis, including major crops. Under certain conditions, however, presumed non-host plants can become colonized by AM fungi and develop rudimentary AM (RAM) phenotypes. Here we zoom in on the mustard family (Brassicaceae), which harbors AM hosts, non-hosts, and presumed non-host species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, for which conditional RAM colonization has been described. We advocate that RAM phenotypes and redundant genomic elements of the symbiotic 'toolkit' are missing links that can help to unravel genetic constraints that drive the evolution of symbiotic incompatibility.}, } @article {pmid29752265, year = {2018}, author = {Stoudenmire, JL and Essock-Burns, T and Weathers, EN and Solaimanpour, S and Mrázek, J and Stabb, EV}, title = {An Iterative, Synthetic Approach To Engineer a High-Performance PhoB-Specific Reporter.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {14}, pages = {}, pmid = {29752265}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Aliivibrio/genetics ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Photobacterium/genetics ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Salmonella enterica/genetics ; Sequence Analysis ; Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Transcriptional reporters are common tools for analyzing either the transcription of a gene of interest or the activity of a specific transcriptional regulator. Unfortunately, the latter application has the shortcoming that native promoters did not evolve as optimal readouts for the activity of a particular regulator. We sought to synthesize an optimized transcriptional reporter for assessing PhoB activity, aiming for maximal "on" expression when PhoB is active, minimal background in the "off" state, and no control elements for other regulators. We designed specific sequences for promoter elements with appropriately spaced PhoB-binding sites, and at 19 additional intervening nucleotide positions for which we did not predict sequence-specific effects, the bases were randomized. Eighty-three such constructs were screened in Vibrio fischeri, enabling us to identify bases at particular randomized positions that significantly correlated with high-level "on" or low-level "off" expression. A second round of promoter design rationally constrained 13 additional positions, leading to a reporter with high-level PhoB-dependent expression, essentially no background, and no other known regulatory elements. As expressed reporters, we used both stable and destabilized variants of green fluorescent protein (GFP), the latter of which has a half-life of 81 min in V. fischeri In culture, PhoB induced the reporter when phosphate was depleted to a concentration below 10 μM. During symbiotic colonization of its host squid, Euprymna scolopes, the reporter indicated heterogeneous phosphate availability in different light-organ microenvironments. Finally, testing this construct in other members of the Proteobacteria demonstrated its broader utility. The results illustrate how a limited ability to predict synthetic promoter-reporter performance can be overcome through iterative screening and reengineering.IMPORTANCE Transcriptional reporters can be powerful tools for assessing when a particular regulator is active; however, native promoters may not be ideal for this purpose. Optimal reporters should be specific to the regulator being examined and should maximize the difference between the "on" and "off" states; however, these properties are distinct from the selective pressures driving the evolution of natural promoters. Synthetic promoters offer a promising alternative, but our understanding often does not enable fully predictive promoter design, and the large number of alternative sequence possibilities can be intractable. In a synthetic promoter region with over 34 billion sequence variants, we identified bases correlated with favorable performance by screening only 83 candidates, allowing us to rationally constrain our design. We thereby generated an optimized reporter that is induced by PhoB and used it to explore the low-phosphate response of V. fischeri This promoter design strategy will facilitate the engineering of other regulator-specific reporters.}, } @article {pmid29752168, year = {2018}, author = {da Costa, RR and Poulsen, M}, title = {Mixed-Mode Transmission Shapes Termite Gut Community Assemblies.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {557-559}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2018.04.005}, pmid = {29752168}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Isoptera ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding how microbial symbiont community assemblies are shaped over evolutionary time is challenging. The current state of the art involves exploring similarities and differences in communities within and between host species, often aiming to link these to host ecology and evolution. However, this masks the evolutionary histories of individual bacterial lineages.}, } @article {pmid29751062, year = {2018}, author = {Torres, D and Benavidez, I and Donadio, F and Mongiardini, E and Rosas, S and Spaepen, S and Vanderleyden, J and Pěnčík, A and Novák, O and Strnad, M and Frébortová, J and Cassán, F}, title = {New insights into auxin metabolism in Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {169}, number = {6}, pages = {313-323}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2018.04.002}, pmid = {29751062}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Alanine/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Leucine/metabolism ; Phenylalanine/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Seeds/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial metabolism of phytohormones includes several processes such as biosynthesis, catabolism, conjugation, hydrolysis and homeostatic regulation. However, only biosynthesis and occasionally catabolism are studied in depth in microorganisms. In this work, we evaluated and reconsidered IAA metabolism in Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum E109, one of the most widely used strains for soybean inoculation around the world. The genomic analysis of the strain showed the presence of several genes responsible for IAA biosynthesis, mainly via indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), indole-3-acetamide (IAM) and tryptamine (TAM) pathways. However; in vitro experiments showed that IAA is not accumulated in the culture medium in significant amounts. On the contrary, a strong degradation activity was observed after exogenous addition of 0.1 mM of IAA, IBA or NAA to the medium. B. japonicum E109 was not able to grow in culture medium containing IAA as a sole carbon source. In YEM medium, the bacteria degraded IAA and hydrolyzed amino acid auxin conjugates with alanine (IAAla), phenylalanine (IAPhe), and leucine (IAPhe), releasing IAA which was quickly degraded. Finally, the presence of exogenous IAA induced physiological changes in the bacteria such as increased biomass and exopolysaccharide production, as well as infection effectiveness and symbiotic behavior in soybean plants.}, } @article {pmid29750518, year = {2018}, author = {Richter, LV and Mansfeldt, CB and Kuan, MM and Cesare, AE and Menefee, ST and Richardson, RE and Ahner, BA}, title = {Altered Microbiome Leads to Significant Phenotypic and Transcriptomic Differences in a Lipid Accumulating Chlorophyte.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {52}, number = {12}, pages = {6854-6863}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.7b06581}, pmid = {29750518}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Biofuels ; *Chlorella ; Lipids ; *Microalgae ; *Microbiota ; Phenotype ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Given the challenges facing the economically favorable production of products from microalgae, understanding factors that might impact productivity rates including growth rates and accumulation of desired products, for example, triacylglycerols (TAG) for biodiesel feedstock, remains critical. Although operational parameters such as media composition and reactor design can clearly effect growth rates, the role of microbe-microbe interactions is just beginning to be elucidated. In this study an oleaginous marine algae Chlorella spp. C596 culture is shown to be better described as a microbial community. Perturbations to this microbial community showed a significant impact on phenotypes including sustained differences in growth rate and TAG accumulation of 2.4 and 2.5 fold, respectively. Characterization of the associated community using Illumina 16S rRNA amplicon and random shotgun transcriptomic analyses showed that the fast growth rate correlated with two specific bacterial species (Ruegeria and Rhodobacter spp). The transcriptomic response of the Chlorella species revealed that the slower growing algal consortium C596-S1 upregulated genes associated with photosynthesis and resource scavenging and decreased the expression of genes associated with transcription and translation relative to the initial C596-R1. Our studies advance the appreciation of the effects microbiomes can have on algal growth in bioreactors and suggest that symbiotic interactions are involved in a range of critical processes including nitrogen, carbon cycling, and oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid29748412, year = {2018}, author = {Sannazzaro, AI and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Caballero, M and Dip, D and Pistorio, M and Estrella, MJ}, title = {Genome Sequence of the Symbiotic Type Strain Mesorhizobium helmanticense CSLC115N Isolated from Lotus corniculatus Nodules.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {6}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {29748412}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium helmanticense is a novel species that was isolated from root nodules of Lotus corniculatus grown in an alfisol soil from Carbajosa de la Sagrada, a Mediterranean region in the province of Salamanca in northwest Spain. The whole-genome sequence of the type strain M. helmanticense CSLC115N is reported in this study.}, } @article {pmid29748120, year = {2018}, author = {Špitalská, E and Sparagano, O and Stanko, M and Schwarzová, K and Špitalský, Z and Škultéty, Ľ and Havlíková, SF}, title = {Diversity of Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, and Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii as pathogens in the tick populations of Slovakia, Central Europe.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {1207-1211}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.05.002}, pmid = {29748120}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Arachnid Vectors/*microbiology ; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/transmission ; Coxiella/cytology/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Coxiella burnetii/genetics/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Dermacentor/microbiology ; Female ; Francisella/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Ixodes/microbiology ; Ixodidae/*microbiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Public Health ; Rickettsia/genetics/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Slovakia/epidemiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens but diverse commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. A molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens and endosymbionts was carried out in Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis questing ticks collected in Slovakia. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms was evaluated by PCR in 605 individuals and by randomly sequencing 66 samples. Four species of rickettsiae (R. raoultii, R. slovaca, R. helvetica and R. monacensis) were identified and reported with an overall prevalence range between 0.4 and 50.3% (±8.0) depending on tick species, sex and locality. Partial sequencing of the gltA gene of 5 chosen samples in H. inermis showed 99% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia hungarica. The total prevalence of C. burnetii in ticks was 2.2 ± 1.7%; bacteria were confirmed in I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks. The sequences from 2 D. reticulatus males and 1 I. ricinus female ticks were compared to GenBank submissions and a 99.8% match was obtained with the pathogenic C. burnetii. Coxiella-like endosymbionts were registered in all three species of ticks from all studied sites with an average prevalence of 32.7 ± 3.7%. A phylogenetic analysis of this Coxiella sp. showed that it does not group with the pathogenic C. burnetii. The prevalence of Francisella-like microorganisms in questing ticks was 47.9 ± 3.9%, however H. inermis (n = 108) were not infested. Obtained sequences were 98% identical with previously identified Francisella-like endosymbionts in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus. Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms were identified for the first time in Slovakia, they might be considered as a non-pathogenic endosymbiont of I. ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. inermis, and future investigations could aim to assess their role in these ticks. However, this work provided further data and broadened our knowledge on bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts present in ticks in Slovakia to help understanding co-infestations, combined treatments and public health issues linked to tick bites.}, } @article {pmid29746465, year = {2018}, author = {Perdikis, S and Tonin, L and Saeedi, S and Schneider, C and Millán, JDR}, title = {The Cybathlon BCI race: Successful longitudinal mutual learning with two tetraplegic users.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {e2003787}, pmid = {29746465}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {*Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Humans ; *Learning ; *Machine Learning ; Quadriplegia/*rehabilitation ; }, abstract = {This work aims at corroborating the importance and efficacy of mutual learning in motor imagery (MI) brain-computer interface (BCI) by leveraging the insights obtained through our participation in the BCI race of the Cybathlon event. We hypothesized that, contrary to the popular trend of focusing mostly on the machine learning aspects of MI BCI training, a comprehensive mutual learning methodology that reinstates the three learning pillars (at the machine, subject, and application level) as equally significant could lead to a BCI-user symbiotic system able to succeed in real-world scenarios such as the Cybathlon event. Two severely impaired participants with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), were trained following our mutual learning approach to control their avatar in a virtual BCI race game. The competition outcomes substantiate the effectiveness of this type of training. Most importantly, the present study is one among very few to provide multifaceted evidence on the efficacy of subject learning during BCI training. Learning correlates could be derived at all levels of the interface-application, BCI output, and electroencephalography (EEG) neuroimaging-with two end-users, sufficiently longitudinal evaluation, and, importantly, under real-world and even adverse conditions.}, } @article {pmid29745013, year = {2018}, author = {Wright, MH}, title = {Chemical Proteomics of Host-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {18}, number = {18}, pages = {e1700333}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201700333}, pmid = {29745013}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology/*methods ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Proteome/*analysis ; Small Molecule Libraries/*analysis/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The dynamic proteome plays numerous roles in the interactions of microbes-whether they are invading pathogens or symbiotic organisms-and their hosts. Host and microbe sense, respond, and manipulate each other's biology via a multitude of mechanisms, resulting in alterations in protein expression or posttranslational modification that influence protein localization, activity, or binding partners. The intrinsic, temporal, and spatial complexity of multispecies systems makes identifying the molecular players challenging. Chemical proteomic approaches apply small molecule chemical tools to interrogate protein function, interactions or modifications. This review highlights recent advances in the application of these methods at the host-microbe interface.}, } @article {pmid29744709, year = {2018}, author = {Schofield, E and Jones, EP and Sarasan, V}, title = {Cryopreservation without vitrification suitable for large scale cryopreservation of orchid seeds.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {29744709}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Orchids are under threat from human activities and climate change, with populations limited to small geographic hotspots. This makes them ideal candidates for ex situ conservation. Orchid seeds are desiccation tolerant, but often have poor longevity in seed banks and cryopreservation of orchid protocorms is complex and expensive. Therefore, simple methods for large-scale storage programs are essential to store orchid seeds of different life forms. Seeds of five species representing epiphytic, lithophytic and terrestrial orchids from the Central Highlands of Madagascar were studied to find a simple and effective system of cryopreservation. The use of a vitrification solution prior to cryopreservation to improve survival was investigated, as well as the use of symbiotic and asymbiotic germination media to maximise germination after cryopreservation. Using the filter paper packet method, dried seeds were stored in vapour phase above liquid nitrogen and recovered after thawing with both symbiotic and asymbiotic media.

RESULTS: The study revealed that cryoprotection is not essential for the species in this study, which represented a range of lifeforms. Vitrification generally led to a decrease in germination post cryopreservation. The use of a symbiotic germination medium post cryopreservation was found to be successful in the species in which it was tested. However, the use of an asymbiotic medium was successful for all the species in this study.

CONCLUSIONS: Vitrification was not essential for the species in this study as the orchid seeds were already ultralow temperature and desiccation tolerant. However, further studies using more species are required to validate this approach. This may be an ecophysiological or genetic trait of these species. Therefore, this form of dry seed cryopreservation could form part of ex situ orchid seed conservation using a standard method. The methods developed here will store greater genetic diversity compared to what can be achieved with protocorms and are suitable for both asymbiotic and symbiotic recovery after cryopreservation. This will help reduce the time and cost of ex situ conservation, and help develop universal protocols for large genera, compared to custom protocols required for protocorm cryopreservation.}, } @article {pmid29743879, year = {2018}, author = {Nishida, T and Hara, N and Watanabe, K and Shimizu, T and Fujishima, M and Watarai, M}, title = {Crucial Role of Legionella pneumophila TolC in the Inhibition of Cellular Trafficking in the Protistan Host Paramecium tetraurelia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {800}, pmid = {29743879}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular Gram-negative bacterium, which is a major causative agent of Legionnaires' disease. In the environment, this bacterium survives in free-living protists such as amoebae and Tetrahymena. The association of L. pneumophila and protists leads to the replication and spread of this bacterium. Thus, from a public health perspective, their association can enhance the risk of L. pneumophila infection for humans. Paramecium spp. are candidates of natural hosts of L. pneumophila, but their detailed relationships remain unclear. In the present study, we used an environmental strain, L. pneumophila Ofk308 (Ofk308) and Paramecium tetraurelia st110-1a to reveal the relationship between L. pneumophila and Paramecium spp. Ofk308 was cytotoxic to P. tetraurelia in an infection-dependent manner. We focused on TolC, a component of the type I secretion system, which is a virulence factor of L. pneumophila toward protists and found that cytotoxicity was dependent on TolC but not on other T1SS components. Further, the number of bacteria in P. tetraurelia was not associated with cytotoxicity and TolC was not involved in the mechanism of resistance against the digestion of P. tetraurelia in Ofk308. We used a LysoTracker to evaluate the maturation process of P. tetraurelia phagosomes containing Ofk308. We found that there was no difference between Ofk308 and the tolC-deletion mutant. To assess the phagocytic activity of P. tetraurelia, Texas Red-conjugated dextran-uptake assays were performed. Ofk308 inhibited phagosome formation by P. tetraurelia through a TolC-dependent mechanism. Further, we evaluated the excretion of Legionella-containing vacuoles from P. tetraurelia. We found that P. tetraurelia failed to excrete undigested Ofk308 and that Ofk308 remained within cells through a TolC-dependent mechanism. Our results suggest that TolC is essential for L. pneumophila to remain within Paramecium cells and to show cytotoxicity. Because of the high mobility and high cell division rate of Paramecium spp., living with Paramecium spp. would be beneficial for L. pneumophila to expand its habitat. To control Legionaries' disease, understanding the ecology of L. pneumophila in the environment is essential.}, } @article {pmid29743820, year = {2018}, author = {Gao, M and Benge, A and Mesa, JM and Javier, R and Liu, FX}, title = {Use of RNA Immunoprecipitation Method for Determining Sinorhizobium meliloti RNA-Hfq Protein Associations In Vivo.}, journal = {Biological procedures online}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {8}, pmid = {29743820}, issn = {1480-9222}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti (S. meliloti) forms an endosymbiotic partnership with Medicago truncatula (M. truncatula) roots which results in root nodules. The bacteria live within root nodules where they function to fix atmospheric N2 and supply the host plant with reduced nitrogen. The bacterial RNA-binding protein Hfq (Hfq) is an important regulator for the effectiveness of the nitrogen fixation. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) method is a powerful method for detecting the association of Hfq protein with specific RNA in cultured bacteria, yet a RIP method for bacteria living in root nodules remains to be described.

RESULTS: A modified S. meliloti gene encoding a His-tagged Hfq protein (Hfq[His]) was placed under the regulation of the native Hfq gene promoter (P hfqsm). The trans produced Hfq[His] protein was accumulated at its nature levels during all stages of the symbiosis, allowing RNAs that associated with the given protein to be immunoprecipitated with the anti-His antibody against the protein from root nodule lysates. RNAs that associated with the protein were selectively enriched in the immunoprecipitated sample. The RNAs were recovered by a simple method using heat and subsequently analyzed by RT-PCR. The nature of PCR products was determined by DNA sequencing. Hfq association with specific RNAs can be analyzed at different conditions (e. g. young or older root nodules) and/or in wild-type versus mutant strains.

CONCLUSIONS: This article describes the RIP method for determining Sinorhizobium meliloti RNA-Hfq associations in vivo. It is also applicable to other rhizobia living in planta, although some tissue-specific modification related to sample disruption and homogenization may be needed.}, } @article {pmid29743513, year = {2018}, author = {Moruno-Manchon, JF and Uzor, NE and Ambati, CR and Shetty, V and Putluri, N and Jagannath, C and McCullough, LD and Tsvetkov, AS}, title = {Sphingosine kinase 1-associated autophagy differs between neurons and astrocytes.}, journal = {Cell death & disease}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {521}, pmid = {29743513}, issn = {2041-4889}, support = {P30 CA125123/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA220297/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Astrocytes/cytology/*enzymology ; *Autophagy ; Neurons/cytology/*enzymology ; Organ Specificity ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/genetics/*metabolism ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Autophagy is a degradative pathway for removing aggregated proteins, damaged organelles, and parasites. Evidence indicates that autophagic pathways differ between cell types. In neurons, autophagy plays a homeostatic role, compared to a survival mechanism employed by starving non-neuronal cells. We investigated if sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1)-associated autophagy differs between two symbiotic brain cell types-neurons and astrocytes. SK1 synthesizes sphingosine-1-phosphate, which regulates autophagy in non-neuronal cells and in neurons. We found that benzoxazine autophagy inducers upregulate SK1 and neuroprotective autophagy in neurons, but not in astrocytes. Starvation enhances SK1-associated autophagy in astrocytes, but not in neurons. In astrocytes, SK1 is cytoprotective and promotes the degradation of an autophagy substrate, mutant huntingtin, the protein that causes Huntington's disease. Overexpressed SK1 is unexpectedly toxic to neurons, and its toxicity localizes to the neuronal soma, demonstrating an intricate relationship between the localization of SK1's activity and neurotoxicity. Our results underscore the importance of cell type-specific autophagic differences in any efforts to target autophagy therapeutically.}, } @article {pmid29743160, year = {2018}, author = {Jovanovich, A and Isakova, T and Stubbs, J}, title = {Microbiome and Cardiovascular Disease in CKD.}, journal = {Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {1598-1604}, pmid = {29743160}, issn = {1555-905X}, support = {IK2 CX001030/CX/CSRD VA/United States ; R01 DK110087/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cardiovascular Diseases/*etiology/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*complications/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Patients with CKD exhibit a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular mortality, which likely stems from the presence of unique, nontraditional risk factors that accompany deteriorating kidney function. Mounting evidence suggests that alterations to the intestinal microbiome in CKD may serve as one such risk factor. The human intestinal tract is home to >100 trillion micro-organisms made up of a collection of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic species. These species along with their local environment constitute the intestinal microbiome. Patients with CKD show intestinal dysbiosis, an alteration of the gut micro-organism composition and function. Recent evidence links byproducts of intestinal dysbiosis to vascular calcification, atherosclerosis formation, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in CKD. CKD-associated intestinal dysbiosis may also be accompanied by defects in intestinal barrier function, which could further enhance the negative effects of pathogenic intestinal bacteria in the human host. Thus, intestinal dysbiosis, defective intestinal barrier function, and a reduced capacity for clearance by the kidney of absorbed bacterial byproducts may all potentiate the development of cardiovascular disease in CKD. This narrative review focuses on microbiome-mediated mechanisms associated with CKD that may promote atherosclerosis formation and cardiovascular disease. It includes (1) new data supporting the hypothesis that intestinal barrier dysfunction leads to bacterial translocation and endotoxemia that potentiate systemic inflammation, (2) information on the accumulation of dietary-derived bacterial byproducts that stimulate pathways promoting atheromatous changes in arteries and cardiovascular disease, and (3) potential interventions. Despite great scientific interest in and a rapidly growing body of literature on the relationship between the microbiome and cardiovascular disease in CKD, many important questions remain unanswered.}, } @article {pmid29742123, year = {2018}, author = {León-Palmero, E and Joglar, V and Álvarez, PA and Martín-Platero, A and Llamas, I and Reche, I}, title = {Diversity and antimicrobial potential in sea anemone and holothurian microbiomes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0196178}, pmid = {29742123}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Holothuria/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Sea Anemones/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine invertebrates, as holobionts, contain symbiotic bacteria that coevolve and develop antimicrobial substances. These symbiotic bacteria are an underexplored source of new bioactive molecules to face the emerging antibiotic resistance in pathogens. Here, we explored the antimicrobial activity of bacteria retrieved from the microbiota of two sea anemones (Anemonia sulcata, Actinia equina) and two holothurians (Holothuria tubulosa, Holothuria forskali). We tested the antimicrobial activity of the isolated bacteria against pathogens with interest for human health, agriculture and aquaculture. We isolated 27 strains with antibacterial activity and 12 of these isolates also showed antifungal activity. We taxonomically identified these strains being Bacillus and Vibrio species the most representative producers of antimicrobial substances. Microbiome species composition of the two sea anemones was similar between them but differed substantially of seawater bacteria. In contrast, microbiome species composition of the two holothurian species was different between them and in comparison with the bacteria in holothurian feces and seawater. In all the holobiont microbiomes Bacteroidetes was the predominant phylum. For each microbiome, we determined diversity and the rank-abundance dominance using five fitted models (null, pre-emption, log-Normal, Zipf and Zipf-Mandelbrot). The models with less evenness (i.e. Zipf and Zipf-Mandelblot) showed the best fits in all the microbiomes. Finally, we tracked (using the V4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene) the relative abundance of these 27 isolates with antibacterial activity in the total pool of sequences obtained for the microbiome of each holobiont. Coincidences, although with extremely low frequencies, were detected only in the microbiome of H. forskali. This fact suggests that these isolated bacteria belong to the long tail of rare symbiotic bacteria. Therefore, more and more sophisticated culture techniques are necessary to explore this apparently vast pool of rare symbiontic bacteria and to determine their biotechnological potentiality.}, } @article {pmid29740906, year = {2018}, author = {Mueller, UG and Kardish, MR and Ishak, HD and Wright, AM and Solomon, SE and Bruschi, SM and Carlson, AL and Bacci, M}, title = {Phylogenetic patterns of ant-fungus associations indicate that farming strategies, not only a superior fungal cultivar, explain the ecological success of leafcutter ants.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {10}, pages = {2414-2434}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14588}, pmid = {29740906}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Agaricales/classification/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*classification/microbiology/physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To elucidate fungicultural specializations contributing to ecological dominance of leafcutter ants, we estimate the phylogeny of fungi cultivated by fungus-growing (attine) ants, including fungal cultivars from (i) the entire leafcutter range from southern South America to southern North America, (ii) all higher-attine ant lineages (leafcutting genera Atta, Acromyrmex; nonleafcutting genera Trachymyrmex, Sericomyrmex) and (iii) all lower-attine lineages. Higher-attine fungi form two clades, Clade-A fungi (Leucocoprinus gongylophorus, formerly Attamyces) previously thought to be cultivated only by leafcutter ants, and a sister clade, Clade-B fungi, previously thought to be cultivated only by Trachymyrmex and Sericomyrmex ants. Contradicting this traditional view, we find that (i) leafcutter ants are not specialized to cultivate only Clade-A fungi because some leafcutter species ranging across South America cultivate Clade-B fungi; (ii) Trachymyrmex ants are not specialized to cultivate only Clade-B fungi because some Trachymyrmex species cultivate Clade-A fungi and other Trachymyrmex species cultivate fungi known so far only from lower-attine ants; (iii) in some locations, single higher-attine ant species or closely related cryptic species cultivate both Clade-A and Clade-B fungi; and (iv) ant-fungus co-evolution among higher-attine mutualisms is therefore less specialized than previously thought. Sympatric leafcutter ants can be ecologically dominant when cultivating either Clade-A or Clade-B fungi, sustaining with either cultivar-type huge nests that command large foraging territories; conversely, sympatric Trachymyrmex ants cultivating either Clade-A or Clade-B fungi can be locally abundant without achieving the ecological dominance of leafcutter ants. Ecological dominance of leafcutter ants therefore does not depend primarily on specialized fungiculture of L. gongylophorus (Clade-A), but must derive from ant-fungus synergisms and unique ant adaptations.}, } @article {pmid29740145, year = {2018}, author = {Vita, F and Franchina, FA and Taiti, C and Locato, V and Pennazza, G and Santonico, M and Purcaro, G and De Gara, L and Mancuso, S and Mondello, L and Alpi, A}, title = {Environmental conditions influence the biochemical properties of the fruiting bodies of Tuber magnatum Pico.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {7243}, pmid = {29740145}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antioxidants/classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Betulaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Electronic Nose ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*chemistry/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Geography ; Glutathione/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Italy ; Metabolome ; Multivariate Analysis ; Populus/microbiology/physiology ; Quercus/microbiology/physiology ; Saccharomycetales/*chemistry/metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The influences of various factors, including the symbiosis established with the roots of specific tree species, on the production of volatiles in the fruiting bodies of Tuber magnatum have not been investigated yet. Volatiles in T. magnatum fruiting bodies were quantitatively and qualitatively determined by both PTR-MS and GC-MS in order to compare the accuracy of the two methods. An electronic nose was also used to characterize truffle samples. The influence of environmental changes on the antioxidant capabilities of fruiting bodies was also determined. Statistically significant differences were found between fruiting bodies with different origins. The relationship between the quality of white truffle fruiting bodies and their specific host plant is described along with an analysis of metabolites other than VOCs that have ecological roles. Our results indicate that the geographical origin (Italy and Istria) of the fruiting bodies is correlated with the quantity and quality of volatiles and various antioxidant metabolites. This is the first report characterizing antioxidant compounds other than VOCs in white truffles. The correlation between geographical origin and antioxidant contents suggests that these compounds may be useful for certifying the geographical origin of truffles.}, } @article {pmid29739445, year = {2018}, author = {Sorek, M and Schnytzer, Y and Waldman Ben-Asher, H and Caspi, VC and Chen, CS and Miller, DJ and Levy, O}, title = {Setting the pace: host rhythmic behaviour and gene expression patterns in the facultatively symbiotic cnidarian Aiptasia are determined largely by Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {83}, pmid = {29739445}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {1294//Taiwan-Israel cooperative program/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Clocks/*physiology ; Circadian Rhythm/genetics/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation/*genetics ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/parasitology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: All organisms employ biological clocks to anticipate physical changes in the environment; however, the integration of biological clocks in symbiotic systems has received limited attention. In corals, the interpretation of rhythmic behaviours is complicated by the daily oscillations in tissue oxygen tension resulting from the photosynthetic and respiratory activities of the associated algal endosymbiont Symbiodinium. In order to better understand the integration of biological clocks in cnidarian hosts of Symbiodinium, daily rhythms of behaviour and gene expression were studied in symbiotic and aposymbiotic morphs of the sea-anemone Aiptasia diaphana.

RESULTS: The results showed that whereas circatidal (approx. 12-h) cycles of activity and gene expression predominated in aposymbiotic morphs, circadian (approx. 24-h) patterns were the more common in symbiotic morphs, where the expression of a significant number of genes shifted from a 12- to 24-h rhythm. The behavioural experiments on symbiotic A. diaphana displayed diel (24-h) rhythmicity in body and tentacle contraction under the light/dark cycles, whereas aposymbiotic morphs showed approximately 12-h (circatidal) rhythmicity. Reinfection experiments represent an important step in understanding the hierarchy of endogenous clocks in symbiotic associations, where the aposymbiotic Aiptasia morphs returned to a 24-h behavioural rhythm after repopulation with algae.

CONCLUSION: Whilst some modification of host metabolism is to be expected, the extent to which the presence of the algae modified host endogenous behavioural and transcriptional rhythms implies that it is the symbionts that influence the pace. Our results clearly demonstrate the importance of the endosymbiotic algae in determining the timing and the duration of the extension and contraction of the body and tentacles and temporal gene expression.}, } @article {pmid29738938, year = {2018}, author = {Hiruma, K and Kobae, Y and Toju, H}, title = {Beneficial associations between Brassicaceae plants and fungal endophytes under nutrient-limiting conditions: evolutionary origins and host-symbiont molecular mechanisms.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {145-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.04.009}, pmid = {29738938}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Brassicaceae/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*pathogenicity ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Brassicaceae plants have lost symbiotic interactions with mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi, but, nonmycorrhizal Brassicaceae associate with diverse taxonomic groups of mutualistic root-endophytic fungi. Distantly related fungal endophytes of Brassicaceae plants transfer phosphorus to the hosts and promote plant growth, thereby suggesting that the beneficial function was independently acquired via convergent evolution. These beneficial interactions appear tightly regulated by the tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite pathway, which specifically developed in Brassicaceae. Importantly, phosphate availability and types of colonizing microbes appear to influence the metabolite pathway. Thus, endophytes of Brassicaceae may have evolved to adapt to the Brassicaceae-specific traits. Future comparative functional analyses among well-defined endophytic fungi and their relatives with distinct life strategies and host plants will help understand the mechanisms that establish and maintain beneficial interactions.}, } @article {pmid29738553, year = {2018}, author = {Freire, CG and Giachini, AJ and Gardin, JPP and Rodrigues, AC and Vieira, RL and Baratto, CM and Werner, SS and Abreu, BH}, title = {First record of in vitro formation of ectomycorrhizae in Psidium cattleianum Sabine, a native Myrtaceae of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0196984}, pmid = {29738553}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Brazil ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Psidium/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Like many other species of trees native to the Brazilian Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest), the Myrtaceae, such as the Red Araza (Psidium cattleianum Sabine), are widely cited as arbuscular mycorrhizal formers. Nevertheless, recent studies show evidence that Myrtaceae from different tropical, subtropical and neotropical ecosystems can also prompt the formation of ectomycorrhizae, indicating that this species' ectomycorrhizal status should be further explored. Because of this, this research effort studied the in vitro interaction between the Red Araza and two ectomycorrhizal fungi isolates, belonging to the Pisolithus microcarpus (D17) and Scleroderma citrinum (UFSC-Sc133) species. An analysis was performed to determine the formation of ectomycorrhizal structures, or lack thereof, and the developmental differences between the in vitro mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized plants. The analysis proved that indeed an ectomycorrhizal association was developed between the Red Araza, and the D17 and UFSC-Sc133 isolates, a fact never before registered in the existing literature. After an in vitro period of 110 days, it was confirmed that the D17 and UFSC-Sc133 isolates formed mycorrhizal colonization of 91.6% and 15.7%, respectively. Furthermore, both isolates also promoted root thickening, and the formation of a fungal mantle and a Hartig net. However, when compared to the Control plants, the fungal isolates did not contribute to an increase in the development of the subject plants, possibly due to the specific experimental conditions used, such as a high humidity environment and high availability of nutrients in the symbiotic substrate.}, } @article {pmid29738443, year = {2018}, author = {Gillams, RJ and Jia, TZ}, title = {Mineral Surface-Templated Self-Assembling Systems: Case Studies from Nanoscience and Surface Science towards Origins of Life Research.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29738443}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {An increasing body of evidence relates the wide range of benefits mineral surfaces offer for the development of early living systems, including adsorption of small molecules from the aqueous phase, formation of monomeric subunits and their subsequent polymerization, and supramolecular assembly of biopolymers and other biomolecules. Each of these processes was likely a necessary stage in the emergence of life on Earth. Here, we compile evidence that templating and enhancement of prebiotically-relevant self-assembling systems by mineral surfaces offers a route to increased structural, functional, and/or chemical complexity. This increase in complexity could have been achieved by early living systems before the advent of evolvable systems and would not have required the generally energetically unfavorable formation of covalent bonds such as phosphodiester or peptide bonds. In this review we will focus on various case studies of prebiotically-relevant mineral-templated self-assembling systems, including supramolecular assemblies of peptides and nucleic acids, from nanoscience and surface science. These fields contain valuable information that is not yet fully being utilized by the origins of life and astrobiology research communities. Some of the self-assemblies that we present can promote the formation of new mineral surfaces, similar to biomineralization, which can then catalyze more essential prebiotic reactions; this could have resulted in a symbiotic feedback loop by which geology and primitive pre-living systems were closely linked to one another even before life’s origin. We hope that the ideas presented herein will seed some interesting discussions and new collaborations between nanoscience/surface science researchers and origins of life/astrobiology researchers.}, } @article {pmid29737549, year = {2018}, author = {Abdelkrim, S and Jebara, SH and Saadani, O and Chiboub, M and Abid, G and Jebara, M}, title = {Effect of Pb-resistant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria inoculation on growth and lead uptake by Lathyrus sativus.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {7}, pages = {579-589}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201700626}, pmid = {29737549}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Biomass ; Hydrogen Cyanide/metabolism ; Lathyrus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Lead/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In search of efficient and resistant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains with multiple activities, a total of twelve bacterial belonging to R. leguminosarum, S. meliloti, Pseudomonas sp., P. fluorescens, Luteibacter sp., Variovorax sp., B. simplex, and B. megaterium were isolated from root nodules of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) grown in contaminated soils. Upon screening, all test strains were able to synthesize indoleacetic acid; more than 90% were siderophore producers and 75% showed varying levels of phosphate solubilizing ability. The gaseous metabolite biosynthesis showed that 42% of strains were cyanogenic. The lead (Pb) bioaccumulation differs with incubation times between cell wall and cytoplasm. Indeed, the most part of Pb was adsorbed to cell surface. A pot experiment was conducted for investigating the capability of combined bacteria to promote plant growth of Lathyrus sativus under controlled conditions. Subsequently, the performance of symbiosis Lathyrus sativus-PGPR (I4: R. leguminosarum (M5) + B. simplex + Luteibacter sp. + Variovorax sp.) was investigated under lead stress using hydroponic culture to elucidate the effect of bacterial inoculation on Pb uptake as well as plant growth. Results showed that under 0.5 mM Pb, inoculation with I4 significantly increased shoots and roots biomass by 59% and 56%, respectively, and improved Pb uptake in both shoots and roots by 39% and 47%, respectively, as compared to uninoculated plants. The inoculation of Lathyrus sativus with efficient and Pb resistant PGPR is a promising symbiosis that having significant potential to improve phytoremediation of Pb-polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid29736572, year = {2018}, author = {Pereira, H and Sousa, DA and Cunha, A and Andrade, R and Espregueira-Mendes, J and Oliveira, JM and Reis, RL}, title = {Hyaluronic Acid.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1059}, number = {}, pages = {137-153}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-76735-2_6}, pmid = {29736572}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Biological Therapy ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid/administration & dosage/chemistry/*therapeutic use ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joint Diseases/*drug therapy ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy ; Tendinopathy/*drug therapy ; }, abstract = {In recent times, the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) has considerably increased the extent of therapeutic strategies for clinical application in orthopedics. However, TERM approaches have its rules and requirements, in the respect of the biologic response of each tissue and bioactive agents which need to be considered, respected, and subject of ongoing studies. Different medical devices/products have been prematurely available on the market and used in clinics with limited success. However, other therapeutics, when used in a serious and evidence-based approach, have achieved considerable success, considering the respect for solid expectations from doctors and patients (when properly informed).Orthobiologics has appeared as a recent technological trend in orthopedics. This includes the improvement or regeneration of different musculoskeletal tissues by means of using biomaterials (e.g., hyaluronic acid), stem cells, and growth factors (e.g., platelet-rich plasma). The potential symbiotic relationship between biologic therapies and surgery makes these strategies suitable to be used in one single intervention.However, herein, the recent clinical studies using hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of orthopedic conditions will mainly be overviewed (e.g., osteochondral lesions, tendinopathies). The possibilities to combine different orthobiologic agents as TERM clinical strategies for treatment of orthopedic problems will also be briefly discussed.}, } @article {pmid29734743, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, C and Cleckler, B and Morsy, M}, title = {Development of an Expression Vector to Overexpress or Downregulate Genes in Curvularia protuberata.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29734743}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Curvularia protuberata, an endophytic fungus in the Ascomycota, provides plants with thermotolerance only when it carries a mycovirus known as Curvularia thermotolerance virus (CThTV), and forms a three-way symbiotic relationship among these organisms. Under heat stress, several genes are expressed differently between virus-free C. protuberata (VF) and C. protuberata carrying CThTV (AN). We developed an expression vector, pM2Z-fun, carrying a zeocin resistance gene driven by the ToxA promoter, to study gene functions in C. protuberata to better understand this three-way symbiosis. Using this new 3.7-kb vector, five genes that are differentially expressed in C. protuberata&mdash;including genes involved in the trehalose, melanin, and catalase biosynthesis pathways&mdash;were successfully overexpressed or downregulated in VF or AN C. protuberata strains, respectively. The VF overexpression lines showed higher metabolite and enzyme activity than in the control VF strain. Furthermore, downregulation of expression of the same genes in the AN strain resulted in lower metabolite and enzyme activity than in the control AN strain. The newly generated expression vector, pM2Z-fun, has been successfully used to express target genes in C. protuberata and will be useful in further functional expression studies in other Ascomycota fungi.}, } @article {pmid29734397, year = {2018}, author = {Msaad Guerfali, M and Djobbi, W and Charaabi, K and Hamden, H and Fadhl, S and Marzouki, W and Dhaouedi, F and Chevrier, C}, title = {Evaluation of Providencia rettgeri pathogenicity against laboratory Mediterranean fruit fly strain (Ceratitis capitata).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {e0196343}, pmid = {29734397}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Ceratitis capitata/*microbiology/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Infertility, Male/microbiology ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Providencia/*pathogenicity ; Pupa ; Reproduction/physiology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is often referred to as the most severe agricultural pest. Its biological control is mainly through the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Colonization, mass-rearing conditions and the irradiation process impact the competitiveness of sterile males and disrupt symbiotic associations by favoring some bacterial species and suppressing others. Levels of Providencia species have been shown to fluctuate considerably in the gut of the medfly laboratory strain Vienna 8 under irradiation, increasing by up to 22%. This study aimed to determine the pathogenicity of Providencia rettgeri isolated from the gut of laboratory Vienna 8 medfly strains by examining the effects of 1) two different treatment doses on egg-hatching and development and 2) two infection methodologies (ingestion and injection) of male and female adults according to their mating status. Treatment of eggs with P. rettgeri (2%) significantly decreased the mean egg to pupae recovery rate. Our data showed significant high mortality in flies with both injection and ingestion after 24 hours without any effect of sex. Microbial counts demonstrated that the bacteria could proliferate and replicate in adult flies. There was a significant sex-dependent effect after infection, with mortality decreasing significantly for males more than females. Providencia rettgeri can be considered as a potential pathogen of C. capitata. Mating protected males and females against infection by P. rettgeri by triggering an immune response leading to double the levels of Cecropin being secreted compared to infected virgin adults, thus reducing the virulence of the bacteria.}, } @article {pmid29733371, year = {2018}, author = {Muggia, L and Kraker, S and Gößler, T and Grube, M}, title = {Enforced fungal-algal symbioses in alginate spheres.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {365}, number = {14}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fny115}, pmid = {29733371}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Alginates/*chemistry ; Chlorophyta/classification/growth & development/physiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/growth & development/*physiology ; Lichens/classification/growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The thallus structure of the lichen symbiosis provides a fungal shelter for the growth of algal partners. The long-living thallus also provides a habitat for other fungi, but experimental studies, which could inform us about the details of their interactions have hardly been conducted. We present a new approach by embedding axenically cultured strains of fungi together with algae in alginate spheres, which allows easy transfer of co-cultures on solid media. As the growth rates of the organisms are differentially triggered by the underlying medium, alginate embedding can help to adjust optimal parameters for stable culture of the combined symbionts. In our experiments, direct contacts between hyphae and algae and the formation of layered structures were observed in a fungus that is living as a commensal in the host lichen without visible symbiotic structures. The growth of primary lichen symbionts cannot be accelerated by alginate embedding so far, but our approach could artificially enforce symbiotic interactions that are not normally observed in nature.}, } @article {pmid29733367, year = {2018}, author = {Poncin, K and Gillet, S and De Bolle, X}, title = {Learning from the master: targets and functions of the CtrA response regulator in Brucella abortus and other alpha-proteobacteria.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {500-513}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuy019}, pmid = {29733367}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Brucella abortus/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The α-proteobacteria are a fascinating group of free-living, symbiotic and pathogenic organisms, including the Brucella genus, which is responsible for a worldwide zoonosis. One common feature of α-proteobacteria is the presence of a conserved response regulator called CtrA, first described in the model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, where it controls gene expression at different stages of the cell cycle. Here, we focus on Brucella abortus and other intracellular α-proteobacteria in order to better assess the potential role of CtrA in the infectious context. Comparative genomic analyses of the CtrA control pathway revealed the conservation of specific modules, as well as the acquisition of new factors during evolution. The comparison of CtrA regulons also suggests that specific clades of α-proteobacteria acquired distinct functions under its control, depending on the essentiality of the transcription factor. Other CtrA-controlled functions, for instance motility and DNA repair, are proposed to be more ancestral. Altogether, these analyses provide an interesting example of the plasticity of a regulation network, subject to the constraints of inherent imperatives such as cell division and the adaptations to diversified environmental niches.}, } @article {pmid29733028, year = {2018}, author = {Bojko, J and Stebbing, PD and Dunn, AM and Bateman, KS and Clark, F and Kerr, RC and Stewart-Clark, S and Johannesen, Á and Stentiford, GD}, title = {Green crab Carcinus maenas symbiont profiles along a North Atlantic invasion route.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {128}, number = {2}, pages = {147-168}, doi = {10.3354/dao03216}, pmid = {29733028}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brachyura/microbiology/*parasitology ; Crustacea/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Introduced Species ; Nova Scotia ; Parasites/classification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {The green crab Carcinus maenas is an invader on the Atlantic coast of Canada and the USA. In these locations, crab populations have facilitated the development of a legal fishery in which C. maenas is caught and sold, mainly for use as bait to capture economically important crustaceans such as American lobster Homarus americanus. The paucity of knowledge on the symbionts of invasive C. maenas in Canada and their potential for transfer to lobsters poses a potential risk of unintended transmission. We carried out a histological survey for symbionts of C. maenas from their native range in Northern Europe (in the UK and Faroe Islands), and invasive range in Atlantic Canada. In total, 19 separate symbiotic associations were identified from C. maenas collected from 27 sites. These included metazoan parasites (nematodes, Profilicollis botulus, Sacculina carcini, Microphallidae, ectoparasitic crustaceans), microbial eukaryotes (ciliates, Hematodinium sp., Haplosporidium littoralis, Ameson pulvis, Parahepatospora carcini, gregarines, amoebae), bacteria (Rickettsia-like organism, milky disease), and viral pathogens (parvo-like virus, herpes-like virus, iridovirus, Carcinus maenas bacilliform virus and a haemocyte-infecting rod-shaped virus). Hematodinium sp. were not observed in the Canadian population; however, parasites such as Trematoda and Acanthocephala were present in all countries despite their complex, multi-species lifecycles. Some pathogens may pose a risk of transmission to other decapods and native fauna via the use of this host in the bait industry, such as the discovery of a virus resembling the previously described white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), B-virus and 'rod-shaped virus' (RV-CM) and amoebae, which have previously been found to cause disease in aquaculture (e.g. Salmo salar) and fisheries species (e.g. H. americanus).}, } @article {pmid29730401, year = {2018}, author = {Yang, H and Wang, J and Lv, Z and Tian, J and Peng, Y and Peng, X and Xu, X and Song, Q and Lv, B and Chen, Z and Sun, Z and Wang, Z}, title = {Metatranscriptome analysis of the intestinal microorganisms in Pardosa pseudoannulata in response to cadmium stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {159}, number = {}, pages = {1-9}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.04.053}, pmid = {29730401}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Spiders/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) generates a variety of physiological and ecological toxicity to spiders. However, little is known about the effects of Cd on symbiotic bacteria of spiders. Metatranscriptomics is increasing our knowledge of microorganisms in environment. To better understand the impact of Cd on the symbiotic bacteria of spiders, we generated and compared the metatranscriptomes of the intestinal microorganisms of Pardosa pseudoannulata with and without Cd stress. The community structure of intestinal microorganisms in P. pseudoannulata was composed of 4 kingdoms, namely bacteria, viruses, eukaryotes and archaea, including 46 phyla, 97 classes, 184 orders, 339 families, 470 genera, and 598 species. The abundance of eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses was decreased by 0.14%, 1.22% and 2.52% respectively while the archaea was increased by 99.16% when under Cd stress. We identified 1519 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 770 up-regulated and 749 down-regulated genes. The results of KEGG annotation revealed that the expression of genes that are involved in the carbon metabolism, protein and amino acid metabolism and synthesis, glucose metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and glutathione metabolism were influenced by Cd. Collectively, these findings showed that Cd significantly impacted the community structure and expression of related functional genes of intestinal microorganisms in P. pseudoannulata.}, } @article {pmid29729528, year = {2018}, author = {Keymer, A and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Cross-kingdom lipid transfer in arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis and beyond.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {137-144}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.04.005}, pmid = {29729528}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a widespread symbiosis between most land plants and fungi of the Glomeromycotina, which has existed for more than 400million years. AM fungi (AMF) improve plant nutrition with mineral nutrients and conversely, their growth and development is fueled by organic carbon supplied from their host. Recent studies demonstrated independently and with different experimental approaches that lipids are transferred from plants to fungi in addition to sugars, and that AMF are dependent on this lipid supply because they lack genes encoding fatty acid synthase I subunits. Dependence on host lipids or lipid parasitism occur in a range of interorganismic associations with participants from almost all kingdoms. Thus, these phenomena seem rather common in mutualistic and parasitic interactions.}, } @article {pmid29727917, year = {2018}, author = {Parfrey, LW and Moreau, CS and Russell, JA}, title = {Introduction: The host-associated microbiome: Pattern, process and function.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1749-1765}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14706}, pmid = {29727917}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ecology/*trends ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/trends ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, } @article {pmid29727000, year = {2018}, author = {Takeuchi, J and Jiang, K and Hirabayashi, K and Imamura, Y and Wu, Y and Xu, Y and Miyakawa, T and Nakamura, H and Tanokura, M and Asami, T}, title = {Rationally Designed Strigolactone Analogs as Antagonists of the D14 Receptor.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {8}, pages = {1545-1554}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy087}, pmid = {29727000}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lactones/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that inhibit shoot branching and act as signals in communications with symbiotic fungi and parasitic weeds in the rhizosphere. SL signaling is mediated by DWARF14 (D14), which is an α/β-hydrolase that cleaves SLs into an ABC tricyclic lactone and a butenolide group (i.e. D-ring). This cleavage reaction (hydrolysis and dissociation) is important for inducing the interaction between D14 and its target proteins, including D3 and D53. In this study, a hydrolysis-resistant SL analog was predicted to inhibit the activation of the D14 receptor, thereby disrupting the SL signaling pathway. To test this prediction, carba-SL compounds, in which the ether oxygen of the D-ring or the phenol ether oxygen of the SL agonist (GR24 or 4-bromo debranone) was replaced with a methylene group, were synthesized as novel D14 antagonists. Subsequent biochemical and physiological studies indicated that carba-SLs blocked the interaction between D14 and D53 by inhibiting D14 hydrolytic activity. They also suppressed the SL-induced inhibition of rice tiller outgrowths. Additionally, carba-SLs antagonized the SL response in a Striga parasitic weed species. Structural analyses revealed that the D-ring of 7'-carba-4BD was hydrolyzed by D14 but did not dissociate from the 4BD skeleton. Thus, 7'-carba-4BD functioned as an antagonist rather than an agonist. Thus, the hydrolysis of the D-ring of SLs may be insufficient for activating the receptor. This study provides data relevant to designing SL receptor antagonists.}, } @article {pmid29726053, year = {2019}, author = {Doña, J and Proctor, H and Serrano, D and Johnson, KP and Oploo, AO and Huguet-Tapia, JC and Ascunce, MS and Jovani, R}, title = {Feather mites play a role in cleaning host feathers: New insights from DNA metabarcoding and microscopy.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {203-218}, pmid = {29726053}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {RYC-2009-03967//Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/International ; CGL2011-24466//Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/International ; CGL2015-69650-P//Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/International ; SVP-2013-067939//Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/International ; //Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)/International ; SEV-2012-0262//Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, through the Severo Ochoa Program for Centres of Excellence in R+D+I/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bird Diseases/*genetics/microbiology/parasitology ; Birds/genetics/parasitology ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/*methods ; Ecosystem ; Feathers/microbiology/*parasitology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Microscopy ; Mites/*genetics/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those involving commensals and mutualists, are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the nature of the symbiotic relationship between birds and their most abundant and diverse ectosymbionts: the vane-dwelling feather mites. For this purpose, we studied the diet of feather mites using two complementary methods. First, we used light microscopy to examine the gut contents of 1,300 individual feather mites representing 100 mite genera (18 families) from 190 bird species belonging to 72 families and 19 orders. Second, we used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and DNA metabarcoding to determine gut contents from 1,833 individual mites of 18 species inhabiting 18 bird species. Results showed fungi and potentially bacteria as the main food resources for feather mites (apart from potential bird uropygial gland oil). Diatoms and plant matter appeared as rare food resources for feather mites. Importantly, we did not find any evidence of feather mites feeding upon bird resources (e.g., blood, skin) other than potentially uropygial gland oil. In addition, we found a high prevalence of both keratinophilic and pathogenic fungal taxa in the feather mite species examined. Altogether, our results shed light on the long-standing question of the nature of the relationship between birds and their vane-dwelling feather mites, supporting previous evidence for a commensalistic-mutualistic role of feather mites, which are revealed as likely fungivore-microbivore-detritivore symbionts of bird feathers.}, } @article {pmid29724905, year = {2018}, author = {Donaldson, GP and Ladinsky, MS and Yu, KB and Sanders, JG and Yoo, BB and Chou, WC and Conner, ME and Earl, AM and Knight, R and Bjorkman, PJ and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Gut microbiota utilize immunoglobulin A for mucosal colonization.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {360}, number = {6390}, pages = {795-800}, pmid = {29724905}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {P50 GM082545/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI041231/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI041239/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK056338/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DK083633/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI110818/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion/immunology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/*immunology/ultrastructure ; Cells, Cultured ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mice ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The immune system responds vigorously to microbial infection while permitting lifelong colonization by the microbiome. Mechanisms that facilitate the establishment and stability of the gut microbiota remain poorly described. We found that a regulatory system in the prominent human commensal Bacteroides fragilis modulates its surface architecture to invite binding of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in mice. Specific immune recognition facilitated bacterial adherence to cultured intestinal epithelial cells and intimate association with the gut mucosal surface in vivo. The IgA response was required for B. fragilis (and other commensal species) to occupy a defined mucosal niche that mediates stable colonization of the gut through exclusion of exogenous competitors. Therefore, in addition to its role in pathogen clearance, we propose that IgA responses can be co-opted by the microbiome to engender robust host-microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29723046, year = {2018}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Ważny, R}, title = {Metal resistant rhizobia and ultrastructure of Anthyllis vulneraria nodules from zinc and lead contaminated tailing in Poland.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {709-720}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2017.1413336}, pmid = {29723046}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Lead ; Poland ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; Zinc ; }, abstract = {This present paper studies the response of Anthyllis vulneraria-Rhizobium symbiosis to heavy metal stress. The symbiotic rhizobium bacteria isolated from root nodules of A. vulneraria from zinc and lead wastes were examined in this project. Light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to analyze the nodule anatomy and ultrastructure and conduct a comparison with nonmetal-treated nodules. 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis of bacteria isolated from metal-treated nodules revealed the presence of Rhizobium metallidurans and Bradyrhizobium sp. In regard to heavy metal resistance/tolerance, a similar tolerance to Pb was shown by both strains, and a high tolerance to Zn and a lower tolerance to Cd and Cu by R. metallidurans, whereas a high tolerance to Cd and Cu and a lower tolerance to Zn by Bradyrhizobium were found. The nodules of Anthyllis from metal-polluted tailing sites were identified as the typical determinate type of nodules. Observed under TEM microscopy changes in nodules ultrastructure like: (1) wall thickening; (2) infection thread reduction; (3) vacuole shrinkage; (4) synthesis of phenolics in vacuoles; (5) various differentiation of bacteroids and (6) simultaneous symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi could be considered as a form of the A.vulneraria-Rhizobium symbiosis adaptation to metal stress.}, } @article {pmid29722180, year = {2018}, author = {Koffel, T and Boudsocq, S and Loeuille, N and Daufresne, T}, title = {Facilitation- vs. competition-driven succession: the key role of resource-ratio.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {1010-1021}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12966}, pmid = {29722180}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Ecosystem ; Nitrogen ; Plants ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing plants are abundant during primary succession, as typical bedrocks lack available N. In turn, fixed N accumulates in soils through biomass turnover and recycling, favouring more nitrophilous organisms. Yet, it is unclear how this facilitation mechanism interacts with competition for other limiting nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and how this affects succession. Here, we introduce a resource-explicit, community assembly model of N-fixing species and analyze successional trajectories along resource availability gradients using contemporary niche theory. We show that facilitation-driven succession occurs under low N and high enough P availabilities, and is characterised by autogenic ecosystem development and relatively ordered trajectories. We show that late facilitation-driven succession is sensitive to catastrophic shifts, highlighting the need to invoke other mechanisms to explain ecosystem stability near the climax. Put together with competition-driven succession, these results lead to an enriched version of Tilman's resource-ratio theory of succession.}, } @article {pmid29722016, year = {2019}, author = {Hastwell, AH and Corcilius, L and Williams, JT and Gresshoff, PM and Payne, RJ and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Triarabinosylation is required for nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides to systemically inhibit nodulation in Pisum sativum.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {188-197}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13325}, pmid = {29722016}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Arabinose/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/physiology ; Peas/*growth & development/metabolism ; Peptides/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes form root nodules to house beneficial nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. However, nodulation is resource demanding; hence, legumes evolved a systemic signalling mechanism called autoregulation of nodulation (AON) to control nodule numbers. AON begins with the production of CLE peptides in the root, which are predicted to be glycosylated, transported to the shoot, and perceived. We synthesized variants of nodulation-suppressing CLE peptides to test their activity using petiole feeding to introduce CLE peptides into the shoot. Hydroxylated, monoarabinosylated, and triarabinosylated variants of soybean GmRIC1a and GmRIC2a were chemically synthesized and fed into recipient Pisum sativum (pea) plants, which were used due to the availability of key AON pathway mutants unavailable in soybean. Triarabinosylated GmRIC1a and GmRIC2a suppressed nodulation of wild-type pea, whereas no other peptide variant tested had this ability. Suppression also occurred in the supernodulating hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase mutant, Psnod3, but not in the supernodulating receptor mutants, Pssym29, and to some extent, Pssym28. During our study, bioinformatic resources for pea became available and our analyses identified 40 CLE peptide-encoding genes, including orthologues of nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides. Collectively, we demonstrated that soybean nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides can function interspecifically in the AON pathway of pea and require arabinosylation for their activity.}, } @article {pmid29721831, year = {2018}, author = {Zheng, Y and Chiang, TY and Huang, CL and Gong, X}, title = {Highly diverse endophytes in roots of Cycas bifida (Cycadaceae), an ancient but endangered gymnosperm.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {5}, pages = {337-345}, pmid = {29721831}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Cyanobacteria/classification ; Cycadopsida/*microbiology ; Cycas/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification ; Genome, Microbial ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As an ancient seed plant, cycads are one of the few gymnosperms that develop a root symbiosis with cyanobacteria, which has allowed cycads to cope with harsh geologic and climatic conditions during the evolutionary process. However, the endophytic microbes in cycad roots remain poorly identified. In this study, using next-generation sequencing techniques, we investigated the microbial diversity and composition of both the coralloid and regular roots of Cycas bifida (Dyer) K.D. Hill. Highly diverse endophytic communities were observed in both the coralloid and regular roots. Of the associated bacteria, the top five families were the Nostocaceae, Sinobacteraceae, Bradyrhizobiaceae, Bacillaceae, and Hyphomicrobiaceae. The Nectriaceae, Trichocomaceae, and Incertae sedis were the predominant fungal families in all root samples. A significant difference in the endophytic bacterial community was detected between coralloid roots and regular roots, but no difference was observed between the fungal communities in the two root types. Cyanobacteria were more dominant in coralloid roots than in regular roots. The divergence of cycad root structures and the modified physiological processes may have contributed to the abundance of cyanobionts in coralloid roots. Consequently, the colonization of cyanobacteria inhibits the assemblage of other endophytes. Our results contribute to an understanding of the species diversity and composition of the cycad-endophyte microbiome and provide an abbreviated list of potential ecological roles of the core microbes present.}, } @article {pmid29720870, year = {2018}, author = {Antonets, KS and Kliver, SF and Nizhnikov, AA}, title = {Exploring Proteins Containing Amyloidogenic Regions in the Proteomes of Bacteria of the Order Rhizobiales.}, journal = {Evolutionary bioinformatics online}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1176934318768781}, pmid = {29720870}, issn = {1176-9343}, abstract = {Amyloids are protein fibrils with a highly ordered spatial structure called cross-β. To date, amyloids were shown to be implicated in a wide range of biological processes, both pathogenic and functional. In bacteria, functional amyloids are involved in forming biofilms, storing toxins, overcoming the surface tension, and other functions. Rhizobiales represent an economically important group of Alphaproteobacteria, various species of which are not only capable of fixing nitrogen in the symbiosis with leguminous plants but also act as the causative agents of infectious diseases in animals and plants. Here, we implemented bioinformatic screening for potentially amyloidogenic proteins in the proteomes of more than 80 species belonging to the order Rhizobiales. Using SARP (Sequence Analysis based on the Ranking of Probabilities) and Waltz bioinformatic algorithms, we identified the biological processes, where potentially amyloidogenic proteins are overrepresented. We detected protein domains and regions associated with amyloidogenic sequences in the proteomes of various Rhizobiales species. We demonstrated that amyloidogenic regions tend to occur in the membrane or extracellular proteins, many of which are involved in pathogenesis-related processes, including adhesion, assembly of flagellum, and transport of siderophores and lipopolysaccharides, and contain domains typical of the virulence factors (hemolysin, RTX, YadA, LptD); some of them (rhizobiocins, LptD) are also related to symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid30337849, year = {2017}, author = {Bhutia, YD and Ogura, J and Sivaprakasam, S and Ganapathy, V}, title = {Gut Microbiome and Colon Cancer: Role of Bacterial Metabolites and Their Molecular Targets in the Host.}, journal = {Current colorectal cancer reports}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {111-118}, pmid = {30337849}, issn = {1556-3790}, support = {R01 CA190710/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The relationship between colonic bacteria and the host is symbiotic, but how communication between the two partners occurs is just beginning to be understood at the molecular level. Here, we highlight specific products of bacterial metabolism that are present in the colonic lumen and their molecular targets in the host that facilitate this communication.

RECENT FINDINGS: Colonic epithelial cells and mucosal immune cells express several cell-surface receptors and nuclear receptors that are activated by specific bacterial metabolites, which impact multiple signaling pathways and expression of many genes. In addition, some bacterial metabolites also possess the ability to cause epigenetic changes in these cells via inhibition of selective enzymes involved in the maintenance of histone acetylation and DNA methylation patterns.

SUMMARY: Colonic bacteria communicate with their host with selective metabolites that interact with host molecular targets. This chemical communication underlies a broad range of the biology and function of colonic epithelial cells and mucosal immune cells, which protect against inflammation and carcinogenesis in the colon under normal physiological conditions.}, } @article {pmid29756439, year = {2017}, author = {Lü, W and Liu, C and Huang, L and Yan, X}, title = {[Genome-wide prediction and analysis of the secretory proteins and ORFs signal peptide of ginkgo endophyte KM-1-2].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {57}, number = {3}, pages = {411-421}, pmid = {29756439}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; Endophytes/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Ginkgo biloba/*microbiology ; Open Reading Frames ; *Protein Sorting Signals ; Protein Transport ; Streptomyces/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Endophytes are widespread in plants and build long-term mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with the host. However, the mechanism of their interactions with the host needs further study. To explore the mechanism of endophytic bacterium ginkgo endophyte KM-1-2, we managed to forecast its secretory proteins based on its genome and explicit characteristics.

METHODS: Signal peptide analysis software SignalP, transmembrane helical structure analysis software TMHMM and Phobius, cells position software PSORT, subcellar localization software TargetP and GPI anchor site analysis software big-PI Predictor were used to predict the scope of all secreted proteins, which were defined as secretome.

RESULTS: Altogether 128 typical signal peptide secretory proteins were screened out of 5299 protein sequences in KM-1-2 genome, accounting for 2.4% of the whole genome. The shortest ORF encoding these proteins is 61 bp, the longest one is 2105 bp and the average is 373 bp. The length of the signal peptide guiding secretory protein was distributed between 15 to 37 aa, with the average length of 24 aa. Amino acid with the highest present frequency of signal peptide in proper order is alanine, leucine and valine. The type of signal peptide cleavage belongs to A-X-A which named SPI cleavage type. Among the total secretory proteins 66 pieces have functional description and 26 pieces were enzymes. These enzymes mainly include glycoside hydrolase, esterase transferase, REDOX enzyme and carbon oxygen lyase.

CONCLUSION: The predicted secretory proteins of Streptomyces lavendulae KM-1-2 were achieved through bioinformatics analysis. These secretory proteins involved some enzymes and other unknown functions. This result laid the foundation for further study between endophyte and host.}, } @article {pmid29964534, year = {2017}, author = {Di, YM and Wang, GX and Huang, XR and Guo, XY}, title = {[Effect of Reclaimed Water on Bacterial Community Composition and Function in Urban River Sediment].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {743-751}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.201606089}, pmid = {29964534}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification ; Cities ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rivers ; Water ; *Water Microbiology ; Water Purification ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {In order to study the effect of reclaimed water on bacterial community composition and function in urban river sediment, the changes of bacteria community diversity, composition and function in Mayu wetland upon the supply of reclaimed water were investigated by a range of sophisticated procedures, including Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism(T-RFLP), 16S rRNA clone library technology, and Real-time Quantitative PCR Detecting System(qPCR).The results showed that carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were major factors driving the variation of bacterial diversity and community structure in river sediment, and the bacteria were gradually recovered after purification in downstream under the effect of artificial wetland. In addition, the bacterial community in reclaimed water outfall was mainly constituted by β-Proteobacteria, δ-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidales and Cyanobacteriain, and ε-Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Spirochaetes were unique groups. Besides, the major biological geochemical cycle was nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus cycle in river sediment, which was closely related to functional genes. There were about 45.9% of the clones related to nitrogen cycle in reclaimed water outfall, such as Comamonas sp., higher than those of upstream and downstream (27.7% and 23.4%), 17.9% of the clones were closely related to the carbon cycle, such as Lysobacter sp., higher than those of upstream and downstream (14.4% and 12.9%). Furthermore, the trace of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotics in reclaimed water also changed the transformation pattern participating in carbon and nitrogen cycle, for example, Rhodocyclus sp. conducted nitrogen fixation by photosynthesis in reclaimed water outfall, whereas Burkholderia sp. fixes nitrogen by ways of plants symbiotic nitrogen fixation in upstream and downstream. This research provides theoretical reference for studies on remediation of reclaimed water supplying river by artificial wetland.}, } @article {pmid29964527, year = {2017}, author = {Gu, Q and Jin, WB and Chen, YQ and Guo, SD and Wan, CF}, title = {[Highly Efficient Bioflocculation of Microalgae Using Mucor circinelloides].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {688-696}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.201607217}, pmid = {29964527}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chlorella/*growth & development ; *Flocculation ; Microalgae/*growth & development ; *Mucor ; Polysaccharides/analysis ; }, abstract = {Harvesting of microalgae is the major challenge in cost-efficient large-scale microalgal biomass production due to their low concentration and small cell size in the culture medium. The present paper aimed to study the efficiency of the filamentous fungus Mucor circinelloides spores suspensions to harvest the green unicellular microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa grown in synthetic medium. Results showed that the optimal co-culture conditions were pH=6.0, 1.25 g·L[-1] glucose and 1:250 fungi to microalgae ratio with harvest efficiency of 91.08%. In addition, the mentioned optimal conditions could be applied for actual sewage with harvest efficiency of 92.33%. Polysaccharide concentrations measured before and after 48 h of cultivation showed that the polysaccharide of C. pyrenoidosa cultured alone was increased by 0.047 g·L[-1], while co-cultured mixture showed increase in polysaccharides by 0.019 g·L[-1]. The recorded decrease in polysaccharides concentration in the co-culture might be attributed to using of excreted polysaccharides by M. circinelloides to grow, confirming the symbiotic association of both organisms. Furthermore, with decreasing the pH, C. pyrenoidosa Zeta potential was stable, while it was increased from -37.7 mV to -9.87 mV in M. circinelloides, which indicated that charge neutralization was the mechanism of flocculation between algae and fungi.}, } @article {pmid30208363, year = {2017}, author = {Becker, A}, title = {Classic Spotlight: Bacteroids-Views of an Enigmatic Bacterial State in Root Nodule Symbiosis through the Centuries.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {30208363}, issn = {1098-5530}, } @article {pmid29746762, year = {2017}, author = {Ma, C and Zhou, X and Xie, F and Li, Y}, title = {[Mutant construction and characterization of hfq in Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {77-86}, pmid = {29746762}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Host Factor 1 Protein/*genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Mesorhizobium/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Deletion ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We studied the functions and characteristics of hfq gene in Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R in adverse environment and symbiotic with its host plant.

METHODS: The hfq mutant of 7653R was constructed via homologous recombination with small cloned fragments on suicide plasmids pK19mob to insert target gene. We applied 7653RΔhfq to characterize stress tolerance and symbiosis with host plant, in comparison with the complementary strains 7653R △hfq-C and the wild type.

RESULTS: Mutant 7653RΔhfq presented lower growth rate, and higher mortality after heat shock-pretreated than that of the wild type, as well as the decreasing adaptability under the stress of 4.5% ethanol and 50 mmol H2O2. The defection of hfq affected the expression of some sRNAs in 7653R. Moreover, the mutant displayed significant reduced nodulation ability and nitrogenase activity compared with the wild type.

CONCLUSION: As a crucial post transcriptional regulatory factor, hfq plays an important role in Mesorhizobium Huakuii 7653R on both processes of stress resistance and symbiosis with the host plant Astragalus sinicus L.}, } @article {pmid29746056, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, X and Liu, W and Xie, Z}, title = {[Advances in phosphatase CheZ of bacterial chemotaxis signaling pathway].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {15-23}, pmid = {29746056}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacteria/*enzymology/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Bacteria get a survival advantages in the complex environment through the chemotaxis system. Chemotaxis plays an important role in colonization and pathogenicity of bacteria, the legume–rhizobia symbiosis, and plant-microbe interactions. Phosphatase CheZ is an indispensable regulatory protein in the process of chemotactic signal adaptation. This review focused on the structure, mechanism of action, functional regulation, protein targeting and the status of the evolutionary of CheZ. This work can benefit the study of other bacterial chemotaxis systems.}, } @article {pmid30023232, year = {2017}, author = {Ammar, ED and Hall, DG and Shatters, RG}, title = {Ultrastructure of the salivary glands, alimentary canal and bacteria-like organisms in the Asian citrus psyllid, vector of citrus huanglongbing disease bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of microscopy and ultrastructure}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {9-20}, pmid = {30023232}, issn = {2213-8803}, abstract = {The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP, Diaphorina citri, Hemiptera: Liviidae) is the principal vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), the putative bacterial agent of citrus greening/huanglongbing (HLB); currently the most serious citrus disease worldwide. Las is transmitted in a persistent-propagative manner by ACP, and the salivary glands and midgut have been suggested as transmission barriers that can impede translocation of Las within the vector. However, no detailed ultrastructural studies have been reported on these organs in this or other psyllid species, although some bacterium-like structures have been described in them and assumed to be the causal agents of HLB. In this study, we describe the ultrastructure of the salivary glands, filter chamber, other parts of the alimentary canal, and other organs and tissues of ACP including the compound ganglionic mass (in the thorax) and the bacteriome (in the abdomen). Furthermore, in addition to two ultrastructurally apparently different symbiotic bacteria found in the bacteriome, other morphological types of bacteria were found in the gut epithelial cells and salivary glands of both Las-infected (quantitative polymerase chain reaction positive) and noninfected (quantitative polymerase chain reaction negative) ACP. These results show the importance of immunolabeling, fluorescence in situ hybridization, or other labeling techniques that must be used before identifying any bacterium-like structures in ACP or other vectors as Las or other possible agents of HLB. This ultrastructural investigation should help future work on the cellular and subcellular aspects of pathogen-psyllid relationships, including the study of receptors, binding sites, and transmission barriers of Las and other pathogens within their psyllid vectors.}, } @article {pmid29951587, year = {2017}, author = {Wilbanks, R}, title = {Real Vegan Cheese and the Artistic Critique of Biotechnology.}, journal = {Engaging science, technology, and society}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {180-205}, pmid = {29951587}, issn = {2413-8053}, support = {T32 HG008953/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Drawing on the case study of Real Vegan Cheese (RVC), a synthetic biology project housed in a community lab or "biohackerspace," I argue that biohacking performs an "artistic critique" of the bioeconomy. Following Boltanski and Chiapello's use of the term, the "artistic critique" pits values of autonomy and creativity against a view of capitalist production as standardized and alienating, represented (in the case of biotechnology) by Monsanto's monoculture GMOs. In this way, biohacking is depicted as liberating biotechnology from the constraints of corporate and academic institutions. Through the use of design fiction and a playful aesthetic, projects such as RVC demonstrate a more legitimate--with respect to the values of the artistic critique--mode of production for a new generation of biotechnology products, one that is portrayed as driven primarily by ethical and aesthetic values rather than the profit motive. This analysis highlights the role that aesthetic and affective strategies play in advancing particular sociotechnical visions, and the way that biohacking projects operate in symbiosis with incumbent institutions even as they define themselves in opposition to them. Finally, it suggests that biohacking has certain limitations when considered as a form of public engagement with science.}, } @article {pmid29861591, year = {2017}, author = {Panigrahi, M and Vyas, M and Mohanty, KP}, title = {Self-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Mukhakantivardhaka Lepa and Patoladi Ghanavati in Twakvaivarnya (hypermelanosis).}, journal = {Ayu}, volume = {38}, number = {1-2}, pages = {39-45}, doi = {10.4103/ayu.AYU_17_17}, pmid = {29861591}, issn = {0974-8520}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Beauty is not only a source of joy but also gives confidence to some extent. Ayurvedic cosmetology starts from mother's womb and continues with Dinacharya (daily routines), Ratricharya (diet and regimen for night), Ritucharya (seasonal diet and regimen), etc. The symbiosis between cosmetology and Ayurveda is the most ancient one. With this research interest, the present study has been undertaken to assess the efficacy of Mukhakantivardhaka Lepa and Patoladi Ghanavati in Tvakvaivarnya (hypermelanosis).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of Mukhakantivardhaka Lepa and Patoladi Ghanavati in Tvakvaivarnya (hypermelanosis).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a double-armed clinical trial in which 62 patients having signs and symptoms of Tvakvaivarnya were selected belonging to the age group of 16-40 years and received Mukhakantivardhaka Lepa and Patoladi Ghanavati for 60 days with follow-up after every week. For the purpose of perfect diagnosis and assessment of all aspects of the disease, a special research proforma was prepared.

RESULTS: Both the groups showed 100% improvment in associated symptoms. Regarding the overall effect of therapy in both the groups, moderate improvement was high following marked improvement. No adverse reactions were documented.

CONCLUSION: Mukhakantivardhaka Lepa and Patoladi Ghanavati work excellently on Tvakvaivarnya (hypermelanosis) and improve skin complexion.}, } @article {pmid29741859, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Zeng, X and Zhou, X and Li, Y}, title = {[Cloning, mutagenesis and symbiotic phenotype of three lipid transfer protein encoding genes from Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {56}, number = {12}, pages = {1901-1911}, pmid = {29741859}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Lipid transfer protein superfamily is involved in lipid transport and metabolism. This study aimed to construct mutants of three lipid transfer protein encoding genes in Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R, and to study the phenotypes and function of mutations during symbiosis with Astragalus sinicus.

METHODS: We used bioinformatics to predict structure characteristics and biological functions of lipid transfer proteins, and conducted semi-quantitative and fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR to analyze the expression levels of target genes in free-living and symbiotic conditions. Using pK19mob insertion mutagenesis to construct mutants, we carried out pot plant experiments to observe symbiotic phenotypes.

RESULTS: MCHK-5577, MCHK-2172 and MCHK-2779 genes encoding proteins belonged to START/RHO alpha_C/PITP/Bet_v1/CoxG/CalC (SRPBCC) superfamily, involved in lipid transport or metabolism, and were identical to M. loti at 95% level. Gene relative transcription level of the three genes all increased compared to free-living condition. We obtained three mutants. Compared with wild-type 7653R, above-ground biomass of plants and nodulenitrogenase activity induced by the three mutants significantly decreased.

CONCLUSION: Results indicated that lipid transfer protein encoding genes of Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R may play important roles in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and the mutations significantly affected the symbiotic phenotypes. The present work provided a basis to study further symbiotic function mechanism associated with lipid transfer proteins from rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid29923698, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, ML and Wang, YN and Cui, JL and Wang, JH}, title = {[Effect of endophytic fungus on expression of key enzyme genes in pathway of salidroside biosynthesis in Rhodiola crenulata].}, journal = {Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica}, volume = {51}, number = {12}, pages = {1920-1925}, pmid = {29923698}, issn = {0513-4870}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Glucosides/*biosynthesis ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics ; Phenols ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Rhodiola/*genetics/*microbiology ; Tyrosine Decarboxylase/genetics ; Tyrosine Transaminase/genetics ; }, abstract = {One strain of endophytic fungus ZPRa-R-1 was obtained for the capacity of promoting production of salidroside in Rhodiola crenulata. To explain the mechanism of salidroside biosynthesis in host plant, eight housekeeping genes were evaluated, and the evaluation method was created for the expression activities of four key enzyme genes PAL (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), TyDC (tyrosine decarboxylase), TAT (tyrosine transaminase), UDPGT (UDP-glucosyltransferase) referenced double reference genes in biosynthesis pathway of salidroside in R. crenulata. Stabilities of housekeeping genes were confirmed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR technology and three softwares including geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, then relative expressions of key enzyme genes were analysized by the 2-ΔΔCt method. The results showed that the most stable gene was GAPDH, followed by PCS, and the most appropriate reference of internal genes were combination with two genes in R. crenulata inoculated with endophytic fungus ZPRa-R-1. Under symbiosis conditions, regularity changes of key enzyme genes affected by endophytic fungus ZPRa-R-1 were as follows: the relative expression activity of PAL attached to peak value, which was 4.9 times as that of control group when inoculated ten days. The relative expression of TyDC reached the maximum value, which was 2.8 times of that control after inoculating 12 days. The relative expression of UDPGT actually reach 17.1 times than that of control after inoculating 8 days. However, the relative expression of TAT was not affected by this fungus. The changes of four key enzyme genes are positively correlated with the changes of salidroside content in R. crenulata.}, } @article {pmid30128121, year = {2016}, author = {Maighal, M and Salem, M and Kohler, J and Rillig, MC}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi negatively affect soil seed bank viability.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {21}, pages = {7683-7689}, pmid = {30128121}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Seed banks represent a reservoir of propagules important for understanding plant population dynamics. Seed viability in soil depends on soil abiotic conditions, seed species, and soil biota. Compared to the vast amount of data on plant growth effects, next to nothing is known about how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could influence viability of seeds in the soil seed bank. To test whether AMF could influence seed bank viability, we conducted three two-factorial experiments using seeds of three herbaceous plant species (Taraxacum officinale, Dactylis glomerata, and Centaurea nigra) under mesocosm (experiments 1 and 2) and field conditions (experiment 3) and modifying the factor AMF presence (yes and no). To allow only hyphae to grow in and to prevent root penetration, paired root exclusion compartments (RECs) were used in experiments 2 and 3, which were either rotated (interrupted mycelium connection) or kept static (allows mycorrhizal connection). After harvesting, seed viability, soil water content, soil phosphorus availability, soil pH, and hyphal length in RECs were measured. In experiment 1, we used inoculation or not with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis to establish the mycorrhizal treatment levels. A significant negative effect of mycorrhizal hyphae on viability of seeds was observed in experiments 1 and 3, and a similar trend in experiment 2. All three experiments showed that water content, soil pH, and AMF extraradical hyphal lengths were increased in the presence of AMF, but available P was decreased significantly. Viability of seeds in the soil seed bank correlated negatively with water content, soil pH, and AMF extraradical hyphal lengths and positively with soil P availability. Our results suggest that AMF can have a negative impact on soil seed viability, which is in contrast to the often-documented positive effects on plant growth. Such effects must now be included in our conceptual models of the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29964778, year = {2016}, author = {Xu, PP and Liu, C and Wang, Y and Zheng, YH and Zhang, CH and Ge, Y}, title = {[Effects of a Symbiotic Bacterium on the Accumulation and Transformation of Arsenate by Chlorella salina].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {37}, number = {9}, pages = {3438-3446}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.2016.09.023}, pmid = {29964778}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Arsenates/*metabolism ; Arsenic ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorella/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Halomonas/classification/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Algae-bacteria consortia may be potentially applied in wastewater treatment and environment remediation. In this study, in order to investigate effects of a symbiotic bacterium on the accumulation and transformation of arsenate[As(Ⅴ)] by Chlorella salina, we used batch cultures to determine the uptake, adsorption and transformation of As by axenic and non-axenic C. salina exposed to 0-750 μg·L[-1] As(Ⅴ) for 7 d. The symbiotic bacterium of C. salina was confirmed to be Halomonas sp. after isolation, cultivation and 16S rRNA identification. The bacterial presence markedly increased the adsorption of As in C. salina, but it markedly reduced the absorption and the toxic effect of As(Ⅴ). Arsenate was the major arsenic species in the cells of axenic and non-axenic C. salina. The proportion of arsenite[As(Ⅲ)] was 8.99%-11.52% in the axenic microalga whereas a small quantity of monomethylarsonous acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinous acid (DMA) (0.02%-0.04%) were detected in the non-axenic counterpart. As(Ⅲ) dominated the As speciation in the bacterial culture and the percentage of As(Ⅴ) was 7.59%-26.80%, indicating that this symbiotic bacterium had a strong As(Ⅴ) reducing ability. The As removal rate (19.81%-41.08%) by non-axenic C. salina was higher than the bacterium alone (5.14%-14.62%) and axenic C. salina (14.98%-21.08%) after 7 d As(Ⅴ) exposure. The symbiotic Halomonas sp. promoted the accumulation of As by C. salina, indicating that algae-bacteria consortia might enhance the bioremediation of As contaminated water.}, } @article {pmid30226935, year = {2016}, author = {Insarova, ID and Blagoveshchenskaya, EY}, title = {Lichen Symbiosis: Search and Recognition of Partners.}, journal = {Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia}, volume = {}, number = {5}, pages = {479-490}, pmid = {30226935}, issn = {1026-3470}, mesh = {Host Specificity ; Lichens/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The problems associated with the initial stages of the formation of the thallus of lichens, i.e., compatibility of symbiotic partners, recognition ofsymbionts, and signals required for the formation of the differentiated thallus, are discussed.}, } @article {pmid30141864, year = {2016}, author = {Krutylo, DV and Leonova, NO}, title = {Symbiotic Potential of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Strains with Different Growth Rates.}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {78}, number = {5}, pages = {42-52}, pmid = {30141864}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Ukraine ; }, abstract = {AIM: To study genetic properties of soybean nodule bacteria with different growth rates, to research the ability of rhizobia to produce phytohormonal substances and estimate their symbiotic potential in the conditions of combined inoculation and mono-inoculation of soybean plants.

METHODS: Sequencing of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer of soybean rhizobia was performed on ABI 3130xl Genetic Analyzer. Determination of the qualitative and quantitative composition of phytohormones in culture liquid of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains was performed by SDTLC-chromatography of high resolution. Symbiotic potential of the strains was estimated in the field experiment in Polissia area of Ukraine.

RESULTS: It has been established that strains of soybean nodule bacteria with different growth rates by the structure of ITS region belong to different genetic groups: USDA 6, USDA 110 and USDA 123. The studied rhizobia differ in the levels of extracellular phytohormones synthesis: the slow-growing B. japonicum strain 46 produces more amounts of auxins, but the intensive-growing B. japonicum strain KB11 significantly exceeds in the amounts of cytokinins. It has been shown that an important factor of increasing soybean productivity is the formation of balanced symbiotic systems of the host plant with several complementary strains but serologically and genetically different strains of rhizobia of the same species.

CONCLUSIONS: Combined inoculation of soybean seeds with two active strains B. japonicum 46 and B. japonicum KB11 allows more fully realizing the potential of symbiotic partners and receiving the higher yield.}, } @article {pmid30024143, year = {2016}, author = {Provorov, NA and Shtark, OY and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {[Evolution of nitrogen-fixing symbioses based on the migration of bacteria from mycorrhizal fungi and soil into the plant tissues].}, journal = {Zhurnal obshchei biologii}, volume = {77}, number = {5}, pages = {329-345}, pmid = {30024143}, issn = {0044-4596}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development ; *Biological Evolution ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The hypothesis is suggested on the emergence of N2-fixing plant symbionts from soil diazotrophs and from the satellites of Glomeromycota fungi forming arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). This universal form of plant-microbe symbiosis possibly appeared from integration of ancestral land plants (rhyniophytes, psylophytes) and microbial consortia composed of AM-fungi assimilating soil phosphates and bacteria fixing atmospheric CO2 and/or N2. Releasing of these bacteria from AM-fungal hyphae into the plant tissues elicited the selection of genotypes capable of the fungi-independent multiplication in planta, as well as the fixation in bacterial genomes of the genes for synthesis of chitin-like signal factors stimulating the development of symbiotic structures. An early stage of this evolution might been represented by formation of N2-fixing syncyanoses, the late stage - by formation of nodular symbioses of dicots from Eurosid I clade with rhizobia (α- and β-proteobacteria) and with actinobacteria Frankia. Emergence of these symbioses was possibly based on the migration of soil and endophytic bacteria into the storage organs (modified stems or lateral roots), where the optimal conditions were established not only for N2 fixation but also for the evolution of bacteria towards an increased symbiotic activity. This evolution resulted in the emergence of primary rhizobia (Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia) which acted as the donors of sym-genes for a broad spectrum of microbes transformed into the secondary rhizobia (Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium). The succeeding evolution of nodular symbioses was directed at an increased efficiency of symbiotrophic nitrogen nutrition in host plants following two scenarios: (i) “expensive”, based on the increase of N2- fixing activity via transformation of bacteria into non-reproducible bacteroids; (ii) “economic”, based on acquiring the determinate nodule structure and ureide nitrogen assimilation.}, } @article {pmid29964752, year = {2016}, author = {Jing, XX and Su, ZZ and Xing, HE and Wang, FY and Shi, ZY and Liu, XQ}, title = {[Biological Effects of ZnO Nanoparticles as Influenced by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Phosphorus Fertilization].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {37}, number = {8}, pages = {3208-3215}, doi = {10.13277/j.hjkx.2016.08.049}, pmid = {29964752}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants ; Fertilizers ; *Metal Nanoparticles ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus/*chemistry ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*metabolism ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Zinc Oxide/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in many applications, such as plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, rubber, lubricants, paints, pigments, batteries, fire retardants, catalysts, and anti-microbial agents. They directly or indirectly enter aquatic and terrestrial environments through application, accidental release, contaminated soil/sediments, or atmospheric fallouts. When present in excess, ZnO NPs can induce phytotoxicity and reduce plant growth and yields. ZnO NPs can also cause Zn accumulation in edible parts of food crops, and then subsequently enter human bodies and pose a significant health risk. Arbuscular mycorrhizae are ubiquitous symbiotic associations in nature formed between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and most higher plants in terrestrial ecosystems. In addition to their well-known contribution to plant nutrient acquisition and growth, AM fungi can improve plant tolerance to various environmental stresses, but mycorrhizal effects vary with environmental conditions such as phosphorus status in both soil and plants. AM fungi have been shown to alleviate the negative effects of ZnO NPs and zinc accumulation in plants, however, the role of phosphorus fertilization has been neglected. A greenhouse pot culture experiment was conducted using maize as the test plant inoculated with or without AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae. Four levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 50 or 100 mg·kg[-1]) and two levels of ZnO NPs (0 or 500 mg·kg[-1]) were applied to pots. Shoots and roots were harvested separately after two months of growth. Mycorrhizal infection, plant biomass, P and Zn concentrations and uptake in plants, and soil DTPA-extractable zinc and pH were determined. The results showed that ZnO NPs did not significantly affect the growth of maize, but inhibited root mycorrhizal infection and plant phosphorus uptake, and led to the accumulation of zinc in plants. ZnO NPs and high phosphorus supply decreased root mycorrhizal infection, but AM inoculation significantly promoted plant growth under all phosphorus supply levels. Phosphorus application and AM inoculation increased soil pH, but reduced the bioavailability of Zn derived from ZnO NPs, decreased the translocation and accumulation of zinc in maize shoots, and thus produced beneficial effects on plants. In general, AM inoculation showed positive mycorrhizal effect, especially under low phosphorus conditions and addition of ZnO NPs. Our results showed for the first time that both AM fungi and phosphate fertilizer could help to mitigate soil pollution and the ecological and health risks posed by ZnO NPs.}, } @article {pmid29738195, year = {2016}, author = {Jiang, N and Liu, W and Li, Y and Xie, Z}, title = {Comparative genomic and protein sequence analyses of the chemotaxis system of Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {56}, number = {8}, pages = {1256-1265}, pmid = {29738195}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Azorhizobium caulinodans/chemistry/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sesbania/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 can fix nitrogen not only as a free-living organism and an associative-symbiotic bacterium by colonizing the root surface of non-leguminous plants, but also as a symbiotic bacterium by interacting with leguminous plant Sesbania rostrata. Due to its ability to grow and fix nitrogen under three conditions, A. caulinodans uses sophisticated chemotaxis signal transduction systems to transform environmental cues into corresponding behavioral responses. Chemotaxis appears crucial for the growth of A. caulinodansin complicated environment and the construction of associative relationship with the plant. However, little is known about the chemotactic pathway of A. caulinodans. Thus, our study aimed to compare the chemotaxis-like genes of A. caulinodans with those of well-studied species.

METHODS: NCBI protein BLAST was used for searching sequence similarity with default parameter values against the genomes of A. caulinodans. HMMER3, based on Pfam database, was used for comparative analyses of methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP).

RESULTS: There was a major chemotaxis cluster in A. caulinodans and the CheR methylated MCPs independently of pentapeptide motif. There were 43 MCP homologs containing diverse signal-sensing architectures in A. caulinodans. In addition, cytoplasmic domains of these MCPs were all composed of 38 heptad repeats.

CONCLUSION: Despite the extremely high homology presented between the chemotactic system of A. caulinodans and those of well-studied species, A. caulinodans shows its own unique characteristics. The classification of these chemotactic pathways by comparative genomics enables us to better understand how A. caulinodansresponds to changes in environment via exquisite signal transductions in chemotaxis system.}, } @article {pmid30148946, year = {2016}, author = {Hirokawa, W}, title = {[Hansen’s Disease Patients in Yunosawa Village and Their Relationship with the Wider Community: 1869-1941].}, journal = {Nihon Hansenbyo Gakkai zasshi = Japanese journal of leprosy : official organ of the Japanese Leprosy Association}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, pages = {75-78}, pmid = {30148946}, issn = {1342-3681}, mesh = {Balneology ; Hot Springs ; Humans ; Japan ; *Leper Colonies ; Leprosy/*therapy ; Residence Characteristics ; }, abstract = {This paper explores the history of Yunosawa Village for Hansen’s disease patients in Kusatsu Town, which is famous for its hot springs and located in a mountainous area of Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Yunosawa Village was initially formed by Kusatsu Town government as a settlement for a small number of patients in 1869, but later became the biggest “open leprosy colony” for Hansen’s disease patients in modern Japan. Patients in Yunosawa gradually constructed their own regional community and expanded their presence in Kusatsu as part of the town. Although townspeople in Kusatsu made several attempts to remove patients in Yunosawa to a more remote area away from the town center so that they would be out of sight of visitors, townspeople in Kusatsu had a long history of treating Hansen’s disease patients as customers of the hot springs, which enabled them to understand the nature of the disease through their own experience. This “folk epidemiology” created a “symbiotic” relationship between patients in Yunosawa and townspeople for nearly 60 years until the national government finally closed Yunosawa in 1941.}, } @article {pmid29733161, year = {2016}, author = {Zhou, J and Lin, GH and Cai, ZH}, title = {[Roles of microbes in matter cycles in phycosphere niche.].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2708-2716}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201608.007}, pmid = {29733161}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification ; Biodiversity ; *Food Chain ; Phytoplankton/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Phytoplankton is the main driver of marine primary production and matter cycles. Their ecological functions have closely linked to the associated microbes. Although microbial biodiversity is high in all kinds of algal hosts (such as dinoflagellate, diatoms and blue-green algae), some he-terotrophic bacteria (Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Flavobacteria, and Actinobacteria) often appear as the dominant communities. In algae-bacteria symbiosis, microbes play important ecological roles, such as regulating microbial food web, mediating the energy flow & nutrient cycling, and maintaining the balance of ecological system. In this review, we summarized the bacterial functions in phycosphere environment, and discussed their contribution to biogeochemical cycle and co-evolution. Particularly, we attempted to take Flavobacteria and Roseobacters as the examples to reveal the metabolic behavior and survive strategies, for better understanding the ecological cha-racterization and co-evolution of "resident species" in phycosphere niche.}, } @article {pmid29733150, year = {2016}, author = {Cao, SS and Wang, YH and Duan, FZ and Zhao, WJ and Wang, ZH and Fang, N}, title = {[Coupling between ecological vulnerability and economic poverty in contiguous destitute areas, China: Empirical analysis of 714 poverty-stricken counties.].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2614-2622}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201608.020}, pmid = {29733150}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {China ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecology ; *Economic Development ; Ecosystem ; Models, Theoretical ; *Poverty Areas ; }, abstract = {Maintaining the coordinated correlation between ecological environment and economic development is one of the important strategies in the new stage of poverty alleviation and development. Taking 714 poverty-stricken counties in contiguous destitute areas as study areas, this paper designed the ecological vulnerability evaluation indicator system based on the ecological sensitivity-resilience-pressure (SRP) conceptual model, as well as the comprehensive poverty evaluation indicators from the perspective of socioeconomic development, so as to build the coupling model to reveal the coupling between ecological vulnerability and economic poverty. The results showed that Hu-Line could act as a feasible partition label to depict the spatial distribution patterns of ecological vulnerability, economic poverty, as well as their coupling degree in contiguous destitute areas, which should be fully taken into consideration the influence of Hu-Line on the east-west pattern classification of national poverty reduction. In addition, there existed a symbiotic positive correlation between ecological vulnerability and economic poverty, therefore, the strategic significance of ecological and environment protection in poverty-stricken areas should be specifically emphasized to reduce economic poverty by synchronously protecting the ecological environment. Approximately half of the counties involved in the study area were in the coordinated type of recession disorders, where the ecological environment quality and the economic development could not be synchronized.}, } @article {pmid30251788, year = {2016}, author = {Arbuzova, EN and Kulinich, OA and Mazurin, ES and Ryss, AY and Kozyreva, NI and Zinovieva, SV}, title = {Pine Wilt Disease and Possible Causes of Its Incidence in Russia.}, journal = {Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {358-365}, pmid = {30251788}, issn = {1026-3470}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; *Nematoda/isolation & purification/microbiology ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Russia ; }, abstract = {Surveys of forests and stockpiled timber of pine, spruce, larch, and silver fir in 14 administrative subjects of the Russian Federation revealed widespread occurrence of the coniferous wood parasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus mucronatus. Twenty species of bacteria belonging to 13 genera have been detected in 25 B. mucronatus isolates, and their identity has been determined by direct sequencing of the 16S- RNA gene. The most frequently occurring were bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas, -Stenotrophomonas, Pantoea, Bacillus, Burkholderia, and Serratia. Prevalence of Pseudomonas brenneri and P. fluorescence, which were also found in the nematode dauer larva (Liv) isolated from the fir sawyer beetle Monochamus urussovi, have also been assessed. Two nematode B. xylophilus isolates from Portugal and one isolate from the United States have been examined, and 10 symbiotic bacteria species have been isolated, including Agrobacterium tumefacience, P.fluorescens, P. brenneri, Rahnella aquatilis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, S. rhizophila, and Yersinia mollaretfi.}, } @article {pmid30024135, year = {2016}, author = {Dmitrieva, AS and Ivnitsky, SB and Markov, AV}, title = {[Adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster to stressful nutritional conditions leads to the expansion of the trophic niche].}, journal = {Zhurnal obshchei biologii}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {249-261}, pmid = {30024135}, issn = {0044-4596}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*drug effects ; Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Feeding Behavior/*drug effects ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Adaptation to stress factors is often accompanied by negative side effects that are manifested in lower fitness in the absence of the stress factor. This can lead to ecological specialization of the populations adapted to stressful environment and, ultimately, to ecological speciation. However, the existence of eurytopic species with a wide spectrum of ecological tolerance implies that adaptation to marginal conditions apparently can proceed without negative side effects or even involve positive effects, leading to niche expansion. Experimental evidence in favour of this evolutionary scenario is scarce. In the course of the evolutionary experiment that lasted for 20 generations, the laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster successfully adapted to stressful media with high NaCl concentration. The adaptation is manifested through the higher number of offspring produced during a fixed time interval by a pair of parents from the adapted lineages on the stressful medium compared to the control (unadapted) lineage, and in the less pronounced delay in larval development caused by high NaCl concentration. The adaptation to stressful medium did not entail fitness costs on the standard (favorable) medium; moreover, it resulted in more effective reproduction in favorable conditions (expansion of the trophic niche). These results, together with those obtained earlier during the study of adaptation of D. melanogaster to nutrient-poor starch based medium, imply that adaptation to marginal conditions accompanied by positive (rather than negative) side effects, leading to the expansion of the trophic niche, may be a frequent phenomenon in eurytopic species like D. melanogaster, probably explaining, to some extent, their ecological tolerance. Scarcity of experimentally confirmed examples of such evolutionary scenario is probably due to low number of attempts to find them. One possible mechanism of 'multi-purpose adaptations' obtained during the acclimation to environmental stress is the adaptive changes of symbiotic microbiota which, in Drosophila, is efficiently transferred between generations if offspring eat the medium on which their parents had lived. For instance, high quantities of symbiotic lactobacilli in the gut can enhance larval growth, life span of adults, and the efficiency of substrate utilization. Further studies are needed to reveal the mechanisms responsible for the changes in fitness observed in the course of the experiment.}, } @article {pmid29889420, year = {2016}, author = {Chernin, VV}, title = {PHYSIOLOGY OF SYMBIOTIC AND OWN MAN DIGESTION.}, journal = {Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia gastroenterologiia = Experimental & clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {35-41}, pmid = {29889420}, issn = {1682-8658}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Digestion/*physiology ; *Esophageal Mucosa/microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Aimlo observe the qualitative and quantitative composition of the luminal and mucosal microflora in the functional departments of digestive tract, determine its participation in the fermentation of food ingredients and place of symbiotic digestion in the digestive conveyor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 107 healthy volunteers aged 18-36 years. The qualitative and quantitative composition, enzymatic activity of the oral fluid on the surface of the cheeks and tongue, and the contents of the biopsies of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum,jejunum, ileum and colon have been studied.

RESULTS: Symbiotic digestion is carried out by luminal and mucosal microflora provided cavitary and parietal bacterial dilestion in all parts of the digestive tract. Symbiotic digestion included in the own digestion takes place in the fermentation of food ingredients, complementing and extending the assimilation processes. gondusion. The obtained data allowed to expand understanding of the digestive, process in humans, the first describe four phases of enteric digestion, propose a scheme of digestive convey or that includes mechanisms of the own and symbiotic digestion in all its departments.}, } @article {pmid29883078, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, G and Liu, SS and Yang, XJ and Chen, Y and Liu, LL and Guo, SX}, title = {[Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel DoSWEET1 gene from Dendrobium officinale].}, journal = {Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica}, volume = {51}, number = {6}, pages = {991-997}, pmid = {29883078}, issn = {0513-4870}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Basidiomycota ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Dendrobium/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination ; Molecular Weight ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Plant Stems/genetics ; Seeds ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {SWEET (sugars will be eventually exported transporters) constitute a large and conserved gene family of sugar transporters in eukaryotes, which are important in the cellular metabolisms, growth and development, and plant-microbe interaction in plants. In the present study, a full length cDNA of SWEET encoding gene, designed as DoSWEET1 (GenBank accession No. KT957550), was identified in Dendrobium officinale using RT-PCR and RACE approaches. DoSWEET1 was 1 150 bp in length and encoded a 262-aa protein with a molecular weight of 29.18 kD and an isoelectric point of 9.49. The deduced DoSWEET1 protein contained seven transmembrane regions and two conserved MtN3-slv domains (11-94, 130-212). Multiple sequence alignment revealed that DoSWEET1 had high identities 45%-54.6%) with SWEET proteins from various plants. A neighbor joining phylogenetic analysis suggests that DoSWEET1 belonged to the class Ⅱ subgroup of the SWEET evolutionary tree, and was closely related to rice OsSWEET13, OsSWEET14, and OsSWEET15. qPCR analysis demonstrated that DoSWEET1 gene was differentially expressed in the three included organs of D. officinale, and the expression was most abundant in the roots at 9.88 fold over that of the stems, followed by that of the leaves with 2.85 fold higher. In the 3rd symbiotic germinating seeds infected by Tulasnella sp., the transcipts were dramatically induced by 1 359.06 fold over that in the ungerniamted control seeds, suggesting a vital role of the gene in the D. officinale symbiotic germination process. Molecular cloning and characterization of the novel DoSWEET1 gene provides a foundation for the functional study of the gene in sugar translocation during the D. officinale symbiotic germination process.}, } @article {pmid30363099, year = {2016}, author = {Xie, X and Yoneyama, K and Kisugi, T and Nomura, T and Akiyama, K and Asami, T and Yoneyama, K}, title = {Structure- and stereospecific transport of strigolactones from roots to shoots.}, journal = {Journal of pesticide science}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {55-58}, pmid = {30363099}, issn = {1348-589X}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived signaling molecules that mediate symbiotic and parasitic communications in the rhizosphere and plant hormones that regulate the growth and development of plants through crosstalk with other hormones. Natural SLs are classified into two groups based on the stereochemistry of the B-C ring junction. Rice and sorghum plants, both gramineous crops, produce orobanchol-type and strigol-type SLs, respectively, while tobacco plants produce both types. In the present study, we demonstrate that such species-specific phenomena in SL production also occur in the transport of exogenous SLs from roots to shoots. In rice plants, strigol-type SLs such as 5-deoxystrigol have been reported to actively inhibit tiller bud outgrowth, whereas root-applied strigol-type SLs could not be detected in shoots harvested 20 hr after treatment, indicating that metabolites of SLs or other signaling compounds downstream of SLs-but not SLs themselves-are the true inhibitors of tiller bud outgrowth.}, } @article {pmid29767016, year = {2016}, author = {Msimango, NNP and Fon, FN}, title = {Monitoring the fibrolytic potential of microbial ecosystems from domestic and wild ruminants browsing tanniferous forages.}, journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {40-44}, pmid = {29767016}, issn = {2405-6383}, abstract = {Although the rumen microbiome has been reported to synthesize a rich source of symbiotic enzymes (exocellulase, endocellulase, hemicellulase and cellobiase), the digestion of tropical C4 grasses and browses by ruminants is still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to unveil potential fibrolytic microbial ecosystems from giraffe, kudu, impala and consortia (A1 [giraffe + kudu], A2 [giraffe + impala], A3 [kudu + impala], and A4 [giraffe + kudu + impala]) browsing tanniferous plants, which can be used to improve forage utilization in domesticated goat. Crude protein enzyme extracts (CPZ) from fresh faecal samples were precipitated by 60% ammonium sulphate and assayed for exocellulase, endocellulase and hemicellulase by incubating with crystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and xylan at 38 °C with optimum pH of 5.5 to 6.5 for 1, 2, and 48 h, respectively. Enzyme specific activities were defined as μg of reducing sugar/mg CPZ. In vitro fermentation study was done by transferring 33 mL of fresh faecal inoculum into 67 mL of salivary buffer containing 1 g Acacia sieberiana and incubating for 72 h at 38 °C. Apparent degradability (APDeg), true degradability (TD), neutral detergent fibre degradability (NDFdeg), acid detergent fibre degradability (ADFdeg), microbial yield (MY), metabolizable energy (ME) and total gas emitted (Gas) were measured. Exocellulase activities were higher (P < 0.05) in all wild animals and consortia than those in goat except for A4. Minimal differences in hemicellulase activities (P < 0.05) were observed among goat and wild animals and consortia, while endocellulase activity was generally higher (P < 0.05) in goat than that in the rest of the systems. Apart from A3, TDeg, NDFdeg and ADFdeg were higher (P < 0.05) in all microbial ecosystems from wild animals and consortia than those in goat. Apparent degradability, MY and ME also varied (P < 0.05) among these systems. Giraffe, Kudu and A3 produced lower (P < 0.05) gas than the goat system. This study showed that microbial ecosystems from wild browsers (especially impala) and consortia possess a higher potential to digest tanniferous forage with less enteric gas production compared with domesticated goat, hence those microbiome could be exploited as microbial feed additives for improving digestibility and reducing enteric gas production in domesticated goat. Improvements of goat's digestibility will depend on the survival and establishment of microbial species in the rumen as well as their fibrolytic and symbiotic potential including tannin tolerance.}, } @article {pmid29805900, year = {2014}, author = {Saduakhasova, S and Kushugulova, A and Shakhabayeva, G and Kozhakhmetov, S and Khasenbekova, Z and Tynybayeva, I and Nurgozhin, T and Zhumadilov, Z}, title = {Lactobacillus for Vaginal Microflora Correction.}, journal = {Central Asian journal of global health}, volume = {3}, number = {Suppl}, pages = {171}, doi = {10.5195/cajgh.2014.171}, pmid = {29805900}, issn = {2166-7403}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Despite the significant progress made in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, there is still a high rate of vaginal dysbiosis in Kazakh women. The use of antibiotics in the treatment of vaginal dysbiosis contributes to the elimination of pathogens as well as microflora, which can lead to a decrease in local immunity and more favorable conditions for infection spread. The most physiologically safe and promising method for the restoration of vaginal biocenosis is the use of probiotics administered by a vaginal route.

METHODS: We have allocated 64 of cultures of Lactobacillus from the vaginal epithelium of healthy women of reproductive age and women with diagnosed bacterial vaginosis (BV). Identification of cultures was performed by PCR analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA. Evaluation of biological significance was determined by the following criteria: high antagonistic activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella ozaenae, and Staphylococcus aureus; and production of hydrogen peroxide, resistance to antibiotics, adhesive activity. We studied the symbiotic relationship of selected biologically active of cultures to each other and received options for consortiums with properties of probiotics through co-cultivation.

RESULTS: Results of genotyping showed that the isolated lactobacilli belong to the seven species: L. fermentum, L. salivarius, L. gasseri, L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. plantarum, and L. delbrueskii. L. fermentum, L. salivarius, L. gasseri, and L. jensenii occur in women with suspected BV. The highest percentage of occurrence in the vagina of healthy women was L. fermentum (28%). Most strains of lactobacilli possess high inhibitory activity for all test-strains, except Candida albicans (37.5%). 56% of studied cultures revealed high adhesion to human erythrocytes. All lactobacillus strains were resistant to metronidazole, 80% to kanamycin, 57% to vancomycin, and sensitivity to roxithromycin, amoxiclav, ampicillin was diagnosed in all strains. 50% of cultures showed a moderate sensitivity to gentamicin and cefazolin. In a study of peroxide-producing activity, 80% of the cultures exhibited peroxide-producing activity. As a result of screening, the 7 most active strains of lactobacilli were selected for development of 10 variants of probiotic consortia. Also, there was increase of adhesive activity in the consortia compared to other components. These consortia can be used for the treatment of BV in addition to metronidazole.

CONCLUSION: The probiotic consortia identified in this study had high antagonistic, adhesive properties, and resistance to metronidazole. These probiotics can potentially be used for the development of biological products for the treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis.}, } @article {pmid29805892, year = {2014}, author = {Kozhakhmetov, S and Tynybayeva, I and Baikhanova, D and Saduakhasova, S and Shakhabayeva, G and Kushugulova, A and Nurgozhin, T and Zhumadilov, Z}, title = {Metagenomic Analysis of Koumiss in Kazakhstan.}, journal = {Central Asian journal of global health}, volume = {3}, number = {Suppl}, pages = {163}, doi = {10.5195/cajgh.2014.163}, pmid = {29805892}, issn = {2166-7403}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Koumiss is a low-alcohol product made from fermented mare's milk, which is popular in Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries of Central Asia, China, and Mongolia. Natural mare's milk is fermented in symbiosis of two types of microorganisms (lactobacteria and yeast). Koumiss's microbial composition varies depending on the geographical, climatic, and cultural conditions. Based on a phenotypic characteristic from samples, Wu, R. and colleagues identified the following bacteria isolated in inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of China: L.casei, L.helveticus, L.plantarum, L.coryniformis subsp. coryniformis, L.paracasei, L.kefiranofaciens, L.curvatus, L.fermentum, and W.kandleri. Studies of the yeast composition in koumiss also showed significant variations. Thus, there were Saccharomyces unisporus related 48.3% of isolates, to Kluyveromyces marxianus (27.6%), Pichia membranaefaciens (15.0%), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (9.2%) from 87 isolated yeast cultures. The purpose of this study was to examine the bacterial composition in koumiss.

METHODS: To extract DNA, 1.8 ml of fermented milk was centrifuged to generate a pellet, which was suspended in 450 μl of lysis buffer P1 from the Powerfood Microbial DNA Isolation kit (MoBio Laboratories Inc, USA). Amplification of the microflora was used to determine the composition of a fragment of the gene 16S rRNA and ITS1. Plasmid library with target insertion was obtained on the basis of height copy plasmid vectors producing high pGem-T. The definition of direct nucleotide sequencing was performed by the method of Sanger using a set of "BigDye Terminanor v 3.1 Cycle sequencing Kit with automatic genetic analyzer ABI 3730xl (Applied Biosystems, USA). Informax Vector NTI Suite 9, Sequence Scanner v 1.0 software package used for the analysis.

RESULTS: Our studies showed that in the most samples of koumiss isolated from Akmola region (Central Kazakhstan) prevailed the following bacteria species: Lactobacillus diolivorans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. curvatus yeast genus Torula (62.4%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (37.6%).

CONCLUSION: Thus, the first metagenomic research of koumiss, which was conducted in Kazakhstan, showed significant variations in microbial composition.}, } @article {pmid29805873, year = {2013}, author = {Saduakhasova, S and Kushugulova, A and Kozhakhmetov, S and Shakhabayeva, G and Supiyev, A and Khasenbekova, Z and Tynybayeva, I and Nurgozhin, T and Zhumadilov, Z}, title = {Health benefits of new symbiotic "NAR".}, journal = {Central Asian journal of global health}, volume = {2}, number = {Suppl}, pages = {114}, doi = {10.5195/cajgh.2013.114}, pmid = {29805873}, issn = {2166-7403}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The immune-modulatory effects of synbiotics and their ability to reduce free radical levels may be useful for functional food that is able to be active throughout whole period of colonization of the gastrointestinal tract.The aim of the present study was to investigate the immune-modulatory and antioxidant effects of the synbiotic product "NАR," a probiotic beverage.

METHODS: The presence of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, αTNF, γIFN, Ig A, Ig M, and Ig E was studied in vitro using a solid immunosorbent analysis. The total antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase were determined by a spectrophotometry using the Sigma-Aldrich sets.

RESULTS: Studies of the immune-modulatory properties of the synbiotic product NAR showed 1.7 fold increase of γINF levels (p<0.01) in blood after consumption of the synbiotic product "NAR" in comparison to control values, whereas the concentrations of IL-4 and Ig E decreased 2.0 times (treatment: 9.3; control: 18.7; p<0.01) and 1.3 times (p<0.1), respectively. The consumption of the synbiotic product "NAR" caused an increase in the proportion of γINF/IL 4 (treatment: 15.4; control: 4.4; p<0.01), which indicates a reduction in functional activity of Th2-type lymphocytes in comparison with the function of Th1 cells.Our study showed a high level of the total antioxidant activity of the synbiotic product (67.4 mmol/ml). The antioxidant activity of the intact cells of consortium (15.3 mM/ml), which was the basis for the preparation of the symbiotic product, is several times lower than the activity observed in the symbiotic samples.Expression of SOD is one of the mechanisms of antioxidant stress radicals inactivation by bacteria. The analysis identified a superoxide dismutase activity of synbiotic product (1.42 U/mg protein). A glutathione reductase activity of the synbiotic product was elevated (0.06 U/ml).

CONCLUSION: The majority of the inflammatory mediators found in the blood after the consumption of symbiotic product NAR were inflammatory mediators that activate a cellular component of the resistance. Moreover, the symbiotic product has a high antioxidant activity.}, } @article {pmid30323709, year = {2010}, author = {Meghvansi, MK and Prasad, K and Mahna, SK}, title = {Symbiotic potential, competitiveness and compatibility of indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum isolates to three soybean genotypes of two distinct agro-climatic regions of Rajasthan, India.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {303-310}, pmid = {30323709}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {In the current study, we recovered sixteen bradyrhizobial isolates from root nodules of two soybean genotypes (JS 335 and PK 472) grown in two distinct agro-climatic conditions (Bundi and Udaipur) of Rajasthan, India. Symbiotic effectiveness of these isolates was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. On the basis of statistical analysis of data (ANOVA followed by LSD P ⩽ 0.05), four effective isolates namely BJ335-1, BPK-3, BPK-5 and UJ335-1 were screened out from the greenhouse experiment. The compatibility to three soybean genotypes, and the competitive ability with other field population of rhizobia, of these four isolates was further determined by conducting field trial. Results demonstrated significant variation in the symbiotic potential of tested isolates with respect to different soybean genotypes. Response of soybean genotype JS 335 towards inoculation was relatively better suggesting its suitability in the Haroti region of Rajasthan. Moreover, BJ 335-1 and BPK-3 isolates were found to be highly efficient as they significantly improved the nodulation, plant growth and seed yield. Possible factors responsible for variable response of bradyrhizobial isolates towards inoculation in three soybean genotypes are discussed. Further, the inoculants production of effective isolates at large scale and their multilocational trials are required to check their suitability for the other agro-climatic conditions.}, } @article {pmid30363784, year = {2007}, author = {Baba, K and Miyazono, A and Matsuyama, K and Kohno, S and Kubota, S}, title = {Occurrence and detrimental effects of the bivalve-inhabiting hydroid Eutima japonica on juveniles of the Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis in Funka Bay, Japan: relationship to juvenile massive mortality in 2003.}, journal = {Marine biology}, volume = {151}, number = {5}, pages = {1977-1987}, pmid = {30363784}, issn = {0025-3162}, abstract = {In November 2003, we first observed prevalent occurrence of a hydroid, Eutima japonica, on soft body tissues of age zero Japanese scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) juveniles cultured in large areas of Funka Bay, Hokkaido. The occurrence coincided with massive death of juvenile scallops. A major objective was to clarify ecological relationships between the symbionts, and to infer the relationship between symbiosis and the massive mortality. To do this, we investigated distributions of association rates of hydroids with juvenile scallops at 15-34 sites over 3 years (2003-2005), with age one adult scallops at 24 sites in 2003, and with mussels at 13 sites in 2004. We studied seasonal changes in association rates with juvenile scallops, and numbers of polyps per juvenile scallop at three sites from November 2003 to June 2004. We also quantified the hydroid impacts on juvenile scallop shell length growth and triglyceride accumulation in the digestive gland. The association rate of E. japonica polyps with juvenile scallops was high in large areas of Funka Bay in 2003, and overlapped the distribution of mussels bearing polyps. Association rates with age one adult scallops were very low in November 2003, even at the sites where polyps were very common on juvenile scallops. Levels of hydroid occurrence in juvenile scallops varies by year. We found that hydroids presence in juvenile scallops declined drastically in 2004 and 2005. The association rates with juvenile scallops, and numbers of polyps per juvenile scallop declined during winter, until they disappeared completely in the following June. Since polyps were rare in adult scallops, we believe that infection of juvenile scallops was probably initiated from the planulae produced by medusae released from polyps growing on Mytilus spp., especially M. galloprovincialis. Subsequently, the inhabitation spread intraspecifically and interspecifically. In juvenile scallops, inhabitation of polyps reduced shell length growth by 43%, and triglyceride accumulation in digestive glands by 24-47%. Inhabitation of E. japonica on juvenile scallop is best regarded as parasitism, rather than inquilinism or commensalism. Occurrence of polyps was probably not a direct lethal factor for juvenile scallops, because there were some sites where association rates were high, but mortalities were low. Massive mortalities in 2003 may have resulted from simultaneous impacts of heavy polyp load and stresses caused by the way in which the animals were handled (transferred from cages for pre-intermediate culture to cages for intermediate culture), because the massive mortality occurred within a month of the transfer. The presence of polyps in juvenile scallops does not affect the quality of the product in Funka Bay, because market size scallops are hydroid-free.}, } @article {pmid30139163, year = {1990}, author = {Koske, RE and Gemma, JN}, title = {VA MYCORRHIZAE IN STRAND VEGETATION OF HAWAII: EVIDENCE FOR LONG-DISTANCE CODISPERSAL OF PLANTS AND FUNGI.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {466-474}, doi = {10.1002/j.1537-2197.1990.tb13577.x}, pmid = {30139163}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) were a nearly constant component of the coastal strand of the Hawaiian Islands, occurring in beach sand, driftline debris, in roots of 23 of 31 species of vascular plants examined, and in association with rhizomes of two native species, Sporobolus virginicus and Jacquemontia sandwicensis. Mycorrhizae were most frequent and intensity of VAM development was greatest in endemic plants, less in indigenous species, and least in alien species. Spores of VAMF were produced in abundance between the rhizome and the leaf sheaths of Sporobolus. Roots of two strand species, including roots of Sporobolus that were immersed in seawater for 7 days, functioned as inocula of VAMF in pot-culture studies. The close association between propagules of VAMF and vegetative fragments of indigenous plants found in the present study suggests a mechanism of codispersal that appears to ensure the maintenance of the symbiosis in nutrient-deficient sites where it is most beneficial. The codispersal of fungus and plant may explain the high frequency of mycotrophy in strand species in the tropical Pacific.}, } @article {pmid29996572, year = {1985}, author = {Villaro, AC and Sesma, P and Alegría, D and Váazquez, JJ and López, J}, title = {Relationship of symbiotic microorganisms to metanephridium: Phagoctic activity in the metanephridial epithelium of two species of oligochaeta.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {186}, number = {3}, pages = {307-314}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.1051860307}, pmid = {29996572}, issn = {1097-4687}, abstract = {It is known that a number of species in the annelid family Lumbricidae harbor symbiotic microorganisms in the lumen of their nephridia. The purpose of the present paper is the study of the relationship between microbes and epithelial cells lining the metanephridium of two species of Oligochaeta, which show two different patterns of microbial colonization. A new interesting feature, the phagocytosis and intracellular destruction of microorganisms by the nephridial epithelial cells, has been observed in our laboratory for the first time. In Scheroteca savignyi minor, the phagocytic activity takes place in the bladder, the most distal region of the nephridium, next to the nephridiopore, which may prevent the microorganisms from entering the more proximal regions. In Octolasion cyaneum the microbes reach the striated duct, where they live in symbiosis, adhere to the cell's surface, and are engulfed and destroyed by the cells of the middle tubule-the more proximal, neighboring region. The phagocytosis and intracellular degradation of microorganisms probably lead to the massive formation of lamellar bodies, which are observed in these cells and in the neighboring ones.}, } @article {pmid30114857, year = {1981}, author = {Harrison, FW and Rosenberg, EM and Davis, DA and Simpson, TL}, title = {Correlation of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP immunofluorescence with cytochemical patterns during dormancy release and development from gemmules in Spongilla lacustris L. (Porifera: Spongillidae).}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {167}, number = {1}, pages = {53-63}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.1051670106}, pmid = {30114857}, issn = {1097-4687}, abstract = {The spongillid freshwater sponges asexually produce an encapsulated dormant stage, the gemmule. With release from dormancy, internal, yolk-laden, binucleate thesocytes differentiate into histoblasts or archeocytes. The histoblasts emerging first from the gemmule form the initial pinacoderm of the hatching sponge. Immunohistochemistry was employed to examine the distribution of cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) following dormancy release and during gemmule germination and hatching in the freshwater sponge, Spongilla lacustris L. Cyclic nucleotide fluorescence patterns were analyzed in relation to the distribution of cytochemically demonstrable macromolecular constituents and intracellular organelles. Twenty-four hours following temperature-activated release from dormancy, cGMP fluorescence levels are elevated in thesocytes at the gemmule periphery prior to histoblast formation. The cAMP fluorescence in the gemmule also occurs first in those thesocytes differentiating into histoblasts. Cytochemical patterns in germinating gemmules are comparable with those described by Ruthmann ('65) and Tessenow ('69). However, cytochemically demonstrable events of cytodifferentiation follow the earlier appearance of cGMP and cAMP in the histoblast precursors by approximately 12 hours. In addition, cGMP appears to be associated with the membranes of cytoplasmic organelles, possibly lysosomes or lipid inclusions, in the region of vitelline platelets and with symbiotic algae. cAMP is located primarily on the membranes of the vitelline platelets and on membranes of vacuoles involved in forming the spicular skeleton These observations suggest that cGMP and cAMP are involved in the mobilization of nutrient reserves and in ion transport during dormancy release and development from gemmules in freshwater sponges.}, } @article {pmid30139095, year = {1975}, author = {Dalton, DA and Naylor, AW}, title = {STUDIES ON NITROGEN FIXATION BY ALNUS CRISPA.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {62}, number = {1}, pages = {76-80}, doi = {10.1002/j.1537-2197.1975.tb12340.x}, pmid = {30139095}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {Root nodules of Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh were shown to possess a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing organism. The reduction of acetylene to ethylene, as measured by gas chromatography, was used to determine the presence of the nitrogen-fixing system. Ethylene production was measured at 5.1 μmoles/g excised nodule · hr for both field and greenhouse plants. The nodules were found to consist of short nubs usually clustered in masses up to 4 cm in diam. Microscopic examination of nodules revealed some cortical cells fully packed with spherical endophyte cells. The outer cortex and radiating arms of cells in the inner cortex remained uninfected. Nodules examined during the winter were found to be shrunken, with a random distribution of endophyte cells. Soil nitrogen measurements indicated that nitrogen fixation activity by A. crispa does not lead to an increase in soil nitrogen above levels in adjacent areas.}, } @article {pmid30326674, year = {1974}, author = {Bloodgood, RA and Miller, KR and Fitzharris, TP and Mcintosh, JR}, title = {The ultrastructure of Pyrsonympha and its associated microorganisms.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {143}, number = {1}, pages = {77-105}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.1051430104}, pmid = {30326674}, issn = {1097-4687}, abstract = {The termite gut flagellates are of interest because of their unusual motile organelles, their ability to digest cellulose, and their symbiotic relationship with prokaryotes inhabiting the insect gut. This report provides a detailed ultrastructural description of Pyrsonympha from the hind-gut of Reticulitermes flavipes. The motile axostyle is composed of 2,000-4,000 microtubules connected by cross-bridges. At its anterior end, the axostyle is associated with a "primary row" of microtubules which is associated with a fibrous network. The "primary row" is embedded in a large mass of amorphous, electron-dense material occupying the furthest anterior end of the cell. The basal bodies of the eight flagella are also embedded in this presumptive microtubule-organizing center. The flagella are associated with the cell surface throughout their length. Isolation and reactivation of the axostyle has demonstrated that although ATP dependent motility is inherent in the structure of the axostyle, its proper control may be mediated by the attachment of the axostyle to structures at the anterior end of the cell. Pyrsonympha lacks morphologically distinguishable mitochondria and Golgi complexes. The cell surface is covered by unique, previously underscribed, tubular specializations. Symbiotic microorganisms are observed associated with the cell surface and within the cytoplasm. Wood particles are taken up from the gut fluid by large phagocytic vacuoles formed at the posterior end of the cell. Even during the process of breakdown, the wood is always enclosed within the membrane of the phagocytic vacuole. The Pyrsonympha from Reticulitermes flavipes are not attached to the lining of the hind-gut and do not contain an attachment organelle, unlike the Pyrsonympha from other species of Reticulitermes.}, } @article {pmid30366485, year = {1972}, author = {Dudley, PL}, title = {The fine structure of a cephalic sensory receptor in the copepod Doropygus seclusus Illg (Crustacea: Copepoda: Notodelphyidae).}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {138}, number = {4}, pages = {407-431}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.1051380403}, pmid = {30366485}, issn = {1097-4687}, abstract = {A cephalic organ of presumed sensory function is described in nauplii and copepodids of the ascidicolous copepod Doropygus seclusus Illg. The receptor, located bilaterally in the anterodorsal head region, is composed of dendrites of extra optic protocerebral origin which have ciliary protrusions with basal bodies, no rootlets, and a basal infrastructure of the 9 + 0 type. The cilia do not branch and their distal terminations contain only one to four microtubules. In nauplii and free-living copepodids, a large epidermal supporting cell encapsulates the end of one dendrite and its cilia in a sac. Other dendrites and their cilia pass through the supporting cell and, terminally, the cilia escape to form a whorled fascicle which contacts the anterolateral cephalic cuticle. The latter end organ reaches its greatest development in the second copepodid stage - the stage which infects the ascidian. All of the symbiotic stages of the copepod have only a proportionately smaller end organ of the saccular type and apparently lack the end organ consisting of whorls of ciliary ends. The function of the receptor is unknown, but it is suggested that the end organ which disappears in the symbiotic stages functions in second copepodids in host recognition.}, } @article {pmid29720781, year = {2018}, author = {Karagodina, NP and Vishnyakov, AE and Kotenko, ON and Maltseva, AL and Ostrovsky, AN}, title = {Ultrastructural evidence for nutritional relationships between a marine colonial invertebrate (Bryozoa) and its bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {155-164}, pmid = {29720781}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Autozooids of the cheilostome bryozoan Aquiloniella scabra contain rod-like bacteria in the funicular bodies - the complex swellings of the funicular strands. Each funicular body contains symbionts in the central cavity surrounded by a large, synthetically active internal "sheath-cell" (bacteriocyte) and a group of the flat external cells. The tightly interdigitating lobes of these cells form a capsule well-isolated from the body cavity. Slit-like spaces between bacteria are filled with electron-dense matrix and cytoplasmic processes of various sizes and shapes (often branching) produced by the "sheath-cell". The cell ultrastructure and complex construction of the funicular bodies as well as multiplication of the bacteria in them suggest metabolic exchange between host and symbiont, involving the nourishment of bacteria. We suggest that the bacteria, in turn, influence the bryozoan mesothelial tissue to form the funicular bodies as capsules for bacterial incubation. We present ultrastructural data, discuss possible variants in the development of the funicular bodies in Bryozoa, and propose the possible role of bacteria in the life of their bryozoan host.}, } @article {pmid29720654, year = {2018}, author = {Harumoto, T and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Male-killing toxin in a bacterial symbiont of Drosophila.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {557}, number = {7704}, pages = {252-255}, pmid = {29720654}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/*metabolism ; Dosage Compensation, Genetic/genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/embryology/genetics/*microbiology ; Female ; Male ; *Sex Characteristics ; *Sex Ratio ; Spiroplasma/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; X Chromosome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Several lineages of symbiotic bacteria in insects selfishly manipulate host reproduction to spread in a population [1] , often by distorting host sex ratios. Spiroplasma poulsonii[2,3] is a helical and motile, Gram-positive symbiotic bacterium that resides in a wide range of Drosophila species [4] . A notable feature of S. poulsonii is male killing, whereby the sons of infected female hosts are selectively killed during development[1,2]. Although male killing caused by S. poulsonii has been studied since the 1950s, its underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we identify an S. poulsonii protein, designated Spaid, whose expression induces male killing. Overexpression of Spaid in D. melanogaster kills males but not females, and induces massive apoptosis and neural defects, recapitulating the pathology observed in S. poulsonii-infected male embryos[5-11]. Our data suggest that Spaid targets the dosage compensation machinery on the male X chromosome to mediate its effects. Spaid contains ankyrin repeats and a deubiquitinase domain, which are required for its subcellular localization and activity. Moreover, we found a laboratory mutant strain of S. poulsonii with reduced male-killing ability and a large deletion in the spaid locus. Our study has uncovered a bacterial protein that affects host cellular machinery in a sex-specific way, which is likely to be the long-searched-for factor responsible for S. poulsonii-induced male killing.}, } @article {pmid29720413, year = {2018}, author = {Wiebler, JM and Kohl, KD and Lee, RE and Costanzo, JP}, title = {Urea hydrolysis by gut bacteria in a hibernating frog: evidence for urea-nitrogen recycling in Amphibia.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1878}, pages = {}, pmid = {29720413}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Hibernation ; Hydrolysis ; Male ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Ranidae/microbiology/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Urea/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Gut bacteria that produce urease, the enzyme hydrolysing urea, contribute to nitrogen balance in diverse vertebrates, although the presence of this system of urea-nitrogen recycling in Amphibia is as yet unknown. Our studies of the wood frog (Rana sylvatica), a terrestrial species that accrues urea in winter, documented robust urease activity by enteric symbionts and hence potential to recoup nitrogen from the urea it produces. Ureolytic capacity in hibernating (non-feeding) frogs, whose guts hosted an approximately 33% smaller bacterial population, exceeded that of active (feeding) frogs, possibly due to an inductive effect of high urea on urease expression and/or remodelling of the microbial community. Furthermore, experimentally augmenting the host's plasma urea increased bacterial urease activity. Bacterial inventories constructed using 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the assemblages hosted by hibernating and active frogs were equally diverse but markedly differed in community membership and structure. Hibernating frogs hosted a greater relative abundance and richer diversity of genera that possess urease-encoding genes and/or have member taxa that reportedly hydrolyse urea. Bacterial hydrolysis of host-synthesized urea probably permits conservation and repurposing of valuable nitrogen not only in hibernating R. sylvatica but, given urea's universal role in amphibian osmoregulation, also in virtually all Amphibia.}, } @article {pmid29719942, year = {2018}, author = {Yang, SH and Chen, WH and Wang, ET and Chen, WF and Yan, J and Han, XZ and Tian, CF and Sui, XH and Singh, RP and Jiang, GM and Chen, WX}, title = {Rhizobial biogeography and inoculation application to soybean in four regions across China.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {125}, number = {3}, pages = {853-866}, doi = {10.1111/jam.13897}, pmid = {29719942}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; China ; Genetic Variation ; Rhizome/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The aim of the study was to survey rhizobial biogeography and to inoculate soybean with selected rhizobia in China to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Biogeography, genetic diversity and phylogeny of soybean rhizobia were surveyed. Inocula were prepared and applied to soybean. Results showed that Bradyrhizobium elkanii and Ensifer fredii were widely distributed in acid and alkaline soils respectively. Available iron was detected as the first determinant for distribution of the two rhizobia and the soybean varieties did not greatly affect the rhizobial compatibility. Geographical latitude and precipitation in June were the main geographical and climatic factors affecting the rhizobial distribution. Inoculation with selected rhizobia increased the nodule number, fresh weight, occupation ratio, seed protein content and soybean yields.

CONCLUSIONS: Selection and application of effective soybean rhizobia across China according to biogeography were clarified to promote the SNF, thereby improving soybean yield.

Rhizobial diversity and biogeography were evaluated systematically in six sites across China. Available iron and soil pH are found to be the most important determinants for the distribution of soybean rhizobia. Inoculation to soybean enhances SNF, positively correlating to the increase in soybean yield and seed protein content.}, } @article {pmid29719474, year = {2018}, author = {Lemaitre, R and Rahayu, DL and Komai, T}, title = {A revision of "blanket-hermit crabs" of the genus Paguropsis Henderson, 1888, with the description of a new genus and five new species (Crustacea, Anomura, Diogenidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {752}, pages = {17-97}, pmid = {29719474}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {For 130 years the diogenid genus Paguropsis Henderson, 1888 was considered monotypic for an unusual species, P. typica Henderson, 1888, described from the Philippines and seldom reported since. Although scantly studied, this species is known to live in striking symbiosis with a colonial sea anemone that the hermit can stretch back and forth like a blanket over its cephalic shield and part of cephalothoracic appendages, and thus the common name "blanket-crab". During a study of paguroid collections obtained during recent French-sponsored biodiversity campaigns in the Indo-West Pacific, numerous specimens assignable to Paguropsis were encountered. Analysis and comparison with types and other historical specimens deposited in various museums revealed the existence of five undescribed species. Discovery of these new species, together with the observation of anatomical characters previously undocumented or poorly described, including coloration, required a revision of the genus Paguropsis. The name Chlaenopagurus andersoni Alcock & McArdle, 1901, considered by Alcock (1905) a junior synonym of P. typica, proved to be a valid species and is resurrected as P. andersoni (Alcock, 1899). In two of the new species, the shape of the gills, length/width of exopod of maxilliped 3, width and shape of sternite XI (of pereopods 3), and armature of the dactyls and fixed fingers of the chelate pereopods 4, were found to be characters so markedly different from P. typica and other species discovered that a new genus for them, Paguropsinagen. n., is justified. As result, the genus Paguropsis is found to contain five species: P. typica, P. andersoni, P. confusasp. n., P. gigassp. n., and P. laciniasp. n. Herein, Paguropsinagen. n., is proposed and diagnosed for two new species, P. pistillatagen. et sp. n., and P. inermisgen. et sp. n.; Paguropsis is redefined, P. typica and its previously believed junior synonym, P. andersoni, are redescribed. All species are illustrated, and color photographs provided. Also included are a summary of the biogeography of the two genera and all species; remarks on the significance of the unusual morphology; and remarks on knowledge of the symbiotic anemones used by the species. To complement the morphological descriptions and assist in future population and phylogenetic investigations, molecular data for mitochondrial COI barcode region and partial sequences of 12S and 16S rRNA are reported. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis using molecular data distinctly shows support for the separation of the species into two clades, one with all five species of Paguropsis, and another with the two species Paguropsinagen. n.}, } @article {pmid29718289, year = {2018}, author = {Chowkwanyun, M}, title = {"The Neurosis That Has Possessed Us": Political Repression in the Cold War Medical Profession.}, journal = {Journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {255-273}, doi = {10.1093/jhmas/jry015}, pmid = {29718289}, issn = {1468-4373}, mesh = {Adult ; Female ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Los Angeles ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel/*history/*psychology ; *Personal Autonomy ; Physicians/*history/*psychology ; *Politics ; *Professional Autonomy ; Repression, Psychology ; }, abstract = {Political repression played a central role in shaping the political complexion of the American medical profession, the policies it advocated, and those allowed to function comfortably in it. Previous work on the impact of McCarthyism and medicine focuses heavily on the mid-century failure of national health insurance (NHI) and medical reform organizations that suffered from McCarthyist attacks. The focus is national and birds-eye but says less about the impact on the day-to-day life of physicians caught in a McCarthyist web; and how exactly the machinery of political repression within the medical profession worked on the ground. This study shifts orientation by using the abrupt dismissal of three Los Angeles physicians from their jobs as a starting point for exploring these dynamics. I argue that the rise of the medical profession and the repressive state at mid-century, frequently studied apart, worked hand-in-hand, with institutions from each playing symbiotic and mutually reinforcing roles. I also explore tactics of resistance - rhetorical and organizational - to medical repression by physicians who came under attack.}, } @article {pmid29718285, year = {2018}, author = {Amos, BA and Leemon, DL and Hayes, RA and Cribb, BW and Furlong, MJ}, title = {Associations Between the Small Hive Beetle and the Yeast Kodamaea ohmeri Throughout the Host Life Cycle.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {111}, number = {4}, pages = {1501-1508}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toy121}, pmid = {29718285}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; *Coleoptera ; Female ; Larva ; Oviposition ; Pupa ; *Yeast, Dried ; }, abstract = {The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), is a pest of colonies of social bees, including the honeybee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). We investigated A. tumida oviposition behavior and development and found that it laid eggs in clutches that ranged in size (3-75 eggs per clutch) and that when fed on hive products in laboratory culture (27°C; RH 65%; 12:12 (L:D) h) it completed three larval instars before pupation. The yeast Kodamaea ohmeri (Etchells & Bell) Y. Yamada, T. Suzuki, M. Matsuda & K. Mikata (Ascomycota: Saccharomycotina) is associated with A. tumida, but the exact nature of this relationship is unknown. We examined the association in host eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults to establish its extent and potential specificity and determined the likely mechanism of vertical transmission. K. ohmeri was detected in egg mucilage and on host cuticle and from internal preparations of A. tumida at every stage of development. Based on colony forming unit (CFU) counts, the K. ohmeri densities varied significantly between developmental stages; the highest internal density was recorded in third instar larvae. Presence of K. ohmeri within adult A. tumida was not affected by contamination of the cuticle by the yeast during the larval and pupal stages nor by the mated status of the adult. This deepened understanding of A. tumida ovipositional behavior and larval development along with a better understanding of the relationship between K. ohmeri and its host is important for the development of management strategies for this important pest.}, } @article {pmid29718229, year = {2018}, author = {Potekhin, A and Schweikert, M and Nekrasova, I and Vitali, V and Schwarzer, S and Anikina, A and Kaltz, O and Petroni, G and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {Complex life cycle, broad host range and adaptation strategy of the intranuclear Paramecium symbiont Preeria caryophila comb. nov.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy076}, pmid = {29718229}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Holosporaceae/*classification/*genetics ; Host Specificity/physiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Paramecium/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Holospora and related bacteria are a group of obligate Paramecium symbionts. Characteristic features are their infectivity, the presence of two distinct morphotypes, and usually a strict specialization for a single Paramecium species as host and for a nuclear compartment (either somatic or generative nucleus) for reproduction. Holospora caryophila steps out of line, naturally occurring in Paramecium biaurelia and Paramecium caudatum. This study addresses the phylogenetic relationship among H. caryophila and other Holospora species based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison analyzing the type strain and seven new macronuclear symbionts. Key aspects of Holospora physiology such as infectivity, symbiosis establishment and host range were determined by comprehensive infection assays. Detailed morphological investigations and sequence-based phylogeny confirmed a high similarity between the type strain of H. caryophila and the novel strains. Surprisingly, they are only distantly related to other Holospora species suggesting that they belong to a new genus within the family Holosporaceae, here described as Preeria caryophila comb. nov. Adding to this phylogenetic distance, we also observed a much broader host range, comprising at least eleven Paramecium species. As these potential host species exhibit substantial differences in frequency of sexual processes, P. caryophila demonstrates which adaptations are crucial for macronuclear symbionts facing regular destruction of their habitat.}, } @article {pmid29717343, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, Y and Avery, PB and Carrillo, D and Duncan, RH and Lukowsky, A and Cave, RD and Keyhani, NO}, title = {Identification of the Achilles heels of the laurel wilt pathogen and its beetle vector.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {13}, pages = {5673-5684}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-9037-y}, pmid = {29717343}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/physiology ; Biological Control Agents ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ophiostomatales/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles harbor fungal symbionts that serve as food sources for larvae and adults. These beetles lay their eggs along tunnels in xylem sapwood, which is the substrate for fungal growth. Symbiotic fungi of the genus Raffaelea found in invasive and indigenous ambrosia beetles include the highly virulent plant pathogen Raffaelea lauricola affecting members of the Lauraceae family. R. lauricola is responsible for the deaths of > 500 million trees since 2005. Infection by as few as 100 spores can kill a healthy tree within months. Our data show that R. lauricola is cold-adapted with optimal growth between 16 and 26 °C, with little to no growth at temperatures ≥ 30 °C. The fungus is halophilic and shows a dramatic decrease in growth at pH ≥ 6.8. Fungicide resistance profiling revealed sensitivity of R. lauricola to prochloraz, dichlorofluanid, most conazoles, dithiocarbamates, and zineb (zinc fungicide), whereas the related species Raffaelea arxii showed more limited fungicide sensitivity. Entomopathogenic fungi potentially useful for beetle control were generally highly resistant to most fungicides tested. Coupling pH decreased the concentration for 95% inhibition of fungal growth (IC95) of the most potent R. lauricola fungicides by 3-4-fold. Use of avocado bark plug insect bioassays revealed that commercially available Beauveria bassiana can be used as a biological control agent capable of effectively killing the beetle vectors. These data provide simple and practical recommendations to specifically target R. lauricola while having minimal effects on other symbiotic and entomopathogenic fungi, the latter of which can be used to manage the beetle vectors.}, } @article {pmid29717040, year = {2018}, author = {van Velzen, R and Holmer, R and Bu, F and Rutten, L and van Zeijl, A and Liu, W and Santuari, L and Cao, Q and Sharma, T and Shen, D and Roswanjaya, Y and Wardhani, TAK and Kalhor, MS and Jansen, J and van den Hoogen, J and Güngör, B and Hartog, M and Hontelez, J and Verver, J and Yang, WC and Schijlen, E and Repin, R and Schilthuizen, M and Schranz, ME and Heidstra, R and Miyata, K and Fedorova, E and Kohlen, W and Bisseling, T and Smit, S and Geurts, R}, title = {Comparative genomics of the nonlegume Parasponia reveals insights into evolution of nitrogen-fixing rhizobium symbioses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {20}, pages = {E4700-E4709}, pmid = {29717040}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Genomics/*methods ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Homology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodules harboring nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are a well-known trait of legumes, but nodules also occur in other plant lineages, with rhizobia or the actinomycete Frankia as microsymbiont. It is generally assumed that nodulation evolved independently multiple times. However, molecular-genetic support for this hypothesis is lacking, as the genetic changes underlying nodule evolution remain elusive. We conducted genetic and comparative genomics studies by using Parasponia species (Cannabaceae), the only nonlegumes that can establish nitrogen-fixing nodules with rhizobium. Intergeneric crosses between Parasponia andersonii and its nonnodulating relative Trema tomentosa demonstrated that nodule organogenesis, but not intracellular infection, is a dominant genetic trait. Comparative transcriptomics of P. andersonii and the legume Medicago truncatula revealed utilization of at least 290 orthologous symbiosis genes in nodules. Among these are key genes that, in legumes, are essential for nodulation, including NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) and RHIZOBIUM-DIRECTED POLAR GROWTH (RPG). Comparative analysis of genomes from three Parasponia species and related nonnodulating plant species show evidence of parallel loss in nonnodulating species of putative orthologs of NIN, RPG, and NOD FACTOR PERCEPTION Parallel loss of these symbiosis genes indicates that these nonnodulating lineages lost the potential to nodulate. Taken together, our results challenge the view that nodulation evolved in parallel and raises the possibility that nodulation originated ∼100 Mya in a common ancestor of all nodulating plant species, but was subsequently lost in many descendant lineages. This will have profound implications for translational approaches aimed at engineering nitrogen-fixing nodules in crop plants.}, } @article {pmid29717018, year = {2018}, author = {Pan, H and Stonoha-Arther, C and Wang, D}, title = {Medicago Plants Control Nodulation by Regulating Proteolysis of the Receptor-Like Kinase DMI2.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {177}, number = {2}, pages = {792-802}, pmid = {29717018}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Lectins/chemistry ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Proteolysis ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants use receptor-like kinases to monitor environmental changes and transduce signals into plant cells. The Medicago truncatula (hereafter Mtruncatula) DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS2 (DMI2) protein functions as a coreceptor of rhizobial signals to initiate nodule development and rhizobial infection during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, but the mechanisms regulating DMI2 protein level and folding are still unknown. Here, we report that DMI2 protein abundance changes during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. DMI2 accumulates in the nodules and is induced by rhizobia treatment through a posttranscriptional process. However, DMI2 induction is independent of the perception of Nod factor, a group of lipochitooligosaccharides secreted by rhizobia. The stability of the DMI2 protein is controlled by the proteasome pathway: in rhizobia-free environments, DMI2 is degraded by the proteasome, but during rhizobial infection, DMI2 is protected from the proteasome, resulting in protein accumulation. Furthermore, proteasome inhibitor-promoted accumulation of DMI2 protein in Medicago roots induces the expression of two early nodulation marker genes, supporting the hypothesis that DMI2 accumulation activates downstream symbiosis signaling. The extracellular region of DMI2 contains two malectin-like domains (MLDs) and a leucine-rich repeat. When conserved amino acids in the MLDs are mutated, DMI2 fails to restore nodule development in dmi2 mutants, and point-mutated MLD proteins are degraded constitutively, suggesting that the MLD may be vital for the accumulation of DMI2. Our findings suggest that legumes control nodule development through modulating the protein level of DMI2, revealing a layer of regulation in the interaction between plants and rhizobia in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29715482, year = {2018}, author = {Dawadi, B and Wang, X and Xiao, R and Muhammad, A and Hou, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {PGRP-LB homolog acts as a negative modulator of immunity in maintaining the gut-microbe symbiosis of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {65-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2018.04.021}, pmid = {29715482}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases/immunology ; Animals ; Bacteria/immunology ; Carrier Proteins/*immunology ; Escherichia coli/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Larva/immunology/microbiology ; Peptidoglycan/immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Weevils/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many notorious insect pests live in the symbiotic associations with gut microbiota. However, the mechanisms underlying how they host their gut microbiota are unknown. Most gut bacteria can release peptidoglycan (PGN) which is an important antigen to activate the immune response. Therefore, how to keep the appropriate gut immune intensity to host commensals while to efficiently remove enteropathogens is vital for insect health. This study is aimed at elucidating the roles of an amidase PGRP, Rf PGRP-LB, in maintaining the gut-microbe symbiosis of Red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier. RfPGRP-LB is a secreted protein containing a typical PGRP domain. The existence of five conservative amino acid residues, being required for amidase activity, showed that RfPGRP-LB is a catalytic protein. Expression analysis revealed abundance of RfPGRP-LB transcripts in gut was dramatically higher than those in other tissues. RfPGRP-LB could be significantly induced against the infection of Escherichia coli. In vitro assays revealed that rRfPGRP-LB impaired the growth of E. coli and agglutinated bacteria cells obviously, suggesting RfPGRP-LB is a pathogen recognition receptor and bactericidal molecule. RfPGRP-LB knockdown reduced the persistence of E. coli in gut and load of indigenous gut microbiota significantly. Furthermore, the community structure of indigenous gut microbiota was also intensively altered by RfPGRP-LB silence. Higher levels of the antimicrobial peptide, attacin, were detected in guts of RfPGRP-LB silenced larvae than controls. Collectively, RfPGRP-LB plays multiple roles in modulating the homeostasis of RPW gut microbiota not only by acting as a negative regulator of mucosal immunity through PGN degradation but also as a bactericidal effector to prevent overgrowth of commensals and persistence of noncommensals.}, } @article {pmid29712862, year = {2018}, author = {Tan, CW and Peiffer, M and Hoover, K and Rosa, C and Acevedo, FE and Felton, GW}, title = {Symbiotic polydnavirus of a parasite manipulates caterpillar and plant immunity.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {20}, pages = {5199-5204}, pmid = {29712862}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Glucose Oxidase/metabolism ; Herbivory ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*immunology ; Larva/*immunology/parasitology/virology ; Lepidoptera/*immunology/parasitology/virology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*immunology ; Plant Immunity/*immunology ; Polydnaviridae/*physiology ; Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis ; Virus Integration ; Virus Replication ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbioses occur when organisms require symbiotic relationships to survive. Some parasitic wasps of caterpillars possess obligate mutualistic viruses called "polydnaviruses." Along with eggs, wasps inject polydnavirus inside their caterpillar hosts where the hatching larvae develop inside the caterpillar. Polydnaviruses suppress the immune systems of their caterpillar hosts, which enables egg hatch and wasp larval development. It is unknown whether polydnaviruses also manipulate the salivary proteins of the caterpillar, which may affect the elicitation of plant defenses during feeding by the caterpillar. Here, we show that a polydnavirus of the parasitoid Microplitis croceipes, and not the parasitoid larva itself, drives the regulation of salivary enzymes of the caterpillar Helicoverpa zea that are known to elicit tomato plant-defense responses to herbivores. The polydnavirus suppresses glucose oxidase, which is a primary plant-defense elicitor in the saliva of the H. zea caterpillar. By suppressing plant defenses, the polydnavirus allows the caterpillar to grow at a faster rate, thus improving the host suitability for the parasitoid. Remarkably, polydnaviruses manipulate the phenotypes of the wasp, caterpillar, and host plant, demonstrating that polydnaviruses play far more prominent roles in shaping plant-herbivore interactions than ever considered.}, } @article {pmid29712857, year = {2018}, author = {Werner, GDA and Cornelissen, JHC and Cornwell, WK and Soudzilovskaia, NA and Kattge, J and West, SA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Symbiont switching and alternative resource acquisition strategies drive mutualism breakdown.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {20}, pages = {5229-5234}, pmid = {29712857}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {335542/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Environment ; Feedback, Physiological ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cooperative interactions among species, termed mutualisms, have played a crucial role in the evolution of life on Earth. However, despite key potential benefits to partners, there are many cases in which two species cease to cooperate and mutualisms break down. What factors drive the evolutionary breakdown of mutualism? We examined the pathways toward breakdowns of the mutualism between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. By using a comparative approach, we identify ∼25 independent cases of complete mutualism breakdown across global seed plants. We found that breakdown of cooperation was only stable when host plants (i) partner with other root symbionts or (ii) evolve alternative resource acquisition strategies. Our results suggest that key mutualistic services are only permanently lost if hosts evolve alternative symbioses or adaptations.}, } @article {pmid29712849, year = {2018}, author = {Liang, P and Stratil, TF and Popp, C and Marín, M and Folgmann, J and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Ott, T}, title = {Symbiotic root infections in Medicago truncatula require remorin-mediated receptor stabilization in membrane nanodomains.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {20}, pages = {5289-5294}, pmid = {29712849}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Phosphoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant cell infection is tightly controlled by cell surface receptor-like kinases (RLKs). Like other RLKs, the Medicago truncatula entry receptor LYK3 laterally segregates into membrane nanodomains in a stimulus-dependent manner. Although nanodomain localization arises as a generic feature of plant membrane proteins, the molecular mechanisms underlying such dynamic transitions and their functional relevance have remained poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that actin and the flotillin protein FLOT4 form the primary and indispensable core of a specific nanodomain. Infection-dependent induction of the remorin protein and secondary molecular scaffold SYMREM1 results in subsequent recruitment of ligand-activated LYK3 and its stabilization within these membrane subcompartments. Reciprocally, the majority of this LYK3 receptor pool is destabilized at the plasma membrane and undergoes rapid endocytosis in symrem1 mutants on rhizobial inoculation, resulting in premature abortion of host cell infections. These data reveal that receptor recruitment into nanodomains is indispensable for their function during host cell infection.}, } @article {pmid29712841, year = {2018}, author = {Zhu, F and Cusumano, A and Bloem, J and Weldegergis, BT and Villela, A and Fatouros, NE and van Loon, JJA and Dicke, M and Harvey, JA and Vogel, H and Poelman, EH}, title = {Symbiotic polydnavirus and venom reveal parasitoid to its hyperparasitoids.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {20}, pages = {5205-5210}, pmid = {29712841}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Butterflies/*parasitology/physiology/virology ; Ecosystem ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/*parasitology/physiology/virology ; Plants/*metabolism/parasitology/virology ; Polydnaviridae/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Venoms/*administration & dosage ; Wasps/*parasitology/physiology/virology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships may provide organisms with key innovations that aid in the establishment of new niches. For example, during oviposition, some species of parasitoid wasps, whose larvae develop inside the bodies of other insects, inject polydnaviruses into their hosts. These symbiotic viruses disrupt host immune responses, allowing the parasitoid's progeny to survive. Here we show that symbiotic polydnaviruses also have a downside to the parasitoid's progeny by initiating a multitrophic chain of interactions that reveals the parasitoid larvae to their enemies. These enemies are hyperparasitoids that use the parasitoid progeny as host for their own offspring. We found that the virus and venom injected by the parasitoid during oviposition, but not the parasitoid progeny itself, affected hyperparasitoid attraction toward plant volatiles induced by feeding of parasitized caterpillars. We identified activity of virus-related genes in the caterpillar salivary gland. Moreover, the virus affected the activity of elicitors of salivary origin that induce plant responses to caterpillar feeding. The changes in caterpillar saliva were critical in inducing plant volatiles that are used by hyperparasitoids to locate parasitized caterpillars. Our results show that symbiotic organisms may be key drivers of multitrophic ecological interactions. We anticipate that this phenomenon is widespread in nature, because of the abundance of symbiotic microorganisms across trophic levels in ecological communities. Their role should be more prominently integrated in community ecology to understand organization of natural and managed ecosystems, as well as adaptations of individual organisms that are part of these communities.}, } @article {pmid29709261, year = {2018}, author = {Lengyel, E and Makowski, L and DiGiovanni, J and Kolonin, MG}, title = {Cancer as a Matter of Fat: The Crosstalk between Adipose Tissue and Tumors.}, journal = {Trends in cancer}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {374-384}, pmid = {29709261}, issn = {2405-8025}, support = {R21 CA111853/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA180134/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK088131/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA216745/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA196259/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA169604/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK056350/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipocytes ; *Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Cell Communication ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; *Neoplasms ; Obesity ; }, abstract = {Obesity has been linked to the increased risk and aggressiveness of many types of carcinoma. A state of chronic inflammation in adipose tissue (AT), resulting in genotoxic stress, may contribute to carcinogenesis and cancer initiation. Evidence that AT plays a role in cancer aggressiveness is solid and mounting. During cancer progression, tumor cells engage in a metabolic symbiosis with adjacent AT. Mature adipocytes provide adipokines and lipids to cancer cells, while stromal and immune cells from AT infiltrate carcinomas and locally secrete paracrine factors within the tumor microenvironment. This review focuses on the crosstalk between AT and tumor cells that promotes tumor growth and increases cellular lipid metabolism, metastasis, and chemoresistance.}, } @article {pmid29707906, year = {2018}, author = {Díez-Vives, C and Esteves, AIS and Costa, R and Nielsen, S and Thomas, T}, title = {Detecting signatures of a sponge-associated lifestyle in bacterial genomes.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {433-443}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12655}, pmid = {29707906}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Databases, Genetic ; Flavobacteriaceae/genetics/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Porifera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Rhodobacteraceae/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Synechococcus/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sponges interact with diverse and rich communities of bacteria that are phylogenetically often distinct from their free-living counterparts. Recent genomics and metagenomic studies have indicated that bacterial sponge symbionts also have distinct functional features from free-living bacteria; however, it is unclear, if such genome-derived functional signatures are common and present in different symbiont taxa. We therefore compared here a large set of genomes from cultured (Pseudovibrio, Ruegeria and Aquimarina) and yet-uncultivated (Synechococcus) bacteria found in either sponge-associated or free-living sources. Our analysis revealed only very few genera-specific functions that could be correlated with a sponge-associated lifestyle. Using different sets of sponge-associated and free-living bacteria for each genus, we could however show that the functions identified as 'sponge-associated' are dependent on the reference comparison being made. Using simulation approaches, we show how this influences the robustness of identifying functional signatures and how evolutionary divergence and genomic adaptation can be distinguished. Our results highlight the future need for robust comparative analyses to define genomic signatures of symbiotic lifestyles, whether it is for symbionts of sponges or other host organisms.}, } @article {pmid29705595, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, CB and Du, Y and Du, B and Wang, H and Wang, E}, title = {Investigation of an eco-friendly aerogel as a substrate for the immobilization of MoS2 nanoflowers for removal of mercury species from aqueous solutions.}, journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science}, volume = {525}, number = {}, pages = {251-259}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2018.04.079}, pmid = {29705595}, issn = {1095-7103}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Animals ; Disulfides/*chemistry ; Fishes ; Gels ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mercury/*isolation & purification ; Molybdenum/*chemistry ; Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polyvinyl Alcohol/*chemistry ; Porosity ; Surface Properties ; Toxicity Tests ; Water ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {An adsorbent that exhibits high affinity for inorganic mercury (Hg[2+]) with a high removal efficiency of methylmercury (MeHg[+]) has been developed. The adsorbent demonstrates a symbiotic relationship between its two components, molybdenum disulphide nanoflowers (MoS2NFs) and a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) aerogel. Furthermore, we modified the distribution and loading of the MoS2NFs, which was possible due to the stable porous support, and investigated the biocompatibility of the aerogel-support adsorbent. The performance of the optimized material exhibited a distribution coefficient of 9.71 × 10[7] mL g[-1]. In addition, the adsorbent was effective over a wide pH range and could efficiently purify both contaminated lake and sea water. The key motivation for using an aerogel support was to stabilise the MoS2NFs during purification of the water (resulting in improved performance compared to using freestanding MoS2NFs) and the ability to regenerate the used adsorbent. In addition, animal tests confirmed an extremely low toxicity of the adsorbent to fish, along with the excellent purification results.}, } @article {pmid29703739, year = {2018}, author = {Lawley, B and Centanni, M and Watanabe, J and Sims, I and Carnachan, S and Broadbent, R and Lee, PS and Wong, KH and Tannock, GW}, title = {tuf Gene Sequence Variation in Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Detected in the Fecal Microbiota of Chinese Infants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {29703739}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Asian People ; Base Sequence ; Bifidobacterium longum/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Feces/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Milk, Human ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Members of the bacterial genus Bifidobacterium generally dominate the fecal microbiota of infants. The species Bifidobacterium longum is prevalent, but the B. longum subsp. longum and B. longum subsp. infantis strains that are known to colonize the infant bowel are not usually differentiated in microbiota investigations. These subspecies differ in their capacities to metabolize human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) and may have different ecological and symbiotic roles in humans. Quantitative PCR provides a quick analytical method by which to accurately ascertain the abundances of target species in microbiotas and microcosms. However, amplification targets in DNA extracted from samples need to be dependably differential. We evaluated the tuf gene sequence as a molecular target for quantitative PCR measurements of the abundances of B. longum subsp. infantis and B. longum subsp. longum in fecal microbiotas. This approach resulted in the detection of a tuf gene variant (operational taxonomic unit 49 [OTU49]) in Chinese infants that has sequence similarities to both B. longum subsp. infantis and B. longum subsp. longum We compared the genome sequence and growth and transcriptional characteristics of an OTU49 isolate cultured in HMO medium to those of other B. longum subsp. infantis cultures. We concluded from these studies that OTU49 belongs to B. longum subsp. infantis, that dependable quantitative PCR (qPCR) differentiation between the B. longum subspecies cannot be achieved by targeting tuf gene sequences, and that functional genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism might be better targets because they delineate ecological functions.IMPORTANCE High-throughput DNA sequencing methods and advanced bioinformatics analysis have revealed the composition and biochemical capacities of microbial communities (microbiota and microbiome), including those that inhabit the gut of human infants. However, the microbiology and function of natural ecosystems have received little attention in recent decades, so an appreciation of the dynamics of gut microbiota interactions is lacking. With respect to infants, rapid methodologies, such as quantitative PCR, are needed to determine the prevalences and proportions of different bifidobacterial species in observational and microcosm studies in order to obtain a better understanding of the dynamics of bifidobacterial nutrition and syntrophy, knowledge that might be used to manipulate the microbiota and perhaps ensure the better health of infants.}, } @article {pmid29703526, year = {2018}, author = {Santos, AA and Silveira, JAGD and Guilherme, EA and Bonifacio, A and Rodrigues, AC and Figueiredo, MDVB}, title = {Changes induced by co-inoculation in nitrogen-carbon metabolism in cowpea under salinity stress.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {685-694}, pmid = {29703526}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/physiology ; Agricultural Inoculants/physiology ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Salt Stress ; Sodium Chloride/analysis/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Vigna/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {To mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria along with diazotrophic bacteria has been increasing. The objectives of this study were to investigate the key enzymes related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism in the biological nitrogen fixation process and to elucidate the activities of these enzymes by the synergistic interaction between Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria in the absence and presence of salt stress. Cowpea plants were cultivated under axenic conditions, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Actinomadura sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Paenibacillus graminis, and Bradyrhizobium sp. and Streptomycessp.; the plants were also maintained in the absence (control) and presence of salt stress (50mmolL[-1] NaCl). Salinity reduced the amino acids, free ammonia, ureides, proteins and total nitrogen content in nodules and increased the levels of sucrose and soluble sugars. The co-inoculations responded differently to the activity of glutamine synthetase enzymes under salt stress, as well as glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase aminating, and acid invertase in the control and salt stress. Considering the development conditions of this experiment, co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp. in cowpea provided better symbiotic performance, mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress.}, } @article {pmid29703137, year = {2018}, author = {Die, JV and Gil, J and Millan, T}, title = {Genome-wide identification of the auxin response factor gene family in Cicer arietinum.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {301}, pmid = {29703137}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cicer/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Duplication ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; *Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Auxin Response Factors act as critical components of the auxin-signaling pathway by regulating the transcription of auxin-responsive genes. The release of the chickpea reference genome provides an opportunity to identify and characterize the ARF gene family in this important legume by a data mining coupled by comparative genomics approaches.

RESULTS: We performed a comprehensive characterization and analysis of 24 ARF genes in the chickpea reference genome. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the ARF from chickpea, Medicago and Arabidopsis suggests that recent duplications have played a very limited role in the expansion of the ARF chickpea family. Gene structure analysis based on exon-intron organization provides additional evidence to support the evolutionary relationship among the ARF members. Conserved motif analysis shows that most of the proteins fit into the canonical ARF structure model, but 9 proteins lack or have a truncated dimerization domain. The mechanisms underlying the diversification of the ARF gene family are based on duplications, variations in domain organization and alternative splicing. Concerning duplications, segmental, but not tandem duplications, have contributed to the expansion of the gene family. Moreover, the duplicated pair genes have evolved mainly under the influence of purifying selection pressure with restricted functional divergence. Expression profiles responding to various environmental stimuli show a close relationship between tissue and expression patterns. Promoter sequence analysis reveals an enrichment of several cis-regulatory elements related to symbiosis, and modulation of plant gene expression during the interaction with microbes.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the ARF gene family in chickpea. Globally, our data supports that auxin signaling pathway regulates a wide range of physiological processes and stress responses. Our findings could further provide new insights into the complexity of the regulation of ARF at the transcription level that may be useful to develop rational chickpea breeding strategies to improve development or stress responses. Our study also provides a foundation for comparative genomic analyses and a framework to trace the dynamic evolution of ARF genes on a large time-scale within the legume family.}, } @article {pmid29701969, year = {2018}, author = {Oburger, E and Vergara Cid, C and Preiner, J and Hu, J and Hann, S and Wanek, W and Richter, A}, title = {pH-Dependent Bioavailability, Speciation, and Phytotoxicity of Tungsten (W) in Soil Affect Growth and Molybdoenzyme Activity of Nodulated Soybeans.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {52}, number = {11}, pages = {6146-6156}, pmid = {29701969}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Biological Availability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Soil ; *Soybeans ; Tungsten ; }, abstract = {Increasing use of tungsten (W)-based products opened new pathways for W into environmental systems. Due to its chemical alikeness with molybdenum (Mo), W is expected to behave similarly to its "twin element", Mo; however, our knowledge of the behavior of W in the plant-soil environment remains inadequate. The aim of this study was to investigate plant growth as well as W and nutrient uptake depending on soil chemical properties such as soil pH and texture. Soybean (Glycine max cv. Primus) was grown on two acidic soils differing in soil texture that were either kept at their natural soil pH (pH of 4.5-5) or limed (pH of ≥7) and amended with increasing concentrations of metallic W (control and 500 and 5000 mg kg[-1]). In addition, the activity of molybdoenzymes involved in N assimilation (nitrate reductase) and symbiotic N2 fixation (nitrogenase) was also investigated. Our results showed that the risk of W entering the food web was significantly greater in high-pH soils due to increased solubility of mainly monomeric W. The effect of soil texture on W solubility and phytoavailability was less pronounced compared to soil pH. Particularly at intermediate W additions (W 500 mg kg[-1]), symbiotic nitrogen fixation was able to compensate for reduced leaf nitrate reductase activity. When W soil solution concentrations became too toxic (W 5000 mg kg[-1]), nodulation was more strongly inhibited than nitrogenase activity in the few nodules formed, suggesting a more-efficient detoxification and compartmentalization mechanism in nodules than in soybean leaves. The increasing presence of polymeric W species observed in low-pH soils spiked with high W concentrations resulted in decreased W uptake. Simultaneously, polymeric W species had an overall negative effect on nutrient assimilation and plant growth, suggesting a greater phytotoxicity of W polymers. Our study demonstrates the importance of accounting for soil pH in risk assessment studies of W in the plant-soil environment, something that has been completely neglected in the past.}, } @article {pmid29701874, year = {2018}, author = {Ezawa, T and Saito, K}, title = {How do arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi handle phosphate? New insight into fine-tuning of phosphate metabolism.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1116-1121}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15187}, pmid = {29701874}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {JPMJAC1403//ACCEL/International ; //Japan Science and Technology Agency/International ; 26036A//Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan/International ; 17H03779//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/International ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1116 I. Introduction 1116 II. Foraging for phosphate 1117 III. Fine-tuning of phosphate homeostasis 1117 IV. The frontiers: phosphate translocation and export 1119 V. Conclusions and outlook 1120 Acknowledgements 1120 References 1120 SUMMARY: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with most land plants and deliver mineral nutrients, in particular phosphate, to the host. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of phosphate acquisition and delivery in the fungi is critical for full appreciation of the mutualism in this association. Here, we provide updates on physical, chemical, and biological strategies of the fungi for phosphate acquisition, including interactions with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, and those on the regulatory mechanisms of phosphate homeostasis based on resurveys of published genome sequences and a transcriptome with reference to the latest findings in a model fungus. For the mechanisms underlying phosphate translocation and export to the host, which are major research frontiers in this field, not only recent advances but also testable hypotheses are proposed. Lastly, we briefly discuss applicability of the latest tools to gene silencing in the fungi, which will be breakthrough techniques for comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of fungal phosphate metabolism.}, } @article {pmid29701776, year = {2018}, author = {Karimi, E and Slaby, BM and Soares, AR and Blom, J and Hentschel, U and Costa, R}, title = {Metagenomic binning reveals versatile nutrient cycling and distinct adaptive features in alphaproteobacterial symbionts of marine sponges.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy074}, pmid = {29701776}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Rhodospirillaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are early-branched metazoans known to harbor dense and diverse microbial communities. Yet the role of the so far uncultivable alphaproteobacterial lineages that populate these sessile invertebrates remains unclear. We applied a sequence composition-dependent binning approach to assemble one Rhodospirillaceae genome from the Spongia officinalis microbial metagenome and contrast its functional features with those of closely related sponge-associated and free-living genomes. Both symbiotic and free-living Rhodospirillaceae shared a suite of common features, possessing versatile carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus metabolisms. Symbiotic genomes could be distinguished from their free-living counterparts by the lack of chemotaxis and motility traits, enrichment of genes required for the uptake and utilization of organic sulfur compounds-particularly taurine-, higher diversity and abundance of ABC transporters, and a distinct repertoire of genes involved in natural product biosynthesis, plasmid stability, cell detoxification and oxidative stress remediation. These sessile symbionts may more effectively contribute to host fitness via nutrient exchange, and also host detoxification and chemical defense. Considering the worldwide occurrence and high diversity of sponge-associated Rhodospirillaceae verified here using a tailored in silico approach, we suggest that these organisms are not only relevant to holobiont homeostasis but also to nutrient cycling in benthic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29701280, year = {2018}, author = {Ote, M and Yamamoto, D}, title = {Enhancing Nanos expression via the bacterial TomO protein is a conserved strategy used by the symbiont Wolbachia to fuel germ stem cell maintenance in infected Drosophila females.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {98}, number = {3}, pages = {e21471}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21471}, pmid = {29701280}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Bacterial Proteins/*physiology ; Culex/genetics/microbiology ; Drosophila/*microbiology/physiology ; Drosophila Proteins/*metabolism ; Female ; Germ Cells/*physiology ; Male ; RNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The toxic manipulator of oogenesis (TomO) protein has been identified in the wMel strain of Wolbachia that symbioses with the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster, as a protein that affects host reproduction. TomO protects germ stem cells (GSCs) from degeneration, which otherwise occurs in ovaries of host females that are mutant for the gene Sex-lethal (Sxl). We isolated the TomO homologs from wPip, a Wolbachia strain from the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. One of the homologs, TomOwPip 1, exerted the GSC rescue activity in fly Sxl mutants when lacking its hydrophobic stretches. The GSC-rescuing action of the TomOwPip 1 variant was ascribable to its abilities to associate with Nanos (nos) mRNA and to enhance Nos protein expression. The analysis of structure-activity relationships with TomO homologs and TomO deletion variants revealed distinct modules in the protein that are each dedicated to different functions, i.e., subcellular localization, nos mRNA binding or Nos expression enhancement. We propose that modular reshuffling is the basis for structural and functional diversification of TomO protein members.}, } @article {pmid29698448, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Y and Wang, M and Li, Y and Wu, A and Huang, J}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and nitrogen uptake of Chrysanthemum morifolium under salt stress.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0196408}, pmid = {29698448}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chrysanthemum/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism ; *Salt Tolerance ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil salinity is a common and serious environmental problem worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered as bio-ameliorators of soil salinity tolerance in plants. However, few studies have addressed the possible benefits of AMF inoculation for medicinal plants under saline conditions. In this study, we examined the effects of colonization with two AMF, Funneliformis mosseae and Diversispora versiformis, alone and in combination, on the growth and nutrient uptake of the medicinal plant Chrysanthemum morifolium (Hangbaiju) in a greenhouse salt stress experiment. After 6 weeks of a non-saline pretreatment, Hangbaiju plants with and without AMF were grown for five months under salinity levels that were achieved using 0, 50 and 200 mM NaCl. Root length, shoot and root dry weight, total dry weight, and root N concentration were higher in the mycorrhizal plants than in the non-mycorrhizal plants under conditions of moderate salinity, especially with D. versiformis colonization. As salinity increased, mycorrhizal colonization and mycorrhizal dependence decreased. The enhancement of root N uptake is probably the main mechanism underlying salt tolerance in mycorrhizal plants. These results suggest that the symbiotic associations between the fungus D. versiformis and C. morifolium plants may be useful in biotechnological practice.}, } @article {pmid29696913, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, YC and Hong, WT and Wang, SH}, title = {[Progress of heterotrophic studies on symbiotic corals].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {4143-4149}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201712.032}, pmid = {29696913}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heterotrophy of zooxanthellae symbiotic corals refers to the nutrition directly coming from food absorption, not the nutrition obtained from photosynthesis. Most ex situ propagation of symbiotic corals focused on the effects of irradiation, flow rate and water quality on corals, few of them involved in the demand and supply of coral heterotrophic nutrition. This paper reviewed the significance of heterotrophic nutrient supply to symbiotic corals from the sources of coral heterotrophic nutrition, the factors affecting the supply of coral heterotrophic nutrient, and the methods of how to study the coral heterotrophy. In general, the research of coral heterotrophy is just at the beginning stage, and future studies should focus on the inherent mechanism of coral feeding selection and developing more effective research methods.}, } @article {pmid29696668, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, X and Zhao, L and Zhang, L and Wu, Y and Chou, M and Wei, G}, title = {Comparative symbiotic plasmid analysis indicates that symbiosis gene ancestor type affects plasmid genetic evolution.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {1}, pages = {22-31}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12998}, pmid = {29696668}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/genetics ; Energy Metabolism/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Rhizobial symbiotic plasmids play vital roles in mutualistic symbiosis with legume plants by executing the functions of nodulation and nitrogen fixation. To explore the gene composition and genetic constitution of rhizobial symbiotic plasmids, comparison analyses of 24 rhizobial symbiotic plasmids derived from four rhizobial genera was carried out. Results illustrated that rhizobial symbiotic plasmids had higher proportion of functional genes participating in amino acid transport and metabolism, replication; recombination and repair; carbohydrate transport and metabolism; energy production and conversion and transcription. Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 symbiotic plasmid - pM0123d had similar gene composition with pR899b and pSNGR234a. All symbiotic plasmids shared 13 orthologous genes, including five nod and eight nif/fix genes which participate in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis process. These plasmids contained nod genes from four ancestors and fix genes from six ancestors. The ancestral type of pM0123d nod genes was similar with that of Rhizobium etli plasmids, while the ancestral type of pM0123d fix genes was same as that of pM7653Rb. The phylogenetic trees constructed based on nodCIJ and fixABC displayed different topological structures mainly due to nodCIJ and fixABC ancestral type discordance. The study presents valuable insights into mosaic structures and the evolution of rhizobial symbiotic plasmids.

This study compared 24 rhizobial symbiotic plasmids that included four genera and 11 species, illuminating the functional gene composition and symbiosis gene ancestor types of symbiotic plasmids from higher taxonomy. It provides valuable insights into mosaic structures and the evolution of symbiotic plasmids.}, } @article {pmid29696662, year = {2018}, author = {Field, KJ and Pressel, S}, title = {Unity in diversity: structural and functional insights into the ancient partnerships between plants and fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {996-1011}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15158}, pmid = {29696662}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {NE/N00941X/1//NERC/International ; BB/M026825/1//BBSRC Translational Fellowship/International ; }, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 996 I. Introduction 996 II. An ancient, and diverse, symbiosis 998 III. Structural diversity in ancient plant-fungal partnerships 1000 IV. Mycorrhizal unity in host plant nutrition 1002 V. Plant-to-fungus carbon transfer 1003 VI. From individuals to networks 1003 VII. Diverse responses of mycorrhizal functioning to dynamic environments 1006 VIII. Summary of future research direction 1007 Acknowledgements 1006 References 1006 SUMMARY: Mycorrhizal symbiosis is an ancient and widespread mutualism between plants and fungi that facilitated plant terrestrialisation > 500 million years ago, with key roles in ecosystem functioning at multiple scales. Central to the symbiosis is the bidirectional exchange of plant-fixed carbon for fungal-acquired nutrients. Within this unifying role of mycorrhizas, considerable diversity in structure and function reflects the diversity of the partners involved. Early diverging plants form mutualisms not only with arbuscular mycorrhizal Glomeromycotina fungi, but also with poorly characterised Mucoromycotina, which may also colonise the roots of 'higher' plants as fine root endophytes. Functional diversity in these symbioses depends on both fungal and plant life histories and is influenced by the environment. Recent studies have highlighted the roles of lipids/fatty acids in plant-to-fungus carbon transport and potential contributions of Glomeromycotina fungi to plant nitrogen nutrition. Together with emerging appreciation of mycorrhizal networks as multi-species resource-sharing systems, these insights are broadening our views on mycorrhizas and their roles in nutrient cycling. It is crucial that the diverse array of biotic and abiotic factors that together shape the dynamics of carbon-for-nutrient exchange between plants and fungi are integrated, in addition to embracing the unfolding and potentially key role of Mucoromycotina fungi in these processes.}, } @article {pmid29696659, year = {2018}, author = {Guerrero, J and Andrello, M and Burgarella, C and Manel, S}, title = {Soil environment is a key driver of adaptation in Medicago truncatula: new insights from landscape genomics.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {219}, number = {1}, pages = {378-390}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15171}, pmid = {29696659}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Ontology ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Salinity ; Soil/*chemistry ; Weather ; }, abstract = {Spatial differences in environmental selective pressures interact with the genomes of organisms, ultimately leading to local adaptation. Landscape genomics is an emergent research area that uncovers genome-environment associations, thus allowing researchers to identify candidate loci for adaptation to specific environmental variables. In the present study, we used latent factor mixed models (LFMMs) and Moran spectral outlier detection/randomization (MSOD-MSR) to identify candidate loci for adaptation to 10 environmental variables (climatic, soil and atmospheric) among 43 515 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 202 accessions of the model legume Medicago truncatula. Soil variables were associated with a large number of candidate loci identified through both LFMMs and MSOD-MSR. Genes tagged by candidate loci associated with drought and salinity are involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stresses, while those tagged by candidates associated with soil nitrogen and atmospheric nitrogen, participate in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Candidate SNPs identified through both LFMMs and MSOD-MSR explained up to 56% of variance in flowering traits. Our findings highlight the importance of soil in driving adaptation in the system and elucidate the basis of evolutionary potential of M. truncatula to respond to global climate change and anthropogenic disruption of the nitrogen cycle.}, } @article {pmid29696334, year = {2018}, author = {Ndungu, SM and Messmer, MM and Ziegler, D and Thuita, M and Vanlauwe, B and Frossard, E and Thonar, C}, title = {Evaluation of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the competitiveness analysis of selected indigenous cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Bradyrhizobium strains from Kenya.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {12}, pages = {5265-5278}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-9005-6}, pmid = {29696334}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*chemistry/classification/*physiology ; Kenya ; Microbiological Techniques/*instrumentation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cowpea N2 fixation and yield can be enhanced by selecting competitive and efficient indigenous rhizobia. Strains from contrasting agro-ecologies of Kilifi and Mbeere (Kenya) were screened. Two pot experiments were established consisting of 13 Bradyrhizobium strains; experiment 1 (11 Mbeere + CBA + BK1 from Burkina Faso), experiment 2 (12 Kilifi + CBA). Symbiotic effectiveness was assessed (shoot biomass, SPAD index and N uptake). Nodule occupancy of 13 simultaneously co-inoculated strains in each experiment was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) to assess competitiveness. Strains varied in effectiveness and competitiveness. The four most efficient strains were further evaluated in a field trial in Mbeere during the 2014 short rains. Strains from bacteroids of cowpea nodules from pot and field experiments were accurately identified as Bradyrhizobium by MALDI-TOF based on the SARAMIS™ database. In the field, abundant indigenous populations 7.10 × 10[3] rhizobia g[-1] soil, outcompeted introduced strains. As revealed by MALDI-TOF, indigenous strains clustered into six distinct groups (I, II, III, IV, V and VI), group III were most abundant occupying 80% of nodules analyzed. MALDI-TOF was rapid, affordable and reliable to identify Bradyrhizobium strains directly from nodule suspensions in competition pot assays and in the field with abundant indigenous strains thus, its suitability for future competition assays. Evaluating strain competitiveness and then symbiotic efficacy is proposed in bioprospecting for potential cowpea inoculant strains.}, } @article {pmid29695286, year = {2018}, author = {Vannier, N and Mony, C and Bittebiere, AK and Michon-Coudouel, S and Biget, M and Vandenkoornhuyse, P}, title = {A microorganisms' journey between plant generations.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {79}, pmid = {29695286}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {EC2CO program (MIME project)//Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/International ; PEPS program (MYCOLAND project)//Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/International ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants are colonized by a great diversity of microorganisms which form a microbiota and perform additional functions for their host. This microbiota can thus be considered a toolbox enabling plants to buffer local environmental changes, with a positive influence on plant fitness. In this context, the transmission of the microbiota to the progeny represent a way to ensure the presence of beneficial symbionts within the habitat. Examples of such transmission have been mainly described for seed transmission and concern a few pathogenic microorganisms. We investigated the transmission of symbiotic partners to plant progeny within clonal plant network.

METHODS: We used the clonal plant Glechoma hederacea as plant model and forced newly emitted clonal progeny to root in separated pots while controlling the presence of microorganisms. We used an amplicon sequencing approach of 16S and 18S rRNA targeting bacteria/archaea and fungi respectively to describe the root microbiota of mother and clonal-plant offspring.

RESULTS: We demonstrated the vertical transmission of a significant proportion of the mother plants' symbiotic bacteria and fungi to the daughters. Interestingly, archaea were not transmitted to the daughter plants. Transmitted communities had lower richness, suggesting a filtration during transmission. We found that the transmitted pool of microorganisms was similar among daughters, constituting the heritability of a specific cohort of microorganisms, opening a new understanding of the plant holobiont. We also found significant effects of distance to the mother plant and of growth time on the richness of the microbiota transmitted.

CONCLUSIONS: In this clonal plant, microorganisms are transmitted between individuals through connections, thereby ensuring the availability of microbe partners for the newborn plants as well as the dispersion between hosts for the microorganisms. This previously undescribed ecological process allows the dispersal of microorganisms in space and across plant generations. As the vast majority of plants are clonal, this process might be therefore a strong driver of ecosystem functioning and assembly of plant and microorganism communities in a wide range of ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29694802, year = {2018}, author = {Gabay, Y and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Symbiont Identity Influences Patterns of Symbiosis Establishment, Host Growth, and Asexual Reproduction in a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {234}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1086/696365}, pmid = {29694802}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/growth & development/*parasitology/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Reproduction, Asexual/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Symbiodinium is physiologically diverse and so may differentially influence symbiosis establishment and function. To explore this, we inoculated aposymbiotic individuals of the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida (commonly referred to as "Aiptasia"), a model for coral symbiosis, with one of five Symbiodinium species or types (S. microadriaticum, S. minutum, phylotype C3, S. trenchii, or S. voratum). The spatial pattern of colonization was monitored over time via confocal microscopy, and various physiological parameters were measured to assess symbiosis functionality. Anemones rapidly formed a symbiosis with the homologous symbiont, S. minutum, but struggled or failed to form a long-lasting symbiosis with Symbiodinium C3 or S. voratum, respectively. Symbiodinium microadriaticum and S. trenchii were successful but reached their peak density two weeks after S. minutum. The spatial pattern of colonization was identical for all Symbiodinium taxa that were ultimately successful, starting in the oral disk and progressing to the tentacles, before invading the column and, finally, the pedal disk. In all cases, proliferation through the anemone's tentacles was patchy, suggesting that symbionts were being expelled into the gastrovascular cavity and re-phagocytosed by the host. However, the timing of these various spatial events differed between the different Symbiodinium taxa. Furthermore, S. microadriaticum and S. trenchii were less beneficial to the host, as indicated by lower rates of photosynthesis, anemone growth, and pedal laceration. This study enhances our understanding of the link between symbiont identity and the performance of the overall symbiosis, which is important for understanding the potential establishment and persistence of novel host-symbiont pairings. Importantly, we also provide a baseline for further studies on this topic with the globally adopted "Aiptasia" model system.}, } @article {pmid29693195, year = {2018}, author = {Schu, MG and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {Cultivation Conditions Can Cause a Shift from Mutualistic to Parasitic Behavior in the Symbiosis Between Paramecium and Its Bacterial Symbiont Caedibacter taeniospiralis.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {8}, pages = {1099-1102}, pmid = {29693195}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Culture Media/*analysis ; Gammaproteobacteria/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Paramecium/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Caedibacter taeniospiralis is an obligate bacterial symbiont living in the cytoplasm of the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia. Different studies analyzing the effect of this symbiont on its host's growth and maximal cell density arrive at contradicting conclusions, labeling it as either a parasite or a mutualist. We address the question whether extrinsic factors such as medium and food organism are responsible for the opposing results. Thus, we performed fitness assays comparing previously applied cultivation conditions. By confirming the dependency of the parasitic and mutualistic behavior of C. taeniospiralis on the cultivation conditions of its host P. tetraurelia, we demonstrate the context-dependent impact on host fitness of this bacterium.}, } @article {pmid29692760, year = {2018}, author = {Jans, C and Boleij, A}, title = {The Road to Infection: Host-Microbe Interactions Defining the Pathogenicity of Streptococcus bovis/Streptococcus equinus Complex Members.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {603}, pmid = {29692760}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Streptococcus bovis/Streptococcus equinus complex (SBSEC) comprises several species inhabiting the animal and human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). They match the pathobiont description, are potential zoonotic agents and technological organisms in fermented foods. SBSEC members are associated with multiple diseases in humans and animals including ruminal acidosis, infective endocarditis (IE) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, this review aims to re-evaluate adhesion and colonization abilities of SBSEC members of animal, human and food origin paired with genomic and functional host-microbe interaction data on their road from colonization to infection. SBSEC seem to be a marginal population during GIT symbiosis that can proliferate as opportunistic pathogens. Risk factors for human colonization are considered living in rural areas and animal-feces contact. Niche adaptation plays a pivotal role where Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (SGG) retained the ability to proliferate in various environments. Other SBSEC members have undergone genome reduction and niche-specific gene gain to yield important commensal, pathobiont and technological species. Selective colonization of CRC tissue is suggested for SGG, possibly related to increased adhesion to cancerous cell types featuring enhanced collagen IV accessibility. SGG can colonize, proliferate and may shape the tumor microenvironment to their benefit by tumor promotion upon initial neoplasia development. Bacteria cell surface structures including lipotheichoic acids, capsular polysaccharides and pilus loci (pil1, pil2, and pil3) govern adhesion. Only human blood-derived SGG contain complete pilus loci and other disease-associated surface proteins. Rumen or feces-derived SGG and other SBSEC members lack or harbor mutated pili. Pili also contribute to binding to fibrinogen upon invasion and translocation of cells from the GIT into the blood system, subsequent immune evasion, human contact system activation and collagen-I-binding on damaged heart valves. Only SGG carrying complete pilus loci seem to have highest IE potential in humans with significant links between SGG bacteremia/IE and underlying diseases including CRC. Other SBSEC host-microbe combinations might rely on currently unknown mechanisms. Comparative genome data of blood, commensal and food isolates are limited but required to elucidate the role of pili and other virulence factors, understand pathogenicity mechanisms, host specificity and estimate health risks for animals, humans and food alike.}, } @article {pmid29692166, year = {2017}, author = {Xu, PX and Han, LL and He, JZ and Luo, F and Zhang, LM}, title = {[Research advance on molecular ecology of asymbiotic nitrogen fixation microbes.].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {10}, pages = {3440-3450}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201710.035}, pmid = {29692166}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is the main limiting factor in the productivity of ecological system, and biological nitrogen fixation is the main nitrogen source in the natural ecosystem. Biological nitrogen fixation includes 3 types: symbiotic, associate and free-living nitrogen fixation. Associate and free-living nitrogen fixations are collectively called asymbiotic nitrogen fixation. Compared with symbiotic system, asymbiotic nitrogen fixation rate is lower, but asymbiotic nitrogen fixation microorganisms can survive and fix nitrogen without forming symbiotic structure with plants, therefore play an important role in nitrogen cycling, especially nitrogen input in ecosystems, due to their wide distribution and high adaptability to different environments. In this review, we mainly introduced the research progress of asymbiotic nitrogen fixation microorganisms in terms of diversity, distribution characteristics, the factors influencing asymbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiencies in soils and phyllosphere, and also highlighted the existing problems and future perspectives in this research field.}, } @article {pmid29692043, year = {2018}, author = {Chu, YN and Zhang, HB and Qin, ZF and Gai, JP}, title = {[Relationship of AM fungi with non-mycorrhizal plants.].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {321-326}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201801.001}, pmid = {29692043}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As a kind of globally widely distributed soil microorganism, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form the symbiosis with the majority of land plants, which is important for plant nutrition and ecosystem functioning. Few vascular species are considered to be nonmycorrhizal, especially those within the families Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Carophyllaceae and Brassicaceae. At present, the interactions between these non-host plants and AM fungi are few and scattered, lacking systematic summary. In this paper, the type of non-host plants, the reason of low mycotrophy, and the effect of AM network formed by neighbor plants on AM fungi colonization on the non-host, and the possible interaction between AM fungi and non-host, as well as the material exchange between plants and AM fungi and their possible ecological functions were reviewed in order to give some new ideas on the function of the nonmycorrhizal plants in the fragile ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29692003, year = {2018}, author = {Peyer, SM and Kremer, N and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Involvement of a host Cathepsin L in symbiont-induced cell death.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e00632}, pmid = {29692003}, issn = {2045-8827}, support = {R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*growth & development ; Animal Structures/*enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Animals ; Cathepsin L/*metabolism ; *Cell Death ; Decapodiformes/*enzymology/microbiology/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The cathepsin L gene of the host squid, Euprymna scolopes, is upregulated during the first hours of colonization by the symbiont Vibrio fischeri. At this time, the symbiotic organ begins cell death-mediated morphogenesis in tissues functional only at the onset of symbiosis. The goal of this study was to determine whether Cathepsin L, a cysteine protease associated with apoptosis in other animals, plays a critical role in symbiont-induced cell death in the host squid. Sequence analysis and biochemical characterization demonstrated that the protein has key residues and domains essential for Cathepsin L function and that it is active within the pH range typical of these proteases. With in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry, we localized the transcript and protein, respectively, to cells interacting with V. fischeri. Activity of the protein occurred along the path of symbiont colonization. A specific Cathepsin L, nonspecific cysteine protease, and caspase inhibitor each independently attenuated activity and cell death to varying degrees. In addition, a specific antibody decreased cell death by ~50%. Together these data provide evidence that Cathepsin L is a critical component in the symbiont-induced cell death that transforms the host tissues from a colonization morphology to one that promotes the mature association.}, } @article {pmid29691935, year = {2018}, author = {Henry, LP and Newton, ILG}, title = {Mitochondria and Wolbachia titers are positively correlated during maternal transmission.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {2634-2646}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14700}, pmid = {29691935}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression/genetics ; Genotype ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; NADH Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mothers provide their offspring with symbionts. Maternally transmitted, intracellular symbionts must disperse from mother to offspring with other cytoplasmic elements, like mitochondria. Here, we investigated how the intracellular symbiont Wolbachia interacts with mitochondria during maternal transmission. Mitochondria and Wolbachia may interact antagonistically and compete as each population tries to ensure its own evolutionary success. Alternatively, mitochondria and Wolbachia may cooperate as both benefit from ensuring the fitness of the mother. We characterized the relationship between mitochondria and Wolbachia titers in ovaries of Drosophila melanogaster. We found that mitochondria and Wolbachia titers are positively correlated in common laboratory genotypes of D. melanogaster. We attempted to perturb this covariation through the introduction of Wolbachia variants that colonize at different titers. We also attempted to perturb the covariation through manipulating the female reproductive tract to disrupt maternal transmission. Finally, we also attempted to disrupt the covariation by knocking down gene expression for two loci involved in mitochondrial metabolism: NADH dehydrogenase and a mitochondrial transporter. Overall, we find that mitochondria and Wolbachia titers are commonly positively correlated, but this positive covariation is disrupted at high titers of Wolbachia. Our results suggest that mitochondria and Wolbachia have likely evolved mechanisms to stably coexist, but the competitive dynamics change at high Wolbachia titers. We provide future directions to better understand how their interaction influences the maintenance of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29691634, year = {2018}, author = {Boo, MV and Hiong, KC and Goh, EJK and Choo, CYL and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {The ctenidium of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, expresses an ammonium transporter 1 that displays light-suppressed gene and protein expression and may be involved in ammonia excretion.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology}, volume = {188}, number = {5}, pages = {765-777}, pmid = {29691634}, issn = {1432-136X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Ammonia/*metabolism ; Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Biological Transport ; Bivalvia/genetics/metabolism/*radiation effects ; Cation Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation/radiation effects ; *Light ; }, abstract = {Ammonium transporters (AMTs) can participate in ammonia uptake or excretion across the plasma membrane of prokaryotic, plant and invertebrate cells. The giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, harbors nitrogen-deficient symbiotic zooxanthellae, and normally conducts light-enhanced ammonia absorption to benefit the symbionts. Nonetheless, it can excrete ammonia when there is a supply of exogenous nitrogen or exposed to continuous darkness. This study aimed to elucidate the role of AMT1 in the ctenidium of T. squamosa by cloning and characterizing the AMT1/AMT1, determining its subcellular localization, and examining changes in its transcript and protein expression levels in response to light exposure. The cDNA coding sequence of AMT1 from T. squamosa consisted of 1527 bp and encoded 508 amino acids of 54.6 kDa. AMT1-immunofluorescence was detected mainly at the apical epithelium of ctenidial filaments, and it decreased significantly after 12 h of exposure to light. By contrast, the epithelial cells surrounding the tertiary water channels in the ctentidium, which are known to exhibit light-enhanced glutamine synthetase expression and take part in the assimilation of exogenous ammonia in light, did not display any AMT1-immunolabelling. Furthermore, the transcript level and protein abundance of ctenidial AMT1/AMT1 decreased significantly at the 6th and 12th h of light exposure. Taken together, these results indicate that AMT1 might participate in ammonia excretion instead of ammonia absorption and assimilation in T. squamosa. It is probable that the expression levels of AMT1/AMT1 need to be down-regulated during light exposure to achieve light-enhanced ammonia uptake.}, } @article {pmid29689660, year = {2018}, author = {Zumaya-Estrada, FA and Rodríguez, MC and Rodríguez, MH}, title = {Pathogen-insect interaction candidate molecules for transmission-blocking control strategies of vector borne diseases.}, journal = {Salud publica de Mexico}, volume = {60}, number = {1}, pages = {77-85}, doi = {10.21149/8140}, pmid = {29689660}, issn = {1606-7916}, mesh = {Aedes/genetics/virology ; Animals ; Anopheles/genetics/virology ; Chagas Disease/*prevention & control/transmission ; Dengue/*prevention & control/transmission ; Dengue Virus/*physiology ; Genetic Engineering ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Insect Control/*methods ; Insect Vectors/genetics/*virology ; Intestines/virology ; Malaria/*prevention & control/transmission ; Mosquito Vectors/genetics/virology ; Plasmodium/*physiology ; Reduviidae/genetics/virology ; Trypanosoma cruzi/*physiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current knowledge of pathogen-insect interactions amenable for the design of molecular-based control strategies of vector-borne diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined malaria, dengue, and Chagas disease pathogens and insect molecules that participate in interactions during their vectors infection.

RESULTS: Pathogen molecules that participate in the insect intestine invasion and induced vector immune molecules are presented, and their inclusion in transmission blocking vaccines (TBV) and in genetically modify insect (GMI) vectors or symbiotic bacteria are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS: Disruption of processes by blocking vector-pathogen interactions provides several candidates for molecular control strategies, but TBV and GMI efficacies are still limited and other secondary effects of GMI (improving transmission of other pathogens, affectation of other organisms) should be discarded.}, } @article {pmid29689195, year = {2018}, author = {Foray, V and Pérez-Jiménez, MM and Fattouh, N and Landmann, F}, title = {Wolbachia Control Stem Cell Behavior and Stimulate Germline Proliferation in Filarial Nematodes.}, journal = {Developmental cell}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {198-211.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2018.03.017}, pmid = {29689195}, issn = {1878-1551}, mesh = {Animals ; Brugia malayi/*growth & development/microbiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Filariasis/metabolism/parasitology/*pathology ; Germ Cells/*cytology/microbiology/physiology ; Helminth Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Male ; Stem Cells/cytology/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Although symbiotic interactions are ubiquitous in the living world, examples of developmental symbioses are still scarce. We show here the crucial role of Wolbachia in the oogenesis of filarial nematodes, a class of parasites of biomedical and veterinary relevance. We applied newly developed techniques to demonstrate the earliest requirements of Wolbachia in the parasite germline preceding the production of faulty embryos in Wolbachia-depleted nematodes. We show that Wolbachia stimulate germline proliferation in a cell-autonomous manner, and not through nucleotide supplementation as previously hypothesized. We also found Wolbachia to maintain the quiescence of a pool of germline stem cells to ensure a constant delivery of about 1,400 eggs per day for many years. The loss of quiescence upon Wolbachia depletion as well as the disorganization of the distal germline suggest that Wolbachia are required to execute the proper germline stem cell developmental program in order to produce viable eggs and embryos.}, } @article {pmid29689190, year = {2018}, author = {Haag, ES and Lo, TW}, title = {How to Make a Billion Parasites.}, journal = {Developmental cell}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {147-148}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2018.04.006}, pmid = {29689190}, issn = {1878-1551}, mesh = {Animals ; Brugia malayi ; *Caenorhabditis elegans ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; *Parasites ; }, abstract = {Transmission of the human parasite Brugia malayi relies on the sustained production of larvae in blood. In this issue of Developmental Cell,Foray et al. (2018) use methods developed in the model nematode C. elegans to reveal how a symbiotic bacterium supports the female germ cell development underlying this massive fecundity.}, } @article {pmid29689121, year = {2018}, author = {Corrales, A and Henkel, TW and Smith, ME}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal associations in the tropics - biogeography, diversity patterns and ecosystem roles.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1076-1091}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15151}, pmid = {29689121}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Ewel Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Florida/International ; 1501483//National Science Foundation (NSF)/International ; DEB 1354802//National Science Foundation (NSF)/International ; DEB-1556338//National Science Foundation (NSF)/International ; }, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Phylogeography ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1076 I. Introduction 1076 II. Historical overview 1077 III. Identities and distributions of tropical ectomycorrhizal plants 1077 IV. Dominance of tropical forests by ECM trees 1078 V. Biogeography of tropical ECM fungi 1081 VI. Beta diversity patterns in tropical ECM fungal communities 1082 VII. Conclusions and future research 1086 Acknowledgements 1087 References 1087 SUMMARY: Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations were historically considered rare or absent from tropical ecosystems. Although most tropical forests are dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees, ECM associations are widespread and found in all tropical regions. Here, we highlight emerging patterns of ECM biogeography, diversity and ecosystem functions, identify knowledge gaps, and offer direction for future research. At the continental and regional scales, tropical ECM systems are highly diverse and vary widely in ECM plant and fungal abundance, diversity, composition and phylogenetic affinities. We found strong regional differences among the dominant host plant families, suggesting that biogeographical factors strongly influence tropical ECM symbioses. Both ECM plants and fungi also exhibit strong turnover along altitudinal and soil fertility gradients, suggesting niche differentiation among taxa. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are often more abundant and diverse in sites with nutrient-poor soils, suggesting that ECM associations can optimize plant nutrition and may contribute to the maintenance of tropical monodominant forests. More research is needed to elucidate the diversity patterns of ECM fungi and plants in the tropics and to clarify the role of this symbiosis in nutrient and carbon cycling.}, } @article {pmid29687647, year = {2018}, author = {Stephens, RW and Arhire, L and Covasa, M}, title = {Gut Microbiota: From Microorganisms to Metabolic Organ Influencing Obesity.}, journal = {Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {801-809}, doi = {10.1002/oby.22179}, pmid = {29687647}, issn = {1930-739X}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*complications ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*physiopathology ; Obesity/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes the current understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota and the host as it pertains to the regulation of energy balance and obesity.

METHODS: The paper begins with a brief description of the gut microbiota environment, distribution, and its unique symbiotic relationship with the host. The way that enviromental factors influence microbiota composition and subsequent impact on the host are then described. Next, the mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis with obesity are discussed, and finally current challenges and limitations in understanding the role of gut microbiota in control of obesity are presented.

RESULTS: Gut microbiota has been implicated in regulation of fat storage, as well as gut dysbiosis, thus contributing to the development of obesity, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. However, the underlying mechanisms of these processes are far from being clear and will require complex preclinical and clinical interdisciplinary studies of bacteria and host cell-to-cell interactions.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for a better understanding of how changes in gut microbiota composition can impact energy balance and thus control weight gain. This may represent a promising avenue in the race to develop nonsurgical treatments for obesity.}, } @article {pmid29687563, year = {2018}, author = {Mathur, V and Del Campo, J and Kolisko, M and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Global diversity and distribution of close relatives of apicomplexan parasites.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {8}, pages = {2824-2833}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14134}, pmid = {29687563}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {MOP 42517//Canadian Institute for Health Research/International ; //Tula Foundation/International ; FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF - 331450 CAARL//Marie Curie Outgoing Fellowship/International ; }, mesh = {Alveolata/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Apicomplexa/*classification/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Coral Reefs ; Genes, Protozoan/genetics ; Genome, Protozoan/genetics ; Geologic Sediments ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Plastids/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribosome Subunits, Small ; }, abstract = {Apicomplexans are a group of obligate intracellular parasites, but their retention of a relict non-photosynthetic plastid reveals that they evolved from free-living photosynthetic ancestors. The closest relatives of apicomplexans include photosynthetic chromerid algae (e.g., Chromera and Vitrella), non-photosynthetic colpodellid predators (e.g., Colpodella) and several environmental clades collectively called Apicomplexan-Related Lineages (ARLs). Here we investigate the global distribution and inferred ecology of the ARLs by expansively searching for apicomplexan-related plastid small ribosomal subunit (SSU) genes in large-scale high-throughput bacterial amplicon surveys. Searching more than 220 million sequences from 224 geographical sites worldwide revealed 94 324 ARL plastid SSU sequences. Meta-analyses confirm that all ARLs are coral reef associated and not to marine environments generally, but only a subset is actually associated with coral itself. Most unexpectedly, Chromera was found exclusively in coral biogenous sediments, and not within coral tissue, indicating that it is not a coral symbiont, as typically thought. In contrast, ARL-V is the most diverse, geographically widespread and abundant of all ARL clades and is strictly associated with coral tissue and mucus. ARL-V was found in 19 coral species in reefs, including azooxanthellate corals at depths greater than 500 m. We suggest this is indicative of a parasitic or commensal relationship, and not of photosynthetic symbiosis, further underscoring the importance of isolating ARL-V and determining its relationship with the coral host.}, } @article {pmid29687516, year = {2018}, author = {Brands, M and Wewer, V and Keymer, A and Gutjahr, C and Dörmann, P}, title = {The Lotus japonicus acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase FatM is required for mycorrhiza formation and lipid accumulation of Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {95}, number = {2}, pages = {219-232}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13943}, pmid = {29687516}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/metabolism ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Thiolester Hydrolases/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi establish symbiotic interactions with plants, providing the host plant with minerals, i.e. phosphate, in exchange for organic carbon. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi of the order Glomerales produce vesicles which store lipids as an energy and carbon source. Acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterases (Fat) are essential components of the plant plastid-localized fatty acid synthase and determine the chain length of de novo synthesized fatty acids. In addition to the ubiquitous FatA and FatB thioesterases, AM-competent plants contain an additional, AM-specific, FatM gene. Here, we characterize FatM from Lotus japonicus by phenotypically analyzing fatm mutant lines and by studying the biochemical function of the recombinant FatM protein. Reduced shoot phosphate content in fatm indicates compromised symbiotic phosphate uptake due to reduced arbuscule branching, and the fungus shows reduced lipid accumulation accompanied by the occurrence of smaller and less frequent vesicles. Lipid profiling reveals a decrease in mycorrhiza-specific phospholipid forms, AM fungal signature fatty acids (e.g. 16:1ω5, 18:1ω7 and 20:3) and storage lipids. Recombinant FatM shows preference for palmitoyl (16:0)-ACP, indicating that large amounts of 16:0 fatty acid are exported from the plastids of arbuscule-containing cells. Stable isotope labeling with [[13] C2 ]acetate showed reduced incorporation into mycorrhiza-specific fatty acids in the fatm mutant. Therefore, colonized cells reprogram plastidial de novo fatty acid synthesis towards the production of extra amounts of 16:0, which is in agreement with previous results that fatty acid-containing lipids are transported from the plant to the fungus.}, } @article {pmid29687246, year = {2018}, author = {Takahashi, K and Homma, K and Dorezal, J and Yamagata, K and Vetrova, VP and Hara, T}, title = {Nitrogen acquisition, net production and allometry of Alnus fruticosa at a young moraine in Koryto Glacier Valley, Kamchatka, Russian Far East.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {131}, number = {5}, pages = {759-769}, pmid = {29687246}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Alnus/growth & development/*physiology ; Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Ice Cover ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Stems/growth & development/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/physiology ; Russia ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Alders (Alnus spp.) often dominate at nutrient-poor sites by symbiotic relations with atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, little is known about quantitative relationships between root nodule as a nitrogen acquisition organ and leaf as a carbon acquisition organ. To examine carbon allocation, nitrogen acquisition and net production in nutrient-poor conditions, we examined allocation patterns among organs of shrub Alnus fruticosa at a young 80-year-old moraine in Kamchatka. Slopes of double-log allometric equations were significantly smaller than 1.0 for the root mass, leaf mass and root nodule mass against stem mass, and for the root nodule mass against root mass, indicating that smaller individuals invested disproportionally more biomass into resource-acquiring leaf and root tissues than to supportive tissues compared to older individuals. The slope of allometric equation of root depth against stem height was 0.542, indicating that smaller/younger individuals allocate disproportionally more biomass into root length growth than stem height growth. On the contrary, the root nodule mass isometrically scaled to leaf mass. The whole-plant nitrogen content also isometrically scaled to root nodule mass, indicating that a certain ratio of nitrogen acquisition depended on root nodules, irrespective of plant size. Although the net production per plant increased with the increase in stem mass, the slope of the double-log regression was smaller than 1.0. On the contrary, the net production per plant isometrically increased with leaf mass, root nodule mass and leaf nitrogen content per plant. Since the leaf mass isometrically scaled to root nodule mass, growth of each individual occurred at the leaves and root nodules in a coordinated manner. It is suggested that their isometric increase contributes to the increase in net production per plant for A. fruticosa in nutrient-poor conditions.}, } @article {pmid29686946, year = {2018}, author = {Russell, JE and Nunney, L and Saum, M and Stouthamer, R}, title = {Host and symbiont genetic contributions to fitness in a Trichogramma-Wolbachia symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4655}, pmid = {29686946}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The fitness effects associated with Wolbachia infection have wide-ranging ecological and evolutionary consequences for host species. How these effects are modulated by the relative influence of host and Wolbachia genomes has been described as a balancing act of genomic cooperation and conflict. For vertically transmitted symbionts, like cytoplasmic Wolbachia, concordant host-symbiont fitness interests would seem to select for genomic cooperation. However, Wolbachia's ability to manipulate host reproductive systems and distort offspring sex ratios presents an evolutionary conflict of interest with infected hosts. In the parthenogenesis-inducing (PI) form of Wolbachia found in many haplodiploid insects, Wolbachia fitness is realized through females and is enhanced by their feminization of male embryos and subsequent parthenogenetic reproduction. In contrast, as long as Wolbachia is not fixed in a population and sexual reproduction persists, fitness for the host species is realized through both male and female offspring production. How these cooperating and competing interests interact and the relative influence of host and Wolbachia genomes were investigated in the egg parasitoid Trichogramma kaykai, where Wolbachia infection has remained at a low frequency in the field. A factorial design in which laboratory cultures of Wolbachia-infected T. kaykai were cured and re-infected with alternative Wolbachia strains was used to determine the relative influence of host and Wolbachia genomes on host fitness values. Our results suggest fitness variation is largely a function of host genetic background, except in the case of offspring sex ratio where a significant interaction between host and Wolbachia genomes was found. We also find a significant effect associated with the horizontal transfer of Wolbachia strains, which we discuss in terms of the potential for coadaptation in PI-Wolbachia symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29686655, year = {2018}, author = {Cui, JL and Vijayakumar, V and Zhang, G}, title = {Partitioning of Fungal Endophyte Assemblages in Root-Parasitic Plant Cynomorium songaricum and Its Host Nitraria tangutorum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {666}, pmid = {29686655}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are an integral part and even seen as host organs of plant, influencing physiology, ecology, and development of host plants. However, little is known about micro-ecosystems and functional interactions of endophytic fungi in root-parasitic interactions of Cynomorium songaricum and its host Nitraria tangutorum. Here, distribution and dynamics of endophytic fungi were objectively investigated in their associations with C. songaricum and N. tangutorum based on mycobiome studies using high-throughput sequencing. Results suggest that endophytic fungi may be exchanged between C. songaricum and its host N. tangutorum probably through haustorium, connection of xylem and phloem in the vascular system. The similarity of endophytic fungal composition between C. songaricum and parasitized N. tangutorum was 3.88% which was significantly higher than the fungal similarity of 0.10% observed between C. songaricum and non-parasitized N. tangutorum. The similarities of fungal community in parasitized N. tangutorum were much closer to C. songaricum than to the non-parasitized N. tangutorum. The composition of endophytic fungi in these associations increased in progressive developmental stages of C. songaricum from sprouting to above ground emergence, and decreased subsequently probably due to host recognition and response by fungi. However, the shared fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) increased among interactions of C. songaricum with parasitized and non-parasitized N. tangutorum. Studies of bioactivity on culturable endophytic fungi showed that isolates such as Fusarium spp. possess the ability to promote seed germination of C. songaricum. Our study reports for the first time the special ecological system of endophytic fungi in C. songaricum and its host N. tangutorum. Overall, we hypothesize that a deeper understanding of the sharing, movement, and role of endophytic fungi between root-parasitic plant and its host may lead to finding alternative approaches to help increase the output of ethno-pharmacologically important medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid29686160, year = {2018}, author = {Hurst, CH and Turnbull, D and Myles, SM and Leslie, K and Keinath, NF and Hemsley, PA}, title = {Variable Effects of C-Terminal Fusions on FLS2 Function: Not All Epitope Tags Are Created Equal.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {177}, number = {2}, pages = {522-531}, pmid = {29686160}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/M010996/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/M024911/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 NS109961/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Epitopes/genetics/*metabolism ; Genetic Complementation Test ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mutation ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are the largest family of proteins in plants and are responsible for perceiving the vast majority of extracellular stimuli. Thus, RLKs function in diverse processes, including sensing pathogen attacks, regulating symbiotic interactions, transducing hormone and peptide signals, and monitoring cell wall status. However, despite their fundamental role in plant biology, very few antibodies are available against RLKs, which necessitates the use of epitope tags and fluorescent protein fusions in biochemical analyses such as immunoblot analysis and intracellular visualization. Epitope tags are widely used and are typically assumed to be benign, with no influence on protein function. FLAGELLIN SENSITIVE2 (FLS2) is the receptor for bacterial flagellin and often is used as a model for RLK function. Previous work implies that carboxyl-terminal epitope fusions to FLS2 maintain protein function. Here, a detailed complementation analysis of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) fls2 mutant plants expressing various FLS2 C-terminal epitope fusions revealed highly variable and unpredictable FLS2-mediated signaling outputs. In addition, only one out of four FLS2 epitope fusions maintained the ability to inhibit plant growth in response to flg22 treatment comparable to that in the wild type or control untagged transgenic lines. These results raise concerns over the widespread use of RLK epitope tag fusions for functional studies. Many of the subtleties of FLS2 function, and by extension those of other RLKs, may have been overlooked or inappropriately interpreted through the use of RLK epitope tag fusions.}, } @article {pmid29684704, year = {2018}, author = {Nishida, H and Suzaki, T}, title = {Nitrate-mediated control of root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {129-136}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.04.006}, pmid = {29684704}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is an indispensable inorganic nutrient that is required by plants throughout their life. Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is an important strategy mainly adopted by legumes to enhance nitrogen acquisition, where several key processes required for the establishment of the symbiosis, are pleiotropically controlled by nitrate availability in soil. Although the autoregulation of nodulation (AON), a systemic long-range signaling, has been suggested to be implicated in nitrate-induced control of RNS, AON alone is insufficient to fully explain the pleiotropic regulation that is induced by nitrate. A recent elucidation of the function of a NIN-LIKE PROTEIN transcription factor has provided greater insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying nitrate-induced control of RNS in varying nitrate environments.}, } @article {pmid29684389, year = {2018}, author = {Stritzler, M and Elba, P and Berini, C and Gomez, C and Ayub, N and Soto, G}, title = {High-quality forage production under salinity by using a salt-tolerant AtNXH1-expressing transgenic alfalfa combined with a natural stress-resistant nitrogen-fixing bacterium.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {276-277}, number = {}, pages = {42-45}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.04.013}, pmid = {29684389}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {*Animal Feed ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Medicago sativa/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics/metabolism ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*genetics/metabolism ; Sodium Chloride ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Alfalfa, usually known as the "Queen of Forages", is the main source of vegetable protein to meat and milk production systems worldwide. This legume is extremely rich in proteins due to its highly efficient symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing strains. In the last years, alfalfa culture has been displaced to saline environments by other important crops, including major cereals, a fact that has reduced its biomass production and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this short communication, we report the high forage production and nutrient quality of alfalfa under saline conditions by alfalfa transformation with the AtNHX1 Na[+]/H[+] antiporter and inoculation with the stress-resistant nitrogen-fixing strain Sinorhizobium meliloti B401. Therefore, the incorporation of transgenic traits into salt-sensitive legumes in association with the inoculation with natural stress-resistant isolates could be a robust approach to improve the productivity and quality of these important nitrogen-fixing crops.}, } @article {pmid29683480, year = {2018}, author = {Hylemon, PB and Harris, SC and Ridlon, JM}, title = {Metabolism of hydrogen gases and bile acids in the gut microbiome.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {592}, number = {12}, pages = {2070-2082}, doi = {10.1002/1873-3468.13064}, pmid = {29683480}, issn = {1873-3468}, support = {I01 BX001328/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*growth & development/metabolism ; Bile Acids and Salts/*metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Gases/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; NAD/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiome refers to a highly diverse microbial ecosystem, which has a symbiotic relationship with the host. Molecular hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are generated by fermentative metabolism in anaerobic ecosystems. H2 generation and oxidation coupled to CO2 reduction to methane or acetate help maintain the structure of the gut microbiome. Bile acids are synthesized by hepatocytes from cholesterol in the liver and are important regulators of host metabolism. In this Review, we discuss how gut bacteria metabolize hydrogen gases and bile acids in the intestinal tract and the consequences on host physiology. Finally, we focus on bile acid metabolism by the Actinobacterium Eggerthella lenta. Eggerthella lenta appears to couple hydroxyl group oxidations to reductive acetogenesis under a CO2 or N2 atmosphere, but not under H2 . Hence, at low H2 levels, E. lenta is proposed to use NADH from bile acid hydroxyl group oxidations to reduce CO2 to acetate.}, } @article {pmid29682405, year = {2018}, author = {Merselis, DG and Lirman, D and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Symbiotic immuno-suppression: is disease susceptibility the price of bleaching resistance?.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4494}, pmid = {29682405}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Accelerating anthropogenic climate change threatens to destroy coral reefs worldwide through the processes of bleaching and disease. These major contributors to coral mortality are both closely linked with thermal stress intensified by anthropogenic climate change. Disease outbreaks typically follow bleaching events, but a direct positive linkage between bleaching and disease has been debated. By tracking 152 individual coral ramets through the 2014 mass bleaching in a South Florida coral restoration nursery, we revealed a highly significant negative correlation between bleaching and disease in the Caribbean staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis. To explain these results, we propose a mechanism for transient immunological protection through coral bleaching: removal of Symbiodinium during bleaching may also temporarily eliminate suppressive symbiont modulation of host immunological function. We contextualize this hypothesis within an ecological perspective in order to generate testable predictions for future investigation.}, } @article {pmid29680127, year = {2018}, author = {Ivarsson, M and Bengtson, S and Drake, H and Francis, W}, title = {Fungi in Deep Subsurface Environments.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {83-116}, doi = {10.1016/bs.aambs.2017.11.001}, pmid = {29680127}, issn = {0065-2164}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; *Biodiversity ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Fungi/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The igneous crust of the oceans and the continents represents the major part of Earth's lithosphere and has recently been recognized as a substantial, yet underexplored, microbial habitat. While prokaryotes have been the focus of most investigations, microeukaryotes have been surprisingly neglected. However, recent work acknowledges eukaryotes, and in particular fungi, as common inhabitants of the deep biosphere, including the deep igneous provinces. The fossil record of the subseafloor igneous crust, and to some extent the continental bedrock, establishes fungi or fungus-like organisms as inhabitants of deep rock since at least the Paleoproterozoic, which challenges the present notion of early fungal evolution. Additionally, deep fungi have been shown to play an important ecological role engaging in symbiosis-like relationships with prokaryotes, decomposing organic matter, and being responsible for mineral weathering and formation, thus mediating mobilization of biogeochemically important elements. In this review, we aim at covering the abundance and diversity of fungi in the various igneous rock provinces on Earth as well as describing the ecological impact of deep fungi. We further discuss what consequences recent findings might have for the understanding of the fungal distribution in extensive anoxic environments and for early fungal evolution.}, } @article {pmid29679267, year = {2018}, author = {Davis, TS and Horne, FB and Yetter, JC and Stewart, JE}, title = {Engelmann Spruce Chemotypes in Colorado and their Effects on Symbiotic Fungi Associated with the North American Spruce Beetle.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {601-610}, pmid = {29679267}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/drug effects/*growth & development ; Bicyclic Monoterpenes ; Cluster Analysis ; Coleoptera/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Colorado ; Monoterpenes/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Picea/*chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Conifer secondary metabolites play a key role in mechanisms of resistance to biotic disturbance, especially by bark beetles and beetle-associated microorganisms. Here, we describe variation in constitutive monoterpenes isolated from Engelmann spruce, Picea engelmannii, phloem across fourteen high-elevation populations in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and test interactions between phloem monoterpenes and an endophloedic symbiotic fungus, Leptographium abietinum, associated with the North American spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis. We consistently identified ten monoterpenes in Engelmann spruce phloem, and the trees in our samples could be classified into two geographically interspersed chemical phenotypes, or 'chemotypes': one in which α- and β-pinene were the most abundant monoterpenes, and one in which 3-carene was the most abundant monoterpene. Media amended with low concentrations of α-pinene, β-pinene, 3-carene, myrcene, and terpinolene stimulated growth of L. abietinum. Increasing monoterpene concentrations uniformly retarded fungal growth. Linalool completely suppressed fungal growth at all concentrations, while terpinolene completely suppressed growth at low and intermediate concentrations, indicating relatively high toxicity of these compounds. Tests with monoterpene blends representing the 'average' monoterpene composition of each chemotype indicated that representative chemotypes are equivalent in fungistatic activity, with chemotype blends being inhibitory even at low concentrations. Total constitutive monoterpene abundances in Engelmann spruce phloem ranged from 42 to 1796 μg/g. Induction of Engelmann spruce phloem monoterpenes in response to L. abietinum or other biotic agents has yet to be quantified, but is important for further understanding Engelmann spruce resistance to the D. rufipennis-L. abietinum complex.}, } @article {pmid29679016, year = {2018}, author = {Evans, JS and Erwin, PM and Shenkar, N and López-Legentil, S}, title = {Author Correction: Introduced ascidians harbor highly diverse and host-specific symbiotic microbial assemblages.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {6496}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-23758-9}, pmid = {29679016}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.}, } @article {pmid29678957, year = {2018}, author = {Lazar, I and Clement, E and Attane, C and Muller, C and Nieto, L}, title = {A new role for extracellular vesicles: how small vesicles can feed tumors' big appetite.}, journal = {Journal of lipid research}, volume = {59}, number = {10}, pages = {1793-1804}, pmid = {29678957}, issn = {1539-7262}, mesh = {Adipocytes/metabolism/pathology ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Disease Progression ; Extracellular Vesicles/*metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology ; }, abstract = {Cancer cells must adapt their metabolism in order to meet the energy requirements for cell proliferation, survival in nutrient-deprived environments, and dissemination. In particular, FA metabolism is emerging as a critical process for tumors. FA metabolism can be modulated through intrinsic changes in gene expression or signaling between tumor cells and also in response to signals from the surrounding microenvironment. Among these signals, extracellular vesicles (EVs) could play an important role in FA metabolism remodeling. In this review, we will present the role of EVs in tumor progression and especially in metabolic reprogramming. Particular attention will be granted to adipocytes. These cells, which are specialized in storing and releasing FAs, are able to shift tumor metabolism toward the use of FAs and, subsequently, increase tumor aggressiveness. Recent work demonstrates the involvement of EVs in this metabolic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29676826, year = {2018}, author = {Nadzieja, M and Kelly, S and Stougaard, J and Reid, D}, title = {Epidermal auxin biosynthesis facilitates rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {95}, number = {1}, pages = {101-111}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13934}, pmid = {29676826}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lotus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Epidermis/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes requires nodule organogenesis to be coordinated with infection by rhizobia. The plant hormone auxin influences symbiotic infection, but the precise timing of auxin accumulation and the genetic network governing it remain unclear. We used a Lotus japonicus optimised variant of the DII-based auxin accumulation sensor and identified a rapid accumulation of auxin in the epidermis, specifically in the root hair cells. This auxin accumulation occurs in the infected root hairs during rhizobia invasion, while Nod factor application induces this response across a broader range of root hairs. Using the DR5 auxin responsive promoter, we demonstrate that activation of auxin signalling also occurs specifically in infected root hairs. Analysis of root hair transcriptome data identified induction of an auxin biosynthesis gene of the Tryptophan Amino-transferase Related (LjTar1) family following both bacteria inoculation and Nod factor treatment. Genetic analysis showed that both expression of the LjTar1 biosynthesis gene and the auxin response requires Nod factor perception, while common symbiotic pathway transcription factors are only partially required or act redundantly to initiate auxin accumulation. Using a chemical genetics approach, we confirmed that auxin biosynthesis has a functional role in promoting symbiotic infection events in the epidermis.}, } @article {pmid29676002, year = {2018}, author = {Psomas, E and Holdsworth, S and Eggleton, P}, title = {Ant diversity as a direct and indirect driver of pselaphine rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) functional diversity in tropical rainforests, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {279}, number = {7}, pages = {981-996}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.20828}, pmid = {29676002}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Borneo ; Coleoptera/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Malaysia ; *Rainforest ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Pselaphinae is a species-rich beetle subfamily found globally, with many exhibiting myrmecophily-a symbiotic association with ants. Pselaphine-ant associations vary from facultative to obligate, but direct behavioral observations still remain scarce. Pselaphines are speciose and ecologically abundant within tropical leaf litter invertebrate communities where ants dominate, implying a potentially important ecological role that may be affected by habitat disturbances that impact ants. In this study, we measured and analyzed putative functional traits of leaf litter pselaphines associated with myrmecophily through morphometric analysis. We calculated "myrmecophile functional diversity" of pselaphines at different sites and examined this measure's relationship with ant abundance, in both old growth and logged rainforest sites in Sabah, Borneo. We show that myrmecophile functional diversity of pselaphine beetles increases as ant abundance increases. Old growth rainforest sites support a high abundance of ants, which is associated with a high abundance of probable myrmecophilous pselaphines. These results suggest a potential link between adult morphological characters and the functional role these beetles play in rainforest litter as ecological interaction partners with ants.}, } @article {pmid29675008, year = {2018}, author = {Chang, W and Sui, X and Fan, XX and Jia, TT and Song, FQ}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Modulates Antioxidant Response and Ion Distribution in Salt-Stressed Elaeagnus angustifolia Seedlings.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {652}, pmid = {29675008}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Elaeagnus angustifolia L. is a drought-resistant species. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is considered to be a bio-ameliorator of saline soils that can improve salinity tolerance in plants. The present study investigated the effects of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on the biomass, antioxidant enzyme activities, and root, stem, and leaf ion accumulation of E. angustifolia seedlings grown during salt stress conditions. Salt-stressed mycorrhizal seedlings produced greater root, stem, and leaf biomass than the uninoculated stressed seedlings. In addition, the seedlings colonized by R. irregularis showed notably higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the leaves of the mycorrhizal seedlings in response to salinity compared to those of the non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Mycorrhizal seedlings not only significantly increased their ability to acquire K[+], Ca[2+], and Mg[2+], but also maintained higher K[+]:Na[+] ratios in the leaves and lower Ca[2+]:Mg[2+] ratios than non-mycorrhizal seedlings during salt stress. These results suggest that the salt tolerance of E. angustifolia seedlings could be enhanced by R. irregularis. The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis could be a promising method to restore and utilize salt-alkaline land in northern China.}, } @article {pmid29674105, year = {2018}, author = {Sorres, J and Sabri, A and Brel, O and Stien, D and Eparvier, V}, title = {Ilicicolinic acids and ilicicolinal derivatives from the fungus Neonectria discophora SNB-CN63 isolated from the nest of the termite Nasutitermes corniger found in French Guiana show antimicrobial activity.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {151}, number = {}, pages = {69-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.04.003}, pmid = {29674105}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Benzoates/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Benzofurans/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hypocreales/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Conformation ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Trichophyton/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The fungus Neonectria discophora SNB-CN63 has been isolated from the nest of the termite Nasutitermes corniger found in French Guiana. From the ethyl acetate extract of fungal culture, bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of fourteen ilicicolinic acids and ilicicolinal derivatives. Their structures were elucidated by analyses of 1D and 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic data. All metabolites were tested against several microbial pathogens and six displayed antimicrobial activities with MIC <16 μg/mL on T. rubrum, Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Based on their structural similarities, a common biosynthetic pathway is proposed for all isolated metabolites.}, } @article {pmid29672765, year = {2018}, author = {Wheatley, RM and Poole, PS}, title = {Mechanisms of bacterial attachment to roots.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {448-461}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuy014}, pmid = {29672765}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The attachment of bacteria to roots constitutes the first physical step in many plant-microbe interactions. These interactions exert both positive and negative influences on agricultural systems depending on whether a growth-promoting, symbiotic or pathogenic relationship transpires. A common biphasic mechanism of root attachment exists across agriculturally important microbial species, including Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, Azospirillum and Salmonella. Attachment studies have revealed how plant-microbe interactions develop, and how to manipulate these relationships for agricultural benefit. Here, we review our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing plant-microbe root attachment and draw together a common biphasic model.}, } @article {pmid29672704, year = {2018}, author = {Probst, AJ and Banfield, JF}, title = {Homologous Recombination and Transposon Propagation Shape the Population Structure of an Organism from the Deep Subsurface with Minimal Metabolism.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {1115-1119}, pmid = {29672704}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Genome, Archaeal/*genetics ; Homologous Recombination/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; }, abstract = {DPANN archaea are primarily known based on genomes from metagenomes and single cells. We reconstructed a complete population genome for Candidatus "Forterrea," a Diapherotrite with a predicted symbiotic lifestyle probably centered around nucleotide metabolism and RuBisCO. Genome-wide analysis of sequence variation provided insights into the processes that shape its population structure in the deep subsurface. The genome contains many transposons, yet reconstruction of a complete genome from a short-read insert data set was possible because most occurred only in some individuals. Accuracy of the final reconstruction could be verified because the genome displays the pattern of cumulative GC skew known for some archaea but more typically associated with bacteria. Sequence variation is highly localized, and most pronounced around transposons and relatively close to the origin of replication. Patterns of variation are best explained by homologous recombination, a process previously not described for DPANN archaea.}, } @article {pmid29672509, year = {2018}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Benedict, AB and Fondi, M and Walker, GC and Finan, TM and Mengoni, A and Griffitts, JS}, title = {Robustness encoded across essential and accessory replicons of the ecologically versatile bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {e1007357}, pmid = {29672509}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Computer Simulation ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA Transposable Elements ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Epistasis, Genetic ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Association Studies ; *Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mutation ; *Replicon ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacterial genome evolution is characterized by gains, losses, and rearrangements of functional genetic segments. The extent to which large-scale genomic alterations influence genotype-phenotype relationships has not been investigated in a high-throughput manner. In the symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the genome is composed of a chromosome and two large extrachromosomal replicons (pSymA and pSymB, which together constitute 45% of the genome). Massively parallel transposon insertion sequencing (Tn-seq) was employed to evaluate the contributions of chromosomal genes to growth fitness in both the presence and absence of these extrachromosomal replicons. Ten percent of chromosomal genes from diverse functional categories are shown to genetically interact with pSymA and pSymB. These results demonstrate the pervasive robustness provided by the extrachromosomal replicons, which is further supported by constraint-based metabolic modeling. A comprehensive picture of core S. meliloti metabolism was generated through a Tn-seq-guided in silico metabolic network reconstruction, producing a core network encompassing 726 genes. This integrated approach facilitated functional assignments for previously uncharacterized genes, while also revealing that Tn-seq alone missed over a quarter of wild-type metabolism. This work highlights the many functional dependencies and epistatic relationships that may arise between bacterial replicons and across a genome, while also demonstrating how Tn-seq and metabolic modeling can be used together to yield insights not obtainable by either method alone.}, } @article {pmid29671321, year = {2018}, author = {Farag, MA and Meyer, A and Ali, SE and Salem, MA and Giavalisco, P and Westphal, H and Wessjohann, LA}, title = {Comparative Metabolomics Approach Detects Stress-Specific Responses during Coral Bleaching in Soft Corals.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {2060-2071}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00929}, pmid = {29671321}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; *Heat-Shock Response/physiology ; *Metabolome/physiology ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chronic exposure to ocean acidification and elevated sea-surface temperatures pose significant stress to marine ecosystems. This in turn necessitates costly acclimation responses in corals in both the symbiont and host, with a reorganization of cell metabolism and structure. A large-scale untargeted metabolomics approach comprising gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was applied to profile the metabolite composition of the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi and its dinoflagellate symbiont. Metabolite profiling compared ambient conditions with response to simulated climate change stressors and with the sister species, S. glaucum. Among ∼300 monitored metabolites, 13 metabolites were modulated. Incubation experiments providing four selected upregulated metabolites (alanine, GABA, nicotinic acid, and proline) in the culturing water failed to subside the bleaching response at temperature-induced stress, despite their known ability to mitigate heat stress in plants or animals. Thus, the results hint to metabolite accumulation (marker) during heat stress. This study provides the first detailed map of metabolic pathways transition in corals in response to different environmental stresses, accounting for the superior thermal tolerance of S. ehrenbergi versus S. glaucum, which can ultimately help maintain a viable symbiosis and mitigate against coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid29670460, year = {2018}, author = {Puccetti, M and Paolicelli, G and Oikonomou, V and De Luca, A and Renga, G and Borghi, M and Pariano, M and Stincardini, C and Scaringi, L and Giovagnoli, S and Ricci, M and Romani, L and Zelante, T}, title = {Towards Targeting the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Cystic Fibrosis.}, journal = {Mediators of inflammation}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {1601486}, pmid = {29670460}, issn = {1466-1861}, support = {293714/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cystic Fibrosis/*metabolism ; Humans ; Indoles/metabolism ; Lactobacillus/metabolism ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tryptophan (trp) metabolism is an important regulatory component of gut mucosal homeostasis and the microbiome. Metabolic pathways targeting the trp can lead to a myriad of metabolites, of both host and microbial origins, some of which act as endogenous low-affinity ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a cytosolic, ligand-operated transcription factor that is involved in many biological processes, including development, cellular differentiation and proliferation, xenobiotic metabolism, and the immune response. Low-level activation of AhR by endogenous ligands is beneficial in the maintenance of immune health and intestinal homeostasis. We have defined a functional node whereby certain bacteria species contribute to host/microbial symbiosis and mucosal homeostasis. A microbial trp metabolic pathway leading to the production of indole-3-aldehyde (3-IAld) by lactobacilli provided epithelial protection while inducing antifungal resistance via the AhR/IL-22 axis. In this review, we highlight the role of AhR in inflammatory lung diseases and discuss the possible therapeutic use of AhR ligands in cystic fibrosis.}, } @article {pmid29668923, year = {2018}, author = {Lund, MB and Mogensen, MF and Marshall, IPG and Albertsen, M and Viana, F and Schramm, A}, title = {Genomic insights into the Agromyces-like symbiont of earthworms and its distribution among host species.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy068}, pmid = {29668923}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*classification/*genetics/growth & development ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The nephridia (excretory organs) of lumbricid earthworms generally harbor symbiotic bacteria. In the compost worms Eisenia fetida and E. andrei, these comprise Verminephrobacter, Ca. Nephrothrix and an Agromyces-like symbiont. While diversity, transmission, and function of the first two symbionts has been unraveled in recent years, little is known about the biology of the uncultured Agromyces-like symbiont or about its distribution within lumbricid earthworms.In this study, we sequenced a cocoon metagenome of E. andrei and assembled a 96.3% complete genome of the Agromyces-like symbiont, which indicates a heterotrophic and potentially microaerophilic lifestyle. A 16S rRNA gene based survey showed that the Agromyces-like symbiont has a narrow host range (present in 10 out of 51 investigated lumbricid earthworm species) and is likely species-specific or at least specific for groups of closely related host species. The Agromyces-like symbionts form a monophyletic group and feature a reduced genome with AT-bias and very low genome-wide similarity to closely related Agromyces spp. (average amino acid identity of 64%); therefore, we suggest establishing a novel genus for the Agromyces-like symbionts of earthworms, for which we propose the name Candidatus Lumbricidophila, with the specific symbiont of Eisenia andrei as novel species Ca. L. eiseniae.}, } @article {pmid29668080, year = {2018}, author = {Berrabah, F and Balliau, T and Aït-Salem, EH and George, J and Zivy, M and Ratet, P and Gourion, B}, title = {Control of the ethylene signaling pathway prevents plant defenses during intracellular accommodation of the rhizobia.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {219}, number = {1}, pages = {310-323}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15142}, pmid = {29668080}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Ethylenes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Immunity/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Massive intracellular populations of symbiotic bacteria, referred to as rhizobia, are housed in legume root nodules. Little is known about the mechanisms preventing the development of defense in these organs although genes such as SymCRK and DNF2 of the model legume Medicago truncatula are required for this control after rhizobial internalization in host nodule cells. Here we investigated the molecular basis of the symbiotic control of immunity. Proteomic analysis was performed to compare functional (wild-type) and defending nodules (symCRK). Based on the results, the control of plant immunity during the functional step of the symbiosis was further investigated by biochemical and pharmacological approaches as well as by transcript and histology analysis. Ethylene was identified as a potential signal inducing plant defenses in symCRK nodules. Involvement of this phytohormone in symCRK and dnf2-developed defenses and in the death of intracellular rhizobia was confirmed. This negative effect of ethylene depended on the M. truncatula sickle gene and was also observed in the legume Lotus japonicus. Together, these data indicate that prevention of ethylene-triggered defenses is crucial for the persistence of endosymbiosis and that the DNF2 and SymCRK genes are required for this process.}, } @article {pmid29667106, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, M and Ongena, M and Wang, Q and Guan, D and Cao, F and Jiang, X and Li, J}, title = {Chronic fertilization of 37 years alters the phylogenetic structure of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Chinese Mollisols.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {57}, pmid = {29667106}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play vital roles in sustaining soil productivity and plant communities. However, adaption and differentiation of AMF in response to commonly used fertilization remain poorly understood. In this study, we showed that the AMF community composition was primarily driven by soil physiochemical changes associated with chronic inorganic and organic fertilization of 37 years in Mollisols. High-throughput sequencing indicated that inorganic fertilizer negatively affected AMF diversity and richness, implying a reduction of mutualism in plant-AMF symbiosis; however, a reverse trend was observed for the application of inorganic fertilizer combined with manure. With regards to AMF community composition, order Glomerales was dominant, but varied significantly among different fertilization treatments. All fertilization treatments decreased family Glomeraceae and genus Funneliformis, while Rhizophagus abundance increased. Plant-growth-promoting-microorganisms of family Claroideoglomeraceae and genus Claroideoglomus were stimulated by manure application, and likely benefited pathogen suppression and phosphorus (P) acquisition. Family Gigasporaceae and genus Gigaspora were negatively correlated with available P in soil. Additionally, redundancy analysis further suggested that soil available P, organic matter and pH were the most important factors in shaping AMF community composition. These results provide strong evidence for niche differentiation of phylogenetically distinct AMF populations under different fertilization regimes. Manure likely contributes to restoration and maintenance of plant-AMF symbiosis, and the balanced fertilization would favor the growth of beneficial AMF communities as one optimized management in support of sustainable agriculture in Mollisols.}, } @article {pmid29666437, year = {2018}, author = {Lough, JM and Anderson, KD and Hughes, TP}, title = {Increasing thermal stress for tropical coral reefs: 1871-2017.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {6079}, pmid = {29666437}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Chlorophyta/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; El Nino-Southern Oscillation ; Environmental Monitoring ; *Global Warming ; Heat-Shock Response ; Photosynthesis ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tropical corals live close to their upper thermal limit making them vulnerable to unusually warm summer sea temperatures. The resulting thermal stress can lead to breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis, essential for the functioning of reefs, and cause coral bleaching. Mass coral bleaching is a modern phenomenon associated with increases in reef temperatures due to recent global warming. Widespread bleaching has typically occurred during El Niño events. We examine the historical level of stress for 100 coral reef locations with robust bleaching histories. The level of thermal stress (based on a degree heating month index, DHMI) at these locations during the 2015-2016 El Niño was unprecedented over the period 1871-2017 and exceeded that of the strong 1997-1998 El Niño. The DHMI was also 5 times the level of thermal stress associated with the 'pre-industrial', 1877-1878, El Niño. Coral reefs have, therefore, already shown their vulnerability to the modest (~0.92 °C) global warming that has occurred to date. Estimates of future levels of thermal stress suggest that even the optimistic 1.5 °C Paris Agreement target is insufficient to prevent more frequent mass bleaching events for the world's reefs. Effectively, reefs of the future will not be the same as those of the past.}, } @article {pmid29664126, year = {2019}, author = {Song, Y and Zhang, H and You, H and Liu, Y and Chen, C and Feng, X and Yu, X and Wu, S and Wang, L and Zhong, S and Li, Q and Zhu, Y and Ding, X}, title = {Identification of novel interactors and potential phosphorylation substrates of GsSnRK1 from wild soybean (Glycine soja).}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {145-157}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13217}, pmid = {29664126}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Immunoprecipitation ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*enzymology/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {The plant sucrose nonfermenting kinase 1 (SnRK1) kinases play the central roles in the processes of energy balance, hormone perception, stress resistance, metabolism, growth, and development. However, the functions of these kinases are still elusive. In this study, we used GsSnRK1 of wild soybean as bait to perform library-scale screens by the means of yeast two-hybrid to identify its interacting proteins. The putative interactions were verified by yeast retransformation and β-galactosidase assays, and the selected interactions were further confirmed in planta by bimolecular fluorescence complementation and biochemical Co-IP assays. Protein phosphorylation analyses were carried out by phos-tag assay and anti-phospho-(Ser/Thr) substrate antibodies. Finally, we obtained 24 GsSnRK1 interactors and several putative substrates that can be categorized into SnRK1 regulatory β subunit, protein modification, biotic and abiotic stress-related, hormone perception and signalling, gene expression regulation, water and nitrogen transport, metabolism, and unknown proteins. Intriguingly, we first discovered that GsSnRK1 interacted with and phosphorylated the components of soybean nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The interactions and potential functions of GsSnRK1 and its associated proteins were extensively discussed and analysed. This work provides plausible clues to elucidate the novel functions of SnRK1 in response to variable environmental, metabolic, and physiological requirements.}, } @article {pmid29663866, year = {2018}, author = {Hu, Y and Jiao, J and Liu, LX and Sun, YW and Chen, WF and Sui, XH and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {Evidence for Phosphate Starvation of Rhizobia without Terminal Differentiation in Legume Nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {1060-1068}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-18-0031-R}, pmid = {29663866}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects/physiology ; Phosphates/*administration & dosage ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phosphate homeostasis is tightly modulated in all organisms, including bacteria, which harbor both high- and low-affinity transporters acting under conditions of fluctuating phosphate levels. It was thought that nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, named bacteroids, inhabiting root nodules of legumes are not phosphate limited. Here, we show that the high-affinity phosphate transporter PstSCAB, rather than the low-affinity phosphate transporter Pit, is essential for effective nitrogen fixation of Sinorhizobium fredii in soybean nodules. Symbiotic and growth defects of the pst mutant can be effectively restored by knocking out PhoB, the transcriptional repressor of pit. The pst homologs of representative rhizobia were actively transcribed in bacteroids without terminal differentiation in nodules of diverse legumes (soybean, pigeonpea, cowpea, common bean, and Sophora flavescens) but exhibited a basal expression level in terminally differentiated bacteroids (alfalfa, pea, and peanut). Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Rlv3841 undergoes characteristic nonterminal and terminal differentiations in nodules of S. flavescens and pea, respectively. The pst mutant of Rlv3841 showed impaired adaptation to the nodule environment of S. flavescens but was indistinguishable from the wild-type strain in pea nodules. Taken together, root nodule rhizobia can be either phosphate limited or nonlimited regarding the rhizobial differentiation fate, which is a host-dependent feature.}, } @article {pmid29663622, year = {2018}, author = {Vorburger, C and Perlman, SJ}, title = {The role of defensive symbionts in host-parasite coevolution.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {1747-1764}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12417}, pmid = {29663622}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {CRSII3_154396//Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Biological Coevolution ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Parasites/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the coevolution of hosts and parasites is a long-standing goal of evolutionary biology. There is a well-developed theoretical framework to describe the evolution of host-parasite interactions under the assumption of direct, two-species interactions, which can result in arms race dynamics or sustained genotype fluctuations driven by negative frequency dependence (Red Queen dynamics). However, many hosts rely on symbionts for defence against parasites. Whilst the ubiquity of defensive symbionts and their potential importance for disease control are increasingly recognized, there is still a gap in our understanding of how symbionts mediate or possibly take part in host-parasite coevolution. Herein we address this question by synthesizing information already available from theoretical and empirical studies. First, we briefly introduce current hypotheses on how defensive mutualisms evolved from more parasitic relationships and highlight exciting new experimental evidence showing that this can occur very rapidly. We go on to show that defensive symbionts influence virtually all important determinants of coevolutionary dynamics, namely the variation in host resistance available to selection by parasites, the specificity of host resistance, and the trade-off structure between host resistance and other components of fitness. In light of these findings, we turn to the limited theory and experiments available for such three-species interactions to assess the role of defensive symbionts in host-parasite coevolution. Specifically, we discuss under which conditions the defensive symbiont may take over from the host the reciprocal adaptation with parasites and undergo its own selection dynamics, thereby altering or relaxing selection on the hosts' own immune defences. Finally, we address potential effects of defensive symbionts on the evolution of parasite virulence. This is an important problem for which there is no single, clear-cut prediction. The selection on parasite virulence resulting from the presence of defensive symbionts in their hosts will depend on the underlying mechanism of defence. We identify the evolutionary predictions for different functional categories of symbiont-conferred resistance and we evaluate the empirical literature for supporting evidence. We end this review with outstanding questions and promising avenues for future research to improve our understanding of symbiont-mediated coevolution between hosts and parasites.}, } @article {pmid29663039, year = {2018}, author = {Birnbaum, C and Bissett, A and Teste, FP and Laliberté, E}, title = {Symbiotic N2-Fixer Community Composition, but Not Diversity, Shifts in Nodules of a Single Host Legume Across a 2-Million-Year Dune Chronosequence.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {1009-1020}, pmid = {29663039}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Acacia/metabolism/*microbiology ; Environment ; Microbiota ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/analysis ; Plant Proteins/analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Long-term soil age gradients are useful model systems to study how changes in nutrient limitation shape communities of plant root mutualists because they represent strong natural gradients of nutrient availability, particularly of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Here, we investigated changes in the dinitrogen (N2)-fixing bacterial community composition and diversity in nodules of a single host legume (Acacia rostellifera) across the Jurien Bay chronosequence, a retrogressive 2 million-year-old sequence of coastal dunes representing an exceptionally strong natural soil fertility gradient. We collected nodules from plants grown in soils from five chronosequence stages ranging from very young (10s of years; associated with strong N limitation for plant growth) to very old (> 2,000,000 years; associated with strong P limitation), and sequenced the nifH gene in root nodules to determine the composition and diversity of N2-fixing bacterial symbionts. A total of 335 unique nifH gene operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified. Community composition of N2-fixing bacteria within nodules, but not diversity, changed with increasing soil age. These changes were attributed to pedogenesis-driven shifts in edaphic conditions, specifically pH, exchangeable manganese, resin-extractable phosphate, nitrate and nitrification rate. A large number of common N2-fixing bacteria genera (e.g. Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium) belonging to the Rhizobiaceae family (α-proteobacteria) comprised 70% of all raw sequences and were present in all nodules. However, the oldest soils, which show some of the lowest soil P availability ever recorded, harboured the largest proportion of unclassified OTUs, suggesting a unique set of N2-fixing bacteria adapted to extreme P limitation. Our results show that N2-fixing bacterial composition varies strongly during long-term ecosystem development, even within the same host, and therefore rhizobia show strong edaphic preferences.}, } @article {pmid29662899, year = {2018}, author = {Stambulska, UY and Bayliak, MM and Lushchak, VI}, title = {Chromium(VI) Toxicity in Legume Plants: Modulation Effects of Rhizobial Symbiosis.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {8031213}, pmid = {29662899}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Chromium/*toxicity ; Fabaceae/drug effects/*metabolism ; Free Radicals/metabolism ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Most legume species have the ability to establish a symbiotic relationship with soil nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria that promote plant growth and productivity. There is an increasing evidence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) important role in formation of legume-rhizobium symbiosis and nodule functioning. Environmental pollutants such as chromium compounds can cause damage to rhizobia, legumes, and their symbiosis. In plants, toxic effects of chromium(VI) compounds are associated with the increased production of ROS and oxidative stress development as well as with inhibition of pigment synthesis and modification of virtually all cellular components. These metabolic changes result in inhibition of seed germination and seedling development as well as reduction of plant biomass and crop yield. However, if plants establish symbiosis with rhizobia, heavy metals are accumulated preferentially in nodules decreasing the toxicity of metals to the host plant. This review summarizes data on toxic effects of chromium on legume plants and legume-rhizobium symbiosis. In addition, we discussed the role of oxidative stress in both chromium toxicity and formation of rhizobial symbiosis and use of nodule bacteria for minimizing toxic effects of chromium on plants.}, } @article {pmid29661002, year = {2018}, author = {David, M}, title = {Female Gynecologists and Their Birth Control Clinics: Eugenics in Practice in 1920s-1930s China.}, journal = {Canadian bulletin of medical history = Bulletin canadien d'histoire de la medecine}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {32-62}, doi = {10.3138/cbmh.200-022017}, pmid = {29661002}, issn = {0823-2105}, mesh = {Ambulatory Care Facilities/*history ; Contraception/*history ; Eugenics/*history ; Female ; Gynecology/*history ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Physicians/*history ; }, abstract = {Yang Chao Buwei, the first Chinese translator of Margaret Sanger's What Every Girl Should Know, was the first female gynecologist to open up a birth control clinic in China. By the 1930s, other female gynecologists, like Guo Taihua, had internalized and combined national and eugenic concerns of race regeneration to focus on the control of women's reproduction. This symbiosis between racial regeneration and birth control is best seen in Yang Chongrui's integration of birth control into her national hygiene program. This article traces the efforts of pioneer gynecologists in giving contraceptive advice at their birth control clinics, which they framed as a humanitarian effort to ease the reproductive burden of working-class women. It also examines their connections with Sanger's international birth control movement, and their advocacy of contraception as practitioners, translators, and educators. The author argues that these Chinese female gynecologists not only borrowed, but adapted, Western scientific knowledge to Chinese social conditions through their writings and translations and in their clinical work.}, } @article {pmid29660810, year = {2018}, author = {Peres, J and Esmerino, E and da Silva, AL and Racowski, I and Bolini, H}, title = {Sensory Profile, Drivers of Liking, and Influence of Information on the Acceptance of Low-Calorie Synbiotic and Probiotic Chocolate Ice Cream.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {83}, number = {5}, pages = {1350-1359}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.14120}, pmid = {29660810}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspartame ; Cacao ; *Chocolate/analysis/microbiology ; *Consumer Behavior ; Diterpenes, Kaurane ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Food Additives ; Food Handling ; Functional Food ; Glucosides ; Humans ; *Ice Cream/analysis/microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Probiotics ; Stevia ; Sucrose/analogs & derivatives ; *Sweetening Agents ; *Synbiotics ; *Taste ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensory profile and the influence of the information on the acceptance of the symbiotic chocolate ice cream made with sucrose and different sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, neotame, Stevia with 60%, 85%, 95%, and 97% of rebaudioside A) through analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's test, and partial least of square (PLS) regression. Quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was carried out by 18 assessors, who evaluated the samples in relation to the raised descriptors. Additionally, two acceptance tests (blind/informed) were performed with 120 consumers. The samples sweetened with sucralose and rebaudioside 97% presented similar profile to the control sample, thus having a better potential to replace sucrose in chocolate ice cream. The acceptance test carried out with information had higher scores for the attributes appearance, aroma, flavor, texture, and overall impression. The correlation between data from the acceptance tests and QDA showed that the descriptors "low-energy" and "natural sweetener" claims interfered negatively in the drivers of liking of chocolate ice cream. Therefore, we can conclude that some characteristics unnoticed by consumers were highlighted after providing the information about the product's characteristics.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research is important and contributes to the manufacture and development of low-calorie chocolate ice cream with functional properties, guiding, through suitable sensory and statistical tools, the application of stevia and other artificial sweeteners in products with reduction or total absence of sucrose and highlighting the impact of the labeling of these products on consumer perception.}, } @article {pmid29660412, year = {2018}, author = {Fürnkranz, U and Walochnik, J and Henrich, B}, title = {Mycoplasma hominis shows strain-dependent increase in resistance to selected antibiotics after symbiosis with Trichomonas vaginalis.}, journal = {Journal of global antimicrobial resistance}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {169-175}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgar.2018.04.003}, pmid = {29660412}, issn = {2213-7173}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Metronidazole/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mutation ; Mycoplasma Infections/microbiology ; Mycoplasma hominis/*drug effects/*genetics/physiology ; Quinolones/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/microbiology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*physiology ; Vagina/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Mycoplasma hominis, a genetically heterogeneous, cell-wall-less bacterium, is able to live in symbiosis with the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Whilst the impact of this symbiosis on T. vaginalis has been investigated to a certain extent, less light has been shed on the influence on M. hominis.

METHODS: An in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) study of the antimicrobial susceptibility of three clinical M. hominis isolates (V475, AKH136 and MhSS10) to clindamycin, moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin was performed in dependence on symbiosis with T. vaginalis strain IR78.

RESULTS: Passaging of M. hominis through T. vaginalis led to an increase in MICs to all drugs investigated in M. hominis V475 and M. hominis MhSS10 (apart from gentamicin). Shifts from intermediate to resistant (MhSS10 for ciprofloxacin) and from susceptible to intermediate-resistant (V475 for gentamicin; P=0.015) were observed. Moreover, initial susceptibility of V475 to moxifloxacin (MIC=1.35μg/mL) was statistically significantly reduced (MIC=2.5μg/mL) following T. vaginalis passage concomitantly with mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA (S153L) and parC (E195G and K144R). In contrast, the susceptibility of M. hominis isolate AKH136 to all drugs investigated increased after passaging.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that symbiosis with T. vaginalis has an enhancing effect on selected antimicrobial resistances of distinct M. hominis isolates.}, } @article {pmid29660229, year = {2018}, author = {Biondani, G and Zeeberg, K and Greco, MR and Cannone, S and Dando, I and Dalla Pozza, E and Mastrodonato, M and Forciniti, S and Casavola, V and Palmieri, M and Reshkin, SJ and Cardone, RA}, title = {Extracellular matrix composition modulates PDAC parenchymal and stem cell plasticity and behavior through the secretome.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {285}, number = {11}, pages = {2104-2124}, doi = {10.1111/febs.14471}, pmid = {29660229}, issn = {1742-4658}, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/*genetics/pathology ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*genetics/pathology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Plasticity/*genetics ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Collagen Type I/pharmacology ; Extracellular Matrix/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/*genetics/pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects/pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*genetics/pathology ; Parenchymal Tissue/drug effects/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/genetics ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers. Its aggressiveness is driven by an intense fibrotic desmoplastic reaction in which the increasingly collagen I-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) and several cell types, including cancer stem cells (CSCs), create a tumor-supportive environment. However, how ECM composition regulates CSC dynamics and their relationship with the principle parenchymal tumor population to promote early invasive growth is not yet characterized. For this, we utilized a platform of 3D organotypic cultures composed of laminin-rich Matrigel, representative of an early tumor, plus increasing concentrations of collagen I to simulate malignant stroma progression. As ECM collagen I increases, CSCs progress from a rapidly growing, vascular phenotype to a slower growing, avascular phase, while maintaining their endothelial-like gene signatures. This transition is supported autocrinically by the CSCs and paracrinically by the parenchymal cells via their ECM-dependent secretomes. Indeed, when growing on an early tumor ECM, the CSCs are dedicated toward the preparation of a vascular niche by (a) activating their growth program, (b) secreting high levels of proangiogenic factors which stimulate both angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry, and (c) overexpressing VEGFR-2, which is activated by VEGF secreted by both the CSC and parenchymal cells. On Matrigel, the more differentiated parenchymal tumor cell population had reduced growth but a high invasive capacity. This concerted high local invasion of parenchymal cells into the CSC-derived vascular network suggests that a symbiotic relationship between the parenchymal cells and the CSCs underlies the initiation and maintenance of early PDAC infiltration and metastasis.}, } @article {pmid29659974, year = {2018}, author = {Chan, CX and Vaysberg, P and Price, DC and Pelletreau, KN and Rumpho, ME and Bhattacharya, D}, title = {Active Host Response to Algal Symbionts in the Sea Slug Elysia chlorotica.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {1706-1711}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msy061}, pmid = {29659974}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Mollusca/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Stramenopiles/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Sacoglossan sea slugs offer fascinating systems to study the onset and persistence of algal-plastid symbioses. Elysia chlorotica is particularly noteworthy because it can survive for months, relying solely on energy produced by ingested plastids of the stramenopile alga Vaucheria litorea that are sequestered in cells lining its digestive diverticula. How this animal can maintain the actively photosynthesizing organelles without replenishment of proteins from the lost algal nucleus remains unknown. Here, we used RNA-Seq analysis to test the idea that plastid sequestration leaves a significant signature on host gene expression during E. chlorotica development. Our results support this hypothesis and show that upon exposure to and ingestion of V. litorea plastids, genes involved in microbe-associated molecular patterns and oxidative stress-response mechanisms are significantly up-regulated. Interestingly, our results with E. chlorotica mirror those found with corals that maintain dinoflagellates as intact cells in symbiosomes, suggesting parallels between these animal-algal symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid29659942, year = {2018}, author = {Vdacný, P}, title = {Evolutionary Associations of Endosymbiotic Ciliates Shed Light on the Timing of the Marsupial-Placental Split.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {1757-1769}, pmid = {29659942}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Ciliophora/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*parasitology ; Marsupialia/*parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Trichostome ciliates are among the most conspicuous protists in the gastrointestinal tract of a large variety of vertebrates. However, little is still known about phylogeny of the trichostome/vertebrate symbiotic systems, evolutionary correlations between trichostome extrinsic traits, and character-dependent diversification of trichostomes. These issues were investigated here, using the relaxed molecular clock technique along with stochastic mapping of character evolution, and binary-state speciation and extinction models. Clock analyses revealed that trichostomes colonized the vertebrate gastrointestinal tract ∼135 Ma, that is, near the paleontological minimum for the split of therian mammals into marsupials and placentals. According to stochastic mapping, the last common ancestor of trichostomes most likely invaded the hindgut of a mammal. Although multiple shifts to fish/amphibian or avian hosts and to the foregut compartments took place during the trichostome phylogeny, only transition to the foregut was recognized as a key innovation responsible for the explosive radiation of ophryoscolecid trichostomes after the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary, when ungulates began their diversification. Since crown radiations of main trichostome lineages follow those of their mammalian hosts and are in agreement with their historic dispersal routes, the present time-calibrated phylogeny might help to elucidate controversies in the geological and molecular timing of the split between marsupials and placental mammals.}, } @article {pmid29659493, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, S and Zhang, C and Chao, N and Lu, J and Zhang, Y}, title = {Cloning, Characterization, and Functional Investigation of VaHAESA from Vitis amurensis Inoculated with Plasmopara viticola.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29659493}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Disease Resistance ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Oomycetes/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Tobacco/metabolism ; Vitis/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are essential for immune responses and establishing symbiosis. Plants detect invaders via the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by PRRs. This phenomenon is termed PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). We investigated disease resistance in Vitis amurensis to identify PRRs that are important for resistance against downy mildew, analyzed the PRRs that were upregulated by incompatible Plasmopara viticola infection, and cloned the full-length cDNA of the VaHAESA gene. We then analyzed the structure, subcellular localization, and relative disease resistance of VaHAESA. VaHAESA and PRR-receptor-like kinase 5 (RLK5) are highly similar, belonging to the leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-RLK family and localizing to the plasma membrane. The expression of PRR genes changed after the inoculation of V. amurensis with compatible and incompatible P. viticola; during early disease development, transiently transformed V. vinifera plants expressing VaHAESA were more resistant to pathogens than those transformed with the empty vector and untransformed controls, potentially due to increased H2O2, NO, and callose levels in the transformants. Furthermore, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana showed upregulated expression of genes related to the PTI pathway and improved disease resistance. These results show that VaHAESA is a positive regulator of resistance against downy mildew in grapevines.}, } @article {pmid29659479, year = {2018}, author = {Sudhakara, P and Gupta, A and Bhardwaj, A and Wilson, A}, title = {Oral Dysbiotic Communities and Their Implications in Systemic Diseases.}, journal = {Dentistry journal}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29659479}, issn = {2304-6767}, support = {R03 DE026526/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The human body supports the growth of a wide array of microbial communities in various niches such as the oral cavity, gastro-intestinal and urogenital tracts, and on the surface of the skin. These host associated microbial communities include yet-un-cultivable bacteria and are influenced by various factors. Together, these communities of bacteria are referred to as the human microbiome. Human oral microbiome consists of both symbionts and pathobionts. Deviation from symbiosis among the bacterial community leads to &ldquo;dysbiosis&rdquo;, a state of community disturbance. Dysbiosis occurs due to many confounding factors that predispose a shift in the composition and relative abundance of microbial communities. Dysbiotic communities have been a major cause for many microbiome related systemic infections. Such dysbiosis is directed by certain important pathogens called the &ldquo;keystone pathogens&rdquo;, which can modulate community microbiome variations. One such persistent infection is oral infection, mainly periodontitis, where a wide array of causal organisms have been implied to systemic infections such as cardio vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The keystone pathogens co-occur with many yet-cultivable bacteria and their interactions lead to dysbiosis. This has been the focus of recent research. While immune evasion is one of the major modes that leads to dysbiosis, new processes and new virulence factors of bacteria have been shown to be involved in this important process that determines a disease or health state. This review focuses on such dysbiotic communities, their interactions, and their virulence factors that predispose the host to other systemic implications.}, } @article {pmid29658105, year = {2018}, author = {Sawers, RJH and Ramírez-Flores, MR and Olalde-Portugal, V and Paszkowski, U}, title = {The impact of domestication and crop improvement on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in cereals: insights from genetics and genomics.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1135-1140}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15152}, pmid = {29658105}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/P003419/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P003419/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; BB/N008723/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/International ; //Mexican Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO)/International ; }, mesh = {*Domestication ; Edible Grain/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Genomics ; Metabolome ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Breeding ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1135 I. Introduction 1135 II. Recruitment of plant metabolites and hormones as signals in AM symbiosis 1136 III. Phytohormones are regulators of AM symbiosis and targets of plant breeding 1137 IV. Variation in host response to AM symbiosis 1137 V. Outlook 1137 Acknowledgements 1139 References 1139 SUMMARY: Cereals (rice, maize, wheat, sorghum and the millets) provide over 50% of the world's caloric intake, a value that rises to > 80% in developing countries. Since domestication, cereals have been under artificial selection, largely directed towards higher yield. Throughout this process, cereals have maintained their capacity to interact with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, beneficial symbionts that associate with the roots of most terrestrial plants. It has been hypothesized that the shift from the wild to cultivation, and above all the last c. 50 years of intensive breeding for high-input farming systems, has reduced the capacity of the major cereal crops to gain full benefit from AM interactions. Recent studies have shed further light on the molecular basis of establishment and functioning of AM symbiosis in cereals, providing insight into where the breeding process might have had an impact. Classic phytohormones, targets of artificial selection during the generation of Green Revolution semi-dwarf varieties, have emerged as important regulators of AM symbiosis. Although there is still much to be learnt about the mechanistic basis of variation in symbiotic outcome, these advances are providing an insight into the role of arbuscular mycorrhiza in agronomic systems.}, } @article {pmid29657110, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, Y and Engler, N and Nelles, M}, title = {Symbiotic relationship between hydrothermal carbonization technology and anaerobic digestion for food waste in China.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {260}, number = {}, pages = {404-412}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.102}, pmid = {29657110}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Anaerobiosis ; China ; Cities ; *Food ; *Incineration ; }, abstract = {Food waste (FW) is traditionally disposed through landfills and incineration in China. Nowadays, there are some promising methods, such as anaerobic digestion (AD) or feeding and composting, which are being applied in pilot cities. However, the inherent characteristics of Chinese FW may be regarded as a double-edged sword in the practical applications of these disposal methods. To overcome these challenges, two modes of the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process were reviewed as innovative strategies in this article. Meanwhile, the "symbiotic relationship" between Chinese FW and HTC technologies was highlighted. To improve treatment efficiency of FW, we should not only try different methods and develop existing technologies, but also pay more attention to the utilization and "1 + 1 > 2" synergistic effect of their combinations, such as the combination of HTC and AD as a co-treatment method for saving on the construction cost and avoiding redistribution of social resources.}, } @article {pmid29656850, year = {2018}, author = {Ahnia, H and Bourebaba, Y and Durán, D and Boulila, F and Palacios, JM and Rey, L and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Boulila, A and Imperial, J}, title = {Bradyrhizobium algeriense sp. nov., a novel species isolated from effective nodules of Retama sphaerocarpa from Northeastern Algeria.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {333-339}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.03.004}, pmid = {29656850}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Algeria ; *Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We have characterized genetic, phenotypic and symbiotic properties of bacterial strains previously isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules of Retama sphaerocarpa from Northern Algeria. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes and three concatenated housekeeping genes, recA, atpD and glnII, placed them in a new divergent group that is proposed to form a new Bradyrhizobium species, Bradyrhizobium algeriense sp. nov. (type strain RST89[T], LMG 27618 and CECT 8363). Based on these phylogenetic markers and on genomic identity data derived from draft genomic sequences, Bradyrhizobium valentinum LmjM3[T], Bradyrhizobium lablabi CCBAU 23086[T], Bradyrhizobium retamae Ro19[T], and Bradyrhizobium jicamae PAC68[T] are the closest relatives of B. algeriense RST89[T], with sequence identities of 92-94% and Average Nucleotide Identities (ANIm) under 90%, well below the 95-96% species circumscription threshold. Likewise, a comparison of whole-cell proteomic patterns, estimated by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric analysis, yielded almost identical spectra between B. algeriense strains but significant differences with B. valentinum, Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri, Bradyrhizobium icense, B. lablabi, B. jicamae and B. retamae. A phylogenetic tree based on symbiotic gene nodC revealed that the B. algeriense sequences cluster with sequences from the Bradyrhizobium symbiovar retamae, previously defined with B. retamae strains isolated from Retama monosperma. B. algeriense strains were able to establish effective symbioses with Retama raetam, Lupinus micranthus, Lupinus albus and Genista numidica, but not with Lupinus angustifolius or Glycine max.}, } @article {pmid29656523, year = {2018}, author = {Cusumano, A and Zhu, F and Volkoff, AN and Verbaarschot, P and Bloem, J and Vogel, H and Dicke, M and Poelman, EH}, title = {Parasitic wasp-associated symbiont affects plant-mediated species interactions between herbivores.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {957-967}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12952}, pmid = {29656523}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Animals ; *Herbivory ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insecta ; Parasites ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Microbial mutualistic symbiosis is increasingly recognised as a hidden driving force in the ecology of plant-insect interactions. Although plant-associated and herbivore-associated symbionts clearly affect interactions between plants and herbivores, the effects of symbionts associated with higher trophic levels has been largely overlooked. At the third-trophic level, parasitic wasps are a common group of insects that can inject symbiotic viruses (polydnaviruses) and venom into their herbivorous hosts to support parasitoid offspring development. Here, we show that such third-trophic level symbionts act in combination with venom to affect plant-mediated interactions by reducing colonisation of subsequent herbivore species. This ecological effect correlated with changes induced by polydnaviruses and venom in caterpillar salivary glands and in plant defence responses to herbivory. Because thousands of parasitoid species are associated with mutualistic symbiotic viruses in an intimate, specific relationship, our findings may represent a novel and widespread ecological phenomenon in plant-insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid29655023, year = {2018}, author = {Gómez, F and Wang, L and Lin, S}, title = {Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Peritrich Ciliate Epibionts on Pelagic Diatoms: Vorticella oceanica and Pseudovorticella coscinodisci sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Peritrichia).}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {169}, number = {2}, pages = {268-279}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2018.03.003}, pmid = {29655023}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Ciliophora/classification/*genetics ; Diatoms/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Consortia of the peritrich ciliate Vorticella oceanica and the planktonic diatom Chaetoceros coarctactus are reported from the South Atlantic Ocean. The morphologies of the constituent species were similar to their counterparts from other geographical regions, revealing a widespread distribution in tropical waters. Besides, we describe Pseudovorticella coscinodisci sp. nov. that lives on Coscinodiscus wailesii and other pelagic diatoms off Brazil. The zooids were 34-45μm long, and 19-30μm wide with a stalk too short to coil. The cell surface showed a reticulate pellicle with 18-19 and 11-12 rows above and below the aboral ciliary wreath, respectively. In the SSU rDNA phylogeny V. oceanica clustered between the clades of Vorticella and Pseudovorticella/Epicarchesium, and Pseudovorticella coscinodisci sp. nov. clustered as a sister group of Pseudovorticella paracratera and P. sinensis. The V. oceanica-C. coarctactus consortium likely represents an obligate species-specific mutualistic symbiosis as the constituents are not known as free-living forms. In contrast, the diatom hosts are known as free-living forms in the consortia of Pseudovorticella coscinodisci. The new molecular data and species description will be valuable dataset for future research on the diversity and ecological significance of ciliate-diatom epibiotic consortia.}, } @article {pmid29654588, year = {2018}, author = {Deda, O and Gika, HG and Theodoridis, GA}, title = {Rat Fecal Metabolomics-Based Analysis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1738}, number = {}, pages = {149-157}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7643-0_10}, pmid = {29654588}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers/analysis ; Chromatography, Liquid/*methods ; Feces/*chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/*methods ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Fecal metabolomics-based analysis indisputably constitutes a very useful tool for elucidating the biochemistry of digestion and absorption of the gastrointestinal system. Fecal samples represent the most suitable, non-invasive, specimen for the study of the symbiotic relationship between the host and the intestinal microbiota.It is well established that the balance of the intestinal microbiota changes in response to some stimuli, physiological such as gender, age, diet, exercise and pathological such as gastrointestinal and hepatic disease. Fecal samples have been analyzed using the most widespread analytical techniques, namely, NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and LC-MS/MS. Rat fecal sample is a frequently used and particularly useful substrate for metabolomics-based studies in related fields. The complexity and diversity of the nature of fecal samples require careful and skillful handling for the effective quantitative extraction of the metabolites while avoiding their deterioration. Parameters such as the fecal sample weight to extraction solvent volume, the nature and the pH value of the extraction solvent, and the homogenization process are some important factors for the optimal extraction of samples, in order to obtain high-quality metabolic fingerprints, using either untargeted or targeted metabolomics.}, } @article {pmid29654366, year = {2018}, author = {Maillard, F and Didion, M and Fauchery, L and Bach, C and Buée, M}, title = {N-Acetylglucosaminidase activity, a functional trait of chitin degradation, is regulated differentially within two orders of ectomycorrhizal fungi: Boletales and Agaricales.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {391-397}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-018-0833-0}, pmid = {29654366}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Acetylglucosaminidase/*genetics/metabolism ; Agaricales/enzymology/genetics ; Basidiomycota/enzymology/*genetics ; Chitin/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Chitin is one of the most abundant nitrogen-containing polymers in forest soil. Ability of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi to utilize chitin may play a key role in the EM symbiosis nutrition and soil carbon cycle. In forest, EM fungi exhibit high diversity, which could be based on function partitioning and trait complementarity. Although it has long been recognized that closely related species share functional characteristics, the phylogenetic conservatism of functional traits within microorganisms remains unclear. Because extracellular N-acetylglucosaminidase activity has been proposed as functional trait of chitin degradation, we screened this activity on 35 EM fungi species with or without chitin in the growth medium to (i) describe the functional diversity of EM fungi and (ii) identify potential links between this functional trait and EM fungal phylogeny. We observed large variations of the extracellular N-acetylglucosaminidase activities among the fungal strains. Furthermore, our results revealed two regulation patterns of extracellular N-acetylglucosaminidase activities. Indeed, these chitinolytic activities were stimulated or repressed in the presence of chitin, in comparison to the control treatment. These profiles of extracellular N-acetylglucosaminidase stimulation/repression might be conserved at a high phylogenetic level in the Basidiomycota phylum, as illustrated by the opposite patterns of regulation between Boletales and Agaricales. Finally, the downregulation of this activity by chitin, for some EM fungal groups, might suggest another chitin degradation pathway.}, } @article {pmid29653599, year = {2018}, author = {Li, LH and Zhang, Y and Zhu, D}, title = {Effects of antibiotic treatment on the fecundity of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {242}, pmid = {29653599}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {2016YFC1202001 and No.2016YFC1200500//National Key Research and Development Program of China/International ; No. GWIV-29//the fourth round of Three-Year Public Health Action Plan 2015-2017/International ; No.201202019//the Special Fund for Health Research in the Public Interest China/International ; 2017BSQD52//the Scientific Research Foundation for Doctors of Weifang Medical College/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Coxiella/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Fertility/drug effects ; Male ; Microbial Consortia/drug effects/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhipicephalus/*drug effects/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Rickettsia/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endosymbiotic bacteria inhabit a variety of arthropods including ticks and may have multiple effects on the host's survival, reproduction or pathogen acquisition and transmission. Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides is one of the most widely distributed tick species in China. The symbiotic bacteria composition and their impacts to R. haemaphysaloides ticks have not been studied. The present study investigated the composition of microbial community in R. haemaphysaloides ticks and then assessed the effects of endosymbionts on the host's fecundity by antibiotic treatment experiments.

METHODS: The microbial population of female and male R. haemaphysaloides ticks was analyzed using Illumina Miseq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Thirty engorged female ticks were then randomly divided into five groups and injected with ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, tetracycline, or phosphate-buffered solution (PBS), respectively. Effects of antibiotic treatments on maternal oviposition, egg hatching and density of endosymbionts were evaluated.

RESULTS: Illumina Miseq sequencing showed that Coxiella and Rickettsia were the predominant bacterial genera inhabiting R. haemaphysaloides ticks. Antibiotic treatment experiments found that kanamycin reduced the density of Coxiella-like endosymbiont (Coxiella-LE hereafter) in eggs, ciprofloxacin reduced the density of Rickettsia-like endosymbiont (Rickettsia-LE), and tetracycline had effect on both endosymbionts, while ampicillin affected neither. Meanwhile hatching rates of eggs were observed to decrease greatly in the kanamycin or tetracycline-treated group but maintained in the ampicillin or ciprofloxacin-treated group. Furthermore, the reduced hatching rates were found to be associated with density of Coxiella-LE in eggs.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that Coxiella-LE is essential for the reproduction of R. haemaphysaloides ticks, and that kanamycin can be used to study the role of Coxiella-LE on ticks.}, } @article {pmid29653358, year = {2018}, author = {Kong, Z and Li, L and Kurihara, R and Kubota, K and Li, YY}, title = {Anaerobic treatment of N, N-dimethylformamide-containing wastewater by co-culturing two sources of inoculum.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {139}, number = {}, pages = {228-239}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.078}, pmid = {29653358}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Dimethylformamide/*metabolism ; Methane/*metabolism ; Wastewater/microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The complete methanogenic degradation of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was achieved in this study. Initially, DMF was found to be feebly degradable by a lab-scale submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) using normal anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS) even after 120-day's culturing. However, aerobic DMF-degrading activated sludge (AS) was rapidly cultivated in a continuous aeration reactor (CAR). A specially designed anaerobic co-cultured sludge (ACS) made by artificially mixing AS with ADS was successfully domesticated by a long term repeated batch experiment. The results demonstrated that ACS could effectively degrade over 5000 mg L[-1] DMF for methane recovery. The metabolic pathway and stoichiometric equation of DMF methanogenic degradation were also revealed and verified in detail. It was confirmed that under the anaerobic condition, with the help of enzyme, DMF converts into dimethylamine and formic acid, and the intermediates are effectively fermented through methylotrophic/hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Analysis of the microbial community suggested that some facultatively anaerobic bacteria played the key roles in methanogenic degradation due to their DMF-hydrolyzing ability. By co-culturing two sources of inoculum under the anaerobic condition, the symbiosis of facultatively anaerobic DMF-hydrolyzing bacteria and methylotrophic/hydrogenotrophic methanogens makes methanogenic degradation of DMF available. This study also provides a novel sludge cultivation method for anaerobic treatment of degradation-resistant organics.}, } @article {pmid29651249, year = {2018}, author = {Seehafer, K and Brophy, S and Tom, SR and Crook, RJ}, title = {Ontogenetic and Experience-Dependent Changes in Defensive Behavior in Captive-Bred Hawaiian Bobtail Squid, Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {299}, pmid = {29651249}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Cephalopod molluscs are known for their extensive behavioral repertoire and their impressive learning abilities. Their primary defensive behaviors, such as camouflage, have received detailed study, but knowledge is limited to intensive study of relatively few species. A considerable challenge facing cephalopod research is the need to establish new models that can be captive bred, are tractable for range of different experimental procedures, and that will address broad questions in biological research. The Hawaiian Bobtail Squid (Euprymna scolopes) is a small, tropical cephalopod that has a long history of research in the field of microbial symbiosis, but offers great promise as a novel behavioral and neurobiological model. It can be bred in the laboratory through multiple generations, one of the few species of cephalopod that can meet this requirement (which is incorporated in regulations such as EU directive 2010/63/EU). Additionally, laboratory culture makes E. scolopes an ideal model for studying ontogeny- and experience-dependent behaviors. In this study, we show that captive bred juvenile and adult E. scolopes produce robust, repeatable defensive behaviors when placed in an exposed environment and presented with a visual threat. Further, adult and juvenile squid employ different innate defensive behaviors when presented with a size-matched model predator. When a 10-min training procedure was repeated over three consecutive days, defensive behaviors habituated in juvenile squid for at least 5 days after training, but memory did not appear to persist for 14 days. In contrast, adult squid did not show any evidence of long-term habituation memory. Thus we conclude that this species produces a range of quantifiable, modifiable behaviors even in a laboratory environment where ecologically-relevant, complex behavioral sequences may not reliably occur. We suggest that the lack of long-term memory in adult squid may be related to their less escalated initial response to the mimic, and thus indicates less motivation to retain memory and not necessary inability to form memory. This is the first demonstration of age-related differences in defensive behaviors in Euprymna, and the first record of habituation in this experimentally tractable genus of squid.}, } @article {pmid29650460, year = {2018}, author = {Allemand, D and Furla, P}, title = {How does an animal behave like a plant? Physiological and molecular adaptations of zooxanthellae and their hosts to symbiosis.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {341}, number = {5}, pages = {276-280}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2018.03.007}, pmid = {29650460}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Sea Anemones/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cnidarians (corals and sea anemones) harbouring photosynthetic microalgae derive several benefits from their association. To allow this association, numerous symbiotic-dependent adaptations in both partners, resulting from evolutionary pressures, have been selected. The dinoflagellate symbionts (zooxanthellae) are located inside a vesicle in the cnidarian host cell and are therefore exposed to a very different environment compared to the free-living state of these microalgae in terms of ion concentration and carbon content and speciation. In addition, this intracellular localization imposes that they rely completely upon the host for their nutrient supply (nitrogen, CO2). Symbiotic-dependent adaptations imposed to the animal host by phototrophic symbiosis are more relevant to photosynthetic organisms than to metazoans: indeed, the cnidarian host often harbours diurnal changes of morphology to adapt itself to the amount of light and possesses carbon-concentrating mechanisms, antioxidative defences and UV sunscreens similar to that present in phototrophs. These adaptations and the contrasting fragility of the association are discussed from both ecological and evolutionary points of view.}, } @article {pmid29649962, year = {2018}, author = {Miura, C and Yamaguchi, K and Miyahara, R and Yamamoto, T and Fuji, M and Yagame, T and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Yamato, M and Shigenobu, S and Kaminaka, H}, title = {The Mycoheterotrophic Symbiosis Between Orchids and Mycorrhizal Fungi Possesses Major Components Shared with Mutualistic Plant-Mycorrhizal Symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {1032-1047}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-18-0029-R}, pmid = {29649962}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Genome, Fungal ; Germination/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Achlorophylous and early developmental stages of chorolophylous orchids are highly dependent on carbon and other nutrients provided by mycorrhizal fungi, in a nutritional mode termed mycoheterotrophy. Previous findings have implied that some common properties at least partially underlie the mycorrhizal symbioses of mycoheterotrophic orchids and that of autotrophic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants; however, information about the molecular mechanisms of the relationship between orchids and their mycorrhizal fungi is limited. In this study, we characterized the molecular basis of an orchid-mycorrhizal (OM) symbiosis by analyzing the transcriptome of Bletilla striata at an early developmental stage associated with the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella sp. The essential components required for the establishment of mutual symbioses with AM fungi or rhizobia in most terrestrial plants were identified from the B. striata gene set. A cross-species gene complementation analysis showed one of the component genes, calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase gene CCaMK in B. striata, retains functional characteristics of that in AM plants. The expression analysis revealed the activation of homologs of AM-related genes during the OM symbiosis. Our results suggest that orchids possess, at least partly, the molecular mechanisms common to AM plants.}, } @article {pmid29644346, year = {2018}, author = {Itoh, H and Tago, K and Hayatsu, M and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Detoxifying symbiosis: microbe-mediated detoxification of phytotoxins and pesticides in insects.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {434-454}, doi = {10.1039/c7np00051k}, pmid = {29644346}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Enzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Inactivation, Metabolic/genetics ; Insecta/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Isothiocyanates/pharmacokinetics ; Oxalates/pharmacokinetics ; Pesticides/*pharmacokinetics ; Phenols/pharmacokinetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; Terpenes/pharmacokinetics ; Toxins, Biological/*pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {Covering: up to 2018 Insects live in a world full of toxic compounds such as plant toxins and manmade pesticides. To overcome the effects of these toxins, herbivorous insects have evolved diverse, elaborate mechanisms of resistance, such as toxin avoidance, target-site alteration, and detoxification. These resistance mechanisms are thought to be encoded by the insects' own genomes, and in many cases, this holds true. However, recent omics analyses, in conjunction with classic culture-dependent analyses, have revealed that a number of insects possess specific gut microorganisms, some of which significantly contribute to resistance against phytotoxins and pesticides by degrading such chemical compounds. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding on the symbiont-mediated degradation of natural and artificial toxins, with a special emphasis on their underlying genetic basis, focus on the importance of environmental microbiota as a resource of toxin-degrading microorganisms, and discuss the ecological and evolutionary significance of these symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid29642965, year = {2018}, author = {Husnik, F}, title = {Host-symbiont-pathogen interactions in blood-feeding parasites: nutrition, immune cross-talk and gene exchange.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {145}, number = {10}, pages = {1294-1303}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182018000574}, pmid = {29642965}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*genetics/microbiology ; Blood ; Feeding Behavior ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/*immunology ; Microbiota ; Nematoda/genetics/microbiology ; Parasites/*genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals are common hosts of mutualistic, commensal and pathogenic microorganisms. Blood-feeding parasites feed on a diet that is nutritionally unbalanced and thus often rely on symbionts to supplement essential nutrients. However, they are also of medical importance as they can be infected by pathogens such as bacteria, protists or viruses that take advantage of the blood-feeding nutritional strategy for own transmission. Since blood-feeding evolved multiple times independently in diverse animals, it showcases a gradient of host-microbe interactions. While some parasitic lineages are possibly asymbiotic and manage to supplement their diet from other food sources, other lineages are either loosely associated with extracellular gut symbionts or harbour intracellular obligate symbionts that are essential for the host development and reproduction. What is perhaps even more diverse are the pathogenic lineages that infect blood-feeding parasites. This microbial diversity not only puts the host into a complicated situation - distinguishing between microorganisms that can greatly decrease or increase its fitness - but also increases opportunity for horizontal gene transfer to occur in this environment. In this review, I first introduce this diversity of mutualistic and pathogenic microorganisms associated with blood-feeding animals and then focus on patterns in their interactions, particularly nutrition, immune cross-talk and gene exchange.}, } @article {pmid29642886, year = {2018}, author = {Schneijderberg, M and Schmitz, L and Cheng, X and Polman, S and Franken, C and Geurts, R and Bisseling, T}, title = {A genetically and functionally diverse group of non-diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium spp. colonizes the root endophytic compartment of Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {61}, pmid = {29642886}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {3100000843//European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium spp. are well known for their ability to trigger nodule formation on a variety of legume species. In nodules, Bradyrhizobium utilizes plant-derived carbohydrates in exchange for fixed nitrogen. The genes essential for the nodulation and nitrogen-fixation trait are clustered in a genomic region, which is known as the 'symbiotic island'. Recently, novel non-diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium spp. have been found to be highly abundant in soils, suggesting that these species can also have a 'free-living' life history. However, whether non-diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium spp. can live in association with plants remains elusive.

RESULTS: In this study, we show that Bradyrhizobium spp. are common root endophytes of non-legume plant species - including Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) - grown in an ecological setting. From a single Arabidopsis root, four Bradyrhizobium sp. strains (designated MOS001 to MOS004) were isolated. Comparative genome analysis revealed that these strains were genetically and functionally highly diverse, but did not harbour the nodulation and the nitrogen fixation gene clusters. Comparative colonization experiments, with MOS strains and nitrogen-fixing symbiotic strains, revealed that all tested Bradyrhizobium spp. can colonize the root endophytic compartment of Arabidopsis.

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that both diazotrophic and non-diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium spp. colonize the root endophytic compartment of a wide variety of plant species, including the model species Arabidopsis. This demonstrates that plant roots form a major ecological niche for Bradyrhizobium spp., which might be ancestral to the evolution of the nodulation and nitrogen-fixation trait in this genus.}, } @article {pmid29642523, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, H and Zhao, Z and Chen, J and Bai, X and Wang, H}, title = {Tricycloalternarene Analogs from a Symbiotic Fungus Aspergillus sp. D and Their Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Effects.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29642523}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {A549 Cells ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Aspergillus/*chemistry/physiology ; Candida albicans/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods ; Malvales/physiology ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Molecular Structure ; Symbiosis ; Terpenes/*chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract of fermentation broth of one symbiotic strain Aspergillus sp. D from the coastal plant Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl. led to isolation of one new meroterpenoid, tricycloalternarene 14b (1), together with four known analogs (2-5), tricycloalternarenes 2b (2), 3a (3), 3b (4), and ACTG-toxin F (5). Their chemical structures were unambiguously established on the basis of NMR, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation data analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data. Biological assays indicated that compound 2 exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxicity against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line with an IC50 value of 2.91 μM, and compound 5 had a moderate inhibitory effect on Candida albicans, with an MIC value of 15.63 μM. The results indicated that this symbiotic strain D is an important producer of tricycloalternarene derivatives, with potential therapeutic application in treatment of cancer and pathogen infection.}, } @article {pmid29641577, year = {2018}, author = {Minard, G and Tran, FH and Tran Van, V and Fournier, C and Potier, P and Roiz, D and Mavingui, P and Valiente Moro, C}, title = {Shared larval rearing environment, sex, female size and genetic diversity shape Ae. albopictus bacterial microbiota.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0194521}, pmid = {29641577}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aedes/*genetics/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Crosses, Genetic ; DNA, Intergenic ; Environment ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Intestines/microbiology/physiology ; Larva/*physiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus became of public health concern as it can replicate and transmit viral and filarial pathogens with a strong invasive success over the world. Various strategies have been proposed to reduce mosquito population's vectorial capacity. Among them, symbiotic control of mosquito borne disease offers promising perspectives. Such method is likely to be affected by the dynamics of mosquito-associated symbiotic communities, which might in turn be affected by host genotype and environment. Our previous study suggested a correlation between mosquitoes' origin, genetic diversity and midgut bacterial diversity. To distinguish the impact of those factors, we have been studying the midgut bacterial microbiota of two Ae. albopictus populations from tropical (La Réunion) and temperate (Montpellier) origins under controlled laboratory conditions. the two populations experienced random mating or genetic bottleneck. Microbiota composition did not highlight any variation of the α and β-diversities in bacterial communities related to host's populations. However, sizes of the mosquitoes were negatively correlated with the bacterial α-diversity of females. Variations in mosquito sex were associated with a shift in the composition of bacterial microbiota. The females' mosquitoes also exhibited changes in the microbiota composition according to their size and after experiencing a reduction of their genetic diversity. These results provide a framework to investigate the impact of population dynamics on the symbiotic communities associated with the tiger mosquito.}, } @article {pmid29641570, year = {2018}, author = {Yooyangket, T and Muangpat, P and Polseela, R and Tandhavanant, S and Thanwisai, A and Vitta, A}, title = {Identification of entomopathogenic nematodes and symbiotic bacteria from Nam Nao National Park in Thailand and larvicidal activity of symbiotic bacteria against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0195681}, pmid = {29641570}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Animals ; Larva/*microbiology/parasitology ; Nematoda/*physiology ; Parks, Recreational ; Photorhabdus/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Soil/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Thailand ; Xenorhabdus/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) that are symbiotically associated with Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria can kill target insects via direct infection and toxin action. There are limited reports identifying such organisms in the National Park of Thailand. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify EPNs and symbiotic bacteria from Nam Nao National Park, Phetchabun Province, Thailand and to evaluate the larvicidal activity of bacteria against Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. A total of 12 EPN isolates belonging to Steinernema and Heterorhabditis were obtained form 940 soil samples between February 2014 and July 2016. EPNs were molecularly identified as S. websteri (10 isolates) and H. baujardi (2 isolates). Symbiotic bacteria were isolated from EPNs and molecularly identified as P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (13 isolates), X. stockiae (11 isolates), X. vietnamensis (2 isolates) and X. japonica (1 isolate). For the bioassay, bacterial suspensions were evaluated for toxicity against third to early fourth instar larvae of Aedes spp. The larvae of both Aedes species were orally susceptible to symbiotic bacteria. The highest larval mortality of Ae. aegypti was 99% after exposure to X. stockiae (bNN112.3_TH) at 96 h, and the highest mortality of Ae. albopictus was 98% after exposure to P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii (bNN121.4_TH) at 96 h. In contrast to the control groups (Escherichia coli and distilled water), the mortality rate of both mosquito larvae ranged between 0 and 7% at 72 h. Here, we report the first observation of X. vietnamensis in Thailand. Additionally, we report the first observation of P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii associated with H. baujardi in Thailand. X. stockiae has potential to be a biocontrol agent for mosquitoes. This investigation provides a survey of the basic diversity of EPNs and symbiotic bacteria in the National Park of Thailand, and it is a bacterial resource for further studies of bioactive compounds.}, } @article {pmid29637293, year = {2018}, author = {Cai, L and Zhou, G and Tong, H and Tian, RM and Zhang, W and Ding, W and Liu, S and Huang, H and Qian, PY}, title = {Season structures prokaryotic partners but not algal symbionts in subtropical hard corals.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {11}, pages = {4963-4973}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-8909-5}, pmid = {29637293}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; Hong Kong ; *Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems have great economic, social, and ecological value. The ecological success of coral reef ecosystems critically depends on coral-algal symbiosis and coral-prokaryotic partnership. However, seasonal changes underlying these relationships in subtropical hard corals of Hong Kong are poorly studied. Here, we compared the community changes of algal symbionts and prokaryotic partners in Platygyra carnosa and Galaxea fascicularis from Hong Kong collected at two seasonal time points of winter and summer via massively parallel sequencing of genetic markers and multivariate analysis. The results indicated that algal symbionts showed no significant changes between the two seasonal time points but prokaryotic partners changed substantially. Prokaryotic partners putatively involved in photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and sulfur oxidation increased significantly from winter to summer, while prokaryotic partners potentially associated with chemosynthesis, ammonia oxidation, and nitrite oxidation decreased significantly from winter to summer. Dissolved oxygen and pH served as the main contributors influencing prokaryotic partners in winter, while temperature, turbidity, and salinity played a dominant role in shaping prokaryotic partners in summer. The findings of the present study suggest that season structures prokaryotic partners but not algal symbionts in subtropical hard corals.}, } @article {pmid29636736, year = {2018}, author = {Paniagua Voirol, LR and Frago, E and Kaltenpoth, M and Hilker, M and Fatouros, NE}, title = {Bacterial Symbionts in Lepidoptera: Their Diversity, Transmission, and Impact on the Host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {556}, pmid = {29636736}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The insect's microbiota is well acknowledged as a "hidden" player influencing essential insect traits. The gut microbiome of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) has been shown to be highly variable between and within species, resulting in a controversy on the functional relevance of gut microbes in this insect order. Here, we aim to (i) review current knowledge on the composition of gut microbial communities across Lepidoptera and (ii) elucidate the drivers of the variability in the lepidopteran gut microbiome and provide an overview on (iii) routes of transfer and (iv) the putative functions of microbes in Lepidoptera. To find out whether Lepidopterans possess a core gut microbiome, we compared studies of the microbiome from 30 lepidopteran species. Gut bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae families were the most widespread across species, with Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, and Enterococcus being the most common genera. Several studies indicate that habitat, food plant, and age of the host insect can greatly impact the gut microbiome, which contributes to digestion, detoxification, or defense against natural enemies. We mainly focus on the gut microbiome, but we also include some examples of intracellular endosymbionts. These symbionts are present across a broad range of insect taxa and are known to exert different effects on their host, mostly including nutrition and reproductive manipulation. Only two intracellular bacteria genera (Wolbachia and Spiroplasma) have been reported to colonize reproductive tissues of Lepidoptera, affecting their host's reproduction. We explore routes of transmission of both gut microbiota and intracellular symbionts and have found that these microbes may be horizontally transmitted through the host plant, but also vertically via the egg stage. More detailed knowledge about the functions and plasticity of the microbiome in Lepidoptera may provide novel leads for the control of lepidopteran pest species.}, } @article {pmid29636503, year = {2018}, author = {Shrivastava, N and Jiang, L and Li, P and Sharma, AK and Luo, X and Wu, S and Pandey, R and Gao, Q and Lou, B}, title = {Proteomic approach to understand the molecular physiology of symbiotic interaction between Piriformospora indica and Brassica napus.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {5773}, pmid = {29636503}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Brassica napus/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Proteomics ; *Signal Transduction ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Many studies have been now focused on the promising approach of fungal endophytes to protect the plant from nutrient deficiency and environmental stresses along with better development and productivity. Quantitative and qualitative protein characteristics are regulated at genomic, transcriptomic, and posttranscriptional levels. Here, we used integrated in-depth proteome analyses to characterize the relationship between endophyte Piriformospora indica and Brassica napus plant highlighting its potential involvement in symbiosis and overall growth and development of the plant. An LC-MS/MS based label-free quantitative technique was used to evaluate the differential proteomics under P. indica treatment vs. control plants. In this study, 8,123 proteins were assessed, of which 46 showed significant abundance (34 downregulated and 12 upregulated) under high confidence conditions (p-value ≤ 0.05, fold change ≥2, confidence level 95%). Mapping of identified differentially expressed proteins with bioinformatics tools such as GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed significant enrichment of gene sets involves in metabolic processes, symbiotic signaling, stress/defense responses, energy production, nutrient acquisition, biosynthesis of essential metabolites. These proteins are responsible for root's architectural modification, cell remodeling, and cellular homeostasis during the symbiotic growth phase of plant's life. We tried to enhance our knowledge that how the biological pathways modulate during symbiosis?}, } @article {pmid29636388, year = {2018}, author = {Wright, GSA and Saeki, A and Hikima, T and Nishizono, Y and Hisano, T and Kamaya, M and Nukina, K and Nishitani, H and Nakamura, H and Yamamoto, M and Antonyuk, SV and Hasnain, SS and Shiro, Y and Sawai, H}, title = {Architecture of the complete oxygen-sensing FixL-FixJ two-component signal transduction system.}, journal = {Science signaling}, volume = {11}, number = {525}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/scisignal.aaq0825}, pmid = {29636388}, issn = {1937-9145}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hemeproteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Histidine Kinase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding ; Protein Domains ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum is critical to the agro-industrial production of soybean because it enables the production of high yields of soybeans with little use of nitrogenous fertilizers. The FixL and FixJ two-component system (TCS) of this bacterium ensures that nitrogen fixation is only stimulated under conditions of low oxygen. When it is not bound to oxygen, the histidine kinase FixL undergoes autophosphorylation and transfers phosphate from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the response regulator FixJ, which, in turn, stimulates the expression of genes required for nitrogen fixation. We purified full-length B. japonicum FixL and FixJ proteins and defined their structures individually and in complex using small-angle x-ray scattering, crystallographic, and in silico modeling techniques. Comparison of active and inactive forms of FixL suggests that intramolecular signal transduction is driven by local changes in the sensor domain and in the coiled-coil region connecting the sensor and histidine kinase domains. We also found that FixJ exhibits conformational plasticity not only in the monomeric state but also in tetrameric complexes with FixL during phosphotransfer. This structural characterization of a complete TCS contributes both a mechanistic and evolutionary understanding to TCS signal relay, specifically in the context of the control of nitrogen fixation in root nodules.}, } @article {pmid29635308, year = {2018}, author = {Takahashi, I and Asami, T}, title = {Target-based selectivity of strigolactone agonists and antagonists in plants and their potential use in agriculture.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2241-2254}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ery126}, pmid = {29635308}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Crops, Agricultural/*drug effects/growth & development ; Lactones/agonists/antagonists & inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Plant Development/*drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/agonists/antagonists & inhibitors/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are small carotenoid-derived molecules that possess a wide spectrum of functions, including plant hormonal activities and chemical mediation of rhizosphere communication with both root parasitic plants and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Chemicals that regulate the functions of SLs may therefore have the potential to become widely used in agricultural applications. For example, various SL analogs and mimics have been developed to reduce the seed banks of root parasites in the field. Other analogs and mimics act selectively to suppress branching, with weak, or no stimulation, of germination in root parasites. In addition, some antagonists for SL receptors have been developed based on the mechanisms of SL perception. A better understanding of the modes of action of SL perception by various receptors will help to support the design of SL analogs, mimics, and antagonists with high activity and selectivity. Here, we review the compounds reported so far from the viewpoint of their selectivity to their targets, and the possibilities for their use in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid29634950, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, J and Duran, A and Reina-Campos, M and Valencia, T and Castilla, EA and Müller, TD and Tschöp, MH and Moscat, J and Diaz-Meco, MT}, title = {Adipocyte p62/SQSTM1 Suppresses Tumorigenesis through Opposite Regulations of Metabolism in Adipose Tissue and Tumor.}, journal = {Cancer cell}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {770-784.e6}, pmid = {29634950}, issn = {1878-3686}, support = {R01 DK108743/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA192642/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA218254/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA211794/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA030199/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/metabolism ; Animals ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/*metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Obesity/*complications/genetics/metabolism ; Osteopontin/*metabolism ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequestosome-1 Protein/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Obesity is a leading risk factor for cancer. However, understanding the crosstalk between adipocytes and tumor cells in vivo, independently of dietary contributions, is a major gap in the field. Here we used a prostate cancer (PCa) mouse model in which the signaling adaptor p62/Sqstm1 is selectively inactivated in adipocytes. p62 loss in adipocytes results in increased osteopontin secretion, which mediates tumor fatty acid oxidation and invasion, leading to aggressive metastatic PCa in vivo. Furthermore, p62 deficiency triggers in adipocytes a general shutdown of energy-utilizing pathways through mTORC1 inhibition, which supports nutrient availability for cancer cells. This reveals a central role of adipocyte's p62 in the symbiotic adipose tissue-tumor collaboration that enables cancer metabolic fitness.}, } @article {pmid29633965, year = {2018}, author = {Asojo, OA and Subramanian, S and Abendroth, J and Exley, I and Lorimer, DD and Edwards, TE and Myler, PJ}, title = {Crystal structure of chorismate mutase from Burkholderia phymatum.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology communications}, volume = {74}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {187-192}, pmid = {29633965}, issn = {2053-230X}, support = {HHSN272200700057C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN272201200025C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Burkholderiaceae/*enzymology ; Catalytic Domain ; Chorismate Mutase/*chemistry ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Burkholderia phymatum is a promiscuous symbiotic nitrogen-fixating bacterium that belongs to one of the largest groups of Betaproteobacteria. Other Burkholderia species are known to cause disease in plants and animals, and some are potential agents for biological warfare. Structural genomics efforts include characterizing the structures of enzymes from pathways that can be targeted for drug development. As part of these efforts, chorismate mutase from B. phymatum was produced and crystallized, and a 1.95 Å resolution structure is reported. This enzyme shares less than 33% sequence identity with other homologs of known structure. There are two classes of chorismate mutase: AroQ and AroH. The bacterial subclass AroQγ has reported roles in virulence. Chorismate mutase from B. phymatum has the prototypical AroQγ topology and retains the characteristic chorismate mutase active site. This suggests that substrate-based chorismate mutase inhibitors will not be specific and are likely to affect beneficial bacteria such as B. phymatum.}, } @article {pmid29633524, year = {2018}, author = {Kopycińska, M and Lipa, P and Cieśla, J and Kozieł, M and Janczarek, M}, title = {Extracellular polysaccharide protects Rhizobium leguminosarum cells against zinc stress in vitro and during symbiosis with clover.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {355-368}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12646}, pmid = {29633524}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Mutation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*growth & development ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil bacterium that establishes symbiosis with clover (Trifolium spp.) under nitrogen-limited conditions. This microorganism produces exopolysaccharide (EPS), which plays an important role in symbiotic interactions with the host plant. The aim of the current study was to establish the role of EPS in the response of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii cells, free-living and during symbiosis, to zinc stress. We show that EPS-deficient mutants were more sensitive to Zn[2+] exposure than EPS-producing strains, and that EPS overexpression conferred some protection onto the strains beyond that observed in the wild type. Exposure of the bacteria to Zn[2+] ions stimulated EPS and biofilm production, and increased cell hydrophobicity. However, zinc stress negatively affected the motility and attachment of bacteria to clover roots, as well as the symbiosis with the host plant. In the presence of Zn[2+] ions, cell viability, root attachment, biofilm formation and symbiotic efficiency of EPS-overproducing strains were significantly higher than those of the EPS-deficient mutants. We conclude that EPS plays an important role in the adaptation of rhizobia to zinc stress, in both the free-living stage and during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29632495, year = {2018}, author = {Koh, CZY and Hiong, KC and Choo, CYL and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Neo, ML and Ip, YK}, title = {Molecular Characterization of a Dual Domain Carbonic Anhydrase From the Ctenidium of the Giant Clam, Tridacna squamosa, and Its Expression Levels After Light Exposure, Cellular Localization, and Possible Role in the Uptake of Exogenous Inorganic Carbon.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {281}, pmid = {29632495}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {A Dual-Domain Carbonic Anhydrase (DDCA) had been sequenced and characterized from the ctenidia (gills) of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, which lives in symbiosis with zooxanthellae. DDCA was expressed predominantly in the ctenidium. The complete cDNA coding sequence of DDCA from T. squamosa comprised 1,803 bp, encoding a protein of 601 amino acids and 66.7 kDa. The deduced DDCA sequence contained two distinct α-CA domains, each with a specific catalytic site. It had a high sequence similarity with tgCA from Tridacna gigas. In T. squamosa, the DDCA was localized apically in certain epithelial cells near the base of the ctenidial filament and the epithelial cells surrounding the tertiary water channels. Due to the presence of two transmembrane regions in the DDCA, one of the Zn[2+]-containing active sites could be located externally and the other one inside the cell. These results denote that the ctenidial DDCA was positioned to dehydrate [Formula: see text] to CO2 in seawater, and to hydrate the CO2 that had permeated the apical membrane back to [Formula: see text] in the cytoplasm. During insolation, the host clam needs to increase the uptake of inorganic carbon from the ambient seawater to benefit the symbiotic zooxanthellae; only then, can the symbionts conduct photosynthesis and share the photosynthates with the host. Indeed, the transcript and protein levels of DDCA/DDCA in the ctenidium of T. squamosa increased significantly after 6 and 12 h of exposure to light, respectively, denoting that DDCA could participate in the light-enhanced uptake and assimilation of exogenous inorganic carbon.}, } @article {pmid29632416, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, J and Xu, Y and Cao, T and Chen, J and Rosen, BP and Zhao, FJ}, title = {Arsenic methylation by a genetically engineered Rhizobium-legume symbiont.}, journal = {Plant and soil}, volume = {416}, number = {1-2}, pages = {259-269}, pmid = {29632416}, issn = {0032-079X}, support = {R01 GM055425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 GM055425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arsenic (As) is one of the most widespread environmental contaminants. The aim of our study was to test a novel bioremediation system based on the symbiosis between leguminous plant and genetically engineered rhizobia.

METHODS: The arsenite [As(III)] S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase gene (CrarsM) from the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was inserted into the chromosome of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain R3. The As methylation ability of the recombinant Rhizobium was tested under free living conditions and in symbiosis with red clover plants. Arsenic speciation was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: Under free-living conditions, CrarsM-recombinant R. leguminosarum gained the ability to methylate As(III) to methylated arsenicals, including methylarsenate [MAs(V)], dimethylarsenate [DMAs(V)] and trimethylarsine oxide [TMAs(V)O]. Red clover plants were inoculated with either control (non-recombinant) or CrarsM-recombinant R. leguminosarum and exposed to 5 or 10 μM arsenite. No methylated As species were detected in red clover plants inoculated with control R. leguminosarum. In contrast, all three methylated species were detected in both the nodules and the shoots when the recombinant Rhizobium established symbiosis with red clover, accounting for 74.7-75.1% and 29.1-42.4% of the total As in the two plant tissues, respectively. The recombinant symbiont also volatilized small amounts of As.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that engineered rhizobia expressing an algal arsM gene can methylate and volatilize As, providing a proof of concept for potential future use of legume-rhizobia symbionts for As bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid29632193, year = {2018}, author = {Ranger, CM and Biedermann, PHW and Phuntumart, V and Beligala, GU and Ghosh, S and Palmquist, DE and Mueller, R and Barnett, J and Schultz, PB and Reding, ME and Benz, JP}, title = {Symbiont selection via alcohol benefits fungus farming by ambrosia beetles.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {17}, pages = {4447-4452}, pmid = {29632193}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aspergillus/*physiology ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Ethanol/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Animal-microbe mutualisms are typically maintained by vertical symbiont transmission or partner choice. A third mechanism, screening of high-quality symbionts, has been predicted in theory, but empirical examples are rare. Here we demonstrate that ambrosia beetles rely on ethanol within host trees for promoting gardens of their fungal symbiont and producing offspring. Ethanol has long been known as the main attractant for many of these fungus-farming beetles as they select host trees in which they excavate tunnels and cultivate fungal gardens. More than 300 attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other species were triggered by baiting trees with ethanol lures, but none of the foundresses established fungal gardens or produced broods unless tree tissues contained in vivo ethanol resulting from irrigation with ethanol solutions. More X. germanus brood were also produced in a rearing substrate containing ethanol. These benefits are a result of increased food supply via the positive effects of ethanol on food-fungus biomass. Selected Ambrosiella and Raffaelea fungal isolates from ethanol-responsive ambrosia beetles profited directly and indirectly by (i) a higher biomass on medium containing ethanol, (ii) strong alcohol dehydrogenase enzymatic activity, and (iii) a competitive advantage over weedy fungal garden competitors (Aspergillus, Penicillium) that are inhibited by ethanol. As ambrosia fungi both detoxify and produce ethanol, they may maintain the selectivity of their alcohol-rich habitat for their own purpose and that of other ethanol-resistant/producing microbes. This resembles biological screening of beneficial symbionts and a potentially widespread, unstudied benefit of alcohol-producing symbionts (e.g., yeasts) in other microbial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29632097, year = {2018}, author = {Arnold, MFF and Penterman, J and Shabab, M and Chen, EJ and Walker, GC}, title = {Important Late-Stage Symbiotic Role of the Sinorhizobium meliloti Exopolysaccharide Succinoglycan.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {29632097}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {P30 ES002109/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti enters into beneficial symbiotic interactions with Medicago species of legumes. Bacterial exopolysaccharides play critical signaling roles in infection thread initiation and growth during the early stages of root nodule formation. After endocytosis of S. meliloti by plant cells in the developing nodule, plant-derived nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides mediate terminal differentiation of the bacteria into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Previous transcriptional studies showed that the intensively studied cationic peptide NCR247 induces expression of the exo genes that encode the proteins required for succinoglycan biosynthesis. In addition, genetic studies have shown that some exo mutants exhibit increased sensitivity to the antimicrobial action of NCR247. Therefore, we investigated whether the symbiotically active S. meliloti exopolysaccharide succinoglycan can protect S. meliloti against the antimicrobial activity of NCR247. We discovered that high-molecular-weight forms of succinoglycan have the ability to protect S. meliloti from the antimicrobial action of the NCR247 peptide but low-molecular-weight forms of wild-type succinoglycan do not. The protective function of high-molecular-weight succinoglycan occurs via direct molecular interactions between anionic succinoglycan and the cationic NCR247 peptide, but this interaction is not chiral. Taken together, our observations suggest that S. meliloti exopolysaccharides not only may be critical during early stages of nodule invasion but also are upregulated at a late stage of symbiosis to protect bacteria against the bactericidal action of cationic NCR peptides. Our findings represent an important step forward in fully understanding the complete set of exopolysaccharide functions during legume symbiosis.IMPORTANCE Symbiotic interactions between rhizobia and legumes are economically important for global food production. The legume symbiosis also is a major part of the global nitrogen cycle and is an ideal model system to study host-microbe interactions. Signaling between legumes and rhizobia is essential to establish symbiosis, and understanding these signals is a major goal in the field. Exopolysaccharides are important in the symbiotic context because they are essential signaling molecules during early-stage symbiosis. In this study, we provide evidence suggesting that the Sinorhizobium meliloti exopolysaccharide succinoglycan also protects the bacteria against the antimicrobial action of essential late-stage symbiosis plant peptides.}, } @article {pmid29629412, year = {2018}, author = {Raina, JB}, title = {The Life Aquatic at the Microscale.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29629412}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {There are more than one million microbial cells in every drop of seawater, and their collective metabolisms not only recycle nutrients that can then be used by larger organisms but also catalyze key chemical transformations that maintain Earth's habitability. Understanding how these microbes interact with each other and with multicellular hosts is critical to reliably quantify any functional aspect of their metabolisms and to predict their outcomes on larger scales. Following a large body of literature pioneered by Farooq Azam and colleagues more than 30 years ago, I emphasize the importance of studying microbial interactions at the appropriate scale if we want to fully decipher the roles that they play in oceanic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29629338, year = {2018}, author = {Morrot, A and da Fonseca, LM and Salustiano, EJ and Gentile, LB and Conde, L and Filardy, AA and Franklim, TN and da Costa, KM and Freire-de-Lima, CG and Freire-de-Lima, L}, title = {Metabolic Symbiosis and Immunomodulation: How Tumor Cell-Derived Lactate May Disturb Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {81}, pmid = {29629338}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed by cellular and non-cellular components. Examples include the following: (i) bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells, (ii) fibroblasts, (iii) blood vessels, (iv) immune cells, and (v) extracellular matrix components. In most cases, this combination of components may result in an inhospitable environment, in which a significant retrenchment in nutrients and oxygen considerably disturbs cell metabolism. Cancer cells are characterized by an enhanced uptake and utilization of glucose, a phenomenon described by Otto Warburg over 90 years ago. One of the main products of this reprogrammed cell metabolism is lactate. "Lactagenic" or lactate-producing cancer cells are characterized by their immunomodulatory properties, since lactate, the end product of the aerobic glycolysis, besides acting as an inducer of cellular signaling phenomena to influence cellular fate, might also play a role as an immunosuppressive metabolite. Over the last 10 years, it has been well accepted that in the TME, the lactate secreted by transformed cells is able to compromise the function and/or assembly of an effective immune response against tumors. Herein, we will discuss recent advances regarding the deleterious effect of high concentrations of lactate on the tumor-infiltrating immune cells, which might characterize an innovative way of understanding the tumor-immune privilege.}, } @article {pmid29629242, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, Z and Luo, L and Tan, X and Kong, X and Yang, J and Wang, D and Zhang, D and Jin, D and Liu, Y}, title = {Pumpkin powdery mildew disease severity influences the fungal diversity of the phyllosphere.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4559}, pmid = {29629242}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Phyllosphere microbiota play a crucial role in plant-environment interactions and their microbial community and function are influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. However, there is little research on how pathogens affect the microbial community of phyllosphere fungi. In this study, we collected 16 pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) leaf samples which exhibited powdery mildew disease, with a severity ranging from L1 (least severe) to L4 (most severe). The fungal community structure and diversity was examined by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA genes. The results showed that the fungal communities were dominated by members of the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. The Podosphaera was the most dominant genus on these infected leaves, which was the key pathogen responsible for the pumpkin powdery mildew. The abundance of Ascomycota and Podosphaera increased as disease severity increased from L1 to L4, and was significantly higher at disease severity L4 (P < 0.05). The richness and diversity of the fungal community increased from L1 to L2, and then declined from L2 to L4, likely due to the biotic pressure (i.e., symbiotic and competitive stresses among microbial species) at disease severity L4. Our results could give new perspectives on the changes of the leaf microbiome at different pumpkin powdery mildew disease severity.}, } @article {pmid29628227, year = {2018}, author = {Ramamoorthy, S and Gnanakan, A and S Lakshmana, S and Meivelu, M and Jeganathan, A}, title = {Structural characterization and anticancer activity of extracellular polysaccharides from ascidian symbiotic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {190}, number = {}, pages = {113-120}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.02.047}, pmid = {29628227}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; Bacillus thuringiensis/*cytology/physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Extracellular Space/*chemistry ; Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry/pharmacology ; Humans ; Monosaccharides/analysis ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; Vero Cells ; }, abstract = {In the present study, extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) producing bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis RSK CAS4 was isolated from ascidian Didemnum granulatum and its production was optimized by response surface methodology. Fructose and galactose were found as the major monosaccharides in the EPS from the strain RSK CAS4. Functional groups and structural characteristics of the EPS were characterized with FT-IR and [1]HNMR. The purified EPS showed potent antioxidant properties in investigation against DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide free radicals. In vitro anticancer activity of purified EPS was evaluated on HEp-2 cells, A549 and Vero cell lines. Growth of cancer cells was inhibited by the EPS in a dose-dependent manner and maximum anticancer activity was found to be 76% against liver cancer at 1000 μg/ml. The antioxidant and anticancer potentials of theEPS from marine bacterium Bacillusthuringiensis RSK CAS4 suggests it as a potential natural source and its scopeas an alternative to synthetics for pharmaceutical application.}, } @article {pmid29627853, year = {2018}, author = {Liang, X and Sun, C and Chen, B and Du, K and Yu, T and Luang-In, V and Lu, X and Shao, Y}, title = {Insect symbionts as valuable grist for the biotechnological mill: an alkaliphilic silkworm gut bacterium for efficient lactic acid production.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {11}, pages = {4951-4962}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-8953-1}, pmid = {29627853}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Bombyx/*microbiology ; Enterococcus/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; Lactic Acid/*biosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects constitute the most abundant and diverse animal class and act as hosts to an extraordinary variety of symbiotic microorganisms. These microbes living inside the insects play critical roles in host biology and are also valuable bioresources. Enterococcus mundtii EMB156, isolated from the larval gut (gut pH >10) of the model organism Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), efficiently produces lactic acid, an important metabolite for industrial production of bioplastic materials. E. mundtii EMB156 grows well under alkaline conditions and stably converts various carbon sources into lactic acid, offering advantages in downstream fermentative processes. High-yield lactic acid production can be achieved by the strain EMB156 from renewable biomass substrates under alkaline pretreatments. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology revealed its 3.01 Mbp whole genome sequence. A total of 2956 protein-coding sequences, 65 tRNA genes, and 6 rRNA operons were predicted in the EMB156 chromosome. Remarkable genomic features responsible for lactic acid fermentation included key enzymes involved in the pentose phosphate (PP)/glycolytic pathway, and an alpha amylase and xylose isomerase were characterized in EMB156. This genomic information coincides with the phenotype of E. mundtii EMB156, reflecting its metabolic flexibility in efficient lactate fermentation, and established a foundation for future biotechnological application. Interestingly, enzyme activities of amylase were quite stable in high-pH broths, indicating a possible mechanism for strong EMB156 growth in an alkaline environment, thereby facilitating lactic acid production. Together, these findings implied that valuable lactic acid-producing bacteria can be discovered efficiently by screening under the extremely alkaline conditions, as exemplified by gut microbial symbionts of Lepidoptera insects.}, } @article {pmid29626380, year = {2018}, author = {Tamayo, E and Knight, SAB and Valderas, A and Dancis, A and Ferrol, N}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis uses a reductive iron assimilation pathway for high-affinity iron uptake.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {1857-1872}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14121}, pmid = {29626380}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Ferric Compounds/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Iron/*metabolism ; Mycelium ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve iron (Fe) acquisition of their host plants. Here, we report a characterization of two components of the high-affinity reductive Fe uptake system of Rhizophagus irregularis, the ferric reductase (RiFRE1) and the high affinity Fe permeases (RiFTR1-2). In the extraradical mycelia (ERM), Fe deficiency induced activation of a plasma membrane-localized ferric reductase, an enzyme that reduces Fe(III) sources to the more soluble Fe(II). Yeast mutant complementation assays showed that RiFRE1 encodes a functional ferric reductase and RiFTR1 an iron permease. In the heterologous system, RiFTR1 was expressed in the plasma membrane while RiFTR2 was expressed in the endomembranes. In the ERM, the highest expression levels of RiFTR1 were found in mycelia grown in media with 0.045 mM Fe, while RiFTR2 was upregulated under Fe-deficient conditions. RiFTR2 expression also increased in the intraradical mycelia (IRM) of maize plants grown without Fe. These data indicate that the Fe permease RiFTR1 plays a key role in Fe acquisition and that RiFTR2 is involved in Fe homeostasis under Fe-limiting conditions. RiFTR1 was highly expressed in the (IRM), which suggests that the maintenance of Fe homeostasis in the IRM might be essential for a successful symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29625978, year = {2018}, author = {McGlynn, SE and Chadwick, GL and O'Neill, A and Mackey, M and Thor, A and Deerinck, TJ and Ellisman, MH and Orphan, VJ}, title = {Subgroup Characteristics of Marine Methane-Oxidizing ANME-2 Archaea and Their Syntrophic Partners as Revealed by Integrated Multimodal Analytical Microscopy.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {29625978}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {P41 GM103412/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/*classification/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Deltaproteobacteria/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Methane/*metabolism ; Microbial Consortia ; Microscopy, Electron ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phylogenetically diverse environmental ANME archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria cooperatively catalyze the anaerobic oxidation of methane oxidation (AOM) in multicelled consortia within methane seep environments. To better understand these cells and their symbiotic associations, we applied a suite of electron microscopy approaches, including correlative fluorescence in situ hybridization-electron microscopy (FISH-EM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. FISH-EM of methane seep-derived consortia revealed phylogenetic variability in terms of cell morphology, ultrastructure, and storage granules. Representatives of the ANME-2b clade, but not other ANME-2 groups, contained polyphosphate-like granules, while some bacteria associated with ANME-2a/2c contained two distinct phases of iron mineral chains resembling magnetosomes. 3D segmentation of two ANME-2 consortium types revealed cellular volumes of ANME and their symbiotic partners that were larger than previous estimates based on light microscopy. Polyphosphate-like granule-containing ANME (tentatively termed ANME-2b) were larger than both ANME with no granules and partner bacteria. This cell type was observed with up to 4 granules per cell, and the volume of the cell was larger in proportion to the number of granules inside it, but the percentage of the cell occupied by these granules did not vary with granule number. These results illuminate distinctions between ANME-2 archaeal lineages and partnering bacterial populations that are apparently unified in their ability to perform anaerobic methane oxidation.IMPORTANCE Methane oxidation in anaerobic environments can be accomplished by a number of archaeal groups, some of which live in syntrophic relationships with bacteria in structured consortia. Little is known of the distinguishing characteristics of these groups. Here, we applied imaging approaches to better understand the properties of these cells. We found unexpected morphological, structural, and volume variability of these uncultured groups by correlating fluorescence labeling of cells with electron microscopy observables.}, } @article {pmid29625397, year = {2018}, author = {Li, J and Sun, Y and Jiang, X and Chen, B and Zhang, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviate arsenic toxicity to Medicago sativa by influencing arsenic speciation and partitioning.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {157}, number = {}, pages = {235-243}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.073}, pmid = {29625397}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Arsenic/metabolism/*toxicity ; Biomass ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago sativa/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Metallothionein/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In a pot experiment, Medicago sativa inoculated with/without arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis were grown in four levels (0, 10, 25, and 75 mg/kg) of arsenic (As)-polluted soil to investigate the influences of AM symbiosis on plant As tolerance. The results showed that mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, while As addition decreased mycorrhizal colonization and hyphal length density. Mycorrhizal inoculation dramatically improved plant phosphorus (P) nutrition, restricted As uptake and retained more As in roots by upregulating the expression of the AM-induced P transporter gene MsPT4 and the metallothionein gene MsMT2. High soil As content downregulated MsPT4 expression. Dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) was detected only in the shoots of mycorrhizal plants, indicating that AM fungi likely play an essential role in As detoxification by biological methylation. The present investigation allowed deeper insights into the As detoxification mechanisms of AM associations and demonstrated the important role of AM fungi in plant resistance under As-contaminated conditions.}, } @article {pmid29625040, year = {2018}, author = {Pantel, L and Florin, T and Dobosz-Bartoszek, M and Racine, E and Sarciaux, M and Serri, M and Houard, J and Campagne, JM and de Figueiredo, RM and Midrier, C and Gaudriault, S and Givaudan, A and Lanois, A and Forst, S and Aumelas, A and Cotteaux-Lautard, C and Bolla, JM and Vingsbo Lundberg, C and Huseby, DL and Hughes, D and Villain-Guillot, P and Mankin, AS and Polikanov, YS and Gualtieri, M}, title = {Odilorhabdins, Antibacterial Agents that Cause Miscoding by Binding at a New Ribosomal Site.}, journal = {Molecular cell}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {83-94.e7}, doi = {10.1016/j.molcel.2018.03.001}, pmid = {29625040}, issn = {1097-4164}, support = {P41 GM103403/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR029205/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD021527/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aminoacyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Binding Sites ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Male ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Protein Biosynthesis/drug effects ; Ribosome Subunits, Small/*drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Growing resistance of pathogenic bacteria and shortage of antibiotic discovery platforms challenge the use of antibiotics in the clinic. This threat calls for exploration of unconventional sources of antibiotics and identification of inhibitors able to eradicate resistant bacteria. Here we describe a different class of antibiotics, odilorhabdins (ODLs), produced by the enzymes of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene cluster of the nematode-symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. ODLs show activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and can eradicate infections in animal models. We demonstrate that the bactericidal ODLs interfere with protein synthesis. Genetic and structural analyses reveal that ODLs bind to the small ribosomal subunit at a site not exploited by current antibiotics. ODLs induce miscoding and promote hungry codon readthrough, amino acid misincorporation, and premature stop codon bypass. We propose that ODLs' miscoding activity reflects their ability to increase the affinity of non-cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosome.}, } @article {pmid29624823, year = {2018}, author = {Guidolin, LS and Arce-Gorvel, V and Ciocchini, AE and Comerci, DJ and Gorvel, JP}, title = {Cyclic β-glucans at the bacteria-host cells interphase: One sugar ring to rule them all.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {e12850}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.12850}, pmid = {29624823}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Proteobacteria/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; beta-Glucans/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cyclic β-1,2-D-glucans (CβG) are natural bionanopolymers present in the periplasmic space of many Proteobacteria. These molecules are sugar rings made of 17 to 25 D-glucose units linked exclusively by β-1,2-glycosidic bonds. CβG are important for environmental sensing and osmoadaptation in bacteria, but most importantly, they play key roles in complex host-cell interactions such as symbiosis, pathogenesis, and immunomodulation. In the last years, the identification and characterisation of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of CβG allowed to know in detail the steps necessary for the formation of these sugar rings. Due to its peculiar structure, CβG can complex large hydrophobic molecules, a feature possibly related to its function in the interaction with the host. The capabilities of the CβG to function as molecular boxes and to solubilise hydrophobic compounds are attractive for application in the development of drugs, in food industry, nanotechnology, and chemistry. More importantly, its excellent immunomodulatory properties led to the proposal of CβG as a new class of adjuvants for vaccine development.}, } @article {pmid29624751, year = {2018}, author = {Meng, A and Corre, E and Probert, I and Gutierrez-Rodriguez, A and Siano, R and Annamale, A and Alberti, A and Da Silva, C and Wincker, P and Le Crom, S and Not, F and Bittner, L}, title = {Analysis of the genomic basis of functional diversity in dinoflagellates using a transcriptome-based sequence similarity network.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {10}, pages = {2365-2380}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14579}, pmid = {29624751}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Datasets as Topic ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome ; Proteome ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are one of the most abundant and functionally diverse groups of eukaryotes. Despite an overall scarcity of genomic information for dinoflagellates, constantly emerging high-throughput sequencing resources can be used to characterize and compare these organisms. We assembled de novo and processed 46 dinoflagellate transcriptomes and used a sequence similarity network (SSN) to compare the underlying genomic basis of functional features within the group. This approach constitutes the most comprehensive picture to date of the genomic potential of dinoflagellates. A core-predicted proteome composed of 252 connected components (CCs) of putative conserved protein domains (pCDs) was identified. Of these, 206 were novel and 16 lacked any functional annotation in public databases. Integration of functional information in our network analyses allowed investigation of pCDs specifically associated with functional traits. With respect to toxicity, sequences homologous to those of proteins found in species with toxicity potential (e.g., sxtA4 and sxtG) were not specific to known toxin-producing species. Although not fully specific to symbiosis, the most represented functions associated with proteins involved in the symbiotic trait were related to membrane processes and ion transport. Overall, our SSN approach led to identification of 45,207 and 90,794 specific and constitutive pCDs of, respectively, the toxic and symbiotic species represented in our analyses. Of these, 56% and 57%, respectively (i.e., 25,393 and 52,193 pCDs), completely lacked annotation in public databases. This stresses the extent of our lack of knowledge, while emphasizing the potential of SSNs to identify candidate pCDs for further functional genomic characterization.}, } @article {pmid29624684, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, F and Anasontzis, GE and Labourel, A and Champion, C and Haon, M and Kemppainen, M and Commun, C and Deveau, A and Pardo, A and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Kohler, A and Rosso, MN and Henrissat, B and Berrin, JG and Martin, F}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor releases a secreted β-1,4 endoglucanase that plays a key role in symbiosis development.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1309-1321}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15113}, pmid = {29624684}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {No. FP7-26719//EU's Seventh Framework Programme/International ; //Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas/International ; //Oak Ridge National Laboratory/International ; //Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/International ; ANR-11-LABX 0002 01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; ANR-14-CE06-0020//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; }, mesh = {Cellulase/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Laccaria/*enzymology/genetics ; Mannans/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/genetics ; Pichia/metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {In ectomycorrhiza, root ingress and colonization of the apoplast by colonizing hyphae is thought to rely mainly on the mechanical force that results from hyphal tip growth, but this could be enhanced by secretion of cell-wall-degrading enzymes, which have not yet been identified. The sole cellulose-binding module (CBM1) encoded in the genome of the ectomycorrhizal Laccaria bicolor is linked to a glycoside hydrolase family 5 (GH5) endoglucanase, LbGH5-CBM1. Here, we characterize LbGH5-CBM1 gene expression and the biochemical properties of its protein product. We also immunolocalized LbGH5-CBM1 by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy in poplar ectomycorrhiza. We show that LbGH5-CBM1 expression is substantially induced in ectomycorrhiza, and RNAi mutants with a decreased LbGH5-CBM1 expression have a lower ability to form ectomycorrhiza, suggesting a key role in symbiosis. Recombinant LbGH5-CBM1 displays its highest activity towards cellulose and galactomannans, but no activity toward L. bicolor cell walls. In situ localization of LbGH5-CBM1 in ectomycorrhiza reveals that the endoglucanase accumulates at the periphery of hyphae forming the Hartig net and the mantle. Our data suggest that the symbiosis-induced endoglucanase LbGH5-CBM1 is an enzymatic effector involved in cell wall remodeling during formation of the Hartig net and is an important determinant for successful symbiotic colonization.}, } @article {pmid29624166, year = {2018}, author = {Ludvigsen, J and Porcellato, D and Amdam, GV and Rudi, K}, title = {Addressing the diversity of the honeybee gut symbiont Gilliamella: description of Gilliamella apis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of honeybees (Apis mellifera).}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {5}, pages = {1762-1770}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002749}, pmid = {29624166}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bees/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Norway ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Ubiquinone/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota of honeybees (Apis) and bumblebees (Bombus) include the symbiotic bacterial genus Gilliamella. This genus shows a high degree of functional and genomic diversity and separates into distinct lineages. Gilliamella apicola wkB1[T], which was isolated from Apis, was the first species to be described. Recently four new species, isolated from Bombus, were identified. In this paper, we compare several genomes/strains from previous studies spanning this diversity, which gives insight into the phylogenetic relationship among different Gilliamella species. We show that one lineage, isolated only from Apis, is different from other gilliamellas described, based on average nucleotide identity calculation (about 80 %) and phenotypic characterizations. We propose the new species name for this lineage: Gilliamella apis sp. nov. We present the characterization of the type strain NO3[T] (=DSM 105629[T]=LMG 30293[T]), a strain isolated from the Western honeybee Apis mellifera, which clusters within this lineage. Cells of strain NO3[T] grow best in a microaerophilic atmosphere with enhanced CO2 levels at 36 °C and pH 7.0-7.5. Cells also grow well in anaerobic conditions, but not in aerobic conditions. Cells are approximately 1 µm in length and rod-shaped, and the genomic G+C content is 34.7 mol%. Differential characteristics between strain NO3[T] and the different type strains of Gilliamella were revealed based on API kit tests and genomic content comparisons. The main respiratory quinone of strain NO3[T] was ubiquinone-8, and the predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0, consistent with the genus Gilliamella.}, } @article {pmid29623791, year = {2018}, author = {Izumi, T and Ise, Y and Yanagi, K and Shibata, D and Ueshima, R}, title = {First Detailed Record of Symbiosis Between a Sea Anemone and Homoscleromorph Sponge, With a Description of Tempuractis rinkai gen. et sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Edwardsiidae).}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {188-198}, doi = {10.2108/zs170042}, pmid = {29623791}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Japan ; Porifera/*physiology ; Sea Anemones/anatomy & histology/*classification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new species in a new genus of sea anemone, Tempuractis rinkai gen. et sp. nov., was discovered at several localities along the temperate rocky shores of Japan. The new species is approximately 4 mm in length and has been assigned to family Edwardsiidae, because it has eight macrocnemes, lacks sphincter and basal muscles, and possesses rounded aboral end. The sea anemone, however, also has a peculiar body shape unlike that of any other known taxa. This new species resembles some genera, especially Drillactis and Nematostella, in smooth column surface without nemathybomes or tenaculi, but is distinguishable from them by several morphological features: the presence of holotrichs and absence of nematosomes. Furthermore, this edwardsiid species exhibits a peculiar symbiotic ecology with sponges. Therefore, a new genus, Tempuractis, is proposed for this species. In the field, T. rinkai sp. nov. was always found living inside homosclerophorid sponge of the genus Oscarella, which suggests a possible obligate symbiosis between Porifera and Actiniaria. The benefit of this symbiosis is discussed on the basis of observations of live specimens, both in the aquarium and field. This is the first report of symbiosis between a sea anemone and a homoscleromorph sponge.}, } @article {pmid29623594, year = {2018}, author = {Goncalves, E and Bell, DSH}, title = {Combination Treatment of SGLT2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Symbiotic Effects on Metabolism and Cardiorenal Risk.}, journal = {Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {919-926}, pmid = {29623594}, issn = {1869-6953}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: When treating type 2 diabetes, drugs that cause hypoglycemia and weight gain should, if possible, be avoided. In addition, due to the increased incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease, cardiac events and heart failure, as well as the accelerated renal decompensation that may occur with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemic agents that have the potential to lower cardiac and renal risk should be utilized as early as possible in the course of the disease.

METHODS: This is a literature review of the efficacy of combined treatment with a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist and a sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor in lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, cardiac risk, cardiac events and renal decompensation.

RESULTS: Evidence is presented which shows that the efficacy of combined SGLT2 inhibitor/GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy is additive in lowering HbA1c level, systolic blood pressure and body weight. This combined therapy also has the potential to cause further reductions in major cardiovascular events and renal decompensation than those achieved with either drug used as monotherapy or in combination with other hypoglycemic agents.

CONCLUSION: The combination of a GLP-1 agonist and an SGLT2-inhibitor has additive effects on lowering HbA1c and systolic blood pressure, body weight and cardiac risk and has the potential to synergistically reduce cardiovascular events and decelerate renal decompensation. A large prospective study of this combination is needed to prove that this synergism, especially as it applies to cardiac risk factors, cardiac events and mortality and preservation of renal function, is proven.}, } @article {pmid29621609, year = {2018}, author = {Kobiałka, M and Michalik, A and Szwedo, J and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Diversity of symbiotic microbiota in Deltocephalinae leafhoppers (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae).}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {47}, number = {3}, pages = {268-278}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2018.03.005}, pmid = {29621609}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms associated with thirteen species of the subfamily Deltocephalinae were examined using microscopic and molecular techniques. Athysanus argentarius, Euscelis incisus, Doratura stylata, Arthaldeus pascuellus, Errastunus ocellaris, Jassargus flori, Jassargus pseudocellaris, Psammotettix alienus, Psammotettix confinis, Turrutus socialis and Verdanus abdominalis harbor two types of ancient bacteriome-associated microorganisms: bacteria Sulcia (phylum Bacteroidetes) and bacteria Nasuia (phylum Proteobacteria, class Betaproteobacteria). In Balclutha calamagrostis and Balclutha punctata, the bacterium Nasuia has not been detected. In the bacteriomes of both species of Balclutha examined, only bacteria Sulcia occur, whereas Sodalis-like symbionts (phylum Proteobacteria, class Gammaproteobacteria) are localized in the fat body cells, in close vicinity of the bacteriomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the co-existence in Deltocephalinae leafhoppers of the ancient symbiont Sulcia and the more recently acquired Sodalis-like bacterium. The obtained results provide further evidence indicating that Deltocephalinae leafhoppers are characterized by a large diversity of symbiotic systems, which results from symbiont acquisition and replacement. The obtained results are additionally discussed in phylogenetic context.}, } @article {pmid29620492, year = {2018}, author = {Safronova, VI and Sazanova, AL and Kuznetsova, IG and Belimov, AA and Andronov, EE and Chirak, ER and Popova, JP and Verkhozina, AV and Willems, A and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Phyllobacterium zundukense sp. nov., a novel species of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of the legume species Oxytropis triphylla (Pall.) Pers.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {5}, pages = {1644-1651}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002722}, pmid = {29620492}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Oxytropis/*microbiology ; Phyllobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Russia ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gram-negative strains Tri-36, Tri-38, Tri-48[T] and Tri-53 were isolated from root nodules of the relict legume Oxytropis triphylla (Pall.) Pers. originating from Zunduk Cape (Baikal Lake region, Russia). 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the novel isolates were phylogenetically closest to the type strains Phyllobacterium sophorae LMG 27899[T], Phyllobacterium brassicacearum LMG 22836[T], Phyllobacterium endophyticum LMG 26470[T] and Phyllobacterium bourgognense LMG 22837[T] while similarity levels between the isolates and the most closely related strain P. endophyticum LMG 26470[T] were 98.8-99.5 %. The recA and glnII genes of the isolates showed highest sequence similarities with P. sophorae LMG 27899[T] (95.4 and 89.5 %, respectively) and P. brassicacearum LMG 22836[T] (91.4 and 85.1 %, respectively). Comparative analysis of phenotypic properties between the novel isolates and the closest reference strains P. sophorae LMG 27899[T], P. brassicacearum LMG 22836[T] and P. endophyticum LMG 26470[T] was performed using a microassay system. Average nucleotide identities between the whole genome sequences of the isolates Tri-38 and Tri-48[T] and P. sophorae LMG 27899[T], P. brassicacearum LMG 22836[T] and P. endophyticum LMG 26470[T] ranged from 79.23 % for P. endophyticum LMG 26470[T] to 85.74 % for P. sophorae LMG 27899[T]. The common nodABC genes required for legume nodulation were absent from strains Tri-38 and Tri-48[T], although some other symbiotic nod and fix genes were detected. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic analysis, a novel species, Phyllobacterium zundukense sp. nov. (type strain Tri-48[T]=LMG 30371[T]=RCAM 03910[T]), is proposed.}, } @article {pmid29620430, year = {2018}, author = {Artigas Ramírez, MD and Silva, JD and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Yokoyama, T}, title = {In vitro rhizobia response and symbiosis process under aluminum stress.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {8}, pages = {511-526}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2018-0019}, pmid = {29620430}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*drug effects ; Aluminum/*toxicity ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Rhizobium/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major problem affecting soil fertility, microbial diversity, and nutrient uptake of plants. Rhizobia response and legume interaction under Al conditions are still unknown; it is important to understand how to develop and improve legume cultivation under Al stress. In this study, rhizobia response was recorded under different Al concentrations. Al effect on rhizobial cells was characterized by combination with different two pH conditions. Symbiosis process was compared between α- and β-rhizobia inoculated onto soybean varieties. Rhizobial cell numbers was decreased as Al concentration increased. However, induced Al tolerance considerably depended on rhizobia types and their origins. Accordingly, organic acid results were in correlation with growth rate and cell density which suggested that citric acid might be a positive selective force for Al tolerance and plant interaction on rhizobia. Al toxicity delayed and interrupted the plant-rhizobia interaction and the effect was more pronounced under acidic conditions. Burkholderia fungorum VTr35 significantly improved plant growth under acid-Al stress in combination with all soybean varieties. Moreover, plant genotype was an important factor to establish an effective nodulation and nitrogen fixation under Al stress. Additionally, tolerant rhizobia could be applied as an inoculant on stressful agroecosystems. Furthermore, metabolic pathways have still been unknown under Al stress.}, } @article {pmid29619131, year = {2018}, author = {Okumura, R and Takeda, K}, title = {Maintenance of intestinal homeostasis by mucosal barriers.}, journal = {Inflammation and regeneration}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {29619131}, issn = {1880-9693}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The intestine is inhabited by a tremendous number of microorganisms, which provide many benefits to nutrition, metabolism and immunity. Mucosal barriers by intestinal epithelial cells make it possible to maintain the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the host by separating them. Recent evidence indicates that mucosal barrier dysfunction contributes to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this review, we focus on the mechanisms by which mucosal barriers maintain gut homeostasis.

MAIN TEXT: Gut mucosal barriers are classified into chemical and physical barriers. Chemical barriers, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are chemical agents that attack invading microorganisms, and physical barriers, including the mucus layer and the cell junction, are walls that physically repel invading microorganisms. These barriers, which are ingeniously modulated by gut microbiota and host immune cells, spatially segregate gut microbiota and the host immunity to avoid unnecessary immune responses to gut commensal microbes. Therefore, mucosal barrier dysfunction allows gut bacteria to invade gut mucosa, inducing excessive immune responses of the host immune cells, which result in intestinal inflammation.

CONCLUSION: Gut mucosal barriers constructed by intestinal epithelial cells maintain gut homeostasis by segregating gut microbiota and host immune cells. Impaired mucosal barrier function contributes to the development of IBD. However, the mechanism by which the mucosal barrier is regulated by gut microbiota remains unclear. Thus, it should be further elucidated in the future to develop a novel therapeutic approach to IBD by targeting the mucosal barrier.}, } @article {pmid29619014, year = {2018}, author = {Jani, AJ and Briggs, CJ}, title = {Host and Aquatic Environment Shape the Amphibian Skin Microbiome but Effects on Downstream Resistance to the Pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Are Variable.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {487}, pmid = {29619014}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities play key roles in the health and development of their multicellular hosts. Understanding why microbial communities vary among different host species or individuals is an important step toward understanding the diversity and function of the microbiome. The amphibian skin microbiome may affect resistance to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Still, the factors that determine the diversity and composition of the amphibian skin microbiome, and therefore may ultimately contribute to disease resistance, are not well understood. We conducted a two-phase experiment to first test how host and environment shape the amphibian skin microbiome, and then test if the microbiome affects or is affected by Bd infection. Most lab experiments testing assembly of the amphibian skin microbiome so far have compared sterile to non-sterile environments or heavily augmented to non-augmented frogs. A goal of this study was to evaluate, in an experimental setting, realistic potential drivers of microbiome assembly that would be relevant to patterns observed in nature. We tested effects of frog genetic background (2 source populations) and 6 natural lake water sources in shaping the microbiome of the frog Rana sierrae. Water in which frogs were housed affected the microbiome in a manner that partially mimicked patterns observed in natural populations. In particular, frogs housed in water from disease-resistant populations had greater bacterial richness than frogs housed in water from populations that died out due to Bd. However, in the experiment this difference in microbiomes did not lead to differences in host mortality or rates of pathogen load increase. Frog source population also affected the microbiome and, although none of the frogs in this study showed true resistance to infection, host source population had a small effect on the rate of pathogen load increase. This difference in infection trajectories could be due to the observed differences in the microbiome, but could also be due to other traits that differ between frogs from the two populations. In addition to examining effects of the microbiome on Bd, we tested the effect of Bd infection severity on the microbiome. Specifically, we studied a time series of the microbiome over the course of infection to test if the effects of Bd on the microbiome are dependent on Bd infection severity. Although limited to a small subset of frogs, time series analysis suggested that relative abundances of several bacterial phylotypes changed as Bd loads increased through time, indicating that Bd-induced disturbance of the R. sierrae microbiome is not a binary effect but instead is dependent on infection severity. We conclude that both host and aquatic environment help shape the R. sierrae skin microbiome, with links to small changes in disease resistance in some cases, but in this study the effect of Bd on the microbiome was greater than the effect of the microbiome on Bd. Assessment of the microbiome differences between more distantly related populations than those studied here is needed to fully understand the role of the microbiome in resistance to Bd.}, } @article {pmid29618966, year = {2018}, author = {Saniotis, A and Henneberg, M and Sawalma, AR}, title = {Integration of Nanobots Into Neural Circuits As a Future Therapy for Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {153}, pmid = {29618966}, issn = {1662-4548}, abstract = {Recent neuroscientific research demonstrates that the human brain is becoming altered by technological devices. Improvements in biotechnologies and computer based technologies are now increasing the likelihood for the development of brain augmentation devices in the next 20 years. We have developed the idea of an "Endomyccorhizae like interface" (ELI) nanocognitive device as a new kind of future neuroprosthetic which aims to facilitate neuronal network properties in individuals with neurodegenerative disorders. The design of our ELI may overcome the problems of invasive neuroprosthetics, post-operative inflammation, and infection and neuroprosthetic degradation. The method in which our ELI is connected and integrated to neuronal networks is based on a mechanism similar to endomyccorhizae which is the oldest and most widespread form of plant symbiosis. We propose that the principle of Endomyccorhizae could be relevant for developing a crossing point between the ELI and neuronal networks. Similar to endomyccorhizae the ELI will be designed to form webs, each of which connects multiple neurons together. The ELI will function to sense action potentials and deliver it to the neurons it connects to. This is expected to compensate for neuronal loss in some neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.}, } @article {pmid29617868, year = {2018}, author = {Latham, EA and Weldon, KK and Wickersham, TA and Coverdale, JA and Pinchak, WE}, title = {Responses in the rumen microbiome of Bos taurus and indicus steers fed a low-quality rice straw diet and supplemented protein.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {96}, number = {3}, pages = {1032-1044}, pmid = {29617868}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animals ; Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Cattle/*microbiology ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Fiber ; Dietary Proteins ; *Dietary Supplements ; Digestion ; Male ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Oryza ; Plant Leaves ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rumen/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bos indicus typically perform better than Bos taurus when consuming a low-quality diet; however, the response to supplementation is generally greater in B. taurus. The underlying mechanisms supporting these responses have not been fully elucidated. Characterization of differences in rumen prokaryotic populations and their functional role in the two subspecies may provide additional insight. Ten cannulated steers (5 Angus and 5 Brahman) were used in concurrent 5 × 5 Latin squares. Animals were offered ad libitum access to rice straw (4.7% CP). Treatments consisted of an unsupplemented control diet and two levels (50 or 120 mg N/kg BW) of isonitrogenous supplements (30% CP), that were either high (H; 74%) or low (L; 26%) in undegradable intake protein. Rumen samples were collected at 0 and 4 h postfeeding and separated into liquid and solid fractions. Rumen bacterial taxa were sequenced utilizing a Roche 454 platform based on the 16s rRNA gene. At 97% sequence similarity, 97,826 operational taxonomic units were identified, which included 24 phyla, 108 families, and 255 genera. Analysis included SAS PROC mixed model, QIIME, and PICRUSt. Across all samples, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes accounted for 65% and 28% of total bacterial abundance, respectively. The families Prevotellaceae (P = 0.05) and Ruminococcaceae (P = 0.004) and the genera Prevotellaceae (family; P = 0.003) within the phyla Bacteroidetes differed significantly in relative abundance with added protein when compared to the control. Consistent differences in the relative abundance of family and genus taxa between B. indicus and B. taurus suggest roles the symbiotic rumen microbiome may have in the capacity of B. indicus to utilize low-quality forage over a range of supplement types and levels including (Prevotella, Ruminococcus [family], Sphingobacteriaceae [family], Bacteroidales [order], Pontibacter, Bacteroides, Succiclasticum, Barnesiella, and Xylanibacter). Overall bacterial community diversity differences across parameters were limited. Rice straw is recalcitrant to bacterial digestion because of high levels of silica in the epidermis making this straw more resistant to bacterial attachment. Thus, this analysis represents the bacterial diversity and function of the rumen under conditions depleted CP, recalcitrant fiber matrix and restricted digestibility which appear to limit the microbial population to those capable of attaching and digesting complexed structural carbohydrates, resulting in reduced plasticity, and more evenness in diversity across parameters.}, } @article {pmid29617389, year = {2018}, author = {Ramongolalaina, C and Teraishi, M and Okumoto, Y}, title = {QTLs underlying the genetic interrelationship between efficient compatibility of Bradyrhizobium strains with soybean and genistein secretion by soybean roots.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e0194671}, pmid = {29617389}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Genistein/*metabolism ; Isoflavones/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean plants establish symbiotic relationships with soil rhizobia which form nodules on the plant roots. Nodule formation starts when the plant roots exudate isoflavonoids that induce nod gene expression of a specific Bradyrhizobium. We examined the specific indigenous rhizobia that form nodules with the soybean cultivars Peking and Tamahomare in different soils. PCR-RFLP analysis targeted to the 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the bacterial type of each root nodule showed that Bradyrhizobium japonicum (USDA110-type) and Bradyrhizobium elkanii (USDA94-type) had high compatibility with the Tamahomare and Peking cultivars, respectively. We grew 93 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) of soybean seeds derived from the cross between Peking and Tamahomare in three different field soils and identified the indigenous rhizobia nodulating each line using the same PCR-RFLP analysis. QTL analysis identified one QTL region in chromosome-18 with a highly significant additive effect that controls compatibility with both B. japonicum USDA110 and B. elkanii USDA94. We also measured the amount of daidzein and genistein secretion from roots of the 93 RILs by HPLC analysis. QTL analysis showed one QTL region in chromosome-18 controlling genistein secretion from roots and coinciding with that regulating compatibility of specific indigenous rhizobia with soybean. The amount of genistein may be a major regulatory factor in soybean-rhizobium compatibility.}, } @article {pmid29616501, year = {2018}, author = {Chanda, W and Joseph, TP and Guo, XF and Wang, WD and Liu, M and Vuai, MS and Padhiar, AA and Zhong, MT}, title = {Effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against microbial pathogens.}, journal = {Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {253-262}, pmid = {29616501}, issn = {1862-1783}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Anti-Infective Agents/*chemistry ; Antioxidants/chemistry ; Bacterial Infections/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; Cell Membrane/drug effects ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Docosahexaenoic Acids/chemistry ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid/chemistry ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/*chemistry ; Fishes ; Humans ; Lipids/chemistry ; Mice ; Microbiota ; Rats ; alpha-Linolenic Acid/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms provide both beneficial and harmful effects to human beings. Beneficial effects come from the symbiotic relationship that exists between humans and microbiota, but then several human illnesses have turned some friendly microbes into opportunistic pathogens, causing several microbial-related diseases. Various efforts have been made to create and utilize antimicrobial agents in the treatment and prevention of these infections, but such efforts have been hampered by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Despite extensive studies on drug discovery to alleviate this problem, issues with the toxicity and tolerance of certain compounds and continuous microbial evolution have forced researchers to focus on screening various phytochemical dietary compounds for antimicrobial activity. Linolenic acid and its derivatives (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) are omega-3 fatty acids that have been studied due to their role in human health, being important for the brain, the eye, the cardiovascular system, and general human growth. However, their utilization as antimicrobial agents has not been widely appreciated, perhaps due to a lack of understanding of antimicrobial mechanisms, toxicity, and route of administration. Therefore, this review focuses on the efficacy, mechanism, and toxicity of omega-3 fatty acids as alternative therapeutic agents for treating and preventing diseases associated with pathogenic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid29616347, year = {2018}, author = {Serova, TA and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Early nodule senescence is activated in symbiotic mutants of pea (Pisum sativum L.) forming ineffective nodules blocked at different nodule developmental stages.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {255}, number = {5}, pages = {1443-1459}, pmid = {29616347}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Peas/*metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant symbiotic mutants are useful tool to uncover the molecular-genetic mechanisms of nodule senescence. The pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutants SGEFix[-]-1 (sym40), SGEFix[-]-3 (sym26), and SGEFix[-]-7 (sym27) display an early nodule senescence phenotype, whereas the mutant SGEFix[-]-2 (sym33) does not show premature degradation of symbiotic structures, but its nodules show an enhanced immune response. The nodules of these mutants were compared with each other and with those of the wild-type SGE line using seven marker genes that are known to be activated during nodule senescence. In wild-type SGE nodules, transcript levels of all of the senescence-associated genes were highest at 6 weeks after inoculation (WAI). The senescence-associated genes showed higher transcript abundance in mutant nodules than in wild-type nodules at 2 WAI and attained maximum levels in the mutant nodules at 4 WAI. Immunolocalization analyses showed that the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate accumulated earlier in the mutant nodules than in wild-type nodules. Together, these results showed that nodule senescence was activated in ineffective nodules blocked at different developmental stages in pea lines that harbor mutations in four symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid29616050, year = {2018}, author = {Jin, Y and Chen, Z and Yang, J and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Huang, J and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {IPD3 and IPD3L Function Redundantly in Rhizobial and Mycorrhizal Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {267}, pmid = {29616050}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legume plants form symbiotic associations with either nitrogen-fixing bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are regulated by a set of common symbiotic signaling pathway genes. Central to the signaling pathway is the activation of the DMI3/IPD3 protein complex by Ca[2+] oscillations, and the initiation of nodule organogenesis and mycorrhizal symbiosis. DMI3 is essential for rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis; however, ipd3 mutants have been shown to be impaired only in infection thread formation but not in root nodule organogenesis in Medicago truncatula. We identified an IPD3-like (IPD3L) gene in the M. truncatula genome. A single ipd3l mutant exhibits a normal root nodule phenotype. The ipd3l/ipd3-2 double mutant is completely unable to initiate infection threads and nodule primordia. IPD3L can functionally replace IPD3 when expressed under the control of the IPD3 promoter, indicating functional redundancy between these two transcriptional regulators. We constructed a version of IPD3 that was phosphomimetic with respect to two conserved serine residues (IPD3-2D). This was sufficient to trigger root nodule organogenesis, but the increased multisite phosphorylation of IPD3 (IPD3-8D) led to low transcriptional activity, suggesting that the phosphorylation levels of IPD3 fine-tune its transcriptional activity in the root nodule symbiosis. Intriguingly, the phosphomimetic version of IPD3 triggers spontaneous root-like nodules on the roots of dmi3-1 and dmi2-1 (DMI2 is an LRR-containing receptor-like kinase gene which is required for Ca[2+] spiking), but not on the roots of wild-type or ipd3l ipd3-2 plants. In addition, fully developed arbuscules were formed in the ipd3l ipd3-2 mutants but not the ccamk/dmi3-1 mutants. Collectively, our data indicate that, in addition to IPD3 and IPD3L, another new genetic component or other new phosphorylation sites of IPD3 function downstream of DMI3 in rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29615997, year = {2018}, author = {Rebollar, EA and Gutiérrez-Preciado, A and Noecker, C and Eng, A and Hughey, MC and Medina, D and Walke, JB and Borenstein, E and Jensen, RV and Belden, LK and Harris, RN}, title = {The Skin Microbiome of the Neotropical Frog Craugastor fitzingeri: Inferring Potential Bacterial-Host-Pathogen Interactions From Metagenomic Data.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {466}, pmid = {29615997}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Skin symbiotic bacteria on amphibians can play a role in protecting their host against pathogens. Chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd, has caused dramatic population declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. Anti-Bd bacteria from amphibian skin have been cultured, and skin bacterial communities have been described through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Here, we present a shotgun metagenomic analysis of skin bacterial communities from a Neotropical frog, Craugastor fitzingeri. We sequenced the metagenome of six frogs from two different sites in Panamá: three frogs from Soberanía (Sob), a Bd-endemic site, and three frogs from Serranía del Sapo (Sapo), a Bd-naïve site. We described the taxonomic composition of skin microbiomes and found that Pseudomonas was a major component of these communities. We also identified that Sob communities were enriched in Actinobacteria while Sapo communities were enriched in Gammaproteobacteria. We described gene abundances within the main functional classes and found genes enriched either in Sapo or Sob. We then focused our study on five functional classes of genes: biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, membrane transport, cellular communication and antimicrobial drug resistance. These gene classes are potentially involved in bacterial communication, bacterial-host and bacterial-pathogen interactions among other functions. We found that C. fitzingeri metagenomes have a wide array of genes that code for secondary metabolites, including antibiotics and bacterial toxins, which may be involved in bacterial communication, but could also have a defensive role against pathogens. Several genes involved in bacterial communication and bacterial-host interactions, such as biofilm formation and bacterial secretion systems were found. We identified specific genes and pathways enriched at the different sites and determined that gene co-occurrence networks differed between sites. Our results suggest that skin microbiomes are composed of distinct bacterial taxa with a wide range of metabolic capabilities involved in bacterial defense and communication. Differences in taxonomic composition and pathway enrichments suggest that skin microbiomes from different sites have unique functional properties. This study strongly supports the need for shotgun metagenomic analyses to describe the functional capacities of skin microbiomes and to tease apart their role in host defense against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29615990, year = {2018}, author = {Rozpądek, P and Domka, AM and Nosek, M and Ważny, R and Jędrzejczyk, RJ and Wiciarz, M and Turnau, K}, title = {The Role of Strigolactone in the Cross-Talk Between Arabidopsis thaliana and the Endophytic Fungus Mucor sp.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {441}, pmid = {29615990}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Over the last years the role of fungal endophytes in plant biology has been extensively studied. A number of species were shown to positively affect plant growth and fitness, thus attempts have been made to utilize these microorganisms in agriculture and phytoremediation. Plant-fungi symbiosis requires multiple metabolic adjustments of both of the interacting organisms. The mechanisms of these adaptations are mostly unknown, however, plant hormones seem to play a central role in this process. The plant hormone strigolactone (SL) was previously shown to activate hyphae branching of mycorrhizal fungi and to negatively affect pathogenic fungi growth. Its role in the plant-endophytic fungi interaction is unknown. The effect of the synthetic SL analog GR24 on the endophytic fungi Mucor sp. growth, respiration, H2O2 production and the activity of antioxidant enzymes was evaluated. We found fungi colony growth rate was decreased in a GR24 concentration dependent manner. Additionally, the fungi accumulated more H2O2 what was accompanied by an altered activity of antioxidant enzymes. Symbiosis with Mucor sp. positively affected Arabidopsis thaliana growth, but SL was necessary for the establishment of the beneficial interaction. A. thaliana biosynthesis mutants max1 and max4, but not the SL signaling mutant max2 did not develop the beneficial phenotype. The negative growth response was correlated with alterations in SA homeostasis and a significant upregulation of genes encoding selected plant defensins. The fungi were also shown to be able to decompose SL in planta and to downregulate the expression of SL biosynthesis genes. Additionally, we have shown that GR24 treatment with a dose of 1 μM activates the production of SA in A. thaliana. The results presented here provide evidence for a role of SL in the plant-endophyte cross-talk during the mutualistic interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and Mucor sp.}, } @article {pmid29615919, year = {2018}, author = {Rädecker, N and Raina, JB and Pernice, M and Perna, G and Guagliardo, P and Kilburn, MR and Aranda, M and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Using Aiptasia as a Model to Study Metabolic Interactions in Cnidarian-Symbiodinium Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {214}, pmid = {29615919}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between cnidarian hosts and microalgae of the genus Symbiodinium provides the foundation of coral reefs in oligotrophic waters. Understanding the nutrient-exchange between these partners is key to identifying the fundamental mechanisms behind this symbiosis, yet has proven difficult given the endosymbiotic nature of this relationship. In this study, we investigated the respective contribution of host and symbiont to carbon and nitrogen assimilation in the coral model anemone Aiptaisa. For this, we combined traditional measurements with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and stable isotope labeling to investigate patterns of nutrient uptake and translocation both at the organismal scale and at the cellular scale. Our results show that the rate of carbon and nitrogen assimilation in Aiptasia depends on the identity of the host and the symbiont. NanoSIMS analysis confirmed that both host and symbiont incorporated carbon and nitrogen into their cells, implying a rapid uptake and cycling of nutrients in this symbiotic relationship. Gross carbon fixation was highest in Aiptasia associated with their native Symbiodinium communities. However, differences in fixation rates were only reflected in the δ[13]C enrichment of the cnidarian host, whereas the algal symbiont showed stable enrichment levels regardless of host identity. Thereby, our results point toward a "selfish" character of the cnidarian-Symbiodinium association in which both partners directly compete for available resources. Consequently, this symbiosis may be inherently instable and highly susceptible to environmental change. While questions remain regarding the underlying cellular controls of nutrient exchange and the nature of metabolites involved, the approach outlined in this study constitutes a powerful toolset to address these questions.}, } @article {pmid29615512, year = {2018}, author = {Carella, P and Gogleva, A and Tomaselli, M and Alfs, C and Schornack, S}, title = {Phytophthora palmivora establishes tissue-specific intracellular infection structures in the earliest divergent land plant lineage.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {16}, pages = {E3846-E3855}, pmid = {29615512}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/L014130/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Hyphae/pathogenicity/ultrastructure ; Marchantia/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Phytophthora/*pathogenicity/ultrastructure ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The expansion of plants onto land was a formative event that brought forth profound changes to the earth's geochemistry and biota. Filamentous eukaryotic microbes developed the ability to colonize plant tissues early during the evolution of land plants, as demonstrated by intimate, symbiosis-like associations in >400 million-year-old fossils. However, the degree to which filamentous microbes establish pathogenic interactions with early divergent land plants is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the broad host-range oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora colonizes liverworts, the earliest divergent land plant lineage. We show that P. palmivora establishes a complex tissue-specific interaction with Marchantia polymorpha, where it completes a full infection cycle within air chambers of the dorsal photosynthetic layer. Remarkably, P. palmivora invaginates M. polymorpha cells with haustoria-like structures that accumulate host cellular trafficking machinery and the membrane syntaxin MpSYP13B, but not the related MpSYP13A. Our results indicate that the intracellular accommodation of filamentous microbes is an ancient plant trait that is successfully exploited by pathogens like P. palmivora.}, } @article {pmid29614957, year = {2018}, author = {Chaintreuil, C and Perrier, X and Martin, G and Fardoux, J and Lewis, GP and Brottier, L and Rivallan, R and Gomez-Pacheco, M and Bourges, M and Lamy, L and Thibaud, B and Ramanankierana, H and Randriambanona, H and Vandrot, H and Mournet, P and Giraud, E and Arrighi, JF}, title = {Naturally occurring variations in the nod-independent model legume Aeschynomene evenia and relatives: a resource for nodulation genetics.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {54}, pmid = {29614957}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Diploidy ; Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Genotype ; Ploidies ; Polyploidy ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Among semi-aquatic species of the legume genus Aeschynomene, some have the unique property of being root and stem-nodulated by photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium lacking the nodABC genes necessary for the production of Nod factors. These species provide an excellent biological system with which to explore the evolution of nodulation in legumes. Among them, Aeschynomene evenia has emerged as a model legume to undertake the genetic dissection of the so-called Nod-independent symbiosis. In addition to the genetic analysis of nodulation on a reference line, natural variation in a germplasm collection could also be surveyed to uncover genetic determinants of nodulation. To this aim, we investigated the patterns of genetic diversity in a collection of 226 Nod-independent Aeschynomene accessions.

RESULTS: A combination of phylogenetic analyses, comprising ITS and low-copy nuclear genes, along with cytogenetic experiments and artificial hybridizations revealed the richness of the Nod-independent Aeschynomene group with the identification of 13 diploid and 6 polyploid well-differentiated taxa. A set of 54 SSRs was used to further delineate taxon boundaries and to identify different genotypes. Patterns of microsatellite diversity also illuminated the genetic basis of the Aeschynomene taxa that were all found to be predominantly autogamous and with a predicted simple disomic inheritance, two attributes favorable for genetics. In addition, taxa displaying a pronounced genetic diversity, notably A. evenia, A. indica and A. sensitiva, were characterized by a clear geographically-based genetic structure and variations in root and stem nodulation.

CONCLUSION: A well-characterized germplasm collection now exists as a major genetic resource to thoroughly explore the natural variation of nodulation in response to different bradyrhizobial strains. Symbiotic polymorphisms are expected to be found notably in the induction of nodulation, in nitrogen fixation and also in stem nodulation. Subsequent genetic analysis and locus mapping will pave the way for the identification of the underlying genes through forward or reverse genetics. Such discoveries will significantly contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning how some Aeschynomene species can be efficiently nodulated in a Nod-independent fashion.}, } @article {pmid29614780, year = {2018}, author = {Lardi, M and Liu, Y and Giudice, G and Ahrens, CH and Zamboni, N and Pessi, G}, title = {Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Identify Multiple Downstream Targets of Paraburkholderia phymatum σ[54] During Symbiosis with Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29614780}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Metabolomics/methods ; Phaseolus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {RpoN (or σ[54]) is the key sigma factor for the regulation of transcription of nitrogen fixation genes in diazotrophic bacteria, which include α- and β-rhizobia. Our previous studies showed that an rpoN mutant of the β-rhizobial strain Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815[T] formed root nodules on Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Negro jamapa, which were unable to reduce atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. In an effort to further characterize the RpoN regulon of P. phymatum, transcriptomics was combined with a powerful metabolomics approach. The metabolome of P. vulgaris root nodules infected by a P. phymatumrpoN Fix[-] mutant revealed statistically significant metabolic changes compared to wild-type Fix[+] nodules, including reduced amounts of chorismate and elevated levels of flavonoids. A transcriptome analysis on Fix[-] and Fix[+] nodules-combined with a search for RpoN binding sequences in promoter regions of regulated genes-confirmed the expected control of σ[54] on nitrogen fixation genes in nodules. The transcriptomic data also allowed us to identify additional target genes, whose differential expression was able to explain the observed metabolite changes in numerous cases. Moreover, the genes encoding the two-component regulatory system NtrBC were downregulated in root nodules induced by the rpoN mutant, and contained a putative RpoN binding motif in their promoter region, suggesting direct regulation. The construction and characterization of an ntrB mutant strain revealed impaired nitrogen assimilation in free-living conditions, as well as a noticeable symbiotic phenotype, as fewer but heavier nodules were formed on P. vulgaris roots.}, } @article {pmid29614286, year = {2018}, author = {Thanbichler, M}, title = {Cell Division: Symbiotic Bacteria Turn It Upside Down.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {R306-R308}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.02.041}, pmid = {29614286}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/cytology ; Cell Division ; Morphogenesis ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria of the genus Thiosymbion attach to the surface of their nematode hosts using their poles and divide by longitudinal binary fission. A new study now sheds light on the molecular mechanisms that underlie this peculiar mode of proliferation.}, } @article {pmid29614213, year = {2018}, author = {Douglas, AE}, title = {What will it take to understand the ecology of symbiotic microorganisms?.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {1920-1924}, pmid = {29614213}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM095372/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Many microbial taxa associated with healthy animals have both within-host and free-living populations, but little is known about the magnitude, persistence and dispersal of their populations in the external environment. Advances, particularly in our understanding of the population dynamics of free-living populations and microbial cycling between the external environment and hosts, can be achieved by the creative use of current technologies. In particular, there are opportunities to adapt methods, such as capture-mark-release techniques widely used in animal ecology, to the study of symbiotic microorganisms. Future technological advances are, however, required to monitor the location, proliferation and metabolic status at the scale of the single cell, especially under natural conditions. These advances will enable us to achieve precise quantification of host impacts on both micro-habitat suitability for microbial proliferation and microbial dispersal in the external environment. The resultant understanding of the fate of microorganisms shed from animal hosts is essential for the development of environmentally-safe and reliable microbial therapies for humans and animals of economic and environmental importance. Achieving an understanding of the ecology of symbiotic microorganisms is a key challenge for the discipline of environmental microbiology in the coming years.}, } @article {pmid29614209, year = {2018}, author = {Guerrero-Galán, C and Delteil, A and Garcia, K and Houdinet, G and Conéjéro, G and Gaillard, I and Sentenac, H and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {Plant potassium nutrition in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis: properties and roles of the three fungal TOK potassium channels in Hebeloma cylindrosporum.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {1873-1887}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14122}, pmid = {29614209}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Hebeloma/genetics ; Minerals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Seedlings ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi play an essential role in the ecology of boreal and temperate forests through the improvement of tree mineral nutrition. Potassium (K[+]) is an essential nutrient for plants and is needed in high amounts. We recently demonstrated that the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum improves the K[+] nutrition of Pinus pinaster under shortage conditions. Part of the transport systems involved in K[+] uptake by the fungus has been deciphered, while the molecular players responsible for the transfer of this cation towards the plant remain totally unknown. Analysis of the genome of H. cylindrosporum revealed the presence of three putative tandem-pore outward-rectifying K[+] (TOK) channels that could contribute to this transfer. Here, we report the functional characterization of these three channels through two-electrode voltage-clamp experiments in oocytes and yeast complementation assays. The expression pattern and physiological role of these channels were analysed in symbiotic interaction with P. pinaster. Pine seedlings colonized by fungal transformants overexpressing two of them displayed a larger accumulation of K[+] in shoots. This study revealed that TOK channels have distinctive properties and functions in axenic and symbiotic conditions and suggested that HcTOK2.2 is implicated in the symbiotic transfer of K[+] from the fungus towards the plant.}, } @article {pmid29614042, year = {2018}, author = {Tian, H and Li, B and Evivie, SE and Sarker, SK and Chowdhury, S and Lu, J and Ding, X and Huo, G}, title = {Technological and Genomic Analysis of Roles of the Cell-Envelope Protease PrtS in Yoghurt Starter Development.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29614042}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lactobacillus/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Proteolysis ; Serine Endopeptidases/genetics/*metabolism ; Streptococcus thermophilus/*enzymology/genetics ; Yogurt/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The cell-envelope protease PrtS was proved to be efficient in optimal bacterial growth and fast acidification in pure culture, while its positive effect on the performance of mixed-cultures in milk fermentation was not defined. The aim was to analyze effects of the PrtS on the symbiosis between strains during yoghurt production and cold storage. Two Streptococcus thermophilus strains, KLDS3.1012 and KLDS SM, and two different proteolytic strains of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus, L7 and L12, were used. Technological properties (viability, acid production, and proteolysis) were determined. Comparative genomics was used to analyze the proteolytic system (cell-envelope protease, transport system, intracellular peptidase) of Streptococcus thermophilus strains. S. thermophilus KLDS SM possesses an intact gene encoding PrtS (A9497_00420), which was not found in the genome of S. thermophilus KLDS3.1012. This gene is the main difference in the proteolytic system between the two genomes. PrtS endowed KLDS SM high levels of viability during fermentation and cold storage. When combined with a weaker lactobacillus strain during fermentation, the acceleration of acid production of mixed-culture by KLDS SM would start at an earlier time. KLDS SM increased the post-acidification of yoghurts during cold storage, but the pH was steadily maintained during 14-28 days. Results suggest that strains of Streptococcus thermophilus with strong proteolytic ability could be used in a wide range of dairy production. The present study provided data for yoghurt starter development from the point of view of proteolysis.}, } @article {pmid29611898, year = {2018}, author = {Okubo, T and Matsushita, M and Nakamura, S and Matsuo, J and Nagai, H and Yamaguchi, H}, title = {Acanthamoeba S13WT relies on its bacterial endosymbiont to backpack human pathogenic bacteria and resist Legionella infection on solid media.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {344-354}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12645}, pmid = {29611898}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/*microbiology ; Humans ; Legionella pneumophila/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil-borne amoeba Acanthamoeba S13WT has an endosymbiotic relationship with an environmental Neochlamydia bacterial strain. However, regardless of extensive experiments in liquid media, the biological advantage of the symbiosis remained elusive. We therefore explored the role of the endosymbiont in predator-prey interactions on solid media. A mixed culture of the symbiotic or aposymbiotic amoebae and GFP-expressing Escherichia coli or Salmonella Enteritidis was spotted onto the centre of a LB or B-CYE agar plate preinoculated with a ring of mCherry-expressing Legionella pneumophila (Legionella 'wall'). The spread of the amoebae on the plate was assessed using a fluorescence imaging system or scanning electron microscopy. As a result, in contrast to the aposymbiotic amoebae, the symbiotic amoebae backpacked these GFP-expressing bacteria and formed flower-like fluorescence patterns in an anticlockwise direction. Other bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia), but not Staphylococcus aureus, were also backpacked by the symbiotic amoebae on LB agar, although lacked the movement to anticlockwise direction. Furthermore, in contrast to the aposymbiotic amoebae, the symbiotic amoebae backpacking the E. coli broke through the Legionella 'wall' on B-CYE agar plates. Thus, we concluded that Acanthamoeba S13WT required the Neochlamydia endosymbiont to backpack human pathogenic bacteria and resist Legionella infection on solid agar.}, } @article {pmid29611321, year = {2018}, author = {Tylianakis, JM and Martínez-García, LB and Richardson, SJ and Peltzer, DA and Dickie, IA}, title = {Symmetric assembly and disassembly processes in an ecological network.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {896-904}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12957}, pmid = {29611321}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The processes whereby ecological networks emerge, persist and decay throughout ecosystem development are largely unknown. Here we study networks of plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities along a 120 000 year soil chronosequence, as they undergo assembly (progression) and then disassembly (retrogression). We found that network assembly and disassembly were symmetrical, self-reinforcing processes that together were capable of generating key attributes of network architecture. Plant and AMF species that had short indirect paths to others in the community (i.e. high centrality), rather than many direct interaction partners (i.e. high degree), were best able to attract new interaction partners and, in the case of AMF species, also to retain existing interactions with plants during retrogression. We then show using simulations that these non-random patterns of attachment and detachment promote nestedness of the network. These results have implications for predicting extinction sequences, identifying focal points for invasions and suggesting trajectories for restoration.}, } @article {pmid29610841, year = {2018}, author = {Weaver, MS}, title = {Growing Symbiotic Local Partnerships to Nurture Quality Pediatric Hospice Care in Rural Regions: Companion Planting.}, journal = {JAMA pediatrics}, volume = {172}, number = {6}, pages = {517-518}, doi = {10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3910}, pmid = {29610841}, issn = {2168-6211}, mesh = {Child ; Hospice Care/*standards ; Humans ; Palliative Care/*standards ; Partnership Practice/*standards ; *Quality of Health Care ; *Rural Population ; }, } @article {pmid29610339, year = {2018}, author = {Logan, SL and Thomas, J and Yan, J and Baker, RP and Shields, DS and Xavier, JB and Hammer, BK and Parthasarathy, R}, title = {The Vibrio cholerae type VI secretion system can modulate host intestinal mechanics to displace gut bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {16}, pages = {E3779-E3787}, pmid = {29610339}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P01 HD022486/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA008748/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 GM098911/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actins/physiology ; Aeromonas veronii ; Animals ; Antibiosis/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Germ-Free Life ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Symbiosis ; Type VI Secretion Systems/*physiology ; Vibrio cholerae/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Zebrafish/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbiota help defend against bacterial pathogens; however, the mechanisms by which pathogens overcome this defense remain largely unknown. We developed a zebrafish model and used live imaging to directly study how the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae invades the intestine. The gut microbiota of fish monocolonized by symbiotic strain Aeromonas veronii was displaced by V. cholerae expressing its type VI secretion system (T6SS), a syringe-like apparatus that deploys effector proteins into target cells. Surprisingly, displacement was independent of T6SS-mediated killing of A. veronii, driven instead by T6SS-induced enhancement of zebrafish intestinal movements that led to expulsion of the resident microbiota by the host. Deleting an actin cross-linking domain from the T6SS apparatus returned intestinal motility to normal and thwarted expulsion, without weakening V. cholerae's ability to kill A. veronii in vitro. Our finding that bacteria can manipulate host physiology to influence intermicrobial competition has implications for both pathogenesis and microbiome engineering.}, } @article {pmid29609655, year = {2018}, author = {van de Water, JAJM and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Host-microbe interactions in octocoral holobionts - recent advances and perspectives.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {64}, pmid = {29609655}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animal Diseases/microbiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification ; Biological Products ; Coral Reefs ; Drug Discovery ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; *Microbiota ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Symbiosis ; Viruses/classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {Octocorals are one of the most ubiquitous benthic organisms in marine ecosystems from the shallow tropics to the Antarctic deep sea, providing habitat for numerous organisms as well as ecosystem services for humans. In contrast to the holobionts of reef-building scleractinian corals, the holobionts of octocorals have received relatively little attention, despite the devastating effects of disease outbreaks on many populations. Recent advances have shown that octocorals possess remarkably stable bacterial communities on geographical and temporal scales as well as under environmental stress. This may be the result of their high capacity to regulate their microbiome through the production of antimicrobial and quorum-sensing interfering compounds. Despite decades of research relating to octocoral-microbe interactions, a synthesis of this expanding field has not been conducted to date. We therefore provide an urgently needed review on our current knowledge about octocoral holobionts. Specifically, we briefly introduce the ecological role of octocorals and the concept of holobiont before providing detailed overviews of (I) the symbiosis between octocorals and the algal symbiont Symbiodinium; (II) the main fungal, viral, and bacterial taxa associated with octocorals; (III) the dominance of the microbial assemblages by a few microbial species, the stability of these associations, and their evolutionary history with the host organism; (IV) octocoral diseases; (V) how octocorals use their immune system to fight pathogens; (VI) microbiome regulation by the octocoral and its associated microbes; and (VII) the discovery of natural products with microbiome regulatory activities. Finally, we present our perspectives on how the field of octocoral research should move forward, and the recognition that these organisms may be suitable model organisms to study coral-microbe symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29608935, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, X and Liu, D and Luo, Y and Zhao, L and Liu, Z and Chou, M and Wang, E and Wei, G}, title = {Comparative analysis of rhizobial chromosomes and plasmids to estimate their evolutionary relationships.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {96-97}, number = {}, pages = {13-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2018.03.001}, pmid = {29608935}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Bacterial/*chemistry ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Plasmids/*chemistry/classification/metabolism ; Replicon ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In the present study, complete genomic sequences retrieved from 57 rhizobial strains that covered four genera including 11 species were analyzed comprehensively. The four types of replicons: chromosomes, chromids, nonsymbiotic plasmids, and symbiotic plasmids were investigated and compared among these strains. Results showed that co-evolution occurred among these four replicons based on the similarities in average nucleotide identity. High correlation coefficient r values were observed between chromosomes and chromids, as well as between chromosomes and nonsymbiotic plasmids. Chromosomes and symbiotic plasmids showed different phylogenetic topology based on their core genes. Population structure analyses were performed to extrapolate the evolutionary histories of the test strains based on their chromosomal and symbiotic plasmid background. This resulted in seven ancestral types for chromosomal genes and three ancestral types for symbiotic plasmid genes. Rhizobial strains containing chromosome genes with ancestral type E tend to contain symbiotic plasmid genes with ancestral type II, while rhizobial strains containing chromosome genes with ancestral type G tend to contain symbiotic plasmid genes with ancestral type III. Seventeen strains associated with different host plant species which harbored the symbiotic genes with ancestral type I, exhibited high genetic diversity. In addition, Fu's test of the symbiotic plasmid genes with ancestral type III had undergone an expansion event, implying the influence of negative selection on these symbiotic plasmid genes.}, } @article {pmid29608732, year = {2018}, author = {Hönigschmid, P and Bykova, N and Schneider, R and Ivankov, D and Frishman, D}, title = {Evolutionary Interplay between Symbiotic Relationships and Patterns of Signal Peptide Gain and Loss.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {928-938}, pmid = {29608732}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Protein Sorting Signals/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Can orthologous proteins differ in terms of their ability to be secreted? To answer this question, we investigated the distribution of signal peptides within the orthologous groups of Enterobacterales. Parsimony analysis and sequence comparisons revealed a large number of signal peptide gain and loss events, in which signal peptides emerge or disappear in the course of evolution. Signal peptide losses prevail over gains, an effect which is especially pronounced in the transition from the free-living or commensal to the endosymbiotic lifestyle. The disproportionate decline in the number of signal peptide-containing proteins in endosymbionts cannot be explained by the overall reduction of their genomes. Signal peptides can be gained and lost either by acquisition/elimination of the corresponding N-terminal regions or by gradual accumulation of mutations. The evolutionary dynamics of signal peptides in bacterial proteins represents a powerful mechanism of functional diversification.}, } @article {pmid29608282, year = {2018}, author = {Leonard, SP and Perutka, J and Powell, JE and Geng, P and Richhart, DD and Byrom, M and Kar, S and Davies, BW and Ellington, AD and Moran, NA and Barrick, JE}, title = {Genetic Engineering of Bee Gut Microbiome Bacteria with a Toolkit for Modular Assembly of Broad-Host-Range Plasmids.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {1279-1290}, pmid = {29608282}, issn = {2161-5063}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bees/*microbiology ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Ileum/microbiology ; Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified ; Plasmids ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Proteobacteria/*genetics ; Replicon ; Serratia marcescens/genetics/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Engineering the bacteria present in animal microbiomes promises to lead to breakthroughs in medicine and agriculture, but progress is hampered by a dearth of tools for genetically modifying the diverse species that comprise these communities. Here we present a toolkit of genetic parts for the modular construction of broad-host-range plasmids built around the RSF1010 replicon. Golden Gate assembly of parts in this toolkit can be used to rapidly test various antibiotic resistance markers, promoters, fluorescent reporters, and other coding sequences in newly isolated bacteria. We demonstrate the utility of this toolkit in multiple species of Proteobacteria that are native to the gut microbiomes of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (B ombus sp.). Expressing fluorescent proteins in Snodgrassella alvi, Gilliamella apicola, Bartonella apis, and Serratia strains enables us to visualize how these bacteria colonize the bee gut. We also demonstrate CRISPRi repression in B. apis and use Cas9-facilitated knockout of an S. alvi adhesion gene to show that it is important for colonization of the gut. Beyond characterizing how the gut microbiome influences the health of these prominent pollinators, this bee microbiome toolkit (BTK) will be useful for engineering bacteria found in other natural microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid29607029, year = {2018}, author = {Fortin, M and Debenest, C and Souty-Grosset, C and Richard, FJ}, title = {Males prefer virgin females, even if parasitized, in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {3341-3353}, pmid = {29607029}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In many species, males increase their reproductive success by choosing high-quality females. In natural populations, they interact with both virgin and mated females, which can store sperm in their spermatheca. Therefore, males elaborate strategies to avoid sperm competition. In the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare, females can store sperm and produce several clutches. Moreover, this species can be parasitized by Wolbachia, which feminizes genetic males, transforming them into functional females. Our study compared attractiveness and mate choice when a male is exposed to both virgin and experienced females (i.e., females who have produced offspring and rested for 6 months), with or without Wolbachia. Our results revealed that males are more attracted to virgin females than experienced females, even if these virgin females are parasitized. Moreover, the chemical analysis highlighted different odors in females according to their reproductive and infection (Wolbachia-free or vertically Wolbachia-infected) status. Males attempted copulation more frequently and for longer with virgin females, even if Wolbachia-infected, while experienced females refused further copulation. The evolutionary consequences of both male choice and female resistance on their fitness are discussed in this study.}, } @article {pmid29604396, year = {2018}, author = {Vishwakarma, A and Kumari, A and Mur, LAJ and Gupta, KJ}, title = {A discrete role for alternative oxidase under hypoxia to increase nitric oxide and drive energy production.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {122}, number = {}, pages = {40-51}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.03.045}, pmid = {29604396}, issn = {1873-4596}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/*biosynthesis ; Arabidopsis/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Energy Metabolism/*genetics ; Flagellin/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/genetics ; Hypoxia/genetics/metabolism ; Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrate Reductase/genetics ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Peroxynitrous Acid/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Seedlings/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Alternative oxidase (AOX) is an integral part of the mitochondrial electron transport and can prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production under non-stressed, normoxic conditions. Here we assessed the roles of AOX by imposing stress under normoxia in comparison to hypoxic conditions using AOX over expressing (AOX OE) and anti-sense (AOX AS) transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings and roots. Under normoxic conditions stress was induced with the defence elicitor flagellin (flg22). AOX OE reduced NO production whilst this was increased in AOX AS. Moreover AOX AS also exhibited an increase in superoxide and therefore peroxynitrite, tyrosine nitration suggesting that scavenging of NO by AOX can prevent toxic peroxynitrite formation under normoxia. In contrast, during hypoxia interestingly we found that AOX is a generator of NO. Thus, the NO produced during hypoxia, was enhanced in AOX OE and suppressed in AOX AS. Additionally, treatment of WT or AOX OE with the AOX inhibitor SHAM inhibited hypoxic NO production. The enhanced levels of NO correlated with expression of non-symbiotic haemoglobin, increased NR activity and ATP production. The ATP generation was suppressed in nia1,2 mutant and non symbiotic haemoglobin antisense line treated with SHAM. Taken together these results suggest that hypoxic NO generation mediated by AOX has a discrete role by feeding into the haemoglobin-NO cycle to drive energy efficiency under conditions of low oxygen tension.}, } @article {pmid29604236, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, KH and Liao, HL and Arnold, AE and Bonito, G and Lutzoni, F}, title = {RNA-based analyses reveal fungal communities structured by a senescence gradient in the moss Dicranum scoparium and the presence of putative multi-trophic fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {4}, pages = {1597-1611}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15092}, pmid = {29604236}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bryophyta/genetics/*microbiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fungi/*genetics ; Metagenome ; RNA, Fungal/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Diverse plant-associated fungi are thought to have symbiotrophic and saprotrophic states because they can be isolated from both dead and living plant tissues. However, such tissues often are separated in time and space, and fungal activity at various stages of plant senescence is rarely assessed directly in fungal community studies. We used fungal ribosomal RNA metatranscriptomics to detect active fungal communities across a natural senescence gradient within wild-collected gametophytes of Dicranum scoparium (Bryophyta) to understand the distribution of active fungal communities in adjacent living, senescing and dead tissues. Ascomycota were active in all tissues across the senescence gradient. By contrast, Basidiomycota were prevalent and active in senescing and dead tissues. Several fungi were detected as active in living and dead tissues, suggesting their capacity for multi-trophy. Differences in community assembly detected by metatranscriptomics were echoed by amplicon sequencing of cDNA and compared to culture-based inferences and observation of fungal fruit bodies in the field. The combination of amplicon sequencing of cDNA and metatranscriptomics is promising for studying symbiotic systems with complex microbial diversity, allowing for the simultaneous detection of their presence and activity.}, } @article {pmid29603631, year = {2018}, author = {Mordret, S and Piredda, R and Vaulot, D and Montresor, M and Kooistra, WHCF and Sarno, D}, title = {dinoref: A curated dinoflagellate (Dinophyceae) reference database for the 18S rRNA gene.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.12781}, pmid = {29603631}, issn = {1755-0998}, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are a heterogeneous group of protists present in all aquatic ecosystems where they occupy various ecological niches. They play a major role as primary producers, but many species are mixotrophic or heterotrophic. Environmental metabarcoding based on high-throughput sequencing is increasingly applied to assess diversity and abundance of planktonic organisms, and reference databases are definitely needed to taxonomically assign the huge number of sequences. We provide an updated 18S rRNA reference database of dinoflagellates: dinoref. Sequences were downloaded from genbank and filtered based on stringent quality criteria. All sequences were taxonomically curated, classified taking into account classical morphotaxonomic studies and molecular phylogenies, and linked to a series of metadata. dinoref includes 1,671 sequences representing 149 genera and 422 species. The taxonomic assignation of 468 sequences was revised. The largest number of sequences belongs to Gonyaulacales and Suessiales that include toxic and symbiotic species. dinoref provides an opportunity to test the level of taxonomic resolution of different 18S barcode markers based on a large number of sequences and species. As an example, when only the V4 region is considered, 374 of the 422 species included in dinoref can still be unambiguously identified. Clustering the V4 sequences at 98% similarity, a threshold that is commonly applied in metabarcoding studies, resulted in a considerable underestimation of species diversity.}, } @article {pmid29603320, year = {2018}, author = {Somporn, P and Ash, J and Walters, L}, title = {Stakeholder views of rural community-based medical education: a narrative review of the international literature.}, journal = {Medical education}, volume = {52}, number = {8}, pages = {791-802}, doi = {10.1111/medu.13580}, pmid = {29603320}, issn = {1365-2923}, mesh = {*Clinical Competence ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Humans ; *Internationality ; *Problem-Based Learning ; *Rural Health Services ; Students, Medical ; Workforce ; }, abstract = {CONTEXT: Rural community-based medical education (RCBME), in which medical student learning activities take place within a rural community, requires students, clinical teachers, patients, community members and representatives of health and government sectors to actively contribute to the educational process. Therefore, academics seeking to develop RCBME need to understand the rural context, and the views and needs of local stakeholders.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review is to examine stakeholder experiences of RCBME programmes internationally.

METHODS: This narrative literature review of original research articles published after 1970 utilises Worley's symbiosis model of medical education as an analysis framework. This model proposes that students experience RCBME through their intersection with multiple clinical, social and institutional relationships. This model seeks to provide a framework for considering the intersecting relationships in which RCBME programmes are situated.

RESULTS: Thirty RCBME programmes are described in 52 articles, representing a wide range of rural clinical placements. One-year longitudinal integrated clerkships for penultimate-year students in Anglosphere countries were most common. Such RCBME enables students to engage in work-integrated learning in a feasible manner that is acceptable to many rural clinicians and patients. Academic results are not compromised, and a few papers demonstrate quality improvement for rural health services engaged in RCBME. These programmes have delivered some rural medical workforce outcomes to communities and governments. Medical students also provide social capital to rural communities. However, these programmes have significant financial cost and risk student social and educational isolation.

CONCLUSIONS: Rural community-based medical education programmes are seen as academically acceptable and can facilitate symbiotic relationships among students, rural clinicians, patients and community stakeholders. These relationships can influence students' clinical competency and professional identity, increase graduates' interest in rural careers, and potentially improve rural health service stability. Formal prospective stakeholder consultations should be published in the literature.}, } @article {pmid29603096, year = {2018}, author = {Ament, MR and Tierney, JA and Hedin, LO and Hobbie, EA and Wurzburger, N}, title = {Phosphorus and species regulate N2 fixation by herbaceous legumes in longleaf pine savannas.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {187}, number = {1}, pages = {281-290}, pmid = {29603096}, issn = {1432-1939}, support = {RC-2328//Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program/International ; }, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae ; Grassland ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phosphorus ; }, abstract = {Longleaf pine savannas house a diverse community of herbaceous N2-fixing legume species that have the potential to replenish nitrogen (N) losses from fire. Whether legumes fill this role depends on the factors that regulate symbiotic fixation, including soil nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and molybdenum (Mo) and the growth and fixation strategies of different species. In greenhouse experiments, we determined how these factors influence fixation for seven species of legumes grown in pure field soil from two different regions of the southeastern US longleaf pine ecosystem. We first added P and Mo individually and in combination, and found that P alone constrained fixation. Phosphorus primarily influenced fixation by regulating legume growth. Second, we added N to plants and found that species either downregulated fixation (facultative strategy) or maintained fixation at a constant rate (obligate strategy). Species varied nearly fourfold in fixation rate, reflecting differences in growth rate, taxonomy and fixation strategy. However, fixation responded strongly to P addition across all species in our study, suggesting that the P cycle regulates N inputs by herbaceous legumes.}, } @article {pmid29601984, year = {2018}, author = {Nanda, R and Agrawal, V}, title = {Piriformospora indica, an excellent system for heavy metal sequestration and amelioration of oxidative stress and DNA damage in Cassia angustifolia Vahl under copper stress.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {156}, number = {}, pages = {409-419}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.016}, pmid = {29601984}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Ascorbate Peroxidases/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Comet Assay ; Copper/*metabolism/toxicity ; *DNA Damage ; Glutathione Reductase/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism/toxicity ; *Oxidative Stress ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/metabolism ; Senna Plant/*drug effects/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Present investigation reveals copper induced phytotoxicity, oxidative stress and DNA damage in Cassia angustifolia Vahl and its amelioration by employing a symbiotic fungus, Piriformospora indica. Seeds were germinated on Knop's medium containing five Cu levels (0, 1, 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg L[-1]), with and without P. indica. Colonization with P. indica significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated Cu induced oxidative stress. However, maximum amelioration was observed at 50 mg L[-1] Cu with P. indica. Atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed that P. indica colonization significantly inhibited Cu accumulation in shoots. Maximum decline in Cu accumulation in shoots was observed at 50 mg L[-1] (27.27%) with P. indica over Cu alone. Besides, P. indica colonized seedlings stored 16.86% higher Cu in roots as compared to Cu alone at 200 mg L[-1]. Similarly, maximum proline accumulation increased up to 19.32% over Cu alone at 50 mg L[-1] Cu with P. indica. Significant elevation in antioxidant enzyme levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione reductase was seen with P. indica. Contrary to increase in antioxidant level, toxic parameters such as lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide decreased significantly with P. indica. Maximum decline in lipid peroxidation (13.76%) and hydrogen peroxide (18.58%) was observed at 50 mg L[-1] with P. indica over Cu alone. P. indica significantly reduced DNA damage as well as changed the protein profile in C. angustifolia seedlings. Thus, P. indica proved to be an excellent system to alleviate Cu induced oxidative stress and might be useful as a phytostabilization tool.}, } @article {pmid29601473, year = {2018}, author = {Nazzi, F and Pennacchio, F}, title = {Honey Bee Antiviral Immune Barriers as Affected by Multiple Stress Factors: A Novel Paradigm to Interpret Colony Health Decline and Collapse.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29601473}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*immunology/microbiology/parasitology/virology ; *Colony Collapse ; Insecticides ; Microbiota ; *Models, Immunological ; Neonicotinoids ; RNA Viruses/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Varroidae/physiology ; }, abstract = {Any attempt to outline a logical framework in which to interpret the honey bee health decline and its contribution to elevated colony losses should recognize the importance of the multifactorial nature of the responsible syndrome and provide a functional model as a basis for defining and testing working hypotheses. We propose that covert infections by deformed wing virus (DWV) represent a sword of Damocles permanently threatening the survival of honey bee colonies and suggest that any factor affecting the honey bee’s antiviral defenses can turn this pathogen into a killer. Here we discuss the available experimental evidence in the framework of a model based on honey bee immune competence as affected by multiple stress factors that is proposed as a conceptual tool for analyzing bee mortality and its underlying mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid29600280, year = {2018}, author = {Kerwin, AH and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Reproductive System Symbiotic Bacteria Are Conserved between Two Distinct Populations of Euprymna scolopes from Oahu, Hawaii.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29600280}, issn = {2379-5042}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Exocrine Glands/*microbiology ; Geography ; Hawaii ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Female Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, harbor a symbiotic bacterial community in a reproductive organ, the accessory nidamental gland (ANG). This community is known to be stable over several generations of wild-caught bobtail squid but has, to date, been examined for only one population in Maunalua Bay, Oahu, HI. This study assessed the ANG and corresponding egg jelly coat (JC) bacterial communities for another genetically isolated host population from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, HI, using 16S amplicon sequencing. The bacterial communities from the ANGs and JCs of the two populations were found to be similar in richness, evenness, phylogenetic diversity, and overall community composition. However, the Kaneohe Bay samples formed their own subset within the Maunalua Bay ANG/JC community. An Alteromonadaceae genus, BD2-13, was significantly higher in relative abundance in the Kaneohe Bay population, and several Alphaproteobacteria taxa also shifted in relative abundance between the two groups. This variation could be due to local adaptation to differing environmental challenges, to localized variability, or to functional redundancy among the ANG taxa. The overall stability of the community between the populations further supports a crucial functional role that has been hypothesized for this symbiosis. IMPORTANCE In this study, we examined the reproductive ANG symbiosis found in two genetically isolated populations of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. The stability of the community reported here provides support for the hypothesis that this symbiosis is under strong selective pressure, while the observed differences suggest that some level of local adaptation may have occurred. These two host populations are frequently used interchangeably as source populations for research. Euprymna scolopes is an important model organism and offers the opportunity to examine the interplay between a binary and a consortial symbiosis in a single model host. Understanding the inherent natural variability of this association will aid in our understanding of the conservation, function, transmission, and development of the ANG symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29599788, year = {2018}, author = {Leonetti, P and Accotto, GP and Hanafy, MS and Pantaleo, V}, title = {Viruses and Phytoparasitic Nematodes of Cicer arietinum L.: Biotechnological Approaches in Interaction Studies and for Sustainable Control.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {319}, pmid = {29599788}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) is the world's fourth most widely grown pulse. Chickpea seeds are a primary source of dietary protein for humans, and chickpea cultivation contributes to biological nitrogen fixation in the soil, given its symbiotic relationship with rhizobia. Therefore, chickpea cultivation plays a pivotal role in innovative sustainable models of agro-ecosystems inserted in crop rotation in arid and semi-arid environments for soil improvement and the reduction of chemical inputs. Indeed, the arid and semi-arid tropical zones of Africa and Asia have been primary areas of cultivation and diversification. Yet, nowadays, chickpea is gaining prominence in Canada, Australia, and South America where it constitutes a main ingredient in vegetarian and vegan diets. Viruses and plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) have been considered to be of minor and local impact in primary areas of cultivation. However, the introduction of chickpea in new environments exposes the crop to these biotic stresses, compromising its yields. The adoption of high-throughput genomic technologies, including genome and transcriptome sequencing projects by the chickpea research community, has provided major insights into genome evolution as well as genomic architecture and domestication. This review summarizes the major viruses and PPNs that affect chickpea cultivation worldwide. We also present an overview of the current state of chickpea genomics. Accordingly, we explore the opportunities that genomics, post-genomics and novel editing biotechnologies are offering in order to understand chickpea diseases and stress tolerance and to design innovative control strategies.}, } @article {pmid29599758, year = {2018}, author = {Crump, BC and Wojahn, JM and Tomas, F and Mueller, RS}, title = {Metatranscriptomics and Amplicon Sequencing Reveal Mutualisms in Seagrass Microbiomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {388}, pmid = {29599758}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Terrestrial plants benefit from many well-understood mutualistic relationships with root- and leaf-associated microbiomes, but relatively little is known about these relationships for seagrass and other aquatic plants. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metatranscriptomics to assess potential mutualisms between microorganisms and the seagrasses Zostera marina and Zostera japonica collected from mixed beds in Netarts Bay, OR, United States. The phylogenetic composition of leaf-, root-, and water column-associated bacterial communities were strikingly different, but these communities were not significantly different between plant species. Many taxa present on leaves were related to organisms capable of consuming the common plant metabolic waste product methanol, and of producing agarases, which can limit the growth of epiphytic algae. Taxa present on roots were related to organisms capable of oxidizing toxic sulfur compounds and of fixing nitrogen. Metatranscriptomic sequencing identified expression of genes involved in all of these microbial metabolic processes at levels greater than typical water column bacterioplankton, and also identified expression of genes involved in denitrification and in bacterial synthesis of the plant growth hormone indole-3-acetate. These results provide the first evidence using metatranscriptomics that seagrass microbiomes carry out a broad range of functions that may benefit their hosts, and imply that microbe-plant mutualisms support the health and growth of aquatic plants.}, } @article {pmid29595839, year = {2018}, author = {Sion, EM and Godon, P}, title = {ACCRETION PROCESSES IN COSMIC SOURCES: The Atmospheres of Accreting White Dwarfs.}, journal = {PoS, proceedings of science}, volume = {288}, number = {}, pages = {023}, pmid = {29595839}, issn = {1824-8039}, support = {NNX13AF11G//NASA/United States ; }, abstract = {A comparison is presented between the physical processes operative in single white dwarfs and the physical processes operative in white dwarfs with donor star companions. The physical properties and accretion physics of the hot accreting components in close interacting binaries is presented. The N/C abundance anomaly seen is ∼10% of cataclysmic variables and the presence of absorption lines due to heavy elements in suprasolar abundance are discussed. A synthetic spectral analysis of the FUSE spectrum of the old nova RR Pic reveals reveals an accretion disk with i = 60°, Mwd = 1.0M⊙ and a high accretion rate of 10[-8]M⊙/yr. New evidence from the FUSE and IUE spectra of the symbiotic system CQ Dra suggest it is a triple system consisting of a red giant and a cataclysmic variable companion. The hot component in the symbiotic system, RW Hya, consists of a white dwarf with a surface temperature of 160,000 K with log(g) = 6.5 and no evidence of an accretion disk.}, } @article {pmid29594576, year = {2018}, author = {Montanari-Coelho, KK and Costa, AT and Polonio, JC and Azevedo, JL and Marin, SRR and Fuganti-Pagliarini, R and Fujita, Y and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, K and Nakashima, K and Pamphile, JA and Nepomuceno, AL}, title = {Endophytic bacterial microbiome associated with leaves of genetically modified (AtAREB1) and conventional (BR 16) soybean plants.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {56}, pmid = {29594576}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*genetics ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant leaves (phyllosphere) have a great potential for colonization and microbial growth, consisting of a dynamic environment in which several factors can interfere with the microbial population structure. The use of genetically modified (GM) plants has introduced several traits in agriculture, such as the improvement of plant drought tolerance, as observed in the AtAREB1 transcription factor overexpression in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill). The present study aimed at investigating the taxonomic and functional profile of the leaf microbial community of bacteria found in GM (drought-tolerant event 1Ea2939) and conventional (BR 16) soybean plants. Bacterial DNA was extracted from leaf samples collected from each genotype and used for microbial diversity and richness analysis through the MiSeq Illumina platform. Functional prediction was performed using the PICRUSt tool and the STAMP v 2.1.3 software. The obtainment of the GM event 1Ea2939 showed minimum effects on the microbial community and in the potential for chemical-genetic communication, i.e. in the potential for symbiotic and/or mutualistic interaction between plants and their natural microbiota.}, } @article {pmid29594431, year = {2018}, author = {Tall, S and Meyling, NV}, title = {Probiotics for Plants? Growth Promotion by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana Depends on Nutrient Availability.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {1002-1008}, pmid = {29594431}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Beauveria/*physiology ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Pest Control, Biological ; Probiotics/*analysis ; Zea mays/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cultivation of crops requires nutrient supplements which are costly and impact the environment. Furthermore, global demands for increased crop production call for sustainable solutions to increase yield and utilize resources such as nutrients more effectively. Some entomopathogenic fungi are able to promote plant growth, but studies over such effects have been conducted under optimal conditions where nutrients are abundantly available. We studied the effects of Beauveria bassiana (strain GHA) seed treatment on the growth of maize (Zea mays) at high and low nutrient conditions during 6 weeks in greenhouse. As expected, B. bassiana seed treatment increased plant growth, but only at high nutrient conditions. In contrast, the seed treatment did not benefit plant growth at low nutrient conditions where the fungus potentially constituted a sink and tended to reduce plant growth. The occurrence of endophytic B. bassiana in experimental plant tissues was evaluated by PCR after 6 weeks, but B. bassiana was not documented in any of the above-ground plant tissues indicating that the fungus-plant interaction was independent of endophytic establishment. Our results suggest that B. bassiana seed treatment could be used as a growth promoter of maize when nutrients are abundantly available, while the fungus does not provide any growth benefits when nutrients are scarce.}, } @article {pmid29593768, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Q and Liu, J and Zhu, H}, title = {Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Symbiotic Specificity in Legume-Rhizobium Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {313}, pmid = {29593768}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes are able to form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria called rhizobia. The result of this symbiosis is to form nodules on the plant root, within which the bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia that can be used by the plant. Establishment of a successful symbiosis requires the two symbiotic partners to be compatible with each other throughout the process of symbiotic development. However, incompatibility frequently occurs, such that a bacterial strain is unable to nodulate a particular host plant or forms nodules that are incapable of fixing nitrogen. Genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate symbiotic specificity are diverse, involving a wide range of host and bacterial genes/signals with various modes of action. In this review, we will provide an update on our current knowledge of how the recognition specificity has evolved in the context of symbiosis signaling and plant immunity.}, } @article {pmid29593763, year = {2018}, author = {Azarakhsh, M and Lebedeva, MA and Lutova, LA}, title = {Identification and Expression Analysis of Medicago truncatula Isopentenyl Transferase Genes (IPTs) Involved in Local and Systemic Control of Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {304}, pmid = {29593763}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cytokinins are essential for legume plants to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia. Recently, the expression level of cytokinin biosynthesis IPTs (ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASES) genes was shown to be increased in response to rhizobial inoculation in Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum. In addition to its well-established positive role in nodule primordium initiation in root cortex, cytokinin negatively regulates infection processes in the epidermis. Moreover, it was reported that shoot-derived cytokinin inhibits the subsequent nodule formation through AON (autoregulation of nodulation) pathway. In L. japonicus, LjIPT3 gene was shown to be activated in the shoot phloem via the components of AON system, negatively affecting nodulation. However, in M. truncatula, the detailed analysis of MtIPTs expression, both in roots and shoots, in response to nodulation has not been performed yet, and the link between IPTs and AON has not been studied so far. In this study, we performed an extensive analysis of MtIPTs expression levels in different organs, focusing on the possible role of MtIPTs in nodule development. MtIPTs expression dynamics in inoculated roots suggest that besides its early established role in the nodule primordia development, cytokinin may be also important for later stages of nodulation. According to expression analysis, MtIPT3, MtIPT4, and MtIPT5 are activated in the shoots in response to inoculation. Among these genes, MtIPT3 is the only one the induction of which was not observed in leaves of the sunn-3 mutant defective in CLV1-like kinase, the key component of AON, suggesting that MtIPT3 is activated in the shoots in an AON-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings suggest that MtIPTs are involved in the nodule development at different stages, both locally in inoculated roots and systemically in shoots, where their expression can be activated in an AON-dependent manner.}, } @article {pmid29593686, year = {2018}, author = {Bird, AK and Prado-Irwin, SR and Vredenburg, VT and Zink, AG}, title = {Skin Microbiomes of California Terrestrial Salamanders Are Influenced by Habitat More Than Host Phylogeny.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {442}, pmid = {29593686}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R25 GM059298/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {A multitude of microorganisms live on and within plant and animal hosts, yet the ecology and evolution of these microbial communities remains poorly understood in many taxa. This study examined the extent to which environmental factors and host taxonomic identity explain microbiome variation within two salamander genera, Ensatina and Batrachoseps, in the family Plethodontidae. In particular, we assessed whether microbiome differentiation paralleled host genetic distance at three levels of taxonomy: genus and high and low clade levels within Ensatina eschscholtzii. We predicted that more genetically related host populations would have more similar microbiomes than more distantly related host populations. We found that salamander microbiomes possess bacterial species that are most likely acquired from their surrounding soil environment, but the relative representation of those bacterial species is significantly different on the skin of salamanders compared to soil. We found differences in skin microbiome alpha diversity among Ensatina higher and lower clade groups, as well as differences between Ensatina and Batrachoseps. We also found that relative microbiome composition (beta diversity) did vary between Ensatina lower clades, but differences were driven by only a few clades and not correlated to clade genetic distances. We conclude this difference was likely a result of Ensatina lower clades being associated with geographic location and habitat type, as salamander identity at higher taxonomic levels (genus and Ensatina higher clades) was a weak predictor of microbiome composition. These results lead us to conclude that environmental factors are likely playing a more significant role in salamander cutaneous microbiome assemblages than host-specific traits.}, } @article {pmid29590405, year = {2018}, author = {Sinclair, TR and Nogueira, MA}, title = {Selection of host-plant genotype: the next step to increase grain legume N2 fixation activity.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {15}, pages = {3523-3530}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ery115}, pmid = {29590405}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Bacteria ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fabaceae/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Genotype ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Shoots/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic N2 fixation research thus far has been primarily focused on selection of bacteria. However, little progress in impacting crop yields has resulted from this approach. Bacteria introduced in field soils rarely compete well with indigenous bacteria, including mutated lines selected for high nitrogen fixation capacity. Consequently, introduction of 'elite' bacteria in fields commonly does not result in crop yield increase. This review highlights that the primary regulation of N2 fixation is a result of response of integrated physiological activity at the plant level. Nitrogen feedback from the host plant plays an important role in regulating the N2 fixation rate. Rapid sequestration of fixed nitrogen by the plant is especially important for high N2 fixation activity. In addition, water cycling in the plant between the shoot and nodules plays a key role in sustaining high N2 fixation activity. Therefore, attention in selecting the host-plant genotype is suggested to be the next step to increasing N2 fixation activity of grain legumes.}, } @article {pmid29590351, year = {2018}, author = {Davis, TS and Mann, AJ and Malesky, D and Jankowski, E and Bradley, C}, title = {Laboratory and Field Evaluation of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) for Population Management of Spruce Beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), in Felled Trees and Factors Limiting Pathogen Success.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {47}, number = {3}, pages = {594-602}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvy036}, pmid = {29590351}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/*physiology ; Food Chain ; Herbivory ; *Pest Control, Biological ; *Picea/growth & development ; *Pinus/growth & development ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {An isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) was tested for its ability to reduce survival and reproduction of spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), under laboratory and field conditions. Conidial suspension applied directly to adults or to filter papers that adults contacted had a median survival time of 3-4 d in laboratory assays and beetles died more rapidly when exposed to conidial suspension than when treated with surfactant solution only. In the field, conidial suspension was applied to the surface of felled and pheromone-baited Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) trees using a backpack sprayer. Mortality of colonizing parent beetles (F0), reproduction (abundance of F1 offspring in logs), and emergence of F1 beetles from logs was compared between treated and nontreated logs. Application of spore suspension increased mortality of F0 adults by 36% on average. Total F1 reproduction was reduced by 17% and emergence from logs was reduced by 13% in treated logs, but considerable variability in reproduction and emergence was observed. Viable spores were re-isolated from treated logs up to 90 d after application, indicating that spores are capable of long-term persistence on the tree bole microhabitat. Subsequent in vitro tests revealed that temperatures below 15°C and exposure to spruce monoterpenes likely limit performance of B. bassiana under field conditions, but exposure to low-intensity light or interactions with spruce beetle symbiotic fungi were not strongly inhibitory. It is concluded that matching environmental tolerances of biocontrol fungi to field conditions can likely improve their usefulness for control of spruce beetle in windthrown trees.}, } @article {pmid29588379, year = {2018}, author = {Brand, P and Lin, W and Johnson, BR}, title = {The Draft Genome of the Invasive Walking Stick, Medauroidea extradendata, Reveals Extensive Lineage-Specific Gene Family Expansions of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes in Phasmatodea.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {1403-1408}, pmid = {29588379}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Wall/*enzymology ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Insect ; Insecta/*genetics ; *Introduced Species ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Multigene Family ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Plant cell wall components are the most abundant macromolecules on Earth. The study of the breakdown of these molecules is thus a central question in biology. Surprisingly, plant cell wall breakdown by herbivores is relatively poorly understood, as nearly all early work focused on the mechanisms used by symbiotic microbes to breakdown plant cell walls in insects such as termites. Recently, however, it has been shown that many organisms make endogenous cellulases. Insects, and other arthropods, in particular have been shown to express a variety of plant cell wall degrading enzymes in many gene families with the ability to break down all the major components of the plant cell wall. Here we report the genome of a walking stick, Medauroidea extradentata, an obligate herbivore that makes uses of endogenously produced plant cell wall degrading enzymes. We present a draft of the 3.3Gbp genome along with an official gene set that contains a diversity of plant cell wall degrading enzymes. We show that at least one of the major families of plant cell wall degrading enzymes, the pectinases, have undergone a striking lineage-specific gene family expansion in the Phasmatodea. This genome will be a useful resource for comparative evolutionary studies with herbivores in many other clades and will help elucidate the mechanisms by which metazoans breakdown plant cell wall components.}, } @article {pmid29588346, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, Y and Chaudhary, N and Yang, N and Granato, A and Turner, JA and Howard, SL and Devereaux, C and Zuo, T and Shrestha, A and Goel, RR and Neuberg, D and Wesemann, DR}, title = {Microbial symbionts regulate the primary Ig repertoire.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental medicine}, volume = {215}, number = {5}, pages = {1397-1415}, pmid = {29588346}, issn = {1540-9538}, support = {P40 OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI113217/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI121394/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007306/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Clone Cells ; Germ-Free Life ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region/metabolism ; Immunoglobulins/*metabolism ; Intestine, Small/microbiology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell/metabolism ; Spleen/cytology ; *Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes/cytology ; }, abstract = {The ability of immunoglobulin (Ig) to recognize pathogens is critical for optimal immune fitness. Early events that shape preimmune Ig repertoires, expressed on IgM[+] IgD[+] B cells as B cell receptors (BCRs), are poorly defined. Here, we studied germ-free mice and conventionalized littermates to explore the hypothesis that symbiotic microbes help shape the preimmune Ig repertoire. Ig-binding assays showed that exposure to conventional microbial symbionts enriched frequencies of antibacterial IgM[+] IgD[+] B cells in intestine and spleen. This enrichment affected follicular B cells, involving a diverse set of Ig-variable region gene segments, and was T cell-independent. Functionally, enrichment of microbe reactivity primed basal levels of small intestinal T cell-independent, symbiont-reactive IgA and enhanced systemic IgG responses to bacterial immunization. These results demonstrate that microbial symbionts influence host immunity by enriching frequencies of antibacterial specificities within preimmune B cell repertoires and that this may have consequences for mucosal and systemic immunity.}, } @article {pmid29587855, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, M and Peng, YJ and Chen, Y and Klinger, CM and Oba, M and Liu, JX and Guan, LL}, title = {Assessment of microbiome changes after rumen transfaunation: implications on improving feed efficiency in beef cattle.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {62}, pmid = {29587855}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {2010R024R//Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency/International ; ABP0009-036//Alberta Beef Producer/International ; Discovery//National Science Engineering Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Archaea/classification/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Cattle ; Fermentation ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota ; Rumen/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the host impact on its symbiotic microbiota is important in redirecting the rumen microbiota and thus improving animal performance. The current study aimed to understand how rumen microbiota were altered and re-established after being emptied and receiving content from donor, thus to understand the impact of such process on rumen microbial fermentation and to explore the microbial phylotypes with higher manipulation potentials.

RESULTS: Individual animal had strong effect on the re-establishment of the bacterial community according to the observed profiles detected by both fingerprinting and pyrosequencing. Most of the bacterial profile recovery patterns and extents at genus level varied among steers; and each identified bacterial genus responded to transfaunation differently within each host. Coriobacteriaceae, Coprococcus, and Lactobacillus were found to be the most responsive and tunable genera by exchanging rumen content. Besides, the association of 18 bacterial phylotypes with host fermentation parameters suggest that these phylotypes should also be considered as the regulating targets in improving host feed efficiency. In addition, the archaeal community had different re-establishment patterns for each host as determined by fingerprint profiling: it was altered after receiving non-native microbiome in some animals, while it resumed its original status after the adaptation period in the other ones.

CONCLUSIONS: The highly individualized microbial re-establishment process suggested the importance of considering host genetics, microbial functional genomics, and host fermentation/performance assessment when developing effective and selective microbial manipulation methods for improving animal feed efficiency.}, } @article {pmid29587445, year = {2018}, author = {Mullins, A and Su, NY}, title = {Parental Nitrogen Transfer and Apparent Absence of N2 Fixation during Colony Foundation in Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29587445}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Colony foundation and early growth is a critical period in the life-cycle of a termite colony, as the initial family unit is resource limited. One such resource is nitrogen, which is essential for initial colony growth. This study examined the whole-colony nitrogen inventory during foundation and early growth of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki colonies. It was hypothesized that termite colonies would go through an initial period of parental investment, representing a transfer of nitrogen to the first brood, and that once a functional worker caste was present, further provisioning in the form of intrinsic N2 fixation would occur. Our results showed that, when in nitrogen-poor rearing conditions, the king and queen initially transferred half of their nitrogen reserves to their first brood. However, the total nitrogen content in colonies did not increase over a 12 month period, despite the presence of functional workers. Furthermore, colonies did not increase their biomass beyond the initial parental investment. Together, these results imply that nitrogen acquisition in incipient C. formosanus colonies relies on environmental or dietary sources, rather than the putative fixation through symbiotic diazotrophs.}, } @article {pmid29584555, year = {2019}, author = {Garcia-Gutierrez, E and Mayer, MJ and Cotter, PD and Narbad, A}, title = {Gut microbiota as a source of novel antimicrobials.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {1-21}, pmid = {29584555}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {BBS/E/F/00042220/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004529/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004529/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/000PR10356/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/00044453/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/F/00042241/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/chemistry/drug effects/*metabolism ; Bacteriocins/isolation & purification/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya and viruses coexist in the human gut, and this coexistence is functionally balanced by symbiotic or antagonistic relationships. Antagonism is often characterized by the production of antimicrobials against other organisms occupying the same environmental niche. Indeed, close co-evolution in the gut has led to the development of specialized antimicrobials, which is attracting increased attention as these may serve as novel alternatives to antibiotics and thereby help to address the global problem of antimicrobial resistance. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is especially suitable for finding novel antimicrobials due to the vast array of microbes that inhabit it, and a considerable number of antimicrobial producers of both wide and narrow spectrum have been described. In this review, we summarize some of the antimicrobial compounds that are produced by bacteria isolated from the gut environment, with a special focus on bacteriocins. We also evaluate the potential therapeutic application of these compounds to maintain homeostasis in the gut and the biocontrol of pathogenic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid29578639, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, H and Zhang, C and Yang, J and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {Hormone modulation of legume-rhizobial symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {60}, number = {8}, pages = {632-648}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12653}, pmid = {29578639}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Brassinosteroids/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants can establish symbiotic associations with diazotropic rhizobia to form nitrogen-fixating nodules, which are classified as determinate or indeterminate based on the persistence of nodule meristem. The formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules requires coordinating rhizobial infection and root nodule organogenesis. The formation of an infection thread and the extent of nodule formation are largely under plant control, but vary with environmental conditions and the physiological state of the host plants. Many achievements in these two areas have been made in recent decades. Phytohormone signaling pathways have gradually emerged as important regulators of root nodule symbiosis. Cytokinin, strigolactones (SLs) and local accumulation of auxin can promote nodule development. Ethylene, jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) all negatively regulate infection thread formation and nodule development. However, salicylic acid (SA) and brassinosteroids (BRs) have different effects on the formation of these two nodule types. Some peptide hormones are also involved in nodulation. This review summarizes recent findings on the roles of these plant hormones in legume-rhizobial symbiosis, and we propose that DELLA proteins may function as a node to integrate plant hormones to regulate nodulation.}, } @article {pmid29576473, year = {2018}, author = {Pende, N and Wang, J and Weber, PM and Verheul, J and Kuru, E and Rittmann, SKR and Leisch, N and VanNieuwenhze, MS and Brun, YV and den Blaauwen, T and Bulgheresi, S}, title = {Host-Polarized Cell Growth in Animal Symbionts.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {1039-1051.e5}, pmid = {29576473}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {P 28743/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R01 GM051986/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM122556/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P 28593/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R01 GM113172/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/*growth & development/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Peptidoglycan/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To determine the fundamentals of cell growth, we must extend cell biological studies to non-model organisms. Here, we investigated the growth modes of the only two rods known to widen instead of elongating, Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti and Thiosymbion hypermnestrae. These bacteria are attached by one pole to the surface of their respective nematode hosts. By incubating live Ca. T. oneisti and T. hypermnestrae with a peptidoglycan metabolic probe, we observed that the insertion of new cell wall starts at the poles and proceeds inward, concomitantly with FtsZ-based membrane constriction. Remarkably, in Ca. T. hypermnestrae, the proximal, animal-attached pole grows before the distal, free pole, indicating that the peptidoglycan synthesis machinery is host oriented. Immunostaining of the symbionts with an antibody against the actin homolog MreB revealed that it was arranged medially-that is, parallel to the cell long axis-throughout the symbiont life cycle. Given that depolymerization of MreB abolished newly synthesized peptidoglycan insertion and impaired divisome assembly, we conclude that MreB function is required for symbiont widening and division. In conclusion, our data invoke a reassessment of the localization and function of the bacterial actin homolog.}, } @article {pmid29576402, year = {2018}, author = {Tong, W and Li, X and Huo, Y and Zhang, L and Cao, Y and Wang, E and Chen, W and Tao, S and Wei, G}, title = {Genomic insight into the taxonomy of Rhizobium genospecies that nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {300-310}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2018.03.001}, pmid = {29576402}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Due to the wide cultivation of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), rhizobia associated with this plant have been isolated from many different geographical regions. In order to investigate the species diversity of bean rhizobia, comparative genome sequence analysis was performed in the present study for 69 Rhizobium strains mainly isolated from root nodules of bean and clover (Trifolium spp.). Based on genome average nucleotide identity, digital DNA:DNA hybridization, and phylogenetic analysis of 1,458 single-copy core genes, these strains were classified into 28 clusters, consistent with their species definition based on multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of atpD, glnII, and recA. The bean rhizobia were found in 16 defined species and nine putative novel species; in addition, 35 strains previously described as Rhizobium etli, Rhizobium phaseoli, Rhizobium vallis, Rhizobium gallicum, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium spp. should be renamed. The phylogenetic patterns of symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were highly host-specific and inconsistent with the genomic phylogeny. Multiple symbiovars (sv.) within the Rhizobium species were found as a common feature: sv. phaseoli, sv. trifolii and sv. viciae in Rhizobium anhuiense; sv. phaseoli and sv. mimosae in Rhizobium sophoriradicis/R. etli/Rhizobium sp. III; sv. phaseoli and sv. trifolii in Rhizobium hidalgonense/Rhizobium acidisoli; sv. phaseoli and sv. viciae in R. leguminosarum/Rhizobium sp. IX; sv. trifolii and sv. viciae in Rhizobium laguerreae. Thus, genomic comparison revealed great species diversity in bean rhizobia, corrected the species definition of some previously misnamed strains, and demonstrated the MLSA a valuable and simple method for defining Rhizobium species.}, } @article {pmid29575688, year = {2018}, author = {Ghorbani, A and Razavi, SM and Ghasemi Omran, VO and Pirdashti, H}, title = {Piriformospora indica inoculation alleviates the adverse effect of NaCl stress on growth, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {729-736}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12717}, pmid = {29575688}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Betaine/metabolism ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/chemistry/metabolism ; Fluorescence ; Solanum lycopersicum/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/physiology ; Potassium/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Salt Tolerance ; Sodium/metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/*toxicity ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Salinity is now an increasingly serious environmental issue that affects the growth and yield of many plants. In the present work, the influence of inoculation with the symbiotic fungus, Piriformospora indica, on gas exchange, water potential, osmolyte content, Na/K ratio and chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato plants under three salinity levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 mm NaCl) and three time periods (5, 10 and 15 days after exposure to salt) was investigated. Results indicate that P. indica inoculation improved growth parameters of tomato under salinity stress. This symbiotic fungus significantly increased photosynthetic pigment content under salinity, and more proline and glycine betaine accumulated in inoculated roots than in non-inoculated roots. P. indica further significantly improved K[+] content and reduced Na[+] level under salinity treatment. After inoculation with the endophytic fungus, leaf physiological parameters, such as water potential, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration, were all higher under the salt concentrations and durations compared with controls without P. indica. With increasing salt level and salt treatment duration, values of F0 and qP increased but Fm , Fv /Fm , F'v /F'm and NPQ declined in the controls, while inoculation with P. indica improved these values. The results indicate that the negative effects of NaCl on tomato plants were alleviated after P. indica inoculation, probably by improving physiological parameters such as water status and photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid29575448, year = {2018}, author = {Tsementzi, D and Castro Gordillo, J and Mahagna, M and Gottlieb, Y and Konstantinidis, KT}, title = {Comparison of closely related, uncultivated Coxiella tick endosymbiont population genomes reveals clues about the mechanisms of symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {1751-1764}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14104}, pmid = {29575448}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Coxiella/*genetics/*physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Metagenomics ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Ticks/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding the symbiotic interaction between Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLE) and their tick hosts is challenging due to lack of isolates and difficulties in tick functional assays. Here we sequenced the metagenome of a CLE population from wild Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks (CRs) and compared it to the previously published genome of its close relative, CLE of R. turanicus (CRt). The tick hosts are closely related sympatric species, and their two endosymbiont genomes are highly similar with only minor differences in gene content. Both genomes encode numerous pseudogenes, consistent with an ongoing genome reduction process. In silico flux balance metabolic analysis (FBA) revealed the excess production of L-proline for both genomes, indicating a possible proline transport from Coxiella to the tick. Additionally, both CR genomes encode multiple copies of the proline/betaine transporter, proP gene. Modelling additional Coxiellaceae members including other tick CLE, did not identify proline as an excreted metabolite. Although both CRs and CRt genomes encode intact B vitamin synthesis pathway genes, which are presumed to underlay the mechanism of CLE-tick symbiosis, the FBA analysis indicated no changes for their products. Therefore, this study provides new testable hypotheses for the symbiosis mechanism and a better understanding of CLE genome evolution and diversity.}, } @article {pmid29574753, year = {2018}, author = {Lu, KJ and Danila, FR and Cho, Y and Faulkner, C}, title = {Peeking at a plant through the holes in the wall - exploring the roles of plasmodesmata.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {4}, pages = {1310-1314}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15130}, pmid = {29574753}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Calcium Signaling ; Cell Wall/*physiology ; Circadian Clocks ; Genome, Plant ; Plasmodesmata/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plasmodesmata (PD) are membrane-lined pores that connect neighbouring plant cells and allow molecular exchange via the symplast. Past studies have revealed the basic structure of PD, some of the transport mechanisms for molecules through PD, and a variety of physiological processes in which they function. Recently, with the help of newly developed technologies, several exciting new features of PD have been revealed. New PD structures were observed during early formation of PD and between phloem sieve elements and phloem pole pericycle cells in roots. Both observations challenge our current understanding of PD structure and function. Research into novel physiological responses, which are regulated by PD, indicates that we have not yet fully explored the potential contribution of PD to overall plant function. In this Viewpoint article, we summarize some of the recent advances in understanding the structure and function of PD and propose the challenges ahead for the community.}, } @article {pmid29573508, year = {2018}, author = {García de León, D and Davison, J and Moora, M and Öpik, M and Feng, H and Hiiesalu, I and Jairus, T and Koorem, K and Liu, Y and Phosri, C and Sepp, SK and Vasar, M and Zobel, M}, title = {Anthropogenic disturbance equalizes diversity levels in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {2649-2659}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14131}, pmid = {29573508}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/analysis ; *Ecosystem ; *Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a key plant-microbe interaction in sustainable functioning ecosystems. Increasing anthropogenic disturbance poses a threat to AM fungal communities worldwide, but there is little empirical evidence about its potential negative consequences. In this global study, we sequenced AM fungal DNA in soil samples collected from pairs of natural (undisturbed) and anthropogenic (disturbed) plots in two ecosystem types (10 naturally wooded and six naturally unwooded ecosystems). We found that ecosystem type had stronger directional effects than anthropogenic disturbance on AM fungal alpha and beta diversity. However, disturbance increased alpha and beta diversity at sites where natural diversity was low and decreased diversity at sites where natural diversity was high. Cultured AM fungal taxa were more prevalent in anthropogenic than natural plots, probably due to their efficient colonization strategies and ability to recover from disturbance. We conclude that anthropogenic disturbance does not have a consistent directional effect on AM fungal diversity; rather, disturbance equalizes levels of diversity at large scales and causes changes in community functional structure.}, } @article {pmid29573358, year = {2018}, author = {Brouwer, P and Schluepmann, H and Nierop, KG and Elderson, J and Bijl, PK and van der Meer, I and de Visser, W and Reichart, GJ and Smeekens, S and van der Werf, A}, title = {Growing Azolla to produce sustainable protein feed: the effect of differing species and CO2 concentrations on biomass productivity and chemical composition.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {98}, number = {12}, pages = {4759-4768}, pmid = {29573358}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*analysis ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tracheophyta/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Since available arable land is limited and nitrogen fertilizers pollute the environment, cropping systems ought to be developed that do not rely on them. Here we investigate the rapidly growing, N2 -fixing Azolla/Nostoc symbiosis for its potential productivity and chemical composition to determine its potential as protein feed.

RESULTS: In a small production system, cultures of Azolla pinnata and Azolla filiculoides were continuously harvested for over 100 days, yielding an average productivity of 90.0-97.2 kg dry weight (DW) ha[-1]  d[-1] . Under ambient CO2 levels, N2 fixation by the fern's cyanobacterial symbionts accounted for all nitrogen in the biomass. Proteins made up 176-208 g kg[-1] DW (4.9 × total nitrogen), depending on species and CO2 treatment, and contained more essential amino acids than protein from soybean. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (800 ppm) significantly boosted biomass production by 36-47%, without decreasing protein content. Choice of species and CO2 concentrations further affected the biomass content of lipids (79-100 g kg[-1] DW) and (poly)phenols (21-69 g kg[-1] DW).

CONCLUSIONS: By continuous harvesting, high protein yields can be obtained from Azolla cultures, without the need for nitrogen fertilization. High levels of (poly)phenols likely contribute to limitations in the inclusion rate of Azolla in animal diets and need further investigation. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid29573278, year = {2018}, author = {Strullu-Derrien, C and Selosse, MA and Kenrick, P and Martin, FM}, title = {The origin and evolution of mycorrhizal symbioses: from palaeomycology to phylogenomics.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1012-1030}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15076}, pmid = {29573278}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/International ; //US Department of Energy through the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Scientific Focus Area for Genomics Foundational Sciences/International ; //Region Lorraine Research Council/International ; //Fondation de France/International ; 2015/18/A/NZ8/00149//National Science Centre/International ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Paleontology ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 1012 I. Introduction 1013 II. The mycorrhizal symbiosis at the dawn and rise of the land flora 1014 III. From early land plants to early trees: the origin of roots and true mycorrhizas 1016 IV. The diversification of the AM symbiosis 1019 V. The ECM symbiosis 1021 VI. The recently evolved ericoid and orchid mycorrhizas 1023 VII. Limits of paleontological vs genetic approaches and perspectives 1023 Acknowledgements 1025 References 1025 SUMMARY: The ability of fungi to form mycorrhizas with plants is one of the most remarkable and enduring adaptations to life on land. The occurrence of mycorrhizas is now well established in c. 85% of extant plants, yet the geological record of these associations is sparse. Fossils preserved under exceptional conditions provide tantalizing glimpses into the evolutionary history of mycorrhizas, showing the extent of their occurrence and aspects of their evolution in extinct plants. The fossil record has important roles to play in establishing a chronology of when key fungal associations evolved and in understanding their importance in ecosystems through time. Together with calibrated phylogenetic trees, these approaches extend our understanding of when and how groups evolved in the context of major environmental change on a global scale. Phylogenomics furthers this understanding into the evolution of different types of mycorrhizal associations, and genomic studies of both plants and fungi are shedding light on how the complex set of symbiotic traits evolved. Here we present a review of the main phases of the evolution of mycorrhizal interactions from palaeontological, phylogenetic and genomic perspectives, with the aim of highlighting the potential of fossil material and a geological perspective in a cross-disciplinary approach.}, } @article {pmid29573244, year = {2018}, author = {Pootakham, W and Mhuantong, W and Putchim, L and Yoocha, T and Sonthirod, C and Kongkachana, W and Sangsrakru, D and Naktang, C and Jomchai, N and Thongtham, N and Tangphatsornruang, S}, title = {Dynamics of coral-associated microbiomes during a thermal bleaching event.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e00604}, pmid = {29573244}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics ; Microbiota/*radiation effects ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral-associated microorganisms play an important role in their host fitness and survival. A number of studies have demonstrated connections between thermal tolerance in corals and the type/relative abundance of Symbiodinium they harbor. More recently, the shifts in coral-associated bacterial profiles were also shown to be linked to the patterns of coral heat tolerance. Here, we investigated the dynamics of Porites lutea-associated bacterial and algal communities throughout a natural bleaching event, using full-length 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS) obtained from PacBio circular consensus sequencing. We provided evidence of significant changes in the structure and diversity of coral-associated microbiomes during thermal stress. The balance of the symbiosis shifted from a predominant association between corals and Gammaproteobacteria to a predominance of Alphaproteobacteria and to a lesser extent Betaproteobacteria following the bleaching event. On the contrary, the composition and diversity of Symbiodinium communities remained unaltered throughout the bleaching event. It appears that the switching and/or shuffling of Symbiodinium types may not be the primary mechanism used by P. lutea to cope with increasing seawater temperature. The shifts in the structure and diversity of associated bacterial communities may contribute more to the survival of the coral holobiont under heat stress.}, } @article {pmid29572845, year = {2018}, author = {Peng, WT and Zhang, LD and Zhou, Z and Fu, C and Chen, ZC and Liao, H}, title = {Magnesium promotes root nodulation through facilitation of carbohydrate allocation in soybean.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12730}, pmid = {29572845}, issn = {1399-3054}, abstract = {Magnesium (Mg) is an essential element for the growth of both plants and bacteria. Low availability of Mg in agriculture can limit crop productivity and quality. In addition to direct effects on plant growth, limited Mg supply may also impact biological dinitrogen (N2) fixation in nodules formed from symbiotic interactions between legumes and rhizobial bacteria. To date, the physiological mechanisms involved in Mg-dependent nodulation remains largely unknown. The objectives of this work were to assess how Mg supply affects nodule growth and development in symbiotic systems, and to test if any observed changes in nodule and soybean are correlated with Mg supply. Here, we found that external Mg supply enhanced nodule growth under nitrogen (N) limited conditions, and subsequently improved N2 fixation and soybean growth. Mg supply altered neither nodule structure nor Mg homeostasis, but remarkably promoted nodule enlargement, resulting in an increase in the number of big nodules. In addition, high Mg supply decreased starch and sucrose accumulation in leaves, and increased their concentrations in roots, which consequently enhanced carbohydrate import into the rhizobia infection zone of nodules. In this study, Mg was shown to promote nodule growth in soybean. This Mg-promoted nodule growth is derived from Mg-facilitated alteration of carbohydrate partitioning and transport into nodules.}, } @article {pmid29571921, year = {2018}, author = {Mwenda, GM and O'Hara, GW and De Meyer, SE and Howieson, JG and Terpolilli, JJ}, title = {Genetic diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of Phaseolus vulgaris-nodulating rhizobia in Kenya.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {291-299}, pmid = {29571921}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Kenya ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) was introduced to Kenya several centuries ago but the rhizobia that nodulate it in the country remain poorly characterised. To address this gap in knowledge, 178 isolates recovered from the root nodules of P. vulgaris cultivated in Kenya were genotyped stepwise by the analysis of genomic DNA fingerprints, PCR-RFLP and 16S rRNA, atpD, recA and nodC gene sequences. Results indicated that P. vulgaris in Kenya is nodulated by at least six Rhizobium genospecies, with most of the isolates belonging to Rhizobium phaseoli and a possibly novel Rhizobium species. Infrequently, isolates belonged to Rhizobium paranaense, Rhizobium leucaenae, Rhizobium sophoriradicis and Rhizobium aegyptiacum. Despite considerable core-gene heterogeneity among the isolates, only four nodC gene alleles were observed indicating conservation within this gene. Testing of the capacity of the isolates to fix nitrogen (N2) in symbiosis with P. vulgaris revealed wide variations in effectiveness, with ten isolates comparable to Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, a commercial inoculant strain for P. vulgaris. In addition to unveiling effective native rhizobial strains with potential as inoculants in Kenya, this study demonstrated that Kenyan soils harbour diverse P. vulgaris-nodulating rhizobia, some of which formed phylogenetic clusters distinct from known lineages. The native rhizobia differed by site, suggesting that field inoculation of P. vulgaris may need to be locally optimised.}, } @article {pmid29571219, year = {2019}, author = {Li, Y and Ruan, YY and Stanley, EL and Skelton, J and Hulcr, J}, title = {Plasticity of mycangia in Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {732-742}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12590}, pmid = {29571219}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animal Structures/diagnostic imaging ; Animals ; Female ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*microbiology ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {Insects that depend on microbial mutualists evolved a variety of organs to transport the microsymbionts while dispersing. The ontogeny and variability of such organs is rarely studied, and the microsymbiont's effects on the animal tissue development remain unknown in most cases. Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae or Platypodinae) and their mutualistic fungi are an ideal system to study the animal-fungus interactions. While the interspecific diversity of their fungus transport organ-mycangia-is well-known, their developmental plasticity has been poorly described. To determine the ontogeny of the mycangium and the influence of the symbiotic fungus on the tissue development, we dissected by hand or scanned with micro-CT the mycangia in various developmental stages in five Xylosandrus ambrosia beetle species that possess a large, mesonotal mycangium: Xylosandrus amputatus, Xylosandrus compactus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, Xylosandrus discolor, and Xylosandrus germanus. We processed 181 beetle samples from the United States and China. All five species displayed three stages of the mycangium development: (1) young teneral adults had an empty, deflated and cryptic mycangium without fungal mass; (2) in fully mature adults during dispersal, the pro-mesonotal membrane was inflated, and most individuals developed a mycangium mostly filled with the symbiont, though size and symmetry varied; and (3) after successful establishment of their new galleries, most females discharged the bulk of the fungal inoculum and deflated the mycangium. Experimental aposymbiotic individuals demonstrated that the pronotal membrane invaginated independently of the presence of the fungus, but the fungus was required for inflation. Mycangia are more dynamic than previously thought, and their morphological changes correspond to the phases of the symbiosis. Importantly, studies of the fungal symbionts or plant pathogen transmission in ambrosia beetles need to consider which developmental stage to sample. We provide illustrations of the different stages, including microphotography of dissections and micro-CT scans.}, } @article {pmid29570981, year = {2018}, author = {Kust, A and Mareš, J and Jokela, J and Urajová, P and Hájek, J and Saurav, K and Voráčová, K and Fewer, DP and Haapaniemi, E and Permi, P and Řeháková, K and Sivonen, K and Hrouzek, P}, title = {Discovery of a Pederin Family Compound in a Nonsymbiotic Bloom-Forming Cyanobacterium.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {1123-1129}, doi = {10.1021/acschembio.7b01048}, pmid = {29570981}, issn = {1554-8937}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Multigene Family ; Peptide Synthases/metabolism ; Polyketide Synthases/metabolism ; Polyketides/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {The pederin family includes a number of bioactive compounds isolated from symbiotic organisms of diverse evolutionary origin. Pederin is linked to beetle-induced dermatitis in humans, and pederin family members possess potent antitumor activity caused by selective inhibition of the eukaryotic ribosome. Their biosynthesis is accomplished by a polyketide/nonribosomal peptide synthetase machinery employing an unusual trans-acyltransferase mechanism. Here, we report a novel pederin type compound, cusperin, from the free-living cyanobacterium Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi (earlier Aphanizomenon). The chemical structure of cusperin is similar to that of nosperin recently isolated from the lichen cyanobiont Nostoc sharing the tehrahydropyran moiety and major part of the linear backbone. However, the cusperin molecule is extended by a glycine residue and lacks one hydroxyl substituent. Pederins were previously thought to be exclusive to symbiotic relationships. However, C. issatschenkoi is a nonsymbiotic planktonic organism and a frequent component of toxic water blooms. Cusperin is devoid of the cytotoxic activity reported for other pederin family members. Hence, our findings raise questions about the role of pederin analogues in cyanobacteria and broaden the knowledge of ecological distribution of this group of polyketides.}, } @article {pmid29570877, year = {2018}, author = {Zeng, T and Holmer, R and Hontelez, J and Te Lintel-Hekkert, B and Marufu, L and de Zeeuw, T and Wu, F and Schijlen, E and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {Host- and stage-dependent secretome of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {411-425}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13908}, pmid = {29570877}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Chive/genetics/microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics/physiology ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Genes, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form the most wide-spread endosymbiosis with plants. There is very little host specificity in this interaction, however host preferences as well as varying symbiotic efficiencies have been observed. We hypothesize that secreted proteins (SPs) may act as fungal effectors to control symbiotic efficiency in a host-dependent manner. Therefore, we studied whether arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi adjust their secretome in a host- and stage-dependent manner to contribute to their extremely wide host range. We investigated the expression of SP-encoding genes of Rhizophagus irregularis in three evolutionary distantly related plant species, Medicago truncatula, Nicotiana benthamiana and Allium schoenoprasum. In addition we used laser microdissection in combination with RNA-seq to study SP expression at different stages of the interaction in Medicago. Our data indicate that most expressed SPs show roughly equal expression levels in the interaction with all three host plants. In addition, a subset shows significant differential expression depending on the host plant. Furthermore, SP expression is controlled locally in the hyphal network in response to host-dependent cues. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the R. irregularis secretome, which now offers a solid basis to direct functional studies on the role of fungal SPs in AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29569632, year = {2018}, author = {Alonso-Pernas, P and Bartram, S and Arias-Cordero, EM and Novoselov, AL and Halty-deLeon, L and Shao, Y and Boland, W}, title = {Corrigendum: In Vivo Isotopic Labeling of Symbiotic Bacteria Involved in Cellulose Degradation and Nitrogen Recycling within the Gut of the Forest Cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {488}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2018.00488}, pmid = {29569632}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article on p. 1970 in vol. 8, PMID: 29075241.].}, } @article {pmid29569607, year = {2018}, author = {Jia, G and Zhi, A and Lai, PFH and Wang, G and Xia, Y and Xiong, Z and Zhang, H and Che, N and Ai, L}, title = {The oral microbiota - a mechanistic role for systemic diseases.}, journal = {British dental journal}, volume = {224}, number = {6}, pages = {447-455}, pmid = {29569607}, issn = {1476-5373}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Biofilms ; Diet ; Disease Susceptibility/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Smoking ; Socioeconomic Factors ; }, abstract = {Human oral microbiota is the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms found in the oral cavity. Oral microbiota generally exists in the form of a biofilm and plays a crucial role in maintaining oral homeostasis, protecting the oral cavity and preventing disease development. Human oral microbiota has recently become a new focus research for promoting the progress of disease diagnosis, assisting disease treatment, and developing personalised medicines. In this review, the scientific evidence supporting the association that endogenous and exogenous factors (diet, smoking, drinking, socioeconomic status, antibiotics use and pregnancy) modulate oral microbiota. It provides insights into the mechanistic role in which oral microbiota may influence systemic diseases, and summarises the challenges of clinical diagnosis and treatment based on the microbial community information. It provides information for noninvasive diagnosis and helps develop a new paradigm of personalised medicine. All these benefit human health in the post-metagenomics era.}, } @article {pmid29568248, year = {2018}, author = {Nikolouli, K and Colinet, H and Renault, D and Enriquez, T and Mouton, L and Gibert, P and Sassu, F and Cáceres, C and Stauffer, C and Pereira, R and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Sterile insect technique and Wolbachia symbiosis as potential tools for the control of the invasive species Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Journal of pest science}, volume = {91}, number = {2}, pages = {489-503}, pmid = {29568248}, issn = {1612-4758}, support = {I 2604/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 26749/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Drosophila suzukii, a vinegar fly originated from Southeast Asia, has recently invaded western countries, and it has been recognized as an important threat of a wide variety of several commercial soft fruits. This review summarizes the current information about the biology and dispersal of D. suzukii and discusses the current status and prospects of control methods for the management of this pest. We highlight current knowledge and ongoing research on innovative environmental-friendly control methods with emphasis on the sterile insect technique (SIT) and the incompatible insect technique (IIT). SIT has been successfully used for the containment, suppression or even eradication of populations of insect pests. IIT has been proposed as a stand-alone tool or in conjunction with SIT for insect pest control. The principles of SIT and IIT are reviewed, and the potential value of each approach in the management of D. suzukii is analyzed. We thoroughly address the challenges of SIT and IIT, and we propose the use of SIT as a component of an area-wide integrated pest management approach to suppress D. suzukii populations. As a contingency plan, we suggest a promising alternative avenue through the combination of these two techniques, SIT/IIT, which has been developed and is currently being tested in open-field trials against Aedes mosquito populations. All the potential limiting factors that may render these methods ineffective, as well as the requirements that need to be fulfilled before their application, are discussed.}, } @article {pmid29567956, year = {2018}, author = {Kawashima, T and Ikari, N and Kouchi, T and Kowatari, Y and Kubota, Y and Shimojo, N and Tsuji, NM}, title = {The molecular mechanism for activating IgA production by Pediococcus acidilactici K15 and the clinical impact in a randomized trial.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {5065}, pmid = {29567956}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; Dendritic Cells/metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Interleukin-10/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Interleukin-6/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Intestine, Small/*metabolism/microbiology ; Lactobacillales/immunology/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pediococcus acidilactici/immunology/*metabolism ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics/metabolism ; Saliva/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {IgA secretion at mucosal sites is important for host defence against pathogens as well as maintaining the symbiosis with microorganisms present in the small intestine that affect IgA production. In the present study, we tested the ability of 5 strains of lactic acid bacteria stimulating IgA production, being Pediococcus acidilactici K15 selected as the most effective on inducing this protective immunoglobulin. We found that this response was mainly induced via IL-10, as efficiently as IL-6, secreted by K15-stimulated dendritic cells. Furthermore, bacterial RNA was largely responsible for the induction of these cytokines; double-stranded RNA was a major causative molecule for IL-6 production whereas single-stranded RNA was critical factor for IL-10 production. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, ingestion of K15 significantly increased the secretory IgA (sIgA) concentration in saliva compared with the basal level observed before this intervention. These results indicate that functional lactic acid bacteria induce IL-6 and IL-10 production by dendritic cells, which contribute to upregulating the sIgA concentration at mucosal sites in humans.}, } @article {pmid29567708, year = {2018}, author = {Zitvogel, L and Ma, Y and Raoult, D and Kroemer, G and Gajewski, TF}, title = {The microbiome in cancer immunotherapy: Diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {359}, number = {6382}, pages = {1366-1370}, doi = {10.1126/science.aar6918}, pmid = {29567708}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunotherapy/*methods ; Metagenome ; Neoplasms/diagnosis/*microbiology/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The fine line between human health and disease can be driven by the interplay between host and microbial factors. This "metagenome" regulates cancer initiation, progression, and response to therapies. Besides the capacity of distinct microbial species to modulate the pharmacodynamics of chemotherapeutic drugs, symbiosis between epithelial barriers and their microbial ecosystems has a major impact on the local and distant immune system, markedly influencing clinical outcome in cancer patients. Efficacy of cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint antibodies can be diminished with administration of antibiotics, and superior efficacy is observed with the presence of specific gut microbes. Future strategies of precision medicine will likely rely on novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools with which to identify and correct defects in the microbiome that compromise therapeutic efficacy.}, } @article {pmid29566905, year = {2017}, author = {Jazayeri, O and Daghighi, SM and Rezaee, F}, title = {Lifestyle alters GUT-bacteria function: Linking immune response and host.}, journal = {Best practice & research. Clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {625-635}, doi = {10.1016/j.bpg.2017.09.009}, pmid = {29566905}, issn = {1532-1916}, mesh = {Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; *Life Style ; Microbiota/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Microbiota in human is a "mixture society" of different species (i.e. bacteria, viruses, funguses) populations with a different way of relationship classification to Human. Human GUT serves as the host of the majority of different bacterial populations (GUT flora, more than 500 species), which are with us ("from the beginning") in an innate manner known as the commensal (no harm to each other) and symbiotic (mutual benefit) relationship. A homeostatic balance of host-bacteria relationship is very important and vital for a normal health process. However, this beneficial relationship and delicate homeostatic state can be disrupted by the imbalance of microbiome-composition of gut microbiota, expressing a pathogenic state. A strict homeostatic balance of microbiome-composition strongly depends on several factors; 1- lifestyle, 2- geography, 3- ethnicities, 4- "mom" as prime of the type of bacterial colonization in infant and 5- the disease. With such diversity in individuals combined with huge number of different bacterial species and their interactions, it is wise to perform an in-depth systems biology (e.g. genomics, proteomics, glycomics, and etcetera) analysis of personalized microbiome. Only in this way, we are able to generate a map of complete GUT microbiota and, in turn, to determine its interaction with host and intra-interaction with pathogenic bacteria. A specific microbiome analysis provides us the knowledge to decipher the nature of interactions between the GUT microbiota and the host and its response to the invading bacteria in a pathogenic state. The GUT-bacteria composition is independent of geography and ethnicity but lifestyle well affects GUT-bacteria composition and function. Microbiome knowledge obtained by systems biology also helps us to change the behavior of GUT microbiota in response to the pathogenic microbes as protection. Functional microbiome changes in response to environmental factors will be discussed in this review.}, } @article {pmid29565291, year = {2018}, author = {Doty, SL}, title = {Symbiotic Plant-Bacterial Endospheric Interactions.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29565291}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {While plant-microbe symbioses involving root nodules (Rhizobia and Frankia) or the root-soil interface (rhizosphere) have been well studied, the intimate interaction of microbial endophytes with the plant host is a relatively new field of research.[...].}, } @article {pmid29565067, year = {2018}, author = {Engl, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Influence of microbial symbionts on insect pheromones.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {386-397}, doi = {10.1039/C7NP00068E}, pmid = {29565067}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; Pheromones/*physiology ; Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Covering: up to 2018 Pheromones serve as chemical signals between individuals of the same species and play important roles for mate localization and mate choice as well as other social interactions in insects. A growing body of literature indicates that microbial symbionts can modulate their hosts' chemical profiles, mate choice decisions and social behavior. This modulation can occur by the direct biosynthesis of pheromone components or the provisioning of precursors, or through general changes in the metabolite pool of the host and its resource allocation into pheromone production. Here we review and discuss the contexts in which microbial modulation of intraspecific communication in insects occurs and emphasize cases in which microbes are known to affect the involved chemistry. The described examples for a symbiotic influence on mate attraction and mate choice, aggregation, nestmate and kin recognition highlight the context-dependent costs and benefits of these symbiotic interactions and the potential for conflict and manipulation among the interacting partners. However, despite the increasing number of studies reporting on symbiont-mediated effects on insect chemical communication, experimentally validated connections between the presence of specific symbionts, changes in the host's chemistry, and behavioral effects thereof, remain limited to very few systems, highlighting the need for increased collaborative efforts between symbiosis researchers and chemical ecologists to gain more comprehensive insights into the influence of microbial symbionts on insect pheromones.}, } @article {pmid29564400, year = {2018}, author = {Qin, X and Zhou, C and Zerr, DM and Adler, A and Addetia, A and Yuan, S and Greninger, AL}, title = {Heterogeneous Antimicrobial Susceptibility Characteristics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Cystic Fibrosis Patients.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29564400}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {Clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are known to differ from those associated with non-CF hosts by colony morphology, drug susceptibility patterns, and genomic hypermutability. Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from CF patients have long been recognized for their overall reduced rate of antimicrobial susceptibility, but their intraclonal MIC heterogeneity has long been overlooked. Using two distinct cohorts of clinical strains (n = 224 from 56 CF patients, n = 130 from 68 non-CF patients) isolated in 2013, we demonstrated profound Etest MIC heterogeneity in CF P. aeruginosa isolates in comparison to non-CF P. aeruginosa isolates. On the basis of whole-genome sequencing of 19 CF P. aeruginosa isolates from 9 patients with heterogeneous MICs, the core genome phylogenetic tree confirmed the within-patient CF P. aeruginosa clonal lineage along with considerable coding sequence variability. No extrachromosomal DNA elements or previously characterized antibiotic resistance mutations could account for the wide divergence in antimicrobial MICs between P. aeruginosa coisolates, though many heterogeneous mutations in efflux and porin genes and their regulators were present. A unique OprD sequence was conserved among the majority of isolates of CF P. aeruginosa analyzed, suggesting a pseudomonal response to selective pressure that is common to the isolates. Genomic sequence data also suggested that CF pseudomonal hypermutability was not entirely due to mutations in mutL, mutS, and uvr. We conclude that the net effect of hundreds of adaptive mutations, both shared between clonally related isolate pairs and unshared, accounts for their highly heterogeneous MIC variances. We hypothesize that this heterogeneity is indicative of the pseudomonal syntrophic-like lifestyle under conditions of being "locked" inside a host focal airway environment for prolonged periods. IMPORTANCE Patients with cystic fibrosis endure "chronic focal infections" with a variety of microorganisms. One microorganism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, adapts to the host and develops resistance to a wide range of antimicrobials. Interestingly, as the infection progresses, multiple isogenic strains of P. aeruginosa emerge and coexist within the airways of these patients. Despite a common parental origin, the multiple strains of P. aeruginosa develop vastly different susceptibility patterns to actively used antimicrobial agents-a phenomenon we define as "heterogeneous MICs." By sequencing pairs of P. aeruginosa isolates displaying heterogeneous MICs, we observed widespread isogenic gene lesions in drug transporters, DNA mismatch repair machinery, and many other structural or cellular functions. Coupled with the heterogeneous MICs, these genetic lesions demonstrated a symbiotic response to host selection and suggested evolution of a multicellular syntrophic bacterial lifestyle. Current laboratory standard interpretive criteria do not address the emergence of heterogeneous growth and susceptibilities in vitro with treatment implications.}, } @article {pmid29563923, year = {2018}, author = {Bitterlich, M and Franken, P and Graefe, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Improves Substrate Hydraulic Conductivity in the Plant Available Moisture Range Under Root Growth Exclusion.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {301}, pmid = {29563923}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) proliferate in soils and are known to affect soil structure. Although their contribution to structure is extensively investigated, the consequences of those processes for soil water extractability and transport has, so far, gained surprisingly little attention. Therefore we asked, whether AMF can affect water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity under exclusion of root ingrowth, in order to minimize plant driven effects. We carried out experiments with tomato inoculated with Rhizoglomus irregulare in a soil substrate with sand and vermiculite that created variation in colonization by mixed pots with wild type (WT) plants and mycorrhiza resistant (RMC) mutants. Sampling cores were introduced and used to assess substrate moisture retention dynamics and modeling of substrate water retention and hydraulic conductivity. AMF reduced the saturated water content and total porosity, but maintained air filled porosity in soil spheres that excluded root ingrowth. The water content between field capacity and the permanent wilting point (6-1500 kPa) was only reduced in mycorrhizal substrates that contained at least one RMC mutant. Plant available water contents correlated positively with soil protein contents. Soil protein contents were highest in pots that possessed the strongest hyphal colonization, but not significantly affected. Substrate conductivity increased up to 50% in colonized substrates in the physiologically important water potential range between 6 and 10 kPa. The improvements in hydraulic conductivity are restricted to substrates where at least one WT plant was available for the fungus, indicating a necessity of a functional symbiosis for this effect. We conclude that functional mycorrhiza alleviates the resistance to water movement through the substrate in substrate areas outside of the root zone.}, } @article {pmid29563891, year = {2018}, author = {Osiurak, F and Navarro, J and Reynaud, E}, title = {How Our Cognition Shapes and Is Shaped by Technology: A Common Framework for Understanding Human Tool-Use Interactions in the Past, Present, and Future.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {293}, pmid = {29563891}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {Over the evolution, humans have constantly developed and improved their technologies. This evolution began with the use of physical tools, those tools that increase our sensorimotor abilities (e.g., first stone tools, modern knives, hammers, pencils). Although we still use some of these tools, we also employ in daily life more sophisticated tools for which we do not systematically understand the underlying physical principles (e.g., computers, cars). Current research is also turned toward the development of brain-computer interfaces directly linking our brain activity to machines (i.e., symbiotic tools). The ultimate goal of research on this topic is to identify the key cognitive processes involved in these different modes of interaction. As a primary step to fulfill this goal, we offer a first attempt at a common framework, based on the idea that humans shape technologies, which also shape us in return. The framework proposed is organized into three levels, describing how we interact when using physical (Past), sophisticated (Present), and symbiotic (Future) technologies. Here we emphasize the role played by technical reasoning and practical reasoning, two key cognitive processes that could nevertheless be progressively suppressed by the proficient use of sophisticated and symbiotic tools. We hope that this framework will provide a common ground for researchers interested in the cognitive basis of human tool-use interactions, from paleoanthropology to neuroergonomics.}, } @article {pmid29563258, year = {2018}, author = {Harumoto, T and Fukatsu, T and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Common and unique strategies of male killing evolved in two distinct Drosophila symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {285}, number = {1875}, pages = {}, pmid = {29563258}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {339970/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; DNA Damage ; Dosage Compensation, Genetic ; Drosophila/*embryology/genetics/*microbiology ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Nervous System/microbiology ; Sex Factors ; Spiroplasma/*growth & development/pathogenicity ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*growth & development/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Male killing is a selfish reproductive manipulation caused by symbiotic bacteria, where male offspring of infected hosts are selectively killed. The underlying mechanisms and the process of their evolution are of great interest not only in terms of fundamental biology, but also their potential applications. The two bacterial Drosophila symbionts, Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, have independently evolved male-killing ability. This raises the question whether the underlying mechanisms share some similarities or are specific to each bacterial species. Here, we analyse pathogenic phenotypes of D. bifasciata infected with its natural male-killing Wolbachia strain and compare them with those of D. melanogaster infected with male-killing Spiroplasma We show that male progeny infected with the Wolbachia strain die during embryogenesis with abnormal apoptosis. Interestingly, male-killing Wolbachia infection induces DNA damage and segregation defects in the dosage-compensated chromosome in male embryos, which are reminiscent of the phenotypes caused by male-killing Spiroplasma in D. melanogaster By contrast, host neural development seems to proceed normally unlike male-killing Spiroplasma infection. Our results demonstrate that the dosage-compensated chromosome is a common target of two distinct male killers, yet Spiroplasma uniquely evolved the ability to damage neural tissue of male embryos.}, } @article {pmid29563256, year = {2018}, author = {Hardes, JJ}, title = {Women, 'madness' and exercise.}, journal = {Medical humanities}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {181-192}, doi = {10.1136/medhum-2017-011379}, pmid = {29563256}, issn = {1473-4265}, mesh = {Attitude of Health Personnel ; Body Image ; Exercise/*psychology ; Female ; Feminism ; Freedom ; Government ; *Health Policy ; History, 19th Century ; Humans ; *Mental Disorders/history/therapy ; *Mental Health ; *Personal Autonomy ; Self-Control ; *Sexism ; Social Control, Formal ; Social Norms ; *Women's Health ; }, abstract = {The positive relationship between exercise and mental health is often taken for granted in today's society, despite the lack of academic literature evidencing this symbiosis. Gender is considered a significant determinant in a number of mental health diagnoses. Indeed, women are considered twice as likely as men to experience the most pervasive mental health condition, depression. Exercise for women's mental health is promoted through various macrolevel charity, as well as microlevel, campaigns that influence government healthcare policy and National Health Service guidelines. Indeed, 'exercise prescriptions' in the treatment of depression is not uncommon. Yet, this link between exercise as a treatment for women's mental health has not always been so pervasive. In fact, an examination of asylum reports and medical journals from the late 19th century highlights a significant shift in attitude towards the role of exercise in the treatment of women's emotional states and mental health. This paper specifically examines how this treatment of women's mental health through exercise has moved from what might be regarded as a focus on exercise as a 'cause' of women's mental ailments to exercise promoted as a 'cure'. Unpacking the changing medical attitudes towards exercise for women in line with larger sociopolitical and historic contexts reveals that while this shift towards exercise promotion might prima facie appear as a less essentialist view of women and their mental and physical states, it inevitably remains tied to larger policy and governance agendas. New modes of exercise 'treatment' for women's mental health are not politically neutral and, thus, what appear to emerge as forms of liberation are, in actuality, subtler forms of regulation.}, } @article {pmid29561780, year = {2018}, author = {Lindsey, ARI and Bhattacharya, T and Newton, ILG and Hardy, RW}, title = {Conflict in the Intracellular Lives of Endosymbionts and Viruses: A Mechanistic Look at Wolbachia-Mediated Pathogen-blocking.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29561780}, issn = {1999-4915}, support = {R21 AI121849/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; Biological Transport ; *Coinfection ; Disease Resistance/genetics/immunology ; Genotype ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Insecta/microbiology/virology ; Intracellular Space/microbiology/virology ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA Interference ; Rickettsiaceae Infections/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Virus Assembly ; Virus Diseases/*virology ; Virus Internalization ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Virus Replication ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {At the forefront of vector control efforts are strategies that leverage host-microbe associations to reduce vectorial capacity. The most promising of these efforts employs Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacterium naturally found in 40% of insects. Wolbachia can spread through a population of insects while simultaneously inhibiting the replication of viruses within its host. Despite successes in using Wolbachia-transfected mosquitoes to limit dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission, the mechanisms behind pathogen-blocking have not been fully characterized. Firstly, we discuss how Wolbachia and viruses both require specific host-derived structures, compounds, and processes to initiate and maintain infection. There is significant overlap in these requirements, and infection with either microbe often manifests as cellular stress, which may be a key component of Wolbachia's anti-viral effect. Secondly, we discuss the current understanding of pathogen-blocking through this lens of cellular stress and develop a comprehensive view of how the lives of Wolbachia and viruses are fundamentally in conflict with each other. A thorough understanding of the genetic and cellular determinants of pathogen-blocking will significantly enhance the ability of vector control programs to deploy and maintain effective Wolbachia-mediated control measures.}, } @article {pmid29559988, year = {2018}, author = {van Zeijl, A and Wardhani, TAK and Seifi Kalhor, M and Rutten, L and Bu, F and Hartog, M and Linders, S and Fedorova, EE and Bisseling, T and Kohlen, W and Geurts, R}, title = {CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Mutagenesis of Four Putative Symbiosis Genes of the Tropical Tree Parasponia andersonii Reveals Novel Phenotypes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {284}, pmid = {29559988}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Parasponia represents five fast-growing tropical tree species in the Cannabaceae and is the only plant lineage besides legumes that can establish nitrogen-fixing nodules with rhizobium. Comparative analyses between legumes and Parasponia allows identification of conserved genetic networks controlling this symbiosis. However, such studies are hampered due to the absence of powerful reverse genetic tools for Parasponia. Here, we present a fast and efficient protocol for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of Parasponia andersonii. Using this protocol, knockout mutants are obtained within 3 months. Due to efficient micro-propagation, bi-allelic mutants can be studied in the T0 generation, allowing phenotypic evaluation within 6 months after transformation. We mutated four genes - PanHK4, PanEIN2, PanNSP1, and PanNSP2 - that control cytokinin, ethylene, or strigolactone hormonal networks and that in legumes commit essential symbiotic functions. Knockout mutants in Panhk4 and Panein2 displayed developmental phenotypes, namely reduced procambium activity in Panhk4 and disturbed sex differentiation in Panein2 mutants. The symbiotic phenotypes of Panhk4 and Panein2 mutant lines differ from those in legumes. In contrast, PanNSP1 and PanNSP2 are essential for nodule formation, a phenotype similar as reported for legumes. This indicates a conserved role for these GRAS-type transcriptional regulators in rhizobium symbiosis, illustrating the value of Parasponia trees as a research model for reverse genetic studies.}, } @article {pmid29559349, year = {2018}, author = {Ip, YK and Hiong, KC and Lim, LJY and Choo, CYL and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Neo, ML and Chew, SF}, title = {Molecular characterization, light-dependent expression, and cellular localization of a host vacuolar-type H[+]-ATPase (VHA) subunit A in the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, indicate the involvement of the host VHA in the uptake of inorganic carbon and its supply to the symbiotic zooxanthellae.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {659}, number = {}, pages = {137-148}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2018.03.054}, pmid = {29559349}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Transport ; Bivalvia/*enzymology/genetics ; Carbon Compounds, Inorganic/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Protons ; Symbiosis ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, represents a clam-zooxanthellae association. In light, the host clam and the symbiotic zooxanthellae conduct light-enhanced calcification and photosynthesis, respectively. We had cloned the cDNA coding sequence of a Vacuolar-type Proton ATPase (VHA) subunit A, ATP6V1A, from T. squamosa, whereby the VHA is an electrogenic transporter that actively 'pumps' H[+] out of the cell. The ATP6V1A of T. squamosa comprised 1866 bp, encoding a protein of 622 amino acids and 69.9 kDa, and had a host-origin. Its gene expression was strong in the ctenidium and the colorful outer mantle, but weak in the whitish inner mantle, corroborating a previous proposition that VHA might have a trivial role in light-enhanced calcification. Light exposure led to significant increases in the gene and protein expression levels of ATP6V1A/ATP6V1A in the ctenidium and the outer mantle. In the ctenidium, the ATP6V1A was localized in the apical epithelia of the filaments and tertiary water channels, indicating that the VHA could participate in the increased excretion of H[+] produced during light-enhanced calcification. Additionally, the excreted H[+] would augment HCO3[-] dehydration in the external medium and facilitate the uptake of CO2 by the ctenidium during insolation. In the outer mantle, the ATP6V1A was detected in intracellular vesicles in a type of cells, presumably iridocytes, surrounding the zooxanthellal tubules, and in the apical epithelium of zooxanthellal tubules. Hence, the host VHA could participate in the transfer of inorganic carbon from the hemolymph to the luminal fluid of the tubules by increasing the supply of H[+] for the dehydration of HCO3[-] to CO2 during insolation to benefit the photosynthesizing zooxanthellae.}, } @article {pmid29558644, year = {2018}, author = {Siozios, S and Gerth, M and Griffin, JS and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Symbiosis: Wolbachia Host Shifts in the Fast Lane.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {R269-R271}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2018.02.008}, pmid = {29558644}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; Drosophila ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {The inherited bacterium Wolbachia is an important component of the biology of many arthropods. What makes it so common? An analysis of drosophilids revealed one strain host shifts at a surprisingly high rate, infecting eight species in under 30,000 years.}, } @article {pmid29556542, year = {2018}, author = {Wegley Kelly, L and Haas, AF and Nelson, CE}, title = {Ecosystem Microbiology of Coral Reefs: Linking Genomic, Metabolomic, and Biogeochemical Dynamics from Animal Symbioses to Reefscape Processes.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29556542}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Over the past 2 decades, molecular techniques have established the critical role of both free-living and host-associated microbial partnerships in the environment. Advancing research to link microbial community dynamics simultaneously to host physiology and ecosystem biogeochemistry is required to broaden our understanding of the ecological roles of environmental microbes. Studies on coral reefs are actively integrating these data streams at multiple levels, from the symbiotic habitat of the coral holobiont to microbially mediated interactions between corals and algae to the effects of these interactions on the microbial community structure, metabolism, and organic geochemistry of the reef ecosystem. Coral reefs endure multiple anthropogenic impacts, including pollution, overfishing, and global change. In this context, we must develop ecosystem microbiology with an eye to providing managers with microbial indicators of reef ecosystem processes, coral health, and resilience to both local and global stressors.}, } @article {pmid29556539, year = {2018}, author = {Petersen, JM and Osvatic, J}, title = {Microbiomes In Natura: Importance of Invertebrates in Understanding the Natural Variety of Animal-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29556539}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Animals evolved in a world teeming with microbes, which play pivotal roles in their health, development, and evolution. Although the overwhelming majority of living animals are invertebrates, the minority of "microbiome" studies focus on this group. Interest in invertebrate-microbe interactions is 2-fold-a range of immune components are conserved across almost all animal (including human) life, and their functional roles may be conserved. Thus, understanding cross talk between microbes and invertebrate animals can lead to insights of broader relevance. Invertebrates offer unique opportunities to "eavesdrop" on intricate host-microbe conversations because they tend to associate with fewer microbes. On the other hand, considering the vast diversity of form and function that has evolved in the invertebrates, they likely evolved an equally diverse range of ways to interact with beneficial microbes. We have investigated only a few of these interactions in detail; thus, there is still great potential for fundamentally new discoveries.}, } @article {pmid29556536, year = {2018}, author = {Kwan, JC}, title = {The Who, Why, and How of Small-Molecule Production in Invertebrate Microbiomes: Basic Insights Fueling Drug Discovery.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29556536}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {R21 AI121704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria have supplied us with many bioactive molecules for use in medicine and agriculture. However, rates of discovery have decreased as the biosynthetic capacity of the culturable biosphere has been continuously mined for many decades. The as-yet-uncultured biosphere is likely to hold far greater biosynthetic potential, especially where ecological niches favor the selection of therapeutically useful bioactivities. I outline here how metagenomics and other systems biology approaches can be used to gain insight into small-molecule biosynthesis and the selective forces which shape it. I also argue that we need a greater understanding of the function of small molecules in complex microbiomes and rational synthetic biology methods to functionally reconstruct large biosynthetic pathways in heterologous hosts.}, } @article {pmid29556216, year = {2018}, author = {Sun, Z and Song, J and Xin, X and Xie, X and Zhao, B}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal 14-3-3 Proteins Are Involved in Arbuscule Formation and Responses to Abiotic Stresses During AM Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {91}, pmid = {29556216}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are soil-borne fungi belonging to the ancient phylum Glomeromycota and are important symbionts of the arbuscular mycorrhiza, enhancing plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to various abiotic stresses. In contrast to their significant physiological implications, the molecular basis involved is poorly understood, largely due to their obligate biotrophism and complicated genetics. Here, we identify and characterize three genes termed Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 that encode 14-3-3-like proteins in the AM fungi Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis, respectively. The transcriptional levels of Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 are strongly induced in the pre-symbiotic and symbiotic phases, including germinating spores, intraradical hyphae- and arbuscules-enriched roots. To functionally characterize the Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 genes, we took advantage of a yeast heterologous system owing to the lack of AM fungal transformation systems. Our data suggest that all three genes can restore the lethal Saccharomyces cerevisiae bmh1 bmh2 double mutant on galactose-containing media. Importantly, yeast one-hybrid analysis suggests that the transcription factor RiMsn2 is able to recognize the STRE (CCCCT/AGGGG) element present in the promoter region of Fm201 gene. More importantly, Host-Induced Gene Silencing of both Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 in Rhizophagus irregularis impairs the arbuscule formation in AM symbiosis and inhibits the expression of symbiotic PT4 and MST2 genes from plant and fungal partners, respectively. We further subjected the AM fungus-Medicago truncatula association system to drought or salinity stress. Accordingly, the expression profiles in both mycorrhizal roots and extraradical hyphae reveal that these three 14-3-3-like genes are involved in response to drought or salinity stress. Collectively, our results provide new insights into molecular functions of the AM fungal 14-3-3 proteins in abiotic stress responses and arbuscule formation during AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29555028, year = {2018}, author = {Imani, S and Ijaz, I and Shasaltaneh, MD and Fu, S and Cheng, J and Fu, J}, title = {Molecular genetics ‎characterization and homology modeling of the CHM gene mutation: A study on its association with choroideremia.}, journal = {Mutation research. Reviews in mutation research}, volume = {775}, number = {}, pages = {39-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.mrrev.2018.02.001}, pmid = {29555028}, issn = {1388-2139}, mesh = {*Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; *Choroideremia/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; *Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; *Mutation ; }, abstract = {Choroideremia (CHM) is a rare form of X-linked chorioretinal dystrophy that is caused by mutations in the CHM gene. Mutations in the Rab escort protein-1 (REP-1), an ubiquitously encoded protein of the CHM gene, lead to prenylation and vesicle trafficking deficiency in the protein, resulting in the progressive degeneration of choriocapillaris, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and photoreceptors. Despite previous studies concerning this disease, no effective diagnostic tests or established therapeutic interventions currently exist for CHM. In this paper, we reviewed ‎the pathogenic ‎effects of synonymous hotspot mutation in the CHM gene and the genotypic-phenotypic associations in families with CHM. In addition, we employed a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and principal component analysis to gain insight into the underlying molecular basis of these deleterious and disease-causing hotspot mutation ‎analogs. These computer predictions provide strong evidence that the C > T nonsynonymous hotspot mutations of CHM spectrum contribute to overall RPE retinopathy. These findings increase our understanding of the CHM ‎pathogenesis, which may potentially define a new approach in developing novel symbiotic strategies for genetic diagnosis and specific treatment of inherited retinal diseases.}, } @article {pmid29554982, year = {2018}, author = {Young, E and Carey, M and Meharg, AA and Meharg, C}, title = {Microbiome and ecotypic adaption of Holcus lanatus (L.) to extremes of its soil pH range, investigated through transcriptome sequencing.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {48}, pmid = {29554982}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Ascomycota/genetics/*growth & development ; Colletotrichum/genetics/growth & development ; Fusarium/genetics/growth & development ; Holcus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Oomycetes/genetics/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants can adapt to edaphic stress, such as nutrient deficiency, toxicity and biotic challenges, by controlled transcriptomic responses, including microbiome interactions. Traditionally studied in model plant species with controlled microbiota inoculation treatments, molecular plant-microbiome interactions can be functionally investigated via RNA-Seq. Complex, natural plant-microbiome studies are limited, typically focusing on microbial rRNA and omitting functional microbiome investigations, presenting a fundamental knowledge gap. Here, root and shoot meta-transcriptome analyses, in tandem with shoot elemental content and root staining, were employed to investigate transcriptome responses in the wild grass Holcus lanatus and its associated natural multi-species eukaryotic microbiome. A full factorial reciprocal soil transplant experiment was employed, using plant ecotypes from two widely contrasting natural habitats, acid bog and limestone quarry soil, to investigate naturally occurring, and ecologically meaningful, edaphically driven molecular plant-microbiome interactions.

RESULTS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and non-AM fungal colonization was detected in roots in both soils. Staining showed greater levels of non-AM fungi, and transcriptomics indicated a predominance of Ascomycota-annotated genes. Roots in acid bog soil were dominated by Phialocephala-annotated transcripts, a putative growth-promoting endophyte, potentially involved in N nutrition and ion homeostasis. Limestone roots in acid bog soil had greater expression of other Ascomycete genera and Oomycetes and lower expression of Phialocephala-annotated transcripts compared to acid ecotype roots, which corresponded with reduced induction of pathogen defense processes, particularly lignin biosynthesis in limestone ecotypes. Ascomycota dominated in shoots and limestone soil roots, but Phialocephala-annotated transcripts were insignificant, and no single Ascomycete genus dominated. Fusarium-annotated transcripts were the most common genus in shoots, with Colletotrichum and Rhizophagus (AM fungi) most numerous in limestone soil roots. The latter coincided with upregulation of plant genes involved in AM symbiosis initiation and AM-based P acquisition in an environment where P availability is low.

CONCLUSIONS: Meta-transcriptome analyses provided novel insights into H. lanatus transcriptome responses, associated eukaryotic microbiota functions and taxonomic community composition. Significant edaphic and plant ecotype effects were identified, demonstrating that meta-transcriptome-based functional analysis is a powerful tool for the study of natural plant-microbiome interactions.}, } @article {pmid29554951, year = {2018}, author = {Guégan, M and Zouache, K and Démichel, C and Minard, G and Tran Van, V and Potier, P and Mavingui, P and Valiente Moro, C}, title = {The mosquito holobiont: fresh insight into mosquito-microbiota interactions.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {49}, pmid = {29554951}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Mosquito Vectors/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The holobiont concept was first developed for coral ecosystems but has been extended to multiple organisms, including plants and other animals. Studies on insect-associated microbial communities have produced strong evidence that symbiotic bacteria play a major role in host biology. However, the understanding of these symbiotic relationships has mainly been limited to phytophagous insects, while the role of host-associated microbiota in haematophagous insect vectors remains largely unexplored. Mosquitoes are a major global public health concern, with a concomitant increase in people at risk of infection. The global emergence and re-emergence of mosquito-borne diseases has led many researchers to study both the mosquito host and its associated microbiota. Although most of these studies have been descriptive, they have led to a broad description of the bacterial communities hosted by mosquito populations. This review describes key advances and progress in the field of the mosquito microbiota research while also encompassing other microbes and the environmental factors driving their composition and diversity. The discussion includes recent findings on the microbiota functional roles and underlines their interactions with the host biology and pathogen transmission. Insight into the ecology of multipartite interactions, we consider that conferring the term holobiont to the mosquito and its microbiota is useful to get a comprehensive understanding of the vector pathosystem functioning so as to be able to develop innovative and efficient novel vector control strategies.}, } @article {pmid29554765, year = {2018}, author = {Rodríguez-Caballero, G and Caravaca, F and Roldán, A}, title = {The unspecificity of the relationships between the invasive Pennisetum setaceum and mycorrhizal fungi may provide advantages during its establishment at semiarid Mediterranean sites.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {630}, number = {}, pages = {1464-1471}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.321}, pmid = {29554765}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Introduced Species ; Mediterranean Region ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pennisetum/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The involvement of mutualistic plant-fungal interactions in invasion processes, especially in some climatic regions including semiarid areas, has not been sufficiently investigated. We compared the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities hosted by the invasive plant Pennisetum setaceum with those from the co-occurring native Hyparrhenia hirta at five Mediterranean semiarid locations with different edaphic characteristics. Illumina technology was used to investigate the AMF communities in the roots. The subsequent multivariate analysis showed that native and non-native host plants shared a similar AMF community, whereas the invaded locations differed in AMF communities harbored in the plant roots. The indicator species analysis revealed the absence of indicator virtual taxa for the fungal communities of the roots of native or invasive plants. In contrast, different numbers of indicator species were recorded in different sampling locations. According to the canonical correspondence analysis, the variability in the AMF communities between sampling sites was related to changes in soil total carbon, electrical conductivity, respiration, and protease and urease activities. These findings reveal the unspecificity of P. setaceum in relation to its association with the AMF community encountered in the invaded locations, which could have facilitated its successful establishment and spread.}, } @article {pmid29554291, year = {2018}, author = {Warshan, D and Liaimer, A and Pederson, E and Kim, SY and Shapiro, N and Woyke, T and Altermark, B and Pawlowski, K and Weyman, PD and Dupont, CL and Rasmussen, U}, title = {Genomic Changes Associated with the Evolutionary Transitions of Nostoc to a Plant Symbiont.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {1160-1175}, pmid = {29554291}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Benzaldehydes/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Bryophyta/*microbiology ; Chemotaxis ; Endophytes/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Nostoc/*genetics/metabolism ; Phototaxis ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria belonging to the genus Nostoc comprise free-living strains and also facultative plant symbionts. Symbiotic strains can enter into symbiosis with taxonomically diverse range of host plants. Little is known about genomic changes associated with evolutionary transition of Nostoc from free-living to plant symbiont. Here, we compared the genomes derived from 11 symbiotic Nostoc strains isolated from different host plants and infer phylogenetic relationships between strains. Phylogenetic reconstructions of 89 Nostocales showed that symbiotic Nostoc strains with a broad host range, entering epiphytic and intracellular or extracellular endophytic interactions, form a monophyletic clade indicating a common evolutionary history. A polyphyletic origin was found for Nostoc strains which enter only extracellular symbioses, and inference of transfer events implied that this trait was likely acquired several times in the evolution of the Nostocales. Symbiotic Nostoc strains showed enriched functions in transport and metabolism of organic sulfur, chemotaxis and motility, as well as the uptake of phosphate, branched-chain amino acids, and ammonium. The genomes of the intracellular clade differ from that of other Nostoc strains, with a gain/enrichment of genes encoding proteins to generate l-methionine from sulfite and pathways for the degradation of the plant metabolites vanillin and vanillate, and of the macromolecule xylan present in plant cell walls. These compounds could function as C-sources for members of the intracellular clade. Molecular clock analysis indicated that the intracellular clade emerged ca. 600 Ma, suggesting that intracellular Nostoc symbioses predate the origin of land plants and the emergence of their extant hosts.}, } @article {pmid29553817, year = {2017}, author = {Kitchen, SA and Poole, AZ and Weis, VM}, title = {Sphingolipid Metabolism of a Sea Anemone Is Altered by the Presence of Dinoflagellate Symbionts.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {233}, number = {3}, pages = {242-254}, doi = {10.1086/695846}, pmid = {29553817}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Sea Anemones/parasitology/*physiology ; Sphingolipids/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In host-microbe interactions, signaling lipids function in interpartner communication during both the establishment and maintenance of associations. Previous evidence suggests that sphingolipids play a role in the mutualistic cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbiosis. Exogenously applied sphingolipids have been shown to alter this partnership, though endogenous host regulation of sphingolipids by the sphingosine rheostat under different symbiotic conditions has not been characterized. The rheostat regulates levels of pro-survival sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and pro-apoptotic sphingosine (Sph) through catalytic activities of sphingosine kinase (SPHK) and S1P phosphatase (SGPP). The role of the rheostat in recognition and establishment of cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbiosis was investigated in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida by measuring gene expression, protein levels, and sphingolipid metabolites in symbiotic, aposymbiotic, and newly recolonized anemones. Comparison of two host populations showed that symbiotic animals from one population had lower SGPP gene expression and Sph lipid concentrations compared to aposymbiotic animals, while the other population had higher S1P concentrations than their aposymbiotic counterparts. In both populations, the host rheostat trended toward host cell survival in the presence of symbionts. Furthermore, upregulation of both rheostat enzymes on the first day of host recolonization by symbionts suggests a role for the rheostat in host-symbiont recognition during symbiosis onset. Collectively, these data suggest a regulatory role of sphingolipid signaling in cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbiosis and symbiont uptake.}, } @article {pmid29553816, year = {2017}, author = {Gilpin, JA and Chadwick, NE}, title = {Life-History Traits and Population Structure of Pederson Cleaner Shrimps Ancylomenes pedersoni.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {233}, number = {3}, pages = {190-205}, doi = {10.1086/695802}, pmid = {29553816}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; Coral Reefs ; Female ; *Life History Traits ; Longevity ; Male ; Palaemonidae/classification/*physiology ; Sexual Maturation/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Cleaner organisms perform key functional roles in reducing rates of parasitism in marine communities. Pederson cleaner shrimps Ancylomenes pedersoni are major cleaners of reef fishes in the tropical western Atlantic and form obligate symbioses with host sea anemones. Information about their life-history traits would contribute to understanding how symbiosis impacts life-history evolution in crustaceans, but little is known about patterns of growth and reproduction in this anemone shrimp. We quantified growth, sexual reproduction, senescence, and mortality in individuals of A. pedersoni under laboratory conditions and their abundance and population size structure on coral reefs in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Von Bertalanffy growth curves were fitted to the data to determine age-size relationships, and the Beverton-Holt model was used to estimate mortality rates and size at maximum yield. Individuals grew rapidly when young, then slowed their growth after reaching sexual maturity at ~6 months. Individuals were gonochoric, with males attaining significantly smaller body sizes and shorter life spans than did females. Prior to death at <2 years, members of both genders exhibited senescence during which they ceased reproducing, shrank (females only), and decreased their activity levels over ~1-4 weeks. Field populations were abundant and composed mostly of juveniles during both years examined. Populations appeared to be stable but highly dynamic in terms of individuals, reaching maximum yield at 4 months of age. We conclude that obligate symbiosis with large sea anemones and cleaner mutualism with reef fishes both contribute to explaining aspects of the life history of Pederson shrimps, especially their apparent mating system of pure-search polygynandry. This life-history information also provides a scientific basis for sustainable fishery management and aquaculture of this key coral reef organism.}, } @article {pmid29551704, year = {2018}, author = {Dong, LQ and Shi, Y and Ma, LJ and Yang, LX and Wang, XY and Zhang, S and Wang, ZC and Duan, M and Zhang, Z and Liu, LZ and Zheng, BH and Ding, ZB and Ke, AW and Gao, DM and Yuan, K and Zhou, J and Fan, J and Xi, R and Gao, Q}, title = {Spatial and temporal clonal evolution of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.}, journal = {Journal of hepatology}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {89-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhep.2018.02.029}, pmid = {29551704}, issn = {1600-0641}, mesh = {Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*genetics/pathology ; Chromosomal Instability/*genetics ; Clonal Evolution/*genetics ; DNA, Neoplasm/*genetics ; Disease Progression ; Exome ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Mutation ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second-most lethal primary liver cancer. Little is known about intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) and its impact on ICC progression. We aimed to investigate the ITH of ICC in the hope of helping to develop new therapeutic strategies.

METHODS: We obtained 69 spatially distinct regions from six operable ICCs. Patient-derived primary cancer cells (PDPCs) were established for each region, followed by whole-exome sequencing (WES) and multi-level validation.

RESULTS: We observed widespread ITH for both somatic mutations and clonal architecture, shaped by multiple mechanisms, like clonal "illusion", parallel evolution and chromosome instability. A median of 60.3% of mutations were heterogeneous, among which 85% of the driver mutations were located on the branches of tumor phylogenetic trees. Many truncal and clonal driver mutations occurred in tumor suppressor genes, such as TP53, SMARCB1 and PBRM1 that are involved in DNA repair and chromatin-remodeling. Genome doubling occurred in most cases (5/6) after the accumulation of truncal mutations and was shared by all intratumoral sub-regions. In all cases, ongoing chromosomal instability is evident throughout the evolutionary trajectory of ICC. The recurrence of ICC1239 provided evidence to support the polyclonal metastatic seeding in ICC. The change of mutation landscape and internal diversity among subclones during metastasis, such as the loss of chemoresistance mediator, can be used for new treatment strategies. Targeted therapy against truncal alterations, such as IDH1, JAK1, and KRAS mutations and EGFR amplification, was developed in 5/6 patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Integrated investigations of spatial ITH and clonal evolution may provide an important molecular foundation for enhanced understanding of tumorigenesis and progression in ICC.

LAY SUMMARY: We applied multiregional whole-exome sequencing to investigate the evolution of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The results revealed that many factors, such as parallel evolution and chromosome instability, may participate and promote the branch diversity of ICC. Interestingly, in one patient with primary and recurrent metastatic tumors, we found evidence of polyclonal metastatic seeding, indicating that symbiotic communities of multiple clones existed and were maintained during metastasis. More realistically, some truncal alterations, such as IDH1, JAK1, and KRAS mutations and EGFR amplification, could be promising treatment targets in patients with ICC.}, } @article {pmid29551211, year = {2018}, author = {Haidar, B and Ferdous, M and Fatema, B and Ferdous, AS and Islam, MR and Khan, H}, title = {Population diversity of bacterial endophytes from jute (Corchorus olitorius) and evaluation of their potential role as bioinoculants.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {43-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2018.01.008}, pmid = {29551211}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Ascomycota/growth & development ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/genetics ; Corchorus/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Endophytes/*classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytes are bacterial or fungal organisms associated with plants in an obligate or facultative manner. In order to maintain a stable symbiosis, many of the endophytes produce compounds that promote plant growth and help them adapt better to the environment. This study was conducted to explore the potential of jute bacterial endophytes for their growth promotion ability in direct and indirect ways. A total of 27 different bacterial species were identified from different varieties of a jute plant (Corchorus olitorius) and different parts of the plant (leaf, root, seed, and seedling) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence. Two of the isolates showed ACC deaminase activity with Staphylococcus pasteuri strain MBL_B3 and Ralstonia solanacearum strain MBL_B6 producing 18.1 and 8.08 μM mg[-1] h[-1] α-ketobutyrate respectively while eighteen had the ACC deaminase gene (acdS). Fourteen were positive for siderophore activity while Kocuria sp. strain MBL_B19 (133.36 μg/ml) and Bacillus sp. strain MBL_B17 (124.72 μg/ml) showed high IAA production ability. Seven bacterial strains were able to fix nitrogen with only one testing positive for nifH gene. Five isolates exhibited phosphorus utilization ability with Bacillus sp. strain MBL_B17 producing 218.47 μg P/ml. Three bacteria were able to inhibit the growth of a phytopathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina and among them Bacillus subtilis strain MBL_B4 was found to be the most effective, having 82% and 53% of relative inhibition ratio (RIR) and percent growth inhibition (PGI) values respectively. Nine bacteria were tested for their in vivo growth promotion ability and most of these isolates increased seed germination potential and vigour index significantly. Bacillus subtilis strain MBL_B13 showed 26.8% more vigour index than the control in which no bacterial inoculum was used. All inoculants were found to increase the dry weight of jute seedlings in comparison to the control plants and the most increase in fresh weight was found for Staphylococcus saprophyticus strain MBL_B9. Staphylococcus pasteuri strain MBL_B3 exhibited diverse in vitro growth promotion activity and significant growth promoting effect in in vivo pot experiments. These bacterial strains with plant growth enhancing abilities have the potential to be used as bioinoculants.}, } @article {pmid29550547, year = {2018}, author = {Rey, T and Jacquet, C}, title = {Symbiosis genes for immunity and vice versa.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {64-71}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.02.010}, pmid = {29550547}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Basic molecular knowledge on plant-pathogen interactions has largely been gained from reverse and forward genetics in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, as this model plant is unable to establish endosymbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi or rhizobia, plant responses to mutualistic symbionts have been studied in parallel in other plant species, mainly legumes. The resulting analyses led to the identification of gene networks involved in various functions, from microbe recognition to signalling and plant responses, thereafter assigned to either mutualistic symbiosis or immunity, according to the nature of the initially inoculated microbe. The increasing development of new pathosystems and genetic resources in model legumes and the implementation of reverse genetics in plants such as rice and tomato that interact with both mycorrhizal fungi and pathogens, have highlighted the dual role of plant genes previously thought to be specific to mutualistic or pathogenic interactions. The next challenges will be to determine whether such genes have similar functions in both types of interaction and if not, whether the perception of microbial compounds or the involvement of specific plant signalling components is responsible for the appropriate plant responses to the encountered microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid29550328, year = {2018}, author = {Burleigh, MC and Liddle, L and Monaghan, C and Muggeridge, DJ and Sculthorpe, N and Butcher, JP and Henriquez, FL and Allen, JD and Easton, C}, title = {Salivary nitrite production is elevated in individuals with a higher abundance of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {120}, number = {}, pages = {80-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.03.023}, pmid = {29550328}, issn = {1873-4596}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitrites/*metabolism ; Saliva/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) can be generated endogenously via NO synthases or via the diet following the action of symbiotic nitrate-reducing bacteria in the oral cavity. Given the important role of NO in smooth muscle control there is an intriguing suggestion that cardiovascular homeostasis may be intertwined with the presence of these bacteria. Here, we measured the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria in the oral cavity of 25 healthy humans using 16S rRNA sequencing and observed, for 3.5 h, the physiological responses to dietary nitrate ingestion via measurement of blood pressure, and salivary and plasma NO metabolites. We identified 7 species of bacteria previously known to contribute to nitrate-reduction, the most prevalent of which were Prevotella melaninogenica and Veillonella dispar. Following dietary nitrate supplementation, blood pressure was reduced and salivary and plasma nitrate and nitrite increased substantially. We found that the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria was associated with the generation of salivary nitrite but not with any other measured variable. To examine the impact of bacterial abundance on pharmacokinetics we also categorised our participants into two groups; those with a higher abundance of nitrate reducing bacteria (> 50%), and those with a lower abundance (< 50%). Salivary nitrite production was lower in participants with lower abundance of bacteria and these individuals also exhibited slower salivary nitrite pharmacokinetics. We therefore show that the rate of nitrate to nitrite reduction in the oral cavity is associated with the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria. Nevertheless, higher abundance of these bacteria did not result in an exaggerated plasma nitrite response, the best known marker of NO bioavailability. These data from healthy young adults suggest that the abundance of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria does not influence the generation of NO through the diet, at least when the host has a functional minimum threshold of these microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid29549322, year = {2018}, author = {Guler, Y and Short, S and Green Etxabe, A and Kille, P and Ford, AT}, title = {Population screening and transmission experiments indicate paramyxid-microsporidian co-infection in Echinogammarus marinus represents a non-hyperparasitic relationship between specific parasite strains.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {4691}, pmid = {29549322}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amphipoda/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Animals ; Coinfection ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Mass Screening/veterinary ; Microsporidia/genetics/isolation & purification ; Microsporidiosis/*diagnosis/transmission/veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Infections, Animal/*diagnosis/transmission ; }, abstract = {Phylogenetically distant parasites often infect the same host. Indeed, co-infections can occur at levels greater than expected by chance and are sometimes hyperparasitic. The amphipod Echinogammarus marinus presents high levels of co-infection by two intracellular and vertically transmitted parasites, a paramyxid (Paramarteilia sp. Em) and a microsporidian strain (Dictyocoela duebenum Em). This co-infection may be hyperparasitic and result from an exploitative 'hitchhiking' or a symbiotic relationship between the parasites. However, the best-studied amphipod species are often collected from contaminated environments and may be immune-compromised. Immune-challenged animals frequently present co-infections and contaminant-exposed amphipods present significantly higher levels of microsporidian infection. This suggests the co-infections in E. marinus may result from contaminant-associated compromised immunity. Inconsistent with hyperparasitism, we find that artificial infections transmit Paramarteilia without microsporidian. Our population surveys reveal the co-infection relationship is geographically widespread but find only chance co-infection between the Paramarteilia and another species of microsporidian, Dictyocoela berillonum. Furthermore, we identify a haplotype of the Paramarteilia that presents no co-infection, even in populations with otherwise high co-infection levels. Overall, our results do not support the compromised-immunity hypothesis but rather that the co-infection of E. marinus, although non-hyperparasitic, results from a relationship between specific Paramarteilia and Dictyocoela duebenum strains.}, } @article {pmid29547354, year = {2018}, author = {Tang, G and Li, Q and Xing, S and Li, N and Tang, Z and Yu, L and Yan, J and Li, X and Luo, L}, title = {The LsrB Protein Is Required for Agrobacterium tumefaciens Interaction with Host Plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {951-961}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-18-0041-R}, pmid = {29547354}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics/physiology ; Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Reporter ; Iron/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Tumors/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Sequence Deletion ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens infects and causes crown galls in dicot plants by transferring T-DNA from the Ti plasmid to the host plant via a type IV secretion system. This process requires appropriate environmental conditions, certain plant secretions, and bacterial regulators. In our previous work, a member of the LysR family of transcriptional regulators (LsrB) in Sinorhizobium meliloti was found to modulate its symbiotic interactions with the host plant alfalfa. However, the function of its homolog in A. tumefaciens remains unclear. In this study, we show that the LsrB protein of A. tumefaciens is required for efficient transformation of host plants. A lsrB deletion mutant of A. tumefaciens exhibits a number of defects, including in succinoglycan production, attachment, and resistance to oxidative stress and iron limitation. RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that 465 genes were significantly differentially expressed (upregulation of 162 genes and downregulation of 303 genes) in the mutant, compared with the wild-type strain, including those involved in succinoglycan production, iron transporter, and detoxification enzymes for oxidative stress. Moreover, expression of the lsrB gene from S. meliloti, Brucella abortus, or A. tumefaciens rescued the defects observed in the S. meliloti or A. tumefaciens lsrB deletion mutant. Our findings suggest that a conserved mechanism of LsrB function exists in symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria of the family Rhizobiaceae.}, } @article {pmid29545815, year = {2018}, author = {Stauder, R and Welsch, R and Camagna, M and Kohlen, W and Balcke, GU and Tissier, A and Walter, MH}, title = {Strigolactone Levels in Dicot Roots Are Determined by an Ancestral Symbiosis-Regulated Clade of the PHYTOENE SYNTHASE Gene Family.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {255}, pmid = {29545815}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are apocarotenoid phytohormones synthesized from carotenoid precursors. They are produced most abundantly in roots for exudation into the rhizosphere to cope with mineral nutrient starvation through support of root symbionts. Abscisic acid (ABA) is another apocarotenoid phytohormone synthesized in roots, which is involved in responses to abiotic stress. Typically low carotenoid levels in roots raise the issue of precursor supply for the biosynthesis of these two apocarotenoids in this organ. Increased ABA levels upon abiotic stress in Poaceae roots are known to be supported by a particular isoform of phytoene synthase (PSY), catalyzing the rate-limiting step in carotenogenesis. Here we report on novel PSY3 isogenes from Medicago truncatula (MtPSY3) and Solanum lycopersicum (SlPSY3) strongly expressed exclusively upon root interaction with symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and moderately in response to phosphate starvation. They belong to a widespread clade of conserved PSYs restricted to dicots (dPSY3) distinct from the Poaceae-PSY3s involved in ABA formation. An ancient origin of dPSY3s and a potential co-evolution with the AM symbiosis is discussed in the context of PSY evolution. Knockdown of MtPSY3 in hairy roots of M. truncatula strongly reduced SL and AM-induced C13 α-ionol/C14 mycorradicin apocarotenoids. Inhibition of the reaction subsequent to phytoene synthesis revealed strongly elevated levels of phytoene indicating induced flux through the carotenoid pathway in roots upon mycorrhization. dPSY3 isogenes are coregulated with upstream isogenes and downstream carotenoid cleavage steps toward SLs (D27, CCD7, CCD8) suggesting a combined carotenoid/apocarotenoid pathway, which provides "just in time"-delivery of precursors for apocarotenoid formation.}, } @article {pmid29545307, year = {2018}, author = {Toropov, VA and Vakhitov, TY and Shalaeva, ON and Roshchina, EK and Sitkin, SI}, title = {Complete Genome Sequences of the Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria Lactobacillus helveticus D75 and D76.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {29545307}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Lactobacillus helveticus D75 and D76 were isolated from the intestinal tract of a healthy child. Both strains possess symbiotic, probiotic, and antagonistic activities. We have sequenced and annotated the whole genomes of L. helveticus D75 and D76 and have conducted a preliminary genome comparative analysis.}, } @article {pmid29541981, year = {2018}, author = {Luo, Y and Wu, Y and Wang, H and Xing, R and Zheng, Z and Qiu, J and Yang, L}, title = {Bacterial community structure and diversity responses to the direct revegetation of an artisanal zinc smelting slag after 5 years.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {25}, number = {15}, pages = {14773-14788}, pmid = {29541981}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Acidobacteria/growth & development ; Bacteria/drug effects/*growth & development ; Bacteroidetes ; Biodiversity ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen ; *Plant Development ; Proteobacteria ; Refuse Disposal ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Zinc/analysis/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {This comparative field study examined the responses of bacterial community structure and diversity to the revegetation of zinc (Zn) smelting waste slag with eight plant species after 5 years. The microbial community structure of waste slag with and without vegetation was evaluated using high-throughput sequencing. The physiochemical properties of Zn smelting slag after revegetation with eight plant rhizospheres for 5 years were improved compared to those of bulk slag. Revegetation significantly increased the microbial community diversity in plant rhizospheres, and at the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were notably more abundant in rhizosphere slags than those in bulk waste slag. Additionally, revegetation increased the relative abundance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria such as Flavobacterium, Streptomyces, and Arthrobacter as well as symbiotic N2 fixers such as Bradyrhizobium. Three dominant native plant species (Arundo donax, Broussonetia papyrifera, and Robinia pseudoacacia) greatly increased the quality of the rhizosphere slags. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the differences in bacterial community structure between the bulk and rhizosphere slags were explained by slag properties, i.e., pH, available copper (Cu) and lead (Pb), moisture, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), and organic matter (OM); however, available Zn and cadmium (Cd) contents were the slag parameters that best explained the differences between the rhizosphere communities of the eight plant species. The results suggested that revegetation plays an important role in enhancing bacterial community abundance and diversity in rhizosphere slags and that revegetation may also regulate microbiological properties and diversity mainly through changes in heavy metal bioavailability and physiochemical slag characteristics.}, } @article {pmid29541704, year = {2018}, author = {Hills, KD and Oliveira, DA and Cavallaro, ND and Gomes, CL and McLamore, ES}, title = {Actuation of chitosan-aptamer nanobrush borders for pathogen sensing.}, journal = {The Analyst}, volume = {143}, number = {7}, pages = {1650-1661}, doi = {10.1039/c7an02039b}, pmid = {29541704}, issn = {1364-5528}, mesh = {Aptamers, Nucleotide/*chemistry ; Biosensing Techniques ; Chitosan/*chemistry ; Food Contamination/*analysis ; Food Microbiology ; Listeria monocytogenes/*isolation & purification ; *Nanotechnology ; }, abstract = {We demonstrate a sensing mechanism for rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food samples using the actuation of chitosan-aptamer nanobrush borders. The bio-inspired soft material and sensing strategy mimic natural symbiotic systems, where low levels of bacteria are selectively captured from complex matrices. To engineer this biomimetic system, we first develop reduced graphene oxide/nanoplatinum (rGO-nPt) electrodes, and characterize the fundamental electrochemical behavior in the presence and absence of chitosan nanobrushes during actuation (pH-stimulated osmotic swelling). We then characterize the electrochemical behavior of the nanobrush when receptors (antibodies or DNA aptamers) are conjugated to the surface. Finally, we test various techniques to determine the most efficient capture strategy based on nanobrush actuation, and then apply the biosensors in a food product. Maximum cell capture occurs when aptamers conjugated to the nanobrush bind cells in the extended conformation (pH < 6), followed by impedance measurement in the collapsed nanobrush conformation (pH > 6). The aptamer-nanobrush hybrid material was more efficient than the antibody-nanobrush material, which was likely due to the relatively high adsorption capacity for aptamers. The biomimetic material was used to develop a rapid test (17 min) for selectively detecting L. monocytogenes at concentrations ranging from 9 to 107 CFU mL-1 with no pre-concentration, and in the presence of other Gram-positive cells (Listeria innocua and Staphylococcus aureus). Use of this bio-inspired material is among the most efficient for L. monocytogenes sensing to date, and does not require sample pretreatment, making nanobrush borders a promising new material for rapid pathogen detection in food.}, } @article {pmid29541146, year = {2018}, author = {Luo, JW and Lin, CH and Zhu, YB and Zheng, XY and Wu, YX and Chen, WW and Yang, X}, title = {Association of Tongue Bacterial Flora and Subtypes of Liver-Fire Hyperactivity Syndrome in Hypertensive Patients.}, journal = {Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM}, volume = {2018}, number = {}, pages = {9536924}, pmid = {29541146}, issn = {1741-427X}, abstract = {Structural changes in symbiotic human microorganisms can affect host phenotype. Liver-fire hyperactivity syndrome (LFHS) presents as bitter taste, halitosis, xerostomia, odontalgia, and other oral symptoms. LFHS is associated with hypertension (EH). In this study, tongue flora was analyzed to further understand the intrinsic relationship between tongue flora and LFHS. Samples of tongue coating, from 16 patients with EH-LFHS, 16 with EH-non-LFHS, and 16 controls, were obtained; then, 16S rRNA variable (V3-V4) regions were amplified and sequenced by MiSeq PE300 Sequencing. Tag clustering and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) abundance analysis were used to compare the OTU sequence with the 16S database. The species were classified, and diversity and structure of the bacterial flora were compared between the three groups. Alpha diversity analysis, including Observed Species index and Chao index, indicated significantly higher richness of species in patients with EH-LFHS (p < 0.05). Higher phylogenetic diversity, in patients with EH-non-LFHS, indicates greater differences in evolutionary history than in patients with EH-LFHS. Streptococcus, Rothia, Neisseria, and Sphingomonas were the most prevalent in patients with EH-LFHS, differed from the other two groups. This indicates that richer bacterial diversity, and structure associated with EH-LFHS, may affect the occurrence, development, and outcome of hypertension and syndrome subtypes recognized by TCM.}, } @article {pmid29540461, year = {2018}, author = {Chan, CYL and Hiong, KC and Boo, MV and Choo, CYL and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Light exposure enhances urea absorption in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, and up-regulates the protein abundance of a light-dependent urea active transporter, DUR3-like, in its ctenidium.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {221}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.176313}, pmid = {29540461}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Bivalvia/genetics/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Light ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Urea/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Giant clams live in nutrient-poor reef waters of the Indo-Pacific and rely on symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp., also known as zooxanthellae) for nutrients. As the symbionts are nitrogen deficient, the host clam has to absorb exogenous nitrogen and supply it to them. This study aimed to demonstrate light-enhanced urea absorption in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, and to clone and characterize the urea active transporter DUR3-like from its ctenidium (gill). The results indicate that T. squamosa absorbs exogenous urea, and the rate of urea uptake in the light was significantly higher than that in darkness. The DUR3-like coding sequence obtained from its ctenidium comprised 2346 bp, encoding a protein of 782 amino acids and 87.0 kDa. DUR3-like was expressed strongly in the ctenidium, outer mantle and kidney. Twelve hours of exposure to light had no significant effect on the transcript level of ctenidial DUR3-like However, between 3 and 12 h of light exposure, DUR3-like protein abundance increased progressively in the ctenidium, and became significantly greater than that in the control at 12 h. DUR3-like had an apical localization in the epithelia of the ctenidial filaments and tertiary water channels. Taken together, these results indicate that DUR3-like might participate in light-enhanced urea absorption in the ctenidium of T. squamosa When made available to the symbiotic zooxanthellae that are known to possess urease, the absorbed urea can be metabolized to NH3 and CO2 to support amino acid synthesis and photosynthesis, respectively, during insolation.}, } @article {pmid29538303, year = {2018}, author = {Stępkowski, T and Banasiewicz, J and Granada, CE and Andrews, M and Passaglia, LMP}, title = {Phylogeny and Phylogeography of Rhizobial Symbionts Nodulating Legumes of the Tribe Genisteae.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29538303}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The legume tribe Genisteae comprises 618, predominantly temperate species, showing an amphi-Atlantic distribution that was caused by several long-distance dispersal events. Seven out of the 16 authenticated rhizobial genera can nodulate particular Genisteae species. Bradyrhizobium predominates among rhizobia nodulating Genisteae legumes. Bradyrhizobium strains that infect Genisteae species belong to both the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii superclades. In symbiotic gene phylogenies, Genisteae bradyrhizobia are scattered among several distinct clades, comprising strains that originate from phylogenetically distant legumes. This indicates that the capacity for nodulation of Genisteae spp. has evolved independently in various symbiotic gene clades, and that it has not been a long-multi-step process. The exception is Bradyrhizobium Clade II, which unlike other clades comprises strains that are specialized in nodulation of Genisteae, but also Loteae spp. Presumably, Clade II represents an example of long-lasting co-evolution of bradyrhizobial symbionts with their legume hosts.}, } @article {pmid29536604, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, X and Burslem, DFRP and Taylor, JD and Taylor, AFS and Khoo, E and Majalap-Lee, N and Helgason, T and Johnson, D}, title = {Partitioning of soil phosphorus among arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal trees in tropical and subtropical forests.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {713-723}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12939}, pmid = {29536604}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Partitioning of soil phosphorus (P) pools has been proposed as a key mechanism maintaining plant diversity, but experimental support is lacking. Here, we provided different chemical forms of P to 15 tree species with contrasting root symbiotic relationships to investigate plant P acquisition in both tropical and subtropical forests. Both ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees responded positively to addition of inorganic P, but strikingly, ECM trees acquired more P from a complex organic form (phytic acid). Most ECM tree species and all AM tree species also showed some capacity to take up simple organic P (monophosphate). Mycorrhizal colonisation was negatively correlated with soil extractable P concentration, suggesting that mycorrhizal fungi may regulate organic P acquisition among tree species. Our results support the hypothesis that ECM and AM plants partition soil P sources, which may play an ecologically important role in promoting species coexistence in tropical and subtropical forests.}, } @article {pmid29535753, year = {2018}, author = {Kelner, A and Leitão, N and Chabaud, M and Charpentier, M and de Carvalho-Niebel, F}, title = {Dual Color Sensors for Simultaneous Analysis of Calcium Signal Dynamics in the Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Compartments of Plant Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {245}, pmid = {29535753}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Spatiotemporal changes in cellular calcium (Ca[2+]) concentrations are essential for signal transduction in a wide range of plant cellular processes. In legumes, nuclear and perinuclear-localized Ca[2+] oscillations have emerged as key signatures preceding downstream symbiotic signaling responses. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) yellow-based Ca[2+] cameleon probes have been successfully exploited to measure the spatiotemporal dynamics of symbiotic Ca[2+] signaling in legumes. Although providing cellular resolution, these sensors were restricted to measuring Ca[2+] changes in single subcellular compartments. In this study, we have explored the potential of single fluorescent protein-based Ca[2+] sensors, the GECOs, for multicolor and simultaneous imaging of the spatiotemporal dynamics of cytoplasmic and nuclear Ca[2+] signaling in root cells. Single and dual fluorescence nuclear and cytoplasmic-localized GECOs expressed in transgenic Medicago truncatula roots and Arabidopsis thaliana were used to successfully monitor Ca[2+] responses to microbial biotic and abiotic elicitors. In M. truncatula, we demonstrate that GECOs detect symbiosis-related Ca[2+] spiking variations with higher sensitivity than the yellow FRET-based sensors previously used. Additionally, in both M. truncatula and A. thaliana, the dual sensor is now able to resolve in a single root cell the coordinated spatiotemporal dynamics of nuclear and cytoplasmic Ca[2+] signaling in vivo. The GECO-based sensors presented here therefore represent powerful tools to monitor Ca[2+] signaling dynamics in vivo in response to different stimuli in multi-subcellular compartments of plant cells.}, } @article {pmid29535688, year = {2018}, author = {Ghosh, SK and Feng, Z and Fujioka, H and Lux, R and McCormick, TS and Weinberg, A}, title = {Conceptual Perspectives: Bacterial Antimicrobial Peptide Induction as a Novel Strategy for Symbiosis with the Human Host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {302}, pmid = {29535688}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 DE018276/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DE018276/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Human beta defensins (hBDs) are small cationic peptides, expressed in mucosal epithelia and important agents of innate immunity, act as antimicrobial and chemotactic agents at mucosal barriers. In this perspective, we present evidence supporting a novel strategy by which the oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum induces hBDs and other antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in normal human oral epithelial cells (HOECs) and thereby protects them from other microbial pathogens. The findings stress (1) the physiological importance of hBDs, (2) that this strategy may be a mechanism that contributes to homeostasis and health in body sites constantly challenged with bacteria and (3) that novel properties identified in commensal bacteria could, one day, be harnessed as new probiotic strategies to combat colonization of opportunistic pathogens. With that in mind, we highlight and review the discovery and characterization of a novel lipo-protein, FAD-I (Fusobacterium Associated Defensin Inducer) associated with the outer membrane of F. nucleatum that may act as a homeostatic agent by activating endogenous AMPs to re-equilibrate a dysregulated microenvironment. FAD-I has the potential to reduce dysbiosis-driven diseases at a time when resistance to antibiotics is increasing. We therefore postulate that FAD-I may offer a new paradigm in immunoregulatory therapeutics to bolster host innate defense of vulnerable mucosae, while maintaining physiologically responsive states of inflammation.}, } @article {pmid29535346, year = {2018}, author = {Temmink, RJM and Harpenslager, SF and Smolders, AJP and van Dijk, G and Peters, RCJH and Lamers, LPM and van Kempen, MML}, title = {Azolla along a phosphorus gradient: biphasic growth response linked to diazotroph traits and phosphorus-induced iron chlorosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {4451}, pmid = {29535346}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ferns/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Water/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Azolla spp., a water fern often used for phytoremediation, is a strong phosphorus (P) accumulator due to its high growth rate and N2 fixing symbionts (diazotrophs). It is known that plant growth is stimulated by P, but the nature of the interactive response of both symbionts along a P gradient, and related changes in growth-limiting factors, are unclear. We determined growth, and N and P sequestration rates of Azolla filiculoides in N-free water at different P concentrations. The growth response appeared to be biphasic and highest at levels ≥10 P µmol l[-1]. Diazotrophic N sequestration increased upon P addition, and rates were three times higher at high P than at low P. At 10 µmol P l[-1], N sequestration rates reached its maximum and A. filiculoides growth became saturated. Due to luxury consumption, P sequestration rates increased until 50 µmol P l[-1]. At higher P concentrations (≥50 µmol l[-1]), however, chlorosis occurred that seems to be caused by iron- (Fe-), and not by N-deficiency. We demonstrate that traits of the complete symbiosis in relation to P and Fe availability determine plant performance, stressing the role of nutrient stoichiometry. The results are discussed regarding Azolla's potential use in a bio-based economy.}, } @article {pmid29535169, year = {2018}, author = {Basler, M and Shao, F}, title = {Bacterial infection and symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular biology of the cell}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {683-684}, pmid = {29535169}, issn = {1939-4586}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Congresses as Topic ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid29534719, year = {2018}, author = {Méheust, R and Bhattacharya, D and Pathmanathan, JS and McInerney, JO and Lopez, P and Bapteste, E}, title = {Formation of chimeric genes with essential functions at the origin of eukaryotes.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {29534719}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Chimera/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Databases, Genetic ; Eukaryotic Cells/*physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Eukaryotes evolved from the symbiotic association of at least two prokaryotic partners, and a good deal is known about the timings, mechanisms, and dynamics of these evolutionary steps. Recently, it was shown that a new class of nuclear genes, symbiogenetic genes (S-genes), was formed concomitant with endosymbiosis and the subsequent evolution of eukaryotic photosynthetic lineages. Understanding their origins and contributions to eukaryogenesis would provide insights into the ways in which cellular complexity has evolved.

RESULTS: Here, we show that chimeric nuclear genes (S-genes), built from prokaryotic domains, are critical for explaining the leap forward in cellular complexity achieved during eukaryogenesis. A total of 282 S-gene families contributed solutions to many of the challenges faced by early eukaryotes, including enhancing the informational machinery, processing spliceosomal introns, tackling genotoxicity within the cell, and ensuring functional protein interactions in a larger, more compartmentalized cell. For hundreds of S-genes, we confirmed the origins of their components (bacterial, archaeal, or generally prokaryotic) by maximum likelihood phylogenies. Remarkably, Bacteria contributed nine-fold more S-genes than Archaea, including a two-fold greater contribution to informational functions. Therefore, there is an additional, large bacterial contribution to the evolution of eukaryotes, implying that fundamental eukaryotic properties do not strictly follow the traditional informational/operational divide for archaeal/bacterial contributions to eukaryogenesis.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the extent and process through which prokaryotic fragments from bacterial and archaeal genes inherited during eukaryogenesis underly the creation of novel chimeric genes with important functions.}, } @article {pmid29533484, year = {2018}, author = {Palakurty, SX and Stinchcombe, JR and Afkhami, ME}, title = {Cooperation and coexpression: How coexpression networks shift in response to multiple mutualists.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1860-1873}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14550}, pmid = {29533484}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ecology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {A mechanistic understanding of community ecology requires tackling the nonadditive effects of multispecies interactions, a challenge that necessitates integration of ecological and molecular complexity-namely moving beyond pairwise ecological interaction studies and the "gene at a time" approach to mechanism. Here, we investigate the consequences of multispecies mutualisms for the structure and function of genomewide differential coexpression networks for the first time, using the tractable and ecologically important interaction between legume Medicago truncatula, rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. First, we found that genes whose expression is affected nonadditively by multiple mutualists are more highly connected in gene networks than expected by chance and had 94% greater network centrality than genes showing additive effects, suggesting that nonadditive genes may be key players in the widespread transcriptomic responses to multispecies symbioses. Second, multispecies mutualisms substantially changed coexpression network structure of 18 modules of host plant genes and 22 modules of the fungal symbionts' genes, indicating that third-party mutualists can cause significant rewiring of plant and fungal molecular networks. Third, we found that 60% of the coexpressed gene sets that explained variation in plant performance had coexpression structures that were altered by interactive effects of rhizobia and fungi. Finally, an "across-symbiosis" approach identified sets of plant and mycorrhizal genes whose coexpression structure was unique to the multiple mutualist context and suggested coupled responses across the plant-mycorrhizal interaction to rhizobial mutualists. Taken together, these results show multispecies mutualisms have substantial effects on the molecular interactions in host plants, microbes and across symbiotic boundaries.}, } @article {pmid29531182, year = {2018}, author = {Garnerone, AM and Sorroche, F and Zou, L and Mathieu-Demazière, C and Tian, CF and Masson-Boivin, C and Batut, J}, title = {NsrA, a Predicted β-Barrel Outer Membrane Protein Involved in Plant Signal Perception and the Control of Secondary Infection in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {29531182}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Adenylyl Cyclases/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cyclic AMP/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An ongoing signal exchange fine-tunes the symbiotic interactions between rhizobia and legumes, ensuring the establishment and maintenance of mutualism. In a recently identified regulatory loop, endosymbiotic Sinorhizobium meliloti exerts negative feedback on root infection in response to unknown plant cues. Upon signal perception, three bacterial adenylate cyclases (ACs) of the inner membrane, namely, CyaD1, CyaD2, and CyaK, synthesize the second messenger cAMP, which, together with the cAMP-dependent Clr transcriptional activator, activates the expression of genes involved in root infection control. The pathway that links signal perception at the surface of the cell to cytoplasmic cAMP production by ACs was thus far unknown. Here we first show that CyaK is the cognate AC for the plant signal, called signal 1, that was observed previously in mature nodule and shoot extracts. We also show that inactivation of the gene immediately upstream of cyaK, nsrA (smb20775), which encodes a β-barrel protein of the outer membrane, abolished signal 1 perception ex planta, whereas nsrA overexpression increased signal 1 responsiveness. Inactivation of the nsrA gene abolished all Clr-dependent gene expression in nodules and led to a marked hyperinfection phenotype on plants, similar to that of a cyaD1 cyaD2 cyaK triple mutant. We suggest that the NsrA protein acts as the (co)receptor for two signal molecules, signal 1 and a hypothetical signal 1', in mature and young nodules that cooperate in controlling secondary infection in S. meliloti-Medicago symbiosis. The predicted topology and domain composition of the NsrA protein hint at a mechanism of transmembrane signaling.IMPORTANCE Symbiotic interactions, especially mutualistic ones, rely on a continuous signal exchange between the symbionts. Here we report advances regarding a recently discovered signal transduction pathway that fine-tunes the symbiotic interaction between S. meliloti and its Medicago host plant. We have identified an outer membrane protein of S. meliloti, called NsrA, that transduces Medicago plant signals to adenylate cyclases in the inner membrane, thereby triggering a cAMP signaling cascade that controls infection. Besides their relevance for the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, these findings shed light on the mechanisms of signal perception and transduction by adenylate cyclases and transmembrane signaling in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid29530651, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, JZ and Way, SS and Chen, K}, title = {Immunology of Uterine and Vaginal Mucosae: (Trends in Immunology 39, 302-314, 2018).}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {355}, pmid = {29530651}, issn = {1471-4981}, support = {R01 AI120202/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI124657/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI122256/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI100934/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 AI131080/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI095776/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Along with maintaining symbiotic mutualism with commensal microbes and protection against invasive infections common to all mucosal barrier tissues, female reproductive tissues have additional unique tasks that include dynamic cyclic cellular turnover in menstruation and immunological tolerance to genetically foreign fetal antigens in pregnancy. Herein, we review current knowledge on distinct features of the immune cells in the female reproductive tissue with regards to antimicrobial host defense and adaptations to accommodate the fetus during pregnancy. Outstanding areas for future research to shed new functional insights on this enigmatic mucosal barrier is also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid29530013, year = {2018}, author = {Niepoth, N and Ellers, J and Henry, LM}, title = {Symbiont interactions with non-native hosts limit the formation of new symbioses.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {27}, pmid = {29530013}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {626616//H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions/International ; NE/M018016/1//Natural Environment Research Council/International ; 865.12.003//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NL)/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Fertility ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Plants/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Facultative symbionts are common in eukaryotes and can provide their hosts with significant fitness benefits. Despite the advantage of carrying these microbes, they are typically only found in a fraction of the individuals within a population and are often non-randomly distributed among host populations. It is currently unclear why facultative symbionts are only found in certain host individuals and populations. Here we provide evidence for a mechanism to help explain this phenomenon: that when symbionts interact with non-native host genotypes it can limit the horizontal transfer of symbionts to particular host lineages and populations of related hosts.

RESULTS: Using reciprocal transfections of the facultative symbiont Hamiltonella defensa into different pea aphid clones, we demonstrate that particular symbiont strains can cause high host mortality and inhibit offspring production when injected into aphid clones other than their native host lineage. However, once established, the symbiont's ability to protect against parasitoids was not influenced by its origin. We then demonstrate that H. defensa is also more likely to establish a symbiotic relationship with aphid clones from a plant-adapted population (biotype) that typically carry H. defensa in nature, compared to clones from a biotype that does not normally carry this symbiont.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence that certain aphid lineages and populations of related hosts are predisposed to establishing a symbiotic relationship with H. defensa. Our results demonstrate that host-symbiont genotype interactions represent a potential barrier to horizontal transmission that can limit the spread of symbionts, and adaptive traits they carry, to certain host lineages.}, } @article {pmid29529531, year = {2018}, author = {Spribille, T}, title = {Relative symbiont input and the lichen symbiotic outcome.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {57-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.02.007}, pmid = {29529531}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The term symbiosis was first used in biology to describe the 'living together' of fungi and algae in lichens. For much of the 20th century, the fungal partner was assumed to be invested with the ability to produce the lichen body plan in presence of a photosynthesizing partner. However, studies of fungal evolution have uncovered discordance between lichen symbiotic outcomes and genome evolution of the fungus. At the same time, evidence has emerged that the structurally important lichen cortex contains lichen-specific, single-celled microbes, suggesting it may function like a biofilm. Together, these observations suggest we may not have a complete overview of symbiotic interactions in lichens. Understanding phenotype development and evolution in lichens will require greater insight into fungal-fungal and fungal-bacterial interplay and the physical properties of the cortex.}, } @article {pmid29528640, year = {2018}, author = {Infante, F}, title = {Pest Management Strategies Against the Coffee Berry Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {66}, number = {21}, pages = {5275-5280}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04875}, pmid = {29528640}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria ; Coffea/*growth & development ; *Fruit ; Hymenoptera ; Insect Repellents ; Insecticides/administration & dosage ; Microbiota ; Pest Control/instrumentation/*methods ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; *Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Coffee (Coffea arabica and C. canephora) is one of the most widely traded agricultural commodities and the main cash crop in ∼80 tropical countries. Among the factors that limit coffee production, the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) has been considered the main insect pest, causing losses of over U.S. $500 million dollars annually. Control of this pest has been hindered by two main factors: the cryptic nature of the insect (i.e., protected inside the coffee berry) and the availability of coffee berries in the field allowing the survival of the pest from one generation to the next. Coffee berry borer control has primarily been based on the use of synthetic insecticides. Management strategies have focused on the use of African parasitoids (Cephalonomia stephanoderis, Prorops nasuta, and Phymastichus coffea), fungal entomopathogens (Beauveria bassiana), and insect traps. These approaches have had mixed results. Recent work on the basic biology of the insect has provided novel insights that might be useful in developing novel pest management strategies. For example, the discovery of symbiotic bacteria responsible for caffeine breakdown as part of the coffee berry borer microbiome opens new possibilities for pest management via the disruption of these bacteria. Some chemicals with repellent propieties have been identified, and these have a high potential for field implementation. Finally, the publication of the CBB genome has provided insights on the biology of the insect that will help us to understand why it has been so successful at exploiting the coffee plant. Here I discuss the tools we now have against the CBB and likely control strategies that may be useful in the near future.}, } @article {pmid29528548, year = {2018}, author = {Zhu, L and Wu, Q and Deng, C and Zhang, M and Zhang, C and Chen, H and Lu, G and Wei, F}, title = {Adaptive evolution to a high purine and fat diet of carnivorans revealed by gut microbiomes and host genomes.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {1711-1722}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14096}, pmid = {29528548}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Carnivora/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Diet ; Dietary Fats/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome ; Metagenome ; Purines/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Carnivorous members of the Carnivora reside at the apex of food chains and consume meat-only diets, rich in purine, fats and protein. Here, we aimed to identify potential adaptive evolutionary signatures compatible with high purine and fat metabolism based on analysis of host genomes and symbiotic gut microbial metagenomes. We found that the gut microbiomes of carnivorous Carnivora (e.g., Felidae, Canidae) clustered in the same clade, and other clades comprised omnivorous and herbivorous Carnivora (e.g., badgers, bears and pandas). The relative proportions of genes encoding enzymes involved in uric acid degradation were higher in the gut microbiomes of meat-eating carnivorans than plant-eating species. Adaptive amino acid substitutions in two enzymes, carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1A) and lipase F (LIPF), which play a role in fat digestion, were identified in Felidae-Candidae species. Carnivorous carnivorans appear to endure diets high in purines and fats via gut microbiomic and genomic adaptations.}, } @article {pmid29528270, year = {2017}, author = {Shi, C and An, S and Yao, Z and Young, CA and Panaccione, DG and Lee, ST and Schardl, CL and Li, C}, title = {Toxin-producing Epichloë bromicola strains symbiotic with the forage grass Elymus dahuricus in China.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {6}, pages = {847-859}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2018.1426941}, pmid = {29528270}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Alkaloids/analysis ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; China ; Elymus/*microbiology ; Endophytes/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Epichloe/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genome, Fungal ; Genotype ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycotoxins/*analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cool-season grasses (Poaceae subfamily Poöideae) are an important forage component for livestock in western China, and many have seed-transmitted symbionts of the genus Epichloë, fungal endophytes that are broadly distributed geographically and in many tribes of the Poöideae. Epichloë strains can produce any of several classes of alkaloids, of which ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes can be toxic to mammalian and invertebrate herbivores, whereas lolines and peramine are more selective against invertebrates. The authors characterized genotypes and alkaloid profiles of Epichloë bromicola isolates symbiotic with Elymus dahuricus, an important forage grass in rangelands of China. The endophyte was seed-transmitted and occasionally produced fruiting bodies (stromata), but its sexual state was not observed on this host. The genome sequence of E. bromicola isolate E7626 from El. dahuricus in Xinjiang Province revealed gene sets for peramine, ergot alkaloids, and indole-diterpenes. In multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screens of El. dahuricus-endophyte isolates from Beijing and two locations in Shanxi Province, most were also positive for these genes. Ergovaline and other ergot alkaloids, terpendoles and other indole-diterpenes, and peramine were confirmed in El. dahuricus plants with E. bromicola. The presence of ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes in this grass is a potential concern for managers of grazing livestock.}, } @article {pmid29528123, year = {2018}, author = {Erturk-Hasdemir, D and Kasper, DL}, title = {Finding a needle in a haystack: Bacteroides fragilis polysaccharide A as the archetypical symbiosis factor.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1417}, number = {1}, pages = {116-129}, doi = {10.1111/nyas.13660}, pmid = {29528123}, issn = {1749-6632}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides fragilis/chemistry/*immunology/ultrastructure ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Microbiota/immunology ; Models, Immunological ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; }, abstract = {Starting from birth, all animals develop a symbiotic relationship with their resident microorganisms that benefits both the microbe and the host. Recent advances in technology have substantially improved our ability to direct research toward the identification of important microbial species that affect host physiology. The identification of specific commensal molecules from these microbes and their mechanisms of action is still in its early stages. Polysaccharide A (PSA) of Bacteroides fragilis is the archetypical example of a commensal molecule that can modulate the host immune system in health and disease. This zwitterionic polysaccharide has a critical impact on the development of the mammalian immune system and also on the stimulation of interleukin 10-producing CD4[+] T cells; consequently, PSA confers benefits to the host with regard to experimental autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of B. fragilis PSA and discuss these effects as a novel immunological paradigm. In particular, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the unique functional mechanisms of this molecule and its therapeutic potential, and we review the recent literature in the field of microbiome research aimed at discovering new commensal products and their immunomodulatory potential.}, } @article {pmid29527410, year = {2018}, author = {Sun, H and Xie, Y and Zheng, Y and Lin, Y and Yang, F}, title = {The enhancement by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Cd remediation ability and bioenergy quality-related factors of five switchgrass cultivars in Cd-contaminated soil.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4425}, pmid = {29527410}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, P and Cd concentrations and bioenergy quality-related factors of five cultivars of switchgrass, including three lowland cultivars (Alamo (Ala), Kanlow (Kan), Performer (Per)) and two highland cultivars (Blackwell (Bw), Summer (Sum)), with 0, 1 and 10 mg/kg Cd addition levels. The results showed that AMF inoculation notably increased the biomass and P concentrations of all the cultivars. The Cd concentrations in the roots were higher than those in the shoots of all cultivars irrespective of inoculation, but the AMF had different effects on Cd accumulation in highland and lowland cultivars. AMF inoculation decreased the shoot and root concentrations in Ala and Kan, increased the shoot and root concentrations of Cd in Bw and Sum, and increased shoot Cd concentrations and decreased root Cd concentrations in Per. The highest Cd concentrations were detected in the roots of Bw and in the shoots of Sum with AMF symbiosis. Bw contained the highest total extracted Cd which was primarily in the roots. Ala had the second highest extracted Cd in the shoots, reaching 32% with 1 mg/kg of added Cd, whereas Sum had the lowest extracted Cd. AMF symbiosis had varied effects on bioenergy quality-related factors: for example, AMF decreased the ash lignin content in Ala and the C/N in Sum, increased the nitrogen, gross calorie values, and maintained the hemicellulose and cellulose contents in all cultivars with all tested concentrations of Cd. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed that AMF inoculation could enhance, weaken or transform (positive-negative, PC1-PC2) the correlations of these factors with the principle components under Cd stress. Therefore, AMF symbiosis enhanced the growth of different cultivars of switchgrass, increased/decreased Cd accumulation, promoted Cd extraction, and regulated the bioenergy quality-related factors in Cd-polluted areas. Bw is a suitable cultivar for phytostabilization due to high root Cd stabilization, whereas Ala is an appropriate cultivar for phytoremediation of less polluted areas because of its high Cd extraction and excellent bioenergy quality.}, } @article {pmid29527236, year = {2018}, author = {Sabbadin, F and Pesante, G and Elias, L and Besser, K and Li, Y and Steele-King, C and Stark, M and Rathbone, DA and Dowle, AA and Bates, R and Shipway, JR and Cragg, SM and Bruce, NC and McQueen-Mason, SJ}, title = {Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of lignocellulose digestion in shipworms.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {59}, pmid = {29527236}, issn = {1754-6834}, support = {BB/G016208/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/H531543/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Lignocellulose forms the structural framework of woody plant biomass and represents the most abundant carbon source in the biosphere. Turnover of woody biomass is a critical component of the global carbon cycle, and the enzymes involved are of increasing industrial importance as industry moves away from fossil fuels to renewable carbon resources. Shipworms are marine bivalve molluscs that digest wood and play a key role in global carbon cycling by processing plant biomass in the oceans. Previous studies suggest that wood digestion in shipworms is dominated by enzymes produced by endosymbiotic bacteria found in the animal's gills, while little is known about the identity and function of endogenous enzymes produced by shipworms. Using a combination of meta-transcriptomic, proteomic, imaging and biochemical analyses, we reveal a complex digestive system dominated by uncharacterized enzymes that are secreted by a specialized digestive gland and that accumulate in the cecum, where wood digestion occurs. Using a combination of transcriptomics, proteomics, and microscopy, we show that the digestive proteome of the shipworm Lyrodus pedicellatus is mostly composed of enzymes produced by the animal itself, with a small but significant contribution from symbiotic bacteria. The digestive proteome is dominated by a novel 300 kDa multi-domain glycoside hydrolase that functions in the hydrolysis of β-1,4-glucans, the most abundant polymers in wood. These studies allow an unprecedented level of insight into an unusual and ecologically important process for wood recycling in the marine environment, and open up new biotechnological opportunities in the mobilization of sugars from lignocellulosic biomass.}, } @article {pmid29526771, year = {2018}, author = {Chung, SH and Jing, X and Luo, Y and Douglas, AE}, title = {Targeting symbiosis-related insect genes by RNAi in the pea aphid-Buchnera symbiosis.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {95}, number = {}, pages = {55-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.02.004}, pmid = {29526771}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics/microbiology ; Buchnera/*physiology ; *Genes, Insect ; Insect Proteins/*genetics ; Peptidoglycan/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The growth and reproduction of phloem sap-feeding insects requires the sustained function of intracellular bacteria localized in specialized cells known as bacteriocytes, giving the potential to target the bacterial symbiosis as a novel strategy for controlling sap-feeding insect pests. We focused on two genes in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, amiD and ldcA1, which were acquired horizontally from bacteria and have the annotated function to degrade immunogenic bacterial peptidoglycan. We hypothesized that AmiD and LdcA1 function to eliminate peptidoglycan fragments released by the bacterial symbiont Buchnera inhabiting the bacteriocytes, thereby protecting the Buchnera from host attack. Consistent with this hypothesis, expression of amiD and ldcA1 was enriched in bacteriocytes and varied significantly with aphid age, conforming to an inverse curvilinear relationship for amiD and negative linear relationship for ldcA1. RNAi against amiD and ldcA1 administered orally to larval pea aphids caused a significant reduction in Buchnera abundance and activity, accompanied by depressed aphid growth rates. For RNAi experiments, the aphids were co-administered with dsRNA against an aphid nuclease nuc1, protecting the dsRNA against non-specific degradation. These experiments demonstrate that selective suppression of insect symbiosis-related gene function can reduce the performance of an insect pest. Phylogenetic analysis identified amiD and ldcA1 in sequenced genomes of other aphid species, and amiD in related groups of phloem-feeding insects, offering the opportunity for specific controls against a range of insect pests.}, } @article {pmid29526195, year = {2018}, author = {De Filippis, F and Troise, AD and Vitaglione, P and Ercolini, D}, title = {Different temperatures select distinctive acetic acid bacteria species and promotes organic acids production during Kombucha tea fermentation.}, journal = {Food microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {}, pages = {11-16}, doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2018.01.008}, pmid = {29526195}, issn = {1095-9998}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/*metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gluconates/analysis/metabolism ; Glucuronates/analysis/metabolism ; Kombucha Tea/*analysis/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Polyphenols/analysis/metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional beverage produced by tea fermentation, carried out by a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeasts. Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB) usually dominate the bacterial community of Kombucha, driving the fermentative process. The consumption of this beverage was often associated to beneficial effects for the health, due to its antioxidant and detoxifying properties. We characterized bacterial populations of Kombucha tea fermented at 20 or 30 °C by using culture-dependent and -independent methods and monitored the concentration of gluconic and glucuronic acids, as well as of total polyphenols. We found significant differences in the microbiota at the two temperatures. Moreover, different species of Gluconacetobacter were selected, leading to a differential abundance of gluconic and glucuronic acids.}, } @article {pmid29523686, year = {2018}, author = {Hamiaux, C and Drummond, RSM and Luo, Z and Lee, HW and Sharma, P and Janssen, BJ and Perry, NB and Denny, WA and Snowden, KC}, title = {Inhibition of strigolactone receptors by N-phenylanthranilic acid derivatives: Structural and functional insights.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {293}, number = {17}, pages = {6530-6543}, pmid = {29523686}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Computer Simulation ; *Models, Molecular ; *Oryza/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Petunia/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Receptors, Cell Surface/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; *ortho-Aminobenzoates/chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The strigolactone (SL) family of plant hormones regulates a broad range of physiological processes affecting plant growth and development and also plays essential roles in controlling interactions with parasitic weeds and symbiotic fungi. Recent progress elucidating details of SL biosynthesis, signaling, and transport offers many opportunities for discovering new plant-growth regulators via chemical interference. Here, using high-throughput screening and downstream biochemical assays, we identified N-phenylanthranilic acid derivatives as potent inhibitors of the SL receptors from petunia (DAD2), rice (OsD14), and Arabidopsis (AtD14). Crystal structures of DAD2 and OsD14 in complex with inhibitors further provided detailed insights into the inhibition mechanism, and in silico modeling of 19 other plant strigolactone receptors suggested that these compounds are active across a large range of plant species. Altogether, these results provide chemical tools for investigating SL signaling and further define a framework for structure-based approaches to design and validate optimized inhibitors of SL receptors for specific plant targets.}, } @article {pmid29523550, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, M and Zhu, D and Dai, J and Zhong, Z and Zhang, Y and Wang, J}, title = {Tissue Localization and Variation of Major Symbionts in Haemaphysalis longicornis, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, and Dermacentor silvarum in China.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {29523550}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI129819/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Coxiella/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Dermacentor/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Ixodidae/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; Ovary/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Pseudomonas/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Rhipicephalus/*microbiology/physiology ; Rickettsia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ticks are important disease vectors, as they transmit a variety of human and animal pathogens worldwide. Symbionts that coevolved with ticks confer crucial benefits to their host in nutrition metabolism, fecundity, and vector competence. Although over 100 tick species have been identified in China, general information on tick symbiosis is limited. Here, we visualized the tissue distribution of Coxiella sp. and Rickettsia sp. in lab-reared Haemaphysalis longicornis and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides by fluorescent in situ hybridization. We found that Coxiella sp. colonized exclusively the Malpighian tubules and ovaries of H. longicornis, while Rickettsia sp. additionally colonized the midgut of R. haemaphysaloides We also investigated the population structure of microbiota in Dermacentor silvarum ticks collected from Inner Mongolia, China, and found that Coxiella, Rickettsia, and Pseudomonas are the three dominant genera. No significant difference in microbiota composition was found between male and female D. silvarum ticks. We again analyzed the tissue localization of Coxiella sp. and Rickettsia sp. and found that they displayed tissue tropisms similar to those in R. haemaphysaloides, except that Rickettsia sp. colonized the nuclei of spermatids instead of ovaries in D. silvarum Altogether, our results suggest that Coxiella sp. and Rickettsia sp. are the main symbionts in the three ticks and reside primarily in midgut, Malpighian tubules, and reproductive tissues, but their tissue distribution varies in association with species and sexes.IMPORTANCE Tick-borne diseases constitute a major public health burden, as they are increasing in frequency and severity worldwide. The presence of symbionts helps ticks to metabolize nutrients, promotes fecundity, and influences pathogen infections. Increasing numbers of tick-borne pathogens have been identified in China; however, knowledge of native ticks, especially tick symbiosis, is limited. In this study, we analyze the distribution of Coxiella sp. and Rickettsia sp. in tissues of laboratory-reared Haemaphysalis longicornis and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and field-collected Dermacentor silvarum We found that the localization patterns of Coxiella sp. in three Chinese tick species were similar to those of other tick species. We also found a previously undefined intracellular localization of Rickettsia sp. in tick midgut and spermatids. In addition, we demonstrate that tissue tropisms of symbionts vary between species and sexes. Our findings provide new insights into the tissue localization of symbionts in native Chinese ticks and pave the way for further understanding of their functional capabilities and symbiotic interactions with ticks.}, } @article {pmid29523192, year = {2018}, author = {Pita, L and Rix, L and Slaby, BM and Franke, A and Hentschel, U}, title = {The sponge holobiont in a changing ocean: from microbes to ecosystems.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {29523192}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {679849//Horizon 2020/International ; 679849//Horizon 2020/International ; CRC1182-TPB1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Climate Change ; Dysbiosis/*pathology ; Ecosystem ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oceans and Seas ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The recognition that all macroorganisms live in symbiotic association with microbial communities has opened up a new field in biology. Animals, plants, and algae are now considered holobionts, complex ecosystems consisting of the host, the microbiota, and the interactions among them. Accordingly, ecological concepts can be applied to understand the host-derived and microbial processes that govern the dynamics of the interactive networks within the holobiont. In marine systems, holobionts are further integrated into larger and more complex communities and ecosystems, a concept referred to as "nested ecosystems." In this review, we discuss the concept of holobionts as dynamic ecosystems that interact at multiple scales and respond to environmental change. We focus on the symbiosis of sponges with their microbial communities-a symbiosis that has resulted in one of the most diverse and complex holobionts in the marine environment. In recent years, the field of sponge microbiology has remarkably advanced in terms of curated databases, standardized protocols, and information on the functions of the microbiota. Like a Russian doll, these microbial processes are translated into sponge holobiont functions that impact the surrounding ecosystem. For example, the sponge-associated microbial metabolisms, fueled by the high filtering capacity of the sponge host, substantially affect the biogeochemical cycling of key nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Since sponge holobionts are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic stressors that jeopardize the stability of the holobiont ecosystem, we discuss the link between environmental perturbations, dysbiosis, and sponge diseases. Experimental studies suggest that the microbial community composition is tightly linked to holobiont health, but whether dysbiosis is a cause or a consequence of holobiont collapse remains unresolved. Moreover, the potential role of the microbiome in mediating the capacity for holobionts to acclimate and adapt to environmental change is unknown. Future studies should aim to identify the mechanisms underlying holobiont dynamics at multiple scales, from the microbiome to the ecosystem, and develop management strategies to preserve the key functions provided by the sponge holobiont in our present and future oceans.}, } @article {pmid29522794, year = {2018}, author = {Friedmann Angeli, JP and Conrad, M}, title = {Selenium and GPX4, a vital symbiosis.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {153-159}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.03.001}, pmid = {29522794}, issn = {1873-4596}, mesh = {Animals ; Glutathione Peroxidase/*metabolism ; Humans ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase ; Selenium/*metabolism ; Selenoproteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Selenium has transitioned from an environmental poison and carcinogen to an essential micronutrient associated with a broad array of health promoting effects. These beneficial effects are now accepted to be linked to its incorporation into selenoproteins, a family of rare proteins utilizing a specialized translation machinery to integrate selenium in the form of selenocysteine. Despite this recognized role, much less is known regarding the actual role of selenium in these proteins. Here, we will provide the reader with an overview of the essential role of specific selenoproteins and their link to pathology based on mouse studies and relevant mutations discovered in humans. Additionally, we will cover recent insights linking a non-interchangeable role for selenium in glutathione peroxidase 4 and its function in suppressing ferroptosis. This critical dependency ultimately generates a strong reliance on metabolic pathways that regulate selenium metabolism and its incorporation into proteins, such as the mevalonate pathway.}, } @article {pmid29522749, year = {2018}, author = {Galán, JE and Waksman, G}, title = {Protein-Injection Machines in Bacteria.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {172}, number = {6}, pages = {1306-1318}, pmid = {29522749}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; R01 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI055472/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 098302//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria have evolved specialized nanomachines with the remarkable ability to inject multiple bacterially encoded effector proteins into eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. Known as type III, type IV, and type VI secretion systems, these machines play a central role in the pathogenic or symbiotic interactions between multiple bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts, or in the establishment of bacterial communities in a diversity of environments. Here we focus on recent progress elucidating the structure and assembly pathways of these machines. As many of the interactions shaped by these machines are of medical importance, they provide an opportunity to develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat important human diseases.}, } @article {pmid29522118, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Y and Bouwmeester, HJ}, title = {Structural diversity in the strigolactones.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2219-2230}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ery091}, pmid = {29522118}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Lactones/*chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis/*chemistry ; Plants/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of signalling molecules secreted by the roots of plants into the rhizosphere. On the one hand, they serve as the signal for recruiting arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi which have a symbiotic relationship with plants. On the other hand, they are also host detection signals for the non-symbiotic, pathogenic, root parasitic plants, which use the SLs as germination stimulants. Finally, recently the SLs were discovered to be a new class of plant hormones that regulate processes such as branching/tillering and root architecture. Intriguingly, >25 different SLs have already been discovered that all have the so-called D-ring but otherwise display many differences in structure and functional groups. In this review, we will critically discuss the structural diversity in the SLs. How are they synthesized in plants; how has this structural diversity possibly evolved; what is the biological relevance of this diversity; and what does this imply for the perception of the SLs by receptors in the plant itself and in other organisms? Finally, we conclude that only little is known about the biological significance of this structural diversity, and we will give an outlook on how to elucidate their importance further.}, } @article {pmid29521443, year = {2018}, author = {Ankrah, NYD and Douglas, AE}, title = {Nutrient factories: metabolic function of beneficial microorganisms associated with insects.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {2002-2011}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14097}, pmid = {29521443}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {IOS-1354743//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Nutrients/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many symbiotic microorganisms in animals, including insects, have parallels to microbial nutrient factories of biotechnology: just as the metabolism of individual microorganisms and microbial communities is modified by biotechnologists to produce specific nutrients, so the many insect-associated microorganisms synthesize specific nutrients that support the sustained growth and reproduction of their animal host. Three broad metabolic functions are mediated by insect-associated microorganisms: (i) fermentation of dietary constituents, releasing products that contribute to host carbon and energy metabolism; (ii) overproduction of nutrients, notably essential amino acids, required by the host and (iii) recycling of host waste metabolites. In many systems, the nutrients that are released from living microbial cells have been identified, with evidence for metabolite cross-feeding and shared metabolic pathways both among different microbial taxa and between microorganisms and the host. However, the flux of nutrients from microbial cells to host has rarely been quantified; our understanding of the processes that regulate nutrient transfer is fragmentary; and the scale and mechanism of metabolic adaptations of microorganisms to host nutritional demand are largely unknown. Recent advances in metabolic, microscopical and modelling techniques offer excellent opportunities to resolve these outstanding issues, with insights that can contribute to the effective design of nutrient factories for biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid29520283, year = {2018}, author = {Nascimento, FX and Rossi, MJ and Glick, BR}, title = {Ethylene and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) in Plant-Bacterial Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {114}, pmid = {29520283}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Ethylene and its precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) actively participate in plant developmental, defense and symbiotic programs. In this sense, ethylene and ACC play a central role in the regulation of bacterial colonization (rhizospheric, endophytic, and phyllospheric) by the modulation of plant immune responses and symbiotic programs, as well as by modulating several developmental processes, such as root elongation. Plant-associated bacterial communities impact plant growth and development, both negatively (pathogens) and positively (plant-growth promoting and symbiotic bacteria). Some members of the plant-associated bacterial community possess the ability to modulate plant ACC and ethylene levels and, subsequently, modify plant defense responses, symbiotic programs and overall plant development. In this work, we review and discuss the role of ethylene and ACC in several aspects of plant-bacterial interactions. Understanding the impact of ethylene and ACC in both the plant host and its associated bacterial community is key to the development of new strategies aimed at increased plant growth and protection.}, } @article {pmid29519840, year = {2018}, author = {Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Rogel, MA and Zúñiga-Dávila, D and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of the Symbiotic Strain Bradyrhizobium icense LMTR 13[T], Isolated from Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus) in Peru.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {29519840}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium icense LMTR 13[T], a root nodule bacterium isolated from the legume Phaseolus lunatus, is reported here. The genome consists of a circular 8,322,773-bp chromosome which codes for a large and novel symbiotic island as well as genes putatively involved in soil and root colonization.}, } @article {pmid29519836, year = {2018}, author = {Rodrigues, GN and Lago-Lestón, A and Costa, R and Keller-Costa, T}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Labrenzia sp. Strain EL143, a Coral-Associated Alphaproteobacterium with Versatile Symbiotic Living Capability and Strong Halogen Degradation Potential.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {29519836}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We report here the genome sequence of Labrenzia sp. EL143, an alphaproteobacterium isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata that possesses various genes involved in halogen and aromatic compound degradation, as well as polyketide synthesis. The strain also maintains multiple genes that confer resistance to toxic compounds such as heavy metals and antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid29518143, year = {2018}, author = {Li, F and Zhang, X and Gong, J and Liu, L and Yi, Y}, title = {Specialized core bacteria associate with plants adapted to adverse environment with high calcium contents.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {e0194080}, pmid = {29518143}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brassicaceae/*microbiology ; Calcium/*analysis ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/isolation & purification ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Minerals ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Ribotyping ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Karst topography is formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, such as limestone and dolomite. In soils of such a landform, excessive contents of exchangeable calcium seriously limit the growth of vegetations. Researches have proved that rhizosphere microorganisms and endophytes help host plants to adapt to various adverse environments. The adaptive capacity of plants that grow in adverse environment with salt, drought, thermal and heavy metal stresses partially or completely comes from symbiotic microorganisms. By using the high-throughput amplicon sequencing, the bacterial community structures in soil with high calcium contents and roots and leaves of Cochlearia henryi that is commonly seen in karst area were analyzed. The bacteria community structures in these three compartments showed obvious differences. This indicates that C. henryi, which is adaptive to high calcium stress, selectively co-exists with specific bacteria. Although the bacteria community structures in these three compartments differed significantly, there were 73 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) shared by karst soils as well as roots and leaves of C. henryi. The phylogenetic diversity of these 73 OTUs differed significantly from that of overall OTUs detected. There were also obvious differences in KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways and abundance values between the 73 OTUs and overall bacterial communities. A large number of OTUs shared by the karst soils, roots and leaves of C. henryi had close genetic relationship with known stress-resistant bacterial strains. Our results showed that the functional bacteria can be predicted by exploring core bacteria, bacteria shared by soils, adaptable plant roots and leaves. This information will potentially accelerate studies on natural microbial communities which can promote the adaptive capacity of host plants to high calcium stress, and will be valuable for finding microbial strains for field application in karst topography.}, } @article {pmid29516754, year = {2018}, author = {Lin, HH and Huang, HM and Yu, M and Lai, EM and Chien, HL and Liu, CT}, title = {Functional Exploration of the Bacterial Type VI Secretion System in Mutualism: Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571-Sesbania rostrata as a Research Model.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {856-867}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-18-0026-R}, pmid = {29516754}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS) has been considered the armed force of bacteria because it can deliver toxin effectors to prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells for survival and fitness. Although many legume symbiotic rhizobacteria encode T6SS in their genome, the biological function of T6SS in these bacteria is still unclear. To elucidate this issue, we used Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 and its symbiotic host Sesbania rostrata as our research model. By using T6SS gene deletion mutants, we found that T6SS provides A. caulinodans with better symbiotic competitiveness when coinfected with a T6SS-lacking strain, as demonstrated by two independent T6SS-deficient mutants. Meanwhile, the symbiotic effectiveness was not affected by T6SS because the nodule phenotype, nodule size, and nodule nitrogen-fixation ability did not differ between the T6SS mutants and the wild type when infected alone. Our data also suggest that under several lab culture conditions tested, A. caulinodans showed no T6SS-dependent interbacterial competition activity. Therefore, instead of being an antihost or antibacterial weapon of the bacterium, the T6SS in A. caulinodans ORS571 seems to participate specifically in symbiosis by increasing its symbiotic competitiveness.}, } @article {pmid29516671, year = {2018}, author = {Brivio, MF and Toscano, A and De Pasquale, SM and De Lerma Barbaro, A and Giovannardi, S and Finzi, G and Mastore, M}, title = {Surface protein components from entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria: effects on immune responses of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.4905}, pmid = {29516671}, issn = {1526-4998}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Steinernema carpocapsae is a nematocomplex widely used as an alternative to chemicals for the biological control of insect pests; this nematode is symbiotically associated with the bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and both contribute to host death. The architecture and functions of structures and molecular components of the surface of nematodes and their symbiont bacteria are integral to early interactions with their hosts; thus, we assessed the role of protein pools isolated from the surface of S. carpocapsae and from phase I X. nematophila against Galleria mellonella.

RESULTS: Using high-salt treatments, we isolated the surface proteins and assayed them on G. mellonella haemocytes; haemocyte viability and phagocytic activity were investigated in the presence of surface proteins from nematodes or bacteria. Proteins from live S. carpocapsae possessed mild cytotoxicity on the haemocytes, whereas those from live X. nematophila markedly affected the host cells' viability. Bacterial proteins inhibited phagocytic activity, although they strongly triggered the host proPO (prophenoloxidase-phenoloxidase) system.

CONCLUSION: Nematocomplex surface compounds play a key role in immunoevasion/depression of insect hosts, causing a severe physiological disorder. Natural compounds newly identified as active against pests could improve the pest management of species potentially harmful to plants in urban green spaces and agriculture. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid29516174, year = {2018}, author = {Michalik, A and Szwedo, J and Stroiński, A and Świerczewski, D and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Symbiotic cornucopia of the monophagous planthopper Ommatidiotus dissimilis (Fallén, 1806) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Caliscelidae).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {255}, number = {5}, pages = {1317-1329}, pmid = {29516174}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsia/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Wolbachia/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {In contrast to Cicadomorpha, in which numerous symbiotic bacteria have been identified and characterized, the symbionts of fulgoromorphans are poorly known. Here, we present the results of histological, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses of the symbiotic system of the planthopper Ommatidiotus dissimilis. Amplification, cloning, and sequencing of bacterial 16S RNA genes have revealed that O. dissimilis is host to five types of bacteria. Apart from bacteria Sulcia and Vidania, which are regarded as ancestral symbionts of Fulgoromorpha, three additional types of bacteria belonging to the genera Sodalis, Wolbachia, and Rickettsia have been detected. Histological and ultrastructural investigations have shown that bacteria Sulcia, Vidania, and Sodalis house separate bacteriocytes, whereas bacteria Wolbachia and Rickettsia are dispersed within various insect tissue. Additionally, bacteria belonging to the genus Vidania occupy the bacteriome localized in the lumen of the hindgut. Both molecular and microscopic analyses have revealed that all the symbionts are transovarially transmitted between generations.}, } @article {pmid29515164, year = {2018}, author = {Al-Attar, A and Alimova, Y and Kirakodu, S and Kozal, A and Novak, MJ and Stromberg, AJ and Orraca, L and Gonzalez-Martinez, J and Martinez, M and Ebersole, JL and Gonzalez, OA}, title = {Activation of Notch-1 in oral epithelial cells by P. gingivalis triggers the expression of the antimicrobial protein PLA2-IIA.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {1047-1059}, pmid = {29515164}, issn = {1935-3456}, support = {P20 GM103538/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P40 OD012217/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE024804/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Bacteroidaceae Infections/*immunology ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells/microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Group II Phospholipases A2/genetics/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Mouth/*pathology ; Periodontal Diseases/*immunology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/*physiology ; Receptor, Notch1/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {P. gingivalis (Pg) is an oral pathogen with the ability to induce oral dysbiosis and periodontal disease. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which mucosal responses to the oral microbiota in the presence of specific pathogens such as Pg could abrogate the host-microbe symbiotic relationship leading to periodontitis remain unclear. Herein, we identified the Notch-1/PLA2-IIA axis as a new molecular pathway through which Pg could be specifically modulating oral epithelial antimicrobial and inflammatory responses. Pg activated Notch-1, and inhibition or silencing of Notch-1 completely abrogated Pg-induced PLA2-IIA in oral epithelial cells (OECs). Activation of Notch-1 and PLA2-IIA production were associated with Pg-produced gingipains. Other oral Gram-positive and Gram-negative species failed to induce similar responses. Pg enhanced OEC antimicrobial activity through PLA2-IIA. Increased Notch-1 activation correlated with higher PLA2-IIA gingival expression and changes in the abundance of specific oral bacteria phyla during periodontal disease. Oral bacterial species exhibited differential antimicrobial susceptibility to PLA2-IIA. These findings support previous evidence suggesting an important role for epithelial Notch-1 activation and PLA2-IIA production during health and disease at mucosal surfaces, and provide new mechanistic information concerning the regulation of epithelial antimicrobial and pro-inflammatory responses modulated by oral pathogenic bacteria associated with periodontal disease.}, } @article {pmid29511998, year = {2018}, author = {Thomas, J and Bowman, MJ and Vega, A and Kim, HR and Mukherjee, A}, title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis provides key insights into gene expression pattern during the formation of nodule-like structures in Brachypodium.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {315-326}, pmid = {29511998}, issn = {1438-7948}, support = {P20 GM103429/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Brachypodium/*genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*genetics/ultrastructure ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Auxins can induce the formation of nodule-like structures (NLS) in plant roots even in the absence of rhizobia and nitrogen-fixing bacteria can colonize these structures. Interestingly, NLS can be induced in roots of both legumes and non-legumes. However, our understanding of NLS formation in non-legumes at a molecular level is limited. This study aims to investigate NLS formation at a developmental and molecular level in Brachypodium distachyon. We treated Brachypodium roots with the synthetic auxin, 2,4-D, to induce NLS at a high frequency (> 80%) under controlled conditions. A broad base and a diffuse meristem characterized these structures. Next, we performed a comprehensive RNA-sequencing experiment to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Brachypodium roots during NLS formation. We identified 618 DEGs; several of which are promising candidates for control of NLS based on their biological and molecular functions. We validated the expression pattern of several genes via RT-PCR. Next, we compared the expression profile of Brachypodium roots with rice roots during NLS formation. We identified 76 single-copy ortholog pairs in rice and Brachypodium that are both differentially expressed during this process. Some of these genes are involved in auxin signaling, root development, and legume-rhizobia symbiosis. We established an experimental system to study NLS formation in Brachypodium at a developmental and genetic level, and used RNA-sequencing analysis to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling this root organogenesis program. Furthermore, our comparative transcriptome analysis in Brachypodium and rice identified a key set of genes for further investigating this genetic pathway in grasses.}, } @article {pmid29511914, year = {2018}, author = {Zeng, X and Li, Y and Ling, H and Chen, J and Guo, S}, title = {Revealing proteins associated with symbiotic germination of Gastrodia elata by proteomic analysis.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {8}, pmid = {29511914}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata, a mycoheterotrophic orchid, is a well-known medicinal herb. In nature, the seed germination of G. elata requires proper fungal association, because of the absence of endosperm. To germinate successfully, G. elata obtains nutrition from mycorrhizal fungi such as Mycena. However, Mycena is not able to supply nutrition for the further development and enlargement of protocorms into tubers, flowering and fruit setting of G. elata. To date, current genomic studies on this topic are limited. Here we used the proteomic approach to explore changes in G. elata at different stages of symbiotic germination.

RESULTS: Using mass spectrometry, 3787 unique proteins were identified, of which 599 were classified as differentially accumulated proteins. Most of these differentially accumulated proteins were putatively involved in energy metabolism, plant defense, molecular signaling, and secondary metabolism. Among them, the defense genes (e.g., pathogenesis-/wound-related proteins, peroxidases, and serine/threonine-protein kinase) were highly expressed in late-stage protocorms, suggesting that fungal colonization triggered the significant defense responses of G. elata.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated the metabolic change and defensive reaction could disrupt the balance between Mycena and G. elata during mycorrhizal symbiotic germination.}, } @article {pmid29511180, year = {2018}, author = {Hu, Y and Sanders, JG and Łukasik, P and D'Amelio, CL and Millar, JS and Vann, DR and Lan, Y and Newton, JA and Schotanus, M and Kronauer, DJC and Pierce, NE and Moreau, CS and Wertz, JT and Engel, P and Russell, JA}, title = {Herbivorous turtle ants obtain essential nutrients from a conserved nitrogen-recycling gut microbiome.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {964}, pmid = {29511180}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/*physiology ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Geography ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Symbiosis ; Urea/metabolism ; Urease/metabolism ; Uric Acid/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen acquisition is a major challenge for herbivorous animals, and the repeated origins of herbivory across the ants have raised expectations that nutritional symbionts have shaped their diversification. Direct evidence for N provisioning by internally housed symbionts is rare in animals; among the ants, it has been documented for just one lineage. In this study we dissect functional contributions by bacteria from a conserved, multi-partite gut symbiosis in herbivorous Cephalotes ants through in vivo experiments, metagenomics, and in vitro assays. Gut bacteria recycle urea, and likely uric acid, using recycled N to synthesize essential amino acids that are acquired by hosts in substantial quantities. Specialized core symbionts of 17 studied Cephalotes species encode the pathways directing these activities, and several recycle N in vitro. These findings point to a highly efficient N economy, and a nutritional mutualism preserved for millions of years through the derived behaviors and gut anatomy of Cephalotes ants.}, } @article {pmid29510563, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, SL and Li, YL and Han, Z and Chen, X and Chen, QJ and Wang, Y and He, LS}, title = {Molecular Characterization of a Novel N-Acetylneuraminate Lyase from a Deep-Sea Symbiotic Mycoplasma.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29510563}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/chemistry/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biotechnology/methods ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme Assays ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Mutagenesis ; Mycoplasma/*chemistry ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/*biosynthesis ; Oxo-Acid-Lyases/*chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Protein Engineering/methods ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) based novel pharmaceutical agents and diagnostic reagents are highly required in medical fields. However, N-acetylneuraminate lyase(NAL)for Neu5Ac synthesis is not applicable for industry due to its low catalytic efficiency. In this study, we biochemically characterized a deep-sea NAL enzyme (abbreviated form: MyNal) from a symbiotic Mycoplasma inhabiting the stomach of a deep-sea isopod, Bathynomus jamesi. Enzyme kinetic studies of MyNal showed that it exhibited a very low Km for both cleavage and synthesis activities compared to previously described NALs. Though it favors the cleavage process, MyNal out-competes the known NALs with respect to the efficiency of Neu5Ac synthesis and exhibits the highest kcat/Km values. High expression levels of recombinant MyNal could be achieved (9.56 mol L[-1] culture) with a stable activity in a wide pH (5.0-9.0) and temperature (40-60 °C) range. All these features indicated that the deep-sea NAL has potential in the industrial production of Neu5Ac. Furthermore, we found that the amino acid 189 of MyNal (equivalent to Phe190 in Escherichia coli NAL), located in the sugar-binding domain, GX189DE, was also involved in conferring its enzymatic features. Therefore, the results of this study improved our understanding of the NALs from different environments and provided a model for protein engineering of NAL for biosynthesis of Neu5Ac.}, } @article {pmid29510317, year = {2018}, author = {Vigneron, N and Radhakrishnan, GV and Delaux, PM}, title = {What have we learnt from studying the evolution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis?.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {49-56}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.02.004}, pmid = {29510317}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a nearly ubiquitous association formed by most land plants. Numerous insights into the molecular mechanisms governing this symbiosis have been obtained in recent years leading to the identification of a core set of plant genes essential for successful formation of the AM symbiosis by angiosperm hosts. Recent phylogenetic analyses indicate that while the origin of some of these symbiotic genes predated the first land plants, the rest appeared through processes including de novo evolution and gene duplication that occurred specifically in the land plants. Purifying selection on this core gene set has been maintained over millions of years of plant evolution to conserve the AM symbiosis. However, several independent losses of this association have been recorded in numerous embryophyte lineages. In these lineages, potential compensatory mechanisms have been identified that could have helped these plants overcome the adversities imposed by the loss of the AM symbiosis. This review will focus on the processes governing the conservation of the AM symbiosis in the land plant lineage.}, } @article {pmid29509715, year = {2018}, author = {Leão, JM and Lozano-Leon, A and Giráldez, J and Vilariño, Ó and Gago-Martínez, A}, title = {Preliminary Results on the Evaluation of the Occurrence of Tetrodotoxin Associated to Marine Vibrio spp. in Bivalves from the Galician Rias (Northwest of Spain).}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29509715}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/isolation & purification ; Biological Assay/methods ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Peptide Synthases/isolation & purification ; Shellfish/*analysis/microbiology/toxicity ; Shellfish Poisoning/*prevention & control ; Spain ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tetrodotoxin/*analysis/biosynthesis/toxicity ; Toxicity Tests/methods ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tetrodotoxins (TTX) are a potent group of natural neurotoxins putatively produced by symbiotic microorganisms and affecting the aquatic environment. These neurotoxins have been recently found in some species of bivalves and gastropods along the European Coasts (Greece, UK, and The Netherlands) linked to the presence of high concentrations of Vibrio, in particular Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This study is focused on the evaluation of the presence of Vibrio species and TTX in bivalves (mussels, oysters, cockles, clams, scallops, and razor clams) from Galician Rias (northwest of Spain). The detection and isolation of the major Vibrio spp. and other enterobacterial populations have been carried out with the aim of screening for the presence of the pathways genes, poliketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) possibly involved in the biosynthesis of these toxins. Samples containing Vibrio spp. were analyzed by biochemical (API20E-galery) and genetic tests (PCR-RT). These samples were then screened for TTX toxicity by a neuroblastoma cell-based assay (N2a) and the presence of TTX was further confirmed by LC-MS/MS. TTX was detected in two infaunal samples. This is the first confirmation of the presence of TTX in bivalve molluscs from the Galician Rias.}, } @article {pmid29509376, year = {2017}, author = {Rudikovskaya, EG and Akimova, GP and Rudikovskii, AV and Katysheva, NB and Dudareva, LV}, title = {[Content of salicylic and jasmonic acids in pea roots (Pisum sativum L.) at the initial stage of symbiotic or pathogenic interaction with bacteria of the family Rhizobiaceae].}, journal = {Prikladnaia biokhimiia i mikrobiologiia}, volume = {53}, number = {2}, pages = {219-224}, pmid = {29509376}, issn = {0555-1099}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/growth & development/*pathogenicity ; Cyclopentanes/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Kinetics ; Oxylipins/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Peas/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Salicylic Acid/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {A change in the contents of endogenous salicylic and jasmonic acids in the roots of the host plant at the preinfectious stage of interaction with symbiotic (Rhizobium leguminosarum) and pathogenic (Agrobacterium rizogenes) bacteria belonging for to the family Rhizobiaceae was studied. It was found that the jasmonic acid content increased 1.5–2 times 5 min after inoculation with these bacterial species. It was shown that dynamics of the change in the JA and SA contents depends on the type of infection. Thus, the JA content decreased in the case of pathogenesis, while the SA content increased. At the same time, an increased JA content was observed during symbiosis. The observed regularities could indicate the presence of different strategies of hormonal regulation for interaction with symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria belonging to the family Rhizobiaceae in peas plants.}, } @article {pmid29508970, year = {2017}, author = {Glyan'ko, AK and Ischenko, AA}, title = {[Immunity of a leguminous plant infected by nodular bacteria Rhizobium spp. F.].}, journal = {Prikladnaia biokhimiia i mikrobiologiia}, volume = {53}, number = {2}, pages = {136-145}, pmid = {29508970}, issn = {0555-1099}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Gene Expression ; Lipopolysaccharides/genetics/immunology ; NADPH Oxidases/genetics/immunology ; Plant Immunity/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/immunology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*immunology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/immunology/metabolism ; Rhizobium/growth & development/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Recent studies of the immune system of leguminous plants infected with nodular bacteria (rhizobia) are summarized. The possibility of blocking the invasion of rhizobia into plant organs not affected by the primary infection is discussed. The concept of local and systemic resistance of the leguminous plant to rhizobial infection is introduced. The Nod factors of rhizobia are considered, as well as the plant receptors that interact with these factors upon the formation of symbiosis of the plant and bacteria. The role of bacterial surface exopolysaccharides in the suppression of the protective system of the plants is discussed. The innate immunity of leguminous plant cells is assumed to affect the formation and functioning of the symbiosis of the plant and the bacteria.}, } @article {pmid29508944, year = {2018}, author = {Villarreal-Soto, SA and Beaufort, S and Bouajila, J and Souchard, JP and Taillandier, P}, title = {Understanding Kombucha Tea Fermentation: A Review.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {580-588}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.14068}, pmid = {29508944}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; China ; Fermentation ; Kombucha Tea/analysis/*microbiology ; Yeasts/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Kombucha is a beverage of probable Manchurian origins obtained from fermented tea by a microbial consortium composed of several bacteria and yeasts. This mixed consortium forms a powerful symbiosis capable of inhibiting the growth of potentially contaminating bacteria. The fermentation process also leads to the formation of a polymeric cellulose pellicle due to the activity of certain strains of Acetobacter sp. The tea fermentation process by the microbial consortium was able to show an increase in certain biological activities which have been already studied; however, little information is available on the characterization of its active components and their evolution during fermentation. Studies have also reported that the use of infusions from other plants may be a promising alternative.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Kombucha is a traditional fermented tea whose consumption has increased in the recent years due to its multiple functional properties such as anti-inflammatory potential and antioxidant activity. The microbiological composition of this beverage is quite complex and still more research is needed in order to fully understand its behavior. This study comprises the chemical and microbiological composition of the tea and the main factors that may affect its production.}, } @article {pmid29507840, year = {2018}, author = {Brüwer, JD and Voolstra, CR}, title = {First insight into the viral community of the cnidarian model metaorganism Aiptasia using RNA-Seq data.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4449}, pmid = {29507840}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Current research posits that all multicellular organisms live in symbioses with associated microorganisms and form so-called metaorganisms or holobionts. Cnidarian metaorganisms are of specific interest given that stony corals provide the foundation of the globally threatened coral reef ecosystems. To gain first insight into viruses associated with the coral model system Aiptasia (sensu Exaiptasia pallida), we analyzed an existing RNA-Seq dataset of aposymbiotic, partially populated, and fully symbiotic Aiptasia CC7 anemones with Symbiodinium. Our approach included the selective removal of anemone host and algal endosymbiont sequences and subsequent microbial sequence annotation. Of a total of 297 million raw sequence reads, 8.6 million (∼3%) remained after host and endosymbiont sequence removal. Of these, 3,293 sequences could be assigned as of viral origin. Taxonomic annotation of these sequences suggests that Aiptasia is associated with a diverse viral community, comprising 116 viral taxa covering 40 families. The viral assemblage was dominated by viruses from the families Herpesviridae (12.00%), Partitiviridae (9.93%), and Picornaviridae (9.87%). Despite an overall stable viral assemblage, we found that some viral taxa exhibited significant changes in their relative abundance when Aiptasia engaged in a symbiotic relationship with Symbiodinium. Elucidation of viral taxa consistently present across all conditions revealed a core virome of 15 viral taxa from 11 viral families, encompassing many viruses previously reported as members of coral viromes. Despite the non-random selection of viral genetic material due to the nature of the sequencing data analyzed, our study provides a first insight into the viral community associated with Aiptasia. Similarities of the Aiptasia viral community with those of corals corroborate the application of Aiptasia as a model system to study coral holobionts. Further, the change in abundance of certain viral taxa across different symbiotic states suggests a role of viruses in the algal endosymbiosis, but the functional significance of this remains to be determined.}, } @article {pmid29507083, year = {2018}, author = {Collins, KD and Hu, S and Grasberger, H and Kao, JY and Ottemann, KM}, title = {Chemotaxis Allows Bacteria To Overcome Host-Generated Reactive Oxygen Species That Constrain Gland Colonization.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {86}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {29507083}, issn = {1098-5522}, support = {R01 DK087708/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI117345/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carrier State ; Chemotaxis/*physiology ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Bacterial ; Helicobacter pylori/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mutation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The epithelial layer of the gastrointestinal tract contains invaginations, called glands or crypts, which are colonized by symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms and may function as designated niches for certain species. Factors that control gland colonization are poorly understood, but bacterial chemotaxis aids occupation of these sites. We report here that a Helicobacter pylori cytoplasmic chemoreceptor, TlpD, is required for gland colonization in the stomach. tlpD mutants demonstrate gland colonization defects characterized by a reduction in the percentage of glands colonized but not in the number of bacteria per gland. Consistent with TlpD's reported role in reactive oxygen species (ROS) avoidance, tlpD mutants showed hallmarks of exposure to high ROS. To assess the role of host-generated ROS in TlpD-dependent gland colonization, we utilized mice that lack either the ability to generate epithelial hydrogen peroxide or immune cell superoxide. tlpD gland colonization defects were rescued to wild-type H. pylori levels in both of these mutants. These results suggest that multiple types of innate immune-generated ROS production limit gland colonization and that bacteria have evolved specific mechanisms to sense and direct their motility in response to this signal and thus spread throughout tissue.}, } @article {pmid29506121, year = {2018}, author = {Zouari, S and Ben Halima, MK and Reyes-Prieto, M and Latorre, A and Gil, R}, title = {Natural Occurrence of Secondary Bacterial Symbionts in Aphids from Tunisia, with a Focus on Genus Hyalopterus.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {325-333}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvy005}, pmid = {29506121}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) can harbor two types of bacterial symbionts. In addition to the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola Munson, Baumann and Kinsey 1991 (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae), several facultative symbiotic bacteria, called secondary (S) symbionts, have been identified among many important pest aphid species. To determine interpopulational diversity of S-symbionts, we carried out a survey in a total of 18 populations of six aphid species collected from six localities in Tunisia, by performing a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction analysis of partial 16S-23S rRNA operon sequences. While 61.7% of individuals contained only Buchnera, three S-symbionts were found at different frequencies. Arsenophonus sp. Gherna et al. 1991 (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) was found in all species under study except for Acyrtosiphon pisum (Harris 1776) (Aphidinae: Macrosiphini); Serratia symbiotica Moran et al. 2005 (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) was present in all analyzed individuals of A. pisum but only sporadically in Aphis spiraecola (Patch 1914) (Aphidinae: Aphidini) and Hyalopterus amygdali (Blanchard 1840) (Aphidinae: Aphidini), while Hamiltonella defensa Moran et al. 2005 (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) was found in all analyzed individuals of one population of Aphis gossypii (Glover 1877) (Aphidinae: Aphidini) and sporadically in two populations of Hyalopterus. The lysogenic bacteriophage APSE-1 (A. pisum secondary endosymbiont, type 1) was detected in the three populations infected with H. defensa. This bacteriophage has been associated with moderate protection against braconid parasitoids in pea aphids. The high prevalence of Arsenophonus sp. in our samples is in accordance with previous studies indicating that, among gammaproteobacteria, this genus is one of the most widespread insect facultative symbionts.}, } @article {pmid29505738, year = {2018}, author = {Thiel, V and Tank, M and Bryant, DA}, title = {Diversity of Chlorophototrophic Bacteria Revealed in the Omics Era.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {21-49}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-042817-040500}, pmid = {29505738}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Genomics ; Nitrogen ; Oxygen/metabolism ; *Phototrophic Processes ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Because of recent advances in omics methodologies, knowledge of chlorophototrophy (i.e., chlorophyll-based phototrophy) in bacteria has rapidly increased. Chlorophototrophs currently are known to occur in seven bacterial phyla: Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chlorobi, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes. Other organisms that can produce chlorophylls and photochemical reaction centers may still be undiscovered. Here we summarize the current status of the taxonomy and phylogeny of chlorophototrophic bacteria as revealed by genomic methods. In specific cases, we briefly describe important ecophysiological and metabolic insights that have been gained from the application of genomic methods to these bacteria. In the 20 years since the completion of the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 genome in 1996, approximately 1,100 genomes have been sequenced, which represents nearly the complete diversity of known chlorophototrophic bacteria. These data are leading to new insights into many important processes, including photosynthesis, nitrogen and carbon fixation, cellular differentiation and development, symbiosis, and ecosystem functionality.}, } @article {pmid29505170, year = {2018}, author = {Ochoa-Hueso, R and Collins, SL and Delgado-Baquerizo, M and Hamonts, K and Pockman, WT and Sinsabaugh, RL and Smith, MD and Knapp, AK and Power, SA}, title = {Drought consistently alters the composition of soil fungal and bacterial communities in grasslands from two continents.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {2818-2827}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14113}, pmid = {29505170}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Australia ; Bacteria/*classification ; *Droughts ; Fungi/*classification ; *Grassland ; Microbiota ; North America ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The effects of short-term drought on soil microbial communities remain largely unexplored, particularly at large scales and under field conditions. We used seven experimental sites from two continents (North America and Australia) to evaluate the impacts of imposed extreme drought on the abundance, community composition, richness, and function of soil bacterial and fungal communities. The sites encompassed different grassland ecosystems spanning a wide range of climatic and soil properties. Drought significantly altered the community composition of soil bacteria and, to a lesser extent, fungi in grasslands from two continents. The magnitude of the fungal community change was directly proportional to the precipitation gradient. This greater fungal sensitivity to drought at more mesic sites contrasts with the generally observed pattern of greater drought sensitivity of plant communities in more arid grasslands, suggesting that plant and microbial communities may respond differently along precipitation gradients. Actinobateria, and Chloroflexi, bacterial phyla typically dominant in dry environments, increased their relative abundance in response to drought, whereas Glomeromycetes, a fungal class regarded as widely symbiotic, decreased in relative abundance. The response of Chlamydiae and Tenericutes, two phyla of mostly pathogenic species, decreased and increased along the precipitation gradient, respectively. Soil enzyme activity consistently increased under drought, a response that was attributed to drought-induced changes in microbial community structure rather than to changes in abundance and diversity. Our results provide evidence that drought has a widespread effect on the assembly of microbial communities, one of the major drivers of soil function in terrestrial ecosystems. Such responses may have important implications for the provision of key ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, and may result in the weakening of plant-microbial interactions and a greater incidence of certain soil-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid29505125, year = {2018}, author = {Brakni, R and Ali Ahmed, M and Burger, P and Schwing, A and Michel, G and Pomares, C and Hasseine, L and Boyer, L and Fernandez, X and Landreau, A and Michel, T}, title = {UHPLC-HRMS/MS Based Profiling of Algerian Lichens and Their Antimicrobial Activities.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {e1800031}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.201800031}, pmid = {29505125}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Algeria ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Aspergillus fumigatus/drug effects ; Candida/drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Lichens are complex symbiotic organisms able to produce a vast array of compounds. The Algerian lichen diversity has only prompted little interest even given the 1085 species listed. Herein, the chemodiversity of four Algerian lichens including Cladonia rangiformis, Ramalina farinaceae, R. fastigiata, and Roccella phycopsis was investigated. A dereplication strategy, using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS), was carried out for a comprehensive characterization of their substances including phenolics, depsides, depsidones, depsones, dibenzofurans, and aliphatic acids. Some known compounds were identified for the first time in some species. Additionally, the lichenic extracts were evaluated for their antifungal and antimicrobial activities on human pathogenic strains (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli). Cyclohexane extracts were found particularly active against human pathogenic fungi with MIC80 values ranging from 8 to 62.5 μg/mL, without cytotoxicity. This study highlights the therapeutic and prophylactic potential of lichenic extracts as antibacterial and antifungal agents.}, } @article {pmid29505062, year = {2018}, author = {Haag, KL}, title = {Holobionts and their hologenomes: Evolution with mixed modes of inheritance.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {41}, number = {1 suppl 1}, pages = {189-197}, pmid = {29505062}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {Symbioses are ubiquitous and have played an influential role in the evolution of life on Earth. Genomic studies are now revealing a huge diversity of associations among hosts and their microbiotas, allowing us to characterize their complex ecological and evolutionary dynamics. The different transmission modes and the asynchronous cell proliferation of the numerous symbionts associated with one host generate a genomic conflict ought to be solved. Two disputing views have been used to model and predict the outcome of such conflicts. The traditional view is based on community ecology, and considers that selection at the level of individuals is sufficient to explain longstanding associations among species. A new perspective considers that the host and its associated microbiota constitute a biological entity called holobiont, and that regarding it as a higher-level unit of selection is unavoidable to understand phenotypic evolution. Novel extended phenotypes are often built through symbiotic interactions, allowing the holobiont to explore and survive in distinct environmental conditions, and may evolve in a Lamarckian fashion.}, } @article {pmid29504079, year = {2019}, author = {Sacirovic, S and Ketin, S and Vignjevic, N}, title = {Eco-industrial zones in the context of sustainability development of urban areas.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {24346-24356}, pmid = {29504079}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Cities ; Commerce ; Industry/*economics ; *Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {Industry is one of the main activities in the city and in many cities of the world, and the dominant industrial zones are the most significant morphological forms of concentration of industrial facilities in the city and are concentrated industrial and business activity. Industrial parks combine activities related to energy and resource consumption, emissions, waste generation, economic benefits, and regional development. The focus of this work is the path of transformation between the present and the vision of a sustainable city in the future. The problem and the subject of research related to two related objects of research: the city and sustainable development. In this paper, the co-author's industrial symbiosis parks, modern tendencies of the spatial distribution of productive activities, circular economy, to attract leading corporations and open the way for new ventures while preserving the living environment in an urban area.}, } @article {pmid29502258, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, X and Gao, M and Gao, Z and Wang, J and Zhang, M and Ma, Y and Wang, Q}, title = {Past, current, and future research on microalga-derived biodiesel: a critical review and bibliometric analysis.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {25}, number = {11}, pages = {10596-10610}, pmid = {29502258}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Bibliometrics ; Biofuels ; Lipids/*chemistry ; Microalgae/chemistry/*growth & development ; Publications ; Research ; Yeasts/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Microalga-derived biodiesel plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of biodiesel in recent years. Literature related to microalga-derived biodiesel had an increasing trend with the expanding research outputs. Based on the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) of the Web of Science, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to characterize the body of knowledge on microalga-derived biodiesel between 1993 and 2016. From the 30 most frequently used author keywords, the following research hotspots are extracted: lipid preparation from different microalga species, microalga-derived lipid and environmental applications, lipid-producing microalgae cultivation, microalgae growth reactor, and microalga harvest and lipid extraction. Other keywords, i.e., microalga mixotrophic cultivation, symbiotic system between microalga and other oleaginous yeast, microalga genetic engineering, and other applications of lipid-producing microalga are future focal points of research. Graphical abstract.}, } @article {pmid29500996, year = {2018}, author = {Cunha, GDC and Dos Santos, BT and Alves, JR and Alves Silva, IA and de Souza Cruz, DR and Romão, LPC}, title = {Applications of magnetic hybrid adsorbent derived from waste biomass for the removal of metal ions and reduction of 4-nitrophenol.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {213}, number = {}, pages = {236-246}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.02.031}, pmid = {29500996}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Biomass ; Cadmium/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ions ; Kinetics ; Lead/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; *Nitrophenols ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical ; }, abstract = {The use of industrial waste to synthesize materials of technological interest is a rational way to minimize or solve environmental pollution problems. This work investigates the adsorption of cadmium and lead ions by magnetic hybrid adsorbents synthesized using the in natura biomasses coconut mesocarp (CCFe), sawdust (SAFe), and termite nest (TEFe) for the organic phases and magnetic cobalt ferrite as the inorganic phase. The formation of a cobalt ferrite phase was confirmed by XRD. The use of XRD and FTIR analyses revealed the presence of organic matter in the structure of the material. Removal assays performed at different pH values (2.0-8.0) showed the effectiveness of the adsorbent for the removal of Pb[2+] at pH 3.0 and Cd[2+] at pH 4.0. The adsorption processes showed fast kinetics, with removal of 79-86% of Pb[2+] and 49% of Cd[2+] within only 5 min, and removal of 92-96% of the metal species at equilibrium. In the case of cadmium, the hybrid sorbents (CCFe, SAFe, and TEFe) showed high removal capacity after three reuse cycles, while the removal of lead decreased from 99% to 40%. The adsorbent matrices saturated with the recovered cadmium and lead ions showed excellent catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, with 99.9% conversion within 43-56 s. The materials showed high capacities for reuse in three successive reduction cycles. The findings highlight the effectiveness of an industrial symbiosis approach to the development of new technologically important materials.}, } @article {pmid29500561, year = {2018}, author = {Lacroix, B and Citovsky, V}, title = {Beyond Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation: Horizontal Gene Transfer from Bacteria to Eukaryotes.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {418}, number = {}, pages = {443-462}, pmid = {29500561}, issn = {0070-217X}, support = {R01 GM050224/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*genetics/*pathogenicity ; Animals ; Eukaryota/*classification/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Plants/genetics/microbiology ; *Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Besides the massive gene transfer from organelles to the nuclear genomes, which occurred during the early evolution of eukaryote lineages, the importance of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in eukaryotes remains controversial. Yet, increasing amounts of genomic data reveal many cases of bacterium-to-eukaryote HGT that likely represent a significant force in adaptive evolution of eukaryotic species. However, DNA transfer involved in genetic transformation of plants by Agrobacterium species has traditionally been considered as the unique example of natural DNA transfer and integration into eukaryotic genomes. Recent discoveries indicate that the repertoire of donor bacterial species and of recipient eukaryotic hosts potentially are much wider than previously thought, including donor bacterial species, such as plant symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium etli) and animal bacterial pathogens (e.g., Bartonella henselae, Helicobacter pylori), and recipient species from virtually all eukaryotic clades. Here, we review the molecular pathways and potential mechanisms of these trans-kingdom HGT events and discuss their utilization in biotechnology and research.}, } @article {pmid29500530, year = {2018}, author = {Schuster, P}, title = {Molecular evolution between chemistry and biology : The interplay of competition, cooperation, and mutation.}, journal = {European biophysics journal : EBJ}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {403-425}, pmid = {29500530}, issn = {1432-1017}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Models, Genetic ; *Mutation ; Stochastic Processes ; }, abstract = {Biological evolution is reduced to three fundamental processes in the spirit of a minimal model: (i) Competition caused by differential fitness, (ii) cooperation of competitors in the sense of symbiosis, and (iii) variation introduced by mutation understood as error-prone reproduction. The three combinations of two fundamental processes each, ([Formula: see text]) competition and mutation, ([Formula: see text]) cooperation and competition, and ([Formula: see text]) cooperation and mutation, are analyzed. Changes in population dynamics that are induced by bifurcations and threshold phenomena are discussed.}, } @article {pmid29500255, year = {2018}, author = {Revellin, C and Hartmann, A and Solanas, S and Topp, E}, title = {Long-Term Exposure of Agricultural Soil to Veterinary Antibiotics Changes the Population Structure of Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobacteria Occupying Nodules of Soybeans (Glycine max).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {29500255}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*adverse effects/analysis ; Crop Production ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*drug effects ; Ontario ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*adverse effects/analysis ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Veterinary Drugs/adverse effects/analysis ; }, abstract = {Antibiotics are entrained in agricultural soil through the application of manures from medicated animals. In the present study, a series of small field plots was established in 1999 that receive annual spring applications of a mixture of tylosin, sulfamethazine, and chlortetracycline at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg · kg[-1] soil. These antibiotics are commonly used in commercial swine production. The field plots were cropped continuously for soybeans, and in 2012, after 14 annual antibiotic applications, the nodules from soybean roots were sampled and the occupying bradyrhizobia were characterized. Nodules and isolates were serotyped, and isolates were distinguished using 16S rRNA gene and 16S to 23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region sequencing, multilocus sequence typing, and RSα fingerprinting. Treatment with the antibiotic mixture skewed the population of bradyrhizobia dominating the nodule occupancy, with a significantly larger proportion of Bradyrhizobium liaoningense organisms even at the lowest dose of 0.1 mg · kg[-1] soil. Likewise, all doses of antibiotics altered the distribution of RSα fingerprint types. Bradyrhizobia were phenotypically evaluated for their sensitivity to the antibiotics, and there was no association between in situ treatment and a decreased sensitivity to the drugs. Overall, long-term exposure to the antibiotic mixture altered the composition of bradyrhizobial populations occupying nitrogen-fixing nodules, apparently through an indirect effect not associated with the sensitivity to the drugs. Further work evaluating agronomic impacts is warranted.IMPORTANCE Antibiotics are entrained in agricultural soil through the application of animal or human waste or by irrigation with reused wastewater. Soybeans obtain nitrogen through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Here, we evaluated the impact of 14 annual exposures to antibiotics commonly used in swine production on the distribution of bradyrhizobia occupying nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean roots in a long-term field experiment. By means of various sequencing and genomic fingerprinting techniques, the repeated exposure to a mixture of tylosin, sulfamethazine, and chlortetracycline each at a nominal soil concentration of 0.1 mg · kg[-1] soil was found to modify the diversity and identity of bradyrhizobia occupying the nodules. Nodule occupancy was not associated with the level of sensitivity to the antibiotics, indicating that the observed effects were not due to the direct toxicity of the antibiotics on bradyrhizobia. Altogether, these results indicate the potential for long-term impacts of antibiotics on this agronomically important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29499587, year = {2018}, author = {Steiner, U and Leistner, E}, title = {Ergot Alkaloids and their Hallucinogenic Potential in Morning Glories.}, journal = {Planta medica}, volume = {84}, number = {11}, pages = {751-758}, doi = {10.1055/a-0577-8049}, pmid = {29499587}, issn = {1439-0221}, mesh = {Convolvulaceae/*chemistry/microbiology ; Ergot Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Hallucinogens/*metabolism ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Ipomoea/*chemistry/microbiology ; Mycelium ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trichomes/chemistry/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Naturally occurring and semisynthetic ergot alkaloids play a role in health care or as recreational drugs in Western and indigenous Mexican societies. Evidence is summarized that ergot alkaloids present in Central American Convolvulaceae like Turbina corymbosa, Ipomoea violacea, and Ipomoea asarifolia are colonized by different species of a newly described clavicipitaceous fungal genus named Periglandula. The fungi are associated with peltate glandular trichomes on the adaxial leaf surface of its host plants. The Periglandula fungi are not yet culturable in vitro but were demonstrated to have the capacity to synthesize ergot alkaloids. The alkaloids do not remain in the fungal mycelium but are translocated via the glandular trichomes into their plant host. Both fungi and host benefit from a symbiotic lifestyle. In evolutionary terms the alkaloid biosynthetic gene cluster in the Periglandula/Ipomoea symbiosis is likely to have a conserved (basic) structure while biosynthetic ergot gene clusters within the genera Claviceps and Epichloe were under ecological selection for alkaloid diversification.}, } @article {pmid29499451, year = {2018}, author = {Zheng, J and Zhou, Z and Wei, Y and Chen, T and Feng, W and Chen, H}, title = {High-throughput profiling of seasonal variations of antibiotic resistance gene transport in a peri-urban river.}, journal = {Environment international}, volume = {114}, number = {}, pages = {87-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.039}, pmid = {29499451}, issn = {1873-6750}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Rivers/*microbiology ; Seasons ; Temperature ; *Urban Health ; }, abstract = {The rapid expansion of human activity in a region can exacerbate human health risks induced by antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Peri-urban ecosystems serve at the symbiotic interface between urban and rural ecosystems, and investigations into the dissemination of ARGs in peri-urban areas provide a basic framework for tracking the spread of ARGs and potential mitigations. In this study, through the use of high-throughput quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, seasonal and geographical distributions of ARGs and their host bacterial communities were characterized in a peri-urban river. The abundance of ARGs in downstream was 5.2-33.9 times higher than upstream, which indicated distinct antibiotic resistance pollution in the areas where human lives. With the comparison classified based on land use nearby, the abundance of ARGs in samples near farmland and villages was higher than in the background (3.47-5.58 times), pointing to the high load in the river caused by farming and other human activities in the peri-urban areas. With the co-occurrence pattern revealed by network analysis, blaVEB and tetM were proposed to be indicators of ARGs which get together in the same module. Furthermore, seasonal variations in ARGs and the transport of bacterial communities were observed. The effects of seasonal temperature on the dissemination of ARGs along the watershed was also evaluated. The highest absolute abundance of ARGs occurred in summer (2.81 × 10[9] copies/L on average), the trends of ARG abundances in four seasons were similar with local air temperature. The Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) suggested that nine bacterial genera were implicated as biomarkers for the corresponding season. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) showed significant positive correlation with ARGs (P < 0.01) and MGEs were also identified as the key-contributing factor driving ARG alteration. This study provides an overview of seasonal and geographical variations in ARGs distribution in a peri-urban river and draws attention to controlling pollutants in peri-urban ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29498565, year = {2018}, author = {Safronova, VI and Belimov, AA and Sazanova, AL and Chirak, ER and Verkhozina, AV and Kuznetsova, IG and Andronov, EE and Puhalsky, JV and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Taxonomically Different Co-Microsymbionts of a Relict Legume, Oxytropis popoviana, Have Complementary Sets of Symbiotic Genes and Together Increase the Efficiency of Plant Nodulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {833-841}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-18-0011-R}, pmid = {29498565}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Oxytropis/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ten rhizobial strains were isolated from root nodules of a relict legume Oxytropis popoviana Peschkova. For identification of the isolates, sequencing of rrs, the internal transcribed spacer region, and housekeeping genes recA, glnII, and rpoB was used. Nine fast-growing isolates were Mesorhizobium-related; eight strains were identified as M. japonicum and one isolate belonged to M. kowhaii. The only slow-growing isolate was identified as a Bradyrhizobium sp. Two strains, M. japonicum Opo-242 and Bradyrhizobium sp. strain Opo-243, were isolated from the same nodule. Symbiotic genes of these isolates were searched throughout the whole-genome sequences. The common nodABC genes and other symbiotic genes required for plant nodulation and nitrogen fixation were present in the isolate Opo-242. Strain Opo-243 did not contain the principal nod, nif, and fix genes; however, five genes (nodP, nodQ, nifL, nolK, and noeL) affecting the specificity of plant-rhizobia interactions but absent in isolate Opo-242 were detected. Strain Opo-243 could not induce nodules but significantly accelerated the root nodule formation after coinoculation with isolate Opo-242. Thus, we demonstrated that taxonomically different strains of the archaic symbiotic system can be co-microsymbionts infecting the same nodule and promoting the nodulation process due to complementary sets of symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid29497432, year = {2018}, author = {Ng, JLP and Mathesius, U}, title = {Acropetal Auxin Transport Inhibition Is Involved in Indeterminate But Not Determinate Nodule Formation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {169}, pmid = {29497432}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes enter into a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, leading to nodule development. Two main types of nodules have been widely studied, indeterminate and determinate, which differ in the location of the first cell division in the root cortex, and persistency of the nodule meristem. Here, we compared the control of auxin transport, content, and response during the early stages of indeterminate and determinate nodule development in the model legumes Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, respectively, to investigate whether differences in auxin transport control could explain the differences in the location of cortical cell divisions. While auxin responses were activated in dividing cortical cells during nodulation of both nodule types, auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) content at the nodule initiation site was transiently increased in M. truncatula, but transiently reduced in L. japonicus. Root acropetal auxin transport was reduced in M. truncatula at the very start of nodule initiation, in contrast to a prolonged increase in acropetal auxin transport in L. japonicus. The auxin transport inhibitors 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid and 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) only induced pseudonodules in legume species forming indeterminate nodules, but failed to elicit such structures in a range of species forming determinate nodules. The development of these pseudonodules in M. truncatula exhibited increased auxin responses in a small primordium formed from the pericycle, endodermis, and inner cortex, similar to rhizobia-induced nodule primordia. In contrast, a diffuse cortical auxin response and no associated cortical cell divisions were found in L. japonicus. Collectively, we hypothesize that a step of acropetal auxin transport inhibition is unique to the process of indeterminate nodule development, leading to auxin responses in pericycle, endodermis, and inner cortex cells, while increased auxin responses in outer cortex cells likely require a different mechanism during the formation of determinate nodules.}, } @article {pmid29497408, year = {2018}, author = {Mello, A and Balestrini, R}, title = {Recent Insights on Biological and Ecological Aspects of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Their Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {216}, pmid = {29497408}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The roots of most terrestrial plants are colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. They play a key role in terrestrial environments influencing soil structure and ecosystem functionality. Around them a peculiar region, the mycorrhizosphere, develops. This is a very dynamic environment where plants, soil and microorganisms interact. Interest in this fascinating environment has increased over the years. For a long period the knowledge of the microbial populations in the rhizosphere has been limited, because they have always been studied by traditional culture-based techniques. These methods, which only allow the study of cultured microorganisms, do not allow the characterization of most organisms existing in nature. The introduction in the last few years of methodologies that are independent of culture techniques has bypassed this limitation. This together with the development of high-throughput molecular tools has given new insights into the biology, evolution, and biodiversity of mycorrhizal associations, as well as, the molecular dialog between plants and fungi. The genomes of many mycorrhizal fungal species have been sequenced so far allowing to better understanding the lifestyle of these fungi, their sexual reproduction modalities and metabolic functions. The possibility to detect the mycelium and the mycorrhizae of heterothallic fungi has also allowed to follow the spatial and temporal distributional patterns of strains of different mating types. On the other hand, the availability of the genome sequencing from several mycorrhizal fungi with a different lifestyle, or belonging to different groups, allowed to verify the common feature of the mycorrhizal symbiosis as well as the differences on how different mycorrhizal species interact and dialog with the plant. Here, we will consider the aspects described before, mainly focusing on ectomycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with plants and other soil microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid29496731, year = {2018}, author = {Korpela, K and Costea, P and Coelho, LP and Kandels-Lewis, S and Willemsen, G and Boomsma, DI and Segata, N and Bork, P}, title = {Selective maternal seeding and environment shape the human gut microbiome.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {561-568}, pmid = {29496731}, issn = {1549-5469}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*genetics ; Bacteroidetes/*genetics ; Clostridiaceae/*genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mother-Child Relations ; Mothers ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Vertical transmission of bacteria from mother to infant at birth is postulated to initiate a life-long host-microbe symbiosis, playing an important role in early infant development. However, only the tracking of strictly defined unique microbial strains can clarify where the intestinal bacteria come from, how long the initial colonizers persist, and whether colonization by other strains from the environment can replace existing ones. Using rare single nucleotide variants in fecal metagenomes of infants and their family members, we show strong evidence of selective and persistent transmission of maternal strain populations to the vaginally born infant and their occasional replacement by strains from the environment, including those from family members, in later childhood. Only strains from the classes Actinobacteria and Bacteroidia, which are essential components of the infant microbiome, are transmitted from the mother and persist for at least 1 yr. In contrast, maternal strains of Clostridia, a dominant class in the mother's gut microbiome, are not observed in the infant. Caesarean-born infants show a striking lack of maternal transmission at birth. After the first year, strain influx from the family environment occurs and continues even in adulthood. Fathers appear to be more frequently donors of novel strains to other family members than receivers. Thus, the infant gut is seeded by selected maternal bacteria, which expand to form a stable community, with a rare but stable continuing strain influx over time.}, } @article {pmid29496556, year = {2018}, author = {Fam, RRS and Hiong, KC and Choo, CYL and Wong, WP and Chew, SF and Ip, YK}, title = {Molecular characterization of a novel algal glutamine synthetase (GS) and an algal glutamate synthase (GOGAT) from the colorful outer mantle of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, and the putative GS-GOGAT cycle in its symbiotic zooxanthellae.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {656}, number = {}, pages = {40-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2018.02.062}, pmid = {29496556}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Amino Acids ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Bivalvia/metabolism/*microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Color ; Dinoflagellida/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Glutamate Synthase/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Giant clams harbor symbiotic zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium), which are nitrogen-deficient, mainly in the fleshy and colorful outer mantle. This study aimed to sequence and characterize the algal Glutamine Synthetase (GS) and Glutamate Synthase (GLT), which constitute the glutamate synthase cycle (or GS-GOGAT cycle, whereby GOGAT is the protein acronym of GLT) of nitrogen assimilation, from the outer mantle of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. We had identified a novel GS-like cDNA coding sequence of 2325 bp, and named it as T. squamosa Symbiodinium GS1 (TSSGS1). The deduced TSSGS1 sequence had 774 amino acids with a molecular mass of 85 kDa, and displayed the characteristics of GS1 and Nucleotide Diphosphate Kinase. The cDNA coding sequence of the algal GLT, named as T. squamosa Symbiodinium GLT (TSSGLT), comprised 6399 bp, encoding a protein of 2133 amino acids and 232.4 kDa. The zooxanthellal origin of TSSGS1 and TSSGOGAT was confirmed by sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses. Indeed, TSSGS1 and TSSGOGAT were expressed predominately in the outer mantle, which contained the majority of the zooxanthellae. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the expression of TSSGS1 and TSSGOGAT in the cytoplasm and the plastids, respectively, of the zooxanthellae in the outer mantle. It can be concluded that the symbiotic zooxanthellae of T. squamosa possesses a glutamate synthase (TSSGS1-TSSGOGAT) cycle that can assimilate endogenous ammonia produced by the host clam into glutamate, which can act as a substrate for amino acid syntheses. Thus, our results provide insights into why intact giant clam-zooxanthellae associations do not excrete ammonia under normal circumstances.}, } @article {pmid29495585, year = {2018}, author = {Menocal, O and Cruz, LF and Kendra, PE and Crane, JH and Cooperband, MF and Ploetz, RC and Carrillo, D}, title = {Xyleborus bispinatus Reared on Artificial Media in the Presence or Absence of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen (Raffaelea lauricola).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29495585}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Like other members of the tribe Xyleborini, Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff can cause economic damage in the Neotropics. X. bispinatus has been found to acquire the laurel wilt pathogen Raffaelea lauricola (T. C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva) when breeding in a host affected by the pathogen. Its role as a potential vector of R. lauricola is under investigation. The main objective of this study was to evaluate three artificial media, containing sawdust of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) and silkbay (Persea humilis Nash.), for rearing X. bispinatus under laboratory conditions. In addition, the media were inoculated with R. lauricola to evaluate its effect on the biology of X. bispinatus. There was a significant interaction between sawdust species and R. lauricola for all media. Two of the media supported the prolific reproduction of X. bispinatus, but the avocado-based medium was generally more effective than the silkbay-based medium, regardless whether or not it was inoculated with R. lauricola. R. lauricola had a neutral or positive effect on beetle reproduction. The pathogen was frequently recovered from beetle galleries, but only from a few individuals which were reared on inoculated media, and showed limited colonization of the beetle's mycangia. Two media with lower water content were most effective for rearing X. bispinatus.}, } @article {pmid29495448, year = {2018}, author = {Aldon, D and Mbengue, M and Mazars, C and Galaud, JP}, title = {Calcium Signalling in Plant Biotic Interactions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29495448}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Calmodulin/metabolism ; Disease Resistance/immunology ; Immunity ; Plant Diseases/etiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/immunology/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Calcium (Ca[2+]) is a universal second messenger involved in various cellular processes, leading to plant development and to biotic and abiotic stress responses. Intracellular variation in free Ca[2+] concentration is among the earliest events following the plant perception of environmental change. These Ca[2+] variations differ in their spatio-temporal properties according to the nature, strength and duration of the stimulus. However, their conversion into biological responses requires Ca[2+] sensors for decoding and relaying. The occurrence in plants of calmodulin (CaM) but also of other sets of plant-specific Ca[2+] sensors such as calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs), Ca[2+]-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) indicate that plants possess specific tools and machineries to convert Ca[2+] signals into appropriate responses. Here, we focus on recent progress made in monitoring the generation of Ca[2+] signals at the whole plant or cell level and their long distance propagation during biotic interactions. The contribution of CaM/CMLs and CDPKs in plant immune responses mounted against bacteria, fungi, viruses and insects are also presented.}, } @article {pmid29495432, year = {2018}, author = {Clúa, J and Roda, C and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {Compatibility between Legumes and Rhizobia for the Establishment of a Successful Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29495432}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The root nodule symbiosis established between legumes and rhizobia is an exquisite biological interaction responsible for fixing a significant amount of nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems. The success of this interaction depends on the recognition of the right partner by the plant within the richest microbial ecosystems on Earth, the soil. Recent metagenomic studies of the soil biome have revealed its complexity, which includes microorganisms that affect plant fitness and growth in a beneficial, harmful, or neutral manner. In this complex scenario, understanding the molecular mechanisms by which legumes recognize and discriminate rhizobia from pathogens, but also between distinct rhizobia species and strains that differ in their symbiotic performance, is a considerable challenge. In this work, we will review how plants are able to recognize and select symbiotic partners from a vast diversity of surrounding bacteria. We will also analyze recent advances that contribute to understand changes in plant gene expression associated with the outcome of the symbiotic interaction. These aspects of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis should contribute to translate the knowledge generated in basic laboratory research into biotechnological advances to improve the efficiency of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in agronomic systems.}, } @article {pmid29495256, year = {2018}, author = {Opdahl, LJ and Gonda, MG and St-Pierre, B}, title = {Identification of Uncultured Bacterial Species from Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and CANDIDATUS Saccharibacteria as Candidate Cellulose Utilizers from the Rumen of Beef Cows.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29495256}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {The ability of ruminants to utilize cellulosic biomass is a result of the metabolic activities of symbiotic microbial communities that reside in the rumen. To gain further insight into this complex microbial ecosystem, a selection-based batch culturing approach was used to identify candidate cellulose-utilizing bacterial consortia. Prior to culturing with cellulose, rumen contents sampled from three beef cows maintained on a forage diet shared 252 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), accounting for 41.6-50.0% of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences in their respective samples. Despite this high level of overlap, only one OTU was enriched in cellulose-supplemented cultures from all rumen samples. Otherwise, each set of replicate cellulose supplemented cultures originating from a sampled rumen environment was found to have a distinct bacterial composition. Two of the seven most enriched OTUs were closely matched to well-established rumen cellulose utilizers (Ruminococcusflavefaciens and Fibrobactersuccinogenes), while the others did not show high nucleotide sequence identity to currently defined bacterial species. The latter were affiliated to Prevotella (1 OTU), Ruminococcaceae (3 OTUs), and the candidate phylum Saccharibacteria (1 OTU), respectively. While further investigations will be necessary to elucidate the metabolic function(s) of each enriched OTU, these results together further support cellulose utilization as a ruminal metabolic trait shared across vast phylogenetic distances, and that the rumen is an environment conducive to the selection of a broad range of microbial adaptations for the digestion of plant structural polysaccharides.}, } @article {pmid29492882, year = {2018}, author = {Grasis, JA}, title = {Host-Associated Bacteriophage Isolation and Preparation for Viral Metagenomics.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1746}, number = {}, pages = {1-25}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7683-6_1}, pmid = {29492882}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {F32 AI098418/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*virology ; Bacteria/*virology ; Bacteriophages/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Computational Biology ; Genome, Viral ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Metagenomics ; }, abstract = {Prokaryotic viruses, or bacteriophages, are viruses that infect bacteria and archaea. These viruses have been known to associate with host systems for decades, yet only recently have their influence on the regulation of host-associated bacteria been appreciated. These studies have been conducted in many host systems, from the base of animal life in the Cnidarian phylum to mammals. These prokaryotic viruses are useful for regulating the number of bacteria in a host ecosystem and for regulating the strains of bacteria useful for the microbiome. These viruses are likely selected by the host to maintain bacterial populations. Viral metagenomics allows researchers to profile the communities of viruses associating with animal hosts, and importantly helps to determine the functional role these viruses play. Further, viral metagenomics show the sphere of viral involvement in gene flow and gene shuffling in an ever-changing host environment. The influence of prokaryotic viruses could, therefore, have a clear impact on host health.}, } @article {pmid29492877, year = {2018}, author = {La Reau, AJ and Suen, G}, title = {The Ruminococci: key symbionts of the gut ecosystem.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {199-208}, pmid = {29492877}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cattle ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/physiology ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Rumen/microbiology/physiology ; Ruminococcus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mammalian gut microbial communities form intricate mutualisms with their hosts, which have profound implications on overall health. One group of important gut microbial mutualists are bacteria in the genus Ruminococcus, which serve to degrade and convert complex polysaccharides into a variety of nutrients for their hosts. Isolated decades ago from the bovine rumen, ruminococci have since been cultured from other ruminant and non-ruminant sources, and next-generation sequencing has further shown their distribution to be widespread in a diversity of animal hosts. While most ruminococci that have been studied are those capable of degrading cellulose, much less is known about non-cellulolytic, nonruminant-associated species, such as those found in humans. Furthermore, a mechanistic understanding of the role of Ruminococcus spp. in their respective hosts is still a work in progress. This review highlights the broad work done on species within the genus Ruminococcus with respect to their physiology, phylogenetic relatedness, and their potential impact on host health.}, } @article {pmid29492875, year = {2018}, author = {Cho, JA and Chinnapen, DJF}, title = {Targeting friend and foe: Emerging therapeutics in the age of gut microbiome and disease.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {183-188}, pmid = {29492875}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/*therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*drug effects/microbiology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/etiology/therapy ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/etiology/therapy ; Neoplasms/therapy ; Obesity/etiology/therapy ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mucosal surfaces that line our gastrointestinal tract are continuously exposed to trillions of bacteria that form a symbiotic relationship and impact host health and disease. It is only beginning to be understood that the cross-talk between the host and microbiome involve dynamic changes in commensal bacterial population, secretion, and absorption of metabolites between the host and microbiome. As emerging evidence implicates dysbiosis of gut microbiota in the pathology and progression of various diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and allergy, conventional treatments that either overlook the microbiome in the mechanism of action, or eliminate vast populations of microbes via wide-spectrum antibiotics need to be reconsidered. It is also becoming clear the microbiome can influence the body's response to therapeutic treatments for cancers. As such, targeting the microbiome as treatment has garnered much recent attention and excitement from numerous research labs and biotechnology companies. Treatments range from fecal microbial transplantation to precision-guided molecular approaches. Here, we survey recent progress in the development of innovative therapeutics that target the microbiome to treat disease, and highlight key findings in the interplay between host microbes and therapy.}, } @article {pmid29492873, year = {2018}, author = {Park, JH and Eberl, G}, title = {Type 3 regulatory T cells at the interface of symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {163-171}, pmid = {29492873}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/physiology ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/physiology ; Th17 Cells ; Tretinoin/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gastrointestinal tract accommodates trillions of bacteria, many of which provide beneficial effects to the host, including protection from pathogenic microorganisms and essential metabolites. However, the intestinal immune system needs to adapt to the constantly fluctuating microbial environment at mucosal surfaces in order to maintain homeostasis. In particular, the gut microbiota induces the differentiation of effector Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) that express RORγt, the master regulator of antimicrobial type 3 immunity. RORγt[+] Tregs constitute a major population of colonic Tregs that is distinct from thymusderived Tregs and require bacterial antigens for differentiation. The balance between Th17 cells and RORγt[+] Tregs, that is, the tone of the local type 3 immune response, is regulated by the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid produced by the host. Furthermore, Th17 cells and RORγt[+] Tregs regulate intestinal type 2 immune responses, explaining how bacteria block allergic reactions. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation, regulation and function of RORγt[+] (type 3) Tregs, and discuss the multiple equilibria that exist between effector T cells and Tregs, as well as between different types of immune responses, which are necessary to maintain homeostasis and health.}, } @article {pmid29492871, year = {2018}, author = {Park, W}, title = {Gut microbiomes and their metabolites shape human and animal health.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {151-153}, pmid = {29492871}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immune System ; *Metabolic Diseases ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The host genetic background, complex surrounding environments, and gut microbiome are very closely linked to human and animal health and disease. Although significant correlations between gut microbiota and human and animal health have been revealed, the specific roles of each gut bacterium in shaping human and animal health and disease remain unclear. However, recent omics-based studies using experimental animals and surveys of gut microbiota from unhealthy humans have provided insights into the relationships among microbial community, their metabolites, and human and animal health. This editorial introduces six review papers that provide new discoveries of disease-associated microbiomes and suggest possible microbiome-based therapeutic approaches to human disease.}, } @article {pmid29490697, year = {2018}, author = {Naas, AE and Solden, LM and Norbeck, AD and Brewer, H and Hagen, LH and Heggenes, IM and McHardy, AC and Mackie, RI and Paša-Tolić, L and Arntzen, MØ and Eijsink, VGH and Koropatkin, NM and Hess, M and Wrighton, KC and Pope, PB}, title = {"Candidatus Paraporphyromonas polyenzymogenes" encodes multi-modular cellulases linked to the type IX secretion system.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {44}, pmid = {29490697}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {250479//Norges Forskningsråd/International ; 336355//H2020 European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/*genetics ; Bacteroidetes/*classification/*enzymology/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*physiology ; Cattle ; Cellulases/*genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Rumen/metabolism/microbiology ; Sheep ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In nature, obligate herbivorous ruminants have a close symbiotic relationship with their gastrointestinal microbiome, which proficiently deconstructs plant biomass. Despite decades of research, lignocellulose degradation in the rumen has thus far been attributed to a limited number of culturable microorganisms. Here, we combine meta-omics and enzymology to identify and describe a novel Bacteroidetes family ("Candidatus MH11") composed entirely of uncultivated strains that are predominant in ruminants and only distantly related to previously characterized taxa.

RESULTS: The first metabolic reconstruction of Ca. MH11-affiliated genome bins, with a particular focus on the provisionally named "Candidatus Paraporphyromonas polyenzymogenes", illustrated their capacity to degrade various lignocellulosic substrates via comprehensive inventories of singular and multi-modular carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes). Closer examination revealed an absence of archetypical polysaccharide utilization loci found in human gut microbiota. Instead, we identified many multi-modular CAZymes putatively secreted via the Bacteroidetes-specific type IX secretion system (T9SS). This included cellulases with two or more catalytic domains, which are modular arrangements that are unique to Bacteroidetes species studied to date. Core metabolic proteins from Ca. P. polyenzymogenes were detected in metaproteomic data and were enriched in rumen-incubated plant biomass, indicating that active saccharification and fermentation of complex carbohydrates could be assigned to members of this novel family. Biochemical analysis of selected Ca. P. polyenzymogenes CAZymes further iterated the cellulolytic activity of this hitherto uncultured bacterium towards linear polymers, such as amorphous and crystalline cellulose as well as mixed linkage β-glucans.

CONCLUSION: We propose that Ca. P. polyenzymogene genotypes and other Ca. MH11 members actively degrade plant biomass in the rumen of cows, sheep and most likely other ruminants, utilizing singular and multi-domain catalytic CAZymes secreted through the T9SS. The discovery of a prominent role of multi-modular cellulases in the Gram-negative Bacteroidetes, together with similar findings for Gram-positive cellulosomal bacteria (Ruminococcus flavefaciens) and anaerobic fungi (Orpinomyces sp.), suggests that complex enzymes are essential and have evolved within all major cellulolytic dominions inherent to the rumen.}, } @article {pmid29489845, year = {2018}, author = {Wakelin, S and Tillard, G and van Ham, R and Ballard, R and Farquharson, E and Gerard, E and Geurts, R and Brown, M and Ridgway, H and O'Callaghan, M}, title = {High spatial variation in population size and symbiotic performance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii with white clover in New Zealand pasture soils.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0192607}, pmid = {29489845}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Medicago/*microbiology ; New Zealand ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation through the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is important for sustainable pastoral production. In New Zealand, the most widespread and valuable symbiosis occurs between white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii (Rlt). As variation in the population size (determined by most probable number assays; MPN) and effectiveness of N-fixation (symbiotic potential; SP) of Rlt in soils may affect white clover performance, the extent in variation in these properties was examined at three different spatial scales: (1) From 26 sites across New Zealand, (2) at farm-wide scale, and (3) within single fields. Overall, Rlt populations ranged from 95 to >1 x 108 per g soil, with variation similar at the three spatial scales assessed. For almost all samples, there was no relationship between rhizobia population size and ability of the population to fix N during legume symbiosis (SP). When compared with the commercial inoculant strain, the SP of soils ranged between 14 to 143% efficacy. The N-fixing ability of rhizobia populations varied more between samples collected from within a single hill country field (0.8 ha) than between 26 samples collected from diverse locations across New Zealand. Correlations between SP and calcium and aluminium content were found in all sites, except within a dairy farm field. Given the general lack of association between SP and MPN, and high spatial variability of SP at single field scale, provision of advice for treating legume seed with rhizobia based on field-average MPN counts needs to be carefully considered.}, } @article {pmid29488821, year = {2018}, author = {Hakansson, AP and Orihuela, CJ and Bogaert, D}, title = {Bacterial-Host Interactions: Physiology and Pathophysiology of Respiratory Infection.}, journal = {Physiological reviews}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {781-811}, pmid = {29488821}, issn = {1522-1210}, support = {SCAF/16/03/CSO_/Chief Scientist Office/United Kingdom ; SCAD/16/03/CSO_/Chief Scientist Office/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Respiratory Tract Infections/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {It has long been thought that respiratory infections are the direct result of acquisition of pathogenic viruses or bacteria, followed by their overgrowth, dissemination, and in some instances tissue invasion. In the last decades, it has become apparent that in contrast to this classical view, the majority of microorganisms associated with respiratory infections and inflammation are actually common members of the respiratory ecosystem and only in rare circumstances do they cause disease. This suggests that a complex interplay between host, environment, and properties of colonizing microorganisms together determines disease development and its severity. To understand the pathophysiological processes that underlie respiratory infectious diseases, it is therefore necessary to understand the host-bacterial interactions occurring at mucosal surfaces, along with the microbes inhabiting them, during symbiosis. Current knowledge regarding host-bacterial interactions during asymptomatic colonization will be discussed, including a plausible role for the human microbiome in maintaining a healthy state. With this as a starting point, we will discuss possible disruptive factors contributing to dysbiosis, which is likely to be a key trigger for pathobionts in the development and pathophysiology of respiratory diseases. Finally, from this renewed perspective, we will reflect on current and potential new approaches for treatment in the future.}, } @article {pmid29488634, year = {2018}, author = {Xue, L and Shang, H and Ma, P and Wang, X and He, X and Niu, J and Wu, J}, title = {Analysis of growth and lipid production characteristics of Chlorella vulgaris in artificially constructed consortia with symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {358-367}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201700594}, pmid = {29488634}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; *Biofuels ; Biomass ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Chlorella vulgaris/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Lipids/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Microalgae/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Stenotrophomonas/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim was to study the effect of artificially constructed consortia of microalgae-bacterial symbionts on growth and lipid production by Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris), as well as the inter-relationship between microalgae and bacterial in a photoautotrophic system. The results showed that compared to an axenic culture of C. vulgaris, H1 co-culture system (axenic C. vulgaris-Stenotrophomona smaltophilia) had the strongest effect on the C. vulgaris growth. The biomass, specific growth rate and maximum productivity of C. vulgaris were increased by 21.9, 20.4, and 18%, respectively. The bacteria in co-culture system had a significant effect on the accumulation of lipid and fatty acid components of C. vulgaris: the content of lipid was increased by 8.2-33.83%, and the components of the saturated fatty acids and oleic acids also had an obvious improvement. The results indicate that the microalgae-bacterial co-culture system can improve microalgal biomass and the quality of biodiesel.}, } @article {pmid29488306, year = {2018}, author = {López-Lara, IM and Nogales, J and Pech-Canul, Á and Calatrava-Morales, N and Bernabéu-Roda, LM and Durán, P and Cuéllar, V and Olivares, J and Alvarez, L and Palenzuela-Bretones, D and Romero, M and Heeb, S and Cámara, M and Geiger, O and Soto, MJ}, title = {2-Tridecanone impacts surface-associated bacterial behaviours and hinders plant-bacteria interactions.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {2049-2065}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14083}, pmid = {29488306}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BIO2013-42801-P//Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness/International ; //ERDF funds/International ; 153998//CONACyT-Mexico/International ; MR/N501852/1//JPI-AMR-Medical Research Council/International ; //Spanish Ministry for Education and Science/International ; CVI-03541//Consejería de Economía, Innovación Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía/International ; BIO2010-18005//Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness/International ; MR/N501852/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Ketones/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Surface motility and biofilm formation are behaviours which enable bacteria to infect their hosts and are controlled by different chemical signals. In the plant symbiotic alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the lack of long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A synthetase activity (FadD) leads to increased surface motility, defects in biofilm development and impaired root colonization. In this study, analyses of lipid extracts and volatiles revealed that a fadD mutant accumulates 2-tridecanone (2-TDC), a methylketone (MK) known as a natural insecticide. Application of pure 2-TDC to the wild-type strain phenocopies the free-living and symbiotic behaviours of the fadD mutant. Structural features of the MK determine its ability to promote S. meliloti surface translocation, which is mainly mediated by a flagella-independent motility. Transcriptomic analyses showed that 2-TDC induces differential expression of iron uptake, redox and stress-related genes. Interestingly, this MK also influences surface motility and impairs biofilm formation in plant and animal pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, 2-TDC not only hampers alfalfa nodulation but also the development of tomato bacterial speck disease. This work assigns a new role to 2-TDC as an infochemical that affects important bacterial traits and hampers plant-bacteria interactions by interfering with microbial colonization of plant tissues.}, } @article {pmid29487614, year = {2018}, author = {Hou, J and Xu, T and Su, D and Wu, Y and Cheng, L and Wang, J and Zhou, Z and Wang, Y}, title = {RNA-Seq Reveals Extensive Transcriptional Response to Heat Stress in the Stony Coral Galaxea fascicularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {37}, pmid = {29487614}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Galaxea fascicularis, a stony coral belonging to family Oculinidae, is widely distributed in Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and large areas of the Indo-Pacific oceans. So far there is a lack of gene expression knowledge concerning this massive coral. In the present study, G. fascicularis was subjected to heat stress at 32.0 ± 0.5°C in the lab, we found that the density of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased significantly; meanwhile apparent bleaching and tissue lysing were observed at 10 h and 18 h after heat stress. The transcriptome responses were investigated in the stony coral G. fascicularis during heat bleaching using RNA-seq. A total of 42,028 coral genes were assembled from over 439 million reads. Gene expressions were compared at 10 and 18 h after heat stress. The significantly upregulated genes found in the Control_10h vs. Heat_10h comparison, presented mainly in GO terms related with DNA integration and unfolded protein response; and for the Control_18h vs. Heat_18h comparison, the GO terms include DNA integration. In addition, comparison between groups of Control_10h vs. Heat_10h and Control_18h vs. Heat_18h revealed that 125 genes were significantly upregulated in common between the two groups, whereas 21 genes were significantly downregulated in common, all these differentially expressed genes were found to be involved in stress response, DNA integration and unfolded protein response. Taken together, our results suggest that high temperature could activate the stress response at the early stage, and subsequently induce the bleaching and lysing through DNA integration and unfolded protein response, which are able to disrupt the balance of coral-zooxanthella symbiosis in the stony coral G. fascicularis.}, } @article {pmid29487573, year = {2018}, author = {de Freitas Pereira, M and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Vion, P and Guinet, F and Morin, E and Barry, KW and Lipzen, A and Singan, V and Pfister, S and Na, H and Kennedy, M and Egli, S and Grigoriev, I and Martin, F and Kohler, A and Peter, M}, title = {Secretome Analysis from the Ectomycorrhizal Ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {141}, pmid = {29487573}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cenococcum geophilum is an ectomycorrhizal fungus with global distribution in numerous habitats and associates with a large range of host species including gymnosperm and angiosperm trees. Moreover, C. geophilum is the unique ectomycorrhizal species within the clade Dothideomycetes, the largest class of Ascomycetes containing predominantly saprotrophic and many devastating phytopathogenic fungi. Recent studies highlight that mycorrhizal fungi, as pathogenic ones, use effectors in form of Small Secreted Proteins (SSPs) as molecular keys to promote symbiosis. In order to better understand the biotic interaction of C. geophilum with its host plants, the goal of this work was to characterize mycorrhiza-induced small-secreted proteins (MiSSPs) that potentially play a role in the ectomycorrhiza formation and functioning of this ecologically very important species. We combined different approaches such as gene expression profiling, genome localization and conservation of MiSSP genes in different C. geophilum strains and closely related species as well as protein subcellular localization studies of potential targets of MiSSPs in interacting plants using in tobacco leaf cells. Gene expression analyses of C. geophilum interacting with Pinus sylvestris (pine) and Populus tremula × Populus alba (poplar) showed that similar sets of genes coding for secreted proteins were up-regulated and only few were specific to each host. Whereas pine induced more carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes), the interaction with poplar induced the expression of specific SSPs. We identified a set of 22 MiSSPs, which are located in both, gene-rich, repeat-poor or gene-sparse, repeat-rich regions of the C. geophilum genome, a genome showing a bipartite architecture as seen for some pathogens but not yet for an ectomycorrhizal fungus. Genome re-sequencing data of 15 C. geophilum strains and two close relatives Glonium stellatum and Lepidopterella palustris were used to study sequence conservation of MiSSP-encoding genes. The 22 MiSSPs showed a high presence-absence polymorphism among the studied C. geophilum strains suggesting an evolution through gene gain/gene loss. Finally, we showed that six CgMiSSPs target four distinct sub-cellular compartments such as endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, cytosol and tonoplast. Overall, this work presents a comprehensive analysis of secreted proteins and MiSSPs in different genetic level of C. geophilum opening a valuable resource to future functional analysis.}, } @article {pmid29484603, year = {2018}, author = {Robledo, M and Matia-González, AM and García-Tomsig, NI and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Identification of Small RNA-Protein Partners in Plant Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1737}, number = {}, pages = {351-370}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7634-8_20}, pmid = {29484603}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Aptamers, Nucleotide/genetics/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Affinity/*methods ; Host Factor 1 Protein/genetics/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plants/microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The identification of the protein partners of bacterial small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) is essential to understand the mechanistic principles and functions of riboregulation in prokaryotic cells. Here, we describe an optimized affinity chromatography protocol that enables purification of in vivo formed sRNA-protein complexes in Sinorhizobium meliloti, a genetically tractable nitrogen-fixing plant symbiotic bacterium. The procedure requires the tagging of the desired sRNA with the MS2 aptamer, which is affinity-captured by the MS2-MBP protein conjugated to an amylose resin. As proof of principle, we show recovery of the RNA chaperone Hfq associated to the strictly Hfq-dependent AbcR2 trans-sRNA. This method can be applied for the investigation of sRNA-protein interactions on a broad range of genetically tractable α-proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid29480929, year = {2018}, author = {Sanders, IR}, title = {Sex, plasticity, and biologically significant variation in one Glomeromycotina species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {968-970}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15049}, pmid = {29480929}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; }, } @article {pmid29479103, year = {2018}, author = {Ahmed, SI and Javed, G and Mubeen, B and Bareeqa, SB and Rasheed, H and Rehman, A and Phulpoto, MM and Samar, SS and Aziz, K}, title = {Robotics in neurosurgery: A literature review.}, journal = {JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {258-263}, pmid = {29479103}, issn = {0030-9982}, mesh = {Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/education/methods ; Neurosurgery/*education ; Neurosurgical Procedures/education/*methods ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/education/*methods ; Robotics ; Simulation Training/*methods ; Stereotaxic Techniques/education ; }, abstract = {Robotic surgery has been the forte of minimally invasive stereo-tactic procedures for some decades now. Ongoing advancements and evolutionary developments require substantial evidence to build the consensus about its efficacy in the field of neurosurgery. Main obstacle in obtaining successful results in neurosurgery is fine neural structures and other anatomical limitations. Currently, human rationalisation and robotic precision works in symbiosis to provide improved results. We reviewed the current data about recent interventions. Robots are capable of providing virtual data, superior spatial resolution and geometric accuracy, superior dexterity, faster manoeuvring and non-fatigability with steady motion. Robotic surgery also allows simulation of virtual procedures which turn out to be of great succour for young apprentice surgeons to practise their surgical skills in a safe environment. It also allows senior professionals to rehearse difficult cases before involving into considerable risky procedures.}, } @article {pmid29478734, year = {2018}, author = {Yacoub, R and Jacob, A and Wlaschin, J and McGregor, M and Quigg, RJ and Alexander, JJ}, title = {Lupus: The microbiome angle.}, journal = {Immunobiology}, volume = {223}, number = {6-7}, pages = {460-465}, doi = {10.1016/j.imbio.2017.11.004}, pmid = {29478734}, issn = {1878-3279}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmunity ; *Bacteria ; Dysbiosis/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Microbiota consists of more than 10[14] microorganisms that inhabit different areas of the body including the gastrointestinal tract, mainly the mouth and gut. It includes viruses, fungi, protozoa, archaea and bacteria. The microbiota interacts closely with host leading to a dynamic relationship that results in the biological effects observed. Its diverse genetic material (microbiome) interacts closely with the host immune system and cells, and therefore is closely associated with inflammation, immune tolerance, adaptive immunity and autoimmune diseases. Bacterial microbiota, which is the mostly studied lives in harmony with the host and maintains a symbiotic relationship. Therefore it plays an important role in immunological, metabolic, and neurological aspects and thereby the well-being of the host. Alteration of the homeostatic environment or the dynamic balance of microorganisms can result in dysbiosis or disease. However, does dysbiosis cause disease, aggravate disease or is the result of the disease remains to be defined, it could be a bit of all three factors. More recently, a number of studies demonstrate that these microorganisms could contribute to disease. Alteration of the tightly balanced composition of bacterial microbiota (dysbiosis) leads to exacerbation, rapid progression and worsening of disease states. It is important to identify the 'healthy' microbes that maintain a healthy environment, the 'sensitive' microbes that go awry with disease, the 'bad' microbes that cause disease and the 'therapeutic' microbes that can help rectify the changes. Increased relative abundance of certain bacterial species has been linked to triggering autoimmune diseases. Despite the burgeoning literature in the field, the molecular mechanisms by which the microbiota impacts the body in health and disease remain largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss recent advancements in our understanding of the gut bacterial microbiota associated with inflammatory and immunological processes and the role they play in the autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus.}, } @article {pmid29476344, year = {2018}, author = {Skelton, J and Jusino, MA and Li, Y and Bateman, C and Thai, PH and Wu, C and Lindner, DL and Hulcr, J}, title = {Detecting Symbioses in Complex Communities: the Fungal Symbionts of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles Within Asian Pines.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {3}, pages = {839-850}, pmid = {29476344}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; China ; Coleoptera/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {Separating symbioses from incidental associations is a major obstacle in symbiosis research. In this survey of fungi associated with Asian bark and ambrosia beetles, we used quantitative culture and DNA barcode identification to characterize fungal communities associated with co-infesting beetle species in pines (Pinus) of China and Vietnam. To quantitatively discern likely symbioses from coincidental associations, we used multivariate analysis and multilevel pattern analysis (a type of indicator species analysis). Nearly half of the variation in fungal community composition in beetle galleries and on beetle bodies was explained by beetle species. We inferred a spectrum of ecological strategies among beetle-associated fungi: from generalist multispecies associates to highly specialized single-host symbionts that were consistently dominant within the mycangia of their hosts. Statistically significant fungal associates of ambrosia beetles were typically only found with one beetle species. In contrast, bark beetle-associated fungi were often associated with multiple beetle species. Ambrosia beetles and their galleries were frequently colonized by low-prevalence ambrosia fungi, suggesting that facultative ambrosial associations are commonplace, and ecological mechanisms such as specialization and competition may be important in these dynamic associations. The approach used here could effectively delimit symbiotic interactions in any system where symbioses are obscured by frequent incidental associations. It has multiple advantages including (1) powerful statistical tests for non-random associations among potential symbionts, (2) simultaneous evaluation of multiple co-occurring host and symbiont associations, and (3) identifying symbionts that are significantly associated with multiple host species.}, } @article {pmid29476343, year = {2018}, author = {Stritzler, M and Soto, G and Ayub, N}, title = {Plant Growth-Promoting Genes can Switch to be Virulence Factors via Horizontal Gene Transfer.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {3}, pages = {579-583}, pmid = {29476343}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Pectobacterium carotovorum/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*genetics/metabolism ; Virulence Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {There are increasing evidences that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a critical mechanism of bacterial evolution, while its complete impact remains unclear. A main constraint of HGT effects on microbial evolution seems to be the conservation of the function of the horizontally transferred genes. From this perspective, inflexible nomenclature and functionality criteria have been established for some mobile genetic elements such as pathogenic and symbiotic islands. Adhesion is a universal prerequisite for both beneficial and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions, and thus, adhesion systems (e.g., the Lap cluster) are candidates to have a dual function depending on the genomic background. In this study, we showed that the virulent factor Lap of the phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora SCRI1043, which is located within a genomic island, was acquired by HGT and probably derived from Pseudomonas. The transformation of the phytopathogen Erwinia pyrifoliae Ep1/96 with the beneficial factor Lap from the plant growth-promoting bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5 significantly increased its natural virulence, experimentally recapitulating the beneficial-to-virulence functional switch of the Lap cluster via HGT. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a functional switch of an individual gene or a cluster of genes mediated by HGT.}, } @article {pmid29474692, year = {2018}, author = {Lace, B and Ott, T}, title = {Commonalities and Differences in Controlling Multipartite Intracellular Infections of Legume Roots by Symbiotic Microbes.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {4}, pages = {661-672}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy043}, pmid = {29474692}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Cell Polarity ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Fabaceae/cytology/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/cytology/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes have the almost unique ability to establish symbiotic associations with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Forward and reverse genetics have identified a large number of genes that are required for either or both interactions. However, and in sharp contrast to natural soils, these interactions have been almost exclusively investigated under laboratory conditions by using separate inoculation systems, whereas both symbionts are simultaneously present in the field. Considering our recent understanding of the individual symbioses, the community is now promisingly positioned to co-inoculate plants with two or more microbes in order to understand mechanistically how legumes efficiently balance, regulate and potentially separate these symbioses and other endophytic microbes within the same root. Here, we discuss a number of key control layers that should be considered when assessing tri- or multipartite beneficial interactions and that may contribute to colonization patterns in legume roots.}, } @article {pmid29474513, year = {2018}, author = {Baluška, F and Lyons, S}, title = {Energide-cell body as smallest unit of eukaryotic life.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {122}, number = {5}, pages = {741-745}, pmid = {29474513}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Cell Body/*physiology ; Cell Nucleus/*physiology ; Eukaryotic Cells/*physiology ; Life ; Plant Cells/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The evolutionary origin of the eukaryotic nucleus is obscure and controversial. Currently preferred are autogenic concepts; ideas of a symbiotic origin are mostly discarded and forgotten. Here we briefly discuss these issues and propose a new version of the symbiotic and archaeal origin of the eukaryotic nucleus.

SCOPE AND CONCLUSIONS: The nucleus of eukaryotic cells forms via its perinuclear microtubules, the primary eukaryotic unit known also as the Energide-cell body. As for all other endosymbiotic organelles, new Energides are generated only from other Energides. While the Energide cannot be generated de novo, it can use its secretory apparatus to generate de novo the cell periphery apparatus. We suggest that Virchow's tenet Omnis cellula e cellula should be updated as Omnis Energide e Energide to reflect the status of the Energide as the primary unit of the eukaryotic cell, and life. In addition, the plasma membrane provides feedback to the Energide and renders it protection via the plasma membrane-derived endosomal network. New discoveries suggest archaeal origins of both the Energide and its host cell.}, } @article {pmid29473977, year = {2018}, author = {Ramsby, BD and Hoogenboom, MO and Whalan, S and Webster, NS}, title = {Elevated seawater temperature disrupts the microbiome of an ecologically important bioeroding sponge.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2124-2137}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14544}, pmid = {29473977}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecology ; Microbiota/*genetics/physiology ; Porifera/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Bioeroding sponges break down calcium carbonate substratum, including coral skeleton, and their capacity for reef erosion is expected to increase in warmer and more acidic oceans. However, elevated temperature can disrupt the functionally important microbial symbionts of some sponge species, often with adverse consequences for host health. Here, we provide the first detailed description of the microbial community of the bioeroding sponge Cliona orientalis and assess how the community responds to seawater temperatures incrementally increasing from 23°C to 32°C. The microbiome, identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, was dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, including a single operational taxonomic unit (OTU; Rhodothalassium sp.) that represented 21% of all sequences. The "core" microbial community (taxa present in >80% of samples) included putative nitrogen fixers and ammonia oxidizers, suggesting that symbiotic nitrogen metabolism may be a key function of the C. orientalis holobiont. The C. orientalis microbiome was generally stable at temperatures up to 27°C; however, a community shift occurred at 29°C, including changes in the relative abundance and turnover of microbial OTUs. Notably, this microbial shift occurred at a lower temperature than the 32°C threshold that induced sponge bleaching, indicating that changes in the microbiome may play a role in the destabilization of the C. orientalis holobiont. C. orientalis failed to regain Symbiodinium or restore its baseline microbial community following bleaching, suggesting that the sponge has limited ability to recover from extreme thermal exposure, at least under aquarium conditions.}, } @article {pmid29472368, year = {2018}, author = {Van Holle, S and Van Damme, EJM}, title = {Signaling through plant lectins: modulation of plant immunity and beyond.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {217-233}, doi = {10.1042/BST20170371}, pmid = {29472368}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Ligands ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Lectins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Binding ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lectins constitute an abundant group of proteins that are present throughout the plant kingdom. Only recently, genome-wide screenings have unraveled the multitude of different lectin sequences within one plant species. It appears that plants employ a plurality of lectins, though relatively few lectins have already been studied and functionally characterized. Therefore, it is very likely that the full potential of lectin genes in plants is underrated. This review summarizes the knowledge of plasma membrane-bound lectins in different biological processes (such as recognition of pathogen-derived molecules and symbiosis) and illustrates the significance of soluble intracellular lectins and how they can contribute to plant signaling. Altogether, the family of plant lectins is highly complex with an enormous diversity in biochemical properties and activities.}, } @article {pmid29472284, year = {2018}, author = {Raina, JB and Eme, L and Pollock, FJ and Spang, A and Archibald, JM and Williams, TA}, title = {Symbiosis in the microbial world: from ecology to genome evolution.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29472284}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {The concept of symbiosis - defined in 1879 by de Bary as 'the living together of unlike organisms' - has a rich and convoluted history in biology. In part, because it questioned the concept of the individual, symbiosis fell largely outside mainstream science and has traditionally received less attention than other research disciplines. This is gradually changing. In nature organisms do not live in isolation but rather interact with, and are impacted by, diverse beings throughout their life histories. Symbiosis is now recognized as a central driver of evolution across the entire tree of life, including, for example, bacterial endosymbionts that provide insects with vital nutrients and the mitochondria that power our own cells. Symbioses between microbes and their multicellular hosts also underpin the ecological success of some of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, including hydrothermal vents and coral reefs. In November 2017, scientists working in fields spanning the life sciences came together at a Company of Biologists' workshop to discuss the origin, maintenance, and long-term implications of symbiosis from the complementary perspectives of cell biology, ecology, evolution and genomics, taking into account both model and non-model organisms. Here, we provide a brief synthesis of the fruitful discussions that transpired.}, } @article {pmid29471328, year = {2018}, author = {Morrow, KM and Tedford, AR and Pankey, MS and Lesser, MP}, title = {A member of the Roseobacter clade, Octadecabacter sp., is the dominant symbiont in the brittle star Amphipholis squamata.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy030}, pmid = {29471328}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Roseobacter/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Starfish/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with subcuticular bacteria (SCB) have been identified and studied in many echinoderms, including the SCB of the brooding brittle star, Amphipholis squamata. Previous studies on the SCB of A. squamata placed the isolated bacterium, designated as AS1, in the genus Vibrio (Gammaproteobacteria), but subsequent studies suggested that the SCB of echinoderms belong to the Alphaproteobacteria. This study examines the taxonomic composition of SCB associated with A. squamata from the Northwest Atlantic using the 16S rRNA gene and next generation sequencing. Results show the presence of a single dominant bacterial type, within the Roseobacter clade, family Rhodobacteraceae, which composes 70%-80% of the A. squamata microbiome. These Rhodobacteraceae sequences were identified as members of the genus Octadecabacter. Additionally, the original isolate, AS1, from the brittle star A. squamata also belongs in the genus Octadecabacter based on Sanger sequencing of cloned 16S rRNA gene sequences. By comparison, adjacent seawater and sediment porewater communities were significantly more diverse, hosting bacteria in the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria. Thus, a distinct SCB community is present in A. squamata that is dominated by a member of the genus Octadecabacter and is identical to the original isolate, AS1, from this brittle star.}, } @article {pmid29469230, year = {2018}, author = {Fisher, J and Gaillard, P and Fellbaum, CR and Subramanian, S and Smith, S}, title = {Quantitative 3D imaging of cell level auxin and cytokinin response ratios in soybean roots and nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {9}, pages = {2080-2092}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13169}, pmid = {29469230}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {IIA-1355423//National Science Foundation/International ; DMR-BMAT#1206908//National Science Foundation/International ; IOS-1350189//National Science Foundation-Plant Genome Research Program/International ; H351-09//South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station/International ; H543-15//South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station/International ; //State of South Dakota/International ; 0091948//National Science Foundation/EPSCoR/International ; }, mesh = {Cytokinins/analysis/*metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Indoleacetic Acids/analysis/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton/methods ; Plant Cells/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/metabolism ; Soybeans/*cytology/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis results in root nodules where rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen into plant usable forms in exchange for plant-derived carbohydrates. The development of these specialized root organs involves a set of carefully orchestrated plant hormone signalling. In particular, a spatio-temporal balance between auxin and cytokinin appears to be crucial for proper nodule development. We put together a construct that carried nuclear localized fluorescence sensors for auxin and cytokinin and used two photon induced fluorescence microscopy for concurrent quantitative 3-dimensional imaging to determine cellular level auxin and cytokinin outputs and ratios in root and nodule tissues of soybean. The use of nuclear localization signals on the markers and nuclei segmentation during image processing enabled accurate monitoring of outputs in 3D image volumes. The ratiometric method used here largely compensates for variations in individual outputs due to sample turbidity and scattering, an inherent issue when imaging thick root and nodule samples typical of many legumes. Overlays of determined auxin/cytokinin ratios on specific root zones and cell types accurately reflected those predicted based on previously reported outputs for each hormone individually. Importantly, distinct auxin/cytokinin ratios corresponded to distinct nodule cell types indicating a key role for these hormones in nodule cell type identity.}, } @article {pmid29469227, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, W and Sun, K and Shi, RH and Yuan, J and Wang, XJ and Dai, CC}, title = {Auxin signalling of Arachis hypogaea activated by colonization of mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari enhances nodulation and N2 -fixation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {9}, pages = {2093-2108}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13170}, pmid = {29469227}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {NSFC NO 31370507//National Natural Science Foundation of China/International ; NO. 1812000006317//Doctor Breeding Project of Nanjing Normal University/International ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Arachis/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial fungal and rhizobial symbioses share commonalities in phytohormones responses, especially in auxin signalling. Mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari effectively increases symbiotic efficiency of legume peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) with another microsymbiont, bradyrhizobium, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We quantified and manipulated the IAA accumulation in ternary P. liquidambari-peanut-bradyrhizobial interactions to uncover its role between distinct symbioses. We found that auxin signalling is both locally and systemically induced by the colonization of P. liquidambari with peanut and further confirmed by Arabidopsis harbouring auxin-responsive reporter, DR5:GUS, and that auxin action, including auxin transport, is required to maintain fungal symbiotic behaviours and beneficial traits of plant during the symbiosis. Complementation and action inhibition experiments reveal that auxin signalling is involved in P. liquidambari-mediated nodule development and N2 -fixation enhancement and symbiotic gene activation. Further analyses showed that blocking of auxin action compromised the P. liquidambari-induced nodule phenotype and physiology changes, including vascular bundle development, symbiosome and bacteroids density, and malate concentrations, while induced the accumulation of starch granules in P. liquidambari-inoculated nodules. Collectively, our study demonstrated that auxin signalling activated by P. liquidambari symbiosis is recruited by peanut for bradyrhizobial symbiosis via symbiotic signalling pathway activation and nodule carbon metabolism enhancement.}, } @article {pmid29468040, year = {2018}, author = {Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Cárdenas, A and Gärdes, A and Wild, C and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Dominance of Endozoicomonas bacteria throughout coral bleaching and mortality suggests structural inflexibility of the Pocillopora verrucosa microbiome.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {2240-2252}, pmid = {29468040}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The importance of Symbiodinium algal endosymbionts and a diverse suite of bacteria for coral holobiont health and functioning are widely acknowledged. Yet, we know surprisingly little about microbial community dynamics and the stability of host-microbe associations under adverse environmental conditions. To gain insight into the stability of coral host-microbe associations and holobiont structure, we assessed changes in the community structure of Symbiodinium and bacteria associated with the coral Pocillopora verrucosa under excess organic nutrient conditions. Pocillopora-associated microbial communities were monitored over 14 days in two independent experiments. We assessed the effect of excess dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and excess dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Exposure to excess nutrients rapidly affected coral health, resulting in two distinct stress phenotypes: coral bleaching under excess DOC and severe tissue sloughing (>90% tissue loss resulting in host mortality) under excess DON. These phenotypes were accompanied by structural changes in the Symbiodinium community. In contrast, the associated bacterial community remained remarkably stable and was dominated by two Endozoicomonas phylotypes, comprising on average 90% of 16S rRNA gene sequences. This dominance of Endozoicomonas even under conditions of coral bleaching and mortality suggests the bacterial community of P. verrucosa may be rather inflexible and thereby unable to respond or acclimatize to rapid changes in the environment, contrary to what was previously observed in other corals. In this light, our results suggest that coral holobionts might occupy structural landscapes ranging from a highly flexible to a rather inflexible composition with consequences for their ability to respond to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid29467773, year = {2018}, author = {Lang, C and Smith, LS and Long, SR}, title = {Characterization of Novel Plant Symbiosis Mutants Using a New Multiple Gene-Expression Reporter Sinorhizobium meliloti Strain.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {76}, pmid = {29467773}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The formation of nitrogen fixing root nodules by Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti requires communication between both organisms and coordinated differentiation of plant and bacterial cells. After an initial signal exchange, the bacteria invade the tissue of the growing nodule via plant-derived tubular structures, called infection threads. The bacteria are released from the infection threads into invasion-competent plant cells, where they differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Both organisms undergo dramatic transcriptional, metabolic and morphological changes during nodule development. To identify plant processes that are essential for the formation of nitrogen fixing nodules after nodule development has been initiated, large scale mutageneses have been conducted to discover underlying plant symbiosis genes. Such screens yield numerous uncharacterized plant lines with nitrogen fixation deficient nodules. In this study, we report construction of a S. meliloti strain carrying four distinct reporter constructs to reveal stages of root nodule development. The strain contains a constitutively expressed lacZ reporter construct; a PexoY-mTFP fusion that is expressed in infection threads but not in differentiated bacteroids; a PbacA-mcherry construct that is expressed in infection threads and during bacteroid differentiation; and a PnifH-uidA construct that is expressed during nitrogen fixation. We used this strain together with fluorescence microscopy to study nodule development over time in wild type nodules and to characterize eight plant mutants from a fast neutron bombardment screen. Based on the signal intensity and the localization patterns of the reporter genes, we grouped mutants with similar phenotypes and placed them in a developmental context.}, } @article {pmid29467752, year = {2018}, author = {Yang, W and Gu, S and Xin, Y and Bello, A and Sun, W and Xu, X}, title = {Compost Addition Enhanced Hyphal Growth and Sporulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi without Affecting Their Community Composition in the Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {169}, pmid = {29467752}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with most crop plant species in agricultural ecosystems, and are conspicuously influenced by various agricultural practices. To understand the impact of compost addition on AM fungi, we examined effect of four compost rates (0, 11.25, 22.5, and 45 Mg/ha) on the abundance and community composition of AM fungi in seedling, flowering, and mature stage of soybean in a 1-year compost addition experiment system in Northeast China. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] was used as test plant. Moderate (22.5 Mg/ha) and high (45 Mg/ha) levels of compost addition significantly increased AM root colonization and extraradical hyphal (ERH) density compared with control, whereas low (11.5 Mg/ha) level of compost addition did not cause significant increase in AM root colonization and ERH density. AM fungal spore density was significantly enhanced by all the compost rates compared with control. The temporal variations analysis revealed that, AM root colonization in seedling stage was significantly lower than in flowering and mature stage. Although AM fungal operational taxonomic unit richness and community composition was unaffected by compost addition, some abundant AM fungal species showed significantly different response to compost addition. In mature stage, Rhizophagus fasciculatum showed increasing trend along with compost addition gradient, whereas the opposite was observed with Paraglomus sp. In addition, AM fungal community composition exhibited significant temporal variation during growing season. Further analysis indicated that the temporal variation in AM fungal community only occurred in control treatment, but not in low, moderate, and high level of compost addition treatments. Our findings highlighted the significant effects of compost addition on AM growth and sporulation, and emphasized that growth stage is a stronger determinant than 1-year compost addition in shaping AM fungal community in black soil of Northeast China.}, } @article {pmid29467748, year = {2018}, author = {Rodriguez, IB and Ho, TY}, title = {Trace Metal Requirements and Interactions in Symbiodinium kawagutii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {142}, pmid = {29467748}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Photosynthetic organisms need trace metals for various biological processes and different groups of microalgae have distinctive obligate necessities due to their respective biochemical requirements and ecological niches. We have previously shown that the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium kawagutii requires high concentrations of bioavailable Fe to achieve optimum growth. Here, we further explored the trace metal requirements of S. kawagutii with intensive focus on the effect of individual metal and its interaction with other divalent metals. We found that low Zn availability significantly decreases growth rates and results in elevated intracellular Mn, Co, Ni, and Fe quotas in the dinoflagellate. The results highlight the complex interaction among trace metals in S. kawagutii and suggest either metal replacement strategy to counter low Zn availability or enhanced uptake of other metals by non-specific divalent metal transporters. In this work, we also examined the Fe requirement of S. kawagutii using continuous cultures. We validated that 500 pM of Fe' was sufficient to support maximum cell density during steady state growth period either at 26 or 28°C. This study shows that growth of S. kawagutii was limited by metal availability in the following order, Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Co. The fundamental information obtained for the free-living Symbiodinium shall provide insights into how trace metal availability, either from ambient seawater or hosts, affects growth and proliferation of symbiotic dinoflagellates and the interaction between symbiont and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid29467740, year = {2018}, author = {Yuan, S and Li, X and Li, R and Wang, L and Zhang, C and Chen, L and Hao, Q and Zhang, X and Chen, H and Shan, Z and Yang, Z and Chen, S and Qiu, D and Ke, D and Zhou, X}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Classification of Soybean C2H2 Zinc Finger Proteins and Their Expression Analysis in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {126}, pmid = {29467740}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is one of the most productive and economical systems for nitrogen fixation, and previous studies have shown that several nodule-specific C2H2-zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) play important roles in symbiosis establishment and nodule function. However, C2H2-ZFPs are the most widespread ZFPs in eukaryotes, and a great variation of structure and function exist among the family members. It remains largely unclear whether or not special types of C2H2-ZF genes participate in symbiosis, especially in soybean. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide survey of soybean C2H2-ZF genes, and 321 soybean C2H2-ZF genes were identified and classified into 11 clearly distinguishable subsets (Gm-t1-SF, Gm-t2-SF, Gm-1i-Q-SF, Gm-1i-M-SF, Gm-1i-Z-SF, Gm-1i-D-SF, Gm-2i-Q-SF, Gm-2i-M-SF, Gm-2i-Mix-SF, Gm-3i-SF, and Gm-4i-SF) based on the arrangements, numbers, and types of C2H2-ZF domains. Phylogenetic and gene ontology analyses were carried out to assess the conserved sequence and GO function among these subsets, and the results showed that the classification of soybean C2H2-ZFPs was reasonable. The expression profile of soybean C2H2-ZFPs in multiple tissues showed that nearly half of soybean C2H2-ZFPs within different subsets had expressions in nodules, including a clustering branch consisting of 11 Gm-1i-Q-SF genes specifically expressed in symbiotic-relative tissues. RNA-Seq was used to identify symbiosis-related soybean C2H2-ZFPs, and the expression pattern of the soybean C2H2-ZFPs in roots and nodules at different development stages showed that soybean C2H2-ZFPs mainly played roles in nodule development or nodule function rather than nodulation signal transduction, and nearly half of these genes had high expressions and/or different expression patterns during soybean nodule development, especially for the six clustering branches of genes consisting of different subsets of C2H2-ZFPs. Furthermore, the selected symbiosis-related soybean C2H2-ZFPs might function in legume-rhizobium symbiosis through regulating or interacting with other key proteins. Taken together, our findings provided useful information for the study on classification and conservative function of C2H2-ZFPs, and offered solid evidence for investigation of rhizobium symbiosis-related C2H2-ZFPs in soybean or other legumes.}, } @article {pmid29467397, year = {2018}, author = {Anantharaman, K and Hausmann, B and Jungbluth, SP and Kantor, RS and Lavy, A and Warren, LA and Rappé, MS and Pester, M and Loy, A and Thomas, BC and Banfield, JF}, title = {Expanded diversity of microbial groups that shape the dissimilatory sulfur cycle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {1715-1728}, pmid = {29467397}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {I 2320/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Archaea/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Archaeal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Hydrogensulfite Reductase/genetics/metabolism ; Metagenome ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A critical step in the biogeochemical cycle of sulfur on Earth is microbial sulfate reduction, yet organisms from relatively few lineages have been implicated in this process. Previous studies using functional marker genes have detected abundant, novel dissimilatory sulfite reductases (DsrAB) that could confer the capacity for microbial sulfite/sulfate reduction but were not affiliated with known organisms. Thus, the identity of a significant fraction of sulfate/sulfite-reducing microbes has remained elusive. Here we report the discovery of the capacity for sulfate/sulfite reduction in the genomes of organisms from 13 bacterial and archaeal phyla, thereby more than doubling the number of microbial phyla associated with this process. Eight of the 13 newly identified groups are candidate phyla that lack isolated representatives, a finding only possible given genomes from metagenomes. Organisms from Verrucomicrobia and two candidate phyla, Candidatus Rokubacteria and Candidatus Hydrothermarchaeota, contain some of the earliest evolved dsrAB genes. The capacity for sulfite reduction has been laterally transferred in multiple events within some phyla, and a key gene potentially capable of modulating sulfur metabolism in associated cells has been acquired by putatively symbiotic bacteria. We conclude that current functional predictions based on phylogeny significantly underestimate the extent of sulfate/sulfite reduction across Earth's ecosystems. Understanding the prevalence of this capacity is integral to interpreting the carbon cycle because sulfate reduction is often coupled to turnover of buried organic carbon. Our findings expand the diversity of microbial groups associated with sulfur transformations in the environment and motivate revision of biogeochemical process models based on microbial community composition.}, } @article {pmid29466933, year = {2019}, author = {Wang, S and Liu, J and Li, C and Chung, BM}, title = {Efficiency of Nannochloropsis oculata and Bacillus polymyxa symbiotic composite at ammonium and phosphate removal from synthetic wastewater.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {40}, number = {19}, pages = {2494-2503}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2018.1444103}, pmid = {29466933}, issn = {1479-487X}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; *Microalgae ; *Paenibacillus polymyxa ; Phosphates ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Many issues, such as, DO accumulation, N2 fixation obstacle, and carbon dioxide diffusion, hamper the application of microalgae-alginate immobilization in wastewater treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata immobilized with the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa in alginate on ammonium and phosphate removal from synthetic wastewater. Results show that the co-immobilized Bacillus-Nannochloropsis can exploit ammonium and phosphate from wastewater more effectively than the immobilized Nannochloropsis, and immobilized Bacillus alone. A significantly higher ammonium and phosphate removal efficiency was found in co-immobilized Bacillus-Nannochloropsis (59.85%, 90.44%) than of that in immobilized Nannochloropsis (49.56%, 77.36%), and Bacillus immobilized (31.46%, 29.66%) alone. Additionally, the most effective co-immobilization mixture ratio for wastewater treatment was found to contain equal suspension (10[8] cell/ml) volume of the Nannochloropsis and Bacillus. Nannochloris and Bacillus can coexist harmoniously with the symbiotic and synergistic relationship, and the Nannochloropsis oculata- Bacillus polymyxa combination can be useful as a potential method to develop novel wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid29466376, year = {2018}, author = {Yadav, S and Frazer, J and Banga, A and Pruitt, K and Harsh, S and Jaenike, J and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Endosymbiont-based immunity in Drosophila melanogaster against parasitic nematode infection.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0192183}, pmid = {29466376}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Nematoda/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Associations between endosymbiotic bacteria and their hosts represent a complex ecosystem within organisms ranging from humans to protozoa. Drosophila species are known to naturally harbor Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts, which play a protective role against certain microbial infections. Here, we investigated whether the presence or absence of endosymbionts affects the immune response of Drosophila melanogaster larvae to infection by Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes carrying or lacking their mutualistic Gram-negative bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila (symbiotic or axenic nematodes, respectively). We find that the presence of Wolbachia alone or together with Spiroplasma promotes the survival of larvae in response to infection with S. carpocapsae symbiotic nematodes, but not against axenic nematodes. We also find that Wolbachia numbers are reduced in Spiroplasma-free larvae infected with axenic compared to symbiotic nematodes, and they are also reduced in Spiroplasma-containing compared to Spiroplasma-free larvae infected with axenic nematodes. We further show that S. carpocapsae axenic nematode infection induces the Toll pathway in the absence of Wolbachia, and that symbiotic nematode infection leads to increased phenoloxidase activity in D. melanogaster larvae devoid of endosymbionts. Finally, infection with either type of nematode alters the metabolic status and the fat body lipid droplet size in D. melanogaster larvae containing only Wolbachia or both endosymbionts. Our results suggest an interaction between Wolbachia endosymbionts with the immune response of D. melanogaster against infection with the entomopathogenic nematodes S. carpocapsae. Results from this study indicate a complex interplay between insect hosts, endosymbiotic microbes and pathogenic organisms.}, } @article {pmid29466373, year = {2018}, author = {Levitt-Barmats, Y and Shenkar, N}, title = {Observations on the symbiotic relationship between the caridean shrimp Odontonia sibogae (Bruce, 1972) and its ascidian host Herdmania momus (Savigny, 1816).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0192045}, pmid = {29466373}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between shrimps and other invertebrates are a very common phenomenon in tropical environments. Although the caridean shrimp-ascidian association has been known for many years, the nature of this relationship is still unclear. The current study investigated the association between the caridean shrimp Odontonia sibogae (Bruce, 1972) and solitary ascidians. A combination of field work conducted along the Red Sea coast of Israel and laboratory experiments, conducted during 2015-2016, revealed a clear preference of the shrimps for the ascidian species Herdmania momus (Savigny, 1816), with a low survival ability of the shrimp outside their host's body. The shrimps usually inhabit their host as pairs of male and female or pair of females, but never as pairs of males. Out of the 53 studied females, 51% were observed to bear between 156-1,146 embryos, throughout the course of the year. As these ascidian hosts are known to create large aggregates, we suggest that males may possibly wander among the ascidians occupied by females in order to increase their reproductive success. To date, this is the first study to record the shrimp Dactylonia ascidicola (Borradaile, 1898) inhabiting the ascidian H. momus; and the first study to investigate in depth the ascidian-shrimp association in the Red Sea. It thus provides a platform for future research into the physiological and behavioral adaptations required for such a unique association.}, } @article {pmid29466331, year = {2018}, author = {Ma, Z and Guo, D and Xu, X and Lu, M and Bardgett, RD and Eissenstat, DM and McCormack, ML and Hedin, LO}, title = {Evolutionary history resolves global organization of root functional traits.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {555}, number = {7694}, pages = {94-97}, pmid = {29466331}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Carbon/metabolism ; Databases, Factual ; Desert Climate ; *Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/classification/microbiology/*physiology ; Seasons ; Soil/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Plant roots have greatly diversified in form and function since the emergence of the first land plants, but the global organization of functional traits in roots remains poorly understood. Here we analyse a global dataset of 10 functionally important root traits in metabolically active first-order roots, collected from 369 species distributed across the natural plant communities of 7 biomes. Our results identify a high degree of organization of root traits across species and biomes, and reveal a pattern that differs from expectations based on previous studies of leaf traits. Root diameter exerts the strongest influence on root trait variation across plant species, growth forms and biomes. Our analysis suggests that plants have evolved thinner roots since they first emerged in land ecosystems, which has enabled them to markedly improve their efficiency of soil exploration per unit of carbon invested and to reduce their dependence on symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi. We also found that diversity in root morphological traits is greatest in the tropics, where plant diversity is highest and many ancestral phylogenetic groups are preserved. Diversity in root morphology declines sharply across the sequence of tropical, temperate and desert biomes, presumably owing to changes in resource supply caused by seasonally inhospitable abiotic conditions. Our results suggest that root traits have evolved along a spectrum bounded by two contrasting strategies of root life: an ancestral 'conservative' strategy in which plants with thick roots depend on symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi for soil resources and a more-derived 'opportunistic' strategy in which thin roots enable plants to more efficiently leverage photosynthetic carbon for soil exploration. These findings imply that innovations of belowground traits have had an important role in preparing plants to colonize new habitats, and in generating biodiversity within and across biomes.}, } @article {pmid29464325, year = {2018}, author = {Li, M and Yang, Y and He, Y and Mathieu, J and Yu, C and Li, Q and Alvarez, PJJ}, title = {Detection and cell sorting of Pseudonocardia species by fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry using 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {7}, pages = {3375-3386}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-8801-3}, pmid = {29464325}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Flow Cytometry ; *In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microbiological Techniques/*methods ; Oligonucleotide Probes/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Pseudonocardia spp. are receiving increasing attention due to their ability to biodegrade recalcitrant cyclic ether pollutants (e.g., 1,4-dioxane and tetrahydrofuran), as well as for their distinctive ecological niches (e.g., symbiosis with ants/plants and production of antibiotics). Isolating and characterizing Pseudonocardia spp. is thus important to discern their metabolic and physiological idiosyncrasies and advance their potential applications. However, slow growth, low cell yield, and dissimilar colony morphology hinder efficient isolation of Pseudonocardia using conventional plating methods. Here, we develop the first fluorescent probe (Pse631) targeting the 16S rRNA of Pseudonocardia members. In combination with flow cytometry and cell sorting, in situ hybridization with this probe enables sensitive and specific detection of Pseudonocardia cells in mixed cultures and enriched environmental samples without significant false positives, using Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Mycobacterium spp. as negative controls. Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 cells labeled with Pse631 as a positive control were detected when their relative abundance in the total bacterial community was as low as 0.1%. Effective separation of Pseudonocardia cells from the mixed consortium was confirmed by quantitative PCR analysis of sorted cells. This study provides a culture-independent high-throughput molecular approach enabling effective separation of Pseudonocardia populations from complex microbial communities. This approach will not only facilitate subsequent molecular analyses including species identification and quantification, but also advance understanding of their catabolic capacities and functional molecular diversity.}, } @article {pmid29463983, year = {2017}, author = {Ondieki, DK and Nyaboga, EN and Wagacha, JM and Mwaura, FB}, title = {Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Rhizobia Nodulating Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) from Agricultural Soils of Lower Eastern Kenya.}, journal = {International journal of microbiology}, volume = {2017}, number = {}, pages = {8684921}, pmid = {29463983}, issn = {1687-918X}, abstract = {Limited nitrogen (N) content in the soil is a major challenge to sustainable and high crop production in many developing countries. The nitrogen fixing symbiosis of legumes with rhizobia plays an important role in supplying sufficient N for legumes and subsequent nonleguminous crops. To identify rhizobia strains which are suitable for bioinoculant production, characterization of rhizobia is a prerequisite. The objective of this study was to assess the morphological and genetic diversity of rhizobia that nodulates cowpea in agricultural soils of lower eastern Kenya. Twenty-eight rhizobia isolates were recovered from soil samples collected from farmers' fields in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties in lower eastern Kenya and characterized based on morphological characteristics. Thirteen representative isolates were selected and characterized using BOX repetitive element PCR fingerprinting. Based on the dendrogram generated from morphological characteristics, the test isolates were distributed into two major clusters at a similarity of 75%. Phylogenetic tree, based on BOX repetitive element PCR, grouped the isolates into two clusters at 90% similarity level. The clustering of the isolates did not show a relationship to the origin of soil samples, although the isolates were genetically diverse. This study is a prerequisite to the selection of suitable cowpea rhizobia to develop bioinoculants for sustainable crop production in Kenya.}, } @article {pmid29463601, year = {2018}, author = {Tischler, AH and Lie, L and Thompson, CM and Visick, KL}, title = {Discovery of Calcium as a Biofilm-Promoting Signal for Vibrio fischeri Reveals New Phenotypes and Underlying Regulatory Complexity.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {29463601}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/drug effects/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Calcium/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri uses biofilm formation to promote symbiotic colonization of its squid host, Euprymna scolopes Control over biofilm formation is exerted at the level of transcription of the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus by a complex set of two-component regulators. Biofilm formation can be induced by overproduction of the sensor kinase RscS, which requires the activities of the hybrid sensor kinase SypF and the response regulator SypG and is negatively regulated by the sensor kinase BinK. Here, we identify calcium as a signal that promotes biofilm formation by biofilm-competent strains under conditions in which biofilms are not typically observed (growth with shaking). This was true for RscS-overproducing cells as well as for strains in which only the negative regulator binK was deleted. The latter results provided, for the first time, an opportunity to induce and evaluate biofilm formation without regulator overexpression. Using these conditions, we determined that calcium induces both syp-dependent and bacterial cellulose synthesis (bcs)-dependent biofilms at the level of transcription of these loci. The calcium-induced biofilms were dependent on SypF, but SypF's Hpt domain was sufficient for biofilm formation. These data suggested the involvement of another sensor kinase(s) and led to the discovery that both RscS and a previously uncharacterized sensor kinase, HahK, functioned in this pathway. Together, the data presented here reveal both a new signal and biofilm phenotype produced by V. fischeri cells, the coordinate production of two polysaccharides involved in distinct biofilm behaviors, and a new regulator that contributes to control over these processes.IMPORTANCE Biofilms, or communities of surface-attached microorganisms adherent via a matrix that typically includes polysaccharides, are highly resistant to environmental stresses and are thus problematic in the clinic and important to study. Vibrio fischeri forms biofilms to colonize its symbiotic host, making this organism useful for studying biofilms. Biofilm formation depends on the syp polysaccharide locus and its regulators. Here, we identify a signal, calcium, that induces both SYP-PS and cellulose-dependent biofilms. We also identify a new syp regulator, the sensor kinase HahK, and discover a mutant phenotype for the sensor kinase RscS. This work thus reveals a specific biofilm-inducing signal that coordinately controls two polysaccharides, identifies a new regulator, and clarifies the regulatory control over biofilm formation by V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid29463295, year = {2018}, author = {Brener-Raffalli, K and Clerissi, C and Vidal-Dupiol, J and Adjeroud, M and Bonhomme, F and Pratlong, M and Aurelle, D and Mitta, G and Toulza, E}, title = {Thermal regime and host clade, rather than geography, drive Symbiodinium and bacterial assemblages in the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis sensu lato.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {39}, pmid = {29463295}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {ANR-12-ADAP-0016//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; }, mesh = {Acinetobacter/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Arcobacter/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/genetics ; Oceanospirillaceae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Although the term holobiont has been popularized in corals with the advent of the hologenome theory of evolution, the underlying concepts are still a matter of debate. Indeed, the relative contribution of host and environment and especially thermal regime in shaping the microbial communities should be examined carefully to evaluate the potential role of symbionts for holobiont adaptation in the context of global changes. We used the sessile, long-lived, symbiotic and environmentally sensitive reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis to address these issues.

RESULTS: We sampled Pocillopora damicornis colonies corresponding to two different mitochondrial lineages in different geographic areas displaying different thermal regimes: Djibouti, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Taiwan. The community composition of bacteria and the algal endosymbiont Symbiodinium were characterized using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer, ITS2, respectively. Bacterial microbiota was very diverse with high prevalence of Endozoicomonas, Arcobacter, and Acinetobacter in all samples. While Symbiodinium sub-clade C1 was dominant in Taiwan and New Caledonia, D1 was dominant in Djibouti and French Polynesia. Moreover, we also identified a high background diversity (i.e., with proportions < 1%) of A1, C3, C15, and G Symbiodinum sub-clades. Using redundancy analyses, we found that the effect of geography was very low for both communities and that host genotypes and temperatures differently influenced Symbiodinium and bacterial microbiota. Indeed, while the constraint of host haplotype was higher than temperatures on bacterial composition, we showed for the first time a strong relationship between the composition of Symbiodinium communities and minimal sea surface temperatures.

CONCLUSION: Because Symbiodinium assemblages are more constrained by the thermal regime than bacterial communities, we propose that their contribution to adaptive capacities of the holobiont to temperature changes might be higher than the influence of bacterial microbiota. Moreover, the link between Symbiodinium community composition and minimal temperatures suggests low relative fitness of clade D at lower temperatures. This observation is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, since corals will face increasing temperatures as well as much frequent abnormal cold episodes in some areas of the world.}, } @article {pmid29462877, year = {2018}, author = {Chiozzotto, R and Ramírez, M and Talbi, C and Cominelli, E and Girard, L and Sparvoli, F and Hernández, G}, title = {Characterization of the Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Common Bean Low Phytic Acid (lpa1) Mutant Response to Water Stress.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29462877}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) low phytic acid (lpa1) biofortified genotype produces seeds with improved nutritional characteristics and does not display negative pleiotropic effects. Here we demonstrated that lpa1 plants establish an efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium etli CE3. The lpa1 nodules showed a higher expression of nodule-function related genes than the nodules of the parental wild type genotype (BAT 93). We analyzed the response to water stress of lpa1 vs. BAT 93 plants grown under fertilized or under symbiotic N2-fixation conditions. Water stress was induced by water withholding (up to 14% soil moisture) to fertilized or R. etli nodulated plants previously grown with normal irrigation. The fertilized lpa1 plants showed milder water stress symptoms during the water deployment period and after the rehydration recovery period when lpa1 plants showed less biomass reduction. The symbiotic water-stressed lpa1 plants showed decreased nitrogenase activity that coincides with decreased sucrose synthase gene expression in nodules; lower turgor weight to dry weight (DW) ratio, which has been associated with higher drought resistance index; downregulation of carbon/nitrogen (C/N)-related and upregulation of stress-related genes. Higher expression of stress-related genes was also observed in bacteroids of stressed lpa1 plants that also displayed very high expression of the symbiotic cbb3 oxidase (fixNd).}, } @article {pmid29460474, year = {2018}, author = {Mischke, M and Arora, T and Tims, S and Engels, E and Sommer, N and van Limpt, K and Baars, A and Oozeer, R and Oosting, A and Bäckhed, F and Knol, J}, title = {Specific synbiotics in early life protect against diet-induced obesity in adult mice.}, journal = {Diabetes, obesity & metabolism}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {1408-1418}, pmid = {29460474}, issn = {1463-1326}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Obesity Agents/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; *Bifidobacterium breve ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Body Constitution/physiology ; Body Weight/physiology ; Cholesterol/metabolism ; Diet, Western/adverse effects ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Ileum/metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism/physiology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Obesity/blood/*prevention & control ; Phenotype ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The metabolic state of human adults is associated with their gut microbiome. The symbiosis between host and microbiome is initiated at birth, and early life microbiome perturbation can disturb health throughout life. Here, we determined how beneficial microbiome interventions in early life affect metabolic health in adulthood.

METHODS: Postnatal diets were supplemented with either prebiotics (scGOS/lcFOS) or synbiotics (scGOS/lcFOS with Bifidobacterium breve M-16 V) until post-natal (PN) day 42 in a well-established rodent model for nutritional programming. Mice were subsequently challenged with a high-fat Western-style diet (WSD) for 8 weeks. Body weight and composition were monitored, as was gut microbiota composition at PN21, 42 and 98. Markers of glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism and host transcriptomics of 6 target tissues were determined in adulthood (PN98).

RESULTS: Early life synbiotics protected mice against WSD-induced excessive fat accumulation throughout life, replicable in 2 independent European animal facilities. Adult insulin sensitivity and dyslipidaemia were improved and most pronounced changes in gene expression were observed in the ileum. We observed subtle changes in faecal microbiota composition, both in early life and in adulthood, including increased abundance of Bifidobacterium. Microbiota transplantation using samples collected from synbiotics-supplemented adolescent mice at PN42 to age-matched germ-free recipients did not transfer the beneficial phenotype, indicating that synbiotics-modified microbiota at PN42 is not sufficient to transfer long-lasting protection of metabolic health status.

CONCLUSION: Together, these findings show the potential and importance of timing of synbiotic interventions in early life during crucial microbiota development as a preventive measure to lower the risk of obesity and improve metabolic health throughout life.}, } @article {pmid29460206, year = {2018}, author = {Chia, LW and Hornung, BVH and Aalvink, S and Schaap, PJ and de Vos, WM and Knol, J and Belzer, C}, title = {Deciphering the trophic interaction between Akkermansia muciniphila and the butyrogenic gut commensal Anaerostipes caccae using a metatranscriptomic approach.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {859-873}, pmid = {29460206}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Butyrates/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mucins/metabolism ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Verrucomicrobia/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Host glycans are paramount in regulating the symbiotic relationship between humans and their gut bacteria. The constant flux of host-secreted mucin at the mucosal layer creates a steady niche for bacterial colonization. Mucin degradation by keystone species subsequently shapes the microbial community. This study investigated the transcriptional response during mucin-driven trophic interaction between the specialised mucin-degrader Akkermansia muciniphila and a butyrogenic gut commensal Anaerostipes caccae. A. muciniphila monocultures and co-cultures with non-mucolytic A. caccae from the Lachnospiraceae family were grown anaerobically in minimal media supplemented with mucin. We analysed for growth, metabolites (HPLC analysis), microbial composition (quantitative reverse transcription PCR), and transcriptional response (RNA-seq). Mucin degradation by A. muciniphila supported the growth of A. caccae and concomitant butyrate production predominantly via the acetyl-CoA pathway. Differential expression analysis (DESeq 2) showed the presence of A. caccae induced changes in the A. muciniphila transcriptional response with increased expression of mucin degradation genes and reduced expression of ribosomal genes. Two putative operons that encode for uncharacterised proteins and an efflux system, and several two-component systems were also differentially regulated. This indicated A. muciniphila changed its transcriptional regulation in response to A. caccae. This study provides insight to understand the mucin-driven microbial ecology using metatranscriptomics. Our findings show that the expression of mucolytic enzymes by A. muciniphila increases upon the presence of a community member. This could indicate its role as a keystone species that supports the microbial community in the mucosal environment by increasing the availability of mucin sugars.}, } @article {pmid29459726, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, L and Einig, E and Almeida-Trapp, M and Albert, M and Fliegmann, J and Mithöfer, A and Kalbacher, H and Felix, G}, title = {The systemin receptor SYR1 enhances resistance of tomato against herbivorous insects.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {152-156}, doi = {10.1038/s41477-018-0106-0}, pmid = {29459726}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Herbivory ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {The discovery in tomato of systemin, the first plant peptide hormone[1,2], was a fundamental change for the concept of plant hormones. Numerous other peptides have since been shown to play regulatory roles in many aspects of the plant life, including growth, development, fertilization and interactions with symbiotic organisms[3-6]. Systemin, an 18 amino acid peptide derived from a larger precursor protein [7] , was proposed to act as the spreading signal that triggers systemic defence responses observed in plants after wounding or attack by herbivores[1,7,8]. Further work culminated in the identification of a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase (LRR-RK) as the systemin receptor 160 (SR160)[9,10]. SR160 is a tomato homologue of Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1 (BRI1), which mediates the regulation of growth and development in response to the steroid hormone brassinolide[11-13]. However, a role of SR160/BRI1 as systemin receptor could not be corroborated by others[14-16]. Here, we demonstrate that perception of systemin depends on a pair of distinct LRR-RKs termed SYR1 and SYR2. SYR1 acts as a genuine systemin receptor that binds systemin with high affinity and specificity. Further, we show that presence of SYR1, although not decisive for local and systemic wound responses, is important for defence against insect herbivory.}, } @article {pmid29459692, year = {2018}, author = {Ishii, Y and Maruyama, S and Fujimura-Kamada, K and Kutsuna, N and Takahashi, S and Kawata, M and Minagawa, J}, title = {Isolation of uracil auxotroph mutants of coral symbiont alga for symbiosis studies.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {3237}, pmid = {29459692}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Cnidaria/microbiology/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Genetic Testing/methods ; Genetics, Microbial/methods ; *Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; Uracil/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems rely on stable symbiotic relationship between the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium spp. and host cnidarian animals. The collapse of such symbiosis could cause coral 'bleaching' and subsequent host death. Despite huge interest on Symbiodinium, lack of mutant strains and readily available genetic tools have hampered molecular research. A major issue was the tolerance to marker antibiotics. Here, we isolated Symbiodinium mutants requiring uracil for growth, and hence, useful in transformation screening. We cultured Symbiodinium spp. cells in the presence of 5-fluoroorotic acid (5FOA), which inhibits the growth of cells expressing URA3 encoding orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase, and isolated cells that require uracil for growth. Sequence analyses and genetic complementation tests using yeast demonstrated that one of the mutant cell lines had a point mutation in URA3, resulting in a splicing error at an unusual exon-intron junction, and consequently, loss of enzyme activity. This mutant could maintain a symbiotic relationship with the model sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida only in sea water containing uracil. Results show that the URA3 mutant will be a useful tool for screening Symbiodinium transformants, both ex and in hospite, as survival in the absence of uracil is possible only upon successful introduction of URA3.}, } @article {pmid29459501, year = {2018}, author = {Guo, Y and Matsuoka, Y and Nishizawa, T and Ohta, H and Narisawa, K}, title = {Effects of Rhizobium Species Living with the Dark Septate Endophytic Fungus Veronaeopsis simplex on Organic Substrate Utilization by the Host.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {102-106}, pmid = {29459501}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Ascomycota/drug effects/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes ; Hyphae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria harbored in/on the hyphae of the dark septate endophyte, Veronaeopsis simplex Y34, were identified as a single Rhizobium species by molecular analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, and were successfully isolated from the endophyte. The Rhizobium-cured fungus was prepared thoroughly by an antibiotic treatment, thereby allowing an examination of their effects on organic substrate utilization. Assays with Biolog[®] FF microplates revealed that the respiration potential for 52.6% of the tested compounds were significantly different between Rhizobium-harboring and -cured fungal hosts, indicating that organic substrate utilization by V. simplex Y34 was significantly influenced by the presence of the associated Rhizobium sp. VsBac-Y9.}, } @article {pmid29458715, year = {2018}, author = {Maldonado-Mendoza, IE and Harrison, MJ}, title = {RiArsB and RiMT-11: Two novel genes induced by arsenate in arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {122}, number = {2-3}, pages = {121-130}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2017.11.003}, pmid = {29458715}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Arsenates/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*drug effects ; *Genes, Fungal ; Methyltransferases/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase their tolerance to arsenic-polluted soils. This study aims to investigate the genes involved in the AMF molecular response to arsenic pollution. Genes encoding proteins involved in arsenic metabolism were identified and their expression assessed by PCR or RT-qPCR. The As-inducible gene GiArsA (R. irregularis ABC ATPase component of the ArsAB arsenite efflux pump) and two new genes, an arsenate/arsenite permease component of ArsAB (RiArsB) and a methyltransferase type 11 (RiMT-11) were induced when arsenate was added to two-compartment in vitro monoxenic cultures of R. irregularis-transformed carrot roots. RiArsB and RiMT-11 expression in extraradical hyphae in response to arsenate displayed maximum induction 4-6 h after addition of 350 μM arsenate. Their expression was also detected in colonized root tissues grown in pots, or in the root-fungus compartment of two-compartment in vitro systems. We used a Medicago truncatula double mutant (mtpt4/mtpt8) to demonstrate that RiMT-11 and RiArsB transcripts accumulate in response to the addition of arsenate but not in response to phosphate. These results suggest that these genes respond to arsenate addition regardless of non-functional Pi symbiotic transport, and that RiMT-11 may be involved in arsenate detoxification by methylation in AMF-colonized tissues.}, } @article {pmid29458682, year = {2018}, author = {Nouioui, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Klenk, HP and Gtari, M}, title = {Frankia saprophytica sp. nov., an atypical, non-infective (Nod-) and non-nitrogen fixing (Fix-) actinobacterium isolated from Coriaria nepalensis root nodules.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {4}, pages = {1090-1095}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002633}, pmid = {29458682}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Cell Wall/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diaminopimelic Acid/chemistry ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Frankia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Pakistan ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vitamin K 2/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Strain CN3[T], a Coriaria nepalensis isolate, appears to form hyphae and sporangia typical of members fo the genus Frankia. However, it failed to form vesicles, to reduce acetylene and to induce nodules on its original host plant. A polyphasic approach was used here to determine the taxonomic status of strain CN3[T]. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CN3[T] showed the highest sequence identity with Frankia asymbiotica type strain M16386[T] (99.4 %). Digital DNA-DNA hybridization between strains CN3[T] and M16386[T] was 25.7 %, which is clearly below the accepted cut-off point of 70 %. The G+C content of DNA was 71.8 mol%. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain CN3[T] were rich in meso-diaminopimelic acid. Cell-wall sugars were composed of galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose and traces of ribose. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipids, phospholipid, six uncharacterized glycolipids and two uncharacterized lipids. The predominant menaquinone (>25 %) was MK-9(H6). Major fatty acids (>15 %) of strain CN3[T] consisted of iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and C15 : 0. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, genome sequence analysis and phenotypic results, strain CN3[T] (=DSM 105290[T]=CECT 9314[T]) is proposed to represent the type strain of a novel species, Frankia saprophytica sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid29458072, year = {2018}, author = {Roder, AC and Stock, SP}, title = {Influence of Xenorhabdus (Gamma-Proteobacteria: Enterobacteriaceae) symbionts on gonad postembryonic development in Steinernema (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) nematodes.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {153}, number = {}, pages = {65-74}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2018.02.015}, pmid = {29458072}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria ; Male ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {Steinernema nematodes and their Xenorhabdus partners form an obligate mutualistic association. This partnership is insecticidal to a wide range of insects. Steinernema rely on their Xenorhabdus partner to produce toxins inside the insect cadaver to liberate nutrients from the insect, as well as antimicrobials to sterilize the cadaver, thus creating a suitable environment for reproduction. In return, Steinernema vector their Xenorhabdus between insect hosts. Disruption of this partnership may affect the success of both partners. For instance, when Steinernema associates with non-cognate symbionts, their virulence and reproductive fitness are affected. In this study, we examined the effect of symbiotic (cognate and non-cognate) and non-symbiotic bacteria on maturation time, gonad postembryonic development, and sex ratio of first-generation Steinernema adults. Two Steinernema spp. were considered: S. feltiae SN and S. carpocapsae All. In vitro assays were carried out by pairing each nematode sp. with symbiotic (cognate and non-cognate) Xenorhabdus, and with non-symbiotic bacteria (Serratia proteamaculans). Additionally, for comparative purposes, we also considered adult nematodes reared in vivo in Galleria mellonella larvae to assess nematode development under natural conditions. Results from this study showed non-symbiotic Serratia proteamaculans did not support adult development of S. feltiae but it allowed development of S. carpocapsae adults. Sex ratio decreased from 2:1 to 1:1 (female: male) when S. carpocapsae adults were reared with the non-symbiotic S. proteamaculans. Cognate or non-cognate Xenorhabdus spp. and/or strains did not change the sex ratio of any of either Steinernema spp. tested. Morphometric analysis also revealed that bacterial conditions influenced adult size and gonad postembryonic development in both Steinernema species. Body size (length and width), and gonad length in both S. feltiae males and females, were significantly reduced when reared with a non-cognate Xenorhabdus species. In S. carpocapsae, males exhibited an enhanced body size (length and width) and gonad length when reared with a non-cognate X. nematophila strain. S. carpocapsae females also exhibited an enhanced gonad length when reared with a non-cognate X. nematophila strain. S. carpocapsae males and females were underdeveloped when reared with the non-symbiotic S. proteamaculans, and exhibited reduced body sizes and gonad lengths. We conclude that development of first-generation adults of both Steinernema spp. tested, in particular time to adult maturation as well as body and gonad size were directly influenced by the bacterial symbionts they were cultured with. However, response to the culture conditions was species specific.}, } @article {pmid29456255, year = {2017}, author = {Sion, EM and Godon, P and Mikolajewska, J and Sabra, B and Kolobow, C}, title = {FUSE Spectroscopy of the Accreting Hot Components in Symbiotic Variables.}, journal = {The Astronomical journal}, volume = {153}, number = {No 4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3847/1538-3881/aa62a9}, pmid = {29456255}, issn = {0004-6256}, support = {NNX13AF11G//NASA/United States ; }, abstract = {We have conducted a spectroscopic analysis of the far ultraviolet archival spectra of four symbiotic variables, EG And, AE Ara, CQ Dra and RW Hya. RW Hya and EG And have never had a recorded outburst while CQ Dra and AE Ara have outburst histories. We analyze these systems while they are in quiescence in order to help reveal the physical properties of their hot components via comparisons of the observations with optically thick accretion disk models and NLTE model white dwarf photospheres. We have extended the wavelength coverage down to the Lyman Limit with FUSE spectra. We find that the hot component in RW Hya is a low mass white dwarf with a surface temperature of 160,000K. We re-examine whether or not the symbiotic system CQ Dra is a triple system with a red giant transferring matter to a hot component made up of a cataclysmic variable in which the white dwarf has a surface temperature as low as ∼20,000K. The very small size of the hot component contributing to the shortest wavelengths of the FUSE spectrum of CQ Dra agrees with an optically thick and geometrically thin (∼4% of the WD surface) hot (∼ 120, 000K) boundary layer. Our analysis of EG And reveals that its hot component is a hot, bare, low mass white dwarf with a surface temperature of 80-95,000K, with a surface gravity log(g) = 7.5. For AE Ara, we also find that a low gravity (log(g) ∼ 6) hot (T ∼ 130, 000K) WD accounts for the hot component.}, } @article {pmid29455337, year = {2018}, author = {Xie, W and Hao, Z and Zhou, X and Jiang, X and Xu, L and Wu, S and Zhao, A and Zhang, X and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza facilitates the accumulation of glycyrrhizin and liquiritin in Glycyrrhiza uralensis under drought stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {285-300}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-018-0827-y}, pmid = {29455337}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Droughts ; Flavanones/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Glucosides/metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid/metabolism ; Minerals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; }, abstract = {Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is an important medicinal plant for which there is a huge market demand. It has been reported that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and drought stress can stimulate the accumulation of the active ingredients, glycyrrhizin and liquiritin, in liquorice plants, but the potential interactions of AM symbiosis and drought stress remain largely unknown. In the present work, we investigated mycorrhizal effects on plant growth and accumulation of glycyrrhizin and liquiritin in liquorice plants under different water regimes. The results indicated that AM plants generally exhibited better growth and physiological status including stomatal conductance, photosynthesis rate, and water use efficiency compared with non-AM plants. AM inoculation up-regulated the expression of an aquaporin gene PIP and decreased root abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations under drought stress. In general, AM plants displayed lower root carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, higher phosphorus (P) concentrations, and therefore, lower C:P and N:P ratios but higher C:N ratio than non-AM plants. On the other hand, AM inoculation increased root glycyrrhizin and liquiritin concentrations, and the mycorrhizal effects were more pronounced under moderate drought stress than under well-watered condition or severe drought stress for glycyrrhizin accumulation. The accumulation of glycyrrhizin and liquiritin in AM plants was consistent with the C:N ratio changes in support of the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis. Moreover, the glycyrrhizin accumulation was positively correlated with the expression of glycyrrhizin biosynthesis genes SQS1, β-AS, CYP88D6, and CYP72A154. By contrast, no significant interaction of AM inoculation with water treatment was observed for liquiritin accumulation, while we similarly observed a positive correlation between liquiritin accumulation and the expression of a liquiritin biosynthesis gene CHS. These results suggested that AM inoculation in combination with proper water management potentially could improve glycyrrhizin and liquiritin accumulation in liquorice roots and may be practiced to promote liquorice cultivation.}, } @article {pmid29454183, year = {2018}, author = {Scott, B and Green, K and Berry, D}, title = {The fine balance between mutualism and antagonism in the Epichloë festucae-grass symbiotic interaction.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {32-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.01.010}, pmid = {29454183}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Epichloe/*physiology ; Festuca/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Mutation/genetics ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes form mutualistic symbiotic associations with aerial tissues of temperate grasses. Intercalary growth of hyphae within the leaves enables fungal growth to be synchronized with host leaf growth, leading to formation of a highly structured and tightly regulated symbiotic network. Mutations in fungal genes that disrupt cell-cell fusion and other key signalling pathways lead to an antagonistic interaction characterized by unregulated growth of endophytic hyphae and detrimental effects on host growth. Transcriptome analysis of these mutant associations provides key insights into the regulation of the symbiosis. In nature a similar switch in growth occurs when hyphae transition into the sexual cycle forming stromata that abort host inflorescences. Endophyte infection of the grass host leads to a major reprogramming of host metabolism and alters host development. Changes in endophyte cell wall structure and the repertoire of effectors secreted into the host apoplast accompany establishment of a mutualistic interaction within the leaves.}, } @article {pmid29453827, year = {2018}, author = {Batstone, RT and Carscadden, KA and Afkhami, ME and Frederickson, ME}, title = {Using niche breadth theory to explain generalization in mutualisms.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {5}, pages = {1039-1050}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2188}, pmid = {29453827}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For a mutualism to remain evolutionarily stable, theory predicts that mutualists should limit their associations to high-quality partners. However, most mutualists either simultaneously or sequentially associate with multiple partners that confer the same type of reward. By viewing mutualisms through the lens of niche breadth evolution, we outline how the environment shapes partner availability and relative quality, and ultimately a focal mutualist's partner breadth. We argue that mutualists that associate with multiple partners may have a selective advantage compared to specialists for many reasons, including sampling, complementarity, and portfolio effects, as well as the possibility that broad partner breadth increases breadth along other niche axes. Furthermore, selection for narrow partner breadth is unlikely to be strong when the environment erodes variation in partner quality, reduces the costs of interacting with low-quality partners, spatially structures partner communities, or decreases the strength of mutualism. Thus, we should not be surprised that most mutualists have broad partner breadth, even if it allows for ineffective partners to persist.}, } @article {pmid29453274, year = {2018}, author = {Burghardt, LT and Epstein, B and Guhlin, J and Nelson, MS and Taylor, MR and Young, ND and Sadowsky, MJ and Tiffin, P}, title = {Select and resequence reveals relative fitness of bacteria in symbiotic and free-living environments.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {10}, pages = {2425-2430}, pmid = {29453274}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Genetic Fitness/genetics/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; *Medicago/microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Rhizome/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Assays to accurately estimate relative fitness of bacteria growing in multistrain communities can advance our understanding of how selection shapes diversity within a lineage. Here, we present a variant of the "evolve and resequence" approach both to estimate relative fitness and to identify genetic variants responsible for fitness variation of symbiotic bacteria in free-living and host environments. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by characterizing selection by two plant hosts and in two free-living environments (sterilized soil and liquid media) acting on synthetic communities of the facultatively symbiotic bacterium Ensifer meliloti We find (i) selection that hosts exert on rhizobial communities depends on competition among strains, (ii) selection is stronger inside hosts than in either free-living environment, and (iii) a positive host-dependent relationship between relative strain fitness in multistrain communities and host benefits provided by strains in single-strain experiments. The greatest changes in allele frequencies in response to plant hosts are in genes associated with motility, regulation of nitrogen fixation, and host/rhizobia signaling. The approach we present provides a powerful complement to experimental evolution and forward genetic screens for characterizing selection in bacterial populations, identifying gene function, and surveying the functional importance of naturally occurring genomic variation.}, } @article {pmid29453260, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, X and Sun, Z and Zhang, X and Zhang, M and Li, S}, title = {Hemolymph Microbiomes of Three Aquatic Invertebrates as Revealed by a New Cell Extraction Method.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {29453260}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Analytic Sample Preparation Methods/*methods ; Animals ; Brachyura/*microbiology ; Crassostrea/*microbiology ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Penaeidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms have been found in the hemolymph (blood) of many aquatic invertebrates, such as crabs, shrimp, and oysters. Hemolymph is a critical site in the host immune response. Currently, studies on hemolymph microorganisms are mostly performed with culture-dependent strategies using selective media (e.g., thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose [TCBS], 2216E, and LB) for enumerating and isolating microbial cells. However, doubts remain about the "true" representation of the microbial abundance and diversity of symbiotic microorganisms in hemolymph, particularly for uncultivable microorganisms, which are believed to be more abundant than the cultured microorganisms. To explore this, we developed a culture-independent cell extraction method for separating microbial cells from the hemolymph of three aquatic invertebrates (Scylla paramamosain [mud crab], Litopenaeus vannamei [whiteleg shrimp], and Crassostrea angulata [Portuguese oysters]) involving filtration through a 5-μm-pore-size mesh filter membrane (the filtration method). A combination of the filtration method with fluorescence microscopy and high-throughput sequencing technique provides insight into the abundances and diversity of the total microbiota in the hemolymph of these three invertebrates. More than 2.6 × 10[4] cells/ml of microbial cells dominated by Escherichia-Shigella and Halomonas, Photobacterium and Escherichia-Shigella, and Pseudoalteromonas and Arcobacter were detected in the hemolymph of Scylla paramamosain, Litopenaeus vannamei, and Crassostrea angulata, respectively. A parallel study for investigating the hemolymph microbiomes by comparing the filtration method and a culture-dependent method (the plate count method) showed significantly higher microbial abundances (between 26- and 369-fold difference; P < 0.05) and less biased community structures of the filtration method than those of the plate count method. Furthermore, hemolymph of the three invertebrates harbored many potential pathogens, including Photobacterium, Arcobacter, and Vibrio species. Finally, the filtration method provides a solution that improves the understanding of the metabolic functions of uncultivable hemolymph microorganisms (e.g., metagenomics) devoid of host hemocyte contamination.IMPORTANCE Microorganisms are found in the hemolymph of invertebrates, a critical site in the host immune response. Currently, studies on hemolymph microorganisms are mostly performed with culture-dependent strategies. However, doubts remain about the "true" representation of the hemolymph microbiome. This study developed a culture-independent cell extraction method that could separate microbial cells from the hemolymph of three aquatic invertebrates (S. paramamosain, L. vannamei, and C. angulata) based on filtration through a 5-μm-pore-size mesh filter membrane (the filtration method). A combination of the filtration method with fluorescence microscopy and a high-throughput sequencing technique provides insight into the abundances and diversity of the total microbiota in the hemolymph of these three invertebrates. Our results demonstrate that the hemolymph of aquatic invertebrates harbors a much higher microbial abundance and more distinct microbial community composition than previously estimated. Furthermore, this work provides a less biased solution for studying the metabolic functions of uncultivable hemolymph microbiota devoid of host hemocyte contamination.}, } @article {pmid29453252, year = {2018}, author = {Romano, S}, title = {Ecology and Biotechnological Potential of Bacteria Belonging to the Genus Pseudovibrio.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {29453252}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology ; Biotechnology ; Environment ; Porifera/microbiology ; Rhodobacteraceae/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Members of the genus Pseudovibrio have been isolated worldwide from a great variety of marine sources as both free-living and host-associated bacteria. So far, the available data depict a group of alphaproteobacteria characterized by a versatile metabolism, which allows them to use a variety of substrates to meet their carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous requirements. Additionally, Pseudovibrio-related bacteria have been shown to proliferate under extreme oligotrophic conditions, tolerate high heavy-metal concentrations, and metabolize potentially toxic compounds. Considering this versatility, it is not surprising that they have been detected from temperate to tropical regions and are often the most abundant isolates obtained from marine invertebrates. Such an association is particularly recurrent with marine sponges and corals, animals that play a key role in benthic marine systems. The data so far available indicate that these bacteria are mainly beneficial to the host, and besides being involved in major nutrient cycles, they could provide the host with both vitamins/cofactors and protection from potential pathogens via the synthesis of antimicrobial secondary metabolites. In fact, the biosynthetic abilities of Pseudovibrio spp. have been emerging in recent years, and both genomic and analytic studies have underlined how these organisms promise novel natural products of biotechnological value.}, } @article {pmid29452904, year = {2018}, author = {Pinto-Carbó, M and Gademann, K and Eberl, L and Carlier, A}, title = {Leaf nodule symbiosis: function and transmission of obligate bacterial endophytes.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {23-31}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2018.01.001}, pmid = {29452904}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Primulaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Rubiaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Various plant species establish intimate symbioses with bacteria within their aerial organs. The bacteria are contained within nodules or glands often present in distinctive patterns on the leaves, and have been used as taxonomic marker since the early 20th century. These structures are present in very diverse taxa, including dicots (Rubiaceae and Primulaceae) and monocots (Dioscorea). The symbionts colonize the plants throughout their life cycles and contribute bioactive secondary metabolites to the association. In this review, we present recent progress in the understanding of these plant-bacteria symbioses, including the modes of transmission, distribution and roles of the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid29452844, year = {2018}, author = {Shen, Q and Liu, Y and Naqvi, NI}, title = {Fungal effectors at the crossroads of phytohormone signaling.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2018.01.006}, pmid = {29452844}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Phytohormone networks are crucial for maintaining the delicate balance between growth and biotic stress responses in plants. Jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, and the associated signaling crosstalk are important for pathogen defense; whereas gibberellin and cytokinin function in growth and development in plants. Plant pathogenic fungi have evolved remarkable strategies to manipulate and/or hijack such phytohormone signaling cascades for their own benefit, thus leading to susceptibility and disease in host plants. Interestingly, these hormones are also targeted by fungal endosymbionts and mutualists during beneficial interactions with plants. We highlight current advances in our understanding of the role of fungal effectors in such antagonistic manipulation of phytohormones during pathogenic as well as symbiotic association with plant hosts. In addition to the aforementioned effector-based control, certain phytohormone mimics have recently emerged as a powerful molecular language in fungal manipulation of defense responses and innate immunity in plants.}, } @article {pmid29452030, year = {2018}, author = {Flores, AC and Via, VD and Savy, V and Villagra, UM and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, F}, title = {Comparative phylogenetic and expression analysis of small GTPases families in legume and non-legume plants.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e1432956}, pmid = {29452030}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Genomics ; Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Small monomeric GTPases act as molecular switches in several processes that involve polar cell growth, participating mainly in vesicle trafficking and cytoskeleton rearrangements. This gene superfamily has largely expanded in plants through evolution as compared with other Kingdoms, leading to the suggestion that members of each subfamily might have acquired new functions associated to plant-specific processes. Legume plants engage in a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with rhizobia in a process that involves polar growth processes associated with the infection throughout the root hair. To get insight into the evolution of small GTPases associated with this process, we use a comparative genomic approach to establish differences in the Ras GTPase superfamily between legume and non-legume plants.

RESULTS: Phylogenetic analyses did not show clear differences in the organization of the different subfamilies of small GTPases between plants that engage or not in nodule symbiosis. Protein alignments revealed a strong conservation at the sequence level of small GTPases previously linked to nodulation by functional genetics. Interestingly, one Rab and three Rop proteins showed conserved amino acid substitutions in legumes, but these changes do not alter the predicted conformational structure of these proteins. Although the steady-state levels of most small GTPases do not change in response to rhizobia, we identified a subset of Rab, Rop and Arf genes whose transcript levels are modulated during the symbiotic interaction, including their spatial distribution along the indeterminate nodule.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive study of the small GTPase superfamily in several plant species. The genetic program associated to root nodule symbiosis includes small GTPases to fulfill specific functions during infection and formation of the symbiosomes. These GTPases seems to have been recruited from members that were already present in common ancestors with plants as distant as monocots since we failed to detect asymmetric evolution in any of the subfamily trees. Expression analyses identified a number of legume members that can have undergone neo- or sub-functionalization associated to the spatio-temporal transcriptional control during the onset of the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid29450655, year = {2018}, author = {Diédhiou, I and Diouf, D}, title = {Transcription factors network in root endosymbiosis establishment and development.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {37}, pmid = {29450655}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Arabidopsis Proteins ; Cell Proliferation ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Fertilizers ; Frankia/metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Fungal ; Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs ; Minocycline ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Root endosymbioses are mutualistic interactions between plants and the soil microorganisms (Fungus, Frankia or Rhizobium) that lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules and/or arbuscular mycorrhiza. These interactions enable many species to survive in different marginal lands to overcome the nitrogen-and/or phosphorus deficient environment and can potentially reduce the chemical fertilizers used in agriculture which gives them an economic, social and environmental importance. The formation and the development of these structures require the mediation of specific gene products among which the transcription factors play a key role. Three of these transcription factors, viz., CYCLOPS, NSP1 and NSP2 are well conserved between actinorhizal, legume, non-legume and mycorrhizal symbioses. They interact with DELLA proteins to induce the expression of NIN in nitrogen fixing symbiosis or RAM1 in mycorrhizal symbiosis. Recently, the small non coding RNA including micro RNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as major regulators of root endosymbioses. Among them, miRNA171 targets NSP2, a TF conserved in actinorhizal, legume, non-legume and mycorrhizal symbioses. This review will also focus on the recent advances carried out on the biological function of others transcription factors during the root pre-infection/pre-contact, infection or colonization. Their role in nodule formation and AM development will also be described.}, } @article {pmid29450121, year = {2018}, author = {Shahid, M and Khan, MS}, title = {Glyphosate induced toxicity to chickpea plants and stress alleviation by herbicide tolerant phosphate solubilizing Burkholderia cepacia PSBB1 carrying multifarious plant growth promoting activities.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {131}, pmid = {29450121}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {In this study, strain PSBB1 isolated from Vicia faba rhizosphere was identified as Burkholderia cepacia, by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and characterized. Strain PSBB1 tolerated glyphosate up to 3200 μg ml[-1] and produced IAA (81.6 μg ml[-1]), ACC deaminase (69.3 mg[-1] protein h[-1]), SA (39.3 μg ml[-1]) and 2,3-DHBA (26.6 μg ml[-1]), solubilized insoluble P (50.8 μg ml[-1]) and secreted 29.4 μg ml[-1] exopolysaccharides, which decreased with increasing concentrations of glyphosate. Cell damage following glyphosate application was visible under SEM and CLSM. The phytotoxicity of glyphosate on chickpea was variable but significant. B. cepacia mitigated toxicity and enhanced the size, dry matter, symbiosis, seed attributes and nutritional contents of chickpea. Further, B. cepacia strain PSBB1 declined the levels of CAT, POD, APX and GPX and MDA contents at 4332 μg kg[-1] soil glyphosate. Proline also increased under glyphosate stress but declined in B. cepacia inoculated plants. The ability to tolerate higher concentration of glyphosate, the capacity to secrete plant growth regulators even under herbicide stress and potential to reduce the level of proline and antioxidant enzymes makes B. cepacia as an interesting choice for enhancing chickpea production in soils contaminated even with herbicides.}, } @article {pmid29449848, year = {2017}, author = {Wilton, R and Ahrendt, AJ and Shinde, S and Sholto-Douglas, DJ and Johnson, JL and Brennan, MB and Kemner, KM}, title = {A New Suite of Plasmid Vectors for Fluorescence-Based Imaging of Root Colonizing Pseudomonads.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2242}, pmid = {29449848}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the terrestrial ecosystem, plant-microbe symbiotic associations are ecologically and economically important processes. To better understand these associations at structural and functional levels, different molecular and biochemical tools are applied. In this study, we have constructed a suite of vectors that incorporates several new elements into the rhizosphere stable, broad-host vector pME6031. The new vectors are useful for studies requiring multi-color tagging and visualization of plant-associated, Gram-negative bacterial strains such as Pseudomonas plant growth promotion and biocontrol strains. A number of genetic elements, including constitutive promoters and signal peptides that target secretion to the periplasm, have been evaluated. Several next generation fluorescent proteins, namely mTurquoise2, mNeonGreen, mRuby2, DsRed-Express2 and E2-Crimson have been incorporated into the vectors for whole cell labeling or protein tagging. Secretion of mTurquoise2 and mNeonGreen into the periplasm of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 has also been demonstrated, providing a vehicle for tagging proteins in the periplasmic compartment. A higher copy number version of select plasmids has been produced by introduction of a previously described repA mutation, affording an increase in protein expression levels. The utility of these plasmids for fluorescence-based imaging is demonstrated by root colonization of Solanum lycopersicum seedlings by P. fluorescens SBW25 in a hydroponic growth system. The plasmids are stably maintained during root colonization in the absence of selective pressure for more than 2 weeks.}, } @article {pmid29449395, year = {2018}, author = {Badran, S and Morales, N and Schick, P and Jacoby, B and Villella, W and Lorenz, T}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of the Bacillus pumilus Phage Leo2.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29449395}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Bacillus spp. are ubiquitous Gram-positive microbes with many ecological and symbiotic interactions and can be pathogens. Phage Leo2 was found to infect a Bacillus pumilus strain isolated from soil. The sequence of phage Leo2 revealed 74 genes; 31% of the genes have associated functions, and 67% of coding regions are unidentified open reading frames.}, } @article {pmid29447216, year = {2018}, author = {Ceapă, CD and Vázquez-Hernández, M and Rodríguez-Luna, SD and Cruz Vázquez, AP and Jiménez Suárez, V and Rodríguez-Sanoja, R and Alvarez-Buylla, ER and Sánchez, S}, title = {Genome mining of Streptomyces scabrisporus NF3 reveals symbiotic features including genes related to plant interactions.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0192618}, pmid = {29447216}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Genome, Bacterial ; Plants/*microbiology ; Streptomyces/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic bacteria are wide-spread and associated with plant physiological benefits, yet their genomes and secondary metabolites remain largely unidentified. In this study, we explored the genome of the endophyte Streptomyces scabrisporus NF3 for discovery of potential novel molecules as well as genes and metabolites involved in host interactions. The complete genomes of seven Streptomyces and three other more distantly related bacteria were used to define the functional landscape of this unique microbe. The S. scabrisporus NF3 genome is larger than the average Streptomyces genome and not structured for an obligate endosymbiotic lifestyle; this and the fact that can grow in R2YE media implies that it could include a soil-living stage. The genome displays an enrichment of genes associated with amino acid production, protein secretion, secondary metabolite and antioxidants production and xenobiotic degradation, indicating that S. scabrisporus NF3 could contribute to the metabolic enrichment of soil microbial communities and of its hosts. Importantly, besides its metabolic advantages, the genome showed evidence for differential functional specificity and diversification of plant interaction molecules, including genes for the production of plant hormones, stress resistance molecules, chitinases, antibiotics and siderophores. Given the diversity of S. scabrisporus mechanisms for host upkeep, we propose that these strategies were necessary for its adaptation to plant hosts and to face changes in environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid29444867, year = {2018}, author = {Engl, T and Kroiss, J and Kai, M and Nechitaylo, TY and Svatoš, A and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Evolutionary stability of antibiotic protection in a defensive symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {9}, pages = {E2020-E2029}, pmid = {29444867}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry ; Biological Assay ; Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Fungi ; Indoles/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nigericin/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Oxazoles/*chemistry ; Pyridines/*chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Streptomyces/*drug effects/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The increasing resistance of human pathogens severely limits the efficacy of antibiotics in medicine, yet many animals, including solitary beewolf wasps, successfully engage in defensive alliances with antibiotic-producing bacteria for millions of years. Here, we report on the in situ production of 49 derivatives belonging to three antibiotic compound classes (45 piericidin derivatives, 3 streptochlorin derivatives, and nigericin) by the symbionts of 25 beewolf host species and subspecies, spanning 68 million years of evolution. Despite a high degree of qualitative stability in the antibiotic mixture, we found consistent quantitative differences between species and across geographic localities, presumably reflecting adaptations to combat local pathogen communities. Antimicrobial bioassays with the three main components and in silico predictions based on the structure and specificity in polyketide synthase domains of the piericidin biosynthesis gene cluster yield insights into the mechanistic basis and ecoevolutionary implications of producing a complex mixture of antimicrobial compounds in a natural setting.}, } @article {pmid29441375, year = {2018}, author = {Morita, M and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Parallel lives of symbionts and hosts: chemical mutualism in marine animals.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {357-378}, pmid = {29441375}, issn = {1460-4752}, support = {R35 GM122521/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Biological Products/*chemistry/metabolism ; Bryozoa/chemistry/metabolism ; Crustacea ; Cyanobacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/chemistry/metabolism ; Porifera/microbiology ; Predatory Behavior ; Ships ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tetrodotoxin/metabolism ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Urochordata/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Covering: up to 2018 Symbiotic microbes interact with animals, often by producing natural products (specialized metabolites; secondary metabolites) that exert a biological role. A major goal is to determine which microbes produce biologically important compounds, a deceptively challenging task that often rests on correlative results, rather than hypothesis testing. Here, we examine the challenges and successes from the perspective of marine animal-bacterial mutualisms. These animals have historically provided a useful model because of their technical accessibility. By comparing biological systems, we suggest a common framework for establishing chemical interactions between animals and microbes.}, } @article {pmid29441234, year = {2018}, author = {Bonthond, G and Merselis, DG and Dougan, KE and Graff, T and Todd, W and Fourqurean, JW and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Inter-domain microbial diversity within the coral holobiont Siderastrea siderea from two depth habitats.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4323}, pmid = {29441234}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Corals host diverse microbial communities that are involved in acclimatization, pathogen defense, and nutrient cycling. Surveys of coral-associated microbes have been particularly directed toward Symbiodinium and bacteria. However, a holistic understanding of the total microbiome has been hindered by a lack of analyses bridging taxonomically disparate groups. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we simultaneously characterized the Symbiodinium, bacterial, and fungal communities associated with the Caribbean coral Siderastrea siderea collected from two depths (17 and 27 m) on Conch reef in the Florida Keys. S. siderea hosted an exceptionally diverse Symbiodinium community, structured differently between sampled depth habitats. While dominated at 27 m by a Symbiodinium belonging to clade C, at 17 m S. siderea primarily hosted a mixture of clade B types. Most fungal operational taxonomic units were distantly related to available reference sequences, indicating the presence of a high degree of fungal novelty within the S. siderea holobiont and a lack of knowledge on the diversity of fungi on coral reefs. Network analysis showed that co-occurrence patterns in the S. siderea holobiont were prevalent among bacteria, however, also detected between fungi and bacteria. Overall, our data show a drastic shift in the associated Symbiodinium community between depths on Conch Reef, which might indicate that alteration in this community is an important mechanism facilitating local physiological adaptation of the S. siderea holobiont. In contrast, bacterial and fungal communities were not structured differently between depth habitats.}, } @article {pmid29441048, year = {2018}, author = {Kriebel, K and Hieke, C and Müller-Hilke, B and Nakata, M and Kreikemeyer, B}, title = {Oral Biofilms from Symbiotic to Pathogenic Interactions and Associated Disease -Connection of Periodontitis and Rheumatic Arthritis by Peptidylarginine Deiminase.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {53}, pmid = {29441048}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A wide range of bacterial species are harbored in the oral cavity, with the resulting complex network of interactions between the microbiome and host contributing to physiological as well as pathological conditions at both local and systemic levels. Bacterial communities inhabit the oral cavity as primary niches in a symbiotic manner and form dental biofilm in a stepwise process. However, excessive formation of biofilm in combination with a corresponding deregulated immune response leads to intra-oral diseases, such as dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Moreover, oral commensal bacteria, which are classified as so-called "pathobionts" according to a now widely accepted terminology, were recently shown to be present in extra-oral lesions with distinct bacterial species found to be involved in the onset of various pathophysiological conditions, including cancer, atherosclerosis, chronic infective endocarditis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The present review focuses on oral pathobionts as commensal and healthy members of oral biofilms that can turn into initiators of disease. We will shed light on the processes involved in dental biofilm formation and also provide an overview of the interactions of P. gingivalis, as one of the most prominent oral pathobionts, with host cells, including epithelial cells, phagocytes, and dental stem cells present in dental tissues. Notably, a previously unknown interaction of P. gingivalis bacteria with human stem cells that has impact on human immune response is discussed. In addition to this very specific interaction, the present review summarizes current knowledge regarding the immunomodulatory effect of P. gingivalis and other oral pathobionts, members of the oral microbiome, that pave the way for systemic and chronic diseases, thereby showing a link between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.}, } @article {pmid29440394, year = {2018}, author = {Zeinert, R and Martinez, E and Schmitz, J and Senn, K and Usman, B and Anantharaman, V and Aravind, L and Waters, LS}, title = {Structure-function analysis of manganese exporter proteins across bacteria.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {293}, number = {15}, pages = {5715-5730}, pmid = {29440394}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {*Carrier Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Escherichia coli Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Ion Transport/physiology ; *Manganese/chemistry/metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace nutrient for organisms because of its role in cofactoring enzymes and providing protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Many bacteria require manganese to form pathogenic or symbiotic interactions with eukaryotic host cells. However, excess manganese is toxic, requiring cells to have manganese export mechanisms. Bacteria are currently known to possess two widely distributed classes of manganese export proteins, MntP and MntE, but other types of transporters likely exist. Moreover, the structure and function of MntP is not well understood. Here, we characterized the role of three structurally related proteins known or predicted to be involved in manganese transport in bacteria from the MntP, UPF0016, and TerC families. These studies used computational analysis to analyze phylogeny and structure, physiological assays to test sensitivity to high levels of manganese and ROS, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure metal levels. We found that MntP alters cellular resistance to ROS. Moreover, we used extensive computational analyses and phenotypic assays to identify amino acids required for MntP activity. These negatively charged residues likely serve to directly bind manganese and transport it from the cytoplasm through the membrane. We further characterized two other potential manganese transporters associated with a Mn-sensing riboswitch and found that the UPF0016 family of proteins has manganese export activity. We provide here the first phenotypic and biochemical evidence for the role of Alx, a member of the TerC family, in manganese homeostasis. It does not appear to export manganese, but rather it intriguingly facilitates an increase in intracellular manganese concentration. These findings expand the available knowledge about the identity and mechanisms of manganese homeostasis proteins across bacteria and show that proximity to a Mn-responsive riboswitch can be used to identify new components of the manganese homeostasis machinery.}, } @article {pmid29440269, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, J and Deng, J and Zhu, F and Li, Y and Lu, Z and Qin, P and Wang, T and Dong, J}, title = {The MtDMI2-MtPUB2 Negative Feedback Loop Plays a Role in Nodulation Homeostasis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {3003-3026}, pmid = {29440269}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Feedback, Physiological ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {DOES NOT MAKE INFECTION 2 (MtDMI2) is a Leu rich repeat-type receptor kinase required for signal transduction in the Medicago truncatula/Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis pathway. However, the mechanisms through which MtDMI2 participates in nodulation homeostasis are poorly understood. In this study, we identified MtPUB2-a novel plant U-box (PUB)-type E3 ligase-and showed that it interacts with MtDMI2. MtDMI2 and MtPUB2 accumulation were shown to be similar in various tissues. Roots of plants in which MtPUB2 was silenced by RNAi (MtPUB2-RNAi plants) exhibited impaired infection threads, fewer nodules, and shorter primary root lengths compared to those of control plants transformed with empty vector. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we showed that MtDMI2 phosphorylates MtPUB2 at Ser-316, Ser-421, and Thr-488 residues. When MtPUB2-RNAi plants were transformed with MtPUB2[S421D] , which mimics the phosphorylated state, MtDMI2 was persistently ubiquitinated and degraded by MtPUB2[S421D], resulting in fewer nodules than observed in MtPUB2/MtPUB2-RNAi-complemented plants. However, MtPUB2[S421A] /MtPUB2-RNAi-complemented plants showed no MtPUB2 ubiquitination activity, and their nodulation phenotype was similar to that of MtPUB2-RNAi plants transformed with empty vector. Further studies demonstrated that these proteins form a negative feedback loop of the prey (MtDMI2)-predator (MtPUB2) type. Our results suggest that the MtDMI2-MtPUB2 negative feedback loop, which displays crosstalk with the long-distance autoregulation of nodulation via MtNIN, plays an important role in nodulation homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid29439474, year = {2018}, author = {Irieda, H and Shiomi, D}, title = {Bacterial Heterologous Expression System for Reconstitution of Chloroplast Inner Division Ring and Evaluation of Its Contributors.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29439474}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Chloroplast Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*metabolism/physiology ; Escherichia coli/*genetics/metabolism ; *Transgenes ; }, abstract = {Plant chloroplasts originate from the symbiotic relationship between ancient free-living cyanobacteria and ancestral eukaryotic cells. Since the discovery of the bacterial derivative FtsZ gene-which encodes a tubulin homolog responsible for the formation of the chloroplast inner division ring (Z ring)-in the Arabidopsis genome in 1995, many components of the chloroplast division machinery were successively identified. The knowledge of these components continues to expand; however, the mode of action of the chloroplast dividing system remains unknown (compared to bacterial cell division), owing to the complexities faced in in planta analyses. To date, yeast and bacterial heterologous expression systems have been developed for the reconstitution of Z ring-like structures formed by chloroplast FtsZ. In this review, we especially focus on recent progress of our bacterial system using the model bacterium Escherichia coli to dissect and understand the chloroplast division machinery-an evolutionary hybrid structure composed of both bacterial (inner) and host-derived (outer) components.}, } @article {pmid29439210, year = {2018}, author = {Kaling, M and Schmidt, A and Moritz, F and Rosenkranz, M and Witting, M and Kasper, K and Janz, D and Schmitt-Kopplin, P and Schnitzler, JP and Polle, A}, title = {Mycorrhiza-Triggered Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Networks Impinge on Herbivore Fitness.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {2639-2656}, pmid = {29439210}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/physiology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Feeding Behavior ; Herbivory ; Hybrid Vigor/genetics ; Hybridization, Genetic ; *Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Leaves/genetics/metabolism/parasitology ; Populus/*genetics/*metabolism/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between plants and mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous in ecosystems and strengthen the plants' defense against aboveground herbivores. Here, we studied the underlying regulatory networks and biochemical mechanisms in leaves induced by ectomycorrhizae that modify herbivore interactions. Feeding damage and oviposition by the widespread poplar leaf beetle Chrysomela populi were reduced on the ectomycorrhizal hybrid poplar Populus × canescens Integration of transcriptomics, metabolomics, and volatile emission patterns via mass difference networks demonstrated changes in nitrogen allocation in the leaves of mycorrhizal poplars, down-regulation of phenolic pathways, and up-regulation of defensive systems, including protease inhibitors, chitinases, and aldoxime biosynthesis. Ectomycorrhizae had a systemic influence on jasmonate-related signaling transcripts. Our results suggest that ectomycorrhizae prime wounding responses and shift resources from constitutive phenol-based to specialized protective compounds. Consequently, symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal fungi enabled poplars to respond to leaf beetle feeding with a more effective arsenal of defense mechanisms compared with nonmycorrhizal poplars, thus demonstrating the importance of belowground plant-microbe associations in mitigating aboveground biotic stress.}, } @article {pmid29438895, year = {2018}, author = {Jisha, S and Gouri, PR and Anith, KN and Sabu, KK}, title = {Piriformospora indica cell wall extract as the best elicitor for asiaticoside production in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, evidenced by morphological, physiological and molecular analyses.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {125}, number = {}, pages = {106-115}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.01.021}, pmid = {29438895}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*chemistry ; Cell Wall/*chemistry ; Centella/genetics/*metabolism ; Complex Mixtures/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Triterpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vascular plants synthesise a multitude of organic molecules or phytochemicals, referred to as "secondary metabolites". These molecules are involved in a variety of roles in the life span of plants, ranging from structural ones to protection. Centella asiatica (L.) Urban has probably been used since prehistoric times and has been reported to have been used for various medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The plant contains several active constituents, of which the most important is asiaticoside, a triterpenoid. Asiaticoside content in C. asiatica can be enhanced by the use of biotic elicitors like Piriformospora indica. P. indica has been used as a model to study the mechanisms and evolution of mutualistic symbiosis. P. indica is similar to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in terms of plant growth promotional effects. The autoclaved fraction from P. indica (PiCWE) was found to be the most active fraction in promoting the plant biomass and asiaticoside content. To date, there are no reports on the potential role of PiCWE in enhancement of asiaticoside over the control and P. indica colonized plants, which was evidenced by the differential expression of key genes involved and final asiaticoside content along with the determination of phytohormones. Moreover, differential expression of selected miRNAs in PiCWE - C. asiatica root interactions over the control and P. indica treated C. asiatica leaf samples was also scrutinized. The important consequence of induction with PiCWE was the significant enhancement of asiaticoside in the PiCWE induced plants in comparison with the asiaticoside content in control and P. indica-C. asiatica interaction. In addition, the role of miRNAs in C. asiatica - PiCWE would enable more in-depth studies for deciphering the molecular and physiological mechanisms of the association and regulation of PiCWE - C. asiatica interactions.}, } @article {pmid29436724, year = {2018}, author = {Lekberg, Y and Helgason, T}, title = {In situ mycorrhizal function - knowledge gaps and future directions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {957-962}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15064}, pmid = {29436724}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Congresses as Topic ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Research ; }, abstract = {We know a lot about the potential functions of mycorrhizas, but whether or not these are realized in the field where plants simultaneously experience a range of biotic interactions and fluctuating abiotic conditions is more or less unknown. In this Viewpoint, we present findings from a literature survey of papers on mycorrhizal function published in New Phytologist during the past 30 years. This survey showed that most functional studies are still conducted under controlled conditions, target mostly arbuscular and ectomycorrhizas, and focus on nutrient and carbon dynamics of the symbiosis. We also share discussions from a workshop, 'In situ mycorrhizal function: how do we get relevant data from a messy world?', held at the 9[th] International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM9) in August 2017. In this workshop, we examined possibilities and limitations of old and new techniques for field research, and participants expressed the need to learn more about fungal traits and how they may relate to function. We argue that moving mycorrhizal experiments into the field will allow us not only to quantify realized functions, but also to revisit old paradigms and possibly discover new functions.}, } @article {pmid29435223, year = {2018}, author = {Boyle, JH and Martins, DJ and Pelaez, J and Musili, PM and Kibet, S and Ndung'u, SK and Kenfack, D and Pierce, NE}, title = {Polygyny does not explain the superior competitive ability of dominant ant associates in the African ant-plant, Acacia (Vachellia) drepanolobium.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {1441-1450}, pmid = {29435223}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The Acacia drepanolobium (also known as Vachellia drepanolobium) ant-plant symbiosis is considered a classic case of species coexistence, in which four species of tree-defending ants compete for nesting space in a single host tree species. Coexistence in this system has been explained by trade-offs in the ability of the ant associates to compete with each other for occupied trees versus the ability to colonize unoccupied trees. We seek to understand the proximal reasons for how and why the ant species vary in competitive or colonizing abilities, which are largely unknown. In this study, we use RADseq-derived SNPs to identify relatedness of workers in colonies to test the hypothesis that competitively dominant ants reach large colony sizes due to polygyny, that is, the presence of multiple egg-laying queens in a single colony. We find that variation in polygyny is not associated with competitive ability; in fact, the most dominant species, unexpectedly, showed little evidence of polygyny. We also use these markers to investigate variation in mating behavior among the ant species and find that different species vary in the number of males fathering the offspring of each colony. Finally, we show that the nature of polygyny varies between the two commonly polygynous species, Crematogaster mimosae and Tetraponera penzigi: in C. mimosae, queens in the same colony are often related, while this is not the case for T. penzigi. These results shed light on factors influencing the evolution of species coexistence in an ant-plant mutualism, as well as demonstrating the effectiveness of RADseq-derived SNPs for parentage analysis.}, } @article {pmid29434667, year = {2018}, author = {Geng, A and Cheng, Y and Wang, Y and Zhu, D and Le, Y and Wu, J and Xie, R and Yuan, JS and Sun, J}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of the digestive system of a wood-feeding termite (Coptotermes formosanus) revealed a unique mechanism for effective biomass degradation.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {24}, pmid = {29434667}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wood-feeding termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, represents a highly efficient system for biomass deconstruction and utilization. However, the detailed mechanisms of lignin modification and carbohydrate degradation in this system are still largely elusive.

RESULTS: In order to reveal the inherent mechanisms for efficient biomass degradation, four different organs (salivary glands, foregut, midgut, and hindgut) within a complete digestive system of a lower termite, C. formosanus, were dissected and collected. Comparative transcriptomics was carried out to analyze these organs using high-throughput RNA sequencing. A total of 71,117 unigenes were successfully assembled, and the comparative transcriptome analyses revealed significant differential distributions of GH (glycosyl hydrolase) genes and auxiliary redox enzyme genes in different digestive organs. Among the GH genes in the salivary glands, the most abundant were GH9, GH22, and GH1 genes. The corresponding enzymes may have secreted into the foregut and midgut to initiate the hydrolysis of biomass and to achieve a lignin-carbohydrate co-deconstruction system. As the most diverse GH families, GH7 and GH5 were primarily identified from the symbiotic protists in the hindgut. These enzymes could play a synergistic role with the endogenous enzymes from the host termite for biomass degradation. Moreover, twelve out of fourteen genes coding auxiliary redox enzymes from the host termite origin were induced by the feeding of lignin-rich diets. This indicated that these genes may be involved in lignin component deconstruction with its redox network during biomass pretreatment.

CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the termite digestive system synergized the hydrolysis and redox reactions in a programmatic process, through different parts of its gut system, to achieve a maximized utilization of carbohydrates. The detailed unique mechanisms identified from the termite digestive system may provide new insights for advanced design of future biorefinery.}, } @article {pmid29434393, year = {2018}, author = {Rajasekharan, SK and Lee, JH and Zhao, Y and Lee, J}, title = {The Mycotoxin Zearalenone Hinders Candida albicans Biofilm Formation and Hyphal Morphogenesis.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {19-27}, pmid = {29434393}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Yeast-mold mycobiota inhabit several natural ecosystems, in which symbiotic relationships drive strategic pathoadaptation. Mycotoxins are metabolites produced by diverse mycotoxigenic fungi as a defense against yeasts, though at times yeasts secrete enzymes that degrade, detoxify, or bio-transform mycotoxins. The present study is focused on the in vitro inhibitory effects of zearalenone (ZEN), a F2 mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium and Gibberella species, on different microbial strains. ZEN exhibited no effect on the planktonic growth or biofilms of several Gram positive and negative bacteria at the tested concentrations. Remarkably, Candida albicans biofilm formation and hyphal morphogenesis were significantly inhibited when treated with 100 µg/mL of ZEN. Likewise, ZEN proficiently disrupted pre-formed C. albicans biofilms without disturbing planktonic cells. Furthermore, these inhibitions were confirmed by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays and by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. In an in vivo model, ZEN significantly suppressed C. albicans infection in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The study reports the in vitro antibiofilm efficacy of ZEN against C. albicans strains, and suggests mycotoxigenic fungi participate in asymmetric competitive interactions, such as, amensalism or antibiosis, rather than commensal interactions with C. albicans, whereby mycotoxins secreted by fungi destroy C. albicans biofilms.}, } @article {pmid29433961, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, JZ and Way, SS and Chen, K}, title = {Immunology of the Uterine and Vaginal Mucosae.}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {302-314}, doi = {10.1016/j.it.2018.01.007}, pmid = {29433961}, issn = {1471-4981}, support = {R01 AI120202/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 AI131080/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI100934/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism ; Female ; Fetus/immunology ; Genitalia, Female/*physiology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Menstruation ; Mucous Membrane/*immunology ; Pregnancy ; Uterus/*immunology ; Vagina/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Along with the maintenance of symbiotic mutualism with commensal microbes and protection against invasive infections common to all mucosal barrier tissues, female reproductive tissues have additional, unique tasks that include dynamic cyclic cellular turnover in menstruation and immunological tolerance to genetically foreign fetal antigens in pregnancy. Here we review current knowledge on distinct features of the immune cells in female reproductive tissue with regard to antimicrobial host defense and adaptations to accommodate the fetus during pregnancy. Outstanding areas for future research to obtain new functional insights on this enigmatic mucosal barrier are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid29432952, year = {2019}, author = {Chung, LK and Raffatellu, M}, title = {G.I. pros: Antimicrobial defense in the gastrointestinal tract.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {88}, number = {}, pages = {129-137}, pmid = {29432952}, issn = {1096-3634}, support = {R01 AI114625/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI126277/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI121928/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI126465/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriocins/biosynthesis/*immunology/pharmacology ; Cathelicidins/biosynthesis/immunology/pharmacology ; Defensins/biosynthesis/*immunology/pharmacology ; Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*immunology/microbiology ; Gene Expression/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/drug effects ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/*immunology/microbiology ; Lipocalin-2/biosynthesis/immunology/pharmacology ; Muramidase/biosynthesis/immunology/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract is a complex environment in which the host immune system interacts with a diverse array of microorganisms, both symbiotic and pathogenic. As such, mobilizing a rapid and appropriate antimicrobial response depending on the nature of each stimulus is crucial for maintaining the balance between homeostasis and inflammation in the gut. Here we focus on the mechanisms by which intestinal antimicrobial peptides regulate microbial communities during dysbiosis and infection. We also discuss classes of bacterial peptides that contribute to reducing enteric pathogen outgrowth. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview on the interplay of diverse antimicrobial responses with enteric pathogens and the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid29432555, year = {2018}, author = {McAdam, EL and Reid, JB and Foo, E}, title = {Gibberellins promote nodule organogenesis but inhibit the infection stages of nodulation.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {8}, pages = {2117-2130}, pmid = {29432555}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Peas/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plant roots can form a symbiosis with soil-dwelling nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, leading to the formation of a new root organ, the nodule. Successful nodulation requires co-ordination of spatially separated events in the root, including infection in the root epidermis and nodule organogenesis deep in the root cortex. We show that the hormone gibberellin plays distinct roles in these epidermal and cortical programmes. We employed a unique set of genetic material in pea that includes severely gibberellin-deficient lines and della-deficient lines that enabled us to characterize all stages of infection and nodule development. We confirmed that gibberellin suppresses infection thread formation and show that it also promotes nodule organogenesis into nitrogen-fixing organs. In both cases, this is achieved through the action of DELLA proteins. This study therefore provides a mechanism to explain how both low and high gibberellin signalling can result in reduced nodule number and reveals a clear role for gibberellin in the maturation of nodules into nitrogen-fixing organs. We also demonstrate that gibberellin acts independently of ethylene in promoting nodule development.}, } @article {pmid29432146, year = {2018}, author = {Simonet, P and Gaget, K and Balmand, S and Ribeiro Lopes, M and Parisot, N and Buhler, K and Duport, G and Vulsteke, V and Febvay, G and Heddi, A and Charles, H and Callaerts, P and Calevro, F}, title = {Bacteriocyte cell death in the pea aphid/Buchnera symbiotic system.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {8}, pages = {E1819-E1828}, pmid = {29432146}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/*physiology ; Cell Death ; Lysosomes ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations play a pivotal role in multicellular life by facilitating acquisition of new traits and expanding the ecological capabilities of organisms. In insects that are obligatorily dependent on intracellular bacterial symbionts, novel host cells (bacteriocytes) or organs (bacteriomes) have evolved for harboring beneficial microbial partners. The processes regulating the cellular life cycle of these endosymbiont-bearing cells, such as the cell-death mechanisms controlling their fate and elimination in response to host physiology, are fundamental questions in the biology of symbiosis. Here we report the discovery of a cell-death process involved in the degeneration of bacteriocytes in the hemipteran insect Acyrthosiphon pisum This process is activated progressively throughout aphid adulthood and exhibits morphological features distinct from known cell-death pathways. By combining electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular analyses, we demonstrated that the initial event of bacteriocyte cell death is the cytoplasmic accumulation of nonautophagic vacuoles, followed by a sequence of cellular stress responses including the formation of autophagosomes in intervacuolar spaces, activation of reactive oxygen species, and Buchnera endosymbiont degradation by the lysosomal system. We showed that this multistep cell-death process originates from the endoplasmic reticulum, an organelle exhibiting a unique reticular network organization spread throughout the entire cytoplasm and surrounding Buchnera aphidicola endosymbionts. Our findings provide insights into the cellular and molecular processes that coordinate eukaryotic host and endosymbiont homeostasis and death in a symbiotic system and shed light on previously unknown aspects of bacteriocyte biological functioning.}, } @article {pmid29428780, year = {2018}, author = {Yin, Y and Gu, J and Wang, X and Zhang, K and Hu, T and Ma, J and Wang, Q}, title = {Impact of copper on the diazotroph abundance and community composition during swine manure composting.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {255}, number = {}, pages = {257-265}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2018.01.120}, pmid = {29428780}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Animals ; *Composting ; *Copper ; Ecosystem ; *Manure ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases ; Swine ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation is a major pathway in ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of adding Cu at different levels (0, 200, and 2000 mg kg[-1]) on the diazotroph community during swine manure composting. Quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing were used to analyze the abundances of diazotrophs and the community composition based on the nifH gene. The nifH gene copy number was relatively high in the early stage of composting and Cu had a significant inhibitory effect on the nifH copy number. Furthermore, Cu decreased the diversity of nifH and changed the microbial community structure in the early stage. The nifH genes from members of Firmicutes and Clostridium were most abundant. Co-occurrence ecological network analysis showed that the Cu treatments affected the co-occurrence patterns of diazotroph communities and reduced the associations between different diazotrophs. Interestingly, Cu may weaken symbiotic diazotrophic interactions and enhance the roles of free-living diazotrophs.}, } @article {pmid29426951, year = {2018}, author = {Gérikas Ribeiro, C and Lopes Dos Santos, A and Marie, D and Pereira Brandini, F and Vaulot, D}, title = {Small eukaryotic phytoplankton communities in tropical waters off Brazil are dominated by symbioses between Haptophyta and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {1360-1374}, pmid = {29426951}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Brazil ; Cyanobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Haptophyta/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oceans and Seas ; Phytoplankton/genetics/microbiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between eukaryotic algae and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria have been recognized in recent years as a key source of new nitrogen in the oceans. We investigated the composition of the small photosynthetic eukaryote communities associated with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in the Brazilian South Atlantic Bight using a combination of flow cytometry sorting and high throughput sequencing of two genes: the V4 region of 18S rRNA and nifH. Two distinct eukaryotic communities were often encountered, one dominated by the Mamiellophyceae Bathycoccus and Ostreococcus, and one dominated by a prymnesiophyte known to live in symbiosis with the UCYN-A1 nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium. Among nifH sequences, those from UCYN-A1 were most abundant but three other UCYN-A clades (A2, A3, A4) were also found. Network analysis confirmed the relation between A1 and A2 clades and their hypothesized hosts and pointed out to the potential association between novel clade A4 with Braarudosphaera bigelowii, previously hypothesized to host A2.}, } @article {pmid29426844, year = {2018}, author = {Stefani, F and Isabel, N and Morency, MJ and Lamothe, M and Nadeau, S and Lachance, D and Li, EHY and Greer, C and Yergeau, É and Pinno, BD and Séguin, A}, title = {The impact of reconstructed soils following oil sands exploitation on aspen and its associated belowground microbiome.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2761}, pmid = {29426844}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Fires ; *Fungi/classification/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; *Mining ; Mycorrhizae ; Oil and Gas Fields/*microbiology ; Picea/*microbiology ; Populus/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Taiga ; Trees ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of different soil covers used to reclaim decommissioned oil sands mining sites on the genetic diversity of aspen and their associated belowground microbiota. Aspen genotyping showed that trees mostly originated from sexual reproduction on sites reclaimed with soil covers made of upland forest floor-mineral mix (FFMM) and lowland peat-mineral mix (PMM). In contrast, most individuals in mature and burned stands sampled as benchmarks for natural disturbances originated from vegetative reproduction. Nonetheless, aspen populations in the FFMM and PMM sites were not genetically different from those in mature and burned stands. DNA metabarcoding of bacteria and fungi in root and soil samples revealed that the diversity of the belowground microbiota associated with aspen and the relative abundance of putative symbiotic taxa in PMM were significantly lower than for FFMM and naturally disturbed sites. Despite similar aspen genetic diversity between FFMM and PMM sites, trees were not associated with the same belowground microbiota. Because the soil microbiome and more specifically the mycorrhizal communities are variable both in space and time, long-term monitoring is particularly important to better understand the ecological trajectory of these novel ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29426665, year = {2018}, author = {Rodrigues, DR and Silva, AFD and Cavalcanti, MIP and Escobar, IEC and Fraiz, ACR and Ribeiro, PRA and Ferreira Neto, RA and Freitas, ADS and Fernandes-Júnior, PI}, title = {Phenotypic, genetic and symbiotic characterization of Erythrina velutina rhizobia from Caatinga dry forest.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {503-512}, pmid = {29426665}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Erythrina/*microbiology/physiology ; Forests ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Erythrina velutina ("mulungu") is a legume tree from Caatinga that associates with rhizobia but the diversity and symbiotic ability of "mulungu" rhizobia are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize "mulungu" rhizobia from Caatinga. Bacteria were obteined from Serra Talhada and Caruaru in Caatinga under natural regeneration. The bacteria were evaluated to the amplification of nifH and nodC and to metabolic characteristics. Ten selected bacteria identified by 16S rRNA sequences. They were tested in vitro to NaCl and temperature tolerance, auxin production and calcium phosphate solubilization. The symbiotic ability were assessed in an greenhouse experiment. A total of 32 bacteria were obtained and 17 amplified both symbiotic genes. The bacteria showed a high variable metabolic profile. Bradyrhizobium (6), Rhizobium (3) and Paraburkholderia (1) were identified, differing from their geographic origin. The isolates grew up to 45°C to 0.51molL[-1] of NaCl. Bacteria which produced more auxin in the medium with l-tryptophan and two Rhizobium and one Bradyrhizobium were phosphate solubilizers. All bacteria nodulated and ESA 90 (Rhizobium sp.) plus ESA 96 (Paraburkholderia sp.) were more efficient symbiotically. Diverse and efficient rhizobia inhabit the soils of Caatinga dry forests, with the bacterial differentiation by the sampling sites.}, } @article {pmid29426136, year = {2018}, author = {Ranjbar Jafarabadi, A and Riyahi Bakhtiari, A and Aliabadian, M and Laetitia, H and Shadmehri Toosi, A and Yap, CK}, title = {First report of bioaccumulation and bioconcentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and persistent organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs and PCNs) and their effects on alcyonacea and scleractinian corals and their endosymbiotic algae from the Persian Gulf, Iran: Inter and intra-species differences.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {627}, number = {}, pages = {141-157}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.185}, pmid = {29426136}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Hydrocarbons/*metabolism/*toxicity ; Indian Ocean ; Iran ; Middle East ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/metabolism/toxicity ; Species Specificity ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The coral reefs of the Persian Gulf are the most diverse systems of life in the marine environment of the Middle East. Unfortunately, they are highly threatened by local and global stressors, particularly oil pollutants. This is the first quantitative and qualitative study aimed at assessing the concentration and sources of n-alkanes and POPs (PAHs, PCBs and PCNs) in coral tissues, symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), reef sediments and seawaters in coral reefs of Lark and Kharg in the Persian Gulf, Iran. This work was conducted on eight species of six genera and three families of hard corals and one family of soft coral. A significant variation in the concentration of ∑30n-alkanes and POPs (∑40PAHs, ∑22PCBs and 20PCNs) was found in the decreasing order: zooxanthellae > coral tissue > skeleton > reef sediment > seawater. The bioaccumulation of these compounds was 2-times higher in ahermatypic than in hermatypic corals, among which significant variations were observed in both sites. In Kharg, Porites lutea had the highest mean concentration of ∑30n-alkanes and ∑40PAHs in soft tissue, whereas the lowest values were in Platygyra daedalea. A contrasting trend was documented for ∑22PCBs and 20PCNs, with the highest level reported in soft tissue of P. daedalea and the lowest in P. lutea at Kharg. Compositional pattern of AHs and PAHs demonstrated the predominance of LMW-PAHs and n-alkanes. In skeleton and reef sediments, tetra, penta and tri-CBs were the most abundant PCBs congeners followed by di-CB > hexa-CB > hepta-CB > octa-CB,whiletri-CB > di-CB > tetra-CB > penta-CB > hexa-CB > hepta-CB > octa-CB was observed for soft tissue, zooxanthellae and seawater. The results of RAD test indicated significantly negative correlation between total concentration of these compounds with zooxanthellae density, the chlorophyll-a and C2 in corals at both reefs. This is the first report on levels, health assessment and source apportionments of POPs in zooxanthellae and a first step in the implementation of specific coral reef management measures.}, } @article {pmid29425360, year = {2018}, author = {Pimprikar, P and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Transcriptional Regulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Development.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {4}, pages = {673-690}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy024}, pmid = {29425360}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*growth & development ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is an ancient symbiosis between land plants and fungi of the glomeromycotina that is widespread in the plant kingdom. AM improves plant nutrition, stress resistance and general plant performance, and thus represents a promising addition to sustainable agricultural practices. In return for delivering mineral nutrients, the obligate biotrophic AM fungi receive up to 20% of the photosynthetically fixed carbon from the plant. AM fungi colonize the inside of roots and form highly branched tree-shaped structures, called arbuscules, in cortex cells. The pair of the arbuscule and its host cell is considered the central functional unit of the symbiosis as it mediates the bidirectional nutrient exchange between the symbionts. The development and spread of AM fungi within the root is predominantly under the control of the host plant and depends on its developmental and physiological status. Intracellular accommodation of fungal structures is enabled by the remarkable plasticity of plant cells, which undergo drastic subcellular rearrangements. These are promoted and accompanied by cell-autonomous transcriptional reprogramming. AM development can be dissected into distinct stages using plant mutants. Progress in the application of laser dissection technology has allowed the assignment of transcriptional responses to specific stages and cell types. The first transcription factors controlling AM-specific gene expression and AM development have been discovered, and cis-elements required for AM-responsive promoter activity have been identified. An understanding of their connectivity and elucidation of transcriptional networks orchestrating AM development can be expected in the near future.}, } @article {pmid29424389, year = {2018}, author = {Silva, GAE and Siqueira, JO and Stürmer, SL and Moreira, FMS}, title = {Effectiveness of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Isolates from the Land Uses of Amazon Region in Symbiosis with Cowpea.}, journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {357-371}, doi = {10.1590/0001-3765201820160189}, pmid = {29424389}, issn = {1678-2690}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Brazil ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Time Factors ; Vigna/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide several ecosystem services, including increase in plant growth and nutrition. The occurrence, richness, and structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities are influenced by human activities, which may affect the functional benefits of these components of the soil biota. In this study, 13 arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolates originating from soils with different land uses in the Alto Solimões-Amazon region were evaluated regarding their effect on growth, nutrition, and cowpea yield in controlled conditions using two soils. Comparisons with reference isolates and a mixture of isolates were also performed. Fungal isolates exhibited a wide variability associated with colonization, sporulation, production of aboveground biomass, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake, and grain yield, indicating high functional diversity within and among fungal species. A generalized effect of isolates in promoting phosphorus uptake, increase in biomass, and cowpea yield was observed in both soils. The isolates of Glomus were the most efficient and are promising isolates for practical inoculation programs. No relationship was found between the origin of fungal isolate (i.e. land use) and their symbiotic performance in cowpea.}, } @article {pmid29424268, year = {2018}, author = {Kai, K}, title = {Bacterial quorum sensing in symbiotic and pathogenic relationships with hosts.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {363-371}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2018.1433992}, pmid = {29424268}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Bacteria/*cytology/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Quorum Sensing ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gram-negative bacteria communicate with each other by producing and sensing diffusible signaling molecules. This mechanism is called quorum sensing (QS) and regulates many bacterial activities from gene expression to symbiotic/pathogenic interactions with hosts. Therefore, the elucidation and control of bacterial QS systems have been attracted increasing attention over the past two decades. The most common QS signals in Gram-negative bacteria are N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). There are also bacteria that employ different QS systems, for example, the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum utilizes 3-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters as its QS signals. The QS system found in the endosymbiotic bacterium associated with the fungus Mortierella alpina, the development of an affinity pull-down method for AHL synthases, and the elucidation of a unique QS circuit in R. solanacearum are discussed herein.}, } @article {pmid29423641, year = {2018}, author = {Feng, G and Sun, W and Zhang, F and Orlić, S and Li, Z}, title = {Functional Transcripts Indicate Phylogenetically Diverse Active Ammonia-Scavenging Microbiota in Sympatric Sponges.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {131-143}, pmid = {29423641}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Animals ; Archaea/classification/enzymology/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/enzymology/genetics ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*physiology ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic ammonia scavengers contribute to effective removal of ammonia in sponges. However, the phylogenetic diversity and in situ activity of ammonia-scavenging microbiota between different sponge species are poorly addressed. Here, transcribed ammonia monooxygenase genes (amoA), hydrazine synthase genes (hzsA), and glutamine synthetase genes (glnA) were analyzed to reveal the active ammonia-scavenging microbiota in the sympatric sponges Theonella swinhoei, Plakortis simplex, and Phakellia fusca, and seawater. Archaeal amoA and bacterial glnA transcripts rather than bacterial amoA, hzsA, and archaeal glnA transcripts were detected in the investigated sponges and seawater. The transcribed amoA genes were ascribed to two Thaumarchaeota ecotypes, while the transcribed glnA genes were interspersed among the lineages of Cyanobacteria, Tectomicrobia, Poribacteria, Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma-, and Epsilonproteobacteria. In addition, transcribed abundances of archaeal amoA and bacterial glnA genes in these sponges have been quantified, showing significant variation among the investigated sponges and seawater. The transcriptome-based qualitative and quantitative analyses clarified the different phylogenetic diversity and transcription expression of functional genes related to microbially mediated ammonia scavenging in different sympatric sponges, contributing to the understanding of in situ active ecological functions of sponge microbial symbionts in holobiont nitrogen cycling.}, } @article {pmid29421139, year = {2018}, author = {Deschaseaux, E and Hardefeldt, J and Jones, G and Reichelt-Brushett, A}, title = {High zinc exposure leads to reduced dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) levels in both the host and endosymbionts of the reef-building coral Acropora aspera.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {126}, number = {}, pages = {93-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.070}, pmid = {29421139}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/metabolism ; Sulfonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/metabolism/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a biogenic compound that could be involved in metal detoxification in both the host and endosymbionts of symbiotic corals. Acropora aspera, a common reef-building coral of the Great Barrier Reef, was exposed to zinc doses from 10 to 1000μg/L over 96h, with zinc being a low-toxic trace metal commonly used in the shipping industry. Over time, significantly lower DMSP concentrations relative to the control were found in both the host and symbionts in the highest zinc treatment where zinc uptake by both partners of the symbiosis was the highest. This clearly indicates that DMSP was consumed or stopped being produced under high and extended zinc exposure. This drop in DMSP was first observed in the host tissue, suggesting that the coral host was the first to respond to metal contamination. Such decrease in DMSP concentrations could influence the long-term health of corals under zinc exposure.}, } @article {pmid29420776, year = {2018}, author = {Otero-Bravo, A and Goffredi, S and Sabree, ZL}, title = {Cladogenesis and Genomic Streamlining in Extracellular Endosymbionts of Tropical Stink Bugs.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {680-693}, pmid = {29420776}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Citric Acid Cycle ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Pantoea/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {Phytophagous stink bugs are globally distributed and many harbor vertically inherited bacterial symbionts that are extracellular, yet little is known about how the symbiont's genomes have evolved under this transmission strategy. Genome reduction is common in insect intracellular symbionts but limited genome sampling of the extracellular symbionts of distantly related stink bugs has precluded inferring patterns of extracellular symbiont genome evolution. To address this knowledge gap, we completely sequenced the genomes of the uncultivable bacterial symbionts of four neotropical stink bugs of the Edessa genus. Phylogenetic and comparative analyses indicated that the symbionts form a clade within the Pantoea genus and their genomes are highly reduced (∼0.8 Mb). Furthermore, genome synteny analysis and a jackknife approach for phylogenetic reconstruction, which corrected for long branch attraction artifacts, indicated that the Edessa symbionts were the result of a single symbiotic event that was distinct from the symbiosis event giving rise to Candidatus "Pantoea carbekii," the extracellular symbiont of the invasive pentatomid stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Metabolic functions inferred from the Edessa symbiont genomes suggests a shift in genomic composition characteristic of its lifestyle in that they retained many host-supportive functions while undergoing dramatic gene loss and establishing a stable relationship with their host insects. Given the undersampled nature of extracellular insect symbionts, this study is the first comparative analysis of these symbiont genomes from four distinct Edessa stink bug species. Finally, we propose the candidate name "Candidatus Pantoea edessiphila" for the species of these symbionts with strain designations according to their host species.}, } @article {pmid29419910, year = {2018}, author = {Ogura-Tsujita, Y and Gebauer, G and Xu, H and Fukasawa, Y and Umata, H and Tetsuka, K and Kubota, M and Schweiger, JM and Yamashita, S and Maekawa, N and Maki, M and Isshiki, S and Yukawa, T}, title = {The giant mycoheterotrophic orchid Erythrorchis altissima is associated mainly with a divergent set of wood-decaying fungi.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {1324-1337}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14524}, pmid = {29419910}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Orchidaceae/classification/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {The climbing orchid Erythrorchis altissima is the largest mycoheterotroph in the world. Although previous in vitro work suggests that E. altissima has a unique symbiosis with wood-decaying fungi, little is known about how this giant orchid meets its carbon and nutrient demands exclusively via mycorrhizal fungi. In this study, the mycorrhizal fungi of E. altissima were molecularly identified using root samples from 26 individuals. Furthermore, in vitro symbiotic germination with five fungi and stable isotope compositions in five E. altissima at one site were examined. In total, 37 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to nine orders in Basidiomycota were identified from the orchid roots. Most of the fungal OTUs were wood-decaying fungi, but underground roots had ectomycorrhizal Russula. Two fungal isolates from mycorrhizal roots induced seed germination and subsequent seedling development in vitro. Measurement of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope abundances revealed that E. altissima is a full mycoheterotroph whose carbon originates mainly from wood-decaying fungi. All of the results show that E. altissima is associated with a wide range of wood- and soil-inhabiting fungi, the majority of which are wood-decaying taxa. This generalist association enables E. altissima to access a large carbon pool in woody debris and has been key to the evolution of such a large mycoheterotroph.}, } @article {pmid29419764, year = {2018}, author = {Yadav, S and Gupta, S and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Differential Regulation of Immune Signaling and Survival Response in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae upon Steinernema carpocapsae Nematode Infection.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29419764}, issn = {2075-4450}, support = {U41 HG000739/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model to dissect the molecular components and pathways of the innate anti-pathogen immune response. The nematode parasite Steinernema carpocapsae and its mutualistic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila form a complex that is highly pathogenic to insects, including D. melanogaster. We have used symbiotic (carrying X. nematophila) and axenic (lacking X. nematophila) nematodes to probe the regulation of genes belonging to different immune signaling pathways in D. melanogaster larvae and assess the survival response of certain mutants to these pathogens. We found that both types of S. carpocapsae upregulate MyD88 (Toll), but not PGRP-LE (Imd); whereas axenic S. carpocapsae strongly upregulate Wengen (Jnk), Domeless (Jak/Stat), Dawdle (TGFβ, Activin), and Decapentaplegic (TGFβ, BMP). We further found that inactivation of Wengen and Decapentaplegic confers a survival advantage to larvae infected with axenic S. carpocapsae, whereas mutating PGRP-LE promotes the survival of larvae infected with symbiotic nematodes.}, } @article {pmid29418031, year = {2018}, author = {Pahua, VJ and Stokes, PJN and Hollowell, AC and Regus, JU and Gano-Cohen, KA and Wendlandt, CE and Quides, KW and Lyu, JY and Sachs, JL}, title = {Fitness variation among host species and the paradox of ineffective rhizobia.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {599-610}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13249}, pmid = {29418031}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; }, abstract = {Legumes can preferentially select beneficial rhizobial symbionts and sanction ineffective strains that fail to fix nitrogen. Yet paradoxically, rhizobial populations vary from highly beneficial to ineffective in natural and agricultural soils. Classic models of symbiosis focus on the single dimension of symbiont cost-benefit to sympatric hosts, but fail to explain the widespread persistence of ineffective rhizobia. Here, we test a novel framework predicting that spatio-temporal and community dynamics can maintain ineffective strains in rhizobial populations. We used clonal and multistrain inoculations and quantitative culturing to investigate the relative fitness of four focal Bradyrhizobium strains varying from effective to ineffective on Acmispon strigosus. We found that an ineffective Bradyrhizobium strain can be sanctioned by its native A. strigosus host across the host's range, forming fewer and smaller nodules compared to beneficial strains. But the same ineffective Bradyrhizobium strain exhibits a nearly opposite pattern on the broadly sympatric host Acmispon wrangelianus, forming large nodules in both clonal and multistrain inoculations. These data suggest that community-level effects could favour the persistence of ineffective rhizobia and contribute to variation in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid29418005, year = {2018}, author = {Abrahão, A and Ryan, MH and Laliberté, E and Oliveira, RS and Lambers, H}, title = {Phosphorus- and nitrogen-acquisition strategies in two Bossiaea species (Fabaceae) along retrogressive soil chronosequences in south-western Australia.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12704}, pmid = {29418005}, issn = {1399-3054}, abstract = {During long-term ecosystem development and its associated decline in soil phosphorus (P) availability, the abundance of mycorrhizal plant species declines at the expense of non-mycorrhizal species with root specialisations for P-acquisition, such as massive exudation of carboxylates. Leaf manganese (Mn) concentration has been suggested as a proxy for such a strategy, Mn concentration being higher in non-mycorrhizal plants that release carboxylates than in mycorrhizal plants. Shifts in nitrogen (N)-acquisition strategies also occur; nodulation in legumes is expected at low N availability, when sufficient P is available. We investigated whether two congeneric legume species (Bossiaea linophylla and Bossiaea eriocarpa) occurring along two long-term chronosequences on the south-western Australian coast and grown in a glasshouse at varying N and P supply exhibited plasticity in nutrient-acquisition strategies. We hypothesised that the shifts in nutrient limitation and nutrient-acquisition strategies at the community level would also be found at the species level. Leaf N: P ratios and the responses to nutrient availability suggested that growth of both species exhibited P-limitation in all treatments, due to the very high leaf [N] of legumes afforded by symbiotic N-fixation. Mycorrhizal colonisation was not greater at higher P supply, and root exudation of carboxylates was not stimulated at low P supply; both were unrelated to leaf [Mn]. However, nodule production declined with increasing N supply. We conclude that intraspecific variation in nutrient-acquisition and use is low in these species, and that the variation at the community level, observed in previous studies, is likely driven by high-species turnover.}, } @article {pmid29417658, year = {2018}, author = {Pogoda, CS and Keepers, KG and Lendemer, JC and Kane, NC and Tripp, EA}, title = {Reductions in complexity of mitochondrial genomes in lichen-forming fungi shed light on genome architecture of obligate symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {1155-1169}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14519}, pmid = {29417658}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Fungi/genetics ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genomics ; Lichens/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Symbioses among co-evolving taxa are often marked by genome reductions such as a loss of protein-coding genes in at least one of the partners as a means of reducing redundancy or intergenomic conflict. To explore this phenomenon in an iconic yet under-studied group of obligate symbiotic organisms, mitochondrial genomes of 22 newly sequenced and annotated species of lichenized fungi were compared to 167 mitochondrial genomes of nonlichenized fungi. Our results demonstrate the first broad-scale loss of atp9 from mitochondria of lichenized fungi. Despite key functions in mitochondrial energy production, we show that atp9 has been independently lost in three different lineages spanning 10 of the 22 studied species. A search for predicted, functional copies of atp9 among genomes of other symbionts involved in each lichen revealed the full-length, presumably functional copies of atp9 in either the photosynthetic algal partner or in other symbiotic fungi in all 10 instances. Together, these data yield evidence of an obligate symbiotic relationship in which core genomic processes have been streamlined, likely due to co-evolution.}, } @article {pmid29416567, year = {2018}, author = {Liang, D and Leung, RK and Guan, W and Au, WW}, title = {Involvement of gut microbiome in human health and disease: brief overview, knowledge gaps and research opportunities.}, journal = {Gut pathogens}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {29416567}, issn = {1757-4749}, abstract = {The commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microbial community which resides inside our body and on our skin (the human microbiome) can perturb host energy metabolism and immunity, and thus significantly influence development of a variety of human diseases. Therefore, the field has attracted unprecedented attention in the last decade. Although a large amount of data has been generated, there are still many unanswered questions and no universal agreements on how microbiome affects human health have been agreed upon. Consequently, this review was written to provide an updated overview of the rapidly expanding field, with a focus on revealing knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Specifically, the review covered animal physiology, optimal microbiome standard, health intervention by manipulating microbiome, knowledge base building by text mining, microbiota community structure and its implications in human diseases and health monitoring by analyzing microbiome in the blood. The review should enhance interest in conducting novel microbiota investigations that will further improve health and therapy.}, } @article {pmid29415909, year = {2018}, author = {Utami, YD and Kuwahara, H and Murakami, T and Morikawa, T and Sugaya, K and Kihara, K and Yuki, M and Lo, N and Deevong, P and Hasin, S and Boonriam, W and Inoue, T and Yamada, A and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Phylogenetic Diversity and Single-Cell Genome Analysis of "Melainabacteria", a Non-Photosynthetic Cyanobacterial Group, in the Termite Gut.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {50-57}, pmid = {29415909}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Photosynthesis ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termite guts harbor diverse yet-uncultured bacteria, including a non-photosynthetic cyanobacterial group, the class "Melainabacteria". We herein reported the phylogenetic diversity of "Melainabacteria" in the guts of diverse termites and conducted a single-cell genome analysis of a melainabacterium obtained from the gut of the termite Termes propinquus. We performed amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from the guts of 60 termite and eight cockroach species, and detected melainabacterial sequences in 48 out of the 68 insect species, albeit with low abundances (0.02-1.90%). Most of the melainabacterial sequences obtained were assigned to the order "Gastranaerophilales" and appeared to form clusters unique to termites and cockroaches. A single-cell genome of a melainabacterium, designated phylotype Tpq-Mel-01, was obtained using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and whole genome amplification. The genome shared basic features with other melainabacterial genomes previously reconstructed from the metagenomes of human and koala feces. The bacterium had a small genome (~1.6 Mb) and possessed fermentative pathways possibly using sugars and chitobiose as carbon and energy sources, while the pathways for photosynthesis and carbon fixation were not found. The genome contained genes for flagellar components and chemotaxis; therefore, the bacterium is likely motile. A fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed that the cells of Tpq-Mel-01 and/or its close relatives are short rods with the dimensions of 1.1±0.2 μm by 0.5±0.1 μm; for these bacteria, we propose the novel species, "Candidatus Gastranaerophilus termiticola". Our results provide fundamental information on "Melainabacteria" in the termite gut and expand our knowledge on this underrepresented, non-photosynthetic cyanobacterial group.}, } @article {pmid29414679, year = {2018}, author = {Schretter, CE and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Cultivating a Relationship with Gut Bacteria.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {267-268}, doi = {10.1016/j.cmet.2018.01.010}, pmid = {29414679}, issn = {1932-7420}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster ; *Lactobacillus plantarum ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While the gut microbiome largely benefits host physiology, the impact of symbiosis on bacterial fitness has not been rigorously investigated. In this issue, Storelli et al. (2018) provide evidence that Drosophila actively cultivate a relationship with the growth-promoting bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum, delivering mutual benefits under nutrient-poor conditions.}, } @article {pmid29414319, year = {2018}, author = {Boscaro, V and Fokin, SI and Petroni, G and Verni, F and Keeling, PJ and Vannini, C}, title = {Symbiont replacement between bacteria of different classes reveals additional layers of complexity in the evolution of symbiosis in the ciliate Euplotes.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {169}, number = {1}, pages = {43-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2017.12.003}, pmid = {29414319}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Ciliophora/classification/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Cytoplasm/microbiology ; Hyphomicrobiaceae/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a diverse and complex phenomenon requiring diverse model systems. The obligate relationship between a monophyletic group of Euplotes species ("clade B") and the betaproteobacteria Polynucleobacter and "Candidatus Protistobacter" is among the best-studied in ciliates, and provides a framework to investigate symbiont replacements. Several other Euplotes-bacteria relationships exist but are less understood, such as the co-dependent symbiosis between Euplotes magnicirratus (which belongs to "clade A") and the alphaproteobacterium "Candidatus Devosia euplotis". Here we describe a new Devosia inhabiting the cytoplasm of a strain of Euplotes harpa, a clade B species that usually depends on Polynucleobacter for survival. The novel bacterial species, "Candidatus Devosia symbiotica", is closely related to the symbiont of E. magnicirratus, casting a different light on the history of bacteria colonizing ciliates of this genus. The two Devosia species may have become symbionts independently or as the result of a symbiont exchange between hosts, in either case replacing a previous essential bacterium in E. harpa. Alternatively, both may be remnants of an ancient symbiotic relationship between Euplotes and Devosia, in which case Polynucleobacter and "Ca. Protistobacter" are recent invaders. Either way, symbiont replacement between bacteria belonging to different classes must be evoked to explain this fascinating system.}, } @article {pmid29412490, year = {2018}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Bartels, E and Devlin-Durante, MK and Lustic, C and Nedimyer, K and Schopmeyer, S and Lirman, D and LaJeunesse, TC and Baums, IB}, title = {Extensive transcriptional variation poses a challenge to thermal stress biomarker development for endangered corals.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {1103-1119}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14517}, pmid = {29412490}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Climate Change ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Endangered Species ; Florida ; Genetic Markers ; *Genetic Variation ; *Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; Thermotolerance/genetics ; }, abstract = {As climate changes, sea surface temperature anomalies that negatively impact coral reef organisms continue to increase in frequency and intensity. Yet, despite widespread coral mortality, genetic diversity remains high even in those coral species listed as threatened. While this is good news in many ways, it presents a challenge for the development of biomarkers that can identify resilient or vulnerable genotypes. Taking advantage of three coral restoration nurseries in Florida that serve as long-term common garden experiments, we exposed over 30 genetically distinct Acropora cervicornis colonies to hot and cold temperature shocks seasonally and measured pooled gene expression responses using RNAseq. Targeting a subset of 20 genes, we designed a high-throughput qPCR array to quantify expression in all individuals separately under each treatment with the goal of identifying predictive and/or diagnostic thermal stress biomarkers. We observed extensive transcriptional variation in the population, suggesting abundant raw material is available for adaptation via natural selection. However, this high variation made it difficult to correlate gene expression changes with colony performance metrics such as growth, mortality and bleaching susceptibility. Nevertheless, we identified several promising diagnostic biomarkers for acute thermal stress that may improve coral restoration and climate change mitigation efforts in the future.}, } @article {pmid29412357, year = {2018}, author = {Ferreira, TG and Trindade, CNDR and Bell, P and Teixeira-Ferreira, A and Perales, JE and Vommaro, RC and Domingues, RMCP and Ferreira, EO}, title = {Identification of the alpha-enolase P46 in the extracellular membrane vesicles of Bacteroides fragilis.}, journal = {Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz}, volume = {113}, number = {3}, pages = {178-184}, pmid = {29412357}, issn = {1678-8060}, mesh = {Bacteroides fragilis/*enzymology/ultrastructure ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Extracellular Vesicles/*enzymology/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Laminin ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase/*analysis/metabolism ; Plasminogen ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Members of the Bacteroides fragilis group are the most important components of the normal human gut microbiome, but are also major opportunistic pathogens that are responsible for significant mortality, especially in the case of bacteraemia and other severe infections, such as intra-abdominal abscesses. Up to now, several virulence factors have been described that might explain the involvement of B. fragilis in these infections. The secretion of extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs) has been proposed to play a role in pathogenesis and symbiosis in gram-negative bacteria, by releasing soluble proteins and other molecules. In B. fragilis, these vesicles are known to have haemagglutination and sialidosis activities, and also contain a capsular polysaccharide (PSA), although their involvement in virulence is still not clear.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify proteins in the EMV of the 638R B. fragilis strain by mass spectrometry, and also to assess for the presence of Bfp60, a surface plasminogen (Plg) activator, previously shown in B. fragilis to be responsible for the conversion of inactive Plg to active plasmin, which can also bind to laminin-1.

METHODS: B. fragilis was cultured in a minimum defined media and EMVs were obtained by differential centrifugation, ultracentrifugation, and filtration. The purified EMVs were observed by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunoelectron microscopy (IM). To identify EMV constituent proteins, EMVs were separated by 1D SDS-PAGE and proteomic analysis of proteins sized 35 kDa to approximately 65 kDa was performed using mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

FINDINGS: TEM micrographs proved the presence of spherical vesicles and IM confirmed the presence of Bfp60 protein on their surface. Mass spectrometry identified 23 proteins with high confidence. One of the proteins from the B. fragilis EMVs was identified as an enolase P46 with a possible lyase activity.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Although the Bfp60 protein was not detected by proteomics, α-enolase P46 was found to be present in the EMVs of B. fragilis. The P46 protein has been previously described to be present in the outer membrane of B. fragilis as an iron-regulated protein.}, } @article {pmid29411546, year = {2018}, author = {Zinser, ER}, title = {Cross-protection from hydrogen peroxide by helper microbes: the impacts on the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus and other beneficiaries in marine communities.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {399-411}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12625}, pmid = {29411546}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*metabolism/physiology ; Catalase/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism/toxicity ; *Microbial Interactions ; Oxidative Stress ; Phylogeny ; Prochlorococcus/*growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Seawater/chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) is a reactive oxygen species, derived from molecular oxygen, that is capable of damaging microbial cells. Surprisingly, the HOOH defence systems of some aerobes in the oxygenated marine environments are critically depleted, relative to model aerobes. For instance, the gene encoding catalase is absent in the numerically dominant photosynthetic cyanobacterium, Prochlorococcus. Accordingly, Prochlorococcus is highly susceptible to HOOH when exposed as pure cultures. Pure cultures do not exist in the marine environment, however. Catalase-positive community members can remove HOOH from the seawater medium, thus lowering the threat to Prochlorococcus and any other member that likewise lacks their own catalase. This cross-protection may constitute a loosely defined symbiosis, whereby the catalase-positive helper cells may benefit through the acquisition of nutrients released by the beneficiaries such as Prochlorococcus. Other members of the community that may be helped by the catalase-positive cells may include some lineages of Synechococcus - the sister genus of Prochlorococcus - as well as some lineages of SAR11 and ammonia oxidizing archaea and bacteria. The co-occurrence of catalase-positive and -negative members suggests that cross-protection from HOOH-mediated oxidative stress may play an important role in the construction of the marine microbial community.}, } @article {pmid29411455, year = {2018}, author = {Ivens, ABF and Gadau, A and Kiers, ET and Kronauer, DJC}, title = {Can social partnerships influence the microbiome? Insights from ant farmers and their trophobiont mutualists.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1898-1914}, pmid = {29411455}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {335542/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; UL1 TR000043/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Ants/genetics/*microbiology ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Buchnera/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions with microbes have played a crucial role in the evolution and ecology of animal hosts. However, it is unclear what factors are most important in influencing particular host-microbe associations. While closely related animal species may have more similar microbiota than distantly related species due to phylogenetic contingencies, social partnerships with other organisms, such as those in which one animal farms another, may also influence an organism's symbiotic microbiome. We studied a mutualistic network of Brachymyrmex and Lasius ants farming several honeydew-producing Prociphilus aphids and Rhizoecus mealybugs to test whether the mutualistic microbiomes of these interacting insects are primarily correlated with their phylogeny or with their shared social partnerships. Our results confirm a phylogenetic signal in the microbiomes of aphid and mealybug trophobionts, with each species harbouring species-specific endosymbiont strains of Buchnera (aphids), Tremblaya and Sodalis (mealybugs), and Serratia (both mealybugs and aphids) despite being farmed by the same ants. This is likely explained by strict vertical transmission of trophobiont endosymbionts between generations. In contrast, our results show the ants' microbiome is possibly shaped by their social partnerships, with ants that farm the same trophobionts also sharing strains of sugar-processing Acetobacteraceae bacteria, known from other honeydew-feeding ants and which likely reside extracellularly in the ants' guts. These ant-microbe associations are arguably more "open" and subject to horizontal transmission or social transmission within ant colonies. These findings suggest that the role of social partnerships in shaping a host's symbiotic microbiome can be variable and is likely dependent on how the microbes are transmitted across generations.}, } @article {pmid29411448, year = {2018}, author = {Prest, TL and Kimball, AK and Kueneman, JG and McKenzie, VJ}, title = {Host-associated bacterial community succession during amphibian development.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1992-2006}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14507}, pmid = {29411448}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bufonidae/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Larva/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Metamorphosis, Biological/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Amphibians undergo significant developmental changes during their life cycle, as they typically move from a primarily aquatic environment to a more terrestrial one. Amphibian skin is a mucosal tissue that assembles communities of symbiotic microbiota. However, it is currently not well understood as to where amphibians acquire their skin symbionts, and whether the sources of microbial symbionts change throughout development. In this study, we utilized data collected from four wild boreal toad populations (Anaxyrus boreas); specifically, we sampled the skin bacterial communities during toad development, including eggs, tadpoles, subadults and adults as well as environmental sources of bacteria (water, aquatic sediment and soil). Using 16S rRNA marker gene profiling coupled with SourceTracker, we show that while primary environmental sources remained constant throughout the life cycle, secondary sources of boreal toad symbionts significantly changed with development. We found that toad skin communities changed predictably across development and that two developmental disturbance events (egg hatching and metamorphosis) dictated major changes. Toad skin communities assembled to alternative stable states following each of these developmental disturbances. Using the predicted average rRNA operon copy number of the communities at each life stage, we showed how the skin bacterial communities undergo a successional pattern whereby "fast-growing" (copiotroph) generalist bacteria dominate first before "slow-growing" (oligotroph) specialized bacteria take over. Our study highlights how host-associated bacterial community assembly is tightly coupled to host development and that host-associated communities demonstrate successional patterns akin to those observed in free-living bacteria as well as macrofaunal communities.}, } @article {pmid29411387, year = {2018}, author = {Nelson, JM and Hauser, DA and Hinson, R and Shaw, AJ}, title = {A novel experimental system using the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and its fungal endophytes reveals diverse and context-dependent effects.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {3}, pages = {1217-1232}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15012}, pmid = {29411387}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Marchantia/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Xylariales/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungal symbioses are ubiquitous in plants, but their effects have mostly been studied in seed plants. This study aimed to assess the diversity of fungal endophyte effects in a bryophyte and identify factors contributing to the variability of outcomes in these interactions. Fungal endophyte cultures and axenic liverwort clones were isolated from wild populations of the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. These collections were combined in a gnotobiotic system to test the effects of fungal isolates on the growth rates of hosts under laboratory conditions. Under the experimental conditions, fungi isolated from M. polymorpha ranged from aggressively pathogenic to strongly growth-promoting, but the majority of isolates caused no detectable change in host growth. Growth promotion by selected fungi depended on nutrient concentrations and was inhibited by coinoculation with multiple fungi. The M. polymorpha endophyte system expands the resources for this model liverwort. The experiments presented here demonstrate a wealth of diversity in fungal interactions even in a host reported to lack standard mycorrhizal symbiosis. In addition, they show that some known pathogens of vascular plants live in M. polymorpha and can confer benefits to this nonvascular host. This highlights the importance of studying endophyte effects across the plant tree of life.}, } @article {pmid29410636, year = {2017}, author = {Nichols, J}, title = {Non-linguistic Conditions for Causativization as a Linguistic Attractor.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2356}, pmid = {29410636}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {An attractor, in complex systems theory, is any state that is more easily or more often entered or acquired than departed or lost; attractor states therefore accumulate more members than non-attractors, other things being equal. In the context of language evolution, linguistic attractors include sounds, forms, and grammatical structures that are prone to be selected when sociolinguistics and language contact make it possible for speakers to choose between competing forms. The reasons why an element is an attractor are linguistic (auditory salience, ease of processing, paradigm structure, etc.), but the factors that make selection possible and propagate selected items through the speech community are non-linguistic. This paper uses the consonants in personal pronouns to show what makes for an attractor and how selection and diffusion work, then presents a survey of several language families and areas showing that the derivational morphology of pairs of verbs like fear and frighten, or Turkish korkmak 'fear, be afraid' and korkutmak 'frighten, scare', or Finnish istua 'sit' and istutta 'seat (someone)', or Spanish sentarse 'sit down' and sentar 'seat (someone)' is susceptible to selection. Specifically, the Turkish and Finnish pattern, where 'seat' is derived from 'sit' by addition of a suffix-is an attractor and a favored target of selection. This selection occurs chiefly in sociolinguistic contexts of what is defined here as linguistic symbiosis, where languages mingle in speech, which in turn is favored by certain demographic, sociocultural, and environmental factors here termed frontier conditions. Evidence is surveyed from northern Eurasia, the Caucasus, North and Central America, and the Pacific and from both modern and ancient languages to raise the hypothesis that frontier conditions and symbiosis favor causativization.}, } @article {pmid29409751, year = {2018}, author = {Babaie, F and Hasankhani, M and Mohammadi, H and Safarzadeh, E and Rezaiemanesh, A and Salimi, R and Baradaran, B and Babaloo, Z}, title = {The role of gut microbiota and IL-23/IL-17 pathway in ankylosing spondylitis immunopathogenesis: New insights and updates.}, journal = {Immunology letters}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {52-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.imlet.2018.01.014}, pmid = {29409751}, issn = {1879-0542}, mesh = {Aminopeptidases/genetics/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics ; HLA-B27 Antigen/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/*immunology/metabolism ; Interleukin-23/*immunology/metabolism ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens/genetics/immunology ; Signal Transduction/*immunology ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/genetics/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that is referred to a group of chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases termed as seronegative spondyloarthropathies or spondyloarthritides. It typically affects the joints of the spinal and axial skeleton and exhibits common clinical features and genetic factors such as human leukocyte antigen class I allele HLA-B27, the Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1), and environmental factors such as microbial triggers. Although the precise etiopathogenic mechanisms that implicate the pathogenesis of AS have still remained to be clarified, the IL-23/IL-17 immune axis has been detected as an important factor in the immunopathogenesis of AS. Moreover, therapeutic options targeting this signaling pathway have been demonstrated to be effective in various other inflammatory diseases that share similar genetic etiology and pathogenetic pathways. In mammalian intestinal, there are trillions of commensal microbes that create the intricate symbiotic relationship with host well-known as the microbiota and play the major role in human health and disease. Several publications have appeared in recent years documenting the pivotal role of the gut microbiota and the IL-23/IL-17 pathway in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritides. In this review, several points are discussed and summarized including recent advances on the role of the IL-17/IL-23 immune pathway in the pathogenesis of AS, HLA-B27, and ERAP 1 and 2 mediated pathogenesis, AS-related microbiota compositions, and new potential therapies for AS.}, } @article {pmid29408918, year = {2018}, author = {Lu, GH and Tang, CY and Hua, XM and Cheng, J and Wang, GH and Zhu, YL and Zhang, LY and Shou, HX and Qi, JL and Yang, YH}, title = {Effects of an EPSPS-transgenic soybean line ZUTS31 on root-associated bacterial communities during field growth.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0192008}, pmid = {29408918}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {The increased worldwide commercial cultivation of transgenic crops during the past 20 years is accompanied with potential effects on the soil microbial communities, because many rhizosphere and endosphere bacteria play important roles in promoting plant health and growth. Previous studies reported that transgenic plants exert differential effects on soil microbial communities, especially rhizobacteria. Thus, this study compared the soybean root-associated bacterial communities between a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase -transgenic soybean line (ZUTS31 or simply Z31) and its recipient cultivar (Huachun3 or simply HC3) at the vegetative, flowering, and seed-filling stages. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) V4 hypervariable region amplicons via Illumina MiSeq and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were performed. Our results revealed no significant differences in the overall alpha diversity of root-associated bacterial communities at the three developmental stages and in the beta diversity of root-associated bacterial communities at the flowering stage between Z31 and HC3 under field growth. However, significant differences in the beta diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities were found at the vegetative and seed-filling stages between the two groups. Furthermore, the results of next generation sequencing and qPCR showed that the relative abundances of root-associated main nitrogen-fixing bacterial genera, especially Bradyrhizobium in the roots, evidently changed from the flowering stage to the seed-filling stage. In conclusion, Z31 exerts transitory effects on the taxonomic diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities at the vegetative and seed-filling stages compared to the control under field conditions. In addition, soybean developmental change evidently influences the main symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterial genera in the roots from the flowering stage to the seed-filling stage.}, } @article {pmid29408693, year = {2018}, author = {Beghalem, H and Aliliche, K and Landoulsi, A}, title = {Identification and sequence analysis of putative Sulla species nod factor receptor.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {117}, number = {}, pages = {88-92}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2018.01.048}, pmid = {29408693}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; Fabaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Models, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Domains ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; *Sequence Analysis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In legumes, LysM domains of receptors-like kinases (RLKs) mediate rhizobial NFs perception; which are required for infection and establishment of symbiosis without triggering the host immune response. In this study, we identify the LysM extracellular domain sequences of putative Sulla species Nod factor receptors (S. pallida, S. capitata and S. coronaria). The Blast search displayed high identity percentages with genes encoding LjNFR5-like of several legumes. Phylogenetic trees were built using the partial nod factor receptor and predicted amino acid sequences, which grouped Sulla in a separate clade. The multiple alignments of the LysM2 domains revealed that amino acids found to be important in other legume species are not conserved in Sulla species. Further examination of the predicted proteins sequences (LysM2 domain) showed that the three species were different in the two crucial sites for Nod factor perception.}, } @article {pmid29406693, year = {2018}, author = {Yuan, BF and Zhu, QF and Guo, N and Zheng, SJ and Wang, YL and Wang, J and Xu, J and Liu, SJ and He, K and Hu, T and Zheng, YW and Xu, FQ and Feng, YQ}, title = {Comprehensive Profiling of Fecal Metabolome of Mice by Integrated Chemical Isotope Labeling-Mass Spectrometry Analysis.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {90}, number = {5}, pages = {3512-3520}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05355}, pmid = {29406693}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/diagnosis/metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers/analysis/metabolism ; Feces/*chemistry ; Humans ; Isotope Labeling/methods ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota plays important roles in the host health. The host and symbiotic gut microbiota coproduce a large number of metabolites during the metabolism of food and xenobiotics. The analysis of fecal metabolites can provide a noninvasive manner to study the outcome of the host-gut microbiota interaction. Herein, we reported the comprehensive profiling of fecal metabolome of mice by an integrated chemical isotope labeling combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (CIL-LC-MS) analysis. The metabolites are categorized into several submetabolomes based on the functional moieties (i.e., carboxyl, carbonyl, amine, and thiol) and then analysis of the individual submetabolome was performed. The combined data from the submetabolome form the metabolome with relatively high coverage. To this end, we synthesized stable isotope labeling reagents to label metabolites with different groups, including carboxyl, carbonyl, amine, and thiol groups. We detected 2302 potential metabolites, among which, 1388 could be positively or putatively identified in feces of mice. We then further confirmed 308 metabolites based on our established library of chemically labeled standards and tandem mass spectrometry analysis. With the identified metabolites in feces of mice, we established mice fecal metabolome database, which can be used to readily identify metabolites from feces of mice. Furthermore, we discovered 211 fecal metabolites exhibited significant difference between Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice and wild type (WT) mice, which suggests the close correlation between the fecal metabolites and AD pathology and provides new potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of AD.}, } @article {pmid29405360, year = {2018}, author = {Poovaiah, BW and Du, L}, title = {Calcium signaling: decoding mechanism of calcium signatures.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {4}, pages = {1394-1396}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15003}, pmid = {29405360}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Calcium ; *Calcium Signaling ; Calmodulin ; Gene Expression ; Plant Immunity ; }, } @article {pmid29403449, year = {2017}, author = {Zhai, X and Luo, D and Li, X and Han, T and Jia, M and Kong, Z and Ji, J and Rahman, K and Qin, L and Zheng, C}, title = {Endophyte Chaetomium globosum D38 Promotes Bioactive Constituents Accumulation and Root Production in Salvia miltiorrhiza.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2694}, pmid = {29403449}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Salvia miltiorrhiza is known for tanshinones and salvianolic acids, which have been shown to have a protective effect against ROS, especially for cardiovascular diseases and other various ailments of human organs. Due to the low yield of tanshinones and their analogs in S. miltiorrhiza, multiple stimulation strategies have been developed to improve tanshinones production in plant tissue cultures. Endophytic fungi have been reported to form different relationships with their host plants, including symbiotic, mutualistic, commensalistic, and parasitic interactions. Thus we take the assumption that endophytic fungi may be a potential microbial tool for secondary metabolism promotion in medicinal plants. We recently isolated Chaetomium globosum D38 from the roots of S. miltiorrhiza and our study aimed to examine the effects of this live endophytic fungus D38 and its elicitor on the accumulation of tanshinones in the hairy root cultures of S. miltiorrhiza. Our results revealed that C. globosum D38 mainly colonized in the intercellular gap of xylem parenchyma cells of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots during the long term co-existence without any toxicity. Moreover, both of the live fungus and its mycelia extract could increase the production of tanshinones, especially for dihydrotanshinone I and cryptotanshinone. The effect of the mycelia extract was much stronger than that of the live fungus on tanshinones synthesis, which significantly increased the transcriptional activity of those key genes in tanshinone biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, the live C. globosum D38 could also be made into biotic fertilizer used for S. miltiorrhiza seedlings culture, which not only significantly promoted the growth of the host plant, but also notably enhanced the accumulation of tanshinones and salvianolic acids. We thus speculated that, in the soil environment D38 could form bitrophic and mutual beneficial interactions with the host and enhance the plant growth and its secondary metabolism on the whole so as to have facilitative effects on both tanshinones and salvianolic acids accumulation. In conclusion, Chaetomium globosum D38 was a highly beneficial endophytic fungus for the growth and metabolism of S. miltiorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid29403008, year = {2018}, author = {Nishida, H and Tanaka, S and Handa, Y and Ito, M and Sakamoto, Y and Matsunaga, S and Betsuyaku, S and Miura, K and Soyano, T and Kawaguchi, M and Suzaki, T}, title = {A NIN-LIKE PROTEIN mediates nitrate-induced control of root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {499}, pmid = {29403008}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Acetylene/chemistry ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cell Size ; Fabaceae ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes and rhizobia establish symbiosis in root nodules. To balance the gains and costs associated with the symbiosis, plants have developed two strategies for adapting to nitrogen availability in the soil: plants can regulate nodule number and/or stop the development or function of nodules. Although the former is accounted for by autoregulation of nodulation, a form of systemic long-range signaling, the latter strategy remains largely enigmatic. Here, we show that the Lotus japonicus NITRATE UNRESPONSIVE SYMBIOSIS 1 (NRSYM1) gene encoding a NIN-LIKE PROTEIN transcription factor acts as a key regulator in the nitrate-induced pleiotropic control of root nodule symbiosis. NRSYM1 accumulates in the nucleus in response to nitrate and directly regulates the production of CLE-RS2, a root-derived mobile peptide that acts as a negative regulator of nodule number. Our data provide the genetic basis for how plants respond to the nitrogen environment and control symbiosis to achieve proper plant growth.}, } @article {pmid29402933, year = {2018}, author = {Bar-Shmuel, N and Rogovin, E and Rachmilevitch, S and Friedman, AL and Shelef, O and Hoffmann, I and Rosenberg, T and Behar, A and Shavit, R and Meng, F and Segoli, M}, title = {Tripartite symbiosis of plant-weevil-bacteria is a widespread phenomenon in the Negev Desert.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2420}, pmid = {29402933}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Desert Climate ; Ecosystem ; Israel ; Larva/microbiology ; Nitrogen/chemistry/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*physiology ; Salsola/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The weevil Conorhynchus palumbus develops in a mud chamber affixed to the roots of the summer annual plant Salsola inermis in the Negev Desert of Israel. The weevil carries nitrogen fixing bacteria, and evidence suggests that plants with weevils utilize the fixed nitrogen. To characterize the distribution, abundance and significance of this unique interaction, we surveyed Salsola plants in 16 sites throughout the Negev Desert. We excavated ~100 plants from each site, recorded the presence of weevils in their roots, and characterized the soil properties in each site. Weevil mud chambers were present in all of the sampled sites and their abundance was positively correlated with soil nitrogen content and with plant size, and negatively correlated with soil grain-size. Intriguingly, we found two additional weevil species-Menecleonus virgatus and Maximus mimosae-residing in mud chambers on Salsola roots, and found one additional Salsola species-S. incanescens-accommodating weevils. Nitrogen fixing bacteria were found in weevil larvae of the two additional species and at multiple sites. Overall, our findings suggest that potentially beneficial associations between weevils and plants may be more common than previously acknowledged, and may play an important role in this desert ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid29402898, year = {2018}, author = {Cai, L and Tian, RM and Zhou, G and Tong, H and Wong, YH and Zhang, W and Chui, APY and Xie, JY and Qiu, JW and Ang, PO and Liu, S and Huang, H and Qian, PY}, title = {Exploring coral microbiome assemblages in the South China Sea.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2428}, pmid = {29402898}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Archaea/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Carbon Cycle/physiology ; China ; Coral Reefs ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Metagenome ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nitrogen Cycle/physiology ; Pacific Ocean ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sulfur/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are significant ecosystems. The ecological success of coral reefs relies on not only coral-algal symbiosis but also coral-microbial partnership. However, microbiome assemblages in the South China Sea corals remain largely unexplored. Here, we compared the microbiome assemblages of reef-building corals Galaxea (G. fascicularis) and Montipora (M. venosa, M. peltiformis, M. monasteriata) collected from five different locations in the South China Sea using massively-parallel sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and multivariate analysis. The results indicated that microbiome assemblages for each coral species were unique regardless of location and were different from the corresponding seawater. Host type appeared to drive the coral microbiome assemblages rather than location and seawater. Network analysis was employed to explore coral microbiome co-occurrence patterns, which revealed 61 and 80 co-occurring microbial species assembling the Galaxea and Montipora microbiomes, respectively. Most of these co-occurring microbial species were commonly found in corals and were inferred to play potential roles in host nutrient metabolism; carbon, nitrogen, sulfur cycles; host detoxification; and climate change. These findings suggest that the co-occurring microbial species explored might be essential to maintain the critical coral-microbial partnership. The present study provides new insights into coral microbiome assemblages in the South China Sea.}, } @article {pmid29399361, year = {2018}, author = {Williams, CL and Dill-McFarland, KA and Sparks, DL and Kouba, AJ and Willard, ST and Suen, G and Brown, AE}, title = {Dietary changes during weaning shape the gut microbiota of red pandas (Ailurus fulgens).}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {cox075}, pmid = {29399361}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Mammalian herbivores have developed numerous adaptations to utilize their plant-based diets including a modified gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and symbiosis with a GIT microbiota that plays a major role in digestion and the maintenance of host health. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a herbivorous carnivore that lacks the specialized GIT common to other herbivores but still relies on microorganisms for survival on its almost entirely bamboo diet. The GIT microbiota is of further importance in young red pandas, as high cub mortality is problematic and has been attributed to failure to meet nutritional requirements. To gain insight into the establishment of the GIT microbiota of red pandas, we examined microbial communities in two individuals following dietary changes associated with weaning using next-generation 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing of faecal samples. Across all four stages (pre-weaning, during weaning, post-weaning and adult), the GIT microbial community displayed low diversity and was dominated by bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes with lesser contributions from the Proteobacteria. A core community was found consistently across all weaning stages and included species within the taxa Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus, Clostridium and an unclassified Clostridiaceae. Analysis of the overall community composition and structure showed that although the GIT microbiota is established early in red pandas, dietary changes during weaning further shape the community and are correlated with the presence of new bacterial species. This work is the first analysis of the GIT microbiota for red panda cubs during weaning and provides a framework for understanding how diet and host microbiota impact the development of these threatened animals.}, } @article {pmid29397399, year = {2018}, author = {Rothman, JA and Carroll, MJ and Meikle, WG and Anderson, KE and McFrederick, QS}, title = {Longitudinal Effects of Supplemental Forage on the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Microbiota and Inter- and Intra-Colony Variability.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {3}, pages = {814-824}, pmid = {29397399}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bees/*microbiology/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Pollination ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Honey bees (Apis mellifera) provide vital pollination services for a variety of agricultural crops around the world and are known to host a consistent core bacterial microbiome. This symbiotic microbial community is essential to many facets of bee health, including likely nutrient acquisition, disease prevention and optimal physiological function. Being that the bee microbiome is likely involved in the digestion of nutrients, we either provided or excluded honey bee colonies from supplemental floral forage before being used for almond pollination. We then used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to examine the effects of forage treatment on the bees' microbial gut communities over four months. In agreement with previous studies, we found that the honey bee gut microbiota is quite stable over time. Similarly, we compared the gut communities of bees from separate colonies and sisters sampled from within the same hive over four months. Surprisingly, we found that the gut microbial communities of individual sisters from the same colony can exhibit as much variation as bees from different colonies. Supplemental floral forage had a subtle effect on the composition of the microbiome during the month of March only, with strains of Gilliamella apicola, Lactobacillus, and Bartonella being less proportionally abundant in bees exposed to forage in the winter. Collectively, our findings show that there is unexpected longitudinal variation within the gut microbial communities of sister honey bees and that supplemental floral forage can subtly alter the microbiome of managed honey bees.}, } @article {pmid29396618, year = {2018}, author = {Martins da Costa, E and Azarias Guimarães, A and Soares de Carvalho, T and Louzada Rodrigues, T and de Almeida Ribeiro, PR and Lebbe, L and Willems, A and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Bradyrhizobium forestalis sp. nov., an efficient nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from nodules of forest legume species in the Amazon.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {200}, number = {5}, pages = {743-752}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-018-1486-2}, pmid = {29396618}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Forests ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Three strains of nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from nodules of Inga sp. (INPA54B[T]) and Swartzia sp. (INPA86A and INPA01-91A) in soils under native forest in the Brazilian Amazon were previously identified as belonging to the Bradyrhizobium genus. In this study, these strains were characterized using a polyphasic approach to establish their taxonomic position. The three strains shared more than 99.5% sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA gene with the type strains of five Bradyrhizobium species (B. japonicum USDA 6[T], B. liaoningense LMG 18230[T], B. ottawaense OO99[T], B. subterraneum 58 2-1[T] and B. yuanmingense LMG 21827[T]). However, multilocus sequence analysis of two (recA and glnII) or three (atpD, gyrB, and recA) housekeeping genes indicated that these three strains represent a new Bradyrhizobium species, which is closely related to B. subterraneum 58 2-1[T] and B. yuanmingense LMG 21827[T]. DNA-DNA hybridization values between INPA54B[T] and B. subterraneum 58 2-1[T] and B. yuanmingense LMG 21827[T] were only 41.5 and 30.9%, respectively. Phenotypic characterization also allowed the differentiation of the novel species from B. subterraneum 58 2-1[T] and B. yuanmingense LMG 21827[T]. In the phylogenetic analysis of the nodC and nifH genes, the three strains showed similar sequences that were divergent from those of type strains of all Bradyrhizobium species. We concluded that these strains represent a novel species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium forestalis is proposed, with INPA54B[T] (= LMG 10044[T]) as type strain. The G+C content in the DNA of INPA54B[T] is 63.7 mol%.}, } @article {pmid29396559, year = {2018}, author = {Massé, A and Domart-Coulon, I and Golubic, S and Duché, D and Tribollet, A}, title = {Early skeletal colonization of the coral holobiont by the microboring Ulvophyceae Ostreobium sp.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2293}, pmid = {29396559}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animal Shells/*microbiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Chlorophyta/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Genetic Variation ; Metagenome ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ostreobium sp. (Bryopsidales, Ulvophyceae) is a major microboring alga involved in tropical reef dissolution, with a proposed symbiotic lifestyle in living corals. However, its diversity and colonization dynamics in host's early life stages remained unknown. Here, we mapped microborer distribution and abundance in skeletons of the branching coral Pocillopora damicornis from the onset of calcification in primary polyps (7 days) to budding juvenile colonies (1 and 3 months) growing on carbonate and non-carbonate substrates pre-colonized by natural biofilms, and compared them to adult colonies (in aquarium settings). Primary polyps were surprisingly already colonized by microboring filaments and their level of invasion depended on the nature of settlement substrate and the extent of its pre-colonization by microborers. Growth of early coral recruits was unaffected even when microborers were in close vicinity to the polyp tissue. In addition to morphotype observations, chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene sequence analyses revealed nine new Ostreobium clades (OTU99%) in Pocillopora coral. Recruits and adults shared one dominant rbcL clade, undetected in larvae, but also present in aquarium seawater, carbonate and non-carbonate settlement substrates, and in corals from reef settings. Our results show a substratum-dependent colonization by Ostreobium clades, and indicate horizontal transmission of Ostreobium-coral associations.}, } @article {pmid29396486, year = {2018}, author = {Campisciano, G and Zanotta, N and Licastro, D and De Seta, F and Comar, M}, title = {In vivo microbiome and associated immune markers: New insights into the pathogenesis of vaginal dysbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2307}, pmid = {29396486}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adult ; Biomarkers/*analysis ; Cytokines/analysis ; Dysbiosis/*immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Th2 Cells/immunology ; Vagina/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The microbiota fulfils a key role in the training and function of the immune system, which contributes to the symbiosis between the host and complex microbial communities. In this study, we characterized the interplay between vaginal bacteria and local immune mediators during dysbiosis in selected women of reproductive age who were grouped according to Nugent's criteria. The abundance of Gardnerella vaginalis and Bifidobacterium breve was increased in the intermediate dysbiotic status, while the presence of a plethora of non-resident bacteria characterized the group with overt vaginosis. In response to these increases, the anti-inflammatory IL1ra and pro-inflammatory IL2 increased, while the embryo trophic factors FGFβ and GMCSF decreased compared to the healthy milieu. A specific pattern, including IL1α, IL1β, IL8, MIG, MIP1α and RANTES, distinguished the intermediate group from the vaginosis group, while IL5 and IL13, which are secreted by Th2 cells, were significantly associated with the perturbation of the commensals Lactobacilli, Gardnerella and Ureaplasma. Summarizing, we postulate that although the dysbiotic condition triggers a pro-inflammatory process, the presence of a steady state level of Th2 may influence clinical manifestations. These results raise clinically relevant questions regarding the use of vaginal immunological markers as efficacious tools to monitor microbial alterations.}, } @article {pmid29396397, year = {2018}, author = {Watanabe, S and Yoshimura, J and Hasegawa, E}, title = {Ants improve the reproduction of inferior morphs to maintain a polymorphism in symbiont aphids.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2313}, pmid = {29396397}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Aphids/*growth & development ; Biodiversity ; Biological Variation, Population ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Identifying stable polymorphisms is essential for understanding biodiversity. Distinctive polymorphisms are rare in nature because a superior morph should dominate a population. In addition to the three known mechanisms for polymorphism persistence, we recently reported a fourth mechanism: protection of the polymorphism by symbionts. Attending ants preferentially protect polymorphic aphid colonies consisting of green and red morphs. Here, we show that attending ants manipulate the reproductive rate of their preferred green morphs to equal that of the red morphs, leading to the persistence of the polymorphism within the colonies. We could not, however, explain how the ants maintained the polymorphism in aphid colonies regardless of inter-morph competition. Manipulation by symbionts may be important for the maintenance of polymorphisms and the resulting biodiversity in certain symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid29395925, year = {2018}, author = {Luan, J and Sun, X and Fei, Z and Douglas, AE}, title = {Maternal Inheritance of a Single Somatic Animal Cell Displayed by the Bacteriocyte in the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {459-465.e3}, pmid = {29395925}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Insect ; Hemiptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; Male ; *Maternal Inheritance ; Microsatellite Repeats ; }, abstract = {Bacteriocytes are insect cells harboring symbiotic bacteria that are required by their insect host and are transmitted vertically via the female ovary [1]. In most insect groups, the bacteria are released from the bacteriocytes and transferred to the ovary [2, 3], but in whiteflies, maternal bacteriocytes migrate to each egg [4-6], where they have been reported to lyse, releasing the symbionts [1]. To investigate bacteriocyte inheritance in whiteflies further, we applied microsatellite genotyping and genomic analysis to a genetically diverse population of Bemisia tabaci, and we observed the fate of the bacteriocyte in embryos. Surprisingly, the microsatellite profile of the bacteriocytes was uniform, and insect cross experiments demonstrated that the bacteriocytes have a stable genotype that differs from the genotype of the insect head (which lacks bacteriocytes). Comparative genomic analysis indicates that genomes of the bacteriocyte and whitefly head are distinct. Interestingly, the bacterioyte genome contains the canonical arthropod telomere repeats TTAGG, and the bacteriocytes express telomere maintenance genes that may underlie cellular immortality in animal cells [7]. Microscopy observations confirmed that a single bacteriocyte transmitted to each egg is retained and divides once just before egg hatch, yielding two bacteriocytes in the neonate insect. These data demonstrate the maternal inheritance of an absolutely required somatic insect cell, violating the developmental separation of germline and soma [8, 9]. Future investigation on the mechanism and phylogenetic distribution of maternally inherited bacteriocytes will shed light on the developmental origins and evolutionary diversification of bacteriocytes [10] and the processes underlying cellular immortality [11].}, } @article {pmid29394394, year = {2018}, author = {Robert, G and Muñoz, N and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Saavedra, L and Davidenco, V and Rodríguez-Kessler, M and Estrada-Navarrete, G and Sánchez, F and Lascano, R}, title = {Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase function at very early symbiont perception: a local nodulation control under stress conditions?.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {8}, pages = {2037-2048}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ery030}, pmid = {29394394}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; NADPH Oxidases/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Soybeans/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root hair curling is an early and essential morphological change required for the success of the symbiotic interaction between legumes and rhizobia. At this stage rhizobia grow as an infection thread within root hairs and are internalized into the plant cells by endocytosis, where the PI3K enzyme plays important roles. Previous observations show that stress conditions affect early stages of the symbiotic interaction, from 2 to 30 min post-inoculation, which we term as very early host responses, and affect symbiosis establishment. Herein, we demonstrated the relevance of the very early host responses for the symbiotic interaction. PI3K and the NADPH oxidase complex are found to have key roles in the microsymbiont recognition response, modulating the apoplastic and intracellular/endosomal ROS induction in root hairs. Interestingly, compared with soybean mutant plants that do not perceive the symbiont, we demonstrated that the very early symbiont perception under sublethal saline stress conditions induced root hair death. Together, these results highlight not only the importance of the very early host-responses on later stages of the symbiont interaction, but also suggest that they act as a mechanism for local control of nodulation capacity, prior to the abortion of the infection thread, preventing the allocation of resources/energy for nodule formation under unfavorable environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid29394318, year = {2019}, author = {Zalguizuri, A and Caetano-Anollés, G and Lepek, VC}, title = {Phylogenetic profiling, an untapped resource for the prediction of secreted proteins and its complementation with sequence-based classifiers in bacterial type III, IV and VI secretion systems.}, journal = {Briefings in bioinformatics}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {1395-1402}, doi = {10.1093/bib/bby009}, pmid = {29394318}, issn = {1477-4054}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Machine Learning ; Markov Chains ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; Type IV Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; Yersinia pestis/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the establishment and maintenance of the interaction between pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria with a eukaryotic organism, protein substrates of specialized bacterial secretion systems called effectors play a critical role once translocated into the host cell. Proteins are also secreted to the extracellular medium by free-living bacteria or directly injected into other competing organisms to hinder or kill. In this work, we explore an approach based on the evolutionary dependence that most of the effectors maintain with their specific secretion system that analyzes the co-occurrence of any orthologous protein group and their corresponding secretion system across multiple genomes. We compared and complemented our methodology with sequence-based machine learning prediction tools for the type III, IV and VI secretion systems. Finally, we provide the predictive results for the three secretion systems in 1606 complete genomes at http://www.iib.unsam.edu.ar/orgsissec/.}, } @article {pmid29393944, year = {2018}, author = {Mergaert, P}, title = {Role of antimicrobial peptides in controlling symbiotic bacterial populations.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {336-356}, doi = {10.1039/c7np00056a}, pmid = {29393944}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydra/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Insecta/microbiology ; Mammals/microbiology ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Covering: up to 2018 Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been known for well over three decades as crucial mediators of the innate immune response in animals and plants, where they are involved in the killing of infecting microbes. However, AMPs have now also been found to be produced by eukaryotic hosts during symbiotic interactions with bacteria. These symbiotic AMPs target the symbionts and therefore have a more subtle biological role: not eliminating the microbial symbiont population but rather keeping it in check. The arsenal of AMPs and the symbionts' adaptations to resist them are in a careful balance, which contributes to the establishment of the host-microbe homeostasis. Although in many cases the biological roles of symbiotic AMPs remain elusive, for a number of symbiotic interactions, precise functions have been assigned or proposed to the AMPs, which are discussed here. The microbiota living on epithelia in animals, from the most primitive ones to the mammals, are challenged by a cocktail of AMPs that determine the specific composition of the bacterial community as well as its spatial organization. In the symbiosis of legume plants with nitrogen-fixing rhizobium bacteria, the host deploys an extremely large panel of AMPs - called nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides - that drive the bacteria into a terminally differentiated state and manipulate the symbiont physiology to maximize the benefit for the host. The NCR peptides are used as tools to enslave the bacterial symbionts, limiting their reproduction but keeping them metabolically active for nitrogen fixation. In the nutritional symbiotic interactions of insects and protists that have vertically transmitted bacterial symbionts with reduced genomes, symbiotic AMPs could facilitate the integration of the endosymbiont and host metabolism by favouring the flow of metabolites across the symbiont membrane through membrane permeabilization.}, } @article {pmid29393564, year = {2018}, author = {Pradeep Kumar, R and John, A and Kumar, P and Dinesh Babu, KV and Evans, DA}, title = {Larvicidal efficacy of Adiantobischrysene from Adiantum latifolium against Oryctes rhinoceros through disrupting metamorphosis and impeding microbial mediated digestion.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {74}, number = {8}, pages = {1821-1828}, doi = {10.1002/ps.4880}, pmid = {29393564}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Adiantum/*chemistry ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Coleoptera/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Ecdysterone/blood ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Hemolymph/chemistry ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Larva/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Metamorphosis, Biological/*drug effects ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Oryctes rhinoceros Linn. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a serious pest of coconuts and other palms. Symbiotic gut bacteria play significant roles in the digestion of cellulosic materials as well as in some other physiological processes essential for the existence of O. rhinoceros larvae. The study was undertaken to isolate a compound with antibacterial and larvicidal activities from the leaves of Adiantum latifolium Lam. following a bioassay-guided method.

RESULTS: Methanol extract (ME) of dry leaf powder of A. latifolium showed larvicidal activity against third-instar O. rhinoceros (LD50 , 5018 mg/kg) with antibacterial activity on its gut microbiota. An in vitro study showed the bacteria Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus lylae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Kocuria rosea, Burkholderia mallei, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. arlettae and Corynebacterium afermentans identified from the larval gut were sensitive to ME. Bioactivity-guided isolation of the compound by liquid-liquid extraction and column chromatography resulted in Adiantobischrysene which showed antibacterial and larvicidal activity (LD50 , 8.4 mg/kg) and led to weight loss and precocious metamorphosis in larvae. An enzyme immunoassay showed a large peak in 20-hydroxyecdysone that commits larvae to precocious metamorphosis.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the antibacterial and metamorphosis disrupting activity of Adiantobischrysene make it a natural pesticidal compound against O. rhinoceros. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid29393559, year = {2018}, author = {Michalik, A and Schulz, F and Michalik, K and Wascher, F and Horn, M and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Coexistence of novel gammaproteobacterial and Arsenophonus symbionts in the scale insect Greenisca brachypodii (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Eriococcidae).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {1148-1157}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14057}, pmid = {29393559}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*classification/*genetics/growth & development ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Scale insects are commonly associated with obligate, intracellular microorganisms which play important roles in complementing their hosts with essential nutrients. Here we characterized the symbiotic system of Greenisca brachypodii, a member of the family Eriococcidae. Histological and ultrastructural analyses have indicated that G. brachypodii is stably associated with coccoid and rod-shaped bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses have revealed that the coccoid bacteria represent a sister group to the secondary symbiont of the mealybug Melanococcus albizziae, whereas the rod-shaped symbionts are close relatives of Arsenophonus symbionts in insects - to our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of Arsenophonus bacterium in scale insects. As a comparison of 16S and 23S rRNA genes sequences of the G. brachypodii coccoid symbiont with other gammaprotebacterial sequences showed only low similarity (∼90%), we propose the name 'Candidatus Kotejella greeniscae' for its tentative classification. Both symbionts are transovarially transmitted from one generation to the next. The infection takes place in the neck region of the ovariole. The bacteria migrate between follicular cells, as well as through the cytoplasm of those cells to the perivitelline space, where they form a characteristic 'symbiont ball'. Our findings provide evidence for a polyphyletic origin of symbionts of Eriococcidae.}, } @article {pmid29393515, year = {2018}, author = {Imin, N and Patel, N and Corcilius, L and Payne, RJ and Djordjevic, MA}, title = {CLE peptide tri-arabinosylation and peptide domain sequence composition are essential for SUNN-dependent autoregulation of nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {1}, pages = {73-80}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15019}, pmid = {29393515}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabinose/*metabolism ; Glycosylation ; *Homeostasis ; Kinetics ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Peptides/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Domains ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 encode CLAVATA3/EMBRYO-SURROUNDING REGION RELATED (CLE) peptides which regulate autoregulation of nodulation (AON) in Medicago through the shoot receptor, SUNN (SUPER NUMERIC NODULES). Genetics suggests RDN1 (ROOT-DETERMINED NODULATION 1) arabinosylates MtCLE12 to enable SUNN perception. The functional structures of MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 peptides, however, remain elusive. We combined genetic and chemical synthesis approaches to determine if glyco-modifications of three nodule-expressed CLE peptides are essential for AON. We also examined how root and shoot applied AON-CLEs inhibit nodulation. MtCLE12, MtCLE13 and MtCLE42 peptides were synthesized with hydroxylation, mono-arabinosylation or tri-arabinosylation (TaP) at proline 7. Only MtCLE12-TaP and MtCLE13-TaP peptides induced AON in wild-type (WT) and rdn1-1, but not in sunn-4. The application of MtCLE13-TaP to cotyledons 1 d before rhizobial inoculation completely inhibited both rhizobial infection and nodulation. By contrast, MtCLE12-TaP induced significant AON without abolishing rhizobial infection. The results indicate that key CLE domain amino acids and TaP modifications to MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 are essential for SUNN-dependent AON. We also show evidence that RDN1 does not tri-arabinosylate MtCLE13. Finally, MtCLE13-TaP can induce a strong AON response in shoots that inhibits the entire symbiotic processes in roots. We present a new model for AON in Medicago.}, } @article {pmid29392532, year = {2018}, author = {Hill, EM and Robinson, LA and Abdul-Sada, A and Vanbergen, AJ and Hodge, A and Hartley, SE}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Chemical Defence: Effects of Colonisation on Aboveground and Belowground Metabolomes.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {198-208}, pmid = {29392532}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Biomass ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; *Metabolome ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Plant Shoots/physiology ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids/metabolism ; Senecio/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonisation of plant roots is one of the most ancient and widespread interactions in ecology, yet the systemic consequences for plant secondary chemistry remain unclear. We performed the first metabolomic investigation into the impact of AMF colonisation by Rhizophagus irregularis on the chemical defences, spanning above- and below-ground tissues, in its host-plant ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). We used a non-targeted metabolomics approach to profile, and where possible identify, compounds induced by AMF colonisation in both roots and shoots. Metabolomics analyses revealed that 33 compounds were significantly increased in the root tissue of AMF colonised plants, including seven blumenols, plant-derived compounds known to be associated with AMF colonisation. One of these was a novel structure conjugated with a malonyl-sugar and uronic acid moiety, hitherto an unreported combination. Such structural modifications of blumenols could be significant for their previously reported functional roles associated with the establishment and maintenance of AM colonisation. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), key anti-herbivore defence compounds in ragwort, dominated the metabolomic profiles of root and shoot extracts. Analyses of the metabolomic profiles revealed an increase in four PAs in roots (but not shoots) of AMF colonised plants, with the potential to protect colonised plants from below-ground organisms.}, } @article {pmid29392344, year = {2018}, author = {Miao, J and Zhang, N and Liu, H and Wang, H and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {Soil commensal rhizobia promote Rhizobium etli nodulation efficiency through CinR-mediated quorum sensing.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {200}, number = {5}, pages = {685-694}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-018-1478-2}, pmid = {29392344}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Microbial Interactions ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Rhizobium etli/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhizosphere microbiome is composed of diverse microorganisms directly interacting with plants and each other. We sought to achieve a better understanding of how rhizobia interact with other soil bacteria during the initial symbiosis period. In this study, we investigated how soil commensals, particularly other rhizobia, affect Rhizobium etli-Phaseolus vulgaris interactions. We found that R. etli formed significantly more nodules on beans grown in unsterilized soil than those in sterilized soil. Furthermore, a strain identified as Rhizobium fabae, isolated from unsterilized soil, was found to affect R. etli nodulation. Interestingly, we found that the key quorum sensing regulator CinR is important for R. etli nodulation efficiency when it is co-inoculated with R. fabae. Moreover, we found that quorum sensing signals produced by R. fabae promoted CinR-mediated gene expression in R. etli. These data suggest that the effects of R. fabae on R. etli symbiosis may act through multispecies bacterial cell-cell communication.}, } @article {pmid29391543, year = {2018}, author = {Laffont, C and De Cuyper, C and Fromentin, J and Mortier, V and De Keyser, A and Verplancke, C and Holsters, M and Goormachtig, S and Frugier, F}, title = {MtNRLK1, a CLAVATA1-like leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase upregulated during nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2046}, pmid = {29391543}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago/*genetics/growth & development ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Protein Domains ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Receptors, Peptide/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Peptides are signaling molecules regulating various aspects of plant development, including the balance between cell division and differentiation in different meristems. Among those, CLAVATA3/Embryo Surrounding Region-related (CLE-ESR) peptide activity depends on leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like-kinases (LRR-RLK) belonging to the subclass XI. In legume plants, such as the Medicago truncatula model, specific CLE peptides were shown to regulate root symbiotic nodulation depending on the LRR-RLK SUNN (Super Numeric Nodules). Amongst the ten M. truncatula LRR-RLK most closely related to SUNN, only one showed a nodule-induced expression, and was so-called MtNRLK1 (Nodule-induced Receptor-Like Kinase 1). MtNRLK1 expression is associated to root and nodule vasculature as well as to the proximal meristem and rhizobial infection zone in the nodule apex. Except for the root vasculature, the MtNRLK1 symbiotic expression pattern is different than the one of MtSUNN. Functional analyses either based on RNA interference, insertional mutagenesis, and overexpression of MtNRLK1 however failed to identify a significant nodulation phenotype, either regarding the number, size, organization or nitrogen fixation capacity of the symbiotic organs formed.}, } @article {pmid29390194, year = {2018}, author = {Bazghaleh, N and Hamel, C and Gan, Y and Tar'an, B and Knight, JD}, title = {Genotypic variation in the response of chickpea to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {265-275}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2017-0521}, pmid = {29390194}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cicer/*genetics/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi/growth & development ; Genetic Variation/*physiology ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant roots host symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and other fungal endophytes that can impact plant growth and health. The impact of microbial interactions in roots may depend on the genetic properties of the host plant and its interactions with root-associated fungi. We conducted a controlled condition experiment to investigate the effect of several chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes on the efficiency of the symbiosis with AM fungi and non-AM fungal endophytes. Whereas the AM symbiosis increased the biomass of most of the chickpea cultivars, inoculation with non-AM fungal endophytes had a neutral effect. The chickpea cultivars responded differently to co-inoculation with AM fungi and non-AM fungal endophytes. Co-inoculation had additive effects on the biomass of some cultivars (CDC Corrine, CDC Anna, and CDC Cory), but non-AM fungal endophytes reduced the positive effect of AM fungi on Amit and CDC Vanguard. This study demonstrated that the response of plant genotypes to an AM symbiosis can be modified by the simultaneous colonization of the roots by non-AM fungal endophytes. Intraspecific variations in the response of chickpea to AM fungi and non-AM fungal endophytes indicate that the selection of suitable genotypes may improve the ability of crop plants to take advantage of soil ecosystem services.}, } @article {pmid29390140, year = {2018}, author = {Schweizer, G and Münch, K and Mannhaupt, G and Schirawski, J and Kahmann, R and Dutheil, JY}, title = {Positively Selected Effector Genes and Their Contribution to Virulence in the Smut Fungus Sporisorium reilianum.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {629-645}, pmid = {29390140}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics ; *Genes, Fungal ; Genomics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Selection, Genetic ; Ustilaginales/genetics ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plants and fungi display a broad range of interactions in natural and agricultural ecosystems ranging from symbiosis to parasitism. These ecological interactions result in coevolution between genes belonging to different partners. A well-understood example is secreted fungal effector proteins and their host targets, which play an important role in pathogenic interactions. Biotrophic smut fungi (Basidiomycota) are well-suited to investigate the evolution of plant pathogens, because several reference genomes and genetic tools are available for these species. Here, we used the genomes of Sporisorium reilianum f. sp. zeae and S. reilianum f. sp. reilianum, two closely related formae speciales infecting maize and sorghum, respectively, together with the genomes of Ustilago hordei, Ustilago maydis, and Sporisorium scitamineum to identify and characterize genes displaying signatures of positive selection. We identified 154 gene families having undergone positive selection during species divergence in at least one lineage, among which 77% were identified in the two investigated formae speciales of S. reilianum. Remarkably, only 29% of positively selected genes encode predicted secreted proteins. We assessed the contribution to virulence of nine of these candidate effector genes in S. reilianum f. sp. zeae by deleting individual genes, including a homologue of the effector gene pit2 previously characterized in U. maydis. Only the pit2 deletion mutant was found to be strongly reduced in virulence. Additional experiments are required to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the selection forces acting on the other candidate effector genes, as well as the large fraction of positively selected genes encoding predicted cytoplasmic proteins.}, } @article {pmid29390087, year = {2018}, author = {Grosser, K and Ramasamy, P and Amirabad, AD and Schulz, MH and Gasparoni, G and Simon, M and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {More than the "Killer Trait": Infection with the Bacterial Endosymbiont Caedibacter taeniospiralis Causes Transcriptomic Modulation in Paramecium Host.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {646-656}, pmid = {29390087}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Paramecium/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Phenotype ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis is a widespread phenomenon and hosts of bacterial endosymbionts can be found all-over the eukaryotic tree of life. Likely, this evolutionary success is connected to the altered phenotype arising from a symbiotic association. The potential variety of symbiont's contributions to new characteristics or abilities of host organisms are largely unstudied. Addressing this aspect, we focused on an obligate bacterial endosymbiont that confers an intraspecific killer phenotype to its host. The symbiosis between Paramecium tetraurelia and Caedibacter taeniospiralis, living in the host's cytoplasm, enables the infected paramecia to release Caedibacter symbionts, which can simultaneously produce a peculiar protein structure and a toxin. The ingestion of bacteria that harbor both components leads to the death of symbiont-free congeners. Thus, the symbiosis provides Caedibacter-infected cells a competitive advantage, the "killer trait." We characterized the adaptive gene expression patterns in symbiont-harboring Paramecium as a second symbiosis-derived aspect next to the killer phenotype. Comparative transcriptomics of infected P. tetraurelia and genetically identical symbiont-free cells confirmed altered gene expression in the symbiont-bearing line. Our results show up-regulation of specific metabolic and heat shock genes whereas down-regulated genes were involved in signaling pathways and cell cycle regulation. Functional analyses to validate the transcriptomics results demonstrated that the symbiont increases host density hence providing a fitness advantage. Comparative transcriptomics shows gene expression modulation of a ciliate caused by its bacterial endosymbiont thus revealing new adaptive advantages of the symbiosis. Caedibacter taeniospiralis apparently increases its host fitness via manipulation of metabolic pathways and cell cycle control.}, } @article {pmid29390076, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhu, FC and He, LS and Danchin, A}, title = {Unique tRNA gene profile suggests paucity of nucleotide modifications in anticodons of a deep-sea symbiotic Spiroplasma.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {2197-2203}, pmid = {29390076}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Amino Acids/genetics ; Anticodon/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Codon/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Nucleotides/*genetics ; *Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Transfer/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Spiroplasma/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The position 34 of a tRNA is always modified for efficient recognition of codons and accurate integration of amino acids by the translation machinery. Here, we report genomics features of a deep-sea gut symbiotic Spiroplasma, which suggests that the organism does not require tRNA(34) anticodon modifications. In the genome, there is a novel set of tRNA genes composed of 32 species for recognition of the 20 amino acids. Among the anticodons of the tRNAs, we witnessed the presence of both U34- and C34-containing tRNAs required to decode NNR (A/G) 2:2 codons as countermeasure of probable loss of anticodon modification genes. In the tRNA fragments detected in the gut transcriptome, mismatches expected to be caused by some tRNA modifications were not shown in their alignments with the corresponding genes. However, the probable paucity of modified anticodons did not fundamentally change the codon usage pattern of the Spiroplasma. The tRNA gene profile that probably resulted from the paucity of tRNA(34) modifications was not observed in other symbionts and deep-sea bacteria, indicating that this phenomenon was an evolutionary dead-end. This study provides insights on co-evolution of translation machine and tRNA genes and steric constraints of codon-anticodon interactions in deep-sea extreme environment.}, } @article {pmid29390017, year = {2018}, author = {Dromard, CR and Bouchon-Navaro, Y and Cordonnier, S and Guéné, M and Harmelin-Vivien, M and Bouchon, C}, title = {Different transfer pathways of an organochlorine pesticide across marine tropical food webs assessed with stable isotope analysis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e0191335}, pmid = {29390017}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; Chlordecone/*analysis ; Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Fishes ; *Food Chain ; Insecticides/*analysis ; Invertebrates ; Nitrogen Isotopes/*analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Chlordecone is a persistent organochlorine pesticide used in the banana fields of the French West Indies from 1972 to 1993. Three marine habitats (mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs) of two study sites located downstream contaminated rivers were chosen to evaluate the level of contamination of marine food webs. On each habitat, the food chain collected included suspended organic matter, primary producers (macroalgae, algal turf, seagrass), zooplankton, symbiotic organisms (corals, sea anemones), primary consumers (herbivores, suspension feeders, biofilm feeders), omnivores and detritivores (lobsters, fish), secondary consumers (carnivores 1: invertebrate feeders, planktivores) and tertiary consumers (carnivores 2: invertebrate and fish feeders, piscivores). Log-linear regressions of the concentrations of chlordecone versus nitrogen isotopic ratios (δ15N) were used to assess the bioaccumulation of chlordecone along trophic food webs. At each site, bioconcentration and bioamplification take part on the transfer of chlordecone in marine organisms. In mangroves (i.e. close to the source of pollution), lower trophic magnification factors (TMF) indicated that bioconcentration prevailed over bioamplification phenomenon. The opposite phenomenon appeared on coral reefs in which bioconcentration processes were less important and bioamplification pathway became dominant. Far from the source of pollution, molecules of chlordecone seemed to be transfered to organisms mostly via trophic interactions rather than water contact.}, } @article {pmid29388883, year = {2017}, author = {Huang, YT and Kolařík, M and Kasson, MT and Hulcr, J}, title = {Two new Geosmithia species in G. pallida species complex from bark beetles in eastern USA.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {5}, pages = {790-803}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1410422}, pmid = {29388883}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Hypocreales/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; RNA Polymerase II/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tubulin/genetics ; United States ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Species of Geosmithia are cosmopolitan but understudied fungi, and most are associated with phloem-feeding bark beetles on various woody hosts. We surveyed 207 bark and ambrosia beetles from 37 species in the eastern USA for associated fungi. The community is dominated by species in the G. pallida species complex (GPSC) and included several Geosmithia isolates that appear to be new to science. The new Geosmithia isolates exhibited the characteristic brownish-colored colonies typical for the G. pallida species complex and were phylogenetically resolved as two genealogically exclusive lineages based on a concatenated multilocus data set based on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuc rDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α), β-tubulin (TUB2), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes. Two new Geosmithia species, G. brunnea and G. proliferans, are proposed, and their morphological traits and phylogenetic placements are presented.}, } @article {pmid29387157, year = {2018}, author = {Käch, H and Mathé-Hubert, H and Dennis, AB and Vorburger, C}, title = {Rapid evolution of symbiont-mediated resistance compromises biological control of aphids by parasitoids.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {220-230}, pmid = {29387157}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {There is growing interest in biological control as a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to control pest insects. Aphids are among the most detrimental agricultural pests worldwide, and parasitoid wasps are frequently employed for their control. The use of asexual parasitoids may improve the effectiveness of biological control because only females kill hosts and because asexual populations have a higher growth rate than sexuals. However, asexuals may have a reduced capacity to track evolutionary change in their host populations. We used a factorial experiment to compare the ability of sexual and asexual populations of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum to control caged populations of black bean aphids (Aphis fabae) of high and low clonal diversity. The aphids came from a natural population, and one-third of the aphid clones harbored Hamiltonella defensa, a heritable bacterial endosymbiont that increases resistance to parasitoids. We followed aphid and parasitoid population dynamics for 3 months but found no evidence that the reproductive mode of parasitoids affected their effectiveness as biocontrol agents, independent of host clonal diversity. Parasitoids failed to control aphids in most cases, because their introduction resulted in strong selection for clones protected by H. defensa. The increasingly resistant aphid populations escaped control by parasitoids, and we even observed parasitoid extinctions in many cages. The rapid evolution of symbiont-conferred resistance in turn imposed selection on parasitoids. In cages where asexual parasitoids persisted until the end of the experiment, they became dominated by a single genotype able to overcome the protection provided by H. defensa. Thus, there was evidence for parasitoid counteradaptation, but it was generally too slow for parasitoids to regain control over aphid populations. It appears that when pest aphids possess defensive symbionts, the presence of parasitoid genotypes able to overcome symbiont-conferred resistance is more important for biocontrol success than their reproductive mode.}, } @article {pmid29387048, year = {2017}, author = {Picchianti-Diamanti, A and Rosado, MM and D'Amelio, R}, title = {Infectious Agents and Inflammation: The Role of Microbiota in Autoimmune Arthritis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2696}, pmid = {29387048}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In higher vertebrates, mucosal sites at the border between the internal and external environments, directly interact with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Through co-evolution, hosts developed mechanisms of tolerance or ignorance toward some infectious agents, because hosts established "gain of function" interactions with symbiotic bacteria. Indeed, some bacteria assist hosts in different functions, among which are digestion of complex carbohydrates, and absorption and supply of vitamins. There is no doubt that microbiota modulate innate and acquired immune responses starting at birth. However, variations in quality and quantity of bacterial species interfere with the equilibrium between inflammation and tolerance. In fact, correlations between gut bacteria composition and the severity of inflammation were first described for inflammatory bowel diseases and later extended to other pathologies. The genetic background, environmental factors (e.g., stress or smoking), and diet can induce strong changes in the resident bacteria which can expose the intestinal epithelium to a variety of different metabolites, many of which have unknown functions and consequences. In addition, alterations in gut permeability may allow pathogens entry, thereby triggering infection and/or chronic inflammation. In this context, a local event occurring at a mucosal site may be the triggering cause of an autoimmune reaction that eventually involves distant sites or organs. Recently, several studies attributed a pathogenic role to altered oral microbiota in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to gut dysbiosis in spondyloarthritis (SpA). There is also growing evidence that different drugs, such as antibiotics and immunosuppressants, can influence and be influenced by the diversity and composition of microbiota in RA and SpA patients. Hence, in complex disorders such RA and SpA, not only the genetic background, gender, and immunologic context of the individual are relevant, but also the history of infections and the structure of the microbial community at mucosal sites should be considered. Here the role of the microbiota and infections in the initiation and progression of chronic arthritis is discussed, as well as how these factors can influence a patient's response to synthetic and biologic immunosuppressive therapy.}, } @article {pmid29385567, year = {2018}, author = {Urbarova, I and Patel, H and Forêt, S and Karlsen, BO and Jørgensen, TE and Hall-Spencer, JM and Johansen, SD}, title = {Elucidating the Small Regulatory RNA Repertoire of the Sea Anemone Anemonia viridis Based on Whole Genome and Small RNA Sequencing.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {410-426}, pmid = {29385567}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Loci ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/*genetics ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {Cnidarians harbor a variety of small regulatory RNAs that include microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), but detailed information is limited. Here, we report the identification and expression of novel miRNAs and putative piRNAs, as well as their genomic loci, in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. We generated a draft assembly of the A. viridis genome with putative size of 313 Mb that appeared to be composed of about 36% repeats, including known transposable elements. We detected approximately equal fractions of DNA transposons and retrotransposons. Deep sequencing of small RNA libraries constructed from A. viridis adults sampled at a natural CO2 gradient off Vulcano Island, Italy, identified 70 distinct miRNAs. Eight were homologous to previously reported miRNAs in cnidarians, whereas 62 appeared novel. Nine miRNAs were recognized as differentially expressed along the natural seawater pH gradient. We found a highly abundant and diverse population of piRNAs, with a substantial fraction showing ping-pong signatures. We identified nearly 22% putative piRNAs potentially targeting transposable elements within the A. viridis genome. The A. viridis genome appeared similar in size to that of other hexacorals with a very high divergence of transposable elements resembling that of the sea anemone genus Exaiptasia. The genome encodes and expresses a high number of small regulatory RNAs, which include novel miRNAs and piRNAs. Differentially expressed small RNAs along the seawater pH gradient indicated regulatory gene responses to environmental stressors.}, } @article {pmid29385535, year = {2018}, author = {Cammack, KM and Austin, KJ and Lamberson, WR and Conant, GC and Cunningham, HC}, title = {RUMINANT NUTRITION SYMPOSIUM: Tiny but mighty: the role of the rumen microbes in livestock production.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {96}, number = {2}, pages = {752-770}, pmid = {29385535}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/physiology ; Livestock/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nutritional Status ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Ruminants/*microbiology/physiology ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {The microbes inhabiting the rumen convert low-quality, fibrous, plant material into useable energy for the host ruminant. Consisting of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and viruses, the rumen microbiome composes a sophisticated network of symbiosis essential to maintenance, immune function, and overall production efficiency of the host ruminant. Robert Hungate laid the foundation for rumen microbiome research. This area of research has expanded immensely with advances in methodology and technology that have not only improved the ability to describe microbes in taxonomic and density terms but also characterize populations of microbes, their functions, and their interactions with each other and the host. The interplay between the rumen microbiome and the host contributes to variation in many phenotypic traits expressed by the host animal. A better understanding of how the rumen microbiome influences host health and performance may lead to novel strategies and treatments for trait improvement. Furthermore, elucidation of maternal, genetic, and environmental factors that influence rumen microbiome establishment and development may provide novel insights into possible mechanisms for manipulating the rumen microbial composition to enhance long-term host health and performance. The potential for these tiny but mighty rumen microbes to play a role in improving livestock production is appreciated despite being relatively obscure.}, } @article {pmid29382487, year = {2017}, author = {Herrera, Y and Contreras, S and Hernández, M and Álvarez, L and Mora, Y and Encarnación-Guevara, S}, title = {Displacers improve the selectivity of phosphopeptide enrichment by metal oxide affinity chromatography.}, journal = {Boletin medico del Hospital Infantil de Mexico}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {200-207}, doi = {10.1016/j.bmhimx.2017.03.008}, pmid = {29382487}, issn = {1665-1146}, mesh = {Chromatography, Affinity/*methods ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional/methods ; Phaseolus/metabolism ; Phosphopeptides/*analysis ; Phosphoproteins/*analysis ; Phosphorylation ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Titanium/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A key process in cell regulation is protein phosphorylation, which is catalyzed by protein kinases and phosphatases. However, phosphoproteomics studies are difficult because of the complexity of protein phosphorylation and the number of phosphorylation sites.

METHODS: We describe an efficient approach analyzing phosphopeptides in single, separated protein by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In this method, a titanium oxide (TiO2)-packed NuTip is used as a phosphopeptide trap, together with displacers as lactic acid in the loading buffer to increase the efficiency of the interaction between TiO2 and phosphorylated peptides.

RESULTS: The results were obtained from the comparison of mass spectra of proteolytic peptides of proteins with a matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) instrument.

CONCLUSIONS: This method has been applied to identifying phosphoproteins involved in the symbiosis Rhizobium etli-Phaseolus vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid29381218, year = {2018}, author = {Looney, BP and Meidl, P and Piatek, MJ and Miettinen, O and Martin, FM and Matheny, PB and Labbé, JL}, title = {Russulaceae: a new genomic dataset to study ecosystem function and evolutionary diversification of ectomycorrhizal fungi with their tree associates.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {1}, pages = {54-65}, doi = {10.1111/nph.15001}, pmid = {29381218}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; *Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The family Russulaceae is considered an iconic lineage of mostly mushroom-forming basidiomycetes due to their importance as edible mushrooms in many parts of the world, and their ubiquity as ectomycorrhizal symbionts in both temperate and tropical forested biomes. Although much research has been focused on this group, a comprehensive or cohesive synthesis by which to understand the functional diversity of the group has yet to develop. Interest in ectomycorrhizal fungi, of which Russulaceae is a key lineage, is prodigious due to the important roles they play as plant root mutualists in ecosystem functioning, global carbon sequestration, and a potential role in technology development toward environmental sustainability. As one of the most species-diverse ectomycorrhizal lineages, the Russulaceae has recently been the focus of a dense sampling and genome sequencing initiative with the Joint Genome Institute aimed at untangling their functional roles and testing whether functional niche specialization exists for independent lineages of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Here we present a review of important studies on this group to contextualize what we know about its members' evolutionary history and ecosystem functions, as well as to generate hypotheses establishing the Russulaceae as a valuable experimental system.}, } @article {pmid29380692, year = {2019}, author = {Ji, J and Qu, H}, title = {Cross-regulatory Circuit Between AHR and Microbiota.}, journal = {Current drug metabolism}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {4-8}, doi = {10.2174/1389200219666180129151150}, pmid = {29380692}, issn = {1875-5453}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; Xenobiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbes have a close symbiotic relationship with their host. Interactions between host and the microbiota affect the nutritional, immunological, and physiological status of the host. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) is a ligand activated transcription factor that mediates the toxicity of xenobiotics. Recently, the relationship between the gut microbiota and AHR has attracted the attention of many researchers.

METHODS: We undertook a structured search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature.

RESULTS: We found and reviewed 49 peer-reviewed papers dealing with the major aspects related to the crosstalk between AHR and microbiota. The AHR influences the intestinal microbiota population and mediates host-microbe homeostasis. Interestingly, the gut microbiota also produces ligands of AHR from bacterial metabolism and thereby activates the AHR signaling pathway. Concusion: This review presents current knowledge of the cross-regulatory circuit between the AHR and intestinal microbiota. The findings of this review confirm the importance of AHR-microbiota interactions in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid29380361, year = {2018}, author = {Shapiro, JW and Turner, PE}, title = {Evolution of mutualism from parasitism in experimental virus populations.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {707-712}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13440}, pmid = {29380361}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Bacteriophage M13/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Escherichia coli/*physiology/*virology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While theory suggests conditions under which mutualism may evolve from parasitism, few studies have observed this transition empirically. Previously, we evolved Escherichia coli and the filamentous bacteriophage M13 in 96-well microplates, an environment in which the ancestral phage increased the growth rate and yield of the ancestral bacteria. In the majority of populations, mutualism was maintained or even enhanced between phages and coevolving bacteria; however, these same phages evolved traits that harmed the ancestral E. coli genotype. Here, we set out to determine if mutualism could evolve from this new parasitic interaction. To do so, we chose six evolved phage populations from the original experiment and used them to establish new infections of the ancestral bacteria. After 20 passages, mutualism evolved in almost all replicates, with the remainder growing commensally. Many phage populations also evolved to benefit both their local, evolving bacteria and the ancestral bacteria, though these phages were less beneficial to their co-occurring hosts than phages that harm the ancestral bacteria. These results demonstrate the rapid recovery of mutualism from parasitism, and we discuss how our findings relate to the evolution of phages that enhance the virulence of bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29380303, year = {2018}, author = {Farzi, A and Fröhlich, EE and Holzer, P}, title = {Gut Microbiota and the Neuroendocrine System.}, journal = {Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {5-22}, pmid = {29380303}, issn = {1878-7479}, support = {P 23097/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; W1241-B18//Austrian Science Fund/International ; P25912-B23//Austrian Science Fund/International ; P23097-B18//Austrian Science Fund/International ; P 25912/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects ; Dysbiosis/chemically induced/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Hormones/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/*microbiology ; Mice ; Pituitary-Adrenal System/*microbiology ; Stress, Psychological/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The microbial ecosystem that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of all mammals-the gut microbiota-has been in a symbiotic relationship with its hosts over many millennia. Thanks to modern technology, the myriad of functions that are controlled or modulated by the gut microbiota are beginning to unfold. One of the systems that is emerging to closely interact with the gut microbiota is the body's major neuroendocrine system that controls various body processes in response to stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This interaction is of pivotal importance; as various disorders of the microbiota-gut-brain axis are associated with dysregulation of the HPA axis. The present contribution describes the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the HPA axis and delineates the potential underlying mechanisms. In this regard, it is important to note that the communication between the gut microbiota and the HPA axis is closely interrelated with other systems, such as the immune system, the intestinal barrier and blood-brain barrier, microbial metabolites, and gut hormones, as well as the sensory and autonomic nervous systems. These communication pathways will be exemplified through preclinical models of early life stress, beneficial roles of probiotics and prebiotics, evidence from germ-free mice, and antibiotic-induced modulation of the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid29379685, year = {2018}, author = {Evans, N}, title = {Molecular phylogenetics of swimming crabs (Portunoidea Rafinesque, 1815) supports a revised family-level classification and suggests a single derived origin of symbiotic taxa.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {e4260}, pmid = {29379685}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Portunoidea is a diverse lineage of ecologically and economically important marine crabs comprising 8 families and 14 subfamilies. Closely related portunid subfamilies Caphyrinae and Thalamitinae constitute some of this group's greatest morphological and taxonomic diversity, and are the only known lineages to include symbiotic taxa. Emergence of symbiosis in decapods remains poorly studied and portunoid crabs provide an interesting, but often overlooked example. Yet the paucity of molecular phylogenetic data available for Portunoidea makes it challenging to investigate the evolution and systematics of the group. Phylogenetic analyses, though limited, suggest that many putative portunoid taxa are para- or polyphyletic. Here I augment existing molecular data-significantly increasing taxon sampling of Caphyrinae, Thalamitinae, and several disparate portunoid lineages-to investigate the phylogenetic origin of symbiosis within Portunoidea and reevaluate higher- and lower-level portunoid classifications. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out on sequences of H3, 28S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and CO1 for up to 168 portunoid taxa; this included, for the first time, molecular data from the genera Atoportunus, Brusinia, Caphyra, Coelocarcinus, Gonioinfradens, Raymanninus, and Thalamonyx. Results support the placement of all symbiotic taxa (Caphyra, Lissocarcinus, and two Thalamita) in a single clade derived within the thalamitine genus Thalamita. Caphyrina Paulson, 1875, nom. trans. is recognized here as a subtribe within the subfamily Thalamitinae. Results also support the following taxonomic actions: Cronius is reclassified as a thalamitine genus; Thalamonyx is reestablished as a valid genus; Goniosupradens is raised to the generic rank; and three new genera (Zygita gen. nov., Thranita gen. nov., and Trierarchus gen. nov.) are described to accommodate some Thalamita s.l. taxa rendered paraphyletic by Caphyrina. A new diagnosis of Thalamitinae is provided. Results also support a more conservative classification of Portunoidea comprising three instead of eight extant families: Geryonidae (Geryonidae + Ovalipidae; new diagnosis provided), Carcinidae (Carcinidae + Pirimelidae + Polybiidae + Thiidae + Coelocarcinus; new diagnosis provided) and Portunidae. Finally, 16s rRNA data suggests family Brusiniidae might not be a portunoid lineage.}, } @article {pmid29379177, year = {2018}, author = {Baker, DM and Freeman, CJ and Wong, JCY and Fogel, ML and Knowlton, N}, title = {Climate change promotes parasitism in a coral symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {921-930}, pmid = {29379177}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coastal oceans are increasingly eutrophic, warm and acidic through the addition of anthropogenic nitrogen and carbon, respectively. Among the most sensitive taxa to these changes are scleractinian corals, which engineer the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Corals' sensitivity is a consequence of their evolutionary investment in symbiosis with the dinoflagellate alga, Symbiodinium. Together, the coral holobiont has dominated oligotrophic tropical marine habitats. However, warming destabilizes this association and reduces coral fitness. It has been theorized that, when reefs become warm and eutrophic, mutualistic Symbiodinium sequester more resources for their own growth, thus parasitizing their hosts of nutrition. Here, we tested the hypothesis that sub-bleaching temperature and excess nitrogen promotes symbiont parasitism by measuring respiration (costs) and the assimilation and translocation of both carbon (energy) and nitrogen (growth; both benefits) within Orbicella faveolata hosting one of two Symbiodinium phylotypes using a dual stable isotope tracer incubation at ambient (26 °C) and sub-bleaching (31 °C) temperatures under elevated nitrate. Warming to 31 °C reduced holobiont net primary productivity (NPP) by 60% due to increased respiration which decreased host %carbon by 15% with no apparent cost to the symbiont. Concurrently, Symbiodinium carbon and nitrogen assimilation increased by 14 and 32%, respectively while increasing their mitotic index by 15%, whereas hosts did not gain a proportional increase in translocated photosynthates. We conclude that the disparity in benefits and costs to both partners is evidence of symbiont parasitism in the coral symbiosis and has major implications for the resilience of coral reefs under threat of global change.}, } @article {pmid29378510, year = {2018}, author = {Klonowska, A and Melkonian, R and Miché, L and Tisseyre, P and Moulin, L}, title = {Transcriptomic profiling of Burkholderia phymatum STM815, Cupriavidus taiwanensis LMG19424 and Rhizobium mesoamericanum STM3625 in response to Mimosa pudica root exudates illuminates the molecular basis of their nodulation competitiveness and symbiotic evolutionary history.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {105}, pmid = {29378510}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {ANR-09-JCJC-0046//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/International ; }, mesh = {Burkholderia/*genetics/metabolism ; Cupriavidus/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Bacterial ; Microbial Interactions ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobial symbionts belong to the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria (called "alpha" and "beta"-rhizobia). Most knowledge on the genetic basis of symbiosis is based on model strains belonging to alpha-rhizobia. Mimosa pudica is a legume that offers an excellent opportunity to study the adaptation toward symbiotic nitrogen fixation in beta-rhizobia compared to alpha-rhizobia. In a previous study (Melkonian et al., Environ Microbiol 16:2099-111, 2014) we described the symbiotic competitiveness of M. pudica symbionts belonging to Burkholderia, Cupriavidus and Rhizobium species.

RESULTS: In this article we present a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes (by RNAseq) of B. phymatum STM815 (BP), C. taiwanensis LMG19424 (CT) and R. mesoamericanum STM3625 (RM) in conditions mimicking the early steps of symbiosis (i.e. perception of root exudates). BP exhibited the strongest transcriptome shift both quantitatively and qualitatively, which mirrors its high competitiveness in the early steps of symbiosis and its ancient evolutionary history as a symbiont, while CT had a minimal response which correlates with its status as a younger symbiont (probably via acquisition of symbiotic genes from a Burkholderia ancestor) and RM had a typical response of Alphaproteobacterial rhizospheric bacteria. Interestingly, the upregulation of nodulation genes was the only common response among the three strains; the exception was an up-regulated gene encoding a putative fatty acid hydroxylase, which appears to be a novel symbiotic gene specific to Mimosa symbionts.

CONCLUSION: The transcriptional response to root exudates was correlated to each strain nodulation competitiveness, with Burkholderia phymatum appearing as the best specialised symbiont of Mimosa pudica.}, } @article {pmid29378337, year = {2018}, author = {Lurthy, T and Alloisio, N and Fournier, P and Anchisi, S and Ponsero, A and Normand, P and Pujic, P and Boubakri, H}, title = {Molecular response to nitrogen starvation by Frankia alni ACN14a revealed by transcriptomics and functional analysis with a fosmid library in Escherichia coli.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {169}, number = {2}, pages = {90-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2017.12.002}, pmid = {29378337}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Alnus/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/*genetics/metabolism ; Frankia/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Library ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The transcriptome of Frankia alni strain ACN14a was compared between in vitro ammonium-replete (N-replete) and ammonium-free dinitrogen-fixing (N-fixing) conditions using DNA arrays. A Welch-test (p < 0.05) revealed significant upregulation of 252 genes under N-fixing vs. N-replete (fold-change (FC) ≥ 2), as well as significant downregulation of 48 other genes (FC ≤ 0.5). Interestingly, there were 104 Frankia genes upregulated in vitro that were also significantly upregulated in symbiosis with Alnus glutinosa, while the other 148 genes were not, showing that the physiology of in vitro fixation is markedly different from that under symbiotic conditions. In particular,in vitro fixing cells were seen to upregulate genes identified as coding for a nitrite reductase, and amidases that were not upregulated in symbiosis. Confirmatory assays for nitrite reductase showed that Frankia indeed reduced nitrite and used it as a nitrogen source. An Escherichia coli fosmid clone carrying the nirB region was able to grow better in the presence of 5 mM nitrite than without it, confirming the function of the genome region. The physiological pattern that emerges shows that Frankia undergoes nitrogen starvation that induces a molecular response different from that seen in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29377943, year = {2018}, author = {Liang, JF and An, J and Gao, JQ and Zhang, XY and Yu, FH}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil nutrient addition on the growth of Phragmites australis under different drying-rewetting cycles.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0191999}, pmid = {29377943}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Poaceae/*growth & development ; *Soil ; Wetlands ; }, abstract = {The frequency of soil drying-rewetting cycles is predicted to increase under future global climate change, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic with most plants. However, it remains unknown how AMF affect plant growth under different frequencies of soil drying-rewetting cycles. We subjected a clonal wetland plant Phragmites australis to three frequencies of drying-rewetting cycles (1, 2, or 4 cycles), two nutrient treatments (with or without), and two AMF treatments (with or without) for 64 days. AMF promoted the growth of P. australis, especially in the 2 cycles of the drying-rewetting treatment. AMF had a significant positive effect on leaf mass and number of ramets in the 2 cycles of the drying-rewetting treatment with nutrient addition. In the 2 cycles of drying-rewetting treatment without nutrient addition, AMF increased leaf area and decreased belowground to aboveground biomass ratio. These results indicate that AMF may assist P. australis in coping with medium frequency of drying-rewetting cycles, and provide theoretical guidance for predicting how wetland plants respond to future global climate change.}, } @article {pmid29377905, year = {2018}, author = {Bird, C and Darling, KF and Russell, AD and Fehrenbacher, JS and Davis, CV and Free, A and Ngwenya, BT}, title = {16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and TEM reveals different ecological strategies within the genus Neogloboquadrina (planktonic foraminifer).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0191653}, pmid = {29377905}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Rhizaria/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Uncovering the complexities of trophic and metabolic interactions among microorganisms is essential for the understanding of marine biogeochemical cycling and modelling climate-driven ecosystem shifts. High-throughput DNA sequencing methods provide valuable tools for examining these complex interactions, although this remains challenging, as many microorganisms are difficult to isolate, identify and culture. We use two species of planktonic foraminifera from the climatically susceptible, palaeoceanographically important genus Neogloboquadrina, as ideal test microorganisms for the application of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and Neogloboquadrina incompta were collected from the California Current and subjected to either 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, fluorescence microscopy, or transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate their species-specific trophic interactions and potential symbiotic associations. 53-99% of 16S rRNA gene sequences recovered from two specimens of N. dutertrei were assigned to a single operational taxonomic unit (OTU) from a chloroplast of the phylum Stramenopile. TEM observations confirmed the presence of numerous intact coccoid algae within the host cell, consistent with algal symbionts. Based on sequence data and observed ultrastructure, we taxonomically assign the putative algal symbionts to Pelagophyceae and not Chrysophyceae, as previously reported in this species. In addition, our data shows that N. dutertrei feeds on protists within particulate organic matter (POM), but not on bacteria as a major food source. In total contrast, of OTUs recovered from three N. incompta specimens, 83-95% were assigned to bacterial classes Alteromonadales and Vibrionales of the order Gammaproteobacteria. TEM demonstrates that these bacteria are a food source, not putative symbionts. Contrary to the current view that non-spinose foraminifera are predominantly herbivorous, neither N. dutertrei nor N. incompta contained significant numbers of phytoplankton OTUs. We present an alternative view of their trophic interactions and discuss these results within the context of modelling global planktonic foraminiferal abundances in response to high-latitude climate change.}, } @article {pmid29375793, year = {2018}, author = {Matthews, AE and Larkin, JL and Raybuck, DW and Slevin, MC and Stoleson, SH and Boves, TJ}, title = {Feather mite abundance varies but symbiotic nature of mite-host relationship does not differ between two ecologically dissimilar warblers.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {1227-1238}, pmid = {29375793}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Feather mites are obligatory ectosymbionts of birds that primarily feed on the oily secretions from the uropygial gland. Feather mite abundance varies within and among host species and has various effects on host condition and fitness, but there is little consensus on factors that drive variation of this symbiotic system. We tested hypotheses regarding how within-species and among-species traits explain variation in both (1) mite abundance and (2) relationships between mite abundance and host body condition and components of host fitness (reproductive performance and apparent annual survival). We focused on two closely related (Parulidae), but ecologically distinct, species: Setophaga cerulea (Cerulean Warbler), a canopy dwelling open-cup nester, and Protonotaria citrea (Prothonotary Warbler), an understory dwelling, cavity nester. We predicted that feather mites would be more abundant on and have a more parasitic relationship with P. citrea, and within P. citrea, females and older individuals would harbor greater mite abundances. We captured, took body measurements, quantified feather mite abundance on individuals' primaries and rectrices, and monitored individuals and their nests to estimate fitness. Feather mite abundance differed by species, but in the opposite direction of our prediction. There was no relationship between mite abundance and any measure of body condition or fitness for either species or sex (also contrary to our predictions). Our results suggest that species biology and ecological context may influence mite abundance on hosts. However, this pattern does not extend to differential effects of mites on measures of host body condition or fitness.}, } @article {pmid29375607, year = {2017}, author = {Ray, P and Guo, Y and Kolape, J and Craven, KD}, title = {Non-targeted Colonization by the Endomycorrhizal Fungus, Serendipita vermifera, in Three Weeds Typically Co-occurring with Switchgrass.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2236}, pmid = {29375607}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Serendipita vermifera (=Sebacina vermifera; isolate MAFF305830) is a mycorrhizal fungus originally isolated from the roots of an Australian orchid that we have previously shown to be beneficial in enhancing biomass yield and drought tolerance in switchgrass, an important bioenergy crop for cellulosic ethanol production in the United States. However, almost nothing is known about how this root-associated fungus proliferates and grows through the soil matrix. Such information is critical to evaluate the possibility of non-target effects, such as unintended spread to weedy plants growing near a colonized switchgrass plant in a field environment. A microcosm experiment was conducted to study movement of vegetative mycelia of S. vermifera between intentionally inoculated switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and nearby weeds. We constructed size-exclusion microcosms to test three different common weeds, large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.), Texas panicum (Panicum texanum L.), and Broadleaf signalgrass (Brachiaria platyphylla L.), all species that typically co-occur in Southern Oklahoma and potentially compete with switchgrass. We report that such colonization of non-target plants by S. vermifera can indeed occur, seemingly via co-mingled root systems. As a consequence of colonization, significant enhancement of growth was noted in signalgrass, while a mild increase (albeit not significant) was evident in crabgrass. Migration of the fungus seems unlikely in root-free bulk soil, as we failed to see transmission when the roots were kept separate. This research is the first documentation of non-targeted colonization of this unique root symbiotic fungus and highlights the need for such assessments prior to deployment of biological organisms in the field.}, } @article {pmid29375374, year = {2017}, author = {Li, M and Gao, J and Tang, Y and Liu, M and Wu, S and Qu, K and Long, X and Li, H and Liu, M and Liu, Y and Yuan, J and Mao, L and Liu, Y and Zheng, X and Wang, E and Wang, J and Yang, Y}, title = {Traditional Herbal Medicine-Derived Sulforaphene LFS-01 Reverses Colitis in Mice by Selectively Altering the Gut Microbiota and Promoting Intestinal Gamma-Delta T Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {959}, pmid = {29375374}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Sulforaphene (LFS-01) is a natural compound derived from traditional herbal medicine. Here, we show that oral administration of LFS-01 is able to dramatically alter the skewed gut microbiota and reverse colitis in model mice associated with an increase of intestinal γδT cells. Through 16S rDNA sequencing, we showed that LFS-01 can selectively suppress enteric pathogens such as Escherichia-Shigella and Helicobacter whereas the protective strains including Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae were significantly expanded after LFS-01 treatment. Interestingly, we demonstrated that LFS-01 administration can significantly promote the IL-17+γδT cells in model mice in response to the expanded Lactobacillus. We verified that the intracellular components of Lactobacillus can stimulate the growth of IL-17+γδT cells upon preincubation. The increased IL-17A after LFS-01 treatment in turn recovers the disrupted occludin subcellular location and protects the epithelial barrier in the colon of model mice. Remarkably, LFS-01 does not show apparent toxicity to animals and we demonstrated that LFS-01 also exerts strong protective effects in TNBS-induced colitis rats. Therefore, LFS-01 holds great promise for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and warrants translation for use in clinical trials. Our work provided a new avenue for the treatment of IBD based on the strategy of harnessing intestinal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29375025, year = {2018}, author = {Nishizuka, H and Hashidoko, Y}, title = {Comparison of Nostocean hormogonium induction and its motility on solid plates between agar and gellan gum at varying gel matrix concentrations.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {525-531}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2017.1420464}, pmid = {29375025}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Agar/*pharmacology ; Biological Assay ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Movement/*drug effects ; Cyanobacteria/*cytology/*drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {To establish a sensitive bioassay for Nostocean hormogonium induction, we compared the effectiveness of the morpho-differentiation induction on two gelled plates, agar and gellan gum, for anacardic acid C15:1-Δ[8] decyl ester (1) (100 nmol/disc). On BG-110 (nitrogen-free) medium-based 0.6 and 0.8% agar plates, Nostoc sp. strain Yaku-1 isolated from a coralloid root of Cycas revoluta in Yakushima Island showed clear morpho-differentiation from filamentous aggregates into hormogonia, and the induced hormogonia dispersed within 24 h; however, similar hormogonium formation was not observed at agar concentrations of 1.0% or higher. Conversely, hormogonium induction was considerably more pronounced on gellan gum plates than those on agar plates through concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 1.6% even after 12 h of incubation, particularly active on the 0.8-1.0% gellan gum plates. Thus, gellan gum plates can achieve clear results within 12 h and are thus highly useful for primary screening for hormogonium-inducing factors (HIFs).}, } @article {pmid29374433, year = {2017}, author = {Muszyńska, B and Lazur, J and Dobosz, K}, title = {[Biological significance of edible mushrooms in mycoremediation].}, journal = {Postepy biochemii}, volume = {63}, number = {4}, pages = {326-334}, pmid = {29374433}, issn = {0032-5422}, mesh = {Agaricales/*metabolism ; *Diet ; *Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Xenobiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The importance of fungi in environmental remediation is due both to their ability to biotransformation of xenobiotics and to accumulate heavy metals. These processes depend primarily on the species, while the role of the species or systematic affiliation is less important, as is the strategy of symbiosis, for example: mycorrhiza, parasitism or saprophytism. The main factors controlling the absorption of metals by mushrooms are bioavailability and soil type, while xenobiotics are dependent on soil factors such as cation exchange capacity, pH, or organic matter content. The composition of the substrate is an important factor as there are large differences in the intake of individual substances. The composition, the amount of impurities present, but also the age of the mycelium that may be present in nature for many years or (compared) only for several months under culture conditions. It is a well-known fact that the content of mushroom fruiting bodies is correlated with the emission of pollutants.}, } @article {pmid29374426, year = {2017}, author = {Lipa, P and Kozieł, M and Janczarek, M}, title = {[Quorum sensing in Gram-negative bacteria: signal molecules, inhibitors and their potential therapeutic application].}, journal = {Postepy biochemii}, volume = {63}, number = {4}, pages = {242-260}, pmid = {29374426}, issn = {0032-5422}, mesh = {Bacterial Infections/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Humans ; Quorum Sensing/*drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Quorum Sensing (QS) is a phenomenon of chemical cell-to-cell communication consisting in the synthesis and secretion of signal molecules called autoinducers into the environment, which contribute in regulation of various physiological processes. QS was identified in different bacterial species, including symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. QS systems play a crucial role in regulation of expression of genes which control motility, biofilm formation, and synthesis of virulence factors by pathogenic bacteria. These systems recognize signal molecules of different specificity which belong to a few groups and enable intra- and interspecific communication of bacterial cells as well as communication with cells of eukaryotic organisms (hosts). Inhibition of QS called Quorum Quenching (QQ) is now regarded to be a promising strategy to combat bacterial infections. So far, a large group of substances of natural and synthetic origin with a function of QS inhibitors, which can have potential therapeutic applications, has been identified.}, } @article {pmid29374030, year = {2018}, author = {Mockler, BK and Kwong, WK and Moran, NA and Koch, H}, title = {Microbiome Structure Influences Infection by the Parasite Crithidia bombi in Bumble Bees.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29374030}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*parasitology ; Crithidia/*physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Texas ; }, abstract = {Recent declines in bumble bee populations are of great concern and have prompted critical evaluations of the role of pathogen introductions and host resistance in bee health. One factor that may influence host resilience when facing infection is the gut microbiota. Previous experiments with Bombus terrestris, a European bumble bee, showed that the gut microbiota can protect against Crithidia bombi, a widespread trypanosomatid parasite of bumble bees. However, the particular characteristics of the microbiome responsible for this protective effect have thus far eluded identification. Using wild and commercially sourced Bombus impatiens, an important North American pollinator, we conducted cross-wise microbiota transplants to naive hosts of both backgrounds and challenged them with a Crithidia parasite. As with B. terrestris, we find that microbiota-dependent protection against Crithidia operates in B. impatiens Lower Crithidia infection loads were experimentally associated with high microbiome diversity, large gut bacterial populations, and the presence of Apibacter, Lactobacillus Firm-5, and Gilliamella spp. in the gut community. These results indicate that even subtle differences between gut community structures can have a significant impact on a microbiome's ability to defend against parasite infections.IMPORTANCE Many wild bumble bee populations are under threat due to human activity, including through the introduction of pathogens via commercially raised bees. Recently, it was found that the bumble bee gut microbiota can help defend against a common parasite, Crithidia bombi, but the particular factors contributing to this protection are unknown. Using both wild and commercially raised bees, we conducted microbiota transplants to show that microbiome diversity, total gut bacterial load, and the presence of certain core members of the microbiota may all impact bee susceptibility to Crithidia infection. Bee origin (genetic background) was also a factor. Finally, by examining this phenomenon in a previously uninvestigated bee species, our study demonstrates that microbiome-mediated resistance to Crithidia is conserved across multiple bumble bee species. These findings highlight how intricate interactions between hosts, microbiomes, and parasites can have wide-ranging consequences for the health of ecologically important species.}, } @article {pmid29373064, year = {2017}, author = {Bellis, ES and Denver, DR}, title = {Natural Variation in Responses to Acute Heat and Cold Stress in a Sea Anemone Model System for Coral Bleaching.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {233}, number = {2}, pages = {168-181}, doi = {10.1086/694890}, pmid = {29373064}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Cold Temperature ; *Hot Temperature ; Models, Animal ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rising ocean temperatures disrupt the symbiosis between corals and their microalgae, accelerating global decline of coral reef ecosystems. Because of the difficulty of performing laboratory experiments with corals, the sea anemone Aiptasia has emerged as an important model system for molecular studies of coral bleaching and symbiosis. Here, we investigate natural variation in bleaching responses among different genetic lineages of Aiptasia. Both heat- and cold-induced paths to symbiosis breakdown were analyzed. Significant genetic variation in response to acute heat stress was observed, with severe bleaching of two Aiptasia strains from Hawaii but minimal bleaching of strains from the U.S. South Atlantic, including the strain used to generate the Aiptasia reference genome. Both strains from Hawaii hosted Symbiodinium type B1, whereas strains from the U.S. South Atlantic hosted type A4 or B2. In contrast to the results from exposures to acute heat stress, negligible variation was observed in response to a pulsed cold shock despite moderate bleaching across all strains. These results support our hypothesis that bleaching responses to distinct stressors are independent. Our findings emphasize the role of stress regime when predicting adaptive responses of symbiotic cnidarians to changing climates, because genetic variation may exist for some forms of stress-induced bleaching but not others.}, } @article {pmid29372423, year = {2018}, author = {Xu, L and Zhang, Y and Li, C and Wang, X and Liu, J and Friman, VP}, title = {Nocardioides astragali sp. nov., isolated from a nodule of wild Astragalus chrysopterus in northwestern China.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {7}, pages = {1157-1163}, pmid = {29372423}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Astragalus Plant/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Cell Wall/chemistry/metabolism ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {A Gram-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated HH06[T], was isolated from a nodule of Astragalus chrysopterus in northwestern China. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain is closely related to Nocardioides alpinus Cr7-14[T] and Nocardioides furvisabuli DSM 18445[T] with 98.5 and 98.1% similiarity, respectively. Growth was observed at 4-28 °C in R2A medium (optimum at 25 °C), at 10-30 °C in YMA and LB medium (optimum in both at 28 °C) and at pH 5.0-10.0 in R2A medium (optimum at pH 7.0-8.0). The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to contain LL-diaminopimelic acid as the principal diamino acid and MK-8(H4) was identified as the predominant menaquinone. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified glycolipids and two unidentified polar lipids. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C16:0 (32.8%) and C18:1 ω9c (15.1%). The DNA G+C content of strain HH06[T] was determined to be 71.4 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic properties and DNA-DNA relatedness, it is concluded that strain HH06[T] represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides astragali sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HH06[T] (= CGMCC 4.7327[T] = NBRC 112322[T]).}, } @article {pmid29372408, year = {2018}, author = {Sebastiana, M and da Silva, AB and Matos, AR and Alcântara, A and Silvestre, S and Malhó, R}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius reduces stress induced by drought in cork oak.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {247-258}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-018-0823-2}, pmid = {29372408}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; *Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Portugal ; Quercus/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated whether the performance of cork oak under drought could be improved by colonization with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius. Results show that inoculation alone had a positive effect on plant height, shoot biomass, shoot basal diameter, and root growth. Under drought, root growth of mycorrhizal plants was significantly increased showing that inoculation was effective in increasing tolerance to drought. In accordance, mycorrhizal plants subjected to drought showed less symptoms of stress when compared to non-mycorrhizal plants, such as lower concentration of soluble sugars and starch, increased ability to maintain fatty acid content and composition, and increased unsaturation level of membrane lipids. After testing some of the mechanisms suggested to contribute to the enhanced tolerance of mycorrhizal plants to drought, we could not find any by which Pisolithus tinctorius could benefit cork oak, at least under the drought conditions imposed in our experiment. Inoculation did not increase photosynthesis under drought, suggesting no effect in sustaining stomatal opening at low soil water content. Similarly, plant water status was not affected by inoculation suggesting that P. tinctorius does not contribute to an increased plant water uptake during drought. Inoculation did increase nitrogen concentration in plants but it was independent of the water status. Furthermore, no significant mycorrhizal effect on drought-induced ROS production or osmotic adjustment was detected, suggesting that these factors are not important for the improved drought tolerance triggered by P. tinctorius.}, } @article {pmid29371798, year = {2017}, author = {Lee, BH and Kwon, WJ and Kim, JY and Park, JS and Eom, AH}, title = {Differences among Endophytic Fungal Communities Isolated from the Roots of Cephalanthera longibracteata Collected from Different Sites in Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {312-317}, pmid = {29371798}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Orchidaceous plants have symbiotic relationships with endophytic fungi, including mycorrhizal fungi, which play important roles in the seed germination and growth of the host plants. In this study, endophytic fungal communities isolated from the roots of Cephalanthera longibracteata collected from three different sites in Korea were analyzed, and it was determined whether fungal communities were preferentially correlated with the sites. The fungal isolates were identified by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA. In total, 30 species of endophytic fungi, including two species of mycorrhizal fungi belonging to the genus Tulasnella, were identified. Leptodontidium orchidicola showed the highest frequency and was isolated from all root samples. Species diversity and richness were not significantly different among sites. However, the community structure of the endophytic fungi significantly differed among sites, suggesting that the site characteristics affected the community composition of the endophytic fungi colonizing the roots of C. longibracteata. Our findings will aid in developing methods involving the use of symbiotic fungi for orchid conservation and restoration in native habitats.}, } @article {pmid29370294, year = {2018}, author = {Kayano, Y and Tanaka, A and Takemoto, D}, title = {Two closely related Rho GTPases, Cdc42 and RacA, of the en-dophytic fungus Epichloë festucae have contrasting roles for ROS production and symbiotic infection synchronized with the host plant.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {e1006840}, pmid = {29370294}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Endophytes/metabolism/physiology ; Epichloe/metabolism/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Lolium/microbiology ; Organisms, Genetically Modified ; Plants/*microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein/genetics/*physiology ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/genetics/*physiology ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins/physiology ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae is an endophytic fungus which systemically colonizes temperate grasses to establish symbiotic associations. Maintaining symptomless infection is a key requirement for endophytes, a feature that distinguishes them from pathogenic fungi. While pathogenic fungi extend their hyphae by tip growth, hyphae of E. festucae systemically colonize the intercellular space of expanding host leaves via a unique mechanism of hyphal intercalary growth. This study reports that two homologous Rho GTPases, Cdc42 and RacA, have distinctive roles in the regulation of E. festucae growth in planta. Here we highlight the vital role of Cdc42 for intercalary hyphal growth, as well as involvement of RacA in regulation of hyphal network formation, and demonstrate the consequences of mutations in these genes on plant tissue infection. Functions of Cdc42 and RacA are mediated via interactions with BemA and NoxR respectively, which are expected components of the ROS producing NOX complex. Symbiotic defects found in the racA mutant were rescued by introduction of a Cdc42 with key amino acids substitutions crucial for RacA function, highlighting the significance of the specific interactions of these GTPases with BemA and NoxR for their functional differentiation in symbiotic infection.}, } @article {pmid29370287, year = {2018}, author = {Uhe, M and Hogekamp, C and Hartmann, RM and Hohnjec, N and Küster, H}, title = {The mycorrhiza-dependent defensin MtDefMd1 of Medicago truncatula acts during the late restructuring stages of arbuscule-containing cells.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0191841}, pmid = {29370287}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Defensins/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Models, Molecular ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Static Electricity ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Different symbiotic and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions involve the production of cysteine-rich antimicrobial defensins. In Medicago truncatula, the expression of four MtDefMd genes, encoding arbuscular mycorrhiza-dependent defensins containing an N-terminal signal peptide and exhibiting some differences to non-symbiotic defensins, raised over the time of fungal colonization. Whereas the MtDefMd1 and MtDefMd2 promoters were inactive in cells containing young arbuscules, cells with fully developed arbuscules displayed different levels of promoter activities, indicating an up-regulation towards later stages of arbuscule formation. MtDefMd1 and MtDefMd2 expression was absent or strongly down-regulated in mycorrhized ram1-1 and pt4-2 mutants, known for defects in arbuscule branching or premature arbuscule degeneration, respectively. A ~97% knock-down of MtDefMd1/MtDefMd2 expression did not significantly affect arbuscule size. Although overexpression of MtDefMd1 in arbuscule-containing cells led to an up-regulation of MtRam1, encoding a key transcriptional regulator of arbuscule formation, no morphological changes were evident. Co-localization of an MtDefMd1-mGFP6 fusion with additional, subcellular markers revealed that this defensin is associated with arbuscules in later stages of their life-cycle. MtDefMd1-mGFP6 was detected in cells with older arbuscules about to collapse, and ultimately in vacuolar compartments. Comparisons with mycorrhized roots expressing a tonoplast marker indicated that MtDefMd1 acts during late restructuring processes of arbuscule-containing cells, upon their transition into a post-symbiotic state.}, } @article {pmid29369351, year = {2018}, author = {Neuenkamp, L and Moora, M and Öpik, M and Davison, J and Gerz, M and Männistö, M and Jairus, T and Vasar, M and Zobel, M}, title = {The role of plant mycorrhizal type and status in modulating the relationship between plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1236-1247}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14995}, pmid = {29369351}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {IUT 20-28//Estonian Research Council/International ; //European Regional Development Fund/International ; 252323//Academy of Finland/International ; }, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Interactions between communities of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi shape fundamental ecosystem properties. Experimental evidence suggests that compositional changes in plant and AM fungal communities should be correlated, but empirical data from natural ecosystems are scarce. We investigated the dynamics of covariation between plant and AM fungal communities during three stages of grassland succession, and the biotic and abiotic factors shaping these dynamics. Plant communities were characterised using vegetation surveys. AM fungal communities were characterised by 454-sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene and identification against the AM fungal reference database MaarjAM. AM fungal abundance was estimated using neutral-lipid fatty acids (NLFAs). Multivariate correlation analysis (Procrustes) revealed a significant relationship between plant and AM fungal community composition. The strength of plant-AM fungal correlation weakened during succession following cessation of grassland management, reflecting changes in the proportion of plants exhibiting different AM status. Plant-AM fungal correlation was strong when the abundance of obligate AM plants was high, and declined as the proportion of facultative AM plants increased. We conclude that the extent to which plants rely on AM symbiosis can determine how tightly communities of plants and AM fungi are interlinked, regulating community assembly of both symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid29368037, year = {2018}, author = {Fürnkranz, U and Henrich, B and Walochnik, J}, title = {Mycoplasma hominis impacts gene expression in Trichomonas vaginalis.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {117}, number = {3}, pages = {841-847}, pmid = {29368037}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Drug Resistance/drug effects ; Europe ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Metronidazole/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycoplasma hominis/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trichomonas vaginalis/drug effects/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In Europe, up to 90% of isolated Trichomonas vaginalis strains are naturally infected with Mycoplasma hominis, a facultative pathogen of the human genital tract. The consequences of this endosymbiosis are not yet well understood. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of natural and artificial infections with M. hominis on the RNA expression levels of metronidazole susceptibility-associated genes of T. vaginalis. Three T. vaginalis strains (TVSS10-, TVSS25-, G3) without M. hominis, as well as the same strains naturally (TVSS10+, TVSS25+) and artificially (G3-MhSS25, TVSS25-MhSS25) infected with M. hominis, were investigated for their expression profiles of three genes associated with metronidazole resistance (ferredoxin, flavin reductase 1 and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of metronidazole were evaluated for all combinations and the respective M. hominis-free T. vaginalis strains were used as controls. The sole presence of M. hominis led to a down-regulation of metronidazole susceptibility-associated genes in all T. vaginalis strains tested. Interestingly, the effect was more prominent in the artificial symbioses. Moreover, a twofold enhancement of metronidazole tolerability was observed in three infected T. vaginalis strains, compared to the respective strains without M. hominis. In conclusion, M. hominis had an impact on gene expression in all T. vaginalis strains and on metronidazole MIC in all but one strain tested.}, } @article {pmid29367857, year = {2017}, author = {Bourion, V and Heulin-Gotty, K and Aubert, V and Tisseyre, P and Chabert-Martinello, M and Pervent, M and Delaitre, C and Vile, D and Siol, M and Duc, G and Brunel, B and Burstin, J and Lepetit, M}, title = {Co-inoculation of a Pea Core-Collection with Diverse Rhizobial Strains Shows Competitiveness for Nodulation and Efficiency of Nitrogen Fixation Are Distinct traits in the Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2249}, pmid = {29367857}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Pea forms symbiotic nodules with Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae (Rlv). In the field, pea roots can be exposed to multiple compatible Rlv strains. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying the competitiveness for nodulation of Rlv strains and the ability of pea to choose between diverse compatible Rlv strains. The variability of pea-Rlv partner choice was investigated by co-inoculation with a mixture of five diverse Rlv strains of a 104-pea collection representative of the variability encountered in the genus Pisum. The nitrogen fixation efficiency conferred by each strain was determined in additional mono-inoculation experiments on a subset of 18 pea lines displaying contrasted Rlv choice. Differences in Rlv choice were observed within the pea collection according to their genetic or geographical diversities. The competitiveness for nodulation of a given pea-Rlv association evaluated in the multi-inoculated experiment was poorly correlated with its nitrogen fixation efficiency determined in mono-inoculation. Both plant and bacterial genetic determinants contribute to pea-Rlv partner choice. No evidence was found for co-selection of competitiveness for nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency. Plant and inoculant for an improved symbiotic association in the field must be selected not only on nitrogen fixation efficiency but also for competitiveness for nodulation.}, } @article {pmid29367525, year = {2017}, author = {Tanemoto, S and Sujino, T and Kanai, T}, title = {[Intestinal immune response is regulated by gut microbe].}, journal = {Nihon Rinsho Men'eki Gakkai kaishi = Japanese journal of clinical immunology}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, pages = {408-415}, doi = {10.2177/jsci.40.408}, pmid = {29367525}, issn = {1349-7413}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology/*physiology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Intestines/*immunology/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Human Intestine has a diverse population of bacteria which induces pathogens to disrupt not only the intestinal homeostasis but whole body immune systems. Dysbiosis, the abnormal proliferation and reduction of the microbiota, breaks down the homeostasis of the immunity and metabolisms in the host. The evolution of the microbiota analysis technology contributed to reveal the molecular biological complex interaction between the microbiota and its host systemically as well as locally. Because several diseases are caused by the dysbiosis, fecal transplantation would be the new therapeutic target for them. It has been investigated in some intestinal diseases such as CD infection, or inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we review these symbiotic interactions and the current state for the clinical application.}, } @article {pmid29367472, year = {2018}, author = {Noda, S and Shimizu, D and Yuki, M and Kitade, O and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Host-Symbiont Cospeciation of Termite-Gut Cellulolytic Protists of the Genera Teranympha and Eucomonympha and their Treponema Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {26-33}, pmid = {29367472}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Isoptera/genetics/*microbiology ; Parabasalidea/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Treponema/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cellulolytic flagellated protists inhabit the hindgut of termites. They are unique and essential to termites and related wood-feeding cockroaches, enabling host feeding on cellulosic matter. Protists of two genera in the family Teranymphidae (phylum Parabasalia), Eucomonympha and Teranympha, are phylogenetically closely related and harbor intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria from the genus Treponema. In order to obtain a clearer understanding of the evolutionary history of this triplex symbiotic relationship, the molecular phylogenies of the three symbiotic partners, the Teranymphidae protists, their Treponema endosymbionts, and their host termites, were inferred and compared. Strong congruence was observed in the tree topologies of all interacting partners, implying their cospeciating relationships. In contrast, the coevolutionary relationship between the Eucomonympha protists and their endosymbionts was more complex, and evidence of incongruence against cospeciating relationships suggested frequent host switches of the endosymbionts, possibly because multiple Eucomonympha species are present in the same gut community. Similarities in the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences of the endosymbionts were higher among Teranympha spp. (>99.25% and >97.2%, respectively), whereas those between Teranympha and Eucomonympha were lower (<97.1% and <91.9%, respectively). In addition, the endosymbionts of Teranympha spp. formed a phylogenetic clade distinct from those of Eucomonympha spp. Therefore, the endosymbiont species of Teranympha spp., designated here as "Candidatus Treponema teratonymphae", needs to be classified as a species distinct from the endosymbiont species of Eucomonympha spp.}, } @article {pmid29367414, year = {2018}, author = {Nakata, MT and Sato, M and Wakazaki, M and Sato, N and Kojima, K and Sekine, A and Nakamura, S and Shikanai, T and Toyooka, K and Tsukaya, H and Horiguchi, G}, title = {Plastid translation is essential for lateral root stem cell patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29367414}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {The plastid evolved from a symbiotic cyanobacterial ancestor and is an essential organelle for plant life, but its developmental roles in roots have been largely overlooked. Here, we show that plastid translation is connected to the stem cell patterning in lateral root primordia. The RFC3 gene encodes a plastid-localized protein that is a conserved bacterial ribosomal protein S6 of β/γ proteobacterial origin. The rfc3 mutant developed lateral roots with disrupted stem cell patterning and associated with decreased leaf photosynthetic activity, reduced accumulation of plastid rRNAs in roots, altered root plastid gene expression, and changes in expression of several root stem cell regulators. These results suggest that deficiencies in plastid function affect lateral root stem cells. Treatment with the plastid translation inhibitor spectinomycin phenocopied the defective stem cell patterning in lateral roots and altered plastid gene expression observed in the rfc3 mutant. Additionally, when prps17 defective in a plastid ribosomal protein was treated with low concentrations of spectinomycin, it also phenocopied the lateral root phenotypes of rfc3 The spectinomycin treatment and rfc3 mutation also negatively affected symplasmic connectivity between primary root and lateral root primordia. This study highlights previously unrecognized functions of plastid translation in the stem cell patterning in lateral roots.}, } @article {pmid29367305, year = {2018}, author = {Cai, J and Zhang, LY and Liu, W and Tian, Y and Xiong, JS and Wang, YH and Li, RJ and Li, HM and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Boller, T and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {Role of the Nod Factor Hydrolase MtNFH1 in Regulating Nod Factor Levels during Rhizobial Infection and in Mature Nodules of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {397-414}, pmid = {29367305}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Chitin/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Establishment of symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia depends on bacterial Nod factors (NFs) that trigger symbiosis-related NF signaling in host plants. NFs are modified oligosaccharides of chitin with a fatty acid moiety. NFs can be cleaved and inactivated by host enzymes, such as MtNFH1 (MEDICAGO TRUNCATULA NOD FACTOR HYDROLASE1). In contrast to related chitinases, MtNFH1 hydrolyzes neither chitin nor chitin fragments, indicating a high cleavage preference for NFs. Here, we provide evidence for a role of MtNFH1 in the symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti Upon rhizobial inoculation, MtNFH1 accumulated at the curled tip of root hairs, in the so-called infection chamber. Mutant analysis revealed that lack of MtNFH1 delayed rhizobial root hair infection, suggesting that excess amounts of NFs negatively affect the initiation of infection threads. MtNFH1 deficiency resulted in nodule hypertrophy and abnormal nodule branching of young nodules. Nodule branching was also stimulated in plants expressing MtNFH1 driven by a tandem CaMV 35S promoter and plants inoculated by a NF-overproducing S. meliloti strain. We suggest that fine-tuning of NF levels by MtNFH1 is necessary for optimal root hair infection as well as for NF-regulated growth of mature nodules.}, } @article {pmid29364862, year = {2018}, author = {Sánchez-Cañizares, C and Jorrín, B and Durán, D and Nadendla, S and Albareda, M and Rubio-Sanz, L and Lanza, M and González-Guerrero, M and Prieto, RI and Brito, B and Giglio, MG and Rey, L and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Palacios, JM and Imperial, J}, title = {Genomic Diversity in the Endosymbiotic Bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29364862}, issn = {2073-4425}, support = {R01 GM080227/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae is a soil α-proteobacterium that establishes a diazotrophic symbiosis with different legumes of the Fabeae tribe. The number of genome sequences from rhizobial strains available in public databases is constantly increasing, although complete, fully annotated genome structures from rhizobial genomes are scarce. In this work, we report and analyse the complete genome of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae UPM791. Whole genome sequencing can provide new insights into the genetic features contributing to symbiotically relevant processes such as bacterial adaptation to the rhizosphere, mechanisms for efficient competition with other bacteria, and the ability to establish a complex signalling dialogue with legumes, to enter the root without triggering plant defenses, and, ultimately, to fix nitrogen within the host. Comparison of the complete genome sequences of two strains of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae, 3841 and UPM791, highlights the existence of different symbiotic plasmids and a common core chromosome. Specific genomic traits, such as plasmid content or a distinctive regulation, define differential physiological capabilities of these endosymbionts. Among them, strain UPM791 presents unique adaptations for recycling the hydrogen generated in the nitrogen fixation process.}, } @article {pmid29364203, year = {2017}, author = {Nanjareddy, K and Arthikala, MK and Aguirre, AL and Gómez, BM and Lara, M}, title = {Plant Promoter Analysis: Identification and Characterization of Root Nodule Specific Promoter in the Common Bean.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {130}, pages = {}, pmid = {29364203}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/chemistry/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobium/chemistry/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The upstream sequences of gene coding sequences are termed as promoter sequences. Studying the expression patterns of promoters are very significant in understanding the gene regulation and spatiotemporal expression patterns of target genes. On the other hand, it is also critical to establish promoter evaluation tools and genetic transformation techniques that are fast, efficient, and reproducible. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the rhizobial symbiosis-specific nodule inception (NIN) promoter of Phaseolus vulgaris in the transgenic hairy roots. Using plant genome databases and analysis tools we identified, isolated, and cloned the P. vulgaris NIN promoter in a transcriptional fusion to the chimeric reporter β-glucuronidase (GUS) GUS-enhanced::GFP. Further, this protocol describes a rapid and versatile system of genetic transformation in the P. vulgaris using Agrobacterium rhizogenes induced hairy roots. This system generates ≥2 cm hairy roots at 10 to 12 days after transformation. Next, we assessed the spatiotemporal expression of NIN promoter in Rhizobium inoculated hairy roots at periodic intervals of post-inoculation. Our results depicted by GUS activity show that the NIN promoter was active during the process of nodulation. Together, the present protocol demonstrates how to identify, isolate, clone, and characterize a plant promoter in the common bean hairy roots. Moreover, this protocol is easy to use in non-specialized laboratories.}, } @article {pmid29363956, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, X and Teng, Y and Tu, C and Luo, Y and Greening, C and Zhang, N and Dai, S and Ren, W and Zhao, L and Li, Z}, title = {Coupling between Nitrogen Fixation and Tetrachlorobiphenyl Dechlorination in a Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {2217-2224}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.7b05667}, pmid = {29363956}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase ; *Rhizobium ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbioses have the potential to remediate soils contaminated with chlorinated organic compounds. Here, the model symbiosis between Medicago sativa and Sinorhizobium meliloti was used to explore the relationships between symbiotic nitrogen fixation and transformation of tetrachlorobiphenyl PCB 77 within this association. 45-day-old seedlings in vermiculite were pretreated with 5 mg L[-1] PCB 77 for 5 days. In PCB-supplemented nodules, addition of the nitrogenase enhancer molybdate significantly stimulated dechlorination by 7.2-fold and reduced tissue accumulation of PCB 77 (roots by 96% and nodules by 93%). Conversely, dechlorination decreased in plants exposed to a nitrogenase inhibitor (nitrate) or harboring nitrogenase-deficient symbionts (nifA mutant) by 29% and 72%, respectively. A range of dechlorinated products (biphenyl, methylbiphenyls, hydroxylbiphenyls, and trichlorobiphenyl derivatives) were detected within nodules and roots under nitrogen-fixing conditions. Levels of nitrogenase-derived hydrogen and leghemoglobin expression correlated positively with nodular dechlorination rates, suggesting a more reducing environment promotes PCB dechlorination. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that symbiotic nitrogen fixation acts as a driving force for tetrachlorobiphenyl dechlorination. In turn, this opens new possibilities for using rhizobia to enhance phytoremediation of halogenated organic compounds.}, } @article {pmid29363168, year = {2018}, author = {Stefanini, I}, title = {Yeast-insect associations: It takes guts.}, journal = {Yeast (Chichester, England)}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {315-330}, pmid = {29363168}, issn = {1097-0061}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; Intestines/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Yeasts/*classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Insects interact with microorganisms in several situations, ranging from the accidental interaction to locate attractive food or the acquisition of essential nutrients missing in the main food source. Despite a wealth of studies recently focused on bacteria, the interactions between insects and yeasts have relevant implications for both of the parties involved. The insect intestine shows several structural and physiological differences among species, but it is generally a hostile environment for many microorganisms, selecting against the most sensitive and at the same time guaranteeing a less competitive environment to resistant ones. An intensive characterization of the interactions between yeasts and insects has highlighted their relevance not only for attraction to food but also for the insect's development and behaviour. Conversely, some yeasts have been shown to benefit from interactions with insects, in some cases by being carried among different environments. In addition, the insect intestine may provide a place to reside for prolonged periods and possibly mate or generate sexual forms able to mate once back in the external environments. YEA-May-17-0084.R3.}, } @article {pmid29362506, year = {2018}, author = {Chong, RA and Moran, NA}, title = {Evolutionary loss and replacement of Buchnera, the obligate endosymbiont of aphids.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {898-908}, pmid = {29362506}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Genetic Drift ; Insecta ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between organisms create new ecological niches. For example, many insects survive on plant-sap with the aid of maternally transmitted bacterial symbionts that provision essential nutrients lacking in this diet. Symbiotic partners often enter a long-term relationship in which the co-evolutionary fate of lineages is interdependent. Obligate symbionts that are strictly maternally transmitted experience genetic drift and genome degradation, compromising symbiont function and reducing host fitness unless hosts can compensate for these deficits. One evolutionary solution is the acquisition of a novel symbiont with a functionally intact genome. Whereas almost all aphids host the anciently acquired bacterial endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola (Gammaproteobacteria), Geopemphigus species have lost Buchnera and instead contain a maternally transmitted symbiont closely related to several known insect symbionts from the bacterial phylum Bacteroidetes. A complete genome sequence shows the symbiont has lost many ancestral genes, resulting in a genome size intermediate between that of free-living and symbiotic Bacteroidetes. The Geopemphigus symbiont retains biosynthetic pathways for amino acids and vitamins, as in Buchnera and other insect symbionts. This case of evolutionary replacement of Buchnera provides an opportunity to further understand the evolution and functional genomics of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29360855, year = {2018}, author = {Carrillo, JB and Gomez-Casati, DF and Martín, M and Busi, MV}, title = {Identification and analysis of OsttaDSP, a phosphoglucan phosphatase from Ostreococcus tauri.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e0191621}, pmid = {29360855}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*enzymology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dimerization ; Glucans/*metabolism ; Kinetics ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Conformation ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {Ostreococcus tauri, the smallest free-living (non-symbiotic) eukaryote yet described, is a unicellular green alga of the Prasinophyceae family. It has a very simple cellular organization and presents a unique starch granule and chloroplast. However, its starch metabolism exhibits a complexity comparable to higher plants, with multiple enzyme forms for each metabolic reaction. Glucan phosphatases, a family of enzymes functionally conserved in animals and plants, are essential for normal starch or glycogen degradation in plants and mammals, respectively. Despite the importance of O. tauri microalgae in evolution, there is no information available concerning the enzymes involved in reversible phosphorylation of starch. Here, we report the molecular cloning and heterologous expression of the gene coding for a dual specific phosphatase from O. tauri (OsttaDSP), homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana LSF2. The recombinant enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity to characterize its oligomeric and kinetic properties accurately. OsttaDSP is a homodimer of 54.5 kDa that binds and dephosphorylates amylopectin. Also, we also determined that residue C162 is involved in catalysis and possibly also in structural stability of the enzyme. Our results could contribute to better understand the role of glucan phosphatases in the metabolism of starch in green algae.}, } @article {pmid29359810, year = {2018}, author = {Li, Q and Xiong, C and Li, X and Jin, X and Huang, W}, title = {Ectomycorrhization of Tricholoma matsutake with Quercus aquifolioides affects the endophytic microbial community of host plant.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {3}, pages = {238-246}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201700506}, pmid = {29359810}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Biota ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Quercus/*microbiology ; Tricholoma/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito et Imai) is an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete associated with Pinaceae and Fagaceae trees in the Northern Hemisphere. It is still unknown whether the symbiotic relationship with this ectomycorrhiza could affect the host plant's endophytic microbial community. In this study, we used high throughput sequencing to analyze the endophytic microbial communities of different Quercus aquifolioides tissues with or without T. matsutake partner. About 35,000 clean reads were obtained per sample, representing 34 bacterial phyla and 7 fungal phyla. We observed 3980 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of bacteria and 457 OTUs of fungi at a 97% similarity level. Three bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, and the fungal phylum Ascomycota were dominant in all tissues. The relative abundance of these taxa differed significantly between Q. aquifolioides tissues with and without T. matsutake partner (p < 0.05). The bacterial genus Pseudomonas and the fungal genus Cryptosporiopsis were more abundant in mycorrhized roots than in control roots. This study showed that the community structure and dominant species of endophytic microbial communities in Q. aquifolioides tissues might be altered by colonization with T. matsutake. This work provides a new insight into the interactions between ectomycorrhizal fungus and host plant.}, } @article {pmid29359344, year = {2018}, author = {Lata, R and Chowdhury, S and Gond, SK and White, JF}, title = {Induction of abiotic stress tolerance in plants by endophytic microbes.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {4}, pages = {268-276}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12855}, pmid = {29359344}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Osmotic Pressure/physiology ; Plant Development/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Salinity ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Endophytes are micro-organisms including bacteria and fungi that survive within healthy plant tissues and promote plant growth under stress. This review focuses on the potential of endophytic microbes that induce abiotic stress tolerance in plants. How endophytes promote plant growth under stressful conditions, like drought and heat, high salinity and poor nutrient availability will be discussed. The molecular mechanisms for increasing stress tolerance in plants by endophytes include induction of plant stress genes as well as biomolecules like reactive oxygen species scavengers. This review may help in the development of biotechnological applications of endophytic microbes in plant growth promotion and crop improvement under abiotic stress conditions.

Increasing human populations demand more crop yield for food security while crop production is adversely affected by abiotic stresses like drought, salinity and high temperature. Development of stress tolerance in plants is a strategy to cope with the negative effects of adverse environmental conditions. Endophytes are well recognized for plant growth promotion and production of natural compounds. The property of endophytes to induce stress tolerance in plants can be applied to increase crop yields. With this review, we intend to promote application of endophytes in biotechnology and genetic engineering for the development of stress-tolerant plants.}, } @article {pmid29359253, year = {2018}, author = {Ważny, R and Rozpądek, P and Jędrzejczyk, RJ and Śliwa, M and Stojakowska, A and Anielska, T and Turnau, K}, title = {Does co-inoculation of Lactuca serriola with endophytic and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve plant growth in a polluted environment?.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {235-246}, pmid = {29359253}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental/*drug effects ; Endophytes/*drug effects/physiology ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Lettuce/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mucor/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/physiology ; Poland ; Soil Pollutants/*adverse effects ; Trichoderma/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phytoremediation of polluted sites can be improved by co-inoculation with mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi. In this study, the effects of single- and co-inoculation of Lactuca serriola with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizoglomus intraradices, and endophytic fungi, Mucor sp. or Trichoderma asperellum, on plant growth, vitality, toxic metal accumulation, sesquiterpene lactone production and flavonoid concentration in the presence of toxic metals were evaluated. Inoculation with the AM fungus increased biomass yield of the plants grown on non-polluted and polluted substrate. Co-inoculation with the AM fungus and Mucor sp. resulted in increased biomass yield of plants cultivated on the polluted substrate, whereas co-inoculation with T. asperellum and the AM fungus increased plant biomass on the non-polluted substrate. In the presence of Mucor sp., mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscule richness were increased in the non-polluted substrate. Co-inoculation with the AM fungus and Mucor sp. increased Zn concentration in leaves and roots. The concentration of sesquiterpene lactones in plant leaves was decreased by AM fungus inoculation in both substrates. Despite enhanced host plant costs caused by maintaining symbiosis with numerous microorganisms, interaction of wild lettuce with both mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi was more beneficial than that with a single fungus. The study shows the potential of double inoculation in unfavourable environments, including agricultural areas and toxic metal-polluted areas.}, } @article {pmid29359249, year = {2019}, author = {Hatami, E and Abbaspour, A and Dorostkar, V}, title = {Phytoremediation of a petroleum-polluted soil by native plant species in Lorestan Province, Iran.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {24323-24330}, pmid = {29359249}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Festuca/metabolism ; Hydrocarbons/metabolism ; Iran ; Medicago sativa/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Petroleum/analysis/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Petroleum hydrocarbons are potentially toxic for organisms due to the inherent properties, such as solubility, volatility, and biodegradability. The petroleum materials released from corroded old pipelines would pollute soils, shallow groundwater and air as a consequence, and threat the health of human and environment. Therefore, the removal of these compounds from environment is vital. The stability of these pollutants at the soil and their gradual accumulation over time would disrupt the normal function of the soil, such as reduced agricultural capability. In this research, the influence of two plant species (Bromus tectorum L. and Festuca arundinacea) with different amendments including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, alfalfa residues, and nutrient solution on the degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil was studied. The results showed that the most effective treatment for petroleum remediation was related to B. tectorum L. plant when treated with mycorrhizal fungi and nutrient solution. The degradation rate during 40 days was about 83.27% when compared to the control. Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations are important in the restoration of degraded ecosystems because of the benefits to their symbiotic partners. This fungal phytotechnological mechanism is still in its infancy and there has been little research on aged-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid29359226, year = {2018}, author = {Shi, YM and Bode, HB}, title = {Chemical language and warfare of bacterial natural products in bacteria-nematode-insect interactions.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {309-335}, doi = {10.1039/c7np00054e}, pmid = {29359226}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Products/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Insecta/*physiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Nematoda/microbiology/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Organic Agriculture/methods ; Photorhabdus/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/physiology ; }, abstract = {Covering: up to November 2017 Organismic interaction is one of the fundamental principles for survival in any ecosystem. Today, numerous examples show the interaction between microorganisms like bacteria and higher eukaryotes that can be anything between mutualistic to parasitic/pathogenic symbioses. There is also increasing evidence that microorganisms are used by higher eukaryotes not only for the supply of essential factors like vitamins but also as biological weapons to protect themselves or to kill other organisms. Excellent examples for such systems are entomopathogenic nematodes of the genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema that live in mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria of the genera Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus, respectively. Although these systems have been used successfully in organic farming on an industrial scale, it was only shown during the last 15 years that several different natural products (NPs) produced by the bacteria play key roles in the complex life cycle of the bacterial symbionts, the nematode host and the insect prey that is killed by and provides nutrients for the nematode-bacteria pair. Since the bacteria can switch from mutualistic to pathogenic lifestyle, interacting with two different types of higher eukaryotes, and since the full system with all players can be established in the lab, they are promising model systems to elucidate the natural function of microbial NPs. This review summarizes the current knowledge as well as open questions for NPs from Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus and tries to assign their roles in the tritrophic relationship.}, } @article {pmid29358497, year = {2018}, author = {Lehman, AP and Long, SR}, title = {OxyR-Dependent Transcription Response of Sinorhizobium meliloti to Oxidative Stress.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29358497}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Catalase/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Microarray Analysis ; Mutation ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects/*genetics ; Repressor Proteins/deficiency/drug effects/*genetics ; Sigma Factor/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species such as peroxides play an important role in plant development, cell wall maturation, and defense responses. During nodulation with the host plant Medicago sativa, Sinorhizobium meliloti cells are exposed to H2O2 in infection threads and developing nodules (R. Santos, D. Hérouart, S. Sigaud, D. Touati, and A. Puppo, Mol Plant Microbe Interact 14:86-89, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI.2001.14.1.86). S. meliloti cells likely also experience oxidative stress, from both internal and external sources, during life in the soil. Here, we present microarray transcription data for S. meliloti wild-type cells compared to a mutant deficient in the key oxidative regulatory protein OxyR, each in response to H2O2 treatment. Several alternative sigma factor genes are upregulated in the response to H2O2; the stress sigma gene rpoE2 shows OxyR-dependent induction by H2O2, while rpoH1 expression is induced by H2O2 irrespective of the oxyR genotype. The activity of the RpoE2 sigma factor in turn causes increased expression of two more sigma factor genes, rpoE5 and rpoH2 Strains with deletions of rpoH1 showed improved survival in H2O2 as well as increased levels of oxyR and total catalase expression. These results imply that ΔrpoH1 strains are primed to deal with oxidative stress. This work presents a global view of S. meliloti gene expression changes, and of regulation of those changes, in response to H2O2IMPORTANCE Like all aerobic organisms, the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti experiences oxidative stress throughout its complex life cycle. This report describes the global transcriptional changes that S. meliloti makes in response to H2O2 and the roles of the OxyR transcriptional regulator and the RpoH1 sigma factor in regulating those changes. By understanding the complex regulatory response of S. meliloti to oxidative stress, we may further understand the role that reactive oxygen species play as both stressors and potential signals during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29357812, year = {2018}, author = {Xie, W and Yang, X and Chen, C and Yang, Z and Guo, L and Wang, D and Huang, J and Zhang, H and Wen, Y and Zhao, J and Wu, Q and Wang, S and Coates, BS and Zhou, X and Zhang, Y}, title = {The invasive MED/Q Bemisia tabaci genome: a tale of gene loss and gene gain.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {68}, pmid = {29357812}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Crops, Agricultural/parasitology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics ; *Genome, Insect ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics ; Hemiptera/*classification/*genetics ; Host Specificity ; Insect Proteins/*genetics ; *Insecticide Resistance ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED/Q and MEAM1/B, are two economically important invasive species that cause considerable damages to agriculture crops through direct feeding and indirect vectoring of plant pathogens. Recently, a draft genome of B. tabaci MED/Q has been assembled. In this study, we focus on the genomic comparison between MED/Q and MEAM1/B, with a special interest in MED/Q's genomic signatures that may contribute to the highly invasive nature of this emerging insect pest.

RESULTS: The genomes of both species share similarity in syntenic blocks, but have significant divergence in the gene coding sequence. Expansion of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and UDP glycosyltransferases in MED/Q and MEAM1/B genome is functionally validated for mediating insecticide resistance in MED/Q using in vivo RNAi. The amino acid biosynthesis pathways in MED/Q genome are partitioned among the host and endosymbiont genomes in a manner distinct from other hemipterans. Evidence of horizontal gene transfer to the host genome may explain their obligate relationship. Putative loss-of-function in the immune deficiency-signaling pathway due to the gene loss is a shared ancestral trait among hemipteran insects.

CONCLUSIONS: The expansion of detoxification genes families, such as P450s, may contribute to the development of insecticide resistance traits and a broad host range in MED/Q and MEAM1/B, and facilitate species' invasions into intensively managed cropping systems. Numerical and compositional changes in multiple gene families (gene loss and gene gain) in the MED/Q genome sets a foundation for future hypothesis testing that will advance our understanding of adaptation, viral transmission, symbiosis, and plant-insect-pathogen tritrophic interactions.}, } @article {pmid29356159, year = {2018}, author = {Dhodary, B and Schilg, M and Wirth, R and Spiteller, D}, title = {Secondary Metabolites from Escovopsis weberi and Their Role in Attacking the Garden Fungus of Leaf-Cutting Ants.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {4445-4452}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201706071}, pmid = {29356159}, issn = {1521-3765}, mesh = {Agaricales/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Emodin/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Indole Alkaloids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Metabolome/*physiology ; Polyketides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The specialized, fungal pathogen Escovopsis weberi threatens the mutualistic symbiosis between leaf-cutting ants and their garden fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus). Because E. weberi can overwhelm L. gongylophorus without direct contact, it was suspected to secrete toxins. Using NMR and mass spectrometry, we identified several secondary metabolites produced by E. weberi. E. weberi produces five shearinine-type indole triterpenoids including two novel derivatives, shearinine L and shearinine M, as well as the polyketides, emodin and cycloarthropsone. Cycloarthropsone and emodin strongly inhibited the growth of the garden fungus L. gongylophorous at 0.8 and 0.7 μmol, respectively. Emodin was also active against Streptomyces microbial symbionts (0.3 μmol) of leaf-cutting ants. Shearinine L instead did not affect the growth of L. gongylophorus in agar diffusion assays. However, in dual choice behavioral assays Acromyrmex octospinosus ants clearly avoided substrate treated with shearinine L for the garden fungus after a 2 d learning period, indicating that the ants quickly learn to avoid shearinine L.}, } @article {pmid29355972, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, ECH and Morin, E and Beaudet, D and Noel, J and Yildirir, G and Ndikumana, S and Charron, P and St-Onge, C and Giorgi, J and Krüger, M and Marton, T and Ropars, J and Grigoriev, IV and Hainaut, M and Henrissat, B and Roux, C and Martin, F and Corradi, N}, title = {High intraspecific genome diversity in the model arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiont Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1161-1171}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14989}, pmid = {29355972}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/International ; //Early Researcher Award/International ; ER13-09-190//Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation/International ; DEB 1441677//National Science Foundation/International ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence Advanced Research on the Biology of Tree and Forest Ecosystems/International ; //Region Lorraine Research Council/International ; //European Commission/International ; //European Regional Development Fund/International ; //European Social Fund/International ; CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0048//Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness (OPEC)/International ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//US DOE JGI/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Protein Domains ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve plant fitness through the establishment of mycorrhizal symbioses. Genetic and phenotypic variations among closely related AMF isolates can significantly affect plant growth, but the genomic changes underlying this variability are unclear. To address this issue, we improved the genome assembly and gene annotation of the model strain Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198, and compared its gene content with five isolates of R. irregularis sampled in the same field. All isolates harbor striking genome variations, with large numbers of isolate-specific genes, gene family expansions, and evidence of interisolate genetic exchange. The observed variability affects all gene ontology terms and PFAM protein domains, as well as putative mycorrhiza-induced small secreted effector-like proteins and other symbiosis differentially expressed genes. High variability is also found in active transposable elements. Overall, these findings indicate a substantial divergence in the functioning capacity of isolates harvested from the same field, and thus their genetic potential for adaptation to biotic and abiotic changes. Our data also provide a first glimpse into the genome diversity that resides within natural populations of these symbionts, and open avenues for future analyses of plant-AMF interactions that link AMF genome variation with plant phenotype and fitness.}, } @article {pmid29355773, year = {2018}, author = {Xiang, N and Jiang, C and Yang, T and Li, P and Wang, H and Xie, Y and Li, S and Zhou, H and Diao, X}, title = {Occurrence and distribution of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater, sediments and corals from Hainan Island, China.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {152}, number = {}, pages = {8-15}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.01.006}, pmid = {29355773}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry ; Biota ; China ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Geologic Sediments/*chemistry ; Islands ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*analysis ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The levels of 16 US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in corals, ambient seawater and sediments of Hainan Island, China, using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total PAHs (∑PAHs) concentrations ranged from 273.79 to 407.82ng/L in seawater. Besides, the concentrations of ∑PAHs in corals 333.88-727.03ng/g dw) were markedly (P < 0.05) higher than ambient sediments 67.29-196.99ng/g dw), demonstrating the bioaccumulation ability of PAHs by corals. The highest concentration of ∑PAHs was detected at site S2 in Pavona decussate, which also bore the highest ∑PAHs levels in both seawater and sediments. The massive corals were more enriched with PAHs than the branching corals. Although 2 and 3-ring PAHs were predominant and accounted for 69.27-80.46% of the ∑PAHs in corals and ambient environment, the levels of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (4-6 ring) in corals also demonstrated their potential dangers for corals and organisms around coral reefs. Biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) refers to an index of the pollutant absorbed by aquatic organisms from the surrounding sediments. The poor correlation between log BSAF and log Kow (hydrophobicity) indicated that PAHs in corals maybe not bioaccumulate from the ambient sediments but through pathways like absorbing from seawater, symbiosis, and feeding. Based on our data, long-term ecological monitoring in typical coral reef ecosystems combined with ecotoxicological tests of PAHs on corals is necessary to determine the impacts of PAHs on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid29355410, year = {2018}, author = {Marsh, PD}, title = {In Sickness and in Health-What Does the Oral Microbiome Mean to Us? An Ecological Perspective.}, journal = {Advances in dental research}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {60-65}, doi = {10.1177/0022034517735295}, pmid = {29355410}, issn = {1544-0737}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Dental Caries/microbiology/prevention & control ; Dysbiosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Mouth Diseases/*microbiology/*prevention & control ; *Oral Health ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The oral microbiome is natural and has a symbiotic relationship with the host by delivering important benefits. In oral health, a dynamic balance is reached between the host, the environment, and the microbiome. However, the frequent intake of sugar and/or reductions in saliva flow results in extended periods of low pH in the biofilm, which disrupts this symbiotic relationship. Such conditions inhibit the growth of beneficial species and drive the selection of bacteria with an acid-producing/acid-tolerating phenotype, thereby increasing the risk of caries (dysbiosis). A more detailed understanding of the interdependencies and interactions that exist among the resident microbiota in dental biofilms, and an increased awareness of the relationship between the host and the oral microbiome, is providing new insights and fresh opportunities to promote symbiosis and prevent dysbiosis. These include modifying the oral microbiome (e.g., with prebiotics and probiotics), manipulating the oral environment to selectively favor the growth of beneficial species, and moderating the growth and metabolism of the biofilm to reduce the likelihood of dysbiosis. Evidence is provided to suggest that the regular provision of interventions that deliver small but relevant benefits, consistently over a prolonged period, can support the maintenance of a symbiotic oral microbiome.}, } @article {pmid29354363, year = {2018}, author = {Arora, NK and Khare, E and Singh, S and Tewari, S}, title = {Phenetic, genetic diversity and symbiotic compatibility of rhizobial strains nodulating pigeon pea in Northern India.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {52}, pmid = {29354363}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) is one of the most important legumes grown in the northern province of Uttar Pradesh, India. However, its productively in Uttar Pradesh is lower than the average yield of adjoining states. During the course of the present study, a survey of pigeon pea growing agricultural fields was carried out and it was found that 80% of plants were inadequately nodulated. The study was aimed to evaluate the pigeon pea symbiotic compatibility and nodulation efficiency of root nodulating bacteria isolated from various legumes, and to explore the phenetic and genetic diversity of rhizobial population nodulating pigeon pea growing in fields of Uttar Pradesh. Amongst all the 96 isolates, 40 isolates showed nodulation in pigeon pea. These 40 isolates were further characterized by phenotypic, biochemical and physiological tests. Intrinsic antibiotic resistance pattern was taken to generate similarity matrix revealing 10 phenons. The study shows that most of the isolates nodulating pigeon pea in this region were rapid growers. The dendrogram generated using the NTSYSpc software grouped RAPD patterns into 19 clusters. The high degree of phenetic and genetic diversity encountered is probably because of a history of mixed cropping of legumes. The assessment of diversity is a very important tool and can be used to improve the nodulation and quality of pigeon pea crop. It is also concluded that difference between phenetic and RAPD clustering pattern is an indication that rhizobial diversity of pigeon pea is not as yet completely understood and settled.}, } @article {pmid29354109, year = {2017}, author = {Abarca, JG and Zuniga, I and Ortiz-Morales, G and Lugo, A and Viquez-Cervilla, M and Rodriguez-Hernandez, N and Vázquez-Sánchez, F and Murillo-Cruz, C and Torres-Rivera, EA and Pinto-Tomás, AA and Godoy-Vitorino, F}, title = {Characterization of the Skin Microbiota of the Cane Toad Rhinella cf. marina in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2624}, pmid = {29354109}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {P20 GM103475/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Rhinella marina is a toad native to South America that has been introduced in the Antilles, likely carrying high loads of microorganisms, potentially impacting local community diversity. The amphibian skin is involved in pathogen defense and its microbiota has been relatively well studied, however, research focusing on the cane toad microbiota is lacking. We hypothesize that the skin microbial communities will differ between toads inhabiting different geographical regions in Central America and the Caribbean. To test our hypothesis, we compared the microbiota of three populations of R. cf. marina toads, two from Costa Rican (native) and one Puerto Rican (exotic) locations. In Costa Rica, we collected 11 toads, 7 in Sarapiquí and 4 from Turrialba while in Puerto Rico, 10 animals were collected in Santa Ana. Separate swab samples were collected from the dorsal and ventral sites resulting in 42 samples. We found significant differences in the structure of the microbial communities between Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. We detected as much as 35 different phyla; however, communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Alpha diversity and richness were significantly higher in toads from Puerto Rico and betadiversity revealed significant differences between the microbiota samples from the two countries. At the genus level, we found in Santa Ana, Puerto Rico, a high dominance of Kokuria, Niabella, and Rhodobacteraceae, while in Costa Rica we found Halomonas and Pseudomonas in Sarapiquí, and Acinetobacter and Citrobacter in Turrialba. This is the first report of Niabella associated with the amphibian skin. The core microbiome represented 128 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) mainly from five genera shared among all samples, which may represent the symbiotic Rhinella's skin. These results provide insights into the habitat-induced microbial changes facing this amphibian species. The differences in the microbial diversity in Puerto Rican toads compared to those in Costa Rica provide additional evidence of the geographically induced patterns in the amphibian skin microbiome, and highlight the importance of discussing the microbial tradeoffs in the colonization of new ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid29354108, year = {2017}, author = {Lu, HP and Liu, PY and Wang, YB and Hsieh, JF and Ho, HC and Huang, SW and Lin, CY and Hsieh, CH and Yu, HT}, title = {Functional Characteristics of the Flying Squirrel's Cecal Microbiota under a Leaf-Based Diet, Based on Multiple Meta-Omic Profiling.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2622}, pmid = {29354108}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mammalian herbivores rely on microbial activities in an expanded gut chamber to convert plant biomass into absorbable nutrients. Distinct from ruminants, small herbivores typically have a simple stomach but an enlarged cecum to harbor symbiotic microbes; however, knowledge of this specialized gut structure and characteristics of its microbial contents is limited. Here, we used leaf-eating flying squirrels as a model to explore functional characteristics of the cecal microbiota adapted to a high-fiber, toxin-rich diet. Specifically, environmental conditions across gut regions were evaluated by measuring mass, pH, feed particle size, and metabolomes. Then, parallel metagenomes and metatranscriptomes were used to detect microbial functions corresponding to the cecal environment. Based on metabolomic profiles, >600 phytochemical compounds were detected, although many were present only in the foregut and probably degraded or transformed by gut microbes in the hindgut. Based on metagenomic (DNA) and metatranscriptomic (RNA) profiles, taxonomic compositions of the cecal microbiota were dominated by bacteria of the Firmicutes taxa; they contained major gene functions related to degradation and fermentation of leaf-derived compounds. Based on functional compositions, genes related to multidrug exporters were rich in microbial genomes, whereas genes involved in nutrient importers were rich in microbial transcriptomes. In addition, genes encoding chemotaxis-associated components and glycoside hydrolases specific for plant beta-glycosidic linkages were abundant in both DNA and RNA. This exploratory study provides findings which may help to form molecular-based hypotheses regarding functional contributions of symbiotic gut microbiota in small herbivores with folivorous dietary habits.}, } @article {pmid29354098, year = {2017}, author = {Tikhe, CV and Husseneder, C}, title = {Metavirome Sequencing of the Termite Gut Reveals the Presence of an Unexplored Bacteriophage Community.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2548}, pmid = {29354098}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Formosan subterranean termite; Coptotermes formosanus is nutritionally dependent on the complex and diverse community of bacteria and protozoa in their gut. Although, there have been many studies to decipher the taxonomic and functional diversity of bacterial communities in the guts of termites, their bacteriophages remain unstudied. We sequenced the metavirome of the guts of Formosan subterranean termite workers to study the diversity of bacteriophages and other associated viruses. Results showed that the termites harbor a virome in their gut comprised of varied and previously unknown bacteriophages. Between 87-90% of the predicted dsDNA virus genes by Metavir showed similarity to the tailed bacteriophages (Caudovirales). Many predicted genes from the virome matched to bacterial prophage regions. These data are suggestive of a virome dominated by temperate bacteriophages. We predicted the genomes of seven novel Caudovirales bacteriophages from the termite gut. Three of these predicted bacteriophage genomes were found in high proportions in all the three termite colonies tested. Two bacteriophages are predicted to infect endosymbiotic bacteria of the gut protozoa. The presence of these putative bacteriophages infecting endosymbionts of the gut protozoa, suggests a quadripartite relationship between the termites their symbiotic protozoa, endosymbiotic bacteria of the protozoa and their bacteriophages. Other than Caudovirales, ss-DNA virus related genes were also present in the termite gut. We predicted the genomes of 12 novel Microviridae phages from the termite gut and seven of those possibly represent a new proposed subfamily. Circovirus like genomes were also assembled from the termite gut at lower relative abundance. We predicted 10 novel circovirus genomes in this study. Whether these circoviruses infect the termites remains elusive at the moment. The functional and taxonomical annotations suggest that the termites may harbor a core virome comprised of the bacteriophages infecting endosymbionts of the gut protozoa.}, } @article {pmid29353921, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, B and Zhang, W and Lu, M and Ahmad, F and Tian, H and Ning, J and Liu, X and Zhao, L and Sun, J}, title = {Chemical Signals of Vector Beetle Facilitate the Prevalence of a Native Fungus and the Invasive Pinewood Nematode.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {341-347}, pmid = {29353921}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {In China, the invasive Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the vector Monochamus alternatus beetle, and associated fungi exhibit a symbiotic relationship causing serious losses to pine forests. Although this complex system has been intensively investigated, the role of vector beetles on the development of associated fungi and their indirect contribution to the prevalence of pinewood nematode (PWN) is yet unknown. Here, three of the highly prevalent fungal species, viz., Sporothrix sp. 1, Ophiostoma ips, and Sporothrix sp. 2 were isolated from beetle chambers in diseased trees in Guangdong province, southeast China. Pairwise cultivation of isolated fungi demonstrated the dominance of Sporothrix sp. 1 over O. ips and Sporothrix sp. 2. On the other hand, two fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), ethyl palmitate (EP) and ethyl linoleate (EL), isolated from the body surface of the vector beetle enhanced the growth of Sporothrix sp. 1. When PWN were cultured on Sporothrix sp. 1, the fecundity and the body length were increased significantly as compared with when cultured on O. ips and Sporothrix sp. 1. Our results suggest that the vector beetles promote Sporothrix sp. 1 to occupy more niches by rapid growth and spread, which in turn better support PWN population, hence facilitate PWN pathogenicity in the invasive regions.}, } @article {pmid29353754, year = {2018}, author = {Tamilarasan, K and Arulazhagan, P and Rani, RU and Kaliappan, S and Banu, JR}, title = {Synergistic impact of sonic-tenside on biomass disintegration potential: Acidogenic and methane potential studies, kinetics and cost analytics.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {253}, number = {}, pages = {256-261}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2018.01.028}, pmid = {29353754}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biomass ; *Fatty Acids, Volatile ; Kinetics ; *Methane ; Surface-Active Agents ; }, abstract = {An exploration into the symbiotic impact of sonic-tenside (SDBS - sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate) on biomass disintegration potential and to reduce the energy consumption was studied. At optimized condition (specific energy input 9600 kJ/kg TS; SDBS dosage 0.07 g/g SS), higher percentage of biomass lysis and solids reduction (23.9% and 19.8%) was obtained in blended sonic-tenside disintegration (STD), than sonic disintegration (SD) (17.6% and 9.8%). The bioacidogenic potential (BAP) assay in terms of volatile fatty acids (VFA) production (722 mg/L) was found to be higher for STD, in comparison to SD (350 mg/L). The impact of STD on anaerobic digestion was evident from its methane yield (0.239 g/g COD), higher than SD (0.182 g/g COD). A monetary evaluation of the present study provides a net gain of 2 USD/ton for STD, indicating the profitability of the technique.}, } @article {pmid29351633, year = {2018}, author = {Lindsey, ARI and Rice, DW and Bordenstein, SR and Brooks, AW and Bordenstein, SR and Newton, ILG}, title = {Evolutionary Genetics of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Genes cifA and cifB in Prophage WO of Wolbachia.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {434-451}, pmid = {29351633}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI132581/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 HD086833/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM080178/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genes, Viral ; Male ; Prophages/*genetics ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Wolbachia/genetics/physiology/*virology ; }, abstract = {The bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia manipulates arthropod reproduction to facilitate its maternal spread through host populations. The most common manipulation is cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI): Wolbachia-infected males produce modified sperm that cause embryonic mortality, unless rescued by embryos harboring the same Wolbachia. The genes underlying CI, cifA and cifB, were recently identified in the eukaryotic association module of Wolbachia's prophage WO. Here, we use transcriptomic and genomic approaches to address three important evolutionary facets of the cif genes. First, we assess whether or not cifA and cifB comprise a classic toxin-antitoxin operon in wMel and show that the two genes exhibit striking, transcriptional differences across host development. They can produce a bicistronic message despite a predicted hairpin termination element in their intergenic region. Second, cifA and cifB strongly coevolve across the diversity of phage WO. Third, we provide new domain and functional predictions across homologs within Wolbachia, and show that amino acid sequences vary substantially across the genus. Finally, we investigate conservation of cifA and cifB and find frequent degradation and loss of the genes in strains that no longer induce CI. Taken together, we demonstrate that cifA and cifB exhibit complex transcriptional regulation in wMel, provide functional annotations that broaden the potential mechanisms of CI induction, and report recurrent erosion of cifA and cifB in non-CI strains, thus expanding our understanding of the most widespread form of reproductive parasitism.}, } @article {pmid29351606, year = {2018}, author = {Rubio-Sanz, L and Brito, B and Palacios, J}, title = {Analysis of metal tolerance in Rhizobium leguminosarum strains isolated from an ultramafic soil.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {365}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fny010}, pmid = {29351606}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Cobalt/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nickel/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Natural habitats containing high amounts of heavy metals provide a valuable source of bacteria adapted to deal with metal toxicity. A functional analysis of the population of legume endosymbiotic bacteria in an ultramafic soil was undertaken by studying a collection of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae (Rlv) isolates obtained using pea as trap plant. One of the isolates, Rlv UPM1137, was selected on the basis of its higher tolerance to nickel and cobalt and presence of inducible mechanisms for such tolerance. A random transposon mutagenesis of Rlv UPM1137 allowed the generation of 14 transposant derivatives with increased nickel sensitivity; five of these transposants were also more sensitive to cobalt. Sequencing of the insertion sites revealed that one of the transposants (D2250) was affected in a gene homologous to the cation diffusion facilitator gene dmeF first identified in the metal-resistant bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34. The symbiotic performance of D2250 and two other transposants bearing single transposon insertions was unaffected under high-metal conditions, suggesting that, in contrast to previous observations in other Rlv strain, metal tolerance in UPM1137 under symbiotic conditions might be supported by functional redundancy between several mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid29351361, year = {2018}, author = {Berger, A and Brouquisse, R and Pathak, PK and Hichri, I and Singh, I and Bhatia, S and Boscari, A and Igamberdiev, AU and Gupta, KJ}, title = {Pathways of nitric oxide metabolism and operation of phytoglobins in legume nodules: missing links and future directions.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13151}, pmid = {29351361}, issn = {1365-3040}, abstract = {The interaction between legumes and rhizobia leads to the establishment of a beneficial symbiotic relationship. Recent advances in legume - rhizobium symbiosis revealed that various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species including nitric oxide (NO) play important roles during this process. Nodule development occurs with a transition from a normoxic environment during the establishment of symbiosis to a microoxic environment in functional nodules. Such oxygen dynamics are required for activation and repression of various NO production and scavenging pathways. Both the plant and bacterial partners participate in the synthesis and degradation of NO. However, the pathways of NO production and degradation as well as their cross-talk and involvement in the metabolism are still a matter of debate. The plant-originated reductive pathways are known to contribute to the NO production in nodules under hypoxic conditions. Non-symbiotic hemoglobin (phytoglobin) (Pgb) possesses high NO oxygenation capacity, buffers and scavenges NO. Its operation, through a respiratory cycle called Pgb-NO cycle, leads to the maintenance of redox and energy balance in nodules. The role of Pgb/NO cycle under fluctuating NO production from soil needs further investigation for complete understanding of NO regulatory mechanism governing nodule development to attain optimal food security under changing environment.}, } @article {pmid29349810, year = {2018}, author = {Senovilla, M and Castro-Rodríguez, R and Abreu, I and Escudero, V and Kryvoruchko, I and Udvardi, MK and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula copper transporter 1 (MtCOPT1) delivers copper for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {2}, pages = {696-709}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14992}, pmid = {29349810}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Transport/drug effects ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Membrane/drug effects/metabolism ; Copper/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Copper Transporter 1 ; Electron Transport Complex IV/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Mutation/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Copper is an essential nutrient for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This element is delivered by the host plant to the nodule, where membrane copper (Cu) transporter would introduce it into the cell to synthesize cupro-proteins. COPT family members in the model legume Medicago truncatula were identified and their expression determined. Yeast complementation assays, confocal microscopy and phenotypical characterization of a Tnt1 insertional mutant line were carried out in the nodule-specific M. truncatula COPT family member. Medicago truncatula genome encodes eight COPT transporters. MtCOPT1 (Medtr4g019870) is the only nodule-specific COPT gene. It is located in the plasma membrane of the differentiation, interzone and early fixation zones. Loss of MtCOPT1 function results in a Cu-mitigated reduction of biomass production when the plant obtains its nitrogen exclusively from symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Mutation of MtCOPT1 results in diminished nitrogenase activity in nodules, likely an indirect effect from the loss of a Cu-dependent function, such as cytochrome oxidase activity in copt1-1 bacteroids. These data are consistent with a model in which MtCOPT1 transports Cu from the apoplast into nodule cells to provide Cu for essential metabolic processes associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid29348592, year = {2018}, author = {Paludo, CR and Menezes, C and Silva-Junior, EA and Vollet-Neto, A and Andrade-Dominguez, A and Pishchany, G and Khadempour, L and do Nascimento, FS and Currie, CR and Kolter, R and Clardy, J and Pupo, MT}, title = {Stingless Bee Larvae Require Fungal Steroid to Pupate.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {1122}, pmid = {29348592}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/classification/genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Fungi/metabolism ; Larva ; Life Cycle Stages ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Pupa/chemistry ; *Steroids/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The larval stage of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis must consume a specific brood cell fungus in order to continue development. Here we show that this fungus is a member of the genus Zygosaccharomyces and provides essential steroid precursors to the developing bee. Insect pupation requires ecdysteroid hormones, and as insects cannot synthesize sterols de novo, they must obtain steroids in their diet. Larval in vitro culturing assays demonstrated that consuming ergosterol recapitulates the developmental effects on S. depilis as ingestion of Zygosaccharomyces sp. cells. Thus, we determined the molecular underpinning of this intimate mutualistic symbiosis. Phylogenetic analyses showed that similar cases of bee-Zygosaccharomyces symbiosis may exist. This unprecedented case of bee-fungus symbiosis driven by steroid requirement brings new perspectives regarding pollinator-microbiota interaction and preservation.}, } @article {pmid29348580, year = {2018}, author = {Vincent, FJ and Colin, S and Romac, S and Scalco, E and Bittner, L and Garcia, Y and Lopes, RM and Dolan, JR and Zingone, A and de Vargas, C and Bowler, C}, title = {The epibiotic life of the cosmopolitan diatom Fragilariopsis doliolus on heterotrophic ciliates in the open ocean.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {1094-1108}, pmid = {29348580}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {294823/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Ciliophora ; Diatoms/classification/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Haplotypes ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Oceans and Seas ; Phytoplankton/cytology/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diatoms are a diverse and ecologically important group of phytoplankton. Although most species are considered free living, several are known to interact with other organisms within the plankton. Detailed imaging and molecular characterization of any such partnership is, however, limited, and an appraisal of the large-scale distribution and ecology of such consortia was never attempted. Here, observation of Tara Oceans samples from the Benguela Current led to the detection of an epibiotic association between a pennate diatom and a tintinnid ciliate. We identified the diatom as Fragilariopsis doliolus that possesses a unique feature to form barrel-shaped chains, associated with seven different genera of tintinnids including five previously undescribed associations. The organisms were commonly found together in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins, and live observations of the interaction have been recorded for the first time. By combining confocal and scanning electron microscopy of individual consortia with the sequencing of high-resolution molecular markers, we analyzed their distribution in the global ocean, revealing morpho-genetically distinct tintinnid haplotypes and biogeographically structured diatom haplotypes. The diatom was among the most abundant in the global ocean. We show that the consortia were particularly prevalent in nutrient-replete conditions, rich in potential predators. These observations support the hypothesis of a mutualistic symbiosis, wherein diatoms acquire increased motility and tintinnids benefit from silicification through increased protection, and highlight that such associations may be more prevalent than currently appreciated.}, } @article {pmid29346623, year = {2018}, author = {Fakhour, S and Ambroise, J and Renoz, F and Foray, V and Gala, JL and Hance, T}, title = {A large-scale field study of bacterial communities in cereal aphid populations across Morocco.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy003}, pmid = {29346623}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Edible Grain/parasitology ; Host Specificity ; *Microbiota ; Morocco ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects are frequently associated with bacteria that can have significant ecological and evolutionary impacts on their hosts. To date, few studies have examined the influence of environmental factors to microbiome composition of aphids. The current work assessed the diversity of bacterial communities of five cereal aphid species (Sitobion avenae, Rhopalosiphum padi, R. maidis, Sipha maydis and Diuraphis noxia) collected across Morocco, covering a wide range of environmental conditions. We aimed to test whether symbiont combinations are host or environment specific. Deep 16S rRNA sequencing enabled us to identify 17 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola was represented by five OTUs with multiple haplotypes in many single samples. Facultative endosymbionts were presented by a high prevalence of Regiella insecticola and Serratia symbiotica in S. avenae and Si. maydis, respectively. In addition to these symbiotic partners, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Pantoea, Erwinia and Staphyloccocus were also identified in aphids, suggesting that the aphid microbiome is not limited to the presence of endosymbiotic bacteria. Beside a significant association between host species and bacterial communities, an inverse correlation was also found between altitude and α-diversity. Overall, our results support that symbiont combinations are mainly host specific.}, } @article {pmid29342876, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, Q and Gao, X and Ren, Y and Ding, X and Qiu, J and Li, N and Zeng, F and Chu, Z}, title = {Improvement of Verticillium Wilt Resistance by Applying Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to a Cotton Variety with High Symbiotic Efficiency under Field Conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29342876}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/metabolism ; *Disease Resistance/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Gossypium/genetics/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/genetics/*immunology/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Verticillium/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in nutrient cycling processes and plant stress resistance. To evaluate the effect of Rhizophagus irregularis CD1 on plant growth promotion (PGP) and Verticillium wilt disease, the symbiotic efficiency of AMF (SEA) was first investigated over a range of 3% to 94% in 17 cotton varieties. The high-SEA subgroup had significant PGP effects in a greenhouse. From these results, the highest-SEA variety of Lumian 1 was selected for a two-year field assay. Consistent with the performance from the greenhouse, the AMF-mediated PGP of Lumian 1 also produced significant results, including an increased plant height, stem diameter, number of petioles, and phosphorus content. Compared with the mock treatment, AMF colonization obviously inhibited the symptom development of Verticillium dahliae and more strongly elevated the expression of pathogenesis-related genes and lignin synthesis-related genes. These results suggest that AMF colonization could lead to the mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) of Lumian 1 to V. dahliae. Interestingly, our results indicated that the AMF endosymbiont could directly inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi including V. dahliae by releasing undefined volatiles. In summary, our results suggest that stronger effects of AMF application result from the high-SEA.}, } @article {pmid29342777, year = {2017}, author = {Ainslie, G}, title = {Positivity versus negativity is a matter of timing.}, journal = {The Behavioral and brain sciences}, volume = {40}, number = {}, pages = {e348}, doi = {10.1017/S0140525X17001571}, pmid = {29342777}, issn = {1469-1825}, mesh = {*Attention ; *Emotions ; Reward ; }, abstract = {"Negative" emotions are never purely negative. They attract attention at the very least and often stay attractive enough to make rehearsing them an addictive activity. As the authors point out, they also counteract a relentless tendency for positive emotions to become boring. Analysis in terms of reward suggests why this tendency occurs and how symbiosis with negative emotions may arise, in art and in life.}, } @article {pmid29342277, year = {2018}, author = {Tan, MH and Austin, CM and Hammer, MP and Lee, YP and Croft, LJ and Gan, HM}, title = {Finding Nemo: hybrid assembly with Oxford Nanopore and Illumina reads greatly improves the clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) genome assembly.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {1-6}, pmid = {29342277}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; Genome/genetics ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nanopores ; Perciformes/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Some of the most widely recognized coral reef fishes are clownfish or anemonefish, members of the family Pomacentridae (subfamily: Amphiprioninae). They are popular aquarium species due to their bright colours, adaptability to captivity, and fascinating behavior. Their breeding biology (sequential hermaphrodites) and symbiotic mutualism with sea anemones have attracted much scientific interest. Moreover, there are some curious geographic-based phenotypes that warrant investigation. Leveraging on the advancement in Nanopore long read technology, we report the first hybrid assembly of the clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) genome utilizing Illumina and Nanopore reads, further demonstrating the substantial impact of modest long read sequencing data sets on improving genome assembly statistics.

RESULTS: We generated 43 Gb of short Illumina reads and 9 Gb of long Nanopore reads, representing approximate genome coverage of 54× and 11×, respectively, based on the range of estimated k-mer-predicted genome sizes of between 791 and 967 Mbp. The final assembled genome is contained in 6404 scaffolds with an accumulated length of 880 Mb (96.3% BUSCO-calculated genome completeness). Compared with the Illumina-only assembly, the hybrid approach generated 94% fewer scaffolds with an 18-fold increase in N50 length (401 kb) and increased the genome completeness by an additional 16%. A total of 27 240 high-quality protein-coding genes were predicted from the clown anemonefish, 26 211 (96%) of which were annotated functionally with information from either sequence homology or protein signature searches.

CONCLUSIONS: We present the first genome of any anemonefish and demonstrate the value of low coverage (∼11×) long Nanopore read sequencing in improving both genome assembly contiguity and completeness. The near-complete assembly of the A. ocellaris genome will be an invaluable molecular resource for supporting a range of genetic, genomic, and phylogenetic studies specifically for clownfish and more generally for other related fish species of the family Pomacentridae.}, } @article {pmid29341125, year = {2018}, author = {Rinaldi, E and Consonni, A and Guidesi, E and Elli, M and Mantegazza, R and Baggi, F}, title = {Gut microbiota and probiotics: novel immune system modulators in myasthenia gravis?.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1413}, number = {1}, pages = {49-58}, doi = {10.1111/nyas.13567}, pmid = {29341125}, issn = {1749-6632}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology/*therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/*therapeutic use ; Multiple Sclerosis/immunology/*therapy ; Myasthenia Gravis/*immunology/*therapy ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Gut microorganisms (microbiota) live in symbiosis with the host and influence human nutrition, metabolism, physiology, and immune development and function. The microbiota prevents pathogen infection to the host, and in turn the host provides a niche for survival. The alteration of gut bacteria composition (dysbiosis) could contribute to the development of immune-mediated diseases by influencing the immune system activation and driving the pro- and anti-inflammatory responses in order to promote or counteract immune reactions. Probiotics are nonpathogenic microorganisms able to interact with the gut microbiota and provide health benefits; their use has recently been exploited to dampen immunological response in several experimental models of autoimmune diseases. Here, we focus on the relationships among commensal bacteria, probiotics, and the gut, describing the main interactions occurring with the immune system and recent data supporting the clinical efficacy of probiotic administration in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis (MG) animal models. The encouraging results suggest that selected strains of probiotics should be evaluated in clinical trials as adjuvant therapy to restore the disrupted tolerance in myasthenia gravis.}, } @article {pmid29338798, year = {2018}, author = {Fernández-González, S and Pérez-Rodríguez, A and Proctor, HC and De la Hera, I and Pérez-Tris, J}, title = {High diversity and low genetic structure of feather mites associated with a phenotypically variable bird host.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {145}, number = {9}, pages = {1243-1250}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182017002360}, pmid = {29338798}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animal Migration ; Animals ; Bird Diseases/*parasitology ; Canada ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Ecosystem ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Mite Infestations/transmission/*veterinary ; Mites/*genetics ; Passeriformes/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbionts may be genetically structured among host individuals and among phenotypically distinct host populations. Such processes may in turn determine within-host genetic diversity of symbionts, which is relevant for understanding symbiont population dynamics. We analysed the population genetic structure of two species of feather mites (Proctophyllodes sylviae and Trouessartia bifurcata) in migratory and resident blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla that winter sympatrically. Resident and migratory hosts may provide mites with habitats of different qualities, what might promote specialization of mite populations. We found high genetic diversity of within-host populations for both mite species, but no sign of genetic structure of mites between migratory and resident hosts. Our results suggest that, although dispersal mechanisms between hosts during the non-breeding season are unclear, mite populations are not limited by transmission bottlenecks that would reduce genetic diversity among individuals that share a host. Additionally, there is no evidence that host phenotypic divergence (associated with the evolution of migration and residency) has promoted the evolution of host-specialist mite populations. Unrestricted dispersal among host types may allow symbiotic organisms to avoid inbreeding and to persist in the face of habitat heterogeneity in phenotypically diverse host populations.}, } @article {pmid29337641, year = {2018}, author = {Gourion, B and Alunni, B}, title = {Strain-Specific Symbiotic Genes: A New Level of Control in the Intracellular Accommodation of Rhizobia Within Legume Nodule Cells.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {287-288}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-18-0010-LE}, pmid = {29337641}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*cytology/*genetics/microbiology ; *Genes, Plant ; Intracellular Space/*microbiology ; Plant Immunity ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*cytology/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {This is a short commentary on the article by Wang et al. published in MPMI Vol. 31, No. 2, pages 240-248.}, } @article {pmid29336852, year = {2018}, author = {Silva, VC and Alves, PAC and Rhem, MFK and Dos Santos, JMF and James, EK and Gross, E}, title = {Brazilian species of Calliandra Benth. (tribe Ingeae) are nodulated by diverse strains of Paraburkholderia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {241-250}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.12.003}, pmid = {29336852}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Brazil ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Chapada Diamantina in NE of Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot and a center of radiation for many Neotropical legume genera, such as Calliandra and Mimosa. The present study aimed to evaluate nodulation in Calliandra species endemic to various environments, and to characterize the diversity of their symbiotic rhizobia using housekeeping (16S rRNA, recA) and plasmid-borne, symbiosis-related (nifH and nodC) genes. The nodulation ability of selected isolates was assessed. All of the 126 bacterial isolates from 18 Calliandra species collected in six different vegetation types were identified as Paraburkholderia according to their housekeeping and symbiosis gene phylogenies. They were grouped in seven clades in relation to the dominant vegetation type in their native environments. The majority, particularly those from highland "campo rupestre" vegetation, were similar to Paraburkholderia nodosa, but had nodC genes identical to the Mimosa symbiont Paraburkholderia tuberum sv. mimosae. The other smaller groups were related to Paraburkholderia diazotrophica and Paraburkholderia sabiae, and some single strains were not close to any known species. The symbionts of Calliandra spp. in NE Brazil are Paraburkholderia strains closely-related to Mimosa symbionts from the same region. NE Brazil is a reservoir of symbiotic Paraburkholderia that have an affinity for genera in the Mimosoid clade.}, } @article {pmid29335919, year = {2018}, author = {van der Meij, A and Willemse, J and Schneijderberg, MA and Geurts, R and Raaijmakers, JM and van Wezel, GP}, title = {Inter- and intracellular colonization of Arabidopsis roots by endophytic actinobacteria and the impact of plant hormones on their antimicrobial activity.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {5}, pages = {679-690}, pmid = {29335919}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/growth & development/*physiology ; Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/metabolism/*microbiology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plant Growth Regulators/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Streptomyces/classification/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many actinobacteria live in close association with eukaryotes such as fungi, insects, animals and plants. Plant-associated actinobacteria display (endo)symbiotic, saprophytic or pathogenic life styles, and can make up a substantial part of the endophytic community. Here, we characterised endophytic actinobacteria isolated from root tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) plants grown in soil from a natural ecosystem. Many of these actinobacteria belong to the family of Streptomycetaceae with Streptomyces olivochromogenes and Streptomyces clavifer as well represented species. When seeds of Arabidopsis were inoculated with spores of Streptomyces strain coa1, which shows high similarity to S. olivochromogenes, roots were colonised intercellularly and, unexpectedly, also intracellularly. Subsequent exposure of endophytic isolates to plant hormones typically found in root and shoot tissues of Arabidopsis led to altered antibiotic production against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Taken together, our work reveals remarkable colonization patterns of endophytic streptomycetes with specific traits that may allow a competitive advantage inside root tissue.}, } @article {pmid29335550, year = {2018}, author = {Ghedira, K and Harigua-Souiai, E and Ben Hamda, C and Fournier, P and Pujic, P and Guesmi, S and Guizani, I and Miotello, G and Armengaud, J and Normand, P and Sghaier, H}, title = {The PEG-responding desiccome of the alder microsymbiont Frankia alni.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {759}, pmid = {29335550}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/analysis ; Frankia/chemistry/*drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; Ion Channels/metabolism ; Mechanoreceptors/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; *Osmotic Pressure ; Polyethylene Glycols/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; Solvents/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants are ecologically and economically important. Symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria allows these woody dicotyledonous plants to colonise soils under nitrogen deficiency, water-stress or other extreme conditions. However, proteins involved in xerotolerance of symbiotic microorganisms have yet to be identified. Here we characterise the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-responding desiccome from the most geographically widespread Gram-positive nitrogen-fixing plant symbiont, Frankia alni, by next-generation proteomics, taking advantage of a Q-Exactive HF tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an ultra-high-field Orbitrap analyser. A total of 2,052 proteins were detected and quantified. Under osmotic stress, PEG-grown F. alni cells increased the abundance of envelope-associated proteins like ABC transporters, mechano-sensitive ion channels and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats CRISPR-associated (cas) components. Conjointly, dispensable pathways, like nitrogen fixation, aerobic respiration and homologous recombination, were markedly down-regulated. Molecular modelling and docking simulations suggested that the PEG is acting on Frankia partly by filling the inner part of an up-regulated osmotic-stress large conductance mechanosensitive channel.}, } @article {pmid29334470, year = {2018}, author = {Robledo, M and Menéndez, E and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Rivas, R and Velázquez, E and Martínez-Molina, E and Oldroyd, G and Mateos, PF}, title = {Heterologous Expression of Rhizobial CelC2 Cellulase Impairs Symbiotic Signaling and Nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {568-575}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-17-0265-R}, pmid = {29334470}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/*physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Symbiosis ; beta-Glucosidase/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The infection of legume plants by rhizobia is tightly regulated to ensure accurate bacterial penetration, infection, and development of functionally efficient nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Rhizobial Nod factors (NF) have key roles in the elicitation of nodulation signaling. Infection of white clover roots also involves the tightly regulated specific breakdown of the noncrystalline apex of cell walls in growing root hairs, which is mediated by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii cellulase CelC2. Here, we have analyzed the impact of this endoglucanase on symbiotic signaling in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Ensifer meliloti constitutively expressing celC gene exhibited delayed nodulation and elicited aberrant ineffective nodules, hampering plant growth in the absence of nitrogen. Cotreatment of roots with NF and CelC2 altered Ca[2+] spiking in root hairs and induction of the early nodulin gene ENOD11. Our data suggest that CelC2 alters early signaling between partners in the rhizobia-legume interaction.}, } @article {pmid29334418, year = {2018}, author = {van de Water, JAJM and Chaib De Mares, M and Dixon, GB and Raina, JB and Willis, BL and Bourne, DG and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Antimicrobial and stress responses to increased temperature and bacterial pathogen challenge in the holobiont of a reef-building coral.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {1065-1080}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14489}, pmid = {29334418}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; *Coral Reefs ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Seawater ; Stress, Physiological/*drug effects/genetics ; *Temperature ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Global increases in coral disease prevalence have been linked to ocean warming through changes in coral-associated bacterial communities, pathogen virulence and immune system function. However, the interactive effects of temperature and pathogens on the coral holobiont are poorly understood. Here, we assessed three compartments of the holobiont (host, Symbiodinium and bacterial community) of the coral Montipora aequituberculata challenged with the pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus and the commensal bacterium Oceanospirillales sp. under ambient (27°C) and elevated (29.5 and 32°C) seawater temperatures. Few visual signs of bleaching and disease development were apparent in any of the treatments, but responses were detected in the holobiont compartments. V. coralliilyticus acted synergistically and negatively impacted the photochemical efficiency of Symbiodinium at 32°C, while Oceanospirillales had no significant effect on photosynthetic efficiency. The coral, however, exhibited a minor response to the bacterial challenges, with the response towards V. coralliilyticus being significantly more pronounced, and involving the prophenoloxidase-activating system and multiple immune system-related genes. Elevated seawater temperatures did not induce shifts in the coral-associated bacterial community, but caused significant gene expression modulation in both Symbiodinium and the coral host. While Symbiodinium exhibited an antiviral response and upregulated stress response genes, M. aequituberculata showed regulation of genes involved in stress and innate immune response processes, including immune and cytokine receptor signalling, the complement system, immune cell activation and phagocytosis, as well as molecular chaperones. These observations show that M. aequituberculata is capable of maintaining a stable bacterial community under elevated seawater temperatures and thereby contributes to preventing disease development.}, } @article {pmid29333583, year = {2018}, author = {Vecchi, M and Newton, ILG and Cesari, M and Rebecchi, L and Guidetti, R}, title = {The Microbial Community of Tardigrades: Environmental Influence and Species Specificity of Microbiome Structure and Composition.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {467-481}, pmid = {29333583}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsiales/classification/genetics ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Tardigrada/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations of metazoans with bacteria strongly influence animal biology since bacteria are ubiquitous and virtually no animal is completely free from them. Tardigrades are micrometazoans famous for their ability to undergo ametabolic states (cryptobiosis) but very little information is available on potential microbial associations. We characterized the microbiomes of six limnoterrestrial tardigrade species belonging to several phylogenetic lines in tandem with the microbiomes of their respective substrates. The experimental design enabled us to determine the effects of both the environment and the host genetic background on the tardigrade microbiome; we were able to define the microbial community of the same species sampled from different environments, and the communities of different species from the same environment. Our 16S rRNA gene amplicon approach indicated that the tardigrade microbiome is species-specific and well differentiated from the environment. Tardigrade species showed a much lower microbial diversity compared to their substrates, with only one significant exception. Forty-nine common OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were classified into six bacterial phyla, while four common OTUs were unclassified and probably represent novel bacterial taxa. Specifically, the tardigrade microbiome appears dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Some OTUs were shared between different species from geographically distant samples, suggesting the associated bacteria may be widespread. Putative endosymbionts of tardigrades from the order Rickettsiales were identified. Our results indicated that like all other animals, tardigrades have their own microbiota that is different among species, and its assembly is determined by host genotype and environmental influences.}, } @article {pmid29331014, year = {2018}, author = {Rezaie, M and Aminzadeh, S and Heidari, F and Mashhadi Akbar Boojar, M and Karkhane, AA}, title = {Biochemical Characterization of Recombinant Thermostable Cohnella sp. A01 β-Glucanase.}, journal = {Iranian biomedical journal}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {345-354}, pmid = {29331014}, issn = {2008-823X}, mesh = {Bacillus/chemistry/genetics ; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Hot Temperature ; Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; beta-Glucans/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Typically, non-cellulytic glucanase, including fungi and yeast cell wall hydrolyzing enzymes, are released by some symbiotic fungi and plants during the mycoparasitic fungi attack on plants. These enzymes are known as the defense mechanisms of plants. This study intends to investigate the biochemical properties of β-1,6-glucanase (bg16M) from native thermophilic bacteria, Cohnella A01.

METHODS: bg16M gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The enzyme was purified utilizing Ni-NTA nikcle sepharose column. Pustulan and laminarin were selected as substrates in enzyme assay. The purified bg16M enzyme was treated with different pH, temperature, metal ions, and detergents.

RESULTS: The expressed protein, including 639 amino acids, showed a high similarity with the hydrolytic glycosylated family 30. The molecular weight of enzyme was 64 kDa, and purification yield was 46%. The bg16M demonstrated activity as 4.83 U/ml on laminarin and 2.88 U/ml on pustulan. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were 8 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme had an appropriate stability at high temperatures and in the pH range of 7 to 9, showing acceptable stability, while it did not lose enzymatic activity completely at acidic or basic pH. None of the studied metal ions and chemical compounds was the activator of bg16M, and urea, SDS, and copper acted as enzyme inhibitors.

CONCLUSION: Biochemical characterization of this enzyme revealed that bg16M can be applied in beverage industries and medical sectors because of its high activity, as well as thermal and alkaline stability.}, } @article {pmid29330647, year = {2018}, author = {Brambilla, S and Frare, R and Soto, G and Jozefkowicz, C and Ayub, N}, title = {Absence of the Nitrous Oxide Reductase Gene Cluster in Commercial Alfalfa Inoculants Is Probably Due to the Extensive Loss of Genes During Rhizobial Domestication.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {299-302}, pmid = {29330647}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Denitrification/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrous Oxide/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As other legume crops, alfalfa cultivation increases the emission of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Since legume-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria play a crucial role in this emission, it is important to understand the possible impacts of rhizobial domestication on the evolution of denitrification genes. In comparison with the genomes of non-commercial strains, those of commercial alfalfa inoculants exhibit low total genome size, low number of ORFs and high numbers of both frameshifted genes and pseudogenes, suggesting a dramatic loss of genes during bacterial domestication. Genomic analysis focused on denitrification genes revealed that commercial strains have perfectly conserved the nitrate (NAP), nitrite (NIR) and nitric (NOR) reductase clusters related to the production of N2O from nitrate but completely lost the nitrous oxide (NOS) reductase cluster (nosRZDFYLX genes) associated with the reduction of N2O to gas nitrogen. Based on these results, we propose future screenings for alfalfa-nodulating isolates containing both nitrogen fixation and N2O reductase genes for environmental sustainability of alfalfa production.}, } @article {pmid29330574, year = {2018}, author = {Koizumi, T and Hattori, M and Nara, K}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in alpine relict forests of Pinus pumila on Mt. Norikura, Japan.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {129-145}, pmid = {29330574}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Altitude ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Forests ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses are indispensable for the establishment of host trees, yet available information of ECM symbiosis in alpine forests is scarce. Pinus pumila is a typical ice age relict tree species in Japan and often forms monodominant dwarf vegetation above the tree line in mountains. We studied ECM fungi colonizing P. pumila on Mt. Norikura, Japan, with reference to host developmental stages, i.e., from current-year seedlings to mature trees. ECM fungal species were identified based on rDNA ITS sequences. Ninety-two ECM fungal species were confirmed from a total of 2480 root tips examined. Species in /suillus-rhizopogon and /wilcoxina were dominant in seedling roots. ECM fungal diversity increased with host development, due to the addition of species-rich fungal lineages (/cenococcum, /cortinarius, and /russula-lactarius) in late-successional stages. Such successional pattern of ECM fungi is similar to those in temperate pine systems, suggesting the predominant role of /suillus-rhizopogon in seedling establishment, even in relict alpine habitats fragmented and isolated for a geological time period. Most of the ECM fungi detected were also recorded in Europe or North America, indicating their potential Holarctic distribution and the possibility of their comigration with P. pumila through land bridges during ice ages. In addition, we found significant effects of soil properties on ECM fungal communities, which explained 34.1% of the total variation of the fungal communities. While alpine vegetation is regarded as vulnerable to the ongoing global warming, ECM fungal communities associated with P. pumila could be altered by the edaphic change induced by the warming.}, } @article {pmid29330535, year = {2018}, author = {Tanaka, Y and Suzuki, A and Sakai, K}, title = {The stoichiometry of coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis: carbon and nitrogen cycles are balanced in the recycling and double translocation system.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {860-868}, pmid = {29330535}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes/physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Microalgae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between microalgae and animal hosts have the advantage of acquiring and sharing autotrophically produced organic carbon (C) as their energy source. However, the stoichiometry and turnover rates of biological elements in symbioses are not fully understood because of complicated metabolic interactions. We report the first comprehensive and simultaneous measurement of C and nitrogen (N) flows through coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis by using the unique approach of dual-isotope labeling with [13]C and [15]N, in situ chasing, and isotope-mixing models. The coral autotrophy occurred with much lower C:N ratios than previously thought, and the autotrophically produced N-rich organic matter was efficiently transferred to the animal host through two different pathways. In contrast to the dynamic N cycles within the symbiosis, the N uptake from the ambient seawater was extremely limited, which enabled the coral symbiosis to sustain N with a long turnover time (1 year). These findings suggest that coral endosymbionts are not under N limitation but are actively producing organic N and driving microscale N cycles in the reef ecosystem. The present techniques could be applied to further quantify the C and N cycles in other symbiotic interactions and reveal their ecological advantages.}, } @article {pmid29330187, year = {2018}, author = {Bergin, C and Wentrup, C and Brewig, N and Blazejak, A and Erséus, C and Giere, O and Schmid, M and De Wit, P and Dubilier, N}, title = {Acquisition of a Novel Sulfur-Oxidizing Symbiont in the Gutless Marine Worm Inanidrilus exumae.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {29330187}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromatiaceae/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gutless phallodrilines are marine annelid worms without a mouth or gut, which live in an obligate association with multiple bacterial endosymbionts that supply them with nutrition. In this study, we discovered an unusual symbiont community in the gutless phallodriline Inanidrilus exumae that differs markedly from the microbiomes of all 22 of the other host species examined. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that I. exumae harbors cooccurring gamma-, alpha-, and deltaproteobacterial symbionts, while all other known host species harbor gamma- and either alpha- or deltaproteobacterial symbionts. Surprisingly, the primary chemoautotrophic sulfur oxidizer "Candidatus Thiosymbion" that occurs in all other gutless phallodriline hosts does not appear to be present in I. exumae Instead, I. exumae harbors a bacterial endosymbiont that resembles "Ca Thiosymbion" morphologically and metabolically but originates from a novel lineage within the class Gammaproteobacteria This endosymbiont, named Gamma 4 symbiont here, had a 16S rRNA gene sequence that differed by at least 7% from those of other free-living and symbiotic bacteria and by 10% from that of "Ca Thiosymbion." Sulfur globules in the Gamma 4 symbiont cells, as well as the presence of genes characteristic for autotrophy (cbbL) and sulfur oxidation (aprA), indicate that this symbiont is a chemoautotrophic sulfur oxidizer. Our results suggest that a novel lineage of free-living bacteria was able to establish a stable and specific association with I. exumae and appears to have displaced the "Ca Thiosymbion" symbionts originally associated with these hosts.IMPORTANCE All 22 gutless marine phallodriline species examined to date live in a highly specific association with endosymbiotic, chemoautotrophic sulfur oxidizers called "Ca Thiosymbion." These symbionts evolved from a single common ancestor and represent the ancestral trait for this host group. They are transmitted vertically and assumed to be in transition to becoming obligate endosymbionts. It is therefore surprising that despite this ancient, evolutionary relationship between phallodriline hosts and "Ca Thiosymbion," these symbionts are apparently no longer present in Inanidrilus exumae They appear to have been displaced by a novel lineage of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria only very distantly related to "Ca Thiosymbion." Thus, this study highlights the remarkable plasticity of both animals and bacteria in establishing beneficial associations: the phallodriline hosts were able to acquire and maintain symbionts from two very different lineages of bacteria, while sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from two very distantly related lineages were able to independently establish symbiotic relationships with phallodriline hosts.}, } @article {pmid29329439, year = {2018}, author = {Lee, SJ and Kong, M and Harrison, P and Hijri, M}, title = {Conserved Proteins of the RNA Interference System in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare Provide New Insight into the Evolutionary History of Glomeromycota.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {328-343}, pmid = {29329439}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cyanobacteria/chemistry/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/chemistry/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA Interference ; Ribonuclease III/chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important mechanism in the evolution of many living organisms particularly in Prokaryotes where genes are frequently dispersed between taxa. Although, HGT has been reported in Eukaryotes, its accumulative effect and its frequency has been questioned. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an early diverged fungal lineage belonging to phylum Glomeromycota, whose phylogenetic position is still under debate. The history of AMF and land plant symbiosis dates back to at least 460 Ma. However, Glomeromycota are estimated to have emerged much earlier than land plants. In this study, we surveyed genomic and transcriptomic data of the model arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare (synonym Rhizophagus irregularis) and its relatives to search for evidence of HGT that occurred during AMF evolution. Surprisingly, we found a signature of putative HGT of class I ribonuclease III protein-coding genes that occurred from autotrophic cyanobacteria genomes to R. irregulare. At least one of two HGTs was conserved among AMF species with high levels of sequence similarity. Previously, an example of intimate symbiosis between AM fungus and cyanobacteria was reported in the literature. Ribonuclease III family enzymes are important in small RNA regulation in Fungi together with two additional core proteins (Argonaute/piwi and RdRP). The eukaryotic RNA interference system found in AMF was conserved and showed homology with high sequence similarity in Mucoromycotina, a group of fungi closely related to Glomeromycota. Prior to this analysis, class I ribonuclease III has not been identified in any eukaryotes. Our results indicate that a unique acquisition of class I ribonuclease III in AMF is due to a HGT event that occurred from cyanobacteria to Glomeromycota, at the latest before the divergence of the two Glomeromycota orders Diversisporales and Glomerales.}, } @article {pmid29328512, year = {2018}, author = {Prior, KM and Palmer, TM}, title = {Economy of scale: third partner strengthens a keystone ant-plant mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {99}, number = {2}, pages = {335-346}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2104}, pmid = {29328512}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Herbivory ; Plant Nectar ; *Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {While foundation species can stabilize ecosystems at landscape scales, their ability to persist is often underlain by keystone interactions occurring at smaller scales. Acacia drepanolobium is a foundation tree, comprising >95% of woody cover in East African black-cotton savanna ecosystems. Its dominance is underlain by a keystone mutualistic interaction with several symbiotic ant species in which it provides housing (swollen thorns) and carbohydrate-rich nectar from extra-floral nectaries (EFN). In return, it gains protection from catastrophic damage from mega-herbivores. Crematogaster mimosae is the ecologically dominant symbiotic ant in this system, also providing the highest protection services. In addition to tending EFN, C. mimosae tend scale insects for carbohydrate-rich honeydew. We investigated the role of scale insects in this specialized ant-plant interaction. Specifically, does this putatively redundant third partner strengthen the ant-plant mutualism by making the ant a better protector of the tree? Or does it weaken the mutualism by being costly to the tree while providing no additional benefit to the ant-plant mutualism? We coupled observational surveys with two scale-manipulation experiments and found evidence that this third partner strengthens the ant-plant mutualism. Trees with scale insects experimentally removed experienced a 2.5X increase in elephant damage compared to trees with scale insects present over 10 months. Reduced protection was driven by scale removal causing a decrease in ant colony size and per capita baseline activity and defensive behavior. We also found that ants increased scale-tending and the density of scale insects on trees when EFN were experimentally reduced. Thus, in this system, scale insects and EFN are likely complementary, rather than redundant, resources with scale insects benefitting ants when EFN production is low (such as during annual dry periods in this semi-arid ecosystem). This study reveals that a third-partner strengthens an ant-plant mutualism that serves to stabilize a whole ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid29327481, year = {2018}, author = {Bahram, M and Vanderpool, D and Pent, M and Hiltunen, M and Ryberg, M}, title = {The genome and microbiome of a dikaryotic fungus (Inocybe terrigena, Inocybaceae) revealed by metagenomics.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {155-166}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12612}, pmid = {29327481}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Agaricales/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Genome, Fungal ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent advances in molecular methods have increased our understanding of various fungal symbioses. However, little is known about genomic and microbiome features of most uncultured symbiotic fungal clades. Here, we analysed the genome and microbiome of Inocybaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota), a largely uncultured ectomycorrhizal clade known to form symbiotic associations with a wide variety of plant species. We used metagenomic sequencing and assembly of dikaryotic fruiting-body tissues from Inocybe terrigena (Fr.) Kuyper, to classify fungal and bacterial genomic sequences, and obtained a nearly complete fungal genome containing 93% of core eukaryotic genes. Comparative genomics reveals that I. terrigena is more similar to ectomycorrhizal and brown rot fungi than to white rot fungi. The reduction in lignin degradation capacity has been independent from and significantly faster than in closely related ectomycorrhizal clades supporting that ectomycorrhizal symbiosis evolved independently in Inocybe. The microbiome of I. terrigena fruiting-bodies includes bacteria with known symbiotic functions in other fungal and non-fungal host environments, suggesting potential symbiotic functions of these bacteria in fungal tissues regardless of habitat conditions. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of direct metagenomics analysis of fruiting-body tissues for characterizing fungal genomes and microbiome.}, } @article {pmid29327464, year = {2018}, author = {Tavares, MJ and Nascimento, FX and Glick, BR and Rossi, MJ}, title = {The expression of an exogenous ACC deaminase by the endophyte Serratia grimesii BXF1 promotes the early nodulation and growth of common bean.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {252-259}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12847}, pmid = {29327464}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*metabolism ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium tropici/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Serratia/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Ethylene acts as an inhibitor of the nodulation process of leguminous plants. However, some bacteria can decrease deleterious ethylene levels by the action of the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase which degrades ACC, the ethylene precursor in all higher plants. Co-inoculation of rhizobia with endophytes enhances the rhizobial symbiotic efficiency with legumes, improving both nodulation and nitrogen fixation. However, not much is understood about the mechanisms employed by these endophytic bacteria. In this regard, the role of ACC deaminase from endophytic strains in assisting rhizobia in this process has yet to be confirmed. In this study, the role of ACC deaminase in an endophyte's ability to increase Rhizobium tropici nodulation of common bean was evaluated. To assess the effect of ACC deaminase in an endophyte's ability to promote rhizobial nodulation, the endophyte Serratia grimesii BXF1, which does not encode ACC deaminase, was transformed with an exogenous acdS gene. The results obtained indicate that the ACC deaminase-overexpressing transformant strain increased common bean growth, and enhanced the nodulation abilities of R. tropici CIAT899, in both cases compared to the wild-type non-transformed strain. Furthermore, plant inoculation with the ACC deaminase-overproducing strain led to an increased level of plant protection against a seed-borne pathogen.

In this work, we studied the effect of ACC deaminase production by the bacterial endophyte Serratia grimesi BXF1, and its impact on the nodulation process of common bean. The results obtained indicate that ACC deaminase is an asset to the synergetic interaction between rhizobia and the endophyte, positively contributing to the overall legume-rhizobia symbiosis by regulating inhibitory ethylene levels that might otherwise inhibit nodulation and overall plant growth. The use of rhizobia together with an ACC deaminase-producing endophyte is, therefore, an important strategy for the development of new bacterial inoculants with increased performance.}, } @article {pmid29327073, year = {2018}, author = {Choix, FJ and López-Cisneros, CG and Méndez-Acosta, HO}, title = {Azospirillum brasilense Increases CO2 Fixation on Microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Cultured on High CO2 Concentrations.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {430-442}, pmid = {29327073}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biomass ; *Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Cell Count ; Cells, Immobilized ; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/growth & development/*metabolism ; Chlorella vulgaris/growth & development/*metabolism ; Culture Media ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Microalgae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Scenedesmus/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutualism interactions of microalgae with other microorganisms are widely used in several biotechnological processes since symbiotic interaction improves biotechnological capabilities of the microorganisms involved. The interaction of the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense was assessed with three microalgae genus, Scenedesmus, Chlorella, and Chlamydomonas, during CO2 fixation under high CO2 concentrations. The results in this study have demonstrated that A. brasilense maintained a mutualistic interaction with the three microalgae assessed, supported by the metabolic exchange of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and tryptophan (Trp), respectively. Besides, CO2 fixation increased, as well as growth and cell compound accumulation, mainly carbohydrates, in each microalgae evaluated, interacting with the bacterium. Overall, these results propose the mutualism interaction of A. brasilense with microalgae for improving biotechnological processes based on microalgae as CO2 capture and their bio-refinery capacity.}, } @article {pmid29325120, year = {2018}, author = {Kobae, Y and Kameoka, H and Sugimura, Y and Saito, K and Ohtomo, R and Fujiwara, T and Kyozuka, J}, title = {Strigolactone Biosynthesis Genes of Rice are Required for the Punctual Entry of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi into the Roots.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {3}, pages = {544-553}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcy001}, pmid = {29325120}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Hyphae/physiology ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oryza/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*microbiology ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a mutualistic association between most plant species and the ancient fungal phylum Glomeromycota in roots, and it plays a key role in a plant's nutrient uptake from the soil. Roots synthesize strigolactones (SLs), derivatives of carotenoids, and exude them to induce energy metabolism and hyphal branching of AM fungi. Despite the well-documented roles of SLs in the pre-symbiotic phase, little is known about the role of SLs in the process of root colonization. Here we show that the expansion of root colonization is suppressed in the mutants of rice (Oryza sativa) SL biosynthesis genes, carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase D10 and more severely in D17. Interestingly, most of the colonization process is normal, i.e. AM fungal hyphae approach the roots and cling around them, and epidermal penetration, arbuscule size, arbuscule number per hyphopodium and metabolic activity of the intraradical mycelium are not affected in d10 and d17 mutants. In contrast, hyphopodium formation is severely attenuated. Our observations establish the requirement for SL biosynthesis genes for efficient hyphopodium formation, suggesting that SLs are required in this process. Efficient hyphopodium formation is required for the punctual internalization of hyphae into roots and maintaining the expansion of colonization.}, } @article {pmid29325010, year = {2018}, author = {Taerum, SJ and De Martini, F and Liebig, J and Gile, GH}, title = {Incomplete Co-cladogenesis Between Zootermopsis Termites and Their Associated Protists.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {184-195}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvx193}, pmid = {29325010}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Arizona ; British Columbia ; California ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; *Genetic Speciation ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Isoptera/genetics/parasitology/*physiology ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Parabasalidea/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coevolution is a major driver of speciation in many host-associated symbionts. In the termite-protist digestive symbiosis, the protists are vertically inherited by anal feeding among nest mates. Lower termites (all termite families except Termitidae) and their symbionts have broadly co-diversified over ~170 million yr. However, this inference is based mainly on the restricted distribution of certain protist genera to certain termite families. With the exception of one study, which demonstrated congruent phylogenies for the protist Pseudotrichonympha and its Rhinotermitidae hosts, coevolution in this symbiosis has not been investigated with molecular methods. Here we have characterized the hindgut symbiotic protists (Phylum Parabasalia) across the genus Zootermopsis (Archotermopsidae) using single cell isolation, molecular phylogenetics, and high-throughput amplicon sequencing. We report that the deepest divergence in the Zootermopsis phylogeny (Zootermopsis laticeps [Banks; Isoptera: Termopsidae]) corresponds with a divergence in three of the hindgut protist species. However, the crown Zootermopsis taxa (Zootermopsis angusticollis [Hagen; Isoptera: Termopsidae], Z. nevadensis nevadensis [Hagen; Isoptera: Termopsidae], and Z. nevadensis nuttingi [Haverty & Thorne; Isoptera: Termopsidae]) share the same protist species, with no evidence of co-speciation under our methods. We interpret this pattern as incomplete co-cladogenesis, though the possibility of symbiont exchange cannot be entirely ruled out. This is the first molecular evidence that identical communities of termite-associated protist species can inhabit multiple distinct host species.}, } @article {pmid29325007, year = {2018}, author = {Rosas, T and García-Ferris, C and Domínguez-Santos, R and Llop, P and Latorre, A and Moya, A}, title = {Rifampicin treatment of Blattella germanica evidences a fecal transmission route of their gut microbiota.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiy002}, pmid = {29325007}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Blattellidae/*microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Flavobacteriaceae/*drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Rifampin/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotes have established symbiotic relationship with microorganisms, which enables them to accomplish functions that they cannot perform alone. In the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, the obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium coexists with a rich gut microbiota. The transmission of Blattabacterium is vertical, but little is known about how the gut microbiota colonizes newborn individuals. In this study, we treated B. germanica populations with rifampicin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, during two generations and analyzed gut bacterial composition and the Blattabacterium load in control and rifampicin-treated populations. Rifampicin exerted a drastic effect on gut microbiota composition, which recovered in the second generation in the case where the antibiotic was not added to the diet. Furthermore, we observed that bacterial species present in the diet, and particularly in the feces, contribute significantly to establishing the gut microbiota. Finally, the Blattabacterium population remained unaffected by the antibiotic treatment of adults during the first generation but was strongly reduced in the second generation, suggesting that this intracellular symbiont is sensitive to rifampicin only during the infection of the mature oocytes, when it is in an extracellular stage.}, } @article {pmid29324042, year = {2018}, author = {Bartholomay, LC and Michel, K}, title = {Mosquito Immunobiology: The Intersection of Vector Health and Vector Competence.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {145-167}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023530}, pmid = {29324042}, issn = {1545-4487}, support = {R21 AI117204/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI095842/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/*immunology/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {As holometabolous insects that occupy distinct aquatic and terrestrial environments in larval and adult stages and utilize hematophagy for nutrient acquisition, mosquitoes are subjected to a wide variety of symbiotic interactions. Indeed, mosquitoes play host to endosymbiotic, entomopathogenic, and mosquito-borne organisms, including protozoa, viruses, bacteria, fungi, fungal-like organisms, and metazoans, all of which trigger and shape innate infection-response capacity. Depending on the infection or interaction, the mosquito may employ, for example, cellular and humoral immune effectors for septic infections in the hemocoel, humoral infection responses in the midgut lumen, and RNA interference and programmed cell death for intracellular pathogens. These responses often function in concert, regardless of the infection type, and provide a robust front to combat infection. Mosquito-borne pathogens and entomopathogens overcome these immune responses, employing avoidance or suppression strategies. Burgeoning methodologies are capitalizing on this concerted deployment of immune responses to control mosquito-borne disease.}, } @article {pmid29321910, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, X and Tang, M and Zhang, X and Hamel, C and Li, W and Sheng, M}, title = {Why does oriental arborvitae grow better when mixed with black locust: Insight on nutrient cycling?.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {744-754}, pmid = {29321910}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {To identify why tree growth differs by afforestation type is a matter of prime concern in forestry. A study was conducted to determine why oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) grows better in the presence of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) than in monoculture. Different types of stands (i.e., monocultures and mixture of black locust and oriental arborvitae, and native grassland as a control) were selected in the Loess Plateau, China. The height and diameter at breast height of each tree species were measured, and soil, shoot, and root samples were sampled. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) attributes, shoot and root nutrient status, height and diameter of black locust were not influenced by the presence of oriental arborvitae. For oriental arborvitae, however, growing in mixture increased height and diameter and reduced shoot Mn, Ca, and Mg contents, AM fungal spore density, and colonization rate. Major changes in soil properties also occurred, primarily in soil water, NO 3-N, and available K levels and in soil enzyme activity. The increase in soil water, N, and K availability in the presence of black locust stimulated oriental arborvitae growth, and black locust in the mixed stand seems to suppress the development of AM symbiosis in oriental arborvitae roots, especially the production of AM fungal spores and vesicles, through improving soil water and N levels, thus freeing up carbon to fuel plant growth. Overall, the presence of black locust favored oriental arborvitae growth directly by improving soil water and fertility and indirectly by repressing AM symbiosis in oriental arborvitae roots.}, } @article {pmid29321853, year = {2018}, author = {Werner, GDA and Zhou, Y and Pieterse, CMJ and Kiers, ET}, title = {Tracking plant preference for higher-quality mycorrhizal symbionts under varying CO2 conditions over multiple generations.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {78-87}, pmid = {29321853}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The symbiosis between plants and root-colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is one of the most ecologically important examples of interspecific cooperation in the world. AM fungi provide benefits to plants; in return plants allocate carbon resources to fungi, preferentially allocating more resources to higher-quality fungi. However, preferential allocations from plants to symbionts may vary with environmental context, particularly when resource availability affects the relative value of symbiotic services. We ask how differences in atmospheric CO 2-levels influence root colonization dynamics between AMF species that differ in their quality as symbiotic partners. We find that with increasing CO 2-conditions and over multiple plant generations, the more beneficial fungal species is able to achieve a relatively higher abundance. This suggests that increasing atmospheric carbon supply enables plants to more effectively allocate carbon to higher-quality mutualists, and over time helps reduce lower-quality AM abundance. Our results illustrate how environmental context may affect the extent to which organisms structure interactions with their mutualistic partners and have potential implications for mutualism stability and persistence under global change.}, } @article {pmid29319806, year = {2018}, author = {Versluis, D and Nijsse, B and Naim, MA and Koehorst, JJ and Wiese, J and Imhoff, JF and Schaap, PJ and van Passel, MWJ and Smidt, H and Sipkema, D}, title = {Comparative Genomics Highlights Symbiotic Capacities and High Metabolic Flexibility of the Marine Genus Pseudovibrio.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {125-142}, pmid = {29319806}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Multigene Family ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Rhodobacteraceae/*genetics/physiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pseudovibrio is a marine bacterial genus members of which are predominantly isolated from sessile marine animals, and particularly sponges. It has been hypothesized that Pseudovibrio spp. form mutualistic relationships with their hosts. Here, we studied Pseudovibrio phylogeny and genetic adaptations that may play a role in host colonization by comparative genomics of 31 Pseudovibrio strains, including 25 sponge isolates. All genomes were highly similar in terms of encoded core metabolic pathways, albeit with substantial differences in overall gene content. Based on gene composition, Pseudovibrio spp. clustered by geographic region, indicating geographic speciation. Furthermore, the fact that isolates from the Mediterranean Sea clustered by sponge species suggested host-specific adaptation or colonization. Genome analyses suggest that Pseudovibrio hongkongensis UST20140214-015BT is only distantly related to other Pseudovibrio spp., thereby challenging its status as typical Pseudovibrio member. All Pseudovibrio genomes were found to encode numerous proteins with SEL1 and tetratricopeptide repeats, which have been suggested to play a role in host colonization. For evasion of the host immune system, Pseudovibrio spp. may depend on type III, IV, and VI secretion systems that can inject effector molecules into eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, Pseudovibrio genomes carry on average seven secondary metabolite biosynthesis clusters, reinforcing the role of Pseudovibrio spp. as potential producers of novel bioactive compounds. Tropodithietic acid, bacteriocin, and terpene biosynthesis clusters were highly conserved within the genus, suggesting an essential role in survival, for example through growth inhibition of bacterial competitors. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that Pseudovibrio spp. have mutualistic relations with sponges.}, } @article {pmid29317310, year = {2018}, author = {Maita, C and Matsushita, M and Miyoshi, M and Okubo, T and Nakamura, S and Matsuo, J and Takemura, M and Miyake, M and Nagai, H and Yamaguchi, H}, title = {Amoebal endosymbiont Neochlamydia protects host amoebae against Legionella pneumophila infection by preventing Legionella entry.}, journal = {Microbes and infection}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {236-244}, doi = {10.1016/j.micinf.2017.12.012}, pmid = {29317310}, issn = {1769-714X}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/cytology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Actins/metabolism ; Chlamydiales/*physiology ; Legionella/*physiology ; Phagocytosis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Acanthamoeba isolated from environmental soil harbors the obligate intracellular symbiont Neochlamydia, which has a critical role in host amoebal defense against Legionella pneumophila infection. Here, by using morphological analysis with confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, proteome analyses with two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), and transcriptome analysis with DNA microarray, we explored the mechanism by which the Neochlamydia affected this defense. We observed that when rare uptake did occur, the symbiotic amoebae allowed Legionella to grow normally. However, the symbiotic amoebae had severely reduced uptake of Legionella when compared with the aposymbiotic amoebae. Also, in contrast to amoebae carrying the endosymbiont, the actin cytoskeleton was significantly disrupted by Legionella infection in aposymbiotic amoebae. Furthermore, despite Legionella exposure, there was little change in Neochlamydia gene expression. Taken together, we concluded that the endosymbiont, Neochlamydia prevents Legionella entry to the host amoeba, resulting in the host defense against Legionella infection.}, } @article {pmid29316320, year = {2018}, author = {Ewald, DR and Sumner, SCJ}, title = {Human microbiota, blood group antigens, and disease.}, journal = {Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Systems biology and medicine}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e1413}, pmid = {29316320}, issn = {1939-005X}, support = {U24 DK097193/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Autoimmune Diseases/epidemiology/metabolism/microbiology ; Blood Group Antigens/*metabolism ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation/epidemiology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Obesity/epidemiology/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Far from being just "bugs in our guts," the microbiota interacts with the body in previously unimagined ways. Research into the genome and the microbiome has revealed that the human body and the microbiota have a long-established but only recently recognized symbiotic relationship; homeostatic balance between them regulates body function. That balance is fragile, easily disturbed, and plays a fundamental role in human health-our very survival depends on the healthy functioning of these microorganisms. Increasing rates of cardiovascular, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases, as well as epidemics in obesity and diabetes in recent decades are believed to be explained, in part, by unintended effects on the microbiota from vaccinations, poor diets, environmental chemicals, indiscriminate antibiotic use, and "germophobia." Discovery and exploration of the brain-gut-microbiota axis have provided new insights into functional diseases of the gut, autoimmune and stress-related disorders, and the role of probiotics in treating certain affective disorders; it may even explain some aspects of autism. Research into dietary effects on the human gut microbiota led to its classification into three proposed enterotypes, but also revealed the surprising role of blood group antigens in shaping those populations. Blood group antigens have previously been associated with disease risks; their subsequent association with the microbiota may reveal mechanisms that lead to development of nutritional interventions and improved treatment modalities. Further exploration of associations between specific enteric microbes and specific metabolites will foster new dietary interventions, treatment modalities, and genetic therapies, and inevitably, their application in personalized healthcare strategies. This article is categorized under: Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Metabolomics Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease.}, } @article {pmid29316019, year = {2018}, author = {Fujise, L and Nitschke, MR and Frommlet, JC and Serôdio, J and Woodcock, S and Ralph, PJ and Suggett, DJ}, title = {Cell Cycle Dynamics of Cultured Coral Endosymbiotic Microalgae (Symbiodinium) Across Different Types (Species) Under Alternate Light and Temperature Conditions.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {4}, pages = {505-517}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12497}, pmid = {29316019}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/parasitology/*physiology ; *Cell Cycle ; Light ; Microalgae/classification/cytology/*physiology/*radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium live in symbiosis with many invertebrates, including reef-building corals. Hosts maintain this symbiosis through continuous regulation of Symbiodinium cell density via expulsion and degradation (postmitotic) and/or constraining cell growth and division through manipulation of the symbiont cell cycle (premitotic). Importance of premitotic regulation is unknown since little data exists on cell cycles for the immense genetic diversity of Symbiodinium. We therefore examined cell cycle progression for several distinct SymbiodiniumITS2-types (B1, C1, D1a). All types exhibited typical microalgal cell cycle progression, G1 phase through to S phase during the light period, and S phase to G2 /M phase during the dark period. However, the proportion of cells in these phases differed between strains and reflected differences in growth rates. Undivided larger cells with 3n DNA content were observed especially in type D1a, which exhibited a distinct cell cycle pattern. We further compared cell cycle patterns under different growth light intensities and thermal regimes. Whilst light intensity did not affect cell cycle patterns, heat stress inhibited cell cycle progression and arrested all strains in G1 phase. We discuss the importance of understanding Symbiodinium functional diversity and how our findings apply to clarify stability of host-Symbiodinium symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29315638, year = {2018}, author = {Martino, E and Morin, E and Grelet, GA and Kuo, A and Kohler, A and Daghino, S and Barry, KW and Cichocki, N and Clum, A and Dockter, RB and Hainaut, M and Kuo, RC and LaButti, K and Lindahl, BD and Lindquist, EA and Lipzen, A and Khouja, HR and Magnuson, J and Murat, C and Ohm, RA and Singer, SW and Spatafora, JW and Wang, M and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Henrissat, B and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, FM and Perotto, S}, title = {Comparative genomics and transcriptomics depict ericoid mycorrhizal fungi as versatile saprotrophs and plant mutualists.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {3}, pages = {1213-1229}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14974}, pmid = {29315638}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Fungi/classification/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Some soil fungi in the Leotiomycetes form ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) symbioses with Ericaceae. In the harsh habitats in which they occur, ERM plant survival relies on nutrient mobilization from soil organic matter (SOM) by their fungal partners. The characterization of the fungal genetic machinery underpinning both the symbiotic lifestyle and SOM degradation is needed to understand ERM symbiosis functioning and evolution, and its impact on soil carbon (C) turnover. We sequenced the genomes of the ERM fungi Meliniomyces bicolor, M. variabilis, Oidiodendron maius and Rhizoscyphus ericae, and compared their gene repertoires with those of fungi with different lifestyles (ecto- and orchid mycorrhiza, endophytes, saprotrophs, pathogens). We also identified fungal transcripts induced in symbiosis. The ERM fungal gene contents for polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, lipases, proteases and enzymes involved in secondary metabolism are closer to those of saprotrophs and pathogens than to those of ectomycorrhizal symbionts. The fungal genes most highly upregulated in symbiosis are those coding for fungal and plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs), lipases, proteases, transporters and mycorrhiza-induced small secreted proteins (MiSSPs). The ERM fungal gene repertoire reveals a capacity for a dual saprotrophic and biotrophic lifestyle. This may reflect an incomplete transition from saprotrophy to the mycorrhizal habit, or a versatile life strategy similar to fungal endophytes.}, } @article {pmid29315021, year = {2018}, author = {Rahnama, M and Johnson, RD and Voisey, CR and Simpson, WR and Fleetwood, DJ}, title = {The Global Regulatory Protein VelA Is Required for Symbiosis Between the Endophytic Fungus Epichloë festucae and Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {591-604}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-17-0286-R}, pmid = {29315021}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Epichloe/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/physiology ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Lolium/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Epichloë species fungi form bioprotective endophytic symbioses with many cool-season grasses, including agriculturally important forage grasses. Despite its importance, relatively little is known about the molecular details of the interaction and the regulatory genes involved. The conserved velvet-domain protein VelA (or VeA) is a global regulator of a number of cellular and developmental functions in fungi. In this study, the E. festucae velA gene was functionally characterized in vitro and during interaction with perennial ryegrass. The velA gene is required in E. festucae for resistance to osmotic and cell wall-damaging stresses, repression of conidiation, and normal hyphal morphology during nutrient-limited in-vitro conditions. Expression of velA in E. festucae is light- and nitrogen-dependent and is tissue-specific in mature infected plants. In-planta studies showed that velA is required in E. festucae for a compatible interaction. Inoculating seedlings with mutant ΔvelA induced callose deposition and H2O2 production, and a high level of seedling death was observed. In surviving plants infected with ΔvelA mutant fungi, plants were stunted and we observed increased biomass and invasion of vascular bundles. Overall, this work characterizes a key fungal regulatory factor in this increasingly important model symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid29314046, year = {2018}, author = {de Vries, S and de Vries, J and Teschke, H and von Dahlen, JK and Rose, LE and Gould, SB}, title = {Jasmonic and salicylic acid response in the fern Azolla filiculoides and its cyanobiont.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {11}, pages = {2530-2548}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13131}, pmid = {29314046}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Ferns/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants sense and respond to microbes utilizing a multilayered signalling cascade. In seed plants, the phytohormones jasmonic and salicylic acid (JA and SA) are key denominators of how plants respond to certain microbes. Their interplay is especially well-known for tipping the scales in plants' strategies of dealing with phytopathogens. In non-angiosperm lineages, the interplay is less well understood, but current data indicate that it is intertwined to a lesser extent and the canonical JA/SA antagonism appears to be absent. Here, we used the water fern Azolla filiculoides to gain insights into the fern's JA/SA signalling and the molecular communication with its unique nitrogen fixing cyanobiont Nostoc azollae, which the fern inherits both during sexual and vegetative reproduction. By mining large-scale sequencing data, we demonstrate that Azolla has most of the genetic repertoire to produce and sense JA and SA. Using qRT-PCR on the identified biosynthesis and signalling marker genes, we show that Azolla is responsive to exogenously applied SA. Furthermore, exogenous SA application influenced the abundance and gene expression of Azolla's cyanobiont. Our data provide a framework for JA/SA signalling in ferns and suggest that SA might be involved in Azolla's communication with its vertically inherited cyanobiont.}, } @article {pmid29314030, year = {2018}, author = {Godsil, G}, title = {Residues in the analyst of the patient's symbiotic connection at a somatic level: unrepresented states in the patient and analyst.}, journal = {The Journal of analytical psychology}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {6-25}, doi = {10.1111/1468-5922.12377}, pmid = {29314030}, issn = {1468-5922}, mesh = {Adult ; *Countertransference ; Dissociative Disorders/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders/*therapy ; *Professional-Patient Relations ; }, abstract = {This paper discusses the residues of a somatic countertransference that revealed its meaning several years after apparently successful analytic work had ended. Psychoanalytic and Jungian analytic ideas on primitive communication, dissociation and enactment are explored in the working through of a shared respiratory symptom between patient and analyst. Growth in the analyst was necessary so that the patient's communication at a somatic level could be understood. Bleger's concept that both the patient's and analyst's body are part of the setting was central in the working through.}, } @article {pmid29313275, year = {2018}, author = {Marietta, E and Horwath, I and Taneja, V}, title = {Microbiome, Immunomodulation, and the Neuronal System.}, journal = {Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {23-30}, pmid = {29313275}, issn = {1878-7479}, support = {W81XWH-15-1-0213//U.S. Department of Defense/International ; Center of Individualized Medicine//Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research/International ; }, mesh = {Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/immunology/microbiology ; Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/immunology/microbiology ; Brain/*immunology/*microbiology ; Dysbiosis/complications/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Immunomodulation ; Multiple Sclerosis/immunology/microbiology ; Nervous System Diseases/*immunology/*microbiology ; Parkinson Disease/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Vertebrates harbor both symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria on the body and various mucosal surfaces. Of these surfaces, the intestine has the most diverse composition. This composition is dependent upon various environmental and genetic factors, with diet exerting the maximum influence. Significant roles of the intestinal bacteria are to stimulate the development of a competent mucosal immune system and to maintain tolerance within the intestine. One manner in which this is achieved is by the establishment of epithelial integrity by microbiota found in healthy individuals (healthy microbiota); however, in the case of a disrupted intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis), which can be caused by various conditions, the epithelial integrity is compromised. This decreased epithelial integrity can then lead to luminal products crossing the barrier, generating a systemic proinflammatory response. In addition to epithelial integrity, healthy intestinal commensals metabolize indigestible dietary substrates and produce short-chain fatty acids, which are bacterial metabolites that are essential for colonic health and regulating the function of the intestinal immune system. Intestinal commensals are also capable of producing neuroactive molecules and neurotransmitters that can affect the function of the vagus nerve. The observations that intestinal dysbiosis is associated with different diseases of the nervous system, suggests that cross-talk occurs amongst the gut, the nervous system, and the immune system.}, } @article {pmid29313151, year = {2018}, author = {Ventura, P and Toullec, G and Fricano, C and Chapron, L and Meunier, V and Röttinger, E and Furla, P and Barnay-Verdier, S}, title = {Cnidarian Primary Cell Culture as a Tool to Investigate the Effect of Thermal Stress at Cellular Level.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {144-154}, pmid = {29313151}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Proliferation/physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Primary Cell Culture/*methods ; Sea Anemones/*cytology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {In the context of global change, symbiotic cnidarians are largely affected by seawater temperature elevation leading to symbiosis breakdown. This process, also called bleaching, is triggered by the dysfunction of the symbiont photosystems causing an oxidative stress and cell death to both symbiont and host cells. In our study, we wanted to elucidate the intrinsic capacity of isolated animal cells to deal with thermal stress in the absence of symbiont. In that aim, we have characterized an animal primary cell culture form regenerating tentacles of the temperate sea anemone Anemonia viridis. We first compared the potential of whole tissue tentacle or separated epidermal or gastrodermal monolayers as tissue sources to settle animal cell cultures. Interestingly, only isolated cells extracted from whole tentacles allowed establishing a viable and proliferative primary cell culture throughout 31 days. The analysis of the expression of tissue-specific and pluripotency markers defined cultivated cells as differentiated cells with gastrodermal origin. The characterization of the animal primary cell culture allowed us to submit the obtained gastrodermal cells to hyperthermal stress (+ 5 and + 8 °C) during 1 and 7 days. Though cell viability was not affected at both hyperthermal stress conditions, cell growth drastically decreased. In addition, only a + 8 °C hyperthermia induced a transient increase of antioxidant defences at 1 day but no ubiquitin or carbonylation protein damages. These results demonstrated an intrinsic resistance of cnidarian gastrodermal cells to hyperthermal stress and then confirmed the role of symbionts in the hyperthermia sensitivity leading to bleaching.}, } @article {pmid29312421, year = {2017}, author = {Križnik, M and Petek, M and Dobnik, D and Ramšak, Ž and Baebler, Š and Pollmann, S and Kreuze, JF and Žel, J and Gruden, K}, title = {Salicylic Acid Perturbs sRNA-Gibberellin Regulatory Network in Immune Response of Potato to Potato virus Y Infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2192}, pmid = {29312421}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Potato virus Y is the most economically important potato viral pathogen. We aimed at unraveling the roles of small RNAs (sRNAs) in the complex immune signaling network controlling the establishment of tolerant response of potato cv. Désirée to the virus. We constructed a sRNA regulatory network connecting sRNAs and their targets to link sRNA level responses to physiological processes. We discovered an interesting novel sRNAs-gibberellin regulatory circuit being activated as early as 3 days post inoculation (dpi) before viral multiplication can be detected. Two endogenous sRNAs, miR167 and phasiRNA931 were predicted to regulate gibberellin biosynthesis genes GA20-oxidase and GA3-oxidase. The increased expression of phasiRNA931 was also reflected in decreased levels of GA3-oxidase transcripts. Moreover, decreased concentration of gibberellin confirmed this regulation. The functional relation between lower activity of gibberellin signaling and reduced disease severity was previously confirmed in Arabidopsis-virus interaction using knockout mutants. We further showed that this regulation is salicylic acid-dependent as the response of sRNA network was attenuated in salicylic acid-depleted transgenic counterpart NahG-Désirée expressing severe disease symptoms. Besides downregulation of gibberellin signaling, regulation of immune receptor transcripts by miR6022 as well as upregulation of miR164, miR167, miR169, miR171, miR319, miR390, and miR393 in tolerant Désirée, revealed striking similarities to responses observed in mutualistic symbiotic interactions. The intertwining of different regulatory networks revealed, shows how developmental signaling, disease symptom development, and stress signaling can be balanced.}, } @article {pmid29312279, year = {2017}, author = {Auer, L and Lazuka, A and Sillam-Dussès, D and Miambi, E and O'Donohue, M and Hernandez-Raquet, G}, title = {Uncovering the Potential of Termite Gut Microbiome for Lignocellulose Bioconversion in Anaerobic Batch Bioreactors.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2623}, pmid = {29312279}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Termites are xylophages, being able to digest a wide variety of lignocellulosic biomass including wood with high lignin content. This ability to feed on recalcitrant plant material is the result of complex symbiotic relationships, which involve termite-specific gut microbiomes. Therefore, these represent a potential source of microorganisms for the bioconversion of lignocellulose in bioprocesses targeting the production of carboxylates. In this study, gut microbiomes of four termite species were studied for their capacity to degrade wheat straw and produce carboxylates in controlled bioreactors. All of the gut microbiomes successfully degraded lignocellulose and up to 45% w/w of wheat straw degradation was observed, with the Nasutitermes ephratae gut-microbiome displaying the highest levels of wheat straw degradation, carboxylate production and enzymatic activity. Comparing the 16S rRNA gene diversity of the initial gut inocula to the bacterial communities in lignocellulose degradation bioreactors revealed important changes in community diversity. In particular, taxa such as Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres that were highly abundant in the initial gut inocula were replaced by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the end of incubation in wheat straw bioreactors. Overall, this study demonstrates that termite-gut microbiomes constitute a reservoir of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria that can be harnessed in artificial conditions for biomass conversion processes that lead to the production of useful molecules.}, } @article {pmid29312226, year = {2017}, author = {Familiar López, M and Rebollar, EA and Harris, RN and Vredenburg, VT and Hero, JM}, title = {Temporal Variation of the Skin Bacterial Community and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection in the Terrestrial Cryptic Frog Philoria loveridgei.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2535}, pmid = {29312226}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In animals and plants, symbiotic bacteria can play an important role in disease resistance of host and are the focus of much current research. Globally, amphibian population declines and extinctions have occurred due to chytridiomycosis, a skin disease caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Currently amphibian skin bacteria are increasingly recognized as important symbiont communities with a relevant role in the defense against pathogens, as some bacteria can inhibit the growth of B. dendrobatidis. This study aims to document the B. dendrobatidis infection status of wild populations of a terrestrial cryptic frog (Philoria loveridgei), and to determine whether infection status is correlated with changes in the skin microbial communities. Skin samples of P. loveridgei were collected along an altitudinal range within the species distribution in subtropical rainforests in southeast Australia. Sampling was conducted in two years during two breeding seasons with the first classified as a "La Niña" year. We used Taqman real-time PCR to determine B. dendrobatidis infection status and 16S amplicon sequencing techniques to describe the skin community structure. We found B. dendrobatidis-positive frogs only in the second sampling year with low infection intensities, and no correlation between B. dendrobatidis infection status and altitude, frog sex or size. Skin bacterial diversity was significantly higher in P. loveridgei frogs sampled in the 1st year than in the 2nd year. In addition, 7.4% of the total OTUs were significantly more abundant in the 1st year compared to the 2nd year. We identified 67 bacterial OTUs with a significant positive correlation between infection intensity and an OTU's relative abundance. Forty-five percent of these OTUs belonged to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Overall, temporal variation was strongly associated with changes in B. dendrobatidis infection status and bacterial community structure of wild populations of P. loveridgei.}, } @article {pmid29312218, year = {2017}, author = {Waidele, L and Korb, J and Voolstra, CR and Künzel, S and Dedeine, F and Staubach, F}, title = {Differential Ecological Specificity of Protist and Bacterial Microbiomes across a Set of Termite Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2518}, pmid = {29312218}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gut microbiome of lower termites comprises protists and bacteria that help these insects to digest cellulose and to thrive on wood. The composition of the termite gut microbiome correlates with phylogenetic distance of the animal host and host ecology (diet) in termites collected from their natural environment. However, carryover of transient microbes from host collection sites are an experimental concern and might contribute to the ecological imprints on the termite gut microbiome. Here, we set out to test whether an ecological imprint on the termite gut microbiome remains, when focusing on the persistent microbiome. Therefore, we kept five termite species under strictly controlled dietary conditions and subsequently profiled their protist and bacterial gut microbial communities using 18S and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The species differed in their ecology; while three of the investigated species were wood-dwellers that feed on the piece of wood they live in and never leave except for the mating flight, the other two species were foragers that regularly leave their nests to forage for food. Despite these prominent ecological differences, protist microbiome structure aligned with phylogenetic relatedness of termite host species. Conversely, bacterial communities seemed more flexible, suggesting that microbiome structure aligned more strongly with the foraging and wood-dwelling ecologies. Interestingly, protist and bacterial community alpha-diversity correlated, suggesting either putative interactions between protists and bacteria, or that both types of microbes in the termite gut follow shared structuring principles. Taken together, our results add to the notion that bacterial communities are more variable over evolutionary time than protist communities and might react more flexibly to changes in host ecology.}, } @article {pmid29312217, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, S and Zhao, H and Zou, C and Li, Y and Chen, Y and Wang, Z and Jiang, Y and Liu, A and Zhao, P and Wang, M and Ahammed, GJ}, title = {Combined Inoculation with Multiple Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improves Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Photosynthesis in Cucumber Seedlings.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2516}, pmid = {29312217}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal inoculation stimulates growth, photosynthesis and nutrient uptake in a wide range of host plants. However, the ultimate effects of arbuscular mycorrhyzal (AM) symbiosis vary with the plants and fungal species involved in the association. Therefore, identification of the appropriate combinations of AM fungi (AMF) that interact synergistically to improve their benefits is of high significance. Here, three AM fungal compositions namely VT (Claroideoglomus sp., Funneliformis sp., Diversispora sp., Glomus sp., and Rhizophagus sp.) and BF (Glomus intraradices, G. microageregatum BEG and G. Claroideum BEG 210), and Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) were investigated with respect to the growth, gas exchange parameters, enzymes activities in Calvin cycles and related gene expression in cucumber seedlings. The results showed that VT, BF and Fm could successfully colonize cucumber root to a different degree with the colonization rates 82.38, 74.65, and 70.32% at 46 days post inoculation, respectively. The plant height, stem diameter, dry weight, root to shoot ratio of cucumber seedlings inoculated with AMF increased significantly compared with the non-inoculated control. Moreover, AMF colonization greatly increased the root activity, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, light saturated rate of the CO2 assimilation (Asat), maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and maximum ribulose-1,5-bis-phosphate (RuBP) regeneration rate (Jmax), which were increased by 52.81, 30.75, 58.76, 47.00, 69.15, and 65.53% when inoculated with VT, respectively. The activities of some key enzymes such RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), D-fructose-6-phosphatase (F6P) and ribulose-5-phosphate kinase (Ru5PK), and related gene expression involved in the Calvin cycle including RCA, FBPase, FBPA, SBPase, rbcS and rbcL were upregulated by AMF colonization. AMF inoculation also improved macro- and micro nutrient contents such as N, P, K, S, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, and Zn in roots. Further analysis revealed that inoculation with VT had relatively better effect on growth of cucumber seedling followed by BF and Fm, indicating that AMF composition consisting of distant AMF species may have a better effect than a single or closely related AMF spp. This study advances the understanding of plant responses to different AM fungi toward development of strategies on AMF-promoted vegetable production.}, } @article {pmid29312205, year = {2017}, author = {Karimi, E and Ramos, M and Gonçalves, JMS and Xavier, JR and Reis, MP and Costa, R}, title = {Comparative Metagenomics Reveals the Distinctive Adaptive Features of the Spongia officinalis Endosymbiotic Consortium.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2499}, pmid = {29312205}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Current knowledge of sponge microbiome functioning derives mostly from comparative analyses with bacterioplankton communities. We employed a metagenomics-centered approach to unveil the distinct features of the Spongia officinalis endosymbiotic consortium in the context of its two primary environmental vicinities. Microbial metagenomic DNA samples (n = 10) from sponges, seawater, and sediments were subjected to Hiseq Illumina sequencing (c. 15 million 100 bp reads per sample). Totals of 10,272 InterPro (IPR) predicted protein entries and 784 rRNA gene operational taxonomic units (OTUs, 97% cut-off) were uncovered from all metagenomes. Despite the large divergence in microbial community assembly between the surveyed biotopes, the S. officinalis symbiotic community shared slightly greater similarity (p < 0.05), in terms of both taxonomy and function, to sediment than to seawater communities. The vast majority of the dominant S. officinalis symbionts (i.e., OTUs), representing several, so-far uncultivable lineages in diverse bacterial phyla, displayed higher residual abundances in sediments than in seawater. CRISPR-Cas proteins and restriction endonucleases presented much higher frequencies (accompanied by lower viral abundances) in sponges than in the environment. However, several genomic features sharply enriched in the sponge specimens, including eukaryotic-like repeat motifs (ankyrins, tetratricopeptides, WD-40, and leucine-rich repeats), and genes encoding for plasmids, sulfatases, polyketide synthases, type IV secretion proteins, and terpene/terpenoid synthases presented, to varying degrees, higher frequencies in sediments than in seawater. In contrast, much higher abundances of motility and chemotaxis genes were found in sediments and seawater than in sponges. Higher cell and surface densities, sponge cell shedding and particle uptake, and putative chemical signaling processes favoring symbiont persistence in particulate matrices all may act as mechanisms underlying the observed degrees of taxonomic connectivity and functional convergence between sponges and sediments. The reduced frequency of motility and chemotaxis genes in the sponge microbiome reinforces the notion of a prevalent mutualistic mode of living inside the host. This study highlights the S. officinalis "endosymbiome" as a distinct consortium of uncultured prokaryotes displaying a likely "sit-and-wait" strategy to nutrient foraging coupled to sophisticated anti-viral defenses, unique natural product biosynthesis, nutrient utilization and detoxification capacities, and both microbe-microbe and host-microbe gene transfer amenability.}, } @article {pmid29312196, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, G and Cai, L and Li, Y and Tong, H and Jiang, L and Zhang, Y and Lei, X and Guo, M and Liu, S and Qian, PY and Huang, H}, title = {Temperature-Driven Local Acclimatization of Symbiodnium Hosted by the Coral Galaxea fascicularis at Hainan Island, China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2487}, pmid = {29312196}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The success of coral reef ecosystems largely depends on mutualistic symbiosis between scleractinian corals and the dinoflagellate photosymbiont Symbiodinium spp. However, further investigation is needed to elucidate the flexibility of coral-algae associations in response to environmental changes. In this study, we applied a molecular method (high-throughput internal transcribed spacer 2 region of ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing) to explore diversity and flexibility of Symbiodinium associated with Galaxea fascicularis, an ecologically important scleractinian coral species collected at five locations around Hainan Island, South China Sea. The results revealed a high diversity of Symbiodinium subclades with C2r and D17 being dominant in G. fascicularis. Clade D Symbiodinium occurred most frequently in habitats where the annual average sea surface temperatures are the highest, suggesting that temperature is an important factor in determining Symbiodinium D abundance in G. fascicularis. The distribution of coral-Symbiodinium associations are possibly mediated by trade-off mechanisms which change the relative abundance of Symbiodinium clades/subclades under different environmental conditions. These findings provide further evidence that reef-building corals such as G. fascicularis can shuffle their symbionts to cope with environmental changes, and have implications for our understanding of the ecology of flexible coral-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29312189, year = {2017}, author = {Ahmad, AA and Stulberg, MJ and Huang, Q}, title = {Prophage Rs551 and Its Repressor Gene orf14 Reduce Virulence and Increase Competitive Fitness of Its Ralstonia solanacearum Carrier Strain UW551.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2480}, pmid = {29312189}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {We previously characterized a filamentous lysogenic bacteriophage, ϕRs551, isolated directly from the race 3 biovar 2 phylotype IIB sequevar 1 strain UW551 of Ralstonia solanacearum grown under normal culture conditions. The genome of ϕRs551 was identified with 100% identity in the deposited genomes of 11 race 3 biovar 2 phylotype IIB sequevar 1 strains of R. solanacearum, indicating evolutionary and biological importance, and ORF14 of ϕRs551 was annotated as a putative type-2 repressor. In this study, we determined the effect of the prophage and its ORF14 on the virulence and competitive fitness of its carrier strain UW551 by deleting the orf14 gene only (the UW551 orf14 mutant), and nine of the prophage's 14 genes including orf14 and six out of seven structural genes (the UW551 prophage mutant), respectively, from the genome of UW551. The two mutants were increased in extracellular polysaccharide production, twitching motility, expression of targeted virulence and virulence regulatory genes (pilT, egl, pehC, hrPB, and phcA), and virulence, suggesting that the virulence of UW551 was negatively regulated by ϕRs551, at least partially through ORF14. Interestingly, we found that the wt ϕRs551-carrying strain UW551 of R. solanacearum significantly outcompeted the wt strain RUN302 which lacks the prophage in tomato plants co-inoculated with the two strains. When each of the two mutant strains was co-inoculated with RUN302, however, the mutants were significantly out-competed by RUN302 for the same colonization site. Our results suggest that ecologically, ϕRs551 may play an important role by regulating the virulence of and offering a competitive fitness advantage to its carrier bacterial strain for persistence of the bacterium in the environment, which in turn prolongs the symbiotic relationship between the phage ϕRs551 and the R. solanacearum strain UW551. Our study is the first toward a better understanding of the co-existence between a lysogenic phage and its carrier plant pathogenic bacterial strain by determining the effect of the prophage Rs551 and its repressor on the virulence and competitive fitness of its carrier strain UW551 of R. solanacearum.}, } @article {pmid29312183, year = {2017}, author = {de Campos, SB and Lardi, M and Gandolfi, A and Eberl, L and Pessi, G}, title = {Mutations in Two Paraburkholderia phymatum Type VI Secretion Systems Cause Reduced Fitness in Interbacterial Competition.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2473}, pmid = {29312183}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum is a highly effective microsymbiont of Mimosa spp. and has also been shown to nodulate papilionoid legumes. P. phymatum was found to be highly competitive both in a natural environment as well as under controlled test conditions and is more competitive for nodulation over other α- and β-rhizobial strains in a variety of different plant hosts. In order to elucidate the factors that make this bacterium highly competitive for legume infection, we here characterized the type VI secretion system (T6SS) clusters of P. phymatum. T6SSs have been shown to function as a contact-dependent injection system for both bacterial and eukaryotic cells. We identified two T6SS clusters in the genome, created respective mutant strains and showed that they are defective in biofilm formation and in interbacterial competition in vitro. While the T6SS mutants were as efficient as the wild-type in nodulating the non-cognate host Vigna unguiculata, the mutants were less competitive in in planta competition assays, suggesting that the T6SS is one of the factors responsible for the success of P. phymatum in infecting legumes by directly inhibiting competitors.}, } @article {pmid29311719, year = {2018}, author = {Vangelisti, A and Natali, L and Bernardi, R and Sbrana, C and Turrini, A and Hassani-Pak, K and Hughes, D and Cavallini, A and Giovannetti, M and Giordani, T}, title = {Transcriptome changes induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) roots.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {29311719}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Helianthus/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are essential elements of soil fertility, plant nutrition and productivity, facilitating soil mineral nutrient uptake. Helianthus annuus is a non-model, widely cultivated species. Here we used an RNA-seq approach for evaluating gene expression variation at early and late stages of mycorrhizal establishment in sunflower roots colonized by the arbuscular fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare. mRNA was isolated from roots of plantlets at 4 and 16 days after inoculation with the fungus. cDNA libraries were built and sequenced with Illumina technology. Differential expression analysis was performed between control and inoculated plants. Overall 726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between inoculated and control plants were retrieved. The number of up-regulated DEGs greatly exceeded the number of down-regulated DEGs and this difference increased in later stages of colonization. Several DEGs were specifically involved in known mycorrhizal processes, such as membrane transport, cell wall shaping, and other. We also found previously unidentified mycorrhizal-induced transcripts. The most important DEGs were carefully described in order to hypothesize their roles in AM symbiosis. Our data add a valuable contribution for deciphering biological processes related to beneficial fungi and plant symbiosis, adding an Asteraceae, non-model species for future comparative functional genomics studies.}, } @article {pmid29310897, year = {2018}, author = {Belhadi, D and de Lajudie, P and Ramdani, N and Le Roux, C and Boulila, F and Tisseyre, P and Boulila, A and Benguedouar, A and Kaci, Y and Laguerre, G}, title = {Vicia faba L. in the Bejaia region of Algeria is nodulated by Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae, Rhizobium laguerreae and two new genospecies.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {122-130}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.10.004}, pmid = {29310897}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Algeria ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fifty-eight rhizobial strains were isolated from root nodules of Vicia faba cv. Equina and Vicia faba cv. Minor by the host-trapping method in soils collected from eleven sites in Bejaia, Eastern Algeria. Eleven genotypic groups were distinguished based on the combined PCR/RFLP of 16S rRNA, 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and symbiotic (nodC and nodD-F) genes and further confirmed by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of three housekeeping genes (recA, atpD and rpoB), the 16S rRNA gene and the nodulation genes nodC and nodD. Of the 11 genotypes, 5 were dominant and 2 were the most represented. Most of the strains shared high nodD gene sequence similarity with Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae; their nodC sequences were similar to both Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium laguerreae. Sequence analyses of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer showed that all the new strains were phylogenetically related to those described from Vicia sativa and V. faba in several African, European, American and Asian countries, with which they form a group related to Rhizobium leguminosarum. Phylogenetic analysis based on MLSA of 16S rRNA, recA, atpD and rpoB genes allowed the affiliations of strain AM11R to Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae and of strains EB1 and ES8 to Rhizobium laguerreae. In addition, two separate clades with <97% similarity may represent two novel genospecies within the genus Rhizobium.}, } @article {pmid29310713, year = {2018}, author = {Maire, J and Vincent-Monégat, C and Masson, F and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {An IMD-like pathway mediates both endosymbiont control and host immunity in the cereal weevil Sitophilus spp.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {6}, pmid = {29310713}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {ANR-13-BSV7-0016-01//ANR/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cytotoxins/adverse effects ; Edible Grain/*parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Host Specificity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Weevils/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many insects developing on nutritionally unbalanced diets have evolved symbiotic associations with vertically transmitted intracellular bacteria (endosymbionts) that provide them with metabolic components, thereby improving the host's abilities to thrive on such poor ecological niches. While host-endosymbiont coevolutionary constraints are known to entail massive genomic changes in the microbial partner, host's genomic evolution remains elusive, particularly with regard to the immune system. In the cereal weevil Sitophilus spp., which houses Sodalis pierantonius, endosymbionts are secluded in specialized host cells, the bacteriocytes that group together as an organ, the bacteriome. We previously reported that at standard conditions, the bacteriome highly expresses the coleoptericin A (colA) antimicrobial peptide (AMP), which was shown to prevent endosymbiont escape from the bacteriocytes. However, following the insect systemic infection by pathogens, the bacteriome upregulates a cocktail of AMP encoding genes, including colA. The regulations that allow these contrasted immune responses remain unknown. In this short report, we provide evidence that an IMD-like pathway is conserved in two sibling species of cereal weevils, Sitophilus oryzae and Sitophilus zeamais. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments showed that imd and relish genes are essential for (i) colA expression in the bacteriome under standard conditions, (ii) AMP up-regulation in the bacteriome following a systemic immune challenge, and (iii) AMP systemic induction following an immune challenge. Histological analyses also showed that relish inhibition by RNAi resulted in endosymbiont escape from the bacteriome, strengthening the involvement of an IMD-like pathway in endosymbiont control. We conclude that Sitophilus' IMD-like pathway mediates both the bacteriome immune program involved in endosymbiont seclusion within the bacteriocytes and the systemic and local immune responses to exogenous challenges. This work provides a striking example of how a conserved immune pathway, initially described as essential in pathogen clearance, also functions in the control of mutualistic associations.}, } @article {pmid29310579, year = {2018}, author = {Arboleya, S and Bottacini, F and O'Connell-Motherway, M and Ryan, CA and Ross, RP and van Sinderen, D and Stanton, C}, title = {Gene-trait matching across the Bifidobacterium longum pan-genome reveals considerable diversity in carbohydrate catabolism among human infant strains.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {33}, pmid = {29310579}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {SFI/12/RC/2273//Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; 10FDairy//Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine/International ; }, mesh = {Bifidobacterium longum/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Databases, Genetic ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Phylogeny ; Probiotics ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; *Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bifidobacterium longum is a common member of the human gut microbiota and is frequently present at high numbers in the gut microbiota of humans throughout life, thus indicative of a close symbiotic host-microbe relationship. Different mechanisms may be responsible for the high competitiveness of this taxon in its human host to allow stable establishment in the complex and dynamic intestinal microbiota environment. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic and metabolic diversity in a set of 20 B. longum strains, most of which had previously been isolated from infants, by performing whole genome sequencing and comparative analysis, and to analyse their carbohydrate utilization abilities using a gene-trait matching approach.

RESULTS: We analysed their pan-genome and their phylogenetic relatedness. All strains clustered in the B. longum ssp. longum phylogenetic subgroup, except for one individual strain which was found to cluster in the B. longum ssp. suis phylogenetic group. The examined strains exhibit genomic diversity, while they also varied in their sugar utilization profiles. This allowed us to perform a gene-trait matching exercise enabling the identification of five gene clusters involved in the utilization of xylo-oligosaccharides, arabinan, arabinoxylan, galactan and fucosyllactose, the latter of which is an abundant human milk oligosaccharide (HMO).

CONCLUSIONS: The results showed high diversity in terms of genes and predicted glycosyl-hydrolases, as well as the ability to metabolize a large range of sugars. Moreover, we corroborate the capability of B. longum ssp. longum to metabolise HMOs. Ultimately, their intraspecific genomic diversity and the ability to consume a wide assortment of carbohydrates, ranging from plant-derived carbohydrates to HMOs, may provide an explanation for the competitive advantage and persistence of B. longum in the human gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid29309622, year = {2018}, author = {Lanfranco, L and Fiorilli, V and Venice, F and Bonfante, P}, title = {Strigolactones cross the kingdoms: plants, fungi, and bacteria in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2175-2188}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erx432}, pmid = {29309622}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Fungi/physiology ; Glomeromycota/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; *Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) first evolved as regulators of simple developmental processes in very ancient plant lineages, and then assumed new roles to sustain the increasing biological complexity of land plants. Their versatility is also shown by the fact that during evolution they have been exploited, once released in the rhizosphere, as a communication system towards plant-interacting organisms even belonging to different kingdoms. Here, we reviewed the impact of SLs on soil microbes, paying particular attention to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). SLs induce several responses in AMF, including spore germination, hyphal branching, mitochondrial metabolism, transcriptional reprogramming, and production of chitin oligosaccharides which, in turn, stimulate early symbiotic responses in the host plant. In the specific case study of the AMF Gigaspora margarita, SLs are also perceived, directly or indirectly, by the well-characterized population of endobacteria, with an increase of bacterial divisions and the activation of specific transcriptional responses. The dynamics of SLs during AM root colonization were also surveyed. Although not essential for the establishment of this mutualistic association, SLs act as positive regulators as they are relevant to achieve the full extent of colonization. This possibly occurs through a complex crosstalk with other hormones such as auxin, abscisic acid, and gibberellins.}, } @article {pmid29308251, year = {2017}, author = {Sangsawang, L and Casareto, BE and Ohba, H and Vu, HM and Meekaew, A and Suzuki, T and Yeemin, T and Suzuki, Y}, title = {[13]C and [15]N assimilation and organic matter translocation by the endolithic community in the massive coral Porites lutea.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {171201}, pmid = {29308251}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Corals evolved by establishing symbiotic relationships with various microorganisms (the zooxanthellae, filamentous algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses), forming the 'coral holobiont'. Among them, the endolithic community is the least studied. Its main function was considered to be translocation of photo-assimilates to the coral host, particularly during bleaching. Here, we hypothesize that (i) endolithic algae may show similar primary production rates in healthy or bleached corals by changing their pigment ratios, and therefore that similar production and translocation of organic matter may occur at both conditions and (ii) diazotrophs are components of the endolithic community; therefore, N2 fixation and translocation of organic nitrogen may occur. We tested these hypotheses in incubation of Porites lutea with [13]C and [15]N tracers to measure primary production and N2 fixation in coral tissues and endoliths. Assimilation of the [13]C atom (%) was observed in healthy and bleached corals when the tracer was injected in the endolithic band, showing translocation in both conditions. N2 fixation was found in coral tissues and endolithic communities with translocation of organic nitrogen. Thus, the endolithic community plays an important role in supporting the C and N metabolism of the holobiont, which may be crucial under changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid29307475, year = {2018}, author = {Taha, K and Berraho, EB and El Attar, I and Dekkiche, S and Aurag, J and Béna, G}, title = {Rhizobium laguerreae is the main nitrogen-fixing symbiont of cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris) in Morocco.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {113-121}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.09.008}, pmid = {29307475}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Lens Plant/*microbiology ; Morocco ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genetic diversity and population structure of 268 Lens culinaris symbiotic rhizobia collected from 40 cultivated fields in the main lentil production regions in Morocco were estimated. Three chromosomal housekeeping genes (recA, glnII and atpD) and one common symbiotic gene (nodC) were sequenced and analyzed in order to identify the local symbionts of lentil. The molecular phylogeny of the concatenated housekeeping genes clustered more than 95% of the isolates in one main clade together with Rhizobium laguerreae species. R. laguerreae represents the main symbiont of cultivated lentil in Morocco and, for the first time, a large sample of individuals is obtained for this species. There is a significant and high genetic differentiation of bacterial populations among the four regions for their symbiotic gene, and much lower for their housekeeping genes. The reasons why R. laguerreae is so frequently recovered in our study is discussed.}, } @article {pmid29306132, year = {2018}, author = {Ye, J and Liang, J and Wang, L and Markou, G and Jia, Q}, title = {Operation optimization of a photo-sequencing batch reactor for wastewater treatment: Study on influencing factors and impact on symbiotic microbial ecology.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {252}, number = {}, pages = {7-13}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.12.086}, pmid = {29306132}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bioreactors ; Microalgae ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Wastewater treatment technology with better energy efficiency and recyclability is in urgent demand. Photo-Sequencing batch reactor (SBR), which introduces microalgae into conventional SBR, is considered to have more potential for resource recycling. In this study, a photo-SBR was evaluated through the manipulation of several key operational parameters, i.e., aeration strength, light supply intensity and time per cycle, and solid retention time (SRT). The algal-bacterial symbiotic system had the potential of removing COD, NH4[+]-N and TN with limited aeration, representing the advantage of energy-saving by low aeration requirement. Maintaining appropriate proportion of microalgae in the symbiotic system is critical for good system performance. Introducing microalgae into conventional SBR has obvious impact on the original microbial ecology. When the concentration of microalgae is too high (>4.60 mg Chl/L), the inhibition on certain phyla of bacteria, e.g., Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, would become prominent and not conducive to the stable operation.}, } @article {pmid29305786, year = {2018}, author = {Jin, D and Meng, X and Wang, Y and Wang, J and Zhao, Y and Chen, M}, title = {Computational investigation of small RNAs in the establishment of root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhiza in leguminous plants.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {61}, number = {6}, pages = {706-717}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-017-9203-7}, pmid = {29305786}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Databases, Genetic ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many small RNAs have been confirmed to play important roles in the development of root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhiza. In this study, we carried out the identification of certain small RNAs in leguminous plants (Medicago truncatula, soybean, peanut and common bean), such as miRNAs, tRFs and srRNAs, as well as the computational investigation of their regulations. Thirty miRNAs were predicted to be involved in establishing root nodules and mycorrhiza, and 12 of them were novel in common bean and peanut. The generation of tRFs in M. truncatula was not associated with tRNA gene frequencies and codon usage. Six tRFs exhibited different expressions in mycorrhiza and root nodules. Moreover, srRNA[5.8S] in M. truncatula was generated from the regions with relatively low conservation at the rRNA 3' terminal. The protein-protein interactions between the proteins encoded by the target genes of miRNAs, tRFs and srRNAs were computed. The regulation of these three types of sRNAs in the symbiosis between leguminous plants and microorganisms is not a single regulation of certain signaling or metabolic pathways but a global regulation for the plants to own growth or specific events in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29305697, year = {2018}, author = {Hsu, Y and Koizumi, H and Otagiri, M and Moriya, S and Arioka, M}, title = {Trp residue at subsite - 5 plays a critical role in the substrate binding of two protistan GH26 β-mannanases from a termite hindgut.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {4}, pages = {1737-1747}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-017-8726-2}, pmid = {29305697}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Galactose/analogs & derivatives ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Mannans/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Models, Molecular ; Pichia/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Substrate Specificity ; beta-Mannosidase/chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic protists in the hindgut of termites provide a novel enzymatic resource for efficient lignocellulytic degradation of plant biomass. In this study, two β-mannanases, RsMan26A and RsMan26B, from a symbiotic protist community of the lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus, were successfully expressed in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Biochemical characterization experiments demonstrated that both RsMan26A and RsMan26B are endo-acting enzymes and have a very similar substrate specificity, displaying a higher catalytic efficiency to galactomannan from locust bean gum (LBG) and glucomannan than to β-1,4-mannan and highly substituted galactomannan from guar gum. Homology modeling of RsMan26A and RsMan26B revealed that each enzyme displays a long open cleft harboring a unique hydrophobic platform (Trp[79]) that stacks against the sugar ring at subsite - 5. The Km values of W79A mutants of RsMan26A and RsMan26B to LBG increased by 4.8-fold and 3.6-fold, respectively, compared with those for the native enzymes, while the kcat remained unchanged or about 40% of that of the native enzyme, resulting in the decrease in the catalytic efficiency by 4.8-fold and 9.1-fold, respectively. The kinetic values for glucomannan also showed a similar result. These results demonstrate that the Trp residue present near the subsite - 5 has an important role in the recognition of the sugar ring in the substrate.}, } @article {pmid29305332, year = {2018}, author = {Tame, A and Ozawa, G and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Morphological and functional characterization of hemocytes from two deep-sea vesicomyid clams Phreagena okutanii and Abyssogena phaseoliformis.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {74}, number = {}, pages = {281-294}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2017.12.058}, pmid = {29305332}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*immunology ; Hemocytes/classification/cytology/*immunology ; Japan ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea vesicomyid clams harboring intracellular symbiotic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are often dominant in chemosynthetic animal communities. Although they are known to have erythrocytes, little is known about other hemocytes. To investigate the types and roles of various hemocytes in vesicomyid clams, we performed morphological, histochemical and functional characterization of the hemocytes in two species, Phreagena okutanii, collected from 873 to 978 m depth, and Abyssogena phaseoliformis, from 5199 to 5355 m. Both were found to have three types of hemocytes: erythrocytes (ERCs), eosinophilic granulocytes (EGs), and basophilic granulocytes (BGs). The ERCs contain hemoglobin in the cytoplasm, with basophilic vacuoles containing acid polysaccharide, neutral lipids, and peroxidase. The EGs were found to contain acid polysaccharides and eosinophilic granules containing lysosomal enzymes, acid and alkaline phosphatases, chloroacetate esterase, and peroxidase. Although BGs had some basophilic granules with alkaline phosphatase, they lacked acid phosphatase and acid polysaccharides. The EGs and BGs were shown to have phagocytic ability, while the ERCs exhibited no phagocytosis. The EGs showed higher phagocytic activity as well as a higher phagosome-lysosome fusion rate than BGs. The hemocytes of the two vesicomyid species differed in the intracellular structures. In A. phaseoliformis, ERCs additionally contained neutral polysaccharides in vacuoles and had vesicles with acinus-like acidic mucus in the cytoplasm, neither of which were observed in P. okutanii. The eosinophilic granules in the EGs had heteromorphically-elongated shapes containing homogeneously electron-dense material in P. okutanii, but were more spherical and composed of fibrous structures in A. phaseoliformis. The difference in hemocytes between the two clams seems to be reflective of phylogenetically differentiated lineages adapting to differing conditions in their respective deep-sea environments, such as dissolved oxygen, hydrogen sulfide concentration, and hydrostatic pressure. In the view of phylogeny of veneroida clams including two vesicomyids, their hemocytes appear to be categorizable into three basic types, with the first containing ERCs and agranulocytes, the second including EGs, and the third comprised of BGs, small eosinophilic granulocytes, and other granulocytes. The present data showed no phagocytic activity of ERCs and a lack of agranulocytes in both vesicomyid species, and when combined with previous reports that other veneroid clams show low or no phagocytic activity, this suggests that ERCs have become evolutionarily differentiated from agranulocytes in the ancestral vesicomyid clam.}, } @article {pmid29304457, year = {2018}, author = {Campoy-Diaz, AD and Arribére, MA and Guevara, SR and Vega, IA}, title = {Bioindication of mercury, arsenic and uranium in the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae): Bioconcentration and depuration in tissues and symbiotic corpuscles.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {196-205}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.145}, pmid = {29304457}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; Arsenic/analysis/*metabolism ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Fresh Water ; Helix, Snails/*metabolism ; Mercury/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Uranium/analysis/*metabolism ; Water/analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pomacea canaliculata is a mollusk potentially useful as a biomonitor species of freshwater quality. This work explores the ability of snail tissues and symbiotic corpuscles to bioconcentrate and depurate mercury, arsenic, and uranium. Adult snails cultured in metal-free reconstituted water were exposed for eight weeks (bioaccumulation phase) to water with Hg (2 μgL[-1]), As (10 μgL[-1]), and U (30 μgL[-1]) and then returned to the reconstituted water for other additional eight weeks (depuration phase). Elemental concentrations in digestive gland, kidney, symbiotic corpuscles and particulate excreta were determined by neutron activation analysis. The glandular symbiotic occupancy was measured by morphometric analysis. After exposure, the kidney showed the highest concentration of Hg, while the digestive gland accumulated mainly As and U. The subcellular distribution in symbiotic corpuscles was ∼71%, ∼48%, and ∼11% for U, Hg, and As, respectively. Tissue depuration between weeks 8 and 16 was variable amongst elements. At week 16, the tissue depuration of U was the highest (digestive gland = 92%; kidney = 80%), while it was lower for Hg (digestive gland = 51%; kidney = 53%). At week 16, arsenic showed a differential pattern of tissue depuration (digestive gland = 23%; kidney = 88%). The symbiotic detoxification of the three elements in excreta was fast between weeks 8 and 10 and it was slower after on. At the end of the depuration, each element distributed differentially in digestive gland and symbiotic corpuscles. Our findings show that symbiotic corpuscles, digestive gland and kidney P. canaliculata are sensitive places for biomonitoring of Hg, As and U.}, } @article {pmid29302595, year = {2017}, author = {Meunier-Beillard, N and Dargent, A and Ecarnot, F and Rigaud, JP and Andreu, P and Large, A and Quenot, JP}, title = {Intersecting vulnerabilities in professionals and patients in intensive care.}, journal = {Annals of translational medicine}, volume = {5}, number = {Suppl 4}, pages = {S39}, pmid = {29302595}, issn = {2305-5839}, abstract = {In the context of healthcare delivery, the vulnerabilities of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are intricately linked with those experienced on a daily basis by caregivers in the ICU in a symbiotic relation, whereby patients who are suffering can in turn engender suffering in the caregivers. In the same way, caregivers who are suffering themselves may be a source of suffering for their patients. The vulnerabilities of both patients and caregivers in the ICU are simultaneously constituted through a process that is influenced on the one hand by the healthcare objectives of the ICU, and on the other hand, by the conformity of the patients who are managed in that ICU. The specific challenges of management in high-technology units such as an ICU may have consequences on the practices and work conditions of healthcare professionals. Constructing the patient, collectively redefining the patient's identity, and ascribing the patient to a specific healthcare trajectory enables professionals to circumscribe, contain and fight against the spectrum of extreme vulnerabilities of their patients. Imposing this normative framework is the sole means of guiding these professionals through their daily practices. In spite of this, situations of suffering remain a constitutive feature of the caregiving relation in the ICU.}, } @article {pmid29301366, year = {2018}, author = {Arthikala, MK and Nanjareddy, K and Lara, M}, title = {In BPS1 Downregulated Roots, the BYPASS1 Signal Disrupts the Induction of Cortical Cell Divisions in Bean-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29301366}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {BYPASS1 (BPS1), which is a well-conserved gene in plants, is required for normal root and shoot development. In the absence of BPS1 gene function, Arabidopsis overproduces a mobile signalling compound (the BPS1 signal) in roots, and this transmissible signal arrests shoot growth and causes abnormal root development. In addition to the shoot and root meristem activities, the legumes also possess transient meristematic activity in root cortical cells during Rhizobium symbiosis. We explored the role of Phaseolus vulgaris BPS1 during nodule primordium development using an RNA-interference (RNAi) silencing approach. Our results show that upon Rhizobium infection, the PvBPS1-RNAi transgenic roots failed to induce cortical cell divisions without affecting the rhizobia-induced root hair curling and infection thread formation. The transcript accumulation of early nodulin genes, cell cyclins, and cyclin-dependent kinase genes was affected in RNAi lines. Interestingly, the PvBPS1-RNAi root nodule phenotype was partially rescued by exogenous application of fluridone, a carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitor, which was used because the carotenoids are precursors of BPS1 signalling molecules. Furthermore, we show that the PvBPS1 promoter was active in the nodule primordia. Together, our data show that PvBPS1 plays a vital role in the induction of meristematic activity in root cortical cells and in the establishment of nodule primordia during Phaseolus-Rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29300919, year = {2018}, author = {Jamil, M and Kountche, BA and Haider, I and Guo, X and Ntui, VO and Jia, KP and Ali, S and Hameed, US and Nakamura, H and Lyu, Y and Jiang, K and Hirabayashi, K and Tanokura, M and Arold, ST and Asami, T and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Methyl phenlactonoates are efficient strigolactone analogs with simple structure.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2319-2331}, pmid = {29300919}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Germination/*drug effects ; Lactones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Orobanche/*drug effects ; Oryza/*drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/*metabolism ; Striga/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a new class of phytohormones that also act as germination stimulants for root parasitic plants, such as Striga spp., and as branching factors for symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Sources for natural SLs are very limited. Hence, efficient and simple SL analogs are needed for elucidating SL-related biological processes as well as for agricultural applications. Based on the structure of the non-canonical SL methyl carlactonoate, we developed a new, easy to synthesize series of analogs, termed methyl phenlactonoates (MPs), evaluated their efficacy in exerting different SL functions, and determined their affinity for SL receptors from rice and Striga hermonthica. Most of the MPs showed considerable activity in regulating plant architecture, triggering leaf senescence, and inducing parasitic seed germination. Moreover, some MPs outperformed GR24, a widely used SL analog with a complex structure, in exerting particular SL functions, such as modulating Arabidopsis roots architecture and inhibiting rice tillering. Thus, MPs will help in elucidating the functions of SLs and are promising candidates for agricultural applications. Moreover, MPs demonstrate that slight structural modifications clearly impact the efficiency in exerting particular SL functions, indicating that structural diversity of natural SLs may mirror a functional specificity.}, } @article {pmid29300826, year = {2018}, author = {Kowal, J and Pressel, S and Duckett, JG and Bidartondo, MI and Field, KJ}, title = {From rhizoids to roots? Experimental evidence of mutualism between liverworts and ascomycete fungi.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {121}, number = {2}, pages = {221-227}, pmid = {29300826}, issn = {1095-8290}, support = {BB/M026825/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Hepatophyta/*microbiology/physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The rhizoids of leafy liverworts (Jungermanniales, Marchantiophyta) are commonly colonized by the ascomycete fungus Pezoloma ericae. These associations are hypothesized to be functionally analogous to the ericoid mycorrhizas (ErMs) formed by P. ericae with the roots of Ericaceae plants in terms of bi-directional phosphorus for carbon exchange; however, this remains unproven. Here, we test whether associations between the leafy liverwort Cephalozia bicuspidata and P. ericae are mutualistic.

METHODS: We measured movement of phosphorus and carbon between C. bicuspidata and P. ericae using [33P]orthophosphate and 14CO2 isotope tracers in monoxenic cultures. We also measured leafy liverwort growth, with and without P. ericae.

KEY RESULTS: We present the first demonstration of nutritionally mutualistic symbiosis between a non-vascular plant and an ErM-forming fungus, showing transfer of fungal-acquired P to the liverwort and of liverwort-fixed C to the fungus alongside increased growth in fungus-colonized liverworts.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, this ascomycete-liverwort symbiosis can now be described as mycorrhiza-like, providing further insights into ericoid mycorrhizal evolution and adding Ascomycota fungi to mycorrhizal fungal groups engaging in mutualisms with plants across the land plant phylogeny. As P. ericae also colonizes the rhizoids of Schistochilaceae liverworts, which originated in the Triassic and are sister to all other jungermannialean liverworts associated with fungi, our findings point toward an early origin of ascomycete-liverwort symbioses, possibly pre-dating their evolution in the Ericales by some 150 million years.}, } @article {pmid29300677, year = {2017}, author = {Carlson, AL and Ishak, HD and Kurian, J and Mikheyev, AS and Gifford, I and Mueller, UG}, title = {Nuclear populations of the multinucleate fungus of leafcutter ants can be dekaryotized and recombined to manipulate growth of nutritive hyphal nodules harvested by the ants.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {5}, pages = {832-846}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1400304}, pmid = {29300677}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Agaricales/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Cell Nucleus/*genetics ; Genotype ; Hyphae/cytology/*genetics/*growth & development ; Microscopy ; *Polyploidy ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We dekaryotized the multinucleate fungus Leucocoprinus gongylophorus, a symbiotic fungus cultivated vegetatively by leafcutter ants as their food. To track genetic changes resulting from dekaryotization (elimination of some nuclei from the multinuclear population), we developed two multiplex microsatellite fingerprinting panels (15 loci total), then characterized the allele profiles of 129 accessions generated by dekaryotization treatment. Genotype profiles of the 129 accessions confirmed allele loss expected by dekaryotization of the multinucleate fungus. We found no evidence for haploid and single-nucleus strains among the 129 accessions. Microscopy of fluorescently stained dekaryotized accessions revealed great variation in nuclei number between cells of the same vegetative mycelium, with cells containing typically between 3 and 15 nuclei/cell (average = 9.4 nuclei/cell; mode = 8). We distinguish four mycelial morphotypes among the dekaryotized accessions; some of these morphotypes had lost the full competence to produce gongylidia (nutritive hyphal-tip swellings consumed by leafcutter ants as food). In mycelial growth confrontations between different gongylidia-incompetent accessions, allele profiles suggest exchange of nuclei between dekaryotized accessions, restoring full gongylidia competence in some of these strains. The restoration of gongylidia competence after genetic exchange between dekaryotized strains suggests the hypothesis that complementary nuclei interact, or nuclear and cytoplasmic factors interact, to promote or enable gongylidia competence.}, } @article {pmid29299845, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, H and Zi, XM and Lin, H and Gao, JY}, title = {Host-specificity of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi for enhancing seed germination, protocorm formation and seedling development of over-collected medicinal orchid, Dendrobium devonianum.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {42-48}, pmid = {29299845}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Germination ; Host Specificity ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Seeds/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All orchids maintain an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal symbionts during seed germination. In most cases, germination-enhancing fungi have been isolated from roots of mature plants for conservation and cultivation purposes. To understand the germination biology of Dendrobium devonianum, an over-collected medicinal orchid, the seeds of D. devonianum were inoculated with a fungal strain (FDd1) isolated from naturally occurring protocorms of D. devonianum and two other germination-enhancing fungal strains (FDaI7 and FCb4) from D. aphyllum and Cymbidium mannii, respectively. The fungal strain was isolated from five protocorms of D. devonianum and identified as a species of the genus Epulorhiza. In germination trials, treatments with all of the three fungal strains showed a significant promoting effect on seed germination and protocorm formation, compared with the control treatment (no inoculation). However, FDd1 fungal strain showed the greatest effectiveness followed by FDaI7 and FCb4. For all inoculation and control treatments, seeds developed to protocorms regardless of the presence of illumination, whereas protocorms did not develop to seedlings unless illumination was provided. The results of our manipulative experiments confirmed the hypothesis that mycorrhizae associated with orchid seedlings are highly host-specific, and the degree of specificity may be life stagespecific under in vitro conditions. The specific mycorrhizal symbionts from protocorms can enhance restoration efforts and the conservation of orchids such as D. devonianum.}, } @article {pmid29299843, year = {2018}, author = {Park, MS and Eimes, JA and Oh, SH and Suh, HJ and Oh, SY and Lee, S and Park, KH and Kwon, HJ and Kim, SY and Lim, YW}, title = {Diversity of fungi associated with roots of Calanthe orchid species in Korea.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {49-55}, pmid = {29299843}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Republic of Korea ; }, abstract = {While symbiotic fungi play a key role in the growth of endangered Calanthe orchid species, the relationship between fungal diversity and Calanthe species remains unclear. Here, we surveyed root associated fungal diversity of six Calanthe orchid species by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using 454 pyrosequencing. Our results revealed that Paraboeremia and Coprinopsis are dominant fungal genera among Calanthe species. In terms of overall relative abundance, Paraboeremia was the most common fungal genus associated with Calanthe roots, followed by Coprinopsis. Overall fungal diversity showed a significant degree of variation depending on both location and Calanthe species. In terms of number of different fungal genera detected within Calanthe species, C. discolor had the most diverse fungal community, with 10 fungal genera detected. This study will contribute toward a better understanding of those fungi that are required for successful cultivation and conservation of Korean Calanthe species.}, } @article {pmid29299529, year = {2018}, author = {Stilwell, MD and Cao, M and Goodrich-Blair, H and Weibel, DB}, title = {Studying the Symbiotic Bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila in Individual, Living Steinernema carpocapsae Nematodes Using Microfluidic Systems.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29299529}, issn = {2379-5042}, support = {T32 GM008293/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Animal-microbe symbioses are ubiquitous in nature and scientifically important in diverse areas, including ecology, medicine, and agriculture. Steinernema nematodes and Xenorhabdus bacteria compose an established, successful model system for investigating microbial pathogenesis and mutualism. The bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila is a species-specific mutualist of insect-infecting Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes. The bacterium colonizes a specialized intestinal pocket within the infective stage of the nematode, which transports the bacteria between insects that are killed and consumed by the pair for reproduction. Current understanding of the interaction between the infective-stage nematode and its bacterial colonizers is based largely on population-level, snapshot time point studies on these organisms. This limitation arises because investigating temporal dynamics of the bacterium within the nematode is impeded by the difficulty of isolating and maintaining individual living nematodes and tracking colonizing bacterial cells over time. To overcome this challenge, we developed a microfluidic system that enables us to spatially isolate and microscopically observe individual, living Steinernema nematodes and monitor the growth and development of the associated X. nematophila bacterial communities-starting from a single cell or a few cells-over weeks. Our data demonstrate, to our knowledge, the first direct, temporal, in vivo visual analysis of a symbiosis system and the application of this system to reveal continuous dynamics of the symbiont population in the living host animal. IMPORTANCE This paper describes an experimental system for directly investigating population dynamics of a symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, in its host-the infective stage of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Tracking individual and groups of bacteria in individual host nematodes over days and weeks yielded insight into dynamic growth and topology changes of symbiotic bacterial populations within infective juvenile nematodes. Our approach for studying symbioses between bacteria and nematodes provides a system to investigate long-term host-microbe interactions in individual nematodes and extrapolate the lessons learned to other bacterium-animal interactions.}, } @article {pmid29299274, year = {2017}, author = {Storer, C and Payton, A and McDaniel, S and Jordal, B and Hulcr, J}, title = {Cryptic genetic variation in an inbreeding and cosmopolitan pest, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, revealed using ddRADseq.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {24}, pages = {10974-10986}, pmid = {29299274}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Each year new exotic species are transported across the world through global commerce, causing considerable economic and ecological damage. An important component of managing invasion pathways is to identify source populations. Some of the most widespread exotic species are haplodiploid ambrosia beetles. The ability to mate with siblings (inbreed) and their transportable food source (symbiotic fungus) have enabled them to colonize most of the world and become pests of plant nurseries, lumber, and forests. One of the fastest spreading ambrosia beetles is Xylosandrus crassiusculus. In order to discover the source populations of this globally invasive species, track its movement around the world, and test biogeographical scenarios, we combined restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) with comprehensive sampling across the species native and introduced range. From 1,365 genotyped SNP loci across 198 individuals, we determined that in its native range, X. crassiusculus is comprised of a population in Southeast Asia that includes mainland China, Thailand, and Taiwan, and a second island population in Japan. North America and Central America were colonized from the island populations, while Africa and Oceania were colonized from the mainland Asia, and Hawaii was colonized by both populations. Populations of X. crassiusculus in North America were genetically diverse and highly structured, suggesting (1) numerous, repeated introductions; (2) introduction of a large founding population; or (3) both scenarios with higher than expected outcrossing. X. crassiusculus, other wood-boring insects, and indeed many other pests with unusual genetic structure continue to spread around the world. We show that contemporary genetic methods offer a powerful tool for understanding and preventing pathways of future biosecurity threats.}, } @article {pmid29299261, year = {2017}, author = {Monteiro, I and Viana-Junior, AB and de Castro Solar, RR and de Siqueira Neves, F and DeSouza, O}, title = {Disturbance-modulated symbioses in termitophily.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {24}, pages = {10829-10838}, pmid = {29299261}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Symbiosis, the living-together of unlike organisms, underlies every major transition in evolution and pervades most ecological dynamics. Among examples of symbioses, the simultaneous occupation of a termite nest by its builder termites and intruding invertebrate species (so-called termitophily) provides suitable macroscopic scenarios for the study of species coexistence in confined environments. Current evidence on termitophily abounds for dynamics occurring at the interindividual level within the termitarium, but is insufficient for broader scales such as the community and the landscape. Here, we inspect the effects of abiotic disturbance on termitophile presence and function in termitaria at these broader scales. To do so, we censused the termitophile communities inhabiting 30 termitaria of distinct volumes which had been exposed to increasing degrees of fire-induced disturbance in a savanna-like ecosystem in southeastern Brazil. We provide evidence that such an abiotic disturbance can ease the living-together of termitophiles and termites. Putative processes facilitating these symbioses, however, varied according to the invader. For nonsocial invaders, disturbance seemed to boost coexistence with termites via the habitat amelioration that termitaria provided under wildfire, as suggested by the positive correlation between disturbance degree and termitophile abundance and richness. As for social invaders (ants), disturbance seemed to enhance associational defenses with termites, as suggested by the negative correlation between the presence of ant colonies and the richness and abundance of other termitarium-cohabiting termitophiles. It is then apparent that disturbance-modulated distinct symbioses in these termite nests.}, } @article {pmid29299220, year = {2017}, author = {Laubacher, M and Aksöz, EA and Bersch, I and Hunt, KJ}, title = {The road to Cybathlon 2016 - Functional electrical stimulation cycling Team IRPT/SPZ.}, journal = {European journal of translational myology}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {7086}, pmid = {29299220}, issn = {2037-7452}, abstract = {Functional electrical stimulation (FES) provides a good possibility to activate paralysed muscles and it has been shown to elicit substantial physiological and health benefits. For successful application of FES, a perfect symbiosis of the bike and the pilot has to be achieved. The road to the Cybathlon 2016 describes the different pieces needed for FES cycling in spinal cord injury. The systematic optimisation of the stimulation parameters and the Cybatrike, and sophisticated training contributed to the team's success as the fastest surface-electrode team in the competition.}, } @article {pmid29297121, year = {2017}, author = {Sakovich, GV and Skiba, EA and Budaeva, VV and Gladysheva, EK and Aleshina, LA}, title = {Technological fundamentals of bacterial nanocellulose production from zero prime-cost feedstock.}, journal = {Doklady. Biochemistry and biophysics}, volume = {477}, number = {1}, pages = {357-359}, pmid = {29297121}, issn = {1608-3091}, mesh = {Avena/chemistry ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cellulose/*biosynthesis/chemistry/economics ; Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Nanotechnology/economics/*methods ; Plants/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The concept of manufacturing valuable bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) from plant raw materials having a zero prime cost is substantiated. The process flowsheet involves the chemical transformation of the feedstock to obtain a pulp; enzymatic hydrolysis of the pulp to furnish a solution of reducing sugars, chiefly glucose; preparation of a nutrient broth based on the enzymatic hydrolysate; biosynthesis of nanocellulose microfibrils by the symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 culture; and purification of BNC. BNC has for the first time been synthesized from oat hulls and has a high degree of crystallinity of 88 ± 5% and is composed of 99% Iα-allomorph.}, } @article {pmid29293446, year = {2018}, author = {Lutzu, GA and Turgut Dunford, N}, title = {Interactions of microalgae and other microorganisms for enhanced production of high-value compounds.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {1487-1504}, doi = {10.2741/4656}, pmid = {29293446}, issn = {2768-6698}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Biofuels ; Biological Products/metabolism ; *Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/growth & development/*metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology/methods ; Microalgae/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The cultivation of microalgae for the production of biomass and associated valuable compounds has gained increasing interest not only within the scientific community but also at the industrial level. Microalgae cells are capable of producing high-value compounds that are widely used in food, feed, pharmaceutical, medical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and aquaculture industries. For example, lipids produced by algae can be converted to biodiesel, other fuels and bio-products. Hence, high oil content algal biomass has been regarded as a potential alternative feedstock to replace terrestrial crops for sustainable production of bio-products. It has been reported that the interaction of microalgae and other microorganisms greatly enhances the efficiency of microalgal biomass production and its chemical composition. Microalgae-bacteria interaction with an emphasis on the nature of symbiotic relationship in mutualisitc and parasitic consortia has been extensively studied. For instance, it is well documented that production of vitamins or growth promoting factors by bacteria enhances the growth of microalgae. Little attention has been paid to the consortia formed by microalgae and other microorganisms such as other microalgae strains, cyanobacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Hence, the aim of this review is to investigate the impact of the microalgae-other microorganism interactions on the production of high value compounds.}, } @article {pmid29293414, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, J and Nagabhyru, P and Schardl, CL}, title = {Epichloë festucae endophytic growth in florets, seeds, and seedlings of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {5}, pages = {691-700}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1400305}, pmid = {29293414}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Endophytes/cytology/*growth & development ; Epichloe/cytology/*growth & development ; Flowers/microbiology ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Microscopy ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many symbiotic Epichloë species are seed-transmitted in their grass hosts. For a detailed investigation of Epichloë festucae colonization throughout the life cycle of its host, the authors transformed strain Fl1 with a fungal-active gene for enhanced cyan-fluorescent protein (eCFP), introduced it into perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and used confocal microscopy to track its growth in the shoot apex, floral primordium, floral organs, seeds, and seedlings. Hyphae intercellularly colonized leaf sheaths, blades, true stems, and leaf primordia, and among floral primordia the endophyte exhibited different levels of colonization. In preanthesis florets, E. festucae colonized the pistil and stamen, but not pollen grains, and ramified throughout the ovule nucellus, but not the integument or embryo sac. Generally, only a single hypha was observed extended from the ovary placenta into the ovule. Within 4 d after anthesis, fungal hyphae had ramified throughout the developing seed and embryo. As the embryo matured, fungal hyphae became abundant between the testa and aleurone layer, and around the shoot apex and radical of the embryonic axis. During germination, hyphae accumulated in the mesocotyl and invaded the newly formed shoot apex near the meristem. In this host-fungus symbiosis, transmission to seedlings averaged 41% in 2010 and 76% in 2011. Each year, the frequency of ovary infection was similar to the frequency of infecting embryos and seedlings, indicating that colonization of the ovary and embryo was required for seed transmission.}, } @article {pmid29292795, year = {2017}, author = {Nguyen, HP and Miwa, H and Kaneko, T and Sato, S and Okazaki, S}, title = {Identification of Bradyrhizobium elkanii Genes Involved in Incompatibility with Vigna radiata.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29292795}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The establishment of a root nodule symbiosis between a leguminous plant and a rhizobium requires complex molecular interactions between the two partners. Compatible interactions lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules, however, some legumes exhibit incompatibility with specific rhizobial strains and restrict nodulation by the strains. Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 is incompatible with mung bean (Vigna radiata cv. KPS1) and soybean cultivars carrying the Rj4 allele. Here, we explored genetic loci in USDA61 that determine incompatibility with V. radiata KPS1. We identified five novel B. elkanii genes that contribute to this incompatibility. Four of these genes also control incompatibility with soybean cultivars carrying the Rj4 allele, suggesting that a common mechanism underlies nodulation restriction in both legumes. The fifth gene encodes a hypothetical protein that contains a tts box in its promoter region. The tts box is conserved in genes encoding the type III secretion system (T3SS), which is known for its delivery of virulence effectors by pathogenic bacteria. These findings revealed both common and unique genes that are involved in the incompatibility of B. elkanii with mung bean and soybean. Of particular interest is the novel T3SS-related gene, which causes incompatibility specifically with mung bean cv. KPS1.}, } @article {pmid29292470, year = {2018}, author = {Kehelpannala, C and Kumar, NS and Jayasinghe, L and Araya, H and Fujimoto, Y}, title = {Naphthoquinone Metabolites Produced by Monacrosporium ambrosium, the Ectosymbiotic Fungus of Tea Shot-Hole Borer, Euwallacea fornicatus, in Stems of Tea, Camellia sinensis.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {95-101}, pmid = {29292470}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Ascomycota/*chemistry/drug effects/physiology ; Camellia sinensis/growth & development/*microbiology ; Chloroform/chemistry ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Naphthoquinones/*analysis/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Plant Stems/chemistry/microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/chemistry/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The tea shot-hole borer beetle (TSHB, Euwallacea fornicatus) causes serious damage in plantations of tea, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, in Sri Lanka and South India. TSHB is found in symbiotic association with the ambrosia fungus, Monacrosporium ambrosium (syn. Fusarium ambrosium), in galleries located within stems of tea bushes. M. ambrosium is known to be the sole food source of TSHB. Six naphthoquinones produced during spore germination in a laboratory culture broth of M. ambrosium were isolated and identified as dihydroanhydrojavanicin, anhydrojavanicin, javanicin, 5,8-dihydroxy-2-methyl-3-(2-oxopropyl)naphthalene-1,4-dione, anhydrofusarubin and solaniol. Chloroform extracts of tea stems with red-colored galleries occupied by TSHB contained UV active compounds similar to the above naphthoquinones. Laboratory assays demonstrated that the combined ethyl acetate extracts of the fungal culture broth and mycelium inhibited the growth of endophytic fungi Pestalotiopsis camelliae and Phoma multirostrata, which were also isolated from tea stems. Thus, pigmented naphthoquinones secreted by M. ambrosium during spore germination may prevent other fungi from invading TSHB galleries in tea stems. The antifungal nature of the naphthoquinone extract suggests that it protects the habitat of TSHB. We propose that the TSHB fungal ectosymbiont M. ambrosium provides not only the food and sterol skeleton necessary for the development of the beetle during its larval stages, but also serves as a producer of fungal inhibitors that help to preserve the purity of the fungal garden of TSHB.}, } @article {pmid29291742, year = {2018}, author = {Scharnagl, K and Sanchez, V and von Wettberg, E}, title = {The impact of salinity on mycorrhizal colonization of a rare legume, Galactia smallii, in South Florida pine rocklands.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, pmid = {29291742}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Fabaceae/anatomy & histology/metabolism/microbiology ; Florida ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Salinity ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The success of restoration plantings depends on the capacity of transplanted individuals or seeds to establish and reproduce. It is increasingly recognized that restoration success depends quite heavily upon biotic interactions and belowground processes. Under stressful abiotic conditions, such as soils salinized by storm surge and sea level rise, symbiotic interactions with soil microbes such as mycorrhizae may be critically important. In this study, we investigate the impact of salinity on percent colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in addition to the impacts of this colonization on plant fitness under saline conditions. Fifty Galactia smallii plants from an ex situ collection were subjected to a salinity treatment for 6 weeks, and 50 plants were untreated. Plants were harvested and assessed for percent colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, nodule number, shoot and root dry biomass, and micronutrient content.

RESULTS: Colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizae was higher in plants in the salinity treatment than in untreated plants; plants in the salinity treatment were also found to have a lower root:shoot ratio, and higher phosphorus and nitrogen levels. These results support the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in restoration efforts of endangered plants in fragmented and threatened ecosystems, such as pine rocklands.}, } @article {pmid29291516, year = {2018}, author = {Van Duc, L and Song, B and Ito, H and Hama, T and Otani, M and Kawagoshi, Y}, title = {High growth potential and nitrogen removal performance of marine anammox bacteria in shrimp-aquaculture sediment.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {69-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.159}, pmid = {29291516}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds ; Anaerobiosis ; *Aquaculture ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Denitrification ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry/*microbiology ; Nitrites ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Ponds ; Seawater/microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria were enriched in continuous packed-bed columns with marine sediment. One column (SB-C) was packed with only marine sediment collected from a shrimp-aquaculture pond, and another column (SB-AMX) was inoculated with marine anammox bacteria (MAB) as a control. These columns were continuously fed with natural or artificial seawater including ammonium (NH4[+]) and nitrite (NO2[-]). The SB-AMX showed anammox activities from the beginning and continued for over 200 days. However, the SB-C had no nitrogen removal performance for over 170 days. After adding a bicarbonate solution (KHCO3) to the sediment-only packed column, anammox activity was observed within 13 days. The column exhibited a nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE) of 88% at a nitrogen loading rate (NLR) of 1.0 kg-N·m[-3]·day[-1], which was comparable to the control one. A next-generation sequencing analysis revealed the predominance of MAB related to "Candidatus Scalindua spp.". In addition, the co-occurrence of sulfur-oxidizing denitrifiers was observed, which suggests their symbiotic relationship. This study suggests the applicability of MAB for in-situ bioremediation of nitrogen-contaminated marine sediments and reveals a potential microbial interaction between anammox and sulfur-oxidizing communities responsible for nitrogen and sulfur cycling in marine aquaculture systems.}, } @article {pmid29291450, year = {2018}, author = {Medeiros, JM and Böck, D and Pilhofer, M}, title = {Imaging bacteria inside their host by cryo-focused ion beam milling and electron cryotomography.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {}, pages = {62-68}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2017.12.006}, pmid = {29291450}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Bacteria/*ultrastructure ; Cryoelectron Microscopy/instrumentation/*methods ; Electron Microscope Tomography/instrumentation/methods ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Macromolecular Substances/ultrastructure ; Molecular Imaging/instrumentation/*methods ; }, abstract = {Bacterium-host interactions are important for diverse ecological settings including pathogenicity and symbiosis. Electron cryotomography is a powerful method for studying the macromolecular complexes that mediate such interactions in situ. The main limitation of electron cryotomography is its restriction to relatively thin samples such as individual bacterial cells. Cryo-focused ion beam milling was recently proposed as a solution to the thickness limitation. This approach allows the artifact-free thinning of biological specimens for subsequent imaging in the transmission electron microscope. By enabling near-native imaging of bacteria inside their eukaryotic host, this combination of techniques promotes the integration of data from structural biology and infection biology. Therefore, electron cryotomography associated with cryo-focused ion beam milling holds great potential for establishing multiscale models of cell-cell interactions from the atomic, to the cellular and to the intercellular scale.}, } @article {pmid29291350, year = {2018}, author = {Smith, TE and Pond, CD and Pierce, E and Harmer, ZP and Kwan, J and Zachariah, MM and Harper, MK and Wyche, TP and Matainaho, TK and Bugni, TS and Barrows, LR and Ireland, CM and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Accessing chemical diversity from the uncultivated symbionts of small marine animals.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {179-185}, pmid = {29291350}, issn = {1552-4469}, support = {R01 GM102602/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW006671/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria ; Biological Products/*pharmacology ; DNA/analysis ; *Drug Discovery ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Genomics ; HIV Infections/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Lysinoalanine/chemistry ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Multigene Family ; Peptides/pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; *Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology ; T-Lymphocytes/drug effects ; Urochordata ; }, abstract = {Chemistry drives many biological interactions between the microbiota and host animals, yet it is often challenging to identify the chemicals involved. This poses a problem, as such small molecules are excellent sources of potential pharmaceuticals, pretested by nature for animal compatibility. We discovered anti-HIV compounds from small, marine tunicates from the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea. Tunicates are a reservoir for new bioactive chemicals, yet their small size often impedes identification or even detection of the chemicals within. We solved this problem by combining chemistry, metagenomics, and synthetic biology to directly identify and synthesize the natural products. We show that these anti-HIV compounds, the divamides, are a novel family of lanthipeptides produced by symbiotic bacteria living in the tunicate. Neighboring animal colonies contain structurally related divamides that differ starkly in their biological properties, suggesting a role for biosynthetic plasticity in a native context wherein biological interactions take place.}, } @article {pmid29290501, year = {2018}, author = {Loeffler, J and Duda, GN and Sass, FA and Dienelt, A}, title = {The Metabolic Microenvironment Steers Bone Tissue Regeneration.}, journal = {Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {99-110}, doi = {10.1016/j.tem.2017.11.008}, pmid = {29290501}, issn = {1879-3061}, mesh = {Animals ; Bone Regeneration/immunology/*physiology ; *Fractures, Bone/immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; *Inflammation/immunology/metabolism ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; *Mesenchymal Stem Cells/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Over the past years, basic findings in cancer research have revealed metabolic symbiosis between different cell types to cope with high energy demands under limited nutrient availability. Although this also applies to regenerating tissues with disrupted physiological nutrient and oxygen supply, the impact of this metabolic cooperation and metabolic reprogramming on cellular development, fate, and function during tissue regeneration has widely been neglected so far. With this review, we aim to provide a schematic overview on metabolic links that have a high potential to drive tissue regeneration. As bone is, aside from liver, the only tissue that can regenerate without excessive scar tissue formation, we will use bone healing as an exemplarily model system.}, } @article {pmid29290388, year = {2018}, author = {Storelli, G and Strigini, M and Grenier, T and Bozonnet, L and Schwarzer, M and Daniel, C and Matos, R and Leulier, F}, title = {Drosophila Perpetuates Nutritional Mutualism by Promoting the Fitness of Its Intestinal Symbiont Lactobacillus plantarum.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {362-377.e8}, pmid = {29290388}, issn = {1932-7420}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/metabolism ; *Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Diet ; Drosophila melanogaster/growth & development/*microbiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus plantarum/cytology/*physiology ; Larva/physiology ; Microbial Viability ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Facultative animal-bacteria symbioses, which are critical determinants of animal fitness, are largely assumed to be mutualistic. However, whether commensal bacteria benefit from the association has not been rigorously assessed. Using a simple and tractable gnotobiotic model- Drosophila mono-associated with one of its dominant commensals, Lactobacillus plantarum-we reveal that in addition to benefiting animal growth, this facultative symbiosis has a positive impact on commensal bacteria fitness. We find that bacteria encounter a strong cost during gut transit, yet larvae-derived maintenance factors override this cost and increase bacterial population fitness, thus perpetuating symbiosis. In addition, we demonstrate that the maintenance of the association is required for achieving maximum animal growth benefits upon chronic undernutrition. Taken together, our study establishes a prototypical case of facultative nutritional mutualism, whereby a farming mechanism perpetuates animal-bacteria symbiosis, which bolsters fitness gains for both partners upon poor nutritional conditions.}, } @article {pmid29290018, year = {2018}, author = {Gehring, CA and Johnson, NC}, title = {Beyond ICOM8: perspectives on advances in mycorrhizal research from 2015 to 2017.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {197-201}, pmid = {29290018}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Carbon Cycle ; Ecosystem ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This report reviews important advances in mycorrhizal research that occurred during the past 2 years. We highlight major advancements both within and across levels of biological organization and describe areas where greater integration has led to unique insights. Particularly active areas of research include exploration of the mechanisms underpinning the development of the mycorrhizal symbiosis, the mycorrhizal microbiome, comparisons among types of mycorrhizas from molecular to ecosystem scales, the extent and function of mycorrhizal networks and enhanced understanding of the role of mycorrhizas in carbon dynamics from local to global scales. The top-tier scientific journals have acknowledged mycorrhizas to be complex adaptive systems that play key roles in the development of communities and ecosystem processes. Understanding the mechanisms driving these large-scale effects requires integration of knowledge across scales of biological organization.}, } @article {pmid29289875, year = {2018}, author = {Sun, L and Tian, Y and Zhang, J and Li, L and Zhang, J and Li, J}, title = {A novel membrane bioreactor inoculated with symbiotic sludge bacteria and algae: Performance and microbial community analysis.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {251}, number = {}, pages = {311-319}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.12.048}, pmid = {29289875}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bioreactors ; Membranes, Artificial ; *Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study combined sludge MBR technology with algae to establish an effective wastewater treatment and low membrane fouling system (ASB-MBR). Compared with control-MBR (C-MBR), the amelioration of microbial activity and the improvement of sludge properties and system environment were achieved after introducing algae resulting in high nutrients removal in the combined system. Further statistical analysis revealed that the symbiosis of algae and sludge displayed more remarkable impacts on nutrients removal than either of them. Additionally, membrane permeability was improved in ASB-MBR with respect to the decreased concentration, the changed of characteristics and the broken particular functional groups of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). Moreover, the algae inoculation reduced sludge diversity and shifted sludge community structure. Meantime, the stimulated bacteria selectively excite algal members that would benefit for the formation of algal-bacterial consortia. Consequently, the stimulated or inhibited of some species might be responsible for the performance of ASB-MBR.}, } @article {pmid29289792, year = {2018}, author = {Masson-Boivin, C and Sachs, JL}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by rhizobia-the roots of a success story.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {7-15}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.12.001}, pmid = {29289792}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/immunology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {By evolving the dual capacity of intracellular survival and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, rhizobia have achieved an ecological and evolutionary success that has reshaped our biosphere. Despite complex challenges, including a dual lifestyle of intracellular infection separated by a free-living phase in soil, rhizobial symbiosis has spread horizontally to hundreds of bacterial species and geographically throughout the globe. This symbiosis has also persisted and been reshaped through millions of years of history. Here, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms, ecological settings, and evolutionary pathways that are collectively responsible for this symbiotic success story. We offer predictions of how this symbiosis can evolve under new influences and for the benefit of a burgeoning human population.}, } @article {pmid29289791, year = {2018}, author = {Hoysted, GA and Kowal, J and Jacob, A and Rimington, WR and Duckett, JG and Pressel, S and Orchard, S and Ryan, MH and Field, KJ and Bidartondo, MI}, title = {A mycorrhizal revolution.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.12.004}, pmid = {29289791}, issn = {1879-0356}, support = {BB/M026825/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {It has long been postulated that symbiotic fungi facilitated plant migrations onto land through enhancing the scavenging of mineral nutrients and exchanging these for photosynthetically fixed organic carbon. Today, land plant-fungal symbioses are both widespread and diverse. Recent discoveries show that a variety of potential fungal associates were likely available to the earliest land plants, and that these early partnerships were probably affected by changing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Here, we evaluate current hypotheses and knowledge gaps regarding early plant-fungal partnerships in the context of newly discovered fungal mutualists of early and more recently evolved land plants and the rapidly changing views on the roles of plant-fungal symbioses in the evolution and ecology of the terrestrial biosphere.}, } @article {pmid29288462, year = {2018}, author = {Robledo, M and García-Tomsig, NI and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Primary Characterization of Small RNAs in Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1734}, number = {}, pages = {277-295}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7604-1_22}, pmid = {29288462}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Reporter ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Small Untranslated/*genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {High-throughput transcriptome profiling (RNAseq) has uncovered large and heterogeneous populations of small noncoding RNA species (sRNAs) with potential regulatory roles in bacteria. A large fraction of sRNAs are differentially regulated and rely on protein-assisted antisense interactions to trans-encoded target mRNAs to fine-tune posttranscriptional reprogramming of gene expression in response to external cues. However, annotation and function of sRNAs are still largely overlooked in nonmodel bacteria with complex lifestyles. Here, we describe experimental protocols successfully applied for the accurate annotation, expression profiling and target mRNA identification of trans-acting sRNAs in the nitrogen-fixing α-rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. The protocols presented here can be similarly applied for the characterization of trans-sRNAs in genetically tractable α-proteobacteria of agronomical or clinical relevance interacting with eukaryotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid29287245, year = {2018}, author = {Sabaneyeva, E and Castelli, M and Szokoli, F and Benken, K and Lebedeva, N and Salvetti, A and Schweikert, M and Fokin, S and Petroni, G}, title = {Host and symbiont intraspecific variability: The case of Paramecium calkinsi and "Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis".}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {79-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2017.12.002}, pmid = {29287245}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Paramecium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Newly isolated strains of the ciliate Paramecium calkinsi and their cytoplasmic bacterial endosymbionts were characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, including live observation, ultrastructural investigation, and molecular analysis. Despite morphological resemblance, the characterized P. calkinsi strains showed a significant molecular divergence compared to conspecifics, possibly hinting for a cryptic speciation. The endosymbionts were clearly found to be affiliated to the species "Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis" (Rickettsiales, Rickettsiaceae), currently encompassing only bacteria retrieved in an obligate intracellular association with other ciliates. However, a relatively high degree of intraspecific divergence was observed as well, thus it was possible to split "Candidatus Trichorickettsia" into three subspecies, one of which represented so far only by the newly characterized endosymbionts of P. calkinsi. Other features distinguished the members of each different subspecies. In particular, the endosymbionts of P. calkinsi resided in the cytoplasm and possessed numerous peritrichous flagella, although no motility was evidenced, whereas their conspecifics in other hosts were either cytoplasmic and devoid of flagella, or macronuclear, displaying flagellar-driven motility. Moreover, contrarily to previously analyzed "Candidatus Trichorickettsia" hosts, infected P. calkinsi cells frequently became amicronucleate and demonstrated abnormal cell division, eventually leading to decline of the laboratory culture.}, } @article {pmid29285550, year = {2018}, author = {Kellner, K and Kardish, MR and Seal, JN and Linksvayer, TA and Mueller, UG}, title = {Symbiont-Mediated Host-Parasite Dynamics in a Fungus-Gardening Ant.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {530-543}, pmid = {29285550}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animal Diseases/microbiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Biological Coevolution ; Disease Resistance/physiology ; Ecology ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; *Gardening ; Genotype ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Hypocreales/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Group-living can promote the evolution of adaptive strategies to prevent and control disease. Fungus-gardening ants must cope with two sets of pathogens, those that afflict the ants themselves and those of their symbiotic fungal gardens. While much research has demonstrated the impact of specialized fungal pathogens that infect ant fungus gardens, most of these studies focused on the so-called higher attine ants, which are thought to coevolve diffusely with two clades of leucocoprinaceous fungi. Relatively few studies have addressed disease ecology of lower Attini, which are thought to occasionally recruit (domesticate) novel leucocoprinaceous fungi from free-living populations; coevolution between lower-attine ants and their fungi is therefore likely weaker (or even absent) than in the higher Attini, which generally have many derived modifications. Toward understanding the disease ecology of lower-attine ants, this study (a) describes the diversity in the microfungal genus Escovopsis that naturally infect fungus gardens of the lower-attine ant Mycocepurus smithii and (b) experimentally determines the relative contributions of Escovopsis strain (a possible garden disease), M. smithii ant genotype, and fungal cultivar lineage to disease susceptibility and colony fitness. In controlled in-vivo infection laboratory experiments, we demonstrate that the susceptibility to Escovopsis infection was an outcome of ant-cultivar-Escovopsis interaction, rather than solely due to ant genotype or fungal cultivar lineage. The role of complex ant-cultivar-Escovopsis interactions suggests that switching M. smithii farmers onto novel fungus types might be a strategy to generate novel ant-fungus combinations resistant to most, but perhaps not all, Escovopsis strains circulating in a local population of this and other lower-attine ants.}, } @article {pmid29284744, year = {2018}, author = {Kryvoruchko, IS and Routray, P and Sinharoy, S and Torres-Jerez, I and Tejada-Jiménez, M and Finney, LA and Nakashima, J and Pislariu, CI and Benedito, VA and González-Guerrero, M and Roberts, DM and Udvardi, MK}, title = {An Iron-Activated Citrate Transporter, MtMATE67, Is Required for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {3}, pages = {2315-2329}, pmid = {29284744}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Citrates/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Iron/*metabolism/pharmacokinetics ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume nodules, where it is required for the activity of bacterial nitrogenase, plant leghemoglobin, respiratory oxidases, and other Fe proteins in both organisms. Fe solubility and transport within and between plant tissues is facilitated by organic chelators, such as nicotianamine and citrate. We have characterized a nodule-specific citrate transporter of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion family, MtMATE67 of Medicago truncatula The MtMATE67 gene was induced early during nodule development and expressed primarily in the invasion zone of mature nodules. The MtMATE67 protein was localized to the plasma membrane of nodule cells and also the symbiosome membrane surrounding bacteroids in infected cells. In oocytes, MtMATE67 transported citrate out of cells in an Fe-activated manner. Loss of MtMATE67 gene function resulted in accumulation of Fe in the apoplasm of nodule cells and a substantial decrease in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and plant growth. Taken together, the results point to a primary role of MtMATE67 in citrate efflux from nodule cells in response to an Fe signal. This efflux is necessary to ensure Fe(III) solubility and mobility in the apoplasm and uptake into nodule cells. Likewise, MtMATE67-mediated citrate transport into the symbiosome space would increase the solubility and availability of Fe(III) for rhizobial bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid29284742, year = {2018}, author = {Golicz, AA and Singh, MB and Bhalla, PL}, title = {The Long Intergenic Noncoding RNA (LincRNA) Landscape of the Soybean Genome.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {3}, pages = {2133-2147}, pmid = {29284742}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Centromere/genetics ; Chromosomes, Plant ; Cicer/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; *RNA, Long Noncoding ; RNA, Plant ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Soybeans/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of diverse biological processes. However, our understanding of lincRNA abundance and function remains very limited especially for agriculturally important plants. Soybean (Glycine max) is a major legume crop plant providing over a half of global oilseed production. Moreover, soybean can form symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Soybean has a complex paleopolyploid genome and exhibits many vegetative and floral development complexities. Soybean cultivars have photoperiod requirements restricting its use and productivity. Molecular regulators of these legume-specific developmental processes remain enigmatic. Long noncoding RNAs may play important regulatory roles in soybean growth and development. In this study, over one billion RNA-seq read pairs from 37 samples representing nine tissues were used to discover 6,018 lincRNA loci. The lincRNAs were shorter than protein-coding transcripts and had lower expression levels and more sample specific expression. Few of the loci were found to be conserved in two other legume species (chickpea [Cicer arietinum] and Medicago truncatula), but almost 200 homeologous lincRNAs in the soybean genome were detected. Protein-coding gene-lincRNA coexpression analysis suggested an involvement of lincRNAs in stress response, signal transduction, and developmental processes. Positional analysis of lincRNA loci implicated involvement in transcriptional regulation. lincRNA expression from centromeric regions was observed especially in actively dividing tissues, suggesting possible roles in cell division. Integration of publicly available genome-wide association data with the lincRNA map of the soybean genome uncovered 23 lincRNAs potentially associated with agronomic traits.}, } @article {pmid29284564, year = {2018}, author = {Bodnar, JL and Fitch, S and Rosati, A and Zhong, J}, title = {The folA gene from the Rickettsia endosymbiont of Ixodes pacificus encodes a functional dihydrofolate reductase enzyme.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {443-449}, pmid = {29284564}, issn = {1877-9603}, support = {R15 AI099902/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Computational Biology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Rickettsia/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although nonpathogenic bacterial endosymbionts have been shown to contribute to their arthropod host's fitness by supplying them with essential vitamins and amino acids, little is known about the nutritional basis for the symbiotic relationship of endosymbionts in ticks. Our lab has previously reported that Rickettsia species phylotype G021 in Ixodes pacificus carries all five genes for de novo folate synthesis, and that these genes are monophyletic with homologs from other Rickettsia species. In this study, the rickettsial folate synthesis folA gene, coding for dihydrofolate reductase, was PCR amplified, cloned into an expression vector, and overexpressed in E. coli. Bioinformatic analysis identified that the FolA protein of phylotype G021 has the conserved DHFR domain, NADP binding sites, and substrate binding sites of bacterial dihydrofolate reductase. SDS-PAGE results showed that recombinant rickettsial FolA protein was overexpressed in BL21(DE3) E. coli in its soluble form. Affinity chromatography was used to purify the protein, and in vitro enzyme assays were performed to assess the biochemical activity of dihydrofolate reductase. The specific activity of recombinant FolA from phylotype G021 was determined to be 16.1 U/mg. This study has revealed that Rickettsia species phylotype G021 of I. pacificus is capable of producing a functional enzyme of the folate biosynthesis pathway, addressing the nutritional interactions behind the symbiosis between Rickettsia species phylotype G021 and its host.}, } @article {pmid29282821, year = {2018}, author = {Durkin, ES and Luong, LT}, title = {Experimental evolution of infectious behaviour in a facultative ectoparasite.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {362-370}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13227}, pmid = {29282821}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Drosophila/parasitology ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Male ; Mites/*genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Parasitic lifestyles have evolved many times in animals, but how such life-history strategies evolved from free-living ancestors remains a great puzzle. Transitional symbiotic strategies, such as facultative parasitism, are hypothesized evolutionary stepping stones towards obligate parasitism. However, to consider this hypothesis, heritable genetic variation in infectious behaviour of transitional symbiotic strategies must exist. In this study, we experimentally evolved infectivity and estimated the additive genetic variation in a facultative parasite. We performed artificial selection experiments in which we selected for either increased or decreased propensity to infect in a facultatively parasitic mite (Macrocheles muscaedomesticae). Here, infectiousness was expressed in terms of mite attachment to a host (Drosophila hydei) and modelled as a threshold trait. Mites responded positively to selection for increased infectivity; realized heritability of infectious behaviour was significantly different from zero and estimated to be 16.6% (±4.4% SE). Further, infection prevalence was monitored for 20 generations post-selection. Selected lines continued to display relatively high levels of infection, demonstrating a degree of genetic stability in infectiousness. Our study is the first to provide an estimate of heritability and additive genetic variation for infectious behaviour in a facultative parasite, which suggests natural selection can act upon facultative strategies with important implications for the evolution of parasitism.}, } @article {pmid29281758, year = {2018}, author = {Martín-Robles, N and Lehmann, A and Seco, E and Aroca, R and Rillig, MC and Milla, R}, title = {Impacts of domestication on the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of 27 crop species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {218}, number = {1}, pages = {322-334}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14962}, pmid = {29281758}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Domestication ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphorus/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is key to plant nutrition, and hence is potentially key in sustainable agriculture. Fertilization and other agricultural practices reduce soil AM fungi and root colonization. Such conditions might promote the evolution of low mycorrhizal responsive crops. Therefore, we ask if and how evolution under domestication has altered AM symbioses of crops. We measured the effect of domestication on mycorrhizal responsiveness across 27 crop species and their wild progenitors. Additionally, in a subset of 14 crops, we tested if domestication effects differed under contrasting phosphorus (P) availabilities. The response of AM symbiosis to domestication varied with P availability. On average, wild progenitors benefited from the AM symbiosis irrespective of P availability, while domesticated crops only profited under P-limited conditions. Magnitudes and directions of response were diverse among the 27 crops, and were unrelated to phylogenetic affinities or to the coordinated evolution with fine root traits. Our results indicate disruptions in the efficiency of the AM symbiosis linked to domestication. Under high fertilization, domestication could have altered the regulation of resource trafficking between AM fungi and associated plant hosts. Provided that crops are commonly raised under high fertilization, this result has important implications for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid29280946, year = {2017}, author = {Salgado, F and Albornoz, L and Cortéz, C and Stashenko, E and Urrea-Vallejo, K and Nagles, E and Galicia-Virviescas, C and Cornejo, A and Ardiles, A and Simirgiotis, M and García-Beltrán, O and Areche, C}, title = {Secondary Metabolite Profiling of Species of the Genus Usnea by UHPLC-ESI-OT-MS-MS.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29280946}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Fungi ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Methanol/chemistry ; Phytochemicals/metabolism ; Plant Extracts/*analysis/chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Usnea/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations of fungi with microalgae and/or cyanobacteria, which are considered among the slowest growing organisms, with strong tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. There are about 400 genera and 1600 species of lichens and those belonging to the Usnea genus comprise about 360 of these species. Usnea lichens have been used since ancient times as dyes, cosmetics, preservatives, deodorants and folk medicines. The phytochemistry of the Usnea genus includes more than 60 compounds which belong to the following classes: depsides, depsidones, depsones, lactones, quinones, phenolics, polysaccharides, fatty acids and dibenzofurans. Due to scarce knowledge of metabolomic profiles of Usnea species (U. barbata, U. antarctica, U. rubicunda and U. subfloridana), a study based on UHPLC-ESI-OT-MS-MS was performed for a comprehensive characterization of their secondary metabolites. From the methanolic extracts of these species a total of 73 metabolites were identified for the first time using this hyphenated technique, including 34 compounds in U. barbata, 21 in U. antarctica, 38 in U. rubicunda and 37 in U. subfloridana. Besides, a total of 13 metabolites were not identified and reported so far, and could be new according to our data analysis. This study showed that this hyphenated technique is rapid, effective and accurate for phytochemical identification of lichen metabolites and the data collected could be useful for chemotaxonomic studies.}, } @article {pmid29280343, year = {2018}, author = {González-Sánchez, A and Cubillas, CA and Miranda, F and Dávalos, A and García-de Los Santos, A}, title = {The ropAe gene encodes a porin-like protein involved in copper transit in Rhizobium etli CFN42.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e00573}, pmid = {29280343}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Copper/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Porins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for all aerobic forms of life. Its oxidation states (Cu[+] /Cu[2+]) make this metal an important cofactor of enzymes catalyzing redox reactions in essential biological processes. In gram-negative bacteria, Cu uptake is an unexplored component of a finely regulated trafficking network, mediated by protein-protein interactions that deliver Cu to target proteins and efflux surplus metal to avoid toxicity. Rhizobium etliCFN42 is a facultative symbiotic diazotroph that must ensure its appropriate Cu supply for living either free in the soil or as an intracellular symbiont of leguminous plants. In crop fields, rhizobia have to contend with copper-based fungicides. A detailed deletion analysis of the pRet42e (505 kb) plasmid from an R. etli mutant with enhanced CuCl2 tolerance led us to the identification of the ropAe gene, predicted to encode an outer membrane protein (OMP) with a β-barrel channel structure that may be involved in Cu transport. In support of this hypothesis, the functional characterization of ropAe revealed that: (I) gene disruption increased copper tolerance of the mutant, and its complementation with the wild-type gene restored its wild-type copper sensitivity; (II) the ropAe gene maintains a low basal transcription level in copper overload, but is upregulated when copper is scarce; (III) disruption of ropAe in an actP (copA) mutant background, defective in copper efflux, partially reduced its copper sensitivity phenotype. Finally, BLASTP comparisons and a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis highlight the diversification of four RopA paralogs in members of the Rhizobiaceae family. Orthologs of RopAe are highly conserved in the Rhizobiales order, poorly conserved in other alpha proteobacteria and phylogenetically unrelated to characterized porins involved in Cu or Mn uptake.}, } @article {pmid29279407, year = {2018}, author = {Łukasik, P and Nazario, K and Van Leuven, JT and Campbell, MA and Meyer, M and Michalik, A and Pessacq, P and Simon, C and Veloso, C and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Multiple origins of interdependent endosymbiotic complexes in a genus of cicadas.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, number = {2}, pages = {E226-E235}, pmid = {29279407}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Chile ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts that provide nutrients to hosts often have genomes that are extremely stable in structure and gene content. In contrast, the genome of the endosymbiont Hodgkinia cicadicola has fractured into multiple distinct lineages in some species of the cicada genus Tettigades To better understand the frequency, timing, and outcomes of Hodgkinia lineage splitting throughout this cicada genus, we sampled cicadas over three field seasons in Chile and performed genomics and microscopy on representative samples. We found that a single ancestral Hodgkinia lineage has split at least six independent times in Tettigades over the last 4 million years, resulting in complexes of between two and six distinct Hodgkinia lineages per host. Individual genomes in these symbiotic complexes differ dramatically in relative abundance, genome size, organization, and gene content. Each Hodgkinia lineage retains a small set of core genes involved in genetic information processing, but the high level of gene loss experienced by all genomes suggests that extensive sharing of gene products among symbiont cells must occur. In total, Hodgkinia complexes that consist of multiple lineages encode nearly complete sets of genes present on the ancestral single lineage and presumably perform the same functions as symbionts that have not undergone splitting. However, differences in the timing of the splits, along with dissimilar gene loss patterns on the resulting genomes, have led to very different outcomes of lineage splitting in extant cicadas.}, } @article {pmid29278144, year = {2018}, author = {Ledermann, R and Bartsch, I and Müller, B and Wülser, J and Fischer, HM}, title = {A Functional General Stress Response of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens Is Required for Early Stages of Host Plant Infection.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {537-547}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-17-0284-R}, pmid = {29278144}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plasmids ; Sigma Factor/metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Phylogenetically diverse bacteria respond to various stress conditions by mounting a general stress response (GSR) resulting in the induction of protection or damage repair functions. In α-proteobacteria, the GSR is induced by a regulatory cascade consisting of the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factor σ[EcfG], its anti-σ factor NepR, and the anti-anti-σ factor PhyR. We have reported previously that σ[EcfG] and PhyR of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens (formerly named Bradyrhizobium japonicum), the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiont of soybean and related legumes, are required for efficient symbiosis; however, the precise role of the GSR remained undefined. Here, we analyze the symbiotic defects of a B. diazoefficiens mutant lacking σ[EcfG] by comparing distinct infection stages of enzymatically or fluorescently tagged wild-type and mutant bacteria. Although root colonization and root hair curling were indistinguishable, the mutant was not competitive, and showed delayed development of emerging nodules and only a few infection threads. Consequently, many of the mutant-induced nodules were aborted, empty, or partially colonized. Congruent with these results, we found that σ[EcfG] was active in bacteria present in root-hair-entrapped microcolonies and infection threads but not in root-associated bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. We conclude that GSR-controlled functions are crucial for synchronization of infection thread formation, colonization, and nodule development.}, } @article {pmid29277867, year = {2018}, author = {Oliveira Alvarenga, D and Moreira, LM and Chandler, M and Varani, AM}, title = {A Practical Guide for Comparative Genomics of Mobile Genetic Elements in Prokaryotic Genomes.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1704}, number = {}, pages = {213-242}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7463-4_7}, pmid = {29277867}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Computational Biology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/*methods ; *Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Prokaryotic Cells/*metabolism ; Software ; }, abstract = {Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are an important feature of prokaryote genomes but are seldom well annotated and, consequently, are often underestimated. MGEs include transposons (Tn), insertion sequences (ISs), prophages, genomic islands (GEIs), integrons, and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). They are intimately involved in genome evolution and promote phenomena such as genomic expansion and rearrangement, emergence of virulence and pathogenicity, and symbiosis. In spite of the annotation bottleneck, there are so far at least 75 different programs and databases dedicated to prokaryotic MGE analysis and annotation, and this number is rapidly growing. Here, we present a practical guide to explore, compare, and visualize prokaryote MGEs using a combination of available software and databases tailored to small scale genome analyses. This protocol can be coupled with expert MGE annotation and exploited for evolutionary and comparative genomic analyses.}, } @article {pmid29277158, year = {2018}, author = {Lages, PC and Generoso, SV and Correia, MITD}, title = {Postoperative symbiotic in patients with head and neck cancer: a double-blind randomised trial.}, journal = {The British journal of nutrition}, volume = {119}, number = {2}, pages = {190-195}, doi = {10.1017/S0007114517003403}, pmid = {29277158}, issn = {1475-2662}, mesh = {Aged ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)/metabolism ; Bacterial Translocation/physiology ; Bifidobacterium/growth & development ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/physiopathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Intestines/enzymology/physiology ; Lactobacillus/growth & development ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Therapy ; Permeability ; Placebos ; Postoperative Care/*methods ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Studies on the 'gut origin of sepsis' have suggested that stressful insults, such as surgery, can affect intestinal permeability, leading to bacterial translocation. Symbiotics have been reported to be able to improve gut permeability and modulate the immunologic system, thereby decreasing postoperative complications. Therefore we aimed to evaluate the postoperative use of symbiotics in head and neck cancer surgical patients for intestinal function and permeability, as well as the postoperative outcomes. Patients were double-blind randomised into the symbiotic (n 18) or the control group (n 18). Samples were administered twice a day by nasoenteric tube, starting on the 1st postoperative day until the 5th to 7th day, and comprised 109 colony-forming units/ml each of Lactobacillus paracasei, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium lactis plus 6 g of fructo-oligosaccharides, or a placebo (6 g of maltodextrin). Intestinal function (day of first evacuation, total stool episodes, stool consistency, gastrointestinal tract symptoms and gut permeability by diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme) and postoperative complications (infectious and non-infectious) were assessed. Results of comparison of the pre- and postoperative periods showed that the groups were similar for all outcome variables. In all, twelve patients had complications in the symbiotic group v. nine in the control group (P>0·05), and the preoperative-postoperative DAO activity ranged from 28·5 (sd 15·4) to 32·7 (sd 11·0) ng/ml in the symbiotic group and 35·2 (sd 17·7) to 34·1 (sd 12·0) ng/ml in the control group (P>0·05). In conclusion, postoperative symbiotics did not impact on intestinal function and postoperative outcomes of head and neck surgical patients.}, } @article {pmid29277086, year = {2018}, author = {Hagström, E and Andersson, SG}, title = {The challenges of integrating two genomes in one cell.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {89-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2017.12.003}, pmid = {29277086}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Respiration ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic bacteria and mitochondria have small genomes that harbor host-essential genes. A major question is why a distinct bacterial or mitochondrial genome is needed to encode these functions. The dual location of genes demand two sets of information processing systems, coordination of gene expression and elaborate transport systems. A simpler solution would be to harbor all genes in a single genome. Functional gene transfers to the host nuclear genome is uncommon in mutualistic bacteria and lost gene functions are rather rescued by co-symbiotic bacteria. Recent findings suggest that the mitochondrial genome is retained to avoid conflicting signals between protein targeting pathways in the cell. However, if the selective pressure for oxygenic respiration is lost, the mitochondrial genome will start to deteriorate and soon be lost.}, } @article {pmid29276839, year = {2018}, author = {Sowani, H and Kulkarni, M and Zinjarde, S}, title = {An insight into the ecology, diversity and adaptations of Gordonia species.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {393-413}, doi = {10.1080/1040841X.2017.1418286}, pmid = {29276839}, issn = {1549-7828}, mesh = {Actinomycetales Infections/*microbiology ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Gordonia Bacterium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The bacterial genus Gordonia encompasses a variety of versatile species that have been isolated from a multitude of environments. Gordonia was described as a genus about 20 years ago, and to date, 39 different species have been identified. Gordonia is recognized for symbiotic associations with multiple hosts, including aquatic (marine and fresh water) biological forms and terrestrial invertebrates. Some Gordonia species isolated from clinical specimens are known to be opportunistic human pathogens causing secondary infections in immunocompromised and immunosuppressive individuals. They are also predominant in mangrove ecosystems and terrestrial sites. Members of the genus Gordonia are ecologically adaptable and show marked variations in their properties and products. They generate diverse bioactive compounds and produce a variety of extracellular enzymes. In addition, production of surface active compounds and carotenoid pigments allows this group of microorganisms to grow under different conditions. Several isolates from water and soil have been implicated in bioremediation of different environments and plant associated species have been explored for agricultural applications. This review highlights the prevalence of the members of this versatile genus in diverse environments, details its associations with living forms, summarizes the biotechnologically relevant products that can be obtained and discusses the salient genomic features that allow this Actinomycete to survive in different ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid29276774, year = {2017}, author = {Vasemägi, A and Visse, M and Kisand, V}, title = {Effect of Environmental Factors and an Emerging Parasitic Disease on Gut Microbiome of Wild Salmonid Fish.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29276774}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of fish supports a dynamic microbial ecosystem that is intimately linked to host nutrient acquisition, epithelial development, immune system priming, and disease prevention, and we are far from understanding the complex interactions among parasites, symbiotic gut bacteria, and host fitness. Here, we analyzed the effects of environmental factors and parasitic burdens on the microbial composition and diversity within the GIT of the brown trout (Salmo trutta). We focused on the emerging dangerous salmonid myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, which causes proliferative kidney disease in salmonid fish, to demonstrate the potential role of GIT micobiomes in the modulation of host-parasite relationships. The microbial diversity in the GIT displayed clear clustering according to the river of origin, while considerable variation was also found among fish from the same river. Environmental variables such as oxygen concentration, water temperature, and river morphometry strongly associated with both the river microbial community and the GIT microbiome, supporting the role of the environment in microbial assemblage and the relative insignificance of the host genotype and gender. Contrary to expectations, the parasite load exhibited a significant positive relationship with the richness of the GIT microbiome. Many operational taxonomic units (OTUs; n = 202) are more abundant in T. bryosalmonae-infected fish, suggesting that brown trout with large parasite burdens are prone to lose their GIT microbiome homeostasis. The OTUs with the strongest increase in infected trout are mostly nonpathogenic aquatic, anaerobic sediment/sludge, or ruminant bacteria. Our results underscore the significance of the interactions among parasitic disease, abiotic factors, and the GIT microbiome in disease etiology. IMPORTANCE Cohabiting microorganisms play diverse and important roles in the biology of multicellular hosts, but their diversity and interactions with abiotic and biotic factors remain largely unsurveyed. Nevertheless, it is becoming increasingly clear that many properties of host phenotypes reflect contributions from the associated microbiome. We focus on a question of how parasites, the host genetic background, and abiotic factors influence the microbiome in salmonid hosts by using a host-parasite model consisting of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta) and the myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, which causes widely distributed proliferative kidney disease. We show that parasite infection increases the frequency of bacteria from the surrounding river water community, reflecting impaired homeostasis in the fish gut. Our results also demonstrate the importance of abiotic environmental factors and host size in the assemblage of the gut microbiome of fish and the relative insignificance of the host genotype and gender.}, } @article {pmid29276507, year = {2017}, author = {Bryant, WA and Stentz, R and Le Gall, G and Sternberg, MJE and Carding, SR and Wilhelm, T}, title = {In Silico Analysis of the Small Molecule Content of Outer Membrane Vesicles Produced by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Indicates an Extensive Metabolic Link between Microbe and Host.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2440}, pmid = {29276507}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The interactions between the gut microbiota and its host are of central importance to the health of the host. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are produced ubiquitously by Gram-negative bacteria including the gut commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. These vesicles can interact with the host in various ways but until now their complement of small molecules has not been investigated in this context. Using an untargeted high-coverage metabolomic approach we have measured the small molecule content of these vesicles in contrasting in vitro conditions to establish what role these metabolites could perform when packed into these vesicles. B. thetaiotaomicron packs OMVs with a highly conserved core set of small molecules which are strikingly enriched with mouse-digestible metabolites and with metabolites previously shown to be associated with colonization of the murine GIT. By use of an expanded genome-scale metabolic model of B. thetaiotaomicron and a potential host (the mouse) we have established many possible metabolic pathways between the two organisms that were previously unknown, and have found several putative novel metabolic functions for mouse that are supported by gene annotations, but that do not currently appear in existing mouse metabolic networks. The lipidome of these OMVs bears no relation to the mouse lipidome, so the purpose of this particular composition of lipids remains unclear. We conclude from this analysis that through intimate symbiotic evolution OMVs produced by B. thetaiotaomicron are likely to have been adopted as a conduit for small molecules bound for the mammalian host in vivo.}, } @article {pmid29274278, year = {2018}, author = {Asplund, J and Gauslaa, Y and Merinero, S}, title = {Low synthesis of secondary compounds in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria infected by the lichenicolous fungus Plectocarpon lichenum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {4}, pages = {1397-1400}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14978}, pmid = {29274278}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Lichens/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Secondary Metabolism ; }, } @article {pmid29272384, year = {2018}, author = {Viana, F and Paz, LC and Methling, K and Damgaard, CF and Lalk, M and Schramm, A and Lund, MB}, title = {Distinct effects of the nephridial symbionts Verminephrobacter and Candidatus Nephrothrix on reproduction and maturation of its earthworm host Eisenia andrei.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix178}, pmid = {29272384}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Comamonadaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Cytophagaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Oligochaeta/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Pupa/physiology ; Reproduction ; Riboflavin/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Verminephrobacter, the most common specific symbionts in the nephridia (excretory organs) of lumbricid earthworms, have been shown to improve reproduction of the garden earthworm Aporrectodea tuberculata under nutrient limitation. It is unknown how general this beneficial trait is in the Verminephrobacter-earthworm symbiosis, whether other nephridial symbionts also affect host fitness and what the mechanism of the fitness increase is. Here we report beneficial effects of Verminephrobacter and Candidatus Nephrothrix on life history traits of the compost worm Eisenia andrei, which in addition to these two symbionts also hosts Agromyces-like bacteria in its mixed nephridial community: while growth was identical between control, Verminephrobacter-free and aposymbiotic worms, control worms produced significantly more cocoons and offspring than both Verminephrobacter-free and aposymbiotic worms, confirming the reproductive benefit of Verminephrobacter in a second host with different ecology and feeding behavior. Furthermore, worms with Verminephrobacter and Ca. Nephrothrix, or with only Ca. Nephrothrix present, reached sexual maturity significantly earlier than aposymbiotic worms; this is the first evidence for a beneficial role of Ca. Nephrothrix in earthworms. Riboflavin content in cocoons and whole earthworms was unaffected by the presence or absence of nephridial symbionts, suggesting that nutritional supplementation with this vitamin does not play a major role in this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29271152, year = {2017}, author = {Wan, D and Chen, X and Zhu, L and Wang, FW and Kong, GM and Cao, GY and Shen, L}, title = {[Chemical constituents of liquid culture of symbiotic Chaetomium globosum ML-4 of oyster and their in vitro antitumor activity].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {42}, number = {21}, pages = {4142-4149}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20170905.005}, pmid = {29271152}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy/*pathology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chaetomium/*chemistry ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology ; Ostreidae/*microbiology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Isolation and purification of chemical constituents of liquid culture of symbiotic Chaetomium globosum ML-4 of oyster was performed through silica gel column chromatography, gel filtration over Sephadex LH-20, preparative TLC and HPLC. Five compounds were obtained and their structures were determined as chaetoglobosin V(1), chaetoglobosin Vb(2), tyrosol(3), 5-methyluracil(4)and uracil(5), respectively, based on HR-MS and NMR data and comparison with literatures. In vitro cytotoxicity of compounds against human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 were measured byMTT method, and results showed that compound 1 could obviously inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells with an IC50 value of 60.5 mg•L[-1], while the IC50 value of positive control cisplatin was 19.96 mg•L[-1]. Further studies discovered that compound 1 could lead to G2 phase arrest in SMMC-7721 cells and induce SMMC-7721 cells apoptosis. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in SMMC-7721 cells was decreased. The expression of protein Caspases-3,-8,-9 was improved and the expression and phosphorylation level of Akt were reduced. Aforementioned results revealed that in vitro antitumor activity of compound 1 against SMMC-7721 cells were related to G2 phase cell cycle arrest and induced-apoptosis. The induced-apoptosis was involved in both the mitochondrial pathway and the death receptor pathway and connected with activity decline of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.}, } @article {pmid29271121, year = {2018}, author = {Feng, H and Wang, L and Wuchty, S and Wilson, ACC}, title = {microRNA regulation in an ancient obligate endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1777-1793}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14464}, pmid = {29271121}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; Buchnera/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although many insects are associated with obligate bacterial endosymbionts, the mechanisms by which these host/endosymbiont associations are regulated remain mysterious. While microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recently identified as regulators of host/microbe interactions, including host/pathogen and host/facultative endosymbiont interactions, the role miRNAs may play in mediating host/obligate endosymbiont interactions is virtually unknown. Here, we identified conserved miRNAs that potentially mediate symbiotic interactions between aphids and their obligate endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Using small RNA sequence data from Myzus persicae and Acyrthosiphon pisum, we annotated 93 M. persicae and 89 A. pisum miRNAs, among which 69 were shared. We found 14 miRNAs that were either highly expressed in aphid bacteriome, the Buchnera-housing tissue, or differentially expressed in bacteriome vs. gut, a non-Buchnera-housing tissue. Strikingly, 10 of these 14 miRNAs have been implicated previously in other host/microbe interaction studies. Investigating the interaction networks of these miRNAs using a custom computational pipeline, we identified 103 miRNA::mRNA interactions shared between M. persicae and A. pisum. Functional annotation of the shared mRNA targets revealed only two over-represented cluster of orthologous group categories: amino acid transport and metabolism, and signal transduction mechanisms. Our work supports a role for miRNAs in mediating host/symbiont interactions between aphids and their obligate endosymbiont Buchnera. In addition, our results highlight the probable importance of signal transduction mechanisms to host/endosymbiont coevolution.}, } @article {pmid29271011, year = {2018}, author = {Beinart, RA and Beaudoin, DJ and Bernhard, JM and Edgcomb, VP}, title = {Insights into the metabolic functioning of a multipartner ciliate symbiosis from oxygen-depleted sediments.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1794-1807}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14465}, pmid = {29271011}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/*genetics ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/genetics/*metabolism ; Ciliophora/genetics/metabolism ; *Geologic Sediments ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between anaerobic or microaerophilic protists and prokaryotes are common in anoxic and oxygen-depleted habitats ranging from marine sediments to gastrointestinal tracts. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms of metabolic interaction between partners. In these putatively syntrophic associations, consumption of fermentative end products (e.g., hydrogen) by the prokaryotic symbionts is thought to facilitate protistan anaerobic metabolism. Here, we employed metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing of a microaerophilic or anaerobic karyorelictid ciliate and its prokaryotic symbionts from oxygen-depleted Santa Barbara Basin (CA, USA) sediments to assess metabolic coupling within this consortium. This sequencing confirmed the predominance of deltaproteobacterial symbionts from the Families Desulfobacteraceae and Desulfobulbaceae and suggested active symbiont reduction of host-provided sulphate, transfer of small organic molecules from host to symbionts and hydrogen cycling among the symbionts. In addition, patterns of gene expression indicated active cell division by the symbionts, their growth via autotrophic processes and nitrogen exchange with the ciliate host. Altogether, this research underscores the importance of symbiont metabolism to host fermentative metabolism and, thus, likely its success in anoxic and low-oxygen habitats, but also suggests ciliate-associated prokaryotes play a role in important biogeochemical processes.}, } @article {pmid29270664, year = {2018}, author = {Godjo, A and Afouda, L and Baimey, H and Decraemer, W and Willems, A}, title = {Molecular diversity of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus bacteria, symbionts of Heterorhabditis and Steinernema nematodes retrieved from soil in Benin.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {200}, number = {4}, pages = {589-601}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1470-2}, pmid = {29270664}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Benin ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Molecular Typing ; Photorhabdus/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhabditoidea/genetics/*microbiology ; Soil/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Tylenchida/genetics/*microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The diversity of 43 bacterial strains isolated from Beninese entomopathogenic nematodes was investigated molecularly by analyzing the 16S rRNA, recA, and gyrB genes. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis, 15 bacterial strains were identified as Xenorhabdus sp., 27 strains as Photorhabdus sp., and one as Serratia sp. The Xenorhabdus strains were isolated from Steinernema nematodes and identified as Xenorhabdus indica based on 16S rRNA gene and concatenated recA and gyrB sequence analysis. However, analysis of 16S rRNA and concatenated recA and gyrB gene sequences of the Photorhabdus strains, all isolated from Heterorhabditis nematodes, resulted in two separate sub-clusters (A) and (B) within the Photorhabdus luminescens group, distinct from the existing subspecies. They share low sequence similarities with nearest phylogenetic neighbors Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. luminescens Hb[T], Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. caribbeanensis HG29[T], and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. noenieputensis AM7[T].}, } @article {pmid29270661, year = {2018}, author = {Stabili, L and Gravili, C and Pizzolante, G and Lezzi, M and Tredici, SM and De Stefano, M and Boero, F and Alifano, P}, title = {Aglaophenia octodonta (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) and the Associated Microbial Community: a Cooperative Alliance?.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {1}, pages = {258-271}, pmid = {29270661}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Ampicillin/pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hydrozoa/classification/cytology/drug effects/*microbiology ; Italy ; Microalgae/classification/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Microbiota/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Oligohymenophorea/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Oxygen ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; Vibrio/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Recently, genetic approaches have revealed a surprising bacterial world as well as a growing knowledge of the enormous distribution of animal-bacterial interactions. In the present study, the diversity of the microorganisms associated to the hydroid Aglaophenia octodonta was studied with epifluorescence, optical, and scanning electron microscopy. Small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequencing with "universal" and taxon-specific primers allowed the assignment of the microalgae to Symbiodinium and the peritrich ciliates to Pseudovorticella, while the luminous vibrios were identified as Vibrio jasicida of the Harvey clade. To understand the possible relationships among Vibrio jasicida, Symbiodinium, A. octodonta, and Pseudovorticella, specific treatments were conducted in microcosm experiments, with the antibiotic ampicillin and other substances that interfere with bacterial and hydroid metabolism. Treatment of A. octodonta with ampicillin resulted in a decrease of bacterial luminescence followed by Pseudovorticella detachment and Symbiodinium expulsion and suggesting that these microorganisms form a "consortium" with beneficial metabolic interdependence. This hypothesis was reinforced by the evidence that low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, which stimulate the bacterial oxidative metabolism and luminescence by releasing oxygen, were able to counteract the detrimental effect of ampicillin on the stability of the studied A. octodonta association. A model is proposed in which microalgae that release oxygen during photosynthesis are useful to luminous bacteria for their metabolism and for establishing/maintaining symbiosis leading to a close alliance and mutual benefit of the system A. octodonta-Vibrio jasicida-Pseudovorticella sp.-Symbiodinium sp.}, } @article {pmid29270167, year = {2017}, author = {Chiu, L and Bazin, T and Truchetet, ME and Schaeverbeke, T and Delhaes, L and Pradeu, T}, title = {Protective Microbiota: From Localized to Long-Reaching Co-Immunity.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1678}, pmid = {29270167}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Resident microbiota do not just shape host immunity, they can also contribute to host protection against pathogens and infectious diseases. Previous reviews of the protective roles of the microbiota have focused exclusively on colonization resistance localized within a microenvironment. This review shows that the protection against pathogens also involves the mitigation of pathogenic impact without eliminating the pathogens (i.e., "disease tolerance") and the containment of microorganisms to prevent pathogenic spread. Protective microorganisms can have an impact beyond their niche, interfering with the entry, establishment, growth, and spread of pathogenic microorganisms. More fundamentally, we propose a series of conceptual clarifications in support of the idea of a "co-immunity," where an organism is protected by both its own immune system and components of its microbiota.}, } @article {pmid29269839, year = {2018}, author = {Kinosita, Y and Kikuchi, Y and Mikami, N and Nakane, D and Nishizaka, T}, title = {Unforeseen swimming and gliding mode of an insect gut symbiont, Burkholderia sp. RPE64, with wrapping of the flagella around its cell body.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {838-848}, pmid = {29269839}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Cell Body/physiology ; Cell Migration Assays ; Cell Movement/*physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Flagella/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A bean bug symbiont, Burkholderia sp. RPE64, selectively colonizes the gut crypts by flagella-mediated motility: however, the mechanism for this colonization remains unclear. Here, to obtain clues to this mechanism, we characterized the swimming motility of the Burkholderia symbiont under an advanced optical microscope. High-speed imaging of cells enabled the detection of turn events with up to 5-ms temporal resolution, indicating that cells showed reversal motions (θ ~ 180°) with rapid changes in speed by a factor of 3.6. Remarkably, staining of the flagellar filaments with a fluorescent dye Cy3 revealed that the flagellar filaments wrap around the cell body with a motion like that of a ribbon streamer in rhythmic gymnastics. A motility assay with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy revealed that the left-handed flagellum wound around the cell body and propelled it forward by its clockwise rotation. We also detected periodic-fluorescent signals of flagella on the glass surface, suggesting that flagella possibly contacted the solid surface directly and produced a gliding-like motion driven by flagellar rotation. Finally, the wrapping motion was also observed in a symbiotic bacterium of the bobtail squid, Aliivibrio fischeri, suggesting that this motility mode may contribute to migration on the mucus-filled narrow passage connecting to the symbiotic organ.}, } @article {pmid29269491, year = {2018}, author = {da Costa, RR and Hu, H and Pilgaard, B and Vreeburg, SME and Schückel, J and Pedersen, KSK and Kračun, SK and Busk, PK and Harholt, J and Sapountzis, P and Lange, L and Aanen, DK and Poulsen, M}, title = {Enzyme Activities at Different Stages of Plant Biomass Decomposition in Three Species of Fungus-Growing Termites.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {29269491}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomass ; Isoptera/*enzymology/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; South Africa ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites rely on mutualistic fungi of the genus Termitomyces and gut microbes for plant biomass degradation. Due to a certain degree of symbiont complementarity, this tripartite symbiosis has evolved as a complex bioreactor, enabling decomposition of nearly any plant polymer, likely contributing to the success of the termites as one of the main plant decomposers in the Old World. In this study, we evaluated which plant polymers are decomposed and which enzymes are active during the decomposition process in two major genera of fungus-growing termites. We found a diversity of active enzymes at different stages of decomposition and a consistent decrease in plant components during the decomposition process. Furthermore, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that termites transport enzymes from the older mature parts of the fungus comb through young worker guts to freshly inoculated plant substrate. However, preliminary fungal RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses suggest that this likely transport is supplemented with enzymes produced in situ Our findings support that the maintenance of an external fungus comb, inoculated with an optimal mixture of plant material, fungal spores, and enzymes, is likely the key to the extraordinarily efficient plant decomposition in fungus-growing termites.IMPORTANCE Fungus-growing termites have a substantial ecological footprint in the Old World (sub)tropics due to their ability to decompose dead plant material. Through the establishment of an elaborate plant biomass inoculation strategy and through fungal and bacterial enzyme contributions, this farming symbiosis has become an efficient and versatile aerobic bioreactor for plant substrate conversion. Since little is known about what enzymes are expressed and where they are active at different stages of the decomposition process, we used enzyme assays, transcriptomics, and plant content measurements to shed light on how this decomposition of plant substrate is so effectively accomplished.}, } @article {pmid29267881, year = {2018}, author = {Britstein, M and Saurav, K and Teta, R and Sala, GD and Bar-Shalom, R and Stoppelli, N and Zoccarato, L and Costantino, V and Steindler, L}, title = {Identification and chemical characterization of N-acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing signals across sponge species and time.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix182}, pmid = {29267881}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Animals ; Humans ; Indian Ocean ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges form symbiotic relationships with complex microbial communities, yet little is known about the mechanisms by which these microbes regulate their behavior through gene expression. Many bacterial communities regulate gene expression using chemical signaling termed quorum sensing. While a few previous studies have shown presence of N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing in marine sponges, the chemical identity of AHL signals has been published for only two sponge species. In this study, we screened for AHLs in extracts from 15 sponge species (109 specimens in total) from the Mediterranean and Red Sea, using a wide-range AHL biosensor. This is the first time that AHL presence was examined over time in sponges. We detected the presence of AHL in 46% of the sponge species and found that AHL signals differ for certain sponge species in time and across sponge individuals. Furthermore, for the Mediterranean sponge species Sarcotragus fasciculatus, we identified 14 different AHLs. The constant presence of specific AHL molecules in all specimens, together with varying signaling molecules between the different specimens, makes Sa. fasciculatus a good model to further investigate the function of quorum sensing in sponge-associated bacteria. This study extends the knowledge of AHL-based quorum sensing in marine sponges.}, } @article {pmid29267424, year = {2017}, author = {Chapellon, S and Houssier, F}, title = {[Iron Man: Between Confusion of Identity and Addiction to Technology].}, journal = {Sante mentale au Quebec}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {245-261}, pmid = {29267424}, issn = {0383-6320}, mesh = {*Behavior, Addictive ; *Cartoons as Topic ; Humans ; Male ; Social Identification ; *Technology ; }, abstract = {The fascination surrounding a successful artwork is linked to the fact it faces the viewer to unknown aspects of his/her own psychic life. The same applies to the comics Iron Man. Behind the armour is hiding a man caught up in the traumatic incidences of life. The hero demonstrates a psychic weakness which, despite being deep, is, however, showing universal aspects.The analysis of his misfortunes reveals a narcissistic disorder. The article intends to set out the identity confusion the Marvel's protagonist is trapped in while highlighting the addictive troublesome linking him to his high-tech armour. This article also seeks to attest the fact the symbiosis between Tony Stark and Iron Man is anticipating the evolution of our behaviour with regard to new technologies.To this end, the authors are recalling the episodes of the series. Through the analysis of the confrontational dialogue the hero is maintaining with his iron armour, they explore how the internal experiment related to the sense of identity disorder is figured out. Thus, going through the key moments of the saga, the authors raise the ambiguity of his hero. The metapsychological analysis of the actions undertaken by Iron Man reflects a little-known facet of his personality, revealing a character more tormented than he really looks. However, the point is not to "treat" a fictional man, but to observe how he can help us to understand the internal behaviour of our patients, and also our own.The Faustian drama this comic leads to is hence understood as a living testimony of our own psychic conflicts. Furthermore, the analysis gives rise to a questioning as to the risk of identity confusion the technological progress can create at a time when the Human is more and more depending on the machines he creates himself.}, } @article {pmid29267254, year = {2017}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Acosta-Jurado, S and Del Cerro, P and Navarro-Gómez, P and López-Baena, FJ and Ollero, FJ and Vinardell, JM and Pérez-Montaño, F}, title = {Transcriptomic Studies of the Effect of nod Gene-Inducing Molecules in Rhizobia: Different Weapons, One Purpose.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29267254}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Simultaneous quantification of transcripts of the whole bacterial genome allows the analysis of the global transcriptional response under changing conditions. RNA-seq and microarrays are the most used techniques to measure these transcriptomic changes, and both complement each other in transcriptome profiling. In this review, we exhaustively compiled the symbiosis-related transcriptomic reports (microarrays and RNA sequencing) carried out hitherto in rhizobia. This review is specially focused on transcriptomic changes that takes place when five rhizobial species, Bradyrhizobium japonicum (=diazoefficiens) USDA 110, Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae 3841, Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, Sinorhizobium (=Ensifer) meliloti 1021 and S. fredii HH103, recognize inducing flavonoids, plant-exuded phenolic compounds that activate the biosynthesis and export of Nod factors (NF) in all analysed rhizobia. Interestingly, our global transcriptomic comparison also indicates that each rhizobial species possesses its own arsenal of molecular weapons accompanying the set of NF in order to establish a successful interaction with host legumes.}, } @article {pmid29267197, year = {2017}, author = {Leppyanen, IV and Shakhnazarova, VY and Shtark, OY and Vishnevskaya, NA and Tikhonovich, IA and Dolgikh, EA}, title = {Receptor-Like Kinase LYK9 in Pisum sativum L. Is the CERK1-Like Receptor that Controls Both Plant Immunity and AM Symbiosis Development.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29267197}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Fusarium/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; Peas/*immunology/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/immunology/microbiology ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants are able to discriminate and respond to structurally related chitooligosaccharide (CO) signals from pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. In model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa LysM-receptor like kinases (LysM-RLK) AtCERK1 and OsCERK1 (chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1) were shown to be involved in response to CO signals. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the pea Pisum sativum L. LysM-RLK PsLYK9 was chosen as a possible candidate given its role on the CERK1-like receptor. The knockdown regulation of the PsLyk9 gene by RNA interference led to increased susceptibility to fungal pathogen Fusarium culmorum. Transcript levels of PsPAL2, PsPR10 defense-response genes were significantly reduced in PsLyk9 RNAi roots. PsLYK9's involvement in recognizing short-chain COs as most numerous signals of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, was also evaluated. In transgenic roots with PsLyk9 knockdown treated with short-chain CO5, downregulation of AM symbiosis marker genes (PsDELLA3, PsNSP2, PsDWARF27) was observed. These results clearly indicate that PsLYK9 appears to be involved in the perception of COs and subsequent signal transduction in pea roots. It allows us to conclude that PsLYK9 is the most likely CERK1-like receptor in pea to be involved in the control of plant immunity and AM symbiosis formation.}, } @article {pmid29266341, year = {2018}, author = {Elgart, M and Soen, Y}, title = {Microbiome-Germline Interactions and Their Transgenerational Implications.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {e1700018}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201700018}, pmid = {29266341}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Germ Cells/*physiology ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {It is becoming increasingly clear that most, if not all, animals and plants are associated with a diverse array of resident gut microbiota. This symbiosis is regulated by host-microbiome interactions which influence the development, homeostasis, adaptation and evolution of the host. Recent evidence indicated that these interactions can also affect the host germline and have a potential of supporting transgenerational effects, including inheritance of acquired characteristics. Taken together, the influence of gut bacteria on the host soma and germline could potentially give rise to emergent phenotypes, which may be partially inherited by three distinguishable modes of transgenerational influence of gut bacteria: 1) "soma-to-soma" 2) "soma-to-germline" and 3) "soma-germline-soma". Here, we discuss these possibilities in light of evidence supporting bacterial-mediated modes of transgenerational inheritance.}, } @article {pmid29266296, year = {2018}, author = {Sharifi, R and Lee, SM and Ryu, CM}, title = {Microbe-induced plant volatiles.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {3}, pages = {684-691}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14955}, pmid = {29266296}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {Grant H-GUARD_2013M3A6B2078953//Ministry of Science and ICT/International ; PJ01093904//the Woo Jang-Choon Project of the Rural Development Administration (RDA)/International ; //KRIBB Initiative Program/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants emit a plethora of volatile organic compounds in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. These compounds act as infochemicals for ecological communication in the phytobiome. This study reviews the role of microbe-induced plant volatiles (MIPVs) in plant-microbe interactions. MIPVs are affected by the taxonomic position of the microbe, the identity of the plant and the type of interaction. Plants also emit exclusive blends of volatiles in response to nonhost and host interactions, as well as to beneficial microbes and necrotrophic/biotrophic pathogens. These MIPVs directly inhibit pathogen growth and indirectly promote resistance/susceptibility to subsequent plant pathogen attack. Viruses and phloem-limiting bacteria modify plant volatiles to attract insect vectors. Susceptible plants can respond to MIPVs from resistant plants and become resistant. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of MIPV synthesis in plants and how plant pathogen effectors manipulate their biosynthesis are discussed. This knowledge will help broaden our understanding of plant-microbe interactions and should facilitate the development of new emerging techniques for sustainable plant disease management.}, } @article {pmid29265527, year = {2018}, author = {Plett, JM and Martin, FM}, title = {Know your enemy, embrace your friend: using omics to understand how plants respond differently to pathogenic and mutualistic microorganisms.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {729-746}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13802}, pmid = {29265527}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; MicroRNAs/physiology ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/physiology ; Plants/genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Plant/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms, or 'microbes', have formed intimate associations with plants throughout the length of their evolutionary history. In extant plant systems microbes still remain an integral part of the ecological landscape, impacting plant health, productivity and long-term fitness. Therefore, to properly understand the genetic wiring of plants, we must first determine what perception systems plants have evolved to parse beneficial from commensal from pathogenic microbes. In this review, we consider some of the most recent advances in how plants respond at the molecular level to different microbial lifestyles. Further, we cover some of the means by which microbes are able to manipulate plant signaling pathways through altered destructiveness and nutrient sinks, as well as the use of effector proteins and micro-RNAs (miRNAs). We conclude by highlighting some of the major questions still to be answered in the field of plant-microbe research, and suggest some of the key areas that are in greatest need of further research investment. The results of these proposed studies will have impacts in a wide range of plant research disciplines and will, ultimately, translate into stronger agronomic crops and forestry stock, with immune perception and response systems bred to foster beneficial microbial symbioses while repudiating pathogenic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29265391, year = {2018}, author = {O'Callaghan, FJ}, title = {The essential symbiosis of academic and clinical neurology.}, journal = {Developmental medicine and child neurology}, volume = {60}, number = {1}, pages = {5}, doi = {10.1111/dmcn.13614}, pmid = {29265391}, issn = {1469-8749}, mesh = {*Academic Medical Centers ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; *Neurology ; *Pediatrics ; }, } @article {pmid29263277, year = {2017}, author = {Montano, S and Fattorini, S and Parravicini, V and Berumen, ML and Galli, P and Maggioni, D and Arrigoni, R and Seveso, D and Strona, G}, title = {Corals hosting symbiotic hydrozoans are less susceptible to predation and disease.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1869}, pages = {}, pmid = {29263277}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; *Disease Susceptibility ; *Food Chain ; Hydrozoa/*physiology ; Indian Ocean Islands ; Saudi Arabia ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In spite of growing evidence that climate change may dramatically affect networks of interacting species, whether-and to what extent-ecological interactions can mediate species' responses to disturbances is an open question. Here we show how a largely overseen association such as that between hydrozoans and scleractinian corals could be possibly associated with a reduction in coral susceptibility to ever-increasing predator and disease outbreaks. We examined 2455 scleractinian colonies (from both Maldivian and the Saudi Arabian coral reefs) searching for non-random patterns in the occurrence of hydrozoans on corals showing signs of different health conditions (i.e. bleaching, algal overgrowth, corallivory and different coral diseases). We show that, after accounting for geographical, ecological and co-evolutionary factors, signs of disease and corallivory are significantly lower in coral colonies hosting hydrozoans than in hydrozoan-free ones. This finding has important implications for our understanding of the ecology of coral reefs, and for their conservation in the current scenario of global change, because it suggests that symbiotic hydrozoans may play an active role in protecting their scleractinian hosts from stresses induced by warming water temperatures.}, } @article {pmid29263102, year = {2018}, author = {Zatakia, HM and Arapov, TD and Meier, VM and Scharf, BE}, title = {Cellular Stoichiometry of Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29263102}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacillus subtilis/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Chemotactic Factors ; Chemotaxis/*physiology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; Gene Deletion ; Histidine Kinase/analysis/*genetics ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins/analysis/chemistry/*genetics ; Movement ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*chemistry/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The chemosensory system in Sinorhizobium meliloti has several important deviations from the widely studied enterobacterial paradigm. To better understand the differences between the two systems and how they are optimally tuned, we determined the cellular stoichiometry of the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) and the histidine kinase CheA in S. meliloti Quantitative immunoblotting was used to determine the total amount of MCPs and CheA per cell in S. meliloti The MCPs are present in the cell in high abundance (McpV), low abundance (IcpA, McpU, McpX, and McpW), and very low abundance (McpY and McpZ), whereas McpT was below the detection limit. The approximate cellular ratio of these three receptor groups is 300:30:1. The chemoreceptor-to-CheA ratio is 23.5:1, highly similar to that seen in Bacillus subtilis (23:1) and about 10 times higher than that in Escherichia coli (3.4:1). Different from E. coli, the high-abundance receptors in S. meliloti are lacking the carboxy-terminal NWETF pentapeptide that binds the CheR methyltransferase and CheB methylesterase. Using transcriptional lacZ fusions, we showed that chemoreceptors are positively controlled by the master regulators of motility, VisNR and Rem. In addition, FlbT, a class IIA transcriptional regulator of flagellins, also positively regulates the expression of most chemoreceptors except for McpT and McpY, identifying chemoreceptors as class III genes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the chemosensory complex and the adaptation system in S. meliloti deviates significantly from the established enterobacterial paradigm but shares some similarities with B. subtilisIMPORTANCE The symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti is of great agricultural importance because of its nitrogen-fixing properties, which enhances growth of its plant symbiont, alfalfa. Chemotaxis provides a competitive advantage for bacteria to sense their environment and interact with their eukaryotic hosts. For a better understanding of the role of chemotaxis in these processes, detailed knowledge on the regulation and composition of the chemosensory machinery is essential. Here, we show that chemoreceptor gene expression in S. meliloti is controlled through the main transcriptional regulators of motility. Chemoreceptor abundance is much lower in S. meliloti than in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis Moreover, the chemoreceptor-to-kinase CheA ratio is different from that of E. coli but similar to that of B. subtilis.}, } @article {pmid29261780, year = {2017}, author = {Murata, M and Kanetani, S and Nara, K}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in endangered Pinus amamiana forests.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {e0189957}, pmid = {29261780}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biological Assay ; *Endangered Species ; *Forests ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Interactions between trees and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are critical for the growth and survival of both partners. However, ECM symbiosis in endangered trees has hardly been explored, complicating conservation efforts. Here, we evaluated resident ECM roots and soil spore banks of ECM fungi from endangered Pinus amamiana forests on Yakushima and Tanegashima Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Soil samples were collected from remaining four forests in the two islands. The resident ECM roots in soil samples were subjected to molecular identification. Soil spore banks of ECM fungi were analyzed via bioassays using a range of host seedlings (P. amamiana, P. parviflora, P. densiflora and Castanopsis sieboldii) for 6-8 months. In all remaining P. amamiana forests, we discovered a new Rhizopogon species (Rhizopogon sp.1), the sequence of which has no match amoung numerous Rhizopogon sequences deposited in the international sequence database. Host identification of the resident ECM roots confirmed that Rhizopogon sp.1 was associated only with P. amamiana. Rhizopogon sp.1 was far more dominant in soil spore banks than in resident ECM roots, and its presence was confirmed in nearly all soil samples examined across the major remaining populations. While Rhizopogon sp.1 did not completely lose compatibility to other pine species, its infection rate in the bioassays was highest in the original host, P. amamiana, the performance of which was improved by the infection. These results indicate that Rhizopogon sp.1 is very likely to have a close ecological relationship with endangered P. amamiana, probably due to a long co-evolutionary period on isolated islands, and to play the key role in seedling establishment after disturbance. We may need to identify and utilize such key ECM fungi to conserve endangered trees practically.}, } @article {pmid29261746, year = {2017}, author = {Pan, R and Xu, L and Wei, Q and Wu, C and Tang, W and Oelmüller, R and Zhang, W}, title = {Piriformospora indica promotes early flowering in Arabidopsis through regulation of the photoperiod and gibberellin pathways.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {e0189791}, pmid = {29261746}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Flowers/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gibberellins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; *Photoperiod ; Plant Development/drug effects/genetics ; Soil ; Time Factors ; Triazoles/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Flowering in plants is synchronized by both environmental cues and internal regulatory factors. Previous studies have shown that the endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica promotes the growth and early flowering in Coleus forskohlii (a medicinal plant) and Arabidopsis. To further dissect the impact of P. indica on pathways responsible for flowering time in Arabidopsis, we co-cultivated Arabidopsis with P. indica and used RT-qPCR to analyze the main gene regulation networks involved in flowering. Our results revealed that the symbiotic interaction of Arabidopsis with P. indica promotes early flower development and the number of siliques. In addition, expression of the core flowering regulatory gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), of genes controlling the photoperiod [CRYPTOCHROMES (CRY1, CRY2) and PHYTOCHROME B (PHYB)] and those related to gibberellin (GA) functions (RGA1, AGL24, GA3, and MYB5) were induced by the fungus, while key genes controlling the age and autonomous pathways remained unchanged. Moreover, early flowering promotion conferred by P. indica was promoted by exogenous GA and inhabited by GA inhibitor, and this effect could be observed under long day and neutral day photoperiod. Therefore, our data suggested that P. indica promotes early flowering in Arabidopsis likely through photoperiod and GA rather than age or the autonomous pathway.}, } @article {pmid29259165, year = {2017}, author = {Owen, CD and Tailford, LE and Monaco, S and Šuligoj, T and Vaux, L and Lallement, R and Khedri, Z and Yu, H and Lecointe, K and Walshaw, J and Tribolo, S and Horrex, M and Bell, A and Chen, X and Taylor, GL and Varki, A and Angulo, J and Juge, N}, title = {Unravelling the specificity and mechanism of sialic acid recognition by the gut symbiont Ruminococcus gnavus.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {2196}, pmid = {29259165}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {BBS/E/F/00044452/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/F016778/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P008895/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 GM032373/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD065122/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; BB/J004529/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Catalytic Domain/genetics ; Cell Line ; Colon/cytology/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Glycoproteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Goblet Cells/metabolism ; Humans ; Lactose/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mucins/*metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/*chemistry/metabolism ; Neuraminidase/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Ruminococcus/*enzymology ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ruminococcus gnavus is a human gut symbiont wherein the ability to degrade mucins is mediated by an intramolecular trans-sialidase (RgNanH). RgNanH comprises a GH33 catalytic domain and a sialic acid-binding carbohydrate-binding module (CBM40). Here we used glycan arrays, STD NMR, X-ray crystallography, mutagenesis and binding assays to determine the structure and function of RgNanH_CBM40 (RgCBM40). RgCBM40 displays the canonical CBM40 β-sandwich fold and broad specificity towards sialoglycans with millimolar binding affinity towards α2,3- or α2,6-sialyllactose. RgCBM40 binds to mucus produced by goblet cells and to purified mucins, providing direct evidence for a CBM40 as a novel bacterial mucus adhesin. Bioinformatics data show that RgCBM40 canonical type domains are widespread among Firmicutes. Furthermore, binding of R. gnavus ATCC 29149 to intestinal mucus is sialic acid mediated. Together, this study reveals novel features of CBMs which may contribute to the biogeography of symbiotic bacteria in the gut.}, } @article {pmid29258251, year = {2017}, author = {Nalepa, CA}, title = {What Kills the Hindgut Flagellates of Lower Termites during the Host Molting Cycle?.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29258251}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Subsocial wood feeding cockroaches in the genus Cryptocercus, the sister group of termites, retain their symbiotic gut flagellates during the host molting cycle, but in lower termites, closely related flagellates die prior to host ecdysis. Although the prevalent view is that termite flagellates die because of conditions of starvation and desiccation in the gut during the host molting cycle, the work of L.R. Cleveland in the 1930s through the 1960s provides a strong alternate hypothesis: it was the changed hormonal environment associated with the origin of eusociality and its concomitant shift in termite developmental ontogeny that instigates the death of the flagellates in termites. Although the research on termite gut microbial communities has exploded since the advent of modern molecular techniques, the role of the host hormonal environment on the life cycle of its gut flagellates has been neglected. Here Cleveland's studies are revisited to provide a basis for re-examination of the problem, and the results framed in the context of two alternate hypotheses: the flagellate symbionts are victims of the change in host social status, or the flagellates have become incorporated into the life cycle of the eusocial termite colony. Recent work on parasitic protists suggests clear paths for exploring these hypotheses and for resolving long standing issues regarding sexual-encystment cycles in flagellates of the Cryptocercus-termite lineage using molecular methodologies, bringing the problem into the modern era.}, } @article {pmid29257089, year = {2017}, author = {Poff, KE and Stever, H and Reil, JB and Seabourn, P and Ching, AJ and Aoki, S and Logan, M and Michalski, JR and Santamaria, J and Adams, JW and Eiben, JA and Yew, JY and Ewing, CP and Magnacca, KN and Bennett, GM}, title = {The Native Hawaiian Insect Microbiome Initiative: A Critical Perspective for Hawaiian Insect Evolution.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29257089}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Insects associate with a diversity of microbes that can shape host ecology and diversity by providing essential biological and adaptive services. For most insect groups, the evolutionary implications of host-microbe interactions remain poorly understood. Geographically discrete areas with high biodiversity offer powerful, simplified model systems to better understand insect-microbe interactions. Hawaii boasts a diverse endemic insect fauna (~6000 species) characterized by spectacular adaptive radiations. Despite this, little is known about the role of bacteria in shaping this diversity. To address this knowledge gap, we inaugurate the Native Hawaiian Insect Microbiome Initiative (NHIMI). The NHIMI is an effort intended to develop a framework for informing evolutionary and biological studies in Hawaii. To initiate this effort, we have sequenced the bacterial microbiomes of thirteen species representing iconic, endemic Hawaiian insect groups. Our results show that native Hawaiian insects associate with a diversity of bacteria that exhibit a wide phylogenetic breadth. Several groups show predictable associations with obligate microbes that permit diet specialization. Others exhibit unique ecological transitions that are correlated with shifts in their microbiomes (e.g., transition to carrion feeding from plant-feeding in Nysius wekiuicola). Finally, some groups, such as the Hawaiian Drosophila, have relatively diverse microbiomes with a conserved core of bacterial taxa across multiple species and islands.}, } @article {pmid29257077, year = {2017}, author = {Santi, C and Molesini, B and Guzzo, F and Pii, Y and Vitulo, N and Pandolfini, T}, title = {Genome-Wide Transcriptional Changes and Lipid Profile Modifications Induced by Medicago truncatula N5 Overexpression at an Early Stage of the Symbiotic Interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29257077}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Plant lipid-transfer proteins (LTPs) are small basic secreted proteins, which are characterized by lipid-binding capacity and are putatively involved in lipid trafficking. LTPs play a role in several biological processes, including the root nodule symbiosis. In this regard, the Medicago truncatula nodulin 5 (MtN5) LTP has been proved to positively regulate the nodulation capacity, controlling rhizobial infection and nodule primordia invasion. To better define the lipid transfer protein MtN5 function during the symbiosis, we produced MtN5-downregulated and -overexpressing plants, and we analysed the transcriptomic changes occurring in the roots at an early stage of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection. We also carried out the lipid profile analysis of wild type (WT) and MtN5-overexpressing roots after rhizobia infection. The downregulation of MtN5 increased the root hair curling, an early event of rhizobia infection, and concomitantly induced changes in the expression of defence-related genes. On the other hand, MtN5 overexpression favoured the invasion of the nodules by rhizobia and determined in the roots the modulation of genes that are involved in lipid transport and metabolism as well as an increased content of lipids, especially galactolipids that characterize the symbiosome membranes. Our findings suggest the potential participation of LTPs in the synthesis and rearrangement of membranes occurring during the formation of the infection threads and the symbiosome membrane.}, } @article {pmid29255647, year = {2017}, author = {Yorifuji, M and Harii, S and Nakamura, R and Fudo, M}, title = {Shift of symbiont communities in Acropora tenuis juveniles under heat stress.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e4055}, pmid = {29255647}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Ocean warming is a major threat to coral reefs, leading to an increasing frequency and amplitude of coral bleaching events, where the coral and its algal symbiont associations breakdown. Long-term change and resilience of a symbiont community in coral juveniles is thought to be one of the most important aspects for determining thermal tolerance of the coral holobionts; however, despite its importance, they are not well documented in both under elevated temperature and even under natural condition. Here we investigated changes in symbiont communities in juveniles of the coral Acropora tenuis under controlled heat stress conditions (30 °C, 31/32 °C) and natural variations in seawater temperatures (19-30 °C) for up to four months. Compared with the ambient temperature conditions, coral survival rates were higher when exposed to 30 °C, but survival rates decreased when exposed to 31/32 °C. Symbiodinium types A3, C1, and D1-4 were detected in the juveniles under all thermal conditions; however, in higher water temperatures (31/32 °C), both the prevalence of D1-4 Symbiodinium and the number of juveniles harboring only this type of symbiont increased after two to four months later. In contrast, colonies at lower temperatures (30 °C and ambient) harbored multiple clades of symbionts over the same experimental period. These results highlight the flexibility of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis for juvenile A. tenuis under variable thermal conditions. In particular, the benefit of the preferential association with type D1-4 can be considered as a response when under heat-stress conditions, and that could help corals to cope with ocean warming.}, } @article {pmid29255570, year = {2017}, author = {Nagymihály, M and Vásarhelyi, BM and Barrière, Q and Chong, TM and Bálint, B and Bihari, P and Hong, KW and Horváth, B and Ibijbijen, J and Amar, M and Farkas, A and Kondorosi, É and Chan, KG and Gruber, V and Ratet, P and Mergaert, P and Kereszt, A}, title = {The complete genome sequence of Ensifer meliloti strain CCMM B554 (FSM-MA), a highly effective nitrogen-fixing microsymbiont of Medicago truncatula Gaertn.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {75}, pmid = {29255570}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Strain CCMM B554, also known as FSM-MA, is a soil dwelling and nodule forming, nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the nodules of the legume Medicago arborea L. in the Maamora Forest, Morocco. The strain forms effective nitrogen fixing nodules on species of the Medicago, Melilotus and Trigonella genera and is exceptional because it is a highly effective symbiotic partner of the two most widely used accessions, A17 and R108, of the model legume Medicago truncatula Gaertn. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, multilocus sequence and average nucleotide identity analyses, FSM-MA is identified as a new Ensifer meliloti strain. The genome is 6,70 Mbp and is comprised of the chromosome (3,64 Mbp) harboring 3574 predicted genes and two megaplasmids, pSymA (1,42 Mbp) and pSymB (1,64 Mbp) with respectively 1481 and 1595 predicted genes. The average GC content of the genome is 61.93%. The FSM-MA genome structure is highly similar and co-linear to other E. meliloti strains in the chromosome and the pSymB megaplasmid while, in contrast, it shows high variability in the pSymA plasmid. The large number of strain-specific sequences in pSymA as well as strain-specific genes on pSymB involved in the biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide and capsular polysaccharide surface polysaccharides may encode novel symbiotic functions explaining the high symbiotic performance of FSM-MA.}, } @article {pmid29254967, year = {2018}, author = {Mills, BJW and Batterman, SA and Field, KJ}, title = {Nutrient acquisition by symbiotic fungi governs Palaeozoic climate transition.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {373}, number = {1739}, pages = {}, pmid = {29254967}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Atmosphere ; *Biological Evolution ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Embryophyta/*physiology ; Fossils ; Fungi/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fossil evidence from the Rhynie chert indicates that early land plants, which evolved in a high-CO2 atmosphere during the Palaeozoic Era, hosted diverse fungal symbionts. It is hypothesized that the rise of early non-vascular land plants, and the later evolution of roots and vasculature, drove the long-term shift towards a high-oxygen, low CO2 climate that eventually permitted the evolution of mammals and, ultimately, humans. However, very little is known about the productivity of the early terrestrial biosphere, which depended on the acquisition of the limiting nutrient phosphorus via fungal symbiosis. Recent laboratory experiments have shown that plant-fungal symbiotic function is specific to fungal identity, with carbon-for-phosphorus exchange being either enhanced or suppressed under superambient CO2 By incorporating these experimental findings into a biogeochemical model, we show that the differences in these symbiotic nutrient acquisition strategies could greatly alter the plant-driven changes to climate, allowing drawdown of CO2 to glacial levels, and altering the nature of the rise of oxygen. We conclude that an accurate depiction of plant-fungal symbiotic systems, informed by high-CO2 experiments, is key to resolving the question of how the first terrestrial ecosystems altered our planet.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited'.}, } @article {pmid29254965, year = {2018}, author = {Krings, M and Harper, CJ and Taylor, EL}, title = {Fungi and fungal interactions in the Rhynie chert: a review of the evidence, with the description of Perexiflasca tayloriana gen. et sp. nov.[†].}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {373}, number = {1739}, pages = {}, pmid = {29254965}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Chytridiomycota/classification/cytology/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Embryophyta/*microbiology ; *Fossils/anatomy & histology ; Fungi/*classification/cytology/*physiology ; Scotland ; }, abstract = {The Lower Devonian Rhynie chert is one of the most important rock deposits yielding comprehensive information on early continental plant, animal and microbial life. Fungi are especially abundant among the microbial remains, and include representatives of all major fungal lineages except Basidiomycota. This paper surveys the evidence assembled to date of fungal hyphae, mycelial cords and reproductive units (e.g. spores, sporangia, sporocarps), and presents examples of fungal associations and interactions with land plants, other fungi, algae, cyanobacteria and animals from the Rhynie chert. Moreover, a small, chytrid-like organism that occurs singly, in chain-like, linear arrangements, planar assemblages and three-dimensional aggregates of less than 10 to [Formula: see text] individuals in degrading land plant tissue in the Rhynie chert is formally described, and the name Perexiflasca tayloriana proposed for the organism. Perexiflasca tayloriana probably colonized senescent or atrophied plant parts and participated in the process of biological degradation. The fungal fossils described to date from the Rhynie chert constitute the largest body of structurally preserved evidence of fungi and fungal interactions from any rock deposit, and strongly suggest that fungi played important roles in the functioning of the Early Devonian Rhynie ecosystem.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The Rhynie cherts: our earliest terrestrial ecosystem revisited'.}, } @article {pmid29254054, year = {2018}, author = {Jofré, E and Liaudat, JP and Medeot, D and Becker, A}, title = {Monitoring succinoglycan production in single Sinorhizobium meliloti cells by Calcofluor white M2R staining and time-lapse microscopy.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {918-922}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.11.059}, pmid = {29254054}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Benzenesulfonates/*metabolism ; Microscopy/*methods ; Phenotype ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*cytology/*metabolism ; *Staining and Labeling ; Time-Lapse Imaging/*methods ; }, abstract = {Here, we describe a simple, non-time consuming and inexpensive method for monitoring of Calcofluor white M2R-binding exopolysaccharides in individual bacterial cells. This method was demonstrated by time-lapse microscopy of succinoglycan-producing cells of the plant-symbiotic alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. The method is most likely applicable to other bacteria producing β-(1→3) and β-(1→4) linked polysaccharides.}, } @article {pmid29253188, year = {2018}, author = {Jia, KP and Baz, L and Al-Babili, S}, title = {From carotenoids to strigolactones.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {9}, pages = {2189-2204}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erx476}, pmid = {29253188}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Plants/enzymology/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are phytohormones that regulate various plant developmental and adaptation processes. When released into soil, strigolactones act as chemical signals, attracting symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and inducing seed germination in root-parasitic weeds. Strigolactones are carotenoid derivatives, characterized by the presence of a butenolide ring that is connected by an enol ether bridge to a less conserved second moiety. Carotenoids are isopenoid pigments that differ in structure, number of conjugated double bonds, and stereoconfiguration. Genetic analysis and enzymatic studies have demonstrated that strigolactones originate from all-trans-β-carotene in a pathway that involves the all-trans-/9-cis-β-carotene isomerase DWARF27 and carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 7 and 8 (CCD7, 8). The CCD7-mediated, regiospecific and stereospecific double-bond cleavage of 9-cis-β-carotene leads to a 9-cis-configured intermediate that is converted by CCD8 via a combination of reactions into the central metabolite carlactone. By catalyzing repeated oxygenation reactions that can be coupled to ring closure, CYP711 enzymes convert carlactone into tricyclic-ring-containing canonical and non-canonical strigolactones. Modifying enzymes, which are mostly unknown, further increase the diversity of strigolactones. This review explores carotenogenesis, provides an update on strigolactone biosynthesis, with emphasis on the substrate specificity and reactions catalyzed by the different enzymes, and describes the regulation of the biosynthetic pathway.}, } @article {pmid29251611, year = {2017}, author = {Starikova, EV and Prianichnikov, NA and Zdobnov, E and Govorun, VM}, title = {[Bioinformatics analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes and prophages colocalized in human gut metagenomes].}, journal = {Biomeditsinskaia khimiia}, volume = {63}, number = {6}, pages = {508-512}, doi = {10.18097/PBMC20176306508}, pmid = {29251611}, issn = {2310-6972}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; *Computational Biology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Prophages/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The constant increase of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria is caused by extensive uses of antibiotics in medicine and animal breeding. It was suggested that the gut microbiota serves as a reservoir for antibiotics resistance genes that can be carried from symbiotic bacteria to pathogenic ones, in particular, as a result of transduction. In the current study, we have searched for antibiotics resistance genes that are located inside prophages in human gut microbiota using PHASTER prophage predicting tool and CARD antibiotics resistance database. After analysing metagenomic assemblies of eight samples of antibiotic treated patients, lsaE, mdfA and cpxR/cpxA genes were identified inside prophages. The abovementioned genes confer resistance to antimicrobial peptides, pleuromutilin, lincomycins, streptogramins and multidrug resistance. Three (0.46%) of 659 putative prophages predicted in metagenomic assemblies contained antibiotics resistance genes in their sequences.}, } @article {pmid29250734, year = {2018}, author = {Martín-Vivaldi, M and Soler, JJ and Martínez-García, Á and Arco, L and Juárez-García-Pelayo, N and Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Martínez-Bueno, M}, title = {Acquisition of Uropygial Gland Microbiome by Hoopoe Nestlings.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {76}, number = {1}, pages = {285-297}, pmid = {29250734}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Load ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Biological Coevolution ; Birds/*microbiology/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Exocrine Glands/*microbiology ; Female ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Molecular Typing ; Nesting Behavior/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses between animals and bacteria depend on acquisition of appropriate symbionts while avoiding exploitation by non-beneficial microbes. The mode of acquisition of symbionts would determine, not only the probability of encountering but also evolutionary outcomes of mutualistic counterparts. The microbiome inhabiting the uropygial gland of the European hoopoe (Upupa epops) includes a variety of bacterial strains, some of them providing antimicrobial benefits. Here, the mode of acquisition and stability of this microbiome is analyzed by means of Automated rRNA Intergenic Spacer Analysis and two different experiments. The first experiment impeded mothers' access to their glands, thus avoiding direct transmission of microorganisms from female to offspring secretions. The second experiment explored the stability of the microbiomes by inoculating glands with secretions from alien nests. The first experiment provoked a reduction in similarity of microbiomes of mother and nestlings. Interestingly, some bacterial strains were more often detected when females had not access to their glands, suggesting antagonistic effects among bacteria from different sources. The second experiment caused an increase in richness of the microbiome of receivers in terms of prevalence of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) that reduced differences in microbiomes of donors and receivers. That occurred because OTUs that were present in donors but not in receivers incorporated to the microbiome of the latter, which provoked that cross-inoculated nestlings got similar final microbiomes that included the most prevalent OTUs. The results are therefore consistent with a central role of vertical transmission in bacterial acquisition by nestling hoopoes and support the idea that the typical composition of the hoopoe gland microbiome is reached by the incorporation of some bacteria during the nestling period. This scenario suggests the existence of a coevolved core microbiome composed by a mix of specialized vertically transmitted strains and facultative symbionts able to coexist with them. The implications of this mixed mode of transmission for the evolution of the mutualism are discussed.}, } @article {pmid29250466, year = {2017}, author = {Šochová, E and Husník, F and Nováková, E and Halajian, A and Hypša, V}, title = {Arsenophonus and Sodalis replacements shape evolution of symbiosis in louse flies.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e4099}, pmid = {29250466}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between insects and bacteria are ubiquitous and form a continuum from loose facultative symbiosis to greatly intimate and stable obligate symbiosis. In blood-sucking insects living exclusively on vertebrate blood, obligate endosymbionts are essential for hosts and hypothesized to supplement B-vitamins and cofactors missing from their blood diet. The role and distribution of facultative endosymbionts and their evolutionary significance as seeds of obligate symbioses are much less understood. Here, using phylogenetic approaches, we focus on the Hippoboscidae phylogeny as well as the stability and dynamics of obligate symbioses within this bloodsucking group. In particular, we demonstrate a new potentially obligate lineage of Sodalis co-evolving with the Olfersini subclade of Hippoboscidae. We also show several likely facultative Sodalis lineages closely related to Sodalis praecaptivus (HS strain) and suggest repeated acquisition of novel symbionts from the environment. Similar to Sodalis, Arsenophonus endosymbionts also form both obligate endosymbiotic lineages co-evolving with their hosts (Ornithomyini and Ornithoica groups) as well as possibly facultative infections incongruent with the Hippoboscidae phylogeny. Finally, we reveal substantial diversity of Wolbachia strains detected in Hippoboscidae samples falling into three supergroups: A, B, and the most common F. Altogether, our results prove the associations between Hippoboscoidea and their symbiotic bacteria to undergo surprisingly dynamic, yet selective, evolutionary processes strongly shaped by repeated endosymbiont replacements. Interestingly, obligate symbionts only originate from two endosymbiont genera, Arsenophonus and Sodalis, suggesting that the host is either highly selective about its future obligate symbionts or that these two lineages are the most competitive when establishing symbioses in louse flies.}, } @article {pmid29250100, year = {2017}, author = {Kamel, L and Tang, N and Malbreil, M and San Clemente, H and Le Marquer, M and Roux, C and Frei Dit Frey, N}, title = {Corrigendum: The Comparison of Expressed Candidate Secreted Proteins from Two Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Unravels Common and Specific Molecular Tools to Invade Different Host Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2065}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2017.02065}, pmid = {29250100}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article on p. 124 in vol. 8, PMID: 28223991.].}, } @article {pmid29248819, year = {2018}, author = {Searcy, DG}, title = {Elemental sulfur reduction to H2S by Tetrahymena thermophila.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {56-68}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2017.11.004}, pmid = {29248819}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Hydrogen Sulfide/chemistry ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sulfur/chemistry/*metabolism ; Tetrahymena thermophila/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic nucleocytoplasm is believed to be descended from ancient Archaea that respired on elemental sulfur. If so, a vestige of sulfur reduction might persist in modern eukaryotic cells. That was tested in Tetrahymena thermophila, chosen as a model organism. When oxygenated, the cells consumed H2S rapidly, but when made anoxic they produced H2S mostly by amino acid catabolism. That could be inhibited by adding aminooxyacetic acid, and then H2S production from elemental sulfur became more evident. Anoxic cell lysates produced H2S when provided with sulfur and NADH, but not with either substrate alone. When lysates were fractionated by centrifugation, NADH-dependent H2S production was 83% in the soluble fraction. When intact cells that had just previously oxidized H2S were shifted to anoxia, the cells produced H2S evidently by re-using the oxidized sulfur. After aerobic H2S oxidation was stopped, the oxidation product remained available for H2S production for about 10 min. The observed H2S production is consistent with an evolutionary relationship of nucleocytoplasm to sulfur-reducing Archaea. Mitochondria often are the cellular site of H2S oxidation, suggesting that eukaryotic cells might have evolved from an ancient symbiosis that was based upon sulfur exchange.}, } @article {pmid29248135, year = {2017}, author = {Lipstein, MR and Pal, I and Bates, SE and Deng, C}, title = {Metabolic symbiosis in cancer and its therapeutic implication.}, journal = {Seminars in oncology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {233-234}, doi = {10.1053/j.seminoncol.2017.09.001}, pmid = {29248135}, issn = {1532-8708}, mesh = {*Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/therapy ; }, } @article {pmid29247916, year = {2018}, author = {Derakhshan, Z and Mahvi, AH and Ehrampoush, MH and Mazloomi, SM and Faramarzian, M and Dehghani, M and Yousefinejad, S and Ghaneian, MT and Abtahi, SM}, title = {Studies on influence of process parameters on simultaneous biodegradation of atrazine and nutrients in aquatic environments by a membrane photobioreactor.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {161}, number = {}, pages = {599-608}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2017.11.045}, pmid = {29247916}, issn = {1096-0953}, mesh = {*Atrazine ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Nutrients ; *Photobioreactors ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {A Lab scale algal-bacterial membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) was designed and operated under 12-h light and 12-h dark conditions with a light intensity of 8000lx, in order to investigate the effects of initial concentrations of atrazine, carbon concentration, and hydraulic retention time on the ability of this photobioreactor in simultaneous removal of atrazine and nutrients in the continuous mode. The removal efficiencies of atrazine (ATZ), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphorus (PO4[3-]-P) and nitrogen (NOx) in optimum condition was more than 95%, 99%, 98% and 97% when the maximum removal rates were 9.5 × 10[-3], 99.231, 11.773 and 7.762mg/L-day, respectively. Results showed that the quality of the effluent was reduced by the increase of atrazine concentration. The outcomes on the hydraulic and toxic shocks indicated that the system has a relatively good resistance to the shocks and can return to the stable conditions. Microalgae showed a great deal of interest and capability in cultivating and attaching to the surface of the membrane and bioreactor, and the total biomass accumulated in the system was greater than 6g/L. The kinetic coefficients of atrazine removal were also studied using various kinetic models. The maximum atrazine removal rate was determined by the modified Stover-Kincannon model. The results approved the ability of the MPBR reactor in wastewater treatment and microalgae cultivation and growth. The decline of atrazine concentration in this system could be attributed to the algal-bacterial symbiosis and co-metabolism process. Accordingly, the MPBR reactor is a practical, simple, economical and therefore suitable process for simultaneous biodegradation of chlorinated organic compounds and nutrients removal from aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid29247058, year = {2018}, author = {Ben Tekaya, S and Guerra, T and Rodriguez, D and Dawson, JO and Hahn, D}, title = {Frankia Diversity in Host Plant Root Nodules Is Independent of Abundance or Relative Diversity of Frankia Populations in Corresponding Rhizosphere Soils.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {29247058}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Betulaceae/*microbiology ; Elaeagnaceae/*microbiology ; Fagales/*microbiology ; Frankia/*classification/physiology ; Microbiota ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal plants form nitrogen-fixing root nodules in symbiosis with soil-dwelling actinobacteria within the genus Frankia, and specific Frankia taxonomic clusters nodulate plants in corresponding host infection groups. In same-soil microcosms, we observed that some host species were nodulated (Alnus glutinosa, Alnus cordata, Shepherdia argentea, Casuarina equisetifolia) while others were not (Alnus viridis, Hippophaë rhamnoides). Nodule populations were represented by eight different sequences of nifH gene fragments. Two of these sequences characterized frankiae in S. argentea nodules, and three others characterized frankiae in A. glutinosa nodules. Frankiae in A. cordata nodules were represented by five sequences, one of which was also found in nodules from A. glutinosa and C. equisetifolia, while another was detected in nodules from A. glutinosa Quantitative PCR assays showed that vegetation generally increased the abundance of frankiae in soil, independently of the target gene (i.e., nifH or the 23S rRNA gene). Targeted Illumina sequencing of Frankia-specific nifH gene fragments detected 24 unique sequences from rhizosphere soils, 4 of which were also found in nodules, while the remaining 4 sequences in nodules were not found in soils. Seven of the 24 sequences from soils represented >90% of the reads obtained in most samples; the 2 most abundant sequences from soils were not found in root nodules, and only 2 of the sequences from soils were detected in nodules. These results demonstrate large differences between detectable Frankia populations in soil and those in root nodules, suggesting that root nodule formation is not a function of the abundance or relative diversity of specific Frankia populations in soils.IMPORTANCE The nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium Frankia forms root nodules on actinorhizal plants, with members of specific Frankia taxonomic clusters nodulating plants in corresponding host infection groups. We assessed Frankia diversity in root nodules of different host plant species, and we related specific populations to the abundance and relative distribution of indigenous frankiae in rhizosphere soils. Large differences were observed between detectable Frankia populations in soil and those in root nodules, suggesting that root nodule formation is not a function of the abundance or relative diversity of specific Frankia populations in soils but rather results from plants potentially selecting frankiae from the soil for root nodule formation. These data also highlight the necessity of using a combination of different assessment tools so as to adequately address methodological constraints that could produce contradictory data sets.}, } @article {pmid29246876, year = {2018}, author = {Porayath, C and Salim, A and Palillam Veedu, A and Babu, P and Nair, B and Madhavan, A and Pal, S}, title = {Characterization of the bacteriophages binding to human matrix molecules.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {110}, number = {}, pages = {608-615}, pmid = {29246876}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Bacteriophages/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colon/*metabolism/*virology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism/*virology ; Escherichia coli Infections/metabolism/therapy/virology ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/*metabolism ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Recent literature has suggested a novel symbiotic relationship between bacteriophage and metazoan host that provides antimicrobial defense protecting mucosal surface by binding to host matrix mucin glycoproteins. Here, we isolated and studied different bacteriophages that specifically interact with human extracellular matrix molecules such as fibronectin, gelatin, heparin and demonstrated their potency for protection to host against microbial infections. We showed that subpopulations of bacteriophages that work against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli can bind to pure gelatin, fibronectin and heparin and reduced bacterial load in human colon cell line HT29. The bacteriophages were characterized with respect to their genome sizes, melting curve patterns and host tropism (cross-reactivity with different hosts). Since, the bacteriophages are non-toxic to the host and can effectively reduce bacterial load in HT29 cell line their therapeutic potency against bacterial infection could be explored.}, } @article {pmid29245712, year = {2017}, author = {Bernardi, LFO and Wohltmann, A and Lorenzon, IM and Ferreira, RL}, title = {A novel symbiotic relationship between mites and recluse spiders (Sicariidae: Loxosceles), with a description of a new Callidosoma species (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4338}, number = {3}, pages = {459-474}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4338.3.3}, pmid = {29245712}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Aggression ; Animals ; Brazil ; Caves ; *Mites ; *Spiders ; }, abstract = {This study reports a symbiotic association between an unknown species of Loxosceles (Araneae: Sicariidae) and the adults of a new species of parasitengone mite that lives on their web in Brazilian caves. This mite is described as Callidosoma cassiculophylla sp. nov. (Parasitengona: Erythraeidae). The symbiotic association is clearly beneficial for the mite, which lives with the spider, and feeds on prey captured by their webs, without any aggressive behavior or expulsion of the mites by the spiders.}, } @article {pmid29245413, year = {2017}, author = {Borges, CC and Neves, EG and Johnsson, R}, title = {A new Setacheres (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Asterocheridae) associated with Ircinia felix (Duchassaing & Michelotti) (Porifera) from Brazil.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4363}, number = {1}, pages = {129-136}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4363.1.6}, pmid = {29245413}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; *Copepoda ; Porifera ; }, abstract = {Recent surveys of the copepod fauna associated with the sponge Ircinia felix (Porifera, Dictyoceratida) in Brazil resulted in the discovery of a new siphonostomatoid species belonging to a recently erected genus of Asterocheridae. Setacheres portobarrensis sp. nov. possesses a 21-segmented antennule, with 3 free distal segments, after the aesthetasc. The third exopodal segment of leg 3 shows a distal seta instead of a spine as in some other congeners. The new species shows several unique features on the third endopodal segment of the antenna, the mandibular stylet, the inner lobe of the maxillule, and setules and spinules located in specific regions of legs 1 to 4. Setacheres portobarrensis sp. nov. follows the same distributional pattern as its congeners, and this is the first record of a siphonostomatoid copepod associated with Ircinia felix.}, } @article {pmid29245406, year = {2017}, author = {Šobáňová, A and Lin, CW and Ďuriš, Z}, title = {Periclimenoides tyrannodentatus, a new species of symbiotic shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Taiwan.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4363}, number = {2}, pages = {281-290}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4363.2.7}, pmid = {29245406}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures ; Animals ; Decapoda ; *Palaemonidae ; Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {A new species of sponge-endosymbiotic shrimps, Periclimenoides tyrannodentatus, is described and illustrated. The species is remarkable for its stout subspatulate first pereiopods chelae with lateral fan-shaped pectination on their dactyli. Due to this character and simple ambulatory dactyli, the new species is similar to the type species of the genus, P. odontodactylus. Another remarkable character is in the unique shape of the minor chela of the second pereiopods; the distal cutting edges of its compressed fingers are distinctly expanded and armed with quite impressive dentitions. An identification key to the three currently recognised species of the genus Periclimenoides is provided. The new species represents the first record of the genus Periclimenoides from Taiwan.}, } @article {pmid29245010, year = {2017}, author = {Kundu, P and Blacher, E and Elinav, E and Pettersson, S}, title = {Our Gut Microbiome: The Evolving Inner Self.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {171}, number = {7}, pages = {1481-1493}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2017.11.024}, pmid = {29245010}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {Aging ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*growth & development/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Organ Specificity ; Puberty ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The "holobiont" concept, defined as the collective contribution of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic counterparts to the multicellular organism, introduces a complex definition of individuality enabling a new comprehensive view of human evolution and personalized characteristics. Here, we provide snapshots of the evolving microbial-host associations and relations during distinct milestones across the lifespan of a human being. We discuss the current knowledge of biological symbiosis between the microbiome and its host and portray the challenges in understanding these interactions and their potential effects on human physiology, including microbiome-nervous system inter-relationship and its relevance to human variation and individuality.}, } @article {pmid29244767, year = {2017}, author = {Rachwał, K and Lipa, P and Wojda, I and Vinardell, JM and Janczarek, M}, title = {Regulatory Elements Located in the Upstream Region of the Rhizobium leguminosarum rosR Global Regulator Are Essential for Its Transcription and mRNA Stability.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29244767}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil bacterium capable of establishing a symbiotic relationship with clover (Trifolium spp.). Previously, the rosR gene, encoding a global regulatory protein involved in motility, synthesis of cell-surface components, and other cellular processes was identified and characterized in this bacterium. This gene possesses a long upstream region that contains several regulatory motifs, including inverted repeats (IRs) of different lengths. So far, the role of these motifs in the regulation of rosR transcription has not been elucidated in detail. In this study, we performed a functional analysis of these motifs using a set of transcriptional rosR-lacZ fusions that contain mutations in these regions. The levels of rosR transcription for different mutant variants were evaluated in R. leguminosarum using both quantitative real-time PCR and β-galactosidase activity assays. Moreover, the stability of wild type rosR transcripts and those with mutations in the regulatory motifs was determined using an RNA decay assay and plasmids with mutations in different IRs located in the 5'-untranslated region of the gene. The results show that transcription of rosR undergoes complex regulation, in which several regulatory elements located in the upstream region and some regulatory proteins are engaged. These include an upstream regulatory element, an extension of the -10 element containing three nucleotides TGn (TGn-extended -10 element), several IRs, and PraR repressor related to quorum sensing.}, } @article {pmid29244728, year = {2017}, author = {Lardi, M and Liu, Y and Purtschert, G and Bolzan de Campos, S and Pessi, G}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis of Paraburkholderia phymatum under Nitrogen Starvation and during Symbiosis with Phaseolus Vulgaris.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29244728}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum belongs to the β-subclass of proteobacteria. It has recently been shown to be able to nodulate and fix nitrogen in symbiosis with several mimosoid and papilionoid legumes. In contrast to the symbiosis of legumes with α-proteobacteria, very little is known about the molecular determinants underlying the successful establishment of this mutualistic relationship with β-proteobacteria. In this study, we performed an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of free-living P. phymatum growing under nitrogen-replete and -limited conditions, the latter partially mimicking the situation in nitrogen-deprived soils. Among the genes upregulated under nitrogen limitation, we found genes involved in exopolysaccharides production and in motility, two traits relevant for plant root infection. Next, RNA-seq data of P. phymatum grown under free-living conditions and from symbiotic root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) were generated and compared. Among the genes highly upregulated during symbiosis, we identified-besides the nif gene cluster-an operon encoding a potential cytochrome o ubiquinol oxidase (Bphy_3646-49). Bean root nodules induced by a cyoB mutant strain showed reduced nitrogenase and nitrogen fixation abilities, suggesting an important role of the cytochrome for respiration inside the nodule. The analysis of mutant strains for the RNA polymerase transcription factor RpoN (σ[54]) and its activator NifA indicated that-similar to the situation in α-rhizobia-P. phymatum RpoN and NifA are key regulators during symbiosis with P. vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid29243889, year = {2018}, author = {McCormick, S}, title = {Rhizobial strain-dependent restriction of nitrogen fixation in a legume-Rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {93}, number = {1}, pages = {3-4}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13791}, pmid = {29243889}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Fabaceae ; *Lotus ; Mesorhizobium ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid29242567, year = {2017}, author = {Guizzo, MG and Parizi, LF and Nunes, RD and Schama, R and Albano, RM and Tirloni, L and Oldiges, DP and Vieira, RP and Oliveira, WHC and Leite, MS and Gonzales, SA and Farber, M and Martins, O and Vaz, IDS and Oliveira, PL}, title = {A Coxiella mutualist symbiont is essential to the development of Rhipicephalus microplus.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {17554}, pmid = {29242567}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Coxiella/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Larva/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Nymph/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Ovum/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhipicephalus/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a hematophagous ectoparasite that causes important economic losses in livestock. Different species of ticks harbor a symbiont bacterium of the genus Coxiella. It was showed that a Coxiella endosymbiont from R. microplus (CERM) is a vertically transmitted mutualist symbiont, comprising 98% of the 16S rRNA sequences in both eggs and larvae. Sequencing of the bacterial genome revealed genes for biosynthetic pathways for several vitamins and key metabolic cofactors that may provide a nutritional complement to the tick host. The CERM was abundant in ovary and Malpighian tubule of fully engorged female. Tetracycline treatment of either the tick or the vertebrate host reduced levels of bacteria in progeny in 74% for eggs and 90% for larvae without major impact neither on the reproductive fitness of the adult female or on embryo development. However, CERM proved to be essential for the tick to reach the adult life stage, as under antibiotic treatment no tick was able to progress beyond the metanymph stage. Data presented here suggest that interference in the symbiotic CERM-R. microplus relationship may be useful to the development of alternative control methods, highlighting the interdependence between ticks and their endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid29242500, year = {2017}, author = {Voolstra, CR and Li, Y and Liew, YJ and Baumgarten, S and Zoccola, D and Flot, JF and Tambutté, S and Allemand, D and Aranda, M}, title = {Comparative analysis of the genomes of Stylophora pistillata and Acropora digitifera provides evidence for extensive differences between species of corals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {17583}, pmid = {29242500}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; Conserved Sequence ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/*physiology ; *Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Proteins/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Stony corals form the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Their phylogeny is characterized by a deep evolutionary divergence that separates corals into a robust and complex clade dating back to at least 245 mya. However, the genomic consequences and clade-specific evolution remain unexplored. In this study we have produced the genome of a robust coral, Stylophora pistillata, and compared it to the available genome of a complex coral, Acropora digitifera. We conducted a fine-scale gene-based analysis focusing on ortholog groups. Among the core set of conserved proteins, we found an emphasis on processes related to the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Genes associated with the algal symbiosis were also independently expanded in both species, but both corals diverged on the identity of ortholog groups expanded, and we found uneven expansions in genes associated with innate immunity and stress response. Our analyses demonstrate that coral genomes can be surprisingly disparate. Future analyses incorporating more genomic data should be able to determine whether the patterns elucidated here are not only characteristic of the differences between S. pistillata and A. digitifera but also representative of corals from the robust and complex clade at large.}, } @article {pmid29241560, year = {2018}, author = {Keller, J and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Privet, K and Lima, O and Michon-Coudouel, S and Biget, M and Salmon, A and Aïnouche, A and Cabello-Hurtado, F}, title = {RNA sequencing and analysis of three Lupinus nodulomes provide new insights into specific host-symbiont relationships with compatible and incompatible Bradyrhizobium strains.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {266}, number = {}, pages = {102-116}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.10.015}, pmid = {29241560}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Lupinus/*genetics/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation in the legume root-nodule symbiosis has a critical importance in natural and agricultural ecosystems and depends on the proper choice of the symbiotic partners. However, the genetic determinism of symbiotic specificity remains unclear. To study this process, we inoculated three Lupinus species (L. albus, L. luteus, L. mariae-josephae), belonging to the under-investigated tribe of Genistoids, with two Bradyrhizobium strains (B. japonicum, B. valentinum) presenting contrasted degrees of symbiotic specificity depending on the host. We produced the first transcriptomes (RNA-Seq) from lupine nodules in a context of symbiotic specificity. For each lupine species, we compared gene expression between functional and non-functional interactions and determined differentially expressed (DE) genes. This revealed that L. luteus and L. mariae-josephae (nodulated by only one of the Bradyrhizobium strains) specific nodulomes were richest in DE genes than L. albus (nodulation with both microsymbionts, but non-functional with B. valentinum) and share a higher number of these genes between them than with L. albus. In addition, a functional analysis of DE genes highlighted the central role of the genetic pathways controlling infection and nodule organogenesis, hormones, secondary, carbon and nitrogen metabolisms, as well as the implication of plant defence in response to compatible or incompatible Bradyrhizobium strains.}, } @article {pmid29240843, year = {2017}, author = {Dan, H and Ikeda, N and Fujikami, M and Nakabachi, A}, title = {Behavior of bacteriome symbionts during transovarial transmission and development of the Asian citrus psyllid.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {e0189779}, pmid = {29240843}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*pathogenicity ; Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Citrus/*parasitology ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Insect Vectors ; Ovary/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a serious pest worldwide, transmitting Candidatus Liberibacter spp. (Alphaproteobacteria), the causative agents of a devastating citrus disease known as huanglongbing or greening disease. In a symbiotic organ called the bacteriome, D. citri possesses an organelle-like defensive symbiont, Candidatus Profftella armatura (Betaproteobacteria), and a nutritional symbiont, Ca. Carsonella ruddii (Gammaproteobacteria). Drastically reduced symbiont genomes and metabolic complementarity among the symbionts and D. citri indicate their mutually indispensable association. Moreover, horizontal gene transfer between the Profftella and Liberibacter lineages suggests ecological and evolutionary interactions between the bacteriome symbiont and the HLB pathogen. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we examined the behavior of Profftella and Carsonella during transovarial transmission and the development of D. citri. In the bacteriomes of sexually-mature female adults, symbionts transformed from an extremely elongated tubular form into spherical or short-rod forms, which migrated toward the ovary. The symbionts then formed mosaic masses, which entered at the posterior pole of the vitellogenic oocytes. After anatrepsis, Carsonella and Profftella migrated to the central and peripheral parts of the mass, respectively. Following the appearance of host nuclei, the mass cellularized, segregating Carsonella and Profftella in the central syncytium and peripheral uninucleate bacteriocytes, respectively. Subsequently, the uninucleate bacteriocytes harboring Profftella assembled at the posterior pole, while the syncytium, containing Carsonella, sat on the anterior side facing the germ band initiating katatrepsis. During dorsal closure, the syncytium was divided into uninuclear bacteriocytes, which surrounded the mass of bacteriocytes containing Profftella. Once fully surrounded, the bacteriocyte mass containing Profftella was fused into a syncytium. Prior to hatching, a pair of wing-like protrusions arose from both lateral sides of the bacteriome, which continued to grow throughout the nymphal stages. These findings provide a foundation for better understanding the intricate relationship between D. citri and its microbiota.}, } @article {pmid29240711, year = {2017}, author = {Domonkos, Á and Kovács, S and Gombár, A and Kiss, E and Horváth, B and Kováts, GZ and Farkas, A and Tóth, MT and Ayaydin, F and Bóka, K and Fodor, L and Ratet, P and Kereszt, A and Endre, G and Kaló, P}, title = {NAD1 Controls Defense-Like Responses in Medicago truncatula Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixing Nodules Following Rhizobial Colonization in a BacA-Independent Manner.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29240711}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Legumes form endosymbiotic interaction with host compatible rhizobia, resulting in the development of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Within symbiotic nodules, rhizobia are intracellularly accommodated in plant-derived membrane compartments, termed symbiosomes. In mature nodule, the massively colonized cells tolerate the existence of rhizobia without manifestation of visible defense responses, indicating the suppression of plant immunity in the nodule in the favur of the symbiotic partner. Medicago truncatulaDNF2 (defective in nitrogen fixation 2) and NAD1 (nodules with activated defense 1) genes are essential for the control of plant defense during the colonization of the nitrogen-fixing nodule and are required for bacteroid persistence. The previously identified nodule-specific NAD1 gene encodes a protein of unknown function. Herein, we present the analysis of novel NAD1 mutant alleles to better understand the function of NAD1 in the repression of immune responses in symbiotic nodules. By exploiting the advantage of plant double and rhizobial mutants defective in establishing nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction, we show that NAD1 functions following the release of rhizobia from the infection threads and colonization of nodule cells. The suppression of plant defense is self-dependent of the differentiation status of the rhizobia. The corresponding phenotype of nad1 and dnf2 mutants and the similarity in the induction of defense-associated genes in both mutants suggest that NAD1 and DNF2 operate close together in the same pathway controlling defense responses in symbiotic nodules.}, } @article {pmid29239707, year = {2017}, author = {Ainslie, RC}, title = {Immigration, Psychic Dislocation, and the Re-creation of Community.}, journal = {Psychoanalytic review}, volume = {104}, number = {6}, pages = {695-706}, doi = {10.1521/prev.2017.104.6.695}, pmid = {29239707}, issn = {1943-3301}, mesh = {*Emigration and Immigration ; Humans ; Psychoanalysis ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; *Residence Characteristics ; }, abstract = {Communities are "psychic entities" that serve powerful psychological functions for the individuals living within them. They also serve multiple functions, including as a potential space where individuals are "held" and within which individuals "play" in ways akin to Winnicott's formulations regarding how infants "use" the me-not-me zone of experiencing, the potential space created by the gap between symbiotic engagement and the maternal object, in a zone between desire for fusion and fear of disintegrating abandonment. This paper explores the psychic destruction of community and the attempts to reconstruct "usable" community in migration, drawing from Winnicott and other psychoanalytic theorists to help us understand how communities work as psychological spaces and, specifically, to understand the near universal clustering that we see in immigrant communities.}, } @article {pmid29238356, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, W and Li, J and Zhu, H and Xu, P and Chen, J and Yao, Q}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Enhances Lateral Root Formation in Poncirus trifoliata (L.) as Revealed by RNA-Seq Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2039}, pmid = {29238356}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiosis with most terrestrial plants, and greatly regulate lateral root (LR) formation. Phosphorus (P), sugar, and plant hormones are proposed being involved in this regulation, however, no global evidence regarding these factors is available so far, especially in woody plants. In this study, we inoculated trifoliate orange seedlings (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf) with an AMF isolate, Rhizophagus irregularis BGC JX04B. After 4 months of growth, LR formation was characterized, and sugar contents in roots were determined. RNA-Seq analysis was performed to obtain the transcriptomes of LR root tips from non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal seedlings. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) of selected genes was also conducted for validation. The results showed that AMF significantly increased LR number, as well as plant biomass and shoot P concentration. The contents of glucose and fructose in primary root, and sucrose content in LR were also increased. A total of 909 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to AMF inoculation, and qRT-PCR validated the transcriptomic data. The numbers of DEGs related to P, sugar, and plant hormones were 31, 32, and 25, respectively. For P metabolism, the most up-regulated DEGs mainly encoded phosphate transporter, and the most down-regulated DEGs encoded acid phosphatase. For sugar metabolism, the most up-regulated DEGs encoded polygalacturonase and chitinase. For plant hormones, the most up-regulated DEGs were related to auxin signaling, and the most down-regulated DEGs were related to ethylene signaling. PLS-SEM analysis indicates that P metabolism was the most important pathway by which AMF regulates LR formation in this study. These data reveal the changes of genome-wide gene expression in responses to AMF inoculation in trifoliate orange and provide a solid basis for the future identification and characterization of key genes involved in LR formation induced by AMF.}, } @article {pmid29235707, year = {2018}, author = {Brewer, TE and Fierer, N}, title = {Tales from the tomb: the microbial ecology of exposed rock surfaces.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {958-970}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14024}, pmid = {29235707}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; *Calcium Carbonate ; *Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; *Silicon Dioxide ; }, abstract = {Although a broad diversity of eukaryotic and bacterial taxa reside on rock surfaces where they can influence the weathering of rocks and minerals, these communities and their contributions to mineral weathering remain poorly resolved. To build a more comprehensive understanding of the diversity, ecology and potential functional attributes of microbial communities living on rock, we sampled 149 tombstones across three continents and analysed their bacterial and eukaryotic communities via marker gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We found that geographic location and climate were important factors structuring the composition of these communities. Moreover, the tombstone-associated microbial communities varied as a function of rock type, with granite and limestone tombstones from the same cemeteries harbouring taxonomically distinct microbial communities. The granite and limestone-associated communities also had distinct functional attributes, with granite-associated bacteria having more genes linked to acid tolerance and chemotaxis, while bacteria on limestone were more likely to be lichen associated and have genes involved in photosynthesis and radiation resistance. Together these results indicate that rock-dwelling microbes exhibit adaptations to survive the stresses of the rock surface, differ based on location, climate and rock type, and seem pre-disposed to different ecological strategies (symbiotic versus free-living lifestyles) depending on the rock type.}, } @article {pmid29235686, year = {2017}, author = {Diamond, MJ}, title = {THE MISSING FATHER FUNCTION IN PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY AND TECHNIQUE: THE ANALYST'S INTERNAL COUPLE AND MATURING INTIMACY.}, journal = {The Psychoanalytic quarterly}, volume = {86}, number = {4}, pages = {861-887}, doi = {10.1002/psaq.12173}, pmid = {29235686}, issn = {2167-4086}, mesh = {*Countertransference ; *Fathers ; Humans ; Object Attachment ; Parenting ; *Professional-Patient Relations ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; Psychoanalytic Therapy/*methods ; *Unconscious, Psychology ; }, abstract = {This paper argues that recovering the "missing" paternal function in analytic space is essential for the patient's achievement of mature object relations. Emerging from the helpless infant's contact with primary caregivers, mature intimacy rests on establishing healthy triadic functioning based on an infant-with-mother-and-father. Despite a maternocentric bias in contemporary clinical theory, the emergence of triangularity and the inclusion of the paternal third as a separating element is vital in the analytic dyad. Effective technique requires the analyst's balanced interplay between the paternal, investigative and the maternal, maximally receptive modes of functioning-the good enough analytic couple within the analyst-to serve as the separating element that procreatively fertilizes the capacity for intimacy with a differentiated other. A clinical example illustrates how treatment is limited when the paternal function is minimized within more collusive, unconsciously symbiotic dyads.}, } @article {pmid29233707, year = {2018}, author = {Sproles, AE and Kirk, NL and Kitchen, SA and Oakley, CA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Phylogenetic characterization of transporter proteins in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {120}, number = {}, pages = {307-320}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2017.12.007}, pmid = {29233707}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anion Transport Proteins/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Aquaporins/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Cnidaria/*classification/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/metabolism ; Nitrate Transporters ; *Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sodium-Glucose Transport Proteins/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Metabolic exchange between cnidarians and their symbiotic dinoflagellates is central to maintaining their mutualistic relationship. Sugars are translocated to the host, while ammonium and nitrate are utilized by the dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.). We investigated membrane protein sequences of each partner to identify potential transporter proteins that move sugars into cnidarian cells and nitrogen products into Symbiodinium cells. We examined the facilitated glucose transporters (GLUT), sodium/glucose cotransporters (SGLT), and aquaporin (AQP) channels in the cnidarian host as mechanisms for sugar uptake, and the ammonium and high-affinity nitrate transporters (AMT and NRT2, respectively) in the algal symbiont as mechanisms for nitrogen uptake. Homologous protein sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis and tertiary structure deductions. In cnidarians, we identified putative glucose transporters of the GLUT family and glycerol transporting AQP proteins, as well as sodium monocarboxylate transporters and sodium myo-inositol cotransporters homologous to SGLT proteins. We hypothesize that cnidarians use GLUT proteins as the primary mechanism for glucose uptake, while glycerol moves into cells by passive diffusion. We also identified putative AMT proteins in several Symbiodinium clades and putative NRT2 proteins only in a single clade. We further observed an upregulation of expressed putative AMT proteins in Symbiodinium, which may have emerged as an adaptation to conditions experienced inside the host cell. This study is the first to identify transporter sequences from a diversity of cnidarian species and Symbiodinium clades, which will be useful for future experimental analyses of the host-symbiont proteome and the nutritional exchange of Symbiodinium cells in hospite.}, } @article {pmid29233263, year = {2017}, author = {Bernard-Gauthier, V and Collier, TL and Liang, SH and Vasdev, N}, title = {Discovery of PET radiopharmaceuticals at the academia-industry interface.}, journal = {Drug discovery today. Technologies}, volume = {25}, number = {}, pages = {19-26}, doi = {10.1016/j.ddtec.2017.09.001}, pmid = {29233263}, issn = {1740-6749}, mesh = {Animals ; *Drug Discovery ; Drug Industry ; Humans ; Intersectoral Collaboration ; *Positron-Emission Tomography ; *Radiopharmaceuticals ; Universities ; }, abstract = {Project-specific collaborations between academia and pharmaceutical partners are a growing phenomenon within molecular imaging and in particular in the positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical community. This cultural shift can be attributed in part to decreased public funding in academia in conjunction with the increased reliance on outsourcing of chemistry, radiochemistry, pharmacology and molecular imaging studies by the pharmaceutical industry. This account highlights some of our personal experiences working with industrial partners to develop new PET radiochemistry methodologies for drug discovery and neuro-PET research studies. These symbiotic academic-industrial partnerships have not only led to novel radiotracers for new targets but also to the application of new carbon-11 and fluorine-18 labeling methodologies and technologies to label previously unprecedented compounds for in vivo evaluations.}, } @article {pmid29232932, year = {2017}, author = {Vitetta, L and Saltzman, ET and Thomsen, M and Nikov, T and Hall, S}, title = {Adjuvant Probiotics and the Intestinal Microbiome: Enhancing Vaccines and Immunotherapy Outcomes.}, journal = {Vaccines}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29232932}, issn = {2076-393X}, abstract = {Immune defence against pathogenic agents comprises the basic premise for the administration of vaccines. Vaccinations have hence prevented millions of infectious illnesses, hospitalizations and mortality. Acquired immunity comprises antibody and cell mediated responses and is characterized by its specificity and memory. Along a similar congruent yet diverse mode of disease prevention, the human host has negotiated from in utero and at birth with the intestinal commensal bacterial cohort to maintain local homeostasis in order to achieve immunological tolerance in the new born. The advent of the Human Microbiome Project has redefined an appreciation of the interactions between the host and bacteria in the intestines from one of a collection of toxic waste to one of a symbiotic existence. Probiotics comprise bacterial genera thought to provide a health benefit to the host. The intestinal microbiota has profound effects on local and extra-intestinal end organ physiology. As such, we further posit that the adjuvant administration of dedicated probiotic formulations can encourage the intestinal commensal cohort to beneficially participate in the intestinal microbiome-intestinal epithelia-innate-cell mediated immunity axes and cell mediated cellular immunity with vaccines aimed at preventing infectious diseases whilst conserving immunological tolerance. The strength of evidence for the positive effect of probiotic administration on acquired immune responses has come from various studies with viral and bacterial vaccines. We posit that the introduction early of probiotics may provide significant beneficial immune outcomes in neonates prior to commencing a vaccination schedule or in elderly adults prior to the administration of vaccinations against influenza viruses.}, } @article {pmid29230215, year = {2017}, author = {Lerner, A and Matthias, T and Aminov, R}, title = {Potential Effects of Horizontal Gene Exchange in the Human Gut.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1630}, pmid = {29230215}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Many essential functions of the human body are dependent on the symbiotic microbiota, which is present at especially high numbers and diversity in the gut. This intricate host-microbe relationship is a result of the long-term coevolution between the two. While the inheritance of mutational changes in the host evolution is almost exclusively vertical, the main mechanism of bacterial evolution is horizontal gene exchange. The gut conditions, with stable temperature, continuous food supply, constant physicochemical conditions, extremely high concentration of microbial cells and phages, and plenty of opportunities for conjugation on the surfaces of food particles and host tissues, represent one of the most favorable ecological niches for horizontal gene exchange. Thus, the gut microbial system genetically is very dynamic and capable of rapid response, at the genetic level, to selection, for example, by antibiotics. There are many other factors to which the microbiota may dynamically respond including lifestyle, therapy, diet, refined food, food additives, consumption of pre- and probiotics, and many others. The impact of the changing selective pressures on gut microbiota, however, is poorly understood. Presumably, the gut microbiome responds to these changes by genetic restructuring of gut populations, driven mainly via horizontal gene exchange. Thus, our main goal is to reveal the role played by horizontal gene exchange in the changing landscape of the gastrointestinal microbiome and potential effect of these changes on human health in general and autoimmune diseases in particular.}, } @article {pmid29229827, year = {2017}, author = {}, title = {Correction for Matthews et al., Optimal nutrient exchange and immune responses operate in partner specificity in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {51}, pages = {E11058}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1720356115}, pmid = {29229827}, issn = {1091-6490}, } @article {pmid29228589, year = {2017}, author = {Ahn, CS and Kim, JG and Han, X and Kang, I and Kong, Y}, title = {Comparison of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus hydatid fluid proteome provides molecular strategies for specialized host-parasite interactions.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {8}, number = {57}, pages = {97009-97024}, pmid = {29228589}, issn = {1949-2553}, abstract = {Alveolar and cystic echinococcoses, caused by the metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus, are prevalent in several regions and invoke deleterious zoonotic helminthiases. Hydatid fluid (HF), which contains proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous secretions of the parasite- and host-derived components, critically affects the host-parasite interplay and disease progression. We conducted HF proteome profiling of fully mature E. multilocularis vesicle (nine months postinfection) and E. granulosus cyst (stage 2). We identified 120 and 153 proteins, respectively, in each fluid. Fifty-six and 84 proteins represented distinct species; 44 and 66 were parasites, and 12 and 18 were host-derived proteins. The five major parasite protein populations, which included antigen B isoforms, metabolic enzymes, proteases and inhibitors, extracellular matrix molecules (ECMs), and developmental proteins, were abundantly distributed in both fluids and also exclusively in one sample or the other. Carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes were enriched in E. granulosus HF. In the E. multilocularis HF, proteins that constitute ECMs, which might facilitate adhesion and cytogenesis, were highly expressed. Those molecules had physical and functional relationships along with their biochemical properties through protein-protein interaction networks. Twelve host-derived proteins were largely segregated to serum components. The major proteins commonly and uniquely detected in these HFs and their symbiotic interactome relationships might reflect their biological roles in similar but distinct modes of maturation, invasion, and the longevity of the parasites in the hosts.}, } @article {pmid29228286, year = {2017}, author = {Muszewska, A and Steczkiewicz, K and Stepniewska-Dziubinska, M and Ginalski, K}, title = {Cut-and-Paste Transposons in Fungi with Diverse Lifestyles.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {3463-3477}, pmid = {29228286}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*genetics/*physiology ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genome Size ; Genome, Fungal ; Phylogeny ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Transposases ; }, abstract = {Transposable elements (TEs) shape genomes via recombination and transposition, lead to chromosomal rearrangements, create new gene neighborhoods, and alter gene expression. They play key roles in adaptation either to symbiosis in Amanita genus or to pathogenicity in Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Despite growing evidence of their importance, the abundance and distribution of mobile elements replicating in a "cut-and-paste" fashion is barely described so far. In order to improve our knowledge on this old and ubiquitous class of transposable elements, 1,730 fungal genomes were scanned using both de novo and homology-based approaches. DNA TEs have been identified across the whole data set and display uneven distribution from both DNA TE classification and fungal taxonomy perspectives. DNA TE content correlates with genome size, which confirms that many transposon families proliferate simultaneously. In contrast, it is independent from intron density, average gene distance and GC content. TE count is associated with species' lifestyle and tends to be elevated in plant symbionts and decreased in animal parasites. Lastly, we found that fungi with both RIP and RNAi systems have more total DNA TE sequences but less elements retaining a functional transposase, what reflects stringent control over transposition.}, } @article {pmid29228264, year = {2018}, author = {Porter, SS and Faber-Hammond, JJ and Friesen, ML}, title = {Co-invading symbiotic mutualists of Medicago polymorpha retain high ancestral diversity and contain diverse accessory genomes.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix168}, pmid = {29228264}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; California ; Ecosystem ; Europe ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Introduced Species ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Exotic, invasive plants and animals can wreak havoc on ecosystems by displacing natives and altering environmental conditions. However, much less is known about the identities or evolutionary dynamics of the symbiotic microbes that accompany invasive species. Most leguminous plants rely upon symbiotic rhizobium bacteria to fix nitrogen and are incapable of colonizing areas devoid of compatible rhizobia. We compare the genomes of symbiotic rhizobia in a portion of the legume's invaded range with those of the rhizobium symbionts from across the legume's native range. We show that in an area of California the legume Medicago polymorpha has invaded, its Ensifer medicae symbionts: (i) exhibit genome-wide patterns of relatedness that together with historical evidence support host-symbiont co-invasion from Europe into California, (ii) exhibit population genomic patterns consistent with the introduction of the majority of deep diversity from the native range, rather than a genetic bottleneck during colonization of California and (iii) harbor a large set of accessory genes uniquely enriched in binding functions, which could play a role in habitat invasion. Examining microbial symbiont genome dynamics during biological invasions is critical for assessing host-symbiont co-invasions whereby microbial symbiont range expansion underlies plant and animal invasions.}, } @article {pmid29227271, year = {2017}, author = {Kochlamasashvili, B and Gogiashvili, L and Jandieri, K}, title = {[IMMUNE SYSTEM INTERNSHIP WITH SYMBIOTIC MICROORGANISMS IN GNOTOBIOTIC ANIMAL'S INTESTINUM ILEUM].}, journal = {Georgian medical news}, volume = {}, number = {272}, pages = {127-133}, pmid = {29227271}, issn = {1512-0112}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Ileum/cytology/*immunology/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology/microbiology ; Lymphocytes/immunology ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; Rats ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Structures, responsible for acceptive (comensaling relation) and protective (pathogenic defense) immunity, were studied and compared in small intestine - to ileum mucosa. Data shown, that main application of the both domains of immune system is to support the correlation between body and foreign microbes, but they response is different. Most significant differences are as follows: in acceptive reactions presented only in aseptic animals - gnotobionts, inflammatory changes absent, so immune reaction complex develops into physiological condition. Symbiotic reactions release in mucosa epithelial cells, also in cells, responsible for adaptive and congenital immune reactivity. Thus, acceptive immune reactions contribute symbiotic biocenosis versus elimination; which is function of protective immunity.}, } @article {pmid29226521, year = {2018}, author = {Ocampo, EH and Luppi, TA and Spivak, ED and Klaus, S}, title = {The ontogeny of the female reproductive system in the parasitic castrator pea crab Calyptraeotheres garthi: Implications for its mating system.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {279}, number = {4}, pages = {531-544}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.20786}, pmid = {29226521}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Brachyura/*anatomy & histology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Genitalia, Female/*anatomy & histology/ultrastructure ; Male ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa/cytology ; }, abstract = {The knowledge of the mating system of pea crabs is still fragmentary as it remains dubious whether females copulate in the juvenile and free-living 'hard' or in the obligatory symbiotic stages (adult stage 'V' or intermediate stages II to IV). To discriminate between these two possibilities, we analysed the female seminal receptacles, vagina and opercula, and the sperm content in different stages of the pea crab Calyptraeotheres garthi. Our histology and scanning electron microscopy results revealed that in the hard stage the seminal receptacle is simple without secretory epithelia, and vagina and opercula are not controlled by musculature. In stages II to IV, the seminal receptacles, vagina, and opercula are under development and these structures reach maturity in stage V. These results suggest that females become receptive in stage V and not during predating stages. We found no spermatozoa in SR of 'hard' and stage II to IV females while these structures were loaded of sperm in most stage V, indicating that females start to mate in stage V. Our results support the notion that males of C. garthi roam among hosts in search for sedentary stage V females, as predicted by Baeza and Thiel's () model of mating systems for symbiotic crustaceans. Nevertheless, we failed to reveal whether females mate repeatedly: the accumulation of sperm in larger females might indicate occurrence of multiple copula or a high variability in male sperm transfer.}, } @article {pmid29225764, year = {2017}, author = {Green, TGA and Sancho, LG and Pintado, A and Saco, D and Martín, S and Arróniz-Crespo, M and Angel Casermeiro, M and de la Cruz Caravaca, MT and Cameron, S and Rozzi, R}, title = {Sodium chloride accumulation in glycophyte plants with cyanobacterial symbionts.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {plx053}, pmid = {29225764}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {The majority of plant species are glycophytes and are not salt-tolerant and maintain low sodium levels within their tissues; if[.] high tissue sodium concentrations do occur, it is in response to elevated environmental salt levels. Here we report an apparently novel and taxonomically diverse grouping of plants that continuously maintain high tissue sodium contents and share the rare feature of possessing symbiotic cyanobacteria. Leaves of Gunnera magellanica in Tierra del Fuego always had sodium contents (dry weight basis) of around 4.26 g kg[-1], about 20 times greater than measured in other higher plants in the community (0.29 g kg[-1]). Potassium and chloride levels were also elevated. This was not a response to soil sodium and chloride levels as these were low at all sites. High sodium contents were also confirmed in G. magellanica from several other sites in Tierra del Fuego, in plants taken to, and cultivated in Madrid for 2 years at low soil salt conditions, and also in other free living or cultivated species of Gunnera from the UK and New Zealand. Gunnera species are the only angiosperms that possess cyanobacterial symbionts so we analysed other plants that have this rather rare symbiosis, all being glycophytes. Samples of Azolla, a floating aquatic fern, from Europe and New Zealand all had even higher sodium levels than Gunnera. Roots of the gymnosperm Cycas revoluta had lower sodium contents (2.52 ± 0.34 g kg[-1]) but still higher than the non-symbiotic glycophytes. The overaccumulation of salt even when it is at low levels in the environment appears to be linked to the possession of a cyanobacterial symbiosis although the actual functional basis is unclear.}, } @article {pmid29225730, year = {2017}, author = {Aserse, AA and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, NC and Whitman, WB and Lindström, K}, title = {Draft genome sequences of Bradyrhizobium shewense sp. nov. ERR11[T] and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense CCBAU 10071[T].}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {74}, pmid = {29225730}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {The type strain of the prospective 10.1601/nm.30737 sp. nov. ERR11[T], was isolated from a nodule of the leguminous tree Erythrina brucei native to Ethiopia. The type strain 10.1601/nm.1463 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+10071 [T], was isolated from the nodules of Lespedeza cuneata in Beijing, China. The genomes of ERR11[T] and 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+10071 [T] were sequenced by DOE-JGI and deposited at the DOE-JGI genome portal as well as at the European Nucleotide Archive. The genome of ERR11[T] is 9,163,226 bp in length and has 102 scaffolds, containing 8548 protein-coding and 86 RNA genes. The 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+10071 [T] genome is arranged in 108 scaffolds and consists of 8,201,522 bp long and 7776 protein-coding and 85 RNA genes. Both genomes contain symbiotic genes, which are homologous to the genes found in the complete genome sequence of 10.1601/nm.24498 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DUSDA+110 [T]. The genes encoding for nodulation and nitrogen fixation in ERR11[T] showed high sequence similarity with homologous genes found in the draft genome of peanut-nodulating 10.1601/nm.27386 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DLMG+26795 [T]. The nodulation genes nolYA-nodD2D1YABCSUIJ-nolO-nodZ of ERR11[T] and 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+10071 [T] are organized in a similar way to the homologous genes identified in the genomes of 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DUSDA+110 [T], 10.1601/nm.25806 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DUSDA+4 and 10.1601/nm.1462 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+05525. The genomes harbor hupSLCFHK and hypBFDE genes that code the expression of hydrogenase, an enzyme that helps rhizobia to uptake hydrogen released by the N2-fixation process and genes encoding denitrification functions napEDABC and norCBQD for nitrate and nitric oxide reduction, respectively. The genome of ERR11[T] also contains nosRZDFYLX genes encoding nitrous oxide reductase. Based on multilocus sequence analysis of housekeeping genes, the novel species, which contains eight strains formed a unique group close to the 10.1601/nm.25806 branch. Genome Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) calculated between the genome sequences of ERR11[T] and closely related sequences revealed that strains belonging to 10.1601/nm.25806 branch (10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DUSDA+4 and 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+15615), were the closest strains to the strain ERR11[T] with 95.2% ANI. Type strain ERR11[T] showed the highest DDH predicted value with 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+15615 (58.5%), followed by 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DUSDA+4 (53.1%). Nevertheless, the ANI and DDH values obtained between ERR11[T] and 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DCCBAU+15615 or 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DUSDA+4 were below the cutoff values (ANI ≥ 96.5%; DDH ≥ 70%) for strains belonging to the same species, suggesting that ERR11[T] is a new species. Therefore, based on the phylogenetic analysis, ANI and DDH values, we formally propose the creation of 10.1601/nm.30737 sp. nov. with strain ERR11[T] (10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DHAMBI+3532 [T]=10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DLMG+30162 [T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid29222727, year = {2017}, author = {Higaki, K and Rammitsu, K and Yamashita, Y and Yukawa, T and Ogura-Tsujita, Y}, title = {A method for facilitating the seed germination of a mycoheterotrophic orchid, Gastrodia pubilabiata, using decomposed leaf litter harboring a basidiomycete fungus, Mycena sp.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {59}, pmid = {29222727}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mycoheterotrophic plants are one of the most difficult plant groups to conserve because they are entirely dependent on symbiotic fungi. Establishment of viable culture systems would greatly aid their conservation. We describe a simple culture system for the mycoheterotrophic orchid, Gastrodia pubilabiata, that does not require laboratory facilities. The orchid is symbiotic with leaf-litter-decomposing fungi.

RESULTS: Gastrodia pubilabiata seeds were incubated in plastic boxes or glass bottles filled with leaf litter collected from the natural habitat of the species. Seed germination was observed after 35 days and seedling development followed. Fungal isolates from seedlings were identified as Mycenaceae (Basidiomycota), a leaf-litter-decomposing mycorrhizal fungus of Gastrodia species.

CONCLUSION: Our method can be used to conserve endangered mycoheterotrophic plants associated with leaf litter-decomposing fungi efficiently, and can also serve as a model system for physiological and molecular studies of such plants.}, } @article {pmid29221589, year = {2017}, author = {Lebaron, P and Bourrain, M}, title = {[Not Available].}, journal = {Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie}, volume = {144 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S35-S41}, doi = {10.1016/S0151-9638(17)31041-4}, pmid = {29221589}, issn = {0151-9638}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods ; Balneology ; Dermatitis, Atopic/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Health Resorts ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Mineral Waters/therapeutic use ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Skin/*microbiology ; Skin Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Vitamins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Human hosts a large number of microorganisms that constitute its microbiome and the vast majority of them are very useful and even essentials. The human microbiome is a complex ecosystem where live populations of transient or resident microorganisms. The process of co-development or co-adaptation played a major role in the establishment of indigenous communities and help explain the dominance of positive interactions (commensal, symbiotic or mutualistic) in the human-microorganism relationship. The assimilation of nutrients, production of anti-inflammatory compounds, defense against pathogens, vitamin production or stimulating the immune system are some of the key benefits of the indigenous microorganisms. Understanding the skin microbiome opens new exploratory fields and represents a real challenge for both the academic knowledge and the development of new therapeutic approaches.}, } @article {pmid29219056, year = {2018}, author = {Sharma, A and Kumar, B and Singh, SK and Gulati, M and Vaidya, Y and , and Rathee, H and Ghai, D and Malik, AH and Yadav, AK and Maharshi, P and Bawa, P and Rajesh, SY and Sharma, P and Pandey, NK and Mohanta, S}, title = {In-vitro and In-vivo Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Guar Gum-Eudragit® S100 Based Colon-targeted Spheroids of Sulfasalazine Co-administered with Probiotics.}, journal = {Current drug delivery}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {367-387}, doi = {10.2174/1567201815666171207165059}, pmid = {29219056}, issn = {1875-5704}, mesh = {Animals ; Colon/*metabolism ; Delayed-Action Preparations/administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Galactans/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Agents/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mannans/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Plant Gums/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Polymethacrylic Acids/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfasalazine/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Polysaccharide based delivery systems have been successfully used to target drugs to colon. In some recent reports, the superiority of concomitant administration of probiotics with such systems has been established. However, the pharmacokinetics of such symbiotic therapy remain unexplored hitherto.

METHODS: This study deciphers the pharmacokinetic parameters of guar gum based colon targeted spheroids of sulfasalazine with co-administration of probiotics in experimental rats. Thirty rats were divided into five groups using Latin square design. These were subjected to treatment with delayed release formulation, uncoated spheroids, coated spheroid and coated spheroids along with probiotics.

RESULTS: In case of delayed release formulation, negligible presence of sulfasalazine in plasma was observed in first 2h, followed by significant increase in sulfasalazine concentration after 3h. Higher plasma concentrations of sulfasalazine were detected for uncoated spheroids with and without probiotics. Negligible release of drug upto 5h and delayed Tmax in case of guar-gum coated sulfasalazine spheroids with or without probiotics clearly indicated successful formulation of colon targeted spheroids. Further, for coated spheroids (both with and without probiotics), the value of Tmax is found to be significantly higher than those with the other treatments.

CONCLUSION: Colon targeted spheroids were therefore, found to reduce absorption of drug which, in turn, is expected to reduce the side effects as only local action in colon is required for treatment of colitis. This is the first report on pharmacokinetic study of a colon targeted delivery system co-administered with probiotics.}, } @article {pmid29219037, year = {2017}, author = {Henmi, Y and Fujiwara, C and Kirihara, S and Okada, Y and Itani, G}, title = {Burrow Morphology of Alpheid Shrimps: Case Study of Alpheus brevicristatus and a Review of the Genus.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {498-504}, doi = {10.2108/zs170055}, pmid = {29219037}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The Alpheus brevicristatus De Haan, 1844 is one of the commonest shrimp species inhabiting the tidal flats in Japan. This species is sometimes accompanied by the facultative symbiotic goby, Acentrogobius spp. Here, we investigated the burrow morphology of A. brevicristatus in a tidal flat of Uranouchi Inlet, Kochi Prefecture, Japan. We also reviewed existing literature on alpheid burrow morphology using the resin casting technique, to determine how burrows vary in the presence and absence of gobies. Nine burrows were casted in situ using polyester resin. All burrows were long, but shallow in structure, with several funnel-shaped openings and short cul-de-sac branches. This species appears to use several burrow openings to access the sediment surface for feeding with high efficiency. Gobies were not associated with all burrows cast; however, 1-3 individuals of the small alpheid shrimp Athanas japonicus Kubo, 1936 were entombed in seven of the casts. A review of 12 studies on the burrow morphology of 16 Alpheus species based on resin casting techniques showed wide variation in burrow characteristics, such as burrow depth, length, and number of openings. Our findings suggest that burrow structure is influenced by species-specific characteristics and sediment type. The possibility that the presence of the symbiotic goby affects the burrow morphology of Alpheus shrimp is discussed.}, } @article {pmid29218845, year = {2018}, author = {Antwis, RE and Harrison, XA}, title = {Probiotic consortia are not uniformly effective against different amphibian chytrid pathogen isolates.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {577-589}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14456}, pmid = {29218845}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amphibians/genetics/*microbiology ; Animals ; Chytridiomycota/*pathogenicity ; Communicable Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Probiotics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacterial communities can protect their hosts from infection by pathogens. Treatment of wild individuals with protective bacteria (probiotics) isolated from hosts can combat the spread of emerging infectious diseases. However, it is unclear whether candidate probiotic bacteria can offer consistent protection across multiple isolates of globally distributed pathogens. Here, we use the lethal amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis to investigate whether probiotic richness (number of bacteria) or genetic distance among consortia members influences broad-scale in vitro inhibitory capabilities of probiotics across multiple isolates of the pathogen. We show that inhibition of multiple pathogen isolates by individual bacteria is rare, with no systematic pattern among bacterial genera in ability to inhibit multiple B. dendrobatidis isolates. Bacterial consortia can offer stronger protection against B. dendrobatidis compared to single strains, and this tended to be more pronounced for consortia containing multiple genera compared with those consisting of bacteria from a single genus (i.e., with lower genetic distance), but critically, this effect was not uniform across all B. dendrobatidis isolates. These novel insights have important implications for the effective design of bacterial probiotics to mitigate emerging infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid29218749, year = {2018}, author = {Baumgarten, S and Cziesielski, MJ and Thomas, L and Michell, CT and Esherick, LY and Pringle, JR and Aranda, M and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Evidence for miRNA-mediated modulation of the host transcriptome in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {403-418}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14452}, pmid = {29218749}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/genetics/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/physiology ; Genome/*genetics ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals and other cnidarians living in symbiotic relationships with intracellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium undergo transcriptomic changes during infection with the algae and maintenance of the endosymbiont population. However, the precise regulatory mechanisms modulating the host transcriptome are unknown. Here, we report apparent post-transcriptional gene regulation by miRNAs in the sea anemone Aiptasia, a model system for cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. Aiptasia encodes mainly species-specific miRNAs, and there appears to have been recent differentiation within the Aiptasia genome of miRNAs that are commonly conserved among anthozoan cnidarians. Analysis of miRNA expression showed that both conserved and species-specific miRNAs are differentially expressed in response to endosymbiont infection. Using cross-linking immunoprecipitation of Argonaute, the central protein of the miRNA-induced silencing complex, we identified miRNA binding sites on a transcriptome-wide scale and found that the targets of the miRNAs regulated in response to symbiosis include genes previously implicated in biological processes related to Symbiodinium infection. Our study shows that cnidarian miRNAs recognize their mRNA targets via high-complementarity target binding and suggests that miRNA-mediated modulations of genes and pathways are important during the onset and maintenance of cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29218056, year = {2017}, author = {Arthikala, MK and Montiel, J and Sánchez-López, R and Nava, N and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C}, title = {Respiratory Burst Oxidase Homolog Gene A Is Crucial for Rhizobium Infection and Nodule Maturation and Function in Common Bean.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2003}, pmid = {29218056}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs) regulate numerous plant cell processes, including the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Rapid and transient ROS production was reported after Phaseolus vulgaris root hairs were treated with Nod factors, indicating the presence of a ROS-associated molecular signature in the symbiosis signaling pathway. Rboh is a multigene family containing nine members (RbohA-I) in P. vulgaris. RNA interference of RbohB suppresses ROS production and attenuates rhizobial infection thread (IT) progression in P. vulgaris root hairs. However, the roles of other Rboh members in symbiotic interactions are largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the role of the NADPH oxidase-encoding gene RbohA (Phvulv091020621) in the P. vulgaris-Rhizobium tropici symbiosis. The spatiotemporal activity of the RbohA promoter colocalized with growing ITs and was associated with vascular bundles in developing nodules. Subcellular localization studies indicated that RBOHA was localized in the plasma membrane of P. vulgaris root hairs. After rhizobial inoculation, PvRBOHA was mainly distributed in the infection pocket and, to a lesser extent, throughout the IT. In PvRbohA RNAi lines, the rhizobial infection events were significantly reduced and, in successful infections, IT progression was arrested within the root hair, but did not impede cortical cell division. PvRbohA-RNAi nodules failed to fix nitrogen, since the infected cells in the few nodules formed were empty. RbohA-dependent ROS production and upregulation of several antioxidant enzymes was attenuated in rhizobia-inoculated PvRbohA-RNAi roots. These combined results indicate that PvRbohA is crucial for effective Rhizobium infection and its release into the nodule cells. This oxidase is partially or indirectly required to promote nodule organogenesis, altering the expression of auxin- and cyclin-related genes and genes involved in cell growth and division.}, } @article {pmid29217594, year = {2018}, author = {Xiang, T and Jinkerson, RE and Clowez, S and Tran, C and Krediet, CJ and Onishi, M and Cleves, PA and Pringle, JR and Grossman, AR}, title = {Glucose-Induced Trophic Shift in an Endosymbiont Dinoflagellate with Physiological and Molecular Consequences.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {2}, pages = {1793-1807}, pmid = {29217594}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glucose/*pharmacology ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Interactions between the dinoflagellate endosymbiont Symbiodinium and its cnidarian hosts (e.g. corals, sea anemones) are the foundation of coral-reef ecosystems. Carbon flow between the partners is a hallmark of this mutualism, but the mechanisms governing this flow and its impact on symbiosis remain poorly understood. We showed previously that although Symbiodinium strain SSB01 can grow photoautotrophically, it can grow mixotrophically or heterotrophically when supplied with Glc, a metabolite normally transferred from the alga to its host. Here we show that Glc supplementation of SSB01 cultures causes a loss of pigmentation and photosynthetic activity, disorganization of thylakoid membranes, accumulation of lipid bodies, and alterations of cell-surface morphology. We used global transcriptome analyses to determine if these physiological changes were correlated with changes in gene expression. Glc-supplemented cells exhibited a marked reduction in levels of plastid transcripts encoding photosynthetic proteins, although most nuclear-encoded transcripts (including those for proteins involved in lipid synthesis and formation of the extracellular matrix) exhibited little change in their abundances. However, the altered carbon metabolism in Glc-supplemented cells was correlated with modest alterations (approximately 2x) in the levels of some nuclear-encoded transcripts for sugar transporters. Finally, Glc-bleached SSB01 cells appeared unable to efficiently populate anemone larvae. Together, these results suggest links between energy metabolism and cellular physiology, morphology, and symbiotic interactions. However, the results also show that in contrast to many other organisms, Symbiodinium can undergo dramatic physiological changes that are not reflected by major changes in the abundances of nuclear-encoded transcripts and thus presumably reflect posttranscriptional regulatory processes.}, } @article {pmid29216891, year = {2017}, author = {Gardner, SG and Raina, JB and Nitschke, MR and Nielsen, DA and Stat, M and Motti, CA and Ralph, PJ and Petrou, K}, title = {A multi-trait systems approach reveals a response cascade to bleaching in corals.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {117}, pmid = {29216891}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Antioxidants/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Hot Temperature/*adverse effects ; Models, Biological ; Species Specificity ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Systems Analysis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Climate change causes the breakdown of the symbiotic relationships between reef-building corals and their photosynthetic symbionts (genus Symbiodinium), with thermal anomalies in 2015-2016 triggering the most widespread mass coral bleaching on record and unprecedented mortality on the Great Barrier Reef. Targeted studies using specific coral stress indicators have highlighted the complexity of the physiological processes occurring during thermal stress, but have been unable to provide a clear mechanistic understanding of coral bleaching.

RESULTS: Here, we present an extensive multi-trait-based study in which we compare the thermal stress responses of two phylogenetically distinct and widely distributed coral species, Acropora millepora and Stylophora pistillata, integrating 14 individual stress indicators over time across a simulated thermal anomaly. We found that key stress responses were conserved across both taxa, with the loss of symbionts and the activation of antioxidant mechanisms occurring well before collapse of the physiological parameters, including gross oxygen production and chlorophyll a. Our study also revealed species-specific traits, including differences in the timing of antioxidant regulation, as well as drastic differences in the production of the sulfur compound dimethylsulfoniopropionate during bleaching. Indeed, the concentration of this antioxidant increased two-fold in A. millepora after the corals started to bleach, while it decreased 70% in S. pistillata.

CONCLUSIONS: We identify a well-defined cascading response to thermal stress, demarking clear pathophysiological reactions conserved across the two species, which might be central to fully understanding the mechanisms triggering thermally induced coral bleaching. These results highlight that bleaching is a conserved mechanism, but specific adaptations linked to the coral's antioxidant capacity drive differences in the sensitivity and thus tolerance of each coral species to thermal stress.}, } @article {pmid29216732, year = {2018}, author = {Watanabe, F and Bito, T}, title = {Vitamin B12 sources and microbial interaction.}, journal = {Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)}, volume = {243}, number = {2}, pages = {148-158}, pmid = {29216732}, issn = {1535-3699}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Diet ; *Feeding Behavior ; Fishes ; Humans ; Meat/analysis ; *Microbial Interactions ; Sheep ; Vitamin B 12/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vitamin B12 is synthesized only by certain bacteria and archaeon, but not by plants. The synthesized vitamin B12 is transferred and accumulates in animal tissues, which can occur in certain plant and mushroom species through microbial interaction. In particular, the meat and milk of herbivorous ruminant animals (e.g. cattle and sheep) are good sources of vitamin B12 for humans. Ruminants acquire vitamin B12, which is considered an essential nutrient, through a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria present in their stomachs. In aquatic environments, most phytoplankton acquire vitamin B12 through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, and they become food for larval fish and bivalves. Edible plants and mushrooms rarely contain a considerable amount of vitamin B12, mainly due to concomitant bacteria in soil and/or their aerial surfaces. Thus, humans acquire vitamin B12 formed by microbial interaction via mainly ruminants and fish (or shellfish) as food sources. In this review, up-to-date information on vitamin B12 sources and bioavailability are also discussed. Impact statement To prevent vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency in high-risk populations such as vegetarians and elderly subjects, it is necessary to identify foods that contain high levels of B12. B12 is synthesized by only certain bacteria and archaeon, but not by plants or animals. The synthesized B12 is transferred and accumulated in animal tissues, even in certain plant tissues via microbial interaction. Meats and milks of herbivorous ruminant animals are good sources of B12 for humans. Ruminants acquire the essential B12 through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria inside the body. Thus, we also depend on B12-producing bacteria located in ruminant stomachs. While edible plants and mushrooms rarely contain a considerable amount of B12, mainly due to concomitant bacteria in soil and/or their aerial surfaces. In this mini-review, we described up-to-date information on B12 sources and bioavailability with reference to the interaction of microbes as B12-producers.}, } @article {pmid29216402, year = {2018}, author = {Tsuno, Y and Fujimatsu, T and Endo, K and Sugiyama, A and Yazaki, K}, title = {Soyasaponins: A New Class of Root Exudates in Soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {366-375}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcx192}, pmid = {29216402}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Plant Exudates/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Saponins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Soybeans/growth & development/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Root exudates are plant metabolites secreted from the roots into the soil. These exudates are involved in many important biological processes, including acquisition of nutrients, defense and signaling to rhizosphere bacteria, such as isoflavones of soybean crucial for the symbiosis with rhizobium. Less is known, however, about other types of root exudates. This study shows that soybean roots secrete large amounts of soyasaponins (triterpenoid glycosides) as root exudates. The soyasaponins are classified into four groups, with group A being the most secreted of these compounds, whereas DDMP (2,3-dihydro-2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one) soyasaponins is the group showing greatest accumulation in root tissues, suggesting a selection system for secreted compounds. Time-course experiments showed that the soyasaponin secretion peaked during early vegetative stages. In particular, soyasaponin Ah was the major compound secreted by soybean roots, whereas the deacetylated derivative Af was the major compound secreted specifically during the VE stage. The secretion of soyasaponins containing glycosyl moieties is an apparent loss of photosynthates. This phenomenon has been also observed in other legume species, although the composition of secreted soyasaponins is plant species dependent. The identification of triterpenoid saponins as major metabolites in legume root exudates will provide novel insights into chemical signaling in the rhizosphere between plants and other organisms.}, } @article {pmid29215202, year = {2018}, author = {Rock, DI and Smith, AH and Joffe, J and Albertus, A and Wong, N and O'Connor, M and Oliver, KM and Russell, JA}, title = {Context-dependent vertical transmission shapes strong endosymbiont community structure in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2039-2056}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14449}, pmid = {29215202}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Coinfection/genetics/*microbiology ; Coxiellaceae/genetics/pathogenicity ; *Ecology ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Peas/parasitology ; Serratia/genetics/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Animal-associated microbiomes are often comprised of structured, multispecies communities, with particular microbes showing trends of co-occurrence or exclusion. Such structure suggests variable community stability, or variable costs and benefits-possibilities with implications for symbiont-driven host adaptation. In this study, we performed systematic screening for maternally transmitted, facultative endosymbionts of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Sampling across six locales, with up to 5 years of collection in each, netted significant and consistent trends of community structure. Co-infections between Serratia symbiotica and Rickettsiella viridis were more common than expected, while Rickettsia and X-type symbionts colonized aphids with Hamiltonella defensa more often than expected. Spiroplasma co-infected with other endosymbionts quite rarely, showing tendencies to colonize as a single species monoculture. Field estimates of maternal transmission rates help to explain our findings: while Serratia and Rickettsiella improved each other's transmission, Spiroplasma reduced transmission rates of co-infecting endosymbionts. In summary, our findings show that North American pea aphids harbour recurring combinations of facultative endosymbionts. Common symbiont partners play distinct roles in pea aphid biology, suggesting the creation of "generalist" aphids receiving symbiont-based defence against multiple ecological stressors. Multimodal selection, at the host level, may thus partially explain our results. But more conclusively, our findings show that within-host microbe interactions, and their resulting impacts on transmission rates, are an important determinant of community structure. Widespread distributions of heritable symbionts across plants and invertebrates hint at the far-reaching implications for these findings, and our work further shows the benefits of symbiosis research within a natural context.}, } @article {pmid29215165, year = {2018}, author = {Hudson, J and Gardiner, M and Deshpande, N and Egan, S}, title = {Transcriptional response of Nautella italica R11 towards its macroalgal host uncovers new mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1820-1832}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14448}, pmid = {29215165}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Quorum Sensing/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Repressor Proteins/genetics ; Rhodobacteraceae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Seaweed/genetics/*microbiology ; Trans-Activators/genetics ; }, abstract = {Macroalgae (seaweeds) are essential for the functioning of temperate marine ecosystems, but there is increasing evidence to suggest that their survival is under threat from anthropogenic stressors and disease. Nautella italica R11 is recognized as an aetiological agent of bleaching disease in the red alga, Delisea pulchra. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the molecular mechanisms involved in this model host-pathogen interaction. Here we report that mutations in the gene encoding for a LuxR-type quorum sensing transcriptional regulator, RaiR, render N. italica R11 avirulent, suggesting this gene is important for regulating the expression of virulence phenotypes. Using an RNA sequencing approach, we observed a strong transcriptional response of N. italica R11 towards the presence of D. pulchra. In particular, genes involved in oxidative stress resistance, carbohydrate and central metabolism were upregulated in the presence of the host, suggesting a role for these functions in the opportunistic pathogenicity of N. italica R11. Furthermore, we show that RaiR regulates a subset of genes in N. italica R11, including those involved in metabolism and the expression of phage-related proteins. The outcome of this research reveals new functions important for virulence of N. italica R11 and contributes to our greater understanding of the complex factors mitigating microbial diseases in macroalgae.}, } @article {pmid29214479, year = {2019}, author = {Krzemińska, AE and Zaręba, AD and Dzikowska, A and Jarosz, KR}, title = {Cities of the future-bionic systems of new urban environment.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {8362-8370}, pmid = {29214479}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Bionics ; Cities ; *City Planning ; Forecasting ; Housing ; Industry ; *Sustainable Development ; }, abstract = {The concepts of the cities we know nowadays, and which we are accustomed to, change at a very rapid pace. The philosophy of their design is also changing. It will base on new standards, entering a completely different, futuristic dimension. This stage is related to changes in the perception of space, location and lack of belonging to definite, national or cultural structures. Cities of the future are cities primarily intelligent, zero-energetic, zero-waste, environmentally sustainable, self-sufficient in terms of both organic food production and symbiosis between the environment and industry. New cities will be able to have new organisational structures-either city states, or, apolitical, jigsaw-like structures that can change their position-like in the case of the city of Artisanopolis, designed as a floating city, close to the land, reminiscent of the legendary Atlantis. This paper is focused on the main issues connected with problems of the contemporary city planning. The purpose of the research was to identify existing technological solutions, whose aim is to use solar energy and urban greenery. The studies were based on literature related to future city development issues and futuristic projects of the architects and city planners. In the paper, the following issues have been verified: futuristic cities and districts, and original bionic buildings, both residential and industrial. The results of the analysis have been presented in a tabular form.}, } @article {pmid29212730, year = {2017}, author = {Perofsky, AC and Lewis, RJ and Abondano, LA and Di Fiore, A and Meyers, LA}, title = {Hierarchical social networks shape gut microbial composition in wild Verreaux's sifaka.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1868}, pages = {}, pmid = {29212730}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Grooming ; Madagascar ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Social Behavior ; Strepsirhini/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In wild primates, social behaviour influences exposure to environmentally acquired and directly transmitted microorganisms. Prior studies indicate that gut microbiota reflect pairwise social interactions among chimpanzee and baboon hosts. Here, we demonstrate that higher-order social network structure-beyond just pairwise interactions-drives gut bacterial composition in wild lemurs, which live in smaller and more cohesive groups than previously studied anthropoid species. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and social network analysis of grooming contacts, we estimate the relative impacts of hierarchical (i.e. multilevel) social structure, individual demographic traits, diet, scent-marking, and habitat overlap on bacteria acquisition in a wild population of Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) consisting of seven social groups. We show that social group membership is clearly reflected in the microbiomes of individual sifaka, and that social groups with denser grooming networks have more homogeneous gut microbial compositions. Within social groups, adults, more gregarious individuals, and individuals that scent-mark frequently harbour the greatest microbial diversity. Thus, the community structure of wild lemurs governs symbiotic relationships by constraining transmission between hosts and partitioning environmental exposure to microorganisms. This social cultivation of mutualistic gut flora may be an evolutionary benefit of tight-knit group living.}, } @article {pmid29212723, year = {2017}, author = {Díaz-Almeyda, EM and Prada, C and Ohdera, AH and Moran, H and Civitello, DJ and Iglesias-Prieto, R and Carlo, TA and LaJeunesse, TC and Medina, M}, title = {Intraspecific and interspecific variation in thermotolerance and photoacclimation in Symbiodinium dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1868}, pages = {}, pmid = {29212723}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; *Light ; Stress, Physiological ; Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {Light and temperature are major drivers in the ecology and biogeography of symbiotic dinoflagellates living in corals and other cnidarians. We examined variations in physiology among 11 strains comprising five species of clade A Symbiodinium We grew cultures at 26°C (control) and 32°C (high temperature) over a duration of 18 days while measuring growth and photochemical efficiency (Fv /Fm). Responses to thermal stress ranged from susceptible to tolerant across species and strains. Most strains exhibited a decrease in cell densities and Fv /Fm when grown at 32°C. Tolerance to high temperature (T32) was calculated for all strains, ranging from 0 (unable to survive at high temperature) to 1 (able survive at high temperature). There was substantial variation in thermotolerance across species and among strains. One strain had a T32 close to 1, indicating that growth was not reduced at 32°C for only this one strain. To evaluate the combined effect of temperature and light on physiological stress, we selected three strains with different levels of thermotolerance (tolerant, intermediate and susceptible) and grew them under five different light intensities (65, 80, 100, 240 and 443 µmol quanta m[-2] s[-1]) at 26 and 32°C. High irradiance exacerbated the effect of high temperature, particularly in strains from thermally sensitive species. This work further supports the recognition that broad physiological differences exist not only among species within Symbiodinium clades, but also among strains within species demonstrating that thermotolerance varies widely between species and among strains within species.}, } @article {pmid29212305, year = {2018}, author = {Kim, SY}, title = {Cancer Energy Metabolism: Shutting Power off Cancer Factory.}, journal = {Biomolecules & therapeutics}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {39-44}, pmid = {29212305}, issn = {1976-9148}, abstract = {In 1923, Dr. Warburg had observed that tumors acidified the Ringer solution when 13 mM glucose was added, which was identified as being due to lactate. When glucose is the only source of nutrient, it can serve for both biosynthesis and energy production. However, a series of studies revealed that the cancer cell consumes glucose for biosynthesis through fermentation, not for energy supply, under physiological conditions. Recently, a new observation was made that there is a metabolic symbiosis in which glycolytic and oxidative tumor cells mutually regulate their energy metabolism. Hypoxic cancer cells use glucose for glycolytic metabolism and release lactate which is used by oxygenated cancer cells. This study challenged the Warburg effect, because Warburg claimed that fermentation by irreversible damaging of mitochondria is a fundamental cause of cancer. However, recent studies revealed that mitochondria in cancer cell show active function of oxidative phosphorylation although TCA cycle is stalled. It was also shown that blocking cytosolic NADH production by aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition, combined with oxidative phosphorylation inhibition, resulted in up to 80% decrease of ATP production, which resulted in a significant regression of tumor growth in the NSCLC model. This suggests a new theory that NADH production in the cytosol plays a key role of ATP production through the mitochondrial electron transport chain in cancer cells, while NADH production is mostly occupied inside mitochondria in normal cells.}, } @article {pmid29211626, year = {2017}, author = {Muggia, L and Mancinelli, R and Tønsberg, T and Jablonska, A and Kukwa, M and Palice, Z}, title = {Molecular analyses uncover the phylogenetic placement of the lichenized hyphomycetous genus Cheiromycina.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {4}, pages = {588-600}, pmid = {29211626}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/cytology/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Europe ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Mitosporic Fungi/*classification/cytology/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Bark/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; United States ; }, abstract = {The genus Cheiromycina is one of the few genera of lichenized hyphomycetes for which no sexual reproductive stages have been observed. The genus includes species from boreal to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere where it is found growing on bark or wood. Congeners in Cheiromycina are characterized by a noncorticate thallus, nearly immersed in the substrate and presenting powdery unpigmented sporodochia, and containing chlorococcoid photobionts. The relationships of members of Cheiromycina with other fungi are not known. Here we inferred the phylogenetic placement of Cheiromycina using three loci (nuSSU, nuLSU, and mtSSU) representing C. flabelliformis, the type species for the genus, C. petri, and C. reimeri. Our results revealed that the genus Cheiromycina is found within the family Malmideaceae (Lecanorales) where members formed a monophyletic clade sister to the genera Savoronala and Malmidea. This phylogenetic placement and the relationships of Cheiromycina with other lichenized hyphomycetous taxa are here discussed.}, } @article {pmid29211362, year = {2017}, author = {Iwańczak, BM and Buchner, AM and Iwańczak, F}, title = {Clinical differences of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.}, journal = {Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {1131-1136}, doi = {10.17219/acem/60581}, pmid = {29211362}, issn = {1899-5276}, mesh = {Child ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy/epidemiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Prevalence ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori infection is widely spread all over the world. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the world varies and depends on numerous factors such as age, ethnicity, geographical and socioeconomic status. Humans have been in a symbiotic relationship with this bacterium for thousands of years. However 10-20% of people infected with H. pylori are likely to develop gastroduodenal diseases such as peptic ulcer disease, iron deficiency anemia, gastric mucosal atrophy, metaplasia, dysplasia, MALT lymphoma, or gastric adenocarcinoma. Most of these diseases develop as the infection progresses and they are likely to occur later in life among the elderly. In the following years, the use of modern molecular techniques has led to the discovery of new Helicobacter strains and their genotypic differentiation. Newly discovered Helicobacter microorganisms can colonize human gastrointestinal tract and bile ducts. This article summarizes the distinct features of H. pylori infection in children including its prevalence, clinical manifestation, indications for treatment and recommended schemes of eradication.}, } @article {pmid29210566, year = {2018}, author = {Veličković, D and Chu, RK and Carrell, AA and Thomas, M and Paša-Tolić, L and Weston, DJ and Anderton, CR}, title = {Multimodal MSI in Conjunction with Broad Coverage Spatially Resolved MS[2] Increases Confidence in Both Molecular Identification and Localization.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {702-707}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04319}, pmid = {29210566}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Ascomycota/metabolism ; Biological Products/*analysis ; Multimodal Imaging/*methods ; Nostoc muscorum/metabolism ; Solid Phase Extraction/*methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Sphagnopsida/metabolism ; }, abstract = {One critical aspect of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is the need to confidently identify detected analytes. While orthogonal tandem MS (e.g., LC-MS[2]) experiments from sample extracts can assist in annotating ions, the spatial information about these molecules is lost. Accordingly, this could cause mislead conclusions, especially in cases where isobaric species exhibit different distributions within a sample. In this Technical Note, we employed a multimodal imaging approach, using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI and liquid extraction surface analysis (LESA)-MS[2]I, to confidently annotate and localize a broad range of metabolites involved in a tripartite symbiosis system of moss, cyanobacteria, and fungus. We found that the combination of these two imaging modalities generated very congruent ion images, providing the link between highly accurate structural information onfered by LESA and high spatial resolution attainable by MALDI. These results demonstrate how this combined methodology could be very useful in differentiating metabolite routes in complex systems.}, } @article {pmid29209973, year = {2018}, author = {Kong, X and Jia, Y and Song, F and Tian, K and Lin, H and Bei, Z and Jia, X and Yao, B and Guo, P and Tian, X}, title = {Insight into litter decomposition driven by nutrient demands of symbiosis system through the hypha bridge of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {5369-5378}, pmid = {29209973}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Hyphae/enzymology/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis/metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in litter decomposition. This study investigated how soil nutrient level affected the process. Results showed that AMF colonization had no significant effect on litter decomposition under normal soil nutrient conditions. However, litter decomposition was accelerated significantly under lower nutrient conditions. Soil microbial biomass in decomposition system was significantly increased. Especially, in moderate lower nutrient treatment (condition of half-normal soil nutrient), litters exhibited the highest decomposition rate, AMF hypha revealed the greatest density, and enzymes (especially nitrate reductase) showed the highest activities as well. Meanwhile, the immobilization of nitrogen (N) in the decomposing litter remarkably decreased. Our results suggested that the roles AMF played in ecosystem were largely affected by soil nutrient levels. At normal soil nutrient level, AMF exhibited limited effects in promoting decomposition. When soil nutrient level decreased, the promoting effect of AMF on litter decomposition began to appear, especially on N mobilization. However, under extremely low nutrient conditions, AMF showed less influence on decomposition and may even compete with decomposer microorganisms for nutrients.}, } @article {pmid29209298, year = {2017}, author = {Muhammad, A and Fang, Y and Hou, Y and Shi, Z}, title = {The Gut Entomotype of Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) and Their Effect on Host Nutrition Metabolism.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2291}, pmid = {29209298}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {For invasive insects, the potential roles of gut microbiota in exploiting new food resources and spreading remain elusive. Red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is an invasive destructive pest which feeds on nutrient-poor tender tissues and has caused extensive mortality of palm trees. The microbes associated with insects can improve their nutrition assimilation. However, experimental evidence on the interactions between RPW and its gut microbiota is still absent. The aim of this study is to determine the dynamics changes and the bacterial entomotype in the RPW gut and its potential physiological roles. Here, we confirmed RPW harbors a complex gut microbiota mainly constituted by bacteria in the families Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Entomoplasmataceae, and Streptococcaceae. RPW gut microbiota exhibited a highly stable microbial community with low variance in abundance across different life stages and host plants. Furthermore, the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae was markedly increased but that of Acetobacteraceae was reduced significantly after administration of antibiotics. Although no significant effects were found on the body weight gain of RPW larvae, these alterations dramatically decreased the concentration of hemolymph protein and glucose while that of hemolymph triglyceride increased. In the gut of wild-caught RPW larvae, seven bacterial species in the genera Klebsiella, Serratia, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter were shown to have an ability to degrade cellulose. Together, RPW accommodate a stable gut microbiota which can degrade plant polysaccharides and confer their host optimal adaptation to its environment by modulating its metabolism.}, } @article {pmid29209294, year = {2017}, author = {Yan, H and Xie, JB and Ji, ZJ and Yuan, N and Tian, CF and Ji, SK and Wu, ZY and Zhong, L and Chen, WX and Du, ZL and Wang, ET and Chen, WF}, title = {Evolutionarily Conserved nodE, nodO, T1SS, and Hydrogenase System in Rhizobia of Astragalus membranaceus and Caragana intermedia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2282}, pmid = {29209294}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium species are the main microsymbionts associated with the medicinal or sand-fixation plants Astragalus membranaceus and Caragana intermedia (AC) in temperate regions of China, while all the Mesorhizobium strains isolated from each of these plants could nodulate both of them. However, Rhizobium yanglingense strain CCBAU01603 could nodulate AC plants and it's a high efficiency symbiotic and competitive strain with Caragana. Therefore, the common features shared by these symbiotic rhizobia in genera of Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium still remained undiscovered. In order to study the genomic background influencing the host preference of these AC symbiotic strains, the whole genomes of two (M. silamurunense CCBAU01550, M. silamurunense CCBAU45272) and five representative strains (M. septentrionale CCBAU01583, M. amorphae CCBAU01570, M. caraganae CCBAU01502, M. temperatum CCBAU01399, and R. yanglingense CCBAU01603) originally isolated from AC plants were sequenced, respectively. As results, type III secretion systems (T3SS) of AC rhizobia evolved in an irregular pattern, while an evolutionarily specific region including nodE, nodO, T1SS, and a hydrogenase system was detected to be conserved in all these AC rhizobia. Moreover, nodO was verified to be prevalently distributed in other AC rhizobia and was presumed as a factor affecting the nodule formation process. In conclusion, this research interpreted the multifactorial features of the AC rhizobia that may be associated with their host specificity at cross-nodulation group, including nodE, nodZ, T1SS as the possible main determinants; and nodO, hydrogenase system, and T3SS as factors regulating the bacteroid formation or nitrogen fixation efficiency.}, } @article {pmid29209193, year = {2017}, author = {Fernández-Caballero, A and Navarro, E and Fernández-Sotos, P and González, P and Ricarte, JJ and Latorre, JM and Rodriguez-Jimenez, R}, title = {Human-Avatar Symbiosis for the Treatment of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia through Virtual/Augmented Reality and Brain-Computer Interfaces.}, journal = {Frontiers in neuroinformatics}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {64}, pmid = {29209193}, issn = {1662-5196}, abstract = {This perspective paper faces the future of alternative treatments that take advantage of a social and cognitive approach with regards to pharmacological therapy of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in patients with schizophrenia. AVH are the perception of voices in the absence of auditory stimulation and represents a severe mental health symptom. Virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) and brain computer interfaces (BCI) are technologies that are growing more and more in different medical and psychological applications. Our position is that their combined use in computer-based therapies offers still unforeseen possibilities for the treatment of physical and mental disabilities. This is why, the paper expects that researchers and clinicians undergo a pathway toward human-avatar symbiosis for AVH by taking full advantage of new technologies. This outlook supposes to address challenging issues in the understanding of non-pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia-related disorders and the exploitation of VR/AR and BCI to achieve a real human-avatar symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29207272, year = {2017}, author = {Dale, C}, title = {Evolution: Weevils Get Tough on Symbiotic Tyrosine.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {23}, pages = {R1282-R1284}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.10.031}, pmid = {29207272}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hardness ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tyrosine/genetics ; Weevils/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Weevils, which represent one of the most diverse groups of terrestrial insects in nature, obtain a tough exoskeleton through the activity of an ancient bacterial symbiont with a tiny genome that serves as a factory for the production of tyrosine.}, } @article {pmid29207222, year = {2017}, author = {Di Iorio, BR and Marzocco, S and Nardone, L and Sirico, M and De Simone, E and Di Natale, G and Di Micco, L}, title = {Urea and impairment of the Gut-Kidney axis in Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Giornale italiano di nefrologia : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di nefrologia}, volume = {34}, number = {Nov-Dec}, pages = {}, pmid = {29207222}, issn = {1724-5990}, mesh = {Aging/physiology ; Animals ; Diet, Mediterranean ; Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; Dietary Proteins/metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Dysbiosis/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Kidney/*physiopathology ; Mice ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*metabolism/microbiology/physiopathology ; Toxins, Biological/*biosynthesis ; Urea/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota can be considered a real organ coordinating health and wellness of our body. It is made of more than 100 trillions of microorganisms, thus about 3 times higher than the number of human body cells and more than 150 times than human genes containing 1000 different microbe species. It has been described a symbiotic relationship between gut and kidney, confirmed by several observations. This is a bi-directional relation with a mutual influence, even when kidney disease occurs, and consequent alterations of intestinal microbiota and production of uremic toxins, that in turn worsens kidney disease and its progression. Our review analyzes the components of gut-kidney axis and relative clinical consequences.}, } @article {pmid29206293, year = {2018}, author = {Storer, K and Coggan, A and Ineson, P and Hodge, A}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce nitrous oxide emissions from N2 O hotspots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {220}, number = {4}, pages = {1285-1295}, pmid = {29206293}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/GO16801/1)//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK/International ; //British Mycological Society/International ; }, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrous Oxide/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitrous oxide (N2 O) is a potent, globally important, greenhouse gas, predominantly released from agricultural soils during nitrogen (N) cycling. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutualistic symbiosis with two-thirds of land plants, providing phosphorus and/or N in exchange for carbon. As AMF acquire N, it was hypothesized that AMF hyphae may reduce N2 O production. AMF hyphae were either allowed (AMF) or prevented (nonAMF) access to a compartment containing an organic matter and soil patch in two independent microcosm experiments. Compartment and patch N2 O production was measured both before and after addition of ammonium and nitrate. In both experiments, N2 O production decreased when AMF hyphae were present before inorganic N addition. In the presence of AMF hyphae, N2 O production remained low following ammonium application, but increased in the nonAMF controls. By contrast, negligible N2 O was produced following nitrate application to either AMF treatment. Thus, the main N2 O source in this system appeared to be via nitrification, and the production of N2 O was reduced in the presence of AMF hyphae. It is hypothesized that AMF hyphae may be outcompeting slow-growing nitrifiers for ammonium. This has significant global implications for our understanding of soil N cycling pathways and N2 O production.}, } @article {pmid29205604, year = {2018}, author = {Aung, K and Jiang, Y and He, SY}, title = {The role of water in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {771-780}, pmid = {29205604}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {K99 GM115766/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM115766/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM109928/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humidity ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Stomata/microbiology/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; *Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Throughout their life plants are associated with various microorganisms, including commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms. Pathogens are genetically adapted to aggressively colonize and proliferate in host plants to cause disease. However, disease outbreaks occur only under permissive environmental conditions. The interplay between host, pathogen and environment is famously known as the 'disease triangle'. Among the environmental factors, rainfall events, which often create a period of high atmospheric humidity, have repeatedly been shown to promote disease outbreaks in plants, suggesting that the availability of water is crucial for pathogenesis. During pathogen infection, water-soaking spots are frequently observed on infected leaves as an early symptom of disease. Recent studies have shown that pathogenic bacteria dedicate specialized virulence proteins to create an aqueous habitat inside the leaf apoplast under high humidity. Water availability in the apoplastic environment, and probably other associated changes, can determine the success of potentially pathogenic microbes. These new findings reinforce the notion that the fight over water may be a major battleground between plants and pathogens. In this article, we will discuss the role of water availability in host-microbe interactions, with a focus on plant-bacterial interactions.}, } @article {pmid29204223, year = {2017}, author = {Dos Santos, EL and Alves da Silva, F and Barbosa da Silva, FS}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase the Phenolic Compounds Concentration in the Bark of the Stem of Libidibia Ferrea in Field Conditions.}, journal = {The open microbiology journal}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {283-291}, pmid = {29204223}, issn = {1874-2858}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Libidibia ferrea is a species particular to the caatinga presenting medicinal properties for containing bioactive compounds. The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can increase the production of biomolecules in the legume leaves; however, no light has been shed on the role of symbiosis in maximizing metabolites production in the bark of L. ferrea stem.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to select AMF that are efficient at increasing the production of phenolic compounds with medicinal properties in the bark of the L. ferrea stem.

METHODS: The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four inoculation treatments (plants pre-inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, with Gigaspora albida, with Acaulospora longula, and non-inoculated plants - control) with six repetitions. Thirteen months after the transplanting, the plants were pruned and the bark of the stem was collected; subsequently, this plant material was dried in a chamber. After the drying process, fractions of the bark of the stem were macerated in methanol. The extracts were further used for analyses of the biomolecules.

RESULTS: The flavonoids concentration had an increase of, respectively, 236% and 186% in relation to the control for the treatments with A. longula and C. etunicatum; plants inoculated with A. longula had an increase of 47% in total tannins concentration compared with the non-inoculated control - a benefit that the proanthocyanidins did not present.

CONCLUSION: Applying inoculation with A. longula may be an alternative to increase the production of biomolecules of the secondary metabolism in the bark of the L. ferrea stem in field conditions.}, } @article {pmid29204150, year = {2017}, author = {Ranjbar Sistani, N and Kaul, HP and Desalegn, G and Wienkoop, S}, title = {Rhizobium Impacts on Seed Productivity, Quality, and Protection of Pisum sativum upon Disease Stress Caused by Didymella pinodes: Phenotypic, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Traits.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1961}, pmid = {29204150}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {P 24870/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {In field peas, ascochyta blight is one of the most common fungal diseases caused by Didymella pinodes. Despite the high diversity of pea cultivars, only little resistance has been developed until to date, still leading to significant losses in grain yield. Rhizobia as plant growth promoting endosymbionts are the main partners for establishment of symbiosis with pea plants. The key role of Rhizobium as an effective nitrogen source for legumes seed quality and quantity improvement is in line with sustainable agriculture and food security programs. Besides these growth promoting effects, Rhizobium symbiosis has been shown to have a priming impact on the plants immune system that enhances resistance against environmental perturbations. This is the first integrative study that investigates the effect of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae (Rlv) on phenotypic seed quality, quantity and fungal disease in pot grown pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars with two different resistance levels against D. pinodes through metabolomics and proteomics analyses. In addition, the pathogen effects on seed quantity components and quality are assessed at morphological and molecular level. Rhizobium inoculation decreased disease severity by significant reduction of seed infection level. Rhizobium symbiont enhanced yield through increased seed fresh and dry weights based on better seed filling. Rhizobium inoculation also induced changes in seed proteome and metabolome involved in enhanced P. sativum resistance level against D. pinodes. Besides increased redox and cell wall adjustments light is shed on the role of late embryogenesis abundant proteins and metabolites such as the seed triterpenoid Soyasapogenol. The results of this study open new insights into the significance of symbiotic Rhizobium interactions for crop yield, health and seed quality enhancement and reveal new metabolite candidates involved in pathogen resistance.}, } @article {pmid29203330, year = {2018}, author = {Hoinville, ME and Wollenberg, AC}, title = {Changes in Caenorhabditis elegans gene expression following exposure to Photorhabdus luminescens strain TT01.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {165-176}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2017.09.005}, pmid = {29203330}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*genetics/immunology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Infections ; Insecta/*physiology ; Larva ; Photorhabdus/*immunology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus bacteria enter into a mutualistic symbiosis with Heterorhabditis nematodes to infect insect larvae. However, they rapidly kill the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. One hypothesis for these divergent outcomes is that the nematode defense responses differ. To begin testing this hypothesis, we have systematically analyzed available data on the transcriptional response of C. elegans to P. luminescens strain Hb. From a starting pool of over 7000 differentially expressed genes, we carefully chose 21 Heterorhabditis-conserved genes to develop as comparative markers. Using newly designed and validated qRT-PCR primers, we measured expression of these genes in C. elegans exposed to the sequenced TT01 strain of P. luminescens, on two different media types. Almost all (18/21) of the genes showed a significant response to P. luminescens strain TT01. One response is dependent on media type, and a subset of genes may respond differentially to distinct strains. Overall, we have established useful resources and generated new hypotheses regarding how C. elegans responds to P. luminescens infection.}, } @article {pmid29202309, year = {2018}, author = {Grimonprez, A and Molza, A and Laurent, MCZ and Mansot, JL and Gros, O}, title = {Thioautotrophic ectosymbiosis in Pseudovorticella sp., a peritrich ciliate species colonizing wood falls in marine mangrove.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {43-55}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2017.11.002}, pmid = {29202309}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/ultrastructure ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Oligohymenophorea/genetics/*microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Wood/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Ciliates represent a diversified group of protists known to establish symbioses with prokaryotic micro-organisms. They are mainly phagotrophs and symbiotic relationships with bacteria can give them an important advantage in chemosynthetic environments. The aim of this study is to describe the thiotrophic association that occurs between the peritrich ciliate Pseudovorticella sp. and potential sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Investigations at microscopic scale (LM, SEM, TEM) showed ectosymbiotic bacteria covering the surface of the body of Pseudovorticella sp. According to 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, these ectosymbiotic bacteria belong to γ-proteobacteria and are phylogenetically close to the symbiont of the recently described Zoothamnium ignavum, which inhabits shallow-water wood falls. FISH experiments, using symbiont specific probes, clearly indicate that these ectosymbiotic bacteria are also ingested into food vacuoles. Electron lucent granules observed in TEM in the cytoplasm of the ectosymbiotic bacteria have been identified as sulfur granules by Raman microspectrometry analyses. Raman microspectrometry analyses confirmed the thiotrophic nature of this relationship already suggested by the results obtained by TEM and phylogeny. A complete sulfur map was then performed to investigate the sulfur distribution in the zooid. Results show that the relationship between this protist and its bacterial partner is a thiotrophic ectosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29201591, year = {2017}, author = {Ozcelik, D and Cai, H and Leake, KD and Hawkins, AR and Schmidt, H}, title = {Optofluidic bioanalysis: fundamentals and applications.}, journal = {Nanophotonics}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {647-661}, pmid = {29201591}, issn = {2192-8606}, support = {R01 AI116989/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R33 AI100229/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Over the past decade, optofluidics has established itself as a new and dynamic research field for exciting developments at the interface of photonics, microfluidics, and the life sciences. The strong desire for developing miniaturized bioanalytic devices and instruments, in particular, has led to novel and powerful approaches to integrating optical elements and biological fluids on the same chip-scale system. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in optofluidic research with emphasis on applications in bioanalysis and a focus on waveguide-based approaches that represent the most advanced level of integration between optics and fluidics. We discuss recent work in photonically reconfigurable devices and various application areas. We show how optofluidic approaches have been pushing the performance limits in bioanalysis, e.g. in terms of sensitivity and portability, satisfying many of the key requirements for point-of-care devices. This illustrates how the requirements for bianalysis instruments are increasingly being met by the symbiotic integration of novel photonic capabilities in a miniaturized system.}, } @article {pmid29201032, year = {2017}, author = {Jauregui, E and Du, L and Gleason, C and Poovaiah, BW}, title = {W342F Mutation in CCaMK Enhances Its Affinity to Calmodulin But Compromises Its Role in Supporting Root Nodule Symbiosis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1921}, pmid = {29201032}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is regulated by free Ca[2+] and Ca[2+]-loaded calmodulin. This dual binding is believed to be involved in its regulation and associated physiological functions, although direct experimental evidence for this is lacking. Here we document that site-directed mutations in the calmodulin-binding domain of CCaMK alters its binding capacity to calmodulin, providing an effective approach to study how calmodulin regulates CCaMK in terms of kinase activity and regulation of rhizobial symbiosis in Medicago truncatula. We observed that mutating the tryptophan at position 342 to phenylalanine (W342F) markedly increased the calmodulin-binding capability of the mutant. The mutant CCaMK underwent autophosphorylation and catalyzed substrate phosphorylation in the absence of calcium and calmodulin. When the mutant W342F was expressed in ccamk-1 roots, the transgenic roots exhibited an altered nodulation phenotype. These results indicate that altering the calmodulin-binding domain of CCaMK could generate a constitutively activated kinase with a negative role in the physiological function of CCaMK.}, } @article {pmid29199214, year = {2017}, author = {Mitsui, H and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Expression of Two RpoH Sigma Factors in Sinorhizobium meliloti upon Heat Shock.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {394-397}, pmid = {29199214}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Heat-Shock Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Heat-Shock Response/genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sigma Factor/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The plant symbiotic α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti has two RpoH-type sigma factors, RpoH1 and RpoH2. The former induces the synthesis of heat shock proteins and optimizes interactions with the host. Using a Western blot analysis, we examined time course changes in the intracellular contents of these factors upon a temperature upshift. The RpoH1 level was relatively high and constant, suggesting that its regulatory role in the heat shock response is attained through the activation of the pre-existing RpoH1 protein. In contrast, the RpoH2 level was initially undetectable, and gradually increased. These differential patterns reflect the functional diversification of these factors.}, } @article {pmid29199178, year = {2017}, author = {Ip, YK and Koh, CZY and Hiong, KC and Choo, CYL and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Neo, ML and Chew, SF}, title = {Carbonic anhydrase 2-like in the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa: characterization, localization, response to light, and possible role in the transport of inorganic carbon from the host to its symbionts.}, journal = {Physiological reports}, volume = {5}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {29199178}, issn = {2051-817X}, mesh = {Animal Shells/metabolism ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*enzymology/parasitology ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase II/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/pathogenicity ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/radiation effects ; Sunlight ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, lives in symbiosis with zooxanthellae which reside extracellularly inside a tubular system. Zooxanthellae fix inorganic carbon (Ci) during insolation and donate photosynthate to the host. Carbonic anhydrases catalyze the interconversion of CO2 and HCO3-, of which carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2) is the most ubiquitous and involved in many biological processes. This study aimed to clone a CA2 homolog (CA2-like) from the fleshy and colorful outer mantle as well as the thin and whitish inner mantle of T. squamosa, to determine its cellular and subcellular localization, and to examine the effects of light exposure on its gene and protein expression levels. The cDNA coding sequence of CA2-like from T. squamosa comprised 789 bp, encoding 263 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 29.6 kDa. A phenogramic analysis of the deduced CA2-like sequence denoted an animal origin. CA2-like was not detectable in the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle adjacent to the extrapallial fluid. Hence, CA2-like is unlikely to participate directly in light-enhanced calcification. By contrast, the outer mantle, which contains the highest density of tertiary tubules and zooxanthellae, displayed high level of CA2-like expression, and CA2-like was localized to the tubule epithelial cells. More importantly, exposure to light induced significant increases in the protein abundance of CA2-like in the outer mantle. Hence, CA2-like could probably take part in the increased supply of inorganic carbon (Ci) from the host clam to the symbiotic zooxanthellae when the latter conduct photosynthesis to fix Ci during light exposure.}, } @article {pmid29198596, year = {2018}, author = {Benidire, L and Lahrouni, M and Daoui, K and Fatemi, ZEA and Gomez Carmona, R and Göttfert, M and Oufdou, K}, title = {Phenotypic and genetic diversity of Moroccan rhizobia isolated from Vicia faba and study of genes that are likely to be involved in their osmotolerance.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {51-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.09.003}, pmid = {29198596}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Biological Variation, Population ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Morocco ; *Osmotic Pressure ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Potassium/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Sulfates/metabolism ; Temperature ; Trehalose/metabolism ; Vicia faba/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules of legumes. In Morocco, faba bean (Vicia faba L.), which is the main legume crop cultivated in the country, is often grown in marginal soils of arid and semi-arid regions. This study examines the phenotypic diversity of rhizobia nodulating V. faba isolated from different regions in Morocco for tolerance to some abiotic stresses. A total of 106 rhizobia strains isolated from nodules were identified at the species level by analysing 16S rDNA. Additionally, for selected strains recA, otsA, kup and nodA fragments were sequenced. 102 isolates are likely to belong to Rhizobium leguminosarum or R. laguerreae and 4 isolates to Ensifer meliloti. All strains tolerating salt concentrations of 428 or 342mM NaCl as well as 127 or 99mM Na2SO4 were highly resistant to alkaline conditions (pH 10) and high temperature (44°C). Three strains: RhOF4 and RhOF53 (both are salt-tolerant) and RhOF6 (salt-sensitive) were selected to compare the influence of different levels of salt stress induced by NaCl on growth and on trehalose and potassium accumulation. We find a direct correlation between the trehalose contents of the rhizobial strains and their osmotolerance.}, } @article {pmid29198451, year = {2017}, author = {Ximenez, C and Torres, J}, title = {Development of Microbiota in Infants and its Role in Maturation of Gut Mucosa and Immune System.}, journal = {Archives of medical research}, volume = {48}, number = {8}, pages = {666-680}, doi = {10.1016/j.arcmed.2017.11.007}, pmid = {29198451}, issn = {1873-5487}, mesh = {Child Development/*physiology ; Delivery, Obstetric/adverse effects/methods ; Dysbiosis/etiology/microbiology/prevention & control ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; Infant ; Infant Care/methods ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/microbiology ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with increasing numbers of diseases, including obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, allergy, cancer and even neurologic or behavioral disorders. The other side of the coin is that a healthy microbiota leads to a healthy human development, to a mature and well trained immune system and to an efficient metabolic machinery. What we have learned in adults is in the end the result of a good start, a programmed, healthy development of the microbiota that must occur in the early years of life, probably even starting during the fetal stage. This review aims to present and discuss reports that helps us understand what we have learned of the development of microbiota during the early times of life, from pregnancy to delivery to the early years after birth. The impact of the establishment of "healthy" bacterial communities on human surfaces in the maturation of epithelia, immune system and metabolism will also be discussed. The right process of maturation of the bacterial communities that establish a symbiosis with human surfaces depends on a number of environmental, genetic and temporal factors that need to be understand in order to have tools to monitor a healthy development and eventually intervene to correct undesired courses.}, } @article {pmid29197817, year = {2018}, author = {Rashid, N and Park, WK and Selvaratnam, T}, title = {Binary culture of microalgae as an integrated approach for enhanced biomass and metabolites productivity, wastewater treatment, and bioflocculation.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {194}, number = {}, pages = {67-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.108}, pmid = {29197817}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Bacteria/cytology/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cell Culture Techniques/*methods ; Flocculation ; Microalgae/*cytology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ecological studies of microalgae have revealed their potential to co-exist in the natural environment. It provides an evidence of the symbiotic relationship of microalgae with other microorganisms. The symbiosis potential of microalgae is inherited with distinct advantages, providing a venue for their scale-up applications. The deployment of large-scale microalgae applications is limited due to the technical challenges such as slow growth rate, low metabolites yield, and high risk of biomass contamination by unwanted bacteria. However, these challenges can be overcome by exploring symbiotic potential of microalgae. In a symbiotic system, photosynthetic microalgae co-exist with bacteria, fungi, as well as heterotrophic microalgae. In this consortium, they can exchange nutrients and metabolites, transfer gene, and interact with each other through complex metabolic mechanism. Microalgae in this system, termed as a binary culture, are reported to exhibit high growth rate, enhanced bio-flocculation, and biochemical productivity without experiencing contamination. Binary culture also offers interesting applications in other biotechnological processes including bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and production of high-value metabolites. The focus of the study is to provide a perspective to enhance the understanding about microalgae binary culture. In this review, the mechanism of binary culture, its potential, and limitations are briefly discussed. A number of queries are evolved through this study, which needs to be answered by executing future research to assess the real potential of binary culture.}, } @article {pmid29197615, year = {2018}, author = {Mao, Q and Jiang, F and Yin, R and Wang, J and Xia, W and Dong, G and Ma, W and Yang, Y and Xu, L and Hu, J}, title = {Interplay between the lung microbiome and lung cancer.}, journal = {Cancer letters}, volume = {415}, number = {}, pages = {40-48}, doi = {10.1016/j.canlet.2017.11.036}, pmid = {29197615}, issn = {1872-7980}, mesh = {Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology/therapy ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Lung/*microbiology ; Lung Neoplasms/*microbiology/therapy ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome confers benefits or disease susceptibility to the human body through multiple pathways. Disruption of the symbiotic balance of the human microbiome is commonly found in systematic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and chronic gastric diseases. Emerging evidence has suggested that dysbiosis of the microbiota may also play vital roles in carcinogenesis at multiple levels, e.g., by affecting metabolic, inflammatory, or immune pathways. Although the impact of the gut microbiome on the digestive cancer has been widely explored, few studies have investigated the interplay between the microbiome and lung cancer. Some recent studies have shown that certain microbes and microbiota dysbiosis are correlated with development of lung cancer. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize current research findings describing the relationship between the lung microbiome and lung cancer. We further discuss the potential mechanisms through which the lung microbiome may play a role in lung carcinogenesis and impact lung cancer treatment. A better knowledge of the interplay between the lung microbiome and lung cancer may promote the development of innovative strategies for early prevention and personalized treatment in lung cancer.}, } @article {pmid29196290, year = {2018}, author = {Ballinger, MJ and Moore, LD and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Evolution and Diversity of Inherited Spiroplasma Symbionts in Myrmica Ants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29196290}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Saporins/genetics ; Spiroplasma/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Microbial partners play important roles in the biology and ecology of animals. In insects, maternally transmitted symbionts are especially common and can have host effects ranging from reproductive manipulation to nutrient provisioning and defense against natural enemies. In this study, we report a genus-wide association of Myrmica ants with the inherited bacterial symbiont Spiroplasma We screen Myrmica ants collected from the wild, including the invasive European fire ant, Myrmica rubra, and find an extraordinarily high prevalence of this symbiont-8 of 9 species, 42 of 43 colonies, and 250 of 276 individual workers harbored Spiroplasma-only one host species was uninfected. In our screens, each host species carried a distinct Spiroplasma strain, and none were infected with more than one strain. All symbionts belong to the citri clade, allied most closely with pathogenic strains of Spiroplasma infecting corn crops and honeybees, and there is strong evidence of host-symbiont persistence across evolutionary time scales. Genome sequencing of two Spiroplasma symbionts revealed candidate genes that may play a part in the symbiosis, a nutrient transporter absent from other Spiroplasma strains, and a ribosome-inactivating protein previously implicated in parasite defense. These results together suggest long-term, likely mutualistic, relationships atypical of Spiroplasma-insect associations with potential significance for broad ecological interactions with MyrmicaIMPORTANCE Animal-associated microbial symbionts can dramatically affect the biology of their hosts. The identification and characterization of these intimate partnerships remain an essential component of describing and predicting species interactions, especially for invasive host species. Ants perform crucial ecological functions as ecosystem engineers, scavengers, and predators, and ants in the genus Myrmica can be aggressive resource competitors and reach high densities in their native and invaded habitats. In this study, a novel symbiosis is identified between Myrmica ants and the facultative bacterial symbiont Spiroplasma Broad host distribution, high frequencies of infection, and host-symbiont codivergence over evolutionary time scales, an uncommon feature of Spiroplasma associations, suggest an important likely mutualistic interaction. Genome sequencing identified highly divergent gene candidates that may contribute to Spiroplasma's role as a possible defensive or nutritional partner in Myrmica.}, } @article {pmid29195678, year = {2017}, author = {Capurso, G and Lahner, E}, title = {The interaction between smoking, alcohol and the gut microbiome.}, journal = {Best practice & research. Clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {579-588}, doi = {10.1016/j.bpg.2017.10.006}, pmid = {29195678}, issn = {1532-1916}, mesh = {Alcohol Drinking/*adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Smoking/*adverse effects ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal microbiome is a complex echosystem that establishes a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relation with the host, being rather stable in health, but affected by age, drugs, diet, alcohol, and smoking. Alcohol and smoking contribute to changes in the stomach and affect H pylori-related disorders including the risk of gastric cancer. In the small intestine and in the colon alcohol causes depletion of bacteria with anti-inflammatory activity, eventually resulting in intestinal damage with "leaky gut". These changes contribute to hepatic damage in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease and have been associated with other disorders. Lactobacillus GG and A. muciniphila exert a protective effect in this setting. Smoking leads to modifications of the gut microbiome linked with a protective effect toward ulcerative colitis and deleterious for Crohn's disease. The exact cause-effect relation between alcohol and smoking and changes of the gastrointestinal microbiome needs further exploration with high throughput methodologies, and controlled studies are necessary to define the role of microbiome modulation on the immune response and systemic activation of pro-inflammatory pathways.}, } @article {pmid29194987, year = {2018}, author = {Steinert, G and Gutleben, J and Atikana, A and Wijffels, RH and Smidt, H and Sipkema, D}, title = {Coexistence of poribacterial phylotypes among geographically widespread and phylogenetically divergent sponge hosts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {80-91}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12609}, pmid = {29194987}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Porifera/classification/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are benthic 'filter-feeding' invertebrates that can host dense and diverse bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic communities. Due to the finding of several genes encoding symbiosis factors, such as adhesins, ankyrin repeats and tetratricopeptide repeats, the candidate phylum 'Poribacteria' is considered as a promising model microorganism for studying the origin of host-symbiont interactions in sponges. However, relatively little is known about its global diversity and phylogenetic distribution among different sponge hosts. Therefore, in this study we investigated phylogenetic relationships among poribacterial phylotypes and generated a phylogenetic network to examine the distribution and intraspecific diversity of the phylotypes between phylogenetically divergent host-sponges at a global scale. For this study 361 poribacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained by Sanger sequencing from 15 different countries and 8 marine regions were gathered. We could demonstrate that the candidate phylum 'Poribacteria' is composed of diverse phylotypes, which are distributed among a wide range of phylogenetically divergent sponge hosts. The current phylogenetic analyses found neither conclusive evidence for co-speciation with its hosts, nor biogeographical correlation. Moreover, we identified a novel poribacterial clade, which might represent a link between the previously established four 'Poribacteria' clades.}, } @article {pmid29194913, year = {2018}, author = {Kelly, S and Sullivan, JT and Kawaharada, Y and Radutoiu, S and Ronson, CW and Stougaard, J}, title = {Regulation of Nod factor biosynthesis by alternative NodD proteins at distinct stages of symbiosis provides additional compatibility scrutiny.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {97-110}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.14006}, pmid = {29194913}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {268523/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Intramolecular Lyases/genetics ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Type IV Secretion Systems/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Lotus japonicus symbiont Mesorhizobium loti R7A encodes two copies of nodD and here we identify striking differences in Nod factor biosynthesis gene induction by NodD1 and NodD2 both in vitro and in planta. We demonstrate that induction of Nod factor biosynthesis genes is preferentially controlled by NodD1 and NodD2 at specific stages of symbiotic infection. NodD2 is primarily responsible for induction in the rhizosphere and within nodules, while NodD1 is primarily responsible for induction within root hair infection threads. nodD1 and nodD2 mutants showed significant symbiotic phenotypes and competition studies establish that nodD1 and nodD2 mutants were severely outcompeted by wild-type R7A, indicating that both proteins are required for proficient symbiotic infection. These results suggest preferential activation of NodD1 and NodD2 by different inducing compounds produced at defined stages of symbiotic infection. We identified Lotus chalcone isomerase CHI4 as a root hair induced candidate involved in the biosynthesis of an inducer compound that may be preferentially recognized by NodD1 within root hair infection threads. We propose an alternative explanation for the function of multiple copies of nodD that provides the host plant with another level of compatibility scrutiny at the stage of infection thread development.}, } @article {pmid29194664, year = {2018}, author = {Bastías, DA and Alejandra Martínez-Ghersa, M and Newman, JA and Card, SD and Mace, WJ and Gundel, PE}, title = {The plant hormone salicylic acid interacts with the mechanism of anti-herbivory conferred by fungal endophytes in grasses.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {395-405}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13102}, pmid = {29194664}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Alkaloids/metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Epichloe/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; *Herbivory ; Lolium/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism/physiology ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The plant hormone salicylic acid (SA) is recognized as an effective defence against biotrophic pathogens, but its role as regulator of beneficial plant symbionts has received little attention. We studied the relationship between the SA hormone and leaf fungal endophytes on herbivore defences in symbiotic grasses. We hypothesize that the SA exposure suppresses the endophyte reducing the fungal-produced alkaloids. Because of the role that alkaloids play in anti-herbivore defences, any reduction in their production should make host plants more susceptible to herbivores. Lolium multiflorum plants symbiotic and nonsymbiotic with the endophyte Epichloë occultans were exposed to SA followed by a challenge with the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi. We measured the level of plant resistance to aphids, and the defences conferred by endophytes and host plants. Symbiotic plants had lower concentrations of SA than did the nonsymbiotic counterparts. Consistent with our prediction, the hormonal treatment reduced the concentration of loline alkaloids (i.e., N-formyllolines and N-acetylnorlolines) and consequently decreased the endophyte-conferred resistance against aphids. Our study highlights the importance of the interaction between the plant immune system and endophytes for the stability of the defensive mutualism. Our results indicate that the SA plays a critical role in regulating the endophyte-conferred resistance against herbivores.}, } @article {pmid29194658, year = {2018}, author = {Sánchez-Bel, P and Sanmartín, N and Pastor, V and Mateu, D and Cerezo, M and Vidal-Albalat, A and Pastor-Fernández, J and Pozo, MJ and Flors, V}, title = {Mycorrhizal tomato plants fine tunes the growth-defence balance upon N depleted root environments.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {406-420}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13105}, pmid = {29194658}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {In low nutritive environments, the uptake of N by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may confer competitive advantages for the host. The present study aims to understand how mycorrhizal tomato plants perceive and then prepare for an N depletion in the root environment. Plants colonized by Rhizophagus irregularis displayed improved responses to a lack of N than nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants. These responses were accomplished by a complex metabolic and transcriptional rearrangement that mostly affected the gibberellic acid and jasmonic acid pathways involving DELLA and JAZ1 genes, which were responsive to changes in the C/N imbalance of the plant. N starved mycorrhizal plants showed lower C/N equilibrium in the shoots than starved NM plants and concomitantly a downregulation of the JAZ1 repressor and the increased expression of the DELLA gene, which translated into a more active oxylipin pathway in mycorrhizal plants. In addition, the results support a priorization in AM plants of stress responses over growth. Therefore, these plants were better prepared for an expected stress. Furthermore, most metabolites that were severely reduced in NM plants following the N depletion remained unaltered in starved AM plants compared with those normally fertilized, suggesting that the symbiosis buffered the stress, improving plant development in a stressed environment.}, } @article {pmid29194644, year = {2018}, author = {Chiu, CH and Choi, J and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Independent signalling cues underpin arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and large lateral root induction in rice.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {2}, pages = {552-557}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14936}, pmid = {29194644}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/M011194/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Glomeromycota/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Perception of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) triggers distinct plant signalling responses for parallel establishment of symbiosis and induction of lateral root formation. Rice receptor kinase CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (CERK1) and α/β-fold hydrolase DWARF14-LIKE (D14L) are involved in pre-symbiotic fungal perception. After 6 wk post-inoculation with Rhizophagus irregularis, root developmental responses, fungal colonization and transcriptional responses were monitored in two independent cerk1 null mutants; a deletion mutant lacking D14L, and with D14L complemented as well as their respective wild-type cultivars (cv Nipponbare and Nihonmasari). Here we show that although essential for symbiosis, D14L is dispensable for AMF-induced root architectural modulation, which conversely relies on CERK1. Our results demonstrate uncoupling of symbiosis and the symbiotic root developmental signalling during pre-symbiosis with CERK1 required for AMF-induced root architectural changes.}, } @article {pmid29194398, year = {2017}, author = {Marczak, M and Mazur, A and Koper, P and Żebracki, K and Skorupska, A}, title = {Synthesis of Rhizobial Exopolysaccharides and Their Importance for Symbiosis with Legume Plants.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29194398}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Rhizobia dwell and multiply in the soil and represent a unique group of bacteria able to enter into a symbiotic interaction with plants from the Fabaceae family and fix atmospheric nitrogen inside de novo created plant organs, called nodules. One of the key determinants of the successful interaction between these bacteria and plants are exopolysaccharides, which represent species-specific homo- and heteropolymers of different carbohydrate units frequently decorated by non-carbohydrate substituents. Exopolysaccharides are typically built from repeat units assembled by the Wzx/Wzy-dependent pathway, where individual subunits are synthesized in conjunction with the lipid anchor undecaprenylphosphate (und-PP), due to the activity of glycosyltransferases. Complete oligosaccharide repeat units are transferred to the periplasmic space by the activity of the Wzx flippase, and, while still being anchored in the membrane, they are joined by the polymerase Wzy. Here we have focused on the genetic control over the process of exopolysaccharides (EPS) biosynthesis in rhizobia, with emphasis put on the recent advancements in understanding the mode of action of the key proteins operating in the pathway. A role played by exopolysaccharide in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, including recent data confirming the signaling function of EPS, is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid29193224, year = {2018}, author = {Plett, KL}, title = {Fresh knowledge for an old relationship: new discoveries in molecular mycorrhizal research.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {1}, pages = {26-28}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14875}, pmid = {29193224}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Lipids/chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; *Research ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; }, } @article {pmid29193221, year = {2018}, author = {Pellitier, PT and Zak, DR}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the enzymatic liberation of nitrogen from soil organic matter: why evolutionary history matters.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {1}, pages = {68-73}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14598}, pmid = {29193221}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 68 I. Introduction 68 II. Have ECM fungi retained genes with lignocellulolytic potential from saprotrophic ancestors? 69 III. Are genes with saprotrophic function expressed by ECM fungi when in symbiosis? 71 IV. Do transcribed enzymes operate to obtain N from SOM? 71 V. Is the organic N derived from SOM transferred to the plant host? 71 VI. Concluding remarks 72 Acknowledgements 72 References 72 SUMMARY: The view that ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi commonly participate in the enzymatic liberation of nitrogen (N) from soil organic matter (SOM) has recently been invoked as a key mechanism governing the biogeochemical cycles of forest ecosystems. Here, we provide evidence that not all evolutionary lineages of ECM have retained the genetic potential to produce extracellular enzymes that degrade SOM, calling into question the ubiquity of the proposed mechanism. Further, we discuss several untested conditions that must be empirically validated before it is certain that any lineage of ECM fungi actively expresses extracellular enzymes in order to degrade SOM and transfer N contained therein to its host plant.}, } @article {pmid29191681, year = {2018}, author = {Melchionda, D and Pastacaldi, E and Perri, C and Banerjee, M and Venturino, E}, title = {Social behavior-induced multistability in minimal competitive ecosystems.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {439}, number = {}, pages = {24-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.11.016}, pmid = {29191681}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; Competitive Behavior ; *Ecosystem ; Population Dynamics ; Predatory Behavior ; *Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mimimal models of coordinated behavior of populations living in the same environment are introduced for the cases when they either both gain by mutual interactions, or one hunts the other one, or finally when they compete with each other. The equilibria of the systems are analysed, showing that in some cases the populations may both disappear. Coexistence leads to global asymptotic stability for symbiotic populations, or to Hopf bifurcations for predator-prey systems. Finally, a new very interesting phenomenon is discovered in the competition case: tristability may be achieved showing that the principle of competitive exclusion fails in this case. Indeed either one of the competing populations may thrive, but also the case of populations coexistence is allowed, for the same set of parameter values.}, } @article {pmid29191399, year = {2018}, author = {Nai, C and Meyer, V}, title = {From Axenic to Mixed Cultures: Technological Advances Accelerating a Paradigm Shift in Microbiology.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {538-554}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2017.11.004}, pmid = {29191399}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {*Axenic Culture ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Coculture Techniques/instrumentation/trends ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Metabolomics ; Microbiological Techniques/instrumentation/*trends ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the onset of microbiology in the late 19th century, scientists have been growing microorganisms almost exclusively as pure cultures, resulting in a limited and biased view of the microbial world. Only a paradigm shift in cultivation techniques - from axenic to mixed cultures - can allow a full comprehension of the (chemical) communication of microorganisms, with profound consequences for natural product discovery, microbial ecology, symbiosis, and pathogenesis, to name a few areas. Three main technical advances during the last decade are fueling the realization of this revolution in microbiology: microfluidics, next-generation 3D-bioprinting, and single-cell metabolomics. These technological advances can be implemented for large-scale, systematic cocultivation studies involving three or more microorganisms. In this review, we present recent trends in microbiology tools and discuss how these can be employed to decode the chemical language that microorganisms use to communicate.}, } @article {pmid29191236, year = {2017}, author = {Huynh, HTT and Pignoly, M and Drancourt, M and Aboudharam, G}, title = {A new methanogen "Methanobrevibacter massiliense" isolated in a case of severe periodontitis.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {657}, pmid = {29191236}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Methanobrevibacter/*isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A few methanogens have been previously recovered from periodontitis lesions, yet their repertoire may not be completed. We recovered a previously unreported methanogen species in this situation.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old Caucasian woman was diagnosed with chronic, severe generalized periodontitis. In the presence of negative controls, an 18-month culture of periodontal pockets in anaerobe Hungate tube yielded "Methanobrevibacter massiliense" and Pyramidobacter piscolens.

CONCLUSIONS: This case report provides evidence of the symbiotic strategy deployed by the methanogens and the anaerobes, and reports the first culture of a new methanogen, "M. massiliense".}, } @article {pmid29191166, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, IH and Aryal, SK and Aghai, DT and Casanova-Torres, ÁM and Hillman, K and Kozuch, MP and Mans, EJ and Mauer, TJ and Ogier, JC and Ensign, JC and Gaudriault, S and Goodman, WG and Goodrich-Blair, H and Dillman, AR}, title = {The insect pathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus innexi has attenuated virulence in multiple insect model hosts yet encodes a potent mosquitocidal toxin.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {927}, pmid = {29191166}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI119155/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/drug effects/immunology/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lepidoptera/drug effects/immunology/microbiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Symbiosis ; Tylenchida/drug effects/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Virulence ; Virulence Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/classification/genetics/*pathogenicity/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Xenorhabdus innexi is a bacterial symbiont of Steinernema scapterisci nematodes, which is a cricket-specialist parasite and together the nematode and bacteria infect and kill crickets. Curiously, X. innexi expresses a potent extracellular mosquitocidal toxin activity in culture supernatants. We sequenced a draft genome of X. innexi and compared it to the genomes of related pathogens to elucidate the nature of specialization.

RESULTS: Using green fluorescent protein-expressing X. innexi we confirm previous reports using culture-dependent techniques that X. innexi colonizes its nematode host at low levels (~3-8 cells per nematode), relative to other Xenorhabdus-Steinernema associations. We found that compared to the well-characterized entomopathogenic nematode symbiont X. nematophila, X. innexi fails to suppress the insect phenoloxidase immune pathway and is attenuated for virulence and reproduction in the Lepidoptera Galleria mellonella and Manduca sexta, as well as the dipteran Drosophila melanogaster. To assess if, compared to other Xenorhabdus spp., X. innexi has a reduced capacity to synthesize virulence determinants, we obtained and analyzed a draft genome sequence. We found no evidence for several hallmarks of Xenorhabdus spp. toxicity, including Tc and Mcf toxins. Similar to other Xenorhabdus genomes, we found numerous loci predicted to encode non-ribosomal peptide/polyketide synthetases. Anti-SMASH predictions of these loci revealed one, related to the fcl locus that encodes fabclavines and zmn locus that encodes zeamines, as a likely candidate to encode the X. innexi mosquitocidal toxin biosynthetic machinery, which we designated Xlt. In support of this hypothesis, two mutants each with an insertion in an Xlt biosynthesis gene cluster lacked the mosquitocidal compound based on HPLC/MS analysis and neither produced toxin to the levels of the wild type parent.

CONCLUSIONS: The X. innexi genome will be a valuable resource in identifying loci encoding new metabolites of interest, but also in future comparative studies of nematode-bacterial symbiosis and niche partitioning among bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29191158, year = {2017}, author = {Sahito, ZA and Wang, L and Sun, Z and Yan, Q and Zhang, X and Jiang, Q and Ullah, I and Tong, Y and Li, X}, title = {The miR172c-NNC1 module modulates root plastic development in response to salt in soybean.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {229}, pmid = {29191158}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Plant/*genetics ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Soybeans/*genetics/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant roots are highly plastic to high salinity. However, the molecular mechanism by which root developmental plasticity is regulated remains largely unknown. Previously we reported that miR172c-NNC1 module plays a key role in soybean-rhizobial symbiosis. The fact that the miR172c promoter contains several stress-related cis elements indicates that miR172c may have a role in root response to abiotic stress.

RESULTS: Here we showed that miR172c is greatly induced by salt stress in soybean. Overexpression of miR172c and knockdown of miR172c activity resulted in substantially increased and reduced root sensitivity to salt stress, respectively. Furthermore, we show that the target gene NNC1 (Nodule Number Control 1) of miR172c was downregulated by salt stress. The transgenic roots overexpressing or knocking down NNC1 expression also exhibited the altered root sensitivity to salt stress.

CONCLUSION: The study reveals the crucial role of miR172c-NNC1 module in root stress tolerance to salt stress in soybean.}, } @article {pmid29189710, year = {2017}, author = {Powell, AF and Doyle, JJ}, title = {Non-Additive Transcriptomic Responses to Inoculation with Rhizobia in a Young Allopolyploid Compared with Its Diploid Progenitors.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29189710}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Root nodule symbioses (nodulation) and whole genome duplication (WGD, polyploidy) are both important phenomena in the legume family (Leguminosae). Recently, it has been proposed that polyploidy may have played a critical role in the origin or refinement of nodulation. However, while nodulation and polyploidy have been studied independently, there have been no direct studies of mechanisms affecting the interactions between these phenomena in symbiotic, nodule-forming species. Here, we examined the transcriptome-level responses to inoculation in the young allopolyploid Glycine dolichocarpa (T2) and its diploid progenitor species to identify underlying processes leading to the enhanced nodulation responses previously identified in T2. We assessed the differential expression of genes and, using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), identified modules associated with nodulation and compared their expression between species. These transcriptomic analyses revealed patterns of non-additive expression in T2, with evidence of transcriptional responses to inoculation that were distinct from one or both progenitors. These differential responses elucidate mechanisms underlying the nodulation-related differences observed between T2 and the diploid progenitors. Our results indicate that T2 has reduced stress-related transcription, coupled with enhanced transcription of modules and genes implicated in hormonal signaling, both of which are important for nodulation.}, } @article {pmid29188341, year = {2018}, author = {Yadav, M and Verma, MK and Chauhan, NS}, title = {A review of metabolic potential of human gut microbiome in human nutrition.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {200}, number = {2}, pages = {203-217}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1459-x}, pmid = {29188341}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/physiology ; *Diet ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human gut contains a plethora of microbes, providing a platform for metabolic interaction between the host and microbiota. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota act as a link between gut microbiota and its host. These metabolites act as messengers having the capacity to alter the gut microbiota. Recent advances in the characterization of the gut microbiota and its symbiotic relationship with the host have provided a platform to decode metabolic interactions. The human gut microbiota, a crucial component for dietary metabolism, is shaped by the genetic, epigenetic and dietary factors. The metabolic potential of gut microbiota explains its significance in host health and diseases. The knowledge of interactions between microbiota and host metabolism, as well as modification of microbial ecology, is really beneficial to have effective therapeutic treatments for many diet-related diseases in near future. This review cumulates the information to map the role of human gut microbiota in dietary component metabolism, the role of gut microbes derived metabolites in human health and host-microbe metabolic interactions in health and diseases.}, } @article {pmid29187962, year = {2017}, author = {Ito, M and Kajimura, H}, title = {Landscape-scale genetic differentiation of a mycangial fungus associated with the ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) (Curculionidae:Scolytinae) in Japan.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {22}, pages = {9203-9221}, pmid = {29187962}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In this study, we examined the genetic structures of the ambrosia fungus isolated from mycangia of the scolytine beetle, Xylosandrus germanus to understand their co-evolutionary relationships. We analyzed datasets of three ambrosia fungus loci (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and the β-tubulin gene) and a X. germanus locus dataset (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial DNA). The ambrosia fungi were separated into three cultural morphptypes, and their haplotypes were distinguished by phylogenetic analysis on the basis of the three loci. The COI phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct genetic lineages (clades A, B, and C) within X. germanus, each of which corresponded to specific ambrosia fungus cultural morphptypes. The fungal symbiont phylogeny was not concordant with that of the beetle. Our results suggest that X. germanus may be unable to exchange its mycangial fungi, but extraordinary horizontal transmission of symbiotic fungi between the beetle's lineages occurred at least once during the evolutionary history of this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29187571, year = {2018}, author = {Munch, D and Gupta, V and Bachmann, A and Busch, W and Kelly, S and Mun, T and Andersen, SU}, title = {The Brassicaceae Family Displays Divergent, Shoot-Skewed NLR Resistance Gene Expression.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {2}, pages = {1598-1609}, pmid = {29187571}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Brassicaceae/*genetics/immunology ; *Disease Resistance ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; NLR Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Organ Specificity ; Plant Diseases/*immunology/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/immunology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat resistance genes (NLRs) allow plants to detect microbial effectors. We hypothesized that NLR expression patterns could reflect organ-specific differences in effector challenge and tested this by carrying out a meta-analysis of expression data for 1,235 NLRs from nine plant species. We found stable NLR root/shoot expression ratios within species, suggesting organ-specific hardwiring of NLR expression patterns in anticipation of distinct challenges. Most monocot and dicot plant species preferentially expressed NLRs in roots. In contrast, Brassicaceae species, including oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), were unique in showing NLR expression skewed toward the shoot across multiple phylogenetically distinct groups of NLRs. The Brassicaceae are also outliers in the sense that they have lost the common symbiosis signaling pathway, which enables intracellular infection by root symbionts. While it is unclear if these two events are related, the NLR expression shift identified here suggests that the Brassicaceae may have evolved unique pattern-recognition receptors and antimicrobial root metabolites to substitute for NLR protection. Such innovations in root protection could potentially be exploited in crop rotation schemes or for enhancing root defense systems of non-Brassicaceae crops.}, } @article {pmid29187569, year = {2018}, author = {Reid, D and Liu, H and Kelly, S and Kawaharada, Y and Mun, T and Andersen, SU and Desbrosses, G and Stougaard, J}, title = {Dynamics of Ethylene Production in Response to Compatible Nod Factor.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {2}, pages = {1764-1772}, pmid = {29187569}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Ethylenes/*analysis/metabolism ; Lotus/microbiology/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Mutation ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/*analysis/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Establishment of symbiotic nitrogen-fixation in legumes is regulated by the plant hormone ethylene, but it has remained unclear whether and how its biosynthesis is regulated by the symbiotic pathway. We established a sensitive ethylene detection system for Lotus japonicus and found that ethylene production increased as early as 6 hours after inoculation with Mesorhizobium loti This ethylene response was dependent on Nod factor production by compatible rhizobia. Analyses of nodulation mutants showed that perception of Nod factor was required for ethylene emission, while downstream transcription factors including CYCLOPS, NIN, and ERN1 were not required for this response. Activation of the nodulation signaling pathway in spontaneously nodulating mutants was also sufficient to elevate ethylene production. Ethylene signaling is controlled by EIN2, which is duplicated in L. japonicus We obtained a L. japonicus Ljein2a Ljein2b double mutant that exhibits complete ethylene insensitivity and confirms that these two genes act redundantly in ethylene signaling. Consistent with this redundancy, both LjEin2a and LjEin2b are required for negative regulation of nodulation and Ljein2a Ljein2b double mutants are hypernodulating and hyperinfected. We also identified an unexpected role for ethylene in the onset of nitrogen fixation, with the Ljein2a Ljein2b double mutant showing severely reduced nitrogen fixation. These results demonstrate that ethylene production is an early and sustained nodulation response that acts at multiple stages to regulate infection, nodule organogenesis, and nitrogen fixation in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid29186498, year = {2017}, author = {Rey, T and Bonhomme, M and Chatterjee, A and Gavrin, A and Toulotte, J and Yang, W and André, O and Jacquet, C and Schornack, S}, title = {The Medicago truncatula GRAS protein RAD1 supports arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis and Phytophthora palmivora susceptibility.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {21-22}, pages = {5871-5881}, pmid = {29186498}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Disease Susceptibility ; Endodeoxyribonucleases/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phytophthora/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The roots of most land plants are colonized by symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi. To facilitate this symbiosis, plant genomes encode a set of genes required for microbial perception and accommodation. However, the extent to which infection by filamentous root pathogens also relies on some of these genes remains an open question. Here, we used genome-wide association mapping to identify genes contributing to colonization of Medicago truncatula roots by the pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora palmivora. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers most significantly associated with plant colonization response were identified upstream of RAD1, which encodes a GRAS transcription regulator first negatively implicated in root nodule symbiosis and recently identified as a positive regulator of AM symbiosis. RAD1 transcript levels are up-regulated both in response to AM fungus and, to a lower extent, in infected tissues by P. palmivora where its expression is restricted to root cortex cells proximal to pathogen hyphae. Reverse genetics showed that reduction of RAD1 transcript levels as well as a rad1 mutant are impaired in their full colonization by AM fungi as well as by P. palmivora. Thus, the importance of RAD1 extends beyond symbiotic interactions, suggesting a general involvement in M. truncatula microbe-induced root development and interactions with unrelated beneficial and detrimental filamentous microbes.}, } @article {pmid29186430, year = {2018}, author = {Kia, SH and Jurkechova, M and Glynou, K and Piepenbring, M and Maciá-Vicente, JG}, title = {The effects of fungal root endophytes on plant growth are stable along gradients of abiotic habitat conditions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix162}, pmid = {29186430}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*growth & development/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Hordeum/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Development/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant symbioses with fungal root endophytes span a continuum from mutualistic to parasitic outcomes, and are highly variable depending on the genotype of each symbiont. The abiotic context in which interactions occur also seems to influence the outcome of plant-endophyte symbioses, but we lack understanding of its relative importance. We aimed to assess if changes in abiotic variables determine the effects of fungal root endophytes on plant growth. We used in vitro co-cultivation assays to test the impact of a selection of endophytic strains from diverse lineages on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana, Microthlaspi erraticum and Hordeum vulgare along gradients of nutrient availability, light intensity or substrate pH. Most fungi showed a negative but weak effect on plant growth, whereas only a few had persistent detrimental effects across plants and conditions. Changes in abiotic factors affected plant growth but had little influence on their response to fungal inoculation. Of the factors tested, variation in nutrient availability resulted in the most variable plant-endophyte interactions, although changes were feeble and strain-specific. Our findings suggest that the effects of root endophytes on plant growth are robust to changes in the abiotic environment when these encompass the tolerance range of either symbiont.}, } @article {pmid29186192, year = {2017}, author = {Sevin-Pujol, A and Sicard, M and Rosenberg, C and Auriac, MC and Lepage, A and Niebel, A and Gough, C and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Development of a GAL4-VP16/UAS trans-activation system for tissue specific expression in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {e0188923}, pmid = {29186192}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cloning, Molecular ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Trans-Activators/*genetics ; *Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {Promoters with tissue-specific activity are very useful to address cell-autonomous and non cell autonomous functions of candidate genes. Although this strategy is widely used in Arabidopsis thaliana, its use to study tissue-specific regulation of root symbiotic interactions in legumes has only started recently. Moreover, using tissue specific promoter activity to drive a GAL4-VP16 chimeric transcription factor that can bind short upstream activation sequences (UAS) is an efficient way to target and enhance the expression of any gene of interest. Here, we developed a collection of promoters with different root cell layers specific activities in Medicago truncatula and tested their abilities to drive the expression of a chimeric GAL4-VP16 transcription factor in a trans-activation UAS: β-Glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene system. By developing a binary vector devoted to modular Golden Gate cloning together with a collection of adapted tissue specific promoters and coding sequences we could test the activity of four of these promoters in trans-activation GAL4/UAS systems and compare them to "classical" promoter GUS fusions. Roots showing high levels of tissue specific expression of the GUS activity could be obtained with this trans-activation system. We therefore provide the legume community with new tools for efficient modular Golden Gate cloning, tissue specific expression and a trans-activation system. This study provides the ground work for future development of stable transgenic lines in Medicago truncatula.}, } @article {pmid29186037, year = {2017}, author = {Le, DV and Nguyen, T and Scholten, H and Havinga, PJM}, title = {Symbiotic Sensing for Energy-Intensive Tasks in Large-Scale Mobile Sensing Applications.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29186037}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {Energy consumption is a critical performance and user experience metric when developing mobile sensing applications, especially with the significantly growing number of sensing applications in recent years. As proposed a decade ago when mobile applications were still not popular and most mobile operating systems were single-tasking, conventional sensing paradigms such as opportunistic sensing and participatory sensing do not explore the relationship among concurrent applications for energy-intensive tasks. In this paper, inspired by social relationships among living creatures in nature, we propose a symbiotic sensing paradigm that can conserve energy, while maintaining equivalent performance to existing paradigms. The key idea is that sensing applications should cooperatively perform common tasks to avoid acquiring the same resources multiple times. By doing so, this sensing paradigm executes sensing tasks with very little extra resource consumption and, consequently, extends battery life. To evaluate and compare the symbiotic sensing paradigm with the existing ones, we develop mathematical models in terms of the completion probability and estimated energy consumption. The quantitative evaluation results using various parameters obtained from real datasets indicate that symbiotic sensing performs better than opportunistic sensing and participatory sensing in large-scale sensing applications, such as road condition monitoring, air pollution monitoring, and city noise monitoring.}, } @article {pmid29185506, year = {2017}, author = {Cong, P and Ma, X and Williams, M and Siveter, DJ and Siveter, DJ and Gabbott, SE and Zhai, D and Goral, T and Edgecombe, GD and Hou, X}, title = {Host-specific infestation in early Cambrian worms.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {1}, number = {10}, pages = {1465-1469}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-017-0278-4}, pmid = {29185506}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; China ; Fossils/*anatomy & histology ; Helminths/anatomy & histology/*classification/*physiology ; Host Specificity ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Invertebrates/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are widespread in terrestrial and aquatic animals today, but evidence of symbiosis in the fossil record between soft-bodied bilaterians where the symbiont is intimately associated with the integument of the host is extremely rare. The radiation of metazoan life apparent in the Ediacaran (~635-541 million years ago) and Cambrian (~541-488 million years ago) periods is increasingly accepted to represent ecological diversification resulting from earlier key genetic developmental events and other innovations that occurred in the late Tonian and Cryogenian periods (~850-635 million years ago). The Cambrian has representative animals in each major ecospace category, the early Cambrian in particular having witnessed the earliest known complex animal communities and trophic structures, including symbiotic relationships. Here we report on newly discovered Cricocosmia and Mafangscolex worms that are hosts to aggregates of a new species of tiny worm in the lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3) Chengjiang Lagerstätte of Yunnan Province, southwest China. The worm associations suggest the earliest known record of aggregate infestation of the integument of a soft-bodied bilaterian, host specificity and host shift.}, } @article {pmid29184837, year = {2017}, author = {Shah, D and Parsi, L and Bagher, S and Finkelman, M and Loo, C}, title = {Effectiveness of an Oral Health Education Program for Obstetrician/Gynecologist Residents at Tufts Medical Center.}, journal = {Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry}, volume = {7}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {S107-S112}, pmid = {29184837}, issn = {2231-0762}, abstract = {AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To assess Tufts Medical Center obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) residents' knowledge, beliefs, and previous training in oral health and to assess the effect of an oral health educational seminar on their knowledge and beliefs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A preseminar questionnaire was distributed to the residents. The same questionnaire was distributed immediately after the seminar and 3 months later. SPSS Version 21 was used for the data analysis.

RESULTS: Convenience sample of 25 residents were included in the study. The mean (standard deviation) age of participants was 29.08 (2.47) years. Only 1 (4%) participant reported receiving >8 h previous training in oral health and 7 (28%) reported receiving <1 h of training. The nonparametric Friedman test showed a statistically significant difference between administrations in terms of total score on knowledge-based questions (P < 0.001) and some of the belief-based questions. The post hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction showed statistically significant improvement in the knowledge-based questions between pre- and post-seminar questionnaire (P = 0.002) and between preseminar and 3-month follow-up (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS: OB/GYN residents at Tufts Medical Center received limited training in oral health. Their knowledge improved significantly following the oral health educational seminar. Similar training modules can be brought to other OB/GYN residencies and OB/GYNs in an effort to enhance the symbiotic relationship between medical and dental professionals.}, } @article {pmid29184566, year = {2017}, author = {Sulima, AS and Zhukov, VA and Afonin, AA and Zhernakov, AI and Tikhonovich, IA and Lutova, LA}, title = {Selection Signatures in the First Exon of Paralogous Receptor Kinase Genes from the Sym2 Region of the Pisum sativum L. Genome.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1957}, pmid = {29184566}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {During the initial step of the symbiosis between legumes (Fabaceae) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia), the bacterial signal molecule known as the Nod factor (nodulation factor) is recognized by plant LysM motif-containing receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs). The fifth chromosome of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) contains a cluster of paralogous LysM-RLK genes, one of which is known to participate in symbiosis. In the syntenic region of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) genome, three genes have been identified: PsK1 and PsSym37, two symbiosis-related LysM-RLK genes with known sequences, and the unsequenced PsSym2 gene which presumably encodes a LysM-RLK and is associated with increased selectivity to certain Nod factors. In this work, we identified a new gene encoding a LysM-RLK, designated as PsLykX, within the Sym2 genomic region. We sequenced the first exons (corresponding to the protein receptor domain) of PsSym37, PsK1, and PsLykX from a large set of pea genotypes of diverse origin. The nucleotide diversity of these fragments was estimated and groups of haplotypes for each gene were revealed. Footprints of selection pressure were detected via comparative analyses of SNP distribution across the first exons of these genes and their homologs MtLYK2, MtLYK3, and MtLYK4 from M. truncatula retrieved from the Medicago Hapmap project. Despite the remarkable similarity among all the studied genes, they exhibited contrasting selection signatures, possibly pointing to diversification of their functions. Signatures of balancing selection were found in LysM1-encoding parts of PsSym37 and PsK1, suggesting that the diversity of these parts may be important for pea LysM-RLKs. The first exons of PsSym37 and PsK1 displayed signatures of purifying selection, as well as MtLYK2 of M. truncatula. Evidence of positive selection affecting primarily LysM domains was found in all three investigated M. truncatula genes, as well as in the pea gene PsLykX. The data suggested that PsLykX is a promising candidate for PsSym2, which has remained elusive for more than 30 years.}, } @article {pmid29184190, year = {2017}, author = {Mondo, SJ and Lastovetsky, OA and Gaspar, ML and Schwardt, NH and Barber, CC and Riley, R and Sun, H and Grigoriev, IV and Pawlowska, TE}, title = {Bacterial endosymbionts influence host sexuality and reveal reproductive genes of early divergent fungi.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {1843}, pmid = {29184190}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R01 GM019629/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Burkholderia/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction, Asexual/genetics/physiology ; Rhizopus/genetics/*physiology ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Many heritable mutualisms, in which beneficial symbionts are transmitted vertically between host generations, originate as antagonisms with parasite dispersal constrained by the host. Only after the parasite gains control over its transmission is the symbiosis expected to transition from antagonism to mutualism. Here, we explore this prediction in the mutualism between the fungus Rhizopus microsporus (Rm, Mucoromycotina) and a beta-proteobacterium Burkholderia, which controls host asexual reproduction. We show that reproductive addiction of Rm to endobacteria extends to mating, and is mediated by the symbiont gaining transcriptional control of the fungal ras2 gene, which encodes a GTPase central to fungal reproductive development. We also discover candidate G-protein-coupled receptors for the perception of trisporic acids, mating pheromones unique to Mucoromycotina. Our results demonstrate that regulating host asexual proliferation and modifying its sexual reproduction are sufficient for the symbiont's control of its own transmission, needed for antagonism-to-mutualism transition in heritable symbioses. These properties establish the Rm-Burkholderia symbiosis as a powerful system for identifying reproductive genes in Mucoromycotina.}, } @article {pmid29183381, year = {2017}, author = {Tandon, P and Jin, Q and Huang, L}, title = {A promising approach to enhance microalgae productivity by exogenous supply of vitamins.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {219}, pmid = {29183381}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; *Biofuels ; Biomass ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Microalgae/drug effects/*metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/physiology ; Renewable Energy ; Symbiosis ; Vitamins/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {In order to reduce the consumption of traditional fossil fuels and their impact on the environment, strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions especially carbon dioxide needs exploration. Microalgae-based biofuels can be the best-fit plant based feed-stocks for diminishing a majority of the Universe's energy problems. Interestingly, the eukaryotic microalgae aid in fixation of almost 50% of the global carbon in the environment. Thus, determination of parameters that will enhance microalgal growth and productivity is crucial, if they are to be used as future renewable energy sources. A large percentage of phytoplankton species are auxotroph for one or more vitamins. These species, in turn, are also dependent upon the vitamin biosynthetic pathways for processing of these vitamins. The present study serves as a base to discuss the prevalence of vitamin auxotrophy in microalgae and the methods of its acquirement from external sources such as heterotrophic bacteria. The next section of the paper sheds light on possible species-specific symbiotic interactions among microalgae and bacteria. Lastly is the discussion on how heterotrophic bacteria can act as a vitamin prototroph for an explicit microalgal vitamin auxotroph. The overall focus is placed upon harnessing these symbiotic interactions with intentions to obtain enhancements in microalgal biomass, lipid productivity, and flocculation rates. Moreover, the growth and distribution of a microalgal cell that thrives on a specific vitamin is perhaps met by growing it with the bacterial communities that nourish it. Thus, possibly by ecologically engineering a potential species-specific microalgal-bacterial consortium, it could tremendously contribute to the acceleration of photosynthetic activity, microalgal productivity, exchange of primary metabolites and other biogeochemical nutrients within the mini ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid29182713, year = {2018}, author = {Forrester, NJ and Ashman, TL}, title = {The direct effects of plant polyploidy on the legume-rhizobia mutualism.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {121}, number = {2}, pages = {209-220}, pmid = {29182713}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; *Polyploidy ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Polyploidy is known to significantly alter plant genomes, phenotypes and interactions with the abiotic environment, yet the impacts of polyploidy on plant-biotic interactions are less well known. A particularly important plant-biotic interaction is the legume-rhizobia mutualism, in which rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen in exchange for carbon provided by legume hosts. This mutualism regulates nutrient cycles in natural ecosystems and provides nitrogen to agricultural environments. Despite the ecological, evolutionary and agricultural importance of plant polyploidy and the legume-rhizobia mutualism, it is not yet fully understood whether plant polyploidy directly alters mutualism traits or the consequences on plant growth.

SCOPE: The aim was to propose a conceptual framework to understand how polyploidy might directly enhance the quantity and quality of rhizobial symbionts hosted by legume plants, resulting in increased host access to fixed nitrogen (N). Mechanistic hypotheses have been devised to examine how polyploidy can directly alter traits that impact the quantity (e.g. nodule number, nodule size, terminal bacteroid differentiation) and quality of symbionts (e.g. nodule environment, partner choice, host sanctions). To evaluate these hypotheses, an exhaustive review of studies testing the effects of plant polyploidy on the mutualism was conducted. In doing so, overall trends were synthesized, highlighting the limited understanding of the mechanisms that underlie variation in results achieved thus far, revealing striking gaps in knowledge and uncovering areas ripe for future research.

CONCLUSIONS: Plant polyploidy can immediately alter nodule size, N fixation rate and the identity of rhizobial symbionts hosted by polyploid legumes, but many of the mechanistic hypotheses proposed here, such as bacteroid number and enhancements of the nodule environment, remain unexplored. Although current evidence supports a role of plant polyploidy in enhancing key aspects of the legume-rhizobia mutualism, the underlying mechanisms and effects on host benefit from the mutualism remain unresolved.}, } @article {pmid29182547, year = {2017}, author = {Reyero-Saavedra, MDR and Qiao, Z and Sánchez-Correa, MDS and Díaz-Pineda, ME and Reyes, JL and Covarrubias, AA and Libault, M and Valdés-López, O}, title = {Gene Silencing of Argonaute5 Negatively Affects the Establishment of the Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29182547}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The establishment of the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia is finely regulated at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels. Argonaute5 (AGO5), a protein involved in RNA silencing, can bind both viral RNAs and microRNAs to control plant-microbe interactions and plant physiology. For instance, AGO5 regulates the systemic resistance of Arabidopsis against Potato Virus X as well as the pigmentation of soybean (Glycine max) seeds. Here, we show that AGO5 is also playing a central role in legume nodulation based on its preferential expression in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean roots and nodules. We also report that the expression of AGO5 is induced after 1 h of inoculation with rhizobia. Down-regulation of AGO5 gene in P. vulgaris and G. max causes diminished root hair curling, reduces nodule formation and interferes with the induction of three critical symbiotic genes: Nuclear Factor Y-B (NF-YB), Nodule Inception (NIN) and Flotillin2 (FLOT2). Our findings provide evidence that the common bean and soybean AGO5 genes play an essential role in the establishment of the symbiosis with rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid29182530, year = {2017}, author = {Damodaran, S and Westfall, CS and Kisely, BA and Jez, JM and Subramanian, S}, title = {Nodule-Enriched GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 Enzymes Have Distinct Substrate Specificities and Are Important for Proper Soybean Nodule Development.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {29182530}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Legume root nodules develop as a result of a symbiotic relationship between the plant and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria in soil. Auxin activity is detected in different cell types at different stages of nodule development; as well as an enhanced sensitivity to auxin inhibits, which could affect nodule development. While some transport and signaling mechanisms that achieve precise spatiotemporal auxin output are known, the role of auxin metabolism during nodule development is unclear. Using a soybean root lateral organ transcriptome data set, we identified distinct nodule enrichment of three genes encoding auxin-deactivating GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 (GH3) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) amido transferase enzymes: GmGH3-11/12, GmGH3-14 and GmGH3-15. In vitro enzymatic assays showed that each of these GH3 proteins preferred IAA and aspartate as acyl and amino acid substrates, respectively. GmGH3-15 showed a broad substrate preference, especially with different forms of auxin. Promoter:GUS expression analysis indicated that GmGH3-14 acts primarily in the root epidermis and the nodule primordium where as GmGH3-15 might act in the vasculature. Silencing the expression of these GH3 genes in soybean composite plants led to altered nodule numbers, maturity, and size. Our results indicate that these GH3s are needed for proper nodule maturation in soybean, but the precise mechanism by which they regulate nodule development remains to be explained.}, } @article {pmid29181636, year = {2018}, author = {Rúa, MA and Lamit, LJ and Gehring, C and Antunes, PM and Hoeksema, JD and Zabinski, C and Karst, J and Burns, C and Woods, MJ}, title = {Accounting for local adaptation in ectomycorrhizas: a call to track geographical origin of plants, fungi, and soils in experiments.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {187-195}, pmid = {29181636}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Local adaptation, the differential success of genotypes in their native versus foreign environments, can influence ecological and evolutionary processes, yet its importance is difficult to estimate because it has not been widely studied, particularly in the context of interspecific interactions. Interactions between ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi and their host plants could serve as model system for investigations of local adaptation because they are widespread and affect plant responses to both biotic and abiotic selection pressures. Furthermore, because EM fungi cycle nutrients and mediate energy flow into food webs, their local adaptation may be critical in sustaining ecological function. Despite their ecological importance and an extensive literature on their relationships with plants, the vast majority of experiments on EM symbioses fail to report critical information needed to assess local adaptation: the geographic origin of the plant, fungal inocula, and soil substrate used in the experiment. These omissions limit the utility of such studies and restrict our understanding of EM ecology and evolution. Here, we illustrate the potential importance of local adaptation in EM relationships and call for consistent reporting of the geographic origin of plant, soil, and fungi as an important step towards a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of EM symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29181635, year = {2018}, author = {Alvarez-Manjarrez, J and Garibay-Orijel, R and Smith, ME}, title = {Caryophyllales are the main hosts of a unique set of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a Neotropical dry forest.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {103-115}, pmid = {29181635}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Caryophyllales/classification/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Forests ; Mexico ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal symbiosis was long thought to be restricted to temperate forests. However, as tropical forests have been explored, it has become clear that these habitats host unique ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. We have been exploring tropical dry forests (TDF), which are endangered terrestrial ecosystems and hotspots of endemism. Since Fabaceae is the main plant family in this environment, we hypothesized that trees in this lineage would be the main ECM hosts. We sequenced the ITS rDNA region from fungi and both rbcL and trnL cpDNA from plants to identify both symbiotic partners from root tips. The systematic position of each symbiont was confirmed by Bayesian phylogenetic inference. We identified 20 plant species belonging to 10 families that hosted 19 unique ECM fungal species from 5 lineages. Most ECM fungi were associated with Caryophyllales, not with Fabaceae. Achatocarpus and Guapira, the main hosts, are scattered throughout the forest and are not in monodominant patches. The low ECM fungal diversity can be explained by the low density of host plants and their high specificity. Our results indicate that Caryophyllales is an important order of tropical ECM hosts with at least four independent evolutionary lineages that have evolved the ability to form ectomycorrhizae.}, } @article {pmid29181449, year = {2017}, author = {Mann, E and Stouthamer, CM and Kelly, SE and Dzieciol, M and Hunter, MS and Schmitz-Esser, S}, title = {Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Novel Candidate Genes for Cardinium hertigii-Caused Cytoplasmic Incompatibility and Host-Cell Interaction.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29181449}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is an intriguing, widespread, symbiont-induced reproductive failure that decreases offspring production of arthropods through crossing incompatibility of infected males with uninfected females or with females infected with a distinct symbiont genotype. For years, the molecular mechanism of CI remained unknown. Recent genomic, proteomic, biochemical, and cell biological studies have contributed to understanding of CI in the alphaproteobacterium Wolbachia and implicate genes associated with the WO prophage. Besides a recently discovered additional lineage of alphaproteobacterial symbionts only moderately related to Wolbachia, Cardinium (Bacteroidetes) is the only other symbiont known to cause CI, and genomic evidence suggests that it has very little homology with Wolbachia and evolved this phenotype independently. Here, we present the first transcriptomic study of the CI Cardinium strain cEper1, in its natural host, Encarsia suzannae, to detect important CI candidates and genes involved in the insect-Cardinium symbiosis. Highly expressed transcripts included genes involved in manipulating ubiquitination, apoptosis, and host DNA. Female-biased genes encoding ribosomal proteins suggest an increase in general translational activity of Cardinium in female wasps. The results confirm previous genomic analyses that indicated that Wolbachia and Cardinium utilize different genes to induce CI, and transcriptome patterns further highlight expression of some common pathways that these bacteria use to interact with the host and potentially cause this enigmatic and fundamental manipulation of host reproduction. IMPORTANCE The majority of insects carry maternally inherited intracellular bacteria that are important in their hosts' biology, ecology, and evolution. Some of these bacterial symbionts cause a reproductive failure known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). In CI, the mating of symbiont-infected males and uninfected females produces few or no daughters. The CI symbiont then spreads and can have a significant impact on the insect host population. Cardinium, a bacterial endosymbiont of the parasitoid wasp Encarsia in the Bacteroidetes, is the only bacterial lineage known to cause CI outside the Alphaproteobacteria, where Wolbachia and another recently discovered CI symbiont reside. Here, we sought insight into the gene expression of a CI-inducing Cardinium strain in its natural host, Encarsia suzannae. Our study provides the first insights into the Cardinium transcriptome and provides support for the hypothesis that Wolbachia and Cardinium target similar host pathways with distinct and largely unrelated sets of genes.}, } @article {pmid29181447, year = {2017}, author = {Lopera, J and Miller, IJ and McPhail, KL and Kwan, JC}, title = {Increased Biosynthetic Gene Dosage in a Genome-Reduced Defensive Bacterial Symbiont.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29181447}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {A symbiotic lifestyle frequently results in genome reduction in bacteria; the isolation of small populations promotes genetic drift and the fixation of deletions and deleterious mutations over time. Transitions in lifestyle, including host restriction or adaptation to an intracellular habitat, are thought to precipitate a wave of sequence degradation events and consequent proliferation of pseudogenes. We describe here a verrucomicrobial symbiont of the tunicate Lissoclinum sp. that appears to be undergoing such a transition, with low coding density and many identifiable pseudogenes. However, despite the overall drive toward genome reduction, this symbiont maintains seven copies of a large polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway for the mandelalides (mnd), cytotoxic compounds that likely constitute a chemical defense for the host. There is evidence of ongoing degradation in a small number of these repeats-including variable borders, internal deletions, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, the gene dosage of most of the pathway is increased at least 5-fold. Correspondingly, this single pathway accounts for 19% of the genome by length and 25.8% of the coding capacity. This increased gene dosage in the face of generalized sequence degradation and genome reduction suggests that mnd genes are under strong purifying selection and are important to the symbiotic relationship. IMPORTANCE Secondary metabolites, which are small-molecule organic compounds produced by living organisms, provide or inspire drugs for many different diseases. These natural products have evolved over millions of years to provide a survival benefit to the producing organism and often display potent biological activity with important therapeutic applications. For instance, defensive compounds in the environment may be cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells, a property exploitable for cancer treatment. Here, we describe the genome of an uncultured symbiotic bacterium that makes such a cytotoxic metabolite. This symbiont is losing genes that do not endow a selective advantage in a hospitable host environment. Secondary metabolism genes, however, are repeated multiple times in the genome, directly demonstrating their selective advantage. This finding shows the strength of selective forces in symbiotic relationships and suggests that uncultured bacteria in such relationships should be targeted for drug discovery efforts.}, } @article {pmid29180836, year = {2017}, author = {Abdallah, F and Mijouin, L and Pichon, C}, title = {Skin Immune Landscape: Inside and Outside the Organism.}, journal = {Mediators of inflammation}, volume = {2017}, number = {}, pages = {5095293}, pmid = {29180836}, issn = {1466-1861}, mesh = {Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Microbiota/physiology ; Skin/*immunology/*microbiology ; Skin Diseases/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The skin is an essential organ to the human body protecting it from external aggressions and pathogens. Over the years, the skin was proven to have a crucial immunological role, not only being a passive protective barrier but a network of effector cells and molecular mediators that constitute a highly sophisticated compound known as the "skin immune system" (SIS). Studies of skin immune sentinels provided essential insights of a complex and dynamic immunity, which was achieved through interaction between the external and internal cutaneous compartments. In fact, the skin surface is cohabited by microorganisms recognized as skin microbiota that live in complete harmony with the immune sentinels and contribute to the epithelial barrier reinforcement. However, under stress, the symbiotic relationship changes into a dysbiotic one resulting in skin disorders. Hence, the skin microbiota may have either positive or negative influence on the immune system. This review aims at providing basic background information on the cutaneous immune system from major cellular and molecular players and the impact of its microbiota on the well-coordinated immune responses in host defense.}, } @article {pmid29180114, year = {2018}, author = {Ong, JWL and Li, H and Sivasithamparam, K and Dixon, KW and Jones, MGK and Wylie, SJ}, title = {Novel and divergent viruses associated with Australian orchid-fungus symbioses.}, journal = {Virus research}, volume = {244}, number = {}, pages = {276-283}, doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2017.11.026}, pmid = {29180114}, issn = {1872-7492}, mesh = {Australia ; Fungal Viruses/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mycorrhizae/*virology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA Viruses/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Totivirus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Viruses, Unclassified/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial orchids represent a symbiotic union between plants and mycorrhizal fungi. This study describes the occurrence and nature of viruses associated with one population of wild Pterostylis sanguinea orchids, including their fungal symbionts, over two consecutive years. A generic sequencing approach, which combined dsRNA-enrichment from plant and mycelial tissues, random amplification and high throughput shotgun sequencing was used to identify novel viruses. The majority of the virus-like sequences represent partial genomes, and their identification is based solely on de novo assembly of sequencing data. In orchid leaf tissues we found three isolates of a novel totivirus and an unclassified virus; both resemble fungus-infecting viruses. Two isolates of Ceratobasidium sp that were isolated from orchid underground stems contained at least 20 viruses, 16 of which were previously described as alphapartitiviruses and betapartitiviruses. A novel hypovirus and a mitovirus were genetically distant from existing members of the genera and did not readily fit into recognised subgroups.}, } @article {pmid29179148, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, Z and Yu, X and Tang, J and Wu, Y and Wang, L and Huang, B}, title = {Systemic response of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis against acute cadmium stress.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {194}, number = {}, pages = {132-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.11.013}, pmid = {29179148}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; China ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Transcriptome/drug effects ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals have become one of the main pollutants in the marine environment and a major threat to the growth and reproduction of stony corals. In the present study, the density of symbiotic zooxanthellae, levels of crucial physiological activities and the transcriptome were investigated in the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis after the acute exposure to elevated cadmium concentration. The density of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased significantly during 12-24h period, and reached lowest at 24h after acute cadmium stress. No significant changes were observed in the activity of glutathione S-transferase during the entire stress exposure. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and the concentration of glutathione decreased significantly, but the activation level of caspase3 increased significantly after cadmium exposure. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed 3538 significantly upregulated genes and 8048 significantly downregulated genes at 12h after the treatment. There were 12 overrepresented GO terms for significantly upregulated genes, mostly related to unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. In addition, a total of 32 GO terms were overrepresented for significantly downregulated genes, and mainly correlated with macromolecular metabolic processes. These results collectively suggest that acute cadmium stress could induce apoptosis by repressing the production of the antioxidants, elevating oxidative stress and activating the unfolded protein response. This cascade of reactions would result to the collapse of the coral-zooxanthella symbiosis and the expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae in the stony coral P. damicornis, ultimately leading to coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid29179082, year = {2018}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Czarnocka, W and Sańko-Sawczenko, I and Witoń, D}, title = {Effect of short-term aluminum stress and mycorrhizal inoculation on nitric oxide metabolism in Medicago truncatula roots.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {220}, number = {}, pages = {145-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2017.11.008}, pmid = {29179082}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Aluminum/*toxicity ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Aluminum (Al) toxicity can induce oxidative and nitrosative stress, which limits growth and yield of crop plants. Nevertheless, plant tolerance to stress may be improved by symbiotic associations including arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule involved in physiological processes and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, almost no information about the NO metabolism has been gathered about AM. In the present work, Medicago truncatula seedlings were inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis, and 7-week-old plants were treated with 50μM AlCl3 for 3h. Cytochemical and molecular techniques were used to measure the components of the NO metabolism, including NO content and localization, expression of genes encoding NO-synthesis (MtNR1, MtNR2 and MtNIR1) and NO-scavenging (MtGSNOR1, MtGSNOR2, MtHB1 and MtHB2) enzymes and the profile of protein tyrosine nitration (NO2-Tyr) in Medicago roots. For the first time, NO and NO2-Tyr accumulation was connected with fungal structures (arbuscules, vesicles and intercellular hyphae). Expression analysis of genes encoding NO-synthesis enzymes indicated that AM symbiosis results in lower production of NO in Al-treated roots in comparison to non-mycorrhizal roots. Elevated levels of transcription of genes encoding NO-scavenging enzymes indicated more active NO scavenging in AMF-inoculated Al-treated roots compared to non-inoculated roots. These results were confirmed by less NO accumulation and lower protein nitration in Al-stressed mycorrhizal roots in comparison to non-mycorrhizal roots. This study provides a new insight in NO metabolism in response to arbuscular mycorrhiza under normal and metal stress conditions. Our results suggest that mycorrhizal fungi decrease NO and tyrosine nitrated proteins content in Al-treated Medicago roots, probably via active NO scavenging system.}, } @article {pmid29177479, year = {2017}, author = {Lo, WS and Kuo, CH}, title = {Horizontal Acquisition and Transcriptional Integration of Novel Genes in Mosquito-Associated Spiroplasma.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {3246-3259}, pmid = {29177479}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Spiroplasma/classification/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Virulence Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genetic differentiation among symbiotic bacteria is important in shaping biodiversity. The genus Spiroplasma contains species occupying diverse niches and is a model system for symbiont evolution. Previous studies have established that two mosquito-associated species have diverged extensively in their carbohydrate metabolism genes despite having a close phylogenetic relationship. Notably, although the commensal Spiroplasma diminutum lacks identifiable pathogenicity factors, the pathogenic Spiroplasma taiwanense was found to have acquired a virulence factor glpO and its associated genes through horizontal transfer. However, it is unclear if these acquired genes have been integrated into the regulatory network. In this study, we inferred the gene content evolution in these bacteria, as well as examined their transcriptomes in response to glucose availability. The results indicated that both species have many more gene acquisitions from the Mycoides-Entomoplasmataceae clade, which contains several important pathogens of ruminants, than previously thought. Moreover, several acquired genes have higher expression levels than the vertically inherited homologs, indicating possible functional replacement. Finally, the virulence factor and its functionally linked genes in S. taiwanense were up-regulated in response to glucose starvation, suggesting that these acquired genes are under expression regulation and the pathogenicity may be a stress response. In summary, although differential gene losses are a major process for symbiont divergence, gene gains are critical in counteracting genome degradation and driving diversification among facultative symbionts.}, } @article {pmid29177478, year = {2018}, author = {Carella, P and Schornack, S}, title = {Manipulation of Bryophyte Hosts by Pathogenic and Symbiotic Microbes.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {4}, pages = {651-660}, pmid = {29177478}, issn = {1471-9053}, support = {BB/L014130/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bryophyta/*microbiology ; Cellular Reprogramming ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The colonization of plant tissues by pathogenic and symbiotic microbes is associated with a strong and directed effort to reprogram host cells in order to permit, promote and sustain microbial growth. In response to colonization, hosts accommodate or sequester invading microbes by activating a set of complex regulatory programs that initiate symbioses or bolster defenses. Extensive research has elucidated a suite of molecular and physiological responses occurring in plant hosts and their microbial partners; however, this information is mostly limited to model systems representing evolutionarily young plant lineages such as angiosperms. The extent to which these processes are conserved across land plants is therefore poorly understood. In this review, we outline key aspects of host reprogramming that occur during plant-microbe interactions in early diverging land plants belonging to the bryophytes (liverworts, hornworts and mosses). We discuss how further knowledge of bryophyte-microbe interactions will advance our understanding of how plants and microbes co-operated and clashed during the conquest of land.}, } @article {pmid29175860, year = {2017}, author = {Gegner, HM and Ziegler, M and Rädecker, N and Buitrago-López, C and Aranda, M and Voolstra, CR}, title = {High salinity conveys thermotolerance in the coral model Aiptasia.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {1943-1948}, pmid = {29175860}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {The endosymbiosis between dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium and stony corals provides the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Coral bleaching, the expulsion of endosymbionts from the coral host tissue as a consequence of heat or light stress, poses a threat to reef ecosystem functioning on a global scale. Hence, a better understanding of the factors contributing to heat stress susceptibility and tolerance is needed. In this regard, some of the most thermotolerant corals live in particularly saline habitats, but possible effects of high salinity on thermotolerance in corals are anecdotal. Here we test the hypothesis that high salinity may lead to increased thermotolerance. We conducted a heat stress experiment at low, intermediate, and high salinities using a set of host-endosymbiont combinations of the coral model Aiptasia. As expected, all host-endosymbiont combinations showed reduced photosynthetic efficiency and endosymbiont loss during heat stress, but the severity of bleaching was significantly reduced with increasing salinities for one of the host-endosymbiont combinations. Our results show that higher salinities can convey increased thermotolerance in Aiptasia, although this effect seems to be dependent on the particular host strain and/or associated symbiont type. This finding may help explain the extraordinarily high thermotolerance of corals in high salinity environments, such as the Red Sea and the Persian/Arabian Gulf, and provides novel insight regarding factors that contribute to thermotolerance. Since our results are based on a salinity effect in symbiotic sea anemones, it remains to be determined whether this salinity effect can also be observed in stony corals.}, } @article {pmid29175699, year = {2018}, author = {Attwell, K and Ward, PR and Meyer, SB and Rokkas, PJ and Leask, J}, title = {"Do-it-yourself": Vaccine rejection and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).}, journal = {Social science & medicine (1982)}, volume = {196}, number = {}, pages = {106-114}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.022}, pmid = {29175699}, issn = {1873-5347}, mesh = {Adult ; Complementary Therapies/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parents/*psychology ; Qualitative Research ; South Australia ; *Treatment Refusal ; Trust ; Vaccination/*psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {In this article, we elucidate a symbiotic relationship between complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and rejection of, or hesitancy towards, vaccination. In Fremantle, Western Australia, and Adelaide, South Australia, we conducted in-depth interviews from September 2013-December 2015 with 29 parents who had refused or delayed some or all of their children's vaccines. Our qualitative analysis found that for many, their do-it-yourself ethic and personal agency was enhanced by self-directed CAM use, alongside (sometimes informal) CAM practitioner instruction. Reifying 'the natural,' these parents eschewed vaccines as toxic and adulterating, and embraced CAM as a protective strategy for immune systems before, during and after illness. Users saw CAM as harm-free, and when it came to experiences that non-users might interpret as demonstrating CAM's ineffectiveness, they rationalised to the contrary. They also generally glossed over its profit motive. CAM emerged as part of an expert system countering Western medicine. CAM's faces were trusted and familiar, and its cottage capitalism appeared largely free from the taint of "Big Pharma." A few parents employed a scientific critique of CAM modalities - and a minority were dubious of its profit motive - but others rejected the epistemology underpinning biomedicine, framing CAM as a knowledge not poisoned by avarice; a wisdom whose very evidence-base (anecdote and history) was demeaned by an arrogant scientific process only permitting belief in that which could be quantified. However, all parents engaged with Western medicine for broken bones and, sometimes, medical diagnoses. Our analysis suggests that pro-vaccination health professionals, policymakers and information-providers seeking to address the role of CAM in vaccine rejection face significant challenges due to the epistemic basis of some parents' decisions. However, we make some suggestions for professional practice and policy to enhance trust in vaccination.}, } @article {pmid29173785, year = {2017}, author = {Lenfestey, MW and Neu, J}, title = {Probiotics in Newborns and Children.}, journal = {Pediatric clinics of North America}, volume = {64}, number = {6}, pages = {1271-1289}, doi = {10.1016/j.pcl.2017.08.006}, pmid = {29173785}, issn = {1557-8240}, mesh = {Child ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Diseases/*drug therapy ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Microbes and humans have been closely associated throughout evolution; this symbiotic and/or commensal relationship is crucial for normal development and health. The use of probiotics has been the topic of intense investigation in the past couple of decades because they have the capability to promote health. Based on these studies, it can be debated whether they are being used to promote overall health or to treat and prevent diseases. This review provides an overview and analysis of evidence about what is currently known about the health benefits of these agents that are marketed for use in children and neonates.}, } @article {pmid29173048, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, YH and Jiao, YS and Liu, LX and Wang, D and Tian, CF and Wang, ET and Wang, L and Chen, WX and Wu, SY and Guo, BL and Guan, ZG and Poinsot, V and Chen, WF}, title = {Nonspecific Symbiosis Between Sophora flavescens and Different Rhizobia.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {224-232}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-17-0117-R}, pmid = {29173048}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Sophora/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We explored the genetic basis of the promiscuous symbiosis of Sophora flavescens with diverse rhizobia. To determine the impact of Nod factors (NFs) on the symbiosis of S. flavescens, nodulation-related gene mutants of representative rhizobial strains were generated. Strains with mutations in common nodulation genes (nodC, nodM, and nodE) failed to nodulate S. flavescens, indicating that the promiscuous nodulation of this plant is strictly dependent on the basic NF structure. Mutations of the NF decoration genes nodH, nodS, nodZ, and noeI did not affect the nodulation of S. flavescens, but these mutations affected the nitrogen-fixation efficiency of nodules. Wild-type Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 cannot nodulate S. flavescens, but we obtained 14 Tn5 mutants of B. diazoefficiens that nodulated S. flavescens. This suggested that the mutations had disrupted a negative regulator that prevents nodulation of S. flavescens, leading to nonspecific nodulation. For Ensifer fredii CCBAU 45436 mutants, the minimal NF structure was sufficient for nodulation of soybean and S. flavescens. In summary, the mechanism of promiscuous symbiosis of S. flavescens with rhizobia might be related to its nonspecific recognition of NF structures, and the host specificity of rhizobia may also be controlled by currently unknown nodulation-related genes.}, } @article {pmid29172182, year = {2018}, author = {Tang, CC and Tian, Y and Liang, H and Zuo, W and Wang, ZW and Zhang, J and He, ZW}, title = {Enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal from domestic wastewater via algae-assisted sequencing batch biofilm reactor.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {250}, number = {}, pages = {185-190}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.11.028}, pmid = {29172182}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Bioreactors ; *Nitrogen ; *Phosphorus ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study proposed a potential strategy for enhancement of nutrients removal from domestic wastewater by adding algae to sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) to form a novel algal-bacterial symbiosis (ABS) system. Results indicated that the algae-assisted SBBR increased the total nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies from 38.5% to 65.8%, and from 31.9% to 89.3%, respectively. The carriers fixed at the top of the reactor were favorable for both formation of ABS system and algae enrichment. The chlorophyll-a increased to 3.59 mg/g at stable stage, which was 4.07 times higher than that in suspension. Moreover, the bio-carrier replacement and sludge discharge were independent, indicating that the sludge and algae retention time could be separated. The mechanisms analysis suggested that the enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus mainly attributed to the enrichment of both algae biomass and total biomass in biofilm. This study highlights the significance of developing ABS system for wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid29171835, year = {2017}, author = {Robert, CA and Zhang, X and Machado, RA and Schirmer, S and Lori, M and Mateo, P and Erb, M and Gershenzon, J}, title = {Sequestration and activation of plant toxins protect the western corn rootworm from enemies at multiple trophic levels.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {29171835}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Benzoxazines/*metabolism ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Glucosides/*metabolism ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Toxins, Biological/*metabolism ; Zea mays/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Highly adapted herbivores can phenocopy two-component systems by stabilizing, sequestering and reactivating plant toxins. However, whether these traits protect herbivores against their enemies is poorly understood. We demonstrate that the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, the most damaging maize pest on the planet, specifically accumulates the root-derived benzoxazinoid glucosides HDMBOA-Glc and MBOA-Glc. MBOA-Glc is produced by D. virgifera through stabilization of the benzoxazinoid breakdown product MBOA by N-glycosylation. The larvae can hydrolyze HDMBOA-Glc, but not MBOA-Glc, to produce toxic MBOA upon predator attack. Accumulation of benzoxazinoids renders D. virgifera highly resistant to nematodes which inject and feed on entomopathogenic symbiotic bacteria. While HDMBOA-Glc and MBOA reduce the growth and infectivity of both the nematodes and the bacteria, MBOA-Glc repels infective juvenile nematodes. Our results illustrate how herbivores combine stabilized and reactivated plant toxins to defend themselves against a deadly symbiosis between the third and the fourth trophic level enemies.}, } @article {pmid29170804, year = {2018}, author = {Dreyer, J and Malan, AP and Dicks, LMT}, title = {First report of a symbiotic relationship between Xenorhabdus griffiniae and an unknown Steinernema from South Africa.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {200}, number = {2}, pages = {349-353}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1452-4}, pmid = {29170804}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromadorea/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; South Africa ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Strain WS9, a mutualistic-associated bacterium, was isolated from an unknown entomopathogenic Steinernema nematode, collected from a litchi orchard in Friedenheim, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic data of the 16S rRNA, gltX, recA, dnaN, gyrB and infB gene sequences, strain WS9 is identified as X. griffiniae. Strain WS9 has antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This is the first report of an association between X. griffiniae and an unknown Steinernema species from South Africa.}, } @article {pmid29170664, year = {2017}, author = {Grasis, JA}, title = {The Intra-Dependence of Viruses and the Holobiont.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1501}, pmid = {29170664}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {F32 AI098418/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Animals live in symbiosis with the microorganisms surrounding them. This symbiosis is necessary for animal health, as a symbiotic breakdown can lead to a disease state. The functional symbiosis between the host, and associated prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses in the context of an environment is the holobiont. Deciphering these holobiont associations has proven to be both difficult and controversial. In particular, holobiont association with viruses has been of debate even though these interactions have been occurring since cellular life began. The controversy stems from the idea that all viruses are parasitic, yet their associations can also be beneficial. To determine viral involvement within the holobiont, it is necessary to identify and elucidate the function of viral populations in symbiosis with the host. Viral metagenome analyses identify the communities of eukaryotic and prokaryotic viruses that functionally associate within a holobiont. Similarly, analyses of the host in response to viral presence determine how these interactions are maintained. Combined analyses reveal how viruses interact within the holobiont and how viral symbiotic cooperation occurs. To understand how the holobiont serves as a functional unit, one must consider viruses as an integral part of disease, development, and evolution.}, } @article {pmid29170661, year = {2017}, author = {Checcucci, A and DiCenzo, GC and Bazzicalupo, M and Mengoni, A}, title = {Trade, Diplomacy, and Warfare: The Quest for Elite Rhizobia Inoculant Strains.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2207}, pmid = {29170661}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobia form symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules on leguminous plants, which provides an important source of fixed nitrogen input into the soil ecosystem. The improvement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation is one of the main challenges facing agriculture research. Doing so will reduce the usage of chemical nitrogen fertilizer, contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture practices to deal with the increasing global human population. Sociomicrobiological studies of rhizobia have become a model for the study of the evolution of mutualistic interactions. The exploitation of the wide range of social interactions rhizobia establish among themselves, with the soil and root microbiota, and with the host plant, could constitute a great advantage in the development of a new generation of highly effective rhizobia inoculants. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current knowledge on three main aspects of rhizobia interaction: trade of fixed nitrogen with the plant; diplomacy in terms of communication and possible synergistic effects; and warfare, as antagonism and plant control over symbiosis. Then, we propose new areas of investigation and the selection of strains based on the combination of the genetic determinants for the relevant rhizobia symbiotic behavioral phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid29170530, year = {2017}, author = {Assis, RAB and Polloni, LC and Patané, JSL and Thakur, S and Felestrino, ÉB and Diaz-Caballero, J and Digiampietri, LA and Goulart, LR and Almeida, NF and Nascimento, R and Dandekar, AM and Zaini, PA and Setubal, JC and Guttman, DS and Moreira, LM}, title = {Identification and analysis of seven effector protein families with different adaptive and evolutionary histories in plant-associated members of the Xanthomonadaceae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {16133}, pmid = {29170530}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Virulence ; Xanthomonadaceae/*metabolism/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The Xanthomonadaceae family consists of species of non-pathogenic and pathogenic γ-proteobacteria that infect different hosts, including humans and plants. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis using 69 fully sequenced genomes belonging to this family, with a focus on identifying proteins enriched in phytopathogens that could explain the lifestyle and the ability to infect plants. Using a computational approach, we identified seven phytopathogen-enriched protein families putatively secreted by type II secretory system: PheA (CM-sec), LipA/LesA, VirK, and four families involved in N-glycan degradation, NixE, NixF, NixL, and FucA1. In silico and phylogenetic analyses of these protein families revealed they all have orthologs in other phytopathogenic or symbiotic bacteria, and are involved in the modulation and evasion of the immune system. As a proof of concept, we performed a biochemical characterization of LipA from Xac306 and verified that the mutant strain lost most of its lipase and esterase activities and displayed reduced virulence in citrus. Since this study includes closely related organisms with distinct lifestyles and highlights proteins directly related to adaptation inside plant tissues, novel approaches might use these proteins as biotechnological targets for disease control, and contribute to our understanding of the coevolution of plant-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid29170421, year = {2017}, author = {Thomason, CA and Mullen, N and Belden, LK and May, M and Hawley, DM}, title = {Resident Microbiome Disruption with Antibiotics Enhances Virulence of a Colonizing Pathogen.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {16177}, pmid = {29170421}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {R01 GM105245/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Bird Diseases/drug therapy/enzymology/microbiology ; Finches/microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/drug effects ; Mycoplasma gallisepticum/drug effects/*pathogenicity ; Neuraminidase/metabolism ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {There is growing evidence that symbiotic microbes play key roles in host defense, but less is known about how symbiotic microbes mediate pathogen-induced damage to hosts. Here, we use a natural wildlife disease system, house finches and the conjunctival bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), to experimentally examine the impact of the ocular microbiome on host damage and pathogen virulence factors during infection. We disrupted the ocular bacterial community of healthy finches using an antibiotic that MG is intrinsically resistant to, then inoculated antibiotic- and sham-treated birds with MG. House finches with antibiotic-disrupted ocular microbiomes had more severe MG-induced conjunctival inflammation than birds with unaltered microbiomes, even after accounting for differences in conjunctival MG load. Furthermore, MG cultures from finches with disrupted microbiomes had increased sialidase enzyme and cytadherence activity, traits associated with enhanced virulence in Mycoplasmas, relative to isolates from sham-treated birds. Variation in sialidase activity and cytadherence among isolates was tightly linked with degree of tissue inflammation in hosts, supporting the consideration of these traits as virulence factors in this system. Overall, our results suggest that microbial dysbiosis can result in enhanced virulence of colonizing pathogens, with critical implications for the health of wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.}, } @article {pmid29169087, year = {2017}, author = {Molloy, EM and Hertweck, C}, title = {Antimicrobial discovery inspired by ecological interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {121-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2017.09.006}, pmid = {29169087}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Infective Agents ; Biological Products ; *Drug Discovery ; *Ecology ; Environmental Microbiology ; Genomics ; Insecta/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria represent an unparalleled source of antibiotics used to treat infectious diseases. Yet, genome analyses have revealed that their full biosynthetic potential is much larger than expected. Valuable strategies to unearth hidden antibiotics are genome mining, pathway engineering and triggering, as well as co-cultivation approaches. Nevertheless, there is growing understanding that it is often essential to consider the ecological context and that there is a great potential for antimicrobial discovery from bacteria engaged in well-defined interactions with other organisms. Various ecological scenarios involving antimicrobial agents are outlined in this review: predator-prey and pathogenic interactions, the protection of insect assets such as offspring and cultivars, as well as host protection in symbiotic relationships with plants, invertebrates and animals/humans. The illustrative examples given reinforce the idea that examination of interactions between organisms can yield new antimicrobial compounds, and ultimately further our understanding of the function of these molecules in the environment.}, } @article {pmid29167578, year = {2017}, author = {Jarett, JK and MacManes, MD and Morrow, KM and Pankey, MS and Lesser, MP}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Color Morphs In the Coral Montastraea cavernosa.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {16039}, pmid = {29167578}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Genomics/*methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Montastraea cavernosa is a common coral in the Caribbean basin found in several color morphs. To investigate the causes for brown and orange morphs we undertook a genomics approach on corals collected at the same time and depth in the Bahamas. The coral holobiont includes the host, symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.), and a diverse microbiome. While the coral host showed significant genetic differentiation between color morphs both the composition of the Symbiodinium spp. communities and the prokaryotic communities did not. Both targeted and global gene expression differences in the transcriptome of the host show no difference in fluorescent proteins while the metatranscriptome of the microbiome shows that pigments such as phycoerythrin and orange carotenoid protein of cyanobacterial origin are significantly greater in orange morphs, which is also consistent with the significantly greater number of cyanobacteria quantified by 16S rRNA reads and flow cytometry. The microbiome of orange color morphs expressed significantly more nitrogenase (nifH) transcripts consistent with their known ability to fix nitrogen. Both coral and Symbiodinium spp. transcriptomes from orange morphs had significantly increased expression of genes related to immune response and apoptosis, which may potentially be involved in maintaining and regulating the unique symbiont population in orange morphs.}, } @article {pmid29167511, year = {2017}, author = {Mansfield, KM and Carter, NM and Nguyen, L and Cleves, PA and Alshanbayeva, A and Williams, LM and Crowder, C and Penvose, AR and Finnerty, JR and Weis, VM and Siggers, TW and Gilmore, TD}, title = {Transcription factor NF-κB is modulated by symbiotic status in a sea anemone model of cnidarian bleaching.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {16025}, pmid = {29167511}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {K22 AI093793/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI116829/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA/metabolism ; Humans ; NF-kappa B/*metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Transcription factor NF-κB plays a central role in immunity from fruit flies to humans, and NF-κB activity is altered in many human diseases. To investigate a role for NF-κB in immunity and disease on a broader evolutionary scale we have characterized NF-κB in a sea anemone (Exaiptasia pallida; called Aiptasia herein) model for cnidarian symbiosis and dysbiosis (i.e., "bleaching"). We show that the DNA-binding site specificity of Aiptasia NF-κB is similar to NF-κB proteins from a broad expanse of organisms. Analyses of NF-κB and IκB kinase proteins from Aiptasia suggest that non-canonical NF-κB processing is an evolutionarily ancient pathway, which can be reconstituted in human cells. In Aiptasia, NF-κB protein levels, DNA-binding activity, and tissue expression increase when loss of the algal symbiont Symbiodinium is induced by heat or chemical treatment. Kinetic analysis of NF-κB levels following loss of symbiosis show that NF-κB levels increase only after Symbiodinium is cleared. Moreover, introduction of Symbiodinium into naïve Aiptasia larvae results in a decrease in NF-κB expression. Our results suggest that Symbiodinium suppresses NF-κB in order to enable establishment of symbiosis in Aiptasia. These results are the first to demonstrate a link between changes in the conserved immune regulatory protein NF-κB and cnidarian symbiotic status.}, } @article {pmid29166404, year = {2017}, author = {Ramalho, MO and Bueno, OC and Moreau, CS}, title = {Species-specific signatures of the microbiome from Camponotus and Colobopsis ants across developmental stages.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {e0187461}, pmid = {29166404}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biodiversity ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between hosts and bacteria are common in nature, and these may be responsible for the evolutionary success of various groups of animals. Among ants, these associations have been well studied in some genera of the Camponotini, but several questions remain regarding the generality of the previous findings across all the members of this ant tribe and if bacterial communities change across development in these hosts. This study is the first to characterize the bacterial community associated with a colony of the recently recognized genus Colobopsis and three colonies of Camponotus (two distinct species) and show how different the composition of the bacterial community is when compared across the different genera. Our data reveal that Colobopsis (species: Co. riehlii) and Camponotus (species: Ca. floridanus and Ca. planatus) have distinct microbiota, and we were able to verify that the identity of the species contributes more to the bacterial diversity. We also demonstrated that there were no significant differences between colonies of the same species (Camponotus planatus), and between stages of development from different colonies. We did find that some developmental stages have distinct bacteria, confirming that each stage of development could have a specific microbiota. Our results show species are one of the factors that shape the bacterial community in these Camponotini ants. Additional studies of the intra-colonial microbiome of other hosts and across development may reveal additional clues about the function and importance of bacteria in colony recognition, individual and colony health, and nutritional upgrading.}, } @article {pmid29166166, year = {2017}, author = {Nelson, PG and May, G}, title = {Coevolution between Mutualists and Parasites in Symbiotic Communities May Lead to the Evolution of Lower Virulence.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {190}, number = {6}, pages = {803-817}, doi = {10.1086/694334}, pmid = {29166166}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Most eukaryotes harbor a diverse community of parasitic, mutualistic, and commensal microbial symbionts. Although the diversity of these microbial symbiotic communities has recently drawn considerable attention, theory regarding the evolution of interactions among symbionts and with the host is still in its nascent stages. Here we evaluate the role of interactions among coinfecting symbionts in the evolution of symbiont virulence toward the host. To do so, we place the virulence-transmission trade-off into a community context and model the evolution of symbiont trophic modes along the continuum from parasitism (virulence) to mutualism (negative virulence). We establish a framework for studying multiple infections of a host by the same symbiont species and coinfection by multiple species, using a concept of shared costs, wherein the negative consequences of virulence (or harm) toward the host are shared among symbionts. Our results show that mutualism can be maintained under infection by multiple symbionts when shared costs are sufficiently low, while greater virulence and parasitism toward the host are more likely when shared costs are high. Last, for coinfection by more than one species, we show that if the presence of a mutualist ameliorates some of the costs of pathogen virulence, then the symbiotic community may more often evolve to a more commensal state and maintain mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid29165845, year = {2018}, author = {Audsley, MD and Seleznev, A and Joubert, DA and Woolfit, M and O'Neill, SL and McGraw, EA}, title = {Wolbachia infection alters the relative abundance of resident bacteria in adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, but not larvae.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {297-309}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14436}, pmid = {29165845}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Australia ; Biodiversity ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Wolbachia/classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Insect-symbiont interactions are known to play key roles in host functions and fitness. The common insect endosymbiont Wolbachia can reduce the ability of several human pathogens, including arboviruses and the malaria parasite, to replicate in insect hosts. Wolbachia does not naturally infect Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue virus, but transinfected Ae. aegypti have antidengue virus properties and are currently being trialled as a dengue biocontrol strategy. Here, we assess the impact of Wolbachia infection of Ae. aegypti on the microbiome of wild mosquito populations (adults and larvae) collected from release sites in Cairns, Australia, by profiling the 16S rRNA gene using next-generation sequencing. Our data indicate that Wolbachia reduces the relative abundance of a large proportion of bacterial taxa in Ae. aegypti adults, that is in accordance with the known pathogen-blocking effects of Wolbachia on a variety of bacteria and viruses. In adults, several of the most abundant bacterial genera were found to undergo significant shifts in relative abundance. However, the genera showing the greatest changes in relative abundance in Wolbachia-infected adults represented a low proportion of the total microbiome. In addition, there was little effect of Wolbachia infection on the relative abundance of bacterial taxa in larvae, or on species diversity (accounting for species richness and evenness together) detected in adults or larvae. These results offer insight into the effects of Wolbachia on the Ae. aegypti microbiome in a native setting, an important consideration for field releases of Wolbachia into the population.}, } @article {pmid29165704, year = {2018}, author = {Sánchez-Romera, B and Calvo-Polanco, M and Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Zamarreño, ÁM and Arbona, V and García-Mina, JM and Gómez-Cadenas, A and Aroca, R}, title = {Involvement of the def-1 Mutation in the Response of Tomato Plants to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Under Well-Watered and Drought Conditions.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {248-261}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcx178}, pmid = {29165704}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Aquaporins/genetics/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Linear Models ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/*physiology ; Mutation/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Water ; }, abstract = {Jasmonic acid (JA) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses are known to protect plants against abiotic and biotic stresses, but are also involved in the regulation of root hydraulic conductance (L). The objective of this experiment was to elucidate the role of JA in the water relations and hormonal regulation of AM plants under drought by using tomato plants defective in the synthesis of JA (def-1). Our results showed that JA is involved in the uptake and transport of water through its effect on both physiological parameters (stomatal conductance and L) and molecular parameters, mainly by controlling the expression and abundance of aquaporins. We observed that def-1 plants increased the expression of seven plant aquaporin genes under well-watered conditions in the absence of AM fungus, which partly explain the increment of L by this mutation under well-watered conditions. In addition, the effects of the AM symbiosis on plants were modified by the def-1 mutation, with the expression of some aquaporins and plant hormone concentration being disturbed. On the other hand, methyl salicylate (MeSA) content was increased in non-mycorrhizal def-1 plants, suggesting that MeSA and JA can act together in the regulation of L. In a complementary experiment, it was found that exogenous MeSA increased L, confirming our hypothesis. Likewise, we confirmed that JA, ABA and SA are hormones involved in plant mechanisms to cope with stressful situations, their concentrations being controlled by the AM symbiosis. In conclusion, under well-watered conditions, the def-1 mutation mimics the effects of AM symbiosis, but under drought conditions the def-1 mutation changed the effects of the AM symbiosis on plants.}, } @article {pmid29164371, year = {2018}, author = {Keller, KR and Carabajal, S and Navarro, F and Lau, JA}, title = {Effects of multiple mutualists on plants and their associated arthropod communities.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {186}, number = {1}, pages = {185-194}, pmid = {29164371}, issn = {1432-1939}, support = {DEB-1257756//Division of Environmental Biology/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Arthropods ; *Chamaecrista ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although most studies of mutualisms focus on a single partner at a time, host species often associate with multiple mutualist partners simultaneously. Because of potential interactions between mutualists, only studying a single type of mutualism could lead to a biased perspective of mutualism benefit and how mutualisms may scale-up to affect communities. The legume Chamaecrista fasciculata engages in a resource mutualism with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and also forms symbiotic interactions with ants by providing nectar in exchange for defense against herbivores. Although they provide very different benefits to the plant, both mutualists receive carbon resources from the plant. As a result, these two mutualists are likely to interact, potentially competing for carbon resources or mutually benefitting each other via their positive effects on plant hosts. In a full-factorial field experiment, we explored how rhizobia and ants influence one another, C. fasciculata fitness, and the associated arthropod community. Ants reduced plant allocation to rhizobia, but ants also increased rhizobia contamination of uninoculated plants, suggesting that ants may disperse rhizobia. In turn, rhizobia increased ant abundances, with ants preferentially tending plants with rhizobia. Chamaecrista fasciculata received substantial fitness benefits from rhizobia; in contrast, associating with ants reduced fitness. Additionally, the mutualists interacted to influence the abundance of other arthropods found on the plants. Rhizobia increased arthropod abundances, likely because more nitrogen-rich leaf tissue was more attractive to arthropod herbivores, but ants negated these increases. As these results illustrate, multiple mutualists may interact, influencing each other's abundance and the abundance of other community members.}, } @article {pmid29163421, year = {2017}, author = {Garcés-Ruiz, M and Senés-Guerrero, C and Declerck, S and Cranenbrouck, S}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community Composition in Carludovica palmata, Costus scaber and Euterpe precatoria from Weathered Oil Ponds in the Ecuadorian Amazon.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2134}, pmid = {29163421}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous to most natural and anthropized ecosystems, and are often found in polluted environments. However, their occurrence and community composition in highly weathered petroleum-polluted soils has been infrequently reported. In the present study, two ponds of weathered crude oil and their surrounding soil from the Charapa field in the Amazon region of Ecuador were selected and root colonization by AMF of their native plants investigated. The AMF community was further analyzed in three selected plant species (i.e., Carludovica palmata, Costus scaber and Euterpe precatoria) present in the two ponds and the surrounding soil. A fragment covering partial SSU, the whole ITS and partial LSU rDNA region was amplified (i.e., 1.5 kb), cloned and sequenced from the roots of each host species. AMF root colonization exceeded 56% in all plant species examined and no significant difference was observed between sites or plants. For AMF community analysis, a total of 138 AMF sequences were obtained and sorted into 32 OTUs based on clustering (threshold ≥97%) by OPTSIL. The found OTUs belonged to the genera Rhizophagus (22%), Glomus (31%), Acaulospora (25%) and Archaeospora (22%). Glomus and Archaeospora were always present regardless of the plant species or the site. Acaulospora was found in the three plant species and in the two ponds while Rhizophagus was revealed only in the surrounding soil in one plant species (Euterpe precatoria). Our study contributed to the molecular community composition of AMF and revealed an unexpected high presence of four AMF genera which have established a symbiosis with roots of native plants from the Amazon forest under high polluted soil conditions.}, } @article {pmid29163379, year = {2017}, author = {Kyritsis, GA and Augustinos, AA and Cáceres, C and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Medfly Gut Microbiota and Enhancement of the Sterile Insect Technique: Similarities and Differences of Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterobacter sp. AA26 Probiotics during the Larval and Adult Stages of the VIENNA 8[D53+] Genetic Sexing Strain.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2064}, pmid = {29163379}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a major agricultural pest worldwide. The development of genetic sexing strains (GSSs) for this species that allows male-only sterile insects releases has boosted the effectiveness of the environmental friendly pest control method known as the sterile insect technique. The last generation of these strains, the VIENNA 7 and VIENNA 8, are currently used in all mass rearing facilities worldwide and are considered as models for such pest control applications. The sterile insect technique depends on the rearing of sufficient numbers of adequate "biological quality" laboratory flies to be released in the field. Currently, there is an increasing amount of studies focusing on the characterization of the symbiotic communities and development of probiotic diets. In our study, two bacterial isolates, an Enterobacter sp. (strain AA26) and a Klebsiella oxytoca strain, were used as probiotics in larval and adult diet. These strains have been shown to be beneficial, affecting several aspects related to the rearing efficiency and biological quality of the medfly VIENNA 8[D53+] GSS. Our results demonstrate the effect of K. oxytoca on the developmental duration of the immature stages and, to some extent, on flight ability. On the other hand, our study does not support the presence of any beneficial effect of (a) K. oxytoca on pupal and adult recovery and adults' survival under stress conditions when provided as a larval diet supplement and (b) K. oxytoca and Enterobacter sp. AA26 on mating competitiveness when provided as adult diet supplements. Possible explanations for inconsistencies with previous studies and the need for universalizing protocols are discussed. Our findings, combined with previous studies can support the sterile insect technique, through the improvement of different aspects of mass rearing and biological properties of laboratory reared insect pests.}, } @article {pmid29162937, year = {2017}, author = {Murillo-Rincon, AP and Klimovich, A and Pemöller, E and Taubenheim, J and Mortzfeld, B and Augustin, R and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Spontaneous body contractions are modulated by the microbiome of Hydra.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {15937}, pmid = {29162937}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Germ-Free Life ; Hydra/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Spontaneous contractile activity, such as gut peristalsis, is ubiquitous in animals and is driven by pacemaker cells. In humans, disruption of the contraction pattern leads to gastrointestinal conditions, which are also associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Spontaneous contractile activity is also present in animals lacking gastrointestinal tract. Here we show that spontaneous body contractions in Hydra are modulated by symbiotic bacteria. Germ-free animals display strongly reduced and less regular contraction frequencies. These effects are partially restored by reconstituting the natural microbiota. Moreover, soluble molecule(s) produced by symbiotic bacteria may be involved in contraction frequency modulation. As the absence of bacteria does not impair the contractile ability itself, a microbial effect on the pacemakers seems plausible. Our findings indicate that the influence of bacteria on spontaneous contractile activity is present in the early-branching cnidarian hydra as well as in Bilateria, and thus suggest an evolutionary ancient origin of interaction between bacteria and metazoans, opening a window into investigating the roots of human motility disorders.}, } @article {pmid29162715, year = {2017}, author = {Nguyen, S and Baker, K and Padman, BS and Patwa, R and Dunstan, RA and Weston, TA and Schlosser, K and Bailey, B and Lithgow, T and Lazarou, M and Luque, A and Rohwer, F and Blumberg, RS and Barr, JJ}, title = {Bacteriophage Transcytosis Provides a Mechanism To Cross Epithelial Cell Layers.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29162715}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 DK053056/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DK053056/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteriophages/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Cell Line ; Cytosol/virology ; Endocytosis ; Epithelial Cells/*physiology/ultrastructure/*virology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/cytology/ultrastructure/virology ; Humans ; Kidney/cytology/virology ; Liver/cytology/virology ; Lung/cytology/virology ; Microscopy ; Symbiosis ; *Transcytosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial viruses are among the most numerous biological entities within the human body. These viruses are found within regions of the body that have conventionally been considered sterile, including the blood, lymph, and organs. However, the primary mechanism that bacterial viruses use to bypass epithelial cell layers and access the body remains unknown. Here, we used in vitro studies to demonstrate the rapid and directional transcytosis of diverse bacteriophages across confluent cell layers originating from the gut, lung, liver, kidney, and brain. Bacteriophage transcytosis across cell layers had a significant preferential directionality for apical-to-basolateral transport, with approximately 0.1% of total bacteriophages applied being transcytosed over a 2-h period. Bacteriophages were capable of crossing the epithelial cell layer within 10 min with transport not significantly affected by the presence of bacterial endotoxins. Microscopy and cellular assays revealed that bacteriophages accessed both the vesicular and cytosolic compartments of the eukaryotic cell, with phage transcytosis suggested to traffic through the Golgi apparatus via the endomembrane system. Extrapolating from these results, we estimated that 31 billion bacteriophage particles are transcytosed across the epithelial cell layers of the gut into the average human body each day. The transcytosis of bacteriophages is a natural and ubiquitous process that provides a mechanistic explanation for the occurrence of phages within the body.IMPORTANCE Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. They cannot infect eukaryotic cells but can penetrate epithelial cell layers and spread throughout sterile regions of our bodies, including the blood, lymph, organs, and even the brain. Yet how phages cross these eukaryotic cell layers and gain access to the body remains unknown. In this work, epithelial cells were observed to take up and transport phages across the cell, releasing active phages on the opposite cell surface. Based on these results, we posit that the human body is continually absorbing phages from the gut and transporting them throughout the cell structure and subsequently the body. These results reveal that phages interact directly with the cells and organs of our bodies, likely contributing to human health and immunity.}, } @article {pmid29161429, year = {2018}, author = {Qin, Y and Wade, PA}, title = {Crosstalk between the microbiome and epigenome: messages from bugs.}, journal = {Journal of biochemistry}, volume = {163}, number = {2}, pages = {105-112}, pmid = {29161429}, issn = {1756-2651}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Methylation/genetics ; *Epigenomics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Histones/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mammals exist in a complicated symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiome, which is postulated to have broad impacts on host health and disease. As omics-based technologies have matured, the potential mechanisms by which the microbiome affects host physiology are being addressed. The gut microbiome, which provides environmental cues, can modify host cell responses to stimuli through alterations in the host epigenome and, ultimately, gene expression. Increasing evidence highlights microbial generation of bioactive compounds that impact the transcriptional machinery in host cells. Here, we review current understanding of the crosstalk between gut microbiota and the host epigenome, including DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNAs. These studies are providing insights into how the host responds to microbial signalling and are predicted to provide information for the application of precision medicine.}, } @article {pmid29161044, year = {2017}, author = {Schäfer, G and Ahmetovic, M and Abele, S}, title = {Scalable Synthesis of Trifluoromethylated Imidazo-Fused N-Heterocycles Using TFAA and Trifluoroacetamide as CF3-Reagents.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {19}, number = {24}, pages = {6578-6581}, doi = {10.1021/acs.orglett.7b03291}, pmid = {29161044}, issn = {1523-7052}, abstract = {A scalable synthesis of trifluoromethylated imidazo-fused N-heterocyles from heterocyclic benzylamines using TFAA as trifluoromethylating reagent is presented. The reaction proceeds via intermediate benzylic N-trifluoroacetamides followed by dehydrative cyclization to the products. To further broaden the scope and practicality, a new method for the preparation of benzylic N-trifluoroacetamides via alkylation of trifluoroacetamide with benzyl (pseudo)halides was developed. Both methods proceed under mild conditions, and their symbiosis provides access to a wide range of novel CF3-heterocycles.}, } @article {pmid29160592, year = {2018}, author = {Bezrutczyk, M and Yang, J and Eom, JS and Prior, M and Sosso, D and Hartwig, T and Szurek, B and Oliva, R and Vera-Cruz, C and White, FF and Yang, B and Frommer, WB}, title = {Sugar flux and signaling in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {675-685}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13775}, pmid = {29160592}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Disease Resistance/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sugars/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant breeders have developed crop plants that are resistant to pests, but the continual evolution of pathogens creates the need to iteratively develop new control strategies. Molecular tools have allowed us to gain deep insights into disease responses, allowing for more efficient, rational engineering of crops that are more robust or resistant to a greater number of pathogen variants. Here we describe the roles of SWEET and STP transporters, membrane proteins that mediate transport of sugars across the plasma membrane. We discuss how these transporters may enhance or restrict disease through controlling the level of nutrients provided to pathogens and whether the transporters play a role in sugar signaling for disease resistance. This review indicates open questions that require further research and proposes the use of genome editing technologies for engineering disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid29158383, year = {2017}, author = {Matthews, JL and Crowder, CM and Oakley, CA and Lutz, A and Roessner, U and Meyer, E and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Optimal nutrient exchange and immune responses operate in partner specificity in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {50}, pages = {13194-13199}, pmid = {29158383}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Metabolome ; Oxidative Stress ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/immunology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The relationship between corals and dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium is fundamental to the functioning of coral ecosystems. It has been suggested that reef corals may adapt to climate change by changing their dominant symbiont type to a more thermally tolerant one, although the capacity for such a shift is potentially hindered by the compatibility of different host-symbiont pairings. Here we combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to characterize the molecular, cellular, and physiological processes that underlie this compatibility, with a particular focus on Symbiodinium trenchii, an opportunistic, thermally tolerant symbiont that flourishes in coral tissues after bleaching events. Symbiont-free individuals of the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida (commonly referred to as Aiptasia), an established model system for the study of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, were colonized with the "normal" (homologous) symbiont Symbiodinium minutum and the heterologous S. trenchii Analysis of the host gene and metabolite expression profiles revealed that heterologous symbionts induced an expression pattern intermediate between the typical symbiotic state and the aposymbiotic state. Furthermore, integrated pathway analysis revealed that increased catabolism of fixed carbon stores, metabolic signaling, and immune processes occurred in response to the heterologous symbiont type. Our data suggest that both nutritional provisioning and the immune response induced by the foreign "invader" are important factors in determining the capacity of corals to adapt to climate change through the establishment of novel symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29158240, year = {2018}, author = {Barnett, MJ and Long, SR}, title = {Novel Genes and Regulators That Influence Production of Cell Surface Exopolysaccharides in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29158240}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil-dwelling alphaproteobacterium that engages in a nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis with leguminous plants. Cell surface polysaccharides are important both for adapting to stresses in the soil and for the development of an effective symbiotic interaction. Among the polysaccharides characterized to date, the acidic exopolysaccharides I (EPS-I; succinoglycan) and II (EPS-II; galactoglucan) are particularly important for protection from abiotic stresses, biofilm formation, root colonization, and infection of plant roots. Previous genetic screens discovered mutants with impaired EPS production, allowing the delineation of EPS biosynthetic pathways. Here we report on a genetic screen to isolate mutants with mucoid colonial morphologies that suggest EPS overproduction. Screening with Tn5-110, which allows the recovery of both null and upregulation mutants, yielded 47 mucoid mutants, most of which overproduce EPS-I; among the 30 unique genes and intergenic regions identified, 14 have not been associated with EPS production previously. We identified a new protein-coding gene, emmD, which may be involved in the regulation of EPS-I production as part of the EmmABC three-component regulatory circuit. We also identified a mutant defective in EPS-I production, motility, and symbiosis, where Tn5-110 was not responsible for the mutant phenotypes; these phenotypes result from a missense mutation in rpoA corresponding to the domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit known to interact with transcription regulators.IMPORTANCE The alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti converts dinitrogen to ammonium while inhabiting specialized plant organs termed root nodules. The transformation of S. meliloti from a free-living soil bacterium to a nitrogen-fixing plant symbiont is a complex developmental process requiring close interaction between the two partners. As the interface between the bacterium and its environment, the S. meliloti cell surface plays a critical role in adaptation to varied soil environments and in interaction with plant hosts. We isolated and characterized S. meliloti mutants with increased production of exopolysaccharides, key cell surface components. Our diverse set of mutants suggests roles for exopolysaccharide production in growth, metabolism, cell division, envelope homeostasis, biofilm formation, stress response, motility, and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29156569, year = {2017}, author = {Mereghetti, V and Chouaia, B and Montagna, M}, title = {New Insights into the Microbiota of Moth Pests.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {29156569}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Moths/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {In recent years, next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have helped to improve our understanding of the bacterial communities associated with insects, shedding light on their wide taxonomic and functional diversity. To date, little is known about the microbiota of lepidopterans, which includes some of the most damaging agricultural and forest pests worldwide. Studying their microbiota could help us better understand their ecology and offer insights into developing new pest control strategies. In this paper, we review the literature pertaining to the microbiota of lepidopterans with a focus on pests, and highlight potential recurrent patterns regarding microbiota structure and composition.}, } @article {pmid29156489, year = {2018}, author = {Reuter, C and Alzheimer, M and Walles, H and Oelschlaeger, TA}, title = {An adherent mucus layer attenuates the genotoxic effect of colibactin.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.12812}, pmid = {29156489}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage/physiology ; Escherichia coli/pathogenicity ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genomic Islands/physiology ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Mucus/*microbiology ; Mutagens/*metabolism ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Polyketides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Virulence/physiology ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is a complex ecosystem in which epithelial cells and microorganisms of the intestinal microbiota live in symbiosis. Certain members of the microbiota, in particular Escherichia coli strains of the B2 phylotype, carry the polyketide synthase-island encoding the genotoxin colibactin. Colibactin is a nonribosomal peptide or polyketide-nonribosomal peptide hybrid of still unsolved structure, which induces DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in eukaryotic cells. However, direct contact between live bacteria and host cell is required in order to elicit these genotoxic effects. In this study, we used a variety of cell culture models, among them, a 3D cell culture approach based on decellularised small intestinal submucosa, to investigate whether the intestinal mucus layer has the potential to interfere with colibactin activity. We demonstrate that the expression of mucins and the formation of an adherent mucus layer significantly increased with increasing complexity of cell culture. Moreover, we show that the presence of an adherent mucus layer on epithelial cells attenuates the genotoxic activity of colibactin, by preventing the induction of DNA-DSBs. Removal of the adherent mucus layer restored the occurrence of DNA-DSBs.}, } @article {pmid29155067, year = {2018}, author = {Forester, NT and Lane, GA and Steringa, M and Lamont, IL and Johnson, LJ}, title = {Contrasting roles of fungal siderophores in maintaining iron homeostasis in Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {111}, number = {}, pages = {60-72}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2017.11.003}, pmid = {29155067}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Epichloe/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Genes, Fungal ; Homeostasis ; Iron/*metabolism ; Lolium/microbiology ; Mutagenesis ; Oxidative Stress ; Peptide Synthases/biosynthesis/genetics/*physiology ; Siderophores/biosynthesis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between Epichloë festucae and its host perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a model system for mutualistic interactions in which the fungal endophyte grows between plant shoot cells and acquires host nutrients to survive. E. festucae synthesises the siderophore epichloënin A (EA) via SidN, a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). EA is involved in the acquisition of iron, an essential micronutrient, as part of the process of maintaining a stable symbiotic interaction. Here, we mutated a different NRPS gene sidC and showed that it is required for production of a second siderophore ferricrocin (FC). Furthermore mutations in sidA, encoding an l-ornithine N[5]-monooxygenase, abolished both EA and FC production. Axenic growth phenotypes of the siderophore mutants were altered relative to wild-type (WT) providing insights into the roles of E. festucae siderophores in iron trafficking and consequently in growth and morphogenesis. During iron-limitation, EA is the predominant siderophore and in addition to its role in iron acquisition it appears to play roles in intracellular iron sequestration and oxidative stress tolerance. FC in contrast is exclusively located intracellularly and is the dominant siderophore under conditions of iron sufficiency when it is likely to have roles in iron storage and iron transport. Intriguingly, EA acts to promote but may also moderate E. festucae growth (depending on the amount of available iron). We therefore hypothesise that coordinated cellular iron sequestration through FC and EA may be one of the mechanisms that E. festucae employs to manage and restrain its growth in response to iron fluxes and ultimately persist as a controlled symbiont.}, } @article {pmid29153832, year = {2017}, author = {Salem, H and Bauer, E and Kirsch, R and Berasategui, A and Cripps, M and Weiss, B and Koga, R and Fukumori, K and Vogel, H and Fukatsu, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Drastic Genome Reduction in an Herbivore's Pectinolytic Symbiont.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {171}, number = {7}, pages = {1520-1531.e13}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2017.10.029}, pmid = {29153832}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Pectins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pectin, an integral component of the plant cell wall, is a recalcitrant substrate against enzymatic challenges by most animals. In characterizing the source of a leaf beetle's (Cassida rubiginosa) pectin-degrading phenotype, we demonstrate its dependency on an extracellular bacterium housed in specialized organs connected to the foregut. Despite possessing the smallest genome (0.27 Mb) of any organism not subsisting within a host cell, the symbiont nonetheless retained a functional pectinolytic metabolism targeting the polysaccharide's two most abundant classes: homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan I. Comparative transcriptomics revealed pectinase expression to be enriched in the symbiotic organs, consistent with enzymatic buildup in these structures following immunostaining with pectinase-targeting antibodies. Symbiont elimination results in a drastically reduced host survivorship and a diminished capacity to degrade pectin. Collectively, our findings highlight symbiosis as a strategy for an herbivore to metabolize one of nature's most complex polysaccharides and a universal component of plant tissues.}, } @article {pmid29153522, year = {2018}, author = {Zhao, Y and Kumar, M and Caspers, MPM and Nierop Groot, MN and van der Vossen, JMBM and Abee, T}, title = {Short communication: Growth of dairy isolates of Geobacillus thermoglucosidans in skim milk depends on lactose degradation products supplied by Anoxybacillus flavithermus as secondary species.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {101}, number = {2}, pages = {1013-1019}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2017-13372}, pmid = {29153522}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Anoxybacillus/*metabolism ; Cattle ; Dairy Products/microbiology ; Geobacillus/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Lactose/*metabolism ; Milk/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Thermophilic bacilli such as Anoxybacillus and Geobacillus are important contaminants in dairy powder products. Remarkably, one of the common contaminants, Geobacillus thermoglucosidans, showed poor growth in skim milk, whereas significant growth of G. thermoglucosidans was observed in the presence of an Anoxybacillus flavithermus dairy isolate. In the present study, we investigated the underlying reason for this growth dependence of G. thermoglucosidans. Whole-genome sequences of 4 A. flavithermus strains and 4 G. thermoglucosidans strains were acquired, with special attention given to carbohydrate utilization clusters and proteolytic enzymes. Focusing on traits relevant for dairy environments, comparative genomic analysis revealed that all G. thermoglucosidans strains lacked the genes necessary for lactose transport and metabolism, showed poor growth in skim milk, and produced white colonies on X-gal plates, indicating the lack of β-galactosidase activity. The A. flavithermus isolates scored positive in these tests, consistent with the presence of a putative lactose utilization gene cluster. All tested isolates from both species showed proteolytic activity on milk plate count agar plates. Adding glucose or galactose to liquid skim milk supported growth of G. thermoglucosidans isolates, in line with the presence of the respective monosaccharide utilization gene clusters in the genomes. Analysis by HPLC of A. flavithermus TNO-09.006 culture filtrate indicated that the previously described growth dependence of G. thermoglucosidans in skim milk was based on the supply of glucose and galactose by A. flavithermus TNO-09.006.}, } @article {pmid29153324, year = {2017}, author = {Hartmann, AC and Baird, AH and Knowlton, N and Huang, D}, title = {The Paradox of Environmental Symbiont Acquisition in Obligate Mutualisms.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {23}, pages = {3711-3716.e3}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.10.036}, pmid = {29153324}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutually beneficial interactions between species (mutualisms) shaped the evolution of eukaryotes and remain critical to the survival of species globally [1, 2]. Theory predicts that hosts should pass mutualist symbionts to their offspring (vertical transmission) [3-8]. However, offspring acquire symbionts from the environment in a surprising number of species (horizontal acquisition) [9-12]. A classic example of this paradox is the reef-building corals, in which 71% of species horizontally acquire algal endosymbionts [9]. An untested hypothesis explaining this paradox suggests that horizontal acquisition allows offspring to avoid symbiont-induced harm early in life. We reconstructed the evolution of symbiont transmission across 252 coral species and detected evolutionary transitions consistent with costs of vertical transmission among broadcast spawners, whose eggs tend to be positively buoyant and aggregate at the sea surface. Broadcasters with vertical transmission produce eggs with traits that favor reduced buoyancy (less wax ester lipid) and rapid development to the swimming stage (small egg size), both of which decrease the amount of time offspring spend at the sea surface. Wax ester provisioning decreased after vertically transmitting species evolved brooding from broadcasting, indicating that reduced buoyancy evolves only when offspring bear symbionts. We conclude that horizontal acquisition protects offspring from damage caused by high light and temperatures near the sea surface while providing benefits from enhanced fertilization and outcrossing. These findings help explain why modes of symbiont transmission and reproduction are strongly associated in corals and highlight benefits of delaying mutualist partnerships, offering an additional hypothesis for the pervasiveness of this theoretically paradoxical strategy.}, } @article {pmid29152603, year = {2017}, author = {Marden, CL and McDonald, R and Schreier, HJ and Watts, JEM}, title = {Investigation into the fungal diversity within different regions of the gastrointestinal tract of Panaque nigrolineatus, a wood-eating fish.}, journal = {AIMS microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {749-761}, pmid = {29152603}, issn = {2471-1888}, support = {T32 GM066706/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The Amazonian catfish, Panaque nigrolineatus have several physiological adaptions enabling the scraping and consumption of wood (xylivory), facilitating a detritivorous dietary strategy. Composed of lignocellulose, wood is a difficult substrate to degrade and as yet, it is unclear whether the fish obtains any direct nutritional benefits from wood ingestion and degradation. However, there are numerous systems that rely on microbial symbioses to provide energy and other nutritional benefits for host organisms via lignocellulose decomposition. While previous studies on the microbial community of P. nigrolineatus have focused upon the bacterial population, the role of fungi in lignocellulose degradation in the fish has not yet been examined. This study describes the detection of fungi within the fish gastrointestinal tract. Using next generation sequencing, the effects of diet on enteric fungal populations were examined in each gastrointestinal tract region. Fungal species were found to vary in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract as a function of diet. This study is the first to examine the fungal community in a xylivorous fish and results support the hypothesis that diet influences fungal distribution and diversity within the gastrointestinal tract of P. nigrolineatus.}, } @article {pmid29152585, year = {2017}, author = {d'Hennezel, E and Abubucker, S and Murphy, LO and Cullen, TW}, title = {Total Lipopolysaccharide from the Human Gut Microbiome Silences Toll-Like Receptor Signaling.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {29152585}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Cohabitation of microbial communities with the host enables the formation of a symbiotic relationship that maintains homeostasis in the gut and beyond. One prevailing model suggests that this relationship relies on the capacity of host cells and tissues to remain tolerant to the strong immune stimulation generated by the microbiota such as the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathways by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Indeed, gut microbial LPS is thought to be one of the most potent activators of innate immune signaling and an important mediator of the microbiome's influence on host physiology. In this study, we performed computational and experimental analyses of healthy human fecal samples to examine the TLR4 signaling capacity of the gut microbiota. These analyses revealed that an immunoinhibitory activity of LPS, conserved across the members of the order Bacteroidales and derived from an underacylated structural feature, silences TLR4 signaling for the entire consortium of organisms inhabiting the human gut. Comparative analysis of metagenomic data from the Human Microbiome Project and healthy-donor samples indicates that immune silencing via LPS is a microbe-intrinsic feature in all healthy adults. These findings challenge the current belief that robust TLR4 signaling is a feature of the microbiome and demonstrate that microbiome-derived LPS has the ability to facilitate host tolerance of gut microbes. These findings have broad implications for how we model host-microbe interactions and for our understanding of microbiome-linked disease. IMPORTANCE While the ability for humans to host a complex microbial ecosystem is an essential property of life, the mechanisms allowing for immune tolerance of such a large microbial load are not completely understood and are currently the focus of intense research. This study shows that an important proinflammatory pathway that is commonly triggered by pathogenic bacteria upon interaction with the host is, in fact, actively repressed by the bacteria of the gut microbiome, supporting the idea that beneficial microbes themselves contribute to the immune tolerance in support of homeostasis. These findings are important for two reasons. First, many currently assume that proinflammatory signaling by lipopolysaccharide is a fundamental feature of the gut flora. This assumption influences greatly how host-microbiome interactions are theoretically modeled but also how they are experimentally studied, by using robust TLR signaling conditions to simulate commensals. Second, elucidation of the mechanisms that support host-microbe tolerance is key to the development of therapeutics for both intestinal and systemic inflammatory disorders.}, } @article {pmid29151980, year = {2017}, author = {Jeong, SY and Kang, S and Hua, CS and Ting, Z and Park, S}, title = {Synbiotic effects of β-glucans from cauliflower mushroom and Lactobacillus fermentum on metabolic changes and gut microbiome in estrogen-deficient rats.}, journal = {Genes & nutrition}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {31}, pmid = {29151980}, issn = {1555-8932}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the long-term consumption of a symbiotic formulation with Lactobacillus fermentum (probiotic) and β-glucan from cauliflower mushroom (prebiotic) would delay the progression of post-menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats and explored their mechanisms of action, including changes in gut microbiota.

METHODS: OVX rats were fed with high-fat diets containing 1% dextrin (control), 1% lyophilized cauliflower mushroom extract (CFM), 0.1% L. fermentum JS (LFE), 1% CFM plus 0.1% LFE (CFLF), or 30 μg 17β-estradiol/kg body weight (positive-control) for 8 weeks.

RESULTS: CFM contained 95.8% β-glucans. OVX increased the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the large intestines. Only CFLF lowered tail skin temperature without increasing serum 17β-estradiol and uterine index. Visceral fat mass was lower in CFLF and positive-control groups by increasing daily energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Dyslipidemia induced by OVX was improved by CFM and CFLF as much as in the positive-control group. Homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance was lower in CFLF than in the positive-control. Hepatic insulin signaling (pAkt➔GSK-3β) was potentiated in the ascending order of the control, LFE, CFM, CFLF, and positive-control. AMPK phosphorylation showed similar patterns of hepatic insulin signaling but LFE increased it more than CFM. The changes in gut microbiota were prevented by CFLF in OVX rats, and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the CFLF was similar to the positive-control group.

CONCLUSION: OVX changed gut microbiota and was associated with menopausal symptoms; however, the synbiotics, CFM and LFE, prevented menopausal symptoms and improved the gut microbiota in estrogen-deficient rats.}, } @article {pmid29150728, year = {2017}, author = {He, M and Jiang, J and Cheng, D}, title = {The plant pathogen Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 is beneficial to the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {207}, pmid = {29150728}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Plant pathogens can build relationships with insect hosts to complete their life cycles, and they often modify the behavior and development of hosts to improve their own fitness. In order to unravel whether some bacteria that can make fruit rot could have developed symbiotic interactions with Bactrocera dorsalis, we studied the symbiont bacteria profiles of the fly. We identified the bacterium Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 from the ovaries and eggs of the oriental fruit fly B. dorsalis and the amount of Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 increased significantly as the ovaries developed and in fruits on which non-sterile eggs were laid. Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 addition to bananas fastens the rotting process and its addition to the eggs fastens their development/hatching rate. All in all, our data suggest that Gluconobacter cerinus strain CDF1 is beneficial to the fruit fly.}, } @article {pmid29150514, year = {2018}, author = {Tang, G and Li, N and Liu, Y and Yu, L and Yan, J and Luo, L}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Glutathione Reductase Is Required for both Redox Homeostasis and Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29150514}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutathione/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Glutathione Reductase/*genetics ; Homeostasis/*genetics/physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidants/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Glutathione (l-γ-glutamyl-l-cysteinylglycine) (GSH), one of the key antioxidants in Sinorhizobium meliloti, is required for the development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) nitrogen-fixing nodules. Glutathione exists as either reduced glutathione (GSH) or oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and its content is regulated by two pathways in S. meliloti The first pathway is the de novo synthesis of glutathione from its constituent amino acids, namely, Glu, Cys, and Gly, catalyzed by γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GshA) and glutathione synthetase (GshB). The second pathway is the recycling of GSSG via glutathione reductase (GR). However, whether the S. meliloti GR functions similarly to GshA and GshB1 during symbiotic interactions with alfalfa remains unknown. In this study, a plasmid insertion mutation of the S. melilotigor gene, which encodes GR, was constructed, and the mutant exhibited delayed alfalfa nodulation, with 75% reduction in nitrogen-fixing capacity. The gor mutant demonstrated increased accumulation of GSSG and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio in cells. The mutant also showed defective growth in rich broth and minimal broth and was more sensitive to the oxidants H2O2 and sodium nitroprusside. Interestingly, the expression of gshA, gshB1, katA, and katB was induced in the mutant. These findings reveal that the recycling of glutathione is important for S. meliloti to maintain redox homeostasis and to interact symbiotically with alfalfa.IMPORTANCE The antioxidant glutathione is regulated by its synthetase and reductase in cells. In the symbiotic bacterium S. meliloti, the de novo synthesis of glutathione is essential for alfalfa nodulation and nitrogen fixation. In this study, we observed that the recycling of glutathione from GSSG not only was required for redox homeostasis and oxidative stress protection in S. meliloti cells but also contributed to alfalfa nodule development and competition capacity. Our findings demonstrate that the recycling of glutathione plays a key role in nitrogen fixation symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29150506, year = {2018}, author = {Humisto, A and Jokela, J and Liu, L and Wahlsten, M and Wang, H and Permi, P and Machado, JP and Antunes, A and Fewer, DP and Sivonen, K}, title = {The Swinholide Biosynthesis Gene Cluster from a Terrestrial Cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. Strain UHCC 0450.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29150506}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Marine Toxins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; *Multigene Family ; Nostoc/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Swinholides are 42-carbon ring polyketides with a 2-fold axis of symmetry. They are potent cytotoxins that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. Swinholides were discovered from the marine sponge Theonella sp. and were long suspected to be produced by symbiotic bacteria. Misakinolide, a structural variant of swinholide, was recently demonstrated to be the product of a symbiotic heterotrophic proteobacterium. Here, we report the production of swinholide A by an axenic strain of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain UHCC 0450. We located the 85-kb trans-AT polyketide synthase (PKS) swinholide biosynthesis gene cluster from a draft genome of Nostoc sp. UHCC 0450. The swinholide and misakinolide biosynthesis gene clusters share an almost identical order of catalytic domains, with 85% nucleotide sequence identity, and they group together in phylogenetic analysis. Our results resolve speculation around the true producer of swinholides and demonstrate that bacteria belonging to two distantly related phyla both produce structural variants of the same natural product. In addition, we described a biosynthesis cluster from Anabaena sp. strain UHCC 0451 for the synthesis of the cytotoxic and antifungal scytophycin. All of these biosynthesis gene clusters were closely related to each other and created a group of cytotoxic macrolide compounds produced by trans-AT PKSs of cyanobacteria and proteobacteria.IMPORTANCE Many of the drugs in use today originate from natural products. New candidate compounds for drug development are needed due to increased drug resistance. An increased knowledge of the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds can be used to aid chemical synthesis to produce novel drugs. Here, we show that a terrestrial axenic culture of Nostoc cyanobacterium produces swinholides, which have been previously found only from marine sponge or samples related to them. Swinholides are polyketides with a 2-fold axis of symmetry, and they are potent cytotoxins that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. We describe the biosynthesis gene clusters of swinholide from Nostoc cyanobacteria, as well as the related cytotoxic and antifungal scytophycin from Anabaena cyanobacteria, and we study the evolution of their trans-AT polyketide synthases. Interestingly, swinholide is closely related to misakinolide produced by a symbiotic heterotrophic proteobacterium, demonstrating that bacteria belonging to two distantly related phyla and different habitats can produce similar natural products.}, } @article {pmid29150498, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, X and Liu, W and Sun, Y and Xia, C and Elmerich, C and Xie, Z}, title = {A cheZ-Like Gene in Azorhizobium caulinodans Is a Key Gene in the Control of Chemotaxis and Colonization of the Host Plant.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {29150498}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Catalytic Domain ; Chemotaxis/*genetics/physiology ; Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins/*genetics ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Deletion ; Sesbania/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Chemotaxis can provide bacteria with competitive advantages for survival in complex environments. The CheZ chemotaxis protein is a phosphatase, affecting the flagellar motor in Escherichia coli by dephosphorylating the response regulator phosphorylated CheY protein (CheY∼P) responsible for clockwise rotation. A cheZ gene has been found in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, in contrast to other rhizobial species studied so far. The CheZ protein in strain ORS571 has a conserved motif similar to that corresponding to the phosphatase active site in E. coli The construction of a cheZ deletion mutant strain and of cheZ mutant strains carrying a mutation in residues of the putative phosphatase active site showed that strain ORS571 participates in chemotaxis and motility, causing a hyperreversal behavior. In addition, the properties of the cheZ deletion mutant revealed that ORS571 CheZ is involved in other physiological processes, since it displayed increased flocculation, biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and host root colonization. In particular, it was observed that the expression of several exp genes, involved in EPS synthesis, was upregulated in the cheZ mutant compared to that in the wild type, suggesting that CheZ negatively controls exp gene expression through an unknown mechanism. It is proposed that CheZ influences the Azorhizobium-plant association by negatively regulating early colonization via the regulation of EPS production. This report established that CheZ in A. caulinodans plays roles in chemotaxis and the symbiotic association with the host plant.IMPORTANCE Chemotaxis allows bacteria to swim toward plant roots and is beneficial to the establishment of various plant-microbe associations. The level of CheY phosphorylation (CheY∼P) is central to the chemotaxis signal transduction. The mechanism of the signal termination of CheY∼P remains poorly characterized among Alphaproteobacteria, except for Sinorhizobium meliloti, which does not contain CheZ but which controls CheY∼P dephosphorylation through a phosphate sink mechanism. Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a microsymbiont of Sesbania rostrata, has an orphan cheZ gene besides two cheY genes similar to those in S. meliloti In addition to controlling the chemotaxis response, the CheZ-like protein in strain ORS571 is playing a role by decreasing bacterial adhesion to the host plant, in contrast to the general situation where chemotaxis-associated proteins promote adhesion. In this study, we identified a CheZ-like protein among Alphaproteobacteria functioning in chemotaxis and the A. caulinodans-S. rostrata symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29150289, year = {2017}, author = {Boucher, JL}, title = {The cause of multiple sclerosis is autoimmune attack of adenosyltransferase thereby limiting adenosylcobalamin production.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {29-37}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2017.08.011}, pmid = {29150289}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Animals ; Autoimmunity ; B-Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Cobamides/*biosynthesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Methionine Adenosyltransferase/*metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Multiple Sclerosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Vitamin B 12/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) begins with an infection by a bacterium from the class of bacteria that produce and utilize adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) and possess an adenosyl transferase enzyme (ATR); these bacteria are the exogenous antigens that cause MS. Human ATR is homologous to bacterial ATR and B cells produce anti-ATR antibodies as an autoimmune response thereby reducing the concentration of ATR and thus limiting production of AdoCbl, one of the two bioactive forms of vitamin B12. The next step in MS pathogenesis is a period of subclinical AdoCbl deficiency over a period of many years resulting in production of odd-carbon-number fatty acids that are incorporated into myelin rendering it antigenic. The next step in MS pathogenesis is breach of the blood brain barrier thereby introducing leukocytes into the brain's blood supply resulting in T cell attack of antigenic myelin. All epidemiological clusters are regions wherein the major agricultural products are legumes that produce a high percentage of odd-carbon-number fatty acids and contain symbiotic rhizobia type bacteria in root nodules and in the soil. This novel etiological hypothesis is called "multiple sclerosis due to adenosylcobalamin deficiency" (MS-AdoCbl). Creation of realistic animal models based on the MS-AdoCbl hypothesis is presented. Methods for testing predictions made by the MS-AdoCbl hypothesis are described.}, } @article {pmid29149661, year = {2018}, author = {Huang, X and Wang, L and Zhu, S and Ho, SH and Wu, J and Kalita, PK and Ma, F}, title = {Unraveling the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on uptake, translocation, and distribution of cadmium in Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {43-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.11.011}, pmid = {29149661}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/*analysis ; Environmental Pollutants/*analysis ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/microbiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology ; Poaceae/chemistry/*drug effects/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. has been reported to form a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). However, the tolerance mechanism for AMF symbiosis on cadmium (Cd) phytotoxicity still remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation on Cd-stressed (0, 1, and 20mgL[-1]) roots, stems, and leaves of P. australis with regard to subcellular Cd distribution and chemical forms of Cd. In addition, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate variations in subcellular structures and functional groups in plant organs. The results showed that AMF inoculation could induce selective Cd distribution at subcellular levels, depending on different Cd treatments. The investigation of the chemical forms illustrated that AMF inoculation could alleviate Cd toxicity in all organs. Increases were observed in the ratios of undissolved Cd (FHAc) and oxalate Cd (FHCl), while decreases were observed in pectates and protein-integrated Cd (FNaCl) as well as water soluble Cd (FW). Hydroxyl (-OH), amide (-NH), carboxyl (C=O), and phosphate (P=O) groups as well as C-O and C-N stretching played predominant roles for the enhancement of Cd tolerance in response to AMF inoculation. These results provide instructive evidence for the mechanisms by which AMF inoculation enhances the Cd tolerance of P. australis via Cd uptake and distribution.}, } @article {pmid29146962, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, J and Bai, X and Zhao, R}, title = {Microbial communities in the native habitats of Agaricus sinodeliciosus from Xinjiang Province revealed by amplicon sequencing.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {15719}, pmid = {29146962}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agaricus/*genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Chemical Phenomena ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Organic Chemicals/analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Agaricus sinodeliciosus is an edible species described from China and has been successfully cultivated. However, no studies have yet reported the influence factors implicated in the process of fructification. To better know abiotic and biotic factors, physiochemical characteristics and microbial communities were investigated in five different soil samples collected in the native habitats of specimens from northern Xinjiang, southern Xinjiang, and Zhejiang Province, respectively. There are major differences in texture and morphology among different specimens of A. sinodeliciosus from Xinjiang Province. A. sinodeliciosus from southern Xinjiang was the largest. Concentrations of DOC and TN and C/N ratio are not the main reason for the differences. Microbial communities were analyzed to find out mushroom growth promoting microbes (MGPM), which may lead to the differences. Functional microbes were picked out and can be divided into two categories. Microbes in the first category may belong to MGPM. There may be symbiotic relationships between microbes in the second category and A. sinodeliciosus. Certain analyses of microbial communities support the hypothesis that interactions between microbes and mushrooms would be implicated in morphological variation of the collected mushrooms. Redundancy analysis results indicate that high DOC/NH4[+]-N ratio and NH4[+]-N concentration can improve the yield of A. sinodeliciosus.}, } @article {pmid29146899, year = {2017}, author = {Guo, N and Qian, Y and Zhang, Q and Chen, X and Zeng, G and Zhang, X and Mi, W and Xu, C and St Leger, RJ and Fang, W}, title = {Alternative transcription start site selection in Mr-OPY2 controls lifestyle transitions in the fungus Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {1565}, pmid = {29146899}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {5' Untranslated Regions/genetics ; Animals ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/microbiology ; Metarhizium/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Plants/microbiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; *Transcription Initiation Site ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Metarhizium robertsii is a versatile fungus with saprophytic, plant symbiotic and insect pathogenic lifestyle options. Here we show that M. robertsii mediates the saprophyte-to-insect pathogen transition through modulation of the expression of a membrane protein, Mr-OPY2. Abundant Mr-OPY2 protein initiates appressorium formation, a prerequisite for infection, whereas reduced production of Mr-OPY2 elicits saprophytic growth and conidiation. The precise regulation of Mr-OPY2 protein production is achieved via alternative transcription start sites. During saprophytic growth, a single long transcript is produced with small upstream open reading frames in its 5' untranslated region. Increased production of Mr-OPY2 protein on host cuticle is achieved by expression of a transcript variant lacking a small upstream open reading frame that would otherwise inhibit translation of Mr-OPY2. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses show that Mr-OPY2 is a negative regulator of a transcription factor that we demonstrate is necessary for appressorial formation. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms regulating fungal lifestyle transitions.}, } @article {pmid29146266, year = {2018}, author = {Zhou, J and Li, X and Huang, PW and Dai, CC}, title = {Endophytism or saprophytism: Decoding the lifestyle transition of the generalist fungus Phomopsis liquidambari.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {206}, number = {}, pages = {99-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2017.10.005}, pmid = {29146266}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Arabidopsis/growth & development/microbiology ; Ascomycota/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Carbon ; Carbon Cycle ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Oryza/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Development/physiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/microbiology ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism/physiology ; Sequence Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Filamentous ascomycete Phomopsis sp. are common inhabitants of natural ecosystems and, as saprophytes, are largely responsible for the destructive decay of litterfall, promoting the carbon and nitrogen cycles. Phomopsis liquidambari B3 can establish mutualistic symbiosis with a broad spectrum of crop plants. Colonizing dynamics observations and a growth promotion assay of rice and Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that the B3 colonization strategy is host-adapted and resulted in different growth promotions influenced by N availability. However, the biochemical mechanisms and underlying genetics of the saprophyte transition to an endophyte are poorly understood. Here, the transcriptome features of generalist P. liquidambari and highlighted gene sets involved in the lifestyle transition from saprophytism to endophytism were reported. Most notable were genes for translation, ribosome biogenesis and MAPK signaling, several of which were only up-regulated in endophytic B3. Coordinated up-regulation of genes encoding enzymes involved in phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis were preceded by secondary metabolite induction, which was encountered with host defense. Quantitative PCR validates the reliability of RNA-seq. Dissection at the molecular level facilitated a deeper understanding of P. liquidambari adaptation to hosts and the complex natural environment to play a role in sustainable agriculture and carbon and nitrogen cycles.}, } @article {pmid29145496, year = {2017}, author = {Nakayama, TJ and Rodrigues, FA and Neumaier, N and Marcolino-Gomes, J and Molinari, HBC and Santiago, TR and Formighieri, EF and Basso, MF and Farias, JRB and Emygdio, BM and de Oliveira, ACB and Campos, ÂD and Borém, A and Harmon, FG and Mertz-Henning, LM and Nepomuceno, AL}, title = {Insights into soybean transcriptome reconfiguration under hypoxic stress: Functional, regulatory, structural, and compositional characterization.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {e0187920}, pmid = {29145496}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the major crops worldwide and flooding stress affects the production and expansion of cultivated areas. Oxygen is essential for mitochondrial aerobic respiration to supply the energy demand of plant cells. Because oxygen diffusion in water is 10,000 times lower than in air, partial (hypoxic) or total (anoxic) oxygen deficiency is important component of flooding. Even when oxygen is externally available, oxygen deficiency frequently occurs in bulky, dense or metabolically active tissues such as phloem, meristems, seeds, and fruits. In this study, we analyzed conserved and divergent root transcriptional responses between flood-tolerant Embrapa 45 and flood-sensitive BR 4 soybean cultivars under hypoxic stress conditions with RNA-seq. To understand how soybean genes evolve and respond to hypoxia, stable and differentially expressed genes were characterized structurally and compositionally comparing its mechanistic relationship. Between cultivars, Embrapa 45 showed less up- and more down-regulated genes, and stronger induction of phosphoglucomutase (Glyma05g34790), unknown protein related to N-terminal protein myristoylation (Glyma06g03430), protein suppressor of phyA-105 (Glyma06g37080), and fibrillin (Glyma10g32620). RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis of non-symbiotic hemoglobin (Glyma11g12980) indicated divergence in gene structure between cultivars. Transcriptional changes for genes in amino acids and derivative metabolic process suggest involvement of amino acids metabolism in tRNA modifications, translation accuracy/efficiency, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in both cultivars under hypoxia. Gene groups differed in promoter TATA box, ABREs (ABA-responsive elements), and CRT/DREs (C-repeat/dehydration-responsive elements) frequency. Gene groups also differed in structure, composition, and codon usage, indicating biological significances. Additional data suggests that cis-acting ABRE elements can mediate gene expression independent of ABA in soybean roots under hypoxia.}, } @article {pmid29143730, year = {2018}, author = {Degefu, T and Wolde-Meskel, E and Rasche, F}, title = {Genetic diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating selected annual grain legumes growing in Ethiopia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {1}, pages = {449-460}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002486}, pmid = {29143730}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Arachis/microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ethiopia ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Vigna/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Vigna unguiculata, Vigna radiata and Arachis hypogaea growing in Ethiopia are nodulated by a genetically diverse group of Bradyrhizobium strains. To determine the genetic identity and symbiotic effectiveness of these bacteria, a collection of 36 test strains originating from the root nodules of the three hosts was investigated using multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of core genes including 16S rRNA, recA, glnII, gyrB, atpD and dnaK. Sequence analysis of nodA and nifH genes along with tests for symbiotic effectiveness using δ[15]N analysis were also carried out. The phylogenetic trees derived from the MLSA grouped most test strains into four well-supported distinct positions designated as genospecies I-IV. The maximum likelihood (ML) tree that was constructed based on the nodA gene sequences separated the entire test strains into two lineages, where the majority of the test strains were clustered on one of a well-supported large branch that comprise Bradyrhizobium species from the tropics. This clearly suggested the monophyletic origin of the nodA genes within the bradyrhizobia of tropical origin. The δ[15]N-based symbiotic effectiveness test of seven selected strains revealed that strains GN100 (δ[15]N=0.73) and GN102 (δ[15]N=0.79) were highly effective nitrogen fixers when inoculated to cowpea, thus can be considered as inoculants in cowpea production. It was concluded that Ethiopian soils are a hotspot for rhizobial diversity. This calls for further research to unravel as yet unknown bradyrhizobia nodulating legume host species growing in the country. In this respect, prospective research should also address the mechanisms of symbiotic specificity that could lead to high nitrogen fixation in target legumes.}, } @article {pmid29143669, year = {2017}, author = {Papich, MG}, title = {Considerations for using minocycline vs doxycycline for treatment of canine heartworm disease.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {10}, number = {Suppl 2}, pages = {493}, pmid = {29143669}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics ; Dirofilaria immitis/*microbiology/physiology ; Dirofilariasis/*drug therapy/parasitology ; Dog Diseases/*drug therapy/parasitology ; Dogs ; Doxycycline/*administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Minocycline/*administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics ; Wolbachia/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Doxycycline has been considered the first drug of choice for treating Wolbachia, a member of the Rickettsiaceae, which has a symbiotic relationship with filarial worms, including heartworms. Wolbachia, is susceptible to tetracyclines, which have been used as adjunctive treatments for heartworm disease. Treatment with doxycycline reduces Wolbachia numbers in all stages of heartworms and improves outcomes and decreased microfilaremia in dogs treated for heartworm disease. The American Heartworm Society recommends treatment with doxycycline in dogs diagnosed with heartworm disease at a dose of 10 mg/kg twice daily for 28 days. If doxycycline is not available, minocycline can be considered as a substitute. However, minocycline has not undergone an evaluation in dogs with heartworm disease, nor has an effective dose been established. Minocycline is an attractive option because of the higher cost of doxycycline and new pharmacokinetic information for dogs that provides guidance for appropriate dosage regimens to achieve pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) targets.

RESULTS: Published reports from the Anti-Wolbachia Consortium (A-WOL) indicate superior in vitro activity of minocycline over doxycycline. Studies performed in mouse models to measure anti-Wolbachia activity showed that minocycline was 1.7 times more effective than doxycycline, despite a 3-fold lower pharmacokinetic exposure. To achieve the same exposure as achieved in the mouse infection model, a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) analysis was conducted to determine optimal dosages for dogs. The analysis showed that an oral minocycline dose of 3.75 to 5 mg/kg administered twice daily would attain similar targets as observed in mice and predicted for human infections.

CONCLUSIONS: There are potentially several advantages for use of minocycline in animals. It is well absorbed from oral administration, it has less protein binding than doxycycline (65% vs 92%) allowing for better distribution into tissue, and it is approximately two times more lipophilic than doxycycline, which may result in better intracellular penetration. More work is needed to document efficacy of minocycline for treating canine heartworm disease.}, } @article {pmid29140770, year = {2017}, author = {Tanahashi, M and Kim, JK and Watanabe, K and Fukatsu, T and Kubota, K}, title = {Specificity and genetic diversity of xylose-fermenting Scheffersomyces yeasts associated with small blue stag beetles of the genus Platycerus in East Asia.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {4}, pages = {630-642}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1382648}, pmid = {29140770}, issn = {1557-2536}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Female ; Fermentation ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Insect/genetics ; Geography ; Japan ; Larva/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Saccharomycetales/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Xylose/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Among insect-fungus relationships, xylose-fermenting Scheffersomyces yeasts are well known for their potential in utilizing wood hemicelluloses and their association with various wood-feeding insects. However, their specificity to host insects or strain-level diversity within host species has not been clearly elucidated. In the insect family Lucanidae, larvae usually feed on decaying wood, and adult females consistently possess a fungus-storage organ, called the mycangium, near the abdominal tip. Here the authors investigated host-symbiont relationships between Scheffersomyces yeast symbionts and small blue stag beetles of the genus Platycerus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) in East Asia by using intergenic spacer (IGS) region as a genetic marker. All yeast strains isolated from the female mycangium of three Platycerus species, P. hongwonpyoi from Korea and P. acuticollis and P. delicatulus from Japan, were allied to Scheffersomyces segobiensis based on the sequences of the nrDNA 26S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), in which no sequence difference was observed among those strains. However, IGS regions showed clear genetic differentiation within the yeast symbionts of P. hongwonpyoi, as well as between those of Korean and Japanese Platycerus species. In the IGS sequences, nucleotide substitutions were mainly distributed in the whole stretch of IGS1 and the anterior half of IGS2, whereas nucleotide gaps were localized at IGS1 and the middle of IGS2. Despite the conserved association between the Platycerus beetles and the specific strains of S. segobiensis in East Asia, geophylogenetic divergence patterns of the yeast symbionts were not concordant with those of the insect hosts.}, } @article {pmid29139256, year = {2017}, author = {Huang, JW and Lai, CJ and Yuan, Y and Zhang, M and Zhou, JH and Huang, LQ}, title = {[Correlative analysis advance of chemical constituents of Polyporus umbellatus and Armillaria mellea].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {42}, number = {15}, pages = {2905-2914}, doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20170512.009}, pmid = {29139256}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Armillaria/*chemistry ; Biological Products/*chemistry ; Mycelium/chemistry ; Polyporus/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Medicinal Polyporus umbellatus is the dry sclerotia of P. umbellatus, with the effect of diuresis; Armillaria mellea is a parasitic fungus which can infect plants up to 300 genera, with sedative, anticonvulsant and some other biological activities. As the medicinal value of P. umbellatus and A. mellea is increasingly wide concerned, the market quantity demanded of them is gradually increased and the demand outstrips the supply. The symbiotic A. mellea and P. umbellatus are both the medicinal and edible fungi with diverse activities, including hypoglycemic action, improve immunity and antitumor and so on. The growth of the sclerotia forming from the mycelium of P. umbellatus is related to the infection of the symbiotic A. mellea and their secondary products. In this study, by comparing the chemical constituents of the mycelium and sclerotia of P. umbellatus and A. mellea, we found that they all produced steroids and nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The sclerotia of P. umbellatus and A. mellea also produced triterpenes secondary metabolites. In addition, the mycelium and infected sclerotia of P. umbellatus mainly produced different steroids, and the sclerotia produced some other special secondary metabolites, such as long-chain fatty acids, ceramides, phenol and so on. By analyzing above all kinds of differences, speculated that these may be caused by the infection of the symbiotic A. mellea which mainly produced sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and other secondary metabolites. The contents and types of compounds of P. umbellatus and A. mellea are closely related to their symbiosis and reproduction, therefore, many symbiosis mechanisms should be found by utilizing more molecular biology technology to elucidate this complex symbiotic infection and provide scientific basis for improving the yield and quality of P. umbellatus and A. mellea.}, } @article {pmid29134727, year = {2018}, author = {Thairu, MW and Cheng, S and Hansen, AK}, title = {A sRNA in a reduced mutualistic symbiont genome regulates its own gene expression.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1766-1776}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14424}, pmid = {29134727}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/microbiology ; Buchnera/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Proteomics ; RNA/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Similar to other nutritional endosymbionts that are obligate for host survival, the mutualistic aphid endosymbiont, Buchnera, has a highly reduced genome with few regulatory elements. Until recently, it was thought that aphid hosts were primarily responsible for regulating their symbiotic relationship. However, we recently revealed that Buchnera displays differential protein regulation, but not mRNA expression. We also identified a number of conserved small RNAs (sRNAs) that are expressed among Buchnera taxa. In this study, we investigate whether differential protein regulation in Buchnera is the result of post-transcriptional gene regulation via sRNAs. We characterize the sRNA profile of two Buchnera life stages: (i) when Buchnera is transitioning from an extracellular proliferating state in aphid embryos and (ii) when Buchnera is in an intracellular nonproliferating state in aphid bacteriocytes (specialized symbiont cells). Overall, we identified 90 differentially expressed sRNAs, 97% of which were upregulated in aphid embryos. Of these sRNAs, the majority were predicted to be involved in the regulation of various metabolic processes, including arginine biosynthesis. Using a heterologous dual expression vector, we reveal for the first time that a Buchnera antisense sRNA can post-transcriptionally interact with its cognate Buchnera coding sequence, carB, a gene involved in arginine biosynthesis. These results corroborate our in vivo RNAseq and proteomic data, where the candidate antisense sRNA carB and the protein CarB are significantly upregulated in aphid embryos. Overall, we demonstrate that Buchnera may regulate gene expression independently from its host by utilizing sRNAs.}, } @article {pmid29134724, year = {2017}, author = {Mueller, UG and Ishak, HD and Bruschi, SM and Smith, CC and Herman, JJ and Solomon, SE and Mikheyev, AS and Rabeling, C and Scott, JJ and Cooper, M and Rodrigues, A and Ortiz, A and Brandão, CRF and Lattke, JE and Pagnocca, FC and Rehner, SA and Schultz, TR and Vasconcelos, HL and Adams, RMM and Bollazzi, M and Clark, RM and Himler, AG and LaPolla, JS and Leal, IR and Johnson, RA and Roces, F and Sosa-Calvo, J and Wirth, R and Bacci, M}, title = {Biogeography of mutualistic fungi cultivated by leafcutter ants.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {6921-6937}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14431}, pmid = {29134724}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Agaricales/*genetics ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology ; *Biological Coevolution ; Central America ; Genetic Markers ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; South America ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leafcutter ants propagate co-evolving fungi for food. The nearly 50 species of leafcutter ants (Atta, Acromyrmex) range from Argentina to the United States, with the greatest species diversity in southern South America. We elucidate the biogeography of fungi cultivated by leafcutter ants using DNA sequence and microsatellite-marker analyses of 474 cultivars collected across the leafcutter range. Fungal cultivars belong to two clades (Clade-A and Clade-B). The dominant and widespread Clade-A cultivars form three genotype clusters, with their relative prevalence corresponding to southern South America, northern South America, Central and North America. Admixture between Clade-A populations supports genetic exchange within a single species, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus. Some leafcutter species that cut grass as fungicultural substrate are specialized to cultivate Clade-B fungi, whereas leafcutters preferring dicot plants appear specialized on Clade-A fungi. Cultivar sharing between sympatric leafcutter species occurs frequently such that cultivars of Atta are not distinct from those of Acromyrmex. Leafcutters specialized on Clade-B fungi occur only in South America. Diversity of Clade-A fungi is greatest in South America, but minimal in Central and North America. Maximum cultivar diversity in South America is predicted by the Kusnezov-Fowler hypothesis that leafcutter ants originated in subtropical South America and only dicot-specialized leafcutter ants migrated out of South America, but the cultivar diversity becomes also compatible with a recently proposed hypothesis of a Central American origin by postulating that leafcutter ants acquired novel cultivars many times from other nonleafcutter fungus-growing ants during their migrations from Central America across South America. We evaluate these biogeographic hypotheses in the light of estimated dates for the origins of leafcutter ants and their cultivars.}, } @article {pmid29134155, year = {2017}, author = {Zahn, G and Amend, AS}, title = {Foliar microbiome transplants confer disease resistance in a critically-endangered plant.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e4020}, pmid = {29134155}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {There has been very little effort to incorporate foliar microbiomes into plant conservation efforts even though foliar endophytes are critically important to the fitness and function of hosts. Many critically endangered plants that have been extirpated from the wild are dependent on regular fungicidal applications in greenhouses that cannot be maintained for remote out-planted populations, which quickly perish. These fungicides negatively impact potentially beneficial fungal symbionts, which may reduce plant defenses to pathogens once fungicide treatments are stopped. Using the host/parasite system of Phyllostegia kaalaensis and Neoerysiphe galeopsidis, we conducted experiments to test total foliar microbiome transplants from healthy wild relatives onto fungicide-dependent endangered plants in an attempt to mitigate disease and reduce dependency on fungicides. Plants were treated with total microbiome transplants or cultured subsets of this community and monitored for disease severity. High-throughput DNA screening of fungal ITS1 rDNA was used to track the leaf-associated fungal communities and evaluate the effectiveness of transplantation methods. Individuals receiving traditionally isolated fungal treatments showed no improvement, but those receiving applications of a simple leaf slurry containing an uncultured fungal community showed significant disease reduction, to which we partially attribute an increase in the mycoparasitic Pseudozyma aphidis. These results were replicated in two independent experimental rounds. Treated plants have since been moved to a native habitat and, as of this writing, remain disease-free. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of a simple low-tech method for transferring beneficial microbes from healthy wild plants to greenhouse-raised plants with reduced symbiotic microbiota. This technique was effective at reducing disease, and in conferring increased survival to an out-planted population of critically endangered plants. It was not effective in a closely related plant. Plant conservation efforts should strive to include foliar microbes as part of comprehensive management plans.}, } @article {pmid29133215, year = {2018}, author = {Zununi Vahed, S and Barzegari, A and Zuluaga, M and Letourneur, D and Pavon-Djavid, G}, title = {Myocardial infarction and gut microbiota: An incidental connection.}, journal = {Pharmacological research}, volume = {129}, number = {}, pages = {308-317}, doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2017.11.008}, pmid = {29133215}, issn = {1096-1186}, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Myocardial Infarction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Myocardial infarction (MI) is the main cause of cardiovascular crises that entails serious concerns in mortality, morbidity, and cost to the society. The main therapeutic goal of modern cardiology is to develop novel approaches to minimize inflammation, myocardial necrosis/apoptosis, and enhance cardiac repair after MI. Though MI can be affected by genetic and environmental factors, the search for targeting lifestyle factors has been of greater interest. One such potential factor is the microbiota, the human intestinal microbial community. Although the fundamental data on the role of microbiome on MI is more limited, the disruption of intestinal flora structure provokes MI and poor prognosis. Since gut microbiota is readily modifiable through a variety of interventions, it can be targeted to modulate the host signaling pathways involved in inflammation and MI pathogenesis. Symbiosis bacteria can reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury and inflammation; moreover, they can regulate lipid metabolism, blood pressure, apoptosis, MI size, and overall cardiac survival. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of MI following the dysbiosis microbiota and give an update on a microbiota-based therapeutic strategy to delay or prevent MI.}, } @article {pmid29132532, year = {2017}, author = {Irwin, G and Mayans, L and Kellerman, R}, title = {Emerging Topics in Gastroenterology.}, journal = {Primary care}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {733-742}, doi = {10.1016/j.pop.2017.07.008}, pmid = {29132532}, issn = {1558-299X}, mesh = {Colitis, Microscopic/physiopathology/therapy ; Eosinophilic Esophagitis/physiopathology/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/methods ; *Gastroenterology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Primary Health Care ; Probiotics/pharmacology ; Vomiting/physiopathology/therapy ; }, abstract = {The bacteria and fungi in the human gut make up a community of microorganisms that lives in symbiosis with humans, engaging in numerous diverse interactions that influence health. This article outlines the current knowledge on emerging topics in gastroenterology, including microbiome and probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, cyclic vomiting syndrome, eosinophilic esophagitis, and microscopic colitis.}, } @article {pmid29132066, year = {2017}, author = {Hall, RA and Noverr, MC}, title = {Fungal interactions with the human host: exploring the spectrum of symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {}, pages = {58-64}, pmid = {29132066}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {MR/L00903X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 AI116025/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE022069/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Candida albicans/genetics/*physiology ; Candidiasis/*microbiology/*physiopathology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi are ubiquitous transient or persistent human colonisers, and form the mycobiome with shifts in niche specific mycobiomes (dysbiosis) being associated with various diseases. These complex interactions of fungal species with the human host can be viewed as a spectrum of symbiotic relationships (i.e. commensal, parasitic, mutualistic, amensalistic). The host relevant outcome of the relationship is the damage to benefit ratio, elegantly described in the damage response framework. This review focuses on Candida albicans, which is the most well studied human fungal symbiont clinically and experimentally, its transition from commensalism to parasitism within the human host, and the factors that influence this relationship.}, } @article {pmid29131838, year = {2017}, author = {de Souza, SSA and Catta-Preta, CM and Alves, JMP and Cavalcanti, DP and Teixeira, MMG and Camargo, EP and De Souza, W and Silva, R and Motta, MCM}, title = {Expanded repertoire of kinetoplast associated proteins and unique mitochondrial DNA arrangement of symbiont-bearing trypanosomatids.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {e0187516}, pmid = {29131838}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosoma/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In trypanosomatids, the kinetoplast is the portion of the single mitochondrion that is connected to the basal body and contains the kDNA, a network composed by circular and interlocked DNA. The kDNA packing is conducted by Kinetoplast Associated Proteins (KAPs), which are similar to eukaryotic histone H1. In symbiont-harboring trypanosomatids (SHTs) such as Angomonas deanei and Strigomonas culicis, a ß-proteobacterium co-evolves with the host in a mutualistic relationship. The prokaryote confers nutritional benefits to the host and affects its cell structure. Atomic force microscopy showed that the topology of isolated kDNA networks is quite similar in the two SHT species. Ultrastructural analysis using high-resolution microscopy techniques revealed that the DNA fibrils are more compact in the kinetoplast region that faces the basal body and that the presence of the symbiotic bacterium does not interfere with kDNA topology. However, RT-PCR data revealed differences in the expression of KAPs in wild-type protozoa as compared to aposymbiotic cells. Immunolocalization showed that different KAPs present distinct distributions that are coincident in symbiont-bearing and in symbiont-free cells. Although KAP4 and KAP7 are shared by all trypanosomatid species, the expanded repertoire of KAPs in SHTs can be used as phylogenetic markers to distinguish different genera.}, } @article {pmid29129977, year = {2017}, author = {Araujo, RS and da Cruz, SP and Souchie, EL and Martin, TN and Nakatani, AS and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Preinoculation of Soybean Seeds Treated with Agrichemicals up to 30 Days before Sowing: Technological Innovation for Large-Scale Agriculture.}, journal = {International journal of microbiology}, volume = {2017}, number = {}, pages = {5914786}, pmid = {29129977}, issn = {1687-918X}, abstract = {The cultivation of soybean in Brazil experienced an expressive growth in the last decades. Soybean is highly demanding on nitrogen (N) that must come from fertilizers or from biological fixation. The N supply to the soybean crop in Brazil relies on the inoculation with elite strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, B. elkanii, and B. diazoefficiens, which are able to fulfill the crop's N requirements and enrich the soil for the following crop. The effectiveness of the association between N2-fixing bacteria and soybean plants depends on the efficacy of the inoculation process. Seed treatment with pesticides, especially fungicides or micronutrients, may rapidly kill the inoculated bacteria, affecting the establishment and outcome of the symbiosis. The development of technologies that allow inoculation to become a successful component of industrial seed treatment represents a valuable tool for the seed industry, as well as for the soybean crop worldwide. In this article, we report the results of new technologies, developed by the company Total Biotecnologia Indústria e Comércio S/A of Brazil, for preinoculation of soybean seeds with bradyrhizobia, in the presence of agrichemicals. Our results demonstrate improved bacterial survival for up to 30 days after inoculation, without compromising nodulation, N2-fixation, and yield in the field.}, } @article {pmid29129968, year = {2017}, author = {Swain, TD and DuBois, E and Goldberg, SJ and Backman, V and Marcelino, LA}, title = {Bleaching response of coral species in the context of assemblage response.}, journal = {Coral reefs (Online)}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {395-400}, pmid = {29129968}, issn = {1432-0975}, support = {R01 CA128641/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EB003682/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Caribbean coral reefs are declining due to a mosaic of local and global stresses, including climate change-induced thermal stress. Species and assemblage responses differ due to factors that are not easily identifiable or quantifiable. We calculated a novel species-specific metric of coral bleaching response, taxon-α and -β, which relates the response of a species to that of its assemblages for 16 species over 18 assemblages. By contextualizing species responses within the response of their assemblages, the effects of environmental factors are removed and intrinsic differences among taxa are revealed. Most corals experience either a saturation response, overly-sensitive to weak stress (α > 0) but under-responsive compared to assemblage bleaching (β < 1), or a threshold response, insensitive to weak stress (α < 0) but over-responsive compared to assemblage bleaching (β > 1). This metric may help reveal key factors of bleaching susceptibility and identify species as targets for conservation.}, } @article {pmid29129752, year = {2018}, author = {Gonzalez-Canales, ME and Marco-Herrero, E and Andreu-Cazenave, M and González-Gordillo, JI}, title = {Larval development of the symbiotic pea crab Pinnaxodes chilensis (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Pinnotheridae) reared in laboratory.}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {91-103}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2017.11.003}, pmid = {29129752}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Brachyura/*anatomy & histology/*growth & development/physiology ; Chile ; Larva/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Sea Urchins/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The complete larval development of Pinnaxodes chilensis (including four zoeal stages and a megalopa stage) is described and illustrated in detail for the first time. The descriptions are based on laboratory-reared larvae obtained from ovigerous females found inside specimens of the sea urchin Loxechinus albus collected in the coast of Valparaíso, Chile. In order to allow the correct differentiation of specimens from plankton samples, the larval stages of P. chilensis are compared with those from other Pinnotheridae species, whose larval development is known for the Chilean continental waters (Calyptraeotheres politus). The morphological characters described for P. chilensis larvae, as well as the comparison with the remaining larval development descriptions available for the genus Pinnaxodes, are used to discuss the heterogeneity within this genus.}, } @article {pmid29129280, year = {2017}, author = {Stoks, R and Verheyen, J and Van Dievel, M and Tüzün, N}, title = {Daily temperature variation and extreme high temperatures drive performance and biotic interactions in a warming world.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {23}, number = {}, pages = {35-42}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2017.06.008}, pmid = {29129280}, issn = {2214-5753}, mesh = {Animals ; Climate Change ; Ecosystem ; *Food Chain ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; Insecta/*physiology ; Plants ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {We review the major patterns on the effects of daily temperature variation (DTV) and extreme high temperatures (EXT) on performance traits and the resulting outcome of biotic interactions in insects. EXT profoundly affects the outcome of all types of biotic interactions: competitive, predator-prey, herbivore-plant, host-pathogen/parasitoid and symbiotic interactions. Studies investigating effects of DTV on biotic interactions are few but also show strong effects on competitive and host-pathogen/parasitoid interactions. EXT typically reduces predation, and is expected to reduce parasitoid success. The effects of EXT and DTV on the outcome of the other interaction types are highly variable, yet can be predicted based on comparisons of the TPCs of the interacting species, and challenges the formulation of general predictions about the change in biotic interactions in a warming world.}, } @article {pmid29129275, year = {2017}, author = {Rivera-Pérez, C and Clifton, ME and Noriega, FG}, title = {How micronutrients influence the physiology of mosquitoes.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {23}, number = {}, pages = {112-117}, pmid = {29129275}, issn = {2214-5753}, support = {R01 AI045545/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/metabolism/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; *Micronutrients ; *Nutritional Requirements ; }, abstract = {Micronutrients or non-energetic nutrients (NEN) are needed in reduced amounts, but are essential for many mosquito physiological processes that influence biological traits from vector competence to reproductive capacity. The NEN include amino acids (AA), vitamins, salts, metals and sterols. Free AA plays critical roles controlling most physiological processes, from digestion to reproduction. Particularly proline connects metabolic pathways in energy production, flight physiology and ammonia detoxification. Metal, in particular iron and calcium, salts, sterol and vitamin homeostasis are critical for cell signaling, respiration, metabolism and reproduction. Micronutrient homeostasis influence the symbiotic relationships with microorganisms, having important implications in mosquitoes' nutrition, physiology and behavior, as well as in mosquito immunity and vector competence.}, } @article {pmid29127624, year = {2018}, author = {Diouf, M and Hervé, V and Mora, P and Robert, A and Frechault, S and Rouland-Lefèvre, C and Miambi, E}, title = {Evidence from the gut microbiota of swarming alates of a vertical transmission of the bacterial symbionts in Nasutitermes arborum (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae).}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {4}, pages = {573-587}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-017-0978-4}, pmid = {29127624}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Studies on termite symbiosis have revealed that significant symbiont lineages are maintained across generations. However, most studies have focused only on the worker caste. Little is known about the gut microbiota of reproductives, the most probable vectors for transmitting these lineages to offspring. Using 16S rRNA gene-based Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we compared the gut microbiota of swarming alates of the higher termite Nasutitermes arborum with those of their nestmates from the parental colony. The OTU-based alpha diversity indices showed that the gut microbiota of the alates was at least as diverse as those of non-reproductive adults. It was largely dominated by Spirochaetes mostly of the Treponema I cluster (63.1% of reads), the same dominant taxa found in soldiers and workers of this species and in workers of closely related Nasutitermes species. The termite-specific lineages also included other representative taxa such as several clusters of Bacteroidetes and Fibrobacteres-TG3 group. The microbiota of alates was dominated by a core set of host-specific lineages (87% of reads, 77.6% of OTUs), which were always present across all castes/stages. This first comprehensive survey of the microbiota of the founding reproductives of these xylophagous higher termites shows that the bulk of the host endogenous symbionts, mostly taxa that cannot thrive outside the gut, are brought from the parent colony. The royal pair therefore seems to be a key player in the transmission of symbionts across generations and thereby in host-symbiont codiversification. The high proportion of fiber-degrading lineages in their gut suggests a wood-rich diet unlike the larval stages.}, } @article {pmid29127473, year = {2018}, author = {Rees, PA and Clouston, HW and Duff, S and Kirwan, CC}, title = {Colorectal cancer and thrombosis.}, journal = {International journal of colorectal disease}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {105-108}, pmid = {29127473}, issn = {1432-1262}, support = {NIHR-CS-011-014/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/*complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Venous Thromboembolism/*complications/epidemiology/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {SIGNIFICANCE: Colorectal cancer (CRC), results in a hypercoagulable state which manifests clinically as venous thromboembolism (VTE), often presenting as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). The consequences of VTE in CRC can be devastating, resulting in long-term morbidity and are a frequent cause of death, even amongst those who would have otherwise had a favourable cancer prognosis. The incidence of VTE in all cancers is increasing, whilst the exact incidence of VTE in CRC is likely to be underestimated. All cancer treatments increase the risk of VTE in an already at risk population.

CRITICAL ISSUES: CRC-associated VTE is a challenging entity to manage with recurrences occurring more frequently in cancer patients, despite anticoagulation. Anticoagulation, whether treatment or prophylactic, increases the risk of bleeding, especially in patients with cancer. Although strong evidence underpins the initial management of cancer-associated VTE, there is uncertainty with regard optimum treatment duration. For VTE prevention, extended (28 days), pharmacological thromboprophylaxis post CRC surgery is internationally recommended. Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is not routinely recommended for nonhospitalised patients receiving chemotherapy.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS: There is growing evidence of a symbiotic relationship between cancer biology and the clotting system. Tissue factor (TF), the initiator of the clotting pathway, promotes cancer via clotting dependent and independent mechanisms. Clotting pathway factors, including TF, may have utility as biomarkers in CRC, for assessment of VTE risk in addition to cancer prognosis. The clotting system may also be a target for potential anti-cancer therapies, either via existing anticoagulants or experimental direct TF inhibitors.}, } @article {pmid29126983, year = {2018}, author = {Podsiadło, E and Michalik, K and Michalik, A and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Yeast-like microorganisms in the scale insect Kermes quercus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Kermesidae). Newly acquired symbionts?.}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {56-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2017.11.002}, pmid = {29126983}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fat Body/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Hemiptera/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nymph/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Poland ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; Yeasts/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Scale insects, like other plant sap-consumers, are host to symbiotic microorganisms which provide them with the substances missing from their diet. In contrast to most scale insects, Kermes quercus (Linnaeus) was regarded as asymbiotic. Our histological and ultrastructural observations show that in the body of the feeding stages of K. quercus collected in two locations (Warsaw and Cracow), numerous yeast-like microorganisms occur. These microorganisms were localized in the cytoplasm of fat body cells. The yeast-like microorganisms were observed neither in other organs of the host insect nor in the eggs. These microorganisms did not cause any damage to the structure of the ovaries and the course of oogenesis of the host insect. The females infected by them produced about 1300 larvae. The lack of these microorganisms in the cytoplasm of eggs indicates that they are not transmitted transovarially from mother to offspring. Molecular analyses indicated that the microorganisms which reside in the body of K. quercus are closely related to the entomopathogenic fungi Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps, which belong to the Sordariomycetes class within the Ascomycota. The role of yeast-like microorganisms to their host insects remains unknown; however, it has been suggested that they may represent newly acquired symbionts.}, } @article {pmid29126772, year = {2018}, author = {Jack, RE and Crivelli, C and Wheatley, T}, title = {Data-Driven Methods to Diversify Knowledge of Human Psychology.}, journal = {Trends in cognitive sciences}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {1-5}, doi = {10.1016/j.tics.2017.10.002}, pmid = {29126772}, issn = {1879-307X}, support = {ESRC/MRC-060-25-0010//Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 MH112566/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Culture ; Humans ; Knowledge ; Models, Psychological ; Psychology/*methods ; *Research Design ; }, abstract = {Psychology aims to understand real human behavior. However, cultural biases in the scientific process can constrain knowledge. We describe here how data-driven methods can relax these constraints to reveal new insights that theories can overlook. To advance knowledge we advocate a symbiotic approach that better combines data-driven methods with theory.}, } @article {pmid29124895, year = {2018}, author = {Lawson, CA and Raina, JB and Kahlke, T and Seymour, JR and Suggett, DJ}, title = {Defining the core microbiome of the symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {7-11}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12599}, pmid = {29124895}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/parasitology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium underpin the survival and ecological success of corals. The use of cultured strains has been particularly important to disentangle the complex life history of Symbiodinium and their contribution to coral host physiology. However, these cultures typically harbour abundant bacterial communities which likely play important, but currently unknown, roles in Symbiodinium biology. We characterized the bacterial communities living in association with a wide phylogenetic diversity of Symbiodinium cultures (18 types spanning 5 clades) to define the core Symbiodinium microbiome. Similar to other systems, bacteria were nearly two orders of magnitude more numerically abundant than Symbiodinium cells and we identified three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) which were present in all cultures. These represented the α-proteobacterium Labrenzia and the γ-proteobacteria Marinobacter and Chromatiaceae. Based on the abundance and functional potential of bacteria harboured in these cultures, their contribution to Symbiodinium physiology can no longer be ignored.}, } @article {pmid29124841, year = {2017}, author = {Tang, G and Xing, S and Wang, S and Yu, L and Li, X and Staehelin, C and Yang, M and Luo, L}, title = {Regulation of cysteine residues in LsrB proteins from Sinorhizobium meliloti under free-living and symbiotic oxidative stress.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {5130-5145}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13992}, pmid = {29124841}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/genetics ; Cysteine/*metabolism ; Dipeptides ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Glutathione Disulfide/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Oxidative Stress/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {The development of legume nitrogen-fixing nodules is regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by symbionts. Several regulators from Rhizobium are involved in ROS sensing. In a previous study, we found that Sinorhizobium meliloti LsrB regulates lipopolysaccharide production and is associated with H2 O2 accumulation in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) nodules. However, its underlying regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that the cysteine residues in LsrB are required for adaptation to oxidative stress, gene expression, alfalfa nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Moreover, LsrB directly activated the transcription of lrp3 and gshA (encoding γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, responsible for glutathione synthesis) and this regulation required the cysteine (Cys) residues in the LsrB substrate-binding domain. The Cys residues could sense oxidative stress via the formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds, generating LsrB dimers and LsrB-DNA complexes. Among the Cys residues, C238 is a positive regulatory site for the induction of downstream genes, whereas C146 and C275 play negative roles in the process. The lsrB mutants with Cys-to-Ser substitutions displayed altered phenotypes in respect to their adaptation to oxidative stress, nodulation and nitrogen fixation-related plant growth. Our findings demonstrate that S. meliloti LsrB modulates alfalfa nodule development by directly regulating downstream gene expression via a post-translational strategy.}, } @article {pmid29124530, year = {2017}, author = {Katariya, L and Ramesh, PB and Gopalappa, T and Desireddy, S and Bessière, JM and Borges, RM}, title = {Fungus-Farming Termites Selectively Bury Weedy Fungi that Smell Different from Crop Fungi.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, pages = {986-995}, pmid = {29124530}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi/*physiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Odorants/*analysis ; Smell ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic associations such as the fungal farms of insects are prone to parasitism and are consequently vulnerable to attack by weeds and pests. Therefore, efficient farm management requires quick detection of weeds for their elimination. Furthermore, if the available weedicides are non-specific, then the ability of insects to discriminate between crop and weeds becomes essential for targeted application of such compounds. Here, we demonstrate for the first time in fungus-farming insects, that worker castes of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes obesus discriminate between their crop (Termitomyces) and the weedy (Pseudoxylaria) fungi, even if exposed to only fungal scents. Termites respond to the presence of fungal mycelium or scent alone, by burying the weed with the offered material such as soil or agar, possibly anointing the weed with chemicals in the process. The scent profiles of crop and weedy fungi are distinct and the differences are likely exploited by termites to selectively mount their defences. Sesquiterpene compounds such as aristolene and viridiflorol, which are absent from crop odours, may constitute the "weedy scent". Our results provide a general mechanism of how other fungus-farming insects could avoid indiscriminate application of non-specific fungicides which could lead to poisoning their crops, and have bearing on the stability of the mutualism between termites and their crop fungus in the face of parasitism by weedy fungi.}, } @article {pmid29124326, year = {2018}, author = {Pollastri, S and Savvides, A and Pesando, M and Lumini, E and Volpe, MG and Ozudogru, EA and Faccio, A and De Cunzo, F and Michelozzi, M and Lambardi, M and Fotopoulos, V and Loreto, F and Centritto, M and Balestrini, R}, title = {Impact of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Arundo donax L. response to salt stress.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {247}, number = {3}, pages = {573-585}, pmid = {29124326}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chlorophyll/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Transpiration/physiology ; Poaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Salinity ; Soil ; *Stress, Physiological ; Water/analysis ; }, abstract = {AM symbiosis did not strongly affect Arundo donax performances under salt stress, although differences in the plants inoculated with two different fungi were recorded. The mechanisms at the basis of the improved tolerance to abiotic stresses by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been investigated mainly focusing on food crops. In this work, the potential impact of AM symbiosis on the performance of a bioenergy crop, Arundo donax, under saline conditions was considered. Specifically, we tried to understand whether AM symbiosis helps this fast-growing plant, often widespread in marginal soils, withstand salt. A combined approach, involving eco-physiological, morphometric and biochemical measurements, was used and the effects of two different AM fungal species (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis) were compared. Results indicate that potted A. donax plants do not suffer permanent damage induced by salt stress, but photosynthesis and growth are considerably reduced. Since A. donax is a high-yield biomass crop, reduction of biomass might be a serious agronomical problem in saline conditions. At least under the presently experienced growth conditions, and plant-AM combinations, the negative effect of salt on plant performance was not rescued by AM fungal colonization. However, some changes in plant metabolisms were observed following AM-inoculation, including a significant increase in proline accumulation and a trend toward higher isoprene emission and higher H2O2, especially in plants colonized by R. irregularis. This suggests that AM fungal symbiosis influences plant metabolism, and plant-AM fungus combination is an important factor for improving plant performance and productivity, in presence or absence of stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid29122865, year = {2017}, author = {Fisch, KM and Silva Pereira, C and Genilloud, O and Almeida, C and Schäberle, TF}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Burkholderia contaminans 293K04B, an Endosymbiont of the Sponge-Derived Fungus Stachylidium bicolor.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {45}, pages = {}, pmid = {29122865}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Here, we present the draft genome of the endofungal symbiotic bacterium Burkholderia contaminans 293K04B, isolated from Stachylidium bicolor 293K04 (Ascomycota). The fungus was originally isolated from the sponge Callyspongia cf. C. flammeaS. bicolor 293K04 produces the endolides A-B, bioactive cyclic peptides possibly biosynthesized by its endobacterium B. contaminans 293K04B.}, } @article {pmid29121239, year = {2017}, author = {Vargas-Lagunas, C and Mora, Y and Díaz, R and Martínez-Batallar, G and Girard, L and Encarnación, S and Peralta, H and Mora, J}, title = {Overproduction of Sinorhizobium meliloti ArgC (N-acetyl-gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase) promotes growth delay and inefficient nodules.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {364}, number = {23}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnx233}, pmid = {29121239}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Aldehyde Oxidoreductases/genetics/*metabolism ; Arginine/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {argC encodes N-acetyl-gamma-glutamyl phosphate reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the high-energy-consuming third step in the arginine synthesis pathway. A comparative analysis revealed two translation start sites in argC from Sinorhizobium meliloti. To determine whether both protein versions are synthesized in the organism and their functional role, we obtained genetic constructs with one (1S) or two (2S) start sites, with promoters of low (pspeB) or high (plac) transcriptional rate. The constructs were transferred to the S. meliloti 1021 derivative argC mutant strain. Both protein versions were found in the free-living proteomes, but only ArgC 1S showed post-translational modification. Expression levels from argC 1S were five times higher than those of 2S, when transcribed by plac, and in concordance, its protein activity was 3-fold greater. The overexpression of both versions under plac delayed cellular growth. Inoculation of Medicago sativa plants with the S. meliloti strain harboring the argC 1S under plac induced nodulation but not nitrogen fixation. However, the strain with the argC 2S under the same promoter had a positive phenotype. Overproduction of ArgC protein for the synthesis of arginine induced physiological and symbiotic effects.}, } @article {pmid29120483, year = {2017}, author = {Gullett, J and O'Neal, L and Mukherjee, T and Alexandre, G}, title = {Azospirillum brasilense: Laboratory Maintenance and Genetic Manipulation.}, journal = {Current protocols in microbiology}, volume = {47}, number = {}, pages = {3E.2.1-3E.2.17}, doi = {10.1002/cpmc.39}, pmid = {29120483}, issn = {1934-8533}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*genetics/*growth & development ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Genetics, Microbial/*methods ; Molecular Biology/*methods ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Azospirillum, including the most comprehensively studied Azospirillum brasilense, are non-pathogenic soil bacteria that promote the growth of diverse plants, making them an attractive model to understand non-symbiotic, beneficial plant-bacteria associations. Research into the physiology and genetics of these organisms spans decades and a range of molecular tools and protocols have been developed for allelic exchange mutagenesis, in trans expression of genes, and fusions to reporter genes. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.}, } @article {pmid29120392, year = {2017}, author = {Drezen, JM and Josse, T and Bézier, A and Gauthier, J and Huguet, E and Herniou, EA}, title = {Impact of Lateral Transfers on the Genomes of Lepidoptera.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {29120392}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Transfer of DNA sequences between species regardless of their evolutionary distance is very common in bacteria, but evidence that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) also occurs in multicellular organisms has been accumulating in the past few years. The actual extent of this phenomenon is underestimated due to frequent sequence filtering of "alien" DNA before genome assembly. However, recent studies based on genome sequencing have revealed, and experimentally verified, the presence of foreign DNA sequences in the genetic material of several species of Lepidoptera. Large DNA viruses, such as baculoviruses and the symbiotic viruses of parasitic wasps (bracoviruses), have the potential to mediate these transfers in Lepidoptera. In particular, using ultra-deep sequencing, newly integrated transposons have been identified within baculovirus genomes. Bacterial genes have also been acquired by genomes of Lepidoptera, as in other insects and nematodes. In addition, insertions of bracovirus sequences were present in the genomes of certain moth and butterfly lineages, that were likely corresponding to rearrangements of ancient integrations. The viral genes present in these sequences, sometimes of hymenopteran origin, have been co-opted by lepidopteran species to confer some protection against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid29119503, year = {2018}, author = {Guzzi, R and Colombo, T and Paci, P}, title = {Inverse Problems in Systems Biology: A Critical Review.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1702}, number = {}, pages = {69-94}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7456-6_6}, pmid = {29119503}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; Systems Biology/*methods ; }, abstract = {Systems Biology may be assimilated to a symbiotic cyclic interplaying between the forward and inverse problems. Computational models need to be continuously refined through experiments and in turn they help us to make limited experimental resources more efficient. Every time one does an experiment we know that there will be some noise that can disrupt our measurements. Despite the noise certainly is a problem, the inverse problems already involve the inference of missing information, even if the data is entirely reliable. So the addition of a certain limited noise does not fundamentally change the situation but can be used to solve the so-called ill-posed problem, as defined by Hadamard. It can be seen as an extra source of information. Recent studies have shown that complex systems, among others the systems biology, are poorly constrained and ill-conditioned because it is difficult to use experimental data to fully estimate their parameters. For these reasons was born the concept of sloppy models, a sequence of models of increasing complexity that become sloppy in the limit of microscopic accuracy. Furthermore the concept of sloppy models contains also the concept of un-identifiability, because the models are characterized by many parameters that are poorly constrained by experimental data. Then a strategy needs to be designed to infer, analyze, and understand biological systems. The aim of this work is to provide a critical review to the inverse problems in systems biology defining a strategy to determine the minimal set of information needed to overcome the problems arising from dynamic biological models that generally may have many unknown, non-measurable parameters.}, } @article {pmid29119317, year = {2018}, author = {Woodhams, DC and LaBumbard, BC and Barnhart, KL and Becker, MH and Bletz, MC and Escobar, LA and Flechas, SV and Forman, ME and Iannetta, AA and Joyce, MD and Rabemananjara, F and Gratwicke, B and Vences, M and Minbiole, KPC}, title = {Prodigiosin, Violacein, and Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Widespread Cutaneous Bacteria of Amphibians Can Inhibit Two Batrachochytrium Fungal Pathogens.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {1049-1062}, pmid = {29119317}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Anura/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Biological Control Agents/antagonists & inhibitors ; Chytridiomycota/*drug effects/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Indoles/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Panama ; Phylogeny ; Prodigiosin/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/*metabolism ; Serratia/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Skin/microbiology ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis ; United States ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria can produce secondary metabolites and volatile compounds that contribute to amphibian skin defense. Some of these symbionts have been used as probiotics to treat or prevent the emerging disease chytridiomycosis. We examined 20 amphibian cutaneous bacteria for the production of prodigiosin or violacein, brightly colored defense compounds that pigment the bacteria and have characteristic spectroscopic properties making them readily detectable, and evaluated the antifungal activity of these compounds. We detected violacein from all six isolates of Janthinobacterium lividum on frogs from the USA, Switzerland, and on captive frogs originally from Panama. We detected prodigiosin from five isolates of Serratia plymuthica or S. marcescens, but not from four isolates of S. fonticola or S. liquefaciens. All J. lividum isolates produced violacein when visibly purple, while prodigiosin was only detected on visibly red Serratia isolates. When applied to cultures of chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), prodigiosin caused significant growth inhibition, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 10 and 50 μM, respectively. Violacein showed a MIC of 15 μM against both fungi and was slightly more active against Bsal than Bd at lower concentrations. Although neither violacein nor prodigiosin showed aerosol activity and is not considered a volatile organic compound (VOC), J. lividum and several Serratia isolates did produce antifungal VOCs. White Serratia isolates with undetectable prodigiosin levels could still inhibit Bd growth indicating additional antifungal compounds in their chemical arsenals. Similarly, J. lividum can produce antifungal compounds such as indole-3-carboxaldehyde in addition to violacein, and isolates are not always purple, or turn purple under certain growth conditions. When Serratia isolates were grown in the presence of cell-free supernatant (CFS) from the fungi, CFS from Bd inhibited growth of the prodigiosin-producing isolates, perhaps indicative of an evolutionary arms race; Bsal CFS did not inhibit bacterial growth. In contrast, growth of one J. lividum isolate was facilitated by CFS from both fungi. Isolates that grow and continue to produce antifungal compounds in the presence of pathogens may represent promising probiotics for amphibians infected or at risk of chytridiomycosis. In a global analysis, 89% of tested Serratia isolates and 82% of J. lividum isolates were capable of inhibiting Bd and these have been reported from anurans and caudates from five continents, indicating their widespread distribution and potential for host benefit.}, } @article {pmid29119316, year = {2018}, author = {Grigorescu, AS and Renoz, F and Sabri, A and Foray, V and Hance, T and Thonart, P}, title = {Accessing the Hidden Microbial Diversity of Aphids: an Illustration of How Culture-Dependent Methods Can Be Used to Decipher the Insect Microbiota.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {1035-1048}, pmid = {29119316}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Culture Techniques/*methods ; DNA/isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Serratia/classification/isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microorganism communities that live inside insects can play critical roles in host development, nutrition, immunity, physiology, and behavior. Over the past decade, high-throughput sequencing reveals the extraordinary microbial diversity associated with various insect species and provides information independent of our ability to culture these microbes. However, their cultivation in the laboratory remains crucial for a deep understanding of their physiology and the roles they play in host insects. Aphids are insects that received specific attention because of their ability to form symbiotic associations with a wide range of endosymbionts that are considered as the core microbiome of these sap-feeding insects. But, if the functional diversity of obligate and facultative endosymbionts has been extensively studied in aphids, the diversity of gut symbionts and other associated microorganisms received limited consideration. Herein, we present a culture-dependent method that allowed us to successfully isolate microorganisms from several aphid species. The isolated microorganisms were assigned to 24 bacterial genera from the Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria phyla and three fungal genera from the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla. In our study, we succeeded in isolating already described bacteria found associated to aphids (e.g., the facultative symbiont Serratia symbiotica), as well as microorganisms that have never been described in aphids before. By unraveling a microbial community that so far has been ignored, our study expands our current knowledge on the microbial diversity associated with aphids and illustrates how fast and simple culture-dependent approaches can be applied to insects in order to capture their diverse microbiota members.}, } @article {pmid29119315, year = {2018}, author = {DeLong, JP and Al-Ameeli, Z and Lyon, S and Van Etten, JL and Dunigan, DD}, title = {Size-dependent Catalysis of Chlorovirus Population Growth by A Messy Feeding Predator.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {847-853}, pmid = {29119315}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Catalysis ; Chlorella/virology ; Ciliophora/*physiology ; DNA Viruses ; Food Chain ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Paramecium/*virology ; Phycodnaviridae/growth & development/*physiology ; Population Dynamics ; *Predatory Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many chloroviruses replicate in endosymbiotic zoochlorellae that are protected from infection by their symbiotic host. To reach the high virus concentrations that often occur in natural systems, a mechanism is needed to release zoochlorellae from their hosts. We demonstrate that the ciliate predator Didinium nasutum foraging on zoochlorellae-bearing Paramecium bursaria can release live zoochlorellae from the ruptured prey cell that can then be infected by chloroviruses. The catalysis process is very effective, yielding roughly 95% of the theoretical infectious virus yield as determined by sonication of P. bursaria. Chlorovirus activation is more effective with smaller Didinia, as larger Didinia typically consume entire P. bursaria cells without rupturing them, precluding the release of zoochlorellae. We also show that the timing of Chlorovirus growth is tightly linked to the predator-prey cycle between Didinium and Paramecium, with the most rapid increase in chloroviruses temporally linked to the peak foraging rate of Didinium, supporting the idea that predator-prey cycles can drive cycles of Chlorovirus abundance.}, } @article {pmid29118621, year = {2017}, author = {Sánchez-Peña, SR and Chacón-Cardosa, MC and Canales-Del-Castillo, R and Ward, L and Resendez-Pérez, D}, title = {A new species of Trachymyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) fungus-growing ant from the Sierra Madre Oriental of northeastern Mexico.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {706}, pages = {73-94}, pmid = {29118621}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Here we describe a new species of Trachymyrmex, T. pakawasp. n., from the Gran Sierra Plegada range of the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, northeastern Mexico. Trachymyrmex pakawa is a large-sized species compared to other North American Trachymyrmex. Its geographic distribution includes the piedmont of the Gran Sierra Plegada at La Estanzuela, Monterrey, as well as peripheral mountains segregated from the Sierra Madre Oriental (Cerro de las Mitras, Sierra de Zapalinamé, Cañon de San Lorenzo, Cerro de las Letras). The preferred habitats of T. pakawa include oak-pine forest at La Estanzuela, xeric oak forest at Zapalinamé and mesic Chihuahuan desert scrub with sotol (Dasylirion) at other sites. All localities are on slopes, on very rocky, shallow lithosols overlaying large boulders. This species nests under and between large boulders and rocks. It has not been observed on alluvial or better developed, deeper soils, and it is absent from sites with human activity (urban, disturbed, and landscaped areas). It is closely related to and morphologically similar to Trachymyrmex smithi. The known distribution ranges of T. pakawa and T. smithi almost overlap in Saltillo, Coahuila state. The main character that distinguishes the new species from T. smithi is longer antennal scapes in T. pakawa; also, different nesting habits (rocky slopes vs. alluvial sites or deep sand in T. smithi), and geographic distribution. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the first intron of the F1 copy of the nuclear protein-coding gene Elongation Factor 1- α (EF1-α-F1) confirm a sister-species relationship between T. pakawa and T. smithi. Bayesian coalescent analyses indicate a divergence time of about 8.00 million years before present (95% confidence interval: 4.8-11.5 mya) between T. pakawa and T. smithi. The divergence of the lineages of T. pakawa and T. smithi could have been driven by the Pliocene-Holocene desertification of southwestern North America. This process resulted in isolated mesic refugia and forests in the Madrean ranges and piedmonts of northeastern Mexico (the current habitat of T. pakawa) while T. smithi adapted to the deeper, often sandy soils on the drier desert plains of Coahuila and Chihuahua states in Mexico, and New Mexico and Texas in the USA. Within the Nearctic species of the Trachymyrmex septentrionalis species group, T. pakawa is the species that is closest (by geographical distribution) to Neotropical species of Trachymyrmex like T. saussurei.}, } @article {pmid29117782, year = {2018}, author = {Cooper, B and Campbell, KB and Beard, HS and Garrett, WM and Mowery, J and Bauchan, GR and Elia, P}, title = {A Proteomic Network for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency in Bradyrhizobium elkanii.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {334-343}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-17-0243-R}, pmid = {29117782}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Proteomics/*methods ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia colonize legumes and reduce N2 to NH3 in root nodules. The current model is that symbiotic rhizobia bacteroids avoid assimilating this NH3. Instead, host legume cells form glutamine from NH3, and the nitrogen is returned to the bacteroid as dicarboxylates, peptides, and amino acids. In soybean cells surrounding bacteroids, glutamine also is converted to ureides. One problem for soybean cultivation is inefficiency in symbiotic N2 fixation, the biochemical basis of which is unknown. Here, the proteomes of bacteroids of Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA76 isolated from N2 fixation-efficient Peking and -inefficient Williams 82 soybean nodules were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Nearly half of the encoded bacterial proteins were quantified. Efficient bacteroids produced greater amounts of enzymes to form Nod factors and had increased amounts of signaling proteins, transporters, and enzymes needed to generate ATP to power nitrogenase and to acquire resources. Parallel investigation of nodule proteins revealed that Peking had no significantly greater accumulation of enzymes needed to assimilate NH3 than Williams 82. Instead, efficient bacteroids had increased amounts of enzymes to produce amino acids, including glutamine, and to form ureide precursors. These results support a model for efficient symbiotic N2 fixation in soybean where the bacteroid assimilates NH3 for itself.}, } @article {pmid29117633, year = {2018}, author = {Engl, T and Eberl, N and Gorse, C and Krüger, T and Schmidt, THP and Plarre, R and Adler, C and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Ancient symbiosis confers desiccation resistance to stored grain pest beetles.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2095-2108}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14418}, pmid = {29117633}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Desiccation ; Ecology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Weevils/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts of insects provide a range of ecological traits to their hosts that are beneficial in the context of biotic interactions. However, little is known about insect symbiont-mediated adaptation to the abiotic environment, for example, temperature and humidity. Here, we report on an ancient clade of intracellular, bacteriome-located Bacteroidetes symbionts that are associated with grain and wood pest beetles of the phylogenetically distant families Silvanidae and Bostrichidae. In the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis, we demonstrate that the symbionts affect cuticle thickness, melanization and hydrocarbon profile, enhancing desiccation resistance and thereby strongly improving fitness under dry conditions. Together with earlier observations on symbiont contributions to cuticle biosynthesis in weevils, our findings indicate that convergent acquisitions of bacterial mutualists represented key adaptations enabling diverse pest beetle groups to survive and proliferate under the low ambient humidity that characterizes dry grain storage facilities.}, } @article {pmid29117182, year = {2017}, author = {Zoccola, D and Morain, J and Pagès, G and Caminiti-Segonds, N and Giuliano, S and Tambutté, S and Allemand, D}, title = {Structural and functional analysis of coral Hypoxia Inducible Factor.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {e0186262}, pmid = {29117182}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia/genetics/metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Response Elements/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Tissues of symbiotic Cnidarians are exposed to wide, rapid and daily variations of oxygen concentration. Indeed, during daytime, intracellular O2 concentration increases due to symbiont photosynthesis, while during night, respiration of both host cells and symbionts leads to intra-tissue hypoxia. The Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric transcription factor used for maintenance of oxygen homeostasis and adaptation to hypoxia. Here, we carried out a mechanistic study of the response to variations of O2 concentrations of the coral model Stylophora pistillata. In silico analysis showed that homologs of HIF-1 α (SpiHIF-1α) and HIF-1β (SpiHIF-1β) exist in coral. A specific SpiHIF-1 DNA binding on mammalian Hypoxia Response Element (HRE) sequences was shown in extracts from coral exposed to dark conditions. Then, we cloned the coral HIF-1α and β genes and determined their expression and transcriptional activity. Although HIF-1α has an incomplete Oxygen-dependent Degradation Domain (ODD) relative to its human homolog, its protein level is increased under hypoxia when tested in mammalian cells. Moreover, co-transfection of SpiHIF-1α and β in mammalian cells stimulated an artificial promoter containing HRE only in hypoxic conditions. This study shows the strong conservation of molecular mechanisms involved in adaptation to O2 concentration between Cnidarians and Mammals whose ancestors diverged about 1,200-1,500 million years ago.}, } @article {pmid29116554, year = {2018}, author = {Yao, R and Li, J and Xie, D}, title = {Recent advances in molecular basis for strigolactone action.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {277-284}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-017-9195-x}, pmid = {29116554}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/chemistry/enzymology/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a very special class of plant hormones, which act as endogenous signals to regulate shoot branching in plants, and also serve as rhizosphere signals to regulate interactions of host plants with heterologous organisms such as symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and parasitic weeds. In this short review, we give a brief description of novel discoveries in SL biosynthesis pathway, and mainly summarize the recent advances in SL perception and signal transduction.}, } @article {pmid29114152, year = {2017}, author = {Lalramnghaki, HC and Vanlalhlimpuia, and Vanramliana, and Lalramliana, }, title = {Characterization of a new isolate of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema sangi (Rhabditida, Steinernematidae), and its symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus vietnamensis (γ-Proteobacteria) from Mizoram, northeastern India.}, journal = {Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {1123-1131}, pmid = {29114152}, issn = {0971-7196}, abstract = {A survey was conducted to isolate indigenous EPN, specifically from the northeastern part of India, a biodiversity hotspot region, to record the occurrence and their further use as biological control agent. The morphological and molecular analysis (ITS rDNA for Steinernema and 16S rRNA for Xenorhabdus) revealed that the entomopathogenic nematodes isolated from four different habitats and its symbiotic bacteria are conspecific with Steinernema sangi and Xenorhabdus vietnamensis respectively. The phylogenetic analysis based on maximum parsimony (MP) revealed that Steinernema sangi belongs to feltiae-kraussei-oregonense group. The study constitutes the first report of Steinernema sangi and its symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus vietnamensis outside the type locality, Vietnam, and in particular from India.}, } @article {pmid29113014, year = {2017}, author = {Glassman, SI and Wang, IJ and Bruns, TD}, title = {Environmental filtering by pH and soil nutrients drives community assembly in fungi at fine spatial scales.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {6960-6973}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14414}, pmid = {29113014}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {California ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Forests ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Whether niche processes, like environmental filtering, or neutral processes, like dispersal limitation, are the primary forces driving community assembly is a central question in ecology. Here, we use a natural experimental system of isolated tree "islands" to test whether environment or geography primarily structures fungal community composition at fine spatial scales. This system consists of isolated pairs of two distantly related, congeneric pine trees established at varying distances from each other and the forest edge, allowing us to disentangle the effects of geographic distance vs. host and edaphic environment on associated fungal communities. We identified fungal community composition with Illumina sequencing of ITS amplicons, measured all relevant environmental parameters for each tree-including tree age, size and soil chemistry-and calculated geographic distances from each tree to all others and to the nearest forest edge. We applied generalized dissimilarity modelling to test whether total and ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities were primarily structured by geographic or environmental filtering. Our results provide strong evidence that as in many other organisms, niche and neutral processes both contribute significantly to turnover in community composition in fungi, but environmental filtering plays the dominant role in structuring both free-living and symbiotic fungal communities at fine spatial scales. In our study system, we found pH and organic matter primarily drive environmental filtering in total soil fungal communities and that pH and cation exchange capacity-and, surprisingly, not host species-were the largest factors affecting EMF community composition. These findings support an emerging paradigm that pH may play a central role in the assembly of all soil-mediated systems.}, } @article {pmid29111689, year = {2018}, author = {Perez, CE and Park, HB and Crawford, JM}, title = {Functional Characterization of a Condensation Domain That Links Nonribosomal Peptide and Pteridine Biosynthetic Machineries in Photorhabdus luminescens.}, journal = {Biochemistry}, volume = {57}, number = {3}, pages = {354-361}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00863}, pmid = {29111689}, issn = {1520-4995}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mass Spectrometry ; Multigene Family ; *Peptide Biosynthesis ; Peptide Synthases/metabolism ; Photorhabdus/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Pteridines/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) produce a wide variety of biologically important small molecules. NRPSs can interface with other enzymes to form hybrid biosynthetic systems that expand the structural and functional diversity of their products. The pepteridines are metabolites encoded by an unprecedented pteridine-NRPS-type hybrid biosynthetic gene cluster in Photorhabdus luminescens, but how the distinct enzymatic systems interface to produce these molecules has not been examined at the biochemical level. By an unknown mechanism, the genetic locus can also affect the regulation of other enzymes involved in autoinducer and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Here, through in vitro protein biochemical assays, we demonstrate that an atypical NRPS condensation (C) domain present in the pathway condenses acyl units derived from α-keto acids onto a free 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterin core, producing the tertiary cis-amide-containing pepteridines. Solution studies of the chemically synthesized molecules led to the same amide regiochemistries that were observed in the natural products. The biochemical transformations mediated by the C domain destroy the radical scavenging activity of its redox active tetrahydropterin substrate. Secondary metabolite analyses revealed that the pepteridine locus affects select metabolic pathways associated with quorum sensing, antibiosis, and symbiosis. Taken together, the results suggest that the pathway likely regulates cellular redox and specialized metabolic pathways through engagement with the citric acid cycle.}, } @article {pmid29111040, year = {2018}, author = {Shang, Q and Jiang, H and Cai, C and Hao, J and Li, G and Yu, G}, title = {Gut microbiota fermentation of marine polysaccharides and its effects on intestinal ecology: An overview.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {173-185}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.09.059}, pmid = {29111040}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Alginates/metabolism ; Animals ; Crustacea/metabolism ; Dietary Carbohydrates/*metabolism ; Dietary Fiber/*metabolism ; *Fermentation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glucuronic Acid/metabolism ; Hexuronic Acids/metabolism ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Prebiotics ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota that resides in the mammalian intestine plays a critical role in host health, nutrition, metabolic and immune homeostasis. As symbiotic bacteria, these microorganisms depend mostly on non-digestible fibers and polysaccharides as energy sources. Dietary polysaccharides that reach the distal gut are fermented by gut microbiota and thus exert a fundamental impact on intestinal ecology. Marine polysaccharides contain a class of dietary fibers that are widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries (e.g., agar and carrageenan). In this regard, insights into fermentation of marine polysaccharides and its effects on intestinal ecology are of vital importance for understanding the beneficial effects of these glycans. Here, in this review, to provide an overlook of current advances and facilitate future studies in this field, we describe and summarize up-to-date findings on how marine polysaccharides are metabolized by gut microbiota and what effects these polysaccharides have on intestinal ecology.}, } @article {pmid29110754, year = {2017}, author = {Hill, DR and Huang, S and Nagy, MS and Yadagiri, VK and Fields, C and Mukherjee, D and Bons, B and Dedhia, PH and Chin, AM and Tsai, YH and Thodla, S and Schmidt, TM and Walk, S and Young, VB and Spence, JR}, title = {Bacterial colonization stimulates a complex physiological response in the immature human intestinal epithelium.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {29110754}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {UL1 TR000433/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007528/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA046592/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI116482/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD007505/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK103141/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK085532/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR002240/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mucus/metabolism ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is immature at birth, yet must adapt to dramatic changes such as oral nutrition and microbial colonization. The confluence of these factors can lead to severe inflammatory disease in premature infants; however, investigating complex environment-host interactions is difficult due to limited access to immature human tissue. Here, we demonstrate that the epithelium of human pluripotent stem-cell-derived human intestinal organoids is globally similar to the immature human epithelium and we utilize HIOs to investigate complex host-microbe interactions in this naive epithelium. Our findings demonstrate that the immature epithelium is intrinsically capable of establishing a stable host-microbe symbiosis. Microbial colonization leads to complex contact and hypoxia driven responses resulting in increased antimicrobial peptide production, maturation of the mucus layer, and improved barrier function. These studies lay the groundwork for an improved mechanistic understanding of how colonization influences development of the immature human intestine.}, } @article {pmid29109335, year = {2017}, author = {Nakayama, K}, title = {[The type IX secretion system and the type V pilus in the phylum Bacteroidetes].}, journal = {Nihon saikingaku zasshi. Japanese journal of bacteriology}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {219-227}, doi = {10.3412/jsb.72.219}, pmid = {29109335}, issn = {1882-4110}, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/*physiology ; Animals ; Arginine/physiology ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/*metabolism/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/*metabolism/*physiology ; Fimbriae, Bacterial/metabolism/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases ; Humans ; Lipoproteins/metabolism ; Mice ; Periodontitis/microbiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria symbiotic and parasitic in humans are included in the genera Bacteroides, Prevotella, Porphyromonas and others, which belong to the phylum Bacteroidetes. We have been studying gingipain, a major secretory protease of Porphyromonas gingivalis which is a periodontopathogenic bacterium belonging to the genus Porphyromonas, and pili which contribute to host colonization in the bacterium. In the process, it was found that gingipain was secreted by a system not reported previously. Furthermore, this secretion system was found to exist widely in the Bacteroidetes phylum bacteria and closely related to the gliding motility of bacteroidete bacteria, and it was named the Por secretion system (later renamed the type IX secretion system). Regarding P. gingivalis pili, it was found that the pilus protein is transported as a lipoprotein to the cell surface, and the pilus formation occurs due to degradation by arginine-gingipain. Pili with this novel formation mechanism was found to be widely present in bacteria belonging to the class Bacteroidia in the phylum Bacteroidetes and was named the type V pili.}, } @article {pmid29108998, year = {2018}, author = {Hori, A and Kurata, S and Kuraishi, T}, title = {Unexpected role of the IMD pathway in Drosophila gut defense against Staphylococcus aureus.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {495}, number = {1}, pages = {395-400}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.11.004}, pmid = {29108998}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/immunology ; Drosophila Proteins/immunology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Male ; Reactive Oxygen Species/immunology ; *Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcus aureus/*immunology ; }, abstract = {In this study, fruit fly of the genus Drosophila is utilized as a suitable model animal to investigate the molecular mechanisms of innate immunity. To combat orally transmitted pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, the Drosophila gut is armed with the peritrophic matrix, which is a physical barrier composed of chitin and glycoproteins: the Duox system that produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn sterilize infected microbes, and the IMD pathway that regulates the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which in turn control ROS-resistant pathogens. However, little is known about the defense mechanisms against Gram-positive bacteria in the fly gut. Here, we show that the peritrophic matrix protects Drosophila against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus. We also define the few roles of ROS in response to the infection and show that the IMD pathway is required for the clearance of ingested microbes, possibly independently from AMP expression. These findings provide a new aspect of the gut defense system of Drosophila, and helps to elucidate the processes of gut-microbe symbiosis and pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid29108677, year = {2017}, author = {Ellison, MA and Ferrier, MD and Carney, SL}, title = {Salinity stress results in differential Hsp70 expression in the Exaiptasia pallida and Symbiodinium symbiosis.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {63-67}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.10.006}, pmid = {29108677}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/*metabolism ; Salinity ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Abiotic factors affect cnidarian-algal symbiosis and, if severe enough, can result in bleaching. Increased temperature and light are well characterized causes of bleaching, but other factors like salinity can also stress the holobiont. In cnidarian-dinoflagellate systems, the expression of host genes, including heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), changes due to thermal and light stress. In this experiment, we characterized to what extent salinity stress affects Hsp70 expression in the holobiont by simultaneously measuring host and symbiont Hsp70 expression in response to up to 8 h of hypo- and hypersaline conditions in the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida and its intracellular symbiont Symbiodinium minutum. We show that E. pallida Hsp70 expression increases (6-11-fold) at high salinities whereas Symbiodinium Hsp70 expression shows little change (1.4-2.6-fold). These data suggest that cnidarian Hsp70 response is similar across multiple abiotic stressors further validating the Hsp70 gene as a biomarker for abiotic stress.}, } @article {pmid29108108, year = {2018}, author = {Chakraborty, K and Thilakan, B and Kizhakkekalam, VK}, title = {Antibacterial aryl-crowned polyketide from Bacillus subtilis associated with seaweed Anthophycus longifolius.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {124}, number = {1}, pages = {108-125}, doi = {10.1111/jam.13627}, pmid = {29108108}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacillus subtilis/genetics/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*drug effects/growth & development ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Polyketides/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism ; Salmonella/drug effects ; Seaweed/microbiology ; Vibrio/drug effects ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Microbiological, biotechnological and chemical characterization of a previously undescribed aryl-crowned polyketide from Bacillus subtilis MTCC 10403 isolated from brown seaweed Anthophycus longifolius with activity against opportunistic Gram-negative food-borne pathogenic bacterial strains.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A culture-dependent method was used to isolate heterotrophic B. subtilis associated with A. longifolius and assessed for its antimicrobial properties. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the title compound against the test pathogens was analysed by microtube dilution coupled with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-based colorimetric endpoint detection. Bacillus subtilis MTCC 10403 was found to be antagonistic against Gram-negative food-borne pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi, Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio sp. (diameter of zone of growth inhibition 13-22 mm). Bacillus subtilis was assessed for the presence of secondary metabolite coding polyketide synthase (pks) gene (KC589397, 700-bp gene product) and carboxylate siderophore framework in the aryl-crowned polyketide designated as 7-O-6'-(2″-acetylphenyl)-5'-hydroxyhexanoate-macrolactin by exhaustive spectroscopic techniques. The MIC assay showed that the reference antibiotics tetracycline and ampicillin were active at 25 μg ml[-1] against the test pathogens, whereas the newly isolated polyketide displayed anti-infective properties against E. coli, A. hydrophilla, P. aeruginosa and Vibrio sp. at a lower concentration (MIC <13 μg ml[-1]). The MIC of the aryl macrolactin against K. pneumoniae was comparable with that of the referral antibiotics (~25 μg ml[-1]). The mode of antimicrobial action of acryl-crowned macrolactin was found to be iron chelating similar to siderophores. Putative biosynthetic pathway of the pks gene product further validated its molecular attributions.

CONCLUSIONS: This study recognized new variant of antimicrobial aryl-crowned polyketide bearing methyl 6'-(2″-acetylphenyl)-5'-hydroxyhexanoate moiety at the C-7 position of the macrolactin system from A. longifolius-associated bacterium B. subtilis.

This study revealed seaweed-associated micro-organisms as promising biological strata to produce new-generation anti-infective agents.}, } @article {pmid29108042, year = {2017}, author = {Ishaq, SL and Yeoman, CJ and Whitney, TR}, title = {Ground Juniperus pinchotii and urea in supplements fed to Rambouillet ewe lambs Part 2: Ewe lamb rumen microbial communities.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {95}, number = {10}, pages = {4587-4599}, doi = {10.2527/jas2017.1731}, pmid = {29108042}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Ammonia/analysis ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Diet/veterinary ; *Dietary Supplements ; Edible Grain ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/analysis ; Female ; Fermentation ; *Juniperus ; Random Allocation ; Rumen/metabolism/microbiology ; Sheep/*microbiology/physiology ; Urea/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {This study evaluated effects of ground redberry juniper () and urea in dried distillers grains with solubles-based supplements fed to Rambouillet ewe lambs (= 48) on rumen physiological parameters and bacterial diversity. In a randomized study (40 d), individually-penned lambs were fed ground sorghum-sudangrass hay and of 1 of 8 supplements (6 lambs/treatment; 533 g/d; as-fed basis) in a 4 × 2 factorial design with 4 concentrations of ground juniper (15%, 30%, 45%, or 60% of DM) and 2 levels of urea (1% or 3% of DM). Increasing juniper resulted in minor changes in microbial β-diversity (PERMANOVA, pseudo F = 1.33, = 0.04); however, concentrations of urea did not show detectable broad-scale differences at phylum, family, or genus levels according to ANOSIM (> 0.05), AMOVA (> 0.10), and PERMANOVA (> 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis indicated some genera were specific to certain dietary treatments (< 0.05), though none of these genera were present in high abundance; high concentrations of juniper were associated with and , low concentrations of urea were associated with , and high concentrations of urea were associated with and . were decreased by juniper and urea. , , and increased with juniper and were positively correlated (Spearman's, < 0.05) with each other but not to rumen factors, suggesting a symbiotic interaction. Overall, there was not a juniper × urea interaction for total VFA, VFA by concentration or percent total, pH, or ammonia (0.29). When considering only percent inclusion of juniper, ruminal pH and proportion of acetic acid linearly increased (< 0.001) and percentage of butyric acid linearly decreased (= 0.009). Lamb ADG and G:F were positively correlated with (Spearman's, < 0.05) and negatively correlated with Synergistaceae, the BS5 group, and Lentisphaerae. Firmicutes were negatively correlated with serum urea nitrogen, ammonia, total VFA, total acetate, and total propionate. Overall, modest differences in bacterial diversity among treatments occurred in the abundance or evenness of several OTUs, but there was not a significant difference in OTU richness. As diversity was largely unchanged, the reduction in ADG and lower-end BW was likely due t* reduced DMI rather than a reduction in microbial fermentative ability.}, } @article {pmid29107940, year = {2017}, author = {Blees, A and Januliene, D and Hofmann, T and Koller, N and Schmidt, C and Trowitzsch, S and Moeller, A and Tampé, R}, title = {Structure of the human MHC-I peptide-loading complex.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {551}, number = {7681}, pages = {525-528}, pmid = {29107940}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2/chemistry/metabolism/ultrastructure ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3/chemistry/metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Antigen Presentation ; Binding Sites ; Burkitt Lymphoma/chemistry ; Calreticulin/chemistry/metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Cytosol/immunology/metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/chemistry/metabolism ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/chemistry/immunology/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Models, Biological ; Models, Molecular ; Multiprotein Complexes/chemistry/immunology/*metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases/chemistry/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Protein Domains ; }, abstract = {The peptide-loading complex (PLC) is a transient, multisubunit membrane complex in the endoplasmic reticulum that is essential for establishing a hierarchical immune response. The PLC coordinates peptide translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum with loading and editing of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules. After final proofreading in the PLC, stable peptide-MHC-I complexes are released to the cell surface to evoke a T-cell response against infected or malignant cells. Sampling of different MHC-I allomorphs requires the precise coordination of seven different subunits in a single macromolecular assembly, including the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP1 and TAP2, jointly referred to as TAP), the oxidoreductase ERp57, the MHC-I heterodimer, and the chaperones tapasin and calreticulin. The molecular organization of and mechanistic events that take place in the PLC are unknown owing to the heterogeneous composition and intrinsically dynamic nature of the complex. Here, we isolate human PLC from Burkitt's lymphoma cells using an engineered viral inhibitor as bait and determine the structure of native PLC by electron cryo-microscopy. Two endoplasmic reticulum-resident editing modules composed of tapasin, calreticulin, ERp57, and MHC-I are centred around TAP in a pseudo-symmetric orientation. A multivalent chaperone network within and across the editing modules establishes the proofreading function at two lateral binding platforms for MHC-I molecules. The lectin-like domain of calreticulin senses the MHC-I glycan, whereas the P domain reaches over the MHC-I peptide-binding pocket towards ERp57. This arrangement allows tapasin to facilitate peptide editing by clamping MHC-I. The translocation pathway of TAP opens out into a large endoplasmic reticulum lumenal cavity, confined by the membrane entry points of tapasin and MHC-I. Two lateral windows channel the antigenic peptides to MHC-I. Structures of PLC captured at distinct assembly states provide mechanistic insight into the recruitment and release of MHC-I. Our work defines the molecular symbiosis of an ABC transporter and an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone network in MHC-I assembly and provides insight into the onset of the adaptive immune response.}, } @article {pmid29106592, year = {2017}, author = {Russell, SL and Cavanaugh, CM}, title = {Intrahost Genetic Diversity of Bacterial Symbionts Exhibits Evidence of Mixed Infections and Recombinant Haplotypes.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {2747-2761}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msx188}, pmid = {29106592}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Bivalvia/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Even the simplest microbial-eukaryotic mutualisms are comprised of entire populations of symbionts at the level of the host individual. Early work suggested that these intrahost populations maintain low genetic diversity as a result of transmission bottlenecks or to avoid competition between symbiont genotypes. However, the amount of genetic diversity among symbionts within a single host remains largely unexplored. To address this, we investigated the chemosynthetic symbiosis between the bivalve Solemya velum and its intracellular bacterial symbionts, which exhibits evidence of both vertical and horizontal transmission. Intrahost symbiont populations were sequenced to high coverage (200-1,000×). Analyses of nucleotide diversity revealed that the symbiont genome sequences were largely homogeneous within individual host specimens, consistent with vertical transmission, except for particular regions that were polymorphic in ∼20% of host specimens. These variant sites were also found segregating in other host individuals from the same population, colocalized to several regions of the genome, and consistently co-occurred on the same short read pairs (derived from the same chromosome). These results strongly suggest that these variant haplotypes originated through recombination events, potentially during prior mixed infections or in the external environment, rather than as novel mutations within symbiont populations. This abundant genetic diversity could have a profound influence on symbiont evolution as it provides the opportunity for selection to limit the extent of reductive genome evolution commonly seen in obligate intracellular bacteria and to enable the evolution of adaptive genotypes.}, } @article {pmid29106528, year = {2017}, author = {Ostersetzer-Biran, O and Lane, N and Pomiankowski, A and Burton, R and Arnqvist, G and Filipovska, A and Huchon, D and Mishmar, D}, title = {The First Mitochondrial Genomics and Evolution SMBE-Satellite Meeting: A New Scientific Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {3054-3058}, pmid = {29106528}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; *Genomics ; Humans ; Maternal Inheritance ; Mitochondria/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The central role of the mitochondrion for cellular and organismal metabolism is well known, yet its functional role in evolution has rarely been featured in leading international conferences. Moreover, the contribution of mitochondrial genetics to complex disease phenotypes is particularly important, and although major advances have been made in the field of genomics, mitochondrial genomic data have in many cases been overlooked. Accumulating data and new knowledge support a major contribution of this maternally inherited genome, and its interactions with the nucleus, to both major evolutionary processes and diverse disease phenotypes. These advances encouraged us to assemble the first Mitochondrial Genomics and Evolution (MGE) meeting-an SMBE satellite and Israeli Science foundation international conference (Israel, September 2017). Here, we report the content and outcome of the MGE meeting (https://www.mge2017.com/; last accessed November 5, 2017).}, } @article {pmid29105765, year = {2018}, author = {Terrer, C and Vicca, S and Stocker, BD and Hungate, BA and Phillips, RP and Reich, PB and Finzi, AC and Prentice, IC}, title = {Ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 governed by plant-soil interactions and the cost of nitrogen acquisition.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {2}, pages = {507-522}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14872}, pmid = {29105765}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/chemistry ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Contents Summary 507 I. Introduction 507 II. The return on investment approach 508 III. CO2 response spectrum 510 IV. Discussion 516 Acknowledgements 518 References 518 SUMMARY: Land ecosystems sequester on average about a quarter of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. It has been proposed that nitrogen (N) availability will exert an increasingly limiting effect on plants' ability to store additional carbon (C) under rising CO2 , but these mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we review findings from elevated CO2 experiments using a plant economics framework, highlighting how ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 may depend on the costs and benefits of plant interactions with mycorrhizal fungi and symbiotic N-fixing microbes. We found that N-acquisition efficiency is positively correlated with leaf-level photosynthetic capacity and plant growth, and negatively with soil C storage. Plants that associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi and N-fixers may acquire N at a lower cost than plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However, the additional growth in ectomycorrhizal plants is partly offset by decreases in soil C pools via priming. Collectively, our results indicate that predictive models aimed at quantifying C cycle feedbacks to global change may be improved by treating N as a resource that can be acquired by plants in exchange for energy, with different costs depending on plant interactions with microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid29105533, year = {2018}, author = {Desaki, Y and Miyata, K and Suzuki, M and Shibuya, N and Kaku, H}, title = {Plant immunity and symbiosis signaling mediated by LysM receptors.}, journal = {Innate immunity}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {92-100}, pmid = {29105533}, issn = {1753-4267}, mesh = {Acetylation ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Chitin/chemistry/*immunology ; Lysine/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules/immunology ; *Plant Immunity ; Plants/*immunology ; Protein Domains/genetics ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants possess the ability to recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and PAMPs through the PRRs, and initiate pattern-triggered immunity. MAMPs are derived from cell-envelope components, secreted materials and cytosolic proteins from bacteria, oomycetes or fungi, and some MAMPs play a similar function in the innate immunity in mammals. Chitin is a representative fungal MAMP and triggers defense signaling in a wide range of plant species. The chitin receptors CEBiP and CERK1 on the plasma membrane have LysM (lysin motif) in their ectodomains. These molecules play an important role for the defense responses in rice and Arabidopsis, strictly recognizing the size and acetylated form of chitin oligosaccharides. However, related LysM receptors also play major roles for the signaling in root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. This review summarizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of the defense and symbiosis signaling mediated by LysM receptors, including the activation steps of chitin-induced defense signaling downstream of LysM receptors.}, } @article {pmid29105344, year = {2019}, author = {Gutiérrez-Barranquero, JA and Reen, FJ and Parages, ML and McCarthy, R and Dobson, ADW and O'Gara, F}, title = {Disruption of N-acyl-homoserine lactone-specific signalling and virulence in clinical pathogens by marine sponge bacteria.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {1049-1063}, pmid = {29105344}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Paracoccus/*drug effects ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Pseudoalteromonas/*drug effects ; Psychrobacter/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Quorum Sensing/*drug effects ; Virulence/drug effects ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the marine environment has been the subject of increasing attention from biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries. A combination of unique physicochemical properties and spatial niche-specific substrates, in wide-ranging and extreme habitats, underscores the potential of the marine environment to deliver on functionally novel bioactivities. One such area of ongoing research is the discovery of compounds that interfere with the cell-cell signalling process called quorum sensing (QS). Described as the next generation of antimicrobials, these compounds can target virulence and persistence of clinically relevant pathogens, independent of any growth-limiting effects. Marine sponges are a rich source of microbial diversity, with dynamic populations in a symbiotic relationship. In this study, we have harnessed the QS inhibition (QSI) potential of marine sponge microbiota and through culture-based discovery have uncovered small molecule signal mimics that neutralize virulence phenotypes in clinical pathogens. This study describes for the first time a marine sponge Psychrobacter sp. isolate B98C22 that blocks QS signalling, while also reporting dual QS/QSI activity in the Pseudoalteromonas sp. J10 and ParacoccusJM45. Isolation of novel QSI activities has significant potential for future therapeutic development, of particular relevance in the light of the pending perfect storm of antibiotic resistance meeting antibiotic drug discovery decline.}, } @article {pmid29105020, year = {2018}, author = {Pentimone, I and Lebrón, R and Hackenberg, M and Rosso, LC and Colagiero, M and Nigro, F and Ciancio, A}, title = {Identification of tomato miRNAs responsive to root colonization by endophytic Pochonia chlamydosporia.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {102}, number = {2}, pages = {907-919}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-017-8608-7}, pmid = {29105020}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Apoptosis ; Endophytes/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/microbiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The molecular mechanisms active during the endophytic phase of the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia are still poorly understood. In particular, few data are available on the links between the endophyte and the root response, as modulated by noncoding small RNAs. In this study, we describe the microRNAs (miRNAs) that are differentially expressed (DE) in the roots of tomato, colonized by P. chlamydosporia. A genome-wide NGS expression profiling of small RNAs in roots, either colonized or not by the fungus, showed 26 miRNAs upregulated in inoculated roots. Their predicted target genes are involved in the plant information processing system, which recognizes, percepts, and transmits signals, with higher representations in processes such as apoptosis and plant defense regulation. RNAseq data showed that predicted miRNA target genes were downregulated in tomato roots after 4, 7, 10, and 21 days post P. chlamydosporia inoculation. The differential expression of four miRNAs was further validated using qPCR analysis. The P. chlamydosporia endophytic lifestyle in tomato roots included an intricate network of miRNAs and targets. Data provide a first platform of DE tomato miRNAs after P. chlamydosporia colonization. They indicated that several miRNAs are involved in the host response to the fungus, playing important roles for its recognition as a symbiotic microorganism, allowing endophytism by modulating the host defense reaction. Data also indicated that endophytism affects tRNA fragmentation. This is the first study on miRNAs induced by P. chlamydosporia endophytism and related development regulation effects in Solanum lycopersicum.}, } @article {pmid29104370, year = {2017}, author = {Roberts, R and Jackson, RW and Mauchline, TH and Hirsch, PR and Shaw, LJ and Döring, TF and Jones, HE}, title = {Is there sufficient Ensifer and Rhizobium species diversity in UK farmland soils to support red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (T. repens), lucerne (Medicago sativa) and black medic (M. lupulina)?.}, journal = {Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment}, volume = {120}, number = {}, pages = {35-43}, pmid = {29104370}, issn = {0929-1393}, abstract = {Rhizobia play important roles in agriculture owing to their ability to fix nitrogen through a symbiosis with legumes. The specificity of rhizobia-legume associations means that underused legume species may depend on seed inoculation with their rhizobial partners. For black medic (Medicago lupulina) and lucerne (Medicago sativa) little is known about the natural prevalence of their rhizobial partner Ensifer meliloti in UK soils, so that the need for inoculating them is unclear. We analysed the site-dependence of rhizobial seed inoculation effects on the subsequent ability of rhizobial communities to form symbioses with four legume species (Medicago lupulina, M. sativa, Trifolium repens and T. pratense). At ten organic farms across the UK, a species-diverse legume based mixture (LBM) which included these four species was grown. The LBM seed was inoculated with a mix of commercial inocula specific for clover and lucerne. At each site, soil from the LBM treatment was compared to the soil sampled prior to the sowing of the LBM (the control). From each site and each of the two treatments, a suspension of soils was applied to seedlings of the four legume species and grown in axenic conditions for six weeks. Root nodules were counted and their rhizobia isolated. PCR and sequencing of a fragment of the gyrB gene from rhizobial isolates allowed identification of strains. The number of nodules on each of the four legume species was significantly increased when inoculated with soil from the LBM treatment compared to the control. Both the proportion of plants forming nodules and the number of nodules formed varied significantly by site, with sites significantly affecting the Medicago species but not the Trifolium species. These differences in nodulation were broadly reflected in plant biomass where site and treatment interacted; at some sites there was a significant advantage from inoculation with the commercial inoculum but not at others. In particular, this study has demonstrated the commercial merit of inoculation of lucerne with compatible rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid29102547, year = {2017}, author = {Sugiyama, Y and Nara, M and Sakanaka, M and Gotoh, A and Kitakata, A and Okuda, S and Kurihara, S}, title = {Comprehensive analysis of polyamine transport and biosynthesis in the dominant human gut bacteria: Potential presence of novel polyamine metabolism and transport genes.}, journal = {The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {52-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.biocel.2017.10.015}, pmid = {29102547}, issn = {1878-5875}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biogenic Polyamines/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Colon/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have reported that polyamines in the colonic lumen might affect animal health and these polyamines are thought to be produced by gut bacteria. In the present study, we measured the concentrations of three polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in cells and culture supernatants of 32 dominant human gut bacterial species in their growing and stationary phases. Combining polyamine concentration analysis in culture supernatant and cells with available genomic information showed that novel polyamine biosynthetic proteins and transporters were present in dominant human gut bacteria. Based on these findings, we suggested strategies for optimizing polyamine concentrations in the human colonic lumen via regulation of genes responsible for polyamine biosynthesis and transport in the dominant human gut bacteria.}, } @article {pmid29102065, year = {2017}, author = {Kalita, M and Małek, W}, title = {Molecular phylogeny of Bradyrhizobium bacteria isolated from root nodules of tribe Genisteae plants growing in southeast Poland.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {8}, pages = {482-491}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.09.001}, pmid = {29102065}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Cytisus/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genista/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Poland ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylogeny of 16 isolates from root nodules of Genista germanica, Genista tinctoria, Cytisus ratisbonensis, and Cytisus scoparius growing in southeast Poland was estimated by comparative sequence analysis of core (16S rDNA, atpD, glnII, recA) and symbiosis-related (nodC, nodZ, nifH) genes. All the sequences analyzed placed the studied rhizobia in the genus Bradyrhizobium. Phylogenetic analysis of individual and concatenated housekeeping genes showed that the Genisteae microsymbionts form a homogeneous group with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains. The phylogeny of nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes indicated a close relationship of the examined rhizobia with B. japonicum, Bradyrhizobium canariense, Bradyrhizobium cytisi, Bradyrhizobium rifense and Bradyrhizobium lupini strains infecting other plants of the tribe Genisteae. For the first time, the taxonomic position of G. germanica and C. ratisbonensis rhizobia, inferred from multigenic analysis, is described. The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on the protein-coding gene sequences presented in this study also indicate potential pitfalls concerning the choice of marker and reference strains, which may lead to conflicting conclusions in species delineation.}, } @article {pmid29101370, year = {2017}, author = {González-Pech, RA and Ragan, MA and Chan, CX}, title = {Signatures of adaptation and symbiosis in genomes and transcriptomes of Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {15021}, pmid = {29101370}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Genome ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiodinium is best-known as the photosynthetic symbiont of corals, but some clades are symbiotic in other organisms or include free-living forms. Identifying similarities and differences among these clades can help us understand their relationship with corals, and thereby inform on measures to manage coral reefs in a changing environment. Here, using sequences from 24 publicly available transcriptomes and genomes of Symbiodinium, we assessed 78,389 gene families in Symbiodinium clades and the immediate outgroup Polarella glacialis, and identified putative overrepresented functions in gene families that (1) distinguish Symbiodinium from other members of Order Suessiales, (2) are shared by all of the Symbiodinium clades for which we have data, and (3) based on available information, are specific to each clade. Our findings indicate that transmembrane transport, mechanisms of response to reactive oxygen species, and protection against UV radiation are functions enriched in all Symbiodinium clades but not in P. glacialis. Enrichment of these functions indicates the capability of Symbiodinium to establish and maintain symbiosis, and to respond and adapt to its environment. The observed differences in lineage-specific gene families imply extensive genetic divergence among clades. Our results provide a platform for future investigation of lineage- or clade-specific adaptation of Symbiodinium to their environment.}, } @article {pmid29101189, year = {2018}, author = {Chidebe, IN and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Distribution and Phylogeny of Microsymbionts Associated with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Nodulation in Three Agroecological Regions of Mozambique.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29101189}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Mozambique ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cowpea derives most of its N nutrition from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) via symbiotic bacteroids in root nodules. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the diversity and biogeographic distribution of bacterial microsymbionts nodulating cowpea and other indigenous legumes are not well understood, though needed for increased legume production. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution and phylogenies of rhizobia at different agroecological regions of Mozambique using PCR of the BOX element (BOX-PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-RFLP), and sequence analysis of ribosomal, symbiotic, and housekeeping genes. A total of 122 microsymbionts isolated from two cowpea varieties (IT-1263 and IT-18) grouped into 17 clades within the BOX-PCR dendrogram. The PCR-ITS analysis yielded 17 ITS types for the bacterial isolates, while ITS-RFLP analysis placed all test isolates in six distinct clusters (I to VI). BLASTn sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and four housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB) showed their alignment with Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium species. The results revealed a group of highly diverse and adapted cowpea-nodulating microsymbionts which included Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi, Bradyrhizobium arachidis, Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, and a novel Bradyrhizobium sp., as well as Rhizobium tropici, Rhizobium pusense, and Neorhizobium galegae in Mozambican soils. Discordances observed in single-gene phylogenies could be attributed to horizontal gene transfer and/or subsequent recombinations of the genes. Natural deletion of 60 bp of the gyrB region was observed in isolate TUTVU7; however, this deletion effect on DNA gyrase function still needs to be confirmed. The inconsistency of nifH with core gene phylogenies suggested differences in the evolutionary history of both chromosomal and symbiotic genes.IMPORTANCE A diverse group of both Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium species responsible for cowpea nodulation in Mozambique was found in this study. Future studies could prove useful in evaluating these bacterial isolates for symbiotic efficiency and strain competitiveness in Mozambican soils.}, } @article {pmid29099491, year = {2018}, author = {Pan, X and Pike, A and Joshi, D and Bian, G and McFadden, MJ and Lu, P and Liang, X and Zhang, F and Raikhel, AS and Xi, Z}, title = {The bacterium Wolbachia exploits host innate immunity to establish a symbiotic relationship with the dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {277-288}, pmid = {29099491}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {R01 AI080597/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/immunology/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Immunity, Innate ; Mosquito Vectors/immunology/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Toll-Like Receptors/metabolism ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A host's immune system plays a central role in shaping the composition of the microbiota and, in return, resident microbes influence immune responses. Symbiotic associations of the maternally transmitted bacterium Wolbachia occur with a wide range of arthropods. It is, however, absent from the dengue and Zika vector mosquito Aedes aegypti in nature. When Wolbachia is artificially forced to form symbiosis with this new mosquito host, it boosts the basal immune response and enhances the mosquito's resistance to pathogens, including dengue, Zika virus and malaria parasites. The mechanisms involved in establishing a symbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and A. aegypti, and the long-term outcomes of this interaction, are not well understood. Here, we have demonstrated that both the immune deficiency (IMD) and Toll pathways are activated by the Wolbachia strain wAlbB upon its introduction into A. aegypti. Silencing the Toll and IMD pathways via RNA interference reduces the wAlbB load. Notably, wAlbB induces peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP)-LE expression in the carcass of A. aegypti, and its silencing results in a reduction of symbiont load. Using transgenic mosquitoes with stage-specific induction of the IMD and Toll pathways, we have shown that elevated wAlbB infection in these mosquitoes is maintained via maternal transmission. These results indicate that host innate immunity is utilized to establish and promote host-microbial symbiosis. Our results will facilitate a long-term projection of the stability of the Wolbachia-A. aegypti mosquito system that is being developed to control dengue and Zika virus transmission to humans.}, } @article {pmid29099388, year = {2018}, author = {Lees, S and Dayan, N and Cecotti, H and McCullagh, P and Maguire, L and Lotte, F and Coyle, D}, title = {A review of rapid serial visual presentation-based brain-computer interfaces.}, journal = {Journal of neural engineering}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {021001}, doi = {10.1088/1741-2552/aa9817}, pmid = {29099388}, issn = {1741-2552}, mesh = {Brain/*physiology ; *Brain-Computer Interfaces/trends ; Electroencephalography/*methods/trends ; Evoked Potentials, Visual/*physiology ; Humans ; Photic Stimulation/*methods ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) combined with the detection of event-related brain responses facilitates the selection of relevant information contained in a stream of images presented rapidly to a human. Event related potentials (ERPs) measured non-invasively with electroencephalography (EEG) can be associated with infrequent targets amongst a stream of images. Human-machine symbiosis may be augmented by enabling human interaction with a computer, without overt movement, and/or enable optimization of image/information sorting processes involving humans. Features of the human visual system impact on the success of the RSVP paradigm, but pre-attentive processing supports the identification of target information post presentation of the information by assessing the co-occurrence or time-locked EEG potentials. This paper presents a comprehensive review and evaluation of the limited, but significant, literature on research in RSVP-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Applications that use RSVP-based BCIs are categorized based on display mode and protocol design, whilst a range of factors influencing ERP evocation and detection are analyzed. Guidelines for using the RSVP-based BCI paradigms are recommended, with a view to further standardizing methods and enhancing the inter-relatability of experimental design to support future research and the use of RSVP-based BCIs in practice.}, } @article {pmid29098761, year = {2018}, author = {Astudillo-García, C and Slaby, BM and Waite, DW and Bayer, K and Hentschel, U and Taylor, MW}, title = {Phylogeny and genomics of SAUL, an enigmatic bacterial lineage frequently associated with marine sponges.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {561-576}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13965}, pmid = {29098761}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria, Aerobic/*classification/genetics ; Molecular Typing ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many marine sponges contain dense and diverse communities of associated microorganisms. Members of the 'sponge-associated unclassified lineage' (SAUL) are frequently recorded from sponges, yet little is known about these bacteria. Here we investigated the distribution and phylogenetic status of SAUL. A meta-analysis of the available literature revealed the widespread distribution of this clade and its association with taxonomically varied sponge hosts. Phylogenetic analyses, conducted using both 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny and concatenated marker protein sequences, revealed that SAUL is a sister clade of the candidate phylum 'Latescibacteria'. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of two draft genomes assembled from sponge metagenomes, revealing novel insights into the physiology of this symbiont. Metabolic reconstruction suggested that SAUL members are aerobic bacteria with facultative anaerobic metabolism, with the capacity to degrade multiple sponge- and algae-derived carbohydrates. We described for the first time in a sponge symbiont the putative genomic capacity to transport phosphate into the cell and to produce and store polyphosphate granules, presumably constituting a phosphate reservoir for the sponge host in deprivation periods. Our findings suggest that the lifestyle of SAUL is symbiotic with the host sponge, and identify symbiont factors which may facilitate the establishment and maintenance of this relationship.}, } @article {pmid29098358, year = {2018}, author = {Baumann, JH and Davies, SW and Aichelman, HE and Castillo, KD}, title = {Coral Symbiodinium Community Composition Across the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is Influenced by Host Species and Thermal Variability.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {903-915}, pmid = {29098358}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*parasitology ; Belize ; DNA/analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; Genetic Variation ; *Host Specificity ; Hot Temperature ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals maintain a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium, and this symbiosis is vital for the survival of the coral holobiont. Symbiodinium community composition within the coral host has been shown to influence a coral's ability to resist and recover from stress. A multitude of stressors including ocean warming, ocean acidification, and eutrophication have been linked to global scale decline in coral health and cover in recent decades. Three distinct thermal regimes (highTP, modTP, and lowTP) following an inshore-offshore gradient of declining average temperatures and thermal variation were identified on the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS). Quantitative metabarcoding of the ITS-2 locus was employed to investigate differences and similarities in Symbiodinium genetic diversity of the Caribbean corals Siderastrea siderea, S. radians, and Pseudodiploria strigosa between the three thermal regimes. A total of ten Symbiodinium lineages were identified across the three coral host species. S. siderea was associated with distinct Symbiodinium communities; however, Symbiodinium communities of its congener, S. radians and P. strigosa, were more similar to one another. Thermal regime played a role in defining Symbiodinium communities in S. siderea but not S. radians or P. strigosa. Against expectations, Symbiodinium trenchii, a symbiont known to confer thermal tolerance, was dominant only in S. siderea at one sampled offshore site and was rare inshore, suggesting that coral thermal tolerance in more thermally variable inshore habitats is achieved through alternative mechanisms. Overall, thermal parameters alone were likely not the only primary drivers of Symbiodinium community composition, suggesting that environmental variables unrelated to temperature (i.e., light availability or nutrients) may play key roles in structuring coral-algal communities in Belize and that the relative importance of these environmental variables may vary by coral host species.}, } @article {pmid29098118, year = {2017}, author = {Kodukula, K and Faller, DV and Harpp, DN and Kanara, I and Pernokas, J and Pernokas, M and Powers, WR and Soukos, NS and Steliou, K and Moos, WH}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Salivary Diagnostics: The Mouth Is Salivating to Tell Us Something.}, journal = {BioResearch open access}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {123-132}, pmid = {29098118}, issn = {2164-7844}, abstract = {The microbiome of the human body represents a symbiosis of microbial networks spanning multiple organ systems. Bacteria predominantly represent the diversity of human microbiota, but not to be forgotten are fungi, viruses, and protists. Mounting evidence points to the fact that the "microbial signature" is host-specific and relatively stable over time. As our understanding of the human microbiome and its relationship to the health of the host increases, it is becoming clear that many and perhaps most chronic conditions have a microbial involvement. The oral and gastrointestinal tract microbiome constitutes the bulk of the overall human microbial load, and thus presents unique opportunities for advancing human health prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy development. This review is an attempt to catalog a broad diversity of recent evidence and focus it toward opportunities for prevention and treatment of debilitating illnesses.}, } @article {pmid29095369, year = {2019}, author = {Vest, JR and Menachemi, N}, title = {A population ecology perspective on the functioning and future of health information organizations.}, journal = {Health care management review}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {344-355}, doi = {10.1097/HMR.0000000000000185}, pmid = {29095369}, issn = {1550-5030}, mesh = {*Commerce ; *Efficiency, Organizational ; Electronic Health Records ; *Health Information Exchange ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Models, Theoretical ; Qualitative Research ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Increasingly, health care providers need to exchange information to meet policy expectations and business needs. A variety of health information organizations (HIOs) provide services to facilitate health information exchange (HIE). However, the future of these organizations is unclear.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the environmental context, potential futures, and survivability of community HIOs, enterprise HIEs, and electronic health record vendor-mediated exchange using the population ecology theory.

APPROACH: Qualitative interviews with 33 key informants representing each type of HIE organization were analyzed using template analysis.

RESULTS: Community HIOs, enterprise HIEs, and electronic health record vendors exhibited a high degree of competition for resources, especially in the area of exchange infrastructure services. Competition resulted in closures in some areas. In response to environmental pressures, each organizational type was endeavoring to differentiate its services and unique use case, as well as pursing symbiotic relationships or attempting resource partitioning.

CONCLUSION: HIOs compete for similar resources and are reacting to environmental pressures to better position themselves for continued survival and success. Our ecological research perspective helps move the discourse away from situation of a single exchange organization type toward a view of the broader dynamics and relationships of all organizations involved in facilitating HIE activities.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: HIOs are attempting to partition the environment and differentiate services. HIE options should not be construed as an "either/or" decision, but one where multiple and complementary participation may be required.}, } @article {pmid29094363, year = {2018}, author = {Glynou, K and Nam, B and Thines, M and Maciá-Vicente, JG}, title = {Facultative root-colonizing fungi dominate endophytic assemblages in roots of nonmycorrhizal Microthlaspi species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {3}, pages = {1190-1202}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14873}, pmid = {29094363}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Databases, Genetic ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {There is increasing knowledge on the diversity of root-endophytic fungi, but limited information on their lifestyles and dependence on hosts hampers our understanding of their ecological functions. We compared diversity and biogeographical patterns of cultivable and noncultivable root endophytes to assess whether their occurrence is determined by distinct ecological factors. The endophytic diversity in roots of nonmycorrhizal Microthlaspi spp. growing across Europe was assessed using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and compared with a previous dataset based on cultivation of endophytes from the same root samples. HTS revealed a large fungal richness undetected by cultivation, but which largely comprised taxa with restricted distributions and/or low representation of sequence reads. Both datasets coincided in a consistent high representation of widespread endophytes within orders Pleosporales, Hypocreales and Helotiales, as well as similar associations of community structure with spatial and environmental conditions. Likewise, distributions of particular endophytes inferred by HTS agreed with cultivation data in suggesting individual ecological preferences. Our findings support that Microthlaspi spp. roots are colonized mostly by saprotrophic and likely facultative endophytes, and that differential niche preferences and distribution ranges among fungi importantly drive the assembly of root-endophytic communities.}, } @article {pmid29094129, year = {2018}, author = {Calcott, MJ and Ackerley, DF and Knight, A and Keyzers, RA and Owen, JG}, title = {Secondary metabolism in the lichen symbiosis.}, journal = {Chemical Society reviews}, volume = {47}, number = {5}, pages = {1730-1760}, doi = {10.1039/c7cs00431a}, pmid = {29094129}, issn = {1460-4744}, mesh = {Lichens/*metabolism ; *Secondary Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens, which are defined by a core symbiosis between a mycobiont (fungal partner) and a photobiont (photoautotrophic partner), are in fact complex assemblages of microorganisms that constitute a largely untapped source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Historically, compounds isolated from lichens have predominantly been those produced by the dominant fungal partner, and these continue to be of great interest for their unique chemistry and biotechnological potential. In recent years it has become apparent that many photobionts and lichen-associated bacteria also produce a range of potentially valuable molecules. There is evidence to suggest that the unique nature of the symbiosis has played a substantial role in shaping many aspects of lichen chemistry, for example driving bacteria to produce metabolites that do not bring them direct benefit but are useful to the lichen as a whole. This is most evident in studies of cyanobacterial photobionts, which produce compounds that differ from free living cyanobacteria and are unique to symbiotic organisms. The roles that these and other lichen-derived molecules may play in communication and maintaining the symbiosis are poorly understood at present. Nonetheless, advances in genomics, mass spectrometry and other analytical technologies are continuing to illuminate the wealth of biological and chemical diversity present within the lichen holobiome. Implementation of novel biodiscovery strategies such as metagenomic screening, coupled with synthetic biology approaches to reconstitute, re-engineer and heterologously express lichen-derived biosynthetic gene clusters in a cultivable host, offer a promising means for tapping into this hitherto inaccessible wealth of natural products.}, } @article {pmid29093223, year = {2017}, author = {Barott, KL and Barron, ME and Tresguerres, M}, title = {Identification of a molecular pH sensor in coral.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1866}, pages = {}, pmid = {29093223}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Adenylyl Cyclases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/metabolism ; *Homeostasis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; }, abstract = {Maintaining stable intracellular pH (pHi) is essential for homeostasis, and requires the ability to both sense pH changes that may result from internal and external sources, and to regulate downstream compensatory pH pathways. Here we identified the cAMP-producing enzyme soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) as the first molecular pH sensor in corals. sAC protein was detected throughout coral tissues, including those involved in symbiosis and calcification. Application of a sAC-specific inhibitor caused significant and reversible pHi acidosis in isolated coral cells under both dark and light conditions, indicating sAC is essential for sensing and regulating pHi perturbations caused by respiration and photosynthesis. Furthermore, pHi regulation during external acidification was also dependent on sAC activity. Thus, sAC is a sensor and regulator of pH disturbances from both metabolic and external origin in corals. Since sAC is present in all coral cell types, and the cAMP pathway can regulate virtually every aspect of cell physiology through post-translational modifications of proteins, sAC is likely to trigger multiple homeostatic mechanisms in response to pH disturbances. This is also the first evidence that sAC modulates pHi in any non-mammalian animal. Since corals are basal metazoans, our results indicate this function is evolutionarily conserved across animals.}, } @article {pmid29090848, year = {2019}, author = {Mereghetti, V and Chouaia, B and Limonta, L and Locatelli, DP and Montagna, M}, title = {Evidence for a conserved microbiota across the different developmental stages of Plodia interpunctella.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {466-478}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12551}, pmid = {29090848}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Burkholderia/genetics ; Female ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Moths/growth & development/*microbiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Diversity and composition of lepidopteran microbiotas are poorly investigated, especially across the different developmental stages. To improve this knowledge, we characterize the microbiota among different developmental stages of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, which is considered one of the major pest of commodities worldwide. Using culture-independent approach based on Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing we characterized the microbiota of four developmental stages: eggs, first-, and last-instar larvae, and adult. A total of 1022 bacterial OTUs were obtained, showing a quite diversified microbiota associated to all the analyzed stages. The microbiotas associated with P. interpunctella resulted almost constant throughout the developmental stages, with approximately 77% of bacterial OTUs belonging to the phylum of Proteobacteria. The dominant bacterial genus is represented by Burkholderia (∼64%), followed by Propionibacterium, Delftia, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas. A core bacterial community, composed of 139 OTUs, was detected in all the developmental stages, among which 112 OTUs were assigned to the genus Burkholderia. A phylogenetic reconstruction, based on the 16S rRNA, revealed that our Burkholderia OTUs clustered with Burkholderia cepacia complex, in the same group of those isolated from the hemipterans Gossyparia spuria and Acanthococcus aceris. The functional profiling, predicted on the base of the bacterial 16S rRNA, indicates differences in the metabolic pathways related to metabolism of amino acids between preimaginal and adult stages. We can hypothesize that bacteria may support the insect host during preimaginal stages.}, } @article {pmid29090357, year = {2018}, author = {Sun, X and Li, J and Du, J and Xiao, H and Ni, J}, title = {Cellulomonas macrotermitis sp. nov., a chitinolytic and cellulolytic bacterium isolated from the hindgut of a fungus-growing termite.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {471-478}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-017-0968-6}, pmid = {29090357}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulomonas/chemistry/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Metabolomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {To investigate the symbiotic roles of the gut microbiota in the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi, a novel strain with chitinolytic and cellulolytic activity, designated strain an-chi-1[T], was isolated from the hindgut of M. barneyi. Strain an-chi-1[T] grows optimally at 28-30 °C, pH 8.0 in PYG medium. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, this isolate belongs to the genus Cellulomonas with high sequence similarity to Cellulomonas iranensis (99.4%), followed by Cellulomonas flavigena (98.4%), Cellulomonas phragmiteti (97.4%), Cellulomonas oligotrophica (97.2%) and Cellulomonas terrae (97.0%). The DNA-DNA relatedness between an-chi-1[T] and the type strains of C. iranensis and C. flavigena DSM20109[T] are 35.4% and 23.7%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids are anteiso-C15:0 and C14:0. The polar lipid profile consists of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphatidylinositol dimannosides and one unidentified phospholipid. The cell-wall sugar is ribose. The peptidoglycan contains glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine. The DNA G+C content is 67.3 mol%. Based on its distinctive phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, an-chi-1[T] represents a novel species of the genus Cellulomonas, for which the name Cellulomonas macrotermitis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is an-chi-1[T] (= JCM 31923[T] = CICC 24195[T]).}, } @article {pmid29089938, year = {2017}, author = {Matarrita-Carranza, B and Moreira-Soto, RD and Murillo-Cruz, C and Mora, M and Currie, CR and Pinto-Tomas, AA}, title = {Evidence for Widespread Associations between Neotropical Hymenopteran Insects and Actinobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {2016}, pmid = {29089938}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The evolutionary success of hymenopteran insects has been associated with complex physiological and behavioral defense mechanisms against pathogens and parasites. Among these strategies are symbiotic associations between Hymenoptera and antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria, which provide protection to insect hosts. Herein, we examine associations between culturable Actinobacteria and 29 species of tropical hymenopteran insects that span five families, including Apidae (bees), Vespidae (wasps), and Formicidae (ants). In total, 197 Actinobacteria isolates were obtained from 22 of the 29 different insect species sampled. Through 16S rRNA gene sequences of 161 isolates, we show that 91% of the symbionts correspond to members of the genus Streptomyces with less common isolates belonging to Pseudonocardia and Amycolatopsis. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of filamentous bacteria with Streptomyces morphology in brood chambers of two different species of the eusocial wasps. Four fungal strains in the family Ophiocordycipitacea (Hypocreales) known to be specialized insect parasites were also isolated. Bioassay challenges between the Actinobacteria and their possible targeted pathogenic antagonist (both obtained from the same insect at the genus or species level) provide evidence that different Actinobacteria isolates produced antifungal activity, supporting the hypothesis of a defensive association between the insects and these microbe species. Finally, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and gyrB demonstrate the presence of five Streptomyces lineages associated with a broad range of insect species. Particularly our Clade I is of much interest as it is composed of one 16S rRNA phylotype repeatedly isolated from different insect groups in our sample. This phylotype corresponds to a previously described lineage of host-associated Streptomyces. These results suggest Streptomyces Clade I is a Hymenoptera host-associated lineage spanning several new insect taxa and ranging from the American temperate to the Neotropical region. Our work thus provides important insights into the widespread distribution of Actinobacteria and hymenopteran insects associations, while also pointing at novel resources that could be targeted for the discovery of active natural products with great potential in medical and biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid29089926, year = {2017}, author = {Singhal, U and Khanuja, M and Prasad, R and Varma, A}, title = {Impact of Synergistic Association of ZnO-Nanorods and Symbiotic Fungus Piriformospora indica DSM 11827 on Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (Broccoli).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1909}, pmid = {29089926}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the present work, novel nanotool called 'nano-embedded fungus' formed by impact of synergistic association of ZnO-nanorods and fungus Piriformospora indica DSM 11827, for growth of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (Broccoli) is reported. ZnO-nanorods were synthesized by mechanical assisted thermal decomposition process and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology, X-ray diffraction for structural studies and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy for band gap determination. Nanoembedded fungus is prepared by optimizing ZnO-nanorods concentration (500 ppm) which resulted in the increased biomass of P. indica, as confirmed by dry weight method, spore count, spread plate and microscopy techniques viz. SEM and confocal microscopy. Enhancement in B. oleracea var. botrytis is reported on treatment with nanoembedded fungus. According to the authors, this is the first holistic study focusing on the impact of ZnO-nanorods in the enhancement of fungal symbiont for enhanced biomass productivity of B. oleracea plant.}, } @article {pmid29087375, year = {2017}, author = {Behrendt, L and Raina, JB and Lutz, A and Kot, W and Albertsen, M and Halkjær-Nielsen, P and Sørensen, SJ and Larkum, AW and Kühl, M}, title = {In situ metabolomic- and transcriptomic-profiling of the host-associated cyanobacteria Prochloron and Acaryochloris marina.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {556-567}, pmid = {29087375}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {The tropical ascidian Lissoclinum patella hosts two enigmatic cyanobacteria: (1) the photoendosymbiont Prochloron spp., a producer of valuable bioactive compounds and (2) the chlorophyll-d containing Acaryochloris spp., residing in the near-infrared enriched underside of the animal. Despite numerous efforts, Prochloron remains uncultivable, restricting the investigation of its biochemical potential to cultivation-independent techniques. Likewise, in both cyanobacteria, universally important parameters on light-niche adaptation and in situ photosynthetic regulation are unknown. Here we used genome sequencing, transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate the symbiotic linkage between host and photoendosymbiont and simultaneously probed the transcriptional response of Acaryochloris in situ. During high light, both cyanobacteria downregulate CO2 fixing pathways, likely a result of O2 photorespiration on the functioning of RuBisCO, and employ a variety of stress-quenching mechanisms, even under less stressful far-red light (Acaryochloris). Metabolomics reveals a distinct biochemical modulation between Prochloron and L. patella, including noon/midnight-dependent signatures of amino acids, nitrogenous waste products and primary photosynthates. Surprisingly, Prochloron constitutively expressed genes coding for patellamides, that is, cyclic peptides of great pharmaceutical value, with yet unknown ecological significance. Together these findings shed further light on far-red-driven photosynthesis in natural consortia, the interplay of Prochloron and its ascidian partner in a model chordate photosymbiosis and the uncultivability of Prochloron.The ISME Journal advance online publication, 31 October 2017; doi:10.1038/ismej.2017.192.}, } @article {pmid29087025, year = {2018}, author = {Vanderpool, D and Bracewell, RR and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Know your farmer: Ancient origins and multiple independent domestications of ambrosia beetle fungal cultivars.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2077-2094}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14394}, pmid = {29087025}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Coleoptera/genetics/microbiology ; Domestication ; Genome, Insect/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bark and ambrosia beetles are highly specialized weevils (Curculionidae) that have established diverse symbioses with fungi, most often from the order Ophiostomatales (Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes). The two types of beetles are distinguished by their feeding habits and intimacy of interactions with their symbiotic fungi. The tree tissue diet of bark beetles is facilitated by fungi, while ambrosia beetles feed solely on fungi that they farm. The farming life history strategy requires domestication of a fungus, which the beetles consume as their sole food source. Ambrosia beetles in the subfamily Platypodinae originated in the mid-Cretaceous (119-88 Ma) and are the oldest known group of farming insects. However, attempts to resolve phylogenetic relationships and the timing of domestication events for fungal cultivars have been largely inconclusive. We sequenced the genomes of 12 ambrosia beetle fungal cultivars and bark beetle associates, including the devastating laurel wilt pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, to estimate a robust phylogeny of the Ophiostomatales. We find evidence for contemporaneous diversification of the beetles and their associated fungi, followed by three independent domestication events of the ambrosia fungi genus Raffaelea. We estimate the first domestication of an Ophiostomatales fungus occurred ~86 Ma, 25 million years earlier than prior estimates and in close agreement with the estimated age of farming in the Platypodinae (96 Ma). Comparisons of the timing of fungal domestication events with the timing of beetle radiations support the hypothesis that the first large beetle radiations may have spread domesticated "ambrosia" fungi to other fungi-associated beetle groups, perhaps facilitating the evolution of new farming lineages.}, } @article {pmid29087015, year = {2018}, author = {Doremus, MR and Smith, AH and Kim, KL and Holder, AJ and Russell, JA and Oliver, KM}, title = {Breakdown of a defensive symbiosis, but not endogenous defences, at elevated temperatures.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2138-2151}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14399}, pmid = {29087015}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology/parasitology ; Bacteriophages/*genetics/physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/pathogenicity/virology ; Genotype ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Environmental factors, including temperature, can have large effects on species interactions, including mutualisms and antagonisms. Most insect species are infected with heritable bacterial symbionts with many protecting their hosts from natural enemies. However, many symbionts or their products are thermally sensitive; hence, their effectiveness may vary across a range of temperatures. In the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, the bacterial symbiont Hamiltonella defensa and its associated APSE bacteriophages confer resistance to this aphid's dominant parasitoid, Aphidius ervi. Here, we investigate the effects of temperature on both endogenous and symbiont-based protection against this parasitoid. We also explored the defensive properties of the X-type symbiont, a bacterium hypothesized to shape aphid defence when co-occurring with H. defensa. We show that H. defensa protection fails at higher temperatures, although some aphid genotype and H. defensa strain combinations are more robust than others at moderately warmer temperatures. We also found that a single X-type strain neither defended against parasitism by A. ervi nor rescued lost H. defensa protection at higher temperatures. In contrast, endogenous aphid resistance was effective across temperatures, revealing that these distinct defensive modes are not equally robust to changing environments. Through a survey of field-collected pea aphids, we found a negative correlation between H. defensa frequencies and average daily temperatures across North American locales, fitting expectations for reduced symbiont benefits under warm climates. Based on these findings, we propose that rising global temperatures could promote the widespread breakdown of defensive mutualisms, a prospect with implications for both human and ecosystem health.}, } @article {pmid29086445, year = {2018}, author = {Yamaya-Ito, H and Shimoda, Y and Hakoyama, T and Sato, S and Kaneko, T and Hossain, MS and Shibata, S and Kawaguchi, M and Hayashi, M and Kouchi, H and Umehara, Y}, title = {Loss-of-function of ASPARTIC PEPTIDASE NODULE-INDUCED 1 (APN1) in Lotus japonicus restricts efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with specific Mesorhizobium loti strains.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {93}, number = {1}, pages = {5-16}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13759}, pmid = {29086445}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/genetics/metabolism ; Aspartic Acid Proteases/genetics/*metabolism ; Loss of Function Mutation ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of legumes and Rhizobium bacteria is established by complex interactions between the two symbiotic partners. Legume Fix[-] mutants form apparently normal nodules with endosymbiotic rhizobia but fail to induce rhizobial nitrogen fixation. These mutants are useful for identifying the legume genes involved in the interactions essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We describe here a Fix[-] mutant of Lotus japonicus, apn1, which showed a very specific symbiotic phenotype. It formed ineffective nodules when inoculated with the Mesorhizobium loti strain TONO. In these nodules, infected cells disintegrated and successively became necrotic, indicating premature senescence typical of Fix[-] mutants. However, it formed effective nodules when inoculated with the M. loti strain MAFF303099. Among nine different M. loti strains tested, four formed ineffective nodules and five formed effective nodules on apn1 roots. The identified causal gene, ASPARTIC PEPTIDASE NODULE-INDUCED 1 (LjAPN1), encodes a nepenthesin-type aspartic peptidase. The well characterized Arabidopsis aspartic peptidase CDR1 could complement the strain-specific Fix[-] phenotype of apn1. LjAPN1 is a typical late nodulin; its gene expression was exclusively induced during nodule development. LjAPN1 was most abundantly expressed in the infected cells in the nodules. Our findings indicate that LjAPN1 is required for the development and persistence of functional (nitrogen-fixing) symbiosis in a rhizobial strain-dependent manner, and thus determines compatibility between M. loti and L. japonicus at the level of nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid29085996, year = {2018}, author = {Zhang, Y and Su, X and Harris, AJ and Caraballo-Ortiz, MA and Ren, Z and Zhong, Y}, title = {Genetic Structure of the Bacterial Endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola from Its Host Aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis and Evolutionary Implications.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {309-315}, pmid = {29085996}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; Buchnera/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Buchnera aphidicola is a primary symbiotic bacterium which provides essential amino acids to aphids. In this study, we sequenced nuclear 16s rDNA and atpAGD genes for 156 individuals of B. aphidicola from eight geographically distant populations to investigate the genetic diversity and structure of B. aphidicola associated to the sumac gall aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis in central and southern China. Our analyses of the combined sequences showed that B. aphidicola from S. chinensis had high haplotype and nucleotide diversity (h = 0.893; π = 0.00164). One of the 16 haplotypes detected had a wide geographic distribution across the central and southern China and was probably the ancestral haplotype of B. aphidicola from S. chinensis. A network and phylogenetic analysis revealed a geographic structure in which the 16 haplotypes of B. aphidicola were divided into the northern and southern clades separated by the Yangtze River. The two clades diverged from each other at 22.1 ± 3.7 Mya according to our divergence time estimations. Therefore, the modern genetic structure in B. aphidicola from S. chinensis has been probably impacted by historical geological events. Combined with the data from GenBank, we also reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of three aphid subfamilies and their symbiont bacteria. The results indicated significant topological correlations between the aphid and bacterial phylogenies at interspecific levels.}, } @article {pmid29085754, year = {2017}, author = {Cooperband, MF and Cossé, AA and Jones, TH and Carrillo, D and Cleary, K and Canlas, I and Stouthamer, R}, title = {Pheromones of three ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex: ratios and preferences.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3957}, pmid = {29085754}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Three cryptic species in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex were reared in laboratory colonies and investigated for the presence of pheromones. Collections of volatiles from combinations of diet, fungus, beetles, and galleries from polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #1) revealed the presence of 2-heneicosanone and 2-tricosanone only in the presence of beetles, regardless of sex. Subsequent examination of volatiles from the other two species, tea shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #2) and Kuroshio shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #5), revealed these two ketones were present in all three species but in different ratios. In dual choice olfactometer behavioral bioassays, mature mated females were strongly attracted to a synthetic binary blend of ketones matching their own natural ratios. However, females in each species were repelled by ketone blends in ratios corresponding to the other two species. Males of each species responded similarly to females when presented with ratios matching their own or the other two species. The presence of these compounds in the three beetle species, in ratios unique to each species, and their strong species-specific attraction and repellency, suggests they are pheromones. The ecological function of these pheromones is discussed. In addition to the pheromones, the previously known attractant (1S,4R)-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (also known as quercivorol) was discovered in the presence of the fungal symbionts, but not in association with the beetles. Quercivorol was tested in a dual-choice olfactometer and was strongly attractive to all three species. This evidence suggests quercivorol functions as a kairomone for members of the E. fornicatus species complex, likely produced by the symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid29085642, year = {2017}, author = {Natan, E and Vortman, Y}, title = {The symbiotic magnetic-sensing hypothesis: do Magnetotactic Bacteria underlie the magnetic sensing capability of animals?.}, journal = {Movement ecology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {22}, pmid = {29085642}, issn = {2051-3933}, abstract = {The ability to sense Earth's magnetic field has evolved in various taxa. However, despite great efforts to find the 'magnetic-sensor' in vertebrates, the results of these scientific efforts remain inconclusive. A few decades ago, it was found that bacteria, known as magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), can move along a magnetic field using nanometric chain-like structures. Still, it is not fully clear why these bacteria evolved to have this capacity. Thus, while for MTB the 'magnetic-sensor' is known but the adaptive value is still under debate, for metazoa it is the other way around. In the absence of convincing evidence for any 'magnetic-sensor' in metazoan species sensitive to Earth's magnetic field, we hypothesize that a mutualism between these species and MTB provides one. In this relationship the host benefits from a magnetotactic capacity, while the bacteria benefit a hosting environment and dispersal. We provide support for this hypothesis using existing literature, demonstrating that by placing the MTB as the 'magnetic-sensor', previously contradictory results are now in agreement. We also propose plausible mechanisms and ways to test the hypothesis. If proven correct, this hypothesis would shed light on the forces driving both animal and bacteria magnetotactic abilities.}, } @article {pmid29084855, year = {2018}, author = {Hawkins, JP and Ordonez, PA and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {Characterization of Mutations That Affect the Nonoxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {200}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {29084855}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Erythritol/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Pentose Phosphate Pathway/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transketolase/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a Gram-negative alphaproteobacterium that can enter into a symbiotic relationship with Medicago sativa and Medicago truncatula Previous work determined that a mutation in the tkt2 gene, which encodes a putative transketolase, could prevent medium acidification associated with a mutant strain unable to metabolize galactose. Since the pentose phosphate pathway in S. meliloti is not well studied, strains carrying mutations in either tkt2 and tal, which encodes a putative transaldolase, were characterized. Carbon metabolism phenotypes revealed that both mutants were impaired in growth on erythritol and ribose. This phenotype was more pronounced for the tkt2 mutant strain, which also displayed auxotrophy for aromatic amino acids. Changes in pentose phosphate pathway metabolite concentrations were also consistent with a mutation in either tkt2 or tal The concentrations of metabolites in central carbon metabolism were also found to shift dramatically in strains carrying a tkt2 mutation. While the concentrations of proteins involved in central carbon metabolism did not change significantly under any conditions, the levels of those associated with iron acquisition increased in the wild-type strain with erythritol induction. These proteins were not detected in either mutant, resulting in less observable rhizobactin production in the tkt2 mutant. While both mutants were impaired in succinoglycan synthesis, only the tkt2 mutant strain was unable to establish symbiosis with alfalfa. These results suggest that tkt2 and tal play central roles in regulating the carbon flow necessary for carbon metabolism and the establishment of symbiosis.IMPORTANCESinorhizobium meliloti is a model organism for the study of plant-microbe interactions and metabolism, especially because it effects nitrogen fixation. The ability to derive the energy necessary for nitrogen fixation is dependent on an organism's ability to metabolize carbon efficiently. The pentose phosphate pathway is central in the interconversion of hexoses and pentoses. This study characterizes the key enzymes of the nonoxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway by using defined genetic mutations and shows the effects the mutations have on the metabolite profile and on physiological processes such as the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide, as well as the ability to regulate iron acquisition.}, } @article {pmid29084151, year = {2017}, author = {Torres-Benítez, A and Rivera-Montalvo, M and Sepúlveda, B and Castro, ON and Nagles, E and Simirgiotis, MJ and García-Beltrán, O and Areche, C}, title = {Metabolomic Analysis of Two Parmotrema Lichens: P. robustum (Degel.) Hale and P. andinum (Mull. Arg.) Hale Using UHPLC-ESI-OT-MS-MS.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {29084151}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Methanol/*chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Parmeliaceae/*chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations of fungi with microalgae and/or cyanobacteria. Lichens belonging to the Parmeliaceae family comprise 2700 species of lichens, including the Parmotrema genus which is composed of 300 species. The metabolites of this genus include depsides, depsidones, phenolics, polysaccharides, lipids, diphenylethers and dibenzofurans, which are responsible for the biological activities reported including antidiabetic, antihelmintic, anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimitotic, antitumoral, antifungal, and antioxidant enzyme inhibitory. Due to scarce knowledge of metabolomic profiles of Parmotrema species (P. andinum and P. robustum), a full metabolome study based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography- diode array detector-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-orbitrap-mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-Q-orbitrap MS) was performed for a comprehensive characterization of their substances. From the methanolic extracts of these species, a total of 54 metabolites were identified for the first time using this hyphenated technique, including thirty compounds in P. andinum, and thirty-seven in P. robustum. Moreover, two compounds were not identified as known compounds, and could be new structures, according to our data. This report shows that this technique is effective and accurate for rapid chemical identification of lichen substances and the compounds identified could serve as chemotaxonomic markers to differentiate these ruffle lichens.}, } @article {pmid29083039, year = {2018}, author = {Liu, G and Pfeifer, J and de Brito Francisco, R and Emonet, A and Stirnemann, M and Gübeli, C and Hutter, O and Sasse, J and Mattheyer, C and Stelzer, E and Walter, A and Martinoia, E and Borghi, L}, title = {Changes in the allocation of endogenous strigolactone improve plant biomass production on phosphate-poor soils.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {2}, pages = {784-798}, pmid = {29083039}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biomass ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Meristem/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Petunia/genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Soil/*chemistry ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived phytohormones shaping plant architecture and inducing the symbiosis with endomycorrhizal fungi. In Petunia hybrida, SL transport within the plant and towards the rhizosphere is driven by the ABCG-class protein PDR1. PDR1 expression is regulated by phytohormones and by the soil phosphate abundance, and thus SL transport integrates plant development with nutrient conditions. We overexpressed PDR1 (PDR1 OE) to investigate whether increased endogenous SL transport is sufficient to improve plant nutrition and productivity. Phosphorus quantification and nondestructive X-ray computed tomography were applied. Morphological and gene expression changes were quantified at cellular and whole tissue levels via time-lapse microscopy and quantitative PCR. PDR1 OE significantly enhanced phosphate uptake and plant biomass production on phosphate-poor soils. PDR1 OE plants showed increased lateral root formation, extended root hair elongation, faster mycorrhization and reduced leaf senescence. PDR1 overexpression allowed considerable SL biosynthesis by releasing SL biosynthetic genes from an SL-dependent negative feedback. The increased endogenous SL transport/biosynthesis in PDR1 OE plants is a powerful tool to improve plant growth on phosphate-poor soils. We propose PDR1 as an as yet unexplored trait to be investigated for crop production. The overexpression of PDR1 is a valuable strategy to investigate SL functions and transport routes.}, } @article {pmid29078295, year = {2017}, author = {Haimovich, G and Ecker, CM and Dunagin, MC and Eggan, E and Raj, A and Gerst, JE and Singer, RH}, title = {Intercellular mRNA trafficking via membrane nanotube-like extensions in mammalian cells.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {46}, pages = {E9873-E9882}, pmid = {29078295}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {DP2 OD008514/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS083085/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinin/genetics/metabolism ; Actins/metabolism ; Animals ; *Cell Communication/genetics ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; Cyclin D1/metabolism ; Exosomes/metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression Regulation/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/physiology ; Humans ; Metallothionein/metabolism ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/genetics/physiology ; *Nanotubes ; Protein Biosynthesis/genetics ; Protein Transport/genetics/*physiology ; Proteome ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/*physiology ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {RNAs have been shown to undergo transfer between mammalian cells, although the mechanism behind this phenomenon and its overall importance to cell physiology is not well understood. Numerous publications have suggested that RNAs (microRNAs and incomplete mRNAs) undergo transfer via extracellular vesicles (e.g., exosomes). However, in contrast to a diffusion-based transfer mechanism, we find that full-length mRNAs undergo direct cell-cell transfer via cytoplasmic extensions characteristic of membrane nanotubes (mNTs), which connect donor and acceptor cells. By employing a simple coculture experimental model and using single-molecule imaging, we provide quantitative data showing that mRNAs are transferred between cells in contact. Examples of mRNAs that undergo transfer include those encoding GFP, mouse β-actin, and human Cyclin D1, BRCA1, MT2A, and HER2. We show that intercellular mRNA transfer occurs in all coculture models tested (e.g., between primary cells, immortalized cells, and in cocultures of immortalized human and murine cells). Rapid mRNA transfer is dependent upon actin but is independent of de novo protein synthesis and is modulated by stress conditions and gene-expression levels. Hence, this work supports the hypothesis that full-length mRNAs undergo transfer between cells through a refined structural connection. Importantly, unlike the transfer of miRNA or RNA fragments, this process of communication transfers genetic information that could potentially alter the acceptor cell proteome. This phenomenon may prove important for the proper development and functioning of tissues as well as for host-parasite or symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid29076428, year = {2018}, author = {Freag, MS and Elzoghby, AO}, title = {Protein-inorganic Nanohybrids: A Potential Symbiosis in Tissue Engineering.}, journal = {Current drug targets}, volume = {19}, number = {16}, pages = {1897-1904}, doi = {10.2174/1389450118666171027111050}, pmid = {29076428}, issn = {1873-5592}, mesh = {Animals ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry ; Drug Carriers/chemistry ; Humans ; Inorganic Chemicals/chemistry ; Nanocomposites/*chemistry ; Proteins/chemistry ; Regenerative Medicine/*methods ; Tissue Engineering/*methods ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recently, a great interest has been paid to the development of hybrid proteininorganic nanoparticles (NPs) for tissue engineering applications to combine the merits of both inorganic and protein nanocarriers.

OBJECTIVE: This short review primarily discusses the most important advances in the application of the hybrids of proteins (gelatin, zein, silk fibroin,….etc) with inorganic NPs (calcium phosphate NPs, cadmium QDs, carbon nanotubes,…etc) in tissue engineering.

RESULTS: Various strategies that have been utilized for the preparation of protein-functionalized inorganic NPs are discussed. Nanocomposite films, electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds, nanostructured colloidal composite gels and nanocomposite lyophilized sponges are among the most common platforms of protein-inorganic nanohybrid formulations used in regenerative medicine.

CONCLUSION: protein-inorganic nanohybrids could serve as promising platforms for different biomedical applications including bone and cartilage tissue regeneration, imaging of engineered tissues, development of antithrombogenic implant biomaterials and anti-bacterial wound dressing as well.}, } @article {pmid29075241, year = {2017}, author = {Alonso-Pernas, P and Bartram, S and Arias-Cordero, EM and Novoselov, AL and Halty-deLeon, L and Shao, Y and Boland, W}, title = {In Vivo Isotopic Labeling of Symbiotic Bacteria Involved in Cellulose Degradation and Nitrogen Recycling within the Gut of the Forest Cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1970}, pmid = {29075241}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The guts of insects harbor symbiotic bacterial communities. However, due to their complexity, it is challenging to relate a specific symbiotic phylotype to its corresponding function. In the present study, we focused on the forest cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani), a phytophagous insect with a dual life cycle, consisting of a root-feeding larval stage and a leaf-feeding adult stage. By combining in vivo stable isotope probing (SIP) with [13]C cellulose and [15]N urea as trophic links, with Illumina MiSeq (Illumina-SIP), we unraveled bacterial networks processing recalcitrant dietary components and recycling nitrogenous waste. The bacterial communities behind these processes change between larval and adult stages. In [13]C cellulose-fed insects, the bacterial families Lachnospiraceae and Enterobacteriaceae were isotopically labeled in larvae and adults, respectively. In [15]N urea-fed insects, the genera Burkholderia and Parabacteroides were isotopically labeled in larvae and adults, respectively. Additionally, the PICRUSt-predicted metagenome suggested a possible ability to degrade hemicellulose and to produce amino acids of, respectively, [13]C cellulose- and [15]N urea labeled bacteria. The incorporation of [15]N from ingested urea back into the insect body was confirmed, in larvae and adults, by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Besides highlighting key bacterial symbionts of the gut of M. hippocastani, this study provides example on how Illumina-SIP with multiple trophic links can be used to target microorganisms embracing different roles within an environment.}, } @article {pmid29073280, year = {2017}, author = {Kulaeva, OA and Zhernakov, AI and Afonin, AM and Boikov, SS and Sulima, AS and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {Pea Marker Database (PMD) - A new online database combining known pea (Pisum sativum L.) gene-based markers.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {e0186713}, pmid = {29073280}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Databases, Genetic ; Genetic Linkage ; *Genetic Markers ; *Genome, Plant ; *Internet ; Lotus/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Peas/*genetics ; *Software ; }, abstract = {Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is the oldest model object of plant genetics and one of the most agriculturally important legumes in the world. Since the pea genome has not been sequenced yet, identification of genes responsible for mutant phenotypes or desirable agricultural traits is usually performed via genetic mapping followed by candidate gene search. Such mapping is best carried out using gene-based molecular markers, as it opens the possibility for exploiting genome synteny between pea and its close relative Medicago truncatula Gaertn., possessing sequenced and annotated genome. In the last 5 years, a large number of pea gene-based molecular markers have been designed and mapped owing to the rapid evolution of "next-generation sequencing" technologies. However, the access to the complete set of markers designed worldwide is limited because the data are not uniformed and therefore hard to use. The Pea Marker Database was designed to combine the information about pea markers in a form of user-friendly and practical online tool. Version 1 (PMD1) comprises information about 2484 genic markers, including their locations in linkage groups, the sequences of corresponding pea transcripts and the names of related genes in M. truncatula. Version 2 (PMD2) is an updated version comprising 15944 pea markers in the same format with several advanced features. To test the performance of the PMD, fine mapping of pea symbiotic genes Sym13 and Sym27 in linkage groups VII and V, respectively, was carried out. The results of mapping allowed us to propose the Sen1 gene (a homologue of SEN1 gene of Lotus japonicus (Regel) K. Larsen) as the best candidate gene for Sym13, and to narrow the list of possible candidate genes for Sym27 to ten, thus proving PMD to be useful for pea gene mapping and cloning. All information contained in PMD1 and PMD2 is available at www.peamarker.arriam.ru.}, } @article {pmid29071168, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, L and Zhang, G and Yun, Y and Peng, Y}, title = {Bacterial community of a spider, Marpiss magister (Salticidae).}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {371}, pmid = {29071168}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Arthropods are associated with various microorganisms which confer benefits to their hosts. Recently, research has been conducted on bacterial communities of insects to provide an insight into the potential interactions of the symbiotic bacteria and their hosts. Spiders are interesting to study as they are perceived to be natural enemies of pests. The effect of endosymbionts on spiders has been reported, but little is known about the overall bacterial communities present in spiders. Here, we report on the characterization of bacterial communities present in the whole body of the spider Marpiss magister using Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. Our study shows that the most abundant phyla of bacteria included Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, the most abundant genera included Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and Cardinium. Besides these dominant endosymbionts, our study also showed the existence of bacteria in the genera Arthrobacter, Novosphingobium, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Aquabacterium and Sphingomonas at an abundance ranging from 0.65 to 0.84%, and the existence of bacterial in genera Lactobacillus, Sphingobium, Methylobacterium, Bradyrhizobium, Propionibacterium, Brevundimonas, Achromobacter, Microbacterium, Corynebacterium, and Flavobacterium at a slightly lower abundance ranging from 0.1 to 0.5%. Therefore, our finding indicates that endosymbionts are not the only microbiota present in the spider M. magister, and other bacterial taxa also exist in its bacterial community.}, } @article {pmid29069352, year = {2017}, author = {Keller-Costa, T and Eriksson, D and Gonçalves, JMS and Gomes, NCM and Lago-Lestón, A and Costa, R}, title = {The gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata hosts a distinct prokaryotic consortium amenable to cultivation.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix143}, pmid = {29069352}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities inhabiting gorgonian corals are believed to benefit their hosts through nutrient provision and chemical defence; yet much remains to be learned about their phylogenetic uniqueness and cultivability. Here, we determined the prokaryotic community structure and distinctiveness in the gorgonian Eunicella labiata by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from gorgonian and seawater metagenomic DNA. Furthermore, we used a 'plate-wash' methodology to compare the phylogenetic diversity of the 'total' gorgonian bacteriome and its 'cultivatable' fraction. With 1016 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), prokaryotic richness was higher in seawater than in E. labiata where 603 OTUs were detected, 68 of which were host-specific. Oceanospirillales and Rhodobacterales predominated in the E. labiata communities. One Oceanospirillales OTU, classified as Endozoicomonas, was particularly dominant, and closest relatives comprised exclusively uncultured clones from other gorgonians. We cultivated a remarkable 62% of the bacterial symbionts inhabiting E. labiata: Ruegeria, Sphingorhabdus, Labrenzia, other unclassified Rhodobacteraceae, Vibrio and Shewanella ranked among the 10 most abundant genera in both the cultivation-independent and dependent samples. In conclusion, the E. labiata microbiome is diverse, distinct from seawater and enriched in (gorgonian)-specific bacterial phylotypes. In contrast to current understanding, many dominant E. labiata symbionts can, indeed, be cultivated.}, } @article {pmid29069349, year = {2017}, author = {Ríhová, J and Nováková, E and Husník, F and Hypša, V}, title = {Legionella Becoming a Mutualist: Adaptive Processes Shaping the Genome of Symbiont in the Louse Polyplax serrata.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {2946-2957}, pmid = {29069349}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anoplura/genetics/*microbiology ; Biological Coevolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Legionella/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legionellaceae are intracellular bacteria known as important human pathogens. In the environment, they are mainly found in biofilms associated with amoebas. In contrast to the gammaproteobacterial family Enterobacteriaceae, which established a broad spectrum of symbioses with many insect taxa, the only instance of legionella-like symbiont has been reported from lice of the genus Polyplax. Here, we sequenced the complete genome of this symbiont and compared its main characteristics to other Legionella species and insect symbionts. Based on rigorous multigene phylogenetic analyses, we confirm this bacterium as a member of the genus Legionella and propose the name Candidatus Legionella polyplacis, sp.n. We show that the genome of Ca. Legionella polyplacis underwent massive degeneration, including considerable size reduction (529.746 bp, 484 protein coding genes) and a severe decrease in GC content (23%). We identify several possible constraints underlying the evolution of this bacterium. On one hand, Ca. Legionella polyplacis and the louse symbionts Riesia and Puchtella experienced convergent evolution, perhaps due to adaptation to similar hosts. On the other hand, some metabolic differences are likely to reflect different phylogenetic positions of the symbionts and hence availability of particular metabolic function in the ancestor. This is exemplified by different arrangements of thiamine metabolism in Ca. Legionella polyplacis and Riesia. Finally, horizontal gene transfer is shown to play a significant role in the adaptive and diversification process. Particularly, we show that Ca. L. polyplacis horizontally acquired a complete biotin operon (bioADCHFB) that likely assisted this bacterium when becoming an obligate mutualist.}, } @article {pmid29067036, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, J and Zhang, H and Zhang, X and Tang, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Alleviates Salt Stress in Black Locust through Improved Photosynthesis, Water Status, and K[+]/Na[+] Homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1739}, pmid = {29067036}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soil salinization and the associated land degradation are major and growing ecological problems. Excess salt in soil impedes plant photosynthetic processes and root uptake of water and nutrients such as K[+]. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can mitigate salt stress in host plants. Although, numerous studies demonstrate that photosynthesis and water status are improved by mycorrhizae, the molecular mechanisms involved have received little research attention. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of AM symbiosis and salt stress on photosynthesis, water status, concentrations of Na[+] and K[+], and the expression of several genes associated with photosynthesis (RppsbA, RppsbD, RprbcL, and RprbcS) and genes coding for aquaporins or membrane transport proteins involved in K[+] and/or Na[+] uptake, translocation, or compartmentalization homeostasis (RpSOS1, RpHKT1, RpNHX1, and RpSKOR) in black locust. The results showed that salinity reduced the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and relative water content in both non-mycorrhizal (NM) and AM plants; the reductions of these three parameters were less in AM plants compared with NM plants. Under saline conditions, AM fungi significantly improved the net photosynthetic rate, quantum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry, and K[+] content in plants, but evidently reduced the Na[+] content. AM plants also displayed a significant increase in the relative water content and an evident decrease in the shoot/root ratio of Na[+] in the presence of 200 mM NaCl compared with NM plants. Additionally, mycorrhizal colonization upregulated the expression of three chloroplast genes (RppsbA, RppsbD, and RprbcL) in leaves, and three genes (RpSOS1, RpHKT1, and RpSKOR) encoding membrane transport proteins involved in K[+]/Na[+] homeostasis in roots. Expression of several aquaporin genes was regulated by AM symbiosis in both leaves and roots depending on soil salinity. This study suggests that the beneficial effects of AM symbiosis on the photosynthetic capacity, water status, and K[+]/Na[+] homeostasis lead to the improved growth performance and salt tolerance of black locust exposed to salt stress.}, } @article {pmid29067021, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, X and Hitchings, MD and Mendoza, JE and Balanza, V and Facey, PD and Dyson, PJ and Bielza, P and Del Sol, R}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Facultative Bacterial Symbionts Isolated from European Orius Species Reveals an Ancestral Symbiotic Association.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1969}, pmid = {29067021}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {BB/G024154/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Pest control in agriculture employs diverse strategies, among which the use of predatory insects has steadily increased. The use of several species within the genus Orius in pest control is widely spread, particularly in Mediterranean Europe. Commercial mass rearing of predatory insects is costly, and research efforts have concentrated on diet manipulation and selective breeding to reduce costs and improve efficacy. The characterisation and contribution of microbial symbionts to Orius sp. fitness, behaviour, and potential impact on human health has been neglected. This paper provides the first genome sequence level description of the predominant culturable facultative bacterial symbionts associated with five Orius species (O. laevigatus, O. niger, O. pallidicornis, O. majusculus, and O. albidipennis) from several geographical locations. Two types of symbionts were broadly classified as members of the genera Serratia and Leucobacter, while a third constitutes a new genus within the Erwiniaceae. These symbionts were found to colonise all the insect specimens tested, which evidenced an ancestral symbiotic association between these bacteria and the genus Orius. Pangenome analyses of the Serratia sp. isolates offered clues linking Type VI secretion system effector-immunity proteins from the Tai4 sub-family to the symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid29067008, year = {2017}, author = {Zhukova, M and Sapountzis, P and Schiøtt, M and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Diversity and Transmission of Gut Bacteria in Atta and Acromyrmex Leaf-Cutting Ants during Development.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1942}, pmid = {29067008}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {The social Hymenoptera have distinct larval and adult stages separated by metamorphosis, which implies striking remodeling of external and internal body structures during the pupal stage. This imposes challenges to gut symbionts as existing cultures are lost and may or may not need to be replaced. To elucidate the extent to which metamorphosis interrupts associations between bacteria and hosts, we analyzed changes in gut microbiota during development and traced the transmission routes of dominant symbionts from the egg to adult stage in the leaf-cutting ants Acromyrmex echinatior and Atta cephalotes, which are both important functional herbivores in the New World tropics. Bacterial density remained similar across the developmental stages of Acromyrmex, but Atta brood had very low bacterial prevalences suggesting that bacterial gut symbionts are not actively maintained. We found that Wolbachia was the absolute dominant bacterial species across developmental stages in Acromyrmex and we confirmed that Atta lacks Wolbachia also in the immature stages, and had mostly Mollicutes bacteria in the adult worker guts. Wolbachia in Acromyrmex appeared to be transovarially transmitted similar to transmission in solitary insects. In contrast, Mollicutes were socially transmitted from old workers to newly emerged callows. We found that larval and pupal guts of both ant species contained Pseudomonas and Enterobacter bacteria that are also found in fungus gardens, but hardly or not in adult workers, suggesting they are beneficial only for larval growth and development. Our results reveal that transmission pathways for bacterial symbionts may be very different both between developmental stages and between sister genera and that identifying the mechanisms of bacterial acquisition and loss will be important to clarify their putative mutualistic functions.}, } @article {pmid29066980, year = {2017}, author = {Ip, YK and Hiong, KC and Goh, EJK and Boo, MV and Choo, CYL and Ching, B and Wong, WP and Chew, SF}, title = {The Whitish Inner Mantle of the Giant Clam, Tridacna squamosa, Expresses an Apical Plasma Membrane Ca[2+]-ATPase (PMCA) Which Displays Light-Dependent Gene and Protein Expressions.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {781}, pmid = {29066980}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Giant clams live in symbiosis with extracellular zooxanthellae and display high rates of growth and shell formation (calcification) in light. Light-enhanced calcification requires an increase in the supply of Ca[2+] to, and simultaneously an augmented removal of H[+] from, the extrapallial fluid where shell formation occurs. We have obtained the complete coding cDNA sequence of Plasma Membrane Ca[2+]-ATPase (PMCA) from the thin and whitish inner mantle, which is in touch with the extrapallial fluid, of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa. The deduced PMCA sequence consisted of an apical targeting element. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed that PMCA had an apical localization in the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle, whereby it can actively secrete Ca[2+] in exchange for H[+]. More importantly, the apical PMCA-immunofluorescence of the shell-facing epithelium of the inner mantle increased significantly after 12 h of exposure to light. The transcript and protein levels of PMCA/PMCA also increased significantly in the inner mantle after 6 or 12 h of light exposure. These results offer insights into a light-dependable mechanism of shell formation in T. squamosa and a novel explanation of light-enhanced calcification in general. As the inner mantle normally lacks light sensitive pigments, our results support a previous proposition that symbiotic zooxanthellae, particularly those in the colorful and extensible outer mantle, may act as light-sensing elements for the host clam.}, } @article {pmid29064560, year = {2018}, author = {Gordon, BR and Martin, DE and Bambery, KR and Motti, CA}, title = {Chemical imaging of a Symbiodinium sp. cell using synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy: a feasibility study.}, journal = {Journal of microscopy}, volume = {270}, number = {1}, pages = {83-91}, doi = {10.1111/jmi.12658}, pmid = {29064560}, issn = {1365-2818}, mesh = {Biological Factors/*analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Feasibility Studies ; Microscopy/*methods ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared/*methods ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between corals and Symbiodinium spp. is the key to the success and survival of coral reef ecosystems the world over. Nutrient exchange and chemical communication between the two partners provides the foundation of this key relationship, yet we are far from a complete understanding of these processes. This is due, in part, to the difficulties associated with studying an intracellular symbiosis at the small spatial scales required to elucidate metabolic interactions between the two partners. This feasibility study, which accompanied a more extensive investigation of fixed Symbiodinium cells (data unpublished), examines the potential of using synchrotron radiation infrared microspectroscopy (SR-IRM) for exploring metabolite localisation within a single Symbiodinium cell. In doing so, three chemically distinct subcellular regions of a single Symbiodinium cell were established and correlated to cellular function based on assignment of diagnostic chemical classes.}, } @article {pmid29062851, year = {2017}, author = {Ahmed, AM and Hussein, HI and El-Kersh, TA and Al-Sheikh, YA and Ayaad, TH and El-Sadawy, HA and Al-Mekhlafi, FA and Ibrahim, MS and Al-Tamimi, J and Nasr, FA}, title = {Larvicidal Activities of Indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis Isolates and Nematode Symbiotic Bacterial Toxins against the Mosquito Vector, Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae).}, journal = {Journal of arthropod-borne diseases}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {260-277}, pmid = {29062851}, issn = {2322-1984}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The incidence of mosquito-borne diseases and the resistance of mosquitoes to conventional pesticides have recently caused a panic to the authorities in the endemic countries. This study was conducted to identify native larvicidal biopesticides against Culex pipiens for utilization in the battle against mosquito-borne diseases.

METHODS: Larvicidal activities of new indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis isolates and crude toxin complexes (TCs) of two nematode bacterial-symbionts, Photorhabdus luminescens akhurstii (HRM1) and Ph. luminescens akhurstii (HS1) that tested against Cx. pipiens. B. thuringiensis isolates were recovered from different environmental samples in Saudi Arabia, and the entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis indica (HRM1) and He. sp (HS1) were isolated from Egypt. Larvicidal activities (LC50 and LC95) of the potentially active B. thuringiensis strains or TCs were then evaluated at 24 and 48h post-treatment.

RESULTS: Three B. thuringiensis isolates were almost as active as the reference B. thuringiensis israelensis (Bti-H14), and seven isolates were 1.6-5.4 times more toxic than Bti-H14. On the other hand, the TCs of the bacterial symbionts, HRM1 and HS1, showed promising larvicidal activities. HS1 showed LC50 of 2.54 folds that of HRM1 at 24h post-treatment. Moreover, histopathological examinations of the HS1-treated larvae showed deformations in midgut epithelial cells at 24h post-treatment.

CONCLUSION: Synergistic activity and molecular characterization of these potentially active biocontrol agents are currently being investigated. These results may lead to the identification of eco-friend mosquito larvicidal product(s) that could contribute to the battle against mosquito-borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid29062319, year = {2017}, author = {Thilakarathna, MS and Moroz, N and Raizada, MN}, title = {A Biosensor-Based Leaf Punch Assay for Glutamine Correlates to Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Measurements in Legumes to Permit Rapid Screening of Rhizobia Inoculants under Controlled Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1714}, pmid = {29062319}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes are protein sources for billions of humans and livestock. These traits are enabled by symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), whereby root nodule-inhabiting rhizobia bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen (N) into usable N. Unfortunately, SNF rates in legume crops suffer from undiagnosed incompatible/suboptimal interactions between crop varieties and rhizobia strains. There are opportunities to test much large numbers of rhizobia strains if cost/labor-effective diagnostic tests become available which may especially benefit researchers in developing countries. Inside root nodules, fixed N from rhizobia is assimilated into amino acids including glutamine (Gln) for export to shoots as the major fraction (amide-exporting legumes) or as the minor fraction (ureide-exporting legumes). Here, we have developed a new leaf punch based technique to screen rhizobia inoculants for SNF activity following inoculation of both amide exporting and ureide exporting legumes. The assay is based on measuring Gln output using the GlnLux biosensor, which consists of Escherichia coli cells auxotrophic for Gln and expressing a constitutive lux operon. Subsistence farmer varieties of an amide exporter (lentil) and two ureide exporters (cowpea and soybean) were inoculated with different strains of rhizobia under controlled conditions, then extracts of single leaf punches were incubated with GlnLux cells, and light-output was measured using a 96-well luminometer. In the absence of external N and under controlled conditions, the results from the leaf punch assay correlated with [15]N-based measurements, shoot N percentage, and shoot total fixed N in all three crops. The technology is rapid, inexpensive, high-throughput, requires minimum technical expertise and very little tissue, and hence is relatively non-destructive. We compared and contrasted the benefits and limitations of this novel diagnostic assay to methods.}, } @article {pmid29059477, year = {2018}, author = {Bournaud, C and James, EK and de Faria, SM and Lebrun, M and Melkonian, R and Duponnois, R and Tisseyre, P and Moulin, L and Prin, Y}, title = {Interdependency of efficient nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhization in Piptadenia gonoacantha, a Brazilian legume tree.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {41}, number = {9}, pages = {2008-2020}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13095}, pmid = {29059477}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/physiology ; }, abstract = {Tripartite interactions between legumes and their root symbionts (rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF) are poorly understood, although it is well established that only specific combinations of symbionts lead to optimal plant growth. A classic example in which to investigate such interactions is the Brazilian legume tree Piptadenia gonoacantha (Caesalpinioideae), for which efficient nodulation has been described as dependent on the presence of AMF symbiosis. In this study, we compared the nodulation behaviour of several rhizobial strains with or without AMF inoculation, and performed analyses on nodulation, nodule cytology, N-fixing efficiency, and plant growth response. Nodulation of P. gonoacantha does not rely on the presence of AMF, but mycorrhization was rhizobial strain-dependent, and nodule effectiveness and plant growth were dependent on the presence of specific combinations of rhizobial strains and AMF. The co-occurrence of both symbionts within efficient nodules and the differentiation of bacteroids within nodule cells were also demonstrated. Novel close interactions and interdependency for the establishment and/or functioning of these symbioses were also revealed in Piptadenia, thanks to immunocytochemical analyses. These data are discussed in terms of the evolutionary position of the newly circumscribed mimosoid clade within the Caesalpinioid subfamily and its relative proximity to non-nodulated (but AMF-associated) basal subfamilies.}, } @article {pmid29057470, year = {2018}, author = {Del Hoyo, A and Álvarez, R and Gasulla, F and Casano, LM and Del Campo, EM}, title = {Origin and evolution of chloroplast group I introns in lichen algae.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {66-78}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12600}, pmid = {29057470}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*genetics ; Chloroplasts/*genetics ; DNA, Algal/analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; *Introns ; Lichens/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The history of group I introns is characterized by repeated horizontal transfers, even among phylogenetically distant species. The symbiogenetic thalli of lichens are good candidates for the horizontal transfer of genetic material among distantly related organisms, such as fungi and green algae. The main goal of this study was to determine whether there were different trends in intron distribution and properties among Chlorophyte algae based on their phylogenetic relationships and living conditions. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence, distribution and properties of group I introns within the chloroplast LSU rDNA in 87 Chlorophyte algae including lichen and free-living Trebouxiophyceae compared to free-living non-Trebouxiophyceae species. Overall, our findings showed that there was high diversity of group I introns and homing endonucleases (HEs) between Trebouxiophyceae and non-Trebouxiophyceae Chlorophyte algae, with divergence in their distribution patterns, frequencies and properties. However, the differences between lichen Trebouxiophyceae and free-living Trebouxiophyceae were smaller. An exception was the cL2449 intron, which was closely related to ω elements in yeasts. Such introns seem to occur more frequently in lichen Trebouxiophyceae compared to free-living Trebouxiophyceae. Our data suggest that lichenization and maintenance of lichen symbiosis for millions of years of evolution may have facilitated horizontal transfers of specific introns/HEs between symbionts. The data also suggest that sequencing of more chloroplast genes harboring group I introns in diverse algal groups may help us to understand the group I intron/HE transmission process within these organisms.}, } @article {pmid29056742, year = {2016}, author = {Kurtti, TJ and Burkhardt, NY and Heu, CC and Munderloh, UG}, title = {Fluorescent Protein Expressing Rickettsia buchneri and Rickettsia peacockii for Tracking Symbiont-Tick Cell Interactions.}, journal = {Veterinary sciences}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {29056742}, issn = {2306-7381}, support = {R01 AI042792/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI049424/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI081690/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Rickettsiae of indeterminate pathogenicity are widely associated with ticks. The presence of these endosymbionts can confound a One Health approach to combatting tick-borne diseases. Genomic analyses of symbiotic rickettsiae have revealed that they harbor mutations in gene coding for proteins involved in rickettsial pathogenicity and motility. We have isolated and characterized two rickettsial symbionts-Rickettsia peacockii and R. buchneri-both from ticks using tick cell cultures. To better track these enigmatic rickettsiae in ticks and at the tick-mammal interface we transformed the rickettsiae to express fluorescent proteins using shuttle vectors based on rickettsial plasmids or a transposition system driving insertional mutagenesis. Fluorescent protein expressing R. buchneri and R. peacockii will enable us to elucidate their interactions with tick and mammalian cells, and track their location and movement within individual cells, vector ticks, and host animals.}, } @article {pmid29056165, year = {2017}, author = {Lau, WL and Vaziri, ND}, title = {The Leaky Gut and Altered Microbiome in Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Journal of renal nutrition : the official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {458-461}, doi = {10.1053/j.jrn.2017.02.010}, pmid = {29056165}, issn = {1532-8503}, mesh = {Disease Progression ; Dysbiosis/complications/microbiology ; Epithelium/metabolism/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammation/complications/microbiology ; Intestines/microbiology ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications/*microbiology ; Uremia/complications/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Chronic kidney disease results in disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier as well as profound changes in the gut microbial flora. These events are largely mediated by (1) heavy influx of circulating urea to the gut lumen and (2) dietary restrictions of foods containing high fiber (such as fruits and vegetable) and symbiotic organisms (such as yogurt and cheese) imposed to mitigate hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia. Collectively, these factors promote systemic inflammation and cardiovascular morbidity by mediating microbial dysbiosis, disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier, and translocation of endotoxin, bacterial fragments, and uremic toxins across the "leaky gut" into the bloodstream. Strategies aimed at increasing dietary fiber and lowering urea burden may help to attenuate uremia-induced microbial dysbiosis and epithelial barrier breakdown, and thereby improve systemic inflammation.}, } @article {pmid29054873, year = {2018}, author = {He, LS and Zhang, PW and Huang, JM and Zhu, FC and Danchin, A and Wang, Y}, title = {The Enigmatic Genome of an Obligate Ancient Spiroplasma Symbiont in a Hadal Holothurian.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {29054873}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Sea Cucumbers/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spiroplasma/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Protective symbiosis has been reported in many organisms, but the molecular mechanisms of the mutualistic interactions between the symbionts and their hosts are unclear. Here, we sequenced the 424-kbp genome of "Candidatus Spiroplasma holothuricola," which dominated the hindgut microbiome of a sea cucumber, a major scavenger captured in the Mariana Trench (6,140 m depth). Phylogenetic relationships indicated that the dominant bacterium in the hindgut was derived from a basal group of Spiroplasma species. In this organism, the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of amino acids, glycolysis, and sugar transporters were lost, strongly suggesting endosymbiosis. The highly decayed genome consists of two chromosomes and harbors genes coding for proteolysis, microbial toxin, restriction-methylation systems, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), composed of three cas genes and 76 CRISPR spacers. The holothurian host is probably protected against invading viruses from sediments by the CRISPRs/Cas and restriction systems of the endosymbiotic spiroplasma. The protective endosymbiosis indicates the important ecological role of the ancient Spiroplasma symbiont in the maintenance of hadal ecosystems.IMPORTANCE Sea cucumbers are major inhabitants in hadal trenches. They collect microbes in surface sediment and remain tolerant against potential pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This study presents the genome of endosymbiotic spiroplasmas in the gut of a sea cucumber captured in the Mariana Trench. The extreme reduction of the genome and loss of essential metabolic pathways strongly support its endosymbiotic lifestyle. Moreover, a considerable part of the genome was occupied by a CRISPR/Cas system to provide immunity against viruses and antimicrobial toxin-encoding genes for the degradation of microbes. This novel species of Spiroplasma is probably an important protective symbiont for the sea cucumbers in the hadal zone.}, } @article {pmid29053149, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, JE and Cui, G and Wang, X and Liew, YJ and Aranda, M}, title = {Recent expansion of heat-activated retrotransposons in the coral symbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {639-643}, pmid = {29053149}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; *Hot Temperature ; Phylogeny ; *Retroelements ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Terminal Repeat Sequences ; }, abstract = {Rising sea surface temperature is the main cause of global coral reef decline. Abnormally high temperatures trigger the breakdown of the symbiotic association between corals and their photosynthetic symbionts in the genus Symbiodinium. Higher genetic variation resulting from shorter generation times has previously been proposed to provide increased adaptability to Symbiodinium compared to the host. Retrotransposition is a significant source of genetic variation in eukaryotes and some transposable elements are specifically expressed under adverse environmental conditions. We present transcriptomic and phylogenetic evidence for the existence of heat stress-activated Ty1-copia-type LTR retrotransposons in the coral symbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum. Genome-wide analyses of emergence patterns of these elements further indicate recent expansion events in the genome of S. microadriaticum. Our findings suggest that acute temperature increases can activate specific retrotransposons in the Symbiodinium genome with potential impacts on the rate of retrotransposition and the generation of genetic variation under heat stress.}, } @article {pmid29051847, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, YH and Salam, N and Liu, Q and Yang, ZW and Cao, LX and Meng, XL and Nie, GX and Ju, JH and Li, WJ}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria associated with puffer fish Gastrophysus spadiceus and evaluation of their antimicrobial activities.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {366}, pmid = {29051847}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {The present study reports the diversity of culturable bacteria associated with the puffer fish Gastrophysus spadiceus. During the study, a total of 31 strains affiliated to the genera Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Rahnella, and Psychrobacter were isolated from liver, intestines, and flesh of G. spadiceus. These strains exhibited a diverse range of metabolites as indicated by the HPLC and TLC profiles of the chemical extracts of their fermentation products. Some of these crude extracts showed strong antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacterial strains. In addition, few crude extracts exhibit insecticidal activity against Artemia salina.}, } @article {pmid29051595, year = {2017}, author = {Takatsuka, J and Nakai, M and Shinoda, T}, title = {A virus carries a gene encoding juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase, a key regulatory enzyme in insect metamorphosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {13522}, pmid = {29051595}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Entomopoxvirinae/*genetics ; Hemolymph/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Insecta/growth & development ; Juvenile Hormones/*biosynthesis ; Larva/metabolism/virology ; Legionella/genetics ; Metamorphosis, Biological/*genetics ; Methyltransferases/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Microbial parasitism, infection, and symbiosis in animals often modulate host endocrine systems, resulting in alterations of phenotypic traits of the host that can have profound effects on the ecology and evolution of both the microorganisms and their hosts. Information about the mechanisms and genetic bases of such modulations by animal parasites is available from studies of steroid hormones. However, reports involving other hormones are scarce. We found that an insect virus, a betaentomopoxvirus, encodes a juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase that can synthesize an important insect hormone, the sesquiterpenoid juvenile hormone. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that this gene is of bacterial origin. Our study challenges the conventional view that functional enzymes in the late phase of the juvenile hormone biosynthesis pathway are almost exclusive to insects or arthropods, and shed light on juvenoid hormone synthesis beyond Eukaryota. This striking example demonstrates that even animal parasites having no metabolic pathways for molecules resembling host hormones can nevertheless influence the synthesis of such hormones, and provides a new context for studying animal parasite strategies in diverse systems such as host-parasite, host-symbiont or host-vector-parasite.}, } @article {pmid29050989, year = {2018}, author = {Sasse, J and Martinoia, E and Northen, T}, title = {Feed Your Friends: Do Plant Exudates Shape the Root Microbiome?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {25-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2017.09.003}, pmid = {29050989}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; *Microbiota ; Plant Cells/microbiology ; Plant Exudates/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant health in natural environments depends on interactions with complex and dynamic communities comprising macro- and microorganisms. While many studies have provided insights into the composition of rhizosphere microbiomes (rhizobiomes), little is known about whether plants shape their rhizobiomes. Here, we discuss physiological factors of plants that may govern plant-microbe interactions, focusing on root physiology and the role of root exudates. Given that only a few plant transport proteins are known to be involved in root metabolite export, we suggest novel families putatively involved in this process. Finally, building off of the features discussed in this review, and in analogy to well-known symbioses, we elaborate on a possible sequence of events governing rhizobiome assembly.}, } @article {pmid29050878, year = {2017}, author = {Jozefkowicz, C and Brambilla, S and Frare, R and Stritzler, M and Piccinetti, C and Puente, M and Berini, CA and Pérez, PR and Soto, G and Ayub, N}, title = {Stable symbiotic nitrogen fixation under water-deficit field conditions by a stress-tolerant alfalfa microsymbiont and its complete genome sequence.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {52-54}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.10.007}, pmid = {29050878}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Betaine/metabolism ; Droughts ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We here characterized the stress-tolerant alfalfa microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti B401. B401-treated plants showed high nitrogen fixation rates under humid and semiarid environments. The production of glycine betaine in isolated bacteroids positively correlated with low precipitation levels, suggesting that this compound acts as a critical osmoprotectant under field conditions. Genome analysis revealed that strain B401 contains alternative pathways for the biosynthesis and uptake of glycine betaine and its precursors. Such genomic information will offer substantial insight into the environmental physiology of this biotechnologically valuable nitrogen-fixing bacterium.}, } @article {pmid29049338, year = {2017}, author = {Repas, TS and Gillis, DM and Boubakir, Z and Bao, X and Samuels, GJ and Kaminskyj, SGW}, title = {Growing plants on oily, nutrient-poor soil using a native symbiotic fungus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {e0186704}, pmid = {29049338}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; *Plant Development ; *Soil ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The roots of land plants associate with microbes, including fungal symbionts that can confer abiotic stress tolerance. Bitumen extraction following oil-sand surface mining in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada removes plant nutrients but leaves a petrochemical residue, making the coarse tailings (CT) hostile to both plants and microbes. We isolated an endophyte strain of the Ascomycete Trichoderma harzianum we call TSTh20-1 (hereafter, TSTh) from a dandelion that was naturally growing on CT. TSTh colonization allowed tomato, wheat, and remediation seed mixtures to germinate and their seedlings to flourish on CT without the use of fertilizer. Compared to control plants, TSTh increased germination speed, percent germination, and biomass accumulation. TSTh also improved plant water use efficiency and drought recovery. TSTh-colonized plants secreted twice the level of peroxidase into CT as did plants alone. Over two months, plants colonized with TSTh doubled the petrochemical mobilization from CT over plants alone, suggesting a peroxide-mediated mechanism for petrochemical degradation. TSTh grew on autoclaved CT, bitumen, and other petrochemicals as sole carbon sources. Further, TSTh is a micro-aerobe that could metabolize 13C-phenanthrene to 13CO2 in 0.5% oxygen. TSTh has excellent potential for contributing to revegetating and remediating petrochemical contamination.}, } @article {pmid29048526, year = {2017}, author = {Macchietto, M and Angdembey, D and Heidarpour, N and Serra, L and Rodriguez, B and El-Ali, N and Mortazavi, A}, title = {Comparative Transcriptomics of Steinernema and Caenorhabditis Single Embryos Reveals Orthologous Gene Expression Convergence during Late Embryogenesis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {2681-2696}, pmid = {29048526}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {DP2 GM111100/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/classification/embryology/*genetics ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Embryonic Development ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Cells express distinct sets of genes in a precise spatio-temporal manner during embryonic development. There is a wealth of information on the deterministic embryonic development of Caenorhabditis elegans, but much less is known about embryonic development in nematodes from other taxa, especially at the molecular level. We are interested in insect pathogenic nematodes from the genus Steinernema as models of parasitism and symbiosis as well as a satellite model for evolution in comparison to C. elegans. To explore gene expression differences across taxa, we sequenced the transcriptomes of single embryos of two Steinernema species and two Caenorhabditis species at 11 stages during embryonic development and found several interesting features. Our findings show that zygotic transcription initiates at different developmental stages in each species, with the Steinernema species initiating transcription earlier than Caenorhabditis. We found that ortholog expression conservation during development is higher at the later embryonic stages than at the earlier ones. The surprisingly higher conservation of orthologous gene expression in later embryonic stages strongly suggests a funnel-shaped model of embryonic developmental gene expression divergence in nematodes. This work provides novel insight into embryonic development across distantly related nematode species and demonstrates that the mechanisms controlling early development are more diverse than previously thought at the transcriptional level.}, } @article {pmid29047329, year = {2017}, author = {Guo, X and Li, S and Zhang, J and Wu, F and Li, X and Wu, D and Zhang, M and Ou, Z and Jie, Z and Yan, Q and Li, P and Yi, J and Peng, Y}, title = {Genome sequencing of 39 Akkermansia muciniphila isolates reveals its population structure, genomic and functional diverisity, and global distribution in mammalian gut microbiotas.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {800}, pmid = {29047329}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Humans ; Mammals/*microbiology ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Verrucomicrobia/drug effects/*genetics/*physiology ; *Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Akkermansia muciniphila is one of the most dominant bacteria that resides on the mucus layer of intestinal tract and plays key role in human health, however, little is known about its genomic content.

RESULTS: Herein, we for the first time characterized the genomic architecture of A. muciniphila based on whole-genome sequencing, assembling, and annotating of 39 isolates derived from human and mouse feces. We revealed a flexible open pangenome of A. muciniphila currently consisting of 5644 unique proteins. Phylogenetic analysis identified three species-level A. muciniphila phylogroups exhibiting distinct metabolic and functional features. Based on the comprehensive genome catalogue, we reconstructed 106 newly A. muciniphila metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from available metagenomic datasets of human, mouse and pig gut microbiomes, revealing a transcontinental distribution of A. muciniphila phylogroups across mammalian gut microbiotas. Accurate quantitative analysis of A. muciniphila phylogroups in human subjects further demonstrated its strong correlation with body mass index and anti-diabetic drug usage. Furthermore, we found that, during their mammalian gut evolution history, A. muciniphila acquired extra genes, especially antibiotic resistance genes, from symbiotic microbes via recent lateral gene transfer.

CONCLUSIONS: The genome repertoire of A. muciniphila provided insights into population structure, evolutionary and functional specificity of this significant bacterium.}, } @article {pmid29046583, year = {2017}, author = {Boscaro, V and Kolisko, M and Felletti, M and Vannini, C and Lynn, DH and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Parallel genome reduction in symbionts descended from closely related free-living bacteria.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {1}, number = {8}, pages = {1160-1167}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-017-0237-0}, pmid = {29046583}, issn = {2397-334X}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Burkholderiaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Euplotes/*microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis plays an important role in ecology and evolution, but fundamental aspects of the origin of intracellular symbionts remain unclear. The extreme age of many symbiotic relationships, lack of data on free-living ancestors and uniqueness of each event hinder investigations. Here, we describe multiple strains of the bacterium Polynucleobacter that evolved independently and under similar conditions from closely related, free-living ancestors to become obligate endosymbionts of closely related ciliate hosts. As these genomes reduced in parallel from similar starting states, they provide unique glimpses into the mechanisms underlying genome reduction in symbionts. We found that gene loss is contingently lineage-specific, with no evidence for ordered streamlining. However, some genes in otherwise disrupted pathways are retained, possibly reflecting cryptic genetic network complexity. We also measured substitution rates between many endosymbiotic and free-living pairs for hundreds of genes, which showed that genetic drift, and not mutation pressure, is the main non-selective factor driving molecular evolution in endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid29046420, year = {2017}, author = {Fonouni-Farde, C and Kisiala, A and Brault, M and Emery, RJN and Diet, A and Frugier, F}, title = {DELLA1-Mediated Gibberellin Signaling Regulates Cytokinin-Dependent Symbiotic Nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {175}, number = {4}, pages = {1795-1806}, pmid = {29046420}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors ; }, abstract = {In legume plants, low-nitrogen soils promote symbiotic interactions with rhizobial bacteria, leading to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Among critical signals regulating this developmental process are bacterial Nod Factors (NFs) and several plant hormones, including cytokinins (CKs) and gibberellins (GAs). Here, we show in Medicago truncatula that GA signaling mediated by DELLA1 decreases the amount of bioactive CKs in roots and negatively impacts the Cytokinin Response1 (CRE1)-dependent NF activation of a subset of CK-signaling genes as well as of the CK-regulated Nodulation Signaling Pathway2 and Ethylene Response Factor Required for Nodulation1 early nodulation genes. Consistently, a dominant-active DELLA1 protein can partially rescue the reduced nodulation of the cre1 mutant and triggers the formation of nodule-like structures when expressed in the root cortex or in the root epidermis. This suggests a model where the DELLA1-mediated GA signaling interplays with the CRE1-dependent CK pathway to regulate early nodulation in response to both NF and CK signals critical for this symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid29045764, year = {2018}, author = {Kaltsoyannis, N}, title = {Transuranic Computational Chemistry.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {2815-2825}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201704445}, pmid = {29045764}, issn = {1521-3765}, abstract = {Recent developments in the chemistry of the transuranic elements are surveyed, with particular emphasis on computational contributions. Examples are drawn from molecular coordination and organometallic chemistry, and from the study of extended solid systems. The role of the metal valence orbitals in covalent bonding is a particular focus, especially the consequences of the stabilization of the 5f orbitals as the actinide series is traversed. The fledgling chemistry of transuranic elements in the +II oxidation state is highlighted. Throughout, the symbiotic interplay of experimental and computational studies is emphasized; the extraordinary challenges of experimental transuranic chemistry afford computational chemistry a particularly valuable role at the frontier of the periodic table.}, } @article {pmid29044947, year = {2018}, author = {Boonsaen, P and Kinjo, M and Sawanon, S and Suzuki, Y and Koike, S and Kobayashi, Y}, title = {Partial characterization of phylogeny, ecology and function of the fibrolytic bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens OS14, newly isolated from the rumen of swamp buffalo.}, journal = {Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho}, volume = {89}, number = {2}, pages = {377-385}, doi = {10.1111/asj.12927}, pmid = {29044947}, issn = {1740-0929}, mesh = {Animals ; Buffaloes/*microbiology ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Dietary Fiber/*metabolism ; Lactates/metabolism ; Oryza/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Propionates/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Ruminococcus/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism/*physiology ; Selenomonas/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {The fibrolytic rumen bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciensOS14 was isolated from swamp buffalo and its phylogenetic, ecological and digestive properties were partially characterized. Isolates from rumen contents of four swamp buffalo were screened for fibrolytic bacteria; one of the 40 isolates showed a distinctive feature of solubilizing cellulose powder in liquid culture and was identified as R. flavefaciens based on its 16S ribosomal DNA sequence. This isolate, OS14, was employed for detection and digestion studies, for which a quantitative PCR assay was developed and defined cultures were tested with representative forages in Thailand. OS14 was phylogenetically distant from other isolated and uncultured R. flavefaciens and showed limited distribution among Thai ruminants but was absent in Japanese cattle. OS14 digested rice straw and other tropical forage to a greater extent than the type strain C94 of R. flavefaciens. OS14 produced more lactate than C94, and digested para grass to produce propionate more extensively in co-culture with lactate-utilizing Selenomonas ruminantium S137 than a co-culture of C94 with S137. These results indicate that phylogenetically distinct OS14 could digest Thai local forage more efficiently than the type strain, possibly forming a symbiotic cross-feeding relationship with lactate-utilizing bacteria. This strain might be useful for future animal and other industrial applications.}, } @article {pmid29042616, year = {2017}, author = {Montilla-Bascón, G and Rubiales, D and Hebelstrup, KH and Mandon, J and Harren, FJM and Cristescu, SM and Mur, LAJ and Prats, E}, title = {Reduced nitric oxide levels during drought stress promote drought tolerance in barley and is associated with elevated polyamine biosynthesis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {13311}, pmid = {29042616}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Droughts ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Hordeum/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a key messenger in plant stress responses but its exact role in drought response remains unclear. To investigate the role of NO in drought response we employed transgenic barley plants (UHb) overexpressing the barley non-symbiotic hemoglobin gene HvHb1 that oxidizes NO to NO3[-]. Reduced NO production under drought conditions in UHb plants was associated with increased drought tolerance. Since NO biosynthesis has been related to polyamine metabolism, we investigated whether the observed drought-related NO changes could involve polyamine pathway. UHb plants showed increases in total polyamines and in particular polyamines such as spermidine. These increases correlated with the accumulation of the amino acid precursors of polyamines and with the expression of specific polyamine biosynthesis genes. This suggests a potential interplay between NO and polyamine biosynthesis during drought response. Since ethylene has been linked to NO signaling and it is also related to polyamine metabolism, we explored this connection. In vivo ethylene measurement showed that UHb plants significantly decrease ethylene production and expression of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene, the first committed step in ethylene biosynthesis compared with wild type. These data suggest a NO-ethylene influenced regulatory node in polyamine biosynthesis linked to drought tolerance/susceptibility in barley.}, } @article {pmid29038014, year = {2017}, author = {Tarmadi, D and Yoshimura, T and Tobimatsu, Y and Yamamura, M and Umezawa, T}, title = {Effects of lignins as diet components on the physiological activities of a lower termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {103}, number = {}, pages = {57-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.10.006}, pmid = {29038014}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; Isoptera/*physiology ; Lignin/*physiology ; Parabasalidea/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated the effects of lignins as diet components on the physiological activities of a lower termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Artificial diets composed of polysaccharides with and without purified lignins (milled-wood lignins) from Japanese cedar (softwood), Japanese beech (hardwood), and rice (grass), were fed to C. formosanus workers. The survival and body mass of the workers as well as the presence of three symbiotic protists in the hindguts of the workers were then periodically examined. The survival rates of workers fed on diets containing lignins were, regardless of the lignocellulose diet sources, significantly higher than those of workers fed on only polysaccharides. In addition, it was clearly observed that all the tested lignins have positive effects on the maintenance of two major protists in the hindguts of C. formosanus workers, i.e., Pseudotrichonympha grassii and Holomastigotoides hartmanni. Overall, our data suggest that the presence of lignin is crucial to maintaining the physiological activities of C. formosanus workers during their lignocellulose decomposition. Our data also suggested that some components, possibly minerals and/or non-structural carbohydrates, in grass lignocellulose negatively affect the survival of C. formosanus workers as well as the present rate of the symbiotic protists in their hindguts.}, } @article {pmid29036599, year = {2018}, author = {Shinde, S and Naik, D and Cumming, JR}, title = {Carbon allocation and partitioning in Populus tremuloides are modulated by ectomycorrhizal fungi under phosphorus limitation.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {52-65}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpx117}, pmid = {29036599}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Laccaria/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Populus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil ; }, abstract = {The fate of carbon (C) captured by forest trees during photosynthesis is influenced by the supply of other resources. Fixed C may be partitioned among biomolecules within the leaf and/or allocated throughout the tree to growth, storage and maintenance activities. Phosphorus (P) availability often limits tree productivity due to its high biological demand and strong interactions with soil minerals. As ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play critical roles in enhancing phosphate (Pi) acquisition by their hosts, these symbioses will influence the fate of C within trees and forested ecosystems. Using Populus tremuloides Michx. (trembling aspen) in symbiosis with Laccaria bicolor (Marie) P.D. Orton or Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr., we assessed C acquisition, allocation and partitioning under Pi limitation, specifically focusing on primary and secondary C compounds. Both ECM fungi moderated the effects of low P on photosynthesis and C partitioning among carbohydrates and secondary metabolites by sustaining Pi uptake and translocation in P. tremuloides under Pi limitation. As leaf P declined, reductions in photosynthesis were accompanied by significant shifts in C partitioning from nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) to phenolic glycosides and tannins. Carbon partitioning in roots exhibited more complex patterns, with distinct increases in NSCs in nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants under Pi limitation that were not evident in plants colonized by either ECM symbiont. In general, aspen colonized by L. bicolor exhibited C partitioning patterns intermediate between those of NM and P. involutus aspen. The C cost of symbiosis was pronounced for plants supporting P. involutus, where ECM plants exhibited maintenance of photosynthesis yet reduced biomass in comparison with NM and L. bicolor aspen under Pi replete conditions. Our results indicate that the ECM symbiosis affects the disposition of C in forest trees in part by altering the acquisition of other limiting resources from soils, but also through ECM species-specific influences on host physiology. This modulation of C partitioning will have broad implications for forest ecosystem C capture, storage and cycling where nutrient resources may be limited.}, } @article {pmid29036401, year = {2017}, author = {Santos-Garcia, D and Silva, FJ and Morin, S and Dettner, K and Kuechler, SM}, title = {The All-Rounder Sodalis: A New Bacteriome-Associated Endosymbiont of the Lygaeoid Bug Henestaris halophilus (Heteroptera: Henestarinae) and a Critical Examination of Its Evolution.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {2893-2910}, pmid = {29036401}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial ; Databases, Factual ; Enterobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Phylogeny ; Pseudogenes ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hemipteran insects are well-known in their ability to establish symbiotic relationships with bacteria. Among them, heteropteran insects present an array of symbiotic systems, ranging from the most common gut crypt symbiosis to the more restricted bacteriome-associated endosymbiosis, which have only been detected in members of the superfamily Lygaeoidea and the family Cimicidae so far. Genomic data of heteropteran endosymbionts are scarce and have merely been analyzed from the Wolbachia endosymbiont in bed bug and a few gut crypt-associated symbionts in pentatomoid bugs. In this study, we present the first detailed genomic analysis of a bacteriome-associated endosymbiont of a phytophagous heteropteran, present in the seed bug Henestaris halophilus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea). Using phylogenomics and genomics approaches, we have assigned the newly characterized endosymbiont to the Sodalis genus, named as Candidatus Sodalis baculum sp. nov. strain kilmister. In addition, our findings support the reunification of the Sodalis genus, currently divided into six different genera. We have also conducted comparative analyses between 15 Sodalis species that present different genome sizes and symbiotic relationships. These analyses suggest that Ca. Sodalis baculum is a mutualistic endosymbiont capable of supplying the amino acids tyrosine, lysine, and some cofactors to its host. It has a small genome with pseudogenes but no mobile elements, which indicates middle-stage reductive evolution. Most of the genes in Ca. Sodalis baculum are likely to be evolving under purifying selection with several signals pointing to the retention of the lysine/tyrosine biosynthetic pathways compared with other Sodalis.}, } @article {pmid29035308, year = {2017}, author = {Ma, J and Zhou, Q and Li, H}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Insights on Mechanisms and Therapy.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {29035308}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*microbiology/pathology/therapy ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota plays critical roles in development of obese-related metabolic diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes(T2D), and insulin resistance(IR), highlighting the potential of gut microbiota-targeted therapies in these diseases. There are various ways that gut microbiota can be manipulated, including through use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and some active components from herbal medicines. In this review, we review the main roles of gut microbiota in mediating the development of NAFLD, and the advances in gut microbiota-targeted therapies for NAFLD in both the experimental and clinical studies, as well as the conclusions on the prospect of gut microbiota-targeted therapies in the future.}, } @article {pmid29034978, year = {2018}, author = {Osborne, OG and De-Kayne, R and Bidartondo, MI and Hutton, I and Baker, WJ and Turnbull, CGN and Savolainen, V}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote coexistence and niche divergence of sympatric palm species on a remote oceanic island.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {3}, pages = {1254-1266}, pmid = {29034978}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arecaceae/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Ecosystem ; Geography ; Germination ; *Islands ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; *Oceans and Seas ; Principal Component Analysis ; Seedlings/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Sympatry/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbes can have profound effects on their hosts, driving natural selection, promoting speciation and determining species distributions. However, soil-dwelling microbes are rarely investigated as drivers of evolutionary change in plants. We used metabarcoding and experimental manipulation of soil microbiomes to investigate the impact of soil and root microbes in a well-known case of sympatric speciation, the Howea palms of Lord Howe Island (Australia). Whereas H. forsteriana can grow on both calcareous and volcanic soils, H. belmoreana is restricted to, but more successful on, volcanic soil, indicating a trade-off in adaptation to the two soil types. We suggest a novel explanation for this trade-off. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are significantly depleted in H. forsteriana on volcanic soil, relative to both H. belmoreana on volcanic soil and H. forsteriana on calcareous soil. This is mirrored by the results of survival experiments, where the sterilization of natural soil reduces Howea fitness in every soil-species combination except H. forsteriana on volcanic soil. Furthermore, AMF-associated genes exhibit evidence of divergent selection between Howea species. These results show a mechanism by which divergent adaptation can have knock-on effects on host-microbe interactions, thereby reducing interspecific competition and promoting the coexistence of plant sister species.}, } @article {pmid29034862, year = {2017}, author = {Moreira-Soto, RD and Sanchez, E and Currie, CR and Pinto-Tomás, AA}, title = {Ultrastructural and microbial analyses of cellulose degradation in leaf-cutter ant colonies.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {163}, number = {11}, pages = {1578-1589}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000546}, pmid = {29034862}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Fungi/growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Refuse Disposal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) use fresh leaves to cultivate a mutualistic fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) for food in underground gardens. A new ant queen propagates the cultivar by taking a small fragment of fungus from her parent colony on her nuptial flight and uses it to begin her own colony. Recent research has shown that the ants' fungus gardens are colonized by symbiotic bacteria that perform important functions related to nitrogen fixation and have been implicated in contributing to plant biomass degradation. Here, we combine bacterial culturing in several media for counts and identification using the 16S rRNA gene with electron microscopy to investigate the process of cellulose degradation in the fungus garden and refuse dumps, and to assess the potential role of symbiotic bacteria. We show through electron microscopy that plant cell walls are visibly degraded in the bottom section of fungus gardens and refuse dumps, and that bacteria are more abundant in these sections. We also consistently isolated cellulolytic bacteria from all sections of fungus gardens. Finally, we show by culture-dependent and electron microscopy analysis that the fungus garden pellets carried by recently mated queens are colonized by fungus garden-associated bacteria. Taken together, our results indicate that cellulose is degraded in fungus gardens, and that fungus garden bacteria that may contribute to this deconstruction are vertically transmitted by new queens.}, } @article {pmid29034855, year = {2017}, author = {Grönemeyer, JL and Bünger, W and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Bradyrhizobium namibiense sp. nov., a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium from root nodules of Lablab purpureus, hyacinth bean, in Namibia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {12}, pages = {4884-4891}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002039}, pmid = {29034855}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Namibia ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Four strains of symbiotic bacteria from root nodules of hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) from Namibia were previously identified as a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To confirm their taxonomic status, these strains were further characterized by taking a polyphasic approach. The type strain possessed 16S rRNA gene sequences identical to Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri LMTR 21[T] and Bradyrhizobiumicense LMTR 13[T], the full-length sequences were identical to those retrieved from SAMN05230119 and SAMN05230120, respectively. However, the intergenic spacer sequences of the novel group showed identities of less than 93.1 % to described Bradyrhizobium species and were placed in a well-supported separate lineage in the phylogenetic tree. Phylogenetic analyses of six concatenated housekeeping genes, recA, glnII, gyrB, dnaK, atpD and rpoB, corroborated that the novel strains belonged to a lineage distinct from named species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, with highest sequence identities to Bradyrhizobiumjicamae and B. paxllaeri (below 93 %). The species status was validated by results of DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values of genome sequences. The combination of phenotypic characteristics from several tests, including carbon source utilization and antibiotic resistance, could be used to differentiate representative strains from recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Phylogenetic analysis of nodC and nifH genes placed the novel strains in a group with B. paxllaeri and B.lablabi. Novel strain 5-10[T] induces effective nodules on Lablab purpureus, Vigna subterranea, Vigna unguiculata and Arachis hypogaea. Based on our results, we conclude that our strains represent a novel species for which the name Bradyrhizobium namibiense sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain 5-10[T][LMG 28789, DSM 100300, NTCCM0017 (Windhoek)].}, } @article {pmid29033922, year = {2017}, author = {Egamberdieva, D and Wirth, SJ and Shurigin, VV and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF}, title = {Endophytic Bacteria Improve Plant Growth, Symbiotic Performance of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Induce Suppression of Root Rot Caused by Fusarium solani under Salt Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1887}, pmid = {29033922}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Salinity causes disturbance in symbiotic performance of plants, and increases susceptibility of plants to soil-borne pathogens. Endophytic bacteria are an essential determinant of cross-tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The aim of this study was to isolate non-rhizobial endophytic bacteria from the root nodules of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and to assess their ability to improve plant growth and symbiotic performance, and to control root rot in chickpea under saline soil conditions. A total of 40 bacterial isolates from internal root tissues of chickpea grown in salinated soil were isolated. Four bacterial isolates, namely Bacillus cereus NUU1, Achromobacter xylosoxidans NUU2, Bacillus thuringiensis NUU3, and Bacillus subtilis NUU4 colonizing root tissue demonstrated plant beneficial traits and/or antagonistic activity against F. solani and thus were characterized in more detail. The strain B. subtilis NUU4 proved significant plant growth promotion capabilities, improved symbiotic performance of host plant with rhizobia, and promoted yield under saline soil as compared to untreated control plants under field conditions. A combined inoculation of chickpea with M. ciceri IC53 and B. subtilis NUU4 decreased H2O2 concentrations and increased proline contents compared to the un-inoculated plants indicating an alleviation of adverse effects of salt stress. Furthermore, the bacterial isolate was capable to reduce the infection rate of root rot in chickpea caused by F. solani. This is the first report of F. solani causing root rot of chickpea in a salinated soil of Uzbekistan. Our findings demonstrated that the endophytic B. subtilis strain NUU4 provides high potentials as a stimulator for plant growth and as biological control agent of chickpea root rot under saline soil conditions. These multiple relationships could provide promising practical approaches to increase the productivity of legumes under salt stress.}, } @article {pmid29033407, year = {2017}, author = {Villasante, A and Ramirez, C and Catalán, N and Romero, J}, title = {First Report of Swim Bladder-Associated Microbiota in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {386-389}, pmid = {29033407}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Arthrobacter/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mycoplasma/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Oncorhynchus mykiss/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to identify major bacteria associated with the swim bladder in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. We extracted DNA from the swim bladder and gut contents in order to perform a temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) analysis of 16S rRNA amplicons for bacterial identification to further compare both profiles. Arthrobacter and Cellulosimicrobium were the major genera observed in the swim bladder in fish, but were not present in fish gut contents; Mycoplasma were instead observed in these samples. Further research to investigate the possible symbiotic roles of the swim bladder-associated microbiota in salmonids is needed.}, } @article {pmid29031925, year = {2018}, author = {Sutton, PA and Beamish, AJ and Rashid, S and Elsey, E and Mohan, HM and O'Regan, D and , }, title = {Attributes of excellent surgical trainers: An analysis of outstanding trainers.}, journal = {International journal of surgery (London, England)}, volume = {52}, number = {}, pages = {371-375}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.10.007}, pmid = {29031925}, issn = {1743-9159}, support = {DRF-2016-09-017/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Awards and Prizes ; Education, Medical/*methods ; Humans ; *Mentors ; Specialties, Surgical/*education ; Surgeons/*education ; }, abstract = {Excellent surgical trainers play a key role in teaching, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of trainee surgeons. Although there are differences in approach, personality and technique among trainers, common themes exist for those that truly shine as examples of good training. The good surgical trainer has long been the "unsung hero" of patient safety, inspiring and imparting wisdom and skill in trainee surgeons, and instilling a sense of confidence and compassion. In order to recognise exceptional trainers, the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) introduced the Silver Scalpel Award in 2000. The award acknowledges talented trainers who go the "extra mile" for their trainees, and the selection process includes both written nominations and structured interviews with the nominees. We wished to identify what makes the best trainers excellent, to see if these attributes could be used to develop recommendations on how to train and how to support trainers. Here we present an outline of key attributes of an excellent surgical trainer, based on qualitative synthesis of the interview sheets from Silver Scalpel interviews. These results clearly highlight that good trainers are first and foremost good doctors, and that good training goes hand-in-hand with excellent patient care. This symbiotic relationship between training and patient outcomes should be acknowledged, and trainers should be supported by their employers to empower them to carry out their dual roles of training and patient care to the best of their ability. Trainers are key role models to inspire the next generation of surgeons and exceptional trainers should be celebrated.}, } @article {pmid29031070, year = {2017}, author = {Nesi, G and Chen, Q and Sestito, S and Digiacomo, M and Yang, X and Wang, S and Pi, R and Rapposelli, S}, title = {Nature-based molecules combined with rivastigmine: A symbiotic approach for the synthesis of new agents against Alzheimer's disease.}, journal = {European journal of medicinal chemistry}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {232-239}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.10.006}, pmid = {29031070}, issn = {1768-3254}, mesh = {Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism ; Alzheimer Disease/*drug therapy ; Amyloid beta-Peptides/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Biological Products/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Butyrylcholinesterase/metabolism ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Free Radical Scavengers/metabolism ; Glutamic Acid/pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Neuroprotective Agents/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Protein Aggregates/drug effects ; Rivastigmine/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Starting from nature as original source, new potential agents with pleiotropic activities have been synthesized and evaluated as neuroprotective agents. In this work, novel nature-based hybrids, combining antioxidant motifs with rivastigmine, have been designed and synthesized. The biological results revealed that the new compounds inhibit both AChE and BuChE. In particular, lipoic acid hybrids LA1, LA2, LA3 resulted to be the most potent inhibitors of BuChE showing IC50 values ranging from 340 to 378 nM. Analogously, all the compounds were able to inhibit the self β-amyloid1-42 aggregation. The gallic acid hybrid GA2 as well as the 2-chromonecarboxylic acid hybrids CA1 and CA2 prevented the self-mediated Aβ aggregation with percentages of inhibition ranging from 53% to 59%. Finally, some of them also show potent neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced cell death and low toxicity in HT22 cells.}, } @article {pmid29030416, year = {2017}, author = {de Bang, TC and Lundquist, PK and Dai, X and Boschiero, C and Zhuang, Z and Pant, P and Torres-Jerez, I and Roy, S and Nogales, J and Veerappan, V and Dickstein, R and Udvardi, MK and Zhao, PX and Scheible, WR}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification of Medicago Peptides Involved in Macronutrient Responses and Nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {175}, number = {4}, pages = {1669-1689}, pmid = {29030416}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Growing evidence indicates that small, secreted peptides (SSPs) play critical roles in legume growth and development, yet the annotation of SSP-coding genes is far from complete. Systematic reannotation of the Medicago truncatula genome identified 1,970 homologs of established SSP gene families and an additional 2,455 genes that are potentially novel SSPs, previously unreported in the literature. The expression patterns of known and putative SSP genes based on 144 RNA sequencing data sets covering various stages of macronutrient deficiencies and symbiotic interactions with rhizobia and mycorrhiza were investigated. Focusing on those known or suspected to act via receptor-mediated signaling, 240 nutrient-responsive and 365 nodulation-responsive Signaling-SSPs were identified, greatly expanding the number of SSP gene families potentially involved in acclimation to nutrient deficiencies and nodulation. Synthetic peptide applications were shown to alter root growth and nodulation phenotypes, revealing additional regulators of legume nutrient acquisition. Our results constitute a powerful resource enabling further investigations of specific SSP functions via peptide treatment and reverse genetics.}, } @article {pmid29029704, year = {2017}, author = {Li, Y and Bateman, CC and Skelton, J and Jusino, MA and Nolen, ZJ and Simmons, DR and Hulcr, J}, title = {Wood decay fungus Flavodon ambrosius (Basidiomycota: Polyporales) is widely farmed by two genera of ambrosia beetles.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {121}, number = {11}, pages = {984-989}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2017.08.004}, pmid = {29029704}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ambrosia/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Animals ; Asia ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Feeding Behavior ; Genes, rRNA ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Polyporales/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Weevils/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The ambrosia fungus Flavodon ambrosius is the primary nutritional mutualist of ambrosia beetles Ambrosiodmus and Ambrosiophilus in North America. F. ambrosius is the only known ambrosial basidiomycete, unique in its efficient lignocellulose degradation. F. ambrosius is associated with both native American beetle species and species introduced from Asia. It remains unknown whether F. ambrosius is strictly a North American fungus, or whether it is also associated with these ambrosia beetle genera on other continents. We isolated fungi from the mycangia and galleries of ambrosia beetles Ambrosiodmus rubricollis, Ambrosiodmus minor, Ambrosiophilus atratus, and Ambrosiophilus subnepotulus in China, South Korea, and Vietnam. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that all Asian and North American isolates represent a single haplotype. These results confirm Flavodon ambrosius as the exclusive mutualistic fungus of multiple Ambrosiodmus and Ambrosiophilus beetle species around the world, making it the most widespread known ambrosia fungus species, both geographically and in terms of the number of beetle species. The Flavodon-beetle symbiosis appears to employ an unusually strict mechanism for maintaining fidelity, compared to the symbioses of the related Xyleborini beetles, which mostly vector more dynamic fungal communities.}, } @article {pmid29029154, year = {2017}, author = {van de Pas, R and Ashour, M and Kapilashrami, A and Fustukian, S}, title = {Interrogating resilience in health systems development.}, journal = {Health policy and planning}, volume = {32}, number = {suppl_3}, pages = {iii88-iii90}, doi = {10.1093/heapol/czx110}, pmid = {29029154}, issn = {1460-2237}, mesh = {Delivery of Health Care/*organization & administration/standards ; *Health Policy ; Health Priorities/organization & administration ; Humans ; Politics ; Public Health Administration ; }, abstract = {The Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research was themed around 'Resilient and responsive health systems for a changing world.' This commentary is the outcome of a panel discussion at the symposium in which the resilience discourse and its use in health systems development was critically interrogated. The 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West-Africa added momentum for the wider adoption of resilient health systems as a crucial element to prepare for and effectively respond to crisis. The growing salience of resilience in development and health systems debates can be attributed in part to development actors and philanthropies such as the Rockefeller Foundation. Three concerns regarding the application of resilience to health systems development are discussed: (1) the resilience narrative overrules certain democratic procedures and priority setting in public health agendas by 'claiming' an exceptional policy space; (2) resilience compels accepting and maintaining the status quo and excludes alternative imaginations of just and equitable health systems including the socio-political struggles required to attain those; and (3) an empirical case study from Gaza makes the case that resilience and vulnerability are symbiotic with each other rather than providing a solution for developing a strong health system. In conclusion, if the normative aim of health policies is to build sustainable, universally accessible, health systems then resilience is not the answer. The current threats that health systems face demand us to imagine beyond and explore possibilities for global solidarity and justice in health.}, } @article {pmid29029003, year = {2017}, author = {Menocal, O and Cruz, LF and Kendra, PE and Crane, JH and Ploetz, RC and Carrillo, D}, title = {Rearing Xyleborus volvulus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Media Containing Sawdust from Avocado or Silkbay, With or Without Raffaelea lauricola (Ophiostomatales: Ophiostomataceae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {46}, number = {6}, pages = {1275-1283}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvx151}, pmid = {29029003}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Ophiostomatales/*physiology ; Persea/*chemistry ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*growth & development/microbiology ; Wood/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Like other ambrosia beetles, Xyleborus volvulus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) lives in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with fungi that serve as food source. Until recently, X. volvulus was not considered a pest, and none of its symbionts were considered plant pathogens. However, recent reports of an association between X. volvulus and Raffaelea lauricola T.C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva (Ophiostomatales: Ophiostomataceae), the cause of the laurel wilt disease of avocado (Persea americana Mill. [Laurales: Lauraceae]), and its potential role as vector of the pathogen merit further investigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate three artificial media containing sawdust obtained from avocado or silkbay (Persea humilis Nash) for laboratory rearing of X. volvulus. The effect of R. lauricola in the media on the beetle's reproduction was also evaluated. Of the three media, the one with the lowest content of sawdust and intermediate water content provided the best conditions for rearing X. volvulus. Reproduction on this medium was not affected by the sawdust species or the presence of R. lauricola. On the other two media, there was a significant interaction between sawdust species and R. lauricola. The presence of R. lauricola generally had a negative effect on brood production. There was limited colonization of the mycangia of X. volvulus by R. lauricola on media inoculated with the pathogen. From galleries formed within the best medium, there was 50% recovery of R. lauricola, but recovery was much less from the other two media. Here, we report the best artificial substrate currently known for X. volvulus.}, } @article {pmid29028412, year = {2017}, author = {Strodtman, KN and Stevenson, SE and Waters, JK and Mawhinney, TP and Thelen, JJ and Polacco, JC and Emerich, DW}, title = {The Bacteroid Periplasm in Soybean Nodules Is an Interkingdom Symbiotic Space.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {997-1008}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-16-0264-R}, pmid = {29028412}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {2004-35604-14708//USDA/International ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Periplasm/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The functional role of the periplasm of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids has not been determined. Proteins were isolated from the periplasm and cytoplasm of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens bacteroids and were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proteomics. Identification of bacteroid periplasmic proteins was aided by periplasm prediction programs. Approximately 40% of all the proteins identified as periplasmic in the B. diazoefficiens genome were found expressed in the bacteroid form of the bacteria, indicating the periplasm is a metabolically active symbiotic space. The bacteroid periplasm possesses many fatty acid metabolic enzymes, which was in contrast to the bacteroid cytoplasm. Amino acid analysis of the periplasm revealed an abundance of phosphoserine, phosphoethanolamine, and glycine, which are metabolites of phospholipid metabolism. These results suggest the periplasm is a unique space and not a continuum with the peribacteroid space. A number of plant proteins were found in the periplasm fraction, which suggested contamination. However, antibodies to two of the identified plant proteins, histone H2A and lipoxygenase, yielded immunogold labeling that demonstrated the plant proteins were specifically targeted to the bacteroids. This suggests that the periplasm is an interkingdom symbiotic space containing proteins from both the bacteroid and the plant.}, } @article {pmid29027999, year = {2018}, author = {Savary, R and Masclaux, FG and Wyss, T and Droh, G and Cruz Corella, J and Machado, AP and Morton, JB and Sanders, IR}, title = {A population genomics approach shows widespread geographical distribution of cryptic genomic forms of the symbiotic fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {17-30}, pmid = {29027999}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Genetic Variation ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; phylum Gomeromycota) associate with plants forming one of the most successful microbe-plant associations. The fungi promote plant diversity and have a potentially important role in global agriculture. Plant growth depends on both inter- and intra-specific variation in AMF. It was recently reported that an unusually large number of AMF taxa have an intercontinental distribution, suggesting long-distance gene flow for many AMF species, facilitated by either long-distance natural dispersal mechanisms or human-assisted dispersal. However, the intercontinental distribution of AMF species has been questioned because the use of very low-resolution markers may be unsuitable to detect genetic differences among geographically separated AMF, as seen with some other fungi. This has been untestable because of the lack of population genomic data, with high resolution, for any AMF taxa. Here we use phylogenetics and population genomics to test for intra-specific variation in Rhizophagus irregularis, an AMF species for which genome sequence information already exists. We used ddRAD sequencing to obtain thousands of markers distributed across the genomes of 81 R. irregularis isolates and related species. Based on 6 888 variable positions, we observed significant genetic divergence into four main genetic groups within R. irregularis, highlighting that previous studies have not captured underlying genetic variation. Despite considerable genetic divergence, surprisingly, the variation could not be explained by geographical origin, thus also supporting the hypothesis for at least one AMF species of widely dispersed AMF genotypes at an intercontinental scale. Such information is crucial for understanding AMF ecology, and how these fungi can be used in an environmentally safe way in distant locations.}, } @article {pmid29027912, year = {2017}, author = {Durán-Riveroll, LM and Cembella, AD}, title = {Guanidinium Toxins and Their Interactions with Voltage-Gated Sodium Ion Channels.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {29027912}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Guanidine/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Saxitoxin/chemistry/pharmacology ; Sodium Channel Blockers/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin/chemistry/pharmacology ; Toxins, Biological/chemistry/pharmacology ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels/*drug effects/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Guanidinium toxins, such as saxitoxin (STX), tetrodotoxin (TTX) and their analogs, are naturally occurring alkaloids with divergent evolutionary origins and biogeographical distribution, but which share the common chemical feature of guanidinium moieties. These guanidinium groups confer high biological activity with high affinity and ion flux blockage capacity for voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV). Members of the STX group, known collectively as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), are produced among three genera of marine dinoflagellates and about a dozen genera of primarily freshwater or brackish water cyanobacteria. In contrast, toxins of the TTX group occur mainly in macrozoa, particularly among puffer fish, several species of marine invertebrates and a few terrestrial amphibians. In the case of TTX and analogs, most evidence suggests that symbiotic bacteria are the origin of the toxins, although endogenous biosynthesis independent from bacteria has not been excluded. The evolutionary origin of the biosynthetic genes for STX and analogs in dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria remains elusive. These highly potent molecules have been the subject of intensive research since the latter half of the past century; first to study the mode of action of their toxigenicity, and later as tools to characterize the role and structure of NaV channels, and finally as therapeutics. Their pharmacological activities have provided encouragement for their use as therapeutants for ion channel-related pathologies, such as pain control. The functional role in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems for both groups of toxins is unproven, although plausible mechanisms of ion channel regulation and chemical defense are often invoked. Molecular approaches and the development of improved detection methods will yield deeper understanding of their physiological and ecological roles. This knowledge will facilitate their further biotechnological exploitation and point the way towards development of pharmaceuticals and therapeutic applications.}, } @article {pmid29027814, year = {2017}, author = {Esgalhado, M and Kemp, JA and Damasceno, NR and Fouque, D and Mafra, D}, title = {Short-chain fatty acids: a link between prebiotics and microbiota in chronic kidney disease.}, journal = {Future microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1413-1425}, doi = {10.2217/fmb-2017-0059}, pmid = {29027814}, issn = {1746-0921}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Immune System/microbiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; *Prebiotics ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Under physiologic conditions, the human gut microbiota performs several activities essential to the body health. In contrast, their imbalances exacerbate some actions which can promote a cascade of metabolic abnormalities, and vice versa. Numerous diseases, including chronic kidney disease, are associated with gut microbiota imbalance, and among several strategies to re-establish gut symbiosis, prebiotics seem to represent an effective nonpharmacological approach. Prebiotics fermentation by gut microbiota produce short-chain fatty acids, which improve the gut barrier integrity and function, and modulate the glucose and lipid metabolism as well as the inflammatory response and immune system. Therefore, this literature review intends to discuss the beneficial effects of prebiotics in human health through short-chain fatty acids production, with a particular interest on chronic kidney disease.}, } @article {pmid29027651, year = {2017}, author = {Cavaleiro, FI and Rangel, LF and Frade, DG and Santos, MJ}, title = {Syndesmis aethopharynx Westervelt & Kozloff, 1990 (Rhabdocoela: Umagillidae): a revisitation supported by scanning electron microscopy and molecular analyses.}, journal = {Systematic parasitology}, volume = {94}, number = {9}, pages = {1007-1017}, pmid = {29027651}, issn = {1573-5192}, mesh = {Animals ; Echinodermata/parasitology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Turbellaria/*classification/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Species of Syndesmis Francois, 1886 are rhabdocoel platyhelminths typically found in echinoids. Our knowledge of this group is based on old and insufficient studies, generally representing light microscopy-based species descriptions. Syndesmis aethopharynx Westervelt & Kozloff, 1990 is an understudied endosymbiont of Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck), which is likely to have been confused with the type-species, i.e. Syndesmis echinorum François, 1886, in the literature. In this work, S. aethopharynx is revisited based on new data on surface morphology and phylogeny and basic ecological data are provided. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the whole ventral region of the worm is equipped with cilia, which supports the assumption that the unciliated epidermal area reported for some species of umagillids, likewise endosymbiotic in echinoderms, is an apomorphy. Following the results of the molecular phylogenetic analysis, species of Syndesmis are closely-related to symbionts of other echinoderms, i.e. holothurians, and like them, may have evolved from some free-living or symbiotic Provorticidae ancestor. Syndesmis spp. may stand for a key group in studying the evolution of feeding strategies in rhabdocoels, as their phylogenetic position is between intestinal and coelomic symbionts, and since both the digestive tube and perivisceral fluid were recorded as sites of infection. The infection levels were low, likely reflecting the aggregated distribution of the host and the fragile nature of the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid29024850, year = {2017}, author = {Schmidt, CS and Mrnka, L and Frantík, T and Motyka, V and Dobrev, PI and Vosátka, M}, title = {Combined effects of fungal inoculants and the cytokinin-like growth regulator thidiazuron on growth, phytohormone contents and endophytic root fungi in Miscanthus × giganteus.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {120}, number = {}, pages = {120-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.09.016}, pmid = {29024850}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phenylurea Compounds/*pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; *Poaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Thiadiazoles/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Aim of this study was to investigate main effects and interactions between symbiotic fungi and the cytokinin-like growth regulator thidiazuron (TDZ) in Miscanthus × giganteus. The arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Rhizophagus intraradices (AMF) and the endophyte Piriformospora indica (PI) were chosen as model symbionts. The fungal inoculants and TDZ had no significant effect on plant growth but modulated phytohormone levels in the leaves. TDZ induced accumulation of salicylic acid in controls, but not in plants inoculated with fungi. Leaf concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) derivatives, auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) precursors and catabolites and numerous cytokinins were increased by R. intraradices but lowered by P. indica. TDZ raised concentrations of ABA compounds, the non-indole auxin phenylacetic acid, jasmonate and some cytokinins, but decreased cis-zeatin and N[6]-(Δ[2]-isopentenyl)adenine levels. Inoculation with AMF reduced abundance of endogenous clampless endophytes. TDZ application strongly reduced formation of arbuscular mycorrhiza and increased occurrence of clamped mycelia (i.e. basidiomycetous endophytes). Our study provides a thorough outline of the phytohormone homeostasis under the combined influence of beneficial inoculants and a growth regulator, highlighting the necessity to study their interaction in the whole plant-microbial context.}, } @article {pmid29022875, year = {2017}, author = {Daubech, B and Remigi, P and Doin de Moura, G and Marchetti, M and Pouzet, C and Auriac, MC and Gokhale, CS and Masson-Boivin, C and Capela, D}, title = {Spatio-temporal control of mutualism in legumes helps spread symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {29022875}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Cupriavidus/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Mimosa/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualism is of fundamental importance in ecosystems. Which factors help to keep the relationship mutually beneficial and evolutionarily successful is a central question. We addressed this issue for one of the most significant mutualistic interactions on Earth, which associates plants of the leguminosae family and hundreds of nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacterial species. Here we analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of fixers and non-fixers along the symbiotic process in the Cupriavidus taiwanensis-Mimosa pudica system. N2-fixing symbionts progressively outcompete isogenic non-fixers within root nodules, where N2-fixation occurs, even when they share the same nodule. Numerical simulations, supported by experimental validation, predict that rare fixers will invade a population dominated by non-fixing bacteria during serial nodulation cycles with a probability that is function of initial inoculum, plant population size and nodulation cycle length. Our findings provide insights into the selective forces and ecological factors that may have driven the spread of the N2-fixation mutualistic trait.}, } @article {pmid29020741, year = {2017}, author = {Moitinho-Silva, L and Nielsen, S and Amir, A and Gonzalez, A and Ackermann, GL and Cerrano, C and Astudillo-Garcia, C and Easson, C and Sipkema, D and Liu, F and Steinert, G and Kotoulas, G and McCormack, GP and Feng, G and Bell, JJ and Vicente, J and Björk, JR and Montoya, JM and Olson, JB and Reveillaud, J and Steindler, L and Pineda, MC and Marra, MV and Ilan, M and Taylor, MW and Polymenakou, P and Erwin, PM and Schupp, PJ and Simister, RL and Knight, R and Thacker, RW and Costa, R and Hill, RT and Lopez-Legentil, S and Dailianis, T and Ravasi, T and Hentschel, U and Li, Z and Webster, NS and Thomas, T}, title = {The sponge microbiome project.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {1-7}, pmid = {29020741}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges (phylum Porifera) are a diverse, phylogenetically deep-branching clade known for forming intimate partnerships with complex communities of microorganisms. To date, 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies have largely utilised different extraction and amplification methodologies to target the microbial communities of a limited number of sponge species, severely limiting comparative analyses of sponge microbial diversity and structure. Here, we provide an extensive and standardised dataset that will facilitate sponge microbiome comparisons across large spatial, temporal, and environmental scales. Samples from marine sponges (n = 3569 specimens), seawater (n = 370), marine sediments (n = 65) and other environments (n = 29) were collected from different locations across the globe. This dataset incorporates at least 268 different sponge species, including several yet unidentified taxa. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced from extracted DNA using standardised procedures. Raw sequences (total of 1.1 billion sequences) were processed and clustered with (i) a standard protocol using QIIME closed-reference picking resulting in 39 543 operational taxonomic units (OTU) at 97% sequence identity, (ii) a de novo clustering using Mothur resulting in 518 246 OTUs, and (iii) a new high-resolution Deblur protocol resulting in 83 908 unique bacterial sequences. Abundance tables, representative sequences, taxonomic classifications, and metadata are provided. This dataset represents a comprehensive resource of sponge-associated microbial communities based on 16S rRNA gene sequences that can be used to address overarching hypotheses regarding host-associated prokaryotes, including host specificity, convergent evolution, environmental drivers of microbiome structure, and the sponge-associated rare biosphere.}, } @article {pmid29019564, year = {2017}, author = {Tagliari, E and Campos, AC and Costa-Casagrande, TA and Salvalaggio, PR}, title = {THE IMPACT OF THE USE OF SYMBIOTICS IN THE PROGRESSION OF NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN A RAT MODEL.}, journal = {Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD = Brazilian archives of digestive surgery}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {211-215}, pmid = {29019564}, issn = {2317-6326}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Progression ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*etiology ; Probiotics/*adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by accumulation of intrahepatic lipid. The use of live microorganisms promotes beneficial effects; however, the use of symbiotic and its role in NAFLD is not yet fully understood.

AIM: Verify if the symbiotic administration influences the occurrence and progression of NAFLD in rats, after induction of hepatic steatosis by high calorie diet.

METHOD: Forty-five rats were divided into four groups: G1 (control); G2 (control+symbiotic); G3 (high calorie+symbiotic) and G4 (high calorie), and euthanized after 60 days of diet. Liver disease was evaluated by biochemical analysis, IL6 measurement and histological assessment.

RESULTS: Symbiotic had influence neither on weight gain, nor on coefficient dietary intake in G3 and G4. G2 had the greatest weight gain, while G1 had the highest coefficient dietary intake between groups. G1 showed higher expression of aspartate aminotransferase than those from G2 (150±35 mg/dl, and 75±5 mg/dl) while G4 showed higher expression of the enzyme compared to G3 (141±9.7 mg/dl to 78±4 mg/dl). Liver histology showed different stages of NAFLD between groups. G4 animals showed increased serum interleukin-6 when compared to G3 (240.58±53.68 mg/dl and 104.0±15.31 mg/dl).

CONCLUSION: Symbiotic can reduce hepatic aminotransferases and interleukin-6 expression. However, the histology showed that the symbiotic was not able to prevent the severity of NAFLD in rats.}, } @article {pmid29018596, year = {2017}, author = {Noda, H and Parkinson, JE and Yang, SY and Reimer, JD}, title = {A preliminary survey of zoantharian endosymbionts shows high genetic variation over small geographic scales on Okinawa-jima Island, Japan.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3740}, pmid = {29018596}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) shape the responses of their host reef organisms to environmental variability and climate change. To date, the biogeography of Symbiodinium has been investigated primarily through phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 region. Although the marker can approximate species-level diversity, recent work has demonstrated that faster-evolving genes can resolve otherwise hidden species and population lineages, and that this diversity is often distributed over much finer geographical and environmental scales than previously recognized. Here, we use the noncoding region of the chloroplast psbA gene (psbA[ncr]) to examine genetic diversity among clade C Symbiodinium associating with the common reef zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa on Okinawa-jima Island, Japan. We identify four closely related Symbiodinium psbA[ncr] lineages including one common generalist and two potential specialists that appear to be associated with particular microhabitats. The sea surface temperature differences that distinguish these habitats are smaller than those usually investigated, suggesting that future biogeographic surveys of Symbiodinium should incorporate fine scale environmental information as well as fine scale molecular data to accurately determine species diversity and their distributions.}, } @article {pmid29018468, year = {2017}, author = {Guo, Y and Yang, X and Schöb, C and Jiang, Y and Tang, Z}, title = {Legume Shrubs Are More Nitrogen-Homeostatic than Non-legume Shrubs.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1662}, pmid = {29018468}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes are characterized as keeping stable nutrient supply under nutrient-limited conditions. However, few studies examined the legumes' stoichiometric advantages over other plants across various taxa in natural ecosystems. We explored differences in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry of different tissue types (leaf, stem, and root) between N2-fixing legume shrubs and non-N2-fixing shrubs from 299 broadleaved deciduous shrubland sites in northern China. After excluding effects of taxonomy and environmental variables, these two functional groups differed considerably in nutrient regulation. N concentrations and N:P ratios were higher in legume shrubs than in non-N2-fixing shrubs. N concentrations were positively correlated between the plants and soil for non-N2-fixing shrubs, but not for legume shrubs, indicating a stronger stoichiometric homeostasis in legume shrubs than in non-N2-fixing shrubs. N concentrations were positively correlated among three tissue types for non-N2-fixing shrubs, but not between leaves and non-leaf tissues for legume shrubs, demonstrating that N concentrations were more dependent among tissues for non-N2-fixing shrubs than for legume shrubs. N and P concentrations were correlated within all tissues for both functional groups, but the regression slopes were flatter for legume shrubs than non-N2-fixing shrubs, implying that legume shrubs were more P limited than non-N2-fixing shrubs. These results address significant differences in stoichiometry between legume shrubs and non-N2-fixing shrubs, and indicate the influence of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) on plant stoichiometry. Overall, N2-fixing legume shrubs are higher and more stoichiometrically homeostatic in N concentrations. However, due to excess uptake of N, legumes may suffer from potential P limitation. With their N advantage, legume shrubs could be good nurse plants in restoration sites with degraded soil, but their P supply should be taken care of during management according to our results.}, } @article {pmid29016935, year = {2017}, author = {Ramírez-Flores, MR and Rellán-Álvarez, R and Wozniak, B and Gebreselassie, MN and Jakobsen, I and Olalde-Portugal, V and Baxter, I and Paszkowski, U and Sawers, RJH}, title = {Co-ordinated Changes in the Accumulation of Metal Ions in Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays L.) in Response to Inoculation with the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Funneliformis mosseae.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {10}, pages = {1689-1699}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcx100}, pmid = {29016935}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Genotype ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Ions ; Metabolome ; Metals/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Zea mays/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is an ancient interaction between plants and fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota. In exchange for photosynthetically fixed carbon, the fungus provides the plant host with greater access to soil nutrients via an extensive network of root-external hyphae. Here, to determine the impact of the symbiosis on the host ionome, the concentration of 19 elements was determined in the roots and leaves of a panel of 30 maize varieties, grown under phosphorus-limiting conditions, with or without inoculation with the fungus Funneliformis mosseae. Although the most recognized benefit of the symbiosis to the host plant is greater access to soil phosphorus, the concentration of a number of other elements responded significantly to inoculation across the panel as a whole. In addition, variety-specific effects indicated the importance of plant genotype to the response. Clusters of elements were identified that varied in a co-ordinated manner across genotypes, and that were maintained between non-inoculated and inoculated plants.}, } @article {pmid28993611, year = {2017}, author = {Tobias, NJ and Wolff, H and Djahanschiri, B and Grundmann, F and Kronenwerth, M and Shi, YM and Simonyi, S and Grün, P and Shapiro-Ilan, D and Pidot, SJ and Stinear, TP and Ebersberger, I and Bode, HB}, title = {Natural product diversity associated with the nematode symbionts Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {1676-1685}, doi = {10.1038/s41564-017-0039-9}, pmid = {28993611}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Products ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolome ; Nematoda/*microbiology/physiology ; Peptide Synthases/metabolism ; Photorhabdus/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Polyketide Synthases/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species dedicate a large amount of resources to the production of specialized metabolites derived from non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) or polyketide synthase (PKS). Both bacteria undergo symbiosis with nematodes, which is followed by an insect pathogenic phase. So far, the molecular basis of this tripartite relationship and the exact roles that individual metabolites and metabolic pathways play have not been well understood. To close this gap, we have significantly expanded the database for comparative genomics studies in these bacteria. Clustering the genes encoded in the individual genomes into hierarchical orthologous groups reveals a high-resolution picture of functional evolution in this clade. It identifies groups of genes-many of which are involved in secondary metabolite production-that may account for the niche specificity of these bacteria. Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus appear very similar at the DNA sequence level, which indicates their close evolutionary relationship. Yet, high-resolution mass spectrometry analyses reveal a huge chemical diversity in the two taxa. Molecular network reconstruction identified a large number of previously unidentified metabolite classes, including the xefoampeptides and tilivalline. Here, we apply genomic and metabolomic methods in a complementary manner to identify and elucidate additional classes of natural products. We also highlight the ability to rapidly and simultaneously identify potentially interesting bioactive products from NRPSs and PKSs, thereby augmenting the contribution of molecular biology techniques to the acceleration of natural product discovery.}, } @article {pmid28993608, year = {2017}, author = {Beldade, R and Blandin, A and O'Donnell, R and Mills, SC}, title = {Cascading effects of thermally-induced anemone bleaching on associated anemonefish hormonal stress response and reproduction.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {716}, pmid = {28993608}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Climate Change ; Color ; Ecosystem ; Hormones/metabolism ; *Reproduction ; Sea Anemones/*chemistry/*physiology ; Seasons ; Seawater/chemistry ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Organisms can behaviorally, physiologically, and morphologically adjust to environmental variation via integrative hormonal mechanisms, ultimately allowing animals to cope with environmental change. The stress response to environmental and social changes commonly promotes survival at the expense of reproduction. However, despite climate change impacts on population declines and diversity loss, few studies have attributed hormonal stress responses, or their regulatory effects, to climate change in the wild. Here, we report hormonal and fitness responses of individual wild fish to a recent large-scale sea warming event that caused widespread bleaching on coral reefs. This 14-month monitoring study shows a strong correlation between anemone bleaching (zooxanthellae loss), anemonefish stress response, and reproductive hormones that decreased fecundity by 73%. These findings suggest that hormone stress responses play a crucial role in changes to population demography following climate change and plasticity in hormonal responsiveness may be a key mechanism enabling individual acclimation to climate change.Elevated temperatures can cause anemones to bleach, with unknown effects on their associated symbiotic fish. Here, Beldade and colleagues show that climate-induced bleaching alters anemonefish hormonal stress response, resulting in decreased reproductive hormones and severely impacted reproduction.}, } @article {pmid29687830, year = {2017}, author = {Cazzolla Gatti, R}, title = {Adaptation, Evolution And Reproduction Of Gaia By The Means Of Our Species.}, journal = {Theoretical biology forum}, volume = {110}, number = {1-2}, pages = {25-45}, doi = {10.19272/201711402003}, pmid = {29687830}, issn = {2282-2593}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Atmosphere ; *Biological Evolution ; *Earth, Planet ; *Ecosystem ; *Evolution, Planetary ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; *Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nowadays, the idea that life affects the development of the planetary environment, and can, in turn, affect the future evolution of itself (in a coevolutionary way) is well-accepted. However, since the proposal of the Gaia hypothesis, there has been widespread criticism. Most of it is related to teleology, the absence of natural selection at a universal scale, and the lack of planetary reproduction. Some of the problems concerning the 'internal' logic of the idea have been resolved. Nevertheless, it is not sure whether Earth can be considered a unit of selection and (therefore) Gaia can adapt according to Darwinian evolution. After Lovelock and Margulis, Gaia has been considered a symbiotic planet composed of biotic (the biosphere) and abiotic (the geosphere-atmosphere) interacting with and coevolving elements. Here I propose why and suggest how a Gaian system should be considered alive in any evolutionary sense. I take into consideration the three principal criticisms and I analyse them following a logic-inductive reasoning. I use thought experiments and analogical arguments to analyse the rationale and the mechanisms by which Gaia evolves and may reproduce. This reasoning could allow rejecting the aforementioned criticisms as outdated and insufficient to discredit the main idea. I argue that without invoking teleology - so without any foresight or planning - a Gaian planet can be considered a coevolutionary system analogous to a multicellular body: a super-unit of selection. I describe different situations according to which Gaia is able to reproduce and transfer her planetary genome to other uninhabited or inhabited planets. Then I suggest that Gaia can face exclusion- competition-coexistence states depending on the fitness of her biota compared to those of the other reproducing biospheres. This demonstrates that Gaia can reproduce and evolve in competition-cooperation with other planets. Some deep implications arise from this evidence, also in light of the recent discovery of a new solar system with Earth-like planets by NASA.}, } @article {pmid29704362, year = {2016}, author = {Zu, YQ and Mei, XY and Min, Q and Su, Y and Ma, N and Feng, GQ and Li, Y}, title = {[Effects of As stress on contents of saponin and flavonoid, key enzymes activities of Panax notoginseng and its proteomic analysis].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {4013-4021}, doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.201612.040}, pmid = {29704362}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Arsenic/*chemistry ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids/*analysis ; Panax notoginseng/enzymology/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Rhizome ; Saponins/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Field plot experiments were conducted to study the effect of two-year consecutive As stress [As(V): 0, 20, 80, 140, 200 and 260 mg·kg[-1]] on contents of As, saponin and flanovoids, the enzyme activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), and squalene synthase (SS) in main root, fibrous root and rhizome and shoot, and proteome of three-year old Panax notoginseng in Wenshan prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The results showed that total saponin content of fibrous root decreased with increase in As treatment concentration. Total saponin contents of shoot and rhizome increased with 140 mg·kg[-1] As treatment compared with control. SS activity of rhizome was higher than that of shoot. Flavonoid contents of diffe-rent plant parts decreased with increase in As treatment concentration. With 140 mg·kg[-1] As treatment, activities of PAL and CHS in rhizome were higher than that in shoot. CHS activities in shoot and rhizome were lower, and PAL activities were higher than those of the control. As contents in different plant parts of P. notoginseng increased with increase in As treatment concentration. The highest As content was observed in fibrous root. With 140 mg·kg[-1] As treatment, twenty-one diffe-rential proteins (ratio >2, P<0.05) were identified in the inoculated compared to the control. The down-regulated proteins included phosphoribulokinase, heat shock protein, NAD(P)-binding rossmann-fold superfamily proteinisoform, monodehydroascorbate reductase and cytochrome b6-f complex iron-sulfur subunit. The up-regulated proteins included CDC27 family protein, acidic endochitinase isoform, symbiosis receptor-like kinase precursor, isoflavone reductase-like protein, phospho-2-dehydro-3-deoxyheptonate aldolase, putative protein kinase superfamily protein, malate dehydrogenase, glyoxalase I isoform and glutamine synthetase cytosolic isozyme. In general, with two-year consecutive As stress, As contents in different plant parts of P. notoginseng increased, which not only affected the photosynthesis and energy, but also decreased the antioxidation and resilience, and induced the increased expression of protein involved in detoxication, resulted in decrease in the contents of flavonoid and saponin. The tolerant threshold value of P. notoginseng for As was 140 mg·kg[-1].}, } @article {pmid29251476, year = {2016}, author = {Singh, G and Sharma, P and Sharma, S}, title = {Role of growth media on the phytopromotional potential of symbiotic fungus Piriformospoira indica.}, journal = {Journal of environmental biology}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {889-894}, pmid = {29251476}, issn = {0254-8704}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; *Endophytes ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica biomass generated in different growth media Rose Bengal medium, Kaefer's Medium, Enriched Soil Medium, Malt extract Medium and Czapek Dox was quantified and? their bioinoculum potential was compared using? moong bean (Vigna radiata) as? test plant. Plant chlorophyll content in response to inoculations was lowest in Rose Bengal medium (2.772mg plant-1) and highest due to inoculum produced on Enriched soil Medium (3.694 mg plant-1). The highest nitrogen content (19.260 mg plant-1) was recorded by inoculum produced on Kaefer's Medium followed by Enriched Soil Medium (19.123 mg plant-1), ME (18.19 mg plant-1) and CD medium (17.71 mg plant-1). The highest plant phosphorus uptake was registered in Enriched Soil Medium (17.153 mg plant-1) followed by Kaefer's Medium (17.023 mg plant-1). Maximum dry weight of plants was observed by inoculation with fungus cultured in Kaefer's Medium (3.416 g pot-1) and Enriched Soil Medium (3.349 g pot-1). Thus, growth medium used for the culture of fungus can influence its bioefficacy as plant growth promoting agent and Piriformospora indica can be grown on cost effective and simple mass multiplication medium which could augment its usage for commercial purposes.}, } @article {pmid29491928, year = {2016}, author = {Martínez-Aquino, A}, title = {Phylogenetic framework for coevolutionary studies: a compass for exploring jungles of tangled trees.}, journal = {Current zoology}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {393-403}, pmid = {29491928}, issn = {1674-5507}, abstract = {Phylogenetics is used to detect past evolutionary events, from how species originated to how their ecological interactions with other species arose, which can mirror cophylogenetic patterns. Cophylogenetic reconstructions uncover past ecological relationships between taxa through inferred coevolutionary events on trees, for example, codivergence, duplication, host-switching, and loss. These events can be detected by cophylogenetic analyses based on nodes and the length and branching pattern of the phylogenetic trees of symbiotic associations, for example, host-parasite. In the past 2 decades, algorithms have been developed for cophylogetenic analyses and implemented in different software, for example, statistical congruence index and event-based methods. Based on the combination of these approaches, it is possible to integrate temporal information into cophylogenetical inference, such as estimates of lineage divergence times between 2 taxa, for example, hosts and parasites. Additionally, the advances in phylogenetic biogeography applying methods based on parametric process models and combined Bayesian approaches, can be useful for interpreting coevolutionary histories in a scenario of biogeographical area connectivity through time. This article briefly reviews the basics of parasitology and provides an overview of software packages in cophylogenetic methods. Thus, the objective here is to present a phylogenetic framework for coevolutionary studies, with special emphasis on groups of parasitic organisms. Researchers wishing to undertake phylogeny-based coevolutionary studies can use this review as a "compass" when "walking" through jungles of tangled phylogenetic trees.}, } @article {pmid29019198, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, Y and Xu, Y and Chen, L and Hu, J and Zhang, X and Fang, W and Fang, Z and Xiao, Y}, title = {[Isolation, identification and structural characterization of secondary metabolites from amarine sponge-derived rare actinobacterium Dermacoccus sp. X4].}, journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {599-609}, doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.150391}, pmid = {29019198}, issn = {1000-3061}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*chemistry ; Animals ; China ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Indoles/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Seawater ; Secondary Metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; }, abstract = {We isolated and identified the symbiotic and adnascent microorganisms from an unidentified sponge collected from 10-meter-deep seawater of the Paracel Islands in China. A total of 16 strains were obtained and identified. Through bacteriostatic activity assay, one of the strains, Dermacoccus sp. X4, was found to effectively inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequently, its secondary metabolites were purified by silica gel partition, octadecylsilane (ODS) reverse phase, Sephadex™LH-20 size exclusion, and C18 reverse phase chromatography. Using liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance, three of the purified compounds were structurally characterized to be one 3-(4-hydroxybenzyl) hexahydropyrrolo [1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione and two indole acid glycerides. This is the first report about indole acid glyceride isolated from microbial secondary metabolites, enriching marine drug candidate resources.}, } @article {pmid29717861, year = {2016}, author = {Feng, W and Xu, M and Si, Y and Xing, K and Qin, S and Jiang, J and Peng, X}, title = {[Screening and biodiversity of endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria containing ACC deaminase from halophyte Limonium sinense (Girard) Kuntze].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {719-728}, pmid = {29717861}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Cyclic/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/*enzymology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Endophytes/classification/*enzymology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plumbaginaceae/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We isolated and screened endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase from halophyte Limonium sinense (Girard) Kuntze collected from Jiangsu coastal area and investigated their diversity and plant growth promoting potential.

METHODS: Strains were obtained from inner tissues and rhizosphere soils using pure culture cultivation method and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Their potential plant growth promoting index of nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, indoleacetic acid (IAA) production and NaCl tolerance ability were evaluated.

RESULTS: Eighteen strains with ACC deaminase were obtained and 13 of them exhibited more than 20 nmol α-KA/(mg Pr·h) ACC deaminase activity. Nine isolates produced IAA, 11 had nitrogen fixation ability and 7 of them had phosphate solubilization ability. Most of the isolates could grow under 0%-13% NaCl. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that these strains belonged to seven genera, with Arthrobacter as the most predominant genus. Among them, strain KLBMP 5180 was found to be a potential novel species of the genus Arthrobacter.

CONCLUSION: The halophyte plants Limonium sinense (Girard) Kuntze located in the area of coastal shoal contain a variety of symbiotic bacteria with ACC deaminase as well as the source of novel species. Some of them had good research prospect in the future.}, } @article {pmid29431092, year = {2016}, author = {Pothen, JJ and Dixon, AE and Bates, JHT}, title = {The Virtual Microbiome: Computational Approaches to the Study of Microbe-Host Interactions.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biomedical engineering}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {459-472}, doi = {10.1615/CritRevBiomedEng.2017024461}, pmid = {29431092}, issn = {1943-619X}, abstract = {The GI tract of a normal adult human contains on the order of 1014 foreign living organisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome, the proper maintenance of which is critical for health. Because the gut microbiome is a dynamic system of vast complexity, computational modeling is assuming an increasingly important role in helping us to understand how and why it behaves as it does. In particular, computational models can serve as a rapid, cost-effective means of simulating the microbiome on multiple scales, from that of an individual bacterium to the microbiome as a whole. This not only allows questions to be addressed in ways that are impractical in the experimental laboratory; it also permits competing hypotheses to be interrogated for feasibility before they are subjected to expensive and time-consuming experimental testing. Here we review some of the differential equation-based and agent-based approaches that have been applied to the computational modeling of the gut microbiome and its effects on the rest of the body. The models discussed are helping us understand how the microbiome works as a system, how it maintains its crucial symbiotic relationship with its host, and, in particular, how its malfunctions can lead to a number of important and often serious pathologies.}, } @article {pmid29376906, year = {2015}, author = {Scandellari, F}, title = {Special Issue: Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sensitive Environments.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {168-172}, pmid = {29376906}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {The scope of this special issue is to understand whether and how mycorrhizal symbiosis can be included as an agriculture and agroforestry tool that promotes more environmentally friendly practices, and whether it promotes the protection of sensitive areas. Three papers are included in this special issue, each dealing with a different sensitive environment. These papers present fundamental aspects that should be taken into account when planning or reporting studies related to mycorrhizal fungi in sensitive environments.}, } @article {pmid29125436, year = {2010}, author = {Donnan, GA}, title = {Stroke Diagnosis and Imaging: a Symbiotic Partnership.}, journal = {International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {61}, doi = {10.1111/j.1747-4949.2010.00409.x}, pmid = {29125436}, issn = {1747-4949}, } @article {pmid29368100, year = {2007}, author = {Balestrini, R and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Erratum to: Fungal and plant gene expression in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {153}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-006-0086-1}, pmid = {29368100}, issn = {1432-1890}, } @article {pmid29592542, year = {2000}, author = {Denison, RF}, title = {Legume Sanctions and the Evolution of Symbiotic Cooperation by Rhizobia.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {156}, number = {6}, pages = {567-576}, doi = {10.1086/316994}, pmid = {29592542}, issn = {1537-5323}, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis is an ideal model for studying the factors that limit the evolution of microbial mutualists into parasites. Legumes are unable to consistently recognize parasitic rhizobia that, once established inside plant cells, use plant resources for their own reproduction rather than for N2 fixation. Evolution of parasitism in rhizobia, driven partly by competition among multiple rhizobial strains infecting the same plant, may be countered by postinfection legume sanctions. Both the biochemical options for rhizobial cheating and the evolutionary effect of legume sanctions depend on differences in rhizobial life history associated with nodule type. In legumes with determinate nodule growth, rhizobia typically retain the ability to reproduce after differentiating into N2-fixing bacteroids. Sanctions against individual bacteroids (e.g., acid hydrolases) would therefore select for cooperative rhizobia. In nodules with indeterminate growth, bacteroids generally lose the ability to reproduce, so legume sanctions against bacteroids would have no effect on rhizobial evolution. Whole-nodule sanctions (e.g., decreased nodule O2 permeability) could be effective, via kin selection of undifferentiated rhizobia that persist in indeterminate nodules and replenish soil populations after nodule senescence. Mixed nodules could reduce the effectiveness of whole-nodule sanctions. The frequency of mixed nodules under field conditions is unknown.}, } @article {pmid29544002, year = {2000}, author = {Carpenter, EJ and Janson, S}, title = {INTRACELLULAR CYANOBACTERIAL SYMBIONTS IN THE MARINE DIATOM CLIMACODIUM FRAUENFELDIANUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {540-544}, doi = {10.1046/j.1529-8817.2000.99163.x}, pmid = {29544002}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {The diatom Climacodium frauenfeldianum Grunow was collected in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Observations with epifluorescence microscopy revealed that this diatom contained coccoid symbionts (2.5-3.5 μm) with a typical cyanobacterial fluorescence in addition to that of their own chloroplasts. Mean concentration of C. frauenfeldianum for 28 stations in the SW tropical Pacific Ocean was 530 x 10[3] (SE = 1372) cells·m[-][2] , with highest concentration (mean 17.5 cells·L[-][1]) at 40-m depth. The symbiosis was only observed at water temperatures between 26.3 and 28.9° C, with highest concentrations at 27.7° C. Three almost complete 16S rDNA sequences from one sample were determined, and they were identical. The phylogenetic analysis of this 16S rDNA sequence and those from other cyanobacteria and plastids revealed that it was closely related to the 16S rDNA sequence from Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142. Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142 is a unicellular nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium isolated from a coastal marine environment and has ultrastructural features similar to the symbionts of C. frauenfeldianum. The close relationship between Cyanothece sp. and the cyanobacterial symbiont in C. frauenfeldianum suggests the potential for nitrogen fixation in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29578776, year = {1999}, author = {Parker, MA}, title = {Mutualism in Metapopulations of Legumes and Rhizobia.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {153}, number = {S5}, pages = {S48-S60}, doi = {10.1086/303211}, pmid = {29578776}, issn = {1537-5323}, abstract = {Coevolution in mutualisms may result in a stable mosaic pattern of spatial differentiation, with regions occupied by different coadapted pairs of mutualists each being resistant to invasion by organisms with alternative phenotypes. The evolution of geographic mosaic patterns was analyzed for symbioses of legume plants and root-nodule bacteria (rhizobia), where plants are commonly polymorphic for genes affecting mutualism specificity. Typically, some alleles confer broad compatibility, and others restrict the set of bacterial genotypes accepted by plants as mutualist partners. Metapopulation simulation models with genetic assumptions matching the observed form of symbiotic specificity show that selection can generate a stable geographic mosaic if certain conditions are satisfied regarding competitive abilities, fitness benefits from mutualism, and migration rates. The structure of geographic variation in natural populations of the annual legume Amphicarpaea bracteata, together with patterns of variation in symbiotic fitness, is consistent with the interpretation that a mosaic pattern of differentiation may exist. Experimental and observational studies necessary to test more rigorously for mosaic distributions are outlined.}, } @article {pmid29711453, year = {1998}, author = {Bewley, CA and Faulkner, DJ}, title = {Lithistid Sponges: Star Performers or Hosts to the Stars.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {37}, number = {16}, pages = {2162-2178}, doi = {10.1002/(SICI)1521-3773(19980904)37:16<2162::AID-ANIE2162>3.0.CO;2-2}, pmid = {29711453}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {Extremely careful separation of the symbiotic bacteria from the cells of lithistid sponges has provided evidence that in the case of Theonella swinhoei the chemically diverse and biologically active metabolites, swinholide A and theopalauamide (1), are produced by symbionts. Marine sponges of the order Lithistida contain a diverse range of exotic natural products with valuable biological and pharmacological activities.}, } @article {pmid29368808, year = {1998}, author = {Barker, SJ and Stummer, B and Gao, L and Dispain, I and O'Connor, PJ and Smith, SE}, title = {A mutant in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. with highly reduced VA mycorrhizal colonization: isolation and preliminary characterisation.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {791-797}, doi = {10.1046/j.1365-313X.1998.00252.x}, pmid = {29368808}, issn = {1365-313X}, abstract = {This paper reports the successful isolation and preliminary characterisation of a mutant of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. with highly reduced vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal colonization. The mutation is recessive and has been designated rmc . Colonization by G. mosseae is characterised by poor development of external mycelium and a few abnormal appressoria. Vesicles were never formed by this fungus in association with the mutant. Gi. margarita formed large amounts of external mycelium, complex branched structures and occasional auxiliary cells. Small amounts of internal colonization also occurred. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) gave a clear picture of the differences in development of G. intraradices and Gi. margarita in mutant and wild-type roots and confirmed that the fungus is restricted to the root surface of the mutants. The amenability of tomato for molecular genetic characterisation should enable us to map and clone the mutated gene, and thus identify one of the biochemical bases for inability to establish a normal mycorrhizal symbiosis. The mutant represents a key advance in molecular research on VA mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29681069, year = {1996}, author = {Bago, B and Vierheilig, H and Piché, Y and Azcón-Aguilar, C}, title = {Nitrate depletion and pH changes induced by the extraradical mycelium of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices grown in monoxenic culture.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {133}, number = {2}, pages = {273-280}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1996.tb01894.x}, pmid = {29681069}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The effect of the extraradical mycelium of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices Smith & Schenck on nitrate uptake and on the pH of the medium was studied in a monoxenic culture with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. Vendor) roots obtained from root organ culture. The symbiosis was established in compartmented Petri dishes containing agar media amended with the pH indicator bromocresol purple. A pattern of pH changes was revealed as the symbiosis progressed in the media of the Petri dish compartments containing the dual, arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi/root, culture as well as in the media of the hyphae, root-free compartments, in which the extraradical hyphae developed extensively, coming from the compartment containing the symbiosis. The colour changes in the media were measured spectrophotometrically, whilst maintaining the monoxenic conditions. The extraradical hyphae of G. intraradices strongly increased the pH of nutrient-free medium when supplied with nitrate, whereas the pH decreased m the absence of this N source. The hyphae developing from germinated spores and growing in axenic, nitrate-amended media did not induce any increase in pH. Nitrogen analysis revealed that a depletion of nitrate in the media accompanied increased pH. These results point towards an active uptake of nitrate by the extraradical mycelium of G. intraradices, probably coupled to a H[+] -symport mechanism. The pH changes induced by AM fungal hyphae and the possible influence of the establishment of a functional symbiosis on these pH changes are discussed.}, } @article {pmid29244576, year = {1995}, author = {Doino, JA and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {A Transient Exposure to Symbiosis-Competent Bacteria Induces Light Organ Morphogenesis in the Host Squid.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {3}, pages = {347-355}, doi = {10.2307/1542152}, pmid = {29244576}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Recent studies of the symbiotic association between the Hawaiian sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri have shown that colonization of juvenile squid with symbiosis-competent bacteria induces morphogenetic changes of the light organ. These changes occur over a 4-day period and include cell death and tissue regression of the external ciliated epithelium. In the absence of bacterial colonization, morphogenesis does not occur. To determine whether the bacteria must be present throughout the morphogenetic process, we used the antibiotic chloramphenicol to clear the light organ of bacteria at various times during the initial colonization. We provide evidence in this study that a transient, 12-hour exposure to symbiosis-competent bacteria is necessary and sufficient to induce tissue regression in the light organ over the next several days. Further, we show that successful entrance into the light organ is necessary to induce morphogenesis, suggesting that induction results from bacterial interaction with internal crypt cells and not with the external ciliated epithelium. Finally, no difference in development was observed when the light organ was colonized by a mutant strain of V. fischeri that did not produce autoinducer, a potential light organ morphogen.}, } @article {pmid29244571, year = {1995}, author = {Fitt, WK and Warner, ME}, title = {Bleaching Patterns of Four Species of Caribbean Reef Corals.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {3}, pages = {298-307}, doi = {10.2307/1542147}, pmid = {29244571}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Bleaching of reef corals, involving loss of symbiotic algae (= zooxanthellae), loss of algal pigments, or both, has been linked to temperature stress. In this study the effects of high temperature and light on zooxanthellae living in the Caribbean reef corals Montastrea annularis, M. cavernosa, Agaricia agaricites, and A. lamarcki were studied. Pieces of coral colonies were incubated at ambient seawater temperature (26{deg} +/- 1{deg} C), and at 30{deg}, 32{deg}, and 34{deg} C. Symbiotic algae from M. annularis, a species of coral from the forereef that commonly bleaches, showed the following sequence of events when exposed to natural light at 32{deg} C; loss of photosynthetic potential measured as fluorescence yield, corresponding reduction of both oxygen production per zooxanthella and P:R (photosynthesis:respiration) ratio, and subsequent reduction in density of algae in relation to surface area of the coral. These parameters were not significantly reduced and no deaths occurred for M. annularis or any other coral species maintained at 26{deg} or 30{deg} C. However, the sequence of events was condensed to less than 24 h when M. annularis was subjected to 34{deg} C seawater, except that there was little if any reduction in algal density before tissue-sloughing and death occurred between 10 and 24 h. Loss of significant amounts of chlorophyll a per alga was not evident for any corals except those maintained at 34{deg} C longer than 10 h. In contrast, symbiotic algae in M. cavernosa, a species that rarely bleaches in nature, showed only slight reductions in photosynthesis and fluorescence yield, and no significant loss of algal cells or chlorophyll a, when maintained in seawater at 32{deg} C for 2 days. Thus zooxanthellae in M. cavernosa appeared to be less affected by sublethal high-temperature stress. Similar contrasting patterns of bleaching were seen in zooxanthellae from the plating coral Agaricia lamarcki, which often bleaches during the late summer and fall, compared with zooxanthellae from A. agaricites, a coral which bleaches less frequently. In addition, M. annularis exposed to sublethal high temperatures and ambient light bleached faster than those kept in dimmer light, supporting past field observations suggesting that light energy is an important component of bleaching in nature. When M. annularis was exposed to different wavelengths of natural light at 32{deg} C, the fluorescence yield declined more quickly in the presence of higher energy UV-A and blue light than with other photosynthetically active radiation. Natural levels of UV-B had little effect in this study. These data suggest that the patterns of bleaching seen in nature may be at least partially explained by different tolerances of the symbiotic algae in the corals, and that light plays a significant role in bleaching.}, } @article {pmid29244570, year = {1995}, author = {Dove, SG and Takabayashi, M and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Isolation and Partial Characterization of the Pink and Blue Pigments of Pocilloporid and Acroporid Corals.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {3}, pages = {288-297}, doi = {10.2307/1542146}, pmid = {29244570}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The compounds responsible for the pink and blue colors of two families of hermatypic corals (Pocilloporidae, Acroporidae) from the southern Great Barrier Reef were isolated and biochemically characterized. Isolation of the pink pigment from Pocillopora damicornis (named pocilloporin, {lambda} max = 560 nm, 390 nm) revealed that it was a hydrophilic protein dimer with a native molecular weight of approximately 54 kD and subunits of 28 kD. The subunits are not linked by disulfide bonds. Attempts to dissociate the chromophore from the protein proved unsuccessful. Denaturing the protein with heat (60{deg} C) or 5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) removed the 560-nm absorbance peak without introducing a detectable bathochromic shift. In acetone, ethanol, ether, and chloroform, the pigment precipitates out of solution, leaving a colorless supernatant. These properties suggest that the protein and chromophore are covalently linked. Ion analysis revealed that the pigment does not have metal ions chelated to it. Coral pigments were also isolated from pink morphs of other pocilloporids, Seriatopora hystrix ({lambda} max = 560 nm) and Stylophora pistillata ({lambda} max = 560 nm); and from bluish regions of the acroporids, Acropora formosa (blue; {lambda} max = 590 nm) and Acropora digitifera (purple; {lambda} max = 580 nm). With the exception of A. formosa, all the corals examined had pigments with the same native (54 kD) and subunit (28 kD) molecular weights as those of P. damicornis. A. formosa pigment has a native molecular weight of about 82.6 kD and three subunits of 28 kD. The pigments isolated from each of these coral species have properties similar to those described for P. damicornis. Isolation and biochemical purification of the pigment enabled the exploration of the function of the pink pigment. Three possibilities were eliminated. The compound does not act as (i) a photoprotectant for shielding the photosynthetic pigments of symbiotic zooxanthellae against excessive irradiances, (ii) a fluorescent coupling agent for amplifying the levels of photosynthetically active radiation available for resident zooxanthellae, or (iii) a UV-screen against the high UV levels of shallow tropical marine environments.}, } @article {pmid29281357, year = {1995}, author = {McAuley, PJ}, title = {Ammonium Metabolism in the Green Hydra Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {188}, number = {2}, pages = {210-218}, doi = {10.2307/1542086}, pmid = {29281357}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Inhibitors of enzymes of ammonium assimilation were used to test if assimilation of ammonium in the green hydra-Chlorella symbiosis was due to host or symbionts. Both methionine sulphoximine (MSX, an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase, found in both host and symbionts) and azaserine (AZS, an inhibitor of 2-oxoglutarate amido transferase, not found in the host) inhibited ammonium uptake by the intact symbiosis. MSX was taken up and caused predictable changes in pools of glutamate and glutamine in both freshly isolated symbionts and cultured ex-symbiotic Chlorella. However, after treatment of the intact symbiosis with MSX, no MSX was found in the symbiotic Chlorella, and glutamine and glutamate pools of both host and symbionts were unaffected. Although both MSX and AZS inhibited ammonium uptake by Chlorella, MSX caused seven times as much ammonium release from the intact symbiosis as did AZS. AZS treatment of the intact symbiosis caused an increase in glutamine pools in both host and symbionts, and AZS also competitively inhibited glutamine uptake by Chlorella. Further, ammonium treatment of intact hydra did not affect the nitrogen status of the algal symbionts, although it did cause a small increase in the number of algae in each digestive cell of the host. It is suggested that primary ammonium assimilation in the green hydra symbiosis occurs by means of animal glutamine synthetase, and that the resulting glutamine may be taken up and further processed by the symbiotic algae. Freshly isolated symbionts were able to process glutamine into glutamate even when incubated at low pH, which causes them to release a substantial proportion of fixed carbon as maltose.}, } @article {pmid29281368, year = {1994}, author = {Day, RJ}, title = {Algal Symbiosis in Bunodeopsis: Sea Anemones with "Auxiliary" Structures.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {186}, number = {2}, pages = {182-194}, doi = {10.2307/1542052}, pmid = {29281368}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {This study describes the photobiology of two tropical species of the symbiotic sea anemone genus Bunodeopsis from Discovery Bay, Jamaica, B. antilliensis was found in shallow water (0.3m) and experienced higher irradiance levels than B. globulifera from deeper water (3 m). Both species contained symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium within the endodermal cells. The external morphology and expansion-contraction behavior of the two anemone species were closely linked to symbiont distribution. B. antilliensis had large vesicles (2.6 mm3), with 88.5% of the symbiont population in the lower column and basal disk and 11.5% in the tentacles and upper column, and was contracted under normal daylight illumination. In contrast, B. globulifera had small vesicles (0.2 mm3), with 55.5% of the symbionts in the lower column and basal disk and 44.5% in the tentacles and upper column, and was expanded under illumination. The photosynthetic physiology of the symbionts indicated that those from B. globulifera were adapted to lower host habitat irradiances than were those from B. antilliensis. The symbionts from B. globulifera had a significantly higher chlorophyll a content (7.34 +/- 0.77 pg·cell-1) and photosynthetic efficiency (0.24 μgO2·106 cells.h-1/μmol photons·m-2·s-1) and lower saturation irradiance (277 +/- 18 μmol photons·m-2·s-1) than those from B. antilliensis, 4.51 +/- 0.29 pg.cell-1, 0.17 μgO2.106 cells· h-1/μmol photons·m-2·s-1 and 436 +/- 78 μmol photons·m-2·s-1, respectively. The calculated rate of carbon translocation in both species of Bunodeopsis (97%) was high and reflected the low algal protein biomass ratios (2%) and population growth rates (<0.1·day-1). The CZAR values in B. antilliensis (109%) and B. globulifera (92%) suggest that both species are potentially autotrophic with respect to carbon available for animal respiration.}, } @article {pmid29300631, year = {1993}, author = {Menon, JG and Arp, AJ}, title = {The Integument of the Marine Echiuran Worm Urechis caupo.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {185}, number = {3}, pages = {440-454}, doi = {10.2307/1542484}, pmid = {29300631}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {During low tide, the burrow water of the marine echiuran worm Urechis caupo becomes hypoxic, and hydrogen sulfide concentrations reach levels that would be toxic to most animals. Integument morphology in U. caupo is evaluated as an exchange surface and as a permeation barrier. Adaptive features include the rugose nature of the epidermis, which increases the surface area for oxygen uptake, and the thick muscular body wall, which provides a chief motive power in creating peristaltic movements along the body wall to ventilate the burrow. The epidermis is covered by a cuticle and contains two types of mucus-secreting cells: orthochromatic and metachromatic. Underlying connective tissue and three muscle layers form the bulk of the body wall. The integument does not present a significant structural barrier to permeation, although the mucus secreted by the epidermal cells may retard sulfide entry. Ultrastructural studies suggest three possible mechanisms that U. caupo may use to counteract the toxic effects of sulfide at the integumentary surface: metabolism of symbiotic bacteria embedded in the innermost cuticle layer and grouped together in the superficial epidermis, dying off of peripheral, sulfide-exposed cells, and oxidation of sulfide at specialized, ironrich, lysosomal organelles termed sulfide oxidizing bodies.}, } @article {pmid29300544, year = {1993}, author = {Weis, VM and Montgomery, MK and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Enhanced Production of ALDH-Like Protein in the Bacterial Light Organ of the Sepiolid Squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {184}, number = {3}, pages = {309-321}, doi = {10.2307/1542449}, pmid = {29300544}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {We localized one or more aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-like proteins in the bacterially bioluminescent light organ of the sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes, and determined the temporal changes in expression through normal light organ development. Our previous studies have revealed that 70% of the total protein in the light organ lens of adult animals is comprised of an ALDH-like protein, which we called L-crystallin. In the present study, antibodies raised to this protein were used in immunocytochemical analyses which showed that, in adult light organ lens cells, ALDH-like protein was localized to the cytoplasm, but not to the nuclei or mitochondria. Labeling in adult tissue was also found in moderate abundance in the ciliated duct epithelium, a tissue that is in direct contact with the bacterial symbionts. To determine the spatial and temporal onset of expression of ALDH-like protein(s), we examined light organs from juveniles at developmental stages before and after the differentiation of lens cells, which begins approximately 7-10 days after hatching. In 5-day symbiotic juvenile light organs, ALDH-like protein was not detected at levels significantly above those in non-symbiotic tissue of the same animals. However, expression of ALDH-like protein began within 10 days after hatching, seen first in a few cells of the ciliated duct, adjacent to the symbiont-containing tissue and in a few differentiated cells of the anterior presumptive light organ lens. These data suggest that, during normal development, induction of one or more ALDH-like proteins occurs simultaneously in both the lens and ciliated duct soon after the differentiation of lens cells.}, } @article {pmid29300543, year = {1993}, author = {Montgomery, MK and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Embryonic Development of the Light Organ of the Sepiolid Squid Euprymna scolopes Berry.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {184}, number = {3}, pages = {296-308}, doi = {10.2307/1542448}, pmid = {29300543}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes maintains luminous bacterial symbionts of the species Vibrio fischeri in a bilobed light organ partially embedded in the ventral surface of the ink sac. Anatomical and ultrastructural observations of the light organ during embryogenesis indicate that the organ begins development as a paired proliferation of the mesoderm of the hindgut-ink sac complex. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the incipient light organ of a newly hatched juvenile revealed the presence of three pairs of sacculate crypts, each crypt joined to a pore on the surface of the light organ by a ciliated duct. The crypts, which become populated with bacterial symbionts within hours after the juvenile hatches, appear to result from sequential paired invaginations of the surface epithelium of the hindgut-ink sac complex during embryogenesis. A pair of anterior and a pair of posterior ciliated epithelial appendages, which may facilitate infection of the incipient light organ with symbiotic bacteria, develop by extension and growth of the surface epithelium. The ink sac and reflector develop dorsal to the crypts and together function to direct luminescence ventrally. These two accessory tissues are present at the time of hatching, although changes in their overall structure accompany growth and maturation of the light organ. A third accessory tissue, the muscle-derived lens, appears during post-hatch maturation of the light organ.}, } @article {pmid29300529, year = {1993}, author = {McFarland, FK and Muller-Parker, G}, title = {Photosynthesis and Retention of Zooxanthellae and Zoochlorellae Within the Aeolid Nudibranch Aeolidia papillosa.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {184}, number = {2}, pages = {223-229}, doi = {10.2307/1542230}, pmid = {29300529}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Both zooxanthellae and zoochlorellae are found in the cerata of Aeolidia papillosa after it has ingested symbiotic Anthopleura elegantissima containing these algae. High rates of photosynthesis were found in algae present in the cerata and in algae isolated from nudibranch feces. For algal cells present in the cerata of nudibranchs collected in June 1991, carbon fixation by zooxanthellae (1.18 +/- 0.36 pg C/cell/h) was significantly greater than carbon fixation by zoochlorellae (0.55 +/- 0.32 pg C/cell/h). Algal densities within the cerata of laboratory fed nudibranchs were significantly greater for zoochlorellae (175 +/- 82 cells/μg protein, light treatment; 131 +/- 106 cells/μg protein, dark treatment) than for zooxanthellae (38 +/- 18 cells/μg protein, light; 53 +/- 30 cells/ μg protein, dark). Ceratal densities of zooxanthellae (16 +/- 8 cells/μg protein) in the field during January 1992 were low in comparison to ceratal densities in the laboratory--several of the nudibranchs in the field lacked any symbiotic algae, and zoochlorellae were always absent. Nudibranch algal densities were not stable and dropped rapidly if the nudibranchs were starved. Both zoochlorella and zooxanthella densities dropped to 0 cells/μg protein within 11 days of starvation. While these results show that the relationship between A. papillosa and the two algae is not a stable symbiosis, the photosynthetic activity of the algae in the cerata suggests that the nudibranch and/or the algae may benefit from the association while it lasts.}, } @article {pmid29300506, year = {1992}, author = {Norton, JH and Shepherd, MA and Long, HM and Fitt, WK}, title = {The Zooxanthellal Tubular System in the Giant Clam.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {183}, number = {3}, pages = {503-506}, doi = {10.2307/1542028}, pmid = {29300506}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Giant clams (family Tridacnidae) are special in that they contain large numbers of symbiotic dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium sp., commonly called zooxanthellae which live in the clam's siphonal mantle (hypertrophied siphonal tissues) (1) and are important in its nutrition (2, 3). In 1946, Mansour (4) partially described a tubular system arising from the clam stomach, extending into the mantle and containing zooxanthellae. However, the eminent scientist Sir Maurice Yonge (5, 6) disputed its existence. Subsequently, Yonge's views appear to have suppressed further investigations of Mansour's observations. The zooxanthellae have been universally regarded as living in the hemal spaces of the mantle (2, 5, 7, 8, 9). This study, however, has conhrmed the presence of the tubular system indicated by Mansour and has shown that the zooxanthellae live within a branched, tubular structure that has no direct connection with the hemolymph. The existence of this tubular system has important implications for our understanding of the symbiosis between tridacnids and their symbiotic algae.}, } @article {pmid29304595, year = {1992}, author = {Wilmot, DB and Vetter, RD}, title = {Oxygen- and Nitrogen-Dependent Sulfur Metabolism in the Thiotrophic Clam Solemya reidi.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {444-453}, doi = {10.2307/1542264}, pmid = {29304595}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {We investigated aerobic and anaerobic thiotrophic metabolism by the gutless clam Solemya reidi and its intracellular symbiotic bacteria. Mean environmental sulfide concentrations in porewater next to animals varied from a high of 888 μM to a low of 17 μM in different sediment samples, while mean thiosulfate concentrations were very low (1-13 μM). The blood of freshly collected clams contained up to 300 μM thiosulfate but little sulfide (≤12 μM). In experimental incubations, clams were able to take up thiosulfate, yet under no conditions could the animals concentrate thiosulfate above external concentrations. Thiosulfate accumulation in the blood during incubations was the result of aerobic but not anaerobic sulfide oxidation by the animals. This finding and previous observations of the presence of high concentrations of thiosulfate in the blood of field-caught clams indicate that the animal portion of the symbiosis normally functions aerobically. The intact symbiosis exhibited nitrate and nitrite respiration under anoxic conditions. Nitrate respiration was stimulated by sulfide, as well as thiosulfate, while nitrite respiration was only stimulated by sulfide. Nitrate respiration also occurred when whole animals were under oxic conditions. Respiration measurements showed that the bacterial symbionts were capable of direct sulfide oxidation. Sulfide-stimulated oxygen consumption by bacterial preparations from the gills of mud-maintained clams reached a maximum rate at 25 μM sulfide and showed no apparent inhibition at sulfide concentrations up to 1 mM sulfide.}, } @article {pmid29304594, year = {1992}, author = {Gates, RD and Baghdasarian, G and Muscatine, L}, title = {Temperature Stress Causes Host Cell Detachment in Symbiotic Cnidarians: Implications for Coral Bleaching.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {324-332}, doi = {10.2307/1542252}, pmid = {29304594}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {During the past decade, acute and chronic bleaching of tropical reef corals has occurred with increasing frequency and scale. Bleaching, i.e., the loss of pigment and the decrease in population density of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae), is often correlated with an increase or decrease in sea surface temperature. Because little is known of the cellular events concomitant with thermal bleaching, we have investigated the mechanism of release of zooxanthellae by the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella and the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis in response to cold and heat stress. Both species released intact host endoderm cells containing zooxanthellae. The majority of the released host cells were viable, but they soon disintegrated in the seawater leaving behind isolated zooxanthellae. The detachment and release of intact host cells suggests that thermal stress causes host cell adhesion dysfunction in these cnidarians. Knowledge of the cellular entity released by the host during bleaching provides insight into both the underlying release mechanism and the way in which natural environmental stresses evoke a bleaching response.}, } @article {pmid29304593, year = {1992}, author = {Kraus, DW and Doeller, JE and Wittenberg, JB}, title = {Hydrogen Sulfide Reduction of Symbiont Cytochrome c552 in Gills of Solemya reidi (Mollusca).}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {435-443}, doi = {10.2307/1542263}, pmid = {29304593}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The gill of the protobranch clam Solemya reidi houses a dense population of intracellular symbiotic chemoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria that fix carbon dioxide into sugars and supply the carbon nutrition of the host. The gill is divided into a bacteriocyte (cells with intracellular symbionts) domain and a domain of mitochondria-rich, symbiont-free ciliated cells. Optical spectra, recorded separately from each domain, are dominated by hemoglobin. Only oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin were detected in the gill. In sharp contrast to the gill of the congener Solemya velum, ferric hemoglobin sulfide was not detected, suggesting that this species, if formed, is short lived. The spectral contribution of hemoglobin may be cancelled or subtracted in difference spectra. Difference spectra of each gill domain in nitrogen minus the same tissue in air show a complement of reduced cytochromes, demonstrating that both symbiont and mitochondrial cytochromes are reduced by endogenous substrate. Difference spectra of the bacteriocyte domain exposed to hydrogen sulfide (air containing 1.4 torr hydrogen sulfide minus air) show only the contribution of reduced symbiont cytochrome c552. The extent of reduction increases monotonically with ambient pH2S, suggesting that, by analogy with some free-living sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, cytochrome c552 is near the point of entry of electrons into the symbiont electron transport chain. Difference spectra of muscle or of the ciliated domain under these same conditions show reduced cytochrome c550, cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase, suggesting that host mitochondria may accept electrons from hydrogen sulfide.}, } @article {pmid29304702, year = {1992}, author = {Rands, ML and Douglas, AE and Loughman, BC and Ratcliffe, RG}, title = {Avoidance of Hypoxia in a Cnidarian Symbiosis by Algal Photosynthetic Oxygen.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {182}, number = {1}, pages = {159-162}, doi = {10.2307/1542191}, pmid = {29304702}, issn = {1939-8697}, } @article {pmid29304664, year = {1991}, author = {Weis, VM}, title = {The Induction of Carbonic Anhydrase in the Symbiotic Sea Anemone Aiptasia pulchella.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {180}, number = {3}, pages = {496-504}, doi = {10.2307/1542351}, pmid = {29304664}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The activity and nature of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1 .) was measured and described in the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella. The hypothesis that high CA activity in animal tissue is induced by the presence of symbiotic algae was tested. CA activity was positively correlated with the number of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) present. CA activity in aposymbiotic anemone tissue was 2.5 times lower than that in control symbiotic animals or in aposymbiotic animals repopulated with algae. Polyclonal antisera against human CA were used to probe for the presence of CA in both symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemone tissue, and in freshly isolated and cultured zooxanthellae. The resulting immunoblots showed one band with a molecular weight of 30 kDa in symbiotic animal tissue and control mammalian CA lanes, no bands in the aposymbiotic animal lanes, and one band at a molecular weight of 22.5 kDa in freshly isolated and cultured zooxanthellae lanes. Because no 22.5 kDa band was detected in the symbiotic animal tissue lanes, the high CA activity found in symbiotic animal tissue is considered to be due to the induction of animal enzyme by the presence of algae. The lack of any band in the aposymbiotic lanes further supports the hypothesis that CA activity in A. pulchella is induced by the presence of algae.}, } @article {pmid29314961, year = {1990}, author = {McFall-Ngai, M and Montgomery, MK}, title = {The Anatomy and Morphology of the Adult Bacterial Light Organ of Euprymna scolopes Berry (Cephalopoda:Sepiolidae).}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {179}, number = {3}, pages = {332-339}, doi = {10.2307/1542325}, pmid = {29314961}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The sepiolid squid, Euprymna scolopes, has a bilobed luminous organ in the center of the mantle cavity, associated with the ink sac. Luminous bacterial symbionts (Vibrio fischeri) are housed in narrow channels of host epithelial tissue. The channels of each lobe of the light organ empty into a ciliated duct, which is contiguous with the mantle cavity of the squid. Surrounding the symbiotic bacteria and their supportive host cells are host tissues recruited into the light organ system, including a muscle-derived lens and thick reflector that appear to permit the squid to control the quality of bacterial light emission.}, } @article {pmid29314935, year = {1990}, author = {Sutton, DC and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Host-Zooxanthella Interactions in Four Temperate Marine Invertebrate Symbioses: Assessment of Effect of Host Extracts on Symbionts.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {178}, number = {2}, pages = {175-186}, doi = {10.2307/1541975}, pmid = {29314935}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Photosynthesis and translocation of photosynthetic products from symbiotic zooxanthellae in four species of temperate-latitude invertebrates were investigated in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, zooxanthellae fixed 14C and translocated a substantial proportion of fixed products to host tissues. In vitro, the effect of host tissue extracts on isolated zooxanthellae varied. Extracts of the soft coral Capnella gaboensis, lysed zooxanthellae after a relatively short exposure. Those of the zoanthid Zoanthus robustus and the nudibranch Pteraeolidia ianthina had little effect on translocation of organic carbon from zooxanthellae. In contrast, host extract of the scleractinian coral Plesiastrea versipora stimulated the release of up to 42% of the total 14C fixed, and the magnitude of release was positively correlated with the protein concentration of the extract. Host extracts had no effect on photosynthetic rates in algal symbionts. The effect of P. versipora extract on isolated zooxanthellae was studied. This extract caused zooxanthellae to divert photosynthetic products from lipid synthesis to the production of neutral compounds, principally glycerol, and these compounds were the predominant form of carbon detected extracellularly after incubating zooxanthellae in this extract. Only organic compounds made during the period of exposure of zooxanthellae to host extract, and not pre-formed photosynthetic products, were translocated. The translocation-inducing activity of host extract was almost completely destroyed by heating (100{deg} C), and a preliminary attempt to fractionate the tissue extract revealed that the active constituent did not pass through dialysis tubing of nominal pore size 10,000 D. These results are discussed in relation to host control of symbiotic partners, and to previous reports of "host-release factors" in other invertebrate symbioses.}, } @article {pmid29265431, year = {1989}, author = {McAULEY, PJ}, title = {The effect of arginine on rates of internalization of other amino acids by symbiotic Chlorella cells.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {112}, number = {4}, pages = {553-559}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb00350.x}, pmid = {29265431}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Addition of arginine to the medium of symbiotic Chlorella freshly isolated from the European strain of green hydra increases the rate of uptake of other amino acids into the cells via a general amino acid permease. Uptake rates increase immediately upon addition of arginine, reaching a new stable level after 20-30 min. Removal of arginine causes an immediate decrease in uptake rates. Changes in the Km and Vmax of amino-acid uptake in the presence of arginine, and the fact that cycloheximide treatment does not inhibit the arginine-stimulated increase, suggest that arginine does not induce synthesis of new transport protein. Instead, arginine may alter properties of the cell membrane such as charge, thereby increasing the efficiency of uptake of amino acids by existing transport mechanisms. The significance of this novel effect is discussed in terms of possible control of amino acid supply to the symbiotic Chlorella.}, } @article {pmid29320223, year = {1987}, author = {McAuley, PJ}, title = {QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF MOVEMENT OF AN AMINO ACID FROM HOST TO CHLORELLA SYMBIONTS IN GREEN HYDRA.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {173}, number = {3}, pages = {504-512}, doi = {10.2307/1541696}, pmid = {29320223}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Washing symbiotic Chlorella algae freshly isolated from green hydra with 0.05% sodium dodecyl sulphate was shown to remove virtually all contaminating host material, previously a severe constraint in quantifying movement of metabolites from host to symbionts. When brine shrimp labelled with [3]H-leucine were fed to hydra in symbiosis either with the native strain of Chlorella (E/E hydra) or two strains cultured from Paramecium bursaria (E/3N and E/NC hydra), it was found that after 24 h 3-4% of the total radioactivity retained by the symbiosis was present in the algae. Analysis of the free amino acid pool of symbiotic algae from E/E hydra showed that over 70% of the radioactivity was associated with leucine, and significant amounts of radioactivity were retained by these algae for at least five days following a single feeding with radioactive brine shrimp. In both E/E and E/NC hydra, the amount of radioactivity per unit protein was considerably less in the symbionts than in the host, suggesting that access to host amino acid pools were limited. These results are discussed in terms of the possible role and regulatory significance of amino acids as a nitrogen source to symbiotic Chlorella, and of the cost to the host in maintaining the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29314988, year = {1987}, author = {Hand, SC}, title = {TROPHOSOME ULTRASTRUCTURE AND THE CHARACTERIZATION OF ISOLATED BACTERIOCYTES FROM INVERTEBRATE-SULFUR BACTERIA SYMBIOSES.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {173}, number = {1}, pages = {260-276}, doi = {10.2307/1541878}, pmid = {29314988}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Electron microscopy of trophosome tissue from the vestimentiferan tubeworm Riftia pachyptila clearly indicates that the bacterial symbionts are enclosed within animal cells (bacteriocytes). The structure of this lobular tissue is complex. Each lobule consists of an outer layer of trophochrome cells (devoid of symbionts, but with numerous pigmented granules), an inner region of bacteriocytes, and a central hemolymph space. Sulfur deposits within bacteria decrease in size and number with increasing distance ofthe bacteria from the hemolymph space. Bacteria located toward the center of the lobule appear smaller than those nearer the periphery, Suggesting that metabolic and developmental gradients exist. Trophochrome cells and free bacteria were enriched from the trophosome of R. pachyptila. A procedure is described for the isolation of bacteriocytes from gill tissue of the bivalves Calyptogena magnifica and Lucina floridana. Numerous bacteria reside in vacuoles within the bacteriocyte cytoplasm, as do large (5-10 micron), heterogeneous granules. Maximum CO2 fixation rate at 20°C for bacteriocytes from C. magnifica is 13.2 nmoles CO2/mg protein/h, compared to 21.6 nmoles CO2/mg protein/h for L. floridana bacteriocytes. Fixation by bacteriocytes from C. magnifica is inhibited by sulfide, and to a lesser extent thiosulfate, at 0.1-1.0 mM. Thiosulfate increases CO2 fixation two-fold in L. floridana bacteriocytes. C. magnifica bacteriocytes incubated for 1 h in 0.5 mM sulfide maintain higher intracellular ATP concentrations (3.3 nmoles/million cells; 1.01 mM) than do control cells without sulfide (1.02 nmoles/million cells; 0.3 1 mM). These results and comparable observations suggest that the identities of exogenous sulfur compounds exploited for chemical energy by the symbiosis may depend on the structural integrity and organization of the experimental preparation.}, } @article {pmid29320261, year = {1984}, author = {Dykens, JA and Shick, JM}, title = {PHOTOBIOLOGY OF THE SYMBIOTIC SEA ANEMONE, ANTHOPLEURA ELEGANTISSIMA: DEFENSES AGAINST PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECTS, AND SEASONAL PHOTOACCLIMATIZATION.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {167}, number = {3}, pages = {683-697}, doi = {10.2307/1541419}, pmid = {29320261}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima, which contains photosynthetic symbionts (zooxanthellae), responds both biochemically and behaviorally to the combined environmental stresses of exposure to sunlight and photosynthetically generated hyperbaric O2. Activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, which act in concert as defenses against oxygen toxicity, parallel the distribution of chlorophyll. A. elegantissima shows a finely controlled contraction behavior which shades the zooxanthellae and reduces O2 production, but which leaves the body column tissues directly exposed to sunlight. However, the body column contains disproportionately high SOD and catalase activities as defenses against photodynamic damage. This additional role of SOD is demonstrated by shade-adapted aposymbiotic anemones in which SOD and catalase activities increase by 590% and 100% respectively following a 7 day exposure to sunlight. In response to elevated levels of O2 and sunlight exposure, A. elegantissima attaches gravel and other debris to its body surface which serves as a sunscreen that effectively reduces zooxanthella expulsion during exposure to bright sunlight. Finally, anemone chlorophyll content fluctuates on a seasonal basis, varying inversely with mean solar radiation. These seasonal changes are not due to corresponding changes in the number of algal cells, but rather to changes in the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a:c2 ratio of a fairly uniform standing crop of zooxanthellae.}, } @article {pmid29320255, year = {1984}, author = {Dunlap, PV}, title = {PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL STATE OF THE SYMBIOTIC BACTERIA FROM LIGHT ORGANS OF PONYFISH.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {410-425}, doi = {10.2307/1541286}, pmid = {29320255}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Symbiotic, bioluminescent bacteria (Photobacterium leiognathi) within and directly removed from the light organs of freshly sacrificed Philippine and Japanese ponyfish (family Leiognathidae) were analyzed for light production, oxygen uptake, morphology, and density. Luminescence averaged 2.4 x 10[4] quanta·s[-1] · cell[-1] for bacteria from 24 fish (6 species in 3 genera), more than 10 times the maximum luminescences of P. leiognathi grown in culture. Light production (depending on the in vivo quantum yield for luminescence, 0.1 to 1.0) accounted for 1.7 to 17% of the total oxygen utilized by bacteria from the light organ, substantially more than found for P. leiognathi in culture. Bacteria from the light organ were non-motile, non-flagellated coccobacilloid to short rod-shaped cells (1.6 x 3.2 µm), whereas in culture they showed motility and polar flagellation. In situ doubling time for the population of light organ bacteria was estimated to be approximately one day, or 20 to 30 times slower than in culture. Within the tubules of the light organ, the bacteria were solidly packed inside elongate, thinly-walled saccules, with one to 20 saccules tightly filling each light organ tubule. The saccules held the bacteria at a density (calculated from bacterial cell and saccule volumes) of approximately 1 x 10[11] cells·ml[-1], which is a density roughly 15 times greater than estimated from total light organ volume. These findings lead to a maximalluminescence, minimal-growth bacterial model of this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid29320251, year = {1984}, author = {Pierce, SK and Edwards, SC and Mazzocchi, PH and Klingler, LJ and Warren, MK}, title = {PROLINE BETAINE: A UNIQUE OSMOLYTE IN AN EXTREMELY EURYHALINE OSMOCONFORMER.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {495-500}, doi = {10.2307/1541294}, pmid = {29320251}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The extremely euryhaline mollusc, Elysia chiorotica, does not utilize intracellular free amino acids for cell volume regulation during osmotic stress. Instead, Elysia utilizes an osmolyte previously unknown from animals, proline betaine. Although proline betaine occurs in some plants and Elysia forms a symbiosis with an algae, the proline betaine in Elysia seems to be a product of the animal.}, } @article {pmid29320247, year = {1984}, author = {Steen, RG and Muscatine, L}, title = {DAILY BUDGETS OF PHOTOSYNTHETICALLY FIXED CARBON IN SYMBIOTIC ZOANTHIDS.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {477-487}, doi = {10.2307/1541292}, pmid = {29320247}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {We tested the hypothesis that some zoanthids are able to meet a portion of their daily respiratory carbon requirement with photosynthetic carbon from symbiotic algal cells (= zooxanthellae). A daily budget was constructed for carbon (C) photosynthetically fixed by zooxanthellae of the Bermuda zoanthids Zoanthus sociatus and Palythoa variabilis. Zooxanthellae have an average net photosynthetic C fixation of 7.48 and 15.56 µgC·polyp[-1]·day[-1] for Z. sociatus and P. variabilis respectively. The C-specific growth rate (µc) was 0.215·day[-1] for Z. sociatus and 0.152·day[-1] for P. variabilis. The specific growth rate (µ) of zooxanthellae in the zoanthids was measured to be 0.011 and 0.017·day[-1] for Z. sociatus and P. variabilis zooxanthellae respectively. Z. sociatus zooxanthellae translocated 95.1% of the C assimilated in photosynthesis, while P. variabilis zooxanthellae translocated 88.8% of their fixed C. As the animal tissue of a polyp of Z. sociatus required 14.75 µgC·day[-1] for respiration, and one of P. variabiis required 105.54 µgC·day[-1], the contribution of zooxanthellae to animal respiration (CZAR) was 48.2% for Z. sociatus and 13.1% for P. variabilis.}, } @article {pmid29681111, year = {1984}, author = {Clay, K}, title = {THE EFFECT OF THE FUNGUS ATKINSONELLA HYPOXYLON (CLAVICIPITACEAE)ON THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND DEMOGRAPHY OF THE GRASS DANTHONIA SPICATA.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {98}, number = {1}, pages = {165-175}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.1984.tb06106.x}, pmid = {29681111}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {The Balansiae (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycetes) consists of five genera of fungi that parasitize grasses, sedges and rushes. Most or all species produce alkaloids that are toxic to mammalian and insect herbivores. Previous reports suggest that infected grasses are more vigorous than uninfected grasses and that the proportion of infected individuals is greater in older populations. In this study individual plants or genotypes of the grass Danthonia spicata (L.) Beauv. Infected by the fungus Atkinsonella hypoxylon (Peck) Diehl. were compared with uninfected genotypes from the same population. Danthonia spicata typically bears dimorphic chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers but in the study population infected plants were partially sterilized, producing only cleistogamous flowers; uninfected plants produced chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers. Two experimental comparisons were conducted by propagating infected and uninfected genotypes into clones, or ramets, which were then planted back into their native site. Infected ramets had higher survival and growth rates, but lower flower production, than uninfected ramets both in random field transects and in field competition studies between D. spicata and the grass Anthoxanthum odoratum L. The results indicate infected individuals have higher survival and growth rates but reduced fecundity compared to uninfected individuals.}, } @article {pmid29324193, year = {1975}, author = {Steele, RD}, title = {STAGES IN THE LIFE HISTORY OF A SYMBIOTIC ZOOXANTHELLA IN PELLETS EXTRUDED BY ITS HOST AIPTASIA TAGETES (DUCH. AND MICH.) (COELENTERATA, ANTHOZOA).}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {149}, number = {3}, pages = {590-600}, doi = {10.2307/1540389}, pmid = {29324193}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {1. Various morphological stages in the life history of the zooxanthella symbiotic with Aiptasia tagetes have been identified in pellets extruded by the actinian host. One of the stages is a motile zoospore. 2. This zoospore resembles that observed by Kawaguti (1944) and differs from those identified in axenic cultures of G. microadriaticum in containing a large accumulation body. Suggestions are made as to the significance of this difference. 3. It is very likely that the zoospore is an infective stage in the life history of the zooxanthella. 4. There is some evidence to suggest that indirect infection of hosts by zooxanthellae is also possible.}, } @article {pmid29323952, year = {1974}, author = {Donaldson, S}, title = {LARVAL SETTLEMENT OF A SYMBIOTIC HYDROID: SPECIFICITY AND NEMATOCYST RESPONSES IN PLANULAE OF PROBOSCIDACTYLA FLAVICIRRATA.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {147}, number = {3}, pages = {573-585}, doi = {10.2307/1540741}, pmid = {29323952}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Planulae of the symbiotic hydroid Proboscidactyla flavicirrata settle on the rims of sabellid tubes by adhering sequentially and specifically to two different substrates. For both steps, nematocysts are the agents of adhesion. Although the cnidoblasts of these planulae require local excitation, they are subject to endogenous controls. Upon being swept into the plumes of tentacular cirri that sabellids extend from their tubes, planulae attach to individual pinnules (branches of the tentacular cirri) by discharging nematocysts. Within 2 min following attachment, the planulae cease discharging nematocysts in response to additional pinnule contacts. Planulae transfer to the rims of sabellid tubes by adhering with nematocysts when the sabellids retract their plumes. Cnidoblasts of planulae only become responsive to contact with sabellid tube after 4 min or more of continuous attachment to pinnules. Transfer initiates metamorphosis. Planulae are capable of settling and metamorphosing on Eudistylia vancouveri, a sabellid species that is sympatric with the normal hosts of Proboscidactyla, but will not support colonies. Apparently the deficiencies of Eudistylia as a host are manifested only after planula metamorphosis.}, } @article {pmid29323946, year = {1974}, author = {Pearse, VB}, title = {MODIFICATION OF SEA ANEMONE BEHAVIOR BY SYMBIOTIC ZOOXANTHELLAE: EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {147}, number = {3}, pages = {641-651}, doi = {10.2307/1540747}, pmid = {29323946}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The pattern of expansion and contraction by the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima differs in individuals with or without endosymbiotic zooxanthellae. Anemones without zooxanthellae, found in dark habitats, do not regularly expand or contract under changes in light. Anemones with zooxanthellae expand in moderate light and contract in intense light or in darkness, with striking uniformity. However, this behavior does not always depend directly on the presence of zooxanthellae. Anemones that have previously had endosymbiotic zooxanthellae subsequently expand and contract with changes in light in the absence of these algae. Thus, conditioned responses may be involved. It is suggested that expansion and contraction of the anemones may play an important role in favorably regulating the amount of light to which their zooxanthellae are exposed.}, } @article {pmid29323944, year = {1974}, author = {Pearse, VB}, title = {MODIFICATION OF SEA ANEMONE BEHAVIOR BY SYMBIOTIC ZOOXANTHELLAE: PHOTOTAXIS.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {147}, number = {3}, pages = {630-640}, doi = {10.2307/1540746}, pmid = {29323944}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima, with and without endosymbiotic zooxanthellae, was tested for evidence of phototactic behavior. Anemones with zooxanthellae always displayed phototaxis, either positive or negative depending on the experimental light intensity and the light intensity of the habitat from which the animals were taken. Anemones without zooxanthellae-even those that had previously harbored zooxanthellae and that were genetically identical clone-mates of phototactic individuals-never displayed phototaxis, appearing completely indifferent to light and shade. The results indicate that phototaxis in this sea anemone depends directly on the presence of its symbiotic algae. It is suggested that the flexible phototactic behavior of the anemone may play an important role in favorably regulating the amount of light to which the zooxanthellae are exposed.}, } @article {pmid28993253, year = {2018}, author = {Cui, S and Suzaki, T and Tominaga-Wada, R and Yoshida, S}, title = {Regulation and functional diversification of root hairs.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {83}, number = {}, pages = {115-122}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.10.003}, pmid = {28993253}, issn = {1096-3634}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Root hairs result from the polar outgrowth of root epidermis cells in vascular plants. Root hair development processes are regulated by intrinsic genetic programs, which are flexibly modulated by environmental conditions, such as nutrient availability. Basic programs for root hair development were present in early land plants. Subsequently, some plants developed the ability to utilize root hairs for specific functions, in particular, for interactions with other organisms, such as legume-rhizobia and host plants-parasites interactions. In this review, we summarize the molecular regulation of root hair development and the modulation of root hairs under limited nutrient supply and during interactions with other organisms.}, } @article {pmid28992334, year = {2017}, author = {Xue, YB and Xiao, BX and Zhu, SN and Mo, XH and Liang, CY and Tian, J and Liao, H and Miriam, G}, title = {GmPHR25, a GmPHR member up-regulated by phosphate starvation, controls phosphate homeostasis in soybean.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {17}, pages = {4951-4967}, pmid = {28992334}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Homeostasis ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {As an essential nutrient element, phosphorus (P) plays an important role in plant growth and development. Low P availability is a limiting factor for crop production, especially for legume crops (e.g. soybean), which require additional P to sustain nitrogen fixation through symbiotic associations with rhizobia. Although PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 1 (PHR1) or PHR1-like is considered as a central regulator of phosphate (Pi) homeostasis in several plant species, it remains undefined in soybean. In this study, 35 GmPHR members were cloned from the soybean genome and expression patterns in soybean were assayed under nitrogen (N) and P deficiency conditions. GmPHR25, which is up-regulated in response to Pi starvation, was then overexpressed in soybean hairy roots in vitro and in vivo to investigate its functions. The results showed that overexpressing GmPHR25 increased Pi concentration in transgenic soybean hairy roots under normal conditions, accompanied with a significant decrease in hairy root growth. Furthermore, transcripts of 11 out of 14 high-affinity Pi transporter (GmPT) members as well as five other Pi starvation-responsive genes were significantly increased in soybean hairy roots with GmPHR25 overexpression. Taken together, this study suggests that GmPHR25 is a vital regulator in the P signaling network, and controls Pi homeostasis in soybean.}, } @article {pmid28992078, year = {2018}, author = {Kohlen, W and Ng, JLP and Deinum, EE and Mathesius, U}, title = {Auxin transport, metabolism, and signalling during nodule initiation: indeterminate and determinate nodules.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {69}, number = {2}, pages = {229-244}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erx308}, pmid = {28992078}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Biological Transport ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Most legumes can form a unique type of lateral organ on their roots: root nodules. These structures host symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. Several different types of nodules can be found in nature, but the two best-studied types are called indeterminate and determinate nodules. These two types differ with respect to the presence or absence of a persistent nodule meristem, which consistently correlates with the cortical cell layers giving rise to the nodule primordia. Similar to other plant developmental processes, auxin signalling overlaps with the site of organ initiation and meristem activity. Here, we review how auxin contributes to early nodule development. We focus on changes in auxin transport, signalling, and metabolism during nodule initiation, describing both experimental evidence and computer modelling. We discuss how indeterminate and determinate nodules may differ in their mechanisms for generating localized auxin response maxima and highlight outstanding questions for future research.}, } @article {pmid28990722, year = {2018}, author = {Mitic, M and Berry, D and Brasell, E and Green, K and Young, CA and Saikia, S and Rakonjac, J and Scott, B}, title = {Disruption of calcineurin catalytic subunit (cnaA) in Epichloë festucae induces symbiotic defects and intrahyphal hyphae formation.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {1414-1426}, pmid = {28990722}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Calcineurin/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Epichloe/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics/physiology ; Hyphae/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Calcineurin is a conserved calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, consisting of a catalytic subunit A and a regulatory subunit B, which is involved in calcium-dependent signalling and regulation of various important cellular processes. In this study, we functionally characterized the catalytic subunit A (CnaA) of the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae which forms a symbiotic association with the grass host Lolium perenne. We deleted the CnaA-encoding gene cnaA in E. festucae and examined its role in hyphal growth, cell wall integrity and symbiosis. This ΔcnaA strain had a severe growth defect with loss of radial growth and hyper-branched hyphae. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy analysis of the mutant revealed cell wall defects, aberrant septation and the formation of intrahyphal hyphae, both in culture and in planta. The mutant strain also showed a reduced infection rate in planta. The fluorescence of mutant hyphae stained with WGA-AF488 was reduced, indicating reduced chitin accessibility. Together, these results show that E. festucae CnaA is required for fungal growth, maintaining cell wall integrity and host colonization.}, } @article {pmid28990486, year = {2018}, author = {Wang, Q and Liu, J and Li, H and Yang, S and Körmöczi, P and Kereszt, A and Zhu, H}, title = {Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides Negatively Regulate Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiosis in a Strain-Specific Manner in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {240-248}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-17-0207-R}, pmid = {28990486}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Peptides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula shows a high level of specificity when interacting with its symbiotic partner Sinorhizobium meliloti. This specificity is mainly manifested at the nitrogen-fixing stage of nodule development, such that a particular bacterial strain forms nitrogen-fixing nodules (Nod[+]/Fix[+]) on one plant genotype but ineffective nodules (Nod[+]/Fix[-]) on another. Recent studies have just begun to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms that control this specificity. The S. meliloti strain A145 induces the formation of Fix[+] nodules on the accession DZA315.16 but Fix[-] nodules on Jemalong A17. A previous study reported that the formation of Fix[-] nodules on Jemalong A17 by S. meliloti A145 was conditioned by a single recessive allele named Mtsym6. Here we demonstrate that the specificity associated with S. meliloti A145 is controlled by multiple genes in M. truncatula, including NFS1 and NFS2 that encode nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides. The two NCR peptides acted dominantly to block rather than promote nitrogen fixation by S. meliloti A145. These two NCR peptides are the same ones that negatively regulate nitrogen-fixing symbiosis associated with S. meliloti Rm41.}, } @article {pmid28986377, year = {2017}, author = {Torres, JP and Tianero, MD and Robes, JMD and Kwan, JC and Biggs, JS and Concepcion, GP and Olivera, BM and Haygood, MG and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Stenotrophomonas-Like Bacteria Are Widespread Symbionts in Cone Snail Venom Ducts.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {28986377}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR024761/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Microbiota ; Mollusk Venoms/*chemistry/metabolism ; Peptides/chemistry/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Snails/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Stenotrophomonas/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cone snails are biomedically important sources of peptide drugs, but it is not known whether snail-associated bacteria affect venom chemistry. To begin to answer this question, we performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of eight cone snail species, comparing their microbiomes with each other and with those from a variety of other marine invertebrates. We show that the cone snail microbiome is distinct from those in other marine invertebrates and conserved in specimens from around the world, including the Philippines, Guam, California, and Florida. We found that all venom ducts examined contain diverse 16S rRNA gene sequences bearing closest similarity to Stenotrophomonas bacteria. These sequences represent specific symbionts that live in the lumen of the venom duct, where bioactive venom peptides are synthesized.IMPORTANCE In animals, symbiotic bacteria contribute critically to metabolism. Cone snails are renowned for the production of venoms that are used as medicines and as probes for biological study. In principle, symbiotic bacterial metabolism could either degrade or synthesize active venom components, and previous publications show that bacteria do indeed contribute small molecules to some venoms. Therefore, understanding symbiosis in cone snails will contribute to further drug discovery efforts. Here, we describe an unexpected, specific symbiosis between bacteria and cone snails from around the world.}, } @article {pmid28985400, year = {2017}, author = {Sanders, JG and Lukasik, P and Frederickson, ME and Russell, JA and Koga, R and Knight, R and Pierce, NE}, title = {Dramatic Differences in Gut Bacterial Densities Correlate with Diet and Habitat in Rainforest Ants.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {57}, number = {4}, pages = {705-722}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icx088}, pmid = {28985400}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Diet ; *Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Peru ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Rainforest ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Abundance is a key parameter in microbial ecology, and important to estimates of potential metabolite flux, impacts of dispersal, and sensitivity of samples to technical biases such as laboratory contamination. However, modern amplicon-based sequencing techniques by themselves typically provide no information about the absolute abundance of microbes. Here, we use fluorescence microscopy and quantitative polymerase chain reaction as independent estimates of microbial abundance to test the hypothesis that microbial symbionts have enabled ants to dominate tropical rainforest canopies by facilitating herbivorous diets, and compare these methods to microbial diversity profiles from 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Through a systematic survey of ants from a lowland tropical forest, we show that the density of gut microbiota varies across several orders of magnitude among ant lineages, with median individuals from many genera only marginally above detection limits. Supporting the hypothesis that microbial symbiosis is important to dominance in the canopy, we find that the abundance of gut bacteria is positively correlated with stable isotope proxies of herbivory among canopy-dwelling ants, but not among ground-dwelling ants. Notably, these broad findings are much more evident in the quantitative data than in the 16S rRNA sequencing data. Our results provide quantitative context to the potential role of bacteria in facilitating the ants' dominance of the tropical rainforest canopy, and have broad implications for the interpretation of sequence-based surveys of microbial diversity.}, } @article {pmid28985375, year = {2017}, author = {Cale, JA and Muskens, M and Najar, A and Ishangulyyeva, G and Hussain, A and Kanekar, SS and Klutsch, JG and Taft, S and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Rapid monoterpene induction promotes the susceptibility of a novel host pine to mountain pine beetle colonization but not to beetle-vectored fungi.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {37}, number = {12}, pages = {1597-1610}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpx089}, pmid = {28985375}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/*pathogenicity ; Fungi/pathogenicity ; Monoterpenes/*metabolism ; Pinus/*metabolism/microbiology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Chemical induction can drive tree susceptibility to and host range expansions of attacking insects and fungi. Recently, mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins; MPB) has expanded its host range from its historic host lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Douglas ex Loudon) to jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb) in western Canada. Beetle success in jack pine forests likely depends upon the suitability of tree chemistry to MPB and its symbiotic phytopathogenic fungi. In particular, how rapid induced defenses of jack pine affect MPB colonization and the beetle's symbionts is unknown. In the field, we characterized and compared differences in rapid induced phloem monoterpenes between lodgepole and jack pines in response to various densities of Grosmannia clavigera (Robinson-Jeffery and Davidson)-a MPB symbiotic fungus used to simulate beetle attack-inoculations. Overall, lodgepole pine had higher limonene and myrcene, but lower α-pinene, concentrations than jack pine. However, myrcene concentrations in jack pine increased with inoculation density, while that in lodgepole pine did not respond to density treatments. We compared the growth and reproduction of MPB's symbiotic fungi, G. clavigera, Ophiostoma montium (Rumford) von Arx and Leptographium longiclavatum Lee, Kim and Breuil, grown on media amended with myrcene, α-pinene and limonene at concentrations reflecting two induction levels from each pine species. Myrcene and α-pinene amendments inhibited the growth but stimulated the reproduction of G. clavigera, whereas limonene stimulated its growth while inhibiting its reproduction. However, the growth and reproduction of the other fungi were generally stimulated by monoterpene amendments. Overall, our results suggest that jack pine rapid induction could promote MPB aggregation due to high levels of α-pinene (pheromone precursor), a positive feedback of myrcene (pheromone synergist) and low levels of limonene (resistance). Jack pine is likely as susceptible to MPB-vectored fungi as lodgepole pine, indicating that jack pine induction will likely not adversely affect symbiont activities enough to inhibit the invasion of MPB into jack pine forests.}, } @article {pmid28985326, year = {2017}, author = {McKenzie, VJ and Song, SJ and Delsuc, F and Prest, TL and Oliverio, AM and Korpita, TM and Alexiev, A and Amato, KR and Metcalf, JL and Kowalewski, M and Avenant, NL and Link, A and Di Fiore, A and Seguin-Orlando, A and Feh, C and Orlando, L and Mendelson, JR and Sanders, J and Knight, R}, title = {The Effects of Captivity on the Mammalian Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {57}, number = {4}, pages = {690-704}, pmid = {28985326}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Zoo/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mammals/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Recent studies increasingly note the effect of captivity or the built environment on the microbiome of humans and other animals. As symbiotic microbes are essential to many aspects of biology (e.g., digestive and immune functions), it is important to understand how lifestyle differences can impact the microbiome, and, consequently, the health of hosts. Animals living in captivity experience a range of changes that may influence the gut bacteria, such as diet changes, treatments, and reduced contact with other individuals, species and variable environmental substrates that act as sources of bacterial diversity. Thus far, initial results from previous studies point to a pattern of decreased bacterial diversity in captive animals. However, these studies are relatively limited in the scope of species that have been examined. Here we present a dataset that includes paired wild and captive samples from mammalian taxa across six Orders to investigate generalizable patterns of the effects captivity on mammalian gut bacteria. In comparing the wild to the captive condition, our results indicate that alpha diversity of the gut bacteria remains consistent in some mammalian hosts (bovids, giraffes, anteaters, and aardvarks), declines in the captive condition in some hosts (canids, primates, and equids), and increases in the captive condition in one host taxon (rhinoceros). Differences in gut bacterial beta diversity between the captive and wild state were observed for most of the taxa surveyed, except the even-toed ungulates (bovids and giraffes). Additionally, beta diversity variation was also strongly influenced by host taxonomic group, diet type, and gut fermentation physiology. Bacterial taxa that demonstrated larger shifts in relative abundance between the captive and wild states included members of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Overall, the patterns that we observe will inform a range of disciplines from veterinary practice to captive breeding efforts for biological conservation. Furthermore, bacterial taxa that persist in the captive state provide unique insight into symbiotic relationships with the host.}, } @article {pmid28983292, year = {2017}, author = {Busset, N and Di Lorenzo, F and Palmigiano, A and Sturiale, L and Gressent, F and Fardoux, J and Gully, D and Chaintreuil, C and Molinaro, A and Silipo, A and Giraud, E}, title = {The Very Long Chain Fatty Acid (C26:25OH) Linked to the Lipid A Is Important for the Fitness of the Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium Strain ORS278 and the Establishment of a Successful Symbiosis with Aeschynomene Legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1821}, pmid = {28983292}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In rhizobium strains, the lipid A is modified by the addition of a very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) shown to play an important role in rigidification of the outer membrane, thereby facilitating their dual life cycle, outside and inside the plant. In Bradyrhizobium strains, the lipid A is more complex with the presence of at least two VLCFAs, one covalently linked to a hopanoid molecule, but the importance of these modifications is not well-understood. In this study, we identified a cluster of VLCFA genes in the photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strain ORS278, which nodulates Aeschynomene plants in a Nod factor-independent process. We tried to mutate the different genes of the VLCFA gene cluster to prevent the synthesis of the VLCFAs, but only one mutant in the lpxXL gene encoding an acyltransferase was obtained. Structural analysis of the lipid A showed that LpxXL is involved in the transfer of the C26:25OH VLCFA to the lipid A but not in the one of the C30:29OH VLCFA which harbors the hopanoid molecule. Despite maintaining the second VLCFA, the ability of the mutant to cope with various stresses (low pH, high temperature, high osmolarity, and antimicrobial peptides) and to establish an efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis was drastically reduced. In parallel, we investigated whether the BRADO0045 gene, which encodes a putative acyltransferase displaying a weak identity with the apo-lipoprotein N-acyltransferase Lnt, could be involved in the transfer of the C30:29OH VLCFA to the lipid A. Although the mutant exhibited phenotypes similar to the lpxXL mutant, no difference in the lipid A structure was observed from that in the wild-type strain, indicating that this gene is not involved in the modification of lipid A. Our results advance our knowledge of the biosynthesis pathway and the role of VLCFAs-modified lipid A in free-living and symbiotic states of Bradyrhizobium strains.}, } @article {pmid28983283, year = {2017}, author = {Bartling, P and Brinkmann, H and Bunk, B and Overmann, J and Göker, M and Petersen, J}, title = {The Composite 259-kb Plasmid of Martelella mediterranea DSM 17316[T]-A Natural Replicon with Functional RepABC Modules from Rhodobacteraceae and Rhizobiaceae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1787}, pmid = {28983283}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A multipartite genome organization with a chromosome and many extrachromosomal replicons (ECRs) is characteristic for Alphaproteobacteria. The best investigated ECRs of terrestrial rhizobia are the symbiotic plasmids for legume root nodulation and the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. RepABC plasmids represent the most abundant alphaproteobacterial replicon type. The currently known homologous replication modules of rhizobia and Rhodobacteraceae are phylogenetically distinct. In this study, we surveyed type-strain genomes from the One Thousand Microbial Genomes (KMG-I) project and identified a roseobacter-specific RepABC-type operon in the draft genome of the marine rhizobium Martelella mediterranea DSM 17316[T]. PacBio genome sequencing demonstrated the presence of three circular ECRs with sizes of 593, 259, and 170-kb. The rhodobacteral RepABC module is located together with a rhizobial equivalent on the intermediate sized plasmid pMM259, which likely originated in the fusion of a pre-existing rhizobial ECR with a conjugated roseobacter plasmid. Further evidence for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is given by the presence of a roseobacter-specific type IV secretion system on the 259-kb plasmid and the rhodobacteracean origin of 62% of the genes on this plasmid. Functionality tests documented that the genuine rhizobial RepABC module from the Martelella 259-kb plasmid is only maintained in A. tumefaciens C58 (Rhizobiaceae) but not in Phaeobacter inhibens DSM 17395 (Rhodobacteraceae). Unexpectedly, the roseobacter-like replication system is functional and stably maintained in both host strains, thus providing evidence for a broader host range than previously proposed. In conclusion, pMM259 is the first example of a natural plasmid that likely mediates genetic exchange between roseobacters and rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid28980422, year = {2017}, author = {Brooks, KC and Maia, R and Duffy, JE and Hultgren, KM and Rubenstein, DR}, title = {Ecological generalism facilitates the evolution of sociality in snapping shrimps.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {1516-1525}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12857}, pmid = {28980422}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Decapoda ; *Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Evidence from insects and vertebrates suggests that cooperation may have enabled species to expand their niches, becoming ecological generalists and dominating the ecosystems in which they occur. Consistent with this idea, eusocial species of sponge-dwelling Synalpheus shrimps from Belize are ecological generalists with a broader host breadth and higher abundance than non-eusocial species. We evaluate whether sociality promotes ecological generalism (social conquest hypothesis) or whether ecological generalism facilitates the transition to sociality (social transition hypothesis) in 38 Synalpheus shrimp species. We find that sociality evolves primarily from host generalists, and almost exclusively so for transitions to eusociality. Additionally, sponge volume is more important for explaining social transitions towards communal breeding than to eusociality, suggesting that different ecological factors may influence the independent evolutionary origins of sociality in Synalpheus shrimps. Ultimately, our results are consistent with the social transition hypothesis and the idea that ecological generalism facilitates the transition to sociality.}, } @article {pmid28979252, year = {2017}, author = {Songwattana, P and Noisangiam, R and Teamtisong, K and Prakamhang, J and Teulet, A and Tittabutr, P and Piromyou, P and Boonkerd, N and Giraud, E and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Type 3 Secretion System (T3SS) of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 and Its Roles in Legume Symbiosis and Rice Endophytic Association.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1810}, pmid = {28979252}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 strain isolated from a paddy field has the ability to nodulate a wide spectrum of legumes. Unlike other bradyrhizobia, this strain has a symbiotic plasmid harboring nod, nif, and type 3 secretion system (T3SS) genes. This T3SS cluster contains all the genes necessary for the formation of the secretory apparatus and the transcriptional activator (TtsI), which is preceded by a nod-box motif. An in silico search predicted 14 effectors putatively translocated by this T3SS machinery. In this study, we explored the role of the T3SS in the symbiotic performance of DOA9 by evaluating the ability of a T3SS mutant (ΩrhcN) to nodulate legumes belonging to Dalbergioid, Millettioid, and Genistoid tribes. Among the nine species tested, four (Arachis hypogea, Vigna radiata, Crotalaria juncea, and Macroptilium atropurpureum) responded positively to the rhcN mutation (ranging from suppression of plant defense reactions, an increase in the number of nodules and a dramatic improvement in nodule development and infection), one (Stylosanthes hamata) responded negatively (fewer nodules and less nitrogen fixation) and four species (Aeschynomene americana, Aeschynomene afraspera, Indigofera tinctoria, and Desmodium tortuosum) displayed no phenotype. We also tested the role of the T3SS in the ability of the DOA9 strain to endophytically colonize rice roots, but detected no effect of the T3SS mutation, in contrast to what was previously reported in the Bradyrhizobium SUTN9-2 strain. Taken together, these data indicate that DOA9 contains a functional T3SS that interferes with the ability of the strain to interact symbiotically with legumes but not with rice.}, } @article {pmid28978338, year = {2017}, author = {Gall, CA and Scoles, GA and Magori, K and Mason, KL and Brayton, KA}, title = {Laboratory colonization stabilizes the naturally dynamic microbiome composition of field collected Dermacentor andersoni ticks.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {133}, pmid = {28978338}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {R01 AI044005/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI044005/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008336/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Dermacentor/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nearly a quarter of emerging infectious diseases identified in the last century are arthropod-borne. Although ticks and insects can carry pathogenic microorganisms, non-pathogenic microbes make up the majority of their microbial communities. The majority of tick microbiome research has had a focus on discovery and description; very few studies have analyzed the ecological context and functional responses of the bacterial microbiome of ticks. The goal of this analysis was to characterize the stability of the bacterial microbiome of Dermacentor andersoni ticks between generations and two populations within a species.

METHODS: The bacterial microbiome of D. andersoni midguts and salivary glands was analyzed from populations collected at two different ecologically distinct sites by comparing field (F1) and lab-reared populations (F1-F3) over three generations. The microbiome composition of pooled and individual samples was analyzed by sequencing nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicons using a Pacific Biosciences CCS platform that allows identification of bacteria to the species level.

FINDINGS: In this study, we found that the D. andersoni microbiome was distinct in different geographic populations and was tissue specific, differing between the midgut and the salivary gland, over multiple generations. Additionally, our study showed that the microbiomes of laboratory-reared populations were not necessarily representative of their respective field populations. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the microbiome of a few individual ticks does not represent the microbiome composition at the population level.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the bacterial microbiome of D. andersoni was complex over three generations and specific to tick tissue (midgut vs. salivary glands) as well as geographic location (Burns, Oregon vs. Lake Como, Montana vs. laboratory setting). These results provide evidence that habitat of the tick population is a vital component of the complexity of the bacterial microbiome of ticks, and that the microbiome of lab colonies may not allow for comparative analyses with field populations. A broader understanding of microbiome variation will be required if we are to employ manipulation of the microbiome as a method for interfering with acquisition and transmission of tick-borne pathogens.}, } @article {pmid28978045, year = {2017}, author = {Ozsvari, B and Fiorillo, M and Bonuccelli, G and Cappello, AR and Frattaruolo, L and Sotgia, F and Trowbridge, R and Foster, R and Lisanti, MP}, title = {Mitoriboscins: Mitochondrial-based therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), bacteria and pathogenic yeast.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {8}, number = {40}, pages = {67457-67472}, pmid = {28978045}, issn = {1949-2553}, abstract = {The "endo-symbiotic theory of mitochondrial evolution" states that mitochondrial organelles evolved from engulfed aerobic bacteria, after millions of years of symbiosis and adaptation. Here, we have exploited this premise to design new antibiotics and novel anti-cancer therapies, using a convergent approach. First, virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) and computational chemistry were used to identify novel compounds binding to the 3D structure of the mammalian mitochondrial ribosome. The resulting library of ∼880 compounds was then subjected to phenotypic drug screening on human cancer cells, to identify which compounds functionally induce ATP-depletion, which is characteristic of mitochondrial inhibition. Notably, the top ten "hit" compounds define four new classes of mitochondrial inhibitors. Next, we further validated that these novel mitochondrial inhibitors metabolically target mitochondrial respiration in cancer cells and effectively inhibit the propagation of cancer stem-like cells in vitro. Finally, we show that these mitochondrial inhibitors possess broad-spectrum antibiotic activity, preventing the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as C. albicans - a pathogenic yeast. Remarkably, these novel antibiotics also were effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Thus, this simple, yet systematic, approach to the discovery of mitochondrial ribosome inhibitors could provide a plethora of anti-microbials and anti-cancer therapies, to target drug-resistance that is characteristic of both i) tumor recurrence and ii) infectious disease. In summary, we have successfully used vHTS combined with phenotypic drug screening of human cancer cells to identify several new classes of broad-spectrum antibiotics that target both bacteria and pathogenic yeast. We propose the new term "mitoriboscins" to describe these novel mitochondrial-related antibiotics. Thus far, we have identified four different classes of mitoriboscins, such as: 1) mitoribocyclines, 2) mitoribomycins, 3) mitoribosporins and 4) mitoribofloxins. However, we broadly define mitoriboscins as any small molecule(s) or peptide(s) that bind to the mitoribosome (large or small subunits) and, as a consequence, inhibit mitochondrial function, i.e., mitoribosome inhibitors.}, } @article {pmid28977715, year = {2017}, author = {Uchiumi, Y and Ohtsuki, H and Sasaki, A}, title = {Evolutionary emergence and maintenance of horizontally transmitted mutualism that do not rely on the supply of standing variation in symbiont quality.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {2211-2221}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13187}, pmid = {28977715}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Models, Biological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualism based on reciprocal exchange of costly services must avoid exploitation by 'free-rides'. Accordingly, hosts discriminate against free-riding symbionts in many mutualistic relationships. However, as the selective advantage of discriminators comes from the presence of variability in symbiont quality that they eliminate, discrimination and thus mutualism have been considered to be maintained with exogenous supply of free-riders. In this study, we tried to resolve the 'paradoxical' co-evolution of discrimination by hosts and cooperation by symbionts, by comparing two different types of discrimination: 'one-shot' discrimination, where a host does not reacquire new symbionts after evicting free-riders, and 'resampling' discrimination, where a host does from the environment. Our study shows that this apparently minor difference in discrimination types leads to qualitatively different evolutionary outcomes. First, although it has been usually considered that the benefit of discriminators is derived from the variability of symbiont quality, the benefit of a certain type of discriminators (e.g. one-shot discrimination) is proportional to the frequency of free-riders, which is in stark contrast to the case of resampling discrimination. As a result, one-shot discriminators can invade the free-rider/nondiscriminator population, even if standing variation for symbiont quality is absent. Second, our one-shot discriminators can also be maintained without exogenous supply of free-riders and hence is free from the paradox of discrimination. Therefore, our result indicates that the paradox is not a common feature of evolution of discrimination but is a problem of specific types of discrimination.}, } @article {pmid28976548, year = {2017}, author = {Menge, DNL and Batterman, SA and Hedin, LO and Liao, W and Pacala, SW and Taylor, BN}, title = {Why are nitrogen-fixing trees rare at higher compared to lower latitudes?.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {12}, pages = {3127-3140}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2034}, pmid = {28976548}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Forests ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation provides a dominant source of new N to the terrestrial biosphere, yet in many cases the abundance of N-fixing trees appears paradoxical. N-fixing trees, which should be favored when N is limiting, are rare in higher latitude forests where N limitation is common, but are abundant in many lower latitude forests where N limitation is rare. Here, we develop a graphical and mathematical model to resolve the paradox. We use the model to demonstrate that N fixation is not necessarily cost effective under all degrees of N limitation, as intuition suggests. Rather, N fixation is only cost effective when N limitation is sufficiently severe. This general finding, specific versions of which have also emerged from other models, would explain sustained moderate N limitation because N-fixing trees would either turn N fixation off or be outcompeted under moderate N limitation. From this finding, four general hypothesis classes emerge to resolve the apparent paradox of N limitation and N-fixing tree abundance across latitude. The first hypothesis is that N limitation is less common at higher latitudes. This hypothesis contradicts prevailing evidence, so is unlikely, but the following three hypotheses all seem likely. The second hypothesis, which is new, is that even if N limitation is more common at higher latitudes, more severe N limitation might be more common at lower latitudes because of the capacity for higher N demand. Third, N fixation might be cost effective under milder N limitation at lower latitudes but only under more severe N limitation at higher latitudes. This third hypothesis class generalizes previous hypotheses and suggests new specific hypotheses. For example, greater trade-offs between N fixation and N use efficiency, soil N uptake, or plant turnover at higher compared to lower latitudes would make N fixation cost effective only under more severe N limitation at higher latitudes. Fourth, N-fixing trees might adjust N fixation more at lower than at higher latitudes. This framework provides new hypotheses to explain the latitudinal abundance distribution of N-fixing trees, and also provides a new way to visualize them. Therefore, it can help explain the seemingly paradoxical persistence of N limitation in many higher latitude forests.}, } @article {pmid28975015, year = {2017}, author = {Osman, WAM and van Berkum, P and León-Barrios, M and Velázquez, E and Elia, P and Tian, R and Ardley, J and Gollagher, M and Seshadri, R and Reddy, TBK and Ivanova, N and Woyke, T and Pati, A and Markowitz, V and Baeshen, MN and Baeshen, NN and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality draft genome sequence of Ensifer meliloti Mlalz-1, a microsymbiont of Medicago laciniata (L.) miller collected in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {58}, pmid = {28975015}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {10.1601/nm.1335 Mlalz-1 (INSDC = ATZD00000000) is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen-fixing nodule of Medicago laciniata (L.) Miller from a soil sample collected near the town of Guatiza on the island of Lanzarote, the Canary Islands, Spain. This strain nodulates and forms an effective symbiosis with the highly specific host M. laciniata. This rhizobial genome was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) sequencing project. Here the features of 10.1601/nm.1335 Mlalz-1 are described, together with high-quality permanent draft genome sequence information and annotation. The 6,664,116 bp high-quality draft genome is arranged in 99 scaffolds of 100 contigs, containing 6314 protein-coding genes and 74 RNA-only encoding genes. Strain Mlalz-1 is closely related to 10.1601/nm.1335 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DIAM+12611 [T], 10.1601/nm.1334 A 321[T] and 10.1601/nm.17831 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DORS+1407 [T], based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. gANI values of ≥98.1% support the classification of strain Mlalz-1 as 10.1601/nm.1335. Nodulation of M. laciniata requires a specific nodC allele, and the nodC gene of strain Mlalz-1 shares ≥98% sequence identity with nodC of M. laciniata-nodulating 10.1601/nm.1328 strains, but ≤93% with nodC of 10.1601/nm.1328 strains that nodulate other Medicago species. Strain Mlalz-1 is unique among sequenced 10.1601/nm.1335 strains in possessing genes encoding components of a T2SS and in having two versions of the adaptive acid tolerance response lpiA-acvB operon. In 10.1601/nm.1334 strain 10.1601/strainfinder?urlappend=%3Fid%3DWSM+419, lpiA is essential for enhancing survival in lethal acid conditions. The second copy of the lpiA-acvB operon of strain Mlalz-1 has highest sequence identity (> 96%) with that of 10.1601/nm.1334 strains, which suggests genetic recombination between strain Mlalz-1 and 10.1601/nm.1334 and the horizontal gene transfer of lpiA-acvB.}, } @article {pmid28974956, year = {2017}, author = {Jacoby, R and Peukert, M and Succurro, A and Koprivova, A and Kopriva, S}, title = {The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition-Current Knowledge and Future Directions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1617}, pmid = {28974956}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In their natural environment, plants are part of a rich ecosystem including numerous and diverse microorganisms in the soil. It has been long recognized that some of these microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi or nitrogen fixing symbiotic bacteria, play important roles in plant performance by improving mineral nutrition. However, the full range of microbes associated with plants and their potential to replace synthetic agricultural inputs has only recently started to be uncovered. In the last few years, a great progress has been made in the knowledge on composition of rhizospheric microbiomes and their dynamics. There is clear evidence that plants shape microbiome structures, most probably by root exudates, and also that bacteria have developed various adaptations to thrive in the rhizospheric niche. The mechanisms of these interactions and the processes driving the alterations in microbiomes are, however, largely unknown. In this review, we focus on the interaction of plants and root associated bacteria enhancing plant mineral nutrition, summarizing the current knowledge in several research fields that can converge to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid28974456, year = {2017}, author = {Arora, AK and Douglas, AE}, title = {Hype or opportunity? Using microbial symbionts in novel strategies for insect pest control.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {103}, number = {}, pages = {10-17}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.09.011}, pmid = {28974456}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Insect Control/*methods ; Insecta/*microbiology/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All insects, including pest species, are colonized by microorganisms, variously located in the gut and within insect tissues. Manipulation of these microbial partners can reduce the pest status of insects, either by modifying insect traits (e.g. altering the host range or tolerance of abiotic conditions, reducing insect competence to vector disease agents) or by reducing fitness. Strategies utilizing heterologous microorganisms (i.e. derived from different insect species) and genetically-modified microbial symbionts are under development, particularly in relation to insect vectors of human disease agents. There is also the potential to target microorganisms absolutely required by the insect, resulting in insect mortality or suppression of insect growth or fecundity. This latter approach is particularly valuable for insect pests that depend on nutrients from symbiotic microorganisms to supplement their nutritionally-inadequate diet, e.g. insects feeding through the life cycle on vertebrate blood (cimicid bugs, anopluran lice, tsetse flies), plant sap (whiteflies, aphids, psyllids, planthoppers, leafhoppers/sharpshooters) and sound wood (various xylophagous beetles and some termites). Further research will facilitate implementation of these novel insect pest control strategies, particularly to ensure specificity of control agents to the pest insect without dissemination of bio-active compounds, novel microorganisms or their genes into the wider environment.}, } @article {pmid28973917, year = {2017}, author = {Almario, J and Jeena, G and Wunder, J and Langen, G and Zuccaro, A and Coupland, G and Bucher, M}, title = {Root-associated fungal microbiota of nonmycorrhizal Arabis alpina and its contribution to plant phosphorus nutrition.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {44}, pages = {E9403-E9412}, pmid = {28973917}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Arabis/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants live in association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rely on this symbiosis to scavenge phosphorus (P) from soil. The ability to establish this partnership has been lost in some plant lineages like the Brassicaceae, which raises the question of what alternative nutrition strategies such plants have to grow in P-impoverished soils. To understand the contribution of plant-microbiota interactions, we studied the root-associated fungal microbiome of Arabis alpina (Brassicaceae) with the hypothesis that some of its components can promote plant P acquisition. Using amplicon sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer 2, we studied the root and rhizosphere fungal communities of A. alpina growing under natural and controlled conditions including low-P soils and identified a set of 15 fungal taxa consistently detected in its roots. This cohort included a Helotiales taxon exhibiting high abundance in roots of wild A. alpina growing in an extremely P-limited soil. Consequently, we isolated and subsequently reintroduced a specimen from this taxon into its native P-poor soil in which it improved plant growth and P uptake. The fungus exhibited mycorrhiza-like traits including colonization of the root endosphere and P transfer to the plant. Genome analysis revealed a link between its endophytic lifestyle and the expansion of its repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes. We report the discovery of a plant-fungus interaction facilitating the growth of a nonmycorrhizal plant under native P-limited conditions, thus uncovering a previously underestimated role of root fungal microbiota in P cycling.}, } @article {pmid28973021, year = {2017}, author = {Richards, C and Otani, S and Mikaelyan, A and Poulsen, M}, title = {Pycnoscelus surinamensis cockroach gut microbiota respond consistently to a fungal diet without mirroring those of fungus-farming termites.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {e0185745}, pmid = {28973021}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cockroaches/*microbiology ; Diet ; *Fungi ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiotas of cockroaches and termites play important roles in the symbiotic digestion of dietary components, such as lignocellulose. Diet has been proposed as a primary determinant of community structure within the gut, acting as a selection force to shape the diversity observed within this "bioreactor", and as a key factor for the divergence of the termite gut microbiota from the omnivorous cockroach ancestor. The gut microbiota in most termites supports primarily the breakdown of lignocellulose, but the fungus-farming sub-family of higher termites has become similar in gut microbiota to the ancestral omnivorous cockroaches. To assess the importance of a fungus diet as a driver of community structure, we compare community compositions in the guts of experimentally manipulated Pycnoscelus surinamensis cockroaches fed on fungus cultivated by fungus-farming termites. MiSeq amplicon analysis of gut microbiotas from 49 gut samples showed a step-wise gradient pattern in community similarity that correlated with an increase in the proportion of fungal material provided to the cockroaches. Comparison of the taxonomic composition of manipulated communities to that of gut communities of a fungus-feeding termite species showed that although some bacteria OTUs shared by P. surinamensis and the farming termites increased in the guts of cockroaches on a fungal diet, cockroach communities remained distinct from those of termites. These results demonstrate that a fungal diet can play a role in structuring gut community composition, but at the same time exemplifies how original community compositions constrain the magnitude of such change.}, } @article {pmid28972547, year = {2017}, author = {Root-Bernstein, R}, title = {Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins Mimic Human T Cell Receptors Inducing Cross-Reactive Antibodies.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {28972547}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*immunology/virology ; Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Cross Reactions ; HIV/chemistry/*immunology ; Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins/chemistry/*immunology ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Molecular Mimicry ; Proteomics ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hides from the immune system in part by mimicking host antigens, including human leukocyte antigens. It is demonstrated here that HIV also mimics the V-β-D-J-β of approximately seventy percent of about 600 randomly selected human T cell receptors (TCR). This degree of mimicry is greater than any other human pathogen, commensal or symbiotic organism studied. These data suggest that HIV may be evolving into a commensal organism just as simian immunodeficiency virus has done in some types of monkeys. The gp120 envelope protein, Nef protein and Pol protein are particularly similar to host TCR, camouflaging HIV from the immune system and creating serious barriers to the development of safe HIV vaccines. One consequence of HIV mimicry of host TCR is that antibodies against HIV proteins have a significant probability of recognizing the corresponding TCR as antigenic targets, explaining the widespread observation of lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Quantitative enzyme-linked immunoadsorption assays (ELISA) demonstrated that every HIV antibody tested recognized at least one of twelve TCR, and as many as seven, with a binding constant in the 10[-8] to 10[-9] m range. HIV immunity also affects microbiome tolerance in ways that correlate with susceptibility to specific opportunistic infections.}, } @article {pmid28972189, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, JK and Jang, HA and Kim, MS and Cho, JH and Lee, J and Di Lorenzo, F and Sturiale, L and Silipo, A and Molinaro, A and Lee, BL}, title = {The lipopolysaccharide core oligosaccharide of Burkholderia plays a critical role in maintaining a proper gut symbiosis with the bean bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {292}, number = {47}, pages = {19226-19237}, pmid = {28972189}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Heteroptera/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mutation ; O Antigens/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharide, the outer cell-wall component of Gram-negative bacteria, has been shown to be important for symbiotic associations. We recently reported that the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen of Burkholderia enhances the initial colonization of the midgut of the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris However, the midgut-colonizing Burkholderia symbionts lack the O-antigen but display the core oligosaccharide on the cell surface. In this study, we investigated the role of the core oligosaccharide, which directly interacts with the host midgut, in the Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis. To this end, we generated the core oligosaccharide mutant strains, ΔwabS, ΔwabO, ΔwaaF, and ΔwaaC, and determined the chemical structures of their oligosaccharides, which exhibited different compositions. The symbiotic properties of these mutant strains were compared with those of the wild-type and O-antigen-deficient ΔwbiG strains. Upon introduction into Riptortus via the oral route, the core oligosaccharide mutant strains exhibited different rates of colonization of the insect midgut. The symbiont titers in fifth-instar insects revealed significantly reduced population sizes of the inner core oligosaccharide mutant strains ΔwaaF and ΔwaaC These two strains also negatively affected host growth rate and fitness. Furthermore, R. pedestris individuals colonized with the ΔwaaF and ΔwaaC strains were vulnerable to septic bacterial challenge, similar to insects without a Burkholderia symbiont. Taken together, these results suggest that the core oligosaccharide from Burkholderia symbionts plays a critical role in maintaining a proper symbiont population and in supporting the beneficial effects of the symbiont on its host in the Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28971723, year = {2018}, author = {Vacheron, J and Desbrosses, G and Renoud, S and Padilla, R and Walker, V and Muller, D and Prigent-Combaret, C}, title = {Differential Contribution of Plant-Beneficial Functions from Pseudomonas kilonensis F113 to Root System Architecture Alterations in Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {212-223}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-17-0185-R}, pmid = {28971723}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Fluorescent pseudomonads are playing key roles in plant-bacteria symbiotic interactions due to the multiple plant-beneficial functions (PBFs) they are harboring. The relative contributions of PBFs to plant-stimulatory effects of the well-known plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Pseudomonas kilonensis F113 (formerly P. fluorescens F113) were investigated using a genetic approach. To this end, several deletion mutants were constructed, simple mutants ΔphlD (impaired in the biosynthesis of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol [DAPG]), ΔacdS (deficient in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity), Δgcd (glucose dehydrogenase deficient, impaired in phosphate solubilization), and ΔnirS (nitrite reductase deficient), and a quadruple mutant (deficient in the four PBFs mentioned above). Every PBF activity was quantified in the wild-type strain and the five deletion mutants. This approach revealed few functional interactions between PBFs in vitro. In particular, biosynthesis of glucose dehydrogenase severely reduced the production of DAPG. Contrariwise, the DAPG production impacted positively, but to a lesser extent, phosphate solubilization. Inoculation of the F113 wild-type strain on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 and maize seedlings modified the root architecture of both plants. Mutant strain inoculations revealed that the relative contribution of each PBF differed according to the measured plant traits and that F113 plant-stimulatory effects did not correspond to the sum of each PBF relative contribution. Indeed, two PBF genes (ΔacdS and ΔnirS) had a significant impact on root-system architecture from both model plants, in in vitro and in vivo conditions. The current work underscored that few F113 PBFs seem to interact between each other in the free-living bacterial cells, whereas they control in concert Arabidopsis thaliana and maize growth and development.}, } @article {pmid28970228, year = {2017}, author = {Attai, H and Rimbey, J and Smith, GP and Brown, PJB}, title = {Expression of a Peptidoglycan Hydrolase from Lytic Bacteriophages Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03 Triggers Lysis of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {28970228}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {T32 GM008396/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/*physiology ; *Bacteriolysis ; Bacteriophages/classification/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Gene Expression ; N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protein Domains ; Viral Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Wastewater/virology ; }, abstract = {To provide food security, innovative approaches to preventing plant disease are currently being explored. Here, we demonstrate that lytic bacteriophages and phage lysis proteins are effective at triggering lysis of the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens Phages Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03 were isolated from wastewater and induced lysis of C58-derived strains of A. tumefaciens The coinoculation of A. tumefaciens with phages on potato discs limited tumor formation. The genomes of Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03 are nearly identical and are ∼42% identical to those of T7 supercluster phages. In silico attempts to find a canonical lysis cassette were unsuccessful; however, we found a putative phage peptidoglycan hydrolase (PPH), which contains a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Remarkably, the endogenous expression of pph in the absence of additional phage genes causes a block in cell division and subsequent lysis of A. tumefaciens cells. When the presumed active site of the N-acetylmuramidase domain carries an inactivating mutation, PPH expression causes extensive cell branching due to a block in cell division but does not trigger rapid cell lysis. In contrast, the mutation of positively charged residues at the extreme C terminus of PPH causes more rapid cell lysis. Together, these results suggest that PPH causes a block in cell division and triggers cell lysis through two distinct activities. Finally, the potent killing activity of this single lysis protein can be modulated, suggesting that it could be engineered to be an effective enzybiotic.IMPORTANCE The characterization of bacteriophages such as Atu_ph02 and Atu_ph03, which infect plant pathogens such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, may be the basis of new biocontrol strategies. First, cocktails of diverse bacteriophages could be used as a preventative measure to limit plant diseases caused by bacteria; a bacterial pathogen is unlikely to simultaneously develop resistances to multiple bacteriophage species. The specificity of bacteriophage treatment for the host is an asset in complex communities, such as in orchards where it would be detrimental to harm the symbiotic bacteria in the environment. Second, bacteriophages are potential sources of enzymes that efficiently lyse bacterial cells. These phage proteins may have a broad specificity, but since proteins do not replicate as phages do, their effect is highly localized, providing an alternative to traditional antibiotic treatments. Thus, studies of lytic bacteriophages that infect A. tumefaciens may provide insights for designing preventative strategies against bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid28969802, year = {2017}, author = {Verzeaux, J and Hirel, B and Dubois, F and Lea, PJ and Tétu, T}, title = {Agricultural practices to improve nitrogen use efficiency through the use of arbuscular mycorrhizae: Basic and agronomic aspects.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {264}, number = {}, pages = {48-56}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.08.004}, pmid = {28969802}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycelium ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/cytology/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/cytology/microbiology/physiology ; Soil ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems is heavily dependent upon arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in the soil microbiome. These fungi develop obligate symbioses with various host plant species, thus increasing their ability to acquire nutrients. However, AMF are particularly sensitive to physical, chemical and biological disturbances caused by human actions that limit their establishment. For a more sustainable agriculture, it will be necessary to further investigate which agricultural practices could be favorable to maximize the benefits of AMF to improve crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), thus reducing nitrogen (N) fertilizer usage. Direct seeding, mulch-based cropping systems prevent soil mycelium disruption and increase AMF propagule abundance. Such cropping systems lead to more efficient root colonization by AMF and thus a better establishment of the plant/fungal symbiosis. In addition, the use of continuous cover cropping systems can also enhance the formation of more efficient interconnected hyphal networks between mycorrhizae colonized plants. Taking into account both fundamental and agronomic aspects of mineral nutrition by plant/AMF symbioses, we have critically described, how improving fungal colonization through the reduction of soil perturbation and maintenance of an ecological balance could be helpful for increasing crop NUE.}, } @article {pmid28968883, year = {2017}, author = {Lopez, A and Hansmannel, F and Kokten, T and Bronowicki, JP and Melhem, H and Sokol, H and Peyrin-Biroulet, L}, title = {Microbiota in digestive cancers: our new partner?.}, journal = {Carcinogenesis}, volume = {38}, number = {12}, pages = {1157-1166}, doi = {10.1093/carcin/bgx087}, pmid = {28968883}, issn = {1460-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*complications ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*microbiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Evolution led to an essential symbiotic relationship between the host and commensal microbiota, regulating physiological functions including inflammation and immunity. This equilibrium can be disturbed by environmental factors such as lifestyle, diet or antibiotic pressure, contributing to create a dysbiosis. There is much evidence about the gut microbiota's contribution to carcinogenesis, involving pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive signals. At the same time, it seems to be increasingly clear that commensal microbes can modulate cancer therapy efficacy and safety, in particular, innovating treatments as immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we discuss how the microbiota can promote digestive tract carcinogenesis, responsiveness to cancer therapeutics and cancer-associated complications.}, } @article {pmid28967174, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, LX and Li, QQ and Zhang, YZ and Hu, Y and Jiao, J and Guo, HJ and Zhang, XX and Zhang, B and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {The nitrate-reduction gene cluster components exert lineage-dependent contributions to optimization of Sinorhizobium symbiosis with soybeans.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {4926-4938}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13948}, pmid = {28967174}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase/genetics ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/metabolism ; Multigene Family/genetics ; Nitrite Reductases/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Receiving nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes does not guarantee rhizobia an effective symbiosis with legumes. Here, variations in gene content were determined for three Sinorhizobium species showing contrasting symbiotic efficiency on soybeans. A nitrate-reduction gene cluster absent in S. sojae was found to be essential for symbiotic adaptations of S. fredii and S. sp. III. In S. fredii, the deletion mutation of the nap (nitrate reductase), instead of nir (nitrite reductase) and nor (nitric oxide reductase), led to defects in nitrogen-fixation (Fix[-]). By contrast, none of these core nitrate-reduction genes were required for the symbiosis of S. sp. III. However, within the same gene cluster, the deletion of hemN1 (encoding oxygen-independent coproporphyrinogen III oxidase) in both S. fredii and S. sp. III led to the formation of nitrogen-fixing (Fix[+]) but ineffective (Eff[-]) nodules. These Fix[+] /Eff[-] nodules were characterized by significantly lower enzyme activity of glutamine synthetase indicating rhizobial modulation of nitrogen-assimilation by plants. A distant homologue of HemN1 from S. sojae can complement this defect in S. fredii and S. sp. III, but exhibited a more pleotropic role in symbiosis establishment. These findings highlighted the lineage-dependent optimization of symbiotic functions in different rhizobial species associated with the same host.}, } @article {pmid28965190, year = {2018}, author = {D'Amelio, P and Sassi, F}, title = {Gut Microbiota, Immune System, and Bone.}, journal = {Calcified tissue international}, volume = {102}, number = {4}, pages = {415-425}, doi = {10.1007/s00223-017-0331-y}, pmid = {28965190}, issn = {1432-0827}, mesh = {Animals ; Bone Density/*immunology ; Bone and Bones/immunology/*microbiology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota (GM) is the whole of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms living in our intestine. The GM-host interactions contribute to the maturation of the host immune system, modulating its systemic response. It is well documented that GM can interact with non-enteral cells such as immune cells, dendritic cells, and hepatocytes, producing molecules such as short-chain fatty acids, indole derivatives, polyamines, and secondary bile acid. The receptors for some of these molecules are expressed on immune cells, and modulate the differentiation of T effector and regulatory cells: this is the reason why dysbiosis is correlated with several autoimmune, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the close interplay between immune and bone cells, GM has a central role in maintaining bone health and influences bone turnover and density. GM can improve bone health also increasing calcium absorption and modulating the production of gut serotonin, a molecule that interacts with bone cells and has been suggested to act as a bone mass regulator. Thus, GM manipulation by consumption of antibiotics, changes in dietary habits, and the use of pre- and probiotics may affect bone health. This review summarizes evidences on the influence of GM on immune system and on bone turnover and density and how GM manipulation may influence bone health.}, } @article {pmid28964698, year = {2017}, author = {Ponomarova, O and Gabrielli, N and Sévin, DC and Mülleder, M and Zirngibl, K and Bulyha, K and Andrejev, S and Kafkia, E and Typas, A and Sauer, U and Ralser, M and Patil, KR}, title = {Yeast Creates a Niche for Symbiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria through Nitrogen Overflow.}, journal = {Cell systems}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {345-357.e6}, pmid = {28964698}, issn = {2405-4712}, support = {FC001134/CRUK_/Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; FC001134/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; 200829/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; FC001134/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fermentation/physiology ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Lactobacillales/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus plantarum/metabolism ; Lactococcus lactis/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Yeast, Dried/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Many microorganisms live in communities and depend on metabolites secreted by fellow community members for survival. Yet our knowledge of interspecies metabolic dependencies is limited to few communities with small number of exchanged metabolites, and even less is known about cellular regulation facilitating metabolic exchange. Here we show how yeast enables growth of lactic acid bacteria through endogenous, multi-component, cross-feeding in a readily established community. In nitrogen-rich environments, Saccharomyces cerevisiae adjusts its metabolism by secreting a pool of metabolites, especially amino acids, and thereby enables survival of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis. Quantity of the available nitrogen sources and the status of nitrogen catabolite repression pathways jointly modulate this niche creation. We demonstrate how nitrogen overflow by yeast benefits L. plantarum in grape juice, and contributes to emergence of mutualism with L. lactis in a medium with lactose. Our results illustrate how metabolic decisions of an individual species can benefit others.}, } @article {pmid28964516, year = {2017}, author = {Elkhtab, E and El-Alfy, M and Shenana, M and Mohamed, A and Yousef, AE}, title = {New potentially antihypertensive peptides liberated in milk during fermentation with selected lactic acid bacteria and kombucha cultures.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {100}, number = {12}, pages = {9508-9520}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2017-13150}, pmid = {28964516}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents/*analysis ; Dekkera/metabolism ; *Fermentation ; Gluconobacter/metabolism ; Humans ; Kombucha Tea/*microbiology ; Lactic Acid/analysis ; Lactobacillales/*metabolism ; Lactococcus lactis/metabolism ; Milk/chemistry/*microbiology ; Peptides/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism ; Probiotics ; Rabbits ; }, abstract = {Compounds with the ability to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) are used medically to treat human hypertension. The presence of such compounds naturally in food is potentially useful for treating the disease state. The goal of this study was to screen lactic acid bacteria, including species commonly used as dairy starter cultures, for the ability to produce new potent ACE-inhibiting peptides during milk fermentation. Strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Pediococcus acidilactici were tested in this study. Additionally, a symbiotic consortium of yeast and bacteria, used commercially to produce kombucha tea, was tested. Commercially sterile milk was inoculated with lactic acid bacteria strains and kombucha culture and incubated at 37°C for up to 72 h, and the liberation of ACE-inhibiting compounds during fermentation was monitored. Fermented milk was centrifuged and the supernatant (crude extract) was subjected to ultrafiltration using 3- and 10-kDa cut-off filters. Crude and ultrafiltered extracts were tested for ACE-inhibitory activity. The 10-kDa filtrate resulting from L. casei ATCC 7469 and kombucha culture fermentations (72 h) showed the highest ACE-inhibitory activity. Two-step purification of these filtrates was done using HPLC equipped with a reverse-phase column. Analysis of HPLC-purified fractions by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry identified several new peptides with potent ACE-inhibitory activities. Some of these peptides were synthesized, and their ACE-inhibitory activities were confirmed. Use of organisms producing these unique peptides in food fermentations could contribute positively to human health.}, } @article {pmid28963255, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, S and Dos-Santos, ALA and Huang, W and Liu, KC and Oshaghi, MA and Wei, G and Agre, P and Jacobs-Lorena, M}, title = {Driving mosquito refractoriness to Plasmodium falciparum with engineered symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {357}, number = {6358}, pages = {1399-1402}, pmid = {28963255}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {M01 RR000052/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI031478/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI031478/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Malaria, Falciparum/*prevention & control ; Male ; Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified/genetics/physiology ; Mosquito Control/*methods ; Ovary/microbiology ; Plasmodium falciparum/*growth & development ; Serratia/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The huge burden of malaria in developing countries urgently demands the development of novel approaches to fight this deadly disease. Although engineered symbiotic bacteria have been shown to render mosquitoes resistant to the parasite, the challenge remains to effectively introduce such bacteria into mosquito populations. We describe a Serratia bacterium strain (AS1) isolated from Anopheles ovaries that stably colonizes the mosquito midgut, female ovaries, and male accessory glands and spreads rapidly throughout mosquito populations. Serratia AS1 was genetically engineered for secretion of anti-Plasmodium effector proteins, and the recombinant strains inhibit development of Plasmodium falciparum in mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid28961537, year = {2017}, author = {Tu, C and Ma, L and Guo, P and Song, F and Teng, Y and Zhang, H and Luo, Y}, title = {Rhizoremediation of a dioxin-like PCB polluted soil by alfalfa: Dynamic characterization at temporal and spatial scale.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {517-524}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.091}, pmid = {28961537}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Dioxins/analysis/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {This study investigates the temporal and spacial dissipation dynamics of a dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB 77) in the rhizosphere of alfalfa. A three-chamber rhizobox was designed to compare the PCB 77 dissipation efficiency in the rhizosphere, near-rhizosphere, and far-rhizosphere zones. Culture-independent techniques, including quantitative PCR (qPCR), Biolog-ECO plate, and denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were employed to investigate the variation of bacterial quantity, metabolic diversity and community structure in the alfalfa-rhizobium symbiosis rhizosphere at different rhizoremediation stages. PCB dissipation rates in different rhizosphere zones were in the order: rhizosphere (90.9%) > near-rhizosphere (80.5%) > far-rhizosphere (31.7%). The number of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies in the rhizosphere zone in the polluted treatment reached the highest value of all the treatments. Microbial metabolic diversity, as indicated by average well color development (AWCD) in both rhizosphere and near-rhizosphere zones, had recovered from the PCB 77 pollution. The soil bacterial community diversity improved greatly in the rhizosphere of alfalfa, with some new species appeared in the rhizosphere and near-rhizosphere zones. In conclusion, the dissipation of PCB 77, the quantity of total soil bacteria, soil microbial metabolic diversity, and soil microbial community structure were significantly improved in rhizosphere and near-rhizosphere zones of alfalfa.}, } @article {pmid28961177, year = {2017}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Gil, R}, title = {Et tu, Brute? Not Even Intracellular Mutualistic Symbionts Escape Horizontal Gene Transfer.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {28961177}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Many insect species maintain mutualistic relationships with endosymbiotic bacteria. In contrast to their free-living relatives, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has traditionally been considered rare in long-term endosymbionts. Nevertheless, meta-omics exploration of certain symbiotic models has unveiled an increasing number of bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host genetic transfers. The abundance and function of transferred loci suggest that HGT might play a major role in the evolution of the corresponding consortia, enhancing their adaptive value or buffering detrimental effects derived from the reductive evolution of endosymbionts' genomes. Here, we comprehensively review the HGT cases recorded to date in insect-bacteria mutualistic consortia, and discuss their impact on the evolutionary success of these associations.}, } @article {pmid28959266, year = {2017}, author = {Li, Y and Yu, Z and Liu, X and Mathesius, U and Wang, G and Tang, C and Wu, J and Liu, J and Zhang, S and Jin, J}, title = {Elevated CO2 Increases Nitrogen Fixation at the Reproductive Phase Contributing to Various Yield Responses of Soybean Cultivars.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1546}, pmid = {28959266}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen deficiency limits crop performance under elevated CO2 (eCO2), depending on the ability of plant N uptake. However, the dynamics and redistribution of N2 fixation, and fertilizer and soil N use in legumes under eCO2 have been little studied. Such an investigation is essential to improve the adaptability of legumes to climate change. We took advantage of genotype-specific responses of soybean to increased CO2 to test which N-uptake phenotypes are most strongly related to enhanced yield. Eight soybean cultivars were grown in open-top chambers with either 390 ppm (aCO2) or 550 ppm CO2 (eCO2). The plants were supplied with 100 mg N kg[-1] soil as [15]N-labeled calcium nitrate, and harvested at the initial seed-filling (R5) and full-mature (R8) stages. Increased yield in response to eCO2 correlated highly (r = 0.95) with an increase in symbiotically fixed N during the R5 to R8 stage. In contrast, eCO2 only led to small increases in the uptake of fertilizer-derived and soil-derived N during R5 to R8, and these increases did not correlate with enhanced yield. Elevated CO2 also decreased the proportion of seed N redistributed from shoot to seeds, and this decrease strongly correlated with increased yield. Moreover, the total N uptake was associated with increases in fixed-N per nodule in response to eCO2, but not with changes in nodule biomass, nodule density, or root length.}, } @article {pmid28959258, year = {2017}, author = {Morella, NM and Koskella, B}, title = {The Value of a Comparative Approach to Understand the Complex Interplay between Microbiota and Host Immunity.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1114}, pmid = {28959258}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The eukaryote immune system evolved and continues to evolve within a microbial world, and as such is critically shaped by-and in some cases even reliant upon-the presence of host-associated microbial species. There are clear examples of adaptations that allow the host to simultaneously tolerate and/or promote growth of symbiotic microbiota while protecting itself against pathogens, but the relationship between immunity and the microbiome reaches far beyond simple recognition and includes complex cross talk between host and microbe as well as direct microbiome-mediated protection against pathogens. Here, we present a broad but brief overview of how the microbiome is controlled by and interacts with diverse immune systems, with the goal of identifying questions that can be better addressed by taking a comparative approach across plants and animals and different types of immunity. As two key examples of such an approach, we focus on data examining the importance of early exposure on microbiome tolerance and immune system development and function, and the importance of transmission among hosts in shaping the potential coevolution between, and long-term stability of, host-microbiome associations. Then, by comparing existing evidence across short-lived plants, mouse model systems and humans, and insects, we highlight areas of microbiome research that are strong in some systems and absent in others with the hope of guiding future research that will allow for broad-scale comparisons moving forward. We argue that such an approach will not only help with identification of generalities in host-microbiome-immune interactions but also improve our understanding of the role of the microbiome in host health.}, } @article {pmid28959243, year = {2017}, author = {Moelling, K and Broecker, F and Russo, G and Sunagawa, S}, title = {RNase H As Gene Modifier, Driver of Evolution and Antiviral Defense.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1745}, pmid = {28959243}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Retroviral infections are 'mini-symbiotic' events supplying recipient cells with sequences for viral replication, including the reverse transcriptase (RT) and ribonuclease H (RNase H). These proteins and other viral or cellular sequences can provide novel cellular functions including immune defense mechanisms. Their high error rate renders RT-RNases H drivers of evolutionary innovation. Integrated retroviruses and the related transposable elements (TEs) have existed for at least 150 million years, constitute up to 80% of eukaryotic genomes and are also present in prokaryotes. Endogenous retroviruses regulate host genes, have provided novel genes including the syncytins that mediate maternal-fetal immune tolerance and can be experimentally rendered infectious again. The RT and the RNase H are among the most ancient and abundant protein folds. RNases H may have evolved from ribozymes, related to viroids, early in the RNA world, forming ribosomes, RNA replicases and polymerases. Basic RNA-binding peptides enhance ribozyme catalysis. RT and ribozymes or RNases H are present today in bacterial group II introns, the precedents of TEs. Thousands of unique RTs and RNases H are present in eukaryotes, bacteria, and viruses. These enzymes mediate viral and cellular replication and antiviral defense in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, splicing, R-loop resolvation, DNA repair. RNase H-like activities are also required for the activity of small regulatory RNAs. The retroviral replication components share striking similarities with the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas machinery, eukaryotic V(D)J recombination and interferon systems. Viruses supply antiviral defense tools to cellular organisms. TEs are the evolutionary origin of siRNA and miRNA genes that, through RISC, counteract detrimental activities of TEs and chromosomal instability. Moreover, piRNAs, implicated in transgenerational inheritance, suppress TEs in germ cells. Thus, virtually all known immune defense mechanisms against viruses, phages, TEs, and extracellular pathogens require RNase H-like enzymes. Analogous to the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas anti-phage defense possibly originating from TEs termed casposons, endogenized retroviruses ERVs and amplified TEs can be regarded as related forms of inheritable immunity in eukaryotes. This survey suggests that RNase H-like activities of retroviruses, TEs, and phages, have built up innate and adaptive immune systems throughout all domains of life.}, } @article {pmid28958725, year = {2018}, author = {Gomes, MP and de Brito, JCM and Carvalho Carneiro, MML and Ribeiro da Cunha, MR and Garcia, QS and Figueredo, CC}, title = {Responses of the nitrogen-fixing aquatic fern Azolla to water contaminated with ciprofloxacin: Impacts on biofertilization.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {293-299}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2017.09.054}, pmid = {28958725}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*toxicity ; Ciprofloxacin/*toxicity ; Ferns/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Toxicity Tests ; Water/metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {We investigated the ability of the aquatic fern Azolla to take up ciprofloxacin (Cipro), as well as the effects of that antibiotic on the N-fixing process in plants grown in medium deprived (-N) or provided (+N) with nitrogen (N). Azolla was seen to accumulate Cipro at concentrations greater than 160 μg g[-1] dry weight when cultivated in 3.05 mg Cipro l[-1], indicating it as a candidate for Cipro recovery from water. Although Cipro was not seen to interfere with the heterocyst/vegetative cell ratios, the antibiotic promoted changes with carbon and nitrogen metabolism in plants. Decreased photosynthesis and nitrogenase activity, and altered plant's amino acid profile, with decreases in cell N concentrations, were observed. The removal of N from the growth medium accentuated the deleterious effects of Cipro, resulting in lower photosynthesis, N-fixation, and assimilation rates, and increased hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Our results shown that Cipro may constrain the use of Azolla as a biofertilizer species due to its interference with nitrogen fixation processes.}, } @article {pmid28957710, year = {2018}, author = {Wolf, T and Kämmer, P and Brunke, S and Linde, J}, title = {Two's company: studying interspecies relationships with dual RNA-seq.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {}, pages = {7-12}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2017.09.001}, pmid = {28957710}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; RNA/*analysis/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Organisms do not exist isolated from each other, but constantly interact. Cells can sense the presence of interaction partners by a range of receptors and, via complex regulatory networks, specifically react by changing the expression of many of their genes. Technological advances in next-generation sequencing over the recent years now allow us to apply RNA sequencing to two species at the same time (dual RNA-seq), and thus to directly study the gene expression of two interacting species without the need to physically separate cells or RNA. In this review, we give an overview over the latest studies in interspecies interactions made possible by dual RNA-seq, ranging from pathogenic to symbiotic relationships. We summarize state-of-the-art experimental techniques, bioinformatic data analysis and data interpretation, while also highlighting potential problems and pitfalls starting from the selection of meaningful time points and number of reads to matters of rRNA depletion. A short outlook on new trends in the field of dual RNA-seq concludes this review, looking at sequencing of non-coding RNAs during host-pathogen interactions and the prediction of molecular interspecies interactions networks.}, } @article {pmid28957585, year = {2017}, author = {Betelman, K and Caspi-Fluger, A and Shamir, M and Chiel, E}, title = {Identification and characterization of bacterial symbionts in three species of filth fly parasitoids.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix107}, pmid = {28957585}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Muscidae ; Phylogeny ; Pupa/*growth & development ; Reproduction ; Rickettsia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wasps/*microbiology ; Weevils/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Facultative bacterial symbionts are widespread among insects and have diverse effects on their biology. Here, we focused on bacterial symbionts of three ecologically and economically important filth flies parasitoid species-Spalangia cameroni, Spalangia endius and Muscidifurax raptor. Both Spalangia species harbored a Sodalis bacterium that is closely related to Sodalis praecaptivus (a free-living bacterium) and to Sodalis symbionts of weevils. This is the only case of Sodalis infection in the important order Hymenoptera. We also found, for the first time in this parasitoid guild, a Rickettsia infecting the two Spalangia spp., albeit in much higher prevalence in S. cameroni. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses revealed that it is closely related to Rickettsia felis and other Rickettsia species from the 'transitional' group. All three parasitoid species harbored Wolbachia. Using multi-locus sequence typing, we found that M. raptor harbors a single Wolbachia strain whereas the Spalangia spp. have multiple strains. By controlled crossings, we found that Wolbachia infection in S. endius causes incomplete cytoplasmic incompatibility and increased longevity, thereby promoting Wolbachia's spread. In contrast, no effects of Wolbachia on the reproduction and longevity of M. raptor were found. This study underscores the diversity and nature of symbiotic interactions between microbes and insects.}, } @article {pmid28957401, year = {2017}, author = {Quides, KW and Stomackin, GM and Lee, HH and Chang, JH and Sachs, JL}, title = {Lotus japonicus alters in planta fitness of Mesorhizobium loti dependent on symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e0185568}, pmid = {28957401}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Genotype ; Lotus/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial bacteria are known for their capacity to fix nitrogen for legume hosts. However ineffective rhizobial genotypes exist and can trigger the formation of nodules but fix little if any nitrogen for hosts. Legumes must employ mechanisms to minimize exploitation by the ineffective rhizobial genotypes to limit fitness costs and stabilize the symbiosis. Here we address two key questions about these host mechanisms. What stages of the interaction are controlled by the host, and can hosts detect subtle differences in nitrogen fixation? We provide the first explicit evidence for adaptive host control in the interaction between Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium loti. In both single inoculation and co-inoculation experiments, less effective rhizobial strains exhibited reduced in planta fitness relative to the wildtype M. loti. We uncovered evidence of host control during nodule formation and during post-infection proliferation of symbionts within nodules. We found a linear relationship between rhizobial fitness and symbiotic effectiveness. Our results suggest that L. japonicus can adaptively modulate the fitness of symbionts as a continuous response to symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid28956261, year = {2017}, author = {Sharifi, M and Moridnia, A and Mortazavi, D and Salehi, M and Bagheri, M and Sheikhi, A}, title = {Kefir: a powerful probiotics with anticancer properties.}, journal = {Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {183}, pmid = {28956261}, issn = {1559-131X}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology ; Anticarcinogenic Agents/immunology/*pharmacology ; Antimutagenic Agents/pharmacology ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology/prevention & control ; Colonic Neoplasms/diet therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/pharmacology ; *Kefir ; Leukemia/diet therapy/pathology ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Sarcoma/diet therapy/pathology ; }, abstract = {Probiotics and fermented milk products have attracted the attention of scientists from various fields, such as health care, industry and pharmacy. In recent years, reports have shown that dietary probiotics such as kefir have a great potential for cancer prevention and treatment. Kefir is fermented milk with Caucasian and Tibet origin, made from the incubation of kefir grains with raw milk or water. Kefir grains are a mixture of yeast and bacteria, living in a symbiotic association. Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects are some of the health beneficial properties of kefir grains. Furthermore, it is suggested that some of the bioactive compounds of kefir such as polysaccharides and peptides have great potential for inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. Many studies revealed that kefir acts on different cancers such as colorectal cancer, malignant T lymphocytes, breast cancer and lung carcinoma. In this review, we have focused on anticancer properties of kefir.}, } @article {pmid28955624, year = {2017}, author = {Sharma, A and Bandamaravuri, KB and Sharma, A and Arora, DK}, title = {Phenotypic and molecular assessment of chickpea rhizobia from different chickpea cultivars of India.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {327}, pmid = {28955624}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {In the present study, heterogeneity in natural chickpea rhizobia populations associated with 18 different chickpea (Cicer arientinum) cultivars of India was investigated. Physiological diversity of 20 chickpea rhizobia was characterized based on phenotypic parameters such as Bromothymol blue (BTB) test, pH, temperature and salinity tolerance. Based on response to BTB test and pH tolerance, all chickpea rhizobia were further divided into slow growers/alkali producers (14 isolates) and fast growers/acid producers (6 isolates). The temperature (upto 40 °C) and salinity (NaCl) tolerance (upto 6%) tests provided a wide description of physiological diversity among the rhizobial isolates. The intrinsic antibiotic resistance of each isolate against 14 different antibiotics distinguished all chickpea rhizobia into five clades at the level of 80% similarity coefficient. Further, based on UPGMA phylogeny of carbon utilization profile, all isolates were dispersed into six clusters at the level of 85% similarity coefficient, which indicated a remarkable variability among the rhizobia. The evaluation of nodule-forming efficiency of all isolates revealed that the isolate ACR15 was more competent for nodule formation than all other isolates. The representative strain from each carbon metabolic cluster was further subjected for molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene characterization. Neighbour-joining method-based phylogeny of 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed a high degree of species diversity among the isolates. Further, the prominent nodule-forming isolate such as ACR15 was identified as Mesorhizobium ciceri, while other isolates showed similarity with other species of Mesorhizobium genus. The present study contributed to the knowledge that besides M. ciceri and M. mediterraneum, chickpea can also be nodulated by many other native chickpea rhizobia which indicates the impact of exploration of promising native populations. These findings may support the further investigation of symbiotic as well as stress responsive genes of chickpea rhizobia leading to develop more effective inoculant strains for wide agricultural applications.}, } @article {pmid28951480, year = {2017}, author = {Hirota, B and Okude, G and Anbutsu, H and Futahashi, R and Moriyama, M and Meng, XY and Nikoh, N and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {A Novel, Extremely Elongated, and Endocellular Bacterial Symbiont Supports Cuticle Formation of a Grain Pest Beetle.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {28951480}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Larva ; Phylogeny ; Surface Properties ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Silvanidae), is a cosmopolitan stored-product pest. Early studies on O. surinamensis in the 1930s described the presence of peculiar bacteriomes harboring endosymbiotic bacteria in the abdomen. Since then, however, the microbiological nature of the symbiont has been elusive. Here we investigated the endosymbiotic system of O. surinamensis in detail. In the abdomen of adults, pupae, and larvae, four oval bacteriomes were consistently identified, whose cytoplasm was full of extremely elongated tubular bacterial cells several micrometers wide and several hundred micrometers long. Molecular phylogenetic analysis identified the symbiont as a member of the Bacteroidetes, in which the symbiont was the most closely related to the endosymbiont of a grain pest beetle, Rhyzopertha dominica (Bostrichidae). The symbiont was detected in developing embryos, corroborating vertical symbiont transmission through host generations. The symbiont gene showed AT-biased nucleotide composition and accelerated molecular evolution, plausibly reflecting degenerative evolution of the symbiont genome. When the symbiont infection was experimentally removed, the aposymbiotic insects grew and reproduced normally, but exhibited a slightly but significantly more reddish cuticle and lighter body mass. These results indicate that the symbiont of O. surinamensis is not essential for the host's growth and reproduction but contributes to the host's cuticle formation. Symbiont genome sequencing and detailed comparison of fitness parameters between symbiotic and aposymbiotic insects under various environmental conditions will provide further insights into the symbiont's biological roles for the stored-product pest.IMPORTANCE Some beetles notorious as stored-product pests possess well-developed symbiotic organs called bacteriomes for harboring specific symbiotic bacteria, although their biological roles have been poorly understood. Here we report a peculiar endosymbiotic system of a grain pest beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, in which four oval bacteriomes in the abdomen are full of extremely elongated tubular bacterial cells. Experimental symbiont elimination did not hinder the host's growth and reproduction, but resulted in emergence of reddish beetles, uncovering the symbiont's involvement in host's cuticle formation. We speculate that the extremely elongated symbiont cell morphology might be due to the degenerative symbiont genome deficient in bacterial cell division and/or cell wall formation, which highlights an evolutionary consequence of intimate host-symbiont coevolution.}, } @article {pmid28948352, year = {2018}, author = {Mollavali, M and Perner, H and Rohn, S and Riehle, P and Hanschen, FS and Schwarz, D}, title = {Nitrogen form and mycorrhizal inoculation amount and timing affect flavonol biosynthesis in onion (Allium cepa L.).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {59-70}, pmid = {28948352}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Flavonols/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/chemistry/*metabolism ; Onions/genetics/*metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis is known to be the most prevalent form of fungal symbiosis with plants. Although some studies focus on the importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis for enhanced flavonoids in the host plants, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship still is lacking. Therefore, we studied the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation of onions (Allium cepa L.) regarding flavonol concentration and the genes involved in flavonol biosynthesis when different forms of nitrogen were supplied. We hypothesized that mycorrhizal inoculation can act as a biotic stress and might lead to an increase in flavonols and expression of related genes. The three main quercetin compounds [quercetin-3,4'-di-O-β-D-glucoside (QDG), quercetin-4'-O-β-D-glucoside (QMG), and isorhamnetin-4'-O-β-D-glucoside (IMG)] of onion bulbs were identified and analyzed after inoculating with increasing amounts of mycorrhizal inocula at two time points and supplying either predominantly NO3[-] or NH4[+] nitrogen. We also quantified plant dry mass, nutrient element uptake, chalcone synthase (CHS), flavonol synthase (FLS), and phenyl alanine lyase (PAL) gene expression as key enzymes for flavonol biosynthesis. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (highest amount) and colonization at late development stages (bulb growth) increased QDG and QMG concentrations if plants were additionally supplied with predominantly NH4[+]. No differences were observed in the IMG content. RNA accumulation of CHS, FLS, and PAL was affected by the stage of the mycorrhizal symbiosis and the nitrogen form. Accumulation of flavonols was not correlated, however, with either the percentage of myorrhization or the abundance of transcripts of flavonoid biosynthesis genes. We found that in plants at late developmental stages, RNA accumulation as a reflection of a current physiological situation does not necessarily correspond with the content of metabolites that accumulate over a long period. Our findings suggest that nitrogen form can be an important factor determining mycorrhizal development and that both nitrogen form and mycorrhizas interact to influence flavonol biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid28948238, year = {2017}, author = {Cleary, JL and Condren, AR and Zink, KE and Sanchez, LM}, title = {Calling all hosts: Bacterial communication in situ.}, journal = {Chem}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {334-358}, pmid = {28948238}, issn = {2451-9294}, support = {K12 HD055892/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria are cosmopolitan organisms that in recent years have demonstrated many roles in maintaining host equilibrium. In this review, we discuss three roles bacteria can occupy in a host: pathogenic, symbiotic, and transient, with a specific focus on how bacterial small molecules contribute to homeostasis or dysbiosis. First, we will dissect how small molecules produced by pathogenic bacteria can be used as a source for communication during colonization and as protection against host immune responses. The ability to achieve a higher level of organization through small molecule communication gives pathogenic bacteria an opportunity for increased virulence and fitness. Conversely, in symbiotic relationships with hosts, small molecules are used in the initial acquisition, colonization, and maintenance of this beneficial population. Chemical signals can come from both the host and symbiont, and it is often observed that these interKingdom symbioses result in coevolution of both species involved. Furthermore, the transition from transient to commensal or opportunistic likely relies on molecular mechanisms. The small molecules utilized and produced by transient bacteria are desirable for both the immune and nutritional benefits they provide to the host. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of modern analytical techniques that are available to researchers in order to study small molecules in situ is an important aspect of this review. It is our opinion that small molecules produced by bacteria are central to many biological processes and a larger focus on uncovering the function and identity of these small molecules is required to gain a deeper understanding of host-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid28946093, year = {2018}, author = {Ji, X and Jiang, M and Zhang, J and Jiang, X and Zheng, Z}, title = {The interactions of algae-bacteria symbiotic system and its effects on nutrients removal from synthetic wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {44-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.074}, pmid = {28946093}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The ability of Chlorella vulgaris-Bacillus licheniformis and Microcystis aeruginosa-Bacillus licheniformis consortiums to eliminate total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) from synthetic wastewater was studied. The highest values of dry cell weight, chlorophyll-a, and chlorophyll metabolism related genes/bacterial rRNA gene copies were obtained in the Chlorella vulgaris-Bacillus licheniformis system at Chlorella vulgaris and Bacillus licheniformis ratio of 1:3. On the 10th day, the Chlorella vulgaris-Bacillus licheniformis system at this ratio removed 86.55%, 80.28% and 88.95% of sCOD, TDP and TDN, respectively. But, the Microcystis aeruginosa-Bacillus licheniformis system at this ratio only removed 65.62%, 70.82%, and 21.56% of sCOD, TDP and TDN, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris and Bacillus licheniformis could coexist as an algae-bacteria consortia and quorum sensing substances (autoinducing peptides and bis (3'-5') diguanylic acid) concentrations were measured. Finally, the interactions and communication patterns between Chlorella vulgaris and Bacillus licheniformis were depicted.}, } @article {pmid28945783, year = {2017}, author = {Puozaa, DK and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {African origin of Bradyrhizobium populations nodulating Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) in Ghanaian and South African soils.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e0184943}, pmid = {28945783}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Ghana ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids secreted by legumes play a major role as signal molecules for attracting compatible rhizobia. The aim of this study was to assess and understand the diversity of microsymbionts nodulating Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) landraces of different seedcoat colours using restriction fragment length polymorphism and phylogenetic analysis. Seedcoat pigmentation of landraces had effect on the diversity of microsymbionts of Bambara groundnut. Even when planted together in one hole, nodulating bradyrhizobia clustered differently. For example, 16S rDNA-RFLP typing of rhizobial samples TUTVSBLM.I, TUTVSCRM.I and TUTVSRDM.I originating respectively from Black, Cream and Red landraces that were co-planted in the same hole at Manga in the Sudano-sahelian savanna, as well as TUTVSCRK.I and TUTVSRDK.I respectively from Cream and Red landraces co-planted at Kpalisogu in the Guinea savanna, revealed different 16S rDNA- RFLP types. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA, glnII, recA and atpD sequences showed that Vigna subterranea was nodulated specifically by a diverse group of Bradyrhizobium species (e.g. Bradyrhizobium vignae, and a novel group of Bradyrhizobium spp.) in soils from Ghana and South Africa. The recA gene phylogeny showed incongruency with the other housekeeping genes, indicating the possibility of lateral gene transfer and/or recombination events. The grouping of isolates according to symbiotic gene (nifH and nodD) phylogenies revealed inter- and intra-specific symbiotic plasmid transfer and different evolutionary history. The results also showed that a cropping history and physico-chemical environment of soils increased bradyrhizobial diversity in Ghana and South Africa.}, } @article {pmid28944027, year = {2017}, author = {Palmqvist, K and Franklin, O and Näsholm, T}, title = {Symbiosis constraints: Strong mycobiont control limits nutrient response in lichens.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {18}, pages = {7420-7433}, pmid = {28944027}, issn = {2045-7758}, support = {610028/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Symbioses such as lichens are potentially threatened by drastic environmental changes. We used the lichen Peltigera aphthosa-a symbiosis between a fungus (mycobiont), a green alga (Coccomyxa sp.), and N2-fixing cyanobacteria (Nostoc sp.)-as a model organism to assess the effects of environmental perturbations in nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P). Growth, carbon (C) and N stable isotopes, CNP concentrations, and specific markers were analyzed in whole thalli and the partners after 4 months of daily nutrient additions in the field. Thallus N was 40% higher in N-fertilized thalli, amino acid concentrations were twice as high, while fungal chitin but not ergosterol was lower. Nitrogen also resulted in a thicker algal layer and density, and a higher δ[13]C abundance in all three partners. Photosynthesis was not affected by either N or P. Thallus growth increased with light dose independent of fertilization regime. We conclude that faster algal growth compared to fungal lead to increased competition for light and CO 2 among the Coccomyxa cells, and for C between alga and fungus, resulting in neither photosynthesis nor thallus growth responded to N fertilization. This suggests that the symbiotic lifestyle of lichens may prevent them from utilizing nutrient abundance to increase C assimilation and growth.}, } @article {pmid28943973, year = {2017}, author = {Mansour, S and Swanson, E and McNutt, Z and Pesce, C and Harrington, K and Abebe-Alele, F and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Thomas, WK and Tisa, LS}, title = {Permanent Draft Genome sequence for Frankia sp. strain CcI49, a Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium Isolated from Casuarina cunninghamiana that Infects Elaeagnaceae.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {119-123}, pmid = {28943973}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {Frankia sp. strain CcI49 was isolated from Casuarina cunninghamiana nodules. However the strain was unable to re-infect Casuarina, but was able to infect other actinorhizal plants including Elaeagnaceae. Here, we report the 9.8-Mbp draft genome sequence of Frankia sp. strain CcI49 with a G+C content of 70.5 % and 7,441 candidate protein-encoding genes. Analysis of the genome revealed the presence of a bph operon involved in the degradation of biphenyls and polychlorinated biphenyls.}, } @article {pmid28943874, year = {2017}, author = {Fuli, X and Wenlong, Z and Xiao, W and Jing, Z and Baohai, H and Zhengzheng, Z and Bin-Guang, M and Youguo, L}, title = {A Genome-Wide Prediction and Identification of Intergenic Small RNAs by Comparative Analysis in Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1730}, pmid = {28943874}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In bacteria, small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are critical regulators of cellular adaptation to changes in metabolism, physiology, or the external environment. In the last decade, more than 2000 of sRNA families have been reported in the Rfam database and have been shown to exert various regulatory functions in bacterial transcription and translation. However, little is known about sRNAs and their functions in Mesorhizobium. Here, we predicted putative sRNAs in the intergenic regions (IGRs) of M. huakuii 7653R by genome-wide comparisons with four related Mesorhizobial strains. The expression and transcribed regions of candidate sRNAs were analyzed using a set of high-throughput RNA deep sequencing data. In all, 39 candidate sRNAs were found, with 5 located in the symbiotic megaplasmids and 34 in the chromosome of M. huakuii 7653R. Of these, 24 were annotated as functional sRNAs in the Rfam database and 15 were recognized as putative novel sRNAs. The expression of nine selected sRNAs was confirmed by Northern blotting, and most of the nine selected sRNAs were highly expressed in 28 dpi nodules and under symbiosis-mimicking conditions. For those putative novel sRNAs, functional categorizations of their target genes were performed by analyzing the enriched GO terms. In addition, MH_s15 was shown to be an abundant and conserved sRNA.}, } @article {pmid28942603, year = {2017}, author = {Schwab, DB and Casasa, S and Moczek, AP}, title = {Evidence of developmental niche construction in dung beetles: effects on growth, scaling and reproductive success.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {20}, number = {11}, pages = {1353-1363}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12830}, pmid = {28942603}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/genetics/*growth & development/*physiology ; Female ; Larva/growth & development ; Male ; Phenotype ; Reproduction ; Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {Niche construction occurs when organisms modify their environments and alter selective conditions through their physiology and behaviours. Such modifications can bias phenotypic variation and enhance organism-environment fit. Yet few studies exist that experimentally assess the degree to which environmental modifications shape developmental and fitness outcomes, how their influences may differ among species and identify the underlying proximate mechanisms. Here, we experimentally eliminate environmental modifications from the developmental environment of Onthophagus dung beetles. We show that these modifications (1) differentially influence growth among species, (2) consistently shape scaling relationships in fitness-related traits, (3) are necessary for the maintenance of sexual dimorphism, (4) influence reproductive success among females of at least one species and (5) implicate larval cultivation of an external rumen as a possible mechanism for environmental modification. Our results present evidence that Onthophagus larvae engage in niche construction, and that this is a fundamental component of beetle development and fitness.}, } @article {pmid28942092, year = {2017}, author = {Jasso-Selles, DE and De Martini, F and Freeman, KD and Garcia, MD and Merrell, TL and Scheffrahn, RH and Gile, GH}, title = {The parabasalid symbiont community of Heterotermes aureus: Molecular and morphological characterization of four new species and reestablishment of the genus Cononympha.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {61}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {48-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2017.09.001}, pmid = {28942092}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Animals ; Intestines/parasitology ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Mexico ; Parabasalidea/classification/cytology/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Southwestern United States ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The subterranean termite Heterotermes aureus is endemic to arid regions of southwestern USA and northern Mexico. Like other termites in the family Rhinotermitidae, it harbors a community of protists (Phylum Parabasalia) in its hindgut that aid in cellulose digestion. We investigated the hindgut community of H. aureus using light microscopy, single cell isolation, and high throughput amplicon sequencing. Here we describe four new parabasalid species from the classes Trichonymphea and Spirotrichonymphea. Three of the new species include Pseudotrichonympha aurea (Trichonymphea), Holomastigotoides aureus, and Holomastigotoides oxyrhynchus (Spirotrichonymphea). The fourth new species is a Spirotrichonympha-like protist for which we reinstate the genus Cononympha and describe under the name Cononympha aurea (Spirotrichonymphea). We also used high throughput amplicon sequencing with custom primers on DNA from fresh and ethanol preserved termites collected across the southwest USA and Mexico to investigate population-level differences in hindgut community composition. We report that the community is highly similar across populations: no additional parabasalid species were identified in any of the H. aureus specimens, but several specimens appeared to lack either C. aurea or H. oxyrhynchus.}, } @article {pmid28942037, year = {2017}, author = {Yu, X and Huang, B and Zhou, Z and Tang, J and Yu, Y}, title = {Involvement of caspase3 in the acute stress response to high temperature and elevated ammonium in stony coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {637}, number = {}, pages = {108-114}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2017.09.040}, pmid = {28942037}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Ammonium Compounds/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/*physiology ; Caspase 3/genetics/*metabolism ; *Hot Temperature ; Phylogeny ; Proteolysis ; Sequence Alignment ; *Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Apoptosis is orchestrated by a family of cysteine proteases known as the caspases, and caspase3 is the primary executioner caspase in the apoptosis. In the present study, the potential role of caspase3 was investigated under the exposure to high temperature and elevated ammonium in stony coral Pocillopora damicornis. The cDNA of a caspase3 (PdCaspase3) was identified to encode a polypeptide of 344 amino acids, and the encoded protein contained one CASc domain (Caspase, interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme homologues, from Val76 to Asn333). The recombinant protein of the mature PdCaspase3 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3)-Transetta, and it displayed caspase3-like activity which catalyzed the reaction of DEVD-p-nitroanilide cleavage. The expression level of PdCaspase3 mRNA increased significantly at 24h after acute heat stress and 12h after acute ammonium stress, reached 2.28-fold (P<0.05) and 1.76-fold (P<0.05) of that in the blank group, respectively. The activation level of caspase3 began to increase at 12h (1.41-fold, P<0.05), and reached the peak at 24h (1.54-fold, P<0.05) after acute heat stress. Furthermore, the activation level of caspase3 increased significantly during 6-24h, with the highest level at 24h (1.44-fold, P<0.05) after acute ammonium stress. These results collectively suggested that PdCaspase3, as a homologue of caspase3, was involved in the response to high temperature and elevated ammonium, which might further regulate the symbiosis between the host and zooxanthellae in the stony coral P. damicornis.}, } @article {pmid28941323, year = {2018}, author = {Gartlan, KH and Bommiasamy, H and Paz, K and Wilkinson, AN and Owen, M and Reichenbach, DK and Banovic, T and Wehner, K and Buchanan, F and Varelias, A and Kuns, RD and Chang, K and Fedoriw, Y and Shea, T and Coghill, J and Zaiken, M and Plank, MW and Foster, PS and Clouston, AD and Blazar, BR and Serody, JS and Hill, GR}, title = {A critical role for donor-derived IL-22 in cutaneous chronic GVHD.}, journal = {American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {810-820}, pmid = {28941323}, issn = {1600-6143}, support = {P01 AI056299/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007313/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA016086/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 CA009138/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL056067/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA142106/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA166794/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease/*etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/*metabolism ; Interleukins/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Prognosis ; Skin Diseases/*etiology/metabolism/pathology ; Stem Cell Transplantation/*adverse effects ; *Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; }, abstract = {Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the major cause of nonrelapse morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Prevention and treatment of GVHD remain inadequate and commonly lead to end-organ dysfunction and opportunistic infection. The role of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 in GVHD remains uncertain, due to an apparent lack of lineage fidelity and variable and contextually determined protective and pathogenic effects. We demonstrate that donor T cell-derived IL-22 significantly exacerbates cutaneous chronic GVHD and that IL-22 is produced by highly inflammatory donor CD4[+] T cells posttransplantation. IL-22 and IL-17A derive from both independent and overlapping lineages, defined as T helper (Th)22 and IL-22[+] Th17 cells. Donor Th22 and IL-22[+] Th17 cells share a similar IL-6-dependent developmental pathway, and while Th22 cells arise independently of the IL-22[+] Th17 lineage, IL-17 signaling to donor Th22 directly promotes their development in allo-SCT. Importantly, while both IL-22 and IL-17 mediate skin GVHD, Th17-induced chronic GVHD can be attenuated by IL-22 inhibition in preclinical systems. In the clinic, high levels of both IL-17A and IL-22 expression are present in the skin of patients with GVHD after allo-SCT. Together, these data demonstrate a key role for donor-derived IL-22 in patients with chronic skin GVHD and confirm parallel but symbiotic developmental pathways of Th22 and Th17 differentiation.}, } @article {pmid28939987, year = {2018}, author = {Kobiałka, M and Michalik, A and Walczak, M and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Dual "Bacterial-Fungal" Symbiosis in Deltocephalinae Leafhoppers (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {771-782}, pmid = {28939987}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Abdomen/microbiology ; Animals ; Ascomycota/physiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteroidetes/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Female ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic systems (types of symbionts, their distribution in the host insect body, and their transovarial transmission between generations) of four Deltocephalinae leafhoppers: Fieberiella septentrionalis, Graphocraerus ventralis, Orientus ishidae, and Cicadula quadrinotata have been examined by means of histological, ultrastructural, and molecular techniques. In all four species, two types of symbionts are present: bacterium Sulcia (phylum Bacteroidetes) and yeast-like symbionts closely related to the entomopathogenic fungi (phylum Ascomycota, class Sordariomycetes). Sulcia bacteria are always harbored in giant bacteriocytes, which are grouped into large organs termed "bacteriomes." In F. septentrionalis, G. ventralis, and O. ishidae, numerous yeast-like microorganisms are localized in cells of the fat body, whereas in C. quadrinotata, they occupy the cells of midgut epithelium in large number. Additionally, in C. quadrinotata, a small amount of yeast-like microorganisms occurs intracellularly in the fat body cells and, extracellularly, in the hemolymph. Sulcia bacteria in F. septentrionalis, G. ventralis, O. ishidae, and C. quadrinotata, and the yeast-like symbionts residing in the fat body of F. septentrionalis, G. ventralis, and O. ishidae are transovarially transmitted; i.e., they infect the ovarioles which constitute the ovaries.}, } @article {pmid28939609, year = {2017}, author = {Guljamow, A and Kreische, M and Ishida, K and Liaimer, A and Altermark, B and Bähr, L and Hertweck, C and Ehwald, R and Dittmann, E}, title = {High-Density Cultivation of Terrestrial Nostoc Strains Leads to Reprogramming of Secondary Metabolome.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {28939609}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biological Products ; *Metabolome ; Multigene Family ; Nostoc/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial symbiotic cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc exhibit a large potential for the production of bioactive natural products of the nonribosomal peptide, polyketide, and ribosomal peptide classes, and yet most of the biosynthetic gene clusters are silent under conventional cultivation conditions. In the present study, we utilized a high-density cultivation approach recently developed for phototrophic bacteria to rapidly generate biomass of the filamentous bacteria up to a density of 400 g (wet weight)/liter. Unexpectedly, integrated transcriptional and metabolomics studies uncovered a major reprogramming of the secondary metabolome of two Nostoc strains at high culture density and a governing effect of extracellular signals in this process. The holistic approach enabled capturing and structural elucidation of novel variants of anabaenopeptin, including one congener with potent allelopathic activity against a strain isolated from the same habitat. The study provides a snapshot on the role of cell-type-specific expression for the formation of natural products in cyanobacteria.IMPORTANCE Terrestrial filamentous cyanobacteria are a largely untapped source of small-molecule natural products. Exploitation of the phototrophic organisms is hampered by their slow growth and the requirement of photobioreactors. The present study not only demonstrates the suitability of a recently developed two-tier vessel cultivation approach for the rapid generation of biomass of Nostoc strains but also demonstrates a pronounced upregulation of high value natural products at ultrahigh culture densities. The study provides new guidelines for high-throughput screening and exploitation of small-molecule natural products and can facilitate the discovery new bioactive products from terrestrial cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid28939559, year = {2017}, author = {Krams, IA and Kecko, S and Jõers, P and Trakimas, G and Elferts, D and Krams, R and Luoto, S and Rantala, MJ and Inashkina, I and Gudrā, D and Fridmanis, D and Contreras-Garduño, J and Grantiņa-Ieviņa, L and Krama, T}, title = {Microbiome symbionts and diet diversity incur costs on the immune system of insect larvae.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 22}, pages = {4204-4212}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.169227}, pmid = {28939559}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; *Herbivory ; *Immunity, Innate ; Larva/growth & development/immunology/microbiology ; Moths/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; }, abstract = {Communities of symbiotic microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract play an important role in food digestion and protection against opportunistic microbes. Diet diversity increases the number of symbionts in the intestines, a benefit that is considered to impose no cost for the host organism. However, less is known about the possible immunological investments that hosts have to make in order to control the infections caused by symbiont populations that increase because of diet diversity. Using taxonomical composition analysis of the 16S rRNA V3 region, we show that enterococci are the dominating group of bacteria in the midgut of the larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella). We found that the number of colony-forming units of enterococci and expressions of certain immunity-related antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes such as Gallerimycin, Gloverin, 6-tox, Cecropin-D and Galiomicin increased in response to a more diverse diet, which in turn decreased the encapsulation response of the larvae. Treatment with antibiotics significantly lowered the expression of all AMP genes. Diet and antibiotic treatment interaction did not affect the expression of Gloverin and Galiomicin AMP genes, but significantly influenced the expression of Gallerimycin, 6-tox and Cecropin-D Taken together, our results suggest that diet diversity influences microbiome diversity and AMP gene expression, ultimately affecting an organism's capacity to mount an immune response. Elevated basal levels of immunity-related genes (Gloverin and Galiomicin) might act as a prophylactic against opportunistic infections and as a mechanism that controls the gut symbionts. This would indicate that a diverse diet imposes higher immunity costs on organisms.}, } @article {pmid28937817, year = {2017}, author = {Yoder, JB and Tiffin, P}, title = {Sanctions, Partner Recognition, and Variation in Mutualism.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {190}, number = {4}, pages = {491-505}, doi = {10.1086/693472}, pmid = {28937817}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; *Genetic Variation ; Models, Theoretical ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions can be stabilized against invasion by noncooperative individuals by putting such "cheaters" at a selective disadvantage. Selection against cheaters should eliminate genetic variation in partner quality-yet such variation is often found in natural populations. One explanation for this paradox is that mutualism outcomes are determined not only by responses to partner performance but also by partner signals. Here, we build a model of coevolution in a symbiotic mutualism, in which hosts' ability to sanction noncooperative symbionts and recognition of symbiont signals are determined by separate loci, as are symbionts' cooperation and expression of signals. In the model, variation persists without destabilizing the interaction, in part because coevolution of symbiont signals and host recognition is altered by the coevolution of sanctions and cooperation, and vice versa. Individual-based simulations incorporating population structure strongly corroborate these results. The dual systems of sanctions and partner recognition converge toward conditions similar to some economic models of mutualistic symbiosis, in which hosts offering the right incentives to potential symbionts can initiate symbiosis without screening for partner quality. These results predict that mutualists can maintain variation in recognition of partner signals or in the ability to sanction noncooperators without destabilizing mutualism, and they reinforce the notion that studies of mutualism should consider communication between partners as well as the exchange of benefits.}, } @article {pmid28936706, year = {2018}, author = {Human, ZR and Crous, CJ and Roets, F and Venter, SN and Wingfield, MJ and de Beer, ZW}, title = {Biodiversity and ecology of flower-associated actinomycetes in different flowering stages of Protea repens.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {2}, pages = {209-226}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-017-0942-3}, pmid = {28936706}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Ecology ; Flowers/*microbiology ; Proteaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Actinomycete bacteria have previously been reported from reproductive structures (infructescences) of Protea (sugarbush/suikerbos) species, a niche dominated by fungi in the genera Knoxdaviesia and Sporothrix. It is probable that these taxa have symbiotic interactions, but a lack of knowledge regarding their diversity and general ecology precludes their study. We determined the diversity of actinomycetes within Protea repens inflorescence buds, open inflorescences, young and mature infructescences, and leaf litter surrounding these trees. Since the P. repens habitat is fire-prone, we also considered the potential of these bacteria to recolonise infructescences after fire. Actinomycetes were largely absent from flower buds and inflorescences but were consistently present in young and mature infructescences. Two Streptomyces spp. were the most consistent taxa recovered, one of which was also routinely isolated from leaf litter. Lower colonisation rates were evident in samples from a recently burnt site. One of the most consistent taxa isolated from older trees in the unburnt site was absent from this site. Our findings show that P. repens has a distinct community of actinomycetes dominated by a few species. These communities change over time and infructescence developmental stage, season and the age of the host population. Mature infructescences appear to be important sources of inoculum for some of the actinomycetes, seemingly disrupted by fire. Increased fire frequency limiting maturation of P. repens infructescences could thus impact future actinomycete colonisation in the landscape. Streptomyces spp. are likely to share this niche with the ophiostomatoid fungi, which merits further study regarding their interactions and mode of transfer.}, } @article {pmid28936222, year = {2017}, author = {Fan, Y and Liu, J and Lyu, S and Wang, Q and Yang, S and Zhu, H}, title = {The Soybean Rfg1 Gene Restricts Nodulation by Sinorhizobium fredii USDA193.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1548}, pmid = {28936222}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii is a fast-growing rhizobial species that can establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with a wide range of legume species including soybeans (Glycine max). In soybeans, this interaction shows a high level of specificity such that particular S. fredii strains nodulate only a limited set of plant genotypes. Here we report the identification of a dominant gene in soybeans that restricts nodulation with S. fredii USDA193. Genetic mapping in an F2 population revealed co-segregation of the underlying locus with the previously cloned Rfg1 gene. The Rfg1 allele encodes a member of the Toll-interleukin receptor/nucleotide-binding site/leucine-rich repeat class of plant resistance proteins that restricts nodulation by S. fredii strains USDA257 and USDA205, and an allelic variant of this gene also restricts nodulation by Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA122. By means of complementation tests and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockouts, we demonstrate that the Rfg1 allele also is responsible for resistance to nodulation by S. fredii USDA193. Therefore, the Rfg1 allele likely provides broad-spectrum resistance to nodulation by many S. fredii and B. japonicum strains in soybeans.}, } @article {pmid28935745, year = {2017}, author = {Yuki, M and Sakamoto, M and Kuwahara, H and Hongoh, Y and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Lactococcus sp. Strain Rs-Y01, Isolated from the Gut of the Lower Termite Reticulitermes speratus.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {38}, pages = {}, pmid = {28935745}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Lactococcus sp. strain Rs-Y01, which was isolated from the gut of a wood-feeding termite. The genome information will facilitate the study of the symbiotic functions of this strain in the termite gut.}, } @article {pmid28934970, year = {2017}, author = {Fukruksa, C and Yimthin, T and Suwannaroj, M and Muangpat, P and Tandhavanant, S and Thanwisai, A and Vitta, A}, title = {Isolation and identification of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes and their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {440}, pmid = {28934970}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Female ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Photorhabdus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Thailand ; Tylenchida/*microbiology/physiology ; Xenorhabdus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti is a potential vector of West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses. Alternative control measurements of the vector are needed to overcome the problems of environmental contamination and chemical resistance. Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are symbionts in the intestine of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) Steinernema spp. and Heterorhabditis spp. These bacteria are able to produce a broad range of bioactive compounds including antimicrobial, antiparasitic, cytotoxic and insecticidal compounds. The objectives of this study were to identify Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus isolated from EPNs in upper northern Thailand and to study their larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti larvae.

RESULTS: A total of 60 isolates of symbiotic bacteria isolated from EPNs consisted of Xenorhabdus (32 isolates) and Photorhabdus (28 isolates). Based on recA gene sequencing, BLASTN and phylogenetic analysis, 27 isolates of Xenorhabdus were identical and closely related to X. stockiae, 4 isolates were identical to X. miraniensis, and one isolate was identical to X. ehlersii. Twenty-seven isolates of Photorhabdus were closely related to P. luminescens akhurstii and P. luminescens hainanensis, and only one isolate was identical and closely related to P. luminescens laumondii. Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus were lethal to Ae aegypti larvae. Xenorhabdus ehlersii bMH9.2_TH showed 100% efficiency for killing larvae of both fed and unfed conditions, the highest for control of Ae. aegypti larvae and X. stockiae (bLPA18.4_TH) was likely to be effective in killing Ae. aegypti larvae given the mortality rates above 60% at 72 h and 96 h.

CONCLUSIONS: The common species in the study area are X. stockiae, P. luminescens akhurstii, and P. luminescens hainanensis. Three symbiotic associations identified included P. luminescens akhurstii-H. gerrardi, P. luminescens hainanensis-H. gerrardi and X. ehlersii-S. Scarabaei which are new observations of importance to our knowledge of the biodiversity of, and relationships between, EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria. Based on the biological assay, X. ehlersii bMH9.2_TH begins to kill Ae. aegypti larvae within 48 h and has the most potential as a pathogen to the larvae. These data indicate that X. ehlersii may be an alternative biological control agent for Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid28934375, year = {2017}, author = {Medina Munoz, M and Pollio, AR and White, HL and Rio, RVM}, title = {Into the Wild: Parallel Transcriptomics of the Tsetse-Wigglesworthia Mutualism within Kenyan Populations.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {2276-2291}, pmid = {28934375}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R01 AI118789/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Genes, Bacterial ; Kenya ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Tsetse Flies/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) have medical significance as the obligate vectors of African trypanosomes. In addition, tsetse harbor a simple gut microbiota. A predominant gut microbiota member, the Gammaproteobacterium Wigglesworthia spp., has coevolved with tsetse for a significant portion of Glossina radiation proving critical to tsetse fitness. Although multiple roles have been described for Wigglesworthia within colony flies, little research has been dedicated towards functional characterization within wild tsetse. Here, dual RNA-Seq was performed to characterize the tsetse-Wigglesworthia symbiosis within flies captured in Nguruman, Kenya. A significant correlation in Gene Ontology (GO) distribution between tsetse and Wigglesworthia was observed, with homogeneous enrichment in metabolic and transport categories, likely supporting a hallmark of the symbiosis-bidirectional metabolic exchange. Within field flies, highly transcribed Wigglesworthia loci included those involved in B vitamin synthesis and in substrate translocation, including amino acid transporters and multidrug efflux pumps, providing a molecular means for interaction. The universal expression of several Wigglesworthia and G. pallidipes orthologs, putatively involved in nutrient provisioning and resource allocation, was confirmed in sister tsetse species. These transcriptional profiles varied through host age and mating status likely addressing varying symbiont demands and also confirming their global importance within Glossina. This study, not only supports symbiont nutrient provisioning roles, but also serves as a foundation for insight into novel roles and molecular mechanisms associated with vector-microbiota interactions. The role of symbiont B vitamin provisioning towards impacting host epigenetics is discussed. Knowledge of vector-microbiota interactions may lead to the discovery of novel targets in pest control.}, } @article {pmid28932814, year = {2017}, author = {Simhadri, RK and Fast, EM and Guo, R and Schultz, MJ and Vaisman, N and Ortiz, L and Bybee, J and Slatko, BE and Frydman, HM}, title = {The Gut Commensal Microbiome of Drosophila melanogaster Is Modified by the Endosymbiont Wolbachia.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {28932814}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria and the gut microbiome have independently been shown to affect several aspects of insect biology, including reproduction, development, life span, stem cell activity, and resistance to human pathogens, in insect vectors. This work shows that Wolbachia bacteria, which reside mainly in the fly germline, affect the microbial species present in the fly gut in a lab-reared strain. Drosophila melanogaster hosts two main genera of commensal bacteria-Acetobacter and Lactobacillus. Wolbachia-infected flies have significantly reduced titers of Acetobacter. Sampling of the microbiome of axenic flies fed with equal proportions of both bacteria shows that the presence of Wolbachia bacteria is a significant determinant of the composition of the microbiome throughout fly development. However, this effect is host genotype dependent. To investigate the mechanism of microbiome modulation, the effect of Wolbachia bacteria on Imd and reactive oxygen species pathways, the main regulators of immune response in the fly gut, was measured. The presence of Wolbachia bacteria does not induce significant changes in the expression of the genes for the effector molecules in either pathway. Furthermore, microbiome modulation is not due to direct interaction between Wolbachia bacteria and gut microbes. Confocal analysis shows that Wolbachia bacteria are absent from the gut lumen. These results indicate that the mechanistic basis of the modulation of composition of the microbiome by Wolbachia bacteria is more complex than a direct bacterial interaction or the effect of Wolbachia bacteria on fly immunity. The findings reported here highlight the importance of considering the composition of the gut microbiome and host genetic background during Wolbachia-induced phenotypic studies and when formulating microbe-based disease vector control strategies. IMPORTANCEWolbachia bacteria are intracellular bacteria present in the microbiome of a large fraction of insects and parasitic nematodes. They can block mosquitos' ability to transmit several infectious disease-causing pathogens, including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile viruses and malaria parasites. Certain extracellular bacteria present in the gut lumen of these insects can also block pathogen transmission. However, our understanding of interactions between Wolbachia and gut bacteria and how they influence each other is limited. Here we show that the presence of Wolbachia strain wMel changes the composition of gut commensal bacteria in the fruit fly. Our findings implicate interactions between bacterial species as a key factor in determining the overall composition of the microbiome and thus reveal new paradigms to consider in the development of disease control strategies.}, } @article {pmid28931627, year = {2017}, author = {Valkov, VT and Rogato, A and Alves, LM and Sol, S and Noguero, M and Léran, S and Lacombe, B and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {The Nitrate Transporter Family Protein LjNPF8.6 Controls the N-Fixing Nodule Activity.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {175}, number = {3}, pages = {1269-1282}, pmid = {28931627}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Anion Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Anthocyanins/metabolism ; Biomass ; Exons/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Introns/genetics ; Lotus/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; *Multigene Family ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrate Transporters ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; *Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/genetics ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Oocytes/drug effects/metabolism ; Organ Specificity/drug effects ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Superoxides/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Xenopus laevis ; }, abstract = {N-fixing nodules are new organs formed on legume roots as a result of the beneficial interaction with soil bacteria, rhizobia. The nodule functioning is still a poorly characterized step of the symbiotic interaction, as only a few of the genes induced in N-fixing nodules have been functionally characterized. We present here the characterization of a member of the Lotus japonicus nitrate transporter1/peptide transporter family, LjNPF8.6 The phenotypic characterization carried out in independent L. japonicus LORE1 insertion lines indicates a positive role of LjNPF8.6 on nodule functioning, as knockout mutants display N-fixation deficiency (25%) and increased nodular superoxide content. The partially compromised nodule functioning induces two striking phenotypes: anthocyanin accumulation already displayed 4 weeks after inoculation and shoot biomass deficiency, which is detected by long-term phenotyping. LjNPF8.6 achieves nitrate uptake in Xenopus laevis oocytes at both 0.5 and 30 mm external concentrations, and a possible role as a nitrate transporter in the control of N-fixing nodule activity is discussed.}, } @article {pmid28931431, year = {2017}, author = {Ahn, CS and Kim, JG and Bae, YA and Kim, SH and Shin, JH and Yang, Y and Kang, I and Kong, Y}, title = {Fasciclin-calcareous corpuscle binary complex mediated protein-protein interactions in Taenia solium metacestode.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {438}, pmid = {28931431}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal/metabolism ; Female ; Helminth Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neurocysticercosis/*parasitology/*veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Protein Binding ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*parasitology ; Taenia solium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NC) caused by Taenia solium metacestode (TsM) is a serious neurological disease of global concern. Diverse bioactive molecules involved in the long-term survival of TsM might contribute to disease progression. Fasciclin (Fas) is an extracellular protein that mediates adhesion, migration and differentiation of cells by interacting with other molecules. We hypothesized that TsMFas might bind to calcareous corpuscle (CC) through its adhesive property and participate in crucial protein-protein interactions, thus contributing to the creation of a symbiotic interactome network.

METHODS: Two paralogous TsMFas (TsMFas1 and TsMFas2) were isolated, and their molecular properties were characterized. The co-localization pattern of TsMFas1 and TsMFas2 with CC was determined. CC-TsMFas binary complex was generated by incubating CC with recombinant proteins (rTsMFas1 and 2). In vitro binding assay of CC-rTsMFas1 or CC-rTsMFas2 binary complex with TsM cellular proteins extracted from scolex and neck was conducted. Their binding partners were identified through proteomic analysis. Integrated protein-protein interaction networks were established.

RESULTS: TsMFas1 (6072 bp long) was composed of 15 exons (841 amino acid polypeptide) interrupted by 14 introns. TsMFas2 (5201 bp long) comprised of 11 exons (597 amino acids) and 10 intervening introns. These proteins displayed 22% amino acid sequence identity to each other, but tightly conserved Fas-related domains. Several isoforms of Fas1 and Fas2 proteins might have been expressed through post-translational modifications. They showed adhesion activity with other cells. TsMFas proteins were largely distributed in parenchymal regions of the scolex and bladder wall. These molecules were co-localized with CC, a unique organelle found in platyhelminths. Subsequent proteome analysis of CC-Fas binary complex mediated protein-protein interactions revealed seven protein ligands in the TsM cellular proteins. Their functions were mainly segregated into carbohydrate metabolism (enolase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, phosphoglycerate kinase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and cytoskeleton/cellular motility (actin, paramyosin and innexin nuc-9). Those proteins had direct (physical) and/or indirect (functional) relationships along with their biochemical properties and biological roles.

CONCLUSION: Protein repertoires strongly suggest that TsMFas and CC may symbiotically mediate protein-protein interactions during biological processes to maintain efficacious homeostatic functions and ensure the prolonged survival of TsM in the host.}, } @article {pmid28931020, year = {2017}, author = {Igawa, M and Kato, M}, title = {A new species of hermit crab, Diogenes heteropsammicola (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae), replaces a mutualistic sipunculan in a walking coral symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e0184311}, pmid = {28931020}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anomura/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Male ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiont shift is rare in obligate mutualisms because both the partners are reciprocally dependent on and specialized to each other. In the obligate accommodation-transportation mutualism between walking corals and sipunculans, however, an unusual saltatory symbiont shift was discovered. In shallow waters of southern Japan, an undescribed hermit crab species was found living in corallums of solitary scleractinian corals of the genera Heterocyathus and Heteropsammia, replacing the usual sipunculan symbiont. We described the hermit crab as a new species Diogenes heteropsammicola (Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae), and explored its association with the walking corals. This hermit crab species obligately inhabits the coiled cavity of the corals, and was easily distinguished from other congeneric species by the exceedingly slender chelipeds and ambulatory legs, and the symmetrical telson. Observations of behavior in aquaria showed that the new hermit crab, like the sipunculan, carries the host coral and prevents the coral from being buried. This is an interesting case in which an organism phylogenetically distant from Sipuncula takes over the symbiotic role in association with a walking coral. The hermit crab species is unique in that its lodging is a living solitary coral that grows with the hermit crab in an accommodation-transportation mutualism.}, } @article {pmid28929800, year = {2017}, author = {Park, H and Song, U}, title = {Microcosm investigation of growth and phytoremediation potential of Azolla japonica along nitrogen gradients.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {863-869}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2017.1290582}, pmid = {28929800}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Plants ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Although Azolla species are among the most promising plants for use in phytoremediation, more studies on their growth and nitrogen (N) uptake along the N gradients of growing media are required. In this study, N concentration-dependent growth in growing media and phosphorus (P) and N accumulation by Azolla japonica were studied by estimating direct N uptake from media by molybdenum-iron proteins. The doubling time of A. japonica was less than a week, regardless of the N concentration (0, 5, and 25 mg N/L) present in the growth media, indicating that this plant is suitable for remediation. Plants showed a high uptake of P, probably via plant-bacteria symbiosis, indicating their potential for effective P remediation. A. japonica also showed more than 4% N content regardless of the treatment and accumulated more than 40 mg of N per microcosm in 3 weeks. iron and molybdenum levels in plants were strongly associated with N fixation, and N uptake from media was estimated to be more than 25 mg per microcosm in 3 weeks, indicating that A. japonica has N remediation potential. As A. japonica is a rapidly growing plant, capable of efficient P and N remediation, it has great potential for use in phytoremediation of nutrient-enriched waters such as agricultural or urban wastewater and eutrophicated aquatic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid28929370, year = {2017}, author = {Hsieh, HM and Chung, MC and Chen, PY and Hsu, FM and Liao, WW and Sung, AN and Lin, CR and Wang, CR and Kao, YH and Fang, MJ and Lai, CY and Huang, CC and Chou, JC and Chou, WN and Chang, BC and Ju, YM}, title = {A termite symbiotic mushroom maximizing sexual activity at growing tips of vegetative hyphae.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {39}, pmid = {28929370}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Termitomyces mushrooms are mutualistically associated with fungus-growing termites, which are widely considered to cultivate a monogenotypic Termitomyces symbiont within a colony. Termitomyces cultures isolated directly from termite colonies are heterokaryotic, likely through mating between compatible homokaryons.

RESULTS: After pairing homokaryons carrying different haplotypes at marker gene loci MIP and RCB from a Termitomyces fruiting body associated with Odontotermes formosanus, we observed nuclear fusion and division, which greatly resembled meiosis, during each hyphal cell division and conidial formation in the resulting heterokaryons. Surprisingly, nuclei in homokaryons also behaved similarly. To confirm if meiotic-like recombination occurred within mycelia, we constructed whole-genome sequencing libraries from mycelia of two homokaryons and a heterokaryon resulting from mating of the two homokaryons. Obtained reads were aligned to the reference genome of Termitomyces sp. J132 for haplotype reconstruction. After removal of the recombinant haplotypes shared between the heterokaryon and either homokaryons, we inferred that 5.04% of the haplotypes from the heterokaryon were the recombinants resulting from homologous recombination distributed genome-wide. With RNA transcripts of four meiosis-specific genes, including SPO11, DMC1, MSH4, and MLH1, detected from a mycelial sample by real-time quantitative PCR, the nuclear behavior in mycelia was reconfirmed meiotic-like.

CONCLUSION: Unlike other basidiomycetes where sex is largely restricted to basidia, Termitomyces maximizes sexuality at somatic stage, resulting in an ever-changing genotype composed of a myriad of coexisting heterogeneous nuclei in a heterokaryon. Somatic meiotic-like recombination may endow Termitomyces with agility to cope with termite consumption by maximized genetic variability.}, } @article {pmid28929338, year = {2018}, author = {Toft-Kehler, AK and Skytt, DM and Kolko, M}, title = {A Perspective on the Müller Cell-Neuron Metabolic Partnership in the Inner Retina.}, journal = {Molecular neurobiology}, volume = {55}, number = {6}, pages = {5353-5361}, pmid = {28929338}, issn = {1559-1182}, mesh = {Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; Ependymoglial Cells/*metabolism ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; Neurons/*metabolism ; Neurovascular Coupling ; Retina/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Müller cells represent the predominant macroglial cell in the retina. In recent decades, Müller cells have been acknowledged to be far more influential on neuronal homeostasis in the retina than previously assumed. With its unique localization, spanning the entire retina being interposed between the vessels and neurons, Müller cells are responsible for the functional and metabolic support of the surrounding neurons. As a consequence of major energy demands in the retina, high levels of glucose are consumed and processed by Müller cells. The present review provides a perspective on the symbiotic relationship between Müller cells and inner retinal neurons on a cellular level by emphasizing the essential role of energy metabolism within Müller cells in relation to retinal neuron survival.}, } @article {pmid28929200, year = {2017}, author = {Lin, Z and Liu, H and Yan, X and Zhou, Y and Cheng, K and Zhang, J}, title = {High-efficiency acetone-butanol-ethanol production and recovery in non-strict anaerobic gas-stripping fed-batch fermentation.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {101}, number = {21}, pages = {8029-8039}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-017-8520-1}, pmid = {28929200}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Acetone/*metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Biotechnology/methods ; Butanols/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Ethanol/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; }, abstract = {Conventional acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation coupled with gas stripping is conducted under strict anaerobic conditions. In this work, a fed-batch ABE fermentation integrated with gas stripping (FAFIGS) system using a non-strict anaerobic butanol-producing symbiotic system, TSH06, was investigated for the efficient production of butanol. To save energy and keep a high gas-stripping efficiency, the integrated fermentation was conducted by adjusting the butanol recovery rate. The gas-stripping efficiency increased when the butanol concentration increased from 6 to 12 g/L. However, in consideration of the butanol toxicity to TSH06, 8 g/L butanol was the optimal concentration for this FAFIGS process. A model for describing the relationship between the butanol recovery rate and the gas flow rate was developed, and the model was subsequently applied to adjust the butanol recovery rate during the FAFIGS process. In the integrated system under non-strict anaerobic condition, relatively stable butanol concentrations of 7 to 9 g/L were achieved by controlling the gas flow rate which varied between 1.6 and 3.5 vvm based on the changing butanol productivity. 185.65 g/L of butanol (267.15 g/L of ABE) was produced in 288 h with a butanol recovery ratio of 97.36%. The overall yield and productivity of butanol were 0.23 g/g and 0.64 g/L/h, respectively. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using FAFIGS under non-strict anaerobic conditions with TSH06. This work is helpful in characterizing the butanol anabolism performance of TSH06 and provides a simple and efficient scheme for butanol production.}, } @article {pmid28928206, year = {2017}, author = {Belzer, C and Chia, LW and Aalvink, S and Chamlagain, B and Piironen, V and Knol, J and de Vos, WM}, title = {Microbial Metabolic Networks at the Mucus Layer Lead to Diet-Independent Butyrate and Vitamin B12 Production by Intestinal Symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {28928206}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacteria, Anaerobic/growth & development/metabolism ; Butyrates/*metabolism ; Colon/microbiology ; *Diet ; Eubacterium/metabolism ; Faecalibacterium/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbial Interactions ; Mucus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Propionates/metabolism ; Propylene Glycol/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Vitamin B 12/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Akkermansia muciniphila has evolved to specialize in the degradation and utilization of host mucus, which it may use as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Mucus degradation and fermentation by A. muciniphila are known to result in the liberation of oligosaccharides and subsequent production of acetate, which becomes directly available to microorganisms in the vicinity of the intestinal mucosa. Coculturing experiments of Amuciniphila with non-mucus-degrading butyrate-producing bacteria Anaerostipes caccae, Eubacterium hallii, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii resulted in syntrophic growth and production of butyrate. In addition, we demonstrate that the production of pseudovitamin B12 by E. hallii results in production of propionate by A. muciniphila, which suggests that this syntrophy is indeed bidirectional. These data are proof of concept for syntrophic and other symbiotic microbe-microbe interactions at the intestinal mucosal interface. The observed metabolic interactions between Amuciniphila and butyrogenic bacterial taxa support the existence of colonic vitamin and butyrate production pathways that are dependent on host glycan production and independent of dietary carbohydrates. We infer that the intestinal symbiont A. muciniphila can indirectly stimulate intestinal butyrate levels in the vicinity of the intestinal epithelial cells with potential health benefits to the host.IMPORTANCE The intestinal microbiota is said to be a stable ecosystem where many networks between microorganisms are formed. Here we present a proof of principle study of microbial interaction at the intestinal mucus layer. We show that indigestible oligosaccharide chains within mucus become available for a broad range of intestinal microbes after degradation and liberation of sugars by the species Akkermansia muciniphila This leads to the microbial synthesis of vitamin B12, 1,2-propanediol, propionate, and butyrate, which are beneficial to the microbial ecosystem and host epithelial cells.}, } @article {pmid28926539, year = {2017}, author = {Lambrecht, BN and Hammad, H}, title = {The immunology of the allergy epidemic and the hygiene hypothesis.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {18}, number = {10}, pages = {1076-1083}, pmid = {28926539}, issn = {1529-2916}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Age Factors ; Allergens/immunology ; Animals ; Epidermis/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Epithelium/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; *Hygiene Hypothesis ; Hypersensitivity/*immunology ; Life Style ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The immunology of the hygiene hypothesis of allergy is complex and involves the loss of cellular and humoral immunoregulatory pathways as a result of the adoption of a Western lifestyle and the disappearance of chronic infectious diseases. The influence of diet and reduced microbiome diversity now forms the foundation of scientific thinking on how the allergy epidemic occurred, although clear mechanistic insights into the process in humans are still lacking. Here we propose that barrier epithelial cells are heavily influenced by environmental factors and by microbiome-derived danger signals and metabolites, and thus act as important rheostats for immunoregulation, particularly during early postnatal development. Preventive strategies based on this new knowledge could exploit the diversity of the microbial world and the way humans react to it, and possibly restore old symbiotic relationships that have been lost in recent times, without causing disease or requiring a return to an unhygienic life style.}, } @article {pmid28926167, year = {2017}, author = {David, AS and Seabloom, EW and May, G}, title = {Disentangling environmental and host sources of fungal endophyte communities in an experimental beachgrass study.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {21}, pages = {6157-6169}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14354}, pmid = {28926167}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*classification ; Oregon ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Disentangling the ecological factors that contribute to the assembly of the microbial symbiont communities within eukaryotic hosts is an ongoing challenge. Broadly speaking, symbiont propagules arrive either from external sources in the environment or from internal sources within the same host individual. To understand the relative importance of these propagule sources to symbiont community assembly, we characterized symbiotic fungal endophyte communities within the roots of three species of beachgrass in a field experiment. We manipulated two aspects of the external environment, successional habitat and physical disturbance. To determine the role of internal sources of propagules for endophyte community assembly, we used beachgrass individuals with different pre-existing endophyte communities. Endophyte species richness and community composition were characterized using culture-based and next-generation sequencing approaches. Our results showed that external propagule sources associated with successional habitat, but not disturbance, were particularly important for colonization of most endophytic taxa. In contrast, internal propagule sources played a minor role for most endophytic taxa but were important for colonization by the dominant taxon Microdochium bolleyi. Our findings highlight the power of manipulative field experiments to link symbiont community assembly to its underlying ecological processes, and to ultimately improve predictions of symbiont community assembly across environments.}, } @article {pmid28923242, year = {2017}, author = {Bastias, DA and Martínez-Ghersa, MA and Ballaré, CL and Gundel, PE}, title = {Epichloë Fungal Endophytes and Plant Defenses: Not Just Alkaloids.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {939-948}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2017.08.005}, pmid = {28923242}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Herbivory ; Insecta ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although the role of fungal alkaloids in protecting grasses associated with Epichloë fungal endophytes has been extensively documented, the effects of the symbiont on the host plant's immune responses have received little attention. We propose that, in addition to producing protective alkaloids, endophytes enhance plant immunity against chewing insects by promoting endogenous defense responses mediated by the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway. We advance a model that integrates this dual effect of endophytes on plant defenses and test its predictions by means of a standard meta-analysis. This analysis supports a role of Epichloë endophytes in boosting JA-mediated plant defenses. We discuss the ecological scenarios where this effect of endophytes on plant defenses would be most beneficial for increasing plant fitness.}, } @article {pmid28923004, year = {2017}, author = {Daguerre, Y and Levati, E and Ruytinx, J and Tisserant, E and Morin, E and Kohler, A and Montanini, B and Ottonello, S and Brun, A and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Martin, F}, title = {Regulatory networks underlying mycorrhizal development delineated by genome-wide expression profiling and functional analysis of the transcription factor repertoire of the plant symbiotic fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {737}, pmid = {28923004}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genomics ; Laccaria/*genetics/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi develop a mutualistic symbiotic interaction with the roots of their host plants. During this process, they undergo a series of developmental transitions from the running hyphae in the rhizosphere to the coenocytic hyphae forming finger-like structures within the root apoplastic space. These transitions, which involve profound, symbiosis-associated metabolic changes, also entail a substantial transcriptome reprogramming with coordinated waves of differentially expressed genes. To date, little is known about the key transcriptional regulators driving these changes, and the aim of the present study was to delineate and functionally characterize the transcription factor (TF) repertoire of the model ECM fungus Laccaria bicolor.

RESULTS: We curated the L. bicolor gene models coding for transcription factors and assessed their expression and regulation in Poplar and Douglas fir ectomycorrhizae. We identified 285 TFs, 191 of which share a significant similarity with known transcriptional regulators. Expression profiling of the corresponding transcripts identified TF-encoding fungal genes differentially expressed in the ECM root tips of both host plants. The L. bicolor core set of differentially expressed TFs consists of 12 and 22 genes that are, respectively, upregulated and downregulated in symbiotic tissues. These TFs resemble known fungal regulators involved in the control of fungal invasive growth, fungal cell wall integrity, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, invasive stress response and fruiting-body development. However, this core set of mycorrhiza-regulated TFs seems to be characteristic of L. bicolor and our data suggest that each mycorrhizal fungus has evolved its own set of ECM development regulators. A subset of the above TFs was functionally validated with the use of a heterologous, transcription activation assay in yeast, which also allowed the identification of previously unknown, transcriptionally active yet secreted polypeptides designated as Secreted Transcriptional Activator Proteins (STAPs).

CONCLUSIONS: Transcriptional regulators required for ECM symbiosis development in L. bicolor have been uncovered and classified through genome-wide analysis. This study also identifies the STAPs as a new class of potential ECM effectors, highly expressed in mycorrhizae, which may be involved in the control of the symbiotic root transcriptome.}, } @article {pmid28922610, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, C and Bueckert, R and Schoenau, J and Diederichsen, A and Zakeri, H and Warkentin, T}, title = {Symbiosis of selected Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains with diverse pea genotypes: effects on biological nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {11}, pages = {909-919}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2017-0281}, pmid = {28922610}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Genotype ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Peas/*microbiology ; Plant Roots ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) can be improved by optimizing the interaction between the rhizobial inoculant and pea (Pisum sativum L.), leading to increased productivity and reduced nitrogen (N) fertilizer use. Eight Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains were used to inoculate the super-nodulating pea mutant Rondo-nod3 (fix+), the hyper-nodulating pea mutant Frisson P88 Sym29, CDC Meadow commercial control, and the non-nodulating mutant Frisson P56 (nod-) to evaluate BNF in a greenhouse assay. Significant differences in strain × cultivar interactions were detected for shoot and root dry masses, which ranged from 1.8 to 4.7 g and from 0.27 to 0.73 g per plant, respectively; for nodule number on lateral roots, which ranged from 25 to 430 per plant; for amount of fixed N2, which ranged from 15 to 67 mg and from 4 to 15 mg per plant for shoot and root tissues, respectively; and for percentage of N derived from atmosphere (%Ndfa), which ranged from 37% to 61% and from 35% to 65% for shoot and root tissue, respectively. Strain × cultivar interactions in this study could contribute to identification of superior strains and pea breeding lines with genetic superiority in BNF. Nodule production in pea plants was not necessarily correlated with the amount of fixed N2, suggesting nodule activity is more important to BNF than is nodule number.}, } @article {pmid28921846, year = {2017}, author = {Gräff, I and Ghamari, S and Schacher, S and Glien, P and Fimmers, R and Baehner, T and Kim, SC}, title = {Improvement of polytrauma management-quality inspection of a newly introduced course concept.}, journal = {Journal of evaluation in clinical practice}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1381-1386}, doi = {10.1111/jep.12802}, pmid = {28921846}, issn = {1365-2753}, mesh = {Checklist ; Germany ; Humans ; Interprofessional Relations ; Multiple Trauma/mortality/*therapy ; Patient Care Team/*organization & administration ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Quality of Health Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Trauma Severity Indices ; Traumatology/*education ; }, abstract = {A systematic literature search for training course concepts for care of severely injured and severely ill patients respecting improvement of process and outcome yielded little data. For several years, the University Hospital of Bonn has hosted a shock-room management course which, on the one hand, communicates human factor aspects and, on the other hand, pursues interdisciplinary and interprofessional team training. The Bonn shock-room management course (BSM-course®) differs from other courses in both format and principles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the structure of the course based on course evaluations of participants and its impact on the quality of the process and results for polytrauma care.

METHODS: Single-center retrospective evaluation study (2011 to 2014). It was based on data from simulator training and records from the German Trauma Registry (DGU)®.

RESULTS: Subjective evaluation of participants (n = 188) of the structure quality of Bonn's shock-room management course was overall positive. Objective measures of course participant performance also improved during simulation training (P = 0.012). An increasing number of trained employees also had a positive influence in reducing process time for shock-room care. Further, the course likewise had a positive impact on documentation quality (degree of completion), with regard to 4 relevant predictive parameters. Early mortality during the first 24 hours remained constant at 6.0-6.5% between 2011 and 2013, yet it decreased to 3.1% in 2014.

CONCLUSION: The BSM-course® represents a symbiosis of horizontal team approach of trauma care and human factor training. The course format is able to ensure interdisciplinary and interprofessional team training with a high degree of efficiency. Furthermore, the presented work shows that a modern course concept can improve the quality of trauma care.}, } @article {pmid28921808, year = {2017}, author = {Schmidt, JE and Weese, DJ and Lau, JA}, title = {Long-term agricultural management does not alter the evolution of a soybean-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2487-2496}, doi = {10.1002/eap.1625}, pmid = {28921808}, issn = {1051-0761}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; *Biological Evolution ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Michigan ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Leguminous crops, like soybeans, often rely on biologically fixed nitrogen via their symbiosis with rhizobia rather than synthetic nitrogen inputs. However, agricultural management practices may influence the effectiveness of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). While the ecological effects of agricultural management on rhizobia have received some attention, the evolutionary effects have been neglected in comparison. Resource mutualism theory predicts that evolutionary effects are likely, however. Both fertilization and tillage are predicted to cause the evolution of rhizobia that provide fewer growth benefits to plant hosts and fix less nitrogen. This study capitalized on a Long-Term Ecological Research experiment that manipulated agricultural management practices in a corn-soybean-wheat row crop system for 24 yr to investigate whether four different management practices (conventional, no-till, low chemical input, and certified organic) cause rhizobia populations to evolve to become more or less cooperative. We found little evidence that 24 yr of varying management practices affect the net growth benefits rhizobia provide to soybeans, although soybean plants inoculated with soils collected from conventional treatments tended to have lower BNF rates than plants inoculated with soils from the no-till, low input, and organic management treatments. These findings suggest that rhizobia will continue to provide adequate growth benefits to leguminous crops in the future, even in intensively managed systems.}, } @article {pmid28921469, year = {2017}, author = {Ong, HS and Yim, HCH}, title = {Microbial Factors in Inflammatory Diseases and Cancers.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1024}, number = {}, pages = {153-174}, doi = {10.1007/978-981-10-5987-2_7}, pmid = {28921469}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*microbiology ; Neoplasms/*etiology ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbes form a symbiotic relationship with their human host to harvest energy for themselves and their host and to shape the immune system of their host. However, alteration of this relationship, which is named as a dysbiosis, has been associated with the development of different inflammatory diseases and cancers. It is found that metabolites, cellular components, and virulence factors derived from the gut microbiota interact with the host locally or systemically to modulate the dysbiosis and the development of these diseases. In this book chapter, we discuss the role of these microbial factors in regulating the host signaling pathways, the composition and load of the gut microbiota, the co-metabolism of the host and the microbiota, the host immune system, and physiology. In particular, we highlight how each microbial factor can contribute in the manifestation of many diseases such as cancers, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, obesity, type-2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and cardiovascular diseases.}, } @article {pmid28920588, year = {2017}, author = {Nielsen, MM and Witherden, DA and Havran, WL}, title = {γδ T cells in homeostasis and host defence of epithelial barrier tissues.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {733-745}, pmid = {28920588}, issn = {1474-1741}, support = {R01 AI036964/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI064811/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI129401/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers ; Butyrophilins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Epithelium/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/physiology ; Intraepithelial Lymphocytes/cytology/*immunology/*metabolism ; Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells/cytology/*immunology/*metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/*genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Epithelial surfaces line the body and provide a crucial interface between the body and the external environment. Tissue-resident epithelial γδ T cells represent a major T cell population in the epithelial tissues and are ideally positioned to carry out barrier surveillance and aid in tissue homeostasis and repair. In this Review, we focus on the intraepithelial γδ T cell compartment of the two largest epithelial tissues in the body - namely, the epidermis and the intestine - and provide a comprehensive overview of the crucial contributions of intraepithelial γδ T cells to tissue integrity and repair, host homeostasis and protection in the context of the symbiotic relationship with the microbiome and during pathogen clearance. Finally, we describe epithelium-specific butyrophilin-like molecules and briefly review their emerging role in selectively shaping and regulating epidermal and intestinal γδ T cell repertoires.}, } @article {pmid28919923, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, Q and Ai, N and Liao, J and Shao, X and Liu, Y and Fan, X}, title = {Revealing topics and their evolution in biomedical literature using Bio-DTM: a case study of ginseng.}, journal = {Chinese medicine}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {27}, pmid = {28919923}, issn = {1749-8546}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Valuable scientific results on biomedicine are very rich, but they are widely scattered in the literature. Topic modeling enables researchers to discover themes from an unstructured collection of documents without any prior annotations or labels. In this paper, taking ginseng as an example, biological dynamic topic model (Bio-DTM) was proposed to conduct a retrospective study and interpret the temporal evolution of the research of ginseng.

METHODS: The system of Bio-DTM mainly includes four components, documents pre-processing, bio-dictionary construction, dynamic topic models, topics analysis and visualization. Scientific articles pertaining to ginseng were retrieved through text mining from PubMed. The bio-dictionary integrates MedTerms medical dictionary, the second edition of side effect resource, a dictionary of biology and HGNC database of human gene names (HGNC). A dynamic topic model, a text mining technique, was used to emphasize on capturing the development trends of topics in a sequentially collected documents. Besides the contents of topics taken on, the evolution of topics was visualized over time using ThemeRiver.

RESULTS: From the topic 9, ginseng was used in dietary supplements and complementary and integrative health practices, and became very popular since the early twentieth century. Topic 6 reminded that the planting of ginseng is a major area of research and symbiosis and allelopathy of ginseng became a research hotspot in 2007. In addition, the Bio-DTM model gave an insight into the main pharmacologic effects of ginseng, such as anti-metabolic disorder effect, cardioprotective effect, anti-cancer effect, hepatoprotective effect, anti-thrombotic effect and neuroprotective effect.

CONCLUSION: The Bio-DTM model not only discovers what ginseng's research involving in but also displays how these topics evolving over time. This approach can be applied to the biomedical field to conduct a retrospective study and guide future studies.}, } @article {pmid28919360, year = {2018}, author = {Park, KE and Jang, SH and Lee, J and Lee, SA and Kikuchi, Y and Seo, YS and Lee, BL}, title = {The roles of antimicrobial peptide, rip-thanatin, in the midgut of Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {78}, number = {}, pages = {83-90}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2017.09.009}, pmid = {28919360}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Burkholderia Infections/*immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Hemiptera/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recently, we have reported the structural determination of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as riptocin, rip-defensin, and rip-thanatin, from Riptortus pedestris. However, the biological roles of AMPs in the host midgut remain elusive. Here, we compared the expression levels of AMP genes in apo-symbiotic insects with those of symbiotic insects. Interestingly, the expression level of rip-thanatin was only significantly increased in the posterior midgut region of symbiotic insects. To further determine the role of rip-thanatin, we checked antimicrobial activity in vitro. Rip-thanatin showed high antimicrobial activity and had the same structural characteristics as other reported thanatins. To find the novel function of rip-thanatin, rip-thanatin was silenced by RNA interference, and the population of gut symbionts was measured. When rip-thanatin was silenced, the symbionts' titer was increased upon bacterial infection. These results suggest that rip-thanatin functions not only as an antimicrobial peptide but also in controlling the symbionts' titer in the host midgut.}, } @article {pmid28919016, year = {2017}, author = {Kabaluk, T and Li-Leger, E and Nam, S}, title = {Metarhizium brunneum - An enzootic wireworm disease and evidence for its suppression by bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {150}, number = {}, pages = {82-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2017.09.012}, pmid = {28919016}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Larva/*microbiology ; *Metarhizium ; Mycoses/*veterinary ; *Pest Control, Biological ; }, abstract = {Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are serious agricultural pests, with soil-dwelling larvae attacking subterranean tissues of crop plants and their fruit when in contact with the soil surface. Researchers collect wireworms for laboratory experiments to study their behaviour and test pest control agents but frequently lose them to Metarhizium Petch (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) infection. We found latent M. brunneum infection in 13-100% of live, asymptomatic Agriotes obscurus and A. lineatus wireworms acquired from agricultural fields and in wireworms maintained indoors, indicating its enzootic presence. M. brunneum DNA in the wireworms maintained indoors sometimes exceeded 250pg/ug total DNA (0.025% of whole-sample DNA mass). Expressed as copies of M. brunneum DNA/g, unadulterated soil levels of M. brunneum ranged from 4037 in agricultural field soil to 721,538 in soil harbouring a wireworm collection indoors, with the prevalence of latently-infected live wireworm specimens being directly related to soil levels. M. brunneum levels in live wireworms, when regressed against relative levels of 394 bacteria species in the microbiome, were proportionally related to only four: Pantoea agglomerans, Pandoraea pnomenusa, Nocardia pseudovaccinii, and Mycobacterium frederiksbergense. All four of these bacteria have previously been reported to express antimicrobial mechanisms. Consistent with occurrences of disease immunity reported for other pathogen-insect pairs, symbiotic bacteria may be suppressing M. brunneum-induced wireworm mortality. This would help explain why wireworms commonly succumb to infection after being brought into sterilized conditions, as well as the sometimes limited efficacy of M. brunneum when using it as a pest control agent in the field.}, } @article {pmid28916813, year = {2017}, author = {Tanifuji, G and Cenci, U and Moog, D and Dean, S and Nakayama, T and David, V and Fiala, I and Curtis, BA and Sibbald, SJ and Onodera, NT and Colp, M and Flegontov, P and Johnson-MacKinnon, J and McPhee, M and Inagaki, Y and Hashimoto, T and Kelly, S and Gull, K and Lukeš, J and Archibald, JM}, title = {Genome sequencing reveals metabolic and cellular interdependence in an amoeba-kinetoplastid symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11688}, pmid = {28916813}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amoebozoa/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Genome, Protozoan ; Kinetoplastida/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic relationships between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are common in nature. Endosymbioses between two eukaryotes are also known; cyanobacterium-derived plastids have spread horizontally when one eukaryote assimilated another. A unique instance of a non-photosynthetic, eukaryotic endosymbiont involves members of the genus Paramoeba, amoebozoans that infect marine animals such as farmed fish and sea urchins. Paramoeba species harbor endosymbionts belonging to the Kinetoplastea, a diverse group of flagellate protists including some that cause devastating diseases. To elucidate the nature of this eukaryote-eukaryote association, we sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes of Paramoeba pemaquidensis and its endosymbiont Perkinsela sp. The endosymbiont nuclear genome is ~9.5 Mbp in size, the smallest of a kinetoplastid thus far discovered. Genomic analyses show that Perkinsela sp. has lost the ability to make a flagellum but retains hallmark features of kinetoplastid biology, including polycistronic transcription, trans-splicing, and a glycosome-like organelle. Mosaic biochemical pathways suggest extensive 'cross-talk' between the two organisms, and electron microscopy shows that the endosymbiont ingests amoeba cytoplasm, a novel form of endosymbiont-host communication. Our data reveal the cell biological and biochemical basis of the obligate relationship between Perkinsela sp. and its amoeba host, and provide a foundation for understanding pathogenicity determinants in economically important Paramoeba.}, } @article {pmid28916743, year = {2017}, author = {Kimbrough, JH and Stabb, EV}, title = {Comparative analysis reveals regulatory motifs at the ainS/ainR pheromone-signaling locus of Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11734}, pmid = {28916743}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*physiology ; Cell Communication ; Feedback, Physiological/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Regulator ; Luminescence ; Repressor Proteins/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; Trans-Activators/physiology ; Transcription Factors/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri uses the AinS/AinR pheromone-signaling system to control bioluminescence and other symbiotic colonization factors. The Ain system is thought to initiate cell-cell signaling at moderate cell densities and to prime the LuxI/LuxR signaling system. Here we compared and analyzed the ain locus from two V. fischeri strains and a Vibrio salmonicida strain to explore ain regulation. The ainS and ainR genes were predicted to constitute an operon, which we corroborated using RT-PCR. Comparisons between strains revealed a stark area of conservation across the ainS-ainR junction, including a large inverted repeat in ainR. We found that this inverted repeat in cis can affect accumulation of the AinS-generated pheromone N-octanoyl homoserine lactone, which may account for the previously unexplained low-signal phenotype of a ∆ainR mutant, although the mechanism behind this regulation remains elusive. We also extended the previous observation of a possible "lux box" LuxR binding site upstream of ainS by showing the conservation of this site as well as a second putative lux box. Using a plasmid-based reporter we found that LuxR can mediate repression of ainS, providing a negative feedback mechanism in the Ain/Lux signaling cascade. Our results provide new insights into the regulation, expression, and evolution of ainSR.}, } @article {pmid28916561, year = {2018}, author = {Mitsch, MJ and diCenzo, GC and Cowie, A and Finan, TM}, title = {Succinate Transport Is Not Essential for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Sinorhizobium meliloti or Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {28916561}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Malates/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Succinic Acid/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is an energetically expensive process performed by bacteria during endosymbiotic relationships with plants. The bacteria require the plant to provide a carbon source for the generation of reductant to power SNF. While C4-dicarboxylates (succinate, fumarate, and malate) appear to be the primary, if not sole, carbon source provided to the bacteria, the contribution of each C4-dicarboxylate is not known. We address this issue using genetic and systems-level analyses. Expression of a malate-specific transporter (MaeP) in Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 dct mutants unable to transport C4-dicarboxylates resulted in malate import rates of up to 30% that of the wild type. This was sufficient to support SNF with Medicago sativa, with acetylene reduction rates of up to 50% those of plants inoculated with wild-type S. melilotiRhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 dct mutants unable to transport C4-dicarboxylates but expressing the maeP transporter had strong symbiotic properties, with Pisum sativum plants inoculated with these strains appearing similar to plants inoculated with wild-type R. leguminosarum This was despite malate transport rates by the mutant bacteroids being 10% those of the wild type. An RNA-sequencing analysis of the combined P. sativum-R. leguminosarum nodule transcriptome was performed to identify systems-level adaptations in response to the inability of the bacteria to import succinate or fumarate. Few transcriptional changes, with no obvious pattern, were detected. Overall, these data illustrated that succinate and fumarate are not essential for SNF and that, at least in specific symbioses, l-malate is likely the primary C4-dicarboxylate provided to the bacterium.IMPORTANCE Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is an economically and ecologically important biological process that allows plants to grow in nitrogen-poor soils without the need to apply nitrogen-based fertilizers. Much research has been dedicated to this topic to understand this process and to eventually manipulate it for agricultural gains. The work presented in this article provides new insights into the metabolic integration of the plant and bacterial partners. It is shown that malate is the only carbon source that needs to be available to the bacterium to support SNF and that, at least in some symbioses, malate, and not other C4-dicarboxylates, is likely the primary carbon provided to the bacterium. This work extends our knowledge of the minimal metabolic capabilities the bacterium requires to successfully perform SNF and may be useful in further studies aiming to optimize this process through synthetic biology approaches. The work describes an engineering approach to investigate a metabolic process that occurs between a eukaryotic host and its prokaryotic endosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid28916558, year = {2017}, author = {Piromyou, P and Greetatorn, T and Teamtisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Potential of Rice Stubble as a Reservoir of Bradyrhizobial Inoculum in Rice-Legume Crop Rotation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {22}, pages = {}, pmid = {28916558}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Crop Production ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Oryza/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Stems/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium encompasses a variety of bacteria that can live in symbiotic and endophytic associations with leguminous and nonleguminous plants, such as rice. Therefore, it can be expected that rice endophytic bradyrhizobia can be applied in the rice-legume crop rotation system. Some endophytic bradyrhizobial strains were isolated from rice (Oryza sativa L.) tissues. The rice biomass could be enhanced when supplementing bradyrhizobial strain inoculation with KNO3, NH4NO3, or urea, especially in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain SUTN9-2. In contrast, the strains which suppressed rice growth were photosynthetic bradyrhizobia and were found to produce nitric oxide (NO) in the rice root. The expression of genes involved in NO production was conducted using a quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) technique. The nirK gene expression level in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain SUT-PR48 with nitrate was higher than that of the norB gene. In contrast, the inoculation of SUTN9-2 resulted in a lower expression of the nirK gene than that of the norB gene. These results suggest that SUT-PR48 may accumulate NO more than SUTN9-2 does. Furthermore, the nifH expression of SUTN9-2 was induced in treatment without nitrogen supplementation in an endophytic association with rice. The indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase produced in planta by SUTN9-2 were also detected. Enumeration of rice endophytic bradyrhizobia from rice tissues revealed that SUTN9-2 persisted in rice tissues until rice-harvesting season. The mung bean (Vigna radiata) can be nodulated after rice stubbles were decomposed. Therefore, it is possible that rice stubbles can be used as an inoculum in the rice-legume crop rotation system under both low- and high-organic-matter soil conditions.IMPORTANCE This study shows that some rice endophytic bradyrhizobia could produce IAA and ACC deaminase and have a nitrogen fixation ability during symbiosis inside rice tissues. These characteristics may play an important role in rice growth promotion by endophytic bradyrhizobia. However, the NO-producing strains should be of concern due to a possible deleterious effect of NO on rice growth. In addition, this study reports the application of endophytic bradyrhizobia in rice stubbles, and the rice stubbles were used directly as an inoculum for a leguminous plant (mung bean). The degradation of rice stubbles leads to an increased number of SUTN9-2 in the soil and may result in increased mung bean nodulation. Therefore, the persistence of endophytic bradyrhizobia in rice tissues can be developed to use rice stubbles as an inoculum for mung bean in a rice-legume crop rotation system.}, } @article {pmid28915923, year = {2017}, author = {Sharp, KH and Pratte, ZA and Kerwin, AH and Rotjan, RD and Stewart, FJ}, title = {Season, but not symbiont state, drives microbiome structure in the temperate coral Astrangia poculata.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {120}, pmid = {28915923}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the associations among corals, their photosynthetic zooxanthella symbionts (Symbiodinium), and coral-associated prokaryotic microbiomes is critical for predicting the fidelity and strength of coral symbioses in the face of growing environmental threats. Most coral-microbiome associations are beneficial, yet the mechanisms that determine the composition of the coral microbiome remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized microbiome diversity in the temperate, facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata at four seasonal time points near the northernmost limit of the species range. The facultative nature of this system allowed us to test seasonal influence and symbiotic state (Symbiodinium density in the coral) on microbiome community composition.

RESULTS: Change in season had a strong effect on A. poculata microbiome composition. The seasonal shift was greatest upon the winter to spring transition, during which time A. poculata microbiome composition became more similar among host individuals. Within each of the four seasons, microbiome composition differed significantly from that of surrounding seawater but was surprisingly uniform between symbiotic and aposymbiotic corals, even in summer, when differences in Symbiodinium density between brown and white colonies are the highest, indicating that the observed seasonal shifts are not likely due to fluctuations in Symbiodinium density.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that symbiotic state may not be a primary driver of coral microbial community organization in A. poculata, which is a surprise given the long-held assumption that excess photosynthate is of importance to coral-associated microbes. Rather, other environmental or host factors, in this case, seasonal changes in host physiology associated with winter quiescence, may drive microbiome diversity. Additional studies of A. poculata and other facultatively symbiotic corals will provide important comparisons to studies of reef-building tropical corals and therefore help to identify basic principles of coral microbiome assembly, as well as functional relationships among holobiont members.}, } @article {pmid28914770, year = {2017}, author = {Izaguirre-Mayoral, ML and Brito, M and Baral, B and Garrido, MJ}, title = {Silicon and Nitrate Differentially Modulate the Symbiotic Performances of Healthy and Virus-Infected Bradyrhizobium-nodulated Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Yardlong Bean (V. unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) and Mung Bean (V. radiata).}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {28914770}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The effects of 2 mM silicon (Si) and 10 mM KNO3 (N)-prime signals for plant resistance to pathogens-were analyzed in healthy and Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) or Cowpea mild mottle virus (CMMV)-infected Bradyrhizobium-nodulated cowpea, yardlong bean and mung bean plants. In healthy plants of the three Vigna taxa, nodulation and growth were promoted in the order of Si + N > N > Si > controls. In the case of healthy cowpea and yardlong bean, the addition of Si and N decreased ureide and α-amino acids (AA) contents in the nodules and leaves in the order of Si + N> N > Si > controls. On the other hand, the addition of N arrested the deleterious effects of CCMV or CMMV infections on growth and nodulation in the three Vigna taxa. However, the addition of Si or Si + N hindered growth and nodulation in the CCMV- or CMMV-infected cowpea and yardlong bean, causing a massive accumulation of ureides in the leaves and nodules. Nevertheless, the AA content in leaves and nodules of CCMV- or CMMV-infected cowpea and yardlong bean was promoted by Si but reduced to minimum by Si + N. These results contrasted to the counteracting effects of Si or Si + N in the CCMV- and CMMV-infected mung bean via enhanced growth, nodulation and levels of ureide and AA in the leaves and nodules. Together, these observations suggest the fertilization with Si + N exclusively in virus-free cowpea and yardlong bean crops. However, Si + N fertilization must be encouraged in virus-endangered mung bean crops to enhance growth, nodulation and N-metabolism. It is noteworthy to see the enhanced nodulation of the three Vigna taxa in the presence of 10 mM KNO3.}, } @article {pmid28912324, year = {2017}, author = {Ghazal, S and Swanson, E and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Abebe-Akele, F and Thomas, WK and Khalil, KM and Tisa, LS}, title = {Permanent Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus temperata Strain Hm, an Entomopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from Nematodes.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {37}, pages = {}, pmid = {28912324}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Photorhabdus temperata strain Hm is an entomopathogenic bacterium that forms a symbiotic association with Heterorhabditis nematodes. Here, we report a 5.0-Mbp draft genome sequence for P. temperata strain Hm with a G+C content of 44.1% and containing 4,226 candidate protein-encoding genes.}, } @article {pmid28910702, year = {2017}, author = {Del-Saz, NF and Romero-Munar, A and Alonso, D and Aroca, R and Baraza, E and Flexas, J and Ribas-Carbo, M}, title = {Respiratory ATP cost and benefit of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis with Nicotiana tabacum at different growth stages and under salinity.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {218}, number = {}, pages = {243-248}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2017.08.012}, pmid = {28910702}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Salinity ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Growth and maintenance partly depend on both respiration and ATP production during oxidative phosphorylation in leaves. Under stress, ATP is needed to maintain the accumulated biomass. ATP production mostly proceeds from the cytochrome oxidase pathway (COP), while respiration via the alternative oxidase pathway (AOP) may decrease the production of ATP per oxygen consumed, especially under phosphorus (P) limitation and salinity conditions. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is reputed by their positive effect on plant growth under stress at mature stages of colonization; however, fungal colonization may decrease plant growth at early stages. Thus, the present research is based on the hypothesis that AM fungus colonization will increase both foliar respiration and ATP production at mature stages of plant growth while decreasing them both at early stages. We used the oxygen-isotope-fractionation technique to study the in vivo respiratory activities and ATP production of the COP and AOP in AM and non-AM (NM) tobacco plants grown under P-limiting and saline conditions in sand at different growth stages (14, 28 and 49days). Our results suggest that AM symbiosis represents an ATP cost detrimental for shoot growth at early stages, whilst it represents a benefit on ATP allowing for faster rates of growth at mature stages, even under salinity conditions.}, } @article {pmid28905167, year = {2018}, author = {Efrose, RC and Rosu, CM and Stedel, C and Stefan, A and Sirbu, C and Gorgan, LD and Labrou, NE and Flemetakis, E}, title = {Molecular diversity and phylogeny of indigenous Rhizobium leguminosarum strains associated with Trifolium repens plants in Romania.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {111}, number = {1}, pages = {135-153}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-017-0934-3}, pmid = {28905167}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/methods ; Molecular Typing ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/*genetics ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen fixing legumes play an essential role in sustainable agriculture. White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is one of the most valuable perennial legumes in pastures and meadows of temperate regions. Despite its great agriculture and economic importance, there is no detailed available information on phylogenetic assignation and characterization of rhizobia associated with native white clover plants in South-Eastern Europe. In the present work, the diversity of indigenous white clover rhizobia originating in 11 different natural ecosystems in North-Eastern Romania were assessed by a polyphasic approach. Initial grouping showed that, 73 rhizobial isolates, representing seven distinct phenons were distributed into 12 genotypes, indicating a wide phenotypic and genotypic diversity among the isolates. To clarify their phylogeny, 44 representative strains were used in sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene and IGS fragments, three housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII and recA) and two symbiosis-related genes (nodA and nifH). Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) phylogeny based on concatenated housekeeping genes delineated the clover isolates into five putative genospecies. Despite their diverse chromosomal backgrounds, test strains shared highly similar symbiotic genes closely related to Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii. Phylogenies inferred from housekeeping genes were incongruent with those of symbiotic genes, probably due to occurrence of lateral transfer events among native strains. This is the first polyphasic taxonomic study to report on the MLSA-based phylogenetic diversity of indigenous rhizobia nodulating white clover plants grown in various soil types in South-Eastern Europe. Our results provide valuable taxonomic data on native clover rhizobia and may increase the pool of genetic material to be used as biofertilizers.}, } @article {pmid28903461, year = {2017}, author = {Song, B and Morse, D and Song, Y and Fu, Y and Lin, X and Wang, W and Cheng, S and Chen, W and Liu, X and Lin, S}, title = {Comparative Genomics Reveals Two Major Bouts of Gene Retroposition Coinciding with Crucial Periods of Symbiodinium Evolution.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {2037-2047}, pmid = {28903461}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Genomics/methods ; Phenotype ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; *Retroelements ; }, abstract = {Gene retroposition is an important mechanism of genome evolution but the role it plays in dinoflagellates, a critical player in marine ecosystems, is not known. Until recently, when the genomes of two coral-symbiotic dinoflagellate genomes, Symbiodinium kawagutii and S. minutum, were released, it has not been possible to systematically study these retrogenes. Here we examine the abundant retrogenes (∼23% of the total genes) in these species. The hallmark of retrogenes in the genome is the presence of DCCGTAGCCATTTTGGCTCAAG, a spliced leader (DinoSL) constitutively trans-spliced to the 5'-end of all nucleus-encoded mRNAs. Although the retrogenes have often lost part of the 22-nt DinoSL, the putative promoter motif from the DinoSL, TTT(T/G), is consistently retained in the upstream region of these genes, providing an explanation for the high survival rate of retrogenes in dinoflagellates. Our analysis of DinoSL sequence divergence revealed two major bursts of retroposition in the evolutionary history of Symbiodinium, occurring at ∼60 and ∼6 Ma. Reconstruction of the evolutionary trajectory of the Symbiodinium genomes mapped these 2 times to the origin and rapid radiation of this dinoflagellate lineage, respectively. GO analysis revealed differential functional enrichment of the retrogenes between the two episodes, with a broad impact on transport in the first bout and more localized influence on symbiosis-related processes such as cell adhesion in the second bout. This study provides the first evidence of large-scale retroposition as a major mechanism of genome evolution for any organism and sheds light on evolution of coral symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28902963, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, X and Tian, L and Zhang, J and Ma, L and Li, X and Tian, C}, title = {Rhizospheric fungi and their link with the nitrogen-fixing Frankia harbored in host plant Hippophae rhamnoides L.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {57}, number = {12}, pages = {1055-1064}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201700312}, pmid = {28902963}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {*Biota ; Frankia/growth & development/*metabolism ; Fungi/*classification/growth & development ; Hippophae/*microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a pioneer plant used for land reclamation and an appropriate material for studying the interactions of symbiotic microorganisms because of its nitrogen-fixing root nodules and mycorrhiza. We used high-throughput sequencing to reveal the diversities and community structures of rhizospheric fungi and their link with nitrogen-fixing Frankia harbored in sea buckthorn collected along an altitude gradient from the Qinghai Tibet Plateau to interior areas. We found that the fungal diversities and compositions varied between different sites. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota were the dominant phyla. The distribution of sea buckthorn rhizospheric fungi was driven by both environmental factors and the geographic distance. Among all examined soil characteristics, altitude, AP, and pH were found to have significant (p < 0.05) effect on the rhizospheric fungal community. The rhizospheric fungal communities became more distinct as the distance increased. Moreover, co-inertia analysis identified significant co-structures between Frankia and AMF communities in the rhizosphere of sea buckthorn. We conclude that at the large scale, there are certain linkages between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and the AMF expressed in the distributional pattern.}, } @article {pmid28900232, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, Y and Liu, S and Su, J and Zhang, Y and Li, J and Sui, YQ and Li, YY and Wang, H and Li, H}, title = {Three novel structural phenomena in the cellular ontogeny of Oenococcus oeni from northern China.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11265}, pmid = {28900232}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Cell Division ; China ; Oenococcus/*physiology/*ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Stress resistance and growth are important aspects to consider when engineering Oenococcus oeni strains for winemaking. We identified 3 previously unreported structural phenomena in the cell ontogeny of O. oeni sampled in northern China. We show that budding and binary fission (BBF) occur simultaneously in the growth process; that a novel 'pomegranate-shaped structure' (PSS) occurs mainly in the stationary and death phases; and that symbiosis and cyclical phenomena (SCP) occur throughout the various cell growth phases. These observations add to the current knowledge of the cell growth process of O. oeni. BBF, PSS, and SCP sufficiently describe the characteristics of the cellular ontogeny of O. oeni. We highlight a newly identified structure that explains the complex cell growth process. These findings will help understand the growth and development of O. oeni, supplementing the knowledge base of the established phases and providing new perspectives into its complex growth patterns.}, } @article {pmid28898602, year = {2017}, author = {Ewers-Saucedo, C and Chan, BKK and Zardus, JD and Wares, JP}, title = {Parallel Patterns of Host-Specific Morphology and Genetic Admixture in Sister Lineages of a Commensal Barnacle.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {232}, number = {3}, pages = {171-185}, doi = {10.1086/693356}, pmid = {28898602}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Host Specificity ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Thoracica/*anatomy & histology/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are often species specific, allowing symbionts to adapt to their host environments. Host generalists, on the other hand, have to cope with diverse environments. One coping strategy is phenotypic plasticity, defined by the presence of host-specific phenotypes in the absence of genetic differentiation. Recent work indicates that such host-specific phenotypic plasticity is present in the West Pacific lineage of the commensal barnacle Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758). We investigated genetic and morphological host-specific structure in the genetically distinct Atlantic sister lineage of C. testudinaria. We collected adult C. testudinaria from loggerhead sea turtles, horseshoe crabs, and blue crabs along the eastern U.S. coast between Delaware and Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi. We find that shell morphology, especially shell thickness, is host specific and comparable in similar host species between the Atlantic and West Pacific lineages. We did not detect significant genetic differentiation related to host species when analyzing data from 11 nuclear microsatellite loci and mitochondrial sequence data, which is comparable to findings for the Pacific lineage. The most parsimonious explanation for these parallel patterns between distinct lineages of C. testudinaria is that C. testudinaria maintained phenotypic plasticity since the lineages diverged 4-5 mya.}, } @article {pmid28898600, year = {2017}, author = {Zepeda, EA and Veline, RJ and Crook, RJ}, title = {Rapid Associative Learning and Stable Long-Term Memory in the Squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {232}, number = {3}, pages = {212-218}, doi = {10.1086/693461}, pmid = {28898600}, issn = {1939-8697}, support = {T34 GM008574/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Decapodiformes/*physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Memory/*physiology ; Predatory Behavior/physiology ; }, abstract = {Learning and memory in cephalopod molluscs have received intensive study because of cephalopods' complex behavioral repertoire and relatively accessible nervous systems. While most of this research has been conducted using octopus and cuttlefish species, there has been relatively little work on squid. Euprymna scolopes Berry, 1913, a sepiolid squid, is a promising model for further exploration of cephalopod cognition. These small squid have been studied in detail for their symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria, and their short generation time and successful captive breeding through multiple generations make them appealing models for neurobiological research. However, little is known about their behavior or cognitive ability. Using the well-established "prawn-in-the-tube" assay of learning and memory, we show that within a single 10-min trial E. scolopes learns to inhibit its predatory behavior, and after three trials it can retain this memory for at least 12 d. Rapid learning and very long-term retention were apparent under two different training schedules. To our knowledge, this study is the first demonstration of learning and memory in this species as well as the first demonstration of associative learning in any squid.}, } @article {pmid28895521, year = {2017}, author = {Cordeiro, AB and Ribeiro, RA and Helene, LCF and Hungria, M}, title = {Rhizobium esperanzae sp. nov., a N2-fixing root symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris from Mexican soils.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {10}, pages = {3937-3945}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002225}, pmid = {28895521}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mexico ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume consumed worldwide; its genetic origins lie in the Mesoamerican (main centre) and Andean regions. It is promiscuous in establishing root-nodule symbioses; however, in the centres of origin/domestication, the predominant association is with Rhizobium etli. We have previously identified a new lineage (PEL-3) comprising three strains (CNPSo 661, CNPSo 666 and CNPSo 668[T]) isolated from root nodules of common bean in Mexico, and that have now been analysed in more detail. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene positioned the three strains in a large clade including R. etli. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with four housekeeping genes (recA, glnII, gyrB and rpoA) positioned the three strains in a clade distinct from all other described species, with 100 % bootstrap support, and nucleotide identity (NI) of the four concatenated genes with the closest species R. etli was 95.0 %. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of the whole genome of CNPSo 668[T] and the closest species, R. etli, was 92.9 %. In the analyses of the symbiotic genes nifH and nodC, the strains comprised a cluster with other rhizobial symbionts of P. vulgaris. Other phenotypic and genotypic traits were determined for the new group and our data support the description of the three CNPSo strains as a novel species, for which the name Rhizobium esperanzae is proposed. The type strain is CNPSo 668[T] (=UMR 1320[T]=Z87-8[T]=LMG 30030 [T]=U 10001[T]), isolated from a common-bean nodule in Mexico.}, } @article {pmid28894640, year = {2017}, author = {Pollock, FJ and Katz, SM and van de Water, JAJM and Davies, SW and Hein, M and Torda, G and Matz, MV and Beltran, VH and Buerger, P and Puill-Stephan, E and Abrego, D and Bourne, DG and Willis, BL}, title = {Coral larvae for restoration and research: a large-scale method for rearing Acropora millepora larvae, inducing settlement, and establishing symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3732}, pmid = {28894640}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Here we describe an efficient and effective technique for rearing sexually-derived coral propagules from spawning through larval settlement and symbiont uptake with minimal impact on natural coral populations. We sought to maximize larval survival while minimizing expense and daily husbandry maintenance by experimentally determining optimized conditions and protocols for gamete fertilization, larval cultivation, induction of larval settlement by crustose coralline algae, and inoculation of newly settled juveniles with their dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodinium. Larval rearing densities at or below 0.2 larvae mL[-1] were found to maximize larval survival and settlement success in culture tanks while minimizing maintenance effort. Induction of larval settlement via the addition of a ground mixture of diverse crustose coralline algae (CCA) is recommended, given the challenging nature of in situ CCA identification and our finding that non settlement-inducing CCA assemblages do not inhibit larval settlement if suitable assemblages are present. Although order of magnitude differences in infectivity were found between common Great Barrier Reef Symbiodinium clades C and D, no significant differences in Symbiodinium uptake were observed between laboratory-cultured and wild-harvested symbionts in each case. The technique presented here for Acropora millepora can be adapted for research and restoration efforts in a wide range of broadcast spawning coral species.}, } @article {pmid28894639, year = {2017}, author = {Naim, MA and Smidt, H and Sipkema, D}, title = {Fungi found in Mediterranean and North Sea sponges: how specific are they?.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3722}, pmid = {28894639}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Fungi and other eukaryotes represent one of the last frontiers of microbial diversity in the sponge holobiont. In this study we employed pyrosequencing of 18S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons containing the V7 and V8 hypervariable regions to explore the fungal diversity of seven sponge species from the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. For most sponges, fungi were present at a low relative abundance averaging 0.75% of the 18S rRNA gene reads. In total, 44 fungal OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were detected in sponges, and 28 of these OTUs were also found in seawater. Twenty-two of the sponge-associated OTUs were identified as yeasts (mainly Malasseziales), representing 84% of the fungal reads. Several OTUs were related to fungal sequences previously retrieved from other sponges, but all OTUs were also related to fungi from other biological sources, such as seawater, sediments, lakes and anaerobic digesters. Therefore our data, supported by currently available data, point in the direction of mostly accidental presence of fungi in sponges and do not support the existence of a sponge-specific fungal community.}, } @article {pmid28892253, year = {2018}, author = {Parker, A and Lawson, MAE and Vaux, L and Pin, C}, title = {Host-microbe interaction in the gastrointestinal tract.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {2337-2353}, pmid = {28892253}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract is a highly complex organ in which multiple dynamic physiological processes are tightly coordinated while interacting with a dense and extremely diverse microbial population. From establishment in early life, through to host-microbe symbiosis in adulthood, the gut microbiota plays a vital role in our development and health. The effect of the microbiota on gut development and physiology is highlighted by anatomical and functional changes in germ-free mice, affecting the gut epithelium, immune system and enteric nervous system. Microbial colonisation promotes competent innate and acquired mucosal immune systems, epithelial renewal, barrier integrity, and mucosal vascularisation and innervation. Interacting or shared signalling pathways across different physiological systems of the gut could explain how all these changes are coordinated during postnatal colonisation, or after the introduction of microbiota into germ-free models. The application of cell-based in-vitro experimental systems and mathematical modelling can shed light on the molecular and signalling pathways which regulate the development and maintenance of homeostasis in the gut and beyond.}, } @article {pmid28892165, year = {2018}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Rolshausen, G and Divakar, PK and Crespo, A and Otte, J and Schleuning, M and Schmitt, I}, title = {Environment and host identity structure communities of green algal symbionts in lichens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {217}, number = {1}, pages = {277-289}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14770}, pmid = {28892165}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*microbiology ; Environment ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An understanding of how biotic interactions shape species' distributions is central to predicting host-symbiont responses under climate change. Switches to locally adapted algae have been proposed to be an adaptive strategy of lichen-forming fungi to cope with environmental change. However, it is unclear how lichen photobionts respond to environmental gradients, and whether they play a role in determining the fungal host's upper and lower elevational limits. Deep-coverage Illumina DNA metabarcoding was used to track changes in the community composition of Trebouxia algae associated with two phylogenetically closely related, but ecologically divergent fungal hosts along a steep altitudinal gradient in the Mediterranean region. We detected the presence of multiple Trebouxia species in the majority of thalli. Both altitude and host genetic identity were strong predictors of photobiont community assembly in these two species. The predominantly clonally dispersing fungus showed stronger altitudinal structuring of photobiont communities than the sexually reproducing host. Elevation ranges of the host were not limited by the lack of compatible photobionts. Our study sheds light on the processes guiding the formation and distribution of specific fungal-algal combinations in the lichen symbiosis. The effect of environmental filtering acting on both symbiotic partners appears to shape the distribution of lichens.}, } @article {pmid28889973, year = {2017}, author = {Guan, Z and Cai, T and Liu, Z and Dou, Y and Hu, X and Zhang, P and Sun, X and Li, H and Kuang, Y and Zhai, Q and Ruan, H and Li, X and Li, Z and Zhu, Q and Mai, J and Wang, Q and Lai, L and Ji, J and Liu, H and Xia, B and Jiang, T and Luo, SJ and Wang, HW and Xie, C}, title = {Origin of the Reflectin Gene and Hierarchical Assembly of Its Protein.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {18}, pages = {2833-2842.e6}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.061}, pmid = {28889973}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Cephalopoda/genetics/*physiology ; Color ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Proteins/*analysis ; Skin Physiological Phenomena ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cephalopods, the group of animals including octopus, squid, and cuttlefish, have remarkable ability to instantly modulate body coloration and patterns so as to blend into surrounding environments [1, 2] or send warning signals to other animals [3]. Reflectin is expressed exclusively in cephalopods, filling the lamellae of intracellular Bragg reflectors that exhibit dynamic iridescence and structural color change [4]. Here, we trace the possible origin of the reflectin gene back to a transposon from the symbiotic bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and report the hierarchical structural architecture of reflectin protein. Intrinsic self-assembly, and higher-order assembly tightly modulated by aromatic compounds, provide insights into the formation of multilayer reflectors in iridophores and spherical microparticles in leucophores and may form the basis of structural color change in cephalopods. Self-assembly and higher-order assembly in reflectin originated from a core repeating octapeptide (here named protopeptide), which may be from the same symbiotic bacteria. The origin of the reflectin gene and assembly features of reflectin protein are of considerable biological interest. The hierarchical structural architecture of reflectin and its domain and protopeptide not only provide insights for bioinspired photonic materials but also serve as unique "assembly tags" and feasible molecular platforms in biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid28889012, year = {2017}, author = {Gajbhiye, DS and Khandeparker, L}, title = {Effect of pea crab Pinnotheres vicajii (Chhapgar, 1957) on immunocompetence of bivalve Paphia malabarica (Chemnitz, 1782).}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {319-326}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2017.08.044}, pmid = {28889012}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/immunology/*physiology ; Brachyura/*physiology ; Hemocytes/immunology ; *Immunocompetence ; India ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiont-host relationship between a pea crab and its bivalve host has been studied previously using bivalve's multi-physiological parameters. The present study is first of its kind that uses hemocyte's immune functionality to evaluate the symbiotic relationship between bivalve Paphia malabarica and its symbiont crab, Pinnotheres vicajii. The sampling was carried out at two stations (differed in nutrient concentration, productivity, and bacterial abundance) located along the southwest coast of India. The results showed lower immunocompetence in the case of bivalves infested with pea crabs. The lowering of hemocyte population was the most prominent and perhaps the initial reaction in response to focal inflammation or wound inflicted by the pea crabs. A significant lowering of phagocytosis, lysozyme, and esterase activity was also observed, indicating the detrimental impact of crab infestation. Interestingly, no significant correlation was found between parasitism and condition index despite the lower immunocompetence, validating the effectiveness of using hematological parameters in comparison to other life-history traits. This indicates that the immune parameters being directly related to the organism's metabolic state can elucidate the early effect of stressors, therefore, proving to be a better proxy for understanding a host-pathogen relationship. Disparity found in bivalve's immunocompetence between the sampling sites could be linked to either variation in environmental parameters, the size of the symbiont or the infection level. Our preliminary results provide a direction towards examining immunodepression in parasitized bivalves by considering ex-situ controlled parasitism induction along with varying environmental conditions. In view of this, efforts must be directed towards minimizing pea crab's outbreaks, especially in cultivated shellfish farms. Future studies should elucidate molecular mechanisms involved in the immunocompetence of P. malabarica, hosting the parasitic pea crabs.}, } @article {pmid28888836, year = {2018}, author = {Macrander, JC and Dimond, JL and Bingham, BL and Reitzel, AM}, title = {Transcriptome sequencing and characterization of Symbiodinium muscatinei and Elliptochloris marina, symbionts found within the aggregating sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {82-91}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2017.08.010}, pmid = {28888836}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {There is a growing body of literature using transcriptomic data to study how tropical cnidarians and their photosynthetic endosymbionts respond to environmental stressors and participate in metabolic exchange. Despite these efforts, our understanding of how essential genes function to facilitate symbiosis establishment and maintenance remains limited. The inclusion of taxonomically and ecologically diverse endosymbionts will enhance our understanding of these interactions. Here we characterize the transcriptomes of two very different symbionts found within the temperate sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima: the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina and the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium muscatinei. We use a multi-level approach to assess the diversity of genes found across S. muscatinei and E. marina transcriptomes, and compare their overall protein domains with other dinoflagellates and chlorophytes. Our analysis identified several genes that are potentially involved in mitigating stress response (e.g., heat shock proteins pathways for mediating reactive oxygen species) and metabolic exchange (e.g., ion transporters). Finally, we show that S. muscatinei and other Symbiodinium strains are equipped with a high salt peridinin-chl-protein (HSPCP) gene previously identified only in free-living dinoflagellates. The addition of these transcriptomes to the cnidarian-symbiont molecular toolkit will aid in understanding how these vitally important symbiotic relationships are established and maintained across a variety of environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid28887555, year = {2017}, author = {Benito, P and Alonso-Vega, P and Aguado, C and Luján, R and Anzai, Y and Hirsch, AM and Trujillo, ME}, title = {Monitoring the colonization and infection of legume nodules by Micromonospora in co-inoculation experiments with rhizobia.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11051}, pmid = {28887555}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Lupinus/microbiology ; Medicago/*microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Micromonospora/classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Plant Development ; Plant Diseases ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The discovery that the actinobacterium Micromonospora inhabits nitrogen-fixing nodules raised questions as to its potential ecological role. The capacity of two Micromonospora strains to infect legumes other than their original host, Lupinus angustifolius, was investigated using Medicago and Trifolium as test plants. Compatible rhizobial strains were used for coinoculation of the plants because Micromonospora itself does not induce nodulation. Over 50% of nodules from each legume housed Micromonospora, and using 16S rRNA gene sequence identification, we verified that the reisolated strains corresponded to the microorganisms inoculated. Entry of the bacteria and colonization of the plant hosts were monitored using a GFP-tagged Lupac 08 mutant together with rhizobia, and by using immunogold labeling. Strain Lupac 08 was localized in plant tissues, confirming its capacity to enter and colonize all hosts. Based on studying three different plants, our results support a non-specific relationship between Micromonospora and legumes. Micromonospora Lupac 08, originally isolated from Lupinus re-enters root tissue, but only when coinoculated with the corresponding rhizobia. The ability of Micromonospora to infect and colonize different legume species and function as a potential plant-growth promoting bacterium is relevant because this microbe enhances the symbiosis without interfering with the host and its nodulating and nitrogen-fixing microbes.}, } @article {pmid28887528, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, Y and Jiang, X and Guan, D and Zhou, W and Ma, M and Zhao, B and Cao, F and Li, L and Li, J}, title = {Transcriptional analysis of genes involved in competitive nodulation in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens at the presence of soybean root exudates.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {10946}, pmid = {28887528}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizosphere ; Soybeans/chemistry/microbiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Nodulation competition is a key factor that limits symbiotic nitrogen fixation between rhizobia and their host legumes. Soybean root exudates (SREs) are thought to act as signals that influence Bradyrhizobium ability to colonize roots and to survive in the rhizosphere, and thus they act as a key determinant of nodulation competitiveness. In order to find the competitiveness-related genes in B. diazoefficiens, the transcriptome of two SREs treated B. diazoefficiens with completely different nodulation abilities (B. diazoefficiens 4534 and B. diazoefficiens 4222) were sequenced and compared. In SREs treated strain 4534 (SREs-4534), 253 unigenes were up-regulated and 204 unigenes were down-regulated. In SREs treated strain 4534 (SREs-4222), the numbers of up- and down-regulated unigenes were 108 and 185, respectively. There were considerable differences between the SREs-4534 and SREs-4222 gene expression profiles. Some differentially expressed genes are associated with a two-component system (i.g., nodW, phyR-σ[EcfG]), bacterial chemotaxis (i.g., cheA, unigene04832), ABC transport proteins (i.g., unigene02212), IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) metabolism (i.g., nthA, nthB), and metabolic fitness (i.g., put.), which may explain the higher nodulation competitiveness of B. diazoefficiens in the rhizosphere. Our results provide a comprehensive transcriptomic resource for SREs treated B. diazoefficiens and will facilitate further studies on competitiveness-related genes in B. diazoefficiens.}, } @article {pmid28887506, year = {2017}, author = {Evans, JS and Erwin, PM and Shenkar, N and López-Legentil, S}, title = {Introduced ascidians harbor highly diverse and host-specific symbiotic microbial assemblages.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11033}, pmid = {28887506}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/genetics ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Archaeal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; North Carolina ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many ascidian species have experienced worldwide introductions, exhibiting remarkable success in crossing geographic borders and adapting to local environmental conditions. To investigate the potential role of microbial symbionts in these introductions, we examined the microbial communities of three ascidian species common in North Carolina harbors. Replicate samples of the globally introduced species Distaplia bermudensis, Polyandrocarpa anguinea, and P. zorritensis (n = 5), and ambient seawater (n = 4), were collected in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Microbial communities were characterized by next-generation (Illumina) sequencing of partial (V4) 16S rRNA gene sequences. Ascidians hosted diverse symbiont communities, consisting of 5,696 unique microbial OTUs (at 97% sequenced identity) from 47 bacterial and three archaeal phyla. Permutational multivariate analyses of variance revealed clear differentiation of ascidian symbionts compared to seawater bacterioplankton, and distinct microbial communities inhabiting each ascidian species. 103 universal core OTUs (present in all ascidian replicates) were identified, including taxa previously described in marine invertebrate microbiomes with possible links to ammonia-oxidization, denitrification, pathogenesis, and heavy-metal processing. These results suggest ascidian microbial symbionts exhibit a high degree of host-specificity, forming intimate associations that may contribute to host adaptation to new environments via expanded tolerance thresholds and enhanced holobiont function.}, } @article {pmid28887008, year = {2018}, author = {Harris-Valle, C and Esqueda, M and Gutiérrez, A and Castellanos, AE and Gardea, AA and Berbara, R}, title = {Physiological response of Cucurbita pepo var. pepo mycorrhized by Sonoran desert native arbuscular fungi to drought and salinity stresses.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {45-53}, pmid = {28887008}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cucurbita/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Desert Climate ; Droughts ; Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Mexico ; Mycorrhizae/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism ; Salinity ; Soil/chemistry ; Water/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants response to symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under water stress is important to agriculture. Under abiotic stress conditions native fungi are more effective than exotics in improving plant growth and water status. Mycorrhization efficiency is related to soil fungi development and energy cost-benefit ratio. In this study, we assessed the effect on growth, water status and energy metabolism of Cucurbita pepo var. pepo when inoculated with native AMF from the Sonoran desert Mexico (mixed isolate and field consortium), and compared with an exotic species from a temperate region, under drought, low and high salinity conditions. Dry weights, leaf water content, water and osmotic potentials, construction costs, photochemistry and mycorrhization features were quantified. Under drought and low salinity conditions, the mixed isolate increased plant growth and leaf water content. Leaf water potential was increased only by the field consortium under drought conditions (0.5-0.9MPa). Under high salinity, the field consortium increased aerial dry weight (more than 1g) and osmotic potential (0.54MPa), as compared to non-mycorrhized controls. Plants inoculated with native AMF, which supposedly diminish the effects of stress, exhibited low construction costs, increased photochemical capacity, and grew larger external mycelia in comparison to the exotic inoculum.}, } @article {pmid28886749, year = {2017}, author = {René-Martellet, M and Minard, G and Massot, R and Tran Van, V and Valiente Moro, C and Chabanne, L and Mavingui, P}, title = {Bacterial microbiota associated with Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) ticks from France, Senegal and Arizona.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {416}, pmid = {28886749}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Arizona ; Bacillus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Coxiella/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Dog Diseases/parasitology ; Dogs ; Female ; France ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Male ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhipicephalus sanguineus/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Rickettsia/genetics/isolation & purification ; Senegal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ticks of the group Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) are distributed worldwide and are major pathogen vectors of both dogs and humans. Previous phylogenetic reconstructions have suggested the existence of two main lineages within this group, "Tropical" and "Temperate". Symbiotic interactions contribute to vector development, survival, reproduction and competence. The diversity of microbial communities associated with different populations of R. sanguineus (s.l.) remains poorly characterized, however, this knowledge will aid in future studies of hosts-microbiota-pathogen interactions. To gain insight into the bacterial communities associated with R. sanguineus (s.l.) ticks, 40 specimens from France, Senegal and Arizona were analyzed by high-throughput 16S amplicon sequencing. All tick specimens were taxonomically classified using the mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene, which provides sufficient phylogenetic resolution to discriminate different lineages of R. sanguineus.

RESULTS: Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) samples from Senegal belonged to the "Tropical" lineage, samples from France belonged to the "Temperate" lineage, whereas both lineages were identified in samples from Arizona. Regardless of origin, each bacterial microbiota was dominated by three genera: Coxiella, Rickettsia and Bacillus. Rickettsia and Coxiella were the two main genera found in females whereas males had a higher proportion of Bacillus. Significant differences of relative abundances were evidenced between specimens from different geographical origins.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights differences in the microbiota composition within R. sanguineus (s.l.) specimens from different genotypes, genders and geographical origins. This knowledge will help in future studies of the symbiotic interactions, biology and vector competence of the R. sanguineus (s.l.) complex.}, } @article {pmid28886378, year = {2017}, author = {Umen, J and Goodenough, U and Heitman, J}, title = {Eukaryotic Sexual Reproduction Evoked "with a Little Help from My Friends".}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {170}, number = {6}, pages = {1059-1061}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2017.08.038}, pmid = {28886378}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01 AI050113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM078376/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI039115/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Eukaryota ; *Eukaryotic Cells ; Immune System/*physiology ; Mammals ; Prokaryotic Cells ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Bacteria and eukaryotes interact in many ways-from the microbiome that educates the mammalian immune system and enhances nutrition to relationships that are commensal, symbiotic, or parasitic. Now in an unexpected twist, King and colleagues have expanded the repertoire of prokaryotic influence over eukaryotic physiology to include mating.}, } @article {pmid28884663, year = {2017}, author = {Normand, P and Nguyen, TV and Battenberg, K and Berry, AM and Heuvel, BV and Fernandez, MP and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Proposal of 'Candidatus Frankia californiensis', the uncultured symbiont in nitrogen-fixing root nodules of a phylogenetically broad group of hosts endemic to western North America.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {10}, pages = {3706-3715}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.002147}, pmid = {28884663}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; California ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Frankia/*classification ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Frankia comprises a group of nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria that form root-nodule symbioses with perennial dicotyledonous plants in the nitrogen-fixing clade. These bacteria have been characterized phylogenetically and grouped into four clusters (clusters 1-4). Cluster 2 contains mostly uncultured strains that induce nodules on species of the genera Datisca (Datiscaceae), Coriaria (Coriariaceae), Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae) and several genera in the family Rosaceae (Cercocarpus, Chamaebatia, Dryas, Purshia), all of which except members of the genus Coriaria are present within the California Floristic Province (CFP) or neighbouring areas of western North America. Those strains occurring in western North America are genetically very closely related to one another, and genetically distinct from strains characterized from other locales. We hereby propose to create a 'Candidatus Frankia californiensis' species for those cluster 2 strains of the genus Frankia with both high genetic similarity and a geographical distribution in or near the CFP.}, } @article {pmid28883142, year = {2017}, author = {Ribeiro, RA and Helene, LCF and Delamuta, JRM and Hungria, M}, title = {Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium mercantei Strain SEMIA 6399[T], Isolated from Nodules of Deguelia costata in Brazil.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {36}, pages = {}, pmid = {28883142}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {SEMIA 6399[T] is the type strain of Bradyrhizobium mercantei, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Deguelia costata Its draft genome contains 8,842,857 bp with 8,246 predicted coding sequences (CDS), several related to amino acids and derivatives and to stress tolerance, with an emphasis on oxidative stress, in addition to symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid28882590, year = {2017}, author = {Nagashima, K and Sawa, S and Nitta, T and Prados, A and Koliaraki, V and Kollias, G and Nakashima, T and Takayanagi, H}, title = {Targeted deletion of RANKL in M cell inducer cells by the Col6a1-Cre driver.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {493}, number = {1}, pages = {437-443}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.09.004}, pmid = {28882590}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type VI/*genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Integrases/*genetics ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B/*genetics/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs), including Peyer's patches (PPs), cryptopatches (CPs) and isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs), establish a host-microbe symbiosis by the promotion of immune reactions against gut microbes. Microfold cell inducer (MCi) cells in GALTs are the recently identified mesenchymal cells that express the cytokine RANKL and initiate bacteria-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) production via induction of microfold (M) cell differentiation. In the previous study, the Twist2-Cre driver was utilized for gene deletion in mesenchymal cells including MCi cells. In order to investigate MCi cells more extensively, it will be necessary to develop experimental tools in addition to the Twist2-Cre driver mice and characterize such drivers in specificity and efficiency. Here we show that M cell differentiation and IgA production are impaired in the targeted deletion of RANKL by the Col6a1-Cre driver. We compared Col6a1-Cre with Twist2-Cre in terms of the specificity for mesenchymal cells in GALTs. Col6a1-Cre CAG-CAT-EGFP mice exhibited EGFP expression in podoplanin[+]CD31[-] cells including MCi cells, while Twist2-Cre mice were shown to target endothelial cells and podoplanin[+]CD31[-] cells. Tnfsf11[fl/Δ]Col6a1-Cre mice exhibited the absence of M cells and severe IgA reduction together with an alteration in gut microbial composition. Moreover, we analyzed germ free mice to test whether changes in the microbiota are the cause of M cell deficiency. M cell differentiation was normal in the CPs/ILFs of germ free mice, indicating that MCi cells induce M cells independently of microbial colonization. This study demonstrates that Col6a1-Cre driver mice are as useful as Twist2-Cre driver mice for functional analyses of GALT-resident mesenchymal cells, including MCi cells.}, } @article {pmid28881854, year = {2017}, author = {Zhu, X and Han, Y and Du, J and Liu, R and Jin, K and Yi, W}, title = {Microbiota-gut-brain axis and the central nervous system.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {8}, number = {32}, pages = {53829-53838}, pmid = {28881854}, issn = {1949-2553}, abstract = {The gut and brain form the gut-brain axis through bidirectional nervous, endocrine, and immune communications. Changes in one of the organs will affect the other organs. Disorders in the composition and quantity of gut microorganisms can affect both the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system (CNS), thereby indicating the existence of a microbiota-gut-brain axis. Due to the intricate interactions between the gut and the brain, gut symbiotic microorganisms are closely associated with various CNS diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis. In this paper, we will review the latest advances of studies on the correlation between gut microorganisms and CNS functions & diseases.}, } @article {pmid28880031, year = {2017}, author = {Lombardi, C and Artuso, E and Grandi, E and Lolli, M and Spyrakis, F and Priola, E and Prandi, C}, title = {Recent advances in the synthesis of analogues of phytohormones strigolactones with ring-closing metathesis as a key step.}, journal = {Organic & biomolecular chemistry}, volume = {15}, number = {38}, pages = {8218-8231}, doi = {10.1039/c7ob01917c}, pmid = {28880031}, issn = {1477-0539}, mesh = {Germination/drug effects ; Lactones/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Structure ; Mycorrhizae ; Orobanchaceae/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Seeds/drug effects ; }, abstract = {In this paper, we synthesized and evaluated the biological activity of structural analogues of natural strigolactones in which the butenolide D-ring has been replaced with a γ-lactam. The key step to obtain the α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactam was an RCM on suitably substituted amides. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones with various developmental functions. As soil signaling chemicals, they are required for establishing beneficial mycorrhizal plant/fungus symbiosis. Beside these auxinic roles, recently SLs have been successfully investigated as antitumoral agents. Peculiar to the SL perception system is the enzymatic activity of the hormone receptor. SARs data have shown that the presence of the butenolide D-ring is crucial to retain the biological activity. The substitution of the butenolide with a lactam might shed light on the mechanism of perception. In the following, a dedicated in silico study suggested the binding modes of the synthesized compounds to the receptor of SLs in plants.}, } @article {pmid28879573, year = {2017}, author = {Bastias, DA and Ueno, AC and Machado Assefh, CR and Alvarez, AE and Young, CA and Gundel, PE}, title = {Metabolism or behavior: explaining the performance of aphids on alkaloid-producing fungal endophytes in annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {185}, number = {2}, pages = {245-256}, pmid = {28879573}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/metabolism/*physiology ; Endophytes/*chemistry ; Epichloe/*chemistry ; Herbivory/physiology ; Lolium/microbiology/parasitology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-herbivore interactions are often mediated by plant microorganisms, and the "defensive mutualism" of epichloid fungal endophytes of grasses is an example. These endophytes synthesize bioactive alkaloids that generally have detrimental effects on the performance of insect herbivores, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Our objective was to determine whether changes in the physiology and/or behavior of aphids explain the changes in performance of insects feeding on endophytic plants. We studied the interaction between the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi and the annual ryegrass Lolium multiflorum symbiotic (E+) or not symbiotic (E-) with the fungus Epichloë occultans that can synthesize loline alkaloids. We hypothesized that aphids feeding on E+ plants have higher energetic demands for detoxification of fungal alkaloids, thereby negatively impacting the individual performance, population growth, and structure. Aphids growing on E+ plants had lower values in morphometric and functional variables of individual performance, displayed lower birth rate, smaller population size, and dramatic structural changes. However, aphids exhibited lower values of standard metabolic rate (SMR) on E+ plants, which suggests no high costs of detoxification. Behavioral variables during the first 8 h of feeding showed that aphids did not change the phloem sap ingestion with the presence of fungal endophytes. We hypothesize that aphids may maintain phloem sap ingestion according to their fungal alkaloid tolerance capacity. In other words, when alkaloid concentrations overcome tolerance threshold, ingestion of phloem should decrease, which may explain the observed lower values of SMR in E+ feeding aphids.}, } @article {pmid28878862, year = {2017}, author = {Ktari, A and Nouioui, I and Furnholm, T and Swanson, E and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Tisa, LS and Gtari, M}, title = {Permanent draft genome sequence of Frankia sp. NRRL B-16219 reveals the presence of canonical nod genes, which are highly homologous to those detected in Candidatus Frankia Dg1 genome.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {51}, pmid = {28878862}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Frankia sp. NRRL B-16219 was directly isolated from a soil sample obtained from the rhizosphere of Ceanothus jepsonii growing in the USA. Its host plant range includes members of Elaeagnaceae species. Phylogenetically, strain NRRL B-16219 is closely related to "Frankia discariae" with a 16S rRNA gene similarity of 99.78%. Because of the lack of genetic tools for Frankia, our understanding of the bacterial signals involved during the plant infection process and the development of actinorhizal root nodules is very limited. Since the first three Frankia genomes were sequenced, additional genome sequences covering more diverse strains have helped provide insight into the depth of the pangenome and attempts to identify bacterial signaling molecules like the rhizobial canonical nod genes. The genome sequence of Frankia sp. strain NRRL B-16219 was generated and assembled into 289 contigs containing 8,032,739 bp with 71.7% GC content. Annotation of the genome identified 6211 protein-coding genes, 561 pseudogenes, 1758 hypothetical proteins and 53 RNA genes including 4 rRNA genes. The NRRL B-16219 draft genome contained genes homologous to the rhizobial common nodulation genes clustered in two areas. The first cluster contains nodACIJH genes whereas the second has nodAB and nodH genes in the upstream region. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Frankia nod genes are more deeply rooted than their sister groups from rhizobia. PCR-sequencing suggested the widespread occurrence of highly homologous nodA and nodB genes in microsymbionts of field collected Ceanothus americanus.}, } @article {pmid28878861, year = {2017}, author = {Ponnudurai, R and Sayavedra, L and Kleiner, M and Heiden, SE and Thürmer, A and Felbeck, H and Schlüter, R and Sievert, SM and Daniel, R and Schweder, T and Markert, S}, title = {Genome sequence of the sulfur-oxidizing Bathymodiolus thermophilus gill endosymbiont.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {50}, pmid = {28878861}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Bathymodiolus thermophilus, a mytilid mussel inhabiting the deep-sea hydrothermal vents of the East Pacific Rise, lives in symbiosis with chemosynthetic Gammaproteobacteria within its gills. The intracellular symbiont population synthesizes nutrients for the bivalve host using the reduced sulfur compounds emanating from the vents as energy source. As the symbiont is uncultured, comprehensive and detailed insights into its metabolism and its interactions with the host can only be obtained from culture-independent approaches such as genomics and proteomics. In this study, we report the first draft genome sequence of the sulfur-oxidizing symbiont of B. thermophilus, here tentatively named Candidatus Thioglobus thermophilus. The draft genome (3.1 Mb) harbors 3045 protein-coding genes. It revealed pathways for the use of sulfide and thiosulfate as energy sources and encodes the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle for CO2 fixation. Enzymes required for the synthesis of the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates oxaloacetate and succinate were absent, suggesting that these intermediates may be substituted by metabolites from external sources. We also detected a repertoire of genes associated with cell surface adhesion, bacteriotoxicity and phage immunity, which may perform symbiosis-specific roles in the B. thermophilus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28878494, year = {2017}, author = {Tofighi, C and Khavari-Nejad, RA and Najafi, F and Razavi, K and Rejali, F}, title = {Responses of wheat plants to interactions of 24-epibrassinolide and Glomus mosseae in saline condition.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {557-564}, pmid = {28878494}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {This study was designed to investigate the possible effects of 24-Epibrassinolide (BR), arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus mosseae, singularly and collectively under salt stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. After foliar spraying of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants by 5 µM epibrassinolide (24-Epi), they were treated with 0 and 150 mM NaCl for 2 weeks and then harvested. The results showed interactions of G. mosseae and 24-Epi could alleviate the adverse effects of salinity by improving relative water content (RWC) of leaves (62%), relative growth rate (40.74%), shoot fresh weights (39.83%) and shoot phosphorous content (63.93%), stimulating leaf enzymatic antioxidant activities including catalase (2.24 fold) and ascorbate peroxidase (2.18 fold) as well as malondialdehyde (36.17%) and H2O2 concentrations (49.74%) as compared to those of NaCl treatments. Moreover, mycorrhizal dependency of root dry weight (2%) and phosphorus concentration (0.4%) increased with AM infection and 24-Epi application under saline condition. Leaf RWC, also, negatively correlated with membrane electrolyte leakage. Furthermore, the greatest mitigating effects were observed in mycorrhizal plants subjected to NaCl and 24-Epi. This study indicated that 24-Epi application and AM fungi may synergistically mitigate harmful impacts of salinity in wheat plants.}, } @article {pmid28877207, year = {2017}, author = {Fileccia, V and Ruisi, P and Ingraffia, R and Giambalvo, D and Frenda, AS and Martinelli, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis mitigates the negative effects of salinity on durum wheat.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e0184158}, pmid = {28877207}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Salt Tolerance/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Triticum/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is generally considered to be effective in ameliorating the plant tolerance to salt stress. Unfortunately, the comprehension of the mechanisms implicated in salinity stress alleviation by AM symbiosis is far from being complete. Thus, an experiment was performed by growing durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) plants under salt-stress conditions to evaluate the influence of AM symbiosis on both the plant growth and the regulation of a number of genes related to salt stress and nutrient uptake. Durum wheat plants were grown outdoors in pots in absence or in presence of salt stress and with or without AM fungi inoculation. The inoculum consisted of a mixture of spores of Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly Glomus intraradices) and Funneliformis mosseae (formerly G. mosseae). Results indicate that AM symbiosis can alleviate the detrimental effects of salt stress on the growth of durum wheat plants. In fact, under salt stress conditions mycorrhizal plants produced more aboveground and root biomass, had higher N uptake and aboveground N concentration, and showed greater stability of plasma membranes compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. Inoculation with AM fungi had no effect on the expression of the N transporter genes AMT1.1, AMT1.2, and NAR2.2, either under no-stress or salt stress conditions, probably due to the fact that plants were grown under optimal N conditions; on the contrary, NRT1.1 was always upregulated by AM symbiosis. Moreover, the level of expression of the drought stress-related genes AQP1, AQP4, PIP1, DREB5, and DHN15.3 observed in the mycorrhizal stressed plants was markedly lower than that observed in the non-mycorrhizal stressed plants and very close to that observed in the non-stressed plants. Our hypothesis is that, in the present study, AM symbiosis did not increase the plant tolerance to salt stress but instead generated a condition in which plants were subjected to a level of salt stress lower than that of non-mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid28876173, year = {2018}, author = {Kundu, A and DasGupta, M}, title = {Silencing of Putative Cytokinin Receptor Histidine Kinase1 Inhibits Both Inception and Differentiation of Root Nodules in Arachis hypogaea.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {187-199}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-17-0144-R}, pmid = {28876173}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Arachis/*enzymology/*genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Histidine Kinase/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/ultrastructure ; *RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia-legume interaction activates the SYM pathway that recruits cytokinin signaling for induction of nodule primordia in the cortex. In Arachis hypogaea, bradyrhizobia invade through natural cracks developed in the lateral root base and are directly endocytosed in the cortical cells to generate the nodule primordia. To unravel the role of cytokinin signaling in A. hypogaea, RNA-interference (RNAi) of cytokinin receptor histidine-kinase1 (AhHK1) was done. AhHK1-RNAi downregulated the expression of type-A response regulators such as AhRR5 and AhRR3 along with several symbiotic genes, indicating that both cytokinin signaling and the SYM pathway were affected. Accordingly, there was a drastic downregulation of nodulation in AhHK1-RNAi roots and the nodules that developed were ineffective. These nodules were densely packed, with infected cells having a higher nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio and distinctively high mitotic index, where the rod-shaped rhizobia failed to differentiate into bacteroids within spherical symbiosomes. In accordance with the proliferating state, expression of a mitotic-cyclin AhCycB2.1 was higher in AhHK1-RNAi nodules, whereas expression of a retinoblastoma-related (AhRBR) nodule that restrains proliferation was lower. Also, higher expression of the meristem maintenance factor WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX5 correlated with the undifferentiated state of AhHK1-RNAi nodules. Our results suggest that AhHK1-mediated cytokinin signaling is important for both inception and differentiation during nodule development in A. hypogaea.}, } @article {pmid28875721, year = {2018}, author = {Bleyenberg, E and Stroeken, K}, title = {When a rash has two names: pese sorcery and kisigo spirits at Lake Tanganyika.}, journal = {Anthropology & medicine}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {206-219}, doi = {10.1080/13648470.2017.1308187}, pmid = {28875721}, issn = {1469-2910}, mesh = {Anthropology, Medical ; Exanthema/*ethnology/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Medicine, African Traditional ; Rural Population ; Tanzania/ethnology ; *Witchcraft ; }, abstract = {This explorative and qualitative study, based on 27 interviews during two months of fieldwork, describes pese, an affliction of the skin that has conspicuously stayed under the radar of medico-anthropological research in Kigoma, a rural city in the northwest Tanzania. The condition reminds of a locally better known condition labeled kisigo, raising the question why two concepts of the same affliction exist side by side. It seems indicative that the two illness concepts stem from different cultures and that each specializes in an explanatory model: the former witchcraft (sorcery) and the latter spirit possession. Moreover, a symbiotic relation seems to exist between the healing traditions of the Bembe and the Ha. Government policies prohibiting witchcraft and targeting traditional healers seem to have created a situation where witchcraft practices and beliefs have come to represent the periphery and survive there, clandestinely.}, } @article {pmid28875567, year = {2017}, author = {Palmer, TM and Riginos, C and Damiani, RE and Morgan, N and Lemboi, JS and Lengingiro, J and Ruiz-Guajardo, JC and Pringle, RM}, title = {Influence of neighboring plants on the dynamics of an ant-acacia protection mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {12}, pages = {3034-3043}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2008}, pmid = {28875567}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Acacia/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Herbivory ; Kenya ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ant-plant protection symbioses, in which plants provide food and/or shelter for ants in exchange for protection from herbivory, are model systems for understanding the ecology of mutualism. While interactions between ants, host plants, and herbivores have been intensively studied, we know little about how plant-plant interactions influence the dynamics of these mutualisms, despite strong evidence that plants compete for resources, that hosting ants can be costly, and that host-plant provisioning to ants can therefore be constrained by resource availability. We used field experiments in a semiarid Kenyan savanna to examine interactions between the ant-plant Acacia drepanolobium, neighboring grasses, and two species of symbiotic acacia-ants with divergent behaviors: Crematogaster mimosae, an aggressive symbiont that imposes high costs to host trees via consumption of extrafloral nectar, and Tetraponera penzigi, a less-protective symbiont that imposes lower costs because it does not consume nectar. We hypothesized that by competing with acacias for resources, neighboring grasses (1) reduce hosts' ability to support costly C. mimosae, while having little or no effect on the ability of hosts to support low-cost T. penzigi, and (2) reduce sapling growth rates irrespective of ant occupant. We factorially manipulated the presence/absence of grasses and the identity of ant occupants on saplings and evaluated effects on colony survivorship and sapling growth rates over 40 weeks. Contrary to prediction, the high-cost/high-reward nectar-dependent mutualist C. mimosae had higher colony-survival rates on saplings with grass neighbors present. Grasses appear to have indirectly facilitated the survival of C. mimosae by reducing water stress on host plants; soils under saplings shaded by grasses had higher moisture content, and these saplings produced more active nectaries than grass-removal saplings. Consistent with prediction, survival of low-cost/low-reward T. penzigi did not differ significantly between grass-removal treatments. Saplings occupied by low-cost/low-reward T. penzigi grew 100% more on average than saplings occupied by high-cost/high-reward C. mimosae, demonstrating that mutualist-partner identity strongly and differentially influences demographic rates of young plants. In contrast, contrary to prediction, grass neighbors had no significant net impact on sapling growth rates. Our results suggest that neighboring plants can exert strong and counterintuitive effects on ant-plant protection symbioses, highlighting the need to integrate plant-plant interactions into our understanding of these mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid28875431, year = {2017}, author = {Tahir, U and Sohail, S and Khan, UH}, title = {Concurrent uptake and metabolism of dyestuffs through bio-assisted phytoremediation: a symbiotic approach.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {29}, pages = {22914-22931}, doi = {10.1007/s11356-017-0029-8}, pmid = {28875431}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Coloring Agents/*metabolism/toxicity ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/*physiology ; Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Textile Industry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism/toxicity ; Xenobiotics/*metabolism/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Manipulation of bio-technological processes in treatment of dyestuffs has attracted considerable attention, because a large proportion of these synthetic dyes enter into natural environment during synthesis and dyeing operations that contaminates different ecosystems. Moreover, these dyestuffs are toxic and difficult to degrade because of their synthetic origin, durability, and complex aromatic molecular structures. Hence, bio-assisted phytoremediation has recently emerged as an innovative cleanup approach in which microorganisms and plants work together to transform xenobiotic dyestuffs into nontoxic or less harmful products. This manuscript will focus on competence and potential of plant-microbe synergistic systems for treatment of dyestuffs, their mixtures and real textile effluents, and effects of symbiotic relationship on plant performances during remediation process and will highlight their metabolic activities during bio-assisted phytodegradation and detoxification.}, } @article {pmid28874587, year = {2017}, author = {Bozsoki, Z and Cheng, J and Feng, F and Gysel, K and Vinther, M and Andersen, KR and Oldroyd, G and Blaise, M and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {Receptor-mediated chitin perception in legume roots is functionally separable from Nod factor perception.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {38}, pages = {E8118-E8127}, pmid = {28874587}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/J004553/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Chitin/*metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; *Lotus/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Medicago truncatula/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Domains ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Receptors, Pattern Recognition/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The ability of root cells to distinguish mutualistic microbes from pathogens is crucial for plants that allow symbiotic microorganisms to infect and colonize their internal root tissues. Here we show that Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula possess very similar LysM pattern-recognition receptors, LjLYS6/MtLYK9 and MtLYR4, enabling root cells to separate the perception of chitin oligomeric microbe-associated molecular patterns from the perception of lipochitin oligosaccharide by the LjNFR1/MtLYK3 and LjNFR5/MtNFP receptors triggering symbiosis. Inactivation of chitin-receptor genes in Ljlys6, Mtlyk9, and Mtlyr4 mutants eliminates early reactive oxygen species responses and induction of defense-response genes in roots. Ljlys6, Mtlyk9, and Mtlyr4 mutants were also more susceptible to fungal and bacterial pathogens, while infection and colonization by rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was maintained. Biochemical binding studies with purified LjLYS6 ectodomains further showed that at least six GlcNAc moieties (CO6) are required for optimal binding efficiency. The 2.3-Å crystal structure of the LjLYS6 ectodomain reveals three LysM βααβ motifs similar to other LysM proteins and a conserved chitin-binding site. These results show that distinct receptor sets in legume roots respond to chitin and lipochitin oligosaccharides found in the heterogeneous mixture of chitinaceous compounds originating from soil microbes. This establishes a foundation for genetic and biochemical dissection of the perception and the downstream responses separating defense from symbiosis in the roots of the 80-90% of land plants able to develop rhizobial and/or mycorrhizal endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28873739, year = {2017}, author = {Freire, AL and Ramos, CL and Schwan, RF}, title = {Effect of symbiotic interaction between a fructooligosaccharide and probiotic on the kinetic fermentation and chemical profile of maize blended rice beverages.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {100}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {698-707}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2017.07.070}, pmid = {28873739}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; *Beverages/analysis/microbiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fermentation/*physiology ; Fermented Foods/analysis/microbiology ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Lactobacillus/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Odorants/analysis ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Oryza/*chemistry ; Probiotics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Taste ; Yeasts/metabolism ; Young Adult ; Zea mays/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {There is an important demand for the development of new non-dairy probiotic beverages in the functional food market. This work aimed to develop new fermented beverages from maize and rice. Lactobacillus plantarum CCMA 0743, Torulaspora delbrueckii CCMA 0235, and the commercial probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus LACA 4, were used as a mixed starter culture. Two prebiotic concentrations, 20 and 50g/L fructooligosaccharide (FOS) were tested. The growth of L. acidophilus LACA 4 was favored by 50g/L FOS and after refrigerated storage at 4°C for 28days, its population remained above 10[7]CFU/mL. Lactic and acetic acids were the main organic acids detected, at around 3.7 and 0.5g/L, respectively. Ethanol was present at <5g/L in non-alcoholic beverages. Fifty-five volatile compounds including acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, pyrazines and others, were detected. The sensorial analysis demonstrated that >50% of consumers liked slightly or liked extremely the beverages (scores from 6-9). Therefore, potential symbiotic cereal beverages were successfully obtained using a mix of lactic acid bacteria and yeast as a starter culture. This is an important step in the commercial production of alternative beverages from common food substrates for consumers.}, } @article {pmid28873727, year = {2017}, author = {Pereira, ALF and Feitosa, WSC and Abreu, VKG and Lemos, TO and Gomes, WF and Narain, N and Rodrigues, S}, title = {Impact of fermentation conditions on the quality and sensory properties of a probiotic cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) beverage.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {100}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {603-611}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2017.07.055}, pmid = {28873727}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Adult ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Beverages/*analysis ; *Cacao/chemistry/metabolism ; Female ; Fermentation/*physiology ; Fermented Foods/*analysis ; Food Handling ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lacticaseibacillus casei/physiology ; Male ; Polyphenols/analysis ; *Probiotics/analysis/chemistry ; Taste ; Temperature ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The aim of the study was to evaluate the conditions of fermentation pH and temperature and also the fermentation time of Lactobacillus casei in the cupuassu (tropical fruit native to the Brazilian Amazon) beverage. The sugars, organic acids, and antioxidant activity during the fermentation also were investigated. The sensory characteristics were also evaluated. Moreover, the effect of expectation on the acceptability of probiotic and symbiotic cupuassu beverages was rated under three conditions. The blind (consumers were informed that the samples were probiotic and symbiotic beverages and they tasted them); expected (only nutritional claims in short text were informed) and informed (consumers were asked to evaluate the product when they had nutritional information). The conditions for probiotic beverage production were initial pH5.8, the temperature of 30°C, and 18h of fermentation. L. casei had viability higher than 9.34LogCFU/mL with 18h of fermentation. The fructose was the most consumed sugar (84.76%), followed by sucrose (62.10%) and glucose (34.52%). The antioxidant activity increased during the fermentation. The organic acids present in the cupuassu (citric, ascorbic and quinic acids) also supported L. casei growth, being consumed during the fermentation improving the nutritional value of the beverage. The acceptance of the probiotic drink increased when the juice was presented to the informed tasters. Therefore, the nutrition claims were effective in increasing the acceptance. The probiotic cupuassu beverage was well accepted as an alternative functional food.}, } @article {pmid28871241, year = {2017}, author = {Muletz-Wolz, CR and Almario, JG and Barnett, SE and DiRenzo, GV and Martel, A and Pasmans, F and Zamudio, KR and Toledo, LF and Lips, KR}, title = {Inhibition of Fungal Pathogens across Genotypes and Temperatures by Amphibian Skin Bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1551}, pmid = {28871241}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria may dampen the impacts of infectious diseases on hosts by inhibiting pathogen growth. However, our understanding of the generality of pathogen inhibition by different bacterial taxa across pathogen genotypes and environmental conditions is limited. Bacterial inhibitory properties are of particular interest for the amphibian-killing fungal pathogens (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans), for which probiotic applications as conservation strategies have been proposed. We quantified the inhibition strength of five putatively B. dendrobatidis-inhibitory bacteria isolated from woodland salamander skin against six Batrachochytrium genotypes at two temperatures (12 and 18°C). We selected six genotypes from across the Batrachochytrium phylogeny: B. salamandrivorans, B. dendrobatidis-Brazil and four genotypes of the B. dendrobatidis Global Panzootic Lineage (GPL1: JEL647, JEL404; GPL2: SRS810, JEL423). We performed 96-well plate challenge assays in a full factorial design. We detected a Batrachochytrium genotype by temperature interaction on bacterial inhibition score for all bacteria, indicating that bacteria vary in ability to inhibit Batrachochytrium depending on pathogen genotype and temperature. Acinetobacter rhizosphaerae moderately inhibited B. salamandrivorans at both temperatures (μ = 46-53%), but not any B. dendrobatidis genotypes. Chryseobacterium sp. inhibited three Batrachochytrium genotypes at both temperatures (μ = 5-71%). Pseudomonas sp. strain 1 inhibited all Batrachochytrium genotypes at 12°C and four Batrachochytrium genotypes at 18°C (μ = 5-100%). Pseudomonas sp. strain 2 and Stenotrophomonas sp. moderately to strongly inhibited all six Batrachochytrium genotypes at both temperatures (μ = 57-100%). All bacteria consistently inhibited B. salamandrivorans. Using cluster analysis of inhibition scores, we found that more closely related Batrachochytrium genotypes grouped together, suggesting that bacterial inhibition strength may be predictable based on Batrachochytrium relatedness. We conclude that bacterial inhibition capabilities change among bacterial strains, Batrachochytrium genotypes and temperatures. A comprehensive understanding of bacterial inhibitory function, across pathogen genotypes and temperatures, is needed to better predict the role of bacterial symbionts in amphibian disease ecology. For targeted conservation applications, we recommend using bacterial strains identified as strongly inhibitory as they are most likely to produce broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents at a range of temperatures.}, } @article {pmid28870704, year = {2017}, author = {Arkan, MC}, title = {The intricate connection between diet, microbiota, and cancer: A jigsaw puzzle.}, journal = {Seminars in immunology}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {35-42}, doi = {10.1016/j.smim.2017.08.009}, pmid = {28870704}, issn = {1096-3618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diet ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity ; Neoplasms/immunology/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbial community has a decisive role in determining our health and disease susceptibility. Presumably, this is closely associated with the complex community network of bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses that reside our guts. This dynamic ecosystem exists in a symbiotic relationship with its host and plays a fundamental role in the hosts' physiological functions. The microbial community is highly personalized and therefore exhibits a high degree of inter-individual variability, which is dependent on host specifics such as genetic background, physiology and lifestyle. Although the gut microbiota is shaped early on during birth, there are several factors that affect the composition of microbiota during childhood and adulthood. Among them diet appears to be a consistent and prominent one. The metabolic activity of bacteria affects food digestion, absorption, energy production, and immunity. Thus, definition of the microbiota composition and functional profiles in response to a particular diet may lead to critical information on the direct and indirect role/use of the bacterial community during health and disease. In this review, I discuss gut microbiota and its potential link to cancer with specific emphasis on metabolism and diet.}, } @article {pmid28870618, year = {2017}, author = {Sato, N}, title = {Revisiting the theoretical basis of the endosymbiotic origin of plastids in the original context of Lynn Margulis on the origin of mitosing, eukaryotic cells.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {104-113}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.08.028}, pmid = {28870618}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Chromosomes ; DNA Replication ; History, 20th Century ; Mitosis/*genetics ; *Models, Theoretical ; Plastids ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fifty years ago, Lynn Margulis proposed a comprehensive hypothesis on the origin of eukaryotic cells with an emphasis on the origin of mitosis. This hypothesis postulated that the eukaryotic cell is a composite of different parts as a result of the symbiosis of various different bacteria. In this hypothesis, she integrated previously proposed ideas that mitochondria and chloroplasts were descendants of endosymbionts that originated from aerobic bacteria and blue-green algae (now cyanobacteria), respectively. However, the major part of her hypothesis, which she believed to be original, was the origin of mitosis. The core of her postulate involved a chromosome partition mechanism dependent on DNA-microtubule binding, which originated from a hypothetical centriole-DNA complex, with an ability to replicate. Surprisingly, her complete lack of real experimental works in the cytoskeleton, cell motility, or paleontology did not prevent this 29-year-old junior scientist from assembling archival knowledge and constructing a narrative on the evolution of all organisms. Whether the centriole-DNA complex originated from a spirochete or not was a minor anecdote in this initial postulate. Unfortunately, this hypothesis on the origin of mitosis, which she believed to be a holistic unity, testable by experiments, was entirely refuted. Despite falsification of her original narrative as a whole, her success as a founder of endosymbiotic theory on the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts is undoubted. We will discuss the reasons for her success in terms of the historical situation in the latter half of the 20th century.}, } @article {pmid28869059, year = {2017}, author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S and Tambong, JT and Tran Thi, TV}, title = {Soybeans inoculated with root zone soils of Canadian native legumes harbour diverse and novel Bradyrhizobium spp. that possess agricultural potential.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {440-447}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.07.007}, pmid = {28869059}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Canada ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {An assessment was made of the evolutionary relationships of soybean nodulating bacteria associated with legumes native to eastern Canada to identify potential new sources of soybean inoculant strains. Short season soybeans were used to selectively trap bacteria from root zone soils of four native legume species. Screening of more than 800 bacterial isolates from soybean root nodules by analysis of recA gene sequences followed by analyses of selected genotypes using six core and two symbiosis (nodC and nifH) gene sequences permitted identification of diverse taxa that included eight novel and four named Bradyrhizobium species as well as lineages attributed to the genera Afipia and Tardiphaga. Plant tests showed that symbionts related to four named species as well as a novel Bradyrhizobium lineage were highly efficient with regard to nitrogen fixation on soybeans relative to an inoculant strain. A new symbiovar (sv. septentrionalis) is proposed based on a group of four novel Bradyrhizobium spp. that possess distinctive nodC and nifH gene sequences and symbiotic characteristics. Evidence is provided for horizontal transfer of sv. septentrionalis symbiosis genes between novel Bradyrhizobium spp., a process that rendered recipient bacteria ineffective on soybeans. Diverse lineages of non-symbiotic and symbiotic Bradyrhizobium spp. co-occured within monophyletic clusters in a phylogenetic tree of concatenated core genes, suggesting that loss and/or gain of symbiosis genes has occurred in the evolutionary history of the bacterial genus. Our data suggest that symbiont populations associated with legumes native to eastern Canada harbour elite strains of Bradyrhizobium for soybean inoculation.}, } @article {pmid28868061, year = {2017}, author = {Qin, L and Han, P and Chen, L and Walk, TC and Li, Y and Hu, X and Xie, L and Liao, H and Liao, X}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of NRAMP Family Genes in Soybean (Glycine Max L.).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1436}, pmid = {28868061}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The NRAMP (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein) family of genes has been widely characterized in organisms ranging from bacteria to yeast, plants, mice, and humans. This gene family plays vital roles in divalent metal ion transport across cellular membranes. As yet, comprehensive analysis of NRAMP family genes has not been reported for soybean. In this study, bioinformatics analysis was conducted to identify 13 soybean NRAMP genes, along with their gene structures, phylogenetic relationships, and transmembrane domains. Expression analysis suggests that GmNRAMP genes function in numerous tissues and development stages. Moreover, soybean NRAMP genes were differentially regulated by deficiencies of N, P, K, Fe, and S, along with toxicities of Fe, Cu, Cd, and Mn. These results indicate that GmNRAMP genes function in many nutrient stress pathways, and might be involved in crosstalk among nutrient stress pathways. Subcellular localization analysis in Arabidopsis protoplasts confirmed the tonoplast or plasma membrane localization of selected soybean NRMAP proteins. Protein-protein interaction analysis found that the networks of three GmNRAMP proteins which putatively interact with nodulin-like proteins, almost distinct from the network that is common to the other 10 soybean NRAMP proteins. Subsequent qRT-PCR results confirmed that these three GmNRMAP genes exhibited enhanced expression in soybean nodules, suggesting potential functions in the transport of Fe or other metal ions in soybean nodules. Overall, the systematic analysis of the GmNRAMP gene family reported herein provides valuable information for further studies on the biological roles of GmNRAMPs in divalent metal ion transport in various soybean tissues under numerous nutrient stresses and soybean-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28867628, year = {2017}, author = {Beghalem, H and Aliliche, K and Chriki, A and Landoulsi, A}, title = {Molecular and phenotypic characterization of endophytic bacteria isolated from sulla nodules.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {111}, number = {}, pages = {225-231}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2017.08.049}, pmid = {28867628}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; *Phenotype ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the current study, bacterial diversity was investigated in root nodules of Sulla pallida and Sulla capitata. The isolates were analyzed on the basis of their phenotypic and molecular characteristics. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes (recA and atpD) showed that the isolated bacteria related to Sinorhizobium, Neorhizobium, Phyllobacterium, Arthrobacter, Variovorax and Pseudomonas genera. This is the first report of Neorhizobium genus associated with Hedysarum genus. Phenotypically, all strains tolerate the elevated temperature of 40 °C, and salt stress at a concentration of 2%. In addition, the isolates failed to induce nodulation on their original host; and the symbiotic genes could not be amplified, suggesting that these strains are endophytic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28867285, year = {2017}, author = {Woznica, A and Gerdt, JP and Hulett, RE and Clardy, J and King, N}, title = {Mating in the Closest Living Relatives of Animals Is Induced by a Bacterial Chondroitinase.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {170}, number = {6}, pages = {1175-1183.e11}, pmid = {28867285}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {P41 GM103390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT009874/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099533/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR025622/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*enzymology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry ; Choanoflagellata/cytology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Chondroitin Sulfates/metabolism ; Chondroitinases and Chondroitin Lyases/*metabolism ; Meiosis ; Reproduction ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {We serendipitously discovered that the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri induces sexual reproduction in one of the closest living relatives of animals, the choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta. Although bacteria influence everything from nutrition and metabolism to cell biology and development in eukaryotes, bacterial regulation of eukaryotic mating was unexpected. Here, we show that a single V. fischeri protein, the previously uncharacterized EroS, fully recapitulates the aphrodisiac-like activity of live V. fischeri. EroS is a chondroitin lyase; although its substrate, chondroitin sulfate, was previously thought to be an animal synapomorphy, we demonstrate that S. rosetta produces chondroitin sulfate and thus extend the ancestry of this important glycosaminoglycan to the premetazoan era. Finally, we show that V. fischeri, purified EroS, and other bacterial chondroitin lyases induce S. rosetta mating at environmentally relevant concentrations, suggesting that bacteria likely regulate choanoflagellate mating in nature.}, } @article {pmid28867132, year = {2017}, author = {Núñez-Pons, L and Bertocci, I and Baghdasarian, G}, title = {Symbiont dynamics during thermal acclimation using cnidarian-dinoflagellate model holobionts.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {303-314}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.08.005}, pmid = {28867132}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa ; *Cnidaria ; *Dinoflagellida ; Oceans and Seas ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Warming oceans menace reef ecosystems by disrupting symbiosis between cnidarians and Symbiodinium zooxanthellae, thus triggering bleach episodes. Temperature fluctuations promote adjustments in physiological variables and symbiont composition, which can cause stress responses, but can also yield adaptation if fitter host-symbiont homeostasis are achieved. To understand such processes manipulative studies are required, but many reef-building cnidarians pose limitations to experimental prospects. We exposed Exaiptasia anemones to Gradual Thermal Stress (GTS) and Heat Shock (HS) exposures and monitored chlorophyll and symbiont dynamics to test the phenotypic plasticity of these photosynthetic holobionts. GTS enhanced chlorophyll concentrations and decreased Symbiodinium proliferation. A recovery period after GTS returned chlorophyll to lower concentrations and symbiont divisions to higher rates. HS triggered a stress response characterized by intense symbiont declines through degradation and expulsion, algal compensatory proliferation, and chlorophyll accumulation. Anemones pre-exposed to GTS displayed more acute signs of symbiont paucity after HS, demonstrating that recurrent stress does not always induce bleaching-resistance. Our study is the first documenting Symbiodinium C and D, along with the predominant Clade B1 in Exaiptasia anemones. C subclades found in outdoor specimens faded under laboratory exposures. Clade D emerged after HS treatments, and especially after GTS pre-exposure. This highlights the thermotolerance of D subclades found in E. pallida and shows that bleaching-recovery can involve shifts of background symbiont phylotypes. This study enlightens the capability of Exaiptasia anemones to acclimate to gradually increased temperatures, and explores into how thermal history influences in subsequent stress tolerance in symbiotic cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid28865792, year = {2017}, author = {Katsumata, M and Takeuchi, I}, title = {Delayed fluorescence as an indicator of the influence of the herbicides Irgarol 1051 and Diuron on hard coral Acropora digitifera.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {124}, number = {2}, pages = {687-693}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.006}, pmid = {28865792}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/physiology ; Diuron/toxicity ; *Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; *Fluorescence ; Herbicides/toxicity ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Triazines/toxicity ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {We examined the effect of two herbicides (Irgarol 1051 and Diuron) on symbiotic dinoflagellates in the hard coral Acropora digitifera using delayed fluorescence (DF), specifically assessing changes in molecular membrane transport, i.e. inflow and outflow rates, and the binding of the herbicides to target proteins in photosystem II. The DF approach is rapid (e.g. measurement time, 60 s) and non-invasive, and can provide data on the extent of a photosynthetic system and the activity of its electron carriers. The DF of A. digitifera is inhibited 2 h after exposure to 1 μg/L of either Irgarol or Diuron. Analysis of DF inhibition over time by a compartment model suggests that Irgarol exposure results in a relatively higher inflow rate and lower outflow rate than does Diuron exposure. This suggests that Irgarol exposure more strongly inhibits photosynthesis and that the coral symbiotic dinoflagellates recover less from inhibition.}, } @article {pmid28863779, year = {2017}, author = {Marynowska, M and Goux, X and Sillam-Dussès, D and Rouland-Lefèvre, C and Roisin, Y and Delfosse, P and Calusinska, M}, title = {Optimization of a metatranscriptomic approach to study the lignocellulolytic potential of the higher termite gut microbiome.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {681}, pmid = {28863779}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Thanks to specific adaptations developed over millions of years, the efficiency of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition of higher termite symbiotic system exceeds that of many other lignocellulose utilizing environments. Especially, the examination of its symbiotic microbes should reveal interesting carbohydrate-active enzymes, which are of primary interest for the industry. Previous metatranscriptomic reports (high-throughput mRNA sequencing) highlight the high representation and overexpression of cellulose and hemicelluloses degrading genes in the termite hindgut digestomes, indicating the potential of this technology in search for new enzymes. Nevertheless, several factors associated with the material sampling and library preparation steps make the metatranscriptomic studies of termite gut prokaryotic symbionts challenging.

METHODS: In this study, we first examined the influence of the sampling strategy, including the whole termite gut and luminal fluid, on the diversity and the metatranscriptomic profiles of the higher termite gut symbiotic bacteria. Secondly, we evaluated different commercially available kits combined in two library preparative pipelines for the best bacterial mRNA enrichment strategy.

RESULTS: We showed that the sampling strategy did not significantly impact the generated results, both in terms of the representation of the microbes and their transcriptomic profiles. Nevertheless collecting luminal fluid reduces the co-amplification of unwanted RNA species of host origin. Furthermore, for the four studied higher termite species, the library preparative pipeline employing Ribo-Zero Gold rRNA Removal Kit "Epidemiology" in combination with Poly(A) Purist MAG kit resulted in a more efficient rRNA and poly-A-mRNAdepletion (up to 98.44% rRNA removed) than the pipeline utilizing MICROBExpress and MICROBEnrich kits. High correlation of both Ribo-Zero and MICROBExpresse depleted gene expression profiles with total non-depleted RNA-seq data has been shown for all studied samples, indicating no systematic skewing of the studied pipelines.

CONCLUSIONS: We have extensively evaluated the impact of the sampling strategy and library preparation steps on the metatranscriptomic profiles of the higher termite gut symbiotic bacteria. The presented methodological approach has great potential to enhance metatranscriptomic studies of the higher termite intestinal flora and to unravel novel carbohydrate-active enzymes.}, } @article {pmid28861262, year = {2017}, author = {Rädecker, N and Pogoreutz, C and Ziegler, M and Ashok, A and Barreto, MM and Chaidez, V and Grupstra, CGB and Ng, YM and Perna, G and Aranda, M and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Assessing the effects of iron enrichment across holobiont compartments reveals reduced microbial nitrogen fixation in the Red Sea coral Pocillopora verrucosa.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {16}, pages = {6614-6621}, pmid = {28861262}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The productivity of coral reefs in oligotrophic tropical waters is sustained by an efficient uptake and recycling of nutrients. In reef-building corals, the engineers of these ecosystems, this nutrient recycling is facilitated by a constant exchange of nutrients between the animal host and endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae), bacteria, and other microbes. Due to the complex interactions in this so-called coral holobiont, it has proven difficult to understand the environmental limitations of productivity in corals. Among others, the micronutrient iron has been proposed to limit primary productivity due to its essential role in photosynthesis and bacterial processes. Here, we tested the effect of iron enrichment on the physiology of the coral Pocillopora verrucosa from the central Red Sea during a 12-day experiment. Contrary to previous reports, we did not see an increase in zooxanthellae population density or gross photosynthesis. Conversely, respiration rates were significantly increased, and microbial nitrogen fixation was significantly decreased. Taken together, our data suggest that iron is not a limiting factor of primary productivity in Red Sea corals. Rather, increased metabolic demands in response to iron enrichment, as evidenced by increased respiration rates, may reduce carbon (i.e., energy) availability in the coral holobiont, resulting in reduced microbial nitrogen fixation. This decrease in nitrogen supply in turn may exacerbate the limitation of other nutrients, creating a negative feedback loop. Thereby, our results highlight that the effects of iron enrichment appear to be strongly dependent on local environmental conditions and ultimately may depend on the availability of other nutrients.}, } @article {pmid28861050, year = {2017}, author = {Lardi, M and de Campos, SB and Purtschert, G and Eberl, L and Pessi, G}, title = {Competition Experiments for Legume Infection Identify Burkholderia phymatum as a Highly Competitive β-Rhizobium.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1527}, pmid = {28861050}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Members of the genus Burkholderia (β-proteobacteria) have only recently been shown to be able to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with several legumes, which is why they are also referred to as β-rhizobia. Therefore, very little is known about the competitiveness of these species to nodulate different legume host plants. In this study, we tested the competitiveness of several Burkholderia type strains (B. diazotrophica, B. mimosarum, B. phymatum, B. sabiae, B. symbiotica and B. tuberum) to nodulate four legumes (Phaseolus vulgaris, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Vigna unguiculata and Mimosa pudica) under our closely defined growth conditions. The assessment of nodule occupancy of these species on different legume host plants revealed that B. phymatum was the most competitive strain in the three papilionoid legumes (bean, cowpea and siratro), while B. mimosarum outcompeted the other strains in mimosa. The analysis of phenotypes known to play a role in nodulation competitiveness (motility, exopolysaccharide production) and additional in vitro competition assays among β-rhizobial strains suggested that B. phymatum has the potential to be a very competitive legume symbiont.}, } @article {pmid28861046, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, S and Blom, J and Walker, ED}, title = {Genomic, Physiologic, and Symbiotic Characterization of Serratia marcescens Strains Isolated from the Mosquito Anopheles stephensi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1483}, pmid = {28861046}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R37 AI021884/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Strains of Serratia marcescens, originally isolated from the gut lumen of adult female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, established persistent infection at high rates in adult A. stephensi whether fed to larvae or in the sugar meal to adults. By contrast, the congener S. fonticola originating from Aedes triseriatus had lower infection in A. stephensi, suggesting co-adaptation of Serratia strains in different species of host mosquitoes. Coinfection at high infection rate in adult A. stephensi resulted after feeding S. marcescens and Elizabethkingia anophelis in the sugar meal, but when fed together to larvae, infection rates with E. anophelis were much higher than were S. marcescens in adult A. stephensi, suggesting a suppression effect of coinfection across life stages. A primary isolate of S. marcescens was resistant to all tested antibiotics, showed high survival in the mosquito gut, and produced alpha-hemolysins which contributed to lysis of erythrocytes ingested with the blood meal. Genomes of two primary isolates from A. stephensi, designated S. marcescens ano1 and ano2, were sequenced and compared to other Serratia symbionts associated with insects, nematodes and plants. Serratia marcescens ano1 and ano2 had predicted virulence factors possibly involved in attacking parasites and/or causing opportunistic infection in mosquito hosts. S. marcescens ano1 and ano2 possessed multiple mechanisms for antagonism against other microorganisms, including production of bacteriocins and multi-antibiotic resistance determinants. These genes contributing to potential anti-malaria activity including serralysins, hemolysins and chitinases are only found in some Serratia species. It is interesting that genome sequences in S. marcescens ano1 and ano2 are distinctly different from those in Serratia sp. Ag1 and Ag2 which were isolated from Anopheles gambiae. Compared to Serratia sp. Ag1 and Ag2, S. marcescens ano1 and ano2 have more rRNAs and many important genes involved in commensal and anti-parasite traits.}, } @article {pmid28860659, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, R and Wang, Z and Chen, J and Jiang, LY and Qiao, GX}, title = {Insect-bacteria parallel evolution in multiple-co-obligate-aphid association: a case in Lachninae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {10204}, pmid = {28860659}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Buchnera/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Parallel phylogenies between aphid and its obligate symbiont Buchnera are hot topics which always focused on aphid lower taxonomic levels. Symbionts in the subfamily Lachninae are special. Buchnera in many lachnine species has undergone functional and genome size reduction that was replaced by other co-obligate symbionts. In this study, we constructed the phylogenetic relationships of Lachninae with a combined dataset of five genes sequenced from Buchnera to estimate the effects of a dual symbiotic system in the aphid-Buchnera cospeciation association. The phylogeny of Buchnera in Lachninae was well-resolved in the combined dataset. Each of the genera formed strongly supported monophyletic groups, with the exception of the genus Cinara. The phylogeny based on sequences from Buchnera was divided into five tribes according to the clades of the Lachninae hosts tree, with the phylogenies of Buchnera and Lachninae being generally congruent. These results first provided evidence of parallel evolution at the aphid subfamily level comprehensively and supported the view that topological congruence between the phylogenies of Buchnera and Lachninae would not be interfered with the other co-obligate symbionts, such as Sarretia, in aphid-entosymbiont association. These results also provided new insight in understanding host-plant coevolution in lachnine lineages.}, } @article {pmid28860237, year = {2017}, author = {Salgado-Morales, R and Rivera-Gómez, N and Martínez-Ocampo, F and Lozano-Aguirre Beltrán, LF and Hernández-Mendoza, A and Dantán-González, E}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens HIM3 Isolated from an Entomopathogenic Nematode in Agricultural Soils.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {35}, pages = {}, pmid = {28860237}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {In this work, we report the draft genome sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens strain HIM3, a symbiotic bacterium associated with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica MOR03, isolated from soil sugarcane in Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico. These bacteria have a G+C content of 42.6% and genome size of 5.47 Mb.}, } @article {pmid28859671, year = {2017}, author = {Rybakova, D and Mancinelli, R and Wikström, M and Birch-Jensen, AS and Postma, J and Ehlers, RU and Goertz, S and Berg, G}, title = {The structure of the Brassica napus seed microbiome is cultivar-dependent and affects the interactions of symbionts and pathogens.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {104}, pmid = {28859671}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brassica napus/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Seeds/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Although the plant microbiome is crucial for plant health, little is known about the significance of the seed microbiome. Here, we studied indigenous bacterial communities associated with the seeds in different cultivars of oilseed rape and their interactions with symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms.

RESULTS: We found a high bacterial diversity expressed by tight bacterial co-occurrence networks within the rape seed microbiome, as identified by llumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing. In total, 8362 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of 40 bacterial phyla with a predominance of Proteobacteria (56%) were found. The three cultivars that were analyzed shared only one third of the OTUs. The shared core of OTUs consisted mainly of Alphaproteobacteria (33%). Each cultivar was characterized by having its own unique bacterial structure, diversity, and proportion of unique microorganisms (25%). The cultivar with the lowest bacterial abundance, diversity, and the highest predicted bacterial metabolic activity rate contained the highest abundance of potential pathogens within the seed. This data corresponded with the observation that seedlings belonging to this cultivar responded more strongly to the seed treatments with bacterial inoculants than other cultivars. Cultivars containing higher indigenous diversity were characterized as having a higher colonization resistance against beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. Our results were confirmed by microscopic images of the seed microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: The structure of the seed microbiome is an important factor in the development of colonization resistance against pathogens. It also has a strong influence on the response of seedlings to biological seed treatments. These novel insights into seed microbiome structure will enable the development of next generation strategies combining both biocontrol and breeding approaches to address world agricultural challenges.}, } @article {pmid28859111, year = {2017}, author = {Woo, S and Yang, SH and Chen, HJ and Tseng, YF and Hwang, SJ and De Palmas, S and Denis, V and Imahara, Y and Iwase, F and Yum, S and Tang, SL}, title = {Geographical variations in bacterial communities associated with soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {e0183663}, pmid = {28859111}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Environmental Monitoring ; Geography ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Japan ; Mycoplasma/*genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Environmental impacts can alter relationships between a coral and its symbiotic microbial community. Furthermore, changes in the microbial community associated with increased seawater temperatures can cause opportunistic infections, coral disease and death. Interactions between soft corals and their associated microbes are not well understood. The species Scleronephthya gracillimum is distributed in tropical to temperate zones in coral assemblages along the Kuroshio Current region. In this study we collected S. gracillimum from various sites at different latitudes, and compared composition of their bacterial communities using Next Generation Sequencing. Coral samples from six geographically distinct areas (two sites each in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea) had considerable variation in their associated bacterial communities and diversity. Endozoicimonaceae was the dominant group in corals from Korea and Japan, whereas Mycoplasma was dominant in corals from Taiwan corals. Interestingly, the latter corals had lower relative abundance of Endozoicimonaceae, but greater diversity. These biogeographic differences in bacterial composition may have been due to varying environmental conditions among study locations, or because of host responses to prevailing environmental conditions. This study provided a baseline for future studies of soft coral microbiomes, and assessment of functions of host metabolites and soft coral holobionts.}, } @article {pmid28856738, year = {2017}, author = {Pickard, JM and Zeng, MY and Caruso, R and Núñez, G}, title = {Gut microbiota: Role in pathogen colonization, immune responses, and inflammatory disease.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {279}, number = {1}, pages = {70-89}, pmid = {28856738}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {R01 DK091191/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HL007517/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK061707/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095782/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK094775/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Inflammation/*microbiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The intestinal tract of mammals is colonized by a large number of microorganisms including trillions of bacteria that are referred to collectively as the gut microbiota. These indigenous microorganisms have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship. In addition to metabolic benefits, symbiotic bacteria provide the host with several functions that promote immune homeostasis, immune responses, and protection against pathogen colonization. The ability of symbiotic bacteria to inhibit pathogen colonization is mediated via several mechanisms including direct killing, competition for limited nutrients, and enhancement of immune responses. Pathogens have evolved strategies to promote their replication in the presence of the gut microbiota. Perturbation of the gut microbiota structure by environmental and genetic factors increases the risk of pathogen infection, promotes the overgrowth of harmful pathobionts, and the development of inflammatory disease. Understanding the interaction of the microbiota with pathogens and the immune system will provide critical insight into the pathogenesis of disease and the development of strategies to prevent and treat inflammatory disease.}, } @article {pmid28856734, year = {2017}, author = {Deines, P and Lachnit, T and Bosch, TCG}, title = {Competing forces maintain the Hydra metaorganism.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {279}, number = {1}, pages = {123-136}, doi = {10.1111/imr.12564}, pmid = {28856734}, issn = {1600-065X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Hydra/*physiology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Our conventional view of multicellular organisms often overlooks the fact that they are metaorganisms. They consist of a host, which is comprised of both a community of self-replicating cells that can compete as well as cooperate and a community of associated microorganisms. This newly discovered complexity raises a profound challenge: How to maintain such a multicellular association that includes independently replicating units and even different genotypes? Here, we identify competing forces acting at the host tissue level, the host-microbe interface, and within the microbial community as key factors to maintain the metaorganism Hydra. Maintenance of host tissue integrity, as well as proper regulation and management of the multiorganismic interactions are fundamental to organismal survival and health. Findings derived from the in vivo context of the Hydra model may provide one of the simplest possible systems to address questions on how a metaorganism is established and remains in balance over time.}, } @article {pmid28855333, year = {2017}, author = {MacLean, AM and Bravo, A and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Plant Signaling and Metabolic Pathways Enabling Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {29}, number = {10}, pages = {2319-2335}, pmid = {28855333}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants have lived in close association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi for over 400 million years. Today, this endosymbiosis occurs broadly in the plant kingdom where it has a pronounced impact on plant mineral nutrition. The symbiosis develops deep within the root cortex with minimal alterations in the external appearance of the colonized root; however, the absence of macroscopic alterations belies the extensive signaling, cellular remodeling, and metabolic alterations that occur to enable accommodation of the fungal endosymbiont. Recent research has revealed the involvement of a novel N-acetyl glucosamine transporter and an alpha/beta-fold hydrolase receptor at the earliest stages of AM symbiosis. Calcium channels required for symbiosis signaling have been identified, and connections between the symbiosis signaling pathway and key transcriptional regulators that direct AM-specific gene expression have been established. Phylogenomics has revealed the existence of genes conserved for AM symbiosis, providing clues as to how plant cells fine-tune their biology to enable symbiosis, and an exciting coalescence of genome mining, lipid profiling, and tracer studies collectively has led to the conclusion that AM fungi are fatty acid auxotrophs and that plants provide their fungal endosymbionts with fatty acids. Here, we provide an overview of the molecular program for AM symbiosis and discuss these recent advances.}, } @article {pmid28855327, year = {2017}, author = {Sullivan, W}, title = {Wolbachia, bottled water, and the dark side of symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular biology of the cell}, volume = {28}, number = {18}, pages = {2343-2346}, pmid = {28855327}, issn = {1939-4586}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Obligate endosymbiosis is operationally defined when loss or removal of the endosymbiont from the host results in the death of both. Whereas these relationships are typically viewed as mutualistic, molecular and cellular analysis reveals numerous instances in which these symbiotic relationships are established by alternative, nonmutualistic strategies. The endosymbiont usurps or integrates into core host processes, creating a need where none previously existed. Here I discuss examples of these addictive symbiotic relationships and how they are a likely outcome of all complex evolving systems.}, } @article {pmid28854637, year = {2017}, author = {Mao, M and Yang, X and Poff, K and Bennett, G}, title = {Comparative Genomics of the Dual-Obligate Symbionts from the Treehopper, Entylia carinata (Hemiptera: Membracidae), Provide Insight into the Origins and Evolution of an Ancient Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {1803-1815}, pmid = {28854637}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteroidetes/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Betaproteobacteria/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Insect ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/classification/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect species in the Auchenorrhyncha suborder (Hemiptera) maintain ancient obligate symbioses with bacteria that provide essential amino acids (EAAs) deficient in their plant-sap diets. Molecular studies have revealed that two complementary symbiont lineages, "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" and a betaproteobacterium ("Ca. Zinderia insecticola" in spittlebugs [Cercopoidea] and "Ca. Nasuia deltocephalinicola" in leafhoppers [Cicadellidae]) may have persisted in the suborder since its origin ∼300 Ma. However, investigation of how this pair has co-evolved on a genomic level is limited to only a few host lineages. We sequenced the complete genomes of Sulcia and a betaproteobacterium from the treehopper, Entylia carinata (Membracidae: ENCA), as the first representative from this species-rich group. It also offers the opportunity to compare symbiont evolution across a major insect group, the Membracoidea (leafhoppers + treehoppers). Genomic analyses show that the betaproteobacteria in ENCA is a member of the Nasuia lineage. Both symbionts have larger genomes (Sulcia = 218 kb and Nasuia = 144 kb) than related lineages in Deltocephalinae leafhoppers, retaining genes involved in basic cellular functions and information processing. Nasuia-ENCA further exhibits few unique gene losses, suggesting that its parent lineage in the common ancestor to the Membracoidea was already highly reduced. Sulcia-ENCA has lost the abilities to synthesize menaquinone cofactor and to complete the synthesis of the branched-chain EAAs. Both capabilities are conserved in other Sulcia lineages sequenced from across the Auchenorrhyncha. Finally, metagenomic sequencing recovered the partial genome of an Arsenophonus symbiont, although it infects only 20% of individuals indicating a facultative role.}, } @article {pmid28854601, year = {2017}, author = {Rice, DW and Sheehan, KB and Newton, ILG}, title = {Large-Scale Identification of Wolbachia pipientis Effectors.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {1925-1937}, pmid = {28854601}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Association Studies ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is an intracellular symbiont of arthropods well known for the reproductive manipulations induced in the host and, more recently, for the ability of Wolbachia to block virus replication in insect vectors. Since Wolbachia cannot yet be genetically manipulated, and due to the constraints imposed when working with an intracellular symbiont, little is known about mechanisms used by Wolbachia for host interaction. Here we employed a bioinformatics pipeline and identified 163 candidate effectors, potentially secreted by Wolbachia into the host cell. A total of 84 of these candidates were then subjected to a screen of growth defects induced in yeast upon heterologous expression which identified 14 top candidates likely secreted by Wolbachia. These predicted secreted effectors may function in concert as we find that their native expression is correlated and is highly upregulated at specific time points during Drosophila development. In addition, the evolutionary histories of some of these predicted effectors are also correlated, suggesting they may function together, or in the same pathway, during host infection. Similarly, most of these predicted effectors are limited to one or two Wolbachia strains-perhaps reflecting shared evolutionary history and strain specific functions in host manipulation. Identification of these Wolbachia candidate effectors is the first step in dissecting the mechanisms of symbiont-host interaction in this important system.}, } @article {pmid28853867, year = {2017}, author = {Wyche, TP and Ruzzini, AC and Schwab, L and Currie, CR and Clardy, J}, title = {Tryptorubin A: A Polycyclic Peptide from a Fungus-Derived Streptomycete.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {139}, number = {37}, pages = {12899-12902}, pmid = {28853867}, issn = {1520-5126}, support = {R01 AT009874/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*chemistry/metabolism ; Molecular Conformation ; Peptides, Cyclic/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Streptomyces/*chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants engage in complex symbiotic relationships with their fungal crop, specialized fungal pathogens, and bacteria that provide chemical defenses. In an effort to understand the evolutionary origins of this multilateral system, we investigated bacteria isolated from fungi. One bacterial strain (Streptomyces sp. CLI2509) from the bracket fungus Hymenochaete rubiginosa, produced an unusual peptide, tryptorubin A, which contains heteroaromatic links between side chains that give it a rigid polycyclic globular structure. The three-dimensional structure was determined by NMR and MS, including a [13]C-[13]C COSY of isotopically enriched material, degradation, derivatives, and computer modeling. Whole genome sequencing identified a likely pair of biosynthetic genes responsible for tryptorubin A's linear hexapeptide backbone. The genome also revealed the close relationship between CLI2509 and Streptomyces sp. SPB78, which was previously implicated in an insect-bacterium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28852019, year = {2017}, author = {Grewe, F and Huang, JP and Leavitt, SD and Lumbsch, HT}, title = {Reference-based RADseq resolves robust relationships among closely related species of lichen-forming fungi using metagenomic DNA.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {9884}, pmid = {28852019}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; *DNA, Fungal ; Lichens/classification/*genetics ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Despite increasing availability of phylogenomic datasets, strategies to generate genome-scale data from organisms involved in symbiotic relationships remains challenging. Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) can effectively generated reduced representation genomic loci. However, when using metagenomic DNA from inseparable symbiotic organisms, RADseq loci may belong to any number of the organisms involved in these intimate associations. In this study, we explored the potential for a reference-based RADseq approach to generate data for lichen-forming fungi from metagenomic DNA extracted from intact lichens. We simulated RAD data from draft genomes of closely related lichenized fungi to test if RADseq can reconstruct robust evolutionary relationships. Subsequently, we generated empirical RADseq data from metagenomic lichen DNA, with RADseq loci mapped back to a reference genome to exclude loci from other lichen symbionts that are represented in metagenomic libraries. In all cases, phylogenetic reconstructions using RADseq loci recovered diversification histories consistent with a previous study based on more comprehensive genome sampling. Furthermore, RADseq loci were found to resolve relationships among closely related species, which were otherwise indistinguishable using a phylogenetic species recognition criterion. Our studies revealed that a modified, reference-based RADseq approach can successfully be implemented to generate symbiont-specific phylogenomic data from metagenomic reads.}, } @article {pmid28850908, year = {2017}, author = {Huang, X and Wang, L and Ma, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus modulates the phytotoxicity of Cd via combined responses of enzymes, thiolic compounds, and essential elements in the roots of Phragmites australis.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {221-229}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.08.021}, pmid = {28850908}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Cadmium/*toxicity ; Catalase/metabolism ; Copper/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/chemistry/enzymology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Poaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The positive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on host plants under heavy metal (HM) stress conditions have been widely recognized. HMs are known to induce phytotoxicity through 1) the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), 2) the direct interaction with thiol groups or 3) the competition with essential elements. However, how AM fungus inoculation can affect defense mechanisms against cadmium (Cd) stress, which can regulate and alleviate the phytotoxicity via different pathways, is still unclear. We hypothesized that one or some factors in each pathway of phytotoxicity were involved in detoxifying Cd by inoculating with AM fungus. In this study, the involvements of enzymes, thiolic compounds, and divalent essential elements in the roots of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. were assessed. In addition, we also worked to elucidate the significant factors among three possible pathways involved in biosynthesis with AM fungus inoculation, using principal component analysis (PCA). The results presented here indicate that AM symbiosis can result in a marked tolerance to Cd via accumulating Cd with a shorter exposure treatment time, and obvious fluorescence in the roots was also observed. The decrease in phytotoxicity was mainly accomplished by changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), non-protein thiols (NPT), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). These results provide comprehensive insights for elucidating the defense mechanisms by which inoculation with AM fungus has beneficial roles in helping P. australis cope with the deleterious effects of Cd.}, } @article {pmid28846625, year = {2017}, author = {Dahms, HU and Dobretsov, S}, title = {Antifouling Compounds from Marine Macroalgae.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {28846625}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Alkaloids/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biofouling/prevention & control ; Biological Products ; Marine Biology ; Rhodophyta/metabolism ; Seaweed/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Marine macroalgae produce a wide variety of biologically-active metabolites that have been developed into commercial products, such as antibiotics, immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic agents, and cosmetic products. Many marine algae remain clean over longer periods of time, suggesting their strong antifouling potential. Isolation of biogenic compounds and the determination of their structure could provide leads for the development of environmentally-friendly antifouling paints. Isolated substances with potent antifouling activity belong to fatty acids, lipopeptides, amides, alkaloids, lactones, steroids, terpenoids, and pyrroles. It is unclear as yet to what extent symbiotic microorganisms are involved in the synthesis of these compounds. Algal secondary metabolites have the potential to be produced commercially using genetic and metabolic engineering techniques. This review provides an overview of publications from 2010 to February 2017 about antifouling activity of green, brown, and red algae. Some researchers were focusing on antifouling compounds of brown macroalgae, while metabolites of green algae received less attention. Several studies tested antifouling activity against bacteria, microalgae and invertebrates, but in only a few studies was the quorum sensing inhibitory activity of marine macroalgae tested. Rarely, antifouling compounds from macroalgae were isolated and tested in an ecologically-relevant way.}, } @article {pmid28846107, year = {2018}, author = {Diehl, K and Dinges, LA and Helm, O and Ammar, N and Plundrich, D and Arlt, A and Röcken, C and Sebens, S and Schäfer, H}, title = {Nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 has a differential impact on MCT1 and MCT4 lactate carrier expression in colonic epithelial cells: a condition favoring metabolic symbiosis between colorectal cancer and stromal cells.}, journal = {Oncogene}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {39-51}, pmid = {28846107}, issn = {1476-5594}, mesh = {Apoptosis/genetics ; Biopsy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Coculture Techniques ; Colon/cytology/metabolism/pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/pathology ; Fibroblasts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/metabolism/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/metabolism/pathology ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Macrophages ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*genetics/metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stromal Cells/metabolism/pathology ; Symporters/*genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; }, abstract = {Malignant tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), are heterogeneous diseases characterized by distinct metabolic phenotypes. These include Warburg- and reverse Warburg phenotypes depending on differential distribution of the lactate carrier proteins monocarboxylate transporter-4 and -1 (MCT4 and MCT1). Here, we elucidated the role of the antioxidant transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) as the key regulator of cellular adaptation to inflammatory/environmental stress in shaping the metabolism toward a reverse Warburg phenotype in malignant and premalignant colonic epithelial cells. Immunohistochemistry of human CRC tissues revealed reciprocal expression of MCT1 and MCT4 in carcinoma and stroma cells, respectively, accompanied by strong epithelial Nrf2 activation. In colorectal tissue from inflammatory bowel disease patients, MCT1 and Nrf2 were coexpressed as well, relating to CD68+inflammatory infiltrates. Indirect coculture of human NCM460 colonocytes with M1- but not M2 macrophages induces MCT1 as well as G6PD, LDHB and TALDO expression, whereas MCT4 expression was decreased. Nrf2 knockdown or reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging blocked these coculture effects in NCM460 cells. Likewise, Nrf2 knockdown inhibited similar effects of tBHQ-mediated Nrf2 activation on NCM460 and HCT15 CRC cells. M1 coculture or Nrf2 activation/overexpression greatly altered the lactate uptake but not glucose uptake and mitochondrial activities in these cells, reflecting the reverse Warburg phenotype. Depending on MCT1-mediated lactate uptake, Nrf2 conferred protection from TRAIL-induced apoptosis in NCM460 and HCT15 cells. Moreover, metabolism-dependent clonal growth of HCT15 cells was induced by Nrf2-dependent activation of MCT1-driven lactate exchange. These findings indicate that Nrf2 has an impact on the metabolism already in premalignant colonic epithelial cells exposed to inflammatory M1 macrophages, an effect accompanied by growth and survival alterations. Favoring the reverse Warburg effect, these Nrf2-dependent alterations add to malignant transformation of the colonic epithelium.}, } @article {pmid28845759, year = {2017}, author = {Nair, RR and Padhee, S and Das, T and Green, R and Howell, M and Mohapatra, SS and Mohapatra, S}, title = {Three- and Four-Dimensional Spheroid and FiSS Tumoroid Cultures: Platforms for Drug Discovery and Development and Translational Research.}, journal = {Critical reviews in therapeutic drug carrier systems}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {185-208}, doi = {10.1615/CritRevTherDrugCarrierSyst.2017018042}, pmid = {28845759}, issn = {2162-660X}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents ; *Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Translational Research, Biomedical ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {There have been remarkable improvements in our understanding of cancer biology. However, therapeutic improvements, with a few exceptions, have been minimal. Also, significant challenges remain in translating fundamental discoveries in cancer biology and genetics into effective drugs and cures. Traditional two-dimensional monolayer cell cultures lack predictive value, resulting in a >90% failure rate of compounds in clinical trials. A developing cancer is a symbiotic tissue consisting of cancer cells, including cancer stem cells (CSCs), and cohabitating with the components of its environment to form a tumor microenvironment (TME) niche. Throughout the process of tumorigenesis, ubiquitous autocrine and paracrine signaling between the cellular and noncellular components of the TME dictates the milieu and structure of this niche. Arising out of such interactions are the cancer cell's phenotypic characteristics, such as stemness, epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and drug resistance which in turn greatly affect the response of these cells to drug therapy. For these reasons, in order to delineate the mechanism of tumorigenesis and in the process discover drugs that will have greatest impact on tumor growth, it becomes imperative to study the cancer cell in context of its microenvironment. In the present review, we enumerate the advantages of three- and four-dimensional (3D and 4D) cell cultures and describe the various cell culture platforms that are being used to study tumorigenesis in vitro. These culture systems will not only aid in the study of tumor progression complexities in a cost-effective and rapid manner; they also are expected to facilitate the discovery and delivery of therapeutic regimens that will have more success making it to the clinic.}, } @article {pmid28843439, year = {2017}, author = {Suggett, DJ and Warner, ME and Leggat, W}, title = {Symbiotic Dinoflagellate Functional Diversity Mediates Coral Survival under Ecological Crisis.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {10}, pages = {735-745}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2017.07.013}, pmid = {28843439}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs have entered an era of 'ecological crisis' as climate change drives catastrophic reef loss worldwide. Coral growth and stress susceptibility are regulated by their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium). The phylogenetic diversity of Symbiodinium frequently corresponds to patterns of coral health and survival, but knowledge of functional diversity is ultimately necessary to reconcile broader ecological success over space and time. We explore here functional traits underpinning the complex biology of Symbiodinium that spans free-living algae to coral endosymbionts. In doing so we propose a mechanistic framework integrating the primary traits of resource acquisition and utilisation as a means to explain Symbiodinium functional diversity and to resolve the role of Symbiodinium in driving the stability of coral reefs under an uncertain future.}, } @article {pmid28842791, year = {2017}, author = {Grelet, GA and Ba, R and Goeke, DF and Houliston, GJ and Taylor, AFS and Durall, DM}, title = {A plant growth-promoting symbiosis between Mycena galopus and Vaccinium corymbosum seedlings.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {831-839}, pmid = {28842791}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agaricales/*physiology ; Ascomycota/physiology ; Blueberry Plants/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Typically, Mycena species are viewed as saprotrophic fungi. However, numerous detections of Mycena spp. in the roots of green plants suggest that a continuum from saprotrophy to biotrophy could exist. In particular, mycenoid species have repeatedly been found in Ericaceae plant roots. Our study asked whether (1) Mycena species are commonly found in the roots of green Ericaceae plants; (2) Mycena sequences are limited to a single group/lineage within the genus; and (3) a Mycena sp. can behave as a beneficial root associate with a typical ericoid mycorrhizal plant (Vaccinium corymbosum), regardless of how much external labile carbon is available. We detected Mycena sequences in roots of all sampled Ericaceae plants. Our Mycena sequences clustered in four different groups distributed across the Mycena genus. Only one group could be assigned with confidence to a named species (M. galopus). Our Mycena sequences clustered with other Mycena sequences detected in roots of ericoid mycorrhizal plant species collected throughout Europe, America, and Australia. An isolate of M. galopus promoted growth of V. corymbosum seedlings in vitro regardless of external carbon supply in the media. Seedlings inoculated with M. galopus grew as well as those inoculated with the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoscyphus ericae. Surprisingly, this M. galopus isolate colonized Vaccinium roots and formed distinctive peg-like structures. Our results suggest that Mycena species might operate along a saprotroph-symbiotic continuum with a range of ericoid mycorrhizal plant species. We discuss our results in terms of fungal partner recruitment by Ericaceae plants.}, } @article {pmid28842582, year = {2017}, author = {Tornabene, C and Martindale, RC and Wang, XT and Schaller, MF}, title = {Detecting Photosymbiosis in Fossil Scleractinian Corals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {9465}, pmid = {28842582}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; *Fossils ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Pacific Ocean ; *Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolutionary success of reef-building corals is often attributed to photosymbiosis, a mutualistic relationship scleractinian corals developed with zooxanthellae; however, because zooxanthellae are not fossilized, it is difficult (and contentious) to determine whether ancient corals harbored symbionts. In this study, we analyze the δ[15]N of skeletal organic matrix in a suite of modern and fossil scleractinian corals (zooxanthellate- and azooxanthellate-like) with varying levels of diagenetic alteration. Significantly, we report the first analyses that distinguish shallow-water zooxanthellate and deep-water azooxanthellate fossil corals. Early Miocene (18-20 Ma) corals exhibit the same nitrogen isotopic ratio offset identified in modern corals. These results suggest that the coral organic matrix δ[15]N proxy can successfully be used to detect photosymbiosis in the fossil record. This proxy will significantly improve our ability to effectively define the evolutionary relationship between photosymbiosis and reef-building through space and time. For example, Late Triassic corals have symbiotic values, which tie photosymbiosis to major coral reef expansion. Furthermore, the early Miocene corals from Indonesia have low δ[15]N values relative to modern corals, implying that the west Pacific was a nutrient-depleted environment and that oligotrophy may have facilitated the diversification of the reef builders in the Coral Triangle.}, } @article {pmid28840605, year = {2017}, author = {Sahoo, RK}, title = {Digest: Ancient codispersals and host shifts in passerine bird-feather mite symbiosis.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {71}, number = {10}, pages = {2539-2540}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13330}, pmid = {28840605}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; Bird Diseases ; *Feathers ; Mites ; Passeriformes ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid28839925, year = {2017}, author = {Hurst, GDD}, title = {Extended genomes: symbiosis and evolution.}, journal = {Interface focus}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {20170001}, pmid = {28839925}, issn = {2042-8898}, abstract = {Many aspects of an individual's biology derive from its interaction with symbiotic microbes, which further define many aspects of the ecology and evolution of the host species. The centrality of microbes in the function of individual organisms has given rise to the concept of the holobiont-that an individual's biology is best understood as a composite of the 'host organism' and symbionts within. This concept has been further elaborated to posit the holobiont as a unit of selection. In this review, I critically examine whether it is useful to consider holobionts as a unit of selection. I argue that microbial heredity-the direct passage of microbes from parent to offspring-is a key factor determining the degree to which the holobiont can usefully be considered a level of selection. Where direct vertical transmission (VT) is common, microbes form part of extended genomes whose dynamics can be modelled with simple population genetics, but that nevertheless have subtle quantitative distinctions from the classic mutation/selection model for nuclear genes. Without direct VT, the correlation between microbial fitness and host individual fitness erodes, and microbe fitness becomes associated with host survival only (rather than reproduction). Furthermore, turnover of microbes within a host may lessen associations between microbial fitness with host survival, and in polymicrobial communities, microbial fitness may derive largely from the ability to outcompete other microbes, to avoid host immune clearance and to minimize mortality through phage infection. These competing selection pressures make holobiont fitness a very minor consideration in determining symbiont evolution. Nevertheless, the importance of non-heritable microbes in organismal function is undoubted-and as such the evolutionary and ecological processes giving rise to variation and evolution of the microbes within and between host individuals represent a key research area in biology.}, } @article {pmid28839213, year = {2017}, author = {Hua, MD and Senthil Kumar, R and Shyur, LF and Cheng, YB and Tian, Z and Oelmüller, R and Yeh, KW}, title = {Metabolomic compounds identified in Piriformospora indica-colonized Chinese cabbage roots delineate symbiotic functions of the interaction.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {9291}, pmid = {28839213}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/chemistry/*growth & development ; Brassica rapa/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Endophytes/chemistry/growth & development ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hyphae/chemistry/growth & development ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Organic Chemicals/analysis ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root colonization by endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica facilitating growth/development and stress tolerance has been demonstrated in various host plants. However, global metabolomic studies are rare. By using high-throughput gas-chromatography-based mass spectrometry, 549 metabolites of 1,126 total compounds observed were identified in colonized and uncolonized Chinese cabbage roots, and hyphae of P. indica. The analyses demonstrate that the host metabolomic compounds and metabolite pathways are globally reprogrammed after symbiosis with P. indica. Especially, γ-amino butyrate (GABA), oxylipin-family compounds, poly-saturated fatty acids, and auxin and its intermediates were highly induced and de novo synthesized in colonized roots. Conversely, nicotinic acid (niacin) and dimethylallylpyrophosphate were strongly decreased. In vivo assays with exogenously applied compounds confirmed that GABA primes plant immunity toward pathogen attack and enhances high salinity and temperature tolerance. Moreover, generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species stimulated by nicotinic acid is repressed by P. indica, and causes the feasibility of symbiotic interaction. This global metabolomic analysis and the identification of symbiosis-specific metabolites may help to understand how P. indica confers benefits to the host plant.}, } @article {pmid28839161, year = {2017}, author = {Cai, L and Zhou, G and Tian, RM and Tong, H and Zhang, W and Sun, J and Ding, W and Wong, YH and Xie, JY and Qiu, JW and Liu, S and Huang, H and Qian, PY}, title = {Metagenomic analysis reveals a green sulfur bacterium as a potential coral symbiont.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {9320}, pmid = {28839161}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Caribbean Region ; Chlorobi/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are ecologically significant habitats. Coral-algal symbiosis confers ecological success on coral reefs and coral-microbial symbiosis is also vital to coral reefs. However, current understanding of coral-microbial symbiosis on a genomic scale is largely unknown. Here we report a potential microbial symbiont in corals revealed by metagenomics-based genomic study. Microbial cells in coral were enriched for metagenomic analysis and a high-quality draft genome of "Candidatus Prosthecochloris korallensis" was recovered by metagenome assembly and genome binning. Phylogenetic analysis shows "Ca. P. korallensis" belongs to the Prosthecochloris clade and is clustered with two Prosthecochloris clones derived from Caribbean corals. Genomic analysis reveals "Ca. P. korallensis" has potentially important ecological functions including anoxygenic photosynthesis, carbon fixation via the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, nitrogen fixation, and sulfur oxidization. Core metabolic pathway analysis suggests "Ca. P. korallensis" is a green sulfur bacterium capable of photoautotrophy or mixotrophy. Potential host-microbial interaction reveals a symbiotic relationship: "Ca. P. korallensis" might provide organic and nitrogenous nutrients to its host and detoxify sulfide for the host; the host might provide "Ca. P. korallensis" with an anaerobic environment for survival, carbon dioxide and acetate for growth, and hydrogen sulfide as an electron donor for photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid28837437, year = {2018}, author = {McGahee, T and Bravo, M and Simmons, L and Reid, T}, title = {Nursing Students and Service Learning: Research From a Symbiotic Community Partnership With Local Schools and Special Olympics.}, journal = {Nurse educator}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {215-218}, doi = {10.1097/NNE.0000000000000445}, pmid = {28837437}, issn = {1538-9855}, mesh = {Athletes ; *Community-Institutional Relations ; Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; *Learning ; Nursing Education Research ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Physical Examination/nursing ; Schools, Nursing/*organization & administration ; South Carolina ; Sports ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; }, abstract = {This research is an example of a service learning partnership between a prelicensure nursing program and local school district. Through this partnership, students participated in a thoughtfully organized project that met the needs of a community and promoted the humanizing of health care education. Nursing students, under the guidance of faculty, performed required physical examinations for Special Olympics athletes who represented a wide range of age, physical, social, and intellectual levels. Research findings indicated an increase in nursing students' affective and cognitive development after this activity.}, } @article {pmid28837113, year = {2017}, author = {Luna-Ramirez, K and Skaljac, M and Grotmann, J and Kirfel, P and Vilcinskas, A}, title = {Orally Delivered Scorpion Antimicrobial Peptides Exhibit Activity against Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and Its Bacterial Symbionts.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {28837113}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*toxicity ; Aphids/*drug effects/microbiology ; Insecticides/*toxicity ; Microbiota/drug effects ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Reproduction/drug effects ; *Scorpions ; }, abstract = {Aphids are severe agricultural pests that damage crops by feeding on phloem sap and vectoring plant pathogens. Chemical insecticides provide an important aphid control strategy, but alternative and sustainable control measures are required to avoid rapidly emerging resistance, environmental contamination, and the risk to humans and beneficial organisms. Aphids are dependent on bacterial symbionts, which enable them to survive on phloem sap lacking essential nutrients, as well as conferring environmental stress tolerance and resistance to parasites. The evolution of aphids has been accompanied by the loss of many immunity-related genes, such as those encoding antibacterial peptides, which are prevalent in other insects, probably because any harm to the bacterial symbionts would inevitably affect the aphids themselves. This suggests that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) could replace or at least complement conventional insecticides for aphid control. We fed the pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) with AMPs from the venom glands of scorpions. The AMPs reduced aphid survival, delayed their reproduction, displayed in vitro activity against aphid bacterial symbionts, and reduced the number of symbionts in vivo. Remarkably, we found that some of the scorpion AMPs compromised the aphid bacteriome, a specialized organ that harbours bacterial symbionts. Our data suggest that scorpion AMPs holds the potential to be developed as bio-insecticides, and are promising candidates for the engineering of aphid-resistant crops.}, } @article {pmid28836573, year = {2017}, author = {Zaneveld, JR and McMinds, R and Vega Thurber, R}, title = {Stress and stability: applying the Anna Karenina principle to animal microbiomes.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17121}, pmid = {28836573}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; Lung/virology ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Microbial Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Precision Medicine ; Stochastic Processes ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All animals studied to date are associated with symbiotic communities of microorganisms. These animal microbiotas often play important roles in normal physiological function and susceptibility to disease; predicting their responses to perturbation represents an essential challenge for microbiology. Most studies of microbiome dynamics test for patterns in which perturbation shifts animal microbiomes from a healthy to a dysbiotic stable state. Here, we consider a complementary alternative: that the microbiological changes induced by many perturbations are stochastic, and therefore lead to transitions from stable to unstable community states. The result is an 'Anna Karenina principle' for animal microbiomes, in which dysbiotic individuals vary more in microbial community composition than healthy individuals-paralleling Leo Tolstoy's dictum that "all happy families look alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way". We argue that Anna Karenina effects are a common and important response of animal microbiomes to stressors that reduce the ability of the host or its microbiome to regulate community composition. Patterns consistent with Anna Karenina effects have been found in systems ranging from the surface of threatened corals exposed to above-average temperatures, to the lungs of patients suffering from HIV/AIDs. However, despite their apparent ubiquity, these patterns are easily missed or discarded by some common workflows, and therefore probably underreported. Now that a substantial body of research has established the existence of these patterns in diverse systems, rigorous testing, intensive time-series datasets and improved stochastic modelling will help to explore their importance for topics ranging from personalized medicine to theories of the evolution of host-microorganism symbioses.}, } @article {pmid28835551, year = {2017}, author = {Becker, CG and Longo, AV and Haddad, CFB and Zamudio, KR}, title = {Land cover and forest connectivity alter the interactions among host, pathogen and skin microbiome.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1861}, pages = {}, pmid = {28835551}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Amphibians/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification ; Biodiversity ; Brazil ; Chytridiomycota/pathogenicity ; *Forests ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Deforestation has detrimental consequences on biodiversity, affecting species interactions at multiple scales. The associations among vertebrates, pathogens and their commensal/symbiotic microbial communities (i.e. microbiomes) have important downstream effects for biodiversity conservation, yet we know little about how deforestation contributes to changes in host microbial diversity and pathogen abundance. Here, we tested the effects of landcover, forest connectivity and infection by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) on amphibian skin bacterial diversity along deforestation gradients in Brazilian landscapes. If disturbance to natural habitat alters skin microbiomes as it does in vertebrate host communities, then we would expect higher host bacterial diversity in natural forest habitats. Bd infection loads are also often higher in these closed-canopy forests, which may in turn impact skin-associated bacterial communities. We found that forest corridors shaped composition of host skin microbiomes; high forest connectivity predicted greater similarity of skin bacterial communities among host populations. In addition, we found that host skin bacterial diversity and Bd loads increased towards natural vegetation. Because symbiotic bacteria can potentially buffer hosts from Bd infection, we also evaluated the bi-directional microbiome-Bd link but failed to find a significant effect of skin bacterial diversity reducing Bd infections. Although weak, we found support for Bd increasing bacterial diversity and/or for core bacteria dominance reducing Bd loads. Our research incorporates a critical element in the study of host microbiomes by linking environmental heterogeneity of landscapes to the host-pathogen-microbiome triangle.}, } @article {pmid28835539, year = {2017}, author = {Nawroth, JC and Guo, H and Koch, E and Heath-Heckman, EAC and Hermanson, JC and Ruby, EG and Dabiri, JO and Kanso, E and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Motile cilia create fluid-mechanical microhabitats for the active recruitment of the host microbiome.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {36}, pages = {9510-9516}, pmid = {28835539}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Cilia ; Decapodiformes/cytology/*microbiology ; Epithelium/ultrastructure ; Microbiota ; Microscopy, Video ; Mucus ; Sense Organs/*cytology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We show that mucociliary membranes of animal epithelia can create fluid-mechanical microenvironments for the active recruitment of the specific microbiome of the host. In terrestrial vertebrates, these tissues are typically colonized by complex consortia and are inaccessible to observation. Such tissues can be directly examined in aquatic animals, providing valuable opportunities for the analysis of mucociliary activity in relation to bacteria recruitment. Using the squid-vibrio model system, we provide a characterization of the initial engagement of microbial symbionts along ciliated tissues. Specifically, we developed an empirical and theoretical framework to conduct a census of ciliated cell types, create structural maps, and resolve the spatiotemporal flow dynamics. Our multiscale analyses revealed two distinct, highly organized populations of cilia on the host tissues. An array of long cilia ([Formula: see text]25 [Formula: see text]m) with metachronal beat creates a flow that focuses bacteria-sized particles, at the exclusion of larger particles, into sheltered zones; there, a field of randomly beating short cilia ([Formula: see text]10 [Formula: see text]m) mixes the local fluid environment, which contains host biochemical signals known to prime symbionts for colonization. This cilia-mediated process represents a previously unrecognized mechanism for symbiont recruitment. Each mucociliary surface that recruits a microbiome such as the case described here is likely to have system-specific features. However, all mucociliary surfaces are subject to the same physical and biological constraints that are imposed by the fluid environment and the evolutionary conserved structure of cilia. As such, our study promises to provide insight into universal mechanisms that drive the recruitment of symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid28833928, year = {2017}, author = {Gomez-Polo, P and Ballinger, MJ and Lalzar, M and Malik, A and Ben-Dov, Y and Mozes-Daube, N and Perlman, SJ and Iasur-Kruh, L and Chiel, E}, title = {An exceptional family: Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus dominates the microbiome of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccidae).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {20}, pages = {5855-5868}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14332}, pmid = {28833928}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyprus ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Hypocreales/*classification/isolation & purification ; Israel ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Ribosomes/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hemipteran insects of the suborder Sternorrhyncha are plant sap feeders, where each family is obligately associated with a specific bacterial endosymbiont that produces essential nutrients lacking in the sap. Coccidae (soft scale insects) is the only major sternorrhynchan family in which obligate symbiont(s) have not been identified. We studied the microbiota in seven species from this family from Israel, Spain and Cyprus, by high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes, and found that no specific bacterium was prevalent and abundant in all the tested species. In contrast, an Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus sp.-a lineage widely known as entomopathogenic-was highly prevalent. All individuals of all the tested species carried this fungus. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus from the coccids is closely related to fungi described from other hemipterans, and they appear to be monophyletic, although the phylogenies of the Ophiocordyceps-allied fungi and their hosts do not appear to be congruent. Microscopic observations show that the fungal cells are lemon-shaped, are distributed throughout the host's body and are present in the eggs, suggesting vertical transmission. Taken together, the results suggest that the Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus may be a primary symbiont of Coccidae-a major evolutionary shift from bacteria to fungi in the Sternorrhyncha, and an important example of fungal evolutionary lifestyle switch.}, } @article {pmid28831061, year = {2017}, author = {Barrière, Q and Guefrachi, I and Gully, D and Lamouche, F and Pierre, O and Fardoux, J and Chaintreuil, C and Alunni, B and Timchenko, T and Giraud, E and Mergaert, P}, title = {Integrated roles of BclA and DD-carboxypeptidase 1 in Bradyrhizobium differentiation within NCR-producing and NCR-lacking root nodules.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {9063}, pmid = {28831061}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Carboxypeptidases/*genetics/metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes harbor in their symbiotic nodule organs nitrogen fixing rhizobium bacteria called bacteroids. Some legumes produce Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptides in the nodule cells to control the intracellular bacterial population. NCR peptides have antimicrobial activity and drive bacteroids toward terminal differentiation. Other legumes do not produce NCR peptides and their bacteroids are not differentiated. Bradyrhizobia, infecting NCR-producing Aeschynomene plants, require the peptide uptake transporter BclA to cope with the NCR peptides as well as a specific peptidoglycan-modifying DD-carboxypeptidase, DD-CPase1. We show that Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens strain USDA110 forms undifferentiated bacteroids in NCR-lacking soybean nodules. Unexpectedly, in Aeschynomene afraspera nodules the nitrogen fixing USDA110 bacteroids are hardly differentiated despite the fact that this host produces NCR peptides, suggesting that USDA110 is insensitive to the host peptide effectors and that nitrogen fixation can be uncoupled from differentiation. In agreement with the absence of bacteroid differentiation, USDA110 does not require its bclA gene for nitrogen fixing symbiosis with these two host plants. Furthermore, we show that the BclA and DD-CPase1 act independently in the NCR-induced morphological differentiation of bacteroids. Our results suggest that BclA is required to protect the rhizobia against the NCR stress but not to induce the terminal differentiation pathway.}, } @article {pmid28830993, year = {2017}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Janzen, DH and Hallwachs, W and Jaffe, SP and Fierer, N}, title = {Caterpillars lack a resident gut microbiome.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {36}, pages = {9641-9646}, pmid = {28830993}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Food Chain ; Food Microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Herbivory ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Lepidoptera/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Manduca/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many animals are inhabited by microbial symbionts that influence their hosts' development, physiology, ecological interactions, and evolutionary diversification. However, firm evidence for the existence and functional importance of resident microbiomes in larval Lepidoptera (caterpillars) is lacking, despite the fact that these insects are enormously diverse, major agricultural pests, and dominant herbivores in many ecosystems. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR, we characterized the gut microbiomes of wild leaf-feeding caterpillars in the United States and Costa Rica, representing 124 species from 15 families. Compared with other insects and vertebrates assayed using the same methods, the microbes that we detected in caterpillar guts were unusually low-density and variable among individuals. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of leaf-associated microbes were reflected in the feces of caterpillars consuming the same plants. Thus, microbes ingested with food are present (although possibly dead or dormant) in the caterpillar gut, but host-specific, resident symbionts are largely absent. To test whether transient microbes might still contribute to feeding and development, we conducted an experiment on field-collected caterpillars of the model species Manduca sexta Antibiotic suppression of gut bacterial activity did not significantly affect caterpillar weight gain, development, or survival. The high pH, simple gut structure, and fast transit times that typify caterpillar digestive physiology may prevent microbial colonization. Moreover, host-encoded digestive and detoxification mechanisms likely render microbes unnecessary for caterpillar herbivory. Caterpillars illustrate the potential ecological and evolutionary benefits of independence from symbionts, a lifestyle that may be widespread among animals.}, } @article {pmid28830731, year = {2017}, author = {Mushegian, AA and Ebert, D}, title = {Presence of microbiota reverses the relative performance of Daphnia on two experimental diets.}, journal = {Zoology (Jena, Germany)}, volume = {125}, number = {}, pages = {29-31}, doi = {10.1016/j.zool.2017.07.007}, pmid = {28830731}, issn = {1873-2720}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Daphnia/*microbiology/*physiology ; Diet ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Scenedesmus ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {The outcomes of host-symbiont interactions may differ according to environmental context, and symbioses may enable host adaptation to diverse environments. We find that the effects of two different experimental diets, algae and yeast, on the water flea Daphnia magna depend on whether the animals possess microbiota, suggesting that the presence of microbiota determines which diet is superior. Our study hints at both diet-dependent and diet-independent effects of microbiota on Daphnia fitness.}, } @article {pmid28829961, year = {2017}, author = {Yamamoto, S and Maruyama, M and Parker, J}, title = {Evidence from amber for the origins of termitophily.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {16}, pages = {R792-R794}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.078}, pmid = {28829961}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Amber ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*anatomy & histology ; Fossils ; Humans ; Infant ; Insecta ; *Isoptera ; }, abstract = {Fossil morphology is often used to infer the ecology of extinct species. In a recent report in Current Biology, Cai and colleagues [1] described an extinct rove beetle, Cretotrichopsenius burmiticus, from two specimens in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (∼99 million years old). Based on morphology and the taxonomic group to which the specimens belong, the authors proposed that Cretotrichopsenius was a termitophile - a socially parasitic symbiont of termite colonies. Moreover, the new taxon was claimed to represent the oldest "unequivocal" termitophile so far discovered, pushing back the known evolutionary history of termitophily by ∼80 million years, close to the origin of termite eusociality. Cretotrichopsenius is certainly an important discovery for understanding the evolutionary steps leading to this type of social insect symbiosis. However, we issue a caveat here concerning the authors' assertion that Cretotrichopsenius was truly termitophilous. Additionally, we question the authors' representation of a previously published, likely-termitophilous rove beetle in Burmese amber [2].}, } @article {pmid28828631, year = {2017}, author = {Jozefkowicz, C and Brambilla, S and Frare, R and Stritzler, M and Puente, M and Piccinetti, C and Soto, G and Ayub, N}, title = {Microevolution Rather than Large Genome Divergence Determines the Effectiveness of Legume-Rhizobia Symbiotic Interaction Under Field Conditions.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {85}, number = {3-4}, pages = {79-83}, pmid = {28828631}, issn = {1432-1432}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Medicago sativa/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Despite the vast screening for natural nitrogen-fixing isolates by public and private consortia, no significant progresses in the production of improved nitrogen-fixing inoculants for alfalfa production have been made in the last years. Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of the nitrogen-fixing strain Ensifer meliloti B399 (originally named Rhizobium meliloti 102F34), probably the inoculant most widely used in alfalfa production since the 1960s. Complete nucleotide sequence and genome analysis of strain B399 showed that the three replicons present in this commercial strain and the model bacterium Ensifer meliloti 1021 are extremely similar to each other in terms of nucleotide identity and synteny conservation. In contrast to that observed in B399-treated plants, inoculation of plants with strain 1021 did not improve nitrogen content in different alfalfa cultivars under field conditions, suggesting that a small genomic divergence can drastically impact on the symbiotic phenotype. Therefore, in addition to the traditional screening of natural nitrogen-fixing isolates, the genome engineering of model strains could be an attractive strategy to improve nitrogen fixation in legume crops.}, } @article {pmid28828177, year = {2017}, author = {Okude, G and Koga, R and Hayashi, T and Nishide, Y and Meng, XY and Nikoh, N and Miyanoshita, A and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Novel bacteriocyte-associated pleomorphic symbiont of the grain pest beetle Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae).}, journal = {Zoological letters}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {13}, pmid = {28828177}, issn = {2056-306X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is a stored-product pest beetle. Early histological studies dating back to 1930s have reported that R. dominica and other bostrichid species possess a pair of oval symbiotic organs, called the bacteriomes, in which the cytoplasm is densely populated by pleomorphic symbiotic bacteria of peculiar rosette-like shape. However, the microbiological nature of the symbiont has remained elusive.

RESULTS: Here we investigated the bacterial symbiont of R. dominica using modern molecular, histological, and microscopic techniques. Whole-mount fluorescence in situ hybridization specifically targeting symbiotic bacteria consistently detected paired bacteriomes, in which the cytoplasm was full of pleomorphic bacterial cells, in the abdomen of adults, pupae and larvae, confirming previous histological descriptions. Molecular phylogenetic analysis identified the symbiont as a member of the Bacteroidetes, in which the symbiont constituted a distinct bacterial lineage allied to a variety of insect-associated endosymbiont clades, including Uzinura of diaspidid scales, Walczuchella of giant scales, Brownia of root mealybugs, Sulcia of diverse hemipterans, and Blattabacterium of roaches. The symbiont gene exhibited markedly AT-biased nucleotide composition and significantly accelerated molecular evolution, suggesting degenerative evolution of the symbiont genome. The symbiotic bacteria were detected in oocytes and embryos, confirming continuous host-symbiont association and vertical symbiont transmission in the host life cycle.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that the symbiont of R. dominica constitutes a novel bacterial lineage in the Bacteroidetes. We propose that reductive evolution of the symbiont genome may be relevant to the amorphous morphology of the bacterial cells via disruption of genes involved in cell wall synthesis and cell division. Genomic and functional aspects of the host-symbiont relationship deserve future studies.}, } @article {pmid28827708, year = {2017}, author = {Mirzaei, S and Batley, J and El-Mellouki, T and Liu, S and Meksem, K and Ferguson, BJ and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Neodiversification of homeologous CLAVATA1-like receptor kinase genes in soybean leads to distinct developmental outcomes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {8878}, pmid = {28827708}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Environment ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Markers ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Development/*genetics ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/*genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {The CLAVATA pathway that regulates stem cell numbers of the shoot apical meristem has exclusively been studied in Arabidopsis; as such insight into other species is warranted. In this study, a GmCLV1A mutant (F-S562L) with altered lateral organ development, and two mutants of GmNARK, isolated from a Forrest M2 population (EMS-mutated soybean) were studied. GmCLV1A and GmNARK encode for LRR receptor kinases, and share 92% of protein sequence. While GmNARK is critical for systemic regulation of nodulation (new organ made on the root through symbiosis), we show that GmCLV1A functions locally and has no apparent function in nodulation or root development. However, a recessive, loss-of-function mutation (S562L) in a putative S-glycosylation site of GmCLV1A causes stem nodal identity alterations as well as flower and pod abnormalities (deformed flower and pod). The mutant also exhibits a homeotic phenotype, displaying abnormal leaf development/number, vein-derived leaf emergence, and a thick, faciated stem. The mutant phenotype is also temperature-sensitive. Interestingly, a novel truncated version of GmCLV1A was identified upstream of GmCLV1A that is absent from GmNARK, but is present upstream of the GmNARK orthologues, MtSUNN and PvNARK. Taken together, our findings indicate that GmCLV1A acts on shoot architecture, whereas GmNARK, functions in controlling nodule numbers.}, } @article {pmid28826970, year = {2017}, author = {Aanen, DK and Eggleton, P}, title = {Symbiogenesis: Beyond the endosymbiosis theory?.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {99-103}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.08.001}, pmid = {28826970}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Gastrointestinal Tract/anatomy & histology ; Isoptera/anatomy & histology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiogenesis, literally 'becoming by living together', refers to the crucial role of symbiosis in major evolutionary innovations. The term usually is reserved for the major transition to eukaryotes and to photosynthesising eukaryotic algae and plants by endosymbiosis. However, in some eukaryote lineages endosymbionts have been lost secondarily, showing that symbiosis can trigger a major evolutionary innovation, even if symbionts were lost secondarily. This leads to the intriguing possibility that symbiosis has played a role in other major evolutionary innovations as well, even if not all extant representatives of such groups still have the symbiotic association. We evaluate this hypothesis for two innovations in termites (Termitoidae, also known informally as "Isoptera"): i) the role of flagellate gut protist symbionts in the transition to eusociality from cockroach-like ancestors, and ii) the role of non-gut associated symbionts in the transition to 'higher' termites, characterized by the absence of flagellate gut protists. In both cases we identify a crucial role for symbionts, even though in both cases, subsequently, symbionts were lost again in some lineages. We also briefly discuss additional possible examples of symbiogenesis. We conclude that symbiogenesis is more broadly applicable than just for the endosymbiotic origin of eukaryotes and photosynthetic eukaryotes, and may be a useful concept to acknowledge the important role of symbiosis for evolutionary innovation. However, we do not accept Lynn Margulis's view that symbiogenesis will lead to a paradigm shift from neoDarwinism, as the role of symbiosis in evolutionary change can be integrated with existing theory perfectly.}, } @article {pmid28824591, year = {2017}, author = {Jacob, F and Melachio, TT and Njitchouang, GR and Gimonneau, G and Njiokou, F and Abate, L and Christen, R and Reveillaud, J and Geiger, A}, title = {Intestinal Bacterial Communities of Trypanosome-Infected and Uninfected Glossina palpalis palpalis from Three Human African Trypanomiasis Foci in Cameroon.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1464}, pmid = {28824591}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Glossina sp. the tsetse fly that transmits trypanosomes causing the Human or the Animal African Trypanosomiasis (HAT or AAT) can harbor symbiotic bacteria that are known to play a crucial role in the fly's vector competence. We hypothesized that other bacteria could be present, and that some of them could also influence the fly's vector competence. In this context the objectives of our work were: (a) to characterize the bacteria that compose the G. palpalis palpalis midgut bacteriome, (b) to evidence possible bacterial community differences between trypanosome-infected and non-infected fly individuals from a given AAT and HAT focus or from different foci using barcoded Illumina sequencing of the hypervariable V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Forty G. p. palpalis flies, either infected by Trypanosoma congolense or uninfected were sampled from three trypanosomiasis foci in Cameroon. A total of 143 OTUs were detected in the midgut samples. Most taxa were identified at the genus level, nearly 50% at the species level; they belonged to 83 genera principally within the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Prominent representatives included Wigglesworthia (the fly's obligate symbiont), Serratia, and Enterobacter hormaechei. Wolbachia was identified for the first time in G. p. palpalis. The average number of bacterial species per tsetse sample was not significantly different regarding the fly infection status, and the hierarchical analysis based on the differences in bacterial community structure did not provide a clear clustering between infected and non-infected flies. Finally, the most important result was the evidence of the overall very large diversity of intestinal bacteria which, except for Wigglesworthia, were unevenly distributed over the sampled flies regardless of their geographic origin and their trypanosome infection status.}, } @article {pmid28824050, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, R and Dong, L and Chen, Y and Qu, L and Wang, Q and Zhang, Y}, title = {Esteya Vermicola, a Nematophagous Fungus Attacking the Pine Wood Nematode, Harbors a Bacterial Endosymbiont Affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {32}, number = {3}, pages = {201-209}, pmid = {28824050}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Ophiostomatales/*pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses have played pivotal roles in biological, ecological, and evolutionary diversification. Symbiotic bacteria affect the biology of hosts in a number of ways. Esteya vermicola, an endoparasitic nematophagous fungus, has high infectivity in the pine wood nematode (PWN), which causes devastating ecological damage and economic losses in Asia and Europe. An integration of molecular, phylogenetic, and morphological analyses revealed that surface-sterilized E. vermicola with septate hyphae from different geographic locations harbor bacterial endosymbionts. 16S rRNA gene sequences from four fungal strains all clustered in a well-supported monophyletic clade that was the most closely related to Pseudomonas stutzeri and affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria. The existence and intracellular location of endobacteria was revealed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Our results showed that endobacteria were coccoid, vertically inherited, as yet uncultured, and essential symbionts. Ultrastructural observations indicated that young and old endobacteria differed in cell size, cell wall thickness, and the degree of reproduction. The results of the present study provide a fundamental understanding of the endobacteria inside E. vermicola and raise questions regarding the impact of endobacteria on the biology, ecology, and evolution of their fungal host.}, } @article {pmid28823595, year = {2017}, author = {Marangoni, LFB and Marques, JA and Duarte, GAS and Pereira, CM and Calderon, EN and Castro, CBE and Bianchini, A}, title = {Copper effects on biomarkers associated with photosynthesis, oxidative status and calcification in the Brazilian coral Mussismilia harttii (Scleractinia, Mussidae).}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {248-257}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.08.002}, pmid = {28823595}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Biomarkers ; Brazil ; Copper/*toxicity ; DNA Damage ; Oxidative Stress ; *Photosynthesis ; Water Pollutants/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Seawater contamination with metals, such as copper (Cu), is a notable local impact threatening coral reefs. Cu effects on biomarkers associated with photosynthesis, oxidative status and calcification were evaluated in the Brazilian coral Mussismilia harttii using a marine mesocosm facility. Polyps were kept under control conditions (1.9 μg L[-1] Cu) or exposed to dissolved Cu (3.0, 4.8, and 6.7 μg L[-1]) for 12 days. Photochemical efficiency of the photosystem II of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) was measured and polyps were analyzed for antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and carbonic anhydrase Ca-ATPase, Mg-ATPase and (Ca,Mg)-ATPase activities after 12 days. Results highlighted the effects of Cu exposure, leading corals to an oxidative stress condition [increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DNA damage] and a possible reduced calcification ability [decreased (Ca,Mg)-ATPase activity]. Therefore, biomarkers associated with oxidative status (TAC and DNA damage) and calcification [(Ca, Mg)-ATPase] are indicated as good predictors of corals health.}, } @article {pmid28822940, year = {2018}, author = {van den Elzen, E and van den Berg, LJL and van der Weijden, B and Fritz, C and Sheppard, LJ and Lamers, LPM}, title = {Effects of airborne ammonium and nitrate pollution strongly differ in peat bogs, but symbiotic nitrogen fixation remains unaffected.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {610-611}, number = {}, pages = {732-740}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.102}, pmid = {28822940}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Pristine bogs, peatlands in which vegetation is exclusively fed by rainwater (ombrotrophic), typically have a low atmospheric deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) (<0.5kgha[-1]y[-1]). An important additional N source is N2 fixation by symbiotic microorganisms (diazotrophs) in peat and mosses. Although the effects of increased total airborne N by anthropogenic emissions on bog vegetation are well documented, the important question remains how different N forms (ammonium, NH4[+], versus nitrate, NO3[-]) affect N cycling, as their relative contribution to the total load strongly varies among regions globally. Here, we studied the effects of 11years of experimentally increased deposition (32 versus 8kgNha[-1]y[-1]) of either NH4[+] or NO3[-] on N accumulation in three moss and one lichen species (Sphagnum capillifolium, S. papillosum, Pleurozium schreberi and Cladonia portentosa), N2 fixation rates of their symbionts, and potential N losses to peat soil and atmosphere, in a bog in Scotland. Increased input of both N forms led to 15-90% increase in N content for all moss species, without affecting their cover. The keystone species S. capillifolium showed 4 times higher N allocation into free amino acids, indicating N stress, but only in response to increased NH4[+]. In contrast, NO3[-] addition resulted in enhanced peat N mineralization linked to microbial NO3[-] reduction, increasing soil pH, N concentrations and N losses via denitrification. Unexpectedly, increased deposition from 8 to 32kgha[-1]y[-1] in both N forms did not affect N2 fixation rates for any of the moss species and corresponded to an additional input of 5kgNha[-1]y[-1] with a 100% S. capillifolium cover. Since both N forms clearly show differential effects on living Sphagnum and biogeochemical processes in the underlying peat, N form should be included in the assessment of the effects of N pollution on peatlands.}, } @article {pmid28822617, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, J and Domingue, JC and Sears, CL}, title = {Microbiota dysbiosis in select human cancers: Evidence of association and causality.}, journal = {Seminars in immunology}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {25-34}, pmid = {28822617}, issn = {1096-3618}, support = {R01 CA196845/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/complications/*immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Mouth/*immunology/microbiology ; Mucous Membrane/*physiology ; Neoplasms/complications/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human microbiota is a complex ecosystem of diverse microorganisms consisting of bacteria, viruses, and fungi residing predominantly in epidermal and mucosal habitats across the body, such as skin, oral cavity, lung, intestine and vagina. These symbiotic communities in health, or dysbiotic communities in disease, display tremendous interaction with the local environment and systemic responses, playing a critical role in the host's nutrition, immunity, metabolism and diseases including cancers. While the profiling of normal microbiota in healthy populations is useful and necessary, more recent studies have focused on the microbiota associated with disease, particularly cancers. In this paper, we review current evidence on the role of the human microbiota in four cancer types (colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer) proposed as affected by both the oral and gut microbiota, and provide a perspective on current gaps in the knowledge of the microbiota and cancer.}, } @article {pmid28821232, year = {2017}, author = {Oshone, R and Ngom, M and Chu, F and Mansour, S and Sy, MO and Champion, A and Tisa, LS}, title = {Genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches towards understanding the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in Frankia strains isolated from Casuarina trees.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {633}, pmid = {28821232}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Fagales/*microbiology ; Frankia/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Phenotype ; *Proteomics ; Salt Tolerance/*genetics ; Trees/*microbiology ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Soil salinization is a worldwide problem that is intensifying because of the effects of climate change. An effective method for the reclamation of salt-affected soils involves initiating plant succession using fast growing, nitrogen fixing actinorhizal trees such as the Casuarina. The salt tolerance of Casuarina is enhanced by the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis that they form with the actinobacterium Frankia. Identification and molecular characterization of salt-tolerant Casuarina species and associated Frankia is imperative for the successful utilization of Casuarina trees in saline soil reclamation efforts. In this study, salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive Casuarina associated Frankia strains were identified and comparative genomics, transcriptome profiling, and proteomics were employed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of salt and osmotic stress tolerance.

RESULTS: Salt-tolerant Frankia strains (CcI6 and Allo2) that could withstand up to 1000 mM NaCl and a salt-sensitive Frankia strain (CcI3) which could withstand only up to 475 mM NaCl were identified. The remaining isolates had intermediate levels of salt tolerance with MIC values ranging from 650 mM to 750 mM. Comparative genomic analysis showed that all of the Frankia isolates from Casuarina belonged to the same species (Frankia casuarinae). Pangenome analysis revealed a high abundance of singletons among all Casuarina isolates. The two salt-tolerant strains contained 153 shared single copy genes (most of which code for hypothetical proteins) that were not found in the salt-sensitive(CcI3) and moderately salt-tolerant (CeD) strains. RNA-seq analysis of one of the two salt-tolerant strains (Frankia sp. strain CcI6) revealed hundreds of genes differentially expressed under salt and/or osmotic stress. Among the 153 genes, 7 and 7 were responsive to salt and osmotic stress, respectively. Proteomic profiling confirmed the transcriptome results and identified 19 and 8 salt and/or osmotic stress-responsive proteins in the salt-tolerant (CcI6) and the salt-sensitive (CcI3) strains, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Genetic differences between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive Frankia strains isolated from Casuarina were identified. Transcriptome and proteome profiling of a salt-tolerant strain was used to determine molecular differences correlated with differential salt-tolerance and several candidate genes were identified. Mechanisms involving transcriptional and translational regulation, cell envelop remodeling, and previously uncharacterized proteins appear to be important for salt tolerance. Physiological and mutational analyses will further shed light on the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in Casuarina associated Frankia isolates.}, } @article {pmid28820125, year = {2017}, author = {Stajich, JE}, title = {Fungal Genomes and Insights into the Evolution of the Kingdom.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28820125}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {S10 OD016290/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/*genetics ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The kingdom Fungi comprises species that inhabit nearly all ecosystems. Fungi exist as both free-living and symbiotic unicellular and multicellular organisms with diverse morphologies. The genomes of fungi encode genes that enable them to thrive in diverse environments, invade plant and animal cells, and participate in nutrient cycling in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The continuously expanding databases of fungal genome sequences have been generated by individual and large-scale efforts such as Génolevures, Broad Institute's Fungal Genome Initiative, and the 1000 Fungal Genomes Project (http://1000.fungalgenomes.org). These efforts have produced a catalog of fungal genes and genomic organization. The genomic datasets can be utilized to better understand how fungi have adapted to their lifestyles and ecological niches. Large datasets of fungal genomic and transcriptomic data have enabled the use of novel methodologies and improved the study of fungal evolution from a molecular sequence perspective. Combined with microscopes, petri dishes, and woodland forays, genome sequencing supports bioinformatics and comparative genomics approaches as important tools in the study of the biology and evolution of fungi.}, } @article {pmid28819314, year = {2017}, author = {Raab, N and Davis, J and Spokoini-Stern, R and Kopel, M and Banin, E and Bachelet, I}, title = {A symbiotic-like biologically-driven regenerating fabric.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {8528}, pmid = {28819314}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Fibroins/*metabolism ; *Stress, Mechanical ; Textiles/*microbiology ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Living organisms constantly maintain their structural and biochemical integrity by the critical means of response, healing, and regeneration. Inanimate objects, on the other hand, are axiomatically considered incapable of responding to damage and healing it, leading to the profound negative environmental impact of their continuous manufacturing and trashing. Objects with such biological properties would be a significant step towards sustainable technology. In this work we present a feasible strategy for driving regeneration in fabric by means of integration with a bacterial biofilm to obtain a symbiotic-like hybrid - the fabric provides structural framework to the biofilm and supports its growth, whereas the biofilm responds to mechanical tear by synthesizing a silk protein engineered to self-assemble upon secretion from the cells. We propose the term crossbiosis to describe this and other hybrid systems combining organism and object. Our strategy could be implemented in other systems and drive sensing of integrity and response by regeneration in other materials as well.}, } @article {pmid28818387, year = {2017}, author = {Zogli, P and Libault, M}, title = {Plant response to biotic stress: Is there a common epigenetic response during plant-pathogenic and symbiotic interactions?.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {89-93}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.07.008}, pmid = {28818387}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Epigenomics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Models, Biological ; *Plant Immunity ; Plants/*genetics/immunology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants constantly interact with pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms. Recent studies have revealed several regulatory mechanisms controlling these interactions. Among them, the plant defense system is activated not only in response to pathogenic, but also in response to symbiotic microbes. Interestingly, shortly after symbiotic microbial recognition, the plant defense system is suppressed to promote plant infection by symbionts. Research studies have demonstrated the influence of the plant epigenome in modulating both pathogenic and symbiotic plant-microbe interactions, thereby influencing plant survival, adaptation and evolution of the plant response to microbial infections. It is however unclear if plant pathogenic and symbiotic responses share similar epigenomic profiles or if epigenomic changes differentially regulate plant-microbe symbiosis and pathogenesis. In this mini-review, we provide an update of the current knowledge of epigenomic control on plant immune responses and symbiosis, with a special attention being paid to knowledge gap and potential strategies to fill-in the missing links.}, } @article {pmid28818382, year = {2017}, author = {Fochi, V and Falla, N and Girlanda, M and Perotto, S and Balestrini, R}, title = {Cell-specific expression of plant nutrient transporter genes in orchid mycorrhizae.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {39-45}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.06.015}, pmid = {28818382}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/cytology/*physiology ; Biological Transport ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Orchidaceae/cytology/*genetics/microbiology ; Organ Specificity ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Orchid mycorrhizal protocorms and roots are heterogeneous structures composed of different plant cell-types, where cells colonized by intracellular fungal coils (the pelotons) are close to non-colonized plant cells. Moreover, the fungal coils undergo rapid turnover inside the colonized cells, so that plant cells containing coils at different developmental stages can be observed in the same tissue section. Here, we have investigated by laser microdissection (LMD) the localization of specific plant gene transcripts in different cell-type populations collected from mycorrhizal protocorms and roots of the Mediterranean orchid Serapias vomeracea colonized by Tulasnella calospora. RNAs extracted from the different cell-type populations have been used to study plant gene expression, focusing on genes potentially involved in N uptake and transport and previously identified as up-regulated in symbiotic protocorms. Results clearly showed that some plant N transporters are differentially expressed in cells containing fungal coils at different developmental stages, as well as in non-colonized cells, and allowed the identification of new functional markers associated to coil-containing cells.}, } @article {pmid28818367, year = {2017}, author = {Furlan, AL and Bianucci, E and Castro, S and Dietz, KJ}, title = {Metabolic features involved in drought stress tolerance mechanisms in peanut nodules and their contribution to biological nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {263}, number = {}, pages = {12-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.06.009}, pmid = {28818367}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics/*physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Droughts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Glucosyltransferases/genetics ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; *Metabolomics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Water/physiology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes belong to the most important crops worldwide. They increase soil fertility due their ability to establish symbiotic associations with soil microorganisms, known as rhizobia, capable of fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere. However, they are frequently exposed to abiotic stress conditions in particular drought. Such adverse conditions impair the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and depend largely on the legume. Therefore, two peanut cultivars with contrasting tolerance to drought, namely the more tolerant EC-98 and the sensitive Granoleico, were investigated to elucidate the relative contribution of BNF to the tolerance to drought. The tolerant cultivar EC-98 sustained growth and BNF similar to the control condition despite the reduced water potential and photosynthesis, suggesting the functioning of distinct metabolic pathways that contributed to enhance the tolerance. The biochemical and metabolomics approaches revealed that nodules from the tolerant cultivar accumulated trehalose, proline and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), metabolites with known function in protecting against drought stress. The amide metabolism was severely affected in nodules from the sensitive cultivar Granoleico as revealed by the low content of asparagine and glutamine in the drought stressed plants. The sensitive cultivar upon rehydration was unable to re-establish a metabolism similar to well-watered plants. This was evidenced by the low level of metabolites and, transcripts and specific activities of enzymes from the carbon (sucrose synthase) and nitrogen (glutamine synthetase) metabolism which decreased below the values of control plants. Therefore, the increased content of metabolites with protective functions under drought stress likely is crucial for the full restoration upon rehydration. Smaller changes of drought stress-related metabolites in nodule are another trait that contributes to the effective control of BNF in the tolerant peanut cultivar (EC-98).}, } @article {pmid28818038, year = {2017}, author = {Kamber, T and Pothier, JF and Pelludat, C and Rezzonico, F and Duffy, B and Smits, THM}, title = {Role of the type VI secretion systems during disease interactions of Erwinia amylovora with its plant host.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {628}, pmid = {28818038}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Chemotaxis/genetics ; Erwinia amylovora/cytology/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Genomics ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Multigene Family/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Type VI Secretion Systems/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Type VI secretion systems (T6SS) are widespread among Gram-negative bacteria and have a potential role as essential virulence factors or to maintain symbiotic interactions. Three T6SS gene clusters were identified in the genome of E. amylovora CFBP 1430, of which T6SS-1 and T6SS-3 represent complete T6SS machineries, while T6SS-2 is reduced in its gene content.

RESULTS: To assess the contribution of T6SSs to virulence and potential transcriptomic changes of E. amylovora CFBP 1430, single and double mutants in two structural genes were generated for T6SS-1 and T6SS-3. Plant assays showed that mutants in T6SS-3 were slightly more virulent in apple shoots while inducing less disease symptoms on apple flowers, indicating that T6SSs have only a minor effect on virulence of E. amylovora CFBP 1430. The mutations led under in vitro conditions to the differential expression of type III secretion systems, iron acquisition, chemotaxis, flagellar, and fimbrial genes. Comparison of the in planta and in vitro transcriptome data sets revealed a common differential expression of three processes and a set of chemotaxis and motility genes. Additional experiments proved that T6SS mutants are impaired in their motility.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the deletion of T6SSs alters metabolic and motility processes. Nevertheless, the difference in lesion development in apple shoots and flower necrosis of T6SS mutants was indicative that T6SSs influences the disease progression and the establishment of the pathogen on host plants.}, } @article {pmid28816608, year = {2017}, author = {Qiao, Z and Libault, M}, title = {Function of plasma membrane microdomain-associated proteins during legume nodulation.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {e1365215}, pmid = {28816608}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Immunoprecipitation ; Membrane Microdomains/genetics/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plasma membrane microdomains are plasma membrane sub-compartments enriched in sphingolipids and sterols, and composed by a specific set of proteins. They are involved in recognizing signal molecules, transducing these signals, and controlling endocytosis and exocytosis processes. In a recent study, applying biochemical and microscopic methods, we characterized the soybean GmFWL1 protein, a major regulator of soybean nodulation, as a new membrane microdomain-associated protein. Interestingly, upon rhizobia inoculation of the soybean root system, GmFWL1 and one of its interacting partners, GmFLOT2/4, both translocate to the root hair cell tip, the primary site of interaction and infection between soybean and Rhizobium. The role of GmFWL1 as a plasma membrane microdomain-associated protein is also supported by immunoprecipitation assays performed on soybean nodules, which revealed 178 GmFWL1 protein partners including a large number of microdomain-associated proteins such as GmFLOT2/4. In this addendum, we provide additional information about the identity of the soybean proteins repetitively identified as GmFWL1 protein partners. Their function is discussed especially in regard to plant-microbe interactions and microbial symbiosis. This addendum will provide new insights in the role of plasma membrane microdomains in regulating legume nodulation.}, } @article {pmid28814130, year = {2017}, author = {Katoh, T and Maeshibu, T and Kikkawa, KI and Gotoh, A and Tomabechi, Y and Nakamura, M and Liao, WH and Yamaguchi, M and Ashida, H and Yamamoto, K and Katayama, T}, title = {Identification and characterization of a sulfoglycosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum implicated in mucin glycan utilization.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {81}, number = {10}, pages = {2018-2027}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2017.1361810}, pmid = {28814130}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Acetylglucosaminidase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bifidobacterium bifidum/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mucins/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Human gut symbiont bifidobacteria possess carbohydrate-degrading enzymes that act on the O-linked glycans of intestinal mucins to utilize those carbohydrates as carbon sources. However, our knowledge about mucin type O-glycan degradation by bifidobacteria remains fragmentary, especially regarding how they decompose sulfated glycans, which are abundantly found in mucin sugar-chains. Here, we examined the abilities of several Bifidobacterium strains to degrade a sulfated glycan substrate and identified a 6-sulfo-β-d-N-acetylglucosaminidase, also termed sulfoglycosidase, encoded by bbhII from Bifidobacterium bifidum JCM 7004. A recombinant BbhII protein showed a substrate preference toward 6-sulfated and 3,4-disulfated N-acetylglucosamines over non-sulfated and 3-sulfated N-acetylglucosamines. The purified BbhII directly released 6-sulfated N-acetylglucosamine from porcine gastric mucin and the expression of bbhII was moderately induced in the presence of mucin. This de-capping activity may promote utilization of sulfated glycans of mucin by other bacteria including bifidobacteria, thereby establishing the symbiotic relationship between human and gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid28814059, year = {2017}, author = {Bacek, T and Moltedo, M and Langlois, K and Prieto, GA and Sanchez-Villamanan, MC and Gonzalez-Vargas, J and Vanderborght, B and Lefeber, D and Moreno, JC}, title = {BioMot exoskeleton - Towards a smart wearable robot for symbiotic human-robot interaction.}, journal = {IEEE ... International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics : [proceedings]}, volume = {2017}, number = {}, pages = {1666-1671}, doi = {10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009487}, pmid = {28814059}, issn = {1945-7901}, mesh = {Equipment Design ; *Exoskeleton Device ; Humans ; Lower Extremity/physiology ; *Man-Machine Systems ; Orthotic Devices ; Torque ; *Wearable Electronic Devices ; }, abstract = {This paper presents design of a novel modular lower-limb gait exoskeleton built within the FP7 BioMot project. Exoskeleton employs a variable stiffness actuator in all 6 joints, a directional-flexibility structure and a novel physical humanrobot interfacing, which allows it to deliver the required output while minimally constraining user's gait by providing passive degrees of freedom. Due to modularity, the exoskeleton can be used as a full lower-limb orthosis, a single-joint orthosis in any of the three joints, and a two-joint orthosis in a combination of any of the two joints. By employing a simple torque control strategy, the exoskeleton can be used to deliver user-specific assistance, both in gait rehabilitation and in assisting people suffering musculoskeletal impairments. The result of the presented BioMot efforts is a low-footprint exoskeleton with powerful compliant actuators, simple, yet effective torque controller and easily adjustable flexible structure.}, } @article {pmid28812709, year = {2017}, author = {Sun, J and Zhang, Y and Xu, T and Zhang, Y and Mu, H and Zhang, Y and Lan, Y and Fields, CJ and Hui, JHL and Zhang, W and Li, R and Nong, W and Cheung, FKM and Qiu, JW and Qian, PY}, title = {Adaptation to deep-sea chemosynthetic environments as revealed by mussel genomes.}, journal = {Nature ecology & evolution}, volume = {1}, number = {5}, pages = {121}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-017-0121}, pmid = {28812709}, issn = {2397-334X}, abstract = {Hydrothermal vents and methane seeps are extreme deep-sea ecosystems that support dense populations of specialized macro-benthos such as mussels. But the lack of genome information hinders the understanding of the adaptation of these animals to such inhospitable environments. Here we report the genomes of a deep-sea vent/seep mussel (Bathymodiolus platifrons) and a shallow-water mussel (Modiolus philippinarum). Phylogenetic analysis shows that these mussel species diverged approximately 110.4 million years ago. Many gene families, especially those for stabilizing protein structures and removing toxic substances from cells, are highly expanded in B. platifrons, indicating adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. The innate immune system of B. platifrons is considerably more complex than that of other lophotrochozoan species, including M. philippinarum, with substantial expansion and high expression levels of gene families that are related to immune recognition, endocytosis and caspase-mediated apoptosis in the gill, revealing presumed genetic adaptation of the deep-sea mussel to the presence of its chemoautotrophic endosymbionts. A follow-up metaproteomic analysis of the gill of B. platifrons shows methanotrophy, assimilatory sulfate reduction and ammonia metabolic pathways in the symbionts, providing energy and nutrients, which allow the host to thrive. Our study of the genomic composition allowing symbiosis in extremophile molluscs gives wider insights into the mechanisms of symbiosis in other organisms such as deep-sea tubeworms and giant clams.}, } @article {pmid28812152, year = {2017}, author = {Poosakkannu, A and Nissinen, R and Kytöviita, MM}, title = {Native arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alters foliar bacterial community composition.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {801-810}, pmid = {28812152}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; Finland ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on plant-associated microbes are poorly known. We tested the hypothesis that colonization by an AM fungus affects microbial species richness and microbial community composition of host plant tissues. We grew the grass, Deschampsia flexuosa in a greenhouse with or without the native AM fungus, Claroideoglomus etunicatum. We divided clonally produced tillers into two parts: one inoculated with AM fungus spores and one without AM fungus inoculation (non-mycorrhizal, NM). We characterized bacterial (16S rRNA gene) and fungal communities (internal transcribed spacer region) in surface-sterilized leaf and root plant compartments. AM fungus inoculation did not affect microbial species richness or diversity indices in leaves or roots, but the AM fungus inoculation significantly affected bacterial community composition in leaves. A total of three OTUs in leaves belonging to the phylum Firmicutes positively responded to the presence of the AM fungus in roots. Another six OTUs belonging to the Proteobacteria (Alpha, Beta, and Gamma) and Bacteroidetes were significantly more abundant in NM plants when compared to AM fungus-inoculated plants. Further, there was a significant correlation between plant dry weight and leaf microbial community compositional shift. Also, there was a significant correlation between leaf bacterial community compositional shift and foliar nitrogen content changes due to AM fungus inoculation. The results suggest that AM fungus colonization in roots has a profound effect on plant physiology that is reflected in leaf bacterial community composition.}, } @article {pmid28811522, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, R and Yang, Y and Park, SY and Nguyen, TT and Seo, YW and Lee, KH and Lee, JH and Kim, KK and Hur, JS and Kim, H}, title = {The lichen secondary metabolite atranorin suppresses lung cancer cell motility and tumorigenesis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {8136}, pmid = {28811522}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biological Products/chemistry/pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/*drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hydroxybenzoates/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Lichens/*metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun/metabolism ; *Secondary Metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Transcription Factor AP-1/metabolism ; beta Catenin/metabolism ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that produce various secondary metabolites. Here, different lichen extracts were examined to identify secondary metabolites with anti-migratory activity against human lung cancer cells. Everniastrum vexans had the most potent inhibitory activity, and atranorin was identified as an active subcomponent of this extract. Atranorin suppressed β-catenin-mediated TOPFLASH activity by inhibiting the nuclear import of β-catenin and downregulating β-catenin/LEF and c-jun/AP-1 downstream target genes such as CD44, cyclin-D1 and c-myc. Atranorin decreased KAI1 C-terminal interacting tetraspanin (KITENIN)-mediated AP-1 activity and the activity of the KITENIN 3'-untranslated region. The nuclear distribution of the AP-1 transcriptional factor, including c-jun and c-fos, was suppressed in atranorin-treated cells, and atranorin inhibited the activity of Rho GTPases including Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA, whereas it had no effect on epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. STAT-luciferase activity and nuclear STAT levels were decreased, whereas total STAT levels were moderately reduced. The human cell motility and lung cancer RT[2] Profiler PCR Arrays identified additional atranorin target genes. Atranorin significantly inhibited tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our results indicated that E. vexans and its subcomponent atranorin may inhibit lung cancer cell motility and tumorigenesis by affecting AP-1, Wnt, and STAT signaling and suppressing RhoGTPase activity.}, } @article {pmid28811517, year = {2017}, author = {Quigley, KM and Willis, BL and Bay, LK}, title = {Heritability of the Symbiodinium community in vertically- and horizontally-transmitting broadcast spawning corals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {8219}, pmid = {28811517}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; *Biodiversity ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Protozoan ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The dinoflagellate-coral partnership influences the coral holobiont's tolerance to thermal stress and bleaching. However, the comparative roles of host genetic versus environmental factors in determining the composition of this symbiosis are largely unknown. Here we quantify the heritability of the initial Symbiodinium communities for two broadcast-spawning corals with different symbiont transmission modes: Acropora tenuis has environmental acquisition, whereas Montipora digitata has maternal transmission. Using high throughput sequencing of the ITS-2 region to characterize communities in parents, juveniles and eggs, we describe previously undocumented Symbiodinium diversity and dynamics in both corals. After one month of uptake in the field, Symbiodinium communities associated with A. tenuis juveniles were dominated by A3, C1, D1, A-type CCMP828, and D1a in proportional abundances conserved between experiments in two years. M. digitata eggs were predominantly characterized by C15, D1, and A3. In contrast to current paradigms, host genetic influences accounted for a surprising 29% of phenotypic variation in Symbiodinium communities in the horizontally-transmitting A. tenuis, but only 62% in the vertically-transmitting M. digitata. Our results reveal hitherto unknown flexibility in the acquisition of Symbiodinium communities and substantial heritability in both species, providing material for selection to produce partnerships that are locally adapted to changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid28810708, year = {2017}, author = {Ghaderiardakani, F and Coates, JC and Wichard, T}, title = {Bacteria-induced morphogenesis of Ulva intestinalis and Ulva mutabilis (Chlorophyta): a contribution to the lottery theory.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {28810708}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Morphogenesis ; Seaweed/*microbiology ; Ulva/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The green marine macroalgae of the class Ulvophyceae (Ulvophytes) are common algae distributed worldwide particularly in intertidal areas, which play a key role in aquatic ecosystems. They are potentially valuable resources for food, animal feed and fuel but can also cause massive nuisance blooms. Members of Ulvaceae, like many other seaweeds, harbour a rich diversity of epiphytic bacteria with functions related to host growth and morphological development. In the absence of appropriate bacterially derived signals, germ cells of the genus Ulva develop into 'atypical' colonies consisting of undifferentiated cells with abnormal cell walls. This paper examines the specificity of bacteria-induced morphogenesis in Ulva, by cross-testing bacteria isolated from several Ulva species on two Ulva species, the emerging model system Ulva mutabilis and the prominent biofouler species Ulva intestinalis. We show that pairs of bacterial strains isolated from species other than U. mutabilis and U. intestinalis can fully rescue axenic plantlets generated either from U. mutabilis or U. intestinalis gametes. This laboratory-based study demonstrates that different compositions of microbial communities with similar functional characteristics can enable complete algal morphogenesis and thus supports the 'competitive lottery' theory for how symbiotic bacteria drive algal development.}, } @article {pmid28808960, year = {2017}, author = {Vahedi, F and Giles, EC and Ashkar, AA}, title = {The Application of Humanized Mouse Models for the Study of Human Exclusive Viruses.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1656}, number = {}, pages = {1-56}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7237-1_1}, pmid = {28808960}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Mice ; *Virus Diseases/genetics/immunology/pathology ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses/genetics/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between humans and viruses has allowed human tropic pathogens to evolve intricate means of modulating the human immune response to ensure its survival among the human population. In doing so, these viruses have developed profound mechanisms that mesh closely with our human biology. The establishment of this intimate relationship has created a species-specific barrier to infection, restricting the virus-associated pathologies to humans. This specificity diminishes the utility of traditional animal models. Humanized mice offer a model unique to all other means of study, providing an in vivo platform for the careful examination of human tropic viruses and their interaction with human cells and tissues. These types of animal models have provided a reliable medium for the study of human-virus interactions, a relationship that could otherwise not be investigated without questionable relevance to humans.}, } @article {pmid28808815, year = {2018}, author = {Chiboub, M and Jebara, SH and Saadani, O and Fatnassi, IC and Abdelkerim, S and Jebara, M}, title = {Physiological responses and antioxidant enzyme changes in Sulla coronaria inoculated by cadmium resistant bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {131}, number = {1}, pages = {99-110}, pmid = {28808815}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Antioxidants ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/enzymology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Microbial Consortia/physiology ; Pseudomonas/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) may help to reduce the toxicity of heavy metals on plants growing in polluted soils. In this work, Sulla coronaria inoculated with four Cd resistant bacteria (two Pseudomonas spp. and two Rhizobium sullae) were cultivated in hydroponic conditions treated by Cd; long time treatment 50 µM CdCl2 for 30 days and short time treatment; 100 µM CdCl2 for 7 days. Results showed that inoculation with Cd resistant PGPB enhanced plant biomass, thus shoot and root dry weights of control plants were enhanced by 148 and 35% respectively after 7 days. Co-inoculation of plants treated with 50 and 100 µM Cd increased plant biomasses as compared to Cd-treated and uninoculated plants. Cadmium treatment induced lipid peroxidation in plant tissues measured through MDA content in short 7 days 100 µM treatment. Antioxidant enzyme studies showed that inoculation of control plants enhanced APX, SOD and CAT activities after 30 days in shoots and SOD, APX, SOD, GPOX in roots. Application of 50 µM CdCl2 stimulated all enzymes in shoots and decreased SOD and CAT activities in roots. Moreover, 100 µM of CdCl2 increased SOD, APX, CAT and GPOX activities in shoots and increased significantly CAT activity in roots. Metal accumulation depended on Cd concentration, plant organ and time of treatment. Furthermore, the inoculation enhanced Cd uptake in roots by 20% in all treatments. The cultivation of this symbiosis in Cd contaminated soil or in heavy metal hydroponically treated medium, showed that inoculation improved plant biomass and increased Cd uptake especially in roots. Therefore, the present study established that co-inoculation of S. coronaria by a specific consortium of heavy metal resistant PGPB formed a symbiotic system useful for soil phytostabilization.}, } @article {pmid28808562, year = {2017}, author = {Gervasi, DDL and Selosse, MA and Sauve, M and Francke, W and Vereecken, NJ and Cozzolino, S and Schiestl, FP}, title = {Floral scent and species divergence in a pair of sexually deceptive orchids.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {15}, pages = {6023-6034}, pmid = {28808562}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Speciation is typically accompanied by the formation of isolation barriers between lineages. Commonly, reproductive barriers are separated into pre- and post-zygotic mechanisms that can evolve with different speed. In this study, we measured the strength of different reproductive barriers in two closely related, sympatric orchids of the Ophrys insectifera group, namely Ophrys insectifera and Ophrys aymoninii to infer possible mechanisms of speciation. We quantified pre- and post-pollination barriers through observation of pollen flow, by performing artificial inter- and intraspecific crosses and analyzing scent bouquets. Additionally, we investigated differences in mycorrhizal fungi as a potential extrinsic factor of post-zygotic isolation. Our results show that floral isolation mediated by the attraction of different pollinators acts apparently as the sole reproductive barrier between the two orchid species, with later-acting intrinsic barriers seemingly absent. Also, the two orchids share most of their fungal mycorrhizal partners in sympatry, suggesting little or no importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis in reproductive isolation. Key traits underlying floral isolation were two alkenes and wax ester, present predominantly in the floral scent of O. aymoninii. These compounds, when applied to flowers of O. insectifera, triggered attraction and a copulation attempt of the bee pollinator of O. aymoninii and thus led to the (partial) breakdown of floral isolation. Based on our results, we suggest that adaptation to different pollinators, mediated by floral scent, underlies species isolation in this plant group. Pollinator switches may be promoted by low pollination success of individuals in dense patches of plants, an assumption that we also confirmed in our study.}, } @article {pmid28806933, year = {2017}, author = {King, KC and Bonsall, MB}, title = {The evolutionary and coevolutionary consequences of defensive microbes for host-parasite interactions.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {190}, pmid = {28806933}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Coevolution ; *Biological Evolution ; *Host-Parasite Interactions/immunology ; Immunity ; Parasites/physiology ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Animal and plant species can harbour microbes that provide them with protection against enemies. These beneficial microbes can be a significant component of host defence that complement or replaces a repertoire of immunity, but they can also be costly. Given their impact on host and parasite fitness, defensive microbes have the potential to influence host-parasite interactions on an evolutionary timescale.

RESULTS: Using a phenotypic framework, we explore the evolutionary and coevolutionary dynamics of a host-parasite interaction in the presence of defensive microbes. We show that costs of host-defensive microbe systems are critical in determining whether a defensive microbe based system or an immune system provides better host protection investment. Partitioning the coevolutionary dynamics yields testable predictions. The density of defensive microbes influences the strength of selection resulting from host - defensive microbe - parasite coevolutionary interactions. We find that they lessen the negative effects of infection on hosts and reduce infectivity by directly competing with parasites.

CONCLUSIONS: Defensive microbes might thus play a central role in host-parasite interactions, by outright replacing host-based defences, engaging in within-host competition with parasites, and ultimately driving tripartite coevolutionary dynamics.}, } @article {pmid28806750, year = {2017}, author = {Jančaříková, G and Houser, J and Dobeš, P and Demo, G and Hyršl, P and Wimmerová, M}, title = {Characterization of novel bangle lectin from Photorhabdus asymbiotica with dual sugar-binding specificity and its effect on host immunity.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {e1006564}, pmid = {28806750}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Base Sequence ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Lectins/chemistry/genetics/*immunology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photorhabdus/genetics/*immunology ; Protein Conformation ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus asymbiotica is one of the three recognized species of the Photorhabdus genus, which consists of gram-negative bioluminescent bacteria belonging to the family Morganellaceae. These bacteria live in a symbiotic relationship with nematodes from the genus Heterorhabditis, together forming a complex that is highly pathogenic for insects. Unlike other Photorhabdus species, which are strictly entomopathogenic, P. asymbiotica is unique in its ability to act as an emerging human pathogen. Analysis of the P. asymbiotica genome identified a novel fucose-binding lectin designated PHL with a strong sequence similarity to the recently described P. luminescens lectin PLL. Recombinant PHL exhibited high affinity for fucosylated carbohydrates and the unusual disaccharide 3,6-O-Me2-Glcβ1-4(2,3-O-Me2)Rhaα-O-(p-C6H4)-OCH2CH2NH2 from Mycobacterium leprae. Based on its crystal structure, PHL forms a seven-bladed β-propeller assembling into a homo-dimer with an inter-subunit disulfide bridge. Investigating complexes with different ligands revealed the existence of two sets of binding sites per monomer-the first type prefers l-fucose and its derivatives, whereas the second type can bind d-galactose. Based on the sequence analysis, PHL could contain up to twelve binding sites per monomer. PHL was shown to interact with all types of red blood cells and insect haemocytes. Interestingly, PHL inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species induced by zymosan A in human blood and antimicrobial activity both in human blood, serum and insect haemolymph. Concurrently, PHL increased the constitutive level of oxidants in the blood and induced melanisation in haemolymph. Our results suggest that PHL might play a crucial role in the interaction of P. asymbiotica with both human and insect hosts.}, } @article {pmid28805962, year = {2017}, author = {Tejada-Jiménez, M and Gil-Díez, P and León-Mediavilla, J and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula Molybdate Transporter type 1 (MtMOT1.3) is a plasma membrane molybdenum transporter required for nitrogenase activity in root nodules under molybdenum deficiency.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {216}, number = {4}, pages = {1223-1235}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14739}, pmid = {28805962}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Molybdenum/*metabolism ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Molybdenum, as a component of the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase, is essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This nutrient has to be provided by the host plant through molybdate transporters. Members of the molybdate transporter family Molybdate Transporter type 1 (MOT1) were identified in the model legume Medicago truncatula and their expression in nodules was determined. Yeast toxicity assays, confocal microscopy, and phenotypical characterization of a Transposable Element from Nicotiana tabacum (Tnt1) insertional mutant line were carried out in the one M. truncatula MOT1 family member specifically expressed in nodules. Among the five MOT1 members present in the M. truncatula genome, MtMOT1.3 is the only one uniquely expressed in nodules. MtMOT1.3 shows molybdate transport capabilities when expressed in yeast. Immunolocalization studies revealed that MtMOT1.3 is located in the plasma membrane of nodule cells. A mot1.3-1 knockout mutant showed impaired growth concomitant with a reduction of nitrogenase activity. This phenotype was rescued by increasing molybdate concentrations in the nutritive solution, or upon addition of an assimilable nitrogen source. Furthermore, mot1.3-1 plants transformed with a functional copy of MtMOT1.3 showed a wild-type-like phenotype. These data are consistent with a model in which MtMOT1.3 is responsible for introducing molybdate into nodule cells, which is later used to synthesize functional nitrogenase.}, } @article {pmid28805544, year = {2017}, author = {Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Robledo, M}, title = {RNA silencing in plant symbiotic bacteria: Insights from a protein-centric view.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {1672-1677}, pmid = {28805544}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Catalysis ; Endoribonucleases/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Silencing ; Metals/metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Extensive work in model enterobacteria has evidenced that the RNA chaperone Hfq and several endoribonucleases, such as RNase E or RNase III, serve pivotal roles in small RNA-mediated post-transcriptional silencing of gene expression. Characterization of these protein hubs commonly provide global functional and mechanistic insights into complex sRNA regulatory networks. The legume endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is a non-classical model bacterium with a very complex lifestyle in which riboregulation is expected to play important adaptive functions. Here, we discuss current knowledge about RNA silencing in S. meliloti from the perspective of the activity of Hfq and a recently discovered endoribonuclease (YbeY) exhibiting unprecedented catalytic versatility for the cleavage of single- and double-stranded RNA molecules.}, } @article {pmid28803096, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, Y and Niu, Q and Wang, S and Ji, J and Zhang, Y and Yang, M and Hojo, T and Li, YY}, title = {Upgrading of the symbiosis of Nitrosomanas and anammox bacteria in a novel single-stage partial nitritation-anammox system: Nitrogen removal potential and Microbial characterization.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {244}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {463-472}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.156}, pmid = {28803096}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Bioreactors ; *Denitrification ; Nitrogen ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A novel single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process equipped with porous functional suspended carriers was developed at 25°C in a CSTR by controlling dissolved oxygen <0.3mg/L. The nitrogen removal performance was almost unchanged over a nitrogen loading rate ranging from 0.5 to 2.5kgNH4[+]-N/m[3]/d with a high nitrogen removal efficiency of 81.1%. The specific activity of AOB and anammox bacteria was of 3.00g-N/g-MLVSS/d (the suspended sludge), 3.56g-N/g-MLVSS/d (the biofilm sludge), respectively. The results of pyrosequencing revealed that Nitrosomonas (5.66%) and Candidatus_Kuenenia (4.95%) were symbiotic in carriers while Nitrosomonas (40.70%) was predominant in the suspended flocs. Besides, two specific types of heterotrophic filamentous bacteria in the suspended flocs (Haliscomenobacter) and the functional carrier biofilm (Longilinea) were shown to confer structural integrity to the aggregates. The novel single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process equipped with functional suspended carriers was shown to have good potential for the nitrogen-rich wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid28802841, year = {2017}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Maire, J and Balmand, S and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Effects of symbiotic status on cellular immunity dynamics in Sitophilus oryzae.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {259-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2017.08.003}, pmid = {28802841}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*immunology ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/*immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Hemocytes/*physiology ; *Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Larva ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Many insects maintain intracellular symbiosis with mutualistic bacteria that improve their adaptive capabilities in nutritionally poor habitats. Adaptation of insect immune systems to such associations has been shown in several symbiotic consortia, including that of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae with the gammaproteobacterium Sodalis pierantonius. Although authors have mostly focused on the role of humoral immunity in host-symbiont interactions, recent studies suggest that symbiotic bacteria may also interfere with the cellular, hemocyte-based, immunity. Here, we have explored hemocyte dynamics in S. oryzae in the presence or absence of S. pierantonius, and in response to bacterial challenges. We have identified five morphotypes within larval hemocytes, whose abundance and morphometry drastically change along insect development. We show that hemocytes make part of the weevil immune system by responding to pathogenic infections. In contrast with previous results on other insect species, however, our analyses did not reveal any symbiotic-dependent modulation of the hemocyte global population.}, } @article {pmid28800136, year = {2017}, author = {Warshan, D and Espinoza, JL and Stuart, RK and Richter, RA and Kim, SY and Shapiro, N and Woyke, T and C Kyrpides, N and Barry, K and Singan, V and Lindquist, E and Ansong, C and Purvine, SO and M Brewer, H and Weyman, PD and Dupont, CL and Rasmussen, U}, title = {Feathermoss and epiphytic Nostoc cooperate differently: expanding the spectrum of plant-cyanobacteria symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {2821-2833}, pmid = {28800136}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Chemotaxis ; Cyanobacteria/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/genetics/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Taiga ; }, abstract = {Dinitrogen (N2)-fixation by cyanobacteria in symbiosis with feathermosses is the primary pathway of biological nitrogen (N) input into boreal forests. Despite its significance, little is known about the cyanobacterial gene repertoire and regulatory rewiring needed for the establishment and maintenance of the symbiosis. To determine gene acquisitions and regulatory changes allowing cyanobacteria to form and maintain this symbiosis, we compared genomically closely related symbiotic-competent and -incompetent Nostoc strains using a proteogenomics approach and an experimental set up allowing for controlled chemical and physical contact between partners. Thirty-two gene families were found only in the genomes of symbiotic strains, including some never before associated with cyanobacterial symbiosis. We identified conserved orthologs that were differentially expressed in symbiotic strains, including protein families involved in chemotaxis and motility, NO regulation, sulfate/phosphate transport, and glycosyl-modifying and oxidative stress-mediating exoenzymes. The physical moss-cyanobacteria epiphytic symbiosis is distinct from other cyanobacteria-plant symbioses, with Nostoc retaining motility, and lacking modulation of N2-fixation, photosynthesis, GS-GOGAT cycle and heterocyst formation. The results expand our knowledge base of plant-cyanobacterial symbioses, provide a model of information and material exchange in this ecologically significant symbiosis, and suggest new currencies, namely nitric oxide and aliphatic sulfonates, may be involved in establishing and maintaining the cyanobacteria-feathermoss symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28800134, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, F and Xu, L and Wang, S and Wang, B and Lou, Q and Lu, M and Sun, J}, title = {Bacterial volatile ammonia regulates the consumption sequence of d-pinitol and d-glucose in a fungus associated with an invasive bark beetle.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {2809-2820}, pmid = {28800134}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Ammonia/analysis/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/*metabolism ; China ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Inositol/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Ophiostomatales/*metabolism ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Interactions among microbial symbionts have multiple roles in the maintenance of insect-microbe symbiosis. However, signals mediating microbial interactions have been scarcely studied. In the classical model system of bark beetles and fungal associates, fungi increase the fitness of insects. However, not all interactions are mutualistic, some of these fungal symbionts compete for sugars with beetle larvae. How this antagonistic effect is alleviated is unknown, and recent research suggests potential roles of bacterial symbionts. Red turpentine beetle (RTB), Dendroctonus valens LeConte, is an invasive pest in China, and it leads to wide spread, catastrophic mortality to Chinese pines. In the symbiotic system formed by RTB, fungi and bacteria, volatiles from predominant bacteria regulate the consumption sequence of carbon sources d-pinitol and d-glucose in the fungal symbiont Leptographium procerum, and appear to alleviate the antagonistic effect from the fungus against RTB larvae. However, active components of these volatiles are unknown. We detected 67 volatiles by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). Seven of them were identified as candidate chemicals mediating bacteria-fungus interactions, among which ammonia made L. procerum consume its secondary carbon source D-pinitol instead of its preferred carbohydrate D-glucose. In conclusion, ammonia regulated the consumption sequence of these two carbon sources in the fungal symbiont.}, } @article {pmid28800133, year = {2018}, author = {Zhao, R and Liu, LX and Zhang, YZ and Jiao, J and Cui, WJ and Zhang, B and Wang, XL and Li, ML and Chen, Y and Xiong, ZQ and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {Adaptive evolution of rhizobial symbiotic compatibility mediated by co-evolved insertion sequences.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {101-111}, pmid = {28800133}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Evolution, Molecular ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mutualism between bacteria and eukaryotes has essential roles in the history of life, but the evolution of their compatibility is poorly understood. Here we show that different Sinorhizobium strains can form either nitrogen-fixing nodules or uninfected pseudonodules on certain cultivated soybeans, while being all effective microsymbionts of some wild soybeans. However, a few well-infected nodules can be found on a commercial soybean using inocula containing a mixed pool of Tn5 insertion mutants derived from an incompatible strain. Reverse genetics and genome sequencing of compatible mutants demonstrated that inactivation of T3SS (type three secretion system) accounted for this phenotypic change. These mutations in the T3SS gene cluster were dominated by parallel transpositions of insertion sequences (ISs) other than the introduced Tn5. This genetic and phenotypic change can also be achieved in an experimental evolution scenario on a laboratory time scale using incompatible wild-type strains as inocula. The ISs acting in the adaptive evolution of Sinorhizobium strains exhibit broader phyletic and replicon distributions than other ISs, and prefer target sequences of low GC% content, a characteristic feature of symbiosis plasmid where T3SS genes are located. These findings suggest an important role of co-evolved ISs in the adaptive evolution of rhizobial compatibility.}, } @article {pmid28799726, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, N and Feng, Z and Zhou, Y and Zhu, H and Yao, Q}, title = {External hyphae of Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198 are less sensitive to low pH than roots in arbuscular mycorrhizae: evidence from axenic culture system.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {649-657}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12573}, pmid = {28799726}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; *Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Hyphae ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The growth of plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be inhibited by low pH; however, it is largely unknown which is more sensitive to low pH. This study aimed to compare the physiological and molecular responses of external hyphae (EH) and roots to low pH in terms of growth, development and functioning. We established AM symbiosis in a two-compartmented system (root compartment, RC; hyphal compartment, HC) using AMF and transformed hairy roots and exposed them to pH 6.5 and/or pH 4.5. The results showed that pH 4.5 significantly decreased root cell viability, while EH at pH 6.5 attenuated the effect. In either RC or HC, pH 4.5 reduced biomass, P content, colonization, ALP activity in roots, and ALP activity and polyphosphate accumulation in EH. GintPT expression in EH was inhibited by pH 4.5 in HC but not in RC. The expression of mycorrhiza-responsive LePTs was significantly reduced by the lower colonization due to decreased pH in either RC or HC, while the expression of non-mycorrhiza-responsive LePTs was not affected. Variation partitioning analysis indicated that EH was less sensitive to low pH than roots. The interactions between roots and EH under low pH stress merit further investigation.}, } @article {pmid28798728, year = {2017}, author = {Sablok, G and Rosselli, R and Seeman, T and van Velzen, R and Polone, E and Giacomini, A and La Porta, N and Geurts, R and Muresu, R and Squartini, A}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobium sullae Type Strain IS123[T] Focusing on the Key Genes for Symbiosis with its Host Hedysarum coronarium L.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1348}, pmid = {28798728}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The prominent feature of rhizobia is their molecular dialogue with plant hosts. Such interaction is enabled by the presence of a series of symbiotic genes encoding for the synthesis and export of signals triggering organogenetic and physiological responses in the plant. The genome of the Rhizobium sullae type strain IS123[T] nodulating the legume Hedysarum coronarium, was sequenced and resulted in 317 scaffolds for a total assembled size of 7,889,576 bp. Its features were compared with those of genomes from rhizobia representing an increasing gradient of taxonomical distance, from a conspecific isolate (Rhizobium sullae WSM1592), to two congeneric cases (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae and Rhizobium etli) and up to different genera within the legume-nodulating taxa. The host plant is of agricultural importance, but, unlike the majority of other domesticated plant species, it is able to survive quite well in the wild. Data showed that that the type strain of R. sullae, isolated from a wild host specimen, is endowed with a richer array of symbiotic genes in comparison to other strains, species or genera of rhizobia that were rescued from domesticated plant ecotypes. The analysis revealed that the bacterium by itself is incapable of surviving in the extreme conditions that its host plant can tolerate. When exposed to drought or alkaline condition, the bacterium depends on its host to survive. Data are consistent with the view of the plant phenotype as the primary factor enabling symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria to survive in otherwise limiting environments.}, } @article {pmid28798489, year = {2017}, author = {Cui, Y and Jin, L and Ko, SR and Chun, SJ and Oh, HS and Lee, CS and Srivastava, A and Oh, HM and Ahn, CY}, title = {Periphyton effects on bacterial assemblages and harmful cyanobacterial blooms in a eutrophic freshwater lake: a mesocosm study.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {7827}, pmid = {28798489}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Chlorophyll A/analysis ; Cyanobacteria/*growth & development ; DNA, Bacterial ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Eutrophication ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lakes/chemistry/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Periphyton/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Water Quality ; }, abstract = {Periphyton comprises a broad range of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms that grow on submerged surfaces in aquatic environments. To investigate the ecological roles of periphyton and their symbiotic bacterial assemblages related to the control of cyanobacterial blooms, mesocosm experiments were performed in a eutrophic lake that is usually infested with harmful cyanobacterial blooms. Our results showed that periphyton, together with their symbionts, reduced Chl-a concentrations (up to 94%), improved water clarity and effectively controlled cyanobacterial blooms in the treatment mesocosm. Planktonic bacterial compositions varied greatly in the pre-bloom/bloom/post-bloom periods in both mesocosms and were mainly influenced by total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) concentrations. The phylum Cyanobacteria was the major component in the water samples until bloom peak, but it was replaced by Actinobacteria in the post-bloom period. However, periphyton niches were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria throughout the experiments, Cyanobacteria proportion being lower. Overall, the results indicated that periphyton and their unique bacterial partners could effectively compete with cyanobacteria and improve water quality. Their underlying interaction mechanism was also suggested to explain how periphyton and their symbionts can reduce cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic water.}, } @article {pmid28797140, year = {2017}, author = {Livne-Luzon, S and Ovadia, O and Weber, G and Avidan, Y and Migael, H and Glassman, SI and Bruns, TD and Shemesh, H}, title = {Small-scale spatial variability in the distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi affects plant performance and fungal diversity.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {20}, number = {9}, pages = {1192-1202}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12816}, pmid = {28797140}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Pinus ; *Plant Roots ; Seedlings ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effects of spatial heterogeneity in negative biological interactions on individual performance and species diversity have been studied extensively. However, little is known about the respective effects involving positive biological interactions, including the symbiosis between plants and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. Using a greenhouse bioassay, we explored how spatial heterogeneity of natural soil inoculum influences the performance of pine seedlings and composition of their root-associated EM fungi. When the inoculum was homogenously distributed, a single EM fungal taxon dominated the roots of most pine seedlings, reducing the diversity of EM fungi at the treatment level, while substantially improving pine seedling performance. In contrast, clumped inoculum allowed the proliferation of several different EM fungi, increasing the overall EM fungal diversity. The most dominant EM fungal taxon detected in the homogeneous treatment was also a highly beneficial mutualist, implying that the trade-off between competitive ability and mutualistic capacity does not always exist.}, } @article {pmid28796363, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, C and Zheng, H and Liu, T and Wang, D and Guo, M}, title = {Physiochemical Properties and Probiotic Survivability of Symbiotic Corn-Based Yogurt-Like Product.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {82}, number = {9}, pages = {2142-2150}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.13823}, pmid = {28796363}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; China ; Fermentation ; Food Handling ; Inulin/analysis/metabolism ; Lactobacillus plantarum/chemistry/*growth & development/metabolism ; Probiotics/*chemistry ; Whey Proteins/analysis/metabolism ; Yogurt/*analysis/microbiology ; Zea mays/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Corn is a major grain produced in northern China. Corn-based functional food products are very limited. In this study, a symbiotic corn-based yogurt-like product was developed. Corn milk was prepared through grinding, extrusion and milling, and hydration processes. Corn extrudate was prepared under the optimized conditions of corn flour particle size <180 μm, moisture content of 15% and extrusion temperature at 130 °C. The corn milk was prepared from 8% corn extrudate suspension and then milled twice with 0.1% glyceryl monostearate and 0.1% sucrose ester as emulsifiers. The corn milk was mixed with sugar (5%), glucose (2%), soy protein isolate (0.75%), inulin (1%), polymerized whey protein (0.3%) and xanthan gum (0.09%) as thickening agents. The mixture was fermented at 35 °C for 6 h using a probiotic starter culture containing L. plantarum. Chemical composition (%) of the symbiotic corn-based yogurt-like product was: total solids (17.13 ± 0.31), protein (1.12 ± 0.03), fat (0.30 ± 0.05), carbohydrates (15.14 ± 0.19), and ash (0.16 ± 0.02), respectively. pH value of this symbiotic product decreased from 4.50 ± 0.03 to 3.88 ± 0.13 and the population of L. plantarum declined from 7.8 ± 0.09 to 7.1 ± 0.14 log CFU/mL during storage at 4 °C. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that there were no changes in protein profile during storage. Texture and consistency were also stable during the period of this study. It can be concluded that a set-type corn-based symbiotic yogurt-like product with good texture and stability was successfully developed that would be a good alternative to the dairy yogurt.}, } @article {pmid28796176, year = {2017}, author = {Lau, K and Srivatsav, V and Rizwan, A and Nashed, A and Liu, R and Shen, R and Akhtar, M}, title = {Bridging the Gap between Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Cardiovascular Diseases.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {28796176}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Atherosclerosis/etiology/therapy ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology/prevention & control ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hypertension/etiology/therapy ; Microbiota/physiology ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The human gut is heavily colonized by a community of microbiota, primarily bacteria, that exists in a symbiotic relationship with the host and plays a critical role in maintaining host homeostasis. The consumption of a high-fat (HF) diet has been shown to induce gut dysbiosis and reduce intestinal integrity. Recent studies have revealed that dysbiosis contributes to the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by promoting two major CVD risk factors-atherosclerosis and hypertension. Imbalances in host-microbial interaction impair homeostatic mechanisms that regulate health and can activate multiple pathways leading to CVD risk factor progression. Dysbiosis has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis through metabolism-independent and metabolite-dependent pathways. This review will illustrate how these pathways contribute to the various stages of atherosclerotic plaque progression. In addition, dysbiosis can promote hypertension through vascular fibrosis and an alteration of vascular tone. As CVD is the number one cause of death globally, investigating the gut microbiota as a locus of intervention presents a novel and clinically relevant avenue for future research, with vast therapeutic potential.}, } @article {pmid28796169, year = {2017}, author = {Sivaprakasam, S and Bhutia, YD and Ramachandran, S and Ganapathy, V}, title = {Cell-Surface and Nuclear Receptors in the Colon as Targets for Bacterial Metabolites and Its Relevance to Colon Health.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {28796169}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {R01 CA190710/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Colon/*microbiology/*physiology ; Humans ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*physiology ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic co-habitation of bacteria in the host colon is mutually beneficial to both partners. While the host provides the place and food for the bacteria to colonize and live, the bacteria in turn help the host in energy and nutritional homeostasis, development and maturation of the mucosal immune system, and protection against inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the molecular mediators of the effective communication between the bacteria and the host, focusing on selective metabolites from the bacteria that serve as messengers to the host by acting through selective receptors in the host colon. These bacterial metabolites include the short-chain fatty acids acetate, propionate, and butyrate, the tryptophan degradation products indole-3-aldehyde, indole-3-acetic, acid and indole-3-propionic acid, and derivatives of endogenous bile acids. The targets for these bacterial products in the host include the cell-surface G-protein-coupled receptors GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109A and the nuclear receptors aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). The chemical communication between these bacterial metabolite messengers and the host targets collectively has the ability to impact metabolism, gene expression, and epigenetics in colonic epithelial cells as well as in mucosal immune cells. The end result, for the most part, is the maintenance of optimal colonic health.}, } @article {pmid28795091, year = {2017}, author = {Ren, K and Xu, L}, title = {Dataset on energy efficiency assessment and measurement method for child-friendly space in cold residential area.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {148-155}, pmid = {28795091}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {The data related in this paper are related to "Environmental-behavior studies of sustainable construction of the third place - based on outdoor environment-behavior cross-feed symbiotic analysis and verification of selective activities" (Ren, 2017) [1]. The dataset was from a field sub-time extended investigation to children of Hohhot West Inner Mongolia Electric Power Community Residential Area in Inner Mongolia of China that belongs to cold region of ID area according to Chinese design code for buildings. This filed data provided descriptive statistics about outdoor time, behavior scale specificity, age exclusivity and self-centeredness for children in different ages (babies, preschool children, school age children). This data provided five measurement elements of child-friendly space and their weight ratio. The field data set is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analyzes.}, } @article {pmid28794950, year = {2017}, author = {Di Lorenzo, F and Palmigiano, A and Duda, KA and Pallach, M and Busset, N and Sturiale, L and Giraud, E and Garozzo, D and Molinaro, A and Silipo, A}, title = {Structure of the Lipopolysaccharide from the Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS285 rfaL Mutant Strain.}, journal = {ChemistryOpen}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {541-553}, pmid = {28794950}, issn = {2191-1363}, abstract = {The importance of the outer membrane and of its main constituent, lipopolysaccharide, in the symbiosis between rhizobia and leguminous host plants has been well studied. Here, the first complete structural characterization of the entire lipopolysaccharide from an O-chain-deficient Bradyrhizobium ORS285 rfaL mutant is achieved by a combination of chemical analysis, NMR spectroscopy, MALDI MS and MS/MS. The lipid A structure is shown to be consistent with previously reported Bradyrhizobium lipid A, that is, a heterogeneous blend of penta- to hepta-acylated species carrying a nonstoichiometric hopanoid unit and possessing very-long-chain fatty acids ranging from 26:0(25-OH) to 32:0(31-OH). The structure of the core oligosaccharide region, fully characterized for the first time here, is revealed to be a nonphosphorylated linear chain with methylated sugar residues, with a heptose residue exclusively present in the outer core region, and with the presence of two singly substituted 3-deoxy-d-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) residues, one of which is located in the outer core region. The lipid A moiety is linked to the core moiety through an uncommon 4-substituted Kdo unit.}, } @article {pmid28794466, year = {2017}, author = {Cavazzini, D and Grossi, G and Levati, E and Vallese, F and Montanini, B and Bolchi, A and Zanotti, G and Ottonello, S}, title = {A family of archaea-like carboxylesterases preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mychorrizal fungus Tuber melanosporum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {7628}, pmid = {28794466}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*enzymology/*physiology ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Catalytic Domain ; Enzyme Stability ; Hot Temperature ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/*physiology ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Folding ; Protein Multimerization ; Static Electricity ; Substrate Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {An increasing number of esterases is being revealed by (meta) genomic sequencing projects, but few of them are functionally/structurally characterized, especially enzymes of fungal origin. Starting from a three-member gene family of secreted putative "lipases/esterases" preferentially expressed in the symbiotic phase of the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum ("black truffle"), we show here that these enzymes (TmelEST1-3) are dimeric, heat-resistant carboxylesterases capable of hydrolyzing various short/medium chain p-nitrophenyl esters. TmelEST2 was the most active (kcat = 2302 s[-1] for p-nitrophenyl-butyrate) and thermally stable (T50 = 68.3 °C), while TmelEST3 was the only one displaying some activity on tertiary alcohol esters. X-ray diffraction analysis of TmelEST2 revealed a classical α/β hydrolase-fold structure, with a network of dimer-stabilizing intermolecular interactions typical of archaea esterases. The predicted structures of TmelEST1 and 3 are overall quite similar to that of TmelEST2 but with some important differences. Most notably, the much smaller volume of the substrate-binding pocket and the more acidic electrostatic surface profile of TmelEST1. This was also the only TmelEST capable of hydrolyzing feruloyl-esters, suggestinng a possible role in root cell-wall deconstruction during symbiosis establishment. In addition to their potential biotechnological interest, TmelESTs raise important questions regarding the evolutionary recruitment of archaea-like enzymes into mesophilic subterranean fungi such as truffles.}, } @article {pmid28792680, year = {2017}, author = {Burghardt, LT and Guhlin, J and Chun, CL and Liu, J and Sadowsky, MJ and Stupar, RM and Young, ND and Tiffin, P}, title = {Transcriptomic basis of genome by genome variation in a legume-rhizobia mutualism.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {21}, pages = {6122-6135}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14285}, pmid = {28792680}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {In the legume-rhizobia mutualism, the benefit each partner derives from the other depends on the genetic identity of both host and rhizobial symbiont. To gain insight into the extent of genome × genome interactions on hosts at the molecular level and to identify potential mechanisms responsible for the variation, we examined host gene expression within nodules (the plant organ where the symbiosis occurs) of four genotypes of Medicago truncatula grown with either Ensifer meliloti or E. medicae symbionts. These host × symbiont combinations show significant variation in nodule and biomass phenotypes. Likewise, combinations differ in their transcriptomes: host, symbiont and host × symbiont affected the expression of 70%, 27% and 21%, respectively, of the approximately 27,000 host genes expressed in nodules. Genes with the highest levels of expression often varied between hosts and/or symbiont strain and include leghemoglobins that modulate oxygen availability and hundreds of Nodule Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptides involved in symbiont differentiation and viability in nodules. Genes with host × symbiont-dependent expression were enriched for functions related to resource exchange between partners (sulphate/iron/amino acid transport and dicarboxylate/amino acid synthesis). These enrichments suggest mechanisms for host control of the currencies of the mutualism. The transcriptome of M. truncatula accession HM101 (A17), the reference genome used for most molecular research, was less affected by symbiont identity than the other hosts. These findings underscore the importance of assessing the molecular basis of variation in ecologically important traits, particularly those involved in biotic interactions, in multiple genetic contexts.}, } @article {pmid28791889, year = {2018}, author = {Greenberg, EF and Vatolin, S}, title = {Symbiotic Origin of Aging.}, journal = {Rejuvenation research}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {225-231}, doi = {10.1089/rej.2017.1973}, pmid = {28791889}, issn = {1557-8577}, mesh = {*Aging ; Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Biological Evolution ; Caloric Restriction ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cellular Senescence ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Mice ; Mitochondria/*genetics/metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Mutation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Normally aging cells are characterized by an unbalanced mitochondrial dynamic skewed toward punctate mitochondria. Genetic and pharmacological manipulation of mitochondrial fission/fusion cycles can contribute to both accelerated and decelerated cellular or organismal aging. In this work, we connect these experimental data with the symbiotic theory of mitochondrial origin to generate new insight into the evolutionary origin of aging. Mitochondria originated from autotrophic α-proteobacteria during an ancient endosymbiotic event early in eukaryote evolution. To expand beyond individual host cells, dividing α-proteobacteria initiated host cell lysis; apoptosis is a product of this original symbiont cell lytic exit program. Over the course of evolution, the host eukaryotic cell attenuated the harmful effect of symbiotic proto-mitochondria, and modern mitochondria are now functionally interdependent with eukaryotic cells; they retain their own circular genomes and independent replication timing. In nondividing differentiated or multipotent eukaryotic cells, intracellular mitochondria undergo repeated fission/fusion cycles, favoring fission as organisms age. The discordance between cellular quiescence and mitochondrial proliferation generates intracellular stress, eventually leading to a gradual decline in host cell performance and age-related pathology. Hence, aging evolved from a conflict between maintenance of a quiescent, nonproliferative state and the evolutionarily conserved propagation program driving the life cycle of former symbiotic organisms: mitochondria.}, } @article {pmid28791535, year = {2017}, author = {Marek-Kozaczuk, M and Wdowiak-Wróbel, S and Kalita, M and Chernetskyy, M and Deryło, K and Tchórzewski, M and Skorupska, A}, title = {Host-dependent symbiotic efficiency of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strains isolated from nodules of Trifolium rubens.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {110}, number = {12}, pages = {1729-1744}, pmid = {28791535}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Trifolium rubens L., commonly known as the red feather clover, is capable of symbiotic interactions with rhizobia. Up to now, no specific symbionts of T. rubens and their symbiotic compatibility with Trifolium spp. have been described. We characterized the genomic diversity of T. rubens symbionts by analyses of plasmid profiles and BOX-PCR. The phylogeny of T. rubens isolates was inferred based on the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA and two core genes (atpD, recA). The nodC phylogeny allowed classification of rhizobia nodulating T. rubens as Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii (Rlt). The symbiotic efficiency of the Rlt isolates was determined on four clover species: T. rubens, T. pratense, T. repens and T. resupinatum. We determined that Rlt strains formed mostly inefficient symbiosis with their native host plant T. rubens and weakly effective (sub-optimal) symbiosis with T. repens and T. pratense. The same Rlt strains were fully compatible in the symbiosis with T. resupinatum. T. rubens did not exhibit strict selectivity in regard to the symbionts and rhizobia closely related to Rhizobium grahamii, Rhizobium galegae and Agrobacterium radiobacter, which did not nodulate Trifolium spp., were found amongst T. rubens nodule isolates.}, } @article {pmid28790992, year = {2017}, author = {Gao, ZM and Zhou, GW and Huang, H and Wang, Y}, title = {The Cyanobacteria-Dominated Sponge Dactylospongia elegans in the South China Sea: Prokaryotic Community and Metagenomic Insights.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1387}, pmid = {28790992}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The South China Sea is a special reservoir of sponges of which prokaryotic communities are less studied. Here, a new record of the sponge Dactylospongia elegans is reported near the coast of Jinqing Island in the South China Sea, and its prokaryotic community is comprehensively investigated. Sponge specimens displayed lower microbial diversity compared with surrounding seawater. At the phylum level, prokaryotic communities were consistently dominated by Proteobacteria, followed by Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Thaumarchaeota, and Poribacteria. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) analysis alternatively showed that the most abundant symbiont was the sponge-specific cyanobacterial species "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum," followed by OTUs belonging to the unidentified Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria. Phylogenetic tree based on 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer regions indicated that the dominated cyanobacterial OTU represented a new clade of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum." More reliable metagenomic data further revealed that poribacterial symbionts were highly abundant and only secondary to the cyanobacterial symbiont. One draft genome for each of the Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria and three poribacterial genomes were extracted from the metagenomes. Among them, genomes affiliated with the Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria were reported for the first time in sponge symbionts. Eukaryotic-like domains were found in all the binned genomes, indicating their potential symbiotic roles with the sponge host. The high quality of the six recovered genomes of sponge symbionts from the sponge D. elegans makes it possible to understand their symbiotic roles and interactions with the sponge host as well as among one another.}, } @article {pmid28789611, year = {2017}, author = {Rich, MK and Courty, PE and Roux, C and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Role of the GRAS transcription factor ATA/RAM1 in the transcriptional reprogramming of arbuscular mycorrhiza in Petunia hybrida.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {589}, pmid = {28789611}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Gene Ontology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*metabolism ; Petunia/*genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Development of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) requires a fundamental reprogramming of root cells for symbiosis. This involves the induction of hundreds of genes in the host. A recently identified GRAS-type transcription factor in Petunia hybrida, ATA/RAM1, is required for the induction of host genes during AM, and for morphogenesis of the fungal endosymbiont. To better understand the role of RAM1 in symbiosis, we set out to identify all genes that depend on activation by RAM1 in mycorrhizal roots.

RESULTS: We have carried out a transcript profiling experiment by RNAseq of mycorrhizal plants vs. non-mycorrhizal controls in wild type and ram1 mutants. The results show that the expression of early genes required for AM, such as the strigolactone biosynthetic genes and the common symbiosis signalling genes, is independent of RAM1. In contrast, genes that are involved at later stages of symbiosis, for example for nutrient exchange in cortex cells, require RAM1 for induction. RAM1 itself is highly induced in mycorrhizal roots together with many other transcription factors, in particular GRAS proteins.

CONCLUSION: Since RAM1 has previously been shown to be directly activated by the common symbiosis signalling pathway through CYCLOPS, we conclude that it acts as an early transcriptional switch that induces many AM-related genes, among them genes that are essential for the development of arbuscules, such as STR, STR2, RAM2, and PT4, besides hundreds of additional RAM1-dependent genes the role of which in symbiosis remains to be explored. Taken together, these results indicate that the defect in the morphogenesis of the fungal arbuscules in ram1 mutants may be an indirect consequence of functional defects in the host, which interfere with nutrient exchange and possibly other functions on which the fungus depends.}, } @article {pmid28787662, year = {2017}, author = {Kelly, S and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {Legume LysM receptors mediate symbiotic and pathogenic signalling.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {152-158}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.06.013}, pmid = {28787662}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Phosphotransferases/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobia symbiosis is coordinated through the production and perception of signal molecules by both partners with legume LysM receptor kinases performing a central role in this process. Receptor complex formation and signalling outputs derived from these are regulated through ligand binding and further modulated by a diverse variety of interactors. The challenge now is to understand the molecular mechanisms of these reported interactors. Recently attributed roles of LysM receptors in the perception of rhizobial exopolysaccharide, distinguishing between pathogens and symbionts, and assembly of root and rhizosphere communities expand on the importance of these receptors. These studies also highlight challenges, such as identification of cognate ligands, formation of responsive receptor complexes and separation of downstream signal transduction pathways.}, } @article {pmid28787601, year = {2017}, author = {Yuval, B}, title = {Symbiosis: Gut Bacteria Manipulate Host Behaviour.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {15}, pages = {R746-R747}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.050}, pmid = {28787601}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Drosophila/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Smell ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria resident in the gut of Drosophila modify the fly's innate chemosensory responses to nutritional stimuli. In effect, the gut microbiome compels the host to forage on food patches that favour particular assemblages of bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28787582, year = {2017}, author = {Roossinck, MJ and Bazán, ER}, title = {Symbiosis: Viruses as Intimate Partners.}, journal = {Annual review of virology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {123-139}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-110615-042323}, pmid = {28787582}, issn = {2327-0578}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA, Viral/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {Viruses must establish an intimate relationship with their hosts and vectors in order to infect, replicate, and disseminate; hence, viruses can be considered as symbionts with their hosts. Symbiotic relationships encompass different lifestyles, including antagonistic (or pathogenic, the most well-studied lifestyle for viruses), commensal (probably the most common lifestyle), and mutualistic (important beneficial partners). Symbiotic relationships can shape the evolution of the partners in a holobiont, and placing viruses in this context provides an important framework for understanding virus-host relationships and virus ecology. Although antagonistic relationships are thought to lead to coevolution, this is not always clear in virus-host interactions, and impacts on evolution may be complex. Commensalism implies a hitchhiking role for viruses-selfish elements just along for the ride. Mutualistic relationships have been described in detail in the past decade, and they reveal how important viruses are in considering host ecology. Ultimately, symbiosis can lead to symbiogenesis, or speciation through fusion, and the presence of large amounts of viral sequence in the genomes of everything from bacteria to humans, including some important functional genes, illustrates the significance of viral symbiogenesis in the evolution of all life on Earth.}, } @article {pmid28787024, year = {2017}, author = {Thinesh, T and Meenatchi, R and Pasiyappazham, R and Jose, PA and Selvan, M and Kiran, GS and Selvin, J}, title = {Short-term in situ shading effectively mitigates linear progression of coral-killing sponge Terpios hoshinota.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {e0182365}, pmid = {28787024}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/growth & development ; Biomass ; Cyanobacteria/physiology ; Introduced Species/statistics & numerical data ; Linear Models ; Porifera/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology/*radiation effects ; *Sunlight ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The coral-killing sponge, Terpios hoshinota is a global invasive species that has conquered coral patches within a short span of time, which has led to a significant decline in living coral cover at various geographical locations. In this study, we surveyed the linear progression and impact of the Terpios invasion on live coral patches along Palk Bay, Indian Ocean, from August 2013 to August 2015. The field inventory revealed an extensive fatality rate of 76% as a result of Terpios outbreak. Experimental findings showed that symbiotic cyanobacteria act as a nutritional factory for the aggressive growth of Terpios. Shading hypothetically impairs the nutritional symbiont of the invasive species: the effect of sunlight on cyanobacterial biomass and its influence on Terpios progression over live coral patches was tested through in situ shading experiments. This study showed that artificial shading with cotton fabric could effectively mitigate sponge growth on live coral without affecting coral homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid28786121, year = {2018}, author = {Marrou, H and Ricaurte, JJ and Ghanem, ME and Clavijo Michelangeli, JA and Ghaouti, L and Rao, IM and Sinclair, TR}, title = {Is nitrogen accumulation in grain legumes responsive to growth or ontogeny?.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {162}, number = {1}, pages = {109-122}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12617}, pmid = {28786121}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Biomass ; Edible Grain/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Flowers/physiology ; Genotype ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Seeds/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) accumulation in legumes is one of the main determinants of crop yield. Although N accumulation from symbiotic nitrogen fixation or N absorption from the soil has been widely investigated, there is no clear consensus on timing of the beginning of N accumulation and the termination of N accumulation and the physiological events that may be associated with these two events. The analyses conducted in this study aimed at identifying the determinant of N accumulation in two grain legume species. Nitrogen accumulation dynamics and mass accumulation and development stages were recorded in the field for several genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and faba bean (Vicia faba) under different growing conditions. This study showed that during the vegetative stages, N accumulation rate was correlated with mass accumulation rate. However, the maximum accumulation of N did not correspond to the time of the maximum mass accumulation. In fact, for both species, N accumulation was found to persist in seed growth. This challenges a common hypothesis that seed growth causes a decrease in N accumulation because of a shift of the photosynthate supply to support the seed growth. Even more surprising was the shift of the active accumulation of N in faba bean to late in the growing season as compared with common bean. N accumulation by faba bean only was initiated at high rates very late in vegetative growth and persisted at high rates well into seed fill.}, } @article {pmid28785970, year = {2017}, author = {Lanier, KA and Petrov, AS and Williams, LD}, title = {The Central Symbiosis of Molecular Biology: Molecules in Mutualism.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {85}, number = {1-2}, pages = {8-13}, pmid = {28785970}, issn = {1432-1432}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; *Origin of Life ; Proteins/*metabolism ; RNA/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As illustrated by the mitochondrion and the eukaryotic cell, little in biology makes sense except in light of mutualism. Mutualisms are persistent, intimate, and reciprocal exchanges; an organism proficient in obtaining certain benefits confers those on a partner, which reciprocates by conferring different benefits. Mutualisms (i) increase fitness, (ii) inspire robustness, (iii) are resilient and resistant to change, (iv) sponsor co-evolution, (v) foster innovation, and (vi) involve partners that are distantly related with contrasting yet complementary proficiencies. Previous to this work, mutualisms were understood to operate on levels of cells, organisms, ecosystems, and even societies and economies. Here, the concepts of mutualism are extended to molecules and are seen to apply to the relationship between RNA and protein. Polynucleotide and polypeptide are Molecules in Mutualism. RNA synthesizes protein in the ribosome and protein synthesizes RNA in polymerases. RNA and protein are codependent, and trade proficiencies. Protein has proficiency in folding into complex three-dimensional states, contributing enzymes, fibers, adhesives, pumps, pores, switches, and receptors. RNA has proficiency in direct molecular recognition, achieved by complementary base pairing interactions, which allow it to maintain, record, and transduce information. The large phylogenetic distance that characterizes partnerships in organismal mutualism has close analogy with large distance in chemical space between RNA and protein. The RNA backbone is anionic and self-repulsive and cannot form hydrophobic structural cores. The protein backbone is neutral and cohesive and commonly forms hydrophobic cores. Molecules in Mutualism extends beyond RNA and protein. A cell is a consortium of molecules in which nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides, phospholipids, and other molecules form a mutualism consortium that drives metabolism and replication. Analogies are found in systems such as stromatolites, which are large consortia of symbiotic organisms. It seems reasonable to suggest that 'polymers in mutualism relationships' is a useful and predictive definition of life.}, } @article {pmid28785515, year = {2017}, author = {Flechas, SV and Blasco-Zúñiga, A and Merino-Viteri, A and Ramírez-Castañeda, V and Rivera, M and Amézquita, A}, title = {The effect of captivity on the skin microbial symbionts in three Atelopus species from the lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3594}, pmid = {28785515}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Many amphibian species are at risk of extinction in their natural habitats due to the presence of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). For the most highly endangered species, captive assurance colonies have been established as an emergency measure to avoid extinction. Experimental research has suggested that symbiotic microorganisms in the skin of amphibians play a key role against Bd. While previous studies have addressed the effects of captivity on the cutaneous bacterial community, it remains poorly studied whether and how captive conditions affect the proportion of beneficial bacteria or their anti-Bd performance on amphibian hosts. In this study we sampled three amphibian species of the highly threatened genus, Atelopus, that remain in the wild but are also part of ex situ breeding programs in Colombia and Ecuador. Our goals were to (1) estimate the diversity of culturable bacterial assemblages in these three species of Atelopus, (2) describe the effect of captivity on the composition of skin microbiota, and (3) examine how captivity affects the bacterial ability to inhibit Bd growth. Using challenge assays we tested each bacterial isolate against Bd, and through sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we identified species from thirteen genera of bacteria that inhibited Bd growth. Surprisingly, we did not detect a reduction in skin bacteria diversity in captive frogs. Moreover, we found that frogs in captivity still harbor bacteria with anti-Bd activity. Although the scope of our study is limited to a few species and to the culturable portion of the bacterial community, our results indicate that captive programs do not necessarily change bacterial communities of the toad skins in a way that impedes the control of Bd in case of an eventual reintroduction.}, } @article {pmid28785256, year = {2017}, author = {French, KE}, title = {Engineering Mycorrhizal Symbioses to Alter Plant Metabolism and Improve Crop Health.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1403}, pmid = {28785256}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Creating sustainable bioeconomies for the 21st century relies on optimizing the use of biological resources to improve agricultural productivity and create new products. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (phylum Glomeromycota) form symbiotic relationships with over 80% of vascular plants. In return for carbon, these fungi improve plant health and tolerance to environmental stress. This symbiosis is over 400 million years old and there are currently over 200 known arbuscular mycorrhizae, with dozens of new species described annually. Metagenomic sequencing of native soil communities, from species-rich meadows to mangroves, suggests biologically diverse habitats support a variety of mycorrhizal species with potential agricultural, medical, and biotechnological applications. This review looks at the effect of mycorrhizae on plant metabolism and how we can harness this symbiosis to improve crop health. I will first describe the mechanisms that underlie this symbiosis and what physiological, metabolic, and environmental factors trigger these plant-fungal relationships. These include mycorrhizal manipulation of host genetic expression, host mitochondrial and plastid proliferation, and increased production of terpenoids and jasmonic acid by the host plant. I will then discuss the effects of mycorrhizae on plant root and foliar secondary metabolism. I subsequently outline how mycorrhizae induce three key benefits in crops: defense against pathogen and herbivore attack, drought resistance, and heavy metal tolerance. I conclude with an overview of current efforts to harness mycorrhizal diversity to improve crop health through customized inoculum. I argue future research should embrace synthetic biology to create mycorrhizal chasses with improved symbiotic abilities and potentially novel functions to improve plant health. As the effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance increase, the global diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi should be monitored and protected to ensure this important agricultural and biotechnological resource for the future.}, } @article {pmid28784527, year = {2017}, author = {Mao, Y and Wei, B and Teng, J and Huang, L and Xia, N}, title = {Analyses of fungal community by Illumina MiSeq platforms and characterization of Eurotium species on Liupao tea, a distinctive post-fermented tea from China.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {99}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {641-649}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2017.06.032}, pmid = {28784527}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {Aspergillus/isolation & purification ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; China ; Eurotium/*isolation & purification ; *Fermentation ; Fungi ; *Mycobiome ; Sequence Analysis/*methods ; Tea/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Liupao tea is a distinctive Chinese dark tea obtained by indigenous tea fermentation facilitated by the symbiotic association of bacteria and fungi. The composition of fungal community in 4 Liupao tea samples stored for several years under natural microbial fermentation was evaluated by MiSeq sequencing. Taxonomic analysis revealed 3 phyla, 6 families, 8 genera. The genera Eurotium and Aspergillus were dominant fungi in almost all the samples. A total of 85 strains found in 41 other tea samples were species of Eurotium. amstelodami, Eurotium. niveoglaucum, Eurotium. repens, Eurotium. rubrum, Eurotium. tonophilum and Eurotium. cristatum by culture-dependent method. Of these species, E. repens, E. rubrum and E. tonophilum have not been previously associated with Liupao tea. This report is the first to reveal fungal flora composition using Illumina-based sequencing and provide useful information for relevant studies on the isolation of Eurotium species in Liupao tea. The predominant molds are Eurotium species, and the comparison of fungal diversity in dark teas is worth considering. The taxonomic analysis of the microbial community would also aid the further study of functional genes and metabolic pathways of Liupao tea fermentation.}, } @article {pmid28783599, year = {2017}, author = {Shahabivand, S and Parvaneh, A and Aliloo, AA}, title = {Root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica affected growth, cadmium partitioning and chlorophyll fluorescence of sunflower under cadmium toxicity.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {145}, number = {}, pages = {496-502}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.07.064}, pmid = {28783599}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*growth & development ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/metabolism/*toxicity ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Fluorescence ; Fluorometry ; Helianthus/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Nigeria ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) pollution in the soil threatens the quality of environmental health, and deleteriously affects physiological activities of crops. Symbiosis of endophytic fungi with various plants is a promising manner to improving numerous plant characteristics and remediating heavy metal-polluted soils. In this pot experiment, the influence of root endophyte fungus Piriformospora indica on growth, physiological parameters and organs Cd accumulation in sunflower cv. Zaria plants under the toxic levels of Cd (0, 40, 80 and 120mg/kg soil) were studied. Increasing Cd concentration in the soil reduced growth parameters, chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b contents, and Fv/Fm and ETR (electron transport rate) values, but increased root, stem and leaf Cd accumulation, and proline content. The presence of P. indica significantly enhanced growth, Chl a, Chl b and proline contents, and Fv/Fm and ETR values. Compared to non-inoculated ones, P. indica-inoculated plants had higher Cd accumulation in root, whereas lower Cd accumulation in stem and leaf. The present study strongly supports the established ability of P. indica to alleviate Cd toxicity by improving the physiological status in sunflower. Furthermore, this endophyte fungus can be useful for Cd phyto-stabilization in sunflower roots in contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid28782719, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, W and Shi, J and Xie, Q and Jiang, Y and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {Nutrient Exchange and Regulation in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {1147-1158}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2017.07.012}, pmid = {28782719}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Metals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These are the most common and widespread terrestrial plant symbioses, which have a global impact on plant mineral nutrition. The establishment of AM symbiosis involves recognition of the two partners and bidirectional transport of different mineral and carbon nutrients through the symbiotic interfaces within the host root cells. Intriguingly, recent discoveries have highlighted that lipids are transferred from the plant host to AM fungus as a major carbon source. In this review, we discuss the transporter-mediated transfer of carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and sulfate, and present hypotheses pertaining to the potential regulatory mechanisms of nutrient exchange in AM symbiosis. Current challenges and future perspectives on AM symbiosis research are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid28782552, year = {2017}, author = {Cunning, R and Muller, EB and Gates, RD and Nisbet, RM}, title = {A dynamic bioenergetic model for coral-Symbiodinium symbioses and coral bleaching as an alternate stable state.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {431}, number = {}, pages = {49-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.08.003}, pmid = {28782552}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biomass ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Energy Metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Seasons ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems owe their ecological success - and vulnerability to climate change - to the symbiotic metabolism of corals and Symbiodinium spp. The urgency to understand and predict the stability and breakdown of these symbioses (i.e., coral 'bleaching') demands the development and application of theoretical tools. Here, we develop a dynamic bioenergetic model of coral-Symbiodinium symbioses that demonstrates realistic steady-state patterns in coral growth and symbiont abundance across gradients of light, nutrients, and feeding. Furthermore, by including a mechanistic treatment of photo-oxidative stress, the model displays dynamics of bleaching and recovery that can be explained as transitions between alternate stable states. These dynamics reveal that "healthy" and "bleached" states correspond broadly to nitrogen- and carbon-limitation in the system, with transitions between them occurring as integrated responses to multiple environmental factors. Indeed, a suite of complex emergent behaviors reproduced by the model (e.g., bleaching is exacerbated by nutrients and attenuated by feeding) suggests it captures many important attributes of the system; meanwhile, its modular framework and open source R code are designed to facilitate further problem-specific development. We see significant potential for this modeling framework to generate testable hypotheses and predict integrated, mechanistic responses of corals to environmental change, with important implications for understanding the performance and maintenance of symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid28781540, year = {2017}, author = {Padilla-Guerrero, IE and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Agrobacterium-Mediated Co-transformation of Multiple Genes in Metarhizium robertsii.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {84-89}, pmid = {28781540}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Fungi of the Metarhizium genus are a very versatile model for understanding pathogenicity in insects and their symbiotic relationship with plants. To establish a co-transformation system for the transformation of multiple M. robertsii genes using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, we evaluated whether the antibiotic nourseothricin has the same marker selection efficiency as phosphinothricin using separate vectors. Subsequently, in the two vectors containing the nourseothricin and phosphinothricin resistance cassettes were inserted eGFP and mCherry expression cassettes, respectively. These new vectors were then introduced independently into A. tumefaciens and used to transform M. robertsii either in independent events or in one single co-transformation event using an equimolar mixture of A. tumefaciens cultures. The number of transformants obtained by co-transformation was similar to that obtained by the individual transformation events. This method provides an additional strategy for the simultaneous insertion of multiple genes into M. robertsii.}, } @article {pmid28781100, year = {2017}, author = {Ojha, A and Tak, N and Rathi, S and Chouhan, B and Rao, SR and Barik, SK and Joshi, SR and Sprent, JS and James, EK and Gehlot, HS}, title = {Molecular characterization of novel Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating Eriosema chinense and Flemingia vestita, important unexplored native legumes of the sub-Himalayan region (Meghalaya) of India.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, pages = {334-344}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.06.003}, pmid = {28781100}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*cytology/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Environment ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Genome, Bacterial ; India ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Root nodule bacterial strains were isolated from the little-studied legumes Eriosema chinense and Flemingia vestita (both in tribe Phaseoleae, Papilionoideae) growing in acidic soil of the sub-Himalayan region of the Indian state of Meghalaya (ME), and were identified as novel strains of Bradyrhizobium on the basis of their 16S rRNA sequences. Seven isolates selected on the basis of phenotypic characters and assessment of ARDRA and RAPD patterns were subjected to multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using four protein-coding housekeeping genes (glnII, recA, dnaK and gyrB). On the basis of 16S rRNA phylogeny as well as a concatenated MLSA five strains clustered in a single separate clade and two strains formed novel lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium. The phylogenies of the symbiotic genes (nodA and nifH) were in agreement with the core gene phylogenies. It appears that genetically diverse Bradyrhizobium strains are the principal microsymbionts of these two important native legumes. The novel genotypes of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated in the present study efficiently nodulate the Phaseoloid crop species Glycine max, Vigna radiata and Vigna umbellata. These strains are genetically different from strains of Bradyrhizobium isolated earlier from a different agro-climatic region of India suggesting that the acidic nature of the soil, high precipitation and other local environmental conditions are responsible for the evolution of these newly-described Bradyrhizobium strains. In global terms, the sub-Himalayan region of India is geographically and climatically distinct and the Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating its legumes appear to be novel and potentially unique to the region.}, } @article {pmid28779349, year = {2017}, author = {Yeung, EC}, title = {A perspective on orchid seed and protocorm development.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {33}, pmid = {28779349}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {This perspective draws attention to the functional organization of orchid seed and protocorm during the course of development. The orchid embryos have a well-organized developmental plan generating a blue-print of a protocorm as they mature. The different phases of embryo development in orchids, i.e. histodifferentiation, storage product synthesis and accumulation, and maturation are essentially similar to other flowering plants. The protocorm is considered as a unique structure designed to establish symbiotic association with mycorrhizal fungi and with the primary goal to form a shoot apical meristem. This perspective brings forth arguments that the processes of embryo and protocorm development are highly programmed events, enhancing survival of orchid seeds and plantlets in their natural habitats. Furthermore, the ability of protocorm cells to divide, makes them ideal explants for micropropagation and transformation studies. Through seed germination and micropropagation using protocorms as explants, orchid conservation efforts are greatly enhanced.}, } @article {pmid28779313, year = {2017}, author = {Szklarzewicz, T and Michalik, A}, title = {Transovarial Transmission of Symbionts in Insects.}, journal = {Results and problems in cell differentiation}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {43-67}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-60855-6_3}, pmid = {28779313}, issn = {0080-1844}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Fat Body/cytology/microbiology ; Female ; Hemolymph/cytology/microbiology ; Insecta/*anatomy & histology/cytology/*microbiology ; Ovary/cytology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects, on account of their unbalanced diet, live in obligate symbiotic associations with microorganisms (bacteria or yeast-like symbionts), which provide them with substances missing in the food they consume. In the body of host insect, symbiotic microorganisms may occur intracellularly (e.g., in specialized cells of mesodermal origin termed bacteriocytes, in fat body cells, in midgut epithelium) or extracellularly (e.g., in hemolymph, in midgut lumen). As a rule, symbionts are vertically transmitted to the next generation. In most insects, symbiotic microorganisms are transferred from mother to offspring transovarially within female germ cells. The results of numerous ultrastructural and molecular studies on symbiotic systems in different groups of insects have shown that they have a large diversity of symbiotic microorganisms and different strategies of their transmission from one generation to the next. This chapter reviews the modes of transovarial transmission of symbionts between generations in insects.}, } @article {pmid28779294, year = {2018}, author = {Sousa, NMF and Veresoglou, SD and Oehl, F and Rillig, MC and Maia, LC}, title = {Predictors of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in the Brazilian Tropical Dry Forest.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {447-458}, pmid = {28779294}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Altitude ; Biodiversity ; Brazil ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Mycobiome ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi with a broad distribution, and many taxa have physiological and ecological adaptations to specific environments, including semiarid ecosystems. Our aim was to address regional distribution patterns of AMF communities in such semiarid environments based on spore morphological techniques. We assessed AMF spores at the bottom and top of inselbergs distributed throughout the tropical dry forest in the Northeast region of Brazil. Across 10 replicate inselbergs and the surrounding area, spanning a range of altitude between 140 and 2000 m, we scored the AMF soil diversity and properties in 52 plots. We fitted parsimonious ordination analyses and variance partitioning models to determine the environmental factors which explained the variation in AMF community, based on morphological spore analysis. The diversity of AMF was similar at the bottom and top of inselbergs; however, we detected high variation in abundance and richness across sites. We formulated a parsimonious richness model that used physical soil factors as predictors. The AMF community structure could be best explained through the variables coarse and total sand, iron, organic matter, potassium, silt, and sodium which together accounted for 17.8% of total variance. Several AMF species were indicators of either deficiency or high values of specific soil properties. We demonstrated that habitat isolation of the inselbergs compared with surrounding areas did not trigger differences in AMF communities in semiarid regions of Brazil. At the regional scale, soil predictors across sites drove the distribution of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid28779286, year = {2017}, author = {Biasucci, LM and La Rosa, G and Pedicino, D and D'Aiello, A and Galli, M and Liuzzo, G}, title = {Where Does Inflammation Fit?.}, journal = {Current cardiology reports}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {84}, pmid = {28779286}, issn = {1534-3170}, mesh = {Acute Coronary Syndrome/*etiology ; Atherosclerosis/complications/immunology ; Autophagy ; Coronary Artery Disease/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Heart Failure/*etiology ; Humans ; Inflammasomes/physiology ; Inflammation/*complications/immunology ; Macrophages/cytology ; Myocardial Ischemia/etiology ; Oxidative Stress ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on the complex relationship between inflammation and the onset of acute coronary syndrome and heart failure.

RECENT FINDINGS: In the last few years, two important lines of research brought new and essential information to light in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome: a) the understanding of the immune mediate mechanisms of inflammation in Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and b) evidence that the inflammatory mechanisms associated with atherosclerosis and its complications can be modulated by anti-inflammatory molecules. A large amount of data also suggests that inflammation is a major component in the development and exacerbation of heart failure (HF), in a symbiotic relationship. In particular, recent evidence underlies peculiar aspects of the phenomenon: oxidative stress and autophagy; DAMPS and TLR-4 signaling activation; different macrophages lineage and the contribution of NLRP-3 inflammasome; adaptive immune system. A possible explanation that could unify the pathogenic mechanism of these different conditions is the rising evidence that increased bowel permeability may allow translation of gut microbioma product into the circulation. These findings clearly establish the role of inflammation as the great trigger for two of the major cardiovascular causes of death and morbidity. Further studies are needed, to better clarify the issue and to define more targeted approaches to reduce pathological inflammation while preserving the physiological one.}, } @article {pmid28778893, year = {2017}, author = {Siarot, L and Toyazaki, H and Hidaka, M and Kurumisawa, K and Hirakawa, T and Morohashi, K and Aono, T}, title = {A Novel Regulatory Pathway for K[+] Uptake in the Legume Symbiont Azorhizobium caulinodans in Which TrkJ Represses the kdpFABC Operon at High Extracellular K[+] Concentrations.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {19}, pages = {}, pmid = {28778893}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Operon ; Phylogeny ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria have multiple K[+] uptake systems. Escherichia coli, for example, has three types of K[+] uptake systems, which include the low-K[+]-inducible KdpFABC system and two constitutive systems, Trk (TrkAG and TrkAH) and Kup. Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a rhizobium that forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on the stems and roots of Sesbania rostrata, also has three types of K[+] uptake systems. Through phylogenetic analysis, we found that A. caulinodans has two genes homologous to trkG and trkH, designated trkI and trkJ We also found that trkI is adjacent to trkA in the genome and these two genes are transcribed as an operon; however, trkJ is present at a distinct locus. Our results demonstrated that trkAI, trkJ, and kup were expressed in the wild-type stem nodules, whereas kdpFABC was not. Interestingly, Δkup and Δkup ΔkdpA mutants formed Fix[-] nodules, while the Δkup ΔtrkA ΔtrkI ΔtrkJ mutant formed Fix[+] nodules, suggesting that with the additional deletion of Trk system genes in the Δkup mutant, Fix[+] nodule phenotypes were recovered. kdpFABC of the Δkup ΔtrkJ mutant was expressed in stem nodules, but not in the free-living state, under high-K[+] conditions. However, kdpFABC of the Δkup ΔtrkA ΔtrkI ΔtrkJ mutant was highly expressed even under high-K[+] conditions. The cytoplasmic K[+] levels in the Δkup ΔtrkA ΔtrkI mutant, which did not express kdpFABC under high-K[+] conditions, were markedly lower than those in the Δkup ΔtrkA ΔtrkI ΔtrkJ mutant. Taking all these results into consideration, we propose that TrkJ is involved in the repression of kdpFABC in response to high external K[+] concentrations and that the TrkAI system is unable to function in stem nodules.IMPORTANCE K[+] is a major cytoplasmic cation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Bacteria have multiple K[+] uptake systems to control the cytoplasmic K[+] levels. In many bacteria, the K[+] uptake system KdpFABC is expressed under low-K[+] conditions. For years, many researchers have argued over how bacteria sense K[+] concentrations. Although KdpD of Escherichia coli is known to sense both cytoplasmic and extracellular K[+] concentrations, the detailed mechanism of K[+] sensing is still unclear. In this study, we propose that the transmembrane TrkJ protein of Azorhizobium caulinodans acts as a sensor for the extracellular K[+] concentration and that high extracellular K[+] concentrations repress the expression of KdpFABC via TrkJ.}, } @article {pmid28778889, year = {2017}, author = {Lu, M and Jiao, S and Gao, E and Song, X and Li, Z and Hao, X and Rensing, C and Wei, G}, title = {Transcriptome Response to Heavy Metals in Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 Reveals New Metal Resistance Determinants That Also Promote Bioremediation by Medicago lupulina in Metal-Contaminated Soil.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {20}, pages = {}, pmid = {28778889}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Copper/*metabolism ; Medicago/metabolism/*microbiology ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of the highly metal-resistant Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 and Medicago lupulina has been considered an efficient tool for bioremediation of heavy metal-polluted soils. However, the metal resistance mechanisms of S. meliloti CCNWSX00200 have not been elucidated in detail. Here we employed a comparative transcriptome approach to analyze the defense mechanisms of S. meliloti CCNWSX00200 against Cu or Zn exposure. Six highly upregulated transcripts involved in Cu and Zn resistance were identified through deletion mutagenesis, including genes encoding a multicopper oxidase (CueO), an outer membrane protein (Omp), sulfite oxidoreductases (YedYZ), and three hypothetical proteins (a CusA-like protein, a FixH-like protein, and an unknown protein), and the corresponding mutant strains showed various degrees of sensitivity to multiple metals. The Cu-sensitive mutant (ΔcueO) and three mutants that were both Cu and Zn sensitive (ΔyedYZ, ΔcusA-like, and ΔfixH-like) were selected for further study of the effects of these metal resistance determinants on bioremediation. The results showed that inoculation with the ΔcueO mutant severely inhibited infection establishment and nodulation of M. lupulina under Cu stress, while inoculation with the ΔyedYZ and ΔfixH-like mutants decreased just the early infection frequency and nodulation under Cu and Zn stresses. In contrast, inoculation with the ΔcusA-like mutant almost led to loss of the symbiotic capacity of M. lupulina to even grow in uncontaminated soil. Moreover, the antioxidant enzyme activity and metal accumulation in roots of M. lupulina inoculated with all mutants were lower than those with the wild-type strain. These results suggest that heavy metal resistance determinants may promote bioremediation by directly or indirectly influencing formation of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis.IMPORTANCE Rhizobium-legume symbiosis has been promoted as an appropriate tool for bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. Considering the plant-growth-promoting traits and survival advantage of metal-resistant rhizobia in contaminated environments, more heavy metal-resistant rhizobia and genetically manipulated strains were investigated. In view of the genetic diversity of metal resistance determinants in rhizobia, their effects on phytoremediation by the rhizobium-legume symbiosis must be different and depend on their specific assigned functions. Our work provides a better understanding of the mechanism of heavy metal resistance determinants involved in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, and in further studies, genetically modified rhizobia harboring effective heavy metal resistance determinants may be engineered for the practical application of rhizobium-legume symbiosis for bioremediation in metal-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid28776757, year = {2017}, author = {Mimura, MAM and Borra, RC and Hirata, CHW and de Oliveira Penido, N}, title = {Immune response of patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis challenged with a symbiotic.}, journal = {Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology}, volume = {46}, number = {9}, pages = {821-828}, doi = {10.1111/jop.12621}, pmid = {28776757}, issn = {1600-0714}, mesh = {Adult ; Bifidobacterium ; Female ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligosaccharides/therapeutic use ; Recurrence ; Stomatitis, Aphthous/*immunology/therapy ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: There are indications that Th1 polarization of immune response plays an important role in the pathogenesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), and that the use of probiotics can stimulate immune regulatory activity, influencing the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to characterize the initial immune profile of RAS patients and evaluate clinical and serological response following a challenge with symbiotic treatment containing fructooligosaccharide, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium.

METHODS: The immune responses of the 45 patients with RAS, submitted to symbiotic or placebo for 120 days, in relation to 30 RAS-free controls, were evaluated over a period of 6 months. Peripheral blood was collected from all patients at 0 (T0), 120 (T4), and 180 days (T6) after the start of treatment and Th1 (IL12-p70, IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4), Treg (IL-10), Th17 (IL-17A), inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6)-associated cytokines, and clinical parameters were quantified.

RESULTS: At T0, significant differences were found in the serological levels of the IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-6 cytokines of the RAS patients in comparison with the controls. It was observed that the cytokine profile of the RAS group was comprised of 2 distinct clusters: a pure Th2 and a Mixed (Th1/Th2) subtype and that symbiotic treatment induced an improvement in pain and an increase in IFN-γ levels, producing a reduction in Th2 response.

CONCLUSIONS: In RAS, symbiotic treatment based on a fructooligosaccharide, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium composition produced an alteration in the Th2 serological immune profile in the direction of Th1 and improved pain symptomatology.}, } @article {pmid28775791, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, K and Gan, HM}, title = {A glimpse into the genetic basis of symbiosis between Hydrogenophaga and their helper strains in the biodegradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {77-82}, pmid = {28775791}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {We report the whole genome sequences of Hydrogenophaga intermedia S1 and Agrobacterium radiobacter S2, the first reported bacterial co-culture capable of degrading 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (4-ABS), a recalcitrant industrial waste product. To gain insights into the genetic basis for the syntrophic interaction between this symbiotic pair and also another recently reported Hydrogenophaga associated co-culture, Hydrogenophaga sp. PBC and Ralstonia sp. PBA, we performed detailed genetic analysis of these four strains focusing on the metabolic pathways associated with biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA), and protocatechuate metabolism. Both assembled Hydrogenophaga draft genomes are missing a majority of the genetic components associated in the biosynthetic pathway of pABA and biotin. Interestingly, a fused pABA synthase was found in R. sp PBA but not in A. radiobacter S2. Furthermore, using whole genome data, the taxonomic classification of R. sp. PBA and A. radiobacter S2 (both previously inferred from 16S rRNA gene) was re-investigated, providing new evidence to propose for their re-classification at the genus and species level, respectively.}, } @article {pmid28775390, year = {2017}, author = {Chibeba, AM and Kyei-Boahen, S and Guimarães, MF and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Isolation, characterization and selection of indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains with outstanding symbiotic performance to increase soybean yields in Mozambique.}, journal = {Agriculture, ecosystems & environment}, volume = {246}, number = {}, pages = {291-305}, pmid = {28775390}, issn = {0167-8809}, abstract = {Soybean inoculation with effective rhizobial strains makes unnecessary the use of N-fertilizers in the tropics. A frequently reported problem is the failure of the inoculant strains to overcome the competition imposed by indigenous rhizobial populations. The screening of indigenous rhizobia, already adapted to local conditions, searching for highly effective strains for use as inoculants represents a promising strategy in overcoming inoculation failure. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize indigenous rhizobia and to identify strains that hold potential to be included in inoculant formulations for soybean production, with both promiscuous and non-promiscuous soybean cultivars, in Mozambican agro-climatic conditions. A total of 105 isolates obtained from nodules of promiscuous soybean grown at 15 sites were screened for N2-fixation effectiveness in the greenhouse along with five commercial strains. Eighty-seven isolates confirmed the ability to form effective nodules on soybean and were used for genetic characterization by rep-PCR (BOX) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and also for symbiotic effectiveness. BOX-PCR fingerprinting revealed remarkable genetic diversity, with 41 clusters formed, considering a similarity level of 65%. The 16S rRNA analysis assigned the isolates to the genera Bradyrhizobium (75%) and Agrobacterium/Rhizobium (25%). Great variability in symbiotic effectiveness was detected among the indigenous rhizobia from Mozambique, with ten isolates performing better than the commercial strain B. diazoefficiens USDA 110, the best reference strain, and 51 isolates with lower performance than all reference strains. Thirteen of the best isolates from the first greenhouse trial were evaluated, along with the five commercial strains, in two promiscuous (TGx 1963-3F and TGx 1835-10E) and one non-promiscuous (BRS 284) soybean cultivars in a second greenhouse trial. In general the promiscous soybeans responded better to inoculation. The 13 isolates were also characterized for tolerance to acidity and alkalinity (pH 3.5 and 9.0, respectively), salinity (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mol L[-1] of NaCl) and high temperatures (35, 40 and 45 °C) in vitro. Five isolates, three (Moz 4, Moz 19 and Moz 22) belonging to the superclade B. elkanii and two (Moz 27 and Moz 61) assigned to the superclade B. japonicum, consistently showed high symbiotic effectiveness, suggesting that the inoculation with indigenous rhizobia adapted to local conditions represents a possible strategy for increasing soybean yields in Mozambique. Phylogenetic position of the five elite isolates was confirmed by the MLSA with four protein-coding housekeeping genes, dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA.}, } @article {pmid28775093, year = {2017}, author = {Juel, J and Harving, F and Pareek, M}, title = {Symbiotic lymph node metastasis from breast cancer and melanoma.}, journal = {BMJ case reports}, volume = {2017}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28775093}, issn = {1757-790X}, mesh = {Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms/complications/*pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; *Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes/*pathology/*surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Melanoma/complications/*pathology ; }, } @article {pmid28771869, year = {2017}, author = {Fernández-Mendoza, F and Fleischhacker, A and Kopun, T and Grube, M and Muggia, L}, title = {ITS1 metabarcoding highlights low specificity of lichen mycobiomes at a local scale.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {18}, pages = {4811-4830}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14244}, pmid = {28771869}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification ; Austria ; Basidiomycota/*classification ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Mycobiome ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As self-supporting and long-living symbiotic structures, lichens provide a habitat for many other organisms beside the traditionally considered lichen symbionts-the myco- and the photobionts. The lichen-inhabiting fungi either develop diagnostic phenotypes or occur asymptomatically. Because the degree of specificity towards the lichen host is poorly known, we studied the diversity of these fungi among neighbouring lichens on rocks in an alpine habitat. Using a sequencing metabarcoding approach, we show that lichen mycobiomes clearly reflect the overlap of multiple ecological sets of taxa, which differ in their trophic association with lichen thalli. The lack of specificity to the lichen mycobiome is further supported by the lack of community structure observed using clustering and ordination methods. The communities encountered across samples largely result from the subsampling of a shared species pool, in which we identify three major ecological components: (i) a generalist environmental pool, (ii) a lichenicolous/endolichenic pool and (iii) a pool of transient species. These taxa majorly belong to the fungal classes Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes and Tremellomycetes with close relatives in adjacent ecological niches. We found no significant evidence that the phenotypically recognized lichenicolous fungi influence the occurrence of the other asymptomatic fungi in the host thalli. We claim that lichens work as suboptimal habitats or as a complex spore and mycelium bank, which modulate and allow the regeneration of local fungal communities. By performing an approach that minimizes ambiguities in the taxonomic assignments of fungi, we present how lichen mycobiomes are also suitable targets for improving bioinformatic analyses of fungal metabarcoding.}, } @article {pmid28771819, year = {2017}, author = {Bueno, CG and Marín, C and Silva-Flores, P and Aguilera, P and Godoy, R}, title = {Think globally, research locally: emerging opportunities for mycorrhizal research in South America: First international mycorrhizal meeting in South America, 'Mycorrhizal symbiosis in the southern cone of South America', Valdivia, Chile, 6-9 March 2017.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {4}, pages = {1306-1309}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14709}, pmid = {28771819}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Chile ; Congresses as Topic ; Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Introduced Species ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Research ; }, } @article {pmid28771816, year = {2017}, author = {Le Roux, JJ and Hui, C and Keet, JH and Ellis, AG}, title = {Co-introduction vs ecological fitting as pathways to the establishment of effective mutualisms during biological invasions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {4}, pages = {1354-1360}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14593}, pmid = {28771816}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Contents 1354 I. 1354 II. 1355 III. 1357 IV. 1357 V. 1359 1359 References 1359 SUMMARY: Interactions between non-native plants and their mutualists are often disrupted upon introduction to new environments. Using legume-rhizobium mutualistic interactions as an example, we discuss two pathways that can influence symbiotic associations in such situations: co-introduction of coevolved rhizobia; and utilization of, and adaptation to, resident rhizobia, hereafter referred to as 'ecological fitting'. Co-introduction and ecological fitting have distinct implications for successful legume invasions and their impacts. Under ecological fitting, initial impacts may be less severe and will accrue over longer periods as novel symbiotic associations and/or adaptations may require fine-tuning over time. Co-introduction will have more profound impacts that will accrue more rapidly as a result of positive feedbacks between densities of non-native rhizobia and their coevolved host plants, in turn enhancing competition between native and non-native rhizobia. Co-introduction can further impact invasion outcomes by the exchange of genetic material between native and non-native rhizobia, potentially resulting in decreased fitness of native legumes. A better understanding of the roles of these two pathways in the invasion dynamics of non-native legumes is much needed, and we highlight some of the exciting research avenues it presents.}, } @article {pmid28771548, year = {2017}, author = {Nanjareddy, K and Arthikala, MK and Gómez, BM and Blanco, L and Lara, M}, title = {Differentially expressed genes in mycorrhized and nodulated roots of common bean are associated with defense, cell wall architecture, N metabolism, and P metabolism.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {e0182328}, pmid = {28771548}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cell Wall/chemistry/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes participate in two important endosymbiotic associations, with phosphorus-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM, soil fungi) and with nitrogen-fixing bacterial rhizobia. These divergent symbionts share a common symbiotic signal transduction pathway that facilitates the establishment of mycorrhization and nodulation in legumes. However, the unique and shared downstream genes essential for AM and nodule development have not been identified in crop legumes. Here, we used ion torrent next-generation sequencing to perform comparative transcriptomics of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) roots colonized by AM or rhizobia. We analyzed global gene expression profiles to identify unique and shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that regulate these two symbiotic interactions, and quantitatively compared DEG profiles. We identified 3,219 (1,959 upregulated and 1,260 downregulated) and 2,645 (1,247 upregulated and 1,398 downregulated) unigenes that were differentially expressed in response to mycorrhizal or rhizobial colonization, respectively, compared with uninoculated roots. We obtained quantitative expression profiles of unique and shared genes involved in processes related to defense, cell wall structure, N metabolism, and P metabolism in mycorrhized and nodulated roots. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that most genes involved in jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling, N metabolism, and inositol phosphate metabolism are variably expressed during symbiotic interactions. These combined data provide valuable information on symbiotic gene signaling networks that respond to mycorrhizal and rhizobial colonization, and serve as a guide for future genetic strategies to enhance P uptake and N-fixing capacity to increase the net yield of this valuable grain legume.}, } @article {pmid28771531, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, Y and He, C and Huang, L and Ban, Y and Tang, M}, title = {The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on glomalin-related soil protein distribution, aggregate stability and their relationships with soil properties at different soil depths in lead-zinc contaminated area.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {e0182264}, pmid = {28771531}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carbon/analysis ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Lead/*analysis/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis/metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Zinc/*analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), a widespread glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is crucial for ecosystem functioning and ecological restoration. In the present study, an investigation was conducted to comprehensively analyze the effects of heavy metal (HM) contamination on AMF status, soil properties, aggregate distribution and stability, and their correlations at different soil depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 cm). Our results showed that the mycorrhizal colonization (MC), hyphal length density (HLD), GRSP, soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) were significantly inhibited by Pb compared to Zn at 0-20 cm soil depth, indicating that HM had significant inhibitory effects on AMF growth and soil properties, and that Pb exhibited greater toxicity than Zn at shallow layer of soil. Both the proportion of soil large macroaggregates (>2000 μm) and mean weight diameter (MWD) were positively correlated with GRSP, SOM and SOC at 0-20 cm soil depth (P < 0.05), proving the important contributions of GRSP, SOM and SOC for binding soil particles together into large macroaggregates and improving aggregate stability. Furthermore, MC and HLD had significantly positive correlation with GRSP, SOM and SOC, suggesting that AMF played an essential role in GRSP, SOM and SOC accumulation and subsequently influencing aggregate formation and particle-size distribution in HM polluted soils. Our study highlighted that the introduction of indigenous plant associated with AMF might be a successful biotechnological tool to assist the recovery of HM polluted soils, and that proper management practices should be developed to guarantee maximum benefits from plant-AMF symbiosis during ecological restoration.}, } @article {pmid28769967, year = {2017}, author = {Larrainzar, E and Wienkoop, S}, title = {A Proteomic View on the Role of Legume Symbiotic Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1267}, pmid = {28769967}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {P 24870/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Legume plants are key elements in sustainable agriculture and represent a significant source of plant-based protein for humans and animal feed worldwide. One specific feature of the family is the ability to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria. Additionally, like most vascular flowering plants, legumes are able to form a mutualistic endosymbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These beneficial associations can enhance the plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Understanding how symbiotic interactions influence and increase plant stress tolerance are relevant questions toward maintaining crop yield and food safety in the scope of climate change. Proteomics offers numerous tools for the identification of proteins involved in such responses, allowing the study of sub-cellular localization and turnover regulation, as well as the discovery of post-translational modifications (PTMs). The current work reviews the progress made during the last decades in the field of proteomics applied to the study of the legume-Rhizobium and -AM symbioses, and highlights their influence on the plant responses to pathogens and abiotic stresses. We further discuss future perspectives and new experimental approaches that are likely to have a significant impact on the field including peptidomics, mass spectrometric imaging, and quantitative proteomics.}, } @article {pmid28769718, year = {2017}, author = {Calcinai, B and Bastari, A and Bavestrello, G and Bertolino, M and Horcajadas, SB and Pansini, M and Makapedua, DM and Cerrano, C}, title = {Demosponge diversity from North Sulawesi, with the description of six new species.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {680}, pages = {105-150}, pmid = {28769718}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Sponges are key components of the benthic assemblages and play an important functional role in many ecosystems, especially in coral reefs. The Indonesian coral reefs, located within the so-called "coral triangle", are among the richest in the world. However, the knowledge of the diversity of sponges and several other marine taxa is far from being complete in the area. In spite of this great biodiversity, most of the information on Indonesian sponges is scattered in old and fragmented literature and comprehensive data about their diversity are still lacking. In this paper, we report the presence of 94 species recorded during different research campaigns mainly from the Marine Park of Bunaken, North Sulawesi. Six species are new for science and seven represent new records for the area. Several others are very poorly known species, sometimes recorded for the second time after their description. For most species, besides field data and detailed descriptions, pictures in vivo are included. Moreover, two new symbiotic sponge associations are described. This work aims to increase the basic knowledge of Indonesian sponge diversity as a prerequisite for monitoring and conservation of this valuable taxon.}, } @article {pmid28769713, year = {2017}, author = {Benayahu, Y and McFadden, CS and Shoham, E}, title = {Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny: I. A new sclerite-free genus from Eilat, northern Red Sea.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {680}, pages = {1-11}, pmid = {28769713}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {This communication describes a new octocoral, Altumia delicatagen. n. & sp. n. (Octocorallia: Clavulariidae), from mesophotic reefs of Eilat (northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea). This species lives on dead antipatharian colonies and on artificial substrates. It has been recorded from deeper than 60 m down to 140 m and is thus considered to be a lower mesophotic octocoral. It has no sclerites and features no symbiotic zooxanthellae. The new genus is compared to other known sclerite-free octocorals. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place it in a clade with members of families Clavulariidae and Acanthoaxiidae, and for now we assign it to the former, based on colony morphology. The polyphyletic family Clavulariidae is, however, in need of a thorough revision once the morphological distinctions among its phylogenetically distinct clades are better understood.}, } @article {pmid28768212, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, C and Tsyusko, OV and McNear, DH and Judy, J and Lewis, RW and Unrine, JM}, title = {Effects of biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant receiving manufactured nanomaterials on Medicago truncatula and associated soil microbial communities at low nanomaterial concentrations.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {609}, number = {}, pages = {799-806}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.188}, pmid = {28768212}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*drug effects ; Metal Nanoparticles/*adverse effects ; Sewage/*adverse effects ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*adverse effects ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Concern has grown regarding engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) entering agricultural soils through the application of biosolids and their possible effects on agroecosystems, even though the ENMs are extensively transformed. The effects of exposure to biosolids containing transformation products of these ENMs at low concentrations remain largely unexplored. We examined the responses of Medicago truncatula and its symbiotic rhizobia Sinorhizobium meliloti exposed to soil amended with biosolids from WWTP containing low added concentrations of ENMs (ENM Low), bulk/dissolved metals (bulk/dissolved Low), or no metal additions (control). We targeted adding approximately 5mg/kg of Ag and 50mg/kg of Zn, and Ti. Measured endpoints included M. truncatula growth, nodulation, changes in the expression of stress response genes, uptake of metals (Ag, Zn and Ti) into shoots, and quantification of S. meliloti populations and soil microbial communities. After 30days exposure, no effects on root or shoot biomass were observed in ENM Low and bulk/dissolved Low treatments, whereas both treatments had a larger average number of nodules (5.7 and 5.57, respectively) compared to controls (0.33). There were no significant differences in either total accumulated metal or metal concentrations in shoots among the treatments. Expression of five stress-related genes (metal tolerance protein (MTP), metal transporter (MTR), peroxidase (PEROX), NADPH oxidase (NADPH) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase-like protein (ACC_Oxidase)) was significantly down-regulated in both bulk/dissolved Low and ENM Low treatments. However, a change in soil microbial community composition and a significant increase in total microbial biomass were observed in ENM Low relative to control. The ENM Low treatment had increased abundance of Gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria and reduced abundance of eukaryotes compared to control. The study demonstrated that although there were some subtle shifts in microbial community composition, plant health was minimally impacted by ENMs within the time frame and at the low exposure concentrations used in this study.}, } @article {pmid28767122, year = {2017}, author = {Passaglia, LMP}, title = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii nod regulon: insights through genomic analysis.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {703-716}, pmid = {28767122}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {A successful symbiotic relationship between soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and Bradyrhizobium species requires expression of the bacterial structural nod genes that encode for the synthesis of lipochitooligosaccharide nodulation signal molecules, known as Nod factors (NFs). Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 possesses a wide nodulation gene repertoire that allows NF assembly and modification, with transcription of the nodYABCSUIJnolMNOnodZ operon depending upon specific activators, i.e., products of regulatory nod genes that are responsive to signaling molecules such as flavonoid compounds exuded by host plant roots. Central to this regulatory circuit of nod gene expression are NodD proteins, members of the LysR-type regulator family. In this study, publicly available Bradyrhizobium elkanii sequenced genomes were compared with the closely related B. diazoefficiens USDA 110 reference genome to determine the similarities between those genomes, especially with regards to the nod operon and nod regulon. Bioinformatics analyses revealed a correlation between functional mechanisms and key elements that play an essential role in the regulation of nod gene expression. These analyses also revealed new genomic features that had not been clearly explored before, some of which were unique for some B. elkanii genomes.}, } @article {pmid28765601, year = {2017}, author = {Ogushi, F and Kertész, J and Kaski, K and Shimada, T}, title = {Enhanced robustness of evolving open systems by the bidirectionality of interactions between elements.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {6978}, pmid = {28765601}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {Living organisms, ecosystems, and social systems are examples of complex systems in which robustness against inclusion of new elements is an essential feature. A recently proposed simple model has revealed a general mechanism by which such systems can become robust against inclusion of elements with totally random interactions when the elements have a moderate number of links. The interaction is, however, in many systems often intrinsically bidirectional like for mutual symbiosis and competition in ecology. This study reports the strong reinforcement effect of the bidirectionality of the interactions on the robustness of evolving systems. We show that the system with purely bidirectional interactions can grow with twofold average degree, in comparison with the purely unidirectional system. This drastic shift of the transition point comes from the reinforcement of each node, not from a change in structure of the emergent system. For systems with partially bidirectional interactions we find that the regime of the growing phase gets expanded. In the dense interaction regime, there exists an optimum proportion of bidirectional interactions for the growth rate at around 1/3. In the sparsely connected systems, small but finite fraction of bidirectional links can change the system's behaviour from non-growing to growing.}, } @article {pmid28765224, year = {2017}, author = {Arnold, MFF and Shabab, M and Penterman, J and Boehme, KL and Griffitts, JS and Walker, GC}, title = {Genome-Wide Sensitivity Analysis of the Microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti to Symbiotically Important, Defensin-Like Host Peptides.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28765224}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {P30 CA014051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Defensins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicago truncatula/chemistry/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Mutagenesis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The model legume species Medicago truncatula expresses more than 700 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) signaling peptides that mediate the differentiation of Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteria into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. NCR peptides are essential for a successful symbiosis in legume plants of the inverted-repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) and show similarity to mammalian defensins. In addition to signaling functions, many NCR peptides exhibit antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo Bacterial resistance to these antimicrobial activities is likely to be important for symbiosis. However, the mechanisms used by S. meliloti to resist antimicrobial activity of plant peptides are poorly understood. To address this, we applied a global genetic approach using transposon mutagenesis followed by high-throughput sequencing (Tn-seq) to identify S. meliloti genes and pathways that increase or decrease bacterial competitiveness during exposure to the well-studied cationic NCR247 peptide and also to the unrelated model antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B. We identified 78 genes and several diverse pathways whose interruption alters S. meliloti resistance to NCR247. These genes encode the following: (i) cell envelope polysaccharide biosynthesis and modification proteins, (ii) inner and outer membrane proteins, (iii) peptidoglycan (PG) effector proteins, and (iv) non-membrane-associated factors such as transcriptional regulators and ribosome-associated factors. We describe a previously uncharacterized yet highly conserved peptidase, which protects S. meliloti from NCR247 and increases competitiveness during symbiosis. Additionally, we highlight a considerable number of uncharacterized genes that provide the basis for future studies to investigate the molecular basis of symbiotic development as well as chronic pathogenic interactions.IMPORTANCE Soil rhizobial bacteria enter into an ecologically and economically important symbiotic interaction with legumes, in which they differentiate into physiologically distinct bacteroids that provide essential ammonia to the plant in return for carbon sources. Plant signal peptides are essential and specific to achieve these physiological changes. These peptides show similarity to mammalian defensin peptides which are part of the first line of defense to control invading bacterial populations. A number of these legume peptides are indeed known to possess antimicrobial activity, and so far, only the bacterial BacA protein is known to protect rhizobial bacteria against their antimicrobial action. This study identified numerous additional bacterial factors that mediate protection and belong to diverse biological pathways. Our results significantly contribute to our understanding of the molecular roles of bacterial factors during legume symbioses and, second, provide insights into the mechanisms that pathogenic bacteria may use to resist the antimicrobial effects of defensins during infections.}, } @article {pmid28763757, year = {2017}, author = {Piovár, J and Weidinger, M and Bačkor, M and Bačkorová, M and Lichtscheidl, I}, title = {Short-term influence of Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd excess on metabolism, ultrastructure and distribution of elements in lichen Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {145}, number = {}, pages = {408-419}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.07.063}, pmid = {28763757}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Ascomycota/drug effects/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Environmental Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Ergosterol/metabolism ; *Lichens/drug effects/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Metals, Heavy/analysis/*toxicity ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that are very sensitive to heavy metal pollution. However, there is little evidence of how heavy metal pollution affects the physiological status, ultrastructural changes and distribution of elements in the layers of lichen thalli. For this purpose we simulated metal pollution to lichens and studied its impact on Xanthoria parietina. Thalli were treated with the heavy metals Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd in the form of sulfates at concentrations of 100µM and 500µM during 24, 48 and 72h. Untreated lichens served as controls. We assessed the status of physiological parameters (fluorescence and integrity of chlorophyll a, content of soluble proteins and ergosterol), ultrastructural changes, especially to the photobiont, and the distribution of elements in the layers of thalli in relation to treatment with heavy metals. We found positive correlations between the content of all tested heavy metals and the physiological response. We assessed the toxicity of the selected metals as follows: Cd >= Cu >= Ni > Zn, based on the effects on the photobiont layer in the lichen thallus and physiological measurements.}, } @article {pmid28762872, year = {2018}, author = {Morrissey, AM and Gill-Thwaites, H and Wilson, B and Leonard, R and McLellan, L and Pundole, A and Shiel, A}, title = {The role of the SMART and WHIM in behavioural assessment of disorders of consciousness: clinical utility and scope for a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Neuropsychological rehabilitation}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {1254-1265}, doi = {10.1080/09602011.2017.1354769}, pmid = {28762872}, issn = {1464-0694}, mesh = {Consciousness Disorders/*diagnosis ; Humans ; }, abstract = {As the prevalence and incidence of disorders of consciousness (DoC) increase, researchers and clinicians are tasked with developing best practice assessment techniques. Neurobehavioural assessment remains the most clinically available method of measuring consciousness. Neuroimaging and other physiological measurements are demonstrating promise in supporting this assessment but many of these techniques require further research and are not widely available in sub-acute and long-term care settings. No study to date has explored in-depth complementary use of multiple neurobehavioural assessments in aiding beside assessment of consciousness. This paper describes and proposes complementary use of two commonly used standardised neurobehavioural assessments. The Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART) and the Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM) both have specific aims and play an important role in behavioural assessment across the care continuum. This paper proposes that when used together appropriately these two assessments promote best practice and strengthen behavioural assessment of consciousness by providing increased opportunities to capture awareness. Further research into use of more than one neurobehavioural tool is highlighted as an important area of inquiry for this heterogeneous population not only in clinical practice but also in research.}, } @article {pmid28762123, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, W and Meng, J and Ning, J and Qin, P and Zhou, J and Zou, Z and Wang, Y and Jiang, H and Ahmad, F and Zhao, L and Sun, J}, title = {Differential immune responses of Monochamus alternatus against symbiotic and entomopathogenic fungi.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {60}, number = {8}, pages = {902-910}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-017-9102-y}, pmid = {28762123}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*immunology/microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Genes, Fungal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Monochamus alternatus, the main vector beetles of invasive pinewood nematode, has established a symbiotic relationship with a native ectotrophic fungal symbiont, Sporothrix sp. 1, in China. The immune response of M. alternatus to S. sp. 1 in the coexistence of beetles and fungi is, however, unknown. Here, we report that immune responses of M. alternatus pupae to infection caused by ectotrophic symbiotic fungus S. sp. 1 and entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana differ significantly. The S. sp. 1 did not kill the beetles while B. bassiana killed all upon injection. The transcriptome results showed that the numbers of differentially expressed genes in M. alternatus infected with S. sp. 1 were 2-fold less than those infected with B. bassiana at 48 hours post infection. It was noticed that Toll and IMD pathways played a leading role in the beetle's immune system when infected by symbiotic fungus, but upon infection by entomopathogenic fungus, only the Toll pathway gets triggered actively. Furthermore, the beetles could tolerate the infection of symbiotic fungi by retracing their Toll and IMD pathways at 48 h. This study provided a comprehensive sequence resource of M. alternatus transcriptome for further study of the immune interactions between host and associated fungi.}, } @article {pmid28761112, year = {2017}, author = {Govindasamy, V and George, P and Aher, L and Ramesh, SV and Thangasamy, A and Anandan, S and Raina, SK and Kumar, M and Rane, J and Annapurna, K and Minhas, PS}, title = {Comparative conventional and phenomics approaches to assess symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobia strains in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) to drought.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {6958}, pmid = {28761112}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Infrared Rays ; Light ; Phenotype ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Principal Component Analysis ; Propanolamines/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic effectiveness of rhizobitoxine (Rtx)-producing strains of Bradyrhizobium spp. in soybean (cultivar NRC-37/Ahilya-4) under limited soil moisture conditions was evaluated using phenomics tools such as infrared(IR) thermal and visible imaging. Red, green and blue (RGB) colour pixels were standardized to analyse a total of 1017 IR thermal and 692 visible images. Plants inoculated with the Rtx-producing strains B. elkanii USDA-61 and USDA-94 and successive inoculation by B. diazoefficiens USDA-110 resulted in cooler canopy temperatures and increased canopy greenness. The results of the image analysis of plants inoculated with Rtx-producing strains were correlated with effective nodulation, improved photosynthesis, plant nitrogen status and yield parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the reliability of the phenomics approach over conventional destructive approaches in assessing the symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium strains in soybean plants under watered (87.41-89.96%) and water-stressed (90.54-94.21%) conditions. Multivariate cluster analysis (MCA) revealed two distinct clusters denoting effective (Rtx) and ineffective (non-Rtx) Bradyrhizobium inoculation treatments in soybean. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that this phenotyping approach is a dependable alternative for screening drought tolerant genotypes or drought resilience symbiosis. This is the first report on the application of non-invasive phenomics techniques, particularly RGB-based image analysis, in assessing plant-microbe symbiotic interactions to impart abiotic stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid28761011, year = {2017}, author = {Borges, RM}, title = {Co-niche construction between hosts and symbionts: ideas and evidence.}, journal = {Journal of genetics}, volume = {96}, number = {3}, pages = {483-489}, pmid = {28761011}, issn = {0973-7731}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome/genetics ; Host Specificity/*genetics ; *Inheritance Patterns ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a process that can generate evolutionary novelties and can extend the phenotypic niche space of organisms. Symbionts can act together with their hosts to co-construct host organs, within which symbionts are housed. Once established within hosts, symbionts can also influence various aspects of host phenotype, such as resource acquisition, protection from predation by acquisition of toxicity, as well as behaviour. Once symbiosis is established, its fidelity between generations must be ensured. Hosts evolve various mechanisms to screen unwanted symbionts and to facilitate faithful transmission of mutualistic partners between generations. Microbes are the most important symbionts that have influenced plant and animal phenotypes; multicellular organisms engage in developmental symbioses with microbes at many stages in ontogeny. The co-construction of niches may result in composite organisms that are physically nested within each other. While it has been advocated that these composite organisms need new evolutionary theories and perspectives to describe their properties and evolutionary trajectories, it appears that standard evolutionary theories are adequate to explore selection pressures on their composite or individual traits. Recent advances in our understanding of composite organisms open up many important questions regarding the stability and transmission of these units.}, } @article {pmid28760948, year = {2017}, author = {Taylor, BN and Chazdon, RL and Bachelot, B and Menge, DNL}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing trees inhibit growth of regenerating Costa Rican rainforests.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {33}, pages = {8817-8822}, pmid = {28760948}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Costa Rica ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; *Rainforest ; Trees/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {More than half of the world's tropical forests are currently recovering from human land use, and this regenerating biomass now represents the largest carbon (C)-capturing potential on Earth. How quickly these forests regenerate is now a central concern for both conservation and global climate-modeling efforts. Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing trees are thought to provide much of the nitrogen (N) required to fuel tropical secondary regrowth and therefore to drive the rate of forest regeneration, yet we have a poor understanding of how these N fixers influence the trees around them. Do they promote forest growth, as expected if the new N they fix facilitates neighboring trees? Or do they suppress growth, as expected if competitive inhibition of their neighbors is strong? Using 17 consecutive years of data from tropical rainforest plots in Costa Rica that range from 10 y since abandonment to old-growth forest, we assessed how N fixers influenced the growth of forest stands and the demographic rates of neighboring trees. Surprisingly, we found no evidence that N fixers facilitate biomass regeneration in these forests. At the hectare scale, plots with more N-fixing trees grew slower. At the individual scale, N fixers inhibited their neighbors even more strongly than did nonfixing trees. These results provide strong evidence that N-fixing trees do not always serve the facilitative role to neighboring trees during tropical forest regeneration that is expected given their N inputs into these systems.}, } @article {pmid28760323, year = {2017}, author = {Sousa, EHS and Gilles-Gonzalez, MA}, title = {Haem-Based Sensors of O2: Lessons and Perspectives.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {235-257}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ampbs.2017.05.001}, pmid = {28760323}, issn = {2162-5468}, mesh = {Heme/metabolism/*physiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/metabolism/physiology ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Haem-based sensors have emerged during the last 15 years as being a large family of proteins that occur in all kingdoms of life. These sensors are responsible mainly for detecting binding of O2, CO and NO and reporting the ligation status to an output domain with an enzymatic or macromolecule-binding property. A myriad of biological functions have been associated with these sensors, which are involved in vasodilation, bacterial symbiosis, chemotaxis and biofilm formation, among others. Here, we critically review several bacterial systems for O2 sensing that are extensively studied in many respects, focusing on the lessons that are important to advance the field.}, } @article {pmid28756029, year = {2017}, author = {Toma, MA and Soares de Carvalho, T and Azarias Guimarães, A and Martins da Costa, E and Savana da Silva, J and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Tripartite symbiosis of Sophora tomentosa, rhizobia and arbuscular mycorhizal fungi.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {680-688}, pmid = {28756029}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Sophora/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sophora tomentosa is a pantropical legume species with potential for recovery of areas degraded by salinization, and for stabilization of sand dunes. However, few studies on this species have been carried out, and none regarding its symbiotic relationship with beneficial soil microorganisms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from nodules of Sophora tomentosa, and to analyze the occurrence of colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the roots of this legume in seafront soil. Thus, seeds, root nodules, and soil from the rhizosphere of Sophora tomentosa were collected. From the soil samples, trap cultures with this species were established to extract spores and to evaluate arbuscular mycorhizal fungi colonization in legume roots, as well as to capture rhizobia. Rhizobia strains were isolated from nodules collected in the field or from the trap cultures. Representative isolates of the groups obtained in the similarity dendrogram, based on phenotypic characteristics, had their 16S rRNA genes sequenced. The legume species showed nodules with indeterminate growth, and reddish color, distributed throughout the root. Fifty-one strains of these nodules were isolated, of which 21 were classified in the genus Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Paenibacillus, Rhizobium and especially Sinorhizobium. Strains closely related to Sinorhizobium adhaerens were the predominant bacteria in nodules. The other genera found, with the exception of Rhizobium, are probably endophytic bacteria in the nodules. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was observed colonizing the roots, but arbuscular mycorhizal fungi spores were not found in the trap cultures. Therefore Sophora tomentosa is associated with both arbuscular mycorhizal fungi and nodulating nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28754813, year = {2018}, author = {McEvoy, D and Gandhi, TK and Turchin, A and Wright, A}, title = {Enhancing problem list documentation in electronic health records using two methods: the example of prior splenectomy.}, journal = {BMJ quality & safety}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {40-47}, doi = {10.1136/bmjqs-2017-006707}, pmid = {28754813}, issn = {2044-5423}, mesh = {Decision Support Systems, Clinical/*standards ; Documentation/*standards ; Electronic Health Records/*standards ; Humans ; Quality Improvement/*organization & administration/standards ; Splenectomy/*statistics & numerical data ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Quality improvement professionals often choose between patient-specific interventions, like clinical decision support (CDS), and population-based interventions, like registries or care management. In this paper, we explore the synergy of these two strategies, targeting the problem of procedure documentation for patients with a history of splenectomy.

METHODS: We developed a population health documentation (PHD) intervention and a CDS intervention to improve splenectomy documentation within our electronic health record. Rates of splenectomy documentation were collected before and after the implementation of both interventions to assess their impact on the rate of procedure documentation.

RESULTS: Both the PHD and CDS interventions led to statistically significant (p<0.001) increases in the baseline rate of splenectomy documentation of 27.4 documentations per month. During the PHD intervention, 444.7 splenectomies were documented per month, while 40.8 splenectomies per month were documented during the CDS intervention.

DISCUSSION: Both approaches were successful, with the PHD intervention leading to a larger number of incremental procedure documentations, in batches, and the CDS intervention augmenting procedure documentation on an ongoing basis. Our results suggest that population health and CDS strategies complement each other and, where possible, should be used in conjunction.

CONCLUSIONS: PHD and CDS strategies may best be used in conjunction to create a symbiotic relationship in which current problem and procedure documentation gaps are closed using PHD strategies, while new gaps are prevented through ongoing CDS interventions.}, } @article {pmid28754765, year = {2017}, author = {Merinero, S and Aragón, G and Martínez, I}, title = {Intraspecific life history variation in contrasting habitats: Insights from an obligate symbiotic organism.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {104}, number = {7}, pages = {1099-1107}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1700017}, pmid = {28754765}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Life history theory predicts that plants in unfavorable habitats for juvenile growth and survival will commence reproduction at smaller sizes and exhibit higher reproductive allocations than those in favorable habitats. The scope of life history theory will increase if these predictions apply to a broad range of organisms. Populations of organisms in contrasting habitats may experience different demographic rates. Thus, we compared the demography and life history traits of a lichen species in contrasting habitats.

METHODS: We compared the abundance, growth, mortality, and reproductive strategy (threshold size for reproduction and reproductive allometry) of epiphytic and saxicolous populations of the asexually reproducing lichen Lobarina scrobiculata in two oak forests in central Spain.

KEY RESULTS: The growth rates of saxicolous individuals were two times faster than those of epiphytic individuals. Epiphytic specimens exhibited a smaller threshold size for reproduction and a higher reproductive allocation than their saxicolous counterparts. The populations hosted by trees were two times larger than those on rocks (13,788 vs. 6629 individuals, respectively). The mortality rate did not vary between habitats.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that contrasting habitats selected for differences in the demography and life history traits of a lichen species. Consistent with life history theory predictions, in the habitat with slower growth, L. scrobiculata started to reproduce at a smaller size and its reproductive allocation was higher. This study extends the scope of life history theory and improves our understanding of life history patterns and variations in overlooked taxa such as lichens.}, } @article {pmid28754286, year = {2017}, author = {Harish, A and Kurland, CG}, title = {Mitochondria are not captive bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {88-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.07.011}, pmid = {28754286}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Biological Coevolution ; *Biological Evolution ; Mitochondria/chemistry/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Proteome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lynn Sagan's conjecture (1967) that three of the fundamental organelles observed in eukaryote cells, specifically mitochondria, plastids and flagella were once free-living primitive (prokaryotic) cells was accepted after considerable opposition. Even though the idea was swiftly refuted for the specific case of origins of flagella in eukaryotes, the symbiosis model in general was accepted for decades as a realistic hypothesis to describe the endosymbiotic origins of eukaryotes. However, a systematic analysis of the origins of the mitochondrial proteome based on empirical genome evolution models now indicates that 97% of modern mitochondrial protein domains as well their homologues in bacteria and archaea were present in the universal common ancestor (UCA) of the modern tree of life (ToL). These protein domains are universal modular building blocks of modern genes and genomes, each of which is identified by a unique tertiary structure and a specific biochemical function as well as a characteristic sequence profile. Further, phylogeny reconstructed from genome-scale evolution models reveals that Eukaryotes and Akaryotes (archaea and bacteria) descend independently from UCA. That is to say, Eukaryotes and Akaryotes are both primordial lineages that evolved in parallel. Finally, there is no indication of massive inter-lineage exchange of coding sequences during the descent of the two lineages. Accordingly, we suggest that the evolution of the mitochondrial proteome was autogenic (endogenic) and not endosymbiotic (exogenic).}, } @article {pmid28753988, year = {2017}, author = {Cordaux, R and Gilbert, C}, title = {Evolutionary Significance of Wolbachia-to-Animal Horizontal Gene Transfer: Female Sex Determination and the f Element in the Isopod Armadillidium vulgare.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {28753988}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {An increasing number of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events from bacteria to animals have been reported in the past years, many of which involve Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts and their invertebrate hosts. Most transferred Wolbachia genes are neutrally-evolving fossils embedded in host genomes. A remarkable case of Wolbachia HGT for which a clear evolutionary significance has been demonstrated is the "f element", a nuclear Wolbachia insert involved in female sex determination in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare. The f element represents an instance of bacteria-to-animal HGT that has occurred so recently that it was possible to infer the donor (feminizing Wolbachia closely related to the wVulC Wolbachia strain of A. vulgare) and the mechanism of integration (a nearly complete genome inserted by micro-homology-mediated recombination). In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the f element and discuss arising perspectives regarding female sex determination, unstable inheritance, population dynamics and the molecular evolution of the f element. Overall, the f element unifies three major areas in evolutionary biology: symbiosis, HGT and sex determination. Its characterization highlights the tremendous impact sex ratio distorters can have on the evolution of sex determination mechanisms and sex chromosomes in animals and plants.}, } @article {pmid28752961, year = {2017}, author = {Flórez, LV and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Symbiont dynamics and strain diversity in the defensive mutualism between Lagria beetles and Burkholderia.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {3674-3688}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13868}, pmid = {28752961}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/classification/*metabolism ; Coleoptera/*immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Pyrimidinones/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Triazines/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Defensive mutualisms are often facultative in nature, and their evolutionary dynamics can be shaped by changes in local antagonist communities or arms races with coevolving antagonists. Under these conditions, selection may favour hosts that flexibly acquire symbionts producing compounds with bioactivity against current antagonists. Here, we study the prevalence, dynamics and strain diversity of Burkholderia gladioli bacteria in Lagria beetles, a recently described protective symbiosis involving vertical transmission and antifungal defense for the host eggs. In Lagria hirta, we investigate the fate of the bacteria during the host life cycle. Despite a transmission route relying solely on the females, the bacteria are present in both sexes during the larval stage, suggesting a potentially multifaceted defensive role. In L. hirta and L. villosa adults, culture-dependent and -independent techniques revealed that individual beetles harbour diverse Burkholderia strains from at least two different phylogenetic clades, yet all closely related to free-living B. gladioli. Interestingly, rearing the beetles in the laboratory strongly impacted symbiont strain profiles in both beetle species. Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of the B. gladioli-Lagria symbiosis and present this as a valuable system for studying multiple strain coinfections, as well as the evolutionary and ecological factors regulating defensive symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28751917, year = {2017}, author = {Caicedo, A and Aponte, PM and Cabrera, F and Hidalgo, C and Khoury, M}, title = {Artificial Mitochondria Transfer: Current Challenges, Advances, and Future Applications.}, journal = {Stem cells international}, volume = {2017}, number = {}, pages = {7610414}, pmid = {28751917}, issn = {1687-966X}, abstract = {The objective of this review is to outline existing artificial mitochondria transfer techniques and to describe the future steps necessary to develop new therapeutic applications in medicine. Inspired by the symbiotic origin of mitochondria and by the cell's capacity to transfer these organelles to damaged neighbors, many researchers have developed procedures to artificially transfer mitochondria from one cell to another. The techniques currently in use today range from simple coincubations of isolated mitochondria and recipient cells to the use of physical approaches to induce integration. These methods mimic natural mitochondria transfer. In order to use mitochondrial transfer in medicine, we must answer key questions about how to replicate aspects of natural transport processes to improve current artificial transfer methods. Another priority is to determine the optimum quantity and cell/tissue source of the mitochondria in order to induce cell reprogramming or tissue repair, in both in vitro and in vivo applications. Additionally, it is important that the field explores how artificial mitochondria transfer techniques can be used to treat different diseases and how to navigate the ethical issues in such procedures. Without a doubt, mitochondria are more than mere cell power plants, as we continue to discover their potential to be used in medicine.}, } @article {pmid28751887, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, W and Yang, J and Sun, Y and Liu, X and Li, Y and Zhang, Z and Xie, Z}, title = {Azorhizobium caulinodans Transmembrane Chemoreceptor TlpA1 Involved in Host Colonization and Nodulation on Roots and Stems.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1327}, pmid = {28751887}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 is a motile soil bacterium that interacts symbiotically with legume host Sesbania rostrata, forming nitrogen-fixing root and stem nodules. Bacterial chemotaxis plays an important role in establishing this symbiotic relationship. To determine the contribution of chemotaxis to symbiosis in A. caulinodans ORS571-S. rostrata, we characterized the function of TlpA1 (transducer-like protein in A. caulinodans), a chemoreceptor predicted by SMART (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool), containing two N-terminal transmembrane regions. The tlpA1 gene is located immediately upstream of the unique che gene cluster and is transcriptionally co-oriented. We found that a ΔtlpA1 mutant is severely impaired for chemotaxis to various organic acids, glycerol and proline. Furthermore, biofilm forming ability of the strain carrying the mutation is reduced under certain growth conditions. Interestingly, competitive colonization ability on S. rostrata root surfaces is impaired in the ΔtlpA1 mutant, suggesting that chemotaxis of the A. caulinodans ORS571 contributes to root colonization. We also found that TlpA1 promotes competitive nodulation not only on roots but also on stems of S. rostrata. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that TlpA1 is a transmembrane chemoreceptor involved in A. caulinodans-S. rostrata symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28751883, year = {2017}, author = {Borbón-García, A and Reyes, A and Vives-Flórez, M and Caballero, S}, title = {Captivity Shapes the Gut Microbiota of Andean Bears: Insights into Health Surveillance.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1316}, pmid = {28751883}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Andean bear is an endemic species of the tropical Andes who has an almost exclusively plant-based diet. Since herbivorous mammals do not carry enzymes for fiber degradation, the establishment of symbiosis with cellulolytic microorganisms in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract is necessary to help them fulfill their nutritional needs. Furthermore, as described for other mammals, a stable, diverse, and balanced gut microbial composition is an indicator of a healthy status of the host; under disturbances this balance can be lost, leading to potential diseases of the host. The goal of this study was to describe the gut microbiota of wild and captive Andean bears and determine how habitat status influences the composition and diversity of the gut symbiotic community. Fecal samples from wild (n = 28) and captive (n = 8) Andean bears were collected in "Reserva Pantano de Martos" and "Fundación Bioandina", Colombia. Composition and diversity analyses were performed using amplicons from the V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene sequenced using the Ion PGM platform. PICRUSt algorithm was applied to predict the gene content of the gut microbiome of wild and captive Andean bears. A total of 5,411 and 838 OTUs were identified for wild and captive bears, respectively. Captive bears contained a lower number of bacterial phyla (n = 7) compared to wild individuals (n = 9). Proteobacteria (59.03%) and Firmicutes (14.03%) were the phyla that contributed the most to differences between wild and captive bears (overall dissimilarity = 87.72%). At family level, Enterobacteriaceae drove the main differences between the two groups (13.7%). PICRUSt metagenomics predictions suggested a similar pattern of relative abundance of gene families associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates across samples in wild individuals, despite the taxonomic differences of their gut microbiota. Captivity alters the availability and diversity of food resources, which likely reduces microbiota richness and diversity compared to wild individuals. Further considerations should be taken into account for nutritional schemes improving ex-situ conservation and its potential as a surveillance tool of endangered populations of wild Andean bears.}, } @article {pmid28751391, year = {2017}, author = {Santamaría, RI and Bustos, P and Pérez-Carrascal, OM and Miranda-Sánchez, F and Vinuesa, P and Martínez-Flores, I and Juárez, S and Lozano, L and Martínez-Romero, E and Cevallos, MÁ and Romero, D and Dávila, G and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and González, V}, title = {Complete Genome Sequences of Eight Rhizobium Symbionts Associated with Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {30}, pages = {}, pmid = {28751391}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We present here the high-quality complete genome sequences of eight strains of Rhizobium-nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris Comparative analyses showed that some of them belonged to different genomic and evolutionary lineages with common symbiotic properties. Two novel symbiotic plasmids (pSyms) with P. vulgaris specificity are reported here.}, } @article {pmid28751380, year = {2017}, author = {Gully, D and Teulet, A and Busset, N and Nouwen, N and Fardoux, J and Rouy, Z and Vallenet, D and Cruveiller, S and Giraud, E}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS285, a Photosynthetic Strain Able To Establish Nod Factor-Dependent or Nod Factor-Independent Symbiosis with Aeschynomene Legumes.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {30}, pages = {}, pmid = {28751380}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285, which is able to nodulate Aeschynomene legumes using two distinct strategies that differ in the requirement of Nod factors. The genome sequence information of this strain will help understanding of the different mechanisms of interaction of rhizobia with legumes.}, } @article {pmid28751062, year = {2018}, author = {Are, C and Suh, M and Carpenter, L and Stoddard, H and Hamm, V and DeVries, M and Goldner, W and Jarzynka, K and Parker, J and Simonson, J and Talmon, G and Vokoun, C and Gold, J and Mercer, D and Wadman, M}, title = {Model for prioritization of Graduate Medical Education funding at a university setting - Engagement of GME committee with the Clinical Enterprise.}, journal = {American journal of surgery}, volume = {216}, number = {1}, pages = {147-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjsurg.2017.07.010}, pmid = {28751062}, issn = {1879-1883}, mesh = {Capital Financing/*methods ; Education, Medical, Graduate/*economics ; *Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Internship and Residency/*economics ; Medicare/economics ; Training Support/*organization & administration ; United States ; *Universities ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Funding for graduate medical education (GME) is becoming scarce and is likely to worsen. There is a higher degree of accountability and return on investment demanded from public funds dedicated to GME. Academic centers (AC) partnered with clinical enterprises (CE) are finding it increasingly difficult to retain sustainable funding streams for GME activities.

METHODS: To develop and implement a novel algorithmic funding model at one AC in symbiotic partnership with the CE for all 50 GME programs with nearly 500 residents.

RESULTS: A new GME Finance and Workforce Committee was convened which was tasked with developing the novel algorithmic financial model to prioritize GME funding. Early outcomes measures that were monitored consisted of: satisfaction of all stakeholders and financial savings.

CONCLUSIONS: The model was presented to all the stakeholders and was well received and approved. Early signs, demonstrated AC and CE satisfaction with the model, financial savings and increased efficiency. This GME funding model may serve as a template for other academic centers with tailored modifications to suit their local needs, demands and constraints.}, } @article {pmid28750626, year = {2017}, author = {Oliveira, JS and Araújo, WJ and Figueiredo, RM and Silva-Portela, RCB and de Brito Guerra, A and da Silva Araújo, SC and Minnicelli, C and Carlos, AC and de Vasconcelos, ATR and Freitas, AT and Agnez-Lima, LF}, title = {Biogeographical distribution analysis of hydrocarbon degrading and biosurfactant producing genes suggests that near-equatorial biomes have higher abundance of genes with potential for bioremediation.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {168}, pmid = {28750626}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Microbial Consortia ; Petroleum/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Surface-Active Agents/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial and Archaeal communities have a complex, symbiotic role in crude oil bioremediation. Their biosurfactants and degradation enzymes have been in the spotlight, mainly due to the awareness of ecosystem pollution caused by crude oil accidents and their use. Initially, the scientific community studied the role of individual microbial species by characterizing and optimizing their biosurfactant and oil degradation genes, studying their individual distribution. However, with the advances in genomics, in particular with the use of New-Generation-Sequencing and Metagenomics, it is now possible to have a macro view of the complex pathways related to the symbiotic degradation of hydrocarbons and surfactant production. It is now possible, although more challenging, to obtain the DNA information of an entire microbial community before automatically characterizing it. By characterizing and understanding the interconnected role of microorganisms and the role of degradation and biosurfactant genes in an ecosystem, it becomes possible to develop new biotechnological approaches for bioremediation use. This paper analyzes 46 different metagenome samples, spanning 20 biomes from different geographies obtained from different research projects.

RESULTS: A metagenomics bioinformatics pipeline, focused on the biodegradation and biosurfactant-production pathways, genes and organisms, was applied. Our main results show that: (1) surfactation and degradation are correlated events, and therefore should be studied together; (2) terrestrial biomes present more degradation genes, especially cyclic compounds, and less surfactation genes, when compared to water biomes; and (3) latitude has a significant influence on the diversity of genes involved in biodegradation and biosurfactant production. This suggests that microbiomes found near the equator are richer in genes that have a role in these processes and thus have a higher biotechnological potential.

CONCLUSION: In this work we have focused on the biogeographical distribution of hydrocarbon degrading and biosurfactant producing genes. Our principle results can be seen as an important step forward in the application of bioremediation techniques, by considering the biostimulation, optimization or manipulation of a starting microbial consortia from the areas with higher degradation and biosurfactant producing genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid28750436, year = {2018}, author = {Pettenkofer, M and Feltgen, N and Feucht, N and Lohmann, CP and Maier, MM}, title = {[Retinal Vascular Occlusion: Modern Therapeutic Approaches].}, journal = {Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde}, volume = {235}, number = {7}, pages = {830-839}, doi = {10.1055/s-0043-106302}, pmid = {28750436}, issn = {1439-3999}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Bevacizumab ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation ; *Retinal Artery Occlusion ; *Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors ; }, abstract = {Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) should be evaluated as an emergency and can be seen as an ocular analogue to the cerebral apoplex. Both have the same arteriosclerotic risk factors, which are also responsible for cardiac, circulatory and cerebrovascular diseases. That is why an intensive interdisciplinary clarification is necessary to recognize possible comorbidities in time and, if necessary, to treat them. The current therapeutic possibilities of an acute RAO are very limited in their efficiency regarding visual improvement. Methods for systemic lysis cannot be recommended in routine care because of their significantly increased side-effect profile. However, there is a limited window of time of up to 6 hours after the onset of symptoms in which an intervention appears to be useful at all. On the other hand, the new therapeutic possibilities of retinal vein occlusions (RVO) led to marked visual improvements, especially due to the intravitreal application of anti-VEGF. Safety and efficiency of the individual anti-VEGF drugs are comparable according to clinical trials. Alternatively, the use of intravitreal steroids can be considered, whereby the side-effect profile should be carefully weighed. In the presence of retinal ischaemia, peripheral laser coagulation can have a stabilizing effect on visual acuity and prevents neovascularization. It is postulated that the combination of anti-VEGF and laser therapy might have a symbiotic effect.}, } @article {pmid28749560, year = {2017}, author = {Pistelli, L and Ulivieri, V and Giovanelli, S and Avio, L and Giovannetti, M and Pistelli, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter the content and composition of secondary metabolites in Bituminaria bituminosa L.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {926-933}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12608}, pmid = {28749560}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Carotenoids/analysis/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/analysis/metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids/analysis/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism ; Psoralea/metabolism/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Secondary metabolites may be affected by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which are beneficial symbionts associated with the roots of most plant species. Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H.Stirt is known as a source of several phytochemicals and therefore used in folk medicine as a vulnerary, cicatrising, disinfectant agent. Characteristic metabolites found in B. bituminosa are furanocoumarins and pterocarpans, which are used in cosmetics and as chemotherapeutic agents. Here we address the question whether AMF inoculation might affect positively the synthesis of these phytochemicals. B. bituminosa plants were inoculated with different AMF and several metabolites were assessed during full vegetative stage and flowering phase. Pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), polyphenols and flavonoids were spectrophotometrically determined; specific isoflavones (genistein), furanocoumarins (psoralene and angelicin), pterocarpans (bitucarpin A and erybraedin C) and plicatin B were assessed with HPLC; leaf volatile organic compounds were analysed using SPME and identified by GC-MS. During the vegetative stage, the inoculated plants had a high amount of furanocoumarins (angelicin and psoralen) and pterocarpans (erybraedin C and bitucarpin A). The analysis of volatile organic compounds of inoculated plants showed different chemical composition compared with non-mycorrhizal plants. Given the important potential role played by furanocoumarins and pterocarpans in the pharmaceutical industry, AMF inoculation of B. bituminosa plants may represent a suitable biotechnological tool to obtain higher amounts of such metabolites for pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes.}, } @article {pmid28748644, year = {2017}, author = {Marcelino, VR and Morrow, KM and van Oppen, MJH and Bourne, DG and Verbruggen, H}, title = {Diversity and stability of coral endolithic microbial communities at a naturally high pCO2 reef.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {19}, pages = {5344-5357}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14268}, pmid = {28748644}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*chemistry ; Chlorophyta/classification ; Coral Reefs ; Cyanobacteria/classification ; *Microbiota ; Papua New Guinea ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The health and functioning of reef-building corals is dependent on a balanced association with prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes. The coral skeleton harbours numerous endolithic microbes, but their diversity, ecological roles and responses to environmental stress, including ocean acidification (OA), are not well characterized. This study tests whether pH affects the diversity and structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic algal communities associated with skeletons of Porites spp. using targeted amplicon (16S rRNA gene, UPA and tufA) sequencing. We found that the composition of endolithic communities in the massive coral Porites spp. inhabiting a naturally high pCO2 reef (avg. pCO2 811 μatm) is not significantly different from corals inhabiting reference sites (avg. pCO2 357 μatm), suggesting that these microbiomes are less disturbed by OA than previously thought. Possible explanations may be that the endolithic microhabitat is highly homeostatic or that the endolithic micro-organisms are well adapted to a wide pH range. Some of the microbial taxa identified include nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobiales and cyanobacteria), algicidal bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes, symbiotic bacteria in the family Endozoicomoniaceae, and endolithic green algae, considered the major microbial agent of reef bioerosion. Additionally, we test whether host species has an effect on the endolithic community structure. We show that the endolithic community of massive Porites spp. is substantially different and more diverse than that found in skeletons of the branching species Seriatopora hystrix and Pocillopora damicornis. This study reveals highly diverse and structured microbial communities in Porites spp. skeletons that are possibly resilient to OA.}, } @article {pmid28748615, year = {2018}, author = {Shukla, SP and Vogel, H and Heckel, DG and Vilcinskas, A and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Burying beetles regulate the microbiome of carcasses and use it to transmit a core microbiota to their offspring.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1980-1991}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14269}, pmid = {28748615}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/genetics/*microbiology ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Enterococcaceae/classification/genetics ; Larva/genetics/microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Necrophagous beetles utilize carrion, a highly nutritious resource that is susceptible to intense microbial competition, by treating it with antimicrobial anal and oral secretions. However, how this regulates the carcass microbiota remains unclear. Here, we show that carcasses prepared by the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides undergo significant changes in their microbial communities subsequent to their burial and "preparation." Prepared carcasses hosted a microbial community that was more similar to that of beetles' anal and oral secretions than to the native carcass community or the surrounding soil, indicating that the beetles regulated the carcass microbiota. A core microbial community (Xanthomonadaceae, Enterococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Yarrowia yeasts) was transmitted by the beetles to the larvae via the anal and oral secretions and the carcass surface. These core taxa proliferated on the carcass, indicating a growth conducive environment for these microbes when associated with beetles. However, total bacterial loads were higher on decomposing carcasses without beetles than on beetle-prepared carcasses, indicating that the beetles and/or their associated symbionts suppress the growth of competing microbes. Thus, apart from being a nutritional resource, the carcass provides a medium for vertical transmission of a tightly regulated symbiotic microbiota, whose activity on the carcass and in the larval gut may involve carcass preservation as well as digestion.}, } @article {pmid28748179, year = {2017}, author = {Koehbach, J}, title = {Structure-Activity Relationships of Insect Defensins.}, journal = {Frontiers in chemistry}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {45}, pmid = {28748179}, issn = {2296-2646}, abstract = {Insects make up the largest and most diverse group of organisms on earth with several million species to exist in total. Considering the sheer number of insect species and the vast variety of ways they interact with their environment through chemistry, it is clear that they have significant potential as a source of new lead molecules. They have adapted to a range of ecological habitats and exhibit a symbiotic lifestyle with various microbes such as bacteria and fungi. Accordingly, numerous antimicrobial compounds have been identified including for example defensin peptides. Insect defensins were found to have broad-spectrum activity against various gram-positive/negative bacteria as well as fungi. They exhibit a unique structural topology involving the complex arrangement of three disulfide bonds as well as an alpha helix and beta sheets, which is known as cysteine-stabilized αβ motif. Their stability and amenability to peptide engineering make them promising candidates for the development of novel antibiotics lead molecules. This review highlights the current knowledge regarding the structure-activity relationships of insect defensin peptides and provides basis for future studies focusing on the rational design of novel cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides.}, } @article {pmid28748075, year = {2017}, author = {Hasani, S and Sari, AA and Heshmati, A and Karami, M}, title = {Physicochemical and sensory attributes assessment of functional low-fat yogurt produced by incorporation of barley bran and Lactobacillus acidophilus.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {875-880}, pmid = {28748075}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of different amounts of barley bran (0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, and 1.2%) on the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus and the physicochemical and sensory properties of low-fat yogurt during storage period (28 days). Results showed that L. acidophilus number and viscosity in samples containing barley bran was significantly higher than the control group (p < .05). High levels of barley bran (1.2%) decreased sensory prosperity scores and led to viscosity increment; although sensory prosperity scores of samples containing 0.6% barley bran did not show significant difference with control sample, while the number of L. acidophilus in this treatment was higher than minimal acceptable level (10[6] CFU/g). Therefore, level of 0.6% of barley bran is recommended for symbiotic yogurt production. According to the present study, a positive correlation was observed between barley bran concentrations in the yogurt with L. acidophilus number.}, } @article {pmid28747952, year = {2017}, author = {Litwin, D and Chen, W and Dzika, E and Korycińska, J}, title = {Human Permanent Ectoparasites; Recent Advances on Biology and Clinical Significance of Demodex Mites: Narrative Review Article.}, journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {12-21}, pmid = {28747952}, issn = {1735-7020}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Demodex is a genus of mites living predominantly in mammalian pilosebaceous units. They are commonly detected in the skin of face, with increasing numbers in inflammatory lesions. Causation between Demodex mites and inflammatory diseases, such as rosacea, blepharitis, perioral and seborrhoeic dermatitis or chalazion, is controversially discussed. Clinical observations indicate a primary form of human Demodex infection. The aim of this review was to highlight the biological aspects of Demodex infestation and point out directions for the future research.

METHODS: We conducted a broad review based on the electronic database sources such as MEDLINE, PubMed and Scopus with regard to the characteristics of the Demodex species, methods of examination and worldwide epidemiology, molecular studies and its role in the complex human ecosystem.

RESULTS: Demodex mites are organisms with a worldwide importance as they act in indicating several dermatoses, under certain conditions. However, correlations between Demodex and other parasites or microorganisms occupying one host, as well as interactions between these arachnids and its symbiotic bacteria should be considered. There are few methods of human mites' examination depending on purpose of the study. Nevertheless, paying attention must be needed as polymorphism of Demodex species has been reported.

CONCLUSION: Overall, the present review will focus on different aspects of Demodex mites' biology and significance of these arachnids in human's health.}, } @article {pmid28747779, year = {2017}, author = {Kotilínek, M and Hiiesalu, I and Košnar, J and Šmilauerová, M and Šmilauer, P and Altman, J and Dvorský, M and Kopecký, M and Doležal, J}, title = {Fungal root symbionts of high-altitude vascular plants in the Himalayas.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {6562}, pmid = {28747779}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Altitude ; *Biodiversity ; Endophytes/*classification/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; India ; Microscopy ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) form symbiotic relationships with plants influencing their productivity, diversity and ecosystem functions. Only a few studies on these fungi, however, have been conducted in extreme elevations and none over 5500 m a.s.l., although vascular plants occur up to 6150 m a.s.l. in the Himalayas. We quantified AMF and DSE in roots of 62 plant species from contrasting habitats along an elevational gradient (3400-6150 m) in the Himalayas using a combination of optical microscopy and next generation sequencing. We linked AMF and DSE communities with host plant evolutionary history, ecological preferences (elevation and habitat type) and functional traits. We detected AMF in elevations up to 5800 m, indicating it is more constrained by extreme conditions than the host plants, which ascend up to 6150 m. In contrast, DSE were found across the entire gradient up to 6150 m. AMF diversity was unimodally related to elevation and positively related to the intensity of AMF colonization. Mid-elevation steppe and alpine plants hosted more diverse AMF communities than plants from deserts and the subnival zone. Our results bring novel insights to the abiotic and biotic filters structuring AMF and DSE communities in the Himalayas.}, } @article {pmid28747629, year = {2017}, author = {Herbert, NA and Bröhl, S and Springer, K and Kunzmann, A}, title = {Clownfish in hypoxic anemones replenish host O2 at only localised scales.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {6547}, pmid = {28747629}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Anemone/*physiology ; Animal Scales/physiology ; Animals ; Fishes/*physiology ; *Hypoxia ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The clownfish-anemone association exemplifies a symbiosis where both members benefit from nutrient exchange and protection from predators. Clownfish also perform aeration-like behaviour in their host anemones at night, but it is not yet known whether this is stimulated by the onset of hypoxia, and whether both members benefit from O2 replenishment. Oxygen at 3 distances above the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor (0.2, 1.2 and 2.2 cm) therefore was measured under 3 light levels (photon flux density = 0, 55 and 110 µmol m[-2] s[-1]), with and without the anemonefish Amphiprion frenatus. Hypoxia (O2 < 50% air saturation) was recorded in the anemone, but only at 0.2 cm away from the anemone surface under dark conditions when A. frenatus was absent. This localised layer of hypoxia was eliminated by the presence of A. frenatus exhibiting aeration-like behaviour. Respirometry revealed that A. frenatus is extremely hypoxia tolerant (S crit = 14.3% at 25 °C), suggesting that aeration behaviour does not provide a major metabolic advantage to clownfish because they do not breathe water at 0.2 cm and are not metabolically constrained by O2 at distances ≥ 1.2 cm. That the aeration behaviour of A. frenatus facilitates only the metabolism of its O2-conforming host reveals a unique aspect of this symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid28746761, year = {2017}, author = {Kaebnick, GE and Jennings, B}, title = {De-extinction and Conservation.}, journal = {The Hastings Center report}, volume = {47 Suppl 2}, number = {}, pages = {S2-S4}, doi = {10.1002/hast.744}, pmid = {28746761}, issn = {1552-146X}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Cloning, Organism/ethics ; Conservation of Natural Resources/*methods ; Endangered Species ; *Extinction, Biological ; Gene Editing/ethics ; Humans ; Morals ; Public Opinion ; Synthetic Biology/ethics/methods ; }, abstract = {We are living in what is widely considered the sixth major extinction. Most ecologists believe that biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate, with up to 150 species going extinct per day according to scientists working with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Part of the reason the loss signified by biological extinction feels painful is that it seems irremediable. These creatures are gone, and there's nothing to be done about it. In recent years, however, the possibility has been broached that, just possibly, something can be done, in at least some cases. Human ingenuity, a contributing factor in the extinction crisis, might achieve their "de-extinction"-in at least some cases, and with sometimes significant qualifications about whether the original species had been "recreated" and whether it could resume its original place in the environment. De-extinction is an entry point into a larger set of questions about how biotechnological tools can support, coexist with, or undermine the goals of conservation and about the very meaning of conservation. Are we beings in control of the world or beings who prosper by accommodating ourselves to webs of symbiotic interdependencies? Are we creators or creatures, or both-and if both, then how can we achieve the balance between them that might be called humility? The interplay of perfecting and accommodating is not unique to human beings-perhaps it characterizes all forms of life on Earth-but with humans, these modes of being are distinctive, and our technology greatly expands their scale and effects. It is such questions that the ten essays in this special report explore.}, } @article {pmid28746748, year = {2017}, author = {LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Validation and description of Symbiodinium microadriaticum, the type species of Symbiodinium (Dinophyta).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {53}, number = {5}, pages = {1109-1114}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12570}, pmid = {28746748}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Dinoflagellida/*classification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {It has been 55 years since Hugo Freudenthal described Symbiodinium microadriaticum (Dinophyceae), the type species of this large and important dinoflagellate genus found commonly in mutualistic symbiosis with cnidarians, other invertebrates, and certain protists. However, no type specimen was designated by Freudenthal, thus S. microadriaticum was invalid, as was Symbiodinium and every species subsequently assigned to the genus. The original culture was lost, but since 1979, a different culture, CCMP2464/rt-061, had been considered to represent S. microadriaticum. From this culture, a preserved specimen is herein designated the holotype of S. microadriaticum, validating the binomial and Symbiodinium. All binary designations previously considered to belong in Symbiodinium also are validated herein.}, } @article {pmid28745553, year = {2017}, author = {Soltani, A and Vatandoost, H and Oshaghi, MA and Enayati, AA and Chavshin, AR}, title = {The role of midgut symbiotic bacteria in resistance of Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae) to organophosphate insecticides.}, journal = {Pathogens and global health}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {289-296}, pmid = {28745553}, issn = {2047-7732}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Enzymes/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Insecticide Resistance ; Insecticides/*metabolism ; Organophosphates/*metabolism ; Temefos/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the current study, the effects of the presence of symbiotic bacteria on the activity of the enzymes involved in An. stephensi resistance to temephos are evaluated for the first time. Four different strains (I. susceptible strain, II. resistant strain, III. resistant strain + antibiotic, and IV. resistant strain + bacteria) were considered in order to determine the possible effects of the symbiotic bacteria on their hosts' resistance to temephos. The median values of all enzymes of susceptible strain were compared with those of other resistant strains. The results of this study indicated a direct relationship between the presence of bacteria in the symbiotic organs of An. stephensi and resistance to temephos. The profile of enzymatic activities in the resistant strain changed to a susceptible status after adding antibiotic. The resistance of An. stephensi to temephos could be completely broken artificially by removing their bacterial symbionts in a resistant population.}, } @article {pmid28745342, year = {2018}, author = {Van Arnam, EB and Currie, CR and Clardy, J}, title = {Defense contracts: molecular protection in insect-microbe symbioses.}, journal = {Chemical Society reviews}, volume = {47}, number = {5}, pages = {1638-1651}, doi = {10.1039/c7cs00340d}, pmid = {28745342}, issn = {1460-4744}, support = {R01 AT009874/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects cope with environmental threats using a broad array of strategies. A key strategy, widespread among insects but unappreciated until recently, is the use of molecular defenses from symbiotic microbes. Insect-microbe defensive symbioses span the diversity of insect lineages and microbial partners and use molecules ranging from reactive oxygen species to small molecules to protein toxins to defend against predators, parasites, and microbial pathogens. These systems have a strong initial track record as sources of novel biologically active compounds with therapeutic potential. This review surveys the molecular basis for insect-microbe defensive symbioses with a focus on the ecological contexts for defense and on emerging lessons about molecular diversity from bacterial genomes.}, } @article {pmid28744296, year = {2017}, author = {Song, T and Xu, H and Sun, N and Jiang, L and Tian, P and Yong, Y and Yang, W and Cai, H and Cui, G}, title = {Metabolomic Analysis of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Root-Symbiotic Rhizobia Responses under Alkali Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1208}, pmid = {28744296}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Alkaline salts (e.g., NaHCO3 and Na2CO3) causes more severe morphological and physiological damage to plants than neutral salts (e.g., NaCl and Na2SO4) due to differences in pH. The mechanism by which plants respond to alkali stress is not fully understood, especially in plants having symbotic relationships such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Therefore, a study was designed to evaluate the metabolic response of the root-nodule symbiosis in alfalfa under alkali stress using comparative metabolomics. Rhizobium-nodulized (RI group) and non-nodulized (NI group) alfalfa roots were treated with 200 mmol/L NaHCO3 and, roots samples were analyzed for malondialdehydyde (MDA), proline, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) content. Additionally, metabolite profiling was conducted using gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOF-MS). Phenotypically, the RI alfalfa exhibited a greater resistance to alkali stress than the NI plants examined. Physiological analysis and metabolic profiling revealed that RI plants accumulated more antioxidants (SOD, POD, GSH), osmolytes (sugar, glycols, proline), organic acids (succinic acid, fumaric acid, and alpha-ketoglutaric acid), and metabolites that are involved in nitrogen fixation. Our pairwise metabolomics comparisons revealed that RI alfalfa plants exhibited a distinct metabolic profile associated with alkali putative tolerance relative to NI alfalfa plants. Data provide new information about the relationship between non-nodulized, rhizobium-nodulized alfalfa and alkali resistance.}, } @article {pmid28744287, year = {2017}, author = {Lin, YL and Ip, PP and Liao, F}, title = {CCR6 Deficiency Impairs IgA Production and Dysregulates Antimicrobial Peptide Production, Altering the Intestinal Flora.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {805}, pmid = {28744287}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Intestinal immunity exists as a complex relationship among immune cells, epithelial cells, and microbiota. CCR6 and its ligand-CCL20 are highly expressed in intestinal mucosal tissues, such as Peyer's patches (PPs) and isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs). In this study, we investigated the role of the CCR6-CCL20 axis in intestinal immunity under homeostatic conditions. CCR6 deficiency intrinsically affects germinal center reactions in PPs, leading to impairments in IgA class switching, IgA affinity, and IgA memory B cell production and positioning in PPs, suggesting an important role for CCR6 in T-cell-dependent IgA generation. CCR6 deficiency impairs the maturation of ILFs. In these follicles, group 3 innate lymphoid cells are important components and a major source of IL-22, which stimulates intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) to produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We found that CCR6 deficiency reduces IL-22 production, likely due to diminished numbers of group 3 innate lymphoid cells within small-sized ILFs. The reduced IL-22 levels subsequently decrease the production of AMPs, suggesting a critical role for CCR6 in innate intestinal immunity. Finally, we found that CCR6 deficiency impairs the production of IgA and AMPs, leading to increased levels of Alcaligenes in PPs, and segmented filamentous bacteria in IECs. Thus, the CCR6-CCL20 axis plays a crucial role in maintaining intestinal symbiosis by limiting the overgrowth of mucosa-associated commensal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28744256, year = {2017}, author = {Alcántara-Alonso, V and Panetta, P and de Gortari, P and Grammatopoulos, DK}, title = {Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone As the Homeostatic Rheostat of Feto-Maternal Symbiosis and Developmental Programming In Utero and Neonatal Life.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {161}, pmid = {28744256}, issn = {1664-2392}, abstract = {A balanced interaction between the homeostatic mechanisms of mother and the developing organism during pregnancy and in early neonatal life is essential in order to ensure optimal fetal development, ability to respond to various external and internal challenges, protection from adverse programming, and safeguard maternal care availability after parturition. In the majority of pregnancies, this relationship is highly effective resulting in successful outcomes. However, in a number of pathological settings, perturbations of the maternal homeostasis disrupt this symbiosis and initiate adaptive responses with unpredictable outcomes for the fetus or even the neonate. This may lead to development of pathological phenotypes arising from developmental reprogramming involving interaction of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental-driven pathways, sometimes with acute consequences (e.g., growth impairment) and sometimes delayed (e.g., enhanced susceptibility to disease) that last well into adulthood. Most of these adaptive mechanisms are activated and controlled by hormones of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis under the influence of placental steroid and peptide hormones. In particular, the hypothalamic peptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a key role in feto-maternal communication by orchestrating and integrating a series of neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, and behavioral responses. CRH also regulates neural networks involved in maternal behavior and this determines efficiency of maternal care and neonate interactions. This review will summarize our current understanding of CRH actions during the perinatal period, focusing on the physiological roles for both mother and offspring and also how external challenges can alter CRH actions and potentially impact on fetus/neonate health.}, } @article {pmid28743814, year = {2017}, author = {Matsuoka, JI and Ishizuna, F and Kurumisawa, K and Morohashi, K and Ogawa, T and Hidaka, M and Saito, K and Ezawa, T and Aono, T}, title = {Stringent Expression Control of Pathogenic R-body Production in Legume Symbiont Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28743814}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*genetics/*pathogenicity/ultrastructure ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Inclusion Bodies/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Ketoglutaric Acids/pharmacology ; Operon ; Paramecium/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {R bodies are insoluble large polymers consisting of small proteins encoded by reb genes and are coiled into cylindrical structures in bacterial cells. They were first discovered in Caedibacter species, which are obligate endosymbionts of paramecia. Caedibacter confers a killer trait on the host paramecia. R-body-producing symbionts are released from their host paramecia and kill symbiont-free paramecia after ingestion. The roles of R bodies have not been explained in bacteria other than CaedibacterAzorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a microsymbiont of the legume Sesbania rostrata, carries a reb operon containing four reb genes that are regulated by the repressor PraR. Herein, deletion of the praR gene resulted in R-body formation and death of host plant cells. The rebR gene in the reb operon encodes an activator. Three PraR binding sites and a RebR binding site are present in the promoter region of the reb operon. Expression analyses using strains with mutations within the PraR binding site and/or the RebR binding site revealed that PraR and RebR directly control the expression of the reb operon and that PraR dominantly represses reb expression. Furthermore, we found that the reb operon is highly expressed at low temperatures and that 2-oxoglutarate induces the expression of the reb operon by inhibiting PraR binding to the reb promoter. We conclude that R bodies are toxic not only in paramecium symbiosis but also in relationships between other bacteria and eukaryotic cells and that R-body formation is controlled by environmental factors.IMPORTANCECaedibacter species, which are obligate endosymbiotic bacteria of paramecia, produce R bodies, and R-body-producing endosymbionts that are released from their hosts are pathogenic to symbiont-free paramecia. Besides Caedibacter species, R bodies have also been observed in a few free-living bacteria, but the significance of R-body production in these bacteria is still unknown. Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies revealed that many Gram-negative bacteria possess reb genes encoding R-body components, and interestingly, many of them are animal and plant pathogens. Azorhizobium caulinodans, a microsymbiont of the tropical legume Sesbania rostrata, also possesses reb genes. In this study, we demonstrate that A. caulinodans has ability to kill the host plant cells by producing R bodies, suggesting that pathogenicity conferred by an R body might be universal in bacteria possessing reb genes. Furthermore, we provide the first insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the expression of R-body production in response to environmental factors, such as temperature and 2-oxoglutarate.}, } @article {pmid28743041, year = {2017}, author = {Ziebell, H and MacDiarmid, R}, title = {Prospects for engineering and improvement of cross-protective virus strains.}, journal = {Current opinion in virology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {8-14}, doi = {10.1016/j.coviro.2017.06.010}, pmid = {28743041}, issn = {1879-6265}, mesh = {*Cross Protection ; *Disease Resistance ; Plant Diseases/immunology/*prevention & control ; Plant Viruses/*immunology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {Mild strain cross-protection is currently an important method for the production of high quality plant products; despite challenge from severe virus isolates the initial protecting strain precludes symptom development. The mechanism of cross-protection is not yet resolved as RNA silencing does not sufficiently explain the phenomenon. Six requirements have been put forward to ensure long-lasting protection. We propose two additional requirements for effective and durable mild strain cross-protection; mild strains based on knowledge of the mechanism and consideration of impacts to consumers. Future research on predicting phenotype from genotype and understanding virus-plant and virus-vector interactions will enable improvement of cross-protective strains. Shared international databases of whole ecosystem interactions across a wide range of virus patho- and symbiotic-systems will form the basis for making step-change advances towards our collective ability to engineer and improve mild strain cross-protection.}, } @article {pmid28741520, year = {2016}, author = {Morandi, A and Giannoni, E and Chiarugi, P}, title = {Nutrient Exploitation within the Tumor-Stroma Metabolic Crosstalk.}, journal = {Trends in cancer}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {736-746}, doi = {10.1016/j.trecan.2016.11.001}, pmid = {28741520}, issn = {2405-8025}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Stromal Cells/*metabolism ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The tumor microenvironment has an essential role in defining tumor malignancy, since it can either promote or prevent tumor initiation and subsequent progression and metastatic dissemination. Recent studies demonstrate that highly aggressive cancer cells display a high degree of metabolic plasticity paralleled by the acquisition of stemness and chemoresistant properties. In addition, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells have an important role in shaping the metabolic behavior of cancer cells. This review discusses the current knowledge of metabolic reprogramming in cancer, the tumor-stroma metabolic crosstalk, and the available compounds that may be used to effectively target the tumor-stroma metabolic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28741080, year = {2017}, author = {Zeng, X and Li, Y and Ling, H and Liu, S and Liu, M and Chen, J and Guo, S}, title = {Transcriptomic analyses reveal clathrin-mediated endocytosis involved in symbiotic seed germination of Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {31}, pmid = {28741080}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata is a well-known medicinal orchid. In nature, the germination rate of G. elata is extremely poor, because there is no endosperm within the mature seed. It is crucial for G. elata to obtain nutrition from mycorrhizal fungi (Mycena) at the early-stage of germination. After germination, the seed gives rise to a protocorm. However, there are no "omic" studies on understanding the interaction between Gastrodia and Mycena. Here, we used transcriptomic approaches to explore changes in seed germination of G. elata.

RESULTS: Based on RNA-Seq, a total of ~221 million clean reads were assembled denovo into 139,756 unigenes, including 42,140 unigenes that were annotated in public databases. Meanwhile, 1750 unigenes were identified as differentially expressed genes. Most of these differentially expressed genes were putatively involved in energy metabolism, plant defense, molecular signaling, and secondary metabolism. Additionally, numerous genes involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis were identified from our data. Most of these genes (e.g., clathrin, adaptor protein, dynamin, HSC70) were basally expressed in seeds and highly expressed in protocorms.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that clathrin-mediated endocytosis could play important roles in symbiotic seed germination of G. elata with Mycena infections.}, } @article {pmid28740337, year = {2017}, author = {Ponziani, FR and Zocco, MA and D'Aversa, F and Pompili, M and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {Eubiotic properties of rifaximin: Disruption of the traditional concepts in gut microbiota modulation.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {23}, number = {25}, pages = {4491-4499}, pmid = {28740337}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Communicable Diseases/*drug therapy ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Permeability ; Rifamycins/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Rifaximin ; Virulence/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Antibiotics are usually prescribed to cure infections but they also have significant modulatory effects on the gut microbiota. Several alterations of the intestinal bacterial community have been reported during antibiotic treatment, including the reduction of beneficial bacteria as well as of microbial alpha-diversity. Although after the discontinuation of antibiotic therapies it has been observed a trend towards the restoration of the original condition, the new steady state is different from the previous one, as if antibiotics induced some kind of irreversible perturbation of the gut microbial community. The poorly absorbed antibiotic rifaximin seem to be different from the other antibiotics, because it exerts non-traditional effects additional to the bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity on the gut microbiota. Rifaximin is able to reduce bacterial virulence and translocation, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been demonstrated to positively modulate the gut microbial composition. Animal models, culture studies and metagenomic analyses have demonstrated an increase in Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Lactobacillus abundance after rifaximin treatment, probably consequent to the induction of bacterial resistance, with no major change in the overall gut microbiota composition. Antibiotics are therefore modulators of the symbiotic relationship between the host and the gut microbiota. Specific antibiotics, such as rifaximin, can also induce eubiotic changes in the intestinal ecosystem; this additional property may represent a therapeutic advantage in specific clinical settings.}, } @article {pmid28739135, year = {2017}, author = {Gamas, P and Brault, M and Jardinaud, MF and Frugier, F}, title = {Cytokinins in Symbiotic Nodulation: When, Where, What For?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {792-802}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2017.06.012}, pmid = {28739135}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Cytokinins/genetics/*physiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Substantial progress has been made in the understanding of early stages of the symbiotic interaction between legume plants and rhizobium bacteria. Those include the specific recognition of symbiotic partners, the initiation of bacterial infection in root hair cells, and the inception of a specific organ in the root cortex, the nodule. Increasingly complex regulatory networks have been uncovered in which cytokinin (CK) phytohormones play essential roles in different aspects of early symbiotic stages. Intriguingly, these roles can be either positive or negative, cell autonomous or non-cell autonomous, and vary, depending on time, root tissues, and possibly legume species. Recent developments on CK symbiotic functions and interconnections with other signaling pathways during nodule initiation are the focus of this review.}, } @article {pmid28738545, year = {2017}, author = {Shen, Y and Gao, J and Li, L}, title = {Municipal wastewater treatment via co-immobilized microalgal-bacterial symbiosis: Microorganism growth and nutrients removal.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {243}, number = {}, pages = {905-913}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.041}, pmid = {28738545}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Chlorella vulgaris ; *Microalgae ; Phosphates ; Symbiosis ; *Wastewater ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic microalgal-bacterial system may be an optional technology for wastewater treatment. In this study, co-immobilized of a bacterium isolated from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (Pseudomonas putida) and a microalgae Chlorella vulgaris was used in the study of cell growth and nutrient removal during wastewater treatment under batch and continuous culture conditions. Under batch culture conditions, co-immobilization treatment significantly increased the cell density of C. vulgaris and P. putida compared with other treatments. The co-immobilized treatment also showed higher removal of ammonium, phosphate and COD than any single treatment, indicating that the nutrient uptake capability of C. vulgaris and P. Putida was mutually enhanced mutually. When tested in continuous mode, the treatment with a hydraulic retention time of 24h at the organic load rate of 1159.2mgCODL[-1]d[-1] was most appropriate for wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid28734735, year = {2017}, author = {Lyssiotis, CA and Kimmelman, AC}, title = {Metabolic Interactions in the Tumor Microenvironment.}, journal = {Trends in cell biology}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {863-875}, pmid = {28734735}, issn = {1879-3088}, support = {P01 CA117969/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA157490/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA188048/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095567/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism ; *Cell Communication ; *Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages/metabolism ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Tumors are dynamic pseudoorgans that contain numerous cell types interacting to create a unique physiology. Within this network, the malignant cells encounter many challenges and rewire their metabolic properties accordingly. Such changes can be experienced and executed autonomously or through interaction with other cells in the tumor. The focus of this review is on the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment that leads to pathophysiologic interactions that are influenced and shaped by metabolism. They include symbiotic nutrient sharing, nutrient competition, and the role of metabolites as signaling molecules. Examples of such processes abound in normal organismal physiology, and such heterocellular metabolic interactions are repurposed to support tumor metabolism and growth. The importance and ubiquity of these processes are just beginning to be realized, and insights into their role in tumor development and progression are being used to design new drug targets and cancer therapies.}, } @article {pmid28733989, year = {2017}, author = {Klimov, PB and Mironov, SV and OConnor, BM}, title = {Detecting ancient codispersals and host shifts by double dating of host and parasite phylogenies: Application in proctophyllodid feather mites associated with passerine birds.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {71}, number = {10}, pages = {2381-2397}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13309}, pmid = {28733989}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Host Specificity ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Mites/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Passeriformes/classification/*genetics/parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; }, abstract = {Inferring cophylogeographic events requires matching the timing of these events on both host and symbiont (e.g., parasites) phylogenies because divergences of hosts and their symbionts may not temporally coincide, and host switches may occur. We investigate a large radiation of birds (Passeriformes) and their permanent symbionts, the proctophyllodid feather mites (117 species from 116 bird species; six genes, 11,468 nt aligned) using two time-calibration strategies for mites: fossils only and host phylogeography only. Out of 10 putative cophylogeographic events 4 agree in timing for both symbiont and host events being synchronous co-origins or codispersals; three were based on host shifts, but agree in timing being very close to the origin of modern hosts; two disagree; and one large basal mite split was seemingly independent from host phylogeography. Among these events was an ancient (21-25.3 Mya), synchronous codispersal from the Old World leading to the origin and diversifications of New World emberizoid passerids and their mites, the thraupis + quadratus species groups of Proctophyllodes. Our framework offers a more robust detection of host and symbiont cophylogeographic events (as compared to host-symbiont reconciliation analysis and using host phylogeography for time-calibration) and provides independent data for testing alternative hypotheses on timing of host diversification and dispersal.}, } @article {pmid28733389, year = {2017}, author = {Reid, D and Nadzieja, M and Novák, O and Heckmann, AB and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J}, title = {Cytokinin Biosynthesis Promotes Cortical Cell Responses during Nodule Development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {175}, number = {1}, pages = {361-375}, pmid = {28733389}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/cytology/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume mutants have shown the requirement for receptor-mediated cytokinin signaling in symbiotic nodule organogenesis. While the receptors are central regulators, cytokinin also is accumulated during early phases of symbiotic interaction, but the pathways involved have not yet been fully resolved. To identify the source, timing, and effect of this accumulation, we followed transcript levels of the cytokinin biosynthetic pathway genes in a sliding developmental zone of Lotus japonicus roots. LjIpt2 and LjLog4 were identified as the major contributors to the first cytokinin burst. The genetic dependence and Nod factor responsiveness of these genes confirm that cytokinin biosynthesis is a key target of the common symbiosis pathway. The accumulation of LjIpt2 and LjLog4 transcripts occurs independent of the LjLhk1 receptor during nodulation. Together with the rapid repression of both genes by cytokinin, this indicates that LjIpt2 and LjLog4 contribute to, rather than respond to, the initial cytokinin buildup. Analysis of the cytokinin response using the synthetic cytokinin sensor, TCSn, showed that this response occurs in cortical cells before spreading to the epidermis in L. japonicus While mutant analysis identified redundancy in several biosynthesis families, we found that mutation of LjIpt4 limits nodule numbers. Overexpression of LjIpt3 or LjLog4 alone was insufficient to produce the robust formation of spontaneous nodules. In contrast, overexpressing a complete cytokinin biosynthesis pathway leads to large, often fused spontaneous nodules. These results show the importance of cytokinin biosynthesis in initiating and balancing the requirement for cortical cell activation without uncontrolled cell proliferation.}, } @article {pmid28732146, year = {2017}, author = {Abreu, I and Saéz, Á and Castro-Rodríguez, R and Escudero, V and Rodríguez-Haas, B and Senovilla, M and Larue, C and Grolimund, D and Tejada-Jiménez, M and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula Zinc-Iron Permease6 provides zinc to rhizobia-infected nodule cells.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {40}, number = {11}, pages = {2706-2719}, doi = {10.1111/pce.13035}, pmid = {28732146}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cell Differentiation ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Homeostasis ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*cytology/*enzymology/genetics ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Zinc is a micronutrient required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. It has been proposed that in model legume Medicago truncatula, zinc is delivered by the root vasculature into the nodule and released in the infection/differentiation zone. There, transporters must introduce this element into rhizobia-infected cells to metallate the apoproteins that use zinc as a cofactor. MtZIP6 (Medtr4g083570) is an M. truncatula Zinc-Iron Permease (ZIP) that is expressed only in roots and nodules, with the highest expression levels in the infection/differentiation zone. Immunolocalization studies indicate that it is located in the plasma membrane of nodule rhizobia-infected cells. Down-regulating MtZIP6 expression levels with RNAi does not result in any strong phenotype when plants are fed mineral nitrogen. However, these plants displayed severe growth defects when they depended on nitrogen fixed by their nodules, losing of 80% of their nitrogenase activity. The reduction of this activity was likely an indirect effect of zinc being retained in the infection/differentiation zone and not reaching the cytosol of rhizobia-infected cells. These data are consistent with a model in which MtZIP6 would be responsible for zinc uptake by rhizobia-infected nodule cells in the infection/differentiation zone.}, } @article {pmid28731202, year = {2017}, author = {Braukmann, TWA and Broe, MB and Stefanović, S and Freudenstein, JV}, title = {On the brink: the highly reduced plastomes of nonphotosynthetic Ericaceae.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {216}, number = {1}, pages = {254-266}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14681}, pmid = {28731202}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ericaceae/*genetics/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Plastid ; Genomics ; *Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Physical Chromosome Mapping ; }, abstract = {Ericaceae (the heather family) is a large and diverse group of plants that forms elaborate symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, and includes several nonphotosynthetic lineages. Using an extensive sample of fully mycoheterotrophic (MH) species, we explored inter- and intraspecific variation as well as selective constraints acting on the plastomes of these unusual plants. The plastomes of seven MH genera were analysed in a phylogenetic context with two geographically disparate individuals sequenced for Allotropa, Monotropa, and Pityopus. The plastomes of nonphotosynthetic Ericaceae are highly reduced in size (c. 33-41 kbp) and content, having lost all photosynthesis-related genes, and are reduced to encoding housekeeping genes as well as a protease subunit (clpP)-like and acetyl-CoA carboxylase subunit D (accD)-like open reading frames. Despite an increase in the rate of their nucleotide substitutions, the remaining protein-coding genes are typically under purifying selection in full MHs. We also identified ribosomal proteins under relaxed or neutral selection. These plastomes also exhibit striking structural rearrangements. Intraspecific variation within MH Ericaceae ranges from a few differences (Allotropa) to extensive population divergences (Monotropa, Hypopitys), which indicates that cryptic speciation may be occurring in several lineages. The pattern of gene loss within fully MH Ericaceae plastomes suggests an advanced state of degradation.}, } @article {pmid28730540, year = {2017}, author = {Venice, F and de Pinto, MC and Novero, M and Ghignone, S and Salvioli, A and Bonfante, P}, title = {Gigaspora margarita with and without its endobacterium shows adaptive responses to oxidative stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {747-759}, pmid = {28730540}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/*physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*pharmacology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidants/*pharmacology ; *Oxidative Stress ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi experience oxidative stress during the plant-fungal interaction, due to endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by fungal metabolism and exogenous ROS produced by plant cells. Here, we examine the responses to H2O2 in Gigaspora margarita, an AM fungus containing the endobacterial symbiont Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum (CaGg). Previous studies revealed that G. margarita with its endobacterium produces more ATP and has higher respiratory activity than a cured line that lacks the endobacterium. This higher bioenergetic potential leads to higher production of ROS and to a higher ROS-detoxifying capacity, suggesting a direct or indirect role of the endobacterium in modulating fungal antioxidant responses. To test the hypothesis that the fungal-endobacterial symbiosis may enhance the fitness of the AM fungus in the presence of oxidative stress, we treated the fungus with a sublethal concentration of H2O2 and performed RNA-seq analysis. Our results demonstrate that (i) irrespective of the endobacterium presence, G. margarita faces oxidative stress by activating multiple metabolic processes (methionine oxidation, sulfur uptake, the pentose phosphate pathway, activation of ROS-scavenger genes); (ii) in the presence of its endobacterium, G. margarita upregulates some metabolic pathways, like chromatin status modifications and iron metabolism; and (iii) contrary to our hypothesis, the cured line responds to H2O2 by activating the transcription of specific ROS scavengers. We confirmed the RNA-seq findings by measuring the glutathione and ascorbate concentration, which was the same in both lines after H2O2 treatment. We conclude that both fungal lines may face oxidative stress, but they activate alternative strategies.}, } @article {pmid28729863, year = {2017}, author = {Chan, CS and Chan, KG and Ee, R and Hong, KW and Urbieta, MS and Donati, ER and Shamsir, MS and Goh, KM}, title = {Effects of Physiochemical Factors on Prokaryotic Biodiversity in Malaysian Circumneutral Hot Springs.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1252}, pmid = {28729863}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Malaysia has a great number of hot springs, especially along the flank of the Banjaran Titiwangsa mountain range. Biological studies of the Malaysian hot springs are rare because of the lack of comprehensive information on their microbial communities. In this study, we report a cultivation-independent census to describe microbial communities in six hot springs. The Ulu Slim (US), Sungai Klah (SK), Dusun Tua (DT), Sungai Serai (SS), Semenyih (SE), and Ayer Hangat (AH) hot springs exhibit circumneutral pH with temperatures ranging from 43°C to 90°C. Genomic DNA was extracted from environmental samples and the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA genes were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that microbial richness was high in all samples as indicated by the detection of 6,334-26,244 operational taxonomy units. In total, 59, 61, 72, 73, 65, and 52 bacterial phyla were identified in the US, SK, DT, SS, SE, and AH hot springs, respectively. Generally, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated the bacterial communities in all hot springs. Archaeal communities mainly consisted of Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Parvarchaeota. In beta diversity analysis, the hot spring microbial memberships were clustered primarily on the basis of temperature and salinity. Canonical correlation analysis to assess the relationship between the microbial communities and physicochemical variables revealed that diversity patterns were best explained by a combination of physicochemical variables, rather than by individual abiotic variables such as temperature and salinity.}, } @article {pmid28729859, year = {2017}, author = {Zou, L and Gastebois, A and Mathieu-Demazière, C and Sorroche, F and Masson-Boivin, C and Batut, J and Garnerone, AM}, title = {Transcriptomic Insight in the Control of Legume Root Secondary Infection by the Sinorhizobium meliloti Transcriptional Regulator Clr.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1236}, pmid = {28729859}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The cAMP-dependent transcriptional regulator Clr of Sinorhizobium meliloti regulates the overall number of infection events on Medicago roots by a so-far unknown mechanism requiring smc02178, a Clr-target gene of unknown function. In order to shed light on the mode of action of Clr on infection and potentially reveal additional biological functions for Clr, we inventoried genomic Clr target genes by transcriptome profiling. We have found that Clr positively controls the synthesis of cAMP-dependent succinoglycan as well as the expression of genes involved in the synthesis of a so-far unknown polysaccharide compound. In addition, Clr activated expression of 24 genes of unknown function in addition to smc02178. Genes negatively controlled by Clr were mainly involved in swimming motility and chemotaxis. Functional characterization of two novel Clr-activated genes of unknown function, smb20495 and smc02177, showed that their expression was activated by the same plant signal as smc02178 ex planta. In planta, however, symbiotic expression of smc02177 proved independent of clr. Both smc02177 and smb20495 genes were strictly required for the control of secondary infection on M. sativa. None of the three smc02177, smc02178 and smb20495 genes were needed for plant signal perception. Altogether this work provides a refined view of the cAMP-dependent Clr regulon of S. meliloti. We specifically discuss the possible roles of smc02177, smc02178, smb20495 genes and other Clr-controlled genes in the control of secondary infection of Medicago roots.}, } @article {pmid28728564, year = {2017}, author = {McGill, SE and Barker, D}, title = {Comparison of the protein-coding genomes of three deep-sea, sulfur-oxidising bacteria: "Candidatus Ruthia magnifica", "Candidatus Vesicomyosocius okutanii" and Thiomicrospira crunogena.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {296}, pmid = {28728564}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria/*genetics ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: " Candidatus Ruthia magnifica", "Candidatus Vesicomyosocius okutanii" and Thiomicrospira crunogena are all sulfur-oxidising bacteria found in deep-sea vent environments. Recent research suggests that the two symbiotic organisms, "Candidatus R. magnifica" and "Candidatus V. okutanii", may share common ancestry with the autonomously living species T. crunogena. We used comparative genomics to examine the genome-wide protein-coding content of all three species to explore their similarities. In particular, we used the OrthoMCL algorithm to sort proteins into groups of putative orthologs on the basis of sequence similarity.

RESULTS: The OrthoMCL inflation parameter was tuned using biological criteria. Using the tuned value, OrthoMCL delimited 1070 protein groups. 63.5% of these groups contained one protein from each species. Two groups contained duplicate protein copies from all three species. 123 groups were unique to T. crunogena and ten groups included multiple copies of T. crunogena proteins but only single copies from the other species. "Candidatus R. magnifica" had one unique group, and had multiple copies in one group where the other species had a single copy. There were no groups unique to "Candidatus V. okutanii", and no groups in which there were multiple "Candidatus V. okutanii" proteins but only single proteins from the other species. Results align with previous suggestions that all three species share a common ancestor. However this is not definitive evidence to make taxonomic conclusions and the possibility of horizontal gene transfer was not investigated. Methodologically, the tuning of the OrthoMCL inflation parameter using biological criteria provides further methods to refine the OrthoMCL procedure.}, } @article {pmid28727232, year = {2018}, author = {Kenkel, CD and Moya, A and Strahl, J and Humphrey, C and Bay, LK}, title = {Functional genomic analysis of corals from natural CO2 -seeps reveals core molecular responses involved in acclimatization to ocean acidification.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {158-171}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13833}, pmid = {28727232}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Acclimatization/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*chemistry/metabolism ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Genomics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Papua New Guinea ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Little is known about the potential for acclimatization or adaptation of corals to ocean acidification and even less about the molecular mechanisms underpinning these processes. Here, we examine global gene expression patterns in corals and their intracellular algal symbionts from two replicate population pairs in Papua New Guinea that have undergone long-term acclimatization to natural variation in pCO2 . In the coral host, only 61 genes were differentially expressed in response to pCO2 environment, but the pattern of change was highly consistent between replicate populations, likely reflecting the core expression homeostasis response to ocean acidification. Functional annotations highlight lipid metabolism and a change in the stress response capacity of corals as key parts of this process. Specifically, constitutive downregulation of molecular chaperones was observed, which may impact response to combined climate change-related stressors. Elevated CO2 has been hypothesized to benefit photosynthetic organisms but expression changes of in hospite Symbiodinium in response to acidification were greater and less consistent among reef populations. This population-specific response suggests hosts may need to adapt not only to an acidified environment, but also to changes in their Symbiodinium populations that may not be consistent among environments, adding another challenging dimension to the physiological process of coping with climate change.}, } @article {pmid28726631, year = {2017}, author = {Keymer, A and Pimprikar, P and Wewer, V and Huber, C and Brands, M and Bucerius, SL and Delaux, PM and Klingl, V and Röpenack-Lahaye, EV and Wang, TL and Eisenreich, W and Dörmann, P and Parniske, M and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Lipid transfer from plants to arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28726631}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {BB/F010591/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000150/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Fatty Acids/*analysis ; Isotope Labeling ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbioses contribute to global carbon cycles as plant hosts divert up to 20% of photosynthate to the obligate biotrophic fungi. Previous studies suggested carbohydrates as the only form of carbon transferred to the fungi. However, de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis has not been observed in AM fungi in absence of the plant. In a forward genetic approach, we identified two Lotus japonicus mutants defective in AM-specific paralogs of lipid biosynthesis genes (KASI and GPAT6). These mutants perturb fungal development and accumulation of emblematic fungal 16:1ω5 FAs. Using isotopolog profiling we demonstrate that [13]C patterns of fungal FAs recapitulate those of wild-type hosts, indicating cross-kingdom lipid transfer from plants to fungi. This transfer of labelled FAs was not observed for the AM-specific lipid biosynthesis mutants. Thus, growth and development of beneficial AM fungi is not only fueled by sugars but depends on lipid transfer from plant hosts.}, } @article {pmid28725961, year = {2018}, author = {Aloui, A and Recorbet, G and Lemaître-Guillier, C and Mounier, A and Balliau, T and Zivy, M and Wipf, D and Dumas-Gaudot, E}, title = {The plasma membrane proteome of Medicago truncatula roots as modified by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {1-16}, pmid = {28725961}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/*genetics/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Proteome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) roots, the plasma membrane (PM) of the host plant is involved in all developmental stages of the symbiotic interaction, from initial recognition to intracellular accommodation of intra-radical hyphae and arbuscules. Although the role of the PM as the agent for cellular morphogenesis and nutrient exchange is especially accentuated in endosymbiosis, very little is known regarding the PM protein composition of mycorrhizal roots. To obtain a global overview at the proteome level of the host PM proteins as modified by symbiosis, we performed a comparative protein profiling of PM fractions from Medicago truncatula roots either inoculated or not with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. PM proteins were isolated from root microsomes using an optimized discontinuous sucrose gradient; their subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (MS) identified 674 proteins. Cross-species sequence homology searches combined with MS-based quantification clearly confirmed enrichment in PM-associated proteins and depletion of major microsomal contaminants. Changes in protein amounts between the PM proteomes of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots were monitored further by spectral counting. This workflow identified a set of 82 mycorrhiza-responsive proteins that provided insights into the plant PM response to mycorrhizal symbiosis. Among them, the association of one third of the mycorrhiza-responsive proteins with detergent-resistant membranes pointed at partitioning to PM microdomains. The PM-associated proteins responsive to mycorrhization also supported host plant control of sugar uptake to limit fungal colonization, and lipid turnover events in the PM fraction of symbiotic roots. Because of the depletion upon symbiosis of proteins mediating the replacement of phospholipids by phosphorus-free lipids in the plasmalemma, we propose a role of phosphate nutrition in the PM composition of mycorrhizal roots.}, } @article {pmid28724736, year = {2017}, author = {Le Clec'h, W and Dittmer, J and Raimond, M and Bouchon, D and Sicard, M}, title = {Phenotypic shift in Wolbachia virulence towards its native host across serial horizontal passages.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1859}, pages = {}, pmid = {28724736}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Wolbachia/genetics/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Vertical transmission mode is predicted to decrease the virulence of symbionts. However, Wolbachia, a widespread vertically transmitted endosymbiont, exhibits both negative and beneficial effects on arthropod fitness. This 'Jekyll and Hyde' behaviour, as well as its ability to live transiently outside host cells and to establish new infections via horizontal transmission, may reflect the capacity of Wolbachia to exhibit various phenotypes depending on the prevailing environmental constraints. To study the ability of Wolbachia to readily cope with new constraints, we forced this endosymbiont to spread only via horizontal transmission. To achieve this, we performed serial horizontal transfers of haemolymph from Wolbachia-infected to naive individuals of the isopod Armadillidium vulgare. Across passages, we observed phenotypic changes in the symbiotic relationship: (i) The Wolbachia titre increased in both haemolymph and nerve cord but remained stable in ovaries; (ii) Wolbachia infection was benign at the beginning of the experiment, but highly virulent, killing most hosts after only a few passages. Such a phenotypic shift after recurrent horizontal passages demonstrates that Wolbachia can rapidly change its virulence when facing new environmental constraints. We thoroughly discuss the potential mechanism(s) underlying this phenotypic change, which are likely to be crucial for the ongoing radiation of Wolbachia in arthropods.}, } @article {pmid28724414, year = {2017}, author = {Liang, Y and Wang, H and Li, C and Nan, Z and Li, F}, title = {Effects of feeding drunken horse grass infected with Epichloë gansuensis endophyte on animal performance, clinical symptoms and physiological parameters in sheep.}, journal = {BMC veterinary research}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {223}, pmid = {28724414}, issn = {1746-6148}, mesh = {Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Creatinine/blood ; *Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Ketones/urine ; Medicago sativa ; Occult Blood ; Organ Size ; Plant Poisoning/mortality/*veterinary ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Sheep/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many reports showed that grass-endophyte symbiosis induced livestock poisoned. Yet, there is no study evaluating clinical symptoms and physiological parameters in sheep fed Epichloë gansuensis endophyte-infected grass. The objective of the present study was to investigate these indexes by feeding sheep with endophyte-infected A. inebrians (E+ Group) or endophyte-free A. inebrians (E- Group) drunken horse grass or alfalfa hay (Control Group).

RESULTS: The Epichloë endophyte caused obvious toxicity symptoms in the sheep fed E+ A. inebrians, with 1 of the 5 sheep having died by the 35th day. The feed intake and body weight gain of the E+ Group were significantly less than the E- and control groups (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT, 45.5 mmol/L) and aspartate aminotransferase for the E+ group (AST, 139.3 mmol/L) were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than for the E- (ALT, 31.2 mmol/L; AST, 78.6 mmol/L) and control (ALT, 32.6 mmol/L; AST, 56.6 mmol/L) groups at the fifth week; serum concentration of creatinine for the E+ group (63.8 mmol/L) was also significantly (P < 0.05) greater than for E- (56.6 mmol/L) and control groups (58.5 mmol/L). Meanwhile, urine biochemical indices for the E+ group indicated that ketone and occult blood were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated compared to the other groups while urine pH values were significantly (P < 0.05) acidic. The relative weight of heart, brain, liver, lung and kidney for Group E+ were almost two fold more than the other groups, but uterus weight was about half that found for Group E- or Control.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Epichloë endophyte infection is the cause of A. inebrians toxicity to sheep. Interestingly, none of the measured parameters differed significantly between E- and the control groups, which implied that drunken horse grass could be utilized efficiently by sheep when not infected by the Epichloë endophyte.}, } @article {pmid28724401, year = {2017}, author = {Cernava, T and Erlacher, A and Aschenbrenner, IA and Krug, L and Lassek, C and Riedel, K and Grube, M and Berg, G}, title = {Deciphering functional diversification within the lichen microbiota by meta-omics.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {82}, pmid = {28724401}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics ; Ascomycota/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Lichens/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Metagenomics ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recent evidence of specific bacterial communities extended the traditional concept of fungal-algal lichen symbioses by a further organismal kingdom. Although functional roles were already assigned to dominant members of the highly diversified microbiota, a substantial fraction of the ubiquitous colonizers remained unexplored. We employed a multi-omics approach to further characterize functional guilds in an unconventional model system.

RESULTS: The general community structure of the lichen-associated microbiota was shown to be highly similar irrespective of the employed omics approach. Five highly abundant bacterial orders-Sphingomonadales, Rhodospirillales, Myxococcales, Chthoniobacterales, and Sphingobacteriales-harbor functions that are of substantial importance for the holobiome. Identified functions range from the provision of vitamins and cofactors to the degradation of phenolic compounds like phenylpropanoid, xylenols, and cresols.

CONCLUSIONS: Functions that facilitate the persistence of Lobaria pulmonaria under unfavorable conditions were present in previously overlooked fractions of the microbiota. So far, unrecognized groups like Chthoniobacterales (Verrucomicrobia) emerged as functional protectors in the lichen microbiome. By combining multi-omics and imaging techniques, we highlight previously overlooked participants in the complex microenvironment of the lichens.}, } @article {pmid28723242, year = {2017}, author = {Shymanovich, T and Charlton, ND and Musso, AM and Scheerer, J and Cech, NB and Faeth, SH and Young, CA}, title = {Interspecific and intraspecific hybrid Epichloë species symbiotic with the North American native grass Poa alsodes.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {3}, pages = {459-474}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1340779}, pmid = {28723242}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Endophytes/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Epichloe/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Genes, Fungal ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Recombination, Genetic ; United States ; }, abstract = {The endophyte presence and diversity in natural populations of Poa alsodes were evaluated along a latitudinal transect from the southern distribution range in North Carolina to New York. Two distinct Epichloë hybrid taxa were identified from 23 populations. Each taxon could easily be distinguished by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping with primers designed to mating type genes and alkaloid biosynthesis genes that encode key pathway steps for ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, lolines, and peramine. The most commonly found Epichloë taxon, Poa alsodes Taxonomic Group-1 (PalTG-1), was detected in 22 populations at high infection frequencies (72-100%), with the exception of one population at high elevation (26% infection). The second taxon, PalTG-2, was observed only in five populations in Pennsylvania constituting 12% of infected samples. Phylogenetic analyses placed PalTG-1 as an interspecific hybrid of E. amarillans and E. typhina subsp. poae ancestors, and it is considered a new hybrid species, which the authors name Epichloë alsodes. PalTG-2 is an intraspecific hybrid of two E. typhina subsp. poae ancestors, similar to E. schardlii from the host Cinna arundinacea, which the authors propose as a new variety, Epichloë schardlii var. pennsylvanica. Epichloë alsodes isolates were all mating type MTA MTB and tested positive for dmaW, easC, perA, and some LOL genes, but only the alkaloid N-acetylnorloline was detected in E. alsodes-infected plant material. Epichloë schardlii var. pennsylvanica isolates were all mating type MTB MTB and tested positive for perA, but peramine was not produced. Both E. alsodes and E. schardlii var. pennsylvanica appeared to have complete perA genes, but point mutations were identified in E. alsodes that would render the encoded perA gene nonfunctional.}, } @article {pmid28722181, year = {2017}, author = {Pärtel, M and Öpik, M and Moora, M and Tedersoo, L and Szava-Kovats, R and Rosendahl, S and Rillig, MC and Lekberg, Y and Kreft, H and Helgason, T and Eriksson, O and Davison, J and de Bello, F and Caruso, T and Zobel, M}, title = {Historical biome distribution and recent human disturbance shape the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {216}, number = {1}, pages = {227-238}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14695}, pmid = {28722181}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Geography ; *Human Activities ; Humans ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The availability of global microbial diversity data, collected using standardized metabarcoding techniques, makes microorganisms promising models for investigating the role of regional and local factors in driving biodiversity. Here we modelled the global diversity of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi using currently available data on AM fungal molecular diversity (small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences) in field samples. To differentiate between regional and local effects, we estimated species pools (sets of potentially suitable taxa) for each site, which are expected to reflect regional processes. We then calculated community completeness, an index showing the fraction of the species pool present, which is expected to reflect local processes. We found significant spatial variation, globally in species pool size, as well as in local and dark diversity (absent members of the species pool). Species pool size was larger close to areas containing tropical grasslands during the last glacial maximum, which are possible centres of diversification. Community completeness was greater in regions of high wilderness (remoteness from human disturbance). Local diversity was correlated with wilderness and current connectivity to mountain grasslands. Applying the species pool concept to symbiotic fungi facilitated a better understanding of how biodiversity can be jointly shaped by large-scale historical processes and recent human disturbance.}, } @article {pmid28721658, year = {2017}, author = {Vieira, AS and Ramalho, MO and Martins, C and Martins, VG and Bueno, OC}, title = {Microbial Communities in Different Tissues of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Leaf-cutting Ants.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {10}, pages = {1216-1225}, pmid = {28721658}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Organ Specificity ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts are common in all insects, and symbiosis has played an integral role in ant evolution. Atta sexdens rubropilosa leaf-cutting ants cultivate their symbiotic fungus using fresh leaves. They need to defend themselves and their brood against diseases, but they also need to defend their obligate fungus gardens, their primary food source, from infection, parasitism, and usurpation by competitors. This study aimed to characterize the microbial communities in whole workers and different tissues of A. sexdens rubropilosa queens using Ion Torrent NGS. Our results showed that the microbial community in the midgut differs in abundance and diversity from the communities in the postpharyngeal gland of the queen and in whole workers. The main microbial orders in whole workers were Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, Enterobacteriales, Actinomycetales, Burkholderiales, and Bacillales. In the tissues of the queens, the main orders were Burkholderiales, Clostridiales, Syntrophobacterales, Lactobacillales, Bacillales, and Actinomycetales (midgut) and Entomoplasmatales, unclassified γ-proteobacteria, and Actinomycetales (postpharyngeal glands). The high abundance of Entomoplasmatales in the postpharyngeal glands (77%) of the queens was an unprecedented finding. We discuss the role of microbial communities in different tissues and castes. Bacteria are likely to play a role in nutrition and immune defense as well as helping antimicrobial defense in this ant species.}, } @article {pmid28721507, year = {2017}, author = {Protasov, ES and Axenov-Gribanov, DV and Rebets, YV and Voytsekhovskaya, IV and Tokovenko, BT and Shatilina, ZM and Luzhetskyy, AN and Timofeyev, MA}, title = {The diversity and antibiotic properties of actinobacteria associated with endemic deepwater amphipods of Lake Baikal.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {110}, number = {12}, pages = {1593-1611}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-017-0910-y}, pmid = {28721507}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Amphipoda/*microbiology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis ; Lakes/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The emergence of pathogenic bacteria resistant to antibiotics increases the need for discovery of new effective antimicrobials. Unique habitats such as marine deposits, wetlands and caves or unexplored biological communities are promising sources for the isolation of actinobacteria, which are among the major antibiotic producers. The present study aimed at examining cultivated actinobacteria strains associated with endemic Lake Baikal deepwater amphipods and estimating their antibiotic activity. We isolated 42 actinobacterial strains from crustaceans belonging to Ommatogammarus albinus and Ommatogammarus flavus. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the isolation and initial characterization of representatives of Micromonospora and Pseudonocardia genera from Baikal deepwater invertebrates. Also, as expected, representatives of the genus Streptomyces were the dominant group among the isolated species. Some correlations could be observed between the number of actinobacterial isolates, the depth of sampling and the source of the strains. Nevertheless, >70% of isolated strains demonstrated antifungal activity. The dereplication analysis of extract of one of the isolated strains resulted in annotation of several known compounds that can help to explain the observed biological activities. The characteristics of ecological niche and lifestyle of deepwater amphipods suggests that the observed associations between crustaceans and isolated actinobacteria are not random and might represent long-term symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid28721334, year = {2017}, author = {Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Rey, L and Durán, D and Canchaya, CA and Rogel, MA and Zúñiga-Dávila, D and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri LMTR 21[T] isolated from Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) in Peru.}, journal = {Genomics data}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {38-40}, pmid = {28721334}, issn = {2213-5960}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri is a prevalent species in root nodules of the Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) in Peru. LMTR 21[T] is the type strain of the species and was isolated from a root nodule collected in an agricultural field in the Peruvian central coast. Its 8.29 Mbp genome encoded 7635 CDS, 71 tRNAs and 3 rRNAs genes. All genes required to stablish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with its host were present. The draft genome sequence and annotation have been deposited at GenBank under the accession number MAXB00000000.}, } @article {pmid28720387, year = {2017}, author = {Ainsworth, TD and Fordyce, AJ and Camp, EF}, title = {The Other Microeukaryotes of the Coral Reef Microbiome.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {12}, pages = {980-991}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2017.06.007}, pmid = {28720387}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Fungi/physiology ; Microalgae/physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In marine ecosystems microbial communities are critical to ocean function, global primary productivity, and biogeochemical cycles. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes are essential symbionts and mutualists, nonpathogenic invaders, primary pathogens, have been linked to disease emergence, and can underpin broader ecosystem changes. However, in the effort to determine coral-microbial interactions, the structure and function of the eukaryotic microbes of the microbiome have been studied less. Eukaryotic microbes are important members of the microbiome, constitute entire kingdoms of life, and make important contributions to ecosystem function. Here, we outline the roles of eukaryotic microbes in marine systems and their contribution to ecosystem change, and discuss the microeukaryotic microbiome of corals and coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid28718423, year = {2017}, author = {Jiménez-Valerio, G and Casanovas, O}, title = {Angiogenesis and Metabolism: Entwined for Therapy Resistance.}, journal = {Trends in cancer}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {10-18}, doi = {10.1016/j.trecan.2016.11.007}, pmid = {28718423}, issn = {2405-8025}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Animals ; *Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Hypoxia/metabolism/pathology ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; *Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {Angiogenesis and metabolism are entwined processes that permit tumor growth and progression. Blood vessel supply is necessary for tumor survival not only by providing oxygen and nutrients for anabolism but also by removing waste products from cellular metabolism. On the other hand, blocking angiogenesis with antiangiogenic therapies shows clinical benefits in treating several tumor types. Nevertheless, resistance to therapy emerges over time. In this review we discuss a novel mechanism of adaptive resistance involving metabolic adaptation of tumor cells, and we also provide examples of tumor adaptation to therapy, which may represent a new mechanism of resistance in several types of cancer. Thus, targeting this metabolic tumor adaptation could be a way to avoid resistance in cancer patients.}, } @article {pmid28717220, year = {2017}, author = {Boya P, CA and Fernández-Marín, H and Mejía, LC and Spadafora, C and Dorrestein, PC and Gutiérrez, M}, title = {Imaging mass spectrometry and MS/MS molecular networking reveals chemical interactions among cuticular bacteria and pathogenic fungi associated with fungus-growing ants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {5604}, pmid = {28717220}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {U01 TW006634/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hypocreales/drug effects/*metabolism ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Phylogeny ; Streptomyces/drug effects/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; }, abstract = {The fungus-growing ant-microbe symbiosis is an ideal system to study chemistry-based microbial interactions due to the wealth of microbial interactions described, and the lack of information on the molecules involved therein. In this study, we employed a combination of MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) and MS/MS molecular networking to study chemistry-based microbial interactions in this system. MALDI IMS was used to visualize the distribution of antimicrobials at the inhibition zone between bacteria associated to the ant Acromyrmex echinatior and the fungal pathogen Escovopsis sp. MS/MS molecular networking was used for the dereplication of compounds found at the inhibition zones. We identified the antibiotics actinomycins D, X2 and X0β, produced by the bacterium Streptomyces CBR38; and the macrolides elaiophylin, efomycin A and efomycin G, produced by the bacterium Streptomyces CBR53.These metabolites were found at the inhibition zones using MALDI IMS and were identified using MS/MS molecular networking. Additionally, three shearinines D, F, and J produced by the fungal pathogen Escovopsis TZ49 were detected. This is the first report of elaiophylins, actinomycin X0β and shearinines in the fungus-growing ant symbiotic system. These results suggest a secondary prophylactic use of these antibiotics by A. echinatior because of their permanent production by the bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28716396, year = {2017}, author = {Darsouei, R and Karimi, J and Dunphy, GB}, title = {The role of pilin protein of Xenorhabdus nematophila against immune defense reactions of insects.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {82-90}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.07.003}, pmid = {28716396}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*genetics/metabolism ; Fimbriae Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Immunity, Innate ; Larva/growth & development/immunology/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spodoptera/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus nematophila is a symbiotic bacterium of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser). It produces several toxic proteins which interfere with the immune system of insects. The current study shows that purified pilin protein could be a virulence trait of X. nematophila. The fifth instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) was injected with purified pilin. Changes in the cellular defenses in terms of total haemocyte counts and granulocyte percentage and humoral factors including total protease, phospholipase A2, and phenoloxidase activities (humoral defense) as well as the expression of the three main antimicrobial peptides attacin, cecropin, and spodoptericin were measured at specific times. The level of THC and granulocytes in larvae with different concentrations of pilin protein were less than the negative control. Also agglutination of haemocytes was observed 8-16h post-injection. The pilin protein activated phenoloxidase in the initial hour post-injection, by 2hpi, activity was stable. The activities of phospholipase A2 and protease activities reached maximum levels at 12 and 4hpi, respectively, and then decreased. The expressions of attacin, cecropin, and spodoptericin in larvae treated with pilin protein were up-regulated above that of the normal sample. The overexpression of cecropin was greater than the other antimicrobial protein mRNA transcripts. The spodoptericin expression had an irregular trend while expressions of attacin and cecropin reached maximum levels at 4hpi and then decreased. Generally, after the injection of pilin protein, the cellular and humoral immune system of S. exigua is activated but this toxin was able to inhibit them. This is the first report of the role of pilin protein when the bacterial symbiont of S. carpocapsae encounters the humoral defense of an insect.}, } @article {pmid28715992, year = {2017}, author = {Carey, HV and Assadi-Porter, FM}, title = {The Hibernator Microbiome: Host-Bacterial Interactions in an Extreme Nutritional Symbiosis.}, journal = {Annual review of nutrition}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {477-500}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064740}, pmid = {28715992}, issn = {1545-4312}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; *Food ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*physiology ; Hibernation/*physiology ; *Periodicity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals that undergo seasonal cycles of feeding and fasting have adaptations that maintain integrity of organ systems when dietary nutrients are lacking. Food deprivation also challenges the gut microbiota, which relies heavily on host diet for metabolic substrates and the gastrointestinal tract, which is influenced by enteral nutrients and microbial activity. Winter fasting in hibernators shifts the microbiota to favor taxa with the capacity to degrade and utilize host-derived substrates and disfavor taxa that prefer complex plant polysaccharides. Microbiome alterations may contribute to hibernation-induced changes in the intestinal immune system, epithelial barrier function, and other host features that are affected by microbial short-chain fatty acids and other metabolites. Understanding mechanisms by which the hibernator host and its gut symbionts adapt to the altered nutritional landscape during winter fasting may provide insights into protective mechanisms that are compromised when nonhibernating species, such as humans, undergo long periods of enteral nutrient deprivation.}, } @article {pmid28713093, year = {2017}, author = {Pashkov, V and Kotvitska, A and Harkusha, A}, title = {Legal regulation of the production and trade of medical devices and medical equipment in the EU and US: experience for Ukraine.}, journal = {Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)}, volume = {70}, number = {3 pt 2}, pages = {614-618}, pmid = {28713093}, issn = {0043-5147}, mesh = {Commerce/*legislation & jurisprudence ; Equipment Safety/*standards ; Equipment and Supplies/*standards ; European Union ; Humans ; Interinstitutional Relations ; Patient Safety/*legislation & jurisprudence ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; Ukraine ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The need for effective legal regulation of production and sale of medical products in Ukraine due to its social effect is obvious and requires a high level of clarity. The experience of more advanced countries in this area, given the way chosen by Ukraine to harmonize our laws with EU legislation, is certainly could be a useful source of information. The urgency of issues need further intensification of national legal reforms. Some key points on concept of legal regulation of abovementioned sphere is a base of this study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Legislation of Ukraine, European Union, United States of America, Guidelines, developed by European Commission & Food and Drug Administration's (FDA), recommendations represented by international voluntary group and scientific works. This article is based on dialectical, comparative, analytic, synthetic and comprehensive research methods.

DISCUSSION: This study provide a possibility to state that main difference of regulatory systems in EU and US is that the legal framework of the EU is more flexible. This flexibility is grounded on main principle that only basic quality requirements for medical devices is defined by legislative acts however more detailed requirements are defined in standards, technical regulations, specifications, which are discretionary in nature. Contractors are free to choose any technical solution that provides compliance with the essential requirements, they can choose among different conformity assessment procedures and between accredited conformity assessment bodies to which they want to apply. The contractors themselves is interested to pass the conformity assessment procedure and have the right to put a conformity mark on their medical device because it will give them a real competitive advantage. In contrast, US State regulatory system provides strict control over business entities and law act establishes the quality requirements of medical products. The only body that can authorize the introduction of medical products and perform post-market monitoring is Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has almost unlimited competence in this sphere.

CONCLUSION: Taking into account further deepening of the European integration process of Ukraine, establishing of the regulatory system as much similar to that of the EU as possible is a main goal of legal reforms in abovementioned sphere. On the one hand, such system allows to implement effective control of contractors in the sphere of production and sale of medical products and provide safety of medical devices that are introduced, on the other hand, it does not afflict contractors with excessive and total control, allowing them to choose behavior that is most acceptable, understandable and user-specific. However, US's experience also has some positive characteristics, which could be taken into account. Therefore, such complex symbiosis of approaches from our point of view will balance controversial interest of manufacturers, sellers and consumers of medical devices.}, } @article {pmid28712497, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, L and Wang, L and Zhou, Y and Duanmu, D}, title = {Use of CRISPR/Cas9 for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Research in Legumes.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {149}, number = {}, pages = {187-213}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.03.010}, pmid = {28712497}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {CRISPR-Cas Systems/*genetics ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; *Research ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia have established a symbiotic relationship with the legume family through more than 60 million years of evolution. Hundreds of legume host genes are involved in the SNF (symbiotic nitrogen fixation) process, such as recognition of the bacterial partners, nodulation signaling and nodule development, maintenance of highly efficient nitrogen fixation within nodules, regulation of nodule numbers, and nodule senescence. However, investigations of SNF-related gene functions and dissecting molecular mechanisms of the complicated signaling crosstalk on a genomic scale were significantly restricted by insufficient mutant resources of several representative model legumes. Targeted genome-editing technologies, including ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR-Cas systems, have been developed in recent years and rapidly revolutionized biological research in many fields. These technologies were also applied to legume plants, and significant progress has been made in the last several years. Here, we summarize the applications of these genome-editing technologies, especially CRISPR-Cas9, toward the study of SNF in legumes, which should greatly advance our understanding of the basic mechanisms underpinning the legume-rhizobia interactions and guide the engineering of the SNF pathway into nonlegume crops to reduce the dependence on the use of nitrogen fertilizers for sustainable development of modern agriculture.}, } @article {pmid28711576, year = {2017}, author = {Moyano, G and Marco, D and Knopoff, D and Torres, G and Turner, C}, title = {Explaining coexistence of nitrogen fixing and non-fixing rhizobia in legume-rhizobia mutualism using mathematical modeling.}, journal = {Mathematical biosciences}, volume = {292}, number = {}, pages = {30-35}, doi = {10.1016/j.mbs.2017.07.001}, pmid = {28711576}, issn = {1879-3134}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the mutualism established between legumes and soil bacteria known as rhizobia, bacteria from soil infect plants roots and reproduce inside root nodules where they fix atmospheric N2 for plant nutrition, receiving carbohydrates in exchange. Host-plant sanctions against non N2 fixing, cheating bacterial symbionts have been proposed to act in the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis, to preserve the mutualistic relationship. Sanctions include decreased rhizobial survival in nodules occupied by cheating rhizobia. Previously, a simple population model experimentally based showed that the coexistence of fixing and cheating rhizobia strains commonly found in field conditions is possible, and that the inclusion of sanctions leads to the extinction of cheating strains in soil. Here, we extend the previous model to include other factors that could complicate the sanction scenario, like horizontal transmission of symbiotic plasmids, turning non-nodulating strains into nodulating rhizobia, and competition between fixing and cheating strains for nodulation. In agreement with previous results, we show that plant populations persist even in the presence of cheating rhizobia without incorporating any sanction against the cheater populations in the model, under the realistic assumption that plants can at least get some amount of fixed N2 from the effectively mutualistic rhizobia occupying some nodules. Inclusion of plant sanctions leads to the unrealistic extinction of cheater strains in soil. Our results agree with increasing experimental evidence and theoretical work showing that mutualisms can persist in presence of cheating partners.}, } @article {pmid28710419, year = {2017}, author = {Huang, KJ and Huang, ZY and Lin, CY and Wang, LH and Chou, PH and Chen, CS and Li, HH}, title = {Generation of clade- and symbiont-specific antibodies to characterize marker molecules during Cnidaria-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {5488}, pmid = {28710419}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*metabolism ; Antibody Specificity ; Biomarkers/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Glycoproteins/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiosis between cnidarians and dinoflagellates is responsible for the formation of coral reefs. Changes in molecules have been identified during the process of cnidaria-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis. However, the complexity of the molecular interaction has prevented the establishment of a mechanistic explanation of cellular regulation in this mutualistic symbiosis. To date, no marker molecules have been identified to specifically represent the symbiotic status. Because the endosymbiotic association occurs in the symbiotic gastrodermal cells (SGCs), whole cells of isolated SGCs were used as an antigen to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to screen possible molecular candidates of symbiotic markers. The results showed that one of the generated monoclonal antibodies, 2-6F, specifically recognized clade C symbiotic Symbiodinium but not its free-living counterpart or other Symbiodinium clades. The expression levels of 2-6F mAb-recognized proteins are highly correlated with the symbiotic status, and these proteins were characterized as N-linked glycoproteins via treatment with peptide N-glycosidase F. Furthermore, their glycan moieties were markedly different from those of free-living Symbiodinium, potentially suggesting host regulation of post-translational modification. Consequently, the 2-6F mAb can be used to detect the symbiotic state of corals and investigate the complex molecular interactions in cnidaria-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28710265, year = {2017}, author = {Azagi, T and Klement, E and Perlman, G and Lustig, Y and Mumcuoglu, KY and Apanaskevich, DA and Gottlieb, Y}, title = {Francisella-Like Endosymbionts and Rickettsia Species in Local and Imported Hyalomma Ticks.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {28710265}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animal Migration ; Animals ; Arachnid Vectors/*microbiology/physiology ; Birds/*parasitology/physiology ; Francisella/*physiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology/transmission ; Humans ; Ixodidae/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; Rickettsia Infections/microbiology/transmission ; *Symbiosis ; Zoonoses/microbiology/*transmission ; }, abstract = {Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are hosts for Francisella-like endosymbionts (FLE) and may serve as vectors of zoonotic disease agents. This study aimed to provide an initial characterization of the interaction between Hyalomma and FLE and to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Rickettsia in these ticks. Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma rufipes, Hyalommadromedarii, Hyalommaaegyptium, and Hyalommaexcavatum ticks, identified morphologically and molecularly, were collected from different hosts and locations representing the distribution of the genus Hyalomma in Israel, as well as from migratory birds. A high prevalence of FLE was found in all Hyalomma species (90.6%), as well as efficient maternal transmission of FLE (91.8%), and the localization of FLE in Malpighian tubules, ovaries, and salivary glands in H. marginatum Furthermore, we demonstrated strong cophylogeny between FLE and their host species. Contrary to FLE, the prevalence of Rickettsia ranged from 2.4% to 81.3% and was significantly different between Hyalomma species, with a higher prevalence in ticks collected from migratory birds. Using ompA gene sequences, most of the Rickettsia spp. were similar to Rickettsiaaeschlimannii, while a few were similar to Rickettsiaafricae of the spotted fever group (SFG). Given their zoonotic importance, 249 ticks were tested for Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection, and all were negative. The results imply that Hyalomma and FLE have obligatory symbiotic interactions, indicating a potential SFG Rickettsia zoonosis risk. A further understanding of the possible influence of FLE on Hyalomma development, as well as on its infection with Rickettsia pathogens, may lead to novel ways to control tick-borne zoonoses.IMPORTANCE This study shows that Francisella-like endosymbionts were ubiquitous in Hyalomma, were maternally transmitted, and cospeciated with their hosts. These findings imply that the interaction between FLE and Hyalomma is of an obligatory nature. It provides an example of an integrative taxonomy approach to simply differentiate among species infesting the same host and to identify nymphal and larval stages to be used in further studies. In addition, it shows the potential of imported Hyalomma ticks to serve as a vector for spotted fever group rickettsiae. The information gathered in this study can be further implemented in the development of symbiont-based disease control strategies for the benefit of human health.}, } @article {pmid28709805, year = {2017}, author = {Tiwari, PK and Sasmal, SK and Sha, A and Venturino, E and Chattopadhyay, J}, title = {Effect of diseases on symbiotic systems.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {159}, number = {}, pages = {36-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2017.07.001}, pmid = {28709805}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Animals ; *Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; Mortality ; Population Dynamics ; Predatory Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {There are many species living in symbiotic communities. In this study, we analyzed models in which populations are in the mutualism symbiotic relations subject to a disease spreading among one of the species. The main goal is the characterization of symbiotic relations of coexisting species through their mutual influences on their respective carrying capacities, taking into account that this influence can be quite strong. The functional dependence of the carrying capacities reflects the fact that the correlations between populations cannot be realized merely through direct interactions, as in the usual predator-prey Lotka-Volterra model, but also through the influence of each species on the carrying capacities of the other one. Equilibria are analyzed for feasibility and stability, substantiated via numerical simulations, and global sensitivity analysis identifies the important parameters having a significant impact on the model dynamics. The infective growth rate and the disease-related mortality rate may alter the stability behavior of the system. Our results show that introducing a symbiotic species is a plausible way to control the disease in the population.}, } @article {pmid28709802, year = {2017}, author = {Magri, G and Comerma, L and Pybus, M and Sintes, J and Lligé, D and Segura-Garzón, D and Bascones, S and Yeste, A and Grasset, EK and Gutzeit, C and Uzzan, M and Ramanujam, M and van Zelm, MC and Albero-González, R and Vazquez, I and Iglesias, M and Serrano, S and Márquez, L and Mercade, E and Mehandru, S and Cerutti, A}, title = {Human Secretory IgM Emerges from Plasma Cells Clonally Related to Gut Memory B Cells and Targets Highly Diverse Commensals.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {118-134.e8}, pmid = {28709802}, issn = {1097-4180}, support = {P01 AI061093/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI057653/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK112296/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI095613/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiodysplasia/*immunology ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Clone Cells ; Colonic Neoplasms/*immunology ; Colonic Polyps/*immunology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; Immunoglobulin M/*metabolism ; Immunologic Memory ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Cells/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) enhances host-microbiota symbiosis, whereas SIgM remains poorly understood. We found that gut IgM[+] plasma cells (PCs) were more abundant in humans than mice and clonally related to a large repertoire of memory IgM[+] B cells disseminated throughout the intestine but rare in systemic lymphoid organs. In addition to sharing a gut-specific gene signature with memory IgA[+] B cells, memory IgM[+] B cells were related to some IgA[+] clonotypes and switched to IgA in response to T cell-independent or T cell-dependent signals. These signals induced abundant IgM which, together with SIgM from clonally affiliated PCs, recognized mucus-embedded commensals. Bacteria recognized by human SIgM were dually coated by SIgA and showed increased richness and diversity compared to IgA-only-coated or uncoated bacteria. Thus, SIgM may emerge from pre-existing memory rather than newly activated naive IgM[+] B cells and could help SIgA to anchor highly diverse commensal communities to mucus.}, } @article {pmid28707658, year = {2017}, author = {Kaluzhnaya, OV and Itskovich, VB}, title = {[Phototrophic microorganisms in the symbiotic communities of Baikal sponges: Diversity of psbA gene (encoding D1 protein of photosystem II) sequences].}, journal = {Molekuliarnaia biologiia}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {423-430}, doi = {10.7868/S0026898417030089}, pmid = {28707658}, issn = {0026-8984}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Lakes/microbiology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Porifera/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The psbA gene, which encodes a major photosystem II protein (protein II or D1), is a marker for the presence of phototrophic organisms in water communities. We have pioneered the use of this marker for studying the diversity of phototrophic microflora of freshwater invertebrates. The object of the study is the microbial associations accompanying the endemic Baikal sponge Baikalospongia intermedia and the surrounding aquatic microbial community. Analysis of the psbA gene sequences in the examined microbiomes demonstrates the presence of various phototrophic groups, such as Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, Heterokonta, Haptophyta, and Ochrophyta algae, as well as cyanophages. A total of 35 unique psbA gene sequences have been distinguished in the microbial communities of the endemic sponge B. intermedia and 32 unique sequences in the water community surrounding the sponge. These data demonstrate the involvement of sponge symbiotic communities in the accumulation of primary production and carbon cycle in the Lake Baikal ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid28706511, year = {2017}, author = {Gardiner, M and Bournazos, AM and Maturana-Martinez, C and Zhong, L and Egan, S}, title = {Exoproteome Analysis of the Seaweed Pathogen Nautella italica R11 Reveals Temperature-Dependent Regulation of RTX-Like Proteins.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1203}, pmid = {28706511}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Climate fluctuations have been linked to an increased prevalence of disease in seaweeds, including the red alga Delisea pulchra, which is susceptible to a bleaching disease caused by the bacterium Nautella italica R11 under elevated seawater temperatures. To further investigate the role of temperature in the induction of disease by N. italica R11, we assessed the effect of temperature on the expression of the extracellular proteome (exoproteome) in this bacterium. Label-free quantitative mass spectrometry was used to identify 207 proteins secreted into supernatant fraction, which is equivalent to 5% of the protein coding genes in the N. italica R11 genome. Comparative analysis demonstrated that expression of over 30% of the N. italica R11 exoproteome is affected by temperature. The temperature-dependent proteins include traits that could facilitate the ATP-dependent transport of amino acid and carbohydrate, as well as several uncharacterized proteins. Further, potential virulence determinants, including two RTX-like proteins, exhibited significantly higher expression in the exoproteome at the disease inducing temperature of 24°C relative to non-inducing temperature (16°C). This is the first study to demonstrate that temperature has an influence exoproteome expression in a macroalgal pathogen. The results have revealed several temperature regulated candidate virulence factors that may have a role in macroalgal colonization and invasion at elevated sea-surface temperatures, including novel RTX-like proteins.}, } @article {pmid28705905, year = {2017}, author = {Bennett, GM and Chong, RA}, title = {Genome-Wide Transcriptional Dynamics in the Companion Bacterial Symbionts of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (Cicadellidae: Homalodisca vitripennis) Reveal Differential Gene Expression in Bacteria Occupying Multiple Host Organs.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {3073-3082}, pmid = {28705905}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Energy Metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Order ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The agricultural pest known as the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) or Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) harbors two bacterial symbionts, "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" and "Ca Baumannia cicadellinicola," which provide the 10 essential amino acids (EAAs) that are limited in the host plant-sap diet. Although they differ in origin and symbiotic age, both bacteria have experienced extensive genome degradation resulting from their ancient restriction to specialized host organs (bacteriomes) that provide cellular support and ensure vertical transmission. GWSS bacteriomes are of different origins and distinctly colored red and yellow. While Sulcia occupies the yellow bacteriome, Baumannia inhabits both. Aside from genomic predictions, little is currently known about the cellular functions of these bacterial symbionts, particularly whether Baumannia in different bacteriomes perform different roles in the symbiosis. To address these questions, we conducted a replicated, strand-specific RNA-seq experiment to assay global gene expression patterns in Sulcia and Baumannia Despite differences in genomic capabilities, the symbionts exhibit similar profiles of their most highly expressed genes, including those involved in nutrition synthesis and protein stability (chaperonins dnaK and groESL) that likely aid impaired proteins. Baumannia populations in separate bacteriomes differentially express genes enriched in essential nutrient synthesis, including EAAs (histidine and methionine) and B vitamins (biotin and thiamine). Patterns of differential gene expression further reveal complexity in methionine synthesis. Baumannia's capability to differentially express genes is unusual, as ancient symbionts lose the capability to independently regulate transcription. Combined with previous microscopy, our results suggest that the GWSS may rely on distinct Baumannia populations for essential nutrition and vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid28704553, year = {2017}, author = {Ali, SS and Wu, J and Xie, R and Zhou, F and Sun, J and Huang, M}, title = {Screening and characterizing of xylanolytic and xylose-fermenting yeasts isolated from the wood-feeding termite, Reticulitermes chinensis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {e0181141}, pmid = {28704553}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Wood ; Xylose/*metabolism ; Xylosidases/metabolism ; Yeasts/*classification/enzymology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The effective fermentation of xylose remains an intractable challenge in bioethanol industry. The relevant xylanase enzyme is also in a high demand from industry for several biotechnological applications that inevitably in recent times led to many efforts for screening some novel microorganisms for better xylanase production and fermentation performance. Recently, it seems that wood-feeding termites can truly be considered as highly efficient natural bioreactors. The highly specialized gut systems of such insects are not yet fully realized, particularly, in xylose fermentation and xylanase production to advance industrial bioethanol technology as well as industrial applications of xylanases. A total of 92 strains from 18 yeast species were successfully isolated and identified from the gut of wood-feeding termite, Reticulitermes chinensis. Of these yeasts and strains, seven were identified for new species: Candida gotoi, Candida pseudorhagii, Hamamotoa lignophila, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Sugiyamaella sp.1, Sugiyamaella sp. 2, and Sugiyamaella sp.3. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characterization, the type strain of C. pseudorhagii sp. nov., which was originally designated strain SSA-1542T, was the most frequently occurred yeast from termite gut samples, showed the highly xylanolytic activity as well as D-xylose fermentation. The highest xylanase activity was recorded as 1.73 and 0.98 U/mL with xylan or D-xylose substrate, respectively, from SSA-1542T. Among xylanase-producing yeasts, four novel species were identified as D-xylose-fermenting yeasts, where the yeast, C. pseudorhagii SSA-1542T, showed the highest ethanol yield (0.31 g/g), ethanol productivity (0.31 g/L·h), and its fermentation efficiency (60.7%) in 48 h. Clearly, the symbiotic yeasts isolated from termite guts have demonstrated a competitive capability to produce xylanase and ferment xylose, suggesting that the wood-feeding termite gut is a promising reservoir for novel xylanases-producing and xylose-fermenting yeasts that are potentially valued for biorefinery industry.}, } @article {pmid28702705, year = {2018}, author = {Duplouy, A and Brattström, O}, title = {Wolbachia in the Genus Bicyclus: a Forgotten Player.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, pages = {255-263}, pmid = {28702705}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Butterflies/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bicyclus butterflies are key species for studies of wing pattern development, phenotypic plasticity, speciation and the genetics of Lepidoptera. One of the key endosymbionts in butterflies, the alpha-Proteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis, is affecting many of these biological processes; however, Bicyclus butterflies have not been investigated systematically as hosts to Wolbachia. In this study, we screen for Wolbachia infection in several Bicyclus species from natural populations across Africa as well as two laboratory populations. Out of the 24 species tested, 19 were found to be infected, and no double infection was found, but both A- and B-supergroup strains colonise this butterfly group. We also show that many of the Wolbachia strains identified in Bicyclus butterflies belong to the ST19 clonal complex. We discuss the importance of our results in regard to routinely screening for Wolbachia when using Bicyclus butterflies as the study organism of research in eco-evolutionary biology.}, } @article {pmid28702015, year = {2017}, author = {Park, T and Meulia, T and Firkins, JL and Yu, Z}, title = {Inhibition of the Rumen Ciliate Entodinium caudatum by Antibiotics.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1189}, pmid = {28702015}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Axenic cultures of free-living aerobic ciliates, such as Tetrahymena thermophila and Paramecium aurelia, have been established and routinely used in laboratory research, greatly facilitating, or enabling characterization of their metabolism, physiology, and ecology. Ruminal protozoa are anaerobic ciliates, and they play important roles in feed digestion and fermentation. Although, repeatedly attempted, no laboratory-maintainable axenic culture of ruminal ciliates has been established. When axenic ciliate cultures are developed, antibiotics are required to eliminate the accompanying bacteria. Ruminal ciliates gradually lose viability upon antibiotic treatments, and the resultant axenic cultures can only last for short periods of time. The objective of this study was to evaluate eight antibiotics that have been evaluated in developing axenic cultures of ruminal ciliates, for their toxicity to Entodinium caudatum, which is the most predominant ruminal ciliate species. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the antibiotics damaged both the cell surface and nuclei of E. caudatum and increased accumulation of intracellular glycogen. Combinations of the three least toxic antibiotics failed to eliminate the bacteria that are present in the E. caudatum culture. The combination of ampicillin, carbenicillin, streptomycin, and oxytetracycline was able to eliminate all the bacteria, but the resultant axenic E. caudatum culture gradually lost viability. Adding the bacterial fraction (live) separated from an untreated E. caudatum culture reversed the viability decline and recovered the growth of the treated E. caudatum culture, whereas feeding nine strains of live bacteria isolated from E. caudatum cells, either individually or in combination, could not. Nutritional and metabolic dependence on its associated bacteria, accompanied with direct and indirect inhibition by antibiotics, makes it difficult to establish an axenic culture of E. caudatum. Monoxenic or polyxenic cultures of E. caudatum could be developed if the essential symbiotic partner(s) can be identified.}, } @article {pmid28702014, year = {2017}, author = {Ioannidis, A and Papaioannou, P and Magiorkinis, E and Magana, M and Ioannidou, V and Tzanetou, K and Burriel, AR and Tsironi, M and Chatzipanagiotou, S}, title = {Detecting the Diversity of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Endosymbionts Hosted by Trichomonas vaginalis Isolates.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1188}, pmid = {28702014}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Objectives: The symbiosis of Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis is the first described association between two obligate human parasites. Trichomonas is the niche and the vector for the transmission of M. hominis infection. This clinically significant symbiosis may affect T. vaginalis virulence and susceptibility to treatment. The aims of this study were to investigate the intracellularly present Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species in T. vaginalis strains isolated from the vaginal discharge of infected women as well as to trace the diversity pattern among the species detected in the isolated strains. Methods: Hundred pure T. vaginalis cultures were isolated from ~7,500 patient specimens presented with clinical purulent vaginitis. PCR and sequencing for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma spp. were performed in DNA extracted from the pure cultures. In addition, vaginal discharge samples were cultured for the presence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum. Phylogenetic analysis assisted the identification of interspecies relationships between the Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma isolates. Results: Fifty four percentage of T. vaginalis isolates were harboring Mycoplasma spp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct clusters, two with already characterized M. hominis and Ureaplasma spp. (37% of total Mycoplasma spp.), whereas one group formed a distinct cluster matched with the newly identified species Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii (59.3%) and one or more unknown Mycoplasma spp. (3.7%). Conclusions:T. vaginalis strains associated with vaginal infection might host intracellular mycoplasmas or ureaplasmas. Intracellular Mollicutes that remain undetected in the extracellular environment when conventional diagnostic methods are implemented may comprise either novel species, such as Candidatus M. giredii, or unknown species with yet unexplored clinical significance.}, } @article {pmid28702013, year = {2017}, author = {Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Cárdenas, A and Gärdes, A and Wild, C and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Nitrogen Fixation Aligns with nifH Abundance and Expression in Two Coral Trophic Functional Groups.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1187}, pmid = {28702013}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial nitrogen fixation (diazotrophy) is a functional trait widely associated with tropical reef-building (scleractinian) corals. While the integral role of nitrogen fixation in coral nutrient dynamics is recognized, its ecological significance across different coral functional groups remains yet to be evaluated. Here we set out to compare molecular and physiological patterns of diazotrophy (i.e., nifH gene abundance and expression as well as nitrogen fixation rates) in two coral families with contrasting trophic strategies: highly heterotrophic, free-living members of the family Fungiidae (Pleuractis granulosa, Ctenactis echinata), and mostly autotrophic coral holobionts with low heterotrophic capacity (Pocilloporidae: Pocillopora verrucosa, Stylophora pistillata). The Fungiidae exhibited low diazotroph abundance (based on nifH gene copy numbers) and activity (based on nifH gene expression and the absence of detectable nitrogen fixation rates). In contrast, the mostly autotrophic Pocilloporidae exhibited nifH gene copy numbers and gene expression two orders of magnitude higher than in the Fungiidae, which coincided with detectable nitrogen fixation activity. Based on these data, we suggest that nitrogen fixation compensates for the low heterotrophic nitrogen uptake in autotrophic corals. Consequently, the ecological importance of diazotrophy in coral holobionts may be determined by the trophic functional group of the host.}, } @article {pmid28702004, year = {2017}, author = {Muangpat, P and Yooyangket, T and Fukruksa, C and Suwannaroj, M and Yimthin, T and Sitthisak, S and Chantratita, N and Vitta, A and Tobias, NJ and Bode, HB and Thanwisai, A}, title = {Screening of the Antimicrobial Activity against Drug Resistant Bacteria of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus Associated with Entomopathogenic Nematodes from Mae Wong National Park, Thailand.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1142}, pmid = {28702004}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus are symbiotic with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema, respectively. These bacteria produce several secondary metabolites including antimicrobial compounds. The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria from Mae Wong National Park, Thailand and to evaluate the antibacterial activities of symbiont extracts against drug resistant bacteria. A total of 550 soil samples from 110 sites were collected between August 2014 and July 2015. A total of EPN isolates were obtained through baiting and White trap methods, which yielded 21 Heterorhabditis and 3 Steinernema isolates. Based on molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis, the most common species found in the present study was P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii associated with H. indica. Notably, two species of EPNs, H. zealandica and S. kushidai, and two species of symbiotic bacteria, X. japonica and P. temperata subsp. temperata represented new recorded organisms in Thailand. Furthermore, the association between P. temperata subsp. temperata and H. zealandica has not previously been reported worldwide. Disk diffusion, minimal inhibitory concentration, and minimal bactericidal concentration analyses demonstrated that the crude compound extracted by ethyl acetate from P. temperata subsp. temperata could inhibit the growth of up to 10 strains of drug resistant bacteria. Based on HPLC-MS analysis, compound classes in bacterial extracts were identified as GameXPeptide, xenoamicin, xenocoumacin, mevalagmapeptide phurealipids derivatives, and isopropylstilbene. Together, the results of this study provide evidence for the diversity of EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria in Mae Wong National Park, Thailand and demonstrate their novel associations. These findings also provide an important foundation for further research regarding the antimicrobial activity of Photorhabdus bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28701560, year = {2017}, author = {Seah, BKB and Schwaha, T and Volland, JM and Huettel, B and Dubilier, N and Gruber-Vodicka, HR}, title = {Specificity in diversity: single origin of a widespread ciliate-bacteria symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1858}, pages = {}, pmid = {28701560}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region ; Ciliophora/*classification/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mediterranean Sea ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between eukaryotes and sulfur-oxidizing (thiotrophic) bacteria have convergently evolved multiple times. Although well described in at least eight classes of metazoan animals, almost nothing is known about the evolution of thiotrophic symbioses in microbial eukaryotes (protists). In this study, we characterized the symbioses between mouthless marine ciliates of the genus Kentrophoros, and their thiotrophic bacteria, using comparative sequence analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Ciliate small-subunit rRNA sequences were obtained from 17 morphospecies collected in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and symbiont sequences from 13 of these morphospecies. We discovered a new Kentrophoros morphotype where the symbiont-bearing surface is folded into pouch-like compartments, illustrating the variability of the basic body plan. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all investigated Kentrophoros belonged to a single clade, despite the remarkable morphological diversity of these hosts. The symbionts were also monophyletic and belonged to a new clade within the Gammaproteobacteria, with no known cultured representatives. Each host morphospecies had a distinct symbiont phylotype, and statistical analyses revealed significant support for host-symbiont codiversification. Given that these symbioses were collected from two widely separated oceans, our results indicate that symbiotic associations in unicellular hosts can be highly specific and stable over long periods of evolutionary time.}, } @article {pmid28700717, year = {2017}, author = {Ogden, AJ and Gargouri, M and Park, J and Gang, DR and Kahn, ML}, title = {Integrated analysis of zone-specific protein and metabolite profiles within nitrogen-fixing Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium medicae nodules.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {e0180894}, pmid = {28700717}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {T32 GM008336/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sinorhizobium/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) between rhizobia and legumes requires metabolic coordination within specialized root organs called nodules. Nodules formed in the symbiosis between S. medicae and barrel medic (M. truncatula) are indeterminate, cylindrical, and contain spatially distinct developmental zones. Bacteria in the infection zone II (ZII), interzone II-III (IZ), and nitrogen fixation zone III (ZIII) represent different stages in the metabolic progression from free-living bacteria into nitrogen fixing bacteroids. To better understand the coordination of plant and bacterial metabolism within the nodule, we used liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS) to observe protein and metabolite profiles representative of ZII, IZ, ZIII, whole-nodule, and primary root. Our MS-based approach confidently identified 361 S. medicae proteins and 888 M. truncatula proteins, as well as 160 metabolites from each tissue. The data are consistent with several organ- and zone-specific protein and metabolite localization patterns characterized previously. We used our comprehensive dataset to demonstrate how multiple branches of primary metabolism are coordinated between symbionts and zones, including central carbon, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolism. For example, M. truncatula glycolysis enzymes accumulate from zone I to zone III within the nodule, while equivalent S. medicae enzymes decrease in abundance. We also show the localization of S. medicae's transition to dicarboxylic acid-dependent carbon metabolism within the IZ. The spatial abundance patterns of S. medicae fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis enzymes indicate an increased demand for FA production in the IZ and ZIII as compared to ZI. These observations provide a resource for those seeking to understand coordinated physiological changes during the development of SNF.}, } @article {pmid28698736, year = {2017}, author = {Pesce, C and Swanson, E and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Thomas, WK and Tisa, LS and Sellstedt, A}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Symbiotic Frankia Sp. Strain KB5 Isolated from Root Nodules of Casuarina equisetifolia.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {64-67}, pmid = {28698736}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {Frankia sp. strain KB5 was isolated from Casuarina equisetifolia and previous studies have shown both nitrogenase and uptake hydrogenase activities under free-living conditions. Here, we report 5.5-Mbp draft genome sequence with a G+C content of 70.03 %, 4,958 candidate protein-encoding genes, and 2 rRNA operons.}, } @article {pmid28698495, year = {2017}, author = {Xin, LT and Liu, L and Shao, CL and Yu, RL and Chen, FL and Yue, SJ and Wang, M and Guo, ZL and Fan, YC and Guan, HS and Wang, CY}, title = {Discovery of DNA Topoisomerase I Inhibitors with Low-Cytotoxicity Based on Virtual Screening from Natural Products.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {28698495}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; Biological Products/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I/*metabolism ; Fungi/chemistry ; Humans ; Plants/chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Topoisomerase I Inhibitors/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Currently, DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I) inhibitors constitute a family of antitumor agents with demonstrated clinical effects on human malignancies. However, the clinical uses of these agents have been greatly limited due to their severe toxic effects. Therefore, it is urgent to find and develop novel low toxic Topo I inhibitors. In recent years, during our ongoing research on natural antitumor products, a collection of low cytotoxic or non-cytotoxic compounds with various structures were identified from marine invertebrates, plants, and their symbiotic microorganisms. In the present study, new Topo I inhibitors were discovered from low cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic natural products by virtual screening with docking simulations in combination with bioassay test. In total, eight potent Topo I inhibitors were found from 138 low cytotoxic or non-cytotoxic compounds from coral-derived fungi and plants. All of these Topo I inhibitors demonstrated activities against Topo I-mediated relaxation of supercoiled DNA at the concentrations of 5-100 µM. Notably, the flavonoids showed higher Topo I inhibitory activities than other compounds. These newly discovered Topo I inhibitors exhibited structurally diverse and could be considered as a good starting point for the development of new antitumor lead compounds.}, } @article {pmid28698354, year = {2017}, author = {Adolfsson, L and Nziengui, H and Abreu, IN and Šimura, J and Beebo, A and Herdean, A and Aboalizadeh, J and Široká, J and Moritz, T and Novák, O and Ljung, K and Schoefs, B and Spetea, C}, title = {Enhanced Secondary- and Hormone Metabolism in Leaves of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {175}, number = {1}, pages = {392-411}, pmid = {28698354}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Terpenes/metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the most common symbiotic associations between a plant's root compartment and fungi. They provide nutritional benefit (mostly inorganic phosphate [Pi]), leading to improved growth, and nonnutritional benefits, including defense responses to environmental cues throughout the host plant, which, in return, delivers carbohydrates to the symbiont. However, how transcriptional and metabolic changes occurring in leaves of AM plants differ from those induced by Pi fertilization is poorly understood. We investigated systemic changes in the leaves of mycorrhized Medicago truncatula in conditions with no improved Pi status and compared them with those induced by high-Pi treatment in nonmycorrhized plants. Microarray-based genome-wide profiling indicated up-regulation by mycorrhization of genes involved in flavonoid, terpenoid, jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis as well as enhanced expression of MYC2, the master regulator of JA-dependent responses. Accordingly, total anthocyanins and flavonoids increased, and most flavonoid species were enriched in AM leaves. Both the AM and Pi treatments corepressed iron homeostasis genes, resulting in lower levels of available iron in leaves. In addition, higher levels of cytokinins were found in leaves of AM- and Pi-treated plants, whereas the level of ABA was increased specifically in AM leaves. Foliar treatment of nonmycorrhized plants with either ABA or JA induced the up-regulation of MYC2, but only JA also induced the up-regulation of flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthetic genes. Based on these results, we propose that mycorrhization and Pi fertilization share cytokinin-mediated improved shoot growth, whereas enhanced ABA biosynthesis and JA-regulated flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis in leaves are specific to mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid28698057, year = {2017}, author = {Gu, Y and Zavaliev, R and Dong, X}, title = {Membrane Trafficking in Plant Immunity.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {1026-1034}, pmid = {28698057}, issn = {1752-9867}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; R01 GM069594/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM118036/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport/genetics/physiology ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Endocytosis/genetics/physiology ; Plant Immunity/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants employ sophisticated mechanisms to interact with pathogenic as well as beneficial microbes. Of those, membrane trafficking is key in establishing a rapid and precise response. Upon interaction with pathogenic microbes, surface-localized immune receptors undergo endocytosis for signal transduction and activity regulation while cell wall components, antimicrobial compounds, and defense proteins are delivered to pathogen invasion sites through polarized secretion. To sustain mutualistic associations, host cells also reprogram the membrane trafficking system to accommodate invasive structures of symbiotic microbes. Here, we provide an analysis of recent advances in understanding the roles of secretory and endocytic membrane trafficking pathways in plant immune activation. We also discuss strategies deployed by adapted microbes to manipulate these pathways to subvert or inhibit plant defense.}, } @article {pmid28697806, year = {2017}, author = {Mu, Q and Zhang, H and Liao, X and Lin, K and Liu, H and Edwards, MR and Ahmed, SA and Yuan, R and Li, L and Cecere, TE and Branson, DB and Kirby, JL and Goswami, P and Leeth, CM and Read, KA and Oestreich, KJ and Vieson, MD and Reilly, CM and Luo, XM}, title = {Control of lupus nephritis by changes of gut microbiota.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {73}, pmid = {28697806}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {R03 AI117597/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P50 HD028934/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Interleukin-10/biosynthesis/blood ; Interleukin-6/biosynthesis ; Kidney/immunology/pathology/*physiopathology ; Lactobacillus/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Lupus Nephritis/immunology/*microbiology/physiopathology/*therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Orchiectomy ; Sex Factors ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus, characterized by persistent inflammation, is a complex autoimmune disorder with no known cure. Immunosuppressants used in treatment put patients at a higher risk of infections. New knowledge of disease modulators, such as symbiotic bacteria, can enable fine-tuning of parts of the immune system, rather than suppressing it altogether.

RESULTS: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota promotes autoimmune disorders that damage extraintestinal organs. Here we report a role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction in lupus. Using a classical model of lupus nephritis, MRL/lpr, we found a marked depletion of Lactobacillales in the gut microbiota. Increasing Lactobacillales in the gut improved renal function of these mice and prolonged their survival. We used a mixture of 5 Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus oris, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Lactobacillus gasseri), but L. reuteri and an uncultured Lactobacillus sp. accounted for most of the observed effects. Further studies revealed that MRL/lpr mice possessed a "leaky" gut, which was reversed by increased Lactobacillus colonization. Lactobacillus treatment contributed to an anti-inflammatory environment by decreasing IL-6 and increasing IL-10 production in the gut. In the circulation, Lactobacillus treatment increased IL-10 and decreased IgG2a that is considered to be a major immune deposit in the kidney of MRL/lpr mice. Inside the kidney, Lactobacillus treatment also skewed the Treg-Th17 balance towards a Treg phenotype. These beneficial effects were present in female and castrated male mice, but not in intact males, suggesting that the gut microbiota controls lupus nephritis in a sex hormone-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates essential mechanisms on how changes of the gut microbiota regulate lupus-associated immune responses in mice. Future studies are warranted to determine if these results can be replicated in human subjects.}, } @article {pmid28696422, year = {2017}, author = {Slaby, BM and Hackl, T and Horn, H and Bayer, K and Hentschel, U}, title = {Metagenomic binning of a marine sponge microbiome reveals unity in defense but metabolic specialization.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {2465-2478}, pmid = {28696422}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are ancient metazoans that are populated by distinct and highly diverse microbial communities. In order to obtain deeper insights into the functional gene repertoire of the Mediterranean sponge Aplysina aerophoba, we combined Illumina short-read and PacBio long-read sequencing followed by un-targeted metagenomic binning. We identified a total of 37 high-quality bins representing 11 bacterial phyla and two candidate phyla. Statistical comparison of symbiont genomes with selected reference genomes revealed a significant enrichment of genes related to bacterial defense (restriction-modification systems, toxin-antitoxin systems) as well as genes involved in host colonization and extracellular matrix utilization in sponge symbionts. A within-symbionts genome comparison revealed a nutritional specialization of at least two symbiont guilds, where one appears to metabolize carnitine and the other sulfated polysaccharides, both of which are abundant molecules in the sponge extracellular matrix. A third guild of symbionts may be viewed as nutritional generalists that perform largely the same metabolic pathways but lack such extraordinary numbers of the relevant genes. This study characterizes the genomic repertoire of sponge symbionts at an unprecedented resolution and it provides greater insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying microbial-sponge symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28695334, year = {2017}, author = {Newsham, KK and Eidesen, PB and Davey, ML and Axelsen, J and Courtecuisse, E and Flintrop, C and Johansson, AG and Kiepert, M and Larsen, SE and Lorberau, KE and Maurset, M and McQuilkin, J and Misiak, M and Pop, A and Thompson, S and Read, DJ}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas are present on Spitsbergen.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {725-731}, pmid = {28695334}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Geography ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Svalbard ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A previous study of 76 plant species on Spitsbergen in the High Arctic concluded that structures resembling arbuscular mycorrhizas were absent from roots. Here, we report a survey examining the roots of 13 grass and forb species collected from 12 sites on the island for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation. Of the 102 individuals collected, we recorded AM endophytes in the roots of 41 plants of 11 species (Alopecurus ovatus, Deschampsia alpina, Festuca rubra ssp. richardsonii, putative viviparous hybrids of Poa arctica and Poa pratensis, Poa arctica ssp. arctica, Trisetum spicatum, Coptidium spitsbergense, Ranunculus nivalis, Ranunculus pygmaeus, Ranunculus sulphureus and Taraxacum arcticum) sampled from 10 sites. Both coarse AM endophyte, with hyphae of 5-10 μm width, vesicles and occasional arbuscules, and fine endophyte, consisting of hyphae of 1-3 μm width and sparse arbuscules, were recorded in roots. Coarse AM hyphae, vesicles, arbuscules and fine endophyte hyphae occupied 1.0-30.7, 0.8-18.3, 0.7-11.9 and 0.7-12.8% of the root lengths of colonised plants, respectively. Principal component analysis indicated no associations between the abundances of AM structures in roots and edaphic factors. We conclude that the AM symbiosis is present in grass and forb roots on Spitsbergen.}, } @article {pmid28693550, year = {2017}, author = {Kovacs, JL and Wolf, C and Voisin, D and Wolf, S}, title = {Evidence of indirect symbiont conferred protection against the predatory lady beetle Harmonia axyridis in the pea aphid.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {26}, pmid = {28693550}, issn = {1472-6785}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*physiology ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Predatory Behavior ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Defensive symbionts can provide significant fitness advantages to their hosts. Facultative symbionts can protect several species of aphid from fungal pathogens, heat shock, and parasitism by parasitoid wasps. Previous work found that two of these facultative symbionts can also indirectly protect pea aphids from predation by the lady beetle Hippocampus convergens. When aphids reproduce asexually, there is extremely high relatedness among aphid clone-mates and often very limited dispersal. Under these conditions, symbionts may indirectly protect aphid clone-mates from predation by negatively affecting the survival of a predator after the consumption of aphids harboring the same vertically transmitted facultative symbionts. In this study, we wanted to determine whether this indirect protection extended to another lady beetle species, Harmonia axyridis.

RESULTS: We fed Ha. axyridis larvae aphids from one of four aphid sub-clonal symbiont lines which all originated from the same naturally symbiont free clonal aphid lineage. Three of the sub-clonal lines harbor different facultative symbionts that were introduced to the lines via microinjection. Therefore these sub-clonal lineages vary primarily in their symbiont composition, not their genetic background. We found that aphid facultative symbionts affected larval survival as well as pupal survival in their predator Ha. axyridis. Additionally, Ha. axyridis larvae fed aphids with the Regiella symbiont had significantly longer larval developmental times than beetle larvae fed other aphids, and females fed aphids with the Regiella symbiont as larvae weighed less as adults. These fitness effects were different from those previously found in another aphid predator Hi. convergens suggesting that the fitness effects may not be the same in different aphid predators.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings suggest that some aphid symbionts may indirectly benefit their clonal aphid hosts by negatively impacting the development and survival of a lady beetle aphid predator Ha. axyridis. By directly affecting the survival of predatory lady beetles, aphid facultative symbionts may increase the survival of their clone-mates that are clustered nearby and have significant impacts across multiple trophic levels. We have now found evidence for multiple aphid facultative symbionts negatively impacting the survival of a second species of aphid predatory lady beetle. These same symbionts also protect their hosts from parasitism and fungal infections, though these fitness effects seem to depend on the aphid species, predator or parasitoid species, and symbiont type. This work further demonstrates that beneficial mutualisms depend upon complex interactions between a variety of players and should be studied in multiple ecologically relevant contexts.}, } @article {pmid28692858, year = {2017}, author = {Yuan, P and Jauregui, E and Du, L and Tanaka, K and Poovaiah, BW}, title = {Calcium signatures and signaling events orchestrate plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {173-183}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.06.003}, pmid = {28692858}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Signaling/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Immunity/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Calcium (Ca[2+]) acts as an essential second messenger connecting the perception of microbe signals to the establishment of appropriate immune and symbiotic responses in plants. Accumulating evidence suggests that plants distinguish different microorganisms through plasma membrane-localized pattern recognition receptors. The particular recognition events are encoded into Ca[2+] signatures, which are sensed by diverse intracellular Ca[2+] binding proteins. The Ca[2+] signatures are eventually decoded to distinct downstream responses through transcriptional reprogramming of the defense or symbiosis-related genes. Recent observations further reveal that Ca[2+]-mediated signaling is also involved in negative regulation of plant immunity. This review is intended as an overview of Ca[2+] signaling during immunity and symbiosis, including Ca[2+] responses in the nucleus and cytosol.}, } @article {pmid28688926, year = {2017}, author = {Thavamani, P and Samkumar, RA and Satheesh, V and Subashchandrabose, SR and Ramadass, K and Naidu, R and Venkateswarlu, K and Megharaj, M}, title = {Microbes from mined sites: Harnessing their potential for reclamation of derelict mine sites.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {230}, number = {}, pages = {495-505}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2017.06.056}, pmid = {28688926}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Microbiota ; *Mining ; Mycorrhizae/isolation & purification ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry/standards ; *Soil Microbiology/standards ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Derelict mines pose potential risks to environmental health. Several factors such as soil structure, organic matter, and nutrient content are the greatly affected qualities in mined soils. Soil microbial communities are an important element for successful reclamation because of their major role in nutrient cycling, plant establishment, geochemical transformations, and soil formation. Yet, microorganisms generally remain an undervalued asset in mined sites. The microbial diversity in derelict mine sites consists of diverse species belonging to four key phyla: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The activity of plant symbiotic microorganisms including root-colonizing rhizobacteria and ectomycorrhizal fungi of existing vegetation in the mined sites is very high since most of these microbes are extremophiles. This review outlines the importance of microorganisms to soil health and the rehabilitation of derelict mines and how microbial activity and diversity can be exploited to better plan the soil rehabilitation. Besides highlighting the major breakthroughs in the application of microorganisms for mined site reclamation, we provide a critical view on plant-microbiome interactions to improve revegetation at the mined sites. Also, the need has been emphasized for deciphering the molecular mechanisms of adaptation and resistance of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere microbes in abandoned mine sites, understanding their role in remediation, and subsequent harnessing of their potential to pave the way in future rehabilitation strategies for mined sites.}, } @article {pmid28686930, year = {2017}, author = {Hashimoto, M and Satou, R and Ozono, M and Inagawa, H and Soma, GI}, title = {Characterization of the O-antigen polysaccharide derived from Pantoea agglomerans IG1 lipopolysaccharide.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {449}, number = {}, pages = {32-36}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2017.06.017}, pmid = {28686930}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Sequence ; O Antigens/*chemistry ; Pantoea/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {A polysaccharide fraction was isolated from the Pantoea agglomerans IG1 lipopolysaccharide (IP-PA1), and its O-antigenic polysaccharide was characterized by chemical analyses and 1D and 2D [1]H and [13]C NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide is composed of linear tetrasaccharide repeating units, consisting of glucose and rhamnose, where 40% of one of the rhamnose residues is substituted with glucose: →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→6)-α-d-Glcp-(1→2)-[β-d-Glcp-(1→3)]0.4-α-l-Rhap-(1→2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→.}, } @article {pmid28684295, year = {2017}, author = {Lazcano, A and Peretó, J}, title = {On the origin of mitosing cells: A historical appraisal of Lynn Margulis endosymbiotic theory.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {80-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.06.036}, pmid = {28684295}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Chloroplasts ; Eukaryota/genetics ; Genome ; History, 20th Century ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mitochondria ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Although for a long-time symbiosis was considered to be quite rare and with no role in evolutionary processes, Lynn Margulis demonstrated that endosymbiotic events played a key role in the origin and evolution of eukaryotic cells. Starting with her seminal assay in the Journal of Theoretical Biology in 1967 (authored as Lynn Sagan), her lifelong work on eukaryogenesis and the role of symbiosis in evolution stands as a valid and authoritative contribution to science. As was quick to acknowledge, she was not the first to discuss the significance of symbiosis to explain the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, but no one else had done it to her extent and depth, nor had anyone provided a variety of testable hypotheses. While it is true that some of her proposals were incomplete or mistaken, morphological, biochemical and geochemical evidence together with phylogenomic analyses of mitochondria, chloroplasts and eukaryotic nuclear genomes have demonstrated the validity of her evolutionary scheme, as well that of her specific predictions on the chimeric nature of genomes and the mosaicism of metabolic pathways in eukaryotic cells.}, } @article {pmid28683136, year = {2017}, author = {Ballinger, MJ and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Generality of toxins in defensive symbiosis: Ribosome-inactivating proteins and defense against parasitic wasps in Drosophila.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {e1006431}, pmid = {28683136}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*toxicity ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics/metabolism/*toxicity ; Biological Evolution ; Drosophila/genetics/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Larva/genetics/microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*toxicity ; Spiroplasma/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {While it has become increasingly clear that multicellular organisms often harbor microbial symbionts that protect their hosts against natural enemies, the mechanistic underpinnings underlying most defensive symbioses are largely unknown. Spiroplasma bacteria are widespread associates of terrestrial arthropods, and include strains that protect diverse Drosophila flies against parasitic wasps and nematodes. Recent work implicated a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) encoded by Spiroplasma, and related to Shiga-like toxins in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, in defense against a virulent parasitic nematode in the woodland fly, Drosophila neotestacea. Here we test the generality of RIP-mediated protection by examining whether Spiroplasma RIPs also play a role in wasp protection, in D. melanogaster and D. neotestacea. We find strong evidence for a major role of RIPs, with ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from the larval endoparasitic wasps, Leptopilina heterotoma and Leptopilina boulardi, exhibiting the hallmarks of RIP activity. In Spiroplasma-containing hosts, parasitic wasp ribosomes show abundant site-specific depurination in the α-sarcin/ricin loop of the 28S rRNA, with depurination occurring soon after wasp eggs hatch inside fly larvae. Interestingly, we found that the pupal ectoparasitic wasp, Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae, escapes protection by Spiroplasma, and its ribosomes do not show high levels of depurination. We also show that fly ribosomes show little evidence of targeting by RIPs. Finally, we find that the genome of D. neotestacea's defensive Spiroplasma encodes a diverse repertoire of RIP genes, which are differ in abundance. This work suggests that specificity of defensive symbionts against different natural enemies may be driven by the evolution of toxin repertoires, and that toxin diversity may play a role in shaping host-symbiont-enemy interactions.}, } @article {pmid28682509, year = {2017}, author = {Kuchurov, IV and Zharkov, MN and Fershtat, LL and Makhova, NN and Zlotin, SG}, title = {Prospective Symbiosis of Green Chemistry and Energetic Materials.}, journal = {ChemSusChem}, volume = {10}, number = {20}, pages = {3914-3946}, doi = {10.1002/cssc.201701053}, pmid = {28682509}, issn = {1864-564X}, mesh = {Green Chemistry Technology/*methods ; Ionic Liquids/*chemistry ; Organic Chemicals/chemical synthesis/chemistry ; }, abstract = {A global increase in environmental pollution demands the development of new "cleaner" chemical processes. Among urgent improvements, the replacement of traditional hydrocarbon-derived toxic organic solvents with neoteric solvents less harmful for the environment is one of the most vital issues. As a result of the favorable combination of their unique properties, ionic liquids (ILs), dense gases, and supercritical fluids (SCFs) have gained considerable attention as suitable green chemistry media for the preparation and modification of important chemical compounds and materials. In particular, they have a significant potential in a specific and very important area of research associated with the manufacture and processing of high-energy materials (HEMs). These large-scale manufacturing processes, in which hazardous chemicals and extreme conditions are used, produce a huge amount of hard-to-dispose-of waste. Furthermore, they are risky to staff, and any improvements that would reduce the fire and explosion risks of the corresponding processes are highly desirable. In this Review, useful applications of almost nonflammable ILs, dense gases, and SCFs (first of all, CO2) for nitration and other reactions used for manufacturing HEMs are considered. Recent advances in the field of energetic (oxygen-balanced and hypergolic) ILs are summarized. Significant attention is paid to the SCF-based micronization techniques, which improve the energetic performance of HEMs through an efficient control of the morphology and particle size distribution of the HEM fine particles, and to useful applications of SCFs in HEM processing that makes them less hazardous.}, } @article {pmid28682226, year = {2017}, author = {El Kafsi, H and Gorochov, G and Larsen, M}, title = {[Not Available].}, journal = {Biologie aujourd'hui}, volume = {211}, number = {1}, pages = {39-49}, doi = {10.1051/jbio/2017010}, pmid = {28682226}, issn = {2105-0686}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/metabolism/*physiology ; Immunity, Cellular/physiology ; Immunity, Humoral/physiology ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/physiology ; Inheritance Patterns ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Genetic evolution of multicellular organisms occurred as a response to environmental challenges, in particular competition for nutrients, climatic change, physical and chemical stressors and pathogens. However organism fitness depends on both the efficiency of its defences and its capacities for benefiting from its symbiotic organisms. Indeed microbes not only engender pathogenies, but enable efficient uptake of host non-self biodegradable nutriments. Furthermore, microbes play an important role in the development of host immunity. We shall review here the associations between some specific genes of the host, microbiota and the immune system. Recent genome-wide association studies disclose that symbiosis between host and microbiota results from a stringent genetic co-evolution. On the other hand, a microbe subset isolated from murine and human microbiotes has been identified on the basis of its interaction with both the host genetics and immunity. Remarkably, microbes which have two such connections are taxonomically related. The best performing bacterial genuses in these two perspectives are Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Akkermansia. We conclude that future therapies targeting microbiota within the framework of chronic inflammatory diseases must consider together host immune and genetic characters associated with microbiota homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid28681454, year = {2017}, author = {Lasitschka, F and Giese, T and Paparella, M and Kurzhals, SR and Wabnitz, G and Jacob, K and Gras, J and Bode, KA and Heninger, AK and Sziskzai, T and Samstag, Y and Leszinski, C and Jocher, B and Al-Saeedi, M and Meuer, SC and Schröder-Braunstein, J}, title = {Human monocytes downregulate innate response receptors following exposure to the microbial metabolite n-butyrate.}, journal = {Immunity, inflammation and disease}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {480-492}, pmid = {28681454}, issn = {2050-4527}, mesh = {Adult ; Amino Acid Transport Systems, Acidic/genetics/metabolism ; Antigens, Bacterial/immunology ; Biomarkers ; Butyrates/*immunology ; Down-Regulation ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Macrophages/immunology/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes/*immunology/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism ; Receptors, Immunologic/genetics/*metabolism ; Trans-Activators/metabolism ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Hyporesponsiveness of human lamina propria immune cells to microbial and nutritional antigens represents one important feature of intestinal homeostasis. It is at least partially mediated by low expression of the innate response receptors CD11b, CD14, CD16 as well as the cystine-glutamate transporter xCT on these cells. Milieu-specific mechanisms leading to the down-regulation of these receptors on circulating monocytes, the precursor cells of resident macrophages, are mostly unknown.

METHODS: Here, we addressed the question whether the short chain fatty acid n-butyrate, a fermentation product of the mammalian gut microbiota exhibiting histone deacetylase inhibitory activity, is able to modulate expression of these receptors in human circulating monocytes.

RESULTS: Exposure to n-butyrate resulted in the downregulation of CD11b, CD14, as well as CD16 surface expression on circulating monocytes. XCT transcript levels in circulating monocytes were also reduced following exposure to n-butyrate. Importantly, treatment resulted in the downregulation of protein and gene expression of the transcription factor PU.1, which was shown to be at least partially required for the expression of CD16 in circulating monocytes. PU.1 expression in resident macrophages in situ was observed to be substantially lower in healthy when compared to inflamed colonic mucosa.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the intestinal microbiota may support symbiosis with the human host organism by n-butyrate mediated downregulation of protein and gene expression of innate response receptors as well as xCT on circulating monocytes following recruitment to the lamina propria. Downregulation of CD16 gene expression may at least partially be caused at the transcriptional level by the n-butyrate mediated decrease in expression of the transcription factor PU.1 in circulating monocytes.}, } @article {pmid28681143, year = {2018}, author = {van de Water, JAJM and Voolstra, CR and Rottier, C and Cocito, S and Peirano, A and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Seasonal Stability in the Microbiomes of Temperate Gorgonians and the Red Coral Corallium rubrum Across the Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, pages = {274-288}, pmid = {28681143}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Seasons ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Populations of key benthic habitat-forming octocoral species have declined significantly in the Mediterranean Sea due to mass mortality events caused by microbial disease outbreaks linked to high summer seawater temperatures. Recently, we showed that the microbial communities of these octocorals are relatively structured; however, our knowledge on the seasonal dynamics of these microbiomes is still limited. To investigate their seasonal stability, we collected four soft gorgonian species (Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella verrucosa and Leptogorgia sarmentosa) and the precious red coral (Corallium rubrum) from two coastal locations with different terrestrial impact levels in the Mediterranean Sea, and used next-generation amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiomes of all soft gorgonian species were dominated by the same 'core microbiome' bacteria belonging to the Endozoicomonas and the Cellvibrionales clade BD1-7, whereas the red coral microbiome was primarily composed of 'core' Spirochaetes, Oceanospirillales ME2 and Parcubacteria. The associations with these bacterial taxa were relatively consistent over time at each location for each octocoral species. However, differences in microbiome composition and seasonal dynamics were observed between locations and could primarily be attributed to locally variant bacteria. Overall, our data provide further evidence of the intricate symbiotic relationships that exist between Mediterranean octocorals and their associated microbes, which are ancient and highly conserved over both space and time, and suggest regulation of the microbiome composition by the host, depending on local conditions.}, } @article {pmid28680117, year = {2017}, author = {Doudoumis, V and Blow, F and Saridaki, A and Augustinos, A and Dyer, NA and Goodhead, I and Solano, P and Rayaisse, JB and Takac, P and Mekonnen, S and Parker, AG and Abd-Alla, AMM and Darby, A and Bourtzis, K and Tsiamis, G}, title = {Challenging the Wigglesworthia, Sodalis, Wolbachia symbiosis dogma in tsetse flies: Spiroplasma is present in both laboratory and natural populations.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {4699}, pmid = {28680117}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BB/J017698/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K501773/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/microbiology/parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Ovary/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; Spiroplasma/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Testis/microbiology ; Tissue Distribution ; Tsetse Flies/classification/growth & development/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Wigglesworthia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Profiling of wild and laboratory tsetse populations using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing allowed us to examine whether the "Wigglesworthia-Sodalis-Wolbachia dogma" operates across species and populations. The most abundant taxa, in wild and laboratory populations, were Wigglesworthia (the primary endosymbiont), Sodalis and Wolbachia as previously characterized. The species richness of the microbiota was greater in wild than laboratory populations. Spiroplasma was identified as a new symbiont exclusively in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and G. tachinoides, members of the palpalis sub-group, and the infection prevalence in several laboratory and natural populations was surveyed. Multi locus sequencing typing (MLST) analysis identified two strains of tsetse-associated Spiroplasma, present in G. f. fuscipes and G. tachinoides. Spiroplasma density in G. f. fuscipes larva guts was significantly higher than in guts from teneral and 15-day old male and female adults. In gonads of teneral and 15-day old insects, Spiroplasma density was higher in testes than ovaries, and was significantly higher density in live versus prematurely deceased females indicating a potentially mutualistic association. Higher Spiroplasma density in testes than in ovaries was also detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization in G. f. fuscipes.}, } @article {pmid28679724, year = {2017}, author = {Smith, EG and D'Angelo, C and Sharon, Y and Tchernov, D and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Acclimatization of symbiotic corals to mesophotic light environments through wavelength transformation by fluorescent protein pigments.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1858}, pages = {}, pmid = {28679724}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {311179/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology/*radiation effects ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/physiology/*radiation effects ; Fluorescence ; *Light ; *Pigmentation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The depth distribution of reef-building corals exposes their photosynthetic symbionts of the genus Symbiodinium to extreme gradients in the intensity and spectral quality of the ambient light environment. Characterizing the mechanisms used by the coral holobiont to respond to the low intensity and reduced spectral composition of the light environment in deeper reefs (greater than 20 m) is fundamental to our understanding of the functioning and structure of reefs across depth gradients. Here, we demonstrate that host pigments, specifically photoconvertible red fluorescent proteins (pcRFPs), can promote coral adaptation/acclimatization to deeper-water light environments by transforming the prevalent blue light into orange-red light, which can penetrate deeper within zooxanthellae-containing tissues; this facilitates a more homogeneous distribution of photons across symbiont communities. The ecological importance of pcRFPs in deeper reefs is supported by the increasing proportion of red fluorescent corals with depth (measured down to 45 m) and increased survival of colour morphs with strong expression of pcRFPs in long-term light manipulation experiments. In addition to screening by host pigments from high light intensities in shallow water, the spectral transformation observed in deeper-water corals highlights the importance of GFP-like protein expression as an ecological mechanism to support the functioning of the coral-Symbiodinium association across steep environmental gradients.}, } @article {pmid28679110, year = {2017}, author = {Li, L and Tian, Y and Yu, J and Song, X and Jia, R and Cui, Q and Tong, W and Zou, Y and Li, L and Yin, L and Liang, X and He, C and Yue, G and Ye, G and Zhao, L and Shi, F and Lv, C and Cao, S and Yin, Z}, title = {iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals multiple effects of Emodin to Haemophilus parasuis.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {166}, number = {}, pages = {39-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2017.06.020}, pmid = {28679110}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/analysis/drug effects ; Cell Line ; Emodin/*pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells/microbiology ; Haemophilus Infections/drug therapy/prevention & control ; Haemophilus parasuis/*drug effects/pathogenicity ; Proteomics/methods ; Swine ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Haemophilus parasuis, a symbiotic bacteria of upper respiratory tract of swine, is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease, which is characterized by fibrinous polyserositis. Emodin, exhibits antibacterial activity against H. parasuis, yet the action mode has not been fully understood. In present study, isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method was applied to analyze the global protein alteration of H. parasuis in response to 16μg/mL Emodin. In total, 338 proteins exhibiting significant differential expressions were identified. It was speculated that, through application of bioinformatics analysis to theses differentially expressed proteins, Emodin mainly inhibited some key proteins expression of ABC transport system, carbohydrate metabolism pathway and bacterial cell division by inhibiting the ribosome synthesis, resulting in the growth inhibition of H. parasuis. Remarkably, nine virulence-associated proteins were detected differently expressed, further experiments revealed that after treatment with Emodin, H. parasuis could be inhibited to adhere to and invade into porcine kidney epithelial cells (PK-15 line) and exhibited increased sensitivity to serum complement in a concentration-dependent manner. Phagocytosis assay showed Emodin also could enhance phagocytic activity of porcine alveolar macrophages PAM to H. parasuis. These results indicated that Emodin also can attenuate virulence of H. parasuis and reduce infection.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Glässer's disease caused by H. parasuis has become a typical bacterial disease and cause serious economic loss to the swine industry around the world. Antibiotics are extensively used to control the infection, but increasing antibiotic resistance has been a severe problem. Hence, novel treatment agents are needed. So far, few antibacterial agents were reported that could control H. parasuis infection. In the present study, the state-of-the-art quantitative proteomic technology was applied to uncover underlying action mechanism of Emodin. This study extends understanding of antibacterial effect of Emodin to H. parasuis at molecular level and provides useful information for further investigations. Moreover, our results provide theoretical foundation for the practical application of Emodin.}, } @article {pmid28679065, year = {2017}, author = {Kirchman, PA and Van Zee, N}, title = {Saccharomyces cerevisiae displays an increased growth rate and an extended replicative lifespan when grown under respiratory conditions in the presence of bacteria.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {9}, pages = {806-810}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2017-0285}, pmid = {28679065}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Individual cells of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have a limited replicative potential, referred to as the replicative lifespan. We have found that both the growth rate and average replicative lifespan of S. cerevisiae cells are greatly increased in the presence of a variety of bacteria. The growth and lifespan effects are not observable when yeast are allowed to ferment glucose but are only notable on solid media when yeast are forced to respire due to the lack of a fermentable carbon source. Growth near strains of Escherichia coli containing deletions of genes needed for the production of compounds used for quorum sensing or for the production of the siderophore enterobactin also still induced the lifespan extension in yeast. Furthermore, the bacterially induced increases in growth rate and lifespan occur even across gaps in the growth medium, indicating that the bacteria are influencing the yeast through the action of a volatile compound.}, } @article {pmid28678233, year = {2017}, author = {Yuan, Z and Zhang, Z and Wang, X and Li, L and Cai, K and Han, H}, title = {Novel impacts of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in plants: promotion of nodulation and nitrogenase activity in the rhizobium-legume system.}, journal = {Nanoscale}, volume = {9}, number = {28}, pages = {9921-9937}, doi = {10.1039/c7nr01948c}, pmid = {28678233}, issn = {2040-3372}, mesh = {Graphite ; Lotus/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Nanotubes, Carbon/*chemistry ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiosis system is critical for nitrogen-cycle balance in agriculture. However, the potential effects of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) on this system remain largely unknown. Herein, we studied the effects of four carbon-based materials (activated carbon (AC), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene oxide (GO)) on the rhizobium-legume symbiosis system consisting of Lotus japonicus and Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099. Under non-symbiotic conditions, the bacterial growth and root development of plants were both clearly inhibited by SWCNTs and GO, while the elongation of plant stems was enhanced by MWCNTs to a certain degree. More importantly, only MWCNTs could increase the number of nodules and enhance the activity of nitrogenase in the rhizobium-plant interaction. Further analyses showed that the average number of nodules in plants treated with 100 μg mL[-1] MWCNTs was significantly increased by 39% at 14 days post inoculation (dpi) and by 41% at 28 dpi. Meanwhile, the biological nitrogen fixation of the nodules was promoted by more than 10% under 100 μg mL[-1] MWCNT treatment, which enhanced the above- and below-ground fresh biomass by 14% and 25% respectively at 28 dpi. Transmission electron microscopy images further indicated that MWCNTs penetrated the cell wall, and pierced through the cell membrane to be transmitted into the cytoplasm. In addition, gene expression analysis showed that the promotion of nodulation by MWCNTs was correlated with the up-regulation of certain genes involved in this signaling pathway. In particular, the expression of NIN, a crucial gene regulating the development of nodules, was significantly elevated 2-fold by MWCNTs at an early stage of nodulation. These findings are expected to facilitate the understanding and future utilization of MWCNTs in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid28678193, year = {2017}, author = {Ravankar, A and Ravankar, AA and Kobayashi, Y and Emaru, T}, title = {Symbiotic Navigation in Multi-Robot Systems with Remote Obstacle Knowledge Sharing.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {28678193}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {Large scale operational areas often require multiple service robots for coverage and task parallelism. In such scenarios, each robot keeps its individual map of the environment and serves specific areas of the map at different times. We propose a knowledge sharing mechanism for multiple robots in which one robot can inform other robots about the changes in map, like path blockage, or new static obstacles, encountered at specific areas of the map. This symbiotic information sharing allows the robots to update remote areas of the map without having to explicitly navigate those areas, and plan efficient paths. A node representation of paths is presented for seamless sharing of blocked path information. The transience of obstacles is modeled to track obstacles which might have been removed. A lazy information update scheme is presented in which only relevant information affecting the current task is updated for efficiency. The advantages of the proposed method for path planning are discussed against traditional method with experimental results in both simulation and real environments.}, } @article {pmid28677653, year = {2017}, author = {Bollati, E and Plimmer, D and D'Angelo, C and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {FRET-Mediated Long-Range Wavelength Transformation by Photoconvertible Fluorescent Proteins as an Efficient Mechanism to Generate Orange-Red Light in Symbiotic Deep Water Corals.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {28677653}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {311179/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; *Light ; Luminescent Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photoconvertible fluorescent proteins (pcRFPs) are a group of fluorophores that undergo an irreversible green-to-red shift in emission colour upon irradiation with near-ultraviolet (near-UV) light. Despite their wide application in biotechnology, the high-level expression of pcRFPs in mesophotic and depth-generalist coral species currently lacks a biological explanation. Additionally, reduced penetration of near-UV wavelengths in water poses the question whether light-driven photoconversion is relevant in the mesophotic zone, or whether a different mechanism is involved in the post-translational pigment modification in vivo. Here, we show in a long-term mesocosm experiment that photoconversion in vivo is entirely dependent on near-UV wavelengths. However, a near-UV intensity equivalent to the mesophotic underwater light field at 80 m depth is sufficient to drive the process in vitro, suggesting that photoconversion can occur near the lower distribution limits of these corals. Furthermore, live coral colonies showed evidence of efficient Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). Our simulated mesophotic light field maintained the pcRFP pool in a partially photoconverted state in vivo, maximising intra-tetrameric FRET and creating a long-range wavelength conversion system with higher quantum yield than other native RFPs. We hypothesise that efficient conversion of blue wavelengths, abundant at depth, into orange-red light could constitute an adaptation of corals to life in light-limited environments.}, } @article {pmid28677262, year = {2017}, author = {Mikaelyan, A and Thompson, CL and Meuser, K and Zheng, H and Rani, P and Plarre, R and Brune, A}, title = {High-resolution phylogenetic analysis of Endomicrobia reveals multiple acquisitions of endosymbiotic lineages by termite gut flagellates.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {477-483}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12565}, pmid = {28677262}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Insecta/microbiology ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the class Endomicrobia form a deep-branching clade in the Elusimicrobia phylum. They are found almost exclusively in the intestinal tract of animals and are particularly abundant in many termites, where they reside as intracellular symbionts in the cellulolytic gut flagellates. Although small populations of putatively free-living lineages have been detected in faunated and flagellate-free hosts, the evolutionary origin of the endosymbionts is obscured by the limited amount of phylogenetic information provided by the 16S rRNA gene fragment amplified with Endomicrobia-specific primers. Here, we present a robust phylogenetic framework based on the near-full-length 16S-23S rRNA gene region of a diverse set of Endomicrobia from termites and cockroaches, which also allowed us to classify the shorter reads from previous studies. Our data revealed that endosymbionts arose independently at least four times from different free-living lineages, which were already present in ancestral cockroaches but became associated with their respective hosts long after the digestive symbiosis between termites and flagellates had been established. Pyrotag sequencing revealed that the proportion of putatively free-living lineages increased, when all flagellates and their symbionts were removed from the gut of lower termites by starvation, starch feeding or hyperbaric oxygen, but results varied between different methods.}, } @article {pmid28676009, year = {2017}, author = {Chisari, G and Chisari, EM and Borzi, AM and Chisari, CG}, title = {Aging Eye Microbiota in Dry Eye Syndrome in Patients Treated with Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces boulardii.}, journal = {Current clinical pharmacology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {99-105}, doi = {10.2174/1574884712666170704145046}, pmid = {28676009}, issn = {2212-3938}, mesh = {Aged ; Aging ; Dry Eye Syndromes/microbiology/*therapy ; *Enterococcus faecium ; Eye/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lubricant Eye Drops/administration & dosage ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Oxidative Stress ; Pilot Projects ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; *Saccharomyces boulardii ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aging and oxidative stress seem to play a key role in the onset and progression of ocular surface diseases. Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface in which symptoms may interfere with the ability to work and carry out daily functions.

METHODS: This clinical trial was a pilot study to evaluate the effects of supplementation with mixture (Saccharomyces boulardii MUCL 53837 and Enterococcus faecium LMG S-28935) on the tear film. Following the run-in period subjects were randomized in two groups: group A (n.30 subjects) and group B (n.30 subjects). Group A (control) treated only with substitute tear and group B treated with substitute tear + mixture (probiotic).

RESULTS: The data obtained in the two study groups A and B were, respectively the following: Schirmer I: 9.2±0.2 vs. 12.8±0.4 (p< 0.001); Schirmer II: 3.6±0.1 vs. 4.6±0.2 (p<0.001); BUT 3.8±0.3 vs. 6.2±0.2 (p<0.001). Culture test showed initial bacterial growth in group "A" (placebo) 27 out of 60 samples tested, corresponding to 45.0% and "B" after treatment (probiotic) was found positive culture whit growth of bacteria in 18 tests equal to 30.0%. The total numbers of isolations of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria found group A and B after treatment. A reduction of 23 to 16 strains of aerobic and anaerobic isolates from 13 to 7 has been found.

CONCLUSION: The administration of probiotics strains was effective in reducing DES. In light of these results, we have identified our probiotic (Saccharomyces boulardii MUCL 53837 and Enterococcus faecium LMG S-28935) activity integration with the action of tear substitutes, along with standardization of clinical parameters of the tear film and microbiological activity in restoring of the microbiota ocular surface subject with DES.}, } @article {pmid28675159, year = {2017}, author = {Fisher, RM and Henry, LM and Cornwallis, CK and Kiers, ET and West, SA}, title = {The evolution of host-symbiont dependence.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {15973}, pmid = {28675159}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {335542/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arachnida ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Endophytes ; Fungi ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Insecta ; Mollusca ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Organisms across the tree of life form symbiotic partnerships with microbes for metabolism, protection and resources. While some hosts evolve extreme dependence on their symbionts, others maintain facultative associations. Explaining this variation is fundamental to understanding when symbiosis can lead to new higher-level individuals, such as during the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Here we perform phylogenetic comparative analyses on 106 unique host-bacterial symbioses to test for correlations between symbiont function, transmission mode, genome size and host dependence. We find that both transmission mode and symbiont function are correlated with host dependence, with reductions in host fitness being greatest when nutrient-provisioning, vertically transmitted symbionts are removed. We also find a negative correlation between host dependence and symbiont genome size in vertically, but not horizontally, transmitted symbionts. These results suggest that both function and population structure are important in driving irreversible dependence between hosts and symbionts.}, } @article {pmid28674659, year = {2017}, author = {Casazza, LR}, title = {Pleistocene reefs of the Egyptian Red Sea: environmental change and community persistence.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3504}, pmid = {28674659}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The fossil record of Red Sea fringing reefs provides an opportunity to study the history of coral-reef survival and recovery in the context of extreme environmental change. The Middle Pleistocene, the Late Pleistocene, and modern reefs represent three periods of reef growth separated by glacial low stands during which conditions became difficult for symbiotic reef fauna. Coral diversity and paleoenvironments of eight Middle and Late Pleistocene fossil terraces are described and characterized here. Pleistocene reef zones closely resemble reef zones of the modern Red Sea. All but one species identified from Middle and Late Pleistocene outcrops are also found on modern Red Sea reefs despite the possible extinction of most coral over two-thirds of the Red Sea basin during glacial low stands. Refugia in the Gulf of Aqaba and southern Red Sea may have allowed for the persistence of coral communities across glaciation events. Stability of coral communities across these extreme climate events indicates that even small populations of survivors can repopulate large areas given appropriate water conditions and time.}, } @article {pmid28674550, year = {2017}, author = {Quiroga, G and Erice, G and Aroca, R and Chaumont, F and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Enhanced Drought Stress Tolerance by the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in a Drought-Sensitive Maize Cultivar Is Related to a Broader and Differential Regulation of Host Plant Aquaporins than in a Drought-Tolerant Cultivar.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1056}, pmid = {28674550}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has been shown to improve maize tolerance to different drought stress scenarios by regulating a wide range of host plants aquaporins. The objective of this study was to highlight the differences in aquaporin regulation by comparing the effects of the AM symbiosis on root aquaporin gene expression and plant physiology in two maize cultivars with contrasting drought sensitivity. This information would help to identify key aquaporin genes involved in the enhanced drought tolerance by the AM symbiosis. Results showed that when plants were subjected to drought stress the AM symbiosis induced a higher improvement of physiological parameters in drought-sensitive plants than in drought-tolerant plants. These include efficiency of photosystem II, membrane stability, accumulation of soluble sugars and plant biomass production. Thus, drought-sensitive plants obtained higher physiological benefit from the AM symbiosis. In addition, the genes ZmPIP1;1, ZmPIP1;3, ZmPIP1;4, ZmPIP1;6, ZmPIP2;2, ZmPIP2;4, ZmTIP1;1, and ZmTIP2;3 were down-regulated by the AM symbiosis in the drought-sensitive cultivar and only ZmTIP4;1 was up-regulated. In contrast, in the drought-tolerant cultivar only three of the studied aquaporin genes (ZmPIP1;6, ZmPIP2;2, and ZmTIP4;1) were regulated by the AM symbiosis, resulting induced. Results in the drought-sensitive cultivar are in line with the hypothesis that down-regulation of aquaporins under water deprivation could be a way to minimize water loss, and the AM symbiosis could be helping the plant in this regulation. Indeed, during drought stress episodes, water conservation is critical for plant survival and productivity, and is achieved by an efficient uptake and stringently regulated water loss, in which aquaporins participate. Moreover, the broader and contrasting regulation of these aquaporins by the AM symbiosis in the drought-sensitive than the drought-tolerant cultivar suggests a role of these aquaporins in water homeostasis or in the transport of other solutes of physiological importance in both cultivars under drought stress conditions, which may be important for the AM-induced tolerance to drought stress.}, } @article {pmid28673846, year = {2017}, author = {Kumar, A and Naushad, M and Rana, A and Inamuddin, and Preeti, and Sharma, G and Ghfar, AA and Stadler, FJ and Khan, MR}, title = {ZnSe-WO3 nano-hetero-assembly stacked on Gum ghatti for photo-degradative removal of Bisphenol A: Symbiose of adsorption and photocatalysis.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {104}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {1172-1184}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.116}, pmid = {28673846}, issn = {1879-0003}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Benzhydryl Compounds/*chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Catalysis ; Environmental Pollutants/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Oxides/*chemistry ; Phenols/*chemistry/*isolation & purification ; *Photolysis ; Plant Gums/*chemistry ; Selenium Compounds/*chemistry ; Sunlight ; Tungsten/*chemistry ; Zinc Compounds/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {In this research work we report Gum-ghatti supported ZnSe-WO3 nano-hetero-assembly for solar powered degradation of endocrine disruptor Bisphenol S (BPA). The photocatalyst was characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Small area electron diffraction (SAED), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), Photoluminescence (PL), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV-vis spectrophotometry and Brauner Emmet Teller surface area analyzer (BET). We achieve a Z-scheme photocatalyst (ZnSe-WO3) with a higher charge flow and visible absorption. Gum ghatti acts as a superadsorbent and a sink for charge carriers. The removal of BPA has been studied under three experimental protocols where 99.5% removal was achieved by symbiose of photocatalysis-adsorption-ozonation in just 45min hetero-assembly has a high surface area, stability and reduced carrier recombination. The results have been analyzed by scavenger effect, mass spectrometry, kinetics and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. 49.4% of TOC was removed and COD was reduced to 16.7% after 2h in symbiotic condition. From the band edges and scavenger effect it was inferred that superoxide radical anions are major attacking species. The work paves way for designing of novel photocatalysts with increasing biogenic quotient and higher efficiency.}, } @article {pmid28673043, year = {2017}, author = {Duar, RM and Lin, XB and Zheng, J and Martino, ME and Grenier, T and Pérez-Muñoz, ME and Leulier, F and Gänzle, M and Walter, J}, title = {Lifestyles in transition: evolution and natural history of the genus Lactobacillus.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {41}, number = {Supp_1}, pages = {S27-S48}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fux030}, pmid = {28673043}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/physiology ; Fermentation/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host Specificity/*physiology ; *Lactobacillus/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Lactobacillus species are found in nutrient-rich habitats associated with food, feed, plants, animals and humans. Due to their economic importance, the metabolism, genetics and phylogeny of lactobacilli have been extensively studied. However, past research primarily examined lactobacilli in experimental settings abstracted from any natural history, and the ecological context in which these bacteria exist and evolve has received less attention. In this review, we synthesize phylogenetic, genomic and metabolic metadata of the Lactobacillus genus with findings from fine-scale phylogenetic and functional analyses of representative species to elucidate the evolution and natural history of its members. The available evidence indicates a high level of niche conservatism within the well-supported phylogenetic groups within the genus, with lifestyles ranging from free-living to strictly symbiotic. The findings are consistent with a model in which host-adapted Lactobacillus lineages evolved from free-living ancestors, with present-day species displaying substantial variations in terms of the reliance on environmental niches and the degree of host specificity. This model can provide a framework for the elucidation of the natural and evolutionary history of Lactobacillus species and valuable information to improve the use of this important genus in industrial and therapeutic applications.}, } @article {pmid28669811, year = {2017}, author = {Haskett, TL and Ramsay, JP and Bekuma, AA and Sullivan, JT and O'Hara, GW and Terpolilli, JJ}, title = {Evolutionary persistence of tripartite integrative and conjugative elements.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {30-36}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2017.06.001}, pmid = {28669811}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genomic Islands ; Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; Recombination, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are generally regarded as regions of contiguous DNA integrated within a bacterial genome that are capable of excision and horizontal transfer via conjugation. We recently characterized a unique group of ICEs present in Mesorhizobium spp., which exist as three entirely separate but inextricably linked chromosomal regions termed α, β and γ. These regions occupy three different recombinase attachment (att) sites; however, they do not excise independently. Rather, they recombine the host chromosome to form a single contiguous region prior to excision and conjugative transfer. Like the single-part ICE carried by M. loti R7A (ICEMlSym[R7A]), these "tripartite" ICEs (ICE[3]s) are widespread throughout the Mesorhizobium genus and enable strains to form nitrogen-fixing symbioses with a variety of legumes. ICE[3]s have likely evolved following recombination between three separate ancestral integrative elements, however, the persistence of ICE[3] structure in diverse mesorhizobia is perplexing due to its seemingly unnecessary complexity. In this study, examination of ICE[3]s revealed that most symbiosis genes are carried on the large α fragment. Some ICE[3]-β and γ regions also carry genes that potentially contribute to the symbiosis, or to persistence in the soil environment, but these regions have been frequently subjected to recombination events including deletions, insertions and recombination with genes located on other integrative elements. Examination of a new ICE[3] in M. ciceri Ca181 revealed it has jettisoned the genetic cargo from its β region and recruited a serine recombinase gene within its γ region, resulting in replacement of one of the three ICE[3] integration sites. Overall the recombination loci appear to be the only conserved features of the β and γ regions, suggesting that the tripartite structure itself provides a selective benefit to the element. We propose the ICE[3] structure provides enhanced host range, host stability and resistance to destabilization by tandem insertion of competing integrative elements. Furthermore, we suspect the ICE[3] tripartite structure increases the likelihood of gene capture from integrative elements sharing the same attachment sites.}, } @article {pmid28669069, year = {2017}, author = {Prasanna, R and Ramakrishnan, B and Simranjit, K and Ranjan, K and Kanchan, A and Hossain, F and Nain, L}, title = {Cyanobacterial and rhizobial inoculation modulates the plant physiological attributes and nodule microbial communities of chickpea.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {9}, pages = {1311-1323}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1405-y}, pmid = {28669069}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Anabaena/*metabolism ; Cicer/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*metabolism ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The present investigation aimed to understand the influence of two plant growth promoting cyanobacterial formulations (Anabaena-Mesorhizobium ciceri biofilm and Anabaena laxa), along with Mesorhizobium ciceri, on the symbiotic performance of five each of desi- and kabuli-chickpea cultivars. Inoculation with cyanobacterial formulations led to significant interactions with different cultivars, in terms of fresh weight and number of nodules, the concentration of nodular leghemoglobin, and the number of pods. The inoculant A. laxa alone was superior in its performance, recording 30-50% higher values than uninoculated control, and led to significantly higher nodule number per plant and fresh root weight, relative to the M. ciceri alone. Highest nodule numbers were recorded in the kabuli cultivars BG256 and BG1003. The kabuli cultivar BG1108 treated with the biofilmed Anabaena-M. ciceri inoculant recorded the highest concentration of leghemoglobin in nodules. These inoculants also stimulated the elicitation of defense- and pathogenesis-related enzymes in both the desi and kabuli cultivars, by two to threefolds. The analyses of Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles revealed that microbial communities in nodules were highly diverse, with about 23 archaeal, 9 bacterial, and 13 cyanobacterial predominant phylotypes observed in both desi and kabuli cultivars, and influenced by the inoculants. Our findings illustrate that the performance of the chickpea plants may be significantly modulated by the microbial communities in the nodule, which may contribute towards improved plant growth and metabolic activity of nodules. This emphasizes the promise of cyanobacterial inoculants in improving the symbiotic performance of chickpea.}, } @article {pmid28668626, year = {2017}, author = {Chien, PS and Chiang, CB and Wang, Z and Chiou, TJ}, title = {MicroRNA-mediated signaling and regulation of nutrient transport and utilization.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {73-79}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.06.007}, pmid = {28668626}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a group of small-RNA regulators, control diverse developmental processes and stress responses. Recent studies of nutrient-responsive miRNAs have offered novel insights into how plants regulate gene expression to coordinate endogenous demand and external availability of nutrients. Here, we review the mechanisms mediated by miRNAs to facilitate nutrient transport and utilization and show that miRNAs: first, control nutrient uptake and translocation by targeting nutrient transporters or their regulators; second, adjust nutrient metabolism by redistributing nutrients for biosynthesis of more essential compounds; and third, modulate root development and microbial symbiosis to exploit soil nutrients. We also highlight the long-distance movement of miRNAs in maintaining whole-plant nutrient homeostasis and propose several directions for future research.}, } @article {pmid28667798, year = {2017}, author = {Winans, NJ and Walter, A and Chouaia, B and Chaston, JM and Douglas, AE and Newell, PD}, title = {A genomic investigation of ecological differentiation between free-living and Drosophila-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {17}, pages = {4536-4550}, pmid = {28667798}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {F32 GM099374/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics ; Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Animals ; Drosophila/*microbiology ; Ecology ; *Genetics, Population ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Various bacterial taxa have been identified both in association with animals and in the external environment, but the extent to which related bacteria from the two habitat types are ecologically and evolutionarily distinct is largely unknown. This study investigated the scale and pattern of genetic differentiation between bacteria of the family Acetobacteraceae isolated from the guts of Drosophila fruit flies, plant material and industrial fermentations. Genome-scale analysis of the phylogenetic relationships and predicted functions was conducted on 44 Acetobacteraceae isolates, including newly sequenced genomes from 18 isolates from wild and laboratory Drosophila. Isolates from the external environment and Drosophila could not be assigned to distinct phylogenetic groups, nor are their genomes enriched for any different sets of genes or category of predicted gene functions. In contrast, analysis of bacteria from laboratory Drosophila showed they were genetically distinct in their universal capacity to degrade uric acid (a major nitrogenous waste product of Drosophila) and absence of flagellar motility, while these traits vary among wild Drosophila isolates. Analysis of the competitive fitness of Acetobacter discordant for these traits revealed a significant fitness deficit for bacteria that cannot degrade uric acid in culture with Drosophila. We propose that, for wild populations, frequent cycling of Acetobacter between Drosophila and the external environment prevents genetic differentiation by maintaining selection for traits adaptive in both the gut and external habitats. However, laboratory isolates bear the signs of adaptation to persistent association with the Drosophila host under tightly defined environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid28667797, year = {2017}, author = {Pérez-Fernández, MA and Calvo-Magro, E and Rodríguez-Sánchez, J and Valentine, A}, title = {Differential growth costs and nitrogen fixation in Cytisus multiflorus (L'Hér.) Sweet and Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link are mediated by sources of inorganic N.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {742-748}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12599}, pmid = {28667797}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Cytisus/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Shrubby legumes in Mediterranean-type ecosystems face strong nutrient limitations that worsen in summer, when water is absent. Nitrogen-fixing legumes are likely to be able to switch between soil N and atmospheric N (N2) sources to adjust the C costs of N acquisition in different seasons. We investigated the utilisation of different inorganic N sources by two indigenous shrubby legumes (Cytisus multiflorus and Cytisus scoparius). Plant performance in terms of photosynthesis and biomass production was also analysed. Plants were cultivated in sterile river sand supplied with Hoagland nutrient solution, grown in N-free nutrient solution and inoculated with effective rhizobial strains from nodules of adult plants of the same species. A second treatment consisted of plants given 500 μm NH4 NO3 added into the nutrient solution. In a third treatment, plants were watered with another source of N (500 μm NH4 NO3) as well as being inoculated with effective rhizobial strains. The application of NH4 NO3 to the legumes resulted in a larger increase in plant dry matter. Carbon construction costs were higher in plants supplied with mineral and symbiotic N sources and always higher in the endemic C. multiflorus. Differences in photosynthesis rates were only observed between species, regardless of the N source. Non-fertilised inoculated plants had more effective root nodules and a clear dependence on N2 fixation. We propose that the ability of C. scoparius to change N source makes it a plastic species, which would account for its broader distribution in nature.}, } @article {pmid28667411, year = {2018}, author = {Szklarzewicz, T and Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk, M and Michalik, K and Jankowska, W and Michalik, A}, title = {Symbiotic microorganisms in Puto superbus (Leonardi, 1907) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coccomorpha: Putoidae).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {255}, number = {1}, pages = {129-138}, pmid = {28667411}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemiptera/*chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The scale insect Puto superbus (Putoidae) lives in mutualistic symbiotic association with bacteria. Molecular phylogenetic analyses have revealed that symbionts of P. superbus belong to the gammaproteobacterial genus Sodalis. In the adult females, symbionts occur both in the bacteriocytes constituting compact bacteriomes and in individual bacteriocytes, which are dispersed among ovarioles. The bacteriocytes also house a few small, rod-shaped Wolbachia bacteria in addition to the numerous large, elongated Sodalis-allied bacteria. The symbiotic microorganisms are transovarially transmitted from generation to generation. In adult females which have choriogenic oocytes in the ovarioles, the bacteriocytes gather around the basal part of the tropharium. Next, the entire bacteriocytes pass through the follicular epithelium surrounding the neck region of the ovariole and enter the space between oocyte and follicular epithelium (perivitelline space). In the perivitelline space, the bacteriocytes assemble extracellularly in the deep depression of the oolemma at the anterior pole of the oocyte, forming a "symbiont ball".}, } @article {pmid28667402, year = {2017}, author = {Koegel, S and Mieulet, D and Baday, S and Chatagnier, O and Lehmann, MF and Wiemken, A and Boller, T and Wipf, D and Bernèche, S and Guiderdoni, E and Courty, PE}, title = {Phylogenetic, structural, and functional characterization of AMT3;1, an ammonium transporter induced by mycorrhization among model grasses.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {695-708}, pmid = {28667402}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cation Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Poaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {In the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, plants satisfy part of their nitrogen (N) requirement through the AM pathway. In sorghum, the ammonium transporters (AMT) AMT3;1, and to a lesser extent AMT4, are induced in cells containing developing arbuscules. Here, we have characterized orthologs of AMT3;1 and AMT4 in four other grasses in addition to sorghum. AMT3;1 and AMT4 orthologous genes are induced in AM roots, suggesting that in the common ancestor of these five plant species, both AMT3;1 and AMT4 were already present and upregulated upon AM colonization. An artificial microRNA approach was successfully used to downregulate either AMT3;1 or AMT4 in rice. Mycorrhizal root colonization and hyphal length density of knockdown plants were not affected at that time, indicating that the manipulation did not modify the establishment of the AM symbiosis and the interaction between both partners. However, expression of the fungal phosphate transporter FmPT was significantly reduced in knockdown plants, indicating a reduction of the nutrient fluxes from the AM fungus to the plant. The AMT3;1 knockdown plants (but not the AMT4 knockdown plants) were significantly less stimulated in growth by AM fungal colonization, and uptake of both [15]N and [33]P from the AM fungal network was reduced. This confirms that N and phosphorus nutrition through the mycorrhizal pathway are closely linked. But most importantly, it indicates that AMT3;1 is the prime plant transporter involved in the mycorrhizal ammonium transfer and that its function during uptake of N cannot be performed by AMT4.}, } @article {pmid28666005, year = {2017}, author = {Smith, EG and Hume, BCC and Delaney, P and Wiedenmann, J and Burt, JA}, title = {Genetic structure of coral-Symbiodinium symbioses on the world's warmest reefs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0180169}, pmid = {28666005}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {311179/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Indian Ocean ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals in the Arabian/Persian Gulf (PAG) survive extreme sea temperatures (summer mean: >34°C), and it is unclear whether these corals have genetically adapted or physiologically acclimated to these conditions. In order to elucidate the processes involved in the thermal tolerance of PAG corals, it is essential to understand the connectivity between reefs within and outside of the PAG. To this end, this study set out to investigate the genetic structure of the coral, Platygyra daedalea, and its symbiotic algae in the PAG and neighbouring Gulf of Oman. Using nuclear markers (the ITS region and an intron of the Pax-C gene), this study demonstrates genetic divergence of P. daedalea on reefs within the thermally extreme PAG compared with those in the neighbouring Gulf of Oman. Isolation by distance of P. daedalea was supported by the ITS dataset but not the Pax-C intron. In addition, the symbiont community within the PAG was dominated by C3 symbionts, while the purportedly thermotolerant clade D was extremely rare and was common only at sites outside of the PAG. Analysis of the psbAncr indicates that the C3 variant hosted by P. daedalea in the PAG belongs to the newly described species, Symbiodinium thermophilum. The structuring of the coral and symbiont populations suggests that both partners of the symbiosis may contribute to the high bleaching thresholds of PAG corals. While limited gene flow has likely played a role in local adaptation within the PAG, it also indicates limited potential for natural export of thermal tolerance traits to reefs elsewhere in the Indian Ocean threatened by climate change.}, } @article {pmid28664513, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, JA and Yang, SH and Kim, J and Kwon, KK and Oh, HM}, title = {Comparative genome analysis of the Flavobacteriales bacterium strain UJ101, isolated from the gut of Atergatis reticulatus.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {55}, number = {7}, pages = {583-591}, pmid = {28664513}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Composition ; Biotin/metabolism ; Brachyura/*microbiology ; Flavobacteriaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Intestines/microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Pentose Phosphate Pathway/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Shellfish/*microbiology ; Thiamine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Here we report the comparative genomic analysis of strain UJ101 with 15 strains from the family Flavobacteriaceae, using the CGExplorer program. Flavobacteriales bacterium strain UJ101 was isolated from a xanthid crab, Atergatis reticulatus, from the East Sea near Korea. The complete genome of strain UJ101 is a 3,074,209 bp, single, circular chromosome with 30.74% GC content. While the UJ101 genome contains a number of annotated genes for many metabolic pathways, such as the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, the pentose phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the glyoxylate cycle, genes for the Entner-Douddoroff pathway are not found in the UJ101 genome. Overall, carbon fixation processes were absent but nitrate reduction and denitrification pathways were conserved. The UJ101 genome was compared to genomes from other marine animals (three invertebrate strains and 5 fish strains) and other marine animal- derived genera. Notable results by genome comparisons showed that UJ101 is capable of denitrification and nitrate reduction, and that biotin-thiamine pathway participation varies among marine bacteria; fish-dwelling bacteria, freeliving bacteria, invertebrate-dwelling bacteria, and strain UJ101. Pan-genome analysis of the 16 strains in this study included 7,220 non-redundant genes that covered 62% of the pan-genome. A core-genome of 994 genes was present and consisted of 8% of the genes from the pan-genome. Strain UJ101 is a symbiotic hetero-organotroph isolated from xanthid crab, and is a metabolic generalist with nitrate-reducing abilities but without the ability to synthesize biotin. There is a general tendency of UJ101 and some fish pathogens to prefer thiamine-dependent glycolysis to gluconeogenesis. Biotin and thiamine auxotrophy or prototrophy may be used as important markers in microbial community studies.}, } @article {pmid28663939, year = {2017}, author = {Lindsey, ARI and Stouthamer, R}, title = {Penetrance of symbiont-mediated parthenogenesis is driven by reproductive rate in a parasitoid wasp.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3505}, pmid = {28663939}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Trichogramma wasps are tiny parasitoids of lepidopteran eggs, used extensively for biological control. They are often infected with the bacterial symbiont Wolbachia, which converts Trichogramma to an asexual mode of reproduction, whereby females develop from unfertilized eggs. However, this Wolbachia-induced parthenogenesis is not always complete, and previous studies have noted that infected females will produce occasional males in the lab. The conditions that reduce penetrance of the parthenogenesis phenotype are not well understood. We hypothesized that more ecologically relevant conditions of limited host access will sustain female-biased sex ratios. After restricting access to host eggs, we found a strong relationship between reproductive rate and sex ratio. By limiting reproduction to one hour a day, wasps could sustain up to 100% effective parthenogenesis for one week, with no significant impact on total fecundity. Reproductive output in the first 24-hours appears to be critical to the total sex ratio of the entire brood. Limiting oviposition in that period resulted in more effective parthenogenesis after one week, again without any significant impact on total fecundity. Our data suggest that this phenomenon may be due to the depletion of Wolbachia when oviposition occurs continuously, whereas Wolbachia titers may recover when offspring production is limited. In addition to the potential to improve mass rearing of Trichogramma for biological control, findings from this study help elucidate the context-dependent nature of a pervasive symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid28663937, year = {2017}, author = {Heinrich, AK and Hirschmann, M and Neubacher, N and Bode, HB}, title = {LuxS-dependent AI-2 production is not involved in global regulation of natural product biosynthesis in Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3471}, pmid = {28663937}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The Gram-negative bacteria Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus are known to produce a variety of different natural products (NP). These compounds play different roles since the bacteria live in symbiosis with nematodes and are pathogenic to insect larvae in the soil. Thus, a fine tuned regulatory system controlling NP biosynthesis is indispensable. Global regulators such as Hfq, Lrp, LeuO and HexA have been shown to influence NP production of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus. Additionally, photopyrones as quorum sensing (QS) signals were demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of NP production in Photorhabdus. In this study, we investigated the role of another possible QS signal, autoinducer-2 (AI-2), in regulation of NP production. The AI-2 synthase (LuxS) is widely distributed within the bacterial kingdom and has a dual role as a part of the activated methyl cycle pathway, as well as being responsible for AI-2 precursor production. We deleted luxS in three different entomopathogenic bacteria and compared NP levels in the mutant strains to the wild type (WT) but observed no difference to the WT strains. Furthermore, the absence of the small regulatory RNA micA, which is encoded directly upstream of luxS, did not influence NP levels. Phenotypic differences between the P. luminescens luxS deletion mutant and an earlier described luxS deficient strain of P. luminescens suggested that two phenotypically different strains have evolved in different laboratories.}, } @article {pmid28663332, year = {2017}, author = {Hobecker, KV and Reynoso, MA and Bustos-Sanmamed, P and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Crespi, M and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {The MicroRNA390/TAS3 Pathway Mediates Symbiotic Nodulation and Lateral Root Growth.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {174}, number = {4}, pages = {2469-2486}, pmid = {28663332}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology/ultrastructure ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume roots form two types of postembryonic organs, lateral roots and symbiotic nodules. Nodule formation is the result of the interaction of legumes with rhizobia and requires the mitotic activation and differentiation of root cells as well as an independent, but coordinated, program that allows infection by rhizobia. MicroRNA390 (miR390) is an evolutionarily conserved microRNA that targets the Trans-Acting Short Interference RNA3 (TAS3) transcript. Cleavage of TAS3 by ARGONAUTE7 results in the production of trans-acting small interference RNAs, which target mRNAs encoding AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR2 (ARF2), ARF3, and ARF4. Here, we show that activation of the miR390/TAS3 regulatory module by overexpression of miR390 in Medicago truncatula promotes lateral root growth but prevents nodule organogenesis, rhizobial infection, and the induction of two key nodulation genes, Nodulation Signaling Pathway1 (NSP1) and NSP2 Accordingly, inactivation of the miR390/TAS3 module, either by expression of a miR390 target mimicry construct or mutations in ARGONAUTE7, enhances nodulation and rhizobial infection, alters the spatial distribution of the nodules, and increases the percentage of nodules with multiple meristems. Our results revealed a key role of the miR390/TAS3 pathway in legumes as a modulator of lateral root organs, playing opposite roles in lateral root and nodule development.}, } @article {pmid28662573, year = {2017}, author = {Knutie, SA and Shea, LA and Kupselaitis, M and Wilkinson, CL and Kohl, KD and Rohr, JR}, title = {Early-Life Diet Affects Host Microbiota and Later-Life Defenses Against Parasites in Frogs.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {57}, number = {4}, pages = {732-742}, pmid = {28662573}, issn = {1557-7023}, support = {R01 GM109499/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 TW010286/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anura/growth & development/microbiology ; Ascaridida/*physiology ; Ascaridida Infections/immunology/*veterinary ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Immunity, Innate ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Food resources can affect the health of organisms by altering their symbiotic microbiota and affecting energy reserves for host defenses against parasites. Different diets can vary in their macronutrient content and therefore they might favor certain bacterial communities of the host and affect the development and maintenance of the immune system, such as the inflammatory or antibody responses. Thus, testing the effect of diet, especially for animals with wide diet breadths, on host-associated microbiota and defenses against parasites might be important in determining infection and disease risk. Here, we test whether the early-life diet of Cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) affects early- and later-life microbiota as well as later-life defenses against skin-penetrating, gut worms (Aplectana hamatospicula). We fed tadpoles two ecologically common diets: a diet of conspecifics or a diet of algae (Arthrospira sp.). We then: (1) characterized the gut microbiota of tadpoles and adults; and (2) challenged adult frogs with parasitic worms and measured host resistance (including the antibody-mediated immune response) and tolerance of infections. Tadpole diet affected bacterial communities in the guts of tadpoles but did not have enduring effects on the bacterial communities of adults. In contrast, tadpole diet had enduring effects on host resistance and tolerance of infections in adult frogs. Frogs that were fed a conspecific-based diet as tadpoles were more resistant to worm penetration compared with frogs that were fed an alga-based diet as tadpoles, but less resistant to worm establishment, which may be related to their suppressed antibody response during worm establishment. Furthermore, frogs that were fed a conspecific-based diet as tadpoles were more tolerant to the effect of parasite abundance on host mass during worm establishment. Overall, our study demonstrates that the diet of Cuban tree frog tadpoles affects the gut microbiota and defenses against parasitic gut worms of frogs, but these effects depend on the stage of the host and infection, respectively.}, } @article {pmid28659964, year = {2017}, author = {Verma, S and Gazara, RK and Verma, PK}, title = {Transcription Factor Repertoire of Necrotrophic Fungal Phytopathogen Ascochyta rabiei: Predominance of MYB Transcription Factors As Potential Regulators of Secretome.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1037}, pmid = {28659964}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Transcription factors (TFs) are the key players in gene expression and their study is highly significant for shedding light on the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary history of organisms. During host-pathogen interaction, extensive reprogramming of gene expression facilitated by TFs is likely to occur in both host and pathogen. To date, the knowledge about TF repertoire in filamentous fungi is in infancy. The necrotrophic fungus Ascochyta rabiei, that causes destructive Ascochyta blight (AB) disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), demands more comprehensive study for better understanding of Ascochyta-legume pathosystem. In the present study, we performed the genome-wide identification and analysis of TFs in A. rabiei. Taking advantage of A. rabiei genome sequence, we used a bioinformatic approach to predict the TF repertoire of A. rabiei. For identification and classification of A. rabiei TFs, we designed a comprehensive pipeline using a combination of BLAST and InterProScan software. A total of 381 A. rabiei TFs were predicted and divided into 32 fungal specific families of TFs. The gene structure, domain organization and phylogenetic analysis of abundant families of A. rabiei TFs were also carried out. Comparative study of A. rabiei TFs with that of other necrotrophic, biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, symbiotic, and saprotrophic fungi was performed. It suggested presence of both conserved as well as unique features among them. Moreover, cis-acting elements on promoter sequences of earlier predicted A. rabiei secretome were also identified. With the help of published A. rabiei transcriptome data, the differential expression of TF and secretory protein coding genes was analyzed. Furthermore, comprehensive expression analysis of few selected A. rabiei TFs using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed variety of expression patterns during host colonization. These genes were expressed in at least one of the time points tested post infection. Overall, this study illustrates the first genome-wide identification and analysis of TF repertoire of A. rabiei. This work would provide the basis for further studies to dissect role of TFs in the molecular mechanisms during A. rabiei-chickpea interactions.}, } @article {pmid28659892, year = {2017}, author = {Heimerl, T and Flechsler, J and Pickl, C and Heinz, V and Salecker, B and Zweck, J and Wanner, G and Geimer, S and Samson, RY and Bell, SD and Huber, H and Wirth, R and Wurch, L and Podar, M and Rachel, R}, title = {A Complex Endomembrane System in the Archaeon Ignicoccus hospitalis Tapped by Nanoarchaeum equitans.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1072}, pmid = {28659892}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Based on serial sectioning, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM), and electron tomography, we depict in detail the highly unusual anatomy of the marine hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon, Ignicoccus hospitalis. Our data support a complex and dynamic endomembrane system consisting of cytoplasmic protrusions, and with secretory function. Moreover, we reveal that the cytoplasm of the putative archaeal ectoparasite Nanoarchaeum equitans can get in direct contact with this endomembrane system, complementing and explaining recent proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic data on this inter-archaeal relationship. In addition, we identified a matrix of filamentous structures and/or tethers in the voluminous inter-membrane compartment (IMC) of I. hospitalis, which might be responsible for membrane dynamics. Overall, this unusual cellular compartmentalization, ultrastructure and dynamics in an archaeon that belongs to the recently proposed TACK superphylum prompts speculation that the eukaryotic endomembrane system might originate from Archaea.}, } @article {pmid28659877, year = {2017}, author = {von Dohlen, CD and Spaulding, U and Patch, KB and Weglarz, KM and Foottit, RG and Havill, NP and Burke, GR}, title = {Dynamic Acquisition and Loss of Dual-Obligate Symbionts in the Plant-Sap-Feeding Adelgidae (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphidoidea).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {1037}, pmid = {28659877}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sap-sucking insects typically engage in obligate relationships with symbiotic bacteria that play nutritional roles in synthesizing nutrients unavailable or in scarce supply from the plant-sap diets of their hosts. Adelgids are sap-sucking insects with complex life cycles that involve alternation between conifer tree species. While all adelgid species feed on spruce during the sexual phase of their life cycle, each adelgid species belongs to a major lineage that feeds on a distinct genus of conifers as their alternate host. Previous work on adelgid symbionts had discovered pairs of symbionts within each host species, and unusual diversity across the insect family, but left several open questions regarding the status of bacterial associates. Here, we explored the consistency of symbionts within and across adelgid lineages, and sought evidence for facultative vs. obligate symbiont status. Representative species were surveyed for symbionts using 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing, confirming that different symbiont pairs were consistently present within each major adelgid lineage. Several approaches were used to establish whether symbionts exhibited characteristics of long-term, obligate mutualists. Patterns of symbiont presence across adelgid species and diversification with host insects suggested obligate relationships. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and electron microscopy localized symbionts to bacteriocyte cells within the bacteriome of each species (with one previously known exception), and detection of symbionts in eggs indicated their vertical transmission. Common characteristics of long-term obligate symbionts, such as nucleotide compositional bias and pleomorphic symbiont cell shape were also observed. Superimposing microbial symbionts on the adelgid phylogeny revealed a dynamic pattern of symbiont gains and losses over a relatively short period of time compared to other symbionts associated with sap-sucking insects, with each adelgid species possessing an older, "senior" symbiont and a younger "junior" symbiont. A hypothesis relating adelgid life cycles to relaxed constraints on symbionts is proposed, with the degradation of senior symbionts and repeated acquisition of more junior symbionts creating opportunities for repeated colonization of new alternate-conifer hosts by adelgids.}, } @article {pmid28659729, year = {2017}, author = {Evivie, SE and Huo, GC and Igene, JO and Bian, X}, title = {Some current applications, limitations and future perspectives of lactic acid bacteria as probiotics.}, journal = {Food & nutrition research}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {1318034}, pmid = {28659729}, issn = {1654-661X}, abstract = {Several mechanism and non-mechanism-based studies supporting the claim that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains confer health benefits and play immune-modulatory roles were examined in this review. Probiotic applications of LAB on global burdens such as obesity and type-2 diabetes were discussed as well as the use of yoghurt and ice cream as important vehicles to convey several beneficial LAB strains. Probiotic and symbiotic dairy products may be used in the nearest future to treat a variety of health disorders. Current studies suggest that lactic acid bacteria possess anti-obesity and anti-diabetic propensities on their hosts and thus can play a crucial role in human health care. Research in the rheological and physicochemical properties of ice cream as well as its applications are also on the increase. These applications face certain hurdles including technological (for less developed countries), consumer acceptability of new functional foods may be influenced by culture, ethics or religion. There is need for more studies on the genetic basis for probiotic properties which will give further understanding regarding novel manipulation skills and applicability in nutrition and health sectors. More studies confirming the direct effects of probiotic LABs in lowering the spread of food-borne and other pathogens are also anticipated.}, } @article {pmid28659447, year = {2017}, author = {Bing, X and Attardo, GM and Vigneron, A and Aksoy, E and Scolari, F and Malacrida, A and Weiss, BL and Aksoy, S}, title = {Unravelling the relationship between the tsetse fly and its obligate symbiont Wigglesworthia: transcriptomic and metabolomic landscapes reveal highly integrated physiological networks.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1857}, pages = {}, pmid = {28659447}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {R01 AI081774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI109263/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Chaperonin 60/metabolism ; Female ; *Metabolome ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Tsetse Flies/metabolism/*microbiology ; Vitamin B Complex/biosynthesis ; Wigglesworthia/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Insects with restricted diets rely on obligate microbes to fulfil nutritional requirements essential for biological function. Tsetse flies, vectors of African trypanosome parasites, feed exclusively on vertebrate blood and harbour the obligate endosymbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidia. Without Wigglesworthia, tsetse are unable to reproduce. These symbionts are sheltered within specialized cells (bacteriocytes) that form the midgut-associated bacteriome organ. To decipher the core functions of this symbiosis essential for tsetse's survival, we performed dual-RNA-seq analysis of the bacteriome, coupled with metabolomic analysis of bacteriome and haemolymph collected from normal and symbiont-cured (sterile) females. Bacteriocytes produce immune regulatory peptidoglycan recognition protein (pgrp-lb) that protects Wigglesworthia, and a multivitamin transporter (smvt) that can aid in nutrient dissemination. Wigglesworthia overexpress a molecular chaperone (GroEL) to augment their translational/transport machinery and biosynthesize an abundance of B vitamins (specifically B1-, B2-, B3- and B6-associated metabolites) to supplement the host's nutritionally deficient diet. The absence of Wigglesworthia's contributions disrupts multiple metabolic pathways impacting carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. These disruptions affect the dependent downstream processes of nucleotide biosynthesis and metabolism and biosynthesis of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), an essential cofactor. This holistic fundamental knowledge of the symbiotic dialogue highlights new biological targets for the development of innovative vector control methods.}, } @article {pmid28657886, year = {2017}, author = {Porter, NT and Martens, EC}, title = {The Critical Roles of Polysaccharides in Gut Microbial Ecology and Physiology.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {349-369}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095316}, pmid = {28657886}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Microbiota ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human intestine harbors a dense microbial ecosystem (microbiota) that is different between individuals, dynamic over time, and critical for aspects of health and disease. Dietary polysaccharides directly shape the microbiota because of a gap in human digestive physiology, which is equipped to assimilate only proteins, lipids, simple sugars, and starch, leaving nonstarch polysaccharides as major nutrients reaching the microbiota. A mutualistic role of gut microbes is to digest dietary complex carbohydrates, liberating host-absorbable energy via fermentation products. Emerging data indicate that polysaccharides play extensive roles in host-gut microbiota symbiosis beyond dietary polysaccharide digestion, including microbial interactions with endogenous host glycans and the importance of microbial polysaccharides. In this review, we consider multiple mechanisms through which polysaccharides mediate aspects of host-microbe symbiosis in the gut, including some affecting health. As host and microbial metabolic pathways are intimately connected with diet, we highlight the potential to manipulate this system for health.}, } @article {pmid28655338, year = {2017}, author = {Martinez, AFC and de Almeida, LG and Moraes, LAB and Cônsoli, FL}, title = {Tapping the biotechnological potential of insect microbial symbionts: new insecticidal porphyrins.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {143}, pmid = {28655338}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/drug effects/*microbiology ; Biotechnology ; Fermentation ; Larva/drug effects ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Porphyrins/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Spodoptera/*drug effects ; Streptomyces/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The demand for sustainable agricultural practices and the limited progress toward newer and safer chemicals for use in pest control maintain the impetus for research and identification of new natural molecules. Natural molecules are preferable to synthetic organic molecules because they are biodegradable, have low toxicity, are often selective and can be applied at low concentrations. Microbes are one source of natural insecticides, and microbial insect symbionts have attracted attention as a source of new bioactive molecules because these microbes are exposed to various selection pressures in their association with insects. Analytical techniques must be used to isolate and characterize new compounds, and sensitive analytical tools such as mass spectrometry and high-resolution chromatography are required to identify the least-abundant molecules.

RESULTS: We used classical fermentation techniques combined with tandem mass spectrometry to prospect for insecticidal substances produced by the ant symbiont Streptomyces caniferus. Crude extracts from this bacterium showed low biological activity (less than 10% mortality) against the larval stage of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. Because of the complexity of the crude extract, we used fractionation-guided bioassays to investigate if the low toxicity was related to the relative abundance of the active molecule, leading to the isolation of porphyrins as active molecules. Porphyrins are a class of photoactive molecules with a broad range of bioactivity, including insecticidal. The active fraction, containing a mixture of porphyrins, induced up to 100% larval mortality (LD50 = 37.7 μg.cm[-2]). Tandem mass-spectrometry analyses provided structural information for two new porphyrin structures. Data on the availability of porphyrins in 67 other crude extracts of ant ectosymbionts were also obtained with ion-monitoring experiments.

CONCLUSIONS: Insect-associated bacterial symbionts are a rich source of bioactive compounds. Exploring microbial diversity through mass-spectrometry analyses is a useful approach for isolating and identifying new compounds. Our results showed high insecticidal activity of porphyrin compounds. Applications of different experiments in mass spectrometry allowed the characterization of two new porphyrins.}, } @article {pmid28654331, year = {2017}, author = {Baghdasarian, G and Osberg, A and Mihora, D and Putnam, H and Gates, RD and Edmunds, PJ}, title = {Effects of Temperature and pCO2 on Population Regulation of Symbiodinium spp. in a Tropical Reef Coral.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {232}, number = {2}, pages = {123-139}, doi = {10.1086/692718}, pmid = {28654331}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/*parasitology ; Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/*physiology ; Pigments, Biological/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {This study tested the bleaching response of the Pacific coral Seriatopora caliendrum to short-term exposure to high temperature and elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Juvenile colonies collected from Nanwan Bay, Taiwan, were used in a factorial experimental design in which 2 temperatures (∼27.6 °C and ∼30.4 °C) and 2 pCO2 values (∼47.2 Pa and ∼90.7 Pa) were crossed to evaluate, over 12 days, the effects on the densities and physiology of the symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) in the corals. Thermal bleaching, as defined by a reduction of Symbiodinium densities at high temperature, was unaffected by high pCO2. The division, or mitotic index (MI), of Symbiodinium remaining in thermally bleached corals was about 35% lower than in control colonies, but they contained about 53% more chlorophyll. Bleaching was highly variable among colonies, but the differences were unrelated to MI or pigment content of Symbiodinium remaining in the coral host. At the end of the study, all of the corals contained clade C Symbiodinium (either C1d or C15), and the genetic variation of symbionts did not account for among-colony bleaching differences. These results showed that high temperature causes coral bleaching independent of pCO2, and underscores the potential role of the coral host in driving intraspecific variation in coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid28652942, year = {2017}, author = {Shaver, EC and Silliman, BR}, title = {Time to cash in on positive interactions for coral restoration.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3499}, pmid = {28652942}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth, and provide critical ecosystem services such as protein provisioning, coastal protection, and tourism revenue. Despite these benefits, coral reefs have been declining precipitously across the globe due to human impacts and climate change. Recent efforts to combat these declines are increasingly turning to restoration to help reseed corals and speed-up recovery processes. Coastal restoration theory and practice has historically favored transplanting designs that reduce potentially harmful negative species interactions, such as competition between transplants. However, recent research in salt marsh ecosystems has shown that shifting this theory to strategically incorporate positive interactions significantly enhances restoration yield with little additional cost or investment. Although some coral restoration efforts plant corals in protected areas in order to benefit from the facilitative effects of herbivores that reduce competitive macroalgae, little systematic effort has been made in coral restoration to identify the entire suite of positive interactions that could promote population enhancement efforts. Here, we highlight key positive species interactions that managers and restoration practitioners should utilize to facilitate the restoration of corals, including (i) trophic facilitation, (ii) mutualisms, (iii) long-distance facilitation, (iv) positive density-dependence, (v) positive legacy effects, and (vi) synergisms between biodiversity and ecosystem function. As live coral cover continues to decline and resources are limited to restore coral populations, innovative solutions that increase efficiency of restoration efforts will be critical to conserving and maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems and the human communities that rely on them.}, } @article {pmid28651914, year = {2017}, author = {Xie, Y and Yang, Y and Li, S and Xu, Y and Lu, W and Chen, Z and Yang, G and Li, Y and Cao, Y and Bian, X}, title = {Phenylsulfonylfuroxan NO-donor phenols: Synthesis and multifunctional activities evaluation.}, journal = {Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry}, volume = {25}, number = {16}, pages = {4407-4413}, doi = {10.1016/j.bmc.2017.06.023}, pmid = {28651914}, issn = {1464-3391}, mesh = {Antioxidants/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Donors/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Oxadiazoles/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Phenols/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Platelet Aggregation/drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/enzymology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; alpha-Glucosidases/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phenylsulfonyfuroxan nitric oxide (NO)-donor phenols were designed, synthesized and evaluated. The compounds were designed through a symbiotic approach using selected phenols and phenylsulfonylfuroxan NO-donor. The antioxidant activities of the hybrid compounds T2-T6 showed to be good in vivo. Compounds T4 and T6 revealed excellent yeast α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and anti-glycosylation activity. All of the compounds exhibited strong NO releasing activity and significant anti-platelet aggregation activity. The inhibition of platelet aggregation was more than 50% at low concentration (1.5μM) and 95% at higher concentration (15μM and 150μM). The vasodilatation experiment demonstrated that the six compounds under test exhibited definite vasodilation activity (pIC50 ranged from 5.698 to 6.383), especially compound T6 (pIC50 was 6.383) which was similar to sodium nitroprusside (pIC50 was 6.786). Both anticoagulant and vasodilatation effects were correlated with their NO releasing activities. These hybrid phenylsulfonyfuroxan-based NO-donor phenols offer a multifunctional prodrug design concept for the development of therapeutic or preventive agents for metabolic syndrome.}, } @article {pmid28651870, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, J and Wu, Y and Wu, C and Muylaert, K and Vyverman, W and Yu, HQ and Muñoz, R and Rittmann, B}, title = {Advanced nutrient removal from surface water by a consortium of attached microalgae and bacteria: A review.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {241}, number = {}, pages = {1127-1137}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.06.054}, pmid = {28651870}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Denitrification ; *Microalgae ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; *Wastewater ; Water ; *Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Innovative and cost-effective technologies for advanced nutrient removal from surface water are urgently needed for improving water quality. Conventional biotechnologies, such as ecological floating beds, or constructed wetlands, are not effective in removing nutrients present at low-concentration. However, microalgae-bacteria consortium is promising for advanced nutrient removal from wastewater. Suspended algal-bacterial systems can easily wash out unless the hydraulic retention time is long, attached microalgae-bacteria consortium is more realistic. This critical review summarizes the fundamentals and status of attached microalgae-bacteria consortium for advanced nutrient removal from surface water. Key advantages are the various nutrient removal pathways, reduction of nutrients to very low concentration, and diversified photobioreactor configurations. Challenges include poor identification of functional species, poor control of the community composition, and long start-up times. Future research should focus on the selection and engineering of robust microbial species, mathematical modelling of the composition and functionality of the consortium, and novel photobioreactor configurations.}, } @article {pmid28650444, year = {2017}, author = {Christie-Oleza, JA and Sousoni, D and Lloyd, M and Armengaud, J and Scanlan, DJ}, title = {Nutrient recycling facilitates long-term stability of marine microbial phototroph-heterotroph interactions.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17100}, pmid = {28650444}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {BB/M017982/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Carbon Cycle ; Culture Media ; Ecosystem ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microbiological Techniques ; Photosynthesis ; *Phototrophic Processes ; Roseobacter/physiology ; Seawater/chemistry/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Synechococcus/physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological interactions underpin the functioning of marine ecosystems, be it via competition, predation, mutualism or symbiosis processes. Microbial phototroph-heterotroph interactions propel the engine that results in the biogeochemical cycling of individual elements, and they are critical for understanding and modelling global ocean processes. Unfortunately, studies thus far have focused on exponentially growing cultures in nutrient-rich media, meaning knowledge of such interactions under in situ conditions is rudimentary at best. Here, we have performed long-term phototroph-heterotroph co-culture experiments under nutrient-amended and natural seawater conditions, and show that it is not the concentration of nutrients but rather their circulation that maintains a stable interaction and a dynamic system. Using the Synechococcus-Roseobacter interaction as a model phototroph-heterotroph case study, we show that although Synechococcus is highly specialized for carrying out photosynthesis and carbon fixation, it relies on the heterotroph to remineralize the inevitably leaked organic matter, making nutrients circulate in a mutualistic system. In this sense we challenge the general belief that marine phototrophs and heterotrophs compete for the same scarce nutrients and niche space, and instead suggest that these organisms more probably benefit from each other because of their different levels of specialization and complementarity within long-term stable-state systems.}, } @article {pmid28649741, year = {2017}, author = {Dickie, IA and Bufford, JL and Cobb, RC and Desprez-Loustau, ML and Grelet, G and Hulme, PE and Klironomos, J and Makiola, A and Nuñez, MA and Pringle, A and Thrall, PH and Tourtellot, SG and Waller, L and Williams, NM}, title = {The emerging science of linked plant-fungal invasions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {4}, pages = {1314-1332}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14657}, pmid = {28649741}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Contents 1314 I. 1315 II. 1316 III. 1322 IV. 1323 V. 1325 VI. 1326 VII. 1326 VIII. 1327 1328 References 1328 SUMMARY: Invasions of alien plants are typically studied as invasions of individual species, yet interactions between plants and symbiotic fungi (mutualists and potential pathogens) affect plant survival, physiological traits, and reproduction and hence invasion success. Studies show that plant-fungal associations are frequently key drivers of plant invasion success and impact, but clear conceptual frameworks and integration across studies are needed to move beyond a series of case studies towards a more predictive understanding. Here, we consider linked plant-fungal invasions from the perspective of plant and fungal origin, simplified to the least complex representations or 'motifs'. By characterizing these interaction motifs, parallels in invasion processes between pathogen and mutualist fungi become clear, although the outcomes are often opposite in effect. These interaction motifs provide hypotheses for fungal-driven dynamics behind observed plant invasion trajectories. In some situations, the effects of plant-fungal interactions are inconsistent or negligible. Variability in when and where different interaction motifs matter may be driven by specificity in the plant-fungal interaction, the size of the effect of the symbiosis (negative to positive) on plants and the dependence (obligate to facultative) of the plant-fungal interaction. Linked plant-fungal invasions can transform communities and ecosystem function, with potential for persistent legacies preventing ecosystem restoration.}, } @article {pmid28649474, year = {2017}, author = {Cunning, R and Gates, RD and Edmunds, PJ}, title = {Using high-throughput sequencing of ITS2 to describe Symbiodinium metacommunities in St. John, US Virgin Islands.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3472}, pmid = {28649474}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic microalgae (Symbiodinium spp.) strongly influence the performance and stress-tolerance of their coral hosts, making the analysis of Symbiodinium communities in corals (and metacommunities on reefs) advantageous for many aspects of coral reef research. High-throughput sequencing of ITS2 nrDNA offers unprecedented scale in describing these communities, yet high intragenomic variability at this locus complicates the resolution of biologically meaningful diversity. Here, we demonstrate that generating operational taxonomic units by clustering ITS2 sequences at 97% similarity within, but not across, samples collapses sequence diversity that is more likely to be intragenomic, while preserving diversity that is more likely interspecific. We utilize this 'within-sample clustering' to analyze Symbiodinium from ten host taxa on shallow reefs on the north and south shores of St. John, US Virgin Islands. While Symbiodinium communities did not differ between shores, metacommunity network analysis of host-symbiont associations revealed Symbiodinium lineages occupying 'dominant' and 'background' niches, and coral hosts that are more 'flexible' or 'specific' in their associations with Symbiodinium. These methods shed new light on important questions in coral symbiosis ecology, and demonstrate how application-specific bioinformatic pipelines can improve the analysis of metabarcoding data in microbial metacommunity studies.}, } @article {pmid28649348, year = {2017}, author = {Harrison, TL and Wood, CW and Borges, IL and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {No evidence for adaptation to local rhizobial mutualists in the legume Medicago lupulina.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {4367-4376}, pmid = {28649348}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Local adaptation is a common but not ubiquitous feature of species interactions, and understanding the circumstances under which it evolves illuminates the factors that influence adaptive population divergence. Antagonistic species interactions dominate the local adaptation literature relative to mutualistic ones, preventing an overall assessment of adaptation within interspecific interactions. Here, we tested whether the legume Medicago lupulina is adapted to the locally abundant species of mutualistic nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria that vary in frequency across its eastern North American range. We reciprocally inoculated northern and southern M. lupulina genotypes with the northern (Ensifer medicae) or southern bacterium (E. meliloti) in a greenhouse experiment. Despite producing different numbers of root nodules (the structures in which the plants house the bacteria), neither northern nor southern plants produced more seeds, flowered earlier, or were more likely to flower when inoculated with their local rhizobia. We then used a pre-existing dataset to perform a genome scan for loci that showed elevated differentiation between field-collected plants that hosted different bacteria. None of the loci we identified belonged to the well-characterized suite of legume-rhizobia symbiosis genes, suggesting that the rhizobia do not drive genetic divergence between M. lupulina populations. Our results demonstrate that symbiont local adaptation has not evolved in this mutualism despite large-scale geographic variation in the identity of the interacting species.}, } @article {pmid28648724, year = {2017}, author = {Toniutti, MA and Fornasero, LV and Albicoro, FJ and Martini, MC and Draghi, W and Alvarez, F and Lagares, A and Pensiero, JF and Del Papa, MF}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains isolated from Desmodium incanum DC in Argentina: Phylogeny, biodiversity and symbiotic ability.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {5}, pages = {297-307}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.04.004}, pmid = {28648724}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Argentina ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Desmodium spp. are leguminous plants belonging to the tribe Desmodieae of the subfamily Papilionoideae. They are widely distributed in temperated and subtropical regions and are used as forage plants, for biological control, and in traditional folk medicine. The genus includes pioneer species that resist the xerothermic environment and grow in arid, barren sites. Desmodium species that form nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia play an important role in sustainable agriculture. In Argentina, 23 native species of this genus have been found, including Desmodium incanum. In this study, a total of 64 D. incanum-nodulating rhizobia were obtained from root nodules of four Argentinean plant populations. Rhizobia showed different abiotic-stress tolerances and a remarkable genetic diversity using PCR fingerprinting, with more than 30 different amplification profiles. None of the isolates were found at more than one site, thus indicating a high level of rhizobial diversity associated with D. incanum in Argentinean soils. In selected isolates, 16S rDNA sequencing and whole-cell extract MALDI TOF analysis revealed the presence of isolates related to Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense, Bradyrhizobium denitrificans and Rhizobium tropici species. In addition, the nodC gene studied in the selected isolates showed different allelic variants. Isolates were phenotypically characterized by assaying their growth under different abiotic stresses. Some of the local isolates were remarkably tolerant to high temperatures, extreme pH and salinity, which are all stressors commonly found in Argentinean soils. One of the isolates showed high tolerance to temperature and extreme pH, and produced higher aerial plant dry weights compared to other inoculated treatments. These results indicated that local isolates could be efficiently used for D. incanum inoculation.}, } @article {pmid28647533, year = {2018}, author = {Chen, A and Gu, M and Wang, S and Chen, J and Xu, G}, title = {Transport properties and regulatory roles of nitrogen in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {74}, number = {}, pages = {80-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.06.015}, pmid = {28647533}, issn = {1096-3634}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many terrestrial plants can form root symbiosis with beneficial microorganisms for enhancing uptake of mineral nutrients or increasing fitness to adverse environmental challenges. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis that is formed by AM fungi and the roots of vascular flowering plants is the most widespread mutualistic associations in nature. As a typical endosymbiosis, AM interactions involves the differentiation of both symbionts to create novel symbiotic interfaces within the root cells, and requires a continuous nutrient exchange between the two partners. AM plants have two pathways for nutrient uptake, either direct uptake via the root hairs and root epidermis at the plant-soil interface, or indirectly through the AM fungal hyphae at the plant-fungus interface. Over the last few years, great progress has been made in deciphering the mechanisms underlying the AM-mediated modulation of nutrient uptake processes, and an increasing number of plant and fungal genes responsible for transporting nutrients from the soil or across the intraradical symbiotic interfaces have been identified and functionally characterized. Here, we summarize the recent advances in the nitrogen uptake, assimilation and translocation in the AM symbiosis, and also explore the current understanding of how the N status and interplay with C and P in modulating the development of AM associations.}, } @article {pmid28647304, year = {2017}, author = {Delamuta, JRM and Menna, P and Ribeiro, RA and Hungria, M}, title = {Phylogenies of symbiotic genes of Bradyrhizobium symbionts of legumes of economic and environmental importance in Brazil support the definition of the new symbiovars pachyrhizi and sojae.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {5}, pages = {254-265}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.04.005}, pmid = {28647304}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Pachyrhizus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium comprises most tropical symbiotic nitrogen-fixing strains, but the correlation between symbiotic and core genes with host specificity is still unclear. In this study, the phylogenies of the nodY/K and nifH genes of 45 Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from legumes of economic and environmental importance in Brazil (Arachis hypogaea, Acacia auriculiformis, Glycine max, Lespedeza striata, Lupinus albus, Stylosanthes sp. and Vigna unguiculata) were compared to 16S rRNA gene phylogeny and genetic diversity by rep-PCR. In the 16S rRNA tree, strains were distributed into two superclades-B. japonicum and B. elkanii-with several strains being very similar within each clade. The rep-PCR analysis also revealed high intra-species diversity. Clustering of strains in the nodY/K and nifH trees was identical: 39 strains isolated from soybean grouped with Bradyrhizobium type species symbionts of soybean, whereas five others occupied isolated positions. Only one strain isolated from Stylosanthes sp. showed similar nodY/K and nifH sequences to soybean strains, and it also nodulated soybean. Twenty-one representative strains of the 16S rRNA phylogram were selected and taxonomically classified using a concatenated glnII-recA phylogeny; nodC sequences were also compared and revealed the same clusters as observed in the nodY/K and nifH phylograms. The analyses of symbiotic genes indicated that a large group of strains from the B. elkanii superclade comprised the novel symbiovar sojae, whereas for another group, including B. pachyrhizi, the symbiovar pachyrhizi could be proposed. Other potential new symbiovars were also detected. The co-evolution hypotheses is discussed and it is suggested that nodY/K analysis would be useful for investigating the symbiotic diversity of the genus Bradyrhizobium.}, } @article {pmid28646312, year = {2017}, author = {Garg, N and Kashyap, L}, title = {Silicon and Rhizophagus irregularis: potential candidates for ameliorating negative impacts of arsenate and arsenite stress on growth, nutrient acquisition and productivity in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. genotypes.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {22}, pages = {18520-18535}, pmid = {28646312}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Arsenates/*toxicity ; Arsenites/*toxicity ; Biomass ; Cajanus/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Models, Theoretical ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Silicon/*chemistry ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) gets accumulated in plants via phosphorous transporters and water channels and interferes with nutrient and water uptake, adversely affecting growth and productivity. Although, Si and AM have been reported to combat arsenic stress, their comparative and interactive roles in ameliorating As V and As III toxicities have not been reported. Study evaluated effects of Si and Rhizophagus irregularis on growth, As uptake and yield under arsenate and arsenite stress in two pigeonpea genotypes (metal tolerant-Pusa 2002 and metal sensitive-Pusa 991). Higher As accumulation and translocation was observed in As III treated roots of Pusa 991 than those of Pusa 2002 when compared with As V. Roots were more negatively affected than shoots which led to a significant decline in nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophylls, and yield, with As III inducing more negative effects. Pusa 2002 established more effective mycorrhizal symbiosis and had higher biomass than Pusa 991. Si was more effective in inducing shoot biomass while AM inoculation significantly improved root biomass. AM enhanced Si uptake in roots and leaves in a genotype dependent manner. Combined application of Si and AM were highly beneficial in improving leaf water status, chlorophyll pigments, biomass, and productivity. Complete amelioration of negative impacts of both concentrations of As V and lower concentration of As III were recorded under +Si +AM in Pusa 2002. Results highlighted great potential of Si in improving growth and productivity of pigeonpea through R. irregularis under As V and As III stresses.}, } @article {pmid28644833, year = {2017}, author = {Ferdman, S and Minkov, E and Bekkerman, R and Gefen, D}, title = {Quantifying the web browser ecosystem.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0179281}, pmid = {28644833}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Internet ; *Models, Theoretical ; *Web Browser ; }, abstract = {Contrary to the assumption that web browsers are designed to support the user, an examination of a 900,000 distinct PCs shows that web browsers comprise a complex ecosystem with millions of addons collaborating and competing with each other. It is possible for addons to "sneak in" through third party installations or to get "kicked out" by their competitors without user involvement. This study examines that ecosystem quantitatively by constructing a large-scale graph with nodes corresponding to users, addons, and words (terms) that describe addon functionality. Analyzing addon interactions at user level using the Personalized PageRank (PPR) random walk measure shows that the graph demonstrates ecological resilience. Adapting the PPR model to analyzing the browser ecosystem at the level of addon manufacturer, the study shows that some addon companies are in symbiosis and others clash with each other as shown by analyzing the behavior of 18 prominent addon manufacturers. Results may herald insight on how other evolving internet ecosystems may behave, and suggest a methodology for measuring this behavior. Specifically, applying such a methodology could transform the addon market.}, } @article {pmid28644721, year = {2019}, author = {Rivero, C and Traubenik, S and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {Small GTPases in plant biotic interactions.}, journal = {Small GTPases}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {350-360}, pmid = {28644721}, issn = {2154-1256}, mesh = {Biological Transport, Active/physiology ; Cell Membrane/*enzymology ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plants/*enzymology ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The superfamily of small monomeric GTPases originated in a common ancestor of eukaryotic multicellular organisms and, since then, it has evolved independently in each lineage to cope with the environmental challenges imposed by their different life styles. Members of the small GTPase family function in the control of vesicle trafficking, cytoskeleton rearrangements and signaling during crucial biological processes, such as cell growth and responses to environmental cues. In this review, we discuss the emerging roles of these small GTPases in the pathogenic and symbiotic interactions established by plants with microorganisms present in their nearest environment, in which membrane trafficking is crucial along the different steps of the interaction, from recognition and signal transduction to nutrient exchange.}, } @article {pmid28643122, year = {2017}, author = {Tonelli, ML and Magallanes-Noguera, C and Fabra, A}, title = {Symbiotic performance and induction of systemic resistance against Cercospora sojina in soybean plants co-inoculated with Bacillus sp. CHEP5 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {9}, pages = {1283-1291}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1401-2}, pmid = {28643122}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*pathogenicity ; Bacillus/classification/*growth & development ; *Biological Control Agents ; Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development ; Mitosporic Fungi/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean is an economically very important crop throughout the word and particularly in Argentina. Soybean yield may be affected by many factors such as the lack of some essential nutrients or pathogens attack. In this work we demonstrated that the co-inoculation of the native biocontrol bacterium Bacillus sp. CHEP5 which induces resistance against Cercospora sojina in soybean and the nitrogen fixing strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109, was more effective in reducing frog leaf spot severity than the inoculation of the biocontrol agent alone. Probably, this is related with the increase in the ability to form biofilm when both bacteria are growing together. Furthermore, Bacillus sp. CHEP5 inoculation did not affect Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 symbiotic behavior and flavonoids composition of root exudates in pathogen challenged plants. These results suggest that co-inoculation of plants with rhizobia and biocontrol agents could be a strategy to improve soybean production in a sustainable system.}, } @article {pmid28642842, year = {2017}, author = {Bonnet, SI and Binetruy, F and Hernández-Jarguín, AM and Duron, O}, title = {The Tick Microbiome: Why Non-pathogenic Microorganisms Matter in Tick Biology and Pathogen Transmission.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {236}, pmid = {28642842}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Ecology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Ticks/*microbiology/*physiology ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {Ticks are among the most important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and other animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens however, as a diverse group of commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. Unlike pathogens, their biology and their effect on ticks remain largely unexplored, and are in fact often neglected. Nonetheless, they can confer multiple detrimental, neutral, or beneficial effects to their tick hosts, and can play various roles in fitness, nutritional adaptation, development, reproduction, defense against environmental stress, and immunity. Non-pathogenic microorganisms may also play a role in driving transmission of tick-borne pathogens (TBP), with many potential implications for both human and animal health. In addition, the genetic proximity of some pathogens to mutualistic symbionts hosted by ticks is evident when studying phylogenies of several bacterial genera. The best examples are found within members of the Rickettsia, Francisella, and Coxiella genera: while in medical and veterinary research these bacteria are traditionally recognized as highly virulent vertebrate pathogens, it is now clear to evolutionary ecologists that many (if not most) Coxiella, Francisella, and Rickettsia bacteria are actually non-pathogenic microorganisms exhibiting alternative lifestyles as mutualistic ticks symbionts. Consequently, ticks represent a compelling yet challenging system in which to study microbiomes and microbial interactions, and to investigate the composition, functional, and ecological implications of bacterial communities. Ultimately, deciphering the relationships between tick microorganisms as well as tick symbiont interactions will garner invaluable information, which may aid in the future development of arthropod pest and vector-borne pathogen transmission control strategies.}, } @article {pmid28642272, year = {2017}, author = {Guo, Y and Fudali, S and Gimeno, J and DiGennaro, P and Chang, S and Williamson, VM and Bird, DM and Nielsen, DM}, title = {Networks Underpinning Symbiosis Revealed Through Cross-Species eQTL Mapping.}, journal = {Genetics}, volume = {206}, number = {4}, pages = {2175-2184}, pmid = {28642272}, issn = {1943-2631}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosome Mapping/methods ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genetic Pleiotropy ; Helminth Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago/*genetics/parasitology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Tylenchoidea/*genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Organisms engage in extensive cross-species molecular dialog, yet the underlying molecular actors are known for only a few interactions. Many techniques have been designed to uncover genes involved in signaling between organisms. Typically, these focus on only one of the partners. We developed an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping-based approach to identify cause-and-effect relationships between genes from two partners engaged in an interspecific interaction. We demonstrated the approach by assaying expression of 98 isogenic plants (Medicago truncatula), each inoculated with a genetically distinct line of the diploid parasitic nematode Meloidogyne hapla With this design, systematic differences in gene expression across host plants could be mapped to genetic polymorphisms of their infecting parasites. The effects of parasite genotypes on plant gene expression were often substantial, with up to 90-fold (P = 3.2 × 10[-52]) changes in expression levels caused by individual parasite loci. Mapped loci included a number of pleiotropic sites, including one 87-kb parasite locus that modulated expression of >60 host genes. The 213 host genes identified were substantially enriched for transcription factors. We distilled higher-order connections between polymorphisms and genes from both species via network inference. To replicate our results and test whether effects were conserved across a broader host range, we performed a confirmatory experiment using M. hapla-infected tomato. This revealed that homologous genes were similarly affected. Finally, to validate the broader utility of cross-species eQTL mapping, we applied the strategy to data from a Salmonella infection study, successfully identifying polymorphisms in the human genome affecting bacterial expression.}, } @article {pmid28640534, year = {2017}, author = {An, R and Suri, KS and Jurat-Fuentes, JL and Grewal, PS}, title = {Dynamics of transcriptomic response to infection by the nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and its bacterial symbiont Photorhabdus temperata in Heliothis virescens larvae.}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {584-600}, doi = {10.1111/imb.12321}, pmid = {28640534}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*immunology ; Moths/genetics/*immunology/*metabolism ; Photorhabdus/*physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhabditoidea/microbiology/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes in the Heterorhabditis genus and their symbiotic Photorhabdus bacteria are important biocontrol agents of insect pests and models for the study of microbe-host interactions. In this work, we used larvae of the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) as a model to study its defensive mechanisms against Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes carrying symbiotic Photorhabdus temperata. We first determined time points of initial nematode entry and release of bacteria into the haemolymph to perform transcriptional analysis of insect gene expression during these steps in the infective process. RNA-Sequencing analyses were then performed to profile differential gene expression in the insect during nematode invasion, bacterial release and final steps of infection, relative to the untreated controls. Our results support the theory that insect immune response genes are induced upon nematode invasion, but the majority of these genes are suppressed upon the release of bacteria by the nematodes into the haemolymph. Overall, these findings provide information on the dynamics of the insect's response to a progressing infection by this entomopathogenic nematode-bacteria complex and facilitate development of Hel. virescens as a pest model for future functional studies of the key insect defence factors.}, } @article {pmid28639930, year = {2017}, author = {Helene, LCF and Delamuta, JRM and Ribeiro, RA and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium mercantei sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing symbiont isolated from nodules of Deguelia costata (syn. Lonchocarpus costatus).}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {6}, pages = {1827-1834}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.001870}, pmid = {28639930}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Some bacteria collectively known as rhizobia can establish symbiotic relationships and the N2-fixation process with several legumes used as green manure, in pastures and for wood production. Symbionts belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium are predominant in the tropics, and an increasing number of studies report high genetic diversity within the genus. We performed a polyphasic study with two strains belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium- SEMIA 6399T and SEMIA 6404-isolated from root nodules of Deguelia costata (syn. Lonchocarpus costatus), an important legume native to eastern Brazil. In general, sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were highly conserved in members of the genus Bradyrhizobium, and the two strains were positioned in the Bradyrhizobiumelkanii superclade, sharing 100 % nucleotide identity with Bradyrhizobiumembrapense, Bradyrhizobiumerythrophlei and Bradyrhizobiumviridifuturi. However, multilocus sequence analysis with four housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA) confirmed that the two strains belong to a distinct clade, sharing from 87.7 to 96.1 % nucleotide identity with related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, being most closely related to B. viridifuturi. Average nucleotide identity of genome sequences between SEMIA 6399T and related species was lower than 92 %, below the threshold of species circumscription. nifH phylogeny clustered the SEMIA strains in a clade separated from other species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, and the nodD phylogeny revealed that SEMIA 6399T presents a more divergent sequence. Other phenotypic and genotypic traits were determined for the new group, and our data support the description of the SEMIA strains as representatives of Bradyrhizobium mercantei sp. nov.; SEMIA 6399T (=CNPSo 1165T=BR 6010T=U675T=LMG 30031T) was chosen as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid28638388, year = {2017}, author = {Shao, SC and Burgess, KS and Cruse-Sanders, JM and Liu, Q and Fan, XL and Huang, H and Gao, JY}, title = {Using In Situ Symbiotic Seed Germination to Restore Over-collected Medicinal Orchids in Southwest China.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {888}, pmid = {28638388}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Due to increasing demand for medicinal and horticultural uses, the Orchidaceae is in urgent need of innovative and novel propagation techniques that address both market demand and conservation. Traditionally, restoration techniques have been centered on ex situ asymbiotic or symbiotic seed germination techniques that are not cost-effective, have limited genetic potential and often result in low survival rates in the field. Here, we propose a novel in situ advanced restoration-friendly program for the endangered epiphytic orchid species Dendrobium devonianum, in which a series of in situ symbiotic seed germination trials base on conspecific fungal isolates were conducted at two sites in Yunnan Province, China. We found that percentage germination varied among treatments and locations; control treatments (no inoculum) did not germinate at both sites. We found that the optimal treatment, having the highest in situ seed germination rate (0.94-1.44%) with no significant variation among sites, supported a warm, moist and fixed site that allowed for light penetration. When accounting for seed density, percentage germination was highest (2.78-2.35%) at low densities and did not vary among locations for the treatment that supported optimal conditions. Similarly for the same treatment, seed germination ranged from 0.24 to 5.87% among seasons but also did vary among sites. This study reports on the cultivation and restoration of an endangered epiphytic orchid species by in situ symbiotic seed germination and is likely to have broad application to the horticulture and conservation of the Orchidaceae.}, } @article {pmid28637861, year = {2017}, author = {Jani, AJ and Knapp, RA and Briggs, CJ}, title = {Epidemic and endemic pathogen dynamics correspond to distinct host population microbiomes at a landscape scale.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1857}, pages = {}, pmid = {28637861}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Chytridiomycota/pathogenicity ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/veterinary ; Ranidae/*microbiology ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Infectious diseases have serious impacts on human and wildlife populations, but the effects of a disease can vary, even among individuals or populations of the same host species. Identifying the reasons for this variation is key to understanding disease dynamics and mitigating infectious disease impacts, but disentangling cause and correlation during natural outbreaks is extremely challenging. This study aims to understand associations between symbiotic bacterial communities and an infectious disease, and examines multiple host populations before or after pathogen invasion to infer likely causal links. The results show that symbiotic bacteria are linked to fundamentally different outcomes of pathogen infection: host-pathogen coexistence (endemic infection) or host population extirpation (epidemic infection). Diversity and composition of skin-associated bacteria differed between populations of the frog, Rana sierrae, that coexist with or were extirpated by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Data from multiple populations sampled before or after pathogen invasion were used to infer cause and effect in the relationship between the fungal pathogen and symbiotic bacteria. Among host populations, variation in the composition of the skin microbiome was most strongly predicted by pathogen infection severity, even in analyses where the outcome of infection did not vary. This result suggests that pathogen infection shapes variation in the skin microbiome across host populations that coexist with or are driven to extirpation by the pathogen. By contrast, microbiome richness was largely unaffected by pathogen infection intensity, but was strongly predicted by geographical region of the host population, indicating the importance of environmental or host genetic factors in shaping microbiome richness. Thus, while both richness and composition of the microbiome differed between endemic and epidemic host populations, the underlying causes are most likely different: pathogen infection appears to shape microbiome composition, while microbiome richness was less sensitive to pathogen-induced disturbance. Because higher richness was correlated with host persistence in the presence of Bd, and richness appeared relatively stable to Bd infection, microbiome richness may contribute to disease resistance, although the latter remains to be directly tested.}, } @article {pmid28637338, year = {2017}, author = {Gignoux-Wolfsohn, SA and Aronson, FM and Vollmer, SV}, title = {Complex interactions between potentially pathogenic, opportunistic, and resident bacteria emerge during infection on a reef-building coral.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix080}, pmid = {28637338}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Campylobacteraceae/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Francisella/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Microbiota/genetics ; Opportunistic Infections/*microbiology ; Pasteurellaceae/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Increased bacterial diversity on diseased corals can obscure disease etiology and complicate our understanding of pathogenesis. To untangle microbes that may cause white band disease signs from microbes responding to disease, we inoculated healthy Acropora cervicornis corals with an infectious dose from visibly diseased corals. We sampled these dosed corals and healthy controls over time for sequencing of the bacterial 16S region. Endozoicomonas were associated with healthy fragments from 4/10 colonies, dominating microbiomes before dosing and decreasing over time only in corals that displayed disease signs, suggesting a role in disease resistance. We grouped disease-associated bacteria by when they increased in abundance (primary vs secondary) and whether they originated in the dose (colonizers) or the previously healthy corals (responders). We found that all primary responders increased in all dosed corals regardless of final disease state and are therefore unlikely to cause disease signs. In contrast, primary colonizers in the families Pasteurellaceae and Francisellaceae increased solely in dosed corals that ultimately displayed disease signs, and may be infectious foreign bacteria involved in the development of disease signs. Moving away from a static comparison of diseased and healthy bacterial communities, we provide a framework to identify key players in other coral diseases.}, } @article {pmid28637253, year = {2017}, author = {Sugiyama, A and Yamazaki, Y and Hamamoto, S and Takase, H and Yazaki, K}, title = {Synthesis and Secretion of Isoflavones by Field-Grown Soybean.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {9}, pages = {1594-1600}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcx084}, pmid = {28637253}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glucosides/metabolism ; Isoflavones/*biosynthesis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Molecular ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; Soybeans/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Isoflavones play important roles in rhizosphere plant-microbe interactions. Daidzein and genistein secreted by soybean roots induce the symbiotic interaction with rhizobia and may modulate rhizosphere interactions with microbes. Yet despite their important roles, little is known about the biosynthesis, secretion and fate of isoflavones in field-grown soybeans. Here, we analyzed isoflavone contents and the expression of isoflavone biosynthesis genes in field-grown soybeans. In roots, isoflavone contents and composition did not change with crop growth, but the expression of UGT4, an isoflavone-specific 7-O-glucosyltransferase, and of ICHG (isoflavone conjugates hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase) was decreased during the reproductive stages. Isoflavone contents were higher in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil during both vegetative and reproductive stages, and were comparable in the rhizosphere soil between these two stages. We analyzed the degradation dynamics of daidzein and its glucosides to develop a model for predicting rhizosphere isoflavone contents from the amount of isoflavones secreted in hydroponic culture. Conjugates of daidzein were degraded much faster than daidzein, with degradation rate constants of 8.51 d-1 for malonyldaidzin and 11.6 d-1 for daidzin, vs. 9.15 × 10-2 d-1 for daidzein. The model suggested that secretion of isoflavones into the rhizosphere is higher during vegetative stages than during reproductive stages in field-grown soybean.}, } @article {pmid28636152, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, H and Guiguet, A and Dubreuil, G and Kisiala, A and Andreas, P and Emery, RJN and Huguet, E and Body, M and Giron, D}, title = {Dynamics and origin of cytokinins involved in plant manipulation by a leaf-mining insect.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {1065-1078}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12500}, pmid = {28636152}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/physiology ; Malus/*metabolism ; Moths/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Several herbivorous insects and plant-associated microorganisms control the phytohormonal balance, thus enabling them to successfully exploit the plant by inhibiting plant defenses and withdrawing plant resources for their own benefit. The leaf-mining moth Phyllonorycter blancardella modifies the cytokinin (CK) profile of mined leaf-tissues, and the insect symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia is involved in the plant manipulation to the benefit of the insect host. To gain a deeper understanding into the possible origin and dynamics of CKs, we conducted an extensive characterization of CKs in larvae and in infected apple leaves. Our results show the enhanced CK levels in mines, both on green and yellow leaves, allowing insects to control their nutritional supply under fluctuating environmental conditions. The spatial distribution of CKs within the mined leaves shows that hormone manipulation is strictly limited to the mine suggesting the absence of CK translocation from distant leaf areas toward the insect feeding site. Mass spectrometry analyses reveal that major CK types accumulating in mines and larvae are similar to what is observed for most gall-inducers, suggesting that strategies underlying the plant manipulation may be shared between herbivorous insects with distinct life histories. Results further show that CKs are detected in the highest levels in larvae, reinforcing our hypothesis that CKs accumulating in the mines originate from the insect itself. Presence of bacteria-specific methylthio-CKs is consistent with previous results suggesting that insect bacterial symbionts contribute to the observed phenotype. Our study provides key findings toward the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying this intricate plant-insect-microbe interaction.}, } @article {pmid28632755, year = {2017}, author = {Yost, S and Duran-Pinedo, AE and Krishnan, K and Frias-Lopez, J}, title = {Potassium is a key signal in host-microbiome dysbiosis in periodontitis.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {e1006457}, pmid = {28632755}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {R01 DE021553/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Dysbiosis/immunology/*microbiology ; Gingiva/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/immunology ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/immunology/*microbiology ; Periodontitis/immunology/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Potassium/*immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology ; beta-Defensins/immunology ; }, abstract = {Dysbiosis, or the imbalance in the structural and/or functional properties of the microbiome, is at the origin of important infectious inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and periodontal disease. Periodontitis is a polymicrobial inflammatory disease that affects a large proportion of the world's population and has been associated with a wide variety of systemic health conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Dysbiosis has been identified as a key element in the development of the disease. However, the precise mechanisms and environmental signals that lead to the initiation of dysbiosis in the human microbiome are largely unknown. In a series of previous in vivo studies using metatranscriptomic analysis of periodontitis and its progression we identified several functional signatures that were highly associated with the disease. Among them, potassium ion transport appeared to be key in the process of pathogenesis. To confirm its importance we performed a series of in vitro experiments, in which we demonstrated that potassium levels a increased the virulence of the oral community as a whole and at the same time altering the immune response of gingival epithelium, increasing the production of TNF-α and reducing the expression of IL-6 and the antimicrobial peptide human β-defensin 3 (hBD-3). These results indicate that levels of potassium in the periodontal pocket could be an important element in of dysbiosis in the oral microbiome. They are a starting point for the identification of key environmental signals that modify the behavior of the oral microbiome from a symbiotic community to a dysbiotic one.}, } @article {pmid28630913, year = {2017}, author = {Cohen, JE and Goldstone, AB and Paulsen, MJ and Shudo, Y and Steele, AN and Edwards, BB and Patel, JB and MacArthur, JW and Hopkins, MS and Burnett, CE and Jaatinen, KJ and Thakore, AD and Farry, JM and Truong, VN and Bourdillon, AT and Stapleton, LM and Eskandari, A and Fairman, AS and Hiesinger, W and Esipova, TV and Patrick, WL and Ji, K and Shizuru, JA and Woo, YJ}, title = {An innovative biologic system for photon-powered myocardium in the ischemic heart.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {e1603078}, pmid = {28630913}, issn = {2375-2548}, support = {R01 HL089315/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Therapy ; Cyanobacteria ; Energy Metabolism ; Heart Function Tests ; Hypoxia/metabolism ; Myocardial Ischemia/*metabolism/physiopathology/therapy ; Myocardium/*metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Phototrophic Processes ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of death and disability, afflicting more than 15 million Americans. Although pharmacological advances and revascularization techniques have decreased mortality, many survivors will eventually succumb to heart failure secondary to the residual microvascular perfusion deficit that remains after revascularization. We present a novel system that rescues the myocardium from acute ischemia, using photosynthesis through intramyocardial delivery of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. By using light rather than blood flow as a source of energy, photosynthetic therapy increases tissue oxygenation, maintains myocardial metabolism, and yields durable improvements in cardiac function during and after induction of ischemia. By circumventing blood flow entirely to provide tissue with oxygen and nutrients, this system has the potential to create a paradigm shift in the way ischemic heart disease is treated.}, } @article {pmid28630336, year = {2017}, author = {Veller, C and Hayward, LK and Hilbe, C and Nowak, MA}, title = {The Red Queen and King in finite populations.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {27}, pages = {E5396-E5405}, pmid = {28630336}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Game Theory ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; *Mutation ; Population Density ; Population Dynamics ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In antagonistic symbioses, such as host-parasite interactions, one population's success is the other's loss. In mutualistic symbioses, such as division of labor, both parties can gain, but they might have different preferences over the possible mutualistic arrangements. The rates of evolution of the two populations in a symbiosis are important determinants of which population will be more successful: Faster evolution is thought to be favored in antagonistic symbioses (the "Red Queen effect"), but disfavored in certain mutualistic symbioses (the "Red King effect"). However, it remains unclear which biological parameters drive these effects. Here, we analyze the effects of the various determinants of evolutionary rate: generation time, mutation rate, population size, and the intensity of natural selection. Our main results hold for the case where mutation is infrequent. Slower evolution causes a long-term advantage in an important class of mutualistic interactions. Surprisingly, less intense selection is the strongest driver of this Red King effect, whereas relative mutation rates and generation times have little effect. In antagonistic interactions, faster evolution by any means is beneficial. Our results provide insight into the demographic evolution of symbionts.}, } @article {pmid28629233, year = {2018}, author = {Dong, Q and Dong, R and Xing, X and Li, Y}, title = {A new antibiotic produced by the cyanobacterium-symbiotic fungus Simplicillium lanosoniveum.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {1348-1352}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2017.1343320}, pmid = {28629233}, issn = {1478-6427}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Cyanobacteria/physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects ; Hypocreales/chemistry/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Weight ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The culture broth of the cyanobacterium-symbiotic fungus Simplicillium lanosoniveum var. Tianjinienss Q. L. Dong exhibited unanticipated antibacterial activities against the Gram-positive bacteria, particularly the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, indicating the secretion of antibiotic-like metabolite, for which the modified Sabouraud medium was the suitable medium. The antibiotic-like metabolite was separated with macroporous resins CT-12 (absorption) and 95% ethanol (desorption), purified by ion-exchange resins D301T and displayed a characteristic absorption peak at 228 nm, suggesting the presence of nitrogen. The negative biuret and ninhydrin tests confirmed the absence of -NH2 and -COOH groups. Further, HPLC and mass spectrometry analyses showed that the retention time and molecular weight of the antibiotic-like metabolite were 4.1031 min and 163.0182 (Δ ± 2.3 ppm), respectively. Taking together, we speculated that the antibiotic-like metabolite was a new antibiotic structurally similar to alkaloid, which was the first one isolated from the species of Simplicillium genus.}, } @article {pmid28629190, year = {2017}, author = {Borchert, E and Knobloch, S and Dwyer, E and Flynn, S and Jackson, SA and Jóhannsson, R and Marteinsson, VT and O'Gara, F and Dobson, ADW}, title = {Biotechnological Potential of Cold Adapted Pseudoalteromonas spp. Isolated from 'Deep Sea' Sponges.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28629190}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biotechnology ; Cold Temperature ; Genome, Bacterial ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Pseudoalteromonas/enzymology/*genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; beta-Galactosidase/genetics ; beta-Glucosidase/genetics ; }, abstract = {The marine genus Pseudoalteromonas is known for its versatile biotechnological potential with respect to the production of antimicrobials and enzymes of industrial interest. We have sequenced the genomes of three Pseudoalteromonas sp. strains isolated from different deep sea sponges on the Illumina MiSeq platform. The isolates have been screened for various industrially important enzymes and comparative genomics has been applied to investigate potential relationships between the isolates and their host organisms, while comparing them to free-living Pseudoalteromonas spp. from shallow and deep sea environments. The genomes of the sponge associated Pseudoalteromonas strains contained much lower levels of potential eukaryotic-like proteins which are known to be enriched in symbiotic sponge associated microorganisms, than might be expected for true sponge symbionts. While all the Pseudoalteromonas shared a large distinct subset of genes, nonetheless the number of unique and accessory genes is quite large and defines the pan-genome as open. Enzymatic screens indicate that a vast array of enzyme activities is expressed by the isolates, including β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and protease activities. A β-glucosidase gene from one of the Pseudoalteromonas isolates, strain EB27 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and, following biochemical characterization, the recombinant enzyme was found to be cold-adapted, thermolabile, halotolerant, and alkaline active.}, } @article {pmid28628918, year = {2017}, author = {Mizuno, S and Masaoka, T and Naganuma, M and Kishimoto, T and Kitazawa, M and Kurokawa, S and Nakashima, M and Takeshita, K and Suda, W and Mimura, M and Hattori, M and Kanai, T}, title = {Bifidobacterium-Rich Fecal Donor May Be a Positive Predictor for Successful Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.}, journal = {Digestion}, volume = {96}, number = {1}, pages = {29-38}, pmid = {28628918}, issn = {1421-9867}, mesh = {Adult ; Bifidobacterium/*isolation & purification ; Colonoscopy ; Dysbiosis/etiology/microbiology/psychology/*therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications/microbiology/psychology/*therapy ; Japan ; *Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dysbiosis is associated with various systemic disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) might restore intestinal microbial balance. The study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of FMT in IBS patients, as well as also positive predictors for FMT.

METHODS: This was a single-arm, open-label study. Eligible patients were diagnosed based on Rome III Diagnostic Criteria. Fecal materials were administered to the patient via colonoscopy. The primary end point was a change in the Bristol stool form scale at 4 weeks after FMT. Recovery to types 3-4 was considered a clinical response. The secondary end point was a change in intestinal microbiota and psychological status using the Hamilton Rating Scale.

RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled. Six patients achieved a clinical response. The diversity of patients 4 weeks after FMT increased significantly compared with patients before FMT, and that of responding patients was significantly higher than non-responder patients. The abundance of Bifidobacterium in effective donors was significantly higher than in ineffective donors and patients. Psychological status of all patients was significantly improved after FMT.

CONCLUSIONS: FMT for patients with IBS is safe, and relatively effective. Bifidobacterium-rich fecal donor may be a positive predictor for successful FMT. Key Summary: (1) Dysbiosis is associated with various gastrointestinal disorders including IBS. (2) FMT has potential to restore intestinal microbial balance. (3) We showed that FMT improved stool form and psychological status of IBS patients. (4) Bifidobacterium-rich donor efficiently induced symbiosis in IBS patients.}, } @article {pmid28628240, year = {2017}, author = {Nasr Esfahani, M and Inoue, K and Chu, HD and Nguyen, KH and Van Ha, C and Watanabe, Y and Burritt, DJ and Herrera-Estrella, L and Mochida, K and Tran, LP}, title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis of nodules of two Mesorhizobium-chickpea associations with differential symbiotic efficiency under phosphate deficiency.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {91}, number = {5}, pages = {911-926}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13616}, pmid = {28628240}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Cicer/*genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Phosphate (Pi) deficiency is known to be a major limitation for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), and hence legume crop productivity globally. However, very little information is available on the adaptive mechanisms, particularly in the important legume crop chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), which enable nodules to respond to low-Pi availability. Thus, to elucidate these mechanisms in chickpea nodules at molecular level, we used an RNA sequencing approach to investigate transcriptomes of the nodules in Mesorhizobium mediterraneum SWRI9-(MmSWRI9)-chickpea and M. ciceri CP-31-(McCP-31)-chickpea associations under Pi-sufficient and Pi-deficient conditions, of which the McCP-31-chickpea association has a better SNF capacity than the MmSWRI9-chickpea association during Pi starvation. Our investigation revealed that more genes showed altered expression patterns in MmSWRI9-induced nodules than in McCP-31-induced nodules (540 vs. 225) under Pi deficiency, suggesting that the Pi-starvation-more-sensitive MmSWRI9-induced nodules required expression change in a larger number of genes to cope with low-Pi stress than the Pi-starvation-less-sensitive McCP-31-induced nodules. The functional classification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was examined to gain an understanding of how chickpea nodules respond to Pi starvation, caused by soil Pi deficiency. As a result, more DEGs involved in nodulation, detoxification, nutrient/ion transport, transcriptional factors, key metabolic pathways, Pi remobilization and signalling were found in Pi-starved MmSWRI9-induced nodules than in Pi-starved McCP-31-induced nodules. Our findings have enabled the identification of molecular processes that play important roles in the acclimation of nodules to Pi deficiency, ultimately leading to the development of Pi-efficient chickpea symbiotic associations suitable for Pi-deficient soils.}, } @article {pmid28628098, year = {2017}, author = {Rubin-Blum, M and Antony, CP and Borowski, C and Sayavedra, L and Pape, T and Sahling, H and Bohrmann, G and Kleiner, M and Redmond, MC and Valentine, DL and Dubilier, N}, title = {Short-chain alkanes fuel mussel and sponge Cycloclasticus symbionts from deep-sea gas and oil seeps.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17093}, pmid = {28628098}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Alkanes/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Gulf of Mexico ; Piscirickettsiaceae/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Porifera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cycloclasticus bacteria are ubiquitous in oil-rich regions of the ocean and are known for their ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, we describe Cycloclasticus that have established a symbiosis with Bathymodiolus heckerae mussels and poecilosclerid sponges from asphalt-rich, deep-sea oil seeps at Campeche Knolls in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that, in contrast to all previously known Cycloclasticus, the symbiotic Cycloclasticus appears to lack the genes needed for PAH degradation. Instead, these symbionts use propane and other short-chain alkanes such as ethane and butane as carbon and energy sources, thus expanding the limited range of substrates known to power chemosynthetic symbioses. Analyses of short-chain alkanes in the environment of the Campeche Knolls symbioses revealed that these are present at high concentrations (in the μM to mM range). Comparative genomic analyses revealed high similarities between the genes used by the symbiotic Cycloclasticus to degrade short-chain alkanes and those of free-living Cycloclasticus that bloomed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Our results indicate that the metabolic versatility of bacteria within the Cycloclasticus clade is higher than previously assumed, and highlight the expanded role of these keystone species in the degradation of marine hydrocarbons.}, } @article {pmid28625986, year = {2017}, author = {Costa, D and Amarelle, V and Valverde, C and O'Brian, MR and Fabiano, E}, title = {The Irr and RirA Proteins Participate in a Complex Regulatory Circuit and Act in Concert To Modulate Bacterioferritin Expression in Ensifer meliloti 1021.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {16}, pages = {}, pmid = {28625986}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM099667/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/*metabolism ; Cytochrome b Group/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Ferritins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Iron/*metabolism ; Iron-Regulatory Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this work we found that the bfr gene of the rhizobial species Ensifer meliloti, encoding a bacterioferritin iron storage protein, is involved in iron homeostasis and the oxidative stress response. This gene is located downstream of and overlapping the smc03787 open reading frame (ORF). No well-predicted RirA or Irr boxes were found in the region immediately upstream of the bfr gene although two presumptive RirA boxes and one presumptive Irr box were present in the putative promoter of smc03787 We demonstrate that bfr gene expression is enhanced under iron-sufficient conditions and that Irr and RirA modulate this expression. The pattern of bfr gene expression as well as the response to Irr and RirA is inversely correlated to that of smc03787 Moreover, our results suggest that the small RNA SmelC759 participates in RirA- and Irr-mediated regulation of bfr expression and that additional unknown factors are involved in iron-dependent regulation.IMPORTANCEE. meliloti belongs to the Alphaproteobacteria, a group of bacteria that includes several species able to associate with eukaryotic hosts, from mammals to plants, in a symbiotic or pathogenic manner. Regulation of iron homeostasis in this group of bacteria differs from that found in the well-studied Gammaproteobacteria In this work we analyzed the effect of rirA and irr mutations on bfr gene expression. We demonstrate the effect of an irr mutation on iron homeostasis in this bacterial genus. Moreover, results obtained indicate a complex regulatory circuit where multiple regulators, including RirA, Irr, the small RNA SmelC759, and still unknown factors, act in concert to balance bfr gene expression.}, } @article {pmid28625867, year = {2017}, author = {Postler, TS and Ghosh, S}, title = {Understanding the Holobiont: How Microbial Metabolites Affect Human Health and Shape the Immune System.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {110-130}, pmid = {28625867}, issn = {1932-7420}, support = {R01 DK102180/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immune System/*metabolism/microbiology ; Inflammation/*metabolism/microbiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/metabolism/microbiology ; Metabolic Diseases/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Metabolome ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is populated by a diverse, highly mutualistic microbial flora, which is known as the microbiome. Disruptions to the microbiome have been shown to be associated with severe pathologies of the host, including metabolic disease, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. Mood and behavior are also susceptible to alterations in the gut microbiota. A particularly striking example of the symbiotic effects of the microbiome is the immune system, whose cells depend critically on a diverse array of microbial metabolites for normal development and behavior. This includes metabolites that are produced by bacteria from dietary components, metabolites that are produced by the host and biochemically modified by gut bacteria, and metabolites that are synthesized de novo by gut microbes. In this review, we highlight the role of the intestinal microbiome in human metabolic and inflammatory diseases and focus in particular on the molecular mechanisms that govern the gut-immune axis.}, } @article {pmid28622919, year = {2017}, author = {Rich, MK and Nouri, E and Courty, PE and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Diet of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Bread and Butter?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {652-660}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2017.05.008}, pmid = {28622919}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most plants entertain mutualistic interactions known as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) with soil fungi (Glomeromycota) which provide them with mineral nutrients in exchange for reduced carbon from the plant. Mycorrhizal roots represent strong carbon sinks in which hexoses are transferred from the plant host to the fungus. However, most of the carbon in AM fungi is stored in the form of lipids. The absence of the type I fatty acid synthase (FAS-I) complex from the AM fungal model species Rhizophagus irregularis suggests that lipids may also have a role in nutrition of the fungal partner. This hypothesis is supported by the concerted induction of host genes involved in lipid metabolism. We explore the possible roles of lipids in the light of recent literature on AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28622658, year = {2017}, author = {Miwa, H and Okazaki, S}, title = {How effectors promote beneficial interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {148-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.05.011}, pmid = {28622658}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microbes such as rhizobia possess effector proteins that are secreted into the host cytoplasm where they modulate host-signaling pathways. Among these effectors, type 3 secreted effectors (T3Es) of rhizobia play roles in promoting nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis, suppressing host defenses and directly activating symbiosis-related processes. Rhizobia use the same strategy as pathogenic bacteria to suppress host defenses such as targeting the MAPK cascade. In addition, rhizobial T3E can promote root nodule symbiosis by directly activating Nod factor signaling, which bypasses Nod factor perception. The various strategies employed by beneficial microbes to promote infection and maintain viability in the host are therefore crucial for plant endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28621804, year = {2017}, author = {Nasir, A and Kim, KM and Caetano-Anollés, G}, title = {Long-term evolution of viruses: A Janus-faced balance.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201700026}, pmid = {28621804}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; DNA Viruses/*genetics/physiology ; Virus Replication/genetics/physiology ; Viruses/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The popular textbook image of viruses as noxious and selfish genetic parasites greatly underestimates the beneficial contributions of viruses to the biosphere. Given the crucial dependency of viruses to reproduce in an intracellular environment, viruses that engage in excessive killing (lysis) can drive their cellular hosts to extinction and will not survive. The lytic mode of virus propagation must, therefore, be tempered and balanced by non-lytic modes of virus latency and symbiosis. Here, we review recent bioinformatics and metagenomic studies to argue that viral endogenization and domestication may be more frequent mechanisms of virus persistence than lysis. We use a triangle diagram to explain the three major virus persistence strategies that explain the global scope of virus-cell interactions including lysis, latency and virus-cell symbiosis. This paradigm can help identify novel directions in virology research where scientists could artificially gain control over switching lytic and beneficial viral lifestyles. Also see the Video Abstract: http://youtu.be/GwXWz4N8o8.}, } @article {pmid28618472, year = {2017}, author = {Griffin, C and Belmonte, A}, title = {Cyclic public goods games: Compensated coexistence among mutual cheaters stabilized by optimized penalty taxation.}, journal = {Physical review. E}, volume = {95}, number = {5-1}, pages = {052309}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.95.052309}, pmid = {28618472}, issn = {2470-0053}, abstract = {We study the problem of stabilized coexistence in a three-species public goods game in which each species simultaneously contributes to one public good while freeloading off another public good ("cheating"). The proportional population growth is governed by an appropriately modified replicator equation, depending on the returns from the public goods and the cost. We show that the replicator dynamic has at most one interior unstable fixed point and that the population becomes dominated by a single species. We then show that by applying an externally imposed penalty, or "tax" on success can stabilize the interior fixed point, allowing for the symbiotic coexistence of all species. We show that the interior fixed point is the point of globally minimal total population growth in both the taxed and untaxed cases. We then formulate an optimal taxation problem and show that it admits a quasilinearization, resulting in novel necessary conditions for the optimal control. In particular, the optimal control problem governing the tax rate must solve a certain second-order ordinary differential equation.}, } @article {pmid28618195, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, J and Lopez, N and Ahn, Y and Goldberg, T and Bromberg, Y and Kerkhof, LJ and Häggblom, MM}, title = {Novel reductive dehalogenases from the marine sponge associated bacterium Desulfoluna spongiiphila.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {537-549}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12556}, pmid = {28618195}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Corrinoids/biosynthesis ; Deltaproteobacteria/classification/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/methods ; Multigene Family ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Desulfoluna spongiiphila strain AA1 is an organohalide respiring bacterium, isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba, that can use brominated and iodinated phenols, in addition to sulfate and thiosulfate as terminal electron acceptors. The genome of Desulfoluna spongiiphila strain AA1 is approximately 6.5 Mb. Three putative reductive dehalogenase (rdhA) genes involved in respiratory metabolism of organohalides were identified within the sequence. Conserved motifs found in respiratory reductive dehalogenases (a twin arginine translocation signal sequence and two iron-sulfur clusters) were present in all three putative AA1 rdhA genes. Transcription of one of the three rdhA genes was significantly upregulated during respiration of 2,6-dibromophenol and sponge extracts. Strain AA1 appears to have the ability to synthesize cobalamin, the key cofactor of most characterized reductive dehalogenase enzymes. The genome contains genes involved in cobalamin synthesis and uptake and can grow without cobalamin supplementation. Identification of this target gene associated with debromination lays the foundation for understanding how dehalogenating bacteria control the fate of organohalide compounds in sponges and their role in a symbiotic organobromine cycle. In the sponge environment, D. spongiiphila strain AA1 may thus take advantage of both brominated compounds and sulfate as electron acceptors for respiration.}, } @article {pmid28618189, year = {2017}, author = {Sánchez-Osuna, M and Barbé, J and Erill, I}, title = {Comparative genomics of the DNA damage-inducible network in the Patescibacteria.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {3465-3474}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13826}, pmid = {28618189}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Damage/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; Protein Binding/genetics ; SOS Response, Genetics/*genetics ; Serine Endopeptidases/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Metagenomics provide unprecedented insights into the genetic diversity of uncultivated bacteria inhabiting natural environments. Recent surveys have uncovered a major radiation of candidate phyla encompassing the Patescibacteria superphylum. Patescibacteria have small genomes and a presumed symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle, but the difficulty in culturing representative members constrains the characterization of behavioural and adaptive traits. Here we combine in silico and in vitro approaches to characterize the SOS transcriptional response to DNA damage in the Patescibacteria superphylum. Leveraging comparative genomics methods, we identify and experimentally define a novel binding motif for the SOS transcriptional repressor LexA, and we use this motif to characterize the conserved elements of the SOS regulatory network in Patescibacteria. The Patescibacteria LexA-binding motif has unusual direct-repeat structure, and comparative analyses reveal sequence and structural similarities with the distant Acidobacteria LexA protein. Our results reveal a shared core SOS network, complemented by varying degrees of LexA regulation of other core SOS functions. This work illustrates how the combination of computational and experimental methods can leverage metagenomic data to characterize transcriptional responses in uncultivated bacteria. The report of an operational SOS response in presumed symbiotic and parasitic bacteria hints at an intermediate step in the process of genome reduction.}, } @article {pmid28618146, year = {2017}, author = {Schwob, G and Roy, M and Manzi, S and Pommier, T and Fernandez, MP}, title = {Green alder (Alnus viridis) encroachment shapes microbial communities in subalpine soils and impacts its bacterial or fungal symbionts differently.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {3235-3250}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13818}, pmid = {28618146}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Forests ; Frankia/*classification/genetics ; Fungi/*classification/genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Grassland ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the mid-twentieth century, subalpine grasslands undergo a progressive encroachment by Alnus viridis shrubs. Thanks to its rapid vegetative reproduction, its nitrogen fixing symbiosis with Frankia and its ectomycorrhizal cohorts, green alders are vigorous colonizers that quickly form mosaic of alder patches that evolves into a close canopy shrub community. To better understand how alder encroachment might influence microbial communities in this successional sequence, symbiont distribution, microbial richness and community structure in both soils and nodules were analyzed at three successional stages: grassland, mosaic and forest. Soil analyses were performed in association with measures of nitrification and denitrification, as well as DNA metabarcoding of three bacterial genes (16S rDNA, nifH and amoA) and one fungal gene (ITS1). Our results show that (i) A. viridis encroachment is associated with soil microbial community changes that are in turn, linked to certain soil properties (i.e., pH, C/N ratio and organic matter content), (ii) both taxonomic and N related functional gene structures of bacteria are modified by alder encroachment and (iii) the distribution in soils of its bacterial symbionts (Frankia) is apparently weakly influenced by alder establishment while Alnus-specific ectomyccorrhizae increase with the increase in alder shrub density.}, } @article {pmid28618121, year = {2017}, author = {Salas, ME and Lozano, MJ and López, JL and Draghi, WO and Serrania, J and Torres Tejerizo, GA and Albicoro, FJ and Nilsson, JF and Pistorio, M and Del Papa, MF and Parisi, G and Becker, A and Lagares, A}, title = {Specificity traits consistent with legume-rhizobia coevolution displayed by Ensifer meliloti rhizosphere colonization.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {3423-3438}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13820}, pmid = {28618121}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Genome-Wide Association Study ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Peas/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are α- and ß-proteobacteria that associate with legumes in symbiosis to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The chemical communication between roots and rhizobia begins in the rhizosphere. Using signature-tagged-Tn5 mutagenesis (STM) we performed a genome-wide screening for Ensifer meliloti genes that participate in colonizing the rhizospheres of alfalfa and other legumes. The analysis of ca. 6,000 mutants indicated that genes relevant for rhizosphere colonization account for nearly 2% of the rhizobial genome and that most (ca. 80%) are chromosomally located, pointing to the relevance and ancestral origin of the bacterial ability to colonize plant roots. The identified genes were related to metabolic functions, transcription, signal transduction, and motility/chemotaxis among other categories; with several ORFs of yet-unknown function. Most remarkably, we identified a subset of genes that impacted more severely the colonization of the roots of alfalfa than of pea. Further analyses using other plant species revealed that such early differential phenotype could be extended to other members of the Trifoliae tribe (Trigonella, Trifolium), but not the Fabeae and Phaseoleae tribes. The results suggest that consolidation of E. meliloti into its current symbiotic state should have occurred in a rhizobacterium that had already been adapted to rhizospheres of the Trifoliae tribe.}, } @article {pmid28616367, year = {2017}, author = {Neubauer, EF and Poole, AZ and Detournay, O and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Correction: The scavenger receptor repertoire in six cnidarian species and its putative role in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.2692/correction-1}, pmid = {28616367}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2692.].}, } @article {pmid28615286, year = {2017}, author = {Martin, WF and Tielens, AGM and Mentel, M and Garg, SG and Gould, SB}, title = {The Physiology of Phagocytosis in the Context of Mitochondrial Origin.}, journal = {Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {28615286}, issn = {1098-5557}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Archaea/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Endocytosis/physiology ; Energy Metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells/*physiology ; Metagenomics ; Mitochondria/*physiology ; Phagocytosis/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Prokaryotic Cells/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How mitochondria came to reside within the cytosol of their host has been debated for 50 years. Though current data indicate that the last eukaryote common ancestor possessed mitochondria and was a complex cell, whether mitochondria or complexity came first in eukaryotic evolution is still discussed. In autogenous models (complexity first), the origin of phagocytosis poses the limiting step at eukaryote origin, with mitochondria coming late as an undigested growth substrate. In symbiosis-based models (mitochondria first), the host was an archaeon, and the origin of mitochondria was the limiting step at eukaryote origin, with mitochondria providing bacterial genes, ATP synthesis on internalized bioenergetic membranes, and mitochondrion-derived vesicles as the seed of the eukaryote endomembrane system. Metagenomic studies are uncovering new host-related archaeal lineages that are reported as complex or phagocytosing, although images of such cells are lacking. Here we review the physiology and components of phagocytosis in eukaryotes, critically inspecting the concept of a phagotrophic host. From ATP supply and demand, a mitochondrion-lacking phagotrophic archaeal fermenter would have to ingest about 34 times its body weight in prokaryotic prey to obtain enough ATP to support one cell division. It would lack chemiosmotic ATP synthesis at the plasma membrane, because phagocytosis and chemiosmosis in the same membrane are incompatible. It would have lived from amino acid fermentations, because prokaryotes are mainly protein. Its ATP yield would have been impaired relative to typical archaeal amino acid fermentations, which involve chemiosmosis. In contrast, phagocytosis would have had great physiological benefit for a mitochondrion-bearing cell.}, } @article {pmid28614606, year = {2017}, author = {do Nascimento, MO and de Almeida Sarmento, R and Dos Santos, GR and de Oliveira, CA and de Souza, DJ}, title = {Antagonism of Trichoderma isolates against Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Singer) Möller.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {57}, number = {8}, pages = {699-704}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201600755}, pmid = {28614606}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Agaricales/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Ants/*microbiology ; Brazil ; Genes, rRNA ; Plant Leaves ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Filamentous fungi from the genus Trichoderma are commonly found in soil. They are considered facultative mycoparasites, and are antagonists of other fungi such as the cultivar of leaf-cutting ants (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus). The aim of the present study was to bioprospect Trichoderma spp. from different soils collected from Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil, for antagonistic effects against the mutualistic fungus of leaf-cutting ants. To isolate filamentous fungi, samples were collected from six locations. Preliminarily, isolates were identified by morphological analysis as belonging to Trichoderma. Trichoderma spp. had their internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA) sequenced to confirm species-level taxonomy. L. gongylophorus was isolated from a laboratory ant colony. Antagonistic properties of seven isolates of Trichoderma against L. gongylophorus were measured using paired disks in Petri dishes with potato dextrose agar medium (PDA). All Trichoderma isolates inhibited the growth of L. gongylophorus in Petri dishes. Isolate 2 of Trichoderma spirale group exhibited slow mycelial growth in the Petri dish, and a high rate of inhibition against L. gongylophorus. This isolate is a promising fungus for field tests of biological control methods for leaf-cutting ants.}, } @article {pmid28614605, year = {2017}, author = {Martínez-García, LB and De Deyn, GB and Pugnaire, FI and Kothamasi, D and van der Heijden, MGA}, title = {Symbiotic soil fungi enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {5228-5236}, pmid = {28614605}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus ; *Rain ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Substantial amounts of nutrients are lost from soils through leaching. These losses can be environmentally damaging, causing groundwater eutrophication and also comprise an economic burden in terms of lost agricultural production. More intense precipitation events caused by climate change will likely aggravate this problem. So far it is unresolved to which extent soil biota can make ecosystems more resilient to climate change and reduce nutrient leaching losses when rainfall intensity increases. In this study, we focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, common soil fungi that form symbiotic associations with most land plants and which increase plant nutrient uptake. We hypothesized that AM fungi mitigate nutrient losses following intensive precipitation events (higher amount of precipitation and rain events frequency). To test this, we manipulated the presence of AM fungi in model grassland communities subjected to two rainfall scenarios: moderate and high rainfall intensity. The total amount of nutrients lost through leaching increased substantially with higher rainfall intensity. The presence of AM fungi reduced phosphorus losses by 50% under both rainfall scenarios and nitrogen losses by 40% under high rainfall intensity. Thus, the presence of AM fungi enhanced the nutrient interception ability of soils, and AM fungi reduced the nutrient leaching risk when rainfall intensity increases. These findings are especially relevant in areas with high rainfall intensity (e.g., such as the tropics) and for ecosystems that will experience increased rainfall due to climate change. Overall, this work demonstrates that soil biota such as AM fungi can enhance ecosystem resilience and reduce the negative impact of increased precipitation on nutrient losses.}, } @article {pmid28612893, year = {2017}, author = {Chisari, G and Chisari, EM and Francaviglia, A and Chisari, CG}, title = {The mixture of bifidobacterium associated with fructo-oligosaccharides reduces the damage of the ocular surface.}, journal = {La Clinica terapeutica}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {e181-e185}, doi = {10.7417/T.2017.2002}, pmid = {28612893}, issn = {1972-6007}, mesh = {*Bifidobacterium ; Bifidobacterium animalis ; Biological Therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Dry Eye Syndromes/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligosaccharides ; Pilot Projects ; Tears ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Despite its high prevalence Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) in frequently under-recognized owing to its negative influence on patients visual function.

METHODS: This clinical trial was a pilot study to evaluate the effects of supplementation with mixture (Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium bifido) on the tear film. Following the run-in period subjects were randomized in two groups: group A (N°20 subjects) and group B (N°20 subjects). Group A (control) treated only with substitute tear and group B treated with substitute tear + mixture (symbiotic).

RESULTS: The data obtained in the two study groups A and B were, respectively the following: Schirmer 9.1±0.2 vs 12.7±0.4 (p< 0.001); Schirmer II 3.5±0.1 VS 4.7±0.2 (p<0.001); BUT 3.9±0.3 vs 6.3±0.2 (p<0.001). Culture test showed initial bacterial growth in group "A" (placebo) 18 out of 40 samples tested, corresponding to 45.0% and "B" after treatment ((symbiotic) was found positive culture whit growth of bacteria in 12 tests equal to 30.0%. The total numbers of isolations of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria found group A and B after treatment. A reduction of 15 to 11 strains of aerobic and anaerobic isolates from 9 to 5 has been found.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the administration of bifidobacterium may represent a success full treatment in ameliorating dry eye syndrome (DES). The effect of imbalanced microbiota are not restricted by gastrointestinal abnormalities but could have systemic impact on immunity. Commensal bacteria or probiotics interact with the endogenous enteric microbiota and gut cells therein confereing health benefit to the host.}, } @article {pmid28612849, year = {2017}, author = {Hansen, AK and Skidmore, IH}, title = {Psyllids, It's What's on the Inside That Counts: Community Cross Talk Facilitates Prophage Interactions.}, journal = {mSphere}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {28612849}, issn = {2379-5042}, abstract = {Despite the availability of massive microbial community data sets (e.g., metagenomes), there is still a lack of knowledge on what molecular mechanisms facilitate cross talk between microbes and prophage within a community context. A study published in mSphere by Jain and colleagues (M. Jain, L. A. Fleites, and D. W. Gabriel, mSphere 2:e00171-17, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphereDirect.00171-17) reports on an intriguing new twist of how a prophage of the bacterium "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" may have its lytic cycle suppressed partly because of a protein that is expressed by a cooccurring bacterium, Wolbachia. Both of these microbes coexist along with other microbial tenants inside their sap-feeding insect host, a psyllid. Although these results are still preliminary and alternative hypotheses need to be tested, these results suggest an interesting new dimension on how regulation of microbial genomes occurs in a community context.}, } @article {pmid28611768, year = {2017}, author = {Cacho, NT and Lawrence, RM}, title = {Innate Immunity and Breast Milk.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {584}, pmid = {28611768}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Human milk is a dynamic source of nutrients and bioactive factors; unique in providing for the human infant's optimal growth and development. The growing infant's immune system has a number of developmental immune deficiencies placing the infant at increased risk of infection. This review focuses on how human milk directly contributes to the infant's innate immunity. Remarkable new findings clarify the multifunctional nature of human milk bioactive components. New research techniques have expanded our understanding of the potential for human milk's effect on the infant that will never be possible with milk formulas. Human milk microbiome directly shapes the infant's intestinal microbiome, while the human milk oligosaccharides drive the growth of these microbes within the gut. New techniques such as genomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and glycomics are being used to describe this symbiotic relationship. An expanded role for antimicrobial proteins/peptides within human milk in innate immune protection is described. The unique milieu of enhanced immune protection with diminished inflammation results from a complex interaction of anti-inflammatory and antioxidative factors provided by human milk to the intestine. New data support the concept of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue and its contribution to the cellular content of human milk. Human milk stem cells (hMSCs) have recently been discovered. Their direct role in the infant for repair and regeneration is being investigated. The existence of these hMSCs could prove to be an easily harvested source of multilineage stem cells for the study of cancer and tissue regeneration. As the infant's gastrointestinal tract and immune system develop, there is a comparable transition in human milk over time to provide fewer immune factors and more calories and nutrients for growth. Each of these new findings opens the door to future studies of human milk and its effect on the innate immune system and the developing infant.}, } @article {pmid28611764, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, T and Duan, L and Zhou, B and Yu, H and Zhu, H and Cao, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {Interplay of Pathogen-Induced Defense Responses and Symbiotic Establishment in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {973}, pmid = {28611764}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Suppression of host innate immunity appears to be required for the establishment of symbiosis between rhizobia and host plants. In this study, we established a system that included a host plant, a bacterial pathogen and a symbiotic rhizobium to study the role of innate immunity during symbiotic interactions. A pathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 (Pst DC3000), was shown to cause chlorosis in Medicago truncatula A17. Sinorhizobium meliloti strain Sm2011 (Sm2011) and Pst DC3000 strain alone induced similar defense responses in M. truncatula. However, when co-inoculated, Sm2011 specifically suppressed the defense responses induced by Pst DC3000, such as MAPK activation and ROS production. Inoculation with Sm2011 suppressed the transcription of defense-related genes triggered by Pst DC3000 infection, including the receptor of bacterial flagellin (FLS2), pathogenesis-related protein 10 (PR10), and the transcription factor WRKY33. Interestingly, inoculation with Pst DC3000 specifically inhibited the expression of the symbiosis marker genes nodule inception and nodulation pectate lyase and reduced the numbers of infection threads and nodules on M. truncatula A17 roots, indicating that Pst DC3000 inhibits the establishment of symbiosis in M. truncatula. In addition, defense-related genes, such as MAPK3/6, RbohC, and WRKY33, exhibited a transient increase in their expression in the early stage of symbiosis with Sm2011, but the expression dropped down to normal levels at later symbiotic stages. Our results suggest that plant innate immunity plays an antagonistic role in symbiosis by directly reducing the numbers of infection threads and nodules.}, } @article {pmid28611226, year = {2017}, author = {Dekel, Y and Machluf, Y and Brand, R and Noked Partouche, O and Ben-Shlomo, I and Bercovich, D}, title = {Mammal domestication and the symbiotic spectrum.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {27}, pages = {E5280}, pmid = {28611226}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Crops, Agricultural ; *Domestication ; Humans ; Mammals ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid28610126, year = {2017}, author = {Terrana, L and Eeckhaut, I}, title = {Taxonomic description and 3D modelling of a new species of myzostomid (Annelida, Myzostomida) associated with black corals from Madagascar.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4244}, number = {2}, pages = {277-295}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4244.2.9}, pmid = {28610126}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; *Anthozoa ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Female ; Madagascar ; Male ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Eenymeenymyzostoma nigrocorallium n. sp. is the first species of myzostomid worm associated with black corals to be described. Endoparasitic specimens of E. nigrocorallium were found associated with three species of antipatharians on the Great Reef of Toliara. Individuals inhabit the gastrovascular ducts of their hosts and evidence of infestation is, most of the time, not visible externally. Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI data indicate a close relation to Eenymeenymyzostoma cirripedium, the only other species of the genus. The morphology of E. nigrocorallium is very unusual compared to that of the more conventional E. cirripedium. The new species has five pairs of extremely reduced parapodia located on the body margin and no introvert, cirri or lateral organs. Individuals are hermaphroditic, with the male and female gonads both being located dorsally in the trunk. It also has a highly developed parenchymo-muscular layer on the ventral side, and the digestive system lies in the middle part of the trunk. A three-dimensional digital model of this worm's body plan has been constructed whereby the external morphology and in toto views of the observed organ systems (nervous, digestive and reproductive) can be viewed on-screen: http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17911.21923.}, } @article {pmid28609960, year = {2017}, author = {Riedel, A and Kilmaskossu, A}, title = {Revision of the subgenus Niphetoscapha Heller of Gymnopholus Heller (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Entiminae, Eupholini) and a new species with epizoic symbiosis from West New Guinea.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4254}, number = {3}, pages = {339-356}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4254.3.3}, pmid = {28609960}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Indonesia ; Male ; New Guinea ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The subgenus Niphetoscapha Heller 1914 of Gymnopholus Heller 1901 is revised. It is characterized by the morphology of the elytral apex and the asymmetrical tip of the penis. Vestigial wings and a fused elytral suture indicate flightlessness. Gymnopholus (Niphetoscapha) inexspectatus sp. n. is described as new, exhibiting a distinct epizoic symbiosis with algae otherwise known from the subgenus Symbiopholus Gressitt 1966. The four species of Niphetoscapha inhabit the central mountain range of West New Guinea: Gymnopholus audax Gressitt 1966, G. inexspectatus sp. n., G. nitidus Gressitt & Sedlacek 1967, and G. wichmanni (Heller, 1914). A lectotype is designated for the type-species, G. wichmanni. All species are described, a key is provided, and their distribution is mapped. A large gap separating the areas with records of Niphetoscapha and Symbiopholus is noted for Central New Guinea. The phylogenetic concept of Gymnopholus and its subgenera is briefly discussed.}, } @article {pmid28609448, year = {2017}, author = {Kendra, PE and Owens, D and Montgomery, WS and Narvaez, TI and Bauchan, GR and Schnell, EQ and Tabanca, N and Carrillo, D}, title = {α-Copaene is an attractant, synergistic with quercivorol, for improved detection of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {e0179416}, pmid = {28609448}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/physiology/ultrastructure ; California ; Florida ; Fusarium/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Control/*methods ; Israel ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Monoterpenes/*chemistry ; Persea/microbiology/*parasitology ; Pheromones/chemistry ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/parasitology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sesquiterpenes/*chemistry ; Weevils/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The tea shot-hole borer, Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff, is an ambrosia beetle endemic to Asia and a pest of commercial tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. Recently, a complex of species morphologically similar to E. fornicatus has been recognized, which includes new pests established in Israel and the USA, both in California and Florida. Collectively termed E. nr. fornicatus, these cryptic species carry symbiotic Fusarium spp. fungi, some of which cause dieback disease in susceptible hosts, which include avocado, Persea americana Miller. Due to the threat to this economically important crop, research was initiated to evaluate efficacy of kairomone-based lures for detection of the beetle in Florida (termed the Florida tea shot hole borer, FL-TSHB). A series of field tests were conducted in 2016 in commercial avocado groves known to have FL-TSHB at various population levels. All tests evaluated lures containing quercivorol (p-menth-2-en-1-ol) and α-copaene, presented separately and in combination; and one test evaluated effect of trap type on beetle captures. In addition, electroantennography (EAG) was used to quantify female olfactory responses to lure emissions. This study identified (-)-α-copaene as a new attractant for FL-TSHB, equivalent in efficacy to quercivorol (the standard lure for Euwallacea detection in the USA); however, the combination of lures captured significantly more FL-TSHB than either lure alone. This combination resulted in synergistic attraction at two field sites and additive attraction at a third site. Sticky panel traps captured more FL-TSHB than comparably-baited Lindgren funnel traps. Females engaged in host-seeking flight from 11:00 to 16:00 hr (EST), with peak numbers observed between 12:00 and 13:00 hr. EAG analyses confirmed olfactory chemoreception of both kairomones, with a higher response elicited with the combination of volatiles. Results indicate that detection of pest E. nr. fornicatus in Florida can be improved by using a two-component lure consisting of p-menth-2-en-1-ol and (-)-α-copaene.}, } @article {pmid28607058, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, Q and Yang, S and Liu, J and Terecskei, K and Ábrahám, E and Gombár, A and Domonkos, Á and Szűcs, A and Körmöczi, P and Wang, T and Fodor, L and Mao, L and Fei, Z and Kondorosi, É and Kaló, P and Kereszt, A and Zhu, H}, title = {Host-secreted antimicrobial peptide enforces symbiotic selectivity in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {26}, pages = {6854-6859}, pmid = {28607058}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes engage in root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria known as rhizobia. In nodule cells, bacteria are enclosed in membrane-bound vesicles called symbiosomes and differentiate into bacteroids that are capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Bacteroid differentiation and prolonged intracellular survival are essential for development of functional nodules. However, in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis, incompatibility between symbiotic partners frequently occurs, leading to the formation of infected nodules defective in nitrogen fixation (Fix[-]). Here, we report the identification and cloning of the M. truncatula NFS2 gene that regulates this type of specificity pertaining to S. meliloti strain Rm41. We demonstrate that NFS2 encodes a nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptide that acts to promote bacterial lysis after differentiation. The negative role of NFS2 in symbiosis is contingent on host genetic background and can be counteracted by other genes encoded by the host. This work extends the paradigm of NCR function to include the negative regulation of symbiotic persistence in host-strain interactions. Our data suggest that NCR peptides are host determinants of symbiotic specificity in M. truncatula and possibly in closely related legumes that form indeterminate nodules in which bacterial symbionts undergo terminal differentiation.}, } @article {pmid28607056, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, S and Wang, Q and Fedorova, E and Liu, J and Qin, Q and Zheng, Q and Price, PA and Pan, H and Wang, D and Griffitts, JS and Bisseling, T and Zhu, H}, title = {Microsymbiont discrimination mediated by a host-secreted peptide in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {26}, pages = {6848-6853}, pmid = {28607056}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Rhizome/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Transaminases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The legume-rhizobial symbiosis results in the formation of root nodules that provide an ecological niche for nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, plant-bacteria genotypic interactions can lead to wide variation in nitrogen fixation efficiency, and it is not uncommon that a bacterial strain forms functional (Fix[+]) nodules on one plant genotype but nonfunctional (Fix[-]) nodules on another. Host genetic control of this specificity is unknown. We herein report the cloning of the Medicago truncatula NFS1 gene that regulates the fixation-level incompatibility with the microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm41. We show that NFS1 encodes a nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptide. In contrast to the known role of NCR peptides as effectors of endosymbionts' differentiation to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids, we demonstrate that specific NCRs control discrimination against incompatible microsymbionts. NFS1 provokes bacterial cell death and early nodule senescence in an allele-specific and rhizobial strain-specific manner, and its function is dependent on host genetic background.}, } @article {pmid28606864, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, Z and Wu, Y and Zhang, C and Li, C and Chen, G and Yu, X and Shi, X and Xu, Y and Wang, L and Huang, B}, title = {Suppression of NF-κB signal pathway by NLRC3-like protein in stony coral Acropora aculeus under heat stress.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {322-330}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2017.06.027}, pmid = {28606864}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Hot Temperature/*adverse effects ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*genetics/immunology ; NF-kappa B/*genetics/immunology ; *Signal Transduction ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Heat stress is the most common factor for coral bleaching, which has increased both in frequency and severity due to global warming. In the present study, the stony coral Acropora aculeus was subjected to acute heat stress and entire transcriptomes were sequenced via the next generation sequencing platform. Four paired-end libraries were constructed and sequenced in two groups, including a control and a heat stress group. A total of 120,319,751 paired-end reads with lengths of 2 × 100 bp were assembled and 55,021 coral-derived genes were obtained. After read mapping and abundance estimation, 9110 differentially expressed genes were obtained in the comparison between the control and heat stress group, including 4465 significantly upregulated and 4645 significantly downregulated genes. Twenty-three GO terms in the Biological Process category were overrepresented for significantly upregulated genes, and divided into six groups according to their relationship. These three groups were related to the NF-κB signal pathway, and the remaining three groups were relevant for pathogen response, immunocyte activation and protein ubiquitination. Forty-three common genes were found in four GO terms, which were directly related to the NF-κB signal pathway. These included 2 NACHT, LRR, PYD domains-containing protein, 5 nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein, 29 NLRC3-like protein, 4 NLRC5-like protein, and 3 uncharacterized protein. For significantly downregulated genes, 27 overrepresented GO terms were found in the Biological Process category, which were relevant to protein ubiquitination and ATP metabolism. Our results indicate that heat stress suppressed the immune response level via the NLRC3-like protein, the fine-tuning of protein turnover activity, and ATP metabolism. This might disrupt the balance of coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis and result in the bleaching of the coral A. aculeus.}, } @article {pmid28605027, year = {2017}, author = {Ferrer, M and Raczkowska, BA and Martínez-Martínez, M and Barbas, C and Rojo, D}, title = {Phenotyping of gut microbiota: Focus on capillary electrophoresis.}, journal = {Electrophoresis}, volume = {38}, number = {18}, pages = {2275-2286}, doi = {10.1002/elps.201700056}, pmid = {28605027}, issn = {1522-2683}, mesh = {Animals ; *Electrophoresis, Capillary ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Metabolome/genetics/physiology ; *Metabolomics ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {The analysis of the microbial metabolome is crucial to fully understand the symbiotic relation between humans and microbes. That is why an explosion of metabolomics took place in the area. So far, at least several hundreds of microbial metabolites have been shown to be statistically altered when humans undergo a plethora of commonly faced perturbations. NMR and MS, usually coupled with GC, LC and CE have revealed their identities. CE is a robust analytical platform for the analysis of polar and ionic metabolites that are essential in order to assess the cells' activity. Due to its novelty, only 5% of the metabolomics studies investigate gut microbiota using CE, even though the metabolites found by CE as being significantly altered in human microbiota represent around 23% of the total number of metabolites identified by metabolomics tools. Herein, we discuss the advances of metabolomics in the frame of other OMICS techniques for human gut microbiota analysis. Afterwards, we focus on sample treatment, analytical methods and data processing in CE coupled to any detector that have been reported to date in order to enhance metabolite coverage in the art, and to identify metabolite markers that cannot be covered by other platforms but are of key importance for determining microbial activity and human health.}, } @article {pmid28601651, year = {2017}, author = {Roth, R and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Plant carbon nourishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {50-56}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.05.008}, pmid = {28601651}, issn = {1879-0356}, support = {BB/N008723/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reciprocal nutrient exchange between the majority of land plants and arbucular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is the cornerstone of a stable symbiosis. To date, a dogma in the comprehension of AM fungal nourishment has been delivery of host organic carbon in the form of sugars. More recently a role for lipids as alternative carbon source or as a signalling molecule during AM symbiosis was proposed. Here we review the symbiotic requirement for carbohydrates and lipids across developmental stages of the AM symbiosis. We present a role for carbohydrate metabolism and signalling to maintain intraradical fungal growth, as opposed to lipid uptake at the arbuscule as an indispensible requirement for completion of the AM fungal life cycle.}, } @article {pmid28601211, year = {2017}, author = {Llewellyn, CH}, title = {The Symbiotic Relationship Between Operational Military Medicine, Tactical Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine: A View Through a Personal Lens.}, journal = {Wilderness & environmental medicine}, volume = {28}, number = {2S}, pages = {S6-S11}, doi = {10.1016/j.wem.2016.12.008}, pmid = {28601211}, issn = {1545-1534}, mesh = {Emergency Medicine/history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Military Medicine/*history ; United States ; Wilderness Medicine/*history ; }, abstract = {There are direct and indirect linkages and a form of symbiosis between operational military medicine from World War II and present wilderness medicine, from the beginnings to contemporary practice, and the more recently evolved field of tactical emergency medical support. Each of these relationships will be explored from the historical perspective of the Department of Military & Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from 1982 to the present.}, } @article {pmid28598837, year = {2017}, author = {Andreadou, E and Pantazaki, AA and Daniilidou, M and Tsolaki, M}, title = {Rhamnolipids, Microbial Virulence Factors, in Alzheimer's Disease.}, journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {209-222}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-161020}, pmid = {28598837}, issn = {1875-8908}, mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Alzheimer Disease/metabolism/pathology/virology ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; *Cognitive Dysfunction/metabolism/pathology/virology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Glycolipids/analysis/*blood ; Humans ; Male ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Virulence Factors/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been attributed to chronic bacterial infections. The recognition of human microbiota as a substantial contributor to health and disease is relatively recent and growing. During evolution, mammals live in a symbiotic state with myriads of microorganisms that survive at a diversity of tissue micro-surroundings. Microbes produce a plethora of secretory products [amyloids, lipopolysaccharides, virulence factors rhamnolipids (RLs), toxins, and a great number of neuroactive compounds]. The contribution of infectious microbial components to the pathophysiology of the human central nervous system including AD is considered potentially substantial, but the involvement of the RLs has never been reported. Here, RLs were isolated from serum and identified through various conventional methods including the colorimetric orcinol method, thin-layer chromatography, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and dot blot using antibodies against RLs. Dot blot demonstrated elevated RL levels in sera of AD patients compared to controls (p = 0.014). Moreover, ELISA showed similarly elevated RL levels in cerebrospinal fluid of both AD (0.188 versus 0.080) (p = 0.04) and mild cognitive impairment (0.188 versus 0.129) (p = 0.088) patients compared to healthy, and are well-correlated with the AD stages severity assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. These results provide conclusive evidence for the newly-reported implication of RLs in AD, adding it to the list of bacterial components, opening new avenues for AD investigation. Moreover, they strengthen and vindicate the divergence of research toward the exploration of bacterial involvement in AD generation and progression.}, } @article {pmid28598725, year = {2017}, author = {Chernoff, N and Hill, DJ and Diggs, DL and Faison, BD and Francis, BM and Lang, JR and Larue, MM and Le, TT and Loftin, KA and Lugo, JN and Schmid, JE and Winnik, WM}, title = {A critical review of the postulated role of the non-essential amino acid, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine, in neurodegenerative disease in humans.}, journal = {Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {1-47}, pmid = {28598725}, issn = {1521-6950}, support = {R15 NS088776/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/etiology/physiopathology ; Amino Acids, Diamino/*toxicity ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/etiology/physiopathology ; Animals ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; Cycas/toxicity ; Flour/toxicity ; Humans ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/*etiology/physiopathology ; Neurotoxins/toxicity ; Parkinsonian Disorders/etiology/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {The compound BMAA (β-N-methylamino-L-alanine) has been postulated to play a significant role in four serious neurological human diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC) found on Guam, and ALS, Parkinsonism, and dementia that occur globally. ALS/PDC with symptoms of all three diseases first came to the attention of the scientific community during and after World War II. It was initially associated with cycad flour used for food because BMAA is a product of symbiotic cycad root-dwelling cyanobacteria. Human consumption of flying foxes that fed on cycad seeds was later suggested as a source of BMAA on Guam and a cause of ALS/PDC. Subsequently, the hypothesis was expanded to include a causative role for BMAA in other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) through exposures attributed to proximity to freshwaters and/or consumption of seafood due to its purported production by most species of cyanobacteria. The hypothesis that BMAA is the critical factor in the genesis of these neurodegenerative diseases received considerable attention in the medical, scientific, and public arenas. This review examines the history of ALS/PDC and the BMAA-human disease hypotheses; similarities and differences between ALS/PDC and the other diseases with similar symptomologies; the relationship of ALS/PDC to other similar diseases, studies of BMAA-mediated effects in lab animals, inconsistencies and data gaps in the hypothesis; and other compounds and agents that were suggested as the cause of ALS/PDC on Guam. The review concludes that the hypothesis of a causal BMAA neurodegenerative disease relationship is not supported by existing data.}, } @article {pmid28598263, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, Y and Li, F and Tian, L and Huang, M and Deng, R and Li, X and Chen, W and Wu, P and Li, M and Jiang, H and Wu, G}, title = {The Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase Gene LjPAL1 Is Involved in Plant Defense Responses to Pathogens and Plays Diverse Roles in Lotus japonicus-Rhizobium Symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {739-753}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-17-0080-R}, pmid = {28598263}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Acetates/pharmacology ; Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; *Genes, Plant ; Lignin/metabolism ; Lotus/enzymology/*genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Oxylipins/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is important in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites that regulate growth responses. Although its function is well-established in various plants, the functional significance of PAL genes in nodulation is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the Lotus japonicus PAL (LjPAL1) gene is induced by Mesorhizobium loti infection and methyl-jasmonate (Me-JA) treatment in roots. LjPAL1 altered PAL activity, leading to changes in lignin contents and thicknesses of cell walls in roots and nodules of transgenic plants and, hence, to structural changes in roots and nodules. LjPAL1-knockdown plants (LjPAL1i) exhibited increased infection thread and nodule numbers and the induced upregulation of nodulin gene expression after M. loti infection. Conversely, LjPAL1 overexpression delayed the infection process and reduced infection thread and nodule numbers after M. loti inoculation. LjPAL1i plants also exhibited reduced endogenous salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and expression of the SA-dependent marker gene. Their infection phenotype could be partially restored by exogenous SA or Me-JA application. Our data demonstrate that LjPAL1 plays diverse roles in L. japonicus-rhizobium symbiosis, affecting rhizobial infection progress and nodule structure, likely by inducing lignin modification, regulating endogenous SA biosynthesis, and modulating SA signaling.}, } @article {pmid28598215, year = {2018}, author = {James, A and Singh, DK and Khankhane, PJ}, title = {Enhanced atrazine removal by hydrophyte-bacterium associations and in vitro screening of the isolates for their plant growth-promoting potential.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {89-97}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2017.1337068}, pmid = {28598215}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {*Atrazine/metabolism ; Bacteria ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Hydroponics ; *Plant Development ; Poaceae ; Pseudomonas ; Siderophores ; Symbiosis ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Emergent hydrophytes Acorus calamus, Typha latifolia, and Phragmites karka and epiphytic root bacteria isolated from their rhizoplanes were exposed to atrazine (5 and 10 mg l[-1]) individually and in plant-bacterium combination for 15 days hydroponically. It was observed that A. calamus-Pseudomonas sp. strain, the ACB combination, was best in decontamination, showing 91% and 87% removal of 5 and 10 mg l[-1] atrazine. Plant-bacterium association led to significant increase in atrazine decontamination as compared to decontamination by either plant or bacterium alone, indicating a synergistic action of the hydrophytes and isolates which led to enhanced atrazine removal. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the potential of plant-bacterium combinations for atrazine decontamination. The isolates showed augmented growth in the presence of plants and were able to alleviate atrazine stress in them. These isolates exhibited plant growth-promoting traits such as auxin, siderophore, Poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid)/succinogycan, ammonia, catalase production and solubilization of inorganic phosphate in vitro. The use of plant-bacterium mutualistic symbiosis for atrazine mitigation is a relatively simple, inexpensive, and clean technique and this phytoremediation-rhizoremediation combination is suggested to be tried on field to establish their potential for clean-up of contaminated sites.}, } @article {pmid28597429, year = {2016}, author = {Li, YY and Chen, XM and Guo, SX and Lee, YI}, title = {Embryology of two mycoheterotrophic orchid species, Gastrodia elata and Gastrodia nantoensis: ovule and embryo development.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {18}, pmid = {28597429}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata, a famous herbal medicine, has been received great attention on its treatments of headache, vertigo and epilepsy. Gastrodia nantoensis is a newly described species from central Taiwan with potential medicinal value. Gastrodia species are fully mycoheterotrophic orchids, and the courses of their seed development are more rapid as compared to the chlorophyllous orchids. A better understanding of their reproductive biology would provide insights into the propagation and conservation of the mycoheterotrophic orchid species.

RESULTS: Based on the histological and histochemical investigations, we observed some notable features in ovule and embryo development. First, only the archesporial cell and/or megasporocyte are present within their ovaries at the time of anthesis. Second, their suspensors consist of a single cell and their mature embryos consist of a gradient of small to large cells. Nile red staining of a globular embryo reveals the presence of cuticular material in the surface wall of embryo proper and the lateral walls of suspensor cell, indicating that the basal wall of suspensor cell is the major route for nutrient supply from maternal tissues to embryo proper. Third, their seed coats are derived from a single integument, and lignin but not cuticular material is present in the outer most layer of seed coat and persists through seed maturation.

CONCLUSIONS: The faster seed development of Gastrodia species is due to the speedy courses of ovule and embryo development. In the mature seeds, the presence of a differentiated apical zone in embryo proper suggests the easy-to-germinate character. This study provides basic knowledge for further molecular studies on embryo development and symbiotic germination of Gastrodia species.}, } @article {pmid28596311, year = {2017}, author = {Luginbuehl, LH and Menard, GN and Kurup, S and Van Erp, H and Radhakrishnan, GV and Breakspear, A and Oldroyd, GED and Eastmond, PJ}, title = {Fatty acids in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are synthesized by the host plant.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {356}, number = {6343}, pages = {1175-1178}, doi = {10.1126/science.aan0081}, pmid = {28596311}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {BBS/E/J/000CA336/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fatty Acids/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants form beneficial associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which facilitate nutrient acquisition from the soil. In return, the fungi receive organic carbon from the plants. The transcription factor RAM1 (REQUIRED FOR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZATION 1) is crucial for this symbiosis, and we demonstrate that it is required and sufficient for the induction of a lipid biosynthetic pathway that is expressed in plant cells accommodating fungal arbuscules. Lipids are transferred from the plant to mycorrhizal fungi, which are fatty acid auxotrophs, and this lipid export requires the glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase RAM2, a direct target of RAM1. Our work shows that in addition to sugars, lipids are a major source of organic carbon delivered to the fungus, and this is necessary for the production of fungal lipids.}, } @article {pmid28596296, year = {2017}, author = {Camacho, M and Oliva, M and Serbus, LR}, title = {Dietary saccharides and sweet tastants have differential effects on colonization of Drosophila oocytes by Wolbachia endosymbionts.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1074-1083}, pmid = {28596296}, issn = {2046-6390}, support = {R25 GM061347/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia bacteria are widespread, maternally transmitted endosymbionts of insects. Maintenance of sufficient Wolbachia titer in maternal germline cells is required for transmission efficacy. The mechanisms that regulate Wolbachia titer are not well understood; however, dietary sucrose was reported to elevate oocyte Wolbachia titer in Drosophila melanogaster whereas dietary yeast decreased oocyte titer. To further investigate how oocyte Wolbachia titer is controlled, this study analyzed the response of wMel Wolbachia to diets enriched in an array of natural sugars and other sweet tastants. Confocal imaging of D. melanogaster oocytes showed that food enriched in dietary galactose, lactose, maltose and trehalose elevated Wolbachia titer. However, oocyte Wolbachia titers were unaffected by exposure to the sweet tastants lactulose, erythritol, xylitol, aspartame and saccharin as compared to the control. Oocyte size was generally non-responsive to the nutrient-altered diets. Ovary size, however, was consistently smaller in response to all sugar- and sweetener-enriched diets. Furthermore, most dietary sugars administered in tandem with dietary yeast conferred complete rescue of oocyte titer suppression by yeast. All diets dually enriched in yeast and sugar also rescued yeast-associated ovary volume changes. This indicates oocyte colonization by Wolbachia to be a nutritionally sensitive process regulated by multiple mechanistic inputs.}, } @article {pmid28593350, year = {2017}, author = {Kato, K and Odamaki, T and Mitsuyama, E and Sugahara, H and Xiao, JZ and Osawa, R}, title = {Age-Related Changes in the Composition of Gut Bifidobacterium Species.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {8}, pages = {987-995}, pmid = {28593350}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Aging ; Bifidobacterium/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Japan ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Bifidobacteria are one of the major components in human microbiota that are suggested to function in maintaining human health. The colonization and cell number of Bifidobacterium species in human intestine vary with ageing. However, sequential changes of Bifidobacterium species ranging from newborns to centenarians remain unresolved. Here, we investigated the gut compositional changes of Bifidobacterium species over a wide range of ages. Faecal samples of 441 healthy Japanese subjects between the ages of 0 and 104 years were analysed using real-time PCR with species-specific primers. B. longum group was widely detected from newborns to centenarians, with the highest detection rate. B. breve was detected in approximately 70% of children under 3 years old. B. adolescentis and B. catenulatum groups were predominant after weaning. B. bifidum was detected at almost all ages. The detection rate of B. dentium was higher in the elderly than in other ages. B. animalis ssp. lactis was detected in 11.4% of the subjects and their ages were restricted. B. gallinarum goup was detected in only nine subjects, while B. minimum and B. mongoliense were undetected at any age. The presence of certain Bifidobacterium groups was associated with significantly higher numbers of other Bifidobacterium species/subspecies. Inter-species correlations were found among each species, exception for B. animalis ssp. lactis. These results revealed the patterns and transition points with respect to compositional changes of Bifidobacterium species that occur with ageing, and the findings indicate that there may be symbiotic associations between some of these species in the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid28591835, year = {2017}, author = {Miura, T and Moriya, H and Iwai, S}, title = {Assessing phagotrophy in the mixotrophic ciliate Paramecium bursaria using GFP-expressing yeast cells.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {364}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnx117}, pmid = {28591835}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Chlorella vulgaris/physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/*genetics ; Paramecium/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Phagocytosis ; Photosynthesis ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Vacuoles ; }, abstract = {We used cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) as fluorescently labelled prey to assess the phagocytic activities of the mixotrophic ciliate Paramecium bursaria, which harbours symbiotic Chlorella-like algae. Because of different fluorescence spectra of GFP and algal chlorophyll, ingested GFP-expressing yeast cells can be distinguished from endosymbiotic algal cells and directly counted in individual P. bursaria cells using fluorescence microscopy. By using GFP-expressing yeast cells, we found that P. bursaria altered ingestion activities under different physiological conditions, such as different growth phases or the presence/absence of endosymbionts. Use of GFP-expressing yeast cells allowed us to estimate the digestion rates of live prey of the ciliate. In contrast to the ingestion activities, the digestion rate within food vacuoles was not affected by the presence of endosymbionts, consistent with previous findings that food and perialgal vacuoles are spatially and functionally separated in P. bursaria. Thus, GFP-expressing yeast may provide a valuable tool to assess both ingestion and digestion activities of ciliates that feed on eukaryotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid28589838, year = {2017}, author = {Tanahashi, M and Meng, XY and Fukatsu, T}, title = {A Novel Symbiotic Ciliate (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) in the Hindgut of a Stag Beetle (Coleoptera: Lucanidae).}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {217-222}, doi = {10.2108/zs170012}, pmid = {28589838}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Ciliophora/*physiology ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Male ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bell-shaped ciliates of the subclass Peritrichia, such as Vorticella, Carchesium and Epistylis, are commonly found in freshwater and other aquatic environments, either solitary or colonial. Peritrichs attach to a substratum via a contractile or non-motile stalk, and collect food particles by water current using ciliary rows around the edge of the bell, called the peristome. Some peritrichs are epibiotic and ectocommensalistic associates of aquatic insects and other animals, settling on the surface of their specific hosts. Only a few peritrichs are known to establish a more internal association with their hosts, locating within the preoral cavity or esophagus of water beetles and presumably subsisting on food materials chewed and ingested by the insects. To date, no endoparasitic or endocommensalistic peritrichs have been reported from insects. Host insects reported to date have all been aquatic, and given the aquatic lifestyle of peritrichs, terrestrial hosts have been considered unlikely. In the present study, we report a dense population of bizarre microbes within the gut of a terrestrial insect, and histological, ultrastructural and molecular phylogenetic analyses identified it as a peritrich ciliate. The highly-developed hindgut of the stag beetle Aegus currani contained oval colonial peritrichs connected by branched stalks resembling grape clusters. Each zooid exhibited a reduced peristome without disc, a vestibulum with active ciliary movement inside, and an elongated macronucleus. These features are morphologically reminiscent of but distinct in some respects from those in Operculariella parasitica, known from the esophagus of dysticid diving beetles. Taxonomic, ecological and functional aspects of this gut-dwelling peritrich warrant future study.}, } @article {pmid28589307, year = {2017}, author = {Kayser, C}, title = {Cultivating Community-Responsive Future Healthcare Professionals: Using Service-Learning in Pre-Health Humanities Education.}, journal = {The Journal of medical humanities}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {385-395}, pmid = {28589307}, issn = {1573-3645}, mesh = {*Community Health Services ; *Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods ; Humanities/*education ; Humans ; *Problem-Based Learning ; }, abstract = {This essay argues that service-learning pedagogy is an important tool in pre-health humanities education that provides benefits to the community and produces more compassionate, culturally competent, and community-responsive future healthcare professionals. Further, beginning this approach at the baccalaureate level instills democratic and collaborative values at an earlier, crucial time in the career socialization process. The discussion focuses on learning outcomes and reciprocity between the university and community in a Medical Humanities course for junior and senior premedical students, an elective in the premedical curriculum. The course includes an experiential learning element in which students shadow physicians and a service-learning component in which students complete medically-relevant service work, working with partners such as the veteran's hospital, a hospice home, and organizations that serve individuals with disabilities. We cover topics such as narrative medicine, ethics, cross-cultural medicine, patient/practitioner relationships, the human life cycle, and the illness experience, and the writing, discussion, and reflection we engage in is enriched by the real-world experiences from which the students are able to draw. The shadowing and service experiences and the classroom texts and topics combine to form a symbiosis that leads to especially meaningful teaching and learning outcomes.}, } @article {pmid28589103, year = {2017}, author = {Ebrahimi, ZS and Nasli-Esfahani, E and Nadjarzade, A and Mozaffari-Khosravi, H}, title = {Effect of symbiotic supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles and microalbuminuria in patients with non-obese type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial.}, journal = {Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {23}, pmid = {28589103}, issn = {2251-6581}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The prevalent raise of type 2 diabetes (T2D) around the globe, are creating higher risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and increasing strain on each country's health care budget in the world. Microalbuminuria has appeared as a key parameter in diabetic patients. Microalbuminuria is also related to increased cardiovascular morbidity in people who are non-obese diabetic. Some studies have suggested that consumption of symbiotic foods might help improve the metabolic profile, inflammatory factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress. The aim of trial was to determine the effect of symbiotic supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles and microalbuminuria in non-obese T2D.

METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, clinically controlled trial, 70 patients with T2D (28 females, 42 males) were randomly divided into two groups (n = 35 for each group). The symbiotic group (SG) consumed 500 mg/d of symbiotic supplementations containing probiotics (Lactobacillus family, Bifidobacterium family, Streptococus thermophilus), Prebiotics (Fructo oligosaccharide) and B group vitamins (1 mg), lactose (0.5 mg), malt-dextrin, magnesium saturate and the placebo group (PG) consumed capsules filled with row starch and also B group vitamins (1 mg), lactose (0.5 mg), malt-dextrin, magnesium saturate for 9 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood lipid profiles, 24-h dietary recalls, and anthropometric measurements were measured at the baseline and at the end of trial. SPSS software, version 16 was used to test the data and the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Paired samples T-Test were used to compare continuous variables within groups. Comparison between different groups was performed through two independent samples T-Test. In the absence of normal distribution, the comparison between the groups was made using non-parametric Wilcoxon on signed ranks and Mann-Whitney tests. P values <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: Symbiotic supplementation decreased significantly, FBG (P = 0.05) and HbA1c (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in lipid profiles within and between the groups at the end of study (P > 0.05). Microalbuminuria (P < 0.05) and HbA1c (P < 0.05) are increased significantly in PG at the end of the study. Furthermore, the mean changes of microalbuminuria and HbA1c experienced significant between the two groups. There was significant reduction in urea between two groups from baseline (P = 0.051). No significant changes in baseline were shown in creatinine among the two groups or within either groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The consumption of 500 mg/d symbiotic supplementation for 9 weeks could improve the HbA1c, BMI and Microalbuminuria in T2D. Although, No effect has been indicated on FBS, lipid profiles, urea and creatinine.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT2015072223284N1, identifier. Registered 21 May 2016 "retrospectively registered".}, } @article {pmid28587661, year = {2017}, author = {Morrow, JL and Hall, AAG and Riegler, M}, title = {Symbionts in waiting: the dynamics of incipient endosymbiont complementation and replacement in minimal bacterial communities of psyllids.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {58}, pmid = {28587661}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Hemiptera/classification/*growth & development/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Obligate bacterial primary (P-) endosymbionts that are maternally inherited and codiverge with hosts are widespread across insect lineages with nutritionally restricted diets. Secondary (S-) endosymbionts are mostly facultative, but in some hosts, they complement P-endosymbiont function and therefore become obligate. Phylogenetic evidence exists for host switching and replacement of S-endosymbionts. The community dynamics that precede endosymbiont replacement and complementation have been little studied across host species, yet they are fundamental to the evolution of endosymbiosis.

RESULTS: We performed bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of 25 psyllid species (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) across different developmental stages and ecological niches by focusing on the characterisation of the bacteria other than the universally present P-endosymbiont Carsonella (Gammaproteobacteria). Most species harboured only one dominant representative of diverse gammaproteobacterial S-endosymbionts that was consistently detected across all host individuals and populations (Arsenophonus in eight species, Sodalis or Sodalis-like bacteria in four species, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae in eight species). The identity of this dominant obligate S-endosymbiont varied across closely related host species. Unexpectedly, five psyllid species had two or three co-occurring endosymbiont species other than Carsonella within all host individuals, including a Rickettsiella-like bacterium (Gammaproteobacteria) in one psyllid species. Based on standard and quantitative PCR, all psyllids carried Carsonella, at higher titres than their dominant S-endosymbionts. Some psyllids also had Alphaproteobacteria (Lariskella, Rickettsia, Wolbachia) at varying prevalence. Incidence of other bacteria, including known plant pathogens, was low. Ecological niche of gall-forming, lerp-forming and free-living psyllid species did not impact endosymbiont communities. Two flush-feeding psyllid species had population-specific differences, and this was attributable to the higher endosymbiont diversity in native ranges and the absence of some endosymbionts in invasive ranges.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the hypothesis of strict vertical transmission of minimal core communities of bacteria in psyllids. We also found evidence for S-endosymbiont replacement across closely related psyllid species. Multiple dominant S-endosymbionts present in some host species, including at low titre, constitute potential examples of incipient endosymbiont complementation or replacement. Our multiple comparisons of deep-sequenced minimal insect bacterial communities exposed the dynamics involved in shaping insect endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28587290, year = {2017}, author = {Miller, IJ and Chevrette, MG and Kwan, JC}, title = {Interpreting Microbial Biosynthesis in the Genomic Age: Biological and Practical Considerations.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28587290}, issn = {1660-3397}, support = {R21 AI121704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biological Products/metabolism ; Computational Biology/methods ; Drug Discovery/methods ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Metagenomics/methods ; Micromonosporaceae/*genetics ; Multigene Family/genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome mining has become an increasingly powerful, scalable, and economically accessible tool for the study of natural product biosynthesis and drug discovery. However, there remain important biological and practical problems that can complicate or obscure biosynthetic analysis in genomic and metagenomic sequencing projects. Here, we focus on limitations of available technology as well as computational and experimental strategies to overcome them. We review the unique challenges and approaches in the study of symbiotic and uncultured systems, as well as those associated with biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) assembly and product prediction. Finally, to explore sequencing parameters that affect the recovery and contiguity of large and repetitive BGCs assembled de novo, we simulate Illumina and PacBio sequencing of the Salinispora tropica genome focusing on assembly of the salinilactam (slm) BGC.}, } @article {pmid28586690, year = {2017}, author = {Putnam, HM and Barott, KL and Ainsworth, TD and Gates, RD}, title = {The Vulnerability and Resilience of Reef-Building Corals.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {R528-R540}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.047}, pmid = {28586690}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology/*physiology ; Archaea/physiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; *Coral Reefs ; Environmental Pollution/adverse effects ; *Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals provide the foundation for the structural and biological diversity of coral-reef ecosystems. These massive biological structures, which can be seen from space, are the culmination of complex interactions between the tiny polyps of the coral animal in concert with its unicellular symbiotic algae and a wide diversity of closely associated microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses). While reef-building corals have persisted in various forms for over 200 million years, human-induced conditions threaten their function and persistence. The scope for loss associated with the destruction of coral reef systems is economically, biologically, physically and culturally immense. Here, we provide a micro-to-macro perspective on the biology of scleractinian corals and discuss how cellular processes of the host and symbionts potentially affect the response of these reef builders to the wide variety of both natural and anthropogenic stressors encountered by corals in the Anthropocene. We argue that the internal physicochemical settings matter to both the performance of the host and microbiome, as bio-physical feedbacks may enhance stress tolerance through environmentally mediated host priming and effects on microbiome ecological and evolutionary dynamics.}, } @article {pmid28586679, year = {2017}, author = {Danovaro, R and Corinaldesi, C and Dell'Anno, A and Snelgrove, PVR}, title = {The deep-sea under global change.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {R461-R465}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.046}, pmid = {28586679}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Fishes/*physiology ; Geological Phenomena ; *Oceans and Seas ; Population Dynamics ; Time Factors ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The deep ocean encompasses 95% of the oceans' volume and is the largest and least explored biome of Earth's Biosphere. New life forms are continuously being discovered. The physiological mechanisms allowing organisms to adapt to extreme conditions of the deep ocean (high pressures, from very low to very high temperatures, food shortage, lack of solar light) are still largely unknown. Some deep-sea species have very long life-spans, whereas others can tolerate toxic compounds at high concentrations; these characteristics offer an opportunity to explore the specialized biochemical and physiological mechanisms associated with these responses. Widespread symbiotic relationships play fundamental roles in driving host functions, nutrition, health, and evolution. Deep-sea organisms communicate and interact through sound emissions, chemical signals and bioluminescence. Several giants of the oceans hunt exclusively at depth, and new studies reveal a tight connection between processes in the shallow water and some deep-sea species. Limited biological knowledge of the deep-sea limits our capacity to predict future response of deep-sea organisms subject to increasing human pressure and changing global environmental conditions. Molecular tools, sensor-tagged animals, in situ and laboratory experiments, and new technologies can enable unprecedented advancement of deep-sea biology, and facilitate the sustainable management of deep ocean use under global change.}, } @article {pmid28586667, year = {2017}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Parniske, M}, title = {Cell Biology: Control of Partner Lifetime in a Plant-Fungus Relationship.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {R420-R423}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.020}, pmid = {28586667}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Cell Biology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscules are tree-shaped fungal structures inside plant root cells that facilitate the exchange of nutrients delivered by the fungus with carbon sources from the host. To maintain symbiotic efficiency, plant cells can trigger degeneration of underperforming arbuscules. A recent study reveals the first transcription factor, which induces genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes, to mediate arbuscule degeneration.}, } @article {pmid28585771, year = {2017}, author = {Shan, HW and Deng, WH and Luan, JB and Zhang, MJ and Zhang, Z and Liu, SS and Liu, YQ}, title = {Thermal sensitivity of bacteriocytes constrains the persistence of intracellular bacteria in whitefly symbiosis under heat stress.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {706-716}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12554}, pmid = {28585771}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Hemiptera/cytology/*microbiology/physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Intracellular Space/*microbiology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nymph/microbiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Temperature affects the persistence of diverse symbionts of insects. Our previous study indicates that the whitefly symbionts confined within bacteriocytes or scattered throughout the body cavity outside bacteriocytes may have differential thermal sensitivity. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report that following continuous heat stress, Portiera and Hamiltonella were almost completely depleted in two species of Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly cryptic species complex. Meanwhile, proliferation of bacteriocytes was severely inhibited and approximately 50% of the nymphs had lost one of the two bacteriomes. While cell size of bacteriocytes was increased, cell number was severely decreased leading to reduction of total volume of bacteriocytes. Moreover, bacteriocyte organelles and associated symbionts were lysed, and huge amount of electron-dense inclusions accumulated. Eventually, Portiera and Hamiltonella failed to be transmitted to the next generation. In contrast, Rickettsia could be detected although at a reduced level, and successfully transmitted to eggs. The results suggest that the thermal sensitivity of bacteriocytes may limit thermal tolerance and vertical transmission of the associated symbionts, and consequently different patterns of distribution of symbionts may affect their capacity to tolerate unfavourable temperatures and persistence in the host.}, } @article {pmid28585202, year = {2017}, author = {Engin, ED}, title = {Microbiota and Lipotoxicity.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {960}, number = {}, pages = {247-260}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-48382-5_10}, pmid = {28585202}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Immune System/metabolism/physiology ; Inflammation/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Insulin Resistance/physiology ; Lipid Metabolism/*physiology ; Lipids/*physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Obesity/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Obesity and metabolic syndrome is a multisystemic disorder, that is characterized by excess caloric intake and spillover lipotoxicity caused by ectopic lipid accumulation in non-adipose tissues. Low grade chronic inflammation and insulin resistance are the hallmarks of the disorder, which further aggravate the condition. Gut microbiota constitutes an indispensible part of human superorganism's energy harvesting apparatus. The dynamic composition of microbiota changes with age, life style and host metabolic background. The wealth of genetic repertoire provided by these microorganism enables to extend host's substrate processing and harvesting capability. Some of these compounds including short chain fatty acids and indole act as signalling molecules on mammalian cells and modulate their behaviour. Nonetheless, this symbiotic style of interaction is restrained by immune system. The role of chronic low grade inflammation in metabolic syndrome is well established. Treg cells are the key players that sense and reshape the composition of microbiota. In this regard, any disturbance in Treg functionality may aggravate the inflammation and shift the symbiotic balance towards dysbiosis, which is characterized by autoimmunity and insulin resistance. Thus, immune system is responsible for the modulation of host and microbiota metabolisms and Treg cells act as a bridge in between.}, } @article {pmid28581017, year = {2017}, author = {Labella, AM and Arahal, DR and Castro, D and Lemos, ML and Borrego, JJ}, title = {Revisiting the genus Photobacterium: taxonomy, ecology and pathogenesis.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.2436/20.1501.01.280}, pmid = {28581017}, issn = {1139-6709}, mesh = {Animals ; Fish Diseases ; Fishes ; Photobacterium/*classification/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Photobacterium, one of the eight genera included in the family Vibrionaceae, contains 27 species with valid names and it has received attention because of the bioluminescence and pathogenesis mechanisms that some of its species exhibit. However, the taxonomy and phylogeny of this genus are not completely elucidated; for example, P. logei and P. fischeri are now considered members of the genus Aliivibrio, and previously were included in the genus Vibrio. In addition, P. damselae subsp. piscicida was formed as a new combination for former Vibrio damsela and Pasteurella piscicida. Moreover, P. damselae subsp. damselae is an earlier heterotypic synonym of P. histaminum. To avoid these incovenences draft and complete genomic sequences of members of Photobacterium are increasingly becoming available and their use is now routine for many research laboratories to address diverse goals: species delineation with overall genomic indexes, phylogenetic analyses, comparative genomics, and phenotypic inference. The habitats and isolation source of the Photobacterium species include seawater, sea sediments, saline lake waters, and a variety of marine organisms with which the photobacteria establish different relationships, from symbiosis to pathogenic interactions. Several species of this genus contain bioluminescent strains in symbiosis with marine fish and cephalopods; in addition, other species enhance its growth at pressures above 1 atmosphere, by means of several high-pressure adaptation mechanisms and for this, they may be considered as piezophilic (former barophilic) bacteria. Until now, only P. jeanii, P. rosenbergii, P. sanctipauli, and the two subspecies of P. damselae have been reported as responsible agents of several pathologies on animal hosts, such as corals, sponges, fish and homeothermic animals. In this review we have revised and updated the taxonomy, ecology and pathogenicity of several members of this genus. [Int Microbiol 20(1): 1-10 (2017)].}, } @article {pmid28580848, year = {2017}, author = {Ganjian, E and Peyravi, M and Asqar Qoreyshi, A and Jahanshahi, M and Shokuhi Rad, A}, title = {Adsorption photobioreactor as a co-treatment system for ammonium and phosphate removal by the response surface method.}, journal = {Waste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {766-775}, doi = {10.1177/0734242X17708051}, pmid = {28580848}, issn = {1096-3669}, mesh = {Adsorption ; *Ammonium Compounds ; Chlorella vulgaris ; *Phosphates ; *Photobioreactors ; }, abstract = {The co-treatment system of photosynthetic microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and adsorption was investigated as a possible combination of symbiotic mixed culture for the simultaneous removal of nutrients (ammonium and phosphate) and organic contaminants. In this study, response surface methodology for experimental design and optimization was used. For experiment operation, two factorial designs containing five chemical oxygen demand influent (CODin) concentrations (100, 200, 400, 600 and 700 mg l[-1]) and hydraulic retention times (0.63, 1, 1.75, 2.5 and 2.88 d) were applied. The co-treatment system performed successfully in removing both nutrients (nitrogen and phosphate) and COD, showing around 88%, 75% and 48% removal for the maximum level, respectively. The adsorption-photobioreactor (APBR) displayed superior performance of the microalgae growth rate compared to the photobioreactor. Also, the adsorption capacity (the uptake of COD) has been analysed with the first-order equation. The results showed that the experimental data of the APBR fit well with the model.}, } @article {pmid28579801, year = {2017}, author = {Hill, LJ and Williams, AC}, title = {Meat Intake and the Dose of Vitamin B3 - Nicotinamide: Cause of the Causes of Disease Transitions, Health Divides, and Health Futures?.}, journal = {International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {1178646917704662}, pmid = {28579801}, issn = {1178-6469}, abstract = {Meat and vitamin B3 - nicotinamide - intake was high during hunter-gatherer times. Intake then fell and variances increased during and after the Neolithic agricultural revolution. Health, height, and IQ deteriorated. Low dietary doses are buffered by 'welcoming' gut symbionts and tuberculosis that can supply nicotinamide, but this co-evolved homeostatic metagenomic strategy risks dysbioses and impaired resistance to pathogens. Vitamin B3 deficiency may now be common among the poor billions on a low-meat diet. Disease transitions to non-communicable inflammatory disorders (but longer lives) may be driven by positive 'meat transitions'. High doses of nicotinamide lead to reduced regulatory T cells and immune intolerance. Loss of no longer needed symbiotic 'old friends' compounds immunological over-reactivity to cause allergic and auto-immune diseases. Inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide consumers and loss of methyl groups or production of toxins may cause cancers, metabolic toxicity, or neurodegeneration. An optimal dosage of vitamin B3 could lead to better health, but such a preventive approach needs more equitable meat distribution. Some people may require personalised doses depending on genetic make-up or, temporarily, when under stress.}, } @article {pmid28578659, year = {2017}, author = {Hujber, Z and Petővári, G and Szoboszlai, N and Dankó, T and Nagy, N and Kriston, C and Krencz, I and Paku, S and Ozohanics, O and Drahos, L and Jeney, A and Sebestyén, A}, title = {Rapamycin (mTORC1 inhibitor) reduces the production of lactate and 2-hydroxyglutarate oncometabolites in IDH1 mutant fibrosarcoma cells.}, journal = {Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {74}, pmid = {28578659}, issn = {1756-9966}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Fibrosarcoma/drug therapy/genetics/metabolism/*pathology ; Glutarates/*metabolism ; Humans ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase/*genetics ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/antagonists & inhibitors ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; *Mutation ; Phenotype ; Sirolimus/*pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Multiple studies concluded that oncometabolites (e.g. D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) related to mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) and lactate) have tumour promoting potential. Regulatory mechanisms implicated in the maintenance of oncometabolite production have great interest. mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) orchestrates different pathways, influences cellular growth and metabolism. Considering hyperactivation of mTOR in several malignancies, the question has been addressed whether mTOR operates through controlling of oncometabolite accumulation in metabolic reprogramming.

METHODS: HT-1080 cells - carrying originally endogenous IDH1 mutation - were used in vitro and in vivo. Anti-tumour effects of rapamycin were studied using different assays. The main sources and productions of the oncometabolites (2-HG and lactate) were analysed by [13]C-labeled substrates. Alterations at protein and metabolite levels were followed by Western blot, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry using rapamycin, PP242 and different glutaminase inhibitors, as well.

RESULTS: Rapamycin (mTORC1 inhibitor) inhibited proliferation, migration and altered the metabolic activity of IDH1 mutant HT-1080 cells. Rapamycin reduced the level of 2-HG sourced mainly from glutamine and glucose derived lactate which correlated to the decreased incorporation of [13]C atoms from [13]C-substrates. Additionally, decreased expressions of lactate dehydrogenase A and glutaminase were also observed both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS: Considering the role of lactate and 2-HG in regulatory network and in metabolic symbiosis it could be assumed that mTOR inhibitors have additional effects besides their anti-proliferative effects in tumours with glycolytic phenotype, especially in case of IDH1 mutation (e.g. acute myeloid leukemias, gliomas, chondrosarcomas). Based on our new results, we suggest targeting mTOR activity depending on the metabolic and besides molecular genetic phenotype of tumours to increase the success of therapies.}, } @article {pmid28576377, year = {2017}, author = {Fiorda, FA and de Melo Pereira, GV and Thomaz-Soccol, V and Rakshit, SK and Pagnoncelli, MGB and Vandenberghe, LPS and Soccol, CR}, title = {Microbiological, biochemical, and functional aspects of sugary kefir fermentation - A review.}, journal = {Food microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {86-95}, doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2017.04.004}, pmid = {28576377}, issn = {1095-9998}, mesh = {Animals ; Fermentation ; Food Handling ; Functional Food/*analysis ; Humans ; Kefir/*analysis/*microbiology ; Lactobacillales/metabolism ; Saccharomycetales/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sugary kefir beverage is produce by fermenting raw sugar solution with kefir grains, the latter consisting of polysaccharide and microorganisms. This beverage, with great consumption in countries such as USA, Japan, France, and Brazil, represents a promising market to functional cultured drinks. This paper reviews the microbial diversity and interaction, kinetics, safety, and bioactivities of sugary kefir fermentation. The literature reviewed here demonstrates that sugary kefir possesses a similar microbial association relative to traditional milk kefir fermentation, especially among lactic acid bacteria and yeast species, such as Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, and Saccharomyces. However, a selective pressure at species level is generally observed, as, for example, the stimulation of Saccharomyces species metabolism, leading to a high content of alcohol in the final product. This also seems to stimulate the growth of acetic acid bacteria that benefit of increased ethanol production to acetic acid metabolism. Existing reports have suggested important bioactivities associated with sugary kefir beverage consumption, such as antimicrobial, antiedematogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cicatrizing, and healing activities. Other alternative non-dairy substrates, such as fruits, vegetables, and molasses, have also been tested for adaptation of kefir grains and production of functional beverages with distinct sensory characteristics. This diversification is of crucial importance for the production of new probiotic products to provide people with special needs (lactose intolerance) and vegan consumers.}, } @article {pmid28574889, year = {2017}, author = {Benton, DC}, title = {A Spiral of Transitions Leading to Broader Influence and Action.}, journal = {Nursing administration quarterly}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {218-222}, doi = {10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000236}, pmid = {28574889}, issn = {1550-5103}, mesh = {*Career Mobility ; Leadership ; *Mentors ; *Nurse Administrators ; *Nurse's Role ; }, abstract = {This article describes lessons learned through a reflective analysis of job transitions experienced by a registered nurse from the time of entry into the profession until the current point where the nurse is engaged in state, national, and international policy development work. The centrality and symbiotic nature of the link between policy and practice and the importance of evidence and leadership have emerged as key aspects of the expanding spiral of influence traversed as a result of various career moves. At every stage, lessons have been learned. Some of these are professional in nature, but on occasion, the lessons have been more personal. The importance of mentors cannot be underestimated in terms of the support and guidance they offer but also the challenges they bring to existing patterns of thought and behavior.}, } @article {pmid28573458, year = {2017}, author = {Pepe, A and Sbrana, C and Ferrol, N and Giovannetti, M}, title = {An in vivo whole-plant experimental system for the analysis of gene expression in extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {659-668}, pmid = {28573458}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Chicory/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish beneficial mutualistic symbioses with land plants, receiving carbon in exchange for mineral nutrients absorbed by the extraradical mycelium (ERM). With the aim of obtaining in vivo produced ERM for gene expression analyses, a whole-plant bi-dimensional experimental system was devised and tested with three host plants and three fungal symbionts. In such a system, Funneliformis mosseae in symbiosis with Cichorium intybus var. foliosum, Lactuca sativa, and Medicago sativa produced ERM whose lengths ranged from 9.8 ± 0.8 to 20.8 ± 1.2 m per plant. Since ERM produced in symbiosis with C. intybus showed the highest values for the different structural parameters assessed, this host was used to test the whole-plant system with F. mosseae, Rhizoglomus irregulare, and Funneliformis coronatus. The whole-plant system yielded 1-7 mg of ERM fresh biomass per plant per harvest, and continued producing new ERM for 6 months. Variable amounts of high-quality and intact total RNA, ranging from 15 to 65 μg RNA/mg ERM fresh weight, were extracted from the ERM of the three AMF isolates. Ammonium transporter gene expression was successfully determined in the cDNAs obtained from ERM of the three fungal symbionts by RT-qPCR using gene-specific primers designed on available (R. irregulare) and new (F. mosseae and F. coronatus) ammonium transporter gene sequences. The whole-plant experimental system represents a useful research tool for large production and easy collection of ERM for morphological, physiological, and biochemical analyses, suitable for a wide variety of AMF species, for a virtually limitless range of host plants and for studies involving diverse symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid28573035, year = {2017}, author = {Mies, M and Voolstra, CR and Castro, CB and Pires, DO and Calderon, EN and Sumida, PYG}, title = {Expression of a symbiosis-specific gene in Symbiodinium type A1 associated with coral, nudibranch and giant clam larvae.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {170253}, pmid = {28573035}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Symbiodinium are responsible for the majority of primary production in coral reefs and found in a mutualistic symbiosis with multiple animal phyla. However, little is known about the molecular signals involved in the establishment of this symbiosis and whether it initiates during host larval development. To address this question, we monitored the expression of a putative symbiosis-specific gene (H[+]-ATPase) in Symbiodinium A1 ex hospite and in association with larvae of a scleractinian coral (Mussismilia hispida), a nudibranch (Berghia stephanieae) and a giant clam (Tridacna crocea). We acquired broodstock for each host, induced spawning and cultured the larvae. Symbiodinium cells were offered and larval samples taken for each host during the first 72 h after symbiont addition. In addition, control samples including free-living Symbiodinium and broodstock tissue containing symbionts for each host were collected. RNA extraction and RT-PCR were performed and amplified products cloned and sequenced. Our results show that H[+]-ATPase was expressed in Symbiodinium associated with coral and giant clam larvae, but not with nudibranch larvae, which digested the symbionts. Broodstock tissue for coral and giant clam also expressed H[+]-ATPase, but not the nudibranch tissue sample. Our results of the expression of H[+]-ATPase as a marker gene suggest that symbiosis between Symbiodinium and M. hispida and T. crocea is established during host larval development. Conversely, in the case of B. stephanieae larvae, evidence does not support a mutualistic relationship. Our study supports the utilization of H[+]-ATPase expression as a marker for assessing Symbiodinium-invertebrate relationships with applications for the differentiation of symbiotic and non-symbiotic associations. At the same time, insights from a single marker gene approach are limited and future studies should direct the identification of additional symbiosis-specific genes, ideally from both symbiont and host.}, } @article {pmid28573008, year = {2017}, author = {Krueger, T and Horwitz, N and Bodin, J and Giovani, ME and Escrig, S and Meibom, A and Fine, M}, title = {Common reef-building coral in the Northern Red Sea resistant to elevated temperature and acidification.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {170038}, pmid = {28573008}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Coral reefs are currently experiencing substantial ecological impoverishment as a result of anthropogenic stressors, and the majority of reefs are facing immediate risk. Increasing ocean surface temperatures induce frequent coral mass bleaching events-the breakdown of the nutritional photo-symbiosis with intracellular algae (genus: Symbiodinium). Here, we report that Stylophora pistillata from a highly diverse reef in the Gulf of Aqaba showed no signs of bleaching despite spending 1.5 months at 1-2°C above their long-term summer maximum (amounting to 11 degree heating weeks) and a seawater pH of 7.8. Instead, their symbiotic dinoflagellates exhibited improved photochemistry, higher pigmentation and a doubling in net oxygen production, leading to a 51% increase in primary productivity. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging revealed subtle cellular-level shifts in carbon and nitrogen metabolism under elevated temperatures, but overall host and symbiont biomass proxies were not significantly affected. Now living well below their thermal threshold in the Gulf of Aqaba, these corals have been evolutionarily selected for heat tolerance during their migration through the warm Southern Red Sea after the last ice age. This may allow them to withstand future warming for a longer period of time, provided that successful environmental conservation measures are enacted across national boundaries in the region.}, } @article {pmid28572992, year = {2017}, author = {Augustin, JO and Simões, TG and Dijksterhuis, J and Elliot, SL and Evans, HC}, title = {Putting the waste out: a proposed mechanism for transmission of the mycoparasite Escovopsis between leafcutter ant colonies.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {161013}, pmid = {28572992}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {The attine ant system is a remarkable example of symbiosis. An antagonistic partner within this system is the fungal parasite Escovopsis, a genus specific to the fungal gardens of the Attini. Escovopsis parasitizes the Leucoagaricus symbiont that leaf-cutting ants (Acromyrmex, Atta) have been farming over the past 8-12 Myr. However, it has been a puzzle how Escovopsis reaches its host. During a seasonal survey of nests of Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus in Atlantic rainforest in Brazil, Escovopsis was detected in all the sampled fungal garden waste tips or middens (n = 111). Middens were built strategically; always below the nest entrances. Here, we report the first evidence of a putative mechanism for horizontal transmission of Escovopsis between attine colonies. It is posited that leaf-cutting ants pick up the spores from soil and litter during foraging and vector the mycoparasite between attine colonies. Field and laboratory experiments, using At. laevigata and Ac. subterraneus subterraneus, confirm that Escovopsis spores are phoretic, and have an inbuilt dormancy, broken by the presence of their Leucoagaricus host. However, in the coevolutionary arms race, Atta ants may lose out-despite most species in the genus investing in a more advanced waste disposal system-due to the insanitary habits of their Acromyrmex neighbours.}, } @article {pmid28572286, year = {2017}, author = {Jäckel, S and Kiouptsi, K and Lillich, M and Hendrikx, T and Khandagale, A and Kollar, B and Hörmann, N and Reiss, C and Subramaniam, S and Wilms, E and Ebner, K and Brühl, MV and Rausch, P and Baines, JF and Haberichter, S and Lämmle, B and Binder, CJ and Jurk, K and Ruggeri, ZM and Massberg, S and Walter, U and Ruf, W and Reinhardt, C}, title = {Gut microbiota regulate hepatic von Willebrand factor synthesis and arterial thrombus formation via Toll-like receptor-2.}, journal = {Blood}, volume = {130}, number = {4}, pages = {542-553}, doi = {10.1182/blood-2016-11-754416}, pmid = {28572286}, issn = {1528-0020}, mesh = {Animals ; Blood Platelets/metabolism/pathology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Germ-Free Life ; Liver/*metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Platelet Aggregation/genetics ; *Signal Transduction ; Thrombosis/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/genetics/*metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor/*biosynthesis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic gut microbiota play pivotal roles in host physiology and the development of cardiovascular diseases, but the microbiota-triggered pattern recognition signaling mechanisms that impact thrombosis are poorly defined. In this article, we show that germ-free (GF) and Toll-like receptor-2 (Tlr2)-deficient mice have reduced thrombus growth after carotid artery injury relative to conventionally raised controls. GF Tlr2[-/-] and wild-type (WT) mice were indistinguishable, but colonization with microbiota restored a significant difference in thrombus growth between the genotypes. We identify reduced plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and reduced VWF synthesis, specifically in hepatic endothelial cells, as a critical factor that is regulated by gut microbiota and determines thrombus growth in Tlr2[-/-] mice. Static platelet aggregate formation on extracellular matrix was similarly reduced in GF WT, Tlr2[-/-] , and heterozygous Vwf[+/-] mice that are all characterized by a modest reduction in plasma VWF levels. Defective platelet matrix interaction can be restored by exposure to WT plasma or to purified VWF depending on the VWF integrin binding site. Moreover, administration of VWF rescues defective thrombus growth in Tlr2[-/-] mice in vivo. These experiments delineate an unexpected pathway in which microbiota-triggered TLR2 signaling alters the synthesis of proadhesive VWF by the liver endothelium and favors platelet integrin-dependent thrombus growth.}, } @article {pmid28571818, year = {2017}, author = {Gyuraszova, M and Kovalcikova, A and Gardlik, R}, title = {Association between oxidative status and the composition of intestinal microbiota along the gastrointestinal tract.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {103}, number = {}, pages = {81-85}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2017.04.011}, pmid = {28571818}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Bifidobacterium ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/microbiology/pathology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestine, Small/pathology ; Lactobacillus ; Mice ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Models, Theoretical ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Rats ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Studies have shown that the microbiota along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) plays an important role when it comes to the maintenance of its proper functions. Many studies exist that have analyzed the composition of the bacterial community in the different regions of the GIT of humans and model animals. Microbial imbalance leads to several systemic disorders, including cardiovascular and renal disease. The imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their elimination by antioxidants leads to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress plays an important role in a variety of physiological processes, as well as disease. The continuous formation of ROS in the GIT is the result of the interaction between intestinal mucosa, symbiotic bacteria and dietary factors. It has also been proven that ROS play a role in the pathogenesis of several GI disorders, including IBD. We hypothesized that the levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) would be the highest in the ileum, caecum or colon, where the microbiota mostly consist of butyrate producing bacteria, Bacterioides, Clostridium, Ruminococcus or Bifidobacterium, which derive energy through carbohydrate fermentation. We also assumed that advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) mostly act in the segments, where bacteria reside and which are responsible for the amino acid fermentation, such as caecum or colon. Lipid hydroxyperoxides are generated during digestion in the stomach, which contains absorbed oxygen and has a low pH. According to this we hypothesized that the highest concentration of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) could be in the stomach, which, however, has not been confirmed. Because Lactobacilli are able to produce catalase, an endogenous antioxidant, and are abundant in the small intestine, we hypothesized that antioxidant capacity (measured by ferric reducing ability) would be the highest here. The highest levels of AGEs were found in the caecum. The highest level of TBARS was found in the jejunum of the rats. The assessment of our hypothesis also revealed high levels of AOPP in the caecum. It has been shown that AOPP contributes to the progression of IBD. The ferric reducing ability of tissue was the lowest in the colon of the experimental animals, which is in accordance with previous studies that show that rat colon has a lower total antioxidant capacity than the small bowel. In summary, we offer some insight into the differences between the oxidative status along the GIT of rats and some advice concerning supportive antioxidant therapy of gastrointestinal diseases.}, } @article {pmid28570933, year = {2017}, author = {Robinson, RT and Huppler, AR}, title = {The Goldilocks model of immune symbiosis with Mycobacteria and Candida colonizers.}, journal = {Cytokine}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {49-65}, pmid = {28570933}, issn = {1096-0023}, support = {K08 DE026189/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI121212/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Candida/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Candidiasis/*immunology/microbiology/physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Mycobacterium/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Tuberculosis/*immunology/microbiology/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Mycobacteria and Candida species include significant human pathogens that can cause localized or disseminated infections. Although these organisms may appear to have little in common, several shared pathways of immune recognition and response are important for both control and infection-related pathology. In this article, we compare and contrast the innate and adaptive components of the immune system that pertain to these infections in humans and animal models. We also explore a relatively new concept in the mycobacterial field: biological commensalism. Similar to the well-established model of Candida infection, Mycobacteria species colonize their human hosts in equilibrium with the immune response. Perturbations in the immune response permit the progression to pathologic disease at the expense of the host. Understanding the immune factors required to maintain commensalism may aid with the development of diagnostic and treatment strategies for both categories of pathogens.}, } @article {pmid28567051, year = {2017}, author = {Pelagio-Flores, R and Esparza-Reynoso, S and Garnica-Vergara, A and López-Bucio, J and Herrera-Estrella, A}, title = {Trichoderma-Induced Acidification Is an Early Trigger for Changes in Arabidopsis Root Growth and Determines Fungal Phytostimulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {822}, pmid = {28567051}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Trichoderma spp. are common rhizosphere inhabitants widely used as biological control agents and their role as plant growth promoting fungi has been established. Although soil pH influences several fungal and plant functional traits such as growth and nutrition, little is known about its influence in rhizospheric or mutualistic interactions. The role of pH in the Trichoderma-Arabidopsis interaction was studied by determining primary root growth and lateral root formation, root meristem status and cell viability, quiescent center (QC) integrity, and auxin inducible gene expression. Primary root growth phenotypes in wild type seedlings and STOP1 mutants allowed identification of a putative root pH sensing pathway likely operating in plant-fungus recognition. Acidification by Trichoderma induced auxin redistribution within Arabidopsis columella root cap cells, causing root tip bending and growth inhibition. Root growth stoppage correlated with decreased cell division and with the loss of QC integrity and cell viability, which were reversed by buffering the medium. In addition, stop1, an Arabidopsis mutant sensitive to low pH, was oversensitive to T. atroviride primary root growth repression, providing genetic evidence that a pH root sensing mechanism reprograms root architecture during the interaction. Our results indicate that root sensing of pH mediates the interaction of Trichoderma with plants.}, } @article {pmid28561849, year = {2017}, author = {Adnani, N and Rajski, SR and Bugni, TS}, title = {Symbiosis-inspired approaches to antibiotic discovery.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {784-814}, pmid = {28561849}, issn = {1460-4752}, support = {R01 GM104192/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Fungi/physiology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Multigene Family ; Plants/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Covering: 2010 up to 2017Life on Earth is characterized by a remarkable abundance of symbiotic and highly refined relationships among life forms. Defined as any kind of close, long-term association between two organisms, symbioses can be mutualistic, commensalistic or parasitic. Historically speaking, selective pressures have shaped symbioses in which one organism (typically a bacterium or fungus) generates bioactive small molecules that impact the host (and possibly other symbionts); the symbiosis is driven fundamentally by the genetic machineries available to the small molecule producer. The human microbiome is now integral to the most recent chapter in animal-microbe symbiosis studies and plant-microbe symbioses have significantly advanced our understanding of natural products biosynthesis; this also is the case for studies of fungal-microbe symbioses. However, much less is known about microbe-microbe systems involving interspecies interactions. Microbe-derived small molecules (i.e. antibiotics and quorum sensing molecules, etc.) have been shown to regulate transcription in microbes within the same environmental niche, suggesting interspecies interactions whereas, intraspecies interactions, such as those that exploit autoinducing small molecules, also modulate gene expression based on environmental cues. We, and others, contend that symbioses provide almost unlimited opportunities for the discovery of new bioactive compounds whose activities and applications have been evolutionarily optimized. Particularly intriguing is the possibility that environmental effectors can guide laboratory expression of secondary metabolites from "orphan", or silent, biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Notably, many of the studies summarized here result from advances in "omics" technologies and highlight how symbioses have given rise to new anti-bacterial and antifungal natural products now being discovered.}, } @article {pmid28560641, year = {2017}, author = {Sathya, A and Vijayabharathi, R and Gopalakrishnan, S}, title = {Plant growth-promoting actinobacteria: a new strategy for enhancing sustainable production and protection of grain legumes.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {102}, pmid = {28560641}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Grain legumes are a cost-effective alternative for the animal protein in improving the diets of the poor in South-East Asia and Africa. Legumes, through symbiotic nitrogen fixation, meet a major part of their own N demand and partially benefit the following crops of the system by enriching soil. In realization of this sustainability advantage and to promote pulse production, United Nations had declared 2016 as the "International Year of pulses". Grain legumes are frequently subjected to both abiotic and biotic stresses resulting in severe yield losses. Global yields of legumes have been stagnant for the past five decades in spite of adopting various conventional and molecular breeding approaches. Furthermore, the increasing costs and negative effects of pesticides and fertilizers for crop production necessitate the use of biological options of crop production and protection. The use of plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria for improving soil and plant health has become one of the attractive strategies for developing sustainable agricultural systems due to their eco-friendliness, low production cost and minimizing consumption of non-renewable resources. This review emphasizes on how the PGP actinobacteria and their metabolites can be used effectively in enhancing the yield and controlling the pests and pathogens of grain legumes.}, } @article {pmid28559529, year = {2017}, author = {Patial, T and Singh, G and Thakur, D and Chaddha, S}, title = {Tubercular infection of hydatid cyst.}, journal = {International journal of mycobacteriology}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {207-209}, doi = {10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_15_17}, pmid = {28559529}, issn = {2212-554X}, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; Coinfection/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Echinococcosis/*microbiology/parasitology ; Echinococcus/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Tuberculosis/*microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Tubercular infection of hydatid cyst of the chest wall in an immunocompetent individual is rare. Immune modulation for symbiosis between host cells and the parasite - Echinococcus granulosus favors tubercular infection. In this case report, we describe a case of both these chronic diseases coexisting together, to present as chest wall mass.}, } @article {pmid28559336, year = {2017}, author = {Schäper, S and Steinchen, W and Krol, E and Altegoer, F and Skotnicka, D and Søgaard-Andersen, L and Bange, G and Becker, A}, title = {AraC-like transcriptional activator CuxR binds c-di-GMP by a PilZ-like mechanism to regulate extracellular polysaccharide production.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {24}, pages = {E4822-E4831}, pmid = {28559336}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; AraC Transcription Factor/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Protein Domains ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Trans-Activators/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) has emerged as a key regulatory player in the transition between planktonic and sedentary biofilm-associated bacterial lifestyles. It controls a multitude of processes including production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs). The PilZ domain, consisting of an N-terminal "RxxxR" motif and a β-barrel domain, represents a prototype c-di-GMP receptor. We identified a class of c-di-GMP-responsive proteins, represented by the AraC-like transcription factor CuxR in plant symbiotic α-proteobacteria. In Sinorhizobium meliloti, CuxR stimulates transcription of an EPS biosynthesis gene cluster at elevated c-di-GMP levels. CuxR consists of a Cupin domain, a helical hairpin, and bipartite helix-turn-helix motif. Although unrelated in sequence, the mode of c-di-GMP binding to CuxR is highly reminiscent to that of PilZ domains. c-di-GMP interacts with a conserved N-terminal RxxxR motif and the Cupin domain, thereby promoting CuxR dimerization and DNA binding. We unravel structure and mechanism of a previously unrecognized c-di-GMP-responsive transcription factor and provide insights into the molecular evolution of c-di-GMP binding to proteins.}, } @article {pmid28558648, year = {2017}, author = {Ho, PT and Park, E and Hong, SG and Kim, EH and Kim, K and Jang, SJ and Vrijenhoek, RC and Won, YJ}, title = {Geographical structure of endosymbiotic bacteria hosted by Bathymodiolus mussels at eastern Pacific hydrothermal vents.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {121}, pmid = {28558648}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Genetics, Population ; Hybridization, Genetic ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Mytilidae/classification/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chemolithoautotrophic primary production sustains dense invertebrate communities at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps. Symbiotic bacteria that oxidize dissolved sulfur, methane, and hydrogen gases nourish bathymodiolin mussels that thrive in these environments worldwide. The mussel symbionts are newly acquired in each generation via infection by free-living forms. This study examined geographical subdivision of the thiotrophic endosymbionts hosted by Bathymodiolus mussels living along the eastern Pacific hydrothermal vents. High-throughput sequencing data of 16S ribosomal RNA encoding gene and fragments of six protein-coding genes of symbionts were examined in the samples collected from nine vent localities at the East Pacific Rise, Galápagos Rift, and Pacific-Antarctic Ridge.

RESULTS: Both of the parapatric sister-species, B. thermophilus and B. antarcticus, hosted the same numerically dominant phylotype of thiotrophic Gammaproteobacteria. However, sequences from six protein-coding genes revealed highly divergent symbiont lineages living north and south of the Easter Microplate and hosted by these two Bathymodiolus mussel species. High heterogeneity of symbiont haplotypes among host individuals sampled from the same location suggested that stochasticity associated with initial infections was amplified as symbionts proliferated within the host individuals. The mussel species presently contact one another and hybridize along the Easter Microplate, but the northern and southern symbionts appear to be completely isolated. Vicariance associated with orogeny of the Easter Microplate region, 2.5-5.3 million years ago, may have initiated isolation of the symbiont and host populations. Estimates of synonymous substitution rates for the protein-coding bacterial genes examined in this study were 0.77-1.62%/nucleotide/million years.

CONCLUSIONS: Our present study reports the most comprehensive population genetic analyses of the chemosynthetic endosymbiotic bacteria based on high-throughput genetic data and extensive geographical sampling to date, and demonstrates the role of the geographical features, the Easter Microplate and geographical distance, in the intraspecific divergence of this bacterial species along the mid-ocean ridge axes in the eastern Pacific. Altogether, our results provide insights into extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting the dispersal and evolution of chemosynthetic symbiotic partners in the hydrothermal vents along the eastern Pacific Ocean.}, } @article {pmid28556916, year = {2017}, author = {de Oliveira, GLV and Leite, AZ and Higuchi, BS and Gonzaga, MI and Mariano, VS}, title = {Intestinal dysbiosis and probiotic applications in autoimmune diseases.}, journal = {Immunology}, volume = {152}, number = {1}, pages = {1-12}, pmid = {28556916}, issn = {1365-2567}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases/immunology/microbiology/*therapy ; *Autoimmunity ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology/microbiology ; Bacteria/*immunology ; *Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In humans, a complex interaction between the host immune system and commensal microbiota is required to maintain gut homeostasis. In this symbiotic relationship, the microbiota provides carbohydrate fermentation and digestion, vitamin synthesis and gut-associated lymphoid tissue development, as well as preventing colonization by pathobionts, whereas the host offers a niche and nutrients for the survival of the microbiota. However, when this mutualistic relationship is compromised and an altered interaction between immune cells and microorganisms occurs, the gut microbiota may cause or contribute to the establishment of infectious diseases and trigger autoimmune diseases. Researchers have made efforts to clarify the role of the microbiota in autoimmune disease development and find new therapeutic approaches to treat immune-mediated diseases. However, the exact mechanisms involved in the dysbiosis and breakdown of the gut epithelial barrier are currently unknown. Here, we provide a general overview of studies describing gut microbiota perturbations in animal models of autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Moreover, we include the main studies concerning dysbiosis in humans and a critical discussion of the existing data on the use of probiotics in these autoimmune diseases.}, } @article {pmid28556095, year = {2018}, author = {Mushegian, AA and Walser, JC and Sullam, KE and Ebert, D}, title = {The microbiota of diapause: How host-microbe associations are formed after dormancy in an aquatic crustacean.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {400-413}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12709}, pmid = {28556095}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Daphnia/*microbiology ; Diapause/*physiology ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A critical question in symbiosis research is where and how organisms obtain beneficial microbial symbionts in different ecological contexts. Microbiota of juveniles are often derived directly from their mother or from the immediate environment. The origin of beneficial symbionts, however, is less obvious in organisms with diapause and dispersal stages, such as plants with dormant seeds and animals in ephemeral or strongly seasonal habitats. In these cases, parents and offspring are separated in time and space, which may affect opportunities for both vertical and horizontal transmission of symbionts. The planktonic crustacean Daphnia produces long-lasting resting eggs to endure winter freezing and summer droughts and requires microbiota for growth and reproduction. It is unknown how hatchlings from resting stages form associations with microbial consorts after diapause. Using natural samples of D. magna resting eggs after several years of storage, we show that the total bacterial community derived from both the exterior and interior of the eggs' ephippial cases is sufficiently beneficial to ensure normal Daphnia functioning in otherwise bacteria-free conditions. We do not find direct evidence that the required bacteria are of maternal origin, though sequencing reveals that the resting stage is accompanied by bacterial taxa previously found in association with adult animals. These findings suggest that although Daphnia are strongly dependent on environmental bacteria for normal functioning, host-bacteria associations are somewhat general and availability of specific bacteria is not a strong constraint on host ecology. Nevertheless, animals and microbes may be ecologically linked through co-dispersal.}, } @article {pmid28553263, year = {2017}, author = {Smith, CC and Srygley, RB and Healy, F and Swaminath, K and Mueller, UG}, title = {Spatial Structure of the Mormon Cricket Gut Microbiome and its Predicted Contribution to Nutrition and Immune Function.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {801}, pmid = {28553263}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The gut microbiome of insects plays an important role in their ecology and evolution, participating in nutrient acquisition, immunity, and behavior. Microbial community structure within the gut is heavily influenced by differences among gut regions in morphology and physiology, which determine the niches available for microbes to colonize. We present a high-resolution analysis of the structure of the gut microbiome in the Mormon cricket Anabrus simplex, an insect known for its periodic outbreaks in the western United States and nutrition-dependent mating system. The Mormon cricket microbiome was dominated by 11 taxa from the Lactobacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Streptococcaceae. While most of these were represented in all gut regions, there were marked differences in their relative abundance, with lactic-acid bacteria (Lactobacillaceae) more common in the foregut and midgut and enteric (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria more common in the hindgut. Differences in community structure were driven by variation in the relative prevalence of three groups: a Lactobacillus in the foregut, Pediococcus lactic-acid bacteria in the midgut, and Pantoea agglomerans, an enteric bacterium, in the hindgut. These taxa have been shown to have beneficial effects on their hosts in insects and other animals by improving nutrition, increasing resistance to pathogens, and modulating social behavior. Using PICRUSt to predict gene content from our 16S rRNA sequences, we found enzymes that participate in carbohydrate metabolism and pathogen defense in other orthopterans. These were predominately represented in the hindgut and midgut, the most important sites for nutrition and pathogen defense. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences from cultured isolates indicated low levels of divergence from sequences derived from plants and other insects, suggesting that these bacteria are likely to be exchanged between Mormon crickets and the environment. Our study shows strong spatial variation in microbiome community structure, which influences predicted gene content and thus the potential of the microbiome to influence host function.}, } @article {pmid28552505, year = {2017}, author = {Verstraete, B and Janssens, S and Rønsted, N}, title = {Non-nodulated bacterial leaf symbiosis promotes the evolutionary success of its host plants in the coffee family (Rubiaceae).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {113}, number = {}, pages = {161-168}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2017.05.022}, pmid = {28552505}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Coffee ; Endophytes/classification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Rubiaceae/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Every plant species on Earth interacts in some way or another with microorganisms and it is well known that certain forms of symbiosis between different organisms can drive evolution. Within some clades of Rubiaceae (coffee family), a specific plant-bacteria interaction exists in which non-pathological endophytes are present in the leaves of their hosts. It is hypothesized that the bacterial endophytes, either alone or by interacting with the host, provide chemical protection against herbivory or pathogens by producing toxic or otherwise advantageous secondary metabolites. If the bacteria indeed have a direct beneficial influence on their hosts, it is reasonable to assume that the endophytes may increase the fitness of their hosts and therefore it is probable that their presence also has an influence on the long-term evolution of the particular plant lineages. In this study, the possible origin in time of non-nodulated bacterial leaf symbiosis in the Vanguerieae tribe of Rubiaceae is elucidated and dissimilarities in evolutionary dynamics between species with endophytes versus species without are investigated. Bacterial leaf symbiosis is shown to have most probably originated in the Late Miocene, a period when the savannah habitat is believed to have expanded on the African continent and herbivore pressure increased. The presence of bacterial leaf endophytes appears to be restricted to Old World lineages so far. Plant lineages with leaf endophytes show a significantly higher speciation rate than plant lineages without endophytes, while there is only a small difference in extinction rate. The transition rate shows that evolving towards having endophytes is twice as fast as evolving towards not having endophytes, suggesting that leaf symbiosis must be beneficial for the host plants. We conclude that the presence of bacterial leaf endophytes may also be an important driver for speciation of host plants.}, } @article {pmid28551732, year = {2017}, author = {Martins da Costa, E and Azarias Guimarães, A and Pereira Vicentin, R and de Almeida Ribeiro, PR and Ribas Leão, AC and Balsanelli, E and Lebbe, L and Aerts, M and Willems, A and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Bradyrhizobium brasilense sp. nov., a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from Brazilian tropical soils.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {8}, pages = {1211-1221}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1390-1}, pmid = {28551732}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition/genetics ; *Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Four strains of rhizobia isolated from nodules of Vigna unguiculata (UFLA03-321[T], UFLA03-320 and UFLA03-290) and Macroptilium atropurpureum (UFLA04-0212) in Brazilian soils were previously reported as a new group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To determine their taxonomic position, these strains were characterized in this study using a polyphasic approach. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene grouped the four strains with Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi PAC48[T]. However, the concatenated sequence analysis of the two (recA and glnII) or three (atpD, gyrB and recA) housekeeping genes indicated that these strains represent a novel species of Bradyrhizobium, which is very closely related to B. pachyrhizi PAC48[T] and B. elkanii USDA 76[T]. Genomic relatedness analyses between the UFLA03-321[T] strain and B. elkanii USDA 76[T] and B. pachyrhizi PAC48[T] revealed an average nucleotide identity below 96% and values of estimated DNA-DNA hybridization below 70%, confirming that they represent genomically distinct species. Analysis of MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry) profiles and phenotypic characteristics also allowed differentiation of the novel species from its two neighboring species. In phylogenetic analysis of nodC and nifH genes, UFLA03-321[T] exhibited maximum similarity with B. tropiciagri CNPSo 1112[T]. The data suggest that these four UFLA strains represent a novel species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium brasilense sp. nov. is proposed, with UFLA03-321[T] (=LMG 29353 =CBAS645) as type strain. G + C content in the DNA of UFLA03-321[T] is 63.9 mol %.}, } @article {pmid28549825, year = {2017}, author = {Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y and Shigenobu, S and Nowack, ECM}, title = {Metabolic Integration of Bacterial Endosymbionts through Antimicrobial Peptides.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {703-712}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2017.04.007}, pmid = {28549825}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are massively produced by eukaryotic hosts during symbiotic interactions with bacteria. Among other roles, these symbiotic AMPs have the capacity to permeabilize symbiont membranes and facilitate metabolite flow across the host-symbiont interface. We propose that an ancestral role of these peptides is to facilitate metabolic exchange between the symbiotic partners through membrane permeabilization. This function may be particularly critical for integration of endosymbiont and host metabolism in interactions involving bacteria with strongly reduced genomes lacking most small metabolite transporters. Moreover, AMPs could have acted in a similar way at the onset of plastid and mitochondrion evolution, after a host cell took up a bacterium and needed to extract nutrients from it in the absence of dedicated solute transporters.}, } @article {pmid28548657, year = {2017}, author = {Salvioli di Fossalunga, A and Lipuma, J and Venice, F and Dupont, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {The endobacterium of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus modulates the expression of its toxin-antitoxin systems during the life cycle of its host.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {2394-2398}, pmid = {28548657}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Toxin-Antitoxin Systems ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread root symbionts that perform important ecological services, such as improving plant nutrient and water acquisition. Some AMF from the Gigasporaceae family host a population of endobacteria, Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum (Cagg). The analysis of the Cagg genome identified six putative toxin-antitoxin modules (TAs), consisting of pairs of stable toxins and unstable antitoxins that affect diverse physiological functions. Sequence analysis suggested that these TA modules were acquired by horizontal transfer. Gene expression patterns of two TAs (yoeB/yefM and chpB/chpS) changed during the fungal life cycle, with the expression during the pre-symbiotic phase higher than during the symbiosis with the plant host. The heterologous expression in Escherichia coli demonstrated the functionality only for the YoeB-YefM pair. On the basis of these observations, we speculate that TA modules might help Cagg adapt to its intracellular habitat, coordinating its proliferation with the physiological state of the AMF host.}, } @article {pmid28546564, year = {2017}, author = {Okumura, R and Takeda, K}, title = {Roles of intestinal epithelial cells in the maintenance of gut homeostasis.}, journal = {Experimental & molecular medicine}, volume = {49}, number = {5}, pages = {e338}, pmid = {28546564}, issn = {2092-6413}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology ; Bacterial Infections/immunology ; Cytokines/immunology ; Epithelial Cells/cytology/*immunology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Tight Junctions/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The intestine is a unique organ inhabited by a tremendous number of microorganisms. Intestinal epithelial cells greatly contribute to the maintenance of the symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and the host by constructing mucosal barriers, secreting various immunological mediators and delivering bacterial antigens. Mucosal barriers, including physical barriers and chemical barriers, spatially segregate gut microbiota and the host immune system to avoid unnecessary immune responses to gut microbes, leading to the intestinal inflammation. In addition, various immunological mediators, including cytokines and chemokines, secreted from intestinal epithelial cells stimulated by gut microbiota modulate host immune responses, maintaining a well-balanced relationship between gut microbes and the host immune system. Therefore, impairment of the innate immune functions of intestinal epithelial cells is associated with intestinal inflammation.}, } @article {pmid28546553, year = {2017}, author = {Smith, EG and Vaughan, GO and Ketchum, RN and McParland, D and Burt, JA}, title = {Symbiont community stability through severe coral bleaching in a thermally extreme lagoon.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {2428}, pmid = {28546553}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA, Intergenic ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Environment ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are threatened by climate change as coral-algal symbioses are currently living close to their upper thermal limits. The resilience of the algal partner plays a key role in determining the thermal tolerance of the coral holobiont and therefore, understanding the acclimatory limits of present day coral-algal symbioses is fundamental to forecasting corals' responses to climate change. This study characterised the symbiont community in a highly variable and thermally extreme (Max = 37.5 °C, Min = 16.8 °C) lagoon located in the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf using next generation sequencing of ITS2 amplicons. Despite experiencing extreme temperatures, severe bleaching and many factors that would be expected to promote the presence of, or transition to clade D dominance, the symbiont communities of the lagoon remain dominated by the C3 variant, Symbiodinium thermophilum. The stability of this symbiosis across multiple genera with different means of symbiont transmission highlights the importance of Symbiodinium thermophilum for corals living at the acclimatory limits of modern day corals. Corals in this extreme environment did not undergo adaptive bleaching, suggesting they are living at the edge of their acclimatory potential and that this valuable source of thermally tolerant genotypes may be lost in the near future under climate change.}, } @article {pmid28546156, year = {2017}, author = {Martin, FM and Uroz, S and Barker, DG}, title = {Ancestral alliances: Plant mutualistic symbioses with fungi and bacteria.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {356}, number = {6340}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1126/science.aad4501}, pmid = {28546156}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; *Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Within the plant microbiota, mutualistic fungal and bacterial symbionts are striking examples of microorganisms playing crucial roles in nutrient acquisition. They have coevolved with their hosts since initial plant adaptation to land. Despite the evolutionary distances that separate mycorrhizal and nitrogen-fixing symbioses, these associations share a number of highly conserved features, including specific plant symbiotic signaling pathways, root colonization strategies that circumvent plant immune responses, functional host-microbe interface formation, and the central role of phytohormones in symbiosis-associated root developmental pathways. We highlight recent and emerging areas of investigation relating to these evolutionarily conserved mechanisms, with an emphasis on the more ancestral mycorrhizal associations, and consider to what extent this knowledge can contribute to an understanding of plant-microbiota associations as a whole.}, } @article {pmid28545131, year = {2017}, author = {Gontang, EA and Aylward, FO and Carlos, C and Glavina Del Rio, T and Chovatia, M and Fern, A and Lo, CC and Malfatti, SA and Tringe, SG and Currie, CR and Kolter, R}, title = {Major changes in microbial diversity and community composition across gut sections of a juvenile Panchlora cockroach.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0177189}, pmid = {28545131}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Cockroaches/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {Investigations of gut microbiomes have shed light on the diversity and genetic content of these communities, and helped shape our understanding of how host-associated microorganisms influence host physiology, behavior, and health. Despite the importance of gut microbes to metazoans, our understanding of the changes in diversity and composition across the alimentary tract, and the source of the resident community are limited. Here, using community metagenomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assess microbial community diversity and coding potential in the foregut, midgut, and hindgut of a juvenile Panchlora cockroach, which resides in the refuse piles of the leaf-cutter ant species Atta colombica. We found a significant shift in the microbial community structure and coding potential throughout the three gut sections of Panchlora sp., and through comparison with previously generated metagenomes of the cockroach's food source and niche, we reveal that this shift in microbial community composition is influenced by the ecosystems in which Panchlora sp. occurs. While the foregut is composed of microbes that likely originate from the symbiotic fungus gardens of the ants, the midgut and hindgut are composed of a microbial community that is likely cockroach-specific. Analogous to mammalian systems, the midgut and hindgut appear to be dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes with the capacity for polysaccharide degradation, suggesting they may assist in the degradation of dietary plant material. Our work underscores the prominence of community changes throughout gut microbiomes and highlights ecological factors that underpin the structure and function of the symbiotic microbial communities of metazoans.}, } @article {pmid28544363, year = {2017}, author = {Dani, V and Priouzeau, F and Mertz, M and Mondin, M and Pagnotta, S and Lacas-Gervais, S and Davy, SK and Sabourault, C}, title = {Expression patterns of sterol transporters NPC1 and NPC2 in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.12753}, pmid = {28544363}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C/genetics/*metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between cnidarians (e.g., corals and sea anemones) and photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium is triggered by both host-symbiont recognition processes and metabolic exchange between the 2 partners. The molecular communication is crucial for homeostatic regulation of the symbiosis, both under normal conditions and during stresses that further lead to symbiosis collapse. It is therefore important to identify and fully characterise the key players of this intimate interaction at the symbiotic interface. In this study, we determined the cellular and subcellular localization and expression of the sterol-trafficking Niemann-Pick type C proteins (NPC1 and NPC2) in the symbiotic sea anemones Anemonia viridis and Aiptasia sp. We first established that NPC1 is localised within vesicles in host tissues and to the symbiosome membranes in several anthozoan species. We demonstrated that the canonical NPC2-a protein is mainly expressed in the epidermis, whereas the NPC2-d protein is closely associated with symbiosome membranes. Furthermore, we showed that the expression of the NPC2-d protein is correlated with symbiont presence in healthy symbiotic specimens. As npc2-d is a cnidarian-specific duplicated gene, we hypothesised that it probably arose from a subfunctionalisation process that might result in a gain of function and symbiosis adaptation in anthozoans. Niemann-Pick type C proteins may be key players in a functional symbiosis and be useful tools to study host-symbiont interactions in the anthozoan-dinoflagellate association.}, } @article {pmid28543918, year = {2017}, author = {Berasategui, A and Salem, H and Paetz, C and Santoro, M and Gershenzon, J and Kaltenpoth, M and Schmidt, A}, title = {Gut microbiota of the pine weevil degrades conifer diterpenes and increases insect fitness.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {15}, pages = {4099-4110}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14186}, pmid = {28543918}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Diterpenes/*metabolism ; Europe ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genetic Fitness ; Picea/chemistry ; Weevils/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), a major pest of conifer forests throughout Europe, feeds on the bark and cambium, tissues rich in terpenoid resins that are toxic to many insect herbivores. Here, we report the ability of the pine weevil gut microbiota to degrade the diterpene acids of Norway spruce. The diterpene acid levels present in ingested bark were substantially reduced on passage through the pine weevil gut. This reduction was significantly less upon antibiotic treatment, and supplementing the diet with gut suspensions from untreated insects restored the ability to degrade diterpenes. In addition, cultured bacteria isolated from pine weevil guts were shown to degrade a Norway spruce diterpene acid. In a metagenomic survey of the insect's bacterial community, we were able to annotate several genes of a previously described diterpene degradation (dit) gene cluster. Antibiotic treatment disrupted the core bacterial community of H. abietis guts and eliminated nearly all dit genes concordant with its reduction in diterpene degradation. Pine weevils reared on an artificial diet spiked with diterpenes, but without antibiotics, were found to lay more eggs with a higher hatching rate than weevils raised on diets with antibiotics or without diterpenes. These results suggest that gut symbionts contribute towards host fitness, but not by detoxification of diterpenes, as these compounds do not show toxic effects with or without antibiotics. Rather the ability to thrive in a terpene-rich environment appears to allow gut microbes to benefit the weevil in other ways, such as increasing the nutritional properties of their diet.}, } @article {pmid28543308, year = {2017}, author = {Kanazawa, T and Ueda, T}, title = {Exocytic trafficking pathways in plants: why and how they are redirected.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {3}, pages = {952-957}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14613}, pmid = {28543308}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cytokinesis ; *Exocytosis ; Models, Biological ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {The membrane trafficking system is responsible for precise transportation and localization of proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides among single membrane-bound organelles, the plasma membrane, and the extracellular space. While the exocytic trafficking pathway is considered to be a default transport pathway in many organisms, including land plants, research has shown that evolutionary processes led to an increase in the number of machinery components involved in the plant exocytic pathway. This study provides an overview of the diversification of exocytic trafficking pathways in plants, which mediate the formation and maintenance of cell polarity, interaction with symbiotic and pathogenic microbes, and cytokinesis. To fulfill these functions, distinct strategies have been employed to reroute secretory/exocytic transport during land plant evolution.}, } @article {pmid28542979, year = {2018}, author = {McLean, AHC and Parker, BJ and Hrček, J and Kavanagh, JC and Wellham, PAD and Godfray, HCJ}, title = {Consequences of symbiont co-infections for insect host phenotypes.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {478-488}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12705}, pmid = {28542979}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Survival Analysis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most animals host communities of symbiotic bacteria. In insects, these symbionts may have particularly intimate interactions with their hosts: many are intracellular and can play important roles in host ecology and evolution, including protection against natural enemies. We investigated how interactions between different species or strains of endosymbiotic bacteria within an aphid host influence the outcome of symbiosis for both symbiont and host. We first asked whether different combinations of facultative symbiont species or strains can exist in stable co-infections. We then investigated whether the benefits that facultative bacteria confer on their hosts (protection against natural enemies) are enhanced, reduced or unaltered by the presence of a co-infecting symbiont. We asked this both for co-infecting symbionts that confer different phenotypes on their hosts (protection against fungal pathogens vs. parasitoid wasps) and symbionts with overlapping functions. Finally, we investigated the additional survival costs to aphids of carrying multiple infections of symbiont species or strains, and compared symbiont titres in double and single infections. We found that stable co-infections were possible between all of the combinations of facultative symbiont species (Regiella insecticola + Hamiltonella defensa, Regiella + Rickettsiella sp., Regiella + Spiroplasma sp.) and strains (Hamiltonella) that we studied. Where symbionts provided protection against different natural enemies, no alteration in protection was observed in the presence of co-infections. Where symbionts provided protection against the same natural enemy, the level of protection corresponded to the higher of the two symbionts present. In some instances, aphid hosts suffered additional survival costs when hosting double infections. In the case of Hamiltonella, however, infection with multiple strains of the same symbiont led to lower symbiont titres than single infections, and actually improved aphid survival. We conclude that the long-term maintenance of symbiont co-infections in aphids is likely to be determined primarily by costs of co-infections and in some instances by redundancy of symbiont benefits.}, } @article {pmid28542579, year = {2017}, author = {Gupta, S and Bhar, A and Chatterjee, M and Ghosh, A and Das, S}, title = {Transcriptomic dissection reveals wide spread differential expression in chickpea during early time points of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri Race 1 attack.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {e0178164}, pmid = {28542579}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cicer/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Fusarium ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Gene Ontology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Plants' reaction to underground microorganisms is complex as sessile nature of plants compels them to prioritize their responses to diverse microorganisms both pathogenic and symbiotic. Roots of important crops are directly exposed to diverse microorganisms, but investigations involving root pathogens are significantly less. Thus, more studies involving root pathogens and their target crops are necessitated to enrich the understanding of underground interactions. Present study reported the molecular complexities in chickpea during Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri Race 1 (Foc1) infection. Transcriptomic dissections using RNA-seq showed significantly differential expression of molecular transcripts between infected and control plants of both susceptible and resistant genotypes. Radar plot analyses showed maximum expressional undulations after infection in both susceptible and resistant plants. Gene ontology and functional clustering showed large number of transcripts controlling basic metabolism of plants. Network analyses demonstrated defense components like peptidyl cis/trans isomerase, MAP kinase, beta 1,3 glucanase, serine threonine kinase, patatin like protein, lactolylglutathione lyase, coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, sulfotransferases; reactive oxygen species regulating components like respiratory burst oxidase, superoxide dismutases, cytochrome b5 reductase, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, ATPase; metabolism regulating components, myo inositol phosphate, carboxylate synthase; transport related gamma tonoplast intrinsic protein, and structural component, ubiquitins to serve as important nodals of defense signaling network. These nodal molecules probably served as hub controllers of defense signaling. Functional characterization of these hub molecules would not only help in developing better understanding of chickpea-Foc1 interaction but also place them as promising candidates for resistance management programs against vascular wilt of legumes.}, } @article {pmid28541039, year = {2017}, author = {Xu, J and Webb, I and Poole, P and Huang, WE}, title = {Label-Free Discrimination of Rhizobial Bacteroids and Mutants by Single-Cell Raman Microspectroscopy.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {89}, number = {12}, pages = {6336-6340}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.7b01160}, pmid = {28541039}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Rhizobium/*chemistry/*cytology ; *Single-Cell Analysis ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic rhizobia in legumes account for a large portion of nitrogen fixation in the biosphere. Nitrogen fixation is an energy-demanding process requiring tight control of metabolism and redox state. It is of great interest to understand the bacteroid differentiation process and the roles of energy storage molecules, such as glycogen and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), in maintaining the Rhizobium-legume symbioses. Traditional biochemical assays for checking phenotypic changes of mutants require a large volume of starting materials, which is difficult for unculturable, terminally differentiated bacteroids. Here we present a label-free technique that allows the identification and characterization of phenotypic changes of bacteria at the single-cell level. This work demonstrates the application of single-cell Raman spectra (SCRS) to differentiate Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae wild-type and mutants under different conditions. We found symbiotically differentiated bacteroids and free-living bacteria differed primarily at a Raman biomarker, cytochrome c, corresponding to a bacteroid-specific terminal oxidase. We demonstrated that, for the first time, SCRS were able to link phenotypic changes and specific genetic mutants, in this case, single and double mutations in synthesis of carbon storage molecules glycogen and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). By analyzing SCRS of these mutants, it provides insights into metabolite production and carbon regulatory network of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid28539921, year = {2017}, author = {Pent, M and Põldmaa, K and Bahram, M}, title = {Bacterial Communities in Boreal Forest Mushrooms Are Shaped Both by Soil Parameters and Host Identity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {836}, pmid = {28539921}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Despite recent advances in understanding the microbiome of eukaryotes, little is known about microbial communities in fungi. Here we investigate the structure of bacterial communities in mushrooms, including common edible ones, with respect to biotic and abiotic factors in the boreal forest. Using a combination of culture-based and Illumina high-throughput sequencing, we characterized the bacterial communities in fruitbodies of fungi from eight genera spanning four orders of the class Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota). Our results revealed that soil pH followed by fungal identity are the main determinants of the structure of bacterial communities in mushrooms. While almost half of fruitbody bacteria were also detected from soil, the abundance of several bacterial taxa differed considerably between the two environments. The effect of host identity was significant at the fungal genus and order level and could to some extent be ascribed to the distinct bacterial community of the chanterelle, representing Cantharellales-the earliest diverged group of mushroom-forming basidiomycetes. These data suggest that besides the substantial contribution of soil as a major taxa source of bacterial communities in mushrooms, the structure of these communities is also affected by the identity of the host. Thus, bacteria inhabiting fungal fruitbodies may be non-randomly selected from environment based on their symbiotic functions and/or habitat requirements.}, } @article {pmid28539916, year = {2017}, author = {Mohd, S and Shukla, J and Kushwaha, AS and Mandrah, K and Shankar, J and Arjaria, N and Saxena, PN and Narayan, R and Roy, SK and Kumar, M}, title = {Endophytic Fungi Piriformospora indica Mediated Protection of Host from Arsenic Toxicity.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {754}, pmid = {28539916}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Complex intercellular interaction is a common theme in plant-pathogen/symbiont relationship. Cellular physiology of both the partners is affected by abiotic stress. However, little is known about the degree of protection each offers to the other from different types of environmental stress. Our current study focused on the changes in response to toxic arsenic in the presence of an endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica that colonizes the paddy roots. The primary impact of arsenic was observed in the form of hyper-colonization of fungus in the host root and resulted in the recovery of its overall biomass, root damage, and chlorophyll due to arsenic toxicity. Further, fungal colonization leads to balance the redox status of the cell by adjusting the antioxidative enzyme system which in turn protects photosynthetic machinery of the plant from arsenic stress. We observed that fungus has ability to immobilize soluble arsenic and interestingly, it was also observed that fungal colonization restricts most of arsenic in the colonized root while a small fraction of it translocated to shoot of colonized plants. Our study suggests that P. indica protects the paddy (Oryza sativa) from arsenic toxicity by three different mechanisms viz. reducing the availability of free arsenic in the plant environment, bio-transformation of the toxic arsenic salts into insoluble particulate matter and modulating the antioxidative system of the host cell.}, } @article {pmid28536847, year = {2017}, author = {Koyama, A and Pietrangelo, O and Sanderson, L and Antunes, PM}, title = {An empirical investigation of the possibility of adaptability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to new hosts.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {553-563}, pmid = {28536847}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Allium/*microbiology ; Biomass ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Little is known about the adaptive capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to novel hosts. Here we assessed the possibility of two heterospecific AM fungal isolates to adaptively change, in terms of host biomass response, as a function of host plant identity, over the course of a growing season. First, we produced pure inocula of Rhizophagus clarus and Rhizophagus intraradices, each starting from a single spore. Second, we "trained" each isolate individually in a community with two plants, sudangrass (Sorgum bicolour subsp. drummondii) and leek (Aliium ampeloprasum var. porrum), using a dual-compartment system to allow the establishment of a common mycorrhizal network between the two hosts. Third, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to reciprocally test each "trained" clone, obtained from each compartment, either with the same (home), or the other host (away) under two contrasting phosphorus levels. Overall, results did not support adaptive responses of the AM fungi to their hosts (i.e., greater host biomass under "home" relative to "away" conditions), but the opposite (i.e., greater host biomass under "away" relative to "home" conditions) was more frequently observed. These changes in AM fungal symbiotic functioning open the possibility for relatively rapid genetic change of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in response to new hosts, which represents one step forward from in vitro experiments.}, } @article {pmid28536610, year = {2016}, author = {Hasan, MM and Hasan, MM and Teixeira da Silva, JA and Li, X}, title = {Regulation of phosphorus uptake and utilization: transitioning from current knowledge to practical strategies.}, journal = {Cellular & molecular biology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {7}, pmid = {28536610}, issn = {1689-1392}, mesh = {Crop Production/*methods ; Magnoliopsida/*metabolism/physiology ; Mycorrhizae ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus is a poorly bioavailable macronutrient that is essential for crop growth and yield. Overuse of phosphorus fertilizers results in low phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), has serious environmental consequences and accelerates the depletion of phosphorus mineral reserves. It has become extremely challenging to improve PUE while preserving global food supplies and maintaining environmental sustainability. Molecular and genetic analyses have revealed the primary mechanisms of phosphorus uptake and utilization and their relationships to phosphorus transporters, regulators, root architecture, metabolic adaptations, quantitative trait loci, hormonal signaling and microRNA. The ability to improve PUE requires a transition from this knowledge of molecular mechanisms and plant architecture to practical strategies. These could include: i) the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbioses for efficient phosphorus mining and uptake; ii) intercropping with suitable crop species to achieve phosphorus activation and mobilization in the soil; and iii) tissue-specific overexpression of homologous genes with advantageous agronomic properties for higher PUE along with breeding for phosphorus-efficient varieties and introgression of key quantitative trait loci. More effort is required to further dissect the mechanisms controlling phosphorus uptake and utilization within plants and provide new insight into the means to efficiently improve PUE.}, } @article {pmid28536565, year = {2017}, author = {Stenegren, M and Berg, C and Padilla, CC and David, SS and Montoya, JP and Yager, PL and Foster, RA}, title = {Piecewise Structural Equation Model (SEM) Disentangles the Environmental Conditions Favoring Diatom Diazotroph Associations (DDAs) in the Western Tropical North Atlantic (WTNA).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {810}, pmid = {28536565}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Diatom diazotroph associations (DDAs) are important components in the world's oceans, especially in the western tropical north Atlantic (WTNA), where blooms have a significant impact on carbon and nitrogen cycling. However, drivers of their abundances and distribution patterns remain unknown. Here, we examined abundance and distribution patterns for two DDA populations in relation to the Amazon River (AR) plume in the WTNA. Quantitative PCR assays, targeting two DDAs (het-1 and het-2) by their symbiont's nifH gene, served as input in a piecewise structural equation model (SEM). Collections were made during high (spring 2010) and low (fall 2011) flow discharges of the AR. The distributions of dissolved nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and DDAs showed coherent patterns indicative of areas influenced by the AR. A symbiotic Hemiaulus hauckii-Richelia (het-2) bloom (>10[6] cells L[-1]) occurred during higher discharge of the AR and was coincident with mesohaline to oceanic (30-35) sea surface salinities (SSS), and regions devoid of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), low concentrations of both DIP (>0.1 μmol L[-1]) and Si (>1.0 μmol L[-1]). The Richelia (het-1) associated with Rhizosolenia was only present in 2010 and at lower densities (10-1.76 × 10[5]nifH copies L[-1]) than het-2 and limited to regions of oceanic SSS (>36). The het-2 symbiont detected in 2011 was associated with H. membranaceus (>10[3]nifH copies L[-1]) and were restricted to regions with mesohaline SSS (31.8-34.3), immeasurable DIN, moderate DIP (0.1-0.60 μmol L[-1]) and higher Si (4.19-22.1 μmol L[-1]). The piecewise SEM identified a profound direct negative effect of turbidity on the het-2 abundance in spring 2010, while DIP and water turbidity had a more positive influence in fall 2011, corroborating our observations of DDAs at subsurface maximas. We also found a striking difference in the influence of salinity on DDA symbionts suggesting a niche differentiation and preferences in oceanic and mesohaline salinities by het-1 and het-2, respectively. The use of the piecewise SEM to disentangle the complex and concomitant hydrography of the WTNA acting on two biogeochemically relevant populations was novel and underscores its use to predict conditions favoring abundance and distributions of microbial populations.}, } @article {pmid28536564, year = {2017}, author = {Alvarenga, DO and Fiore, MF and Varani, AM}, title = {A Metagenomic Approach to Cyanobacterial Genomics.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {809}, pmid = {28536564}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria, or oxyphotobacteria, are primary producers that establish ecological interactions with a wide variety of organisms. Although their associations with eukaryotes have received most attention, interactions with bacterial and archaeal symbionts have also been occurring for billions of years. Due to these associations, obtaining axenic cultures of cyanobacteria is usually difficult, and most isolation efforts result in unicyanobacterial cultures containing a number of associated microbes, hence composing a microbial consortium. With rising numbers of cyanobacterial blooms due to climate change, demand for genomic evaluations of these microorganisms is increasing. However, standard genomic techniques call for the sequencing of axenic cultures, an approach that not only adds months or even years for culture purification, but also appears to be impossible for some cyanobacteria, which is reflected in the relatively low number of publicly available genomic sequences of this phylum. Under the framework of metagenomics, on the other hand, cumbersome techniques for achieving axenic growth can be circumvented and individual genomes can be successfully obtained from microbial consortia. This review focuses on approaches for the genomic and metagenomic assessment of non-axenic cyanobacterial cultures that bypass requirements for axenity. These methods enable researchers to achieve faster and less costly genomic characterizations of cyanobacterial strains and raise additional information about their associated microorganisms. While non-axenic cultures may have been previously frowned upon in cyanobacteriology, latest advancements in metagenomics have provided new possibilities for in vitro studies of oxyphotobacteria, renewing the value of microbial consortia as a reliable and functional resource for the rapid assessment of bloom-forming cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid28536562, year = {2017}, author = {Carvalho, RDO and do Carmo, FLR and de Oliveira Junior, A and Langella, P and Chatel, JM and Bermúdez-Humarán, LG and Azevedo, V and de Azevedo, MS}, title = {Use of Wild Type or Recombinant Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Alternative Treatment for Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases: A Focus on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Mucositis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {800}, pmid = {28536562}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is highly colonized by bacterial communities, which live in a symbiotic relationship with the host in normal conditions. It has been shown that a dysfunctional interaction between the intestinal microbiota and the host immune system, known as dysbiosis, is a very important factor responsible for the development of different inflammatory conditions of the GIT, such as the idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a complex and multifactorial disorder of the GIT. Dysbiosis has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of other GIT inflammatory diseases such as mucositis usually caused as an adverse effect of chemotherapy. As both diseases have become a great clinical problem, many research groups have been focusing on developing new strategies for the treatment of IBD and mucositis. In this review, we show that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been capable in preventing and treating both disorders in animal models, suggesting they may be ready for clinical trials. In addition, we present the most current studies on the use of wild type or genetically engineered LAB strains designed to express anti-inflammatory proteins as a promising strategy in the treatment of IBD and mucositis.}, } @article {pmid28536033, year = {2017}, author = {Cornish-Bowden, A and Cárdenas, ML}, title = {Life before LUCA.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {68-74}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.05.023}, pmid = {28536033}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Archaea/cytology ; Bacteria/cytology ; Biocatalysis ; Giant Viruses/genetics ; Life ; *Origin of Life ; }, abstract = {We see the last universal common ancestor of all living organisms, or LUCA, at the evolutionary separation of the Archaea from the Eubacteria, and before the symbiotic event believed to have led to the Eukarya. LUCA is often implicitly taken to be close to the origin of life, and sometimes this is even stated explicitly. However, LUCA already had the capacity to code for many proteins, and had some of the same bioenergetic capacities as modern organisms. An organism at the origin of life must have been vastly simpler, and this invites the question of how to define a living organism. Even if acceptance of the giant viruses as living organisms forces the definition of LUCA to be revised, it will not alter the essential point that LUCA should be regarded as a recent player in the evolution of life.}, } @article {pmid28535846, year = {2017}, author = {Kono, M and Tanabe, H and Ohmura, Y and Satta, Y and Terai, Y}, title = {Physical contact and carbon transfer between a lichen-forming Trebouxia alga and a novel Alphaproteobacterium.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {163}, number = {5}, pages = {678-691}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000461}, pmid = {28535846}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Glucose/metabolism ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lichens/microbiology ; Mannitol/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Ribitol/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Recent progress in molecular techniques has begun to alter traditional recognition of lichens as symbiotic organisms comprised of a fungus and photosynthetic partners (green algae and/or cyanobacteria). Diverse organisms, especially various non-photosynthetic bacteria, are now indicated to be integral components of lichen symbiosis. Although lichen-associated bacteria are inferred to have functions that could support the symbiosis, little is known about their physical and nutritional interaction with fungi and algae. In the present study, we identified specific interaction between a lichen-forming alga and a novel bacterium. Trebouxia alga was isolated from a lichen, Usnea hakonensis, and kept as a strain for 8 years. Although no visible bacterial colonies were observed in this culture, high-throughput sequencing of DNA isolated from the culture revealed that the strain is composed of a Trebouxia alga and an Alphaproteobacterium species. In situ hybridization showed that bacterial cells were localized on the surface of the algal cells. Physiological assays revealed that the bacterium was able to use ribitol, glucose and mannitol, all of which are known to exist abundantly in lichens. It was resistant to three antibiotics. Bacteria closely related to this species were also identified in lichen specimens, indicating that U. hakonensis may commonly associate with this group of bacteria. These features of the novel bacterium suggest that it may be involved in carbon cycling of U. hakonensis as a member of lichen symbiosis and less likely to have become associated with the alga after isolation from a lichen.}, } @article {pmid28535447, year = {2017}, author = {Adiansyah, JS and Haque, N and Rosano, M and Biswas, W}, title = {Application of a life cycle assessment to compare environmental performance in coal mine tailings management.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {199}, number = {}, pages = {181-191}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.05.050}, pmid = {28535447}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Australia ; Coal ; *Environment ; *Environmental Pollutants ; Industry ; *Mining ; }, abstract = {This study compares coal mine tailings management strategies using life cycle assessment (LCA) and land-use area metrics methods. Hybrid methods (the Australian indicator set and the ReCiPe method) were used to assess the environmental impacts of tailings management strategies. Several strategies were considered: belt filter press (OPT 1), tailings paste (OPT 2), thickened tailings (OPT 3), and variations of OPT 1 using combinations of technology improvement and renewable energy sources (OPT 1A-D). Electrical energy was found to contribute more than 90% of the environmental impacts. The magnitude of land-use impacts associated with OPT 3 (thickened tailings) were 2.3 and 1.55 times higher than OPT 1 (tailings cake) and OPT 2 (tailings paste) respectively, while OPT 1B (tailings belt filter press with technology improvement and solar energy) and 1D (tailings belt press filter with technology improvement and wind energy) had the lowest ratio of environmental impact to land-use. Further analysis of an economic cost model and reuse opportunities is required to aid decision making on sustainable tailings management and industrial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28535261, year = {2017}, author = {Capela, D and Marchetti, M and Clérissi, C and Perrier, A and Guetta, D and Gris, C and Valls, M and Jauneau, A and Cruveiller, S and Rocha, EPC and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Recruitment of a Lineage-Specific Virulence Regulatory Pathway Promotes Intracellular Infection by a Plant Pathogen Experimentally Evolved into a Legume Symbiont.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {2503-2521}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msx165}, pmid = {28535261}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Directed Molecular Evolution ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Mimosa/*genetics ; Mutation ; Plasmids/genetics ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ecological transitions between different lifestyles, such as pathogenicity, mutualism and saprophytism, have been very frequent in the course of microbial evolution, and often driven by horizontal gene transfer. Yet, how genomes achieve the ecological transition initiated by the transfer of complex biological traits remains poorly known. Here, we used experimental evolution, genomics, transcriptomics and high-resolution phenotyping to analyze the evolution of the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum into legume symbionts, following the transfer of a natural plasmid encoding the essential mutualistic genes. We show that a regulatory pathway of the recipient R. solanacearum genome involved in extracellular infection of natural hosts was reused to improve intracellular symbiosis with the Mimosa pudica legume. Optimization of intracellular infection capacity was gained through mutations affecting two components of a new regulatory pathway, the transcriptional regulator efpR and a region upstream from the RSc0965-0967 genes of unknown functions. Adaptive mutations caused the downregulation of efpR and the over-expression of a downstream regulatory module, the three unknown genes RSc3146-3148, two of which encoding proteins likely associated to the membrane. This over-expression led to important metabolic and transcriptomic changes and a drastic qualitative and quantitative improvement of nodule intracellular infection. In addition, these adaptive mutations decreased the virulence of the original pathogen. The complete efpR/RSc3146-3148 pathway could only be identified in the genomes of the pathogenic R. solanacearum species complex. Our findings illustrate how the rewiring of a genetic network regulating virulence allows a radically different type of symbiotic interaction and contributes to ecological transitions and trade-offs.}, } @article {pmid28534105, year = {2017}, author = {Zotzmann, S and Steinbrink, A and Schleich, K and Frantzmann, F and Xoumpholphakdy, C and Spaeth, M and Moro, CV and Mavingui, P and Klimpel, S}, title = {Bacterial diversity of cosmopolitan Culex pipiens and invasive Aedes japonicus from Germany.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {116}, number = {7}, pages = {1899-1906}, pmid = {28534105}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Culex/*microbiology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Germany ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria have gained significant attention in recent years. For example, microbiota of some mosquito species seems to influence the development and transmission of pathogens. Furthermore, several attempts using bacteria as a paratransgenetic tool have been made in order to assist the control of mosquito-borne diseases. In this study, we examined the bacterial diversity of wild-caught adult Culex (Cx.) pipiens and laboratory-reared adult Aedes japonicus (Ae. japonicus) in Germany using a culture-independent method. Genomic DNA was extracted from each specimen and submitted to PCR amplification of eubacterial 16S rDNA. After the cloning reaction, 28 bacterial transformants per sample containing the 16S rDNA inserts were selected per each sample for sequencing. The analysed specimens of Cx. pipiens as well as of Ae. japonicus showed a diverse bacterial community including some common bacterial genera. Blast analysis allowed to identify 21 bacterial genera belonging to 2 phyla among the 23 specimens of Cx. pipiens. The 14 analysed Ae. japonicus revealed 11 bacterial genera belonging to 3 phyla. In both mosquito species, identified isolates were mainly Proteobacteria. Only 4 of the bacterial genera were found in both mosquito species, with the most prevalent genera Sphingomonas and Rahnella in Cx. pipiens and in Ae. japonicus respectively. Most of the bacterial genera found in our study have been identified in other mosquito species before. Due to the currently scarce data situation, ongoing examinations on the very abundant bacterial genera or species are strongly required to determine their relevance for the biology and adaptiveness of mosquitoes including pathogen-host relationship.}, } @article {pmid28533949, year = {2017}, author = {Brown, T and Otero, C and Grajales, A and Rodriguez, E and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Worldwide exploration of the microbiome harbored by the cnidarian model, Exaiptasia pallida (Agassiz in Verrill, 1864) indicates a lack of bacterial association specificity at a lower taxonomic rank.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3235}, pmid = {28533949}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Examination of host-microbe interactions in early diverging metazoans, such as cnidarians, is of great interest from an evolutionary perspective to understand how host-microbial consortia have evolved. To address this problem, we analyzed whether the bacterial community associated with the cosmopolitan and model sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida shows specific patterns across worldwide populations ranging from the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. By comparing sequences of the V1-V3 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, we revealed that anemones host a complex and diverse microbial community. When examined at the phylum level, bacterial diversity and abundance associated with E. pallida are broadly conserved across geographic space with samples, containing largely Proteobacteria and Bacteroides. However, the species-level makeup within these phyla differs drastically across space suggesting a high-level core microbiome with local adaptation of the constituents. Indeed, no bacterial OTU was ubiquitously found in all anemones samples. We also revealed changes in the microbial community structure after rearing anemone specimens in captivity within a period of four months. Furthermore, the variation in bacterial community assemblages across geographical locations did not correlate with the composition of microalgal Symbiodinium symbionts. Our findings contrast with the postulation that cnidarian hosts might actively select and maintain species-specific microbial communities that could have resulted from an intimate co-evolution process. The fact that E. pallida is likely an introduced species in most sampled localities suggests that this microbial turnover is a relatively rapid process. Our findings suggest that environmental settings, not host specificity, seem to dictate bacterial community structure associated with this sea anemone. More than maintaining a specific composition of bacterial species some cnidarians associate with a wide range of bacterial species as long as they provide the same physiological benefits towards the maintenance of a healthy host. The examination of the previously uncharacterized bacterial community associated with the cnidarian sea anemone model E. pallida is the first global-scale study of its kind.}, } @article {pmid28533896, year = {2017}, author = {Krieg, C and Watkins, JE and Chambers, S and Husby, CE}, title = {Sex-specific differences in functional traits and resource acquisition in five cycad species.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {013}, pmid = {28533896}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Selective pressures acting on plant life histories can drive extreme specialization. One example of such specialization is the evolution of dioecious breeding systems. Evolutionary and ecological theory posits that dioecy may subject male and female individuals to different selective pressures and result in unique sex-mediated adaptive traits related to resource allocation and ecophysiology. Cycads are the earliest diverging lineage of seed plants with strict dioecy, yet we know almost nothing about the ecology and physiology of this group. Especially limited is our understanding of potential sex-specific differences and how such differences may influence species ecology. Here we examine the ecophysiology of male and female cycads to understand better, the role that dioecy plays in this group. We evaluated sex-specific differences in ecophysiological traits and resource acquisition in five species. Specifically, we compared photosynthetic physiology, nitrogen and carbon content, isotope discrimination (δ[15]N and δ[13]C), and stomatal density. In some cycads, (i) males and females have similar investments in leaf nitrogen but females exhibit greater incorporation of nitrogen from nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, (ii) males display higher photosynthetic capacity but females show decreased [corrected] water-use efficiency, and (iii) males have higher stomatal conductance but similar stomatal density to females. This study is the first to examine the ecophysiological differences that have evolved in the oldest dioecious lineage of seed-bearing plants. Our results show unexpected differences in photosynthetic physiology and highlight the co-evolution with nitrogen fixing soil bacteria as a potential new key player in an old lineage.}, } @article {pmid28533766, year = {2017}, author = {Moitinho-Silva, L and Steinert, G and Nielsen, S and Hardoim, CCP and Wu, YC and McCormack, GP and López-Legentil, S and Marchant, R and Webster, N and Thomas, T and Hentschel, U}, title = {Predicting the HMA-LMA Status in Marine Sponges by Machine Learning.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {752}, pmid = {28533766}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The dichotomy between high microbial abundance (HMA) and low microbial abundance (LMA) sponges has been observed in sponge-microbe symbiosis, although the extent of this pattern remains poorly unknown. We characterized the differences between the microbiomes of HMA (n = 19) and LMA (n = 17) sponges (575 specimens) present in the Sponge Microbiome Project. HMA sponges were associated with richer and more diverse microbiomes than LMA sponges, as indicated by the comparison of alpha diversity metrics. Microbial community structures differed between HMA and LMA sponges considering Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) abundances and across microbial taxonomic levels, from phylum to species. The largest proportion of microbiome variation was explained by the host identity. Several phyla, classes, and OTUs were found differentially abundant in either group, which were considered "HMA indicators" and "LMA indicators." Machine learning algorithms (classifiers) were trained to predict the HMA-LMA status of sponges. Among nine different classifiers, higher performances were achieved by Random Forest trained with phylum and class abundances. Random Forest with optimized parameters predicted the HMA-LMA status of additional 135 sponge species (1,232 specimens) without a priori knowledge. These sponges were grouped in four clusters, from which the largest two were composed of species consistently predicted as HMA (n = 44) and LMA (n = 74). In summary, our analyses shown distinct features of the microbial communities associated with HMA and LMA sponges. The prediction of the HMA-LMA status based on the microbiome profiles of sponges demonstrates the application of machine learning to explore patterns of host-associated microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid28530168, year = {2017}, author = {de Vos, WM}, title = {Microbe Profile: Akkermansia muciniphila: a conserved intestinal symbiont that acts as the gatekeeper of our mucosa.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {163}, number = {5}, pages = {646-648}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000444}, pmid = {28530168}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/*microbiology ; Intestines/microbiology ; Mucins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Verrucomicrobia/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Akkermansia muciniphila is an abundant inhabitant of the intestinal tract of humans and many other animals. It is the sole intestinal representative of the verrucomicrobia in human stools and depleted in adults suffering from obesity, diabetes and several other diseases. A. muciniphila degrades intestinal mucin into mainly propionic and acetic acid, and lives in symbiosis with its host, marked by signalling to immune and metabolic pathways, priming trophic chains and likely providing competitive exclusion at the host-microbe interface. Since its recent discovery, A. muciniphila has increasingly been studied and recognized as a true intestinal symbiont promoting beneficial interactions in the intestinal tract.}, } @article {pmid28529233, year = {2017}, author = {Chacón, H}, title = {The Medicinal Rod: Slave Health and Redhibition Law in George Washington Cable's The Grandissimes.}, journal = {Literature and medicine}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {123-143}, doi = {10.1353/lm.2017.0005}, pmid = {28529233}, issn = {0278-9671}, mesh = {Black or African American/*history ; Enslaved Persons/*history ; *Health Status ; History, 19th Century ; Humans ; *Literature, Modern ; Louisiana ; Male ; *Medicine in Literature ; *Politics ; Racism/*history ; Torture/*history ; *Work Capacity Evaluation ; }, abstract = {The economic transactions and litigation necessary for slavery to function, coupled with the South's honor culture, meant skepticism and posturing frequently attended the buying and selling of enslaved people. This atmosphere provided opportunities for enslaved individuals familiar with the symbiotic ways their health and value intertwined to manipulate owners by feigning illness or adopting behaviors contrary to those of a "sound and sane" captive under Louisiana's redhibitory (slave warranty) law. Such actions offered a chance at preserving that which slavery denied its victims: proximity to family, a reduced chance of being sold, and an opportunity to exert agency within a strictly oppressive system. In dramatizing these paradoxes, George Washington Cable's The Grandissimes illustrates the vile hollowness of owners' paternalistic attitudes towards the enslaved, acknowledges the subjectivity and will of enslaved individuals, and castigates the return of slavery-like conditions in the form of the convict lease system.}, } @article {pmid28528645, year = {2017}, author = {Bacon, B and Nisbett, LM and Boon, E}, title = {Bacterial Haemoprotein Sensors of NO: H-NOX and NosP.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {1-36}, pmid = {28528645}, issn = {2162-5468}, support = {R01 GM118894/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM092714/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Heme/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hemeproteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Quorum Sensing/physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; }, abstract = {Low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) modulate varied behaviours in bacteria including biofilm dispersal and quorum sensing-dependent light production. H-NOX (haem-nitric oxide/oxygen binding) is a haem-bound protein domain that has been shown to be involved in mediating these bacterial responses to NO in several organisms. However, many bacteria that respond to nanomolar concentrations of NO do not contain an annotated H-NOX domain. Nitric oxide sensing protein (NosP), a newly discovered bacterial NO-sensing haemoprotein, may fill this role. The focus of this review is to discuss structure, ligand binding, and activation of H-NOX proteins, as well as to discuss the early evidence for NO sensing and regulation by NosP domains. Further, these findings are connected to the regulation of bacterial biofilm phenotypes and symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid28528390, year = {2017}, author = {Ballhorn, DJ and Elias, JD and Balkan, MA and Fordyce, RF and Kennedy, PG}, title = {Colonization by nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria causes short-term increases in herbivore susceptibility in red alder (Alnus rubra) seedlings.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {184}, number = {2}, pages = {497-506}, pmid = {28528390}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Alnus ; *Frankia ; *Herbivory ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria ; Oregon ; Seedlings ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Carbon allocation demands from root-nodulating nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) can modulate the host plant's chemical phenotype, with strong bottom-up effects on herbivores. In contrast to well-studied rhizobia, the effects of other important NFB on plant chemistry and herbivory are much less understood. Here, combining field surveys in the Oregon Coast Range, USA with laboratory experiments, we analyzed how N2-fixing Frankia bacteria influenced plant growth, chemistry, and herbivory on Alnus rubra (red alder) seedlings. In the field, we quantified Frankia nodulation, herbivore damage, and plant size. In the laboratory, we grew seedlings with Frankia (F+), Frankia-free but nitrogen-fertilized (N+), or both uncolonized and unfertilized (F-N-) and assessed growth and leaf chemistry. We further conducted choice trials with black slugs, Arion rufus, a natural red alder herbivore. In the field, Frankia nodulation was significantly positively correlated with herbivory and negatively with seedling height. In contrast, in the lab, F+ as well as N+ seedlings were significantly taller than the F-N- controls. Seedlings from both treatments also had significantly increased leaf protein concentration compared to controls, whereas carbon-based nutritive compounds (carbohydrates) as well as leaf palatability-decreasing condensed tannins, lignin, and fiber were decreased in F+ but not in N+ treatments. In the choice assays, slugs preferred leaf material from F+ seedlings, but the effects were only significant in young leaves. Our study indicates that colonization by Frankia causes short-term ecological costs in terms of susceptibility to herbivory. However, the ubiquity of this symbiosis in natural settings suggests that these costs are outweighed by benefits beyond the seedling stage.}, } @article {pmid28527509, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, XM and Li, XB and Peng, Y}, title = {Impact of Qi-invigorating traditional Chinese medicines on intestinal flora: A basis for rational choice of prebiotics.}, journal = {Chinese journal of natural medicines}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {241-254}, doi = {10.1016/S1875-5364(17)30041-9}, pmid = {28527509}, issn = {1875-5364}, mesh = {Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; *Prebiotics ; Qi ; }, abstract = {According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Qi (vital energy) is regarded as a driving force of biological activities in human body, including both nutrient substances and organ functions. Qi-invigorating TCMs are widely used to treat various symptoms and disorders, such as fatigue, obesity, immunosuppression, intestinal flora imbalance, and gastrointestinal diseases, in which Qi is considered to be reduced or depleted. Interestingly, abundant clinical evidences suggest that these disorders are associated with the alternation of intestinal flora, which directly affects disease status. Herein we review the interaction between gut microbiota and Qi-invigorating TCMs under healthy and disease conditions and discuss the mechanisms of action and applications of Qi-invigorating TCMs in enhancing health status through microbial alternation. A better understanding of the role of Qi-invigorating TCMs in modulating microbial composition and the association between intestinal microbiota and diseases would help reveal the clinical consequences of microbiota alteration and explore opportunities to harness this symbiotic relationship to improve public health.}, } @article {pmid28526895, year = {2017}, author = {Dreyer, J and Malan, AP and Dicks, LMT}, title = {Three Novel Xenorhabdus-Steinernema Associations and Evidence of Strains of X. khoisanae Switching Between Different Clades.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {8}, pages = {938-942}, pmid = {28526895}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Tylenchida/*microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus species are normally closely associated with entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Steinernematidae. Strain F2, isolated from Steinernema nguyeni, was identified as Xenorhabdus bovienii and strains J194 and SB10, isolated from Steinernema jeffreyense and Steinernema sacchari as Xenorhabdus khoisanae, based on phenotypic characteristics and sequencing of 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes dnaN, gltX, gyrB, infB and recA. All three strains produced antimicrobial compounds that inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This is the first report of associations between strains of the symbiotic bacteria X. bovienii with S. nguyeni, and X. khoisanae with S. jeffreyense and S. sacchari. This provides evidence that strains of Xenorhabdus spp. may switch between nematode species within the same clade and between different clades.}, } @article {pmid28526748, year = {2017}, author = {Robinson, LS and Lewis, WG and Lewis, AL}, title = {The sialate O-acetylesterase EstA from gut Bacteroidetes species enables sialidase-mediated cross-species foraging of 9-O-acetylated sialoglycans.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {292}, number = {28}, pages = {11861-11872}, pmid = {28526748}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; R01 AI114635/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylation ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Bacteroides fragilis/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology ; Bacteroidetes/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Cattle ; Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli/growth & development/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Mucins/*metabolism ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/metabolism ; Neuraminidase/genetics/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Streptococcus agalactiae/growth & development/physiology ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {The gut harbors many symbiotic, commensal, and pathogenic microbes that break down and metabolize host carbohydrates. Sialic acids are prominent outermost carbohydrates on host glycoproteins called mucins and protect underlying glycan chains from enzymatic degradation. Sialidases produced by some members of the colonic microbiota can promote the expansion of several potential pathogens (e.g. Clostridium difficile, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli) that do not produce sialidases. O-Acetyl ester modifications of sialic acids help resist the action of many sialidases and are present at high levels in the mammalian colon. However, some gut bacteria, in turn, produce sialylate-O-acetylesterases to remove them. Here, we investigated O-acetyl ester removal and sialic acid degradation by Bacteroidetes sialate-O-acetylesterases and sialidases, respectively, and subsequent utilization of host sialic acids by both commensal and pathogenic E. coli strains. In vitro foraging studies demonstrated that sialidase-dependent E. coli growth on mucin is enabled by Bacteroides EstA, a sialate O-acetylesterase acting on glycosidically linked sialylate-O-acetylesterase substrates, particularly at neutral pH. Biochemical studies suggested that spontaneous migration of O-acetyl esters on the sialic acid side chain, which can occur at colonic pH, may serve as a switch controlling EstA-assisted sialic acid liberation. Specifically, EstA did not act on O-acetyl esters in their initial 7-position. However, following migration to the 9-position, glycans with O-acetyl esters became susceptible to the sequential actions of bacterial esterases and sialidases. We conclude that EstA specifically unlocks the nutritive potential of 9-O-acetylated mucus sialic acids for foraging by bacteria that otherwise are prevented from accessing this carbon source.}, } @article {pmid28521336, year = {2017}, author = {van der Meij, A and Worsley, SF and Hutchings, MI and van Wezel, GP}, title = {Chemical ecology of antibiotic production by actinomycetes.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {392-416}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fux005}, pmid = {28521336}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Actinomyces/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis ; Antibiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Insecta/microbiology ; Multigene Family/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Streptomyces/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Actinomycetes are a diverse family of filamentous bacteria that produce a plethora of natural products relevant for agriculture, biotechnology and medicine, including the majority of the antibiotics we use in the clinic. Rather than as free-living bacteria, many actinomycetes have evolved to live in symbiosis with among others plants, fungi, insects and sponges. As a common theme, these organisms profit from the natural products and enzymes produced by the actinomycetes, for example, for protection against pathogenic microbes, for growth promotion or for the degradation of complex natural polymers such as lignocellulose. At the same time, the actinomycetes benefit from the resources of the hosts they interact with. Evidence is accumulating that these interactions control the expression of biosynthetic gene clusters and have played a major role in the evolution of the high chemical diversity of actinomycete-produced secondary metabolites. Many of the biosynthetic gene clusters for antibiotics are poorly expressed under laboratory conditions, but they are likely expressed in response to host-specific demands. Here, we review the environmental triggers and cues that control natural product formation by actinomycetes and provide pointers as to how these insights may be harnessed for drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid28521260, year = {2017}, author = {Harrison, MJ and Ivanov, S}, title = {Exocytosis for endosymbiosis: membrane trafficking pathways for development of symbiotic membrane compartments.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {101-108}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2017.04.019}, pmid = {28521260}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Exocytosis/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {During endosymbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or rhizobial bacteria, the microbial symbionts are housed within membrane-bound compartments in root cortex or nodule cells respectively. Their development involves polarized deposition of membrane around the symbionts as they enter the cells and the membranes show functional specialization, including transporters that mediate nutrient transfer between host and symbiont. The cellular changes associated with development of these compartments point to membrane deposition via exocytosis and over the past few years, researchers have uncovered several proteins within the exocytotic pathway that are required for development of endosymbiotic membrane compartments. The emerging theme is that unique membrane trafficking homologs or splice variants have evolved to enable exocytosis during endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28521174, year = {2017}, author = {Vannini, C and Sigona, C and Hahn, M and Petroni, G and Fujishima, M}, title = {High degree of specificity in the association between symbiotic betaproteobacteria and the host Euplotes (Ciliophora, Euplotia).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {124-132}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2017.04.003}, pmid = {28521174}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Euplotes/*microbiology ; Host Specificity/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Betaproteobacteria-Euplotes association is an obligatory symbiotic system involving a monophyletic group of ciliate species and two betaproteobacteria species which can be alternatively present. Recent data showed that this relationship has been established more than once and that several symbiont-substitution events took place, revealing a complex and intriguing evolutionary path. Due to the different evolutionary pathways followed by the different symbionts, each bacterial strain could have differentially evolved and/or lost functional traits. Therefore, we performed re-infection experiments, both by phagocytosis and by microinjection, to test the possible functional role of the different bacteria towards the ciliates. Our results confirm that the growth capacity of the host is indissolubly linked to the presence of its original symbionts. Results of the attempts of re-infection by phagocytosis showed that none of the bacteria is able to successfully colonize the host cytoplasm in this way, even if regularly ingested. Re-infection by microinjection succeed only in one case. Such results point to a high degree of specificity in the interactions between bacteria and Euplotes even after the invasion step. Due to a co-evolutive pathway of reciprocal adaptation, different degree of re-colonization ability could have been conserved by the different species and strains of the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid28517039, year = {2017}, author = {Lehnert, H and Serfling, A and Enders, M and Friedt, W and Ordon, F}, title = {Genetics of mycorrhizal symbiosis in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {2}, pages = {779-791}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14595}, pmid = {28517039}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Triticum/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a major staple food and therefore of prime importance for feeding the Earth's growing population. Mycorrhiza is known to improve plant growth, but although extensive knowledge concerning the interaction between mycorrhizal fungi and plants is available, genotypic differences concerning the ability of wheat to form mycorrhizal symbiosis and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in mycorrhization are largely unknown. Therefore, a diverse set of 94 bread wheat genotypes was evaluated with regard to root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In order to identify genomic regions involved in mycorrhization, these genotypes were analyzed using the wheat 90k iSelect chip, resulting in 17 823 polymorphic mapped markers, which were used in a genome-wide association study. Significant genotypic differences (P < 0.0001) were detected in the ability to form symbiosis and 30 significant markers associated with root colonization, representing six QTL regions, were detected on chromosomes 3A, 4A and 7A, and candidate genes located in these QTL regions were proposed. The results reported here provide key insights into the genetics of root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi in wheat.}, } @article {pmid28515896, year = {2017}, author = {Onuţ-Brännström, I and Tibell, L and Johannesson, H}, title = {A worldwide phylogeography of the whiteworm lichens Thamnolia reveals three lineages with distinct habitats and evolutionary histories.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {3602-3615}, pmid = {28515896}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Thamnolia is a lichenized fungus with an extremely wide distribution, being encountered in arctic and alpine environments in most continents. In this study, we used molecular markers to investigate the population structure of the fungal symbiont and the associated photosynthetic partner of Thamnolia. By analyzing molecular, morphological, and chemical variation among 253 specimens covering the species distribution range, we revealed the existence of three mycobiont lineages. One lineage (Lineage A) is confined to the tundra region of Siberia and the Aleutian Islands, a second (Lineage B) is found in the high alpine region of the Alps and the Carpathians Mountains, and a third (Lineage C) has a worldwide distribution and covers both the aforementioned ecosystems. Molecular dating analysis indicated that the split of the three lineages is older than the last glacial maximum, but the distribution ranges and the population genetic analyses suggest an influence of last glacial period on the present-day population structure of each lineage. We found a very low diversity of Lineage B, but a higher and similar one in Lineages A and C. Demographic analyses suggested that Lineage C has its origin in the Northern Hemisphere, possibly Scandinavia, and that it has passed through a bottleneck followed by a recent population expansion. While all three lineages reproduce clonally, recombination tests suggest rare or past recombination in both Lineages A and C. Moreover, our data showed that Lineage C has a comparatively low photobiont specificity, being found associated with four widespread Trebouxia lineages (three of them also shared with other lichens), while Lineages A and B exclusively harbor T. simplex s. lat. Finally, we did not find support for the recognition of taxa in Thamnolia based on either morphological or chemical characters.}, } @article {pmid28515076, year = {2017}, author = {Gundel, PE and Rudgers, JA and Whitney, KD}, title = {Vertically transmitted symbionts as mechanisms of transgenerational effects.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {104}, number = {5}, pages = {787-792}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1700036}, pmid = {28515076}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Endophytes ; *Epichloe ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: A transgenerational effect occurs when a biotic or abiotic environmental factor acts on a parental individual and thereby affects the phenotype of progeny. Due to the importance of transgenerational effects for understanding plant ecology and evolution, their underlying mechanisms are of general interest. Here, we introduce the concept that inherited symbiotic microorganisms could act as mechanisms of transgenerational effects in plants.

METHODS: We define the criteria required to demonstrate that transgenerational effects are microbially mediated and review evidence from the well-studied, vertically transmitted plant-fungal symbiosis (grass-Epichloë spp.) in support of such effects. We also propose a basic experimental design to test for the presence of adaptive transgenerational effects mediated by plant symbionts.

KEY RESULTS: An increasingly large body of literature shows that vertically transmitted microorganisms are common in plants, with potential to affect the phenotypes and fitness of progeny. Transgenerational effects could occur via parental modification of symbiont presence/absence, symbiont load, symbiont products, symbiont genotype or species composition, or symbiont priming. Several of these mechanisms appear likely in the grass-Epichloë endophytic symbiosis, as there is variation in the proportion of the progeny that carries the fungus, as well as variation in concentrations of mycelia and secondary compounds (alkaloids and osmolytes) in the seed.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiont-mediated transgenerational effects could be common in plants and could play large roles in plant adaptation to changing environments, but definitive tests are needed. We hope our contribution will spark new lines of research on the transgenerational effects of vertically transmitted symbionts in plants.}, } @article {pmid28513564, year = {2017}, author = {Magarlamov, TY and Melnikova, DI and Chernyshev, AV}, title = {Tetrodotoxin-Producing Bacteria: Detection, Distribution and Migration of the Toxin in Aquatic Systems.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {28513564}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/classification/metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Drug Industry ; *Tetrodotoxin/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {This review is devoted to the marine bacterial producers of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent non-protein neuroparalytic toxin. In addition to the issues of the ecology and distribution of TTX-producing bacteria, this review examines issues relating to toxin migration from bacteria to TTX-bearing animals. It is shown that the mechanism of TTX extraction from toxin-producing bacteria to the environment occur through cell death, passive/active toxin excretion, or spore germination of spore-forming bacteria. Data on TTX microdistribution in toxic organs of TTX-bearing animals indicate toxin migration from the digestive system to target organs through the transport system of the organism. The role of symbiotic microflora in animal toxicity is also discussed: despite low toxin production by bacterial strains in laboratory conditions, even minimal amounts of TTX produced by intestinal microflora of an animal can contribute to its toxicity. Special attention is paid to methods of TTX detection applicable to bacteria. Due to the complexity of toxin detection in TTX-producing bacteria, it is necessary to use several methods based on different methodological approaches. Issues crucial for further progress in detecting natural sources of TTX investigation are also considered.}, } @article {pmid28512925, year = {2017}, author = {Menge, DNL and Batterman, SA and Liao, W and Taylor, BN and Lichstein, JW and Ángeles-Pérez, G}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing tree abundance in higher-latitude North America is not constrained by diversity.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {842-851}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12778}, pmid = {28512925}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Forests ; *Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; North America ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {The rarity of nitrogen (N)-fixing trees in frequently N-limited higher-latitude (here, > 35°) forests is a central biogeochemical paradox. One hypothesis for their rarity is that evolutionary constraints limit N-fixing tree diversity, preventing N-fixing species from filling available niches in higher-latitude forests. Here, we test this hypothesis using data from the USA and Mexico. N-fixing trees comprise only a slightly smaller fraction of taxa at higher vs. lower latitudes (8% vs. 11% of genera), despite 11-fold lower abundance (1.2% vs. 12.7% of basal area). Furthermore, N-fixing trees are abundant but belong to few species on tropical islands, suggesting that low absolute diversity does not limit their abundance. Rhizobial taxa dominate N-fixing tree richness at lower latitudes, whereas actinorhizal species do at higher latitudes. Our results suggest that low diversity does not explain N-fixing trees' rarity in higher-latitude forests. Therefore, N limitation in higher-latitude forests likely results from ecological constraints on N fixation.}, } @article {pmid28512574, year = {2017}, author = {Manszewski, T and Szpotkowski, K and Jaskolski, M}, title = {Crystallographic and SAXS studies of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase from Bradyrhizobium elkanii.}, journal = {IUCrJ}, volume = {4}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {271-282}, pmid = {28512574}, issn = {2052-2525}, abstract = {S-Adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHase) from the symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium elkanii (BeSAHase) was crystallized in four ligand complexes with (i) mixed adenosine (Ado) and cordycepin (Cord; 3'-deoxyadenosine), (ii) adenine (Ade), (iii) Ado and (iv) mixed 2'-deoxyadenosine (2'-dAdo) and Ade. The crystal structures were solved at resolutions of 1.84, 1.95, 1.95 and 1.54 Å, respectively. Only the Ade complex crystallized with a dimer in the asymmetric unit, while all of the other complexes formed a crystallographically independent tetrameric assembly. In the Ado/Cord complex, adenosine is found in three subunits while the fourth subunit has cordycepin bound in the active site. In the Ade and Ado complexes only these ligand molecules are present in the active sites. The 2'-dAdo/Ade complex has Ade bound in two subunits and 2'-dAdo bound in the other two subunits. The BeSAHase fold adopted a closed conformation in the complexes with Ado, Ade and 2'-dAdo, and a semi-open conformation when cordycepin occupied the active site. An SAHase-specific molecular gate, consisting of residues His342 and Phe343, behaves differently in the different complexes, but there is no simple correlation with the ligand type. Additional small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments confirm the tetrameric state of the protein in solution. The main conclusions from this work are (i) that the SAHase subunit does not simply oscillate between two discrete conformational open/closed states in correlation with the absence/presence of a ligand in the active site, but can also assume an intermediate form for some ligands; (ii) that the shut/open state of the molecular gate in the access channel to the active site is not correlated in a simple way with the open/closed subunit conformation or empty/occupied status of the active site, but that a variety of states are possible even for the same ligand; (iii) that a cation (typically sodium) coordinated in an intersubunit loop rigidifies a molecular hinge and thus stabilizes the closed conformation; (iv) that BeSAHase in solution is a tetramer, consistent with the model derived from crystallography.}, } @article {pmid28512450, year = {2017}, author = {Ktari, A and Gueddou, A and Nouioui, I and Miotello, G and Sarkar, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Sen, A and Armengaud, J and Gtari, M}, title = {Host Plant Compatibility Shapes the Proteogenome of Frankia coriariae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {720}, pmid = {28512450}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Molecular signaling networks in the actinorhizal rhizosphere select host-compatible Frankia strains, trigger the infection process and eventually the genesis of nitrogen-fixing nodules. The molecular triggers involved remain difficult to ascertain. Root exudates (RE) are highly dynamic substrates that play key roles in establishing the rhizosphere microbiome. RE are known to induce the secretion by rhizobia of Nod factors, polysaccharides, and other proteins in the case of legume symbiosis. Next-generation proteomic approach was here used to decipher the key bacterial signals matching the first-step recognition of host plant stimuli upon treatment of Frankia coriariae strain BMG5.1 with RE derived from compatible (Coriaria myrtifolia), incompatible (Alnus glutinosa), and non-actinorhizal (Cucumis melo) host plants. The Frankia proteome dynamics were mainly driven by host compatibility. Both metabolism and signal transduction were the dominant activities for BMG5.1 under the different RE conditions tested. A second set of proteins that were solely induced by C. myrtifolia RE and were mainly linked to cell wall remodeling, signal transduction and host signal processing activities. These proteins may footprint early steps in receptive recognition of host stimuli before subsequent events of symbiotic recruitment.}, } @article {pmid28512344, year = {2017}, author = {Samorì, C and Caroselli, E and Prada, F and Reggi, M and Fermani, S and Dubinsky, Z and Goffredo, S and Falini, G}, title = {Ecological relevance of skeletal fatty acid concentration and composition in Mediterranean scleractinian corals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1929}, pmid = {28512344}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry/*metabolism ; Ecology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Mediterranean Sea ; }, abstract = {The intra-skeletal fatty acid concentration and composition of four Mediterranean coral species, namely Cladocora caespitosa, Balanophyllia europaea, Astroides calycularis and Leptopsammia pruvoti, were examined in young and old individuals living in three different locations of the Mediterranean Sea. These species are characterized by diverse levels of organization (solitary or colonial) and trophic strategies (symbiotic or non-symbiotic). Fatty acids have manifold fundamental roles comprehensive of membrane structure fluidity, cell signaling and energy storage. For all species, except for B. europaea, the intra-skeletal fatty acid concentration was significantly higher in young individuals than in old ones. Moreover, fatty acid concentration was higher in colonial corals than in solitary ones and in the symbiotic corals compared to non-symbiotic ones. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed that palmitic acid (16:0) was the most abundant fatty acid, followed by stearic (18:0) in order of concentration. Oleic acid (18:1) was detected as the third main component only in skeletons from symbiotic corals. These results suggest that, in the limits of the studied species, intra-skeletal fatty acid composition and concentration may be used for specific cases as a proxy of level of organization and trophic strategy, and eventually coral age.}, } @article {pmid28512250, year = {2017}, author = {Thursby, E and Juge, N}, title = {Introduction to the human gut microbiota.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {474}, number = {11}, pages = {1823-1836}, pmid = {28512250}, issn = {1470-8728}, support = {BBS/E/F/00044452/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004529/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology/physiopathology/prevention & control ; *Evidence-Based Medicine ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Health Status ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Phylogeography/methods/trends ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbours a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms, the gut microbiota, which exert a marked influence on the host during homeostasis and disease. Multiple factors contribute to the establishment of the human gut microbiota during infancy. Diet is considered as one of the main drivers in shaping the gut microbiota across the life time. Intestinal bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining immune and metabolic homeostasis and protecting against pathogens. Altered gut bacterial composition (dysbiosis) has been associated with the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases and infections. The interpretation of these studies relies on a better understanding of inter-individual variations, heterogeneity of bacterial communities along and across the GI tract, functional redundancy and the need to distinguish cause from effect in states of dysbiosis. This review summarises our current understanding of the development and composition of the human GI microbiota, and its impact on gut integrity and host health, underlying the need for mechanistic studies focusing on host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid28510705, year = {2017}, author = {Kita, A and Jimbo, M and Sakai, R and Morimoto, Y and Takeuchi, R and Tanaka, H and Takahashi, T and Miki, K}, title = {Crystal structure of octocoral lectin SLL-2 complexed with Forssman antigen tetrasaccharide.}, journal = {Glycobiology}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {696-700}, doi = {10.1093/glycob/cwx043}, pmid = {28510705}, issn = {1460-2423}, abstract = {A symbiosis-related lectin, SLL-2, from the octocoral Sinularia lochmodes, distributes densely on the cell surface of microalgae, Symbiodinium sp., an endosymbiotic dinoflagellate of the coral, and is also shown to be a chemical cue that transforms dinoflagellates into a nonmotile (coccoid) symbiotic state. SLL-2 binds to the sugar chain of the molecule similar to Forssman antigen pentasaccharide (GalNAcα1-3GalNAcβ1-3 Galα1-4 Galβ1-4Glc) on the surface of microalgae with high affinity. Here we report the crystal structure of the complex between SLL-2 and Forssman antigen tetrasaccharide (GalNAcα1-3GalNAcβ1-3 Galα1-4 Galβ) at 3.4 Å resolution. In an asymmetric unit of the crystal, there are two hexameric molecules with totally 12 sugar recognition sites. At 9 in 12 sites, the first and second saccharides of the Forssman antigen tetrasaccharide bind directly to galactopyranoside binding site of SLL-2, whereas the third and fourth saccharides have no interaction with the SLL-2 hexameric molecule that binds the first saccharide. The sugar chain bends at α-1,4-glycosidic linkage between the third and fourth saccharides toward the position that we defined as a pyranoside binding site in the crystal structure of the complex between SLL-2 and GalNAc. The structure allowed us to suggest a possible binding mode of the Forssman antigen pentasaccharide to SLL-2. These observations support our hypothesis that the binding of SLL-2 to the cell surface sugars of zooxanthella in a unique manner might trigger some physiological changes of the cell to adapt symbiosis with the host coral.}, } @article {pmid28508168, year = {2017}, author = {Lee, J and Jang, A and Kim, JW and Han, JH and Chun, BH and Jung, HS and Jeon, CO and Myung, SC}, title = {Distinct Histone Modifications Modulate DEFB1 Expression in Human Vaginal Keratinocytes in Response to Lactobacillus spp.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {406-414}, pmid = {28508168}, issn = {1867-1314}, mesh = {Cell Line ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; DNA Methylation ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Female ; *Histone Code ; Humans ; Keratinocytes/*microbiology ; *Lactobacillus ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vagina/*cytology/microbiology ; beta-Defensins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vaginal commensal lactobacilli are considered to contribute significantly to the control of vaginal microbiota by competing with other microflora for adherence to the vaginal epithelium and by producing antimicrobial compounds. However, the molecular mechanisms of symbiotic prokaryotic-eukaryotic communication in the vaginal ecosystem remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that both DNA methylation and histone modifications were associated with expression of the DEFB1 gene, which encodes the antimicrobial peptide human β-defensin-1, in vaginal keratinocyte VK2/E6E7 cells. We investigated whether exposure to Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus reuteri would trigger the epigenetic modulation of DEFB1 expression in VK2/E6E7 cells in a bacterial species-dependent manner. While enhanced expression of DEFB1 was observed when VK2/E6E7 cells were exposed to L. gasseri, treatment with L. reuteri resulted in reduced DEFB1 expression. Moreover, L. gasseri stimulated the recruitment of active histone marks and, in contrast, L. reuteri led to the decrease of active histone marks at the DEFB1 promoter. It was remarkable that distinct histone modifications within the same promoter region of DEFB1 were mediated by L. gasseri and L. reuteri. Therefore, our study suggested that one of the underlying mechanisms of DEFB1 expression in the vaginal ecosystem might be associated with the epigenetic crosstalk between individual Lactobacillus spp. and vaginal keratinocytes.}, } @article {pmid28507473, year = {2017}, author = {Ekhlasi, G and Zarrati, M and Agah, S and Hosseini, AF and Hosseini, S and Shidfar, S and Soltani Aarbshahi, SS and Razmpoosh, E and Shidfar, F}, title = {Effects of symbiotic and vitamin E supplementation on blood pressure, nitric oxide and inflammatory factors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.}, journal = {EXCLI journal}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {278-290}, pmid = {28507473}, issn = {1611-2156}, abstract = {Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been suggested to be well correlated with altered blood pressure. This study was conducted to determine the effects of symbiotic and vitamin E supplementation on blood pressure and inflammatory indices of patients with NAFLD. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among 60 NAFLD patients aged 25 to 64 years old. Participants were randomly divided into four groups to receive a 400 IU alpha-tocopherol and 2 × 10[8] CFU/g symbiotic supplement for 8 weeks. The anthropometric parameters, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. After 8 weeks of intervention, combined symbiotic and alpha-tocopherol, symbiotic and alpha-tocopherol alone administration, compared with the placebo, resulted in significant decreases in SBP (-17.07±2.1, -16.07±3.56, -1.73±2.25 and -1.55±3.01 mmHg, P=0.01), serum MDA (-1.19±0.5, -0.12±0.65, 0.14 ± 0.64 and 0.16±0.34 nmol/mL, P<0.001), serum TNFα (-15.62±13.93, -9.24±7.12, -11.44 ± 15.47 and 3.01±1.71 pg/ml, P<0.001) concentrations. A significant decrease in serum AST (-11.36±4.52, -7.43±8.58, -5.93±6.61 and 2.5±5.75 μmol/L, P <0.001), ALT (-12.79±3.65, -3.66±6.81, -6.54±7.66 and 4.16±3.43 μmol/L, P <0.001) and ALP (-26.8±11.1, -4.56±9.22, -14.48±12.22 and 5.19±2.64 μmol/L, P <0.001) was seen. Variations in DBP and serum NO concentration were not significant. Alpha-tocopherol and symbiotic supplementation among patients with NAFLD resulted in decreased SBP, serum MDA, TNFα levels and enzymes liver; however, they did not affect DBP and serum NO concentration.}, } @article {pmid28506730, year = {2017}, author = {Lepage, P}, title = {[The human gut microbiota: Interactions with the host and dysfunctions].}, journal = {Revue des maladies respiratoires}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {1085-1090}, doi = {10.1016/j.rmr.2016.11.003}, pmid = {28506730}, issn = {1776-2588}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/*etiology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*etiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology ; Metabolic Diseases/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota is composed of approximately 100,000 billion microorganisms with the average total number of different commensal bacterial species estimated at over 500 per individual. The human intestinal microbiota can be considered as an organ within another, which co-evolved with its host to achieve a symbiotic relationship leading to physiological homeostasis. The host provides an environment enriched in nutrients and the microbiota provides essential functions. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota (changes in bacterial composition) has been associated with local dysfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome but also with obesity and metabolic diseases. However, a better understanding of the human intestinal ecosystem is still needed to understand the exact role of the microbiota in health and disease. Most intestinal bacteria are anaerobic and therefore, for the large majority, impossible to culture at present. Consequently, their function cannot be inferred from data on their composition. Today, with the help of a metagenomic approach, the bacterial genomic content of an ecosystem and the associated functions can be directly accessed from the environment without culture.}, } @article {pmid28505369, year = {2017}, author = {Tsugeno, Y and Koyama, H and Takamatsu, T and Nakai, M and Kunimi, Y and Inoue, MN}, title = {Identification of an Early Male-Killing Agent in the Oriental Tea Tortrix, Homona magnanima.}, journal = {The Journal of heredity}, volume = {108}, number = {5}, pages = {553-560}, doi = {10.1093/jhered/esx049}, pmid = {28505369}, issn = {1465-7333}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Japan ; Male ; Moths/drug effects/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Sex Ratio ; Spiroplasma/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arthropods are frequently infected with inherited symbionts, which sometimes confer fitness benefits on female hosts or manipulate host reproduction. Early male killing, in which infected males die during embryogenesis, is induced by some bacteria, such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. A female-biased sex ratio has been found in Homona magnanima, collected from a tea plantation in Japan. Here, we examined the male-killing trait in H. magnanima and identified the agent that induces early male killing. The sex ratio distortion (SR) strain produced only females and no males, and its egg hatch rate was significantly lower than that of the normal (N) strain. The N strain was infected with only Wolbachia, whereas the SR strain was infected with both Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Antibiotic treatment with 0.10% tetracycline restored the 1:1 sex ratio in the SR strain. Females treated with 0.05% tetracycline were positive for Spiroplasma but not for Wolbachia and showed a female-biased sex ratio, whereas Wolbachia-positive females did not revert to male killing. When inoculated with a homogenate of the SR strain female, females infected with only Spiroplasma produced female-biased offspring. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that Spiroplasma sp. of H. magnanima belonged to the ixodetis clade. These results indicate that Spiroplasma was responsible for male killing in H. magnanima. Late male killing is induced in H. magnanima by an RNA-like virus, and therefore this is the first case in which different male-killing agents expressed at different times in the life cycle have been found within one host species.}, } @article {pmid28505340, year = {2017}, author = {Msaddak, A and Rejili, M and Durán, D and Rey, L and Imperial, J and Palacios, JM and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Mars, M}, title = {Members of Microvirga and Bradyrhizobium genera are native endosymbiotic bacteria nodulating Lupinus luteus in Northern Tunisian soils.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix068}, pmid = {28505340}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Methylobacteriaceae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity of bacterial populations nodulating Lupinus luteus (yellow lupine) in Northern Tunisia was examined. Phylogenetic analyses of 43 isolates based on recA and gyrB partial sequences grouped them in three clusters, two of which belong to genus Bradyrhizobium (41 isolates) and one, remarkably, to Microvirga (2 isolates), a genus never previously described as microsymbiont of this lupine species. Representatives of the three clusters were analysed in-depth by multilocus sequence analysis of five housekeeping genes (rrs, recA, glnII, gyrB and dnaK). Surprisingly, the Bradyrhizobium cluster with the two isolates LluI4 and LluTb2 may constitute a new species defined by a separate position between Bradyrhizobium manausense and B. denitrificans. A nodC-based phylogeny identified only two groups: one formed by Bradyrhizobium strains included in the symbiovar genistearum and the other by the Microvirga strains. Symbiotic behaviour of representative isolates was tested, and among the seven legumes inoculated only a difference was observed i.e. the Bradyrhizobium strains nodulated Ornithopus compressus unlike the two strains of Microvirga. On the basis of these data, we conclude that L. luteus root nodule symbionts in Northern Tunisia are mostly strains within the B. canariense/B. lupini lineages, and the remaining strains belong to two groups not previously identified as L. luteus endosymbionts: one corresponding to a new clade of Bradyrhizobium and the other to the genus Microvirga.}, } @article {pmid28505238, year = {2017}, author = {Karut, K and Mete Karaca, M and Döker, I and Kazak, C}, title = {Analysis of Species, Subgroups, and Endosymbionts of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) From Southwestern Cotton Fields in Turkey.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {1035-1040}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvx093}, pmid = {28505238}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Gossypium/growth & development ; Hemiptera/*classification/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; Turkey ; }, abstract = {Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests worldwide including Turkey. Although there are substantial data regarding species composition of Turkish B. tabaci populations, the situation is still not clear and further investigations are needed. Therefore, in this study, species and subgroups of B. tabaci collected from cotton fields in southwestern part of Turkey (Antalya, Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla) were determined using microsatellite analysis, AluI-based mtCOI polymerase chain reaction-random length polymorphism, and sequencing. Secondary endosymbionts were also determined using diagnostic species-specific PCR. Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), Mediterranean (MED) Q1, and MED Q2 were the species and subgroups found in this study. The MED species (85.3%) were found to be more dominant than MEAM1. Species status of B. tabaci varied depending on the location. Although all samples collected from Aydın were found to be Q1, three species and subgroups were found in Muğla. Secondary endosymbionts varied according to species and subgroups. Arsenophonus was found only from Q2, while Hamiltonella was detected in MEAM1 and Q1. In addition, high Rickettsia and low Wolbachia infections were detected in MEAM1 and Q1 populations, respectively. In conclusion, for the first time, we report the presence and symbiotic communities of Q1 from Turkey. We also found that the symbiont complement of the Q1 is more congruent with Q1 from Greece than other regions of the world, which may have some interesting implications for movement of this invasive subgroup.}, } @article {pmid28503742, year = {2017}, author = {Cerri, MR and Wang, Q and Stolz, P and Folgmann, J and Frances, L and Katzer, K and Li, X and Heckmann, AB and Wang, TL and Downie, JA and Klingl, A and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Xie, F and Parniske, M}, title = {The ERN1 transcription factor gene is a target of the CCaMK/CYCLOPS complex and controls rhizobial infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {1}, pages = {323-337}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14547}, pmid = {28503742}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/F010591/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000150/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Disease Resistance/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Association Studies ; Lotus/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobiaceae/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial accommodation inside living plant cells is restricted to the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis. In many legumes, bacterial uptake is mediated via tubular structures called infection threads (ITs). To identify plant genes required for successful symbiotic infection, we screened an ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenized population of Lotus japonicus for mutants defective in IT formation and cloned the responsible gene, ERN1, encoding an AP2/ERF transcription factor. We performed phenotypic analysis of two independent L. japonicus mutant alleles and investigated the regulation of ERN1 via transactivation and DNA-protein interaction assays. In ern1 mutant roots, nodule primordia formed, but most remained uninfected and bacterial entry via ITs into the root epidermis was abolished. Infected cortical nodule cells contained bacteroids, but transcellular ITs were rarely observed. A subset exhibited localized cell wall degradation and loss of cell integrity associated with bacteroid spread into neighbouring cells and the apoplast. Functional promoter studies revealed that CYCLOPS binds in a sequence-specific manner to a motif within the ERN1 promoter and in combination with CCaMK positively regulates ERN1 transcription. We conclude that the activation of ERN1 by CCaMK/CYCLOPS complex is an important step controlling IT-mediated bacterial progression into plant cells.}, } @article {pmid28503376, year = {2017}, author = {Renoz, F and Champagne, A and Degand, H and Faber, AM and Morsomme, P and Foray, V and Hance, T}, title = {Toward a better understanding of the mechanisms of symbiosis: a comprehensive proteome map of a nascent insect symbiont.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e3291}, pmid = {28503376}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are common in insects and can affect various aspects of their hosts' biology. Although the effects of insect symbionts have been clarified for various insect symbiosis models, due to the difficulty of cultivating them in vitro, there is still limited knowledge available on the molecular features that drive symbiosis. Serratia symbiotica is one of the most common symbionts found in aphids. The recent findings of free-living strains that are considered as nascent partners of aphids provide the opportunity to examine the molecular mechanisms that a symbiont can deploy at the early stages of the symbiosis (i.e., symbiotic factors). In this work, a proteomic approach was used to establish a comprehensive proteome map of the free-living S. symbiotica strain CWBI-2.3[T]. Most of the 720 proteins identified are related to housekeeping or primary metabolism. Of these, 76 were identified as candidate proteins possibly promoting host colonization. Our results provide strong evidence that S. symbiotica CWBI-2.3[T] is well-armed for invading insect host tissues, and suggest that certain molecular features usually harbored by pathogenic bacteria are no longer present. This comprehensive proteome map provides a series of candidate genes for further studies to understand the molecular cross-talk between insects and symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28503170, year = {2017}, author = {Trinder, M and Daisley, BA and Dube, JS and Reid, G}, title = {Drosophila melanogaster as a High-Throughput Model for Host-Microbiota Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {751}, pmid = {28503170}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbiota research often assumes that differences in abundance and identity of microorganisms have unique influences on host physiology. To test this concept mechanistically, germ-free mice are colonized with microbial communities to assess causation. Due to the cost, infrastructure challenges, and time-consuming nature of germ-free mouse models, an alternative approach is needed to investigate host-microbial interactions. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) can be used as a high throughput in vivo screening model of host-microbiome interactions as they are affordable, convenient, and replicable. D. melanogaster were essential in discovering components of the innate immune response to pathogens. However, axenic D. melanogaster can easily be generated for microbiome studies without the need for ethical considerations. The simplified microbiota structure enables researchers to evaluate permutations of how each microbial species within the microbiota contribute to host phenotypes of interest. This enables the possibility of thorough strain-level analysis of host and microbial properties relevant to physiological outcomes. Moreover, a wide range of mutant D. melanogaster strains can be affordably obtained from public stock centers. Given this, D. melanogaster can be used to identify candidate mechanisms of host-microbe symbioses relevant to pathogen exclusion, innate immunity modulation, diet, xenobiotics, and probiotic/prebiotic properties in a high throughput manner. This perspective comments on the most promising areas of microbiota research that could immediately benefit from using the D. melanogaster model.}, } @article {pmid28503071, year = {2017}, author = {Haque, SZ and Haque, M}, title = {The ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic gastrointestinal microorganisms - an appraisal.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental gastroenterology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {91-103}, pmid = {28503071}, issn = {1178-7023}, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a vast population of bacteria, numbering ~100 trillion. These microorganisms have been shown to play a significant role in digestion, metabolism, and the immune system. The aim of this study was to review and discuss how the human body interacts with its gut microbiome and in turn the effects that the microorganisms have on its host, overall resulting in a true mutualistic relationship.}, } @article {pmid28501690, year = {2017}, author = {Howe, PL and Reichelt-Brushett, AJ and Clark, MW and Seery, CR}, title = {Toxicity estimates for diuron and atrazine for the tropical marine cnidarian Exaiptasia pallida and in-hospite Symbiodinium spp. using PAM chlorophyll-a fluorometry.}, journal = {Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {125-132}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.05.006}, pmid = {28501690}, issn = {1873-2682}, mesh = {Alveolata/*drug effects ; Animals ; Atrazine/*toxicity ; Chlorophyll/*analysis ; Chlorophyll A ; Diuron/*toxicity ; *Fluorometry ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Sea Anemones/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/parasitology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Effective ecotoxicological risk assessments for herbicides in tropical marine environments are restricted by a lack of toxicity data, sensitive test methods and endpoints for relevant species, and this requires rectification. The symbiotic sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida is a suitable test species, representing the phylum Cnidaria and allowing for assessments of toxicological responses of both the animal host and in-hospite Symbiodinium spp. Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) chlorophyll-a fluorometry is recognised as a valuable ecotoxicological tool, and here newly-developed test methods are presented using PAM fluorometry to measure herbicide effects on photosynthetic efficiency of in-hospite Symbiodinium spp. Additionally, measurements on healthy laboratory-reared E. pallida provide baseline data demonstrating the normal effective quantum yield (EQY) and the maximum electron transport rate (ETRm) for Symbiodinium spp. in the absence of herbicide stress. Concentration-dependant reductions in the EQY and ETRm occurred during diuron and atrazine exposures; a mean 48-h EC50 (effective concentration; 50%) of 8μg/L of diuron was estimated, however atrazine elicited a much lower toxicity. Twelve-day exposures to 10-200μg/L diuron showed that the greatest EQY effect occurred during the first 48h, with little subsequent change. However, longer exposures to the lowest diuron treatment (1μg/L) showed the lowest EQYs after 96h followed by recovery to control levels within 12d. Furthermore, asexual reproduction was inhibited during 12-d exposures to diuron, and 12-d EC50 values of 100 and 132μg/L were estimated to inhibit successful reproduction of pedal lacerates and juveniles by 50% respectively. This study provides much needed data contributions to species sensitivity curves for development of diuron and atrazine water quality guidelines in tropical marine environments.}, } @article {pmid28501637, year = {2017}, author = {Lane, N}, title = {Serial endosymbiosis or singular event at the origin of eukaryotes?.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {58-67}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.04.031}, pmid = {28501637}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Energy Metabolism ; Eukaryota/*cytology ; Genomics ; Membranes/metabolism ; Organelles ; Organogenesis/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {'On the Origin of Mitosing Cells' heralded a new way of seeing cellular evolution, with symbiosis at its heart. Lynn Margulis (then Sagan) marshalled an impressive array of evidence for endosymbiosis, from cell biology to atmospheric chemistry and Earth history. Despite her emphasis on symbiosis, she saw plenty of evidence for gradualism in eukaryotic evolution, with multiple origins of mitosis and sex, repeated acquisitions of plastids, and putative evolutionary intermediates throughout the microbial world. Later on, Margulis maintained her view of multiple endosymbioses giving rise to other organelles such as hydrogenosomes, in keeping with the polyphyletic assumptions of the serial endosymbiosis theory. She stood at the threshold of the phylogenetic era, and anticipated its potential. Yet while predicting that the nucleotide sequences of genes would enable a detailed reconstruction of eukaryotic evolution, Margulis did not, and could not, imagine the radically different story that would eventually emerge from comparative genomics. The last eukaryotic common ancestor now seems to have been essentially a modern eukaryotic cell that had already evolved mitosis, meiotic sex, organelles and endomembrane systems. The long search for missing evolutionary intermediates has failed to turn up a single example, and those discussed by Margulis turn out to have evolved reductively from more complex ancestors. Strikingly, Margulis argued that all eukaryotes had mitochondria in her 1967 paper (a conclusion that she later disavowed). But she developed her ideas in the context of atmospheric oxygen and aerobic respiration, neither of which is consistent with more recent geological and phylogenetic findings. Instead, a modern synthesis of genomics and bioenergetics points to the endosymbiotic restructuring of eukaryotic genomes in relation to bioenergetic membranes as the singular event that permitted the evolution of morphological complexity.}, } @article {pmid28500544, year = {2017}, author = {Wdowiak-Wróbel, S and Marek-Kozaczuk, M and Kalita, M and Karaś, M and Wójcik, M and Małek, W}, title = {Diversity and plant growth promoting properties of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of Ononis arvensis.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {110}, number = {8}, pages = {1087-1103}, pmid = {28500544}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial ; Fabaceae ; Ononis/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Poland ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizobium/*growth & development/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This is the first report describing isolates from root nodules of Ononis arvensis (field restharrow). The aim of this investigation was to describe the diversity, phylogeny, and plant growth promoting features of microsymbionts of O. arvensis, i.e., a legume plant growing in different places of the southern part of Poland. Twenty-nine bacterial isolates were characterized in terms of their phenotypic properties, genome fingerprinting, and comparative analysis of their 16S rRNA, nodC and acdS gene sequences. Based on the nodC and 16S rRNA gene phylogenies, the O. arvensis symbionts were grouped close to bacteria of the genera Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium, which formed monophyletic clusters. The acdS gene sequences of all the isolates tested exhibited the highest similarities to the corresponding gene sequences of genus Mesorhizobium strains. The presence of the acdS genes in the genomes of rhizobia specific for O. arvensis implies that these bacteria may promote the growth and development of their host plant in stress conditions. The isolated bacteria showed a high genomic diversity and, in the BOX-PCR reaction, all of them (except three) exhibited DNA fingerprints specific only for them. Our studies showed that restharrow isolates formed effective symbiotic interactions with their native host (O. arvensis) and Ononis spinosa but not with Trifolium repens and Medicago sativa belonging to the same tribe Trifolieae as Ononis species and not with Lotus corniculatus, representing the tribe Loteae.}, } @article {pmid28499469, year = {2017}, author = {Degefu, T and Wolde-Meskel, E and Woliy, K and Frostegård, Å}, title = {Phylogenetically diverse groups of Bradyrhizobium isolated from nodules of tree and annual legume species growing in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {205-214}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.04.001}, pmid = {28499469}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; *Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ethiopia ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium nodulate various leguminous woody plants and herbs, including economically important crops such as soybean, peanut and cowpea. Here we analysed 39 Bradyrhizobium strains originating from root nodules of the leguminous trees and crops Acacia saligna, Faidherbia albida, Erythrina brucei, Albizia gummifera, Millettia ferruginea, Cajanus cajan, Vigna unguiculata and Phaseolus vulgaris, growing in southern Ethiopia. Multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of the 16S rRNA, glnII, recA, gyrB and dnaK genes and the ITS region grouped the test strains into seven well-supported genospecies (I-VII), six of which occupied distinct positions excluding all hitherto defined Bradyrhizobium species. Analyses of the nodA, nodC and nifH genes suggested different evolutionary history of the chromosomal and symbiosis-related genes. Our study corroborates earlier findings that Ethiopia is a hotspot for rhizobial biodiversity, justifying further search for novel strains from this region and calling for intensified research on the ecology and biochemistry of these organisms.}, } @article {pmid28499096, year = {2017}, author = {Tena, W and Wolde-Meskel, E and Degefu, T and Walley, F}, title = {Genetic and phenotypic diversity of rhizobia nodulating chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in soils from southern and central Ethiopia.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {8}, pages = {690-707}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2016-0776}, pmid = {28499096}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Cicer/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Ethiopia ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Forty-two chickpea-nodulating rhizobia were isolated from soil samples collected from diverse agro-ecological locations of Ethiopia and were characterized on the basis of 76 phenotypic traits. Furthermore, 18 representative strains were selected and characterized using multilocus sequence analyses of core and symbiotic gene loci. Numerical analysis of the phenotypic characteristics grouped the 42 strains into 4 distinct clusters. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the 18 strains showed that they belong to the Mesorhizobium genus. On the basis of the phylogenetic tree constructed from the combined genes sequences (recA, atpD, glnII, and gyrB), the test strains were distributed into 4 genospecies (designated as genospecies I-IV). Genospecies I, II, and III could be classified with Mesorhizobium ciceri, Mesorhizobium abyssinicae, and Mesorhizobium shonense, respectively, while genospecies IV might represent an unnamed Mesorhizobium genospecies. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the symbiosis-related (nifH and nodA) genes supported a single cluster together with a previously described symbiont of chickpea (M. ciceri and Mesorhizobium mediterraneum). Overall, our results corroborate earlier findings that Ethiopian soils harbor phylogenetically diverse Mesorhizobium species, justifying further explorative studies. The observed differences in symbiotic effectiveness indicated the potential to select effective strains for use as inoculants and to improve the productivity of chickpea in the country.}, } @article {pmid28499041, year = {2017}, author = {Considine, MJ and Siddique, KHM and Foyer, CH}, title = {Nature's pulse power: legumes, food security and climate change.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {1815-1818}, pmid = {28499041}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; *Climate Change ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Food Supply/*methods ; Humans ; *Plant Breeding ; }, } @article {pmid28497793, year = {2017}, author = {Konen, J and Summerbell, E and Dwivedi, B and Galior, K and Hou, Y and Rusnak, L and Chen, A and Saltz, J and Zhou, W and Boise, LH and Vertino, P and Cooper, L and Salaita, K and Kowalski, J and Marcus, AI}, title = {Image-guided genomics of phenotypically heterogeneous populations reveals vascular signalling during symbiotic collective cancer invasion.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {15078}, pmid = {28497793}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R01 LM009239/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; U24 CA180924/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA077337/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA201744/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA138292/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; F31 CA210601/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; F31 CA180511/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Communication/genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; *Genetic Heterogeneity ; Genomics/*methods ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms/blood supply/genetics/pathology ; Phenotype ; Spheroids, Cellular/*metabolism/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phenotypic heterogeneity is widely observed in cancer cell populations. Here, to probe this heterogeneity, we developed an image-guided genomics technique termed spatiotemporal genomic and cellular analysis (SaGA) that allows for precise selection and amplification of living and rare cells. SaGA was used on collectively invading 3D cancer cell packs to create purified leader and follower cell lines. The leader cell cultures are phenotypically stable and highly invasive in contrast to follower cultures, which show phenotypic plasticity over time and minimally invade in a sheet-like pattern. Genomic and molecular interrogation reveals an atypical VEGF-based vasculogenesis signalling that facilitates recruitment of follower cells but not for leader cell motility itself, which instead utilizes focal adhesion kinase-fibronectin signalling. While leader cells provide an escape mechanism for followers, follower cells in turn provide leaders with increased growth and survival. These data support a symbiotic model of collective invasion where phenotypically distinct cell types cooperate to promote their escape.}, } @article {pmid28497122, year = {2017}, author = {Franco-Obregón, A and Gilbert, JA}, title = {The Microbiome-Mitochondrion Connection: Common Ancestries, Common Mechanisms, Common Goals.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {28497122}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Lynn Margulis in the 1960s elegantly proposed a shared phylogenetic history between bacteria and mitochondria; this relationship has since become a cornerstone of modern cellular biology. Yet, an interesting facet of the interaction between the microbiome and mitochondria has been mostly ignored, that of the systems biology relationship that underpins host health and longevity. The mitochondria are descendants of primordial aerobic pleomorphic bacteria (likely genus Rickettsia) that entered (literally and functionally) into a mutualistic partnership with ancient anaerobic microbes (likely Archaea). A stable symbiosis was established, given the metabolic versatility of the early mitochondria, which were capable of providing energy with or without oxygen, whereas nutrient gathering was the assumed responsibility of the host. While microbial relationships with single-cell protists must have occurred in the past, as they occur today, the evolution of multicellular organisms generated a new framework for symbiosis with the microbial world, taking the ancient partnership to an entirely new level. Cell-cell communication between microbes and single-cell protists was augmented through multicellularity to allow distant communication between the host cells and the microbiome, resulting in the development of complex metabolic relationships and an immune system to manage these interactions. Thus, the host is now the body and its resident mitochondria, and the microbiome is an essential supplier of metabolites that act at the level of mitochondria in skeletal muscle to stabilize host metabolism. We humans are caretakers of a profoundly vast and diverse microbiota, the majority of which resides in the gut. Indeed, the microbial genetic diversity of our microbiota outstrips our own by several orders of magnitude, and the cellular abundance is roughly equivalent to our somatic selves. Modern clinical science has elegantly highlighted the importance of the microbiome for metabolic health and well-being. This perspective underscores one fundamental facet of this symbiosis, the ancestral mitochondrion-microbiome axis.}, } @article {pmid28495966, year = {2017}, author = {Gray, MW}, title = {Lynn Margulis and the endosymbiont hypothesis: 50 years later.}, journal = {Molecular biology of the cell}, volume = {28}, number = {10}, pages = {1285-1287}, pmid = {28495966}, issn = {1939-4586}, mesh = {Bacteria ; *Biological Evolution ; Cilia ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Mitochondria ; Phylogeny ; Plastids ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The 1967 article "On the Origin of Mitosing Cells" in the Journal of Theoretical Biology by Lynn Margulis (then Lynn Sagan) is widely regarded as stimulating renewed interest in the long-dormant endosymbiont hypothesis of organelle origins. In her article, not only did Margulis champion an endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and plastids from bacterial ancestors, but she also posited that the eukaryotic flagellum (undulipodium in her usage) and mitotic apparatus originated from an endosymbiotic, spirochete-like organism. In essence, she presented a comprehensive symbiotic view of eukaryotic cell evolution (eukaryogenesis). Not all of the ideas in her article have been accepted, for want of compelling evidence, but her vigorous promotion of the role of symbiosis in cell evolution unquestionably had a major influence on how subsequent investigators have viewed the origin and evolution of mitochondria and plastids and the eukaryotic cell per se.}, } @article {pmid28495892, year = {2017}, author = {Pini, F and East, AK and Appia-Ayme, C and Tomek, J and Karunakaran, R and Mendoza-Suárez, M and Edwards, A and Terpolilli, JJ and Roworth, J and Downie, JA and Poole, PS}, title = {Bacterial Biosensors for in Vivo Spatiotemporal Mapping of Root Secretion.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {174}, number = {3}, pages = {1289-1306}, pmid = {28495892}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/F004753/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biosensing Techniques ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hesperidin/analysis ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Luminescence ; Metabolome ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Exudates/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/growth & development/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Vicia/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plants engineer the rhizosphere to their advantage by secreting various nutrients and secondary metabolites. Coupling transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the pea (Pisum sativum) rhizosphere, a suite of bioreporters has been developed in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae strain 3841, and these detect metabolites secreted by roots in space and time. Fourteen bacterial lux fusion bioreporters, specific for sugars, polyols, amino acids, organic acids, or flavonoids, have been validated in vitro and in vivo. Using different bacterial mutants (nodC and nifH), the process of colonization and symbiosis has been analyzed, revealing compounds important in the different steps of the rhizobium-legume association. Dicarboxylates and sucrose are the main carbon sources within the nodules; in ineffective (nifH) nodules, particularly low levels of sucrose were observed, suggesting that plant sanctions affect carbon supply to nodules. In contrast, high myo-inositol levels were observed prior to nodule formation and also in nifH senescent nodules. Amino acid biosensors showed different patterns: a γ-aminobutyrate biosensor was active only inside nodules, whereas the phenylalanine bioreporter showed a high signal also in the rhizosphere. The bioreporters were further validated in vetch (Vicia hirsuta), producing similar results. In addition, vetch exhibited a local increase of nod gene-inducing flavonoids at sites where nodules developed subsequently. These bioreporters will be particularly helpful in understanding the dynamics of root exudation and the role of different molecules secreted into the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid28494358, year = {2017}, author = {Rowen, DJ and Templeman, MA and Kingsford, MJ}, title = {Herbicide effects on the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of Cassiopea maremetens.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {143-148}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.05.001}, pmid = {28494358}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Animals ; Diuron/pharmacology ; Herbicides/*pharmacology ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/drug effects ; Rhizophoraceae/*drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Scyphozoa/*drug effects ; Triazines/pharmacology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Herbicides from agricultural run-off have been measured in coastal systems of the Great Barrier Reef over many years. Non-target herbicide exposure, especially photosystem II herbicides has the potential to affect seagrasses and other marine species. The symbiotic benthic jellyfish Cassiopea maremetens is present in tropical/sub-tropical estuarine and marine environments. Jellyfish (n = 8 per treatment) were exposed to four separate concentrations of agricultural formulations of diuron or hexazinone to determine their sensitivity and potential for recovery to pulsed herbicide exposure. Jellyfish growth, symbiont photosynthetic activity and zooxanthellae density were analysed for herbicide-induced changes for 7 days followed by a 7 day recovery period. Both the jellyfish and endosymbiont were more sensitive to diuron than hexazinone. The 7-day EC50 for jellyfish growth was 0.35 μg L[-1] for Diuron and 17.5 μg L[-1] for Hexazinone respectively. Diuron exposure caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in jellyfish growth at 0.1 μg L[-1], a level that is below the regional Great Barrier Reef guideline value. Jellyfish recovery was rapid with growth rates similar to control animals following removal from herbicide exposure. Both diuron and hexazinone caused significant decreases in photosynthetic efficiency (effective quantum yield) in all treatment concentrations (0.1 μg L[-1] and above) and this effect continued in the post-exposure period. As this species is frequently found in near-shore environments, they may be particularly vulnerable to herbicide run-off.}, } @article {pmid28494299, year = {2017}, author = {Fernández-Fuego, D and Keunen, E and Cuypers, A and Bertrand, A and González, A}, title = {Mycorrhization protects Betula pubescens Ehr. from metal-induced oxidative stress increasing its tolerance to grow in an industrial polluted soil.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {336}, number = {}, pages = {119-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.04.065}, pmid = {28494299}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Ascorbate Peroxidases/genetics ; Betula/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Catalase/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; *Industrial Waste ; Metals/metabolism/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the use of woody plants in phytoremediation has gained popularity due to their high biomass production and their association with mycorrhizal fungi, which can improve their survival and development rates under stress conditions. In this study, mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized white birch plants (Betula pubescens Ehr.) were grown in control and a metal-polluted industrial soil. After 60days of culture, plant growth and metal accumulation, the content of photosynthetic pigments and oxidative-stress markers, as well as the enzymatic activities and gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes were measured. According to our results, mycorrhized birch plants grown in control soil showed an increased activity and gene expression of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, along with hydrogen peroxide overproduction, which could support the importance of the reactive oxygen species as signaling molecules in the regulation of plant-fungus interactions. Additionally, in polluted soil mycorrhized plants had higher biomass but lower metal accumulation, probably because the symbiotic fungus acted as a barrier to the entrance of metals into the host plants. This behavior led to mitigation in the oxidative challenge, reduced hydrogen peroxide content and diminished activities of the antioxidant enzymes in comparison to non-mycorrhized plants.}, } @article {pmid28494244, year = {2017}, author = {Enomoto, S and Chari, A and Clayton, AL and Dale, C}, title = {Quorum Sensing Attenuates Virulence in Sodalis praecaptivus.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {629-636.e5}, pmid = {28494244}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics/metabolism ; Chitinases/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/*microbiology/*veterinary ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Insecticides/metabolism/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Survival ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Virulence/*genetics ; Virulence Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Weevils/drug effects/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sodalis praecaptivus is a close relative and putative environmental progenitor of the widely distributed, insect-associated, Sodalis-allied symbionts. Here we show that mutant strains of S. praecaptivus that lack genetic components of a quorum-sensing (QS) apparatus have a rapid and potent killing phenotype following microinjection into an insect host. Transcriptomic and genetic analyses indicate that insect killing occurs as a consequence of virulence factors, including insecticidal toxins and enzymes that degrade the insect integument, which are normally repressed by QS at high infection densities. This method of regulation suggests that virulence factors are only utilized in early infection to initiate the insect-bacterial association. Once bacteria reach sufficient density in host tissues, the QS circuit represses expression of these harmful genes, facilitating a long-lasting and benign association. We discuss the implications of the functionality of this QS system in the context of establishment and evolution of mutualistic relationships involving these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28491055, year = {2017}, author = {Xia, X and Gurr, GM and Vasseur, L and Zheng, D and Zhong, H and Qin, B and Lin, J and Wang, Y and Song, F and Li, Y and Lin, H and You, M}, title = {Metagenomic Sequencing of Diamondback Moth Gut Microbiome Unveils Key Holobiont Adaptations for Herbivory.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {663}, pmid = {28491055}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Herbivore specialists adapt to feed on a specific group of host plants by evolving various mechanisms to respond to plant defenses. Insects also possess complex gut microbiotas but their potential role in adaptation is poorly understood. Our previous study of the genome of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, revealed an intrinsic capacity to detoxify plant defense compounds, which is an important factor in its success as a pest. Here we expand on that work with a complete taxonomic and functional profile of the P. xylostella gut microbiota obtained by metagenomic sequencing. Gene enrichment in the metagenome, accompanied by functional identification, revealed an important role of specific gut bacteria in the breakdown of plant cell walls, detoxification of plant phenolics, and synthesis of amino acids. Microbes participating in these pathways mainly belonged to three highly abundant bacteria: Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter asburiae, and Carnobacterium maltaromaticum. Results show that while the gut microbial community may be complex, a small number of functionally active species can be disproportionally important. The presence of specific enzymes in the microbiota community, such as supporting amino acid synthesis, digestion and detoxification functions, demonstrates the beneficial interactions between P. xylostella and its gut microbiota. These interactions can be potential targets for manipulation to provide novel pest management approaches.}, } @article {pmid28490957, year = {2017}, author = {Bich, GA and Castrillo, ML and Villalba, LL and Zapata, PD}, title = {Isolation of the symbiotic fungus of Acromyrmex pubescens and phylogeny of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus from leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {851-856}, pmid = {28490957}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants live in an obligate symbiosis with a Leucoagaricus species, a basidiomycete that serves as a food source to the larvae and queen. The aim of this work was to isolate, identify and complete the phylogenetic study of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus species of Acromyrmex pubescens. Macroscopic and microscopic features were used to identify the fungal symbiont of the ants. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was used as molecular marker for the molecular identification and to evaluate the phylogeny within the Leucoagaricus genus. One fungal symbiont associated with A. pubescens was isolated and identified as L. gongylophorus. The phylogeny of Leucoagaricus obtained using the ITS molecular marker revealed three well established monophyletic groups. It was possible to recognize one clade of Leucoagaricus associated with phylogenetically derived leaf-cutting ants (Acromyrmex and Atta). A second clade of free living forms of Leucoagaricus (non-cultivated), and a third clade of Leucoagaricus associated with phylogenetically basal genera of ants were also recognized. The clades corresponded to traditional taxonomic groups, and were differentiated by ecological habitats of different species.}, } @article {pmid28488698, year = {2017}, author = {Del Cerro, P and Pérez-Montaño, F and Gil-Serrano, A and López-Baena, FJ and Megías, M and Hungria, M and Ollero, FJ}, title = {The Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 NodD2 protein regulates the production of Nod factors under salt stress in a flavonoid-independent manner.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {46712}, pmid = {28488698}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Chitin/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glucosamine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium tropici/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Salt Stress ; Sulfates/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the symbiotic associations between rhizobia and legumes, NodD promotes the expression of the nodulation genes in the presence of appropriate flavonoids. This set of genes is implied in the synthesis of Nodulation factors, which are responsible for launching the nodulation process. Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is the most successful symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris and can nodulate a variety of legumes. This strain produces Nodulation factors under abiotic stress such as acidity or high concentration of salt. Genome sequencing of CIAT 899 allowed the identification of five nodD genes. Whereas NodD1 is essential to nodulate Leucaena leucocephala, Lotus japonicus and Macroptilium atropurpureum, symbiosis with P. vulgaris and Lotus burtii decreased the nodule number but did not abolish the symbiotic process when NodD1 is absent. Nodulation factor synthesis under salt stress is not regulated by NodD1. Here we confirmed that NodD2 is responsible for the activation of the CIAT 899 symbiotic genes under salt stress. We have demonstrated that NodD1 and NodD2 control the synthesis of the Nod factor necessary for a successful symbiosis with P. vulgaris and L. burtii. This is the first time that NodD is directly implied in the activation of the symbiotic genes under an abiotic stress.}, } @article {pmid28488443, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, J and Liu, SS and Kohler, A and Yan, B and Luo, HM and Chen, XM and Guo, SX}, title = {iTRAQ and RNA-Seq Analyses Provide New Insights into Regulation Mechanism of Symbiotic Germination of Dendrobium officinale Seeds (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {2174-2187}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00999}, pmid = {28488443}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Dendrobium/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Germination ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/analysis ; Proteomics/methods ; Seeds/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi colonize orchid seeds and induce germination. This so-called symbiotic germination is a critical developmental process in the lifecycle of all orchid species. However, the molecular changes that occur during orchid seed symbiotic germination remain largely unknown. To better understand the molecular mechanism of orchid seed germination, we performed a comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the Chinese traditional medicinal orchid Dendrobium officinale to explore the change in protein expression at the different developmental stages during asymbiotic and symbiotic germination and identify the key proteins that regulate the symbiotic germination of orchid seeds. Among 2256 identified plant proteins, 308 were differentially expressed across three developmental stages during asymbiotic and symbiotic germination, and 229 were differentially expressed during symbiotic germination compared to asymbiotic development. Of these, 32 proteins were coup-regulated at both the proteomic and transcriptomic levels during symbiotic germination compared to asymbiotic germination. Our results suggest that symbiotic germination of D. officinale seeds shares a common signaling pathway with asymbiotic germination during the early germination stage. However, compared to asymbiotic germination, fungal colonization of orchid seeds appears to induce higher and earlier expression of some key proteins involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and thus improves the efficiency of utilization of stored substances present in the embryo. This study provides new insight into the molecular basis of orchid seed germination.}, } @article {pmid28488060, year = {2017}, author = {Rahimzadeh, S and Pirzad, A}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Pseudomonas in reduce drought stress damage in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.): a field study.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {537-552}, pmid = {28488060}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Droughts ; Flax/*microbiology ; Iran ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Drought stress, which is one of the most serious world environmental threats to crop production, might be compensated by some free living and symbiotic soil microorganisms. The physiological response of flax plants to inoculation with two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Funneliformis mosseae or Rhizophagus intraradices) and a phosphate solubilizing bacterium (Pseudomonas putida P13; PSB) was evaluated under different irrigation regimes (irrigation after 60, 120, and 180 mm of evaporation from Class A pan as well-watered, mild, and severe stress, respectively). A factorial (three factors) experiment was conducted for 2 years (2014-2015) based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Urmia University, Urmia, located at North-West of Iran (37° 39' 24.82″ N44° 58' 12.42″ E). Water deficit decreased biomass, showing that flax was sensitive to drought, and AM root colonization improved the performance of the plant within irrigation levels. In all inoculated and non-inoculated control plants, leaf chlorophyll decreased with increasing irrigation intervals. Water deficit-induced oxidative damage (hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage) were significantly reduced in dual colonized plants. All enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (glutathione, ascorbic acid, total carotenoids) antioxidants were reduced by water-limiting irrigation. Dual inoculated plants with AM plus Pseudomonas accumulated more enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants than plants with bacterial or fungal inoculation singly. Dual colonized plants significantly decreased the water deficit-induced glycine betaine and proline in flax leaves. These bacterial-fungal interactions in enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense of flax plants demonstrated equal synergism with both AM fungi species. In conclusion, increased activity of enzymatic antioxidants and higher production of non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds in symbiotic association with bacteria and mycorrhiza can alleviate reactive oxygen species damage resulting in improve water stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid28487480, year = {2017}, author = {Soto, R and Petersen, C and Novis, CL and Kubinak, JL and Bell, R and Stephens, WZ and Lane, TE and Fujinami, RS and Bosque, A and O'Connell, RM and Round, JL}, title = {Microbiota promotes systemic T-cell survival through suppression of an apoptotic factor.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {21}, pages = {5497-5502}, pmid = {28487480}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P40 OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034987/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR026802/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007464/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI109122/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins/*physiology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Microbiota ; Primary Cell Culture ; T-Lymphocytes/*physiology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/*physiology ; fas Receptor/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes impact the severity of a variety of diseases through regulation of T-cell development. However, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms by which this is accomplished. Here we report that a secreted factor, Erdr1, is regulated by the microbiota to control T-cell apoptosis. Erdr1 expression was identified by transcriptome analysis to be elevated in splenic T cells from germfree and antibiotic-treated mice. Suppression of Erdr1 depends on detection of circulating microbial products by Toll-like receptors on T cells, and this regulation is conserved in human T cells. Erdr1 was found to function as an autocrine factor to induce apoptosis through caspase 3. Consistent with elevated levels of Erdr1, germfree mice have increased splenic T-cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing of Erdr1-overexpressing cells identified the up-regulation of genes involved in Fas-mediated cell death, and Erdr1 fails to induce apoptosis in Fas-deficient cells. Importantly, forced changes in Erdr1 expression levels dictate the survival of auto-reactive T cells and the clinical outcome of neuro-inflammatory autoimmune disease. Cellular survival is a fundamental feature regulating appropriate immune responses. We have identified a mechanism whereby the host integrates signals from the microbiota to control T-cell apoptosis, making regulation of Erdr1 a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune disease.}, } @article {pmid28486168, year = {2017}, author = {Mujtaba, G and Lee, K}, title = {Treatment of real wastewater using co-culture of immobilized Chlorella vulgaris and suspended activated sludge.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {120}, number = {}, pages = {174-184}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2017.04.078}, pmid = {28486168}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Chlorella ; *Chlorella vulgaris ; *Coculture Techniques ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Sewage ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The use of algal-bacterial symbiotic association establishes a sustainable and cost-effective strategy in wastewater treatment. Using municipal wastewater, the removal performances of inorganic nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and organic pollutants were investigated by the co-culture system having different inoculum ratios (R) of suspended activated sludge to alginate-immobilized microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. The co-culture reactors with lower R ratios obtained more removal of nitrogen than in pure culture of C. vulgaris. The reactor with R = 0.5 (sludge/microalgae) showed the highest performance representing 66% removal after 24 h and 95% removal after 84 h. Phosphorus was completely eliminated (100%) in the co-culture system with inoculum ratios of 0.5 and 1.0 after 24 h and in the pure C. vulgaris culture after 36 h. The COD level was greatly reduced in the activated sludge reactor, while, it was increasing in pure C. vulgaris culture after 24 h of incubation. However, COD was almost stabilized after 24 h in the reactors with high R ratios such as 2.0, 5.0, and 10 due to the higher concentration of activated sludge. The growth of C. vulgaris was promoted from 0.03 g/L/d to 0.05 g/L/d in the co-culture of low inoculum ratios such as R = 0.5, implying that there exist an optimum inoculum ratio in the co-culture system in order to achieve efficient removal of nutrients.}, } @article {pmid28484634, year = {2017}, author = {Titus, BM and Vondriska, C and Daly, M}, title = {Comparative behavioural observations demonstrate the 'cleaner' shrimp Periclimenes yucatanicus engages in true symbiotic cleaning interactions.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {170078}, pmid = {28484634}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Cleaner shrimps are ecologically important members of coral reef communities, but for many species, cleaner status (i.e. dedicated, facultative and mimic), clientele and ecological role remain unverified or described. On Caribbean coral reefs, the spotted 'cleaner' shrimp Periclimenes yucatanicus forms symbioses with sea anemones that may serve as cleaning stations for reef fishes. The status of this species as a cleaner is ambiguous: only a single in situ cleaning interaction has been reported, and in the only test of its efficacy as a cleaner, it did not effectively reduce parasite loads from surgeonfish. It has subsequently been hypothesized by other authors to be a cleaner mimic. We conduct a comparative investigation of cleaning behaviour between P. yucatanicus and the ecologically similar, closely related, dedicated cleaner shrimp Ancylomenes pedersoni in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. We provide the first detailed field observations on cleaning behaviour for P. yucatanicus and test multiple behavioural expectations surrounding mimicry in cleaning symbioses. We found that P. yucatanicus regularly signals its availability to clean, client fishes visit regularly and the shrimp does engage in true symbiotic cleaning interactions, but these are brief and our video reflects a species that appears hesitant to engage posing clients. In comparison to A. pedersoni, P. yucatanicus stations had significantly fewer total visits and cleans, and 50% of all cleaning interactions at P. yucatanicus stations were shorter than 10 s in total duration. Our behavioural observations confirm that P. yucatanicus is a true cleaner shrimp; we reject the hypothesis of mimicry. However, investigation is needed to confirm whether this species is a dedicated or facultative cleaner. We hypothesize that P. yucatanicus has a specialized ecological role as a cleaner species, compared to A. pedersoni.}, } @article {pmid28484049, year = {2017}, author = {Cao, M and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Ready or Not: Microbial Adaptive Responses in Dynamic Symbiosis Environments.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {28484049}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In mutually beneficial and pathogenic symbiotic associations, microbes must adapt to the host environment for optimal fitness. Both within an individual host and during transmission between hosts, microbes are exposed to temporal and spatial variation in environmental conditions. The phenomenon of phenotypic variation, in which different subpopulations of cells express distinctive and potentially adaptive characteristics, can contribute to microbial adaptation to a lifestyle that includes rapidly changing environments. The environments experienced by a symbiotic microbe during its life history can be erratic or predictable, and each can impact the evolution of adaptive responses. In particular, the predictability of a rhythmic or cyclical series of environments may promote the evolution of signal transduction cascades that allow preadaptive responses to environments that are likely to be encountered in the future, a phenomenon known as adaptive prediction. In this review, we summarize environmental variations known to occur in some well-studied models of symbiosis and how these may contribute to the evolution of microbial population heterogeneity and anticipatory behavior. We provide details about the symbiosis between Xenorhabdus bacteria and Steinernema nematodes as a model to investigate the concept of environmental adaptation and adaptive prediction in a microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28481198, year = {2017}, author = {Neubauer, EF and Poole, AZ and Neubauer, P and Detournay, O and Tan, K and Davy, SK and Weis, VM}, title = {A diverse host thrombospondin-type-1 repeat protein repertoire promotes symbiont colonization during establishment of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28481198}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/genetics/*parasitology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Symbiosis ; Thrombospondin 1/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic endosymbiosis between cnidarians and dinoflagellates is mediated by complex inter-partner signaling events, where the host cnidarian innate immune system plays a crucial role in recognition and regulation of symbionts. To date, little is known about the diversity of thrombospondin-type-1 repeat (TSR) domain proteins in basal metazoans or their potential role in regulation of cnidarian-dinoflagellate mutualisms. We reveal a large and diverse repertoire of TSR proteins in seven anthozoan species, and show that in the model sea anemone Aiptasia pallida the TSR domain promotes colonization of the host by the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium minutum. Blocking TSR domains led to decreased colonization success, while adding exogenous TSRs resulted in a 'super colonization'. Furthermore, gene expression of TSR proteins was highest at early time-points during symbiosis establishment. Our work characterizes the diversity of cnidarian TSR proteins and provides evidence that these proteins play an important role in the establishment of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28480491, year = {2017}, author = {Pérez-Palacios, P and Romero-Aguilar, A and Delgadillo, J and Doukkali, B and Caviedes, MA and Rodríguez-Llorente, ID and Pajuelo, E}, title = {Double genetically modified symbiotic system for improved Cu phytostabilization in legume roots.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {14910-14923}, pmid = {28480491}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Copper/*pharmacokinetics ; *Medicago truncatula ; Plant Roots ; *Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Rhizobium ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Excess copper (Cu) in soils has deleterious effects on plant growth and can pose a risk to human health. In the last decade, legume-rhizobium symbioses became attractive biotechnological tools for metal phytostabilization. For this technique being useful, metal-tolerant symbionts are required, which can be generated through genetic manipulation.In this work, a double symbiotic system was engineered for Cu phytostabilization: On the one hand, composite Medicago truncatula plants expressing the metallothionein gene mt4a from Arabidopsis thaliana in roots were obtained to improve plant Cu tolerance. On the other hand, a genetically modified Ensifer medicae strain, expressing copper resistance genes copAB from Pseudomonas fluorescens driven by a nodulation promoter, nifHp, was used for plant inoculation. Our results indicated that expression of mt4a in composite plants ameliorated plant growth and nodulation and enhanced Cu tolerance. Lower levels of ROS-scavenging enzymes and of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), such as malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation), suggested reduced oxidative stress. Furthermore, inoculation with the genetically modified Ensifer further improved root Cu accumulation without altering metal loading to shoots, leading to diminished values of metal translocation from roots to shoots. The double modified partnership is proposed as a suitable tool for Cu rhizo-phytostabilization.}, } @article {pmid28479226, year = {2017}, author = {Lim, SM and Kim, DH}, title = {Bifidobacterium adolescentis IM38 ameliorates high-fat diet-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting NF-κB activation and lipopolysaccharide production by gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {86-96}, doi = {10.1016/j.nutres.2017.04.003}, pmid = {28479226}, issn = {1879-0739}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bifidobacterium adolescentis ; Caco-2 Cells ; Colitis/microbiology/*therapy ; Colon/metabolism/microbiology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Macrophages, Peritoneal/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Obesity/microbiology/therapy ; *Probiotics ; Tight Junction Proteins/metabolism ; Weight Gain ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota play essential roles in the regulation of human metabolism via symbiotic interactions with the host. Prolonged consumption of high-fat diet (HFD) elevates the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production by gut microbiota, thereby increasing the probability of developing metabolic and immune disorders such as obesity and colitis. The use of probiotics with anti-inflammatory properties has been suggested to counteract this effect. Here, we tested whether Bifidobacterium adolescentis IM38, which inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation in Caco-2 cells and peritoneal macrophages and inhibited Escherichia coli LPS production, exerted an anticolitic effect in mice with HFD-induced obesity. Oral administration of IM38 (2×10[9]CFU/mouse per day) for 6 weeks in mice with HFD-induced obesity inhibited whole-body and epididymal fat weight gain. IM38 also increased HFD-suppressed expression of interleukin (IL)-10 and tight junction proteins but significantly downregulated HFD-induced NF-κB activation and tumor necrosis factor expression in the colon. IM38 inhibited differentiation into helper T17 cells and reduced IL-17 levels in the colon of mice with HFD-induced obesity but increased HFD-suppressed differentiation into regulatory T cells and IL-10 levels. Furthermore, treatment with IM38 lowered the HFD-induced LPS levels in blood and colonic fluid, as well as the Proteobacteria to Bacteroidetes ratio in gut microbiota. Therefore, we suggest that IM38 can inhibit HFD-induced LPS production in gut microbiota through the regulation of Proteobacteria to Bacteroidetes ratio and NF-κB activation in the colon, which ultimately attenuates colitis. Thus, IM38 may be a suitable ingredient of functional foods designed for treating or preventing colitis.}, } @article {pmid28478826, year = {2017}, author = {Kazakos, EI and Kountouras, J and Polyzos, SA and Deretzi, G}, title = {Novel aspects of defensins' involvement in virus-induced autoimmunity in the central nervous system.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {33-36}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2017.02.020}, pmid = {28478826}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/*immunology/*virology ; Defensins/*immunology ; Encephalitis, Viral/*immunology/*virology ; Helicobacter Infections/*immunology ; Helicobacter pylori/*immunology ; Humans ; Models, Immunological ; Models, Neurological ; }, abstract = {Recent research on re-circulation of interstitial fluid from the brain parenchyma to the periphery and its inferred importance in immune surveillance dysregulation are changing our conceptualization of the pathophysiology of virus-induced autoimmunity. In this context, it is necessary to reassess the immunomodulatory properties of human defensins that are variably expressed by cerebral microglia, astrocytes and choroid plexus epithelial cells and exhibit complex and often confounding roles in neuroinflammatory processes. Therefore, in this review we describe current contributions in this field and we propose novel hypotheses regarding the potential impact of defensin-related pathways on virus-driven autoimmune neurodegeneration. In this regard, we have previously proposed that abnormal expression of defensins by penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may contribute to the pathophysiology of Helicobacter pylori-related brain neurodegenerative disorders through variable modulations of innate and adaptive immune responses. We hereby propose that impaired expression of defensins by structural components of the BBB may impede glymphatic circulation and disrupt receptor signalling in pericytes that is essential for microvascular stability, thereby retaining blood-derived toxins and bystander activated T-cells in the brain and further impairing BBB integrity and hampering viral clearance. Autoreactive T-cell infiltrates in neuronaxonal lesions characteristic of chronic central nervous system diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, are directed against both, myelin and non-myelin, antigens the precise nature of which remains enigmatic. Inadequate expression of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE), a gene expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells, induces the recruitment of defensin-specific T-cells. These cells may access the brain, thereby causing a decrease in defensin expression and subsequent down-regulation of CD91/LRP1-mediated clearance of amyloid-β that ultimately accumulates as protein deposits. It should be highlighted that β-amyloid brain deposits are a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. During human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, selective elicitation of the VH1-69 antibody subfamily directed against specific, viral glycoprotein epitopes, often correlates with a higher likelihood of developing autoimmune disorders. In addition, we propose that recently described defensin affinity towards the same epitopes may prevent proper viral fusion, but at the expense of augmenting autoimmune reactivity. Moreover, in the context of complex and largely unknown symbiotic relations between host microbiota and pathogenic viruses, we propose that co-stimulation of defensin expression may modulate adaptive immune responses thereby enhancing inflammatory cascades responsible for autoimmunity. Finally, we describe current evidence that supports the hypothesis of a possible involvement of defensins in HCV-related autoimmunity. Exploring further potential implications of human defensins in virus-related autoimmunity may lead to improved strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.}, } @article {pmid28478206, year = {2017}, author = {López-Gómez, M and Hidalgo-Castellanos, J and Muñoz-Sánchez, JR and Marín-Peña, AJ and Lluch, C and Herrera-Cervera, JA}, title = {Polyamines contribute to salinity tolerance in the symbiosis Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti by preventing oxidative damage.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {9-17}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.04.024}, pmid = {28478206}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Spermidine/metabolism ; Spermine/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Polyamines (PAs) such as spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) are small ubiquitous polycationic compounds that contribute to plant adaptation to salt stress. The positive effect of PAs has been associated to a cross-talk with other anti-stress hormones such as brassinosteroids (BRs). In this work we have studied the effects of exogenous Spd and Spm pre-treatments in the response to salt stress of the symbiotic interaction between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti by analyzing parameters related to nitrogen fixation, oxidative damage and cross-talk with BRs in the response to salinity. Exogenous PAs treatments incremented the foliar and nodular Spd and Spm content which correlated with an increment of the nodule biomass and nitrogenase activity. Exogenous Spm treatment partially prevented proline accumulation which suggests that this polyamine could replace the role of this amino acid in the salt stress response. Additionally, Spd and Spm pre-treatments reduced the levels of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation under salt stress. PAs induced the expression of genes involved in BRs biosynthesis which support a cross-talk between PAs and BRs in the salt stress response of M. truncatula-S. meliloti symbiosis. In conclusion, exogenous PAs improved the response to salinity of the M. truncatula-S. meliloti symbiosis by reducing the oxidative damage induced under salt stress conditions. In addition, in this work we provide evidences of the cross-talk between PAs and BRs in the adaptive responses to salinity.}, } @article {pmid28477542, year = {2017}, author = {Tian, Q and Zhuang, L and Ong, SK and Wang, Q and Wang, K and Xie, X and Zhu, Y and Li, F}, title = {Phosphorus (P) recovery coupled with increasing influent ammonium facilitated intracellular carbon source storage and simultaneous aerobic phosphorus & nitrogen removal.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {267-275}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2017.02.050}, pmid = {28477542}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Ammonium Compounds ; *Bioreactors ; Carbon ; Denitrification ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus/*chemistry ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; }, abstract = {Under decreasing C/N (from 8.8 to 3.5) conditions, an alternating anaerobic/aerobic biofilter (AABF) was used to remove nitrogen and accumulate/recover phosphorus (P) from synthetic wastewater. The AABF was periodically (every 10 days) fed with an additional carbon source (10 L, chemical oxygen demand (COD) = 900 mg L[-1] sodium acetate (NaAC) solution) in the anaerobic phase to induce the release of P sequestered in the biofilm. An increase in PHA storage in the biofilm was observed and characterized with TEM and a GC-MS method. The accumulation of P and removal of total nitrogen occurred primarily in the aerobic phase. As the NH4[+]-N loading rate increased from 0.095 to 0.238 kg m[-3] d[-1] at a total empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 4.6 h, the TN removal in AABF was reduced from 91.2% to 43.4%, while the P removal or recovery rate remained unaffected. The high-throughput community sequencing analysis indicated that the relative abundance of Candidatus Competibacter, Nitrospira and Arcobacter increased while the Accumulibacter phosphatis decreased with an increase of ammonium loading rate within a short operational period (30 days). A putative N and P removal pattern via simultaneous nitrification and PHA-based denitrification, as well as P accumulation in the biofilm was proposed. The research demonstrated that an efficient N removal and P recovery process, i.e., simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, P accumulation and carbon source-regulated P recovery can be achieved by the symbiotic functional groups in a single biofilm reactor.}, } @article {pmid28476964, year = {2017}, author = {Priyanka, KP and Harikumar, VS and Balakrishna, KM and Varghese, T}, title = {Inhibitory effect of TiO2 NPs on symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots.}, journal = {IET nanobiotechnology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {66-70}, pmid = {28476964}, issn = {1751-8741}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*administration & dosage/chemistry ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Metal Nanoparticles/*administration & dosage/chemistry/ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/*physiology ; Oryza/drug effects/microbiology ; Particle Size ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*microbiology ; Titanium/*administration & dosage/chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {While nanoparticles (NPs) are known to exhibit antimicrobial properties, their effects on symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant roots has to be carefully examined as NPs particularly of titanium dioxide (TiO2) reach plant roots through varied sources such as fertilisers, plant protection products and other nanoproducts. The objective of the present study is to assess the effect of TiO2 NPs on the symbiotic behaviour of AMF colonising rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants. Using sol-gel method, TiO2 NPs with three different sizes were successfully synthesised employing doping. Characterisation of the prepared material was done by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The synthesised materials were applied at 0, 25, 50 and 100 mg plant-1 to the rhizosphere of mycorrhizal rice plants maintained in pots. The study revealed that the prepared NPs had an inhibitory effect on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant roots. Development of AMF structures such as vesicles and arbuscules was significantly reduced in TiO2-doped NPs with a relatively more inhibition in 2% TiO2-doped NPs. Among the concentrations of TiO2 NPs applied to different treatments, %F was significantly (P < 0.001) affected at medium to higher levels of application.}, } @article {pmid28474894, year = {2017}, author = {Oakley, CA and Durand, E and Wilkinson, SP and Peng, L and Weis, VM and Grossman, AR and Davy, SK}, title = {Thermal Shock Induces Host Proteostasis Disruption and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Model Symbiotic Cnidarian Aiptasia.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {2121-2134}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00797}, pmid = {28474894}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; *Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heat-Shock Response/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Protein Folding ; Proteomics/methods ; *Proteostasis ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching has devastating effects on coral survival and reef ecosystem function, but many of the fundamental cellular effects of thermal stress on cnidarian physiology are unclear. We used label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to compare the effects of rapidly (33.5 °C, 24 h) and gradually (30 and 33.5 °C, 12 days) elevated temperatures on the proteome of the model symbiotic anemone Aiptasia. We identified 2133 proteins in Aiptasia, 136 of which were differentially abundant between treatments. Thermal shock, but not acclimation, resulted in significant abundance changes in 104 proteins, including those involved in protein folding and synthesis, redox homeostasis, and central metabolism. Nineteen abundant structural proteins showed particularly reduced abundance, demonstrating proteostasis disruption and potential protein synthesis inhibition. Heat shock induced antioxidant mechanisms and proteins involved in stabilizing nascent proteins, preventing protein aggregation and degrading damaged proteins, which is indicative of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Host proteostasis disruption occurred before either bleaching or symbiont photoinhibition was detected, suggesting host-derived reactive oxygen species production as the proximate cause of thermal damage. The pronounced abundance changes in endoplasmic reticulum proteins associated with proteostasis and protein turnover indicate that these processes are essential in the cellular response of symbiotic cnidarians to severe thermal stress.}, } @article {pmid28474559, year = {2018}, author = {Azmat, R and Moin, S and Saleem, A and Hamid, N and Khursheed, A and Ahmed, W}, title = {New Prospective for Enhancement in Bioenergy Resources Through Fungal Engineering.}, journal = {Recent patents on biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {65-76}, doi = {10.2174/1872208311666170504110649}, pmid = {28474559}, issn = {2212-4012}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biomass ; Carbon Cycle/physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Combretaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Droughts ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lignin/*biosynthesis ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Patents as Topic ; Plant Stomata/*metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lignin and cellulose, organic constituents of the plant or plant-based material not commonly used for feeding purpose are referred as Biomass. Patents suggest that this can be used as the best resource of renewable energy. Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) fungi can play an effective role in biomass manufacturing through activated metabolism of the plant under dual symbiosis. During C acclimatization, mycorrhizal inoculated plants existent greater number of leaves with a height of plants as compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. The current article discloses the search of the natural resources for C assimilation into biomass using mycorrhizal symbiosis.

METHODS: The pot experiment was conducted in the natural environment for extraction of more bioenergy through biomass of Conocarpus erectus L under VAM (Glomus fasciculatum) inoculation in various environmental conditions with replicates.

RESULTS: It observed that these fungal engineered plants showed distinctive prospective to offer, enhanced biomass to energy couple with a strong network for sinking CO2 from the atmosphere via strong roots and large surface area of leaves. There was an increase in biomass (9-17% respectively) of the plant under drought-VAM, VAM inoculation and VAM- enriched CO2 conditions in same period in comparison to control plants through lignin, cellulose and carbohydrate contents. It was followed by enhanced enzyme activities and nutrient ions in dual symbiosis.

CONCLUSION: Coupling biomass-originated energy may recover environmental conditions and commercial value for sustainable growth in energy consumption sector. The green energy from fungal engineered plants may replace high demand of fossil fuel as a young biofuel and make the cities more productive in the fabrication of bioenergy too in the form of biomass or biofuel with C impartial atmosphere.}, } @article {pmid28471518, year = {2017}, author = {Li, S and Zhou, C and Chen, G and Zhou, Y}, title = {Bacterial microbiota in small brown planthopper populations with different rice viruses.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {57}, number = {7}, pages = {590-596}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201700004}, pmid = {28471518}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/virology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology/virology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Oryza ; Plant Viruses/isolation & purification/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Symbiosis ; Tenuivirus/isolation & purification/physiology ; Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The small brown planthopper (SBPH) is an important virus vector, transmitting Rice stripe virus (RSV), and Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV). Insect symbionts play an essential role in the insect fitness, however, it is still unclear about their contributions to viral transmission by SBPH. Here, we investigated endosymbiont communities in non-viruliferous, RSV-infected, and RBSDV-infected SBPH populations using Illumina 16S rRNA gene MiSeq sequencing. In total, 281,803 effective sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were generated from different samples. Sequence analysis revealed the percentages of these bacterial groups in different SBPH populations on several taxonomic levels ranging from phyla to genera. The extremely consistent bacterial diversity and abundance indicated that RSV or RBSDV infection did not affect the composition and abundance of symbionts in SBPH. It was notable that Wolbachia was dominant in all populations. The symbiosis between Wolbachia and SBPH might be potentially studied and utilized to control pest SBPH in the future.}, } @article {pmid28470183, year = {2017}, author = {Pan, H and Wang, D}, title = {Nodule cysteine-rich peptides maintain a working balance during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {17048}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2017.48}, pmid = {28470183}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Cysteine/metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia is highly relevant to human society and global ecology. One recent breakthrough in understanding the molecular interplay between the plant and the prokaryotic partner is that, at least in certain legumes, the host deploys a number of antimicrobial peptides, called nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, to control the outcome of this symbiosis. Under this plant dominance, the bacteria are subject to the sub-lethal toxicity of these antimicrobial peptides, resulting in limited reproductive potential. However, recent genetic studies have added unexpected twists to this mechanism: certain NCR peptides are essential for the bacteria to adapt to the intracellular environment needed for a successful symbiosis, and the absence of these peptides can break down the mutualism. Meanwhile, some rhizobial strains have evolved a peptidase to specifically degrade these antimicrobial peptides, allowing the bacteria to escape host control. These findings challenge the preconceptions about 'antimicrobial' peptides, supporting the notion that their role in biotic interactions extends beyond toxicity to the microbial partners.}, } @article {pmid28469247, year = {2017}, author = {Papot, C and Massol, F and Jollivet, D and Tasiemski, A}, title = {Antagonistic evolution of an antibiotic and its molecular chaperone: how to maintain a vital ectosymbiosis in a highly fluctuating habitat.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1454}, pmid = {28469247}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry/*genetics/immunology ; Bacteria/growth & development ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Chaperones/chemistry/*genetics/immunology ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/classification/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Protein Conformation, beta-Strand ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/immunology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {Evolution of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has been shown to be driven by recurrent duplications and balancing/positive selection in response to new or altered bacterial pathogens. We use Alvinella pompejana, the most eurythermal animal known on Earth, to decipher the selection patterns acting on AMP in an ecological rather than controlled infection approach. The preproalvinellacin multigenic family presents the uniqueness to encode a molecular chaperone (BRICHOS) together with an AMP (alvinellacin) that controls the vital ectosymbiosis of Alvinella. In stark contrast to what is observed in the context of the Red queen paradigm, we demonstrate that exhibiting a vital and highly conserved ecto-symbiosis in the face of thermal fluctuations has led to a peculiar selective trend promoting the adaptive diversification of the molecular chaperone of the AMP, but not of the AMP itself. Because BRICHOS stabilizes beta-stranded peptides, this polymorphism likely represents an eurythermal adaptation to stabilize the structure of alvinellacin, thus hinting at its efficiency to select and control the epibiosis across the range of temperatures experienced by the worm; Our results fill some knowledge gaps concerning the function of BRICHOS in invertebrates and offer perspectives for studying immune genes in an evolutionary ecological framework.}, } @article {pmid28469244, year = {2017}, author = {Westhoek, A and Field, E and Rehling, F and Mulley, G and Webb, I and Poole, PS and Turnbull, LA}, title = {Policing the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis: a critical test of partner choice.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1419}, pmid = {28469244}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BB/K006134/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J007749/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J014524/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/*microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In legume-Rhizobium symbioses, specialised soil bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in return for carbon. However, ineffective strains can arise, making discrimination essential. Discrimination can occur via partner choice, where legumes prevent ineffective strains from entering, or via sanctioning, where plants provide fewer resources. Several studies have inferred that legumes exercise partner choice, but the rhizobia compared were not otherwise isogenic. To test when and how plants discriminate ineffective strains we developed sets of fixing and non-fixing strains that differed only in the expression of nifH - essential for nitrogen fixation - and could be visualised using marker genes. We show that the plant is unable to select against the non-fixing strain at the point of entry, but that non-fixing nodules are sanctioned. We also used the technique to characterise mixed nodules (containing both a fixing and a non-fixing strain), whose frequency could be predicted using a simple diffusion model. We discuss that sanctioning is likely to evolve in preference to partner choice in any symbiosis where partner quality cannot be adequately assessed until goods or services are actively exchanged.}, } @article {pmid28467665, year = {2017}, author = {Gimeno, TE and Ogée, J and Royles, J and Gibon, Y and West, JB and Burlett, R and Jones, SP and Sauze, J and Wohl, S and Benard, C and Genty, B and Wingate, L}, title = {Bryophyte gas-exchange dynamics along varying hydration status reveal a significant carbonyl sulphide (COS) sink in the dark and COS source in the light.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {3}, pages = {965-976}, pmid = {28467665}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bryophyta/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Darkness ; Desiccation ; Gases/*metabolism ; *Light ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/radiation effects ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Sulfur Oxides/*metabolism ; Temperature ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Carbonyl sulphide (COS) is a potential tracer of gross primary productivity (GPP), assuming a unidirectional COS flux into the vegetation that scales with GPP. However, carbonic anhydrase (CA), the enzyme that hydrolyses COS, is expected to be light independent, and thus plants without stomata should continue to take up COS in the dark. We measured net CO2 (A[C]) and COS (A[S]) uptake rates from two astomatous bryophytes at different relative water contents (RWCs), COS concentrations, temperatures and light intensities. We found large A[S] in the dark, indicating that CA activity continues without photosynthesis. More surprisingly, we found a nonzero COS compensation point in light and dark conditions, indicating a temperature-driven COS source with a Q10 (fractional change for a 10°C temperature increase) of 3.7. This resulted in greater A[S] in the dark than in the light at similar RWC. The processes underlying such COS emissions remain unknown. Our results suggest that ecosystems dominated by bryophytes might be strong atmospheric sinks of COS at night and weaker sinks or even sources of COS during daytime. Biotic COS production in bryophytes could result from symbiotic fungal and bacterial partners that could also be found on vascular plants.}, } @article {pmid28466089, year = {2017}, author = {Prado-Irwin, SR and Bird, AK and Zink, AG and Vredenburg, VT}, title = {Intraspecific Variation in the Skin-Associated Microbiome of a Terrestrial Salamander.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {745-756}, pmid = {28466089}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {R25 GM059298/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; California ; Female ; Geography ; Male ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sex Factors ; Skin/*microbiology ; Urodela/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Resident microbial communities living on amphibian skin can have significant effects on host health, yet the basic ecology of the host-microbiome relationship of many amphibian taxa is poorly understood. We characterized intraspecific variation in the skin microbiome of the salamander Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica, a subspecies composed of four genetically distinct populations distributed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, USA. We found that salamanders from four geographically and genetically isolated populations harbor similar skin microbial communities, which are dominated by a common core set of bacterial taxa. Additionally, within a population, the skin microbiome does not appear to differ significantly between salamanders of different ages or sexes. In all cases, the salamander skin microbiomes were significantly different from those of the surrounding terrestrial environment. These results suggest that the relationship between E. e. xanthoptica salamanders and their resident skin microbiomes is conserved, possibly indicating a stable mutualism between the host and microbiome.}, } @article {pmid28465831, year = {2017}, author = {Shi, N and Li, N and Duan, X and Niu, H}, title = {Interaction between the gut microbiome and mucosal immune system.}, journal = {Military Medical Research}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {14}, pmid = {28465831}, issn = {2054-9369}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/immunology/physiology ; Immunity, Mucosal/*physiology ; Intestines/immunology ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota, the largest symbiotic ecosystem with the host, has been shown to play important roles in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is caused by the imbalance between the commensal and pathogenic microbiomes. The commensal microbiome regulates the maturation of the mucosal immune system, while the pathogenic microbiome causes immunity dysfunction, resulting in disease development. The gut mucosal immune system, which consists of lymph nodes, lamina propria and epithelial cells, constitutes a protective barrier for the integrity of the intestinal tract. The composition of the gut microbiota is under the surveillance of the normal mucosal immune system. Inflammation, which is caused by abnormal immune responses, influences the balance of the gut microbiome, resulting in intestinal diseases. In this review, we briefly outlined the interaction between the gut microbiota and the immune system and provided a reference for future studies.}, } @article {pmid28464532, year = {2017}, author = {Sogin, EM and Putnam, HM and Nelson, CE and Anderson, P and Gates, RD}, title = {Correspondence of coral holobiont metabolome with symbiotic bacteria, archaea and Symbiodinium communities.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {310-315}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12541}, pmid = {28464532}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Alveolata/*growth & development/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Archaea/classification/*growth & development/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Coral Reefs ; Gammaproteobacteria/*growth & development/metabolism ; Metabolome/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vibrionaceae/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiotic partners, such as those associated with Scleractinian corals, mediate biochemical transformations that influence host performance and survival. While evidence suggests microbial community composition partly accounts for differences in coral physiology, how these symbionts affect metabolic pathways remains underexplored. We aimed to assess functional implications of variation among coral-associated microbial partners in hospite. To this end, we characterized and compared metabolomic profiles and microbial community composition from nine reef-building coral species. These data demonstrate metabolite profiles and microbial communities are species-specific and are correlated to one another. Using Porites spp. as a case study, we present evidence that the relative abundance of different sub-clades of Symbiodinium and bacterial/archaeal families are linked to positive and negative metabolomic signatures. Our data suggest that while some microbial partners benefit the union, others are more opportunistic with potential detriment to the host. Consequently, coral partner choice likely influences cellular metabolic activities and, therefore, holobiont nutrition.}, } @article {pmid28464391, year = {2017}, author = {Lawrence, SA and Floge, SA and Davy, JE and Davy, SK and Wilson, WH}, title = {Exploratory analysis of Symbiodinium transcriptomes reveals potential latent infection by large dsDNA viruses.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {3909-3919}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13782}, pmid = {28464391}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; DNA Viruses/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/*virology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are in decline worldwide. Much of this decline is attributable to mass coral bleaching events and disease outbreaks, both of which are linked to anthropogenic climate change. Despite increased research effort, much remains unknown about these phenomena, especially the causative agents of many coral diseases. In particular, coral-associated viruses have received little attention, and their potential roles in coral diseases are largely unknown. Previous microscopy studies have produced evidence of viral infections in Symbiodinium, the endosymbiotic algae critical for coral survival, and more recently molecular evidence of Symbiodinium-infecting viruses has emerged from metagenomic studies of corals. Here, we took an exploratory whole-transcriptome approach to virus gene discovery in three different Symbiodinium cultures. An array of virus-like genes was found in each of the transcriptomes, with the majority apparently belonging to the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses. Upregulation of virus-like gene expression following stress experiments indicated that Symbiodinium cells may host latent or persistent viral infections that are induced via stress. This was supported by analysis of host gene expression, which showed changes consistent with viral infection after exposure to stress. If these results can be replicated in Symbiodinium cells in hospite, they could help to explain the breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis, and possibly some of the numerous coral diseases that have yet to be assigned a causative agent.}, } @article {pmid28462779, year = {2017}, author = {Burns, JA and Zhang, H and Hill, E and Kim, E and Kerney, R}, title = {Transcriptome analysis illuminates the nature of the intracellular interaction in a vertebrate-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28462779}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Ambystoma/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glutamine/metabolism ; Immunity, Innate ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Volvocida/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {During embryonic development, cells of the green alga Oophila amblystomatis enter cells of the salamander Ambystoma maculatum forming an endosymbiosis. Here, using de novo dual-RNA seq, we compared the host salamander cells that harbored intracellular algae to those without algae and the algae inside the animal cells to those in the egg capsule. This two-by-two-way analysis revealed that intracellular algae exhibit hallmarks of cellular stress and undergo a striking metabolic shift from oxidative metabolism to fermentation. Culturing experiments with the alga showed that host glutamine may be utilized by the algal endosymbiont as a primary nitrogen source. Transcriptional changes in salamander cells suggest an innate immune response to the alga, with potential attenuation of NF-κB, and metabolic alterations indicative of modulation of insulin sensitivity. In stark contrast to its algal endosymbiont, the salamander cells did not exhibit major stress responses, suggesting that the host cell experience is neutral or beneficial.}, } @article {pmid28462778, year = {2017}, author = {Ball, SG and Cenci, U}, title = {Gasping for air.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28462778}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Ambystoma ; Animals ; *Chlorophyta ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Transcriptomics is shedding new light on the relationship between photosynthetic algae and salamander eggs.}, } @article {pmid28462587, year = {2017}, author = {Whon, TW and Shin, NR and Jung, MJ and Hyun, DW and Kim, HS and Kim, PS and Bae, JW}, title = {Conditionally Pathogenic Gut Microbes Promote Larval Growth by Increasing Redox-Dependent Fat Storage in High-Sugar Diet-Fed Drosophila.}, journal = {Antioxidants & redox signaling}, volume = {27}, number = {16}, pages = {1361-1380}, doi = {10.1089/ars.2016.6790}, pmid = {28462587}, issn = {1557-7716}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drosophila melanogaster/*growth & development/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Germ-Free Life ; Lipid Metabolism ; Microbiota ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14/metabolism ; Obesity/chemically induced/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sucrose/*administration & dosage ; Uracil/metabolism ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Changes in the composition of the gut microbiota contribute to the development of obesity and subsequent complications that are associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the role of increased numbers of certain bacterial species during the progress of obesity and factor(s) controlling the community structure of gut microbiota remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate the inter-relationship between Drosophila melanogaster and their resident gut microbiota under chronic high-sugar diet (HSD) conditions.

RESULTS: Chronic feeding of an HSD to Drosophila resulted in a predominance of resident uracil-secreting bacteria in the gut. Axenic insects mono-associated with uracil-secreting bacteria or supplemented with uracil under HSD conditions promoted larval development. Redox signaling induced by bacterial uracil promoted larval growth by regulating sugar and lipid metabolism via activation of p38a mitogen-activated protein kinase.

INNOVATION: The present study identified a new redox-dependent mechanism by which uracil-secreting bacteria (previously regarded as opportunistic pathobionts) protect the host from metabolic perturbation under chronic HSD conditions.

CONCLUSION: These results illustrate how Drosophila and gut microbes form a symbiotic relationship under stress conditions, and changes in the gut microbiota play an important role in alleviating deleterious diet-derived effects such as hyperglycemia. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 1361-1380.}, } @article {pmid28461155, year = {2017}, author = {Harish, A and Kurland, CG}, title = {Akaryotes and Eukaryotes are independent descendants of a universal common ancestor.}, journal = {Biochimie}, volume = {138}, number = {}, pages = {168-183}, doi = {10.1016/j.biochi.2017.04.013}, pmid = {28461155}, issn = {1638-6183}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Eukaryota/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome ; Mitochondria ; *Models, Genetic ; *Phylogeny ; *Proteome ; }, abstract = {We reconstructed a global tree of life (ToL) with non-reversible and non-stationary models of genome evolution that root trees intrinsically. We implemented Bayesian model selection tests and compared the statistical support for four conflicting ToL hypotheses. We show that reconstructions obtained with a Bayesian implementation (Klopfstein et al., 2015) are consistent with reconstructions obtained with an empirical Sankoff parsimony (ESP) implementation (Harish et al., 2013). Both are based on the genome contents of coding sequences for protein domains (superfamilies) from hundreds of genomes. Thus, we conclude that the independent descent of Eukaryotes and Akaryotes (archaea and bacteria) from the universal common ancestor (UCA) is the most probable as well as the most parsimonious hypothesis for the evolutionary origins of extant genomes. Reconstructions of ancestral proteomes by both Bayesian and ESP methods suggest that at least 70% of unique domain-superfamilies known in extant species were present in the UCA. In addition, identification of a vast majority (96%) of the mitochondrial superfamilies in the UCA proteome precludes a symbiotic hypothesis for the origin of eukaryotes. Accordingly, neither the archaeal origin of eukaryotes nor the bacterial origin of mitochondria is supported by the data. The proteomic complexity of the UCA suggests that the evolution of cellular phenotypes in the two primordial lineages, Akaryotes and Eukaryotes, was driven largely by duplication of common superfamilies as well as by loss of unique superfamilies. Finally, innovation of novel superfamilies has played a surprisingly small role in the evolution of Akaryotes and only a marginal role in the evolution of Eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid28460092, year = {2017}, author = {Kumar Mondal, A and Kumar, J and Pandey, R and Gupta, S and Kumar, M and Bansal, G and Mukerji, M and Dash, D and Singh Chauhan, N}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Host-Symbiont and Free-Living Oceanobacillus Species.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {1175-1182}, pmid = {28460092}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Bacillaceae/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Survival in a given environment requires specific functions, so genomic variation is anticipated within in individual taxonomic groups that exhibit a large diversity in lifestyles. In this study, we sequence and assemble the genome of Oceanobacillus faecalis strain HM6, a resident of the human gut. Using the genus Oceanobacillus and the HM6 draft genome sequence, we explore the functional requirements for survival in a symbiotic arrangement within the human gut, in contrast to free living in the environment. Comparative genomics of seven available Oceanobacillus complete genomes highlight a genomically heterogeneous group. Our analysis did not find strict phylogenetic separation between free-living and host-symbiont Oceanobacillus members. By comparing functional gene content between host-associated and free-living species, we identified candidate genes that are potentially involved in symbiotic lifestyles, including phosphotransferase genes, transporters and two component response regulators. This study summarizes genomic and phylogenetic differences in the Oceanobacillus genus. Additionally, we highlight functions that may be key for survival in the human gut community.}, } @article {pmid28456518, year = {2017}, author = {Medina-Colorado, AA and Vincent, KL and Miller, AL and Maxwell, CA and Dawson, LN and Olive, T and Kozlova, EV and Baum, MM and Pyles, RB}, title = {Vaginal ecosystem modeling of growth patterns of anaerobic bacteria in microaerophilic conditions.}, journal = {Anaerobe}, volume = {45}, number = {}, pages = {10-18}, pmid = {28456518}, issn = {1095-8274}, support = {R01 AI100744/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI113048/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001439/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aerobiosis ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria, Aerobic/*growth & development ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/*growth & development ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Models, Biological ; Vagina/*microbiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The human vagina constitutes a complex ecosystem created through relationships established between host mucosa and bacterial communities. In this ecosystem, classically defined bacterial aerobes and anaerobes thrive as communities in the microaerophilic environment. Levels of CO2 and O2 present in the vaginal lumen are impacted by both the ecosystem's physiology and the behavior and health of the human host. Study of such complex relationships requires controlled and reproducible causational approaches that are not possible in the human host that, until recently, was the only place these bacterial communities thrived. To address this need we have utilized our ex vivo human vaginal mucosa culture system to support controlled, reproducible colonization by vaginal bacterial communities (VBC) collected from healthy, asymptomatic donors. Parallel vaginal epithelial cells (VEC)-VBC co-cultures were exposed to two different atmospheric conditions to study the impact of CO2 concentrations upon the anaerobic bacteria associated with dysbiosis and inflammation. Our data suggest that in the context of transplanted VBC, increased CO2 favored specific lactobacilli species defined as microaerophiles when grown as monocultures. In preliminary studies, the observed community changes also led to shifts in host VEC phenotypes with significant changes in the host transcriptome, including altered expression of select molecular transporter genes. These findings support the need for additional study of the environmental changes associated with behavior and health upon the symbiotic and adversarial relationships that are formed in microbial communities present in the human vaginal ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid28455797, year = {2017}, author = {Martini, X and Hughes, MA and Killiny, N and George, J and Lapointe, SL and Smith, JA and Stelinski, LL}, title = {The Fungus Raffaelea lauricola Modifies Behavior of Its Symbiont and Vector, the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (Xyleborus Glabratus), by Altering Host Plant Volatile Production.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {519-531}, pmid = {28455797}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; Coleoptera/drug effects/*physiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Lauraceae/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus is the vector of the symbiotic fungus, Raffaelea lauricola that causes laurel wilt, a highly lethal disease to members of the Lauraceae family. Pioneer X. glabratus beetles infect live trees with R. lauricola, and only when tree health starts declining more X. glabratus are attracted to the infected tree. Until now this sequence of events was not well understood. In this study, we investigated the temporal patterns of host volatiles and phytohormone production and vector attraction in relation to laurel wilt symptomology. Following inoculations with R. lauricola, volatile collections and behavioral tests were performed at different time points. Three days after infection (DAI), we found significant repellency of X. glabratus by leaf odors of infected swamp bay Persea palustris as compared with controls. However, at 10 and 20 DAI, X. glabratus were more attracted to leaf odors from infected than non-infected host plants. GC-MS analysis revealed an increase in methyl salicylate (MeSA) 3 DAI, whereas an increase of sesquiterpenes and leaf aldehydes was observed 10 and 20 DAI in leaf volatiles. MeSA was the only behaviorally active repellent of X. glabratus in laboratory bioassays. In contrast, X. glabratus did not prefer infected wood over healthy wood, and there was no associated significant difference in their volatile profiles. Analyses of phytohormone profiles revealed an initial increase in the amount of salicylic acid (SA) in leaf tissues following fungal infection, suggesting that the SA pathway was activated by R. lauricola infection, and this activation caused increased release of MeSA. Overall, our findings provide a better understanding of X. glabratus ecology and underline chemical interactions with its symbiotic fungus. Our work also demonstrates how the laurel wilt pathosystem alters host defenses to impact vector behavior and suggests manipulation of host odor by the fungus that attract more vectors.}, } @article {pmid28455417, year = {2017}, author = {Serbus, LR and Rodriguez, BG and Sharmin, Z and Momtaz, AJMZ and Christensen, S}, title = {Predictive Genomic Analyses Inform the Basis for Vitamin Metabolism and Provisioning in Bacteria-Arthropod Endosymbioses.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1887-1898}, pmid = {28455417}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology/methods ; Databases, Genetic ; Genetic Association Studies ; *Genomics/methods ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Open Reading Frames ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Vitamins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The requirement of vitamins for core metabolic processes creates a unique set of pressures for arthropods subsisting on nutrient-limited diets. While endosymbiotic bacteria carried by arthropods have been widely implicated in vitamin provisioning, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. To address this issue, standardized predictive assessment of vitamin metabolism was performed in 50 endosymbionts of insects and arachnids. The results predicted that arthropod endosymbionts overall have little capacity for complete de novo biosynthesis of conventional or active vitamin forms. Partial biosynthesis pathways were commonly predicted, suggesting a substantial role in vitamin provisioning. Neither taxonomic relationships between host and symbiont, nor the mode of host-symbiont interaction were clear predictors of endosymbiont vitamin pathway capacity. Endosymbiont genome size and the synthetic capacity of nonsymbiont taxonomic relatives were more reliable predictors. We developed a new software application that also predicted that last-step conversion of intermediates into active vitamin forms may contribute further to vitamin biosynthesis by endosymbionts. Most instances of predicted vitamin conversion were paralleled by predictions of vitamin use. This is consistent with achievement of provisioning in some cases through upregulation of pathways that were retained for endosymbiont benefit. The predicted absence of other enzyme classes further suggests a baseline of vitamin requirement by the majority of endosymbionts, as well as some instances of putative mutualism. Adaptation of this workflow to analysis of other organisms and metabolic pathways will provide new routes for considering the molecular basis for symbiosis on a comprehensive scale.}, } @article {pmid28453654, year = {2017}, author = {Takishita, K and Takaki, Y and Chikaraishi, Y and Ikuta, T and Ozawa, G and Yoshida, T and Ohkouchi, N and Fujikura, K}, title = {Genomic Evidence that Methanotrophic Endosymbionts Likely Provide Deep-Sea Bathymodiolus Mussels with a Sterol Intermediate in Cholesterol Biosynthesis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {1148-1160}, pmid = {28453654}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Bivalvia/chemistry/cytology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Cell Membrane/chemistry ; Cholesterol/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Phylogeny ; Sterols/biosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sterols are key cyclic triterpenoid lipid components of eukaryotic cellular membranes, which are synthesized through complex multi-enzyme pathways. Similar to most animals, Bathymodiolus mussels, which inhabit deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems and harbor methanotrophic and/or thiotrophic bacterial endosymbionts, possess cholesterol as their main sterol. Based on the stable carbon isotope analyses, it has been suggested that host Bathymodiolus mussels synthesize cholesterol using a sterol intermediate derived from the methanotrophic endosymbionts. To test this hypothesis, we sequenced the genome of the methanotrophic endosymbiont in Bathymodiolus platifrons. The genome sequence data demonstrated that the endosymbiont potentially generates up to 4,4-dimethyl-cholesta-8,14,24-trienol, a sterol intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis, from methane. In addition, transcripts for a subset of the enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway to cholesterol downstream from a sterol intermediate derived from methanotroph endosymbionts were detected in our transcriptome data for B. platifrons. These findings suggest that this mussel can de novo synthesize cholesterol from methane in cooperation with the symbionts. By in situ hybridization analyses, we showed that genes associated with cholesterol biosynthesis from both host and endosymbionts were expressed exclusively in the gill epithelial bacteriocytes containing endosymbionts. Thus, cholesterol production is probably localized within these specialized cells of the gill. Considering that the host mussel cannot de novo synthesize cholesterol and depends largely on endosymbionts for nutrition, the capacity of endosymbionts to synthesize sterols may be important in establishing symbiont-host relationships in these chemosynthetic mussels.}, } @article {pmid28452987, year = {2017}, author = {Knowles, B and Bailey, B and Boling, L and Breitbart, M and Cobián-Güemes, A and Del Campo, J and Edwards, R and Felts, B and Grasis, J and Haas, AF and Katira, P and Kelly, LW and Luque, A and Nulton, J and Paul, L and Peters, G and Robinett, N and Sandin, S and Segall, A and Silveira, C and Youle, M and Rohwer, F}, title = {Variability and host density independence in inductions-based estimates of environmental lysogeny.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17064}, pmid = {28452987}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Bacteria/*virology ; Bacteriophages/genetics/*physiology ; DNA Damage ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; *Lysogeny ; Symbiosis ; Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {Temperate bacterial viruses (phages) may enter a symbiosis with their host cell, forming a unit called a lysogen. Infection and viral replication are disassociated in lysogens until an induction event such as DNA damage occurs, triggering viral-mediated lysis. The lysogen-lytic viral reproduction switch is central to viral ecology, with diverse ecosystem impacts. It has been argued that lysogeny is favoured in phages at low host densities. This paradigm is based on the fraction of chemically inducible cells (FCIC) lysogeny proxy determined using DNA-damaging mitomycin C inductions. Contrary to the established paradigm, a survey of 39 inductions publications found FCIC to be highly variable and pervasively insensitive to bacterial host density at global, within-environment and within-study levels. Attempts to determine the source(s) of variability highlighted the inherent complications in using the FCIC proxy in mixed communities, including dissociation between rates of lysogeny and FCIC values. Ultimately, FCIC studies do not provide robust measures of lysogeny or consistent evidence of either positive or negative host density dependence to the lytic-lysogenic switch. Other metrics are therefore needed to understand the drivers of the lytic-lysogenic decision in viral communities and to test models of the host density-dependent viral lytic-lysogenic switch.}, } @article {pmid28452358, year = {2017}, author = {Flórez, LV and Scherlach, K and Gaube, P and Ross, C and Sitte, E and Hermes, C and Rodrigues, A and Hertweck, C and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Antibiotic-producing symbionts dynamically transition between plant pathogenicity and insect-defensive mutualism.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {15172}, pmid = {28452358}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism ; Antifungal Agents/*metabolism ; Burkholderia gladioli/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Fungi/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Pyrimidinones/metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Triazines/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic and mutualistic bacteria associated with eukaryotic hosts often lack distinctive genomic features, suggesting regular transitions between these lifestyles. Here we present evidence supporting a dynamic transition from plant pathogenicity to insect-defensive mutualism in symbiotic Burkholderia gladioli bacteria. In a group of herbivorous beetles, these symbionts protect the vulnerable egg stage against detrimental microbes. The production of a blend of antibiotics by B. gladioli, including toxoflavin, caryoynencin and two new antimicrobial compounds, the macrolide lagriene and the isothiocyanate sinapigladioside, likely mediate this defensive role. In addition to vertical transmission, these insect symbionts can be exchanged via the host plant and retain the ability to initiate systemic plant infection at the expense of the plant's fitness. Our findings provide a paradigm for the transition between pathogenic and mutualistic lifestyles and shed light on the evolution and chemical ecology of this defensive mutualism.}, } @article {pmid28451743, year = {2017}, author = {Durand, A and Maillard, F and Foulon, J and Gweon, HS and Valot, B and Chalot, M}, title = {Environmental Metabarcoding Reveals Contrasting Belowground and Aboveground Fungal Communities from Poplar at a Hg Phytomanagement Site.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {4}, pages = {795-809}, pmid = {28451743}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Ecosystem ; France ; Fungi/*classification/genetics ; Mercury/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Populus/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Characterization of microbial communities in stressful conditions at a field level is rather scarce, especially when considering fungal communities from aboveground habitats. We aimed at characterizing fungal communities from different poplar habitats at a Hg-contaminated phytomanagement site by using Illumina-based sequencing, network analysis approach, and direct isolation of Hg-resistant fungal strains. The highest diversity estimated by the Shannon index was found for soil communities, which was negatively affected by soil Hg concentration. Among the significant correlations between soil operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the co-occurrence network, 80% were negatively correlated revealing dominance of a pattern of mutual exclusion. The fungal communities associated with Populus roots mostly consisted of OTUs from the symbiotic guild, such as members of the Thelephoraceae, thus explaining the lowest diversity found for root communities. Additionally, root communities showed the highest network connectivity index, while rarely detected OTUs from the Glomeromycetes may have a central role in the root network. Unexpectedly high richness and diversity were found for aboveground habitats, compared to the root habitat. The aboveground habitats were dominated by yeasts from the Lalaria, Davidiella, and Bensingtonia genera, not detected in belowground habitats. Leaf and stem habitats were characterized by few dominant OTUs such as those from the Dothideomycete class producing mutual exclusion with other OTUs. Aureobasidium pullulans, one of the dominating OTUs, was further isolated from the leaf habitat, in addition to Nakazawaea populi species, which were found to be Hg resistant. Altogether, these findings will provide an improved point of reference for microbial research on inoculation-based programs of tailings dumps.}, } @article {pmid28450855, year = {2017}, author = {Guo, H and Glaeser, SP and Alabid, I and Imani, J and Haghighi, H and Kämpfer, P and Kogel, KH}, title = {The Abundance of Endofungal Bacterium Rhizobium radiobacter (syn. Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Increases in Its Fungal Host Piriformospora indica during the Tripartite Sebacinalean Symbiosis with Higher Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {629}, pmid = {28450855}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobium radiobacter (syn. Agrobacterium tumefaciens, syn. "Agrobacterium fabrum") is an endofungal bacterium of the fungal mutualist Piriformospora (syn. Serendipita) indica (Basidiomycota), which together form a tripartite Sebacinalean symbiosis with a broad range of plants. R. radiobacter strain F4 (RrF4), isolated from P. indica DSM 11827, induces growth promotion and systemic resistance in cereal crops, including barley and wheat, suggesting that R. radiobacter contributes to a successful symbiosis. Here, we studied the impact of endobacteria on the morphology and the beneficial activity of P. indica during interactions with plants. Low numbers of endobacteria were detected in the axenically grown P. indica (long term lab-cultured, lcPiri) whereas mycelia colonizing the plant root contained increased numbers of bacteria. Higher numbers of endobacteria were also found in axenic cultures of P. indica that was freshly re-isolated (riPiri) from plant roots, though numbers dropped during repeated axenic re-cultivation. Prolonged treatments of P. indica cultures with various antibiotics could not completely eliminate the bacterium, though the number of detectable endobacteria decreased significantly, resulting in partial-cured P. indica (pcPiri). pcPiri showed reduced growth in axenic cultures and poor sporulation. Consistent with this, pcPiri also showed reduced plant growth promotion and reduced systemic resistance against powdery mildew infection as compared with riPiri and lcPiri. These results are consistent with the assumption that the endobacterium R. radiobacter improves P. indica's fitness and thus contributes to the success of the tripartite Sebacinalean symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28450706, year = {2017}, author = {Song, C and Murata, K and Suzaki, T}, title = {Intracellular symbiosis of algae with possible involvement of mitochondrial dynamics.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1221}, pmid = {28450706}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Chlorophyta/*growth & development/physiology/ultrastructure ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Microscopy, Electron ; *Mitochondrial Dynamics ; Paramecium/*microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Algal endosymbiosis is widely present among eukaryotes including many protists and metazoans. However, the mechanisms involved in their interactions between host and symbiont remain unclear. Here, we used electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction analyses to examine the ultrastructural interactions between the symbiotic zoochlorella and the organelles in the host Paramecium bursaria, which is a model system of endosymbiosis. Although in chemically fixed samples the symbiotic algae show no direct structural interactions with the host organelles and the perialgal vacuole membrane (PVM), in cryofixed P. bursaria samples the intimate connections were identified between the host mitochondria and the symbiotic algae via the PVM. The PVM was closely apposed to the cell wall of the symbiotic algae and in some places it showed direct contacts to the host mitochondrial membrane and the cell wall of the symbiotic algae. Further, the PVM-associated mitochondria formed a mitochondrial network and were also connected to host ER. Our observations propose a new endosymbiotic systems between the host eukaryotes and the symbionts where the benefiting symbiosis is performed through intimate interactions and an active structural modification in the host organelles.}, } @article {pmid28450373, year = {2017}, author = {Yadav, S and Daugherty, S and Shetty, AC and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {RNAseq Analysis of the Drosophila Response to the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1955-1967}, pmid = {28450373}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {R01 AI110675/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology/methods ; Conserved Sequence ; Databases, Genetic ; Drosophila/*genetics/immunology/*parasitology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics/immunology ; Immunity ; Larva ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Strongyloidea ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Drosophila melanogaster is an outstanding model to study the molecular and functional basis of host-pathogen interactions. Currently, our knowledge of microbial infections in D. melanogaster is well understood; however, the response of flies to nematode infections is still in its infancy. Here, we have used the potent parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, which lives in mutualism with its endosymbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila, to examine the transcriptomic basis of the interaction between D. melanogaster and entomopathogenic nematodes. We have employed next-generation RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to investigate the transcriptomic profile of D. melanogaster larvae in response to infection by S. carpocapsae symbiotic (carrying X. nematophila) or axenic (lacking X. nematophila) nematodes. Bioinformatic analyses have identified the strong induction of genes that are associated with the peritrophic membrane and the stress response, as well as several genes that participate in developmental processes. We have also found that genes with different biological functions are enriched in D. melanogaster larvae responding to either symbiotic or axenic nematodes. We further show that while symbiotic nematode infection enriched certain known immune-related genes, axenic nematode infection enriched several genes associated with chitin binding, lipid metabolic functions, and neuroactive ligand receptors. In addition, we have identified genes with a potential role in nematode recognition and genes with potential antinematode activity. Findings from this study will undoubtedly set the stage for the identification of key regulators of antinematode immune mechanisms in D. melanogaster, as well as in other insects of socioeconomic importance.}, } @article {pmid28449118, year = {2017}, author = {Kostanjšek, R and Vittori, M and Srot, V and van Aken, PA and Štrus, J}, title = {Polyphosphate-accumulating bacterial community colonizing the calcium bodies of terrestrial isopod crustaceans Titanethes albus and Hyloniscus riparius.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix053}, pmid = {28449118}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Calcium Carbonate ; Caves ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polyphosphates/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Spiders/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial isopods from the group Trichoniscidae accumulate calcium in specialized organs, known as the calcium bodies. These consist of two pairs of epithelial sacs located alongside the digestive system. These organs contain various forms of calcium and constantly present bacteria. To elucidate their origin and role, we analyzed the bacteria of the calcium bodies in the cave-dwelling isopod Titanethes albus and the epigean species Hyloniscus riparius, by microscopy, histochemistry, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, 16S rRNA analysis and in situ hybridization. The calcium bodies of both species comprise numerous and diverse bacterial communities consisting of known soil bacteria. Despite their diversity, these bacteria share the polyphosphate-accumulation ability. We present the model of phosphorous dynamics in the calcium bodies during the molting cycle and potentially beneficial utilization of the symbiotic phosphate by the host in cyclic regeneration of the cuticle. Although not fully understood, this unique symbiosis represents the first evidence of polyphosphate-accumulating bacterial symbionts in the tissue of a terrestrial animal.}, } @article {pmid28448771, year = {2017}, author = {Kolařík, M and Hulcr, J and Tisserat, N and De Beer, W and Kostovčík, M and Kolaříková, Z and Seybold, SJ and Rizzo, DM}, title = {Geosmithia associated with bark beetles and woodborers in the western USA: taxonomic diversity and vector specificity.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {2}, pages = {185-199}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2017.1303861}, pmid = {28448771}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; California ; Coleoptera/classification/*microbiology ; Colorado ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Hypocreales/*classification/isolation & purification ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Introduced Species ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi in the genus Geosmithia (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are frequent associates of bark beetles and woodborers that colonize hardwood and coniferous trees. One species, Geosmithia morbida, is an economically damaging invasive species. The authors surveyed the Geosmithia species of California and Colorado, USA, to (i) provide baseline data on taxonomy of Geosmithia and beetle vector specificity across the western USA; (ii) investigate the subcortical beetle fauna for alternative vectors of the invasive G. morbida; and (iii) interpret the community composition of this region within the emerging global biogeography of Geosmithia. Geosmithia was detected in 87% of 126 beetle samples obtained from 39 plant species. Twenty-nine species of Geosmithia were distinguished, of which 13 may be new species. Bark beetles from hardwoods, Cupressus, and Sequoia appear to be regular vectors, with Geosmithia present in all beetle gallery systems examined. Other subcortical insects appear to vector Geosmithia at lower frequencies. Overall, most Geosmithia have a distinct level of vector specificity (mostly high, sometimes low) enabling their separation to generalists and specialists. Plant pathogenic Geosmithia morbida was not found in association with any other beetle besides Pityophthorus juglandis. However, four additional Geosmithia species were found in P. juglandis galleries. When integrated with recent data from other continents, a global pattern of Geosmithia distribution across continents, latitudes, and vectors is emerging: of the 29 Geosmithia species found in the western USA, 12 have not been reported outside of the USA. The most frequently encountered species with the widest global distribution also had the broadest range of beetle vectors. Several Geosmithia spp. with very narrow vector ranges in Europe exhibited the similar degree of specialization in the USA. Such strong canalization in association could reflect an ancient origin of each individual association, or a recent origin and a subsequent diversification in North America.}, } @article {pmid28448559, year = {2017}, author = {Langer, A and Moldovan, A and Harmath, C and Joyce, SA and Clarke, DJ and Heermann, R}, title = {HexA is a versatile regulator involved in the control of phenotypic heterogeneity of Photorhabdus luminescens.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0176535}, pmid = {28448559}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; Host Factor 1 Protein/metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; *Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Phenotypic heterogeneity in microbial communities enables genetically identical organisms to behave differently even under the same environmental conditions. Photorhabdus luminescens, a bioluminescent Gram-negative bacterium, contains a complex life cycle, which involves a symbiotic interaction with nematodes as well as a pathogenic association with insect larvae. P. luminescens exists in two distinct phenotypic cell types, designated as the primary (1°) and secondary (2°) cells. The 1° cells are bioluminescent, pigmented and can support nematode growth and development. Individual 1° cells undergo phenotypic switching after prolonged cultivation and convert to 2° cells, which lack the 1° specific phenotypes. The LysR-type regulator HexA has been described as major regulator of this switching process. Here we show that HexA controls phenotypic heterogeneity in a versatile way, directly and indirectly. Expression of hexA is enhanced in 2° cells, and the corresponding regulator inhibits 1° specific traits in 2° cells. HexA does not directly affect bioluminescence, a predominant 1° specific phenotype. Since the respective luxCDABE operon is repressed at the post-transcriptional level and transcriptional levels of the RNA chaperone gene hfq are also enhanced in 2° cells, small regulatory RNAs are presumably involved that are under control of HexA. Another phenotypic trait that is specific for 1° cells is quorum sensing mediated cell clumping. The corresponding pcfABCDEF operon could be identified as the first direct target of HexA, since the regulator binds to the pcfA promoter region and thereby blocks expression of the target operon. In summary, our data show that HexA fulfills the task as repressor of 1° specific features in 2° cells in a versatile way and gives first insights into the complexity of regulating phenotypic heterogeneity in Photorhabdus bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28447935, year = {2017}, author = {Sabrina Pankey, M and Foxall, RL and Ster, IM and Perry, LA and Schuster, BM and Donner, RA and Coyle, M and Cooper, VS and Whistler, CA}, title = {Host-selected mutations converging on a global regulator drive an adaptive leap towards symbiosis in bacteria.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28447935}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Aliivibrio fischeri/enzymology/*genetics/*physiology ; Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Immune Evasion ; *Mutation ; Protein Kinases/*genetics ; Quorum Sensing ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Host immune and physical barriers protect against pathogens but also impede the establishment of essential symbiotic partnerships. To reveal mechanisms by which beneficial organisms adapt to circumvent host defenses, we experimentally evolved ecologically distinct bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri by colonization and growth within the light organs of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Serial squid passaging of bacteria produced eight distinct mutations in the binK sensor kinase gene, which conferred an exceptional selective advantage that could be demonstrated through both empirical and theoretical analysis. Squid-adaptive binK alleles promoted colonization and immune evasion that were mediated by cell-associated matrices including symbiotic polysaccharide (Syp) and cellulose. binK variation also altered quorum sensing, raising the threshold for luminescence induction. Preexisting coordinated regulation of symbiosis traits by BinK presented an efficient solution where altered BinK function was the key to unlock multiple colonization barriers. These results identify a genetic basis for microbial adaptability and underscore the importance of hosts as selective agents that shape emergent symbiont populations.}, } @article {pmid28447383, year = {2017}, author = {Hood, G and Ramachandran, V and East, AK and Downie, JA and Poole, PS}, title = {Manganese transport is essential for N2 -fixation by Rhizobium leguminosarum in bacteroids from galegoid but not phaseoloid nodules.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {2715-2726}, pmid = {28447383}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BB/F013159/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J007749/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Ion Transport/genetics/physiology ; Manganese/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Peas/*microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum has two high-affinity Mn[2+] transport systems encoded by sitABCD and mntH. In symbiosis, sitABCD and mntH were expressed throughout nodules and also strongly induced in Mn[2+] -limited cultures of free-living cells. Growth of a sitA mntH double mutant was severely reduced under Mn[2+] limitation and sitA and mntH single mutants were more sensitive to oxidative stress. The double sitA mntH mutant of R. leguminosarum was unable to fix nitrogen (Fix[-]) with legumes belonging to the galegoid clade (Pisum sativum, Vicia faba and Vicia hirsuta). The presence of infection thread-like structures and sparsely-packed plant cells in nodules suggest that bacteroid development was blocked, either at a late stage of infection thread progression or during bacteroid-release. In contrast, a double sitA mntH mutant was Fix[+] on common bean (Phaseoli vulgaris), a member of the phaseoloid clade of legumes, indicating a host-specific symbiotic requirement for Mn[2+] transport.}, } @article {pmid28447372, year = {2017}, author = {Chakravarti, LJ and Beltran, VH and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Rapid thermal adaptation in photosymbionts of reef-building corals.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {4675-4688}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13702}, pmid = {28447372}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Acclimatization/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Climate ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Genotype ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Climate warming is occurring at a rate not experienced by life on Earth for 10 s of millions of years, and it is unknown whether the coral-dinoflagellate (Symbiodinium spp.) symbiosis can evolve fast enough to ensure coral reef persistence. Coral thermal tolerance is partly dependent on the Symbiodinium hosted. Therefore, directed laboratory evolution in Symbiodinium has been proposed as a strategy to enhance coral holobiont thermal tolerance. Using a reciprocal transplant design, we show that the upper temperature tolerance and temperature tolerance range of Symbiodinium C1 increased after ~80 asexual generations (2.5 years) of laboratory thermal selection. Relative to wild-type cells, selected cells showed superior photophysiological performance and growth rate at 31°C in vitro, and performed no worse at 27°C; they also had lower levels of extracellular reactive oxygen species (exROS). In contrast, wild-type cells were unable to photosynthesise or grow at 31°C and produced up to 17 times more exROS. In symbiosis, the increased thermal tolerance acquired ex hospite was less apparent. In recruits of two of three species tested, those harbouring selected cells showed no difference in growth between the 27 and 31°C treatments, and a trend of positive growth at both temperatures. Recruits that were inoculated with wild-type cells, however, showed a significant difference in growth rates between the 27 and 31°C treatments, with a negative growth trend at 31°C. There were no significant differences in the rate and severity of bleaching in coral recruits harbouring wild-type or selected cells. Our findings highlight the need for additional Symbiodinium genotypes to be tested with this assisted evolution approach. Deciphering the genetic basis of enhanced thermal tolerance in Symbiodinium and the cause behind its limited transference to the coral holobiont in this genotype of Symbiodinium C1 are important next steps for developing methods that aim to increase coral bleaching tolerance.}, } @article {pmid28446905, year = {2017}, author = {Quintana, G and Gerbino, E and Gómez-Zavaglia, A}, title = {Okara: A Nutritionally Valuable By-product Able to Stabilize Lactobacillus plantarum during Freeze-drying, Spray-drying, and Storage.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {641}, pmid = {28446905}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Okara is a nutritionally valuable by-product produced in large quantities as result of soymilk elaboration. This work proposes its use as both culture and dehydration medium during freeze-drying, spray-drying, and storage of Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114. Whole and defatted okara were employed as culture media for L. plantarum CIDCA 83114. The growth kinetics were followed by plate counting and compared with those of bacteria grown in MRS broth (control). No significant differences in plate counting were observed in the three media. The fatty acid composition of bacteria grown in whole and defatted okara showed a noticeable increase in the unsaturated/saturated (U/S) fatty acid ratio, with regard to bacteria grown in MRS. This change was mainly due to the increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely C18:2. For dehydration assays, cultures in the stationary phase were neutralized and freeze-dried (with or without the addition of 250 mM sucrose) or spray-dried. Bacteria were plate counted immediately after freeze-drying or spray-drying and during storage at 4°C for 90 days. Freeze-drying in whole okara conducted to the highest bacterial recovery. Regarding storage, spray-dried bacteria previously grown in whole and defatted okara showed higher plate counts than those grown in MRS. On the contrary, freeze-dried bacteria previously grown in all the three culture media were those with the lowest plate counts. The addition of sucrose to the dehydration media improved their recovery. The higher recovery of microorganisms grown in okara after freeze-drying and spray-drying processes and during storage was ascribed to both the presence of fiber and proteins in the dehydration media, and the increase in U/S fatty acids ratio in bacterial membranes. The obtained results support for the first time the use of okara as an innovative matrix to deliver L. plantarum. Considering that okara is an agro-waste obtained in large quantities, these results represent an innovative strategy to add it value, providing a symbiotic ingredient with promising industrial applications in the development of novel functional foods and feeds.}, } @article {pmid28446691, year = {2017}, author = {Enríquez, S and Méndez, ER and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Iglesias-Prieto, R}, title = {Key functional role of the optical properties of coral skeletons in coral ecology and evolution.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1853}, pages = {}, pmid = {28446691}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecology ; *Light ; Optical Phenomena ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Multiple scattering of light on coral skeleton enhances light absorption efficiency of coral symbionts and plays a key role in the regulation of their internal diffuse light field. To understand the dependence of this enhancement on skeleton meso- and macrostructure, we analysed the scattering abilities of naked coral skeletons for 74 Indo-Pacific species. Sensitive morphotypes to thermal and light stress, flat-extraplanate and branching corals, showed the most efficient structures, while massive-robust species were less efficient. The lowest light-enhancing scattering abilities were found for the most primitive colonial growth form: phaceloid. Accordingly, the development of highly efficient light-collecting structures versus the selection of less efficient but more robust holobionts to cope with light stress may constitute a trade-off in the evolution of modern symbiotic scleractinian corals, characterizing two successful adaptive solutions. The coincidence of the most important structural modifications with epitheca decline supports the importance of the enhancement of light transmission across coral skeleton in modern scleractinian diversification, and the central role of these symbioses in the design and optimization of coral skeleton. Furthermore, the same ability that lies at the heart of the success of symbiotic corals as coral-reef-builders can also explain the 'Achilles's heel' of these symbioses in a warming ocean.}, } @article {pmid28444712, year = {2017}, author = {Drake, MJ and Morris, N and Apostolidis, A and Rahnama'i, MS and Marchesi, JR}, title = {The urinary microbiome and its contribution to lower urinary tract symptoms; ICI-RS 2015.}, journal = {Neurourology and urodynamics}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {850-853}, doi = {10.1002/nau.23006}, pmid = {28444712}, issn = {1520-6777}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Bacteriuria/*microbiology ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA/genetics/isolation & purification/urine ; Sex Factors ; Urine/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The microbiome is the term used for the symbiotic microbial colonisation of healthy organs. Studies have found bacterial identifiers within voided urine which is apparently sterile on conventional laboratory culture, and accordingly there may be health and disease implications.

METHODS: The International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society (ICI-RS) established a literature review and expert consensus discussion focussed on the increasing awareness of the urinary microbiome, and potential research priorities.

RESULTS: The consensus considered the discrepancy between findings of conventional clinical microbiology methods, which generally rely on culture parameters predisposed towards certain "expected" organisms. Discrepancy between selective culture and RNA sequencing to study species-specific 16S ribosomal RNA is increasingly clear, and highlights the possibility that protective or harmful bacteria may be overlooked where microbiological methods are selective. There are now strong signals of the existence of a "core" urinary microbiome for the human urinary tract, particularly emerging with ageing. The consensus reviewed the potential relationship between a patient's microbiome and lower urinary tract dysfunction, whether low-count bacteriuria may be clinically significant and mechanisms which could associate micro-organisms with lower urinary tract symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Key research priorities identified include the need to establish the scope of microbiome across the range of normality and clinical presentations, and gain consensus on testing protocols. Proteomics to study enzymatic and other functions may be necessary, since different bacteria may have overlapping phenotype. Longitudinal studies into risk factors for exposure, cumulative risk, and emergence of disease need to undertaken. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:850-853, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, } @article {pmid28444508, year = {2017}, author = {Aarnoutse, R and de Vos-Geelen, JMPGM and Penders, J and Boerma, EG and Warmerdam, FARM and Goorts, B and Olde Damink, SWM and Soons, Z and Rensen, SSM and Smidt, ML}, title = {Study protocol on the role of intestinal microbiota in colorectal cancer treatment: a pathway to personalized medicine 2.0.}, journal = {International journal of colorectal disease}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {1077-1084}, pmid = {28444508}, issn = {1432-1262}, mesh = {Bevacizumab/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Capecitabine/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy/*microbiology/*therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Precision Medicine ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Investigate in patients with metastatic and/or irresectable colorectal cancer treated with systemic treatment with capecitabine or TAS-102 whether: 1. Intestinal microbiota composition can act as a predictor for response. 2. Intestinal microbiota composition changes during systemic treatment and its relation to chemotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota and host determinants evolve in symbiotic and dependent relationships resulting in a personal ecosystem. In vitro studies showed prolonged and increased response to 5-fluorouracil, a fluoropyrimidine, in the presence of a favorable microbiota composition. Capecitabine and TAS-102 are both fluoropyrimidines used for systemic treatment in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODS: An explorative prospective multicenter cohort study in the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ and Zuyderland Medical Centre will be performed in 66 patients. Before, during, and after three cycles of systemic treatment with capecitabine or TAS-102, fecal samples and questionnaires (concerning compliance and chemotoxicity) will be collected. The response will be measured by CT/MRI using RECIST-criteria. Fecal microbiota composition will be analyzed with 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing. The absolute bacterial abundance will be assessed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Multivariate analysis will be used for statistical analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: We aim to detect a microbiota composition that predicts if patients with metastatic and/or irresectable colorectal cancer will respond to systemic treatment and/or experience zero to limited chemotoxicity. If we are able to identify a favorable microbiota composition, fecal microbiota transplantation might be the low-burden alternative to chemotherapy switch in the future.}, } @article {pmid28443111, year = {2017}, author = {Huang, L and Zhang, H and Song, Y and Yang, Y and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Subcellular Compartmentalization and Chemical Forms of Lead Participate in Lead Tolerance of Robinia pseudoacacia L. with Funneliformis mosseae.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {517}, pmid = {28443111}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on the subcellular compartmentalization and chemical forms of lead (Pb) in Pb tolerance plants was assessed in a pot experiment in greenhouse conditions. We measured root colonization, plant growth, photosynthesis, subcellular compartmentalization and chemical forms of Pb in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae isolate (BGC XJ01A) under a range of Pb treatments (0, 90, 900, and 3000 mg Pb kg[-1] soil). The majority of Pb was retained in the roots of R. pseudoacacia under Pb stress, with a significantly higher retention in the inoculated seedlings. F. mosseae inoculation significantly increased the proportion of Pb in the cell wall and soluble fractions and decreased the proportion of Pb in the organelle fraction of roots, stems, and leaves, with the largest proportion of Pb segregated in the cell wall fraction. F. mosseae inoculation increased the proportion of inactive Pb (especially pectate- and protein-integrated Pb and Pb phosphate) and reduced the proportion of water-soluble Pb in the roots, stems, and leaves. The subcellular compartmentalization of Pb in different chemical forms was highly correlated with improved plant biomass, height, and photosynthesis in the inoculated seedlings. This study indicates that F. mosseae could improve Pb tolerance in R. pseudoacacia seedlings growing in Pb polluted soils.}, } @article {pmid28441438, year = {2017}, author = {, }, title = {Correction: Cytological Observations of the Large Symbiotic Foraminifer Amphisorus kudakajimensis Using Calcein Acetoxymethyl Ester.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0176803}, pmid = {28441438}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165844.].}, } @article {pmid28439854, year = {2017}, author = {Mun, T and Małolepszy, A and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J and Andersen, SU}, title = {User Guide for the LORE1 Insertion Mutant Resource.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1610}, number = {}, pages = {13-23}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-7003-2_2}, pmid = {28439854}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Genotype ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/*genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lotus japonicus is a model legume used in the study of plant-microbe interactions, especially in the field of biological nitrogen fixation due to its ability to enter into a symbiotic relationship with a soil bacterium, Mesorhizobium loti. The LORE1 mutant population is a valuable resource for reverse genetics in L. japonicus due to its non-transgenic nature, high tagging efficiency, and low copy count. Here, we outline a workflow for identifying, ordering, and establishing homozygous LORE1 mutant lines for a gene of interest, LjFls2, including protocols for growth and genotyping of a segregating LORE1 population.}, } @article {pmid28439449, year = {2017}, author = {Carraro, N and Rivard, N and Burrus, V and Ceccarelli, D}, title = {Mobilizable genomic islands, different strategies for the dissemination of multidrug resistance and other adaptive traits.}, journal = {Mobile genetic elements}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {1-6}, pmid = {28439449}, issn = {2159-2543}, abstract = {Mobile genetic elements are near ubiquitous DNA segments that revealed a surprising variety of strategies for their propagation among prokaryotes and between eukaryotes. In bacteria, conjugative elements were shown to be key drivers of evolution and adaptation by efficiently disseminating genes involved in pathogenicity, symbiosis, metabolic pathways, and antibiotic resistance. Conjugative plasmids of the incompatibility groups A and C (A/C) are important vehicles for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and the consequent global emergence and spread of multi-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Beyond their own mobility, A/C plasmids were also shown to drive the mobility of unrelated non-autonomous mobilizable genomic islands, which may also confer further advantageous traits. In this commentary, we summarize the current knowledge on different classes of A/C-dependent mobilizable genomic islands and we discuss other DNA hitchhikers and their implication in bacterial evolution. Furthermore, we glimpse at the complex genetic network linking autonomous and non-autonomous mobile genetic elements, and at the associated flow of genetic information between bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28438996, year = {2017}, author = {Montiel, J and Downie, JA and Farkas, A and Bihari, P and Herczeg, R and Bálint, B and Mergaert, P and Kereszt, A and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Morphotype of bacteroids in different legumes correlates with the number and type of symbiotic NCR peptides.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {19}, pages = {5041-5046}, pmid = {28438996}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizome/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In legume nodules, rhizobia differentiate into nitrogen-fixing forms called bacteroids, which are enclosed by a plant membrane in an organelle-like structure called the symbiosome. In the Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade (IRLC) of legumes, this differentiation is terminal due to irreversible loss of cell division ability and is associated with genome amplification and different morphologies of the bacteroids that can be swollen, elongated, spherical, and elongated-branched, depending on the host plant. In Medicago truncatula, this process is orchestrated by nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) delivered into developing bacteroids. Here, we identified the predicted NCR proteins in 10 legumes representing different subclades of the IRLC with distinct bacteroid morphotypes. Analysis of their expression and predicted sequences establishes correlations between the composition of the NCR family and the morphotypes of bacteroids. Although NCRs have a single origin, their evolution has followed different routes in individual lineages, and enrichment and diversification of cationic peptides has resulted in the ability to impose major morphological changes on the endosymbionts. The wide range of effects provoked by NCRs such as cell enlargement, membrane alterations and permeabilization, and biofilm and vesicle formation is dependent on the amino acid composition and charge of the peptides. These effects are strongly influenced by the rhizobial surface polysaccharides that affect NCR-induced differentiation and survival of rhizobia in nodule cells.}, } @article {pmid28438469, year = {2017}, author = {Bañuelos-Vazquez, LA and Torres Tejerizo, G and Brom, S}, title = {Regulation of conjugative transfer of plasmids and integrative conjugative elements.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {91}, number = {}, pages = {82-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2017.04.002}, pmid = {28438469}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/chemistry/metabolism ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA Transposable Elements ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics/metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Loci ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plasmids/*chemistry/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer has been recognized as one of the principal contributors to bacterial evolution and diversification. One of the mechanisms involved in this process is conjugative transfer of plasmids and Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEs). Plasmids and ICEs often encode traits beneficial for bacterial survival in specific environments, or for the establishment of symbiosis or pathogenesis, in addition to genes allowing conjugative transfer. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms that regulate the expression of conjugative transfer genes. For traits such as antibiotic or metal resistance, the compounds involved may induce conjugative transfer directly, while symbiosis and pathogenesis are modulated by quorum-sensing and/or signal molecules released by the host. However, multiple layers of regulation are usually involved in modulating transfer. In addition to the plasmid-encoded regulatory elements, conjugation seems to be regulated by what we have labeled as the "internal environment", defined by the interaction between the host chromosome and the plasmids or ICEs. Another regulatory level depends on the "external environment", which affects conjugative transfer due to the composition and conditions of the community.}, } @article {pmid28437767, year = {2017}, author = {Ercilla-Montserrat, M and Izquierdo, R and Belmonte, J and Montero, JI and Muñoz, P and De Linares, C and Rieradevall, J}, title = {Building-integrated agriculture: A first assessment of aerobiological air quality in rooftop greenhouses (i-RTGs).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {598}, number = {}, pages = {109-120}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.099}, pmid = {28437767}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; *Air Microbiology ; Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis ; Environment, Controlled ; Fungi ; *Pollen ; Spain ; Spores, Fungal/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Building-integrated rooftop greenhouse (i-RTG) agriculture has intensified in recent years, due to the growing interest in the development of new agricultural spaces and in the promotion of food self-sufficiency in urban areas. This paper provides a first assessment of the indoor dynamics of bioaerosols in an i-RTG, with the aim of evaluating biological air quality in a tomato greenhouse near Barcelona. It evaluates the greenhouse workers' exposure to airborne pollen and fungal spores in order to prevent allergy problems associated with occupational tasks. Moreover, it evaluates whether the quality of the hot air accumulated in the i-RTG is adequate for recirculation to heat the building. Daily airborne pollen and fungal spore concentrations were measured simultaneously in the indoor and outdoor environments during the warm season. A total of 4,924pollengrains/m[3] were observed in the i-RTG, with a peak of 334pollengrains/m[3]day, and a total of 295,038 fungal spores were observed, reaching a maximum concentration of 26,185spores/m[3]day. In general, the results showed that the most important source of pollen grains and fungal spores observed indoors was the outdoor environment. However, Solanaceae pollen and several fungal spore taxa, such as the allergenic Aspergillus/Penicillium, largely originated inside the greenhouses or were able to colonize the indoor environment under favourable growing conditions. Specific meteorological conditions and agricultural management tasks are related to the highest observed indoor concentrations of pollen grains and fungal spores. Therefore, preventive measures have been suggested in order to reduce or control the levels of bioaerosols indoors (to install a system to interrupt the recirculation of air to the building during critical periods or to implement appropriate air filters in ventilation air ducts). This first evaluation could help in making decisions to prevent the development of fungal diseases, specifically those due to Oidium and Torula.}, } @article {pmid28437691, year = {2017}, author = {Sidebotham, M and Walters, C and Chipperfield, J and Gamble, J}, title = {Midwifery participatory curriculum development: Transformation through active partnership.}, journal = {Nurse education in practice}, volume = {25}, number = {}, pages = {5-13}, doi = {10.1016/j.nepr.2017.04.010}, pmid = {28437691}, issn = {1873-5223}, mesh = {Accreditation/standards ; Australia ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Curriculum/*trends ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Midwifery/*education ; Pregnancy ; Program Development/*methods ; Program Evaluation ; Qualitative Research ; Students, Nursing ; }, abstract = {Evolving knowledge and professional practice combined with advances in pedagogy and learning technology create challenges for accredited professional programs. Internationally a sparsity of literature exists around curriculum development for professional programs responsive to regulatory and societal drivers. This paper evaluates a participatory curriculum development framework, adapted from the community development sector, to determine its applicability to promote engagement and ownership during the development of a Bachelor of Midwifery curriculum at an Australian University. The structures, processes and resulting curriculum development framework are described. A representative sample of key curriculum development team members were interviewed in relation to their participation. Qualitative analysis of transcribed interviews occurred through inductive, essentialist thematic analysis. Two main themes emerged: (1) 'it is a transformative journey' and (2) focused 'partnership in action'. Results confirmed the participatory curriculum development process provides symbiotic benefits to participants leading to individual and organisational growth and the perception of a shared curriculum. A final operational model using a participatory curriculum development process to guide the development of accredited health programs emerged. The model provides an appropriate structure to create meaningful collaboration with multiple stakeholders to produce a curriculum that is contemporary, underpinned by evidence and reflective of 'real world' practice.}, } @article {pmid28437663, year = {2017}, author = {Andreote, FD and Pereira E Silva, MC}, title = {Microbial communities associated with plants: learning from nature to apply it in agriculture.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {29-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2017.03.011}, pmid = {28437663}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; *Biota ; Humans ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is a new consensus that any living organism depends on its partners to strive under environmental conditions along their living period. Plants are also highly dependent on their associated microbes, which can support its development and proper protection under stressors. Along their evolution, plants learned to interact to soil microbiota, extracting their utmost capacity to provide resources for plant development and successful colonization of terrestrial systems, where the great soil biodiversity is keen on properly exert this role. Functional systems, such as the rhizosphere, provide evidences of the powerful selection exerted by plants upon the living soil microbes. In counterpart, the anthropogenic activity, mainly in forms of agricultural managements, has neglected this symbiosis, interfering in soil biodiversity, and consequently, reducing plant development through the interference in their association with beneficial microbes. This mini review has collected information to build a suitable hypothesis that if we better learn about the connection between plants and its associated microbiota in nature, we can lead agriculture to a better exploration of this omnipresent source of nutrients and protection, increasing yield and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid28437568, year = {2017}, author = {Zheng, P and Wang, M and Li, C and Sun, X and Wang, X and Sun, Y and Sun, S}, title = {Insights into deep-sea adaptations and host-symbiont interactions: A comparative transcriptome study on Bathymodiolus mussels and their coastal relatives.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {19}, pages = {5133-5148}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14160}, pmid = {28437568}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Mytilidae/*genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Mussels (Bivalve: Mytilidae) have adapted to various habitats, from fresh water to the deep sea. To understand their adaptive characteristics in different habitats, particularly in the bathymodiolin mussels in deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis between deep-sea bathymodiolin mussels and their shallow-water relatives. A number of gene families related to stress responses were shared across all mussels, without specific or significantly expanded families in deep-sea species, indicating that all mussels are capable of adapting to diverse harsh environments, but that different members of the same gene family may be preferentially utilized by different species. One of the most extraordinary trait of bathymodiolin mussels is their endosymbiosis. Lineage-specific and positively selected TLRs and highly expressed C1QDC proteins were identified in the gills of the bathymodiolins, suggesting their possible functions in symbiont recognition. However, pattern recognition receptors of the bathymodiolins were globally reduced, facilitating the invasion and maintenance of the symbionts obtained by either endocytosis or phagocytosis. Additionally, various transporters were positively selected or more highly expressed in the deep-sea mussels, indicating a means by which necessary materials could be provided for the symbionts. Key genes supporting lysosomal activity were also positively selected or more highly expressed in the deep-sea mussels, suggesting that nutrition fixed by the symbionts can be absorbed in a "farming" way wherein the symbionts are digested by lysosomes. Regulation of key physiological processes including lysosome activity, apoptosis and immune reactions is needed to maintain a stable host-symbiont relationship, but the mechanisms are still unclear.}, } @article {pmid28437159, year = {2017}, author = {Kazmierczak, T and Nagymihály, M and Lamouche, F and Barrière, Q and Guefrachi, I and Alunni, B and Ouadghiri, M and Ibijbijen, J and Kondorosi, É and Mergaert, P and Gruber, V}, title = {Specific Host-Responsive Associations Between Medicago truncatula Accessions and Sinorhizobium Strains.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {5}, pages = {399-409}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-17-0009-R}, pmid = {28437159}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Cell Differentiation ; *Ecotype ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Kinetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Ploidies ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants interact with rhizobia to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Legume-rhizobium interactions are specific and only compatible rhizobia and plant species will lead to nodule formation. Even within compatible interactions, the genotype of both the plant and the bacterial symbiont will impact on the efficiency of nodule functioning and nitrogen-fixation activity. The model legume Medicago truncatula forms nodules with several species of the Sinorhizobium genus. However, the efficiency of these bacterial strains is highly variable. In this study, we compared the symbiotic efficiency of Sinorhizobium meliloti strains Sm1021, 102F34, and FSM-MA, and Sinorhizobium medicae strain WSM419 on the two widely used M. truncatula accessions A17 and R108. The efficiency of the interactions was determined by multiple parameters. We found a high effectiveness of the FSM-MA strain with both M. truncatula accessions. In contrast, specific highly efficient interactions were obtained for the A17-WSM419 and R108-102F34 combinations. Remarkably, the widely used Sm1021 strain performed weakly on both hosts. We showed that Sm1021 efficiently induced nodule organogenesis but cannot fully activate the differentiation of the symbiotic nodule cells, explaining its weaker performance. These results will be informative for the selection of appropriate rhizobium strains in functional studies on symbiosis using these M. truncatula accessions, particularly for research focusing on late stages of the nodulation process.}, } @article {pmid28436956, year = {2017}, author = {Nagashima, K and Sawa, S and Nitta, T and Tsutsumi, M and Okamura, T and Penninger, JM and Nakashima, T and Takayanagi, H}, title = {Identification of subepithelial mesenchymal cells that induce IgA and diversify gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {675-682}, pmid = {28436956}, issn = {1529-2916}, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Biodiversity ; Cell Differentiation/immunology ; Chemokine CCL20/immunology ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*immunology ; Germinal Center ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Lymphoid Tissue/cytology/*immunology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*immunology/ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; RANK Ligand/genetics/*immunology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A (IgA) maintains a symbiotic equilibrium with intestinal microbes. IgA induction in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) is dependent on microbial sampling and cellular interaction in the subepithelial dome (SED). However it is unclear how IgA induction is predominantly initiated in the SED. Here we show that previously unrecognized mesenchymal cells in the SED of GALTs regulate bacteria-specific IgA production and diversify the gut microbiota. Mesenchymal cells expressing the cytokine RANKL directly interact with the gut epithelium to control CCL20 expression and microfold (M) cell differentiation. The deletion of mesenchymal RANKL impairs M cell-dependent antigen sampling and B cell-dendritic cell interaction in the SED, which results in a reduction in IgA production and a decrease in microbial diversity. Thus, the subepithelial mesenchymal cells that serve as M cell inducers have a fundamental role in the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid28436942, year = {2017}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Schmidt, AR and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Diversity and ecological adaptations in Palaeogene lichens.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {17049}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2017.49}, pmid = {28436942}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; *Amber ; *Biodiversity ; Europe ; *Fossils ; Lichens/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are highly specialized symbioses between heterotrophic fungi and photoautotrophic green algae or cyanobacteria. The mycobionts of many lichens produce morphologically complex thalli to house their photobionts. Lichens play important roles in ecosystems and have been used as indicators of environmental change. Here we report the finding of 152 new fossil lichens from European Palaeogene amber, and hence increase the total number of known fossil lichens from 15 to 167. Most of the fossils represent extant lineages of the Lecanoromycetes, an almost exclusively lichen-symbiotic class of Ascomycota. The fossil lichens show a wide diversity of morphological adaptations that attached epiphytic thalli to their substrates, helped to combine external water storage with effective gas exchange and facilitated the simultaneous reproduction and dispersal of both partners in symbiosis. The fossil thallus morphologies suggest that the climate of European Palaeogene amber forests was relatively humid and most likely temperate.}, } @article {pmid28436329, year = {2017}, author = {Ren, S and Li, Q and Xie, L and Xie, J}, title = {Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Function Diversity of ArsR Family Metalloregulator.}, journal = {Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {19-35}, doi = {10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.2016018476}, pmid = {28436329}, issn = {1045-4403}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Proteins ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Metals/*metabolism ; *Trans-Activators ; }, abstract = {The ArsR family of transcriptional regulators are widespread among microorganisms and are involved in various important cellular events, such as metal ion homeostasis, biofilm formation, primary and secondary metabolism, symbiosis, response to adverse condition, and virulence. Its N-terminus contains a winged helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain that can repress or activate transcription by binding to downstream target promoters. With the increasing number of members in this family identified over the past few decades, the ArsR family members have been intensively explored. In this review, we summarize the function of ArsR family of transcriptional regulators and the mechanisms of metal-regulated gene expression.}, } @article {pmid28434906, year = {2017}, author = {Hamelin, FM and Hilker, FM and Sun, TA and Jeger, MJ and Hajimorad, MR and Allen, LJS and Prendeville, HR}, title = {The evolution of parasitic and mutualistic plant-virus symbioses through transmission-virulence trade-offs.}, journal = {Virus research}, volume = {241}, number = {}, pages = {77-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2017.04.011}, pmid = {28434906}, issn = {1872-7492}, mesh = {Disease Transmission, Infectious ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Plant Diseases/*virology ; Plant Viruses/*pathogenicity ; Plants/*virology ; Seeds/virology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Virus-plant interactions range from parasitism to mutualism. Viruses have been shown to increase fecundity of infected plants in comparison with uninfected plants under certain environmental conditions. Increased fecundity of infected plants may benefit both the plant and the virus as seed transmission is one of the main virus transmission pathways, in addition to vector transmission. Trade-offs between vertical (seed) and horizontal (vector) transmission pathways may involve virulence, defined here as decreased fecundity in infected plants. To better understand plant-virus symbiosis evolution, we explore the ecological and evolutionary interplay of virus transmission modes when infection can lead to an increase in plant fecundity. We consider two possible trade-offs: vertical seed transmission vs infected plant fecundity, and horizontal vector transmission vs infected plant fecundity (virulence). Through mathematical models and numerical simulations, we show (1) that a trade-off between virulence and vertical transmission can lead to virus extinction during the course of evolution, (2) that evolutionary branching can occur with subsequent coexistence of mutualistic and parasitic virus strains, and (3) that mutualism can out-compete parasitism in the long-run. In passing, we show that ecological bi-stability is possible in a very simple discrete-time epidemic model. Possible extensions of this study include the evolution of conditional (environment-dependent) mutualism in plant viruses.}, } @article {pmid28432097, year = {2017}, author = {Mus, F and Tseng, A and Dixon, R and Peters, JW}, title = {Diazotrophic Growth Allows Azotobacter vinelandii To Overcome the Deleterious Effects of a glnE Deletion.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {13}, pages = {}, pmid = {28432097}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Azotobacter vinelandii/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/*genetics/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {Overcoming the inhibitory effects of excess environmental ammonium on nitrogenase synthesis or activity and preventing ammonium assimilation have been considered strategies to increase the amount of fixed nitrogen transferred from bacterial to plant partners in associative or symbiotic plant-diazotroph relationships. The GlnE adenylyltransferase/adenylyl-removing enzyme catalyzes reversible adenylylation of glutamine synthetase (GS), thereby affecting the posttranslational regulation of ammonium assimilation that is critical for the appropriate coordination of carbon and nitrogen assimilation. Since GS is key to the sole ammonium assimilation pathway of Azotobacter vinelandii, attempts to obtain deletion mutants in the gene encoding GS (glnA) have been unsuccessful. We have generated a glnE deletion strain, thus preventing posttranslational regulation of GS. The resultant strain containing constitutively active GS is unable to grow well on ammonium-containing medium, as previously observed in other organisms, and can be cultured only at low ammonium concentrations. This phenotype is caused by the lack of downregulation of GS activity, resulting in high intracellular glutamine levels and severe perturbation of the ratio of glutamine to 2-oxoglutarate under excess-nitrogen conditions. Interestingly, the mutant can grow diazotrophically at rates comparable to those of the wild type. This observation suggests that the control of nitrogen fixation-specific gene expression at the transcriptional level in response to 2-oxoglutarate via NifA is sufficiently tight to alone regulate ammonium production at levels appropriate for optimal carbon and nitrogen balance.IMPORTANCE In this study, the characterization of the glnE knockout mutant of the model diazotroph Azotobacter vinelandii provides significant insights into the integration of the regulatory mechanisms of ammonium production and ammonium assimilation during nitrogen fixation. The work reveals the profound fidelity of nitrogen fixation regulation in providing ammonium sufficient for maximal growth but constraining energetically costly excess production. A detailed fundamental understanding of the interplay between the regulation of ammonium production and assimilation is of paramount importance in exploiting existing and potentially engineering new plant-diazotroph relationships for improved agriculture.}, } @article {pmid28430944, year = {2017}, author = {Berg, G and Köberl, M and Rybakova, D and Müller, H and Grosch, R and Smalla, K}, title = {Plant microbial diversity is suggested as the key to future biocontrol and health trends.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix050}, pmid = {28430944}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {J 3638/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; T 847/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Biological Control Agents ; Ecosystem ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The microbiome of plants plays a crucial role in both plant and ecosystem health. Rapid advances in multi-omics tools are dramatically increasing access to the plant microbiome and consequently to the identification of its links with diseases and to the control of those diseases. Recent insights reveal a close, often symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and plants. Microorganisms can stimulate germination and plant growth, prevent diseases, and promote stress resistance and general fitness. Plants and their associated microorganisms form a holobiont and have to be considered as co-evolved species assemblages consisting of bacterial, archaeal and diverse eukaryotic species. The beneficial interplay of the host and its microbiome is responsible for maintaining the health of the holobiont, while diseases are often correlated with microbial dysbioses. Microbial diversity was identified as a key factor in preventing diseases and can be implemented as a biomarker in plant protection strategies. Targeted and predictive biocontrol approaches are possible by developing microbiome-based solutions. Moreover, combined breeding and biocontrol strategies maintaining diversity and ecosystem health are required. The analysis of plant microbiome data has brought about a paradigm shift in our understanding of its role in health and disease and has substantial consequences for biocontrol and health issues.}, } @article {pmid28430077, year = {2017}, author = {Islam, W and Islam, SU and Qasim, M and Wang, L}, title = {Host-Pathogen interactions modulated by small RNAs.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {891-904}, pmid = {28430077}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Plant Development/genetics ; Plant Diseases/genetics ; RNA, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological processes such as defense mechanisms and microbial offense strategies are regulated through RNA induced interference in eukaryotes. Genetic mutations are modulated through biogenesis of small RNAs which directly impacts upon host development. Plant defense mechanisms are regulated and supported by a diversified group of small RNAs which are involved in streamlining several RNA interference pathways leading toward the initiation of pathogen gene silencing mechanisms. In the similar context, pathogens also utilize the support of small RNAs to launch their offensive attacks. Also there are strong evidences about the active involvement of these RNAs in symbiotic associations. Interestingly, small RNAs are not limited to the individuals in whom they are produced; they also show cross kingdom influences through variable interactions with other species thus leading toward the inter-organismic gene silencing. The phenomenon is understandable in the microbes which utilize these mechanisms to overcome host defense line. Understanding the mechanism of triggering host defense strategies can be a valuable step toward the generation of disease resistant host plants. We think that the cross kingdom trafficking of small RNA is an interesting insight that is needed to be explored for its vitality.}, } @article {pmid28429531, year = {2017}, author = {Pogoreutz, C and Rädecker, N and Cárdenas, A and Gärdes, A and Voolstra, CR and Wild, C}, title = {Sugar enrichment provides evidence for a role of nitrogen fixation in coral bleaching.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {3838-3848}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13695}, pmid = {28429531}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The disruption of the coral-algae symbiosis (coral bleaching) due to rising sea surface temperatures has become an unprecedented global threat to coral reefs. Despite decades of research, our ability to manage mass bleaching events remains hampered by an incomplete mechanistic understanding of the processes involved. In this study, we induced a coral bleaching phenotype in the absence of heat and light stress by adding sugars. The sugar addition resulted in coral symbiotic breakdown accompanied by a fourfold increase of coral-associated microbial nitrogen fixation. Concomitantly, increased N:P ratios by the coral host and algal symbionts suggest excess availability of nitrogen and a disruption of the nitrogen limitation within the coral holobiont. As nitrogen fixation is similarly stimulated in ocean warming scenarios, here we propose a refined coral bleaching model integrating the cascading effects of stimulated microbial nitrogen fixation. This model highlights the putative role of nitrogen-fixing microbes in coral holobiont functioning and breakdown.}, } @article {pmid28428847, year = {2017}, author = {Williams, L and Colesie, C and Ullmann, A and Westberg, M and Wedin, M and Büdel, B}, title = {Lichen acclimation to changing environments: Photobiont switching vs. climate-specific uniqueness in Psora decipiens.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {2560-2574}, pmid = {28428847}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Unraveling the complex relationship between lichen fungal and algal partners has been crucial in understanding lichen dispersal capacity, evolutionary processes, and responses in the face of environmental change. However, lichen symbiosis remains enigmatic, including the ability of a single fungal partner to associate with various algal partners. Psora decipiens is a characteristic lichen of biological soil crusts (BSCs), across semi-arid, temperate, and alpine biomes, which are particularly susceptible to habitat loss and climate change. The high levels of morphological variation found across the range of Psora decipiens may contribute to its ability to withstand environmental change. To investigate Psora decipiens acclimation potential, individuals were transplanted between four climatically distinct sites across a European latitudinal gradient for 2 years. The effect of treatment was investigated through a morphological examination using light and SEM microscopy; 26S rDNA and rbcL gene analysis assessed site-specific relationships and lichen acclimation through photobiont switching. Initial analysis revealed that many samples had lost their algal layers. Although new growth was often determined, the algae were frequently found to have died without evidence of a new photobiont being incorporated into the thallus. Mycobiont analysis investigated diversity and determined that new growth was a part of the transplant, thus, revealing that four distinct fungal clades, closely linked to site, exist. Additionally, P. decipiens was found to associate with the green algal genus Myrmecia, with only two genetically distinct clades between the four sites. Our investigation has suggested that P. decipiens cannot acclimate to the substantial climatic variability across its environmental range. Additionally, the different geographical areas are home to genetically distinct and unique populations. The variation found within the genotypic and morpho-physiological traits of P. decipiens appears to have a climatic determinant, but this is not always reflected by the algal partner. Although photobiont switching occurs on an evolutionary scale, there is little evidence to suggest an active environmentally induced response. These results suggest that this species, and therefore, other lichen species, and BSC ecosystems themselves may be significantly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss.}, } @article {pmid28428832, year = {2017}, author = {Scharf, ME and Cai, Y and Sun, Y and Sen, R and Raychoudhury, R and Boucias, DG}, title = {A meta-analysis testing eusocial co-option theories in termite gut physiology and symbiosis.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e1295187}, pmid = {28428832}, issn = {1942-0889}, support = {R01 AI125982/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The termite gut accomplishes key physiologic functions that underlie termite symbiosis and sociality. However, potential candidate functions of the host-symbiont holobiome have not yet been explored across seemingly divergent processes such as digestion, immunity, caste differentiation, and xenobiotic tolerance. This study took a meta-analysis approach for concurrently studying host and symbiont gut metatranscriptome responses of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes, which has ancestral characteristics and hosts a diverse mix of eukaryotic and bacterial symbionts. Thirteen treatments were compared from 5 categories (dietary, social, hormonal, immunological, and xenobiotic), revealing 3 main insights. First, each of the 5 tested colonies had distinct magnitudes of transcriptome response, likely as a result of unique symbiont profiles, which highlights the uniqueness of individual termite colonies. Second, after normalization to standardize colony response magnitudes, unique treatment-linked metatranscriptome topologies became apparent. Third, despite colony and topology differences, 4 co-opted master genes emerged that were universally responsive across diverse treatments. These master genes encode host functions related to protein translation and symbiont functions related to protein degradation and pore formation in microbial cell walls. Three of the 4 master genes were from co-evolved protist symbionts, highlighting potentially co-evolved roles for gut symbiota in coordinating functional responses of the collective host-symbiont holobiome. Lastly, for host genes identified, these results provide annotations of recent termite genome sequences. By revealing conserved domain genes, as well as apparent roles for gut symbiota in holobiome regulation, this study provides new insights into co-opted eusocial genes and symbiont roles in termite sociobiology.}, } @article {pmid28426766, year = {2017}, author = {Lu, D and Macchietto, M and Chang, D and Barros, MM and Baldwin, J and Mortazavi, A and Dillman, AR}, title = {Activated entomopathogenic nematode infective juveniles release lethal venom proteins.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {e1006302}, pmid = {28426766}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {DP2 GM111100/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI119155/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/*parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Insecta/metabolism/microbiology ; Nematode Infections/*microbiology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Venoms/*metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are unique parasites due to their symbiosis with entomopathogenic bacteria and their ability to kill insect hosts quickly after infection. It is widely believed that EPNs rely on their bacterial partners for killing hosts. Here we disproved this theory by demonstrating that the in vitro activated infective juveniles (IJs) of Steinernema carpocapsae (a well-studied EPN species) release venom proteins that are lethal to several insects including Drosophila melanogaster. We confirmed that the in vitro activation is a good approximation of the in vivo process by comparing the transcriptomes of individual in vitro and in vivo activated IJs. We further analyzed the transcriptomes of non-activated and activated IJs and revealed a dramatic shift in gene expression during IJ activation. We also analyzed the venom proteome using mass spectrometry. Among the 472 venom proteins, proteases and protease inhibitors are especially abundant, and toxin-related proteins such as Shk domain-containing proteins and fatty acid- and retinol-binding proteins are also detected, which are potential candidates for suppressing the host immune system. Many of the venom proteins have conserved orthologs in vertebrate-parasitic nematodes and are differentially expressed during IJ activation, suggesting conserved functions in nematode parasitism. In summary, our findings strongly support a new model that S. carpocapsae and likely other Steinernema EPNs have a more active role in contributing to the pathogenicity of the nematode-bacterium complex than simply relying on their symbiotic bacteria. Furthermore, we propose that EPNs are a good model system for investigating vertebrate- and human-parasitic nematodes, especially regarding the function of excretory/secretory products.}, } @article {pmid28425831, year = {2017}, author = {Nagel, R and Peters, RJ}, title = {Investigating the Phylogenetic Range of Gibberellin Biosynthesis in Bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {343-349}, pmid = {28425831}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {R01 GM109773/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; NIFA-AFRI-2014-6703-21720//US Department of Agriculture/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/enzymology/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Gibberellins/*biosynthesis ; Operon/genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Phylogeny ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Certain plant-associated microbes can produce gibberellin (GA) phytohormones, as first described for the rice fungal pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi and, more recently, for bacteria, including several rhizobia and the rice bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola. The relevant enzymes are encoded by a biosynthetic operon that exhibits both a greater phylogenetic range and scattered distribution among plant-associated bacteria. Here, the phylogenetic distribution of this operon was investigated. To demonstrate conserved functionality, the enzymes encoded by the disparate operon from X. translucens pv. translucens, along with those from the most divergent example, found in Erwinia tracheiphila, were biochemically characterized. In both of these phytopathogens, the operon leads to production of the bioactive GA4. Based on these results, it seems that this operon is widely dedicated to GA biosynthesis. However, there is intriguing variation in the exact product. In particular, although all plant pathogens seem to produce bioactive GA4, rhizobia generally only produce the penultimate hormonal precursor GA9. This is suggested to reflect their distinct interactions with plants, because production of GA4 counteracts the jasmonic-acid-mediated defense response, reflecting the importance of wounds as the entry point for these phytopathogens, whereas such suppression presumably is detrimental in the rhizobial symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid28424729, year = {2017}, author = {Liao, J and Deng, J and Qin, Z and Tang, J and Shu, M and Ding, C and Liu, J and Hu, C and Yuan, M and Huang, Y and Yang, R and Zhou, Y}, title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Analyses of Calmodulins and Calmodulin-like Proteins in Lotus japonicas.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {482}, pmid = {28424729}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {L. japonicus, a model plant of legumes plants, is widely used in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. A large number of studies on it have been published based on the genetic, biochemical, structural studies. These results are secondhand reports that CaM is a key regulator during Rhizobial infection. In plants, there are multiple CaM genes encoding several CaM isoforms with only minor amino acid differences. Moreover, the regulation mechanism of this family of proteins during rhizobia infection is still unclear. In the current study, a family of genes encoding CaMs and CMLs that possess only the Ca[2+]-binding EF-hand motifs were analyzed. Using ML and BI tree based on amino acid sequence similarity, seven loci defined as CaMs and 19 CMLs, with at least 23% identity to CaM, were identified. The phylogenetics, gene structures, EF hand motif organization, and expression characteristics were evaluated. Seven CaM genes, encoding only 4 isoforms, were found in L. japonicus. According to qRT-PCR, four LjCaM isoforms are involved in different rhizobia infection stages. LjCaM1 might be involved in the early rhizobia infection epidermal cells stage. Furthermore, additional structural differences and expression behaviors indicated that LjCMLs may have different potential functions from LjCaMs.}, } @article {pmid28424720, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, H and Wei, S and Hu, W and Xiao, L and Tang, M}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis Increased Potassium Content and Expression of Genes Encoding Potassium Channels in Lycium barbarum.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {440}, pmid = {28424720}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Potassium in plants accounts for up to 10% dry weight, and participates in different physiological processes. Under drought stress, plant requires more potassium but potassium availability in soil solutes is lowered by decreased soil water content. Forming symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi not only enlarges exploration range of plant for mineral nutrients and water in soil, but also improves plant drought tolerance. However, the regulation of AM fungi on plant root potassium uptake and translocation from root to shoot was less reported. In current study, the effect of an AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis), potassium application (0, 2, and 8 mM), and drought stress (30% field capacity) on Lycium barbarum growth and potassium status was analyzed. Ten weeks after inoculation, R. irregularis colonized more than 58% roots of L. barbarum seedlings, and increased plant growth as well as potassium content. Potassium application increased colonization rate of R. irregularis, plant growth, potassium content, and decreased root/shoot ratio. Drought stress increased colonization rate of R. irregularis and potassium content. Expression of two putative potassium channel genes in root, LbKT1 and LbSKOR, was positively correlated with potassium content in root and leaves, as well as the colonization rate of R. irregularis. The increased L. barbarum growth, potassium content and genes expression, especially under drought stress, suggested that R. irregularis could improve potassium uptake of L. barbarum root and translocation from root to shoot. Whether AM fungi could form a specific mycorrhizal pathway for plant potassium uptake deserves further studies.}, } @article {pmid28424712, year = {2017}, author = {Mercy, L and Lucic-Mercy, E and Nogales, A and Poghosyan, A and Schneider, C and Arnholdt-Schmitt, B}, title = {A Functional Approach towards Understanding the Role of the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain in an Endomycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {417}, pmid = {28424712}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial components of fertile soils, able to provide several ecosystem services for crop production. Current economic, social and legislative contexts should drive the so-called "second green revolution" by better exploiting these beneficial microorganisms. Many challenges still need to be overcome to better understand the mycorrhizal symbiosis, among which (i) the biotrophic nature of AMF, constraining their production, while (ii) phosphate acts as a limiting factor for the optimal mycorrhizal inoculum application and effectiveness. Organism fitness and adaptation to the changing environment can be driven by the modulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain, strongly connected to the phosphorus processing. Nevertheless, the role of the respiratory function in mycorrhiza remains largely unexplored. We hypothesized that the two mitochondrial respiratory chain components, alternative oxidase (AOX) and cytochrome oxidase (COX), are involved in specific mycorrhizal behavior. For this, a complex approach was developed. At the pre-symbiotic phase (axenic conditions), we studied phenotypic responses of Rhizoglomus irregulare spores with two AOX and COX inhibitors [respectively, salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) and potassium cyanide (KCN)] and two growth regulators (abscisic acid - ABA and gibberellic acid - Ga3). At the symbiotic phase, we analyzed phenotypic and transcriptomic (genes involved in respiration, transport, and fermentation) responses in Solanum tuberosum/Rhizoglomus irregulare biosystem (glasshouse conditions): we monitored the effects driven by ABA, and explored the modulations induced by SHAM and KCN under five phosphorus concentrations. KCN and SHAM inhibited in vitro spore germination while ABA and Ga3 induced differential spore germination and hyphal patterns. ABA promoted mycorrhizal colonization, strong arbuscule intensity and positive mycorrhizal growth dependency (MGD). In ABA treated plants, R. irregulare induced down-regulation of StAOX gene isoforms and up-regulation of genes involved in plant COX pathway. In all phosphorus (P) concentrations, blocking AOX or COX induced opposite mycorrhizal patterns in planta: KCN induced higher Arum-type arbuscule density, positive MGD but lower root colonization compared to SHAM, which favored Paris-type formation and negative MGD. Following our results and current state-of-the-art knowledge, we discuss metabolic functions linked to respiration that may occur within mycorrhizal behavior. We highlight potential connections between AOX pathways and fermentation, and we propose new research and mycorrhizal application perspectives.}, } @article {pmid28424698, year = {2017}, author = {Prado-García, H and Sánchez-García, FJ}, title = {Editorial: Immuno-Metabolism in Tumor Microenvironment.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {374}, pmid = {28424698}, issn = {1664-3224}, } @article {pmid28424511, year = {2017}, author = {Hao, K and Wang, F and Nong, X and McNeill, MR and Liu, S and Wang, G and Cao, G and Zhang, Z}, title = {Response of peanut Arachis hypogaea roots to the presence of beneficial and pathogenic fungi by transcriptome analysis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {964}, pmid = {28424511}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Arachis/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Genes, Plant ; Metarhizium/*pathogenicity ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae obtain survival benefit meanwhile promote the nutrient absorption of root as an endophyte. However, little is known concerning molecular mechanisms in the process. We performed the transcriptome sequencing of A. hypogaea roots inoculated M. anisopliae and pathogenic Fusarium axysporum, respectively. There were 81323 unigenes from 132023 transcripts. Total 203 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) respond to the two fungi, including specific 76 and 34 DEGs distributed respectively in M. anisopliae and F. axysporum treatment. KEGG pathway enrichment for DEGs showed the two top2 were signal transductions of plant-pathogen interaction and plant hormone. By qRT-PCR, the mRNA level of 26 genes involved in plant-fungus interaction confirmed the reliability of the RNA-Seq data. The expression pattern of the key DEGs on jasmonic acid (JA) or salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway presented regulating consistency with JA or SA concentration detected by HPLC-MS. Those significantly stronger down-regulated DEGs by M. anisopliae thanby F. axysporum linking to hypersensitive response and negative regulation of defense, and those specific up-regulated genes in M. anisopliae treatment may predict that the less immunity is conducive to symbiosis F. axysporum may trigger JA-mediated defense regulated by ERF branch of JA signaling pathway, whereas M. anisopliae does not.}, } @article {pmid28424249, year = {2017}, author = {Li, H and Yelle, DJ and Li, C and Yang, M and Ke, J and Zhang, R and Liu, Y and Zhu, N and Liang, S and Mo, X and Ralph, J and Currie, CR and Mo, J}, title = {Lignocellulose pretreatment in a fungus-cultivating termite.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {18}, pages = {4709-4714}, pmid = {28424249}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; *Isoptera ; Laccase/*metabolism ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Termitomyces/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Depolymerizing lignin, the complex phenolic polymer fortifying plant cell walls, is an essential but challenging starting point for the lignocellulosics industries. The variety of ether- and carbon-carbon interunit linkages produced via radical coupling during lignification limit chemical and biological depolymerization efficiency. In an ancient fungus-cultivating termite system, we reveal unprecedentedly rapid lignin depolymerization and degradation by combining laboratory feeding experiments, lignocellulosic compositional measurements, electron microscopy, 2D-NMR, and thermochemolysis. In a gut transit time of under 3.5 h, in young worker termites, poplar lignin sidechains are extensively cleaved and the polymer is significantly depleted, leaving a residue almost completely devoid of various condensed units that are traditionally recognized to be the most recalcitrant. Subsequently, the fungus-comb microbiome preferentially uses xylose and cleaves polysaccharides, thus facilitating final utilization of easily digestible oligosaccharides by old worker termites. This complementary symbiotic pretreatment process in the fungus-growing termite symbiosis reveals a previously unappreciated natural system for efficient lignocellulose degradation.}, } @article {pmid28423337, year = {2017}, author = {Belkaid, Y and Harrison, OJ}, title = {Homeostatic Immunity and the Microbiota.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {562-576}, pmid = {28423337}, issn = {1097-4180}, support = {Z99 AI999999//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; ZIA AI001115-08//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/*immunology ; Animals ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/*immunology/microbiology ; Immune Tolerance/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology/physiology ; Models, Immunological ; }, abstract = {The microbiota plays a fundamental role in the induction, education, and function of the host immune system. In return, the host immune system has evolved multiple means by which to maintain its symbiotic relationship with the microbiota. The maintenance of this dialogue allows the induction of protective responses to pathogens and the utilization of regulatory pathways involved in the sustained tolerance to innocuous antigens. The ability of microbes to set the immunological tone of tissues, both locally and systemically, requires tonic sensing of microbes and complex feedback loops between innate and adaptive components of the immune system. Here we review the dominant cellular mediators of these interactions and discuss emerging themes associated with our current understanding of the homeostatic immunological dialogue between the host and its microbiota.}, } @article {pmid28422493, year = {2017}, author = {Dvorakova, M and Soudek, P and Vanek, T}, title = {Triazolide Strigolactone Mimics Influence Root Development in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {80}, number = {5}, pages = {1318-1327}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00879}, pmid = {28422493}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*chemistry/drug effects ; Germination/*drug effects ; Lactones/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/*pharmacology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/drug effects/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are the most recently recognized class of phytohormones, which are also known to establish plant symbiosis with arbuscular mycorhizal fungi or induce germination of parasitic plants. Their relatively complex structures and low stability urgently calls for simple derivatives with maintained biological function. We have prepared a series of triazolide strigolactone mimics and studied their ability to affect root development of Arabidopsis thaliana. The strigolactone mimics significantly induced root elongation and lateral root formation while resembling the effect of the reference compound GR24.}, } @article {pmid28421312, year = {2017}, author = {Selosse, MA and Minasiewicz, J and Boullard, B}, title = {An annotated translation of Noël Bernard's 1899 article 'On the germination of Neottia nidus-avis'.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {611-618}, pmid = {28421312}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Germination ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Translations ; }, abstract = {We translate Noël Bernard's discovery of orchid symbiotic germination discovered on Neottia nidus-avis, as published in the May 1899 issue of the Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences. In his note, Bernard (1874-1911) establishes the need for a fungus, which is also forming mycorrhizae in adults, for seeds germination. We provide illustrations reproduced from his later works, and summaries of the French text he cited. In our annotations, we show how early this discovery was done in Bernard's career, and insist on the scientific framework at the end of the nineteenth century, where orchid germination was mysterious and the need for vicinity of parents was not fully understood. We comment the text of Bernard on the basis of the most recent knowledge on Neottia nidus-avis and on orchid mycorrhizal fungi. Introducing his following papers, we finally discuss the emergence of the concept of peloton digestion, and how Bernard's work quickly paved the way to a general understanding of mycoheterotrophic germination in orchids and beyond.}, } @article {pmid28421311, year = {2017}, author = {Garcia-Barreda, S and Molina-Grau, S and Forcadell, R and Sánchez, S and Reyna, S}, title = {Long-term soil alteration in historical charcoal hearths affects Tuber melanosporum mycorrhizal development and environmental conditions for fruiting.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {603-609}, pmid = {28421311}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*growth & development ; *Charcoal ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Abandoned charcoal hearths constitute a very particular habitat for spontaneous fruiting of Tuber melanosporum, leading some harvesters to hypothesise that the fungus could benefit from the alterations that these soils underwent. However, ecological mechanisms involved in this relation are not fully elucidated yet. As a first step to understand it, the influence of long-term soil alteration on the symbiotic stage of T. melanosporum and on selected soil properties considered key to fruiting was assessed by conducting a greenhouse bioassay and a field observational study. In the bioassay, percent root colonisation and relative abundance of T. melanosporum were significantly lower in hearth than in control soils. Hearth soils showed significantly lower resistance to penetration, larger temperature fluctuation, reduced plant cover and reduced herbaceous root abundance. The results do not support the hypothesis that soil from historical charcoal hearths currently enhances development of T. melanosporum mycorrhizas. However, whether this is due to increased infectivity of native ectomycorrhizal communities or to worse conditions for development of T. melanosporum mycorrhizas remains unresolved. Native ectomycorrhizal communities in hearths showed altered composition, although not a clear change in infectivity or richness. Direction of change in hearth soil properties is compared to alteration occurring in soils spontaneously producing T. melanosporum. The interest of these changes to improve T. melanosporum fruiting in plantations is discussed.}, } @article {pmid28421084, year = {2017}, author = {Calvo-Begueria, L and Cuypers, B and Van Doorslaer, S and Abbruzzetti, S and Bruno, S and Berghmans, H and Dewilde, S and Ramos, J and Viappiani, C and Becana, M}, title = {Characterization of the Heme Pocket Structure and Ligand Binding Kinetics of Non-symbiotic Hemoglobins from the Model Legume Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {407}, pmid = {28421084}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant hemoglobins (Hbs) are found in nodules of legumes and actinorhizal plants but also in non-symbiotic organs of monocots and dicots. Non-symbiotic Hbs (nsHbs) have been classified into two phylogenetic groups. Class 1 nsHbs show an extremely high O2 affinity and are induced by hypoxia and nitric oxide (NO), whereas class 2 nsHbs have moderate O2 affinity and are induced by cold and cytokinins. The functions of nsHbs are still unclear, but some of them rely on the capacity of hemes to bind diatomic ligands and catalyze the NO dioxygenase (NOD) reaction (oxyferrous Hb + NO → ferric Hb + nitrate). Moreover, NO may nitrosylate Cys residues of proteins. It is therefore important to determine the ligand binding properties of the hemes and the role of Cys residues. Here, we have addressed these issues with the two class 1 nsHbs (LjGlb1-1 and LjGlb1-2) and the single class 2 nsHb (LjGlb2) of Lotus japonicus, which is a model legume used to facilitate the transfer of genetic and biochemical information into crops. We have employed carbon monoxide (CO) as a model ligand and resonance Raman, laser flash photolysis, and stopped-flow spectroscopies to unveil major differences in the heme environments and ligand binding kinetics of the three proteins, which suggest non-redundant functions. In the deoxyferrous state, LjGlb1-1 is partially hexacoordinate, whereas LjGlb1-2 shows complete hexacoordination (behaving like class 2 nsHbs) and LjGlb2 is mostly pentacoordinate (unlike other class 2 nsHbs). LjGlb1-1 binds CO very strongly by stabilizing it through hydrogen bonding, but LjGlb1-2 and LjGlb2 show lower CO stabilization. The changes in CO stabilization would explain the different affinities of the three proteins for gaseous ligands. These affinities are determined by the dissociation rates and follow the order LjGlb1-1 > LjGlb1-2 > LjGlb2. Mutations LjGlb1-1 C78S and LjGlb1-2 C79S caused important alterations in protein dynamics and stability, indicating a structural role of those Cys residues, whereas mutation LjGlb1-1 C8S had a smaller effect. The three proteins and their mutant derivatives exhibited similarly high rates of NO consumption, which were due to NOD activity of the hemes and not to nitrosylation of Cys residues.}, } @article {pmid28421057, year = {2017}, author = {Dahiya, DK and Renuka, and Puniya, M and Shandilya, UK and Dhewa, T and Kumar, N and Kumar, S and Puniya, AK and Shukla, P}, title = {Gut Microbiota Modulation and Its Relationship with Obesity Using Prebiotic Fibers and Probiotics: A Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {563}, pmid = {28421057}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the present world scenario, obesity has almost attained the level of a pandemic and is progressing at a rapid rate. This disease is the mother of all other metabolic disorders, which apart from placing an added financial burden on the concerned patient also has a negative impact on his/her well-being and health in the society. Among the various plausible factors for the development of obesity, the role of gut microbiota is very crucial. In general, the gut of an individual is inhabited by trillions of microbes that play a significant role in host energy homeostasis by their symbiotic interactions. Dysbiosis in gut microbiota causes disequilibrium in energy homeostasis that ultimately leads to obesity. Numerous mechanisms have been reported by which gut microbiota induces obesity in experimental models. However, which microbial community is directly linked to obesity is still unknown due to the complex nature of gut microbiota. Prebiotics and probiotics are the safer and effective dietary substances available, which can therapeutically alter the gut microbiota of the host. In this review, an effort was made to discuss the current mechanisms through which gut microbiota interacts with host energy metabolism in the context of obesity. Further, the therapeutic approaches (prebiotics/probiotics) that helped in positively altering the gut microbiota were discussed by taking experimental evidence from animal and human studies. In the closing statement, the challenges and future tasks within the field were discussed.}, } @article {pmid28421042, year = {2017}, author = {Novakova, E and Woodhams, DC and Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Brucker, RM and Leff, JW and Maharaj, A and Amir, A and Knight, R and Scott, J}, title = {Mosquito Microbiome Dynamics, a Background for Prevalence and Seasonality of West Nile Virus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {526}, pmid = {28421042}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities augment host phenotype, including defense against pathogen carriage and infection. We sampled the microbial communities in 11 adult mosquito host species from six regions in southern Ontario, Canada over 3 years. Of the factors examined, we found that mosquito species was the largest driver of the microbiota, with remarkable phylosymbiosis between host and microbiota. Seasonal shifts of the microbiome were consistently repeated over the 3-year period, while region had little impact. Both host species and seasonal shifts in microbiota were associated with patterns of West Nile virus (WNV) in these mosquitoes. The highest prevalence of WNV, with a seasonal spike each year in August, was in the Culex pipiens/restuans complex, and high WNV prevalence followed a decrease in relative abundance of Wolbachia in this species. Indeed, mean temperature, but not precipitation, was significantly correlated with Wolbachia abundance. This suggests that at higher temperatures Wolbachia abundance is reduced leading to greater susceptibility to WNV in the subsequent generation of C. pipiens/restuans hosts. Different mosquito genera harbored significantly different bacterial communities, and presence or abundance of Wolbachia was primarily associated with these differences. We identified several operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Wolbachia that drive overall microbial community differentiation among mosquito taxa, locations and timepoints. Distinct Wolbachia OTUs were consistently found to dominate microbiomes of Cx. pipiens/restuans, and of Coquilletidia perturbans. Seasonal fluctuations of several other microbial taxa included Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus, Methylobacterium, Asaia, Pantoea, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Pseudomonas, and Mycoplasma. This suggests that microbiota may explain some of the variation in vector competence previously attributed to local environmental processes, especially because Wolbachia is known to affect carriage of viral pathogens.}, } @article {pmid28419279, year = {2017}, author = {Boyd, BM and Allen, JM and Nguyen, NP and Vachaspati, P and Quicksall, ZS and Warnow, T and Mugisha, L and Johnson, KP and Reed, DL}, title = {Primates, Lice and Bacteria: Speciation and Genome Evolution in the Symbionts of Hominid Lice.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {1743-1757}, pmid = {28419279}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Anoplura/*genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/methods ; Hominidae/genetics ; Humans ; Pan troglodytes/genetics ; Pediculus/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Primates/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Insects with restricted diets rely on symbiotic bacteria to provide essential metabolites missing in their diet. The blood-sucking lice are obligate, host-specific parasites of mammals and are themselves host to symbiotic bacteria. In human lice, these bacterial symbionts supply the lice with B-vitamins. Here, we sequenced the genomes of symbiotic and heritable bacterial of human, chimpanzee, gorilla, and monkey lice and used phylogenomics to investigate their evolutionary relationships. We find that these symbionts have a phylogenetic history reflecting the louse phylogeny, a finding contrary to previous reports of symbiont replacement. Examination of the highly reduced symbiont genomes (0.53-0.57 Mb) reveals much of the genomes are dedicated to vitamin synthesis. This is unchanged in the smallest symbiont genome and one that appears to have been reorganized. Specifically, symbionts from human lice, chimpanzee lice, and gorilla lice carry a small plasmid that encodes synthesis of vitamin B5, a vitamin critical to the bacteria-louse symbiosis. This plasmid is absent in an old world monkey louse symbiont, where this pathway is on its primary chromosome. This suggests the unique genomic configuration brought about by the plasmid is not essential for symbiosis, but once obtained, it has persisted for up to 25 My. We also find evidence that human, chimpanzee, and gorilla louse endosymbionts have lost a pathway for synthesis of vitamin B1, whereas the monkey louse symbiont has retained this pathway. It is unclear whether these changes are adaptive, but they may point to evolutionary responses of louse symbionts to shifts in primate biology.}, } @article {pmid28419173, year = {2017}, author = {Marty, MJ and Vicente, J and Oyler, BL and Place, A and Hill, RT}, title = {Sponge symbioses between Xestospongia deweerdtae and Plakortis spp. are not motivated by shared chemical defense against predators.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0174816}, pmid = {28419173}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acetates/administration & dosage/analysis/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Caribbean Region ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Feeding Behavior/physiology ; Fishes/*physiology ; Geography ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Peroxides/administration & dosage/analysis/isolation & purification ; Plakortis/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Predatory Behavior/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xestospongia/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The recently described epizoic sponge-sponge symbioses between Xestospongia deweerdtae and two species of Plakortis present an unusual series of sponge interactions. Sponges from the genus Plakortis are fierce allelopathic competitors, rich in cytotoxic secondary metabolites, and yet X. deweerdtae flourishes as an epizoic encrustation on Plakortis deweerdtaephila and Plakortis symbiotica. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that X. deweerdtae grows epizoic to these two species of Plakortis due to a shared chemical defense against predators. We collected free-living individuals of X. deweerdtae and symbiotic pairs from a wide geographical range to generate crude organic extracts and a series of polarity fractions from sponge extract. We tested the deterrency of these extracts against three common coral reef predators: the bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum, the Caribbean sharpnose puffer, Canthigaster rostrata, and the white spotwrist hermit crab, Pagurus criniticornis. While the chemical defenses of P. deweerdtaephila and P. symbiotica are more potent than those of X. deweerdtae, all of the sponge species we tested significantly deterred feeding in all three generalist predators. The free-living form of X. deweerdtae is mostly defended across the region, with a few exceptions. The associated form of X. deweerdtae is always defended, and both species of Plakortis are very strongly defended, with puffers refusing to consume extract-treated pellets until the extract was diluted to 1/256× concentration. Using diode-array high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS/IT-TOF), we found two secondary metabolites from P. deweerdtaephila, probably the cyclic endoperoxides plakinic acid I and plakinic acid K, in low concentrations in the associated-but not the free-living-form of X. deweerdtae, suggesting a possible translocation of defensive chemicals from the basibiont to the epibiont. Comparing the immense deterrency of Plakortis spp. extracts to the extracts of X. deweerdtae gives the impression that there may be some sharing of chemical defenses: one partner in the symbiosis is clearly more defended than the other and a small amount of its defensive chemistry may translocate to the partner. However, X. deweerdtae effectively deters predators with its own defensive chemistry. Multiple lines of evidence provide no support for the shared chemical defense hypothesis. Given the diversity of other potential food resources available to predators on coral reefs, it is improbable that the evolution of these specialized sponge-sponge symbioses has been driven by predation pressure.}, } @article {pmid28416709, year = {2017}, author = {Lynch, JB and Alegado, RA}, title = {Spheres of Hope, Packets of Doom: the Good and Bad of Outer Membrane Vesicles in Interspecies and Ecological Dynamics.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {28416709}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipid Metabolism ; Nucleic Acids/metabolism ; Secretory Vesicles/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are proteoliposome nanoparticles ubiquitously produced by Gram-negative bacteria. Typically bearing a composition similar to those of the outer membrane and periplasm of the cells from which they are derived, OMVs package an array of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Once considered inconsequential by-products of bacterial growth, OMVs have since been demonstrated to mediate cellular stress relief, promote horizontal gene transfer and antimicrobial activity, and elicit metazoan inflammation. Recently, OMVs have gained appreciation as critical moderators of interorganismal dynamics. In this review, we focus on recent progress toward understanding the functions of OMVs with regard to symbiosis and ecological contexts, and we propose potential avenues for future OMV studies.}, } @article {pmid28416684, year = {2017}, author = {Distel, DL and Altamia, MA and Lin, Z and Shipway, JR and Han, A and Forteza, I and Antemano, R and Limbaco, MGJP and Tebo, AG and Dechavez, R and Albano, J and Rosenberg, G and Concepcion, GP and Schmidt, EW and Haygood, MG}, title = {Discovery of chemoautotrophic symbiosis in the giant shipworm Kuphus polythalamia (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) extends wooden-steps theory.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {18}, pages = {E3652-E3658}, pmid = {28416684}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Chemoautotrophic Growth/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wood/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The "wooden-steps" hypothesis [Distel DL, et al. (2000) Nature 403:725-726] proposed that large chemosynthetic mussels found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents descend from much smaller species associated with sunken wood and other organic deposits, and that the endosymbionts of these progenitors made use of hydrogen sulfide from biogenic sources (e.g., decaying wood) rather than from vent fluids. Here, we show that wood has served not only as a stepping stone between habitats but also as a bridge between heterotrophic and chemoautotrophic symbiosis for the giant mud-boring bivalve Kuphus polythalamia This rare and enigmatic species, which achieves the greatest length of any extant bivalve, is the only described member of the wood-boring bivalve family Teredinidae (shipworms) that burrows in marine sediments rather than wood. We show that K. polythalamia harbors sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic (thioautotrophic) bacteria instead of the cellulolytic symbionts that allow other shipworm species to consume wood as food. The characteristics of its symbionts, its phylogenetic position within Teredinidae, the reduction of its digestive system by comparison with other family members, and the loss of morphological features associated with wood digestion indicate that K. polythalamia is a chemoautotrophic bivalve descended from wood-feeding (xylotrophic) ancestors. This is an example in which a chemoautotrophic endosymbiosis arose by displacement of an ancestral heterotrophic symbiosis and a report of pure culture of a thioautotrophic endosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid28412935, year = {2017}, author = {McMullen, JG and Peterson, BF and Forst, S and Blair, HG and Stock, SP}, title = {Fitness costs of symbiont switching using entomopathogenic nematodes as a model.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {100}, pmid = {28412935}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Genetic Fitness ; Insecta/parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Rhabditida/classification/genetics/pathogenicity/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/classification/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Steinernematid nematodes form obligate symbioses with bacteria from the genus Xenorhabdus. Together Steinernema nematodes and their bacterial symbionts successfully infect, kill, utilize, and exit their insect hosts. During this process the nematodes and bacteria disassociate requiring them to re-associate before emerging from the host. This interaction can be complicated when two different nematodes co-infect an insect host.

RESULTS: Non-cognate nematode-bacteria pairings result in reductions for multiple measures of success, including total progeny production and virulence. Additionally, nematode infective juveniles carry fewer bacterial cells when colonized by a non-cognate symbiont. Finally, we show that Steinernema nematodes can distinguish heterospecific and some conspecific non-cognate symbionts in behavioral choice assays.

CONCLUSIONS: Steinernema-Xenorhabdus symbioses are tightly governed by partner recognition and fidelity. Association with non-cognates resulted in decreased fitness, virulence, and bacterial carriage of the nematode-bacterial pairings. Entomopathogenic nematodes and their bacterial symbionts are a useful, tractable, and reliable model for testing hypotheses regarding the evolution, maintenance, persistence, and fate of mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid28411572, year = {2017}, author = {Huang, X and Ho, SH and Zhu, S and Ma, F and Wu, J and Yang, J and Wang, L}, title = {Adaptive response of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to accumulation of elements and translocation in Phragmites australis affected by cadmium stress.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {197}, number = {}, pages = {448-455}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.014}, pmid = {28411572}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Cadmium/*toxicity ; *Glomeromycota ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been reported to play a central role in improving plant tolerance to cadmium (Cd)-contaminated sites. This is achieved by enhancing both the growth of host plants and the nutritive elements in plants. This study assessed potential regulatory effects of AM symbiosis with regard to nutrient uptake and transport, and revealed different response strategies to various Cd concentrations. Phragmites australis was inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis in the greenhouse cultivation system, where it was treated with 0-20 mg L[-1] of Cd for 21days to investigate growth parameters, as well as Cd and nutritive element distribution in response to AM fungus inoculation. Mycorrhizal plants showed a higher tolerance, particularly under high Cd-level stress in the substrate. Moreover, our results determined the roots as dominant Cd reservoirs in plants. The AM fungus improved Cd accumulation and saturated concentration in the roots, thus inhibiting Cd uptake to shoots. The observed distributions of nutritive elements and the interactions among these indicated the highest microelement contribution to roots, Ca contributed maximally in leaves, and K and P contributed similarly under Cd stress. In addition, AM fungus inoculation effectively impacted Mn and P uptake and accumulation while coping with Cd toxicity. This study also demonstrated translocation factor from metal concentration (TF) could be a good parameter to evaluate different transportation strategies induced by various Cd stresses in contrast to the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor from metal accumulation (TF').}, } @article {pmid28411495, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, S and Augé, RM and Toler, HD}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza formation and its function under elevated atmospheric O3: A meta-analysis.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {226}, number = {}, pages = {104-117}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2017.03.074}, pmid = {28411495}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Air Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Biomass ; Hyphae ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Ozone/analysis/*toxicity ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/drug effects ; Plants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We quantitatively evaluated the effects of elevated O3 on arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) formation and on AM role in promoting plant growth in regard to several moderating variables (O3 levels, O3 exposure duration, plant types, AM fungi family, and additional stress) by means of meta-analysis of published data. The analysis consisted of 117 trials representing 20 peer-reviewed articles and 16 unpublished trials. Relative to non-mycorrhizal controls, AM inoculation did not significantly alter plant growth (shoot biomass, root biomass, total biomass and plant height) when O3 concentration was less than 80 ppb, but at concentrations above 80 ppb symbiosis was associated with increases of 68% in shoot biomass and 131% in root biomass. AM effects on plant growth were affected by the duration of O3 exposure but did not differ much with AM fungi taxa or plant type. AM symbiosis has also led to higher yields under O3 stress, relative to the non-mycorrhizal plants, and the AM effects have been more pronounced as O3 concentration increases. As with biomass, AM effects on yield have been affected by the duration of O3 exposure, with the greatest increase (100%) occurring at 61-90 d. AM-induced promotion of yield differed with fungal species but not with plant type or other abiotic stress. Colonization of roots by AM fungi has been negatively affected by elevated O3 compared to ambient O3; total mycorrhizal colonization rate (MCR), arbuscular MCR, vesicular MCR and hyphal coil MCR declined as O3 levels rose. AM colonization rates were affected by duration of O3 exposure, plant type, AM fungal taxa and other concurrent stresses in most cases. The analysis showed that AM inoculation has the potential to ameliorate detrimental effects of elevated O3 on plant growth and productivity, despite colonization rates being negatively affected by elevated O3.}, } @article {pmid28411211, year = {2017}, author = {Cheplick, GP}, title = {Persistence of endophytic fungi in cultivars of Lolium perenne grown from seeds stored for 22 years.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {104}, number = {4}, pages = {627-631}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1700030}, pmid = {28411211}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Germination ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Seeds/*microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Genetic resources for forage crops often consist of seeds of specific species and cultivars in cold storage for future use in breeding and selection programs. Temperate grasses such as Lolium perenne, used worldwide for forage and turf, produce seeds commonly infected by hyphae of an endophytic fungus (Epichloë festucae var. lolii). This research determined whether endophytes could persist and infect seedlings of L. perenne emerging from seeds stored for over two decades.

METHODS: Endophyte-infected seeds (>90% infected) of four cultivars were obtained in 1994 and stored dry in plastic bags at 4°C. Seed germination was tested after 12 yr (for two cultivars) and after 18 and 22 yr (for all cultivars). Seedling leaf sheaths were excised, stained, and examined at 400× for endophytic hyphae to quantify infection frequency (% plants infected) and intensity (mean number of endophytic hyphae per field of view).

KEY RESULTS: Seed germination after 22 yr depended on cultivar, ranging from 53 to 78%. Between 58 and 73% of plants grown from seeds stored for 22 yr still contained viable endophytic hyphae. Infection intensity remained at original levels for 18 yr in one cultivar; however, in all cultivars, infection intensity declined significantly between 18 and 22 yr.

CONCLUSIONS: Persistence of the grass seed-endophyte symbiosis for over 20 yr surpasses all prior records of endophyte longevity within stored seeds. Storage of germplasm of cool-season grass cultivars that contain potentially beneficial fungal endophytes should be possible for several decades under dry, cold conditions.}, } @article {pmid28410799, year = {2018}, author = {Leite, J and Passos, SR and Simões-Araújo, JL and Rumjanek, NG and Xavier, GR and Zilli, JÉ}, title = {Genomic identification and characterization of the elite strains Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense BR 3267 and Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi BR 3262 recommended for cowpea inoculation in Brazil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {703-713}, pmid = {28410799}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The leguminous inoculation with nodule-inducing bacteria that perform biological nitrogen fixation is a good example of an "eco-friendly agricultural practice". Bradyrhizobium strains BR 3267 and BR 3262 are recommended for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) inoculation in Brazil and showed remarkable responses; nevertheless neither strain was characterized at species level, which is our goal in the present work using a polyphasic approach. The strains presented the typical phenotype of Bradyrhizobium with a slow growth and a white colony on yeast extract-mannitol medium. Strain BR 3267 was more versatile in its use of carbon sources compared to BR 3262. The fatty acid composition of BR 3267 was similar to the type strain of Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense; while BR 3262 was similar to Bradyrhizobium elkanii and Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and three housekeeping genes placed both strains within the genus Bradyrhizobium: strain BR 3267 was closest to B. yuanmingense and BR 3262 to B. pachyrhizi. Genome average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA reassociation confirmed the genomic identification of B. yuanmingense BR 3267 and B. pachyrhizi BR 3262. The nodC and nifH gene analyses showed that strains BR 3267 and BR 3262 hold divergent symbiotic genes. In summary, the results indicate that cowpea can establish effective symbiosis with divergent bradyrhizobia isolated from Brazilian soils.}, } @article {pmid28410402, year = {2017}, author = {Moya, P and Molins, A and Martínez-Alberola, F and Muggia, L and Barreno, E}, title = {Unexpected associated microalgal diversity in the lichen Ramalina farinacea is uncovered by pyrosequencing analyses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0175091}, pmid = {28410402}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/*genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Genetic Variation ; Microalgae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The current literature reveals that the intrathalline coexistence of multiple microalgal taxa in lichens is more common than previously thought, and additional complexity is supported by the coexistence of bacteria and basidiomycete yeasts in lichen thalli. This replaces the old paradigm that lichen symbiosis occurs between a fungus and a single photobiont. The lichen Ramalina farinacea has proven to be a suitable model to study the multiplicity of microalgae in lichen thalli due to the constant coexistence of Trebouxia sp. TR9 and T. jamesii in long-distance populations. To date, studies involving phycobiont diversity within entire thalli are based on Sanger sequencing, but this method seems to underestimate the diversity. Here, we aim to analyze both the microalgal diversity and its community structure in a single thallus of the lichen R. farinacea by applying a 454 pyrosequencing approach coupled with a careful ad hoc-performed protocol for lichen sample processing prior to DNA extraction. To ascertain the reliability of the pyrosequencing results and the applied bioinformatics pipeline results, the thalli were divided into three sections (apical, middle and basal zones), and a mock community sample was used. The developed methodology allowed 40448 filtered algal reads to be obtained from a single lichen thallus, which encompassed 31 OTUs representative of different microalgae genera. In addition to corroborating the coexistence of the two Trebouxia sp. TR9 and T. jamesii taxa in the same thallus, this study showed a much higher microalgal diversity associated with the lichen. Along the thallus ramifications, we also detected variations in phycobiont distribution that might correlate with different microenvironmental conditions. These results highlight R. farinacea as a suitable material for studying microalgal diversity and further strengthen the concept of lichens as multispecies microecosystems. Future analyses will be relevant to ecophysiological and evolutionary studies to understand the roles of the multiple photobionts in lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid28409238, year = {2017}, author = {Zamlynska, K and Komaniecka, I and Zebracki, K and Mazur, A and Sroka-Bartnicka, A and Choma, A}, title = {Studies on lipid A isolated from Phyllobacterium trifolii PETP02[T] lipopolysaccharide.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {110}, number = {11}, pages = {1413-1433}, pmid = {28409238}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/analysis ; Glucosamine/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids/chemistry ; Lipid A/biosynthesis/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mesorhizobium/chemistry/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Phyllobacteriaceae/*chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {The structure of lipid A from lipopolysaccharide of Phyllobacterium trifolii PETP02[T], a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium, was studied. It was found that the lipid A backbone was composed of two 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucose (GlcpN3N) residues connected by a β-(1 → 6) glycosidic linkage, substituted by galacturonic acid (GalpA) at position C-1 and partly decorated by a phosphate residue at C-4' of the non-reducing GlcpN3N. Both diaminosugars were symmetrically substituted by 3-hydroxy fatty acids (14:0(3-OH) and 16:0(3-OH)). Ester-linked secondary acyl residues [i.e. 19:0cyc and 28:0(27-OH) or 28:0(27-4:0(3-OMe))] were located in the distal part of lipid A. A high similarity between the lipid A of P. trifolii and Mesorhizobium was observed and discussed from the perspective of the genetic context of both genomes.}, } @article {pmid28408912, year = {2017}, author = {Koskey, G and Mburu, SW and Njeru, EM and Kimiti, JM and Ombori, O and Maingi, JM}, title = {Potential of Native Rhizobia in Enhancing Nitrogen Fixation and Yields of Climbing Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Contrasting Environments of Eastern Kenya.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {443}, pmid = {28408912}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production in Kenya is greatly undermined by low soil fertility, especially in agriculturally prolific areas. The use of effective native rhizobia inoculants to promote nitrogen fixation could be beneficial in climbing bean production. In this study, we carried out greenhouse and field experiments to evaluate symbiotic efficiency, compare the effect of native rhizobia and commercial inoculant on nodulation, growth and yield parameters of mid-altitude climbing bean (MAC 13 and MAC 64) varieties. The greenhouse experiment included nine native rhizobia isolates, a consortium of native isolates, commercial inoculant Biofix, a mixture of native isolates + Biofix, nitrogen treated control and a non-inoculated control. In the field experiments, the treatments included the best effective native rhizobia isolate ELM3, a consortium of native isolates, a commercial inoculant Biofix, a mixture of native isolates + Biofix, and a non-inoculated control. Remarkably, four native rhizobia isolates ELM3, ELM4, ELM5, and ELM8 showed higher symbiotic efficiencies compared to the Biofix. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in symbiotic efficiency between the two climbing bean varieties. Field results demonstrated a significant improvement in nodule dry weight and seed yields of MAC 13 and MAC 64 climbing bean varieties upon rhizobia inoculation when compared to the non-inoculated controls. Inoculation with ELM3 isolate resulted to the highest seed yield of 4,397.75 kg ha[-1], indicating 89% increase over non-inoculated control (2,334.81 kg ha[-1]) and 30% increase over Biofix (3,698.79 kg ha[-1]). Farm site significantly influenced nodule dry weight and seed yields. This study, therefore, revealed the potential of native rhizobia isolates to enhance delivery of agroecosystem services including nitrogen fixation and bean production. Further characterization and mapping of the native isolates will be imperative in development of effective and affordable commercial inoculants.}, } @article {pmid28408911, year = {2017}, author = {Brouwer, P and Bräutigam, A and Buijs, VA and Tazelaar, AO and van der Werf, A and Schlüter, U and Reichart, GJ and Bolger, A and Usadel, B and Weber, AP and Schluepmann, H}, title = {Metabolic Adaptation, a Specialized Leaf Organ Structure and Vascular Responses to Diurnal N2 Fixation by Nostoc azollae Sustain the Astonishing Productivity of Azolla Ferns without Nitrogen Fertilizer.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {442}, pmid = {28408911}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Sustainable agriculture demands reduced input of man-made nitrogen (N) fertilizer, yet N2 fixation limits the productivity of crops with heterotrophic diazotrophic bacterial symbionts. We investigated floating ferns from the genus Azolla that host phototrophic diazotrophic Nostoc azollae in leaf pockets and belong to the fastest growing plants. Experimental production reported here demonstrated N-fertilizer independent production of nitrogen-rich biomass with an annual yield potential per ha of 1200 kg[-1] N fixed and 35 t dry biomass. [15]N2 fixation peaked at noon, reaching 0.4 mg N g[-1] dry weight h[-1]. Azolla ferns therefore merit consideration as protein crops in spite of the fact that little is known about the fern's physiology to enable domestication. To gain an understanding of their nitrogen physiology, analyses of fern diel transcript profiles under differing nitrogen fertilizer regimes were combined with microscopic observations. Results established that the ferns adapted to the phototrophic N2-fixing symbionts N. azollae by (1) adjusting metabolically to nightly absence of N supply using responses ancestral to ferns and seed plants; (2) developing a specialized xylem-rich vasculature surrounding the leaf-pocket organ; (3) responding to N-supply by controlling transcripts of genes mediating nutrient transport, allocation and vasculature development. Unlike other non-seed plants, the Azolla fern clock is shown to contain both the morning and evening loops; the evening loop is known to control rhythmic gene expression in the vasculature of seed plants and therefore may have evolved along with the vasculature in the ancestor of ferns and seed plants.}, } @article {pmid28408479, year = {2017}, author = {Ringot-Destrez, B and Kalach, N and Mihalache, A and Gosset, P and Michalski, JC and Léonard, R and Robbe-Masselot, C}, title = {How do they stick together? Bacterial adhesins implicated in the binding of bacteria to the human gastrointestinal mucins.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {389-399}, doi = {10.1042/BST20160167}, pmid = {28408479}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Mucins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal mucosal surface is the primary interface between internal host tissues and the vast microbiota. Mucins, key components of mucus, are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins characterized by the presence of many O-linked oligosaccharides to the core polypeptide. They play many biological functions, helping to maintain cellular homeostasis and to establish symbiotic relationships with complex microbiota. Mucin O-glycans exhibit a huge variety of peripheral sequences implicated in the binding of bacteria to the mucosal tissues, thereby playing a key role in the selection of specific species and in the tissue tropism displayed by commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria have evolved numerous strategies to colonize host mucosae, and among these are modulation of expression of cell surface adhesins which allow bacteria to bind to mucins. However, despite well structurally characterized adhesins and lectins, information on the nature and structure of oligosaccharides recognized by bacteria is still disparate. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure of epithelial mucin O-glycans and the interaction between host and commensal or pathogenic bacteria mediated by mucins.}, } @article {pmid28408324, year = {2017}, author = {Gutiérrez-Valencia, J and Chomicki, G and Renner, SS}, title = {Recurrent breakdowns of mutualisms with ants in the neotropical ant-plant genus Cecropia (Urticaceae).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {111}, number = {}, pages = {196-205}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2017.04.009}, pmid = {28408324}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Africa ; Altitude ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Cecropia Plant/*classification ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; *Tropical Climate ; West Indies ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms could be evolutionarily unstable, with changes in partner abundances or in the spatial context of interactions potentially promoting their dissolution. We test this prediction using the defense mutualisms between species of the Neotropical genus Cecropia and Azteca ants. A new, multigene phylogeny with representatives of all five genera of Cecropieae (most of them from the Neotropics) and half of the 61 species of Cecropia shows the West African endemic Musanga (2spp.) as sister to Cecropia, implying dispersal from the Neotropics to Africa, with a molecular clock suggesting that this occurred about 23Mya. Cecropia, a genus of neotropical pioneer trees, started diversifying ca. 8Mya. We infer a single origin of specialized symbiosis with Azteca within Cecropia, eight complete losses of this symbiosis, and a potential partner shift involving the replacement of Azteca by Neoponera luteola ants. Niche space modeling based on geo-referenced occurrences of over 9000 collections representing 58 of the 61 species of Cecropia, together with several comparative analyses, implies that mutualism loss is concentrated at high altitudes and on Caribbean islands, with the surprisingly frequent breakdowns potentially facilitated by low species-specificity of interacting Cecropia and Azteca mutualists.}, } @article {pmid28407448, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, X and Liew, YJ and Li, Y and Zoccola, D and Tambutte, S and Aranda, M}, title = {Draft genomes of the corallimorpharians Amplexidiscus fenestrafer and Discosoma sp.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {e187-e195}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.12680}, pmid = {28407448}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Computational Biology ; *Genome ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Corallimorpharia are the closest noncalcifying relatives of reef-building corals. Aside from their popularity among aquarium hobbyists, their evolutionary position between the Actiniaria (sea anemones) and the Scleractinia (hard corals) makes them ideal candidates for comparative studies aiming at understanding the evolution of hexacorallian orders in general and reef-building corals in particular. Here we have sequenced and assembled two draft genomes for the Corallimorpharia species Amplexidiscus fenestrafer and Discosoma sp. The draft genomes encompass 370 and 445 Mbp, respectively, and encode for 21,372 and 23,199 genes. To facilitate future studies using these resources, we provide annotations for the predicted gene models-not only at gene level, by annotating gene models with the function of the best-matching homologue, and GO terms when available; but also at protein domain level, where gene function can be better verified through the conservation of the sequence and order of protein domains. Further, we provide an online platform (http://corallimorpharia.reefgenomics.org), which includes a blast interface and a genome browser to facilitate the use of these resources. We believe that these two genomes are important resources for future studies on hexacorallian systematics and the evolutionary basis of their specific traits such as the symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium or the evolution of calcification in reef-building corals.}, } @article {pmid28405140, year = {2017}, author = {Rapozo, DC and Bernardazzi, C and de Souza, HS}, title = {Diet and microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease: The gut in disharmony.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {2124-2140}, pmid = {28405140}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Crohn Disease/*diet therapy/pathology ; Diet ; Disease Progression ; Dysbiosis ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Food ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*diet therapy/*prevention & control ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial colonization of the gut shapes both the local and the systemic immune response and is implicated in the modulation of immunity in both healthy and disease states. Recently, quantitative and qualitative changes in the composition of the gut microbiota have been detected in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, reinforcing the hypothesis of dysbiosis as a relevant mechanism underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Humans and microbes have co-existed and co-evolved for a long time in a mutually beneficial symbiotic association essential for maintaining homeostasis. However, the microbiome is dynamic, changing with age and in response to environmental modifications. Among such environmental factors, food and alimentary habits, progressively altered in modern societies, appear to be critical modulators of the microbiota, contributing to or co-participating in dysbiosis. In addition, food constituents such as micronutrients are important regulators of mucosal immunity, with direct or indirect effects on the gut microbiota. Moreover, food constituents have recently been shown to modulate epigenetic mechanisms, which can result in increased risk for the development and progression of IBD. Therefore, it is likely that a better understanding of the role of different food components in intestinal homeostasis and the resident microbiota will be essential for unravelling the complex molecular basis of the epigenetic, genetic and environment interactions underlying IBD pathogenesis as well as for offering dietary interventions with minimal side effects.}, } @article {pmid28404776, year = {2017}, author = {Branstetter, MG and Ješovnik, A and Sosa-Calvo, J and Lloyd, MW and Faircloth, BC and Brady, SG and Schultz, TR}, title = {Dry habitats were crucibles of domestication in the evolution of agriculture in ants.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1852}, pages = {}, pmid = {28404776}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Domestication ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Rainforest ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South America ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolution of ant agriculture, as practised by the fungus-farming 'attine' ants, is thought to have arisen in the wet rainforests of South America about 55-65 Ma. Most subsequent attine agricultural evolution, including the domestication event that produced the ancestor of higher attine cultivars, is likewise hypothesized to have occurred in South American rainforests. The 'out-of-the-rainforest' hypothesis, while generally accepted, has never been tested in a phylogenetic context. It also presents a problem for explaining how fungal domestication might have occurred, given that isolation from free-living populations is required. Here, we use phylogenomic data from ultra-conserved element (UCE) loci to reconstruct the evolutionary history of fungus-farming ants, reduce topological uncertainty, and identify the closest non-fungus-growing ant relative. Using the phylogeny we infer the history of attine agricultural systems, habitat preference and biogeography. Our results show that the out-of-the-rainforest hypothesis is correct with regard to the origin of attine ant agriculture; however, contrary to expectation, we find that the transition from lower to higher agriculture is very likely to have occurred in a seasonally dry habitat, inhospitable to the growth of free-living populations of attine fungal cultivars. We suggest that dry habitats favoured the isolation of attine cultivars over the evolutionary time spans necessary for domestication to occur.}, } @article {pmid28404731, year = {2017}, author = {Nagymihály, M and Veluchamy, A and Györgypál, Z and Ariel, F and Jégu, T and Benhamed, M and Szűcs, A and Kereszt, A and Mergaert, P and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Ploidy-dependent changes in the epigenome of symbiotic cells correlate with specific patterns of gene expression.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {17}, pages = {4543-4548}, pmid = {28404731}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Epigenomics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; *Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; *Ploidies ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The formation of symbiotic nodule cells in Medicago truncatula is driven by successive endoreduplication cycles and transcriptional reprogramming in different temporal waves including the activation of more than 600 cysteine-rich NCR genes expressed only in nodules. We show here that the transcriptional waves correlate with growing ploidy levels and have investigated how the epigenome changes during endoreduplication cycles. Differential DNA methylation was found in only a small subset of symbiotic nodule-specific genes, including more than half of the NCR genes, whereas in most genes DNA methylation was unaffected by the ploidy levels and was independent of the genes' active or repressed state. On the other hand, expression of nodule-specific genes correlated with ploidy-dependent opening of the chromatin as well as, in a subset of tested genes, with reduced H3K27me3 levels combined with enhanced H3K9ac levels. Our results suggest that endoreduplication-dependent epigenetic changes contribute to transcriptional reprogramming in the differentiation of symbiotic cells.}, } @article {pmid28402784, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, W and Card, SD and Mace, WJ and Christensen, MJ and McGill, CR and Matthew, C}, title = {Defining the pathways of symbiotic Epichloë colonization in grass embryos with confocal microscopy.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {153-161}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2016.1277469}, pmid = {28402784}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Endophytes/cytology/*growth & development ; Epichloe/cytology/*growth & development ; Festuca/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mycelium/cytology/growth & development ; Seeds/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Asexual cool-season grass endophytes of the genus Epichloë (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae) are strictly vertically disseminated. The hosts of these mutualistic fungi express no symptoms during the fungal lifecycle that takes place entirely within the plant, while their hosts receive beneficial outcomes. These fungi are distributed in two major locations within the mature seeds of their hosts; namely, within the embryo (including the scutellum, coleoptile, plumule, radicle, and coleorhiza tissues) and between the aleurone and pericarp layers, with the latter hyphae playing no role in transmission of the fungus to the next plant generation. Conflicting evidence remains in the literature on the timing of embryo colonization. In a detailed investigation, utilizing confocal microscopy to observe the distribution of Epichloë coenophiala strain AR601 in tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum), we tracked endophyte hyphal colonization in the ovary (pre-fertilization) through to the fully mature seed stage. Confocal microscopy images revealed that at the early and mature developmental stages of the embryo sac, before host grass fertilization, there were large quantities of endophyte mycelium present, especially around the antipodal cells, indicating that this endophyte enters the embryo sac before the fertilization stage. After host fertilization, fungal hyphae could be seen in the true embryo and early nonstarchy endosperm. Understanding the mechanisms of transmission to the seed is important for commercial seed producers and end users.}, } @article {pmid28401641, year = {2017}, author = {Robledo, M and Peregrina, A and Millán, V and García-Tomsig, NI and Torres-Quesada, O and Mateos, PF and Becker, A and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {A conserved α-proteobacterial small RNA contributes to osmoadaptation and symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia on legume roots.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {2661-2680}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13757}, pmid = {28401641}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Conserved Sequence ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology/physiology ; Osmosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; RNA/metabolism ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are expected to have pivotal roles in the adaptive responses underlying symbiosis of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia with legumes. Here, we provide primary insights into the function and activity mechanism of the Sinorhizobium meliloti trans-sRNA NfeR1 (Nodule Formation Efficiency RNA). Northern blot probing and transcription tracking with fluorescent promoter-reporter fusions unveiled high nfeR1 expression in response to salt stress and throughout the symbiotic interaction. The strength and differential regulation of nfeR1 transcription are conferred by a motif, which is conserved in nfeR1 promoter regions in α-proteobacteria. NfeR1 loss-of-function compromised osmoadaptation of free-living bacteria, whilst causing misregulation of salt-responsive genes related to stress adaptation, osmolytes catabolism and membrane trafficking. Nodulation tests revealed that lack of NfeR1 affected competitiveness, infectivity, nodule development and symbiotic efficiency of S. meliloti on alfalfa roots. Comparative computer predictions and a genetic reporter assay evidenced a redundant role of three identical NfeR1 unpaired anti Shine-Dalgarno motifs for targeting and downregulation of translation of multiple mRNAs from transporter genes. Our data provide genetic evidence of the hyperosmotic conditions of the endosymbiotic compartments. NfeR1-mediated gene regulation in response to this cue could contribute to coordinate nutrient uptake with the metabolic reprogramming concomitant to symbiotic transitions.}, } @article {pmid28401612, year = {2017}, author = {Kropáčková, L and Těšický, M and Albrecht, T and Kubovčiak, J and Čížková, D and Tomášek, O and Martin, JF and Bobek, L and Králová, T and Procházka, P and Kreisinger, J}, title = {Codiversification of gastrointestinal microbiota and phylogeny in passerines is not explained by ecological divergence.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {19}, pages = {5292-5304}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14144}, pmid = {28401612}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Czech Republic ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Passeriformes/classification/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Vertebrate gut microbiota (GM) is comprised of a taxonomically diverse consortium of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms that have a pronounced effect on host physiology, immune system function and health status. Despite much research on interactions between hosts and their GM, the factors affecting inter- and intraspecific GM variation in wild populations are still poorly known. We analysed data on faecal microbiota composition in 51 passerine species (319 individuals) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA (V3-V4 variable region). Despite pronounced interindividual variation, GM composition exhibited significant differences at the interspecific level, accounting for approximately 20%-30% of total GM variation. We also observed a significant correlation between GM composition divergence and host's phylogenetic divergence, with strength of correlation higher than that of GM vs. ecological or life history traits and geographic variation. The effect of host's phylogeny on GM composition was significant, even after statistical control for these confounding factors. Hence, our data do not support codiversification of GM and passerine phylogeny solely as a by-product of their ecological divergence. Furthermore, our findings do not support that GM vs. host's phylogeny codiversification is driven primarily through trans-generational GM transfer as the GM vs. phylogeny correlation does not increase with higher sequence similarity used when delimiting operational taxonomic units. Instead, we hypothesize that the GM vs. phylogeny correlation may arise as a consequence of interspecific divergence of genes that directly or indirectly modulate composition of GM.}, } @article {pmid28400173, year = {2017}, author = {López-Ráez, JA and Shirasu, K and Foo, E}, title = {Strigolactones in Plant Interactions with Beneficial and Detrimental Organisms: The Yin and Yang.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {527-537}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2017.03.011}, pmid = {28400173}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that have important roles as modulators of plant development. They were originally described as ex planta signaling molecules in the rhizosphere that induce the germination of parasitic plants, a role that was later linked to encouraging the beneficial symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Recently, the focus has shifted to examining the role of SLs in plant-microbe interactions, and has revealed roles for SLs in the association of legumes with nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria and in interactions with disease-causing pathogens. Here, we examine the role of SLs in plant interactions with beneficial and detrimental organisms, and propose possible future biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid28399430, year = {2017}, author = {Hashimoto, M and Mizukami, M and Osuki, KI and Fujiwara, N and Suda, Y and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Characterization of O-antigen polysaccharide backbone derived from nitric oxide-inducing Mesorhizobium loti MAFF 303099 lipopolysaccharide.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {445}, number = {}, pages = {44-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2017.04.002}, pmid = {28399430}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Sequence ; Mesorhizobium/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis ; O Antigens/*chemistry ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti is a member of rhizobia and establishes nitrogen-fixing symbioses with several Lotus species. Recently, we reported that M. loti MAFF 303099 bacterial cells and their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations are involved in the beginning of the symbiotic process by inducing transient nitric oxide (NO) production in the roots of L. japonicus. We subsequently found that both the polysaccharide (PS) part and the lipid A moiety in LPS are responsible for the NO induction. In this study, we elucidated the chemical structure of M. loti O-polysaccharide (OPS) in PS. PS was prepared by mild acid hydrolysis of M. loti LPS followed by gel filtration chromatography. OPS was subjected to hydrazine treatment to obtain deacylated PS (dPS). Chemical composition analysis, ethylation analysis, and NMR spectra revealed the chemical structure of the M. loti OPS backbone in dPS to be →2)-α-l-6dTalp-(1 → 3)-α-l-6dTalp-(1 → 2)-α-l-Rhap-(1 → 2)-α-l-6dTalp-(1 → 3)-α-l-6dTalp-(1 → 3)-α-l-Rhap-(1→.}, } @article {pmid28398840, year = {2017}, author = {Calatrava-Morales, N and Nogales, J and Ameztoy, K and van Steenbergen, B and Soto, MJ}, title = {The NtrY/NtrX System of Sinorhizobium meliloti GR4 Regulates Motility, EPS I Production, and Nitrogen Metabolism but Is Dispensable for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {7}, pages = {566-577}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-17-0021-R}, pmid = {28398840}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Flagella/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti can translocate over surfaces. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms that control this trait and its relevance for establishing symbiosis with alfalfa plants. To gain insights into this field, we isolated Tn5 mutants of S. meliloti GR4 with impaired surface motility. In mutant strain GRS577, the transposon interrupted the ntrY gene encoding the sensor kinase of the NtrY/NtrX two-component regulatory system. GRS577 is impaired in flagella synthesis and overproduces succinoglycan, which is responsible for increased biofilm formation. The mutant also shows altered cell morphology and higher susceptibility to salt stress. GRS577 induces nitrogen-fixing nodules in alfalfa but exhibits decreased competitive nodulation. Complementation experiments indicate that both ntrY and ntrX account for all the phenotypes displayed by the ntrY::Tn5 mutant. Ectopic overexpression of VisNR, the motility master regulator, was sufficient to rescue motility and competitive nodulation of the transposant. A transcriptome profiling of GRS577 confirmed differential expression of exo and flagellar genes, and led to the demonstration that NtrY/NtrX allows for optimal expression of denitrification and nifA genes under microoxic conditions in response to nitrogen compounds. This study extends our knowledge of the complex role played by NtrY/NtrX in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid28398123, year = {2017}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Zamani, M and Ludwig, HN and Finan, TM}, title = {Heterologous Complementation Reveals a Specialized Activity for BacA in the Medicago-Sinorhizobium meliloti Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {312-324}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-17-0030-R}, pmid = {28398123}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genetic Complementation Test ; Genetic Loci ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Peas/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm2011 forms N2-fixing root nodules on alfalfa and other leguminous plants. The pSymB chromid contains a 110-kb region (the ETR region) showing high synteny to a chromosomally located region in Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234 and related rhizobia. We recently introduced the ETR region from S. fredii NGR234 into the S. meliloti chromosome. Here, we report that, unexpectedly, the S. fredii NGR234 ETR region did not complement deletion of the S. meliloti ETR region in symbiosis with Medicago sativa. This phenotype was due to the bacA gene of NGR234 not being functionally interchangeable with the S. meliloti bacA gene during M. sativa symbiosis. Further analysis revealed that, whereas bacA genes from S. fredii or Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 failed to complement the Fix[-] phenotype of a S. meliloti bacA mutant with M. sativa, they allowed for further developmental progression prior to a loss of viability. In contrast, with Melilotus alba, bacA from S. fredii and R. leguminosarum supported N2 fixation by a S. meliloti bacA mutant. Additionally, the S. meliloti bacA gene can support N2 fixation of a R. leguminosarum bacA mutant during symbiosis with Pisum sativum. A phylogeny of BacA proteins illustrated that S. meliloti BacA has rapidly diverged from most rhizobia and has converged toward the sequence of pathogenic genera Brucella and Escherichia. These data suggest that the S. meliloti BacA has evolved toward a specific interaction with Medicago and highlights the limitations of using a single model system for the study of complex biological topics.}, } @article {pmid28396674, year = {2017}, author = {Püschel, D and Janoušková, M and Voříšková, A and Gryndlerová, H and Vosátka, M and Jansa, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Stimulates Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Two Medicago spp. through Improved Phosphorus Acquisition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {390}, pmid = {28396674}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes establish root symbioses with rhizobia that provide plants with nitrogen (N) through biological N fixation (BNF), as well as with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that mediate improved plant phosphorus (P) uptake. Such complex relationships complicate our understanding of nutrient acquisition by legumes and how they reward their symbiotic partners with carbon along gradients of environmental conditions. In order to disentangle the interplay between BNF and AM symbioses in two Medicago species (Medicago truncatula and M. sativa) along a P-fertilization gradient, we conducted a pot experiment where the rhizobia-treated plants were either inoculated or not inoculated with AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis 'PH5' and grown in two nutrient-poor substrates subjected to one of three different P-supply levels. Throughout the experiment, all plants were fertilized with [15]N-enriched liquid N-fertilizer to allow for assessment of BNF efficiency in terms of the fraction of N in the plants derived from the BNF (%NBNF). We hypothesized (1) higher %NBNF coinciding with higher P supply, and (2) higher %NBNF in mycorrhizal as compared to non-mycorrhizal plants under P deficiency due to mycorrhiza-mediated improvement in P nutrition. We found a strongly positive correlation between total plant P content and %NBNF, clearly documenting the importance of plant P nutrition for BNF efficiency. The AM symbiosis generally improved P uptake by plants and considerably stimulated the efficiency of BNF under low P availability (below 10 mg kg[-1] water extractable P). Under high P availability (above 10 mg kg[-1] water extractable P), the AM symbiosis brought no further benefits to the plants with respect to P nutrition even as the effects of P availability on N acquisition via BNF were further modulated by the environmental context (plant and substrate combinations). As a response to elevated P availability in the substrate, the extent of root length colonization by AM fungi was reduced, the turning points occurring at about 8 and 10 mg kg[-1] water extractable P for M. sativa and M. truncatula, respectively. Our results indicated competition for limited C resource between the two kinds of microsymbionts and thus degradation of AM symbiotic functioning under ample P supply.}, } @article {pmid28395586, year = {2017}, author = {Darsouei, R and Karimi, J and Ghadamyari, M and Hosseini, M}, title = {Differential Change Patterns of Main Antimicrobial Peptide Genes During Infection of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {103}, number = {4}, pages = {349-358}, doi = {10.1645/16-162}, pmid = {28395586}, issn = {1937-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Cecropins/genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Moths/parasitology ; Nematoda/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhabditida/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhabditoidea/metabolism/microbiology ; Spodoptera/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as the main humoral defense reactions of insects during infection by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and their symbiont is addressed herein. Three AMPs, attacin, cecropin, and spodoptericin, were evaluated in the fifth instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua Hübner (beet armyworm) when challenged with Steinernema carpocapsae or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. The results indicated that attacin was expressed to a greater extent than either cecropin or spodoptericin. While spodoptericin was expressed to a much lesser extent, this AMP was induced against Gram-positive bacteria, and thus not expressed after penetration of Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus luminescens. Attacin and cecropin in the larvae treated with S. carpocapsae at 8 hr post-injection (PI) attained the maximum expression levels and were 138.42-fold and 65.84-fold greater than those of larvae infected with H. bacteriophora, respectively. Generally, the ability of H. bacteriophora to suppress attacin, cecropin, and spodoptericin was greater than that of S. carpocapsae. According to the results, the expression of AMPs by Sp. exigua larvae against S. carpocapsae was determined in the 4 statuses of monoxenic nematode, axenic nematode, live symbiotic bacterium, and dead symbiotic bacterium. The expression of attacin in larvae treated with a monoxenic nematode and live bacterium at 8 and 2 hr PI, respectively, were increased to the maximum amount. Live X. nematophila was the strongest agent for the suppression of attacin. The expression of cecropin against monoxenic nematodes and live symbiotic bacteria at 8 and 4 hr PI, respectively, reached the maximum amount while the expression levels of attacin and cecropin for axenic nematodes were lesser and stable. The results highlighted that the ability of P. luminescens in AMPs suppression was much more than X. nematophila. The results also showed that the effect of symbiotic bacterium in suppressing attacin and cecropin expression was greater than that of a monoxenic nematode; this result provided deep insight into the expression pattern parallels and fluctuations of the main AMPs during nematode infection.}, } @article {pmid28394446, year = {2017}, author = {Stopka, SA and Agtuca, BJ and Koppenaal, DW and Paša-Tolić, L and Stacey, G and Vertes, A and Anderton, CR}, title = {Laser-ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with ion mobility separation reveals metabolites in the symbiotic interactions of soybean roots and rhizobia.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {91}, number = {2}, pages = {340-354}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13569}, pmid = {28394446}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Equipment Design ; Lasers ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/instrumentation/methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Technologies enabling in situ metabolic profiling of living plant systems are invaluable for understanding physiological processes and could be used for rapid phenotypic screening (e.g., to produce plants with superior biological nitrogen-fixing ability). The symbiotic interaction between legumes and nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria results in a specialized plant organ (i.e., root nodule) where the exchange of nutrients between host and endosymbiont occurs. Laser-ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) is a method that can be performed under ambient conditions requiring minimal sample preparation. Here, we employed LAESI-MS to explore the well characterized symbiosis between soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and its compatible symbiont, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The utilization of ion mobility separation (IMS) improved the molecular coverage, selectivity, and identification of the detected biomolecules. Specifically, incorporation of IMS resulted in an increase of 153 differentially abundant spectral features in the nodule samples. The data presented demonstrate the advantages of using LAESI-IMS-MS for the rapid analysis of intact root nodules, uninfected root segments, and free-living rhizobia. Untargeted pathway analysis revealed several metabolic processes within the nodule (e.g., zeatin, riboflavin, and purine synthesis). Compounds specific to the uninfected root and bacteria were also detected. Lastly, we performed depth profiling of intact nodules to reveal the location of metabolites to the cortex and inside the infected region, and lateral profiling of sectioned nodules confirmed these molecular distributions. Our results established the feasibility of LAESI-IMS-MS for the analysis and spatial mapping of plant tissues, with its specific demonstration to improve our understanding of the soybean-rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28394415, year = {2017}, author = {Verbruggen, H and Marcelino, VR and Guiry, MD and Cremen, MCM and Jackson, CJ}, title = {Phylogenetic position of the coral symbiont Ostreobium (Ulvophyceae) inferred from chloroplast genome data.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {53}, number = {4}, pages = {790-803}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12540}, pmid = {28394415}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics/physiology ; *Genome, Chloroplast ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The green algal genus Ostreobium is an important symbiont of corals, playing roles in reef decalcification and providing photosynthates to the coral during bleaching events. A chloroplast genome of a cultured strain of Ostreobium was available, but low taxon sampling and Ostreobium's early-branching nature left doubt about its phylogenetic position. Here, we generate and describe chloroplast genomes from four Ostreobium strains as well as Avrainvillea mazei and Neomeris sp., strategically sampled early-branching lineages in the Bryopsidales and Dasycladales respectively. At 80,584 bp, the chloroplast genome of Ostreobium sp. HV05042 is the most compact yet found in the Ulvophyceae. The Avrainvillea chloroplast genome is ~94 kbp and contains introns in infA and cysT that have nearly complete sequence identity except for an open reading frame (ORF) in infA that is not present in cysT. In line with other bryopsidalean species, it also contains regions with possibly bacteria-derived ORFs. The Neomeris data did not assemble into a canonical circular chloroplast genome but a large number of contigs containing fragments of chloroplast genes and showing evidence of long introns and intergenic regions, and the Neomeris chloroplast genome size was estimated to exceed 1.87 Mb. Chloroplast phylogenomics and 18S nrDNA data showed strong support for the Ostreobium lineage being sister to the remaining Bryopsidales. There were differences in branch support when outgroups were varied, but the overall support for the placement of Ostreobium was strong. These results permitted us to validate two suborders and introduce a third, the Ostreobineae.}, } @article {pmid28394097, year = {2017}, author = {Minucci, JM and Miniat, CF and Teskey, RO and Wurzburger, N}, title = {Tolerance or avoidance: drought frequency determines the response of an N2 -fixing tree.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {1}, pages = {434-442}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14558}, pmid = {28394097}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Droughts/*statistics & numerical data ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Robinia/*growth & development/physiology ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Climate change is increasing drought frequency, which may affect symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF), a process that facilitates ecosystem recovery from disturbance. Here, we assessed the effect of drought frequency on the ecophysiology and SNF rate of a common N2 -fixing tree in eastern US forests. We grew Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under the same mean soil moisture, but with different drought frequency caused by wet-dry cycles of varying periodicity. We found no effect of drought frequency on final biomass or mean SNF rate. However, seedlings responded differently to wet and dry phases depending on drought frequency. Under low-frequency droughts, plants fixed carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) at similar rates during wet and dry phases. Conversely, under high-frequency droughts, plants fixed C and N at low rates during dry phases and at high rates during wet phases. Our findings suggest that R. pseudoacacia growth is resistant to increased drought frequency because it employs two strategies - drought tolerance or drought avoidance, followed by compensation. SNF may play a role in both by supplying N to leaf tissues for acclimation and by facilitating compensatory growth following drought. Our findings point to SNF as a mechanism for plants and ecosystems to cope with drought.}, } @article {pmid28393904, year = {2017}, author = {Casaburi, G and Goncharenko-Foster, I and Duscher, AA and Foster, JS}, title = {Transcriptomic changes in an animal-bacterial symbiosis under modeled microgravity conditions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {46318}, pmid = {28393904}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology ; Animals ; Computational Biology/methods ; Decapodiformes/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; *Microbiota ; Oxidative Stress ; Space Flight ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; *Weightlessness ; }, abstract = {Spaceflight imposes numerous adaptive challenges for terrestrial life. The reduction in gravity, or microgravity, represents a novel environment that can disrupt homeostasis of many physiological processes. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly clear that an organism's microbiome is critical for host health and examining its resiliency in microgravity represents a new frontier for space biology research. In this study, we examine the impact of microgravity on the interactions between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri, which form a highly specific binary mutualism. First, animals inoculated with V. fischeri aboard the space shuttle showed effective colonization of the host light organ, the site of the symbiosis, during space flight. Second, RNA-Seq analysis of squid exposed to modeled microgravity conditions exhibited extensive differential gene expression in the presence and absence of the symbiotic partner. Transcriptomic analyses revealed in the absence of the symbiont during modeled microgravity there was an enrichment of genes and pathways associated with the innate immune and oxidative stress response. The results suggest that V. fischeri may help modulate the host stress responses under modeled microgravity. This study provides a window into the adaptive responses that the host animal and its symbiont use during modeled microgravity.}, } @article {pmid28393425, year = {2017}, author = {Łukasik, P and Newton, JA and Sanders, JG and Hu, Y and Moreau, CS and Kronauer, DJC and O'Donnell, S and Koga, R and Russell, JA}, title = {The structured diversity of specialized gut symbionts of the New World army ants.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {14}, pages = {3808-3825}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14140}, pmid = {28393425}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria play important roles in the biology of their arthropod hosts. Yet the microbiota of many diverse and influential groups remain understudied, resulting in a paucity of information on the fidelities and histories of these associations. Motivated by prior findings from a smaller scale, 16S rRNA-based study, we conducted a broad phylogenetic and geographic survey of microbial communities in the ecologically dominant New World army ants (Formicidae: Dorylinae). Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene across 28 species spanning the five New World genera showed that the microbial communities of army ants consist of very few common and abundant bacterial species. The two most abundant microbes, referred to as Unclassified Firmicutes and Unclassified Entomoplasmatales, appear to be specialized army ant associates that dominate microbial communities in the gut lumen of three host genera, Eciton, Labidus and Nomamyrmex. Both are present in other army ant genera, including those from the Old World, suggesting that army ant symbioses date back to the Cretaceous. Extensive sequencing of bacterial protein-coding genes revealed multiple strains of these symbionts coexisting within colonies, but seldom within the same individual ant. Bacterial strains formed multiple host species-specific lineages on phylogenies, which often grouped strains from distant geographic locations. These patterns deviate from those seen in other social insects and raise intriguing questions about the influence of army ant colony swarm-founding and within-colony genetic diversity on strain coexistence, and the effects of hosting a diverse suite of symbiont strains on colony ecology.}, } @article {pmid28392745, year = {2016}, author = {Vartoukian, SR}, title = {Cultivation strategies for growth of uncultivated bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of oral biosciences}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {142-149}, pmid = {28392745}, issn = {1349-0079}, support = {R01 DE024468/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R37 DE016937/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The majority of environmental bacteria and around a third of oral bacteria remain uncultivated. Furthermore, several bacterial phyla have no cultivable members and are recognised only by detection of their DNA by molecular methods. Possible explanations for the resistance of certain bacteria to cultivation in purity in vitro include: unmet fastidious growth requirements; inhibition by environmental conditions or chemical factors produced by neighbouring bacteria in mixed cultures; or conversely, dependence on interactions with other bacteria in the natural environment, without which they cannot survive in isolation. Auxotrophic bacteria, with small genomes lacking in the necessary genetic material to encode for essential nutrients, frequently rely on close symbiotic relationships with other bacteria for survival, and may therefore be recalcitrant to cultivation in purity.

HIGHLIGHT: Since in-vitro culture is essential for the comprehensive characterisation of bacteria, particularly with regard to virulence and antimicrobial resistance, the cultivation of uncultivated organisms has been a primary focus of several research laboratories. Many targeted and open-ended strategies have been devised and successfully used. Examples include: the targeted detection of specific bacteria in mixed plate cultures using colony hybridisation; growth in simulated natural environments or in co-culture with 'helper' strains; and modified media preparation techniques or development of customised media eg. supplementation of media with potential growth-stimulatory factors such as siderophores.

CONCLUSION: Despite significant advances in recent years in methodologies for the cultivation of previously uncultivated bacteria, a substantial proportion remain to be cultured and efforts to devise high-throughput strategies should be a high priority.}, } @article {pmid28392148, year = {2017}, author = {Yamada, C and Gotoh, A and Sakanaka, M and Hattie, M and Stubbs, KA and Katayama-Ikegami, A and Hirose, J and Kurihara, S and Arakawa, T and Kitaoka, M and Okuda, S and Katayama, T and Fushinobu, S}, title = {Molecular Insight into Evolution of Symbiosis between Breast-Fed Infants and a Member of the Human Gut Microbiome Bifidobacterium longum.}, journal = {Cell chemical biology}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {515-524.e5}, doi = {10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.03.012}, pmid = {28392148}, issn = {2451-9448}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium longum/drug effects/enzymology/*growth & development ; Binding Sites ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis/chemistry/metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Kinetics ; Milk, Human/*metabolism ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Breast-fed infants generally have a bifidobacteria-rich microbiota with recent studies indicating that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) selectively promote bifidobacterial growth. Bifidobacterium bifidum possesses a glycoside hydrolase family 20 lacto-N-biosidase for liberating lacto-N-biose I from lacto-N-tetraose, an abundant HMO unique to human milk, while Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum has a non-classified enzyme (LnbX). Here, we determined the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of LnbX and provide evidence for creation of a novel glycoside hydrolase family, GH136. The structure, in combination with inhibition and mutation studies, provides insight into the molecular mechanism and broader substrate specificity of this enzyme. Moreover, through genetic studies, we show that lnbX is indispensable for B. longum growth on lacto-N-tetraose and is a key genetic factor for persistence in the gut of breast-fed infants. Overall, this study reveals possible evolutionary routes for the emergence of symbiosis between humans and bifidobacterial species in the infant gut.}, } @article {pmid28392110, year = {2017}, author = {Floss, DS and Gomez, SK and Park, HJ and MacLean, AM and Müller, LM and Bhattarai, KK and Lévesque-Tremblay, V and Maldonado-Mendoza, IE and Harrison, MJ}, title = {A Transcriptional Program for Arbuscule Degeneration during AM Symbiosis Is Regulated by MYB1.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {1206-1212}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.003}, pmid = {28392110}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During the endosymbiosis formed between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the root cortical cells are colonized by branched hyphae called arbuscules, which function in nutrient exchange with the plant [1]. Despite their positive function, arbuscules are ephemeral structures, and their development is followed by a degeneration phase, in which the arbuscule and surrounding periarbuscular membrane and matrix gradually disappear from the root cell [2, 3]. Currently, the root cell's role in this process and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are unknown. Here, by using a Medicago truncatula pt4 mutant in which arbuscules degenerate prematurely [4], we identified arbuscule degeneration-associated genes, of which 38% are predicted to encode secreted hydrolases, suggesting a role in disassembly of the arbuscule and interface. Through RNAi and analysis of an insertion mutant, we identified a symbiosis-specific MYB-like transcription factor (MYB1) that suppresses arbuscule degeneration in mtpt4. In myb1, expression of several degeneration-associated genes is reduced. Conversely, in roots constitutively overexpressing MYB1, expression of degeneration-associated genes is increased and subsequent development of symbiosis is impaired. MYB1-regulated gene expression is enhanced by DELLA proteins and is dependent on NSP1 [5], but not NSP2 [6]. Furthermore, MYB1 interacts with DELLA and NSP1. Our data identify a transcriptional program for arbuscule degeneration and reveal that its regulators include MYB1 in association with two transcriptional regulators, NSP1 and DELLA, both of which function in preceding phases of the symbiosis. We propose that the combinatorial use of transcription factors enables the sequential expression of transcriptional programs for arbuscule development and degeneration.}, } @article {pmid28391483, year = {2017}, author = {Pudake, RN and Mehta, CM and Mohanta, TK and Sharma, S and Varma, A and Sharma, AK}, title = {Expression of four phosphate transporter genes from Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in response to mycorrhizal colonization and Pi stress.}, journal = {3 Biotech}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {17}, pmid = {28391483}, issn = {2190-572X}, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a vital nutrient for plant growth and development, and is absorbed in cells with the help of membrane-spanning inorganic phosphate transporter (Pht) protein. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) also helps in transporting P from the soil to plant and Pht proteins play an important role in it. To understand this phenomenon in Finger Mille plant, we have cloned four Pht genes from Finger millet, which shares the homology with Pht1 protein family of cereals. Expression pattern analysis during the AM infection indicated that EcPT4 gene was AM specific, and its expression was higher in roots where AM colonization percentage was high. The expression level of EcPT1-4 gene under the phosphorous (Pi) stress in seedlings was found to be consistent with its role in acquisition of phosphorus. Homology study of the EcPt proteins with Pht proteins of cereals shows close relationship. The findings of the study indicate that Pht1 family genes from finger millet can serve to be an important resource for the better understanding of phosphorus use efficiency.}, } @article {pmid28390506, year = {2017}, author = {Nascimento, MMF and Vicente, VA and Bittencourt, JVM and Gelinski, JML and Prenafeta-Boldú, FX and Romero-Güiza, M and Fornari, G and Gomes, RR and Santos, GD and Gerrits Van Den Ende, AHG and de Azevedo, CDMPS and De Hoog, GS}, title = {Diversity of opportunistic black fungi on babassu coconut shells, a rich source of esters and hydrocarbons.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {121}, number = {5}, pages = {488-500}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2017.01.006}, pmid = {28390506}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Cluster Analysis ; Cocos/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Esters/analysis ; Fungi/*classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; }, abstract = {The present study assessed the diversity of black yeast-like fungi present on babassu coconut shells, a substrate rich in lipids and several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including aromatic hydrocarbons. Using different isolation methods, one-hundred-six isolates were obtained and were identified by ITS sequencing as members of the genera Exophiala, Cladophialophora, Veronaea, and Rhinocladiella. Two novel species were discovered. Eight strains were selected for assessing their ability to grow on toluene and phenyl acetate as the sole carbon and energy source. All strains tested were able to assimilate phenyl acetate, while two out of eight were able to use toluene. VOCs profiling in babassu samples was also investigated by GC-ToF MS, revealing that a complex mixture of VOCs was emitted, which included alkylbenzenes such as toluene. Assimilation of alkylbenzenes by the black yeasts might therefore be the result of evolutionary adaptation to symbiotic interactions with higher plants. The potential relationship between lipid/aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism and pathogenicity is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid28390081, year = {2017}, author = {Klein, SG and Pitt, KA and Nitschke, MR and Goyen, S and Welsh, DT and Suggett, DJ and Carroll, AR}, title = {Symbiodinium mitigate the combined effects of hypoxia and acidification on a noncalcifying cnidarian.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {3690-3703}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13718}, pmid = {28390081}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cnidaria ; *Dinoflagellida ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Hypoxia ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic nutrient inputs enhance microbial respiration within many coastal ecosystems, driving concurrent hypoxia and acidification. During photosynthesis, Symbiodinium spp., the microalgal endosymbionts of cnidarians and other marine phyla, produce O2 and assimilate CO2 and thus potentially mitigate the exposure of the host to these stresses. However, such a role for Symbiodinium remains untested for noncalcifying cnidarians. We therefore contrasted the fitness of symbiotic and aposymbiotic polyps of a model host jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) under reduced O2 (~2.09 mg/L) and pH (~ 7.63) scenarios in a full-factorial experiment. Host fitness was characterized as asexual reproduction and their ability to regulate internal pH and Symbiodinium performance characterized by maximum photochemical efficiency, chla content and cell density. Acidification alone resulted in 58% more asexual reproduction of symbiotic polyps than aposymbiotic polyps (and enhanced Symbiodinium cell density) suggesting Cassiopea sp. fitness was enhanced by CO2 -stimulated Symbiodinium photosynthetic activity. Indeed, greater CO2 drawdown (elevated pH) was observed within host tissues of symbiotic polyps under acidification regardless of O2 conditions. Hypoxia alone produced 22% fewer polyps than ambient conditions regardless of acidification and symbiont status, suggesting Symbiodinium photosynthetic activity did not mitigate its effects. Combined hypoxia and acidification, however, produced similar numbers of symbiotic polyps compared with aposymbiotic kept under ambient conditions, demonstrating that the presence of Symbiodinium was key for mitigating the combined effects of hypoxia and acidification on asexual reproduction. We hypothesize that this mitigation occurred because of reduced photorespiration under elevated CO2 conditions where increased net O2 production ameliorates oxygen debt. We show that Symbiodinium play an important role in facilitating enhanced fitness of Cassiopea sp. polyps, and perhaps also other noncalcifying cnidarian hosts, to the ubiquitous effects of ocean acidification. Importantly we highlight that symbiotic, noncalcifying cnidarians may be particularly advantaged in productive coastal waters that are subject to simultaneous hypoxia and acidification.}, } @article {pmid28390013, year = {2017}, author = {Daou, M and Faulds, CB}, title = {Glyoxal oxidases: their nature and properties.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, pages = {87}, pmid = {28390013}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Alcohol Oxidoreductases/*metabolism ; Aldehydes/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Fungi/*enzymology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Lignin/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Vitis/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {H2O2 has been found to be required for the activity of the main microbial enzymes responsible for lignin oxidative cleavage, peroxidases. Along with other small radicals, it is implicated in the early attack of plant biomass by fungi. Among the few extracellular H2O2-generating enzymes known are the glyoxal oxidases (GLOX). GLOX is a copper-containing enzyme, sharing high similarity at the level of active site structure and chemistry with galactose oxidase. Genes encoding GLOX enzymes are widely distributed among wood-degrading fungi especially white-rot degraders, plant pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. GLOX has also been identified in plants. Although widely distributed, only few examples of characterized GLOX exist. The first characterized fungal GLOX was isolated from Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The GLOX from Utilago maydis has a role in filamentous growth and pathogenicity. More recently, two other glyoxal oxidases from the fungus Pycnoporus cinnabarinus were also characterized. In plants, GLOX from Vitis pseudoreticulata was found to be implicated in grapevine defence mechanisms. Fungal GLOX were found to be activated by peroxidases in vitro suggesting a synergistic and regulatory relationship between these enzymes. The substrates oxidized by GLOX are mainly aldehydes generated during lignin and carbohydrates degradation. The reactions catalysed by this enzyme such as the oxidation of toxic molecules and the production of valuable compounds (organic acids) makes GLOX a promising target for biotechnological applications. This aspect on GLOX remains new and needs to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid28389557, year = {2017}, author = {Pellock, SJ and Redinbo, MR}, title = {Glucuronides in the gut: Sugar-driven symbioses between microbe and host.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {292}, number = {21}, pages = {8569-8576}, pmid = {28389557}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {P30 ES010126/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA098468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA207416/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008570/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Glucuronides/*metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Xenobiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The intestinal milieu is astonishingly complex and home to a constantly changing mixture of small and large molecules, along with an abundance of bacteria, viral particles, and eukaryotic cells. Such complexity makes it difficult to develop testable molecular hypotheses regarding host-microbe interactions. Fortunately, mammals and their associated gastrointestinal (GI) microbes contain complementary systems that are ideally suited for mechanistic studies. Mammalian systems inactivate endobiotic and xenobiotic compounds by linking them to a glucuronic acid sugar for GI excretion. In the GI tract, the microbiota express β-glucuronidase enzymes that remove the glucuronic acid as a carbon source, effectively reversing the actions of mammalian inactivation. Thus, by probing the actions of microbial β-glucuronidases, and by understanding which substrate glucuronides they process, molecular insights into mammalian-microbial symbioses may be revealed amid the complexity of the intestinal tract. Here, we focus on glucuronides in the gut and the microbial proteins that process them.}, } @article {pmid28389546, year = {2017}, author = {Cao, M and Patel, T and Rickman, T and Goodrich-Blair, H and Hussa, EA}, title = {High Levels of the Xenorhabdus nematophila Transcription Factor Lrp Promote Mutualism with the Steinernema carpocapsae Nematode Host.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {28389546}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {P20 GM103476/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Rhabditida/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/growth & development/pathogenicity/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus nematophila bacteria are mutualistic symbionts of Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes and pathogens of insects. The X. nematophila global regulator Lrp controls the expression of many genes involved in both mutualism and pathogenic activities, suggesting a role in the transition between the two host organisms. We previously reported that natural populations of X. nematophila exhibit various levels of Lrp expression and that cells expressing relatively low levels of Lrp are optimized for virulence in the insect Manduca sexta The adaptive advantage of the high-Lrp-expressing state was not established. Here we used strains engineered to express constitutively high or low levels of Lrp to test the model in which high-Lrp-expressing cells are adapted for mutualistic activities with the nematode host. We demonstrate that high-Lrp cells form more robust biofilms in laboratory media than do low-Lrp cells, which may reflect adherence to host tissues. Also, our data showed that nematodes cultivated with high-Lrp strains are more frequently colonized than are those associated with low-Lrp strains. Taken together, these data support the idea that high-Lrp cells have an advantage in tissue adherence and colonization initiation. Furthermore, our data show that high-Lrp-expressing strains better support nematode reproduction than do their low-Lrp counterparts under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Our data indicate that heterogeneity of Lrp expression in X. nematophila populations provides diverse cell populations adapted to both pathogenic (low-Lrp) and mutualistic (high-Lrp) states.IMPORTANCE Host-associated bacteria experience fluctuating conditions during both residence within an individual host and transmission between hosts. For bacteria that engage in evolutionarily stable, long-term relationships with particular hosts, these fluctuations provide selective pressure for the emergence of adaptive regulatory mechanisms. Here we present evidence that the bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila uses various levels of the transcription factor Lrp to optimize its association with its two animal hosts, nematodes and insects, with which it behaves as a mutualist and a pathogen, respectively. Building on our previous finding that relatively low cellular levels of Lrp are optimal for pathogenesis, we demonstrate that, conversely, high levels of Lrp promote mutualistic activities with the Steinernema carpocapsae nematode host. These data suggest that X. nematophila has evolved to utilize phenotypic variation between high- and low-Lrp-expression states to optimize its alternating behaviors as a mutualist and a pathogen.}, } @article {pmid28389535, year = {2017}, author = {Duar, RM and Frese, SA and Lin, XB and Fernando, SC and Burkey, TE and Tasseva, G and Peterson, DA and Blom, J and Wenzel, CQ and Szymanski, CM and Walter, J}, title = {Experimental Evaluation of Host Adaptation of Lactobacillus reuteri to Different Vertebrate Species.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {28389535}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Chickens/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Humans/microbiology ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Mice/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Swine/microbiology ; Vertebrates/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The species Lactobacillus reuteri has diversified into host-specific lineages, implying a long-term association with different vertebrates. Strains from rodent lineages show specific adaptations to mice, but the processes underlying the evolution of L. reuteri in other hosts remain unknown. We administered three standardized inocula composed of strains from different host-confined lineages to mice, pigs, chickens, and humans. The ecological performance of each strain in the gastrointestinal tract of each host was determined by typing random colonies recovered from fecal samples collected over five consecutive days postadministration. Results revealed that rodent strains were predominant in mice, confirming previous findings of host adaptation. In chickens, poultry strains of the lineage VI (poultry VI) and human isolates from the same lineage (human VI) were recovered at the highest and second highest rates, respectively. Interestingly, human VI strains were virtually undetected in human feces. These findings, together with ancestral state reconstructions, indicate poultry VI and human VI strains share an evolutionary history with chickens. Genomic analysis revealed that poultry VI strains possess a large and variable accessory genome, whereas human VI strains display low genetic diversity and possess genes encoding antibiotic resistance and capsular polysaccharide synthesis, which might have allowed temporal colonization of humans. Experiments in pigs and humans did not provide evidence of host adaptation of L. reuteri to these hosts. Overall, our findings demonstrate host adaptation of L. reuteri to rodents and chickens, supporting a joint evolution of this bacterial species with several vertebrate hosts, although questions remain about its natural history in humans and pigs.IMPORTANCE Gut microbes are often hypothesized to have coevolved with their vertebrate hosts. However, the evidence is sparse and the evolutionary mechanisms have not been identified. We developed and applied an experimental approach to determine host adaptation of L. reuteri to different hosts. Our findings confirmed adaptation to rodents and provided evidence of adaptation to poultry, suggesting that L. reuteri evolved via natural selection in different hosts. By complementing phylogenetic analyses with experimental evidence, this study provides novel information about the mechanisms driving host-microbe coevolution with vertebrates and serve as a basis to inform the application of L. reuteri as a probiotic for different host species.}, } @article {pmid28387868, year = {2017}, author = {Calabrese, S and Kohler, A and Niehl, A and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Boller, T and Courty, PE}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of the Populus trichocarpa-Rhizophagus irregularis Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Regulation of Plant and Fungal Transportomes under Nitrogen Starvation.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {6}, pages = {1003-1017}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcx044}, pmid = {28387868}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Populus/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nutrient transfer is a key feature of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Valuable mineral nutrients are transferred from the AM fungus to the plant, increasing its fitness and productivity, and, in exchange, the AM fungus receives carbohydrates as an energy source from the plant. Here, we analyzed the transcriptome of the Populus trichocarpa-Rhizophagus irregularis symbiosis using RNA-sequencing of non-mycorrhizal or mycorrhizal fine roots, with a focus on the effect of nitrogen (N) starvation. In R. irregularis, we identified 1,015 differentially expressed genes, whereby N starvation led to a general induction of gene expression. Genes of the functional classes of cell growth, membrane biogenesis and cell structural components were highly abundant. Interestingly, N starvation also led to a general induction of fungal transporters, indicating increased nutrient demand upon N starvation. In non-mycorrhizal P. trichocarpa roots, 1,341 genes were differentially expressed under N starvation. Among the 953 down-regulated genes in N starvation, most were involved in metabolic processes including amino acids, carbohydrate and inorganic ion transport, while the 342 up-regulated genes included many defense-related genes. Mycorrhization led to the up-regulation of 549 genes mainly involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis and transport; only 24 genes were down-regulated. Mycorrhization specifically induced expression of three ammonium transporters and one phosphate transporter, independently of the N conditions, corroborating the hypothesis that these transporters are important for symbiotic nutrient exchange. In conclusion, our data establish a framework of gene expression in the two symbiotic partners under high-N and low-N conditions.}, } @article {pmid28387347, year = {2017}, author = {Misumi, M and Sonoike, K}, title = {Characterization of the influence of chlororespiration on the regulation of photosynthesis in the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {46100}, pmid = {28387347}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cell Respiration ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*metabolism ; Cyanophora/growth & development/*physiology ; Darkness ; Kinetics ; *Photosynthesis ; Phycobilisomes/metabolism ; Phycocyanin/metabolism ; Plastoquinone/metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Glaucophytes are primary symbiotic algae with unique plastids called cyanelles, whose structure is most similar to ancestral cyanobacteria among plastids in photosynthetic organisms. Here we compare the regulation of photosynthesis in glaucophyte with that in cyanobacteria in the aim of elucidating the changes caused by the symbiosis in the interaction between photosynthetic electron transfer and other metabolic pathways. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements of the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa NIES-547 indicated that plastoquinone (PQ) pool in photosynthetic electron transfer was reduced in the dark by chlororespiration. The levels of nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence was high in the dark but decreased under low light, and increased again under high light. This type of concave light dependence was quite similar to that observed in cyanobacteria. Moreover, the addition of ionophore hardly affected nonphotochemical quenching, suggesting state transition as a main component of the regulatory system in C. paradoxa. These results suggest that cyanelles of C. paradoxa retain many of the characteristics observed in their ancestral cyanobacteria. From the viewpoint of metabolic interactions, C. paradoxa is the primary symbiotic algae most similar to cyanobacteria than other lineages of photosynthetic organisms.}, } @article {pmid28387250, year = {2017}, author = {Simonsen, AK and Dinnage, R and Barrett, LG and Prober, SM and Thrall, PH}, title = {Symbiosis limits establishment of legumes outside their native range at a global scale.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {14790}, pmid = {28387250}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Fabaceae/classification/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Humans ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbiosis is integral to plant growth and reproduction, but its contribution to global patterns of plant distribution is unknown. Legumes (Fabaceae) are a diverse and widely distributed plant family largely dependent on symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, which are acquired from soil after germination. This dependency is predicted to limit establishment in new geographic areas, owing to a disruption of compatible host-symbiont associations. Here we compare non-native establishment patterns of symbiotic and non-symbiotic legumes across over 3,500 species, covering multiple independent gains and losses of rhizobial symbiosis. We find that symbiotic legume species have spread to fewer non-native regions compared to non-symbiotic legumes, providing strong support for the hypothesis that lack of suitable symbionts or environmental conditions required for effective nitrogen-fixation are driving these global introduction patterns. These results highlight the importance of mutualisms in predicting non-native species establishment and the potential impacts of microbial biogeography on global plant distributions.}, } @article {pmid28386964, year = {2017}, author = {Liao, W and Menge, DNL and Lichstein, JW and Ángeles-Pérez, G}, title = {Global climate change will increase the abundance of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing trees in much of North America.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {4777-4787}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13716}, pmid = {28386964}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Climate Change ; *Forests ; Mexico ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Population Dynamics ; Rain ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Trees/*physiology ; United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing trees can drive N and carbon cycling and thus are critical components of future climate projections. Despite detailed understanding of how climate influences N-fixation enzyme activity and physiology, comparatively little is known about how climate influences N-fixing tree abundance. Here, we used forest inventory data from the USA and Mexico (>125,000 plots) along with climate data to address two questions: (1) How does the abundance distribution of N-fixing trees (rhizobial, actinorhizal, and both types together) vary with mean annual temperature (MAT) and precipitation (MAP)? (2) How will changing climate shift the abundance distribution of N-fixing trees? We found that rhizobial N-fixing trees were nearly absent below 15°C MAT, but above 15°C MAT, they increased in abundance as temperature rose. We found no evidence for a hump-shaped response to temperature throughout the range of our data. Rhizobial trees were more abundant in dry than in wet ecosystems. By contrast, actinorhizal trees peaked in abundance at 5-10°C MAT and were least abundant in areas with intermediate precipitation. Next, we used a climate-envelope approach to project how N-fixing tree relative abundance might change in the future. The climate-envelope projection showed that rhizobial N-fixing trees will likely become more abundant in many areas by 2080, particularly in the southern USA and western Mexico, due primarily to rising temperatures. Projections for actinorhizal N-fixing trees were more nuanced due to their nonmonotonic dependence on temperature and precipitation. Overall, the dominant trend is that warming will increase N-fixing tree abundance in much of the USA and Mexico, with large increases up to 40° North latitude. The quantitative link we provide between climate and N-fixing tree abundance can help improve the representation of symbiotic N fixation in Earth System Models.}, } @article {pmid28386455, year = {2017}, author = {Kwong, WK and Mancenido, AL and Moran, NA}, title = {Immune system stimulation by the native gut microbiota of honey bees.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {170003}, pmid = {28386455}, issn = {2054-5703}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Gut microbial communities can greatly affect host health by modulating the host's immune system. For many important insects, however, the relationship between the gut microbiota and immune function remains poorly understood. Here, we test whether the gut microbial symbionts of the honey bee can induce expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a crucial component of insect innate immunity. We find that bees up-regulate gene expression of the AMPs apidaecin and hymenoptaecin in gut tissue when the microbiota is present. Using targeted proteomics, we detected apidaecin in both the gut lumen and the haemolymph; higher apidaecin concentrations were found in bees harbouring the normal gut microbiota than in bees lacking gut microbiota. In in vitro assays, cultured strains of the microbiota showed variable susceptibility to honey bee AMPs, although many seem to possess elevated resistance compared to Escherichia coli. In some trials, colonization by normal gut symbionts resulted in improved survivorship following injection with E. coli. Our results show that the native, non-pathogenic gut flora induces immune responses in the bee host. Such responses might be a host mechanism to regulate the microbiota, and could potentially benefit host health by priming the immune system against future pathogenic infections.}, } @article {pmid28386187, year = {2017}, author = {Lin, N and Chen, H and Jing, S and Liu, F and Liang, X}, title = {Biomimicry of symbiotic multi-species coevolution for discrete and continuous optimization in RFID networks.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {610-621}, pmid = {28386187}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {In recent years, symbiosis as a rich source of potential engineering applications and computational model has attracted more and more attentions in the adaptive complex systems and evolution computing domains. Inspired by different symbiotic coevolution forms in nature, this paper proposed a series of multi-swarm particle swarm optimizers called PS[2]Os, which extend the single population particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to interacting multi-swarms model by constructing hierarchical interaction topologies and enhanced dynamical update equations. According to different symbiotic interrelationships, four versions of PS[2]O are initiated to mimic mutualism, commensalism, predation, and competition mechanism, respectively. In the experiments, with five benchmark problems, the proposed algorithms are proved to have considerable potential for solving complex optimization problems. The coevolutionary dynamics of symbiotic species in each PS[2]O version are also studied respectively to demonstrate the heterogeneity of different symbiotic interrelationships that effect on the algorithm's performance. Then PS[2]O is used for solving the radio frequency identification (RFID) network planning (RNP) problem with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the reference algorithms for planning RFID networks, in terms of optimization accuracy and computation robustness.}, } @article {pmid28386109, year = {2017}, author = {Toro, N and Villadas, PJ and Molina-Sánchez, MD and Navarro-Gómez, P and Vinardell, JM and Cuesta-Berrio, L and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA}, title = {The underlying process of early ecological and genetic differentiation in a facultative mutualistic Sinorhizobium meliloti population.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {675}, pmid = {28386109}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Drift ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The question of how genotypic and ecological units arise and spread in natural microbial populations remains controversial in the field of evolutionary biology. Here, we investigated the early stages of ecological and genetic differentiation in a highly clonal sympatric Sinorhizobium meliloti population. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that a large DNA region of the symbiotic plasmid pSymB was replaced in some isolates with a similar synteny block carrying densely clustered SNPs and displaying gene acquisition and loss. Two different versions of this genomic island of differentiation (GID) generated by multiple genetic exchanges over time appear to have arisen recently, through recombination in a particular clade within this population. In addition, these isolates display resistance to phages from the same geographic region, probably due to the modification of surface components by the acquired genes. Our results suggest that an underlying process of early ecological and genetic differentiation in S. meliloti is primarily triggered by acquisition of genes that confer resistance to soil phages within particular large genomic DNA regions prone to recombination.}, } @article {pmid28384209, year = {2017}, author = {Oliveira, LC and Saraiva, TD and Silva, WM and Pereira, UP and Campos, BC and Benevides, LJ and Rocha, FS and Figueiredo, HC and Azevedo, V and Soares, SC}, title = {Analyses of the probiotic property and stress resistance-related genes of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NCDO 2118 through comparative genomics and in vitro assays.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0175116}, pmid = {28384209}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bile Acids and Salts/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Genes, Bacterial ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lactococcus lactis/drug effects/*genetics ; *Probiotics ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NCDO 2118 was recently reported to alleviate colitis symptoms via its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, which are exerted by exported proteins that are not produced by L. lactis subsp. lactis IL1403. Here, we used in vitro and in silico approaches to characterize the genomic structure, the safety aspects, and the immunomodulatory activity of this strain. Through comparative genomics, we identified genomic islands, phage regions, bile salt and acid stress resistance genes, bacteriocins, adhesion-related and antibiotic resistance genes, and genes encoding proteins that are putatively secreted, expressed in vitro and absent from IL1403. The high degree of similarity between all Lactococcus suggests that the Symbiotic Islands commonly shared by both NCDO 2118 and KF147 may be responsible for their close relationship and their adaptation to plants. The predicted bacteriocins may play an important role against the invasion of competing strains. The genes related to the acid and bile salt stresses may play important roles in gastrointestinal tract survival, whereas the adhesion proteins are important for persistence in the gut, culminating in the competitive exclusion of other bacteria. Finally, the five secreted and expressed proteins may be important targets for studies of new anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory proteins. Altogether, the analyses performed here highlight the potential use of this strain as a target for the future development of probiotic foods.}, } @article {pmid28382741, year = {2017}, author = {Smith, GR and Finlay, RD and Stenlid, J and Vasaitis, R and Menkis, A}, title = {Growing evidence for facultative biotrophy in saprotrophic fungi: data from microcosm tests with 201 species of wood-decay basidiomycetes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {215}, number = {2}, pages = {747-755}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14551}, pmid = {28382741}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Picea/*microbiology ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Wood/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses have evolved a minimum of 78 times independently from saprotrophic lineages, indicating the potential for functional overlap between ECM and saprotrophic fungi. ECM fungi have the capacity to decompose organic matter, and although there is increasing evidence that some saprotrophic fungi exhibit the capacity to enter into facultative biotrophic relationships with plant roots without causing disease symptoms, this subject is still not well studied. In order to determine the extent of biotrophic capacity in saprotrophic wood-decay fungi and which systems may be useful models, we investigated the colonization of conifer seedling roots in vitro using an array of 201 basidiomycete wood-decay fungi. Microtome sectioning, differential staining and fluorescence microscopy were used to visualize patterns of root colonization in microcosm systems containing Picea abies or Pinus sylvestris seedlings and each saprotrophic fungus. Thirty-four (16.9%) of the tested fungal species colonized the roots of at least one tree species. Two fungal species showed formation of a mantle and one showed Hartig net-like structures. These features suggest the possibility of an active functional symbiosis between fungus and plant. The data indicate that the capacity for facultative biotrophic relationships in free-living saprotrophic basidiomycetes may be greater than previously supposed.}, } @article {pmid28382528, year = {2017}, author = {Sato, N and Takano, H}, title = {Diverse origins of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of chloroplast peptidoglycan.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {130}, number = {4}, pages = {635-645}, pmid = {28382528}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Cercozoa/*enzymology/genetics ; Chlorophyta/*enzymology/genetics ; Chloroplasts/enzymology ; Cyanophora/*enzymology/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Peptidoglycan/*biosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*enzymology/genetics ; Plastids/enzymology ; }, abstract = {Chloroplasts are believed to be descendants of ancestral cyanobacteria that had peptidoglycan layer between the outer and the inner membranes. Historically, the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa and the rhizopod Paulinella chromatophora were believed to harbor symbiotic cyanobacteria having peptidoglycan, which were conventionally named "cyanelles". In addition, the complete set of genes involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycan has been found in the moss Physcomitrella patens and some plants and algae. The presence of peptidoglycan-like structures was demonstrated by a new metabolic labeling technique in P. patens. However, many green algae and all known red algae lack peptidoglycan-related genes. That is the reason why we questioned the origin of peptidoglycan-synthesizing enzymes in the chloroplasts of the green algae and plants. We performed phylogenetic analysis of ten enzymes involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycan exploiting the Gclust homolog clusters and additional genomic data. As expected, all the identified genes encoded in the chromatophore genome of P. chromatophora were closely related to cyanobacterial homologs. In the green algae and plants, only two genes, murA and mraY, were found to be closely related to cyanobacterial homologs. The origins of all other genes were diverse. Unfortunately, the origins of C. paradoxa genes were not clearly determined because of incompleteness of published genomic data. We discuss on the probable evolutionary scenarios to explain the mostly non-cyanobacterial origins of the biosynthetic enzymes of chloroplast peptidoglycan: A plausible one includes extensive multiple horizontal gene transfers during the early evolution of Viridiplantae.}, } @article {pmid28382474, year = {2017}, author = {Hernández, AG and de Moura, GD and Binati, RL and Nascimento, FXI and Londoño, DM and Mamede, ACP and da Silva, EP and de Armas, RD and Giachini, AJ and Rossi, MJ and Soares, CRFS}, title = {Selection and characterization of coal mine autochthonous rhizobia for the inoculation of herbaceous legumes.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {7}, pages = {991-1001}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1373-2}, pmid = {28382474}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/metabolism ; Coal ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vicia sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Coal open pit mining in the South of Santa Catarina state (Brazil) was inappropriately developed, affecting approximately 6.700 ha. Re-vegetation is an alternative for the recovery of these areas. Furthermore, the use of herbaceous legumes inoculated with nitrogen fixing bacteria is motivated due to the difficulty implementing a vegetation cover in these areas, mainly due to low nutrient availability. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate, among 16 autochthonous rhizobia isolated from the coal mining areas, those with the greatest potential to increase growth of the herbaceous legumes Vicia sativa and Calopogonium mucunoides. Tests were conducted in greenhouse containing 17 inoculation treatments (16 autochthonous rhizobia + Brazilian recommended strain for each plant species), plus two treatments without inoculation (with and without mineral nitrogen). After 60 days, nodulation, growth, N uptake, and symbiotic efficiency were evaluated. Isolates characterization was assessed by the production of indole acetic acid, ACC deaminase, siderophores, and inorganic phosphate solubilization. The classification of the isolates was performed by 16 S rDNA gene sequencing. Only isolates UFSC-M4 and UFSC-M8 were able to nodulate C. mucunoides. Among rhizobia capable of nodulating V. sativa, only UFSC-M8 was considered efficient. It was found the presence of more than one growth-promoting attributes in the same organism, and isolate UFSC-M8 presented all of them. Isolates were classified as belonging to Rhizobium, Burkholderia and Curtobacterium. The results suggest the inoculation of Vicia sativa with strain UFSC-M8, classified as Rhizobium sp., as a promising alternative for the revegetation of coal mining degraded areas.}, } @article {pmid28382473, year = {2017}, author = {Kazimierczak, W and Skrzypek, H and Sajnaga, E and Skowronek, M and Waśko, A and Kreft, A}, title = {Strains of Photorhabdus spp. associated with polish Heterorhabditis isolates: their molecular and phenotypic characterization and symbiont exchange.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {7}, pages = {979-989}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1368-z}, pmid = {28382473}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phenotype ; *Photorhabdus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Poland ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The relationships between six bacterial symbionts of the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Heterorhabditis megidis from Poland to species and subspecies of the genus Photorhabdus were evaluated. This study was based on phylogenetic analysis of sequence data of five genes: 16S rRNA, gyrB, recA, gltX, and dnaN. The bacteria were also characterized phenotypically by biochemical and physiological tests. Our results have revealed that the Photorhabdus strains isolated from H. megidis belong to P. temperata, subsp. temperata and subsp. cinerea. Isolates from H. bacteriophora represent P. luminescens subs. kayaii and P. temperata subs. cinerea. This study for the first time provides evidence for H. bacteriophora and P. temperata subsp. cinerea symbiotic association. In addition, we tested whether the microsymbionts of the Polish H. bacteriophora and H. megidis isolates support the development of non-native nematode host population and colonization of their infective juveniles. It has been shown that the studied Photorhabdus strains can readily swap their nematode host, both at intra- and interspecies level. It supports the hypothesis of different symbiotic associations in the Heterorhabditis-Photorhabdus lineage.}, } @article {pmid28382021, year = {2017}, author = {Shaffer, JP and U'Ren, JM and Gallery, RE and Baltrus, DA and Arnold, AE}, title = {An Endohyphal Bacterium (Chitinophaga, Bacteroidetes) Alters Carbon Source Use by Fusarium keratoplasticum (F. solani Species Complex, Nectriaceae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {350}, pmid = {28382021}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts occur in diverse fungi, including members of many lineages of Ascomycota that inhabit living plants. These endosymbiotic bacteria (endohyphal bacteria, EHB) often can be removed from living fungi by antibiotic treatment, providing an opportunity to assess their effects on functional traits of their fungal hosts. We examined the effects of an endohyphal bacterium (Chitinophaga sp., Bacteroidetes) on substrate use by its host, a seed-associated strain of the fungus Fusarium keratoplasticum, by comparing growth between naturally infected and cured fungal strains across 95 carbon sources with a Biolog® phenotypic microarray. Across the majority of substrates (62%), the strain harboring the bacterium significantly outperformed the cured strain as measured by respiration and hyphal density. These substrates included many that are important for plant- and seed-fungus interactions, such as D-trehalose, myo-inositol, and sucrose, highlighting the potential influence of EHB on the breadth and efficiency of substrate use by an important Fusarium species. Cases in which the cured strain outperformed the strain harboring the bacterium were observed in only 5% of substrates. We propose that additive or synergistic substrate use by the fungus-bacterium pair enhances fungal growth in this association. More generally, alteration of the breadth or efficiency of substrate use by dispensable EHB may change fungal niches in short timeframes, potentially shaping fungal ecology and the outcomes of fungal-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid28381618, year = {2017}, author = {Lelièvre, Y and Legendre, P and Matabos, M and Mihály, S and Lee, RW and Sarradin, PM and Arango, CP and Sarrazin, J}, title = {Astronomical and atmospheric impacts on deep-sea hydrothermal vent invertebrates.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1852}, pages = {}, pmid = {28381618}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Atmosphere ; Ecosystem ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; *Invertebrates ; Seawater ; Tidal Waves ; }, abstract = {Ocean tides and winter surface storms are among the main factors driving the dynamics and spatial structure of marine coastal species, but the understanding of their impact on deep-sea and hydrothermal vent communities is still limited. Multidisciplinary deep-sea observatories offer an essential tool to study behavioural rhythms and interactions between hydrothermal community dynamics and environmental fluctuations. Here, we investigated whether species associated with a Ridgeia piscesae tubeworm vent assemblage respond to local ocean dynamics. By tracking variations in vent macrofaunal abundance at different temporal scales, we provide the first evidence that tides and winter surface storms influence the distribution patterns of mobile and non-symbiotic hydrothermal species (i.e. pycnogonids Sericosura sp. and Polynoidae polychaetes) at more than 2 km depth. Local ocean dynamics affected the mixing between hydrothermal fluid inputs and surrounding seawater, modifying the environmental conditions in vent habitats. We suggest that hydrothermal species respond to these habitat modifications by adjusting their behaviour to ensure optimal living conditions. This behaviour may reflect a specific adaptation of vent species to their highly variable habitat.}, } @article {pmid28381497, year = {2017}, author = {Cook, D and Donzelli, BGG and Creamer, R and Baucom, DL and Gardner, DR and Pan, J and Moore, N and Krasnoff, SB and Jaromczyk, JW and Schardl, CL}, title = {Swainsonine Biosynthesis Genes in Diverse Symbiotic and Pathogenic Fungi.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1791-1797}, pmid = {28381497}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Fungi/*genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Multigene Family ; Swainsonine/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Swainsonine-a cytotoxic fungal alkaloid and a potential cancer therapy drug-is produced by the insect pathogen and plant symbiont Metarhizium robertsii, the clover pathogen Slafractonia leguminicola, locoweed symbionts belonging to Alternaria sect. Undifilum, and a recently discovered morning glory symbiont belonging to order Chaetothyriales. Genome sequence analyses revealed that these fungi share orthologous gene clusters, designated "SWN," which included a multifunctional swnK gene comprising predicted adenylylation and acyltransferase domains with their associated thiolation domains, a β-ketoacyl synthase domain, and two reductase domains. The role of swnK was demonstrated by inactivating it in M. robertsii through homologous gene replacement to give a ∆swnK mutant that produced no detectable swainsonine, then complementing the mutant with the wild-type gene to restore swainsonine biosynthesis. Other SWN cluster genes were predicted to encode two putative hydroxylases and two reductases, as expected to complete biosynthesis of swainsonine from the predicted SwnK product. SWN gene clusters were identified in six out of seven sequenced genomes of Metarhzium species, and in all 15 sequenced genomes of Arthrodermataceae, a family of fungi that cause athlete's foot and ringworm diseases in humans and other mammals. Representative isolates of all of these species were cultured, and all Metarhizium spp. with SWN clusters, as well as all but one of the Arthrodermataceae, produced swainsonine. These results suggest a new biosynthetic hypothesis for this alkaloid, extending the known taxonomic breadth of swainsonine producers to at least four orders of Ascomycota, and suggest that swainsonine has roles in mutualistic symbioses and diseases of plants and animals.}, } @article {pmid28381207, year = {2017}, author = {Ramalho, MO and Bueno, OC and Moreau, CS}, title = {Microbial composition of spiny ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Polyrhachis) across their geographic range.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {96}, pmid = {28381207}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/genetics/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships between insects and bacteria are found across almost all insect orders, including Hymenoptera. However there are still many remaining questions about these associations including what factors drive host-associated bacterial composition. To better understand the evolutionary significance of this association in nature, further studies addressing a diversity of hosts across locations and evolutionary history are necessary. Ants of the genus Polyrhachis (spiny ants) are distributed across the Old World and exhibit generalist diets and habits. Using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools, this study explores the microbial community of >80 species of Polyrhachis distributed across the Old World and compares the microbiota of samples and related hosts across different biogeographic locations and in the context of their phylogenetic history.

RESULTS: The predominant bacteria across samples were Enterobacteriaceae (Blochmannia - with likely many new strains), followed by Wolbachia (with multiple strains), Lactobacillus, Thiotrichaceae, Acinetobacter, Nocardia, Sodalis, and others. We recovered some exclusive strains of Enterobacteriaceae as specific to some subgenera of Polyrhachis, corroborating the idea of coevolution between host and bacteria for this bacterial group. Our correlation results (partial mantel and mantel tests) found that host phylogeny can influence the overall bacterial community, but that geographic location had no effect.

CONCLUSIONS: Our work is revealing important aspects of the biology of hosts in structuring the diversity and abundance of these host-associated bacterial communities including the role of host phylogeny and shared evolutionary history.}, } @article {pmid28380681, year = {2017}, author = {Bravo, A and Brands, M and Wewer, V and Dörmann, P and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza-specific enzymes FatM and RAM2 fine-tune lipid biosynthesis to promote development of arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {4}, pages = {1631-1645}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14533}, pmid = {28380681}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Enzymes/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lipids/*biosynthesis ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Monoglycerides/metabolism ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Thiolester Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS), considerable amounts of lipids are generated, modified and moved within the cell to accommodate the fungus in the root, and it has also been suggested that lipids are delivered to the fungus. To determine the mechanisms by which root cells redirect lipid biosynthesis during AMS we analyzed the roles of two lipid biosynthetic enzymes (FatM and RAM2) and an ABC transporter (STR) that are required for symbiosis and conserved uniquely in plants that engage in AMS. Complementation analyses indicated that the biochemical function of FatM overlaps with that of other Fat thioesterases, in particular FatB. The essential role of FatM in AMS was a consequence of timing and magnitude of its expression. Lipid profiles of fatm and ram2 suggested that FatM increases the outflow of 16:0 fatty acids from the plastid, for subsequent use by RAM2 to produce 16:0 β-monoacylglycerol. Thus, during AMS, high-level, specific expression of key lipid biosynthetic enzymes located in the plastid and the endoplasmic reticulum enables the root cell to fine-tune lipid biosynthesis to increase the production of β-monoacylglycerols. We propose a model in which β-monoacylglycerols, or a derivative thereof, are exported out of the root cell across the periarbuscular membrane for ultimate use by the fungus.}, } @article {pmid28378393, year = {2018}, author = {Martinez, AJ and Doremus, MR and Kraft, LJ and Kim, KL and Oliver, KM}, title = {Multi-modal defences in aphids offer redundant protection and increased costs likely impeding a protective mutualism.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {464-477}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12675}, pmid = {28378393}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics/immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Fertility ; Genes, Insect/*genetics ; Genotype ; Host Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Wasps/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, maintains extreme variation in resistance to its most common parasitoid wasp enemy, Aphidius ervi, which is sourced from two known mechanisms: protective bacterial symbionts, most commonly Hamiltonella defensa, or endogenously encoded defences. We have recently found that individual aphids may employ each defence individually, occasionally both defences together, or neither. In field populations, Hamiltonella-infected aphids are found at low to moderate frequencies and while less is known about the frequency of resistant genotypes, they show up less often than susceptible genotypes in field collections. To better understand these patterns, we sought to compare the strengths and costs of both types of defence, individually and together, in order to elucidate the selective pressures that maintain multi-modal defence mechanisms or that may favour one over the other. We experimentally infected five aphid genotypes (two lowly and three highly resistant), each with two symbiont strains, Hamiltonella-APSE8 (moderate protection) and Hamiltonella-APSE3 (high protection). This resulted in three sublines per genotype: uninfected, +APSE8 and +APSE3. Each of the 15 total sublines was first subjected to a parasitism assay to determine its resistance phenotype and in a second experiment, a subset was chosen to compare fitness (fecundity and survivorship) in the presence and absence of parasitism. In susceptible aphid genotypes, parasitized sublines infected with Hamiltonella generally showed increased protection with direct fitness benefits, but clear infection costs to fitness in the absence of parasitism. In resistant genotypes, Hamiltonella infection rarely conferred additional protection, often further reduced fecundity and survivorship when enemy challenged, and resulted in constitutive fitness costs in the absence of parasitism. We also identified strong aphid genotype × symbiont-strain interactions, such that the best defensive strategy against parasitoids varied for each aphid genotype; one performed best with no protective symbionts, the others with particular strains of Hamiltonella. This surprising variability in outcomes helps explain why Hamiltonella infection frequencies are often intermediate and do not strongly track parasitism frequencies in field populations. We also find that variation in endogenous traits, such as resistance, among host genotypes may offer redundancy and generally limit the invasion potential of mutualistic microbes in insects.}, } @article {pmid28377780, year = {2017}, author = {Shinde, S and Cumming, JR and Collart, FR and Noirot, PH and Larsen, PE}, title = {Pseudomonas fluorescens Transportome Is Linked to Strain-Specific Plant Growth Promotion in Aspen Seedlings under Nutrient Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {348}, pmid = {28377780}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Diverse communities of bacteria colonize plant roots and the rhizosphere. Many of these rhizobacteria are symbionts and provide plant growth promotion (PGP) services, protecting the plant from biotic and abiotic stresses and increasing plant productivity by providing access to nutrients that would otherwise be unavailable to roots. In return, these symbiotic bacteria receive photosynthetically-derived carbon (C), in the form of sugars and organic acids, from plant root exudates. PGP activities have been characterized for a variety of forest tree species and are important in C cycling and sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. The molecular mechanisms of these PGP activities, however, are less well-known. In a previous analysis of Pseudomonas genomes, we found that the bacterial transportome, the aggregate activity of a bacteria's transmembrane transporters, was most predictive for the ecological niche of Pseudomonads in the rhizosphere. Here, we used Populus tremuloides Michx. (trembling aspen) seedlings inoculated with one of three Pseudomonas fluorescens strains (Pf0-1, SBW25, and WH6) and one Pseudomonas protegens (Pf-5) as a laboratory model to further investigate the relationships between the predicted transportomic capacity of a bacterial strain and its observed PGP effects in laboratory cultures. Conditions of low nitrogen (N) or low phosphorus (P) availability and the corresponding replete media conditions were investigated. We measured phenotypic and biochemical parameters of P. tremuloides seedlings and correlated P. fluorescens strain-specific transportomic capacities with P. tremuloides seedling phenotype to predict the strain and nutrient environment-specific transporter functions that lead to experimentally observed, strain, and media-specific PGP activities and the capacity to protect plants against nutrient stress. These predicted transportomic functions fall in three groups: (i) transport of compounds that modulate aspen seedling root architecture, (ii) transport of compounds that help to mobilize nutrients for aspen roots, and (iii) transporters that enable bacterial acquisition of C sources from seedling root exudates. These predictions point to specific molecular mechanisms of PGP activities that can be directly tested through future, hypothesis-driven biological experiments.}, } @article {pmid28377525, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, F and Krasity, BC and Peyer, SM and Koehler, S and Ruby, EG and Zhang, X and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Bactericidal Permeability-Increasing Proteins Shape Host-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {28377525}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008692/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*growth & development/*immunology ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism ; Blood Proteins/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*immunology/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We characterized bactericidal permeability-increasing proteins (BPIs) of the squid Euprymna scolopes, EsBPI2 and EsBPI4. They have molecular characteristics typical of other animal BPIs, are closely related to one another, and nest phylogenetically among invertebrate BPIs. Purified EsBPIs had antimicrobial activity against the squid's symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, which colonizes light organ crypt epithelia. Activity of both proteins was abrogated by heat treatment and coincubation with specific antibodies. Pretreatment under acidic conditions similar to those during symbiosis initiation rendered V. fischeri more resistant to the antimicrobial activity of the proteins. Immunocytochemistry localized EsBPIs to the symbiotic organ and other epithelial surfaces interacting with ambient seawater. The proteins differed in intracellular distribution. Further, whereas EsBPI4 was restricted to epithelia, EsBPI2 also occurred in blood and in a transient juvenile organ that mediates hatching. The data provide evidence that these BPIs play different defensive roles early in the life of E. scolopes, modulating interactions with the symbiont.IMPORTANCE This study describes new functions for bactericidal permeability-increasing proteins (BPIs), members of the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP)/BPI protein family. The data provide evidence that these proteins play a dual role in the modulation of symbiotic bacteria. In the squid-vibrio model, these proteins both control the symbiont populations in the light organ tissues where symbiont cells occur in dense monoculture and, concomitantly, inhibit the symbiont from colonizing other epithelial surfaces of the animal.}, } @article {pmid28376308, year = {2017}, author = {de Oliveira-Francesquini, JP and Hungria, M and Savi, DC and Glienke, C and Aluizio, R and Kava, V and Galli-Terasawa, LV}, title = {Differential colonization by bioprospected rhizobial bacteria associated with common bean in different cropping systems.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {8}, pages = {682-689}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2016-0784}, pmid = {28376308}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, we evaluated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from root nodules on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) derived from Andean and Mesoamerican centers and grown under field and greenhouse conditions. Genetic characterization of isolates was performed by sequencing analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and 2 housekeeping genes, recA and glnII, and by the amplification of nifH. Symbiotic efficiency was evaluated by examining nodulation, plant biomass production, and plant nitrogen (N) accumulation. The influence of the environment was observed in nodulation capacity, where Rhizobium miluonense was dominant under greenhouse conditions and the Rhizobium acidisoli group prevailed under field conditions. However, strain LGMB41 fit into a separate group from the type strain of R. acidisoli in terms of multilocus phylogeny, implying that it could belong to a new species. Rhizobium miluonense LGMB73 showed the best symbiotic efficiency performance, i.e., with the highest shoot-N content (77.7 mg/plant), superior to the commercial standard strain (56.9 mg/plant). Biodiversity- and bioprospecting-associated studies are important to better understand ecosystems and to develop more effective strategies to improve plant growth using a N-fixation process.}, } @article {pmid28376107, year = {2017}, author = {Römer, D and Bollazzi, M and Roces, F}, title = {Carbon dioxide sensing in an obligate insect-fungus symbiosis: CO2 preferences of leaf-cutting ants to rear their mutualistic fungus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e0174597}, pmid = {28376107}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*physiology ; Herbivory ; Models, Biological ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Defense against biotic or abiotic stresses is one of the benefits of living in symbiosis. Leaf-cutting ants, which live in an obligate mutualism with a fungus, attenuate thermal and desiccation stress of their partner through behavioral responses, by choosing suitable places for fungus-rearing across the soil profile. The underground environment also presents hypoxic (low oxygen) and hypercapnic (high carbon dioxide) conditions, which can negatively influence the symbiont. Here, we investigated whether workers of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lundii use the CO2 concentration as an orientation cue when selecting a place to locate their fungus garden, and whether they show preferences for specific CO2 concentrations. We also evaluated whether levels preferred by workers for fungus-rearing differ from those selected for themselves. In the laboratory, CO2 preferences were assessed in binary choices between chambers with different CO2 concentrations, by quantifying number of workers in each chamber and amount of relocated fungus. Leaf-cutting ants used the CO2 concentration as a spatial cue when selecting places for fungus-rearing. A. lundii preferred intermediate CO2 levels, between 1 and 3%, as they would encounter at soil depths where their nest chambers are located. In addition, workers avoided both atmospheric and high CO2 levels as they would occur outside the nest and at deeper soil layers, respectively. In order to prevent fungus desiccation, however, workers relocated fungus to high CO2 levels, which were otherwise avoided. Workers' CO2 preferences for themselves showed no clear-cut pattern. We suggest that workers avoid both atmospheric and high CO2 concentrations not because they are detrimental for themselves, but because of their consequences for the symbiotic partner. Whether the preferred CO2 concentrations are beneficial for symbiont growth remains to be investigated, as well as whether the observed preferences for fungus-rearing influences the ants' decisions where to excavate new chambers across the soil profile.}, } @article {pmid28375902, year = {2017}, author = {Servillo, L and DʼOnofrio, N and Balestrieri, ML}, title = {Ergothioneine Antioxidant Function: From Chemistry to Cardiovascular Therapeutic Potential.}, journal = {Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology}, volume = {69}, number = {4}, pages = {183-191}, doi = {10.1097/FJC.0000000000000464}, pmid = {28375902}, issn = {1533-4023}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/*chemistry/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases/*drug therapy/metabolism ; Ergothioneine/*chemistry/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ergothioneine (ESH), the betaine of 2-mercapto-L-histidine, is a water-soluble naturally occurring amino acid with antioxidant properties. ESH accumulates in several human and animal tissues up to millimolar concentration through its high affinity transporter, namely the organic cation transporter 1 (OCTN1). ESH, first isolated from the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea), is synthesized only by Actinomycetales and non-yeast-like fungi. Plants absorb ESH via symbiotic associations between their roots and soil fungi, whereas mammals acquire it solely from dietary sources. Numerous evidence demonstrated the antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of ESH, including protection against cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory conditions, ultraviolet radiation damages, and neuronal injuries. Although more than a century after its discovery has gone by, our understanding on the in vivo ESH mechanism is limited and this compound still intrigues researchers. However, recent evidence about differences in chemical redox behavior between ESH and alkylthiols, such as cysteine and glutathione, has opened new perspectives on the role of ESH during oxidative damage. In this short review, we discuss the role of ESH in the complex machinery of the cellular antioxidant defense focusing on the current knowledge on its chemical mechanism of action in the protection against cardiovascular disease.}, } @article {pmid28375633, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, J and Li, Y and Wen, S and Rosanoff, A and Yang, G and Sun, X}, title = {Magnesium Fertilizer-Induced Increase of Symbiotic Microorganisms Improves Forage Growth and Quality.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {65}, number = {16}, pages = {3253-3258}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.6b05764}, pmid = {28375633}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Fertilizers/*analysis ; Magnesium/analysis/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/growth & development/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/chemistry/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Zea mays/chemistry/*growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Magnesium (Mg) plays important roles in photosynthesis and protein synthesis; however, latent Mg deficiencies are common phenomena that can influence food quality. Nevertheless, the effects of Mg fertilizer additions on plant carbon (C):nitrogen (N):phosphorus (P) stoichiometry, an important index of food quality, are unclear and the underlying mechanisms unexplored. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using low-Mg in situ soil without and with a gradient of Mg additions to investigate the effect of Mg fertilizer on growth and stoichiometry of maize and soybean and also measure these plants' main symbiotic microorganisms: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobium, respectively. Our results showed that Mg addition significantly improved both plant species' growth and also increased N and P concentrations in soybean and maize, respectively, resulting in low C:N ratio and high N:P ratio in soybean and low C:P and N:P ratios in maize. These results presumably stemmed from the increase of nutrients supplied by activation-enhanced plant symbiotic microorganisms, an explanation supported by statistically significant positive correlations between plant stoichiometry and plants' symbiotic microorganisms' increased growth with Mg addition. We conclude that Mg supply can improve plant growth and alter plant stoichiometry via enhanced activity of plant symbiotic microorganisms. Possible mechanisms underlying this positive plant-soil feedback include an enhanced photosynthetic product flow to roots caused by adequate Mg supply.}, } @article {pmid28372899, year = {2017}, author = {Jaiswal, SK and Msimbira, LA and Dakora, FD}, title = {Phylogenetically diverse group of native bacterial symbionts isolated from root nodules of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in South Africa.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {215-226}, pmid = {28372899}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {Groundnut is an economically important N 2-fixing legume that can contribute about 100-190kgNha[-1] to cropping systems. In this study, groundnut-nodulating native rhizobia in South African soils were isolated from root nodules. Genetic analysis of isolates was done using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of 16S-23S rDNA. A total of 26 IGS types were detected with band sizes ranging from 471 to 1415bp. The rhizobial isolates were grouped into five main clusters with Jaccard's similarity coefficient of 0.00-1.00, and 35 restriction types in a UPGMA dendrogram. Partial sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA, IGS of 16S rDNA-23S rDNA, atpD, gyrB, gltA, glnII and symbiotic nifH and nodC genes obtained for representative isolates of each RFLP-cluster showed that these native groundnut-nodulating rhizobia were phylogenetically diverse, thus confirming the extent of promiscuity of this legume. Concatenated gene sequence analysis showed that most isolates did not align with known type strains, and may represent new species from South Africa. This underscored the high genetic variability associated with groundnut Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium in South African soils, and the possible presence of a reservoir of novel groundnut-nodulating Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium in the country.}, } @article {pmid28371652, year = {2017}, author = {Loyola-Machado, AC and Azevedo-Martins, AC and Catta-Preta, CMC and de Souza, W and Galina, A and Motta, MCM}, title = {The Symbiotic Bacterium Fuels the Energy Metabolism of the Host Trypanosomatid Strigomonas culicis.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {168}, number = {2}, pages = {253-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2017.02.001}, pmid = {28371652}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Energy Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic relationship between trypanosomatids and their respective endosymbiotic bacteria represents an excellent model for studying metabolic co-evolution since the symbiont completes essential biosynthetic routes of the host cell. In this work, we investigated the influence of the endosymbiont on the energy metabolism of Strigomonas culicis by comparing the wild strain with aposymbiotic protists. The bacterium maintains a frequent and close association with glycosomes, which are distributed around the prokaryote. Furthermore, 3D reconstructions revealed that the shape and distribution of glycosomes are different in symbiont-bearing protists compared to symbiont-free cells. Results of bioenergetic assays showed that the presence of the symbiont enhances the O2 consumption of the host cell. When the quantity of intracellular or released glycerol was evaluated, the aposymbiotic strain presented higher values when compared to symbiont-containing cells. Furthermore, inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by potassium cyanide increased the rate of glycerol release and slightly diminished the ATP content in cells without the symbiont, indicating that the host trypanosomatid enhances its fermentative activity when the bacterium is lost.}, } @article {pmid28371617, year = {2017}, author = {Raina, JB and Clode, PL and Cheong, S and Bougoure, J and Kilburn, MR and Reeder, A and Forêt, S and Stat, M and Beltran, V and Thomas-Hall, P and Tapiolas, D and Motti, CM and Gong, B and Pernice, M and Marjo, CE and Seymour, JR and Willis, BL and Bourne, DG}, title = {Subcellular tracking reveals the location of dimethylsulfoniopropionate in microalgae and visualises its uptake by marine bacteria.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28371617}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Isotope Labeling ; Microalgae/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; Sulfonium Compounds/*analysis ; Sulfur Isotopes/analysis ; }, abstract = {Phytoplankton-bacteria interactions drive the surface ocean sulfur cycle and local climatic processes through the production and exchange of a key compound: dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Despite their large-scale implications, these interactions remain unquantified at the cellular-scale. Here we use secondary-ion mass spectrometry to provide the first visualization of DMSP at sub-cellular levels, tracking the fate of a stable sulfur isotope ([34]S) from its incorporation by microalgae as inorganic sulfate to its biosynthesis and exudation as DMSP, and finally its uptake and degradation by bacteria. Our results identify for the first time the storage locations of DMSP in microalgae, with high enrichments present in vacuoles, cytoplasm and chloroplasts. In addition, we quantify DMSP incorporation at the single-cell level, with DMSP-degrading bacteria containing seven times more [34]S than the control strain. This study provides an unprecedented methodology to label, retain, and image small diffusible molecules, which can be transposable to other symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid28371395, year = {2017}, author = {Skidmore, IH and Hansen, AK}, title = {The evolutionary development of plant-feeding insects and their nutritional endosymbionts.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {910-928}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12463}, pmid = {28371395}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Insect ; *Herbivory ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Herbivorous insects have evolved diverse mechanisms enabling them to feed on plants with suboptimal nutrient availability. Low nutrient availability negatively impacts insect herbivore development and fitness. To overcome this obstacle numerous insect lineages have evolved intimate associations with nutritional endosymbionts. This is especially true for insects that specialize on nitrogen-poor substrates, as these insects are highly dependent on intracellular symbionts to provide nitrogen lacking in their insect host's diet. Emerging evidence in these systems suggest that the symbiont's and/or the insect's biosynthetic pathways are dynamically regulated throughout the insect's development to potentially cope with the insect's changing nutritional demands. In this review, we evaluate the evolutionary development of symbiotic insect cells (bacteriocytes) by comparing and contrasting genes and mechanisms involved in maintaining and regulating the nutritional symbiosis throughout insect development in a diversity of insect herbivore-endosymbiont associations. With new advances in genome sequencing and functional genomics, we evaluate to what extent nutritional symbioses are shaped by (i) the regulation of symbiont titer, (ii) the regulation of insect symbiosis genes, and (iii) the regulation of symbiont genes. We discuss how important these mechanisms are for the biosynthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins across insect life stages in divergent insect-symbiont systems. We conclude by suggesting future directions of research to further elucidate the evolutionary development of bacteriocytes and the impact of these nutritional symbioses on insect-plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid28371112, year = {2017}, author = {De la Varga, H and Le Tacon, F and Lagoguet, M and Todesco, F and Varga, T and Miquel, I and Barry-Etienne, D and Robin, C and Halkett, F and Martin, F and Murat, C}, title = {Five years investigation of female and male genotypes in périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) revealed contrasted reproduction strategies.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {2604-2615}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13735}, pmid = {28371112}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Reproduction ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) is a heterothallic ascomycete that establishes ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with trees and shrubs. Small-scale genetic structures of female genotypes in truffle orchards are known, but it has not yet been studied in male genotypes. In this study, our aim was to characterize the small-scale genetic structure of both male and female genotypes over five years in an orchard to better understand the T. melanosporum sexual reproduction strategy, male genotype dynamics, and origins. Two-hundred forty-one ascocarps, 475 ectomycorrhizas, and 20 soil cores were harvested and genotyped using microsatellites and mating type genes. Isolation by distance analysis revealed pronounced small-scale genetic structures for both female and male genotypes. The genotypic diversity was higher for male than female genotypes with numerous small size genotypes suggesting an important turnover due to ascospore recruitment. Larger and perennial female and male genotypes were also detected. Only three genotypes (1.5%) were found as both female and male genotypes (hermaphrodites) while most were detected only as female or male genotype (dioecy). Our results suggest that germinating ascospores act as male genotypes, but we also proposed that soil mycelium could be a reservoir of male genotypes.}, } @article {pmid28369864, year = {2017}, author = {Carotenuto, G and Chabaud, M and Miyata, K and Capozzi, M and Takeda, N and Kaku, H and Shibuya, N and Nakagawa, T and Barker, DG and Genre, A}, title = {The rice LysM receptor-like kinase OsCERK1 is required for the perception of short-chain chitin oligomers in arbuscular mycorrhizal signaling.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {4}, pages = {1440-1446}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14539}, pmid = {28369864}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; Chitin/*metabolism ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Oryza/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The rice lysin-motif (LysM) receptor-like kinase OsCERK1 is now known to have a dual role in both pathogenic and symbiotic interactions. Following the recent discovery that the Oscerk1 mutant is unable to host arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, we have examined whether OsCERK1 is directly involved in the perception of the short-chain chitin oligomers (Myc-COs) identified in AM fungal exudates and shown to activate nuclear calcium (Ca[2+]) spiking in the rice root epidermis. An Oscerk1 knockout mutant expressing the cameleon NLS-YC2.60 was used to monitor nuclear Ca[2+] signaling following root treatment with either crude fungal exudates or purified Myc-COs. Compared with wild-type rice, Ca[2+] spiking responses to AM fungal elicitation were absent in root atrichoblasts of the Oscerk1 mutant. By contrast, rice lines mutated in OsCEBiP, encoding the LysM receptor-like protein which associates with OsCERK1 to perceive chitin elicitors of the host immune defense pathway, responded positively to Myc-COs. These findings provide direct evidence that the bi-functional OsCERK1 plays a central role in perceiving short-chain Myc-CO signals and activating the downstream conserved symbiotic signal transduction pathway.}, } @article {pmid28369229, year = {2017}, author = {Keet, JH and Ellis, AG and Hui, C and Le Roux, JJ}, title = {Legume-rhizobium symbiotic promiscuity and effectiveness do not affect plant invasiveness.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {119}, number = {8}, pages = {1319-1331}, pmid = {28369229}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Australia ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Introduced Species ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen is thought to play an important role in the invasion success of legumes. Interactions between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) span a continuum of specialization, and promiscuous legumes are thought to have higher chances of forming effective symbioses in novel ranges. Using Australian Acacia species in South Africa, it was hypothesized that widespread and highly invasive species will be more generalist in their rhizobial symbiotic requirements and more effective in fixing atmospheric nitrogen compared with localized and less invasive species.

METHODS: To test these hypotheses, eight localized and 11 widespread acacias were examined using next-generation sequencing data for the nodulation gene, nodC , to compare the identity, species richness, diversity and compositional similarity of rhizobia associated with these acacias. Stable isotope analysis was also used to determine levels of nitrogen obtained from the atmosphere via symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

KEY RESULTS: No differences were found in richness, diversity and community composition between localized and widespread acacias. Similarly, widespread and localized acacias did not differ in their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, for some species by site comparisons, significant differences in δ15N isotopic signatures were found, indicating differential symbiotic effectiveness between these species at specific localities.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results support recent findings that root nodule rhizobial diversity and community composition do not differ between acacias that vary in their invasiveness. Differential invasiveness of acacias in South Africa is probably linked to attributes such as differences in propagule pressure, reasons for (e.g. forestry vs. ornamental) and extent of, plantings in the country.}, } @article {pmid28366879, year = {2017}, author = {Bernardo, L and Morcia, C and Carletti, P and Ghizzoni, R and Badeck, FW and Rizza, F and Lucini, L and Terzi, V}, title = {Proteomic insight into the mitigation of wheat root drought stress by arbuscular mycorrhizae.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {169}, number = {}, pages = {21-32}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2017.03.024}, pmid = {28366879}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Proteomics/*methods ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Triticum/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant growth promoters that ameliorate plant-water relations and the nutrient uptake of wheat. In this work, two cultivars of Triticum spp., a bread and a durum wheat, grown under drought stress and inoculated or not by AMF, are evaluated through a shotgun proteomic approach. The AMF association had beneficial effects as compared to non-mycorrhizal roots, in both bread and durum wheat. The beneficial symbiosis was confirmed by measuring morphological and physiological traits. In our work, we identified 50 statistically differential proteins in the bread wheat cultivar and 66 differential proteins in the durum wheat cultivar. The findings highlighted a modulation of proteins related to sugar metabolism, cell wall rearrangement, cytoskeletal organization and sulphur-containing proteins, as well as proteins related to plant stress responses. Among differentially expressed proteins both cultivars evidenced a decrease in sucrose:fructan 6-fructosyltransferas. In durum wheat oxylipin signalling pathway was involved with two proteins: increased 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase and decreased jasmonate-induced protein, both related to the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid. Interactome analysis highlighted the possible involvement of ubiquitin although not evidenced among differentially expressed proteins. The AMF association helps wheat roots reducing the osmotic stress and maintaining cellular integrity.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Drought is one of the major constraints that plants must face in some areas of the world, associated to climate change, negatively affecting the worldwide plant productivity. The adoption of innovative agronomic protocols may represent a winning strategy in facing this challenge. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation may represent a natural and sustainable way to mitigate the negative effects due to drought in several crop, ameliorating plant growth and development. Studies on the proteomic responses specific to AMF in drought-stressed plants will help clarify how mycorrhization elicits plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress-tolerance responses. Such studies also offer the potential to find biological markers and genetic targets to be used during breeding for new drought-resistant varieties.}, } @article {pmid28366838, year = {2017}, author = {Fichorova, R and Fraga, J and Rappelli, P and Fiori, PL}, title = {Trichomonas vaginalis infection in symbiosis with Trichomonasvirus and Mycoplasma.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {168}, number = {9-10}, pages = {882-891}, pmid = {28366838}, issn = {1769-7123}, support = {R01 AI079085/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI091889/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 HD018655/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R21 HD054451/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; RC1 AI086788/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Mycoplasma/*isolation & purification ; Totiviridae/*isolation & purification ; Trichomonas/virology ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*isolation & purification ; Vagina/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Vaginitis/*microbiology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan with an extracellular obligatory parasitic lifestyle exclusively adapted to the human urogenital tract and responsible for nearly a quarter billion sexually transmitted infections worldwide each year. This review focuses on symbiotic Trichomonasvirus and mycoplasmas carried by the protozoan, their molecular features and their role in altering the human vaginal microbiome and the immunopathogenicity of the parasite. Improved diagnostics and larger clinical interventional studies are needed to confirm the causative role of protozoan symbionts in the variable clinical presentation of trichomoniasis and its morbid sequelae, including adverse reproductive outcome, susceptibility to viral infections and cancer.}, } @article {pmid28365021, year = {2017}, author = {Leal, MC and Rocha, RJM and Anaya-Rojas, JM and Cruz, ICS and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Trophic and stoichiometric consequences of nutrification for the intertidal tropical zoanthid Zoanthus sociatus.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {119}, number = {1}, pages = {169-175}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.054}, pmid = {28365021}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Carbon ; Dinoflagellida ; *Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Isotopes/analysis ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; }, abstract = {Zoanthids are conspicuous and abundant members of intertidal environments, where they are exposed to large environmental fluctuations and subject to increasing loads of anthropogenic nutrients. Here we assess the trophic ecology and stoichiometric consequences of nutrient loading for symbiotic zoanthids inhabiting different intertidal habitats. More specifically, we analysed the stable isotope signature (δ[13]C and δ[15]N), elemental composition (C, N and P) and stoichiometry (C:N, C:P, N:P) of Zoanthus sociatus differently exposed to nutrification. Results suggest that autotrophy is the main feeding mode of zoanthids and that the effect water nutrient content differently affects the elemental phenotype of zoanthids depending on tidal habitat. Additionally, habitat effects on Z. sociatus P-related stoichiometric traits highlight functional differences likely associated with variation in Symbiodinium density. These findings provide an innovative approach to assess how cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses response to ecosystem changes in environmentally dynamic reef flats, particularly nutrient loading.}, } @article {pmid28362815, year = {2017}, author = {Brusamarello-Santos, LC and Gilard, F and Brulé, L and Quilleré, I and Gourion, B and Ratet, P and Maltempi de Souza, E and Lea, PJ and Hirel, B}, title = {Metabolic profiling of two maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines inoculated with the nitrogen fixing plant-interacting bacteria Herbaspirillum seropedicae and Azospirillum brasilense.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0174576}, pmid = {28362815}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*metabolism ; Herbaspirillum/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Zea mays/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maize roots can be colonized by free-living atmospheric nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteria (diazotrophs). However, the agronomic potential of non-symbiotic N2-fixation in such an economically important species as maize, has still not been fully exploited. A preliminary approach to improve our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the establishment of such N2-fixing associations has been developed, using two maize inbred lines exhibiting different physiological characteristics. The bacterial-plant interaction has been characterized by means of a metabolomic approach. Two established model strains of Nif+ diazotrophic bacteria, Herbaspirillum seropedicae and Azospirillum brasilense and their Nif- couterparts defficient in nitrogenase activity, were used to evaluate the impact of the bacterial inoculation and of N2 fixation on the root and leaf metabolic profiles. The two N2-fixing bacteria have been used to inoculate two genetically distant maize lines (FV252 and FV2), already characterized for their contrasting physiological properties. Using a well-controlled gnotobiotic experimental system that allows inoculation of maize plants with the two diazotrophs in a N-free medium, we demonstrated that both maize lines were efficiently colonized by the two bacterial species. We also showed that in the early stages of plant development, both bacterial strains were able to reduce acetylene, suggesting that they contain functional nitrogenase activity and are able to efficiently fix atmospheric N2 (Fix+). The metabolomic approach allowed the identification of metabolites in the two maize lines that were representative of the N2 fixing plant-bacterial interaction, these included mannitol and to a lesser extend trehalose and isocitrate. Whilst other metabolites such as asparagine, although only exhibiting a small increase in maize roots following bacterial infection, were specific for the two Fix+ bacterial strains, in comparison to their Fix- counterparts. Moreover, a number of metabolites exhibited a maize-genotype specific pattern of accumulation, suggesting that the highly diverse maize genetic resources could be further exploited in terms of beneficial plant-bacterial interactions for optimizing maize growth, with reduced N fertilization inputs.}, } @article {pmid28361265, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, C and Jiang, Y and Wang, X and Chen, D and Chen, X and Wang, L and Han, L and Huang, X and Jiang, C}, title = {Diversity, Antimicrobial Activity, and Biosynthetic Potential of Cultivable Actinomycetes Associated with Lichen Symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {570-584}, pmid = {28361265}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*chemistry/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism ; *Antibiosis ; *Biodiversity ; Lichens/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are structured associations of a fungus with a cyanobacteria and/or green algae in a symbiotic relationship, which provide specific habitats for diverse bacterial communities, including actinomycetes. However, few studies have been performed on the phylogenetic relationships and biosynthetic potential of actinomycetes across lichen species. In the present study, a total of 213 actinomycetes strains were isolated from 35 lichen samples (22 lichen genera) collected in Yunnan Province, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed an unexpected level of diversity among these isolates, which were distributed into 38 genera, 19 families, and 9 orders within the Actinobacteria phylum. The detailed taxa of isolates had no clear relationship to the taxonomic affiliations of the associated lichens. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the isolation of Actinophytocola, Angustibacter, Herbiconiux, Kibdelosporangium, Kineosporia, Kitasatospora, Nakamurella, Nonomuraea, Labedella, Lechevalieria, Lentzea, Schumannella, and Umezawaea species from lichens. At least 40 isolates (18.78%) are likely to represent novel actinomycetes taxa within 15 genera. In addition, all 213 isolates were tested for antimicrobial activity and screened for genes associated with secondary metabolite production to evaluate their biosynthetic potential. These results demonstrate that the lichens of Yunnan Province represent an extremely rich reservoir for the isolation of a significant diversity of actinomycetes, including novel species, which are potential source for discovering biologically active compounds.}, } @article {pmid28360030, year = {2017}, author = {Young, VB}, title = {Old and new models for studying host-microbe interactions in health and disease: C. difficile as an example.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology}, volume = {312}, number = {6}, pages = {G623-G627}, doi = {10.1152/ajpgi.00341.2016}, pmid = {28360030}, issn = {1522-1547}, mesh = {Animals ; Clostridioides difficile/*pathogenicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Organoids ; Symbiosis ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; }, abstract = {There has been an explosion of interest in studying the indigenous microbiota, which plays an important role in human health and disease. Traditionally, the study of microbes in relationship to human health involved consideration of individual microbial species that caused classical infectious diseases. With the interest in the human microbiome, an appreciation of the influence that complex communities of microbes can have on their environment has developed. When considering either individual pathogenic microbes or a symbiotic microbial community, researchers have employed a variety of model systems with which they can study the host-microbe interaction. With the use of studies of infections with the toxin-producing bacterium Clostridium difficile as a model for both a pathogen and beneficial bacterial communities as an example, this review will summarize and compare various model systems that can be used to gain insight into the host-microbe interaction.}, } @article {pmid28359299, year = {2017}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Sharma, R and Meiser, A and Rolshausen, G and Büdel, B and Mishra, B and Thines, M and Otte, J and Pfenninger, M and Schmitt, I}, title = {Adaptive differentiation coincides with local bioclimatic conditions along an elevational cline in populations of a lichen-forming fungus.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {93}, pmid = {28359299}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Ascomycota/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Lichens/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Mediterranean Region ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many fungal species occur across a variety of habitats. Particularly lichens, fungi forming symbioses with photosynthetic partners, have evolved remarkable tolerances for environmental extremes. Despite their ecological importance and ubiquity, little is known about the genetic basis of adaption in lichen populations. Here we studied patterns of genome-wide differentiation in the lichen-forming fungus Lasallia pustulata along an altitudinal gradient in the Mediterranean region. We resequenced six populations as pools and identified highly differentiated genomic regions. We then detected gene-environment correlations while controlling for shared population history and pooled sequencing bias, and performed ecophysiological experiments to assess fitness differences of individuals from different environments.

RESULTS: We detected two strongly differentiated genetic clusters linked to Mediterranean and temperate-oceanic climate, and an admixture zone, which coincided with the transition between the two bioclimates. High altitude individuals showed ecophysiological adaptations to wetter and more shaded conditions. Highly differentiated genome regions contained a number of genes associated with stress response, local environmental adaptation, and sexual reproduction.

CONCLUSIONS: Taken together our results provide evidence for a complex interplay between demographic history and spatially varying selection acting on a number of key biological processes, suggesting a scenario of ecological speciation.}, } @article {pmid28358886, year = {2017}, author = {Gagliardi, AR and Lehoux, P and Ducey, A and Easty, A and Ross, S and Bell, C and Trbovich, P and Urbach, DR}, title = {"We can't get along without each other": Qualitative interviews with physicians about device industry representatives, conflict of interest and patient safety.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0174934}, pmid = {28358886}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Conflict of Interest ; Humans ; Patient Safety ; *Physicians ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Physician relationships with device industry representatives have not been previously assessed. This study explored interactions with device industry representatives among physicians who use implantable cardiovascular and orthopedic devices to identify whether conflict of interest (COI) is a concern and how it is managed.

DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative approach was used. Physicians who implant orthopedic and cardiovascular devices were identified in publicly available directories and web sites, and interviewed about their relationships with device industry representatives. Sampling was concurrent with data collection and analysis. Data were analyzed and discussed using constant comparative technique by all members of the research team.

RESULTS: Twenty-two physicians (10 cardiovascular, 12 orthopedic) were interviewed. Ten distinct representative roles were identified: purchasing, training, trouble-shooting, supplying devices, assisting with device assembly and insertion, supporting operating room staff, mitigating liability, conveying information about recalls, and providing direct and indirect financial support. Participants recognized the potential for COI but representatives were present for the majority of implantations. Participants revealed a tension between physicians and representatives that was characterized as "symbiotic", but required physicians to be vigilant about COI and patient safety, particularly because representatives varied regarding disclosure of device defects. They described a concurrent tension between hospitals, whose policies and business practices were focused on cost-control, and physicians who were required to comply with those policies and use particular devices despite concerns about their safety and effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the potential for COI and threats to patient safety, further research is needed to establish the clinical implications of the role of, and relationship with device industry representatives; and whether and how hospitals do and should govern interaction with representatives, or support their staff in this regard.}, } @article {pmid28358880, year = {2017}, author = {Grote, A and Voronin, D and Ding, T and Twaddle, A and Unnasch, TR and Lustigman, S and Ghedin, E}, title = {Defining Brugia malayi and Wolbachia symbiosis by stage-specific dual RNA-seq.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0005357}, pmid = {28358880}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R56 AI101372/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI118936/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007180/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brugia malayi/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Filarial nematodes currently infect up to 54 million people worldwide, with millions more at risk for infection, representing the leading cause of disability in the developing world. Brugia malayi is one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis and remains the only human filarial parasite that can be maintained in small laboratory animals. Many filarial nematode species, including B. malayi, carry an obligate endosymbiont, the alpha-proteobacteria Wolbachia, which can be eliminated through antibiotic treatment. Elimination of the endosymbiont interferes with development, reproduction, and survival of the worms within the mamalian host, a clear indicator that the Wolbachia are crucial for survival of the parasite. Little is understood about the mechanism underlying this symbiosis.

To better understand the molecular interplay between these two organisms we profiled the transcriptomes of B. malayi and Wolbachia by dual RNA-seq across the life cycle of the parasite. This helped identify functional pathways involved in this essential symbiotic relationship provided by the co-expression of nematode and bacterial genes. We have identified significant stage-specific and gender-specific differential expression in Wolbachia during the nematode's development. For example, during female worm development we find that Wolbachia upregulate genes involved in ATP production and purine biosynthesis, as well as genes involved in the oxidative stress response.

CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNIFICANCE: This global transcriptional analysis has highlighted specific pathways to which both Wolbachia and B. malayi contribute concurrently over the life cycle of the parasite, paving the way for the development of novel intervention strategies.}, } @article {pmid28358346, year = {2017}, author = {Bogoevska, S and Spiridonakos, M and Chatzi, E and Dumova-Jovanoska, E and Höffer, R}, title = {A Data-Driven Diagnostic Framework for Wind Turbine Structures: A Holistic Approach.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28358346}, issn = {1424-8220}, abstract = {The complex dynamics of operational wind turbine (WT) structures challenges the applicability of existing structural health monitoring (SHM) strategies for condition assessment. At the center of Europe's renewable energy strategic planning, WT systems call for implementation of strategies that may describe the WT behavior in its complete operational spectrum. The framework proposed in this paper relies on the symbiotic treatment of acting environmental/operational variables and the monitored vibration response of the structure. The approach aims at accurate simulation of the temporal variability characterizing the WT dynamics, and subsequently at the tracking of the evolution of this variability in a longer-term horizon. The bi-component analysis tool is applied on long-term data, collected as part of continuous monitoring campaigns on two actual operating WT structures located in different sites in Germany. The obtained data-driven structural models verify the potential of the proposed strategy for development of an automated SHM diagnostic tool.}, } @article {pmid28357693, year = {2017}, author = {Nievas, F and Vilchez, L and Giordano, W and Bogino, P}, title = {Arachis hypogaea L. produces mimic and inhibitory quorum sensing like molecules.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {110}, number = {7}, pages = {891-902}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-017-0862-2}, pmid = {28357693}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Arachis/*metabolism ; Bacteria/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium ; *Quorum Sensing ; *Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {A wide variety of plant-associated soil bacteria (rhizobacteria) communicate with each other by quorum sensing (QS). Plants are able to detect and produce mimics and inhibitor molecules of the QS bacterial communicative process. Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) establishes a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium. These bacteria use a QS mechanism dependent on the synthesis of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). Given the relevance that plant-rhizobacteria interactions have at the ecological level, this work addresses the involvement of peanut in taking part in the QS mechanism. By using biosensor bacterial strains capable of detecting AHLs, a series of standard and original bioassays were performed in order to determine both (i) the production of QS-like molecules in vegetal materials and (ii) the expression of the QS mechanism throughout plant-bacteria interaction. Mimic QS-like molecules (mQS) linked to AHLs with long acyl chains (lac-AHL), and inhibitor QS-like molecules (iQS) linked to AHLs with short acyl chains (sac-AHL) were detected in seed and root exudates. The results revealed that synthesis of specific signaling molecules by the plant (such as mQS and iQS) probably modulates the function and composition of the bacterial community established in its rhizosphere. Novel bioassays of QS detection during peanut-Bradyrhizobium interaction showed an intense production of QS signals in the contact zone between root and bacteria. It is demonstrated that root exudates stimulate the root colonization and synthesis of lac-AHL by Bradyrhizobium strains in the plant rhizosphere, which leads to the early stages of the development of beneficial plant-bacteria interactions.}, } @article {pmid28355207, year = {2017}, author = {Fraihi, W and Fares, W and Perrin, P and Dorkeld, F and Sereno, D and Barhoumi, W and Sbissi, I and Cherni, S and Chelbi, I and Durvasula, R and Ramalho-Ortigao, M and Gtari, M and Zhioua, E}, title = {An integrated overview of the midgut bacterial flora composition of Phlebotomus perniciosus, a vector of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the Western Mediterranean Basin.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0005484}, pmid = {28355207}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Insect Vectors ; Mediterranean Region ; Metagenomics ; Phlebotomus/*microbiology ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Leishmania developmental life cycle within its sand fly vector occurs exclusively in the lumen of the insect's digestive tract in the presence of symbiotic bacteria. The composition of the gut microbiota and the factors that influence its composition are currently poorly understood. A set of factors, including the host and its environment, may influence this composition. It has been demonstrated that the insect gut microbiota influences the development of several human pathogens, such as Plasmodium falciparum. For sand flies and Leishmania, understanding the interactions between the parasite and the microbial environment of the vector midgut can provide new tools to control Leishmania transmission.

The midguts of female Phlebotomus perniciosus from laboratory colonies or from the field were collected during the months of July, September and October 2011 and dissected. The midguts were analyzed by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. A total of 441 and 115 cultivable isolates were assigned to 30 and 11 phylotypes from field-collected and colonized P. perniciosus, respectively. Analysis of monthly variations in microbiota composition shows a species diversity decline in October, which is to the end of the Leishmania infantum transmission period. In parallel, a compilation and a meta-analysis of all available data concerning the microbiota of two Psychodidae genera, namely Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia, was performed and compared to P. perniciosus, data obtained herein. This integrated analysis did not reveal any substantial divergences between Old and New world sand flies with regards to the midgut bacterial phyla and genera diversity. But clearly, most bacterial species (>76%) are sparsely distributed between Phlebotominae species.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results pinpoint the need for a more exhaustive understanding of the bacterial richness and abundance at the species level in Phlebotominae sand flies in order to capture the role of midgut bacteria during Leishmania development and transmission. The occurrence of Bacillus subtilis in P. perniciosus and at least two other sand fly species studied so far suggests that this bacterial species is a potential candidate for paratransgenic or biolological approaches for the control of sand fly populations in order to prevent Leishmania transmission.}, } @article {pmid28353463, year = {2017}, author = {Tsoucalas, G and Sgantzos, M}, title = {Escherichia coli, a "symbiosis masquerade".}, journal = {Le infezioni in medicina}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {82-83}, pmid = {28353463}, issn = {2532-8689}, mesh = {Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Body Mass Index ; Dementia/complications ; Emergencies ; Escherichia coli/*isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Infections/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Gentamicins/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Malnutrition/complications ; Pressure Ulcer/complications ; Risk Factors ; *Symbiosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence/*complications ; }, abstract = {Not available.}, } @article {pmid28353400, year = {2017}, author = {Taylor, A and Qiu, YL}, title = {Evolutionary History of Subtilases in Land Plants and Their Involvement in Symbiotic Interactions.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {489-501}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-16-0218-R}, pmid = {28353400}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Archaea/enzymology/genetics ; Bacteria/enzymology/genetics ; Chlorophyta/enzymology/*genetics ; Embryophyta/enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Duplication ; Models, Genetic ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Subtilisins/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Subtilases, a family of proteases involved in a variety of developmental processes in land plants, are also involved in both mutualistic symbiosis and host-pathogen interactions in different angiosperm lineages. We examined the evolutionary history of subtilase genes across land plants through a phylogenetic analysis integrating amino acid sequence data from full genomes, transcriptomes, and characterized subtilases of 341 species of diverse green algae and land plants along with subtilases from 12 species of other eukaryotes, archaea, and bacteria. Our analysis reconstructs the subtilase gene phylogeny and identifies 11 new gene lineages, six of which have no previously characterized members. Two large, previously unnamed, subtilase gene lineages that diverged before the origin of angiosperms accounted for the majority of subtilases shown to be associated with symbiotic interactions. These lineages expanded through both whole-genome and tandem duplication, with differential neofunctionalization and subfunctionalization creating paralogs associated with different symbioses, including nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizae, and pathogenesis in different plant clades. This study demonstrates for the first time that a key gene family involved in plant-microbe interactions proliferated in size and functional diversity before the explosive radiation of angiosperms.}, } @article {pmid28350441, year = {2017}, author = {Wright, MH and Fetzer, C and Sieber, SA}, title = {Chemical Probes Unravel an Antimicrobial Defense Response Triggered by Binding of the Human Opioid Dynorphin to a Bacterial Sensor Kinase.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {139}, number = {17}, pages = {6152-6159}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.7b01072}, pmid = {28350441}, issn = {1520-5126}, support = {P30 DK089507/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Binding Sites ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dynorphins/*chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Probes/*chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Protein Kinases/*chemistry/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects/*enzymology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Host-microbe communication via small molecule signals is important for both symbiotic and pathogenic relationships, but is often poorly understood at the molecular level. Under conditions of host stress, levels of the human opioid peptide dynorphin are elevated, triggering virulence in the opportunistic pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa via an unknown pathway. Here we apply a multilayered chemical biology strategy to unravel the mode of action of this putative interkingdom signal. We designed and applied dynorphin-inspired photoaffinity probes to reveal the protein targets of the peptide in live bacteria via chemical proteomics. ParS, a largely uncharacterized membrane sensor of a two-component system, was identified as the most promising hit. Subsequent full proteome studies revealed that dynorphin(1-13) induces an antimicrobial peptide-like response in Pseudomonas, with specific upregulation of membrane defense mechanisms. No such response was observed in a parS mutant, which was more susceptible to dynorphin-induced toxicity. Thus, P. aeruginosa exploits the ParS sensing machinery to defend itself against the host in response to dynorphin as a signal. This study highlights interkingdom communication as a potential essential strategy not only for induction of P. aeruginosa virulence but also for maintaining viability in the hostile environment of the host.}, } @article {pmid28350268, year = {2017}, author = {Atia, A and Gomma, AI and Fliss, I and Beyssac, E and Garrait, G and Subirade, M}, title = {Molecular and biopharmaceutical investigation of alginate-inulin synbiotic coencapsulation of probiotic to target the colon.}, journal = {Journal of microencapsulation}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {171-184}, doi = {10.1080/02652048.2017.1313330}, pmid = {28350268}, issn = {1464-5246}, mesh = {Alginates/*pharmacology ; Colon ; Dosage Forms ; Inulin/*pharmacology ; *Probiotics ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Colon targeting, as a site-specific delivery for oral formulation, remains a major challenge, especially for sensitive bioactive components such as therapeutic forms of phages, live attenuated virus and prebiotics-probiotics association. Synbiotics could be used to protect encapsulated probiotics during the gastrointestinal tract and control their release in the colon. To achieve these goals, effective prebiotics, such as inulin, could be combined with alginate - the most exploited polymer used for probiotic encapsulation - in the form of beads. This work aimed to study the biopharmaceutical behaviour of alginate beads (A) and inulin-alginate beads of different inulin concentrations (5 or 20%) in 2% alginate (AI5, AI20). Beads were loaded with three probiotic strains (Pediococcus acidilactici Ul5, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus salivarius). Dissolution of beads was studied by USP4 under conditions simulating the gastrointestinal condition. The survival rates of the bacterial strains were measured by a specific qPCR bacterial count. Mucoadhesiveness of beads was studied by an ex vivo method using intestinal mucosa. To understand the behaviour of each formulation, the ultrastructure of the polymeric network was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Molecular interactions between alginate and inulin were studied by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). Dissolution results suggested that the presence of inulin in beads provided more protection for the tested bacterial strains against the acidic pH. AI5 was the most effective formulation to deliver probiotics to the colon simulation conditions. FTIR and SEM investigations explained the differences in behaviour of each formula. The developed symbiotic form provided a promising matrix for the development of colonic controlled release systems.}, } @article {pmid28348879, year = {2017}, author = {Baltrus, DA and Dougherty, K and Arendt, KR and Huntemann, M and Clum, A and Pillay, M and Palaniappan, K and Varghese, N and Mikhailova, N and Stamatis, D and Reddy, TBK and Ngan, CY and Daum, C and Shapiro, N and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Woyke, T and Arnold, AE}, title = {Absence of genome reduction in diverse, facultative endohyphal bacteria.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {e000101}, pmid = {28348879}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Cupressaceae/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Microbial Interactions/*genetics ; Hyphae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; }, abstract = {Fungi interact closely with bacteria, both on the surfaces of the hyphae and within their living tissues (i.e. endohyphal bacteria, EHB). These EHB can be obligate or facultative symbionts and can mediate diverse phenotypic traits in their hosts. Although EHB have been observed in many lineages of fungi, it remains unclear how widespread and general these associations are, and whether there are unifying ecological and genomic features can be found across EHB strains as a whole. We cultured 11 bacterial strains after they emerged from the hyphae of diverse Ascomycota that were isolated as foliar endophytes of cupressaceous trees, and generated nearly complete genome sequences for all. Unlike the genomes of largely obligate EHB, the genomes of these facultative EHB resembled those of closely related strains isolated from environmental sources. Although all analysed genomes encoded structures that could be used to interact with eukaryotic hosts, pathways previously implicated in maintenance and establishment of EHB symbiosis were not universally present across all strains. Independent isolation of two nearly identical pairs of strains from different classes of fungi, coupled with recent experimental evidence, suggests horizontal transfer of EHB across endophytic hosts. Given the potential for EHB to influence fungal phenotypes, these genomes could shed light on the mechanisms of plant growth promotion or stress mitigation by fungal endophytes during the symbiotic phase, as well as degradation of plant material during the saprotrophic phase. As such, these findings contribute to the illumination of a new dimension of functional biodiversity in fungi.}, } @article {pmid28348373, year = {2017}, author = {Nouwen, N and Arrighi, JF and Cartieaux, F and Chaintreuil, C and Gully, D and Klopp, C and Giraud, E}, title = {The role of rhizobial (NifV) and plant (FEN1) homocitrate synthases in Aeschynomene/photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {448}, pmid = {28348373}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*enzymology/*microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Lotus/microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxo-Acid-Lyases/*metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the most studied rhizobium-legume interactions, the host plant supplies the symbiont with homocitrate, an essential co-factor of the nitrogenase enzyme complex, via the expression of a nodule-specific homocitrate synthase FEN1. Photosynthetic bradyrhizobia interacting with Nod factor (NF) dependent and NF-independent Aeschynomene legumes are able to synthesize homocitrate themselves as they contain a nifV gene encoding a homocitrate synthase. Here, we show that in the model strain ORS285, nifV is required for free-living and symbiotic dinitrogen fixation with NF-independent Aeschynomene species. In contrast, in symbiosis with NF-dependent Aeschynomene species, the nifV requirement for efficient nitrogen fixation was found to be host plant dependent. Interestingly, orthologs of FEN1 were found in both NF-dependent and NF-independent Aeschynomene species. However, a high nodule specific induction of FEN1 expression was only observed in A. afraspera, a host plant in which nifV is not required for symbiotic dinitrogen fixation. These data indicate that efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation in many of the tested Aeschynomene species requires rhizobial homocitrate synthesis. Considering that more than 10% of the fully sequenced rhizobium strains do contain a nifV gene, the Aeschynomene/photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium interaction is likely not the only rhizobium/legume symbiosis where rhizobial nifV expression is required.}, } @article {pmid28348026, year = {2017}, author = {Ankrah, NYD and Luan, J and Douglas, AE}, title = {Cooperative Metabolism in a Three-Partner Insect-Bacterial Symbiosis Revealed by Metabolic Modeling.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {28348026}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Halomonadaceae/*physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An important factor determining the impact of microbial symbionts on their animal hosts is the balance between the cost of nutrients consumed by the symbionts and the benefit of nutrients released back to the host, but the quantitative significance of nutrient exchange in symbioses involving multiple microbial partners has rarely been addressed. In this study on the association between two intracellular bacterial symbionts, "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" and "Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa," and their animal host, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, we apply metabolic modeling to investigate host-symbiont nutrient exchange. Our in silico analysis revealed that >60% of the essential amino acids and related metabolites synthesized by "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" are utilized by the host, including a substantial contribution of nitrogen recycled from host nitrogenous waste, and that these interactions are required for host growth. In contrast, "Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa" retains most or all of the essential amino acids and B vitamins that it is capable of synthesizing. Furthermore, "Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa" suppresses host growth in silico by competition with "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" for multiple host nutrients, by suppressing "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" growth and metabolic function, and also by consumption of host nutrients that would otherwise be allocated to host growth. The interpretation from these modeling outputs that "Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa" is a nutritional parasite could not be inferred reliably from gene content alone but requires consideration of constraints imposed by the structure of the metabolic network. Furthermore, these quantitative models offer precise predictions for future experimental study and the opportunity to compare the functional organization of metabolic networks in different symbioses.IMPORTANCE The metabolic functions of unculturable intracellular bacteria with much reduced genomes are traditionally inferred from gene content without consideration of how the structure of the metabolic network may influence flux through metabolic reactions. The three-compartment model of metabolic flux between two bacterial symbionts and their insect host constructed in this study revealed that one symbiont is structured to overproduce essential amino acids for the benefit of the host, but the essential amino acid production in the second symbiont is quantitatively constrained by the structure of its network, rendering it "selfish" with respect to these nutrients. This study demonstrates the importance of quantitative flux data for elucidation of the metabolic function of symbionts. The in silico methodology can be applied to other symbioses with intracellular bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28346815, year = {2017}, author = {Lamei, S and Hu, YO and Olofsson, TC and Andersson, AF and Forsgren, E and Vásquez, A}, title = {Improvement of identification methods for honeybee specific Lactic Acid Bacteria; future approaches.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0174614}, pmid = {28346815}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*microbiology ; Bifidobacterium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Lactobacillaceae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Honeybees face many parasites and pathogens and consequently rely on a diverse set of individual and group-level defenses to prevent disease. The crop microbiota of Apis mellifera, composed of 13 Lactic Acid Bacterial (LAB) species within the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, form a beneficial symbiotic relationship with each other and the honeybee to protect their niche and their host. Possibly playing a vital role in honeybee health, it is important that these honeybee specific Lactic Acid Bacterial (hbs-LAB) symbionts can be correctly identified, isolated and cultured, to further investigate their health promoting properties. We have previously reported successful identification to the strain level by culture-dependent methods and we recently sequenced and annotated the genomes of the 13 hbs-LAB. However, the hitherto applied techniques are unfortunately very time consuming, expensive and not ideal when analyzing a vast quantity of samples. In addition, other researchers have constantly failed to identify the 13 hbs-LAB from honeybee samples by using inadequate media and/or molecular techniques based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing with insufficient discriminatory power. The aim of this study was to develop better and more suitable methods for the identification and cultivation of hbs-LAB. We compared currently used bacterial cultivation media and could for the first time demonstrate a significant variation in the hbs-LAB basic requirements for optimal growth. We also present a new bacterial identification approach based on amplicon sequencing of a region of the 16S rRNA gene using the Illumina platform and an error correction software that can be used to successfully differentiate and rapidly identify the 13 hbs-LAB to the strain level.}, } @article {pmid28346361, year = {2017}, author = {Andrews, M and Andrews, ME}, title = {Specificity in Legume-Rhizobia Symbioses.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28346361}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/classification/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/physiology ; Cupriavidus/classification/physiology ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most species in the Leguminosae (legume family) can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) via symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) in root nodules. Here, the literature on legume-rhizobia symbioses in field soils was reviewed and genotypically characterised rhizobia related to the taxonomy of the legumes from which they were isolated. The Leguminosae was divided into three sub-families, the Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae. Bradyrhizobium spp. were the exclusive rhizobial symbionts of species in the Caesalpinioideae, but data are limited. Generally, a range of rhizobia genera nodulated legume species across the two Mimosoideae tribes Ingeae and Mimoseae, but Mimosa spp. show specificity towards Burkholderia in central and southern Brazil, Rhizobium/Ensifer in central Mexico and Cupriavidus in southern Uruguay. These specific symbioses are likely to be at least in part related to the relative occurrence of the potential symbionts in soils of the different regions. Generally, Papilionoideae species were promiscuous in relation to rhizobial symbionts, but specificity for rhizobial genus appears to hold at the tribe level for the Fabeae (Rhizobium), the genus level for Cytisus (Bradyrhizobium), Lupinus (Bradyrhizobium) and the New Zealand native Sophora spp. (Mesorhizobium) and species level for Cicer arietinum (Mesorhizobium), Listia bainesii (Methylobacterium) and Listia angolensis (Microvirga). Specificity for rhizobial species/symbiovar appears to hold for Galega officinalis (Neorhizobium galegeae sv. officinalis), Galega orientalis (Neorhizobium galegeae sv. orientalis), Hedysarum coronarium (Rhizobium sullae), Medicago laciniata (Ensifer meliloti sv. medicaginis), Medicago rigiduloides (Ensifer meliloti sv. rigiduloides) and Trifolium ambiguum (Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii). Lateral gene transfer of specific symbiosis genes within rhizobial genera is an important mechanism allowing legumes to form symbioses with rhizobia adapted to particular soils. Strain-specific legume rhizobia symbioses can develop in particular habitats.}, } @article {pmid28345305, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, R and Cai, X and Li, X and Christie, P and Zhang, J and Gai, J}, title = {Temperature-mediated local adaptation alters the symbiotic function in arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {2616-2628}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13737}, pmid = {28345305}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Variation in the symbiotic function of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) has been demonstrated among distinct biotic and abiotic interactions. However, there is little knowledge on how local temperature conditions influence the functional divergence of AM symbionts in alpine ecosystems. Here, we conduct a reciprocal inoculation experiment to explore the three-way interactions among plants, AM fungal inoculum and temperature at sites of contrasting elevation. Evidence of local adaptation of plant growth was found only under low temperature conditions, with no consistent local versus foreign effect found in AM fungal performance. The origin of either the plant or the inoculum relative to the temperature was important in explaining symbiotic function. Specifically, when inoculum and temperature were sympatric but allopatric to the plant, poor adaptation by the plant to the novel environment was clearly found under both temperature conditions. Further analysis found that the symbiotic function was inversely related to fungal diversity under high temperature conditions. These results suggest that local adaptation represents a powerful factor in the establishment of novel combinations of plant, inoculum and temperature, and confirms the importance of taking into account both biotic and abiotic interactions in the prediction of the response of symbionts to global environmental change.}, } @article {pmid28345060, year = {2017}, author = {Tian, RM and Zhang, W and Cai, L and Wong, YH and Ding, W and Qian, PY}, title = {Genome Reduction and Microbe-Host Interactions Drive Adaptation of a Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium Associated with a Cold Seep Sponge.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {28345060}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {As the most ancient metazoan, sponges have established close relationships with particular microbial symbionts. However, the characteristics and physiology of thioautotrophic symbionts in deep-sea sponges are largely unknown. Using a tailored "differential coverage binning" method on 22-Gb metagenomic sequences, we recovered the nearly complete genome of a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium (SOB) that dominates the microbiota of the cold seep sponge Suberites sp. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that this bacterium (an unclassified gammaproteobacterium termed "Gsub") may represent a new deep-sea SOB group. Microscopic observations suggest that Gsub is probably an extracellular symbiont. Gsub has complete sulfide oxidation and carbon fixation pathways, suggesting a chemoautotrophic lifestyle. Comparative genomics with other sponge-associated SOB and free-living SOB revealed significant genome reduction in Gsub, characterized by the loss of genes for carbohydrate metabolism, motility, DNA repair, and osmotic stress response. Intriguingly, this scenario of genome reduction is highly similar to those of the endosymbionts in deep-sea clams. However, Gsub has retained genes for phage defense and protein secretion, with the latter potentially playing a role in interactions with the sponge host. In addition, we recovered the genome of an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon (AOA), which may carry out ammonia oxidation and carbon fixation within the sponge body. IMPORTANCE Sponges and their symbionts are important players in the biogeochemical cycles of marine environments. As a unique habitat within marine ecosystems, cold seeps have received considerable interest in recent years. This study explores the lifestyle of a new symbiotic SOB in a cold seep sponge. The results demonstrate that both this sponge symbiont and endosymbionts in deep-sea clams employ similar strategies of genome reduction. However, this bacterium has retained unique functions for immunity and defense. Thus, the functional features are determined by both the symbiotic relationship and host type. Moreover, analyses of the genome of an AOA suggest that microbes play different roles in biochemical cycles in the sponge body. Our findings provide new insights into invertebrate-associated bacteria in cold seep environments.}, } @article {pmid28343357, year = {2017}, author = {Armani, RG and Ramezani, A and Yasir, A and Sharama, S and Canziani, MEF and Raj, DS}, title = {Gut Microbiome in Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Current hypertension reports}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {29}, pmid = {28343357}, issn = {1534-3111}, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Disease Progression ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/drug therapy ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {With over 100 trillion microbial cells, the gut microbiome plays important roles in both the maintenance of health and the pathogenesis of disease. Gut microbiome dysbiosis, resulted from alteration of composition and function of the gut microbiome and disruption of gut barrier function, is commonly seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The dysbiotic gut microbiome generates excessive amounts of uremic toxins, and the impaired intestinal barrier permits translocation of these toxins into the systemic circulation. Many of these uremic toxins have been implicated in the progression of CKD and increased cardiovascular risk. Various therapeutic interventions have been proposed that aim to restore gut microbiome symbiosis. If proven effective, these interventions will have a significant impact on the management of CKD patients. In this review, we discuss the consequences of gut microbiome dysbiosis in the context of CKD, discuss the consequences of gut dysbiosis, and highlight some of the recent interventions targeting the gut microbiome for therapeutic purposes.}, } @article {pmid28341747, year = {2018}, author = {Cabinian, A and Sinsimer, D and Tang, M and Jang, Y and Choi, B and Laouar, Y and Laouar, A}, title = {Gut symbiotic microbes imprint intestinal immune cells with the innate receptor SLAMF4 which contributes to gut immune protection against enteric pathogens.}, journal = {Gut}, volume = {67}, number = {5}, pages = {847-859}, pmid = {28341747}, issn = {1468-3288}, support = {R01 AI083642/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Germ-Free Life ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/*physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Interactions between host immune cells and gut microbiota are crucial for the integrity and function of the intestine. How these interactions regulate immune cell responses in the intestine remains a major gap in the field.

AIM: We have identified the signalling lymphocyte activation molecule family member 4 (SLAMF4) as an immunomodulator of the intestinal immunity. The aim is to determine how SLAMF4 is acquired in the gut and what its contribution to intestinal immunity is.

METHODS: Expression of SLAMF4 was assessed in mice and humans. The mechanism of induction was studied using GFP[tg] bone marrow chimaera mice, lymphotoxin α and TNLG8A-deficient mice, as well as gnotobiotic mice. Role in immune protection was revealed using oral infection with Listeria monocytogenes and Cytobacter rodentium.

RESULTS: SLAMF4 is a selective marker of intestinal immune cells of mice and humans. SLAMF4 induction occurs directly in the intestinal mucosa without the involvement of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Gut bacterial products, particularly those of gut anaerobes, and gut-resident antigen-presenting cell (APC) [TNLG8A] are key contributors of SLAMF4 induction in the intestine. Importantly, lack of SLAMF4 expression leads the increased susceptibility of mice to infection by oral pathogens culminating in their premature death.

CONCLUSIONS: SLAMF4 is a marker of intestinal immune cells which contributes to the protection against enteric pathogens and whose expression is dependent on the presence of the gut microbiota. This discovery provides a possible mechanism for answering the long-standing question of how the intertwining of the host and gut microbial biology regulates immune cell responses in the gut.}, } @article {pmid28341706, year = {2017}, author = {Chomicki, G and Renner, SS}, title = {Partner abundance controls mutualism stability and the pace of morphological change over geologic time.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {15}, pages = {3951-3956}, pmid = {28341706}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Altitude ; Animals ; Ants/genetics/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; New Guinea ; Plants ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms that involve symbioses among specialized partners may be more stable than mutualisms among generalists, and theoretical models predict that in many mutualisms, partners exert reciprocal stabilizing selection on traits directly involved in the interaction. A corollary is that mutualism breakdown should increase morphological rates of evolution. We here use the largest ant-plant clade (Hydnophytinae), with different levels of specialization for mutualistic ant symbionts, to study the ecological context of mutualism breakdown and the response of a key symbiosis-related trait, domatium entrance hole size, which filters symbionts by size. Our analyses support three predictions from mutualism theory. First, all 12 losses apparently only occur from a generalist symbiotic state. Second, mutualism losses occurred where symbionts are scarce, in our system at high altitudes. Third, domatium entrance hole size barely changes in specialized symbiotic species, but evolves rapidly once symbiosis with ants has broken down, with a "morphorate map" revealing that hotspots of entrance hole evolution are clustered in high-altitude areas. Our study reveals that mutualistic strategy profoundly affects the pace of morphological change in traits involved in the interaction and suggests that shifts in partners' relative abundances may frequently drive reversions of generalist mutualisms to autonomy.}, } @article {pmid28341680, year = {2017}, author = {Jang, SH and Jang, HA and Lee, J and Kim, JU and Lee, SA and Park, KE and Kim, BH and Jo, YH and Lee, BL}, title = {PhaR, a Negative Regulator of PhaP, Modulates the Colonization of a Burkholderia Gut Symbiont in the Midgut of the Host Insect, Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {28341680}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Burkholderia/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Five genes encoding PhaP family proteins and one phaR gene have been identified in the genome of Burkholderia symbiont strain RPE75. PhaP proteins function as the surface proteins of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granules, and the PhaR protein acts as a negative regulator of PhaP biosynthesis. Recently, we characterized one phaP gene to understand the molecular cross talk between Riptortus insects and Burkholderia gut symbionts. In this study, we constructed four other phaP gene-depleted mutants (ΔphaP1, ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3, and ΔphaP4 mutants), one phaR gene-depleted mutant, and a phaR-complemented mutant (ΔphaR/phaR mutant). To address the biological roles of four phaP family genes and the phaR gene during insect-gut symbiont interaction, these Burkholderia mutants were fed to the second-instar nymphs, and colonization ability and fitness parameters were examined. In vitro, the ΔphaP3 and ΔphaR mutants cannot make a PHA granule normally in a stressful environment. Furthermore, the ΔphaR mutation decreased the colonization ability in the host midgut and negatively affected the host insect's fitness compared with wild-type Burkholderia-infected insects. However, other phaP family gene-depleted mutants colonized well in the midgut of the fifth-instar nymph insects. However, in the case of females, the colonization rate of the ΔphaP3 mutant was decreased and the host's fitness parameters were decreased compared with the wild-type-infected host, suggesting that the environment of the female midgut may be more hostile than that of the male midgut. These results demonstrate that PhaR plays an important role in the biosynthesis of PHA granules and that it is significantly related to the colonization of the Burkholderia gut symbiont in the host insects' midgut.IMPORTANCE Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis is a complex process requiring several enzymes. The biological roles of PHA granule synthesis enzymes and the surface proteins of PHA granules during host-gut symbiont interactions are not fully understood. Here, we report the effects on colonization ability in the host midguts and the fitness of host insects after feeding Burkholderia mutant cells (four phaP-depleted mutants and one phaR-depleted mutant) to the host insects. Analyses of both synthesized PHA granule amounts and CFU numbers suggest that the phaR gene is closely related to synthesis of the PHA granule and the colonization of the Burkholderia gut symbiont in the host insect's midgut. Like our previous report, this study also supports the idea that the environment of the host midgut may not be favorable to symbiotic Burkholderia cells and that PHA granules may be required to adapt in the host midgut.}, } @article {pmid28340327, year = {2017}, author = {Garcia, K and Ané, JM}, title = {Polymorphic responses of Medicago truncatula accessions to potassium deprivation.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e1307494}, pmid = {28340327}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Potassium (K[+]) is an essential macronutrient for plants and the most abundant cation in cells. Due to variable K[+] availability in the environment, plants must be able to adjust their developmental, physiological and transcriptional responses. The plant development to K[+] deprivation was not well studied in legumes thus far. We recently described the first adaptation mechanisms of the model legume Medicago truncatula Jemalong A17 to long-term K[+] deprivation and analyzed these responses in the context of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here we report polymorphic growth variations of two genetically very different accessions of M. truncatula to K[+]-limiting conditions, Jemalong A17, and the Tunisian accession Tn11.1. The faster adaptation of Tn11.1 than A17 to K[+] shortage might be due to its greater adaptation to saline soils. Examining in a more systematic way the developmental adaptation of various M. truncatula accessions to K[+] deprivation will provide a better understanding of how legume evolved to cope with this stressful condition.}, } @article {pmid28339724, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, X and Liao, D and Yang, X and Ji, M and Wang, S and Gu, M and Chen, A and Xu, G}, title = {Three cis-Regulatory Motifs, AuxRE, MYCRS1 and MYCRS2, are Required for Modulating the Auxin- and Mycorrhiza-Responsive Expression of a Tomato GH3 Gene.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {770-778}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcx013}, pmid = {28339724}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glucuronidase/genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae ; Oryza/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Response Elements ; Soybeans/genetics/microbiology ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Auxin is well known to be a key regulator that acts in almost all physiological processes during plant growth, and in interactions between plants and microbes. However, to date, the regulatory mechanisms underlying auxin-mediated plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi symbiosis have not been well deciphered. Previously we identified a GH3 gene, SlGH3.4, strongly responsive to both auxin induction and mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here, we reported a refined dissection of the SlGH3.4 promoter activity using the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter. The SlGH3.4 promoter could drive GUS expression strongly in mycorrhizal roots of soybean and rice plants, and in IAA-treated soybean roots, but not in IAA-treated rice roots. A promoter deletion assay revealed three cis-acting motifs, i.e. the auxin-responsive element, AuxRE, and two newly identified motifs named MYCRS1 and MYCRS2, involved in the activation of auxin- and AM-mediated expression of SlGH3.4. Deletion of the AuxRE from the SlGH3.4 promoter caused almost complete abolition of GUS staining in response to external IAA induction. Seven repeats of AuxRE fused to the Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S minimal promoter could direct GUS expression in both IAA-treated and AM fungal-colonized roots of tobacco plants. Four repeats of MYCRS1 or MYCRS2 fused to the CaMV35S minimal promoter was sufficient to drive GUS expression in arbuscule-containing cells, but not in IAA-treated tobacco roots. In summary, our results offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the potential cross-talk between the auxin and the AM regulatory pathways in modulating the expression of AM-responsive GH3 genes in diverse mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid28339125, year = {2017}, author = {Comba, P and Eisenschmidt, A and Gahan, LR and Herten, DP and Nette, G and Schenk, G and Seefeld, M}, title = {Is Cu[II] Coordinated to Patellamides inside Prochloron Cells?.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {23}, number = {50}, pages = {12264-12274}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201700895}, pmid = {28339125}, issn = {1521-3765}, abstract = {Dinuclear Cu[II] -patellamide complexes (patellamides are naturally occurring cyclic pseudo-octapeptides) are known to be efficient catalysts for hydrolysis reactions of biological importance, for example, those of phosphatase, carbonic anhydrase, and glycosidase. However, the biological role of patellamides is still unknown. Patellamides were originally extracted from the sea squirt Lissoclinum patella, but are now known to be ribosomally expressed by the blue-green algae Prochloron that live in symbiosis with L. patella. In a further step to unravel the metabolic significance of the patellamide complexes, the question as to whether these are also formed inside Prochloron cells is addressed. In this study, a biocompatible patellamide-fluorescent dye conjugate has been introduced into living Prochloron cells and, by means of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, it is shown that Cu[II] ions are coordinated to patellamides in vivo.}, } @article {pmid28338679, year = {2017}, author = {Cai, X and Nowak, S and Wesche, F and Bischoff, I and Kaiser, M and Fürst, R and Bode, HB}, title = {Entomopathogenic bacteria use multiple mechanisms for bioactive peptide library design.}, journal = {Nature chemistry}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {379-386}, doi = {10.1038/nchem.2671}, pmid = {28338679}, issn = {1755-4349}, mesh = {Biological Products/chemistry/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; *Peptide Library ; Peptides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The production of natural product compound libraries has been observed in nature for different organisms such as bacteria, fungi and plants; however, little is known about the mechanisms generating such chemically diverse libraries. Here we report mechanisms leading to the biosynthesis of the chemically diverse rhabdopeptide/xenortide peptides (RXPs). They are exclusively present in entomopathogenic bacteria of the genera Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus that live in symbiosis with nematodes delivering them to insect prey, which is killed and utilized for nutrition by both nematodes and bacteria. Chemical diversity of the biologically active RXPs results from a combination of iterative and flexible use of monomodular nonribosomal peptide synthetases including substrate promiscuity, enzyme cross-talk and enzyme stoichiometry as shown by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Together, this highlights several of nature's methods for diversification, or evolution, of natural products and sheds light on the biosynthesis of the bioactive RXPs.}, } @article {pmid28338677, year = {2017}, author = {Moitinho-Silva, L and Díez-Vives, C and Batani, G and Esteves, AI and Jahn, MT and Thomas, T}, title = {Integrated metabolism in sponge-microbe symbiosis revealed by genome-centered metatranscriptomics.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {1651-1666}, pmid = {28338677}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Despite an increased understanding of functions in sponge microbiomes, the interactions among the symbionts and between symbionts and host are not well characterized. Here we reconstructed the metabolic interactions within the sponge Cymbastela concentrica microbiome in the context of functional features of symbiotic diatoms and the host. Three genome bins (CcPhy, CcNi and CcThau) were recovered from metagenomic data of C. concentrica, belonging to the proteobacterial family Phyllobacteriaceae, the Nitrospira genus and the thaumarchaeal order Nitrosopumilales. Gene expression was estimated by mapping C. concentrica metatranscriptomic reads. Our analyses indicated that CcPhy is heterotrophic, while CcNi and CcThau are chemolithoautotrophs. CcPhy expressed many transporters for the acquisition of dissolved organic compounds, likely available through the sponge's filtration activity and symbiotic carbon fixation. Coupled nitrification by CcThau and CcNi was reconstructed, supported by the observed close proximity of the cells in fluorescence in situ hybridization. CcPhy facultative anaerobic respiration and assimilation by diatoms may consume the resulting nitrate. Transcriptional analysis of diatom and sponge functions indicated that these organisms are likely sources of organic compounds, for example, creatine/creatinine and dissolved organic carbon, for other members of the symbiosis. Our results suggest that organic nitrogen compounds, for example, creatine, creatinine, urea and cyanate, fuel the nitrogen cycle within the sponge. This study provides an unprecedented view of the metabolic interactions within sponge-microbe symbiosis, bridging the gap between cell- and community-level knowledge.}, } @article {pmid28337893, year = {2017}, author = {Gelardi, M and De Luca, C and Taliente, S and Fiorella, ML and Quaranta, N and Russo, C and Ciofalo, A and Macchi, A and Mancini, M and Rosso, P and Seccia, V and Guagnini, F and Ciprandi, G}, title = {Adjuvant treatment with a symbiotic in patients with inflammatory non-allergic rhinitis.}, journal = {Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {201-206}, pmid = {28337893}, issn = {0393-974X}, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/*administration & dosage ; Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic/*administration & dosage ; Administration, Intranasal ; Administration, Oral ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Bifidobacterium animalis/*immunology ; Combined Modality Therapy/methods ; Cyproheptadine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Female ; Histamine Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*immunology ; Male ; Mometasone Furoate/therapeutic use ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis/immunology/physiopathology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory non-allergic rhinitis (INAR) is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate and a non-IgE-mediated pathogenesis. This retrospective, controlled, multicentre study investigated whether a symbiotic, containing Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium lactis, and fructo-oligosaccharides (Pollagen®, Allergy Therapeutics, Italy), prescribed as adjunctive therapy to a standard pharmacological treatment, was able to reduce symptom severity, endoscopic features, and nasal cytology in 93 patients (49 males and 44 females, mean age 36.3±7.1 years) with INAR. The patients were treated with nasal corticosteroid, oral antihistamine, and isotonic saline. At randomization, 52 patients were treated also with symbiotic as adjunctive therapy, whereas the remaining 41 patients served as controls. Treatment lasted for 4 weeks. Patients were visited at baseline, after treatment, and after 4-week follow-up. Adjunctive symbiotic treatment significantly reduced the percentages of patients with symptoms and endoscopic signs, and diminished inflammatory cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that a symbiotic was able, as adjuvant treatment, to significantly improve symptoms, endoscopic feature, and cytology in patients with INAR, and its effect may be long lasting.}, } @article {pmid28336910, year = {2017}, author = {Plett, JM and Yin, H and Mewalal, R and Hu, R and Li, T and Ranjan, P and Jawdy, S and De Paoli, HC and Butler, G and Burch-Smith, TM and Guo, HB and Ju Chen, C and Kohler, A and Anderson, IC and Labbé, JL and Martin, F and Tuskan, GA and Yang, X}, title = {Populus trichocarpa encodes small, effector-like secreted proteins that are highly induced during mutualistic symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {382}, pmid = {28336910}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Laccaria/growth & development/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Populus/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During symbiosis, organisms use a range of metabolic and protein-based signals to communicate. Of these protein signals, one class is defined as 'effectors', i.e., small secreted proteins (SSPs) that cause phenotypical and physiological changes in another organism. To date, protein-based effectors have been described in aphids, nematodes, fungi and bacteria. Using RNA sequencing of Populus trichocarpa roots in mutualistic symbiosis with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor, we sought to determine if host plants also contain genes encoding effector-like proteins. We identified 417 plant-encoded putative SSPs that were significantly regulated during this interaction, including 161 SSPs specific to P. trichocarpa and 15 SSPs exhibiting expansion in Populus and closely related lineages. We demonstrate that a subset of these SSPs can enter L. bicolor hyphae, localize to the nucleus and affect hyphal growth and morphology. We conclude that plants encode proteins that appear to function as effector proteins that may regulate symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid28336178, year = {2017}, author = {Sudakaran, S and Kost, C and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Symbiont Acquisition and Replacement as a Source of Ecological Innovation.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {375-390}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2017.02.014}, pmid = {28336178}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nutritional symbionts play a major role in the ecology and evolution of insects. The recent accumulation of knowledge on the identity, function, genomics, and phylogenetic relationships of insect-bacteria symbioses provides the opportunity to assess the effects of symbiont acquisitions and replacements on the shift into novel ecological niches and subsequent lineage diversification. The megadiverse insect order Hemiptera presents a particularly large diversity of symbiotic associations that has frequently undergone shifts in symbiont localization and identity, which have contributed to the exploitation of nutritionally imbalanced diets such as plant saps or vertebrate blood. Here we review the known ecological and evolutionary implications of symbiont gains, switches, and replacements, and identify future research directions that can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of symbiosis as a major driving force of ecological adaptation.}, } @article {pmid28335814, year = {2017}, author = {Prazeres, M and Ainsworth, T and Roberts, TE and Pandolfi, JM and Leggat, W}, title = {Symbiosis and microbiome flexibility in calcifying benthic foraminifera of the Great Barrier Reef.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {38}, pmid = {28335814}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Coral Reefs ; Firmicutes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Foraminifera/genetics/*physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Chloroplast/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiosis is a phenomenon that allows organisms to colonise a wide range of environments and occupy a variety of ecological niches in marine environments. Large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are crucial marine calcifiers that rely on photo-endosymbionts for growth and calcification, yet the influence of environmental conditions in shaping their interactions with prokaryotic and eukaryotic associates is poorly known.

RESULTS: Here, we used next-generation sequencing to identify eukaryotic photosynthesizing and prokaryotic microbes associated with the common LBF Amphistegina lobifera across a physio-chemical gradient on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We collected samples from three reef sites located in the inner-, mid- and outer-shelf regions of the northern section of the GBR. Results showed the consistent presence of Bacillaryophyta as the main eukaryotic taxa associated with A. lobifera across all reef sites analysed; however, the abundance and the diversity of prokaryotic organisms varied among reef sites. Inner-shelf specimens showed the highest diversity of prokaryote associates, with a total of 231 genotypes in their core microbiome. A total of 30 taxa were identified in the core microbiome across all reef sites. Within these taxa, Proteobacteria was the most abundant bacteria present. The presence of groups such as Actinobacteria was significantly correlated with inner-shelf populations, whereas the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was associated with A. lobifera collected from mid- and outer-shelf reef sites.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that benthic foraminifera form stable and persistent symbiosis with eukaryotic partners, but flexible and site-specific associations with prokaryotic microbes that likely influence the ecological success of these crucial calcifying organisms on the GBR.}, } @article {pmid28334408, year = {2017}, author = {Bell-Dereske, L and Takacs-Vesbach, C and Kivlin, SN and Emery, SM and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Leaf endophytic fungus interacts with precipitation to alter belowground microbial communities in primary successional dunes.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28334408}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {P30 GM110907/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Biota ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Environment ; Epichloe/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding interactions between above- and belowground components of ecosystems is an important next step in community ecology. These interactions may be fundamental to predicting ecological responses to global change because indirect effects occurring through altered species interactions can outweigh or interact with the direct effects of environmental drivers. In a multiyear field experiment (2010-2015), we tested how experimental addition of a mutualistic leaf endophyte (Epichloë amarillans) associated with American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) interacted with an altered precipitation regime (±30%) to affect the belowground microbial community. Epichloë addition increased host root biomass at the plot scale, but reduced the length of extraradical arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal hyphae in the soil. Under ambient precipitation alone, the addition of Epichloë increased root biomass per aboveground tiller and reduced the diversity of AM fungi in A. breviligulata roots. Furthermore, with Epichloë added, the diversity of root-associated bacteria declined with higher soil moisture, whereas in its absence, bacterial diversity increased with higher soil moisture. Thus, the aboveground fungal mutualist not only altered the abundance and composition of belowground microbial communities but also affected how belowground communities responded to climate, suggesting that aboveground microbes have potential for cascading influences on community dynamics and ecosystem processes that occur belowground.}, } @article {pmid28334183, year = {2017}, author = {Zhang, YC and Lei, HX and Miao, NH and Liu, XD}, title = {Comparative Transcriptional Analysis of the Host-Specialized Aphids Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {110}, number = {2}, pages = {702-710}, doi = {10.1093/jee/tox029}, pmid = {28334183}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/physiology ; Cucurbitaceae/growth & development ; Gossypium/growth & development ; Herbivory ; Insect Proteins/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Vigna/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Host specialization is an ubiquitous character in aphid populations. Many polyphagous aphid populations usually consist of several subpopulations that have strong fidelity to a specific host or a subset of host range. Host specialization is an evolutional result of food habit of insects. However, genetic basis and molecular mechanism of host specialization are still unclear. In this study, we presented a comparative analysis on global gene expression profiles of three lineages of Aphis gossypii Glover: cotton-specialized (CO), cucurbit-specialized (CU), and CU reared on cowpea (CU-cowpea), using RNA-Seq method. More than 157 million clean reads and 38,398 different unigenes were generated from transcriptomes of these three aphid lineages. The 1,106 down- and 2,835 up-regulated genes were found between CO and CU, and 812 down- and 14,492 up-regulated genes between CU-cowpea and CU. Differentially expressed genes between CO and CU were enriched in sugar metabolism, immune system process, pathogen infection or symbiosis, and salivary secretion. Genes associated with cytochrome P450, major facilitator superfamily, and salivary effector were differentially expressed between CO and CU, which might be involved in determining host specialization. UDP-glycosyltransferases genes were sensitive to host shift. Carboxylesterases and digestion-related protease genes were related to both the host specialization and host shift of aphids. Expression levels of 22 out of 24 genes of CO and CU measured by RT-qPCR method were as similar as the results from RNA-seq method. This study provides a road map for future study on molecular mechanism of host specialization in aphids.}, } @article {pmid28334162, year = {2017}, author = {Paz, LC and Schramm, A and Lund, MB}, title = {Biparental transmission of Verminephrobacter symbionts in the earthworm Aporrectodea tuberculata (Lumbricidae).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix025}, pmid = {28334162}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Comamonadaceae/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most lumbricid earthworms harbor species-specific Verminephrobacter symbionts in their excretory organs (nephridia). These symbionts are vertically transmitted via the cocoon, where they colonize the embryos. Despite cospeciation for >100 million years with their hosts, Verminephrobacter lack genome reduction and AT bias typical of evolutionary old, vertically transmitted symbionts, caused by recurring bottlenecks. We hypothesized that biparental symbiont transmission into the cocoon enabled genetic mixing and relieved the bottleneck, and tested biparental transmission experimentally for V. aporrectodeae subsp. tuberculata, the specific symbiont of the earthworm Aporrectodea tuberculata, for which aposymbiotic worm lines are available. Virgin symbiotic and aposymbiotic adult worms were tagged, mated in pairs, separated before the start of cocoon production and their offspring assessed for Verminephrobacter. Specific PCR detected the symbionts in 41.5% of 188 juveniles produced by 20 aposymbiotic worms; fluorescence in situ hybridization showed a patchy but successful colonization of their nephridia. Symbionts were present in the mucus but absent in feed, soil, and spermatophora/nephridia of the aposymbiotic partner, suggesting symbiont transfer via mucus during mating. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that genome evolution in Verminephrobacter is distinct from other vertical-ly transmitted symbionts due to genetic mixing during transmission, partially facilitated by biparental transmission.}, } @article {pmid28334155, year = {2017}, author = {Dall'Agnol, RF and Bournaud, C and de Faria, SM and Béna, G and Moulin, L and Hungria, M}, title = {Genetic diversity of symbiotic Paraburkholderia species isolated from nodules of Mimosa pudica (L.) and Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) grown in soils of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fix027}, pmid = {28334155}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Brazil ; Cupriavidus/classification ; *Forests ; *Genetic Variation ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some species of the genus Paraburkholderia that are able to nodulate and fix nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes are called β-rhizobia and represent a group of ecological and biotechnological importance. We used Mimosa pudica and Phaseolus vulgaris to trap 427 rhizobial isolates from rhizospheric soil of Mimoseae trees in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Eighty-four representative strains were selected according to the 16S rRNA haplotypes and taxonomically characterized using a concatenated 16S rRNA-recA phylogeny. Most strains were assembled in the genus Paraburkholderia, including Paraburkholderia sabiae and Pa. nodosa. Mesorhizobium (α-rhizobia) and Cupriavidus (β-rhizobia) were also isolated, but in smaller proportions. Multilocus sequence analysis and BOX-PCR analyses indicated that six clusters of Paraburkholderia represent potential new species. In the phylogenetic analysis of the nodC gene, the majority of the strains were positioned in the same groups as in the 16S rRNA-recA tree, indicative of stability and vertical inheritance, but we also identified horizontal transfer of nodC in Pa. sabiae. All α- and β-rhizobial species were trapped by both legumes, although preferences of the host plants for specific rhizobial species have been observed.}, } @article {pmid28333444, year = {2017}, author = {Klanjšček, T and Muller, EB and Holden, PA and Nisbet, RM}, title = {Host-Symbiont Interaction Model Explains Non-monotonic Response of Soybean Growth and Seed Production to Nano-CeO2 Exposure.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {51}, number = {9}, pages = {4944-4950}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6b06618}, pmid = {28333444}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Fabaceae ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Seeds ; *Soybeans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent nanotoxicity studies have demonstrated non-monotonic dose-response mechanisms for planted soybean that have a symbiotic relationship with bacteroids in their root nodules: reduction of growth and seed production was greater for low, as compared to high, exposures. To investigate mechanistic underpinnings of the observed patterns, we formulated an energy budget model coupled to a toxicokinetic module describing bioaccumulation, and two toxicodynamic modules describing toxic effects on host plant and symbionts. By fitting data on plants exposed to engineered CeO2 nanoparticles to the newly formulated model, we show that the non-monotonic patterns can be explained as the interaction of two, individually monotonic, dose-response processes: one for the plant and the other for the symbiont. We further validate the newly formulated model by showing that, without the need for additional parameters, the model successfully predicts changes in dinitrogen fixation potential as a function of exposure (dinitrogen fixation potential data not used in model fitting). The symbiont buffers overall toxicity only when, in the absence of exposure to a toxicant, it has a parasitic interaction with the host plant. If the interaction is mutualistic or commensal, there is no buffering and only monotonic toxic responses are possible. Because the model is based on general biological principles, we expect it to be applicable to other similar symbiotic systems, especially other nodule-forming legumes.}, } @article {pmid28333317, year = {2017}, author = {Hawkins, JP and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {Characterisation of a gene encoding a membrane protein that affects exopolysaccharide production and intracellular Mg2+ concentrations in Ensifer meliloti.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {364}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnx061}, pmid = {28333317}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Cytosol/chemistry ; Deoxycholic Acid/pharmacology ; Galactans/*biosynthesis ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glucans/*biosynthesis ; Magnesium/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Rhizobiaceae/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Exopolysaccharides play an important role in the physiology of a bacterial cell. Ensifer meliloti is capable of producing at least two types of exopolysaccharides (EPS): succinoglycan and galactoglucan. In E. meliloti, EPS are best known for their role in mediating interaction with its symbiotic hosts. It was previously shown that high concentrations of Mg2+ or K+ were capable of suppressing the mucoid phenotype associated with galactoglucan production in an expR+ derivative of Rm1021. In an attempt to determine how Mg2+ regulates galactoglucan production, SRmD363 was mutagenised and screened for mutants which were visibly mucoid at high concentrations of magnesium. Tn5 mutations in genes exoX, emmB, phoC and SMc00722 were isolated. SMc00722 is annotated as a hypothetical transmembrane protein that is conserved in the α-proteobacteria. Characterisation of SMc00722 in Rm1021 showed that the increased mucoidy was due to succinoglycan. Strains carrying mutations in SMc00722 showed increased biofilm production, and were more sensitive to high Mg2+ concentrations and deoxycholate. In addition, we show that strains carrying a mutation in SMc00722 have elevated intracellular Mg2+ concentrations. Taken together, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that SMc0722 may play a role in maintaining intracellular magnesium concentration, and we suggest that this gene be tentatively annotated as mhrA (magnesium homeostasis related).}, } @article {pmid28333211, year = {2017}, author = {Cheng, G and Karunakaran, R and East, AK and Munoz-Azcarate, O and Poole, PS}, title = {Glutathione affects the transport activity of Rhizobium leguminosarum 3841 and is essential for efficient nodulation.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {364}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {28333211}, issn = {1574-6968}, support = {BB/J007749/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J007749/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glutathione/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Glutathione Synthase/genetics ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Peas/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics/*metabolism ; Succinic Acid/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As glutathione (GSH) plays an essential role in growth and symbiotic capacity of rhizobia, a glutathione synthetase (gshB) mutant of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae 3841 (Rlv3841) was characterised. It fails to efficiently utilise various compounds as a sole carbon source, including glucose, succinate, glutamine and histidine, and shows 60%-69% reduction in uptake rates of glucose, succinate and the non-metabolisable substrate α-amino isobutyric acid. The defect in glucose uptake can be overcome by addition of exogenous GSH, indicating GSH, but not its bacterial synthesis, is required for efficient transport. GSH is not involved in the regulation of the activity of Rlv3841's transporters via the global regulator of transport, PtsNTR. Although lack of GSH reduces transcription of the branched amino acid transporter, this was not the case for all uptake transport systems, for example, the amino acid permease. This suggests GSH alters activity and/or assembly of transport systems by an unknown mechanism. In interaction with plants, the gshB mutant is not only severely impaired in rhizosphere colonisation, but also shows a 50% reduction in dry weight of plants and nitrogen-fixation ability. This reveals that changes in GSH metabolism affect the bacterial-plant interactions required for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28331229, year = {2017}, author = {Li, Q and Ding, G and Li, B and Guo, SX}, title = {Transcriptome Analysis of Genes Involved in Dendrobine Biosynthesis in Dendrobium nobile Lindl. Infected with Mycorrhizal Fungus MF23 (Mycena sp.).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {316}, pmid = {28331229}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agaricales/*growth & development ; Alkaloids/*biosynthesis ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Dendrobium/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*growth & development ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Content determination and microscopic observation proved that dendrobine accumulation in the stem of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. increased after infection with mycorrhizal fungus MF23 (Mycena sp.). Large-scale transcriptome sequencing of symbiotic and asymbiotic D. nobile revealed that 30 unigenes encoding proteins were possibly related to the biosynthesis of dendrobine sesquiterpene backbone. A qRT-PCR experiment of 16 unigenes, selected randomly, proved that there were significant changes in the expression levels of AACT, MVD, PMK and TPS21 at 9 weeks after inoculation. These results implied that MF23 might stimulate dendrobine biosynthesis by regulating the expressions of genes involved in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. The biogenetic pathway of dendrobine was suggested systematically according to the structural features of dendrobine alkaloids and their sesquiterpene precursors, which implied that post-modification enzymes might play a major role in dendrobine biosynthesis. Thus, genes encoding post-modification enzymes, including cytochrome P450, aminotransferase and methyltransferase, were screened for their possible involvement in dendrobine biosynthesis. This study provides a good example of endophytes promoting the formation of bioactive compounds in their host and paves the way for further investigation of the dendrobine biosynthetic pathway.}, } @article {pmid28330923, year = {2017}, author = {Dornelas, M and Madin, JS and Baird, AH and Connolly, SR}, title = {Allometric growth in reef-building corals.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1851}, pages = {}, pmid = {28330923}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {Predicting demographic rates is a critical part of forecasting the future of ecosystems under global change. Here, we test if growth rates can be predicted from morphological traits for a highly diverse group of colonial symbiotic organisms: scleractinian corals. We ask whether growth is isometric or allometric among corals, and whether most variation in coral growth rates occurs at the level of the species or morphological group. We estimate growth as change in planar area for 11 species, across five morphological groups and over 5 years. We show that coral growth rates are best predicted from colony size and morphology rather than species. Coral size follows a power scaling law with a constant exponent of 0.91. Despite being colonial organisms, corals have consistent allometric scaling in growth. This consistency simplifies the task of projecting community responses to disturbance and climate change.}, } @article {pmid28327966, year = {2017}, author = {Tassone, EE and Cowden, CC and Castle, SJ}, title = {De novo transcriptome assemblies of four xylem sap-feeding insects.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {1-4}, pmid = {28327966}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; Feeding Behavior ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Hemiptera/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Insect Vectors/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/parasitology ; Species Specificity ; *Transcriptome ; Xylella/physiology ; Xylem/microbiology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Spittle bugs and sharpshooters are well-known xylem sap-feeding insects and vectors of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Wells), a causal agent of Pierce's disease of grapevines and other crop diseases. Specialized feeding on nutrient-deficient xylem sap is relatively rare among insect herbivores, and only limited genomic and transcriptomic information has been generated for xylem-sap feeders. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of biochemical adaptations and symbiotic relationships that support survival on a nutritionally austere dietary source, transcriptome assemblies for three sharpshooter species and one spittlebug species were produced.

FINDINGS: Trinity-based de novo transcriptome assemblies were generated for all four xylem-sap feeders using raw sequencing data originating from whole-insect preps. Total transcripts for each species ranged from 91 384 for Cuerna arida to 106 998 for Homalodisca liturata with transcript totals for Graphocephala atropunctata and the spittlebug Clastoptera arizonana falling in between. The percentage of transcripts comprising complete open reading frames ranged from 60% for H. liturata to 82% for C. arizonana. Bench-marking universal single-copy orthologs analyses for each dataset indicated quality assemblies and a high degree of completeness for all four species.

CONCLUSIONS: These four transcriptomes represent a significant expansion of data for insect herbivores that feed exclusively on xylem sap, a nutritionally deficient dietary source relative to other plant tissues and fluids. Comparison of transcriptome data with insect herbivores that utilize other dietary sources may illuminate fundamental differences in the biochemistry of dietary specialization.}, } @article {pmid28327890, year = {2017}, author = {Dong, X and Armstrong, SD and Xia, D and Makepeace, BL and Darby, AC and Kadowaki, T}, title = {Draft genome of the honey bee ectoparasitic mite, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, is shaped by the parasitic life history.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {1-17}, pmid = {28327890}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Acari/*genetics ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bees/*parasitology ; Computational Biology/methods ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genome ; Genomics/methods ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {The number of managed honey bee colonies has considerably decreased in many developed countries in recent years and ectoparasitic mites are considered as major threats to honey bee colonies and health. However, their general biology remains poorly understood. We sequenced the genome of Tropilaelaps mercedesae, the prevalent ectoparasitic mite infesting honey bees in Asia, and predicted 15 190 protein-coding genes that were well supported by the mite transcriptomes and proteomic data. Although amino acid substitutions have been accelerated within the conserved core genes of two mites, T. mercedesae and Metaseiulus occidentalis, T. mercedesae has undergone the least gene family expansion and contraction between the seven arthropods we tested. The number of sensory system genes has been dramatically reduced, but T. mercedesae contains all gene sets required to detoxify xenobiotics. T. mercedesae is closely associated with a symbiotic bacterium (Rickettsiella grylli-like) and Deformed Wing Virus, the most prevalent honey bee virus. T. mercedesae has a very specialized life history and habitat as the ectoparasitic mite strictly depends on the honey bee inside a stable colony. Thus, comparison of the genome and transcriptome sequences with those of a tick and free-living mites has revealed the specific features of the genome shaped by interaction with the honey bee and colony environment. Genome and transcriptome sequences of T. mercedesae, as well as Varroa destructor (another globally prevalent ectoparasitic mite of honey bee), not only provide insights into the mite biology, but may also help to develop measures to control the most serious pests of the honey bee.}, } @article {pmid28326078, year = {2017}, author = {Nicks, T and Rahn-Lee, L}, title = {Inside Out: Archaeal Ectosymbionts Suggest a Second Model of Reduced-Genome Evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {384}, pmid = {28326078}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Reduced-genome symbionts and their organelle counterparts, which have even smaller genomes, are essential to the lives of many organisms. But how and why have these genomes become so small? Endosymbiotic genome reduction is a product of isolation within the host, followed by massive pseudogenization and gene loss often including DNA repair mechanisms. This phenomenon can be observed in insect endosymbionts such as the bacteria Carsonella ruddii and Buchnera aphidicola. Yet endosymbionts are not the only organisms with reduced genomes. Thermophilic microorganisms experience selective pressures that cause their genomes to become more compact and efficient. Nanoarchaea are thermophilic archaeal ectosymbionts that live on the surface of archaeal hosts. Their genomes, a full order of magnitude smaller than the Escherichia coli genome, are very small and efficient. How have the genomes of nanoarchaea and late-stage insect endosymbionts, which live in drastically different environments, come to mirror each other in both genome size and efficiency? Because of their growth at extreme temperatures and their exterior association with their host, nanoarchaea appear to have experienced genome reduction differently than mesophilic insect endosymbionts. We suggest that habitat-specific mechanisms of genome reduction result in fundamentally different pathways for these two groups of organisms. With this assertion, we propose two pathways of symbiosis-driven genome reduction; isolation-symbiosis experienced by insect endosymbionts and thermal-symbiosis experienced by nanoarchaea.}, } @article {pmid28326066, year = {2017}, author = {Peixoto, RS and Rosado, PM and Leite, DC and Rosado, AS and Bourne, DG}, title = {Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMC): Proposed Mechanisms for Coral Health and Resilience.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {341}, pmid = {28326066}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic association between the coral animal and its endosymbiotic dinoflagellate partner Symbiodinium is central to the success of corals. However, an array of other microorganisms associated with coral (i.e., Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, and viruses) have a complex and intricate role in maintaining homeostasis between corals and Symbiodinium. Corals are sensitive to shifts in the surrounding environmental conditions. One of the most widely reported responses of coral to stressful environmental conditions is bleaching. During this event, corals expel Symbiodinium cells from their gastrodermal tissues upon experiencing extended seawater temperatures above their thermal threshold. An array of other environmental stressors can also destabilize the coral microbiome, resulting in compromised health of the host, which may include disease and mortality in the worst scenario. However, the exact mechanisms by which the coral microbiome supports coral health and increases resilience are poorly understood. Earlier studies of coral microbiology proposed a coral probiotic hypothesis, wherein a dynamic relationship exists between corals and their symbiotic microorganisms, selecting for the coral holobiont that is best suited for the prevailing environmental conditions. Here, we discuss the microbial-host relationships within the coral holobiont, along with their potential roles in maintaining coral health. We propose the term BMC (Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals) to define (specific) symbionts that promote coral health. This term and concept are analogous to the term Plant Growth Promoting Rhizosphere (PGPR), which has been widely explored and manipulated in the agricultural industry for microorganisms that inhabit the rhizosphere and directly or indirectly promote plant growth and development through the production of regulatory signals, antibiotics and nutrients. Additionally, we propose and discuss the potential mechanisms of the effects of BMC on corals, suggesting strategies for the use of this knowledge to manipulate the microbiome, reversing dysbiosis to restore and protect coral reefs. This may include developing and using BMC consortia as environmental "probiotics" to improve coral resistance after bleaching events and/or the use of BMC with other strategies such as human-assisted acclimation/adaption to shifting environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid28324254, year = {2017}, author = {Saraceni, AV and Resende, LM and de Andrade Júnior, PP and Pontes, J}, title = {Pilot testing model to uncover industrial symbiosis in Brazilian industrial clusters.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {11618-11629}, pmid = {28324254}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Brazil ; Fuzzy Logic ; *Industry ; Models, Theoretical ; Pilot Projects ; }, abstract = {The main objective of this study was to create a pilot model to uncover industrial symbiosis practices in Brazilian industrial clusters. For this purpose, a systematic revision was conducted in journals selected from two categories of the ISI Web of Knowledge: Engineering, Environmental and Engineering, Industrial. After an in-depth revision of literature, results allowed the creation of an analysis structure. A methodology based on fuzzy logic was applied and used to attribute the weights of industrial symbiosis variables. It was thus possible to extract the intensity indicators of the interrelations required to analyse the development level of each correlation between the variables. Determination of variables and their weights initially resulted in a framework for the theory of industrial symbiosis assessments. Research results allowed the creation of a pilot model that could precisely identify the loopholes or development levels in each sphere. Ontology charts for data analysis were also generated. This study contributes to science by presenting the foundations for building an instrument that enables application and compilation of the pilot model, in order to identify opportunity to symbiotic development, which derives from "uncovering" existing symbioses.}, } @article {pmid28323446, year = {2017}, author = {Rangel, WM and de Oliveira Longatti, SM and Ferreira, PAA and Bonaldi, DS and Guimarães, AA and Thijs, S and Weyens, N and Vangronsveld, J and Moreira, FMS}, title = {Leguminosae native nodulating bacteria from a gold mine As-contaminated soil: Multi-resistance to trace elements, and possible role in plant growth and mineral nutrition.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {925-936}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2017.1303812}, pmid = {28323446}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Arsenic/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gold ; Minerals ; Mining ; Plant Development ; Plants ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Trace Elements ; }, abstract = {Efficient N2-fixing Leguminosae nodulating bacteria resistant to As may facilitate plant growth on As-contaminated sites. In order to identify bacteria holding these features, 24 strains were isolated from nodules of the trap species Crotalaria spectabilis (12) and Stizolobium aterrimum (12) growing on an As-contaminated gold mine site. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that most of the strains belonged to the group of α-Proteobacteria, being representatives of the genera Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Inquilinus, Labrys, Bosea, Starkeya, and Methylobacterium. Strains of the first four genera showed symbiotic efficiency with their original host, and demonstrated in vitro specific plant-growth-promoting (PGP) traits (production of organic acids, indole-3-acetic-acid and siderophores, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity, and Ca3(PO4)2 solubilization), and increased resistance to As, Zn, and Cd. In addition, these strains and some type and reference rhizobia strains exhibited a wide resistance spectrum to β-lactam antibiotics. Both intrinsic PGP abilities and multi-element resistance of rhizobia are promising for exploiting the symbiosis with different legume plants on trace-element-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid28323278, year = {2017}, author = {Biquand, E and Okubo, N and Aihara, Y and Rolland, V and Hayward, DC and Hatta, M and Minagawa, J and Maruyama, T and Takahashi, S}, title = {Acceptable symbiont cell size differs among cnidarian species and may limit symbiont diversity.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {1702-1712}, pmid = {28323278}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Cell Size ; Dinoflagellida/*cytology/physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals form symbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. Symbiodinium are genetically and physiologically diverse, and corals may be able to adapt to different environments by altering their dominant Symbiodinium phylotype. Notably, each coral species associates only with specific Symbiodinium phylotypes, and consequently the diversity of symbionts available to the host is limited by the species specificity. Currently, it is widely presumed that species specificity is determined by the combination of cell-surface molecules on the host and symbiont. Here we show experimental evidence supporting a new model to explain at least part of the specificity in coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis. Using the laboratory model Aiptasia-Symbiodinium system, we found that symbiont infectivity is related to cell size; larger Symbiodinium phylotypes are less likely to establish a symbiotic relationship with the host Aiptasia. This size dependency is further supported by experiments where symbionts were replaced by artificial fluorescent microspheres. Finally, experiments using two different coral species demonstrate that our size-dependent-infection model can be expanded to coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis, with the acceptability of large-sized Symbiodinium phylotypes differing between two coral species. Thus the selectivity of the host for symbiont cell size can affect the diversity of symbionts in corals.}, } @article {pmid28322330, year = {2017}, author = {Xiang, X and Wang, R and Wang, H and Gong, L and Man, B and Xu, Y}, title = {Distribution of Bathyarchaeota Communities Across Different Terrestrial Settings and Their Potential Ecological Functions.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {45028}, pmid = {28322330}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Archaea/*classification/*genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Computational Biology/methods ; *Ecosystem ; Environment ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {High abundance and widespread distribution of the archaeal phylum Bathyarchaeota in marine environment have been recognized recently, but knowledge about Bathyarchaeota in terrestrial settings and their correlation with environmental parameters is fairly limited. Here we reported the abundance of Bathyarchaeota members across different ecosystems and their correlation with environmental factors by constructing 16S rRNA clone libraries of peat from the Dajiuhu Peatland, coupling with bioinformatics analysis of 16S rRNA data available to date in NCBI database. In total, 1456 Bathyarchaeota sequences from 28 sites were subjected to UniFrac analysis based on phylogenetic distance and multivariate regression tree analysis of taxonomy. Both phylogenetic and taxon-based approaches showed that salinity, total organic carbon and temperature significantly influenced the distribution of Bathyarchaeota across different terrestrial habitats. By applying the ecological concept of 'indicator species', we identify 9 indicator groups among the 6 habitats with the most in the estuary sediments. Network analysis showed that members of Bathyarchaeota formed the "backbone" of archaeal community and often co-occurred with Methanomicrobia. These results suggest that Bathyarchaeota may play an important ecological role within archaeal communities via a potential symbiotic association with Methanomicrobia. Our results shed light on understanding of the biogeography, potential functions of Bathyarchaeota and environment conditions that influence Bathyarchaea distribution in terrestrial settings.}, } @article {pmid28321010, year = {2017}, author = {Pramono, AK and Kuwahara, H and Itoh, T and Toyoda, A and Yamada, A and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Discovery and Complete Genome Sequence of a Bacteriophage from an Obligate Intracellular Symbiont of a Cellulolytic Protist in the Termite Gut.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {112-117}, pmid = {28321010}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Eukaryota/*virology ; Genome, Viral ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termites depend nutritionally on their gut microbes, and protistan, bacterial, and archaeal gut communities have been extensively studied. However, limited information is available on viruses in the termite gut. We herein report the complete genome sequence (99,517 bp) of a phage obtained during a genome analysis of "Candidatus Azobacteroides pseudotrichonymphae" phylotype ProJPt-1, which is an obligate intracellular symbiont of the cellulolytic protist Pseudotrichonympha sp. in the gut of the termite Prorhinotermes japonicus. The genome of the phage, designated ProJPt-Bp1, was circular or circularly permuted, and was not integrated into the two circular chromosomes or five circular plasmids composing the host ProJPt-1 genome. The phage was putatively affiliated with the order Caudovirales based on sequence similarities with several phage-related genes; however, most of the 52 protein-coding sequences had no significant homology to sequences in the databases. The phage genome contained a tRNA-Gln (CAG) gene, which showed the highest sequence similarity to the tRNA-Gln (CAA) gene of the host "Ca. A. pseudotrichonymphae" phylotype ProJPt-1. Since the host genome lacked a tRNA-Gln (CAG) gene, the phage tRNA gene may compensate for differences in codon usage bias between the phage and host genomes. The phage genome also contained a non-coding region with high nucleotide sequence similarity to a region in one of the host plasmids. No other phage-related sequences were found in the host ProJPt-1 genome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a phage from an obligate, mutualistic endosymbiont permanently associated with eukaryotic cells.}, } @article {pmid28321006, year = {2017}, author = {Habibi, S and Ayubi, AG and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Sekimoto, H and Yokoyama, T}, title = {Genetic Characterization of Soybean Rhizobia Isolated from Different Ecological Zones in North-Eastern Afghanistan.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {71-79}, pmid = {28321006}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Afghanistan ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Seventy rhizobial isolates were obtained from the root nodules of two soybean (Glycine max) cultivars: Japanese cultivar Enrei and USA cultivar Stine3300, which were inoculated with different soil samples from Afghanistan. In order to study the genetic properties of the isolates, the DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and symbiotic genes (nodD1 and nifD) were elucidated. Furthermore, the isolates were inoculated into the roots of two soybean cultivars, and root nodule numbers and nitrogen fixation abilities were subsequently evaluated in order to assess symbiotic performance. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the Afghanistan isolates obtained from soybean root nodules were classified into two genera, Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer. Bradyrhizobium isolates accounted for 54.3% (38) of the isolates, and these isolates had a close relationship with Bradyrhizobium liaoningense and B. yuanmingense. Five out of the 38 Bradyrhizobium isolates showed a novel lineage for B. liaoningense and B. yuanmingense. Thirty-two out of the 70 isolates were identified as Ensifer fredii. An Ensifer isolate had identical nodD1 and nifD sequences to those in B. yuanmingense. This result indicated that the horizontal gene transfer of symbiotic genes occurred from Bradyrhizobium to Ensifer in Afghanistan soil. The symbiotic performance of the 14 tested isolates from the root nodules of the two soybean cultivars indicated that Bradyrhizobium isolates exhibited stronger acetylene reduction activities than Ensifer isolates. This is the first study to genetically characterize soybean-nodulating rhizobia in Afghanistan soil.}, } @article {pmid28317562, year = {2017}, author = {Samaranayake, L and Matsubara, VH}, title = {Normal Oral Flora and the Oral Ecosystem.}, journal = {Dental clinics of North America}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, pages = {199-215}, doi = {10.1016/j.cden.2016.11.002}, pmid = {28317562}, issn = {1558-0512}, mesh = {*Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The oral ecosystem comprises the oral flora, so-called oral microbiome, the different anatomic microniches of the oral cavity, and its bathing fluid, saliva. The oral microbiome comprises a group of organisms and includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. The oral microbiome exists suspended in saliva as planktonic phase organisms or attached to oral surfaces as a plaque biofilm. Homeostasis of the plaque biofilm and its symbiotic relationship with the host is critical for oral health. Disequilibrium or dysbiosis within the plaque biofilms is the initiating event that leads to major oral diseases, such as caries and periodontal disease.}, } @article {pmid28316045, year = {2017}, author = {Du, C and Cui, CW and Qiu, S and Shi, SN and Li, A and Ma, F}, title = {Nitrogen removal and microbial community shift in an aerobic denitrification reactor bioaugmented with a Pseudomonas strain for coal-based ethylene glycol industry wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {11435-11445}, pmid = {28316045}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Coal ; *Denitrification ; Ethylene Glycol/chemistry ; Nitrogen/*chemistry ; *Pseudomonas ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {An aerobic denitrification system, initially bioaugmented with Pseudomonas strain T13, was established to treat coal-based ethylene glycol industry wastewater, which contained 3219 ± 86 mg/L total nitrogen (TN) and 1978 ± 14 mg/L NO3[-]-N. In the current study, a stable denitrification efficiency of 53.7 ± 4.7% and nitrite removal efficiency of 40.1 ± 2.7% were achieved at different diluted influent concentrations. Toxicity evaluation showed that a lower toxicity of effluent was achieved when industry wastewater was treated by stuffing biofilm communities compared to suspended communities. Relatively high TN removal (~50%) and chemical oxygen demand removal percentages (>65%) were obtained when the influent concentration was controlled at below 50% of the raw industry wastewater. However, a further increased concentration led to a 20-30% decrease in nitrate and nitrite removal. Microbial network evaluation showed that a reduction in Pseudomonas abundance was induced during the succession of the microbial community. The napA gene analysis indicated that the decrease in nitrate and nitrite removal happened when abundance of Pseudomonas was reduced to less than 10% of the overall stuffing biofilm communities. Meanwhile, other denitrifying bacteria, such as Paracoccus, Brevundimonas, and Brucella, were subsequently enriched through symbiosis in the whole microbial network.}, } @article {pmid28315955, year = {2017}, author = {Perez, LI and Gundel, PE and Marrero, HJ and Arzac, AG and Omacini, M}, title = {Symbiosis with systemic fungal endophytes promotes host escape from vector-borne disease.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {184}, number = {1}, pages = {237-245}, pmid = {28315955}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Endophytes ; Epichloe ; Herbivory ; Poaceae/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants interact with a myriad of microorganisms that modulate their interactions within the community. A well-described example is the symbiosis between grasses and Epichloë fungal endophytes that protects host plants from herbivores. It is suggested that these symbionts could play a protective role for plants against pathogens through the regulation of their growth and development and/or the induction of host defences. However, other endophyte-mediated ecological mechanisms involved in disease avoidance have been scarcely explored. Here we studied the endophyte impact on plant disease caused by the biotrophic fungus, Claviceps purpurea, under field conditions through (1) changes in the survival of the pathogen´s resistance structure (sclerotia) during overwintering on the soil surface, and (2) effects on insects responsible for the transportation of pathogen spores. This latter mechanism is tested through a visitor exclusion treatment and the measurement of plant volatile cues. We found no significant effects of the endophyte on the survival of sclerotia and thus on disease inocula. However, both pathogen incidence and severity were twofold lower in endophyte-symbiotic plants than in non-symbiotic ones, though when insect visits were prevented this difference disappeared. Endophyte-symbiotic and non-symbiotic plots presented different emission patterns of volatiles suggesting that they can play a role in this protection. We show a novel indirect ecological mechanism by which endophytes can defend host grasses against diseases through negatively interacting with intermediary vectors of the epidemic process.}, } @article {pmid28315039, year = {2017}, author = {Meyin A Ebong, S and García-Peña, GE and Pluot-Sigwalt, D and Marsollier, L and Le Gall, P and Eyangoh, S and Guégan, JF}, title = {Ecology and Feeding Habits Drive Infection of Water Bugs with Mycobacterium ulcerans.}, journal = {EcoHealth}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {329-341}, pmid = {28315039}, issn = {1612-9210}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Buruli Ulcer/*microbiology/transmission ; Cameroon ; Humans ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Mycobacterium ulcerans/*pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, is present in a wide spectrum of environments, including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in tropical regions. The most promising studies on the epidemiological risk of this disease suggest that some ecological settings may favor infection of animals with MU including human. A species' needs and impacts on resources and the environment, i.e., its ecological niche, may influence its susceptibility to be infected by this microbial form. For example, some Naucoridae may dive in fresh waters to prey upon infected animals and thus may get infected with MU. However, these studies have rarely considered that inference on the ecological settings favoring infection and transmission may be confounded because host carrier sister species have similar ecological niches, and potentially the same host-microbe interactions. Hence, a relationship between the ecological niche of Naucoridae and its infection with MU may be due to a symbiotic relationship between the host and the pathogen, rather than its ecological niche. To account for this confounding effect, we investigated the relationships between surrogates of the ecological niche of water bug species and their susceptibility to MU, by performing phylogenetic comparative analyses on a large dataset of 11 families of water bugs collected in 10 different sites across Cameroon, central Africa. Our results indicate that MU circulates and infects a couple of host taxa, i.e., Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, living both in the aquatic vegetation and as predators inside the trophic network and sister species of water bugs have indeed similar host-microbe interactions with MU.}, } @article {pmid28314899, year = {2017}, author = {Sneck, ME and Rudgers, JA and Young, CA and Miller, TEX}, title = {Variation in the Prevalence and Transmission of Heritable Symbionts Across Host Populations in Heterogeneous Environments.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {3}, pages = {640-653}, pmid = {28314899}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Arkansas ; Elymus/*microbiology/physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Environment ; Midwestern United States ; Southwestern United States ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heritable microbes are abundant in nature and influential to their hosts and the communities in which they reside. However, drivers of variability in the prevalence of heritable symbionts and their rates of transmission are poorly resolved, particularly across host populations experiencing variable biotic and abiotic environments. To fill these gaps, we surveyed 25 populations of two native grasses (Elymus virginicus and Elymus canadensis) across the southern Great Plains (USA). Both grass species host heritable endophytic fungi (genus Epichloё) and can hybridize where their ranges overlap. From a subset of hosts, we characterized endophyte genotype using genetic loci that link to bioactive alkaloid production. First, we found mean vertical transmission rates and population-level prevalence were positively correlated, specifically for E. virginicus. However, both endophyte prevalence and transmission varied substantially across populations and did not strongly correlate with abiotic variables, with one exception: endophyte prevalence decreased as drought stress decreased for E. virginicus hosts. Second, we evaluated the potential influence of biotic factors and found that, after accounting for climate, endophyte genotype explained significant variation in symbiont inheritance. We also contrasted populations where host species co-occurred in sympatry vs. allopatry. Sympatry could potentially increase interspecific hybridization, but this variable did not associate with patterns of symbiont prevalence or transmission success. Our results reveal substantial variability in symbiont prevalence and transmission across host populations and identify symbiont genotype, and to a lesser extent, the abiotic environment as sources of this variation.}, } @article {pmid28314780, year = {2017}, author = {Vendramin, R and Marine, JC and Leucci, E}, title = {Non-coding RNAs: the dark side of nuclear-mitochondrial communication.}, journal = {The EMBO journal}, volume = {36}, number = {9}, pages = {1123-1133}, pmid = {28314780}, issn = {1460-2075}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are critical hubs for the integration of several key metabolic processes implicated in cell growth and survival. They originated from bacterial ancestors through endosymbiosis, following the transfer of more than 90% of their endosymbiont genome to the host cell nucleus. Over time, a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship has been established, which relies on continuous and elaborate signaling mechanisms between this life-essential organelle and its host. The ability of mitochondria to signal their functional state and trigger compensatory and adaptive cellular responses has long been recognized, but the underlying molecular mechanisms involved have remained poorly understood. Recent evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) may contribute to the synchronization of a series of essential cellular and mitochondrial biological processes, acting as "messengers" between the nucleus and the mitochondria. Here, we discuss the emerging putative roles of ncRNAs in various bidirectional signaling pathways established between the host cell and its mitochondria, and how the dysregulation of these pathways may lead to aging-related diseases, including cancer, and offer new promising therapeutic avenues.}, } @article {pmid28314208, year = {2017}, author = {Rubio-Rincón, FJ and Welles, L and Lopez-Vazquez, CM and Nierychlo, M and Abbas, B and Geleijnse, M and Nielsen, PH and van Loosdrecht, MCM and Brdjanovic, D}, title = {Long-term effects of sulphide on the enhanced biological removal of phosphorus: The symbiotic role of Thiothrix caldifontis.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {53-64}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.017}, pmid = {28314208}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; Glycogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Sulfides ; *Thiothrix ; Time ; }, abstract = {Thiothrix caldifontis was the dominant microorganism (with an estimated bio-volume of 65 ± 3%) in a lab-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system containing 100 mg of sulphide per litre in the influent. After a gradual exposure to the presence of sulphide, the EBPR system initially dominated by Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis Clade I (98 ± 3% bio-volume) (a known polyphosphate accumulating organism, PAO) became enriched with T. caldifontis. Throughout the different operating conditions studied, practically 100% phosphate removal was always achieved. The gradual increase of the sulphide content in the medium (added to the anaerobic stage of the alternating anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor) and the adjustment of the aerobic hydraulic retention time played a major role in the enrichment of T. caldifontis. T. caldifontis exhibited a mixotrophic metabolism by storing carbon anaerobically as poly-β-hydroxy-alkanoates (PHA) and generating the required energy through the hydrolysis of polyphosphate. PHA was used in the aerobic period as carbon and energy source for growth, polyphosphate, and glycogen formation. Apparently, extra energy was obtained by the initial accumulation of sulphide as an intracellular sulphur, followed by its gradual oxidation to sulphate. The culture enriched with T. caldifontis was able to store approximately 100 mg P/g VSS. This research suggests that T. caldifontis could behave like PAO with a mixotrophic metabolism for phosphorus removal using an intracellular sulphur pool as energy source. These findings can be of major interest for the biological removal of phosphorus from wastewaters with low organic carbon concentrations containing reduced S-compounds like those (pre-)treated in anaerobic systems or from anaerobic sewers.}, } @article {pmid28314132, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, X and Teng, Y and Zhang, N and Christie, P and Li, Z and Luo, Y and Wang, J}, title = {Rhizobial symbiosis alleviates polychlorinated biphenyls-induced systematic oxidative stress via brassinosteroids signaling in alfalfa.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {592}, number = {}, pages = {68-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.066}, pmid = {28314132}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Antioxidants/physiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Brassinosteroids/*pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls/*adverse effects ; Rhizobium ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The role of symbiotic rhizobia in the alleviation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-induced phytotoxicity in alfalfa and the brassinosteroid (BR) hormone signaling involved were investigated during phytoremediation. The association between alfalfa and Sinorhizobium meliloti was adopted as a remediation model. Phytotoxicity due to PCB 77 (3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl) exerted adverse impacts on plant performance (biomass accumulation and photosynthesis) and elicited cellular oxidative stress (overproduction of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and cell necrosis) which was largely attenuated by pre-inoculation with S. meliloti strain NM. The protective role may have been achieved as a result of strengthening of basic antioxidant defense before stress as evidenced by the augmented activity and gene expression of antioxidative enzymes (peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) of both leaves and roots. In nodulated seedlings peroxidase showed additive increased activity following PCB exposure but the activities of the other four enzymes tended to remain stable after stress. Furthermore, application of strain NM and brassinolide both triggered the accumulation of endogenous BRs and the antioxidant network, while pre-treatment of seedlings with a biosynthetic inhibitor of BRs, brassinazole, abolished the rhizobia-induced activation of detoxification responses towards PCB. These observations indicate that association with S. meliloti NM enhanced the systemic antioxidant defenses of alfalfa to detoxify PCB, at least in part, via BR-dependent signaling pathways. These results contribute to our knowledge of the 'logistic role' played by rhizobia in assisting the phytoremediation of PCB-contaminated soils and suggest an optimum manipulation strategy for bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid28303925, year = {2017}, author = {Röthig, T and Yum, LK and Kremb, SG and Roik, A and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Microbial community composition of deep-sea corals from the Red Sea provides insight into functional adaption to a unique environment.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {44714}, pmid = {28303925}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; *Environment ; Indian Ocean ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbes associated with deep-sea corals remain poorly studied. The lack of symbiotic algae suggests that associated microbes may play a fundamental role in maintaining a viable coral host via acquisition and recycling of nutrients. Here we employed 16 S rRNA gene sequencing to study bacterial communities of three deep-sea scleractinian corals from the Red Sea, Dendrophyllia sp., Eguchipsammia fistula, and Rhizotrochus typus. We found diverse, species-specific microbiomes, distinct from the surrounding seawater. Microbiomes were comprised of few abundant bacteria, which constituted the majority of sequences (up to 58% depending on the coral species). In addition, we found a high diversity of rare bacteria (taxa at <1% abundance comprised >90% of all bacteria). Interestingly, we identified anaerobic bacteria, potentially providing metabolic functions at low oxygen conditions, as well as bacteria harboring the potential to degrade crude oil components. Considering the presence of oil and gas fields in the Red Sea, these bacteria may unlock this carbon source for the coral host. In conclusion, the prevailing environmental conditions of the deep Red Sea (>20 °C, <2 mg oxygen L[-1]) may require distinct functional adaptations, and our data suggest that bacterial communities may contribute to coral functioning in this challenging environment.}, } @article {pmid28303476, year = {2017}, author = {Gerrard, JG and Stevens, RP}, title = {A Review of Clinical Cases of Infection with Photorhabdus Asymbiotica.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {402}, number = {}, pages = {179-191}, doi = {10.1007/82_2016_56}, pmid = {28303476}, issn = {0070-217X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Asia ; Australia ; Ciprofloxacin/therapeutic use ; *Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; *Photorhabdus/pathogenicity ; Retrospective Studies ; }, abstract = {The three recognised Photorhabdus species are bioluminescent Gram-negative bacilli of the family Enterobacteriaceae. They are all pathogenic to insects and form a symbiotic relationship with nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis. P. luminescens and P. temperata are both harmless to humans whilst P. asymbiotica, on the other hand, is a human pathogen that is a symbiont of the newly described nematode vector, Heterorhabditis gerrardi. In this chapter, we review the epidemiological and clinical features of eighteen human cases of P. asymbiotica infection including fifteen from the published literature and three previously unreported cases. Human infection has been reported in the USA and Australia and probably occurs in other parts of Asia where it remains undocumented. Infection occurs most commonly in warmer months particularly after rainfall. Patients may have a history of recent exposure to sand or sandy soil. P. asymbiotica causes both locally invasive soft tissue infection and disseminated disease with bacteraemia. Soft tissue infection may be multifocal with involvement of more than one limb and the trunk. The organism is sensitive to a number of antibiotics in vitro, but treatment failures have been associated with the use of beta-lactams and aminoglycosides. We suggest treatment with a four-week course of an oral fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin. The organism grows readily on standard media from specimens such as wound swabs, pus, blood and even sputum and can be identified in a clinical microbiology laboratory but the diagnosis needs to be considered. The correct diagnosis is most likely to be made where there is close cooperation between clinician and microbiologist.}, } @article {pmid28303127, year = {2017}, author = {Potshangbam, M and Devi, SI and Sahoo, D and Strobel, GA}, title = {Functional Characterization of Endophytic Fungal Community Associated with Oryza sativa L. and Zea mays L.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {325}, pmid = {28303127}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In a natural ecosystem, the plant is in a symbiotic relationship with beneficial endophytes contributing huge impact on its host plant. Therefore, exploring beneficial endophytes and understanding its interaction is a prospective area of research. The present work aims to characterize the fungal endophytic communities associated with healthy maize and rice plants and to study the deterministic factors influencing plant growth and biocontrol properties against phytopathogens, viz, Pythium ultimum, Sclerotium oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, and Pyricularia oryzae. A total of 123 endophytic fungi was isolated using the culture-dependent approach from different tissue parts of the plant. Most dominating fungal endophyte associated with both the crops belong to genus Fusarium, Sarocladium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium and their occurrence was not tissue specific. The isolates were screened for in vitro plant growth promotion, stress tolerance, disease suppressive mechanisms and based on the results, each culture from both the cereal crops was selected for further study. Acremonium sp. (ENF 31) and Penicillium simplicisssum (ENF22), isolated from maize and rice respectively could potentially inhibit the growth of all the tested pathogens with 46.47 ± 0.16 mm to 60.09 ± 0.04 mm range zone of inhibition for ENF31 and 35.48 ± 0.14 to 62.29 ± 0.15 mm for ENF22. Both significantly produce the defensive enzymes, ENF31 could tolerate a wide range of pH from 2 to 12, very important criteria, for studying plant growth in different soil types, especially acidic as it is widely prevalent here, making more land unsuitable for cultivation. ENF22 grows in pH range 3-12, with 10% salt tolerating ability, another factor of consideration. Study of root colonization during 7th to 30th days of growth phase reveals that ENF31 could colonize pleasantly in rice, though a maize origin, ranging from 1.02 to 1.21 log10 CFU/g root and in maize, it steadily colonizes ranging from 0.95 to 1.18 log10 CFU, while ENF22 could colonize from 0.98 to 1.24 Log10CFU/g root in rice and 1.01 to 1.24Log10CFU/g root in maize, just the reverse observed in Acremonium sp. Therefore, both the organism has the potency of a promising Bio-resource agent, that we must definitely explore to fill the gap in the agriculture industry.}, } @article {pmid28302777, year = {2017}, author = {Bustos, P and Santamaría, RI and Pérez-Carrascal, OM and Acosta, JL and Lozano, L and Juárez, S and Martínez-Flores, I and Martínez-Romero, E and Cevallos, MÁ and Romero, D and Dávila, G and Vinuesa, P and Miranda, F and Ormeño, E and González, V}, title = {Complete Genome Sequences of Three Rhizobium gallicum Symbionts Associated with Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {28302777}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The whole-genome sequences of three strains of Rhizobium gallicum reported here support the concept that the distinct nodulation host ranges displayed by the symbiovars gallicum and phaseoli can be largely explained by different symbiotic plasmids.}, } @article {pmid28302492, year = {2017}, author = {O'Malley, MA}, title = {From endosymbiosis to holobionts: Evaluating a conceptual legacy.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {34-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.03.008}, pmid = {28302492}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Microbiota ; Research ; *Symbiosis ; Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {In her influential 1967 paper, Lynn Margulis synthesized a range of data to support the idea of endosymbiosis. Building on the success of this work, she applied the same methodology to promote the role of symbiosis more generally in evolution. As part of this broader project, she coined the term 'holobiont' to refer to a unified entity of symbiont and host. This concept is now applied with great gusto in microbiome research, and often implies not just a physiological unit but also various senses of an evolving system. My analysis will track how Margulis came to propose the term, its current use in microbiome research, and how those applications link back to Margulis. I then evaluate what contemporary use says about Margulis's legacy for microbiome research.}, } @article {pmid28300100, year = {2017}, author = {Zipfel, C and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Plant signalling in symbiosis and immunity.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {543}, number = {7645}, pages = {328-336}, doi = {10.1038/nature22009}, pmid = {28300100}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Plant Immunity ; Plants/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants encounter a myriad of microorganisms, particularly at the root-soil interface, that can invade with detrimental or beneficial outcomes. Prevalent beneficial associations between plants and microorganisms include those that promote plant growth by facilitating the acquisition of limiting nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. But while promoting such symbiotic relationships, plants must restrict the formation of pathogenic associations. Achieving this balance requires the perception of potential invading microorganisms through the signals that they produce, followed by the activation of either symbiotic responses that promote microbial colonization or immune responses that limit it.}, } @article {pmid28299291, year = {2017}, author = {Nursyam, H}, title = {Antibacterial Activity of Metabolites Products of Vibrio Alginolyticus Isolated from Sponge Haliclona sp. Against Staphylococcus Aureus.}, journal = {Italian journal of food safety}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {6237}, pmid = {28299291}, issn = {2239-7132}, abstract = {The objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of primary and secondary metabolites from Vibrio alginoliticus isolated from sponge Haliclona sp. against Staphylococcus aureus. A descriptive method was used in this research. The antibacterial activity was analysed by paper disk method. The results showed that the primary metabolites produced by Vibrio alginoliticus that is in symbiosis with sponge Haliclona sp. were able to effectively inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth with an inhibition zone diameter of 12.9 mm, while the secondary metabolites of 9.9 mm. Electrophoresis analysis of the primary metabolites showed that there were 11 protein bands which were not found in secondary metabolites. Protein bands with low molecular weights presumably had an inhibiting effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.}, } @article {pmid28298351, year = {2017}, author = {Pringle, EG and Moreau, CS}, title = {Community analysis of microbial sharing and specialization in a Costa Rican ant-plant-hemipteran symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1850}, pages = {}, pmid = {28298351}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Bacteria ; Costa Rica ; *Fungi ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ants have long been renowned for their intimate mutualisms with trophobionts and plants and more recently appreciated for their widespread and diverse interactions with microbes. An open question in symbiosis research is the extent to which environmental influence, including the exchange of microbes between interacting macroorganisms, affects the composition and function of symbiotic microbial communities. Here we approached this question by investigating symbiosis within symbiosis. Ant-plant-hemipteran symbioses are hallmarks of tropical ecosystems that produce persistent close contact among the macroorganism partners, which then have substantial opportunity to exchange symbiotic microbes. We used metabarcoding and quantitative PCR to examine community structure of both bacteria and fungi in a Neotropical ant-plant-scale-insect symbiosis. Both phloem-feeding scale insects and honeydew-feeding ants make use of microbial symbionts to subsist on phloem-derived diets of suboptimal nutritional quality. Among the insects examined here, Cephalotes ants and pseudococcid scale insects had the most specialized bacterial symbionts, whereas Azteca ants appeared to consume or associate with more fungi than bacteria, and coccid scale insects were associated with unusually diverse bacterial communities. Despite these differences, we also identified apparent sharing of microbes among the macro-partners. How microbial exchanges affect the consumer-resource interactions that shape the evolution of ant-plant-hemipteran symbioses is an exciting question that awaits further research.}, } @article {pmid28298348, year = {2017}, author = {Vasse, M and Voglmayr, H and Mayer, V and Gueidan, C and Nepel, M and Moreno, L and de Hoog, S and Selosse, MA and McKey, D and Blatrix, R}, title = {A phylogenetic perspective on the association between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and black yeasts (Ascomycota: Chaetothyriales).}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1850}, pages = {}, pmid = {28298348}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*classification ; Ascomycota/*classification ; *Biological Evolution ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The frequency and the geographical extent of symbiotic associations between ants and fungi of the order Chaetothyriales have been highlighted only recently. Using a phylogenetic approach based on seven molecular markers, we showed that ant-associated Chaetothyriales are scattered through the phylogeny of this order. There was no clustering according to geographical origin or to the taxonomy of the ant host. However, strains tended to be clustered according to the type of association with ants: strains from ant-made carton and strains from plant cavities occupied by ants ('domatia') rarely clustered together. Defining molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) with an internal transcribed spacer sequence similarity cut-off of 99% revealed that a single MOTU could be composed of strains collected from various ant species and from several continents. Some ant-associated MOTUs also contained strains isolated from habitats other than ant-associated structures. Altogether, our results suggest that the degree of specialization of the interactions between ants and their fungal partners is highly variable. A better knowledge of the ecology of these interactions and a more comprehensive sampling of the fungal order are needed to elucidate the evolutionary history of mutualistic symbioses between ants and Chaetothyriales.}, } @article {pmid28298346, year = {2017}, author = {Akçay, E}, title = {Population structure reduces benefits from partner choice in mutualistic symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {284}, number = {1850}, pages = {}, pmid = {28298346}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses are key drivers of evolutionary and ecological processes. Understanding how different species can evolve to interact in mutually beneficial ways is an important goal of evolutionary theory, especially when the benefits require costly investments by the partners. For such costly investments to evolve, some sort of fitness feedback mechanism must exist that more than recoups the direct costs. Several such feedback mechanisms have been explored both theoretically and empirically, yet we know relatively little of how they might act together, as they probably do in nature. In this paper, I model the joint action of three of the main mechanisms that can maintain interspecific cooperation in symbioses: partner choice by hosts, population structure amongst symbionts and undirected rewards from hosts to symbionts. The model shows that population structure reduces the benefit from partner choice to hosts. It may help or hinder beneficial symbionts and create positive or negative frequency dependence depending on the nature of host rewards to the symbiont. Strong population structure also makes it less likely that host choosiness and symbiont cooperation will be jointly maintained in a population. The intuition behind these results is that all else being equal, population structure reduces local variation available to the host to choose from. Thus, population structure is not always beneficial for the evolution of cooperation between species. These results also underscore the need to do full analyses of multiple mechanisms of social evolution to uncover the interactions between them.}, } @article {pmid28298253, year = {2017}, author = {Rentería-Chávez, MC and Pérez-Moreno, J and Cetina-Alcalá, VM and Ferrera-Cerrato, R and Xoconostle-Cázares, B}, title = {[Nutrient transfer and growth of Pinus greggii Engelm. inoculated with edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms in two substrates].}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {93-104}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2016.06.004}, pmid = {28298253}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {Agaricales ; Mexico ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nutrients ; *Pinus/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots ; Seedlings ; }, abstract = {An ectomycorrhiza is a mutualistic symbiosis of paramount importance in forestry and tree production. One of the selection criteria of ectomycorrhizal fungi that has currently gained importance is their edibility due to the economic, ecological and cultural relevance of edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms as a non-timber forest product. The effect of the inoculation with three edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms: Laccaria laccata, Laccaria bicolor y Hebeloma leucosarx, which are widely sold in Mexico, on the growth and nutrient contents of Pinus greggii grown in an experimental substrate and a commercial substrate enriched with a slow-release fertilizer, was evaluated. Two years after sowing, differences in terms of shoot and root biomass and macro and micronutrient contents between inoculated and non-inoculated plants, were recorded independently of the fungal species and the substrate. Despite the fact that plants grown in the commercial substrate had higher growth and nutrient contents, their ectomycorrhizal colonization percentages were smaller than those of the plants grown in the experimental substrate. The differences in the nutrient transfer to the inoculated plant shoots among the evaluated fungal species were recorded. Ca mobilization by L. laccata, Na by L. bicolor and Mn by H. leucosarx were observed in the plants growing in the experimental substrate. It has been demonstrated that the selection of substrates constitutes an important factor in the production of ectomycorrhizal plants and that the three evaluated species of edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms have an enormous potential in the controlled mycorrhization of P. greggii.}, } @article {pmid28296889, year = {2017}, author = {Cowart, DA and Durand, L and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Arnaud-Haond, S}, title = {Investigation of bacterial communities within the digestive organs of the hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata provide insights into holobiont geographic clustering.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0172543}, pmid = {28296889}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Geography ; }, abstract = {Prokaryotic communities forming symbiotic relationships with the vent shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata, are well studied components of hydrothermal ecosystems at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). Despite the tight link between host and symbiont, the observed lack of spatial genetic structure seen in R. exoculata contrasts with the geographic differentiation detected in specific bacterial ectosymbionts. The geographic clustering of bacterial lineages within a seemingly panmictic host suggests either the presence of finer scale restriction to gene flow not yet detected in the host, horizontal transmission (environmental selection) of its endosymbionts as a consequence of unique vent geochemistry, or vertically transmitted endosymbionts that exhibit genetic differentiation. To identify which hypothesis best fits, we tested whether bacterial assemblages exhibit differentiation across sites or host populations by performing a 16S rRNA metabarcoding survey on R. exoculata digestive prokaryote samples (n = 31) taken from three geochemically distinct vents across MAR: Rainbow, Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse (TAG) and Logatchev. Analysis of communities across two organs (digestive tract, stomach), three molt colors (white, red, black) and three life stages (eggs, juveniles, adults) also provided insights into symbiont transmission mode. Examining both whole communities and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) confirmed the presence of three main epibionts: Epsilonproteobacteria, Mollicutes and Deferribacteres. With these findings, we identified a clear pattern of geographic segregation by vent in OTUs assigned to Epsilonproteobacteria. Additionally, we detected evidence for differentiation among all communities associated to vents and life stages. Overall, results suggest a combination of environmental selection and vertical inheritance of some of the symbiotic lineages.}, } @article {pmid28293249, year = {2017}, author = {Gierz, SL and Forêt, S and Leggat, W}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis of Thermally Stressed Symbiodinium Reveals Differential Expression of Stress and Metabolism Genes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {271}, pmid = {28293249}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Endosymbioses between dinoflagellate algae (Symbiodinium sp.) and scleractinian coral species form the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. The coral symbiosis is highly susceptible to elevated temperatures, resulting in coral bleaching, where the algal symbiont is released from host cells. This experiment aimed to determine the transcriptional changes in cultured Symbiodinium, to better understand the response of cellular mechanisms under future temperature conditions. Cultures were exposed to elevated temperatures (average 31°C) or control conditions (24.5°C) for a period of 28 days. Whole transcriptome sequencing of Symbiodinium cells on days 4, 19, and 28 were used to identify differentially expressed genes under thermal stress. A large number of genes representing 37.01% of the transcriptome (∼23,654 unique genes, FDR < 0.05) with differential expression were detected at no less than one of the time points. Consistent with previous studies of Symbiodinium gene expression, fold changes across the transcriptome were low, with 92.49% differentially expressed genes at ≤2-fold change. The transcriptional response included differential expression of genes encoding stress response components such as the antioxidant network and molecular chaperones, cellular components such as core photosynthesis machinery, integral light-harvesting protein complexes and enzymes such as fatty acid desaturases. Differential expression of genes encoding glyoxylate cycle enzymes were also found, representing the first report of this in Symbiodinium. As photosynthate transfer from Symbiodinium to coral hosts provides up to 90% of a coral's daily energy requirements, the implications of altered metabolic processes from exposure to thermal stress found in this study on coral-Symbiodinium associations are unknown and should be considered when assessing the stability of the symbiotic relationship under future climate conditions.}, } @article {pmid28292585, year = {2017}, author = {Manakul, P and Peerakietkhajorn, S and Matsuura, T and Kato, Y and Watanabe, H}, title = {Effects of symbiotic bacteria on chemical sensitivity of Daphnia magna.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {128}, number = {}, pages = {70-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.03.001}, pmid = {28292585}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Daphnia ; Ecotoxicology ; *Symbiosis ; Toxicity Tests/*methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The crustacean zooplankton Daphnia magna has been widely used for chemical toxicity tests. Although abiotic factors have been well documented in ecotoxicological test protocols, biotic factors that may affect the sensitivity to chemical compounds remain limited. Recently, we identified symbiotic bacteria that are critical for the growth and reproduction of D. magna. The presence of symbiotic bacteria on Daphnia raised the question as to whether these bacteria have a positive or negative effect on toxicity tests. In order to evaluate the effects of symbiotic bacteria on toxicity tests, bacteria-free Daphnia were prepared, and their chemical sensitivities were compared with that of Daphnia with symbiotic bacteria based on an acute immobilization test. The Daphnia with symbiotic bacteria showed higher chemical resistance to nonylphenol, fenoxycarb, and pentachlorophenol than bacteria-free Daphnia. These results suggested potential roles of symbiotic bacteria in the chemical resistance of its host Daphnia.}, } @article {pmid28291780, year = {2017}, author = {Luck, AN and Slatko, BE and Foster, JM}, title = {Removing the needle from the haystack: Enrichment of Wolbachia endosymbiont transcripts from host nematode RNA by Cappable-seq™.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0173186}, pmid = {28291780}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Nematoda/*genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Efficient transcriptomic sequencing of microbial mRNA derived from host-microbe associations is often compromised by the much lower relative abundance of microbial RNA in the mixed total RNA sample. One solution to this problem is to perform extensive sequencing until an acceptable level of transcriptome coverage is obtained. More cost-effective methods include use of prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic rRNA depletion strategies, sometimes in conjunction with depletion of polyadenylated eukaryotic mRNA. Here, we report use of Cappable-seq™ to specifically enrich, in a single step, Wolbachia endobacterial mRNA transcripts from total RNA prepared from the parasitic filarial nematode, Brugia malayi. The obligate Wolbachia endosymbiont is a proven drug target for many human filarial infections, yet the precise nature of its symbiosis with the nematode host is poorly understood. Insightful analysis of the expression levels of Wolbachia genes predicted to underpin the mutualistic association and of known drug target genes at different life cycle stages or in response to drug treatments is typically challenged by low transcriptomic coverage. Cappable-seq resulted in up to ~ 5-fold increase in the number of reads mapping to Wolbachia. On average, coverage of Wolbachia transcripts from B. malayi microfilariae was enriched ~40-fold by Cappable-seq. Additionally, this method has an additional benefit of selectively removing abundant prokaryotic ribosomal RNAs.The deeper microbial transcriptome sequencing afforded by Cappable-seq facilitates more detailed characterization of gene expression levels of pathogens and symbionts present in animal tissues.}, } @article {pmid28290203, year = {2017}, author = {Eymann, C and Lassek, C and Wegner, U and Bernhardt, J and Fritsch, OA and Fuchs, S and Otto, A and Albrecht, D and Schiefelbein, U and Cernava, T and Aschenbrenner, I and Berg, G and Grube, M and Riedel, K}, title = {Symbiotic Interplay of Fungi, Algae, and Bacteria within the Lung Lichen Lobaria pulmonaria L. Hoffm. as Assessed by State-of-the-Art Metaproteomics.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {2160-2173}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00974}, pmid = {28290203}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Biodiversity ; *Chlorophyta ; *Cyanobacteria ; *Lichens ; Metabolomics ; Microbial Interactions ; Proteomics ; Pulmonaria ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are recognized by macroscopic structures formed by a heterotrophic fungus, the mycobiont, which hosts internal autotrophic photosynthetic algal and/or cyanobacterial partners, referred to as the photobiont. We analyzed the structure and functionality of the entire lung lichen Lobaria pulmonaria L. Hoffm. collected from two different sites by state-of-the-art metaproteomics. In addition to the green algae and the ascomycetous fungus, a lichenicolous fungus as well as a complex prokaryotic community (different from the cyanobacteria) was found, the latter dominated by methanotrophic Rhizobiales. Various partner-specific proteins could be assigned to the different lichen symbionts, for example, fungal proteins involved in vesicle transport, algal proteins functioning in photosynthesis, cyanobacterial nitrogenase and GOGAT involved in nitrogen fixation, and bacterial enzymes responsible for methanol/C1-compound metabolism as well as CO-detoxification. Structural and functional information on proteins expressed by the lichen community complemented and extended our recent symbiosis model depicting the functional multiplayer network of single holobiont partners.1 Our new metaproteome analysis strongly supports the hypothesis (i) that interactions within the self-supporting association are multifaceted and (ii) that the strategy of functional diversification within the single lichen partners may support the longevity of L. pulmonaria under certain ecological conditions.}, } @article {pmid28290059, year = {2017}, author = {Gentil, J and Hempel, F and Moog, D and Zauner, S and Maier, UG}, title = {Review: origin of complex algae by secondary endosymbiosis: a journey through time.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {254}, number = {5}, pages = {1835-1843}, pmid = {28290059}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; Plastids/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Secondary endosymbiosis-the merging of two eukaryotic cells into one photosynthetic cellular unit-led to the evolution of ecologically and medically very important organisms. We review the biology of these organisms, starting from the first proposal of secondary endosymbiosis up to recent phylogenetic models on the origin of secondarily evolved protists. In addition, we discuss the organelle character of the symbionts based on morphological features, gene transfers from the symbiont into the host and re-import of nucleus-encoded plastid proteins. Finally, we hypothesize that secondary endosymbiosis is more than enslaving a eukaryotic, phototrophic cell, but reflects a complex interplay between host and symbiont, leading to the inseparability of the two symbiotic partners generating a cellular entity.}, } @article {pmid28288943, year = {2017}, author = {Fountain, ED and Pauli, JN and Mendoza, JE and Carlson, J and Peery, MZ}, title = {Cophylogenetics and biogeography reveal a coevolved relationship between sloths and their symbiont algae.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {110}, number = {}, pages = {73-80}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2017.03.003}, pmid = {28288943}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Phylogeography ; Sloths/*classification ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Specialized species, like arboreal folivores, often develop beneficial relationships with symbionts to exploit ecologically constrained lifestyles. Although coevolution can drive speciation by specialization of a symbiont to a host, a symbiotic relationship is not indicative of coevolution between host and symbiont. We tested for coevolved relationships between highly specialized two- and three-toed sloths (Choloepus spp. and Bradypus spp., respectively) and their symbiotic algae using cophylogenies and phylogeography. Our phylogeographic analysis showed a biogeographic pattern for the sloth distribution that was not found in the algal phylogeny. We found support for congruence between the sloth and algae phylogenies, implying cospeciation, only in the Bradypus lineage. Algae host-switching occurred from Bradypus spp. to Choloepus spp. Our results support a previously hypothesized symbiotic relationship between sloths and the algae in their fur and indicate that coevolution may have played a role in algae diversification. More broadly, convergent evolution may facilitate host switching between deeply diverged host lineages.}, } @article {pmid28286360, year = {2017}, author = {Ziegler, M and Arif, C and Burt, JA and Dobretsov, S and Roder, C and LaJeunesse, TC and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Biogeography and molecular diversity of coral symbionts in the genus Symbiodinium around the Arabian Peninsula.}, journal = {Journal of biogeography}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {674-686}, pmid = {28286360}, issn = {0305-0270}, abstract = {AIM: Coral reefs rely on the symbiosis between scleractinian corals and intracellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium making the assessment of symbiont diversity critical to our understanding of ecological resilience of these ecosystems. This study characterizes Symbiodinium diversity around the Arabian Peninsula, which contains some of the most thermally diverse and understudied reefs on Earth.

LOCATION: Shallow water coral reefs throughout the Red Sea (RS), Sea of Oman (SO), and Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG).

METHODS: Next-generation sequencing of the ITS2 marker gene was used to assess Symbiodinium community composition and diversity comprising 892 samples from 46 hard and soft coral genera.

RESULTS: Corals were associated with a large diversity of Symbiodinium, which usually consisted of one or two prevalent symbiont types and many types at low abundance. Symbiodinium communities were strongly structured according to geographical region and to a lesser extent by coral host identity. Overall symbiont communities were composed primarily of species from clade A and C in the RS, clade A, C, and D in the SO, and clade C and D in the PAG, representing a gradual shift from C- to D-dominated coral hosts. The analysis of symbiont diversity in an Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU)-based framework allowed the identification of differences in symbiont taxon richness over geographical regions and host genera.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Our study represents a comprehensive overview over biogeography and molecular diversity of Symbiodinium in the Arabian Seas, where coral reefs thrive in one of the most extreme environmental settings on the planet. As such our data will serve as a baseline for further exploration into the effects of environmental change on host-symbiont pairings and the identification and ecological significance of Symbiodinium types from regions already experiencing 'Future Ocean' conditions.}, } @article {pmid28286343, year = {2017}, author = {Hofer, U}, title = {Symbiosis: Wolbachia's matchmaking secret revealed.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {194-195}, pmid = {28286343}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, } @article {pmid28285995, year = {2017}, author = {Maruyama, M and Parker, J}, title = {Deep-Time Convergence in Rove Beetle Symbionts of Army Ants.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {920-926}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.030}, pmid = {28285995}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/parasitology/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent adaptive radiations provide striking examples of convergence [1-4], but the predictability of evolution over much deeper timescales is controversial, with a scarcity of ancient clades exhibiting repetitive patterns of phenotypic evolution [5, 6]. Army ants are ecologically dominant arthropod predators of the world's tropics, with large nomadic colonies housing diverse communities of socially parasitic myrmecophiles [7]. Remarkable among these are many species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) that exhibit ant-mimicking "myrmecoid" body forms and are behaviorally accepted into their aggressive hosts' societies: emigrating with colonies and inhabiting temporary nest bivouacs, grooming and feeding with workers, but also consuming the brood [8-11]. Here, we demonstrate that myrmecoid rove beetles are strongly polyphyletic, with this adaptive morphological and behavioral syndrome having evolved at least 12 times during the evolution of a single staphylinid subfamily, Aleocharinae. Each independent myrmecoid clade is restricted to one zoogeographic region and highly host specific on a single army ant genus. Dating estimates reveal that myrmecoid clades are separated by substantial phylogenetic distances-as much as 105 million years. All such groups arose in parallel during the Cenozoic, when army ants diversified into modern genera [12] and rose to ecological dominance [13, 14]. This work uncovers a rare example of an ancient system of complex morphological and behavioral convergence, with replicate beetle lineages following a predictable phenotypic trajectory during their parasitic adaptation to host colonies.}, } @article {pmid28285657, year = {2017}, author = {Tang, G and Wang, S and Lu, D and Huang, L and Li, N and Luo, L}, title = {Two-component regulatory system ActS/ActR is required for Sinorhizobium meliloti adaptation to oxidative stress.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2017.01.005}, pmid = {28285657}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oxidants/toxicity ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Oxidative Stress ; Plasmids ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*genetics/*physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The two-component system ActS/ActR plays important roles in bacterial adaptation to abiotic stress, including acid tolerance and oxidant resistance. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism is not clear. In this study, we found that the ActS/ActR system is required for adaptation to oxidative stress by regulating the transcription of the genes actR, katB, gshA and gshB1. The actS and actR mutants were sensitive to low pH and oxidants such as H2O2, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The expression of actR by using a plasmid rescued the defect of SNP sensitivity for all actS and actR mutants. The expression of actS and actR were suppressed by treatment with H2O2. The expression of actS, actR, oxyR, katA and katB was required for ActS and ActR under normal conditions. The induction of katB, gshA and gshB1 depended on ActS and ActR during treatment with H2O2 and SNP. Our findings revealed that the ActS/ActR system is a key redox regulator in S. meliltoi and provides a new cue to understanding Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28285373, year = {2017}, author = {Das, K and Prasanna, R and Saxena, AK}, title = {Rhizobia: a potential biocontrol agent for soilborne fungal pathogens.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {62}, number = {5}, pages = {425-435}, pmid = {28285373}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {*Antibiosis ; Fungi/*growth & development ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Development ; Plant Diseases/*prevention & control ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*growth & development/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a group of organisms that are well known for their ability to colonize root surfaces and form symbiotic associations with legume plants. They not only play a major role in biological nitrogen fixation but also improve plant growth and reduce disease incidence in various crops. Rhizobia are known to control the growth of many soilborne plant pathogenic fungi belonging to different genera like Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotium, and Macrophomina. Antagonistic activity of rhizobia is mainly attributed to production of antibiotics, hydrocyanic acid (HCN), mycolytic enzymes, and siderophore under iron limiting conditions. Rhizobia are also reported to induce systemic resistance and enhance expression of plant defense-related genes, which effectively immunize the plants against pathogens. Seed bacterization with appropriate rhizobial strain leads to elicitation and accumulation of phenolic compounds, isoflavonoid phytoalexins, and activation of enzymes like L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and others involved in phenylpropanoid and isoflavonoid pathways. Development of Rhizobium inoculants with dual attributes of nitrogen fixation and antagonism against phytopathogens can contribute to increased plant growth and productivity. This compilation aims to bring together the available information on the biocontrol facet of rhizobia and identify research gaps and effective strategies for future research in this area.}, } @article {pmid28284522, year = {2017}, author = {Jose, VL and More, RP and Appoothy, T and Arun, AS}, title = {In depth analysis of rumen microbial and carbohydrate-active enzymes profile in Indian crossbred cattle.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {160-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.02.003}, pmid = {28284522}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Cattle ; Cluster Analysis ; Data Mining ; *Hydrolases/classification/genetics ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Rumen/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rumen houses a plethora of symbiotic microorganisms empowering the host to hydrolyze plant lignocellulose. In this study, NGS based metagenomic approach coupled with bioinformatic analysis was employed to gain an insight into the deconstruction of lignocellulose by carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in Indian crossbred Holstein-Friesian cattle. Cattle rumen metagenomic DNA was sequenced using Illumina-MiSeq and 1.9 gigabases of data generated with an average read length of 871 bp. Analysis of the assembled sequences by Pfam-based Carbohydrate-active enzyme Analysis Toolkit identified 17,164 putative protein-encoding CAZymes belonging to different families of glycoside hydrolases (7574), glycosyltransferases (5185), carbohydrate-binding modules (2418), carbohydrate esterases (1516), auxiliary activities (434) and polysaccharide lyases (37). Phylogenetic analysis of putative CAZymes revealed that a significant proportion of CAZymes were contributed by bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes (40%), Firmicutes (30%) and Proteobacteria (10%). The comparative analysis of HF cross rumen metagenome with other herbivore metagenomes indicated that Indian crossbred cattle rumen is endowed with a battery of CAZymes that may play a central role in lignocellulose deconstruction. The extensive catalog of enzymes reported in our study that hydrolyzes plant lignocellulose biomass, can be further explored for the better feed utilization in ruminants and also for different industrial applications.}, } @article {pmid28284052, year = {2017}, author = {Chambon, R and Pradeau, S and Fort, S and Cottaz, S and Armand, S}, title = {High yield production of Rhizobium NodB chitin deacetylase and its use for in vitro synthesis of lipo-chitinoligosaccharide precursors.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {442}, number = {}, pages = {25-30}, pmid = {28284052}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases/*biosynthesis/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Rhizobium/enzymology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lipo-chitinoligosaccharides (LCOs) are key molecules for the establishment of plant-microorganisms symbiosis. Interactions of leguminous crops with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria involve Nod factors, while Myc-LCOs improve the association of most plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Both Nod factors and Myc-LCOs are composed of a chitinoligosaccharide fatty acylated at the non-reducing end accompanied with various substituting groups. One straightforward way to access LCOs is starting from chitin hydrolysate, an abundant polysaccharide found in crustacean shells, followed by regioselective enzymatic cleavage of an acetyl group from the non-reducing end of chitin tetra- or pentaose, and subsequent chemical introduction of N-acyl group. In the present work, we describe the in vitro synthesis of LCO precursors on preparative scale. To this end, Sinorhizobium meliloti chitin deacetylase NodB was produced in high yield in E. coli as a thioredoxin fusion protein. The recombinant enzyme was expressed in soluble and catalytically active form and used as an efficient biocatalyst for N-deacetylation of chitin tetra- and pentaose.}, } @article {pmid28283691, year = {2017}, author = {Derer, S and Lehnert, H and Sina, C and Wagner, AE}, title = {[Modulation of the intestinal microbiota by nutritional interventions].}, journal = {Der Internist}, volume = {58}, number = {5}, pages = {435-440}, pmid = {28283691}, issn = {1432-1289}, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/diet therapy/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/diet therapy/*microbiology ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diet therapy/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Humans live in symbiosis with billions of commensal bacteria. The so-called microbiota live on different biological interfaces such as the skin, the urogenital tract and the gastrointestinal tract. Commensal bacteria replace potentially pathogenic microbes, synthesize vitamins and ferment dietary fibre. An imbalance in the bacterial composition of the intestinal microbiota has been associated with various diseases including gut-associated disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Furthermore, a shift in the microbiota composition appears to be of pathophysiological relevance which renders the specific modulation of the intestinal microbiota a promising approach in the treatment of the above mentioned diseases. Our intestinal microbiota composition is mainly modulated by dietary macro- and micronutrients but also by secondary plant compounds and synthetic food additives such as emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners. Nutritional interventions with the purpose to modulate the intestinal microbiota show only limited therapeutic potential in the treatment of gut-associated disorders, which may be due to individual differences in the intestinal microbiota composition and a lack of specificity. A combination of newly established technical analytic approaches involving a machine-learning algorithm may bridge the currently existing limitations by providing a personalized, highly-specific and consequently therapeutically effective microbiota modulation.}, } @article {pmid28283520, year = {2017}, author = {Eardly, B and Elia, P and Brockwell, J and Golemboski, D and van Berkum, P}, title = {Biogeography of a Novel Ensifer meliloti Clade Associated with the Australian Legume Trigonella suavissima.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {28283520}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Australia ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Ketoglutaric Acids/metabolism ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trigonella/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Here, we describe a novel clade within Ensifer meliloti and consider how geographic and ecological isolation contributed to the limited distribution of this group. Members of the genus Ensifer are best known for their ability to form nitrogen-fixing symbioses with forage legumes of three related genera, Medicago L., Melilotus Mill., and Trigonella L., which are members of the tribe Trifolieae. These legumes have a natural distribution extending from the Mediterranean Basin through western Asia, where there is an unsurpassed number of species belonging to these genera. Trigonella suavissima L. is unusual in that it is the only species in the tribe Trifolieae that is native to Australia. We compared the genetic diversity and taxonomic placement of rhizobia nodulating T. suavissima with those of members of an Ensifer reference collection. Our goal was to determine if the T. suavissima rhizobial strains, like their plant host, are naturally limited to the Australian continent. We used multilocus sequence analysis to estimate the genetic relatedness of 56 T. suavissima symbionts to 28 Ensifer reference strains. Sequence data were partitioned according to the replicons in which the loci are located. The results were used to construct replicon-specific phylogenetic trees. In both the chromosomal and chromid trees, the Australian strains formed a distinct clade within E. meliloti The strains also shared few alleles with Ensifer reference strains from other continents. Carbon source utilization assays revealed that the strains are also unusual in their ability to utilize 2-oxoglutarate as a sole carbon source. A strategy was outlined for locating similar strains elsewhere.IMPORTANCE In this study, we employed a biogeographical approach to investigate the origins of a symbiotic relationship between an Australian legume and its nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. The question of the ancestral origins of these symbionts is based on the observation that the legume host is not closely related to other native Australian legumes. Previous research has shown that the legume host Trigonella suavissima is instead closely related to legumes native to the Mediterranean Basin and western Asia, suggesting that it may have been introduced in Australia from those regions. This led to the question of whether its rhizobia may have been introduced as well. In this study, we were unable to find persuasive evidence supporting this hypothesis. Instead, our results suggest either that the T. suavissima rhizobia are native to Australia or that our methods for locating their close relatives elsewhere are inadequate. A strategy to investigate the latter alternative is proposed.}, } @article {pmid28281305, year = {2017}, author = {Duron, O and Binetruy, F and Noël, V and Cremaschi, J and McCoy, KD and Arnathau, C and Plantard, O and Goolsby, J and Pérez de León, AA and Heylen, DJA and Van Oosten, AR and Gottlieb, Y and Baneth, G and Guglielmone, AA and Estrada-Peña, A and Opara, MN and Zenner, L and Vavre, F and Chevillon, C}, title = {Evolutionary changes in symbiont community structure in ticks.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {2905-2921}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14094}, pmid = {28281305}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Biological Evolution ; Coxiella/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Ticks/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ecological specialization to restricted diet niches is driven by obligate, and often maternally inherited, symbionts in many arthropod lineages. These heritable symbionts typically form evolutionarily stable associations with arthropods that can last for millions of years. Ticks were recently found to harbour such an obligate symbiont, Coxiella-LE, that synthesizes B vitamins and cofactors not obtained in sufficient quantities from blood diet. In this study, the examination of 81 tick species shows that some Coxiella-LE symbioses are evolutionarily stable with an ancient acquisition followed by codiversification as observed in ticks belonging to the Rhipicephalus genus. However, many other Coxiella-LE symbioses are characterized by low evolutionary stability with frequent host shifts and extinction events. Further examination revealed the presence of nine other genera of maternally inherited bacteria in ticks. Although these nine symbionts were primarily thought to be facultative, their distribution among tick species rather suggests that at least four may have independently replaced Coxiella-LE and likely represent alternative obligate symbionts. Phylogenetic evidence otherwise indicates that cocladogenesis is globally rare in these symbioses as most originate via horizontal transfer of an existing symbiont between unrelated tick species. As a result, the structure of these symbiont communities is not fixed and stable across the tick phylogeny. Most importantly, the symbiont communities commonly reach high levels of diversity with up to six unrelated maternally inherited bacteria coexisting within host species. We further conjecture that interactions among coexisting symbionts are pivotal drivers of community structure both among and within tick species.}, } @article {pmid28279734, year = {2017}, author = {Bou Khalil, JY and Benamar, S and Di Pinto, F and Blanc-Tailleur, C and Raoult, D and La Scola, B}, title = {Protochlamydia phocaeensis sp. nov., a new Chlamydiales species with host dependent replication cycle.}, journal = {Microbes and infection}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {343-350}, doi = {10.1016/j.micinf.2017.02.003}, pmid = {28279734}, issn = {1769-714X}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/microbiology ; Acanthamoeba castellanii/microbiology ; Chlamydiales/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lobosea/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Chlamydiae are pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria, which form an important part of amoeba-associated microorganisms. In this paper, we report the isolation, developmental cycle and genome analysis of Protochlamydia phocaeensis sp. nov., an obligate intracellular parasite with a large host spectrum, able to infect Acanthamoeba castellanii, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, and Vermamoeba vermiformis. The genome size is 3,424,182 bp with a GC content of 42%. This bacterium displayed a particular developmental cycle depending on the infected host. The P. phocaeensis showed typical inclusion vacuoles in A. castellanii, while these were absent in V. vermiformis. Since "Chlamydiae-amoebae" interactions are supposed to depend on the chlamydial species, our findings speculate that variations in the developmental cycle of certain Chlamydiae are also host dependent.}, } @article {pmid28278201, year = {2017}, author = {Jiang, F and Meng, D and Weng, M and Zhu, W and Wu, W and Kasper, D and Walker, WA}, title = {The symbiotic bacterial surface factor polysaccharide A on Bacteroides fragilis inhibits IL-1β-induced inflammation in human fetal enterocytes via toll receptors 2 and 4.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0172738}, pmid = {28278201}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {P30 DK040561/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides fragilis/*metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/prevention & control ; Enterocytes/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Fetus/cytology ; Humans ; Inflammation/prevention & control ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Interleukin-17/metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta/*pharmacology ; Interleukin-8/analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Polysaccharides/immunology/*pharmacology ; RNA Interference ; Th1 Cells/immunology/metabolism ; Th2 Cells/immunology/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Colonizing bacteria interacting with the immature, unlike the mature, human intestine favors inflammation over immune homeostasis. As a result, ten percent of premature infants under 1500 grams weight develop an inflammatory necrosis of the intestine after birth, e.g., necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is a major health problem in this population causing extensive morbidity and mortality and an enormous expenditure of health care dollars. NEC can be prevented by giving preterm infants their mother's expressed breast milk or ingesting selective probiotic organisms. Vaginally delivered, breast fed newborns develop health promoting bacteria ("pioneer" bacteria) which preferentially stimulate intestinal host defense and anti-inflammation. One such "pioneer" organism is Bacteroides fragilis with a polysaccharide (PSA) on its capsule. B. fragilis has been shown developmentally in intestinal lymphocytes and dendritic cells to produce a balanced T-helper cell (TH1/TH2) response and to reduce intestinal inflammation by activity through the TLR2 receptor stimulating IL-10 which inhibits IL-17 causing inflammation. No studies have been done on the role of B. fragilis PSA on fetal enterocytes and its increased inflammation. Accordingly, using human and mouse fetal intestinal models, we have shown that B. fragilis with PSA and PSA alone inhibits IL-1β-induced IL-8 inflammation in fetal and NEC intestine. We have also begun to define the mechanism for this unique inflammation noted in fetal intestine. We have shown that B. fragilis PSA anti-inflammation requires both the TLR2 and TLR4 receptor and is in part mediated by the AP1 transcription factor (TLR2) which is developmentally regulated. These observations may help to devise future preventative treatments of premature infants against NEC.}, } @article {pmid28276020, year = {2017}, author = {Zabezhinsky, D and Sperber, H and Gerst, JE}, title = {Localizing mRNAs Encoding Mitochondrial Proteins in Yeast by Fluorescence Microscopy and Subcellular Fractionation.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1567}, number = {}, pages = {197-216}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-6824-4_12}, pmid = {28276020}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Cell Fractionation ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods ; *Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; Protein Biosynthesis ; *RNA Transport ; RNA, Messenger/*metabolism ; Single Molecule Imaging/methods ; Yeasts/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are thought to have evolved from ancestral proteobacteria and, as a result of symbiosis, became an indispensable organelle in all eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria perform essential functions that provide the cell with ATP, amino acids, phospholipids, and both heme and iron-sulfur clusters. However, only 1% of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the mitochondrial genome, while the remaining 99% are encoded in the nucleus. This raises a logistical challenge to the cell, as these nuclear-encoded proteins have to be translated, delivered to the mitochondrial surface, and translocated to its various compartments. Over the past decade, it was shown that subsets of mRNAs encoding mitochondrial proteins (mMPs) are localized to the mitochondrial surface in both yeast and mammalian cells. Moreover, factors (e.g., RNA-binding proteins) have been discovered that facilitate mMP targeting, and their loss leads to RNA mislocalization and defects in mitochondrial function (e.g., deficient respiration). Therefore, there is a demand in the field of mitochondrial biology to accurately measure mMP localization to the mitochondrial surface. In this chapter, we describe two techniques that allow for the visualization of mMPs using single-molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization and preparation of a highly enriched mitochondrial fraction followed by quantitative real-time PCR. Together, these techniques constitute powerful tools to link changes in mMP trafficking to defects in mitochondrial physiology.}, } @article {pmid28275681, year = {2017}, author = {Hill, DR and Spence, JR}, title = {Gastrointestinal Organoids: Understanding the Molecular Basis of the Host-Microbe Interface.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {138-149}, pmid = {28275681}, issn = {2352-345X}, support = {T32 AI007528/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK085532/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK103141/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {In recent years, increasing attention has been devoted to the concept that microorganisms play an integral role in human physiology and pathophysiology. Despite this, the molecular basis of host-pathogen and host-symbiont interactions in the human intestine remains poorly understood owing to the limited availability of human tissue, and the biological complexity of host-microbe interactions. Over the past decade, technological advances have enabled long-term culture of organotypic intestinal tissue derived from human subjects and from human pluripotent stem cells, and these in vitro culture systems already have shown the potential to inform our understanding significantly of host-microbe interactions. Gastrointestinal organoids represent a substantial advance in structural and functional complexity over traditional in vitro cell culture models of the human gastrointestinal epithelium while retaining much of the genetic and molecular tractability that makes in vitro experimentation so appealing. The opportunity to model epithelial barrier dynamics, cellular differentiation, and proliferation more accurately in specific intestinal segments and in tissue containing a proportional representation of the diverse epithelial subtypes found in the native gut greatly enhances the translational potential of organotypic gastrointestinal culture systems. By using these tools, researchers have uncovered novel aspects of host-pathogen and host-symbiont interactions with the intestinal epithelium. Application of these tools promises to reveal new insights into the pathogenesis of infectious disease, inflammation, cancer, and the role of microorganisms in intestinal development. This review summarizes research on the use of gastrointestinal organoids as a model of the host-microbe interface.}, } @article {pmid28273083, year = {2017}, author = {Arenas, A and Roces, F}, title = {Avoidance of plants unsuitable for the symbiotic fungus in leaf-cutting ants: Learning can take place entirely at the colony dump.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e0171388}, pmid = {28273083}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; *Avoidance Learning ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects/physiology ; Fungi/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/parasitology ; Plants/metabolism/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Waste Products ; }, abstract = {Plants initially accepted by foraging leaf-cutting ants are later avoided if they prove unsuitable for their symbiotic fungus. Plant avoidance is mediated by the waste produced in the fungus garden soon after the incorporation of the unsuitable leaves, as foragers can learn plant odors and cues from the damaged fungus that are both present in the recently produced waste particles. We asked whether avoidance learning of plants unsuitable for the symbiotic fungus can take place entirely at the colony dump. In order to investigate whether cues available in the waste chamber induce plant avoidance in naïve subcolonies, we exchanged the waste produced by subcolonies fed either fungicide-treated privet leaves or untreated leaves and measured the acceptance of untreated privet leaves before and after the exchange of waste. Second, we evaluated whether foragers could perceive the avoidance cues directly at the dump by quantifying the visits of labeled foragers to the waste chamber. Finally, we asked whether foragers learn to specifically avoid untreated leaves of a plant after a confinement over 3 hours in the dump of subcolonies that were previously fed fungicide-treated leaves of that species. After the exchange of the waste chambers, workers from subcolonies that had access to waste from fungicide-treated privet leaves learned to avoid that plant. One-third of the labeled foragers visited the dump. Furthermore, naïve foragers learned to avoid a specific, previously unsuitable plant if exposed solely to cues of the dump during confinement. We suggest that cues at the dump enable foragers to predict the unsuitable effects of plants even if they had never been experienced in the fungus garden.}, } @article {pmid28272898, year = {2017}, author = {Jiménez-Romero, C and Rodríguez, AD and Nam, S}, title = {Plakortinic Acids A and B: Cytotoxic Cycloperoxides with a Bicyclo[4.2.0]octene Unit from Sponges of the Genera Plakortis and Xestospongia.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {1486-1489}, pmid = {28272898}, issn = {1523-7052}, support = {P30 CA033572/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 GM086271/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods ; Humans ; Peroxides/*chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Plakortis/*chemistry ; Polyketides/*chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Stereoisomerism ; Xestospongia/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Plakortinic acids A (2) and B (3), two polyketide endoperoxides with a bicyclo[4.2.0]octene unit, were isolated as minor constituents from the sponge-sponge symbiotic association Plakortis halichondrioides-Xestospongia deweerdtae, along with known epiplakinic acid F (1). The structures of the mixture of two inseparable compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Screening for cytotoxic activity of the mixture against two human tumor cell lines revealed that these compounds are very active at sub-micromolar concentration.}, } @article {pmid28272836, year = {2017}, author = {Hillyer, KE and Dias, DA and Lutz, A and Roessner, U and Davy, SK}, title = {Mapping carbon fate during bleaching in a model cnidarian symbiosis: the application of [13] C metabolomics.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {4}, pages = {1551-1562}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14515}, pmid = {28272836}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/physiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hot Temperature ; Isotope Labeling ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching is a major threat to the persistence of coral reefs. Yet we lack detailed knowledge of the metabolic interactions that determine symbiosis function and bleaching-induced change. We mapped autotrophic carbon fate within the free metabolite pools of both partners of a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis (Aiptasia-Symbiodinium) during exposure to thermal stress via the stable isotope tracer ([13] C bicarbonate), coupled to GC-MS. Symbiont photodamage and pronounced bleaching coincided with substantial increases in the turnover of non[13] C-labelled pools in the dinoflagellate (lipid and starch store catabolism). However, [13] C enrichment of multiple compounds associated with ongoing carbon fixation and de novo biosynthesis pathways was maintained (glucose, fatty acid and lipogenesis intermediates). Minimal change was also observed in host pools of [13] C-enriched glucose (a major symbiont-derived mobile product). However, host pathways downstream showed altered carbon fate and/or pool composition, with accumulation of compatible solutes and nonenzymic antioxidant precursors. In hospite symbionts continue to provide mobile products to the host, but at a significant cost to themselves, necessitating the mobilization of energy stores. These data highlight the need to further elucidate the role of metabolic interactions between symbiotic partners, during the process of thermal acclimation and coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid28270909, year = {2017}, author = {Reeve, W and van Berkum, P and Ardley, J and Tian, R and Gollagher, M and Marinova, D and Elia, P and Reddy, TBK and Pillay, M and Varghese, N and Seshadri, R and Ivanova, N and Woyke, T and Baeshen, MN and Baeshen, NA and Kyrpides, N}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of the Bradyrhizobium elkanii type strain USDA 76[T], isolated from Glycine max (L.) Merr.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {26}, pmid = {28270909}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76[T] (INSCD = ARAG00000000), the type strain for Bradyrhizobium elkanii, is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen-fixing root nodule of Glycine max (L. Merr) grown in the USA. Because of its significance as a microsymbiont of this economically important legume, B. elkanii USDA 76[T] was selected as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria sequencing project. Here the symbiotic abilities of B. elkanii USDA 76[T] are described, together with its genome sequence information and annotation. The 9,484,767 bp high-quality draft genome is arranged in 2 scaffolds of 25 contigs, containing 9060 protein-coding genes and 91 RNA-only encoding genes. The B. elkanii USDA 76[T] genome contains a low GC content region with symbiotic nod and fix genes, indicating the presence of a symbiotic island integration. A comparison of five B. elkanii genomes that formed a clique revealed that 356 of the 9060 protein coding genes of USDA 76[T] were unique, including 22 genes of an intact resident prophage. A conserved set of 7556 genes were also identified for this species, including genes encoding a general secretion pathway as well as type II, III, IV and VI secretion system proteins. The type III secretion system has previously been characterized as a host determinant for Rj and/or rj soybean cultivars. Here we show that the USDA 76[T] genome contains genes encoding all the type III secretion system components, including a translocon complex protein NopX required for the introduction of effector proteins into host cells. While many bradyrhizobial strains are unable to nodulate the soybean cultivar Clark (rj1), USDA 76[T] was able to elicit nodules on Clark (rj1), although in reduced numbers, when plants were grown in Leonard jars containing sand or vermiculite. In these conditions, we postulate that the presence of NopX allows USDA 76[T] to introduce various effector molecules into this host to enable nodulation.}, } @article {pmid28270506, year = {2017}, author = {Abe, K and Nakajima, M and Yamashita, T and Matsunaga, H and Kamisuki, S and Nihira, T and Takahashi, Y and Sugimoto, N and Miyanaga, A and Nakai, H and Arakawa, T and Fushinobu, S and Taguchi, H}, title = {Biochemical and structural analyses of a bacterial endo-β-1,2-glucanase reveal a new glycoside hydrolase family.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {292}, number = {18}, pages = {7487-7506}, pmid = {28270506}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Bacteroidetes/*enzymology ; Catalysis ; Catalytic Domain ; Cellulase/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; }, abstract = {β-1,2-Glucan is an extracellular cyclic or linear polysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria, with important roles in infection and symbiosis. Despite β-1,2-glucan's importance in bacterial persistence and pathogenesis, only a few reports exist on enzymes acting on both cyclic and linear β-1,2-glucan. To this end, we purified an endo-β-1,2-glucanase to homogeneity from cell extracts of the environmental species Chitinophaga arvensicola, and an endo-β-1,2-glucanase candidate gene (Cpin_6279) was cloned from the related species Chitinophaga pinensis The Cpin_6279 protein specifically hydrolyzed linear β-1,2-glucan with polymerization degrees of ≥5 and a cyclic counterpart, indicating that Cpin_6279 is an endo-β-1,2-glucananase. Stereochemical analysis demonstrated that the Cpin_6279-catalyzed reaction proceeds via an inverting mechanism. Cpin_6279 exhibited no significant sequence similarity with known glycoside hydrolases (GHs), and thus the enzyme defines a novel GH family, GH144. The crystal structures of the ligand-free and complex forms of Cpin_6279 with glucose (Glc) and sophorotriose (Glc-β-1,2-Glc-β-1,2-Glc) determined up to 1.7 Å revealed that it has a large cavity appropriate for polysaccharide degradation and adopts an (α/α)6-fold slightly similar to that of GH family 15 and 8 enzymes. Mutational analysis indicated that some of the highly conserved acidic residues in the active site are important for catalysis, and the Cpin_6279 active-site architecture provided insights into the substrate recognition by the enzyme. The biochemical characterization and crystal structure of this novel GH may enable discovery of other β-1,2-glucanases and represent a critical advance toward elucidating structure-function relationships of GH enzymes.}, } @article {pmid28267253, year = {2017}, author = {Jayaraman, D and Richards, AL and Westphall, MS and Coon, JJ and Ané, JM}, title = {Identification of the phosphorylation targets of symbiotic receptor-like kinases using a high-throughput multiplexed assay for kinase specificity.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {90}, number = {6}, pages = {1196-1207}, pmid = {28267253}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {T32 HG002760/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Detecting the phosphorylation substrates of multiple kinases in a single experiment is a challenge, and new techniques are being developed to overcome this challenge. Here, we used a multiplexed assay for kinase specificity (MAKS) to identify the substrates directly and to map the phosphorylation site(s) of plant symbiotic receptor-like kinases. The symbiotic receptor-like kinases nodulation receptor-like kinase (NORK) and lysin motif domain-containing receptor-like kinase 3 (LYK3) are indispensable for the establishment of root nodule symbiosis. Although some interacting proteins have been identified for these symbiotic receptor-like kinases, very little is known about their phosphorylation substrates. Using this high-throughput approach, we identified several other potential phosphorylation targets for both these symbiotic receptor-like kinases. In particular, we also discovered the phosphorylation of LYK3 by NORK itself, which was also confirmed by pairwise kinase assays. Motif analysis of potential targets for these kinases revealed that the acidic motif xxxsDxxx was common to both of them. In summary, this high-throughput technique catalogs the potential phosphorylation substrates of multiple kinases in a single efficient experiment, the biological characterization of which should provide a better understanding of phosphorylation signaling cascade in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28266109, year = {2017}, author = {Sanz, M and Beighton, D and Curtis, MA and Cury, JA and Dige, I and Dommisch, H and Ellwood, R and Giacaman, RA and Herrera, D and Herzberg, MC and Könönen, E and Marsh, PD and Meyle, J and Mira, A and Molina, A and Mombelli, A and Quirynen, M and Reynolds, EC and Shapira, L and Zaura, E}, title = {Role of microbial biofilms in the maintenance of oral health and in the development of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Consensus report of group 1 of the Joint EFP/ORCA workshop on the boundaries between caries and periodontal disease.}, journal = {Journal of clinical periodontology}, volume = {44 Suppl 18}, number = {}, pages = {S5-S11}, doi = {10.1111/jcpe.12682}, pmid = {28266109}, issn = {1600-051X}, support = {MR/P012175/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/P012175/2/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biofilms ; Dental Caries/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Oral Health ; Periodontitis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The scope of this working group was to review (1) ecological interactions at the dental biofilm in health and disease, (2) the role of microbial communities in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and caries, and (3) the innate host response in caries and periodontal diseases.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A health-associated biofilm includes genera such as Neisseria, Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Veillonella and Granulicatella. Microorganisms associated with both caries and periodontal diseases are metabolically highly specialized and organized as multispecies microbial biofilms. Progression of these diseases involves multiple microbial interactions driven by different stressors. In caries, the exposure of dental biofilms to dietary sugars and their fermentation to organic acids results in increasing proportions of acidogenic and aciduric species. In gingivitis, plaque accumulation at the gingival margin leads to inflammation and increasing proportions of proteolytic and often obligately anaerobic species. The natural mucosal barriers and saliva are the main innate defence mechanisms against soft tissue bacterial invasion. Similarly, enamel and dentin are important hard tissue barriers to the caries process. Given that the present state of knowledge suggests that the aetiologies of caries and periodontal diseases are mutually independent, the elements of innate immunity that appear to contribute to resistance to both are somewhat coincidental.}, } @article {pmid28265497, year = {2017}, author = {Cabrales-Arellano, P and Islas-Flores, T and Thomé, PE and Villanueva, MA}, title = {Indomethacin reproducibly induces metamorphosis in Cassiopea xamachana scyphistomae.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e2979}, pmid = {28265497}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Cassiopea xamachana jellyfish are an attractive model system to study metamorphosis and/or cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis due to the ease of cultivation of their planula larvae and scyphistomae through their asexual cycle, in which the latter can bud new larvae and continue the cycle without differentiation into ephyrae. Then, a subsequent induction of metamorphosis and full differentiation into ephyrae is believed to occur when the symbionts are acquired by the scyphistomae. Although strobilation induction and differentiation into ephyrae can be accomplished in various ways, a controlled, reproducible metamorphosis induction has not been reported. Such controlled metamorphosis induction is necessary for an ensured synchronicity and reproducibility of biological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. For this purpose, we tested if differentiation could be pharmacologically stimulated as in Aurelia aurita, by the metamorphic inducers thyroxine, KI, NaI, Lugol's iodine, H2O2, indomethacin, or retinol. We found reproducibly induced strobilation by 50 μM indomethacin after six days of exposure, and 10-25 μM after 7 days. Strobilation under optimal conditions reached 80-100% with subsequent ephyrae release after exposure. Thyroxine yielded inconsistent results as it caused strobilation occasionally, while all other chemicals had no effect. Thus, indomethacin can be used as a convenient tool for assessment of biological phenomena through a controlled metamorphic process in C. xamachana scyphistomae.}, } @article {pmid28265280, year = {2017}, author = {Gavrin, A and Kulikova, O and Bisseling, T and Fedorova, EE}, title = {Interface Symbiotic Membrane Formation in Root Nodules of Medicago truncatula: the Role of Synaptotagmins MtSyt1, MtSyt2 and MtSyt3.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {201}, pmid = {28265280}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) are maintained and conditioned to fix atmospheric nitrogen in infected cells of legume root nodules. Rhizobia are confined to the asymmetrical protrusions of plasma membrane (PM): infection threads (IT), cell wall-free unwalled droplets and symbiosomes. These compartments rapidly increase in surface and volume due to the microsymbiont expansion, and remarkably, the membrane resources of the host cells are targeted to interface membrane quite precisely. We hypothesized that the change in the membrane tension around the expanding microsymbionts creates a vector for membrane traffic toward the symbiotic interface. To test this hypothesis, we selected calcium sensors from the group of synaptotagmins: MtSyt1, Medicago truncatula homolog of AtSYT1 from Arabidopsis thaliana known to be involved in membrane repair, and two other homologs expressed in root nodules: MtSyt2 and MtSyt3. Here we show that MtSyt1, MtSyt2, and MtSyt3 are expressed in the expanding cells of the meristem, zone of infection and proximal cell layers of zone of nitrogen fixation (MtSyt1, MtSyt3). All three GFP-tagged proteins delineate the interface membrane of IT and unwalled droplets and create a subcompartments of PM surrounding these structures. The localization of MtSyt1 by EM immunogold labeling has shown the signal on symbiosome membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To specify the role of synaptotagmins in interface membrane formation, we compared the localization of MtSyt1, MtSyt3 and exocyst subunit EXO70i, involved in the tethering of post-Golgi secretory vesicles and operational in tip growth. The localization of EXO70i in root nodules and arbusculated roots was strictly associated with the tips of IT and the tips of arbuscular fine branches, but the distribution of synaptotagmins on membrane subcompartments was broader and includes lateral parts of IT, the membrane of unwalled droplets as well as the symbiosomes. The double silencing of synaptotagmins caused a delay in rhizobia release and blocks symbiosome maturation confirming the functional role of synaptotagmins.

IN CONCLUSION: synaptotagmin-dependent membrane fusion along with tip-targeted exocytosis is operational in the formation of symbiotic interface.}, } @article {pmid28264559, year = {2017}, author = {Döhlemann, J and Wagner, M and Happel, C and Carrillo, M and Sobetzko, P and Erb, TJ and Thanbichler, M and Becker, A}, title = {A Family of Single Copy repABC-Type Shuttle Vectors Stably Maintained in the Alpha-Proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {968-984}, pmid = {28264559}, issn = {2161-5063}, support = {637675/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular/*methods ; Genetic Vectors/*genetics ; Integrases/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Replicon/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A considerable share of bacterial species maintains segmented genomes. Plant symbiotic α-proteobacterial rhizobia contain up to six repABC-type replicons in addition to the primary chromosome. These low or unit-copy replicons, classified as secondary chromosomes, chromids, or megaplasmids, are exclusively found in α-proteobacteria. Replication and faithful partitioning of these replicons to the daughter cells is mediated by the repABC region. The importance of α-rhizobial symbiotic nitrogen fixation for sustainable agriculture and Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation as a tool in plant sciences has increasingly moved biological engineering of these organisms into focus. Plasmids are ideal DNA-carrying vectors for these engineering efforts. On the basis of repABC regions collected from α-rhizobial secondary replicons, and origins of replication derived from traditional cloning vectors, we devised the versatile family of pABC shuttle vectors propagating in Sinorhizobium meliloti, related members of the Rhizobiales, and Escherichia coli. A modular plasmid library providing the elemental parts for pABC vector assembly was founded. The standardized design of these vectors involves five basic modules: (1) repABC cassette, (2) plasmid-derived origin of replication, (3) RK2/RP4 mobilization site (optional), (4) antibiotic resistance gene, and (5) multiple cloning site flanked by transcription terminators. In S. meliloti, pABC vectors showed high propagation stability and unit-copy number. We demonstrated stable coexistence of three pABC vectors in addition to the two indigenous megaplasmids in S. meliloti, suggesting combinability of multiple compatible pABC plasmids. We further devised an in vivo cloning strategy involving Cre/lox-mediated translocation of large DNA fragments to an autonomously replicating repABC-based vector, followed by conjugation-mediated transfer either to compatible rhizobia or E. coli.}, } @article {pmid28264330, year = {2017}, author = {Itskovich, VB and Kaluzhnaya, OV and Veynberg, E and Erpenbeck, D}, title = {Endemic Lake Baikal sponges from deep water. 2: Taxonomy and Bathymetric Distribution.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4236}, number = {2}, pages = {zootaxa.4236.2.8}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4236.2.8}, pmid = {28264330}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Fossils ; Lakes ; Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Unique samples of deep-water sponges of Lake Baikal were collected between 120 and 1450 m depth and their taxonomy and bathymetric distribution were studied. Based on morphological studies with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular analyses (CO1, ITS) we describe a new species, Baikalospongia abyssalis sp. nov. Spicule morphology of this new species is similar to Palaeoephydatia sp., a species previously known only from fossils in Late Pliocene (3.2-2.8 mya) sediments. Other sponge samples collected were identified as Baikalospongia intermedia intermedia, B. intermedia profundalis, B. bacillifera, B. fungiformis, B. martinsoni and Swartschewskia papyracea, all from the family Lubomirskiidae. Sponge specimens with giant spicules, identified as B. fungiformis, were found at great depths. B.i. intermedia and B. i. profundalis are dominating species at great depth. Light is a limiting factor for distribution of Lubomirskia baicalensis, possibly due to its symbiosis with photosynthetic protists. The current study extends our knowledge on the distribution boundaries of Lubomirskiidae at great depths.}, } @article {pmid28263570, year = {2017}, author = {Victor, T and Delpratt, N and Cseke, SB and Miller, LM and Cseke, LJ}, title = {Imaging Nutrient Distribution in the Rhizosphere Using FTIR Imaging.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {89}, number = {9}, pages = {4831-4837}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04376}, pmid = {28263570}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Laccaria/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrates/analysis/metabolism ; Nutrients/analysis/*metabolism ; Populus/metabolism/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared/*methods ; Sucrose/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations in the rhizosphere between plants and microorganisms lead to efficient changes in the distribution of nutrients that promote growth and development for each organism involved. Understanding these nutrient fluxes provides insight into the molecular dynamics involved in nutrient transport from one organism to the other. To study such a nutrient flow, a new application of Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) was developed that entailed growing Populus tremulodes seedlings on a thin, nutrient-enriched Phytagel matrix that allows pixel to pixel measurement of the distribution of nutrients, in particular, nitrate, in the rhizosphere. The FTIR spectra collected from ammonium nitrate in the matrix indicated the greatest changes in the spectra at 1340 cm[-1] due to the asymmetric stretching vibrations of nitrate. For quantification of the nitrate concentration in the rhizosphere of experimental plants, a calibration curve was generated that gave the nitrate concentration at each pixel in the chemical image. These images of the poplar rhizosphere showed evidence for symbiotic sharing of nutrients between the plant and the fungi, Laccaria bicolor, where the nitrate concentration was five times higher near mycorrhizal roots than further out into the rhizosphere. This suggested that nitrates are acquired and transported from the media toward the plant root by the fungi. Similarly, the sucrose used in the growth media as a carbon source was depleted around the fungi, suggesting its uptake and consumption by the system. This study is the first of its kind to visualize and quantify the nutrient availability associated with mycorrhizal interactions, indicating that FTIRI has the ability to monitor nutrient changes with other microorganisms in the rhizosphere as a key step for understanding nutrient flow processes in more diverse biological systems.}, } @article {pmid28263320, year = {2017}, author = {Jia, D and Mao, Q and Chen, Y and Liu, Y and Chen, Q and Wu, W and Zhang, X and Chen, H and Li, Y and Wei, T}, title = {Insect symbiotic bacteria harbour viral pathogens for transovarial transmission.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17025}, doi = {10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.25}, pmid = {28263320}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/*virology ; Capsid Proteins/metabolism ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Protein Binding ; Reoviridae/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Many insects, including mosquitoes, planthoppers, aphids and leafhoppers, are the hosts of bacterial symbionts and the vectors for transmitting viral pathogens[1-3]. In general, symbiotic bacteria can indirectly affect viral transmission by enhancing immunity and resistance to viruses in insects[3-5]. Whether symbiotic bacteria can directly interact with the virus and mediate its transmission has been unknown. Here, we show that an insect symbiotic bacterium directly harbours a viral pathogen and mediates its transovarial transmission to offspring. We observe rice dwarf virus (a plant reovirus) binding to the envelopes of the bacterium Sulcia, a common obligate symbiont of leafhoppers[6-8], allowing the virus to exploit the ancient oocyte entry path of Sulcia in rice leafhopper vectors. Such virus-bacterium binding is mediated by the specific interaction of the viral capsid protein and the Sulcia outer membrane protein. Treatment with antibiotics or antibodies against Sulcia outer membrane protein interferes with this interaction and strongly prevents viral transmission to insect offspring. This newly discovered virus-bacterium interaction represents the first evidence that a viral pathogen can directly exploit a symbiotic bacterium for its transmission. We believe that such a model of virus-bacterium communication is a common phenomenon in nature.}, } @article {pmid28262967, year = {2017}, author = {Decker, EL and Alder, A and Hunn, S and Ferguson, J and Lehtonen, MT and Scheler, B and Kerres, KL and Wiedemann, G and Safavi-Rizi, V and Nordzieke, S and Balakrishna, A and Baz, L and Avalos, J and Valkonen, JPT and Reski, R and Al-Babili, S}, title = {Strigolactone biosynthesis is evolutionarily conserved, regulated by phosphate starvation and contributes to resistance against phytopathogenic fungi in a moss, Physcomitrella patens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {216}, number = {2}, pages = {455-468}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14506}, pmid = {28262967}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Bryopsida/*microbiology/*physiology ; Carotenoids/chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dioxygenases/metabolism ; *Disease Resistance ; Disease Susceptibility ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Germination ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {In seed plants, strigolactones (SLs) regulate architecture and induce mycorrhizal symbiosis in response to environmental cues. SLs are formed by combined activity of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) 7 and 8 from 9-cis-β-carotene, leading to carlactone that is converted by cytochromes P450 (clade 711; MAX1 in Arabidopsis) into various SLs. As Physcomitrella patens possesses CCD7 and CCD8 homologs but lacks MAX1, we investigated if PpCCD7 together with PpCCD8 form carlactone and how deletion of these enzymes influences growth and interactions with the environment. We investigated the enzymatic activity of PpCCD7 and PpCCD8 in vitro, identified the formed products by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and LC-MS, and generated and analysed ΔCCD7 and ΔCCD8 mutants. We defined enzymatic activity of PpCCD7 as a stereospecific 9-cis-CCD and PpCCD8 as a carlactone synthase. ΔCCD7 and ΔCCD8 lines showed enhanced caulonema growth, which was revertible by adding the SL analogue GR24 or carlactone. Wild-type (WT) exudates induced seed germination in Orobanche ramosa. This activity was increased upon phosphate starvation and abolished in exudates of both mutants. Furthermore, both mutants showed increased susceptibility to phytopathogenic fungi. Our study reveals the deep evolutionary conservation of SL biosynthesis, SL function, and its regulation by biotic and abiotic cues.}, } @article {pmid28262822, year = {2017}, author = {Garate, L and Sureda, J and Agell, G and Uriz, MJ}, title = {Endosymbiotic calcifying bacteria across sponge species and oceans.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {43674}, pmid = {28262822}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Biodiversity ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {From an evolutionary point of view, sponges are ideal targets to study marine symbioses as they are the most ancient living metazoans and harbour highly diverse microbial communities. A recently discovered association between the sponge Hemimycale columella and an intracellular bacterium that generates large amounts of calcite spherules has prompted speculation on the possible role of intracellular bacteria in the evolution of the skeleton in early animals. To gain insight into this purportedly ancestral symbiosis, we investigated the presence of symbiotic bacteria in Mediterranean and Caribbean sponges. We found four new calcibacteria OTUs belonging to the SAR116 in two orders (Poecilosclerida and Clionaida) and three families of Demospongiae, two additional OTUs in cnidarians and one more in seawater (at 98.5% similarity). Using a calcibacteria targeted probe and CARD-FISH, we also found calcibacteria in Spirophorida and Suberitida and proved that the calcifying bacteria accumulated at the sponge periphery, forming a skeletal cortex, analogous to that of siliceous microscleres in other demosponges. Bacteria-mediated skeletonization is spread in a range of phylogenetically distant species and thus the purported implication of bacteria in skeleton formation and evolution of early animals gains relevance.}, } @article {pmid28261755, year = {2017}, author = {Ramalho, MO and Martins, C and Silva, LM and Martins, VG and Bueno, OC}, title = {Intracellular Symbiotic Bacteria of Camponotus textor, Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {74}, number = {5}, pages = {589-597}, pmid = {28261755}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {This study focuses on the weaver ant, Camponotus textor, Forel which occurs in some areas of the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, and its symbionts: Blochmannia, an obligate symbiont of Camponotus, and Wolbachia, known for causing reproductive alterations in their hosts. The main goal of this study was to investigate the presence, frequency of occurrence, and diversity of Wolbachia and Blochmannia strains in C. textor colonies. We found high infection rates (100%) and the occurrence of at least two distinct strains of Blochmannia (H_1 or H_7) in the same species. The observed haplotype variation within a single species may result from the high mutation rate of the symbiont. Similarly, the Wolbachia was found in all colonies with different rates of infections and a new strain (supergroup A) was deposited in the MLST database. The diversity found in the present study shows that there is still much to explore to understand about these symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid28261240, year = {2017}, author = {He, F and Sheng, M and Tang, M}, title = {Effects of Rhizophagus irregularis on Photosynthesis and Antioxidative Enzymatic System in Robinia pseudoacacia L. under Drought Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {183}, pmid = {28261240}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonize roots improving plant water status and tolerance to drought. However, it is not clear whether the presence of AM would affect the photosynthesis and antioxidant gene-enzymes response, which help to alleviate drought stress of the host plant. Here, pot experiments were performed to investigate the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis, an AM fungus, on the tissue water content, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings which were subjected to well-watered or moderate drought stress. Mycorrhizal symbiosis increased relative water content (RWC) of plant roots and leaves, promoted the accumulation of biomass and chlorophyll (Chl) content, and improved photochemistry efficiency, regardless of watering regimes. Mycorrhizal plants had higher SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GR activities, and the transcript levels of Cu/Zn-SOD. APX and GR, but lower O2[-], H2O2 and MDA concentrations in leaves and roots of black locust under drought and well-watered conditions. Results from the present study indicate that AM fungus (R. irregularis) symbiosis can enhance photosynthesis and ROS scavenging capabilities and increase RWC of leaves and roots to alleviate drought stress in black locust. Further research is needed to elucidate the relations among AM fungi and the metabolic pathways of antioxidant enzymes, and the function of antioxidant genes regulated by mycorrhizal symbiosis with the purpose of revealing the mechanisms of mycorrhizal-induced plant tolerance to drought stress.}, } @article {pmid28261017, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, YG}, title = {Microbiota Influences Vaccine and Mucosal Adjuvant Efficacy.}, journal = {Immune network}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {20-24}, pmid = {28261017}, issn = {1598-2629}, abstract = {A symbiotic relationship between humans and the microbiota is critical for the maintenance of our health, including development of the immune system, enhancement of the epithelial barrier, and acquisition of nutrients. Recent research has shown that the microbiota impacts immune cell development and differentiation. These findings suggest that the microbiota may also influence adjuvant and vaccine efficacy. Indeed, several factors such as malnutrition and poor sanitation, which affect gut microbiota composition, impair the efficacy of vaccines. Although there is little evidence that microbiota alters vaccine efficacy, further understanding of human immune system-microbiota interactions may lead to the effective development of adjuvants and vaccines for the treatment of diseases.}, } @article {pmid28259747, year = {2017}, author = {Prattichizzo, F and Micolucci, L and Cricca, M and De Carolis, S and Mensà, E and Ceriello, A and Procopio, AD and Bonafè, M and Olivieri, F}, title = {Exosome-based immunomodulation during aging: A nano-perspective on inflamm-aging.}, journal = {Mechanisms of ageing and development}, volume = {168}, number = {}, pages = {44-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.mad.2017.02.008}, pmid = {28259747}, issn = {1872-6216}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Aging/*immunology/metabolism ; Animals ; Exosomes/*immunology/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Immunosenescence ; Inflammation/*immunology/metabolism ; Inflammation Mediators/immunology/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/immunology/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Signal Transduction ; Viruses/immunology/metabolism/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Exosomes are nanovesicles formed by inward budding of endosomal membranes. They exert complex immunomodulatory effects on target cells, acting both as antigen-presenting vesicles and as shuttles for packets of information such as proteins, coding and non-coding RNA, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA fragments. Albeit different, all such functions seem to be encompassed in the adaptive mechanism mediating the complex interactions of the organism with a variety of stressors, providing both for defense and for the evolution of symbiotic relationships with others organisms (gut microbiota, bacteria, and viruses). Intriguingly, the newly deciphered human virome and exosome biogenesis seem to share some physical-chemical characteristics and molecular mechanisms. Exosomes are involved in immune system recognition of self from non-self throughout life: they are therefore ideal candidate to modulate inflamm-aging, the chronic, systemic, age-related pro-inflammatory status, which influence the development/progression of the most common age-related diseases (ARDs). Not surprisingly, recent evidence has documented exosomal alteration during aging and in association with ARDs, even though data in this field are still limited. Here, we review current knowledge on exosome-based trafficking between immune cells and self/non-self cells (i.e. the virome), sketching a nano-perspective on inflamm-aging and on the mechanisms involved in health maintenance throughout life.}, } @article {pmid28259130, year = {2016}, author = {Ptushenko, VV and Solovchenko, AE}, title = {Tolerance of the Photosynthetic Apparatus to Acidification of the Growth Medium as a Possible Determinant of CO2-Tolerance of the Symbiotic Microalga Desmodesmus sp. IPPAS-2014.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {81}, number = {12}, pages = {1531-1537}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297916120142}, pmid = {28259130}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Culture Media ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics ; Microalgae/*physiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic unicellular chlorophyte Desmodesmus sp. IPPAS-2014 capable of growth at extremely high CO2 levels prohibitive for most other microalgae is an interesting model for studies of CO2 tolerance mechanisms and a promising organism for CO2 biocapture. We studied the initial (0-60 min) phase of acclimation of this microalga to an abrupt decrease in pH of the medium sparged with air/20% CO2 mixture. Acclimation of the culture to these conditions was accompanied by a sharp decrease in photochemical activity of the chloroplast followed by its recovery with a characteristic time of 10-50 min. We hypothesize that acidification of the cultivation medium by dissolving CO2 plays a key role in the observed decrease in the photochemical activity. The possible role of photosynthetic apparatus tolerance to abrupt acidification in overall high tolerance of symbiotic microalgae to extremely high CO2 levels is discussed.}, } @article {pmid28257556, year = {2017}, author = {Gohli, J and Kirkendall, LR and Smith, SM and Cognato, AI and Hulcr, J and Jordal, BH}, title = {Biological factors contributing to bark and ambrosia beetle species diversification.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {71}, number = {5}, pages = {1258-1272}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13219}, pmid = {28257556}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Biological Factors ; Coleoptera/*genetics ; Ecology ; Fungi ; *Genetic Speciation ; }, abstract = {The study of species diversification can identify the processes that shape patterns of species richness across the tree of life. Here, we perform comparative analyses of species diversification using a large dataset of bark beetles. Three examined covariates-permanent inbreeding (sibling mating), fungus farming, and major host type-represent a range of factors that may be important for speciation. We studied the association of these covariates with species diversification while controlling for evolutionary lag on adaptation. All three covariates were significantly associated with diversification, but fungus farming showed conflicting patterns between different analyses. Genera that exhibited interspecific variation in host type had higher rates of species diversification, which may suggest that host switching is a driver of species diversification or that certain host types or forest compositions facilitate colonization and thus allopatric speciation. Because permanent inbreeding is thought to facilitate dispersal, the positive association between permanent inbreeding and diversification rates suggests that dispersal ability may contribute to species richness. Bark beetles are ecologically unique; however, our results indicate that their impressive species diversity is largely driven by mechanisms shown to be important for many organism groups.}, } @article {pmid28255691, year = {2017}, author = {Meneses, N and Taboada, H and Dunn, MF and Vargas, MDC and Buchs, N and Heller, M and Encarnación, S}, title = {The naringenin-induced exoproteome of Rhizobium etli CE3.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {5}, pages = {737-755}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1351-8}, pmid = {28255691}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Flavanones/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteome/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids excreted by legume roots induce the expression of symbiotically essential nodulation (nod) genes in rhizobia, as well as that of specific protein export systems. In the bean microsymbiont Rhizobium etli CE3, nod genes are induced by the flavonoid naringenin. In this study, we identified 693 proteins in the exoproteome of strain CE3 grown in minimal medium with or without naringenin, with 101 and 100 exoproteins being exclusive to these conditions, respectively. Four hundred ninety-two (71%) of the extracellular proteins were found in both cultures. Of the total exoproteins identified, nearly 35% were also present in the intracellular proteome of R. etli bacteroids, 27% had N-terminal signal sequences and a significant number had previously demonstrated or possible novel roles in symbiosis, including bacterial cell surface modification, adhesins, proteins classified as MAMPs (microbe-associated molecular patterns), such as flagellin and EF-Tu, and several normally cytoplasmic proteins as Ndk and glycolytic enzymes, which are known to have extracellular "moonlighting" roles in bacteria that interact with eukaryotic cells. It is noteworthy that the transmembrane ß (1,2) glucan biosynthesis protein NdvB, an essential symbiotic protein in rhizobia, was found in the R. etli naringenin-induced exoproteome. In addition, potential binding sites for two nod-gene transcriptional regulators (NodD) occurred somewhat more frequently in the promoters of genes encoding naringenin-induced exoproteins in comparison to those ofexoproteins found in the control condition.}, } @article {pmid28254989, year = {2017}, author = {Sugawara, M and Tsukui, T and Kaneko, T and Ohtsubo, Y and Sato, S and Nagata, Y and Tsuda, M and Mitsui, H and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 122, a Nitrogen-Fixing Soybean Symbiont.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {28254989}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We report the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 122, a nitrogen-fixing soybean symbiont. The genome consists of a 9.1 Mb circular chromosome, and 8,551 coding sequences (CDSs) were predicted on the genome. The sequence will provide insight into the evolution of rhizobial genome, and the symbiotic compatibility with host plants.}, } @article {pmid28254477, year = {2017}, author = {López-García, P and Eme, L and Moreira, D}, title = {Symbiosis in eukaryotic evolution.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {20-33}, pmid = {28254477}, issn = {1095-8541}, support = {322669/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Eukaryota/*cytology/ultrastructure ; Eukaryotic Cells/ultrastructure ; Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fifty years ago, Lynn Margulis, inspiring in early twentieth-century ideas that put forward a symbiotic origin for some eukaryotic organelles, proposed a unified theory for the origin of the eukaryotic cell based on symbiosis as evolutionary mechanism. Margulis was profoundly aware of the importance of symbiosis in the natural microbial world and anticipated the evolutionary significance that integrated cooperative interactions might have as mechanism to increase cellular complexity. Today, we have started fully appreciating the vast extent of microbial diversity and the importance of syntrophic metabolic cooperation in natural ecosystems, especially in sediments and microbial mats. Also, not only the symbiogenetic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts has been clearly demonstrated, but improvement in phylogenomic methods combined with recent discoveries of archaeal lineages more closely related to eukaryotes further support the symbiogenetic origin of the eukaryotic cell. Margulis left us in legacy the idea of 'eukaryogenesis by symbiogenesis'. Although this has been largely verified, when, where, and specifically how eukaryotic cells evolved are yet unclear. Here, we shortly review current knowledge about symbiotic interactions in the microbial world and their evolutionary impact, the status of eukaryogenetic models and the current challenges and perspectives ahead to reconstruct the evolutionary path to eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid28254367, year = {2017}, author = {Mohamed Mahmoud, F and Krimi, Z and Maciá-Vicente, JG and Brahim Errahmani, M and Lopez-Llorca, LV}, title = {Endophytic fungi associated with roots of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) in coastal dunes.}, journal = {Revista iberoamericana de micologia}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {116-120}, doi = {10.1016/j.riam.2016.06.007}, pmid = {28254367}, issn = {2173-9188}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Biological Control Agents ; *Droughts ; Endophytes/classification/*isolation & purification ; Mycelium/isolation & purification ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; Phoeniceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic interactions with fungal endophytes are argued to be responsible for the tolerance of plants to some stresses and for their adaptation to natural conditions.

AIMS: In this study we aimed to examine the endophytic fungal diversity associated with roots of date palms growing in coastal dune systems, and to screen this collection of endophytes for potential use as biocontrol agents, for antagonistic activity and mycoparasitism, and as producers of antifungal compounds with potential efficacy against root diseases of date palm.

METHODS: Roots of nine individual date palms growing in three coastal locations in the South-East of Spain (Guardamar, El Carabassí, and San Juan) were selected to isolate endophytic fungi. Isolates were identified on the basis of morphological and/or molecular characters.

RESULTS: Five hundred and fifty two endophytic fungi were isolated and assigned to thirty morphological taxa or molecular operational taxonomic units. Most isolates belonged to Ascomycota, and the dominant order was Hypocreales. Fusarium and Clonostachys were the most frequently isolated genera and were present at all sampling sites. Comparisons of the endophytic diversity with previous studies, and their importance in the management of the date palm crops are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on the diversity of endophytic fungi associated with roots of date palm. The isolates obtained might constitute a source of biological control agents and biofertilizers for use in crops of this plant.}, } @article {pmid28251643, year = {2017}, author = {Papazian, B}, title = {'Telepathic' phenomena and separation anxiety.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {98}, number = {4}, pages = {1169-1192}, doi = {10.1111/1745-8315.12634}, pmid = {28251643}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Adult ; Anxiety, Separation/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; *Object Attachment ; *Professional-Patient Relations ; *Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {By discussing a treatment characterized by its difficult ending, the author strives to show the dynamic impact of separation on phenomena that can be seen as 'telepathic'. Led to develop some inalienable attachment to her analyst in the primary transference, the analysand found herself caught up in the contradiction of her visceral dread of dependency, which compelled her to interrupt the work in progress. She then began to work out her analyst's comings and goings and to run into him in public places, as if to be assured of his immovability. This phenomenon arose with high frequency as the effect of some idealization of the maternal object aiming to deny the spatiotemporal gap. The chance that the experience of rejection via indifference may be repeated also entailed the transferential unfurling of a fantasy involving a double, undifferentiation counterbalancing the lived experience of separation. Furthermore, a 'telepathic' dream occurred as confirmation of this twin relationship which illustrates the analysand's refusal to renounce her narcissistic object. Projective identifications, agglutinated ego nuclei along with primitive cross-identifications could, among other concepts, account for such phenomena which are projective in nature yet real all the same. Such mechanisms could have the power to relay thoughts the moment undifferentiated parts of the ego - if not unborn parts of the self - were activated in a potentially symbiotic zone. Marked by a feeling of dispossession, the analyst's countertransference not only seemed to underscore this hypothesis, it also gave a partial explanation for it. Until the analyst could recognize his own nostalgia for a symbiotic relationship, he had to encourage the occurrence of those unexpected meetings which stemmed from a convergence between the transference and the countertransference.}, } @article {pmid28250940, year = {2017}, author = {Sarkar, S and Row, TN}, title = {A heuristic approach to evaluate peri interactions versus intermolecular interactions in an overcrowded naphthalene.}, journal = {IUCrJ}, volume = {4}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {37-49}, pmid = {28250940}, issn = {2052-2525}, abstract = {Octachloronaphthalene (OCN), a serious environmental pollutant, has been investigated by charge density analysis to unravel several unexplored factors responsible for steric overcrowding. The topological features of the enigmatic peri interactions contributing to steric overcrowding are qualified and quantified from experimental and theoretical charge-density studies. A new facet in the fundamental understanding of peri interactions is revealed by NCI (non-covalent interaction) analysis. The potential role of these interactions in deforming the molecular geometry and subsequent effect on aromaticity are substantiated from NICS (Nuclear Independent Chemical Shift) and QTAIM (Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules) calculations. The eye-catching dissimilarity in the out-of-plane twisting of OCN renders the molecule in an asymmetric geometry in the crystalline phase compared with symmetric geometry in the optimized solvated phase. This is uniquely characterized by their molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), respectively, and is explained in terms of conflict between two opposing forces - peri interactions, and symbiotic intermolecular Cl⋯Cl and Cl⋯π contacts.}, } @article {pmid28250783, year = {2016}, author = {Ekhlasi, G and Kolahdouz Mohammadi, R and Agah, S and Zarrati, M and Hosseini, AF and Arabshahi, SS and Shidfar, F}, title = {Do symbiotic and Vitamin E supplementation have favorite effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.}, journal = {Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {106}, pmid = {28250783}, issn = {1735-1995}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. Oral administration of symbiotic and Vitamin E has been proposed as an effective treatment in NAFLD patients. This study was carried out to assess the effects of symbiotic and/or Vitamin E supplementation on liver enzymes, leptin, lipid profile, and some parameters of insulin resistance (IR) in NAFLD patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomly assigned sixty NAFLD adult patients to receive (1) symbiotic twice daily + Vitamin E-like placebo capsule; (2) 400 IU/d Vitamin E + symbiotic-like placebo; (3) symbiotic twice daily + 400 IU/d Vitamin E; and (4) symbiotic-like placebo + Vitamin E-like placebo for 8 weeks.

RESULTS: Symbiotic plus Vitamin E supplementation led to a significant decrease in concentrations of liver transaminase (P ≤ 0.05). Mean difference of apolipoprotein A-1 was more significant in symbiotic group compared to control. However, mean difference of apolipoprotein B100/A-1 was only significant in symbiotic group compared to control. At the end of the study, significant differences in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were seen between the symbiotic plus Vitamin E and control groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, intake of symbiotic plus Vitamin E supplements led to a significant decrease in concentrations of triglycerides (TG) after the intervention. Significant differences in leptin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin levels were seen between the symbiotic plus Vitamin E and control groups at the end of the study (P < 0.001). In contrast, symbiotic and/or Vitamin E supplementation did not affect high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and homeostasis model assessment for IR levels.

CONCLUSION: In our study, symbiotic plus Vitamin E supplementation was the most effective treatment in lowering liver enzymes, leptin, FBS, insulin, TG, TC, and LDL-C among NAFLD patients.}, } @article {pmid28250336, year = {2017}, author = {Salah Ud-Din, AIM and Roujeinikova, A}, title = {The periplasmic sensing domain of Pseudomonas fluorescens chemotactic transducer of amino acids type B (CtaB): Cloning, refolding, purification, crystallization, and X-ray crystallographic analysis.}, journal = {Bioscience trends}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {229-234}, doi = {10.5582/bst.2016.01218}, pmid = {28250336}, issn = {1881-7823}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Chemotaxis ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*metabolism ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {Pseudomonas fluorescens is a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium that provides nutrients for growth and induces systemic resistance against plant diseases. It has been linked with a number of human diseases including nosocomial infections and bacterial cystitis. Chemotactic motility of P. fluorescens towards root exudates plays a crucial role in establishing a symbiotic relationship with host plants. The P. fluorescens chemotactic transducer of amino acids type B (CtaB) mediates chemotaxis towards amino acids. As a step towards elucidation of the structural basis of ligand recognition by CtaB, we have produced crystals of its recombinant sensory domain and performed their X-ray diffraction analysis. The periplasmic sensory domain of CtaB has been expressed, purified, and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method using ammonium sulfate as a precipitating agent. A complete data set was collected to 2.2 Å resolution using cryocooling conditions and synchrotron radiation. The crystals belong to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 34.5, b = 108.9, c = 134.6 Å. Calculation of the Matthews coefficient and the self-rotation function using this data set suggested that the asymmetric unit contains a protein dimer. Detailed structural analysis of CtaB would be an important step towards understanding the molecular mechanism underpinning the recognition of environmental signals and transmission of the signals to the inside of the cell.}, } @article {pmid28250108, year = {2017}, author = {Kitchen, SA and Weis, VM}, title = {The sphingosine rheostat is involved in the cnidarian heat stress response but not necessarily in bleaching.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 9}, pages = {1709-1720}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.153858}, pmid = {28250108}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/physiology ; Dysbiosis/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Heat-Shock Response ; *Hot Temperature ; Sea Anemones/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Sphingolipids/pharmacology ; Sphingosine/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sphingolipids play important roles in mitigating cellular heat and oxidative stress by altering membrane fluidity, receptor clustering and gene expression. Accumulation of signaling sphingolipids that comprise the sphingosine rheostat, pro-apoptotic sphingosine (Sph) and pro-survival sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is key to determining cell fate. Reef-building corals and other symbiotic cnidarians living in shallow tropical waters can experience elevated seawater temperature and high UV irradiance, two stressors that are increasing in frequency and severity with climate change. In symbiotic cnidarians, these stressors disrupt the photosynthetic machinery of the endosymbiont and ultimately result in the collapse of the partnership (dysbiosis), known as cnidarian bleaching. In a previous study, exogenously applied sphingolipids altered heat-induced bleaching in the symbiotic anemone Aiptasia pallida, but endogenous regulation of these lipids is unknown. Here, we characterized the role of the rheostat in the cnidarian heat stress response (HSR) and in dysbiosis. Gene expression of rheostat enzymes sphingosine kinase (AP-SPHK) and S1P phosphatase (AP-SGPP), and concentrations of sphingolipids were quantified from anemones incubated at elevated temperatures. We observed a biphasic HSR in A. pallida. At early exposure, rheostat gene expression and lipid levels were suppressed while gene expression of a heat stress biomarker increased and 40% of symbionts were lost. After longer incubations at the highest temperature, AP-SGPP and then Sph levels both increased. These results indicate that the sphingosine rheostat in A. pallida does not participate in initiation of dysbiosis, but instead functions in the chronic response to prolonged heat stress that promotes host survival.}, } @article {pmid28249568, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, C and Uematsu, K and Linse, K and Sigwart, JD}, title = {By more ways than one: Rapid convergence at hydrothermal vents shown by 3D anatomical reconstruction of Gigantopelta (Mollusca: Neomphalina).}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {62}, pmid = {28249568}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; Bacteria/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Ecosystem ; Gastropoda/*anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/microbiology ; Gills/microbiology ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Indian Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Extreme environments prompt the evolution of characteristic adaptations. Yet questions remain about whether radiations in extreme environments originate from a single lineage that masters a key adaptive pathway, or if the same features can arise in parallel through convergence. Species endemic to deep-sea hydrothermal vents must accommodate high temperature and low pH. The most successful vent species share a constrained pathway to successful energy exploitation: hosting symbionts. The vent-endemic gastropod genus Gigantopelta, from the Southern and Indian Oceans, shares unusual features with a co-occurring peltospirid, the 'scaly-foot gastropod' Chrysomallon squamiferum. Both are unusually large for the clade and share other adaptive features such as a prominent enlarged trophosome-like oesophageal gland, not found in any other vent molluscs.

RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy confirmed endosymbiont bacteria in the oesophageal gland of Gigantopelta, as also seen in Chrysomallon. They are the only known members of their phylum in vent ecosystems hosting internal endosymbionts; other vent molluscs host endosymbionts in or on their gills, or in the mantle cavity. A five-gene phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrated that Gigantopelta and Chrysomallon are not phylogenetically sister-taxa, despite their superficial similarity. Both genera have specialist adaptations to accommodate internalised endosymbionts, but with anatomical differences that indicate separate evolutionary origins. Hosting endosymbionts in an internal organ within the host means that all resources required by the bacteria must be supplied by the animal, rather than directly by the vent fluid. Unlike Chrysomallon, which has an enlarged oesophageal gland throughout post-settlement life, the oesophageal gland in Gigantopelta is proportionally much smaller in juveniles and the animals likely undergo a trophic shift during ontogeny. The circulatory system is hypertrophied in both but the overall size is smaller in Gigantopelta. In contrast with Chrysomallon, Gigantopelta possesses true ganglia and is gonochoristic.

CONCLUSIONS: Key anatomical differences between Gigantopelta and Chrysomallon demonstrate these two genera acquired a similar way of life through independent and convergent adaptive pathways. What appear to be the holobiont's adaptations to an extreme environment, are driven by optimising bacteria's access to vent nutrients. By comparing Gigantopelta and Chrysomallon, we show that metazoans are capable of rapidly and repeatedly evolving equivalent anatomical adaptations and close-knit relationships with chemoautotrophic bacteria, achieving the same end-product through parallel evolutionary trajectories.}, } @article {pmid28248301, year = {2017}, author = {Xiao, X and Yang, L and Pang, X and Zhang, R and Zhu, Y and Wang, P and Gao, G and Cheng, G}, title = {A Mesh-Duox pathway regulates homeostasis in the insect gut.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17020}, pmid = {28248301}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {R21 AI103807/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology/*physiology ; Dual Oxidases/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/physiology ; *Homeostasis ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The metazoan gut harbours complex communities of commensal and symbiotic bacterial microorganisms. The quantity and quality of these microorganisms fluctuate dynamically in response to physiological changes. The mechanisms that hosts have developed to respond to and manage such dynamic changes and maintain homeostasis remain largely unknown. Here, we identify a dual oxidase (Duox)-regulating pathway that contributes to maintaining homeostasis in the gut of both Aedes aegypti and Drosophila melanogaster. We show that a gut-membrane-associated protein, named Mesh, plays an important role in controlling the proliferation of gut bacteria by regulating Duox expression through an Arrestin-mediated MAPK JNK/ERK phosphorylation cascade. Expression of both Mesh and Duox is correlated with the gut bacterial microbiome, which, in mosquitoes, increases dramatically soon after a blood meal. Ablation of Mesh abolishes Duox induction, leading to an increase of the gut microbiome load. Our study reveals that the Mesh-mediated signalling pathway is a central homeostatic mechanism of the insect gut.}, } @article {pmid28246174, year = {2017}, author = {Park, HB and Sampathkumar, P and Perez, CE and Lee, JH and Tran, J and Bonanno, JB and Hallem, EA and Almo, SC and Crawford, JM}, title = {Stilbene epoxidation and detoxification in a Photorhabdus luminescens-nematode symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {292}, number = {16}, pages = {6680-6694}, pmid = {28246174}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {DP2 CA186575/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U54 GM094662/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry ; Biological Products/chemistry ; Catalysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Epoxy Compounds/*chemistry ; Gene Deletion ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Immunosuppressive Agents/chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Conformation ; Mutation ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Protein Folding ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Stereoisomerism ; Stilbenes/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Members of the gammaproteobacterial Photorhabdus genus share mutualistic relationships with Heterorhabditis nematodes, and the pairs infect a wide swath of insect larvae. Photorhabdus species produce a family of stilbenes, with two major components being 3,5-dihydroxy-4-isopropyl-trans-stilbene (compound 1) and its stilbene epoxide (compound 2). This family of molecules harbors antimicrobial and immunosuppressive activities, and its pathway is responsible for producing a nematode "food signal" involved in nematode development. However, stilbene epoxidation biosynthesis and its biological roles remain unknown. Here, we identified an orphan protein (Plu2236) from Photorhabdus luminescens that catalyzes stilbene epoxidation. Structural, mutational, and biochemical analyses confirmed the enzyme adopts a fold common to FAD-dependent monooxygenases, contains a tightly bound FAD prosthetic group, and is required for the stereoselective epoxidation of compounds 1 and 2. The epoxidase gene was dispensable in a nematode-infective juvenile recovery assay, indicating the oxidized compound is not required for the food signal. The epoxide exhibited reduced cytotoxicity toward its producer, suggesting this may be a natural route for intracellular detoxification. In an insect infection model, we also observed two stilbene-derived metabolites that were dependent on the epoxidase. NMR, computational, and chemical degradation studies established their structures as new stilbene-l-proline conjugates, prolbenes A (compound 3) and B (compound 4). The prolbenes lacked immunosuppressive and antimicrobial activities compared with their stilbene substrates, suggesting a metabolite attenuation mechanism in the animal model. Collectively, our studies provide a structural view for stereoselective stilbene epoxidation and functionalization in an invertebrate animal infection model and provide new insights into stilbene cellular detoxification.}, } @article {pmid28244516, year = {2017}, author = {Yang, Y and Hu, XP and Ma, BG}, title = {Construction and simulation of the Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 metabolic network: a comparison between free-living and symbiotic states.}, journal = {Molecular bioSystems}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {607-620}, doi = {10.1039/c6mb00553e}, pmid = {28244516}, issn = {1742-2051}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Computer Simulation ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Genomics/methods ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens is a rhizobium able to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium by establishing mutualistic symbiosis with soybean. It has been recognized as an important parent strain for microbial agents and is widely applied in agricultural and environmental fields. In order to study the metabolic properties of symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the differences between a free-living cell and a symbiotic bacteroid, a genome-scale metabolic network of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 was constructed and analyzed. The metabolic network, iYY1101, contains 1031 reactions, 661 metabolites, and 1101 genes in total. Metabolic models reflecting free-living and symbiotic states were determined by defining the corresponding objective functions and substrate input sets, and were further constrained by high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic data. Constraint-based flux analysis was used to compare the metabolic capacities and the effects on the metabolic targets of genes and reactions between the two physiological states. The results showed that a free-living rhizobium possesses a steady state flux distribution for sustaining a complex supply of biomass precursors while a symbiotic bacteroid maintains a relatively condensed one adapted to nitrogen-fixation. Our metabolic models may serve as a promising platform for better understanding the symbiotic nitrogen fixation of this species.}, } @article {pmid28244112, year = {2017}, author = {Dong, JL and Yu, X and Dong, LE and Shen, RL}, title = {In vitro fermentation of oat β-glucan and hydrolysates by fecal microbiota and selected probiotic strains.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {97}, number = {12}, pages = {4198-4203}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.8292}, pmid = {28244112}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Animals ; Avena/metabolism/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/analysis/metabolism ; Feces/*microbiology ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Lactobacillus/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Probiotics/analysis/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta-Glucans/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggested that the prebiotic ability of β-glucan was intimately related to its molecular weight (Mw). However, the effect of oat β-glucan with differing Mw on gut homeostasis was inconsistent. Importantly, knowledge of the fermentation properties of oat β-glucan fractions was still limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the prebiotic potential of raw and hydrolyzed oat β-glucan during in vitro fermentation by fecal microbiota and selected probiotic strains.

RESULTS: The results obtained showed that both oat β-glucan (OG) and hydrolysates (OGH) comparably promoted the growth of fecal Lactobacillus counts (P < 0.05). Importantly, OGH revealed greater fermentability compared to OG as denoted by lower pH value and higher short-chain fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05). Moreover, OGH was found to be more favorable to provide growth substrates for Lactobacillus helveticus R389 (LR389), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 (LGG) and Bifidobacterium longum BB536 (BB536) than OG, and was preferentially utilized by LR389, LGG and BB536 as the sole carbon source.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that oat β-glucan hydrolysates could serve as a more promising material for developing novel symbiotic foods. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid28242415, year = {2017}, author = {Serova, TA and Tikhonovich, IA and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Analysis of nodule senescence in pea (Pisum sativum L.) using laser microdissection, real-time PCR, and ACC immunolocalization.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {212}, number = {}, pages = {29-44}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2017.01.012}, pmid = {28242415}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Aging/*genetics ; Aldehyde Oxidase/genetics ; Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Amino Acids, Cyclic/analysis ; Cysteine Proteases/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Ethylenes/biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Genetic Markers/*genetics ; Gibberellins/genetics ; Lyases/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Microdissection/*methods ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/genetics ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Peas/*genetics/microbiology ; Peptide Hydrolases/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/analysis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; RNA, Plant ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A delay in the senescence of symbiotic nodules could prolong active nitrogen fixation, resulting in improved crop yield and a reduced need for chemical fertilizers. The molecular genetic mechanisms underlying nodule senescence have not been extensively studied with a view to breeding varieties with delayed nodule senescence. In such studies, plant mutants with the phenotype of premature degradation of symbiotic structures are useful models to elucidate the genetic basis of nodule senescence. Using a dataset from transcriptome analysis of Medicago truncatula Gaertn. nodules and previous studies on pea (Pisum sativum L.) nodules, we developed a set of molecular markers based on genes that are known to be activated during nodule senescence. These genes encode cysteine proteases, a thiol protease, a bZIP transcription factor, enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of ethylene (ACS2 for ACC synthase and ACO1 for ACC oxidase) and ABA (AO3 for aldehyde oxidase), and an enzyme involved in catabolism of gibberellins (GA 2-oxidase). We analyzed the transcript levels of these genes in the nodules of two pea wild-types (cv. Sparkle and line Sprint-2) and two mutant lines, one showing premature nodule senescence (E135F (sym13)) and one showing no morphological signs of symbiotic structure degradation (Sprint-2Fix[-] (sym31)). Real-time PCR analyses revealed that all of the selected genes showed increased transcript levels during nodule aging in all phenotypes. Remarkably, at 4 weeks after inoculation (WAI), the transcript levels of all analyzed genes were significantly higher in the early senescent nodules of the mutant line E135F (sym13) and in nodules of the mutant Sprint-2Fix[-] (sym31) than in the active nitrogen-fixing nodules of wild-types. In contrast, the transcript levels of the same genes of both wild-types were significantly increased only at 6 WAI. We evaluated the expression of selected markers in the different histological nodule zones of pea cv. Sparkle and its mutant line E135F (sym13) by laser capture microdissection analysis. Finally, we analyzed ACC by immunolocalization in the nodules of both wild-type pea and their mutants. Together, the results indicate that nodule senescence is a general plant response to nodule ineffectiveness.}, } @article {pmid28242282, year = {2017}, author = {Rosset, S and Wiedenmann, J and Reed, AJ and D'Angelo, C}, title = {Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {118}, number = {1-2}, pages = {180-187}, pmid = {28242282}, issn = {1879-3363}, support = {311179/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*ultrastructure ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphates/*deficiency ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; Uric Acid/analysis ; }, abstract = {Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.). We argue, however, that the direct negative effects on the symbiosis are not necessarily caused by the nutrient enrichment itself but by the phosphorus starvation of the algal symbionts that can be caused by skewed nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratios. We exposed corals to imbalanced N:P ratios in long-term experiments and found that the undersupply of phosphate severely disturbed the symbiosis, indicated by the loss of coral biomass, malfunctioning of algal photosynthesis and bleaching of the corals. In contrast, the corals tolerated an undersupply with nitrogen at high phosphate concentrations without negative effects on symbiont photosynthesis, suggesting a better adaptation to nitrogen limitation. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the signatures of ultrastructural biomarkers represent versatile tools for the classification of nutrient stress in symbiotic algae. Notably, high N:P ratios in the water were clearly identified by the accumulation of uric acid crystals.}, } @article {pmid28241975, year = {2017}, author = {Santanna, AF and Filete, PF and Lima, EM and Porto, ML and Meyrelles, SS and Vasquez, EC and Endringer, DC and Lenz, D and Abdalla, DSP and Pereira, TMC and Andrade, TU}, title = {Chronic administration of the soluble, nonbacterial fraction of kefir attenuates lipid deposition in LDLr[-/-] mice.}, journal = {Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)}, volume = {35}, number = {}, pages = {100-105}, doi = {10.1016/j.nut.2016.11.001}, pmid = {28241975}, issn = {1873-1244}, mesh = {Animals ; Atherosclerosis/*prevention & control ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Diet, High-Fat ; Hypercholesterolemia/blood/*diet therapy ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Kefir/*analysis/microbiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Receptors, LDL/*genetics ; Triglycerides/blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Kefir is obtained by the action of acidic bacteria and yeasts that exist in symbiotic association in kefir grains. Recently, this fermented milk drink has been recommended for the treatment of several clinical conditions, such as inflammatory, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular-related diseases, or a combination of these diseases. However, its effects on atherosclerosis are not yet clear. The aim of this study was to prove that chronic treatment with a soluble, nonbacterial fraction of kefir could reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLr[-/-]) mice.

METHODS: LDLr[-/-] mice were divided into four groups as follows: RESULTS: The soluble, nonbacterial fraction of kefir reduced lipid deposition (P < 0.05) independent of hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, kefir was capable of diminishing the circulating proinflammatory intereukin (IL)-6 level and the ratio of tumor necrosis factor-α to IL-10 (50% and 42%, P < 0.05, respectively) and augmenting the antiinflammatory IL-10 level by approximately 74% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Chronic treatment with a soluble nonbacterial fraction of kefir was able to decrease the lipid deposition in LDLr[-/-] hypercholesteremic mice, at least in part through modifying the circulating cytokine profile. The beneficial effects of kefir provide new perspectives for its use as an adjuvant in the prevention of atherosclerosis.}, } @article {pmid28241792, year = {2017}, author = {Oppenheim, SJ and Rosenfeld, JA and DeSalle, R}, title = {Genome content analysis yields new insights into the relationship between the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and its anopheline vectors.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {205}, pmid = {28241792}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/classification/*genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; *Genome, Insect ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Humans ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Insect Vectors/*genetics ; Malaria, Falciparum/*parasitology/pathology ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plasmodium falciparum/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The persistent and growing gap between the availability of sequenced genomes and the ability to assign functions to sequenced genes led us to explore ways to maximize the information content of automated annotation for studies of anopheline mosquitos. Specifically, we use genome content analysis of a large number of previously sequenced anopheline mosquitos to follow the loss and gain of protein families over the evolutionary history of this group. The importance of this endeavor lies in the potential for comparative genomic studies between Anopheles and closely related non-vector species to reveal ancestral genome content dynamics involved in vector competence. In addition, comparisons within Anopheles could identify genome content changes responsible for variation in the vectorial capacity of this family of important parasite vectors.

RESULTS: The competence and capacity of P. falciparum vectors do not appear to be phylogenetically constrained within the Anophelinae. Instead, using ancestral reconstruction methods, we suggest that a previously unexamined component of vector biology, anopheline nucleotide metabolism, may contribute to the unique status of anophelines as P. falciparum vectors. While the fitness effects of nucleotide co-option by P. falciparum parasites on their anopheline hosts are not yet known, our results suggest that anopheline genome content may be responding to selection pressure from P. falciparum. Whether this response is defensive, in an attempt to redress improper nucleotide balance resulting from P. falciparum infection, or perhaps symbiotic, resulting from an as-yet-unknown mutualism between anophelines and P. falciparum, is an open question that deserves further study.

CONCLUSIONS: Clearly, there is a wealth of functional information to be gained from detailed manual genome annotation, yet the rapid increase in the number of available sequences means that most researchers will not have the time or resources to manually annotate all the sequence data they generate. We believe that efforts to maximize the amount of information obtained from automated annotation can help address the functional annotation deficit that most evolutionary biologists now face, and here demonstrate the value of such an approach.}, } @article {pmid28241648, year = {2017}, author = {Kwon, Y and Vazquez-Zuniga, LA and Lee, S and Kim, H and Jeong, Y}, title = {Numerical study on multi-pulse dynamics and shot-to-shot coherence property in quasi-mode-locked regimes of a highly-pumped anomalous dispersion fiber ring cavity.}, journal = {Optics express}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {4456-4469}, doi = {10.1364/OE.25.004456}, pmid = {28241648}, issn = {1094-4087}, abstract = {We numerically investigate quasi-mode-locked (QML) multi-pulse dynamics in a fiber ring laser cavity in the anomalous dispersion regime. We show that the laser cavity can operate in five constitutively different QML regimes, depending on the saturation power of the saturable absorber element and the length of the passive fiber section that parameterize the overall nonlinearity and dispersion characteristic of the laser cavity. We classify them into the incoherent noise-like-pulse, partially-coherent noise-like-pulse, symbiotic, partially-coherent multi-soliton, and coherent multi-soliton regimes, accounting for their coherence and multi-pulse formation features. In particular, we numerically clarify and confirm the symbiotic regime for the first time to the best of our knowledge, in which noise-like pulses and multi-solitons coexist stably in the cavity that has recently been observed experimentally. Furthermore, we analyze the shot-to-shot coherence characteristics of the individual QML regimes relative to the amount of the nonlinear-phase shift per roundtrip, and verify a strong correlation between them. We also show that the net-cavity dispersion plays a critical role in determining the multi-pulse dynamics out of the partially-coherent noise-like-pulse, symbiotic, and partially-coherent multi-soliton regimes, when the cavity bears moderate nonlinearity. We quantify and visualize all those characteristics onto contour maps, which will be very useful and helpful in discussing and clarifying the complex QML dynamics.}, } @article {pmid28239646, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, YY and Attané, C and Milhas, D and Dirat, B and Dauvillier, S and Guerard, A and Gilhodes, J and Lazar, I and Alet, N and Laurent, V and Le Gonidec, S and Biard, D and Hervé, C and Bost, F and Ren, GS and Bono, F and Escourrou, G and Prentki, M and Nieto, L and Valet, P and Muller, C}, title = {Mammary adipocytes stimulate breast cancer invasion through metabolic remodeling of tumor cells.}, journal = {JCI insight}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {e87489}, pmid = {28239646}, issn = {2379-3708}, mesh = {Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Adenylate Kinase/metabolism ; Adipocytes/*metabolism ; Aged ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/*metabolism/pathology ; Carcinoma, Lobular/*metabolism/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lipase/*metabolism ; *Lipolysis ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Triglycerides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In breast cancer, a key feature of peritumoral adipocytes is their loss of lipid content observed both in vitro and in human tumors. The free fatty acids (FFAs), released by adipocytes after lipolysis induced by tumor secretions, are transferred and stored in tumor cells as triglycerides in lipid droplets. In tumor cell lines, we demonstrate that FFAs can be released over time from lipid droplets through an adipose triglyceride lipase-dependent (ATGL-dependent) lipolytic pathway. In vivo, ATGL is expressed in human tumors where its expression correlates with tumor aggressiveness and is upregulated by contact with adipocytes. The released FFAs are then used for fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO), an active process in cancer but not normal breast epithelial cells, and regulated by coculture with adipocytes. However, in cocultivated cells, FAO is uncoupled from ATP production, leading to AMPK/acetyl-CoA carboxylase activation, a circle that maintains this state of metabolic remodeling. The increased invasive capacities of tumor cells induced by coculture are completely abrogated by inhibition of the coupled ATGL-dependent lipolysis/FAO pathways. These results show a complex metabolic symbiosis between tumor-surrounding adipocytes and cancer cells that stimulate their invasiveness, highlighting ATGL as a potential therapeutic target to impede breast cancer progression.}, } @article {pmid28238475, year = {2017}, author = {Mohamad, R and Willems, A and Le Quéré, A and Maynaud, G and Pervent, M and Bonabaud, M and Dubois, E and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Brunel, B}, title = {Mesorhizobium delmotii and Mesorhizobium prunaredense are two new species containing rhizobial strains within the symbiovar anthyllidis.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {135-143}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.01.004}, pmid = {28238475}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mesorhizobium/chemistry/*classification/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/chemistry/*classification/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Eight mesorhizobial symbiotic strains isolated from Anthyllis vulneraria root-nodules were studied and compared taxonomically with defined Mesorhizobium species. All strains presented identical 16S rDNA sequences but can be differentiated by multilocus sequence analysis of housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnII and dnaK). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analyses separate these strains in two groups and a separate strain. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness were less than 55% between representative strains and their closest Mesorhizobium reference relatives. The two groups containing four and three strains, respectively, originating from border mine and non-mining areas in Cévennes, were further phenotypically characterized. Groupings were further supported by average nucleotide identity values based on genome sequencing, which ranged from 80 to 92% with their close relatives and with each other, confirming these groups represent new Mesorhizobium species. Therefore, two novel species Mesorhizobium delmotii sp. nov. (type strain STM4623[T]=LMG 29640[T]=CFBP 8436[T]) and Mesorhizobium prunaredense sp. nov. (type strain STM4891[T]=LMG 29641[T]=CFBP 8437[T]) are proposed. Type strains of the two proposed species share accessory common nodulation genes within the new symbiovar anthyllidis as found in the Mesorhizobium metallidurans type strain.}, } @article {pmid28238042, year = {2017}, author = {Bhushan, A and Peters, EE and Piel, J}, title = {Entotheonella Bacteria as Source of Sponge-Derived Natural Products: Opportunities for Biotechnological Production.}, journal = {Progress in molecular and subcellular biology}, volume = {55}, number = {}, pages = {291-314}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-51284-6_9}, pmid = {28238042}, issn = {0079-6484}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/chemistry/microbiology ; Biological Products/*chemistry/*therapeutic use ; Biotechnology/trends ; Cyanobacteria/*chemistry ; *Drug Design ; Industrial Microbiology/trends ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Technology, Pharmaceutical/*trends ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges belong to the oldest animals existing today. Apart from their role in recycling of carbon and nitrogen in the ocean, they are also an important source of a wide variety of structurally diverse bioactive natural products. Over the past few decades, a multitude of compounds from sponges have been discovered exhibiting diverse, pharmacologically promising activities. However, in many cases the low substance quantities present in the sponge tissue would require the collection of large amounts of sponge material, thus impeding further drug development. Recent research has focused on understanding natural product biosynthesis in sponges and on investigating symbiotic bacteria as possible production sources in order to develop sustainable production systems. This chapter covers research efforts that have taken place over the past few years involving the identification of 'Entotheonella' symbionts responsible for production of sponge compounds, as well as the elucidation of their biosynthetic routes, highlighting future biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid28235609, year = {2017}, author = {Serrania, J and Johner, T and Rupp, O and Goesmann, A and Becker, A}, title = {Massive parallel insertion site sequencing of an arrayed Sinorhizobium meliloti signature-tagged mini-Tn 5 transposon mutant library.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {257}, number = {}, pages = {9-12}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.02.019}, pmid = {28235609}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Library ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation/*genetics ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Transposon mutagenesis in conjunction with identification of genomic transposon insertion sites is a powerful tool for gene function studies. We have implemented a protocol for parallel determination of transposon insertion sites by Illumina sequencing involving a hierarchical barcoding method that allowed for tracking back insertion sites to individual clones of an arrayed signature-tagged transposon mutant library. This protocol was applied to further characterize a signature-tagged mini-Tn 5 mutant library comprising about 12,000 mutants of the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti (Pobigaylo et al., 2006; Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72, 4329-4337). Previously, insertion sites have been determined for 5000 mutants of this library. Combining an adapter-free, inverse PCR method for sequencing library preparation with next generation sequencing, we identified 4473 novel insertion sites, increasing the total number of transposon mutants with known insertion site to 9562. The number of protein-coding genes that were hit at least once by a transposon increased by 1231 to a total number of 3673 disrupted genes, which represents 59% of the predicted protein-coding genes in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid28234404, year = {2017}, author = {Whitten, M and Dyson, P}, title = {Gene silencing in non-model insects: Overcoming hurdles using symbiotic bacteria for trauma-free sustainable delivery of RNA interference: Sustained RNA interference in insects mediated by symbiotic bacteria: Applications as a genetic tool and as a biocide.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201600247}, pmid = {28234404}, issn = {1521-1878}, support = {BB/G024154/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Knockdown Techniques/*methods ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Humans ; Insecta/*genetics/microbiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; *RNA Interference ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insight into animal biology and development provided by classical genetic analysis of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster was an incentive to develop advanced genetic tools for this insect. But genetic systems for the over one million other known insect species are largely undeveloped. With increasing information about insect genomes resulting from next generation sequencing, RNA interference is now the method of choice for reverse genetics, although it is constrained by the means of delivery of interfering RNA. A recent advance to ensure sustained delivery with minimal experimental intervention or trauma to the insect is to exploit commensal bacteria for symbiont-mediated RNA interference. This technology not only offers an efficient means for RNA interference in insects in laboratory conditions, but also has potential for use in the control of human disease vectors, agricultural pests and pathogens of beneficial insects.}, } @article {pmid28234348, year = {2017}, author = {Russell, SL and Corbett-Detig, RB and Cavanaugh, CM}, title = {Mixed transmission modes and dynamic genome evolution in an obligate animal-bacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {1359-1371}, pmid = {28234348}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Reliable transmission of symbionts between host generations facilitates the evolution of beneficial and pathogenic associations. Although transmission mode is typically characterized as either vertical or horizontal, the prevalence of intermediate transmission modes, and their impact on symbiont genome evolution, are understudied. Here, we use population genomics to explore mixed transmission modes of chemosynthetic bacterial symbionts in the bivalve Solemya velum. Despite strong evidence for symbiont inheritance through host oocytes, whole-genome analyses revealed signatures of frequent horizontal transmission, including discordant mitochondrial-symbiont genealogies, widespread recombination and a dynamic symbiont genome structure consistent with evolutionary patterns of horizontally transmitted associations. Population-level analyses thus provide a tractable means of ascertaining the fidelity of vertical versus horizontal transmission. Our data support the strong influence horizontal transmission can have on symbiont genome evolution, and shed light on the dynamic evolutionary pressures shaping symbiotic bacterial genomes.}, } @article {pmid28233852, year = {2017}, author = {Keren, R and Mayzel, B and Lavy, A and Polishchuk, I and Levy, D and Fakra, SC and Pokroy, B and Ilan, M}, title = {Sponge-associated bacteria mineralize arsenic and barium on intracellular vesicles.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {14393}, pmid = {28233852}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Arsenic/metabolism/toxicity ; Bacteria/cytology/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Barium/metabolism/toxicity ; Calcification, Physiologic/physiology ; Cytoplasmic Vesicles/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Hazardous Substances/*metabolism/toxicity ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Theonella/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arsenic and barium are ubiquitous environmental toxins that accumulate in higher trophic-level organisms. Whereas metazoans have detoxifying organs to cope with toxic metals, sponges lack organs but harbour a symbiotic microbiome performing various functions. Here we examine the potential roles of microorganisms in arsenic and barium cycles in the sponge Theonella swinhoei, known to accumulate high levels of these metals. We show that a single sponge symbiotic bacterium, Entotheonella sp., constitutes the arsenic- and barium-accumulating entity within the host. These bacteria mineralize both arsenic and barium on intracellular vesicles. Our results indicate that Entotheonella sp. may act as a detoxifying organ for its host.}, } @article {pmid28233089, year = {2017}, author = {Katz-Agranov, N and Zandman-Goddard, G}, title = {The microbiome and systemic lupus erythematosus.}, journal = {Immunologic research}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {432-437}, pmid = {28233089}, issn = {1559-0755}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Autoimmunity ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Diet Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology/*microbiology/therapy ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbiota, which is comprised of the collective of all microbes inhabiting the gut and its effect on the human host in which it resides, has become a growing field of interest. Various parameters of health and disease have been found to be associated with the variation in the human gut microbiome. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated an important role of gut microbes in the development of various illnesses including autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Although the mechanism of the disease involves both genetic and environmental factors, lupus has been found to be affected by the composition of the microbes lining the intestines. Several recent studies have suggested that alterations of the gut microbial composition may be correlated with SLE disease manifestations, while the exact roles of either symbiotic or pathogenic microbes in this disease have yet to be explored. Elucidation of the roles of gut microbes in SLE will shed light on how this autoimmune disorder develops and provide opportunities for improved biomarkers of the disease and the potential to probe new therapies. This new knowledge, along with that enabling alteration in composition of the gut microbiome, via diet modification, antibiotic, and probiotics, may bring forward a new era in the future of lupus treatment.}, } @article {pmid28232825, year = {2017}, author = {Zaila, KE and Doak, TG and Ellerbrock, H and Tung, CH and Martins, ML and Kolbin, D and Yao, MC and Cassidy-Hanley, DM and Clark, TG and Chang, WJ}, title = {Diversity and Universality of Endosymbiotic Rickettsia in the Fish Parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {189}, pmid = {28232825}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Although the presence of endosymbiotic rickettsial bacteria, specifically Candidatus Megaira, has been reported in diverse habitats and a wide range of eukaryotic hosts, it remains unclear how broadly Ca. Megaira are distributed in a single host species. In this study we seek to address whether Ca. Megaira are present in most, if not all isolates, of the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Conserved regions of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were either PCR amplified, or assembled from deep sequencing data, from 18 isolates/populations of I. multifiliis sampled worldwide (Brazil, Taiwan, and USA). We found that rickettsial rRNA sequences belonging to three out of four Ca. Megaira subclades could be consistently detected in all I. multifiliis samples. I. multifiliis collected from local fish farms tend to be inhabited by the same subclade of Ca. Megaira, whereas those derived from pet fish are often inhabited by more than one subclade of Ca. Megaira. Distributions of Ca. Megaira in I. multifiliis thus better reflect the travel history, but not the phylogeny, of I. multifiliis. In summary, our results suggest that I. multifiliis may be dependent on this endosymbiotic relationship, and the association between Ca. Megaira and I. multifiliis is more diverse than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid28231417, year = {2017}, author = {Ojeda Alayon, DI and Tsui, CK and Feau, N and Capron, A and Dhillon, B and Zhang, Y and Massoumi Alamouti, S and Boone, CK and Carroll, AL and Cooke, JE and Roe, AD and Sperling, FA and Hamelin, RC}, title = {Genetic and genomic evidence of niche partitioning and adaptive radiation in mountain pine beetle fungal symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {2077-2091}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14074}, pmid = {28231417}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genomics ; Ophiostomatales/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles form multipartite symbiotic associations with blue stain fungi (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota). These fungal symbionts play an important role during the beetle's life cycle by providing nutritional supplementation, overcoming tree defences and modifying host tissues to favour brood development. The maintenance of stable multipartite symbioses with seemingly less competitive symbionts in similar habitats is of fundamental interest to ecology and evolution. We tested the hypothesis that the coexistence of three fungal species associated with the mountain pine beetle is the result of niche partitioning and adaptive radiation using SNP genotyping coupled with genotype-environment association analysis and phenotypic characterization of growth rate under different temperatures. We found that genetic variation and population structure within each species is best explained by distinct spatial and environmental variables. We observed both common (temperature seasonality and the host species) and distinct (drought, cold stress, precipitation) environmental and spatial factors that shaped the genomes of these fungi resulting in contrasting outcomes. Phenotypic intraspecific variations in Grosmannia clavigera and Leptographium longiclavatum, together with high heritability, suggest potential for adaptive selection in these species. By contrast, Ophiostoma montium displayed narrower intraspecific variation but greater tolerance to extreme high temperatures. Our study highlights unique phenotypic and genotypic characteristics in these symbionts that are consistent with our hypothesis. By maintaining this multipartite relationship, the bark beetles have a greater likelihood of obtaining the benefits afforded by the fungi and reduce the risk of being left aposymbiotic. Complementarity among species could facilitate colonization of new habitats and survival under adverse conditions.}, } @article {pmid28230048, year = {2017}, author = {Kawaharada, Y and Nielsen, MW and Kelly, S and James, EK and Andersen, KR and Rasmussen, SR and Füchtbauer, W and Madsen, LH and Heckmann, AB and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {Differential regulation of the Epr3 receptor coordinates membrane-restricted rhizobial colonization of root nodule primordia.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {14534}, pmid = {28230048}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {268523/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In Lotus japonicus, a LysM receptor kinase, EPR3, distinguishes compatible and incompatible rhizobial exopolysaccharides at the epidermis. However, the role of this recognition system in bacterial colonization of the root interior is unknown. Here we show that EPR3 advances the intracellular infection mechanism that mediates infection thread invasion of the root cortex and nodule primordia. At the cellular level, Epr3 expression delineates progression of infection threads into nodule primordia and cortical infection thread formation is impaired in epr3 mutants. Genetic dissection of this developmental coordination showed that Epr3 is integrated into the symbiosis signal transduction pathways. Further analysis showed differential expression of Epr3 in the epidermis and cortical primordia and identified key transcription factors controlling this tissue specificity. These results suggest that exopolysaccharide recognition is reiterated during the progressing infection and that EPR3 perception of compatible exopolysaccharide promotes an intracellular cortical infection mechanism maintaining bacteria enclosed in plant membranes.}, } @article {pmid28229543, year = {2017}, author = {Davis, LR and Bigler, L and Woodhams, DC}, title = {Developmental trajectories of amphibian microbiota: response to bacterial therapy depends on initial community structure.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {1502-1517}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13707}, pmid = {28229543}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Fungi ; Larva/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Probiotics ; Skin/microbiology ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Improving host health through microbial manipulation requires untangling factors that shape the microbiome. There is currently little understanding of how initial community structure may drive the microbiota trajectory across host development or influence bacterial therapy outcomes. Probiotic baths of surface symbionts, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Flavobacterium johnsoniae were administered to 240 tadpoles of the midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans in semi-natural outdoor mesocosms originating from geographically and genetically distinct populations in Switzerland. Host bacterial and fungal assemblages were compared in tadpoles from the pond of origin, across metamorphosis, and in toadlets via microbial fingerprinting. Bacterial and fungal community structures differed significantly among populations and a microbial population signature persisted from the tadpole stage, through metamorphosis, and following probiotic treatment. A minimal core surface microbiota is described by persistence through development and by shared membership across populations. The impact of F. johnsoniae on the tadpole surface microbiome was assessed with shotgun metagenomics. Bacterial therapy reduced abundance, diversity, and functional repertoire compared to untreated controls. A correlation between host skin peptides and microbiota suggests a mechanism of host-directed symbiosis throughout development. Early developmental stages are ideal targets for amphibian bacterial therapy that can govern a microbiome trajectory at critical timepoints and may impact susceptibility to disease.}, } @article {pmid28228674, year = {2017}, author = {Ďuriš, Z and Horká, I}, title = {Towards a revision of the genus Periclimenes: resurrection of Ancylocaris Schenkel, 1902, and designation of three new genera (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {646}, pages = {25-44}, pmid = {28228674}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Based on recently published molecular phylogenies of Indo-West Pacific palaemonid shrimps and further morphological evidence, the systematic position of several species of the polyphyletic genus Periclimenes is revised. The generic name Ancylocaris Schenkel, 1902 is re-established for the anemone-associated Periclimenes brevicarpalis. Actinimenesgen. n., is proposed for the anemone-associated Periclimenes inornatus, Periclimenes ornatellus and Periclimenes ornatus, all of which have a subspatulate first pereiopod. Cristimenesgen. n., is designated for the echinoderm-associated species, Periclimenes commensalis, Periclimenes cristimanus, and Periclimenes zanzibaricus, all with a unique carpo-propodal articulation of the second pereiopods. Rapimenesgen. n. is established for the hydroid and antipatharian-associated Periclimenes brucei, Periclimenes granulimanus, and Periclimenes laevimanus, for which the long, slender and unequal second pereiopods and prehensile ambulatory propodi are the main synapomorphic characters.}, } @article {pmid28225009, year = {2017}, author = {Pavlidi, N and Gioti, A and Wybouw, N and Dermauw, W and Ben-Yosef, M and Yuval, B and Jurkevich, E and Kampouraki, A and Van Leeuwen, T and Vontas, J}, title = {Transcriptomic responses of the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae and its symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola to olive feeding.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {42633}, pmid = {28225009}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Erwinia/*genetics ; Fruit/*parasitology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Herbivory ; Larva ; Olea/*parasitology ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is the most destructive pest of olive orchards worldwide. The monophagous larva has the unique capability of feeding on olive mesocarp, coping with high levels of phenolic compounds and utilizing non-hydrolyzed proteins present, particularly in the unripe, green olives. On the molecular level, the interaction between B. oleae and olives has not been investigated as yet. Nevertheless, it has been associated with the gut obligate symbiotic bacterium Candidatus Erwinia dacicola. Here, we used a B.oleae microarray to analyze the gene expression of larvae during their development in artificial diet, unripe (green) and ripe (black) olives. The expression profiles of Ca. E. dacicola were analyzed in parallel, using the Illumina platform. Several genes were found overexpressed in the olive fly larvae when feeding in green olives. Among these, a number of genes encoding detoxification and digestive enzymes, indicating a potential association with the ability of B. oleae to cope with green olives. In addition, a number of biological processes seem to be activated in Ca. E. dacicola during the development of larvae in olives, with the most notable being the activation of amino-acid metabolism.}, } @article {pmid28224000, year = {2017}, author = {Korir, H and Mungai, NW and Thuita, M and Hamba, Y and Masso, C}, title = {Co-inoculation Effect of Rhizobia and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Common Bean Growth in a Low Phosphorus Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {141}, pmid = {28224000}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) fixation through legume-Rhizobium symbiosis is important for enhancing agricultural productivity and is therefore of great economic interest. Growing evidence indicates that other soil beneficial bacteria can positively affect symbiotic performance of rhizobia. Nodule endophytic plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were isolated from common bean nodules from Nakuru County in Kenya and characterized 16S rDNA partial gene sequencing. The effect of co-inoculation of rhizobium and PGPR, on nodulation and growth of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was also investigated using a low phosphorous soil under greenhouse conditions. Gram-positive nodule endophytic PGPR belonging to the genus Bacillus were successfully isolated and characterized. Two PGPR strains (Paenibacillus polymyxa and Bacillus megaterium), two rhizobia strains (IITA-PAU 987 and IITA-PAU 983) and one reference rhizobia strain (CIAT 899) were used in the co-inoculation study. Two common bean varieties were inoculated with Rhizobium strains singly or in a combination with PGPR to evaluate the effect on nodulation and growth parameters. Co-inoculation of IITA-PAU 987 + B. megaterium recorded the highest nodule weight (405.2 mg) compared to IITA-PAU 987 alone (324.8 mg), while CIAT 899 + B. megaterium (401.2 mg) compared to CIAT 899 alone (337.2 mg). CIAT 899 + B. megaterium recorded a significantly higher shoot dry weight (7.23 g) compared to CIAT 899 alone (5.80 g). However, there was no significant difference between CIAT 899 + P. polymyxa and CIAT 899 alone. Combination of IITA-PAU 987 and B. megaterium led to significantly higher shoot dry weight (6.84 g) compared to IITA-PAU 987 alone (5.32 g) but no significant difference was observed when co-inoculated with P. polymyxa. IITA-PAU 983 in combination with P. polymyxa led to significantly higher shoot dry weight (7.15 g) compared to IITA-PAU 983 alone (5.14 g). Plants inoculated with IITA-PAU 987 and B. megaterium received 24.0 % of their nitrogen demand from atmosphere, which showed a 31.1% increase compared to rhizobium alone. Contrast analysis confirmed the difference between the co-inoculation of rhizobia strains and PGPR compared to single rhizobia inoculation on the root dry weight. These results show that co-inoculation of PGPR and Rhizobia has a synergistic effect on bean growth. Use of PGPR may improve effectiveness of Rhizobium biofertilizers for common bean production. Testing of PGPR under field conditions will further elucidate their effectiveness on grain yields of common bean.}, } @article {pmid28223991, year = {2017}, author = {Kamel, L and Tang, N and Malbreil, M and San Clemente, H and Le Marquer, M and Roux, C and Frei Dit Frey, N}, title = {The Comparison of Expressed Candidate Secreted Proteins from Two Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Unravels Common and Specific Molecular Tools to Invade Different Host Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {124}, pmid = {28223991}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), belonging to the fungal phylum Glomeromycota, form mutualistic symbioses with roots of almost 80% of land plants. The release of genomic data from the ubiquitous AMF Rhizophagus irregularis revealed that this species possesses a large set of putative secreted proteins (RiSPs) that could be of major importance for establishing the symbiosis. In the present study, we aimed to identify SPs involved in the establishment of AM symbiosis based on comparative gene expression analyses. We first curated the secretome of the R. irregularis DAOM 197198 strain based on two available genomic assemblies. Then we analyzed the expression patterns of the putative RiSPs obtained from the fungus in symbiotic association with three phylogenetically distant host plants-a monocot, a dicot and a liverwort-in comparison with non-symbiotic stages. We found that 33 out of 84 RiSPs induced in planta were commonly up-regulated in these three hosts. Most of these common RiSPs are small proteins of unknown function that may represent putative host non-specific effector proteins. We further investigated the expressed secretome of Gigaspora rosea, an AM fungal species phylogenetically distant from R. irregularis. G. rosea also presents original symbiotic features, a narrower host spectrum and a restrictive geographic distribution compared to R. irregularis. Interestingly, when analyzing up-regulated G. rosea SPs (GrSPs) in different hosts, a higher ratio of host-specific GrSPs was found compared to RiSPs. Such difference of expression patterns may mirror the restrained host spectrum of G. rosea compared to R. irregularis. Finally, we identified a set of conserved SPs, commonly up-regulated by both fungi in all hosts tested, that could correspond to common keys of AMF to colonize host plants. Our data thus highlight the specificities of two distant AM fungi and help in understanding their conserved and specific strategies to invade different hosts.}, } @article {pmid28223979, year = {2017}, author = {Leite, DC and Leão, P and Garrido, AG and Lins, U and Santos, HF and Pires, DO and Castro, CB and van Elsas, JD and Zilberberg, C and Rosado, AS and Peixoto, RS}, title = {Broadcast Spawning Coral Mussismilia hispida Can Vertically Transfer its Associated Bacterial Core.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {176}, pmid = {28223979}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The hologenome theory of evolution (HTE), which is under fierce debate, presupposes that parts of the microbiome are transmitted from one generation to the next [vertical transmission (VT)], which may also influence the evolution of the holobiont. Even though bacteria have previously been described in early life stages of corals, these early life stages (larvae) could have been inoculated in the water and not inside the parental colony (through gametes) carrying the parental microbiome. How Symbiodinium is transmitted to offspring is also not clear, as only one study has described this mechanism in spawners. All other studies refer to incubators. To explore the VT hypothesis and the key components being transferred, colonies of the broadcast spawner species Mussismilia hispida were kept in nurseries until spawning. Gamete bundles, larvae and adult corals were analyzed to identify their associated microbiota with respect to composition and location. Symbiodinium and bacteria were detected by sequencing in gametes and coral planula larvae. However, no cells were detected using microscopy at the gamete stage, which could be related to the absence of those cells inside the oocytes/dispersed in the mucus or to a low resolution of our approach. A preliminary survey of Symbiodinium diversity indicated that parental colonies harbored Symbiodinium clades B, C and G, whereas only clade B was found in oocytes and planula larvae [5 days after fertilization (a.f.)]. The core bacterial populations found in the bundles, planula larvae and parental colonies were identified as members of the genera Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Ralstonia, Inquilinus and Bacillus, suggesting that these populations could be vertically transferred through the mucus. The collective data suggest that spawner corals, such as M. hispida, can transmit Symbiodinium cells and the bacterial core to their offspring by a coral gamete (and that this gamete, with its bacterial load, is released into the water), supporting the HTE. However, more data are required to indicate the stability of the transmitted populations to indicate whether the holobiont can be considered a unit of natural selection or a symbiotic assemblage of independently evolving organisms.}, } @article {pmid28223076, year = {2017}, author = {Hopfe, S and Flemming, K and Lehmann, F and Möckel, R and Kutschke, S and Pollmann, K}, title = {Leaching of rare earth elements from fluorescent powder using the tea fungus Kombucha.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {211-221}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2017.02.005}, pmid = {28223076}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Electronic Waste ; Fungi/*physiology ; Germany ; Kombucha Tea ; Metals, Rare Earth/*analysis ; Refuse Disposal/*methods ; }, abstract = {In most modern technologies such as flat screens, highly effective magnets and lasers, as well as luminescence phosphors, Rare Earth Elements (REE) are used. Unfortunately no environmentally friendly recycling process exists so far. In comparison to other elements the interaction of microorganisms with REE has been studied to a less extent. However, as REE are ubiquitously present in nature it can be assumed that microorganisms play an important role in the biogeochemistry of REE. This study investigates the potential of organic acid-producing microbes for extracting REE from industrial waste. In Germany, 175 tons of fluorescent phosphor (FP) are collected per year as a distinct fraction from the recycling of compact fluorescent lamps. Because the FP contains about 10% of REE-oxides bound in the so-called triband dyes it is a readily accessible secondary resource of REE. Using the symbiotic mixed culture Kombucha, consisting of yeasts and acetic acid bacteria, REE were leached at a significant rate. The highest leaching-rates were observed in shake cultures using the entire Kombucha-consortium or its supernatant as leaching agent compared to experiments using the isolates Zygosaccharomyces lentus and Komagataeibacter hansenii as leaching organisms. During the cultivation, the pH decreased as a result of organic acid production (mainly acetic and gluconic acid). Thus, the underlying mechanism of the triband dye solubilisation is probably linked to the carboxyl-functionality or a proton excess. In accordance with the higher solubility of REE-oxides compared to REE-phosphates and -aluminates, the red dye Y2O3:Eu[2+] containing relatively expensive REE was shown to be preferentially solubilized. These results show that it is possible to dissolve the REE-compounds of FP with the help of microbial processes. Moreover, they provide the basis for the development of an eco-friendly alternative to the currently applied methods that use strong inorganic acids or toxic chemicals.}, } @article {pmid28222814, year = {2017}, author = {Rosa, DD and Dias, MMS and Grześkowiak, ŁM and Reis, SA and Conceição, LL and Peluzio, MDCG}, title = {Milk kefir: nutritional, microbiological and health benefits.}, journal = {Nutrition research reviews}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {82-96}, doi = {10.1017/S0954422416000275}, pmid = {28222814}, issn = {1475-2700}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; Digestion ; Fermentation ; Food Microbiology ; Food Preservation ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; Kefir/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; Lactose Intolerance/prevention & control ; Milk/chemistry/microbiology ; *Nutritive Value ; Probiotics ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Kefir is fermented milk produced from grains that comprise a specific and complex mixture of bacteria and yeasts that live in a symbiotic association. The nutritional composition of kefir varies according to the milk composition, the microbiological composition of the grains used, the time/temperature of fermentation and storage conditions. Kefir originates from the Caucasus and Tibet. Recently, kefir has raised interest in the scientific community due to its numerous beneficial effects on health. Currently, several scientific studies have supported the health benefits of kefir, as reported historically as a probiotic drink with great potential in health promotion, as well as being a safe and inexpensive food, easily produced at home. Regular consumption of kefir has been associated with improved digestion and tolerance to lactose, antibacterial effect, hypocholesterolaemic effect, control of plasma glucose, anti-hypertensive effect, anti-inflammatory effect, antioxidant activity, anti-carcinogenic activity, anti-allergenic activity and healing effects. A large proportion of the studies that support these findings were conducted in vitro or in animal models. However, there is a need for systematic clinical trials to better understand the effects of regular use of kefir as part of a diet, and for their effect on preventing diseases. Thus, the present review focuses on the nutritional and microbiological composition of kefir and presents relevant findings associated with the beneficial effects of kefir on human and animal health.}, } @article {pmid28222700, year = {2017}, author = {Yamamoto, T and Miura, C and Fuji, M and Nagata, S and Otani, Y and Yagame, T and Yamato, M and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Quantitative evaluation of protocorm growth and fungal colonization in Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae) reveals less-productive symbiosis with a non-native symbiotic fungus.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {50}, pmid = {28222700}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/isolation & purification ; Germination ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In nature, orchid plants depend completely on symbiotic fungi for their nutrition at the germination and the subsequent seedling (protocorm) stages. However, only limited quantitative methods for evaluating the orchid-fungus interactions at the protocorm stage are currently available, which greatly constrains our understanding of the symbiosis. Here, we aimed to improve and integrate quantitative evaluations of the growth and fungal colonization in the protocorms of a terrestrial orchid, Blettila striata, growing on a plate medium.

RESULTS: We achieved both symbiotic and asymbiotic germinations for the terrestrial orchid B. striata. The protocorms produced by the two germination methods grew almost synchronously for the first three weeks. At week four, however, the length was significantly lower in the symbiotic protocorms. Interestingly, the dry weight of symbiotic protocorms did not significantly change during the growth period, which implies that there was only limited transfer of carbon compounds from the fungus to the protocorms in this relationship. Next, to evaluate the orchid-fungus interactions, we developed an ink-staining method to observe the hyphal coils in protocorms without preparing thin sections. Crushing the protocorm under the coverglass enables us to observe all hyphal coils in the protocorms with high resolution. For this observation, we established a criterion to categorize the stages of hyphal coils, depending on development and degradation. By counting the symbiotic cells within each stage, it was possible to quantitatively evaluate the orchid-fungus symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: We describe a method for quantitative evaluation of orchid-fungus symbiosis by integrating the measurements of plant growth and fungal colonization. The current study revealed that although fungal colonization was observed in the symbiotic protocorms, the weight of the protocorm did not significantly increase, which is probably due to the incompatibility of the fungus in this symbiosis. These results suggest that fungal colonization and nutrition transfer can be differentially regulated in the symbiosis. The evaluation methods developed in this study can be used to study various quantitative aspects of the orchid-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28222383, year = {2017}, author = {Posadas, E and Marín, D and Blanco, S and Lebrero, R and Muñoz, R}, title = {Simultaneous biogas upgrading and centrate treatment in an outdoors pilot scale high rate algal pond.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {133-141}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2017.01.071}, pmid = {28222383}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biofuels/*analysis ; Biomass ; Carbon/analysis ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; Environment ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Pilot Projects ; *Ponds ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Water Purification ; }, abstract = {The bioconversion of biogas to biomethane coupled to centrate treatment was evaluated in an outdoors pilot scale high rate algal pond interconnected to an external CO2-H2S absorption column (AC) via settled broth recirculation. CO2-removal efficiencies ranged from 50 to 95% depending on the alkalinity of the cultivation broth and environmental conditions, while a complete H2S removal was achieved regardless of the operational conditions. A maximum CH4 concentration of 94% with a limited O2 and N2 stripping was recorded in the upgraded biogas at recycling liquid/biogas ratios in the AC of 1 and 2. Process operation at a constant biomass productivity of 15gm[-2]d[-1] and the minimization of effluent generation supported high carbon and nutrient recoveries in the harvested biomass (C=66±8%, N=54±18%, P≈100% and S=16±3%). Finally, a low diversity in the structure of the microalgae population was promoted by the environmental and operational conditions imposed.}, } @article {pmid28221372, year = {2016}, author = {Foyer, CH and Lam, HM and Nguyen, HT and Siddique, KH and Varshney, RK and Colmer, TD and Cowling, W and Bramley, H and Mori, TA and Hodgson, JM and Cooper, JW and Miller, AJ and Kunert, K and Vorster, J and Cullis, C and Ozga, JA and Wahlqvist, ML and Liang, Y and Shou, H and Shi, K and Yu, J and Fodor, N and Kaiser, BN and Wong, FL and Valliyodan, B and Considine, MJ}, title = {Neglecting legumes has compromised human health and sustainable food production.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {16112}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2016.112}, pmid = {28221372}, issn = {2055-0278}, support = {BB/K010476/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/C/00004166/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/C/00004967/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Agriculture/standards ; *Crops, Agricultural/growth & development ; *Fabaceae ; *Food Supply ; *Global Health ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (grain legumes) under the banner 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future'. A second green revolution is required to ensure food and nutritional security in the face of global climate change. Grain legumes provide an unparalleled solution to this problem because of their inherent capacity for symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation, which provides economically sustainable advantages for farming. In addition, a legume-rich diet has health benefits for humans and livestock alike. However, grain legumes form only a minor part of most current human diets, and legume crops are greatly under-used. Food security and soil fertility could be significantly improved by greater grain legume usage and increased improvement of a range of grain legumes. The current lack of coordinated focus on grain legumes has compromised human health, nutritional security and sustainable food production.}, } @article {pmid28221153, year = {2017}, author = {Desai, JD}, title = {Ultra-mini PNL (UMP): Material, indications, technique, advantages and results.}, journal = {Archivos espanoles de urologia}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {196-201}, pmid = {28221153}, issn = {0004-0614}, mesh = {Equipment Design ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi/*surgery ; Miniaturization ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous/history/*instrumentation/*methods ; }, abstract = {Stone disease has afflicted mankind since centuries; records from ancient civilisations of India and Egypt have shown stones in human bodies. The scientific mind of humans has always made smart endeavours to remove the kidney stones. From large instruments made like the beaks of different animals and birds in 600 BC (Indian civilisation) to extremely sophisticated and miniaturised endoscopic intruments of today the human race has travelled a long way. The theme has always been to remove the stones with minimal morbidity and mortality and with minimum pain to the patient. The article takes you through the journey of instruments used in 600 BC until today. The story of instrumentation is a symbiosis of the medical minds along with engineering advances. The story of miniaturisation could not have moved further without the development of lasers, fiberoptics and sophisticated cameras. As the field stands today, we remove more complex stones by larger endoscopic intervention and smaller stones by miniaturised instruments. The article discusses all the merits and shortcomings of various techniques: from open surgery to standard PCNL to Mini PCNL to Ultra- Mini PCNL to Micro-PCNL.}, } @article {pmid28220509, year = {2017}, author = {Tampakaki, AP and Fotiadis, CT and Ntatsi, G and Savvas, D}, title = {A novel symbiovar (aegeanense) of the genus Ensifer nodulates Vigna unguiculata.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {97}, number = {13}, pages = {4314-4325}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.8281}, pmid = {28220509}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Greece ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) forms nitrogen-fixing root nodules with diverse symbiotic bacteria, mainly slow-growing rhizobial species belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium, although a few studies have reported the isolation of fast-growing rhizobia under laboratory and field conditions. Although much research has been done on cowpea-nodulating bacteria in various countries around the world, very limited information is available on cowpea rhizobia in European soils. The aim of this study was to study the genetic and phenotypic diversity of indigenous cowpea-nodulating rhizobia in Greece.

RESULTS: The genetic diversity of indigenous rhizobia associated with cowpea was investigated through a polyphasic approach. ERIC-PCR based fingerprinting analysis grouped the isolates into three groups. Based on the analysis of the 16S rRNA genes, IGS and on the concatenation of six housekeeping genes (recA, glnII, gyrB, truA, thrA and SMc00019), rhizobial isolates were classified within the species Ensifer fredii. However, symbiotic gene phylogenies, based on nodC, nifH and rhcRST genes, showed that the Ensifer isolates are markedly diverged from type and reference strains of E. fredii and formed one clearly separate cluster. The E. fredii strains were able to nodulate and fix nitrogen in cowpea but not in soybean and common bean.

CONCLUSION: The present study showed that cowpea is nodulated under field conditions by fast-growing rhizobia belonging to the species E. fredii. Based on the phylogenies, similarity levels of symbiotic genes and the host range, the Ensifer isolates may constitute a new symbiovar for which the name 'aegeanense' is proposed. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid28220113, year = {2017}, author = {Qin, Y and Pan, X and Kubicek, C and Druzhinina, I and Chenthamara, K and Labbé, J and Yuan, Z}, title = {Diverse Plant-Associated Pleosporalean Fungi from Saline Areas: Ecological Tolerance and Nitrogen-Status Dependent Effects on Plant Growth.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {158}, pmid = {28220113}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Similar to mycorrhizal mutualists, the rhizospheric and endophytic fungi are also considered to act as active regulators of host fitness (e.g., nutrition and stress tolerance). Despite considerable work in selected model systems, it is generally poorly understood how plant-associated fungi are structured in habitats with extreme conditions and to what extent they contribute to improved plant performance. Here, we investigate the community composition of root and seed-associated fungi from six halophytes growing in saline areas of China, and found that the pleosporalean taxa (Ascomycota) were most frequently isolated across samples. A total of twenty-seven representative isolates were selected for construction of the phylogeny based on the multi-locus data (partial 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and transcription elongation factor 1-α), which classified them into seven families, one clade potentially representing a novel lineage. Fungal isolates were subjected to growth response assays by imposing temperature, pH, ionic and osmotic conditions. The fungi had a wide pH tolerance, while most isolates showed a variable degree of sensitivity to increasing concentration of either salt or sorbitol. Subsequent plant-fungal co-culture assays indicated that most isolates had only neutral or even adverse effects on plant growth in the presence of inorganic nitrogen. Interestingly, when provided with organic nitrogen sources the majority of the isolates enhanced plant growth especially aboveground biomass. Most of the fungi preferred organic nitrogen over its inorganic counterpart, suggesting that these fungi can readily mineralize organic nitrogen into inorganic nitrogen. Microscopy revealed that several isolates can successfully colonize roots and form melanized hyphae and/or microsclerotia-like structures within cortical cells suggesting a phylogenetic assignment as dark septate endophytes. This work provides a better understanding of the symbiotic relationship between plants and pleosporalean fungi, and initial evidence for the use of this fungal group in benefiting plant production.}, } @article {pmid28220109, year = {2017}, author = {Kreisinger, J and Kropáčková, L and Petrželková, A and Adámková, M and Tomášek, O and Martin, JF and Michálková, R and Albrecht, T}, title = {Temporal Stability and the Effect of Transgenerational Transfer on Fecal Microbiota Structure in a Long Distance Migratory Bird.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {50}, pmid = {28220109}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Animal bodies are inhabited by a taxonomically and functionally diverse community of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms. From an ecological and evolutionary perspective, inter-individual variation in host-associated microbiota contributes to physiological and immune system variation. As such, host-associated microbiota may be considered an integral part of the host's phenotype, serving as a substrate for natural selection. This assumes that host-associated microbiota exhibits high temporal stability, however, and that its composition is shaped by trans-generational transfer or heritable host-associated microbiota modulators encoded by the host genome. Although this concept is widely accepted, its crucial assumptions have rarely been tested in wild vertebrate populations. We performed 16S rRNA metabarcoding on an extensive set of fecal microbiota (FM) samples from an insectivorous, long-distance migratory bird, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). Our data revealed clear differences in FM among juveniles and adults as regards taxonomic and functional composition, diversity and co-occurrence network complexity. Multiple FM samples from the same juvenile or adult collected within single breeding seasons exhibited higher similarity than expected by chance, as did adult FM samples over two consecutive years. Despite low effect sizes for FM stability over time at the community level, we identified an adult FM subset with relative abundances exhibiting significant temporal consistency, possibly inducing long-term effects on the host phenotype. Our data also indicate a slight maternal (but not paternal) effect on FM composition in social offspring, though this is unlikely to persist into adulthood. We discuss our findings in the context of both evolution and ecology of microbiota vs. host interactions and barn swallow biology.}, } @article {pmid28219877, year = {2016}, author = {Huang, YQ and Jiang, T and Su, HT and Luo, YW and Hou, QK}, title = {[Gut microbiota and osteoporosis].}, journal = {Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {278-282}, pmid = {28219877}, issn = {1673-4254}, mesh = {Aged ; Aging ; China ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Osteoporosis/*microbiology ; Quality of Life ; }, abstract = {The rapidly evolving aging society in China is associated with increased incidences of osteoporosis and fractures, which have become common health problems that threaten the quality of life of the elderly. Gut microbiota colonizing in the human intestinal tract form a mutual symbiotic relationship with the host and play an important role in the metabolism and immune regulation of the host. In recent years increasing studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota not only affect the digestive system but also contribute to the disease conditions involving the immune system, and have a close relationship with the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis. This review summarizes the progress and hotspots in recent researches of the associations among gut microbiota, the immune system, osteoporosis.}, } @article {pmid28219759, year = {2017}, author = {Gélin, P and Postaire, B and Fauvelot, C and Magalon, H}, title = {Reevaluating species number, distribution and endemism of the coral genus Pocillopora Lamarck, 1816 using species delimitation methods and microsatellites.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {430-446}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2017.01.018}, pmid = {28219759}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Genetic Markers ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Indian Ocean ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Polynesia ; }, abstract = {Species delimitation methods based on genetic information, notably using single locus data, have been proposed as means of increasing the rate of biodiversity description, but can also be used to clarify complex taxonomies. In this study, we explore the species diversity within the cnidarian genus Pocillopora, widely distributed in the tropical belt of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. From 943 Pocillopora colonies sampled in the Western Indian Ocean, the Tropical Southwestern Pacific and Southeast Polynesia, representing a huge variety of morphotypes, we delineated Primary Species Hypotheses (PSH) applying the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery method, the Poisson Tree Processes algorithm and the Generalized mixed Yule-coalescent model on two mitochondrial markers (Open Reading Frame and Dloop) and reconstructing a haploweb using one nuclear marker (Internal Transcribed Spacer 2). Then, we confronted identified PSHs to the results of clustering analyses using 13 microsatellites to determine Secondary Species Hypotheses (SSH). Based on the congruence of all methods used and adding sequences from the literature, we defined at least 18 Secondary Species Hypotheses among 14 morphotypes, confirming the high phenotypic plasticity in Pocillopora species and the presence of cryptic lineages. We also identified three new genetic lineages never found to date, which could represent three new putative species. Moreover, the biogeographical ranges of several SSHs were re-assessed in the light of genetic data, which may have direct implications in conservation policies. Indeed, the cryptic diversity within this genus should be taken into account seriously, as neglecting its importance is source of confusion in our understanding of ecosystem functioning. Next generation sequencing, combined with other parameters (i.e. microstructure, zooxanthellae identification, ecology even at a micro-scale, resistance and resilience ability to bleaching) will be the next step towards an integrative framework of Pocillopora taxonomy, which will have profound implications for ecological studies, such as studying biodiversity, response to global warming and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28219758, year = {2017}, author = {Reynolds, NK and Smith, ME and Tretter, ED and Gause, J and Heeney, D and Cafaro, MJ and Smith, JF and Novak, SJ and Bourland, WA and White, MM}, title = {Resolving relationships at the animal-fungal divergence: A molecular phylogenetic study of the protist trichomycetes (Ichthyosporea, Eccrinida).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {447-464}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2017.02.007}, pmid = {28219758}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/*classification/genetics ; Mesomycetozoea/*classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Trichomycetes is a group of microorganisms that was considered a class of fungi comprising four orders of commensal, gut-dwelling endosymbionts obligately associated with arthropods. Since molecular phylogenies revealed two of those orders (Amoebidiales and Eccrinales="protist trichos") to be closely related to members of the protist class Ichthyosporea (=Mesomycetozoea), trichomycetes have been considered an ecological association of both early-diverging fungi and protists. Understanding of the taxonomy, evolution, and diversity of the protist trichos is lacking largely due to the difficulties inherent in species collection that have contributed to undersampling and understudy. The most recent classification divides the protist trichos between two families, Amoebidiidae and Eccrinidae (suborder Trichomycina, order Eccrinida). However, there is no comprehensive molecular phylogeny available for this group and major questions about the systematics of protist trichos remain unanswered. Therefore, we generated 18S and 28S rDNA sequences for 106 protist tricho samples and combined them with publicly available Eccrinida sequences for phylogenetic analyses. We also sequenced a conserved protein-coding gene (heat-shock 70 protein) to obtain a multigene data set. We conducted ancestral state reconstruction (ASR) and Bayesian tip-association significance test (BaTS) analyses by mapping six morphological and ecological characters onto the resulting phylogenetic trees. Our results demonstrate: (1) several ecological and morphological character states (habitat, host type, host stage at time of infestation, location within host, spore production, and growth form) are significantly correlated with the phylogeny, and (2) two additional protist tricho families should be incorporated into the taxonomy to reflect phylogenetic relationships. Our data suggest that an integrated strategy that combines morphological, ecological, and molecular characters is needed to further resolve and clarify the systematics of the Eccrinida.}, } @article {pmid28219527, year = {2017}, author = {Figueredo, MS and Tonelli, ML and Ibáñez, F and Morla, F and Cerioni, G and Del Carmen Tordable, M and Fabra, A}, title = {Induced systemic resistance and symbiotic performance of peanut plants challenged with fungal pathogens and co-inoculated with the biocontrol agent Bacillus sp. CHEP5 and Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {197}, number = {}, pages = {65-73}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2017.01.002}, pmid = {28219527}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Arachis/growth & development/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/pathogenicity/physiology ; Bacillus/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Biological Control Agents ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Disease Resistance ; Fungi/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Synergism between beneficial rhizobacteria and fungal pathogens is poorly understood. Therefore, evaluation of co-inoculation of bacteria that promote plant growth by different mechanisms in pathogen challenged plants would contribute to increase the knowledge about how plants manage interactions with different microorganisms. The goals of this work were a) to elucidate, in greenhouse experiments, the effect of co-inoculation of peanut with Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 and the biocontrol agent Bacillus sp. CHEP5 on growth and symbiotic performance of Sclerotium rolfsii challenged plants, and b) to evaluate field performance of these bacteria in co-inoculated peanut plants. The capacity of Bacillus sp. CHEP5 to induce systemic resistance against S. rolfsii was not affected by the inoculation of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144. This microsymbiont, protected peanut plants from the S. rolfsii detrimental effect, reducing the stem wilt incidence. However, disease incidence in plants inoculated with the isogenic mutant Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 V2 (unable to produce Nod factors) was as high as in pathogen challenged plants. Therefore, Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 Nod factors play a role in the systemic resistance against S. rolfsii. Bacillus sp. CHEP5 enhanced Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 root surface colonization and improved its symbiotic behavior, even in S. rolfsii challenged plants. Results of field trials confirmed the Bacillus sp. CHEP5 ability to protect against fungal pathogens and to improve the yield of extra-large peanut seeds from 2.15% (in Río Cuarto) to 16.69% (in Las Vertientes), indicating that co-inoculation of beneficial rhizobacteria could be a useful strategy for the peanut production under sustainable agriculture system.}, } @article {pmid28217917, year = {2017}, author = {Cubillas, C and Miranda-Sánchez, F and González-Sánchez, A and Elizalde, JP and Vinuesa, P and Brom, S and García-de Los Santos, A}, title = {A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of copper transporting P1B ATPases from bacteria of the Rhizobiales order uncovers multiplicity, diversity and novel taxonomic subtypes.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28217917}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Computational Biology ; Copper-Transporting ATPases/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/*enzymology/genetics ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {The ubiquitous cytoplasmic membrane copper transporting P1B-1 and P1B-3 -type ATPases pump out Cu[+] and Cu[2+] , respectively, to prevent cytoplasmic accumulation and avoid toxicity. The presence of five copies of Cu-ATPases in the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti is remarkable; it is the largest number of Cu[+] -transporters in a bacterial genome reported to date. Since the prevalence of multiple Cu-ATPases in members of the Rhizobiales order is unknown, we performed an in silico analysis to understand the occurrence, diversity and evolution of Cu[+] -ATPases in members of the Rhizobiales order. Multiple copies of Cu-ATPase coding genes (2-8) were detected in 45 of the 53 analyzed genomes. The diversity inferred from a maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis classified Cu-ATPases into four monophyletic groups. Each group contained additional subtypes, based on the presence of conserved motifs. This novel phylogeny redefines the current classification, where they are divided into two subtypes (P1B-1 and P1B-3). Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) as well as the evolutionary dynamic of plasmid-borne genes may have played an important role in the functional diversification of Cu-ATPases. Homologous cytoplasmic and periplasmic Cu[+] -chaperones, CopZ, and CusF, that integrate a CopZ-CopA-CusF tripartite efflux system in gamma-proteobacteria and archeae, were found in 19 of the 53 surveyed genomes of the Rhizobiales. This result strongly suggests a high divergence of CopZ and CusF homologs, or the existence of unexplored proteins involved in cellular copper transport.}, } @article {pmid28216337, year = {2017}, author = {Détrée, C and Lallier, FH and Tanguy, A and Mary, J}, title = {Identification and gene expression of multiple peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) in the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus, involvement in symbiosis?.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpb.2017.02.002}, pmid = {28216337}, issn = {1879-1107}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/growth & development ; Bivalvia/classification/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Carrier Proteins/*genetics/immunology ; Cell Wall/chemistry/physiology ; Gene Expression ; Gills/immunology/microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Immunity, Innate ; Peptidoglycan/chemistry/*immunology ; *Phylogeny ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/immunology ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The relationship between the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus and its thiotrophic (SOX) and methanotrophic (MOX) symbionts has been ecologically and functionally well studied. Endosymbiosis is common in deep-sea hydrothermal vent fauna, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of interactions between host and symbionts. In this study we focused on a group of pattern recognition receptors (PRR), called PGRPs that are able to recognize the peptidoglycan of bacterial cell wall. We first characterised the different PGRPs isoforms in B. azoricus gills and identified five paralogs. Among them two displayed a signal peptide. Then, specific probes designed for each paralog were used to perform real-time PCR quantification in gills of individuals showing various bacterial content as a result of in situ experimental procedures. Overall we found a decrease of PGRPs expression when symbionts amount decreases, suggesting an implication of PGRPs in the regulation of symbionts in B. azoricus gills. We therefore hypothesize that secreted proteins could act as cooperation signals to induce colonisation of symbiotic tissue while non-secreted proteins may regulate the density of endosymbionts within the gill tissue.}, } @article {pmid28215162, year = {2018}, author = {Russo, R and Cristiano, C and Avagliano, C and De Caro, C and La Rana, G and Raso, GM and Canani, RB and Meli, R and Calignano, A}, title = {Gut-brain Axis: Role of Lipids in the Regulation of Inflammation, Pain and CNS Diseases.}, journal = {Current medicinal chemistry}, volume = {25}, number = {32}, pages = {3930-3952}, doi = {10.2174/0929867324666170216113756}, pmid = {28215162}, issn = {1875-533X}, mesh = {Animals ; Central Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy/metabolism/*physiopathology ; Dysbiosis/drug therapy/metabolism/physiopathology ; Endocannabinoids/metabolism/physiology ; Ethanolamines/metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism/physiology/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/drug therapy/metabolism/*physiopathology ; Intestinal Diseases/drug therapy/metabolism/physiopathology ; Lipids/*physiology/therapeutic use ; Pain/drug therapy/metabolism/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {The human gut is a composite anaerobic environment with a large, diverse and dynamic enteric microbiota, represented by more than 100 trillion microorganisms, including at least 1000 distinct species. The discovery that a different microbial composition can influence behavior and cognition, and in turn the nervous system can indirectly influence enteric microbiota composition, has significantly contributed to establish the well-accepted concept of gut-brain axis. This hypothesis is supported by several evidence showing mutual mechanisms, which involve the vague nerve, the immune system, the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis modulation and the bacteria-derived metabolites. Many studies have focused on delineating a role for this axis in health and disease, ranging from stress-related disorders such as depression, anxiety and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, and to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson Disease, Alzheimer's Disease etc. Based on this background, and considering the relevance of alteration of the symbiotic state between host and microbiota, this review focuses on the role and the involvement of bioactive lipids, such as the N-acylethanolamine (NAE) family whose main members are N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoilethanolamide (OEA), and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, belonging to a large group of bioactive lipids able to modulate peripheral and central pathologic processes. Their effective role has been studied in inflammation, acute and chronic pain, obesity and central nervous system diseases. A possible correlation has been shown between these lipids and gut microbiota through different mechanisms. Indeed, systemic administration of specific bacteria can reduce abdominal pain through the involvement of cannabinoid receptor 1 in the rat; on the other hand, PEA reduces inflammation markers in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and butyrate, producted by gut microbiota, is effective in reducing inflammation and pain in irritable bowel syndrome and IBD animal models. In this review, we underline the relationship among inflammation, pain, microbiota and the different lipids, focusing on a possible involvement of NAEs and SCFAs in the gut-brain axis and their role in the central nervous system diseases.}, } @article {pmid28214450, year = {2017}, author = {Pramanik, K and Soren, T and Mitra, S and Maiti, TK}, title = {In silico structural and functional analysis of Mesorhizobium ACC deaminase.}, journal = {Computational biology and chemistry}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {12-21}, doi = {10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2017.02.005}, pmid = {28214450}, issn = {1476-928X}, mesh = {Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Computational Biology ; *Computer Simulation ; Mesorhizobium/enzymology ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; }, abstract = {Nodulation is one of the very important processes of legume plants as it is the initiating event of fixing nitrogen. Although ethylene has essential role in normal plant metabolism but it has also negative impact on plants particularly in nodule formation in legume plants. It is also produced due to a variety of biotic or abiotic stresses. 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase is a rhizobial enzyme which cleaves ACC (immediate precursor of ethylene) into α-ketobutyrate and ammonia. As a result, the level of ethylene from the plant cells is decreased and the negative impact of ethylene on nodule formation is reduced. ACC deaminase is widely studied in several plant growth promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains including many legume nodulating bacteria like Mesorhizobium sp. It is an important symbiotic nitrogen fixer belonging to the class - alphaproteobacteria under the order Rhizobiales. ACC deaminase has positive role in Legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Rhizobial ACC deaminase has the potentiality to reduce the adverse effects of ethylene, thereby triggering the nodulation process. The present study describes an in silico comparative structural (secondary structure prediction, homology modeling) and functional analysis of ACC deaminase from Mesorhizobium spp. to explore physico-chemical properties using a number of bio-computational tools. M. loti was selected as a representative species of Mesorhizobium genera for 3D modelling of ACC deaminase protein. Correlation by the phylogenetic relatedness on the basis of both ACC deaminase enzymes and respective acdS genes of different strains of Mesorhizobium has also studied.}, } @article {pmid28901095, year = {2016}, author = {Huang, H and Shao, SC and Gao, JY}, title = {[Effects of different endophytic fungi on seedling growth of Dendrobium devonianum].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {41}, number = {11}, pages = {2019-2024}, doi = {10.4268/cjcmm20161108}, pmid = {28901095}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Dendrobium/growth & development/*microbiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Seedlings/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To obtain seedling growth-promoting fungi is a key step in restoration-friendly cultivation of medicinal Dendrobium species, since there are a large number of functionally-unknown endophytic fungi in the roots of Dendrobium plants.In this study, six functionally-unknown endophytic fungal strains were isolated from roots of D.devonianum using single peleton isolation technology, and used in inoculation experiments to test their effectiveness for seedling growth in D.devonianum.After 90 days of inoculation, comparing with the control treatment, FDdS-1, FDdS-2 and FDdS-4 showed strong pathogenic or fatal effects on seedlings; while, FDdS-12, FDdS-9 and FDdS-5 had different effects on seedling growth.FDdS-5 had significant promoting effects on height, fresh and dry weight, stem diameter and root numbers, while FDdS-9 only had significant promoting effect on seedling height, and FDdS-12 had a negative effect on seedling growth.According to the anatomical features of the inoculated roots, FDdS-5 fungi could infect the velamina of seedlings and the existence of symbiosis pelotons in the cortex cells, suggesting that FDdS-5 is a mycorrhiza fungi of D.devonianum.FDdS-5 and FDdS-9 were identified as Sebacina vermifera and Sebacina sp.by molecular technologies.By using FDdS-5 in the restoration-friendly cultivation of D.devonianum, it could effectively promote seedling growth and shorten the seedling growth periods.The results will aid in reintroduction and cultivation of D.devonianum.}, } @article {pmid28773540, year = {2016}, author = {Nocelli, N and Bogino, PC and Banchio, E and Giordano, W}, title = {Roles of Extracellular Polysaccharides and Biofilm Formation in Heavy Metal Resistance of Rhizobia.}, journal = {Materials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28773540}, issn = {1996-1944}, abstract = {Bacterial surface components and extracellular compounds, particularly flagella, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and exopolysaccharides (EPSs), in combination with environmental signals and quorum-sensing signals, play crucial roles in bacterial autoaggregation, biofilm development, survival, and host colonization. The nitrogen-fixing species Sinorhizobium meliloti (S. meliloti) produces two symbiosis-promoting EPSs: succinoglycan (or EPS I) and galactoglucan (or EPS II). Studies of the S.meliloti/alfalfa symbiosis model system have revealed numerous biological functions of EPSs, including host specificity, participation in early stages of host plant infection, signaling molecule during plant development, and (most importantly) protection from environmental stresses. We evaluated functions of EPSs in bacterial resistance to heavy metals and metalloids, which are known to affect various biological processes. Heavy metal resistance, biofilm production, and co-culture were tested in the context of previous studies by our group. A range of mercury (Hg II) and arsenic (As III) concentrations were applied to S. meliloti wild type strain and to mutant strains defective in EPS I and EPS II. The EPS production mutants were generally most sensitive to the metals. Our findings suggest that EPSs are necessary for the protection of bacteria from either Hg (II) or As (III) stress. Previous studies have described a pump in S. meliloti that causes efflux of arsenic from cells to surrounding culture medium, thereby protecting them from this type of chemical stress. The presence of heavy metals or metalloids in culture medium had no apparent effect on formation of biofilm, in contrast to previous reports that biofilm formation helps protect various microorganism species from adverse environmental conditions. In co-culture experiments, EPS-producing heavy metal resistant strains exerted a protective effect on AEPS-non-producing, heavy metal-sensitive strains; a phenomenon termed "rescuing" of the non-resistant strain.}, } @article {pmid28895319, year = {2016}, author = {Zu, XP and Lin, Z and Xie, HS and Yang, N and Liu, XR and Zhang, WD}, title = {[Interaction of effective ingredients from traditional Chinese medicines with intestinal microbiota].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {41}, number = {10}, pages = {1766-1772}, doi = {10.4268/cjcmm20161002}, pmid = {28895319}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology ; Dysbiosis/drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; }, abstract = {A large number and wide varieties of microorganisms colonize in the human gastrointestinal tract. They construct an intestinal microecological system in the intestinal environment. The intestinal symbiotic flora regulates a series of life actions, including digestion and absorption of nutrient, immune response, biological antagonism, and is closely associated with the occurrence and development of many diseases. Therefore, it is greatly essential for the host's health status to maintain the equilibrium of intestinal microecological environment. After effective compositions of traditional Chinese medicines are metabolized or biotransformed by human intestinal bacteria, their metabolites can be absorbed more easily, and can even decrease or increase toxicity and then exhibit significant different biological effects. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicines can also regulate the composition of the intestinal flora and protect the function of intestinal mucosal barrier to restore the homeostasis of intestinal microecology. The relevant literatures in recent 15 years about the interactive relationship between traditional Chinese medicines and gut microbiota have been collected in this review, in order to study the classification of gut microflora, the relationship between intestinal dysbacteriosis and diseases, the important roles of gut microflora in intestinal bacterial metabolism in effective ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines and bioactivities, as well as the modulation effects of Chinese medicine on intestinal dysbacteriosis. In addition, it also makes a future prospect for the research strategies to study the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicines based on multi-omics techniques.}, } @article {pmid28515968, year = {2016}, author = {Delaye, L and Valadez-Cano, C and Pérez-Zamorano, B}, title = {How Really Ancient Is Paulinella Chromatophora?.}, journal = {PLoS currents}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28515968}, issn = {2157-3999}, abstract = {The ancestor of Paulinella chromatophora established a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria related to the Prochloroccocus/Synechococcus clade. This event has been described as a second primary endosymbiosis leading to a plastid in the making. Based on the rate of pseudogene disintegration in the endosymbiotic bacteria Buchnera aphidicola, it was suggested that the chromatophore in P. chromatophora has a minimum age of ~60 Myr. Here we revisit this estimation by using a lognormal relaxed molecular clock on the 18S rRNA of P. chromatophora. Our time estimates show that depending on the assumptions made to calibrate the molecular clock, P. chromatophora diverged from heterotrophic Paulinella spp. ~ 90 to 140 Myr ago, thus establishing a maximum date for the origin of the chromatophore.}, } @article {pmid28966438, year = {2016}, author = {Zhou, J and Lyu, Y and Richlen, M and Anderson, DM and Cai, Z}, title = {Quorum sensing is a language of chemical signals and plays an ecological role in algal-bacterial interactions.}, journal = {Critical reviews in plant sciences}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {81-105}, pmid = {28966438}, issn = {0735-2689}, support = {P01 ES021923/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Algae are ubiquitous in the marine environment, and the ways in which they interact with bacteria are of particular interest in marine ecology field. The interactions between primary producers and bacteria impact the physiology of both partners, alter the chemistry of their environment, and shape microbial diversity. Although algal-bacterial interactions are well known and studied, information regarding the chemical-ecological role of this relationship remains limited, particularly with respect to quorum sensing (QS), which is a system of stimuli and response correlated to population density. In the microbial biosphere, QS is pivotal in driving community structure and regulating behavioral ecology, including biofilm formation, virulence, antibiotic resistance, swarming motility, and secondary metabolite production. Many marine habitats, such as the phycosphere, harbour diverse populations of microorganisms and various signal languages (such as QS-based autoinducers). QS-mediated interactions widely influence algal-bacterial symbiotic relationships, which in turn determine community organization, population structure, and ecosystem functioning. Understanding infochemicals-mediated ecological processes may shed light on the symbiotic interactions between algae host and associated microbes. In this review, we summarize current achievements about how QS modulates microbial behavior, affects symbiotic relationships, and regulates phytoplankton chemical ecological processes. Additionally, we present an overview of QS-modulated co-evolutionary relationships between algae and bacterioplankton, and consider the potential applications and future perspectives of QS.}, } @article {pmid28335196, year = {2016}, author = {Judy, JD and Kirby, JK and McLaughlin, MJ and Cavagnaro, T and Bertsch, PM}, title = {Gold Nanomaterial Uptake from Soil Is Not Increased by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization of Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato).}, journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28335196}, issn = {2079-4991}, abstract = {Bioaccumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) by plants has been demonstrated in numerous studies over the past 5-10 years. However, the overwhelming majority of these studies were conducted using hydroponic systems and the degree to which the addition of the biological and chemical components present in the soil might fundamentally alter the potential of plant bioaccumulation of ENMs is unclear. Here, we used two genotypes of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), reduced mycorrhizal colonization (rmc), a mutant which does not allow arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, and its progenitor, 76R, to examine how colonization by AMF alters trends of gold ENM bioaccumulation from a natural soil. Gold was taken up and bioaccumulated by plants of both genotypes. Gold concentrations were significantly higher in the rmc treatment although this was likely attributable to the large differences in biomass between the 76R and rmc plants. Regardless, there was little evidence that AMF played a significant role in trafficking Au ENMs into the plants. Furthermore, despite very low NH4NO3 extractable Au concentrations, Au accumulated at the root-soil interface. Although this observation would seem to suggest that ENMs may have potential to influence this particularly biologically active and important soil compartment, we observed no evidence of this here, as the 76R plants developed a robust AMF symbiosis despite accumulation of Au ENMs at the rhizoplane.}, } @article {pmid28326980, year = {2016}, author = {Davis, EM}, title = {Gene Sequence Analyses of the Healthy Oral Microbiome in Humans and Companion Animals.}, journal = {Journal of veterinary dentistry}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {97-107}, doi = {10.1177/0898756416657239}, pmid = {28326980}, issn = {0898-7564}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Oral Health ; *Pets ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis ; }, abstract = {It has long been accepted that certain oral bacterial species are responsible for the development of periodontal disease. However, the focus of microbial and immunological research is shifting from studying the organisms associated with disease to examining the indigenous microbial inhabitants that are present in health. Microbiome refers to the aggregate genetic material of all microorganisms living in, or on, a defined habitat. Recent developments in gene sequence analysis have enabled detection and identification of bacteria from polymicrobial samples, including subgingival plaque. Diversity surveys utilizing this technology have demonstrated that bacterial culture techniques have vastly underestimated the richness and diversity of microorganisms in vivo, since only certain bacteria grow in vitro. Surveys using gene sequence analysis have demonstrated that the healthy oral microbiome is composed of an unexpectedly high number of diverse species, including putative pathogens. These findings support the view that coevolution microorganisms and macroscopic hosts has occurred in which certain microorganisms have adapted to survive in the oral cavity and host immune tolerance has allowed the establishment of a symbiotic relationship in which both parties receive benefits (mutualism). This review describes gene sequence analysis as an increasingly common, culture-independent tool for detecting bacteria in vivo and describes the results of recent oral microbiome diversity surveys of clinically healthy humans, dogs, and cats. Six bacterial phyla consistently dominated the healthy oral microbiome of all 3 host species. Previous hypotheses on etiology of periodontitis are reviewed in light of new scientific findings. Finally, the consideration that clinically relevant periodontal disease occurs when immune tolerance of the symbiotic oral microbiome is altered to a proinflammatory response will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid28357315, year = {2015}, author = {Secor, PR and Jennings, LK and Michaels, LA and Sweere, JM and Singh, PK and Parks, WC and Bollyky, PL}, title = {Biofilm assembly becomes crystal clear - filamentous bacteriophage organize the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm matrix into a liquid crystal.}, journal = {Microbial cell (Graz, Austria)}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {49-52}, doi = {10.15698/mic2016.01.475}, pmid = {28357315}, issn = {2311-2638}, abstract = {Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen associated with many types of chronic infection. At sites of chronic infection, such as the airways of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), P. aeruginosa forms biofilm-like aggregates. These are clusters of bacterial cells encased in a polymer-rich matrix that shields bacteria from environmental stresses and antibiotic treatment. When P. aeruginosa forms a biofilm, large amounts of filamentous Pf bacteriophage (phage) are produced. Unlike most phage that typically lyse and kill their bacterial hosts, filamentous phage of the genus Inovirus, which includes Pf phage, often do not, and instead are continuously extruded from the bacteria. Here, we discuss the implications of the accumulation of filamentous Pf phage in the biofilm matrix, where they interact with matrix polymers to organize the biofilm into a highly ordered liquid crystal. This structural configuration promotes bacterial adhesion, desiccation survival, and antibiotic tolerance - all features typically associated with biofilms. We propose that Pf phage make structural contributions to P. aeruginosa biofilms and that this constitutes a novel form of symbiosis between bacteria and bacteriophage.}, } @article {pmid28510811, year = {2015}, author = {Li, J and Yi, Y and Cheng, X and Zhang, D and Irfan, M}, title = {Study on the effect of magnetic field treatment of newly isolated Paenibacillus sp.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, pmid = {28510811}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in plants occurs in roots with the help of some bacteria which help in soil nitrogen fertility management. Isolation of significant environment friendly bacteria for nitrogen fixation is very important to enhance yield in plants.

RESULTS: In this study effect of different magnetic field intensity and treatment time was studied on the morphology, physiology and nitrogen fixing capacity of newly isolated Paenibaccilus sp. from brown soil. The bacterium was identified by 16S rDNA sequence having highest similarity (99%) with Paenibacillus sp as revealed by BLAST. Different magnetic intensities such as 100mT, 300mT and 500mT were applied with processing time of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Of all these treatment 300mT with processing time of 10 minutes was found to be most suitable treatment. Results revealed that magnetic treatment improve the growth rate with shorter generation time leading to increased enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and nitrogen fixing efficiencies. High magnetic field intensity (500mT) caused ruptured cell morphology and decreased enzyme activities which lead to less nitrogen fixation.

CONCLUSION: It is concluded that appropriate magnetic field intensity and treatment time play a vital role in the growth of soil bacteria which increases the nitrogen fixing ability which affects the yield of plant. These results were very helpful in future breading programs to enhance the yield of soybean.}, } @article {pmid28357263, year = {2015}, author = {Rajkovic, A and Witzky, A and Navarre, W and Darwin, AJ and Ibba, M}, title = {Elongation factor-P at the crossroads of the host-endosymbiont interface.}, journal = {Microbial cell (Graz, Austria)}, volume = {2}, number = {10}, pages = {360-362}, pmid = {28357263}, issn = {2311-2638}, support = {R01 GM065183/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Elongation factor P (EF-P) is an ancient bacterial translational factor that aids the ribosome in polymerizing oligo-prolines. EF-P structurally resembles tRNA and binds in-between the exit and peptidyl sites of the ribosome to accelerate the intrinsically slow reaction of peptidyl-prolyl bond formation. Recent studies have identified in separate organisms, two evolutionarily convergent EF-P post-translational modification systems (EPMS), split predominantly between gammaproteobacteria, and betaproteobacteria. In both cases EF-P receives a post-translational modification, critical for its function, on a highly conserved residue that protrudes into the peptidyl-transfer center of the ribosome. EPMSs are comprised of a gene(s) that synthesizes the precursor molecule used in modifying EF-P, and a gene(s) encoding an enzyme that reacts with the precursor molecule to catalyze covalent attachment to EF-P. However, not all organisms genetically encode a complete EPMS. For instance, some symbiotic bacteria harbor efp and the corresponding gene that enzymatically attaches the modification, but lack the ability to synthesize the substrate used in the modification reaction. Here we highlight the recent discoveries made regarding EPMSs, with a focus on how these incomplete modification pathways shape or have been shaped by the endosymbiont-host relationship.}, } @article {pmid28510952, year = {2014}, author = {Tsai, CC and Wu, PY and Kuo, CC and Huang, MC and Yu, SK and Hsu, TW and Chiang, TY and Chiang, YC}, title = {Analysis of microsatellites in the vulnerable orchid Gastrodia flavilabella: the development of microsatellite markers, and cross-species amplification in Gastrodia.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {72}, pmid = {28510952}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia flabilabella is a mycoheterotrophic orchid that obtains carbohydrates and nutrients from its symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi. The species is an endemic and vulnerable species enlisted in the "A Preliminary Red List of Taiwanese Vascular Plants" according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1. G. flabilabella dwells the underground of broadleaf and coniferous forest with richness litter. Based on herbarium records, this species is distributed in central Taiwan. Twenty eight microsatellite loci were developed in G. flabilabella and were tested for cross-species amplification in additional taxa of G. confusoides, G. elata, and G. javanica. We estimated the genetic variation that is valuable for conservation management and the development of the molecular identification system for G. elata, a traditional Chinese medicine herb.

RESULTS: Microsatellite primer sets were developed from G. flabilabella using the modified AFLP and magnetic bead enrichment method. In total, 257 microsatellite loci were obtained from a magnetic bead enrichment SSR library. Of the 28 microsatellite loci, 16 were polymorphic, in which the number of alleles ranged from 2 to 15, with the observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.02 to 1.00. In total, 15, 13, and 7 of the loci were found to be interspecifically amplifiable to G. confusoides, G. elata, and G. javanica, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Amplifiable and transferable microsatellite loci are potentially useful for future studies in investigating intraspecific genetic variation, reconstructing phylogeographic patterns among closely related species, and establishing the standard operating system of molecular identification in Gastrodia.}, } @article {pmid28510902, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, QX and Yan, N and Ji, DG and Li, SY and Hu, H}, title = {In vitro growth and carbon utilization of the green-leaved orchid Dendrobium officinale are promoted by mycorrhizal associations.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {28510902}, issn = {1817-406X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mycorrhizal associations play a key role in the life cycle and evolutionary history of orchids. All orchids grow from extremely small seeds that are lacking in reserves, and germination and growth into an underground heterotrophic, achlorophyllous stage depend upon symbiotic fungi to provide nutrient. However, the nutritional physiology between this symbiosis and green-leaved orchids is still unclear. To understand further how these associations affect growth and carbon utilization of green orchids, the green orchids were inoculated with two symbiotic fungi isolated from the roots of a wild orchid (Dendrobium officinale) in vitro and [13]C stable isotope signature experiments were designed to analyze carbon nutrition acquisition.

RESULTS: After two months, both fungi had formed mycorrhizal associations with the host roots. Moreover, the growth rate was more rapid for the mycorrhizal seedlings than for the non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The mycorrhizal seedlings not only absorbed more [13]C from the substrate, but also the S3-mycorrhizal seedlings assimilated more atmospheric [13]CO2 due to significantly higher effective quantum yield of photosystem II, compared with the non-mycorrhizal seedlings. These results suggested that the green orchids could receive more C nutrition from the substrate due to symbiotic fungi, and photosynthesis capacity of the green D. officinale could be enhanced by the S3 fungus, therefore carbon nutrition acquisition also increased. As a result, the S1- and S3- mycorrhizal seedlings showed markedly higher biomass and polysaccharides contents than the non-mycorrhizal seedlings.

CONCLUSIONS: These results improve our understanding of the mycorrhizal functioning in the green Dendrobium and show some potential application in the cultivation of D. officinale.}, } @article {pmid28741826, year = {2012}, author = {Suggett, DJ and Hall-Spencer, JM and Rodolfo-Metalpa, R and Boatman, TG and Payton, R and Tye Pettay, D and Johnson, VR and Warner, ME and Lawson, T}, title = {Sea anemones may thrive in a high CO2 world.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {18}, number = {10}, pages = {3015-3025}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02767.x}, pmid = {28741826}, issn = {1365-2486}, abstract = {Increased seawater pCO2 , and in turn 'ocean acidification' (OA), is predicted to profoundly impact marine ecosystem diversity and function this century. Much research has already focussed on calcifying reef-forming corals (Class: Anthozoa) that appear particularly susceptible to OA via reduced net calcification. However, here we show that OA-like conditions can simultaneously enhance the ecological success of non-calcifying anthozoans, which not only play key ecological and biogeochemical roles in present day benthic ecosystems but also represent a model organism should calcifying anthozoans exist as less calcified (soft-bodied) forms in future oceans. Increased growth (abundance and size) of the sea anemone (Anemonia viridis) population was observed along a natural CO2 gradient at Vulcano, Italy. Both gross photosynthesis (PG) and respiration (R) increased with pCO2 indicating that the increased growth was, at least in part, fuelled by bottom up (CO2 stimulation) of metabolism. The increase of PG outweighed that of R and the genetic identity of the symbiotic microalgae (Symbiodinium spp.) remained unchanged (type A19) suggesting proximity to the vent site relieved CO2 limitation of the anemones' symbiotic microalgal population. Our observations of enhanced productivity with pCO2 , which are consistent with previous reports for some calcifying corals, convey an increase in fitness that may enable non-calcifying anthozoans to thrive in future environments, i.e. higher seawater pCO2 . Understanding how CO2 -enhanced productivity of non- (and less-) calcifying anthozoans applies more widely to tropical ecosystems is a priority where such organisms can dominate benthic ecosystems, in particular following localized anthropogenic stress.}, } @article {pmid28466167, year = {2002}, author = {Helfield, JM and Naiman, RJ}, title = {Salmon and alder as nitrogen sources to riparian forests in a boreal Alaskan watershed.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {133}, number = {4}, pages = {573-582}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-002-1070-x}, pmid = {28466167}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Anadromous Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) transport marine-derived nitrogen (MDN) to the rivers in which they spawn. Isotopic analyses of riparian vegetation in a boreal Alaskan watershed indicate that trees and shrubs near spawning streams derive ~24-26% of their foliar nitrogen (N) from salmon. Basal area growth of white spruce (Picea glauca) is enhanced at sites receiving MDN inputs. This marine N subsidy appears to be less important to riparian ecosystems where symbiotic N fixation by alder (Alnus crispa) is prevalent, although salmon carcasses may nonetheless be an important source of other marine-derived nutrients affecting productivity in these forests. These findings illustrate the complexity of interactions surrounding riparian forests and the interconnectedness of river and riparian ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid28466222, year = {2002}, author = {Palmqvist, K and Dahlman, L and Valladares, F and Tehler, A and Sancho, LG and Mattsson, JE}, title = {CO2 exchange and thallus nitrogen across 75 contrasting lichen associations from different climate zones.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {133}, number = {3}, pages = {295-306}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-002-1019-0}, pmid = {28466222}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Aiming to investigate whether a carbon-to-nitrogen equilibrium model describes resource allocation in lichens, net photosynthesis (NP), respiration (R), concentrations of nitrogen (N), chlorophyll (Chl), chitin and ergosterol were investigated in 75 different lichen associations collected in Antarctica, Arctic Canada, boreal Sweden, and temperate/subtropical forests of Tenerife, South Africa and Japan. The lichens had various morphologies and represented seven photobiont and 41 mycobiont genera. Chl a, chitin and ergosterol were used as indirect markers of photobiont activity, fungal biomass and fungal respiration, respectively. The lichens were divided into three groups according to photobiont: (1) species with green algae, (2) species with cyanobacteria, and (3) tripartite species with green algal photobionts and cyanobacteria in cephalodia. Across species, thallus N concentration ranged from 1 to 50 mg g[-1] dry wt., NP varied 50-fold, and R 10-fold. In average, green algal lichens had the lowest, cyanobacterial Nostoc lichens the highest and tripartite lichens intermediate N concentrations. All three markers increased with thallus N concentration, and lichens with the highest Chl a and N concentrations had the highest rates of both P and R. Chl a alone accounted for ca. 30% of variation in NP and R across species. On average, the photosynthetic efficiency quotient [K F=(NPmax+R)/R)] ranged from 2.4 to 8.6, being higher in fruticose green algal lichens than in foliose Nostoc lichens. The former group invested more N in Chl a and this trait increased NPmax while decreasing R. In general terms, the investigated lichens invested N resources such that their maximal C input capacity matched their respiratory C demand around a similar (positive) equilibrium across species. However, it is not clear how this apparent optimisation of resource use is regulated in these symbiotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid28547305, year = {2002}, author = {Fischer, RC and Richter, A and Wanek, W and Mayer, V}, title = {Plants feed ants: food bodies of myrmecophytic Piper and their significance for the interaction with Pheidole bicornis ants.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {133}, number = {2}, pages = {186-192}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-002-1000-y}, pmid = {28547305}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Several species of Piper (Piperaceae) live in symbiosis with Pheidole bicornis (Formicidae-Myrmicinae) on the southern Pacific slope of Costa Rica. These plants produce small single-celled food bodies (FBs) in leaf domatia, formed by the petiole bases and roofing leaf sheaths. In the present study the dependency of ants on FBs of Piper fimbriulatum as a food source was analysed by comparing the natural abundance of [13]C and [15]N in ants and FBs. Both δ[13]C and δ[15]N values were very similar between FBs and Pheidole bicornis ants but differed substantially between the plant and other ant species. Therefore we suggest that FBs are a main food source for Pheidole bicornis ants. To strengthen this suggestion, the chemical composition of FBs of four myrmecophytic Piper species was analysed, with special emphasis on the nutritional requirements of inhabiting Pheidole bicornis ants. Standard chemical methods were modified and combined to a novel analysis scheme by which all major FB constituents could be quantified from minute [3-10 mg dry mass (DM)] quantities. Piper FBs mainly consisted of lipids (41-48% of DM) and proteins (17-24% of DM). Soluble carbohydrates and amino acids proved to be quantitatively unimportant. N was predominantly stored as soluble protein and, thus, was easily available to the ants. FBs proved to be a high-energy food source (up to 23 kJ g[-1] DM), with a chemical composition that meets well the nutritional needs of the inhabiting ants.}, } @article {pmid28547359, year = {2002}, author = {Brown, BL and Creed, RP and Dobson, WE}, title = {Branchiobdellid annelids and their crayfish hosts: are they engaged in a cleaning symbiosis?.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {132}, number = {2}, pages = {250-255}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-002-0961-1}, pmid = {28547359}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Branchiobdellid annelids and their freshwater crayfish hosts are generally thought to have a commensal relationship. Branchiobdellids of the genus Cambarincola exploit their hosts through a variety of mechanisms; however, an effect of branchiobdellids on crayfish has not been conclusively demonstrated. We investigated whether branchiobdellids positively affect the host crayfish Cambarus chasmodactylus in the New River, North Carolina. In a laboratory experiment, we placed 0, 3, or 6 branchiobdellids on C. chasmodactylus and observed a significant effect of branchiobdellid presence on both growth and mortality of host crayfish; crayfish with branchiobdellids exhibited faster growth and lower mortality with increasing branchiobdellid density. A tracer experiment demonstrated that branchiobdellids feed on items found in the branchial chamber of C. chasmodactylus. We hypothesize that such feeding activity by branchiobdellids reduces fouling of crayfish gills by epibionts and particulate matter and could lead to the reduced mortality and increased growth rates observed in the laboratory experiment. Specifically, Cambarincola may improve the ventilatory and excretory fitness of C. chasmodactylus by cleaning gill filaments. Field data support this hypothesis by demonstrating that branchiobdellids are found disproportionately at sites proximal to the branchial chamber in the New River. This study provides evidence that the relationship between C. chasmodactylus and Cambarincola may be a cleaning symbiosis, at least in environments where gill fouling is a problem for C. chasmodactylus.}, } @article {pmid28547500, year = {2002}, author = {Gange, AC and Bower, E and Brown, VK}, title = {Differential effects of insect herbivory on arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {131}, number = {1}, pages = {103-112}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-001-0863-7}, pmid = {28547500}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {A series of field and laboratory experiments were conducted to examine whether natural levels of insect herbivory affect the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of two plant species. The plant species were the highly mycorrhizal (mycotrophic) Plantago lanceolata, which suffers small amounts of insect damage continuously over a growing season and the weakly mycorrhizal (non-mycotrophic) Senecio jacobaea, which is frequently subject to rapid and total defoliation by moth larvae. Herbivory was found to reduce AM colonization in P. lanceolata, but had no effect in S. jacobaea. Similarly, AM colonization reduced the level of leaf damage in P. lanceolata, but had no such effect in S. jacobaea. AM fungi were found to increase growth of P. lanceolata, but this effect was only clearly seen when insects were absent. AM fungi reduced the growth of S. jacobaea irrespective of whether insects were present. It is concluded that the reduction of AM fungal colonization by herbivory in P. lanceolata is due to the reduced amount of photosynthate available to the symbiont. This may only become apparent at threshold levels of insect damage and, below these, increased photosynthesis elicited by the mycorrhiza is able to compensate for foliage loss to the insects. However, in S. jacobaea, the mycorrhiza appears to be an aggressive parasite and insect attack only exacerbates the reduction in biomass. In mycotrophic plants, insect herbivores may be responsible for poor functioning of the symbiosis in field conditions and there is a symmetrical interaction between insects and fungi. However, in non-mycotrophic plants, the interaction is strongly asymmetrical, being entirely in favour of the mycorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid28547096, year = {2001}, author = {Currie, CR}, title = {Prevalence and impact of a virulent parasite on a tripartite mutualism.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {128}, number = {1}, pages = {99-106}, doi = {10.1007/s004420100630}, pmid = {28547096}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The prevalence and impact of a specialized microfungal parasite (Escovopsis) that infects the fungus gardens of leaf-cutting ants was examined in the laboratory and in the field in Panama. Escovopsis is a common parasite of leaf-cutting ant colonies and is apparently more frequent in Acromyrmex spp. gardens than in gardens of the more phylogenetically derived genus Atta spp. In addition, larger colonies of Atta spp. appear to be less frequently infected with the parasite. In this study, the parasite Escovopsis had a major impact on the success of this mutualism among ants, fungi, and bacteria. Infected colonies had a significantly lower rate of fungus garden accumulation and produced substantially fewer workers. In addition, the extent of the reduction in colony growth rate depended on the isolate, with one isolate having a significantly larger impact than two others, suggesting that Escovopsis has different levels of virulence. Escovopsis is also spatially concentrated within parts of ant fungus gardens, with the younger regions having significantly lower rates of infection as compared to the older regions. The discovery that gardens of fungus-growing ants are host to a virulent pathogen that is not related to any of the three mutualists suggests that unrelated organisms may be important but primarily overlooked components of other mutualistic associations.}, } @article {pmid28547455, year = {2001}, author = {Heil, M and Hilpert, A and Fiala, B and Linsenmair, KE}, title = {Nutrient availability and indirect (biotic) defence in a Malaysian ant-plant.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {126}, number = {3}, pages = {404-408}, doi = {10.1007/s004420000534}, pmid = {28547455}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Tropical plants of different genera defend themselves via symbiotic ant colonies, which are housed and often nourished by their host plant. Many studies deal with the defensive effects of the ants, but none has linked the plants' investment in this type of defence to the size and defensive efficacy of the symbiotic ant colony. We show here that ant-food production by the obligate myrmecophyte, Macaranga triloba, is limited by nutrient supply. The colony size of the ants in untreated plants (which had not been affected by experiments in advance of colony collection and determination of food body production) was significantly correlated with the amount of food produced by their hosts, and the plants' level of leaf damage was significantly and negatively correlated with the number of inhabiting ant workers. Our study provides the first field data that show that nutrient availability can directly influence a myrmecophyte's investment in its ants. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether soil nutrient contents in general can be a factor that limits the ability of myrmecophytes to defend themselves indirectly by nourishing symbiotic ants.}, } @article {pmid28547454, year = {2001}, author = {Heil, M and Fiala, B and Maschwitz, U and Linsenmair, KE}, title = {On benefits of indirect defence: short- and long-term studies of antiherbivore protection via mutualistic ants.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {126}, number = {3}, pages = {395-403}, doi = {10.1007/s004420000532}, pmid = {28547454}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Many plants are defended indirectly by mutualistic animals. In this field study, we investigated the efficacy of indirect antiherbivore defence in symbiotic and non-symbiotic ant-plant associations in three Macaranga species. We tested whether obligate interactions are more effective than facultative ones by comparing ant-free plants, or parts of plants, with untreated controls. All three species gained significant protection from the ants' presence. The efficacy of defence was higher in the obligate associations represented by M. triloba and M. hosei than in the facultative interaction (M. tanarius). After 40 days of ant exclusion, missing leaf area amounted to 1.7% in M. hosei (compared to 0.2% in untreated, ant-defended controls), 2.6% in M. triloba (controls 1.2%) and 4.2% in M. tanarius (controls 3.2%). In a long-term study of M. triloba and M. hosei, ant protection was orders of magnitude higher than in the short-term results. Short-term experiments obviously are unsuited to obtaining a realistic picture of the long-term efficacy of antiherbivore defence. Within 1 year, ant-free plants lost, on average, between 70% (M. hosei) and 80% (M. triloba) of their total leaf area. Both species appear to require their mutualistic ants for survival. Defence via symbiotic ants is obviously a very effective form of antiherbivore protection. Ants are highly mobile and defend preferentially young, vulnerable leaves and shoot tips, and they fulfil several functions which normally have to be provided by different chemical substances. This may be a general benefit of indirect plant defence, which makes use of "animal-specific" traits rather than intrinsic plant properties.}, } @article {pmid28547237, year = {2001}, author = {Brem, D and Leuchtmann, A}, title = {Epichloë grass endophytes increase herbivore resistance in the woodland grass Brachypodium sylvaticum.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {126}, number = {4}, pages = {522-530}, doi = {10.1007/s004420000551}, pmid = {28547237}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Endophytic fungi of the genus Epichloë and their asexual Neotyphodium forms are thought to interact mutualistically with their host grasses, providing protection for the host against herbivores and pathogens mediated by fungal alkaloids. Most previous research has concentrated on agronomically important grasses, such as tall fescue, and its interactions with livestock grazers or invertebrate herbivores. In this study we focus on the woodland grass Brachypodium sylvaticum which is infected by the strictly host-specific endophyte Epichloë sylvatica. This fungus has two alternative modes of reproduction: the predominant asexual strains are seed-transmitted, whereas the rare sexual strains are capable of contagious spread by ascospores produced on stromata. To assess potential host protection from herbivory, we tested to what extent development of Spodoptera frugiperda, a noctuid generalist herbivore, was affected when fed on different genotypes of naturally infected (E[+]), artificially infected (F[+]), or uninfected (E[-]) leaf material of B. sylvaticum. In a feeding assay, insect larvae performed significantly better on a diet of uninfected leaves, even though previous studies have not detected alkaloid production by E. sylvatica. A possible explanation for this result may be the presence of an unknown compound in infected plants, acting as metabolic toxin against S. frugiperda larvae. The negative effect on insect larvae was increased when they were fed on a diet artificially infected by a particular genotype (F), suggesting that content of allelochemicals may depend on the fungal genotype. In a dual-choice test, neonate S. frugiperda larvae initially preferred uninfected seedlings over naturally infected seedlings, but only during the first 6 h of the experiment. This suggests that the unknown compounds can act as weak insect-feeding deterrents. To assess herbivory in natural stands of the host grass, nine infected populations of B. sylvaticum were examined for feeding damage. Damage due to microherbivores and macroherbivores was equal in most populations. However, microherbivores (mostly insects) showed a clear preference for tillers bearing fungal stromata, whereas asymptomatically infected tillers were less damaged. Thus, herbivore resistance of infected plants appears to be correlated with the mode of reproduction of fungal genotypes. This result is of evolutionary significance, since asexual, seed-transmitted endophytes depend on host fitness and seed production for their dispersal.}, } @article {pmid28547230, year = {2001}, author = {Gauslaa, Y and Solhaug, KA}, title = {Fungal melanins as a sun screen for symbiotic green algae in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {126}, number = {4}, pages = {462-471}, doi = {10.1007/s004420000541}, pmid = {28547230}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The mycobiont of the high-light-susceptible forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria was shown to deposit brown, melanic compounds in the outer layer of the upper cortex, depending on the long-term level of solar radiation in its natural habitat. Furthermore, pale thalli from a shady habitat produced melanic compounds after transplantation to a sunny habitat. This browning of the cortex appeared to be a physiologically active process, taking place only during periods with frequent hydration. Melanin production was slow. After transplantation, more than 1 year was needed for a shade-adapted thallus to reduce the cortical transmittance (230-1000 nm) to a similar level to that of naturally sun-exposed specimens. Melanic compounds acted as a sun screen, especially reducing UVB and UVA wavelengths, but also visible wavelengths, at the photobiont level. In the near infrared range, there was only a small difference in transmittance between shade- and sun-adapted cortices. A negative correlation was found between the natural light level and the cortical transmittance of wavelengths below 700 nm. However, previous studies have shown that even photobionts of melanic L. pulmonaria thalli are relatively susceptible to high-light exposure. Since melanins also increase the absorbance of solar energy for the whole thallus, it appears that what is gained in terms of UV- and light protection in melanic L. pulmonaria specimens may be offset by increased exposure to excess temperatures for this highly heat-susceptible lichen.}, } @article {pmid28547442, year = {2001}, author = {Hurd, TM and Raynal, DJ and Schwintzer, CR}, title = {Symbiotic N2 fixation of Alnus incana ssp. rugosa in shrub wetlands of the Adirondack Mountains, New York, USA.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {126}, number = {1}, pages = {94-103}, doi = {10.1007/s004420000500}, pmid = {28547442}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Surface waters in forested watersheds in the Adirondack Mountains and northern New York State are susceptible to nitrogen (N) saturation. Atmospheric deposition of N to watersheds in this region has been measured but the extent of internal N inputs from symbiotic N2 fixation in alder-dominated wetlands is not known. We estimated N2 fixation by speckled alder in these wetlands by the [15]N natural abundance method and by acetylene reduction using a flow-through system. Foliar N derived from fixation (%Ndfa) was estimated for five wetlands. The δ[15]N of speckled alder foliage from four of the five sites did not differ significantly (P≤0.05) from that of nodulated speckled alders grown in N-free water culture (-1.2±0.1‰). Estimates from the [15]N natural abundance method indicated that alders at these sites derive 85-100% of their foliar N from N2 fixation. At one of the sites, we also measured biomass and N content and estimated that the alder foliage contained 43 kg N ha[-1] of fixed N in 1997. This estimate was based on a foliar N content of 55.4±7 kg N ha[-1] (mean±SE), 86±4%Ndfa, and an assumption that 10% of foliar N was derived from reserves in woody tissues. At this site, we further estimated via acetylene reduction that 37±10 kg N ha[-1] was fixed by speckled alders in 1998. This estimate used the theoretical 4:1 C2H2 reduction to N2 fixation ratio and assumed no night-time fixation late in the season. Nitrogen inputs in wet and dry deposition at this site are approximately 8 kg N ha[-1] year[-1]. We conclude that speckled alder in wetlands of northern New York State relies heavily on N2 fixation to meet N demands, and symbiotic N2 fixation in speckled alders adds substantial amounts of N to alder-dominated wetlands in the Adirondack Mountains. These additions may be important for watershed N budgets, where alder-dominated wetlands occupy a large proportion of watershed area.}, } @article {pmid28308767, year = {2000}, author = {Sagers, CL and Ginger, SM and Evans, RD}, title = {Carbon and nitrogen isotopes trace nutrient exchange in an ant-plant mutualism.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {123}, number = {4}, pages = {582-586}, doi = {10.1007/PL00008863}, pmid = {28308767}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Mutualisms, biological interactions from which each species benefits, are thought to be evolutionarily stable only under a limited set of circumstances. Underlying all mutualisms is an intrinsic conflict between the parties, in that each is under selection to further exploit the other. Conflict between mutualists will lead to instability unless each species receives a net benefit from the interaction. To understand how mutualisms persist, then, it is essential to document the exact nature of the interaction. The relationship between Cecropia trees and Azteca ants has been a model for the study of mutualism since its description more than 100 years ago. Ants live in Cecropia's hollow stems and harvest specialized food bodies produced by the host. In return, ants defend the plant from leaf-feeding herbivores and encroaching vegetation. Central to modeling this relationship is understanding the exchange of nutrients between symbionts. Here we present evidence that the flow of nutrients has been misjudged. Although ants consume plant products, they provide more nutrients than they receive. Using stable isotope analysis, we calculate that only about 18% of worker ant carbon is derived from Cecropia, whereas 93% of the nitrogen in ant-occupied host plants is derived from debris deposited by ants. Ants rely on sources other than their host for food and, in doing so, make a rich source of nitrogen available to the host.}, } @article {pmid28308295, year = {2000}, author = {Eom, AH and Hartnett, DC and Wilson, GW}, title = {Host plant species effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in tallgrass prairie.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {122}, number = {3}, pages = {435-444}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050050}, pmid = {28308295}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous in many herbaceous plant communities and can have large effects on these communities and ecosystem processes. The extent of species-specificity between these plant and fungal symbionts in nature is poorly known, yet reciprocal effects of the composition of plant and soil microbe communities is an important assumption of recent theoretical models of plant community structure. In grassland ecosystems, host plant species may have an important role in determining development and sporulation of AM fungi and patterns of fungal species composition and diversity. In this study, the effects of five different host plant species [Poa pratensis L., Sporobolus heterolepis (A. Gray) A. Gray, Panicum virgatum L., Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Ell., Solidago missouriensis Nutt.] on spore communities of AM fungi in tallgrass prairie were examined. Spore abundances and species composition of fungal communities of soil samples collected from patches within tallgrass prairie were significantly influenced by the host plant species that dominated the patch. The AM fungal spore community associated with B. bracteata showed the highest species diversity and the fungi associated with Pa. virgatum showed the lowest diversity. Results from sorghum trap cultures using soil collected from under different host plant species showed differential sporulations of AM fungal species. In addition, a greenhouse study was conducted in which different host plant species were grown in similar tallgrass prairie soil. After 4 months of growth, AM fungal species composition was significantly different beneath each host species. These results strongly suggest that AM fungi show some degree of host-specificity and are not randomly distributed in tallgrass prairie. The demonstration that host plant species composition influences AM fungal species composition provides support for current feedback models predicting strong regulatory effects of soil communities on plant community structure. Differential responses of AM fungi to host plant species may also play an important role in the regulation of species composition and diversity in AM fungal communities.}, } @article {pmid28308367, year = {1999}, author = {Smith, MD and Hartnett, DC and Wilson, GW}, title = {Interacting influence of mycorrhizal symbiosis and competition on plant diversity in tallgrass prairie.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {121}, number = {4}, pages = {574-582}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050964}, pmid = {28308367}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {In tallgrass prairie, plant species interactions regulated by their associated mycorrhizal fungi may be important forces that influence species coexistence and community structure; however, the mechanisms and magnitude of these interactions remain unknown. The objective of this study was to determine how interspecific competition, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and their interactions influence plant community structure. We conducted a factorial experiment, which incorporated manipulations of abundance of dominant competitors, Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans, and suppression of mycorrhizal symbiosis using the fungicide benomyl under two fire regimes (annual and 4-year burn intervals). Removal of the two dominant C4 grass species altered the community structure, increased plant species richness, diversity, and evenness, and increased abundance of subdominant graminoid and forb species. Suppression of mycorrhizal fungi resulted in smaller shifts in community structure, although plant species richness and diversity increased. Responses of individual plant species were associated with their degree of mycorrhizal responsiveness: highly mycorrhizal responsive species decreased in abundance and less mycorrhizal responsive species increased in abundance. The combination of dominant-grass removal and mycorrhizal suppression treatments interacted to increase synergistically the abundance of several species, indicating that both processes influence species interactions and community organization in tallgrass prairie. These results provide evidence that mycorrhizal fungi affect plant communities indirectly by influencing the pattern and strength of plant competitive interactions. Burning strongly influenced the outcome of these interactions, which suggests that plant species diversity in tallgrass prairie is influenced by a complex array of interacting processes, including both competition and mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28308077, year = {1999}, author = {Roggy, JC and Prévost, MF and Gourbiere, F and Casabianca, H and Garbaye, J and Domenach, AM}, title = {Leaf natural [15]N abundance and total N concentration as potential indicators of plant N nutrition in legumes and pioneer species in a rain forest of French Guiana.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {120}, number = {2}, pages = {171-182}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050846}, pmid = {28308077}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The suitability of the natural [15]N abundance and of total N concentration of leaves as indicators of the type of plant N nutrition in a rain forest of French Guiana were tested. Leaf samples from primary legume species, non-legumes (pioneer species) and from the non-N2-fixing species Dicorynia guianensis were analyzed. Both δ[15]N and total leaf N varied widely (-1 ?δ[15]N (‰) ? 7 and 1 ? leaf N(%) ? 3.2) suggesting possible distinctions between diazotrophic and non-fixing plants. The δ[15]N also revealed two statistically distinct groups of non-N2-fixing species (δ[15]N = 5.14 ± 0.3 vs δ[15]N = 1.65 ± 0.17) related to the different ecological behaviors of these species in the successional processes. We conclude that the δ[15]N signature of plant leaves combined with their total N concentration may be relevant indicators for identifying functional groups within the community of non-N2-fixing species, as well as for detecting diazotrophy. Despite the variability in the δ[15]N of the non-N2-fixing species, N2-fixing groups can still be identified, provided that plants are simultaneously classified taxonomically, by their leaf δ[15]N and total N concentration and by the presence or absence of nodules. The variability in the δ[15]N of the non-fixing species is discussed.}, } @article {pmid28296505, year = {1999}, author = {Pierce, SK and Maugel, TK and Rumpho, ME and Hanten, JJ and Mondy, WL}, title = {Annual Viral Expression in a Sea Slug Population: Life Cycle Control and Symbiotic Chloroplast Maintenance.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {197}, number = {1}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.2307/1542990}, pmid = {28296505}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {In a few well-known cases, animal population dynamics are regulated by cyclical infections of protists, bacteria, or viruses. In most of these cases, the pathogen persists in the environment, where it continues to infect some percentage of successive generations of the host organism. This persistent re-infection causes a long-lived decline, in either population size or cycle, to a level that depends upon pathogen density and infection level (1-4). We have discovered, on the basis of 9 years of observation, an annual viral expression in Elysia chlorotica, an ascoglossan sea slug, that coincides with the yearly, synchronized death of all the adults in the population. This coincidence of viral expression and mass death is ubiquitous, and it occurs in the laboratory as well as in the field. Our evidence also suggests that the viruses do not re-infect subsequent generations from an external pathogen pool, but are endogenous to the slug. We are led, finally, to the hypothesis that the viruses may be involved in the maintenance of symbiotic chloroplasts within the molluscan cells.}, } @article {pmid28296502, year = {1999}, author = {Engebretson, HP and Muller-Parker, G}, title = {Translocation of Photosynthetic Carbon From Two Algal Symbionts to the Sea Anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {197}, number = {1}, pages = {72-81}, doi = {10.2307/1542998}, pmid = {28296502}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima contains two symbiotic algae, zoochlorellae and zooxanthellae, in the Northern Puget Sound region. Possible nutritional advantages to hosting one algal symbiont over the other were explored by comparing the photosynthetic and carbon translocation rates of both symbionts under different environmental conditions. Each alga translocated 30% of photosynthetically fixed carbon in freshly collected anemones, although zoochlorellae fixed and translocated less carbon than zooxanthellae. The total amount of carbon translocated to the host was equivalent because densities of zoochlorellae were two to three times greater than were densities of zooxanthellae. In A. elegantissima maintained under high and low irradiance (100 and 10 {mu} mol photons/m2/s) at 20{deg} C and 13{deg} C for 21 days, both algae fixed and translocated carbon at greater rates at 20{deg} C (translocation rates: 0.38 pg C /zoochlorella/h; 1.12 pg C /zooxanthella/h) than at 13{deg} C (translocation rates: 0.06 pg C /zoochlorella/h; 0.37 pg C /zooxanthella/h). However, zoochlorellate anemones received 3.5 times less carbon at 20{deg} C than at 13{deg} C because the higher temperature caused a significant reduction in the density of zoochlorellae. Environmental variables, like temperature, that influence the densities of the two symbionts will affect their relative nutritional contribution to the host. Whether these differences in carbon translocation rates of the two algal symbionts affect the ecology of their anemone host awaits further investigation.}, } @article {pmid28565435, year = {1999}, author = {Pernet, B}, title = {GAMETE INTERACTIONS AND GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION AMONG THREE SYMPATRIC POLYCHAETES.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {53}, number = {2}, pages = {435-446}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1999.tb03779.x}, pmid = {28565435}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {The evolution of gamete incompatibility between free-spawning marine invertebrate species has been explained by three hypotheses: (1) independent divergence at gamete recognition loci; (2) selection against hybrids; and (3) a process of sexual selection involving polymorphic gamete recognition loci (Metz and Palumbi 1996). The first two hypotheses predict that gamete incompatibility appears only after gene flow has been halted for other reasons and the third that gamete incompatibility appears simultanously with blocks to gene flow. Here I show that gametes of three sympatric polychaetes in the genus Arctonoe are compatible in all crosses, over a broad range of gamete concentrations and contact times. Although at least some hybrid crosses produce fertile adults, allozyme and mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicate that the three species do not regularly exchange genes. These data are consistent with predictions of the first two hypotheses for the evolution of gamete incompatibility, but allow rejection of the third hypothesis. Gametes of the three species are compatible despite estimated divergence times of 1-3 M.Y.B.P.; in several other marine invertebrates, divergence times of the same magnitude are associated with asymmetric or complete gamete incompatibility. It appears likely that segregation of symbiotic adults on their respective host species restricts mating opportunities, and thus gene flow, among Arctonoe species.}, } @article {pmid28565315, year = {1998}, author = {Hochberg, ME}, title = {ESTABLISHING GENETIC CORRELATIONS INVOLVING PARASITE VIRULENCE.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {52}, number = {6}, pages = {1865-1868}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1998.tb02266.x}, pmid = {28565315}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {For many host-parasite interactions, virulence is necessarily affected by population densities, transmission biology of the parasite, and proliferation of the parasite at the expense of its host. Attempts to experimentally demonstrate genetic correlations involving virulence therefore need to employ protocols controlling for variation in the number of successful infections (i.e., the end-point of transmissibility). If protocols are not controlled, then correlations may be spurious, as appears to be the case in recent experimental studies by Ebert (1994) and Ebert and Magnin (1997). There is a need to explore the modes of the evolution of each of the many sequential steps in nonsymbiotic and symbiotic phases of host-parasite associations and the implication of such evolution for overall virulence. I argue that it is the interdependence of these sequential steps (and not overall virulence) that should be at the center of attempts to establish genetic correlations.}, } @article {pmid28307674, year = {1998}, author = {Sanders, IR and Streitwolf-Engel, R and van der Heijden, MG and Boller, T and Wiemken, A}, title = {Increased allocation to external hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under CO2 enrichment.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {117}, number = {4}, pages = {496-503}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050685}, pmid = {28307674}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Prunella vulgaris was inoculated with different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and grown at two concentrations of CO2 (ambient, 350 μl l[-1], and elevated, 600 μl l[-1]) to test whether a plants response to elevated CO2 is dependent on the species of AMF colonizing the roots. Using compartments accessible only to AMF hyphae but not to roots, we also tested whether elevated CO2 affects the growth of external AMF hyphae. Plant biomass was significantly greater at elevated than at ambient CO2; the biomass of the root system, for example, increased by a factor of 2. The colonization of AMF inside the root remained constant, indicating that the total AMF inside the root system also increased by a factor of 2. The length of external AMF hyphae at elevated CO2 was up to 5 times that at ambient CO2, indicating that elevated CO2 promoted allocation of AMF biomass to the external hyphae. The concentration and content of phosphorus in the stolons differed significantly between ambient and elevated CO2 but this resulted in either an increase or a decrease, according to which AMF isolate occupied the roots. We hypothesized that an increase in external hyphal growth at elevated CO2 would result in increased P acquistion by the plant. To test this we supplied phosphorus, in a compartment only accessible to AMF hyphae. Plants did not acquire more phosphorus at elevated CO2 when phosphorus was added to this compartment. Large increases in AMF hyphal growth could, however, play a significant role in the movement of fixed carbon to the soil and increase soil aggregation.}, } @article {pmid28308062, year = {1998}, author = {Guehl, JM and Domenach, AM and Bereau, M and Barigah, TS and Casabianca, H and Ferhi, A and Garbaye, J}, title = {Functional diversity in an Amazonian rainforest of French Guyana: a dual isotope approach (δ[15]N and δ[13]C).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {316-330}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050593}, pmid = {28308062}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Functional aspects of biodiversity were investigated in a lowland tropical rainforest in French Guyana (5°2'N, annual precipitation 2200 mm). We assessed leaf δ[15]N as a presumptive indicator of symbiotic N2 fixation, and leaf and wood cellulose δ[13]C as an indicator of leaf intrinsic water-use efficiency (CO2 assimilation rate/leaf conductance for water vapour) in dominant trees of 21 species selected for their representativeness in the forest cover, their ecological strategy (pioneers or late successional stage species, shade tolerance) or their potential ability for N2 fixation. Similar measurements were made in trees of native species growing in a nearby plantation after severe perturbation (clear cutting, mechanical soil disturbance). Bulk soil δ[15]N was spatially quite uniform in the forest (range 3-5‰), whereas average leaf δ[15]N ranged from -0.3‰ to 3.5‰ in the different species. Three species only, Diplotropis purpurea, Recordoxylon speciosum (Fabaceae), and Sclerolobium melinonii (Caesalpiniaceae), had root bacterial nodules, which was also associated with leaf N concentrations higher than 20 mg g[-1]. Although nodulated trees displayed significantly lower leaf δ[15]N values than non-nodulated trees, leaf δ[15]N did not prove a straightforward indicator of symbiotic fixation, since there was a clear overlap of δ[15]N values for nodulated and non-nodulated species at the lower end of the δ[15]N range. Perturbation did not markedly affect the difference δ[15]Nsoil - δ[15]Nleaf, and thus the isotopic data provide no evidence of an alteration in the different N acquisition patterns. Extremely large interspecific differences in sunlit leaf δ[13]C were observed in the forest (average values from -31.4 to -26.7‰), corresponding to intrinsic water-use efficiencies (ratio CO2 assimilation rate/leaf conductance for water vapour) varying over a threefold range. Wood cellulose δ[13]C was positively related to total leaf δ[13]C, the former values being 2-3‰ higher than the latter ones. Leaf δ[13]C was not related to leaf δ[15]N at either intraspecific or interspecific levels. δ[13]C of sunlit leaves was highest in shade hemitolerant emergent species and was lower in heliophilic, but also in shade-tolerant species. For a given species, leaf δ[13]C did not differ between the pristine forest and the disturbed plantation conditions. Our results are not in accord with the concept of existence of functional types of species characterized by common suites of traits underlying niche differentiation; rather, they support the hypothesis that each trait leads to a separate grouping of species.}, } @article {pmid28308542, year = {1998}, author = {Niklaus, PA and Leadley, PW and Stöcklin, J and Körner, C}, title = {Nutrient relations in calcareous grassland under elevated CO2.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {116}, number = {1-2}, pages = {67-75}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050564}, pmid = {28308542}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Plant nutrient responses to 4 years of CO2 enrichment were investigated in situ in calcareous grassland. Beginning in year 2, plant aboveground C:N ratios were increased by 9% to 22% at elevated CO2 (P < 0.01), depending on year. Total amounts of N removed in biomass harvests during the first 4 years were not affected by elevated CO2 (19.9 ± 1.3 and 21.1 ± 1.3 g N m[-2] at ambient and elevated CO2), indicating that the observed plant biomass increases were solely attained by dilution of nutrients. Total aboveground P and tissue N:P ratios also were not altered by CO2 enrichment (12.5 ± 2 g N g[-1] P in both treatments). In contrast to non-legumes (>98% of community aboveground biomass), legume C/N was not reduced at elevated CO2 and legume N:P was slightly increased. We attribute the less reduced N concentration in legumes at elevated CO2 to the fact that virtually all legume N originated from symbiotic N2 fixation (%Ndfa ≈ 90%), and thus legume growth was not limited by soil N. While total plant N was not affected by elevated CO2, microbial N pools increased by +18% under CO2 enrichment (P = 0.04) and plant available soil N decreased. Hence, there was a net increase in the overall biotic N pool, largely due increases in the microbial N pool. In order to assess the effects of legumes for ecosystem CO2 responses and to estimate the degree to which plant growth was P-limited, two greenhouse experiments were conducted, using firstly undisturbed grassland monoliths from the field site, and secondly designed `microcosm' communities on natural soil. Half the microcosms were planted with legumes and half were planted without. Both monoliths and microcosms were exposed to elevated CO2 and P fertilization in a factored design. After two seasons, plant N pools in both unfertilized monoliths and microcosm communities were unaffected by CO2 enrichment, similar to what was found in the field. However, when P was added total plant N pools increased at elevated CO2. This community-level effect originated almost solely from legume stimulation. The results suggest a complex interaction between atmospheric CO2 concentrations, N and P supply. Overall ecosystem productivity is N-limited, whereas CO2 effects on legume growth and their N2 fixation are limited by P.}, } @article {pmid28308433, year = {1998}, author = {Stapley, L}, title = {The interaction of thorns and symbiotic ants as an effective defence mechanism of swollen-thorn acacias.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {115}, number = {3}, pages = {401-405}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050534}, pmid = {28308433}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Evidence is provided for the interaction of ants (Crematogaster spp.) and thorns as a means of defence against browsing mammals for one species of African myrmecophyte, Acacia drepanolobium. Two experiments were conducted using goats as representative mammalian browsers. In the first experiment, the defences of individual branches were manipulated in order to assess the effectiveness of ants and thorns both on their own and together as anti-herbivore defences. It was shown that ants on their own are more effective defences for a single branch than having neither ants nor thorns, but ants from a single branch do not add significantly to the effectiveness of thorns as an anti-herbivore defence. The second experiment looked at the effect of a whole tree of ants and how they interacted with thorns in the defence of the tree. It was shown that ants from a whole tree do significantly add to the effectiveness of thorns as an anti-herbivore defence. In all cases, the goat refused to go back to and feed from a tree whose ants had just attacked it. Thorns on their own, however, do not act as total browsing deterrents. They slow down the rate of feeding but animals may compensate for this by feeding for longer periods of time. The interaction of a whole tree of ants and thorns is a very effective browsing deterrent which causes the animal to stop feeding almost immediately, therefore keeping the amount of foliage lost to a minimum. These results provide support for the hypothesis that the ant-acacia relationship (in the case of A. drepanolobium) evolved at least partly because of pressure from browsing mammals.}, } @article {pmid28308460, year = {1998}, author = {Thomas, BD and Bowman, WD}, title = {Influence of N2-fixing Trifolium on plant species composition and biomass production in alpine tundra.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {115}, number = {1-2}, pages = {26-31}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050487}, pmid = {28308460}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Alpine Trifolium species have high rates of symbiotic N2-fixation which may influence the abundance and growth of plant species growing near them. The potential for facilitative effects on plant abundance and growth in dry meadow alpine tundra of Niwot Ridge, Colo., characterized by low resource availability, was investigated by measuring soil N, aboveground biomass production, and plant species composition in patches of Trifolium dasyphyllum and surrounding tundra. Extractable inorganic N was more than twofold greater and extractable P was 27% lower in Trifolium patches than in surrounding tundra. Aboveground production was twofold greater in Trifolium patches than in surrounding tundra. However, the difference was largely due to the production of T. dasyphyllum relative to the non-Trifolium component of biomass, which was not different between the Trifolium patches and surrounding tundra. In the Trifolium patches, the proportion of graminoid biomass was lower while the proportion of forb biomass was higher relative to surrounding tundra. Although the abundance of some species was positively associated with the presence of Trifolium, other species were less abundant, possibly due to increased competition for P and differential abilities of alpine species to respond to increased N availability. Trifolium may exert both facilitative and inhibitive effects on dry meadow alpine species and, in the process, substantially influence the spatial heterogeneity in community structure and primary production.}, } @article {pmid28574783, year = {1998}, author = {Kaufman, MR and Ikeda, Y and Patton, C and van Dykhuizen, G and Epel, D}, title = {Bacterial Symbionts Colonize the Accessory Nidamental Gland of the Squid Loligo opalescens via Horizontal Transmission.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {194}, number = {1}, pages = {36-43}, doi = {10.2307/1542511}, pmid = {28574783}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The accessory nidamental gland (AN gland), a reproductive organ of the mature female squid Loligo opalescens, harbors a dense culture of bacteria of unknown function. A multilayered sheath surrounding the L. opalescens egg case is similarly colonized by bacteria that presumably originate in the AN gland, as evidenced by their presence in the egg case at oviposition. This study investigates how these bacteria are transmitted to juvenile squid and examines some morphological consequences of bacterial colonization of AN gland tissues. By observing the structure of the AN gland in adults and the development and bacterial colonization of the gland in juveniles raised in captivity, we determined that the AN gland was absent in newly hatched squid and did not appear until 87 days post-hatching. At 129 days posthatching, the organ displayed tubules composed of a single layer of epithelial cells and expressing numerous cilia and microvilli. These tubules were not yet fully formed and thus were open to the mantle cavity and external seawater, possibly to aid in the acquisition of microorganisms. Since the AN gland developed a considerable time after hatching, it most likely acquires its symbionts horizontally from environmental seawater and not vertically from the egg case sheath. The switch from expression of cilia to production of microvilli on the epithelial cell surface may dictate the competence of the tissue for bacterial colonization. Electron microscopic examination of juvenile and adult AN glands revealed that an analogous process occurs during the development of the related light organ of other cephalopod species that harbor symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28574764, year = {1997}, author = {Windoffer, R and Giere, O}, title = {Symbiosis of the Hydrothermal Vent Gastropod Ifremeria nautilei (Provannidae) With Endobacteria-Structural Analyses and Ecological Considerations.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {193}, number = {3}, pages = {381-392}, doi = {10.2307/1542940}, pmid = {28574764}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The gastropod Ifremeria nautilei lives in high abundance around deep-sea hydrothermal vents of the Western Pacific. The filaments of its ctenidium are very long and have a rigid axis with a hemocoelic vessel and a strongly ciliated epithelium. The flattened part of each filament largely consists of bacteriocytes that are distally filled with numerous gram-negative bacteria. The bacteria lie one by one in vacuoles that seem to be part of an interconnected tubular system. Some of the apical vacuoles regularly showed what could be openings to the ambient seawater. This special topological arrangement of the bacteria suggests that in a morphological series mirroring the supposed evolutionary pathway from extra- to intracellular symbioses, I. nautilei might correspond to an intermediate stage. The high sulfur content and the low stable carbon isotope values measured in this study, combined with corresponding data from the literature, indicate that I. nautilei is the host partner in a thiotrophic chemoautotrophic bacterial symbiosis. The importance of this symbiosis for the nutrition of the gastropod is underlined by the reduced size of the host's stomach. Unlike specimens of I. nautilei from the Manus Basin (Galchenko et al., 1992), the inspected specimens from the North Fiji Basin did not contain any methanotrophic bacteria in addition to the thiotrophic type. From the disparity in results, it may be concluded that this host species can develop different patterns of symbiosis either as an adaptation to local variances of hydrothermal vent fluid chemistry or as a consequence of genetic differentiation in the host.}, } @article {pmid28307633, year = {1997}, author = {Fukuda, H and Hijii, N}, title = {Reproductive strategy of a woodwasp with no fungal symbionts, Xeris spectrum (Hymenoptera: Siricidae).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {112}, number = {4}, pages = {551-556}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050344}, pmid = {28307633}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Experiments were conducted to elucidate the reproductive strategy of the siricid woodwasp, Xeris spectrum, which carries no substantial symbiotic fungi in its body, in a comparison with the life cycles of two fungus-carrying siricid woodwasp species, Sirex nitobei and Urocerus japonicus, by considering ecological traits such as seasonal patterns of occurrence, spatial distribution of emergence on a tree, and oviposition activities. Part of the X. spectrum populations emerged in spring, during May and June, while others emerged in summer, during August and September, simultaneously with other siricid fungus-carrying woodwasps. The vertical distribution pattern of X. spectrum emergence holes on the trunk closely coincided with the emergence hole pattern of S. nitobei. X. spectrum laid few eggs on fresh logs, old logs, or on logs inoculated with potato dextrose agar, whereas on logs inoculated with Amylostereum chailletii or A. areolatum, X. spectrum females oviposited no less than 30%, on average, of their potential eggs. Moreover, the oviposition sites on these logs were concentrated near the Amylostereum inoculation positions. These results indicate that X. spectrum has evolved a life history that utilizes fungal symbionts of other woodwasp species without itself possessing any symbiotic fungus. Moreover, X. spectrum has evolved a dual reproductive system in that (1) some adults emerge in summer during the same emergence period as the fungus-carrying woodwasps and thereby oviposit on host trees already inoculated with fungi, and (2) other adults emerge the next spring and oviposit on trees that were inoculated with fungi a year earlier.}, } @article {pmid28307573, year = {1997}, author = {Federle, W and Maschwitz, U and Fiala, B and Riederer, M and Hölldobler, B}, title = {Slippery ant-plants and skilful climbers: selection and protection of specific ant partners by epicuticular wax blooms in Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {217-224}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050303}, pmid = {28307573}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {In many ant-plant species of the genus Macaranga in South-East Asia, conspicuous blooms of epicuticular wax crystals cover the stem surface. We found that many ant species were unable to walk on these surfaces. Only the specific ant partners of glaucous Macaranga host plants were capable of moving on the slippery stems without difficulty. Therefore, the epicuticular coatings of Macaranga myrmecophytes appear to have a selective function and protect the associated ants against competitors. The epicuticular aggregates function as a physical barrier; no evidence of chemical repellence was found. The extent to which "foreign" ant species are excluded from a tree strongly depends on inclination, diameter and length of the glaucous stem sections. The particular growth form of some glaucous Macaranga ant-plants enhances the influence of the wax barriers. The ant associates of glaucous and glossy Macaranga ant-plants (genera Crematogaster and Camponotus) differ strongly in their capacity to adhere to the glaucous stems. For this reason, the wax blooms in Macaranga can act as an ecological isolation mechanism for the sympiotic ants. Within the genus Macaranga, we find a high correspondence between the occurrence of glaucousness and obligatory ant association (50% in ant-plants; 6.7% in non-myrmecophytes). The genus Macaranga thus represents one of the few cases known so far where epicuticular wax crystals are likely to have evolved in relation to insects.}, } @article {pmid28307572, year = {1997}, author = {Gaume, L and McKey, D and Anstett, MC}, title = {Benefits conferred by "timid" ants: active anti-herbivore protection of the rainforest tree Leonardoxa africana by the minute ant Petalomyrmex phylax.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {209-216}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050302}, pmid = {28307572}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {In this study, we demonstrate that an important benefit provided by the small host-specific ant Petalomyrmex phylax to its host plant Leonardoxa africana is efficient protection against herbivores. We estimate that in the absence of ants, insect herbivory would reduce the leaf area by about one-third. This contributes considerably to the fitness of the plant. Our estimates take into account not only direct damage, such as removal of leaf surface by chewing insects, but also the effects of sucking insects on leaf growth and expansion. Sucking insects are numerically predominant in this system, and the hitherto cryptic effects of ant protection against the growth-reducing effects of sucking insects accounted for half of the total estimated benefit of ant protection. We propose that the small size of workers confers a distinct advantage in this system. Assuming that resource limitation implies a trade off between size and number of ants, and given the small size of phytophagous insects that attack Leonardoxa, we conclude that fine-grained patrolling by a large number of small workers maximises protection of young leaves of this plant. Since herbivores are small and must complete their development on the young leaves of Leonardoxa, and since a high patrolling density is required for a fine-grained search for these enemies, numerous small ants should provide the most effective protection of young leaves of Leonardoxa. We also discuss other factors that may have influenced worker size in this ant.}, } @article {pmid28581841, year = {1997}, author = {Hanlon, RT and Claes, MF and Ashcraft, SE and Dunlap, PV}, title = {Laboratory Culture of the Sepiolid Squid Euprymna scolopes: A Model System for Bacteria-Animal Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {192}, number = {3}, pages = {364-374}, doi = {10.2307/1542746}, pmid = {28581841}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The small Hawaiian sepiolid Euprymna scolopes, with its symbiotic luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri, was cultured through one complete life cycle in 4 months. Paralarval squid hatchlings were actively planktonic for the first 20-30 days, after which they settled and assumed the typical adult mode of nocturnal activity and diurnal quiescence. Squids were aggressive predators that preferred actively swimming prey up to 2-4 times their size; the only diet that yielded good survival and rapid growth for paralarvae was large adult mysids. Survival to settlement was 73% on this diet, whereas it was 0%-17% on controls and three other diets. Paralarvae initially lacked both detectable luminescence and V. fischeri cells in their incipient light organs; all remaining stages produced luminescence, and their light organs were colonized by apparently pure cultures of > 105 V. fischeri typical of E. scolopes symbiont strains. Survival from settlement to sexual maturity was 76%. Mating and egg laying commenced at 2 months, yet attempts to culture the next laboratory generation of hatchlings were not as successful. The results indicate that the host organism of this symbiosis can soon be cultured with consistency through its brief life cycle, thus opening new avenues of research into developmental aspects of this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28581838, year = {1997}, author = {Nii, CM and Muscatine, L}, title = {Oxidative Stress in the Symbiotic Sea Anemone Aiptasia pulchella (Carlgren, 1943): Contribution of the Animal to Superoxide Ion Production at Elevated Temperature.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {192}, number = {3}, pages = {444-456}, doi = {10.2307/1542753}, pmid = {28581838}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Production of superoxide ions within tissues of the symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella was detected using SOD-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction and quantified by SOD-inhibitable reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT). Intact aposymbiotic and symbiotic specimens of A. pulchella produced superoxide in response to acute, sublethal thermal stress. Neither light nor inhibition of symbiont photosynthesis by (3,4-di-chlorophenyl) -1, 1-dimethylurea (DCMU) affected superoxide production. The time course of superoxide ion production strongly resembled the time course of increased dark respiration by intact anemones, suggesting that the effect of elevated temperature on host mitochondria may account for increased superoxide production. Interestingly, freshly isolated algae (FIZ) did not release superoxide ions in response to elevated temperature, and net oxygen production decreased greatly in both intact symbiotic anemones and in FIZ within 20 minutes after temperature elevation. These results show that oxidative stress in A. pulchella is primarily an animal response, and suggest that the presence of symbiotic algae, although sufficient to cause hyperoxia, is not necessary for the appearance of oxidative stress in these anemones at elevated temperature.}, } @article {pmid28307499, year = {1997}, author = {Grutter, AS}, title = {Effect of the removal of cleaner fish on the abundance and species composition of reef fish.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {111}, number = {1}, pages = {137-143}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050217}, pmid = {28307499}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The ecological significance of cleaner fish on coral reefs was investigated. I removed all cleaner fish, Labroides dimidiatus, from eight small reefs, measured the subsequent effect on the abundance and species composition of all reef fish after 3 and 6 months, and compared it with eight control reefs with cleaner fish. The removal of cleaner fish had no detectable effect on the total abundance of fish on reefs and the total number of fish species at both times. Multivariate analysis by non-metric multidimensional scaling and ANOSIM pairwise tests based on 191 fish species revealed no effect of cleaners on the community structure of fish. Similar results were obtained using principal components analysis on subsets of the data using the 33 most common fish species and the 15 most abundant species (≥5 individuals per reef) with both log10 (x + 1) transformed data and with fish numbers standardized for abundance. This study demonstrates that the removal of cleaner fish for 6 months did not result in fish suffering increased mortality nor in fish leaving reefs to seek cleaning elsewhere.}, } @article {pmid28307245, year = {1997}, author = {Adams, D and Douglas, AE}, title = {How symbiotic bacteria influence plant utilisation by the polyphagous aphid, Aphis fabae.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {110}, number = {4}, pages = {528-532}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050190}, pmid = {28307245}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {To explore the effect of rearing-plant species on the contribution of the symbiotic bacterium, Buchnera, to aphid performance, larvae of Aphis fabae that contained the bacteria (symbiotic aphids) and larvae experimentally deprived of the bacteria (aposymbiotic aphids) were reared on 16 plant species. Mortality of aphids was low on most plant species. The relative growth rate (RGR) of the larvae varied with plant species, and was generally depressed by elimination of the bacteria; the mean values of RGR varied between 0 and 0.29 μg μg[-1] day[-1] for symbiotic aphids and 0 and 0.17 μg μg[-1] day[-1] for aposymbiotic aphids. The extent to which RGR was depressed by aposymbiosis varied significantly between plant species, suggesting that aphid host plant may influence the contribution of the bacteria to plant utilisation. It is proposed that the bacteria may be particularly important on plants with phloem sap of high amino acid content of low quality, i.e. low concentrations of essential amino acids.}, } @article {pmid28581862, year = {1997}, author = {Davy, SK and Lucas, IAN and Turner, JR}, title = {Uptake and Persistence of Homologous and Heterologous Zooxanthellae in the Temperate Sea Anemone Cereus pedunculatus (Pennant).}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {192}, number = {2}, pages = {208-216}, doi = {10.2307/1542715}, pmid = {28581862}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The uptake and persistence of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) were measured in the temperate sea anemone Cereus pedunculatus (Pennant). Aposymbiotic specimens of C. pedunculatus were inoculated with zooxanthellae freshly isolated from a range of temperate and subtropical Anthozoa. Each inoculate consisted of zooxanthellae from a single host species and was either homologous (zooxanthellae from a host of the same species as the one being inoculated) or heterologous (from a host of a different species than the one being inoculated). The densities of zooxanthellae in host tissues were determined at regular intervals. C. pedunculatus took up homologous and heterologous zooxanthellae to similar degrees, except for zooxanthellae from the temperate Anthopleura ballii, which were taken up to a lesser extent. The densities of all zooxanthellae declined between 4 hours and 4 days after uptake, indicating that zooxanthellae were expelled, digested, or both during this period. The densities of all zooxanthellae increased between 2 and 8 weeks after inoculation, indicating zooxanthella growth. Over the entire 8-week period after uptake, densities of homologous zooxanthellae were always greater than those of heterologous zooxanthellae. Between 8 and 36 weeks after infection, densities of homologous zooxanthellae declined markedly and densities of some heterologous zooxanthellae increased further, resulting in homologous and heterologous zooxanthella densities being the same at 36 weeks. These densities were the same as those in naturally infected C. pedunculatus of similar size. The results suggest that zooxanthellae from a range of host species and environments can establish symbioses with C. pedunculatus and that, over long periods under laboratory conditions, heterologous zooxanthellae may populate C. pedunculatus to the same extent as homologous zooxanthellae.}, } @article {pmid28307462, year = {1997}, author = {Hubbard, JA and McPherson, GR}, title = {Acorn selection by Mexican jays: a test of a tri-trophic symbiotic relationship hypothesis.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {110}, number = {1}, pages = {143-146}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050142}, pmid = {28307462}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {By caching acorns, jays serve as important dispersal agents for oak (Quercus) species. Yet little is known about which acorn characteristics affect selection by jays. In the traditional model of jay/oak symbiosis, large, brown, ripe acorns free of invertebrate parasites (e.g., Curculio acorn weevils) are selected by jays. Recently, it has been suggested that a tri-trophic relationship between oaks, jays, and weevils may have evolved to counter the negative dietary effects of acorn tannins. Under the tri-trophic model, jays would preferentially select acorns containing weevil larvae. We tested the assumptions that (1) acorns containing curculionid larvae exist in sufficient quantities to support jay populations and (2) jays can detect, and preferentially select, acorns containing weevil larvae, and investigated the cues by which jays select acorns. Captive Mexican jays (Aphelocomaultramarina) were presented Emory oak (Quercusemoryi) acorns in aviary feeding trials. Large, dense, viable acorns free of curculionid larvae were preferentially selected. Contrary to results of previous research, color did not affect selection. Acorn viability increased and curculionid larval occupancy decreased in adjacent savannas and isolated stands relative to existing oak woodland, perhaps favoring oak recruitment into adjacent lower-elevation grasslands. Our results compel us to reject the tri-trophic model for this system, and are consistent with the traditional jay/oak symbiosis model. Relatively long-distance dispersal of viable acorns favors Emory oak replacement, and spatial patterns of acorn viability and curculionid parasitism suggest expansion of Emory oak into adjacent low-elevation semi-arid grasslands.}, } @article {pmid28307618, year = {1996}, author = {Young, TP and Stubblefield, CH and Isbell, LA}, title = {Ants on swollen-thorn acacias: species coexistence in a simple system.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {98-107}, doi = {10.1007/s004420050063}, pmid = {28307618}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {On the black cotton soils of the Laikipia ecosystem in Kenya, two swollen-thorn acacia species support nine ant species, four of which are apparently obligate plant-ants. Among the ants, there are five species of Crematogaster, two species of Camponotus, and one each of Tetraponera and Lepisota. Acacia drepanolobium is host to four ant species that are both common and mutually exclusive. These four ant species, and an additional non-exclusive ant species, tend to occur on trees of different sizes, implying a succession of ant occupants. Nonetheless, all four exclusive species occur in substantial proportions on trees of intermediate size. There is direct evidence that an early successional ant species (Tetraponera penzigi) is actively evicted by two late successional ant species in the genus Crematogaster. There was also some evidence of height differentiation among ant species resident on A. seyal. Different acacia-ant species had different direct effects on A. drepanolobium. Extrafloral nectaries were eaten and destroyed only on trees inhabited by Tetraponera. Axillary shoots were eaten only on trees inhabited by C. nigriceps (potentially another early successional ant). This was associated with more new terminal shoots and healthier leaves than other trees, but also the virtual elimination of flowering and fruiting. Different resident acacia-ant species also had characteristic relationships with other insects. Among the four mutually exclusive ant species, only Crematogaster sjostedti was associated with two species of Camponotus, at least one of which (C. rufoglaucus) appears to be a foraging non-resident. A. drepanolobium trees occupied by C. sjostedti were also far more heavily infested with leaf galls than were trees occupied by other ant species. A. drepanolobium trees occupied by C. mimosae and C. sjostedti uniquely had tended adult scale insects. This diversity of ant inhabitants, and their strikingly different relationships with their hosts and other insect species, are examples of coexisting diversity on an apparently uniform resource.}, } @article {pmid28307850, year = {1996}, author = {Wilkinson, HH and Parker, MA}, title = {Symbiotic specialization and the potential for genotypic coexistence in a plant-bacterial mutualism.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {108}, number = {2}, pages = {361-367}, pmid = {28307850}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Genotypes of the annual legume Amphicarpaea bracteata vary in their degree of specialization toward different nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Plants of lineages "Ib" and "II" are specialized for mutualism with a limited group of bacterial genotypes. Lineage "Ia" plants are symbiotic generalists, interacting with all bacteria associated with specialist (Ib and II) plants, and also with a distinct class of bacteria that only fix nitrogen with lineage Ia plants. The relative performance of generalist and specialist plant lineages was measured in four symbiotic environments: (1) in the absence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, (2) with bacteria with broad host ranges, (3) with bacteria specialized on lineage Ia hosts, and (4) with a mixture of the bacteria with broad and narrow host ranges. In the presence of bacteria with broad host ranges, the relative performance of different plant lineages was inconsistent among experimental replicates. However, lineage Ia plants had nearly 3 times higher total biomass and 6 times higher seed biomass than lineage Ib or II plants when grown with bacteria specialized on Ia hosts. When exposed to a mixture of bacteria with broad and narrow host ranges, generalist plants had 72% higher total biomass and >100% higher seed biomass than specialist plants. These results imply that in diverse natural populations, where all plants have a choice of symbiotic partners, mutualistic interactions are likely to foster competitive exclusion rather than stable coexistence of different plant lineages.}, } @article {pmid28307848, year = {1996}, author = {Bowman, WD and Schardt, JC and Schmidt, SK}, title = {Symbiotic N2-fixation in alpine tundra: ecosystem input and variation in fixation rates among communities.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {108}, number = {2}, pages = {345-350}, pmid = {28307848}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Annual inputs of symbiotic N2-fixation associated with 3 species of alpine Trifolium were estimated in four alpine communities differing in resource supplies. We hypothesized that fixation rates would vary according to the degree of N, P, and water limitation of production, with the higher rates of fixation in N limited communities (dry meadow, moist meadow) and lower rates in P and water limited communities (wet meadow, fellfield). To estimate N2-fixation rates, natural abundance of N isotopes (δ[15]N) were measured in field collected Trifolium and reference plants and in Trifolium plants grown in N-free medium in a growth chamber. All three Trifolium species relied on a large proportion of atmospherically-fixed N2 to meet their N requirements, ranging from 70 to 100%. There were no apparent differences in the proportion of plant N derived from fixation among the communities, but differences in the contribution of the Trifolium species to community cover resulted in a wide range of annual N inputs from fixation, from 127 mg m[-2] year[-1] in wet meadows to 810 mg m[-2] year[-1] in fellfields. Annual spatially integrated input of symbiotic N2-fixation to Niwot Ridge, Colorado was estimated at 490 mg m[-2] year[-1] (5 kg ha[-1] year[-1]), which is relatively high in the context of estimates of net N mineralization and N deposition.}, } @article {pmid28307747, year = {1996}, author = {Strong, DR and Kaya, HK and Whipple, AV and Child, AL and Kraig, S and Bondonno, M and Dyer, K and Maron, JL}, title = {Entomopathogenic nematodes: natural enemies of root-feeding caterpillars on bush lupine.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {108}, number = {1}, pages = {167-173}, pmid = {28307747}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {A new species of soil-dwelling entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis hepialus killed up to 100% (mean=72%) of root-boring caterpillars of a ghost moth Hepialus californicus in coastal shrub lands. When unchecked, ghost moth caterpillars killed bush lupine, Lupinus arboreus. Here we describe this strange food chain. Although unappreciated by ecologists, entomopathogenic nematodes are widespread and probably one of the most important groups of natural enemies for underground insects. The free-living infective juvenile (IJ) of entomopathogenic nematodes searches for host insects in the soil. A single IJ can kill a host, although several often invade together. After entering the host through a spiracle or other orifice, the IJ regurgitates its symbiotic bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens, which kills the host within 48 h. The bacteria digest the cadaver and provide food for the exponentially growing nematode population inside. The bacteria produce antibiotics and other noxious substances that protect the host cadaver from other microbes in the soil. When the cadaver is exhausted of resources, IJs break the host integument and can disperse. As many as 420,000 IJs can be produced within a large ghost moth caterpillar. Surface soil of the lupine rhizosphere is the primary habitat of IJs of H. hepialus. Attracted to waste gases emitted by insects, the 0.5-mm-long IJs can move 6 cm/day through moist soil. Prevalences of H. hepialus ranged from as high as 78% of rhizospheres in some lupine stands to almost zero in others, but it was absent from no stand at our study site. Field intensities ranged from 0.003 IJs/cm[3] of soil to 7.5 IJs/cm[3], and correlated roughly with prevalences among sites. Few ghost moth caterpillars (mean=6.7) succeeded in entering lupine roots where prevalence of H. hepialus was highest, and this stand had lowest mortality (0.02) of mature bush lupine. In the three stands with lowest prevalence (mean = 2%) of this nematode, many caterpillars (mean = 38.5) entered roots, and lupine mortality was high (range = 0.41-1.0). Old aerial photographs indicate that the stands with highest recent nematode prevalence have had little or no mass die-off of lupine over the past 40 years. The photos depict repeated die-offs of lupine during the past four decades in stands with lowest recent prevalence of the nematode. This pattern leads us to entertain the hypothesis that the nematode affects vegetation dynamics indirectly through a trophic cascade. Dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes is little understood. We found that air drying of soil extirpates H. hepialus and speculate that this nematode is dispersed during the wet season in moist soil bits on the exterior of fossorial insects and mammals. H. hepialus colonized some previously unoccupied lupine rhizospheres during the wet winter-spring season and, obversely, became extinct from some rhizosperes as soil dried in summer. Root-feeding insects have only recently been recognized as a force in communities, and the regulation of these important herbivores is still largely an ecological terra incognita. All evidence indicates that entomopathogenic nematodes are found throughout terrestril ecosystems, and we propose that trophic chains similar to those described in this report should not be uncommon.}, } @article {pmid28565720, year = {1996}, author = {Wilkinson, HH and Spoerke, JM and Parker, MA}, title = {DIVERGENCE IN SYMBIOTIC COMPATIBILITY IN A LEGUME-BRADYRHIZOBIUM MUTUALISM.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {1470-1477}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1996.tb03920.x}, pmid = {28565720}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Geographic variation in the mutualism between the legume Amphicarpaea bracteata and its nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.) was analyzed by sampling genotypes from 11 sites separated by distances ranging from 0.6 km to more than 1000 km. Cross inoculation experiments revealed that plants were genetically differentiated in traits determining compatibility with mutualist partners from different sites. Combinations of plant and bacterial genotypes native to the same local habitat yielded 26% higher plant growth relative to non-native combinations (range across 4 experiments; 9% to 48%). Among non-native symbioses, plant growth was unrelated to the geographic distance between sites of plant and bacterial origin. However, compatibility varied significantly with the genetic distance among host populations (inferred by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis): genetically similar plants from separate sites showed superior growth with each other's mutualist partners. Nevertheless, the tree structure of population genetic similarity was not congruent in plants versus bacteria. This implies that adaptive variation in symbiotic compatibility has evolved without strictly parallel divergence in the two species.}, } @article {pmid28568881, year = {1996}, author = {Spoerke, JM and Wilkinson, HH and Parker, MA}, title = {NONRANDOM GENOTYPIC ASSOCIATIONS IN A LEGUME-BRADYRHIZOBIUM MUTUALISM.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {146-154}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1996.tb04481.x}, pmid = {28568881}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Genetically divergent lineages often coexist within populations of the annual legume Amphicarpaea bracteata. At one site dominated by two such lineages (termed biotypes "C" and "S"), isolates of root-nodule bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp.) were sampled from both hosts and analyzed by enzyme electrophoresis. Symbiont populations on the two plant biotypes were highly distinct. Out of 15 bacterial multilocus genotypes detected (among 51 isolates analyzed), only one was shared in common by the two plant biotypes. Cluster analysis revealed three bacterial lineages (designated I, II, and III), with lineage I found exclusively on biotype C plants, and the two other lineages almost completely restricted to biotype S hosts. Laboratory inoculation tests indicated that lineage I bacteria were strictly specialized on biotype C hosts, forming few or no nodules on plants of the other host biotype. Bacterial lineages II and III were capable of forming nodules on both kinds of plants, but nodule numbers were often significantly higher on biotype S hosts. The nonrandom association between plant and bacterial lineages at this site implies that genetic diversity of hosts is an important factor in the maintenance of polymorphism within the symbiont population.}, } @article {pmid28568855, year = {1996}, author = {Duffy, JE}, title = {RESOURCE-ASSOCIATED POPULATION SUBDIVISION IN A SYMBIOTIC CORAL-REEF SHRIMP.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {360-373}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1996.tb04499.x}, pmid = {28568855}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {The importance of sympatric speciation remains controversial. An empirical observation frequently offered in its support is the occurrence of sister taxa living in sympatry but using different resources. To examine the possibility of sympatric differentiation in producing such cases, I measured genetic, behavioral, and demographic differentiation between populations of the tropical sponge-dwelling shrimp Synalpheus brooksi occupying two alternate host species on three reefs in Caribbean Panama. This species belongs to an apparently monophyletic group of ≥ 30 species of mostly obligate, host-specific sponge-dwellers, many of which occur in sympatry. Demographic data demonstrated the potential for disruptive selection imposed by the two host species: shrimp demes from the sponge Agelas clathrodes were consistently denser, poorer in mature females, more heavily parasitized by branchial bopyrid isopods, and less parasitized by thoracic isopods, than conspecific shrimp from the sponge Spheciospongia vesparium. Laboratory assays demonstrated divergence in host preference: shrimp on all three reefs tended to choose their native sponge species more often than did conspecific shrimp from the other host. Because S. brooksi mates within the host, this habitat selection should foster assortative mating by host species. A hierarchical survey of protein-electrophoretic variation also supported host-mediated divergence, revealing the following: (1) shrimp from the two hosts are conspecific, as evidenced by absence of fixed allelic differences at any of nine allozyme loci scored; (2) strong genetic subdivision among populations of this philopatric shrimp on reefs separated by 1-3 km; and (3) significant host-associated genetic differentiation within two of the three reefs. Finally, intersexual aggression (a proxy for mating incompatibility) between shrimp from different host species was significantly elevated on the one reef where host-associated genetic differences were strongest, demonstrating concordance between genetic and behavioral estimates of divergence. Adjacent reefs appear to be semi-independent sites of host-associated differentiation, as evidenced by differences in the degree of host-associated behavioral and genetic differentiation, and in the specific loci involved, on different reefs. In philopatric organisms with highly subdivided populations, such as S. brooksi, resource-associated differentiation can occur independently in different populations, thus providing multiple "experiments" in differentiation and resulting in a mosaic pattern of polymorphism as reflected by neutral genetic markers. Several freshwater fishes, an amphipod, and a snail similarly show independent but remarkably convergent patterns of resource-associated divergence in different conspecific populations, often in the absence of obvious spatial barriers. In each case, substantial differentiation has occurred in the face of continuing gene flow.}, } @article {pmid28307662, year = {1995}, author = {Johnson, CN}, title = {Interactions between fire, mycophagous mammals, and dispersal of ectromycorrhizal fungi in Eucalyptus forests.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {104}, number = {4}, pages = {467-475}, pmid = {28307662}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Several species of marsupials in Eucalyptus forests in Australia feed predominantly on the sporocarps of hypogeous fungi. This feeding is apparently beneficial to the fungi as it results in dispersal of spores. As these fungi are in almost all cases ectomycorrhiza-forming species, mycophagy by mammals may play an important role in the maintenance of mycorrhizal symbiosis in Eucalyptus forests. Fire is frequent and a dominant ecological factor in these forests, and this study tested the hypothesis that fire triggers both increased sporocarp production by some hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with eucalypts, and increased mycophagy by mammals. Three experimental burns were set in E. tenuiramus forest in southeastern Tasmania. Digging activity (which reflects feeding on hypogeous fungi) by a mycophagous marsupial, the Tasmanian bettong Bettongia gaimardi, increased up to ten-fold after fire, with a peak about 1 month post-fire. This was associated with a similar pattern of increase in sporocarp production, which was due to species in the family Mesophelliaceae (especially Castoreum tasmanicum and Mesophellia spp.). This family appears to have radiated in association with eucalypts and has an exclusively Australasian distribution, unlike many of the other ectomycorrhizal fungi collected in this study which are cosmopolitan and have broad host ranges. No B. gaimardi were killed by fire, and there was no increase in mortality following fire. Population density increased after fire as a result of immigration of adult males. However, body condition and fecundity of individual B. gaimardi were maintained at pre-fire levels. This suggests that the availability of energy to B. gaimardi increased as a result of fire, and the fact that the contribution of fungus to the diet of B. gaimardi was high on burnt relative to control sites suggests further that this increase in energy availability was provided by hypogeous fungi. Effects of fire on hypogeous fungi and B. gaimardi were short-lived; all measured variables returned to control values about 4 months after fire. The capacity of B. gaimardi to survive fire and to harvest the increased sporocarp production triggered by fire provides a mechanism for the rapid dispersal of spores after fire. This should result in the establishment of ectomycorrhizae very early in post-fire succession. Because only some species of ectomycorrhizal fungi fruited in response to burning, fire probably has a strong influence on community structure among ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid28313944, year = {1994}, author = {Hartnett, DC and Samenus, RJ and Fischer, LE and Hetrick, BA}, title = {Plant demographic responses to mycorrhizal symbiosis in tallgrass prairie.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {99}, number = {1-2}, pages = {21-26}, pmid = {28313944}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on seedling emergence, flowering and densities of several grasses and forbs were assessed in native tallgrass prairie and in sown garden populations at the Konza Prairie in northeastern Kansas. Mycorrhizal activity was experimentally suppressed with the fungicide benomyl. Flowering and stem densities of the cool-season grass, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, sedges (Carex spp.), and the forb Aster ericoides were higher in non-mycorrhizal (benomyl-treated) than in mycorrhizal plots and the magnitude of these differences was significantly affected by burning. Mycorrhizae significantly enhanced flowering of the warmseason grasses Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans in burned prairie, but not in unburned sites. These patterns suggest that mycorrhizal effects on the dynamics of cool-season graminoid and forb populations are likely to be mediated indirectly through effects of the symbiosis on the competitive dominance of their neighbors. Seedling emergence rates of the cool-season C3 grasses Elymus canadensis and Koeleria cristata were significantly reduced in the benomyl-treated plots, whereas benomyl treatment had no significant effect on seedling emergence of the warm-season C4 grasses A. gerardii and Panicum virgatum. The forbs showed variable responses. Seedling emergence of Liatris aspera was greater under mycorrhizal conditions, but that of Dalea purpurea was unaffected by mycorrhizal treatment. These results show that effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the population dynamics of co-occurring prairie plants vary significantly both among species and among different life history stages within species. The results also indicate that mycorrhizas and fire interact to influence competitive interactions and demographic patterns of tallgrass prairie plant populations.}, } @article {pmid28313979, year = {1994}, author = {Schroeter, B}, title = {In situ photosynthetic differentiation of the green algal and the cyanobacterial photobiont in the crustose lichen Placopsis contortuplicata.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {212-220}, pmid = {28313979}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {In situ photosynthetic activity in the green algal and the cyanobacterial photobionts of Placopsis contortuplicata was monitored within the same thallus using chlorophyll a fluorescence methods. It proved possible to show that the response to hydration of the green algal and the cyanobacterial photobionts is different within the same thallus. Measurements of the photochemical efficiency of PS II, Fv/Fm, reveal that in the dry lichen thallus photosynthetic activity could be induced in the green algal photobiont by water vapour uptake, in the cyanobacterial photobiont only if it was hydrated with liquid water. However, rates of apparent electron flow through PS II as well as rates of CO2 gas exchange were suboptimal after hydration with water vapour alone and maximum rates could only be observed when the thallus was saturated with liquid water. The differences in the waterrelated photosynthetic performance and different light response curves of apparent electron transport rate through PS II indicate that the two photobionts act highly independently of each other. It was shown that the cyanobacteria from the cephalodia in P. contortuplicata act as photobiont. The rate of electron flow through PS II was found to be saturated at 1500 μmol photon m[-2] s[-1], despite a considerable increase of non-photochemical quenching in the green algal photobiont which is lacking in the cyanobacterial photobiont. No evidence of photoinhibition could be found in either photobiont. Pronounced competition between the green algal and the cyanobacterial thallus can be observed in the natural habitat, indicating that the symbiosis in P. contortuplicata should be regarded as a very variable adaptation to the extreme environmental conditions in the maritime Antarctic.}, } @article {pmid28313854, year = {1993}, author = {Stanley, MR and Koide, RT and Shumway, DL}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis increases growth, reproduction and recruitment of Abutilon theophrasti Medic. in the field.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {30-35}, pmid = {28313854}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {We examined in the field the effect of the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorhizal symbiosis on the reproductive success of Abutilon theophrasti Medic., an early successional annual member of the Malvaceae. Mycorrhizal infection greatly enhanced vegetative growth, and flower, fruit and seed production, resulting in significantly greater recruitment the following year. In addition, the seeds produced by mycorrhizal plants were significantly larger and contained significantly more phosphorus than seeds from non-mycorrhizal plants, an effect which may improve offspring vigor. Infection by mycorrhizal fungi may thus contribute to the overall fitness of a host plant and strongly influence long-term plant population dynamics.}, } @article {pmid28313430, year = {1993}, author = {Thomas Palo, R and Gowda, J and Högberg, P}, title = {Species height and root symbiosis, two factors influencing antiherbivore defense of woody plants in East African savanna.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {93}, number = {3}, pages = {322-326}, pmid = {28313430}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {In East African savanna we found that leaves of mature tree species with symbiotic N2 fixation contained lower concentrations of polyphenols than leaves of species without this symbiosis. We suggest that the root symbiosis is costly to the plant in terms of photosynthate that otherwise could be used in chemical defense. Further, a negative relationship between concentration of polyphenols and the height of the species was found, independent of their ability to fix N2. These findings suggest that root symbioses and apparency to herbivory are important factors mediating the production of chemical defenses in plants.}, } @article {pmid28313324, year = {1993}, author = {Thomas Palo, R and Gowda, J and Högbeg, P}, title = {Species height and root symbiosis, two factors influencing antiherbivore defense of woody plants in East African savanna.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {95}, number = {1}, pages = {152}, doi = {10.1007/BF00649519}, pmid = {28313324}, issn = {1432-1939}, } @article {pmid28312595, year = {1992}, author = {Hestmark, G}, title = {Sex, size, competition and escape-strategies of reproduction and dispersal in Lasallia pustulata (Umbilicariaceae, Ascomycetes).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {92}, number = {3}, pages = {305-312}, pmid = {28312595}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The lichen Lasallia pustulata has a mixed strategy of asexual and sexual reproduction. Close-dispersed, asexual, symbiotic isidia are produced early, when the thalli are small. The asexual propagules are subsequently supplemented by far-dispersed, sexually generated ascospores when the thalli grow larger. This observation is consistent with evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) models of dispersal allocations in heterocarpic plants accordin to which the production of far-dispersed propagules should increase as clutch size and sibcompetition in the local habitat increases. The observation is also consistent with the "tangled bank" or "elbow room" hypothesis for the maintenance of sexuality, according to which sex, by generating genetic variation, represents an escape from competition in biologically saturated environments. Thus the advantage of sex is density dependent. L. pustulata grows in densely packed populations where intraspecific competition results in self-thining and the development of distinct sizehierarchies.}, } @article {pmid28313462, year = {1992}, author = {Madden, D and Young, TP}, title = {Symbiotic ants as an alternative defense against giraffe herbivory in spinescent Acacia drepanolobium.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {91}, number = {2}, pages = {235-238}, pmid = {28313462}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {We explore here the occurrence of aggressive ants in an apparently symbiotic relationship with the savanna tree Acacia drepanolobium and their effects on giraffe herbivory on the Athi-Kapiti Plains, Kenya. Trees taller than 1.3 m were more likely to be occupied by aggressive ants in the genus Crematogaster than were shorter trees. Ants wereconcentrated on shoot tips, the plant parts preferred by giraffes. Trees with relatively more foliage had more swarming ants than did trees with less foliage. The feeding behavior of individual freeranging giraffes on Acacia drepanolobium was studied. Giraffe calves exhibited a strong sensitivity to Crematogaster ants inhabiting A. drepanolobium, feeding for significantly shorter periods on trees with a greater number of aggressive ants. Older giraffes were apparently less sensitive to ants, and did not feed for shorter periods on trees with fuller foliage, despite significantly greater ant activity on these plants. The thorns of A. drepanolobium are significantly shorter than are the thorns of A. seyal, a species without symbiotic ants, a pattern that may indicate a trade-off between ants and thorns as defenses.}, } @article {pmid28568654, year = {1992}, author = {Valdés, AM and Piñero, D}, title = {PHYLOGENETIC ESTIMATION OF PLASMID EXCHANGE IN BACTERIA.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {46}, number = {3}, pages = {641-656}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1992.tb02072.x}, pmid = {28568654}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {The existence of differential horizontal gene transfer may be assessed by comparing the phylogenetic trees derived from two different genes. We use this concept to estimate quantitatively the amount of plasmid exchange that has occurred in a bacterial population. By means of computer simulations we studied the effect of gene transfer on the topological distortion between two phylogenetic trees: one obtained from an euchromosomal gene and another from a plasmid-borne sequence, which may be subjected to horizontal transfer. The basic assumptions of our simulations were (a) that plasmid exchange had occurred recently (after the last population split); and (b) that either the amount of chromosomal horizontal exchange was negligible or that it was only a fraction of the amount of plasmid exchange in which case we will be estimating relative amounts of plasmid transfer. We found that the topological difference between two such trees is a function of the number of plasmid exchange events that have occurred. It can be explained by a logistic model that relates the average distortion index between two trees (dT) to the number of transfer events (x). The behavior remains the same under different conditions that were tested (symmetry of the topology, number of taxa in the tree, effect of reconstruction errors, mutation after plasmid transfer). We have also tried our method on empirical data from the literature and estimated the amount of gene transfer that may have occurred among Sym plasmids in agricultural field populations of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli. We found that between 15.77 to 29.98% of all genetic types in these populations have been either the source or the target of a plasmid transfer event. When the comparisons were made among trees derived exclusively from plasmid probes this value dropped to 2.00%. Phylogenetic trees derived from symbiotic and nonsymbiotic sequences were also used to infer the number of gene transfer events among 11 isolates from R. galegae. The estimated number of transfer events of symbiotic sequences was 10.515 (although we do not know out of how many genetic types). We concluded that intraspecific transfer of symbiotic sequences is widespread in these two species of the genus Rhizobium.}, } @article {pmid28312869, year = {1992}, author = {Abe, Y}, title = {The advantage of attending ants and gall aggregation for the gall wasp Andricus symbioticus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {89}, number = {2}, pages = {166-167}, doi = {10.1007/BF00317214}, pmid = {28312869}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Gall clusters of Andricus symbioticus secrete a sweet and sticky food attractive to ants. An ant exclusion experiment demonstrated the selective advantage of attending ants and gall aggregation for A. symbioticus. This gall wasp interacts with the gall-attending ants only through the host plant. Evolution of this symbiotic relationship seems to be associated with gall aggregation.}, } @article {pmid28313805, year = {1991}, author = {Thomas, RB and Richter, DD and Ye, H and Heine, PR and Strain, BR}, title = {Nitrogen dynamics and growth of seedlings of an N-fixing tree (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp.) exposed to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {88}, number = {3}, pages = {415-421}, pmid = {28313805}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Seeds of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp., a tree native to seasonal tropical forests of Central America, were inoculated with N-fixing Rhizobium bacteria and grown in growth chambers for 71 days to investigate interactive effects of atmospheric CO2 and plant N status on early seedling growth, nodulation, and N accretion. Seedlings were grown with CO2 partial pressures of 350 and 650 μbar (current ambient and a predicted partial pressure of the mid-21st century) and with plus N or minus N nutrient solutions to control soil N status. Of particular interest was seedling response to CO2 when grown without available soil N, a condition in which seedlings initially experienced severe N deficiency because bacterial N-fixation was the sole source of N. Biomass of leaves, stems, and roots increased significantly with CO2 enrichment (by 32%, 15% and 26%, respectively) provided seedlings were supplied with N fertilizer. Leaf biomass of N-deficient seedlings was increased 50% by CO2 enrichment but there was little indication that photosynthate translocation from leaves to roots or that plant N (fixed by Rhizobium) was altered by elevated CO2. In seedlings supplied with soil N, elevated CO2 increased average nodule weight, total nodule weight per plant, and the amount of leaf nitrogen provided by N-fixation (as indicated by leaf δ[15]N). While CO2 enrichment reduced the N concentration of some plant tissues, whole plant N accretion increased. Results support the contention that increasing atmospheric CO2 partial pressures will enhance productivity and N-fixing activity of N-fixing tree seedlings, but that the magnitude of early seedling response to CO2 will depend greatly on plant and soil nutrient status.}, } @article {pmid28563827, year = {1991}, author = {Cunningham, CW and Buss, LW and Anderson, C}, title = {MOLECULAR AND GEOLOGIC EVIDENCE OF SHARED HISTORY BETWEEN HERMIT CRABS AND THE SYMBIOTIC GENUS HYDRACTINIA.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {45}, number = {6}, pages = {1301-1316}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1991.tb02637.x}, pmid = {28563827}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {The paleobiogeographic histories of three North Atlantic hermit crab lineages were compared with a single-copy DNA-DNA hybridization phylogeny of their symbiotic hydroid genus Hydractinia to test hypotheses of shared history between these host and symbiont lineages. A survey of the geologic literature suggests that two vicariance events in the Quaternary are responsible for existing range disjunctions of the host hermit crab lineages. The Hydractinia phylogeny revealed two distinct clades, one with a primarily northern and the other with a primarily southern distribution. In two of three cases, hydroids associated with closely related hermits on both sides of the range disjunction appear as sister taxa in the phylogeny. A linear scaling between a measure of hydroid sequence divergence and independent geologic estimates of the timing of the vicariant events believed to have established the hermit crab range disjunctions is consistent with the claim of temporal coincidence of cladogenic and vicariance events. These findings provide evidence for shared history of symbiotic associations in two of the three cases.}, } @article {pmid28564045, year = {1991}, author = {Ebbert, MA}, title = {THE INTERACTION PHENOTYPE IN THE DROSOPHILA WILLISTONI-SPIROPLASMA SYMBIOSIS.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {971-988}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1991.tb04364.x}, pmid = {28564045}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Both the population and coevolutionary dynamics of hereditary male-lethal endosymbionts, found in a wide range of insect species, depend on host fitness and endosymbiont transmission rates. This paper reports on fitness effects and transmission rates in three lines of Drosophila willistoni infected with either male-lethal spiroplasmas or a spontaneous nonmale-lethal mutant. Overall fitness measures were reduced or unaffected by the infection; however, some infected females produced more offspring in early broods. Maternal transmission rates were high, but imperfect, and varied with a female's age, host line, and spiroplasma type. No evidence for paternal or horizontal transmission was found. If an altered temporal pattern of reproduction is not a factor in countering the loss of spiroplasma hosts through imperfect maternal transmission, persistence of this endoparasitism remains unexplained. Tolerance of the infection and ability to transmit bacteria varied with both host and spiroplasma line. Analysis of the interaction between the spontaneous nonmale-lethal mutant and its host suggests this symbiosis has undergone coevolution under laboratory culture.}, } @article {pmid28312493, year = {1991}, author = {Downes, BJ}, title = {Competition between mobile species using patchy resources: an example from a freshwater, symbiotic assemblage.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {85}, number = {4}, pages = {472-482}, pmid = {28312493}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Three species of freshwater mites that are symbiotic with mussels in St Mark's River, north Florida, have consistently high rates of colonization to and occupy high proportions of mussels. The mites Unionicola poundsi and U. serrata are territorial and have limited numbers/host, whereas the non-territorial U. abnormipes has highly variable numbers/host. U. abnormipes and U. serrata are most common in Villosa villosa and Uniomerus declivis respectively, patterns that can not be explained by host species preferences, whereas U. poundsi is equally abundant in both host species. Field experiments showed that both U. poundsi and U. serrata were limited most by intraspecific competition between adult mites, presumably for access to food and oviposition sites. Additionally, U. serrata did not remain within small hosts, most of which were V. villosa. In contrast, numbers of U. abnormipes were limited by both other mite species although the nature of the interactions differed. U. serrata may prey on U. abnormipes when they co-occur, whereas U. poundsi probably only excludes U. abnormipes from certain areas within hosts. Hence, U. abnormipes occurs mostly in V. villosa because most of these mussels do not contain U. serrata, but even so its numbers are still depressed by U. poundsi. The results were consistent with the general expectation of Holmes and Price (1986) that parasite assemblages where species have high colonization levels should be organized primarily by biotic interactions. However, specific outcomes of competition between mites were consistent with the more general model of Levins (1979) for competition between species using variable resources. Failure of other models to apply to Unionicola pinpointed at least five key biological characters that may form a better basis of comparison than taxonomic or habitat-based contrasts.}, } @article {pmid28310966, year = {1990}, author = {Parker, MA and Wilkens, RT}, title = {Effects of disease resistance genes on Rhizobium symbiosis in an annual legume.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, pages = {137-141}, pmid = {28310966}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The evolution of disease resistance in plants may be constrained if genes conferring resistance to pathogens interfere with plant responses toward other, nonpathogenic organisms. To test for such effects, we compared symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Amphicarpaea bracteata plants that differed at a major locus controlling resistance to the pathogen Synchytrium decipiens. Both resistant and susceptible plant genotypes nodulated successfully and grew significantly better in the presence of Rhizobium, although growth enhancement by Rhizobium was altered by different levels of nitrate fertilization. Plants homozygous for disease resistance achieved 2% higher growth than susceptible homozygotes across all treatments, but this difference was not significant. Resistant and susceptible plant genotypes did not differ in the mean number of nodules formed per plant or in nodule diameter. However, there was highly significant variation among replicate families within each disease resistance category for both nodulation characteristics. These results imply that genetic variation exists among A. bracteata plants both for diease resistance and for traits affecting symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, there were no evident pleiotropic effects of disease resistance genes on the plant-Rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28564309, year = {1990}, author = {Goodnight, CJ}, title = {EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF COMMUNITY EVOLUTION I: THE RESPONSE TO SELECTION AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {1614-1624}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1990.tb03850.x}, pmid = {28564309}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Coevolution generally refers to the process of two or more organisms adapting to each other as a result of individual selection. Another possibility, however, is that coevolution may result from selection acting directly at the community level. Certain types of multispecies associations, such as lichens, which are a symbiotic association between an alga and a fungus, are examples of simple two species communities that may be units of selection. The study presented here uses two species communities of Tribolium castaneum and T. confusum in an investigation of selection acting at the community level. Selection at the community level is performed on one trait measured in one species and correlated responses in other traits measured both within species and among species are monitored. I demonstrate that community selection, defined as the differential survival and or reproduction of communities, can result in significant changes in the phenotype of a community. The observed changes in the phenotype of a community as a result of community selection included changes in the trait under selection (direct effects of selection), as well as changes in traits that are not under selection (correlated responses to selection). Furthermore, two types of correlated responses to selection were observed. The first, within-species correlated responses to selection, are changes in a trait measured in one species as a result of community selection acting on another trait measured in the same species. The second, between-species correlated responses to selection, are changes in a trait measured in one species as a result of community selection acting on a trait measured in another species. Between species correlated responses to selection are of particular interest because they cannot be mediated by pathways of gene action that are internal to an individual, rather they can be mediated only through ecological pathways. In other words, between-species correlated responses to selection suggest that genetically based interactions among individuals are contributing to the response to community selection. These among species ecological pathways of gene action cannot contribute to a response to selection at a lower level; thus community selection may be able to bring about a response to selection that is qualitatively different from the response selection that would occur as a result of selection acting at a lower level.}, } @article {pmid28312754, year = {1990}, author = {Marks, S and Clay, K}, title = {Effects of CO2 enrichment, nutrient addition, and fungal endophyte-infection on the growth of two grasses.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {84}, number = {2}, pages = {207-214}, pmid = {28312754}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is expected to increase plant productivity and alter plant/plant interactions, but little is known about its effects on symbiotic interactions with microorganisms. Interactions between perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne (a C3 plant), and purpletop grass, Tridens flavus (a C4 plant), and their clavicipitaceous fungal endophytes (Acremonium lolii and Balansia epichloe, respectively) were investigated by growing the grasses under 350 and 650 μl l[-] 1 CO2 at two nutrient levels. Infected and uninfected perennial ryegrass responded with increased growth to both CO2 enrichment and nutrient addition. Biomass and leaf area of infected and uninfected plants responded similarly to CO2 enrichment. When growth analysis parameters were calculated, there were significant increases in relative growth rate and net assimilation rate of infected plants compared to uninfected plants, although the differences remained constant across CO2 and nutrient treatments. Growth of purpletop grass did not increase with CO2 enrichment or nutrient addition and there were no significant differences between infected and uninfected plants. CO2 enrichment did not alter the interactions between these two host grasses and their endophytic-fungal symbionts.}, } @article {pmid28313238, year = {1990}, author = {Briggs, MA}, title = {Chemical defense production in Lotus corniculatus L. I. The effects of nitrogen source on growth, reproduction and defense.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {27-31}, pmid = {28313238}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The carbon to nitrogen balance theory was examined for a legume, Lotus corniculatus L., which allocates carbon to nitrogen fixation. N-fixation can influence the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in legumes by providing nitrogen in nutrient-poor habitats, and by consuming carbon for support of symbiotic N-fixation. L. corniculatus clones (genotypes) were grown under two levels of nitrogen fertilization: a treatment which suppressed nodulation with fertilization and a treatment which received no additional fertilization. These plants relied solely on symbiotic N-fixation. Plants which supported symbionts had lower biomass and lower tannin concentrations than fertilized plants; this appears to be a result of the large carbon demand on N-fixation. Plants supporting symbionts often had relatively lower protein concentrations than fertilized plants. Cyanide concentration was influenced by plant genotype but not by nitrogen source. Although symbiotic N-fixing plants were smaller, they had three times the reproductive output of fertilized plants.}, } @article {pmid28312718, year = {1990}, author = {Siemens, DH and Johnson, CD}, title = {Host-associated differences in fitness within and between populations of a seed beetle (Bruchidae): effects of plant variability.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {408-413}, pmid = {28312718}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Experiments were conducted with the sexually reproducing seed beetle Stator limbatus and its hosts in north-central Arizona to determine if it was substructured into units, each specialized for higher fitness on a specific host species. Unlike many studies, we incorporated scale, i.e., conducting experiments between and within beetle populations on seeds from within and between plant species. Of particular interest was whether intraspecific plant variability prevented beetle specialization within beetle populations. Results suggest that S. limbatus is specialized to certain hosts. On the palo verde Cercidium floridum, beetles originally reared from this host had significantly higher emergence compared to beetles transferred from other hosts. We did not test directly for a genetic basis for this. Alternative hypotheses of variation in symbiotic microorganisms in larval guts and maternal effects were assessed. Essentially no bacteria, yeast or protozoa were found, and maternal effects as expressed by varying egg weights were not detected; however, other microorganisms might have been present and maternal effects through inducible enzymes was possible. Caution, then, is needed in any genetic interpretations of our results. The differences on C. floridum were detected from tests between and within beetle populations. Evidence for specialization was not detected on the other hosts, Cercidium microphyllum and Acacia greggii. On the other hosts, beetles performed well regardless of their source. Significant differences were detected among individual plants of C. floridum as to the suitability of their seeds for deveoopment of S. limbatus. No such differences were detected among the other host plants. These patterns of conspecific plant variability are opposite of what is expected if plant variability prevents specialization of beetles to particular species of hosts. Thus, the data suggest seed variability among plants does not prevent specialization to host species in this system. We discuss how the patterns of host use in this study relate to the hypothesis of sympatric host race formation.}, } @article {pmid28312717, year = {1990}, author = {Borowicz, VA and Fitter, AH}, title = {Effects of endomycorrhizal infection, artificial herbivory, and parental cross on growth of Lotus corniculatus L.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {402-407}, pmid = {28312717}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {We examined how combinations of parentage, fungicide application, and artificial herbivory influence growth and shoot phosphorus content in pre-reproductive Lotus corniculatus, using young offspring arising from three parental crosses, two of which had one parent in common. Soil with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi was treated with either water or benomyl, an anti-VAM fungicide, and added to trays containing groups of four full siblings. There were two experiments; in the first no plants were clipped while in the second two of the four plants were clipped to simulate herbivory. In both experiments plants of the two related crosses accumulated more biomass and total shoot P than did plants of the third cross. Plants inoculated with watertreated soil had greater shoot mass and P concentration than did fungicide-treated replicates but the extent of increase in P concentration varied among crosses. In Experiment 2, clipping reduced root mass and resulted in higher shoot P concentration. In this experiment there was a significant interaction of fungicide application and clipping: both unclipped and clipped plants grew better in soil not treated with fungicide, but the increase in shoot mass, total mass, and total P was greater in unclipped plants. Significant interaction of fungicide treatment and clipping is most likely due to reduced availability of carbon to the roots of clipped plants, resulting in poorer symbiotic functioning.}, } @article {pmid28312674, year = {1990}, author = {de Boer, WF and Prins, HH}, title = {Large herbivores that strive mightily but eat and drink as friends.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {82}, number = {2}, pages = {264-274}, pmid = {28312674}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Grazing in patches of Cynodon dactylon and of Sporobolus spicatus by four large herbivores, and the interaction between these sedentary herbivores was studied in Lake Manyara National Park, northern Tanzania. The herbivores were the African buffalo, Syncerus caffer; the African elephan, Loxodonta africana; the Burchell's zebra, Equus burchelli; and the wildebeest, Connochaetus taurinus. Four different hypotheses of the interactions between the herbivores were tested, viz., increased predator detection/protection through association of species, facilitation of the food intake through the influence of other species, use by other species of the food manipulation strategy of buffalo, and interspecific competition for food. On the level of a single day, zebra and wildebeest were symbiotic, which could have been caused by an increased chance of predator detection. A similar association between buffalo and wildebeest or zebra was also detected on C. dactylon grasslands. There was no indication of facilitation between any of the herbivores. Buffalo had a despotic relationship with elephant, that is the elephant's consumption was lowered when buffalo had visited a patch prior to their arrival. When elephant and buffalo arrived at the same time there appeared to be scramble competition between them.Habitat overlap was calculated for four pairs of species. In conjunction with the analyses of the patch visits, it was concluded that a small overlap was associated with interspecific competition and a large habitat overlap was associated with symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28313480, year = {1989}, author = {Eisele, KA and Schimel, DS and Kapustka, LA and Parton, WJ}, title = {Effects of available P and N:P ratios on non-symbiotic dinitrogen fixation in tallgrass prairie soils.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {471-474}, pmid = {28313480}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Prescribed burning is a major control over element cycles in Tallgrass prairie (Eastern Kansas, USA). In this paper we report potential effects of fire on nonsymbiotic nitrogen fixation. Fire resulted in additions of available P in ash, which may stimulate nitrogen fixation by terrestrial cyanobacteria. Cyanobacterial nitrogenase activity and biomass responded positively to additions of ash or P in laboratory assays using soil. Further assays in soil showed that cyanobacteria responded to changes in available N:available P ratio (aN:P) across a range of concentrations. Nitrogen fixation rate could be related empirically to aN:P via a log-linear relationship. Extrapolation of laboratory results to the field yielded a maximal estimate of 21 kg N ha[-1] y[-1]. Results support arguments from the marine and terrestrial literature that P availability is central to regulation of ecosystem N budgets.}, } @article {pmid28312585, year = {1989}, author = {Vitousek, PM and Shearer, G and Kohl, DH}, title = {Foliar [15]N natural abundance in Hawaiian rainforest: patterns and possible mechanisms.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {78}, number = {3}, pages = {383-388}, pmid = {28312585}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Foliar samples were obtained from symbiotic nitrogen-fixers and control plants (non-fixers) along elevational and primary successional gradients in volcanic sites in Hawai'i. Most control plants had negative δ[15]N values (range-10.1 to +0.7‰), while most nitrogen-fixers were near 0‰. Foliar [15]N in the native tree Metrosideros polymorpha did not vary with elevation (from sea level to tree-line), but it did increase substantially towards 0‰ on older soils. The soil in an 197-yr-old site had a δ[15]N value of approximately-2‰, while in a ∼67000-yr-old site it was +3.6‰. We suggest that inputs of [15]N-depleted nitrogen from precipitation coupled with very low nitrogen outputs cause the strongly negative δ[15]N values in non-nitrogen-fixing plants on early successional sites.}, } @article {pmid28310835, year = {1988}, author = {Fiedler, K and Maschwitz, U}, title = {Functional analysis of the myrmecophilous relationships between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and lycaenids (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) : II. Lycaenid larvae as trophobiotic partners of ants-a quantitative approach.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {204-206}, pmid = {28310835}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Mature larvae of the myrmecophilous lycaenid Polyommatus coridon produce an average of 30.9 droplets of a honeydew-like secretion per hour. They occur in population densities of about 20/m[2]. The volume of secretion over the whole larval period is estimated to be 22-44 μl with an energy content of 55-110 J. Thus, P. coridon larvae produce carbohydrate secretions with an energy equivalent of 1.1-2.2 kJ/m[2]. Using data from the literature on ant metabolism, it is shown that these carbohydrate secretions may contribute significantly to the nutrition of attending ants. The myrmecophilous relationship between the larvae of P. coridon and ants should therefore be regarded as a mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28311518, year = {1987}, author = {Fricke, HW and Vareschi, E and Schlichter, D}, title = {Photoecology of the coral Leptoseris fragilis in the Red Sea twilight zone (an experimental study by submersible).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {371-381}, pmid = {28311518}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Depth-dependent photoadaptational responses of the Red Sea zooxanthellate coral (Leptoseris fragilis) were studied down to 160 m from the research submersible GEO. Light saturation curves for photosynthesis revealed, with I C=1-2, I K=10.9 and I sat=20 μE·cm[-2]·sec[-1], the lowest values of photokinetic parameters ever reported for a symbiotic coral. In summer, positive net production occurs only around noon at approx. 100m depth. Biomass parameters of corals at 100-135 m are negatively correlated with depth in algal cell density, protein, chlorophyll and carotenoid but not in pigment ratios or cell based pigment content. Coral size decreased with depth. Corals transplanted from 110-120 m original depth to 40, 70, 90 and 160 m showed high survival after one year. O2-production and dark O2-uptake increased with decreasing transplantation depth. After one year, transplants at 70 and 90 m but not at 40 m had higher algae density and pigment concentrations. The host light-harvesting systems described by Schlichter, Fricke and Weber (1986) are partially destroyed in 40 m but not in 70 and 90 m transplants. Different light exposures alter P-I-responses (P max, I C, I K, I sat) but not biomass parameters, indicating molecular or biochemical adaptation. The coraal's optimal light fields lie between 70 to 90 m. Its exceptional bathymetric distribution is linked with the newly discovered host light-harvesting systems which probably enhance photosynthetic performance in a dim environment.}, } @article {pmid28564365, year = {1987}, author = {Kjellberg, F and Gouyon, PH and Ibrahim, M and Raymond, M and Valdeyron, G}, title = {THE STABILITY OF THE SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN DIOECIOUS FIGS AND THEIR POLLINATORS: A STUDY OF FICUS CARICA L. AND BLASTOPHAGA PSENES L.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {693-704}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1987.tb05846.x}, pmid = {28564365}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {Each Ficus species depends on a specific mutualistic wasp for pollination. The wasp breeds on the fig, each larva destroying a female flower. It is, however, not known why the wasps have not evolved the ability to use all female flowers. In "dioecious" figs, the wasp can only breed in the female flowers of the "male" trees, so that pollination of a female tree is always lethal. The wasps should therefore be selected to avoid female trees. Field data is presented showing that the fruiting phenology of the dioecious fig Ficus carica is such that this selection does not occur: syconia are not receptive at the same time on "male" and female trees. Most wasps are forced to emerge from the syconia of "male" trees at a time when they will not be able to reproduce, whether they avoid female trees or not. This aspect of the life cycle of the wasp, although noticed, has been obscured in most previous studies. It is shown that the fruiting phenology of Ficus carica, which stabilizes the symbiosis, is the result of short-term selective pressures on the male function of the trees. Such selective pressures suggest a possible pathway from monoecy to dioecy in Ficus under seasonal climates.}, } @article {pmid28311140, year = {1987}, author = {Wallace, LL}, title = {Effects of clipping and soil compaction on growth, morphology and mycorrhizal colonization of Schizachyrium scoparium, a C4 bunchgrass.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {423-428}, doi = {10.1007/BF00377574}, pmid = {28311140}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {A factorial design of clipping and compaction was used to study the responses of Schizachyrium scoparium and its mycorrhizal symbionts to these stresses. All treatment combinations significantly reduced the growth and biomass of plants relative to controls. Compaction significantly reduced tillering and crown expansion while clipping increased tillering early in the growing season and reduced it later. Mycorrhizal colonization of roots was highest in the clipped plots and lowest in compacted plots. Spore number was highest in compacted plots and lowest in clipped plots. It appears that spore number may be negatively correlated with root growth since any treatment that reduced plant growth yielded higher spore numbers. The combination of clipping and compaction reduced plant growth the most, but had intermediate effects on mycorrhizal colonization and spore number.}, } @article {pmid28312079, year = {1986}, author = {Fricke, HW and Knauer, B}, title = {Diversity and spatial pattern of coral communities in the Red Sea upper twilight zone.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {29-37}, doi = {10.1007/BF00377316}, pmid = {28312079}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {This is the first study based on numerical analysis of the abundance of 11 scleractinian corals of depths at between 100-210 m in the Red Sea twilight zone. Two distinct coral communities were found: a Leptoseris fragilis community at a depth of 100-130 m (zone 1) and a Dendrophillia horsti community below 130 m (zone 2, 3). Population densities and coral coverage are very low; distribution of individuals is highly clumped. Highest observed densities on 100 m[2] were 2720 individuals for L. fraglis, 2720 for D. horsti and 2260 for Javania insignis. Calculated coverage rates were maximally 3.6% (L. fragilis), 0.08% (D. horsti) and 0.11% (J. insignis). L. fragilis, the only symbiont bearing coral, was very abundant. It has an unusual depth range for a photosynthesising coral. Coral density is only weakly correlated with hard bottom coverage. Species diversity with an average of 8 species is highest at 120-170 m and decreases in shallower and deeper water. The study depth range is a transient zone for coral distribution. It contains the upper distribution limits of a few "deep sea" corals and the lower ones of several shallower water species. Ahermatypic corals, collected at 160-170 m depth, were transplanted from their original depth to 159, 118, 70 and 40 m; after one year most species survived transplantation far beyond their upper distributional limits. The symbiotic L. fragilis, collected at 120 m, survived transplantation to deep water (159 m) as well as shallow zones (90, 70 and 40 m). The study demonstrates the feasibility of line-transect methods for coral community studies with a submersible.}, } @article {pmid28311582, year = {1985}, author = {Fitt, GP and O'Brien, RW}, title = {Bacteria associated with four species of Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their role in the nutrition of the larvae.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {67}, number = {3}, pages = {447-454}, pmid = {28311582}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The bacteria associated with Dacus tryoni (Froggatt), Dacus jarvisi (Tryon), Dacus neohumeralis (Hardy) and Dacus cacuminatus (Hering) were examined. Bacteria were isolated from the surface of freshly-laid eggs, from within surface sterilised pupae, from heads and abdomens of wild and laboratory-maintained flies, and from decomposed fruits in which the wild larvae were feeding. A more diverse flora was associated with D. tryoni and D. jarvisi (15 and 14 species, respectively) than with D. neohumeralis and D. cacuminatus (9 and 6 species, respectively). Most of the bacteria belonged to the family Enterobacteriaceae and while there were similarities of bacterial associations between fly species there was no evidence of a strict symbiotic association of a particular bacterium or bacteria with each species of fly. The larvae of D. jarvisi were unable to develop normally in an artificial medium containing unhydrolysed protein and free of bacteria and on a medium containing casein and Serratia liquefaciens (isolated from the flies and shown to secrete protease) the larvae died. On the same casein medium containing Enterobacter cloacae (isolated from the flies and shown to be protease negative) the larvae developed normally. Larvae of D. tryoni and D. jarvisi were devoid of protease and cellulase activity, but contained some amylase activity. The significance of these results in terms of current hypotheses concerning symbioses between tephritids and bacteria is discussed.}, } @article {pmid28310809, year = {1985}, author = {Shick, JM and Dykens, JA}, title = {Oxygen detoxification in algal-invertebrate symbioses from the Great Barrier Reef.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {33-41}, pmid = {28310809}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Examination of 34 species of symbiotic invertebrates in four phyla has confirmed the generality of a direct relationship between chlorophyll concentration and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, two enzymes involved in the detoxification of active oxygen. On a finer scale, activities of these enzymes also depend on the localization of the algal symbions (intracellular or extracellular) and hence on the extent to which photosynthetic O2 actually contacts animal cytoplasm, and on the solar irradiance experienced by the symbionts. Differences in SOD activity among organs of Tridacna crocea are not fully explained by local O2 levels but are further related to organ-specific retes of O2 consumption. This result is discussed in terms of known mechanisms of superoxide radical production in mitochondria and differences in O2 utilization concentrations among various organs in bivalve molluscs.}, } @article {pmid28564213, year = {1985}, author = {Howard, DJ and Bush, GL and Breznak, JA}, title = {THE EVOLUTIONARY SIGNIFICANCE OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH RHAGOLETIS.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {405-417}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1985.tb05677.x}, pmid = {28564213}, issn = {1558-5646}, abstract = {All Rhagoletis reportedly establish associations with one or more bacterial species, but the bases for these interactions and their implications for host race formation and speciation are poorly understood. Here we present the results of four studies designed to increase our understanding of these relationships. In the first study, we identify the bacteria associated with seven Rhagoletis taxa by surveying the inhabitants of the esophageal bulb, an organ whose major function appears to be the housing of microorganisms. The results suggest that no bacterium has entered into an obligate symbiotic relationship with any of the Rhagoletis taxa surveyed, although one bacterium, Klebsiella oxytoca, is a very common associate of six of the seven. In the second study we use horizontal starch gel electrophoresis to determine the genetic similarity of K. oxytoca clones isolated from different Rhagoletis populations. This analysis provides a rare look into the genetic structure of natural populations of an enteric bacterium and permits the construction of a dendrogram for the clones-a dendrogram which indicates that there is no clear-cut pattern to the distribution of K. oxytoca genotypes among Rhagoletis. Taken together, the above studies provide indirect evidence that the bacteria associated with Rhagoletis are not important determinants of host plant specificity. The third and fourth studies assess two possible functions associated bacteria may perform for Rhagoletis: pectic substances degradation and nitrogen fixation. Our results do not lend support to either function.}, } @article {pmid28311642, year = {1984}, author = {Maschwitz, U and Schroth, M and Hänel, H and Pong, TY}, title = {Lycaenids parasitizing symbiotic plant-ant partnerships.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {78-80}, pmid = {28311642}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Many species of the paleotropic plant genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) live in symbiosis with the ant genus Cremastogaster (Myrmicinae), especially with C. borneensis. The ants protect their plants from many herbivorous enemies. The plants provide food-bodies and nesting space in the internodes. In addition the ants care for honeydew producing scale insects in these spaces. The caterpillars of several species of the genus Arhopala (Lycaenidae) parasitize on this symbiosis system. With the aid of their myrmecophilic organs the caterpillars overcome the aggressivity of the ants and feed on the Macaranga leaves without disturbance. Moreover the caterpillars and their pupae are protected against parasites and predators by the ants. As the female butterflies oviposit the eggs only in low numbers upon young leaves, the plants are not seriously affected.The larvae of the three Arhopala species; A. amphimuta, A. moolaiana, and A. zylda are adapted to their host plant species Macaranga triloba, M. hulletti, and M. hypoleuca by means of color, shape, and behavior. In addition, the different larval stages change their appearance according to the parts of the plant on which they feed and rest. These cryptic adaptations point to a distinct monophagy of these butterflies.The state of phylogenetic relationship within the three lycaenids is parallel to the relationship among the three host plants.}, } @article {pmid28309809, year = {1981}, author = {LaRochelle, PB and Dimock, RV}, title = {Behavioral aspects of host recognition by the symbiotic water mite Unionicola formosa (Acarina, Unionicolidae).}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {257-259}, pmid = {28309809}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The occurrence and specificity of host recognition behavior of adult and nymphal Unionicola formosa and the capability of adult mites to recolonize various mussel species were examined. Adult U. formosa aggregated on excised tissue from their host mussel, Anodonta imbecilis, in preference to that of two other species of mussels. Nymphs also exhibited an aggregation response to host tissue. A radioisotope ([51]Cr) technique was used to monitor the recolonization behavior of U. formosa. Adult female mites preferentially re-entered A. imbecilis rather than the sympatric mussel A. cataracta. The specificity of this behavior parallels the distribution of this water mite among potential bivalve hosts in the southeastern U.S. Host recognition by U. formosa may contribute to re-establishing contact with a host after accidental separation and probably helps to maintain mite-mussel symbioses. Whether or not larval U. formosa employ similar host recognition behavior while selecting a potential host has not as yet been determined.}, } @article {pmid28309076, year = {1980}, author = {Glynn, PW}, title = {Defense by symbiotic crustacea of host corals elicited by chemical cues from predator.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {47}, number = {3}, pages = {287-290}, pmid = {28309076}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Observations and experiments carried out on a coral reef off the Pacific coast of Panamá demonstrated that shrimp (Alpheus lottini) and crab (Trapezia spp.) symbionts that protect their host coral (Pocillopora elegans) can detect an approaching sea star predator (Acanthaster planci) by chemical cues. Simulated feeding attacks by Acanthaster in sealed transparent bags elicited only 0.5 defensive responses (snipping at spines and tube feet, jerking the sea star, and snapping) per 3 min; defensive behavior increased significantly to 4 and 5 responses, respectively, for Acanthaster in perforated bags and for Acanthaster in direct contact with coral. Neutralized (boiled) Acanthaster elicited only 3 defensive interactions per 3 min compared with 12 interactions for live Acanthaster. Simulated feeding attacks by Oreaster, a non-corallivorous sea star, elicited only 0.5 defensive responses per 3 min, whereas Oreaster introduced with "Acanthaster water" increased the level of defensive responses to 7. These results suggest that chemical, and to a lesser extent visual (physical presence and movements of sea star), cues stimulate the defensive behavior of the symbiotic crustaceans. The ability to detect a predator at a distance is probably advantageous because in responding only to an actual threat it minimizes the time the defending symbionts spend in an exposed position on the terminal branches of the host coral and because it alerts the crustaceans to sea stars feeding at night.}, } @article {pmid28563213, year = {1980}, author = {Knowlton, N}, title = {SEXUAL SELECTION AND DIMORPHISM IN TWO DEMES OF A SYMBIOTIC, PAIR-BONDING SNAPPING SHRIMP.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {161-173}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.1980.tb04802.x}, pmid = {28563213}, issn = {1558-5646}, } @article {pmid28309884, year = {1979}, author = {Kellar, PE and Goldman, CR}, title = {A comparative study of nitrogen fixation by the Anabaena-Azolla symbiosis and free-living populations of Anabaena spp. in Lake Ngahawa, New Zealand.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {269-281}, pmid = {28309884}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The symbiotic fern Azolla filiculoides var. rubra, which contains a blue-green nitrogen fixing alga Anabaena azollae, fixed 164 Kg N·ha[-1]·ann[-1] in the littoral zone of a small eutrophic lake. Associated planktonic Anabaena spp. blooms, dominated by Anabaena spiroides, fixed 29.5Kg N·ha[-1]·ann[-1]. Nitrogen fixation in both organisms was not obviously related to ambient dissolved inorganic nitrogen levels. By comparing [15]N-N2 and acetylene reduction techniques, we determined a ratio of 3 moles C2H2 reduced to 1 mole of N2 fixed. Combining this with results from one diurnal investigation, it was estimated that 24% of the total daily fixation by Azolla occurred at night. Highest nitrogen fixation rates in Azolla occurred when plant density was lowest. Nitrogen fixation by planktonic Anabaena spp. generally paralleled changes in biomass. Frond breakage due to wind caused a decrease in Azolla nitrogen fixation and growth which was followed by a bloom of planktonic Anabaena spp. A second Anabaena spp. bloom was instrumental in the summer decline of Azolla. Maximum growth and nitrogen fixation of both organisms did not occur simultaneously. If physical disruption to the Azolla mat does not occur, it is likely that growth of the population would continue throughout the year.}, } @article {pmid28309600, year = {1979}, author = {Hällbom, L and Bergman, B}, title = {Influence of certain herbicides and a forest fertilizer on the nitrogen fixation by the lichen Peltigera praetextata.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {19-27}, pmid = {28309600}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Effects of herbicides (Garlone 3A, MCPA, 2,4-D and Krenite) and nitrogen fertilizer (NH4NO3), commonly used in Swedish forestry, on nitrogen fixation (C2H2-reduction) by Peltigera praetextata (Sommerf.) Zopf. (field and laboratory) and its phycobiont Nostoc sp. (laboratory) were studied. The alga was affected by the herbicides 2,4-D and Krenite and the fertilizer, with a decrease in nitrogenase activity. Nitrogen fixation by the lichen was not affected by herbicides but treatment with NH4NO3 led to depression of nitrogenase activity and serious disturbance of the symbiosis, the latter effect due to the fertilizer's lethal effects on the mycobiont (electron microscopy).}, } @article {pmid28308811, year = {1975}, author = {Maschwitz, U and Wüst, M and Schurian, K}, title = {[Blues' larvae as sugar suppliers for ants].}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {17-21}, pmid = {28308811}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {The larvae of the Provence chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra hispana) are visited regularly in the field by ants which lay trails to the caterpillars and recruit new members from their colony. The Blues' larvae secrete a fluid from an abdominal gland which serves as food for the ants. Large larvae are able to release the secretion in intervals of less than 2 min for at least 1 h. In addition to water, the main constituents of the secretion are fructose, sucrose, trehalose, and glucose-the total concentration of these sugars being more than 10% (13.1% and 18.7%). The haemolymph of the caterpillars, however, has a total carbohydrate content of only about 2%. Other than minor quantities of protein, only one amino acid could be detected in the secretion. The relationship between sugar-donating Lycaenid larvae and ants is discussed and interpreted as symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28368700, year = {1972}, author = {Cassidy, JD and P, O and King, RC}, title = {OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT IN HABROBRACON JUGLANDIS (ASHMEAD) (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE). I. THE ORIGIN AND DIFFERENTIATION OF THE OOCYTENURSE CELL COMPLEX.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {143}, number = {3}, pages = {483-505}, doi = {10.2307/1540179}, pmid = {28368700}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {Normal oogenesis in the adult wasp, Habrobracon juglandis, is described. Accounts are given of: (1) the mitotic behavior of oogonia and cystocytes: (2) the production of synaptonemal complexes by pro-oocytes in the germarium; (3) the formation of an egg chamber and its movement through the vitellarium; (4) the ultrastructural details of the transfer of cytoplasmic organelles to the oocyte by the nurse cells; and (5) the production of accessory muclei and protein yolk spheres in the ooplasm. Comparisons are drawn between Habrobracon and other insects with respect to: (1) the cystocyte divisions, the origin of ring canals, and the control of pro-oocyte differentiation; (2) the possible symbiotic relationships of bacteria which reside in ovarian tissue; (3) the proposed functions performed by accessory nuclei and protein yolk spheres; and (4) the synthesis of rRNA by the nurse cells.}, } @article {pmid28309206, year = {1969}, author = {Jurzitza, G}, title = {[The vitamin requirements of normal and aposymbiotic lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) and the role of symbiotic fungi as vitamin sources for their hosts].}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {70-83}, pmid = {28309206}, issn = {1432-1939}, abstract = {Normal Lasioderma serricorne were reared on a totally synthetic, vitamin-free diet for 4 subsequent generations, though development was substantially retarded when compared with that in a diet containing all B-vitamins and a sterol necessary for growth of aposymbiotic larvae. Comparing growth in the presence or absence of the symbionts on diets with a single vitamin omitted it was demonstrated that the microorganisms are able to supply thiamin, lactoflavin, pyridoxine, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, choline and a sterol. The importance of symbionts for the production of biotin was shown with aposymbiotic larvae whose parents had been reared on a biotin-free diet, and part of whom had been reinfected with their symbionts. Normal larvae need a concentration of 2 mgs, aposymbiotic of 8 mgs, of choline chloride per g diet for optimal growth. Mesoinositol, carnitine, ribo- and desoxyribonucleic acid did not influence growth on a complete diet. Heliosan beer yeast (Cenovis) contains a growth promoting factor remaining in the insoluble residue after extraction with water, methanol and chloroform.}, } @article {pmid28214191, year = {2017}, author = {Schneider, J and Bundschuh, J and Rangel, WM and Guilherme, LRG}, title = {Potential of different AM fungi (native from As-contaminated and uncontaminated soils) for supporting Leucaena leucocephala growth in As-contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {224}, number = {}, pages = {125-135}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.071}, pmid = {28214191}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Arsenic/*analysis/toxicity ; Fabaceae/drug effects/enzymology/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi inoculation is considered a potential biotechnological tool for an eco-friendly remediation of hazardous contaminants. However, the mechanisms explaining how AM fungi attenuate the phytotoxicity of metal(oid)s, in particular arsenic (As), are still not fully understood. The influence of As on plant growth and the antioxidant system was studied in Leucaena leucocephala plants inoculated with different isolates of AM fungi and exposed to increasing concentrations of As (0, 35, and 75 mg dm[-3]) in a Typic Quartzipsamment soil. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions using isolates of AM fungi selected from uncontaminated soils (Acaulospora morrowiae, Rhizophagus clarus, Gigaspora albida; and a mixed inoculum derived from combining these isolates, named AMF Mix) as well as a mix of three isolates from an As-contaminated soil (A. morrowiae, R. clarus, and Paraglomus occultum). After 21 weeks, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined in the shoots in addition to measuring plant height and mineral contents. In general, AM fungi have shown multiple beneficial effects on L. leucocephala growth. Although the activity of most of the stress-related enzymes increased in plants associated with AM fungi, the percentage increase caused by adding As to the soil was even greater for non-mycorrhizal plants when compared to AM-fungi inoculated ones, which highlights the phytoprotective effect provided by the AM symbiosis. The highest P/As ratio observed in AM-fungi plants, compared to non-mycorrhizal ones, can be considered a good indicator that the AM fungi alter the pattern of As(V) uptake from As-contaminated soil. Our results underline the role of AM fungi in increasing the tolerance of L. leucocephala to As stress and emphasize the potential of the symbiosis L. leucocephala-R. clarus for As-phytostabilization at moderately As-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid28214118, year = {2017}, author = {Zhu, YG and Reid, BJ and Meharg, AA and Banwart, SA and Fu, BJ}, title = {Optimizing Peri-URban Ecosystems (PURE) to re-couple urban-rural symbiosis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {586}, number = {}, pages = {1085-1090}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.094}, pmid = {28214118}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Globally, rapid urbanization, along with economic development, is dramatically changing the balance of biogeochemical cycles, impacting upon ecosystem services and impinging on United Nation global sustainability goals (inter alia: sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; good health and well-being; clean water and sanitation, and; to protect and conserve life on land and below water). A key feature of the urban ecosystems is that nutrient stocks, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), are being enriched. Furthermore, urban ecosystems are highly engineered, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients within urban ecosystems is spatially segregated, and nutrients exported (e.g. in food) from rural/peri-urban areas are not being returned to support primary production in these environments. To redress these imbalances we propose the concept of the Peri-URban Ecosystem (PURE). Through the merging of conceptual approaches that relate to Critical Zone science and the dynamics of successional climax PURE serves at the symbiotic interface between rural/natural and urban ecosystems and allow re-coupling of resource flows. PURE provides a framework for tackling the most pressing of societal challenges and supporting global sustainability goals.}, } @article {pmid28214058, year = {2017}, author = {Tampakaki, AP and Fotiadis, CT and Ntatsi, G and Savvas, D}, title = {Phylogenetic multilocus sequence analysis of indigenous slow-growing rhizobia nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Greece.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {179-189}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.01.001}, pmid = {28214058}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genes, Essential ; Greece ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a promiscuous grain legume, capable of establishing efficient symbiosis with diverse symbiotic bacteria, mainly slow-growing rhizobial species belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Although much research has been done on cowpea-nodulating bacteria in various countries around the world, little is known about the genetic and symbiotic diversity of indigenous cowpea rhizobia in European soils. In the present study, the genetic and symbiotic diversity of indigenous rhizobia isolated from field-grown cowpea nodules in three geographically different Greek regions were studied. Forty-five authenticated strains were subjected to a polyphasic approach. ERIC-PCR based fingerprinting analysis grouped the isolates into seven groups and representative strains of each group were further analyzed. The analysis of the rrs gene showed that the strains belong to different species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. The analysis of the 16S-23S IGS region showed that the strains from each geographic region were characterized by distinct IGS types which may represent novel phylogenetic lineages, closely related to the type species of Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi, Bradyrhizobium ferriligni and Bradyrhizobium liaoningense. MLSA analysis of three housekeeping genes (recA, glnII, and gyrB) showed the close relatedness of our strains with B. pachyrhizi PAC48[T] and B. liaoningense USDA 3622[T] and confirmed that the B. liaoningense-related isolate VUEP21 may constitute a novel species within Bradyrhizobium. Moreover, symbiotic gene phylogenies, based on nodC and nifH genes, showed that the B. pachyrhizi-related isolates belonged to symbiovar vignae, whereas the B. liaoningense-related isolates may represent a novel symbiovar.}, } @article {pmid28213538, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, Y and Rozen, DE}, title = {Gut Microbiota Colonization and Transmission in the Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides throughout Development.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {28213538}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Pupa/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Carrion beetles in the genus Nicrophorus rear their offspring on decomposing carcasses where larvae are exposed to a diverse community of decomposer bacteria. Parents coat the carcass with antimicrobial secretions prior to egg hatch (defined as prehatch care) and also feed regurgitated food, and potentially bacteria, to larvae throughout development (defined as full care). Here, we partition the roles of prehatch and posthatch parental care in the transmission and persistence of culturable symbiotic bacteria to larvae. Using three treatment groups (full care, prehatch care only, and no care), we found that larvae receiving full care are predominantly colonized by bacteria resident in the maternal gut while larvae receiving no care are colonized with bacteria from the carcass. More importantly, larvae receiving only prehatch care were also predominantly colonized by maternal bacteria; this result indicates that parental treatment of the carcass, including application of bacteria to the carcass surface, is sufficient to ensure symbiont transfer even in the absence of direct larval feeding. Later in development, we found striking evidence that pupae undergo an aposymbiotic stage, after which they are recolonized at eclosion with bacteria similar to those found on the molted larval cuticle and on the wall of the pupal chamber. Our results clarify the importance of prehatch parental care for symbiont transmission in Nicrophorus vespilloides and suggest that these bacteria successfully outcompete decomposer bacteria during larval and pupal gut colonization.IMPORTANCE Here, we examine the origin and persistence of the culturable gut microbiota of larvae in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides This insect is particularly interesting for this study because larvae are reared on decomposing vertebrate carcasses, where they are exposed to high densities of carrion-decomposing microbes. Larvae also receive extensive parental care in the form of carcass preservation and direct larval feeding. We find that parents transmit their gut bacteria to larvae both directly, through regurgitation, and indirectly via their effects on the carcass. In addition, we find that larvae become aposymbiotic during pupation but are recolonized apparently from bacteria shed onto the insect cuticle before adult eclosion. Our results highlight the diverse interactions between insect behavior and development on microbiota composition. They further suggest that competitive interactions mediate the bacterial composition of Nicrophorus larvae together with or apart from the influence of beetle immunity, suggesting that the bacterial communities of these insects may be highly coevolved with those of their host species.}, } @article {pmid28213330, year = {2017}, author = {Amoedo, ND and Obre, E and Rossignol, R}, title = {Drug discovery strategies in the field of tumor energy metabolism: Limitations by metabolic flexibility and metabolic resistance to chemotherapy.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Bioenergetics}, volume = {1858}, number = {8}, pages = {674-685}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.02.005}, pmid = {28213330}, issn = {0005-2728}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drug Discovery/*methods ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Energy Metabolism/*drug effects ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/drug effects ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics/methods ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mitochondria/*drug effects/metabolism ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; }, abstract = {The search for new drugs capable of blocking the metabolic vulnerabilities of human tumors has now entered the clinical evaluation stage, but several projects already failed in phase I or phase II. In particular, very promising in vitro studies could not be translated in vivo at preclinical stage and beyond. This was the case for most glycolysis inhibitors that demonstrated systemic toxicity. A more recent example is the inhibition of glutamine catabolism in lung adenocarcinoma that failed in vivo despite a strong addiction of several cancer cell lines to glutamine in vitro. Such contradictory findings raised several questions concerning the optimization of drug discovery strategies in the field of cancer metabolism. For instance, the cell culture models in 2D or 3D might already show strong limitations to mimic the tumor micro- and macro-environment. The microenvironment of tumors is composed of cancer cells of variegated metabolic profiles, supporting local metabolic exchanges and symbiosis, but also of immune cells and stroma that further interact with and reshape cancer cell metabolism. The macroenvironment includes the different tissues of the organism, capable of exchanging signals and fueling the tumor 'a distance'. Moreover, most metabolic targets were identified from their increased expression in tumor transcriptomic studies, or from targeted analyses looking at the metabolic impact of particular oncogenes or tumor suppressors on selected metabolic pathways. Still, very few targets were identified from in vivo analyses of tumor metabolism in patients because such studies are difficult and adequate imaging methods are only currently being developed for that purpose. For instance, perfusion of patients with [[13]C]-glucose allows deciphering the metabolomics of tumors and opens a new area in the search for effective targets. Metabolic imaging with positron emission tomography and other techniques that do not involve [[13]C] can also be used to evaluate tumor metabolism and to follow the efficiency of a treatment at a preclinical or clinical stage. Relevant descriptors of tumor metabolism are now required to better stratify patients for the development of personalized metabolic medicine. In this review, we discuss the current limitations in basic research and drug discovery in the field of cancer metabolism to foster the need for more clinically relevant target identification and validation. We discuss the design of adapted drug screening assays and compound efficacy evaluation methods for the discovery of innovative anti-cancer therapeutic approaches at the level of tumor energetics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Mitochondria in Cancer, edited by Giuseppe Gasparre, Rodrigue Rossignol and Pierre Sonveaux.}, } @article {pmid28212387, year = {2017}, author = {Ikeda, S and Yamashita, H and Kondo, SN and Inoue, K and Morishima, SY and Koike, K}, title = {Zooxanthellal genetic varieties in giant clams are partially determined by species-intrinsic and growth-related characteristics.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0172285}, pmid = {28212387}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animal Shells/growth & development ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*growth & development ; Body Size ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/*physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Giant clams (tridacnine shellfishes) are large bivalves that inhabit tropical and subtropical waters and harbor the symbiotic microalgae zooxanthellae, which consist of diverse phylotypes (clades). Each clade exhibits unique physiological characteristics, and the cladal composition may influence the host's survival and its ability to tolerate environmental changes. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, we investigated the zooxanthellal genetic clades in Tridacna crocea (n = 93) and Tridacna squamosa (n = 93). These two clam species were artificially bred and maintained for an extended time period under an equivalent environment in an outdoor pond. Results showed that T. crocea had a simpler cladal composition and with an apparent dominance of clade A, whereas multiple clades were present in T. squamosa. The zooxanthellae clade A is known to occur in other zooxanthellae-bearing animals that inhabit shallow waters, which is consistent to the shallow water habitat preference of T. crocea. Interestingly, in larger individuals of T. squamosa, the main zooxanthellal clade was C rather than A. The mechanism underlying the dominance of clade C in the larger T. squamosa has not yet been clarified. However, the additional photosynthates supplied by clade C may be preferable for growing clams, as is observed in corals. The cladal composition of giant clams has previously been reported to be primarily controlled by environmental factors. However, our experiments subjected different clam species to the same environmental conditions, and our results suggested that species-intrinsic and/or growth-related processes may also influence the cladal composition.}, } @article {pmid28209394, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, WH and Yang, SH and Li, ZH and Zhang, XX and Sui, XH and Wang, ET and Chen, WX and Chen, WF}, title = {Ensifer shofinae sp. nov., a novel rhizobial species isolated from root nodules of soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {3}, pages = {144-149}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2017.01.002}, pmid = {28209394}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of soybean were characterized phylogenetically as members of a distinct group in the genus Ensifer based on 16S rRNA gene comparisons. They were also verified as a separated group by the concatenated sequence analyses of recA, atpD and glnII (with similarities ≤93.9% to the type strains for defined species), and by the average nucleotide identities (ANI) between the whole genome sequence of the representative strain CCBAU 251167[T] and those of the closely related strains in Ensifer glycinis and Ensifer fredii (90.5% and 90.3%, respectively). Phylogeny of symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH) grouped these two strains together with some soybean-nodulating strains of E. fredii, E. glycinis and Ensifer sojae. Nodulation tests indicated that the representative strain CCBAU 251167[T] could form root nodules with capability of nitrogen fixing on its host plant and Glycine soja, Cajanus cajan, Vigna unguiculata, Phaseolus vulgaris and Astragalus membranaceus, and it formed ineffective nodules on Leucaena leucocephala. Strain CCBAU 251167[T] contained fatty acids 18:1 ω9c, 18:0 iso and 20:0, differing from other related strains. Utilization of l-threonine and d-serine as carbon source, growth at pH 6.0 and intolerance of 1% (w/v) NaCl distinguished strain CCBAU 251167[T] from other type strains of the related species. The genome size of CCBAU 251167[T] was 6.2Mbp, comprising 7,581 predicted genes with DNA G+C content of 59.9mol% and 970 unique genes. Therefore, a novel species, Ensifer shofinae sp. nov., is proposed, with CCBAU 251167[T] (=ACCC 19939[T]=LMG 29645[T]) as type strain.}, } @article {pmid28207957, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, L and Zheng, Y and Gao, C and Mi, XC and Ma, KP and Wubet, T and Guo, LD}, title = {Phylogenetic relatedness explains highly interconnected and nested symbiotic networks of woody plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a Chinese subtropical forest.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {2563-2575}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14061}, pmid = {28207957}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; China ; *Forests ; Fungi ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*classification/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Elucidating symbiotic relationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants contributes to a better understanding of their reciprocally dependent coexistence and community assembly. However, the main drivers of plant and AMF community assembly remain unclear. In this study, we examined AMF communities from 166 root samples of 17 woody plant species from 10 quadrats in a Chinese subtropical forest using 454 pyrosequencing of 18S rRNA gene to describe symbiotic AMF-plant association. Our results show the woody plant-AMF networks to be highly interconnected and nested, but in antimodular and antispecialized manners. The nonrandom pattern in the woody plant-AMF network was explained by plant and AMF phylogenies, with a tendency for a stronger phylogenetic signal by plant than AMF phylogeny. This study suggests that the phylogenetic niche conservatism in woody plants and their AMF symbionts could contribute to interdependent AMF and plant community assembly in this subtropical forest ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid28207182, year = {2017}, author = {Emery, O and Schmidt, K and Engel, P}, title = {Immune system stimulation by the gut symbiont Frischella perrara in the honey bee (Apis mellifera).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {2576-2590}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14058}, pmid = {28207182}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*immunology/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Insect ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Gut bacteria engage in various symbiotic interactions with their host and impact gut immunity and homeostasis in different ways. In honey bees, the gut microbiota is composed of a relatively simple, but highly specialized bacterial community. One of its members, the gammaproteobacterium Frischella perrara induces the so-called scab phenotype, a dark-coloured band that develops on the epithelial surface of the pylorus. To understand the underlying host response, we analysed transcriptome changes in the pylorus in response to bacterial colonization. We find that, in contrast to the gut bacterium Snodgrassella alvi, F. perrara causes strong activation of the host immune system. Besides pattern recognition receptors, antimicrobial peptides and transporter genes, the melanization cascade was upregulated by F. perrara, suggesting that the scab phenotype corresponds to a melanization response of the host. In addition, transcriptome analysis of hive bees with and without the scab phenotype showed that F. perrara also stimulates the immune system under in-hive conditions in the presence of other gut bacterial species. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the presence of F. perrara influences gut immunity and homeostasis in the pylorus. This may have implications for bee health, because F. perrara prevalence differs between colonies and increased abundance of this bacterium has been shown to correlate with dietary alteration and impaired host development. Our transcriptome analysis sets the groundwork for investigating the interplay of bee gut symbionts with the host immune system.}, } @article {pmid28206821, year = {2017}, author = {Brandt, A and Meeßen, J and Jänicke, RU and Raguse, M and Ott, S}, title = {Simulated Space Radiation: Impact of Four Different Types of High-Dose Ionizing Radiation on the Lichen Xanthoria elegans.}, journal = {Astrobiology}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {136-144}, doi = {10.1089/ast.2015.1455}, pmid = {28206821}, issn = {1557-8070}, mesh = {*Cosmic Radiation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Helium/chemistry ; Ions ; Iron/chemistry ; Lichens/metabolism/*radiation effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; *Radiation, Ionizing ; *Space Simulation ; X-Rays ; }, abstract = {This study addresses the viability of the lichen Xanthoria elegans after high-dose ionizing irradiation in the frame of the STARLIFE campaign. The first set of experiments was intended to resemble several types of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) as present beyond the magnetic shield of Earth. In the second set of experiments, γ radiation up to 113 kGy was applied to test the limit of lichen resistance to ionizing radiation. Entire thalli of Xanthoria elegans were irradiated in the anhydrobiotic state. After STARLIFE 1, the metabolic activity of both symbionts was quantified by live/dead staining with confocal laser scanning microscopy. The photosynthetic activity was measured after the respective irradiation to assess the ability of the symbiotic green algae to restore photosynthesis after irradiation. The STARLIFE campaign complements the results of the LIFE experiments at the EXPOSE-E facility on the International Space Station by testing the model organism Xanthoria elegans on its resistance to hazardous radiation that might be accumulated during long-term space exposure. In addition, the photosynthetic activity of metabolically active lichen was investigated after X-ray irradiation up to 100 Gy (3.3 Gy/min). Since previous astrobiological experiments were mostly performed with anhydrobiotic lichen, these experiments will broaden our knowledge on the correlation of physiological state and astrobiological stressors. Key Words: Astrobiology-Extremotolerance-Gamma rays-Ionizing radiation-Lichens-Viability. Astrobiology 17, 136-144.}, } @article {pmid28204477, year = {2016}, author = {Lo, WS and Huang, YY and Kuo, CH}, title = {Winding paths to simplicity: genome evolution in facultative insect symbionts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, pages = {855-874}, pmid = {28204477}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Insecta/*genetics/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; Spiroplasma/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between organisms is an important driving force in evolution. Among the diverse relationships described, extensive progress has been made in insect–bacteria symbiosis, which improved our understanding of the genome evolution in host-associated bacteria. Particularly, investigations on several obligate mutualists have pushed the limits of what we know about the minimal genomes for sustaining cellular life. To bridge the gap between those obligate symbionts with extremely reduced genomes and their non-host-restricted ancestors, this review focuses on the recent progress in genome characterization of facultative insect symbionts. Notable cases representing various types and stages of host associations, including those from multiple genera in the family Enterobacteriaceae (class Gammaproteobacteria), Wolbachia (Alphaproteobacteria) and Spiroplasma (Mollicutes), are discussed. Although several general patterns of genome reduction associated with the adoption of symbiotic relationships could be identified, extensive variation was found among these facultative symbionts. These findings are incorporated into the established conceptual frameworks to develop a more detailed evolutionary model for the discussion of possible trajectories. In summary, transitions from facultative to obligate symbiosis do not appear to be a universal one-way street; switches between hosts and lifestyles (e.g. commensalism, parasitism or mutualism) occur frequently and could be facilitated by horizontal gene transfer.}, } @article {pmid28204472, year = {2017}, author = {Neudorf, KD and Yost, CK}, title = {An uncharacterized gene coding a conserved lytic transglycosylase domain (RL4716) is required for proper cell envelope function in Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {364}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnx035}, pmid = {28204472}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Peptidoglycan/metabolism ; Peptidoglycan Glycosyltransferase/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/enzymology/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum is a plant-associated bacterium that can form a symbiotic relationship with leguminous plants. Rhizobia must respond to significantly different environments during their biphasic lifestyle. The cell envelope is an important cellular feature that must be able to adapt to changing environments. Mutations in rhizobial genes required for proper cell envelope development have been identified based on growth deficiencies on peptide-rich media. Using transposon mutagenesis and screening of mutants for loss of growth on peptide-rich media, this study identified RL4716 as being required for proper cell envelope function in R. leguminosarum. Mutation of RL4716 results in an altered cell morphology, and an increase in permeability to the non-polar probe 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine, indicating a role of RL4716 in maintaining cell envelope integrity. The mutation also affected phenotypes that are known to be dependent on genes associated with a functional cell envelope including decreased desiccation tolerance and a decreased ability to form biofilms.}, } @article {pmid28203041, year = {2017}, author = {Carlisle, JF and Murphy, GK and Roark, AM}, title = {Body size and symbiotic status influence gonad development in Aiptasia pallida anemones.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {71}, number = {2}, pages = {121-127}, pmid = {28203041}, issn = {0334-5114}, support = {P20 GM103499/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Pale anemones (Aiptasia pallida) coexist with dinoflagellates (primarily Symbiodinium minutum) in a mutualistic relationship. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of these symbionts in gonad development of anemone hosts. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones were subjected to light cycles that induced gametogenesis. These anemones were then sampled weekly for nine weeks, and gonad development was analyzed histologically. Anemone size was measured as mean body column diameter, and oocytes or sperm follicles were counted for each anemone. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the influence of body size and symbiotic status on whether gonads were present and on the number of oocytes or sperm follicles produced. Body size predicted whether gonads were present, with larger anemones being more likely than smaller anemones to develop gonads. Both body size and symbiotic status predicted gonad size, such that larger and symbiotic anemones produced more oocytes and sperm follicles than smaller and aposymbiotic anemones. Overall, only 22 % of aposymbiotic females produced oocytes, whereas 63 % of symbiotic females produced oocytes. Similarly, 6 % of aposymbiotic males produced sperm follicles, whereas 60 % of symbiotic males produced sperm follicles. Thus, while gonads were present in 62 % of symbiotic anemones, they were present in only 11 % of aposymbiotic anemones. These results indicate that dinoflagellate symbionts influence gonad development and thus sexual maturation in both female and male Aiptasia pallida anemones. This finding substantiates and expands our current understanding of the importance of symbionts in the development and physiology of cnidarian hosts.}, } @article {pmid28201740, year = {2017}, author = {Bailly-Bechet, M and Martins-Simões, P and Szöllosi, GJ and Mialdea, G and Sagot, MF and Charlat, S}, title = {How Long Does Wolbachia Remain on Board?.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {1183-1193}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msx073}, pmid = {28201740}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Haplotypes ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia bacteria infect about half of all arthropods, with diverse and extreme consequences ranging from sex-ratio distortion and mating incompatibilities to protection against viruses. These phenotypic effects, combined with efficient vertical transmission from mothers to offspring, satisfactorily explain the invasion dynamics of Wolbachia within species. However, beyond the species level, the lack of congruence between the host and symbiont phylogenetic trees indicates that Wolbachia horizontal transfers and extinctions do happen and underlie its global distribution. But how often do they occur? And has the Wolbachia pandemic reached its equilibrium? Here, we address these questions by inferring recent acquisition/loss events from the distribution of Wolbachia lineages across the mitochondrial DNA tree of 3,600 arthropod specimens, spanning 1,100 species from Tahiti and surrounding islands. We show that most events occurred within the last million years, but are likely attributable to individual level variation (e.g., imperfect maternal transmission) rather than population level variation (e.g., Wolbachia extinction). At the population level, we estimate that mitochondria typically accumulate 4.7% substitutions per site during an infected episode, and 7.1% substitutions per site during the uninfected phase. Using a Bayesian time calibration of the mitochondrial tree, these numbers translate into infected and uninfected phases of approximately 7 and 9 million years. Infected species thus lose Wolbachia slightly more often than uninfected species acquire it, supporting the view that its present incidence, estimated here slightly below 0.5, represents an epidemiological equilibrium.}, } @article {pmid28199673, year = {2017}, author = {Poitout, A and Martinière, A and Kucharczyk, B and Queruel, N and Silva-Andia, J and Mashkoor, S and Gamet, L and Varoquaux, F and Paris, N and Sentenac, H and Touraine, B and Desbrosses, G}, title = {Local signalling pathways regulate the Arabidopsis root developmental response to Mesorhizobium loti inoculation.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {5}, pages = {1199-1211}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw502}, pmid = {28199673}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Numerous reports have shown that various rhizobia can interact with non-host plant species, improving mineral nutrition and promoting plant growth. To further investigate the effects of such non-host interactions on root development and functions, we inoculated Arabidopsis thaliana with the model nitrogen fixing rhizobacterium Mesorhizobium loti (strain MAFF303099). In vitro, we show that root colonization by M. loti remains epiphytic and that M. loti cells preferentially grow at sites where primary and secondary roots intersect. Besides resulting in an increase in shoot biomass production, colonization leads to transient inhibition of primary root growth, strong promotion of root hair elongation and increased apoplasmic acidification in periphery cells of a sizeable part of the root system. Using auxin mutants, axr1-3 and aux1-100, we show that a plant auxin pathway plays a major role in inhibiting root growth but not in promoting root hair elongation, indicating that root developmental responses involve several distinct pathways. Finally, using a split root device, we demonstrate that root colonization by M. loti, as well as by the bona fide plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Azospirillum brasilense and Pseudomonas, affect root development via local transduction pathways restricted to the colonised regions of the root system.}, } @article {pmid28199080, year = {2017}, author = {Nett, RS and Contreras, T and Peters, RJ}, title = {Characterization of CYP115 As a Gibberellin 3-Oxidase Indicates That Certain Rhizobia Can Produce Bioactive Gibberellin A4.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {912-917}, pmid = {28199080}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {R01 GM109773/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Gibberellins/*biosynthesis ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gibberellin (GA) phytohormones are produced not only by plants but also by fungi and bacteria. Previous characterization of a cytochrome P450 (CYP)-rich GA biosynthetic operon found in many symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia led to the elucidation of bacterial GA biosynthesis and implicated GA9 as the final product. However, GA9 does not exhibit hormonal/biological activity and presumably requires further transformation to elicit an effect in the legume host plant. Some rhizobia that contain the GA operon also possess an additional CYP (CYP115), and here we show that this acts as a GA 3-oxidase to produce bioactive GA4 from GA9. This is the first GA 3-oxidase identified for rhizobia, and provides a more complete scheme for biosynthesis of bioactive GAs in bacteria. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses suggest that rhizobia acquired CYP115 independently of the core GA operon, adding further complexity to the horizontal gene transfer of GA biosynthetic enzymes among bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28197735, year = {2017}, author = {Lenoir, I and Fontaine, J and Tisserant, B and Laruelle, F and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A}, title = {Beneficial contribution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, in the protection of Medicago truncatula roots against benzo[a]pyrene toxicity.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {465-476}, pmid = {28197735}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Benzo(a)pyrene/*toxicity ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*drug effects/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*drug effects/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are able to improve plant establishment in polluted soils but little is known about the genes involved in the plant protection against pollutant toxicity by mycorrhization, in particular in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The present work aims at studying in both symbiotic partners, Medicago truncatula and Rhizophagus irregularis: (i) expression of genes putatively involved in PAH tolerance (MtSOD, MtPOX, MtAPX, MtGST, MtTFIIS, and MtTdp1α), (ii) activities of antioxidant (SOD, POX) and detoxification (GST) enzymes, and (iii) H2O2 and the heavy PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) accumulation. In the presence of B[a]P, whereas induction of the enzymatic activities was detected in R. irregularis and non-mycorrhizal roots as well as upregulation of the gene expressions in the non-mycorrhizal roots, downregulation of the gene expressions and decrease of enzyme activities were observed in mycorrhizal roots. Moreover, B[a]P increased H2O2 production in non-mycorrhizal roots and in R. irregularis but not in mycorrhizal roots. In addition, a lower B[a]P bioaccumulation in mycorrhizal roots was measured in comparison with non-mycorrhizal roots. Being less affected by pollutant toxicity, mycorrhizal roots did not activate any defense mechanism either at the gene expression regulation level or at the enzymatic level.}, } @article {pmid28196466, year = {2017}, author = {de Freitas Pereira, M and Narvaes da Rocha Campos, A and Anastacio, TC and Morin, E and Brommonschenkel, SH and Martin, F and Kohler, A and Costa, MD}, title = {The transcriptional landscape of basidiosporogenesis in mature Pisolithus microcarpus basidiocarp.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {157}, pmid = {28196466}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics ; Cell Cycle/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology/methods ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pisolithus microcarpus (Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn is a gasteromycete that produces closed basidiocarps in symbiosis with eucalypts and acacias. The fungus produces a complex basidiocarp composed of peridioles at different developmental stages and an upper layer of basidiospores free of the hyphae and ready for wind dispersal upon the rupture of the basidiocarp pellis. During basidiosporogenesis, a process that takes place inside the basidiocarp peridioles, a conspicuous reserve of fatty acids is present throughout development. While several previous studies have described basidiosporogenesis inside peridioles, very little is known about gene expression changes that may occur during this part of the fungal life cycle. The objective of this work was to analyze gene transcription during peridiole and basidiospore development, while focusing specifically on cell cycle progression and lipid metabolism.

RESULTS: Throughout different developmental stages of the peridioles we analyzed, 737 genes were regulated between adjacent compartments (>5 fold, FDR-corrected p-value < 0.05) corresponding to 3.49% of the genes present in the P. microcarpus genome. We identified three clusters among the regulated genes which showed differential expression between the peridiole developmental stages and the basidiospores. During peridiole development, transcripts for proteins involved in cellular processes, signaling, and information storage were detected, notably those for coding transcription factors, DNA polymerase subunits, DNA repair proteins, and genes involved in chromatin structure. For both internal embedded basidiospores (hereto referred to as "Internal spores", IS) and external free basidiospores (hereto referred to as "Free spores", FS), upregulated transcripts were found to involve primary metabolism, particularly fatty acid metabolism (FA). High expression of transcripts related to β-oxidation and the glyoxylate shunt indicated that fatty acids served as a major carbon source for basidiosporogenesis.

CONCLUSION: Our results show that basidiocarp formation in P. microcarpus involves a complex array of genes that are regulated throughout peridiole development. We identified waves of transcripts with coordinated regulation and identified transcription factors which may play a role in this regulation. This is the first work to describe gene expression patterns during basidiocarp formation in an ectomycorrhizal gasteromycete fungus and sheds light on genes that may play important roles in the developmental process.}, } @article {pmid28196275, year = {2017}, author = {Tonk, L and Sampayo, EM and Chai, A and Schrameyer, V and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) community patterns in invertebrate hosts from inshore marginal reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, pages = {589-600}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12523}, pmid = {28196275}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; Biota ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*physiology ; Invertebrates/*parasitology/physiology ; Queensland ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The broad range in physiological variation displayed by Symbiodinium spp. has proven imperative during periods of environmental change and contribute to the survival of their coral host. Characterizing how host and Symbiodinium community assemblages differ across environmentally distinct habitats provides useful information to predict how corals will respond to major environmental change. Despite the extensive characterizations of Symbiodinium diversity found amongst reef cnidarians on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) substantial biogeographic gaps exist, especially across inshore habitats. Here, we investigate Symbiodinium community patterns in invertebrates from inshore and mid-shelf reefs on the southern GBR, Australia. Dominant Symbiodinium types were characterized using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting and sequencing of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA. Twenty one genetically distinct Symbiodinium types including four novel types were identified from 321 reef-invertebrate samples comprising three sub-generic clades (A, C, and D). A range of host genera harbored C22a, which is normally rare or absent from inshore or low latitude reefs in the GBR. Multivariate analysis showed that host identity and sea surface temperature best explained the variation in symbiont communities across sites. Patterns of changes in Symbiodinium community assemblage over small geographic distances (100s of kilometers or less) indicate the likelihood that shifts in Symbiodinium distributions and associated host populations, may occur in response to future climate change impacting the GBR.}, } @article {pmid28194158, year = {2017}, author = {Checcucci, A and Azzarello, E and Bazzicalupo, M and De Carlo, A and Emiliani, G and Mancuso, S and Spini, G and Viti, C and Mengoni, A}, title = {Role and Regulation of ACC Deaminase Gene in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Is It a Symbiotic, Rhizospheric or Endophytic Gene?.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {6}, pmid = {28194158}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Plant-associated bacteria exhibit a number of different strategies and specific genes allow bacteria to communicate and metabolically interact with plant tissues. Among the genes found in the genomes of plant-associated bacteria, the gene encoding the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase (acdS) is one of the most diffused. This gene is supposed to be involved in the cleaving of plant-produced ACC, the precursor of the plant stress-hormone ethylene toning down the plant response to infection. However, few reports are present on the actual role in rhizobia, one of the most investigated groups of plant-associated bacteria. In particular, still unclear is the origin and the role of acdS in symbiotic competitiveness and on the selective benefit it may confer to plant symbiotic rhizobia. Here we present a phylogenetic and functional analysis of acdS orthologs in the rhizobium model-species Sinorhizobium meliloti. Results showed that acdS orthologs present in S. meliloti pangenome have polyphyletic origin and likely spread through horizontal gene transfer, mediated by mobile genetic elements. When acdS ortholog from AK83 strain was cloned and assayed in S. meliloti 1021 (lacking acdS), no modulation of plant ethylene levels was detected, as well as no increase in fitness for nodule occupancy was found in the acdS-derivative strain compared to the parental one. Surprisingly, AcdS was shown to confer the ability to utilize formamide and some dipeptides as sole nitrogen source. Finally, acdS was shown to be negatively regulated by a putative leucine-responsive regulator (LrpL) located upstream to acdS sequence (acdR). acdS expression was induced by root exudates of both legumes and non-leguminous plants. We conclude that acdS in S. meliloti is not directly related to symbiotic interaction, but it could likely be involved in the rhizospheric colonization or in the endophytic behavior.}, } @article {pmid28193479, year = {2017}, author = {DeMilto, AM and Rouquette, M and Mueller, UG and Kellner, K and Seal, JN}, title = {Effects of substrate, ant and fungal species on plant fiber degradation in a fungus-gardening ant symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {301-308}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.02.001}, pmid = {28193479}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Agaricales/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-gardening or attine ants have outsourced most of their digestive function to a symbiotic fungus. The ants feed their fungus - essentially an external digestive organ - a variety of substrates of botanical origin, including fresh and dried flowers, leaves and insect frass (processed leaves). Although plant tissues are rich in fibers (lignocelluloses, hemicelluloses, pectins and starches) and the symbiotic fungus possesses the genetic and enzymatic machinery to metabolize these compounds, the highly derived attines, the leaf-cutters (Atta and Acromyrmex), are known to produce fiber-rich waste. While leaf-cutting ants are important consumers of primary plant tissue, there have been fewer studies on physiological activity of fungi grown by closely related ant species in the genus Trachymyrmex, which generally grow related species of fungi, have smaller colonies and consume a wider variety of fungal substrates in addition to fresh leaves and flowers. In this study, we measured the cellulase activity of the fungus-gardening ants Atta texana, Trachymyrmex arizonensis and T. septentrionalis. We then quantified fiber consumption of the fungus-gardening ants Trachymyrmex septentrionalis and Trachymyrmex arizonensis by comparing the amounts and percentages present in their food and in fungus garden refuse during a controlled feeding experiment over the span of several months. Finally, we compared waste composition of T. arizonensis colonies growing different fungal strains, because this species is known to cultivate multiple strains of Leucoagaricus in its native range. The leaf-cutting ant A. texana was found to have lower cellulytic activity than T. arizonensis or T. septentrionalis. Total lignocellulose and hemicellulose amounts were significantly lower in refuse piles than in the substrates fed to the Trachymyrmex colonies, thus these fibers were consumed by the fungal symbionts of these ant species. Although lignocellulose utilization was similar in two distinct fungal species grown by T. arizonensis colonies, hemicellulose utilization was higher in T. arizonensis colonies growing a derived leaf-cutting ant fungal symbiont than when growing a native type of symbiont. The results of this study demonstrate that fiber digestion in fungus-gardening ants is an outcome of ant-fungal interaction.}, } @article {pmid28193447, year = {2017}, author = {Park, Y and Kang, S and Sadekuzzaman, M and Kim, H and Jung, JK and Kim, Y}, title = {Identification and bacterial characteristics of Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU101 from an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {144}, number = {}, pages = {74-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2017.02.002}, pmid = {28193447}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Lepidoptera/microbiology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Republic of Korea ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {An entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum, was collected in Korea. Its identity was confirmed by morphological and molecular characters. Its symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii ANU101, was isolated and assessed in terms of bacterial characteristics. Sixty-eight different carbon sources were utilized by X. hominickii ANU101 out of 95 different sources from a Biolog assay. Compared to other Xenorhabdus species, X. hominickii ANU101 was relatively susceptible to high temperatures and did not grow above 34°C. Furthermore, its growth rate was much slower than other Xenorhabdus species. X. hominickii exhibited insecticidal activities against coleopteran, dipteran, and lepidopteran insect pests. The bacterial virulence was not correlated with its host nematode virulence with respect to relative insecticidal activity against target insects. X. hominickii ANU101 exhibited antibiotics tolerance. The bacterium possesses four different plasmids (Xh-P1 (104,132bp), Xh-P2 (95,975bp), Xh-P3 (88,536bp), and Xh-P4 (11,403bp)) and encodes 332 open reading frames. Subsequent predicted genes include toxin/antitoxins comprising a multidrug export ATP-binding/permease. This study reports bacterial characters of X. hominickii and its entomopathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid28192540, year = {2017}, author = {Kamfwa, K and Zhao, D and Kelly, JD and Cichy, KA}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of two recombinant inbred lines of common bean contrasting for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0172141}, pmid = {28192540}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Inbreeding ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phaseolus/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) fixes atmospheric nitrogen (N2) through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) at levels lower than other grain legume crops. An understanding of the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying SNF will enable more effective strategies for the genetic improvement of SNF traits in common bean. In this study, transcriptome profiling was used to identify genes and molecular mechanisms underlying SNF differences between two common bean recombinant inbred lines that differed in their N-fixing abilities. Differential gene expression and functional enrichment analyses were performed on leaves, nodules and roots of the two lines when grown under N-fixing and non-fixing conditions. Receptor kinases, transmembrane transporters, and transcription factors were among the differentially expressed genes identified under N-fixing conditions, but not under non-fixing conditions. Genes up-regulated in the stronger nitrogen fixer, SA36, included those involved in molecular functions such as purine nucleoside binding, oxidoreductase and transmembrane receptor activities in nodules, and transport activity in roots. Transcription factors identified in this study are candidates for future work aimed at understanding the functional role of these genes in SNF. Information generated in this study will support the development of gene-based markers to accelerate genetic improvement of SNF in common bean.}, } @article {pmid28188662, year = {2017}, author = {Thornhill, DJ and Howells, EJ and Wham, DC and Steury, TD and Santos, SR}, title = {Population genetics of reef coral endosymbionts (Symbiodinium, Dinophyceae).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {2640-2659}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14055}, pmid = {28188662}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*growth & development ; *Genetics, Population ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiodinium is a diverse genus of unicellular dinoflagellate symbionts associating with various marine protists and invertebrates. Although the broadscale diversity and phylogenetics of the Symbiodinium complex is well established, there have been surprisingly few data on fine-scale population structure and biogeography of these dinoflagellates. Yet population-level processes contribute strongly to the biology of Symbiodinium, including how anthropogenic-driven global climate change impacts these symbionts and their host associations. Here, we present a synthesis of population-level characteristics for Symbiodinium, with an emphasis on how phylogenetic affinities, dynamics within and among host individuals, and a propensity towards clonality shape patterns on and across reefs. Major inferences include the following: (i) Symbiodinium populations within individual hosts are comprised mainly of cells belonging to a single or few genetic clones. (ii) Symbiont populations exhibit a mixed mode of reproduction, wherein at least one sexual recombination event occurs in the genealogy between most genotypes, but clonal propagation predominates overall. (iii) Mutualistic Symbiodinium do not perpetually persist outside their hosts, instead undergoing turnover and replacement via the continuous shedding of viable clonal cells from host individuals. (iv) Symbiont populations living in the same host, but on different reefs, are often genetically subdivided, suggesting low connectivity, adaptation to local conditions, or prolific asexual reproduction and low effective population sizes leading to disproportionate success within and among hosts. Overall, this synthesis forms a basis for future investigations of coral symbiosis ecology and evolution as well as delimitation of species boundaries in Symbiodinium and other eukaryotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid28187427, year = {2016}, author = {Soares, SC and Oliveira, LC and Jaiswal, AK and Azevedo, V}, title = {Genomic Islands: an overview of current software and future improvements.}, journal = {Journal of integrative bioinformatics}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {301}, doi = {10.2390/biecoll-jib-2016-301}, pmid = {28187427}, issn = {1613-4516}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomic Islands ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; *Software ; }, abstract = {Microbes are highly diverse and widely distributed organisms. They account for ~60% of Earth’s biomass and new predictions point for the existence of 1011 to 1012 species, which are constantly sharing genes through several different mechanisms. Genomic Islands (GI) are critical in this context, as they are large regions acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Also, they present common features like genomic signature deviation, transposase genes, flanking tRNAs and insertion sequences. GIs carry large numbers of genes related to specific lifestyle and are commonly classified in Pathogenicity, Resistance, Metabolic or Symbiotic Islands. With the advent of the next-generation sequencing technologies and the deluge of genomic data, many software tools have been developed that aim to tackle the problem of GI prediction and they are all based on the prediction of GI common features. However, there is still room for the development of new software tools that implements new approaches, such as, machine learning and pangenomics based analyses. Finally, GIs will always hold a potential application in every newly invented genomic approach as they are directly responsible for much of the genomic plasticity of bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28186629, year = {2017}, author = {Koch, AM and Antunes, PM and Maherali, H and Hart, MM and Klironomos, JN}, title = {Evolutionary asymmetry in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: conservatism in fungal morphology does not predict host plant growth.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {3}, pages = {1330-1337}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14465}, pmid = {28186629}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Glomeromycota/*cytology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate symbionts that can influence plant growth, the magnitude and direction of these effects are highly variable within fungal genera and even among isolates within species, as well as among plant taxa. To determine whether variability in AM fungal morphology and growth is correlated with AM fungal effects on plant growth, we established a common garden experiment with 56 AM fungal isolates comprising 17 genera and six families growing with three plant host species. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal morphology and growth was highly conserved among isolates of the same species and among species within a family. By contrast, plant growth response to fungal inoculation was highly variable, with the majority of variation occurring among different isolates of the same AM fungal species. Our findings show that host performance cannot be predicted from AM fungal morphology and growth traits. Divergent effects on plant growth among isolates within an AM fungal species may be caused by coevolution between co-occurring fungal and plant populations.}, } @article {pmid28183772, year = {2017}, author = {Kanehara, K and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum J5, Isolated from a Soybean Nodule in Hokkaido, Japan.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28183772}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Soybean bradyrhizobia form root nodules on soybean plants and symbiotically fix N2 Strain J5 is phylogenetically far from well-known representatives within the Bradyrhizobium japonicum linage. The complete genome showed the largest single chromosomal (10.1 Mb) and symbiosis island (998 kb) among complete genomes of soybean bradyrhizobia.}, } @article {pmid28183109, year = {2017}, author = {Boyko, CB and Mendoza, JC and Castro, P}, title = {New records of coral-associated crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Carpilioidea, Trapezoidea) from Easter Island.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4216}, number = {5}, pages = {zootaxa.4216.5.5}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4216.5.5}, pmid = {28183109}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Body Size ; Brachyura/anatomy & histology/*classification/growth & development ; Female ; Male ; Organ Size ; Polynesia ; }, abstract = {A review is made of those brachyurans that are symbiotic or otherwise associated with scleractinian corals on Easter Island, southeastern Pacific Ocean. A total of seven species is reported, including three species from two families not previously known from the island. Earlier records of Trapezia are analyzed and, although as many as six species have been previously reported, we conclude that only three species are known to occur on the island with certainty.}, } @article {pmid28182684, year = {2017}, author = {Reich, HG and Robertson, DL and Goodbody-Gringley, G}, title = {Do the shuffle: Changes in Symbiodinium consortia throughout juvenile coral development.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0171768}, pmid = {28182684}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology/*parasitology ; Atlantic Islands ; Bermuda ; Biodiversity ; Biota/genetics ; Caribbean Region ; *Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Environment ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Previous studies of symbiotic associations between scleractinians corals and Symbiodinium have demonstrated that the consortium of symbionts can change in response to environmental conditions. However, less is known about symbiont shuffling during early coral development, particularly in brooding species. This study examined whether Symbiodinium consortia (1) varied in Porites astreoides on shallow (10m) and upper mesophotic (30m) reefs, (2) changed during coral development, and (3) influenced growth of juveniles in different environments. Symbiodinium ITS2 sequences were amplified using universal primers and analyzed using phylotype-specific primers designed for phylotypes A, B, and C. Adults from both depths were found to host only phylotype A, phylotypes A and B, or phylotypes A, B, and C and the frequency of the phylotype composition did not vary with depth. However, phylotype A was the dominant symbiont that was vertically transmitted to the planulae. The presence of phylotypes B and C was detected in the majority of juveniles when transplanted onto the shallow and upper mesophotic reefs whereas only phylotype A was detected in the majority of juveniles reared in outdoor aquaria. In addition, growth of juvenile P. astreoides harboring different combinations of Symbiodinium phylotypes did not vary when transplanted to different reef zones. However, juveniles reared in in situ reef environments grew faster than those reared in ex situ outdoor aquaria. These results show that Symbiodinium consortia change during development of P. astreoides and are influenced by environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid28182540, year = {2017}, author = {Niu, B and Huang, H and Tan, L and Duan, Q}, title = {Symbiosis-Based Alternative Learning Multi-Swarm Particle Swarm Optimization.}, journal = {IEEE/ACM transactions on computational biology and bioinformatics}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {4-14}, doi = {10.1109/TCBB.2015.2459690}, pmid = {28182540}, issn = {1557-9964}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Animals ; Biomimetics/*methods ; Computer Simulation ; Cooperative Behavior ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Learning/*physiology ; *Machine Learning ; Models, Biological ; *Models, Statistical ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Inspired by the ideas from the mutual cooperation of symbiosis in natural ecosystem, this paper proposes a new variant of PSO, named Symbiosis-based Alternative Learning Multi-swarm Particle Swarm Optimization (SALMPSO). A learning probability to select one exemplar out of the center positions, the local best position, and the historical best position including the experience of internal and external multiple swarms, is used to keep the diversity of the population. Two different levels of social interaction within and between multiple swarms are proposed. In the search process, particles not only exchange social experience with others that are from their own sub-swarms, but also are influenced by the experience of particles from other fellow sub-swarms. According to the different exemplars and learning strategy, this model is instantiated as four variants of SALMPSO and a set of 15 test functions are conducted to compare with some variants of PSO including 10, 30 and 50 dimensions, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that the alternative learning strategy in each SALMPSO version can exhibit better performance in terms of the convergence speed and optimal values on most multimodal functions in our simulation.}, } @article {pmid28181588, year = {2017}, author = {Maor-Landaw, K and Waldman Ben-Asher, H and Karako-Lampert, S and Salmon-Divon, M and Prada, F and Caroselli, E and Goffredo, S and Falini, G and Dubinsky, Z and Levy, O}, title = {Mediterranean versus Red sea corals facing climate change, a transcriptome analysis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {42405}, pmid = {28181588}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {249930/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adherens Junctions/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/metabolism ; *Climate Change ; Computational Biology/methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; Indian Ocean ; Mediterranean Sea ; Reproducibility of Results ; Signal Transduction ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The anthropogenic increase in atmospheric CO2 that drives global warming and ocean acidification raises serious concerns regarding the future of corals, the main carbonate biomineralizers. Here we used transcriptome analysis to study the effect of long-term gradual temperature increase (annual rate), combined with lowered pH values, on a sub-tropical Red Sea coral, Stylophora pistillata, and on a temperate Mediterranean symbiotic coral Balanophyllia europaea. The gene expression profiles revealed a strong effect of both temperature increase and pH decrease implying for synergism response. The temperate coral, exposed to a twice as high range of seasonal temperature fluctuations than the Red Sea species, faced stress more effectively. The compensatory strategy for coping apparently involves deviating cellular resources into a massive up-regulation of genes in general, and specifically of genes involved in the generation of metabolic energy. Our results imply that sub-lethal, prolonged exposure to stress can stimulate evolutionary increase in stress resilience.}, } @article {pmid28181581, year = {2017}, author = {Lin, Z and Chen, M and Dong, X and Zheng, X and Huang, H and Xu, X and Chen, J}, title = {Transcriptome profiling of Galaxea fascicularis and its endosymbiont Symbiodinium reveals chronic eutrophication tolerance pathways and metabolic mutualism between partners.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {42100}, pmid = {28181581}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*growth & development/*parasitology ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics/growth & development/parasitology ; China ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*growth & development ; *Eutrophication ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the South China Sea, coastal eutrophication in the Beibu Gulf has seriously threatened reef habitats by subjecting corals to chronic physiological stress. To determine how coral holobionts may tolerate such conditions, we examined the transcriptomes of healthy colonies of the galaxy coral Galaxea fascicularis and its endosymbiont Symbiodinium from two reef sites experiencing pristine or eutrophied nutrient regimes. We identified 236 and 205 genes that were differentially expressed in eutrophied hosts and symbionts, respectively. Both gene sets included pathways related to stress responses and metabolic interactions. An analysis of genes originating from each partner revealed striking metabolic integration with respect to vitamins, cofactors, amino acids, fatty acids, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The expression levels of these genes supported the existence of a continuum of mutualism in this coral-algal symbiosis. Additionally, large sets of transcription factors, cell signal transduction molecules, biomineralization components, and galaxin-related proteins were expanded in G. fascicularis relative to other coral species.}, } @article {pmid28180335, year = {2017}, author = {Saramago, M and Peregrina, A and Robledo, M and Matos, RG and Hilker, R and Serrania, J and Becker, A and Arraiano, CM and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti YbeY is an endoribonuclease with unprecedented catalytic features, acting as silencing enzyme in riboregulation.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {1371-1391}, pmid = {28180335}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Catalysis ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; Endoribonucleases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Reporter ; Host Factor 1 Protein/genetics/metabolism ; Metalloproteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plasmids/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Structural and biochemical features suggest that the almost ubiquitous bacterial YbeY protein may serve catalytic and/or Hfq-like protective functions central to small RNA (sRNA)-mediated regulation and RNA metabolism. We have biochemically and genetically characterized the YbeY ortholog of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti (SmYbeY). Co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) with a FLAG-tagged SmYbeY yielded a poor enrichment in RNA species, compared to Hfq CoIP-RNA uncovered previously by a similar experimental setup. Purified SmYbeY behaved as a monomer that indistinctly cleaved single- and double-stranded RNA substrates, a unique ability among bacterial endoribonucleases. SmYbeY-mediated catalysis was supported by the divalent metal ions Mg2+, Mn2+ and Ca2+, which influenced in a different manner cleavage efficiency and reactivity patterns, with Ca2+ specifically blocking activity on double-stranded and some structured RNA molecules. SmYbeY loss-of-function compromised expression of core energy and RNA metabolism genes, whilst promoting accumulation of motility, late symbiotic and transport mRNAs. Some of the latter transcripts are known Hfq-binding sRNA targets and might be SmYbeY substrates. Genetic reporter and in vitro assays confirmed that SmYbeY is required for sRNA-mediated down-regulation of the amino acid ABC transporter prbA mRNA. We have thus discovered a bacterial endoribonuclease with unprecedented catalytic features, acting also as gene silencing enzyme.}, } @article {pmid28178297, year = {2017}, author = {Hellinger, J and Jägers, P and Donner, M and Sutt, F and Mark, MD and Senen, B and Tollrian, R and Herlitze, S}, title = {The Flashlight Fish Anomalops katoptron Uses Bioluminescent Light to Detect Prey in the Dark.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0170489}, pmid = {28178297}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Darkness ; Fishes/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Light ; *Luminescence ; *Predatory Behavior ; }, abstract = {Bioluminescence is a fascinating phenomenon occurring in numerous animal taxa in the ocean. The reef dwelling splitfin flashlight fish (Anomalops katoptron) can be found in large schools during moonless nights in the shallow water of coral reefs and in the open surrounding water. Anomalops katoptron produce striking blink patterns with symbiotic bacteria in their sub-ocular light organs. We examined the blink frequency in A. katoptron under various laboratory conditions. During the night A. katoptron swims in schools roughly parallel to their conspecifics and display high blink frequencies of approximately 90 blinks/minute with equal on and off times. However, when planktonic prey was detected in the experimental tank, the open time increased compared to open times in the absence of prey and the frequency decreased to 20% compared to blink frequency at night in the absence of planktonic prey. During the day when the school is in a cave in the reef tank the blink frequency decreases to approximately 9 blinks/minute with increasing off-times of the light organ. Surprisingly the non-luminescent A. katoptron with non-functional light organs displayed the same blink frequencies and light organ open/closed times during the night and day as their luminescent conspecifics. In the presence of plankton non-luminescent specimens showed no change in the blink frequency and open/closed times compared to luminescent A. katoptron. Our experiments performed in a coral reef tank show that A. katoptron use bioluminescent illumination to detect planktonic prey and that the blink frequency of A. katoptron light organs follow an exogenous control by the ambient light.}, } @article {pmid28177829, year = {2017}, author = {Ekanayake, PN and Kaur, J and Tian, P and Rochfort, SJ and Guthridge, KM and Sawbridge, TI and Spangenberg, GC and Forster, JW}, title = {Genomic and metabolic characterisation of alkaloid biosynthesis by asexual Epichloë fungal endophytes of tall fescue pasture grasses.}, journal = {Genome}, volume = {60}, number = {6}, pages = {496-509}, doi = {10.1139/gen-2016-0173}, pmid = {28177829}, issn = {1480-3321}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Epichloe/*genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Genotype ; Poaceae/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between tall fescue grasses and asexual Epichloë fungal endophytes exhibit biosynthesis of alkaloid compounds causing both beneficial and detrimental effects. Candidate novel endophytes with favourable chemotypic profiles have been identified in germplasm collections by screening for genetic diversity, followed by metabolite profile analysis in endogenous genetic backgrounds. A subset of candidates was subjected to genome survey sequencing to detect the presence or absence and structural status of known genes for biosynthesis of the major alkaloid classes. The capacity to produce specific metabolites was directly predictable from metabolic data. In addition, study of duplicated gene structure in heteroploid genomic constitutions provided further evidence for the origin of such endophytes. Selected strains were inoculated into meristem-derived callus cultures from specific tall fescue genotypes to perform isogenic comparisons of alkaloid profile in different host backgrounds, revealing evidence for host-specific quantitative control of metabolite production, consistent with previous studies. Certain strains were capable of both inoculation and formation of longer-term associations with a nonhost species, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Discovery and primary characterisation of novel endophytes by DNA analysis, followed by confirmatory metabolic studies, offers improvements of speed and efficiency and hence accelerated deployment in pasture grass improvement programs.}, } @article {pmid28177408, year = {2017}, author = {Colombo, RP and Ibarra, JG and Bidondo, LF and Silvani, VA and Bompadre, MJ and Pergola, M and Lopez, NI and Godeas, AM}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Association in Genetically Modified Drought-Tolerant Corn.}, journal = {Journal of environmental quality}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {227-231}, doi = {10.2134/jeq2016.04.0125}, pmid = {28177408}, issn = {0047-2425}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Plants, Genetically Modified ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The commercial use of genetically modified (GM) plants has significantly increased worldwide. The interactions between GM plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are of considerable importance given the agricultural and ecological role of AM and the lack of knowledge regarding potential effects of drought-tolerant GM corn (L.) on AM fungal symbiosis. This work studied AM fungal colonization in five corn lines growing under two different irrigation regimes (30 and 100% of soil field capacity [SFC]). Four of the lines were GM corn, and two of these were drought tolerant. The experiment was conducted for 60 d in a growth chamber under constant irrigation, after which mycorrhization, corn biomass, and days to plant senescence (DTS) were evaluated. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species of the order were predominant in the soil inocula. At the end of the experiment, all plants showed AM colonization. Mycorrhization was higher at 30% SFC than at 100% SFC. Within the same corn line, the AM fungi produced more vesicles in plant roots under drought stress. Among treatments, DTS varied significantly, and drought-tolerant GM corn lines survived longer than the wild-type corn when maintained at 100% SFC. Corn biomass did not vary among treatments, and no correlations were found between DTS or biomass and mycorrhization. We conclude that overexpression of the gene in corn plants under the experimental conditions of this study did not affect AM fungal infectivity and improved the tolerance of the corn to drought stress.}, } @article {pmid28176435, year = {2017}, author = {Tarnecki, AM and Burgos, FA and Ray, CL and Arias, CR}, title = {Fish intestinal microbiome: diversity and symbiosis unravelled by metagenomics.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {123}, number = {1}, pages = {2-17}, doi = {10.1111/jam.13415}, pmid = {28176435}, issn = {1365-2672}, abstract = {The gut microbiome of vertebrates plays an integral role in host health by stimulating development of the immune system, aiding in nutrient acquisition and outcompeting opportunistic pathogens. Development of next-generation sequencing technologies allows researchers to survey complex communities of microorganisms within the microbiome at great depth with minimal costs, resulting in a surge of studies investigating bacterial diversity of fishes. Many of these studies have focused on the microbial structure of economically significant aquaculture species with the goal of manipulating the microbes to increase feed efficiency and decrease disease susceptibility. The unravelling of intricate host-microbe symbioses and identification of core microbiome functions is essential to our ability to use the benefits of a healthy microbiome to our advantage in fish culture, as well as gain deeper understanding of bacterial roles in vertebrate health. This review aims to summarize the available knowledge on fish gastrointestinal communities obtained from metagenomics, including biases from sample processing, factors influencing assemblage structure, intestinal microbiology of important aquaculture species and description of the teleostean core microbiome.}, } @article {pmid28173637, year = {2017}, author = {Johansson, VA and Bahram, M and Tedersoo, L and Kõljalg, U and Eriksson, O}, title = {Specificity of fungal associations of Pyroleae and Monotropa hypopitys during germination and seedling development.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {2591-2604}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14050}, pmid = {28173637}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ericaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Germination ; *Mycorrhizae ; Seedlings/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycoheterotrophic plants obtain organic carbon from associated mycorrhizal fungi, fully or partially. Angiosperms with this form of nutrition possess exceptionally small 'dust seeds' which after germination develop 'seedlings' that remain subterranean for several years, fully dependent on fungi for supply of carbon. Mycoheterotrophs which as adults have photosynthesis thus develop from full to partial mycoheterotrophy, or autotrophy, during ontogeny. Mycoheterotrophic plants may represent a gradient of variation in a parasitism-mutualism continuum, both among and within species. Previous studies on plant-fungal associations in mycoheterotrophs have focused on either germination or the adult life stages of the plant. Much less is known about the fungal associations during development of the subterranean seedlings. We investigated germination and seedling development and the diversity of fungi associated with germinating seeds and subterranean seedlings (juveniles) in five Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) species, the full mycoheterotroph Monotropa hypopitys and the putatively partial mycoheterotrophs Pyrola chlorantha, P. rotundifolia, Moneses uniflora and Chimaphila umbellata. Seedlings retrieved from seed sowing experiments in the field were used to examine diversity of fungal associates, using pyrosequencing analysis of ITS2 region for fungal identification. The investigated species varied with regard to germination, seedling development and diversity of associated fungi during juvenile ontogeny. Results suggest that fungal host specificity increases during juvenile ontogeny, most pronounced in the fully mycoheterotrophic species, but a narrowing of fungal associates was found also in two partially mycoheterotrophic species. We suggest that variation in specificity of associated fungi during seedling ontogeny in mycoheterotrophs represents ongoing evolution along a parasitism-mutualism continuum.}, } @article {pmid28173598, year = {2017}, author = {Magain, N and Miadlikowska, J and Goffinet, B and Sérusiaux, E and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Macroevolution of Specificity in Cyanolichens of the Genus Peltigera Section Polydactylon (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota).}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {74-99}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syw065}, pmid = {28173598}, issn = {1076-836X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Host Specificity ; Lichens/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; South America ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Patterns of specificity among symbiotic partners are key to a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of symbiotic systems. Specificity of mutualistic partners, within a widespread monophyletic group for which all species are sampled has rarely been explored. Here, we assess the level of specificity between the cosmopolitan lichen-forming fungus (mycobiont) from the genus Peltigera, section Polydactylon, and its cyanobacterial partner Nostoc (cyanobiont). The mycobiont and cyanobiont phylogenies are inferred from five nuclear loci and the rbcLX region, respectively. These sequences were obtained from 206 lichen thalli, representing ca. 40 closely related Peltigera species sampled worldwide, doubling the number of known species in this group. We found a broad spectrum of specificity for both partners ranging from strict specialists to generalists. Overall, mycobionts are more specialized than cyanobionts by associating mostly with one or a few Nostoc phylogroups, whereas most cyanobionts associate frequently with several Peltigera species. Specialist mycobionts are older than generalists, supporting the hypothesis that specialization of mycobionts to one or few cyanobionts, is favored through time in geographic areas where species have been established for long periods of time. The relatively recent colonization of a new geographic area (Central and South America) by members of section Polydactylon is associated with a switch to a generalist pattern of association and an increased diversification rate by the fungal partner, suggesting that switches to generalism are rare events that are advantageous in new environments. We detected higher genetic diversity in generalist mycobionts. We also found that Peltigera species specialized on a single Nostoc phylogroup have narrower geographical distributions compared with generalist species.}, } @article {pmid28170113, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, J and Peiffer, M and Hoover, K and Rosa, C and Zeng, R and Felton, GW}, title = {Helicoverpa zea gut-associated bacteria indirectly induce defenses in tomato by triggering a salivary elicitor(s).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {3}, pages = {1294-1306}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14429}, pmid = {28170113}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Enterobacter/*physiology ; Glucose Oxidase/metabolism ; Herbivory ; Larva/microbiology ; Lepidoptera/*microbiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/enzymology/*immunology ; Oxylipins ; Saliva/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Insect gut-associated microbes modulating plant defenses have been observed in beetles and piercing-sucking insects, but the role of caterpillar-associated bacteria in regulating plant induced defenses has not been adequately examined. We identified bacteria from the regurgitant of field-collected Helicoverpa zea larvae using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. A combination of biochemical, molecular, and confocal electron microscopy methods were used to determine the role of caterpillar-associated bacteria in mediating defenses in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Laboratory-reared H. zea inoculated with one of the bacteria identified in field-collected H. zea, Enterobacter ludwigii, induced expression of the tomato defense-related enzyme polyphenol oxidase and genes regulated by jasmonic acid (JA), whereas the salicylic acid (SA)-responsive pathogenesis-related gene was suppressed. Additionally, saliva and its main component glucose oxidase from inoculated caterpillars played an important role in elevating tomato anti-herbivore defenses. However, there were only low detectable amounts of regurgitant or bacteria on H. zea-damaged tomato leaves. Our results suggest that H. zea gut-associated bacteria indirectly mediate plant-insect interactions by triggering salivary elicitors. These findings provide a proof of concept that introducing gut bacteria to a herbivore may provide a novel approach to pest management through indirect induction of plant resistance.}, } @article {pmid28169397, year = {2017}, author = {Jimenez, SI and Carroll, C and Babcock, T and Derstine, N and Hadwin, A and Moore, M and Gries, G}, title = {Yeasts Harbored by Vespine Wasps in the Pacific Northwest.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {46}, number = {2}, pages = {217-225}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvw173}, pmid = {28169397}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; British Columbia ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Pupa/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wasps/growth & development/*microbiology ; Yeasts/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The ecological role of social wasps has been extensively studied, but little is known about symbiotic relationships of these wasps with microbes. Recently, it was shown that vespid wasps in Europe carry yeasts, predominantly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Interestingly, this niche allowed for sexual recombination of yeasts to occur and the formation of novel hybrid species. Our goals were 1) to survey the GI tract of eusocial wasps in the Pacific Northwest for the presence of yeasts and 2) to compare the diversity of such yeasts to that described for wasps in Europe. The GI tracts of 19 individual wasps from five species were plated, and 27 yeast-like colonies were identified to the species level. Yeasts in the genera Lachancea and Hanseniaspora each comprised ∼30% of the isolates; ∼25% were identified as Metschnikowia spp., with the remaining 10% belonging to Rhodotorula. Four bacterial isolates were identified as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and two isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Yeasts were present at all life stages of the wasps except for two unfed gynes of Dolichovespula maculata (L.) that contained only bacteria. The presence of a particular yeast species was not correlated with any wasp species. Furthermore, S. cerevisiae was not found in any wasp species. This highlights an interesting difference in the life cycle of both S. cerevisiae and wasps in Europe and the Pacific Northwest, and prompts further studies on the interactions of these microbes with their host wasps.}, } @article {pmid28169364, year = {2017}, author = {Yuan, SL and Li, R and Chen, HF and Zhang, CJ and Chen, LM and Hao, QN and Chen, SL and Shan, ZH and Yang, ZL and Zhang, XJ and Qiu, Z and Zhou, XA}, title = {RNA-Seq analysis of nodule development at five different developmental stages of soybean (Glycine max) inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain 113-2.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {42248}, pmid = {28169364}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Genes, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Lotus/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development ; *Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Soybeans/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nodule development directly affects nitrogen fixation efficiency during soybean growth. Although abundant genome-based information related to nodule development has been released and some studies have reported the molecular mechanisms that regulate nodule development, information on the way nodule genes operate in nodule development at different developmental stages of soybean is limited. In this report, notably different nodulation phenotypes in soybean roots inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain 113-2 at five developmental stages (branching stage, flowering stage, fruiting stage, pod stage and harvest stage) were shown, and the expression of nodule genes at these five stages was assessed quantitatively using RNA-Seq. Ten comparisons were made between these developmental periods, and their differentially expressed genes were analysed. Some important genes were identified, primarily encoding symbiotic nitrogen fixation-related proteins, cysteine proteases, cystatins and cysteine-rich proteins, as well as proteins involving plant-pathogen interactions. There were no significant shifts in the distribution of most GO functional annotation terms and KEGG pathway enrichment terms between these five development stages. A cystatin Glyma18g12240 was firstly identified from our RNA-seq, and was likely to promote nodulation and delay nodule senescence. This study provides molecular material for further investigations into the mechanisms of nitrogen fixation at different soybean developmental stages.}, } @article {pmid28168354, year = {2017}, author = {Xie, XG and Fu, WQ and Zhang, FM and Shi, XM and Zeng, YT and Li, H and Zhang, W and Dai, CC}, title = {The Endophytic Fungus Phomopsis liquidambari Increases Nodulation and N2 Fixation in Arachis hypogaea by Enhancing Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitric Oxide Signalling.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {2}, pages = {427-440}, pmid = {28168354}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The continuous cropping obstacles in monoculture fields are a major production constraint for peanuts. Application of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari has increased peanut yields, and nodulation and N2 fixation increases have been considered as important factors for P. liquidambari infection-improved peanut yield. However, the mechanisms involved in this process remain unknown. This work showed that compared with only Bradyrhizobium inoculation, co-inoculation with P. liquidambari significantly elevated endogenous H2O2 and NO levels in peanut roots. Pre-treatment of seedlings with specific scavengers of H2O2 (CAT) and NO (cPTIO) blocked P. liquidambari-induced nodulation and N2 fixation. CAT not only suppressed the P. liquidambari-induced nodulation and N2 fixation, but also suppressed the enhanced H2O2 and NO generation. Nevertheless, the cPTIO did not significantly inhibit the induced H2O2 biosynthesis, implying that H2O2 acted upstream of NO production. These results were confirmed by observations that exogenous H2O2 and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) reversed the inhibition of P. liquidambari-increased nodulation and N2 fixation by the specific scavengers. The transcriptional activities of the symbiosis-related genes SymRK and CCaMK of peanut-Bradyrhizobium interactions also increased significantly in response to P. liquidambari, H2O2 and SNP treatments. The pot experiment further confirmed that the P. liquidambari infection-enhanced H2O2 and NO signalling pathways were significantly related to the increase in peanut nodulation and N2 fixation. This is the first report that endophytic fungus P. liquidambari can increase peanut-Bradyrhizobium interactions via enhanced H2O2/NO-dependent signalling crosstalk, which is conducive to the alleviation of continuous cropping obstacles via an increase in nodulation and N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid28168117, year = {2017}, author = {Schnytzer, Y and Giman, Y and Karplus, I and Achituv, Y}, title = {Boxer crabs induce asexual reproduction of their associated sea anemones by splitting and intraspecific theft.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e2954}, pmid = {28168117}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Crabs of the genus Lybia have the remarkable habit of holding a sea anemone in each of their claws. This partnership appears to be obligate, at least on the part of the crab. The present study focuses on Lybia leptochelis from the Red Sea holding anemones of the genus Alicia (family Aliciidae). These anemones have not been found free living, only in association with L. leptochelis. In an attempt to understand how the crabs acquire them, we conducted a series of behavioral experiments and molecular analyses. Laboratory observations showed that the removal of one anemone from a crab induces a "splitting" behavior, whereby the crab tears the remaining anemone into two similar parts, resulting in a complete anemone in each claw after regeneration. Furthermore, when two crabs, one holding anemones and one lacking them, are confronted, the crabs fight, almost always leading to the "theft" of a complete anemone or anemone fragment by the crab without them. Following this, crabs "split" their lone anemone into two. Individuals of Alicia sp. removed from freshly collected L. leptochelis were used for DNA analysis. By employing AFLP (Fluorescence Amplified Fragments Length Polymorphism) it was shown that each pair of anemones from a given crab is genetically identical. Furthermore, there is genetic identity between most pairs of anemone held by different crabs, with the others showing slight genetic differences. This is a unique case in which one animal induces asexual reproduction of another, consequently also affecting its genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid28168108, year = {2017}, author = {Britayev, TA and Mekhova, E and Deart, Y and Martin, D}, title = {Do syntopic host species harbour similar symbiotic communities? The case of Chaetopterus spp. (Annelida: Chaetopteridae).}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e2930}, pmid = {28168108}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {To assess whether closely related host species harbour similar symbiotic communities, we studied two polychaetes, Chaetopterus sp. (n = 11) and Chaetopterus cf. appendiculatus (n = 83) living in soft sediments of Nhatrang Bay (South China Sea, Vietnam). The former harboured the porcellanid crabs Polyonyx cf. heok and Polyonyx sp., the pinnotherid crab Tetrias sp. and the tergipedid nudibranch Phestilla sp. The latter harboured the polynoid polychaete Ophthalmonoe pettiboneae, the carapid fish Onuxodon fowleri and the porcellanid crab Eulenaios cometes, all of which, except O. fowleri, seemed to be specialized symbionts. The species richness and mean intensity of the symbionts were higher in Chaetopterus sp. than in C. cf. appendiculatus (1.8 and 1.02 species and 3.0 and 1.05 individuals per host respectively). We suggest that the lower density of Chaetopterus sp. may explain the higher number of associated symbionts observed, as well as the 100% prevalence (69.5% in C. cf. appenciculatus). Most Chaetopterus sp. harboured two symbiotic species, which was extremely rare in C. cf. appendiculatus, suggesting lower interspecific interactions in the former. The crab and nudibranch symbionts of Chaetopterus sp. often shared a host and lived in pairs, thus partitioning resources. This led to the species coexisting in the tubes of Chaetopterus sp., establishing a tightly packed community, indicating high species richness and mean intensity, together with a low species dominance. In contrast, the aggressive, strictly territorial species associated with C. cf. appendiculatus established a symbiotic community strongly dominated by single species and, thus, low species richness and mean intensity. Therefore, we suggest that interspecific interactions are determining species richness, intensity and dominance, while intraspecific interactions are influencing only intensity and abundance. It is possible that species composition may have influenced the differences in community structure observed. We hypothesize that both host species could originally be allopatric. The evolutionary specialization of the symbiotic communities would occur in separated geographical areas, while the posterior disappearance of the existing geographical barriers would lead to the overlapped distribution.}, } @article {pmid28168102, year = {2017}, author = {Yokoya, K and Postel, S and Fang, R and Sarasan, V}, title = {Endophytic fungal diversity of Fragaria vesca, a crop wild relative of strawberry, along environmental gradients within a small geographical area.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e2860}, pmid = {28168102}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fungal endophytes are highly diverse ubiquitous asymptomatic microorganisms, some of which appear to be symbiotic. Depending on abiotic conditions and genotype of the plant, the diversity of endophytes may confer fitness benefits to plant communities.

METHODS: We studied a crop wild relative (CWR) of strawberry, along environmental gradients with a view to understand the cultivable root-derived endophytic fungi that can be evaluated for promoting growth and tolerating stress in selected plant groups. The main objectives were to understand whether: (a) suboptimal soil types are drivers for fungal distribution and diversity; (b) high pH and poor nutrient availability lead to fungal-plant associations that help deliver fitness benefits; and (c) novel fungi can be identified for their use in improving plant growth, and alleviate stress in diverse crops.

RESULTS: The study revealed that habitats with high pH and low nutrient availability have higher fungal diversity, with more rare fungi isolated from locations with chalky soil. Plants from location G were the healthiest even though soil from this location was the poorest in nutrients. Study of environmental gradients, especially extreme habitat types, may help understand the root zone fungal diversity of different functional classes. Two small in vitro pilot studies conducted with two isolates showed that endophytic fungi from suboptimal habitats can promote plant growth and fitness benefits in selected plant groups.

DISCUSSION: Targeting native plants and crop wild relatives for research offers opportunities to unearth diverse functional groups of root-derived endophytic fungi that are beneficial for crops.}, } @article {pmid28168100, year = {2017}, author = {Rouzé, H and Lecellier, GJ and Saulnier, D and Planes, S and Gueguen, Y and Wirshing, HH and Berteaux-Lecellier, V}, title = {An updated assessment of Symbiodinium spp. that associate with common scleractinian corals from Moorea (French Polynesia) reveals high diversity among background symbionts and a novel finding of clade B.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {e2856}, pmid = {28168100}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The adaptative bleaching hypothesis (ABH) states that, depending on the symbiotic flexibility of coral hosts (i.e., the ability of corals to "switch" or "shuffle" their algal symbionts), coral bleaching can lead to a change in the composition of their associated Symbiodinium community and, thus, contribute to the coral's overall survival. In order to determine the flexibility of corals, molecular tools are required to provide accurate species delineations and to detect low levels of coral-associated Symbiodinium. Here, we used highly sensitive quantitative (real-time) PCR (qPCR) technology to analyse five common coral species from Moorea (French Polynesia), previously screened using only traditional molecular methods, to assess the presence of low-abundance (background) Symbiodinium spp. Similar to other studies, each coral species exhibited a strong specificity to a particular clade, irrespective of the environment. In addition, however, each of the five species harboured at least one additional Symbiodinium clade, among clades A-D, at background levels. Unexpectedly, and for the first time in French Polynesia, clade B was detected as a coral symbiont. These results increase the number of known coral-Symbiodinium associations from corals found in French Polynesia, and likely indicate an underestimation of the ability of the corals in this region to associate with and/or "shuffle" different Symbiodinium clades. Altogether our data suggest that corals from French Polynesia may favor a trade-off between optimizing symbioses with a specific Symbiodinium clade(s), maintaining associations with particular background clades that may play a role in the ability of corals to respond to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid28167938, year = {2017}, author = {Farkas, A and Maróti, G and Kereszt, A and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Comparative Analysis of the Bacterial Membrane Disruption Effect of Two Natural Plant Antimicrobial Peptides.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {51}, pmid = {28167938}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In the Medicago truncatula genome about 700 genes code for nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) small peptides that are expressed in the symbiotic organ, the root nodule, where they control terminal differentiation of the endosymbiotic rhizobium bacteria to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Cationic NCR peptides were predicted to have antimicrobial activities. Here antibacterial activities of NCR247, NCR335, polymyxin B (PMB), and streptomycin were investigated and compared on two foodborne pathogens Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes as representatives of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The integrity of the bacterial membrane was seriously compromised by these NCR peptides. Different localization was observed for NCR247 and NCR335 in the treated bacteria, the peptides mostly accumulated in the cytosol in S. enterica while they remained in the bacterial membrane in L. monocytogenes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed distinct membrane morphology of the peptide-treated bacteria. Complete cell disruption was induced by PMB and NCR335 in S. enterica while NCR247 treatment resulted in extensive budding observed on the cell surface of Salmonella. PMB had no effect on L. monocytogenes while NCR335 and NCR247 provoked morphological changes on this bacterium, the whole Listeria cell content was released in response to NCR335 treatment.}, } @article {pmid28167037, year = {2017}, author = {Valentine, AJ and Kleinert, A and Benedito, VA}, title = {Adaptive strategies for nitrogen metabolism in phosphate deficient legume nodules.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {256}, number = {}, pages = {46-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.12.010}, pmid = {28167037}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/deficiency/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/deficiency/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes play a significant role in natural and agricultural ecosystems. They can fix atmospheric N2 and contribute the fixed N to soils and plant N budgets. In legumes, the availability of P does not only affect nodule development, but also N acquisition and metabolism. For legumes as an important source of plant proteins, their capacity to metabolise N during P deficiency is critical for their benefits to agriculture and the natural environment. In particular for farming, rock P is a non-renewable source of which the world has about 60-80 years of sustainable extraction of this P left. The global production of legume crops would be devastated during a scarcity of P fertiliser. Legume nodules have a high requirement for mineral P, which makes them vulnerable to soil P deficiencies. In order to maintain N metabolism, the nodules have evolved several strategies to resist the immediate effects of P limitation and to respond to prolonged P deficiency. In legumes nodules, N metabolism is determined by several processes involving the acquisition, assimilation, export, and recycling of N in various forms. Although these processes are integrated, the current literature lacks a clear synthesis of how legumes respond to P stress regarding its impact on N metabolism. In this review, we synthesise the current state of knowledge on how legumes maintain N metabolism during P deficiency. Moreover, we discuss the potential importance of two additional alterations to N metabolism during P deficiency. Our goals are to place these newly proposed mechanisms in perspective with other known adaptations of N metabolism to P deficiency and to discuss their practical benefits during P deficiency in legumes.}, } @article {pmid28165756, year = {2017}, author = {Ren, CG and Kong, CC and Bian, B and Liu, W and Li, Y and Luo, YM and Xie, ZH}, title = {Enhanced phytoremediation of soils contaminated with PAHs by arbuscular mycorrhiza and rhizobium.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {789-797}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2017.1284755}, pmid = {28165756}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; Rhizobium ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants ; }, abstract = {Greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential effectiveness of a legume (Sesbania cannabina), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus mosseae), and rhizobia (Ensifer sp.) symbiosis for remediation of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in spiked soil. AMF and rhizobia had a beneficial impact on each other in the triple symbiosis. AMF and/or rhizobia significantly increased plant biomass and PAHs accumulation in plants. The highest PAHs dissipation was observed in plant + AMF + rhizobia treated soil, in which >97 and 85-87% of phenanthrene and pyrene, respectively, had been degraded, whereas 81-85 and 72-75% had been degraded in plant-treated soil. During the experiment, a relatively large amount of water-soluble phenolic compounds was detected in soils of AMF and/or rhizobia treatment. It matches well with the high microbial activity and soil enzymes activity. These results suggest that the mutual interactions in the triple symbiosis enhanced PAHs degradation via stimulating both microbial development and soil enzyme activity. The mutual interactions between rhizobia and AMF help to improve phytoremediation efficiency of PAHs by S. cannabina.}, } @article {pmid28165395, year = {2017}, author = {Sam, QH and Chang, MW and Chai, LY}, title = {The Fungal Mycobiome and Its Interaction with Gut Bacteria in the Host.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {28165395}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; *Bacteria ; Diet ; Disease Susceptibility ; *Fungi ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity ; *Microbial Interactions ; Mycobiome ; Obesity/etiology ; }, abstract = {The advent of sequencing technology has endowed us with the capacity to study microbes constituting the human commensal community that were previously non-culturable. Much of the initial works have concentrated on the bacterial flora constituting the gut microbiome, since specimens are readily accessible in health and disease. Less, however, is understood of the "silent population"-the fungal species, also known as the mycobiome. Living in symbiosis with bacteria as commensals in our body, it is perceivable that the mycobiome exerts an inadvertent influence on the microbiome. We review here the recent knowledge gained from study of the interaction between the mycobiome and microbiome in health and disease susceptibility, immunity, and consequences from antimicrobial treatment.}, } @article {pmid28164241, year = {2017}, author = {Major, P and Embley, TM and Williams, TA}, title = {Phylogenetic Diversity of NTT Nucleotide Transport Proteins in Free-Living and Parasitic Bacteria and Eukaryotes.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {480-487}, pmid = {28164241}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Chlamydia/classification/genetics/pathogenicity ; Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Nucleotide Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Oomycetes/classification/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plasma membrane-located nucleotide transport proteins (NTTs) underpin the lifestyle of important obligate intracellular bacterial and eukaryotic pathogens by importing energy and nucleotides from infected host cells that the pathogens can no longer make for themselves. As such their presence is often seen as a hallmark of an intracellular lifestyle associated with reductive genome evolution and loss of primary biosynthetic pathways. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic distribution of NTT sequences across the domains of cellular life. Our analysis reveals an unexpectedly broad distribution of NTT genes in both host-associated and free-living prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We also identify cases of within-bacteria and bacteria-to-eukaryote horizontal NTT transfer, including into the base of the oomycetes, a major clade of parasitic eukaryotes. In addition to identifying sequences that retain the canonical NTT structure, we detected NTT gene fusions with HEAT-repeat and cyclic nucleotide binding domains in Cyanobacteria, pathogenic Chlamydiae and Oomycetes. Our results suggest that NTTs are versatile functional modules with a much wider distribution and a broader range of potential roles than has previously been appreciated.}, } @article {pmid28163823, year = {2017}, author = {Aserse, AA and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, NC and Whitman, WB and Lindström, K}, title = {Draft genome sequence of type strain HBR26[T] and description of Rhizobium aethiopicum sp. nov.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {14}, pmid = {28163823}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Rhizobium aethiopicum sp. nov. is a newly proposed species within the genus Rhizobium. This species includes six rhizobial strains; which were isolated from root nodules of the legume plant Phaseolus vulgaris growing in soils of Ethiopia. The species fixes nitrogen effectively in symbiosis with the host plant P. vulgaris, and is composed of aerobic, Gram-negative staining, rod-shaped bacteria. The genome of type strain HBR26[T] of R. aethiopicum sp. nov. was one of the rhizobial genomes sequenced as a part of the DOE JGI 2014 Genomic Encyclopedia project designed for soil and plant-associated and newly described type strains. The genome sequence is arranged in 62 scaffolds and consists of 6,557,588 bp length, with a 61% G + C content and 6221 protein-coding and 86 RNAs genes. The genome of HBR26[T] contains repABC genes (plasmid replication genes) homologous to the genes found in five different Rhizobium etli CFN42[T] plasmids, suggesting that HBR26[T] may have five additional replicons other than the chromosome. In the genome of HBR26[T], the nodulation genes nodB, nodC, nodS, nodI, nodJ and nodD are located in the same module, and organized in a similar way as nod genes found in the genome of other known common bean-nodulating rhizobial species. nodA gene is found in a different scaffold, but it is also very similar to nodA genes of other bean-nodulating rhizobial strains. Though HBR26[T] is distinct on the phylogenetic tree and based on ANI analysis (the highest value 90.2% ANI with CFN42[T]) from other bean-nodulating species, these nod genes and most nitrogen-fixing genes found in the genome of HBR26[T] share high identity with the corresponding genes of known bean-nodulating rhizobial species (96-100% identity). This suggests that symbiotic genes might be shared between bean-nodulating rhizobia through horizontal gene transfer. R. aethiopicum sp. nov. was grouped into the genus Rhizobium but was distinct from all recognized species of that genus by phylogenetic analyses of combined sequences of the housekeeping genes recA and glnII. The closest reference type strains for HBR26[T] were R. etli CFN42[T] (94% similarity of the combined recA and glnII sequences) and Rhizobium bangladeshense BLR175[T] (93%). Genomic ANI calculation based on protein-coding genes also revealed that the closest reference strains were R. bangladeshense BLR175[T] and R. etli CFN42[T] with ANI values 91.8 and 90.2%, respectively. Nevertheless, the ANI values between HBR26[T] and BLR175[T] or CFN42[T] are far lower than the cutoff value of ANI (> = 96%) between strains in the same species, confirming that HBR26[T] belongs to a novel species. Thus, on the basis of phylogenetic, comparative genomic analyses and ANI results, we formally propose the creation of R. aethiopicum sp. nov. with strain HBR26[T] (=HAMBI 3550[T]=LMG 29711[T]) as the type strain. The genome assembly and annotation data is deposited in the DOE JGI portal and also available at European Nucleotide Archive under accession numbers FMAJ01000001-FMAJ01000062.}, } @article {pmid28160315, year = {2017}, author = {Liang, C and Zhu, J and Hu, R and Ramelot, TA and Kennedy, MA and Liu, M and Yang, Y}, title = {Solution NMR structure of RHE_CH02687 from Rhizobium etli: A novel flavonoid-binding protein.}, journal = {Proteins}, volume = {85}, number = {5}, pages = {951-956}, pmid = {28160315}, issn = {1097-0134}, support = {U54 GM074958/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 GM094597/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacillus subtilis/chemistry/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Flavonoids/*chemistry/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Chaperones/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical ; Protein Conformation, beta-Strand ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/*chemistry/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Symbiosis ; Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {We report the solution NMR structure of RHE_CH02687 from Rhizobium etli. Its structure consists of two β-sheets that together with two short and one long α-helix form a hydrophobic cavity. This protein shows a high structural similarity to the prokaryotic protein YndB from Bacillus subtilis, and the eukaryotic protein Aha1. NMR titration experiments confirmed that RHE_CH02687, like its homolog YndB, interacted with flavonoids, giving support for a biological function as a flavonoid sensor in the symbiotic interaction between R. etli and plants. In addition, our study showed no evidence for a direct interaction between RHE_CH02687 and HtpG, the R. etli homolog of Hsp90. Proteins 2017; 85:951-956. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.}, } @article {pmid28159827, year = {2017}, author = {Garcia, K and Chasman, D and Roy, S and Ané, JM}, title = {Physiological Responses and Gene Co-Expression Network of Mycorrhizal Roots under K[+] Deprivation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {173}, number = {3}, pages = {1811-1823}, pmid = {28159827}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations enhance the phosphorous and nitrogen nutrition of host plants, but little is known about their role in potassium (K[+]) nutrition. Medicago truncatula plants were cocultured with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis under high and low K[+] regimes for 6 weeks. We determined how K[+] deprivation affects plant development and mineral acquisition and how these negative effects are tempered by the AM colonization. The transcriptional response of AM roots under K[+] deficiency was analyzed by whole-genome RNA sequencing. K[+] deprivation decreased root biomass and external K[+] uptake and modulated oxidative stress gene expression in M. truncatula roots. AM colonization induced specific transcriptional responses to K[+] deprivation that seem to temper these negative effects. A gene network analysis revealed putative key regulators of these responses. This study confirmed that AM associations provide some tolerance to K[+] deprivation to host plants, revealed that AM symbiosis modulates the expression of specific root genes to cope with this nutrient stress, and identified putative regulators participating in these tolerance mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid28159616, year = {2017}, author = {Tomczak, VV and Müller, C}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal stage and plant age on the performance of a generalist aphid.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {258-266}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.01.016}, pmid = {28159616}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/growth & development/*physiology ; *Herbivory ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nymph/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology ; Plantago/chemistry/*microbiology ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Host plant quality for herbivores is modulated by different factors including symbiosis with soil organisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), as well as plant age. However, the role of the developmental stage of the AM in such plant-microbe-herbivore interactions has been neglected. To investigate the effects of AM stage and plant age on aphid performance, individuals of the generalist Myzus persicae were reared on leaves of non-mycorrhized (NM) or mycorrhized (AM) Plantago lanceolata plants at two time points, on young plants (with a minor established AM) and on older plants (with a well-established AM), respectively. Various performance traits were measured in the first aphid generation. Additionally, the body mass of the offspring was recorded to determine effects of previous infestation on the next generation. At the end of the herbivore experiments, plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as well as leaf mass per area (LMA) were analyzed as measures of plant quality. Developmental performance traits of the aphids were either affected by AM and time point (nymph body mass at day 6) or by the interaction of both (relative growth rate). However, body mass at day 10 and reproductive performance traits were lower on older plants, independent of AM treatment. In line with these results, host plant quality changed little due to AM but strongly with age, with decreases in leaf N and P, but increases in C and LMA. Furthermore, nymphs gained a higher body mass when feeding on previously infested plants compared to their parents that started to feed on non-infested hosts, likely due to an aphid-induced modification in host traits. In summary, our results indicate that effects of both the developmental stage of AM and the plant age on aphid performance change throughout aphid development and between generations, attributable to shifts in plant quality.}, } @article {pmid28158437, year = {2017}, author = {Lin, MF and Moya, A and Ying, H and Chen, CA and Cooke, I and Ball, EE and Forêt, S and Miller, DJ}, title = {Analyses of Corallimorpharian Transcriptomes Provide New Perspectives on the Evolution of Calcification in the Scleractinia (Corals).}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {150-160}, pmid = {28158437}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Corallimorpharians (coral-like anemones) have a close phylogenetic relationship with scleractinians (hard corals) and can potentially provide novel perspectives on the evolution of biomineralization within the anthozoan subclass Hexacorallia. A survey of the transcriptomes of three representative corallimorpharians led to the identification of homologs of some skeletal organic matrix proteins (SOMPs) previously considered to be restricted to corals.Carbonic anhydrases (CAs), which are ubiquitous proteins involved in CO2 trafficking, are involved in both coral calcification and photosynthesis by endosymbiotic Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). These multiple roles are assumed to place increased demands on the CA repertoire and have presumably driven the elaboration of the complex CA repertoires typical of corals (note that "corals" are defined here as reef-building Scleractinia). Comparison of the CA inventories of corallimorpharians with those of corals reveals that corals have specifically expanded the secreted and membrane-associated type CAs, whereas similar complexity is observed in the two groups with respect to other CA types.Comparison of the CA complement of the nonsymbiotic corallimorph Corynactis australis with that of Ricordea yuma, a corallimorph which normally hosts Symbiodinium, reveals similar numbers and distribution of CA types and suggests that an expansion of the CA repertoire has been necessary to enable calcification but may not be a requirement to enable symbiosis. Consistent with this idea, preliminary analysis suggests that the CA complexity of zooxanthellate and nonzooxanthellate sea anemones is similar.The comparisons above suggest that although there are relatively few new genes in the skeletal organic matrix of corals (which controls the skeleton deposition process), the evolution of calcification required an expanded repertoire of secreted and membrane-associated CAs.}, } @article {pmid28158213, year = {2017}, author = {Airi, V and Prantoni, S and Calegari, M and Lisini Baldi, V and Gizzi, F and Marchini, C and Levy, O and Falini, G and Dubinsky, Z and Goffredo, S}, title = {Reproductive output of a non-zooxanthellate temperate coral is unaffected by temperature along an extended latitudinal gradient.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0171051}, pmid = {28158213}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {249930/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Seawater ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Global environmental change, in marine ecosystems, is associated with concurrent shifts in water temperature, circulation, stratification, and nutrient input, with potentially wide-ranging biological effects. Variations in seawater temperature might alter physiological functioning, reproductive efficiency, and demographic traits of marine organisms, leading to shifts in population size and abundance. Differences in temperature tolerances between organisms can identify individual and ecological characteristics, which make corals able to persist and adapt in a climate change context. Here we investigated the possible effect of temperature on the reproductive output of the solitary non-zooxanthellate temperate coral Leptopsammia pruvoti, along an 8° latitudinal gradient. Samples have been collected in six populations along the gradient and each polyp was examined using histological and cyto-histometric analyses. We coupled our results with previous studies on the growth, demography, and calcification of L. pruvoti along the same temperature gradient, and compared them with those of another sympatric zooxanthellate coral Balanophyllia europaea to understand which trophic strategy makes the coral more tolerant to increasing temperature. The non-zooxanthellate species seemed to be quite tolerant to temperature increases, probably due to the lack of the symbiosis with zooxanthellae. To our knowledge, this is the first field investigation of the relationship between reproductive output and temperature increase of a temperate asymbiotic coral, providing novel insights into the poorly studied non-zooxanthellate scleractinians.}, } @article {pmid28155997, year = {2017}, author = {Belcheva, A}, title = {MicroRNAs at the epicenter of intestinal homeostasis.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201600200}, pmid = {28155997}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Death ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Maintaining intestinal homeostasis is a key prerequisite for a healthy gut. Recent evidence points out that microRNAs (miRNAs) act at the epicenter of the signaling networks regulating this process. The fine balance in the interaction between gut microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells, and the host immune system is achieved by constant transmission of signals and their precise regulation. Gut microbes extensively communicate with the host immune system and modulate host gene expression. On the other hand, sensing of gut microbiota by the immune cells provides appropriate tolerant responses that facilitate the symbiotic relationships. While the role of many regulatory proteins, receptors and their signaling pathways in the regulation of the intestinal homeostasis is well documented, the involvement of non-coding RNA molecules in this process has just emerged. This review discusses the most recent knowledge about the contribution of miRNAs in the regulation of the intestinal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid28154571, year = {2017}, author = {Karpyn Esqueda, M and Yen, AL and Rochfort, S and Guthridge, KM and Powell, KS and Edwards, J and Spangenberg, GC}, title = {A Review of Perennial Ryegrass Endophytes and Their Potential Use in the Management of African Black Beetle in Perennial Grazing Systems in Australia.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {28154571}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The major insect pest of Australian cool temperate pastures is the root-feeding insect Heteronychus arator (African black beetle, ABB). Significant pasture damage can occur even at low ABB densities (11 individuals per square meter), and often re-sowing of the whole paddock is required. Mitigation of the effects of pasture pests, and in particular subterranean species such as the larval form of ABB, can be challenging. Early detection is limited by the ability to visualize above-ground symptoms, and chemical control of insects in soil is often ineffective. This review takes a look at the historical events that molded the pastoral landscape in Australia. The importation route, changes in land management and pasture composition by European settlers may have aided the establishment of ABB in Australia. Perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne is discussed as it is one of the most important perennial agricultural grasses and is widely-sown in moderate-to-high-rainfall temperate zones of the world. Endophytic fungi from the genus Epichloë form symbiotic relationships with cool season grasses such as Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass). They have been studied extensively and are well documented for enhancing persistence in pasture via a suite of bioactive secondary metabolites produced by the fungal symbionts. Several well-characterized secondary metabolites are discussed. Some can have negative effects on cattle (e.g., ergovaline and lolitrems) while others have been shown to benefit the host plant through deterrence of insect pests from feeding and by insecticidal activity (e.g., peramine, lolines, ergopeptines). Various control methods for ABB are also discussed, with a focus on the potential role of asexual Epichloë endophytes.}, } @article {pmid28154148, year = {2017}, author = {Johnson, MD and Lasek-Nesselquist, E and Moeller, HV and Altenburger, A and Lundholm, N and Kim, M and Drumm, K and Moestrup, Ø and Hansen, PJ}, title = {Mesodinium rubrum: The symbiosis that wasn't.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {7}, pages = {E1040-E1042}, pmid = {28154148}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Ciliophora ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid28152560, year = {2017}, author = {Thompson, LR and Nikolakakis, K and Pan, S and Reed, J and Knight, R and Ruby, EG}, title = {Transcriptional characterization of Vibrio fischeri during colonization of juvenile Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {1845-1856}, pmid = {28152560}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {F32 GM112214/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Energy Metabolism/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri is the monospecific symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the establishment of this association involves a number of signaling pathways and transcriptional responses between both partners. We report here the first full RNA-Seq dataset representing host-associated V. fischeri cells from colonized juvenile E. scolopes, as well as comparative transcriptomes under both laboratory and simulated marine planktonic conditions. These data elucidate the broad transcriptional changes that these bacteria undergo during the early stages of symbiotic colonization. We report several previously undescribed and unexpected transcriptional responses within the early stages of this symbiosis, including gene expression patterns consistent with biochemical stresses inside the host, and metabolic patterns distinct from those reported in associations with adult animals. Integration of these transcriptional data with a recently developed metabolic model of V. fischeri provides us with a clearer picture of the metabolic state of symbionts within the juvenile host, including their possible carbon sources. Taken together, these results expand our understanding of the early stages of the squid-vibrio symbiosis, and more generally inform the transcriptional responses underlying the activities of marine microbes during host colonization.}, } @article {pmid28152300, year = {2017}, author = {Ryu, H and Laffont, C and Frugier, F and Hwang, I}, title = {MAP Kinase-Mediated Negative Regulation of Symbiotic Nodule Formation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Molecules and cells}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {17-23}, pmid = {28152300}, issn = {0219-1032}, mesh = {MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/*growth & development ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades play critical roles in various cellular events in plants, including stress responses, innate immunity, hormone signaling, and cell specificity. MAPK-mediated stress signaling is also known to negatively regulate nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interactions, but the molecular mechanism of the MAPK signaling cascades underlying the symbiotic nodule development remains largely unknown. We show that the MtMKK5-MtMPK3/6 signaling module negatively regulates the early symbiotic nodule formation, probably upstream of ERN1 (ERF Required for Nodulation 1) and NSP1 (Nod factor Signaling Pathway 1) in Medicago truncatula. The overexpression of MtMKK5 stimulated stress and defense signaling pathways but also reduced nodule formation in M. truncatula roots. Conversely, a MAPK specific inhibitor, U0126, enhanced nodule formation and the expression of an early nodulation marker gene, MtNIN. We found that MtMKK5 directly activates MtMPK3/6 by phosphorylating the TEY motif within the activation loop and that the MtMPK3/6 proteins physically interact with the early nodulation-related transcription factors ERN1 and NSP1. These data suggest that the stress signaling-mediated MtMKK5/MtMPK3/6 module suppresses symbiotic nodule development via the action of early nodulation transcription factors.}, } @article {pmid28152002, year = {2017}, author = {Goulet, TL and Shirur, KP and Ramsby, BD and Iglesias-Prieto, R}, title = {The effects of elevated seawater temperatures on Caribbean gorgonian corals and their algal symbionts, Symbiodinium spp.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e0171032}, pmid = {28152002}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acclimatization/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry/*physiology ; Caribbean Region ; Chlorophyll/analysis/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Enzymes/metabolism ; Genotype ; Mexico ; Seawater ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Global climate change not only leads to elevated seawater temperatures but also to episodic anomalously high or low temperatures lasting for several hours to days. Scleractinian corals are detrimentally affected by thermal fluctuations, which often lead to an uncoupling of their mutualism with Symbiodinium spp. (coral bleaching) and potentially coral death. Consequently, on many Caribbean reefs scleractinian coral cover has plummeted. Conversely, gorgonian corals persist, with their abundance even increasing. How gorgonians react to thermal anomalies has been investigated utilizing limited parameters of either the gorgonian, Symbiodinium or the combined symbiosis (holobiont). We employed a holistic approach to examine the effect of an experimental five-day elevated temperature episode on parameters of the host, symbiont, and the holobiont in Eunicea tourneforti, E. flexuosa and Pseudoplexaura porosa. These gorgonian corals reacted and coped with 32°C seawater temperatures. Neither Symbiodinium genotypes nor densities differed between the ambient 29.5°C and 32°C. Chlorophyll a and c2 per Symbiodinium cell, however, were lower at 32°C leading to a reduction in chlorophyll content in the branches and an associated reduction in estimated absorbance and increase in the chlorophyll a specific absorption coefficient. The adjustments in the photochemical parameters led to changes in photochemical efficiencies, although these too showed that the gorgonians were coping. For example, the maximum excitation pressure, Qm, was significantly lower at 32°C than at 29.5°C. In addition, although per dry weight the amount of protein and lipids were lower at 32°C, the overall energy content in the tissues did not differ between the temperatures. Antioxidant activity either remained the same or increased following exposure to 32°C further reiterating a response that dealt with the stressor. Taken together, the capability of Caribbean gorgonian corals to modify symbiont, host and consequently holobiont parameters may partially explain their persistence on reefs faced with climate change.}, } @article {pmid28145020, year = {2018}, author = {Dunn, J and Casey, C and Sandoe, D and Hyde, MK and Cheron-Sauer, MC and Lowe, A and Oliffe, JL and Chambers, SK}, title = {Advocacy, support and survivorship in prostate cancer.}, journal = {European journal of cancer care}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {e12644}, pmid = {28145020}, issn = {1365-2354}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Australia ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Male ; *Patient Advocacy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*psychology ; Self-Help Groups/*organization & administration ; *Social Support ; Survivors/psychology ; *Survivorship ; }, abstract = {Across Australia, prostate cancer support groups (PCSG) have emerged to fill a gap in psychosocial care for men and their families. However, an understanding of the triggers and influencers of the PCSG movement is absent. We interviewed 21 SG leaders (19 PC survivors, two partners), of whom six also attended a focus group, about motivations, experiences, past and future challenges in founding and leading PCSGs. Thematic analysis identified four global themes: illness experience; enacting a supportive response; forming a national collective and challenges. Leaders described men's feelings of isolation and neglect by the health system as the impetus for PCSGs to form and give/receive mutual help. Negotiating health care systems was an early challenge. National affiliation enabled leaders to build a united voice in the health system and establish a group identity and collective voice. Affiliation was supported by a symbiotic relationship with tensions between independence, affiliation and governance. Future challenges were group sustainability and inclusiveness. Study findings describe how a grassroots PCSG movement arose consistent with an embodied health movement perspective. Health care organisations who seek to leverage these community resources need to be cognisant of SG values and purpose if they are to negotiate effective partnerships that maximise mutual benefit.}, } @article {pmid28144700, year = {2017}, author = {Cerqueira, T and Pinho, D and Froufe, H and Santos, RS and Bettencourt, R and Egas, C}, title = {Sediment Microbial Diversity of Three Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents Southwest of the Azores.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {2}, pages = {332-349}, pmid = {28144700}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Archaea/*classification ; Atlantic Ocean ; Azores ; Bacteria/*classification ; Eukaryota/*classification ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; }, abstract = {Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike and Rainbow are the three most visited and well-known deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields in the Azores region, located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Their distinct geological and ecological features allow them to support a diversity of vent communities, which are largely dependent on Bacteria and Archaea capable of anaerobic or microaerophilic metabolism. These communities play important ecological roles through chemoautotrophy, feeding and in establishing symbiotic associations. However, the occurrence and distribution of these microbes remain poorly understood, especially in deep-sea sediments. In this study, we provide for the first time a comparative survey of the sediment-associated microbial communities from these three neighbouring vent fields. Sediment samples collected in the Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike and Rainbow vent fields showed significant differences in trace-metal concentrations and associated microbiomes. The taxonomic profiles of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic representatives were assessed by rRNA gene-tag pyrosequencing, identified anaerobic methanogens and microaerobic Epsilonproteobacteria, particularly at the Menez Gwen site, suggesting sediment communities potentially enriched in sub-seafloor microbes rather than from pelagic microbial taxa. Cosmopolitan OTUs were also detected mostly at Lucky Strike and Rainbow sites and affiliated with the bacterial clades JTB255, Sh765B-TzT-29, Rhodospirillaceae and OCS155 marine group and with the archaeal Marine Group I. Some variations in the community composition along the sediment depth were revealed. Elemental contents and hydrothermal influence are suggested as being reflected in the composition of the microbial assemblages in the sediments of the three vent fields. Altogether, these findings represent valuable information for the understanding of the microbial distribution and potential ecological roles in deep-sea hydrothermal fields.}, } @article {pmid28143582, year = {2017}, author = {Cheng, D and Guo, Z and Riegler, M and Xi, Z and Liang, G and Xu, Y}, title = {Gut symbiont enhances insecticide resistance in a significant pest, the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {28143582}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Citrobacter freundii/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Drug Resistance/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Insecticide Resistance/*physiology ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Trichlorfon/metabolism/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria affect insect physiology and ecology. They may also mediate insecticide resistance within their hosts and thereby impact pest and vector control practices. Here, we document a novel mechanism of insecticide resistance in which a gut symbiont of the tephritid pest fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis enhances resistance to the organophosphate insecticide trichlorphon.

RESULTS: We demonstrated that the gut symbiont Citrobacter sp. (CF-BD) plays a key role in the degradation of trichlorphon. Based on a comparative genomics analysis with other Citrobacter species, phosphatase hydrolase genes were identified in CF-BD. These CF-BD genes had higher expression when trichlorphon was present. Bactrocera dorsalis inoculated with isolated CF-BD obtained higher trichlorphon resistance, while antibiotic-treated flies were less resistant confirming the key role of CF-BD in insecticide resistance.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that symbiont-mediated insecticide resistance can readily develop in B. dorsalis and may represent a more widely relevant insecticide resistance mechanism than previously recognized.}, } @article {pmid28142283, year = {2017}, author = {Cao, Y and Halane, MK and Gassmann, W and Stacey, G}, title = {The Role of Plant Innate Immunity in the Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {535-561}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-042916-041030}, pmid = {28142283}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/immunology/*microbiology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/immunology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A classic view of the evolution of mutualism is that it derives from a pathogenic relationship that attenuated over time to a situation in which both partners can benefit. If this is the case for rhizobia, then one might uncover features of the symbiosis that reflect this earlier pathogenic state. For example, as with plant pathogens, it is now generally assumed that rhizobia actively suppress the host immune response to allow infection and symbiosis establishment. Likewise, the host has retained mechanisms to control the nutrient supply to the symbionts and the number of nodules so that they do not become too burdensome. The open question is whether such events are strictly ancillary to the central symbiotic nodulation factor signaling pathway or are essential for rhizobial host infection. Subsequent to these early infection events, plant immune responses can also be induced inside nodules and likely play a role in, for example, nodule senescence. Thus, a balanced regulation of innate immunity is likely required throughout rhizobial infection, symbiotic establishment, and maintenance. In this review, we discuss the significance of plant immune responses in the regulation of symbiotic associations with rhizobia, as well as rhizobial evasion of the host immune system.}, } @article {pmid28140656, year = {2017}, author = {Chandrakasan, G and Seetharaman, P and Gnanasekar, S and Kadarkarai, M and Sivaperumal, S}, title = {Xenorhabdus stockiae KT835471-mediated feasible biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles for their antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.}, journal = {Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology}, volume = {45}, number = {8}, pages = {1675-1684}, doi = {10.1080/21691401.2017.1282495}, pmid = {28140656}, issn = {2169-141X}, mesh = {A549 Cells ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Feasibility Studies ; Gold/chemistry ; Humans ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Silver/chemistry ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study, extracellular metabolites of symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus stockiae (KT835471) was employed for the synthesis of silver (XsAgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (XsAuNPs). Synthesized NPs were characterized using high throughput instrumentation which confirms the generation of stable, crystalline XsAgNPs and XsAuNPs with the mean size of 14 ± 6 and 14 ± 5, respectively. Further, the NPs exhibits an excellent bactericidal effect against six different pathogens. On the other hand, NPs displayed an outstanding anticancer activity against human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549). Therefore, the present study strongly suggests that metal NPs encrusted with functional bio-moieties can be used for different biomedical applications.}, } @article {pmid28139713, year = {2017}, author = {Haraguchi, Y and Kagawa, Y and Sakaguchi, K and Matsuura, K and Shimizu, T and Okano, T}, title = {Thicker three-dimensional tissue from a "symbiotic recycling system" combining mammalian cells and algae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {41594}, pmid = {28139713}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Biomarkers ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; *Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Glucose/metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Myoblasts/*physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac/*physiology ; Oxygen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this paper, we report an in vitro co-culture system that combines mammalian cells and algae, Chlorococcum littorale, to create a three-dimensional (3-D) tissue. While the C2C12 mouse myoblasts and rat cardiac cells consumed oxygen actively, intense oxygen production was accounted for by the algae even in the co-culture system. Although cell metabolism within thicker cardiac cell-layered tissues showed anaerobic respiration, the introduction of innovative co-cultivation partially changed the metabolism to aerobic respiration. Moreover, the amount of glucose consumption and lactate production in the cardiac tissues and the amount of ammonia in the culture media decreased significantly when co-cultivated with algae. In the cardiac tissues devoid of algae, delamination was observed histologically, and the release of creatine kinase (CK) from the tissues showed severe cardiac cell damage. On the other hand, the layered cell tissues with algae were observed to be in a good histological condition, with less than one-fifth decline in CK release. The co-cultivation with algae improved the culture condition of the thicker tissues, resulting in the formation of 160 μm-thick cardiac tissues. Thus, the present study proposes the possibility of creating an in vitro "symbiotic recycling system" composed of mammalian cells and algae.}, } @article {pmid28139080, year = {2017}, author = {Xiao, X and Chen, W and Zong, L and Yang, J and Jiao, S and Lin, Y and Wang, E and Wei, G}, title = {Two cultivated legume plants reveal the enrichment process of the microbiome in the rhizocompartments.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {1641-1651}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14027}, pmid = {28139080}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification ; Endophytes/classification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The microbiomes of rhizocompartments (nodule endophytes, root endophytes, rhizosphere and root zone) in soya bean and alfalfa were analysed using high-throughput sequencing to investigate the interactions among legume species, microorganisms and soil types. A clear hierarchical filtration of microbiota by plants was observed in the four rhizocompartments - the nodule endosphere, root endosphere, rhizosphere and root zone - as demonstrated by significant variations in the composition of the microbial community in the different compartments. The rhizosphere and root zone microbial communities were largely influenced by soil type, and the nodule and root endophytes were primarily determined by plant species. Diverse microbes inhabited the root nodule endosphere, and the corresponding dominant symbiotic rhizobia belonged to Ensifer for alfalfa and Ensifer-Bradyrhizobium for soya bean. The nonsymbiotic nodule endophytes were mainly Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The variation in root microbial communities was also affected by the plant growth stage. In summary, this study demonstrated that the enrichment process of nodule endophytes follows a hierarchical filtration and that the bacterial communities in nodule endophytes vary according to the plant species.}, } @article {pmid28138798, year = {2017}, author = {Raz-Bahat, M and Douek, J and Moiseeva, E and Peters, EC and Rinkevich, B}, title = {The digestive system of the stony coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {Cell and tissue research}, volume = {368}, number = {2}, pages = {311-323}, doi = {10.1007/s00441-016-2555-y}, pmid = {28138798}, issn = {1432-0878}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*anatomy & histology ; Chymotrypsinogen/chemistry/metabolism ; Digestive System/*anatomy & histology/cytology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Because hermatypic species use symbiotic algal photosynthesis, most of the literature in this field focuses on this autotrophic mode and very little research has studied the morphology of the coral's digestive system or the digestion process of particulate food. Using histology and histochemestry, our research reveals that Stylophora pistillata's digestive system is concentrated at the corals' peristome, actinopharynx and mesenterial filaments (MF). We used in-situ hybridization (ISH) of the RNA transcript of the gene that codes for the S. pistillata digestive enzyme, chymotrypsinogen, to shed light on the functionality of the digestive system. Both the histochemistry and the ISH pointed to the MF being specialized digestive organs, equipped with large numbers of acidophilic and basophilic granular gland cells, as well as acidophilic non-granular gland cells, some of which produce chymotrypsinogen. We identified two types of MF: short, trilobed MF and unilobed, long and convoluted MF. Each S. pistillata polyp harbors two long convoluted MF and 10 short MF. While the short MF have neither secreting nor stinging cells, each of the convoluted MF display gradual cytological changes along their longitudinal axis, alternating between stinging and secreting cells and three distinctive types of secretory cells. These observations indicate the important digestive role of the long convoluted MF. They also indicate the existence of novel feeding compartments in the gastric cavity of the polyp, primarily in the nutritionally active peristome, in the actinopharynx and in three regions of the MF that differ from each other in their cellular components, general morphology and chymotrypsinogen excretion.}, } @article {pmid28138140, year = {2017}, author = {Hallez, R and Delaby, M and Sanselicio, S and Viollier, PH}, title = {Hit the right spots: cell cycle control by phosphorylated guanosines in alphaproteobacteria.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {137-148}, pmid = {28138140}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Caulobacter crescentus/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle/physiology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints/*physiology ; Cell Division ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Cytokinesis/physiology ; DNA Replication/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Guanosine Pentaphosphate/*metabolism ; Guanosine Tetraphosphate/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The class Alphaproteobacteria includes Gram-negative free-living, symbiotic and obligate intracellular bacteria, as well as important plant, animal and human pathogens. Recent work has established the key antagonistic roles that phosphorylated guanosines, cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP) and the alarmones guanosine tetraphosphate and guanosine pentaphosphate (collectively referred to as (p)ppGpp), have in the regulation of the cell cycle in these bacteria. In this Review, we discuss the insights that have been gained into the regulation of the initiation of DNA replication and cytokinesis by these second messengers, with a particular focus on the cell cycle of Caulobacter crescentus. We explore how the fluctuating levels of c-di-GMP and (p)ppGpp during the progression of the cell cycle and under conditions of stress control the synthesis and proteolysis of key regulators of the cell cycle. As these signals also promote bacterial interactions with host cells, the enzymes that control (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP are attractive antibacterial targets.}, } @article {pmid28138099, year = {2017}, author = {Grondin, JM and Tamura, K and Déjean, G and Abbott, DW and Brumer, H}, title = {Polysaccharide Utilization Loci: Fueling Microbial Communities.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {15}, pages = {}, pmid = {28138099}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {MOP-137134//CIHR/Canada ; MOP-142472//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacteroidetes/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Energy Metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydrolysis ; *Multigene Family ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The complex carbohydrates of terrestrial and marine biomass represent a rich nutrient source for free-living and mutualistic microbes alike. The enzymatic saccharification of these diverse substrates is of critical importance for fueling a variety of complex microbial communities, including marine, soil, ruminant, and monogastric microbiota. Consequently, highly specific carbohydrate-active enzymes, recognition proteins, and transporters are enriched in the genomes of certain species and are of critical importance in competitive environments. In Bacteroidetes bacteria, these systems are organized as polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), which are strictly regulated, colocalized gene clusters that encode enzyme and protein ensembles required for the saccharification of complex carbohydrates. This review provides historical perspectives and summarizes key findings in the study of these systems, highlighting a critical shift from sequence-based PUL discovery to systems-based analyses combining reverse genetics, biochemistry, enzymology, and structural biology to precisely illuminate the molecular mechanisms underpinning PUL function. The ecological implications of dynamic PUL deployment by key species in the human gastrointestinal tract are explored, as well as the wider distribution of these systems in other gut, terrestrial, and marine environments.}, } @article {pmid28134534, year = {2017}, author = {Cai, X and Challinor, VL and Zhao, L and Reimer, D and Adihou, H and Grün, P and Kaiser, M and Bode, HB}, title = {Biosynthesis of the Antibiotic Nematophin and Its Elongated Derivatives in Entomopathogenic Bacteria.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {806-809}, doi = {10.1021/acs.orglett.6b03796}, pmid = {28134534}, issn = {1523-7052}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis/chemistry/pharmacology ; Antiparasitic Agents/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Indoles/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Leishmania/drug effects ; Myoblasts/drug effects/parasitology ; Nematoda/drug effects ; Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects ; Rats ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Trypanosoma/drug effects ; Xenorhabdus/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nematophin, a known antibiotic natural product against Staphylococcus aureus for almost 20 years, is produced by all strains of Xenorhabdus nematophila. Despite its simple structure, its biosynthesis was unknown. Its biosynthetic pathway is reported using heterologous production in Escherichia coli. Additionally, the identification, structure elucidation, and biosynthesis of six extended nematophin derivatives from Xenorhabdus PB62.4 carrying an additional valine are reported. Preliminary bioactivity studies suggest a biological role of these compounds in the bacteria-nematode-insect symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28131442, year = {2017}, author = {Doré, J and Multon, MC and Béhier, JM and , }, title = {The human gut microbiome as source of innovation for health: Which physiological and therapeutic outcomes could we expect?.}, journal = {Therapie}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {21-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.therap.2016.12.007}, pmid = {28131442}, issn = {0040-5957}, mesh = {Clostridioides difficile ; Clostridium Infections/therapy ; Diet ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {From the moment of birth, each human being builds a microbe-host symbiosis which is key for the preservation of its health and well-being. This personal symbiotic coexistence is the result of progressive enrichments in microorganism diversity through external supplies. This diversity is nowadays massively overthrown by drastic changes related to clinical practice in birth management, environmental exposure, nutrition and healthcare behaviors. The last two generations have been the frame of massive modifications in life and food habits, with people being more and more sedentary, overfed and permeated with drugs and pollutants. We are now able to measure the impact of these changes on the gut microbiota diversity. Concomitantly, these modifications of lifestyle were associated with a dramatic increase in incidence of immune-mediated diseases including metabolic, allergic and inflammatory diseases and most likely neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Microbiota is becoming a hot topic in the scientific community and in the mainstream media. The number of scientific publications increased by up to a factor three over the last five years, with gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases being the most productive areas. In the intellectual property landscape, the patent families on microbiota have more than doubled in the meantime. In parallel, funding either from National Institutes (e.g. from NIH which funds research mainly in the field of allergies, infections, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, from the White House which launched the national microbiome initiative) or by pharmaceutical companies follow the same trend, showing a boost and a strong support in the research field on microbiota. All major health players are investing in microbiome research as shown by the number of deals signed and by funding during 2015. The Giens round table addressed how the medicine of tomorrow, considering human beings as a human-microbe symbiotic supraorganism, could leverage microbiome knowledge and tools. The rationale for our working group has been structured around four domains of innovation that could derive from ongoing efforts in deciphering the interactions between human cells and intestinal microbiome as a central component of human health, namely: (1) development of stratification and monitoring tools; (2) identification of new target and drug discovery, as a part of our supra-genome; (4) exploitation of microbiota as a therapeutic target that can be modulated; (4) and finally as a source of live biotherapeutics and adjuvants. These four streams will exemplify how microbiota has changed the way we consider a wide range of chronic and incurable diseases and the consequences of long-lasting dysbiosis. In-depth microbiota analysis is opening one of the broadest fields of investigation for improving human and animal health and will be a source of major therapeutic innovations for tackling today's medical unmet needs. We thus propose a range of recommendations for basic researchers, care givers as well as for health authorities to gain reliability in microbiome analysis and accelerate discovery processes and their translation into applications for the benefits of the people. Finally, les Ateliers de Giens round table on microbiota benefited from the richness of the French ecosystem. France represents a center of excellence in the microbiota research field, with French institutions as Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA [Metagenopolis, Micalis]), Centre national de la recherché scientifique (CNRS), Unité de recherche sur les maladies infectieuses et tropicales émergentes (URMITE), Institut of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Institut des maladies métaboliques et cardiovasculaires (I2MC), Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm), Pasteur Institute and Gustave-Roussy being top-players for the number of publications.}, } @article {pmid28130670, year = {2017}, author = {Venmathi Maran, BA and Kim, IH and Bratova, OA and Ivanenko, VN}, title = {Two new species of poecilostomatoid copepods symbiotic on the venomous echinoid Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata) from Vietnam.}, journal = {Systematic parasitology}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {227-241}, pmid = {28130670}, issn = {1573-5192}, mesh = {Animals ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Echinodermata/*parasitology ; Species Specificity ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {Two new coexisting species of crustacean copepods (Poecilostomatoida) belonging to the echinoid-specific genera Mecomerinx Humes, 1977 (Pseudanthessiidae) and Clavisodalis Humes, 1970 (Taeniacanthidae) found associated with the venomous flower urchin Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea: Toxopneustidae) in the South China Sea (Vietnam) are described. The diagnostic features of Mecomerinx ohtsukai n. sp. are: (i) three setae and one aesthetasc on the first segment of antennules; (ii) relatively long caudal ramus; (iii) elongated terminal segment of the antenna; and (iv) two claws on the terminal segment of antenna slightly unequal in length. The taeniacanthid copepod Clavisodalis toxopneusti n. sp. is distinguished from all seven known congeners by having two-segmented endopod of the legs 2-4 and four setae on the distal endopodal segment of the leg 1. This is the first report on copepods associated with echinoids of the genus Toxopneustes Agassiz and the first finding of Mecomerinx as well as taeniacanthid copepods in the South China Sea associated with echinoids.}, } @article {pmid28127053, year = {2017}, author = {Pekas, A and Palevsky, E and Sumner, JC and Perotti, MA and Nesvorna, M and Hubert, J}, title = {Comparison of bacterial microbiota of the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its factitious prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, pmid = {28127053}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Acari/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Neoseiulus cucumeris is a predatory mite used for biological control of arthropod pests. Mass-reared predators are fed with factitious prey mites such as Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Although some information on certain endosymbionts of N. cucumeris and T. putrescentiae exists, it is unclear whether both species share bacterial communities. The bacterial communities in populations of predator and prey mites, as well as the occurence of potential acaropathogenic bacteria were analyzed. The comparisons were based on the following groups: (i) N. cucumeris mass-production; (ii) N. cucumeris laboratory population with disease symptoms; (iii) T. putrescentiae pure populations and; (iv) T. putrescentiae from rearing units of N. cucumeris. Only 15% of OTUs were present in all samples from predatory and prey mite populations (core OTUs): the intracellular symbionts Wolbachia, Cardinium, plus other Blattabacterium-like, Solitalea-like, and Bartonella-like symbionts. Environmental bacteria were more abundant in predatory mites, while symbiotic bacteria prevailed in prey mites. Relative numbers of certain bacterial taxa were significantly different between the microbiota of prey mites reared with and without N. cucumeris. No significant differences were found in the bacterial communities of healthy N. cucumeris compared to N. cucumeris showing disease symptoms. We did not identify any confirmed acaropathogenic bacteria among microbiota.}, } @article {pmid28126941, year = {2017}, author = {Torres Tejerizo, G and Wibberg, D and Winkler, A and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Martínez-Romero, E and Niehaus, K and Pühler, A and Kalinowski, J and Lagares, A and Schlüter, A and Pistorio, M}, title = {Genome Sequence of the Symbiotic Type Strain Rhizobium tibeticum CCBAU85039T.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {28126941}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Rhizobium tibeticum was originally isolated from root nodules of Trigonella archiducis-nicolai grown in Tibet, China. This species is also able to nodulate Medicago sativa and Phaseolus vulgaris The whole-genome sequence of the type strain, R. tibeticum CCBAU85039[T], is reported in this study.}, } @article {pmid28126781, year = {2017}, author = {Norby, RJ and De Kauwe, MG and Walker, AP and Werner, C and Zaehle, S and Zak, DR}, title = {Comment on "Mycorrhizal association as a primary control of the CO2 fertilization effect".}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {355}, number = {6323}, pages = {358}, doi = {10.1126/science.aai7976}, pmid = {28126781}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide ; Ecosystem ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Nitrogen ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Terrer et al (Reports, 1 July 2016, p. 72) used meta-analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment experiments as evidence of an interaction between mycorrhizal symbiosis and soil nitrogen availability. We challenge their database and biomass as the response metric and, hence, their recommendation that incorporation of mycorrhizae in models will improve predictions of terrestrial ecosystem responses to increasing atmospheric CO2.}, } @article {pmid28125633, year = {2017}, author = {Büntgen, U and Bagi, I and Fekete, O and Molinier, V and Peter, M and Splivallo, R and Vahdatzadeh, M and Richard, F and Murat, C and Tegel, W and Stobbe, U and Martínez-Peña, F and Sproll, L and Hülsmann, L and Nievergelt, D and Meier, B and Egli, S}, title = {New Insights into the Complex Relationship between Weight and Maturity of Burgundy Truffles (Tuber aestivum).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e0170375}, pmid = {28125633}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*growth & development ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*growth & development ; Hungary ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Soil ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite an increasing demand for Burgundy truffles (Tuber aestivum), gaps remain in our understanding of the fungus' overall lifecycle and ecology. Here, we compile evidence from three independent surveys in Hungary and Switzerland. First, we measured the weight and maturity of 2,656 T. aestivum fruit bodies from a three-day harvest in August 2014 in a highly productive orchard in Hungary. All specimens ranging between 2 and 755 g were almost evenly distributed through five maturation classes. Then, we measured the weight and maturity of another 4,795 T. aestivum fruit bodies harvested on four occasions between June and October 2015 in the same truffière. Again, different maturation stages occurred at varying fruit body size and during the entire fruiting season. Finally, the predominantly unrelated weight and maturity of 81 T. aestivum fruit bodies from four fruiting seasons between 2010 and 2013 in Switzerland confirmed the Hungarian results. The spatiotemporal coexistence of 7,532 small-ripe and large-unripe T. aestivum, which accumulate to ~182 kg, differs from species-specific associations between the size and ripeness that have been reported for other mushrooms. Although size-independent truffle maturation stages may possibly relate to the perpetual belowground environment, the role of mycelial connectivity, soil property, microclimatology, as well as other abiotic factors and a combination thereof, is still unclear. Despite its massive sample size and proof of concept, this study, together with existing literature, suggests consideration of a wider ecological and biogeographical range, as well as the complex symbiotic fungus-host interaction, to further illuminate the hidden development of belowground truffle fruit bodies.}, } @article {pmid28125587, year = {2017}, author = {Liao, HL and Chen, Y and Vilgalys, R}, title = {Correction: Metatranscriptomic Study of Common and Host-Specific Patterns of Gene Expression between Pines and Their Symbiotic Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Genus Suillus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {e1006575}, pmid = {28125587}, issn = {1553-7404}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006348.].}, } @article {pmid28125281, year = {2017}, author = {Waters, MT and Gutjahr, C and Bennett, T and Nelson, DC}, title = {Strigolactone Signaling and Evolution.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {291-322}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-042916-040925}, pmid = {28125281}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/parasitology ; Plants ; Rhizosphere ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are a structurally diverse class of plant hormones that control many aspects of shoot and root growth. Strigolactones are also exuded by plants into the rhizosphere, where they promote symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and germination of root parasitic plants in the Orobanchaceae family. Therefore, understanding how strigolactones are made, transported, and perceived may lead to agricultural innovations as well as a deeper knowledge of how plants function. Substantial progress has been made in these areas over the past decade. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms, core developmental roles, and evolutionary history of strigolactone signaling. We also propose potential translational applications of strigolactone research to agriculture.}, } @article {pmid28125280, year = {2017}, author = {Hohmann, U and Lau, K and Hothorn, M}, title = {The Structural Basis of Ligand Perception and Signal Activation by Receptor Kinases.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {109-137}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-042916-040957}, pmid = {28125280}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Ligands ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants have evolved a family of unique membrane receptor kinases to orchestrate the growth and development of their cells, tissues, and organs. Receptor kinases also form the first line of defense of the plant immune system and allow plants to engage in symbiotic interactions. Here, we discuss recent advances in understanding, at the molecular level, how receptor kinases with lysin-motif or leucine-rich-repeat ectodomains have evolved to sense a broad spectrum of ligands. We summarize and compare the established receptor activation mechanisms for plant receptor kinases and dissect how ligand binding at the cell surface leads to activation of cytoplasmic signaling cascades. Our review highlights that one family of plant membrane receptors has diversified structurally to fulfill very different signaling tasks.}, } @article {pmid28124840, year = {2017}, author = {Waqas, M and Kim, YH and Khan, AL and Shahzad, R and Asaf, S and Hamayun, M and Kang, SM and Khan, MA and Lee, IJ}, title = {Additive effects due to biochar and endophyte application enable soybean to enhance nutrient uptake and modulate nutritional parameters.}, journal = {Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {109-124}, pmid = {28124840}, issn = {1862-1783}, mesh = {Antioxidants/chemistry ; Biphenyl Compounds/chemistry ; Carbon/chemistry ; Charcoal/*chemistry ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Flavonoids/chemistry ; Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry ; Micronutrients/chemistry ; Phenol/chemistry ; Picrates/chemistry ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry ; Saccharomycetales/*physiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Zinc/chemistry ; }, abstract = {We studied the effects of hardwood-derived biochar (BC) and the phytohormone-producing endophyte Galactomyces geotrichum WLL1 in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with respect to basic, macro- and micronutrient uptakes and assimilations, and their subsequent effects on the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging activity. The assimilation of basic nutrients such as nitrogen was up-regulated, leaving carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen unaffected in BC+G. geotrichum-treated soybean plants. In comparison, the uptakes of macro- and micronutrients fluctuated in the individual or co-application of BC and G. geotrichum in soybean plant organs and rhizospheric substrate. Moreover, the same attribute was recorded for the regulation of functional amino acids, isoflavones, fatty acid composition, total sugar contents, total phenolic contents, and DPPH-scavenging activity. Collectively, these results showed that BC+G. geotrichum-treated soybean yielded better results than did the plants treated with individual applications. It was concluded that BC is an additional nutriment source and that the G. geotrichum acts as a plant biostimulating source and the effects of both are additive towards plant growth promotion. Strategies involving the incorporation of BC and endophytic symbiosis may help achieve eco-friendly agricultural production, thus reducing the excessive use of chemical agents.}, } @article {pmid28122010, year = {2017}, author = {Marsden, AE and Grudzinski, K and Ondrey, JM and DeLoney-Marino, CR and Visick, KL}, title = {Impact of Salt and Nutrient Content on Biofilm Formation by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e0169521}, pmid = {28122010}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM114288/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agar ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*drug effects/growth & development ; Biofilms/*drug effects/growth & development ; Culture Media ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri, a marine bacterium and symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes, depends on biofilm formation for successful colonization of the squid's symbiotic light organ. Here, we investigated if culture conditions, such as nutrient and salt availability, affect biofilm formation by V. fischeri by testing the formation of wrinkled colonies on solid media. We found that V. fischeri forms colonies with more substantial wrinkling when grown on the nutrient-dense LBS medium containing NaCl relative to those formed on the more nutrient-poor, seawater-salt containing SWT medium. The presence of both tryptone and yeast extract was necessary for the production of "normal" wrinkled colonies; when grown on tryptone alone, the colonies displayed a divoting phenotype and were attached to the agar surface. We also found that the type and concentration of specific seawater salts influenced the timing of biofilm formation. Of the conditions assayed, wrinkled colony formation occurred earliest in LBS(-Tris) media containing 425 mM NaCl, 35 mM MgSO4, and 5 mM CaCl2. Pellicle formation, another measure of biofilm development, was also enhanced in these growth conditions. Therefore, both nutrient and salt availability contribute to V. fischeri biofilm formation. While growth was unaffected, these optimized conditions resulted in increased syp locus expression as measured by a PsypA-lacZ transcriptional reporter. We anticipate these studies will help us understand how the natural environment of V. fischeri affects its ability to form biofilms and, ultimately, colonize E. scolopes.}, } @article {pmid28120360, year = {2017}, author = {Levin, RA and Suggett, DJ and Nitschke, MR and van Oppen, MJH and Steinberg, PD}, title = {Expanding the Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae, Suessiales) Toolkit Through Protoplast Technology.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {5}, pages = {588-597}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12393}, pmid = {28120360}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism ; Cellulase/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*ultrastructure ; Protoplasts/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates within the genus Symbiodinium are photosymbionts of many tropical reef invertebrates, including corals, making them central to the health of coral reefs. Symbiodinium have therefore gained significant research attention, though studies have been constrained by technical limitations. In particular, the generation of viable cells with their cell walls removed (termed protoplasts) has enabled a wide range of experimental techniques for bacteria, fungi, plants, and algae such as ultrastructure studies, virus infection studies, patch clamping, genetic transformation, and protoplast fusion. However, previous studies have struggled to remove the cell walls from armored dinoflagellates, potentially due to the internal placement of their cell walls. Here, we produce the first Symbiodinium protoplasts from three genetically and physiologically distinct strains via incubation with cellulase and osmotic agents. Digestion of the cell walls was verified by a lack of Calcofluor White fluorescence signal and by cell swelling in hypotonic culture medium. Fused protoplasts were also observed, motivating future investigation into intra- and inter-specific somatic hybridization of Symbiodinium. Following digestion and transfer to regeneration medium, protoplasts remained photosynthetically active, regrew cell walls, regained motility, and entered exponential growth. Generation of Symbiodinium protoplasts opens exciting, new avenues for researching these crucial symbiotic dinoflagellates, including genetic modification.}, } @article {pmid28120111, year = {2017}, author = {van der Heyde, M and Ohsowski, B and Abbott, LK and Hart, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus responses to disturbance are context-dependent.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {431-440}, pmid = {28120111}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Environment ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic disturbance is one of the most important forces shaping soil ecosystems. While organisms that live in the soil, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, are sensitive to disturbance, their response is not always predictable. Given the range of disturbance types and differences among AM fungi in their growth strategies, the unpredictability of the responses of AM fungi to disturbance is not surprising. We investigated the role of disturbance type (i.e., soil disruption, agriculture, host perturbation, and chemical disturbance) and fungus identity on disturbance response in the AM symbiosis. Using meta-analysis, we found evidence for differential disturbance response among AM fungal species, as well as evidence that particular fungal species are especially susceptible to certain disturbance types, perhaps because of their life history strategies.}, } @article {pmid28119634, year = {2016}, author = {Mishra, S and Upadhyay, S and Shukla, RK}, title = {The Role of Strigolactones and Their Potential Cross-talk under Hostile Ecological Conditions in Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {691}, pmid = {28119634}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The changing environment always questions the survival mechanism of life on earth. The plant being special in the sense of their sessile habit need to face many of these environmental fluctuations as they have a lesser escape option. To counter these adverse conditions, plants have developed efficient sensing, signaling, and response mechanism. Among them the role of phytohormones in the management of hostile ecological situations is remarkable. The strigolactone, a newly emerged plant hormone has been identified with many functions such as growth stimulant of parasitic plants, plant architecture determinant, arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis promoter, and also in many other developmental and environmental cues. Despite of their immense developmental potential, the strigolactone research in the last few years has also established their significance in adverse environmental condition. In the current review, its significance under drought, salinity, nutrient starvation, temperature, and pathogenic assail has been discussed. This review also opens the research prospects of strigolactone to better manage the crop loss under hostile ecological conditions.}, } @article {pmid28117504, year = {2017}, author = {Pieczynska, MD and Korona, R and De Visser, JA}, title = {Experimental tests of host-virus coevolution in natural killer yeast strains.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {773-781}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.13044}, pmid = {28117504}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Saccharomyces ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*genetics/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses ; }, abstract = {Fungi may carry cytoplasmic viruses that encode anticompetitor toxins. These so-called killer viruses may provide competitive benefits to their host, but also incur metabolic costs associated with viral replication, toxin production and immunity. Mechanisms responsible for the stable maintenance of these endosymbionts are insufficiently understood. Here, we test whether co-adaptation of host and killer virus underlies their stable maintenance in seven natural and one laboratory strain of the genus Saccharomyces. We employ cross-transfection of killer viruses, all encoding the K1-type toxin, to test predictions from host-virus co-adaptation. These tests support local adaptation of hosts and/or their killer viruses. First, new host-virus combinations have strongly reduced killing ability against a standard sensitive strain when compared with re-constructed native combinations. Second, viruses are more likely to be lost from new than from original hosts upon repeated bottlenecking or the application of stressful conditions. Third, host fitness is increased after the re-introduction of native viruses, but decreased after the introduction of new viruses. Finally, rather than a trade-off, original combinations show a positive correlation between killing ability and fitness. Together, these results suggest that natural yeast killer strains and their viruses have co-adapted, allowing the transition from a parasitic to a mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28116336, year = {2017}, author = {Ren, K and Wang, Y and Liu, T and Wang, G}, title = {Dataset on outdoor behavior-system and spatial-pattern in the third place in cold area-based on the perspective of new energy structure.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {593-597}, pmid = {28116336}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {The data presented in this paper are related to the research article entitled "Exploration of Outdoor Behavior System and Spatial Pattern in the Third Place in Cold Area- based on the perspective of new energy structure" (Ren, 2016) [1]. The dataset was from a field sub-time extended investigation to residents of Power Home Community in Inner Mongolia of China that belongs to cold region of ID area according to Chinese design code for buildings. This filed data provided descriptive statistics about environment-behavior symbiosis system, environment loading, behavior system, spatial demanding and spatial pattern for all kinds of residents (Older, younger, children). The field data set is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analyzes.}, } @article {pmid28116041, year = {2017}, author = {Klonowska, A and López-López, A and Moulin, L and Ardley, J and Gollagher, M and Marinova, D and Tian, R and Huntemann, M and Reddy, TB and Varghese, N and Woyke, T and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Seshadri, R and Baeshen, MN and Baeshen, NA and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality draft genome sequence of Rhizobium mesoamericanum strain STM6155, a Mimosa pudica microsymbiont from New Caledonia.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {7}, pmid = {28116041}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Rhizobium mesoamericanum STM6155 (INSCD = ATYY01000000) is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that can exist as a soil saprophyte or as an effective nitrogen fixing microsymbiont of the legume Mimosa pudica L.. STM6155 was isolated in 2009 from a nodule of the trap host M. pudica grown in nickel-rich soil collected near Mont Dore, New Caledonia. R. mesoamericanum STM6155 was selected as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) genome sequencing project. Here we describe the symbiotic properties of R. mesoamericanum STM6155, together with its genome sequence information and annotation. The 6,927,906 bp high-quality draft genome is arranged into 147 scaffolds of 152 contigs containing 6855 protein-coding genes and 71 RNA-only encoding genes. Strain STM6155 forms an ANI clique (ID 2435) with the sequenced R. mesoamericanum strain STM3625, and the nodulation genes are highly conserved in these strains and the type strain of Rhizobium grahamii CCGE501[T]. Within the STM6155 genome, we have identified a chr chromate efflux gene cluster of six genes arranged into two putative operons and we postulate that this cluster is important for the survival of STM6155 in ultramafic soils containing high concentrations of chromate.}, } @article {pmid28115905, year = {2016}, author = {Pohajda, I and Babić, KH and Rajnović, I and Kajić, S and Sikora, S}, title = {Genetic Diversity and Symbiotic Efficiency of Indigenous Common Bean Rhizobia in Croatia.}, journal = {Food technology and biotechnology}, volume = {54}, number = {4}, pages = {468-474}, pmid = {28115905}, issn = {1330-9862}, abstract = {Nodule bacteria (rhizobia) in symbiotic associations with legumes enable considerable entries of biologically fixed nitrogen into soil. Efforts are therefore made to intensify the natural process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by legume inoculation. Studies of field populations of rhizobia open up the possibility to preserve and probably exploit some indigenous strains with hidden symbiotic or ecological potentials. The main aim of the present study is to determine genetic diversity of common bean rhizobia isolated from different field sites in central Croatia and to evaluate their symbiotic efficiency and compatibility with host plants. The isolation procedure revealed that most soil samples contained no indigenous common bean rhizobia. The results indicate that the cropping history had a significant impact on the presence of indigenous strains. Although all isolates were found to belong to species Rhizobium leguminosarum, significant genetic diversity at the strain level was determined. Application of both random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC- -PCR) methods resulted in similar grouping of strains. Symbiotic efficiency of indigenous rhizobia as well as their compatibility with two commonly grown bean varieties were tested in field experiments. Application of indigenous rhizobial strains as inoculants resulted in significantly different values of nodulation, seed yield as well as plant nitrogen and seed protein contents. The most abundant nodulation and the highest plant nitrogen and protein contents were determined in plants inoculated with R. leguminosarum strains S17/2 and S21/6. Although, in general, the inoculation had a positive impact on seed yield, differences depending on the applied strain were not determined. The overall results show the high degree of symbiotic efficiency of the specific indigenous strain S21/6. These results indicate different symbiotic potential of indigenous strains and confirmed the importance of rhizobial strain selection. These are the first studies of indigenous common bean rhizobia in Croatia that provide the basis for further characterization and selection of highly efficient indigenous strains and their potential use in agricultural practice and future research.}, } @article {pmid28112727, year = {2017}, author = {Zehr, JP and Shilova, IN and Farnelid, HM and Muñoz-Marín, MD and Turk-Kubo, KA}, title = {Erratum: Unusual marine unicellular symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {17016}, doi = {10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.16}, pmid = {28112727}, issn = {2058-5276}, } @article {pmid28111719, year = {2018}, author = {Amid, C and Olstedt, M and Gunnarsson, JS and Le Lan, H and Tran Thi Minh, H and Van den Brink, PJ and Hellström, M and Tedengren, M}, title = {Additive effects of the herbicide glyphosate and elevated temperature on the branched coral Acropora formosa in Nha Trang, Vietnam.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {25}, number = {14}, pages = {13360-13372}, pmid = {28111719}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Chlorophyll A/*chemistry ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry ; Glycine/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Herbicides/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; Temperature ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {The combined effects of the herbicide glyphosate and elevated temperature were studied on the tropical staghorn coral Acropora formosa, in Nha Trang bay, Vietnam. The corals were collected from two different reefs, one close to a polluted fish farm and one in a marine-protected area (MPA). In the laboratory, branches of the corals were exposed to the herbicide glyphosate at ambient (28 °C) and at 3 °C elevated water temperatures (31 °C). Effects of herbicide and elevated temperature were studied on coral bleaching using photography and digital image analysis (new colorimetric method developed here based on grayscale), chlorophyll a analysis, and symbiotic dinoflagellate (Symbiodinium, referred to as zooxanthellae) counts. All corals from the MPA started to bleach in the laboratory before they were exposed to the treatments, indicating that they were very sensitive, as opposed to the corals collected from the more polluted site, which were more tolerant and showed no bleaching response to temperature increase or herbicide alone. However, the combined exposure to the stressors resulted in significant loss of color, proportional to loss in chlorophyll a and zooxanthellae. The difference in sensitivity of the corals collected from the polluted site versus the MPA site could be explained by different symbiont types: the resilient type C3u and the stress-sensitive types C21 and C23, respectively. The additive effect of elevated temperatures and herbicides adds further weight to the notion that the bleaching of coral reefs is accelerated in the presence of multiple stressors. These results suggest that the corals in Nha Trang bay have adapted to the ongoing pollution to become more tolerant to anthropogenic stressors, and that multiple stressors hamper this resilience. The loss of color and decrease of chlorophyll a suggest that bleaching is related to concentration of chloro-pigments. The colorimetric method could be further fine-tuned and used as a precise, non-intrusive tool for monitoring coral bleaching in situ.}, } @article {pmid28111565, year = {2016}, author = {McAnulty, SJ and Nyholm, SV}, title = {The Role of Hemocytes in the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid, Euprymna scolopes: A Model Organism for Studying Beneficial Host-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2013}, pmid = {28111565}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Most, if not all, animals engage in associations with bacterial symbionts. Understanding the mechanisms by which host immune systems and beneficial bacteria communicate is a fundamental question in the fields of immunology and symbiosis. The Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) engages in two known symbioses; a binary relationship with the light organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri, and a bacterial consortium within a specialized organ of the female reproductive system, the accessory nidamental gland (ANG). E. scolopes has a well-developed circulatory system that allows immune cells (hemocytes) to migrate into tissues, including the light organ and ANG. In the association with V. fischeri, hemocytes are thought to have a number of roles in the management of symbiosis, including the recognition of non-symbiotic bacteria and the contribution of chitin as a nutrient source for V. fischeri. Hemocytes are hypothesized to recognize bacteria through interactions between pattern recognition receptors and microbe-associated molecular patterns. Colonization by V. fischeri has been shown to affect the bacteria-binding behavior, gene expression, and proteome of hemocytes, indicating that the symbiont can modulate host immune function. In the ANG, hemocytes have also been observed interacting with the residing bacterial community. As a model host, E. scolopes offers a unique opportunity to study how the innate immune system interacts with both a binary and consortial symbiosis. This mini review will recapitulate what is known about the role of hemocytes in the light organ association and offer future directions for understanding how these immune cells interact with multiple types of symbioses.}, } @article {pmid28110931, year = {2017}, author = {Cobb, MI and Bruce, DJ and Graffagnino, C and Hauck, EF}, title = {Symbiotic relationship of IV-tPA and mechanical thrombectomy in a case of acute tandem ICA-MCA occlusion.}, journal = {Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {68-71}, doi = {10.1016/j.jocn.2016.12.025}, pmid = {28110931}, issn = {1532-2653}, mesh = {Acute Disease ; Combined Modality Therapy/methods ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/*diagnostic imaging/*therapy ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*diagnostic imaging/*therapy ; Male ; Mechanical Thrombolysis/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Stroke/diagnostic imaging/prevention & control ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator/*administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {INTRO: In light of the recent successful mechanical thrombectomy trials, the need for IV-tPA prior is under investigation. Few cases demonstrate angiographically the role of both mechanical and chemical strategies at achieving reperfusion.

CASE REPORT: A 63year-old male presented with an NIHSS 20. CTA demonstrated an acute occlusion of the left cervical and intracranial ICA and MCA. IV-tPA was administered, followed by immediate reperfusion of the cervical ICA with carotid stenting and mechanical thrombectomy. Within the next 10min, the entire intracranial clot burden dissolved under angiographic control. TICI 3 reperfusion was achieved without any further intervention. Post-procedure, the patient recovered fully to an NIHSS of 0.

CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of IV-tPA administration in conjunction to mechanical thrombectomy. The interventionalist should take advantage of the symbiotic effect of the IV-tPA administration, which remains the standard of care so far.}, } @article {pmid28110749, year = {2017}, author = {Bolze, PA and Mommert, M and Mallet, F}, title = {Contribution of Syncytins and Other Endogenous Retroviral Envelopes to Human Placenta Pathologies.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {145}, number = {}, pages = {111-162}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.12.005}, pmid = {28110749}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {Endogenous Retroviruses/*metabolism ; Female ; Gene Products, env/*metabolism ; Genetic Loci ; Humans ; Placenta/*metabolism/*pathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Proteins/*metabolism ; Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fusion, proliferation, angiogenesis, immune tolerance, and tissue survival are some of the critical functions involved in the physiological and pathological processes of placenta development. Strikingly, some of these properties are shared by envelope glycoproteins of retroviruses. Part of the overall retroviral world, the human retroviral heritage consists of hundred thousands of elements representing a huge amount of genetic material as compared to our 25,000 genes, whereas only a few tenths of retroviral loci still contain envelope genes exhibiting large open reading frames. Some of these envelopes, namely Syncytin-1, Syncytin-2, and ERV-3 Env, were shown to support essential functions in placenta development. First, in order to understand where these envelope genes originate and what are the critical mechanisms involved in transcription regulation and protein basic functions such as recognition of cellular receptor by viral envelopes, we will describe the retroviral life cycle and how repeated infections during species evolution led to the formation of retroviral families. We will emphasize how many envelope genes remain in our genome and in which organs they were found to be expressed. Second, Syncytin-1 will be used as a model to decipher essentially in placental context (i) the detailed modalities of transcriptional control including repressive histone marks and CpG methylation epigenetic mechanisms, involvement of tissue-specific transcription factors, and control of mRNA splicing, as well as (ii) the multiple steps required for protein maturation finally leading to a functional trimeric glycosylated protein. The extraordinary versatility of Syncytin-1 will permit to demonstrate that such proteins are likely involved in physiological processes not only in placenta but also in other organs, based on evidence of fusion/differentiation, immunomodulation, apoptosis, and proliferation properties. Third, we will describe extensively the altered behavior of the various levels of transcriptional control or of protein functions/localization/maturation displayed by Syncytins and other endogenous retroviral envelopes. We will exemplify how such altered states may contribute to human placenta pathologies, including Down syndrome, preeclampsia/hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome/intrauterine growth restriction, and gestational trophoblastic diseases including mole and choriocarcinoma. Similar deregulations will be respectively mentioned on this target of fetal invasion that is the endometrium, the reproductive organs that are the testis and the ovary, and in the breast nourisher of the newborn child. All these observations draw outlines of the symbiotic and conflicting mechanisms at work where the retrovirus world and the human world have converged.}, } @article {pmid28108671, year = {2017}, author = {Silverstein, RN and Cunning, R and Baker, AC}, title = {Tenacious D: Symbiodinium in clade D remain in reef corals at both high and low temperature extremes despite impairment.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 7}, pages = {1192-1196}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.148239}, pmid = {28108671}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Climate Change ; Cold Temperature ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef corals are sensitive to thermal stress, which induces coral bleaching (the loss of algal symbionts), often leading to coral mortality. However, corals hosting certain symbionts (notably some members of Symbiodinium clade D) resist bleaching when exposed to high temperatures. To determine whether these symbionts are also cold tolerant, we exposed corals hosting either Symbiodinium C3 or D1a to incremental warming (+1°C week[-1] to 35°C) and cooling (-1°C week[-1] to 15°C), and measured photodamage and symbiont loss. During warming to 33°C, C3 corals were photodamaged and lost >99% of symbionts, while D1a corals experienced photodamage but did not bleach. During cooling, D1a corals suffered more photodamage than C3 corals but still did not bleach, while C3 corals lost 94% of symbionts. These results indicate that photodamage does not always lead to bleaching, suggesting alternate mechanisms exist by which symbionts resist bleaching, and helping explain the persistence of D1a symbionts on recently bleached reefs, with implications for the future of these ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid28107652, year = {2017}, author = {Shao, Y and Chen, B and Sun, C and Ishida, K and Hertweck, C and Boland, W}, title = {Symbiont-Derived Antimicrobials Contribute to the Control of the Lepidopteran Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Cell chemical biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {66-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.11.015}, pmid = {28107652}, issn = {2451-9448}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteriocins/*pharmacology ; Enterococcus/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Lepidoptera/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects develop efficient antimicrobial strategies to flourish in a bacterial world. It has long been proposed that native gut microbiota is an important component of host defense; however, the responsible species have rarely been isolated to elucidate the mechanism of action. Here we show that the dominant symbiotic bacterium Enterococcus mundtii associated with the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis actively secretes a stable class IIa bacteriocin (mundticin KS) against invading bacteria, but not against other gut residents, facilitating the normal development of host gut microbiota. A mundticin-defective strain lost inhibitory activity. Furthermore, purified mundticin cures infected larvae. Thus, the constitutively produced antimicrobials by native extracellular symbionts create a significant chemical barrier inside limiting invader expansion. This unique property also benefits E. mundtii itself by providing a competitive advantage, contributing to its dominance within complex microbial settings and its prevalence across Lepidoptera, and probably promotes the long-term cooperative symbiosis between both parties.}, } @article {pmid28107190, year = {2017}, author = {Van Hée, VF and Labar, D and Dehon, G and Grasso, D and Grégoire, V and Muccioli, GG and Frédérick, R and Sonveaux, P}, title = {Radiosynthesis and validation of (±)-[18F]-3-fluoro-2-hydroxypropionate ([18F]-FLac) as a PET tracer of lactate to monitor MCT1-dependent lactate uptake in tumors.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {8}, number = {15}, pages = {24415-24428}, pmid = {28107190}, issn = {1949-2553}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation/physiology ; Fluorine Radioisotopes/chemistry ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*metabolism ; Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging/*metabolism/pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography/methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals/chemical synthesis/*chemistry ; Symporters/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cancers develop metabolic strategies to cope with their microenvironment often characterized by hypoxia, limited nutrient bioavailability and exposure to anticancer treatments. Among these strategies, the metabolic symbiosis based on the exchange of lactate between hypoxic/glycolytic cancer cells that convert glucose to lactate and oxidative cancer cells that preferentially use lactate as an oxidative fuel optimizes the bioavailability of glucose to hypoxic cancer cells. This metabolic cooperation has been described in various human cancers and can provide resistance to anti-angiogenic therapies. It depends on the expression and activity of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) at the cell membrane. MCT4 is the main facilitator of lactate export by glycolytic cancer cells, and MCT1 is adapted for lactate uptake by oxidative cancer cells. While MCT1 inhibitor AZD3965 is currently tested in phase I clinical trials and other inhibitors of lactate metabolism have been developed for anticancer therapy, predicting and monitoring a response to the inhibition of lactate uptake is still an unmet clinical need. Here, we report the synthesis, evaluation and in vivo validation of (±)-[18F]-3-fluoro-2-hydroxypropionate ([18F]-FLac) as a tracer of lactate for positron emission tomography. [18F]-FLac offers the possibility to monitor MCT1-dependent lactate uptake and inhibition in tumors in vivo.}, } @article {pmid28106771, year = {2017}, author = {Staudacher, H and Schimmel, BC and Lamers, MM and Wybouw, N and Groot, AT and Kant, MR}, title = {Independent Effects of a Herbivore's Bacterial Symbionts on Its Performance and Induced Plant Defences.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {28106771}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Female ; *Herbivory/drug effects ; Solanum lycopersicum/immunology/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Male ; Movement ; Plant Growth Regulators/analysis ; Survival Analysis ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Tetranychidae/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {It is well known that microbial pathogens and herbivores elicit defence responses in plants. Moreover, microorganisms associated with herbivores, such as bacteria or viruses, can modulate the plant's response to herbivores. Herbivorous spider mites can harbour different species of bacterial symbionts and exert a broad range of effects on host-plant defences. Hence, we tested the extent to which such symbionts affect the plant's defences induced by their mite host and assessed if this translates into changes in plant resistance. We assessed the bacterial communities of two strains of the common mite pest Tetranychus urticae. We found that these strains harboured distinct symbiotic bacteria and removed these using antibiotics. Subsequently, we tested to which extent mites with and without symbiotic bacteria induce plant defences in terms of phytohormone accumulation and defence gene expression, and assessed mite oviposition and survival as a measure for plant resistance. We observed that the absence/presence of these bacteria altered distinct plant defence parameters and affected mite performance but we did not find indications for a causal link between the two. We argue that although bacteria-related effects on host-induced plant defences may occur, these do not necessarily affect plant resistance concomitantly.}, } @article {pmid28105525, year = {2017}, author = {Peyer, SM and Heath-Heckman, EAC and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Characterization of the cell polarity gene crumbs during the early development and maintenance of the squid-vibrio light organ symbiosis.}, journal = {Development genes and evolution}, volume = {227}, number = {6}, pages = {375-387}, pmid = {28105525}, issn = {1432-041X}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; NRSA T-32 GM07215//Foundation for the National Institutes of Health/International ; IOS 0817232//National Science Foundation/International ; RO1-A150661//Foundation for the National Institutes of Health/International ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RO1-OD11024//Foundation for the National Institutes of Health/International ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Polarity ; Decapodiformes/anatomy & histology/cytology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells/cytology/microbiology ; Eye/microbiology ; Gene Expression ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The protein Crumbs is a determinant of apical-basal cell polarity and plays a role in apoptosis of epithelial cells and their protection against photodamage. Using the squid-vibrio system, a model for development of symbiotic partnerships, we examined the modulation of the crumbs gene in host epithelial tissues during initiation and maintenance of the association. The extracellular luminous symbiont Vibrio fischeri colonizes the apical surfaces of polarized epithelia in deep crypts of the Euprymna scolopes light organ. During initial colonization each generation, symbiont harvesting is potentiated by the biochemical and biophysical activity of superficial ciliated epithelia, which are several cell layers from the crypt epithelia where the symbionts reside. Within hours of crypt colonization, the symbionts induce the cell death mediated regression of the remote superficial ciliated fields. However, the crypt cells directly interacting with the symbiont are protected from death. In the squid host, we characterized the gene and encoded protein during light organ morphogenesis and in response to symbiosis. Features of the protein sequence and structure, phylogenetic relationships, and localization patterns in the eye supported assignment of the squid protein to the Crumbs family. In situ hybridization revealed that the crumbs transcript shows opposite expression at the onset of symbiosis in the two different regions of the light organ: elevated levels in the superficial epithelia were attenuated whereas low levels in the crypt epithelia were turned up. Although a rhythmic association in which the host controls the symbiont population over the day-night cycle begins in the juvenile upon colonization, cycling of crumbs was evident only in the adult organ with peak expression coincident with maximum symbiont population and luminescence. Our results provide evidence that crumbs responds to symbiont cues that induce developmental apoptosis and to symbiont population dynamics correlating with luminescence-based stress throughout the duration of the host-microbe association.}, } @article {pmid28105505, year = {2017}, author = {Nouioui, I and Del Carmen Montero-Calasanz, M and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Rohde, M and Tisa, LS and Klenk, HP and Gtari, M}, title = {Frankia discariae sp. nov.: an infective and effective microsymbiont isolated from the root nodule of Discaria trinervis.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {5}, pages = {641-647}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-017-1337-6}, pmid = {28105505}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cell Wall/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diaminopimelic Acid/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; *Frankia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhamnaceae/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strain BCU110501[T] was the first isolate reported to fulfill Koch's postulates by inducing effective nodules on its host plant of origin Discaria trinervis (Rhalmnaceae). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, the strain was found to be most closely related to the type strain of Frankia elaeagni DSM 46783[T] (98.6%) followed by F. alni DSM 45986[T] (98.2%), F. casuarinae DSM 45818[T] (97.8%) and F. inefficacies DSM 45817[T] (97.8%). Digital DNA:DNA hybridizations (dDDH) between strain BCU110501[T]and the type strains of other Frankia species were clearly below the cutoff point of 70%. The G+C content of DNA is 72.36%. The cell wall of strain BCU110501[T] contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the cell sugars were galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and ribose. Polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol (PI), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), glycophospholipid (GPL1-3), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and an unknown lipid (L). The major fatty acids of strain BCU110501[T] consisted of iso-C16:0, C17:1 w8c and C16:0. Major menaquinones were MK9 (H4), MK9 (H6) and MK9 (H2). Based on these analyses, strain BCU110501[T] (=DSM 46785[T]=CECT 9042[T]) should be classified as the type strain of a novel Frankia species, for which the name Frankia discariae sp. nov. is proposed.}, } @article {pmid28105044, year = {2016}, author = {Wu, H and Zhou, Y and Luo, Q and Basset, MA}, title = {Training Feedforward Neural Networks Using Symbiotic Organisms Search Algorithm.}, journal = {Computational intelligence and neuroscience}, volume = {2016}, number = {}, pages = {9063065}, pmid = {28105044}, issn = {1687-5273}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Analysis of Variance ; Computer Simulation ; Data Mining ; *Feedback ; Humans ; *Learning ; *Neural Networks, Computer ; *Symbolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic organisms search (SOS) is a new robust and powerful metaheuristic algorithm, which stimulates the symbiotic interaction strategies adopted by organisms to survive and propagate in the ecosystem. In the supervised learning area, it is a challenging task to present a satisfactory and efficient training algorithm for feedforward neural networks (FNNs). In this paper, SOS is employed as a new method for training FNNs. To investigate the performance of the aforementioned method, eight different datasets selected from the UCI machine learning repository are employed for experiment and the results are compared among seven metaheuristic algorithms. The results show that SOS performs better than other algorithms for training FNNs in terms of converging speed. It is also proven that an FNN trained by the method of SOS has better accuracy than most algorithms compared.}, } @article {pmid28104931, year = {2016}, author = {Mohan, C}, title = {Turf wars in radiology: Need for symbiotic relationships.}, journal = {The Indian journal of radiology & imaging}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {421-422}, pmid = {28104931}, issn = {0971-3026}, } @article {pmid28104329, year = {2017}, author = {Shahmohamadloo, RS and Lissemore, L and Prosser, RS and Sibley, PK}, title = {Comparative evaluation of four biosolids formulations on the effects of triclosan on plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal interactions in three crop species.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {583}, number = {}, pages = {292-299}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.067}, pmid = {28104329}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Anti-Infective Agents/analysis/*toxicity ; Crops, Agricultural/*drug effects/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Triclosan/analysis/*toxicity ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; }, abstract = {Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial ingredient found in personal care products that include soaps, shampoos, and other sanitation goods. TCS is moderately hydrophobic and has been shown to be resistant to wastewater treatment and thus accumulates in biosolids. Biosolids are commonly applied to agricultural land but little is known about the risk that TCS in biosolids poses to soil fungal communities following land application. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of TCS on the symbiotic colonization of roots in three field crops (soybean, corn, and spring wheat) by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils amended with four different types of biosolids (liquid, dewatered, composted, alkaline and hydrolyzed). Crops were grown to maturity in pot-exposure systems under controlled temperature settings. Biosolids treatments were spiked with concentrations of TCS typically found in amended fields. Analysis of AMF colonization by hyphae, and the production of arbuscules and vesicles indicated no significant TCS concentration-dependent effects in the three plant species for any of the biosolids formulations. The data indicate that TCS present in municipal biosolids applied to agricultural lands likely poses minimal risks to AMF or its establishment of a symbiotic relationship in the three species tested.}, } @article {pmid28103920, year = {2017}, author = {Miller, EA and Livermore, JA and Alberts, SC and Tung, J and Archie, EA}, title = {Ovarian cycling and reproductive state shape the vaginal microbiota in wild baboons.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {8}, pmid = {28103920}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {P01 AG031719/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG034513/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amenorrhea/microbiology ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lactobacillus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Menstrual Cycle/*physiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Ovulation/*physiology ; Papio cynocephalus/*microbiology ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Vagina/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The vaginal microbiome is an important site of bacterial-mammalian symbiosis. This symbiosis is currently best characterized for humans, where lactobacilli dominate the microbial community and may help defend women against infectious disease. However, lactobacilli do not dominate the vaginal microbiota of any other mammal studied to date, raising key questions about the forces that shape the vaginal microbiome in non-human mammals.

RESULTS: We used Illumina sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to investigate variation in the taxonomic composition of the vaginal microbiota in 48 baboons (Papio cynocephalus), members of a well-studied wild population in Kenya. Similar to prior studies, we found that the baboon vaginal microbiota was not dominated by lactobacilli. Despite this difference, and similar to humans, reproductive state was the dominant predictor of baboon vaginal microbiota, with pregnancy, postpartum amenorrhea, and ovarian cycling explaining 18% of the variance in community composition. Furthermore, among cycling females, a striking 39% of variance in community composition was explained by ovarian cycle phase, with an especially distinctive microbial community around ovulation. Periovulatory females exhibited the highest relative abundance of lactic acid-producing bacteria compared to any other phase, with a mean relative abundance of 44%. To a lesser extent, sexual behavior, especially a history of shared sexual partners, also predicted vaginal microbial similarity between baboons.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite striking differences in their dominant microbes, both human and baboon vaginal microbiota exhibit profound changes in composition in response to reproductive state, ovarian cycle phase, and sexual behavior. We found major shifts in composition during ovulation, which may have implications for disease risk and conception success. These findings highlight the need for future studies to account for fine-scale differences in reproductive state, particularly differences between the various phases of the ovarian cycle. Overall, our work contributes to an emerging understanding of the forces that explain intra- and inter-individual variation in the mammalian vaginal microbiome, with particular emphasis on its role in host health and disease risk.}, } @article {pmid28103497, year = {2017}, author = {Woo, V and Alenghat, T}, title = {Host-microbiota interactions: epigenomic regulation.}, journal = {Current opinion in immunology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {52-60}, pmid = {28103497}, issn = {1879-0372}, support = {K08 DK093784/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK078392/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK114123/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK116868/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Epigenomics ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Histone Deacetylases/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The coevolution of mammalian hosts and their commensal microbiota has led to the development of complex symbiotic relationships between resident microbes and mammalian cells. Epigenomic modifications enable host cells to alter gene expression without modifying the genetic code, and therefore represent potent mechanisms by which mammalian cells can transcriptionally respond, transiently or stably, to environmental cues. Advances in genome-wide approaches are accelerating our appreciation of microbial influences on host physiology, and increasing evidence highlights that epigenomics represent a level of regulation by which the host integrates and responds to microbial signals. In particular, bacterial-derived short chain fatty acids have emerged as one clear link between how the microbiota intersects with host epigenomic pathways. Here we review recent findings describing crosstalk between the microbiota and epigenomic pathways in multiple mammalian cell populations. Further, we discuss interesting links that suggest that the scope of our understanding of epigenomic regulation in the host-microbiota relationship is still in its infancy.}, } @article {pmid28102303, year = {2017}, author = {Alors, D and Grande, FD and Cubas, P and Crespo, A and Schmitt, I and Molina, MC and Divakar, PK}, title = {Panmixia and dispersal from the Mediterranean Basin to Macaronesian Islands of a macrolichen species.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {40879}, pmid = {28102303}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Discriminant Analysis ; Gene Flow ; *Genetic Variation ; Islands ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Mediterranean Region ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Parmeliaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Spores, Fungal/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Mediterranean region, comprising the Mediterranean Basin and the Macaronesian Islands, represents a center of diversification for many organisms. The genetic structure and connectivity of mainland and island microbial populations has been poorly explored, in particular in the case of symbiotic fungi. Here we investigated genetic diversity and spatial structure of the obligate outcrossing lichen-forming fungus Parmelina carporrhizans in the Mediterranean region. Using eight microsatellite and mating-type markers we showed that fungal populations are highly diverse but lack spatial structure. This is likely due to high connectivity and long distance dispersal of fungal spores. Consistent with low levels of linkage disequilibrium and lack of clonality, we detected both mating-type idiomorphs in all populations. Furthermore we showed that the Macaronesian Islands are the result of colonization from the Mediterranean Basin. The unidirectional gene flow, though, seemed not to be sufficient to counterbalance the effects of drift, resulting in comparatively allelic poor peripheral populations. Our study is the first to shed light on the high connectivity and lack of population structure in natural populations of a strictly sexual lichen fungus. Our data further support the view of the Macaronesian Islands as the end of the colonization road for this symbiotic ascomycete.}, } @article {pmid28102293, year = {2017}, author = {Prada, F and Caroselli, E and Mengoli, S and Brizi, L and Fantazzini, P and Capaccioni, B and Pasquini, L and Fabricius, KE and Dubinsky, Z and Falini, G and Goffredo, S}, title = {Ocean warming and acidification synergistically increase coral mortality.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {40842}, pmid = {28102293}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development ; Calcium Carbonate/analysis ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; *Global Warming ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mediterranean Sea ; Seawater/analysis/chemistry ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Organisms that accumulate calcium carbonate structures are particularly vulnerable to ocean warming (OW) and ocean acidification (OA), potentially reducing the socioeconomic benefits of ecosystems reliant on these taxa. Since rising atmospheric CO2 is responsible for global warming and increasing ocean acidity, to correctly predict how OW and OA will affect marine organisms, their possible interactive effects must be assessed. Here we investigate, in the field, the combined temperature (range: 16-26 °C) and acidification (range: pHTS 8.1-7.4) effects on mortality and growth of Mediterranean coral species transplanted, in different seasonal periods, along a natural pH gradient generated by a CO2 vent. We show a synergistic adverse effect on mortality rates (up to 60%), for solitary and colonial, symbiotic and asymbiotic corals, suggesting that high seawater temperatures may have increased their metabolic rates which, in conjunction with decreasing pH, could have led to rapid deterioration of cellular processes and performance. The net calcification rate of the symbiotic species was not affected by decreasing pH, regardless of temperature, while in the two asymbiotic species it was negatively affected by increasing acidification and temperature, suggesting that symbiotic corals may be more tolerant to increasing warming and acidifying conditions compared to asymbiotic ones.}, } @article {pmid28101667, year = {2017}, author = {Balestrini, R and Salvioli, A and Dal Molin, A and Novero, M and Gabelli, G and Paparelli, E and Marroni, F and Bonfante, P}, title = {Impact of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus versus a mixed microbial inoculum on the transcriptome reprogramming of grapevine roots.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {417-430}, pmid = {28101667}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Vitis/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Grapevine, cultivated for both fruit and beverage production, represents one of the most economically important fruit crops worldwide. With the aim of better understanding how grape roots respond to beneficial microbes, a transcriptome sequencing experiment has been performed to evaluate the impact of a single arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species (Funneliformis mosseae) versus a mixed inoculum containing a bacterial and fungal consortium, including different AM species, on Richter 110 rootstock. Results showed that the impact of a single AM fungus and of a complex microbial inoculum on the grapevine transcriptome differed. After 3 months, roots exclusively were colonized after the F. mosseae treatment and several AM marker genes were found to be upregulated. The mixed inoculum led only to traces of colonization by AM fungi, but elicited an important transcriptional regulation. Additionally, the expression of genes belonging to categories such as nutrient transport, transcription factors, and cell wall-related genes was significantly altered in both treatments, but the exact genes affected differed in the two conditions. These findings advance our understanding about the impact of soil beneficial microbes on the root system of a woody plant, also offering the basis for novel approaches in grapevine cultivation.}, } @article {pmid28099773, year = {2017}, author = {Suetsugu, K and Yamato, M and Miura, C and Yamaguchi, K and Takahashi, K and Ida, Y and Shigenobu, S and Kaminaka, H}, title = {Comparison of green and albino individuals of the partially mycoheterotrophic orchid Epipactis helleborine on molecular identities of mycorrhizal fungi, nutritional modes and gene expression in mycorrhizal roots.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {1652-1669}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14021}, pmid = {28099773}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; Orchidaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some green orchids obtain carbon from their mycorrhizal fungi, as well as from photosynthesis. These partially mycoheterotrophic orchids sometimes produce fully achlorophyllous, leaf-bearing (albino) variants. Comparing green and albino individuals of these orchids will help to uncover the molecular mechanisms associated with mycoheterotrophy. We compared green and albino Epipactis helleborine by molecular barcoding of mycorrhizal fungi, nutrient sources based on [15] N and [13] C abundances and gene expression in their mycorrhizae by RNA-seq and cDNA de novo assembly. Molecular identification of mycorrhizal fungi showed that green and albino E. helleborine harboured similar mycobionts, mainly Wilcoxina. Stable isotope analyses indicated that albino E. helleborine plants were fully mycoheterotrophic, whereas green individuals were partially mycoheterotrophic. Gene expression analyses showed that genes involved in antioxidant metabolism were upregulated in the albino variants, which indicates that these plants experience greater oxidative stress than the green variants, possibly due to a more frequent lysis of intracellular pelotons. It was also found that some genes involved in the transport of some metabolites, including carbon sources from plant to fungus, are higher in albino than in green variants. This result may indicate a bidirectional carbon flow even in the mycoheterotrophic symbiosis. The genes related to mycorrhizal symbiosis in autotrophic orchids and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants were also upregulated in the albino variants, indicating the existence of common molecular mechanisms among the different mycorrhizal types.}, } @article {pmid28099471, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, J and Deng, B and Zhang, Y and Cobb, AB and Zhang, Z}, title = {Molybdate in Rhizobial Seed-Coat Formulations Improves the Production and Nodulation of Alfalfa.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e0170179}, pmid = {28099471}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adhesives/*pharmacology ; Alginates/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Adhesion/physiology ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/*pharmacology ; China ; Glucuronic Acid/pharmacology ; Hexuronic Acids/pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/*microbiology ; Molybdenum/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Rhizobium/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Seeds/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia-legume symbiosis is the most well researched biological nitrogen fixation system. Coating legume seeds with rhizobia is now a recognized practical measure for improving the production of legume corp. However, the efficacy of some commercial rhizobia inoculants cannot be guaranteed in China due to the low rate of live rhizobia in these products. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of different rhizobial inoculant formulations on alfalfa productivity and nitrogen fixation. Two rhizobia strains, (ACCC17631 and ACCC17676), that are effective partners with alfalfa variety Zhongmu No. 1 were assessed with different concentrations of ammonium molybdate in seed-coat formulations with two different coating adhesives. Our study showed that the growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation ability of the plants inoculated with the ACCC17631 rhizobial strain were greatest when the ammonium molybdate application was0.2% of the formulation. An ammonium molybdate concentration of 0.1% was most beneficial to the growth of the plants inoculated with the ACCC17676 rhizobial strain. The sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and sodium alginate, used as coating adhesives, did not have a significant effect on alfalfa biomass and nitrogen fixation. However, the addition of skimmed milk to the adhesive improved nitrogenase activity. These results demonstrate that a new rhizobial seed-coat formulation benefitted alfalfa nodulation and yield.}, } @article {pmid28098948, year = {2017}, author = {Sawers, RJ and Svane, SF and Quan, C and Grønlund, M and Wozniak, B and Gebreselassie, MN and González-Muñoz, E and Chávez Montes, RA and Baxter, I and Goudet, J and Jakobsen, I and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Phosphorus acquisition efficiency in arbuscular mycorrhizal maize is correlated with the abundance of root-external hyphae and the accumulation of transcripts encoding PHT1 phosphate transporters.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {2}, pages = {632-643}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14403}, pmid = {28098948}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BB/N008723/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hyphae/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Zea mays/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have long attracted interest for their potential to promote more efficient use of mineral resources in agriculture. Their use, however, remains limited by a lack of understanding of the processes that determine the outcome of the symbiosis. In this study, the impact of host genotype on growth response to mycorrhizal inoculation was investigated in a panel of diverse maize lines. A panel of 30 maize lines was evaluated with and without inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The line Oh43 was identified to show superior response and, along with five other reference lines, was characterized in greater detail in a split-compartment system, using [33] P to quantify mycorrhizal phosphorus uptake. Changes in relative growth indicated variation in host capacity to profit from the symbiosis. Shoot phosphate content, abundance of root-internal and -external fungal structures, mycorrhizal phosphorus uptake, and accumulation of transcripts encoding plant PHT1 family phosphate transporters varied among lines. Superior response in Oh43 is correlated with extensive development of root-external hyphae, accumulation of specific Pht1 transcripts and high phosphorus uptake by mycorrhizal plants. The data indicate that host genetic factors influence fungal growth strategy with an impact on plant performance.}, } @article {pmid28098142, year = {2017}, author = {Behie, SW and Moreira, CC and Sementchoukova, I and Barelli, L and Zelisko, PM and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Carbon translocation from a plant to an insect-pathogenic endophytic fungus.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {14245}, pmid = {28098142}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Transport ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis/*metabolism ; Endophytes/chemistry/*metabolism ; Insecta/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Metarhizium/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/chemistry/*metabolism/parasitology ; Trehalose/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Metarhizium robertsii is a common soil fungus that occupies a specialized ecological niche as an endophyte and an insect pathogen. Previously, we showed that the endophytic capability and insect pathogenicity of Metarhizium are coupled to provide an active method of insect-derived nitrogen transfer to a host plant via fungal mycelia. We speculated that in exchange for this insect-derived nitrogen, the plant would provide photosynthate to the fungus. By using [13]CO2, we show the incorporation of [13]C into photosynthate and the subsequent translocation of [13]C into fungal-specific carbohydrates (trehalose and chitin) in the root/endophyte complex. We determined the amount of [13]C present in root-associated fungal biomass over a 21-day period by extracting fungal carbohydrates and analysing their composition using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These findings are evidence that the host plant is providing photosynthate to the fungus, likely in exchange for insect-derived nitrogen in a tripartite, and symbiotic, interaction.}, } @article {pmid28095877, year = {2017}, author = {Hartman, K and van der Heijden, MG and Roussely-Provent, V and Walser, JC and Schlaeppi, K}, title = {Deciphering composition and function of the root microbiome of a legume plant.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {2}, pmid = {28095877}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Rhizobium/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Trifolium/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diverse assemblages of microbes colonize plant roots and collectively function as a microbiome. Earlier work has characterized the root microbiomes of numerous plant species, but little information is available for legumes despite their key role in numerous ecosystems including agricultural systems. Legumes form a root nodule symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing Rhizobia bacteria and thereby account for large, natural nitrogen inputs into soils. Here, we describe the root bacteria microbiome of the legume Trifolium pratense combining culture-dependent and independent methods. For a functional understanding of individual microbiome members and their impact on plant growth, we began to inoculate root microbiome members alone or in combination to Trifolium roots.

RESULTS: At a whole-root scale, Rhizobia bacteria accounted for ~70% of the root microbiome. Other enriched members included bacteria from the genera Pantoea, Sphingomonas, Novosphingobium, and Pelomonas. We built a reference stock of 200 bacteria isolates, and we found that they corresponded to ~20% of the abundant root microbiome members. We developed a microcosm system to conduct simplified microbiota inoculation experiments with plants. We observed that while an abundant root microbiome member reduced plant growth when inoculated alone, this negative effect was alleviated if this Flavobacterium was co-inoculated with other root microbiome members.

CONCLUSIONS: The Trifolium root microbiome was dominated by nutrient-providing Rhizobia bacteria and enriched for bacteria from genera that may provide disease protection. First microbiota inoculation experiments indicated that individual community members can have plant growth compromising activities without being apparently pathogenic, and a more diverse root community can alleviate plant growth compromising activities of its individual members. A trait-based characterization of the reference stock bacteria will permit future microbiota manipulation experiments to decipher overall microbiome functioning and elucidate the biological mechanisms and interactions driving the observed effects. The presented reductionist experimental approach offers countless opportunities for future systematic and functional examinations of the plant root microbiome.}, } @article {pmid28095528, year = {2017}, author = {Baldwin, HE and Bhatia, ND and Friedman, A and Eng, RM and Seite, S}, title = {The Role of Cutaneous Microbiota Harmony in Maintaining a Functional Skin Barrier.}, journal = {Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {12-18}, pmid = {28095528}, issn = {1545-9616}, mesh = {Administration, Cutaneous ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/drug effects/physiology ; Microbiota/drug effects/*physiology ; Skin/drug effects/*microbiology ; Skin Cream/administration & dosage ; Skin Diseases/drug therapy/microbiology ; *Skin Physiological Phenomena/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The skin is constantly exposed to various endogenous and exogenous factors that may impact its barrier function at the physical, mechanical, immunological, and microbial levels. These factors have the potential to initiate or exacerbate a variety of inflammatory skin conditions, especially those associated with barrier dysfunction. The barrier function of the skin depends upon a symbiotic relationship between resident microbial communities and host tissue. This symbiosis results from complex signals involved in both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Recent research indicates that both bacterial diversity and the relative abundance of different microbes present on and in the skin, may contribute to skin barrier stability or dysfunction. The objectives of this review are to discuss the relationship between the skin microbiota and skin barrier function and to consider mechanisms that may help its preservation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2017;16(1):12-18..}, } @article {pmid28095253, year = {2017}, author = {Traba, HM and Domínguez-Morueco, N and Barreno, E and Catalá, M}, title = {Lichen microalgae are sensitive to environmental concentrations of atrazine.}, journal = {Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {223-228}, doi = {10.1080/03601234.2016.1270679}, pmid = {28095253}, issn = {1532-4109}, mesh = {Atrazine/administration & dosage/*toxicity ; Chlorophyll/analysis/metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*drug effects/metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ecotoxicology/*methods ; Lichens/*drug effects/physiology ; Microalgae/*drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/administration & dosage/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The identification of new organisms for environmental toxicology bioassays is currently a priority, since these tools are strongly limited by the ecological relevance of taxa used to study global change. Lichens are sensitive bioindicators of air quality and their microalgae are an untapped source for new low-cost miniaturized bioassays with ecological importance. In order to increase the availability of a wider range of taxa for bioassays, the sensitivity of two symbiotic lichen microalgae, Asterochloris erici and Trebouxia sp. TR9, to atrazine was evaluated. To achieve this goal, axenic cultures of these phycobionts in suspension were exposed to a range of environmental concentrations of the herbicide atrazine, a common water pollutant. Optical density and chlorophyll autofluorescence were used as endpoints of ecotoxicity and ecophysiology on cell suspensions. Results show that lichen microalgae show high sensitivity to very low doses of atrazine, being higher in Asterochloris erici than in Trebouxia sp. TR9. We conclude that environmental concentrations of atrazine could modify population dynamics probably through a shift in reproduction strategies of these organisms. This seminal work is a breakthrough in the use of lichen microalgae in the assessment of micropollution effects on biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid28094991, year = {2017}, author = {Li, T and Sharma, P and Lipatov, A and Lee, H and Lee, JW and Zhuravlev, MY and Paudel, TR and Genenko, YA and Eom, CB and Tsymbal, EY and Sinitskii, A and Gruverman, A}, title = {Polarization-Mediated Modulation of Electronic and Transport Properties of Hybrid MoS2-BaTiO3-SrRuO3 Tunnel Junctions.}, journal = {Nano letters}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {922-927}, doi = {10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b04247}, pmid = {28094991}, issn = {1530-6992}, abstract = {Hybrid structures composed of ferroelectric thin films and functional two-dimensional (2D) materials may exhibit unique characteristics and reveal new phenomena due to the cross-interface coupling between their intrinsic properties. In this report, we demonstrate a symbiotic interplay between spontaneous polarization of the ultrathin BaTiO3 ferroelectric film and conductivity of the adjacent molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) layer, a 2D narrow-bandgap semiconductor. Polarization-induced modulation of the electronic properties of MoS2 results in a giant tunneling electroresistance effect in the hybrid MoS2-BaTiO3-SrRuO3 ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) with an OFF-to-ON resistance ratio as high as 10[4], a 50-fold increase in comparison with the same type of FTJs with metal electrodes. The effect stems from the reversible accumulation-depletion of the majority carriers in the MoS2 electrode in response to ferroelectric switching, which alters the barrier at the MoS2-BaTiO3 interface. Continuous tunability of resistive states realized via stable sequential domain structures in BaTiO3 adds memristive functionality to the hybrid FTJs. The use of narrow band 2D semiconductors in conjunction with ferroelectric films provides a novel pathway for development of the electronic devices with enhanced performance.}, } @article {pmid28094345, year = {2017}, author = {Yan, L and Liu, D and Wang, XH and Wang, Y and Zhang, B and Wang, M and Xu, H}, title = {Bacterial plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in aquatic environments in China.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {40610}, pmid = {28094345}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/*drug effects/*genetics ; Biomass ; China ; Conjugation, Genetic ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Quinolones/*pharmacology ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Emerging antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to human's health in the 21[st] century. Understanding and combating this issue requires a full and unbiased assessment of the current status on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes and their correlation with each other and bacterial groups. In aquatic environments that are known reservoirs for antimicrobial resistance genes, we were able to reach this goal on plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes that lead to resistance to quinolones and possibly also to the co-emergence of resistance to β-lactams. Novel findings were made that qepA and aac-(6')-Ib genes that were previously regarded as similarly abundant with qnr genes are now dominant among PMQR genes in aquatic environments. Further statistical analysis suggested that the correlation between PMQR and β-lactam resistance genes in the environment is still weak, that the correlations between antimicrobial resistance genes could be weakened by sufficient wastewater treatment, and that the prevalence of PMQR has been implicated in environmental, pathogenic, predatory, anaerobic, and more importantly, human symbiotic bacteria. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of PMQR genes in aquatic environments in Jinan, China, and provides information with which combat with the antimicrobial resistance problem may be fought.}, } @article {pmid28094341, year = {2017}, author = {Luo, C and Luo, K and Meng, L and Wan, B and Zhao, H and Hu, Z}, title = {Ecological impact of a secondary bacterial symbiont on the clones of Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {40754}, pmid = {28094341}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; *Bacteria ; Genotype ; Longevity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects harbor heritable endosymbionts, whether obligatory or facultative, and the role of facultative endosymbionts in shaping the phenotype of these species has become increasingly important. However, little is known about whether micro-injected endosymbionts can have any effects on aphid clones, which was measured using various ecological parameters. We examined the effects between symbiotic treatments and the vital life history traits generated by Regiella insecticola on the life table parameters of Sitobion avenae. The results showed that R. insecticola can decrease the intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (λ) and birth rate and can increase the mean generation times (T) of S. avenae clones, suggesting that R. insecticola may decelerate the normal development of the hosts. No significant differences of these parameters were observed between the examined Sitobion avenae clones, and the symbiont treatment by genotype interaction affected only the net reproduction rate R0, pre-adult duration and total longevity but not the other parameters. Additionally, a population projection showed that R. insecticola decelerated the growth of the S. avenae clones. The evocable effects of R. insecticola on the S. avenae clones may have significant ramifications for the control of S. avenae populations under field/natural conditions.}, } @article {pmid28094097, year = {2017}, author = {Santos, JM and Casaes Alves, PA and Silva, VC and Kruschewsky Rhem, MF and James, EK and Gross, E}, title = {Diverse genotypes of Bradyrhizobium nodulate herbaceous Chamaecrista (Moench) (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) species in Brazil.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {69-79}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.12.004}, pmid = {28094097}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Brazil ; Chamaecrista/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Essential ; *Genotype ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Chamaecrista comprises more than 330 species which are mainly distributed across tropical America, especially in Brazil (256 spp.), the main center of radiation. In this study, nodulation of herbaceous Chamaecrista species that are commonly found growing in different vegetation types in the north eastern Brazilian state of Bahia was assessed together with the diversity of rhizobia isolated from their root nodules. Genetic characterization of the isolates was performed using molecular markers to examine the phylogeny of their "core" (16S rRNA, ITS, recA, glnII, dnaK and gyrB) and symbiosis-related (nifH, nodC) genomes. Nodule morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure were also examined, as was the capacity of the isolates to form nodules on Chamaecrista desvauxii and siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum). Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the isolates belonged to seven clusters within the genus Bradyrhizobium, and more detailed analyses using sequences of the ITS region and concatenated housekeeping genes grouped the Chamaecrista rhizobia by vegetation type and plant species. These analyses also suggested some potentially novel Bradyrhizobium species, which was corroborated by analyses of their nifH and nodC sequences, as these formed separated branches from all Bradyrhizobium type strains. All the 47 strains tested produced effective nodules on C. desvauxii but none on siratro. Chamaecrista nodules are herein described for the first time in detail: they are indeterminate and structurally similar to others described in the Caesalpinioideae, with infection threads in the invasion and nitrogen fixation zones, and with both infected and uninfected (interstitial) cells in the nitrogen fixation zone.}, } @article {pmid28089747, year = {2017}, author = {Ambrosio, R and Ortiz-Marquez, JCF and Curatti, L}, title = {Metabolic engineering of a diazotrophic bacterium improves ammonium release and biofertilization of plants and microalgae.}, journal = {Metabolic engineering}, volume = {40}, number = {}, pages = {59-68}, doi = {10.1016/j.ymben.2017.01.002}, pmid = {28089747}, issn = {1096-7184}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Azotobacter vinelandii/*physiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Fertilizers/*microbiology ; Genetic Enhancement/*methods ; Metabolic Engineering/*methods ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Microalgae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The biological nitrogen fixation carried out by some Bacteria and Archaea is one of the most attractive alternatives to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, with the exception of the symbiotic rhizobia-legumes system, progress towards a more extensive realization of this goal has been slow. In this study we manipulated the endogenous regulation of both nitrogen fixation and assimilation in the aerobic bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii. Substituting an exogenously inducible promoter for the native promoter of glutamine synthetase produced conditional lethal mutant strains unable to grow diazotrophically in the absence of the inducer. This mutant phenotype could be reverted in a double mutant strain bearing a deletion in the nifL gene that resulted in constitutive expression of nif genes and increased production of ammonium. Under GS non-inducing conditions both the single and the double mutant strains consistently released very high levels of ammonium (>20mM) into the growth medium. The double mutant strain grew and excreted high levels of ammonium under a wider range of concentrations of the inducer than the single mutant strain. Induced mutant cells could be loaded with glutamine synthetase at different levels, which resulted in different patterns of extracellular ammonium accumulation afterwards. Inoculation of the engineered bacteria into a microalgal culture in the absence of sources of C and N other than N2 and CO2 from the air, resulted in a strong proliferation of microalgae that was suppressed upon addition of the inducer. Both single and double mutant strains also promoted growth of cucumber plants in the absence of added N-fertilizer, while this property was only marginal in the parental strain. This study provides a simple synthetic genetic circuit that might inspire engineering of optimized inoculants that efficiently channel N2 from the air into crops.}, } @article {pmid28088165, year = {2017}, author = {Le Quéré, A and Tak, N and Gehlot, HS and Lavire, C and Meyer, T and Chapulliot, D and Rathi, S and Sakrouhi, I and Rocha, G and Rohmer, M and Severac, D and Filali-Maltouf, A and Munive, JA}, title = {Genomic characterization of Ensifer aridi, a proposed new species of nitrogen-fixing rhizobium recovered from Asian, African and American deserts.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {85}, pmid = {28088165}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Africa ; Americas ; Asia ; Computational Biology/methods ; Desert Climate ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Plant ; *Genomics/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen fixing bacteria isolated from hot arid areas in Asia, Africa and America but from diverse leguminous plants have been recently identified as belonging to a possible new species of Ensifer (Sinorhizobium). In this study, 6 strains belonging to this new clade were compared with Ensifer species at the genome-wide level. Their capacities to utilize various carbon sources and to establish a symbiotic interaction with several leguminous plants were examined.

RESULTS: Draft genomes of selected strains isolated from Morocco (Merzouga desert), Mexico (Baja California) as well as from India (Thar desert) were produced. Genome based species delineation tools demonstrated that they belong to a new species of Ensifer. Comparison of its core genome with those of E. meliloti, E. medicae and E. fredii enabled the identification of a species conserved gene set. Predicted functions of associated proteins and pathway reconstruction revealed notably the presence of transport systems for octopine/nopaline and inositol phosphates. Phenotypic characterization of this new desert rhizobium species showed that it was capable to utilize malonate, to grow at 48 °C or under high pH while NaCl tolerance levels were comparable to other Ensifer species. Analysis of accessory genomes and plasmid profiling demonstrated the presence of large plasmids that varied in size from strain to strain. As symbiotic functions were found in the accessory genomes, the differences in symbiotic interactions between strains may be well related to the difference in plasmid content that could explain the different legumes with which they can develop the symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: The genomic analysis performed here confirms that the selected rhizobial strains isolated from desert regions in three continents belong to a new species. As until now only recovered from such harsh environment, we propose to name it Ensifer aridi. The presented genomic data offers a good basis to explore adaptations and functionalities that enable them to adapt to alkalinity, low water potential, salt and high temperature stresses. Finally, given the original phylogeographic distribution and the different hosts with which it can develop a beneficial symbiotic interaction, Ensifer aridi may provide new biotechnological opportunities for degraded land restoration initiatives in the future.}, } @article {pmid28088106, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, J and Fan, TY and Beardall, J and Gao, K}, title = {UV-A induced delayed development in the larvae of coral Seriatopora caliendrum.}, journal = {Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {249-255}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.01.007}, pmid = {28088106}, issn = {1873-2682}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*radiation effects ; Dinoflagellida/growth & development/metabolism/*radiation effects ; Larva/*radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological ; Symbiosis ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400nm). Not only do the fluxes of UVR fluctuate daily, they are also increasing due to global ocean and atmospheric changes. The deleterious effects of UVR on scleractinian corals have been intensively studied, but much less is known about the response of corals in the early pre-settlement phase. In this study, we tested how UVR exposure affects survival and development of Seriatopora caliendrum larvae and examined the photophysiological changes induced in the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. Results showed that the contents of chl c and carotenoids normalized to the number of algae cells in the larvae decreased significantly when larvae were exposed to UVR compared to those protected from UVR, while the cell density of Symbiodinium was higher in UVR-exposed larvae. The effective photochemical efficiency of the symbiotic algae increased when cultured under PAR plus UV-A (here taken as 320-395nm). We further present the novel finding that during the development experiment, presence of UV-A induced a decline in the rates of metamorphosis and settlement, which disappeared when the larvae were also exposed to UV-B (here defined as 295-320nm). However, UVR had no distinguishable effect on the numbers of larvae that either survived, metamorphosed or settled by the end of the culture period. Therefore, it is concluded from this study that UV-A radiation may extend the planktonic duration of coral larvae, but not have an overall inhibitory effect on developmental outcomes.}, } @article {pmid28087947, year = {2016}, author = {Grube, M and Wedin, M}, title = {Lichenized Fungi and the Evolution of Symbiotic Organization.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0011-2016}, pmid = {28087947}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Ascomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichen symbioses comprise a fascinating relationship between algae and fungi. The lichen symbiotic lifestyle evolved early in the evolution of ascomycetes and is also known from a few basidiomycetes. The ascomycete lineages have diversified in the lichenized stage to give rise to a tremendous variety of morphologies. Their thalli are often internally complex and stratified for optimized integration of algal and fungal metabolisms. Thalli are frequently colonized by specific nonlichenized fungi and occasionally also by other lichens. Microscopy has revealed various ways these fungi interact with their hosts. Besides the morphologically recognizable diversity of the lichen mycobionts and lichenicolous (lichen-inhabiting) fungi, many other microorganisms including other fungi and bacterial communities are now detected in lichens by culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. The application of multi-omics approaches, refined microscopic techniques, and physiological studies has added to our knowledge of lichens, not only about the taxa involved in the lichen interactions, but also about their functions.}, } @article {pmid28087942, year = {2016}, author = {Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P and Genre, A}, title = {The Mutualistic Interaction between Plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0012-2016}, pmid = {28087942}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi belong to several taxa and develop mutualistic symbiotic associations with over 90% of all plant species, from liverworts to angiosperms. While descriptive approaches have dominated the initial studies of these fascinating symbioses, the advent of molecular biology, live cell imaging, and "omics" techniques have provided new and powerful tools to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms that rule mutualistic plant-fungus interactions. In this article we focus on the most common mycorrhizal association, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), which is formed by a group of soil fungi belonging to Glomeromycota. AM fungi are believed to have assisted the conquest of dry lands by early plants around 450 million years ago and are found today in most land ecosystems. AM fungi have several peculiar biological traits, including obligate biotrophy, intracellular development inside the plant tissues, coenocytic multinucleate hyphae, and spores, as well as unique genetics, such as the putative absence of a sexual cycle, and multiple ecological functions. All of these features make the study of AM fungi as intriguing as it is challenging, and their symbiotic association with most crop plants is currently raising a broad interest in agronomic contexts for the potential use of AM fungi in sustainable production under conditions of low chemical input.}, } @article {pmid28087929, year = {2016}, author = {De Wit, PJGM and Testa, AC and Oliver, RP}, title = {Fungal Plant Pathogenesis Mediated by Effectors.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0021-2016}, pmid = {28087929}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Fungi/*metabolism/*pathogenicity ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Virulence Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The interactions between fungi and plants encompass a spectrum of ecologies ranging from saprotrophy (growth on dead plant material) through pathogenesis (growth of the fungus accompanied by disease on the plant) to symbiosis (growth of the fungus with growth enhancement of the plant). We consider pathogenesis in this article and the key roles played by a range of pathogen-encoded molecules that have collectively become known as effectors.}, } @article {pmid28087662, year = {2017}, author = {Sharma, E and Anand, G and Kapoor, R}, title = {Terpenoids in plant and arbuscular mycorrhiza-reinforced defence against herbivorous insects.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {119}, number = {5}, pages = {791-801}, pmid = {28087662}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Animals ; Bioengineering ; Food Chain ; *Herbivory ; Insecta/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/immunology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; *Plant Immunity ; Terpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plants, though sessile, employ various strategies to defend themselves against herbivorous insects and convey signals of an impending herbivore attack to other plant(s). Strategies include the production of volatiles that include terpenoids and the formation of symbiotic associations with fungi, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). This constitutes a two-pronged above-ground/below-ground attack-defence strategy against insect herbivores.

SCOPE: Terpenoids represent an important constituent of herbivore-induced plant volatiles that deter herbivores and/or attract their predators. Terpenoids serve as airborne signals that can induce defence responses in systemic undamaged parts of the plant and also prime defence responses in neighbouring plants. Colonization of roots by AM fungi is known to influence secondary metabolism in plants; this includes alteration of the concentration and composition of terpenoids, which can boost both direct and indirect plant defence against herbivorous insects. Enhanced nutrient uptake facilitated by AM, changes in plant morphology and physiology and increased transcription levels of certain genes involved in the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway result in alterations in plant terpenoid profiles. The common mycorrhizal networks of external hyphae have added a dimension to the two-pronged plant defence strategy. These act as conduits to transfer defence signals and terpenoids.

CONCLUSION: Improved understanding of the roles of terpenoids in plant and AM defences against herbivory and of interplant signalling in natural communities has significant implications for sustainable management of pests in agricultural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid28087585, year = {2017}, author = {Lee, S and Choi, J and Kim, HS and Kim, GJ and Lee, KH and Park, CH and Han, J and Yoon, D and Park, MY and Park, RW and Kang, HR and Kim, JH}, title = {Standard-based comprehensive detection of adverse drug reaction signals from nursing statements and laboratory results in electronic health records.}, journal = {Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {697-708}, pmid = {28087585}, issn = {1527-974X}, mesh = {*Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; *Algorithms ; Area Under Curve ; *Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; *Nursing Records ; *Pharmacovigilance ; ROC Curve ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We propose 2 Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities-enabled pharmacovigilance algorithms, MetaLAB and MetaNurse, powered by a per-year meta-analysis technique and improved subject sampling strategy.

MATRIALS AND METHODS: This study developed 2 novel algorithms, MetaLAB for laboratory abnormalities and MetaNurse for standard nursing statements, as significantly improved versions of our previous electronic health record (EHR)-based pharmacovigilance method, called CLEAR. Adverse drug reaction (ADR) signals from 117 laboratory abnormalities and 1357 standard nursing statements for all precautionary drugs (n   = 101) were comprehensively detected and validated against SIDER (Side Effect Resource) by MetaLAB and MetaNurse against 11 817 and 76 457 drug-ADR pairs, respectively.

RESULTS: We demonstrate that MetaLAB (area under the curve, AUC = 0.61 ± 0.18) outperformed CLEAR (AUC = 0.55 ± 0.06) when we applied the same 470 drug-event pairs as the gold standard, as in our previous research. Receiver operating characteristic curves for 101 precautionary terms in the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities Preferred Terms were obtained for MetaLAB and MetaNurse (0.69 ± 0.11; 0.62 ± 0.07), which complemented each other in terms of ADR signal coverage. Novel ADR signals discovered by MetaLAB and MetaNurse were successfully validated against spontaneous reports in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database.

DISCUSSION: The present study demonstrates the symbiosis of laboratory test results and nursing statements for ADR signal detection in terms of their system organ class coverage and performance profiles.

CONCLUSION: Systematic discovery and evaluation of the wide spectrum of ADR signals using standard-based observational electronic health record data across many institutions will affect drug development and use, as well as postmarketing surveillance and regulation.}, } @article {pmid28087421, year = {2017}, author = {Martin, WF}, title = {Physiology, anaerobes, and the origin of mitosing cells 50 years on.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {2-10}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.01.004}, pmid = {28087421}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/*cytology/ultrastructure ; Flagella ; Mitochondria ; *Origin of Life ; Prokaryotic Cells ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic theory posits that some organelles or structures of eukaryotic cells stem from free-living prokaryotes that became endosymbionts within a host cell. Endosymbiosis has a long and turbulent history of controversy and debate going back over 100 years. The 1967 paper by Lynn Sagan (later Lynn Margulis) forced a reluctant field to take endosymbiotic theory seriously and to incorporate it into the fabric of evolutionary thinking. Margulis envisaged three cellular partners associating in series at eukaryotic origin: the host (an engulfing bacterium), the mitochondrion (a respiring bacterium), and the flagellum (a spirochaete), with lineages descended from that flagellated eukaryote subsequently acquiring plastids from cyanobacteria, but on multiple different occasions in her 1967 account. Today, the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and plastids (each single events, the data now say) is uncontested textbook knowledge. The host has been more elusive, recent findings identifying it as a member of the archaea, not as a sister group of the archaea. Margulis's proposal for a spirochaete origin of flagellae was abandoned by everyone except her, because no data ever came around to support the idea. Her 1967 proposal that mitochondria and plastids arose from different endosymbionts was novel. The paper presented an appealing narrative that linked the origin of mitochondria with oxygen in Earth history: cyanobacteria make oxygen, oxygen starts accumulating in the atmosphere about 2.4 billion years ago, oxygen begets oxygen-respiring bacteria that become mitochondria via symbiosis, followed by later (numerous) multiple, independent symbioses involving cyanobacteria that brought photosynthesis to eukaryotes. With the focus on oxygen, Margulis's account of eukaryote origin was however unprepared to accommodate the discovery of mitochondria in eukaryotic anaerobes. Today's oxygen narrative has it that the oceans were anoxic up until about 580 million years ago, while the atmosphere attained modern oxygen levels only about 400 million years ago. Since eukaryotes are roughly 1.6 billion years old, much of eukaryotic evolution took place in low oxygen environments, readily explaining the persistence across eukaryotic supergroups of eukaryotic anaerobes and anaerobic mitochondria at the focus of endosymbiotic theories that came after the 1967 paper.}, } @article {pmid28086748, year = {2017}, author = {Miyamoto, N and Yoshida, MA and Koga, H and Fujiwara, Y}, title = {Genetic mechanisms of bone digestion and nutrient absorption in the bone-eating worm Osedax japonicus inferred from transcriptome and gene expression analyses.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {17}, pmid = {28086748}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria ; Bone and Bones/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Polychaeta ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Whales ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bone-eating worms of the genus Osedax (Annelida, Siboglinidae) have adapted to whale fall environments by acquiring a novel characteristic called the root, which branches and penetrates into sunken bones. The worms lack a digestive tract and mouth opening, and it has been suggested that Osedax degrade vertebrate bones and uptake nutrients through acidification and secretion of enzymes from the root. Symbiotic bacteria in the root tissue may have a crucial role in the metabolism of Osedax. However, the molecular mechanisms and cells responsible for bone digestion and nutrient uptake are still unclear, and information on the metabolic interaction between Osedax and symbiotic bacteria is limited.

RESULTS: We compared transcriptomes from three different RNA samples from the following tissues: trunk + palps, root + ovisac, and larva + male. A Pfam domain enrichment analysis revealed that protease- and transporter-related genes were enriched in the root + ovisac specific genes compared with the total transcriptome. Through targeted gene annotation we found gene family expansions resulting in a remarkably large number of matrix metalloproteinase (mmp) genes in the Osedax compared with other invertebrates. Twelve of these Osedax mmp genes were expressed in the root epidermal cells. Genes encoding various types of transporters, including amino acid, oligopeptide, bicarbonate, and sulfate/carboxylate transporters, were also expressed in root epidermal cells. In addition, amino acid and other metabolite transporter genes were expressed in bacteriocytes. These protease and transporter genes were first expressed in root tissues at the juvenile stage, when the root starts to develop.

CONCLUSIONS: The expression of various proteinase and transporter genes in the root epidermis supports the theory that the root epidermal cells are responsible for bone digestion and subsequent nutrient uptake. Expression of transporter genes in the host bacteriocytes suggests the presence of metabolic interaction between Osedax and symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid28085155, year = {2017}, author = {Kyaschenko, J and Clemmensen, KE and Hagenbo, A and Karltun, E and Lindahl, BD}, title = {Shift in fungal communities and associated enzyme activities along an age gradient of managed Pinus sylvestris stands.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {863-874}, pmid = {28085155}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*classification/enzymology ; *Forestry ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/classification ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Forestry reshapes ecosystems with respect to tree age structure, soil properties and vegetation composition. These changes are likely to be paralleled by shifts in microbial community composition with potential feedbacks on ecosystem functioning. Here, we assessed fungal communities across a chronosequence of managed Pinus sylvestris stands and investigated correlations between taxonomic composition and extracellular enzyme activities. Not surprisingly, clear-cutting had a negative effect on ectomycorrhizal fungal abundance and diversity. In contrast, clear-cutting favoured proliferation of saprotrophic fungi correlated with enzymes involved in holocellulose decomposition. During stand development, the re-establishing ectomycorrhizal fungal community shifted in composition from dominance by Atheliaceae in younger stands to Cortinarius and Russula species in older stands. Late successional ectomycorrhizal taxa correlated with enzymes involved in mobilisation of nutrients from organic matter, indicating intensified nutrient limitation. Our results suggest that maintenance of functional diversity in the ectomycorrhizal fungal community may sustain long-term forest production by retaining a capacity for symbiosis-driven recycling of organic nutrient pools.}, } @article {pmid28084322, year = {2017}, author = {Tong, H and Cai, L and Zhou, G and Yuan, T and Zhang, W and Tian, R and Huang, H and Qian, PY}, title = {Temperature shapes coral-algal symbiosis in the South China Sea.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {40118}, pmid = {28084322}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {With the increase in sea surface temperature (SST), scleractinian corals are exposed to bleaching threats but may possess certain flexibilities in terms of their associations with symbiotic algae. Previous studies have shown a close symbiosis between coral the and Symbiodinium; however, the spatial variation of the symbiosis and the attribution underlying are not well understood. In the present study, we examined coral-algal symbiosis in Galaxea fascicularis and Montipora spp. from three biogeographic regions across ~10° of latitude in the South China Sea. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) indicated a highly flexible coral-algal symbiosis in both G. fascicularis and Montipora spp. and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that temperature explained 83.2% and 60.1% of the explanatory subclade variations in G. fascicularis and Montipora spp., respectively, which suggested that temperature was the main environmental factor contributing to the diversity of Symbiodinium across the three regions. The geographic specificity of the Symbiodinium phylogeny was identified, revealing possible environmental selection across the three regions. These results suggest that scleractinian corals may have the ability to regulate Symbiodinium community structures under different temperatures and thus be able to adapt to gradual climate change.}, } @article {pmid28084213, year = {2016}, author = {VanderVen, BC and Huang, L and Rohde, KH and Russell, DG}, title = {The Minimal Unit of Infection: Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Macrophage.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28084213}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R01 AI119122/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI118582/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI067027/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI099569/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL055936/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Macrophages/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*immunology ; Tuberculosis/immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {The interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its host cell is highly complex and extremely intimate. Were it not for the disease, one might regard this interaction at the cellular level as an almost symbiotic one. The metabolic activity and physiology of both cells are shaped by this coexistence. We believe that where this appreciation has greatest significance is in the field of drug discovery. Evolution rewards efficiency, and recent data from many groups discussed in this review indicate that M. tuberculosis has evolved to utilize the environmental cues within its host to control large genetic programs or regulons. But these regulons may represent chinks in the bacterium's armor because they include off-target effects, such as the constraint of the metabolic plasticity of M. tuberculosis. A prime example is how the presence of cholesterol within the host cell appears to limit the ability of M. tuberculosis to fully utilize or assimilate other carbon sources. And that is the reason for the title of this review. We believe firmly that, to understand the physiology of M. tuberculosis and to identify new drug targets, it is imperative that the bacterium be interrogated within the context of its host cell. The constraints induced by the environmental cues present within the host cell need to be preserved and exploited. The M. tuberculosis-infected macrophage truly is the "minimal unit of infection."}, } @article {pmid28083703, year = {2017}, author = {Kohout, P and Tedersoo, L}, title = {Effect of soil moisture on root-associated fungal communities of Erica dominans in Drakensberg mountains in South Africa.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {397-406}, pmid = {28083703}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ericaceae/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Soil ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {Ericoid mycorrhiza represents a key adaptation of the Ericaceae plants to facilitate their establishment in harsh conditions. The Ericaceae are a large family of flowering plants, with global distribution. However, our current knowledge about the ericoid mycorrhizal fungal diversity and ecology largely relates to the Northern Hemisphere. Our study focused on the assembly of root-associated fungal (RAF) communities of Erica dominans in two types of microhabitats of contrasting moisture along an elevation gradient in Drakensberg mountains in South Africa. RAF communities were determined by 454-sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. The majority of RAF showed affinity to the orders Helotiales, Pezizales, and Pleosporales. Microhabitat type as well as elevation had significant but weak effect on RAF community composition. We identified two putative ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, the ecological niches of which were differentiated between the studied microhabitats. Our study also provides one of the first comprehensive data about RAF communities of Ericaceae on African continent and shows the occurrence of the most studied ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Pezoloma ericae (belonging to P. ericae aggregate) in roots of Ericaceae host plant in Africa.}, } @article {pmid28082961, year = {2016}, author = {Leigh, BA and Liberti, A and Dishaw, LJ}, title = {Generation of Germ-Free Ciona intestinalis for Studies of Gut-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2092}, pmid = {28082961}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbes associate with animal hosts, often providing shelter in a nutrient-rich environment. The gut, however, can be a harsh environment with members of the microbiome settling in distinct niches resulting in more stable, adherent biofilms. These diverse communities can provide orders of magnitude more gene products than the host genome; selection and maintenance of a functionally relevant and useful microbiome is now recognized to be an essential component of homeostasis. Germ-free (GF) model systems allow dissection of host-microbe interactions in a simple and direct way where each member of the symbiosis can be studied in isolation. In addition, because immune defenses in the gut are often naïve in GF animals, host immune recognition and responses during the process of colonization can be studied. Ciona intestinalis, a basal chordate, is a well-characterized developmental model system and holds promise for addressing some of these important questions. With transparent juveniles, Ciona can be exposed to distinct bacterial isolates by inoculating GF artificial seawater; concentrated bacteria can subsequently be visualized in vivo if fluorescent stains are utilized. Rearing GF Ciona is a first step in untangling the complex dialogue between bacteria and innate immunity during colonization.}, } @article {pmid28082956, year = {2016}, author = {Holmes, NA and Innocent, TM and Heine, D and Bassam, MA and Worsley, SF and Trottmann, F and Patrick, EH and Yu, DW and Murrell, JC and Schiøtt, M and Wilkinson, B and Boomsma, JJ and Hutchings, MI}, title = {Genome Analysis of Two Pseudonocardia Phylotypes Associated with Acromyrmex Leafcutter Ants Reveals Their Biosynthetic Potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2073}, pmid = {28082956}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; G0801721/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {The attine ants of South and Central America are ancient farmers, having evolved a symbiosis with a fungal food crop >50 million years ago. The most evolutionarily derived attines are the Atta and Acromyrmex leafcutter ants, which harvest fresh leaves to feed their fungus. Acromyrmex and many other attines vertically transmit a mutualistic strain of Pseudonocardia and use antifungal compounds made by these bacteria to protect their fungal partner against co-evolved fungal pathogens of the genus Escovopsis. Pseudonocardia mutualists associated with the attines Apterostigma dentigerum and Trachymyrmex cornetzi make novel cyclic depsipeptide compounds called gerumycins, while a mutualist strain isolated from derived Acromyrmex octospinosus makes an unusual polyene antifungal called nystatin P1. The novelty of these antimicrobials suggests there is merit in exploring secondary metabolites of Pseudonocardia on a genome-wide scale. Here, we report a genomic analysis of the Pseudonocardia phylotypes Ps1 and Ps2 that are consistently associated with Acromyrmex ants collected in Gamboa, Panama. These were previously distinguished solely on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing but genome sequencing of five Ps1 and five Ps2 strains revealed that the phylotypes are distinct species and each encodes between 11 and 15 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). There are signature BGCs for Ps1 and Ps2 strains and some that are conserved in both. Ps1 strains all contain BGCs encoding nystatin P1-like antifungals, while the Ps2 strains encode novel nystatin-like molecules. Strains show variations in the arrangement of these BGCs that resemble those seen in gerumycin gene clusters. Genome analyses and invasion assays support our hypothesis that vertically transmitted Ps1 and Ps2 strains have antibacterial activity that could help shape the cuticular microbiome. Thus, our work defines the Pseudonocardia species associated with Acromyrmex ants and supports the hypothesis that Pseudonocardia species could provide a valuable source of new antimicrobials.}, } @article {pmid28082758, year = {2016}, author = {de Mattos-Shipley, KM and Ford, KL and Alberti, F and Banks, AM and Bailey, AM and Foster, GD}, title = {The good, the bad and the tasty: The many roles of mushrooms.}, journal = {Studies in mycology}, volume = {85}, number = {}, pages = {125-157}, pmid = {28082758}, issn = {0166-0616}, support = {BB/K002341/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Fungi are often inconspicuous in nature and this means it is all too easy to overlook their importance. Often referred to as the "Forgotten Kingdom", fungi are key components of life on this planet. The phylum Basidiomycota, considered to contain the most complex and evolutionarily advanced members of this Kingdom, includes some of the most iconic fungal species such as the gilled mushrooms, puffballs and bracket fungi. Basidiomycetes inhabit a wide range of ecological niches, carrying out vital ecosystem roles, particularly in carbon cycling and as symbiotic partners with a range of other organisms. Specifically in the context of human use, the basidiomycetes are a highly valuable food source and are increasingly medicinally important. In this review, seven main categories, or 'roles', for basidiomycetes have been suggested by the authors: as model species, edible species, toxic species, medicinal basidiomycetes, symbionts, decomposers and pathogens, and two species have been chosen as representatives of each category. Although this is in no way an exhaustive discussion of the importance of basidiomycetes, this review aims to give a broad overview of the importance of these organisms, exploring the various ways they can be exploited to the benefit of human society.}, } @article {pmid28082056, year = {2017}, author = {Schmidt, J and Fester, T and Schulz, E and Michalzik, B and Buscot, F and Gutknecht, J}, title = {Effects of plant-symbiotic relationships on the living soil microbial community and microbial necromass in a long-term agro-ecosystem.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {581-582}, number = {}, pages = {756-765}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.005}, pmid = {28082056}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Germany ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We examined the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia on the living microbial community and microbial necromass under different long-term fertilization treatments at the long-term Static Fertilization Experiment Bad Lauchstädt (Germany). Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and amino sugars plus muramic acid, were used as biomarkers for soil microbial bio- and necromass, respectively, and analyzed from six treatments imposed on two crop rotations, varying only in the inclusion/non-inclusion of a legume. Treatments included: two levels of only farmyard manure (FYM), only mineral fertilizer (NPK), the combined application of both fertilizer types and a non-fertilized control. PLFA profiles differed clearly between the investigated crop rotations and were significantly related to labile C, mineral N, and soil pH. This emphasizes the role of carbon, and of mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbioses, as driver for changes in the microbial community composition due to effects on the living conditions in soil. We found some evidence that legume associated symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia act as a buffer, reducing the impact of varying inputs of mineral nutrients on the decomposer community. While our results support former findings that living microbial populations vary within short-term periods and are reflective of a given crop grown in a given year, soil necromass composition indicates longer term changes across the two crop rotation types, mainly shaped by fertilizer related effects on the community composition and C turnover. However, there was some evidence that specifically the presence of a legume, affects the soil necromass composition not only over the whole crop rotation but even in the short-term.}, } @article {pmid28082006, year = {2017}, author = {Ilinsky, Y and Kosterin, OE}, title = {Molecular diversity of Wolbachia in Lepidoptera: Prevalent allelic content and high recombination of MLST genes.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {109}, number = {}, pages = {164-179}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.034}, pmid = {28082006}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {*Alleles ; Animals ; Butterflies/microbiology ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Loci ; *Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Lepidoptera/*microbiology ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nucleotides/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Wolbachia/*classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are common endosymbiotic bacteria of Arthropoda and Nematoda that are ordinarily transmitted vertically in host lineages through the egg cytoplasm. Despite the great interest in the Wolbachia symbiont, many issues of its biology remain unclear, including its evolutionary history, routes of transfer among species, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiont's effect on its host. In this report, we present data relating to Wolbachia infection in 120 species of 13 Lepidoptera families, mostly butterflies, from West Siberian localities based on Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and the wsp locus and perform a comprehensive survey of the distribution of Wolbachia and its genetic diversity in Lepidoptera worldwide. We observed a high infection incidence in the studied region; this finding is probably also true for other temperate latitude regions because many studied species have broad Palearctic and even Holarctic distribution. Although 40 new MLST alleles and 31 new STs were described, there was no noticeable difference in the MLST allele content in butterflies and probably also in moths worldwide. A genetic analysis of Wolbachia strains revealed the MLST allele core in lepidopteran hosts worldwide, viz. the ST-41 allele content. The key finding of our study was the detection of rampant recombination among MLST haplotypes. High rates of homologous recombination between Wolbachia strains indicate a substantial contribution of genetic exchanges to the generation of new STs. This finding should be considered when discussing issues related to the reconstruction of Wolbachia evolution, divergence time, and the routes of Wolbachia transmission across arthropod hosts.}, } @article {pmid28081923, year = {2017}, author = {Villadas, PJ and Lasa, AV and Martínez-Hidalgo, P and Flores-Félix, JD and Martínez-Molina, E and Toro, N and Velázquez, E and Fernández-López, M}, title = {Analysis of rhizobial endosymbionts of Vicia, Lathyrus and Trifolium species used to maintain mountain firewalls in Sierra Nevada National Park (South Spain).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {92-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.11.008}, pmid = {28081923}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; Lathyrus/*microbiology ; Parks, Recreational ; *Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Homology ; Spain ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; Vicia/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Forest fires lead to the annual disappearance of many natural formations that require the creation of firewall areas. They can be maintained by enriching their pastures with attractive plants for grazing livestock, mainly legumes, which have a high protein content and low dependence on N fertilizers due to their ability to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia. In this study, the rhizobia isolated from the nodules of six legumes from the genera Vicia, Lathyrus and Trifolium were analysed in a firewall zone established in Lanjarón (Granada) close to the Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain). The results showed a high genetic diversity of the isolated strains that had 3, 16, 14 and 13 different types of rrs, recA, atpD and glnII genes, respectively. All strains were phylogenetically close to the species from the Rhizobium leguminosarum group, although they were not identified as any of them. The isolated strains belonged to the symbiovars viciae and trifolii but high phylogenetic diversity was found within both symbiovars, since there were 16 and 14 nodC gene types, respectively. Some of these strains clustered with strains isolated in other countries and continents, but others formed atpD, recA, glnII and nodC clusters and lineages only found to date in this study.}, } @article {pmid28080210, year = {2017}, author = {Knaus, UG and Hertzberger, R and Pircalabioru, GG and Yousefi, SP and Branco Dos Santos, F}, title = {Pathogen control at the intestinal mucosa - H2O2 to the rescue.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {67-74}, pmid = {28080210}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology ; }, abstract = {Intestinal infections are a global challenge, connected to malnutrition and inadequate hygiene in developing countries, and to expanding antibiotic resistance in developed countries. In general, a healthy host is capable of fighting off gut pathogens or at least to recover from infections quickly. The underlying protective mechanism, termed colonization resistance, is provided by indigenous commensal communities (microbiota) that are shaped and aided by the host's epithelial and innate immune system. Commensal-pathogen interactions are governed by competition for a suitable niche for replication and stable colonization, nutrient availability, species-specific alterations of the metabolic environment, changes in oxygen tension and release of chemicals and proteinaceous toxins (bacteriocins). This protective intestinal milieu is further reinforced by antimicrobial factors and chemicals secreted by the epithelial barrier, by dendritic cell sensing and by homeostasis between T-cell subsets (Treg/Th17) in the lamina propria. The 3 players (host-microbiota-pathogen) communicate via direct interactions or secreted factors. Our recent manuscript illustrates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an integral part of colonization resistance and should be considered an interkingdom antivirulence strategy.}, } @article {pmid28079523, year = {2017}, author = {Benoit, JB and Vigneron, A and Broderick, NA and Wu, Y and Sun, JS and Carlson, JR and Aksoy, S and Weiss, BL}, title = {Symbiont-induced odorant binding proteins mediate insect host hematopoiesis.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28079523}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007499/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI101456/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI115648/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DC002174/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila ; *Hematopoiesis ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Up-Regulation ; Wigglesworthia/*immunology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria assist in maintaining homeostasis of the animal immune system. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie symbiont-mediated host immunity are largely unknown. Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house maternally transmitted symbionts that regulate the development and function of their host's immune system. Herein we demonstrate that the obligate mutualist, Wigglesworthia, up-regulates expression of odorant binding protein six in the gut of intrauterine tsetse larvae. This process is necessary and sufficient to induce systemic expression of the hematopoietic RUNX transcription factor lozenge and the subsequent production of crystal cells, which actuate the melanotic immune response in adult tsetse. Larval Drosophila's indigenous microbiota, which is acquired from the environment, regulates an orthologous hematopoietic pathway in their host. These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie enteric symbiont-stimulated systemic immune system development, and indicate that these processes are evolutionarily conserved despite the divergent nature of host-symbiont interactions in these model systems.}, } @article {pmid28079522, year = {2017}, author = {Masson, F and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Protection from within.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {28079522}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Hematopoiesis ; *Odorants ; Symbiosis ; *Tsetse Flies ; Wigglesworthia ; }, abstract = {The development of the tsetse fly immune system relies on a cue from an endosymbiotic bacterium called Wigglesworthia.}, } @article {pmid28077872, year = {2017}, author = {Glenwright, AJ and Pothula, KR and Bhamidimarri, SP and Chorev, DS and Baslé, A and Firbank, SJ and Zheng, H and Robinson, CV and Winterhalter, M and Kleinekathöfer, U and Bolam, DN and van den Berg, B}, title = {Structural basis for nutrient acquisition by dominant members of the human gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {541}, number = {7637}, pages = {407-411}, pmid = {28077872}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {268851/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacteroides/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Conserved Sequence ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Electrophysiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Ligands ; Models, Biological ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {The human large intestine is populated by a high density of microorganisms, collectively termed the colonic microbiota, which has an important role in human health and nutrition. The survival of microbiota members from the dominant Gram-negative phylum Bacteroidetes depends on their ability to degrade dietary glycans that cannot be metabolized by the host. The genes encoding proteins involved in the degradation of specific glycans are organized into co-regulated polysaccharide utilization loci, with the archetypal locus sus (for starch utilisation system) encoding seven proteins, SusA-SusG. Glycan degradation mainly occurs intracellularly and depends on the import of oligosaccharides by an outer membrane protein complex composed of an extracellular SusD-like lipoprotein and an integral membrane SusC-like TonB-dependent transporter. The presence of the partner SusD-like lipoprotein is the major feature that distinguishes SusC-like proteins from previously characterized TonB-dependent transporters. Many sequenced gut Bacteroides spp. encode over 100 SusCD pairs, of which the majority have unknown functions and substrate specificities. The mechanism by which extracellular substrate binding by SusD proteins is coupled to outer membrane passage through their cognate SusC transporter is unknown. Here we present X-ray crystal structures of two functionally distinct SusCD complexes purified from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and derive a general model for substrate translocation. The SusC transporters form homodimers, with each β-barrel protomer tightly capped by SusD. Ligands are bound at the SusC-SusD interface in a large solvent-excluded cavity. Molecular dynamics simulations and single-channel electrophysiology reveal a 'pedal bin' mechanism, in which SusD moves away from SusC in a hinge-like fashion in the absence of ligand to expose the substrate-binding site to the extracellular milieu. These data provide mechanistic insights into outer membrane nutrient import by members of the microbiota, an area of major importance for understanding human-microbiota symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28077848, year = {2016}, author = {Kelley-Lainé, K}, title = {The Economy of the Totalitarian Mind: the Case of the Immigrant Child.}, journal = {American journal of psychoanalysis}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {376-388}, doi = {10.1057/s11231-016-9054-5}, pmid = {28077848}, issn = {1573-6741}, mesh = {Child ; Child Development ; *Emigrants and Immigrants ; Humans ; *Object Attachment ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; *Psychoanalytic Therapy ; *Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {Immigration in early childhood can be considered as a traumatic situation. It often goes unrecognized since children adapt to most conditions and conform to their environment with astonishing agility. Inspired by the sensitive work of Sándor Ferenczi, and Donald Winnicott, regarding the psychic economy of maturational processes, the author explores the concept of totalitarian functioning and its obstruction of the growing psyche. Before birth we are all totalitarian, one with the mother; this symbiotic, invincible state of survival mode is prolonged as the immature newborn child ignores the requirements of reality and enjoys omnipotent pleasure through hallucination. The loss of place in immigration often becomes the loss of identity-the question of "where am I?" becomes confused with "who am I?". Clinical practice exposes this fragility in adults torn from their home environment at an early age, forced into precocious maturity, never to grow up in reality. Through clinical examples, the author illustrates how totalitarian mental functioning of "all or nothing, right or wrong, black or white" is exposed in the transference and can be worked through within the psychoanalytical space.}, } @article {pmid28077078, year = {2017}, author = {Dastmalchi, M and Chapman, P and Yu, J and Austin, RS and Dhaubhadel, S}, title = {Transcriptomic evidence for the control of soybean root isoflavonoid content by regulation of overlapping phenylpropanoid pathways.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {70}, pmid = {28077078}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Profiling ; Isoflavones/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Isoflavonoids are a class of specialized metabolites found predominantly in legumes. They play a role in signaling for symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and inhibiting pathogen infection.

RESULTS: A transcriptomic approach using soybean cultivars with high (Conrad and AC Colombe) and low (AC Glengarry and Pagoda) root isoflavonoid content was used to find elements that underlie this variation. Two genes, encoding the flavonoid-metabolizing enzymes, flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (GmF3'H) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (GmDFR), had lower expression levels in high isoflavonoid cultivars. These enzymes compete with isoflavonoid biosynthetic enzymes for the important branch-point substrate naringenin and its derivatives. Differentially expressed genes, between the two sets of cultivars, encode transcription factors, transporters and enzymatic families of interest, such as oxidoreductases, hydrolases and transferases. In addition, genes annotated with stress and disease response were upregulated in high isoflavonoid cultivars.

CONCLUSIONS: Coordinated regulation of genes involved in flavonoid metabolism could redirect flux into the isoflavonoid branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway, by reducing competition for the flavanone substrate. These candidate genes could help identify mechanisms to overcome the endogenous bottleneck to isoflavonoid production, facilitate biosynthesis in heterologous systems, and enhance crop resistance against pathogenic infections.}, } @article {pmid28076891, year = {2017}, author = {Uehling, J and Gryganskyi, A and Hameed, K and Tschaplinski, T and Misztal, PK and Wu, S and Desirò, A and Vande Pol, N and Du, Z and Zienkiewicz, A and Zienkiewicz, K and Morin, E and Tisserant, E and Splivallo, R and Hainaut, M and Henrissat, B and Ohm, R and Kuo, A and Yan, J and Lipzen, A and Nolan, M and LaButti, K and Barry, K and Goldstein, AH and Labbé, J and Schadt, C and Tuskan, G and Grigoriev, I and Martin, F and Vilgalys, R and Bonito, G}, title = {Comparative genomics of Mortierella elongata and its bacterial endosymbiont Mycoavidus cysteinexigens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {2964-2983}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13669}, pmid = {28076891}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Burkholderiaceae/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Lipid Metabolism/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; Mortierella/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis of bacteria by eukaryotes is a defining feature of cellular evolution. In addition to well-known bacterial origins for mitochondria and chloroplasts, multiple origins of bacterial endosymbiosis are known within the cells of diverse animals, plants and fungi. Early-diverging lineages of terrestrial fungi harbor endosymbiotic bacteria belonging to the Burkholderiaceae. We sequenced the metagenome of the soil-inhabiting fungus Mortierella elongata and assembled the complete circular chromosome of its endosymbiont, Mycoavidus cysteinexigens, which we place within a lineage of endofungal symbionts that are sister clade to Burkholderia. The genome of M. elongata strain AG77 features a core set of primary metabolic pathways for degradation of simple carbohydrates and lipid biosynthesis, while the M. cysteinexigens (AG77) genome is reduced in size and function. Experiments using antibiotics to cure the endobacterium from the host demonstrate that the fungal host metabolism is highly modulated by presence/absence of M. cysteinexigens. Independent comparative phylogenomic analyses of fungal and bacterial genomes are consistent with an ancient origin for M. elongata - M. cysteinexigens symbiosis, most likely over 350 million years ago and concomitant with the terrestrialization of Earth and diversification of land fungi and plants.}, } @article {pmid28076886, year = {2017}, author = {Doré, J and Kohler, A and Dubost, A and Hundley, H and Singan, V and Peng, Y and Kuo, A and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Marmeisse, R and Gay, G}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Hebeloma cylindrosporum undergoes early waves of transcriptional reprogramming prior to symbiotic structures differentiation.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {1338-1354}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13670}, pmid = {28076886}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Hebeloma/*genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; Mycelium/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; Pinus/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/parasitology ; Proteome/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {To clarify the early molecular interaction between ectomycorrhizal partners, we performed a RNA-Seq study of transcriptome reprogramming of the basidiomycete Hebeloma cylindrosporum before symbiotic structure differentiation with Pinus pinaster. Mycorrhiza transcriptome was studied for comparison. By reference to asymbiotic mycelium, 47 and 46 genes were specifically upregulated over fivefold (p ≤ 0.05) upon rhizosphere colonization and root adhesion respectively. Other 45 were upregulated throughout the symbiotic interaction, from rhizosphere colonization to differentiated mycorrhizas, whereas 274 were specifically upregulated in mycorrhizas. Although exoproteome represents 5.6% of H. cylindrosporum proteome, 38.5% of the genes upregulated upon pre-infectious root colonization encoded extracellular proteins. The proportion decreased to 23.5% in mycorrhizas. At all studied time points, mycorrhiza-induced small secreted proteins (MiSSPs), representing potential effectors, were over-represented among upregulated genes. This was also the case for carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Several CAZymes were upregulated at all studied stages of the interaction. Consistent with a role in fungal morphogenesis and symbiotic interface differentiation, CAZymes over-expressed before and upon root attachment targeted fungal and both fungal and plant polysaccharides respectively. Different hydrophobins were upregulated upon early root adhesion, in mycorrhizas or throughout interaction. The functional classification of genes upregulated only in mycorrhizas pointed to intense metabolic activity and nutritional exchanges.}, } @article {pmid28075408, year = {2017}, author = {Alsufyani, T and Weiss, A and Wichard, T}, title = {Time Course Exo-Metabolomic Profiling in the Green Marine Macroalga Ulva (Chlorophyta) for Identification of Growth Phase-Dependent Biomarkers.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {28075408}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Biomarkers/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Metabolomics/methods ; Morphogenesis/physiology ; Roseobacter/metabolism ; Seaweed/metabolism/microbiology ; Ulva/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The marine green macroalga Ulva (Chlorophyta) lives in a mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria that influence growth, development, and morphogenesis. We surveyed changes in Ulva's chemosphere, which was defined as a space where organisms interact with each other via compounds, such as infochemicals, nutrients, morphogens, and defense compounds. Thereby, Ulva mutabilis cooperates with bacteria, in particular, Roseovarius sp. strain MS2 and Maribacter sp. strain MS6 (formerly identified as Roseobacter sp. strain MS2 and Cytophaga sp. strain MS6). Without this accompanying microbial flora, U. mutabilis forms only callus-like colonies. However, upon addition of the two bacteria species, in effect forming a tripartite community, morphogenesis can be completely restored. Under this strictly standardized condition, bioactive and eco-physiologically-relevant marine natural products can be discovered. Solid phase extracted waterborne metabolites were analyzed using a metabolomics platform, facilitating gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, combined with the necessary acquisition of biological metadata. Multivariate statistics of the GC-MS and LC-MS data revealed strong differences between Ulva's growth phases, as well as between the axenic Ulva cultures and the tripartite community. Waterborne biomarkers, including glycerol, were identified as potential indicators for algal carbon source and bacterial-algal interactions. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that U. mutabilis releases glycerol that can be utilized for growth by Roseovarius sp. MS2.}, } @article {pmid28074430, year = {2017}, author = {Dalla Via, V and Traubenik, S and Rivero, C and Aguilar, OM and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {The monomeric GTPase RabA2 is required for progression and maintenance of membrane integrity of infection threads during root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {93}, number = {6}, pages = {549-562}, pmid = {28074430}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism ; Mutation ; Phaseolus/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Progression of the infection canal that conducts rhizobia to the nodule primordium requires a functional Rab GTPase located in Golgi/trans-Golgi that also participate in root hair polar growth. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) symbiotically associates with its partner Rhizobium etli, resulting in the formation of root nitrogen-fixing nodules. Compatible bacteria can reach cortical cells in a tightly regulated infection process, in which the specific recognition of signal molecules is a key step to select the symbiotic partner. In this work, we show that RabA2, a monomeric GTPase from common bean, is required for the progression of the infection canal, referred to as the infection thread (IT), toward the cortical cells. Expression of miss-regulated mutant variants of RabA2 resulted in an increased number of abortive infection events, including bursting of ITs and a reduction in the number of nodules. Nodules formed in these plants were small and contained infected cells with disrupted symbiosome membranes, indicating either early senescence of these cells or defects in the formation of the symbiosome membrane during bacterial release. RabA2 localized to mobile vesicles around the IT, but mutations that affect GTP hydrolysis or GTP/GDP exchange modified this localization. Colocalization of RabA2 with ArfA1 and a Golgi marker indicates that RabA2 localizes in Golgi stacks and the trans-Golgi network. Our results suggest that RabA2 is part of the vesicle transport events required to maintain the integrity of the membrane during IT progression.}, } @article {pmid28074287, year = {2017}, author = {Minaeva, E and Ermilova, E}, title = {Responses triggered in chloroplast of Chlorella variabilis NC64A by long-term association with Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {254}, number = {4}, pages = {1769-1776}, pmid = {28074287}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Arginine/metabolism ; Chlorella/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*physiology ; Paramecium/physiology/*ultrastructure ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The unicellular green alga Chlorella variabilis NC64A is an endosymbiont of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria. The host's control, including the transfer of biochemical substrates from P. bursaria to C. variabilis, is involved in symbiotic relationships. C. variabilis NC64A that had been re-infected to P. bursaria for more than 1 year and isolated from the host showed higher chlorophyll levels compared to those in free-living cells. Unlike the host, the expression of C. variabilis NC64A heat shock 70 kDa protein was independent of establishment of endosymbiosis. In symbiotic cells, the levels of PII signal transduction protein (CvPII) that coordinate the central C/N anabolic metabolism were slightly higher than those in free-living cells. Furthermore, the environmental cues (light and host food bacteria availability) affected the abundance of CvPII, suggesting that synthesis of the protein was influenced by the host. Moreover, arginine concentrations in the symbiotic algae of P. bursaria were also controlled by the host's nutritional conditions. Together, our results imply that signal substrates and/or products of metabolism in host cells might act as messengers mediating the regulation of key events in symbiont cells.}, } @article {pmid28074224, year = {2017}, author = {Gu, C and Wang, G and Mai, S and Wu, P and Wu, J and Wang, G and Liu, H and Zhang, J}, title = {ARTP mutation and genome shuffling of ABE fermentation symbiotic system for improvement of butanol production.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {2189-2199}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-017-8093-z}, pmid = {28074224}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/genetics ; Bacillus cereus/*metabolism ; Biofuels/*microbiology ; Butanols/*metabolism ; Clostridium acetobutylicum/*metabolism ; *DNA Shuffling ; Fermentation ; Gene Library ; Mutation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Butanol is an ideal renewable biofuel which possesses superior fuel properties. Previously, butanol-producing symbiotic system TSH06 was isolated in our lab, with microoxygen tolerance ability. To boost butanol yield for large-scale industrial production, TSH06 was used as parental strain and subjected to atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) and four rounds of genome shuffling (GS). ARTP mutant and GS strain were co-cultured with facultative anaerobic Bacillus cereus TSH2 to form a symbiotic system with microoxygen tolerance, which was then subjected to fermentation. Relative messenger RNA (mRNA) level of key enzyme gene was measured by real-time PCR. The highest butanol titer of TS4-30 reached 15.63 g/L, which was 34% higher than TSH06 (12.19 g/L). Compared with parental strain, mRNA of acid-forming gene in TS4-30 decreased in acidogenesis phase, while solvent-forming gene increased in solventogenesis phase. This gene expression pattern was consistent with high butanol yield and low acid level in TS4-30. In summary, symbiotic system TS4-30 was obtained with butanol titer improvement and microoxygen tolerance.}, } @article {pmid28074021, year = {2017}, author = {Bednarz, VN and Grover, R and Maguer, JF and Fine, M and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {The Assimilation of Diazotroph-Derived Nitrogen by Scleractinian Corals Depends on Their Metabolic Status.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {28074021}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Isotope Labeling ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/analysis ; Prokaryotic Cells/*metabolism ; Seawater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Tropical corals are associated with a diverse community of dinitrogen (N2)-fixing prokaryotes (diazotrophs) providing the coral an additional source of bioavailable nitrogen (N) in oligotrophic waters. The overall activity of these diazotrophs changes depending on the current environmental conditions, but to what extent it affects the assimilation of diazotroph-derived N (DDN) by corals is still unknown. Here, in a series of [15]N2 tracer experiments, we directly quantified DDN assimilation by scleractinian corals from the Red Sea exposed to different environmental conditions. We show that DDN assimilation strongly varied with the corals' metabolic status or with phosphate availability in the water. The very autotrophic shallow-water (~5 m) corals showed low or no DDN assimilation, which significantly increased under elevated phosphate availability (3 µM). Corals that depended more on heterotrophy (i.e., bleached and deep-water [~45 m] corals) assimilated significantly more DDN, which contributed up to 15% of the corals' N demand (compared to 1% in shallow corals). Furthermore, we demonstrate that a substantial part of the DDN assimilated by deep corals was likely obtained from heterotrophic feeding on fixed N compounds and/or diazotrophic cells in the mucus. Conversely, in shallow corals, the net release of mucus, rich in organic carbon compounds, likely enhanced diazotroph abundance and activity and thereby the release of fixed N to the pelagic and benthic reef community. Overall, our results suggest that DDN assimilation by corals varies according to the environmental conditions and is likely linked to the capacity of the coral to acquire nutrients from seawater.

IMPORTANCE: Tropical corals are associated with specialized bacteria (i.e., diazotrophs) able to transform dinitrogen (N2) gas into a bioavailable form of nitrogen, but how much of this diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) is assimilated by corals under different environmental conditions is still unknown. Here, we used [15]N2 labeling to trace the fate of DDN within the coral symbiosis. We show that DDN is assimilated by both the animal host and the endosymbiotic algae. In addition, the amount of assimilated DDN was significantly greater in mesophotic, bleached, or phosphorus-enriched corals than in surface corals, which almost did not take up this nitrogen form. DDN can thus be of particular importance for the nutrient budget of corals whenever they are limited by the availability of other forms of dissolved nutrients.}, } @article {pmid28073951, year = {2017}, author = {Herrbach, V and Chirinos, X and Rengel, D and Agbevenou, K and Vincent, R and Pateyron, S and Huguet, S and Balzergue, S and Pasha, A and Provart, N and Gough, C and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Nod factors potentiate auxin signaling for transcriptional regulation and lateral root formation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {3}, pages = {569-583}, pmid = {28073951}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nodulation (Nod) factors (NFs) are symbiotic molecules produced by rhizobia that are essential for establishment of the rhizobium-legume endosymbiosis. Purified NFs can stimulate lateral root formation (LRF) in Medicago truncatula, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. Using a combination of reporter constructs, pharmacological and genetic approaches, we show that NFs act on early steps of LRF in M. truncatula, independently of the ethylene signaling pathway and of the cytokinin receptor MtCRE1, but in interaction with auxin. We conducted a whole-genome transcriptomic study upon NF and/or auxin treatments, using a lateral root inducible system adapted for M. truncatula. This revealed a large overlap between NF and auxin signaling and, more interestingly, synergistic interactions between these molecules. Three groups showing interaction effects were defined: group 1 contained more than 1500 genes responding specifically to the combinatorial treatment of NFs and auxin; group 2 comprised auxin-regulated genes whose expression was enhanced or antagonized by NFs; and in group 3 the expression of NF regulated genes was antagonized by auxin. Groups 1 and 2 were enriched in signaling and metabolic functions, which highlights important crosstalk between NF and auxin signaling for both developmental and symbiotic processes.}, } @article {pmid28073558, year = {2016}, author = {Higashi, A and Fujitani, Y and Nakayama, N and Tani, A and Ueki, S}, title = {Selective growth promotion of bloom-forming raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo by a marine bacterial strain.}, journal = {Harmful algae}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {150-156}, doi = {10.1016/j.hal.2016.11.009}, pmid = {28073558}, issn = {1878-1470}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Harmful Algal Bloom ; Microbial Interactions ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Stramenopiles/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Algal bloom is typically caused by aberrant propagation of a single species, resulting in its predomination in the local population. While environmental factors including temperature and eutrophication are linked to bloom, the precise mechanism of its formation process is still obscure. Here, we isolated a bacterial strain that promotes growth of Heterosigma akashiwo, a Raphidophyceae that causes harmful algal blooms. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain was identified as Altererythrobacter ishigakiensis, a member of the class Alphaproteobacteria. When added to culture, this strain facilitated growth of H. akashiwo and increased its cell culture yield significantly. Importantly, this strain did not affect the growth of other raphidophytes, Chattonella ovate and C. antiqua, indicating that it promotes growth of H. akashiwo in a species-specific manner. We also found that, in co-culture, H. akashiwo suppressed the growth of C. ovate. When A. ishigakiensis was added to the mixed culture, H. akashiwo growth was facilitated while C. ovate propagation was markedly suppressed, indicating that the presence of the bacterium enhances the dominance of H. akashiwo over C. ovate. This is the first example of selective growth promotion of H. akashiwo by a marine bacterium, and may exemplify importance of symbiotic bacterium on algal bloom forming process in general.}, } @article {pmid28073394, year = {2017}, author = {Alarcón, ME and Jara-F, A and Briones, RC and Dubey, AK and Slamovits, CH}, title = {Gregarine infection accelerates larval development of the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché).}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {144}, number = {4}, pages = {419-425}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182016002122}, pmid = {28073394}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animals ; Apicomplexa/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Ctenocephalides/growth & development/*parasitology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/growth & development/parasitology/ultrastructure ; Male ; Oocysts ; }, abstract = {A high degree of specialization between host and parasite is a well-known outcome of a long history of coevolution, and it is strikingly illustrated in a coordination of their life cycles. In some cases, the arms race ensued at the establishment of a symbiotic relationship results in the adoption of manipulative strategies by the parasite. We have already learned that Steinina ctenocephali, a gregarine living in the alimentary canal of cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis follows its phenology and metamorphosis. Despite these findings the outcome of their symbiotic partnership (mutualist, parasitic or commensal) remains unclear. To address this important question, we measured life history parameters of the flea in the presence of varying infection intensities of gregarine oocysts in laboratory conditions. We found that neither the emergence nor survival rate of fleas was affected by harbouring the gregarines. More surprisingly, our results show that flea larvae infected with gregarines developed faster and emerged earlier than the control group. This gregarine therefore joins the selected group of protists that can modify physiological host traits and provides not only new model taxa to be explored in an evolutionary scenario, but also potential development of control strategies of cat flea.}, } @article {pmid28072881, year = {2017}, author = {Igawa, M and Hata, H and Kato, M}, title = {Reciprocal Symbiont Sharing in the Lodging Mutualism between Walking Corals and Sipunculans.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e0169825}, pmid = {28072881}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Nematoda/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Solitary scleractinian corals of the genera Heterocyathus and Heteropsammia inhabit soft marine bottoms without attaching to hard substrata. The corallums of these genera contain a coiled cavity inhabited by a sipunculan that roams the seafloor, carrying the host coral with it. The coral serves as a sturdy shelter that protects the sipunculan from possible predators. At the same time, the sipunculan maintains the coral in an upright position on the soft bottom. This coral-sipunculan association is unique because two phylogenetically distant coral genera have developed convergent associations with sipunculans. We investigate the process of convergent evolution of two coral species, Hc. aequicostatus and Hp. cochlea, in Okinawa, Japan, with their symbiotic sipunculans, using phylogenetic and morphological analyses. Phylogenetic analyses clarified that the symbiotic sipunculans comprise two distinct clades, surprisingly both of which are associated with both coral species. The bodily habitus of the sipunculan differed between coral species and fit the morphologies of the coiled cavities of their respective host corals. Our results suggest that the two coral species share two sipunculan clades and that sipunculan morphology is plastic and determined by the internal structure of their host corals.}, } @article {pmid28072559, year = {2017}, author = {Anne-Emmanuelle, H and Hasna, B and Antoine, B and Marjolaine, R and Guillaume, M and Laetitia, CG and Gilles, C and Aude, HB}, title = {Control of Endophytic Frankia Sporulation by Alnus Nodule Metabolites.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {205-214}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-16-0235-R}, pmid = {28072559}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Alnus/*microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; Cell Respiration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Discriminant Analysis ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Frankia/*physiology ; *Metabolome ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Spores, Bacterial/*physiology ; Sugars/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A unique case of microbial symbiont capable of dormancy within its living host cells has been reported in actinorhizal symbioses. Some Frankia strains, named Sp+, are able to sporulate inside plant cells, contrarily to Sp- strains. The presence of metabolically slowed-down bacterial structures in host cells alters our understanding of symbiosis based on reciprocal benefits between both partners, and its impact on the symbiotic processes remains unknown. The present work reports a metabolomic study of Sp+ and Sp- nodules (from Alnus glutinosa), in order to highlight variabilities associated with in-planta sporulation. A total of 21 amino acids, 44 sugars and organic acids, and 213 secondary metabolites were detected using UV and mass spectrometric-based profiling. Little change was observed in primary metabolites, suggesting that in-planta sporulation would not strongly affect the primary functionalities of the symbiosis. One secondary metabolite (M27) was detected only in Sp+ nodules. It was identified as gentisic acid 5-O-β-d-xylopyranoside, previously reported as involved in plant defenses against microbial pathogens. This metabolite significantly increased Frankia in-vitro sporulation, unlike another metabolite significantly more abundant in Sp- nodules [M168 = (5R)-1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptane-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside]. All these results suggest that the plant could play an important role in the Frankia ability to sporulate in planta and allow us to discuss a possible sanction emitted by the host against less cooperative Sp+ symbionts.}, } @article {pmid28072450, year = {2017}, author = {Menge, DN and Levin, SA}, title = {Spatial heterogeneity can resolve the nitrogen paradox of tropical forests.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {4}, pages = {1049-1061}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.1733}, pmid = {28072450}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; *Forests ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil ; Trees ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Many tropical forests are characterized by large losses of plant-available forms of nitrogen (N), indicating that they are N rich, and by an abundance of plants capable of symbiotic N fixation. These N-fixing plants can fix enough N to drive N richness. However, biological N fixation (BNF) is more expensive than using plant-available N, so sustained BNF in N-rich soils appears to be a paradox. Here, we use spatially explicit ecosystem models to analyze the conditions under which spatial heterogeneity can induce simultaneous BNF and loss of plant-available N (hereafter, we call this combination "N-rich BNF"). Spatial movement of litter to neighboring plants' rooting zones can maintain N-rich BNF under a variety of conditions. For example, when N-fixers have higher N demand than non-fixers, N-fixers export N-rich litter to non-fixers, inducing large losses of plant-available N from the ecosystem, and receive N-poor litter from non-fixers, inducing BNF. BNF and N loss fluxes increase in proportion to the ratio of N-fixer litter N:P to non-fixer litter N:P, and also in proportion to the fraction of litter transferred out of a tree's rooting zone. Stoichiometric variability augments N-rich BNF, as does increasing the fraction of the landscape occupied by N-fixers, at least when they are rare. On the contrary, greater root overlap between neighbors and clumping of N-fixers diminish N-rich BNF. Finally, we examined how spatial litter transfer interacts with another mechanism that can sustain N-rich BNF, incomplete down-regulation of BNF. Spatial transfer and incomplete down-regulation can both sustain N-rich BNF, but they are compensatory rather than additive. These mechanisms can be distinguished by examining where N losses occur. Incomplete down-regulation of BNF leads to greater N loss under N-fixing trees, whereas spatial litter transfer leads to greater N loss under non-fixing trees. Along with time lags in regulating BNF, these results comprise a series of hypotheses that could help understand the N paradox of tropical forests.}, } @article {pmid28069754, year = {2017}, author = {Paun, A and Yau, C and Danska, JS}, title = {The Influence of the Microbiome on Type 1 Diabetes.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {198}, number = {2}, pages = {590-595}, doi = {10.4049/jimmunol.1601519}, pmid = {28069754}, issn = {1550-6606}, support = {272636//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells. The rapid rise in T1D incidence during the past 50 y suggests environmental factors contribute to the disease. The trillion symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting the mammalian gastrointestinal tract (i.e., the microbiota) influence numerous aspects of host physiology. In this study we review the evidence linking perturbations of the gut microbiome to pancreatic autoimmunity. We discuss data from rodent models demonstrating the essential role of the gut microbiota on the development and function of the host's mucosal and systemic immune systems. Furthermore, we review findings from human longitudinal cohort studies examining the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on microbiota composition and pancreatic autoimmunity. Taken together, these data underscore the requirement for mechanistic studies to identify bacterial components and metabolites interacting with the innate and adaptive immune system, which would set the basis for preventative or therapeutic strategies in T1D.}, } @article {pmid28069433, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, Z and Yu, X and Tang, J and Zhu, Y and Chen, G and Guo, L and Huang, B}, title = {Dual recognition activity of a rhamnose-binding lectin to pathogenic bacteria and zooxanthellae in stony coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {88-93}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2017.01.009}, pmid = {28069433}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dinoflagellida/*immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Lectins/*metabolism ; Lipid A/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Poly I-C/immunology ; Protozoan Infections/*immunology ; Rhamnose/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Stress, Physiological/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhamnose-binding lectin (RBL) is a type of Ca[2+]-independent lectin with tandem repeat carbohydrate-recognition domain, and is crucial for the innate immunity in many invertebrates. In this study, the cDNA sequence encoding RBL in coral Pocillopora damicornis (PdRBL-1) was cloned. The PdRBL-1 protein shared highest amino acid sequence similarity (55%) with the polyp of Hydra vulgaris, and contained a signal peptide and two tandem carbohydrate-recognition domains in which all cysteine residues were conserved. Surface plasmon resonance method revealed that the recombinant PdRBL-1 protein bound to LPS and Lipid A, but not to LTA, β-glucan, mannose and Poly (I:C). Results also showed that it bonded with zooxanthellae using western blotting method, and that the bound protein was detectable only at concentrations higher than 10[2] zooxanthellae cell mL[-1]. When recombinant PdRBL-1 protein was preincubated with LPS, lower amounts of protein bound to zooxanthellae compared to cells not preincubated with LPS. Furthermore, PdRBL-1 mRNA expression increased significantly at 12 h, and declined to the baseline at 24 h after heat stress at 31 °C. These results collectively suggest that PdRBL-1 could recognize not only pathogenic bacteria but also symbiotic zooxanthellae, and that the recognition of zooxanthellae by PdRBL-1 could be repressed by pathogenic bacteria through competitive binding. This information allows us to gain new insights in the mechanisms influencing the establishment and maintenance of coral-zooxanthella symbiosis in coral P. damicornis.}, } @article {pmid28068194, year = {2017}, author = {Kawaharada, Y and James, EK and Kelly, S and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J}, title = {The Ethylene Responsive Factor Required for Nodulation 1 (ERN1) Transcription Factor Is Required for Infection-Thread Formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {194-204}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-16-0237-R}, pmid = {28068194}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Several hundred genes are transcriptionally regulated during infection-thread formation and development of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. We have characterized a set of Lotus japonicus mutants impaired in root-nodule formation and found that the causative gene, Ern1, encodes a protein with a characteristic APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription-factor domain. Phenotypic characterization of four ern1 alleles shows that infection pockets are formed but root-hair infection threads are absent. Formation of root-nodule primordia is delayed and no normal transcellular infection threads are found in the infected nodules. Corroborating the role of ERN1 (ERF Required for Nodulation1) in nodule organogenesis, spontaneous nodulation induced by an autoactive CCaMK and cytokinin-induced nodule primordia were not observed in ern1 mutants. Expression of Ern1 is induced in the susceptible zone by Nod factor treatment or rhizobial inoculation. At the cellular level, the pErn1:GUS reporter is highly expressed in root epidermal cells of the susceptible zone and in the cortical cells that form nodule primordia. The genetic regulation of this cellular expression pattern was further investigated in symbiotic mutants. Nod factor induction of Ern1 in epidermal cells was found to depend on Nfr1, Cyclops, and Nsp2 but was independent of Nin and Nf-ya1. These results suggest that ERN1 functions as a transcriptional regulator involved in the formation of infection threads and development of nodule primordia and may coordinate these two processes.}, } @article {pmid28066713, year = {2017}, author = {Ayala-Sumuano, JT and Licea-Navarro, A and Rudiño-Piñera, E and Rodríguez, E and Rodríguez-Almazán, C}, title = {Sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly of Anthopleura dowii Verrill (1869), from Mexico.}, journal = {Genomics data}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {92-94}, pmid = {28066713}, issn = {2213-5960}, abstract = {Next-generation technologies for determination of genomics and transcriptomics composition have a wide range of applications. Moreover, the development of tools for big data set analysis has allowed the identification of molecules and networks involved in metabolism, evolution or behavior. By natural habitats aquatic organisms have implemented molecular strategies for survival, including the production and secretion of toxic compounds for their predators; therefore these organisms are possible sources of proteins or peptides with potential biotechnological application. In the last decade anthozoans, mainly octocorals but also sea anemones, have been proben to be a source of natural products. Members of the genus Anthopleura are one of the best known and most studied sea anemones because they are common constituents of rocky intertidal communities and show interesting ecological and biological phenomena (e.g. intraespecific competition, symbiosis, etc.); however, many aspects of these taxa remain in need to be analyzed. This work describes the transcriptome sequencing of Anthopleura dowii Verrill, 1869 (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria); this is the first report of this kind for these species. The data set used to construct the transcriptome has been deposited on NCBI's database. Illumina sequence reads are available under BioProject accession number PRJNA329297 and Sequence Read Archive under accession number SRP078992.}, } @article {pmid28066403, year = {2016}, author = {Pita, L and Fraune, S and Hentschel, U}, title = {Emerging Sponge Models of Animal-Microbe Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2102}, pmid = {28066403}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sponges have a significant impact on marine benthic communities, they are of biotechnological interest owing to their production of bioactive natural compounds, and they promise to provide insights into conserved mechanisms of host-microbe interactions in basal metazoans. The natural variability of sponge-microbe associations across species and environments provides a meaningful ecological and evolutionary framework to investigate animal-microbial symbiosis through experimentation in the field and also in aquaria. In addition, next-generation sequencing technologies have shed light on the genomic repertoire of the sponge host and revealed metabolic capacities and symbiotic lifestyle features of their microbiota. However, our understanding of symbiotic mechanisms is still in its infancy. Here, we discuss the potential and limitations of the sponge-microbe symbiosis as emerging models for animal-associated microbiota.}, } @article {pmid28066398, year = {2016}, author = {Tobias, NJ}, title = {Insect Vectors of Disease: Untapped Reservoirs for New Antimicrobials?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2085}, pmid = {28066398}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {With the increase in antibiotic resistance among infectious diseases, the need for new strategies for identifying compounds with inhibitory effects is dire. Traditional methods of genome sequencing and systematic characterization of potential antimicrobial gene clusters, although effective, are unfortunately not yielding results at a speed consistent with the rise in antimicrobial resistance. One approach could be to use a more targeted approach to antimicrobial compound discovery. Insect vectors often mediate the transmissions of parasitic infections for example, leishmaniasis, malaria, and trypanosomiasis. Within the insect, among the pathogens, are commensal and/or obligate symbiotic bacteria, which often undergo a population shift upon colonization of the insect host. The remaining bacteria may be either resistant to the effects of the respective parasites, or possibly essential for a successful colonization and continued spread of the parasite due to an obligate symbiosis between bacteria and insect host. Interestingly, these shifts are often toward groups of bacteria known to harbor many polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene clusters involved in bioactive molecule production. This perspective explores the possibility to exploit the natural interactions between parasite, symbiont, and insect host for a more targeted approach toward natural product discovery, in an environment where potential compound producers are naturally interfacing with human pathogens.}, } @article {pmid28066397, year = {2016}, author = {Bella, C and Koehler, L and Grosser, K and Berendonk, TU and Petroni, G and Schrallhammer, M}, title = {Fitness Impact of Obligate Intranuclear Bacterial Symbionts Depends on Host Growth Phase.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2084}, pmid = {28066397}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {According to text book definition, parasites reduce the fitness of their hosts whereas mutualists provide benefits. But biotic and abiotic factors influence symbiotic interactions, thus under certain circumstances parasites can provide benefits and mutualists can harm their host. Here we addressed the question which intrinsic biotic factors shape a symbiosis and are crucial for the outcome of the interaction between the obligate intranuclear bacterium Holospora caryophila (Alphaproteobacteria; Rickettsiales) and its unicellular eukaryotic host Paramecium biaurelia (Alveolata; Ciliophora). The virulence of H. caryophila, i.e., the negative fitness effect on host division and cell number, was determined by growth assays of several P. biaurelia strains. The performances of genetically identical lines either infected with H. caryophila or symbiont-free were compared. Following factors were considered as potentially influencing the outcome of the interaction: (1) host strain, (2) parasite strain, and (3) growth phases of the host. All three factors revealed a strong effect on the symbiosis. In presence of H. caryophila, the Paramecium density in the stationary growth phase decreased. Conversely, a positive effect of the bacteria during the exponential phase was observed for several host × parasite combinations resulting in an increased growth rate of infected P. biaurelia. Furthermore, the fitness impact of the tested endosymbionts on different P. biaurelia lines was not only dependent on one of the two involved strains but distinct for the specific combination. Depending on the current host growth phase, the presence of H. caryophila can be harmful or advantageous for P. biaurelia. Thus, under the tested experimental conditions, the symbionts can switch from the provision of benefits to the exploitation of host resources within the same host population and a time-span of less than 6 days.}, } @article {pmid28065939, year = {2017}, author = {Shi, Y and Mu, L}, title = {An expanding stage for commensal microbes in host immune regulation.}, journal = {Cellular & molecular immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {339-348}, pmid = {28065939}, issn = {2042-0226}, support = {R01 AI098995/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System ; *Immunity ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Gastrointestinal commensal microbiota is a concentrated mix of microbial life forms, including bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses. These life forms are targets of host antimicrobial defense in order to establish a homeostatic symbiosis inside the host. However, they are also instrumental in shaping the functions of our immune system via a diverse set of communication mechanisms. In the gut, T helper 17, regulatory T and B cells are continuously tuned by specific microbial strains and metabolic processes. These cells in return help to establish a mutually beneficial exchange with the gut microbial contents. Imbalances in this symbiosis lead to dysregulations in the host's ability to control infections and the development of autoimmune diseases. In addition, the commensal microbiota has a significant and obligatory role in shaping both gut intrinsic and distal lymphoid organs, casting a large impact on the overall immune landscape in the host. This review discusses the major components of the microbial community in the gut and how its members collectively and individually exert regulatory roles in the host immune system and lymphoid structure development, as well as the functions of several major immune cell types.}, } @article {pmid28064360, year = {2017}, author = {Piovia-Scott, J and Rejmanek, D and Woodhams, DC and Worth, SJ and Kenny, H and McKenzie, V and Lawler, SP and Foley, JE}, title = {Greater Species Richness of Bacterial Skin Symbionts Better Suppresses the Amphibian Fungal Pathogen Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {74}, number = {1}, pages = {217-226}, pmid = {28064360}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; *Bacteria ; Chytridiomycota/*pathogenicity ; Ranidae/*microbiology ; Skin/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic microbes that grow in and on many organisms can play important roles in protecting their hosts from pathogen infection. While species diversity has been shown to influence community function in many other natural systems, the question of how species diversity of host-associated symbiotic microbes contributes to pathogen resistance is just beginning to be explored. Understanding diversity effects on pathogen resistance could be particularly helpful in combating the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) which has caused dramatic population declines in many amphibian species and is a major concern for amphibian conservation. Our study investigates the ability of host-associated bacteria to inhibit the proliferation of Bd when grown in experimentally assembled biofilm communities that differ in species number and composition. Six bacterial species isolated from the skin of Cascades frogs (Rana cascadae) were used to assemble bacterial biofilm communities containing 1, 2, 3, or all 6 bacterial species. Biofilm communities were grown with Bd for 7 days following inoculation. More speciose bacterial communities reduced Bd abundance more effectively. This relationship between bacterial species richness and Bd suppression appeared to be driven by dominance effects-the bacterial species that were most effective at inhibiting Bd dominated multi-species communities-and complementarity: multi-species communities inhibited Bd growth more than monocultures of constituent species. These results underscore the notion that pathogen resistance is an emergent property of microbial communities, a consideration that should be taken into account when designing probiotic treatments to reduce the impacts of infectious disease.}, } @article {pmid28063627, year = {2017}, author = {Ji, ZJ and Yan, H and Cui, QG and Wang, ET and Chen, WF and Chen, WX}, title = {Competition between rhizobia under different environmental conditions affects the nodulation of a legume.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {114-119}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.12.003}, pmid = {28063627}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Environmental Exposure ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbiosis and nitrogen fixation of legume rhizobia play a key role in ecological environments. Although many different rhizobial species can form nodules with a specific legume, there is often a dominant microsymbiont, which has the highest nodule occupancy rates, and they are often known as the "most favorable rhizobia". Shifts in the most favorable rhizobia for a legume in different geographical regions or soil types are not well understood. Therefore, in order to explore the shift model, an experiment was designed using successive inoculations of rhizobia on one legume. The plants were grown in either sterile vermiculite or a sandy soil. Results showed that, depending on the environment, a legume could select its preferential rhizobial partner in order to establish symbiosis. For perennial legumes, nodulation is a continuous and sequential process. In this study, when the most favorable rhizobial strain was available to infect the plant first, it was dominant in the nodules, regardless of the existence of other rhizobial strains in the rhizosphere. Other rhizobial strains had an opportunity to establish symbiosis with the plant when the most favorable rhizobial strain was not present in the rhizosphere. Nodule occupancy rates of the most favorable rhizobial strain depended on the competitiveness of other rhizobial strains in the rhizosphere and the environmental adaptability of the favorable rhizobial strain (in this case, to mild vermiculite or hostile sandy soil). To produce high nodulation and efficient nitrogen fixation, the most favorable rhizobial strain should be selected and inoculated into the rhizosphere of legume plants under optimum environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid28063183, year = {2017}, author = {Kerwin, AH and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria associated with a bobtail squid reproductive system are detectable in the environment, and stable in the host and developing eggs.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {1463-1475}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13665}, pmid = {28063183}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Female ; Ovum/microbiology ; Seawater ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Female Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, have an accessory nidamental gland (ANG) housing a bacterial consortium that is hypothesized to be environmentally transmitted and to function in the protection of eggs from fouling and infection. The composition, stability, and variability of the ANG and egg jelly coat (JC) communities were characterized and compared to the bacterial community composition of the surrounding environment using Illumina sequencing and transmission electron microscopy. The ANG bacterial community was conserved throughout hosts collected from the wild and was not affected by maintaining animals in the laboratory. The core symbiotic community was composed of Alphaproteobacteria and Opitutae (a class of Verrucomicrobia). Operational taxonomic units representing 94.5% of the average ANG abundance were found in either the seawater or sediment, which is consistent with the hypothesis of environmental transmission between generations. The bacterial composition of the JC was stable during development and mirrored that of the ANG. Bacterial communities from individual egg clutches also grouped with the ANG of the female that produced them. Collectively, these data suggest a conserved role of the ANG/JC community in host reproduction. Future directions will focus on determining the function of this symbiotic community, and how it may change during ANG development.}, } @article {pmid28062985, year = {2017}, author = {Caccia, M and Rondan Dueñas, J and Del Valle, E and Doucet, ME and Lax, P}, title = {Morphological and molecular characterisation of an isolate of Steinernema diaprepesi Nguyen & Duncan, 2002 (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) from Argentina and identification of its bacterial symbiont.}, journal = {Systematic parasitology}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {111-122}, pmid = {28062985}, issn = {1573-5192}, mesh = {Animals ; Argentina ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhabditida/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes of the families Heterorhabditidae Poinar, 1976 and Steinernematidae Chitwood & Chitwood, 1937 are used for biological control of insect pests. An isolate of Steinernema diaprepesi Nguyen & Duncan, 2002 was recovered from a carrot field in the locality of Santa Rosa de Calchines (Santa Fe Province, Argentina). These nematodes were characterised based on morphological, morphometric and molecular studies. Their symbiotic bacterium was identified as Xenorhabdus doucetiae Tailliez, Pagès, Ginibre & Boemare, 2006 by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The isolate of S. diaprepesi studied exhibits some morphometric differences with the original description, especially in the first generation adults. This is the first description of the species in Argentina.}, } @article {pmid28062579, year = {2017}, author = {Téfit, MA and Leulier, F}, title = {Lactobacillus plantarum favors the early emergence of fit and fertile adult Drosophila upon chronic undernutrition.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {900-907}, pmid = {28062579}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {*Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Drosophila/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Fertility ; Food Deprivation ; Lactobacillus plantarum/*physiology ; Longevity ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals are naturally surrounded by a variety of microorganisms with which they constantly interact. Among these microbes, some live in close association with a host and form its microbiota. These communities are being extensively studied, owing to their contributions to shaping various aspects of animal physiology. One of these commensal species, Lactobacillus plantarum, and in particular the L.p.[WJL] strain, has been shown to promote the growth of Drosophila larvae upon nutrient scarcity, allowing earlier metamorphosis and adult emergence compared with axenic individuals. As for many insects, conditions surrounding the post-embryonic development dictate key adult life history traits in Drosophila, and adjusting developmental timing according to the environment is essential for adult fitness. Thus, we wondered whether the growth acceleration induced by L.p.[WJL] in a context of poor nutrition could adversely impact the fitness of Drosophila adults. Here, we show that the L.p.[WJL] -mediated acceleration of growth is not deleterious; adults emerging after an accelerated development are as fit as their axenic siblings. Additionally, the presence of L.p.[WJL] even leads to a lifespan extension in nutritionally challenged males. These results demonstrate that L.p.[WJL] is a beneficial partner for Drosophila melanogaster through its entire life cycle. Thus, commensal bacteria allow the earlier emergence and longer survival of fit and fertile individuals and might represent one of the factors contributing to the ecological success of Drosophila.}, } @article {pmid28062461, year = {2017}, author = {Msaddak, A and Durán, D and Rejili, M and Mars, M and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Imperial, J and Palacios, J and Rey, L}, title = {Diverse Bacteria Affiliated with the Genera Microvirga, Phyllobacterium, and Bradyrhizobium Nodulate Lupinus micranthus Growing in Soils of Northern Tunisia.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28062461}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Methylobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phyllobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity of bacterial populations nodulating Lupinus micranthus in five geographical sites from northern Tunisia was examined. Phylogenetic analyses of 50 isolates based on partial sequences of recA and gyrB grouped strains into seven clusters, five of which belong to the genus Bradyrhizobium (28 isolates), one to Phyllobacterium (2 isolates), and one, remarkably, to Microvirga (20 isolates). The largest Bradyrhizobium cluster (17 isolates) grouped with the B. lupini species, and the other five clusters were close to different recently defined Bradyrhizobium species. Isolates close to Microvirga were obtained from nodules of plants from four of the five sites sampled. We carried out an in-depth phylogenetic study with representatives of the seven clusters using sequences from housekeeping genes (rrs, recA, glnII, gyrB, and dnaK) and obtained consistent results. A phylogeny based on the sequence of the symbiotic gene nodC identified four groups, three formed by Bradyrhizobium isolates and one by the Microvirga and Phyllobacterium isolates. Symbiotic behaviors of the representative strains were tested, and some congruence between symbiovars and symbiotic performance was observed. These data indicate a remarkable diversity of L. micranthus root nodule symbionts in northern Tunisia, including strains from the Bradyrhizobiaceae, Methylobacteriaceae, and Phyllobacteriaceae families, in contrast with those of the rhizobial populations nodulating lupines in the Old World, including L. micranthus from other Mediterranean areas, which are nodulated mostly by Bradyrhizobium strains.IMPORTANCELupinus micranthus is a legume broadly distributed in the Mediterranean region and plays an important role in soil fertility and vegetation coverage by fixing nitrogen and solubilizing phosphate in semiarid areas. Direct sowing to extend the distribution of this indigenous legume can contribute to the prevention of soil erosion in pre-Saharan lands of Tunisia. However, rhizobial populations associated with L. micranthus are poorly understood. In this context, the diversity of endosymbionts of this legume was investigated. Most Lupinus species are nodulated by Bradyrhizobium strains. This work showed that about half of the isolates from northern Tunisian soils were in fact Bradyrhizobium symbionts, but the other half were found unexpectedly to be bacteria within the genera Microvirga and Phyllobacterium These unusual endosymbionts may have a great ecological relevance. Inoculation with the appropriate selected symbiotic bacterial partners will increase L. micranthus survival with consequent advantages for the environment in semiarid areas of Tunisia.}, } @article {pmid28062355, year = {2017}, author = {Nishimura, H and Yamaguchi, D and Watanabe, T}, title = {Cerebrosides, extracellular glycolipids secreted by the selective lignin-degrading fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora.}, journal = {Chemistry and physics of lipids}, volume = {203}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2016.12.006}, pmid = {28062355}, issn = {1873-2941}, mesh = {Cerebrosides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Coriolaceae/*metabolism ; Lignin/chemistry/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; }, abstract = {Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is a selective white-rot fungus that degrades lignin at a site far from the hyphae and extracellular enzymes, without intensive damage to the cellulose. In selective ligninolysis, low molecular mass metabolites play a principal role and amphipathic substances are involved to control the degradation and transport of hydrophobic aromatic molecules, including lignin and lipids; however, secretion of the amphipathic substances by this fungus has not been well understood, except for alk(en)yl itaconates called ceriporic acids, which have a weak amphiphilicity. Herein, we report for the first time that the fungus secretes cerebrosides that are classified as glycosphingolipids. By using liquid chromatography electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy coupled with stable isotope feeding experiments with [13]C-glucose and [15]N-ammonium sulfate, the cerebrosides were determined to be N-hydroxyoctadecanoyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4E,8E-sphingadienine, N-hydroxyoctadecanoyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4E,8Z-sphingadienine, and N-hydroxyoctadecanoyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-9-methyl-4E,8E-sphingadienine. The cerebrosides are strong amphipathic substances and potential metabolites for regulating difference and symbiosis within the microbial community.}, } @article {pmid28060998, year = {2017}, author = {Romero-Munar, A and Del-Saz, NF and Ribas-Carbó, M and Flexas, J and Baraza, E and Florez-Sarasa, I and Fernie, AR and Gulías, J}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis with Arundo donax Decreases Root Respiration and Increases Both Photosynthesis and Plant Biomass Accumulation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {1115-1126}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12902}, pmid = {28060998}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis on plant growth is associated with the balance between costs and benefits. A feedback regulation loop has been described in which the higher carbohydrate cost to plants for AM symbiosis is compensated by increases in their photosynthetic rates. Nevertheless, plant carbon balance depends both on photosynthetic carbon uptake and respiratory carbon consumption. The hypothesis behind this research was that the role of respiration in plant growth under AM symbiosis may be as important as that of photosynthesis. This hypothesis was tested in Arundo donax L. plantlets inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae. We tested the effects of AM inoculation on both photosynthetic capacity and in vivo leaf and root respiration. Additionally, analyses of the primary metabolism and ion content were performed in both leaves and roots. AM inoculation increased photosynthesis through increased CO2 diffusion and electron transport in the chloroplast. Moreover, respiration decreased only in AM roots via the cytochrome oxidase pathway (COP) as measured by the oxygen isotope technique. This decline in the COP can be related to the reduced respiratory metabolism and substrates (sugars and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates) observed in roots.}, } @article {pmid28059169, year = {2017}, author = {Peng, Z and Liu, F and Wang, L and Zhou, H and Paudel, D and Tan, L and Maku, J and Gallo, M and Wang, J}, title = {Transcriptome profiles reveal gene regulation of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) nodulation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {40066}, pmid = {28059169}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Arachis/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The molecular mechanisms of symbiosis in cultivated peanut with a 'crack entry' infection process are largely understudied. In this study, we investigated the root transcriptional profiles of two pairs of non-nodulating (nod-) and nodulating (nod+) sister inbred peanut lines, E4/E5 and E7/E6, and their nod+ parents, F487A and PI262090 during rhizobial infection and nodule initiation by using RNA-seq technology. A total of 143, 101, 123, 215, 182, and 289 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in nod- E4, E7 and nod+ E5, E6, F487A, and PI262090 after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. Different deficiencies at upstream of symbiotic signaling pathway were revealed in the two nod- genotypes. DEGs specific in nod+ genotypes included orthologs to some known symbiotic signaling pathway genes, such as NFR5, NSP2, NIN, ERN1, and many other novel and/or functionally unknown genes. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of nod+ specific DEGs revealed 54 significantly enriched GO terms, including oxidation-reduction process, metabolic process, and catalytic activity. Genes related with plant defense systems, hormone biosynthesis and response were particularly enriched. To our knowledge, this is the first report revealing symbiosis-related genes in a genome-wide manner in peanut representative of the 'crack entry' species.}, } @article {pmid28057894, year = {2017}, author = {Curtin, SJ and Tiffin, P and Guhlin, J and Trujillo, DI and Burghart, LT and Atkins, P and Baltes, NJ and Denny, R and Voytas, DF and Stupar, RM and Young, ND}, title = {Validating Genome-Wide Association Candidates Controlling Quantitative Variation in Nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {173}, number = {2}, pages = {921-931}, pmid = {28057894}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Alleles ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Chromosome Mapping ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genome, Plant ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Mutagenesis/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci/*genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {Genome-wide association (GWA) studies offer the opportunity to identify genes that contribute to naturally occurring variation in quantitative traits. However, GWA relies exclusively on statistical association, so functional validation is necessary to make strong claims about gene function. We used a combination of gene-disruption platforms (Tnt1 retrotransposons, hairpin RNA-interference constructs, and CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases) together with randomized, well-replicated experiments to evaluate the function of genes that an earlier GWA study in Medicago truncatula had identified as candidates contributing to variation in the symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. We evaluated ten candidate genes found in six clusters of strongly associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, selected on the basis of their strength of statistical association, proximity to annotated gene models, and root or nodule expression. We found statistically significant effects on nodule production for three candidate genes, each validated in two independent mutants. Annotated functions of these three genes suggest their contributions to quantitative variation in nodule production occur through processes not previously connected to nodulation, including phosphorous supply and salicylic acid-related defense response. These results demonstrate the utility of GWA combined with reverse mutagenesis technologies to discover and validate genes contributing to naturally occurring variation in quantitative traits. The results highlight the potential for GWA to complement forward genetics in identifying the genetic basis of ecologically and economically important traits.}, } @article {pmid28054713, year = {2017}, author = {Speijer, D}, title = {Alternating terminal electron-acceptors at the basis of symbiogenesis: How oxygen ignited eukaryotic evolution.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201600174}, pmid = {28054713}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Electron Transport ; Energy Metabolism ; Eukaryota/genetics/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {What kind of symbiosis between archaeon and bacterium gave rise to their eventual merger at the origin of the eukaryotes? I hypothesize that conditions favouring bacterial uptake were based on exchange of intermediate carbohydrate metabolites required by recurring changes in availability and use of the two different terminal electron chain acceptors, the bacterial one being oxygen. Oxygen won, and definitive loss of the archaeal membrane potential allowed permanent establishment of the bacterial partner as the proto-mitochondrion, further metabolic integration and highly efficient ATP production. This represents initial symbiogenesis, when crucial eukaryotic traits arose in response to the archaeon-bacterium merger. The attendant generation of internal reactive oxygen species (ROS) gave rise to a myriad of further eukaryotic adaptations, such as extreme mitochondrial genome reduction, nuclei, peroxisomes and meiotic sex. Eukaryotic origins could have started with shuffling intermediate metabolites as is still essential today.}, } @article {pmid28054497, year = {2017}, author = {Bourassa, DV and Kannenberg, EL and Sherrier, DJ and Buhr, RJ and Carlson, RW}, title = {The Lipopolysaccharide Lipid A Long-Chain Fatty Acid Is Important for Rhizobium leguminosarum Growth and Stress Adaptation in Free-Living and Nodule Environments.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {161-175}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-16-0230-R}, pmid = {28054497}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {R01 GM039583/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DE-FG-02-93ER20097//Department of Energy/International ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Lipid A/chemistry/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Osmosis ; Peas/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; *Stress, Physiological ; beta-Glucans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium bacteria live in soil and plant environments, are capable of inducing symbiotic nodules on legumes, invade these nodules, and develop into bacteroids that fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Rhizobial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is anchored in the bacterial outer membrane through a specialized lipid A containing a very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA). VLCFA function for rhizobial growth in soil and plant environments is not well understood. Two genes, acpXL and lpxXL, encoding acyl carrier protein and acyltransferase, are among the six genes required for biosynthesis and transfer of VLCFA to lipid A. Rhizobium leguminosarum mutant strains acpXL, acpXL[-]/lpxXL[-], and lpxXL[-] were examined for LPS structure, viability, and symbiosis. Mutations in acpXL and lpxXL abolished VLCFA attachment to lipid A. The acpXL mutant transferred a shorter acyl chain instead of VLCFA. Strains without lpxXL neither added VLCFA nor a shorter acyl chain. In all strains isolated from nodule bacteria, lipid A had longer acyl chains compared with laboratory-cultured bacteria, whereas mutant strains displayed altered membrane properties, modified cationic peptide sensitivity, and diminished levels of cyclic β-glucans. In pea nodules, mutant bacteroids were atypically formed and nitrogen fixation and senescence were affected. The role of VLCFA for rhizobial environmental fitness is discussed.}, } @article {pmid28054428, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, G and Wang, D and Hong, W and Sun, L and Zhu, Y and Chen, X}, title = {Fluorescence Enhancement on Large Area Self-Assembled Plasmonic-3D Photonic Crystals.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/smll.201602612}, pmid = {28054428}, issn = {1613-6829}, abstract = {Discontinuous plasmonic-3D photonic crystal hybrid structures are fabricated in order to evaluate the coupling effect of surface plasmon resonance and the photonic stop band. The nanostructures are prepared by silver sputtering deposition on top of hydrophobic 3D photonic crystals. The localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanostructure has a symbiotic relationship with the 3D photonic stop band, leading to highly tunable characteristics. Fluorescence enhancements of conjugated polymer and quantum dot based on these hybrid structures are studied. The maximum fluorescence enhancement for the conjugated polymer of poly(5-methoxy-2-(3-sulfopropoxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) potassium salt by a factor of 87 is achieved as compared with that on a glass substrate due to the enhanced near-field from the discontinuous plasmonic structures, strong scattering effects from rough metal surface with photonic stop band, and accelerated decay rates from metal-coupled excited state of the fluorophore. It is demonstrated that the enhancement induced by the hybrid structures has a larger effective distance (optimum thickness ≈130 nm) than conventional plasmonic systems. It is expected that this approach has tremendous potential in the field of sensors, fluorescence-imaging, and optoelectronic applications.}, } @article {pmid28053873, year = {2017}, author = {Afonin, A and Sulima, A and Zhernakov, A and Zhukov, V}, title = {Draft genome of the strain RCAM1026 Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.}, journal = {Genomics data}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {85-86}, pmid = {28053873}, issn = {2213-5960}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae RCAM1026 is a strain first isolated in 1964 from nodules of "Ramensky 77" cultivar of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) now routinely used as a model strain in inoculation experiments on pea. Assembly with SPAdes yielded 133 contigs longer then 200 bp (N50 = 202,321, GC% = 60.84). Resulting annotated genome is 7,248,686 bp encoding 6792 genes.}, } @article {pmid28052394, year = {2017}, author = {Faeth, SH and Oberhofer, M and Saari, S and Haskins, KE and Shymanovich, T}, title = {Does hybridization of endophytic symbionts in a native grass increase fitness in resource-limited environments?.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {1}, pages = {138-149}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.1626}, pmid = {28052394}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Genotype ; Grassland ; *Hybridization, Genetic ; Poaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hybridization is common among plants, animals and microbes. However, the ecological consequences of hybridization for microbes are far less understood than for plants and animals. For symbiotic Epichloë fungi, hybridization is widespread and may augment the well-known benefits of the endophytes to their grass hosts, especially in stressful environments. We tested the hybrid fitness hypothesis (HFH) that hybrid endophytes enhance fitness in stressful environments relative to non-hybrid endophytes. In a long-term field experiment, we monitored growth and reproduction of hybrid-infected (H+), non-hybrid infected (NH+), naturally endophyte free (E-) plants and those plants from which the endophyte had been experimentally removed (H- and NH-) in resource-rich and resource-poor environments. Infection by both endophyte species enhanced growth and reproduction. H+ plants outperformed NH+ plants in terms of growth by the end of the experiment, supporting HFH. However, H+ plants only outperformed NH+ plants in the resource-rich treatment, contrary to HFH. Plant genotypes associated with each endophyte species had strong effects on growth and reproduction. Our results provide some support the HFH hypothesis but not based upon adaptation to stressful environments. Our results reinforce the notion of a complex interplay between endophyte and plant genotype and environmental factors that determine fitness of the symbiotum.}, } @article {pmid28052388, year = {2017}, author = {Jiang, J and Moore, JA and Priyadarshi, A and Classen, AT}, title = {Plant-mycorrhizal interactions mediate plant community coexistence by altering resource demand.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {1}, pages = {187-197}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.1630}, pmid = {28052388}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As the diversity of plants increases in an ecosystem, so does resource competition for soil nutrients, a process that mycorrhizal fungi can mediate. The influence of mycorrhizal fungi on plant biodiversity likely depends on the strength of the symbiosis between the plant and fungi, the differential plant growth responses to mycorrhizal inoculation, and the transfer rate of nutrients from the fungus to plant. However, our current understanding of how nutrient-plant-mycorrhizal interactions influence plant coexistence is conceptual and thus lacks a unified quantitative framework. To quantify the conditions of plant coexistence mediated by mycorrhizal fungi, we developed a mechanistic resource competition model that explicitly included plant-mycorrhizal symbioses. We found that plant-mycorrhizal interactions shape plant coexistence patterns by creating a tradeoff in resource competition. Especially, a tradeoff in resource competition was caused by differential payback in the carbon resources that plants invested in the fungal symbiosis and/or by the stoichiometric constraints on plants that required additional, less-beneficial, resources to sustain growth. Our results suggested that resource availability and the variation in plant-mycorrhizal interactions act in concert to drive plant coexistence patterns. Applying our framework, future empirical studies should investigate plant-mycorrhizal interactions under multiple levels of resource availability.}, } @article {pmid28049838, year = {2017}, author = {Lackner, G and Peters, EE and Helfrich, EJ and Piel, J}, title = {Insights into the lifestyle of uncultured bacterial natural product factories associated with marine sponges.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {114}, number = {3}, pages = {E347-E356}, pmid = {28049838}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/metabolism ; Porifera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Proteomics/methods ; Riboflavin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The as-yet uncultured filamentous bacteria "Candidatus Entotheonella factor" and "Candidatus Entotheonella gemina" live associated with the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei Y, the source of numerous unusual bioactive natural products. Belonging to the proposed candidate phylum "Tectomicrobia," Candidatus Entotheonella members are only distantly related to any cultivated organism. The Ca E. factor has been identified as the source of almost all polyketide and modified peptides families reported from the sponge host, and both Ca Entotheonella phylotypes contain numerous additional genes for as-yet unknown metabolites. Here, we provide insights into the biology of these remarkable bacteria using genomic, (meta)proteomic, and chemical methods. The data suggest a metabolic model of Ca Entotheonella as facultative anaerobic, organotrophic organisms with the ability to use methanol as an energy source. The symbionts appear to be auxotrophic for some vitamins, but have the potential to produce most amino acids as well as rare cofactors like coenzyme F420 The latter likely accounts for the strong autofluorescence of Ca Entotheonella filaments. A large expansion of protein families involved in regulation and conversion of organic molecules indicates roles in host-bacterial interaction. In addition, a massive overrepresentation of members of the luciferase-like monooxygenase superfamily points toward an important role of these proteins in Ca Entotheonella. Furthermore, we performed mass spectrometric imaging combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization to localize Ca Entotheonella and some of the bioactive natural products in the sponge tissue. These metabolic insights into a new candidate phylum offer hints on the targeted cultivation of the chemically most prolific microorganisms known from microbial dark matter.}, } @article {pmid28045052, year = {2017}, author = {Chung, SH and Scully, ED and Peiffer, M and Geib, SM and Rosa, C and Hoover, K and Felton, GW}, title = {Host plant species determines symbiotic bacterial community mediating suppression of plant defenses.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {39690}, pmid = {28045052}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coleoptera/metabolism/*microbiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Herbivory ; Larva/microbiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Solanum/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Herbivore associated bacteria are vital mediators of plant and insect interactions. Host plants play an important role in shaping the gut bacterial community of insects. Colorado potato beetles (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata) use several Solanum plants as hosts in their natural environment. We previously showed that symbiotic gut bacteria from CPB larvae suppressed jasmonate (JA)-induced defenses in tomato. However, little is known about how changes in the bacterial community may be involved in the manipulation of induced defenses in wild and cultivated Solanum plants of CPB. Here, we examined suppression of JA-mediated defense in wild and cultivated hosts of CPB by chemical elicitors and their symbiotic bacteria. Furthermore, we investigated associations between the gut bacterial community and suppression of plant defenses using 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Symbiotic bacteria decreased plant defenses in all Solanum hosts and there were different gut bacterial communities in CPB fed on different host plants. When larvae were reared on different hosts, defense suppression differed among host plants. These results demonstrate that host plants influence herbivore gut bacterial communities and consequently affect the herbivore's ability to manipulate JA-mediated plant defenses. Thus, the presence of symbiotic bacteria that suppress plant defenses might help CPB adapt to host plants.}, } @article {pmid28043118, year = {2017}, author = {Jochum, T and Fastnacht, A and Trumbore, SE and Popp, J and Frosch, T}, title = {Direct Raman Spectroscopic Measurements of Biological Nitrogen Fixation under Natural Conditions: An Analytical Approach for Studying Nitrogenase Activity.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {89}, number = {2}, pages = {1117-1122}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.6b03101}, pmid = {28043118}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Rhizobium/*enzymology/metabolism ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman/*methods ; }, abstract = {Biological N2 fixation is a major input of bioavailable nitrogen, which represents the most frequent factor limiting the agricultural production throughout the world. Especially, the symbiotic association between legumes and Rhizobium bacteria can provide substantial amounts of nitrogen (N) and reduce the need for industrial fertilizers. Despite its importance in the global N cycle, rates of biological nitrogen fixation have proven difficult to quantify. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a simple analytical approach to measure biological N2 fixation rates directly without a proxy or isotopic labeling. We determined a mean N2 fixation rate of 78 ± 5 μmol N2 (g dry weight nodule)[-1] h[-1] of a Medicago sativa-Rhizobium consortium by continuously analyzing the amount of atmospheric N2 in static environmental chambers with Raman gas spectroscopy. By simultaneously analyzing the CO2 uptake and photosynthetic plant activity, we think that a minimum CO2 mixing ratio might be needed for natural N2 fixation and only used the time interval above this minimum CO2 mixing ratio for N2 fixation rate calculations. The proposed approach relies only on noninvasive measurements of the gas phase and, given its simplicity, indicates the potential to estimate biological nitrogen fixation of legume symbioses not only in laboratory experiments. The same methods can presumably also be used to detect N2 fluxes by denitrification from ecosystems to the atmosphere.}, } @article {pmid28042926, year = {2016}, author = {Sirisinha, S}, title = {The potential impact of gut microbiota on your health:Current status and future challenges.}, journal = {Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {249-264}, doi = {10.12932/AP0803}, pmid = {28042926}, issn = {0125-877X}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Our health and probably also our behaviors and mood depend not only on what we eat or what we do (lifestyle behaviors), but also on what we host. It is well established for decades that all vertebrates including humans are colonized by a wide array of bacteria, fungi, eukaryotic parasites and viruses, and that, at steady state (homeostasis), this community of microbes establishes a friendly mutual relationship with the host. The term microbiota was originally meant to represent an ecological community of commensals and potentially pathogenic microbes that live within our bodies, but it is now used interchangeably with the term microbiome which was initially meant to represent a collective genome of the microbiota. Although the number of microbes that live in or on our body was previously estimated to outnumber that of their hosts by 10 to 1, the latest estimate put the ratio to be closer to 1:1. On the other hand, their collective genomes (microbiome) outnumber those of the host by 100-200 times. It is not surprising therefore that these microbes not only provide the host with a variety of metabolic impact, but can also modulate tissue integrity and immune defense, all of which lead to a healthy ecosystem (symbiosis) that is unfavorable for colonization and invasion of pathogens. Microbiota is well known for its role in development and education of immune system. However, its link with diseases is less known and it is only recently that there is a surge of interest in the potential impact of microbiota on human health and disease. The diversity and composition of microbiota (healthy microbiota profile) are dynamics, depending not only on the host physical status, genotype and immune phenotype, but also on the environmental factors like diet, antibiotic usage and lifestyle behaviors. These environmental factors may adversely alter gut ecosystem (dysbiosis) that is frequently associated with increased susceptibility to infections as well as to non-communicable diseases like obesity, metabolic syndromes (e.g., diabetes and cardiovascular diseases), allergy and other inflammatory diseases. Emerging evidence from more recent studies also demonstrate the existence of a bidirectional communication route linking gut and microbiota with brain, thus suggesting that these microbes may play a role in neurological disorders as well as in host perception, behavior and emotional response. However, whether the observed alteration of the microbiota profile in these diverse conditions is the cause or the consequence of the disease remains to be established. These observations imply that it may be possible to design new strategies for the management of diseases by manipulating gut microbiota. The common practice now available is the use of probiotics to rehabilitate gut ecosystem. The microbiota-based therapeutics like fecal transplantation for the treatment of recurrent antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficile infection is now under clinical trial and reported to be highly successful. In the next decade, we will probably see even more exciting approaches, for example, using advanced microbiota engineering technologies to create "intelligent" or "smart" bacteria for use in diagnosis, prevention, prediction and treatment of inflammatory diseases and possibly of some gastrointestinal cancers. The microbiota-based therapeutics together with personalized medicine may be the most accurate and optimal strategy for the future treatment of some difficult-to-manage diseases. However, many challenges remain to be solved before the translational potential of this new knowledge can be implemented clinically. In this review, I highlight some important recent developments and advances that contribute to our understanding in the role of microbiota in human health and disease and on how to best manipulate the microbiome to promote greater human health.}, } @article {pmid28042376, year = {2016}, author = {Abrieux, A and Chiu, JC}, title = {Oral delivery of dsRNA by microbes: Beyond pest control.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e1236163}, pmid = {28042376}, issn = {1942-0889}, support = {R01 GM102225/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {RNA interference (RNAi) by oral delivery of dsRNA in insects has great potential as a tool for integrated pest management (IPM), especially with respect to addressing the need to reduce off-target effect and slow down resistance development to chemical insecticides. Employing the natural association existing between insect and yeast, we developed a novel method to enable the knock down of vital genes in the pest insect Drosophila suzukii through oral delivery of species-specific dsRNA using genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisae. D. suzukii that were fed with our "yeast biopesticide" showed a significant decrease in fitness. In this perspective article, we postulate that this approach could be adapted to a large number of species, given the great diversity of symbiotic interactions involving microorganisms and host species. Furthermore, we speculate that beyond its application as biopesticide, dsRNA delivery by genetically modified microbes can also serve to facilitate reverse genetic applications, specifically in non-model organisms.}, } @article {pmid28041943, year = {2017}, author = {Seehausen, ML and Cusson, M and Régnière, J and Bory, M and Stewart, D and Djoumad, A and Smith, SM and Martel, V}, title = {High temperature induces downregulation of polydnavirus gene transcription in lepidopteran host and enhances accumulation of host immunity gene transcripts.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {126-133}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.12.008}, pmid = {28041943}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hot Temperature ; Immunity, Innate ; Larva/growth & development/parasitology/physiology/virology ; Moths/growth & development/*parasitology/*virology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics/metabolism ; *Transcription, Genetic ; Viral Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Wasps/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endoparasitoids face the challenge of overcoming the immune reaction of their hosts, which typically consists of encapsulation and melanisation of parasitoid eggs or larvae. Some endoparasitic wasps such as the solitary Tranosema rostrale (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) that lay their eggs in larvae of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), have evolved a symbiotic relationship with a polydnavirus (PDV), which in turn helps them suppress the host's immune response. We observed an increase in mortality of immature T. rostrale with increasing temperature, and we tested two hypotheses about the mechanisms involved: high temperatures (1) hamper the expression of T. rostrale PDV genes and (2) enhance the expression of spruce budworm immunity-related genes. Dissections of parasitized spruce budworm larvae reared at 30°C revealed that most parasitoid eggs or larvae had died as a result of encapsulation and melanisation by the host. A qPCR analysis of T. rostrale PDV (TrIV) gene expression showed that the transcription of several TrIV genes in host larvae was downregulated at high temperature. On the other hand, encapsulation, but not melanisation, of foreign bodies in spruce budworm larvae was enhanced at high temperatures, as shown by the injection of Sephadex™ beads into larvae. However, at the molecular level, the transcription of genes related to spruce budworm's melanisation process (prophenoloxidase 1 and 2) was upregulated. Our results support the hypothesis that a temperature-dependent increase of encapsulation response is due to the combined effects of reduced expression of TrIV genes and enhanced expression of host immune genes.}, } @article {pmid28041928, year = {2017}, author = {Couzigou, JM and Lauressergues, D and André, O and Gutjahr, C and Guillotin, B and Bécard, G and Combier, JP}, title = {Positive Gene Regulation by a Natural Protective miRNA Enables Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {106-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2016.12.001}, pmid = {28041928}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*microbiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tobacco/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis associates most plants with fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota. The fungus penetrates into roots and forms within cortical cell branched structures called arbuscules for nutrient exchange. We discovered that miR171b has a mismatched cleavage site and is unable to downregulate the miR171 family target gene, LOM1 (LOST MERISTEMS 1). This mismatched cleavage site is conserved among plants that establish AM symbiosis, but not in non-mycotrophic plants. Unlike other members of the miR171 family, miR171b stimulates AM symbiosis and is expressed specifically in root cells that contain arbuscules. MiR171b protects LOM1 from negative regulation by other miR171 family members. These findings uncover a unique mechanism of positive post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by miRNAs and demonstrate its relevance for the establishment of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28039867, year = {2017}, author = {Lester, PJ and Sébastien, A and Suarez, AV and Barbieri, RF and Gruber, MA}, title = {Symbiotic bacterial communities in ants are modified by invasion pathway bottlenecks and alter host behavior.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {3}, pages = {861-874}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.1714}, pmid = {28039867}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Argentina ; *Introduced Species ; New Zealand ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological invasions are a threat to global biodiversity and provide unique opportunities to study ecological processes. Population bottlenecks are a common feature of biological invasions and the severity of these bottlenecks is likely to be compounded as an invasive species spreads from initial invasion sites to additional locations. Despite extensive work on the genetic consequences of bottlenecks, we know little about how they influence microbial communities of the invaders themselves. Due to serial bottlenecks, invasive species may lose microbial symbionts including pathogenic taxa (the enemy release hypothesis) and/or may accumulate natural enemies with increasing time after invasion (the pathogen accumulation and invasive decline hypothesis). We tested these alternate hypotheses by surveying bacterial communities of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile). We found evidence for serial symbiont bottlenecks: the bacterial community richness declined over the invasion pathway from Argentina to New Zealand. The abundance of some genera, such as Lactobacillus, also significantly declined over the invasion pathway. Argentine ants from populations in the United States shared the most genera with ants from their native range in Argentina, while New Zealand shared the least (120 vs. 57, respectively). Nine genera were present in all sites around the globe possibly indicating a core group of obligate microbes. In accordance with the pathogen accumulation and invasive decline hypothesis, Argentine ants acquired genera unique to each specific invaded country. The United States had the most unique genera, though even within New Zealand these ants acquired symbionts. In addition to our biogeographic sampling, we administered antibiotics to Argentine ants to determine if changes in the micro-symbiont community could influence behavior and survival in interspecific interactions. Treatment with the antibiotics spectinomycin and kanamycin only slightly increased Argentine ant interspecific aggression, but this increase significantly decreased survival in interspecific interactions. The survival of the native ant species also decreased when the symbiotic microbial community within Argentine ants was modified by antibiotics. Our work offers support for both the enemy release hypothesis and that invasive species accumulate novel microbial taxa within their invaded range. These changes appear likely to influence invader behavior and survival.}, } @article {pmid28039116, year = {2016}, author = {Dickie, IA and Cooper, JA and Bufford, JL and Hulme, PE and Bates, ST}, title = {Loss of functional diversity and network modularity in introduced plant-fungal symbioses.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {28039116}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {The introduction of alien plants into a new range can result in the loss of co-evolved symbiotic organisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi, that are essential for normal plant physiological functions. Prior studies of mycorrhizal associations in alien plants have tended to focus on individual plant species on a case-by-case basis. This approach limits broad scale understanding of functional shifts and changes in interaction network structure that may occur following introduction. Here we use two extensive datasets of plant-fungal interactions derived from fungal sporocarp observations and recorded plant hosts in two island archipelago nations: New Zealand (NZ) and the United Kingdom (UK). We found that the NZ dataset shows a lower functional diversity of fungal hyphal foraging strategies in mycorrhiza of alien as compared with native trees. Across species this resulted in fungal foraging strategies associated with alien trees being much more variable in functional composition compared with native trees, which had a strikingly similar functional composition. The UK data showed no functional difference in fungal associates of alien and native plant genera. Notwithstanding this, both the NZ and UK data showed a substantial difference in interaction network structure of alien trees compared with native trees. In both cases, fungal associates of native trees showed strong modularity, while fungal associates of alien trees generally integrated into a single large module. The results suggest a lower functional diversity (in one dataset) and a simplification of network structure (in both) as a result of introduction, potentially driven by either limited symbiont co-introductions or disruption of habitat as a driver of specificity due to nursery conditions, planting, or plant edaphic-niche expansion. Recognizing these shifts in function and network structure has important implications for plant invasions and facilitation of secondary invasions via shared mutualist populations.}, } @article {pmid28036141, year = {2017}, author = {Díez-Vives, C and Moitinho-Silva, L and Nielsen, S and Reynolds, D and Thomas, T}, title = {Expression of eukaryotic-like protein in the microbiome of sponges.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {1432-1451}, doi = {10.1111/mec.14003}, pmid = {28036141}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ankyrin Repeat/genetics ; Archaea/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Cadherins/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tetratricopeptide Repeat/genetics ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) are classes of proteins that are found in prokaryotes, but have a likely evolutionary origin in eukaryotes. ELPs have been postulated to mediate host-microbiome interactions. Recent work has discovered that prokaryotic symbionts of sponges contain abundant and diverse genes for ELPs, which could modulate interactions with their filter-feeding and phagocytic host. However, the extent to which these ELP genes are actually used and expressed by the symbionts is poorly understood. Here, we use metatranscriptomics to investigate ELP expression in the microbiomes of three different sponges (Cymbastella concentrica, Scopalina sp. and Tedania anhelens). We developed a workflow with optimized rRNA removal and in silico subtraction of host sequences to obtain a reliable symbiont metatranscriptome. This showed that between 1.3% and 2.3% of all symbiont transcripts contain genes for ELPs. Two classes of ELPs (cadherin and tetratricopeptide repeats) were abundantly expressed in the C. concentrica and Scopalina sp. microbiomes, while ankyrin repeat ELPs were predominant in the T. anhelens metatranscriptome. Comparison with transcripts that do not encode ELPs indicated a constitutive expression of ELPs across a range of bacterial and archaeal symbionts. Expressed ELPs also contained domains involved in protein secretion and/or were co-expressed with proteins involved in extracellular transport. This suggests these ELPs are likely exported, which could allow for direct interaction with the sponge. Our study shows that ELP genes in sponge symbionts represent actively expressed functions that could mediate molecular interaction between symbiosis partners.}, } @article {pmid28032461, year = {2017}, author = {Selosse, MA and Charpin, M and Not, F}, title = {Mixotrophy everywhere on land and in water: the grand écart hypothesis.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {246-263}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12714}, pmid = {28032461}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; *Biological Evolution ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Eukaryota/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {There is increasing awareness that many terrestrial and aquatic organisms are not strictly heterotrophic or autotrophic but rather mixotrophic. Mixotrophy is an intermediate nutritional strategy, merging autotrophy and heterotrophy to acquire organic carbon and/or other elements, mainly N, P or Fe. We show that both terrestrial and aquatic mixotrophs fall into three categories, namely necrotrophic (where autotrophs prey on other organisms), biotrophic (where heterotrophs gain autotrophy by symbiosis) and absorbotrophic (where autotrophs take up environmental organic molecules). Here we discuss their physiological and ecological relevance since mixotrophy is found in virtually every ecosystem and occurs across the whole eukaryotic phylogeny, suggesting an evolutionary pressure towards mixotrophy. Ecosystem dynamics tend to separate light from non-carbon nutrients (N and P resources): the biological pump and water stratification in aquatic ecosystems deplete non-carbon nutrients from the photic zone, while terrestrial plant successions create a canopy layer with light but devoid of non-carbon soil nutrients. In both aquatic and terrestrial environments organisms face a grand écart (dancer's splits, i.e., the need to reconcile two opposing needs) between optimal conditions for photosynthesis vs. gain of non-carbon elements. We suggest that mixotrophy allows adaptation of organisms to such ubiquist environmental gradients, ultimately explaining why mixotrophic strategies are widespread.}, } @article {pmid28032411, year = {2017}, author = {Yuen, LH and Franzini, RM}, title = {Achievements, Challenges, and Opportunities in DNA-Encoded Library Research: An Academic Point of View.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {829-836}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201600567}, pmid = {28032411}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Academies and Institutes ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; DNA/*chemistry/metabolism ; Drug Discovery ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Peptide Library ; Research ; Small Molecule Libraries/chemical synthesis/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DECLs) are pools of DNA-tagged small molecules that enable facile screening and identification of bio-macromolecule binders. The successful development of DECLs has led to their increasingly important role in drug development, and screening hits have entered clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the development and currently active research areas of DECLs with a focus on contributions from groups at academic institutes. We further look at opportunities and future directions of DECL research in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology based on the symbiotic relationship between academia and industry. Challenges associated with the application of DECLs in academic drug discovery are further discussed.}, } @article {pmid28030620, year = {2016}, author = {Sundstrom, A and Bar-Sagi, D and Mishra, B}, title = {Simulating Heterogeneous Tumor Cell Populations.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {e0168984}, pmid = {28030620}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; *Computer Simulation ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Certain tumor phenomena, like metabolic heterogeneity and local stable regions of chronic hypoxia, signify a tumor's resistance to therapy. Although recent research has shed light on the intracellular mechanisms of cancer metabolic reprogramming, little is known about how tumors become metabolically heterogeneous or chronically hypoxic, namely the initial conditions and spatiotemporal dynamics that drive these cell population conditions. To study these aspects, we developed a minimal, spatially-resolved simulation framework for modeling tissue-scale mixed populations of cells based on diffusible particles the cells consume and release, the concentrations of which determine their behavior in arbitrarily complex ways, and on stochastic reproduction. We simulate cell populations that self-sort to facilitate metabolic symbiosis, that grow according to tumor-stroma signaling patterns, and that give rise to stable local regions of chronic hypoxia near blood vessels. We raise two novel questions in the context of these results: (1) How will two metabolically symbiotic cell subpopulations self-sort in the presence of glucose, oxygen, and lactate gradients? We observe a robust pattern of alternating striations. (2) What is the proper time scale to observe stable local regions of chronic hypoxia? We observe the stability is a function of the balance of three factors related to O2-diffusion rate, local vessel release rate, and viable and hypoxic tumor cell consumption rate. We anticipate our simulation framework will help researchers design better experiments and generate novel hypotheses to better understand dynamic, emergent whole-tumor behavior.}, } @article {pmid28028548, year = {2016}, author = {Garg, N and Zeng, Y and Edlund, A and Melnik, AV and Sanchez, LM and Mohimani, H and Gurevich, A and Miao, V and Schiffler, S and Lim, YW and Luzzatto-Knaan, T and Cai, S and Rohwer, F and Pevzner, PA and Cichewicz, RH and Alexandrov, T and Dorrestein, PC}, title = {Spatial Molecular Architecture of the Microbial Community of a Peltigera Lichen.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {1}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {28028548}, issn = {2379-5077}, support = {K12 GM068524/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41 GM103484/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR029121/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Microbes are commonly studied as individual species, but they exist as mixed assemblages in nature. At present, we know very little about the spatial organization of the molecules, including natural products that are produced within these microbial networks. Lichens represent a particularly specialized type of symbiotic microbial assemblage in which the component microorganisms exist together. These composite microbial assemblages are typically comprised of several types of microorganisms representing phylogenetically diverse life forms, including fungi, photosymbionts, bacteria, and other microbes. Here, we employed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) imaging mass spectrometry to characterize the distributions of small molecules within a Peltigera lichen. In order to probe how small molecules are organized and localized within the microbial consortium, analytes were annotated and assigned to their respective producer microorganisms using mass spectrometry-based molecular networking and metagenome sequencing. The spatial analysis of the molecules not only reveals an ordered layering of molecules within the lichen but also supports the compartmentalization of unique functions attributed to various layers. These functions include chemical defense (e.g., antibiotics), light-harvesting functions associated with the cyanobacterial outer layer (e.g., chlorophyll), energy transfer (e.g., sugars) surrounding the sun-exposed cyanobacterial layer, and carbohydrates that may serve a structural or storage function and are observed with higher intensities in the non-sun-exposed areas (e.g., complex carbohydrates). IMPORTANCE Microbial communities have evolved over centuries to live symbiotically. The direct visualization of such communities at the chemical and functional level presents a challenge. Overcoming this challenge may allow one to visualize the spatial distributions of specific molecules involved in symbiosis and to define their functional roles in shaping the community structure. In this study, we examined the diversity of microbial genes and taxa and the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters by metagenomic sequencing and the compartmentalization of organic chemical components within a lichen using mass spectrometry. This approach allowed the identification of chemically distinct sections within this composite organism. Using our multipronged approach, various fungal natural products, not previously reported from lichens, were identified and two different fungal layers were visualized at the chemical level.}, } @article {pmid28028309, year = {2017}, author = {Hofer, U}, title = {Symbiosis: New horizons for Wolbachia.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {66-67}, pmid = {28028309}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Genome, Bacterial ; Sex Chromosomes ; Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, } @article {pmid28028038, year = {2017}, author = {Yano, K and Aoki, S and Liu, M and Umehara, Y and Suganuma, N and Iwasaki, W and Sato, S and Soyano, T and Kouchi, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Function and evolution of a Lotus japonicus AP2/ERF family transcription factor that is required for development of infection threads.}, journal = {DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {193-203}, pmid = {28028038}, issn = {1756-1663}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/physiology ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis is achieved by two major events evolutionarily acquired: root hair infection and organogenesis. Infection thread (IT) development is a distinct element for rhizobial infection. Through ITs, rhizobia are efficiently transported from infection foci on root hairs to dividing meristematic cortical cells. To unveil this process, we performed genetic screening using Lotus japonicus MG-20 and isolated symbiotic mutant lines affecting nodulation, root hair morphology, and IT development. Map-based cloning identified an AP2/ERF transcription factor gene orthologous to Medicago truncatula ERN1. LjERN1 was activated in response to rhizobial infection and depended on CYCLOPS and NSP2. Legumes conserve an ERN1 homolog, ERN2, that functions redundantly with ERN1 in M. truncatula. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the lineages of ERN1 and ERN2 genes originated from a gene duplication event in the common ancestor of legume plants. However, genomic analysis suggested the lack of ERN2 gene in the L. japonicus genome, consistent with Ljern1 mutants exhibited a root hair phenotype that is observed in ern1/ern2 double mutants in M. truncatula. Molecular evolutionary analysis suggested that the nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratios of legume ERN1 genes was almost identical to that of non-legume plants, whereas the ERN2 genes experienced a relaxed selective constraint.}, } @article {pmid28026894, year = {2017}, author = {Hu, Y and Holway, DA and Łukasik, P and Chau, L and Kay, AD and LeBrun, EG and Miller, KA and Sanders, JG and Suarez, AV and Russell, JA}, title = {By their own devices: invasive Argentine ants have shifted diet without clear aid from symbiotic microbes.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {1608-1630}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13991}, pmid = {28026894}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/physiology ; Argentina ; Bacteria/*classification ; *Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Introduced Species ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The functions and compositions of symbiotic bacterial communities often correlate with host ecology. Yet cause-effect relationships and the order of symbiont vs. host change remain unclear in the face of ancient symbioses and conserved host ecology. Several groups of ants exemplify this challenge, as their low-nitrogen diets and specialized symbioses appear conserved and ancient. To address whether nitrogen-provisioning symbionts might be important in the early stages of ant trophic shifts, we studied bacteria from the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile - an invasive species that has transitioned towards greater consumption of sugar-rich, nitrogen-poor foods in parts of its introduced range. Bacteria were present at low densities in most L. humile workers, and among those yielding quality 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data, we found just three symbionts to be common and dominant. Two, a Lactobacillus and an Acetobacteraceae species, were shared between native and introduced populations. The other, a Rickettsia, was found only in two introduced supercolonies. Across an eight-year period of trophic reduction in one introduced population, we found no change in symbionts, arguing against a relationship between natural dietary change and microbiome composition. Overall, our findings thus argue against major changes in symbiotic bacteria in association with the invasion and trophic shift of L. humile. In addition, genome content from close relatives of the identified symbionts suggests that just one can synthesize most essential amino acids; this bacterium was only modestly abundant in introduced populations, providing little support for a major role of nitrogen-provisioning symbioses in Argentine ant's dietary shift.}, } @article {pmid28025292, year = {2017}, author = {Hoang, NH and Kane, ME and Radcliffe, EN and Zettler, LW and Richardson, LW}, title = {Comparative seed germination and seedling development of the ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii (Orchidaceae), and molecular identification of its mycorrhizal fungus from South Florida.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {119}, number = {3}, pages = {379-393}, pmid = {28025292}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Endangered Species ; Florida ; Germination/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Seedlings/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Seeds/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The endangered leafless ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii, one of the most renowned orchids in the world, is difficult to grow under artificial conditions. Published information on asymbiotic and symbiotic (co-culture with a mycobiont) seed germination, seedling anatomy and developmental morphology of this leafless orchid is completely lacking. This information is critical for the development of efficient procedures for ghost orchid production for successful reintroduction.

METHODS: Ghost orchid seedling early development stages were morphologically and anatomically defined to compare germination, embryo and protocorm maturation and seedling development during asymbiotic and symbiotic culture with one of two mycorrhizal strains (Dlin-379 and Dlin-394) isolated from ghost orchid roots in situ KEY RESULTS: Seeds symbiotically germinated at higher rates when cultured with fungal strain Dlin-394 than with strain Dlin-379 or asymbiotically on P723 medium during a 10-week culture period. Fungal pelotons were observed in protocorm cells co-cultured with strain Dlin-394 but not Dlin-379. Some 2-year-old seedlings produced multinode inflorescences in vitro Production of keikis from inflorescence nodes indicated the capacity for clonal production in the ghost orchid.

CONCLUSIONS: Ghost orchid embryo and seedling development were characterized into seven stages. Fungal strain Dlin-394 was confirmed as a possible ghost orchid germination mycobiont, which significantly promoted seed germination and seedling development. Internal transcribed spacer sequencing data confirmed that Dlin-394 belongs within the genus Ceratobasidium These results offer the opportunity to examine the benefits of using a mycobiont to enhance in vitro germination and possibly ex vitro acclimatization and sustainability following outplanting.}, } @article {pmid28025179, year = {2018}, author = {Finotello, F and Mastrorilli, E and Di Camillo, B}, title = {Measuring the diversity of the human microbiota with targeted next-generation sequencing.}, journal = {Briefings in bioinformatics}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {679-692}, doi = {10.1093/bib/bbw119}, pmid = {28025179}, issn = {1477-4054}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Computational Biology/*methods ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Humans ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The human microbiota is a complex ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms harboured by the human body. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, in particular targeted amplicon sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S-seq), are enabling the identification and quantification of human-resident microorganisms at unprecedented resolution, providing novel insights into the role of the microbiota in health and disease. Once microbial abundances are quantified through NGS data analysis, diversity indices provide valuable mathematical tools to describe the ecological complexity of a single sample or to detect species differences between samples. However, diversity is not a determined physical quantity for which a consensus definition and unit of measure have been established, and several diversity indices are currently available. Furthermore, they were originally developed for macroecology and their robustness to the possible bias introduced by sequencing has not been characterized so far. To assist the reader with the selection and interpretation of diversity measures, we review a panel of broadly used indices, describing their mathematical formulations, purposes and properties, and characterize their behaviour and criticalities in dependence of the data features using simulated data as ground truth. In addition, we make available an R package, DiversitySeq, which implements in a unified framework the full panel of diversity indices and a simulator of 16S-seq data, and thus represents a valuable resource for the analysis of diversity from NGS count data and for the benchmarking of computational methods for 16S-seq.}, } @article {pmid28024524, year = {2017}, author = {Dahal, B and NandaKafle, G and Perkins, L and Brözel, VS}, title = {Diversity of free-Living nitrogen fixing Streptomyces in soils of the badlands of South Dakota.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {195}, number = {}, pages = {31-39}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2016.11.004}, pmid = {28024524}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; Culture Media/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; South Dakota ; Streptomyces/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological Nitrogen Fixation is critical for ecosystem productivity. Select members of Bacteria and Archaea express a nitrogenase enzyme complex that reduces atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. Several nitrogen fixing bacteria form symbiotic associations with plants, but free-living diazotrophs also contribute a substantial amount of nitrogen to ecosystems. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize free-living diazotrophs in arid lands of South Dakota Badlands. Samples were obtained from sod tables and the surrounding base in spring and fall. Diazotrophs were isolated on solid nitrogen free medium (NFM) under hypoxic conditions, and their16S rRNA and nifH genes sequenced. nifH was also amplified directly from soil DNA extracts. The 16S rRNA gene data indicated a diversity of putative free-living diazotrophs across 4 phyla (Actinomycetes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes), but ∼50% of these clustered with Streptomyces. These Streptomyces isolates grew in liquid NFM in an ammonia-depleted environment. Only 5 of these yielded a nifH gene product using the PolF/PolR primer set. Four of these aligned with nifH of the cyanobacteria Scytonema and Nostoc, and the other one aligned with nifH of Bradyrhizobium. Six selected Streptomyces isolates, three of which were nifH positive by PCR, all indicated [15]N2 incorporation, providing strong support of nitrogen fixation. All nifH amplicons from soil DNA extract resembled Cyanobacteria. This is the first known report of diazotrophic Streptomyces, other than the thermophilic, autotrophic S. thermoautotrophicus. nifH genes of these Streptomyces were related to those from Cyanobacteria. It is possible that the cyanobacteria-like nifH amplicons obtained from soil DNA were associated with Streptomyces.}, } @article {pmid28019707, year = {2017}, author = {Falgueras-Cano, J and Carretero-Díaz, JM and Moya, A}, title = {Weighted fitness theory: an approach to symbiotic communities.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {44-46}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12515}, pmid = {28019707}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Myxococcus/genetics/*physiology ; Pseudomonas/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid28018659, year = {2016}, author = {Lymbery, SJ and Didham, RK and Hopper, SD and Simmons, LW}, title = {Mutualists or parasites? Context-dependent influence of symbiotic fly larvae on carnivorous investment in the Albany pitcher plant.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {3}, number = {11}, pages = {160690}, pmid = {28018659}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Carnivorous plants allocate more resources to carnivorous structures under nutrient-limited conditions, and relative investment can also be influenced by animals (infauna) that live in association with these plants and feed on their prey. We investigated these effects within a population of the pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis containing varying densities of larvae of the fly Badisis ambulans. For plants with a relatively high proportion of adult pitchers, increasing larval density was associated with lower relative leaf allocation to new pitcher buds. For plants with relatively few adult pitchers, however, there was greater relative leaf allocation to pitcher buds with increasing larval density. In a field experiment, there was no significant effect of experimental larval presence or absence on the change in carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of plants. Although the direction of the correlation between B. ambulans larvae and relative investment in carnivorous and non-carnivorous structures depends on the relative number of mature structures, whether the larvae enhance or reduce nutrient stress under different conditions remains unclear. The change in C/N was, however, less variable for pitchers that contained larvae, suggesting a stabilizing effect. Eighteen of 52 experimental pitchers were damaged by an unknown species, causing the pitcher fluid to drain. These pitchers were significantly more likely to survive if they contained larvae. These results suggest that the relationship between infauna and host varies with the initial resource status and environmental context of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid28018420, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, G and Sheng, L and Zhao, D and Sheng, J and Wang, X and Liao, H}, title = {Allocation of Nitrogen and Carbon Is Regulated by Nodulation and Mycorrhizal Networks in Soybean/Maize Intercropping System.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1901}, pmid = {28018420}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soybean/maize intercropping has remarkable advantages in increasing crop yield and nitrogen (N) efficiency. However, little is known about the contributions of rhizobia or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to yield increases and N acquisition in the intercropping system. Plus, the mechanisms controlling carbon (C) and N allocation in intercropping systems remain unsettled. In the present study, a greenhouse experiment combined with [15]N and [13]C labeling was conducted using various inoculation and nutrient treatments. The results showed that co-inoculation with AMF and rhizobia dramatically increased biomass and N content of soybean and maize, and moderate application of N and phosphorus largely amplified the effect of co-inoculation. Maize had a competitive advantage over soybean only under co-inoculation and moderate nutrient availability conditions, indicating that the effects of AMF and rhizobia in intercropping systems are closely related to nutrient status. Results from [15]N labeling showed that the amount of N transferred from soybean to maize in co-inoculations was 54% higher than that with AMF inoculation alone, with this increased N transfer partly resulting from symbiotic N fixation. The results from [13]C labeling showed that [13]C content increased in maize shoots and decreased in soybean roots with AMF inoculation compared to uninoculated controls. Yet, with co-inoculation, [13]C content increased in soybean. These results indicate that photosynthate assimilation is stimulated by AM symbiosis in maize and rhizobial symbiosis in soybean, but AMF inoculation leads to soybean investing more carbon than maize into common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs). Overall, the results herein demonstrate that the growth advantage of maize when intercropped with soybean is due to acquisition of N by maize via CMNs while this crop contributes less C into CMNs than soybean under co-inoculation conditions.}, } @article {pmid28018393, year = {2016}, author = {Burks, DJ and Azad, RK}, title = {Identification and Network-Enabled Characterization of Auxin Response Factor Genes in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1857}, pmid = {28018393}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The Auxin Response Factor (ARF) family of transcription factors is an important regulator of environmental response and symbiotic nodulation in the legume Medicago truncatula. While previous studies have identified members of this family, a recent spurt in gene expression data coupled with genome update and reannotation calls for a reassessment of the prevalence of ARF genes and their interaction networks in M. truncatula. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the M. truncatula genome and transcriptome that entailed search for novel ARF genes and the co-expression networks. Our investigation revealed 8 novel M. truncatula ARF (MtARF) genes, of the total 22 identified, and uncovered novel gene co-expression networks as well. Furthermore, the topological clustering and single enrichment analysis of several network models revealed the roles of individual members of the MtARF family in nitrogen regulation, nodule initiation, and post-embryonic development through a specialized protein packaging and secretory pathway. In summary, this study not just shines new light on an important gene family, but also provides a guideline for identification of new members of gene families and their functional characterization through network analyses.}, } @article {pmid28018322, year = {2016}, author = {Sapountzis, P and de Verges, J and Rousk, K and Cilliers, M and Vorster, BJ and Poulsen, M}, title = {Potential for Nitrogen Fixation in the Fungus-Growing Termite Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1993}, pmid = {28018322}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Termites host a gut microbiota of diverse and essential symbionts that enable specialization on dead plant material; an abundant, but nutritionally imbalanced food source. To supplement the severe shortage of dietary nitrogen (N), some termite species make use of diazotrophic bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2). Fungus-growing termites (subfamily Macrotermitinae) host a fungal exosymbiont (genus Termitomyces) that provides digestive services and the main food source for the termites. This has been thought to obviate the need for N2-fixation by bacterial symbionts. Here, we challenge this notion by performing acetylene reduction assays of live colony material to show that N2 fixation is present in two major genera (Macrotermes and Odontotermes) of fungus-growing termites. We compare and discuss fixation rates in relation to those obtained from other termites, and suggest avenues of research that may lead to a better understanding of N2 fixation in fungus-growing and other termites.}, } @article {pmid28018314, year = {2016}, author = {Mandel, MJ and Dunn, AK}, title = {Impact and Influence of the Natural Vibrio-Squid Symbiosis in Understanding Bacterial-Animal Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1982}, pmid = {28018314}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R21 AI117262/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM119627/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Animals are colonized by bacteria, and in many cases partners have co-evolved to perform mutually beneficial functions. An exciting and ongoing legacy of the past decade has been an expansion of technology to enable study of natural associations in situ/in vivo. As a result, more symbioses are being examined, and additional details are being revealed for well-studied systems with a focus on the interactions between partners in the native context. With this framing, we review recent literature from the Vibrio fischeri-Euprymna scolopes symbiosis and focus on key studies that have had an impact on understanding bacteria-animal interactions broadly. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the system, but rather to focus on particular studies that have excelled at moving from pattern to process in facilitating an understanding of the molecular basis to intriguing observations in the field of host-microbe interactions. In this review we discuss the following topics: processes regulating strain and species specificity; bacterial signaling to host morphogenesis; multiple roles for nitric oxide; flagellar motility and chemotaxis; and efforts to understand unannotated and poorly annotated genes. Overall these studies demonstrate how functional approaches in vivo in a tractable system have provided valuable insight into general principles of microbe-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid28018306, year = {2016}, author = {Vryzas, Z}, title = {The Plant as Metaorganism and Research on Next-Generation Systemic Pesticides - Prospects and Challenges.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1968}, pmid = {28018306}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Systemic pesticides (SPs) are usually recommended for soil treatments and as seed coating agents and are taken up from the soil by involving various plant-mediated processes, physiological, and morphological attributes of the root systems. Microscopic insights and next-generation sequencing combined with bioinformatics allow us now to identify new functions and interactions of plant-associated bacteria and perceive plants as meta-organisms. Host symbiotic, rhizo-epiphytic, endophytic microorganisms and their functions on plants have not been studied yet in accordance with uptake, tanslocation and action of pesticides. Root tips exudates mediated by rhizobacteria could modify the uptake of specific pesticides while bacterial ligands and enzymes can affect metabolism and fate of pesticide within plant. Over expression of specific proteins in cell membrane can also modify pesticide influx in roots. Moreover, proteins and other membrane compartments are usually involved in pesticide modes of action and resistance development. In this article it is discussed what is known of the physiological attributes including apoplastic, symplastic, and trans-membrane transport of SPs in accordance with the intercommunication dictated by plant-microbe, cell to cell and intracellular signaling. Prospects and challenges for uptake, translocation, storage, exudation, metabolism, and action of SPs are given through the prism of new insights of plant microbiome. Interactions of soil applied pesticides with physiological processes, plant root exudates and plant microbiome are summarized to scrutinize challenges for the next-generation pesticides.}, } @article {pmid28017611, year = {2017}, author = {Ribeiro, CW and Baldacci-Cresp, F and Pierre, O and Larousse, M and Benyamina, S and Lambert, A and Hopkins, J and Castella, C and Cazareth, J and Alloing, G and Boncompagni, E and Couturier, J and Mergaert, P and Gamas, P and Rouhier, N and Montrichard, F and Frendo, P}, title = {Regulation of Differentiation of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria by Microsymbiont Targeting of Plant Thioredoxin s1.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {250-256}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.11.013}, pmid = {28017611}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Cysteine/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/microbiology ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/drug effects/*growth & development ; Peptide Fragments/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Thioredoxins/*antagonists & inhibitors ; }, abstract = {Legumes associate with rhizobia to form nitrogen (N2)-fixing nodules, which is important for plant fitness [1, 2]. Medicago truncatula controls the terminal differentiation of Sinorhizobium meliloti into N2-fixing bacteroids by producing defensin-like nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) [3, 4]. The redox state of NCRs influences some biological activities in free-living bacteria, but the relevance of redox regulation of NCRs in planta is unknown [5, 6], although redox regulation plays a crucial role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation [7, 8]. Two thioredoxins (Trx), Trx s1 and s2, define a new type of Trx and are expressed principally in nodules [9]. Here, we show that there are four Trx s genes, two of which, Trx s1 and s3, are induced in the nodule infection zone where bacterial differentiation occurs. Trx s1 is targeted to the symbiosomes, the N2-fixing organelles. Trx s1 interacted with NCR247 and NCR335 and increased the cytotoxic effect of NCR335 in S. meliloti. We show that Trx s silencing impairs bacteroid growth and endoreduplication, two features of terminal bacteroid differentiation, and that the ectopic expression of Trx s1 in S. meliloti partially complements the silencing phenotype. Thus, our findings show that Trx s1 is targeted to the bacterial endosymbiont, where it controls NCR activity and bacteroid terminal differentiation. Similarly, Trxs are critical for the activation of defensins produced against infectious microbes in mammalian hosts. Therefore, our results suggest the Trx-mediated regulation of host peptides as a conserved mechanism among symbiotic and pathogenic interactions.}, } @article {pmid28013558, year = {2017}, author = {Simpkin, AL and Dinardo, PB and Pine, E and Gaufberg, E}, title = {Reconciling technology and humanistic care: Lessons from the next generation of physicians.}, journal = {Medical teacher}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {430-435}, doi = {10.1080/0142159X.2017.1270434}, pmid = {28013558}, issn = {1466-187X}, mesh = {Canada ; *Delivery of Health Care, Integrated ; *Humanism ; Humans ; *Patient-Centered Care ; Physicians/*psychology ; Qualitative Research ; Students, Medical ; *Technology ; United States ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: There is concern among physicians that the rising use of technology in medicine may have a negative impact on compassionate patient-centered care. This study explores medical student attitudes and ideas about technology in medicine in order to consider ways to achieve symbiosis between technology use and the delivery of humanistic, patient-centered care.

METHODS: This qualitative study uses data from 138 essays written by medical students in the United States and Canada responding to the prompt "Using a real life experience, describe how technology played a role, either negatively or positively, in the delivery of humanistic patient care." Data were analyzed for themes about technology and the impact on humanistic patient care.

RESULTS: Seven themes emerged from the medical students' essays: Patient Perspective; Life-Giving versus Life-Prolonging; Boundaries between Human and Technology; Distancing versus Presence; Adapting to Change; Tools to Enhance Care; and Definitions of Technology.

CONCLUSION: Listening to medical students lends insight into ways to integrate technology into the healthcare environment, to ensure that physicians' ability to deliver compassionate care is enhanced, not hindered. Utilizing perceptions of the next generation of physicians, educational and developmental strategies are proposed to ensure the successful integration of technology with humanistic patient-centered care.}, } @article {pmid28010164, year = {2017}, author = {Sisaphaithong, T and Hanai, S and Tomioka, R and Kobae, Y and Tanaka, A and Yano, K and Takenaka, C and Hata, S}, title = {Varietal differences in the growth responses of rice to an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus under natural upland conditions.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e1274483}, pmid = {28010164}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seedlings/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Seedlings of three rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties (one indica, ARC5955; and two japonica, Nipponbare and Koshihikari) with or without pre-colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae were transplanted into an upland field and grown to maturity. Pre-colonization had no effect on the yield of Nipponbare or Koshihikari. However, pre-colonized ARC5955 exhibited a strong tendency toward increased yield, which was accompanied by increases in the percentage of ripened grain and the 1000-grain weight. The rice roots were also colonized by indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the field, but these had only limited effects on shoot biomass and grain yields. We speculate that F. mosseae may have exhibited priority effects, allowing it to dominate the rice roots. There was no significant difference in the contents of most mineral elements in the shoots of pre-colonized ARC5955 at harvest, indicating that some other factor is responsible for the observed yield increase.}, } @article {pmid28009488, year = {2017}, author = {Godkin, A and Smith, KA}, title = {Chronic infections with viruses or parasites: breaking bad to make good.}, journal = {Immunology}, volume = {150}, number = {4}, pages = {389-396}, pmid = {28009488}, issn = {1365-2567}, mesh = {Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Communicable Diseases/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Parasitic Diseases/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; Virus Diseases/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic forms of life have been continually invaded by microbes and larger multicellular parasites, such as helminths. Over a billion years ago bacterial endosymbionts permanently colonized eukaryotic cells leading to recognized organelles with a distinct genetic lineage, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. Colonization of our skin and mucosal surfaces with bacterial commensals is now known to be important for host health. However, the contribution of chronic virus and parasitic infections to immune homeostasis is being increasingly questioned. Persistent infection does not necessarily equate to exhibiting a chronic illness: healthy hosts (e.g. humans) have chronic viral and parasitic infections with no evidence of disease. Indeed, there are now examples of complex interactions between these microbes and hosts that seem to confer an advantage to the host at a particular time, suggesting that the relationship has progressed along an axis from parasitic to commensal to one of a mutualistic symbiosis. This concept is explored using examples from viruses and parasites, considering how the relationships may be not only detrimental but also beneficial to the human host.}, } @article {pmid28009067, year = {2017}, author = {Schwalm, ND and Townsend, GE and Groisman, EA}, title = {Prioritization of polysaccharide utilization and control of regulator activation in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {32-45}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.13609}, pmid = {28009067}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {T32 GM007499/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bacteroides/metabolism ; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/*genetics/*metabolism ; Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptional Activation/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is a human gut symbiotic bacterium that utilizes a myriad of host dietary and mucosal polysaccharides. The proteins responsible for the uptake and breakdown of many of these polysaccharides are transcriptionally regulated by hybrid two-component systems (HTCSs). These systems consist of a single polypeptide harboring the domains of sensor kinases and response regulators, and thus, are thought to autophosphorylate in response to specific signals. We now report that the HTCS BT0366 is phosphorylated in vivo when B. thetaiotaomicron experiences the BT0366 inducer arabinan but not when grown in the presence of glucose. BT0366 phosphorylation and transcription of BT0366-activated genes requires the conserved predicted sites of phosphorylation in BT0366. When chondroitin sulfate is added to arabinan-containing cultures, BT0366 phosphorylation and transcription of BT0366-activated genes are inhibited and the bacterium exhibits diauxic growth. Whereas 20 additional combinations of polysaccharides also give rise to diauxic growth, other combinations result in synergistic or unaltered growth relative to bacteria experiencing a single polysaccharide. The different strategies employed by B. thetaiotaomicron when faced with multiple polysaccharides may aid its competitiveness in the mammalian gut.}, } @article {pmid28008841, year = {2016}, author = {Veiga, P and Tap, J and Derrien, M}, title = {[Gut microbiota, the key for a better diet?].}, journal = {Medecine sciences : M/S}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {999-1002}, doi = {10.1051/medsci/20163211016}, pmid = {28008841}, issn = {1958-5381}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Diet/adverse effects/methods ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Health ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Modern life is associated with changes in gut microbial communities, believed to be involved in the emergence of non-communicable chronic diseases. While there is an increasing effort of the scientific community towards designing microbiota-targeting therapies aiming to restore the microbiota of diseased patients, there is a lack of approaches designed to prevent the disruption of the symbiosis between human and its microbial symbionts. We discuss in this review how new technologies, tools and models will contribute to identify diet-derived health-relevant microbial metabolites, possible targets for dietary recommendations tailored to individuals' physiology, diet, genetics, lifestyle and gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid28008838, year = {2016}, author = {Vétizou, M and Daillère, R and Zitvogel, L}, title = {[The role of intestinal microbiota in the response to anti-tumor therapies].}, journal = {Medecine sciences : M/S}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {974-982}, doi = {10.1051/medsci/20163211013}, pmid = {28008838}, issn = {1958-5381}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Biological Therapy/trends ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Dysbiosis/etiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/immunology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy/adverse effects/methods ; Neoplasms/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is involved in a lot of crucial physiological functions and maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host. Lately, in light of new evidences, an unexpected role of commensals has been depicted. Several studies addressing the role of gut microbiota in the immunomodulatory properties of anti-cancer regimens, such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy, reveal that commensals are required to mount complete and efficient antitumor immune responses. Therefore, exploration of microbiota-derived compounds in the future could represent a therapeutic option in the armamentarium of cancer treatments.}, } @article {pmid28008785, year = {2017}, author = {Javorský, P and Fecskeová, LK and Hrehová, L and Sabo, R and Legáth, J and Pristas, P}, title = {Establishment of Lactobacillus plantarum strain in honey bee digestive tract monitored using gfp fluorescence.}, journal = {Beneficial microbes}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {291-297}, doi = {10.3920/BM2016.0022}, pmid = {28008785}, issn = {1876-2891}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*microbiology ; Fluorescence ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/*genetics ; Lactobacillus plantarum/*genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Plasmids/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria are symbiotic bacteria that naturally reside in the gastrointestinal tract of honey bees. They serve a multitude of functions and are considered beneficial and completely harmless. In our experiments Lactobacillus plantarum strain B35, isolated from honey bee digestive tract, was modified using pAD43-25 plasmid carrying a functional GFP gene sequence (gfpmut3a) and used as a model for monitoring and optimisation of the mode of application. The establishment of this strain in honey bee digestive tract was monitored using GFP fluorescence. Three different modes of oral application of this strain were tested: water suspension of lyophilised bacteria, aerosol application of these bacteria and consumption of sugar honey paste containing the lyophilised lactobacilli. Two days after administration the L. plantarum B35-gfp was present throughout the honey bee digestive tract with 10[4]-10[5] cfu/bee with highest count observed for aerosol application.}, } @article {pmid28007966, year = {2017}, author = {Sugiyama, A and Saida, Y and Yoshimizu, M and Takanashi, K and Sosso, D and Frommer, WB and Yazaki, K}, title = {Molecular Characterization of LjSWEET3, a Sugar Transporter in Nodules of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {298-306}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcw190}, pmid = {28007966}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Sucrose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes contributes greatly to the global nitrogen cycle on the earth. In nodules, resident rhizobia supply nitrogen nutrient fixed from atmospheric N2 to the host plant; in turn, the plant provides photosynthetic metabolites to bacteroids as a carbon source. In this process, various transporters are involved at different membrane systems; however, little is known at the molecular level about the flow of carbon from the host cells to the symbiotic bacteria. We have been studying transporters functioning in nodules of Lotus japonicus, and found that out of 13 SWEET genes in the L. japonicus genome LjSWEET3, a member of the SWEET transporter family, is highly expressed in nodules. The SWEET family was first identified in Arabidopsis, where members of the family are involved in phloem loading, nectar secretion, pollen nutrition and seed filling. The expression of LjSWEET3 strongly increased during nodule development and reached the highest level in mature nodules. Histochemical analysis using L. japonicus plants transformed with LjSWEET3 promoter:GUS (β-glucuronidase) showed strong expression in the vascular systems of nodules. Analysis of an LjSWEET3-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion expressed in Nicotiana banthamiana and Coptis japonica indicates that LjSWEET3 localizes to the plasma membrane. Together these data are consistent with a role for LjSWEET3 in sugar translocation towards nodules and also suggest the possible existence of multiple routes of carbon supply into nodules.}, } @article {pmid28007220, year = {2017}, author = {Li, T and Hou, WT and Ruan, Y and Chen, BD and Yang, LG and Zhou, CZ and Zhu, YG}, title = {Structural features of the aromatic/arginine constriction in the aquaglyceroporin GintAQPF2 are responsible for glycerol impermeability in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {121}, number = {1}, pages = {95-102}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2016.09.006}, pmid = {28007220}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Aquaglyceroporins/chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Glycerol/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; *Point Mutation ; Protein Conformation ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Carbon transport in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is of fundamental importance. However, the role of glycerol transport in AM symbiosis has not yet been resolved. Glycerol transport across the cell membrane is mediated by aquaglyceroporins (AQGPs), whereas our previous study revealed that it was disfavoured by GintAQPF2, an AQGP from AM fungi (AMF). Here, we analysed the function of two amino acid residues in the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) constriction known as the major selectivity filter in AQGPs. Replacement of phenylalanine-94 (Phe-94) by alanine (Ala) enlarged the diameter of the ar/R constriction and resulted in an increased intracellular glycerol accumulation and thus survival rate of yeast cells at high glycerol levels, while individual or joint replacement of Phe-94 and Ala-234 by tryptophan and glycine induced a closed state of GintAQPF2, suggesting that the potential double gates (Phe94-Phe243 and arginine-249) of the ar/R constriction also likely determined solute permeability. To figure out whether GintAQPF2 functions were relevant to the establishment of AM symbiosis, genomic analyses of four representative fungi with different lifestyles were performed. We found that glycerol facilitators existed in the facultative fungi (the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor and hemibiotrophic pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae), but not in the obligatory fungi (the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis and necrotrophic pathogen Fusarium verticillioides), revealing a conserved pattern of glycerol transport in symbionts and pathogens. Our results suggested that glycerol blocks due to the special structural features of the ar/R constriction in the only AMF AQGP could potentially play a role in the establishment of AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid28007219, year = {2017}, author = {Taerum, SJ and Hoareau, TB and Duong, TA and de Beer, ZW and Jankowiak, R and Wingfield, MJ}, title = {Putative origins of the fungus Leptographium procerum.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {121}, number = {1}, pages = {82-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2016.09.007}, pmid = {28007219}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Europe ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genotype ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Microsatellite Repeats ; North America ; Ophiostomatales/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Appropriate management of invasive fungi requires adequate understanding of their global diversities and movement histories. The fungus Leptographium procerum is associated with root-colonizing forest insects in pine forests throughout the world, and may have contributed to the aggressive behaviour of the red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) in the beetle's invasive range in China. We used microsatellites and mating type loci to investigate the global diversity of L. procerum and the source population of L. procerum associated with D. valens in China. Clustering analyses supported the separation of the fungal data set into three genetically and geographically-distinct clusters: Europe, North America, and China. The fungus had the highest genetic diversity in Europe, followed by North America and China. Analyses using Approximate Bayesian Computation supported Europe as the most likely source of the North American and Chinese populations. Overall, the results suggested that Europe is the global centre of diversity of L. procerum. Furthermore, they suggested that L. procerum most likely arrived in China independently of D. valens and adopted this beetle as a vector after its introduction.}, } @article {pmid28004835, year = {2016}, author = {Aranda, M and Li, Y and Liew, YJ and Baumgarten, S and Simakov, O and Wilson, MC and Piel, J and Ashoor, H and Bougouffa, S and Bajic, VB and Ryu, T and Ravasi, T and Bayer, T and Micklem, G and Kim, H and Bhak, J and LaJeunesse, TC and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Genomes of coral dinoflagellate symbionts highlight evolutionary adaptations conducive to a symbiotic lifestyle.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {39734}, pmid = {28004835}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Despite half a century of research, the biology of dinoflagellates remains enigmatic: they defy many functional and genetic traits attributed to typical eukaryotic cells. Genomic approaches to study dinoflagellates are often stymied due to their large, multi-gigabase genomes. Members of the genus Symbiodinium are photosynthetic endosymbionts of stony corals that provide the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Their smaller genome sizes provide an opportunity to interrogate evolution and functionality of dinoflagellate genomes and endosymbiosis. We sequenced the genome of the ancestral Symbiodinium microadriaticum and compared it to the genomes of the more derived Symbiodinium minutum and Symbiodinium kawagutii and eukaryote model systems as well as transcriptomes from other dinoflagellates. Comparative analyses of genome and transcriptome protein sets show that all dinoflagellates, not only Symbiodinium, possess significantly more transmembrane transporters involved in the exchange of amino acids, lipids, and glycerol than other eukaryotes. Importantly, we find that only Symbiodinium harbor an extensive transporter repertoire associated with the provisioning of carbon and nitrogen. Analyses of these transporters show species-specific expansions, which provides a genomic basis to explain differential compatibilities to an array of hosts and environments, and highlights the putative importance of gene duplications as an evolutionary mechanism in dinoflagellates and Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid28003196, year = {2017}, author = {Lyell, NL and Septer, AN and Dunn, AK and Duckett, D and Stoudenmire, JL and Stabb, EV}, title = {An Expanded Transposon Mutant Library Reveals that Vibrio fischeri δ-Aminolevulinate Auxotrophs Can Colonize Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {28003196}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Alanine/metabolism ; Aliivibrio/genetics/growth & development ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/physiology ; Aminolevulinic Acid/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Library ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Hemin/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Light ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Mutation ; Peptidoglycan/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Photobacterium/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Libraries of defined mutants are valuable research tools but necessarily lack gene knockouts that are lethal under the conditions used in library construction. In this study, we augmented a Vibrio fischeri mutant library generated on a rich medium (LBS, which contains [per liter] 10 g of tryptone, 5 g of yeast extract, 20 g of NaCl, and 50 mM Tris [pH 7.5]) by selecting transposon insertion mutants on supplemented LBS and screening for those unable to grow on LBS. We isolated strains with insertions in alr, glr (murI), glmS, several heme biosynthesis genes, and ftsA, as well as a mutant disrupted 14 bp upstream of ftsQ Mutants with insertions in ftsA or upstream of ftsQ were recovered by addition of Mg[2+] to LBS, but their cell morphology and motility were affected. The ftsA mutant was more strongly affected and formed cells or chains of cells that appeared to wind back on themselves helically. Growth of mutants with insertions in glmS, alr, or glr was recovered with N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), d-alanine, or d-glutamate, respectively. We hypothesized that NAG, d-alanine, or d-glutamate might be available to V. fischeri in the Euprymna scolopes light organ; however, none of these mutants colonized the host effectively. In contrast, hemA and hemL mutants, which are auxotrophic for δ-aminolevulinate (ALA), colonized at wild-type levels, although mutants later in the heme biosynthetic pathway were severely impaired or unable to colonize. Our findings parallel observations that legume hosts provide Bradyrhizobium symbionts with ALA, but they contrast with virulence phenotypes of hemA mutants in some pathogens. The results further inform our understanding of the symbiotic light organ environment.IMPORTANCE By supplementing a rich yeast-based medium, we were able to recover V. fischeri mutants with insertions in conditionally essential genes, and further characterization of these mutants provided new insights into this bacterium's symbiotic environment. Most notably, we show evidence that the squid host can provide V. fischeri with enough ALA to support its growth in the light organ, paralleling the finding that legumes provide Bradyrhizobium ALA in symbiotic nodules. Taken together, our results show how a simple method of augmenting already rich media can expand the reach and utility of defined mutant libraries.}, } @article {pmid28000933, year = {2017}, author = {Reed, SC}, title = {Disentangling the complexities of how legumes and their symbionts regulate plant nitrogen access and storage.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {2}, pages = {478-480}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14390}, pmid = {28000933}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Climate Change ; *Fabaceae ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rain ; *Rhizobium ; }, } @article {pmid28000503, year = {2016}, author = {Keramati, S and Pirdashti, H and Babaeizad, V and Dehestani, A}, title = {Essential oil composition of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in symbiotic relationship with Piriformospora indica and paclobutrazol application under salt stress.}, journal = {Acta biologica Hungarica}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {412-423}, doi = {10.1556/018.67.2016.4.7}, pmid = {28000503}, issn = {0236-5383}, mesh = {Acyclic Monoterpenes ; Allylbenzene Derivatives ; Anisoles/metabolism ; *Basidiomycota ; Biomass ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Monoterpenes/metabolism ; Ocimum basilicum/*drug effects/metabolism ; Oils, Volatile/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/*drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Oils/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Triazoles/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Essential oil content and oil composition of paclobutrazol treated sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plant inoculated with Piriformospora indica under salt stress were investigated by GC-MS. The results show a slight increase in essential oil content when basil plants subjected to moderate salinity stress (3 dS m[-1] of NaCl). It decreased signifiicantly with increasing salinity level to 9 dS m[-1]. The findings revealed that leaf area, above ground and leaf dry weights, essential oil content and yield were significantly affected by P. indica inoculation, however paclobutrazol application significantly influenced essential oil yield but not content. Fungal symbiosis as well as paclobutrazol application ameliorated the negative effects of salinity on dry matter and essential oil yield. The main constituents found in the volatile oil of O. basilicum in control treatment were Geranial (26.03%), Neral (24.88%) and Estragole (24.78%). The compounds concentrations showed some differences in P. indica and paclobutrazol treatments. The results demonstrate that micorrhiza-like fungi concomitantly increase essential oil production and biomass in sweet basil, a medicinal herb rich in commercially valuable essential oils.}, } @article {pmid27999538, year = {2016}, author = {Rutkowski, TM}, title = {Robotic and Virtual Reality BCIs Using Spatial Tactile and Auditory Oddball Paradigms.}, journal = {Frontiers in neurorobotics}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {20}, pmid = {27999538}, issn = {1662-5218}, abstract = {The paper reviews nine robotic and virtual reality (VR) brain-computer interface (BCI) projects developed by the author, in collaboration with his graduate students, within the BCI-lab research group during its association with University of Tsukuba, Japan. The nine novel approaches are discussed in applications to direct brain-robot and brain-virtual-reality-agent control interfaces using tactile and auditory BCI technologies. The BCI user intentions are decoded from the brainwaves in realtime using a non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) and they are translated to a symbiotic robot or virtual reality agent thought-based only control. A communication protocol between the BCI output and the robot or the virtual environment is realized in a symbiotic communication scenario using an user datagram protocol (UDP), which constitutes an internet of things (IoT) control scenario. Results obtained from healthy users reproducing simple brain-robot and brain-virtual-agent control tasks in online experiments support the research goal of a possibility to interact with robotic devices and virtual reality agents using symbiotic thought-based BCI technologies. An offline BCI classification accuracy boosting method, using a previously proposed information geometry derived approach, is also discussed in order to further support the reviewed robotic and virtual reality thought-based control paradigms.}, } @article {pmid27999386, year = {2016}, author = {Ospina, OE and Massey, SE and Verle Rodrigues, JC}, title = {Reduced Diversity in the Bacteriome of the Phytophagous Mite Brevipalpus yothersi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27999386}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Tenuipalpidae comprises mites that transmit viruses to agriculturally important plants. Several tenuipalpid species present parthenogenesis, and in Brevipalpus yothersi, the endosymbiont Cardinium has been associated with female-only colonies. It is unclear what the bacterial composition of B. yothersi is, and how common Cardinium is in those microbiomes. We performed a comparative analysis of the bacteriomes in three populations of B. yothersi and three additional Tetranychoidea species using sequences from V4-fragment of 16S DNA. The bacteriomes were dominated by Bacteroidetes (especially Cardinium) and Proteobacteria, showing a remarkably low alpha diversity. Cardinium was present in about 22% of all sequences; however, it was not present in R. indica and T. evansi. In B. yothersi, the proportion of Cardinium was higher in adults than eggs, suggesting that proliferation of the bacteria could be the result of selective pressures from the host. This hypothesis was further supported because colonies of B. yothersi from different populations showed different bacterial assemblages, and bacteriomes from different mite species showed similar abundances of Cardinium. A phylogenetic analysis of Cardinium revealed that not only specialization but horizontal transmission has been important for this symbiosis. Together, these results represent a glimpse into the evolution of the Tetranychoidea and Cardinium.}, } @article {pmid27999312, year = {2016}, author = {Yang, L and Wang, L and Wang, X and Xian, CJ and Lu, H}, title = {A Possible Role of Intestinal Microbiota in the Pathogenesis of Ankylosing Spondylitis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {27999312}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Rats ; Sacroiliac Joint/*pathology ; Spine/*pathology ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*microbiology/pathology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the sacroiliac joints and the spine, for which the pathogenesis is thought to be a result of the combination of host genetic factors and environmental triggers. However, the precise factors that determine one's susceptibility to AS remain to be unraveled. With 100 trillion bacteria residing in the mammalian gut having established a symbiotic relation with their host influencing many aspects of host metabolism, physiology, and immunity, a growing body of evidence suggests that intestinal microbiota may play an important role in AS. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the potential role of the microbiome in the etiology of AS, such as alterations of intestinal permeability, stimulation of immune responses, and molecular mimicry. In this review, the existing evidence for the involvement of the microbiome in AS pathogenesis was discussed and the potential of intestinal microbiome-targeting strategies in the prevention and treatment of AS was evaluated.}, } @article {pmid27997838, year = {2016}, author = {Petersen, JM}, title = {Ecology and Fisheries: Dark Carbon on Your Dinner Plate.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {R1277-R1279}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.11.016}, pmid = {27997838}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Caribbean Region ; *Ecosystem ; *Fisheries/economics ; Palinuridae/*physiology ; Sunlight ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chemosynthetic primary production by symbiotic microbes powers entire ecosystems in the remote deep sea. New research shows that in shallow waters chemosynthetic symbioses can contribute substantially to a vital economic resource - lobster fisheries in the Caribbean Sea.}, } @article {pmid27996008, year = {2016}, author = {Zehr, JP and Shilova, IN and Farnelid, HM and Muñoz-Marín, MD and Turk-Kubo, KA}, title = {Unusual marine unicellular symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {16214}, doi = {10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.214}, pmid = {27996008}, issn = {2058-5276}, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation - the reduction of dinitrogen (N2) gas to biologically available nitrogen (N) - is an important source of N for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In terrestrial environments, N2-fixing symbioses involve multicellular plants, but in the marine environment these symbioses occur with unicellular planktonic algae. An unusual symbiosis between an uncultivated unicellular cyanobacterium (UCYN-A) and a haptophyte picoplankton alga was recently discovered in oligotrophic oceans. UCYN-A has a highly reduced genome, and exchanges fixed N for fixed carbon with its host. This symbiosis bears some resemblance to symbioses found in freshwater ecosystems. UCYN-A shares many core genes with the 'spheroid bodies' of Epithemia turgida and the endosymbionts of the amoeba Paulinella chromatophora. UCYN-A is widely distributed, and has diversified into a number of sublineages that could be ecotypes. Many questions remain regarding the physical and genetic mechanisms of the association, but UCYN-A is an intriguing model for contemplating the evolution of N2-fixing organelles.}, } @article {pmid27995440, year = {2017}, author = {Catania, F and Krohs, U and Chittò, M and Ferro, D and Ferro, K and Lepennetier, G and Görtz, HD and Schreiber, RS and Kurtz, J and Gadau, J}, title = {The hologenome concept: we need to incorporate function.}, journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften}, volume = {136}, number = {3-4}, pages = {89-98}, pmid = {27995440}, issn = {1611-7530}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Anthozoa ; *Biological Evolution ; Biology/*methods ; Drosophila ; Ecology/*methods ; Fungi ; Humans ; Paramecium ; Phenotype ; Plants ; Rickettsia ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Are we in the midst of a paradigm change in biology and have animals and plants lost their individuality, i.e., are even so-called 'typical' organisms no longer organisms in their own right? Is the study of the holobiont-host plus its symbiotic microorganisms-no longer optional, but rather an obligatory path that must be taken for a comprehensive understanding of the ecology and evolution of the individual components that make up a holobiont? Or are associated microbes merely a component of their host's environment, and the holobiont concept is just a beautiful idea that does not add much or anything to our understanding of evolution? This article explores different aspects of the concept of the holobiont. We focus on the aspect of functional integration, a central holobiont property, which is only rarely considered thoroughly. We conclude that the holobiont comes in degrees, i.e., we regard the property of being a holobiont as a continuous trait that we term holobiontness, and that holobiontness is differentiated in several dimensions. Although the holobiont represents yet another level of selection (different from classical individual or group selection because it acts on a system that is composed of multiple species), it depends on the grade of functional integration whether or not the holobiont concept helps to cast light on the various degrees of interactions between symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid27995045, year = {2016}, author = {Correa-Cuadros, JP and Sáenz-Aponte, A and Rodríguez-Bocanegra, MX}, title = {In vitro interaction of Metarhizium anisopliae Ma9236 and Beauveria bassiana Bb9205 with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HNI0100 for the control of Plutella xylostella.}, journal = {SpringerPlus}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {2068}, pmid = {27995045}, issn = {2193-1801}, abstract = {The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is a major pest of broccoli crops in Colombia. To control P. xylostella, we evaluated the interaction of Beauveria bassiana Bb9205 and Metarhizium anisopliae Ma9236 with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HNI0100 and its bacterial symbiont Photorhabdus luminescens HNI0100. We used antagonism and disk diffusion assays with fungal extracts to test the interaction between symbiotic bacterium and fungi. P. luminescens inhibited the growth of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae up to 40% by the secretion of secondary metabolites, whereas fungal extracts did not inhibit P. luminescens; this explains the in vivo interactions of these biological control agents. To test the interaction between fungi and nematodes, we first inoculated the fungi followed by the nematodes on different days (0, 2, 4, and 6). We identified the type of interaction using the formula by Nishimatsu and Jackson (J Econ Entomol 91:410-418, 1998) and established that on days 0, 2 and 4 there was an antagonistic interaction, while a synergistic interaction occurred on day 6. Therefore, the use of the interaction between H. bacteriophora HNI0100 with M. anisopliae Ma9236 and B. bassiana Bb9205 is an innovative alternative for the control of P. xylostella.}, } @article {pmid27994614, year = {2016}, author = {Rey, T and Laporte, P and Bonhomme, M and Jardinaud, MF and Huguet, S and Balzergue, S and Dumas, B and Niebel, A and Jacquet, C}, title = {MtNF-YA1, A Central Transcriptional Regulator of Symbiotic Nodule Development, Is Also a Determinant of Medicago truncatula Susceptibility toward a Root Pathogen.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1837}, pmid = {27994614}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant NF-Y transcription factors control a wide array of biological functions enabling appropriate reproductive and developmental processes as well as adaptation to various abiotic and biotic environments. In Medicago truncatula, MtNF-YA1 was previously identified as a key determinant for nodule development and establishment of rhizobial symbiosis. Here, we highlight a new role for this protein in compatibility to Aphanomyces euteiches, a root pathogenic oomycete. The Mtnf-ya1-1 mutant plants showed better survival rate, reduced symptoms, and increased development of their root apparatus as compared to their wild-type (WT) background A17. MtNF-YA-1 was specifically up-regulated by A. euteiches in F83005.5, a highly susceptible natural accession of M. truncatula while transcript level remained stable in A17, which is partially resistant. The role of MtNF-YA1 in F83005.5 susceptibility was further documented by reducing MtNF-YA1 expression either by overexpression of the miR169q, a microRNA targeting MtNF-YA1, or by RNAi approaches leading to a strong enhancement in the resistance of this susceptible line. Comparative analysis of the transcriptome of WT and Mtnf-ya1-1 led to the identification of 1509 differentially expressed genes. Among those, almost 36 defense-related genes were constitutively expressed in Mtnf-ya1-1, while 20 genes linked to hormonal pathways were repressed. In summary, we revealed an unexpected dual role for this symbiotic transcription factor as a key player in the compatibility mechanisms to a pathogen.}, } @article {pmid27994584, year = {2016}, author = {Ma, ZP and Lao, YM and Jin, H and Lin, GH and Cai, ZH and Zhou, J}, title = {Diverse Profiles of AI-1 Type Quorum Sensing Molecules in Cultivable Bacteria from the Mangrove (Kandelia obovata) Rhizosphere Environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1957}, pmid = {27994584}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mangrove rhizosphere environment harbors diverse populations of microbes, and some evidence showed that rhizobacteria behavior was regulated by quorum sensing (QS). Investigating the diverse profiles of QS molecules in mangrove ecosystems may shed light on the bacterial roles and lead to a better understanding of the symbiotic interactions between plants and microbes. The aims of the current study focus on identifying AI-1 type QS signals, i.e., acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), in Kandelia obovata rhizosphere environment. Approximately 1200 rhizobacteria were screened and 184 strains (15.3%) tested were positive. Subsequent 16s rRNA gene sequencing and dereplication analyses identified 24 species from the positive isolates, which were affiliated to three different phyla, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Thin-layer chromatography separation of extracts revealed diverse AHL profiles and detected at least one active compound in the supernatant of these 24 cultivable AHL-producers. The active extracts from these bacterial isolates were further evaluated by ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the carbon side chain length ranged from C4 to C14. This is the first report on the diversity of AI-1 type auto-inducers in the mangrove plant K. obovata, and it is imperative to expand our knowledge of plant-bacteria interactions with respect to the maintenance of wetland ecosystem health.}, } @article {pmid27994576, year = {2016}, author = {Morando, M and Capone, DG}, title = {Intraclade Heterogeneity in Nitrogen Utilization by Marine Prokaryotes Revealed Using Stable Isotope Probing Coupled with Tag Sequencing (Tag-SIP).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1932}, pmid = {27994576}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Nitrogen can greatly influence the structure and productivity of microbial communities through its relative availability and form. However, the roles of specific organisms in the uptake of different nitrogen species remain poorly characterized. Most studies seeking to identify agents of assimilation have been correlative, indirectly linking activity measurements (e.g., nitrate uptake) with the presence or absence of biological markers, particularly functional genes and their transcripts. Evidence is accumulating of previously underappreciated functional diversity in major microbial subpopulations, which may confer physiological advantages under certain environmental conditions leading to ecotype divergence. This microdiversity further complicates our view of genetic variation in environmental samples requiring the development of more targeted approaches. Here, next-generation tag sequencing was successfully coupled with stable isotope probing (Tag-SIP) to assess the ability of individual phylotypes to assimilate a specific N source. Our results provide the first direct evidence of nitrate utilization by organisms thought to lack the genes required for this process including the heterotrophic clades SAR11 and the Archaeal Marine Group II. Alternatively, this may suggest the existence of tightly coupled metabolisms with primary assimilators, e.g., symbiosis, or the rapid and efficient scavenging of recently released products by highly active individuals. These results may be connected with global dominance often seen with these clades, likely conferring an advantage over other clades unable to access these resources. We also provide new direct evidence of in situ nitrate utilization by the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus in support of recent findings. Furthermore, these results revealed widespread functional heterogeneity, i.e., different levels of nitrogen assimilation within clades, likely reflecting niche partitioning by ecotypes.}, } @article {pmid27992651, year = {2017}, author = {Turk-Kubo, KA and Farnelid, HM and Shilova, IN and Henke, B and Zehr, JP}, title = {Distinct ecological niches of marine symbiotic N2 -fixing cyanobacterium Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa sublineages.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {53}, number = {2}, pages = {451-461}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12505}, pmid = {27992651}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; *Ecology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {A recently described symbiosis between the metabolically streamlined nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A and a single-celled eukaryote prymnesiophyte alga is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical marine waters, and is thought to contribute significantly to nitrogen fixation in these regions. Several UCYN-A sublineages have been defined based on UCYN-A nitrogenase (nifH) sequences. Due to the low abundances of UCYN-A in the global oceans, currently existing molecular techniques are limited for detecting and quantifying these organisms. A targeted approach is needed to adequately characterize the diversity of this important marine cyanobacterium, and to advance understanding of its ecological importance. We present findings on the distribution of UCYN-A sublineages based on high throughput sequencing of UCYN-A nifH PCR amplicons from 78 samples distributed throughout many major oceanic provinces. These UCYN-A nifH fragments were used to define oligotypes, alternative taxonomic units defined by nucleotide positions with high variability. The data set was dominated by a single oligotype associated with the UCYN-A1 sublineage, consistent with previous observations of relatively high abundances in tropical and subtropical regions. However, this analysis also revealed for the first time the widespread distribution of the UCYN-A3 sublineage in oligotrophic waters. Furthermore, distinct assemblages of UCYN-A oligotypes were found in oligotrophic and coastally influenced waters. This unique data set provides a framework for determining the environmental controls on UCYN-A distributions and the ecological importance of the different sublineages.}, } @article {pmid27992463, year = {2016}, author = {Lanzoni, O and Fokin, SI and Lebedeva, N and Migunova, A and Petroni, G and Potekhin, A}, title = {Rare Freshwater Ciliate Paramecium chlorelligerum Kahl, 1935 and Its Macronuclear Symbiotic Bacterium "Candidatus Holospora parva".}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {e0167928}, pmid = {27992463}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chlorella/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cytoplasm/chemistry ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; Fresh Water/*parasitology ; Holosporaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Macronucleus/genetics ; Paramecium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ciliated protists often form symbioses with many diverse microorganisms. In particular, symbiotic associations between ciliates and green algae, as well as between ciliates and intracellular bacteria, are rather wide-spread in nature. In this study, we describe the complex symbiotic system between a very rare ciliate, Paramecium chlorelligerum, unicellular algae inhabiting its cytoplasm, and novel bacteria colonizing the host macronucleus. Paramecium chlorelligerum, previously found only twice in Germany, was retrieved from a novel location in vicinity of St. Petersburg in Russia. Species identification was based on both classical morphological methods and analysis of the small subunit rDNA. Numerous algae occupying the cytoplasm of this ciliate were identified with ultrastructural and molecular methods as representatives of the Meyerella genus, which before was not considered among symbiotic algae. In the same locality at least fifteen other species of "green" ciliates were found, thus it is indeed a biodiversity hot-spot for such protists. A novel species of bacterial symbionts living in the macronucleus of Paramecium chlorelligerum cells was morphologically and ultrastructurally investigated in detail with the description of its life cycle and infection capabilities. The new endosymbiont was molecularly characterized following the full-cycle rRNA approach. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the novel bacterium is a member of Holospora genus branching basally but sharing all characteristics of the genus except inducing connecting piece formation during the infected host nucleus division. We propose the name "Candidatus Holospora parva" for this newly described species. The described complex system raises new questions on how these microorganisms evolve and interact in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27988641, year = {2016}, author = {Uyeno, D}, title = {Copepods (Cyclopoida) associated with top shells (Vestigastropoda: Trochoidea: Tegulidae) from coastal waters in southern Japan, with descriptions of three new species.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4200}, number = {1}, pages = {zootaxa.4200.1.4}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4200.1.4}, pmid = {27988641}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Shells/parasitology ; Animals ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/*classification/physiology ; Female ; Gastropoda/*parasitology ; Japan ; Male ; }, abstract = {Four species of copepods are described based on specimens of both sexes from tegulid top shells (Vestigastropoda) caught from coastal waters of southern Japan. Three species, including two undescribed and one known of the genus Panaietis (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Anthessiidae) were found in the pharynx and esophagus of gastropods. Panaietis incamerata Stebbing, 1900, P. doraconis n. sp., and P. satsuma n. sp. are distinguished from its congeners by the dorsal plates on the first pedigerous somite, the genital somite, the shape of the spines on legs, the number of setae on legs 1 and 2, and the position and shape of leg 5. Pseudanthessius imo n. sp. (Cyclopoida: Pseudanthessiidae) was found in the mantle cavity of the host. This copepod differs from its congeners in the proportions of the caudal ramus, the armature and proportion of the antenna, the armature of the exopod and general shape of the endopod of leg 4, and the presence of a post-rostral process.}, } @article {pmid27987256, year = {2017}, author = {Clayton, AL and Enomoto, S and Su, Y and Dale, C}, title = {The regulation of antimicrobial peptide resistance in the transition to insect symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {103}, number = {6}, pages = {958-972}, pmid = {27987256}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Calcium/metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Magnesium/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic/physiology ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria utilize two-component systems consisting of a sensor kinase and a transcriptional response regulator to detect environmental signals and modulate gene expression for adaptation. The response regulator PhoP and its cognate sensor kinase PhoQ compose a two-component system known for its role in responding to low levels of Mg[2+] , Ca[2+] , pH and to the presence of antimicrobial peptides and activating the expression of genes involved in adaptation to host association. Compared with their free-living relatives, mutualistic insect symbiotic bacteria inhabit a static environment where the requirement for sensory functions is expected to be relaxed. The insect symbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, requires PhoP to resist killing by host derived antimicrobial peptides. However, the S. glossinidius PhoQ was found to be insensitive to Mg[2+] , Ca[2+] and pH. Here they show that Sodalis praecaptivus, a close non host-associated relative of S. glossinidius, utilizes a magnesium sensing PhoP-PhoQ and an uncharacterized MarR-like transcriptional regulator (Sant_4061) to control antimicrobial peptide resistance in vitro. While the inactivation of phoP, phoQ or Sant_4061 completely retards the growth of S. praecaptivus in the presence of an antimicrobial peptide in vitro, inactivation of both phoP and Sant_4061 is necessary to abrogate growth of this bacterium in an insect host.}, } @article {pmid27986828, year = {2017}, author = {Aronson, HS and Zellmer, AJ and Goffredi, SK}, title = {The specific and exclusive microbiome of the deep-sea bone-eating snail, Rubyspira osteovora.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw250}, pmid = {27986828}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; California ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mycoplasma/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Snails/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rubyspira osteovora is an unusual deep-sea snail from Monterey Canyon, California. This group has only been found on decomposing whales and is thought to use bone as a novel source of nutrition. This study characterized the gut microbiome of R. osteovora, compared to the surrounding environment, as well as to other deep-sea snails with more typical diets. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that R. osteovora digestive tissues host a much lower bacterial diversity (average Shannon index of 1.9; n = 12), compared to environmental samples (average Shannon index of 4.4; n = 2) and are dominated by two bacterial genera: Mycoplasma and Psychromonas (comprising up to 56% and 42% average total recovered sequences, respectively). These two bacteria, along with Psychrilyobacter sp. (∼16% average recovered sequences), accounted for between 43% and 92% of the total recovered sequences in individual snail digestive systems, with other OTUs present at much lower proportions. The relative abundance of these three groups remained similar over 6 years of sampling (collection date was not shown to be a significant predictor of community structure), suggesting a long-term association. Furthermore, these bacterial genera were either not present (Mycoplasma and Psychromonas) or at very low abundance (<0.04% for Psychrilyobacter), in environmental samples and other deep-sea gastropods, supporting the uniqueness of the R. osteovora gut microbiome.}, } @article {pmid27986730, year = {2017}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Pérez-Montaño, F and Medina, C and Ollero, FJ and López-Baena, FJ}, title = {The Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii HH103 Nodulation Outer Protein NopI Is a Determinant for Efficient Nodulation of Soybean and Cowpea Plants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27986730}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/drug effects ; Vigna/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a specialized secretion apparatus that is commonly used by many plant and animal pathogenic bacteria to deliver proteins, termed effectors, to the interior of the host cells. These effectors suppress host defenses and interfere with signal transduction pathways to promote infection. Some rhizobial strains possess a functional T3SS, which is involved in the suppression of host defense responses, host range determination, and symbiotic efficiency. The analysis of the genome of the broad-host-range rhizobial strain Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 identified eight genes that code for putative T3SS effectors. Three of these effectors, NopL, NopP, and NopI, are Rhizobium specific. In this work, we demonstrate that NopI, whose amino acid sequence shows a certain similarity with NopP, is secreted through the S. fredii HH103 T3SS in response to flavonoids. We also determined that NopL can be considered an effector since it is directly secreted to the interior of the host cell as demonstrated by adenylate cyclase assays. Finally, the symbiotic phenotype of single, double, and triple nopI, nopL, and nopP mutants in soybean and cowpea was assayed, showing that NopI plays an important role in determining the number of nodules formed in both legumes and that the absence of both NopL and NopP is highly detrimental for symbiosis.IMPORTANCE The paper is focused on three Rhizobium-specific T3SS effectors of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, NopL, NopP, and NopI. We demonstrate that S. fredii HH103 is able to secrete through the T3SS in response to flavonoids the nodulation outer protein NopI. Additionally, we determined that NopL can be considered an effector since it is secreted to the interior of the host cell as demonstrated by adenylate cyclase assays. Finally, nodulation assays of soybean and cowpea indicated that NopI is important for the determination of the number of nodules formed and that the absence of both NopL and NopP negatively affected nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27983719, year = {2017}, author = {Szabó, G and Schulz, F and Toenshoff, ER and Volland, JM and Finkel, OM and Belkin, S and Horn, M}, title = {Convergent patterns in the evolution of mealybug symbioses involving different intrabacterial symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {715-726}, pmid = {27983719}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {P 22533/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics/physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mealybugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) maintain obligatory relationships with bacterial symbionts, which provide essential nutrients to their insect hosts. Most pseudococcinae mealybugs harbor a unique symbiosis setup with enlarged betaproteobacterial symbionts ('Candidatus Tremblaya princeps'), which themselves contain gammaproteobacterial symbionts. Here we investigated the symbiosis of the manna mealybug, Trabutina mannipara, using a metagenomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the intrabacterial symbiont of T. mannipara represents a novel lineage within the Gammaproteobacteria, for which we propose the tentative name 'Candidatus Trabutinella endobia'. Combining our results with previous data available for the nested symbiosis of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri, we show that synthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins and translation-related functions partition between the symbiotic partners in a highly similar manner in the two systems, despite the distinct evolutionary origin of the intrabacterial symbionts. Bacterial genes found in both mealybug genomes and complementing missing functions in both symbioses were likely integrated in ancestral mealybugs before T. mannipara and P. citri diversified. The high level of correspondence between the two mealybug systems and their highly intertwined metabolic pathways are unprecedented. Our work contributes to a better understanding of the only known intracellular symbiosis between two bacteria and suggests that the evolution of this unique symbiosis included the replacement of intrabacterial symbionts in ancestral mealybugs.}, } @article {pmid27980805, year = {2016}, author = {Hosokawa, T and Matsuura, Y and Kikuchi, Y and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Recurrent evolution of gut symbiotic bacteria in pentatomid stinkbugs.}, journal = {Zoological letters}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {24}, pmid = {27980805}, issn = {2056-306X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diverse animals are intimately associated with microbial symbionts. How such host-symbiont associations have evolved is a fundamental biological issue. Recent studies have revealed a variety of evolutionary relationships, such as obligatory, facultative, and free-living, of gut bacterial symbiosis within the stinkbug family Pentatomidae, although the whole evolutionary picture remains elusive.

RESULTS: Here we investigated a comprehensive assembly of Japanese pentatomid stinkbugs representing 28 genera, 35 species, and 143 populations. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, and sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene from their midgut symbiotic organ consistently detected a single bacterial species from each of the insect samples, indicating a general tendency toward monosymbiotic gut association. Bacterial sequences detected from different populations of the same species were completely or nearly identical, indicating that the majority of the gut symbiotic associations are stably maintained at the species level. Furthermore, bacterial sequences detected from different species in the same genus tended to form well-supported clades, suggesting that host-symbiont associations are often stable even at the genus level. Meanwhile, when we compared such sequences with published sequences available in DNA databases, we found a number of counter-examples to such stable host-symbiont relationships; i.e., symbionts from different host species in the same genus may be phylogenetically distant, and symbionts from the same host species may be phylogenetically diverse. Likewise, symbionts of diverse pentatomid species may be closely related to symbionts of other stinkbug families, and symbionts of diverse pentatomid species may even be allied to free-living bacteria. Molecular evolutionary analyses revealed that higher molecular evolutionary rates, higher AT nucleotide compositions, and smaller genome sizes tended to be associated with the pentatomid symbionts constituting the stable lineages, whereas these traits were rarely observed in the pentatomid symbionts of promiscuous type.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that gut symbiotic bacteria have evolved repeatedly and dynamically in the stinkbug family Pentatomidae, which have plausibly entailed frequent symbiont acquisitions, losses, replacements and transfers, while establishing a number of relatively stable host-symbiont associations. The diverse host-symbiont relationships observed in the Pentatomidae will provide an ideal arena for investigating the evolution of symbiosis experimentally and theoretically.}, } @article {pmid27980125, year = {2017}, author = {Hawkins, TD and Warner, ME}, title = {Warm preconditioning protects against acute heat-induced respiratory dysfunction and delays bleaching in a symbiotic sea anemone.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {220}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {969-983}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.150391}, pmid = {27980125}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Animals ; Dinoflagellida/enzymology/*physiology ; Heat-Shock Response ; Hot Temperature ; Mitochondria/enzymology/metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/enzymology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Preconditioning to non-stressful warming can protect some symbiotic cnidarians against the high temperature-induced collapse of their mutualistic endosymbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.), a process known as bleaching. Here, we sought to determine whether such preconditioning is underpinned by differential regulation of aerobic respiration. We quantified in vivo metabolism and mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity in the naturally symbiotic sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida preconditioned to 30°C for >7 weeks as well as anemones kept at 26°C. Preconditioning resulted in increased Symbiodinium photosynthetic activity and holobiont (host+symbiont) respiration rates. Biomass-normalised activities of host respiratory enzymes [citrate synthase and the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) complexes I and IV] were higher in preconditioned animals, suggesting that increased holobiont respiration may have been due to host mitochondrial biogenesis and/or enlargement. Subsequent acute heating of preconditioned and 'thermally naive' animals to 33°C induced dramatic increases in host mETC complex I and Symbiodinium mETC complex II activities only in thermally naive E. pallida These changes were not reflected in the activities of other respiratory enzymes. Furthermore, bleaching in preconditioned E. pallida (defined as the significant loss of symbionts) was delayed by several days relative to the thermally naive group. These findings suggest that changes to mitochondrial biogenesis and/or function in symbiotic cnidarians during warm preconditioning might play a protective role during periods of exposure to stressful heating.}, } @article {pmid27978822, year = {2016}, author = {Fukumoto, T and Matsuo, J and Okubo, T and Nakamura, S and Miyamoto, K and Oka, K and Takahashi, M and Akizawa, K and Shibuya, H and Shimizu, C and Yamaguchi, H}, title = {Acanthamoeba containing endosymbiotic chlamydia isolated from hospital environments and its potential role in inflammatory exacerbation.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {292}, pmid = {27978822}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/*isolation & purification/*microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Chlamydia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cytokines/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Hospitals ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Environmental chlamydiae belonging to the Parachlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba, and are a risk for hospital-acquired pneumonia. However, whether amoebae harboring environmental chlamydiae actually survive in hospital environments is unknown. We therefore isolated living amoebae with symbiotic chlamydiae from hospital environments.

RESULTS: One hundred smear samples were collected from Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan; 50 in winter (February to March, 2012) and 50 in summer (August, 2012), and used for the study. Acanthamoebae were isolated from the smear samples, and endosymbiotic chlamydial traits were assessed by infectivity, cytokine induction, and draft genomic analysis. From these, 23 amoebae were enriched on agar plates spread with heat-killed Escherichia coli. Amoeba prevalence was greater in the summer-collected samples (15/30, 50%) than those of the winter season (8/30, 26.7%), possibly indicating a seasonal variation (p = 0.096). Morphological assessment of cysts revealed 21 amoebae (21/23, 91%) to be Acanthamoeba, and cultures in PYG medium were established for 11 of these amoebae. Three amoebae contained environmental chlamydiae; however, only one amoeba (Acanthamoeba T4) with an environmental chlamydia (Protochlamydia W-9) was shown the infectious ability to Acanthamoeba C3 (reference amoebae). While Protochlamydia W-9 could infect C3 amoeba, it failed to replicate in immortal human epithelial, although exposure of HEp-2 cells to living bacteria induced the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-8. Comparative genome analysis with KEGG revealed similar genomic features compared with other Protochlamydia genomes (UWE25 and R18), except for a lack of genes encoding the type IV secretion system. Interestingly, resistance genes associated with several antibiotics and toxic compounds were identified.

CONCLUSION: These findings are the first demonstration of the distribution in a hospital of a living Acanthamoeba carrying an endosymbiotic chlamydial pathogen.}, } @article {pmid27977319, year = {2016}, author = {Nagae, M and Parniske, M and Kawaguchi, M and Takeda, N}, title = {The relationship between thiamine and two symbioses: Root nodule symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {e1265723}, pmid = {27977319}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Lotus/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Thiamine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lotus japonicus THIC is expressed in all organs, and the encoded protein catalyzes thiamine biosynthesis. Loss of function produces chlorosis, a typical thiamine-deficiency phenotype, and mortality. To investigate thiamine's role in symbiosis, we focused on THI1, a thiamine-biosynthesis gene expressed in roots, nodules, and seeds. The thi1 mutant had green leaves, but formed small nodules and immature seeds. These phenotypes were rescued by THI1 complementation and by exogenous thiamine. Thus, THI1 is required for nodule enlargement and seed maturation. On the other hand, colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis was not affected in the thi1 mutant or by exogenous thiamine. However, spores of R. irregularis stored more thiamine than the source (host plants), despite lacking thiamine biosynthesis genes. Therefore, disturbance of the thiamine supply would affect progeny phenotypes such as spore formation and hyphal growth. Further investigation will be required to elucidate thiamine's effect on AM.}, } @article {pmid27976685, year = {2016}, author = {Braga, LP and Yoshiura, CA and Borges, CD and Horn, MA and Brown, GG and Drake, HL and Tsai, SM}, title = {Disentangling the influence of earthworms in sugarcane rhizosphere.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {38923}, pmid = {27976685}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomass ; Nitrous Oxide/metabolism ; Oligochaeta/*physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Saccharum/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {For the last 150 years many studies have shown the importance of earthworms for plant growth, but the exact mechanisms involved in the process are still poorly understood. Many important functions required for plant growth can be performed by soil microbes in the rhizosphere. To investigate earthworm influence on the rhizosphere microbial community, we performed a macrocosm experiment with and without Pontoscolex corethrurus (EW+ and EW-, respectively) and followed various soil and rhizosphere processes for 217 days with sugarcane. In EW+ treatments, N2O concentrations belowground (15 cm depth) and relative abundances of nitrous oxide genes (nosZ) were higher in bulk soil and rhizosphere, suggesting that soil microbes were able to consume earthworm-induced N2O. Shotgun sequencing (total DNA) revealed that around 70 microbial functions in bulk soil and rhizosphere differed between EW+ and EW- treatments. Overall, genes indicative of biosynthetic pathways and cell proliferation processes were enriched in EW+ treatments, suggesting a positive influence of worms. In EW+ rhizosphere, functions associated with plant-microbe symbiosis were enriched relative to EW- rhizosphere. Ecological networks inferred from the datasets revealed decreased niche diversification and increased keystone functions as an earthworm-derived effect. Plant biomass was improved in EW+ and worm population proliferated.}, } @article {pmid27968998, year = {2016}, author = {Merlos, MA and Zitka, O and Vojtech, A and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Ferrol, N}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis differentially regulates the copper response of two maize cultivars differing in copper tolerance.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {253}, number = {}, pages = {68-76}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.09.010}, pmid = {27968998}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Copper/*metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytochelatins/metabolism ; Zea mays/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza can increase plant tolerance to heavy metals. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza on plant metal tolerance vary depending on the fungal and plant species involved. Here, we report the effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on the physiological and biochemical responses to Cu of two maize genotypes differing in Cu tolerance, the Cu-sensitive cv. Orense and the Cu-tolerant cv. Oropesa. Development of the symbiosis confers an increased Cu tolerance to cv. Orense. Root and shoot Cu concentrations were lower in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal plants of both cultivars. Shoot lipid peroxidation increased with soil Cu content only in non-mycorrhizal plants of the Cu-sensitive cultivar. Root lipid peroxidation increased with soil Cu content, except in mycorrhizal plants grown at 250mg Cu kg[-1]soil. In shoots of mycorrhizal plants of both cultivars, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and glutathione reductase activities were not affected by soil Cu content. In Cu-supplemented soils, total phytochelatin content increased in shoots of mycorrhizal cv. Orense but decreased in cv. Oropesa. Overall, these data suggest that the increased Cu tolerance of mycorrhizal plants of cv. Orense could be due to an increased induction of shoot phytochelatin biosynthesis by the symbiosis in this cultivar.}, } @article {pmid27966609, year = {2016}, author = {Sepahi, A and Cordero, H and Goldfine, H and Esteban, MÁ and Salinas, I}, title = {Symbiont-derived sphingolipids modulate mucosal homeostasis and B cells in teleost fish.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {39054}, pmid = {27966609}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {P20 GM103452/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 GM110907/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/blood/metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Cytophagaceae/immunology/*physiology ; Fish Proteins ; Gills/immunology/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Immunoglobulins/blood/metabolism ; Mucous Membrane/*immunology/microbiology ; Oncorhynchus mykiss/immunology/*microbiology ; Skin/immunology/microbiology ; Sphingolipids/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria and mucosal immunoglobulins have co-evolved for millions of years in vertebrate animals. Symbiotic bacteria products are known to modulate different aspects of the host immune system. We recently reported that Flectobacillus major is a predominant species that lives in the gill and skin mucosal surfaces of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). F. major is known to produce sphingolipids of a unique molecular structure. Here we propose a role for F. major and its sphingolipids in the regulation of B cell populations in rainbow trout, as well as an essential role for sphingolipids in trout mucosal homeostasis. We found that F. major-specific IgT titers are confined to the gill and skin mucus, whereas F. major-specific IgM titers are only detected in serum. Live F. major cells are able to stimulate sustained IgT expression and secretion in gills. F. major sphingolipids modulate the growth of trout total skin and gill symbiotic bacteria. In vivo systemic administration of F. major sphingolipids changes the proportion of IgT[+] to IgM[+] B cells in trout HK. These results demonstrate the key role of the symbiont F. major and its sphingolipids in mucosal homeostasis via the modulation of mucosal and systemic Igs and B cells.}, } @article {pmid27965683, year = {2016}, author = {Ulzen, J and Abaidoo, RC and Mensah, NE and Masso, C and AbdelGadir, AH}, title = {Bradyrhizobium Inoculants Enhance Grain Yields of Soybean and Cowpea in Northern Ghana.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1770}, pmid = {27965683}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {This study evaluated the symbiotic effectiveness and economic evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants with the objective of recommending the most effective inoculant strain for soybean and cowpea production in Northern Ghana. Field experiments were established in three locations using randomized complete block design with five blocks. A total of four treatments (Legumefix, Biofix, 100 kg N ha[-1] and uninoculated control for soybean and BR 3267, BR 3262, 100 kg N ha[-1] and uninoculated control for cowpea) were applied. At Nyankpala, inoculation of soybean with Legumefix and Biofix led to significant (P < 0.05) increases in nodule number (90-118%), nodule dry weight (>two-folds), and grain yield (12-19%) relative to the control. The Biofix effect on soybean grain yield was 1.5-fold of Legumefix. Similarly, inoculation of cowpea with BR 3262 and BR 3267 significantly (P < 0.05) increased nodule number (41-68%), nodule dry weight (45-65%), and grain yield (11-38%) relative to the control. Strain BR 3267 performed consistently (>two-folds) better than BR 3262 on grain yield. At Nyagli, there was no significant effect of inoculation on cowpea. Wilks lambda values (0.067, 0.039; P = 0.00) indicated that 93.3 and 96.1% of the variations observed in soybean and cowpea, respectively, were due to the applied inoculants. Biofix and BR 3267 were economically profitable with VCR ratio of 8.7 and 4.6, respectively. Based on grain yield and economic returns observed, Biofix and BR 3267 can be recommended in Nyankpala for inoculation of soybean and cowpea, respectively.}, } @article {pmid27965651, year = {2016}, author = {Hagberg, KL and Yurgel, SN and Mulder, M and Kahn, ML}, title = {Interaction between Nitrogen and Phosphate Stress Responses in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1928}, pmid = {27965651}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacteria have developed various stress response pathways to improve their assimilation and allocation of limited nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphate. While both the nitrogen stress response (NSR) and phosphate stress response (PSR) have been studied individually, there are few experiments reported that characterize effects of multiple stresses on one or more pathways in Sinorhizobium meliloti, a facultatively symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The PII proteins, GlnB and GlnK, regulate the NSR activity, but analysis of global transcription changes in a PII deficient mutant suggest that the S. meliloti PII proteins may also regulate the PSR. PII double deletion mutants grow very slowly and pseudoreversion of the slow growth phenotype is common. To understand this phenomenon better, transposon mutants were isolated that had a faster growing phenotype. One mutation was in phoB, the response regulator for a two component regulatory system that is important in the PSR. phoB::Tn5 mutants had different phenotypes in the wild type compared to a PII deficient background. This led to the hypothesis that phosphate stress affects the NSR and conversely, that nitrogen stress affects the PSR. Our results show that phosphate availability affects glutamine synthetase activity and expression, which are often used as indicators of NSR activity, but that nitrogen availability did not affect alkaline phosphatase activity and expression, which are indicators of PSR activity. We conclude that the NSR is co-regulated by nitrogen and phosphate, whereas the PSR does not appear to be co-regulated by nitrogen in addition to its known phosphate regulation.}, } @article {pmid27965647, year = {2016}, author = {Whitaker, MR and Salzman, S and Sanders, J and Kaltenpoth, M and Pierce, NE}, title = {Microbial Communities of Lycaenid Butterflies Do Not Correlate with Larval Diet.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1920}, pmid = {27965647}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Herbivores possess many counteradaptations to plant defenses, and a growing body of research describes the role of symbiotic gut bacteria in mediating herbivorous diets among insects. However, persistent bacterial symbioses have not been found in Lepidoptera, despite the fact that perhaps 99% of the species in this order are herbivorous. We surveyed bacterial communities in the guts of larvae from 31 species of lycaenid butterflies whose caterpillars had diets ranging from obligate carnivory to strict herbivory. Contrary to our expectations, we found that the bacterial communities of carnivorous and herbivorous caterpillars do not differ in richness, diversity, or composition. Many of the observed bacterial genera are commonly found in soil and plant surfaces, and we detected known homopteran endosymbionts in the guts of homopterophagous species, suggesting that larvae acquire gut bacteria from their food and environment. These results indicate that lycaenid butterflies do not rely on specific bacterial symbioses to mediate their diverse diets, and provide further evidence of taxonomically depauperate bacterial communities among Lepidoptera.}, } @article {pmid27965151, year = {2017}, author = {Takeshita, K and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Riptortus pedestris and Burkholderia symbiont: an ideal model system for insect-microbe symbiotic associations.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {175-187}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2016.11.005}, pmid = {27965151}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/growth & development/*physiology ; Heteroptera/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/physiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A number of insects establish symbiotic associations with beneficial microorganisms in various manners. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris and allied stink bugs possess an environmentally acquired Burkholderia symbiont in their midgut crypts. Unlike other insect endosymbionts, the Burkholderia symbiont is easily culturable and genetically manipulatable outside the host. In conjunction with the experimental advantages of the host insect, the Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis is an ideal model system for elucidating the molecular bases underpinning insect-microbe symbioses, which opens a new window in the research field of insect symbiosis. This review summarizes current knowledge of this system and discusses future perspectives.}, } @article {pmid27959794, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, Y and Jeon, H and Othmer, H}, title = {The Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Glioblastoma: A Mathematical Model.}, journal = {IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering}, volume = {64}, number = {3}, pages = {519-527}, pmid = {27959794}, issn = {1558-2531}, support = {R01 GM029123/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Communication/*immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; Computer Simulation ; Cytokines/immunology ; Glioblastoma/*immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Macrophages/*immunology/pathology ; *Models, Immunological ; Neoplasm Proteins/*immunology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the deadliest human cancers and is characterized by tumor cells that hijack immune system cells in a deadly symbiotic relationship. Microglia and glioma infiltrating macrophages, which in principle should mount an immune response to the tumor, are subverted by tumor cells to facilitate growth in several ways. In this study, we seek to understand the interactions between the tumor cells and the microglia that enhance tumor growth, and for this purpose, we develop a mathematical and computational model that involves reaction-diffusion equations for the important components in the interaction. These include the densities of tumor and microglial cells, and the concentrations of growth factors and other signaling molecules. We apply this model to a transwell assay used in the laboratory to demonstrate that microglia can stimulate tumor cell invasion by secreting the growth factor TGF- β. We show that the model can both replicate the major components of the experimental findings and make new predictions to guide future experiments aimed at the development of new therapeutic approaches. Sensitivity analysis is used to identify the most important parameters as an aid to future experimental work. This study is the first step in a program that involves development of detailed 3-D models of the mechanical and biochemical interactions between a glioblastoma and the tumor microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid27958200, year = {2016}, author = {Das, D and Ramachandra, V and Islam, S and Bhattacharjee, H and Biswas, J and Koul, A and Deka, P and Deka, A}, title = {Update on pathology of ocular parasitic disease.}, journal = {Indian journal of ophthalmology}, volume = {64}, number = {11}, pages = {794-802}, pmid = {27958200}, issn = {1998-3689}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; Eye/*parasitology/*pathology ; Eye Infections, Parasitic/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Humans ; India/epidemiology ; Parasites/*isolation & purification ; Prevalence ; }, abstract = {Parasites are a group of eukaryotic organisms that may be free-living or form a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with the hosts. Consisting of over 800,000 recognized species, parasites may be unicellular (Protozoa) or multicellular (helminths and arthropods). The association of parasites with human population started long before the emergence of civilization. Parasitic zoonotic diseases are prevalent worldwide including India. Appropriate epidemiological data are lacking on existing zoonotic parasitic diseases, and newer diseases are emerging in our scenario. Systemic diseases such as cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, hydatidosis, and toxoplasmosis are fairly common. Acquired Toxoplasma infections are rising in immune-deficient individuals. Amongst the ocular parasitic diseases, various protozoas such as Cystoidea, trematodes, tissue flagellates, sporozoas etc. affect humans in general and eyes in particular, in different parts of the world. These zoonoses seem to be a real health related problem globally. Recent intensification of research throughout the world has led to specialization in biological fields, creating a conducive situation for researchers interested in this subject. The basics of parasitology lie in morphology, pathology, and with recent updates in molecular parasitology, the scope has extended further. The current review is to address the recent update in ophthalmic parasites with special reference to pathology and give a glimpse of further research in this field.}, } @article {pmid27957552, year = {2016}, author = {Heinrich, AK and Glaeser, A and Tobias, NJ and Heermann, R and Bode, HB}, title = {Heterogeneous regulation of bacterial natural product biosynthesis via a novel transcription factor.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {e00197}, pmid = {27957552}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Biological diversity arises among genetically equal subpopulations in the same environment, a phenomenon called phenotypic heterogeneity. The life cycle of the enteric bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens involves a symbiotic interaction with nematodes as well as a pathogenic association with insect larvae. P. luminescens exists in two distinct phenotypic forms designated as primary (1°) and secondary (2°). In contrast to 1° cells, 2° cells are non-pigmented due to the absence of natural compounds, especially anthraquinones (AQs). We identified a novel type of transcriptional regulator, AntJ, which activates expression of the antA-I operon responsible for AQ production. AntJ heterogeneously activates the AQ production in single P. luminescens 1° cells, and blocks AQ production in 2° cells. AntJ contains a proposed ligand-binding WYL-domain, which is widespread among bacteria. AntJ is one of the rare examples of regulators that mediate heterogeneous gene expression by altering activity rather than copy number in single cells.}, } @article {pmid27956601, year = {2016}, author = {Lastovetsky, OA and Gaspar, ML and Mondo, SJ and LaButti, KM and Sandor, L and Grigoriev, IV and Henry, SA and Pawlowska, TE}, title = {Lipid metabolic changes in an early divergent fungus govern the establishment of a mutualistic symbiosis with endobacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {52}, pages = {15102-15107}, pmid = {27956601}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM019629/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/*metabolism ; Diacylglycerol Kinase/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genetic Markers ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids/chemistry ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizopus/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {The recent accumulation of newly discovered fungal-bacterial mutualisms challenges the paradigm that fungi and bacteria are natural antagonists. To understand the mechanisms that govern the establishment and maintenance over evolutionary time of mutualisms between fungi and bacteria, we studied a symbiosis of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus (Mucoromycotina) and its Burkholderia endobacteria. We found that nonhost R. microsporus, as well as other mucoralean fungi, interact antagonistically with endobacteria derived from the host and are not invaded by them. Comparison of gene expression profiles of host and nonhost fungi during interaction with endobacteria revealed dramatic changes in expression of lipid metabolic genes in the host. Analysis of the host lipidome confirmed that symbiosis establishment was accompanied by specific changes in the fungal lipid profile. Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) activity was important for these lipid metabolic changes, as its inhibition altered the fungal lipid profile and caused a shift in the host-bacterial interaction into an antagonism. We conclude that adjustments in host lipid metabolism during symbiosis establishment, mediated by DGKs, are required for the mutualistic outcome of the Rhizopus-Burkholderia symbiosis. In addition, the neutral and phospholipid profiles of R. microsporus provide important insights into lipid metabolism in an understudied group of oleaginous Mucoromycotina. Lastly, our study revealed that the DGKs involved in the symbiosis form a previously uncharacterized clade of DGK domain proteins.}, } @article {pmid27955622, year = {2016}, author = {Vorburger, C and Rouchet, R}, title = {Are aphid parasitoids locally adapted to the prevalence of defensive symbionts in their hosts?.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {271}, pmid = {27955622}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Female ; France ; Switzerland ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insect parasitoids are under strong selection to overcome their hosts' defences. In aphids, resistance to parasitoids is largely determined by the presence or absence of protective endosymbionts such as Hamiltonella defensa. Hence, parasitoids may become locally adapted to the prevalence of this endosymbiont in their host populations. To address this, we collected isofemale lines of the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum from 17 sites in Switzerland and France, at which we also estimated the frequency of infection with H. defensa as well as other bacterial endosymbionts in five important aphid host species. The parasitoids' ability to overcome H. defensa-mediated resistance was then quantified by estimating their parasitism success on a single aphid clone (Aphis fabae fabae) that was either uninfected or experimentally infected with one of three different isolates of H. defensa.

RESULTS: The five aphid species (Aphis fabae fabae, A. f. cirsiiacanthoides, A. hederae, A. ruborum, A. urticata) differed strongly in the relative frequencies of infection with different bacterial endosymbionts, but there was also geographic variation in symbiont prevalence. Specifically, the frequency of infection with H. defensa ranged from 22 to 47 % when averaged across species. Parasitoids from sites with a high prevalence of H. defensa tended to be more infective on aphids possessing H. defensa, but this relationship was not significant, thus providing no conclusive evidence that L. fabarum is locally adapted to the occurrence of H. defensa. On the other hand, we observed a strong interaction between parasitoid line and H. defensa isolate on parasitism success, indicative of a high specificity of symbiont-conferred resistance.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first, to our knowledge, to test for local adaptation of parasitoids to the frequency of defensive symbionts in their hosts. While it yielded useful information on the occurrence of facultative endosymbionts in several important host species of L. fabarum, it provided no clear evidence that parasitoids from sites with a high prevalence of H. defensa are better able to overcome H. defensa-conferred resistance. The strong genetic specificity in their interaction suggests that it may be more important for parasitoids to adapt to the particular strains of H. defensa in their host populations than to the general prevalence of this symbiont, and it highlights the important role symbionts can play in mediating host-parasitoid coevolution.}, } @article {pmid27951516, year = {2017}, author = {Brufau, MT and Campo-Sabariz, J and Carné, S and Ferrer, R and Martín-Venegas, R}, title = {Salmosan, a β-galactomannan-rich product, in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum contributes to restore intestinal epithelial barrier function by modulation of cytokine production.}, journal = {The Journal of nutritional biochemistry}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {20-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.11.011}, pmid = {27951516}, issn = {1873-4847}, mesh = {Caco-2 Cells ; Coculture Techniques ; Electric Impedance ; Enterocytes/drug effects/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Galactose/analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/agonists/metabolism ; Interleukin-6/agonists/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Lactobacillus plantarum/growth & development/immunology/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/antagonists & inhibitors/toxicity ; Macrophages/drug effects/immunology/*metabolism ; Mannans/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*metabolism/therapeutic use ; Reactive Oxygen Species/agonists/metabolism ; Synbiotics ; THP-1 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOSs) are mannose-rich substrates with several intestinal health-promoting properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential capacity of Salmosan (S-βGM), a β-galactomannan-rich MOS product, to restore epithelial barrier function independently from its capacity to reduce bacterial invasion. In addition, the combination of S-βGM with the proven probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) was also tested. Paracellular permeability was assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) in co-cultures of Caco-2 cells and macrophages (differentiated from THP-1 cells) stimulated with LPS of Salmonella Enteritidis and in Caco-2 cell cultures stimulated with TNF-α in the absence or presence of 500 μg/ml S-βGM, LP (MOI 10) or a combination of both. In both culture models, TER was significantly reduced up to 25% by LPS or TNF-α stimulation, and the addition of S-βGM or LP alone did not modify TER, whereas the combination of both restored TER to values of nonstimulated cells. Under LPS stimulation, TNF-α production was significantly increased by 10-fold, whereas IL-10 and IL-6 levels were not modified. The combination of S-βGM and LP reduced TNF-α production to nonstimulated cell values and significantly increased IL-10 and IL-6 levels (5- and 7.5-fold, respectively). Moreover, S-βGM has the capacity to induce an increase of fivefold in LP growth. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that S-βGM in combination with LP protects epithelial barrier function by modulation of cytokine secretion, thus giving an additional value to this MOS as a potential symbiotic.}, } @article {pmid27943632, year = {2017}, author = {van den Bosch, TJM and Welte, CU}, title = {Detoxifying symbionts in agriculturally important pest insects.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {531-540}, pmid = {27943632}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Animals ; *Inactivation, Metabolic ; Insecta/metabolism/*microbiology ; Insecticides/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pest insects lead to excessive agricultural and therefore economical losses on crops worldwide. These insects have to withstand toxic molecules that are inherent to plant defences, as well as those that are produced and introduced by humans in the form of insecticides. In recent years, research on insect-microbe symbioses has recognized that microbial symbionts may play a role protecting against these toxins, leading to a form of defensive symbiosis between the pest insect and different types of microorganisms that we term detoxifying symbioses. In this minireview, we will highlight well-characterized and emerging insect model systems of detoxifying symbioses and assess how the microorganisms influence the host's success.}, } @article {pmid27942535, year = {2016}, author = {Ranhotra, HS and Flannigan, KL and Brave, M and Mukherjee, S and Lukin, DJ and Hirota, SA and Mani, S}, title = {Xenobiotic Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Intestinal Barrier Function and Innate Immunity.}, journal = {Nuclear receptor research}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27942535}, issn = {2314-5706}, support = {P30 DK026687/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001073/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The molecular basis for the regulation of the intestinal barrier is a very fertile research area. A growing body of knowledge supports the targeting of various components of intestinal barrier function as means to treat a variety of diseases, including the inflammatory bowel diseases. Herein, we will summarize the current state of knowledge of key xenobiotic receptor regulators of barrier function, highlighting recent advances, such that the field and its future are succinctly reviewed. We posit that these receptors confer an additional dimension of host-microbe interaction in the gut, by sensing and responding to metabolites released from the symbiotic microbiota, in innate immunity and also in host drug metabolism. The scientific evidence for involvement of the receptors and its molecular basis for the control of barrier function and innate immunity regulation would serve as a rationale towards development of non-toxic probes and ligands as drugs.}, } @article {pmid27939756, year = {2017}, author = {Zanetti, ME and Rípodas, C and Niebel, A}, title = {Plant NF-Y transcription factors: Key players in plant-microbe interactions, root development and adaptation to stress.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Gene regulatory mechanisms}, volume = {1860}, number = {5}, pages = {645-654}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.11.007}, pmid = {27939756}, issn = {1874-9399}, mesh = {*CCAAT-Binding Factor/genetics/metabolism ; Epigenesis, Genetic/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plants/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {NF-Ys are heterotrimeric transcription factors composed by the NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC subunits. In plants, NF-Y subunits are encoded by multigene families whose members show structural and functional diversifications. An increasing number of NF-Y genes has been shown to play key roles during different stages of root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, as well as during the interaction of plants with pathogenic microorganisms. Individual members of the NF-YA and NF-YB families have also been implicated in the development of primary and lateral roots. In addition, different members of the NF-YA and NF-YB gene families from mono- and di-cotyledonous plants have been involved in plant responses to water and nutrient scarcity. This review presents the most relevant and striking results concerning these NF-Y subunits. A phylogenetic analysis of the functionally characterized NF-Y genes revealed that, across plant species, NF-Y proteins functioning in the same biological process tend to belong to common phylogenetic groups. Finally, we discuss the forthcoming challenges of plant NF-Y research, including the detailed dissection of expression patterns, the elucidation of functional specificities as well as the characterization of the potential NF-Y-mediated epigenetic mechanisms by which they control the expression of their target genes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear Factor Y in Development and Disease, edited by Prof. Roberto Mantovani.}, } @article {pmid27939673, year = {2016}, author = {de Kleer, IM and Kool, M and de Bruijn, MJ and Willart, M and van Moorleghem, J and Schuijs, MJ and Plantinga, M and Beyaert, R and Hams, E and Fallon, PG and Hammad, H and Hendriks, RW and Lambrecht, BN}, title = {Perinatal Activation of the Interleukin-33 Pathway Promotes Type 2 Immunity in the Developing Lung.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {45}, number = {6}, pages = {1285-1298}, doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2016.10.031}, pmid = {27939673}, issn = {1097-4180}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Asthma/*immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypersensitivity/immunology ; Interleukin-33/*immunology ; Lung/*growth & development/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Pyroglyphidae/immunology ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Th2 Cells/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Allergic disease originates in early life and polymorphisms in interleukin-33 gene (IL33) and IL1RL1, coding for IL-33R and decoy receptor sST2, confer allergy risk. Early life T helper 2 (Th2) cell skewing and allergy susceptibility are often seen as remnants of feto-maternal symbiosis. Here we report that shortly after birth, innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILC2s), eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells spontaneously accumulated in developing lungs in an IL-33-dependent manner. During the phase of postnatal lung alveolarization, house dust mite exposure further increased IL-33, which boosted cytokine production in ILC2s and activated CD11b[+] dendritic cells (DCs). IL-33 suppressed IL-12p35 and induced OX40L in neonatal DCs, thus promoting Th2 cell skewing. Decoy sST2 had a strong preventive effect on asthma in the neonatal period, less so in adulthood. Thus, enhanced neonatal Th2 cell skewing to inhaled allergens results from postnatal hyperactivity of the IL-33 axis during a period of maximal lung remodeling.}, } @article {pmid27939312, year = {2016}, author = {Higgs, ND and Newton, J and Attrill, MJ}, title = {Caribbean Spiny Lobster Fishery Is Underpinned by Trophic Subsidies from Chemosynthetic Primary Production.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {24}, pages = {3393-3398}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.10.034}, pmid = {27939312}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; *Bacteria/classification/metabolism ; Caribbean Region ; *Fisheries ; *Food Chain ; Palinuridae/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, is one of the most valuable fisheries commodities in the Central American region, directly employing 50,000 people and generating >US$450 million per year [1]. This industry is particularly important to small island states such as The Bahamas, which exports more lobster than any other country in the region [1]. Several factors contribute to this disproportionally high productivity, principally the extensive shallow-water banks covered in seagrass meadows [2], where fishermen deploy artificial shelters for the lobsters to supplement scarce reef habitat [3]. The surrounding seabed communities are dominated by lucinid bivalve mollusks that live among the seagrass root system [4, 5]. These clams host chemoautotrophic bacterial symbionts in their gills that synthesize organic matter using reduced sulfur compounds, providing nutrition to their hosts [6]. Recent studies have highlighted the important role of the lucinid clam symbiosis in maintaining the health and productivity of seagrass ecosystems [7, 8], but their biomass also represents a potentially abundant, but as yet unquantified, food source to benthic predators [9]. Here we undertake the first analysis of Caribbean spiny lobster diet using a stable isotope approach (carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur) and show that a significant portion of their food (∼20% on average) is obtained from chemosynthetic primary production in the form of lucinid clams. This nutritional pathway was previously unrecognized in the spiny lobster's diet, and these results are the first empirical evidence that chemosynthetic primary production contributes to the productivity of commercial fisheries stocks.}, } @article {pmid27936989, year = {2017}, author = {Zhai, X and Jia, M and Chen, L and Zheng, CJ and Rahman, K and Han, T and Qin, LP}, title = {The regulatory mechanism of fungal elicitor-induced secondary metabolite biosynthesis in medical plants.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {238-261}, doi = {10.1080/1040841X.2016.1201041}, pmid = {27936989}, issn = {1549-7828}, mesh = {Biological Products/*metabolism ; Endophytes/growth & development/*metabolism ; Fungi/growth & development/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism/*drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {A wide range of external stress stimuli trigger plant cells to undergo complex network of reactions that ultimately lead to the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Accumulation of such metabolites often occurs in plants subjected to stresses including various elicitors or signal molecules. Throughout evolution, endophytic fungi, an important constituent in the environment of medicinal plants, have known to form long-term stable and mutually beneficial symbiosis with medicinal plants. The endophytic fungal elicitor can rapidly and specifically induce the expression of specific genes in medicinal plants which can result in the activation of a series of specific secondary metabolic pathways resulting in the significant accumulation of active ingredients. Here we summarize the progress made on the mechanisms of fungal elicitor including elicitor signal recognition, signal transduction, gene expression and activation of the key enzymes and its application. This review provides guidance on studies which may be conducted to promote the efficient synthesis and accumulation of active ingredients by the endogenous fungal elicitor in medicinal plant cells, and provides new ideas and methods of studying the regulation of secondary metabolism in medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid27936180, year = {2016}, author = {Zou, L and Chen, YX and Penttinen, P and Lan, Q and Wang, K and Liu, M and Peng, D and Zhang, X and Chen, Q and Zhao, K and Zeng, X and Xu, KW}, title = {Genetic Diversity and Symbiotic Efficiency of Nodulating Rhizobia Isolated from Root Nodules of Faba Bean in One Field.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {e0167804}, pmid = {27936180}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Thirty-one nodulating rhizobium strains were collected from root nodules of spring and winter type faba bean cultivars grown in micro ecoarea, i.e. the same field in Chengdu plain, China. The symbiotic efficiency and phylogeny of these strains were studied. Effectively nitrogen fixing strains were isolated from both winter type and spring type cultivars. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene and concatenated sequence of atpD, glnII and recA genes, the isolates were assigned as Rhizobium anhuiense and a potential new Rhizobium species. The isolates were diverse on symbiosis related gene level, carrying five, four and three variants of nifH, nodC and nodD, respectively. Strains carrying similar gene combinations were trapped by both winter and spring cultivars, disagreeing with the specificity of symbiotic genotypes to reported earlier faba bean ecotypes.}, } @article {pmid27935414, year = {2017}, author = {Shimomura, A and Arima, S and Hayashi, M and Maymon, M and Hirsch, AM and Suzuki, A}, title = {Blue light does not inhibit nodulation in Sesbania rostrata.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {e1268313}, pmid = {27935414}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*physiology ; *Light ; Plant Root Nodulation/*radiation effects ; Sesbania/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Earlier, we reported that root nodulation was inhibited by blue light irradiation of Lotus japonicus. Because some legumes do not establish nodules exclusively on underground roots, we investigated whether nodule formation in Sesbania rostrata, which forms both root and "stem" nodules following inoculation with Azorhizobium caulinodans, is inhibited by blue light as are L. japonicus nodules. We found that neither S. rostrata nodulation nor nitrogen fixation was inhibited by blue light exposure. Moreover, although A. caulinodans proliferation was not affected by blue light irradiation, bacterial survival was decreased. Therefore, blue light appears to impose different responses depending on the legume-rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27935060, year = {2017}, author = {Chen, T and Zhou, B and Duan, L and Zhu, H and Zhang, Z}, title = {MtMAPKK4 is an essential gene for growth and reproduction of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {159}, number = {4}, pages = {492-503}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12533}, pmid = {27935060}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromosome Segregation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Essential ; *Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Reproduction/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are universal signaling modules in eukaryotes, including yeasts, animals and plants. They are involved in responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses, hormones, cell division and developmental processes. A MAPK cascade is composed of three functionally tiered protein kinases, namely MAPK, MAPK kinases (MAPKKs) and MAPK kinase kinases (MAPKKKs). These kinases have been intensively studied for their roles in developmental and physiological processes in various organisms. In this study, a Medicago truncatula MtMAPKK4 mutant with the tobacco retrotransposon Tnt1 insertion was identified using reverse genetics methods. No homozygous progeny could be produced by self-pollination of mapkk4/+ heterozygotes for 5 generations. Heterozygous mapkk4/+ mutant plants exhibited growth retardation, chlorosis symptoms and significantly reduced numbers of infection threads and nodules. The interaction between MtMAPKK4 and MtMAPK3/6 occurred both in yeast and in planta. Green fluorescent protein-tagged MtMAPKK4, MtMAPK3 and MtMAPK6 were all localized to membranes, cytoplasm and nuclei. Expression of MtMAPKK4, MtMAPK3 and MtMAPK6 was detected in various tissues of M. truncatula plants at the nodule maturation stage. Transcript levels of these genes were decreased in roots at the early symbiotic stage.}, } @article {pmid27935020, year = {2017}, author = {Menzel, A and Hempel, S and Klotz, S and Moora, M and Pyšek, P and Rillig, MC and Zobel, M and Kühn, I}, title = {Mycorrhizal status helps explain invasion success of alien plant species.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {98}, number = {1}, pages = {92-102}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.1621}, pmid = {27935020}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Ecology ; Germany ; *Introduced Species ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is still debated whether alien plants benefit from being mycorrhizal, or if engaging in the symbiosis constrains their establishment and spread in new regions. We analyzed the association between mycorrhizal status of alien plant species in Germany and their invasion success. We compared whether the representation of species with different mycorrhizal status (obligate, facultative, or non-mycorrhizal) differed at several stages of the invasion process. We used generalized linear models to explain the occupied geographical range of alien plants, incorporating interactions of mycorrhizal status with plant traits related to morphology, reproduction, and life-history. Non-naturalized aliens did not differ from naturalized aliens in the relative frequency of different mycorrhizal status categories. Mycorrhizal status significantly explained the occupied range of alien plants; with facultative mycorrhizal species inhabiting a larger range than non-mycorrhizal aliens and obligate mycorrhizal plant species taking an intermediate position. Aliens with storage organs, shoot metamorphoses, or specialized structures promoting vegetative dispersal occupied a larger range when being facultative mycorrhizal. We conclude that being mycorrhizal is important for the persistence of aliens in Germany and constitutes an advantage compared to being non-mycorrhizal. Being facultative mycorrhizal seems to be especially advantageous for successful spread, as the flexibility of this mycorrhizal status may enable plants to use a broader set of ecological strategies.}, } @article {pmid27932027, year = {2017}, author = {Lee, JB and Park, KE and Lee, SA and Jang, SH and Eo, HJ and Jang, HA and Kim, CH and Ohbayashi, T and Matsuura, Y and Kikuchi, Y and Futahashi, R and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Gut symbiotic bacteria stimulate insect growth and egg production by modulating hexamerin and vitellogenin gene expression.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {12-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.11.019}, pmid = {27932027}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Eggs ; *Fertility ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Hemolymph/metabolism ; Heteroptera/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Life Cycle Stages ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Tetracycline/administration & dosage ; Vitellogenins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have suggested that gut symbionts modulate insect development and reproduction. However, the mechanisms by which gut symbionts modulate host physiologies and the molecules involved in these changes are unclear. To address these questions, we prepared three different groups of the insect Riptortus pedestris: Burkholderia gut symbiont-colonized (Sym) insects, Burkholderia-non-colonized (Apo) insects, and Burkholderia-depleted (Sym[Burk-]) insects, which were fed tetracycline. When the hemolymph proteins of three insects were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, the hexamerin-α, hexamerin-β and vitellogenin-1 proteins of Sym-adults were highly expressed compared to those of Apo- and Sym[Burk-]-insects. To investigate the expression patterns of these three genes during insect development, we measured the transcriptional levels of these genes. The hexamerin-β gene was specifically expressed at all nymphal stages, and its expression was detected 4-5 days earlier in Sym-insect nymphs than that in Apo- and Sym[Burk-]-insects. However, the hexamerin-α and vitellogenin-1 genes were only expressed in adult females, and they were also detected 6-7 days earlier and were 2-fold higher in Sym-adult females than those in the other insects. Depletion of hexamerin-β by RNA interference in 2nd instar Sym-nymphs delayed adult emergence, whereas hexamerin-α and vitellogenin-1 RNA interference in 5th instar nymphs caused loss of color of the eggs of Sym-insects. These results demonstrate that the Burkholderia gut symbiont modulates host development and egg production by regulating production of these three hemolymph storage proteins.}, } @article {pmid27931748, year = {2017}, author = {Tena, W and Wolde-Meskel, E and Degefu, T and Walley, F}, title = {Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) nodulates with genotypically and phenotypically diverse rhizobia in Ethiopian soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {22-33}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.11.001}, pmid = {27931748}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Ethiopia ; Genes, Essential ; Lens Plant/*microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Forty-eight lentil-nodulating rhizobia were isolated from soil samples collected from diverse agro-ecological locations in Ethiopia, and characterized based on 76 phenotypic traits. Furthermore, 26 representative strains were selected and characterized using multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of core (16S rRNA, recA, atpD, glnII and gyrB) and symbiotic (nodA and nifH) genes. Numerical analysis of phenotypic characteristics showed that the 48 test strains fell into three major distinct clusters. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA genes showed that they belong to the Rhizobium genus. Our phylogenetic reconstruction based on combined gene trees (recA, atpD and glnII) supported three distinct sub-lineages (Clades I-III). While genospecies I and II could be classified with Rhizobium etli and Rhizobium leguminosarum, respectively, genospecies III, might be an unnamed genospecies within the genus Rhizobium. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the symbiosis-related genes supported a single cluster, indicating differences in the evolutionary histories between chromosomal and symbiotic genes. Overall, these results confirmed the presence of a great diversity of lentil-nodulating Rhizobium species in Ethiopia, inviting further exploration. Moreover, the differences in symbiotic effectiveness of the test strains indicated the potential for selecting and using them as inoculants to improve the productivity of lentil in the country.}, } @article {pmid27929718, year = {2016}, author = {Hossain, MS and Shrestha, A and Zhong, S and Miri, M and Austin, RS and Sato, S and Ross, L and Huebert, T and Tromas, A and Torres-Jerez, I and Tang, Y and Udvardi, M and Murray, JD and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Lotus japonicus NF-YA1 Plays an Essential Role During Nodule Differentiation and Targets Members of the SHI/STY Gene Family.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {950-964}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-16-0206-R}, pmid = {27929718}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; CCAAT-Binding Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Chromosome Mapping ; Genes, Reporter ; Lotus/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legume plants engage in intimate relationships with rhizobial bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing nodules, root-derived organs that accommodate the microsymbiont. Members of the Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) gene family, which have undergone significant expansion and functional diversification during plant evolution, are essential for this symbiotic liaison. Acting in a partially redundant manner, NF-Y proteins were shown, previously, to regulate bacterial infection, including selection of a superior rhizobial strain, and to mediate nodule structure formation. However, the exact mechanism by which these transcriptional factors exert their symbiotic functions has remained elusive. By carrying out detailed functional analyses of Lotus japonicus mutants, we demonstrate that LjNF-YA1 becomes indispensable downstream from the initial cortical cell divisions but prior to nodule differentiation, including cell enlargement and vascular bundle formation. Three affiliates of the SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH transcription factor gene family, called STY1, STY2, and STY3, are demonstrated to be among likely direct targets of LjNF-YA1, and our results point to their involvement in nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid27929066, year = {2016}, author = {Yamamoto, S and Maruyama, M and Parker, J}, title = {Evidence for social parasitism of early insect societies by Cretaceous rove beetles.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {13658}, pmid = {27929066}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; R01 GM113000/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Biological Evolution ; *Coleoptera ; Fossils/*anatomy & histology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Social Behavior ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolution of eusociality in ants and termites propelled both insect groups to their modern ecological dominance. Yet, eusociality also fostered the evolution of social parasitism-an adverse symbiosis, in which the superorganismal colonies formed by these insects are infiltrated by a profusion of invertebrate species that target nest resources. Predominant among these are the aleocharine rove beetles (Staphylinidae), a vast and ecologically diverse subfamily with numerous morphologically and behaviourally specialized socially parasitic lineages. Here, we report a fossil aleocharine, Mesosymbion compactus gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber (∼99 million years old), displaying specialized anatomy that is a hallmark of social parasites. Mesosymbion coexisted in the Burmese palaeofauna with stem-group ants and termites that provide the earliest indications of eusociality in both insect groups. We infer that the advent of eusociality led automatically and unavoidably to selection for social parasitism. The antiquity and adaptive flexibility of aleocharines made them among the first organisms to engage in this type of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27928691, year = {2017}, author = {Henry, C and Raivoarisoa, JF and Razafimamonjy, A and Ramanankierana, H and Andrianaivomahefa, P and Ducousso, M and Selosse, MA}, title = {Transfer to forest nurseries significantly affects mycorrhizal community composition of Asteropeia mcphersonii wildings.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {321-330}, pmid = {27928691}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota ; Caryophyllales/*microbiology ; Forestry/methods ; *Forests ; Madagascar ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis is extremely important for tree growth, survival and resistance after transplantation particularly in Madagascar where deforestation is a major concern. The importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis is further increased when soil conditions at the planting site are limiting. To identify technical itineraries capable of improving ecological restoration in Madagascar, we needed to obtain native ectomycorrhizal (ECM) saplings with a wide diversity of ECM fungi. To this end, we transplanted ECM seedlings from the wild (wildlings) to a nursery. Using molecular characterisation of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA, we tested the effect of transplanting Asteropeia mcphersonii wildlings on ECM communities after 8 months of growth in the nursery. With or without the addition of soil from the site where the seedlings were sampled to the nursery substrate, we observed a dramatic change in the composition of fungal communities with a decrease in the ECM infection rate, a tremendous increase in the abundance of an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) taxonomically close to the order Trechisporales and the disappearance of all OTUs of Boletales. Transplanting to the nursery and/or to nursery conditions was shown to be incompatible with the survival and even less with the development in the nursery of most ECM fungi naturally associated with A. mcphersonii wildings.}, } @article {pmid27927992, year = {2017}, author = {Murray, JD and Liu, CW and Chen, Y and Miller, AJ}, title = {Nitrogen sensing in legumes.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {1919-1926}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw405}, pmid = {27927992}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {BB/JJ004553/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L010305/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/genetics/physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) in a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. For this reason, although legume crops can be low yielding and less profitable when compared with cereals, they are frequently included in crop rotations. Grain legumes form only a minor part of most human diets, and legume crops are greatly underutilized. Food security and soil fertility could be significantly improved by greater grain legume usage and increased improvement of a range of grain legumes. One limitation for the use of legumes as a source of N input into agricultural systems is the fact that the formation of N-fixing nodules is suppressed when soils are replete with n. In this review, we report what is known about this process and how soil N supply might be sensed and feed back to regulate nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27925217, year = {2017}, author = {Li, SS and Chang, YY and Chiou, WB}, title = {Things online social networking can take away: Reminders of social networking sites undermine the desirability of offline socializing and pleasures.}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of psychology}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {179-184}, doi = {10.1111/sjop.12348}, pmid = {27925217}, issn = {1467-9450}, mesh = {Adult ; Female ; Humans ; *Internet ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Motivation ; Pleasure ; Psychological Distance ; *Social Networking ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {People are beginning to develop symbiotic relationships with social networking sites (SNSs), which provide users with abundant opportunities for social interaction. We contend that if people perceive SNSs as sources of social connection, the idea of SNSs may reduce the desire to pursue offline social activities and offline pleasures. Experiment 1 demonstrated that priming with SNSs was associated with a weakened desirability of offline social activities and an increased inclination to work alone. Felt relatedness mediated the link between SNS primes and reduced desire to engage in offline social activities. Experiment 2 showed that exposure to SNS primes reduced the desirability of offline socializing and lowered the desire for offline pleasurable experiences as well. Moreover, heavy users were more susceptible to this detrimental effect. We provide the first experimental evidence that the idea of online social networking may modulate users' engagement in offline social activities and offline pleasures. Hence, online social networking may satisfy the need for relatedness but undercut the likelihood of reaping enjoyment from offline social life.}, } @article {pmid27924430, year = {2017}, author = {Delavaux, CS and Camenzind, T and Homeier, J and Jiménez-Paz, R and Ashton, M and Queenborough, SA}, title = {Nutrient enrichment effects on mycorrhizal fungi in an Andean tropical montane Forest.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {311-319}, pmid = {27924430}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecuador ; *Forests ; Fungi ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition are increasing worldwide largely due to increased fertilizer use and fossil fuel combustion. Most work with N and P deposition in natural ecosystems has focused on temperate, highly industrialized, regions. Tropical regions are becoming more developed, releasing large amounts of these nutrients into the atmosphere. Nutrient enrichment in nutrient-poor systems such as tropical montane forest can represent a relatively large shift in nutrient availability, especially for sensitive microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These symbiotic fungi are particularly critical, given their key role in ecosystem processes affecting plant community structure and function.To better understand the consequences of nutrient deposition in plant communities, a long-term nutrient addition experiment was set up in a tropical montane forest in the Andes of southern Ecuador. In this study, we investigated the impacts of 7 years of elevated N and P on AMF root colonization potential (AMF-RCP) through a greenhouse bait plant method in which we quantified root colonization. We also examined the relationship between AMF-RCP and rarefied tree diversity.After 7 years of nutrient addition, AMF-RCP was negatively correlated with soil P, positively correlated with soil N, and positively correlated with rarefied tree diversity. Our results show that AMF in this tropical montane forest are directly affected by soil N and P concentrations, but may also be indirectly impacted by shifts in rarefied tree diversity. Our research also highlights the need to fully understand the benefits and drawbacks of using different sampling methods (e.g., AMF-RCP versus direct root sampling) to robustly examine AMF-plant interactions in the future.}, } @article {pmid27920768, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, Y and Yang, Q and Ling, J and Van Nostrand, JD and Shi, Z and Zhou, J and Dong, J}, title = {The Shifts of Diazotrophic Communities in Spring and Summer Associated with Coral Galaxea astreata, Pavona decussata, and Porites lutea.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1870}, pmid = {27920768}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The coral holobiont often resides in oligotrophic waters; both coral cells and their symbiotic dinoflagellates possess ammonium assimilation enzymes and potentially benefit from the nitrogen fixation of coral-associated diazotrophs. However, the seasonal dynamics of coral-associated diazotrophs are not well characterized. Here, the seasonal variations of diazotrophic communities associated with three corals, Galaxea astreata, Pavona decussata, and Porites lutea, were studied using nifH gene amplicon pyrosequencing techniques. Our results revealed a great diversity of coral-associated diazotrophs. nifH sequences related to Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria were ubiquitous and dominant in all corals in two seasons. In contrast with the coral P. decussata, both G. astreata and P. lutea showed significant seasonal changes in the diazotrophic communities and nifH gene abundance. Variable diazotroph groups accounted for a range from 11 to 49% within individual coral samples. Most of the variable diazotrophic groups from P. decussata were species-specific, however, the majority of overlapping variable groups in G. astreata and P. lutea showed the same seasonal variation characteristics. Rhodopseudomonas palustris- and Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus-affiliated sequences were relatively abundant in the summer, whereas a nifH sequence related to Halorhodospira halophila was relatively abundant in spring G. astreata and P. lutea. The seasonal variations of all diazotrophic communities were significantly correlated with the seasonal shifts of ammonium and nitrate, suggesting that diazotrophs play an important role in the nitrogen cycle of the coral holobiont.}, } @article {pmid27919551, year = {2017}, author = {Hernandez-Agreda, A and Gates, RD and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {Defining the Core Microbiome in Corals' Microbial Soup.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {125-140}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2016.11.003}, pmid = {27919551}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*isolation & purification ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Corals are considered one of the most complex microbial biospheres studied to date, hosting thousands of bacterial phylotypes in species-specific associations. There are, however, substantial knowledge gaps and challenges in understanding the functional significance of bacterial communities and bacterial symbioses of corals. The ubiquitous nature of some bacterial interactions has only recently been investigated and an accurate differentiation between the healthy (symbiotic) and unhealthy (dysbiotic) microbial state has not yet been determined. Here we review the complexity of the coral holobiont, coral microbiome diversity, and recently proposed bacterial symbioses of corals. We provide insight into coupling the core microbiome framework with community ecology principals, and draw on the theoretical insights from other complex systems, to build a framework to aid in deciphering ecologically significant microbes within a corals' microbial soup.}, } @article {pmid27918622, year = {2017}, author = {Singh, G and Dal Grande, F and Divakar, PK and Otte, J and Crespo, A and Schmitt, I}, title = {Fungal-algal association patterns in lichen symbiosis linked to macroclimate.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {1}, pages = {317-329}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14366}, pmid = {27918622}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Climate ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Both macroclimate and evolutionary events may influence symbiont association and diversity patterns. Here we assess how climatic factors and evolutionary events shape fungal-algal association patterns in the widely distributed lichen-forming fungal genus Protoparmelia. Multilocus phylogenies of fungal and algal partners were generated using 174 specimens. Coalescent-based species delimitation analysis suggested that 23 fungal hosts are associating with 20 algal species. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to infer how fungal-algal association patterns varied with climate. Fungi associated with one to three algal partners whereas algae accepted one to five fungal partners. Both fungi and algae were more specific, associating with fewer partners, in the warmer climates. Interaction with more than one partner was more frequent in cooler climates for both the partners. Cophylogenetic analyses suggest congruent fungal-algal phylogenies. Host switch was a more common event in warm climates, whereas failure of the photobiont to diverge with its fungal host was more frequent in cooler climates. We conclude that both environmental factors and evolutionary events drive fungal and algal evolution in Protoparmelia. The processes leading to phylogenetic congruence of fungi and algae are different in different macrohabitats in our study system. Hence, closely related species inhabiting diverse habitats may follow different evolutionary pathways.}, } @article {pmid27918247, year = {2017}, author = {Nelson, MS and Chun, CL and Sadowsky, MJ}, title = {Type IV Effector Proteins Involved in the Medicago-Sinorhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {28-34}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-16-0211-R}, pmid = {27918247}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {DBI-1237993//NSF/International ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Luteolin/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Reproducibility of Results ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Synteny/genetics ; Up-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study, we investigated genetic elements of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) found in Sinorhizobium spp. and the role they play in symbiosis. Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae each contain a putative T4SS similar to that used by Agrobacterium tumefaciens during pathogenesis. The Cre reporter assay for translocation system was used to validate potential effector proteins. Both S. meliloti and S. medicae contained the effector protein TfeA, which was translocated into the host plant. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of a nod box involved in transcriptional activation of symbiosis-related genes, upstream of the transcriptional regulator (virG) in the Sinorhizobium T4SS. Replicate quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that luteolin, released by roots and seeds of Medicago truncatula, upregulated transcription of tfeA and virG. Mutations in the T4SS apparatus or tfeA alone resulted in reduced numbers of nodules formed on M. truncatula genotypes. In addition, S. meliloti KH46c, which contains a deletion in the T4SS, was less competitive for nodule formation when coinoculated with an equal number of cells of the wild-type strain. To our knowledge, TfeA is the first T4SS effector protein identified in Sinorhizobium spp. Our results indicate that Sinorhizobium i) uses a T4SS during initiation of symbiosis with Medicago spp., and ii) alters Medicago cells in planta during symbiosis. This study also offers additional bioinformatic evidence that several different rhizobial species may use the T4SS in symbiosis with other legumes.}, } @article {pmid27918078, year = {2017}, author = {Barker, DG and Chabaud, M and Russo, G and Genre, A}, title = {Nuclear Ca[2+] signalling in arbuscular mycorrhizal and actinorhizal endosymbioses: on the trail of novel underground signals.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {2}, pages = {533-538}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14350}, pmid = {27918078}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Contents 533 I. 533 II. 534 III. 536 IV. 536 537 References 537 SUMMARY: Root endosymbioses are beneficial associations formed between terrestrial plants and either bacterial or fungal micro-organisms. A common feature of these intracellular symbioses is the requirement for mutual recognition between the two partners before host-regulated microbial entry. As part of this molecular dialogue, symbiosis-specific microbial factors set in motion a highly conserved plant signal transduction pathway, of which a central component is the activation of sustained nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations in target cells of the host epidermis. Here, we focus on recent findings concerning this crucial Ca[2+] -dependent signalling step for endosymbiotic associations involving either arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or nitrogen-fixing Frankia actinomycetes, and in particular how this knowledge is contributing to the identification of the respective microbial factors.}, } @article {pmid27917888, year = {2016}, author = {Tremblay, P and Gori, A and Maguer, JF and Hoogenboom, M and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Heterotrophy promotes the re-establishment of photosynthate translocation in a symbiotic coral after heat stress.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {38112}, pmid = {27917888}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/parasitology/*physiology ; Autotrophic Processes/physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic/physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Climate Change ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Heat-Shock Response/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Light ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic scleractinian corals are particularly affected by climate change stress and respond by bleaching (losing their symbiotic dinoflagellate partners). Recently, the energetic status of corals is emerging as a particularly important factor that determines the corals' vulnerability to heat stress. However, detailed studies of coral energetic that trace the flow of carbon from symbionts to host are still sparse. The present study thus investigates the impact of heat stress on the nutritional interactions between dinoflagellates and coral Stylophora pistillata maintained under auto- and heterotrophy. First, we demonstrated that the percentage of autotrophic carbon retained in the symbionts was significantly higher during heat stress than under non-stressful conditions, in both fed and unfed colonies. This higher photosynthate retention in symbionts translated into lower rates of carbon translocation, which required the coral host to use tissue energy reserves to sustain its respiratory needs. As calcification rates were positively correlated to carbon translocation, a significant decrease in skeletal growth was observed during heat stress. This study also provides evidence that heterotrophic nutrient supply enhances the re-establishment of normal nutritional exchanges between the two symbiotic partners in the coral S. pistillata, but it did not mitigate the effects of temperature stress on coral calcification.}, } @article {pmid27917168, year = {2016}, author = {Grote, J and Krysciak, D and Petersen, K and Güllert, S and Schmeisser, C and Förstner, KU and Krishnan, HB and Schwalbe, H and Kubatova, N and Streit, WR}, title = {The Absence of the N-acyl-homoserine-lactone Autoinducer Synthase Genes traI and ngrI Increases the Copy Number of the Symbiotic Plasmid in Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1858}, pmid = {27917168}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant-released flavonoids induce the transcription of symbiotic genes in rhizobia and one of the first bacterial responses is the synthesis of so called Nod factors. They are responsible for the initial root hair curling during onset of root nodule development. This signal exchange is believed to be essential for initiating the plant symbiosis with rhizobia affiliated with the Alphaproteobacteria. Here, we provide evidence that in the broad host range strain Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234 the complete lack of quorum sensing molecules results in an elevated copy number of its symbiotic plasmid (pNGR234a). This in turn triggers the expression of symbiotic genes and the production of Nod factors in the absence of plant signals. Therefore, increasing the copy number of specific plasmids could be a widespread mechanism of specialized bacterial populations to bridge gaps in signaling cascades.}, } @article {pmid27916977, year = {2017}, author = {Brodin, P and Davis, MM}, title = {Human immune system variation.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {21-29}, pmid = {27916977}, issn = {1474-1741}, support = {U19 AI057229/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI090019/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Immune System/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The human immune system is highly variable between individuals but relatively stable over time within a given person. Recent conceptual and technological advances have enabled systems immunology analyses, which reveal the composition of immune cells and proteins in populations of healthy individuals. The range of variation and some specific influences that shape an individual's immune system is now becoming clearer. Human immune systems vary as a consequence of heritable and non-heritable influences, but symbiotic and pathogenic microbes and other non-heritable influences explain most of this variation. Understanding when and how such influences shape the human immune system is key for defining metrics of immunological health and understanding the risk of immune-mediated and infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid27916707, year = {2017}, author = {Derrien, M and Veiga, P}, title = {Rethinking Diet to Aid Human-Microbe Symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {100-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2016.09.011}, pmid = {27916707}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {*Diet ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Life Style ; Probiotics/*analysis ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The spread of the Western lifestyle has been accompanied by microbial changes thought to underlie the emergence of chronic, nontransmissible, immune-related diseases. The past decade has seen the unprecedented development of therapies for 'replenishing' the microbiota of sick individuals. However, functional and ecological solutions helping the host and the gut microbiota to cope with the ecological stressors of modern life are still lacking. In this review, we discuss how recent advances in gut microbiome science are leading to the identification of microbe-derived and health-relevant metabolites. These molecules will guide the selection of the next-generation of probiotics and dietary recommendations, which should also take the resident gut microbiota into account, to optimise efficacy. These solutions for maintaining a well-functioning gut ecosystem and promoting good health should be customised, palatable, and as widely accessible as possible.}, } @article {pmid27916552, year = {2017}, author = {Rey, T and Dumas, B}, title = {Plenty Is No Plague: Streptomyces Symbiosis with Crops.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {30-37}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2016.10.008}, pmid = {27916552}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Control Agents/metabolism ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Streptomyces/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces spp. constitute a major clade of the phylum Actinobacteria. These Gram-positive, filamentous prokaryotes are ubiquitous in soils and marine sediments, and are commonly found in the rhizosphere or inside plant roots. Plant-interacting Streptomyces have received limited attention, in contrast to Streptomyces spp. extensively investigated for decades in medicine given their rich potential for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Recent genomic, metabolomic, and biotechnological advances have produced key insights into Streptomyces spp., paving the way to the use of their metabolites in agriculture. In this Opinion article we propose how Streptomyces spp. could dominate future aspects of crop nutrition and protection. Risks and benefits of the use of these microorganisms in agriculture are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid27915037, year = {2017}, author = {Doumayrou, J and Sheber, M and Bonning, BC and Miller, WA}, title = {Quantification of Pea enation mosaic virus 1 and 2 during infection of Pisum sativum by one step real-time RT-PCR.}, journal = {Journal of virological methods}, volume = {240}, number = {}, pages = {63-68}, doi = {10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.11.013}, pmid = {27915037}, issn = {1879-0984}, mesh = {DNA Primers ; Genes, Essential ; Luteoviridae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Peas/*virology ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; *Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tombusviridae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {Pea enation mosaic virus 1 (PEMV1) and Pea enation mosaic virus 2 (PEMV2) are two viruses in an obligate symbiosis that cause pea enation mosaic disease mainly in plants in the Fabaceae family. This virus system is a valuable model to investigate plant virus replication, movement and vector transmission. Thus, here we describe growth conditions, virus detection methods, and virus accumulation behavior. To measure the accumulation and movement of PEMV1 and PEMV2 in plants during the course of infection, we developed a quantitative real-time one-step reverse transcription PCR procedure using the SYBR-green[®] technology. Viral primers were designed that anneal to conserved but distinct regions in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of each virus. Moreover, the normalization of viral accumulation was performed to correct for sample-to-sample variation by designing primers to two different Pisum sativum housekeeping genes: actin and β-tubulin. Transcript levels for these housekeeping genes did not change significantly in response to PEMV infection. Conditions were established for maximum PCR efficiency for each gene, and quantification using QuBit[®] technology. Both viruses reached maximum accumulation around 21days post-inoculation of pea plants. These results provide valuable tools and knowledge to allow reproducible studies of this emerging model virus system virus complex.}, } @article {pmid27914761, year = {2017}, author = {Petrova, MI and Reid, G and Vaneechoutte, M and Lebeer, S}, title = {Lactobacillus iners: Friend or Foe?.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {182-191}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2016.11.007}, pmid = {27914761}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Bacterial Toxins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/genetics ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Humans ; Lactobacillus/*classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Microbiota/genetics ; Vagina/*microbiology ; Vaginosis, Bacterial/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The vaginal microbial community is typically characterized by abundant lactobacilli. Lactobacillus iners, a fairly recently detected species, is frequently present in the vaginal niche. However, the role of this species in vaginal health is unclear, since it can be detected in normal conditions as well as during vaginal dysbiosis, such as bacterial vaginosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in bacterial diversity and lack of typical lactobacilli. Compared to other Lactobacillus species, L. iners has more complex nutritional requirements and a Gram-variable morphology. L. iners has an unusually small genome (ca. 1 Mbp), indicative of a symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle, in contrast to other lactobacilli that show niche flexibility and genomes of up to 3-4 Mbp. The presence of specific L. iners genes, such as those encoding iron-sulfur proteins and unique σ-factors, reflects a high degree of niche specification. The genome of L. iners strains also encodes inerolysin, a pore-forming toxin related to vaginolysin of Gardnerella vaginalis. Possibly, this organism may have clonal variants that in some cases promote a healthy vagina, and in other cases are associated with dysbiosis and disease. Future research should examine this friend or foe relationship with the host.}, } @article {pmid27913074, year = {2017}, author = {Carlier, A and Cnockaert, M and Fehr, L and Vandamme, P and Eberl, L}, title = {Draft genome and description of Orrella dioscoreae gen. nov. sp. nov., a new species of Alcaligenaceae isolated from leaf acumens of Dioscorea sansibarensis.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {11-21}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.10.002}, pmid = {27913074}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Alcaligenaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Dioscorea/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Madagascar ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Dioscorea sansibarensis is a monocot species of inedible yam native of tropical Africa and Madagascar. Leaves of D. sansibarensis feature prominent acumen glands that are densely colonized by bacteria. We describe here the isolation and characterization of bacteria from leaf glands of D. sansibarensis specimens obtained from various botanical gardens. Phylogenetic and phenotypic characterizations indicate that the isolates belong to a novel genus and species of the Alcaligenaceae family for which we propose the name Orrella dioscoreae gen. nov. sp. nov., with type strain LMG 29303[T] [=CIP 111009[T]]. Strains isolated from different plants show limited phylogenetic and phenotypic diversity, indicating specific and tight association of the bacteria with the host plant. The analysis of the draft genome of strain LMG 29303[T] reveals features consistent with a recently evolved plant-associated lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid27908637, year = {2017}, author = {Raja, RK and Aiswarya, D and Gulcu, B and Raja, M and Perumal, P and Sivaramakrishnan, S and Kaya, HK and Hazir, S}, title = {Response of three cyprinid fish species to the Scavenger Deterrent Factor produced by the mutualistic bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {40-49}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2016.11.013}, pmid = {27908637}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; *Cypriniformes ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/microbiology ; Moths/*parasitology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Nematode Infections/*veterinary ; Photorhabdus ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic bacteria, Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema, respectively, produce a compound(s) called the Scavenging Deterrent Factor (SDF). SDF deters a number of terrestrial insect scavengers and predators and one bird species from feeding on host insects killed by the nematode-bacterium complex but has not been tested against aquatic vertebrates. Moreover, the Heterorhabditis-Photorhabdus association is believed to have evolved in an aquatic environment. Accordingly, we hypothesized that SDF will deter fish from feeding on nematode-killed insects and tested the responses of three omnivorous fresh water fish species, Devario aequipinnatus, Alburnoides bipunctatus, and Squalius pursakensis, to SDF in the laboratory. When the fish were exposed to Galleria mellonella larvae killed by the Heterorhabditis- or Steinernema-bacterium complex at 2 or 4days post-infection, all three fish species made several attempts to consume the cadavers but subsequently rejected them. However, all fish species consumed freeze-killed control larvae. In a choice test, when D. aequipinnatus or A. bipunctatus were offered a pair of nematode-killed larvae, both fish species rejected these cadavers; when offered a nematode-killed larva and a freeze-killed larva, both fish species consumed the freeze-killed larva but not the nematode-killed one. In further tests with D. aequipinnatus, there was no significant difference in the number of 2-day-old Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki-killed (Btk) larvae consumed compared to freeze-killed larvae, but significantly fewer 4-day-old Btk-killed larvae were consumed compared to freeze-killed larvae. When D. aequipinnatus was fed G. mellonella larvae killed by the symbiotic bacteria, the fish rejected the cadavers. When given freeze-killed or nematode-killed mosquito (Aedes aegypti) larvae, the fish consumed significantly more of the former larvae (99%) compared to the latter (55%). When D. aequipinnatus was placed in a symbiotic cell-free supernatant for 18h, a significant reduction in consumption of freeze-killed larvae compared to cell-free Btk or control broth supernatant was observed. We showed that SDF protects the nematode-killed insects from being consumed by omnivorous fishes and suggests that they will have minimal effects on recycling of EPNs in the aquatic environment.}, } @article {pmid27908589, year = {2017}, author = {Shapira, M}, title = {Adaptation from Within or from Without: A Reply to Rodrigo et al.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {85}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2016.11.003}, pmid = {27908589}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid27904921, year = {2017}, author = {Brígido, C and Glick, BR and Oliveira, S}, title = {Survey of Plant Growth-Promoting Mechanisms in Native Portuguese Chickpea Mesorhizobium Isolates.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {73}, number = {4}, pages = {900-915}, pmid = {27904921}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biodiversity ; Cicer/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Cytokinins/biosynthesis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Geography ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Siderophores/biosynthesis ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia may possess other plant growth-promoting mechanisms besides nitrogen fixation. These mechanisms and the tolerance to different environmental factors, such as metals, may contribute to the use of rhizobia inocula to establish a successful legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Our goal was to characterize a collection of native Portuguese chickpea Mesorhizobium isolates in terms of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and tolerance to different metals as well as to investigate whether these characteristics are related to the biogeography of the isolates. The occurrence of six PGP mechanisms and tolerance to five metals were evaluated in 61 chickpea Mesorhizobium isolates previously obtained from distinct provinces in Portugal and assigned to different species clusters. Chickpea microsymbionts show high diversity in terms of PGP traits as well as in their ability to tolerate different metals. All isolates synthesized indoleacetic acid, 50 isolates produced siderophores, 19 isolates solubilized phosphate, 12 isolates displayed acid phosphatase activity, and 22 exhibited cytokinin activity. Most isolates tolerated Zn or Pb but not Ni, Co, or Cu. Several associations between specific PGP mechanisms and the province of origin and species clusters of the isolates were found. Our data suggests that the isolate's tolerance to metals and ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate and to produce IAA may be responsible for the persistence and distribution of the native Portuguese chickpea Mesorhizobium species. Furthermore, this study revealed several chickpea microsymbionts with potential as PGP rhizobacteria as well as for utilization in phytoremediation strategies.}, } @article {pmid27902872, year = {2017}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A and Szabó, G and Simon, JC and Horn, M and Latorre, A}, title = {Happens in the best of subfamilies: establishment and repeated replacements of co-obligate secondary endosymbionts within Lachninae aphids.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {393-408}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13633}, pmid = {27902872}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; Buchnera/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Virtually all aphids maintain an obligate mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria from the Buchnera genus, which produce essential nutrients for their aphid hosts. Most aphids from the Lachninae subfamily have been consistently found to house additional endosymbionts, mainly Serratia symbiotica. This apparent dependence on secondary endosymbionts was proposed to have been triggered by the loss of the riboflavin biosynthetic capability by Buchnera in the Lachninae last common ancestor. However, an integral large-scale analysis of secondary endosymbionts in the Lachninae is still missing, hampering the interpretation of the evolutionary and genomic analyses of these endosymbionts. Here, we analysed the endosymbionts of selected representatives from seven different Lachninae genera and nineteen species, spanning four tribes, both by FISH (exploring the symbionts' morphology and tissue tropism) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We demonstrate that all analysed aphids possess dual symbiotic systems, and while most harbour S. symbiotica, some have undergone symbiont replacement by other phylogenetically-distinct bacterial taxa. We found that these secondary associates display contrasting cell shapes and tissue tropism, and some appear to be lineage-specific. We propose a scenario for symbiont establishment in the Lachninae, followed by changes in the symbiont's tissue tropism and symbiont replacement events, thereby highlighting the extraordinary versatility of host-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid27902438, year = {2017}, author = {Dupuy, P and Gourion, B and Sauviac, L and Bruand, C}, title = {DNA double-strand break repair is involved in desiccation resistance of Sinorhizobium meliloti, but is not essential for its symbiotic interaction with Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {163}, number = {3}, pages = {333-342}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000400}, pmid = {27902438}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; *DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA End-Joining Repair/*genetics ; *Desiccation ; Homologous Recombination/*genetics ; Ku Autoantigen/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rec A Recombinases/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of legume plants, is exposed to numerous stress conditions in nature, some of which cause the formation of harmful DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In particular, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reactive nitrogen species (RNS) produced during symbiosis, and the desiccation occurring in dry soils, are conditions which induce DSBs. Two major systems of DSB repair are known in S. meliloti: homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). However, their role in the resistance to ROS, RNS and desiccation has never been examined in this bacterial species, and the importance of DSB repair in the symbiotic interaction has not been properly evaluated. Here, we constructed S. meliloti strains deficient in HR (by deleting the recA gene) or in NHEJ (by deleting the four ku genes) or both. Interestingly, we observed that ku and/or recA genes are involved in S. meliloti resistance to ROS and RNS. Nevertheless, an S. meliloti strain deficient in both HR and NHEJ was not altered in its ability to establish and maintain an efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Medicago truncatula, showing that rhizobial DSB repair is not essential for this process. This result suggests either that DSB formation in S. meliloti is efficiently prevented during symbiosis or that DSBs are not detrimental for symbiosis efficiency. In contrast, we found for the first time that both recA and ku genes are involved in S. meliloti resistance to desiccation, suggesting that DSB repair could be important for rhizobium persistence in the soil.}, } @article {pmid27902255, year = {2017}, author = {Bournaud, C and Moulin, L and Cnockaert, M and Faria, S and Prin, Y and Severac, D and Vandamme, P}, title = {Paraburkholderia piptadeniae sp. nov. and Paraburkholderia ribeironis sp. nov., two root-nodulating symbiotic species of Piptadenia gonoacantha in Brazil.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {432-440}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.001648}, pmid = {27902255}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Brazil ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During a survey of root-nodulating symbionts of Mimosoid species in the south-east region of Brazil, eight Paraburkholderia isolates were obtained from nodules of the legume species Piptadenia gonoacantha, either from the field or following a soil trapping method with the same plant host. 16S rRNA gene as well as recA and gyrB phylogenetic markers placed these strains in two new clades within the genus Burkholderia sensu lato. DNA-DNA hybridization values and analyses of average nucleotide identities of the whole genome sequence of selected strains in each clade (STM 7183 and STM 7296) showed that the two clades represented novel species of the genus Paraburkholderia. All eight isolates were further characterized using DNA base content determination, chemotaxonomic and biochemical profiling and symbiotic properties, which allowed to distinguish the novel species from known diazotrophic species of the genus Paraburkholderia. Based on genomic and phenotypic data, the names Paraburkholderia piptadeniae sp. nov. with type strain STM 7183T (=DSM 101189T=LMG 29163T) and Paraburkholderia ribeironis sp. nov. with type strain STM 7296T (=DSM 101188T=LMG 29351T) are proposed.}, } @article {pmid27900594, year = {2017}, author = {Nicholson, BA and Jones, MD}, title = {Early-successional ectomycorrhizal fungi effectively support extracellular enzyme activities and seedling nitrogen accumulation in mature forests.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {247-260}, pmid = {27900594}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Abies/metabolism/*microbiology ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Biodiversity ; Forests ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*enzymology/growth & development ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seasons ; Seedlings/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {After stand-replacing disturbance, regenerating conifer seedlings become colonized by different ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) than the locally adapted EMF communities present on seedlings in mature forests. We studied whether EMF species that colonized subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) seedlings in clearcuts differed from those that colonized seedlings in adjacent mature forests with respect to mycorrhizoplane extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) and N status of the seedlings. We tested two alternate hypotheses: (1) that EEAs would differ between the two EMF communities, with higher activities associated with forest-origin communities, and (2) that acclimation to soil environment was considerable enough that EEAs would be determined primarily by the soil type in which the ectomycorrhizas were growing. Naturally colonized fir seedlings were reciprocally transplanted between clearcuts and forests, carrying different EMF communities with them. EEAs were influenced more by destination environment than by EMF community. EEAs were as high in early-successional as in late-successional communities in both destination environments. Buds of clearcut-origin seedlings had the same or higher N contents as forest seedlings after a growing season in either environment. These results indicate that (i) symbiotic EMF and/or their associated microbial communities demonstrate substantial ability to acclimate to new field environments; (ii) the ability to produce organic matter-degrading enzymes is not a trait that necessarily distinguishes early- and late-successional EMF communities in symbiosis; (iii) early-successional EMF are as capable of supporting seedling N accumulation in forest soils as late-successional EMF; and (iv) disturbed ecosystems where early-successional EMF are present should have high resilience for organic matter degradation.}, } @article {pmid27900439, year = {2017}, author = {González, O and Ortíz-Castro, R and Díaz-Pérez, C and Díaz-Pérez, AL and Magaña-Dueñas, V and López-Bucio, J and Campos-García, J}, title = {Non-ribosomal Peptide Synthases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Play a Role in Cyclodipeptide Biosynthesis, Quorum-Sensing Regulation, and Root Development in a Plant Host.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {616-629}, pmid = {27900439}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*microbiology ; Dipeptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Indoles/metabolism ; Peptide Biosynthesis, Nucleic Acid-Independent/*genetics ; Peptides, Cyclic/genetics/*metabolism ; Piperazines/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*embryology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Pyocyanine/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Diverse molecules mediate cross-kingdom communication between bacteria and their eukaryotic partners and determine pathogenic or symbiotic relationships. N-acyl-L-homoserine lactone-dependent quorum-sensing signaling represses the biosynthesis of bacterial cyclodipeptides (CDPs) that act as auxin signal mimics in the host plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In this work, we performed bioinformatics, biochemical, and plant growth analyses to identify non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are involved in CDP synthesis. A reverse genetics strategy allowed the identification of the genes encoding putative multi-modular-NRPS (MM-NRPS). Mutations in these genes affected the synthesis of the CDPs cyclo(L-Pro-L-Val), cyclo(L-Pro-L-Leu), and cyclo(L-Pro-L-Tyr), while showing wild-type-like levels of virulence factors, such as violacein, elastase, and pyocyanin. When analyzing the bioactivity of purified, naturally produced CDPs, it was found that cyclo(L-Pro-L-Tyr) and cyclo(L-Pro-L-Val) were capable of antagonizing quorum-sensing-LasR (QS-LasR)-dependent signaling in a contrasting manner in the cell-free supernatants of the selected NRPS mutants, which showed QS induction. Using a bacteria-plant interaction system, we further show that the pvdJ, ambB, and pchE P. aeruginosa mutants failed to repress primary root growth, but improved root branching in A. thaliana seedlings. These results indicated that the CDP production in P. aeruginosa depended on the functional MM-NRPS, which influences quorum-sensing of bacteria and plays a role in root architecture remodeling.}, } @article {pmid27899928, year = {2016}, author = {Guillotin, B and Couzigou, JM and Combier, JP}, title = {NIN Is Involved in the Regulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1704}, pmid = {27899928}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an intimate and ancient symbiosis found between most of terrestrial plants and fungi from the Glomeromycota family. Later during evolution, the establishment of the nodulation between legume plants and soil bacteria known as rhizobia, involved several genes of the signaling pathway previously implicated for AM symbiosis. For the past years, the identification of the genes belonging to this Common Symbiotic Signaling Pathway have been mostly done on nodulation. Among the different genes already well identified as required for nodulation, we focused our attention on the involvement of Nodule Inception (NIN) in AM symbiosis. We show here that NIN expression is induced during AM symbiosis, and that the Medicago truncatula nin mutant is less colonized than the wild-type M. truncatula strain. Moreover, nin mutant displays a defect in the ability to be infected by the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. This work brings a new evidence of the common genes involved in overlapping signaling pathways of both nodulation and in AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27899920, year = {2016}, author = {Zhu, C and Ling, N and Guo, J and Wang, M and Guo, S and Shen, Q}, title = {Impacts of Fertilization Regimes on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) Community Composition Were Correlated with Organic Matter Composition in Maize Rhizosphere Soil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1840}, pmid = {27899920}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The understanding of the response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community composition to fertilization is of great significance in sustainable agriculture. However, how fertilization influences AMF diversity and composition is not well-established yet. A field experiment located in northeast China in typical black soil (Chernozem) was conducted and high-throughput sequencing approach was used to investigate the effects of different fertilizations on the variation of AMF community in the rhizosphere soil of maize crop. The results showed that AMF diversity in the maize rhizosphere was significantly altered by different fertilization regimes. As revealed by redundancy analysis, the application of organic manure was the most important factor impacting AMF community composition between samples with and without organic manure, followed by N fertilizer and P fertilizer inputs. Moreover, the organic matter composition in the rhizosphere, determined by GC-MS, was significantly altered by the organic manure amendment. Many of the chemical components displayed significant relationships with the AMF community composition according to the Mantel test, among those, 2-ethylnaphthalene explained the highest percentage (54.2%) of the variation. The relative contents of 2-ethylnaphthalene and 2, 6, 10-trimethyltetradecane had a negative correlation with Glomus relative abundance, while the relative content of 3-methylbiphenyl displayed a positive correlation with Rhizophagus. The co-occurrence patterns in treatments with and without organic manure amendment were analyzed, and more hubs were detected in the network of soils with organic manure amendment. Additionally, three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to Glomerales were identified as hubs in all treatments, indicating these OTUs likely occupied broad ecological niches and were always active for mediating AMF species interaction in the maize rhizosphere. Taken together, impacts of fertilization regimes on AMF community composition were correlated with organic matter composition in maize rhizosphere soil and the application of manure could activate more AMF species to interact with other species in the maize rhizosphere. This knowledge can be valuable in regulating the symbiotic system of plants and AMF, maintaining the health and high yields of crops and providing a primary basis for rational fertilization.}, } @article {pmid27896028, year = {2016}, author = {Neubauer, EF and Poole, AZ and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {The scavenger receptor repertoire in six cnidarian species and its putative role in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2692}, pmid = {27896028}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Many cnidarians engage in a mutualism with endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates that forms the basis of the coral reef ecosystem. Interpartner interaction and regulation includes involvement of the host innate immune system. Basal metazoans, including cnidarians have diverse and complex innate immune repertoires that are just beginning to be described. Scavenger receptors (SR) are a diverse superfamily of innate immunity genes that recognize a broad array of microbial ligands and participate in phagocytosis of invading microbes. The superfamily includes subclades named SR-A through SR-I that are categorized based on the arrangement of sequence domains including the scavenger receptor cysteine rich (SRCR), the C-type lectin (CTLD) and the CD36 domains. Previous functional and gene expression studies on cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis have implicated SR-like proteins in interpartner communication and regulation. In this study, we characterized the SR repertoire from a combination of genomic and transcriptomic resources from six cnidarian species in the Class Anthozoa. We combined these bioinformatic analyses with functional experiments using the SR inhibitor fucoidan to explore a role for SRs in cnidarian symbiosis and immunity. Bioinformatic searches revealed a large diversity of SR-like genes that resembled SR-As, SR-Bs, SR-Es and SR-Is. SRCRs, CTLDs and CD36 domains were identified in multiple sequences in combinations that were highly homologous to vertebrate SRs as well as in proteins with novel domain combinations. Phylogenetic analyses of CD36 domains of the SR-B-like sequences from a diversity of metazoans grouped cnidarian with bilaterian sequences separate from other basal metazoans. All cnidarian sequences grouped together with moderate support in a subclade separately from bilaterian sequences. Functional experiments were carried out on the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida that engages in a symbiosis with Symbiodinium minutum (clade B1). Experimental blocking of the SR ligand binding site with the inhibitor fucoidan reduced the ability of S. minutum to colonize A. pallida suggesting that host SRs play a role in host-symbiont recognition. In addition, incubation of symbiotic anemones with fucoidan elicited an immune response, indicating that host SRs function in immune modulation that results in host tolerance of the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid27895889, year = {2016}, author = {Lu, HL and Chang, CC and Wilson, AC}, title = {Amino acid transporters implicated in endocytosis of Buchnera during symbiont transmission in the pea aphid.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {24}, pmid = {27895889}, issn = {2041-9139}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many insects host their obligate, maternally transmitted symbiotic bacteria in specialized cells called bacteriocytes. One of the best-studied insect nutritional endosymbioses is that of the aphid and its endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Aphids and Buchnera are metabolically and developmentally integrated, but the molecular mechanisms underlying Buchnera transmission and coordination with aphid development remain largely unknown. Previous work using electron microscopy to study aphid asexual embryogenesis has revealed that Buchnera transmission involves exocytosis from a maternal bacteriocyte followed by endocytotic uptake by a blastula. While the importance of exo- and endocytic cellular processes for symbiont transmission is clear, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these processes are not known. Here, we shed light on the molecular mechanisms that regulate Buchnera transmission and developmental integration.

RESULTS: We present the developmental atlas of ACYPI000536 and ACYPI008904 mRNAs during asexual embryogenesis in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Immediately before Buchnera invasion, transcripts of both genes were detected by whole-mount in situ hybridization in the posterior syncytial nuclei of late blastula embryos. Following Buchnera invasion, expression of both genes was identified in the region occupied by Buchnera throughout embryogenesis. Notably during Buchnera migration, expression of both genes was not concomitant with the entirety of the bacterial mass but rather expression colocalized with Buchnera in the anterior region of the bacterial mass. In addition, we found that ACYPI000536 was expressed in nuclei at the leading edge of the bacterial mass, joining the bacterial mass in subsequent developmental stages. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR suggested that early in development both transcripts were maternally provisioned to embryos.

CONCLUSIONS: We venture that ACYPI000536 and ACYPI008904 function as nutrient sensors at the site of symbiont invasion to facilitate TOR-pathway-mediated endocytosis of Buchnera by the aphid blastula. Our data support earlier reports of bacteriocyte determination involving a two-step recruitment process but suggest that the second wave of recruitment occurs earlier than previously described. Finally, our work highlights that bacteriocyte-enriched amino acid transporter paralogs have additionally been retained to play novel developmental roles in both symbiont recruitment and bacteriome development.}, } @article {pmid27895587, year = {2016}, author = {Su, D and Nie, Y and Zhu, A and Chen, Z and Wu, P and Zhang, L and Luo, M and Sun, Q and Cai, L and Lai, Y and Xiao, Z and Duan, Z and Zheng, S and Wu, G and Hu, R and Tsukamoto, H and Lugea, A and Liu, Z and Pandol, SJ and Han, YP}, title = {Vitamin D Signaling through Induction of Paneth Cell Defensins Maintains Gut Microbiota and Improves Metabolic Disorders and Hepatic Steatosis in Animal Models.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {498}, pmid = {27895587}, issn = {1664-042X}, support = {I01 BX001484/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; I01 BX001991/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; P01 CA163200/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK108314/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK048522/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Metabolic syndrome (MetS), characterized as obesity, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), is associated with vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in epidemiological studies, while the underlying mechanism is poorly addressed. On the other hand, disorder of gut microbiota, namely dysbiosis, is known to cause MetS and NAFLD. It is also known that systemic inflammation blocks insulin signaling pathways, leading to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which are the driving force for hepatic steatosis. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is highly expressed in the ileum of the small intestine, which prompted us to test a hypothesis that vitamin D signaling may determine the enterotype of gut microbiota through regulating the intestinal interface. Here, we demonstrate that high-fat-diet feeding (HFD) is necessary but not sufficient, while additional vitamin D deficiency (VDD) as a second hit is needed, to induce robust insulin resistance and fatty liver. Under the two hits (HFD+VDD), the Paneth cell-specific alpha-defensins including α-defensin 5 (DEFA5), MMP7 which activates the pro-defensins, as well as tight junction genes, and MUC2 are all suppressed in the ileum, resulting in mucosal collapse, increased gut permeability, dysbiosis, endotoxemia, systemic inflammation which underlie insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. Moreover, under the vitamin D deficient high fat feeding (HFD+VDD), Helicobacter hepaticus, a known murine hepatic-pathogen, is substantially amplified in the ileum, while Akkermansia muciniphila, a beneficial symbiotic, is diminished. Likewise, the VD receptor (VDR) knockout mice exhibit similar phenotypes, showing down regulation of alpha-defensins and MMP7 in the ileum, increased Helicobacter hepaticus and suppressed Akkermansia muciniphila. Remarkably, oral administration of DEFA5 restored eubiosys, showing suppression of Helicobacter hepaticus and increase of Akkermansia muciniphila in association with resolving metabolic disorders and fatty liver in the HFD+VDD mice. An in vitro analysis showed that DEFA5 peptide could directly suppress Helicobacter hepaticus. Thus, the results of this study reveal critical roles of a vitamin D/VDR axis in optimal expression of defensins and tight junction genes in support of intestinal integrity and eubiosis to suppress NAFLD and metabolic disorders.}, } @article {pmid27895414, year = {2016}, author = {Souto, PA and Marcotegui, AR and Orbea, L and Skerl, J and Perazzo, JC}, title = {Hepatic encephalopathy: Ever closer to its big bang.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {22}, number = {42}, pages = {9251-9256}, pmid = {27895414}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Progression ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/complications/*metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/ultrastructure ; Liver/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Muscle, Skeletal/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Prognosis ; }, abstract = {Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that commonly complicates the course of patients with liver disease. Despite the fact that the syndrome was probably first recognized hundreds of years ago, the exact pathogenesis still remains unclear. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the earliest form of HE and is estimated to affect more that 75% of patients with liver cirrhosis. It is characterized by cognitive impairment predominantly attention, reactiveness and integrative function with very subtle clinical manifestations. The development of MHE is associated with worsen in driving skills, daily activities and the increase of overall mortality. Skeletal muscle has the ability to shift from ammonia producer to ammonia detoxifying organ. Due to its large size, becomes the main ammonia detoxifying organ in case of chronic liver failure and muscular glutamine-synthase becomes important due to the failing liver and brain metabolic activity. Gut is the major glutamine consumer and ammonia producer organ in the body. Hepatocellular dysfunction due to liver disease, results in an impaired clearance of ammonium and in its inter-organ trafficking. Intestinal bacteria, can also represent an extra source of ammonia production and in cirrhosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and symbiosis can be observed. In the study of HE, to get close to MHE is to get closer to its big bang; and from here, to travel less transited roads such as skeletal muscle and intestine, is to go even closer. The aim of this editorial is to expose this road for further and deeper work.}, } @article {pmid27894254, year = {2016}, author = {Ding, J and Zhao, L and Wang, L and Zhao, W and Zhai, Z and Leng, L and Wang, Y and He, C and Zhang, Y and Zhang, H and Li, H and Meng, H}, title = {Divergent selection-induced obesity alters the composition and functional pathways of chicken gut microbiota.}, journal = {Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {93}, pmid = {27894254}, issn = {1297-9686}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Body Composition ; Chickens ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology/methods ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Variation ; Male ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Obesity/*etiology ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gastrointestinal tract is populated by a complex and vast microbial network, with a composition that reflects the relationships of the symbiosis, co-metabolism, and co-evolution of these microorganisms with their host. The mechanism that underlies such interactions between the genetics of the host and gut microbiota remains elusive.

RESULTS: To understand how genetic variation of the host shapes the gut microbiota and interacts with it to affect the metabolic phenotype of the host, we compared the abundance of microbial taxa and their functional performance between two lines of chickens (fat and lean) that had undergone long-term divergent selection for abdominal fat pad weight, which resulted in a 4.5-fold increase in the fat line compared to the lean line. Our analysis revealed that the proportions of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria differed significantly between the two lines (8 vs. 18% and 33 vs. 24%, respectively) at the phylum level. Eight bacterial genera and 11 species were also substantially influenced by the host genotype. Differences between the two lines in the frequency of host alleles at loci that influence accumulation of abdominal fat were associated with differences in the abundance and composition of the gut microbiota. Moreover, microbial genome functional analysis showed that the gut microbiota was involved in pathways that are associated with fat metabolism such as lipid and glycan biosynthesis, as well as amino acid and energy metabolism. Interestingly, citrate cycle and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways that play important roles in lipid storage and metabolism were more prevalent in the fat line than in the lean line.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that long-term divergent selection not only alters the composition of the gut microbiota, but also influences its functional performance by enriching its relative abundance in microbial taxa. These results support the hypothesis that the host and gut microbiota interact at the genetic level and that these interactions result in their co-evolution.}, } @article {pmid27893179, year = {2017}, author = {Francis, N and Poncin, K and Fioravanti, A and Vassen, V and Willemart, K and Ong, TA and Rappez, L and Letesson, JJ and Biondi, EG and De Bolle, X}, title = {CtrA controls cell division and outer membrane composition of the pathogen Brucella abortus.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {103}, number = {5}, pages = {780-797}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.13589}, pmid = {27893179}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*chemistry/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Binding Sites ; Brucella abortus/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Cattle ; Cell Cycle/*genetics ; Cell Division/*genetics ; DNA Replication ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Phosphorylation ; Phylogeny ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Regulon ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Brucella abortus is a pathogen infecting cattle, able to survive, traffic, and proliferate inside host cells. It belongs to the Alphaproteobacteria, a phylogenetic group comprising bacteria with free living, symbiotic, and pathogenic lifestyles. An essential regulator of cell cycle progression named CtrA was described in the model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. This regulator is conserved in many alphaproteobacteria, but the evolution of its regulon remains elusive. Here we identified promoters that are CtrA targets using ChIP-seq and we found that CtrA binds to promoters of genes involved in cell cycle progression, in addition to numerous genes encoding outer membrane components involved in export of membrane proteins and synthesis of lipopolysaccharide. Analysis of a conditional B. abortus ctrA loss of function mutant confirmed that CtrA controls cell division. Impairment of cell division generates elongated and branched morphologies, that are also detectable inside HeLa cells. Surprisingly, abnormal bacteria are able to traffic to the endoplasmic reticulum, the usual replication niche of B. abortus in host cells. We also found that CtrA depletion affected outer membrane composition, in particular the abundance and spatial distribution of Omp25. Control of the B. abortus envelope composition by CtrA indicates the plasticity of the CtrA regulon along evolution.}, } @article {pmid27891646, year = {2017}, author = {Dearnaley, JD and Cameron, DD}, title = {Nitrogen transport in the orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis - further evidence for a mutualistic association.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {1}, pages = {10-12}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14357}, pmid = {27891646}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; Orchidaceae ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid27891618, year = {2017}, author = {Becklin, KM and Walker, SM and Way, DA and Ward, JK}, title = {CO2 studies remain key to understanding a future world.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {214}, number = {1}, pages = {34-40}, pmid = {27891618}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {K12 GM063651/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Flowers/physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Plant Development ; Water/physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents 34 I. 34 II. 36 III. 37 IV. 37 V. 38 38 References 38 SUMMARY: Characterizing plant responses to past, present and future changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2 ]) is critical for understanding and predicting the consequences of global change over evolutionary and ecological timescales. Previous CO2 studies have provided great insights into the effects of rising [CO2 ] on leaf-level gas exchange, carbohydrate dynamics and plant growth. However, scaling CO2 effects across biological levels, especially in field settings, has proved challenging. Moreover, many questions remain about the fundamental molecular mechanisms driving plant responses to [CO2 ] and other global change factors. Here we discuss three examples of topics in which significant questions in CO2 research remain unresolved: (1) mechanisms of CO2 effects on plant developmental transitions; (2) implications of rising [CO2 ] for integrated plant-water dynamics and drought tolerance; and (3) CO2 effects on symbiotic interactions and eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Addressing these and other key questions in CO2 research will require collaborations across scientific disciplines and new approaches that link molecular mechanisms to complex physiological and ecological interactions across spatiotemporal scales.}, } @article {pmid27891144, year = {2016}, author = {Hiltenbrand, R and Thomas, J and McCarthy, H and Dykema, KJ and Spurr, A and Newhart, H and Winn, ME and Mukherjee, A}, title = {A Developmental and Molecular View of Formation of Auxin-Induced Nodule-Like Structures in Land Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1692}, pmid = {27891144}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Several studies have shown that plant hormones play important roles during legume-rhizobia symbiosis. For instance, auxins induce the formation of nodule-like structures (NLSs) on legume roots in the absence of rhizobia. Furthermore, these NLS can be colonized by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which favor nitrogen fixation compared to regular roots and subsequently increase plant yield. Interestingly, auxin also induces similar NLS in cereal roots. While several genetic studies have identified plant genes controlling NLS formation in legumes, no studies have investigated the genes involved in NLS formation in cereals. In this study, first we established an efficient experimental system to induce NLS in rice roots, using auxin, 2,4-D, consistently at a high frequency (>90%). We were able to induce NLS at a high frequency in Medicago truncatula under similar conditions. NLS were characterized by a broad base, a diffuse meristem, and increased cell differentiation in the vasculature. Interestingly, NLS formation appeared very similar in both rice and Medicago, suggesting a similar developmental program. We show that NLS formation in both rice and Medicago occurs downstream of the common symbiotic pathway. Furthermore, NLS formation occurs downstream of cytokinin-induced step(s). We performed a comprehensive RNA sequencing experiment to identify genes differentially expressed during NLS formation in rice and identified several promising genes for control of NLS based on their biological and molecular functions. We validated the expression patterns of several genes using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and show varied expression patterns of these genes during different stages of NLS formation. Finally, we show that NLS induced on rice roots under these conditions can be colonized by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, } @article {pmid27891120, year = {2016}, author = {Fossou, RK and Ziegler, D and Zézé, A and Barja, F and Perret, X}, title = {Two Major Clades of Bradyrhizobia Dominate Symbiotic Interactions with Pigeonpea in Fields of Côte d'Ivoire.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1793}, pmid = {27891120}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In smallholder farms of Côte d'Ivoire, particularly in the northeast of the country, Cajanus cajan (pigeonpea) has become an important crop because of its multiple beneficial facets. Pigeonpea seeds provide food to make ends meet, are sold on local markets, and aerial parts serve as forage for animals. Since it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria collectively known as rhizobia, C. cajan also improves soil fertility and reduces fallow time. Yet, seed yields remain low mostly because farmers cannot afford chemical fertilizers. To identify local rhizobial strains susceptible to be used as bio-inoculants to foster pigeonpea growth, root nodules were collected in six fields of three geographically distant regions of Côte d'Ivoire. Nodule bacteria were isolated and characterized using various molecular techniques including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and DNA sequencing. These molecular analyses showed that 63 out of 85 nodule isolates belonged to two major clades of bradyrhizobia, one of which is known as the Bradyrhizobium elkanii super clade. Phylogenies of housekeeping (16S-ITS-23S, rpoB) and symbiotic (nifH) genes were not always congruent suggesting that lateral transfer of nitrogen fixation genes also contributed to define the genome of these bradyrhizobial isolates. Interestingly, no field-, plant-, or cultivar-specific effect was found to shape the profiles of symbiotic strains. In addition, nodule isolates CI-1B, CI-36E, and CI-41A that belong to distinct species, showed similar symbiotic efficiencies suggesting that any of these strains might serve as a proficient inoculant for C. cajan.}, } @article {pmid27890726, year = {2017}, author = {Mahajan, GB and Balachandran, L}, title = {Sources of antibiotics: Hot springs.}, journal = {Biochemical pharmacology}, volume = {134}, number = {}, pages = {35-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.bcp.2016.11.021}, pmid = {27890726}, issn = {1873-2968}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects/growth & development ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*drug effects ; Hot Springs/*microbiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The discovery of antibiotics heralded an era of improved health care. However, the over-prescription and misuse of antibiotics resulted in the development of resistant strains of various pathogens. Since then, there has been an incessant search for discovering novel compounds from bacteria at various locations with extreme conditions. The soil is one of the most explored locations for bioprospecting. In recent times, hypersaline environments and symbiotic associations have been investigated for novel antimicrobial compounds. Among the extreme environments, hot springs are comparatively less explored. Many researchers have reported the presence of microbial life and secretion of antimicrobial compounds by microorganisms in hot springs. A pioneering research in the corresponding author's laboratory resulted in the identification of the antibiotic Fusaricidin B isolated from a hot spring derived eubacteria, Paenibacillus polymyxa, which has been assigned a new application for its anti-tubercular properties. The corresponding author has also reported anti-MRSA and anti-VRE activity of 73 bacterial isolates from hot springs in India.}, } @article {pmid27890233, year = {2017}, author = {Scharschmidt, TC}, title = {Establishing Tolerance to Commensal Skin Bacteria: Timing Is Everything.}, journal = {Dermatologic clinics}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {1-9}, pmid = {27890233}, issn = {1558-0520}, support = {K08 AR068409/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antigens, Bacterial/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Mice ; Microbiota/immunology ; Propionibacterium acnes/immunology ; Skin/*immunology/microbiology ; Staphylococcus epidermidis/immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Commensal bacteria live intimately and in constant dialogue with skin immune cells. Regulating our immune response to these bacteria is critical for skin homeostasis. Using a new murine model to track Staphylococcus epidermidis-specific T cells, we found that colonization during neonatal but not adult life led to S.epidermidis-specific immune tolerance. This tolerance protected against skin inflammation and was mediated by a wave of regulatory T cells entering neonatal skin. These findings provide new insight into how we establish a healthy symbiosis with commensal microbes and highlight avenues for future research to identify novel therapies for inflammatory skin disease.}, } @article {pmid27889603, year = {2017}, author = {Liao, C and Gao, A and Li, B and Wang, M and Shan, L}, title = {Two symbiotic bacteria of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis spp. against Galleria mellonella.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {85-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.11.257}, pmid = {27889603}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Enterobacter/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Larva/microbiology/parasitology ; Moths/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis spp. is considered a promising agent in the biocontrol of injurious insects of agriculture. However, different symbiotic bacteria associated with the nematode usually have different specificity and virulence toward their own host. In this study, two symbiotic bacteria, LY2W and NK, were isolated from the intestinal canals of two entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis megidis 90 (PDSj1 and PDSj2) from Galleria mellonela, separately. To determine their species classification, we carried out some investigations on morphology, culture, biochemistry, especially 16S rDNA sequence analyses. As a result, both of them belong to Enterobacter spp., showing the closest relatedness with Enterobacter gergoviae (LY2W) and Enterobacter cloacae (NK), respectively. Moreover, the toxicity to Galleria mellonella was examined using both the metabolites and washed cells (primary and secondary) of these two strains. The results indicated both metabolites and cells of the primary-type bacteria could cause high mortalities (up to 97%) to Galleria mellonella, while those of the primary-type bacteria only killed 20%. These findings would provide new symbiotic bacteria and further references for biological control of the agricultural pest.}, } @article {pmid27889519, year = {2017}, author = {Chungopast, S and Duangkhet, M and Tajima, S and Ma, JF and Nomura, M}, title = {Iron-induced nitric oxide leads to an increase in the expression of ferritin during the senescence of Lotus japonicus nodules.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {40-46}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2016.11.004}, pmid = {27889519}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Ferritins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Iron/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Lotus/cytology/drug effects/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Donors/pharmacology ; Nitroprusside/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/drug effects/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Iron is an essential nutrient for legume-rhizobium symbiosis and accumulates abundantly in the nodules. However, the concentration of free iron in the cells is strictly controlled to avoid toxicity. It is known that ferritin accumulates in the cells as an iron storage protein. During nodule senescence, the expression of the ferritin gene, Ljfer1, was induced in Lotus japonicus. We investigated a signal transduction pathway leading to the increase of Ljfer1 in the nodule. The Ljfer1 promoter of L. japonicus contains a conserved Iron-Dependent Regulatory Sequence (IDRS). The expression of Ljfer1 was induced by the application of iron or sodium nitroprusside, which is a nitric oxide (NO) donor. The application of iron to the nodule increased the level of NO. These data strongly suggest that iron-induced NO leads to increased expression of Ljfer1 during the senescence of L. japonicus nodules.}, } @article {pmid27889421, year = {2017}, author = {Torres-Arias, Y and Fors, RO and Nobre, C and Gómez, EF and Berbara, RL}, title = {Production of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum under different environmental conditions.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {87-94}, pmid = {27889421}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; *Environment ; *Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In order to obtain an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) native inoculum from Sierra de Moa and determine the most appropriate conditions for its big scale production, four light and temperature combinations were tested in three plant species (Calophyllum antillanum, Talipariti elatum and Paspalum notatum). Growth and development parameters, as well as the mycorrhizal functioning of the seedlings were evaluated. The natural light treatment under high temperatures (L-H) was the most suitable for the growth and development of the three plant species, showing the highest total biomass values, mainly of root, and a positive root-shoot ratio balance. This treatment also promoted higher values of root mycorrhizal colonization, external mycelium and AMF spore density. A total of 38 AMF species were identified among the plants and environmental conditions tested. Archaeospora sp.1, Glomus sp.5, Glomus brohultii and G. glomerulatum were observed in all the treatments. The L-H condition can be recommended for native inoculum production, as it promotes a better expression of the AM symbiosis and an elevated production of mycorrhizal propagules.}, } @article {pmid27887564, year = {2016}, author = {Dobson, AJ and Chaston, JM and Douglas, AE}, title = {The Drosophila transcriptional network is structured by microbiota.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {975}, pmid = {27887564}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Resident microorganisms (microbiota) have far-reaching effects on the biology of their animal hosts, with major consequences for the host's health and fitness. A full understanding of microbiota-dependent gene regulation requires analysis of the overall architecture of the host transcriptome, by identifying suites of genes that are expressed synchronously. In this study, we investigated the impact of the microbiota on gene coexpression in Drosophila.

RESULTS: Our transcriptomic analysis, of 17 lines representative of the global genetic diversity of Drosophila, yielded a total of 11 transcriptional modules of co-expressed genes. For seven of these modules, the strength of the transcriptional network (defined as gene-gene coexpression) differed significantly between flies bearing a defined gut microbiota (gnotobiotic flies) and flies reared under microbiologically sterile conditions (axenic flies). Furthermore, gene coexpression was uniformly stronger in these microbiota-dependent modules than in both the microbiota-independent modules in gnotobiotic flies and all modules in axenic flies, indicating that the presence of the microbiota directs gene regulation in a subset of the transcriptome. The genes constituting the microbiota-dependent transcriptional modules include regulators of growth, metabolism and neurophysiology, previously implicated in mediating phenotypic effects of microbiota on Drosophila phenotype. Together these results provide the first evidence that the microbiota enhances the coexpression of specific and functionally-related genes relative to the animal's intrinsic baseline level of coexpression.

CONCLUSIONS: Our system-wide analysis demonstrates that the presence of microbiota enhances gene coexpression, thereby structuring the transcriptional network in the animal host. This finding has potentially major implications for understanding of the mechanisms by which microbiota affect host health and fitness, and the ways in which hosts and their resident microbiota coevolve.}, } @article {pmid27886144, year = {2016}, author = {Barbero, F}, title = {Cuticular Lipids as a Cross-Talk among Ants, Plants and Butterflies.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {27886144}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Butterflies/*physiology ; Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; Lipids/physiology ; }, abstract = {Even though insects and plants are distantly related organisms, they developed an integument which is functionally and structurally similar. Besides functioning as a physical barrier to cope with abiotic and biotic stress, this interface, called cuticle, is also a source of chemical signaling. Crucial compounds with this respect are surface lipids and especially cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). This review is focused on the role of CHCs in fostering multilevel relationships among ants, plants and Lepidoptera (primarily butterflies). Indeed, particular traits of ants as eusocial organisms allowed the evolution and the maintenance of a variety of associations with both plants and animals. Basic concepts of myrmecophilous interactions and chemical deception strategies together with chemical composition, biosynthetic pathways and functions of CHCs as molecular cues of multitrophic systems are provided. Finally, the need to adopt a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach in the survey of complex models is discussed.}, } @article {pmid27883197, year = {2016}, author = {Kloos, B}, title = {Cultivating Community Psychology for Future Generations: Symbiosis, Synergy, and Separation.}, journal = {American journal of community psychology}, volume = {58}, number = {3-4}, pages = {303-308}, doi = {10.1002/ajcp.12105}, pmid = {27883197}, issn = {1573-2770}, mesh = {Accreditation/organization & administration/trends ; Canada ; Career Choice ; Forecasting ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Intersectoral Collaboration ; *Organizational Objectives ; Psychology, Clinical/education/organization & administration/trends ; Psychology, Social/education/*organization & administration/*trends ; Social Conditions ; Societies, Scientific/trends ; *Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {As we near the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of a community psychology division of the American Psychological Association, there are reasons to be concerned about the sustainability of the field. This commentary proposes a need for deliberate, systematic efforts to cultivate settings that can sustain the field. A framework for outreach to build symbiotic relationships and synergistic collaborations with persons who do not identify as community psychologists is proposed. Simultaneously, a strategy of separation from other disciplines may be needed in some circumstances to conserve settings that sustain the field. Finding a balance in these strategies is necessary to cultivate community psychology for future generations.}, } @article {pmid27882646, year = {2017}, author = {Green, KA and Becker, Y and Tanaka, A and Takemoto, D and Fitzsimons, HL and Seiler, S and Lalucque, H and Silar, P and Scott, B}, title = {SymB and SymC, two membrane associated proteins, are required for Epichloë festucae hyphal cell-cell fusion and maintenance of a mutualistic interaction with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {103}, number = {4}, pages = {657-677}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.13580}, pmid = {27882646}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Cell Fusion ; Epichloe/*genetics/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hyphae/*genetics/physiology ; Lolium/*growth & development/microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Binding/genetics ; Sequence Deletion/genetics ; Spores, Fungal/genetics/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cell-cell fusion in fungi is required for colony formation, nutrient transfer and signal transduction. Disruption of genes required for hyphal fusion in Epichloë festucae, a mutualistic symbiont of Lolium grasses, severely disrupts the host interaction phenotype. They examined whether symB and symC, the E. festucae homologs of Podospora anserina self-signaling genes IDC2 and IDC3, are required for E. festucae hyphal fusion and host symbiosis. Deletion mutants of these genes were defective in hyphal cell fusion, formed intra-hyphal hyphae, and had enhanced conidiation. SymB-GFP and SymC-mRFP1 localize to plasma membrane, septa and points of hyphal cell fusion. Plants infected with ΔsymB and ΔsymC strains were severely stunted. Hyphae of the mutants colonized vascular bundles, were more abundant than wild type in the intercellular spaces and formed intra-hyphal hyphae. Although these phenotypes are identical to those previously observed for cell wall integrity MAP kinase mutants no difference was observed in the basal level of MpkA phosphorylation or its cellular localization in the mutant backgrounds. Both genes contain binding sites for the transcription factor ProA. Collectively these results show that SymB and SymC are key components of a conserved signaling network for E. festucae to maintain a mutualistic symbiotic interaction within L. perenne.}, } @article {pmid27882494, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, L and Huang, X and Ma, F and Ho, SH and Wu, J and Zhu, S}, title = {Role of Rhizophagus irregularis in alleviating cadmium toxicity via improving the growth, micro- and macroelements uptake in Phragmites australis.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {3593-3607}, pmid = {27882494}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cadmium/*pharmacology ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Poaceae/*drug effects/growth & development ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been used to alleviate heavy metal stress on plant growth and uptake of micro- and macroelements. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to verify the effects of AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on the growth, physiological characteristics, total Cd, and element uptake of Phragmites australis under different Cd stress (in the range of 0-20 mg L[-1]). The results showed that the symbiosis could effectively alleviate Cd toxicity with greater root biomass, higher photosynthesis rate, and lower levels of malonaldehyde (MDA) and proline than non-mycorrhizal plants could. However, reduced transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conductance (g s) indicated R. irregularis protected host plants from Cd stress (≥5 mg L[-1]) via the stomatal closure. Although micro- and macroelements displayed differently in the presence of Cd, higher concentrations were still detected in mycorrhizal plants in contrast to non-mycorrhizal plants. Moreover, step multiple regression significantly demonstrated Pnmax, stem diameter (Sd), and g s were the important factors with regard to total Cd uptake in the symbiosis, but Mn affected to non-mycorrhizal plants. These results suggested R. irregularis could alleviate the competition between Mn and Cd by altering plant physiology. This work clearly demonstrated that R. irregularis can be able to support P. australis growth better even though under high Cd stress (>1 mg L[-1]), suggesting its good potential for practical use in high Cd-contaminated areas.}, } @article {pmid27882467, year = {2017}, author = {Cevallos, S and Sánchez-Rodríguez, A and Decock, C and Declerck, S and Suárez, JP}, title = {Are there keystone mycorrhizal fungi associated to tropical epiphytic orchids?.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {225-232}, pmid = {27882467}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; Ecuador ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Orchidaceae/classification/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In epiphytic orchids, distinctive groups of fungi are involved in the symbiotic association. However, little is known about the factors that determine the mycorrhizal community structure. Here, we analyzed the orchid mycorrhizal fungi communities associated with three sympatric Cymbidieae epiphytic tropical orchids (Cyrtochilum flexuosum, Cyrtochilum myanthum, and Maxillaria calantha) at two sites located within the mountain rainforest of southern Ecuador. To characterize these communities at each orchid population, the ITS2 region was analyzed by Illumina MiSeq technology. Fifty-five mycorrhizal fungi operational taxonomic units (OTUs) putatively attributed to members of Serendipitaceae, Ceratobasidiaceae and Tulasnellaceae were identified. Significant differences in mycorrhizal communities were detected between the three sympatric orchid species as well as among sites/populations. Interestingly, some mycorrhizal OTUs overlapped among orchid populations. Our results suggested that populations of studied epiphytic orchids have site-adjusted mycorrhizal communities structured around keystone fungal species. Interaction with multiple mycorrhizal fungi could favor orchid site occurrence and co-existence among several orchid species.}, } @article {pmid27882059, year = {2016}, author = {Wu, J and Zhang, Y and Yang, H and Rao, Y and Miao, J and Lu, X}, title = {Intestinal Microbiota as an Alternative Therapeutic Target for Epilepsy.}, journal = {The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale}, volume = {2016}, number = {}, pages = {9032809}, pmid = {27882059}, issn = {1712-9532}, abstract = {Epilepsy is one of the most widespread serious neurological disorders, and an aetiological explanation has not been fully identified. In recent decades, a growing body of evidence has highlighted the influential role of autoimmune mechanisms in the progression of epilepsy. The hygiene hypothesis draws people's attention to the association between gut microbes and the onset of multiple immune disorders. It is also believed that, in addition to influencing digestive system function, symbiotic microbiota can bidirectionally and reversibly impact the programming of extraintestinal pathogenic immune responses during autoimmunity. Herein, we investigate the concept that the diversity of parasitifer sensitivity to commensal microbes and the specific constitution of the intestinal microbiota might impact host susceptibility to epilepsy through promotion of Th17 cell populations in the central nervous system (CNS).}, } @article {pmid27881974, year = {2016}, author = {Hestetun, JT and Dahle, H and Jørgensen, SL and Olsen, BR and Rapp, HT}, title = {The Microbiome and Occurrence of Methanotrophy in Carnivorous Sponges.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1781}, pmid = {27881974}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {As shown by recent studies, filter-feeding sponges are known to host a wide variety of microorganisms. However, the microbial community of the non-filtering carnivorous sponges (Porifera, Cladorhizidae) has been the subject of less scrutiny. Here, we present the results from a comparative study of the methanotrophic carnivorous sponge Cladorhiza methanophila from a mud volcano-rich area at the Barbados Accretionary Prism, and five carnivorous species from the Jan Mayen Vent Field (JMVF) at the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. Results from 16S rRNA microbiome data indicate the presence of a diverse assemblage of associated microorganisms in carnivorous sponges mainly from the Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria, Flavobacteriaceae, and Thaumarchaeota. While the abundance of particular groups varied throughout the dataset, we found interesting similarities to previous microbiome results from non-carnivorous deep sea sponges, suggesting that the carnivorous sponges share characteristics of a previously hypothesized putative deep-sea sponge microbial community. Chemolithoautotrophic symbiosis was confirmed for C. methanophila through a microbial community with a high abundance of Methylococcales and very light isotopic δ[13]C and δ[15]N ratios (-60 to -66‰/3.5 to 5.2‰) compared to the other cladorhizid species (-22 to -24‰/8.5 to 10.5‰). We provide evidence for the presence of putative sulfur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria in the arctic cladorhizids; however, δ[13]C and δ[15]N signatures did not provide evidence for significant chemoautotrophic symbiosis in this case, and the slightly higher abundance of cladorhizids at the JMVF site compared to the nearby deep sea likely stem from an increased abundance of prey rather than a more direct vent association. The phylogenetic position of C. methanophila in relation to other carnivorous sponges was established using a three-gene phylogenetic analysis, and it was found to be closely related to other non-methanotrophic Cladorhiza species with a similar morphology included in the dataset, suggesting a recent origin for methanotrophy in this species. C. methanophila remains the only known carnivorous sponge with a strong, chemolithoautotrophic symbiont association, and methanotrophic symbiosis does not seem to be a widespread property within the Cladorhizidae.}, } @article {pmid27881799, year = {2017}, author = {Erbilgin, N and Cale, JA and Lusebrink, I and Najar, A and Klutsch, JG and Sherwood, P and Enrico Bonello, P and Evenden, ML}, title = {Water-deficit and fungal infection can differentially affect the production of different classes of defense compounds in two host pines of mountain pine beetle.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {338-350}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpw105}, pmid = {27881799}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Animals ; Canada ; Coleoptera ; *Droughts ; Fungi/pathogenicity ; Monoterpenes/*metabolism ; Phenols/*metabolism ; Pinus/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles are important agents of tree mortality in conifer forests and their interaction with trees is influenced by host defense chemicals, such as monoterpenes and phenolics. Since mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) has expanded its host range from lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Doug. ex Loud. (var. latifolia Engelm.))-dominated forests to the novel jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) forests in western Canada, studies investigating the jack pine suitability as a host for this beetle have exclusively focused on monoterpenes, and whether phenolics affect jack pine suitability to mountain pine beetle and its symbiotic fungus Grosmannia clavigera is unknown. We investigated the phenolic and monoterpene composition in phloem and foliage of jack and lodgepole pines, and their subsequent change in response to water deficit and G. clavigera inoculation treatments. In lodgepole pine phloem, water deficit treatment inhibited the accumulation of both the total and richness of phenolics, but had no effect on total monoterpene production or richness. Fungal infection also inhibited the total phenolic production and had no effect on phenolic or monoterpene richness, but increased total monoterpene synthesis by 71%. In jack pine phloem, water deficit treatment reduced phenolic production, but had no effect on phenolic or monoterpene richness or total monoterpenes. Fungal infection did not affect phenolic or monoterpene production. Lesions of both species contained lower phenolics but higher monoterpenes than non-infected phloem in the same tree. In both species, richness of monoterpenes and phenolics was greater in non-infected phloem than in lesions. We conclude that monoterpenes seem to be a critical component of induced defenses against G. clavigera in both jack and lodgepole pines; however, a lack of increased monoterpene response to fungal infection is an important evolutionary factor defining jack pine suitability to the mountain pine beetle invasion in western Canada.}, } @article {pmid27880869, year = {2017}, author = {Champion, CJ and Xu, J}, title = {The impact of metagenomic interplay on the mosquito redox homeostasis.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {105}, number = {}, pages = {79-85}, pmid = {27880869}, issn = {1873-4596}, support = {SC1 AI112786/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM092789/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Heme/physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Metagenome ; *Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes are exposed to oxidative challenges throughout their life cycle. The primary challenge comes from a blood meal. The blood digestion turns the midgut into an oxidative environment, which imposes pressure not only on mosquito fecundity and other physiological traits but also on the microbiota in the midgut. During evolution, mosquitoes have developed numerous oxidative defense mechanisms to maintain redox homeostasis in the midgut. In addition to antioxidants, SOD, catalase, and glutathione system, sufficient supply of the reducing agent, NADPH, is vital for a successful defense against oxidative stress. Increasing evidence indicates that in response to oxidative stress, cells reconfigure metabolic pathways to increase the generation of NADPH through NADP-reducing networks including the pentose phosphate pathway and others. The microbial homeostasis is critical for the functional contributions to various host phenotypes. The symbiotic microbiota is regulated largely by the Duox-ROS pathway in Drosophila. In mosquitoes, Duox-ROS pathway, heme-mediated signaling, antimicrobial peptide production and C-type lectins work in concert to maintain the dynamic microbial community in the midgut. Microbial mechanisms against oxidative stress in this context are not well understood. Emerging evidence that microbial metabolites trigger host oxidative response warrants further study on the metagenomic interplay in an oxidative environment like mosquito gut ecosystem. Besides the classical Drosophila model, hematophagous insects like mosquitoes provide an alternative model system to study redox homeostasis in a symbiotic metagenomic context.}, } @article {pmid27878718, year = {2016}, author = {Kremleva, EA and Sgibnev, AV}, title = {Proinflammatory Cytokines as Regulators of Vaginal Microbiota.}, journal = {Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine}, volume = {162}, number = {1}, pages = {75-78}, doi = {10.1007/s10517-016-3549-1}, pmid = {27878718}, issn = {1573-8221}, mesh = {Adult ; Corynebacterium/drug effects/growth & development ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics/*immunology/pharmacology ; Interleukin-6/genetics/*immunology/pharmacology ; Interleukin-8/genetics/*immunology/pharmacology ; Lactobacillus/drug effects/growth & development ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/genetics/*immunology/pharmacology ; Vagina ; Vaginosis, Bacterial/*microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {It was shown that IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-6 in concentrations similar to those in the vagina of healthy women stimulated the growth of normal microflora (Lactobacillus spp.) and suppressed the growth and biofilm production by S. aureus and E. coli. On the contrary, these cytokines in higher concentrations typical of vaginal dysbiosis suppressed normal microflora and stimulated the growth of opportunistic microorganisms. TGF-β1 in both doses produced a stimulating effects on study vaginal microsymbionts. It is hypothesized that pro-inflammatory cytokines serve as the molecules of interspecies communication coordinating the interactions of all components of the vaginal symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid27876960, year = {2016}, author = {Mukhopadhyay, P and Chatterjee, S}, title = {Characterization and control of symbiotic Bacillus cereus isolated from the mid gut of Anopheles subpictus Grassi.}, journal = {Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {1414-1421}, pmid = {27876960}, issn = {0971-7196}, abstract = {An investigation was done to find out the role of gut bacterium on the larval development and survival of Anopheles subpictus, the vector responsible for the transmission of malaria. An. subpictus mosquitoes breed exclusively in stagnant water, including shrimp/fish ponds with high nutrient level. One bacterial strain (CX2) was isolated from the midgut of late third instar of mosquito larvae. The bacterial isolate was sensitive to recommended doses of tetracyclin (30 µg/disc), doxycycline (30 µg/disc), kanamycin (30 µg/disc), gentamycin (10 µg/disc), streptomycin (10 µg/disc), vancomycin (30 µg/disc), ofloxacin (5 µg/disc), levofloxacin (5 µg/disc), gatifloxacin (10 µg/disc), but resistant to ampicillin (10 µg/disc).The larvae which were fed with the mixture of two antibiotics tetracylin (30 µg/disc) and doxycyclin (30 µg/disc) (1:1) could not survive in rice-field water. In the control experiments without any antibiotic treatment, 95-100 % survival and 95 % adult emergence were observed. The study indicates that the elimination of gut bacteria suppressed larval growth. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence was also done. Based on the morphological, biochemical, FAME analysis and phylogenetic analysis, the bacterial isolate CX2 was identified as Bacillus cereus. Poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the isolate showed discrete bands ranging from 24.272 to 60.049 kDa proteins. Water extract and methanol extract of Tamarindus indica showed inhibitory effect against B. cereus.}, } @article {pmid27876851, year = {2016}, author = {Rougon-Cardoso, A and Flores-Ponce, M and Ramos-Aboites, HE and Martínez-Guerrero, CE and Hao, YJ and Cunha, L and Rodríguez-Martínez, JA and Ovando-Vázquez, C and Bermúdez-Barrientos, JR and Abreu-Goodger, C and Chavarría-Hernández, N and Simões, N and Montiel, R}, title = {The genome, transcriptome, and proteome of the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae: evolutionary signatures of a pathogenic lifestyle.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {37536}, pmid = {27876851}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Chromosomes/genetics ; Gene Ontology ; Genome, Helminth ; Helminth Proteins/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Rhabditida/*genetics/*metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae has been widely used for the biological control of insect pests. It shares a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila, and is emerging as a genetic model to study symbiosis and pathogenesis. We obtained a high-quality draft of the nematode's genome comprising 84,613,633 bp in 347 scaffolds, with an N50 of 1.24 Mb. To improve annotation, we sequenced both short and long RNA and conducted shotgun proteomic analyses. S. carpocapsae shares orthologous genes with other parasitic nematodes that are absent in the free-living nematode C. elegans, it has ncRNA families that are enriched in parasites, and expresses proteins putatively associated with parasitism and pathogenesis, suggesting an active role for the nematode during the pathogenic process. Host and parasites might engage in a co-evolutionary arms-race dynamic with genes participating in their interaction showing signatures of positive selection. Our analyses indicate that the consequence of this arms race is better characterized by positive selection altering specific functions instead of just increasing the number of positively selected genes, adding a new perspective to these co-evolutionary theories. We identified a protein, ATAD-3, that suggests a relevant role for mitochondrial function in the evolution and mechanisms of nematode parasitism.}, } @article {pmid27875776, year = {2016}, author = {Frosi, G and Barros, VA and Oliveira, MT and Santos, M and Ramos, DG and Maia, LC and Santos, MG}, title = {Symbiosis with AMF and leaf Pi supply increases water deficit tolerance of woody species from seasonal dry tropical forest.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {207}, number = {}, pages = {84-93}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2016.11.002}, pmid = {27875776}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Desiccation ; Fluorescence ; *Forests ; Gases/metabolism ; Minerals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; Principal Component Analysis ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/*physiology ; *Tropical Climate ; Water/*metabolism ; Wood ; }, abstract = {In seasonal dry tropical forests, plants are subjected to severe water deficit, and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or inorganic phosphorus supply (Pi) can mitigate the effects of water deficit. This study aimed to assess the physiological performance of Poincianella pyramidalis subjected to water deficit in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and leaf inorganic phosphorus (Pi) supply. The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement of 2 water levels (+H2O and -H2O), 2 AMF levels (+AMF and -AMF) and 2Pi levels (+Pi and -Pi). Leaf primary metabolism, dry shoot biomass and leaf mineral nutrients were evaluated. Inoculated AMF plants under well-watered and drought conditions had higher photosynthesis and higher shoot biomass. Under drought, AMF, Pi or AMF+Pi plants showed metabolic improvements in photosynthesis, leaf biochemistry and higher biomass compared to the plants under water deficit without AMF or Pi. After rehydration, those plants submitted to drought with AMF, Pi or AMF+Pi showed a faster recovery of photosynthesis compared to treatment under water deficit without AMF or Pi. However, plants under the drought condition with AMF showed a higher net photosynthesis rate. These findings suggest that AMF, Pi or AMF+Pi increase the drought tolerance in P. pyramidalis, and AMF associations under well-watered conditions increase shoot biomass and, under drought, promoted faster recovery of photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid27873767, year = {2017}, author = {Shen, G and Mao, HK}, title = {High-pressure studies with x-rays using diamond anvil cells.}, journal = {Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {016101}, doi = {10.1088/1361-6633/80/1/016101}, pmid = {27873767}, issn = {1361-6633}, abstract = {Pressure profoundly alters all states of matter. The symbiotic development of ultrahigh-pressure diamond anvil cells, to compress samples to sustainable multi-megabar pressures; and synchrotron x-ray techniques, to probe materials' properties in situ, has enabled the exploration of rich high-pressure (HP) science. In this article, we first introduce the essential concept of diamond anvil cell technology, together with recent developments and its integration with other extreme environments. We then provide an overview of the latest developments in HP synchrotron techniques, their applications, and current problems, followed by a discussion of HP scientific studies using x-rays in the key multidisciplinary fields. These HP studies include: HP x-ray emission spectroscopy, which provides information on the filled electronic states of HP samples; HP x-ray Raman spectroscopy, which probes the HP chemical bonding changes of light elements; HP electronic inelastic x-ray scattering spectroscopy, which accesses high energy electronic phenomena, including electronic band structure, Fermi surface, excitons, plasmons, and their dispersions; HP resonant inelastic x-ray scattering spectroscopy, which probes shallow core excitations, multiplet structures, and spin-resolved electronic structure; HP nuclear resonant x-ray spectroscopy, which provides phonon densities of state and time-resolved Mössbauer information; HP x-ray imaging, which provides information on hierarchical structures, dynamic processes, and internal strains; HP x-ray diffraction, which determines the fundamental structures and densities of single-crystal, polycrystalline, nanocrystalline, and non-crystalline materials; and HP radial x-ray diffraction, which yields deviatoric, elastic and rheological information. Integrating these tools with hydrostatic or uniaxial pressure media, laser and resistive heating, and cryogenic cooling, has enabled investigations of the structural, vibrational, electronic, and magnetic properties of materials over a wide range of pressure-temperature conditions.}, } @article {pmid27873164, year = {2016}, author = {Ren, G and Ma, A and Liu, W and Zhuang, X and Zhuang, G}, title = {Bacterial signals N-acyl homoserine lactones induce the changes of morphology and ethanol tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {117}, pmid = {27873164}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {The bacterial quorum sensing signals N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signals are able to regulate a diverse array of physiological activities, such as symbiosis, virulence and biofilm formation, depending on population density. Recently, it has been discovered that the bacterial quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules can induce extensive response of higher eukaryotes including plants and mammalian cells. However, little is known about the response of fungi reacting to these bacterial signals. Here we showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as an ancient eukaryote and widely used for alcoholic beverage and bioethanol production, exposed to short-chain 3-OC6-HSL and long-chain C12-HSL appeared obvious changes in morphology and ethanol tolerance. AHLs could increase the frequency of cells with bipolar and multipolar buds, and these changes did not present distinct differences when induced by different types (3-OC6-HSL and C12-HSL) and varied concentrations (200 nM and 2 μM) of AHLs. Further investigation by flow cytometer displayed that the cells untreated by AHLs reduced cell size (decreased FSC) and enhanced intracellular density (increased in SSC), compared with the AHLs-induced cells after incubation 6 h. In addition, the long-chain C12-HSL could slightly increase the ethanol tolerance of S. cerevisiae while the short-chain HSL obviously decreased it. Our study would be valuable to further research on the interaction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, and be reference for industrial production of bioethanol.}, } @article {pmid27871337, year = {2017}, author = {Menkis, A and Lynikienė, J and Marčiulynas, A and Gedminas, A and Povilaitienė, A}, title = {The great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans Kug.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Lithuania: occurrence, phenology, morphology and communities of associated fungi.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {107}, number = {4}, pages = {431-438}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485316001048}, pmid = {27871337}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/microbiology ; Picea/*parasitology ; Saccharomycetales/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {We studied the occurrence, morphology and phenology of Dendroctonus micans in Lithuania and the fungi associated with the beetle at different developmental stages. The occurrence of D. micans was assessed in 19 seed orchards (at least 40 years old) of Picea abies (L. Karst.) situated in different parts of the country. Bark beetle phenology was studied in two sites: a seed orchard of P. abies and a plantation of Picea pungens (Engelm.). D. micans morphology was assessed under the dissection microscope using individuals at different developmental stages that were sampled during phenology observations. Communities of fungi associated with D. micans were studied using both fungal culturing methods and direct high-throughput sequencing from D. micans. Results showed that the incidence D. micans was relatively rare and D. micans was mainly detected in central and eastern Lithuania. The life cycle included the following stages: adult, egg, I-V developmental stage larvae and pupa. However, development of D. micans was quicker and its nests larger under the bark of P. pungens than of P. abies, indicating the effect of the host species. Fungal culturing and direct high-throughput sequencing revealed that D. micans associated fungi communities were species rich and dominated by yeasts from a class Saccharomycetes. In total, 319 fungal taxa were sequenced, among which Peterozyma toletana (37.5% of all fungal sequences), Yamadazyma scolyti (30.0%) and Kuraishia capsulate (17.7%) were the most common. Plant pathogens and blue stain fungi were also detected suggesting their potentially negative effects to both tree health and timber quality.}, } @article {pmid27871231, year = {2016}, author = {Wippler, J and Kleiner, M and Lott, C and Gruhl, A and Abraham, PE and Giannone, RJ and Young, JC and Hettich, RL and Dubilier, N}, title = {Transcriptomic and proteomic insights into innate immunity and adaptations to a symbiotic lifestyle in the gutless marine worm Olavius algarvensis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {942}, pmid = {27871231}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*genetics/immunology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; Computational Biology/methods ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Microbiota ; Models, Biological ; Oligochaeta/*genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; *Proteome ; Proteomics/methods ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/immunology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gutless marine worm Olavius algarvensis has a completely reduced digestive and excretory system, and lives in an obligate nutritional symbiosis with bacterial symbionts. While considerable knowledge has been gained of the symbionts, the host has remained largely unstudied. Here, we generated transcriptomes and proteomes of O. algarvensis to better understand how this annelid worm gains nutrition from its symbionts, how it adapted physiologically to a symbiotic lifestyle, and how its innate immune system recognizes and responds to its symbiotic microbiota.

RESULTS: Key adaptations to the symbiosis include (i) the expression of gut-specific digestive enzymes despite the absence of a gut, most likely for the digestion of symbionts in the host's epidermal cells; (ii) a modified hemoglobin that may bind hydrogen sulfide produced by two of the worm's symbionts; and (iii) the expression of a very abundant protein for oxygen storage, hemerythrin, that could provide oxygen to the symbionts and the host under anoxic conditions. Additionally, we identified a large repertoire of proteins involved in interactions between the worm's innate immune system and its symbiotic microbiota, such as peptidoglycan recognition proteins, lectins, fibrinogen-related proteins, Toll and scavenger receptors, and antimicrobial proteins.

CONCLUSIONS: We show how this worm, over the course of evolutionary time, has modified widely-used proteins and changed their expression patterns in adaptation to its symbiotic lifestyle and describe expressed components of the innate immune system in a marine oligochaete. Our results provide further support for the recent realization that animals have evolved within the context of their associations with microbes and that their adaptive responses to symbiotic microbiota have led to biological innovations.}, } @article {pmid27871150, year = {2017}, author = {Li, Z and Yao, Q and Dearth, SP and Entler, MR and Castro Gonzalez, HF and Uehling, JK and Vilgalys, RJ and Hurst, GB and Campagna, SR and Labbé, JL and Pan, C}, title = {Integrated proteomics and metabolomics suggests symbiotic metabolism and multimodal regulation in a fungal-endobacterial system.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {1041-1053}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13605}, pmid = {27871150}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Mortierella/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many plant-associated fungi host endosymbiotic endobacteria with reduced genomes. While endobacteria play important roles in these tri-partite plant-fungal-endobacterial systems, the active physiology of fungal endobacteria has not been characterized extensively by systems biology approaches. Here, we use integrated proteomics and metabolomics to characterize the relationship between the endobacterium Mycoavidus sp. and the root-associated fungus Mortierella elongata. In nitrogen-poor media, M. elongata had decreased growth but hosted a large and growing endobacterial population. The active endobacterium likely extracted malate from the fungal host as the primary carbon substrate for energy production and biosynthesis of phospho-sugars, nucleobases, peptidoglycan and some amino acids. The endobacterium obtained nitrogen by importing a variety of nitrogen-containing compounds. Further, nitrogen limitation significantly perturbed the carbon and nitrogen flows in the fungal metabolic network. M. elongata regulated many pathways by concordant changes on enzyme abundances, post-translational modifications, reactant concentrations and allosteric effectors. Such multimodal regulations may be a general mechanism for metabolic modulation.}, } @article {pmid27871141, year = {2017}, author = {White, LJ and Ge, X and Brözel, VS and Subramanian, S}, title = {Root isoflavonoids and hairy root transformation influence key bacterial taxa in the soybean rhizosphere.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {1391-1406}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13602}, pmid = {27871141}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Acidobacteria/classification/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Oxygenases/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizodeposits play a key role in shaping rhizosphere microbial communities. In soybean, isoflavonoids are a key rhizodeposit component that aid in plant defense and enable symbiotic associations with rhizobia. However, it is uncertain if and how they influence rhizosphere microbial communities. Isoflavonoid biosynthesis was silenced via RNA interference of isoflavone synthase in soybean hairy root composite plants. Rhizosphere soil fractions tightly associated with roots were isolated, and PCR amplicons from 16S rRNA gene variable regions V1-V3 and V3-V5 from these fractions were sequenced using 454. The resulting data was resolved using MOTHUR and vegan to identify bacterial taxa and evaluate changes in rhizosphere bacterial communities. The soybean rhizosphere was enriched in Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and had relatively lower levels of Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria compared with bulk soil. Isoflavonoids had a small effect on bacterial community structure, and in particular on the abundance of Xanthomonads and Comamonads. The effect of hairy root transformation on rhizosphere bacterial communities was largely similar to untransformed plant roots with approximately 74% of the bacterial families displaying similar colonization underscoring the suitability of this technique to evaluate the influence of plant roots on rhizosphere bacterial communities. However, hairy root transformation had notable influence on Sphingomonads and Acidobacteria.}, } @article {pmid27870066, year = {2017}, author = {Zampieri, E and Giordano, L and Lione, G and Vizzini, A and Sillo, F and Balestrini, R and Gonthier, P}, title = {A nonnative and a native fungal plant pathogen similarly stimulate ectomycorrhizal development but are perceived differently by a fungal symbiont.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {4}, pages = {1836-1849}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14314}, pmid = {27870066}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Markov Chains ; Monte Carlo Method ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effects of plant symbionts on host defence responses against pathogens have been extensively documented, but little is known about the impact of pathogens on the symbiosis and if such an impact may differ for nonnative and native pathogens. Here, this issue was addressed in a study of the model system comprising Pinus pinea, its ectomycorrhizal symbiont Tuber borchii, and the nonnative and native pathogens Heterobasidion irregulare and Heterobasidion annosum, respectively. In a 6-month inoculation experiment and using both in planta and gene expression analyses, we tested the hypothesis that H. irregulare has greater effects on the symbiosis than H. annosum. Although the two pathogens induced the same morphological reaction in the plant-symbiont complex, with mycorrhizal density increasing exponentially with pathogen colonization of the host, the number of target genes regulated in T. borchii in plants inoculated with the native pathogen (i.e. 67% of tested genes) was more than twice that in plants inoculated with the nonnative pathogen (i.e. 27% of genes). Although the two fungal pathogens did not differentially affect the amount of ectomycorrhizas, the fungal symbiont perceived their presence differently. The results may suggest that the symbiont has the ability to recognize a self/native and a nonself/nonnative pathogen, probably through host plant-mediated signal transduction.}, } @article {pmid27869787, year = {2016}, author = {Chomicki, G and Renner, SS}, title = {Obligate plant farming by a specialized ant.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {16181}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2016.181}, pmid = {27869787}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Fiji ; Reproduction ; Rubiaceae/growth & development/*physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Seeds/growth & development ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many epiphytic plants have associated with ants to gain nutrients. Here, we report a novel type of ant-plant symbiosis in Fiji where one ant species actively and exclusively plants the seeds and fertilizes the seedlings of six species of Squamellaria (Rubiaceae). Comparison with related facultative ant plants suggests that such farming plays a key role in mutualism stability by mitigating the critical re-establishment step.}, } @article {pmid27869713, year = {2016}, author = {Doumayrou, J and Sheber, M and Bonning, BC and Miller, WA}, title = {Role of Pea Enation Mosaic Virus Coat Protein in the Host Plant and Aphid Vector.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {27869713}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*virology ; Capsid Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Luteoviridae/genetics/*physiology ; Peas/*virology ; Plant Leaves/virology ; Tombusviridae/genetics/*physiology ; Virus Assembly ; Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in plant virus-vector interactions is essential for the development of effective control measures for aphid-vectored epidemic plant diseases. The coat proteins (CP) are the main component of the viral capsids, and they are implicated in practically every stage of the viral infection cycle. Pea enation mosaic virus 1 (PEMV1, Enamovirus, Luteoviridae) and Pea enation mosaic virus 2 (PEMV2, Umbravirus, Tombusviridae) are two RNA viruses in an obligate symbiosis causing the pea enation mosaic disease. Sixteen mutant viruses were generated with mutations in different domains of the CP to evaluate the role of specific amino acids in viral replication, virion assembly, long-distance movement in Pisum sativum, and aphid transmission. Twelve mutant viruses were unable to assemble but were able to replicate in inoculated leaves, move long-distance, and express the CP in newly infected leaves. Four mutant viruses produced virions, but three were not transmissible by the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Three-dimensional modeling of the PEMV CP, combined with biological assays for virion assembly and aphid transmission, allowed for a model of the assembly of PEMV coat protein subunits.}, } @article {pmid27869307, year = {2017}, author = {Cassorla, RM}, title = {Stupidity in the analytic field: Vicissitudes of the detachment process in adolescence.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {98}, number = {2}, pages = {371-391}, doi = {10.1111/1745-8315.12577}, pmid = {27869307}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Adolescent ; *Adolescent Development ; *Defense Mechanisms ; Female ; Humans ; *Object Attachment ; *Psychoanalytic Interpretation ; }, abstract = {This paper has the objective of broadening the understanding of technical aspects in working with adolescents who defend themselves against detachment from infantile aspects through defensive organizations. These organizations numb the adolescent toward both triangular reality and narcissistic defenses. The families of such young people may be part of the organization and the analyst can also be recruited to participate in it. But the analyst's perception can become blurry and this fact makes him appear stupid. Aspects of the myths of Narcissus and Oedipus are used here as models for studying stupidity. The analysis of a psychotic teenage girl who is symbiotic in relation to her family shows how the analytical field can be invaded by defensive configurations. Collusions of idealization and domination/submission involve the young person, her family and the analyst but the defensive organizations are only identified after their traumatic breakdown. The expansion of the symbolic network allows symbiotic transgenerational organizations to be identified, while models related to enactments prove helpful for understanding technical ups and downs. The paper ends with imaginative conjectures where Oedipus, as 'patient', is compared to the patient discussed here. These conjectures lead to reinterpretations of aspects of the Oedipus myth. The reinterpretations, together with the theoretical and clinical study, may serve as models for understanding the technical ups and downs in working with troubled teens.}, } @article {pmid27866836, year = {2016}, author = {Papazyan, R and Sun, Z and Kim, YH and Titchenell, PM and Hill, DA and Lu, W and Damle, M and Wan, M and Zhang, Y and Briggs, ER and Rabinowitz, JD and Lazar, MA}, title = {Physiological Suppression of Lipotoxic Liver Damage by Complementary Actions of HDAC3 and SCAP/SREBP.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {863-874}, pmid = {27866836}, issn = {1932-7420}, support = {T32 GM008216/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 DK101175/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK111715/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DK099443/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK050306/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; F32 DK108555/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R37 DK043806/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK007314/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK019525/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Fatty Liver/genetics/pathology ; Glucose/pharmacology ; Histone Deacetylases/*metabolism ; Inflammation/pathology ; Lipids/*toxicity ; Lipogenesis/drug effects/genetics ; Liver/drug effects/*metabolism/*pathology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Protein Binding/drug effects/genetics ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Triglycerides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Liver fat accumulation precedes non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, an increasing cause of end-stage liver disease. Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is required for hepatic triglyceride homeostasis, and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) regulates the lipogenic response to feeding, but the crosstalk between these pathways is unknown. Here we show that inactivation of SREBP by hepatic deletion of SREBP cleavage activating protein (SCAP) abrogates the increase in lipogenesis caused by loss of HDAC3, but fatty acid oxidation remains defective. This combination leads to accumulation of lipid intermediates and to an energy drain that collectively cause oxidative stress, inflammation, liver damage, and, ultimately, synthetic lethality. Remarkably, this phenotype is prevented by ectopic expression of nuclear SREBP1c, revealing a surprising benefit of de novo lipogenesis and triglyceride synthesis in preventing lipotoxicity. These results demonstrate that HDAC3 and SCAP control symbiotic pathways of liver lipid metabolism that are critical for suppression of lipotoxicity.}, } @article {pmid27866481, year = {2017}, author = {Leite, LG and Shapiro-Ilan, DI and Hazir, S and Jackson, MA}, title = {Effect of inoculum age and physical parameters on in vitro culture of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {91}, number = {6}, pages = {686-695}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X16000821}, pmid = {27866481}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {Animals ; Culture Media/chemistry/metabolism ; Insecta/*parasitology ; Rhabditida/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae have a symbiotic association with bacteria which makes them virulent against insects. EPNs have been mass produced using in vivo and in vitro methods, including both solid and liquid fermentation. This study assessed the effect of nematode inoculum age on the production of Steinernema feltiae in liquid, solid and biphasic processes. Several physical parameters were also assessed: the effect of medium viscosity, flask size and aeration speed on the recovery and yield of infective juveniles (IJs). Inoculum age treatments included inoculum liquid cultures that were 7, 14, 21 and 28 days old. Nematodes from the same inoculum were added to one liquid medium (liquid culture), one solid medium with bacteria previously grown in sponge (solid culture) and a variation of the solid medium (a biphasic culture), in which the bacteria were first grown in liquid and, then, soaked into the sponges, with the purpose of providing a more homogeneous bacterial culture before nematode inoculation. Experiments were conducted in Erlenmeyer flasks. Eight treatments were established involving combinations of three variables: two media (with and without 0.2% agar), two flask sizes (250 and 150 ml) and two agitation speeds (180 and 280 rpm). The study showed increases in nematode yield for liquid cultures, but not for solid or biphasic cultures, with the advance of the inoculum age up to 28 days of growth. Furthermore, the addition of 0.2% agar to the liquid medium and increasing the aeration rate by using larger flasks with higher agitation speed may increase nematode recovery and final yield. The experiments were conducted using shake flasks but the results may also be applicable for bioreactors.}, } @article {pmid27865823, year = {2016}, author = {Afsar, B and Vaziri, ND and Aslan, G and Tarim, K and Kanbay, M}, title = {Gut hormones and gut microbiota: implications for kidney function and hypertension.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {954-961}, doi = {10.1016/j.jash.2016.10.007}, pmid = {27865823}, issn = {1878-7436}, mesh = {Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hormones/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications/drug therapy/*physiopathology ; Intestinal Absorption/drug effects ; Intestines/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Isoquinolines/therapeutic use ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications/*physiopathology ; Sodium, Dietary/adverse effects/*metabolism ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Increased blood pressure (BP) and chronic kidney disease are two leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Increased sodium intake is one of the most important risk factors for development of hypertension. Recent data have shown that gut influences kidney function and BP by variety of mechanisms. Various hormones and peptides secreted from gut such as gastrin, glucocorticoids, Glucagon-like peptide-1 impact on kidney function and BP especially influencing sodium absorption from gut. These findings stimulate scientist to find new therapeutic options such as tenapanor for treatment of hypertension by blocking sodium absorption from gut. The gastrointestinal tract is also occupied by a huge community of microbes (microbiome) that under normal condition has a symbiotic relationship with the host. Alterations in the structure and function of the gut microbiota have been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis and complications of numerous diseases including hypertension. Based on these data, in this review, we provide a summary of the available data on the role of gut and gut microbiota in regulation of BP and kidney function.}, } @article {pmid27864849, year = {2017}, author = {Loján, P and Demortier, M and Velivelli, SL and Pfeiffer, S and Suárez, JP and de Vos, P and Prestwich, BD and Sessitsch, A and Declerck, S}, title = {Impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on root colonization potential and life cycle of Rhizophagus irregularis following co-entrapment into alginate beads.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {122}, number = {2}, pages = {429-440}, doi = {10.1111/jam.13355}, pmid = {27864849}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Alginates ; Bacillus/classification/physiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/physiology ; Glomeromycota/classification/*growth & development ; Glucuronic Acid ; Hexuronic Acids ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Microbiological Techniques/*methods ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: This study aimed at evaluating the impact of seven plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on root colonization and life cycle of Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833 when co-entrapped in alginate beads.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Two in vitro experiments were conducted. The first consisted of the immobilization of R. irregularis and seven PGPR isolates into alginate beads to assess the effect of the bacteria on the pre-symbiotic growth of the fungus. In the second experiment, the best performing PGPR from experiment 1 was tested for its ability to promote the symbiotic development of the AMF in potato plantlets from three cultivars. Results showed that only one isolate identified as Pseudomonas plecoglossicida (R-67094) promoted germ tube elongation and hyphal branching of germinated spores during the pre-symbiotic phase of the fungus. This PGPR further promoted the symbiotic development of the AMF in potato plants.

CONCLUSIONS: The co-entrapment of Ps. plecoglossicida R-67094 and R. irregularis MUCL 41833 in alginate beads improved root colonization by the AMF and its further life cycle under the experimental conditions.

Co-entrapment of suitable AMF-PGPR combinations within alginate beads may represent an innovative technology that can be fine-tuned for the development of efficient consortia-based bioformulations.}, } @article {pmid27864511, year = {2016}, author = {Zgadzaj, R and Garrido-Oter, R and Jensen, DB and Koprivova, A and Schulze-Lefert, P and Radutoiu, S}, title = {Root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus drives the establishment of distinctive rhizosphere, root, and nodule bacterial communities.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {49}, pages = {E7996-E8005}, pmid = {27864511}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Brassicaceae/microbiology ; Fertilizers ; Lotus/*microbiology ; *Microbial Consortia ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lotus japonicus has been used for decades as a model legume to study the establishment of binary symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia that trigger root nodule organogenesis for bacterial accommodation. Using community profiling of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we reveal that in Lotus, distinctive nodule- and root-inhabiting communities are established by parallel, rather than consecutive, selection of bacteria from the rhizosphere and root compartments. Comparative analyses of wild-type (WT) and symbiotic mutants in Nod factor receptor5 (nfr5), Nodule inception (nin) and Lotus histidine kinase1 (lhk1) genes identified a previously unsuspected role of the nodulation pathway in the establishment of different bacterial assemblages in the root and rhizosphere. We found that the loss of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis dramatically alters community structure in the latter two compartments, affecting at least 14 bacterial orders. The differential plant growth phenotypes seen between WT and the symbiotic mutants in nonsupplemented soil were retained under nitrogen-supplemented conditions that blocked the formation of functional nodules in WT, whereas the symbiosis-impaired mutants maintain an altered community structure in the nitrogen-supplemented soil. This finding provides strong evidence that the root-associated community shift in the symbiotic mutants is a direct consequence of the disabled symbiosis pathway rather than an indirect effect resulting from abolished symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our findings imply a role of the legume host in selecting a broad taxonomic range of root-associated bacteria that, in addition to rhizobia, likely contribute to plant growth and ecological performance.}, } @article {pmid27862540, year = {2017}, author = {Meseguer, AS and Manzano-Marín, A and Coeur d'Acier, A and Clamens, AL and Godefroid, M and Jousselin, E}, title = {Buchnera has changed flatmate but the repeated replacement of co-obligate symbionts is not associated with the ecological expansions of their aphid hosts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {2363-2378}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13910}, pmid = {27862540}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serratia/*genetics ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations with bacteria have facilitated important evolutionary transitions in insects and resulted in long-term obligate interactions. Recent evidence suggests that these associations are not always evolutionarily stable and that symbiont replacement, and/or supplementation of an obligate symbiosis by an additional bacterium, has occurred during the history of many insect groups. Yet, the factors favouring one symbiont over another in this evolutionary dynamic are not well understood; progress has been hindered by our incomplete understanding of the distribution of symbionts across phylogenetic and ecological contexts. While many aphids are engaged into an obligate symbiosis with a single Gammaproteobacterium, Buchnera aphidicola, in species of the Lachninae subfamily, this relationship has evolved into a 'ménage à trois', in which Buchnera is complemented by a cosymbiont, usually Serratia symbiotica. Using deep sequencing of 16S rRNA bacterial genes from 128 species of Cinara (the most diverse Lachninae genus), we reveal a highly dynamic dual symbiotic system in this aphid lineage. Most species host both Serratia and Buchnera but, in several clades, endosymbionts related to Sodalis, Erwinia or an unnamed member of the Enterobacteriaceae have replaced Serratia. Endosymbiont genome sequences from four aphid species confirm that these coresident symbionts fulfil essential metabolic functions not ensured by Buchnera. We further demonstrate through comparative phylogenetic analyses that cosymbiont replacement is not associated with the adaptation of aphids to new ecological conditions. We propose that symbiont succession was driven by factors intrinsic to the phenomenon of endosymbiosis, such as rapid genome deterioration or competitive interactions between bacteria with similar metabolic capabilities.}, } @article {pmid27860522, year = {2017}, author = {Hulcr, J and Stelinski, LL}, title = {The Ambrosia Symbiosis: From Evolutionary Ecology to Practical Management.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {285-303}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035105}, pmid = {27860522}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ambrosia beetle-fungus farming symbiosis is more heterogeneous than previously thought. There is not one but many ambrosia symbioses. Beetle-fungus specificity is clade dependent and ranges from strict to promiscuous. Each new origin has evolved a new mycangium. The most common relationship with host trees is colonization of freshly dead tissues, but there are also parasites of living trees, vectors of pathogenic fungi, and beetles living in rotten trees with a wood-decay symbiont. Most of these strategies are driven by fungal metabolism whereas beetle ecology is evolutionarily more flexible. The ambrosia lifestyle facilitated a radiation of social strategies, from fungus thieves to eusocial species to communities assembled by attraction to fungal scent. Although over 95% of the symbiotic pairs are economically harmless, there are also three types of pest damage: tree pathogen inoculation, mass accumulation on susceptible hosts, and structural damage. Beetles able to colonize live tree tissues are most likely to become invasive pests.}, } @article {pmid27860508, year = {2016}, author = {Schwab, DB and Riggs, HE and Newton, IL and Moczek, AP}, title = {Developmental and Ecological Benefits of the Maternally Transmitted Microbiota in a Dung Beetle.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {188}, number = {6}, pages = {679-692}, doi = {10.1086/688926}, pmid = {27860508}, issn = {1537-5323}, support = {T32 GM007757/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Hawaii ; Larva/growth & development ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To complete their development, diverse animal species rely on the presence of communities of symbiotic microbiota that are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring. In the dung beetle genus Onthophagus, newly hatched larvae acquire maternal gut symbionts by the consumption of a maternal fecal secretion known as the pedestal. Here, we investigate the role of pedestal symbionts in mediating the normal development of Onthophagus gazella. Through the stepwise removal of environmental and maternal sources of microbial inoculation, we find that pedestal microbiota can enhance both overall growth and developmental rate in O. gazella. Further, we find that the beneficial effects of symbionts on developmental outcomes are amplified in the presence of ecologically relevant temperature and desiccation stressors. Collectively, our results suggest that the pedestal may provide an adaptive function by transmitting beneficial microbiota to developing dung beetle larvae and that the importance of microbiota for developmental and fitness outcomes may be context dependent.}, } @article {pmid27860053, year = {2017}, author = {Siddhanta, S and Paidi, SK and Bushley, K and Prasad, R and Barman, I}, title = {Exploring Morphological and Biochemical Linkages in Fungal Growth with Label-Free Light Sheet Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy.}, journal = {Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {72-78}, doi = {10.1002/cphc.201601062}, pmid = {27860053}, issn = {1439-7641}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*chemistry ; Hyphae/*growth & development ; Microscopy ; *Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; }, abstract = {Imaging tip growth in fungal hyphae is highly warranted to unravel the molecular mechanism of this extraordinarily precise and localized phenomenon. In situ probing of fungal cultures, however, have been challenging due to their inherent complexity and light penetration issues associated with conventional optical imaging. In this work, we report a label-free approach using a combination of light sheet microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to obtain concomitant morphological and biochemical information from the growing specimen. We show that the variance in morphology in the symbiotic fungus Piriformospora indica are rooted in the underlying differences in chemical composition in the specific growth zones. Our findings suggest that this potent two-pronged approach can comprehensively characterize growth areas and elucidate microbe interactions in still developing colonies with high sensitivity and multiplexing capability.}, } @article {pmid27859292, year = {2017}, author = {Wolf, AA and Funk, JL and Menge, DN}, title = {The symbionts made me do it: legumes are not hardwired for high nitrogen concentrations but incorporate more nitrogen when inoculated.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {2}, pages = {690-699}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14303}, pmid = {27859292}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fabaceae/drug effects/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis/*pharmacology ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {High tissue nitrogen (N) concentrations in N-fixing legumes may be driven by an evolutionary commitment to a high N strategy, by higher N availability from fixation, or by some other cause. To disentangle these hypotheses, we asked two questions: are legumes hardwired to have high N concentrations? Aside from delivering fixed N, how does inoculation affect legume N concentrations? In order to understand drivers of plant stoichiometry, we subjected four herbaceous legume species to nine levels of N fertilization in a glasshouse. Half of the individuals were inoculated with crushed nodules, whereas the other half remained uninoculated and could not fix N. Across four legume species, we found that tissue stoichiometry and nutrient content were more plastic than has been described for any other plant species. In addition, inoculated plants had higher tissue N concentrations than N fixation activity alone can explain. Rather than being hardwired for high N or phosphorus (P) demand, the legumes we examined were highly flexible in their nutrient allocation. Understanding the drivers of legume N concentrations is essential to understanding the role of N fixers in community- and ecosystem-level processes.}, } @article {pmid27859287, year = {2017}, author = {Fochi, V and Chitarra, W and Kohler, A and Voyron, S and Singan, VR and Lindquist, EA and Barry, KW and Girlanda, M and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Balestrini, R and Perotto, S}, title = {Fungal and plant gene expression in the Tulasnella calospora-Serapias vomeracea symbiosis provides clues about nitrogen pathways in orchid mycorrhizas.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {1}, pages = {365-379}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14279}, pmid = {27859287}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Biomass ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genes, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Nitrogen/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Orchidaceae/drug effects/*genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Orchids are highly dependent on their mycorrhizal fungal partners for nutrient supply, especially during early developmental stages. In addition to organic carbon, nitrogen (N) is probably a major nutrient transferred to the plant because orchid tissues are highly N-enriched. We know almost nothing about the N form preferentially transferred to the plant or about the key molecular determinants required for N uptake and transfer. We identified, in the genome of the orchid mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella calospora, two functional ammonium transporters and several amino acid transporters but found no evidence of a nitrate assimilation system, in agreement with the N preference of the free-living mycelium grown on different N sources. Differential expression in symbiosis of a repertoire of fungal and plant genes involved in the transport and metabolism of N compounds suggested that organic N may be the main form transferred to the orchid host and that ammonium is taken up by the intracellular fungus from the apoplatic symbiotic interface. This is the first study addressing the genetic determinants of N uptake and transport in orchid mycorrhizas, and provides a model for nutrient exchanges at the symbiotic interface, which may guide future experiments.}, } @article {pmid27859175, year = {2016}, author = {Rothacher, L and Ferrer-Suay, M and Vorburger, C}, title = {Bacterial endosymbionts protect aphids in the field and alter parasitoid community composition.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {7}, pages = {1712-1723}, doi = {10.1890/15-2022.1}, pmid = {27859175}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Genotype ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {It has become increasingly evident that many organisms rely on microbial symbionts for defense against natural enemies, but the ecological importance of defensive symbionts for natural communities still needs to be investigated. A well-known example is Hamiltonella defensa, a heritable endosymbiotic bacterium commonly found in aphids. Laboratory experiments have shown that H. defensa strongly protects aphids against parasitic wasps (parasitoids), although this protection is not equally effective against different species of parasitoids, or even different genotypes of the same species. These results suggest that H. defensa plays an important role in reducing aphid mortality by parasitoids and presumably affects the community composition of parasitoids relying on aphids as a resource. However, there is little evidence that this is indeed the case under natural conditions. We tested this in a field experiment with black bean aphids (Aphis fabae) by setting up replicated field plots with genetically identical aphids that did or did not harbor H. defensa and following their colonization by natural enemies over a growing season. We observed a clear reduction in parasitism of symbiont-protected aphids, particularly by the parasitoids posing the highest risk. However, protected aphids did not develop larger populations than unprotected ones, possibly reflecting the balancing effect of costs associated with harboring H. defensa. We also observed shifts in the parasitoid species composition on aphids protected by H. defensa, showing that defensive symbionts have the potential to alter the diversity and structure of food webs, with likely consequences for their function and stability.}, } @article {pmid27858148, year = {2017}, author = {Fuchs, B and Breuer, T and Findling, S and Krischke, M and Mueller, MJ and Holzschuh, A and Krauss, J}, title = {Enhanced aphid abundance in spring desynchronizes predator-prey and plant-microorganism interactions.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {183}, number = {2}, pages = {469-478}, pmid = {27858148}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; *Climate Change ; Endophytes ; Herbivory ; Poaceae/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Climate change leads to phenology shifts of many species. However, not all species shift in parallel, which can desynchronize interspecific interactions. Within trophic cascades, herbivores can be top-down controlled by predators or bottom-up controlled by host plant quality and host symbionts, such as plant-associated micro-organisms. Synchronization of trophic levels is required to prevent insect herbivore (pest) outbreaks. In a common garden experiment, we simulated an earlier arrival time (~2 weeks) of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi on its host grass Lolium perenne by enhancing the aphid abundance during the colonization period. L. perenne was either uninfected or infected with the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae var. lolii. The plant symbiotic fungus produces insect deterring alkaloids within the host grass. Throughout the season, we tested the effects of enhanced aphid abundance in spring on aphid predators (top-down) and grass-endophyte (bottom-up) responses. Higher aphid population sizes earlier in the season lead to overall higher aphid abundances, as predator occurrence was independent of aphid abundances on the pots. Nonetheless, after predator occurrence, aphids were controlled within 2 weeks on all pots. Possible bottom-up control of aphids by increased endophyte concentrations occurred time delayed after high herbivore abundances. Endophyte-derived alkaloid concentrations were not significantly affected by enhanced aphid abundance but increased throughout the season. We conclude that phenology shifts in an herbivorous species can desynchronize predator-prey and plant-microorganism interactions and might enhance the probability of pest outbreaks with climate change.}, } @article {pmid27858136, year = {2017}, author = {Yu, X and Li, Y and Li, Y and Xu, C and Cui, Y and Xiang, Q and Gu, Y and Zhao, K and Zhang, X and Penttinen, P and Chen, Q}, title = {Pongamia pinnata inoculated with Bradyrhizobium liaoningense PZHK1 shows potential for phytoremediation of mine tailings.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {101}, number = {4}, pages = {1739-1751}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-016-7996-4}, pmid = {27858136}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; *Mining ; }, abstract = {Mine tailings contain high concentrations of metal contaminants and only little nutrients, making the tailings barren for decades after the mining has been terminated. Effective phytoremediation of mine tailings calls for deep-rooted, metal accumulating, and soil fertility increasing plants with tolerance against harsh environmental conditions. We assessed the potential of the biofuel leguminous tree Pongamia pinnata inoculated with plant growth promoting rhizobia to remediate iron-vanadium-titanium oxide (V-Ti magnetite) mine tailing soil by pot experiment and in situ remediation test. A metal tolerant rhizobia strain PZHK1 was isolated from the tailing soil and identified as Bradyrhizobium liaoningense by phylogenetic analysis. Inoculation with PZHK1 increased the growth of P. pinnata both in V-Ti magnetite mine tailings and in Ni-contaminated soil. Furthermore, inoculation increased the metal accumulation capacity and superoxide dismutase activity of P. pinnata. The concentrations of Ni accumulated by inoculated plants were higher than the hyperaccumulator threshold. Inoculated P. pinnata accumulated high concentration of Fe, far exceeding the upper limit (1000 mg kg[-1]) of Fe in plant tissue. In summary, P. pinnata-B. liaoningense PZHK1 symbiosis showed potential to be applied as an effective phytoremediation technology for mine tailings and to produce biofuel feedstock on the marginal land.}, } @article {pmid27857974, year = {2016}, author = {Jiménez-Valerio, G and Casanovas, O}, title = {Antiangiogenic resistance via metabolic symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular oncology}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {e1211979}, pmid = {27857974}, issn = {2372-3556}, abstract = {Several types of tumor are currently treated with antiangiogenic drugs. Unfortunately, most of these patients develop therapy resistance and succumb to the disease. Recently, a novel mechanism of resistance to antiangiogenics involving metabolic symbiosis of tumor cells has been described. Strategies to block resistance are emerging as a promising therapeutic approach.}, } @article {pmid27857087, year = {2016}, author = {Kilian, M and Chapple, IL and Hannig, M and Marsh, PD and Meuric, V and Pedersen, AM and Tonetti, MS and Wade, WG and Zaura, E}, title = {The oral microbiome - an update for oral healthcare professionals.}, journal = {British dental journal}, volume = {221}, number = {10}, pages = {657-666}, pmid = {27857087}, issn = {1476-5373}, mesh = {*Dental Caries ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; *Oral Health ; Periodontitis ; }, abstract = {For millions of years, our resident microbes have coevolved and coexisted with us in a mostly harmonious symbiotic relationship. We are not distinct entities from our microbiome, but together we form a 'superorganism' or holobiont, with the microbiome playing a significant role in our physiology and health. The mouth houses the second most diverse microbial community in the body, harbouring over 700 species of bacteria that colonise the hard surfaces of teeth and the soft tissues of the oral mucosa. Through recent advances in technology, we have started to unravel the complexities of the oral microbiome and gained new insights into its role during both health and disease. Perturbations of the oral microbiome through modern-day lifestyles can have detrimental consequences for our general and oral health. In dysbiosis, the finely-tuned equilibrium of the oral ecosystem is disrupted, allowing disease-promoting bacteria to manifest and cause conditions such as caries, gingivitis and periodontitis. For practitioners and patients alike, promoting a balanced microbiome is therefore important to effectively maintain or restore oral health. This article aims to give an update on our current knowledge of the oral microbiome in health and disease and to discuss implications for modern-day oral healthcare.}, } @article {pmid27855786, year = {2016}, author = {Segev, E and Wyche, TP and Kim, KH and Petersen, J and Ellebrandt, C and Vlamakis, H and Barteneva, N and Paulson, JN and Chai, L and Clardy, J and Kolter, R}, title = {Dynamic metabolic exchange governs a marine algal-bacterial interaction.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27855786}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R01 GM082137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT009874/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR023459/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM058213/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/growth & development/metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Haptophyta/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Rhodobacteraceae/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Tryptophan/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Emiliania huxleyi is a model coccolithophore micro-alga that generates vast blooms in the ocean. Bacteria are not considered among the major factors influencing coccolithophore physiology. Here we show through a laboratory model system that the bacterium Phaeobacter inhibens, a well-studied member of the Roseobacter group, intimately interacts with E. huxleyi. While attached to the algal cell, bacteria initially promote algal growth but ultimately kill their algal host. Both algal growth enhancement and algal death are driven by the bacterially-produced phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid. Bacterial production of indole-3-acetic acid and attachment to algae are significantly increased by tryptophan, which is exuded from the algal cell. Algal death triggered by bacteria involves activation of pathways unique to oxidative stress response and programmed cell death. Our observations suggest that bacteria greatly influence the physiology and metabolism of E. huxleyi. Coccolithophore-bacteria interactions should be further studied in the environment to determine whether they impact micro-algal population dynamics on a global scale.}, } @article {pmid27854317, year = {2016}, author = {Vitetta, L and Saltzman, ET and Nikov, T and Ibrahim, I and Hall, S}, title = {Modulating the Gut Micro-Environment in the Treatment of Intestinal Parasites.}, journal = {Journal of clinical medicine}, volume = {5}, number = {11}, pages = {}, pmid = {27854317}, issn = {2077-0383}, abstract = {The interactions of micro-organisms cohabitating with Homo sapiens spans millennia, with microbial communities living in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Interacting to regulate and maintain physiological functions and immunological tolerance, the microbial community is able to exert an influence on host health. An example of micro-organisms contributing to an intestinal disease state is exhibited by a biodiverse range of protozoan and bacterial species that damage the intestinal epithelia and are therefore implicated in the symptoms of diarrhea. As a contentious exemplar, Blastocystis hominis is a ubiquitous enteric protist that can adversely affect the intestines. The symptoms experienced are a consequence of the responses of the innate immune system triggered by the disruption of the intestinal barrier. The infiltration of the intestinal epithelial barrier involves a host of immune receptors, including toll like receptors and IgM/IgG/IgA antibodies as well as CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. Whilst the mechanisms of interactions between the intestinal microbiome and protozoan parasites remain incompletely understood, it is acknowledged that the intestinal microbiota is a key factor in the pathophysiology of parasitic infections. Modulating the intestinal environment through the administration of probiotics has been postulated as a possible therapeutic agent to control the proliferation of intestinal microbes through their capacity to induce competition for occupation of a common biotype. The ultimate goal of this mechanism is to prevent infections of the like of giardiasis and eliminate its symptoms. The differing types of probiotics (i.e., bacteria and yeast) modulate immunity by stimulating the host immune system. Early animal studies support the potential benefits of probiotic administration to prevent intestinal infections, with human clinical studies showing probiotics can reduce the number of parasites and the severity of symptoms. The early clinical indications endorse probiotics as adjuncts in the pharmaceutical treatment of protozoan infections. Currently, the bar is set low for the conduct of well-designed clinical studies that will translate the use of probiotics to ameliorate protozoan infections, therefore the requisite is for further clinical research.}, } @article {pmid27853562, year = {2016}, author = {Quigley, KM and Willis, BL and Bay, LK}, title = {Maternal effects and Symbiodinium community composition drive differential patterns in juvenile survival in the coral Acropora tenuis.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {3}, number = {10}, pages = {160471}, pmid = {27853562}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Coral endosymbionts in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium are known to impact host physiology and have led to the evolution of reef-building, but less is known about how symbiotic communities in early life-history stages and their interactions with host parental identity shape the structure of coral communities on reefs. Differentiating the roles of environmental and biological factors driving variation in population demographic processes, particularly larval settlement, early juvenile survival and the onset of symbiosis is key to understanding how coral communities are structured and to predicting how they are likely to respond to climate change. We show that maternal effects (that here include genetic and/or effects related to the maternal environment) can explain nearly 24% of variation in larval settlement success and 5-17% of variation in juvenile survival in an experimental study of the reef-building scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis. After 25 days on the reef, Symbiodinium communities associated with juvenile corals differed significantly between high mortality and low mortality families based on estimates of taxonomic richness, composition and relative abundance of taxa. Our results highlight that maternal and familial effects significantly explain variation in juvenile survival and symbiont communities in a broadcast-spawning coral, with Symbiodinium type A3 possibly a critical symbiotic partner during this early life stage.}, } @article {pmid27853454, year = {2016}, author = {Garcia, K and Ané, JM}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Secretomes from Ectomycorrhizal Fungi with an Emphasis on Small-Secreted Proteins.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1734}, pmid = {27853454}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid27853450, year = {2016}, author = {Human, ZR and Moon, K and Bae, M and de Beer, ZW and Cha, S and Wingfield, MJ and Slippers, B and Oh, DC and Venter, SN}, title = {Antifungal Streptomyces spp. Associated with the Infructescences of Protea spp. in South Africa.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1657}, pmid = {27853450}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Common saprophytic fungi are seldom present in Protea infructescences, which is strange given the abundance of mainly dead plant tissue in this moist protected environment. We hypothesized that the absence of common saprophytic fungi in Protea infructescences could be due to a special symbiosis where the presence of microbes producing antifungal compounds protect the infructescence. Using a culture based survey, employing selective media and in vitro antifungal assays, we isolated antibiotic producing actinomycetes from infructescences of Protea repens and P. neriifolia from two geographically separated areas. Isolates were grouped into three different morphological groups and appeared to be common in the Protea spp. examined in this study. The three groups were supported in 16S rRNA and multi-locus gene trees and were identified as potentially novel Streptomyces spp. All of the groups had antifungal activity in vitro. Streptomyces sp. Group 1 had inhibitory activity against all tested fungi and the active compound produced by this species was identified as fungichromin. Streptomyces spp. Groups 2 and 3 had lower inhibition against all tested fungi, while Group 3 showed limited inhibition against Candida albicans and Sporothrix isolates. The active compound for Group 2 was also identified as fungichromin even though its production level was much lower than Group 1. The antifungal activity of Group 3 was linked to actiphenol. The observed antifungal activity of the isolated actinomycetes could contribute to protection of the plant material against common saprophytic fungi, as fungichromin was also detected in extracts of the infructescence. The results of this study suggest that the antifungal Streptomyces spp. could play an important role in defining the microbial population associated with Protea infructescences.}, } @article {pmid27853404, year = {2016}, author = {Glover, EA and Taylor, JD}, title = {Pleurolucina from the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans: a new intertidal species from Curaçao with unusual shell microstructure (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Lucinidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {620}, pages = {1-19}, pmid = {27853404}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {A new shallow water species of the lucinid bivalve Pleurolucina is described from Curaçao in the southern Caribbean Sea and compared with known species of the genus from the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. Although confused with the Floridian species Pleurolucina leucocyma, it is most similar to the eastern Pacific Pleurolucina undata. As in all studied lucinids, the new species possesses symbiotic bacteria housed in the ctenidia. The shell microstructure is unusual with repeated and intercalated conchiolin layers that have sublayers of 'tulip-shaped' calcareous spherules. Predatory drillings by naticid gastropods frequently terminate at the conchiolin layers.}, } @article {pmid27852759, year = {2016}, author = {Kohl, KD and Carey, HV}, title = {A place for host-microbe symbiosis in the comparative physiologist's toolbox.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 22}, pages = {3496-3504}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.136325}, pmid = {27852759}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Models, Biological ; Physiology, Comparative/*methods ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Although scientists have long appreciated that metazoans evolved in a microbial world, we are just beginning to appreciate the profound impact that host-associated microbes have on diverse aspects of animal biology. The enormous growth in our understanding of host-microbe symbioses is rapidly expanding the study of animal physiology, both technically and conceptually. Microbes associate functionally with various body surfaces of their hosts, although most reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Gut microbes convert dietary and host-derived substrates to metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, thereby providing energy and nutrients to the host. Bacterial metabolites incorporated into the host metabolome can activate receptors on a variety of cell types and, in doing so, alter host physiology (including metabolism, organ function, biological rhythms, neural activity and behavior). Given that host-microbe interactions affect diverse aspects of host physiology, it is likely that they influence animal ecology and, if they confer fitness benefits, the evolutionary trajectory of a species. Multiple variables - including sampling regime, environmental parameters, host metadata and analytical methods - can influence experimental outcomes in host-microbiome studies, making careful experimental design and execution crucial to ensure reproducible and informative studies in the laboratory and field. Integration of microbiomes into comparative physiology and ecophysiological investigations can reveal the potential impacts of the microbiota on physiological responses to changing environments, and is likely to bring valuable insights to the study of host-microbiome interactions among a broad range of metazoans, including humans.}, } @article {pmid27849596, year = {2016}, author = {Powell, JE and Leonard, SP and Kwong, WK and Engel, P and Moran, NA}, title = {Genome-wide screen identifies host colonization determinants in a bacterial gut symbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {48}, pages = {13887-13892}, pmid = {27849596}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*genetics/microbiology ; Biofilms/growth & development ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genome, Insect/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Mutagenesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Animal guts are often colonized by host-specialized bacterial species to the exclusion of other transient microorganisms, but the genetic basis of colonization ability is largely unknown. The bacterium Snodgrassella alvi is a dominant gut symbiont in honey bees, specialized in colonizing the hindgut epithelium. We developed methods for transposon-based mutagenesis in S. alvi and, using high-throughput DNA sequencing, screened genome-wide transposon insertion (Tn-seq) and transcriptome (RNA-seq) libraries to characterize both the essential genome and the genes facilitating host colonization. Comparison of Tn-seq results from laboratory cultures and from monoinoculated worker bees reveal that 519 of 2,226 protein-coding genes in S. alvi are essential in culture, whereas 399 are not essential but are beneficial for gut colonization. Genes facilitating colonization fall into three broad functional categories: extracellular interactions, metabolism, and stress responses. Extracellular components with strong fitness benefits in vivo include trimeric autotransporter adhesins, O antigens, and type IV pili (T4P). Experiments with T4P mutants establish that T4P in S. alvi likely function in attachment and biofilm formation, with knockouts experiencing a competitive disadvantage in vivo. Metabolic processes promoting colonization include essential amino acid biosynthesis and iron acquisition pathways, implying nutrient scarcity within the hindgut environment. Mechanisms to deal with various stressors, such as for the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks and protein quality control, are also critical in vivo. This genome-wide study identifies numerous genetic networks underlying colonization by a gut commensal in its native host environment, including some known from more targeted studies in other host-microbe symbioses.}, } @article {pmid27849579, year = {2016}, author = {Ling, J and Wang, H and Wu, P and Li, T and Tang, Y and Naseer, N and Zheng, H and Masson-Boivin, C and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {Plant nodulation inducers enhance horizontal gene transfer of Azorhizobium caulinodans symbiosis island.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {48}, pages = {13875-13880}, pmid = {27849579}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI120489/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Genomic Islands/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of genomic islands is a driving force of bacterial evolution. Many pathogens and symbionts use this mechanism to spread mobile genetic elements that carry genes important for interaction with their eukaryotic hosts. However, the role of the host in this process remains unclear. Here, we show that plant compounds inducing the nodulation process in the rhizobium-legume mutualistic symbiosis also enhance the transfer of symbiosis islands. We demonstrate that the symbiosis island of the Sesbania rostrata symbiont, Azorhizobium caulinodans, is an 87.6-kb integrative and conjugative element (ICE[Ac]) that is able to excise, form a circular DNA, and conjugatively transfer to a specific site of gly-tRNA gene of other rhizobial genera, expanding their host range. The HGT frequency was significantly increased in the rhizosphere. An ICE[Ac]-located LysR-family transcriptional regulatory protein AhaR triggered the HGT process in response to plant flavonoids that induce the expression of nodulation genes through another LysR-type protein, NodD. Our study suggests that rhizobia may sense rhizosphere environments and transfer their symbiosis gene contents to other genera of rhizobia, thereby broadening rhizobial host-range specificity.}, } @article {pmid27847871, year = {2016}, author = {Samodelov, SL and Beyer, HM and Guo, X and Augustin, M and Jia, KP and Baz, L and Ebenhöh, O and Beyer, P and Weber, W and Al-Babili, S and Zurbriggen, MD}, title = {StrigoQuant: A genetically encoded biosensor for quantifying strigolactone activity and specificity.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {e1601266}, pmid = {27847871}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biosensing Techniques/*methods ; Lactones/*analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are key regulators of plant development and interaction with symbiotic fungi; however, quantitative tools for strigolactone signaling analysis are lacking. We introduce a genetically encoded hormone biosensor used to analyze strigolactone-mediated processes, including the study of the components involved in the hormone perception/signaling complex and the structural specificity and sensitivity of natural and synthetic strigolactones in Arabidopsis, providing quantitative insights into the stereoselectivity of strigolactone perception. Given the high specificity, sensitivity, dynamic range of activity, modular construction, ease of implementation, and wide applicability, the biosensor StrigoQuant will be useful in unraveling multiple levels of strigolactone metabolic and signaling networks.}, } @article {pmid27847868, year = {2016}, author = {Frankowiak, K and Wang, XT and Sigman, DM and Gothmann, AM and Kitahara, MV and Mazur, M and Meibom, A and Stolarski, J}, title = {Photosymbiosis and the expansion of shallow-water corals.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {e1601122}, pmid = {27847868}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Roughly 240 million years ago (Ma), scleractinian corals rapidly expanded and diversified across shallow marine environments. The main driver behind this evolution is uncertain, but the ecological success of modern reef-building corals is attributed to their nutritional symbiosis with photosynthesizing dinoflagellate algae. We show that a suite of exceptionally preserved Late Triassic (ca. 212 Ma) coral skeletons from Antalya (Turkey) have microstructures, carbonate [13]C/[12]C and [18]O/[16]O, and intracrystalline skeletal organic matter [15]N/[14]N all indicating symbiosis. This includes species with growth forms conventionally considered asymbiotic. The nitrogen isotopes further suggest that their Tethys Sea habitat was a nutrient-poor, low-productivity marine environment in which photosymbiosis would be highly advantageous. Thus, coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis was likely a key driver in the evolution and expansion of shallow-water scleractinians.}, } @article {pmid27847509, year = {2016}, author = {Barraza, A and Contreras-Cubas, C and Estrada-Navarrete, G and Reyes, JL and Juárez-Verdayes, MA and Avonce, N and Quinto, C and Díaz-Camino, C and Sanchez, F}, title = {The Class II Trehalose 6-phosphate Synthase Gene PvTPS9 Modulates Trehalose Metabolism in Phaseolus vulgaris Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1589}, pmid = {27847509}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes form symbioses with rhizobia, producing nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of the plant host. The network of plant signaling pathways affecting carbon metabolism may determine the final number of nodules. The trehalose biosynthetic pathway regulates carbon metabolism and plays a fundamental role in plant growth and development, as well as in plant-microbe interactions. The expression of genes for trehalose synthesis during nodule development suggests that this metabolite may play a role in legume-rhizobia symbiosis. In this work, PvTPS9, which encodes a Class II trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), was silenced by RNA interference in transgenic nodules. The silencing of PvTPS9 in root nodules resulted in a reduction of 85% (± 1%) of its transcript, which correlated with a 30% decrease in trehalose contents of transgenic nodules and in untransformed leaves. Composite transgenic plants with PvTPS9 silenced in the roots showed no changes in nodule number and nitrogen fixation, but a severe reduction in plant biomass and altered transcript profiles of all Class II TPS genes. Our data suggest that PvTPS9 plays a key role in modulating trehalose metabolism in the symbiotic nodule and, therefore, in the whole plant.}, } @article {pmid27847500, year = {2016}, author = {Liaimer, A and Jensen, JB and Dittmann, E}, title = {A Genetic and Chemical Perspective on Symbiotic Recruitment of Cyanobacteria of the Genus Nostoc into the Host Plant Blasia pusilla L.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1693}, pmid = {27847500}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Liverwort Blasia pusilla L. recruits soil nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria of genus Nostoc as symbiotic partners. In this work we compared Nostoc community composition inside the plants and in the soil around them from two distant locations in Northern Norway. STRR fingerprinting and 16S rDNA phylogeny reconstruction showed a remarkable local diversity among isolates assigned to several Nostoc clades. An extensive web of negative allelopathic interactions was recorded at an agricultural site, but not at the undisturbed natural site. The cell extracts of the cyanobacteria did not show antimicrobial activities, but four isolates were shown to be cytotoxic to human cells. The secondary metabolite profiles of the isolates were mapped by MALDI-TOF MS, and the most prominent ions were further analyzed by Q-TOF for MS/MS aided identification. Symbiotic isolates produced a great variety of small peptide-like substances, most of which lack any record in the databases. Among identified compounds we found microcystin and nodularin variants toxic to eukaryotic cells. Microcystin producing chemotypes were dominating as symbiotic recruits but not in the free-living community. In addition, we were able to identify several novel aeruginosins and banyaside-like compounds, as well as nostocyclopeptides and nosperin.}, } @article {pmid27846795, year = {2016}, author = {Deinum, EE and Kohlen, W and Geurts, R}, title = {Quantitative modelling of legume root nodule primordium induction by a diffusive signal of epidermal origin that inhibits auxin efflux.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {254}, pmid = {27846795}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobium nitrogen fixation in legumes takes place in specialized organs called root nodules. The initiation of these symbiotic organs has two important components. First, symbiotic rhizobium bacteria are recognized at the epidermis through specific bacterially secreted lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs). Second, signaling processes culminate in the formation of a local auxin maximum marking the site of cell divisions. Both processes are spatially separated. This separation is most pronounced in legumes forming indeterminate nodules, such as model organism Medicago truncatula, in which the nodule primordium is formed from pericycle to most inner cortical cell layers.

RESULTS: We used computer simulations of a simplified root of a legume that can form indeterminate nodules. A diffusive signal that inhibits auxin transport is produced in the epidermis, the site of rhizobium contact. In our model, all cells have the same response characteristics to the diffusive signal. Nevertheless, we observed the fastest and strongest auxin accumulation in the pericycle and inner cortex. The location of these auxin maxima correlates with the first dividing cells of future nodule primordia in M. truncatula. The model also predicts a transient reduction of the vascular auxin concentration rootward of the induction site as is experimentally observed. We use our model to investigate how competition for the vascular auxin source could contribute to the regulation of nodule number and spacing.

CONCLUSION: Our simulations show that the diffusive signal may invoke the strongest auxin accumulation response in the inner root layers, although the signal itself is strongest close to its production site.}, } @article {pmid27846291, year = {2016}, author = {Dirihan, S and Helander, M and Väre, H and Gundel, PE and Garibaldi, LA and Irisarri, JG and Saloniemi, I and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Geographic Variation in Festuca rubra L. Ploidy Levels and Systemic Fungal Endophyte Frequencies.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {e0166264}, pmid = {27846291}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Denmark ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*genetics/growth & development ; Epichloe/*genetics/growth & development ; Festuca/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Finland ; Genetics, Population ; Iceland ; *Ploidies ; Spain ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Polyploidy and symbiotic Epichloë fungal endophytes are common and heritable characteristics that can facilitate environmental range expansion in grasses. Here we examined geographic patterns of polyploidy and the frequency of fungal endophyte colonized plants in 29 Festuca rubra L. populations from eight geographic sites across latitudes from Spain to northernmost Finland and Greenland. Ploidy seemed to be positively and negatively correlated with latitude and productivity, respectively. However, the correlations were nonlinear; 84% of the plants were hexaploids (2n = 6x = 42), and the positive correlation between ploidy level and latitude is the result of only four populations skewing the data. In the southernmost end of the gradient 86% of the plants were tetraploids (2n = 4x = 28), whereas in the northernmost end of the gradient one population had only octoploid plants (2n = 8x = 56). Endophytes were detected in 22 out of the 29 populations. Endophyte frequencies varied among geographic sites, and populations and habitats within geographic sites irrespective of ploidy, latitude or productivity. The highest overall endophyte frequencies were found in the southernmost end of the gradient, Spain, where 69% of plants harbored endophytes. In northern Finland, endophytes were detected in 30% of grasses but endophyte frequencies varied among populations from 0% to 75%, being higher in meadows compared to riverbanks. The endophytes were detected in 36%, 30% and 27% of the plants in Faroe Islands, Iceland and Switzerland, respectively. Practically all examined plants collected from southern Finland and Greenland were endophyte-free, whereas in other geographic sites endophyte frequencies were highly variable among populations. Common to all populations with high endophyte frequencies is heavy vertebrate grazing. We propose that the detected endophyte frequencies and ploidy levels mirror past distribution history of F. rubra after the last glaciation period, and local adaptations to past or prevailing selection forces such as vertebrate grazing.}, } @article {pmid27845247, year = {2017}, author = {Imada, EL and Rolla Dos Santos, AAP and Oliveira, ALM and Hungria, M and Rodrigues, EP}, title = {Indole-3-acetic acid production via the indole-3-pyruvate pathway by plant growth promoter Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is strongly inhibited by ammonium.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {283-292}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2016.10.010}, pmid = {27845247}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Fabaceae/growth & development/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Indoles/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium tropici/drug effects/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Like many rhizobia, Rhizobium tropici produces indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), an important signal molecule required for root hair infection in rhizobia-legume symbioses. However, the IAA biosynthesis pathway and its regulation by R. tropici are still poorly understood. In this study, IAA synthesis and the effects of mineral N in IAA production by R. tropici CIAT 899 were verified by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Furthermore, expression of genes related to IAA biosynthesis and metabolism were evaluated by RT-qPCR. Results indicated that IAA production by CIAT 899 was 12 times lower in the presence of [Formula: see text] . Moreover, it was found that indole-3-pyruvate (IPyA) is the major IAA biosynthesis intermediate. Genes y4wE, lao and iorA were identified by analysis of R. tropici genome in silico and were upregulated by tryptophan, indicating a possible role of these genes in IAA biosynthesis by CIAT 899. In conclusion, we show that IPyA is the major pathway for IAA biosynthesis in CIAT 899 and that its production is strongly inhibited by [Formula: see text] . Although present results arose from in vitro experiments, they provide new insight into the role of nitrogen in early events related to legume nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27845173, year = {2017}, author = {Hodgkinson, AJ and Cakebread, J and Callaghan, M and Harris, P and Brunt, R and Anderson, RC and Armstrong, KM and Haigh, B}, title = {Comparative innate immune interactions of human and bovine secretory IgA with pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {21-25}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.11.012}, pmid = {27845173}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology/*metabolism ; Cattle ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/chemistry/immunology/*metabolism ; Milk/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/chemistry/immunology/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Secretory IgA (SIgA) from milk contributes to early colonization and maintenance of commensal/symbiotic bacteria in the gut, as well as providing defence against pathogens. SIgA binds bacteria using specific antigenic sites or non-specifically via its glycans attached to α-heavy-chain and secretory component. In our study, we tested the hypothesis that human and bovine SIgA have similar innate-binding activity for bacteria. SIgAs, isolated from human and bovine milk, were incubated with a selection of commensal, pathogenic and probiotic bacteria. Using flow cytometry, we measured numbers of bacteria binding SIgA and their level of SIgA binding. The percentage of bacteria bound by human and bovine SIgA varied from 30 to 90% depending on bacterial species and strains, but was remarkably consistent between human and bovine SIgA. The level of SIgA binding per bacterial cell was lower for those bacteria that had a higher percentage of SIgA-bound bacteria, and higher for those bacteria that had lower percentage of SIgA-bound bacteria. Overall, human and bovine SIgA interacted with bacteria in a comparable way. This contributes to longer term research about the potential benefits of bovine SIgA for human consumers.}, } @article {pmid27843715, year = {2016}, author = {Bai, X and Yuan, X and Wen, A and Li, J and Bai, Y and Shao, T}, title = {Cloning, expression and characterization of a cold-adapted endo-1, 4-β-glucanase from Citrobacter farmeri A1, a symbiotic bacterium of Reticulitermes labralis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2679}, pmid = {27843715}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many biotechnological and industrial applications can benefit from cold-adapted EglCs through increased efficiency of catalytic processes at low temperature. In our previous study, Citrobacter farmeri A1 which was isolated from a wood-inhabiting termite Reticulitermes labralis could secrete a cold-adapted EglC. However, its EglC was difficult to purify for enzymatic properties detection because of its low activity (0.8 U/ml). The objective of the present study was to clone and express the C. farmeri EglC gene in Escherichia coli to improve production level and determine the enzymatic properties of the recombinant enzyme.

METHODS: The EglC gene was cloned from C. farmeri A1 by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR. EglC was transformed into vector pET22b and functionally expressed in E. coli. The recombination protein EglC22b was purified for properties detection.

RESULTS: SDS-PAGE revealed that the molecular mass of the recombinant endoglucanase was approximately 42 kDa. The activity of the E. coli pET22b-EglC crude extract was 9.5 U/ml. Additionally, it was active at pH 6.5-8.0 with an optimum pH of 7.0. The recombinant enzyme had an optimal temperature of 30-40 °C and exhibited >50% relative activity even at 5 °C, whereas it lost approximately 90% of its activity after incubation at 60 °C for 30 min. Its activity was enhanced by Co[2+] and Fe[3+], but inhibited by Cd[2+], Zn[2+], Li[+], Triton X-100, DMSO, acetonitrile, Tween 80, SDS, and EDTA.

CONCLUSION: These biochemical properties indicate that the recombinant enzyme is a cold-adapted endoglucanase that can be used for various industrial applications.}, } @article {pmid27843386, year = {2016}, author = {Ng, PK and Meyer, C}, title = {A new species of pea crab of the genus Serenotheres Ahyong & Ng, 2005 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Pinnotheridae) from the date mussel Leiosolenus Carpenter, 1857 (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilidae, Lithophaginae) from the Solomon Islands.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {623}, pages = {31-41}, pmid = {27843386}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {The pea crab genus Serenotheres Ahyong & Ng, 2005 (Pinnotheridae) is currently only represented by one species, Serenotheres besutensis (Serène, 1967). A new species is now assigned to this genus, described from a date mussel Leiosolenus obesus Carpenter, 1857 (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mytilidae: Lithophaginae) collected in the Solomon Islands. Serenotheres janussp. n. differs from Serenotheres besutensis in possessing a conspicuously broader carapace, with the lateral margins of the dorsal lamellum distinctly produced and the posterolateral part deeply concave, the dorsal lamellum being highest at the median cleft, the rostrum is relatively more prominent, the surfaces of the anterolateral margin and hepatic region are less prominently pitted and eroded, the ischiomerus of the third maxilliped is relatively more rectangular, and the P2 merus is proportionately longer.}, } @article {pmid27842068, year = {2017}, author = {Nett, RS and Montanares, M and Marcassa, A and Lu, X and Nagel, R and Charles, TC and Hedden, P and Rojas, MC and Peters, RJ}, title = {Elucidation of gibberellin biosynthesis in bacteria reveals convergent evolution.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {69-74}, pmid = {27842068}, issn = {1552-4469}, support = {BBS/E/C/00004161/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 GM109773/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gibberellins/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Gibberellins (GAs) are crucial phytohormones involved in many aspects of plant growth and development, including plant-microbe interactions, which has led to GA production by plant-associated fungi and bacteria as well. While the GA biosynthetic pathways in plants and fungi have been elucidated and found to have arisen independently through convergent evolution, little has been uncovered about GA biosynthesis in bacteria. Some nitrogen-fixing, symbiotic, legume-associated rhizobia, including Bradyrhizobium japonicum-the symbiont of soybean-and Sinorhizobium fredii-a broad-host-nodulating species-contain a putative GA biosynthetic operon, or gene cluster. Through functional characterization of five unknown genes, we demonstrate that this operon encodes the enzymes necessary to produce GA9, thereby elucidating bacterial GA biosynthesis. The distinct nature of these enzymes indicates that bacteria have independently evolved a third biosynthetic pathway for GA production. Furthermore, our results also reveal a central biochemical logic that is followed in all three convergently evolved GA biosynthetic pathways.}, } @article {pmid27838857, year = {2017}, author = {Marozzi, G and Sánchez, S and Benucci, GM and Bonito, G and Falini, LB and Albertini, E and Donnini, D}, title = {Mycorrhization of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) with black truffles: Tuber melanosporum and Tuber brumale.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {303-309}, pmid = {27838857}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Carya/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Saccharomycetales/*physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pecan, Carya illinoinensis, is an economically important nut producing tree that can establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with a high diversity of fungi. In the southern USA, truffles (Tuber spp.) sometimes fruit prolifically in cultivated pecan orchards and regularly associate with pecan roots as ectomycorrhizae (ECMs). It has been demonstrated that some valuable European truffle species (e.g., Tuber borchii and Tuber aestivum) can form ECMs with pecan seedlings in nursery conditions. Thus, pecan may represent an attractive alternative host to forest trees for truffle growers given the potential for co-cropping truffles and pecans. To further explore the capacity of pecan to host truffle symbionts, pecan seedlings were inoculated with species of black truffles that are economically important in Europe, T. melanosporum and T. brumale. Ectomycorrhizae were characterized molecularly and their morphology was described in detail. Mycorrhization rates on pecan roots were assessed over a 2-year period. Tuber melanosporum and T. brumale produced well-formed ECMs with a level of root colonization in the first year of 37.3 and 34.5%, respectively. After 24 months, the level of mycorrhization increased for T. brumale (49.4%) and decreased for T. melanosporum (10.5%) inversely to that of non-target ECM greenhouse contaminants (e.g., Sphaerosporella brunnea, Trichophaea woolhopeia, Pulvinula constellatio). To assess whether mating types segregated in T. melanosporum as been reported for other host species, we amplified the mating-type locus from single T. melanosporum ECM belonging to different seedlings over a 2-year period. The two mating idiomorphs were nearly equally represented along the 2-year time span: MAT 1-1-1 decreased from 59.4% in the first year to 48.5% in the second year after inoculation. Data reported in this study add to knowledge on the mycorrhization of pecan trees with commercial truffles and has application to truffle and nut co-cropping systems.}, } @article {pmid27838854, year = {2017}, author = {Liu, M and Zheng, R and Bai, S and Bai, YE and Wang, J}, title = {Slope aspect influences arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus communities in arid ecosystems of the Daqingshan Mountains, Inner Mongolia, North China.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {189-200}, pmid = {27838854}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; China ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis plays an important role in ecosystem functioning, particularly in fragile environments. Little is known, however, about how AM fungus community composition responds to slope aspect. Our objective was to compare the AM fungus communities between sunny and shady slopes and to detect factors that influenced the distributions of AM fungi in arid ecosystems of the Daqingshan Mountains, Inner Mongolia, North China. AM fungus communities were evaluated based on small subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSUs) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. AM fungus community composition differed significantly between slope aspects, and sunny slopes had significantly higher AM fungus diversity and richness as well as spore density, total root colonization, arbuscule abundance, vesicle abundance, and hyphal colonization than shady slopes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) illustrated that the effects of slope aspect on AM fungus richness likely were mediated by available phosphorus, soil organic carbon, plant cover, and plant diversity. Available phosphorus was the principal factor that influenced AM fungus species richness, and soil organic carbon was the principal factor influencing spore density and total root colonization, suggesting that these factors especially might be responsible for differences between the AM fungus communities of different slope aspects. These findings elucidate the influence of slope aspect on AM fungus communities and may inform use of AM fungi in protection and restoration of vegetation with different slope aspects in arid ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid27838542, year = {2017}, author = {Rodak, BW and Freitas, DS and Bamberg, SM and Carneiro, MA and Guilherme, LR}, title = {X-ray microanalytical studies of mineral elements in the tripartite symbiosis between lima bean, N2-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of microbiological methods}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {14-20}, doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2016.11.006}, pmid = {27838542}, issn = {1872-8359}, mesh = {Electron Probe Microanalysis ; Fabaceae/chemistry/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Particle Size ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; *Symbiosis ; Trace Elements/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between legumes, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and N2-fixing bacteria (NFB) provides mutual nutritional gains. However, assessing the nutritional status of the microorganisms is a difficult task. A methodology that could assess this status, in situ, could assist managing these organisms in agriculture. This study used X-ray microanalyses to quantify and locate mineral elements in structures formed in a tripartite symbiosis. Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L. Walp) was cultivated in pots under greenhouse conditions, to which we have added AM fungal isolates (Glomus macrocarpum and Acaulospora colombiana) and NFB (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) inocula. Uninoculated control plants were also included. Symbionts were evaluated at the onset of flowering. Quantification of the mineral elements in the symbiotic components was performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to identify structures. EDX analysis detected 13 elements with the most abundant being N, Ca, and Se, occurring in all tissues, Fe in roots, Ni and Al in epidermis and P and Mo in nodules. Elemental quantification in fungal structures was not possible. The distribution of elements was related to their symbiotic function. X-ray microanalysis can be efficiently applied for nutritional diagnosis in tripartite symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27838505, year = {2017}, author = {Zhou, J and Huang, H and Beardall, J and Gao, K}, title = {Effect of UV radiation on the expulsion of Symbiodinium from the coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology}, volume = {166}, number = {}, pages = {12-17}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.11.003}, pmid = {27838505}, issn = {1873-2682}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/parasitology/*radiation effects ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm ; Dinoflagellida/physiology/*radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {The variation in density of the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinum in coral is a basic indicator of coral bleaching, i.e. loss of the symbiotic algae or their photosynthetic pigments. However, in the field corals constantly release their symbiotic algae to surrounding water. To explore the underlying mechanism, the rate of expulsion of zooxanthellae from the coral Pocillopora damicornis was studied over a three-day period under ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400nm) stress. The results showed that the algal expulsion rate appeared 10-20% higher under exposure to UV-A (320-395nm) or UV-B (295-320nm), though the differences were not statistically significant. When corals were exposed to UV-A and UV-B radiation, the maximum expulsion of zooxanthellae occurred at noon (10:00-13:00), and this timing was 1h earlier than in the control without UVR. UVR stress led to obvious decreases in the concentrations of chl a and carotenoids in the coral nubbins after a three-day exposure. Therefore, our results suggested that although the UVR effect on algal expulsion rate was a chronic stress and was not significant within a time frame of only three days, the reduction in chl a and carotenoids may potentially enhance the possibility of coral bleaching over a longer period.}, } @article {pmid27837477, year = {2017}, author = {Condry, DL and Nilles, ML}, title = {Introduction to Type III Secretion Systems.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1531}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-6649-3_1}, pmid = {27837477}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*physiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/transmission ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Plants/microbiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/*physiology ; Virulence Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Type III secretion (T3S) systems are found in a large number of gram-negative bacteria where they function to manipulate the biology of infected hosts. Hosts targeted by T3S systems are widely distributed in nature and are represented by animals and plants. T3S systems are found in diverse genera of bacteria and they share a common core structure and function. Effector proteins are delivered by T3S systems into targeted host cells without prior secretion of the effectors into the environment. Instead, an assembled translocon structure functions to translocate effectors across eukaryotic cell membranes. In many cases, T3S systems are essential virulence factors and in some instances they promote symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid27836928, year = {2016}, author = {Escalante, NK and Lemire, P and Cruz Tleugabulova, M and Prescott, D and Mortha, A and Streutker, CJ and Girardin, SE and Philpott, DJ and Mallevaey, T}, title = {The common mouse protozoa Tritrichomonas muris alters mucosal T cell homeostasis and colitis susceptibility.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental medicine}, volume = {213}, number = {13}, pages = {2841-2850}, pmid = {27836928}, issn = {1540-9538}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis/genetics/*immunology/parasitology/pathology ; Disease Susceptibility/immunology/parasitology/pathology ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/immunology ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/parasitology/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Tritrichomonas/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse community of microbes including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and viruses. Through coevolution, mammals and these microbes have developed a symbiosis that is sustained through the host's continuous sensing of microbial factors and the generation of a tolerant or pro-inflammatory response. While analyzing T cell-driven colitis in nonlittermate mouse strains, we serendipitously identified that a nongenetic transmissible factor dramatically increased disease susceptibility. We identified the protozoan Tritrichomonas muris as the disease-exacerbating element. Furthermore, experimental colonization with T. muris induced an elevated Th1 response in the cecum of naive wild-type mice and accelerated colitis in Rag1[-/-] mice after T cell transfer. Overall, we describe a novel cross-kingdom interaction within the murine gut that alters immune cell homeostasis and disease susceptibility. This example of unpredicted microbial priming of the immune response highlights the importance of studying trans-kingdom interactions and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of using littermate controls in all mouse research.}, } @article {pmid27836565, year = {2017}, author = {Ceglia, D and Abreu, MCS and Da Silva Filho, JCL}, title = {Critical elements for eco-retrofitting a conventional industrial park: Social barriers to be overcome.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {375-383}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.064}, pmid = {27836565}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Brazil ; Conservation of Natural Resources/*methods ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Industrial Waste ; *Social Support ; }, abstract = {This paper aims to explore critical elements for eco-retrofitting a conventional industrial park, based on a survey of companies and institutions located in Brazil. The study investigates social barriers to be overcome in promotion of opportunities for waste exchange. Our results indicate that values, trust behaviour, waste cognitive domain and environment engagement are necessary for the creation of an eco-industrial park. Similar values of benevolence and universalism are essential for company engagement to eco-retrofit. Low levels of trust behaviour combining with limited waste cognitive domain prevent firms from establishing agreement on waste exchange initiatives. The findings lend support to the view that social barriers are pre-requisites to engagement among firms in establishing technological and logistical solutions. Serious attention needs to be given to these social barriers because they are not easily overcome in the social and economic context of developing countries.}, } @article {pmid27834710, year = {2016}, author = {Iriarte, A and Platero, R and Romero, V and Fabiano, E and Sotelo-Silveira, JR}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Cupriavidus UYMMa02A, a Novel Beta-Rhizobium Species.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {27834710}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We present the draft genome of Cupriavidus UYMMa02A, a rhizobium strain isolated from root nodules of Mimosa magentea The assembly has approximately 8.1 million bp with an average G+C of 64.1%. Symbiotic and metal-resistance genes were identified. The study of this genome will contribute to the understanding of rhizobial evolution.}, } @article {pmid27834201, year = {2016}, author = {Vercruysse, M and Köhrer, C and Shen, Y and Proulx, S and Ghosal, A and Davies, BW and RajBhandary, UL and Walker, GC}, title = {Identification of YbeY-Protein Interactions Involved in 16S rRNA Maturation and Stress Regulation in Escherichia coli.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {27834201}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R56 GM017151/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM017151/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM017151/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 GM017151/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Escherichia coli/genetics/*physiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Metalloproteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Mutation, Missense ; Protein Binding ; *RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Ribosomes/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: YbeY is part of a core set of RNases in Escherichia coli and other bacteria. This highly conserved endoribonuclease has been implicated in several important processes such as 16S rRNA 3' end maturation, 70S ribosome quality control, and regulation of mRNAs and small noncoding RNAs, thereby affecting cellular viability, stress tolerance, and pathogenic and symbiotic behavior of bacteria. Thus, YbeY likely interacts with numerous protein or RNA partners that are involved in various aspects of cellular physiology. Using a bacterial two-hybrid system, we identified several proteins that interact with YbeY, including ribosomal protein S11, the ribosome-associated GTPases Era and Der, YbeZ, and SpoT. In particular, the interaction of YbeY with S11 and Era provides insight into YbeY's involvement in the 16S rRNA maturation process. The three-way association between YbeY, S11, and Era suggests that YbeY is recruited to the ribosome where it could cleave the 17S rRNA precursor endonucleolytically at or near the 3' end maturation site. Analysis of YbeY missense mutants shows that a highly conserved beta-sheet in YbeY-and not amino acids known to be important for YbeY's RNase activity-functions as the interface between YbeY and S11. This protein-interacting interface of YbeY is needed for correct rRNA maturation and stress regulation, as missense mutants show significant phenotypic defects. Additionally, structure-based in silico prediction of putative interactions between YbeY and the Era-30S complex through protein docking agrees well with the in vivo results.

IMPORTANCE: Ribosomes are ribonucleoprotein complexes responsible for a key cellular function, protein synthesis. Their assembly is a highly coordinated process of RNA cleavage, RNA posttranscriptional modification, RNA conformational changes, and protein-binding events. Many open questions remain after almost 5 decades of study, including which RNase is responsible for final processing of the 16S rRNA 3' end. The highly conserved RNase YbeY, belonging to a core set of RNases essential in many bacteria, was previously shown to participate in 16S rRNA processing and ribosome quality control. However, detailed mechanistic insight into YbeY's ribosome-associated function has remained elusive. This work provides the first evidence that YbeY is recruited to the ribosome through interaction with proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis (i.e., ribosomal protein S11, Era). In addition, we identified key residues of YbeY involved in the interaction with S11 and propose a possible binding mode of YbeY to the ribosome using in silico docking.}, } @article {pmid27833620, year = {2016}, author = {Voisey, CR and Christensen, MT and Johnson, LJ and Forester, NT and Gagic, M and Bryan, GT and Simpson, WR and Fleetwood, DJ and Card, SD and Koolaard, JP and Maclean, PH and Johnson, RD}, title = {cAMP Signaling Regulates Synchronised Growth of Symbiotic Epichloë Fungi with the Host Grass Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1546}, pmid = {27833620}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The seed-transmitted fungal symbiont, Epichloë festucae, colonizes grasses by infecting host tissues as they form on the shoot apical meristem (SAM) of the seedling. How this fungus accommodates the complexities of plant development to successfully colonize the leaves and inflorescences is unclear. Since adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling is often essential for host colonization by fungal pathogens, we disrupted the cAMP cascade by insertional mutagenesis of the E. festucae adenylate cyclase gene (acyA). Consistent with deletions of this gene in other fungi, acyA mutants had a slow radial growth rate in culture, and hyphae were convoluted and hyper-branched suggesting that fungal apical dominance had been disrupted. Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining of hyphae showed that cAMP disruption mutants were impaired in their ability to synthesize superoxide, indicating that cAMP signaling regulates accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite significant defects in hyphal growth and ROS production, E. festucae ΔacyA mutants were infectious and capable of forming symbiotic associations with grasses. Plants infected with E. festucae ΔacyA were marginally less robust than the wild-type (WT), however hyphae were hyper-branched, and leaf tissues heavily colonized, indicating that the tight regulation of hyphal growth normally observed in maturing leaves requires functional cAMP signaling.}, } @article {pmid27833604, year = {2016}, author = {Aguilar, A and Peralta, H and Mora, Y and Díaz, R and Vargas-Lagunas, C and Girard, L and Mora, J}, title = {Genomic Comparison of Agrobacterium pusense Strains Isolated from Bean Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1720}, pmid = {27833604}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid27833038, year = {2017}, author = {Pey, A and Zamoum, T and Christen, R and Merle, PL and Furla, P}, title = {Characterization of glutathione peroxidase diversity in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis.}, journal = {Biochimie}, volume = {132}, number = {}, pages = {94-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.biochi.2016.10.016}, pmid = {27833038}, issn = {1638-6183}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Animals ; Dinoflagellida/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; *Genetic Variation ; Glutathione Peroxidase/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Isoenzymes/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/enzymology/*genetics/growth & development ; Spectrophotometry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cnidarians living in symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (commonly named zooxanthellae) are exposed to high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon illumination. To quench ROS production, both the cnidarian host and zooxanthellae express a full suite of antioxidant enzymes. Studying antioxidative balance is therefore crucial to understanding how symbiotic cnidarians cope with ROS production. We characterized glutathione peroxidases (GPx) in the symbiotic cnidarian Anemonia viridis by analysis of their isoform diversity, their activity distribution in the three cellular compartments (ectoderm, endoderm and zooxanthellae) and their involvement in the response to thermal stress. We identified a GPx repertoire through a phylogenetic analysis showing 7 GPx transcripts belonging to the A. viridis host and 4 GPx transcripts strongly related to Symbiodinium sp. The biochemical approach, used for the first time with a cnidarian species, allowed the identification of GPx activity in the three cellular compartments and in the animal mitochondrial fraction, and revealed a high GPx electrophoretic diversity. The symbiotic lifestyle of zooxanthellae requires more GPx activity and diversity than that of free-living species. Heat stress induced no modification of GPx activities. We highlight a high GPx diversity in A. viridis tissues by genomic and biochemical approaches. GPx activities represent an overall constitutive enzymatic pattern inherent to symbiotic lifestyle adaptation. This work allows the characterization of the GPx family in a symbiotic cnidarian and establishes a foundation for future studies of GPx in symbiotic cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid27830978, year = {2016}, author = {Kutschera, U and Khanna, R}, title = {Plant gnotobiology: Epiphytic microbes and sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {e1256529}, pmid = {27830978}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fragaria/microbiology ; Helianthus/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In 1963, a monograph by Thomas D. Luckey entitled Germfree Life and Gnotobiology was published, with a focus on animals treated with microbes and reference to the work of Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). Here, we review the history and current status of plant gnotobiology, which can be traced back to the experiments of Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1801-1887) published in 1838. Since the outer surfaces of typical land plants are much larger than their internal areas, embryophytes "wear their guts on the outside." We describe the principles of gnotobiological analyses, with reference to epiphytic metylobacteria, and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as well as Arabidopsis as model dicots. Finally, a Californian field experiment aiming to improve crop yield in strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) is described to document the practical value of this novel research agenda.}, } @article {pmid27830471, year = {2017}, author = {Nouioui, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Del Carmen Montero-Calasanz, M and Rohde, M and Tisa, LS and Gtari, M and Klenk, HP}, title = {Frankia inefficax sp. nov., an actinobacterial endophyte inducing ineffective, non nitrogen-fixing, root nodules on its actinorhizal host plants.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {313-320}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-016-0801-7}, pmid = {27830471}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Frankia/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phospholipids/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Tracheophyta/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Strain EuI1c[T] is the first actinobacterial endophyte isolated from Elaeagnus umbellata that was shown to be infective on members of Elaeagnaceae and Morella but lacking the ability to form effective root nodules on its hosts. The strain can be easily distinguished from strains of other Frankia species based on its inability to produce vesicles, the specialized thick-walled structures where nitrogen fixation occurs. Chemotaxonomically, strain EuI1c[T] contains phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two glycophospholipids and phosphatidylglycerol as phospholipids. The whole cell sugars were composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, ribose, rhamnose and fucose as diagnostic sugars of the species. Major fatty acids were iso-C16:0, C17:1 ω8c and C15:0 and C17:0 and the predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H4). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain EuI1c[T] showed 97, 97.4 and 97.9% identity with Frankia elaeagni DSM 46783[T], Frankia casuarinae DSM 45818[T] and Frankia alni DSM 45986[T], respectively. Digital DNA:DNA hybridizations with type strains of the three Frankia species with validly/effectively published names are significantly below 70%. These results warrant distinction of EuI1c[T] (= DSM 45817[T] = CECT 9037[T]) as the type strain of a novel species designated Frankia inefficax sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid27827448, year = {2016}, author = {Kuang, YS and Li, SH and Guo, Y and Lu, JH and He, JR and Luo, BJ and Jiang, FJ and Shen, H and Papasian, CJ and Pang, H and Xia, HM and Deng, HW and Qiu, X}, title = {Composition of gut microbiota in infants in China and global comparison.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {36666}, pmid = {27827448}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Asian People ; Bacteria/*classification/*growth & development ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic gut microbiota is essential for human health, and its compositional changes have been associated with various complex disorders. However, systematic investigation of the acquisition and development of gut microbial communities during early infancy are relatively rare, particularly for infants from non-Western countries. In this study, we characterize the colonization and development of infant microbiota in healthy Chinese infants and compare the pattern with those from other countries. The fecal microbiota of 2-month-old infants was considerably more diverse than that of neonates, as indicated by higher relative abundances of Veillonella, Clostridium, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Collinsella and Prevotella, and reduction of Escherichia and Enterococcus. The fecal microbiota of vaginally delivered infants (both neonates and 2-month-old) had significant enrichment of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides and Megamonas, whereas cesarean delivered infants had enrichment of Prevotella, Streptococcus and Trabulsiella. By global comparison, we identify three different enterotypes, referred as "P-type", "A-type "and "F-type" which were highly abundant in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, respectively. The three enterotypes' compositons vary geographically. All Chinese infants in our study belong to the P-type. These findings may provide novel insights into our understanding of the establishment of infant fecal bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid27827003, year = {2016}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Rodríguez-Navarro, DN and Kawaharada, Y and Perea, JF and Gil-Serrano, A and Jin, H and An, Q and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Andersen, SU and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J and Vinardell, JM and Ruiz-Sainz, JE}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Invades Lotus burttii by Crack Entry in a Nod Factor-and Surface Polysaccharide-Dependent Manner.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {925-937}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-16-0195-R}, pmid = {27827003}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Host Specificity ; Lotus/cytology/*microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/microbiology/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*metabolism ; Purines/metabolism ; Pyrimidines/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium fredii/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103-Rif[r], a broad host range rhizobial strain, induces nitrogen-fixing nodules in Lotus burttii but ineffective nodules in L. japonicus. Confocal microscopy studies showed that Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 and S. fredii HH103-Rif[r] invade L. burttii roots through infection threads or epidermal cracks, respectively. Infection threads in root hairs were not observed in L. burttii plants inoculated with S. fredii HH103-Rif[r]. A S. fredii HH103-Rif[r] nodA mutant failed to nodulate L. burttii, demonstrating that Nod factors are strictly necessary for this crack-entry mode, and a noeL mutant was also severely impaired in L. burttii nodulation, indicating that the presence of fucosyl residues in the Nod factor is symbiotically relevant. However, significant symbiotic impacts due to the absence of methylation or to acetylation of the fucosyl residue were not detected. In contrast S. fredii HH103-Rif[r] mutants showing lipopolysaccharide alterations had reduced symbiotic capacity, while mutants affected in production of either exopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, or both were not impaired in nodulation. Mutants unable to produce cyclic glucans and purine or pyrimidine auxotrophic mutants formed ineffective nodules with L. burttii. Flagellin-dependent bacterial mobility was not required for crack infection, since HH103-Rif[r] fla mutants nodulated L. burttii. None of the S. fredii HH103-Rif[r] surface-polysaccharide mutants gained effective nodulation with L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid27826313, year = {2016}, author = {Yuan, S and Li, R and Wang, L and Chen, H and Zhang, C and Chen, L and Hao, Q and Shan, Z and Zhang, X and Chen, S and Yang, Z and Qiu, D and Zhou, X}, title = {Search for Nodulation and Nodule Development-Related Cystatin Genes in the Genome of Soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1595}, pmid = {27826313}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nodulation, nodule development and senescence directly affects nitrogen fixation efficiency, and previous studies have shown that inhibition of some cysteine proteases delay nodule senescence, so their nature inhibitors, cystatin genes, are very important in nodulation, nodule development, and senescence. Although several cystatins are actively transcribed in soybean nodules, their exact roles and functional diversities in legume have not been well explored in genome-wide survey studies. In this report, we performed a genome-wide survey of cystatin family genes to explore their relationship to nodulation and nodule development in soybean and identified 20 cystatin genes that encode peptides with 97-245 amino acid residues, different isoelectric points (pI) and structure characteristics, and various putative plant regulatory elements in 3000 bp putative promoter fragments upstream of the 20 soybean cystatins in response to different abiotic/biotic stresses, hormone signals, and symbiosis signals. The expression profiles of these cystatin genes in soybean symbiosis with rhizobium strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain 113-2 revealed that 7 cystatin family genes play different roles in nodulation as well as nodule development and senescence. However, these genes were not root nodule symbiosis (RNS)-specific and did not encode special clade cystatin protein with structures related to nodulation and nodule development. Besides, only two of these soybean cystatins were not upregulated in symbiosis after ABA treatment. The functional analysis showed that a candidate gene Glyma.15G227500 (GmCYS16) was likely to play a positive role in soybean nodulation. Besides, evolutionary relationships analysis divided the cystatin genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, rice, barley and four legume plants into three groups. Interestingly, Group A cystatins are special in legume plants, but only include one of the above-mentioned 7 cystatin genes related to nodulation and nodule development. Overall, our results provide useful information or clues for our understanding of the functional diversity of legume cystatin family proteins in soybean nodulation and nodule development and for finding nodule-specific cysteine proteases in soybean.}, } @article {pmid27826312, year = {2016}, author = {Wei, X and Chen, J and Zhang, C and Pan, D}, title = {Differential Gene Expression in Rhododendron fortunei Roots Colonized by an Ericoid Mycorrhizal Fungus and Increased Nitrogen Absorption and Plant Growth.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1594}, pmid = {27826312}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) fungi are specifically symbiotic with plants in the family Ericaceae. Little is known thus far about their symbiotic establishment and subsequent nitrogen (N) uptake at the molecular level. The present study devised a system for establishing a symbiotic relationship between Rhododendron fortunei Lindl. and an ERM fungus (Oidiodendron maius var. maius strain Om19), quantified seedling growth and N uptake, and compared transcriptome profiling between colonized and uncolonized roots using RNA-Seq. The Om19 colonization induced 16,892 genes that were differentially expressed in plant roots, of which 14,364 were upregulated and 2,528 were downregulated. These genes included those homologous to ATP-binding cassette transporters, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinases, and symbiosis receptor-like kinases. N metabolism was particularly active in Om19-colonized roots, and 51 genes were upregulated, such as nitrate transporters, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, ammonium transporters, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase. Transcriptome analysis also identified a series of genes involving endocytosis, Fc-gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signal pathway that have not been reported previously. Their roles in the symbiosis require further investigation. The Om19 colonization significantly increased N uptake and seedling growth. Total N content and dry weight of colonized seedlings were 36.6 and 46.6% greater than control seedlings. This is the first transcriptome analysis of a species from the family Ericaceae colonized by an ERM fungus. The findings from this study will shed light on the mechanisms underlying symbiotic relationships of ericaceous species with ERM fungi and the symbiosis-resultant N uptake and plant growth.}, } @article {pmid27826292, year = {2016}, author = {Chen, B and Sun, C and Liang, X and Lu, X and Gao, Q and Alonso-Pernas, P and Teh, BS and Novoselov, AL and Boland, W and Shao, Y}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus mundtii SL 16, an Indigenous Gut Bacterium of the Polyphagous Pest Spodoptera littoralis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1676}, pmid = {27826292}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid27825951, year = {2017}, author = {Jang, HA and Seo, ES and Seong, MY and Lee, BL}, title = {A midgut lysate of the Riptortus pedestris has antibacterial activity against LPS O-antigen-deficient Burkholderia mutants.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {97-106}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.11.006}, pmid = {27825951}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*immunology ; Burkholderia/genetics/*immunology ; Burkholderia Infections/genetics/*immunology ; Cell Extracts/*immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology ; Heteroptera/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Proteins/*immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/immunology ; Mutation/genetics ; O Antigens/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Trypsin Inhibitors/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Riptortus pedestris, a common pest in soybean fields, harbors a symbiont Burkholderia in a specialized posterior midgut region of insects. Every generation of second nymphs acquires new Burkholderia cells from the environment. We compared in vitro cultured Burkholderia with newly in vivo colonized Burkholderia in the host midgut using biochemical approaches. The bacterial cell envelope of in vitro cultured and in vivo Burkholderia differed in structure, as in vivo bacteria lacked lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen. The LPS O-antigen deficient bacteria had a reduced colonization rate in the host midgut compared with that of the wild-type Burkholderia. To determine why LPS O-antigen-deficient bacteria are less able to colonize the host midgut, we examined in vitro survival rates of three LPS O-antigen-deficient Burkholderia mutants and lysates of five different midgut regions. The LPS O-antigen-deficient mutants were highly susceptible when cultured with the lysate of a specific first midgut region (M1), indicating that the M1 lysate contains unidentified substance(s) capable of killing LPS O-antigen-deficient mutants. We identified a 17 kDa protein from the M1 lysate, which was enriched in the active fractions. The N-terminal sequence of the protein was determined to be a soybean Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor. These data suggest that the 17 kDa protein, which was originated from a main soybean source of the R. pedestris host, has antibacterial activity against the LPS O-antigen deficient (rough-type) Burkholderia.}, } @article {pmid27824282, year = {2017}, author = {Sathiyanarayanan, G and Saibaba, G and Kiran, GS and Yang, YH and Selvin, J}, title = {Marine sponge-associated bacteria as a potential source for polyhydroxyalkanoates.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {294-312}, doi = {10.1080/1040841X.2016.1206060}, pmid = {27824282}, issn = {1549-7828}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biotechnology/methods ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates/chemistry/*metabolism ; Porifera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are filter feeding porous animals and usually harbor a remarkable array of microorganisms in their mesohyl tissues as transient and resident endosymbionts. The marine sponge-microbial interactions are highly complex and, in some cases, the relationships are thought to be truly symbiotic or mutualistic rather than temporary associations resulting from sponge filter-feeding activity. The marine sponge-associated bacteria are fascinating source for various biomolecules that are of potential interest to several biotechnological industries. In recent times, a particular attention has been devoted to bacterial biopolymer (polyesters) such as intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) produced by sponge-associated bacteria. Bacterial PHAs act as an internal reserve for carbon and energy and also are a tremendous alternative for fossil fuel-based polymers mainly due to their eco-friendliness. In addition, PHAs are produced when the microorganisms are under stressful conditions and this biopolymer synthesis might be exhibited as one of the survival mechanisms of sponge-associated or endosymbiotic bacteria which exist in a highly competitive and stressful sponge-mesohyl microenvironment. In this review, we have emphasized the industrial prospects of marine bacteria for the commercial production of PHAs and special importance has been given to marine sponge-associated bacteria as a potential resource for PHAs.}, } @article {pmid27822878, year = {2016}, author = {Perbal, B}, title = {To flush or not to flush … that is a question.}, journal = {Journal of cell communication and signaling}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {337-340}, pmid = {27822878}, issn = {1873-9601}, abstract = {The human gut microflora has drawn a lot of attention as a potent therapeutic tool for many decades. More recently, efforts have been developed to devise efficient ways of complementing or replacing deficient intestinal microflora associated with intestinal diseases that are resistant to conventional medical treatments. Aside from the medical and industrial applications that emerged from the use of gut microbiota, the complex constitution of this ecosystem raises fascinating questions regarding host-cell communication and host response mechanisms to the ever changing environment. This brief comment also points to questions raised by some unexpected applications that have recently emerged from this field.}, } @article {pmid27822708, year = {2016}, author = {Rolland, JL and Stien, D and Sanchez-Ferandin, S and Lami, R}, title = {Quorum Sensing and Quorum Quenching in the Phycosphere of Phytoplankton: a Case of Chemical Interactions in Ecology.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {42}, number = {12}, pages = {1201-1211}, pmid = {27822708}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Pheromones/metabolism ; Phytoplankton/*physiology ; *Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {The interactions between bacteria and phytoplankton regulate many important biogeochemical reactions in the marine environment, including those in the global carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. At the microscopic level, it is now well established that important consortia of bacteria colonize the phycosphere, the immediate environment of phytoplankton cells. In this microscale environment, abundant bacterial cells are organized in a structured biofilm, and exchange information through the diffusion of small molecules called semiochemicals. Among these processes, quorum sensing plays a particular role as, when a sufficient abundance of cells is reached, it allows bacteria to coordinate their gene expression and physiology at the population level. In contrast, quorum quenching mechanisms are employed by many different types of microorganisms that limit the coordination of antagonistic bacteria. This review synthesizes quorum sensing and quorum quenching mechanisms evidenced to date in the phycosphere, emphasizing the implications that these signaling systems have for the regulation of bacterial communities and their activities. The diversity of chemical compounds involved in these processes is examined. We further review the bacterial functions regulated in the phycosphere by quorum sensing, which include biofilm formation, nutrient acquisition, and emission of algaecides. We also discuss quorum quenching compounds as antagonists of quorum sensing, their function in the phycosphere, and their potential biotechnological applications. Overall, the current state of the art demonstrates that quorum sensing and quorum quenching regulate a balance between a symbiotic and a parasitic way of life between bacteria and their phytoplankton host.}, } @article {pmid27822557, year = {2016}, author = {Gonzalez, A and Hyde, E and Sangwan, N and Gilbert, JA and Viirre, E and Knight, R}, title = {Migraines Are Correlated with Higher Levels of Nitrate-, Nitrite-, and Nitric Oxide-Reducing Oral Microbes in the American Gut Project Cohort.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {1}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27822557}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Nitrates, such as cardiac therapeutics and food additives, are common headache triggers, with nitric oxide playing an important role. Facultative anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity may contribute migraine-triggering levels of nitric oxide through the salivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. Using high-throughput sequencing technologies, we detected observable and significantly higher abundances of nitrate, nitrite, and nitric oxide reductase genes in migraineurs versus nonmigraineurs in samples collected from the oral cavity and a slight but significant difference in fecal samples. IMPORTANCE Recent work has demonstrated a potentially symbiotic relationship between oral commensal bacteria and humans through the salivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway (C. Duncan et al., Nat Med 1:546-551, 1995, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nm0695-546). Oral nitrate-reducing bacteria contribute physiologically relevant levels of nitrite and nitric oxide to the human host that may have positive downstream effects on cardiovascular health (V. Kapil et al., Free Radic Biol Med 55:93-100, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.11.013). In the work presented here, we used 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing to determine whether a connection exists between oral nitrate-reducing bacteria, nitrates for cardiovascular disease, and migraines, which are a common side effect of nitrate medications (U. Thadani and T. Rodgers, Expert Opin Drug Saf 5:667-674, 2006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1517/14740338.5.5.667).}, } @article {pmid27822527, year = {2016}, author = {Sangwan, N and Zarraonaindia, I and Hampton-Marcell, JT and Ssegane, H and Eshoo, TW and Rijal, G and Negri, MC and Gilbert, JA}, title = {Differential Functional Constraints Cause Strain-Level Endemism in Polynucleobacter Populations.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {27822527}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The adaptation of bacterial lineages to local environmental conditions creates the potential for broader genotypic diversity within a species, which can enable a species to dominate across ecological gradients because of niche flexibility. The genus Polynucleobacter maintains both free-living and symbiotic ecotypes and maintains an apparently ubiquitous distribution in freshwater ecosystems. Subspecies-level resolution supplemented with metagenome-derived genotype analysis revealed that differential functional constraints, not geographic distance, produce and maintain strain-level genetic conservation in Polynucleobacter populations across three geographically proximal riverine environments. Genes associated with cofactor biosynthesis and one-carbon metabolism showed habitat specificity, and protein-coding genes of unknown function and membrane transport proteins were under positive selection across each habitat. Characterized by different median ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous evolutionary changes (dN/dS ratios) and a limited but statistically significant negative correlation between the dN/dS ratio and codon usage bias between habitats, the free-living and core genotypes were observed to be evolving under strong purifying selection pressure. Highlighting the potential role of genetic adaptation to the local environment, the two-component system protein-coding genes were highly stable (dN/dS ratio, < 0.03). These results suggest that despite the impact of the habitat on genetic diversity, and hence niche partition, strong environmental selection pressure maintains a conserved core genome for Polynucleobacter populations. IMPORTANCE Understanding the biological factors influencing habitat-wide genetic endemism is important for explaining observed biogeographic patterns. Polynucleobacter is a genus of bacteria that seems to have found a way to colonize myriad freshwater ecosystems and by doing so has become one of the most abundant bacteria in these environments. We sequenced metagenomes from locations across the Chicago River system and assembled Polynucleobacter genomes from different sites and compared how the nucleotide composition, gene codon usage, and the ratio of synonymous (codes for the same amino acid) to nonsynonymous (codes for a different amino acid) mutations varied across these population genomes at each site. The environmental pressures at each site drove purifying selection for functional traits that maintained a streamlined core genome across the Chicago River Polynucleobacter population while allowing for site-specific genomic adaptation. These adaptations enable Polynucleobacter to become dominant across different riverine environmental gradients.}, } @article {pmid27822520, year = {2016}, author = {Theis, KR and Dheilly, NM and Klassen, JL and Brucker, RM and Baines, JF and Bosch, TC and Cryan, JF and Gilbert, SF and Goodnight, CJ and Lloyd, EA and Sapp, J and Vandenkoornhuyse, P and Zilber-Rosenberg, I and Rosenberg, E and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Getting the Hologenome Concept Right: an Eco-Evolutionary Framework for Hosts and Their Microbiomes.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {27822520}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {Given the complexity of host-microbiota symbioses, scientists and philosophers are asking questions at new biological levels of hierarchical organization-what is a holobiont and hologenome? When should this vocabulary be applied? Are these concepts a null hypothesis for host-microbe systems or limited to a certain spectrum of symbiotic interactions such as host-microbial coevolution? Critical discourse is necessary in this nascent area, but productive discourse requires that skeptics and proponents use the same lexicon. For instance, critiquing the hologenome concept is not synonymous with critiquing coevolution, and arguing that an entity is not a primary unit of selection dismisses the fact that the hologenome concept has always embraced multilevel selection. Holobionts and hologenomes are incontrovertible, multipartite entities that result from ecological, evolutionary, and genetic processes at various levels. They are not restricted to one special process but constitute a wider vocabulary and framework for host biology in light of the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid27821770, year = {2016}, author = {DeLong, JP and Al-Ameeli, Z and Duncan, G and Van Etten, JL and Dunigan, DD}, title = {Predators catalyze an increase in chloroviruses by foraging on the symbiotic hosts of zoochlorellae.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {48}, pages = {13780-13784}, pmid = {27821770}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {K23 RR015535/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103427/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 GM103509/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/genetics ; Chlorella/*genetics/growth & development/virology ; Copepoda/virology ; Food Chain ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Phycodnaviridae/*genetics/physiology ; *Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Virus population growth depends on contacts between viruses and their hosts. It is often unclear how sufficient contacts are made between viruses and their specific hosts to generate spikes in viral abundance. Here, we show that copepods, acting as predators, can bring aquatic viruses and their algal hosts into contact. Specifically, predation of the protist Paramecium bursaria by copepods resulted in a >100-fold increase in the number of chloroviruses in 1 d. Copepod predation can be seen as an ecological "catalyst" by increasing contacts between chloroviruses and their hosts, zoochlorellae (endosymbiotic algae that live within paramecia), thereby facilitating viral population growth. When feeding, copepods passed P. bursaria through their digestive tract only partially digested, releasing endosymbiotic algae that still supported viral reproduction and resulting in a virus population spike. A simple predator-prey model parameterized for copepods consuming protists generates cycle periods for viruses consistent with those observed in natural ponds. Food webs are replete with similar symbiotic organisms, and we suspect the predator catalyst mechanism is capable of generating blooms for other endosymbiont-targeting viruses.}, } @article {pmid27819120, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Z and Wang, Y and Li, J and Liu, F and He, L and He, Y and Wang, S}, title = {Metagenomic Analysis of Genes Encoding Nutrient Cycling Pathways in the Microbiota of Deep-Sea and Shallow-Water Sponges.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {659-671}, pmid = {27819120}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Metagenome ; Microbiota/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Stramenopiles/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sponges host complex symbiotic communities, but to date, the whole picture of the metabolic potential of sponge microbiota remains unclear, particularly the difference between the shallow-water and deep-sea sponge holobionts. In this study, two completely different sponges, shallow-water sponge Theonella swinhoei from the South China Sea and deep-sea sponge Neamphius huxleyi from the Indian Ocean, were selected to compare their whole symbiotic communities and metabolic potential, particularly in element transformation. Phylogenetically diverse bacteria, archaea, fungi, and algae were detected in both shallow-water sponge T. swinhoei and deep-sea sponge N. huxleyi, and different microbial community structures were indicated between these two sponges. Metagenome-based gene abundance analysis indicated that, though the two sponge microbiota have similar core functions, they showed different potential strategies in detailed metabolic processes, e.g., in the transformation and utilization of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur by corresponding microbial symbionts. This study provides insight into the putative metabolic potentials of the microbiota associated with the shallow-water and deep-sea sponges at the whole community level, extending our knowledge of the sponge microbiota's functions, the association of sponge- microbes, as well as the adaption of sponge microbiota to the marine environment.}, } @article {pmid27818671, year = {2016}, author = {Nath, M and Bhatt, D and Prasad, R and Gill, SS and Anjum, NA and Tuteja, N}, title = {Reactive Oxygen Species Generation-Scavenging and Signaling during Plant-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal and Piriformospora indica Interaction under Stress Condition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1574}, pmid = {27818671}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {A defined balance between the generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential to utilize ROS as an adaptive defense response of plants under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Moreover, ROS are not only a major determinant of stress response but also act as signaling molecule that regulates various cellular processes including plant-microbe interaction. In particular, rhizosphere constitutes the biologically dynamic zone for plant-microbe interactions which forms a mutual link leading to reciprocal signaling in both the partners. Among plant-microbe interactions, symbiotic associations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungus especially Piriformospora indica with plants are well known to improve plant growth by alleviating the stress-impacts and consequently enhance the plant fitness. AMF and P. indica colonization mainly enhances ROS-metabolism, maintains ROS-homeostasis, and thereby averts higher ROS-level accrued inhibition in plant cellular processes and plant growth and survival under stressful environments. This article summarizes the major outcomes of the recent reports on the ROS-generation, scavenging and signaling in biotic-abiotic stressed plants with AMF and P. indica colonization. Overall, a detailed exploration of ROS-signature kinetics during plant-AMF/P. indica interaction can help in designing innovative strategies for improving plant health and productivity under stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid27818648, year = {2016}, author = {Kopac, SM and Klassen, JL}, title = {Can They Make It on Their Own? Hosts, Microbes, and the Holobiont Niche.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1647}, pmid = {27818648}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Virtually all multicellular organisms host a community of symbionts composed of mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic microbes, i.e., their microbiome. The mechanism of selection on host-microbe assemblages remains contentious, particularly regarding whether selection acts differently on hosts and their microbial symbionts. Here, we attempt to reconcile these viewpoints using a model that describes how hosts and their microbial symbionts alter each other's niche and thereby fitness. We describe how host-microbe interactions might change the shape of the host niche and/or reproductive rates within it, which are directly related to host fitness. A host may also alter the niche of a symbiotic microbe, although this depends on the extent to which that microbe is dependent on the host for reproduction. Finally, we provide a mathematical model to test whether interactions between hosts and microbes are necessary to describe the niche of either partner. Our synthesis highlights the phenotypic effects of host-microbe interactions while respecting the unique lifestyles of each partner, and thereby provides a unified framework to describe how selection might act on a host that is associated with its microbiome.}, } @article {pmid27818093, year = {2017}, author = {Delamuta, JR and Ribeiro, RA and Gomes, DF and Souza, RC and Chueire, LM and Hungria, M}, title = {Genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium embrapense strain CNPSo 2833[T], isolated from a root nodule of Desmodium heterocarpon.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {9-10}, pmid = {27818093}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Computational Biology/methods ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium embrapense CNPSo 2833[T] is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of the legume pasture Desmodium. Its draft genome contains 8,267,832bp and 7876 CDSs. The symbiotic island includes nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes resembling the operon organization of B. japonicum. Several CDSs related to secretion proteins and stress tolerance were also identified.}, } @article {pmid27817923, year = {2017}, author = {Rivera-Becerril, F and van Tuinen, D and Chatagnier, O and Rouard, N and Béguet, J and Kuszala, C and Soulas, G and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V and Martin-Laurent, F}, title = {Impact of a pesticide cocktail (fenhexamid, folpel, deltamethrin) on the abundance of Glomeromycota in two agricultural soils.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {577}, number = {}, pages = {84-93}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.098}, pmid = {27817923}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Amides ; France ; Glomeromycota/classification/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/classification/growth & development ; Nitriles ; Pesticides/*analysis ; Pyrethrins ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Pesticide contamination of the environment can result from agricultural practices. Persistence of pesticide residues is a threat to the soil biota including plant roots and beneficial microorganisms, which support an important number of soil ecosystem services. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key symbiotic microorganisms contributing to plant nutrition. In the present study, we assessed whether AMF could indicate eventual side effects of pesticides when directly applied to field soils. We evaluated the ecotoxicological impact of a cocktail of three commonly used agricultural pesticides (fenhexamid, folpel, deltamethrin) on the abundance and composition of the AMF community in vineyard (Montagne de Saint-Emilion) and arable (Martincourt) soils subjected to different agricultural practices. The dissipation of applied pesticides was monitored by multiresidual analyses to determine the scenario of exposure of the AMF community. Diversity analysis before application of the pesticide cocktail showed that the AMF communities of vineyard soils, subjected to mechanical weeding or grass cover, and of the arable soil subjected to intensive agriculture, were dominated by Glomerales. Ribotypes specific to each soil and to each agricultural practice in the same soil were found, with the highest abundance and diversity of AMF being observed in the vineyard soil with a grass-cover. The abundance of the global AMF community (Glomeromycota) and of three taxa of AMF (Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum/C. claroideum) was evaluated after pesticide application. The abundance of Glomeromycota decreased in both soils after pesticide application while the abundance of Claroideoglomus and F. mosseae decreased only in the arable soil. These results show that higher doses of pesticide exposure did not affect the global abundance, but altered the composition, of the AMF community. Resilience of the AMF community composition was observed only in the vineyard soil, where F. mosseae was the most tolerant taxon to pesticide exposure.}, } @article {pmid27816682, year = {2017}, author = {Pan, Z and Ma, Y and Ma, J and Dong, W and Yao, H}, title = {Acute meningitis of piglets and mice caused by co-infected with Streptococcus suis and Aerococcus viridans.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {106}, number = {}, pages = {60-64}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2016.10.024}, pmid = {27816682}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Aerococcus/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Animals ; Animals, Domestic/microbiology ; Brain/microbiology/pathology ; China/epidemiology ; Coinfection/*microbiology/mortality/pathology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/*microbiology/pathology/veterinary ; Heart/microbiology ; Kidney/microbiology/pathology ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Lung/microbiology/pathology ; Male ; Meningitis/epidemiology/*microbiology/mortality/*veterinary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Streptococcal Infections/*microbiology/pathology/veterinary ; Streptococcus suis/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The two opportunistic pathogens, Streptococcus suis (S. suis) and Aerococcus. viridans (A. viridans) were isolated from the brains of piglets suffered bacterial meningitis in a farm of China. The murine model has been established to evaluate the pathogenicity and symbiotic relationship of S. suis and A. viridans simultaneously infection. Our results demonstrated the ability of new serotype S. suis to cause the classical bacterial meningitis and death were greatly enhanced during co-infection with A. viridans in mice at a proportion. We also examined the distribution and titer of bacteria coinfection in organs, the titer of S. suis appeared a significant trend for an increase in the lung meanwhile the concentration titer of A. viridans maintain a low level. This is the first reported the A. viridans and S. suis coinfection cause the bacterial meningitis outbroke in the piglets and mice. Moreover, further investigation of the pathogenesis of A. viridans and S. suis is urgently needed in swine industry.}, } @article {pmid27816476, year = {2017}, author = {Sylvia, KE and Jewell, CP and Rendon, NM and St John, EA and Demas, GE}, title = {Sex-specific modulation of the gut microbiome and behavior in Siberian hamsters.}, journal = {Brain, behavior, and immunity}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {51-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbi.2016.10.023}, pmid = {27816476}, issn = {1090-2139}, mesh = {Aggression/*physiology ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Cricetinae ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Male ; Phodopus ; Photoperiod ; Seasons ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome is a diverse, host-specific, and symbiotic bacterial environment that is critical for mammalian survival and exerts a surprising yet powerful influence on brain and behavior. Gut dysbiosis has been linked to a wide range of physical and psychological disorders, including autism spectrum disorders and anxiety, as well as autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. A wealth of information on the effects of dysbiosis on anxiety and depression has been reported in laboratory model systems (e.g., germ-free mice); however, the effects of microbiome disruption on social behaviors (e.g., aggression) of non-model species that may be particularly important in understanding many aspects of physiology and behavior have yet to be fully explored. Here we assessed the sex-specific effects of a broad-spectrum antibiotic on the gut microbiome and its effects on social behaviors in male and female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). In Experiment 1, we administered a broad-spectrum antibiotic on a short-term basis and found that antibiotic treatment altered the microbial communities in the gut in male and female hamsters. In Experiment 2, we tested the effects of single versus repeated antibiotic treatment (including a recovery phase) on behavior, and found that two, but not one, treatments caused marked decreases in aggressive behavior, but not other social behaviors, in males; aggression returned to normal levels following recovery. Antibiotic-treated females, in contrast, showed decreased aggression after a single treatment, with all other social behaviors unaffected. Unlike males, female aggression did not return to normal during either recovery period. The present findings demonstrate that modest antibiotic treatment results in marked disruption of the gut microbiome in hamsters, akin to research done in other rodent species and humans. Further, we show that treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which has dysbiotic effects, also has robust, sex-specific effects on aggression, a critical behavior in the survival and reproductive success of many rodent species.}, } @article {pmid27814521, year = {2016}, author = {Sharon, G and Sampson, TR and Geschwind, DH and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {The Central Nervous System and the Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {915-932}, pmid = {27814521}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01 MH100027/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MH100556/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P50 HD055784/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS085910/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MH106482/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MH110927/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior ; Brain/growth & development/*physiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Neurodevelopmental Disorders/microbiology ; Pregnancy ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Neurodevelopment is a complex process governed by both intrinsic and extrinsic signals. While historically studied by researching the brain, inputs from the periphery impact many neurological conditions. Indeed, emerging data suggest communication between the gut and the brain in anxiety, depression, cognition, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The development of a healthy, functional brain depends on key pre- and post-natal events that integrate environmental cues, such as molecular signals from the gut. These cues largely originate from the microbiome, the consortium of symbiotic bacteria that reside within all animals. Research over the past few years reveals that the gut microbiome plays a role in basic neurogenerative processes such as the formation of the blood-brain barrier, myelination, neurogenesis, and microglia maturation and also modulates many aspects of animal behavior. Herein, we discuss the biological intersection of neurodevelopment and the microbiome and explore the hypothesis that gut bacteria are integral contributors to development and function of the nervous system and to the balance between mental health and disease.}, } @article {pmid27813204, year = {2016}, author = {Palomares-Rius, JE and Archidona-Yuste, A and Cantalapiedra-Navarrete, C and Prieto, P and Castillo, P}, title = {Molecular diversity of bacterial endosymbionts associated with dagger nematodes of the genus Xiphinema (Nematoda: Longidoridae) reveals a high degree of phylogenetic congruence with their host.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {24}, pages = {6225-6247}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13904}, pmid = {27813204}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderiaceae/*classification ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Verrucomicrobia/*classification ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts have been detected in some groups of plant-parasitic nematodes, but few cases have been reported compared to other groups in the phylum Nematoda, such as animal-parasitic or free-living nematodes. This study was performed on a wide variety of plant-parasitic nematode families and species from different host plants and nematode populations. A total of 124 nematode populations (previously identified morphologically and molecularly) were screened for the presence of potential bacterial endosymbionts using the partial 16S rRNA gene and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal microscopy. Potential bacterial endosymbionts were only detected in nematode species belonging to the genus Xiphinema and specifically in the X. americanum group. Fifty-seven partial 16S rRNA sequences were obtained from bacterial endosymbionts in this study. One group of sequences was closely related to the genus 'Candidatus Xiphinematobacter' (19 bacterial endosymbiont sequences were associated with seven nematode host species, including two that have already been described and three unknown bacterial endosymbionts). The second bacterial endosymbiont group (38 bacterial endosymbiont sequences associated with six nematode species) was related to the family Burkholderiaceae, which includes fungal and soil-plant bacterial endosymbionts. These endosymbionts were reported for the first time in the phylum Nematoda. Our findings suggest that there is a highly specific symbiotic relationship between nematode host and bacterial endosymbionts. Overall, these results were corroborated by a phylogeny of nematode host and bacterial endosymbionts that suggested that there was a high degree of phylogenetic congruence and long-term evolutionary persistence between hosts and endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid27812649, year = {2016}, author = {Salomão, MC and Heluany-Filho, MA and Menegueti, MG and Kraker, ME and Martinez, R and Bellissimo-Rodrigues, F}, title = {A randomized clinical trial on the effectiveness of a symbiotic product to decolonize patients harboring multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.}, journal = {Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical}, volume = {49}, number = {5}, pages = {559-566}, doi = {10.1590/0037-8682-0233-2016}, pmid = {27812649}, issn = {1678-9849}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Cross Infection/*prevention & control ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Rectum ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION:: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a symbiotic product to decolonize the intestinal tract of patients harboring multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli and to prevent nosocomial infections.

METHODS:: This was a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, conducted in a tertiary-care university hospital. All adult hospitalized patients with a positive clinical culture and a positive rectal swab for any MDR Gram-negative bacilli were potentially eligible. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, immunosuppression, and bowel obstruction/perforation. The intervention consisted of administering a symbiotic product (Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and fructo-oligosaccharides) twice a day for seven days via the oral/enteral route.

RESULTS:: Between August 1, 2012 and December 22, 2013, 116 of 275 eligible patients were allocated to treatment (n=57) and placebo (n=59). Overall, 101 patients received at least four doses of the study products and were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The primary study outcome, a negative rectal swab for MDR Gram-negative bacilli after treatment, was identified in 16.7% (8/48) and 20.7% (11/53) of patients in the experimental and placebo group, respectively (p=0.60). The secondary outcome, the combined incidence of nosocomial respiratory and urinary tract infections, was 37.5% (18/48) in the experimental group versus 22.6% (12/53) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio: 1.95, 95% confidence interval: 0.69-5.50, p=0.21). Length of stay after the beginning of the intervention, incidence of adverse events, and in-hospital mortality rates were similar in both study groups.

CONCLUSIONS:: Under the present study conditions, symbiotic administration was not effective for decolonizing hospitalized patients harboring MDR Gram-negative bacilli.}, } @article {pmid27812157, year = {2016}, author = {Ohno, Y and Fujita, K and Toyofuku, T and Nakamaura, T}, title = {Cytological Observations of the Large Symbiotic Foraminifer Amphisorus kudakajimensis Using Calcein Acetoxymethyl Ester.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {e0165844}, pmid = {27812157}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Fluoresceins/*metabolism ; Foraminifera/*cytology/*metabolism/physiology ; *Optical Imaging ; Staining and Labeling ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Large benthic foraminifera are unicellular calcifying reef organisms that can form symbiotic relationships with a range of different microalgae. However, the cellular functions, such as symbiosis and calcification, and other aspects of cellular physiology in large benthic foraminifera are not fully understood. Amphisorus kudakajimensis was used as a model to determine the detailed cellular characteristics of large benthic foraminifera. We used calcein acetoxymethyl ester (calcein AM) as a fluorescent indicator for live confocal imaging. We demonstrated that calcein AM is a useful fluorescent indicator to stain the fine network of reticulopodia and the cytoplasm in living A. kudakajimensis. We showed that at least two types of reticulopodia exist in A. kudakajimensis: the straight bundle of reticulopodia that spreads from the aperture and the fine reticulopodia along the surface of the aperture and chamber walls. The cytoplasm in outer chambers was highly branched and contained a few dinoflagellates. In contrast, the inner chamberlets contained condensed cytoplasm and many dinoflagellates, suggesting that the cytoplasm of A. kudakajimensis performs different functions based on its location within the large test. Our confocal detailed image analysis provides real-time cellular morphology and cell physiology of living foraminifera.}, } @article {pmid27811822, year = {2016}, author = {Ramos-Tafur, GE and Lemaitre, R}, title = {A new species of symbiotic palaemonid shrimp of the genus Pseudocoutierea Holthuis, 1951 (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) from the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with an updated key for the identification of species of the genus.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4173}, number = {5}, pages = {475-482}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4173.5.4}, pmid = {27811822}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Animals ; Body Size ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Gulf of Mexico ; Organ Size ; Palaemonidae/anatomy & histology/*classification/growth & development ; }, abstract = {A new species of symbiotic palaemonid shrimp of the genus Pseudocoutierea Holthuis, 1951, is described based on a specimen collected in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, off the southwest coast of Florida. Pseudocoutierea stephanieae sp. nov., is the seventh known in this genus, and morphologically most similar to P. antillensis Chace, 1972, and P. conchae Criales, 1981, from the western Atlantic, and P. elegans Holthuis, 1952, from the eastern Pacific, all sharing an expanded rostral base or eaves that terminate supra-distally in an acute tooth. This new species can be separated by: the presence of an epigastric knob or tubercle on the anterior mid-dorsal third of the carapace, which is absent in all other congeneric species; the shape of the pterygostomial sinus, which is shallow in this new species, whereas it is deep and well defined in all other congeneric species. An updated dichotomous key to species of Pseudocoutierea is presented.}, } @article {pmid27811811, year = {2016}, author = {Huys, R}, title = {Harpacticoid copepods-their symbiotic associations and biogenic substrata: a review.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4174}, number = {1}, pages = {448-729}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4174.1.28}, pmid = {27811811}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Copepoda/*classification/*physiology ; Crustacea/parasitology ; *Ecosystem ; Female ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Members of the order Harpacticoida are primarily free-living and benthic but some lineages have adopted alternative modes of life which involve a major habitat shift or dependence on a host. Since the first discovery of a harpacticoid associated with an invertebrate host about 150 years ago, a total of 172 species, representing 84 genera and 17 families, have been shown to live in symbiotic partnership with other organisms. The steady addition of new taxa during the last 35 years testifies to the widespread and previously underestimated occurrence of symbiosis in the group. Harpacticoids have entered into associations with Cyanobacteria, Protozoa, macroalgae, grasses, fish hosts, marine tetrapods (including whales, sea turtles and manatees) and at least eleven invertebrate phyla. At present, 86 independent colonizations of marine and freshwater host organisms can be identified but this number is a minimum estimate and is expected to increase as certain host groups will be more properly sampled. In contrast to the Cyclopoida and Siphonostomatoida, which have been extremely successful in developing associations with cnidarians, sponges, echinoderms and ascidiaceans, members of the Harpacticoida have a marked predilection for crustacean hosts. Except for a few species that can be classified as genuine parasites, the precise nature of the relationship between most associated harpacticoids and their hosts has yet to be elucidated but can probably be defined as commensalistic, where the benefit to the copepod may be nutritional or protective. Most are ectosymbiotic but some live as endocommensals in microhabitats which provide considerable protection from predation. The success of symbiotic harpacticoids in freshwater is limited with the few species known to be associated with freshwater hosts typically representing isolated forays into a symbiotic lifestyle from an otherwise free-living lineage. The scattered literature on symbiotic harpacticoids is compiled and presented by host group. Dichotomous keys are provided for the identification of most species while accidental and doubtful records are discussed where appropriate.The genus Idomenella T. Scott, 1906a (Pseudotachidiidae), previously a junior subjective synonym of Dactylopodella Sars, 1905a, is reinstated to accommodate Dactylopodella rostrata (T. Scott, 1893), D. janetae Hicks, 1989, Xouthous coronatus (T. Scott, 1894b), X. antarcticus (Giesbrecht, 1902), X. intermedius (Lang, 1934) and Idomenella paracoronata sp. nov. Kioloaria Harris, 1994 (Porcellidiidae) is adopted as the valid replacement name for the preoccupied Acutiramus Harris, 2014a. The name of a second porcellidiid genus, Murramia Harris, 1994, lacks the mandatory type fixation and is made available here by adopting the original name but taking the present authorship and date. The generic name Ellucana Sewell, 1940 is currently unavailable and must instead be attributed to Coull (1971b). Laophonte commensalis Raibaut, 1962a is fixed as the type of Raibautius gen. nov. in the family Laophontidae, Tegastes cnidicus Humes, 1981b as the type of Aglaogastes gen. nov. in the Tegastidae, and Canuella (Canuella) indica Krishnaswamy, 1957 as the type of Indicanuella gen. nov.A number of new names are proposed for species that had previously been misidentified: Diarthrodes septemtrionalis sp. nov. for D. roscoffensis (Monard, 1935b) sensu Kornev & Chertoprud (2008), Kioloaria jejuensis sp. nov. for Porcellidium brevicaudatum Thompson & Scott, 1903 sensu Kim & Kim (1996), Xouthous andamanensis sp. nov. for X. maldivae [sic] Sewell, 1940 sensu Wells & Rao (1987), X. wellsi sp. nov. for X. laticaudatus (Thompson & Scott, 1903) sensu Wells (1967), X. namibiensis sp. nov. for X. pectinatus (Scott & Scott, 1898) sensu Kunz (1963), and Idomenella paracoronata sp. nov. for Idomene coronata (T. Scott, 1894b) sensu Sars (1909a). The inadequately described Amenophia ovalis Brady, 1910 is relegated to a species inquirenda in Amenophia Boeck, 1865. Idomene australis Brady, 1910, I. pusilla Brady, 1910, Dactylopusia ferrieri T. Scott, 1912 and I. kabylica Monard, 1936 are ranked species incertae sedis in the Pseudotachidiidae. Dactylopus bahamensis Edwards, 1891 is tentatively considered as species incertae sedis in the Dactylopusiidae. Canuellina onchophora Por, 1967 and C. nicobaris Wells & Rao, 1987 are transferred to the genus Ellucana Coull, 1971b while Ellucana secunda Coull, 1971b is assigned to the genus Canuellina Gurney, 1927. Xylora calyptogenae Willen, 2006 is sunk as a junior subjective synonym of X. bathyalis Hicks, 1988a. The incorrect original spellings of Parathalestris pacificus Chislenko, 1971, P. infestus Ho & Hong, 1988, Tripartisoma ovalis Avdeev, 1983, T. trapezoidalis Avdeev, 1983, Amplipedicola pectinatus Avdeev, 2010 and Sunaristes japonicus Ho, 1986a are amended to reflect agreement in gender with their respective generic names.}, } @article {pmid27811803, year = {2016}, author = {Cheng, YR and Mayfield, AB and Meng, PJ and Dai, CF and Huys, R}, title = {Copepods associated with scleractinian corals: a worldwide checklist and a case study of their impact on the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pocilloporidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4174}, number = {1}, pages = {291-345}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4174.1.20}, pmid = {27811803}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; *Biodiversity ; Copepoda/*classification/*physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; }, abstract = {The Cnidaria have more symbiotic copepods than any other group of invertebrates, and the greatest numbers of these associates occur on hard corals. A review of the scattered literature on the diversity and taxonomic composition of scleractinian-associated copepods and their hosts revealed a total of 148 coral species, representing 66 genera and 15 families that serve as hosts to copepods. At present, 363 copepod species, representing 99 genera, 19 families and three orders, have been recorded as associates of scleractinian corals. The total included 288 cyclopoids, 68 siphonostomatoids and seven harpacticoids. Within the Cyclopoida the representation of species varied greatly among the 13 families, with a disproportionate number of species belonging to the Anchimolgidae (141 species) and Xarifiidae (92 species). Data on host utilization and geographical distribution of all copepods living symbiotically with hard corals is synthesized and host specificity patterns are highlighted.The prevalence, intensity, density, and biodiversity of copepod infection of 480 colonies of the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) from Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan were documented between July 2007 and November 2008. It was hypothesized that certain environmental factors and physiological coral traits, such as the density of Symbiodinium, could influence these infection parameters. Analysis revealed that ectoparasitic copepods were the most likely to infect P. damicornis, and that Asteropontius minutus Kim, 2003 accounted for more than 50% of total copepod density in July-September 2007 when temperatures were high and bleaching occurred in ~75% of the sampled colonies. The data further showed that copepod virulence may be related to their life history strategies, as well as to Symbiodinium density, surface area of the host coral colonies, and concentration of nitrate and chlorophyll-a in the surrounding seawater. By tracking the abundance, diversity, and performance of infectious copepods prior, throughout, and after a natural bleaching event, the potential to use these parasites as bioindicators for predicting the future physiological performance of P. damicornis in response to environmental change, particularly bleaching events, may ultimately be further explored, developed and maximized.Humesimyzon Kim, 2010, previously placed in the Asterocheridae, is tentatively transferred to the recently resurrected family Coralliomyzontidae. The authorship and spelling of Pseudanthessius thorellii (Brady, 1880) are corrected.}, } @article {pmid27811802, year = {2016}, author = {Cheng, YR and Ho, MJ and Dai, CF}, title = {Four anchimolgid copepods (Poecilostomatoida: Anchimolgidae) associated with the scleractinian coral Pavona explanulata (Lamarck, 1816) in Taiwan.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4174}, number = {1}, pages = {274-290}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4174.1.19}, pmid = {27811802}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/*classification/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Several species of copepods are known to live in association with the coral genus Pavona Lamarck, 1801. In this paper, four poecilostomatoid copepods, including one new genus, two new species, and one species new to Taiwan, are described, i.e. Alienigena triangula gen. et sp. nov., Odontomolgus cognatus sp. nov., O. mucosus Kim, 2006 and Sociellus subgeminus sp. nov. All species were found together in a single washing of the scleractinian coral Pavona explanulata (Lamarck, 1816), collected from shallow water reefs in northern Taiwan. All of them appear closely related to the genera of the Odontomolgus-group in the family Anchimolgidae due to the possession of a large process on the convex margin of the mandible. The present report brings the number of copepod species that live in symbiosis with members of the coral genus Pavona to 17.}, } @article {pmid27811791, year = {2016}, author = {Ho, JS and Lin, CL and Liu, WC}, title = {High diversity of Caligus species (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) in Taiwanese waters.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4174}, number = {1}, pages = {114-121}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4174.1.8}, pmid = {27811791}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Copepoda/classification/*physiology ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Caligidae, commonly known as sea lice, is the most speciose family of symbiotic copepods comprising over 490 species classified in 31 genera. Caligus Müller, 1785 is the largest genus of this family comprising 255 species. Fifty-three species of Caligus have been reported from Taiwan so far, representing 20.78 % of Caligus currently known in the world. Nevertheless, we believe many more species of Caligus are yet to be discovered from the waters of Taiwan, because only 17.71 % (553/3,121 species) of the potential fish hosts occurring in Taiwanese waters have been examined for parasitic copepods so far. Among the countries in the Far East, Taiwan exhibits the shortest coastline yet displays the highest diversity of Caligus species. This seemingly contradictory phenomenon may be explained by the fact that the Island of Taiwan is straddling over the border of two ecological realms in the western North Pacific, viz. the Temperate Northern Pacific Realm and the Central Indo-Pacific Realm. Pseudocaligus longipes Moon & Kim, 2012 is formally transferred to the genus Caligus as C. longipes (Moon & Kim, 2012) comb. nov.}, } @article {pmid27811786, year = {2016}, author = {Huys, R}, title = {Preface: Recent Developments in Taxonomy and Biodiversity of Symbiotic Copepoda (Crustacea)-A Volume in Celebration of the Career of Prof. Il-Hoi Kim.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4174}, number = {1}, pages = {6-9}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4174.1.3}, pmid = {27811786}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Copepoda/*classification/*physiology ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Invertebrates/parasitology ; Parasitology/*history ; Republic of Korea ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/parasitology ; Zoology/*history ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is one of the most successful modes of life displayed by aquatic organisms, as measured by the number of times it evolved and how many symbiotic species are presently in existence. Among the Crustacea copepods utilize an extraordinary range of hosts, occurring on virtually every phylum of marine macroinvertebrates and, jointly with the monogeneans, are the most speciose group of metazoan ectoparasites of marine fishes (Rhode 2005). Several species have a major impact on global finfish and shellfish aquaculture, causing significant effects on farm production, economic viability and sustainability (Shinn et al. 2015). Parasitism by copepods on other metazoans has evolved independently numerous times in the evolutionary history of animal life on Earth and has led to an exceptional diversity in morphologies, physiologies, life-strategies and habitat preferences of its members. Reflecting the diversity of hosts, copepods show an amazing variety of adaptations which secure infection of and survival on the hosts. Since the first descriptions of parasitic copepods occurring on fish by Linnaeus (1758) and the first report of a copepod utilizing an invertebrate host by Say (1818) (Clausidium caudatum (Say, 1818)) the number of described symbiotic copepods has seen a steady increase over a 200-yr period, culminating in a total of 5,306 valid species recognized today. About 38% of all described copepod species utilize either vertebrate (2,450 spp.) or invertebrate hosts (2,856 spp.), however, many host groups have not been thoroughly examined, and for this reason even approximate estimates of true species numbers are futile. Plotting the proposal of new species by decade (Fig. 1) shows a sharp rise since 1950 with 67% of the species having been described in the preceding 65 years. This period of exceptionally rapid progress can be attributed to a number of highly prolific investigators such as Arthur Humes, Il-Hoi Kim, Ju-shey Ho and Jan Stock who, single-handedly or in collaboration with other authors, described 698, 356, 290 and 246 species, respectively. Historically, the number of described copepod species parasitizing fish typically outnumbered those known to be associated with invertebrates. Only during the mid-1970s the species curves of both categories converged and during the last 30 years the discovery of new species associated with invertebrate hosts appears to progress more rapidly. Despite a significant drop in the number of specialists working on symbiotic copepods the steady addition of new taxa shows that the dynamism of their taxonomy is clearly set to continue.}, } @article {pmid27811784, year = {2016}, author = {Huys, R}, title = {Recent Developments in Systematics and Biodiversity of Symbiotic Copepoda (Crustacea)-A Volume in Celebration of the Career of Prof. Il-Hoi Kim (Title page).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4174}, number = {1}, pages = {1-2}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4174.1.1}, pmid = {27811784}, issn = {1175-5334}, } @article {pmid27811733, year = {2016}, author = {Gasca, R and Haddock, SH}, title = {The rare deep-living hyperiid amphipod Megalanceoloides remipes (Barnard, 1932): complementary description and symbiosis.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4178}, number = {1}, pages = {138-144}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4178.1.7}, pmid = {27811733}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Amphipoda/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Animals ; Female ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {A female ovigerous specimen of the rare deep-living hyperiid Megalanceoloides remipes (Barnard, 1932) was collected with a remotely operated submersible (ROV) at a depth of 2,094 m in the Farallon Basin, Gulf of California. The specimen was found to be symbiotically associated with the siphonophore Apolemia sp. Eschscholtz, 1829. Hitherto, this species was known only from two other specimens, one from the South Atlantic and another from the Indian Ocean; the present record is the first from the Pacific Ocean. Previous descriptions lacked morphological details of different appendages; these data are provided here. In addition, we present the first data on its symbiotic association from in situ observations. The colors of the hyperiid and of some parts of the Apolemid were very similar, thus supporting the notion that some hyperiids tend to mimic the color of its host.}, } @article {pmid27811721, year = {2016}, author = {Vicente, J and Zea, S and Hill, RT}, title = {Sponge epizoism in the Caribbean and the discovery of new Plakortis and <br />Haliclona species, and polymorphism of Xestospongia deweerdtae (Porifera).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4178}, number = {2}, pages = {209-233}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4178.2.3}, pmid = {27811721}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region ; Haliclona/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plakortis/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The new discovery by Vicente et al. (2014) of specialized epizoic symbioses between sponges of the genera Plakortis and Xestospongia revealed the obligate interaction of two new Plakortis spp. associating with Xestospongia deweerdtae and a new Xestospongia sp. In this study we formally describe the two new Plakortis spp. as Plakortis deweerdtaephila sp. nov. (previously reported as Plakortis sp. 1), Plakortis symbiotica sp. nov. (previously reported as Plakortis sp. 2) and describe the new Xestospongia sp. epibiont as Haliclona (Halichoclona) plakophila sp. nov. Plakortis deweerdtaephila associates only with X. deweerdtae, and has very small to large straight diods (24.2-233.7 μm long) and triods (26.4-102.6 μm long) that form large ectosomal circular meshes (114-329 μm diameter). P. symbiotica associates with both X. deweerdtae and H. plakophila, has larger curved diods (71.9-141.8 μm long) and triods (20.4-70.6 μm long) that form smaller ectosomal circular meshes (43-121 μm diameter) than P. deweerdtaephila. Phylogenetic analysis of cox1 and cob gene fragments revealed a strongly supported clade that grouped both Plakortis spp. nov. distantly from any other known Plakortis spp. H. plakophila is described as a thin encrusting veneer of tissue with occasional papillae, so far only found associated with P. symbiotica in La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and cox1 gene fragments place it distantly from any known clade of Haplosclerida. We found a new associated morphotype of X. deweerdtae from Bocas del Toro Panama, which completely overgrew P. deweerdtaephila. In addition, free-living morphotypes from Panama produce larger S-shaped and round bracket shaped strongyles never before observed for this species, leading us to redescribe X. deweerdtae. All X. deweerdtae morphotypes shared >99% sequence homology of cox1, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes with the holotype of X. deweerdtae. This study highlights the highly variable morphological characters of X. deweerdtae influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. This is also the first time that an obligate symbiosis with a heterospecific sponge is used as a key taxonomic character.}, } @article {pmid27811674, year = {2016}, author = {Ng, PK and Rahayu, DL and Shih, HT}, title = {Ankerius aenigmaticus, a new genus and new species of aphanodactylid crab symbiotic with polychaetes from the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Aphanodactylidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4179}, number = {2}, pages = {271-278}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4179.2.7}, pmid = {27811674}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Brachyura/*anatomy & histology/*classification ; Female ; Polychaeta ; Saudi Arabia ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new genus and new species of pinnotheroid crab of the family Aphanodactylidae, Ankerius aenigmaticus n. sp., is described from the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The genus is unusual among aphanodactylids in possessing more gaping third maxillipeds, strongly spiniform chelipeds and ambulatory legs, as well as a relatively longer ambulatory dactylus.}, } @article {pmid27811084, year = {2016}, author = {Jakobsen, I and Smith, SE and Smith, FA and Watts-Williams, SJ and Clausen, SS and Grønlund, M}, title = {Plant growth responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 are increased by phosphorus sufficiency but not by arbuscular mycorrhizas.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {21}, pages = {6173-6186}, pmid = {27811084}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Brachypodium/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Capturing the full growth potential in crops under future elevated CO2 (eCO2) concentrations would be facilitated by improved understanding of eCO2 effects on uptake and use of mineral nutrients. This study investigates interactions of eCO2, soil phosphorus (P), and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon grown under the same conditions. The focus was on eCO2 effects on vegetative growth, efficiency in acquisition and use of P, and expression of phosphate transporter (PT) genes. Growth responses to eCO2 were positive at P sufficiency, but under low-P conditions they ranged from non-significant in M. truncatula to highly significant in B. distachyon Growth of M. truncatula was increased by AM at low P conditions at both CO2 levels and eCO2×AM interactions were sparse. Elevated CO2 had small effects on P acquisition, but enhanced conversion of tissue P into biomass. Expression of PT genes was influenced by eCO2, but effects were inconsistent across genes and species. The ability of eCO2 to partly mitigate P limitation-induced growth reductions in B. distachyon was associated with enhanced P use efficiency, and requirements for P fertilizers may not increase in such species in future CO2-rich climates.}, } @article {pmid27611874, year = {2016}, author = {Shimomura, A and Naka, A and Miyazaki, N and Moriuchi, S and Arima, S and Sato, S and Hirakawa, H and Hayashi, M and Maymon, M and Hirsch, AM and Suzuki, A}, title = {Blue Light Perception by Both Roots and Rhizobia Inhibits Nodule Formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {10}, pages = {786-796}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-16-0048-R}, pmid = {27611874}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Cryptochromes/genetics ; Light ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology/physiology/*radiation effects ; Mesorhizobium/physiology/*radiation effects ; Mutagenesis ; Phototropins/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*radiation effects ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology/radiation effects ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {In many legumes, roots that are exposed to light do not form nodules. Here, we report that blue light inhibits nodulation in Lotus japonicus roots inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti. Using RNA interference, we suppressed the expression of the phototropin and cryptochrome genes in L. japonicus hairy roots. Under blue light, plants transformed with an empty vector did not develop nodules, whereas plants exhibiting suppressed expression of cry1 and cry2 genes formed nodules. We also measured rhizobial growth to investigate whether the inhibition of nodulation could be caused by a reduced population of rhizobia in response to light. Although red light had no effect on rhizobial growth, blue light had a strong inhibitory effect. Rhizobial growth under blue light was partially restored in signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) strains in which LOV-HK/PAS- and photolyase-related genes were disrupted. Moreover, when Ljcry1A and Ljcry2B-silenced plants were inoculated with the STM strains, nodulation was additively increased. Our data show that blue light receptors in both the host plant and the symbiont have a profound effect on nodule development. The exact mechanism by which these photomorphogenetic responses function in the symbiosis needs further study, but they are clearly involved in optimizing legume nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27603559, year = {2016}, author = {Wongdee, J and Songwattana, P and Nouwen, N and Noisangiam, R and Fardoux, J and Chaintreuil, C and Teaumroong, N and Tittabutr, P and Giraud, E}, title = {nifDK Clusters Located on the Chromosome and Megaplasmid of Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain DOA9 Contribute Differently to Nitrogenase Activity During Symbiosis and Free-Living Growth.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {10}, pages = {767-773}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-16-0140-R}, pmid = {27603559}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genes, Reporter ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Operon/*genetics ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. strain DOA9 contains two copies of the nifDK genes, nifDKc, located on the chromosome, and nifDKp, located on a symbiotic megaplasmid. Unlike most rhizobia, this bacterium displays nitrogenase activity under both free-living and symbiotic conditions. Transcriptional analysis using gusA reporter strains showed that both nifDK operons were highly expressed under symbiosis, whereas nifDKc was the most abundantly expressed under free-living conditions. During free-living growth, the nifDKp mutation did not affect nitrogenase activity, whereas nitrogenase activity was drastically reduced with the nifDKc mutant. This led us to suppose that nifDKc is the main contributor of nitrogenase activity in the free-living state. In contrast, during symbiosis, no effect of the nifDKc mutation was observed and the nitrogen-fixation efficiency of plants inoculated with the nifDKp mutant was reduced. This suggests that nifDKp plays the main role in nitrogenase enzyme activity during symbiosis. Together, these data suggest that Bradyrhizobium sp. strain DOA9 contains two functional copies of nifDK genes that are regulated differently and that, depending on their lifestyle, contribute differently to nitrogenase activity.}, } @article {pmid27797357, year = {2016}, author = {Satgé, C and Moreau, S and Sallet, E and Lefort, G and Auriac, MC and Remblière, C and Cottret, L and Gallardo, K and Noirot, C and Jardinaud, MF and Gamas, P}, title = {Reprogramming of DNA methylation is critical for nodule development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {16166}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2016.166}, pmid = {27797357}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*growth & development ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The legume-Rhizobium symbiosis leads to the formation of a new organ, the root nodule, involving coordinated and massive induction of specific genes. Several genes controlling DNA methylation are spatially regulated within the Medicago truncatula nodule, notably the demethylase gene, DEMETER (DME), which is mostly expressed in the differentiation zone. Here, we show that MtDME is essential for nodule development and regulates the expression of 1,425 genes, some of which are critical for plant and bacterial cell differentiation. Bisulphite sequencing coupled to genomic capture enabled the identification of 474 regions that are differentially methylated during nodule development, including nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide genes. Decreasing DME expression by RNA interference led to hypermethylation and concomitant downregulation of 400 genes, most of them associated with nodule differentiation. Massive reprogramming of gene expression through DNA demethylation is a new epigenetic mechanism controlling a key stage of indeterminate nodule organogenesis during symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid27803316, year = {2016}, author = {Van Arnam, EB and Ruzzini, AC and Sit, CS and Horn, H and Pinto-Tomás, AA and Currie, CR and Clardy, J}, title = {Selvamicin, an atypical antifungal polyene from two alternative genomic contexts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {46}, pages = {12940-12945}, pmid = {27803316}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AT009874/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; //CIHR/Canada ; F32 GM117661/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Ants/microbiology ; Candida albicans/drug effects/growth & development ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Glycosylation ; Macrolides/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Multigene Family ; Plasmids ; Polyenes/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The bacteria harbored by fungus-growing ants produce a variety of small molecules that help maintain a complex multilateral symbiosis. In a survey of antifungal compounds from these bacteria, we discovered selvamicin, an unusual antifungal polyene macrolide, in bacterial isolates from two neighboring ant nests. Selvamicin resembles the clinically important antifungals nystatin A1 and amphotericin B, but it has several distinctive structural features: a noncationic 6-deoxymannose sugar at the canonical glycosylation site and a second sugar, an unusual 4-O-methyldigitoxose, at the opposite end of selvamicin's shortened polyene macrolide. It also lacks some of the pharmacokinetic liabilities of the clinical agents and appears to have a different target. Whole genome sequencing revealed the putative type I polyketide gene cluster responsible for selvamicin's biosynthesis including a subcluster of genes consistent with selvamicin's 4-O-methyldigitoxose sugar. Although the selvamicin biosynthetic cluster is virtually identical in both bacterial producers, in one it is on the chromosome, in the other it is on a plasmid. These alternative genomic contexts illustrate the biosynthetic gene cluster mobility that underlies the diversity and distribution of chemical defenses by the specialized bacteria in this multilateral symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27801992, year = {2016}, author = {Shukla, SP and Sanders, JG and Byrne, MJ and Pierce, NE}, title = {Gut microbiota of dung beetles correspond to dietary specializations of adults and larvae.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {24}, pages = {6092-6106}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13901}, pmid = {27801992}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; *Diet ; Feces ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva/*microbiology ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Vertebrate dung is central to the dung beetle life cycle, constituting food for adults and a protective and nutritive refuge for their offspring. Adult dung beetles have soft mandibles and feed primarily on nutritionally rich dung particles, while larvae have sclerotized mandibles and consume coarser dung particles with a higher C/N ratio. Here, using the dung beetles Euoniticellus intermedius and E. triangulatus, we show that these morphological adaptations in mandibular structure are also correlated with differences in basic gut structure and gut bacterial communities between dung beetle life stages. Metagenome functional predictions based on 16S rDNA characterization further indicated that larval gut communities are enriched in genes involved in cellulose degradation and nitrogen fixation compared to adult guts. Larval gut communities are more similar to female gut communities than they are to those of males, and bacteria present in maternally provisioned brood balls and maternal 'gifts' (secretions deposited in the brood ball along with the egg) are also more similar to larval gut communities than to those of males. Maternal secretions and maternally provisioned brood balls, as well as dung, were important factors shaping the larval gut community. Differences between gut microbiota in the adults and larvae are likely to contribute to differences in nutrient assimilation from ingested dung at different life history stages.}, } @article {pmid27801909, year = {2017}, author = {Kuwahara, H and Yuki, M and Izawa, K and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Genome of 'Ca. Desulfovibrio trichonymphae', an H2-oxidizing bacterium in a tripartite symbiotic system within a protist cell in the termite gut.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {766-776}, pmid = {27801909}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Desulfovibrio/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hypermastigia/*microbiology/physiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The cellulolytic protist Trichonympha agilis in the termite gut permanently hosts two symbiotic bacteria, 'Candidatus Endomicrobium trichonymphae' and 'Candidatus Desulfovibrio trichonymphae'. The former is an intracellular symbiont, and the latter is almost intracellular but still connected to the outside via a small pore. The complete genome of 'Ca. Endomicrobium trichonymphae' has previously been reported, and we here present the complete genome of 'Ca. Desulfovibrio trichonymphae'. The genome is small (1 410 056 bp), has many pseudogenes, and retains biosynthetic pathways for various amino acids and cofactors, which are partially complementary to those of 'Ca. Endomicrobium trichonymphae'. An amino acid permease gene has apparently been transferred between the ancestors of these two symbionts; a lateral gene transfer has affected their metabolic capacity. Notably, 'Ca. Desulfovibrio trichonymphae' retains the complex system to oxidize hydrogen by sulfate and/or fumarate, while genes for utilizing other substrates common in desulfovibrios are pseudogenized or missing. Thus, 'Ca. Desulfovibrio trichonymphae' is specialized to consume hydrogen that may otherwise inhibit fermentation processes in both T. agilis and 'Ca. Endomicrobium trichonymphae'. The small pore may be necessary to take up sulfate. This study depicts a genome-based model of a multipartite symbiotic system within a cellulolytic protist cell in the termite gut.}, } @article {pmid27801908, year = {2017}, author = {Ponnudurai, R and Kleiner, M and Sayavedra, L and Petersen, JM and Moche, M and Otto, A and Becher, D and Takeuchi, T and Satoh, N and Dubilier, N and Schweder, T and Markert, S}, title = {Metabolic and physiological interdependencies in the Bathymodiolus azoricus symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {463-477}, pmid = {27801908}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Gills/microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Methane/metabolism ; Mytilidae/genetics/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Proteome ; Species Specificity ; Sulfur/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus lives in an intimate symbiosis with two types of chemosynthetic Gammaproteobacteria in its gills: a sulfur oxidizer and a methane oxidizer. Despite numerous investigations over the last decades, the degree of interdependence between the three symbiotic partners, their individual metabolic contributions, as well as the mechanism of carbon transfer from the symbionts to the host are poorly understood. We used a combination of proteomics and genomics to investigate the physiology and metabolism of the individual symbiotic partners. Our study revealed that key metabolic functions are most likely accomplished jointly by B. azoricus and its symbionts: (1) CO2 is pre-concentrated by the host for carbon fixation by the sulfur-oxidizing symbiont, and (2) the host replenishes essential biosynthetic TCA cycle intermediates for the sulfur-oxidizing symbiont. In return (3), the sulfur oxidizer may compensate for the host's putative deficiency in amino acid and cofactor biosynthesis. We also identified numerous 'symbiosis-specific' host proteins by comparing symbiont-containing and symbiont-free host tissues and symbiont fractions. These proteins included a large complement of host digestive enzymes in the gill that are likely involved in symbiont digestion and carbon transfer from the symbionts to the host.}, } @article {pmid27801906, year = {2017}, author = {Petrou, K and Ralph, PJ and Nielsen, DA}, title = {A novel mechanism for host-mediated photoprotection in endosymbiotic foraminifera.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {453-462}, pmid = {27801906}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Foraminifera/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Light underpins the health and function of coral reef ecosystems, where symbiotic partnerships with photosynthetic algae constitute the life support system of the reef. Decades of research have given us detailed knowledge of the photoprotective capacity of phototrophic organisms, yet little is known about the role of the host in providing photoprotection in symbiotic systems. Here we show that the intracellular symbionts within the large photosymbiotic foraminifera Marginopora vertebralis exhibit phototactic behaviour, and that the phototactic movement of the symbionts is accomplished by the host, through rapid actin-mediated relocation of the symbionts deeper into the cavities within the calcium carbonate test. Using a photosynthetic inhibitor, we identified that the infochemical signalling for host regulation is photosynthetically derived, highlighting the presence of an intimate communication between the symbiont and the host. Our results emphasise the central importance of the host in photosymbiotic photoprotection via a new mechanism in foraminifera that can serve as a platform for exploring host-symbiont communication in other photosymbiotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid27801904, year = {2017}, author = {Kia, SH and Glynou, K and Nau, T and Thines, M and Piepenbring, M and Maciá-Vicente, JG}, title = {Influence of phylogenetic conservatism and trait convergence on the interactions between fungal root endophytes and plants.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {777-790}, pmid = {27801904}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants associate through their roots with fungal assemblages that impact their abundance and productivity. Non-mycorrhizal endophytes constitute an important component of such fungal diversity, but their implication in ecosystem processes is little known. Using a selection of 128 root-endophytic strains, we defined functional groups based on their traits and plant interactions with potential to predict community assembly and symbiotic association processes. In vitro tests of the strains' interactions with Arabidopsis thaliana, Microthlaspi erraticum and Hordeum vulgare showed a net negative effect of fungal colonization on plant growth. The effects partly depended on the phylogenetic affiliation of strains, but also varied considerably depending on the plant-strain combination. The variation was partly explained by fungal traits shared by different lineages, like growth rates or melanization. The origin of strains also affected their symbioses, with endophytes isolated from Microthlaspi spp. populations being more detrimental to M. erraticum than strains from other sources. Our findings suggest that plant-endophyte associations are subject to local processes of selection, in which particular combinations of symbionts are favored across landscapes. We also show that different common endophytic taxa have differential sets of traits found to affect interactions, hinting to a functional complementarity that can explain their frequent co-existence in natural communities.}, } @article {pmid27799532, year = {2016}, author = {Chong, RA and Moran, NA}, title = {Intraspecific genetic variation in hosts affects regulation of obligate heritable symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {46}, pages = {13114-13119}, pmid = {27799532}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*physiology ; Buchnera/genetics/*physiology ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships promote biological diversification by unlocking new ecological niches. Over evolutionary time, hosts and symbionts often enter intimate and permanent relationships, which must be maintained and regulated for both lineages to persist. Many insect species harbor obligate, heritable symbiotic bacteria that provision essential nutrients and enable hosts to exploit niches that would otherwise be unavailable. Hosts must regulate symbiont population sizes, but optimal regulation may be affected by the need to respond to the ongoing evolution of symbionts, which experience high levels of genetic drift and potential selection for selfish traits. We address the extent of intraspecific variation in the regulation of a mutually obligate symbiosis, between the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and its maternally transmitted symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola Using experimental crosses to identify effects of host genotypes, we measured symbiont titer, as the ratio of genomic copy numbers of symbiont and host, as well as developmental time and fecundity of hosts. We find a large (>10-fold) range in symbiont titer among genetically distinct aphid lines harboring the same Buchnera haplotype. Aphid clones also vary in fitness, measured as developmental time and fecundity, and genetically based variation in titer is correlated with host fitness, with higher titers corresponding to lower reproductive rates of hosts. Our work shows that obligate symbiosis is not static but instead is subject to short-term evolutionary dynamics, potentially reflecting coevolutionary interactions between host and symbiont.}, } @article {pmid27605211, year = {2016}, author = {Gorjifard, S and Goldszmid, RS}, title = {Microbiota-myeloid cell crosstalk beyond the gut.}, journal = {Journal of leukocyte biology}, volume = {100}, number = {5}, pages = {865-879}, pmid = {27605211}, issn = {1938-3673}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Cytokines/immunology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Infections/immunology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Models, Immunological ; Myeloid Cells/*immunology ; Myelopoiesis ; Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Neutrophils/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Vaccine Potency ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem that plays a fundamental role in host physiology. Locally, the gut commensal microbes/host symbiotic relationship is vital for barrier fortification, nutrient absorption, resistance against intestinal pathogens, and the development and maintenance of the mucosal immune system. It is now clear that the effects of the indigenous intestinal flora extend beyond the gut, ranging from shaping systemic immune responses to metabolic and behavioral functions. However, the underlying mechanisms of the gut microbiota/systemic immune system interactions remain largely unknown. Myeloid cells respond to microbial signals, including those derived from commensals, and initiate innate and adaptive immune responses. In this review, we focus on the impact of the gut microbiota on myeloid cells at extraintestinal sites. In particular, we discuss how commensal-derived signals affect steady-state myelopoiesis and cellular function and how that influences the response to infection and cancer therapy.}, } @article {pmid27798065, year = {2017}, author = {Mikaelyan, A and Meuser, K and Brune, A}, title = {Microenvironmental heterogeneity of gut compartments drives bacterial community structure in wood- and humus-feeding higher termites.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw210}, pmid = {27798065}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Feeding Behavior ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Wood/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in higher termites (family Termitidae) is accomplished by an exclusively prokaryotic gut microbiota. By deep sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA genes, we had identified diet as the primary determinant of bacterial community structure in a broad selection of termites specialized on lignocellulose in different stages of humification. Here, we increased the resolution of our approach to account for the pronounced heterogeneity in microenvironmental conditions and microbial activities in the major hindgut compartments. The community structure of consecutive gut compartments in each species strongly differed, but that of homologous compartments clearly converged, even among unrelated termites. While the alkaline P1 compartments of all termites investigated contained specific lineages of Clostridiales, the posterior hindgut compartments (P3, P4) differed between feeding groups and were predominantly colonized by putatively fiber-associated lineages of Spirochaetes, Fibrobacteres and the TG3 phylum (wood and grass feeders) or diverse assemblages of Clostridiales and Bacteroidetes (humus and soil feeders). The results underscore that bacterial community structure in termite guts is driven by microenvironmental factors, such as pH, available substrates and gradients of O2 and H2, and inspire investigations on the functional roles of specific bacterial taxa in lignocellulose and humus digestion.}, } @article {pmid27797713, year = {2016}, author = {Bayman, P and Mosquera-Espinosa, AT and Saladini-Aponte, CM and Hurtado-Guevara, NC and Viera-Ruiz, NL}, title = {Age-dependent mycorrhizal specificity in an invasive orchid, Oeceoclades maculata.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {103}, number = {11}, pages = {1880-1889}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1600127}, pmid = {27797713}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Agaricales/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Basidiomycota/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Germination ; Introduced Species ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Orchidaceae/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/growth & development/microbiology ; Puerto Rico ; Seeds/anatomy & histology/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Oeceoclades maculata is a naturalized, invasive, terrestrial orchid in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the neotropics. We asked whether its success might be partly explained by its mycorrhizal associations, hypothesizing a relationship with many fungal partners or with one widely distributed partner.

METHODS: Oeceoclades maculata roots were collected throughout Puerto Rico, and the degree of mycorrhizal colonization was measured. For identification of fungi, the ITS region was sequenced from pure cultures and directly from roots. Representative fungi were used for symbiotic seed germination experiments.

KEY RESULTS: Colonization of O. maculata roots was very variable. The most common fungus identified by BLAST searches was Psathyrella cf. candolleana, but typical orchid mycorrhizal fungi (Ceratobasidium and Tulasnella) were also found, as were a range of saprotrophs. Seeds germinated in vitro only in the presence of Psathyrella.

CONCLUSIONS: These results are surprising in two respects. First, O. maculata appears to be highly specific for fungi during seed germination, but unusually promiscuous as adult plants. Second, mycorrhizal associations with Psathyrella and with other saprotrophic fungi have been previously reported, but only from mycoheterotrophic (i.e., nonphotosynthetic) orchids, not from green orchids like Oeceoclades. This combination may partly explain the success of Oeceoclades.}, } @article {pmid27797179, year = {2016}, author = {Strasser, P}, title = {Free Electrons to Molecular Bonds and Back: Closing the Energetic Oxygen Reduction (ORR)-Oxygen Evolution (OER) Cycle Using Core-Shell Nanoelectrocatalysts.}, journal = {Accounts of chemical research}, volume = {49}, number = {11}, pages = {2658-2668}, doi = {10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00346}, pmid = {27797179}, issn = {1520-4898}, abstract = {Nanomaterial science and electrocatalytic science have entered a successful "nanoelectrochemical" symbiosis, in which novel nanomaterials offer new frontiers for studies on electrocatalytic charge transfer, while electrocatalytic processes give meaning and often practical importance to novel nanomaterial concepts. Examples of this fruitful symbiosis are dealloyed core-shell nanoparticle electrocatalysts, which often exhibit enhanced kinetic charge transfer rates at greatly improved atom-efficiency. As such, they represent ideal electrocatalyst architectures for the acidic oxygen reduction reaction to water (ORR) and the acidic oxygen evolution reaction from water (OER) that require scarce Pt- and Ir-based catalysts. Together, these two reactions constitute the "O-cycle", a key elemental process loop in the field of electrochemical energy interconversion between electricity (free electrons) and molecular bonds (H2O/O2), realized in the combination of water electrolyzers and hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells. In this Account, we describe our recent efforts to design, synthesize, understand, and test noble metal-poor dealloyed Pt and Ir core-shell nanoparticles for deployment in acidic polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and PEM fuel cells. Spherical dealloyed Pt core-shell particles, derived from PtNi3 precursor alloys, showed favorable ORR activity. More detailed size-activity correlation studies further revealed that the 6-8 nm diameter range is a most desirable initial particle size range in order to maximize the particle Ni content after ORR testing and to preserve performance stability. Similarly, dealloyed and oxidized IrOx core-shell particles derived from Ni-rich Ir-Ni precursor particles proved highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts in acidic conditions. In addition to the noble metal savings in the particle cores, the Pt core-shell particles are believed to benefit in terms of their mass-based electrochemical kinetics from surface lattice strain effects that tune the adsorption energies and barriers of elementary steps. The molecular mechanism of the kinetic benefit of the dealloyed IrOx particle needs more attention, but there is mounting evidence for ligand hole effects in defect-rich IrOx shells that generate preactive oxygen centers.}, } @article {pmid27796720, year = {2016}, author = {Kao, CW and Bakshi, M and Sherameti, I and Dong, S and Reichelt, M and Oelmüller, R and Yeh, KW}, title = {A Chinese cabbage (Brassica campetris subsp. Chinensis) τ-type glutathione-S-transferase stimulates Arabidopsis development and primes against abiotic and biotic stress.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {92}, number = {6}, pages = {643-659}, pmid = {27796720}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Alternaria/physiology ; Arabidopsis/drug effects/*enzymology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Brassica/*enzymology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase/genetics/*metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/drug effects/enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {The beneficial root-colonizing fungus Piriformospora indica stimulates root development of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris subsp. Chinensis) and this is accompanied by the up-regulation of a τ-class glutathione (GSH)-S-transferase gene (BcGSTU) (Lee et al. 2011) in the roots. BcGSTU expression is further promoted by osmotic (salt and PEG) and heat stress. Ectopic expression of BcGSTU in Arabidopsis under the control of the 35S promoter results in the promotion of root and shoot growth as well as better performance of the plants under abiotic (150 mM NaCl, PEG, 42 °C) and biotic (Alternaria brassicae infection) stresses. Higher levels of glutathione, auxin and stress-related (salicylic and jasmonic acid) phytohormones as well as changes in the gene expression profile result in better performance of the BcGSTU expressors upon exposure to stress. Simultaneously the plants are primed against upcoming stresses. We propose that BcGSTU is a target of P. indica in Chinese cabbage roots because the enzyme participates in balancing growth and stress responses, depending on the equilibrium of the symbiotic interaction. A comparable function of BcGST in transgenic Arabidopsis makes the enzyme a valuable tool for agricultural applications.}, } @article {pmid27796595, year = {2017}, author = {Herrera, H and Valadares, R and Contreras, D and Bashan, Y and Arriagada, C}, title = {Mycorrhizal compatibility and symbiotic seed germination of orchids from the Coastal Range and Andes in south central Chile.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {175-188}, pmid = {27796595}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Chile ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; Endangered Species ; Germination ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds/*growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Little is known about Orchidaceae plants in Chile and their mycorrhizal associations, a key issue for designing protective actions for endangered species. We investigated root fungi from seven terrestrial orchid species to identify potential mycorrhizal fungi. The main characteristics of Rhizoctonia-like fungi were observed under light microscopy, and isolates were identified through PCR-ITS sequencing. Molecular identification of fungal sequences showed a high diversity of fungi colonizing roots. Fungal ability to germinate seeds of different orchids was determined in symbiotic germination tests; 24 fungal groups were isolated, belonging to the genera Tulasnella, Ceratobasidium, and Thanatephorus. Furthermore, dark septate and other endophytic fungi were identified. The high number of Rhizoctonia-like fungi obtained from adult orchids from the Coastal mountain range suggests that, after germination, these orchids may complement their nutritional demands through mycoheterotrophy. Nonetheless, beneficial associations with other endophytic fungi may also co-exist. In this study, isolated mycorrhizal fungi had the ability to induce seed germination at different efficiencies and with low specificity. Germin ation rates were low, but protocorms continued to develop for 60 days. A Tulasnella sp. isolated from Chloraea gavilu was most effective to induce seed germination of different species. The dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi did not show any effect on seed development; however, their widespread occurrence in some orchids suggests a putative role in plant establishment.}, } @article {pmid27795326, year = {2017}, author = {Wheatley, RM and Ramachandran, VK and Geddes, BA and Perry, BJ and Yost, CK and Poole, PS}, title = {Role of O2 in the Growth of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 on Glucose and Succinate.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {27795326}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {BB/K001868/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K001868/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Culture Media ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects/physiology ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Oxygen/administration & dosage/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*growth & development/metabolism ; Succinic Acid/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Insertion sequencing (INSeq) analysis of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 (Rlv3841) grown on glucose or succinate at both 21% and 1% O2 was used to understand how O2 concentration alters metabolism. Two transcriptional regulators were required for growth on glucose (pRL120207 [eryD] and RL0547 [phoB]), five were required on succinate (pRL100388, RL1641, RL1642, RL3427, and RL4524 [ecfL]), and three were required on 1% O2 (pRL110072, RL0545 [phoU], and RL4042). A novel toxin-antitoxin system was identified that could be important for generation of new plasmidless rhizobial strains. Rlv3841 appears to use the methylglyoxal pathway alongside the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for optimal growth on glucose. Surprisingly, the ED pathway was required for growth on succinate, suggesting that sugars made by gluconeogenesis must undergo recycling. Altered amino acid metabolism was specifically needed for growth on glucose, including RL2082 (gatB) and pRL120419 (opaA, encoding omega-amino acid:pyruvate transaminase). Growth on succinate specifically required enzymes of nucleobase synthesis, including ribose-phosphate pyrophosphokinase (RL3468 [prs]) and a cytosine deaminase (pRL90208 [codA]). Succinate growth was particularly dependent on cell surface factors, including the PrsD-PrsE type I secretion system and UDP-galactose production. Only RL2393 (glnB, encoding nitrogen regulatory protein PII) was specifically essential for growth on succinate at 1% O2, conditions similar to those experienced by N2-fixing bacteroids. Glutamate synthesis is constitutively activated in glnB mutants, suggesting that consumption of 2-ketoglutarate may increase flux through the TCA cycle, leading to excess reductant that cannot be reoxidized at 1% O2 and cell death.

IMPORTANCE: Rhizobium leguminosarum, a soil bacterium that forms N2-fixing symbioses with several agriculturally important leguminous plants (including pea, vetch, and lentil), has been widely utilized as a model to study Rhizobium-legume symbioses. Insertion sequencing (INSeq) has been used to identify factors needed for its growth on different carbon sources and O2 levels. Identification of these factors is fundamental to a better understanding of the cell physiology and core metabolism of this bacterium, which adapts to a variety of different carbon sources and O2 tensions during growth in soil and N2 fixation in symbiosis with legumes.}, } @article {pmid27795315, year = {2017}, author = {Yu, Q and Cai, H and Zhang, Y and He, Y and Chen, L and Merritt, J and Zhang, S and Dong, Z}, title = {Negative Regulation of Ectoine Uptake and Catabolism in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Characterization of the EhuR Gene.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {27795315}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids, Diamino/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Osmoregulation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Ectoine has osmoprotective effects on Sinorhizobium meliloti that differ from its effects in other bacteria. Ectoine does not accumulate in S. meliloti cells; instead, it is degraded. The products of the ehuABCD-eutABCDE operon were previously discovered to be responsible for the uptake and catabolism of ectoine in S. meliloti However, the mechanism by which ectoine is involved in the regulation of the ehuABCD-eutABCDE operon remains unclear. The ehuR gene, which is upstream of and oriented in the same direction as the ehuABCD-eutABCDE operon, encodes a member of the MocR/GntR family of transcriptional regulators. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and promoter-lacZ reporter fusion experiments revealed that EhuR represses transcription of the ehuABCD-eutABCDE operon, but this repression is inhibited in the presence of ectoine. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting assays revealed that EhuR bound specifically to the DNA regions overlapping the -35 region of the ehuA promoter and the +1 region of the ehuR promoter. Surface plasmon resonance assays further demonstrated direct interactions between EhuR and the two promoters, although EhuR was found to have higher affinity for the ehuA promoter than for the ehuR promoter. In vitro, DNA binding by EhuR could be directly inhibited by a degradation product of ectoine. Our work demonstrates that EhuR is an important negative transcriptional regulator involved in the regulation of ectoine uptake and catabolism and is likely regulated by one or more end products of ectoine catabolism.

IMPORTANCE: Sinorhizobium meliloti is an important soil bacterium that displays symbiotic interactions with legume hosts. Ectoine serves as a key osmoprotectant for S. meliloti However, ectoine does not accumulate in the cells; rather, it is degraded. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional regulation of the operon responsible for ectoine uptake and catabolism in S. meliloti We identified and characterized the transcription repressor EhuR, which is the first MocR/GntR family member found to be involved in the regulation of compatible solute uptake and catabolism. More importantly, we demonstrated for the first time that an ectoine catabolic end product could modulate EhuR DNA-binding activity. Therefore, this work provides new insights into the unique mechanism of ectoine-induced osmoprotection in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid27795313, year = {2017}, author = {Battenberg, K and Wren, JA and Hillman, J and Edwards, J and Huang, L and Berry, AM}, title = {The Influence of the Host Plant Is the Major Ecological Determinant of the Presence of Nitrogen-Fixing Root Nodule Symbiont Cluster II Frankia Species in Soil.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {27795313}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; California ; Climate ; Ecosystem ; Frankia/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The actinobacterial genus Frankia establishes nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses with specific hosts within the nitrogen-fixing plant clade. Of four genetically distinct subgroups of Frankia, cluster I, II, and III strains are capable of forming effective nitrogen-fixing symbiotic associations, while cluster IV strains generally do not. Cluster II Frankia strains have rarely been detected in soil devoid of host plants, unlike cluster I or III strains, suggesting a stronger association with their host. To investigate the degree of host influence, we characterized the cluster II Frankia strain distribution in rhizosphere soil in three locations in northern California. The presence/absence of cluster II Frankia strains at a given site correlated significantly with the presence/absence of host plants on the site, as determined by glutamine synthetase (glnA) gene sequence analysis, and by microbiome analysis (16S rRNA gene) of a subset of host/nonhost rhizosphere soils. However, the distribution of cluster II Frankia strains was not significantly affected by other potential determinants such as host-plant species, geographical location, climate, soil pH, or soil type. Rhizosphere soil microbiome analysis showed that cluster II Frankia strains occupied only a minute fraction of the microbiome even in the host-plant-present site and further revealed no statistically significant difference in the α-diversity or in the microbiome composition between the host-plant-present or -absent sites. Taken together, these data suggest that host plants provide a factor that is specific for cluster II Frankia strains, not a general growth-promoting factor. Further, the factor accumulates or is transported at the site level, i.e., beyond the host rhizosphere.

IMPORTANCE: Biological nitrogen fixation is a bacterial process that accounts for a major fraction of net new nitrogen input in terrestrial ecosystems. Transfer of fixed nitrogen to plant biomass is especially efficient via root nodule symbioses, which represent evolutionarily and ecologically specialized mutualistic associations. Frankia spp. (Actinobacteria), especially cluster II Frankia spp., have an extremely broad host range, yet comparatively little is known about the soil ecology of these organisms in relation to the host plants and their rhizosphere microbiomes. This study reveals a strong influence of the host plant on soil distribution of cluster II Frankia spp.}, } @article {pmid27795259, year = {2016}, author = {Crovadore, J and Calmin, G and Chablais, R and Cochard, B and Schulz, T and Lefort, F}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium elkanii Strain UASWS1016, a Potential Symbiotic Biofertilizer for Agriculture.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27795259}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium elkanii UASWS1016 has been isolated from a wet oxidation sewage plant in Italy. Fully equipped for ammonia assimilation, heavy metal resistances, and aromatic compounds degradation, it carries a large type IV secretion system, specific of plant-associated microbes. Deprived of toxins, it could be considered for agricultural and environmental uses.}, } @article {pmid27795235, year = {2016}, author = {Shimoda, Y and Hirakawa, H and Sato, S and Saeki, K and Hayashi, M}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence of the Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiotic Rhizobium Mesorhizobium loti Strain TONO.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27795235}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti is the nitrogen-fixing microsymbiont for legumes of the genus Lotus Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of a Mesorhizobium loti strain, TONO, which is used as a symbiont for the model legume Lotus japonicus The whole-genome sequence of the strain TONO will be a solid platform for comparative genomics analyses and for the identification of genes responsible for the symbiotic properties of Mesorhizobium species.}, } @article {pmid27793823, year = {2017}, author = {Mohamad, R and Maynaud, G and Le Quéré, A and Vidal, C and Klonowska, A and Yashiro, E and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Brunel, B}, title = {Ancient Heavy Metal Contamination in Soils as a Driver of Tolerant Anthyllis vulneraria Rhizobial Communities.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {83}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {27793823}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; France ; Germany ; Mesorhizobium/classification/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; *Mining ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Anthyllis vulneraria is a legume associated with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia that together offer an adapted biological material for mine-soil phytostabilization by limiting metal pollution. To find rhizobia associated with Anthyllis at a given site, we evaluated the genetic and phenotypic properties of a collection of 137 rhizobia recovered from soils presenting contrasting metal levels. Zn-Pb mine soils largely contained metal-tolerant rhizobia belonging to Mesorhizobium metallidurans or to another sister metal-tolerant species. All of the metal-tolerant isolates harbored the cadA marker gene (encoding a metal-efflux PIB-type ATPase transporter). In contrast, metal-sensitive strains were taxonomically distinct from metal-tolerant populations and consisted of new Mesorhizobium genospecies. Based on the symbiotic nodA marker, the populations comprise two symbiovar assemblages (potentially related to Anthyllis or Lotus host preferences) according to soil geographic locations but independently of metal content. Multivariate analysis showed that soil Pb and Cd concentrations differentially impacted the rhizobial communities and that a rhizobial community found in one geographically distant site was highly divergent from the others. In conclusion, heavy metal levels in soils drive the taxonomic composition of Anthyllis-associated rhizobial populations according to their metal-tolerance phenotype but not their symbiotic nodA diversity. In addition to heavy metals, local soil physicochemical and topoclimatic conditions also impact the rhizobial beta diversity. Mesorhizobium communities were locally adapted and site specific, and their use is recommended for the success of phytostabilization strategies based on Mesorhizobium-legume vegetation.

IMPORTANCE: Phytostabilization of toxic mine spoils limits heavy metal dispersion and environmental pollution by establishing a sustainable plant cover. This eco-friendly method is facilitated by the use of selected and adapted cover crop legumes living in symbiosis with rhizobia that can stimulate plant growth naturally through biological nitrogen fixation. We studied microsymbiont partners of a metal-tolerant legume, Anthyllis vulneraria, which is tolerant to very highly metal-polluted soils in mining and nonmining sites. Site-specific rhizobial communities were linked to taxonomic composition and metal tolerance capacity. The rhizobial species Mesorhizobium metallidurans was dominant in all Zn-Pb mines but one. It was not detected in unpolluted sites where other distinct Mesorhizobium species occur. Given the different soil conditions at the respective mining sites, including their heavy-metal contamination, revegetation strategies based on rhizobia adapting to local conditions are more likely to succeed over the long term compared to strategies based on introducing less-well-adapted strains.}, } @article {pmid27748755, year = {2016}, author = {Marx, H and Minogue, CE and Jayaraman, D and Richards, AL and Kwiecien, NW and Siahpirani, AF and Rajasekar, S and Maeda, J and Garcia, K and Del Valle-Echevarria, AR and Volkening, JD and Westphall, MS and Roy, S and Sussman, MR and Ané, JM and Coon, JJ}, title = {A proteomic atlas of the legume Medicago truncatula and its nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Nature biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {1198-1205}, pmid = {27748755}, issn = {1546-1696}, support = {T15 LM007359/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HG002760/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Databases, Protein ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes are essential components of agricultural systems because they enrich the soil in nitrogen and require little environmentally deleterious fertilizers. A complex symbiotic association between legumes and nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria called rhizobia culminates in the development of root nodules, where rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen and transfer it to their plant host. Here we describe a quantitative proteomic atlas of the model legume Medicago truncatula and its rhizobial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, which includes more than 23,000 proteins, 20,000 phosphorylation sites, and 700 lysine acetylation sites. Our analysis provides insight into mechanisms regulating symbiosis. We identify a calmodulin-binding protein as a key regulator in the host and assign putative roles and targets to host factors (bioactive peptides) that control gene expression in the symbiont. Further mining of this proteomic resource may enable engineering of crops and their microbial partners to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid27687998, year = {2016}, author = {Kandasamy, D and Gershenzon, J and Hammerbacher, A}, title = {Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Fungal Associates of Conifer Bark Beetles and their Potential in Bark Beetle Control.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {42}, number = {9}, pages = {952-969}, pmid = {27687998}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Alcohols/analysis/metabolism ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/analysis/metabolism ; Insect Control/*methods ; Ophiostoma/chemistry/*physiology ; Pinus/*parasitology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Terpenes/analysis/metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Conifer bark beetles attack and kill mature spruce and pine trees, especially during hot and dry conditions. These beetles are closely associated with ophiostomatoid fungi of the Ascomycetes, including the genera Ophiostoma, Grosmannia, and Endoconidiophora, which enhance beetle success by improving nutrition and modifying their substrate, but also have negative impacts on beetles by attracting predators and parasites. A survey of the literature and our own data revealed that ophiostomatoid fungi emit a variety of volatile organic compounds under laboratory conditions including fusel alcohols, terpenoids, aromatic compounds, and aliphatic alcohols. Many of these compounds already have been shown to elicit behavioral responses from bark beetles, functioning as attractants or repellents, often as synergists to compounds currently used in bark beetle control. Thus, these compounds could serve as valuable new agents for bark beetle management. However, bark beetle associations with fungi are very complex. Beetle behavior varies with the species of fungus, the stage of the beetle life cycle, the host tree quality, and probably with changes in the emission rate of fungal volatiles. Additional research on bark beetles and their symbiotic associates is necessary before the basic significance of ophiostomatoid fungal volatiles can be understood and their applied potential realized.}, } @article {pmid27666515, year = {2016}, author = {Fonouni-Farde, C and Diet, A and Frugier, F}, title = {Root Development and Endosymbioses: DELLAs Lead the Orchestra.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {898-900}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2016.08.012}, pmid = {27666515}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {DELLA proteins, acting as integrators of gibberellin (GA) action, are emerging as key regulators of root system architecture. Recent studies have revealed how they dictate the dynamics of root growth and are required for the establishment of root endosymbioses with rhizobial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. Like conductors, DELLAs can thereby harmonize root development depending on soil environments.}, } @article {pmid27514454, year = {2016}, author = {Garcia, K and Doidy, J and Zimmermann, SD and Wipf, D and Courty, PE}, title = {Take a Trip Through the Plant and Fungal Transportome of Mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {937-950}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2016.07.010}, pmid = {27514454}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Transport/genetics/physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Soil nutrient acquisition and exchanges through symbiotic plant-fungus interactions in the rhizosphere are key features for the current agricultural and environmental challenges. Improved crop yield and plant mineral nutrition through a fungal symbiont has been widely described. In return, the host plant supplies carbon substrates to its fungal partner. We review here recent progress on molecular players of membrane transport involved in nutritional exchanges between mycorrhizal plants and fungi. We cover the transportome, from the transport proteins involved in sugar fluxes from plants towards fungi, to the uptake from the soil and exchange of nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, sulfate, and water. Together, these advances in the comprehension of the mycorrhizal transportome will help in developing the future engineering of new agro-ecological systems.}, } @article {pmid27791006, year = {2016}, author = {Qiu, D and Huang, L and Lin, S}, title = {Cryptophyte farming by symbiotic ciliate host detected in situ.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {43}, pages = {12208-12213}, pmid = {27791006}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*genetics ; Ciliophora/*genetics/growth & development ; Cryptophyta/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Harmful Algal Bloom/physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Plastids/genetics ; RNA Transport/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Protist-alga symbiosis is widespread in the ocean, but its characteristics and function in situ remain largely unexplored. Here we report the symbiosis of the ciliate Mesodinium rubrum with cryptophyte cells during a red-tide bloom in Long Island Sound. In contrast to the current notion that Mesodinium retains cryptophyte chloroplasts or organelles, our multiapproach analyses reveal that in this bloom the endosymbiotic Teleaulax amphioxeia cells were intact and expressing genes of membrane transporters, nucleus-to-cytoplasm RNA transporters, and all major metabolic pathways. Among the most highly expressed were ammonium transporters in both organisms, indicating cooperative acquisition of ammonium as a major N nutrient, and genes for photosynthesis and cell division in the cryptophyte, showing active population proliferation of the endosymbiont. We posit this as a "Mesodinium-farming-Teleaulax" relationship, a model of protist-alga symbiosis worth further investigation by metatranscriptomic technology.}, } @article {pmid27790197, year = {2016}, author = {Sanchez-Bel, P and Troncho, P and Gamir, J and Pozo, MJ and Camañes, G and Cerezo, M and Flors, V}, title = {The Nitrogen Availability Interferes with Mycorrhiza-Induced Resistance against Botrytis cinerea in Tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1598}, pmid = {27790197}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal plants are generally quite efficient in coping with environmental challenges. It has been shown that the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can confer resistance against root and foliar pathogens, although the molecular mechanisms underlying such mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) are poorly understood. Tomato plants colonized with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis display enhanced resistance against the necrotrophic foliar pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Leaves from arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants develop smaller necrotic lesions, mirrored also by a reduced levels of fungal biomass. A plethora of metabolic changes takes place in AMF colonized plants upon infection. Certain changes located in the oxylipin pathway indicate that several intermediaries are over-accumulated in the AM upon infection. AM plants react by accumulating higher levels of the vitamins folic acid and riboflavin, indolic derivatives and phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid. Transcriptional analysis support the key role played by the LOX pathway in the shoots associated with MIR against B. cinerea. Interestingly, plants that have suffered a short period of nitrogen starvation appear to react by reprogramming their metabolic and genetic responses by prioritizing abiotic stress tolerance. Consequently, plants subjected to a transient nitrogen depletion become more susceptible to B. cinerea. Under these experimental conditions, MIR is severely affected although still functional. Many metabolic and transcriptional responses which are accumulated or activated by MIR such NRT2 transcript induction and OPDA and most Trp and indolic derivatives accumulation during MIR were repressed or reduced when tomato plants were depleted of N for 48 h prior infection. These results highlight the beneficial roles of AMF in crop protection by promoting induced resistance not only under optimal nutritional conditions but also buffering the susceptibility triggered by transient N depletion.}, } @article {pmid27790190, year = {2016}, author = {Marden, JN and McClure, EA and Beka, L and Graf, J}, title = {Host Matters: Medicinal Leech Digestive-Tract Symbionts and Their Pathogenic Potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1569}, pmid = {27790190}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM095390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Digestive-tract microbiota exert tremendous influence over host health. Host-symbiont model systems are studied to investigate how symbioses are initiated and maintained, as well as to identify host processes affected by resident microbiota. The medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, is an excellent model to address such questions owing to a microbiome that is consistently dominated by two species, Aeromonas veronii and Mucinivorans hirudinis, both of which are cultivable and have sequenced genomes. This review outlines current knowledge about the dynamics of the H. verbana microbiome. We discuss in depth the factors required for A. veronii colonization and proliferation in the leech crop and summarize the current understanding of interactions between A. veronii and its annelid host. Lastly, we discuss leech usage in modern medicine and highlight how leech-therapy associated infections, often attributable to Aeromonas spp., are of growing clinical concern due in part to an increased prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistant strains.}, } @article {pmid27790186, year = {2016}, author = {Franco Cairo, JP and Carazzolle, MF and Leonardo, FC and Mofatto, LS and Brenelli, LB and Gonçalves, TA and Uchima, CA and Domingues, RR and Alvarez, TM and Tramontina, R and Vidal, RO and Costa, FF and Costa-Leonardo, AM and Paes Leme, AF and Pereira, GA and Squina, FM}, title = {Expanding the Knowledge on Lignocellulolytic and Redox Enzymes of Worker and Soldier Castes from the Lower Termite Coptotermes gestroi.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1518}, pmid = {27790186}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Termites are considered one of the most efficient decomposers of lignocelluloses on Earth due to their ability to produce, along with its microbial symbionts, a repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Recently, a set of Pro-oxidant, Antioxidant, and Detoxification enzymes (PAD) were also correlated with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lignin in termites. The lower termite Coptotermes gestroi is considered the main urban pest in Brazil, causing damage to wood constructions. Recently, analysis of the enzymatic repertoire of C. gestroi unveiled the presence of different CAZymes. Because the gene profile of CAZy/PAD enzymes endogenously synthesized by C. gestroi and also by their symbiotic protists remains unclear, the aim of this study was to explore the eukaryotic repertoire of these enzymes in worker and soldier castes of C. gestroi. Our findings showed that worker and soldier castes present similar repertoires of CAZy/PAD enzymes, and also confirmed that endo-glucanases (GH9) and beta-glucosidases (GH1) were the most important glycoside hydrolase families related to lignocellulose degradation in both castes. Classical cellulases such as exo-glucanases (GH7) and endo-glucanases (GH5 and GH45), as well as classical xylanases (GH10 and GH11), were found in both castes only taxonomically related to protists, highlighting the importance of symbiosis in C. gestroi. Moreover, our analysis revealed the presence of Auxiliary Activity enzyme families (AAs), which could be related to lignin modifications in termite digestomes. In conclusion, this report expanded the knowledge on genes and proteins related to CAZy/PAD enzymes from worker and soldier castes of lower termites, revealing new potential enzyme candidates for second-generation biofuel processes.}, } @article {pmid27768814, year = {2016}, author = {Nascimento, FX and Espada, M and Barbosa, P and Rossi, MJ and Vicente, CS and Mota, M}, title = {Non-specific transient mutualism between the plant parasitic nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and the opportunistic bacterium Serratia quinivorans BXF1, a plant-growth promoting pine endophyte with antagonistic effects.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {5265-5276}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13568}, pmid = {27768814}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Endophytes/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Pinus/growth & development/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Serratia/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tylenchida/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study is to understand the biological role of Serratia quinivorans BXF1, a bacterium commonly found associated with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the plant parasitic nematode responsible for pine wilt disease. Therefore, we studied strain BXF1 effect in pine wilt disease. We found that strain BXF1 promoted in vitro nematode reproduction. Moreover, the presence of bacteria led to the absence of nematode chitinase gene (Bxcht-1) expression, suggesting an effect for bacterial chitinase in nematode reproduction. Nevertheless, strain BXF1 was unable to colonize the nematode interior, bind to its cuticle with high affinity or protect the nematode from xenobiotic stress. Interestingly, strain BXF1 was able to promote tomato and pine plant-growth, as well as to colonize its interior, thus, acting like a plant-growth promoting endophyte. Consequently, strain BXF1 failed to induce wilting symptoms when inoculated in pine shoot artificial incisions. This bacterium also presented strong antagonistic activities against fungi and bacteria isolated from Pinus pinaster. Our results suggest that B. xylophilus does not possess a strict symbiotic community capable of inducing pine wilt disease symptoms as previously hypothesized. We show that bacteria like BXF1, which possess plant-growth promoting and antagonistic effects, may be opportunistically associated with B. xylophilus, possibly acquired from the bacterial endophytic community of the host pine.}, } @article {pmid27766829, year = {2016}, author = {Clark, EL and Emmadi, M and Krupp, KL and Podilapu, AR and Helble, JD and Kulkarni, SS and Dube, DH}, title = {Development of Rare Bacterial Monosaccharide Analogs for Metabolic Glycan Labeling in Pathogenic Bacteria.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {3365-3373}, pmid = {27766829}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R15 GM109397/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Azides/*chemistry/metabolism ; Bacteria/*chemistry/metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*analysis/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Fucose/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*analysis/metabolism ; Hexosamines/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Metabolic Engineering ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*analysis/metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; }, abstract = {Bacterial glycans contain rare, exclusively bacterial monosaccharides that are frequently linked to pathogenesis and essentially absent from human cells. Therefore, bacterial glycans are intriguing molecular targets. However, systematic discovery of bacterial glycoproteins is hampered by the presence of rare deoxy amino sugars, which are refractory to traditional glycan-binding reagents. Thus, the development of chemical tools that label bacterial glycans is a crucial step toward discovering and targeting these biomolecules. Here, we explore the extent to which metabolic glycan labeling facilitates the studying and targeting of glycoproteins in a range of pathogenic and symbiotic bacterial strains. We began with an azide-containing analog of the naturally abundant monosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine and discovered that it is not broadly incorporated into bacterial glycans, thus revealing a need for additional azidosugar substrates to broaden the utility of metabolic glycan labeling in bacteria. Therefore, we designed and synthesized analogs of the rare deoxy amino d-sugars N-acetylfucosamine, bacillosamine, and 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxygalactose and established that these analogs are differentially incorporated into glycan-containing structures in a range of pathogenic and symbiotic bacterial species. Further application of these analogs will refine our knowledge of the glycan repertoire in diverse bacteria and may find utility in treating a variety of infectious diseases with selectivity.}, } @article {pmid27756769, year = {2017}, author = {Verhoeven, JT and Kavanagh, AN and Dufour, SC}, title = {Microbiome analysis shows enrichment for specific bacteria in separate anatomical regions of the deep-sea carnivorous sponge Chondrocladia grandis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw214}, pmid = {27756769}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Carnivora/*microbiology ; Maine ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Cladorhizidae is a unique family of carnivorous marine sponges characterised by either the absence or reduction of the aquiferous system and by the presence of specialised structures to trap and digest mesoplanktonic prey. Previous studies have postulated a key role of host-associated bacteria in enabling carnivory in this family of sponges. In this study, we employed high-throughput Illumina-based sequencing to identify the bacterial community associated with four individuals of the deep-sea sponge Chondrocladia grandis sampled in the Gulf of Maine. By characterising the V6 through V8 region of the 16S rRNA gene, we compared the bacterial community composition and diversity in three distinct anatomical regions with predicted involvement in prey capture (sphere), support (axis) and benthic substrate attachment (root). A high abundance of Tenacibaculum, a known siderophore producing bacterial genus, was present in all anatomical regions and specimens. The abundance of Colwellia and Roseobacter was greater in sphere and axis samples, and bacteria from the hydrocarbon-degrading Robiginitomaculum genus were most abundant in the root. This first description of the bacterial community associated with C. grandis provides novel insights into the contribution of bacteria to the carnivorous lifestyle while laying foundations for future cladorhizid symbiosis studies.}, } @article {pmid27756732, year = {2016}, author = {Yoder, JB}, title = {Understanding the coevolutionary dynamics of mutualism with population genomics.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {103}, number = {10}, pages = {1742-1752}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1600154}, pmid = {27756732}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; Metagenomics ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Decades of research on the evolution of mutualism has generated a wealth of possible ways whereby mutually beneficial interactions between species persist in spite of the apparent advantages to individuals that accept the benefits of mutualism without reciprocating - but identifying how any particular empirical system is stabilized against cheating remains challenging. Different hypothesized models of mutualism stability predict different forms of coevolutionary selection, and emerging high-throughput sequencing methods allow examination of the selective histories of mutualism genes and, thereby, the form of selection acting on those genes. Here, I review the evolutionary theory of mutualism stability and identify how differing models make contrasting predictions for the population genomic diversity and geographic differentiation of mutualism-related genes. As an example of the possibilities offered by genomic data, I analyze genes with roles in the symbiosis of Medicago truncatula and nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria, the first classic mutualism in which extensive genomic resources have been developed for both partners. Medicago truncatula symbiosis genes, as a group, differ from the rest of the genome, but they vary in the form of selection indicated by their diversity and differentiation - some show signs of selection expected from roles in sanctioning noncooperative symbionts, while others show evidence of balancing selection expected from coevolution with symbiont signaling factors. I then assess the current state of development for similar resources in other mutualistic interactions and look ahead to identify ways in which modern sequencing technology can best inform our understanding of mutualists and mutualism.}, } @article {pmid27733511, year = {2016}, author = {Haskett, TL and Terpolilli, JJ and Bekuma, A and O'Hara, GW and Sullivan, JT and Wang, P and Ronson, CW and Ramsay, JP}, title = {Assembly and transfer of tripartite integrative and conjugative genetic elements.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {43}, pages = {12268-12273}, pmid = {27733511}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Conjugation, Genetic/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Fabaceae/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomic Islands/genetics ; Integrases/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/growth & development ; Plasmids ; *Recombination, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are ubiquitous mobile genetic elements present as "genomic islands" within bacterial chromosomes. Symbiosis islands are ICEs that convert nonsymbiotic mesorhizobia into symbionts of legumes. Here we report the discovery of symbiosis ICEs that exist as three separate chromosomal regions when integrated in their hosts, but through recombination assemble as a single circular ICE for conjugative transfer. Whole-genome comparisons revealed exconjugants derived from nonsymbiotic mesorhizobia received three separate chromosomal regions from the donor Mesorhizobium ciceri WSM1271. The three regions were each bordered by two nonhomologous integrase attachment (att) sites, which together comprised three homologous pairs of attL and attR sites. Sequential recombination between each attL and attR pair produced corresponding attP and attB sites and joined the three fragments to produce a single circular ICE, ICEMcSym[1271] A plasmid carrying the three attP sites was used to recreate the process of tripartite ICE integration and to confirm the role of integrase genes intS, intM, and intG in this process. Nine additional tripartite ICEs were identified in diverse mesorhizobia and transfer was demonstrated for three of them. The transfer of tripartite ICEs to nonsymbiotic mesorhizobia explains the evolution of competitive but suboptimal N2-fixing strains found in Western Australian soils. The unheralded existence of tripartite ICEs raises the possibility that multipartite elements reside in other organisms, but have been overlooked because of their unusual biology. These discoveries reveal mechanisms by which integrases dramatically manipulate bacterial genomes to allow cotransfer of disparate chromosomal regions.}, } @article {pmid27721100, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, Y and Ma, H and Niu, Q and Chen, R and Hojo, T and Li, YY}, title = {Effects of soluble microbial products (SMP) on the performance of an anammox attached film expanded bed (AAFEB) reactor: Synergistic interaction and toxic shock.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {222}, number = {}, pages = {261-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2016.09.129}, pmid = {27721100}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Denitrification ; Nitrogen/isolation & purification ; Nitrous Oxide/analysis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Solubility ; }, abstract = {The accumulation of soluble microbial production (SMP) in an anammox attached film expanded bed (AAFEB) and its effect on the reactor performance were investigated in this study. During the long-term experiment, an extended HRT resulted in the accumulation of SMP and the change of treatment performance. When the SMP increased from 10.5±1.5mgL[-1] to 31.7±6.4mgL[-1] with the increase of influent TN concentration from 313mgL[-1] to 2500mgL[-1], the TN removal efficiency was stable. However, when the influent TN concentration was 3500mgL[-1], the SMP concentration increased higher than 100mgL[-1], the reactor soon became inhibited. Bath tests indicated that both the specific anammox activity (SAA) and the substrate tolerance ability decreased during the stable operation phases, whereas the specific denitrification activity (SDA) was significantly enhanced. In addition, N2O emissions in the anammox-denitrifier symbiotic system were greater than in the conventional nitrogen removal process.}, } @article {pmid27718398, year = {2016}, author = {Tang, CC and Zuo, W and Tian, Y and Sun, N and Wang, ZW and Zhang, J}, title = {Effect of aeration rate on performance and stability of algal-bacterial symbiosis system to treat domestic wastewater in sequencing batch reactors.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {222}, number = {}, pages = {156-164}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2016.09.123}, pmid = {27718398}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Air ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Phosphorus/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sewage/microbiology ; Shear Strength ; Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/instrumentation/*methods ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {This study investigated aeration rate (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 1.0L/min) effects on algal-bacterial symbiosis (ABS) and conventional activated sludge (CAS) systems while treating domestic wastewater in sequencing batch reactors. Experiment results showed that ABS system performed better on NH4[+]-N, total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal than CAS system, especially under lower aeration rate condition (0.2Lair/min), with removal efficiencies improvements of 18.90%, 12.45% and 46.66%, respectively. The mechanism study demonstrated that a favorable aeration rate reduction (half of traditional value in CAS system) could enhance algae growth but weaken hydraulic shear force, which contributed to the interactions between algae and sludge flocs and further stability of ABS system. In addition, algae growth protected both ammonia and nitrite oxidizing bacteria from optical damage. It is expected that the present study would provide some new insights into ABS system and be helpful for development of low-energy demand wastewater treatment process.}, } @article {pmid27671532, year = {2016}, author = {Grillo, MA and Stinchcombe, JR and Heath, KD}, title = {Nitrogen addition does not influence pre-infection partner choice in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {103}, number = {10}, pages = {1763-1770}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1600090}, pmid = {27671532}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Sinorhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Resource mutualisms such as the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are context dependent and are sensitive to various aspects of the environment, including nitrogen (N) addition. Mutualist hosts such as legumes are also thought to use mechanisms such as partner choice to discriminate among potential symbionts that vary in partner quality (fitness benefits conferred to hosts) and thus impose selection on rhizobium populations. Together, context dependency and partner choice might help explain why the legume-rhizobium mutualism responds evolutionarily to N addition, since plant-mediated selection that shifts in response to N might be expected to favor different rhizobium strains in different N environments.

METHODS: We test for the influence of context dependency on partner choice in the model legume, Medicago truncatula, using a factorial experiments with three plant families across three N levels with a mixed inoculation of three rhizobia strains.

KEY RESULTS: Neither the relative frequencies of rhizobium strains occupying host nodules, nor the size of those nodules, differed in response to N level.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of context dependence, plant genotypes respond very differently to mixed populations of rhizobia, suggesting that these traits are genetically variable and thus could evolve in response to longer-term increases in N.}, } @article {pmid27648935, year = {2016}, author = {Hawkins, TD and Hagemeyer, JC and Warner, ME}, title = {Temperature moderates the infectiousness of two conspecific Symbiodinium strains isolated from the same host population.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {5204-5217}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13535}, pmid = {27648935}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/genetics/metabolism ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*parasitology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between cnidarians and symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) are ecologically important and physiologically diverse. This diversity contributes to the spatial distribution of specific cnidarian-Symbiodinium associations. Physiological variability also exists within Symbiodinium species, yet we know little regarding its relevance for the establishment of symbiosis under different environmental conditions. Two putatively conspecific Symbiodinium strains (both ITS2-type A4) were isolated from the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida and placed into unialgal culture. Thermal tolerance of these cultures was compared following heating from 26°C to 33.5°C over 18 days. Photosystem II function was negatively impacted by heating in one strain while PSII function in the other showed little response to elevated temperature. Additionally, infection of Symbiodinium cells into aposymbiotic anemones was assessed for both strains at 26°C and 30.5°C. The heat-sensitive strain had greater infection success at 26°C, while there was no difference in infection between the two strains at the higher temperature. Results from this work suggest that variability in thermal optima or -tolerance within Symbiodinium spp. has relevance for early stages of host-Symbiodinium interactions. Thus, varying infectiousness among differentially heat-sensitive Symbiodinium strains could provide a mechanism for the emergence of novel and potentially resilient cnidarian-Symbiodinium associations in a rapidly warming environment.}, } @article {pmid27613875, year = {2016}, author = {Molina-Montenegro, MA and Oses, R and Torres-Díaz, C and Atala, C and Zurita-Silva, A and Ruiz-Lara, S}, title = {Root-endophytes improve the ecophysiological performance and production of an agricultural species under drought condition.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27613875}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Throughout many regions of the world, climate change has limited the availability of water for irrigating crops. Indeed, current models of climate change predict that arid and semi-arid zones will be places where precipitation will drastically decrease. In this context, plant root-associated fungi appear as a new strategy to improve ecophysiological performance and yield of crops under abiotic stress. Thus, use of fungal endophytes from ecosystems currently subjected to severe drought conditions could improve the ecophysiological performance and quantum yield of crops exposed to drought. In this study, we evaluated how the inoculation of fungal endophytes isolated from Antarctic plants can improve the net photosynthesis, water use efficiency and production of fresh biomass in a lettuce cultivar, grown under different water availability regimes. In addition, we assessed if the presence of biochemical mechanisms and gene expression related with environmental tolerance are improved in presence of fungal endophytes. Overall, those individuals with presence of endophytes showed higher net photosynthesis and maintained higher water use efficiency in drought conditions, which was correlated with greater fresh and dry biomass production as well as greater root system development. In addition, presence of fungal endophytes was correlated with a higher proline concentration, lower peroxidation of lipids and up-/down-regulation of ion homeostasis. Our results suggest that presence of fungal endophytes could minimize the negative effect of drought by improving drought tolerance through biochemical mechanisms and improving nutritional status. Thus, root-endophytes might be a successful biotechnological tool to maintain high levels of ecophysiological performance and productivity in zones under drought.}, } @article {pmid27562208, year = {2016}, author = {Powell, AF and Doyle, JJ}, title = {Enhanced rhizobial symbiotic capacity in an allopolyploid species of Glycine (Leguminosae).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {103}, number = {10}, pages = {1771-1782}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1600060}, pmid = {27562208}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Biomass ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Polyploidy ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Previous studies have shown that polyploidy can alter biotic interactions, and it has been suggested that these effects may contribute to the increased ability for colonization of new habitats shown by many allopolyploids. Little is known, however, about the effects of allopolyploidy, which combines hybridity and genome doubling, on symbiotic interactions with rhizobial bacteria.

METHODS: We examined interactions of the allopolyploid Glycine dolichocarpa (designated T2) with novel rhizobial partners, such as might occur in a context of colonization, and compared these with the responses of its diploid progenitors, G. tomentella (D3) and G. syndetika (D4). We assessed root hair response, nodule formation, nodule mass, nodule number, and plant biomass.

KEY RESULTS: The allopolyploid (T2) showed a greater root hair deformation response when exposed to rhizobia, compared with either diploid. T2 had a greater probability of forming nodules with NGR234 compared with diploid D4, and greater total nodule mass per nodulated plant compared with diploid D3. T2 also had greater plant biomass responses to nitrogen and when exposed to NGR234.

CONCLUSIONS: The allopolyploid is characterized by transgressive responses to rhizobia for some variables, while also combining certain parental diploid responses such that its capacity for interactions with rhizobia appears to be greater than for either diploid progenitor. This overall enhanced nodulation capacity and the ability to make greater gains from exposure to both rhizobia and additional nitrogen indicate a greater potential of the allopolyploid to benefit from these factors both generally and in a context of colonization.}, } @article {pmid27371712, year = {2016}, author = {Mira, M and Hill, RD and Stasolla, C}, title = {Regulation of programmed cell death by phytoglobins.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {20}, pages = {5901-5908}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw259}, pmid = {27371712}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Apoptosis/*physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Proteins/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Seeds/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental plant process in growth and development and in response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Nitric oxide (NO) is a central component in determining whether a cell undergoes PCD, either as a direct elicitor of the response or as a factor in signal transduction from various hormones. Both NO and hormones that use NO as a signal transducer are mobile in the plant. Why do one set of cells die while adjacent cells remain alive, if this is the case? There is evidence to suggest that phytoglobins (Pgbs; previously termed non-symbiotic hemoglobins) may act as binary switches to determine plant cellular responses to perturbations. There are anywhere from one to five Pgb genes in plants that are expressed in response to growth and development and to stress. One of their main functions is to scavenge NO. This review will discuss how Pgb modulates cellular responses to auxin, cytokinin, and jasmonic acid during growth and development and in response to stress. The moderation in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Pgbs and the effects on PCD will also be discussed. An overall mechanism for Pgb involvement will be presented.}, } @article {pmid27788438, year = {2017}, author = {Lin, J and Wang, Y and Sun, S and Mu, C and Yan, X}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth, photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments of Leymus chinensis seedlings under salt-alkali stress and nitrogen deposition.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {576}, number = {}, pages = {234-241}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.091}, pmid = {27788438}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Alkalies ; China ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Poaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Salts ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Leymus chinensis is the most promising grass species for salt-alkaline grassland restoration in northern China. However, little information exists concerning the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in the adaptation of seedlings to salt-alkali stress, particularly under increased nitrogen deposition, which has become a major environmental problem throughout the world. In this study, Leymus chinensis seedlings were cultivated in soil with 0, 100 and 200mM NaCl/NaHCO3 under two forms of nitrogen (10mM NH4NO3 or NH4Cl: NH4NO3=3:1), and the root colonization, growth and photosynthetic characteristics of the seedlings were measured. The results showed that the colonization rate and intensity decreased with increasing salt-alkali stress and were much lower under alkali stress. The nitrogen treatments also decreased the colonization, particularly under the NH4[+]-N treatment. Compared with the non-mycorrhizal controls, mycorrhizal seedlings generally presented higher plant biomass, photosynthetic parameters and contents of photosynthetic pigments under stresses, and the inhibitive effects of alkali stress were substantially stronger. In addition, both nitrogen forms decreased the physiological indexes compared with those of the AM seedlings. Our results suggest that salt stress and alkali stress are significantly different and that the salt-alkali tolerance of Leymus chinensis seedlings could be enhanced by associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in which would yield better plant growth and photosynthesis. Excessive nitrogen in the soil affects mycorrhizal colonization and thereby inhibits the growth and photosynthetic ability of the seedlings.}, } @article {pmid27788413, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, J and Pan, Y and Zheng, C and Gao, X and Wei, X and Xi, J and Peng, T and Shang, Q}, title = {Rapid evolution of symbiotic bacteria populations in spirotetramat-resistant Aphis gossypii glover revealed by pyrosequencing.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {151-158}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbd.2016.10.001}, pmid = {27788413}, issn = {1878-0407}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/drug effects/*genetics/microbiology ; Aza Compounds/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Insect Proteins/*genetics ; Insecticide Resistance/*genetics ; Insecticides/pharmacology ; Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Spiro Compounds/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Aphis gossypii is one of the most economically important insect pests for agriculture worldwide. Aphids have developed symbiotic associations with bacterial species, which has led to morphological and molecular differences, such as body color and insecticide resistance. Adults and 3rd instar nymphs of a laboratory-selected spirotetramat-resistant strain of cotton aphid presented 579-fold and 15-fold higher resistance to spirotetramat, respectively, than a susceptible strain (Pan et al., 2015; Peng et al., 2016). In this study, we found that antibiotics, especially ampicillin and tetracycline, increased spirotetramat toxicity in resistant aphids. We also characterized all of the bacterial endosymbionts in these two clones by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes of the endosymbiont. The total reads could be clustered into 3534 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that showed 97% similarity and belonged to six abundant phyla. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated in the two strains, and the most abundant families were Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Rhodobiaceae. The genera Arsenophonus, Anderseniella, Buchnera and Lactobacillus were most abundant in the susceptible strain, whereas a significant decrease in abundance of Anderseniella and a great increase in abundance of Arsenophonus and Lactobacillus were observed in the resistant strain. Certain identified species had low sequence similarity to the reported species, which indicates the possibility of novel taxa. The type and abundance of different bacterial groups varied significantly between the two strains. The insecticide selection pressure could be the reason for the observed shift in the bacteria groups. These results increase our understanding of the symbiotic relationships between bacteria and their hosts under insecticide stress and provide clues for the development of potential control techniques against this cotton aphid.}, } @article {pmid27788343, year = {2016}, author = {Maherali, H and Oberle, B and Stevens, PF and Cornwell, WK and McGlinn, DJ}, title = {Mutualism Persistence and Abandonment during the Evolution of the Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {188}, number = {5}, pages = {E113-E125}, doi = {10.1086/688675}, pmid = {27788343}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Seeds ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi are widespread in plants. The majority of plant species associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. By contrast, the minority associate with ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, have abandoned the symbiosis and are nonmycorrhizal (NM), or engage in an intermediate, weakly AM symbiosis (AMNM). To understand the processes that maintain the mycorrhizal symbiosis or cause its loss, we reconstructed its evolution using a ∼3,000-species seed plant phylogeny integrated with mycorrhizal state information. Reconstruction indicated that the common ancestor of seed plants most likely associated with AM fungi and that the EM, NM, and AMNM states descended from the AM state. Direct transitions from the AM state to the EM and NM states were infrequent and generally irreversible, implying that natural selection or genetic constraint could promote stasis once a particular state evolved. However, the evolution of the NM state was more frequent via an indirect pathway through the AMNM state, suggesting that weakening of the AM symbiosis is a necessary precursor to mutualism abandonment. Nevertheless, reversions from the AMNM state back to the AM state were an order of magnitude more likely than transitions to the NM state, suggesting that natural selection favors the AM symbiosis over mutualism abandonment.}, } @article {pmid27788207, year = {2016}, author = {Hahn, J and Tsoy, OV and Thalmann, S and Čuklina, J and Gelfand, MS and Evguenieva-Hackenberg, E}, title = {Small Open Reading Frames, Non-Coding RNAs and Repetitive Elements in Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e0165429}, pmid = {27788207}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {3' Untranslated Regions/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*genetics/physiology ; Conserved Sequence ; Down-Regulation/drug effects ; Iron/pharmacology ; Open Reading Frames/*genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Untranslated/*genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/*genetics ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; Toxins, Biological/genetics ; }, abstract = {Small open reading frames (sORFs) and genes for non-coding RNAs are poorly investigated components of most genomes. Our analysis of 1391 ORFs recently annotated in the soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 revealed that 78% of them contain less than 80 codons. Twenty-one of these sORFs are conserved in or outside Alphaproteobacteria and most of them are similar to genes found in transposable elements, in line with their broad distribution. Stabilizing selection was demonstrated for sORFs with proteomic evidence and bll1319_ISGA which is conserved at the nucleotide level in 16 alphaproteobacterial species, 79 species from other taxa and 49 other Proteobacteria. Further we used Northern blot hybridization to validate ten small RNAs (BjsR1 to BjsR10) belonging to new RNA families. We found that BjsR1 and BjsR3 have homologs outside the genus Bradyrhizobium, and BjsR5, BjsR6, BjsR7, and BjsR10 have up to four imperfect copies in Bradyrhizobium genomes. BjsR8, BjsR9, and BjsR10 are present exclusively in nodules, while the other sRNAs are also expressed in liquid cultures. We also found that the level of BjsR4 decreases after exposure to tellurite and iron, and this down-regulation contributes to survival under high iron conditions. Analysis of additional small RNAs overlapping with 3'-UTRs revealed two new repetitive elements named Br-REP1 and Br-REP2. These REP elements may play roles in the genomic plasticity and gene regulation and could be useful for strain identification by PCR-fingerprinting. Furthermore, we studied two potential toxin genes in the symbiotic island and confirmed toxicity of the yhaV homolog bll1687 but not of the newly annotated higB homolog blr0229_ISGA in E. coli. Finally, we revealed transcription interference resulting in an antisense RNA complementary to blr1853, a gene induced in symbiosis. The presented results expand our knowledge on sORFs, non-coding RNAs and repetitive elements in B. japonicum and related bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27785778, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, CY and Wang, KL and Qian, PY and Xu, Y and Chen, M and Zheng, JJ and Liu, M and Shao, CL and Wang, CY}, title = {Antifouling phenyl ethers and other compounds from the invertebrates and their symbiotic fungi collected from the South China Sea.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {102}, pmid = {27785778}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Marine organism-derived secondary metabolites are promising potential sources for discovering environmentally safe antifouling agents. In present study, 55 marine secondary metabolites and their synthesized derivatives were tested and evaluated for their antifouling activities and security. These compounds include 44 natural products isolated from marine invertebrates and their symbiotic microorganisms collected from the South China Sea and 11 structural modified products derived from the isolated compounds. The natural secondary metabolites, covering phenyl ether derivatives, terpenoids, 9, 11-secosteroids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, nucleoside derivatives and peptides, were isolated from two corals, one sponge and five symbiotic fungi. All of the isolated and synthesized compounds were tested for their antifouling activities against the cyprids of barnacle Balanus (Amphibalanus) amphitrite Darwin. Noticeably, five phenyl ether derivatives (9, 11, 13-15) exhibited potent anti-larval settlement activity with the EC50 values lower than 3.05 μM and the LC50/EC50 ratios higher than 15. The study of structure-activity relationship (SAR) revealed that the introduction of acetoxy groups and bromine atoms to phenyl ether derivatives could significantly improve their antifouling activities. This is the first report on the SAR of phenyl ether derivatives on antifouling activity against barnacle B. amphitrite. The polybrominated diphenyl ether derivative, 2, 4, 6, 2', 4', 6'-hexabromo-diorcinol (13), which displayed excellent antifouling activity, was considered as a promising candidate of environmentally friendly antifouling agents.}, } @article {pmid27785127, year = {2016}, author = {Abdul-Aziz, MA and Cooper, A and Weyrich, LS}, title = {Exploring Relationships between Host Genome and Microbiome: New Insights from Genome-Wide Association Studies.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1611}, pmid = {27785127}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {As our understanding of the human microbiome expands, impacts on health and disease continue to be revealed. Alterations in the microbiome can result in dysbiosis, which has now been linked to subsequent autoimmune and metabolic diseases, highlighting the need to identify factors that shape the microbiome. Research has identified that the composition and functions of the human microbiome can be influenced by diet, age, sex, and environment. More recently, studies have explored how human genetic variation may also influence the microbiome. Here, we review several recent analytical advances in this new research area, including those that use genome-wide association studies to examine host genome-microbiome interactions, while controlling for the influence of other factors. We find that current research is limited by small sample sizes, lack of cohort replication, and insufficient confirmatory mechanistic studies. In addition, we discuss the importance of understanding long-term interactions between the host genome and microbiome, as well as the potential impacts of disrupting this relationship, and explore new research avenues that may provide information about the co-evolutionary history of humans and their microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid27704542, year = {2016}, author = {Díaz-Muñoz, SL and Boddy, AM and Dantas, G and Waters, CM and Bronstein, JL}, title = {Contextual organismality: Beyond pattern to process in the emergence of organisms.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {70}, number = {12}, pages = {2669-2677}, pmid = {27704542}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bees/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; *Life History Traits ; Neoplasms/etiology/*physiopathology ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Biologists have taken the concept of organism largely for granted. However, advances in the study of chimerism, symbiosis, bacterial-eukaryote associations, and microbial behavior have prompted a redefinition of organisms as biological entities exhibiting low conflict and high cooperation among their parts. This expanded view identifies organisms in evolutionary time. However, the ecological processes, mechanisms, and traits that drive the formation of organisms remain poorly understood. Recognizing that organismality can be context dependent, we advocate elucidating the ecological contexts under which entities do or do not act as organisms. Here we develop a "contextual organismality" framework and provide examples of entities, such as honey bee colonies, tumors, and bacterial swarms, that can act as organisms under specific life history, resource, or other ecological circumstances. We suggest that context dependence may be a stepping stone to the development of increased organismal unification, as the most integrated biological entities generally show little context dependence. Recognizing that organismality is contextual can identify common patterns and testable hypotheses across different entities. The contextual organismality framework can illuminate timeless as well as pressing issues in biology, including topics as disparate as cancer emergence, genomic conflict, evolution of symbiosis, and the role of the microbiota in impacting host phenotype.}, } @article {pmid27696597, year = {2016}, author = {Khadempour, L and Burnum-Johnson, KE and Baker, ES and Nicora, CD and Webb-Robertson, BM and White, RA and Monroe, ME and Huang, EL and Smith, RD and Currie, CR}, title = {The fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants produces specific enzymes in response to different plant substrates.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {22}, pages = {5795-5805}, pmid = {27696597}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {R01 ES022190/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 CA184783/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agaricales/*enzymology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Flowers/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Herbivores use symbiotic microbes to help derive energy and nutrients from plant material. Leaf-cutter ants are a paradigmatic example, cultivating their mutualistic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus on plant biomass that workers forage from a diverse collection of plant species. Here, we investigate the metabolic flexibility of the ants' fungal cultivar for utilizing different plant biomass. Using feeding experiments and a novel approach in metaproteomics, we examine the enzymatic response of L. gongylophorus to leaves, flowers, oats or a mixture of all three. Across all treatments, our analysis identified and quantified 1766 different fungal proteins, including 161 putative biomass-degrading enzymes. We found significant differences in the protein profiles in the fungus gardens of subcolonies fed different plant substrates. When provided with leaves or flowers, which contain the majority of their energy as recalcitrant plant polymers, the fungus gardens produced more proteins predicted to break down cellulose: endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase. Further, the complete metaproteomes for the leaves and flowers treatments were very similar, while the mixed substrate treatment closely resembled the treatment with oats alone. This indicates that when provided a mixture of plant substrates, fungus gardens preferentially break down the simpler, more digestible substrates. This flexible, substrate-specific enzymatic response of the fungal cultivar allows leaf-cutter ants to derive energy from a wide range of substrates, which likely contributes to their ability to be dominant generalist herbivores.}, } @article {pmid27662431, year = {2016}, author = {Ray, JL and Althammer, J and Skaar, KS and Simonelli, P and Larsen, A and Stoecker, D and Sazhin, A and Ijaz, UZ and Quince, C and Nejstgaard, JC and Frischer, M and Pohnert, G and Troedsson, C}, title = {Metabarcoding and metabolome analyses of copepod grazing reveal feeding preference and linkage to metabolite classes in dynamic microbial plankton communities.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {21}, pages = {5585-5602}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13844}, pmid = {27662431}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {MR/L015080/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/M50161X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Copepoda/genetics/*physiology ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Diatoms ; Feeding Behavior ; Lipids/analysis ; *Metabolome ; *Phytoplankton ; *Plankton ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {In order to characterize copepod feeding in relation to microbial plankton community dynamics, we combined metabarcoding and metabolome analyses during a 22-day seawater mesocosm experiment. Nutrient amendment of mesocosms promoted the development of haptophyte (Phaeocystis pouchetii)- and diatom (Skeletonema marinoi)-dominated plankton communities in mesocosms, in which Calanus sp. copepods were incubated for 24 h in flow-through chambers to allow access to prey particles (<500 μm). Copepods and mesocosm water sampled six times spanning the experiment were analysed using metabarcoding, while intracellular metabolite profiles of mesocosm plankton communities were generated for all experimental days. Taxon-specific metabarcoding ratios (ratio of consumed prey to available prey in the surrounding seawater) revealed diverse and dynamic copepod feeding selection, with positive selection on large diatoms, heterotrophic nanoflagellates and fungi, while smaller phytoplankton, including P. pouchetii, were passively consumed or even negatively selected according to our indicator. Our analysis of the relationship between Calanus grazing ratios and intracellular metabolite profiles indicates the importance of carbohydrates and lipids in plankton succession and copepod-prey interactions. This molecular characterization of Calanus sp. grazing therefore provides new evidence for selective feeding in mixed plankton assemblages and corroborates previous findings that copepod grazing may be coupled to the developmental and metabolic stage of the entire prey community rather than to individual prey abundances.}, } @article {pmid27783205, year = {2017}, author = {Livne-Luzon, S and Avidan, Y and Weber, G and Migael, H and Bruns, T and Ovadia, O and Shemesh, H}, title = {Wild boars as spore dispersal agents of ectomycorrhizal fungi: consequences for community composition at different habitat types.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {165-174}, pmid = {27783205}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Feces/*microbiology ; Fertilizers/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Pinus/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Saccharomycetales/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; *Sus scrofa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The success of dispersal events depend on the organism's ability to reach and establish in a new habitat. In symbiotic organisms, establishment also depends on the presence of their symbiont partner in the new habitat. For instance, the establishment of obligate ectomycorrhizal (EM) trees outside the forest is largely limited by the presence of EM fungi in soil. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are important dispersal agents of EM fungal spores, particularly in the moderately dry Mediterranean region. The aim of this study was to explore how EM fungal spores dispersed by wild boars influence the EM fungal community associated with the roots of Pinus halepensis seedlings at different habitat types. Using a greenhouse bioassay, we grew pine seedlings in two soil types: old-field and forest soils mixed with either natural or autoclaved wild boar feces. In both soils, we observed a community dominated by a few EM fungal species. Geopora (85 %) and Suillus (68 %) species dominated the forest and old-field soils, respectively. The addition of natural wild boar feces increased the abundance of Tuber species in both EM fungal communities. However, this effect was more pronounced in pots with old-field soil, leading to a more even community, equally dominated by both Tuber and Suillus species. In forest soil, Geopora maintained dominance, but decreased in abundance (67 %), due to the addition of Tuber species. Our findings indicate that wild boar feces can be an important source for EM inoculum, especially in habitats poor in EM fungi such as old-fields.}, } @article {pmid27780398, year = {2017}, author = {Egamberdieva, D and Wirth, S and Li, L and Abd-Allah, EF and Lindström, K}, title = {Microbial cooperation in the rhizosphere improves liquorice growth under salt stress.}, journal = {Bioengineered}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {433-438}, pmid = {27780398}, issn = {2165-5987}, mesh = {Glycyrrhiza/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Pseudomonas/physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Salt Tolerance/*physiology ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; }, abstract = {Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) is one of the most widely used plants in food production, and it can also be used as an herbal medicine or for reclamation of salt-affected soils. Under salt stress, inhibition of plant growth, nutrient acquisition and symbiotic interactions between the medicinal legume liquorice and rhizobia have been observed. We recently evaluated the interactions between rhizobia and root-colonizing Pseudomonas in liquorice grown in potting soil and observed increased plant biomass, nodule numbers and nitrogen content after combined inoculation compared to plants inoculated with Mesorhizobium alone. Several beneficial effects of microbes on plants have been reported; studies examining the interactions between symbiotic bacteria and root-colonizing Pseudomonas strains under natural saline soil conditions are important, especially in areas where a hindrance of nutrients and niches in the rhizosphere are high. Here, we summarize our recent observations regarding the combined application of rhizobia and Pseudomonas on the growth and nutrient uptake of liquorice as well as the salt stress tolerance mechanisms of liquorice by a mutualistic interaction with microbes. Our observations indicate that microbes living in the rhizosphere of liquorice can form a mutualistic association and coordinate their involvement in plant adaptations to stress tolerance. These results support the development of combined inoculants for improving plant growth and the symbiotic performance of legumes under hostile conditions.}, } @article {pmid27617976, year = {2016}, author = {Martínez-Pérez, C and Mohr, W and Löscher, CR and Dekaezemacker, J and Littmann, S and Yilmaz, P and Lehnen, N and Fuchs, BM and Lavik, G and Schmitz, RA and LaRoche, J and Kuypers, MM}, title = {The small unicellular diazotrophic symbiont, UCYN-A, is a key player in the marine nitrogen cycle.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {11}, pages = {16163}, pmid = {27617976}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Atlantic Ocean ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial dinitrogen (N2) fixation, the nitrogenase enzyme-catalysed reduction of N2 gas into biologically available ammonia, is the main source of new nitrogen (N) in the ocean. For more than 50 years, oceanic N2 fixation has mainly been attributed to the activity of the colonial cyanobacterium Trichodesmium[1,2]. Other smaller N2-fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs)-in particular the unicellular cyanobacteria group A (UCYN-A)-are, however, abundant enough to potentially contribute significantly to N2 fixation in the surface waters of the oceans[3-6]. Despite their abundance, the contribution of UCYN-A to oceanic N2 fixation has so far not been directly quantified. Here, we show that in one of the main areas of oceanic N2 fixation, the tropical North Atlantic[7], the symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A contributed to N2 fixation similarly to Trichodesmium. Two types of UCYN-A, UCYN-A1 and -A2, were observed to live in symbioses with specific eukaryotic algae. Single-cell analyses showed that both algae-UCYN-A symbioses actively fixed N2, contributing ∼20% to N2 fixation in the tropical North Atlantic, revealing their significance in this region. These symbioses had growth rates five to ten times higher than Trichodesmium, implying a rapid transfer of UCYN-A-fixed N into the food web that might significantly raise their actual contribution to N2 fixation. Our analysis of global 16S rRNA gene databases showed that UCYN-A occurs in surface waters from the Arctic to the Antarctic Circle and thus probably contributes to N2 fixation in a much larger oceanic area than previously thought. Based on their high rates of N2 fixation and cosmopolitan distribution, we hypothesize that UCYN-A plays a major, but currently overlooked role in the oceanic N cycle.}, } @article {pmid27342112, year = {2016}, author = {Kazimierczak, W and Sajnaga, E and Skowronek, M and Kreft, AM and Skrzypek, HW and Wiater, A}, title = {Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Xenorhabdus bovienii symbiotically associated with Steinernema silvaticum.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {198}, number = {10}, pages = {995-1003}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-016-1261-1}, pmid = {27342112}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/genetics ; Europe ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhabditida/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/*parasitology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Steinernema silvaticum is a common entomopathogenic nematode in soil of Europe; however, little is known about the bacteria living in symbiosis with this animal. In this study, we have isolated four bacterial strains from S. silvaticum and identified them as members of the species Xenorhabdus bovienii. This study was based on 16S rRNA and concatenated recA, dnaN, gltX, and gyrB gene sequence analysis. In addition, phenotypic traits have been considered, indicating that the tested strains are the most similar to those of X. bovienii. The phylogenetic relationships between the isolated strains and other strains of X. bovienii derived from various nematode hosts were analyzed and discussed. This is the first report confirming the symbiotic association of X. bovienii with S. silvaticum.}, } @article {pmid27780291, year = {2017}, author = {Kamel, L and Keller-Pearson, M and Roux, C and Ané, JM}, title = {Biology and evolution of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in the light of genomics.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {2}, pages = {531-536}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14263}, pmid = {27780291}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fungi/genetics ; *Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {531 I. 531 II. 532 III. 532 IV. 534 V. 534 535 References 535 SUMMARY: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associate with the vast majority of land plants, providing mutual nutritional benefits and protecting hosts against biotic and abiotic stresses. Significant progress was made recently in our understanding of the genomic organization, the obligate requirements, and the sexual nature of these fungi through the release and subsequent mining of genome sequences. Genomic and genetic approaches also improved our understanding of the signal repertoire used by AM fungi and their plant hosts to recognize each other for the initiation and maintenance of this association. Evolutionary and bioinformatic analyses of host and nonhost plant genomes represent novel ways with which to decipher host mechanisms controlling these associations and shed light on the stepwise acquisition of this genetic toolkit during plant evolution. Mining fungal and plant genomes along with evolutionary and genetic approaches will improve understanding of these symbiotic associations and, in the long term, their usefulness in agricultural settings.}, } @article {pmid27780268, year = {2016}, author = {Liao, W and Menge, DN}, title = {Demography of Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Trees Explains Their Rarity and Successional Decline in Temperate Forests in the United States.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e0164522}, pmid = {27780268}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Demography ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation is the major N input to many ecosystems. Although temperate forests are commonly N limited, symbiotic N-fixing trees ("N fixers") are rare and decline in abundance as succession proceeds-a challenging paradox that remains unexplained. Understanding demographic processes that underlie N fixers' rarity and successional decline would provide a proximate answer to the paradox. Do N fixers grow slower, die more frequently, or recruit less in temperate forests? We quantified demographic rates of N-fixing and non-fixing trees across succession using U.S. forest inventory data. We used an individual-based model to evaluate the relative contribution of each demographic process to community dynamics. Compared to non-fixers, N fixers had lower growth rates, higher mortality rates, and lower recruitment rates throughout succession. The mortality effect contributed more than the growth effect to N fixers' successional decline. Canopy and understory N fixers experienced these demographic disadvantages, indicating that factors in addition to light limitation likely contribute to N fixers' successional decline. We show that the rarity and successional decline of N-fixing trees in temperate forests is due more to their survival disadvantage than their growth disadvantage, and a recruitment disadvantage might also play a large role.}, } @article {pmid27777745, year = {2016}, author = {Aichelman, HE and Townsend, JE and Courtney, TA and Baumann, JH and Davies, SW and Castillo, KD}, title = {Heterotrophy mitigates the response of the temperate coral Oculina arbuscula to temperature stress.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {18}, pages = {6758-6769}, pmid = {27777745}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Anthropogenic increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration have caused global average sea surface temperature (SST) to increase by approximately 0.11°C per decade between 1971 and 2010 - a trend that is projected to continue through the 21st century. A multitude of research studies have demonstrated that increased SSTs compromise the coral holobiont (cnidarian host and its symbiotic algae) by reducing both host calcification and symbiont density, among other variables. However, we still do not fully understand the role of heterotrophy in the response of the coral holobiont to elevated temperature, particularly for temperate corals. Here, we conducted a pair of independent experiments to investigate the influence of heterotrophy on the response of the temperate scleractinian coral Oculina arbuscula to thermal stress. Colonies of O. arbuscula from Radio Island, North Carolina, were exposed to four feeding treatments (zero, low, moderate, and high concentrations of newly hatched Artemia sp. nauplii) across two independent temperature experiments (average annual SST (20°C) and average summer temperature (28°C) for the interval 2005-2012) to quantify the effects of heterotrophy on coral skeletal growth and symbiont density. Results suggest that heterotrophy mitigated both reduced skeletal growth and decreased symbiont density observed for unfed corals reared at 28°C. This study highlights the importance of heterotrophy in maintaining coral holobiont fitness under thermal stress and has important implications for the interpretation of coral response to climate change.}, } @article {pmid27777012, year = {2017}, author = {Cardoso, AA and Andraus, MP and Borba, TC and Martin-Didonet, CC and Ferreira, EP}, title = {Characterization of rhizobia isolates obtained from nodules of wild genotypes of common bean.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {43-50}, pmid = {27777012}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Carbon/metabolism ; Environment ; *Genotype ; Phaseolus/classification/*genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Salt Tolerance ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance to salinity and temperature, the genetic diversity and the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia isolates obtained from wild genotypes of common bean cultivated in soil samples from the States of Goiás, Minas Gerais and Paraná. The isolates were subjected to different NaCl concentrations (0%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 6%) at different temperatures (28°C, 33°C, 38°C, 43°C and 48°C). Genotypic characterization was performed based on BOX-PCR, REP-PCR markers and 16S rRNA sequencing. An evaluation of symbiotic efficiency was carried out under greenhouse conditions in autoclaved Leonard jars. Among 98 isolates about 45% of them and Rhizobium freirei PRF81 showed a high tolerance to temperature, while 24 isolates and Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 were able to use all of the carbon sources studied. Clustering analysis based on the ability to use carbon sources and on the tolerance to salinity and temperature grouped 49 isolates, R. tropici CIAT899 and R. tropici H12 with a similarity level of 76%. Based on genotypic characterization, 65% of the isolates showed an approximately 66% similarity with R. tropici CIAT899 and R. tropici H12. About 20% of the isolates showed symbiotic efficiency similar to or better than the best Rhizobium reference strain (R. tropici CIAT899). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA revealed that two efficient isolates (ALSG5A1 and JPrG6A8) belong to the group of strains used as commercial inoculant for common bean in Brazil and must be assayed in field experiments.}, } @article {pmid27776783, year = {2016}, author = {Chandran, D and Wildermuth, MC}, title = {Modulation of Host Endocycle During Plant-Biotroph Interactions.}, journal = {The Enzymes}, volume = {40}, number = {}, pages = {65-103}, doi = {10.1016/bs.enz.2016.09.001}, pmid = {27776783}, issn = {0423-2607}, mesh = {*Cell Cycle ; *Endoreduplication ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Cells/metabolism/microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Plants/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Ploidies ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have revealed that several mutualistic and parasitic biotrophic microbes induce a cell cycle variant termed the endocycle in host cells to support their growth and reproduction. Endoreduplication is a process in which cells successively replicate their genomes without mitosis resulting in an increase in nuclear DNA ploidy. Depending on the interaction, endoreduplication can support biotroph colonization and feeding structure initiation/development, and/or serve as a mechanism to support enhanced metabolic demands of the microbe. When endoreduplication is inhibited in these interactions, biotroph growth or development is compromised. In this review, we summarize the molecular machinery known to mediate endocycle control in plants and highlight the role of these core components in feeding site establishment and/or nutrient acquisition for a diverse set of plant biotrophs.}, } @article {pmid27718334, year = {2017}, author = {Newton, IL}, title = {Getting at the "what" and the "how" in symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {11-13}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12486}, pmid = {27718334}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Computational Biology/methods ; Eukaryota/*physiology ; Microbiological Techniques/methods/trends ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are ubiquitous and have had a tremendous impact on the evolution of life on the planet. Indeed, endosymbiosis lead to the generation of the first eukaryotic cell and from that point onwards, eukaryotes have interacted with the other domains of life, sometimes forming persistent and necessary relationships that span generations. However, because the majority of hosts and symbionts are not easily manipulated, the intricate details of these symbioses, an understanding of the molecular underpinnings of these interactions, have not been elucidated. It is difficult to ask questions about the details of a host-microbe symbiosis if either member cannot be cultured, genetically manipulated, or even housed in a laboratory. Several technological advances in recent years may address these difficulties, making it easier for researchers to ask mechanistic questions in symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid27641773, year = {2016}, author = {Heck, C and Kuhn, H and Heidt, S and Walter, S and Rieger, N and Requena, N}, title = {Symbiotic Fungi Control Plant Root Cortex Development through the Novel GRAS Transcription Factor MIG1.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {20}, pages = {2770-2778}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.059}, pmid = {27641773}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In an approaching scenario of soil nutrient depletion, root association with soil microorganisms can be key for plant health and sustainability [1-3]. Symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are major players in helping plants growing under nutrient starvation conditions. They provide plants with minerals like phosphate and, furthermore, act as modulators of plant growth altering the root developmental program [4, 5]. However, the precise mechanisms involved in this latter process are not well understood. Here, we show that AM fungi are able to modulate root cortex development in Medicago truncatula by activating a novel GRAS-domain transcription factor, MIG1, that determines the size of cortical root cells. MIG1 expression peaks in arbuscule-containing cells, suggesting a role in cell remodeling during fungal accommodation. Roots ectopically expressing MIG1 become thicker due to an increase in the number and width of cortical cells. This phenotype is fully counteracted by gibberellin (GA) and phenocopied with a GA biosynthesis inhibitor or by expression of a dominant DELLA (Δ18DELLA1) protein. MIG1 downregulation leads to malformed arbuscules, a phenotype rescued by Δ18DELLA1, suggesting that MIG1 intersects with the GA signaling to control cell morphogenesis through DELLA1. DELLA1 was shown to be a central node controlling arbuscule branching [6-8]. Now we provide evidence that, together with MIG1, DELLA1 is responsible for radial cortical cell expansion during arbuscule development. Our data point toward DELLA proteins being not only longitudinal root growth repressors [9] but also positive regulators of cortical radial cell expansion, extending the knowledge of how DELLAs control root growth.}, } @article {pmid27588362, year = {2016}, author = {Fahad, ZA and Bolou-Bi, EB and Köhler, SJ and Finlay, RD and Mahmood, S}, title = {Fractionation and assimilation of Mg isotopes by fungi is species dependent.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {956-965}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12459}, pmid = {27588362}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Magnesium/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi mobilize nutrients from both organic and inorganic substrates and supply them to their host plants. Their role in mobilizing base cations and phosphorus from mineral substrates through weathering has received increasing attention in recent years but the processes involved remain to be elucidated. We grew selected ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal fungi in axenic systems containing mineral and organic substrates and examined their capacity to fractionate and assimilate stable isotopes of magnesium. The mycorrhizal fungi were significantly depleted in heavy isotopes with the lowest Δ[26] Mg values (the difference between δ[26] Mg in fungal tissue and δ[26] Mg in the substrate) compared with nonmycorrhizal fungi, when grown on mineral substrates containing granite particles. The ectomycorrhizal fungi accumulated significantly higher concentrations of Mg, K and P than the nonmycorrhizal fungi. There was a highly significant statistical relationship between δ[26] Mg tissue signature and mycelial concentration of Mg, with a clear separation between most ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nonmycorrhizal fungi. These results are consistent with the idea that ectomycorrhizal fungi have evolved efficient mechanisms to mobilize, transport and store Mg within their mycelia.}, } @article {pmid27561159, year = {2016}, author = {Hrček, J and McLean, AH and Godfray, HC}, title = {Symbionts modify interactions between insects and natural enemies in the field.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {6}, pages = {1605-1612}, pmid = {27561159}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/microbiology/parasitology/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Genetic Fitness ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotes commonly host communities of heritable symbiotic bacteria, many of which are not essential for their hosts' survival and reproduction. There is laboratory evidence that these facultative symbionts can provide useful adaptations, such as increased resistance to natural enemies. However, we do not know how symbionts affect host fitness when the latter are subject to attack by a natural suite of parasites and pathogens. Here, we test whether two protective symbionts, Regiella insecticola and Hamiltonella defensa, increase the fitness of their host, the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), under natural conditions. We placed experimental populations of two pea aphid lines, each with and without symbionts, in five wet meadow sites to expose them to a natural assembly of enemy species. The aphids were then retrieved and mortality from parasitoids, fungal pathogens and other causes assessed. We found that both Regiella and Hamiltonella reduce the proportion of aphids killed by the specific natural enemies against which they have been shown to protect in laboratory and cage experiments. However, this advantage was nullified (Hamiltonella) or reversed (Regiella) by an increase in mortality from other natural enemies and by the cost of carrying the symbiont. Symbionts therefore affect community structure by altering the relative success of different natural enemies. Our results show that protective symbionts are not necessarily advantageous to their hosts, and may even behave more like parasites than mutualists. Nevertheless, bacterial symbionts may play an important role in determining food web structure and dynamics.}, } @article {pmid27776217, year = {2017}, author = {Cudmore, S and Doolan, A and Lacey, S and Shanahan, F}, title = {A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study: the effects of a synbiotic, Lepicol, in adults with chronic, functional constipation.}, journal = {International journal of food sciences and nutrition}, volume = {68}, number = {3}, pages = {366-377}, doi = {10.1080/09637486.2016.1244661}, pmid = {27776217}, issn = {1465-3478}, mesh = {Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Constipation/*drug therapy ; Defecation/physiology ; Dietary Fiber/*administration & dosage ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Inulin/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Quality of Life ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The study objective was to evaluate the safety and effects of Lepicol® (pysllium fibre, inulin and 5 probiotic strains) in adults with chronic, functional constipation during a 4 week intervention. 69 subjects with functional constipation according to Rome III criteria were randomised to receive Lepicol (n = 35) or placebo (n = 34) daily. Both groups had improved frequency of bowel movements, with an increase of 1.082 bowel movements in the Lepicol group over placebo after one week, and 1.079 more than placebo after week 2, but with no significant difference at week 4. Both groups showed significant improvements in quality of life scores at 4 weeks, with the average score being 12.033% better in the Lepicol group, which also had 15.2% improvement in intensity of symptoms and 28.5% increase in satisfaction with quality of life compared to the placebo. Symptoms of constipation improved to a greater degree and there was a significant reduction in laxative use in the Lepicol group.}, } @article {pmid27775698, year = {2016}, author = {König, S and Gros, O and Heiden, SE and Hinzke, T and Thürmer, A and Poehlein, A and Meyer, S and Vatin, M and Mbéguié-A-Mbéguié, D and Tocny, J and Ponnudurai, R and Daniel, R and Becher, D and Schweder, T and Markert, S}, title = {Nitrogen fixation in a chemoautotrophic lucinid symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {16193}, doi = {10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.193}, pmid = {27775698}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; *Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Gammaproteobacteria/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Gills/microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Proteome/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The shallow water bivalve Codakia orbicularis lives in symbiotic association with a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium in its gills. The endosymbiont fixes CO2 and thus generates organic carbon compounds, which support the host's growth. To investigate the uncultured symbiont's metabolism and symbiont-host interactions in detail we conducted a proteogenomic analysis of purified bacteria. Unexpectedly, our results reveal a hitherto completely unrecognized feature of the C. orbicularis symbiont's physiology: the symbiont's genome encodes all proteins necessary for biological nitrogen fixation (diazotrophy). Expression of the respective genes under standard ambient conditions was confirmed by proteomics. Nitrogenase activity in the symbiont was also verified by enzyme activity assays. Phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial nitrogenase reductase NifH revealed the symbiont's close relationship to free-living nitrogen-fixing Proteobacteria from the seagrass sediment. The C. orbicularis symbiont, here tentatively named 'Candidatus Thiodiazotropha endolucinida', may thus not only sustain the bivalve's carbon demands. C. orbicularis may also benefit from a steady supply of fixed nitrogen from its symbiont-a scenario that is unprecedented in comparable chemoautotrophic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid27775548, year = {2016}, author = {Malik, A and Sharma, D and Zhu, Q and Karki, R and Guy, CS and Vogel, P and Kanneganti, TD}, title = {IL-33 regulates the IgA-microbiota axis to restrain IL-1α-dependent colitis and tumorigenesis.}, journal = {The Journal of clinical investigation}, volume = {126}, number = {12}, pages = {4469-4481}, pmid = {27775548}, issn = {1558-8238}, support = {R01 AI101935/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI124346/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR056296/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA163507/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis/chemically induced/genetics/*immunology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin A/genetics/*immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/chemically induced/*immunology/pathology ; Interleukin-1alpha/genetics/*immunology ; Interleukin-33/genetics/*immunology ; Intestinal Neoplasms/chemically induced/genetics/*immunology/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect over 5 million individuals in the industrialized world, with an increasing incidence rate worldwide. IBD also predisposes affected individuals to development of colorectal cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in adults. Mutations in genes encoding molecules in the IL-33 signaling pathway are associated with colitis and colitis-associated cancer (CAC), but how IL-33 modulates gut homeostasis is unclear. Here, we have shown that Il33-deficient mice are highly susceptible to colitis and CAC. Mechanistically, we observed that IL-33 promoted IgA production from B cells, which is important for maintaining microbial homeostasis in the intestine. Il33-deficient mice developed a dysbiotic microbiota that was characterized by increased levels of mucolytic and colitogenic bacteria. In response to chemically induced colitis, this microbial landscape promoted the release of IL-1α, which acted as a critical driver of colitis and CAC. Consequently, reconstitution of symbiotic microbiota or IL-1α ablation markedly ameliorated colitis susceptibility in Il33-deficient animals. Our results demonstrate that IL-33 promotes IgA production to maintain gut microbial homoeostasis and restrain IL-1α-dependent colitis and CAC. This study therefore highlights modulation of IL-33, IgA, IL-1α, and the microbiota as a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of IBD and CAC.}, } @article {pmid27771162, year = {2016}, author = {Tak, N and Awasthi, E and Bissa, G and Meghwal, RR and James, EK and Sprent, JS and Gehlot, HS}, title = {Multi locus sequence analysis and symbiotic characterization of novel Ensifer strains nodulating Tephrosia spp. in the Indian Thar Desert.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {534-545}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.08.002}, pmid = {27771162}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Desert Climate ; Genes, Essential/*genetics ; Molecular Chaperones/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tephrosia/*microbiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phylogenetically diverse Ensifer strains associated with five species of Tephrosia growing in alkaline soils of semi-arid regions of the Thar Desert were characterized using multi locus sequence analysis. Based on 16S rRNA and four protein-coding housekeeping gene (recA, atpD, glnII and dnaK) sequences, the Tephrosia-Ensifer strains were genetically different from the type strains of Ensifer saheli, Ensifer kostiensis, Ensifer terangae (African origin) and Ensifer psoraleae (Asiatic origin). One strain, Ensifer sp. TL4, showed maximum similarity (99%) to Ensifer adhaerens LMG 20216[T] and formed a separate lineage close to it. Phylogenetic incongruence between sym and housekeeping genes was observed. The monophyletic origin of symbiotic genes from Asia in the Tephrosia-Ensifer strains from the Thar Desert suggests that they might have been acquired from a common ancestor and horizontally transferred. These novel strains are promiscuous, cross-nodulating some papilionoid crop species, mimosoid trees and the caesalpinioid Chamaecrista pumila. This study improves understanding of the distribution of Ensifer in unexplored and threatened alkaline arid regions of the Thar Desert and how this relates to other similar regions in the world.}, } @article {pmid27696672, year = {2017}, author = {Varga, S and Vega-Frutis, R and Kytöviita, MM}, title = {Competitive interactions are mediated in a sex-specific manner by arbuscular mycorrhiza in Antennaria dioica.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {217-226}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12510}, pmid = {27696672}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Asteraceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Biomass ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Hyphae ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants usually interact with other plants, and the outcome of such interaction ranges from facilitation to competition depending on the identity of the plants, including their sexual expression. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been shown to modify competitive interactions in plants. However, few studies have evaluated how AM fungi influence plant intraspecific and interspecific interactions in dioecious species. The competitive abilities of female and male plants of Antennaria dioica were examined in a greenhouse experiment. Females and males were grown in the following competitive settings: (i) without competition, (ii) with intrasexual competition, (iii) with intersexual competition, and (iv) with interspecific competition by Hieracium pilosella - a plant with similar characteristics to A. dioica. Half of the pots were grown with Claroideoglomus claroideum, an AM fungus isolated from the same habitat as the plant material. We evaluated plant survival, growth, flowering phenology, and production of AM fungal structures. Plant survival was unaffected by competition or AM fungi. Competition and the presence of AM fungi reduced plant biomass. However, the sexes responded differently to the interaction between fungal and competition treatments. Both intra- and interspecific competition results were sex-specific, and in general, female performance was reduced by AM colonization. Plant competition or sex did not affect the intraradical structures, extraradical hyphae, or spore production of the AM fungus. These findings suggest that plant sexual differences affect fundamental processes such as competitive ability and symbiotic relationships with AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid27639038, year = {2016}, author = {Schweiger, PF}, title = {Nitrogen isotope fractionation during N uptake via arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi into grey alder.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {84-92}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2016.08.004}, pmid = {27639038}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Alnus/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi affect plant nitrogen (N) dynamics. Plant N isotope patterns have been used to characterise the contribution of ECM fungi to plant N uptake. By quantifying and comparing the effects of an AM and an ECM fungus on growth, N uptake and isotopic composition of one host plant grown at different relative N supply levels, the aim of this study was to improve the mechanistic understanding of natural [15]N abundance patterns in mycorrhizal plants and their underlying causes. Grey alders were inoculated with one ECM fungus or one AM fungus or left non-mycorrhizal. Plants were grown under semi-hydroponic conditions and were supplied with three rates of relative N supply ranging from deficient to luxurious. Neither mycorrhizal fungus increased plant growth or N uptake. AM root colonisation had no effect on whole plant δ[15]N and decreased foliar δ [15]N only under N deficiency. The roots of these plants were [15]N-enriched. ECM root colonisation consistently decreased foliar and whole plant δ[15]N. It is concluded, that both mycorrhizal fungi contributed to plant N uptake into the shoot. Nitrogen isotope fractionation during N assimilation and transformations in fungal mycelia is suggested to have resulted in plants receiving [15]N-depleted N via the mycorrhizal uptake pathways. Negative mycorrhizal growth effects are explained by symbiotic resource trade on carbon and N and decreased direct plant N uptake.}, } @article {pmid27614785, year = {2016}, author = {Lazali, M and Bargaz, A and Brahimi, S and Amenc, L and Abadie, J and Drevon, JJ}, title = {Expression of a phosphate-starvation inducible fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase gene in common bean nodules correlates with phosphorus use efficiency.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {48-56}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2016.08.013}, pmid = {27614785}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Fructose-Bisphosphatase/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While increased P-hydrolysing acid phosphatases (APase) activity in bean nodules is well documented under phosphorus (P) limitation, gene expression and subcellular localization patterns within the N2-fixing nodule tissues are poorly understood. The aim of this research was to track the enzyme activity along with the intra-nodular localization of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), and its contribution to P use efficiency (PUE) under symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in Phaseolus vulgaris. The FBPase transcript were localized in situ using RT-PCR and the protein activity was measured in nodules of two contrasting recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of P. vulgaris, namely RILs 115 (P-efficient) and 147 (P-inefficient), that were grown under sufficient versus deficient P supply. Under P-deficiency, higher FBPase transcript fluorescence was found in the inner cortex as compared to the infected zone of RIL115. In addition, both the specific FBPase and total APase enzyme activities significantly increased in both RILs, but to a more significant extent in RIL115 as compared to RIL147. Furthermore, the increased FBPase activity in nodules of RIL115 positively correlated with higher use efficiency of both the rhizobial symbiosis (23%) and P for SNF (14% calculated as the ratio of N2 fixed per nodule total P content). It is concluded that the abundant tissue-specific localized FBPase transcript along with induced enzymatic activity provides evidence of a specific tolerance mechanism where N2-fixing nodules overexpress under P-deficiency conditions. Such a mechanism would maximise the intra-nodular inorganic P fraction necessary to compensate for large amount of P needed during the SNF process.}, } @article {pmid27600832, year = {2016}, author = {Liang, C and Qin, Y and Zhang, B and Ji, S and Shi, S and Xu, W and Liu, J and Xiang, J and Liang, D and Hu, Q and Ni, Q and Xu, J and Yu, X}, title = {Metabolic plasticity in heterogeneous pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1866}, number = {2}, pages = {177-188}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.09.001}, pmid = {27600832}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Animals ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*metabolism ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/physiology ; Stromal Cells/physiology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/physiology ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal malignant neoplasms. The recognized hallmarks of PDA are regarded to be downstream events of metabolic reprogramming. Because PDA is a heterogeneous disease that is influenced by genetic polymorphisms and changes in the microenvironment, metabolic plasticity is a novel feature of PDA. As intrinsic factors for metabolic plasticity, K-ras activation and mutations in other tumor suppressor genes induce abnormal mitochondrial metabolism and enhance glycolysis, with alterations in glutamine and lipid metabolism. As extrinsic factors, the acidic and oxygen/nutrient-deprived microenvironment also induces cancer cells to reprogram their metabolic pathway and hijack stromal cells (mainly cancer-associated fibroblasts and immunocytes) to communicate, thereby adapting to metabolic stress. Therefore, a better understanding of the metabolic features of PDA will contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid27296908, year = {2016}, author = {Crook, AD and Schnabel, EL and Frugoli, JA}, title = {The systemic nodule number regulation kinase SUNN in Medicago truncatula interacts with MtCLV2 and MtCRN.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {108-119}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13234}, pmid = {27296908}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Autoregulation of nodulation (AON), a systemic signaling pathway in legumes, limits the number of nodules formed by the legume in its symbiosis with rhizobia. Recent research suggests a model for the systemic regulation in Medicago truncatula in which root signaling peptides are translocated to the shoot where they bind to a shoot receptor complex containing the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase SUNN, triggering signal transduction which terminates nodule formation in roots. Here we show that a tagged SUNN protein capable of rescuing the sunn-4 phenotype is localized to the plasma membrane and is associated with the plasmodesmata. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis we show that, like its sequence ortholog Arabidopsis CLV1, SUNN interacts with homologous CLV1-interacting proteins MtCLAVATA2 and MtCORYNE. All three proteins were also able to form homomers and MtCRN and MtCLV2 also interact with each other. A crn Tnt1 insertion mutant of M. truncatula displayed a shoot controlled increased nodulation phenotype, similar to the clv2 mutants of pea and Lotus japonicus. Together these data suggest that legume AON signaling could occur through a multi-protein complex and that both MtCRN and MtCLV2 may play roles in AON together with SUNN.}, } @article {pmid27770459, year = {2017}, author = {Marchetti, M and Clerissi, C and Yousfi, Y and Gris, C and Bouchez, O and Rocha, E and Cruveiller, S and Jauneau, A and Capela, D and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Experimental evolution of rhizobia may lead to either extra- or intracellular symbiotic adaptation depending on the selection regime.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {1818-1831}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13895}, pmid = {27770459}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {281605/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Cupriavidus/*genetics ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plasmids/genetics ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Experimental evolution is a powerful approach to study the process of adaptation to new environments, including the colonization of eukaryotic hosts. Facultative endosymbionts, including pathogens and mutualists, face changing and spatially structured environments during the symbiotic process, which impose diverse selection pressures. Here, we provide evidence that different selection regimes, involving different times spent in the plant environment, can result in either intra- or extracellular symbiotic adaptations. In previous work, we introduced the symbiotic plasmid of Cupriavidus taiwanensis, the rhizobial symbiont of Mimosa pudica, into the phytopathogen Ralstonia solanacearum and selected three variants able to form root nodules on M. pudica, two (CBM212 and CBM349) being able to rudimentarily infect nodule cells and the third one (CBM356) only capable of extracellular infection of nodules. Each nodulating ancestor was further challenged to evolve using serial ex planta-in planta cycles of either 21 (three short-cycle lineages) or 42 days (three long-cycle lineages). In this study, we compared the phenotype of the 18 final evolved clones. Evolution through short and long cycles resulted in similar adaptive paths on lineages deriving from the two intracellularly infectious ancestors, CBM212 and CBM349. In contrast, only short cycles allowed a stable acquisition of intracellular infection in lineages deriving from the extracellularly infecting ancestor, CBM356. Long cycles, instead, favoured improvement of extracellular infection. Our work highlights the importance of the selection regime in shaping desired traits during host-mediated selection experiments.}, } @article {pmid27769902, year = {2017}, author = {Garrido-Benavent, I and Pérez-Ortega, S and de Los Ríos, A}, title = {From Alaska to Antarctica: Species boundaries and genetic diversity of Prasiola (Trebouxiophyceae), a foliose chlorophyte associated with the bipolar lichen-forming fungus Mastodia tessellata.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {117-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.10.013}, pmid = {27769902}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Alaska ; Antarctic Regions ; Ascomycota/*genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Genetic Loci ; *Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between green algae (Chlorophyta) and fungi give rise to morphologically and eco-physiologically distinct entities, or so-called, lichens. In one of the most peculiar of these associations, the partners are species of the macroscopic genus Prasiola (Trebouxiophyceae) and the ascomycete Mastodia tessellata (Verrucariaceae). This is the only known case of a lichen symbiosis involving a foliose green alga. Despite intense research targeted at understanding the biology of this particular association, little is known about the genetic variability of its symbionts. This study focuses on the photobiont partner of this lichen and was designed to explore and compare its genetic diversity along a latitudinal axis from Alaska to Antarctica. Molecular sequence data were generated for three loci: two nuclear markers (nrITS, RPL10A) and one plastid-encoded marker (tufA). The usefulness of the Prasiola nrITS and RPL10A data was examined at the species and intraspecific levels. We used the population assignment tests implemented in BAPS and STRUCTURE and two algorithmic species delimitation procedures (ABGD, GMYC) to generate species boundary discovery hypotheses, which were subsequently tested using Bayes factors. Population genetic differentiation and structure were also assessed through fixation indices, polymorphism statistics and haplotype networks. Based on the results of the species validation method, we propose that at least two species of Prasiola associate with the lichen-forming fungus Mastodia tessellata. Of these, P. borealis is broadly distributed in Alaska, Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic Peninsula, whereas the second, undescribed, species is restricted to the Antarctic Peninsula. We detected significant phylogeographic substructure in P. borealis, including greater haplotype diversity in the Tierra del Fuego populations. Our findings provide new data that will be useful to unravel the cryptic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of the green alga partners of lichens.}, } @article {pmid27769656, year = {2017}, author = {Nakao, R and Matsuno, K and Qiu, Y and Maruyama, J and Eguchi, N and Nao, N and Kajihara, M and Yoshii, K and Sawa, H and Takada, A and Sugimoto, C}, title = {Putative RNA viral sequences detected in an Ixodes scapularis-derived cell line.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {103-111}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.10.005}, pmid = {27769656}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line ; Ixodes/*cytology ; Orthobunyavirus/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Picornaviridae/*genetics ; RNA, Viral/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Ticks harbour various microorganisms, some of which act as pathogens of humans and animals. The recent advancement of genome sequencing technologies revealed that a wide range of previously unrecognised microorganisms exist in ticks. Continuous cell lines established from ticks could play a key role in the isolation of such microorganisms; however, tick cells themselves have been known to harbour symbiotic microorganisms. The present study aimed to characterise putative RNA viral sequences detected in the culture supernatant of one of the most frequently used tick cell lines, ISE6, which was derived from embryos of the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis. Viral particles purified from the culture supernatant were used for RNA extraction, followed by Illumina sequencing. The reads were de novo assembled and the resulting contigs were annotated by tBLASTx search. The results suggested that there were at least five putative viral sequences of four phylogenetically distinct lineages in ISE6 cells. The predominant viral sequence found in ISE6 cells, designated I. scapularis iflavirus, was a member of the family Iflaviridae, which is an arthropod-infecting virus group. We also identified L and M segments of the family Bunyaviridae, which could not be classified into any of the five known genera, and a potential capsid protein related to Drosophila A virus. In addition to these previously unrecognised viruses, ISE6 was revealed to harbour a putative genome sequence of I. scapularis-associated virus-1, which was reported in a recent metagenomic study of I. scapularis itself. All the five putative viral sequences were detected by RT-PCR in both ISE6 cells and the culture supernatant. Electron microscopic analysis showed the existence of spherical virions with a varying diameter of 50-70nm in the culture supernatant of ISE6 cells. Further studies are required to investigate the potential roles of ISE6-associated viruses in ticks.}, } @article {pmid27623438, year = {2016}, author = {Poinsot, V and Crook, MB and Erdn, S and Maillet, F and Bascaules, A and Ané, JM}, title = {New insights into Nod factor biosynthesis: Analyses of chitooligomers and lipo-chitooligomers of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 mutants.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {434}, number = {}, pages = {83-93}, pmid = {27623438}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Acylation ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/analysis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Chitosan ; Lipopolysaccharides/*genetics/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Mutation ; Oligosaccharides ; Rhizobium/chemistry/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Soil-dwelling, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia signal their presence to legume hosts by secreting lipo-chitooligomers (LCOs) that are decorated with a variety of chemical substituents. It has long been assumed, but never empirically shown, that the LCO backbone is synthesized first by NodC, NodB, and NodA, followed by addition of one or more substituents by other Nod proteins. By analyzing a collection of in-frame deletion mutants of key nod genes in the bacterium Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 by mass spectrometry, we were able to shed light on the possible substitution order of LCO decorations, and we discovered that the prevailing view is probably erroneous. We found that most substituents could be transferred to a short chitin backbone prior to acylation by NodA, which is probably one of the last steps in LCO biosynthesis. The existence of substituted, short chitin oligomers offers new insights into symbiotic plant-microbe signaling.}, } @article {pmid27767329, year = {2017}, author = {Daliri, EB and Wei, S and Oh, DH and Lee, BH}, title = {The human microbiome and metabolomics: Current concepts and applications.}, journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition}, volume = {57}, number = {16}, pages = {3565-3576}, doi = {10.1080/10408398.2016.1220913}, pmid = {27767329}, issn = {1549-7852}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines ; *Metabolomics ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gastrointestinal tract has co-developed with a large number of microbes in a symbiotic relationship over millions of years. Recent studies indicate that indigenous bacteria are intimate with the intestine and play essential roles in health and disease. In the quest to maintain a stable niche, these prokaryotes influence multiple host metabolic pathways, resulting from an interactive host-microbiota metabolic signaling and impacting strongly on the metabolic phenotypes of the host. Since dysbiosis of the gut bacteria result in alteration in the levels of certain microbial and host co-metabolites, identifying these markers could enhance early detection of diseases. Also, identification of these metabolic fingerprints could give us clues as to how to manipulate the microbiome to promote health or treat diseases. This review provides an overview of our current knowledge of the microbiome and metablomics, applications and the future perspectives.}, } @article {pmid27767208, year = {2017}, author = {Sánchez-García, M and Matheny, PB}, title = {Is the switch to an ectomycorrhizal state an evolutionary key innovation in mushroom-forming fungi? A case study in the Tricholomatineae (Agaricales).}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {51-65}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13099}, pmid = {27767208}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Agaricales/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Speciation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Tricholoma/physiology ; }, abstract = {Although fungi are one of the most diverse groups of organisms, little is known about the processes that shape their high taxonomic diversity. This study focuses on evolution of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushroom-forming fungi, symbiotic associates of many trees and shrubs, in the suborder Tricholomatineae of the Agaricales. We used the BiSSE model and BAMM to test the hypothesis that the ECM habit represents an evolutionary key innovation that allowed the colonization of new niches followed by an increase in diversification rate. Ancestral state reconstruction (ASR) supports the ancestor of the Tricholomatineae as non-ECM. We detected two diversification rate increases in the genus Tricholoma and the Rhodopolioid clade of the genus Entoloma. However, no increases in diversification were detected in the four other ECM clades of Tricholomatineae. We suggest that diversification of Tricholoma was not only due to the evolution of the ECM lifestyle, but also to the expansion and dominance of its main hosts and ability to associate with a variety of hosts. Diversification in the Rhodopolioid clade could be due to the unique combination of spore morphology and ECM habit. The spore morphology may represent an exaptation that aided spore dispersal and colonization. This is the first study to investigate rate shifts across a phylogeny that contains both non-ECM and ECM lineages.}, } @article {pmid27765751, year = {2017}, author = {Fiorucci, S and Zampella, A and Cirino, G and Bucci, M and Distrutti, E}, title = {Decoding the vasoregulatory activities of bile acid-activated receptors in systemic and portal circulation: role of gaseous mediators.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology}, volume = {312}, number = {1}, pages = {H21-H32}, doi = {10.1152/ajpheart.00577.2016}, pmid = {27765751}, issn = {1522-1539}, mesh = {Aorta ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase/metabolism ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism ; Gasotransmitters/*metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide/*metabolism ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels/metabolism ; Lithocholic Acid/metabolism ; Liver/metabolism ; Liver Circulation ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism ; Portal System ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/*metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/*metabolism ; Vasodilation/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bile acids are end products of cholesterol metabolism generated in the liver and released in the intestine. Primary and secondary bile acids are the result of the symbiotic relation between the host and intestinal microbiota. In addition to their role in nutrient absorption, bile acids are increasingly recognized as regulatory signals that exert their function beyond the intestine by activating a network of membrane and nuclear receptors. The best characterized of these bile acid-activated receptors, GPBAR1 (also known as TGR5) and the farnesosid-X-receptor (FXR), have also been detected in the vascular system and their activation mediates the vasodilatory effects of bile acids in the systemic and splanchnic circulation. GPBAR1, is a G protein-coupled receptor, that is preferentially activated by lithocholic acid (LCA) a secondary bile acid. GPBAR1 is expressed in endothelial cells and liver sinusoidal cells (LSECs) and responds to LCA by regulating the expression of both endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), an enzyme involved in generation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Activation of CSE by GPBAR1 ligands in LSECs is due to genomic and nongenomic effects, involves protein phosphorylation, and leads to release of H2S. Despite that species-specific effects have been described, vasodilation caused by GPBAR1 ligands in the liver microcirculation and aortic rings is abrogated by inhibition of CSE but not by eNOS inhibitor. Vasodilation caused by GPBAR1 (and FXR) ligands also involves large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels likely acting downstream to H2S. The identification of GPBAR1 as a vasodilatory receptor is of relevance in the treatment of complex disorders including metabolic syndrome-associated diseases, liver steatohepatitis, and portal hypertension.}, } @article {pmid27763484, year = {2016}, author = {, and Supe, A}, title = {Evolution of medical education in India: The impact of colonialism.}, journal = {Journal of postgraduate medicine}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {255-259}, pmid = {27763484}, issn = {0972-2823}, mesh = {Colonialism/*history ; Education, Medical/*history/*trends ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; India ; }, abstract = {The cross-cultural exchanges between the people of India and their colonial rulers provides a fascinating insight into how these encounters shaped medicine and medical education in India. This article traces the history of how Indian medicine was transformed in the backdrop of colonialism and hegemony. It goes on to show how six decades after independence, we have have still been unable to convincingly shrug off the colonial yoke. India needs to work out a national medical curriculum which caters to our country's needs. A symbiotic relationship needs to be developed between the indigenous and allopathic systems of medicine.}, } @article {pmid27762446, year = {2017}, author = {Li, C and Li, C and Zhang, H and Liao, H and Wang, X}, title = {The purple acid phosphatase GmPAP21 enhances internal phosphorus utilization and possibly plays a role in symbiosis with rhizobia in soybean.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {159}, number = {2}, pages = {215-227}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12524}, pmid = {27762446}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Glycoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/deficiency/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/cytology/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Soybeans/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Induction of secreted and intracellular purple acid phosphatases (PAPs; EC 3.1.3.2) is widely recognized as an adaptation of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency. The secretion of PAPs plays important roles in P acquisition. However, little is known about the functions of intracellular PAP in plants and nodules. In this study, we identified a novel PAP gene GmPAP21 in soybean. Expression of GmPAP21 was induced by P limitation in nodules, roots and old leaves, and increased in roots with increasing duration of P starvation. Furthermore, the induction of GmPAP21 in nodules and roots was more intensive than in leaves in both P-efficient genotype HN89 and P-inefficient genotype HN112 in response to P starvation, and the relative expression in the leaves and nodules of HN89 was significantly greater than that of HN112 after P deficiency treatment. Further functional analyses showed that over-expressing GmPAP21 significantly enhanced both acid phosphatase activity and growth performance of hairy roots under P starvation condition, indicating that GmPAP21 plays an important role in P utilization. Moreover, GUS expression driven by GmPAP21 promoter was shown in the nodules besides roots. Overexpression of GmPAP21 in transgenic soybean significantly inhibited nodule growth, and thereby affected plant growth after inoculation with rhizobia. This suggests that GmPAP21 is also possibly involved in regulating P metabolism in nodules. Taken together, our results suggest that GmPAP21 is a novel plant PAP that functions in the adaptation of soybean to P starvation, possibly through its involvement in P recycling in plants and P metabolism in nodules.}, } @article {pmid27760230, year = {2016}, author = {Cieśla, J and Kopycińska, M and Łukowska, M and Bieganowski, A and Janczarek, M}, title = {Surface Properties of Wild-Type Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii Strain 24.2 and Its Derivatives with Different Extracellular Polysaccharide Content.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e0165080}, pmid = {27760230}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Glycosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/metabolism/*physiology ; Surface Properties ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil bacterium able to establish symbiosis with agriculturally important legumes, i.e., clover plants (Trifolium spp.). Cell surface properties of rhizobia play an essential role in their interaction with both biotic and abiotic surfaces. Physicochemical properties of bacterial cells are underpinned by the chemical composition of their envelope surrounding the cells, and depend on various environmental conditions. In this study, we performed a comprehensive characterization of cell surface properties of a wild-type R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain 24.2 and its derivatives producing various levels of exopolysaccharide (EPS), namely, pssA mutant Rt5819 deficient in EPS synthesis, rosR mutant Rt2472 producing diminished amounts of this polysaccharide, and two EPS-overproducing strains, Rt24.2(pBA1) and Rt24.2(pBR1), under different growth conditions (medium type, bacterial culture age, cell viability, and pH). We established that EPS plays an essential role in the electrophoretic mobility of rhizobial cells, and that higher amounts of EPS produced resulted in greater negative electrophoretic mobility and higher acidity (lower pKapp,av) of the bacterial cell surface. From the tested strains, the electrophoretic mobility was lowest in EPS-deficient pssA mutant. Moreover, EPS produced by rhizobial strains resulted not only in an increase of negative surface charge but also in increased hydrophobicity of bacterial cell surface. This was determined by measurements of water contact angle, surface free energy, and free energy of bacterial surface-water-bacterial surface interaction. Electrophoretic mobility of the studied strains was also affected by the structure of the bacterial population (i.e., live/dead cell ratio), medium composition (ionic strength and mono- and divalent cation concentrations), and pH.}, } @article {pmid27758853, year = {2016}, author = {Kumar, A and Sýkorová, P and Demo, G and Dobeš, P and Hyršl, P and Wimmerová, M}, title = {A Novel Fucose-binding Lectin from Photorhabdus luminescens (PLL) with an Unusual Heptabladed β-Propeller Tetrameric Structure.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {291}, number = {48}, pages = {25032-25049}, pmid = {27758853}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Fucose/*chemistry ; Lectins/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Photorhabdus/*chemistry ; Protein Domains ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens is known for its symbiosis with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and its pathogenicity toward insect larvae. A hypothetical protein from P. luminescens was identified, purified from the native source, and characterized as an l-fucose-binding lectin, named P. luminescens lectin (PLL). Glycan array and biochemical characterization data revealed PLL to be specific toward l-fucose and the disaccharide glycan 3,6-O-Me2-Glcβ1-4(2,3-O-Me2)Rhaα-O-(p-C6H4)-OCH2CH2NH2 PLL was discovered to be a homotetramer with an intersubunit disulfide bridge. The crystal structures of native and recombinant PLL revealed a seven-bladed β-propeller fold creating seven putative fucose-binding sites per monomer. The crystal structure of the recombinant PLL·l-fucose complex confirmed that at least three sites were fucose-binding. Moreover, the crystal structures indicated that some of the other sites are masked either by the tetrameric nature of the lectin or by incorporation of the C terminus of the lectin into one of these sites. PLL exhibited an ability to bind to insect hemocytes and the cuticular surface of a nematode, H. bacteriophora.}, } @article {pmid27757965, year = {2016}, author = {Grillo, MA and De Mita, S and Burke, PV and Solórzano-Lowell, KL and Heath, KD}, title = {Intrapopulation genomics in a model mutualist: Population structure and candidate symbiosis genes under selection in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {70}, number = {12}, pages = {2704-2717}, doi = {10.1111/evo.13095}, pmid = {27757965}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {France ; *Genome, Plant ; Geography ; *Linkage Disequilibrium ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bottom-up evolutionary approaches, including geographically explicit population genomic analyses, have the power to reveal the mechanistic basis of adaptation. Here, we conduct a population genomic analysis in the model legume, Medicago truncatula, to characterize population genetic structure and identify symbiosis-related genes showing evidence of spatially variable selection. Using RAD-seq, we generated over 26,000 SNPs from 191 accessions from within three regions of the native range in Europe. Results from STRUCTURE analysis identify five distinct genetic clusters with divisions that separate east and west regions in the Mediterranean basin. Much of the genetic variation is maintained within sampling sites, and there is evidence for isolation by distance. Extensive linkage disequilibrium was identified, particularly within populations. We conducted genetic outlier analysis with FST -based genome scans and a Bayesian modeling approach (PCAdapt). There were 70 core outlier loci shared between these distinct methods with one clear candidate symbiosis related gene, DMI1. This work sets that stage for functional experiments to determine the important phenotypes that selection has acted upon and complementary efforts in rhizobium populations.}, } @article {pmid27757116, year = {2016}, author = {Kalluri, UC and Payyavula, RS and Labbé, JL and Engle, N and Bali, G and Jawdy, SS and Sykes, RW and Davis, M and Ragauskas, A and Tuskan, GA and Tschaplinski, TJ}, title = {Down-Regulation of KORRIGAN-Like Endo-β-1,4-Glucanase Genes Impacts Carbon Partitioning, Mycorrhizal Colonization and Biomass Production in Populus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1455}, pmid = {27757116}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {A greater understanding of the genetic regulation of plant cell wall remodeling and the impact of modified cell walls on plant performance is important for the development of sustainable biofuel crops. Here, we studied the impact of down-regulating KORRIGAN-like cell wall biosynthesis genes, belonging to the endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene family, on Populus growth, metabolism and the ability to interact with symbiotic microbes. The reductions in cellulose content and lignin syringyl-to-guaiacyl unit ratio, and increase in cellulose crystallinity of cell walls of PdKOR RNAi plants corroborated the functional role of PdKOR in cell wall biosynthesis. Altered metabolism and reduced growth characteristics of RNAi plants revealed new implications on carbon allocation and partitioning. The distinctive metabolome phenotype comprised of a higher phenolic and salicylic acid content, and reduced lignin, shikimic acid and maleic acid content relative to control. Plant sustainability implications of modified cell walls on beneficial plant-microbe interactions were explored via co-culture with an ectomycorrhizal fungus, Laccaria bicolor. A significant increase in the mycorrhization rate was observed in transgenic plants, leading to measurable beneficial growth effects. These findings present new evidence for functional interconnectedness of cellulose biosynthesis pathway, metabolism and mycorrhizal association in plants, and further emphasize the consideration of the sustainability implications of plant trait improvement efforts.}, } @article {pmid27756807, year = {2017}, author = {Ibáñez, F and Wall, L and Fabra, A}, title = {Starting points in plant-bacteria nitrogen-fixing symbioses: intercellular invasion of the roots.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {1905-1918}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw387}, pmid = {27756807}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/physiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Agricultural practices contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide that are mainly derived from nitrogen fertilizers. Therefore, understanding biological nitrogen fixation in farming systems is beneficial to agriculture and environmental preservation. In this context, a better grasp of nitrogen-fixing systems and nitrogen-fixing bacteria-plant associations will contribute to the optimization of these biological processes. Legumes and actinorhizal plants can engage in a symbiotic interaction with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia or actinomycetes, resulting in the formation of specialized root nodules. The legume-rhizobia interaction is mediated by a complex molecular signal exchange, where recognition of different bacterial determinants activates the nodulation program in the plant. To invade plants roots, bacteria follow different routes, which are determined by the host plant. Entrance via root hairs is probably the best understood. Alternatively, entry via intercellular invasion has been observed in many legumes. Although there are common features shared by intercellular infection mechanisms, differences are observed in the site of root invasion and bacterial spread on the cortex reaching and infecting a susceptible cell to form a nodule. This review focuses on intercellular bacterial invasion of roots observed in the Fabaceae and considers, within an evolutionary context, the different variants, distribution and molecular determinants involved. Intercellular invasion of actinorhizal plants and Parasponia is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid27702844, year = {2016}, author = {Nagae, M and Parniske, M and Kawaguchi, M and Takeda, N}, title = {The Thiamine Biosynthesis Gene THI1 Promotes Nodule Growth and Seed Maturation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {172}, number = {3}, pages = {2033-2043}, pmid = {27702844}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology/drug effects ; Plastids/metabolism ; Rhizobium/drug effects/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism ; Seeds/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Thiamine/*biosynthesis/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Thiamine (vitamin B1) is essential for living organisms. Unlike animals, plants can synthesize thiamine. In Lotus japonicus, the expression of two thiamine biosynthesis genes, THI1 and THIC, was enhanced by inoculation with rhizobia but not by inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. THIC and THI2 (a THI1 paralog) were expressed in uninoculated leaves. THI2-knockdown plants and the transposon insertion mutant thiC had chlorotic leaves. This typical phenotype of thiamine deficiency was rescued by an exogenous supply of thiamine. In wild-type plants, THI1 was expressed mainly in roots and nodules, and the thi1 mutant had green leaves even in the absence of exogenous thiamine. THI1 was highly expressed in actively dividing cells of nodule primordia. The thi1 mutant had small nodules, and this phenotype was rescued by exogenous thiamine and by THI1 complementation. Exogenous thiamine increased nodule diameter, but the level of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization was unaffected in the thi1 mutant or by exogenous thiamine. Expression of symbiotic marker genes was induced normally, implying that mainly nodule growth was delayed in the thi1 mutant. Furthermore, this mutant formed many immature seeds with reduced seed weight. These results indicate that thiamine biosynthesis mediated by THI1 enhances nodule enlargement and is required for seed development in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid27650504, year = {2016}, author = {Nestel, D and Papadopoulos, NT and Pascacio-Villafán, C and Righini, N and Altuzar-Molina, AR and Aluja, M}, title = {Resource allocation and compensation during development in holometabolous insects.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {95}, number = {}, pages = {78-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.09.010}, pmid = {27650504}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Insecta/classification/*growth & development/physiology ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {We provide an extensive review on current knowledge and future research paths on the topic of resource allocation and compensation during development in holometabolous insects, emphasizing the role of resource management during development, and how compensatory mechanisms may be acting to remediate nutritional deficiencies carried over from earlier stages of development. We first review resource allocation in "open" and "closed" developmental stages and then move on to the topic of modelling resource allocation and its trade-offs. In doing so, we review novel methodological developments such as response-surface methods and mixture experiments as well as nutritional geometry. We also dwell on the fascinating topic of compensatory physiology and behavior. We finish by discussing future research paths, among them the emerging field of nutrigenomics and gut microbiome, which will shed light into the yet poorly understood role of the symbiotic microbiota in nutrient compensation or assimilation.}, } @article {pmid27592173, year = {2016}, author = {Ke, D and Li, X and Han, Y and Cheng, L and Yuan, H and Wang, L}, title = {ROP6 is involved in root hair deformation induced by Nod factors in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {488-498}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.08.015}, pmid = {27592173}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/microbiology/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; }, abstract = {Roots of leguminous plants perceive Nod factor signals, and then root hair deformation responses such as swelling and curling are activated. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms of such root hair deformation. We have previously shown that LjROP6, a member of the Rho family of small GTPases, was identified as an NFR5 (Nod Factor Receptor 5)-interacting protein and participated in symbiotic nodulation in Lotus japonicus. In this study, we identified ten LjROP GTPases including LjROP6, and they were distributed into groups II, III, IV but not group I by phylogenetic analysis. The expression profiles of ten LjROP genes during nodulation were examined. LjROP6 belonged to group IV and interacted with NFR5 in a GTP-dependent manner. Overexpression of either wild-type ROP6 or a constitutively active mutant (ROP6-CA) generated root hair tip growth depolarization, while overexpression of a dominant negative mutant (ROP6-DN) exhibited normal root hair growth. After inoculating with Mesorhizobium loti or adding Nod factors to hairy roots, overexpression of ROP6 and ROP6-CA exhibited extensive root hair deformation, while overexpression of ROP6-DN inhibited root hair deformation. The infection event and nodule number were increased in ROP6 and ROP6-CA overexpressing transgenic plants; but decreased in ROP6-DN overexpressing transgenic plants. These studies provide strong evidence that ROP6 GTPase, which binds NFR5 in a GTP-dependent manner, is involved in root hair development as well as root hair deformation responses induced by NFs in the early stage of symbiotic interaction in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid27586496, year = {2016}, author = {Parey, K and Fielding, AJ and Sörgel, M and Rachel, R and Huber, H and Ziegler, C and Rajendran, C}, title = {In meso crystal structure of a novel membrane-associated octaheme cytochrome c from the Crenarchaeon Ignicoccus hospitalis.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {283}, number = {20}, pages = {3807-3820}, doi = {10.1111/febs.13870}, pmid = {27586496}, issn = {1742-4658}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Conserved Sequence ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cytochromes a1/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Cytochromes c/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Cytochromes c1/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Desulfurococcaceae/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Archaeal ; Heme/chemistry ; Models, Molecular ; Nitrate Reductases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Protein Subunits ; Static Electricity ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The Crenarchaeon Ignicoccus hospitalis lives in symbiosis with Nanoarchaeum equitans providing essential cell components and nutrients to its symbiont. Ignicoccus hospitalis shows an intriguing morphology that points toward an evolutionary role in driving compartmentalization. Therefore, the bioenergetics of this archaeal host-symbiont system remains a pressing question. To date, the only electron acceptor described for I. hospitalis is elemental sulfur, but the organism comprises genes that encode for enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, e.g., one nitrate reductase and two octaheme cytochrome c, Igni_0955 (IhOCC) and Igni_1359. Herein, we detail functional and structural studies of the highly abundant IhOCC, including an X-ray crystal structure at 1.7 Å resolution, the first three-dimensional structure of an archaeal OCC. The trimeric IhOCC is membrane associated and exhibits significant structural and functional differences to previously characterized homologs within the hydroxylamine oxidoreductases (HAOs) and octaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductases (ONRs). The positions and spatial arrangement of the eight hemes are highly conserved, but the axial ligands of the individual hemes 3, 6 and 7 and the protein environment of the active site show significant differences. Most notably, the active site heme 4 lacks porphyrin-tyrosine cross-links present in the HAO family. We show that IhOCC efficiently reduces nitrite and hydroxylamine, with possible relevance to detoxification or energy conservation.

DATABASE: Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession number 4QO5.}, } @article {pmid27508354, year = {2016}, author = {Bertrand, A and Bipfubusa, M and Dhont, C and Chalifour, FP and Drouin, P and Beauchamp, CJ}, title = {Rhizobial strains exert a major effect on the amino acid composition of alfalfa nodules under NaCl stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {344-352}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.08.002}, pmid = {27508354}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Proline/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Salt Tolerance/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Specific amino acids have protective functions in plants under stress conditions. This study assessed the effects of rhizobial strains on the amino acid composition in alfalfa under salt stress. Two alfalfa cultivars (Medicago sativa L. cv Apica and salt-tolerant cv Halo) in association with two Sinorhizobium meliloti strains with contrasting growth under salt stress (strain A2 and salt-tolerant strain Rm1521) were exposed to different levels of NaCl (0, 20, 40, 80 or 160 mM NaCl) under controlled conditions. We compared root and shoot biomasses, as well as root:shoot ratio for each association under these conditions as indicators of the salt tolerance of the symbiosis. Amino acid concentrations were analyzed in nodules, leaves and roots. The total concentration of free amino acids in nodules was mostly rhizobial-strain dependent while in leaves and roots it was mostly responsive to salt stress. For both cultivars, total and individual concentrations of amino acids including asparagine, proline, glutamine, aspartate, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), histidine and ornithine were higher in Rm1521 nodules than in A2 nodules. Conversely, lysine and methionine were more abundant in A2 nodules than in Rm1521 nodules. Proline, glutamine, arginine, GABA and histidine substantially accumulated in salt-stressed nodules, suggesting an enhanced production of amino acids associated with osmoregulation, N storage or energy metabolism to counteract salt stress. Combining the salt-tolerant strain Rm1521 and the salt-tolerant cultivar Halo enhanced the root:shoot ratios and amino acid concentrations involved in plant protection which could be in part responsible for the enhancement of salt tolerance in alfalfa.}, } @article {pmid27448795, year = {2016}, author = {López-Gómez, M and Hidalgo-Castellanos, J and Lluch, C and Herrera-Cervera, JA}, title = {24-Epibrassinolide ameliorates salt stress effects in the symbiosis Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti and regulates the nodulation in cross-talk with polyamines.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {212-221}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.07.017}, pmid = {27448795}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Polyamines/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Salt Tolerance/drug effects ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/physiology ; Steroids, Heterocyclic/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroid plant hormones that have been shown to be involved in the response to salt stress in cross-talk with other plant growth regulators such as polyamines (PAs). In addition, BRs are involved in the regulation of the nodulation in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis through the alteration of the PAs content in leaves. In this work, we have studied the effect of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) in the response to salinity of nitrogen fixation in the symbiosis Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti. Foliar spraying of EBL restored the growth of plants subjected to salt stress and provoked an increment of the nitrogenase activity. In general, PAs levels in leaves and nodules decreased by the salt and EBL treatments, however, the co-treatment with NaCl and EBL augmented the foliar spermine (Spm) concentration. This increment of the Spm levels was followed by a reduction of the membrane oxidative damage and a diminution of the proline accumulation. The effect of BRs on the symbiotic interaction was evaluated by the addition of 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 μM EBL to the growing solution, which provoked a reduction of the nodule number and an increment of the PAs levels in shoot. In conclusion, foliar treatment with EBL had a protective effect against salt stress in the M. truncatula-S. meliloti symbiosis mediated by an increment of the Spm levels. Treatment of roots with EBL incremented PAs levels in shoot and reduced the nodule number which suggests a cross-talk between PAs and BRs in the nodule suppression and the protection against salt stress.}, } @article {pmid27754408, year = {2016}, author = {Carrillo, D and Cruz, LF and Kendra, PE and Narvaez, TI and Montgomery, WS and Monterroso, A and De Grave, C and Cooperband, MF}, title = {Distribution, Pest Status and Fungal Associates of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus in Florida Avocado Groves.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27754408}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Members of a complex of cryptic species, that correspond morphologically to the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), were recently found attacking avocado (Persea americana Mill.) in Israel and California. In early 2016, an outbreak of another member of this species complex was detected infesting approximately 1500 avocado trees in an avocado orchard at Homestead, Florida. An area-wide survey was conducted in commercial avocado groves of Miami-Dade County, Florida to determine the distribution and abundance of E. nr. fornicatus, to identify different populations of E. nr. fornicatus and their fungal associates, and to assess the extent of damage to avocado trees. Ewallacea nr. fornicatus were captured in 31 of the 33 sampled sites. A sample of 35 beetles from six different locations was identified as E. nr. fornicatus sp. #2, which is genetically distinct from the species causing damage in California and Israel. Eleven fungal associates were identified: an unknown Fusarium sp., AF-8, AF-6, Graphium euwallaceae, Acremonium sp. Acremonium morum, Acremonium masseei, Elaphocordyceps sp. and three yeast species. The unknown Fusarium isolates were the most abundant and frequently found fungus species associated with adult beetles and lesions surrounding the beetle galleries. In addition to fungal associates, three bacteria species were found associated with adult E. nr. fornicatus. Visual inspections detected significant damage in only two orchards. A large number of beetles were captured in locations with no apparent damage on the avocado trees suggesting that E. nr. fornicatus are associated with other host(s) outside the groves or with dead trees or branches inside the groves. More research is needed to determine the potential threat E. nr. fornicatus and its fungal associates pose to the avocado industry and agricultural and natural ecosystems in Florida.}, } @article {pmid27754365, year = {2016}, author = {Valkov, VT and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {An In Vitro Procedure for Phenotypic Screening of Growth Parameters and Symbiotic Performances in Lotus corniculatus Cultivars Maintained in Different Nutritional Conditions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27754365}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {The establishment of legumes crops with phenotypic traits that favour their persistence and competitiveness in mixed swards is a pressing task in sustainable agriculture. However, to fully exploit the potential benefits of introducing pasture-based grass-legume systems, an increased scientific knowledge of legume agronomy for screening of favourable traits is needed. We exploited a short-cut phenotypic screening as a preliminary step to characterize the growth capacity of three different Lotus corniculatus cvs cultivated in different nutritional conditions as well as the evaluation of their nodulation capacities. This experimental scheme, developed for legume species amenable to grow on agar plates conditions, may represent a very preliminary step to achieve phenotypic discrimination on different cultivars.}, } @article {pmid27587331, year = {2016}, author = {Qin, Y and Druzhinina, IS and Pan, X and Yuan, Z}, title = {Microbially Mediated Plant Salt Tolerance and Microbiome-based Solutions for Saline Agriculture.}, journal = {Biotechnology advances}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {1245-1259}, doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.08.005}, pmid = {27587331}, issn = {1873-1899}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Plant Development/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; Salt Tolerance/*physiology ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Soil salinization adversely affects plant growth and has become one of the major limiting factors for crop productivity worldwide. The conventional approach, breeding salt-tolerant plant cultivars, has often failed to efficiently alleviate the situation. In contrast, the use of a diverse array of microorganisms harbored by plants has attracted increasing attention because of the remarkable beneficial effects of microorganisms on plants. Multiple advanced '-omics' technologies have enabled us to gain insights into the structure and function of plant-associated microbes. In this review, we first focus on microbe-mediated plant salt tolerance, in particular on the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying root-microbe symbiosis. Unfortunately, when introducing such microbes as single strains to soils, they are often ineffective in improving plant growth and stress tolerance, largely due to competition with native soil microbial communities and limited colonization efficiency. Rapid progress in rhizosphere microbiome research has revived the belief that plants may benefit more from association with interacting, diverse microbial communities (microbiome) than from individual members in a community. Understanding how a microbiome assembles in the continuous compartments (endosphere, rhizoplane, and rhizosphere) will assist in predicting a subset of core or minimal microbiome and thus facilitate synthetic re-construction of microbial communities and their functional complementarity and synergistic effects. These developments will open a new avenue for capitalizing on the cultivable microbiome to strengthen plant salt tolerance and thus to refine agricultural practices and production under saline conditions.}, } @article {pmid27749898, year = {2016}, author = {Yamagishi, JF and Saito, N and Kaneko, K}, title = {Symbiotic Cell Differentiation and Cooperative Growth in Multicellular Aggregates.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {e1005042}, pmid = {27749898}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Cell Communication/physiology ; Cell Differentiation/*physiology ; Computer Simulation ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Spheroids, Cellular/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {As cells grow and divide under a given environment, they become crowded and resources are limited, as seen in bacterial biofilms and multicellular aggregates. These cells often show strong interactions through exchanging chemicals, as evident in quorum sensing, to achieve mutualism and division of labor. Here, to achieve stable division of labor, three characteristics are required. First, isogenous cells differentiate into several types. Second, this aggregate of distinct cell types shows better growth than that of isolated cells without interaction and differentiation, by achieving division of labor. Third, this cell aggregate is robust with respect to the number distribution of differentiated cell types. Indeed, theoretical studies have thus far considered how such cooperation is achieved when the ability of cell differentiation is presumed. Here, we address how cells acquire the ability of cell differentiation and division of labor simultaneously, which is also connected with the robustness of a cell society. For this purpose, we developed a dynamical-systems model of cells consisting of chemical components with intracellular catalytic reaction dynamics. The reactions convert external nutrients into internal components for cellular growth, and the divided cells interact through chemical diffusion. We found that cells sharing an identical catalytic network spontaneously differentiate via induction from cell-cell interactions, and then achieve division of labor, enabling a higher growth rate than that in the unicellular case. This symbiotic differentiation emerged for a class of reaction networks under the condition of nutrient limitation and strong cell-cell interactions. Then, robustness in the cell type distribution was achieved, while instability of collective growth could emerge even among the cooperative cells when the internal reserves of products were dominant. The present mechanism is simple and general as a natural consequence of interacting cells with limited resources, and is consistent with the observed behaviors and forms of several aggregates of unicellular organisms.}, } @article {pmid27749147, year = {2016}, author = {Krishnan, HB and Alaswad, AA and Oehrle, NW and Gillman, JD}, title = {Deletion of the SACPD-C Locus Alters the Symbiotic Relationship Between Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 and Soybean, Resulting in Elicitation of Plant Defense Response and Nodulation Defects.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {862-877}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-16-0173-R}, pmid = {27749147}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/*genetics ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Protein Isoforms ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Deletion ; Soybeans/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form symbiotic associations with soil-dwelling bacteria collectively called rhizobia. This association results in the formation of nodules, unique plant-derived organs, within which the rhizobia are housed. Rhizobia-encoded nitrogenase facilitates the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is utilized by the plants for its growth and development. Fatty acids have been shown to play an important role in root nodule symbiosis. In this study, we have investigated the role of stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase isoform C (SACPD-C), a soybean enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of stearic acid into oleic acid, which is expressed in developing seeds and in nitrogen-fixing nodules. In-depth cytological investigation of nodule development in sacpd-c mutant lines M25 and MM106 revealed gross anatomical alteration in the sacpd-c mutants. Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed ultrastructural alterations in the sacpd-c mutants that are typically associated with plant defense response to pathogens. In nodules of two sacpd-c mutants, the combined jasmonic acid (JA) species (JA and the isoleucine conjugate of JA) were found to be reduced and 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) levels were significantly higher relative to wild-type lines. Salicylic acid levels were not significantly different between genotypes, which is divergent from previous studies of sacpd mutant studies on vegetative tissues. Soybean nodule phytohormone profiles were very divergent from those of roots, and root profiles were found to be almost identical between mutant and wild-type genotypes. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were also found to be higher in nodules of sacpd-c mutants. PR-1 gene expression was extremely elevated in M25 and MM106, while the expression of nitrogenase was significantly reduced in these sacpd-c mutants, compared with the parent 'Bay'. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry analyses confirmed sacpd-c mutants also accumulated higher amounts of pathogenesis-related proteins in the nodules. Our study establishes a major role for SACPD-C activity as essential for proper maintenance of soybean nodule morphology and physiology and indicates that OPDA signaling is likely to be involved in attenuation of nodule biotic defense responses.}, } @article {pmid27748949, year = {2017}, author = {Baskaran, P and Hyvönen, R and Berglund, SL and Clemmensen, KE and Ågren, GI and Lindahl, BD and Manzoni, S}, title = {Modelling the influence of ectomycorrhizal decomposition on plant nutrition and soil carbon sequestration in boreal forest ecosystems.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {3}, pages = {1452-1465}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14213}, pmid = {27748949}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; *Carbon Sequestration ; *Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Soil ; *Taiga ; }, abstract = {Tree growth in boreal forests is limited by nitrogen (N) availability. Most boreal forest trees form symbiotic associations with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, which improve the uptake of inorganic N and also have the capacity to decompose soil organic matter (SOM) and to mobilize organic N ('ECM decomposition'). To study the effects of 'ECM decomposition' on ecosystem carbon (C) and N balances, we performed a sensitivity analysis on a model of C and N flows between plants, SOM, saprotrophs, ECM fungi, and inorganic N stores. The analysis indicates that C and N balances were sensitive to model parameters regulating ECM biomass and decomposition. Under low N availability, the optimal C allocation to ECM fungi, above which the symbiosis switches from mutualism to parasitism, increases with increasing relative involvement of ECM fungi in SOM decomposition. Under low N conditions, increased ECM organic N mining promotes tree growth but decreases soil C storage, leading to a negative correlation between C stores above- and below-ground. The interplay between plant production and soil C storage is sensitive to the partitioning of decomposition between ECM fungi and saprotrophs. Better understanding of interactions between functional guilds of soil fungi may significantly improve predictions of ecosystem responses to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid27748948, year = {2017}, author = {Guillotin, B and Etemadi, M and Audran, C and Bouzayen, M and Bécard, G and Combier, JP}, title = {Sl-IAA27 regulates strigolactone biosynthesis and mycorrhization in tomato (var. MicroTom).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {3}, pages = {1124-1132}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14246}, pmid = {27748948}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; }, abstract = {Root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is a complex and finely tuned process. Previous studies have shown that, among other plant hormones, auxin plays a role in this process but the specific involvement of Aux/IAAs, the key regulators of auxin responses, is still unknown. In this study, we addressed the role of the tomato Sl-IAA27 during AM symbiosis by using Sl-IAA27-RNAi and pSL-IAA27::GUS stable tomato lines. The data show that Sl-IAA27 expression is up-regulated by the AM fungus and that silencing of Sl-IAA27 has a negative impact on AM colonization. Sl-IAA27-silencing resulted in down-regulation of three genes involved in strigolactone synthesis, NSP1, D27 and MAX1, and treatment of Sl-IAA27-silenced plants with the strigolactone analog GR24 complemented their mycorrhizal defect phenotype. Overall, the study identified an Aux/IAA gene as a new component of the signaling pathway controlling AM fungal colonization in tomato. This gene is proposed to control strigolactone biosynthesis via the regulation of NSP1.}, } @article {pmid27746772, year = {2016}, author = {Jaworski, P and Donczew, R and Mielke, T and Thiel, M and Oldziej, S and Weigel, C and Zawilak-Pawlik, A}, title = {Unique and Universal Features of Epsilonproteobacterial Origins of Chromosome Replication and DnaA-DnaA Box Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1555}, pmid = {27746772}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In bacteria, chromosome replication is initiated by the interaction of the initiator protein DnaA with a defined region of a chromosome at which DNA replication starts (oriC). While DnaA proteins share significant homology regardless of phylogeny, oriC regions exhibit more variable structures. The general architecture of oriCs is universal, i.e., they are composed of a cluster of DnaA binding sites, a DNA-unwinding element, and sequences that bind regulatory proteins. However, detailed structures of oriCs are shared by related species while being significantly different in unrelated bacteria. In this work, we characterized Epsilonproteobacterial oriC regions. Helicobacter pylori was the only species of the class for which oriC was characterized. A few unique features were found such as bipartite oriC structure, not encountered in any other Gram-negative species, and topology-sensitive DnaA-DNA interactions, which have not been found in any other bacterium. These unusual H. pylori oriC features raised questions of whether oriC structure and DnaA-DNA interactions are unique to this bacterium or whether they are common to related species. By in silico and in vitro analyses we identified putative oriCs in three Epsilonproteobacterial species: pathogenic Arcobacter butzleri, symbiotic Wolinella succinogenes, and free-living Sulfurimonas denitrificans. We propose that oriCs typically co-localize with ruvC-dnaA-dnaN in Epsilonproteobacteria, with the exception of Helicobacteriaceae species. The clusters of DnaA boxes localize upstream (oriC1) and downstream (oriC2) of dnaA, and they likely constitute bipartite origins. In all cases, DNA unwinding was shown to occur in oriC2. Unlike the DnaA box pattern, which is not conserved in Epsilonproteobacterial oriCs, the consensus DnaA box sequences and the mode of DnaA-DnaA box interactions are common to the class. We propose that the typical Epsilonproteobacterial DnaA box consists of the core nucleotide sequence 5'-TTCAC-3' (4-8 nt), which, together with the significant changes in the DNA-binding motif of corresponding DnaAs, determines the unique molecular mechanism of DnaA-DNA interaction. Our results will facilitate identification of oriCs and subsequent identification of factors which regulate chromosome replication in other Epsilonproteobacteria. Since replication is controlled at the initiation step, it will help to better characterize life cycles of these species, many of which are considered as emerging pathogens.}, } @article {pmid27745563, year = {2017}, author = {Combes, S and Massip, K and Martin, O and Furbeyre, H and Cauquil, L and Pascal, G and Bouchez, O and Le Floc'h, N and Zemb, O and Oswald, IP and Gidenne, T}, title = {Impact of feed restriction and housing hygiene conditions on specific and inflammatory immune response, the cecal bacterial community and the survival of young rabbits.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {854-863}, doi = {10.1017/S1751731116002007}, pmid = {27745563}, issn = {1751-732X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Caloric Restriction ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Housing, Animal ; Hygiene ; *Immunity, Innate ; Male ; Rabbits/growth & development/immunology/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Limiting the post-weaning intake of the young rabbit is known to improve its resistance to digestive disorders, whereas a degradation of its housing hygiene is assumed to have a negative impact on its health. This study aims at providing insights into the mechanism of digestive health preservation regarding both host (growth and immune response) and its symbiotic digestive microbiota. A 2×2 factorial design from weaning (day 28) to day 64 was set up: ad libitum intake or restricted intake at 70% of ad libitum, and high v. low hygiene of housing (n=105 per group). At day 36 and day 45, 15 animals/group were subcutaneously immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) to assess their specific immune response. Blood was sampled at 36, 45, 57 and 64 days of age to determine total and anti-OVA immunoglobulin type G (IgG) and haptoglobin levels. The cecal bacterial community was explored (18 per group) by 454 pyrosequencing of genes coding for the 16S ribosomal RNA, whereas cecal pH, NH3 and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were measured to characterize fermentative activity. A 30% reduction in feed intake reduced the growth by only 17% (P<0.001), and improved the feed conversion ratio by 15% (P<0.001), whereas the degradation of hygiene conditions slightly decreased the feed intake in ad libitum fed rabbits (-3.5%, P<0.02). As poor hygiene conditions did not affect weight gain, feed conversion was improved from day 42 (P<0.05). Restricted feeding led to a lower mortality between day 28 and day 40 (P=0.047), whereas degraded hygiene conditions decreased overall morbidity (7.8% v. 16.6%; P<0.01). Both a reduced intake and low hygiene conditions of housing affected microbiota composition and especially dominant genera belonging to the Ruminococcaceae family (P<0.01). Moreover, low hygiene was associated with a higher Ruminococcaceae/Lachnospiraceae ratio (3.7 v. 2.4; P<0.05). Cecal total VFA and pH were increased (+19%; P<0.001) and decreased (-0.1 pH unit; P<0.05), respectively, in feed-restricted rabbits. Neither specific anti-OVA IgG nor haptoglobin was affected by treatments. Total IgG concentrations were the highest in animals raised in poor hygiene conditions after 8 days of restriction, but decreased after 19 days of restriction in high hygiene conditions (-2.15%; P<0.05). In conclusion, the degradation of hygiene conditions failed to induce a systematic specific and inflammatory response in rabbit, but reduced morbidity instead. Our results suggest that the microbiota composition would be a helpful source of biomarkers of digestive health.}, } @article {pmid27744521, year = {2017}, author = {Renevey, A and Riniker, S}, title = {The importance of N-methylations for the stability of the β[6]·[3]-helical conformation of polytheonamide B.}, journal = {European biophysics journal : EBJ}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {363-374}, pmid = {27744521}, issn = {1432-1017}, mesh = {Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Methylation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Nitrogen/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Protein Stability ; Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Polytheonamide B (pTB), a highly cytotoxic peptide produced by a symbiotic bacterium of the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei, forms a transmembrane pore consisting of 49 residues. More than half of its residues are posttranslationally modified. Epimerizations result in alternating L- and D-amino acids that allow the peptide to adopt a [Formula: see text]-helical conformation. Unusually, the wide [Formula: see text]-helix of pTB is stable in a polar environment, which is in contrast to gramicidin A, an antibiotic with similar function and structure. The role of the other posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as side chain hydroxylations, C- and N-methylations is not well understood. In this study, the importance of these PTMs for the stability of [Formula: see text]-helix is investigated using computational tools. By reverting the modified residues to their precursors and monitoring the effect on the dominant structure, we show that the N-methylations are crucial for the stability of the [Formula: see text]-helix in a polar environment. They are the driving force for the formation of stable side chain hydrogen-bond chains that act as an "exoskeleton." Such exoskeletons could present a general design strategy for helical peptides.}, } @article {pmid27743400, year = {2017}, author = {Torres-Aquino, M and Becquer, A and Le Guernevé, C and Louche, J and Amenc, LK and Staunton, S and Quiquampoix, H and Plassard, C}, title = {The host plant Pinus pinaster exerts specific effects on phosphate efflux and polyphosphate metabolism of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum: a radiotracer, cytological staining and [31] P NMR spectroscopy study.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {190-202}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12847}, pmid = {27743400}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Hebeloma/*physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/metabolism ; *Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Phosphorus Radioisotopes/*metabolism ; Pinus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Polyphosphates/*metabolism ; Zea mays/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) association can improve plant phosphorus (P) nutrition. Polyphosphates (polyP) synthesized in distant fungal cells after P uptake may contribute to P supply from the fungus to the host plant if they are hydrolyzed to phosphate in ECM roots then transferred to the host plant when required. In this study, we addressed this hypothesis for the ECM fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum grown in vitro and incubated without plant or with host (Pinus pinaster) and non-host (Zea mays) plants, using an experimental system simulating the symbiotic interface. We used [32] P labelling to quantify P accumulation and P efflux and in vivo and in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and cytological staining to follow the fate of fungal polyP. Phosphate supply triggered a massive P accumulation as newly synthesized long-chain polyP in H. cylindrosporum if previously grown under P-deficient conditions. P efflux from H. cylindrosporum towards the roots was stimulated by both host and non-host plants. However, the host plant enhanced [32] P release compared with the non-host plant and specifically increased the proportion of short-chain polyP in the interacting mycelia. These results support the existence of specific host plant effects on fungal P metabolism able to provide P in the apoplast of ectomycorrhizal roots.}, } @article {pmid27741163, year = {2016}, author = {Valsecchi, C and Carlotta Tagliacarne, S and Castellazzi, A}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Obesity.}, journal = {Journal of clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {50 Suppl 2, Proceedings from the 8th Probiotics, Prebiotics & New Foods for Microbiota and Human Health meeting held in Rome, Italy on September 13-15, 2015}, number = {}, pages = {S157-S158}, doi = {10.1097/MCG.0000000000000715}, pmid = {27741163}, issn = {1539-2031}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Obesity/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota is composed by symbiotic innocuous bacteria and potential pathogens also called pathobionts. The human gut normally hosts roughly 1014 bacterial organisms of up to 1000 different species. The genome size of this microbial organ, collectively named microbiome, exceeds the size of the human nuclear genome by 2 orders of magnitude.}, } @article {pmid27739645, year = {2016}, author = {Palmer, AG and Mukherjee, A and Stacy, DM and Lazar, S and Ané, JM and Blackwell, HE}, title = {Interkingdom Responses to Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signals Regulate Frequency and Rate of Nodulation in Legume-Rhizobia Symbiosis.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {17}, number = {22}, pages = {2199-2205}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201600373}, pmid = {27739645}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/chemical synthesis/chemistry/pharmacology ; Ligands ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Small Molecule Libraries/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Density-dependent phenotypic switching in bacteria, the phenomenon of quorum sensing (QS), is instrumental in many pathogenic and mutualistic behaviors. In many Gram-negative bacteria, QS is regulated by N-acylated-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs). Synthetic analogues of these AHLs hold significant promise for regulating QS at the host-symbiont interface. Regulation depends on refined temporal and spatial models of quorums under native conditions. Critical to this is an understanding of how the presence of these signals may affect a prospective host. We screened a library of AHL analogues for their ability to regulate the legume-rhizobia mutualistic symbiosis (nodulation) between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti. Using an established QS-reporter line of S. meliloti and nodulation assays with wild-type bacteria, we identified compounds capable of increasing either the rate of nodule formation or total nodule number. Most importantly, we identified compounds with activity exclusive to either host or pathogen, underscoring the potential to generate QS modulators selective to bacteria with limited effects on a prospective host.}, } @article {pmid27739371, year = {2017}, author = {Bibi, F and Faheem, M and Azhar, EI and Yasir, M and Alvi, SA and Kamal, MA and Ullah, I and Naseer, MI}, title = {Bacteria From Marine Sponges: A Source of New Drugs.}, journal = {Current drug metabolism}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {11-15}, doi = {10.2174/1389200217666161013090610}, pmid = {27739371}, issn = {1875-5453}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Biological Products ; Drug Discovery/*methods ; Porifera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sponges are rich source of bioactive natural products synthesized by the symbiotic bacteria belonging to different phyla. Due to a competition for space and nutrients the marine bacteria associated with sponges could produce more antibiotic substances. To explore the proactive potential of marine microbes extensive research has been done. These bioactive metabolites have some unique properties that are pharmaceutically important.

METHODS: For this review, we have performed a non-systematic search of the available literature though various online search engines. This review provides an insight that how majority of active metabolites have been identified from marine invertebrates of which sponges predominate.

RESULTS: Sponges harbor abundant and diverse microorganisms, which are the sources of a range of marine bioactive metabolites. From sponges and their associated microorganisms, approximately 5,300 different natural compounds are known. Current research on sponge-microbe interaction and their active metabolites has become a focal point for many researchers. Various active metabolites derived from sponges are now known to be produced by their symbiotic microflora.

CONCLUSION: In this review, we attempt to report the latest studies regarding capability of bacteria from sponges as producers of bioactive metabolite. Moreover, these sponge associated bacteria are an important source of different enzymes of industrial significance. In present review, we will address some novel approaches for discovering marine metabolites from bacteria that have the greatest potential to be used in clinical treatments.}, } @article {pmid27736883, year = {2016}, author = {Liao, HL and Chen, Y and Vilgalys, R}, title = {Metatranscriptomic Study of Common and Host-Specific Patterns of Gene Expression between Pines and Their Symbiotic Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the Genus Suillus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {e1006348}, pmid = {27736883}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungal Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Pinus/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) represent one of the major guilds of symbiotic fungi associated with roots of forest trees, where they function to improve plant nutrition and fitness in exchange for plant carbon. Many groups of EMF exhibit preference or specificity for different plant host genera; a good example is the genus Suillus, which grows in association with the conifer family Pinaceae. We investigated genetics of EMF host-specificity by cross-inoculating basidiospores of five species of Suillus onto ten species of Pinus, and screened them for their ability to form ectomycorrhizae. Several Suillus spp. including S. granulatus, S. spraguei, and S. americanus readily formed ectomycorrhizae (compatible reaction) with white pine hosts (subgenus Strobus), but were incompatible with other pine hosts (subgenus Pinus). Metatranscriptomic analysis of inoculated roots reveals that plant and fungus each express unique gene sets during incompatible vs. compatible pairings. The Suillus-Pinus metatranscriptomes utilize highly conserved gene regulatory pathways, including fungal G-protein signaling, secretory pathways, leucine-rich repeat and pathogen resistance proteins that are similar to those associated with host-pathogen interactions in other plant-fungal systems. Metatranscriptomic study of the combined Suillus-Pinus transcriptome has provided new insight into mechanisms of adaptation and coevolution of forest trees with their microbial community, and revealed that genetic regulation of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis utilizes universal gene regulatory pathways used by other types of fungal-plant interactions including pathogenic fungal-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid27735094, year = {2016}, author = {Dréno, B and Araviiskaia, E and Berardesca, E and Gontijo, G and Sanchez Viera, M and Xiang, LF and Martin, R and Bieber, T}, title = {Microbiome in healthy skin, update for dermatologists.}, journal = {Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {2038-2047}, pmid = {27735094}, issn = {1468-3083}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Dermatologists ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The skin is a complex barrier organ made of a symbiotic relationship between microbial communities and host tissue via complex signals provided by the innate and the adaptive immune systems. It is constantly exposed to various endogenous and exogenous factors which impact this balanced system potentially leading to inflammatory skin conditions comprising infections, allergies or autoimmune diseases. Unlike the gut and stool microbiome which has been studied and described for many years, investigations on the skin or scalp microbiome only started recently. Researchers in microbiology and dermatology started using modern methods such as pyrosequencing assays of bacterial 16S rRNA genes to identify and characterize the different microorganisms present on the skin, to evaluate the bacterial diversity and their relative abundance and to understand how microbial diversity may contribute to skin health and dermatological conditions. This article aims to provide an overview on the knowledge about the skin microbiota, the microbiome and their importance in dermatology.}, } @article {pmid27732651, year = {2016}, author = {Nakashima, Y and Egami, Y and Kimura, M and Wakimoto, T and Abe, I}, title = {Metagenomic Analysis of the Sponge Discodermia Reveals the Production of the Cyanobacterial Natural Product Kasumigamide by 'Entotheonella'.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e0164468}, pmid = {27732651}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyanobacteria/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Multigene Family ; Oligopeptides/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Porifera/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponge metagenomes are a useful platform to mine cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for production of natural products involved in the sponge-microbe association. Since numerous sponge-derived bioactive metabolites are biosynthesized by the symbiotic bacteria, this strategy may concurrently reveal sponge-symbiont produced compounds. Accordingly, a metagenomic analysis of the Japanese marine sponge Discodermia calyx has resulted in the identification of a hybrid type I polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene (kas). Bioinformatic analysis of the gene product suggested its involvement in the biosynthesis of kasumigamide, a tetrapeptide originally isolated from freshwater free-living cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa NIES-87. Subsequent investigation of the sponge metabolic profile revealed the presence of kasumigamide in the sponge extract. The kasumigamide producing bacterium was identified as an 'Entotheonella' sp. Moreover, an in silico analysis of kas gene homologs uncovered the presence of kas family genes in two additional bacteria from different phyla. The production of kasumigamide by distantly related multiple bacterial strains implicates horizontal gene transfer and raises the potential for a wider distribution across other bacterial groups.}, } @article {pmid27730638, year = {2017}, author = {Hansen, MJ and O'Leary, PM and Ward, AJ}, title = {Interactions between Plagiotremus spp., Labroides dimidiatus and their clients: evidence for behavioural niche partitioning.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {424-434}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.13165}, pmid = {27730638}, issn = {1095-8649}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Perciformes/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {This study employed community analysis and behavioural field observations to explore the inter-specific interactions between fangblenny species (Plagiotremus spp.), the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus and their target species and found that the presence of Plagiotremus spp. did not affect the total amount that L. dimidiatus cleaned but it did reduce the amount L. dimidiatus cleaned key prey species of the Plagiotremus spp. The behavioural interactions between adult L. dimidiatus and their clients changed in response to the presence of Plagiotremus spp., but the results suggested the potential cost of Plagiotremus spp. on L. dimidiatus may be offset by behavioural niche partitioning.}, } @article {pmid27730366, year = {2017}, author = {Hubert, J and Bicianova, M and Ledvinka, O and Kamler, M and Lester, PJ and Nesvorna, M and Kopecky, J and Erban, T}, title = {Changes in the Bacteriome of Honey Bees Associated with the Parasite Varroa destructor, and Pathogens Nosema and Lotmaria passim.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {685-698}, pmid = {27730366}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bartonella/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bees/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Kinetoplastida/*pathogenicity ; Lactobacillus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mite Infestations/pathology ; Nosema/*pathogenicity ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Varroidae/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The honey bee, Apis mellifera, is a globally important species that suffers from a variety of pathogens and parasites. These parasites and pathogens may have sublethal effects on their bee hosts via an array of mechanisms, including through a change in symbiotic bacterial taxa. Our aim was to assess the influence of four globally widespread parasites and pathogens on the honey bee bacteriome. We examined the effects of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, the fungal pathogens Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, and the trypanosome Lotmaria passim. Varroa was detected by acaricidal treatment, Nosema and L. passim by PCR, and the bacteriome using MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall, the 1,858,850 obtained sequences formed 86 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 3 % dissimilarity. Location, time of year, and degree of infestation by Varroa had significant effects on the composition of the bacteriome of honey bee workers. Based on statistical correlations, we found varroosis more important factor than N. ceranae, N. apis, and L. passim infestation influencing the honey bee bacteriome and contributing to the changes in the composition of the bacterial community in adult bees. At the population level, Varroa appeared to modify 20 OTUs. In the colonies with high Varroa infestation levels (varroosis), the relative abundance of the bacteria Bartonella apis and Lactobacillus apis decreased. In contrast, an increase in relative abundance was observed for several taxa including Lactobacillus helsingborgensis, Lactobacillus mellis, Commensalibacter intestini, and Snodgrassella alvi. The results showed that the "normal" bacterial community is altered by eukaryotic parasites as well as displaying temporal changes and changes associated with the geographical origin of the beehive.}, } @article {pmid27729924, year = {2016}, author = {Friede, M and Unger, S and Hellmann, C and Beyschlag, W}, title = {Conditions Promoting Mycorrhizal Parasitism Are of Minor Importance for Competitive Interactions in Two Differentially Mycotrophic Species.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1465}, pmid = {27729924}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Interactions of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may range along a broad continuum from strong mutualism to parasitism, with mycorrhizal benefits received by the plant being determined by climatic and edaphic conditions affecting the balance between carbon costs vs. nutritional benefits. Thus, environmental conditions promoting either parasitism or mutualism can influence the mycorrhizal growth dependency (MGD) of a plant and in consequence may play an important role in plant-plant interactions. In a multifactorial field experiment we aimed at disentangling the effects of environmental and edaphic conditions, namely the availability of light, phosphorus and nitrogen, and the implications for competitive interactions between Hieracium pilosella and Corynephorus canescens for the outcome of the AMF symbiosis. Both species were planted in single, intraspecific and interspecific combinations using a target-neighbor approach with six treatments distributed along a gradient simulating conditions for the interaction between plants and AMF ranking from mutualistic to parasitic. Across all treatments we found mycorrhizal association of H. pilosella being consistently mutualistic, while pronounced parasitism was observed in C. canescens, indicating that environmental and edaphic conditions did not markedly affect the cost:benefit ratio of the mycorrhizal symbiosis in both species. Competitive interactions between both species were strongly affected by AMF, with the impact of AMF on competition being modulated by colonization. Biomass in both species was lowest when grown in interspecific competition, with colonization being increased in the less mycotrophic C. canescens, while decreased in the obligate mycotrophic H. pilosella. Although parasitism-promoting conditions negatively affected MGD in C. canescens, these effects were small as compared to growth decreases related to increased colonization levels in this species. Thus, the lack of plant control over mycorrhizal colonization was identified as a possible key factor for the outcome of competition, while environmental and edaphic conditions affecting the mutualism-parasitism continuum appeared to be of minor importance.}, } @article {pmid27729510, year = {2016}, author = {Kong, EF and Tsui, C and Kucharíková, S and Andes, D and Van Dijck, P and Jabra-Rizk, MA}, title = {Commensal Protection of Staphylococcus aureus against Antimicrobials by Candida albicans Biofilm Matrix.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27729510}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K22 DE014424/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI073289/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI130170/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Candida albicans/*physiology ; *Drug Tolerance ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microbial Viability/*drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects/physiology ; Time-Lapse Imaging ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Biofilm-associated polymicrobial infections, particularly those involving fungi and bacteria, are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality and tend to be challenging to treat. Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus specifically are considered leading opportunistic fungal and bacterial pathogens, respectively, mainly due to their ability to form biofilms on catheters and indwelling medical devices. However, the impact of mixed-species biofilm growth on therapy remains largely understudied. In this study, we investigated the influence of C. albicans secreted cell wall polysaccharides on the response of S. aureus to antibacterial agents in biofilm. Results demonstrated significantly enhanced tolerance for S. aureus to drugs in the presence of C. albicans or its secreted cell wall polysaccharide material. Fluorescence confocal time-lapse microscopy revealed impairment of drug diffusion through the mixed biofilm matrix. Using C. albicans mutant strains with modulated cell wall polysaccharide expression, exogenous supplementation, and enzymatic degradation, the C. albicans-secreted β-1,3-glucan cell wall component was identified as the key matrix constituent providing the bacteria with enhanced drug tolerance. Further, antibody labeling demonstrated rapid coating of the bacteria by the C. albicans matrix material. Importantly, via its effect on the fungal biofilm matrix, the antifungal caspofungin sensitized the bacteria to the drugs. Understanding such symbiotic interactions with clinical relevance between microbial species in biofilms will greatly aid in overcoming the limitations of current therapies and in defining potential new targets for treating polymicrobial infections.

IMPORTANCE: The fungus Candida albicans and the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus are important microbial pathogens responsible for the majority of infections in hospitalized patients and are often coisolated from a host. In this study, we demonstrated that when grown together, the fungus provides the bacterium with enhanced tolerance to antimicrobial drugs. This process was mediated by polysaccharides secreted by the fungal cell into the environment. The biofilm matrix formed by these polysaccharides prevented penetration by the drugs and provided the bacteria with protection. Importantly, we show that by inhibiting the production of the fungal polysaccharides, a specific antifungal agent indirectly sensitized the bacteria to antimicrobials. Understanding the therapeutic implications of the interactions between these two diverse microbial species will aid in overcoming the limitations of current therapies and in defining new targets for treating complex polymicrobial infections.}, } @article {pmid27729005, year = {2016}, author = {Nguyen, TV and Wibberg, D and Battenberg, K and Blom, J and Vanden Heuvel, B and Berry, AM and Kalinowski, J and Pawlowski, K}, title = {An assemblage of Frankia Cluster II strains from California contains the canonical nod genes and also the sulfotransferase gene nodH.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {796}, pmid = {27729005}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {California ; Frankia/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Secondary Metabolism ; Sulfotransferases/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ability to establish root nodule symbioses is restricted to four different plant orders. Soil actinobacteria of the genus Frankia can establish a symbiotic relationship with a diverse group of plants within eight different families from three different orders, the Cucurbitales, Fagales and Rosales. Phylogenetically, Frankia strains can be divided into four clusters, three of which (I, II, III) contain symbiotic strains. Members of Cluster II nodulate the broadest range of host plants with species from four families from two different orders, growing on six continents. Two Cluster II genomes were sequenced thus far, both from Asia.

RESULTS: In this paper we present the first Frankia cluster II genome from North America (California), Dg2, which represents a metagenome of two major and one minor strains. A phylogenetic analysis of the core genomes of 16 Frankia strains shows that Cluster II the ancestral group in the genus, also ancestral to the non-symbiotic Cluster IV. Dg2 contains the canonical nod genes nodABC for the production of lipochitooligosaccharide Nod factors, but also two copies of the sulfotransferase gene nodH. In rhizobial systems, sulfation of Nod factors affects their host specificity and their stability.

CONCLUSIONS: A comparison with the nod gene region of the previously sequenced Dg1 genome from a Cluster II strain from Pakistan shows that the common ancestor of both strains should have contained nodABC and nodH. Phylogenetically, Dg2 NodH proteins are sister to rhizobial NodH proteins. A glnA-based phylogenetic analysis of all Cluster II strains sampled thus far supports the hypothesis that Cluster II Frankia strains came to North America with Datisca glomerata following the Madrean-Tethyan pattern.}, } @article {pmid27727485, year = {2017}, author = {Zamani, M and diCenzo, GC and Milunovic, B and Finan, TM}, title = {A putative 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase is required for efficient symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Sinorhizobium meliloti and Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {218-236}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13570}, pmid = {27727485}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Sinorhizobium fredii/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Thiolester Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {We report that the smb20752 gene of the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is a novel symbiotic gene required for full N2 -fixation. Deletion of smb20752 resulted in lower nitrogenase activity and smaller nodules without impacting overall nodule morphology. Orthologs of smb20752 were present in all alpha and beta rhizobia, including the ngr_b20860 gene of Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234. A ngr_b20860 mutant formed Fix[-] determinate nodules that developed normally to a late stage of the symbiosis on the host plants Macroptilium atropurpureum and Vigna unguiculata. However an early symbiotic defect was evident during symbiosis with Leucaena leucocephala, producing Fix[-] indeterminate nodules. The smb20752 and ngr_b20860 genes encode putative 3-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA (HIB-CoA) hydrolases. HIB-CoA hydrolases are required for l-valine catabolism and appear to prevent the accumulation of toxic metabolic intermediates, particularly methacrylyl-CoA. Evidence presented here and elsewhere (Curson et al., , PLoS ONE 9:e97660) demonstrated that Smb20752 and NGR_b20860 can also prevent metabolic toxicity, are required for l-valine metabolism, and play an undefined role in 3-hydroxybutyrate catabolism. We present evidence that the symbiotic defect of the HIB-CoA hydrolase mutants is independent of the inability to catabolize l-valine and suggest it relates to the toxicity resulting from metabolism of other compounds possibly related to 3-hydroxybutyric acid.}, } @article {pmid27727362, year = {2016}, author = {Azevedo, JL and Araújo, WL and Lacava, PT}, title = {The diversity of citrus endophytic bacteria and their interactions with Xylella fastidiosa and host plants.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {476-491}, pmid = {27727362}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and has been associated with important losses in commercial orchards of all sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.)] cultivars. The development of this disease depends on the environmental conditions, including the endophytic microbial community associated with the host plant. Previous studies have shown that X. fastidiosa interacts with the endophytic community in xylem vessels as well as in the insect vector, resulting in a lower bacterial population and reduced CVC symptoms. The citrus endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium mesophilicum can trigger X. fastidiosa response in vitro, which results in reduced growth and induction of genes associated with energy production, stress, transport, and motility, indicating that X. fastidiosa has an adaptive response to M. mesophilicum. Although this response may result in reduced CVC symptoms, the colonization rate of the endophytic bacteria should be considered in studies that intend to use this endophyte to suppress CVC disease. Symbiotic control is a new strategy that uses symbiotic endophytes as biological control agents to antagonize or displace pathogens. Candidate endophytes for symbiotic control of CVC must occupy the xylem of host plants and attach to the precibarium of sharpshooter insects to access the pathogen. In the present review, we focus on interactions between endophytic bacteria from sweet orange plants and X. fastidiosa, especially those that may be candidates for control of CVC.}, } @article {pmid27726374, year = {2016}, author = {Gemperline, E and Keller, C and Jayaraman, D and Maeda, J and Sussman, MR and Ané, JM and Li, L}, title = {Examination of Endogenous Peptides in Medicago truncatula Using Mass Spectrometry Imaging.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {4403-4411}, pmid = {27726374}, issn = {1535-3907}, support = {S10 RR029531/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry ; Molecular Imaging/instrumentation/*methods ; Peptides/*analysis ; Proteins/analysis ; Psychosexual Development ; Spatial Analysis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {Plant science is an important, rapidly developing area of study. Within plant science, one area of study that has grown tremendously with recent technological advances, such as mass spectrometry, is the field of plant-omics; however, plant peptidomics is relatively underdeveloped in comparison with proteomics and metabolomics. Endogenous plant peptides can act as signaling molecules and have been shown to affect cell division, development, nodulation, reproduction, symbiotic associations, and defense reactions. There is a growing need to uncover the role of endogenous peptides on a molecular level. Mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) is a valuable tool for biological analyses as it allows for the detection of thousands of analytes in a single experiment and also displays spatial information for the detected analytes. Despite the prediction of a large number of plant peptides, their detection and imaging with spatial localization and chemical specificity is currently lacking. Here we analyzed the endogenous peptides and proteins in Medicago truncatula using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI. Hundreds of endogenous peptides and protein fragments were imaged, with interesting peptide spatial distribution changes observed between plants in different developmental stages.}, } @article {pmid27726033, year = {2017}, author = {van de Water, JA and Melkonian, R and Voolstra, CR and Junca, H and Beraud, E and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Comparative Assessment of Mediterranean Gorgonian-Associated Microbial Communities Reveals Conserved Core and Locally Variant Bacteria.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {73}, number = {2}, pages = {466-478}, pmid = {27726033}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Classification ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Library ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Seawater/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Gorgonians are key habitat-forming species of Mediterranean benthic communities, but their populations have suffered from mass mortality events linked to high summer seawater temperatures and microbial disease. However, our knowledge on the diversity, dynamics and function of gorgonian-associated microbial communities is limited. Here, we analysed the spatial variability of the microbiomes of five sympatric gorgonian species (Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella verrucosa, Leptogorgia sarmentosa and Paramuricea clavata), collected from the Mediterranean Sea over a scale of ∼1100 km, using next-generation amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiomes of all gorgonian species were generally dominated by members of the genus Endozoicomonas, which were at very low abundance in the surrounding seawater. Although the composition of the core microbiome (operational taxonomic units consistently present in a species) was found to be unique for each host species, significant overlap was observed. These spatially consistent associations between gorgonians and their core bacteria suggest intricate symbiotic relationships and regulation of the microbiome composition by the host. At the same time, local variations in microbiome composition were observed. Functional predictive profiling indicated that these differences could be attributed to seawater pollution. Taken together, our data indicate that gorgonian-associated microbiomes are composed of spatially conserved bacteria (core microbiome members) and locally variant members, and that local pollution may influence these local associations, potentially impacting gorgonian health.}, } @article {pmid27726002, year = {2017}, author = {Hapeshi, A and Waterfield, NR}, title = {Photorhabdus asymbiotica as an Insect and Human Pathogen.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {402}, number = {}, pages = {159-177}, doi = {10.1007/82_2016_29}, pmid = {27726002}, issn = {0070-217X}, support = {BB/C008367/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/E021328/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Europe ; Genome ; Humans ; Insecta/microbiology ; *Photorhabdus/genetics/pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus asymbiotica is a species of bacterium that is pathogenic to humans whilst retaining the ability to infect insect hosts. Currently, there are two recognised subspecies, P. asymbiotica subsp. asymbiotica and P. asymbiotica subsp. australis with strains isolated from various locations in the USA, Australia, Thailand, Nepal and Europe. Like other species of Photorhabdus, P. asymbiotica subsp. australis was shown to form a symbiotic relationship with a Heterorhabditis nematode. In contrast to most strains of Photorhabdus luminescens, P. asymbiotica can grow at 37 °C and this is a defining factor in its ability to cause human disease. Insights into other adaptations it has undergone that have enabled host switching to occur have come from whole genome sequencing and transcriptomic studies. P. asymbiotica has a smaller genome compared to P. luminenscens with a lower diversity of insecticidal toxins. However, it has acquired plasmids and several pathogenicity islands in its genome. These encode genes with similarity to effectors or systems found in other known human pathogens such as Salmonella and Yersinia and are therefore likely to contribute to human pathogenicity. Of crucial importance to virulence is the fact that P. asymbiotica undergoes a large metabolic shift at the human host temperature.}, } @article {pmid27725817, year = {2016}, author = {Lukiw, WJ}, title = {Bacteroides fragilis Lipopolysaccharide and Inflammatory Signaling in Alzheimer's Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1544}, pmid = {27725817}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 AG018031/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG038834/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY006311/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome consists of ~3.8 × 10[13] symbiotic microorganisms that form a highly complex and dynamic ecosystem: the gastrointestinal (GI) tract constitutes the largest repository of the human microbiome by far, and its impact on human neurological health and disease is becoming increasingly appreciated. Bacteroidetes, the largest phylum of Gram-negative bacteria in the GI tract microbiome, while generally beneficial to the host when confined to the GI tract, have potential to secrete a remarkably complex array of pro-inflammatory neurotoxins that include surface lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and toxic proteolytic peptides. The deleterious effects of these bacterial exudates appear to become more important as GI tract and blood-brain barriers alter or increase their permeability with aging and disease. For example, presence of the unique LPSs of the abundant Bacteroidetes species Bacteroides fragilis (BF-LPS) in the serum represents a major contributing factor to systemic inflammation. BF-LPS is further recognized by TLR2, TLR4, and/or CD14 microglial cell receptors as are the pro-inflammatory 42 amino acid amyloid-beta (Aβ42) peptides that characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. Here we provide the first evidence that BF-LPS exposure to human primary brain cells is an exceptionally potent inducer of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-kB (p50/p65) complex, a known trigger in the expression of pathogenic pathways involved in inflammatory neurodegeneration. This 'Perspectives communication' will in addition highlight work from recent studies that advance novel and emerging concepts on the potential contribution of microbiome-generated factors, such as BF-LPS, in driving pro-inflammatory degenerative neuropathology in the AD brain.}, } @article {pmid27725814, year = {2016}, author = {Levi Mortera, S and Del Chierico, F and Vernocchi, P and Rosado, MM and Cavola, A and Chierici, M and Pieroni, L and Urbani, A and Carsetti, R and Lante, I and Dallapiccola, B and Putignani, L}, title = {Monitoring Perinatal Gut Microbiota in Mouse Models by Mass Spectrometry Approaches: Parental Genetic Background and Breastfeeding Effects.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1523}, pmid = {27725814}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {At birth, contact with external stimuli, such as nutrients derived from food, is necessary to modulate the symbiotic balance between commensal and pathogenic bacteria, protect against bacterial dysbiosis, and initiate the development of the mucosal immune response. Among a variety of different feeding patterns, breastfeeding represents the best modality. In fact, the capacity of breast milk to modulate the composition of infants' gut microbiota leads to beneficial effects on their health. In this study, we used newborn mice as a model to evaluate the effect of parental genetic background (i.e., IgA-producing mice and IgA-deficient mice) and feeding modulation (i.e., maternal feeding and cross-feeding) on the onset and shaping of gut microbiota after birth. To investigate these topics, we used either a culturomic approach that employed Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MS), or bottom-up Liquid Chromatography, with subsequent MSMS shotgun metaproteomic analysis that compared and assembled results of the two techniques. We found that the microbial community was enriched by lactic acid bacteria when pups were breastfed by wild-type (WT) mothers, while IgA-deficient milk led to an increase in the opportunistic bacterial pathogen (OBP) population. Cross-feeding results suggested that IgA supplementation promoted the exclusion of some OBPs and the temporary appearance of beneficial species in pups fed by WT foster mothers. Our results show that both techniques yield a picture of microbiota from different angles and with varying depths. In particular, our metaproteomic pipeline was found to be a reliable tool in the description of microbiota. Data from these studies are available via ProteomeXchange, with identifier PXD004033.}, } @article {pmid27725778, year = {2016}, author = {Liang, J and Zhang, M and Lu, M and Li, Z and Shen, X and Chou, M and Wei, G}, title = {Functional characterization of a csoR-cueA divergon in Bradyrhizobium liaoningense CCNWSX0360, involved in copper, zinc and cadmium cotolerance.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {35155}, pmid = {27725778}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/genetics ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Copper/*metabolism ; DNA Transposable Elements ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Random mutagenesis in a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium liaoningense CCNWSX0360 (Bln0360) using Tn5 identified five copper (Cu) resistance-related genes. They were functionally sorted into three groups: transmembrane transport (cueA and tolC); oxidation (copA); and protection of the membrane barrier (lptE and ctpA). The gene cueA, together with the upstream csoR (Cu-sensitive operon repressor), constituted a csoR-cueA divergon which plays a crucial role in Cu homeostasis. Deletion of cueA decreased the Cu tolerance of cells, and complementation of this mutant restored comparable Cu resistance to that of the wild-type. Transcriptional and fusion expression analysis demonstrated that csoR-cueA divergon was up-regulated by both the monovalent Cu[+] and divalent Zn[2+]/Cd[2+], and negatively regulated by transcriptional repressor CsoR, via a bidirectional promoter. Deletion of csoR renders the cell hyper-resistant to Cu, Zn and Cd. Although predicted to encode a Cu transporting P-type ATPase (CueA), cueA also conferred resistance to zinc and cadmium; two putative N-MBDs (N-terminal metal binding domains) of CueA were required for the Cu/Zn/Cd tolerance. Moreover, cueA is needed for nodulation competitiveness of B. liaoningense in Cu rich conditions. Together, the results demonstrated a crucial role for the csoR-cueA divergon as a component of the multiple-metal resistance machinery in B. liaoningense.}, } @article {pmid27723934, year = {2017}, author = {Latorre, A and Manzano-Marín, A}, title = {Dissecting genome reduction and trait loss in insect endosymbionts.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1389}, number = {1}, pages = {52-75}, doi = {10.1111/nyas.13222}, pmid = {27723934}, issn = {1749-6632}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Contig Mapping ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Complementation Test ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis has played a major role in eukaryotic evolution beyond the origin of the eukaryotic cell. Thus, organisms across the tree of life are associated with diverse microbial partners, conferring to the host new adaptive traits that enable it to explore new niches. This is the case for insects thriving on unbalanced diets, which harbor mutualistic intracellular microorganisms, mostly bacteria that supply them with the required nutrients. As a consequence of the lifestyle change, from free-living to host-associated mutualist, a bacterium undergoes many structural and metabolic changes, of which genome shrinkage is the most dramatic. The trend toward genome size reduction in endosymbiotic bacteria is associated with large-scale gene loss, reflecting the lack of an effective selection mechanism to maintain genes that are rendered superfluous by the constant and rich environment provided by the host. This genome-reduction syndrome is so strong that it has generated the smallest bacterial genomes found to date, whose gene contents are so limited that their status as cellular entities is questionable. The recent availability of data on several endosymbiotic bacteria is enabling us to form a comprehensive picture of the genome-reduction process and the phenotypic consequences for the dwindling symbiont.}, } @article {pmid27721966, year = {2016}, author = {Khodadadi, A and Olang, O and Makhllough, A and Nozary Heshmati, B and Azmoudeh Ardalan, F and Tavakoli, SA}, title = {Human Split-Thickness Skin Allograft from Brain-Dead Donors.}, journal = {International journal of organ transplantation medicine}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {188-191}, pmid = {27721966}, issn = {2008-6482}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Looking for an appropriate skin substitute for temporary and permanent coverage of wounds remains one of the main obstacles of medical researchers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate of inflammation, symbiosis, and survival of grafted allograft skin from brain-dead donors (BDDs) in rabbits.

METHODS: After receiving negative serologic tests of BDDs, we prepared partial thickness skin grafts. They were then used in treating wounds of 5 rabbits in comparison with split-thickness skins taken from cardiac dead donors.

RESULTS: On histopathological examinations, we found no difference between the skins. All samples were separated from the baseline in 15-20 days.

CONCLUSION: Gamma-irradiated freeze-dried human split-thickness skin taken from BDDs is safe and can be used for the treatment of deep skin burns.}, } @article {pmid27721807, year = {2016}, author = {Dittmer, J and van Opstal, EJ and Shropshire, JD and Bordenstein, SR and Hurst, GD and Brucker, RM}, title = {Disentangling a Holobiont - Recent Advances and Perspectives in Nasonia Wasps.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1478}, pmid = {27721807}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is a well-established model organism for insect development, evolutionary genetics, speciation, and symbiosis. The host-microbiota assemblage which constitutes the Nasonia holobiont (a host together with all of its associated microbes) consists of viruses, two heritable bacterial symbionts and a bacterial community dominated in abundance by a few taxa in the gut. In the wild, all four Nasonia species are systematically infected with the obligate intracellular bacterium Wolbachia and can additionally be co-infected with Arsenophonus nasoniae. These two reproductive parasites have different transmission modes and host manipulations (cytoplasmic incompatibility vs. male-killing, respectively). Pioneering studies on Wolbachia in Nasonia demonstrated that closely related Nasonia species harbor multiple and mutually incompatible Wolbachia strains, resulting in strong symbiont-mediated reproductive barriers that evolved early in the speciation process. Moreover, research on host-symbiont interactions and speciation has recently broadened from its historical focus on heritable symbionts to the entire microbial community. In this context, each Nasonia species hosts a distinguishable community of gut bacteria that experiences a temporal succession during host development and members of this bacterial community cause strong hybrid lethality during larval development. In this review, we present the Nasonia species complex as a model system to experimentally investigate questions regarding: (i) the impact of different microbes, including (but not limited to) heritable endosymbionts, on the extended phenotype of the holobiont, (ii) the establishment and regulation of a species-specific microbiota, (iii) the role of the microbiota in speciation, and (iv) the resilience and adaptability of the microbiota in wild populations subjected to different environmental pressures. We discuss the potential for easy microbiota manipulations in Nasonia as a promising experimental approach to address these fundamental aspects.}, } @article {pmid27721806, year = {2016}, author = {Bouchon, D and Zimmer, M and Dittmer, J}, title = {The Terrestrial Isopod Microbiome: An All-in-One Toolbox for Animal-Microbe Interactions of Ecological Relevance.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1472}, pmid = {27721806}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts represent essential drivers of arthropod ecology and evolution, influencing host traits such as nutrition, reproduction, immunity, and speciation. However, the majority of work on arthropod microbiota has been conducted in insects and more studies in non-model species across different ecological niches will be needed to complete our understanding of host-microbiota interactions. In this review, we present terrestrial isopod crustaceans as an emerging model organism to investigate symbiotic associations with potential relevance to ecosystem functioning. Terrestrial isopods comprise a group of crustaceans that have evolved a terrestrial lifestyle and represent keystone species in terrestrial ecosystems, contributing to the decomposition of organic matter and regulating the microbial food web. Since their nutrition is based on plant detritus, it has long been suspected that bacterial symbionts located in the digestive tissues might play an important role in host nutrition via the provisioning of digestive enzymes, thereby enabling the utilization of recalcitrant food compounds (e.g., cellulose or lignins). If this were the case, then (i) the acquisition of these bacteria might have been an important evolutionary prerequisite for the colonization of land by isopods, and (ii) these bacterial symbionts would directly mediate the role of their hosts in ecosystem functioning. Several bacterial symbionts have indeed been discovered in the midgut caeca of terrestrial isopods and some of them might be specific to this group of animals (i.e., Candidatus Hepatoplasma crinochetorum, Candidatus Hepatincola porcellionum, and Rhabdochlamydia porcellionis), while others are well-known intracellular pathogens (Rickettsiella spp.) or reproductive parasites (Wolbachia sp.). Moreover, a recent investigation of the microbiota in Armadillidium vulgare has revealed that this species harbors a highly diverse bacterial community which varies between host populations, suggesting an important share of environmental microbes in the host-associated microbiota. In this review, we synthesize our current knowledge on the terrestrial isopod microbiome and identify future directions to (i) fully understand the functional roles of particular bacteria (both intracellular or intestinal symbionts and environmental gut passengers), and (ii) whether and how the host-associated microbiota could influence the performance of terrestrial isopods as keystone species in soil ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid27717597, year = {2017}, author = {Dunn, RR and Nunn, CL and Horvath, JE}, title = {The Global Synanthrome Project: A Call for an Exhaustive Study of Human Associates.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {4-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2016.09.007}, pmid = {27717597}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Genomics ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Here we coin the term synanthrome to describe all of the species we interact with. We propose that the time is now here for The Global Synanthrome Project to describe all of our interacting species and how they have changed through time and across space. This effort must involve natural history, ecology, and evolutionary biology in addition to genomics studies that are already underway.}, } @article {pmid27716511, year = {2016}, author = {Long, SR}, title = {SnapShot: Signaling in Symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {582-582.e1}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2016.09.046}, pmid = {27716511}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Plant Cells/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium-legume partnership is presently the best understood of all host-microbe symbioses. Bacterial and plant partners signal across developmental time and space.}, } @article {pmid27716053, year = {2016}, author = {Peterson, BF and Scharf, ME}, title = {Metatranscriptome analysis reveals bacterial symbiont contributions to lower termite physiology and potential immune functions.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {772}, pmid = {27716053}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Computational Biology/methods ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, rRNA ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism ; Isoptera/*immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbioses throughout the animal kingdom are known to extend physiological and ecological capabilities to hosts. Insect-microbe associations are extremely common and are often related to novel niche exploitation, fitness advantages, and even speciation events. These phenomena include expansions in host diet, detoxification of insecticides and toxins, and increased defense against pathogens. However, dissecting the contributions of individual groups of symbionts at the molecular level is often underexplored due to methodological and analytical limitations. Termites are one of the best studied systems for physiological collaborations between host and symbiota; however, most work in lower termites (those with bacterial and protist symbionts) focuses on the eukaryotic members of this symbiotic consortium. Here we present a metatranscriptomic analysis which provides novel insights into bacterial contributions to the holobiont of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, in the presence and absence of a fungal pathogen.

RESULTS: Using a customized ribodepletion strategy, a metatranscriptome assembly was obtained representing the host termite as well as bacterial and protist symbiota. Sequence data provide new insights into biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport of major organic molecules and ions by the gut consortium, and corroborate previous findings suggesting that bacteria play direct roles in nitrogen fixation, amino acid biosynthesis, and lignocellulose digestion. With regard to fungal pathogen challenge, a total of 563 differentially expressed candidate host and symbiont contigs were identified (162 up- and 401 downregulated; α/FDR = 0.05) including an upregulated bacterial amidohydrolase.

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the most complete bacterial metatranscriptome from a lower termite and provides a framework on which to build a more complete model of termite-symbiont interactions including, but not limited to, digestion and pathogen defense.}, } @article {pmid27714470, year = {2017}, author = {Sebastiana, M and Martins, J and Figueiredo, A and Monteiro, F and Sardans, J and Peñuelas, J and Silva, A and Roepstorff, P and Pais, MS and Coelho, AV}, title = {Oak protein profile alterations upon root colonization by an ectomycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {109-128}, pmid = {27714470}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; Cytoskeleton/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Lipid Metabolism/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Quercus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An increased knowledge on the real impacts of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in forest species is needed to optimize forest sustainable productivity and thus to improve forest services and their capacity to act as carbon sinks. In this study, we investigated the response of an oak species to ectomycorrhizae formation using a proteomics approach complemented by biochemical analysis of carbohydrate levels. Comparative proteome analysis between mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal cork oak plants revealed no differences at the foliar level. However, the protein profile of 34 unique oak proteins was altered in the roots. Consistent with the results of the biochemical analysis, the proteome analysis of the mycorrhizal roots suggests a decreasing utilization of sucrose for the metabolic activity of mycorrhizal roots which is consistent with an increased allocation of carbohydrates from the plant to the fungus in order to sustain the symbiosis. In addition, a promotion of protein unfolding mechanisms, attenuation of defense reactions, increased nutrient mobilization from the plant-fungus interface (N and P), as well as cytoskeleton rearrangements and induction of plant cell wall loosening for fungal root accommodation in colonized roots are also suggested by the results. The suggested improvement in root capacity to take up nutrients accompanied by an increase of root biomass without apparent changes in aboveground biomass strongly re-enforces the potential of mycorrhizal inoculation to improve cork oak forest resistance capacity to cope with coming climate change.}, } @article {pmid27713733, year = {2016}, author = {Weiss, B and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Bacteriome-Localized Intracellular Symbionts in Pollen-Feeding Beetles of the Genus Dasytes (Coleoptera, Dasytidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1486}, pmid = {27713733}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Several insect taxa are associated with intracellular symbionts that provision limiting nutrients to their hosts. Such tightly integrated symbioses are especially common in insects feeding on nutritionally challenging diets like phloem sap or vertebrate blood, but also occur in seed-eating and omnivorous taxa. Here, we characterize an intracellular symbiosis in pollen-feeding beetles of the genus Dasytes (Coleoptera, Dasytidae). High-throughput tag-encoded 16S amplicon pyrosequencing of adult D. plumbeus and D. virens revealed a single gamma-proteobacterial symbiont ('Candidatus Dasytiphilus stammeri') that amounts to 52.4-98.7% of the adult beetles' entire microbial community. Almost complete 16S rRNA sequences phylogenetically placed the symbiont into a clade comprising Buchnera and other insect endosymbionts, but sequence similarities to these closest relatives were surprisingly low (83.4-87.4%). Using histological examination, three-dimensional reconstructions, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we localized the symbionts in three mulberry-shaped bacteriomes that are associated with the mid- to hind-gut transition in adult male and female beetles. Given the specialized pollen-feeding habits of the adults that contrasts with the larvae's carnivorous lifestyle, the symbionts may provision limiting essential amino acids or vitamins as in other intracellular symbioses, or they might produce digestive enzymes that break up the fastidious pollen walls and thereby contribute to the host's nutrition. In either case, the presence of gamma-proteobacterial symbionts in pollen-feeding beetles indicates that intracellular mutualists are more widely distributed across insects with diverse feeding habits than previously recognized.}, } @article {pmid27713481, year = {2016}, author = {Goldberg, T and Rost, B and Bromberg, Y}, title = {Computational prediction shines light on type III secretion origins.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {34516}, pmid = {27713481}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {U01 GM115486/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Genome, Bacterial ; Proteomics ; Type III Secretion Systems/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Type III secretion system is a key bacterial symbiosis and pathogenicity mechanism responsible for a variety of infectious diseases, ranging from food-borne illnesses to the bubonic plague. In many Gram-negative bacteria, the type III secretion system transports effector proteins into host cells, converting resources to bacterial advantage. Here we introduce a computational method that identifies type III effectors by combining homology-based inference with de novo predictions, reaching up to 3-fold higher performance than existing tools. Our work reveals that signals for recognition and transport of effectors are distributed over the entire protein sequence instead of being confined to the N-terminus, as was previously thought. Our scan of hundreds of prokaryotic genomes identified previously unknown effectors, suggesting that type III secretion may have evolved prior to the archaea/bacteria split. Crucially, our method performs well for short sequence fragments, facilitating evaluation of microbial communities and rapid identification of bacterial pathogenicity - no genome assembly required. pEffect and its data sets are available at http://services.bromberglab.org/peffect.}, } @article {pmid27712871, year = {2017}, author = {Cruz-Paredes, C and López-García, Á and Rubæk, GH and Hovmand, MF and Sørensen, P and Kjøller, R}, title = {Risk assessment of replacing conventional P fertilizers with biomass ash: Residual effects on plant yield, nutrition, cadmium accumulation and mycorrhizal status.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {575}, number = {}, pages = {1168-1176}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.194}, pmid = {27712871}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {*Biomass ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; *Fertilizers ; Hordeum/*growth & development/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Risk Assessment ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Reutilizing biomass ashes in agriculture can substitute inputs of P from finite primary sources. However, recycling of ashes is disputed due to their content of toxic substances such as heavy metals. This study evaluates the potential risk of replacing easily soluble inorganic P fertilizer with P in biomass ashes in a barley crop grown on soil with adequate P status. Two contrasting doses of three different types of ashes were applied to an agricultural field with spring barley and compared to similar doses of triple-superphosphate fertilizer. In the second growing season after biomass ash application, grain, straw and root dry matter yield, and P and Cd uptake were determined. Resin-extractable P was measured in soil and the symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal activity, colonization, and community composition were assessed. Crop yield was not affected by ash application, while P-uptake and mycorrhizal status were slightly enhanced with high ash applications. Changes to the mycorrhizal community composition were evident with high ash doses. Cadmium uptake in aboveground plant tissue was unaffected by ash treatments, but increased in roots with increasing doses. Consequently, we conclude that fertilization with biomass ashes can replace conventional fertilizers without risk to barley crops in the short term.}, } @article {pmid27712144, year = {2016}, author = {Gao, M and Nguyen, H and Salas González, I and Teplitski, M}, title = {Regulation of fixLJ by Hfq Controls Symbiotically Important Genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {844-853}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-16-0182-R}, pmid = {27712144}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {2015-67013-22837//USDA/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hemeproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Histidine Kinase ; Host Factor 1 Protein/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Operon/genetics ; Phenotype ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The RNA-binding chaperone Hfq plays critical roles in the establishment and functionality of the symbiosis between Sinorhizobium meliloti and its legume hosts. A mutation in hfq reduces symbiotic efficiency resulting in a Fix[-] phenotype, characterized by the inability of the bacterium to fix nitrogen. At least in part, this is due to the ability of Hfq to regulate the fixLJ operon, which encodes a sensor kinase-response regulator pair that controls expression of the nitrogenase genes. The ability of Hfq to bind fixLJ in vitro and in planta was demonstrated with gel shift and coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Two (ARN)2 motifs in the fixLJ message were the likely sites through which Hfq exerted its posttranscriptional control. Consistent with the regulatory effects of Hfq, downstream genes controlled by FixLJ (such as nifK, noeB) were also subject to Hfq regulation in planta.}, } @article {pmid27708657, year = {2016}, author = {Wangpraseurt, D and Jacques, SL and Petrie, T and Kühl, M}, title = {Monte Carlo Modeling of Photon Propagation Reveals Highly Scattering Coral Tissue.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1404}, pmid = {27708657}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Corals are very efficient at using solar radiation, with photosynthetic quantum efficiencies approaching theoretical limits. Here, we investigated potential mechanisms underlying such outstanding photosynthetic performance through extracting inherent optical properties of the living coral tissue and skeleton in a massive faviid coral. Using Monte Carlo simulations developed for medical tissue optics it is shown that for the investigated faviid coral, the coral tissue was a strongly light scattering matrix with a reduced scattering coefficient of μs' = 10 cm[-1] (at 636 nm). In contrast, the scattering coefficient of the coral skeleton was μs' = 3.4 cm[-1], which facilitated the efficient propagation of light to otherwise shaded coral tissue layers, thus supporting photosynthesis in lower tissues. Our study provides a quantification of coral tissue optical properties in a massive faviid coral and suggests a novel light harvesting strategy, where tissue and skeletal optics act in concert to optimize the illumination of the photosynthesizing algal symbionts embedded within the living coral tissue.}, } @article {pmid27708652, year = {2016}, author = {Jiao, J and Ma, Y and Chen, S and Liu, C and Song, Y and Qin, Y and Yuan, C and Liu, Y}, title = {Melatonin-Producing Endophytic Bacteria from Grapevine Roots Promote the Abiotic Stress-Induced Production of Endogenous Melatonin in Their Hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1387}, pmid = {27708652}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Endophytes form symbiotic relationships with plants and constitute an important source of phytohormones and bioactive secondary metabolites for their hosts. To date, most studies of endophytes have focused on the influence of these microorganisms on plant growth and physiology and their role in plant defenses against biotic and abiotic stressors; however, to the best of our knowledge, the ability of endophytes to produce melatonin has not been reported. In the present study, we isolated and identified root-dwelling bacteria from three grapevine varieties and found that, when cultured under laboratory conditions, some of the bacteria strains secreted melatonin and tryptophan-ethyl ester. The endophytic bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SB-9 exhibited the highest level of in vitro melatonin secretion and also produced three intermediates of the melatonin biosynthesis pathway: 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, and N-acetylserotonin. After B. amyloliquefaciens SB-9 colonization, the plantlets exhibited increased plant growth. Additionally, we found that, in grapevine plantlets exposed to salt or drought stress, colonization by B. amyloliquefaciens SB-9 increased the upregulation of melatonin synthesis, as well as that of its intermediates, but reduced the upregulation of grapevine tryptophan decarboxylase genes (VvTDCs) and a serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene (VvSNAT) transcription, when compared to the un-inoculated control. Colonization by B. amyloliquefaciens SB-9 was also able to counteract the adverse effects of salt- and drought-induced stress by reducing the production of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2[-]) in roots. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the occurrence of melatonin biosynthesis in endophytic bacteria and provide evidence for a novel form of communication between beneficial endophytes and host plants via melatonin.}, } @article {pmid27706878, year = {2017}, author = {Borrott, N and Kinney, S and Newall, F and Williams, A and Cranswick, N and Wong, I and Manias, E}, title = {Medication communication between nurses and doctors for paediatric acute care: An ethnographic study.}, journal = {Journal of clinical nursing}, volume = {26}, number = {13-14}, pages = {1978-1992}, doi = {10.1111/jocn.13606}, pmid = {27706878}, issn = {1365-2702}, mesh = {*Communication ; Critical Care/psychology ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Medical Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; Medication Errors/prevention & control ; *Medication Therapy Management ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; *Physician-Nurse Relations ; Qualitative Research ; }, abstract = {AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine how communication between nurses and doctors occurred for managing medications in inpatient paediatric settings.

BACKGROUND: Communication between health professionals influences medication incidents' occurrence and safe care.

DESIGN: An ethnographic study was undertaken.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews, observations and focus groups were conducted in three clinical areas of an Australian tertiary paediatric hospital. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using the Medication Communication Model.

RESULTS: The actual communication act revealed health professionals' commitment to effective medication management and the influence of professional identities on medication communication. Nurses and doctors were dedicated to providing safe, effective medication therapy for children, within their scope of practice and perceived role responsibilities. Most nurses and junior doctors used tentative language in their communication while senior doctors tended to use direct language. Irrespective of language style, nurses actively engaged with doctors to promote patients' needs. Yet, the medical hierarchical structure, staffing and attendant expectations influenced communication for medication management, causing frustration among nurses and doctors. Doctors' lack of verbal communication of documented changes to medication orders particularly troubled nurses. Nurses persisted in their efforts to acquire appropriate orders for safe medication administration to paediatric patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Collaborative practice between nurses and doctors involved complex, symbiotic relationships. Their dedication to providing safe medication therapy to paediatric patients facilitated effective medication management. At times, shortcomings in interdisciplinary communication impacted on potential and actual medication incidents.

Understanding of the complexities affecting medication communication between nurses and doctors helps to ensure interprofessional respect for each other's roles and inherent demands. Interdisciplinary education delivered in healthcare organisations would facilitate greater clarity in communication related to medications. Encouraging the use of concise, clear words in communication would help to promote improved understanding between parties, and accuracy and efficacy of medication management.}, } @article {pmid27706380, year = {2016}, author = {Penha, LL and Hoffmann, L and Souza, SS and Martins, AC and Bottaro, T and Prosdocimi, F and Faffe, DS and Motta, MC and Ürményi, TP and Silva, R}, title = {Symbiont modulates expression of specific gene categories in Angomonas deanei.}, journal = {Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz}, volume = {111}, number = {11}, pages = {686-691}, pmid = {27706380}, issn = {1678-8060}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/*physiology ; *Gene Ontology ; Genes, Protozoan ; Genome, Protozoan ; Genomics ; Humans ; RNA, Protozoan/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; Trypanosomatina/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Trypanosomatids are parasites that cause disease in humans, animals, and plants. Most are non-pathogenic and some harbor a symbiotic bacterium. Endosymbiosis is part of the evolutionary process of vital cell functions such as respiration and photosynthesis. Angomonas deanei is an example of a symbiont-containing trypanosomatid. In this paper, we sought to investigate how symbionts influence host cells by characterising and comparing the transcriptomes of the symbiont-containing A. deanei (wild type) and the symbiont-free aposymbiotic strains. The comparison revealed that the presence of the symbiont modulates several differentially expressed genes. Empirical analysis of differential gene expression showed that 216 of the 7625 modulated genes were significantly changed. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the largest categories of genes that downregulated in the absence of the symbiont were those involved in oxidation-reduction process, ATP hydrolysis coupled proton transport and glycolysis. In contrast, among the upregulated gene categories were those involved in proteolysis, microtubule-based movement, and cellular metabolic process. Our results provide valuable information for dissecting the mechanism of endosymbiosis in A. deanei.}, } @article {pmid27706126, year = {2017}, author = {Eberl, G}, title = {RORγt, a multitask nuclear receptor at mucosal surfaces.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {27-34}, pmid = {27706126}, issn = {1935-3456}, mesh = {Animals ; Cholesterol/metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Infections/*immunology ; Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; *Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {RORγt is a nuclear hormone receptor that has followed an exponential success carrier. Its modest origins as an orphan receptor cloned from human pancreas blossomed within 15 years into a critical regulator of anti-microbial immunity and a major target in the fight against inflammatory pathologies. Here, I review its role as a transcription factor required for the generation of type 3 lymphoid cells, which induce the development of lymphoid tissues, provide resistance of epithelial stem cells to injury, maintain homeostasis with the symbiotic microbiota, orchestrate defense against extracellular microbes, and regulate allergic responses. RORγt is also an intriguing molecule that is regulated by the circadian rhythm and includes cholesterol metabolites as ligands. RORγt therefore links anti-microbial immunity with circadian rhythms and steroids, the logic of which remains to be understood.}, } @article {pmid27703457, year = {2016}, author = {Sidiq, T and Yoshihama, S and Downs, I and Kobayashi, KS}, title = {Nod2: A Critical Regulator of Ileal Microbiota and Crohn's Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {367}, pmid = {27703457}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The human intestinal tract harbors large bacterial community consisting of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic strains, which are constantly interacting with the intestinal immune system. This interaction elicits a non-pathological basal level of immune responses and contributes to shaping both the intestinal immune system and bacterial community. Recent studies on human microbiota are revealing the critical role of intestinal bacterial community in the pathogenesis of both systemic and intestinal diseases, including Crohn's disease (CD). NOD2 plays a key role in the regulation of microbiota in the small intestine. NOD2 is highly expressed in ileal Paneth cells that provide critical mechanism for the regulation of ileal microbiota through the secretion of anti-bacterial compounds. Genome mapping of CD patients revealed that loss of function mutations in NOD2 are associated with ileal CD. Genome-wide association studies further demonstrated that NOD2 is one of the most critical genetic factor linked to ileal CD. The bacterial community in the ileum is indeed dysregulated in Nod2-deficient mice. Nod2-deficient ileal epithelia exhibit impaired ability of killing bacteria. Thus, altered interactions between ileal microbiota and mucosal immunity through NOD2 mutations play significant roles in the disease susceptibility and pathogenesis in CD patients, thereby depicting NOD2 as a critical regulator of ileal microbiota and CD.}, } @article {pmid27703235, year = {2016}, author = {Ma, X and Driben, R and Malomed, BA and Meier, T and Schumacher, S}, title = {Two-dimensional symbiotic solitons and vortices in binary condensates with attractive cross-species interaction.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {34847}, pmid = {27703235}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Computer Simulation ; Models, Theoretical ; *Symbiosis ; Weightlessness Simulation ; }, abstract = {We consider a two-dimensional (2D) two-component spinor system with cubic attraction between the components and intra-species self-repulsion, which may be realized in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, as well as in a quasi-equilibrium condensate of microcavity polaritons. Including a 2D spatially periodic potential, which is necessary for the stabilization of the system against the critical collapse, we use detailed numerical calculations and an analytical variational approximation (VA) to predict the existence and stability of several types of 2D symbiotic solitons in the spinor system. Stability ranges are found for symmetric and asymmetric symbiotic fundamental solitons and vortices, including hidden-vorticity (HV) modes, with opposite vorticities in the two components. The VA produces exceptionally accurate predictions for the fundamental solitons and vortices. The fundamental solitons, both symmetric and asymmetric ones, are completely stable, in either case when they exist as gap solitons or regular ones. The symmetric and asymmetric vortices are stable if the inter-component attraction is stronger than the intra-species repulsion, while the HV modes have their stability region in the opposite case.}, } @article {pmid27703209, year = {2016}, author = {Chen, F and Ren, CG and Zhou, T and Wei, YJ and Dai, CC}, title = {A novel exopolysaccharide elicitor from endophytic fungus Gilmaniella sp. AL12 on volatile oils accumulation in Atractylodes lancea.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {34735}, pmid = {27703209}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Atractylodes/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Fungal Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Oils, Volatile/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Endophytes and plants can establish specific long-term symbiosis through the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Previous studies have shown that the endophytic fungus Gilmaniella sp. AL12 can stimulate Atractylodes lancea to produce volatile oils. The purpose of this report is to investigate key factors involved in the stimulation of A. lancea by AL12 and reveal the mechanism. We identified the active component from AL12 as an extracellular mannan with a polymerization degree of 26-42. Differential membrane proteomics of A. lancea was performed by 2D electrophoresis. The results showed that there were significant differences in the expression of 83 proteins. Based on these results, we conclude that AL12 secreted mannan contributes to the antagonistic balance seen in interactions between AL12 and A. lancea. One portion of the mannan was degraded to mannose for hexokinase activation, promoting photosynthesis and energy metabolism, with a potential metabolic fluxes flowing towards terpenoid biosynthesis. The other portion of the mannan directly enhanced autoimmunity of A. lancea through G protein-mediated signal transduction and the mannan-binding lectin pathway. Volatile oil accumulation was ultimately promoted in subsequent defense reactions. This study provides a new perspective on the regulation of secondary metabolites by endophytic fungal elicitors in medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid27703075, year = {2016}, author = {Kikuchi, Y and Tada, A and Musolin, DL and Hari, N and Hosokawa, T and Fujisaki, K and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Collapse of Insect Gut Symbiosis under Simulated Climate Change.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27703075}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Climate Change ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*radiation effects ; Heteroptera/growth & development/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; Models, Theoretical ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Global warming impacts diverse organisms not only directly but also indirectly via other organisms with which they interact. Recently, the possibility that elevated temperatures resulting from global warming may substantially affect biodiversity through disrupting mutualistic/parasitic associations has been highlighted. Here we report an experimental demonstration that global warming can affect a pest insect via suppression of its obligate bacterial symbiont. The southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula depends on a specific gut bacterium for its normal growth and survival. When the insects were reared inside or outside a simulated warming incubator wherein temperature was controlled at 2.5°C higher than outside, the insects reared in the incubator exhibited severe fitness defects (i.e., retarded growth, reduced size, yellowish body color, etc.) and significant reduction of symbiont population, particularly in the midsummer season, whereas the insects reared outside did not. Rearing at 30°C or 32.5°C resulted in similar defective phenotypes of the insects, whereas no adult insects emerged at 35°C. Notably, experimental symbiont suppression by an antibiotic treatment also induced similar defective phenotypes of the insects, indicating that the host's defective phenotypes are attributable not to the heat stress itself but to the suppression of the symbiont population induced by elevated temperature. These results strongly suggest that high temperature in the midsummer season negatively affects the insects not directly but indirectly via the heat-vulnerable obligate bacterial symbiont, which highlights the practical relevance of mutualism collapse in this warming world.

IMPORTANCE: Climate change is among the biggest environmental issues in the contemporary world, and its impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem is not only of scientific interest but also of practical concern for the general public. On the basis of our laboratory data obtained under strictly controlled environmental conditions and our simulated warming data obtained in seminatural settings (elevated 2.5°C above the normal temperature), we demonstrate here that Nezara viridula, the notorious stinkbug pest, suffers serious fitness defects in the summer season under the simulated warming conditions, wherein high temperature acts on the insect not directly but indirectly via suppression of its obligate gut bacterium. Our finding highlights that heat-susceptible symbionts can be the "Achilles' heel" of symbiont-dependent organisms under climate change conditions.}, } @article {pmid27702995, year = {2016}, author = {Mitra, S and Mukherjee, A and Wiley-Kalil, A and Das, S and Owen, H and Reddy, PM and Ané, JM and James, EK and Gyaneshwar, P}, title = {A rhamnose-deficient lipopolysaccharide mutant of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 is defective in root colonization and beneficial interactions with its flooding-tolerant hosts Sesbania cannabina and wetland rice.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {19}, pages = {5869-5884}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw354}, pmid = {27702995}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Lipopolysaccharides/*genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oryza/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Rhamnose/*deficiency ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Sesbania/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 develops a classical nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the aquatic legume Sesbania cannabina (Retz.). It also promotes the growth of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.), but little is known about the rhizobial determinants important for these interactions. In this study, we analyzed the colonization of S. cannabina and rice using a strain of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 dually marked with β-glucuronidase and the green fluorescent protein. This bacterium colonized S. cannabina by crack entry and through root hair infection under flooded and non-flooded conditions, respectively. Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 colonized the surfaces of wetland rice roots, but also entered them at the base of lateral roots. It became endophytically established within intercellular spaces in the rice cortex, and intracellularly within epidermal and hypodermal cells. A mutant of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 altered in the synthesis of the rhamnose-containing O-antigen exhibited significant defects, not only in nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation with S. cannabina, but also in rice colonization and plant growth promotion. Supplementation with purified lipopolysaccharides from the wild-type strain, but not from the mutant, restored the beneficial colonization of rice roots, but not fully effective nodulation of S. cannabina Commonalities and differences in the rhizobial colonization of the roots of wetland legume and rice hosts are discussed.}, } @article {pmid27701177, year = {2017}, author = {Kikuchi, M and Ueno, M and Itoh, Y and Suda, W and Hattori, M}, title = {Uremic Toxin-Producing Gut Microbiota in Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Nephron}, volume = {135}, number = {1}, pages = {51-60}, doi = {10.1159/000450619}, pmid = {27701177}, issn = {2235-3186}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification ; Clostridium/genetics/isolation & purification ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; Indican/biosynthesis ; Male ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*microbiology ; Sulfuric Acid Esters/metabolism ; Toxins, Biological/*biosynthesis/urine ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), many metabolites of gut microbiota retain in the body as uremic toxins (UTs). However, the kinds of bacteria producing UTs are rarely discussed.

METHODS: We analyzed UT production and the composition of gut microbiota in CKD rats and cecectomized rats. AST-120, a spherical carbon adsorbent, was administrated to evaluate how the precursors of UT affect gut microbiota. Serum and urine levels of UTs were quantified by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Gut microbiota were analyzed using 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) clustering and UniFrac analysis were performed to compare gut microbiota among the groups.

RESULTS: Serum and urine levels of indoxyl sulfate and phenyl sulfate were higher in CKD versus control rats (p < 0.05). AST-120 administration decreased UT production (p < 0.01) and changed overall gut microbiota composition in CKD rats. UT urinary excretion and gut microbiota composition changed in cecectomized rats, with the relative abundance of Clostridia- and Bacteroidia-affiliated species being significantly reduced (p < 0.01). We identified candidate indole- and phenol-producing intestinal microbiota, 3 Clostridia, and 2 Bacteroidia. These OTUs have a tryptophanase/tyrosine phenol-lyase gene in the closest sequenced genome out of the OTUs declined following cecectomy.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that UT production is correlated with a subset of indigenous gut microbiota. However, UT may be induced by other non-symbiotic microbiota that are influenced by factors other than microbiota populations. The relationship between specific microbiota and UTs in patients requires further clarification.}, } @article {pmid27698618, year = {2016}, author = {Parker, MT}, title = {An Ecological Framework of the Human Virome Provides Classification of Current Knowledge and Identifies Areas of Forthcoming Discovery.}, journal = {The Yale journal of biology and medicine}, volume = {89}, number = {3}, pages = {339-351}, pmid = {27698618}, issn = {1551-4056}, mesh = {Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Humans ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Virology ; Viruses/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent advances in sequencing technologies have opened the door for the classification of the human virome. While taxonomic classification can be applied to the viruses identified in such studies, this gives no information as to the type of interaction the virus has with the host. As follow-up studies are performed to address these questions, the description of these virus-host interactions would be greatly enriched by applying a standard set of definitions that typify them. This paper describes a framework with which all members of the human virome can be classified based on principles of ecology. The scaffold not only enables categorization of the human virome, but can also inform research aimed at identifying novel virus-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid27698613, year = {2016}, author = {Jones, RM}, title = {The Influence of the Gut Microbiota on Host Physiology: In Pursuit of Mechanisms.}, journal = {The Yale journal of biology and medicine}, volume = {89}, number = {3}, pages = {285-297}, pmid = {27698613}, issn = {1551-4056}, support = {R01 DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Probiotics/metabolism ; Stem Cells/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The results generated from the NIH funded Human Microbiome Project (HMP) are necessarily tied to the overall mission of the agency, which is to foster scientific discoveries as a basis for protecting and improving health. The investment in the HMP phase 1 accomplished many of its goals including the preliminary characterization of the human microbiome and the identification of links between microbiome diversity and disease states. Going forward, the next step in these studies must involve the identification of the functional molecular elements that mediate the positive influence of a eubiotic microbiome on health and disease. This review will focus on recent advances describing mechanistic events in the intestine elicited by the microbiome. These include symbiotic bacteria-induced activation of redox-dependent cell signaling, the bacterial production of short chain fatty acids and ensuing cellular responses, and the secretion of bacteriocins by bacteria that have anti-microbial activities against potential pathogens.}, } @article {pmid27698253, year = {2016}, author = {Nanjareddy, K and Blanco, L and Arthikala, MK and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Quinto, C and Sánchez, F and Lara, M}, title = {A Legume TOR Protein Kinase Regulates Rhizobium Symbiosis and Is Essential for Infection and Nodule Development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {172}, number = {3}, pages = {2002-2020}, pmid = {27698253}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Autophagy/genetics ; Cell Wall/genetics ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Phagosomes/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA Interference ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/*metabolism ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase regulates metabolism, growth, and life span in yeast, animals, and plants in coordination with nutrient status and environmental conditions. The nutrient-dependent nature of TOR functionality makes this kinase a putative regulator of symbiotic associations involving nutrient acquisition. However, TOR's role in these processes remains to be understood. Here, we uncovered the role of TOR during the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)-Rhizobium tropici (Rhizobium) symbiotic interaction. TOR was expressed in all tested bean tissues, with higher transcript levels in the root meristems and senesced nodules. We showed TOR promoter expression along the progressing infection thread and in the infected cells of mature nodules. Posttranscriptional gene silencing of TOR using RNA interference (RNAi) showed that this gene is involved in lateral root elongation and root cell organization and also alters the density, size, and number of root hairs. The suppression of TOR transcripts also affected infection thread progression and associated cortical cell divisions, resulting in a drastic reduction of nodule numbers. TOR-RNAi resulted in reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation and altered CyclinD1 and CyclinD3 expression, which are crucial factors for infection thread progression and nodule organogenesis. Enhanced expression of TOR-regulated ATG genes in TOR-RNAi roots suggested that TOR plays a role in the recognition of Rhizobium as a symbiont. Together, these data suggest that TOR plays a vital role in the establishment of root nodule symbiosis in the common bean.}, } @article {pmid27695462, year = {2016}, author = {Wahbi, S and Prin, Y and Thioulouse, J and Sanguin, H and Baudoin, E and Maghraoui, T and Oufdou, K and Le Roux, C and Galiana, A and Hafidi, M and Duponnois, R}, title = {Impact of Wheat/Faba Bean Mixed Cropping or Rotation Systems on Soil Microbial Functionalities.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1364}, pmid = {27695462}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cropping systems based on carefully designed species mixtures reveal many potential advantages in terms of enhancing crop productivity, reducing pest and diseases, and enhancing ecological services. Associating cereals and legume production either through intercropping or rotations might be a relevant strategy of producing both type of culture, while benefiting from combined nitrogen fixed by the legume through its symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and from a better use of P and water through mycorrhizal associations. These practices also participate to the diversification of agricultural productions, enabling to secure the regularity of income returns across the seasonal and climatic uncertainties. In this context, we designed a field experiment aiming to estimate the 2 years impact of these practices on wheat yield and on soil microbial activities as estimated through Substrate Induced Respiration method and mycorrhizal soil infectivity (MSI) measurement. It is expected that understanding soil microbial functionalities in response to these agricultural practices might allows to target the best type of combination, in regard to crop productivity. We found that the tested cropping systems largely impacted soil microbial functionalities and MSI. Intercropping gave better results in terms of crop productivity than the rotation practice after two cropping seasons. Benefits resulting from intercrop should be highly linked with changes recorded on soil microbial functionalities.}, } @article {pmid27694238, year = {2016}, author = {Gordon, ER and McFrederick, Q and Weirauch, C}, title = {Phylogenetic Evidence for Ancient and Persistent Environmental Symbiont Reacquisition in Largidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {24}, pages = {7123-7133}, pmid = {27694238}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The insect order Hemiptera, one of the best-studied insect lineages with respect to bacterial symbioses, still contains major branches that lack comprehensive characterization of associated bacterial symbionts. The Pyrrhocoroidea (Largidae [220 species] and Pyrrhocoridae [∼300 species]) is a clade of the hemipteran infraorder Pentatomomorpha. Studies on bacterial symbionts of this group have focused on members of Pyrrhocoridae, but recent examination of species of two genera of Largidae demonstrated divergent symbiotic complexes in these putative sister families. We surveyed the associated bacterial diversity of this group using paired-end Illumina sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA amplicons of 30 pyrrhocoroid taxa, including 17 species of Largidae, in order to determine bacterial associates and the similarity of associated microbial communities among species. We also used molecular data (4,800 bp in 5 loci, for 57 ingroup and 12 outgroup taxa) to infer a phylogeny of the host superfamily, in order to trace the evolution of symbiotic complexes among Pentatomomorpha species. We undertook multiple lines of investigation (i.e., experimental rearing, fluorescence in situ hybridization microscopy, and phylogenetic and coevolutionary analyses) to elucidate potential transmission routes for largid symbionts. We found a prevalent and specific association of Largidae with Burkholderia strains of the plant-associated beneficial and environmental clade, housed in midgut tubules. As in other distantly related Heteroptera, symbiotic bacteria seem to be acquired from the environment every generation. We review the current understanding of symbiotic complexes within Pentatomomorpha and discuss means to further investigate the evolution and function of these symbioses.

IMPORTANCE: Obligate symbioses with bacteria are common in insects, particularly Hemiptera, in which various forms of symbiosis occur. However, knowledge regarding symbionts remains incomplete for major hemipteran lineages. Thus, an accurate understanding of how these partnerships evolved and changed over millions of years is not yet achievable. We contribute to our understanding of the evolution of symbiotic complexes in Hemiptera by characterizing bacterial associates of Pyrrhocoroidea, focusing on the family Largidae. Members of Largidae are associated with specific symbiotic Burkholderia strains from a different clade than Burkholderia symbionts in other Burkholderia-associated Hemiptera. Evidence suggests that species of Largidae reacquire specific symbiotic bacteria from the environment every generation, which is a rare strategy for insects, with potentially volatile evolutionary ramifications, but one that must have persisted in Largidae and related lineages since their origin in the Cretaceous Period.}, } @article {pmid27692163, year = {2016}, author = {Valero-Monroy, O and Garcia-Cervantes, G and Marquez-Corrales, LF and Leija-Montoya, AG and Sandoval-Basilio, J and Martinez-Coronilla, G and Isiordia-Espinoza, MA and Serafin-Higuera, N}, title = {Myeloid derived suppressor cell: A new player in periodontal disease?.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {95}, number = {}, pages = {35-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2016.08.010}, pmid = {27692163}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Disease Progression ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; Microbial Consortia ; Models, Theoretical ; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Osteoclasts/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Periodontal Diseases/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stem Cells/cytology ; Tooth/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Periodontal disease can be initiated by a shift from a symbiotic to a dysbiotic microbial community. An increase in the recruitment of leukocytes and production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and oxidative stress are generated by this shift. In periodontitis, an exacerbated, poorly specific and effective inflammatory response is mounted. Moreover, failure in the inflammation resolving mechanism leads to establishment of a chronic inflammatory process, resulting in the progressive destruction of bone and soft tissue. In different diseases presenting chronic inflammation some important players of immune response are defectives. Thus, an immunosuppressive environment could be induced during chronic inflammation. Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC), a heterogenic group of immature myeloid cells with potent immune suppressive activity, are increased in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Dysbiosis-mediated inflammation can induce increased frequency of MDSC. In addition, mediators generated in diverse inflammatory diseases have demonstrated to promote expansion, activation and recruitment of MDSC, similar mediators have been described in periodontal disease. MDSC promote generation of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, MDSC can differentiate in functional osteoclasts. We hypothesize that MDSC are generated during periodontal disease. Review of literature evaluating this hypothesis and possible implications are assed in this work. It encourages the study of MDSC in this common disease.}, } @article {pmid27690269, year = {2016}, author = {McIlroy, SE and Gillette, P and Cunning, R and Klueter, A and Capo, T and Baker, AC and Coffroth, MA}, title = {The effects of Symbiodinium (Pyrrhophyta) identity on growth, survivorship, and thermal tolerance of newly settled coral recruits.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {52}, number = {6}, pages = {1114-1124}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12471}, pmid = {27690269}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Florida ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; *Thermotolerance ; }, abstract = {For many coral species, the obligate association with phylogenetically diverse algal endosymbiont species is dynamic in time and space. Here, we used controlled laboratory inoculations of newly settled, aposymbiotic corals (Orbicella faveolata) with two cultured species of algal symbiont (Symbiodinium microadriaticum and S. minutum) to examine the role of symbiont identity on growth, survivorship, and thermal tolerance of the coral holobiont. We evaluated these data in the context of Symbiodinium photophysiology for 9 months post-settlement and also during a 5-d period of elevated temperatures Our data show that recruits that were inoculated with S. minutum grew significantly slower than those inoculated with S. microadriaticum (occasionally co-occurring with S. minutum), but that there was no difference in survivorship of O. faveolata polyps infected with Symbiodinium. However, photophysiological metrics (∆Fv/F'm, the efficiency with which available light is used to drive photosynthesis and α, the maximum light utilization coefficient) were higher in those slower growing recruits containing S. minutum. These findings suggest that light use (i.e., photophysiology) and carbon acquisition by the coral host (i.e., host growth) are decoupled, but did not distinguish the source of this difference. Neither Symbiodinium treatment demonstrated a significant negative effect of a 5-d exposure to temperatures as high as 32°C under low light conditions similar to those measured at settlement habitats.}, } @article {pmid27688961, year = {2016}, author = {Wada, N and Pollock, FJ and Willis, BL and Ainsworth, T and Mano, N and Bourne, DG}, title = {In situ visualization of bacterial populations in coral tissues: pitfalls and solutions.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2424}, pmid = {27688961}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {In situ visualization of microbial communities within their natural habitats provides a powerful approach to explore complex interactions between microorganisms and their macroscopic hosts. Specifically, the application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to simultaneously identify and visualize diverse microbial taxa associated with coral hosts, including symbiotic algae (Symbiodinium), Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi and protists, could help untangle the structure and function of these diverse taxa within the coral holobiont. However, the application of FISH approaches to coral samples is constrained by non-specific binding of targeted rRNA probes to cellular structures within the coral animal tissues (including nematocysts, spirocysts, granular gland cells within the gastrodermis and cnidoglandular bands of mesenterial filaments). This issue, combined with high auto-fluorescence of both host tissues and endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium), make FISH approaches for analyses of coral tissues challenging. Here we outline the major pitfalls associated with applying FISH to coral samples and describe approaches to overcome these challenges.}, } @article {pmid27688206, year = {2016}, author = {Xie, X and Lin, H and Peng, X and Xu, C and Sun, Z and Jiang, K and Huang, A and Wu, X and Tang, N and Salvioli, A and Bonfante, P and Zhao, B}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Requires a Phosphate Transceptor in the Gigaspora margarita Fungal Symbiont.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {1583-1608}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2016.08.011}, pmid = {27688206}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*metabolism/*physiology ; Hyphae/metabolism/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The majority of terrestrial vascular plants are capable of forming mutualistic associations with obligate biotrophic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota. This mutualistic symbiosis provides carbohydrates to the fungus, and reciprocally improves plant phosphate uptake. AM fungal transporters can acquire phosphate from the soil through the hyphal networks. Nevertheless, the precise functions of AM fungal phosphate transporters, and whether they act as sensors or as nutrient transporters, in fungal signal transduction remain unclear. Here, we report a high-affinity phosphate transporter GigmPT from Gigaspora margarita that is required for AM symbiosis. Host-induced gene silencing of GigmPT hampers the development of G. margarita during AM symbiosis. Most importantly, GigmPT functions as a phosphate transceptor in G. margarita regarding the activation of the phosphate signaling pathway as well as the protein kinase A signaling cascade. Using the substituted-cysteine accessibility method, we identified residues A[146] (in transmembrane domain [TMD] IV) and Val[357] (in TMD VIII) of GigmPT, both of which are critical for phosphate signaling and transport in yeast during growth induction. Collectively, our results provide significant insights into the molecular functions of a phosphate transceptor from the AM fungus G. margarita.}, } @article {pmid27686068, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, X and Luo, Y and Li, Z and Wei, G}, title = {Functional analysis of PrkA - a putative serine protein kinase from Mesorhizobium alhagi CCNWXJ12-2 - in stress resistance.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {227}, pmid = {27686068}, issn = {1471-2180}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Serine/threonine protein kinases are highly conserved kinases with a wide distribution in microbes and with multiple functions. Mesorhizobium alhagi CCNWXJ12-2, a α-proteobacterium which could be able to form symbiosis with Alhagi sparsifolia in northwest of China, contains a putative PrkA-family serine protein kinase, PrkA. In our previous study, the expression of prkA was found to be downregulated in high-salt conditions. To elucidate the function of M. alhagi PrkA, a prkA deletion mutant was constructed and the phenotypes of the mutant were analyzed.

RESULTS: The salt and alkaline tolerance and antioxidant capacity of the wild-type strain and the prkA deletion mutant was measured. Our results showed that the deletion mutant had higher salt and alkaline tolerance than the wild-type strain. The total cellular Na[+] content was measured and showed no significant difference between the wild-type strain and the mutant. The prkA deletion mutant also showed a higher H2O2 tolerance than the wild-type strain. Therefore the activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured. Catalase activity was similar in the wild-type and the deletion mutant, while the superoxide dismutase activity in the mutant was higher than that in the wild-type.

CONCLUSIONS: We firstly analyze the function of a serine protein kinase, PrkA, in M. alhagi. Our data indicate that PrkA could reduce the survival of M. alhagi under environmental stress and deletion of prkA dramatically improved the salt and alkaline tolerance and antioxidant capacity of M. alhagi.}, } @article {pmid27683216, year = {2016}, author = {Portail, M and Olu, K and Dubois, SF and Escobar-Briones, E and Gelinas, Y and Menot, L and Sarrazin, J}, title = {Food-Web Complexity in Guaymas Basin Hydrothermal Vents and Cold Seeps.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e0162263}, pmid = {27683216}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {In the Guaymas Basin, the presence of cold seeps and hydrothermal vents in close proximity, similar sedimentary settings and comparable depths offers a unique opportunity to assess and compare the functioning of these deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems. The food webs of five seep and four vent assemblages were studied using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses. Although the two ecosystems shared similar potential basal sources, their food webs differed: seeps relied predominantly on methanotrophy and thiotrophy via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle and vents on petroleum-derived organic matter and thiotrophy via the CBB and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycles. In contrast to symbiotic species, the heterotrophic fauna exhibited high trophic flexibility among assemblages, suggesting weak trophic links to the metabolic diversity of chemosynthetic primary producers. At both ecosystems, food webs did not appear to be organised through predator-prey links but rather through weak trophic relationships among co-occurring species. Examples of trophic or spatial niche differentiation highlighted the importance of species-sorting processes within chemosynthetic ecosystems. Variability in food web structure, addressed through Bayesian metrics, revealed consistent trends across ecosystems. Food-web complexity significantly decreased with increasing methane concentrations, a common proxy for the intensity of seep and vent fluid fluxes. Although high fluid-fluxes have the potential to enhance primary productivity, they generate environmental constraints that may limit microbial diversity, colonisation of consumers and the structuring role of competitive interactions, leading to an overall reduction of food-web complexity and an increase in trophic redundancy. Heterogeneity provided by foundation species was identified as an additional structuring factor. According to their biological activities, foundation species may have the potential to partly release the competitive pressure within communities of low fluid-flux habitats. Finally, ecosystem functioning in vents and seeps was highly similar despite environmental differences (e.g. physico-chemistry, dominant basal sources) suggesting that ecological niches are not specifically linked to the nature of fluids. This comparison of seep and vent functioning in the Guaymas basin thus provides further supports to the hypothesis of continuity among deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid27682803, year = {2016}, author = {Huang, CT and Liu, CT and Chen, SJ and Kao, WY}, title = {Phylogenetic Identification, Phenotypic Variations, and Symbiotic Characteristics of the Peculiar Rhizobium, Strain CzR2, Isolated from Crotalaria zanzibarica in Taiwan.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {410-417}, pmid = {27682803}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Crotalaria/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Essential ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Crotalaria zanzibarica is an exotic and widely distributed leguminous plant in Taiwan. The relationship between C. zanzibarica and its rhizobial symbionts has been suggested to contribute to its successful invasion. A rhizobial strain (designed as CzR2) isolated from the root nodules of C. zanzibarica and cultivated in standard YEM medium displayed pleomorphism, with cells ranging between 2 and 10 μm in length and some branching. In the present study, we identified this rhizobial strain, investigated the causes of pleomorphism, and examined the nodules formed. The results of a multilocus sequence analysis of the atpD, dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB genes revealed that CzR2 belongs to Bradyrhizobium arachidis, a peanut symbiont recently isolated from China. Cells of the strain were uniformly rod-shaped in basal HM medium, but displayed pleomorphism in the presence of yeast extract, mannitol, or fructose. These results indicate that the morphology of CzR2 in its free-living state is affected by nutrient conditions. Several highly pleomorphic bacteroids enclosed in symbiosomes were frequently detected in FM and TEM observations of sections of the indeterminate nodules induced by CzR2; however, no infection thread was identified. Flow cytometric analyses showed that CzR2 cells in YEM medium and in the nodules of C. zanzibarica had two or more than two peaks in relative DNA contents, respectively, suggesting that the elongated cells of CzR2 in its free-living state occur due to a cell cycle-delayed process, while those in its symbiotic state are from genomic endo-reduplication.}, } @article {pmid27682576, year = {2016}, author = {Kamagata, Y and Narihiro, T}, title = {Symbiosis Studies in Microbial Ecology.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {201-203}, pmid = {27682576}, issn = {1347-4405}, } @article {pmid27679620, year = {2016}, author = {Hoang, KL and Morran, LT and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Experimental Evolution as an Underutilized Tool for Studying Beneficial Animal-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1444}, pmid = {27679620}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microorganisms play a significant role in the evolution and functioning of the eukaryotes with which they interact. Much of our understanding of beneficial host-microbe interactions stems from studying already established associations; we often infer the genotypic and environmental conditions that led to the existing host-microbe relationships. However, several outstanding questions remain, including understanding how host and microbial (internal) traits, and ecological and evolutionary (external) processes, influence the origin of beneficial host-microbe associations. Experimental evolution has helped address a range of evolutionary and ecological questions across different model systems; however, it has been greatly underutilized as a tool to study beneficial host-microbe associations. In this review, we suggest ways in which experimental evolution can further our understanding of the proximate and ultimate mechanisms shaping mutualistic interactions between eukaryotic hosts and microbes. By tracking beneficial interactions under defined conditions or evolving novel associations among hosts and microbes with little prior evolutionary interaction, we can link specific genotypes to phenotypes that can be directly measured. Moreover, this approach will help address existing puzzles in beneficial symbiosis research: how symbioses evolve, how symbioses are maintained, and how both host and microbe influence their partner's evolutionary trajectories. By bridging theoretical predictions and empirical tests, experimental evolution provides us with another approach to test hypotheses regarding the evolution of beneficial host-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid27677801, year = {2017}, author = {Shebanova, A and Ismagulova, T and Solovchenko, A and Baulina, O and Lobakova, E and Ivanova, A and Moiseenko, A and Shaitan, K and Polshakov, V and Nedbal, L and Gorelova, O}, title = {Versatility of the green microalga cell vacuole function as revealed by analytical transmission electron microscopy.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {254}, number = {3}, pages = {1323-1340}, pmid = {27677801}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Cell Physiological Phenomena ; Chlorophyta/*metabolism/physiology ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; Inclusion Bodies/metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Microalgae/*metabolism/physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Vacuoles/*metabolism/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Vacuole is a multifunctional compartment central to a large number of functions (storage, catabolism, maintenance of the cell homeostasis) in oxygenic phototrophs including microalgae. Still, microalgal cell vacuole is much less studied than that of higher plants although knowledge of the vacuolar structure and function is essential for understanding physiology of nutrition and stress tolerance of microalgae. Here, we combined the advanced analytical and conventional transmission electron microscopy methods to obtain semi-quantitative, spatially resolved at the subcellular level information on elemental composition of the cell vacuoles in several free-living and symbiotic chlorophytes. We obtained a detailed record of the changes in cell and vacuolar ultrastructure in response to environmental stimuli under diverse conditions. We suggested that the vacuolar inclusions could be divided into responsible for storage of phosphorus (mainly in form of polyphosphate) and those accommodating non-protein nitrogen (presumably polyamine) reserves, respectively.The ultrastructural findings, together with the data on elemental composition of different cell compartments, allowed us to speculate on the role of the vacuolar membrane in the biosynthesis and sequestration of polyphosphate. We also describe the ultrastructural evidence of possible involvement of the tonoplast in the membrane lipid turnover and exchange of energy and metabolites between chloroplasts and mitochondria. These processes might play a significant role in acclimation in different stresses including nitrogen starvation and extremely high level of CO2 and might also be of importance for microalgal biotechnology. Advantages and limitations of application of analytical electron microscopy to biosamples such as microalgal cells are discussed.}, } @article {pmid27672151, year = {2016}, author = {Pédron, T and Nigro, G and Sansonetti, PJ}, title = {From homeostasis to pathology: decrypting microbe-host symbiotic signals in the intestinal crypt.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1707}, pages = {}, pmid = {27672151}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology/pathology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metagenomic analysis of the human intestinal microbiome has provided a wealth of information that allowed an exceptionally detailed description of its microbial content and physiological potential. It also set the basis for studies allowing correlation of alterations in the balance of this microbiota and the occurrence of a certain number of emerging diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity and diabetes, and possibly colorectal cancer. The time has come to give the intestinal microbiota in symbiosis with its host an experimental dimension. This brief review summarizes our attempt at developing a cellular microbiology of the mutualistic symbiosis established between the gut microbiota and the host intestinal surface. Particular attention is paid to the intestinal crypt, due to its role in epithelial regeneration.This article is part of the themed issue 'The new bacteriology'.}, } @article {pmid27670410, year = {2016}, author = {McGrane, A and Stewart, G}, title = {Hyperosmolality regulates UT-A6 urea transporter expression in the Caco-2 cell line.}, journal = {Physiological reports}, volume = {4}, number = {18}, pages = {}, pmid = {27670410}, issn = {2051-817X}, abstract = {Gastrointestinal facilitative urea transporters play a significant role in the urea nitrogen salvaging process, which supports the symbiotic relationship between mammals and their gut microbial populations. UT-A6 urea transporters have been previously reported in the human gastrointestinal tract, specifically in the colon. As renal UT-A transporters can be regulated by external osmolality, this study investigated whether UT-A6 expression could also be regulated in this manner. Initial end-point RT-PCR experiments confirmed UT-A6 expression along the human gastrointestinal tract (colon > small intestine ≫ stomach) and also in the Caco-2 intestinal cell line. Using Caco-2 cells exposed for 24 hours to changed external osmotic conditions (from 350 to 250, 500, or 600 mOsm), end-point PCR suggested UT-A6 expression increased in hyperosmotic conditions. Using quantitative PCR, it was confirmed that 24 h exposure to 600 mOsm stimulated a significant ~15-fold increase in UT-A6 expression (P < 0.001, N = 5, ANOVA). Finally, inhibitory experiments suggested that protein kinase C and calcium were involved in this hyperosmotic-stimulated regulatory pathway. In conclusion, these data demonstrated UT-A6 expression was indeed regulated by external osmolality. The physiological significance of this regulatory process upon gastrointestinal urea transport has yet to be determined.}, } @article {pmid27669453, year = {2016}, author = {Mousa, WK and Shearer, C and Limay-Rios, V and Ettinger, CL and Eisen, JA and Raizada, MN}, title = {Root-hair endophyte stacking in finger millet creates a physicochemical barrier to trap the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {16167}, doi = {10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.167}, pmid = {27669453}, issn = {2058-5276}, abstract = {The ancient African crop, finger millet, has broad resistance to pathogens including the toxigenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. Here, we report the discovery of a novel plant defence mechanism resulting from an unusual symbiosis between finger millet and a root-inhabiting bacterial endophyte, M6 (Enterobacter sp.). Seed-coated M6 swarms towards root-invading Fusarium and is associated with the growth of root hairs, which then bend parallel to the root axis, subsequently forming biofilm-mediated microcolonies, resulting in a remarkable, multilayer root-hair endophyte stack (RHESt). The RHESt results in a physical barrier that prevents entry and/or traps F. graminearum, which is then killed. M6 thus creates its own specialized killing microhabitat. Tn5-mutagenesis shows that M6 killing requires c-di-GMP-dependent signalling, diverse fungicides and resistance to a Fusarium-derived antibiotic. Further molecular evidence suggests long-term host-endophyte-pathogen co-evolution. The end result of this remarkable symbiosis is reduced deoxynivalenol mycotoxin, potentially benefiting millions of subsistence farmers and livestock. Further results suggest that the anti-Fusarium activity of M6 may be transferable to maize and wheat. RHESt demonstrates the value of exploring ancient, orphan crop microbiomes.}, } @article {pmid27668211, year = {2016}, author = {Miller, WB}, title = {The Eukaryotic Microbiome: Origins and Implications for Fetal and Neonatal Life.}, journal = {Frontiers in pediatrics}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {96}, pmid = {27668211}, issn = {2296-2360}, abstract = {All eukaryotic organisms are holobionts representing complex collaborations between the entire microbiome of each eukaryote and its innate cells. These linked constituencies form complex localized and interlocking ecologies in which the specific microbial constituents and their relative abundance differ substantially according to age and environmental exposures. Rapid advances in microbiology and genetic research techniques have uncovered a significant previous underestimate of the extent of that microbial contribution and its metabolic and developmental impact on holobionts. Therefore, a re-calibration of the neonatal period is suggested as a transitional phase in development that includes the acquisition of consequential collaborative microbial life from extensive environmental influences. These co-dependent, symbiotic relationships formed in the fetal and neonatal stages extend into adulthood and even across generations.}, } @article {pmid27667939, year = {2016}, author = {Goto, R and Ishikawa, H}, title = {Borniopsis mortoni sp. n. (Heterodonta, Galeommatoidea, Galeommatidaesensu lato), a new bivalve commensal with a synaptid sea cucumber from Japan.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {615}, pages = {33-45}, pmid = {27667939}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {The Galeommatoidea is a bivalve superfamily that exhibits high species diversity in shallow waters. Many members of this superfamily are associated commensally with burrowing marine invertebrates in benthic sediments. The genus Borniopsis is known only from eastern Asia and exhibits high host diversity (e.g., mantis shrimps, crabs, holothurians, sipunculans and echiurans). A new species, Borniopsis mortoni sp. n., is described from mud flats at the mouth of the Souzu River, southwestern Shikoku Island, Japan. This species has elongate-ovate shells covered by a tan to dark brown periostracum, and lives attached by both its foot and byssal threads to the body surface of the synaptid sea cucumber Patinapta ooplax. Several individuals of Borniopsis mortoni are often found on the same host, but sometimes more than 10 individuals can occur together. Borniopsis mortoni is one of the smallest species in this genus. Probably, its small body size is an adaptation to the mode of life in a narrow host burrow. Until now, only two other Borniopsis species were known to have commensal associations with synaptids. Thus, this is the third example of a synaptid-associated species from this genus. In addition, we briefly review the galeommatoideans commensal with apodid sea cucumbers.}, } @article {pmid27664739, year = {2016}, author = {Iyer, B and Rajput, MS and Jog, R and Joshi, E and Bharwad, K and Rajkumar, S}, title = {Organic acid mediated repression of sugar utilization in rhizobia.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {192}, number = {}, pages = {211-220}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2016.07.006}, pmid = {27664739}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Acids/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mutation ; Organic Chemicals/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are a class of symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria which utilize C4 acids in preference to sugars and the sugar utilization is repressed as long as C4 acids are present. This can be manifested as a diauxie when rhizobia are grown in the presence of a sugar and a C4 acid together. Succinate, a C4 acid is known to repress utilization of sugars, sugar alcohols, hydrocarbons, etc by a mechanism termed as Succinate Mediated Catabolite Repression (SMCR). Mechanism of catabolite repression determines the hierarchy of carbon source utilization in bacteria. Though the mechanism of catabolite repression has been well studied in model organisms like E. coli, B. subtilis and Pseudomonas sp., mechanism of SMCR in rhizobia has not been well elucidated. C4 acid uptake is important for effective symbioses while mutation in the sugar transport and utilization genes does not affect symbioses. Deletion of hpr and sma0113 resulted in the partial relief of SMCR of utilization of galactosides like lactose, raffinose and maltose in the presence of succinate. However, no such regulators governing SMCR of glucoside utilization have been identified till date. Though rhizobia can utilize multitude of sugars, high affinity transporters for many sugars are yet to be identified. Identifying high affinity sugar transporters and studying the mechanism of catabolite repression in rhizobia is important to understand the level of regulation of SMCR and the key regulators involved in SMCR.}, } @article {pmid27664091, year = {2016}, author = {Bamba, M and Nakata, S and Aoki, S and Takayama, K and Núñez-Farfán, J and Ito, M and Miya, M and Kajita, T}, title = {Wide distribution range of rhizobial symbionts associated with pantropical sea-dispersed legumes.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {109}, number = {12}, pages = {1605-1614}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-016-0761-y}, pmid = {27664091}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Typing ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Rhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Sinorhizobium/classification/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To understand the geographic distributions of rhizobia that associated with widely distributed wild legumes, 66 nodules obtained from 41 individuals including three sea-dispersed legumes (Vigna marina, Vigna luteola, and Canavalia rosea) distributed across the tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the world were studied. Partial sequences of 16S rRNA and nodC genes extracted from the nodules showed that only Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium were associated with the pantropical legumes, and some of the symbiont strains were widely distributed over the Pacific. Horizontal gene transfer of nodulation genes were observed within the Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium lineages. BLAST searches in GenBank also identified records of these strains from various legumes across the world, including crop species. However, one of the rhizobial strains was not found in GenBank, which implies the strain may have adapted to the littoral environment. Our results suggested that some rhizobia, which associate with the widespread sea-dispersed legume, distribute across a broad geographic range. By establishing symbiotic relationships with widely distributed rhizobia, the pantropical legumes may also be able to extend their range much further than other legume species.}, } @article {pmid27660670, year = {2016}, author = {Nováková, E and Hypša, V and Nguyen, P and Husník, F and Darby, AC}, title = {Genome sequence of Candidatus Arsenophonus lipopteni, the exclusive symbiont of a blood sucking fly Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {72}, pmid = {27660670}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Candidatus Arsenophonus lipopteni (Enterobacteriaceae, Gammaproteobacteria) is an obligate intracellular symbiont of the blood feeding deer ked, Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae). The bacteria reside in specialized cells derived from host gut epithelia (bacteriocytes) forming a compact symbiotic organ (bacteriome). Compared to the closely related complex symbiotic system in the sheep ked, involving four bacterial species, Lipoptena cervi appears to maintain its symbiosis exclusively with Ca. Arsenophonus lipopteni. The genome of 836,724 bp and 24.8 % GC content codes for 667 predicted functional genes and bears the common characteristics of sequence economization coupled with obligate host-dependent lifestyle, e.g. reduced number of RNA genes along with the rRNA operon split, and strongly reduced metabolic capacity. Particularly, biosynthetic capacity for B vitamins possibly supplementing the host diet is highly compromised in Ca. Arsenophonus lipopteni. The gene sets are complete only for riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6) and biotin (B7) implying the content of some B vitamins, e.g. thiamin, in the deer blood might be sufficient for the insect metabolic needs. The phylogenetic position within the spectrum of known Arsenophonus genomes and fundamental genomic features of Ca. Arsenophonus lipopteni indicate the obligate character of this symbiosis and its independent origin within Hippoboscidae.}, } @article {pmid27660622, year = {2016}, author = {Gromek, SM and Suria, AM and Fullmer, MS and Garcia, JL and Gogarten, JP and Nyholm, SV and Balunas, MJ}, title = {Leisingera sp. JC1, a Bacterial Isolate from Hawaiian Bobtail Squid Eggs, Produces Indigoidine and Differentially Inhibits Vibrios.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1342}, pmid = {27660622}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Female members of many cephalopod species house a bacterial consortium in the accessory nidamental gland (ANG), part of the reproductive system. These bacteria are deposited into eggs that are then laid in the environment where they must develop unprotected from predation, pathogens, and fouling. In this study, we characterized the genome and secondary metabolite production of Leisingera sp. JC1, a member of the roseobacter clade (Rhodobacteraceae) of Alphaproteobacteria isolated from the jelly coat of eggs from the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Whole genome sequencing and MLSA analysis revealed that Leisingera sp. JC1 falls within a group of roseobacters associated with squid ANGs. Genome and biochemical analyses revealed the potential for and production of a number of secondary metabolites, including siderophores and acyl-homoserine lactones involved with quorum sensing. The complete biosynthetic gene cluster for the pigment indigoidine was detected in the genome and mass spectrometry confirmed the production of this compound. Furthermore, we investigated the production of indigoidine under co-culture conditions with Vibrio fischeri, the light organ symbiont of E. scolopes, and with other vibrios. Finally, both Leisingera sp. JC1 and secondary metabolite extracts of this strain had differential antimicrobial activity against a number of marine vibrios, suggesting that Leisingera sp. JC1 may play a role in host defense against other marine bacteria either in the eggs and/or ANG. These data also suggest that indigoidine may be partially, but not wholly, responsible for the antimicrobial activity of this squid-associated bacterium.}, } @article {pmid27656171, year = {2016}, author = {Song, H and Nan, Z and Song, Q and Xia, C and Li, X and Yao, X and Xu, W and Kuang, Y and Tian, P and Zhang, Q}, title = {Advances in Research on Epichloë endophytes in Chinese Native Grasses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1399}, pmid = {27656171}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Epichloë fungal endophytes are broadly found in cool-season grasses. The symbiosis between these grasses and Epichloë may improve the abiotic and biotic resistance of the grass plant, but some Epichloë species produce alkaloids that are toxic for livestock. Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of the grass-Epichloë s symbiosis so that the beneficial aspects can be preserved and the toxic effects to livestock can be avoided. Since the 1990s, Chinese researchers have conducted a series of studies on grass-Epichloë symbiosis. In this review, we describe the current state of Epichloë endophyte research in Chinese native grasses. We found that more than 77 species of native grasses in China are associated with Epichloë endophytes. In addition, we review the effects of various Epichloë species on native grass responses to abiotic and biotic stress, phylogeny, and alkaloid production. We provide an overview of the study of Epichloë species on native grasses in China and directions for future research.}, } @article {pmid27653171, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Yan, J and Yu, B and Wang, ET and Li, X and Yan, H and Liu, W and Xie, Z}, title = {Ensifer alkalisoli sp. nov. isolated from root nodules of Sesbania cannabina grown in saline-alkaline soils.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {12}, pages = {5294-5300}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.001510}, pmid = {27653171}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Alkalies ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Salinity ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A group of Sesbania cannabina rhizobia belonging to four recA genotypes of a novel group was further characterized in comparison with the related Ensifer species. They showed 98.2 to 99.9 % similarities among themselves and 92.9 to 93.3 % similarities with the most related strain Ensifer sojae CCBAU 05684T in multilocus sequence analysis of recA, atpD and glnII. The genome average nucleotide identity values between representative strain YIC4027T and the type strains of its closely related species were 81.6 to 88.9 %. Identical symbiotic gene (nodA, nodC and nifH) sequences highly similar with those in other Sesbania-nodulating strains (Rhizobium sp. SIN-1, Neorhizobium huautlense S02T, Ensifer saheli ORS609T and Rhizobium sp. IRBG74) were detected. The representative strain YIC4027T could form effective nodules on its original host Sesbaniacannabina, but not on Sophora flavescens, Trifolium repens, Glycine max, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Phaseolus vulgaris or Medicago sativa. The use of lactulose as sole carbon source, possession of C13 : 0 2-OH, C13 : 1 at 12-13, C15 : 1 iso ω9c, C17 : 0 anteiso and C18 : 0 iso and absence of C14 : 0 anteiso, C15 : 0 anteiso and C18 : 0 3-OH in fatty acids distinguished the strain YIC4027T from the type strains of its closely related species. Based on all the analyses mentioned above, we propose a novel species Ensifer alkalisoli sp. nov. and designate YIC4027T (=HAMBI 3655T=LMG 29286T) as the type strain. The genome size of YIC4027T is 5.97 Mbp, comprising 5588 predicted genes, and the DNA G+C content is 62.2 mol%.}, } @article {pmid27651538, year = {2016}, author = {Pfaller, JB and Gil, MA}, title = {Sea turtle symbiosis facilitates social monogamy in oceanic crabs via refuge size.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {27651538}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; Brachyura/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Male ; Plastics ; Population Density ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Symbiosis ; Thoracica ; *Turtles ; }, abstract = {The capacity for resource monopolization by individuals often dictates the size and composition of animal groups, and ultimately, the adoption of mating strategies. For refuge-dwelling animals, the ability (or inability) of individuals to monopolize refuges should depend on the relative size of the refuge. In theory, groups should be larger and more inclusive when refuges are large, and smaller and more exclusive when refuges are small, regardless of refuge type. We test this prediction by comparing the size and composition of groups of oceanic crabs (Planes minutus) living on plastic flotsam and loggerhead sea turtles. We found that (i) surface area of refuges (barnacle colonies on flotsam and supracaudal space on turtles) is a better predictor of crab number than total surface area and (ii) flotsam and turtles with similar refuge surface area host a similar number (1-2) and composition (adult male-female pairs) of crabs. These results indicate that group size and composition of refuge-dwelling animals are modulated by refuge size and the capacity for refuge monopolization. Moreover, these results suggest that sea turtle symbiosis facilitates social monogamy in oceanic crabs, providing insights into how symbiosis can promote specific mating strategies.}, } @article {pmid27650264, year = {2016}, author = {Harumoto, T and Anbutsu, H and Lemaitre, B and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Male-killing symbiont damages host's dosage-compensated sex chromosome to induce embryonic apoptosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12781}, pmid = {27650264}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {//European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Drosophila melanogaster/embryology/*microbiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/*microbiology ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Male ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Some symbiotic bacteria are capable of interfering with host reproduction in selfish ways. How such bacteria can manipulate host's sex-related mechanisms is of fundamental interest encompassing cell, developmental and evolutionary biology. Here, we uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Spiroplasma-induced embryonic male lethality in Drosophila melanogaster. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that many genes related to DNA damage and apoptosis are up-regulated specifically in infected male embryos. Detailed genetic and cytological analyses demonstrate that male-killing Spiroplasma causes DNA damage on the male X chromosome interacting with the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex. The damaged male X chromosome exhibits a chromatin bridge during mitosis, and bridge breakage triggers sex-specific abnormal apoptosis via p53-dependent pathways. Notably, the MSL complex is not only necessary but also sufficient for this cytotoxic process. These results highlight symbiont's sophisticated strategy to target host's sex chromosome and recruit host's molecular cascades toward massive apoptosis in a sex-specific manner.}, } @article {pmid27649166, year = {2016}, author = {Dhammi, A and van Krestchmar, JB and Ponnusamy, L and Bacheler, JS and Reisig, DD and Herbert, A and Del Pozo-Valdivia, AI and Roe, RM}, title = {Biology, Pest Status, Microbiome and Control of Kudzu Bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae): A New Invasive Pest in the U.S.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {27649166}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Beauveria/physiology ; Heteroptera/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Insecticides/toxicity ; *Microbiota ; Population Density ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/growth & development/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {Soybean is an important food crop, and insect integrated pest management (IPM) is critical to the sustainability of this production system. In recent years, the introduction into the United States of the kudzu bug currently identified as Megacopta cribraria (F.), poses a threat to soybean production. The kudzu bug was first discovered in the state of Georgia, U.S. in 2009 and since then has spread to most of the southeastern states. Because it was not found in the North American subcontinent before this time, much of our knowledge of this insect comes from research done in its native habitat. However, since the U.S. introduction, studies have been undertaken to improve our understanding of the kudzu bug basic biology, microbiome, migration patterns, host selection and management in its expanding new range. Researchers are not only looking at developing IPM strategies for the kudzu bug in soybean, but also at its unique relationship with symbiotic bacteria. Adult females deposit bacterial packets with their eggs, and the neonates feed on these packets to acquire the bacteria, Candidatus Ishikawaella capsulata. The kudzu bug should be an informative model to study the co-evolution of insect function and behavior with that of a single bacteria species. We review kudzu bug trapping and survey methods, the development of bioassays for insecticide susceptibility, insecticide efficacy, host preferences, impact of the pest on urban environments, population expansion, and the occurrence of natural enemies. The identity of the kudzu bug in the U.S. is not clear. We propose that the kudzu bug currently accepted as M. cribraria in the U.S. is actually Megacopta punctatissima, with more work needed to confirm this hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid27647237, year = {2016}, author = {Steinhäuser, SS and Andrésson, ÓS and Pálsson, A and Werth, S}, title = {Fungal and cyanobacterial gene expression in a lichen symbiosis: Effect of temperature and location.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {120}, number = {10}, pages = {1194-1208}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2016.07.002}, pmid = {27647237}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Organisms have evolved different cellular mechanisms to deal with environmental stress, primarily through complex molecular mechanisms including protein refolding and DNA repair. As mutualistic symbioses, lichens offer the possibility of analyzing molecular stress responses in a particularly tight interspecific relationship. We study the widespread cyanolichen Peltigera membranacea, a key player in carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems at northern latitudes. We ask whether increased temperature is reflected in mRNA levels of selected damage control genes, and do the response patterns show geographical associations? Using real-time PCR quantification of 38 transcripts, differential expression was demonstrated for nine cyanobacterial and nine fungal stress response genes (plus the fungal symbiosis-related lec2 gene) when the temperature was increased from 5 °C to 15 °C and 25 °C. Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed two gene groups with different response patterns. Whereas a set of cyanobacterial DNA repair genes and the fungal lec2 (PC1 group) showed an expression drop at 15 °C vs. 5 °C, most fungal candidates (PC2 group) showed increased expression at 25 °C vs. 5 °C. PC1 responses also correlated with elevation. The correlated downregulation of lec2 and cyanobacterial DNA repair genes suggests a possible interplay between the symbionts warranting further studies.}, } @article {pmid27642089, year = {2017}, author = {Drezen, JM and Gauthier, J and Josse, T and Bézier, A and Herniou, E and Huguet, E}, title = {Foreign DNA acquisition by invertebrate genomes.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {147}, number = {}, pages = {157-168}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2016.09.004}, pmid = {27642089}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome ; Invertebrates/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have highlighted that the accidental acquisition of DNA from other species by invertebrate genomes is much more common than originally thought. The transferred DNAs are of bacterial or eukaryote origin and in both cases the receiver species may end up utilising the transferred genes for its own benefit. Frequent contact with prokaryotic DNA from symbiotic endocellular bacteria may predispose invertebrates to incorporate this genetic material into their genomes. Increasing evidence also points to viruses as major players in transferring genes and mobile elements between the species they infect. Unexpectedly a gene flux between Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera mediated by endogenous viruses of parasitic wasps has been recently unravelled, suggesting we are probably just seeing the tip of the iceberg concerning horizontal gene transfers in invertebrates. In the context of insect for feed and food, if the new technology of insect genome editing (such as Crisper/Cas9) were used to modify the genome of reared insects it is important to take into account the risk that an introduced gene can be transferred. More generally, although insects are traditionally consumed in Asia and Africa, knowledge on insect viruses is still limited rendering it difficult to predict the impact they might have in the context of insect rearing at an industrial scale.}, } @article {pmid27639577, year = {2017}, author = {Mehra, S and Morrison, PD and Coates, F and Lawrie, AC}, title = {Differences in carbon source utilisation by orchid mycorrhizal fungi from common and endangered species of Caladenia (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {95-108}, pmid = {27639577}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; *Endangered Species ; Ergosterol/chemistry/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial orchids depend on orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) as symbionts for their survival, growth and nutrition. The ability of OMF from endangered orchid species to compete for available resources with OMF from common species may affect the distribution, abundance and therefore conservation status of their orchid hosts. Eight symbiotically effective OMF from endangered and more common Caladenia species were tested for their ability to utilise complex insoluble and simple soluble carbon sources produced during litter degradation by growth with different carbon sources in liquid medium to measure the degree of OMF variation with host conservation status or taxonomy. On simple carbon sources, fungal growth was assessed by biomass. On insoluble substrates, ergosterol content was assessed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The OMF grew on all natural materials and complex carbon sources, but produced the greatest biomass on xylan and starch and the least on bark and chitin. On simple carbon sources, the greatest OMF biomass was measured on most hexoses and disaccharides and the least on galactose and arabinose. Only some OMF used sucrose, the most common sugar in green plants, with possible implications for symbiosis. OMF from common orchids produced more ergosterol and biomass than those from endangered orchids in the Dilatata and Reticulata groups but not in the Patersonii and Finger orchids. This suggests that differences in carbon source utilisation may contribute to differences in the distribution of some orchids, if these differences are retained on site.}, } @article {pmid27638952, year = {2016}, author = {Smrž, J and Soukalová, H and Čatská, V and Hubert, J}, title = {Feeding Patterns of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) Indicate That Mycophagy Is Not a Single and Homogeneous Category of Nutritional Biology.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {27638952}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Acaridae/*physiology ; *Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Feeding Behavior ; *Food Chain ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycophagy should not be considered as a single and homogeneous category of nutritional biology due to the specific symbiotic chitinolytic bacteria associated with mites and fungi. To test interaction among mites, fungi, and chitinolytic bacteria, experiments were conducted on the model species Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank). Mucor sp, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium claviforme, P. griseofulvum, and Verticillium sp. were plated onto malt agar and offered to T. putrescentiae in the laboratory. Mites were evaluated utilizing microanatomical examination based on histology, excrement analysis using fluorescence microscopy, bacterial plating, impact of mite homogenate on fungi in Petri dishes, reproduction of mites feeding upon each fungus, and isolation of associated bacteria inside mites. There were clear differences regarding the digested spores of different fungi passing through the gut and subsequently in the feces. Abundances of bacterial cells in excrement also corresponded to the fungi offered. The extracts from mites had chitinolytic activity, and the plated bacteria are known to produce exochitinases. The various feeding patterns observed were caused by differences in the cell wall structures of the tested fungi. The study illustrates that mycophagy in saprophagous mites does not consist of a single pattern, but rather that it can be classified into several sub-patterns depending upon the digested fungal species and its parts. The results point to a nearly symbiotic relationship between chitinolytic bacteria and digested fungi in mycophagous microarthropods.}, } @article {pmid27638917, year = {2016}, author = {Yagame, T and Ogura-Tsujita, Y and Kinoshita, A and Iwase, K and Yukawa, T}, title = {Fungal partner shifts during the evolution of mycoheterotrophy in Neottia.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {103}, number = {9}, pages = {1630-1641}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1600063}, pmid = {27638917}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Few previous studies have examined how mycobionts change during the evolution from autotrophy to mycoheterotrophy based on phylogenetic hypotheses. Neottia (Orchidaceae) comprises leafy species that are autotrophic and related leafless mycoheterotrophic species, and the phylogenetic relationships among them have been clarified. Accordingly, Neottia is a suitable taxon for investigating the question above. Here we clarified the diversity of mycobionts in Neottia plants and elucidated changes in the character of symbiotic associations during the evolution of mycoheterotrophy.

METHODS: We sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA for mycobionts of Neottia plants. Furthermore, we selected one representative DNA sample from each fungal operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and used it to amplify the large subunit (LSU) nrDNA sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of Sebacinales (basidiomycetes), the dominant mycobiont of Neottia, were conducted and sample-based rarefaction curves generated for the observed mycobiont richness on each OTU.

KEY RESULTS: Leafy and leafless species in Neottia were associated with Sebacinales Group B and Sebacinales Group A, respectively. The composition and specificity level of fungal partners varied among Neottia species.

CONCLUSIONS: Fungal partner composition and specificity level changed with speciation in both leafy and leafless Neottia species. In particular, mycorrhizal associations likely shifted from Sebacinales Group B to Group A during the evolution from autotrophy to mycoheterotrophy. Partner shifts to Sebacinales Group A have also been reported in the evolution of mycoheterotrophy of other plant groups, suggesting that convergence to this fungal group occurs in association with the evolution of mycoheterotrophy.}, } @article {pmid27638431, year = {2016}, author = {Matos, TR and Sheth, V}, title = {The symbiosis of phototherapy and photoimmunology.}, journal = {Clinics in dermatology}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {538-547}, doi = {10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.05.003}, pmid = {27638431}, issn = {1879-1131}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/*radiation effects ; Animals ; Cytokines/biosynthesis ; DNA Damage/radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Phenomena ; Humans ; Immune System/*radiation effects ; Immune Tolerance/radiation effects ; Immunity, Innate/*radiation effects ; Protein Biosynthesis/*radiation effects ; Skin/*radiation effects ; Toll-Like Receptors/radiation effects ; *Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects ; Ultraviolet Therapy ; }, abstract = {The health benefits of natural sunlight have been noted since the rise of civilization, even without the knowledge of its mechanisms of action. Currently, phototherapy remains an effective and widely used treatment for a variety of skin diseases. Ultraviolet radiation, from either the sun or artificial light sources, has a profound immunomodulatory effect that is responsible for its beneficial clinical outcomes. Ultraviolet radiation mostly induces the innate while suppressing the adaptive immune system, leading to both local and systemic effects. It is antigen specific, acts on both effector and regulatory T cells, alters antigen-presenting cell function, and induces the secretion of cytokines and soluble mediators. This review provides an overview of the immunologic mechanisms by which ultraviolet radiation is responsible for the therapeutic effects of phototherapy.}, } @article {pmid27638017, year = {2016}, author = {Werner, S and Polle, A and Brinkmann, N}, title = {Belowground communication: impacts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from soil fungi on other soil-inhabiting organisms.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {20}, pages = {8651-8665}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-016-7792-1}, pmid = {27638017}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biota ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Plants ; *Soil ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {We reviewed the impact of fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on soil-inhabiting organisms and their physiological and molecular consequences for their targets. Because fungi can only move by growth to distinct directions, a main mechanism to protect themselves from enemies or to manipulate their surroundings is the secretion of exudates or VOCs. The importance of VOCs in this regard has been significantly underestimated. VOCs not only can be means of communication, but also signals that are able to specifically manipulate the recipient. VOCs can reprogram root architecture of symbiotic partner plants or increase plant growth leading to enlarged colonization surfaces. VOCs are also able to enhance plant resistance against pathogens by activating phytohormone-dependent signaling pathways. In some cases, they were phytotoxic. Because the response was specific to distinct species, fungal VOCs may contribute to regulate the competition of plant communities. Additionally, VOCs are used by the producing fungus to attack rivaling fungi or bacteria, thereby protecting the emitter or its nutrient sources. In addition, animals, like springtails, nematodes, and earthworms, which are important components of the soil food web, respond to fungal VOCs. Some VOCs are effective repellents for nematodes and, therefore, have applications as biocontrol agents. In conclusion, this review shows that fungal VOCs have a huge impact on soil fauna and flora, but the underlying mechanisms, how VOCs are perceived by the recipients, how they manipulate their targets and the resulting ecological consequences of VOCs in inter-kingdom signaling is only partly understood. These knowledge gaps are left to be filled by future studies.}, } @article {pmid27635330, year = {2016}, author = {Chen, WN and Hsiao, YJ and Mayfield, AB and Young, R and Hsu, LL and Peng, SE}, title = {Transmission of a heterologous clade C Symbiodinium in a model anemone infection system via asexual reproduction.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2358}, pmid = {27635330}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Anemones of genus Exaiptasia are used as model organisms for the study of cnidarian-dinoflagellate (genus Symbiodinium) endosymbiosis. However, while most reef-building corals harbor Symbiodinium of clade C, Exaiptasia spp. anemones mainly harbor clade B Symbiodinium (ITS2 type B1) populations. In this study, we reveal for the first time that bleached Exaiptasia pallida anemones can establish a symbiotic relationship with a clade C Symbiodinium (ITS2 type C1). We further found that anemones can transmit the exogenously supplied clade C Symbiodinium cells to their offspring by asexual reproduction (pedal laceration). In order to corroborate the establishment of stable symbiosis, we used microscopic techniques and genetic analyses to examine several generations of anemones, and the results of these endeavors confirmed the sustainability of the system. These findings provide a framework for understanding the differences in infection dynamics between homologous and heterologous dinoflagellate types using a model anemone infection system.}, } @article {pmid27634990, year = {2016}, author = {Blow, F and Gioti, A and Starns, D and Ben-Yosef, M and Pasternak, Z and Jurkevitch, E and Vontas, J and Darby, AC}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Bactrocera oleae Symbiont "Candidatus Erwinia dacicola".}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27634990}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {"Candidatus Erwinia dacicola" is a Gammaproteobacterium that forms a symbiotic association with the agricultural pest Bactrocera oleae Here, we present a 2.1-Mb draft hybrid genome assembly for "Ca. Erwinia dacicola" generated from single-cell and metagenomic data.}, } @article {pmid27634412, year = {2016}, author = {Al-Mosauwi, H and Ryan, E and McGrane, A and Riveros-Beltran, S and Walpole, C and Dempsey, E and Courtney, D and Fearon, N and Winter, D and Baird, A and Stewart, G}, title = {Differential protein abundance of a basolateral MCT1 transporter in the human gastrointestinal tract.}, journal = {Cell biology international}, volume = {40}, number = {12}, pages = {1303-1312}, doi = {10.1002/cbin.10684}, pmid = {27634412}, issn = {1095-8355}, mesh = {Colon/cytology/metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gastrointestinal Tract/cytology/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Ileum/cytology/metabolism ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/genetics/*metabolism ; Peptide Transporter 1 ; Symporters/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacterially derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, are vital in maintaining the symbiotic relationship that exists between humans and their gastrointestinal microbial populations. A key step in this process is the transport of SCFAs across colonic epithelial cells via MCT1 transporters. This study investigated MCT1 protein abundance in various human intestinal tissues. Initial RT-PCR analysis confirmed the expected MCT1 RNA expression pattern of colon > small intestine > stomach. Using surgical resection samples, immunoblot analysis detected higher abundance of a 45 kDa MCT1 protein in colonic tissue compared to ileum tissue (P < 0.001, N = 4, unpaired t-test). Importantly, MCT1 abundance was found to be significantly lower in sigmoid colon compared to ascending colon (P < 0.01, N = 8-11, ANOVA). Finally, immunolocalization studies confirmed MCT1 to be abundant in the basolateral membranes of surface epithelial cells of the ascending, transverse, and descending colon, but significantly less prevalent in the sigmoid colon (P < 0.05, N = 5-21, ANOVA). In conclusion, these data confirm that basolateral MCT1 protein abundance is correlated to levels of bacterially derived SCFAs along the human gastrointestinal tract. These findings highlight the importance of precise tissue location in studies comparing colonic MCT1 abundance between normal and diseased states.}, } @article {pmid27633524, year = {2016}, author = {Akiyama, H and Hoshino, YT and Itakura, M and Shimomura, Y and Wang, Y and Yamamoto, A and Tago, K and Nakajima, Y and Minamisawa, K and Hayatsu, M}, title = {Mitigation of soil N2O emission by inoculation with a mixed culture of indigenous Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {32869}, pmid = {27633524}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrous Oxide/*analysis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Agricultural soil is the largest source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas. Soybean is an important leguminous crop worldwide. Soybean hosts symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (rhizobia) in root nodules. In soybean ecosystems, N2O emissions often increase during decomposition of the root nodules. Our previous study showed that N2O reductase can be used to mitigate N2O emission from soybean fields during nodule decomposition by inoculation with nosZ++ strains [mutants with increased N2O reductase (N2OR) activity] of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Here, we show that N2O emission can be reduced at the field scale by inoculation with a mixed culture of indigenous nosZ+ strains of B. diazoefficiens USDA110 group isolated from Japanese agricultural fields. Our results also suggested that nodule nitrogen is the main source of N2O production during nodule decomposition. Isolating nosZ+ strains from local soybean fields would be more applicable and feasible for many soybean-producing countries than generating mutants.}, } @article {pmid27630657, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, L and Wang, L and Tan, Q and Fan, Q and Zhu, H and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z and Duanmu, D}, title = {Efficient Inactivation of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Related Genes in Lotus japonicus Using CRISPR-Cas9.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1333}, pmid = {27630657}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The targeted genome editing technique, CRISPR/Cas9 system, has been widely used to modify genes of interest in a predictable and precise manner. In this study, we describe the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated efficient editing of representative SNF (symbiotic nitrogen fixation) related genes in the model legume Lotus japonicus via Agrobacterium-mediated stable or hairy root transformation. We first predicted nine endogenous U6 genes in Lotus and then demonstrated the efficacy of the LjU6-1 gene promoter in driving expression of single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) by using a split yellow fluorescence protein (YFP) reporter system to restore the fluorescence in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Next, we chose a customized sgRNA targeting SYMRK (symbiosis receptor-like kinase) loci and achieved ~35% mutagenic efficiency in 20 T0 transgenic plants, two of them containing biallelic homozygous mutations with a 2-bp deletion near the PAM region. We further designed two sgRNAs targeting three homologous leghemoglobin loci (LjLb1, LjLb2, LjLb3) for testing the possibility of generating multi-gene knockouts. 20 out of 70 hairy root transgenic plants exhibited white nodules, with at least two LjLbs disrupted in each plant. Compared with the constitutively active CaMV 35S promoter, the nodule-specific LjLb2 promoter was also effective in gene editing in nodules by hairy root transformation. Triple mutant knockout of LjLbs was also obtained by stable transformation using two sgRNAs. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas9 system should greatly facilitate functional analyses of SNF related genes in Lotus japonicus.}, } @article {pmid27630656, year = {2016}, author = {Ngom, M and Gray, K and Diagne, N and Oshone, R and Fardoux, J and Gherbi, H and Hocher, V and Svistoonoff, S and Laplaze, L and Tisa, LS and Sy, MO and Champion, A}, title = {Symbiotic Performance of Diverse Frankia Strains on Salt-Stressed Casuarina glauca and Casuarina equisetifolia Plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1331}, pmid = {27630656}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing associations between Casuarina trees and the actinobacteria Frankia are widely used in agroforestry in particular for salinized land reclamation. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of salinity on the establishment of the actinorhizal symbiosis between C. glauca and two contrasting Frankia strains (salt sensitive; CcI3 vs. salt tolerant; CeD) and the role of these isolates in the salt tolerance of C. glauca and C. equisetifolia plants. We show that the number of root nodules decreased with increasing salinity levels in both plants inoculated with CcI3 and CeD. Nodule formation did not occur in seedlings inoculated with CcI3 and CeD, at NaCl concentrations above 100 and 200 mM, respectively. Salinity also affected the early deformation of plant root hairs and reduced their number and size. In addition, expression of symbiotic marker Cg12 gene, which codes for a subtilase, was reduced at 50 mM NaCl. These data suggest that the reduction of nodulation in C. glauca under salt stress is in part due to inhibition of early mechanisms of infection. We also show that prior inoculation of C. glauca and C. equisetifolia with Frankia strains CcI3 and CeD significantly improved plant height, dry biomass, chlorophyll and proline contents at all levels of salinity tested, depending on the Casuarina-Frankia association. There was no correlation between in vitro salt tolerance of Frankia strains and efficiency in planta under salt-stressed conditions. Our results strongly indicate that increased N nutrition, photosynthesis potential and proline accumulation are important factors responsible for salt tolerance of nodulated C. glauca and C. equisetifolia.}, } @article {pmid27630618, year = {2016}, author = {Francino, MP and Medina, M}, title = {Editorial: Recent Advances in Symbiosis Research: Integrative Approaches.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1331}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2016.01331}, pmid = {27630618}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid27628134, year = {2019}, author = {Nigro, G and Hanson, M and Fevre, C and Lecuit, M and Sansonetti, PJ}, title = {Intestinal Organoids as a Novel Tool to Study Microbes-Epithelium Interactions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1576}, number = {}, pages = {183-194}, pmid = {27628134}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development ; Cell Culture Techniques/*methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Organoids/*cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut, particularly the colon, is the host of approximately 1000 bacterial species, the so-called gut microbiota. The relationship between the gut microbiota and the host is symbiotic and mutualistic, influencing many aspects of the biology of the host. This homeostatic balance can be disrupted by enteric pathogens, such as Shigella flexneri or Listeria monocytogenes, which are able to invade the epithelial layer and consequently subvert physiological functions. To study the host-microbe interactions in vitro, the crypt culture model, known as intestinal organoids, is a powerful tool. Intestinal organoids provide a model in which to examine the response of the epithelium, particularly the response of intestinal stem cells, to the presence of bacteria. Furthermore, the organoid model enables the study of pathogens during the early steps of enteric pathogen invasion.Here, we describe methods that we have established to study the cellular microbiology of symbiosis between the gut microbiota and host intestinal surface and secondly the disruption of host homeostasis due to an enteric pathogen.}, } @article {pmid27625672, year = {2016}, author = {Subramanian, S and Souleimanov, A and Smith, DL}, title = {Proteomic Studies on the Effects of Lipo-Chitooligosaccharide and Thuricin 17 under Unstressed and Salt Stressed Conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1314}, pmid = {27625672}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants, being sessile organisms, are exposed to widely varying environmental conditions throughout their life cycle. Compatible plant-microbe interactions favor plant growth and development, and help plants deal with these environmental challenges. Microorganisms produce a diverse range of elicitor molecules to establish symbiotic relationships with the plants they associate with, in a given ecological niche. Lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) and Thuricin 17 (Th17) are two such compounds shown to positively influence plant growth of both legumes and non-legumes. Arabidopsis thaliana responded positively to treatment with the bacterial signal compounds LCO and Th17 in the presence of salt stress (up to 250 mM NaCl). Shotgun proteomics of unstressed and 250 mM NaCl stressed A. thaliana rosettes (7 days post stress) in combination with the LCO and Th17 revealed many known, putative, hypothetical, and unknown proteins. Overall, carbon and energy metabolic pathways were affected under both unstressed and salt stressed conditions when treated with these signals. PEP carboxylase, Rubisco-oxygenase large subunit, pyruvate kinase, and proteins of photosystems I and II were some of the noteworthy proteins enhanced by the signals, along with other stress related proteins. These findings suggest that the proteome of A. thaliana rosettes is altered by the bacterial signals tested, and more so under salt stress, thereby imparting a positive effect on plant growth under high salt stress. The roles of the identified proteins are discussed here in relation to salt stress adaptation, which, when translated to field grown crops can be a crucial component and of significant importance in agriculture and global food production. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD004742.}, } @article {pmid27624305, year = {2016}, author = {Bassett, SA and Johnson, RD and Simpson, WR and Laugraud, A and Jordan, TW and Bryan, GT}, title = {Identification of a gene involved in the regulation of hyphal growth of Epichloë festucae during symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {363}, number = {19}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnw214}, pmid = {27624305}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/*physiology ; Epichloe/*genetics/*physiology ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hyphae/*growth & development ; Lolium/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Protein Sorting Signals ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Secreted proteins, those involved in cell wall biogenesis, are likely to play a role in communication in the symbiotic interaction between the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), particularly given the close association between fungal hyphae and the plant cell wall. Our hypothesis was that secreted proteins are likely to be responsible for establishing and maintaining a normal symbiotic relationship. We analyzed an endophyte EST database for genes with predicted signal peptide sequences. Here, we report the identification and characterization of rhgA; a gene involved in the regulation of hyphal growth in planta In planta analysis of ΔrhgA mutants showed that disruption of rhgA resulted in extensive unregulated hyphal growth. This phenotype was fully complemented by insertion of the rhgA gene and suggests that rhgA is important for maintaining normal hyphal growth during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27623553, year = {2017}, author = {Ferretti, P and Farina, S and Cristofolini, M and Girolomoni, G and Tett, A and Segata, N}, title = {Experimental metagenomics and ribosomal profiling of the human skin microbiome.}, journal = {Experimental dermatology}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {211-219}, doi = {10.1111/exd.13210}, pmid = {27623553}, issn = {1600-0625}, mesh = {Computational Biology/*methods ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis ; Humans ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and it is populated by a large diversity of microbes, most of which are co-evolved with the host and live in symbiotic harmony. There is increasing evidence that the skin microbiome plays a crucial role in the defense against pathogens, immune system training and homoeostasis, and microbiome perturbations have been associated with pathological skin conditions. Studying the skin resident microbial community is thus essential to better understand the microbiome-host crosstalk and to associate its specific configurations with cutaneous diseases. Several community profiling approaches have proved successful in unravelling the composition of the skin microbiome and overcome the limitations of cultivation-based assays, but these tools remain largely inaccessible to the clinical and medical dermatology communities. The study of the skin microbiome is also characterized by specific technical challenges, such as the low amount of microbial biomass and the extensive human DNA contamination. Here, we review the available community profiling approaches to study the skin microbiome, specifically focusing on the practical experimental and analytical tools necessary to generate and analyse skin microbiome data. We describe all the steps from the initial samples collection to the final data interpretation, with the goal of enabling clinicians and researchers who are not familiar with the microbiome field to perform skin profiling experiments.}, } @article {pmid27623505, year = {2016}, author = {Bruisson, S and Maillot, P and Schellenbaum, P and Walter, B and Gindro, K and Deglène-Benbrahim, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis stimulates key genes of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and stilbenoid production in grapevine leaves in response to downy mildew and grey mould infection.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {131}, number = {}, pages = {92-99}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.09.002}, pmid = {27623505}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Benzofurans ; Botrytis/*chemistry ; Oomycetes ; Phenylpropionates/*metabolism ; Plant Components, Aerial/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Resorcinols ; Resveratrol ; Stilbenes/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Vitis/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Grapevine (Vitis spp) is susceptible to serious fungal diseases usually controlled by chemical treatments. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate plant symbionts which can stimulate plant defences. We investigated the effect of mycorrhization on grapevine stilbenoid defences. Vitis vinifera cvs Chasselas, Pinot noir and the interspecific hybrid Divico, on the rootstock 41B, were mycorrhized with Rhizophagus irregularis before leaf infection by Plasmopara viticola or Botrytis cinerea. Gene expression analysis showed an up-regulation of PAL, STS, and ROMT, involved in the stilbenoid biosynthesis pathway, in plant leaves, 48 h after pathogen inoculation. This defense response could be potentiated under AMF colonization, with an intensity level depending on the gene, the plant cultivar and/or the pathogen. We also showed that higher amounts of active forms of stilbenoids (i.e trans-form of resveratrol, ε- and δ-viniferins and pterostilbene) were produced in mycorrhized plants of the three genotypes in comparison with non-mycorrhized ones, 10 days post-inoculation with either pathogen. These results support the hypothesis that AMF root colonization enhances defence reactions against a biotrophic and a necrotrophic pathogen, in the aerial parts of grapevine.}, } @article {pmid27623370, year = {2016}, author = {Lebrero, R and Ángeles, R and Pérez, R and Muñoz, R}, title = {Toluene biodegradation in an algal-bacterial airlift photobioreactor: Influence of the biomass concentration and of the presence of an organic phase.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {183}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {585-593}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.09.016}, pmid = {27623370}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Air Pollutants/*metabolism ; Air Pollution ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Chlorella/*metabolism ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Photobioreactors/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas putida/*metabolism ; Toluene/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The potential of algal-bacterial symbiosis for off-gas abatement was investigated for the first time by comparatively evaluating the performance of a bacterial (CB) and an algal-bacterial (PB) airlift bioreactors during the treatment of a 6 g m[-3] toluene laden air emission. The influence of biomass concentration and of the addition of a non-aqueous phase was also investigated. A poor and fluctuating performance was recorded during the initial stages of the experiment, which was attributed to the low biomass concentration present in both reactors and to the accumulation of toxic metabolites. In this sense, an increase in the dilution rate from 0.23 to 0.45 d[-1] and in biomass concentration from ∼1 to ∼5 g L[-1] resulted in elimination capacities (ECs) of 300 g m[-3] h[-1] (corresponding to removal efficiencies ∼ 90%). Microalgae activity allowed for a reduction in the emitted CO2 and an increase in dissolved O2 concentration in the PB. However, excess biomass growth over 11 g L[-1] hindered light penetration and severely decreased photosynthetic activity. The addition of silicone oil at 20% (on a volume basis) stabilized system performance, leading to dissolved O2 concentrations of 7 mg L[-1] and steady ECs of 320 g m[-3] h[-1] in the PB. The ECs here recorded were considerably higher than those previously reported in toluene-degrading bioreactors. Finally, microbial population analysis by DGGE-sequencing demonstrated the differential specialization of the microbial community in both reactors, likely resulting in different toluene degradation pathways and metabolites production.}, } @article {pmid27622878, year = {2016}, author = {Bibian, AJ and Rudgers, JA and Miller, TE}, title = {The Role of Host Demographic Storage in the Ecological Dynamics of Heritable Symbionts.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {188}, number = {4}, pages = {446-459}, doi = {10.1086/687965}, pmid = {27622878}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Demography ; *Ecology ; *Endophytes ; Poaceae ; Seed Bank ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbioses are widespread and ecologically important. Many host organisms have complex life cycles that include diverse opportunities for symbionts to affect their host and be lost during development. Yet, existing theory takes a simplified view of host demography. Here, we generalize symbiosis theory to understand how demographic "storage" in the form of dormant or prereproductive life stages can modify symbiosis dynamics. Using grass-endophyte symbioses as context, we developed models to contrast the role of the seed bank (a storage stage) against the reproductive stage in symbiont persistence and prevalence. We find that the seed bank is as important as or more important than the reproductive stage in driving symbiont dynamics, as long as passage through the seed bank is obligate. Flexible entry to the seed bank substantially weakens its influence on symbiont persistence but can modify prevalence in counterintuitive ways. Our models identify a role for legacy effects, where hosts that lose symbionts retain their demographic influence. The retention of benefits via legacy effects can reduce symbiont prevalence and even cause prevalence to decline with increasing benefits to hosts because symbiont-free hosts carry those benefits. Our results resolve connections between individual-level host-symbiont interactions and population-level patterns, providing guidance for empirical studies.}, } @article {pmid27621032, year = {2016}, author = {Cheng, C and Xu, L and Xu, D and Lou, Q and Lu, M and Sun, J}, title = {Does cryptic microbiota mitigate pine resistance to an invasive beetle-fungus complex? Implications for invasion potential.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {33110}, pmid = {27621032}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*growth & development ; China ; Coleoptera/*growth & development ; Disease Resistance/*physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology/*parasitology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts are known to assist exotic pests in their colonization of new host plants. However, there has been little evidence linking symbiotic invasion success to mechanisms for mitigation of native plant resistance. The red turpentine beetle (RTB) was introduced with a fungus, Leptographium procerum, to China from the United States and became a destructively invasive symbiotic complex in natural Pinus tabuliformis forests. Here, we report that three Chinese-resident fungi, newly acquired by RTB in China, induce high levels of a phenolic defensive chemical, naringenin, in pines. This invasive beetle-fungus complex is suppressed by elevated levels of naringenin. However, cryptic microbiotas in RTB galleries strongly degrade naringenin, and pinitol, the main soluble carbohydrate of P. tabuliformis, is retained in L. procerum-infected phloem and facilitate naringenin biodegradation by the microbiotas. These results demonstrate that cryptic microbiota mitigates native host plant phenolic resistance to an invasive symbiotic complex, suggesting a putative mechanism for reduced biotic resistance to symbiotic invasion.}, } @article {pmid27620529, year = {2017}, author = {Sobariu, DL and Fertu, DIT and Diaconu, M and Pavel, LV and Hlihor, RM and Drăgoi, EN and Curteanu, S and Lenz, M and Corvini, PF and Gavrilescu, M}, title = {Rhizobacteria and plant symbiosis in heavy metal uptake and its implications for soil bioremediation.}, journal = {New biotechnology}, volume = {39}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {125-134}, doi = {10.1016/j.nbt.2016.09.002}, pmid = {27620529}, issn = {1876-4347}, mesh = {Azotobacter/metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Lepidium/growth & development/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Neural Networks, Computer ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Certain species of plants can benefit from synergistic effects with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that improve plant growth and metal accumulation, mitigating toxic effects on plants and increasing their tolerance to heavy metals. The application of PGPR as biofertilizers and atmospheric nitrogen fixators contributes considerably to the intensification of the phytoremediation process. In this paper, we have built a system consisting of rhizospheric Azotobacter microbial populations and Lepidium sativum plants, growing in solutions containing heavy metals in various concentrations. We examined the ability of the organisms to grow in symbiosis so as to stimulate the plant growth and enhance its tolerance to Cr(VI) and Cd(II), to ultimately provide a reliable phytoremediation system. The study was developed at the laboratory level and, at this stage, does not assess the inherent interactions under real conditions occurring in contaminated fields with autochthonous microflora and under different pedoclimatic conditions and environmental stresses. Azotobacter sp. bacteria could indeed stimulate the average germination efficiency of Lepidium sativum by almost 7%, average root length by 22%, average stem length by 34% and dry biomass by 53%. The growth of L. sativum has been affected to a greater extent in Cd(II) solutions due its higher toxicity compared to that of Cr(VI). The reduced tolerance index (TI, %) indicated that plant growth in symbiosis with PGPR was however affected by heavy metal toxicity, while the tolerance of the plant to heavy metals was enhanced in the bacteria-plant system. A methodology based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) and differential evolution (DE), specifically a neuro-evolutionary approach, was applied to model germination rates, dry biomass and root/stem length and proving the robustness of the experimental data. The errors associated with all four variables are small and the correlation coefficients higher than 0.98, which indicate that the selected models can efficiently predict the experimental data.}, } @article {pmid27617289, year = {2016}, author = {Watanabe, S and Murakami, T and Yoshimura, J and Hasegawa, E}, title = {Color polymorphism in an aphid is maintained by attending ants.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, pages = {e1600606}, pmid = {27617289}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/genetics/physiology ; Aphids/genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Insecta/genetics/*physiology ; Pigmentation/*genetics ; Population Dynamics ; Predatory Behavior/physiology ; Selection, Genetic/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The study of polymorphisms is particularly informative for enhancing our understanding of phenotypic and genetic diversity. The persistence of polymorphism in a population is generally explained by balancing selection. Color polymorphisms that are often found in many insects and arthropods are prime examples of the maintenance of polymorphisms via balancing selection. In some aphids, color morphs are maintained through frequency-dependent predation by two predatory insects. However, the presence of color polymorphism in ant-attended aphids cannot be explained by traditional balancing selection because these aphids are free from predation. We examined the selective advantages of the existence of two color (red and green) morphs in the ant-attended aphid, Macrosiphoniella yomogicola, in fields. We measured the degree of ant attendance on aphid colonies with different proportions of color morphs. The results show that the ants strongly favor aphid colonies with intermediate proportions of the two color morphs. The relationship between the degree of ant attendance and the proportion of color morphs in the field is convex when aphid colony size and ant colony size are controlled. This function has a peak of approximately 65% of green morphs in a colony. This system represents the first case of a balancing polymorphism that is not maintained by opposing factors but by a symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid27616058, year = {2016}, author = {Yao, L and Zhu, LP and Xu, XY and Tan, LL and Sadilek, M and Fan, H and Hu, B and Shen, XT and Yang, J and Qiao, B and Yang, S}, title = {Discovery of novel xylosides in co-culture of basidiomycetes Trametes versicolor and Ganoderma applanatum by integrated metabolomics and bioinformatics.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {33237}, pmid = {27616058}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Coculture Techniques ; Conserved Sequence ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Ganoderma/genetics/*metabolism ; Glycosides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Humans ; Metabolomics ; Microbial Interactions ; Pentosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Trametes/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Transcriptomic analysis of cultured fungi suggests that many genes for secondary metabolite synthesis are presumably silent under standard laboratory condition. In order to investigate the expression of silent genes in symbiotic systems, 136 fungi-fungi symbiotic systems were built up by co-culturing seventeen basidiomycetes, among which the co-culture of Trametes versicolor and Ganoderma applanatum demonstrated the strongest coloration of confrontation zones. Metabolomics study of this co-culture discovered that sixty-two features were either newly synthesized or highly produced in the co-culture compared with individual cultures. Molecular network analysis highlighted a subnetwork including two novel xylosides (compounds 2 and 3). Compound 2 was further identified as N-(4-methoxyphenyl)formamide 2-O-β-D-xyloside and was revealed to have the potential to enhance the cell viability of human immortalized bronchial epithelial cell line of Beas-2B. Moreover, bioinformatics and transcriptional analysis of T. versicolor revealed a potential candidate gene (GI: 636605689) encoding xylosyltransferases for xylosylation. Additionally, 3-phenyllactic acid and orsellinic acid were detected for the first time in G. applanatum, which may be ascribed to response against T.versicolor stress. In general, the described co-culture platform provides a powerful tool to discover novel metabolites and help gain insights into the mechanism of silent gene activation in fungal defense.}, } @article {pmid27613221, year = {2017}, author = {Pitsch, G and Adamec, L and Dirren, S and Nitsche, F and Šimek, K and Sirová, D and Posch, T}, title = {The Green Tetrahymena utriculariae n. sp. (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) with Its Endosymbiotic Algae (Micractinium sp.), Living in Traps of a Carnivorous Aquatic Plant.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {3}, pages = {322-335}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12369}, pmid = {27613221}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*parasitology ; Ciliophora/*classification/metabolism/physiology ; DNA, Protozoan ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Life Cycle Stages ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Oligohymenophorea/*classification ; Oxygen/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Plants/*parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tetrahymena/*classification/cytology/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Tetrahymena thermophila/classification/genetics ; Tracheophyta/parasitology ; }, abstract = {The genus Tetrahymena (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) probably represents the best studied ciliate genus. At present, more than forty species have been described. All are colorless, i.e. they do not harbor symbiotic algae, and as aerobes they need at least microaerobic habitats. Here, we present the morphological and molecular description of the first green representative, Tetrahymena utriculariae n. sp., living in symbiosis with endosymbiotic algae identified as Micractinium sp. (Chlorophyta). The full life cycle of the ciliate species is documented, including trophonts and theronts, conjugating cells, resting cysts and dividers. This species has been discovered in an exotic habitat, namely in traps of the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia reflexa (originating from Okavango Delta, Botswana). Green ciliates live as commensals of the plant in this anoxic habitat. Ciliates are bacterivorous, however, symbiosis with algae is needed to satisfy cell metabolism but also to gain oxygen from symbionts. When ciliates are cultivated outside their natural habitat under aerobic conditions and fed with saturating bacterial food, they gradually become aposymbiotic. Based on phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cox1 genes T. utriculariae forms a sister group to Tetrahymena thermophila.}, } @article {pmid27610106, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, F and Li, J and Feng, G and Li, Z}, title = {New Genomic Insights into "Entotheonella" Symbionts in Theonella swinhoei: Mixotrophy, Anaerobic Adaptation, Resilience, and Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1333}, pmid = {27610106}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {"Entotheonella" (phylum "Tectomicrobia") is a filamentous symbiont that produces almost all known bioactive compounds derived from the Lithistida sponge Theonella swinhoei. In contrast to the comprehensive knowledge of its secondary metabolism, knowledge of its lifestyle, resilience, and interaction with the sponge host and other symbionts remains rudimentary. In this study, we obtained two "Entotheonella" genomes from T. swinhoei from the South China Sea through metagenome binning, and used a RASTtk pipeline to achieve better genome annotation. The high average nucleotide index values suggested they were the same phylotypes as the two "Entotheonella" phylotypes from T. swinhoei from the Japan Sea. Genomic features related to utilization of various carbon sources, peptidase secretion, CO2 fixation, sulfate reduction, anaerobic respiration, and denitrification indicated the mixotrophic nature of "Entotheonella." The endospore-forming potential along with metal- and antibiotic resistance indicated "Entotheonella" was highly resilient to harsh conditions. The potential for endospore formation also explained the widespread distribution of "Entotheonella" to some extent. The discovery of Type II (general secretion pathway proteins and the Widespread Colonization Island) and Type VI secretion systems in "Entotheonella" suggested it could secrete extracellular hydrolases, form tight adhesion, act against phagocytes, and kill other prokaryotes. Overall, the newly discovered genomic features suggest "Entotheonella" is a highly competitive member of the symbiotic community of T. swinhoei.}, } @article {pmid27609514, year = {2016}, author = {Marty, L and Vigouroux, A and Aumont-Nicaise, M and Dessaux, Y and Faure, D and Moréra, S}, title = {Structural Basis for High Specificity of Amadori Compound and Mannopine Opine Binding in Bacterial Pathogens.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {291}, number = {43}, pages = {22638-22649}, pmid = {27609514}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Mannitol/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Protein Domains ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens pathogens genetically modify their host plants to drive the synthesis of opines in plant tumors. Opines are either sugar phosphodiesters or the products of condensed amino acids with ketoacids or sugars. They are Agrobacterium nutrients and imported into the bacterial cell via periplasmic-binding proteins (PBPs) and ABC-transporters. Mannopine, an opine from the mannityl-opine family, is synthesized from an intermediate named deoxy-fructosyl-glutamine (DFG), which is also an opine and abundant Amadori compound (a name used for any derivative of aminodeoxysugars) present in decaying plant materials. The PBP MotA is responsible for mannopine import in mannopine-assimilating agrobacteria. In the nopaline-opine type agrobacteria strain, SocA protein was proposed as a putative mannopine binding PBP, and AttC protein was annotated as a mannopine binding-like PBP. Structural data on mannityl-opine-PBP complexes is currently lacking. By combining affinity data with analysis of seven x-ray structures at high resolution, we investigated the molecular basis of MotA, SocA, and AttC interactions with mannopine and its DFG precursor. Our work demonstrates that AttC is not a mannopine-binding protein and reveals a specific binding pocket for DFG in SocA with an affinity in nanomolar range. Hence, mannopine would not be imported into nopaline-type agrobacteria strains. In contrast, MotA binds both mannopine and DFG. We thus defined one mannopine and two DFG binding signatures. Unlike mannopine-PBPs, selective DFG-PBPs are present in a wide diversity of bacteria, including Actinobacteria, α-,β-, and γ-proteobacteria, revealing a common role of this Amadori compound in pathogenic, symbiotic, and opportunistic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27609055, year = {2016}, author = {Karamipour, N and Fathipour, Y and Mehrabadi, M}, title = {Gammaproteobacteria as essential primary symbionts in the striped shield bug, Graphosoma Lineatum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {33168}, pmid = {27609055}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Chaperonin 60/genetics ; Erwinia/classification/*physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Pantoea/classification/*physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many members of suborder Heteroptra harbor heritable symbiotic bacteria. Here we characterize the gut symbiotic bacterium in Graphosoma lineatum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) by using molecular phylogeny, real-time PCR analysis as well as light and electron microscopy observations. The microscopy observations revealed the presence of a large number of rod-shaped bacterial cells in the crypts. A very high prevalence (98 to 100%) of the symbiont infection was found in the insect populations that strongly supports an intimate association between these two organisms. Real-time PCR analysis also showed that the Gammaproteobacteria dominated the crypts. The sequences of 16sr RNA and groEL genes of symbiont showed high levels of similarity (93 to 95%) to Pantoea agglomeranse and Erwinia herbicola Gammaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses placed G. lineatum symbiont in a well-defined branch, divergent from other stink bug bacterial symbionts. Co-evolutionary analysis showed lack of host-symbiont phylogenetic congruence. Surface sterilization of eggs resulted in increased pre-adult stage in the offspring (aposymbionts) in comparison to the normal. Also, fecundity, longevity, and adult stage were significantly decreased in the aposymbionts. Therefore, it seems that the symbiont might play a vital function in the host biology, in which host optimal development depends on the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid27608918, year = {2016}, author = {Gao, G and Zhao, X and Li, Q and He, C and Zhao, W and Liu, S and Ding, J and Ye, W and Wang, J and Chen, Y and Wang, H and Li, J and Luo, Y and Su, J and Huang, Y and Liu, Z and Dai, R and Shi, Y and Meng, H and Wang, Q}, title = {Genome and metagenome analyses reveal adaptive evolution of the host and interaction with the gut microbiota in the goose.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {32961}, pmid = {27608918}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Geese/*genetics/microbiology ; Genomics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The goose is an economically important waterfowl that exhibits unique characteristics and abilities, such as liver fat deposition and fibre digestion. Here, we report de novo whole-genome assemblies for the goose and swan goose and describe the evolutionary relationships among 7 bird species, including domestic and wild geese, which diverged approximately 3.4~6.3 million years ago (Mya). In contrast to chickens as a proximal species, the expanded and rapidly evolving genes found in the goose genome are mainly involved in metabolism, including energy, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. Further integrated analysis of the host genome and gut metagenome indicated that the most widely shared functional enrichment of genes occurs for functions such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, propanoate metabolism and the citrate cycle. We speculate that the unique physiological abilities of geese benefit from the adaptive evolution of the host genome and symbiotic interactions with gut microbes.}, } @article {pmid27607553, year = {2016}, author = {Lewin, GR and Carlos, C and Chevrette, MG and Horn, HA and McDonald, BR and Stankey, RJ and Fox, BG and Currie, CR}, title = {Evolution and Ecology of Actinobacteria and Their Bioenergy Applications.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {235-254}, pmid = {27607553}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Biofuels/*analysis ; Biological Evolution ; *Biotechnology ; }, abstract = {The ancient phylum Actinobacteria is composed of phylogenetically and physiologically diverse bacteria that help Earth's ecosystems function. As free-living organisms and symbionts of herbivorous animals, Actinobacteria contribute to the global carbon cycle through the breakdown of plant biomass. In addition, they mediate community dynamics as producers of small molecules with diverse biological activities. Together, the evolution of high cellulolytic ability and diverse chemistry, shaped by their ecological roles in nature, make Actinobacteria a promising group for the bioenergy industry. Specifically, their enzymes can contribute to industrial-scale breakdown of cellulosic plant biomass into simple sugars that can then be converted into biofuels. Furthermore, harnessing their ability to biosynthesize a range of small molecules has potential for the production of specialty biofuels.}, } @article {pmid27605257, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, Y and Sun, J and Liu, Z and Nassar, MS and Botros, YY and Stoddart, JF}, title = {Symbiotic Control in Mechanical Bond Formation.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {55}, number = {40}, pages = {12387-12392}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201605454}, pmid = {27605257}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {Since the advent of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), many approaches to templating their formation using various different noncovalent bonding interactions have been introduced and explored. In particular, employing radical-pairing interactions between BIPY(.+) units, the radical cationic state of 4,4'-bipyridinium (BIPY(2+)) units, in syntheses is not only a convenient but also an attractive source of templation because of the unique properties residing in the resulting catenanes and rotaxanes. Herein, we report a copper-mediated procedure that enables the generation, in the MIM-precursors, of BIPY(.+) radical cations, while the metal itself, which is oxidized to Cu(I) , catalyzes the azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions that result in the efficient syntheses of two catenanes and one rotaxane, assisted by radical-pairing interactions between the BIPY(.+) radical cations. This procedure not only provides a fillip for making and investigating the properties of Coulombically challenged catenanes and rotaxanes, but it also opens up the possibility of synthesizing artificial molecular machines which operate away from equilibrium.}, } @article {pmid27604604, year = {2016}, author = {Köhler, CA and Maes, M and Slyepchenko, A and Berk, M and Solmi, M and Lanctôt, KL and Carvalho, AF}, title = {The Gut-Brain Axis, Including the Microbiome, Leaky Gut and Bacterial Translocation: Mechanisms and Pathophysiological Role in Alzheimer's Disease.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical design}, volume = {22}, number = {40}, pages = {6152-6166}, doi = {10.2174/1381612822666160907093807}, pmid = {27604604}, issn = {1873-4286}, mesh = {Alzheimer Disease/immunology/*physiopathology ; Animals ; *Bacterial Translocation/immunology ; Brain/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a progressive disorder manifested by gradual memory loss and subsequent impairment in mental and behavioral functions. Though the primary risk factor for AD is advancing age, other factors such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, obesity, vascular factors and depression play a role in its pathogenesis. The human gastrointestinal tract has a diverse commensal microbial population, which has bidirectional interactions with the human host that are symbiotic in health, and in addition to nutrition, digestion, plays major roles in inflammation and immunity. The most prevalent hypothesis for AD is the amyloid hypothesis, which states that changes in the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein leads to the accumulation of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide. Aβ then triggers an immune response that drives neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in AD. The specific role of gut microbiota in modulating neuro-immune functions well beyond the gastrointestinal tract may constitute an important influence on the process of neurodegeneration. We first review the main mechanisms involved in AD physiopathology. Then, we review the alterations in gut microbiota and gut-brain axis that might be relevant to mediate or otherwise affect AD pathogenesis, especially those associated with aging. We finally summarize possible mechanisms that could mediate the involvement of gut-brain axis in AD physiopathology, and propose an integrative model.}, } @article {pmid27602283, year = {2016}, author = {Shropshire, JD and van Opstal, EJ and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {An optimized approach to germ-free rearing in the jewel wasp Nasonia.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2316}, pmid = {27602283}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Development of a Nasonia in vitrogerm-free rearing system in 2012 enabled investigation of Nasonia-microbiota interactions and real-time visualization of parasitoid metamorphosis. However, the use of antibiotics, bleach, and fetal bovine serum introduced artifacts relative to conventional rearing of Nasonia. Here, we optimize the germ-free rearing procedure by using filter sterilization in lieu of antibiotics and by removing residual bleach and fetal bovine serum. Comparison of these methods reveals no influence on larval survival or growth, and a 52% improvement in adult production. Additionally, adult males produced in the new germ-free system are similar in size to conventionally reared males. Experimental implications of these changes are discussed.}, } @article {pmid27602046, year = {2016}, author = {Martín-Rodríguez, JA and Huertas, R and Ho-Plágaro, T and Ocampo, JA and Turečková, V and Tarkowská, D and Ludwig-Müller, J and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Gibberellin-Abscisic Acid Balances during Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Formation in Tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1273}, pmid = {27602046}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant hormones have become appropriate candidates for driving functional plant mycorrhization programs, including the processes that regulate the formation of arbuscules in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Here, we examine the role played by ABA/GA interactions regulating the formation of AM in tomato. We report differences in ABA and GA metabolism between control and mycorrhizal roots. Active synthesis and catabolism of ABA occur in AM roots. GAs level increases as a consequence of a symbiosis-induced mechanism that requires functional arbuscules which in turn is dependent on a functional ABA pathway. A negative interaction in their metabolism has been demonstrated. ABA attenuates GA-biosynthetic and increases GA-catabolic gene expression leading to a reduction in bioactive GAs. Vice versa, GA activated ABA catabolism mainly in mycorrhizal roots. The negative impact of GA3 on arbuscule abundance in wild-type plants is partially offset by treatment with ABA and the application of a GA biosynthesis inhibitor rescued the arbuscule abundance in the ABA-deficient sitiens mutant. These findings, coupled with the evidence that ABA application leads to reduce bioactive GA1, support the hypothesis that ABA could act modifying bioactive GA level to regulate AM. Taken together, our results suggest that these hormones perform essential functions and antagonize each other by oppositely regulating AM formation in tomato roots.}, } @article {pmid27602024, year = {2016}, author = {Rachwał, K and Boguszewska, A and Kopcińska, J and Karaś, M and Tchórzewski, M and Janczarek, M}, title = {The Regulatory Protein RosR Affects Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii Protein Profiles, Cell Surface Properties, and Symbiosis with Clover.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1302}, pmid = {27602024}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is capable of establishing a symbiotic relationship with plants from the genus Trifolium. Previously, a regulatory protein encoded by rosR was identified and characterized in this bacterium. RosR possesses a Cys2-His2-type zinc finger motif and belongs to Ros/MucR family of rhizobial transcriptional regulators. Transcriptome profiling of the rosR mutant revealed a role of this protein in several cellular processes, including the synthesis of cell-surface components and polysaccharides, motility, and bacterial metabolism. Here, we show that a mutation in rosR resulted in considerable changes in R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii protein profiles. Extracellular, membrane, and periplasmic protein profiles of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii wild type and the rosR mutant were examined, and proteins with substantially different abundances between these strains were identified. Compared with the wild type, extracellular fraction of the rosR mutant contained greater amounts of several proteins, including Ca(2+)-binding cadherin-like proteins, a RTX-like protein, autoaggregation protein RapA1, and flagellins FlaA and FlaB. In contrast, several proteins involved in the uptake of various substrates were less abundant in the mutant strain (DppA, BraC, and SfuA). In addition, differences were observed in membrane proteins of the mutant and wild-type strains, which mainly concerned various transport system components. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, we characterized the topography and surface properties of the rosR mutant and wild-type cells. We found that the mutation in rosR gene also affected surface properties of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii. The mutant cells were significantly more hydrophobic than the wild-type cells, and their outer membrane was three times more permeable to the hydrophobic dye N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine. The mutation of rosR also caused defects in bacterial symbiotic interaction with clover plants. Compared with the wild type, the rosR mutant infected host plant roots much less effectively and its nodule occupation was disturbed. At the ultrastructural level, the most striking differences between the mutant and the wild-type nodules concerned the structure of infection threads, release of bacteria, and bacteroid differentiation. This confirms an essential role of RosR in establishment of successful symbiotic interaction of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii with clover plants.}, } @article {pmid27601031, year = {2016}, author = {Peralta, H and Aguilar, A and Díaz, R and Mora, Y and Martínez-Batallar, G and Salazar, E and Vargas-Lagunas, C and Martínez, E and Encarnación, S and Girard, L and Mora, J}, title = {Genomic studies of nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains from Phaseolus vulgaris seeds and nodules.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {711}, pmid = {27601031}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Proteomics/*methods ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobia are soil bacteria that establish symbiotic relationships with legumes and fix nitrogen in root nodules. We recently reported that several nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains, belonging to Rhizobium phaseoli, R. trifolii, R. grahamii and Sinorhizobium americanum, were able to colonize Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) seeds. To gain further insight into the traits that support this ability, we analyzed the genomic sequences and proteomes of R. phaseoli (CCGM1) and S. americanum (CCGM7) strains from seeds and compared them with those of the closely related strains CIAT652 and CFNEI73, respectively, isolated only from nodules.

RESULTS: In a fine structural study of the S. americanum genomes, the chromosomes, megaplasmids and symbiotic plasmids were highly conserved and syntenic, with the exception of the smaller plasmid, which appeared unrelated. The symbiotic tract of CCGM7 appeared more disperse, possibly due to the action of transposases. The chromosomes of seed strains had less transposases and strain-specific genes. The seed strains CCGM1 and CCGM7 shared about half of their genomes with their closest strains (3353 and 3472 orthologs respectively), but a large fraction of the rest also had homology with other rhizobia. They contained 315 and 204 strain-specific genes, respectively, particularly abundant in the functions of transcription, motility, energy generation and cofactor biosynthesis. The proteomes of seed and nodule strains were obtained and showed a particular profile for each of the strains. About 82 % of the proteins in the comparisons appeared similar. Forty of the most abundant proteins in each strain were identified; these proteins in seed strains were involved in stress responses and coenzyme and cofactor biosynthesis and in the nodule strains mainly in central processes. Only 3 % of the abundant proteins had hypothetical functions.

CONCLUSIONS: Functions that were enriched in the genomes and proteomes of seed strains possibly participate in the successful occupancy of the new niche. The genome of the strains had features possibly related to their presence in the seeds. This study helps to understand traits of rhizobia involved in seed adaptation.}, } @article {pmid27601008, year = {2016}, author = {Peter, M and Kohler, A and Ohm, RA and Kuo, A and Krützmann, J and Morin, E and Arend, M and Barry, KW and Binder, M and Choi, C and Clum, A and Copeland, A and Grisel, N and Haridas, S and Kipfer, T and LaButti, K and Lindquist, E and Lipzen, A and Maire, R and Meier, B and Mihaltcheva, S and Molinier, V and Murat, C and Pöggeler, S and Quandt, CA and Sperisen, C and Tritt, A and Tisserant, E and Crous, PW and Henrissat, B and Nehls, U and Egli, S and Spatafora, JW and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, FM}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal ecology is imprinted in the genome of the dominant symbiotic fungus Cenococcum geophilum.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12662}, pmid = {27601008}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Aquaporins/metabolism ; Ascomycota/*genetics ; Basidiomycota/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Fungal Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Pinus sylvestris/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Transcriptome ; Water ; }, abstract = {The most frequently encountered symbiont on tree roots is the ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum, the only mycorrhizal species within the largest fungal class Dothideomycetes, a class known for devastating plant pathogens. Here we show that the symbiotic genomic idiosyncrasies of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes are also present in C. geophilum with symbiosis-induced, taxon-specific genes of unknown function and reduced numbers of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. C. geophilum still holds a significant set of genes in categories known to be involved in pathogenesis and shows an increased genome size due to transposable elements proliferation. Transcript profiling revealed a striking upregulation of membrane transporters, including aquaporin water channels and sugar transporters, and mycorrhiza-induced small secreted proteins (MiSSPs) in ectomycorrhiza compared with free-living mycelium. The frequency with which this symbiont is found on tree roots and its possible role in water and nutrient transport in symbiosis calls for further studies on mechanisms of host and environmental adaptation.}, } @article {pmid27600786, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, LJ and Martinez-Sañudo, I and Mazzon, L and Prabhakar, CS and Girolami, V and Deng, YL and Dai, Y and Li, ZH}, title = {Bacterial communities associated with invasive populations of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {106}, number = {6}, pages = {718-728}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485316000390}, pmid = {27600786}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry ; Enterococcaceae/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/isolation & purification/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is a destructive insect pest of a wide range of fruits and vegetables. This pest is an invasive species and is currently distributed in some provinces of China. To recover the symbiotic bacteria of B. dorsalis from different invasion regions in China, we researched the bacterial diversity of this fruit fly among one laboratory colony (Guangdong, China) and 15 wild populations (14 sites in China and one site in Thailand) using DNA-based approaches. The construction of 16S rRNA gene libraries allowed the identification of 24 operational taxonomic units of associated bacteria at the 3% distance level, and these were affiliated with 3 phyla, 5 families, and 13 genera. The higher bacterial diversity was recovered in wild populations compared with the laboratory colony and in samples from early term invasion regions compared with samples from late term invasion regions. Moreover, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Providencia sp. were two of the most frequently recovered bacteria, present in flies collected from three different regions in China where B. dorsalis is invasive. This study for the first time provides a systemic investigation of the symbiotic bacteria of B. dorsalis from different invasion regions in China.}, } @article {pmid27599759, year = {2016}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A and Latorre, A}, title = {Snapshots of a shrinking partner: Genome reduction in Serratia symbiotica.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {32590}, pmid = {27599759}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; RNA Stability/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Serratia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome reduction is pervasive among maternally-inherited endosymbiotic organisms, from bacteriocyte- to gut-associated ones. This genome erosion is a step-wise process in which once free-living organisms evolve to become obligate associates, thereby losing non-essential or redundant genes/functions. Serratia symbiotica (Gammaproteobacteria), a secondary endosymbiont present in many aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), displays various characteristics that make it a good model organism for studying genome reduction. While some strains are of facultative nature, others have established co-obligate associations with their respective aphid host and its primary endosymbiont (Buchnera). Furthermore, the different strains hold genomes of contrasting sizes and features, and have strikingly disparate cell shapes, sizes, and tissue tropism. Finally, genomes from closely related free-living Serratia marcescens are also available. In this study, we describe in detail the genome reduction process (from free-living to reduced obligate endosymbiont) undergone by S. symbiotica, and relate it to the stages of integration to the symbiotic system the different strains find themselves in. We establish that the genome reduction patterns observed in S. symbiotica follow those from other dwindling genomes, thus proving to be a good model for the study of the genome reduction process within a single bacterial taxon evolving in a similar biological niche (aphid-Buchnera).}, } @article {pmid27599462, year = {2016}, author = {Lachance, MA}, title = {Metschnikowia: half tetrads, a regicide and the fountain of youth.}, journal = {Yeast (Chichester, England)}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {563-574}, doi = {10.1002/yea.3208}, pmid = {27599462}, issn = {1097-0061}, abstract = {The purpose of this review is to introduce Metschnikowia to the yeast researcher community and to convince readers that the genus is a worthwhile object of study in developmental biology, genetics, ecology and biotechnology. Metschnikowia sits at the foundation of modern immunology, having been instrumental in the discovery of animal phagocytosis. Some 81 species form a monophyletic group within the Metschnikowiaceae, which also include the smaller genus Clavispora and a few clades of Candida species. The family stands out by the habit of forming, by meiosis, only two ascospores, which in Metschnikowia are needle shaped. In some cases, the spores can reach enormous proportions, exceeding 200 µm in length; in others, ascus formation is preceded by the development of chlamydospores. The adaptive value of such features remains to be elucidated. Extensive genetic studies are lacking, but attempts to apply methods developed for model species have been successful. Some species are found at the plant-insect interface whereas others are pathogens of aquatic animals and have served as model organisms in the exploration of host-parasite theory. Some species are globally distributed and others exhibit extreme endemism. Many species are remarkably easy to recover by sampling their known habitats. M. pulcherrima and close relatives may play an important role in wine quality and produce pulcherrimin, an iron-dipeptide complex that can interfere with the growth of other microorganisms. Some symbiotic species incapable of growth in culture media have been assigned to the genus, but their kinship with the group remains to be demonstrated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.}, } @article {pmid27598941, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, E and Kim, Y}, title = {Translational Control of Host Gene Expression by a Cys-Motif Protein Encoded in a Bracovirus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e0161661}, pmid = {27598941}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Animals ; DNA/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Insect Viruses/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Open Reading Frames ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Viral Proteins/genetics ; Wasps/genetics/*virology ; }, abstract = {Translational control is a strategy that various viruses use to manipulate their hosts to suppress acute antiviral response. Polydnaviruses, a group of insect double-stranded DNA viruses symbiotic to some endoparasitoid wasps, are divided into two genera: ichnovirus (IV) and bracovirus (BV). In IV, some Cys-motif genes are known as host translation-inhibitory factors (HTIF). The genome of endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia plutellae contains a Cys-motif gene (Cp-TSP13) homologous to an HTIF known as teratocyte-secretory protein 14 (TSP14) of Microplitis croceipes. Cp-TSP13 consists of 129 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 13.987 kDa and pI value of 7.928. Genomic DNA region encoding its open reading frame has three introns. Cp-TSP13 possesses six conserved cysteine residues as other Cys-motif genes functioning as HTIF. Cp-TSP13 was expressed in Plutella xylostella larvae parasitized by C. plutellae. C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) was purified and injected into non-parasitized P. xylostella that expressed Cp-TSP13. Cp-TSP13 was cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector and used to infect Sf9 cells to transiently express Cp-TSP13. The synthesized Cp-TSP13 protein was detected in culture broth. An overlaying experiment showed that the purified Cp-TSP13 entered hemocytes. It was localized in the cytosol. Recombinant Cp-TSP13 significantly inhibited protein synthesis of secretory proteins when it was added to in vitro cultured fat body. In addition, the recombinant Cp-TSP13 directly inhibited the translation of fat body mRNAs in in vitro translation assay using rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Moreover, the recombinant Cp-TSP13 significantly suppressed cellular immune responses by inhibiting hemocyte-spreading behavior. It also exhibited significant insecticidal activities by both injection and feeding routes. These results indicate that Cp-TSP13 is a viral HTIF.}, } @article {pmid27598333, year = {2016}, author = {Brasiliense, V and Berto, P and Combellas, C and Tessier, G and Kanoufi, F}, title = {Electrochemistry of Single Nanodomains Revealed by Three-Dimensional Holographic Microscopy.}, journal = {Accounts of chemical research}, volume = {49}, number = {9}, pages = {2049-2057}, doi = {10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00335}, pmid = {27598333}, issn = {1520-4898}, abstract = {Interest in nanoparticles has vigorously increased over the last 20 years as more and more studies show how their use can potentially revolutionize science and technology. Their applications span many different academically and industrially relevant fields such as catalysis, materials science, health, etc. Until the past decade, however, nanoparticle studies mostly relied on ensemble studies, thus leaving aside their chemical heterogeneity at the single particle level. Over the past few years, powerful new tools appeared to probe nanoparticles individually and in situ. This Account describes how we drew inspiration from the emerging fields of nanoelectrochemistry and plasmonics-based high resolution holographic microscopy to develop a coupled approach capable of analyzing in operando (electro)chemical reaction over one single nanoparticle. A brief overview of selected optical strategies to image NPs in situ with emphasis on scattering based methods is presented. In an electrochemical context, it is necessary to track particle behavior both in solution and near a polarized electrode, which is why 3D optical observation is particularly appealing. These approaches are discussed together with strategies to track NPs beyond the diffraction limit, allowing a much finer description of their trajectories. Then, the holographic setup is used to study electrochemically triggered Ag NP oxidation reaction in the presence of different electrolytes. Holography is shown to be a powerful technique to track and analyze the trajectory of individual NPs in situ, which further sheds light on in operando behaviors such as electrogenerated NP transport, aggregation, or adsorption. We then show that spectroscopy and scattering-based optical methods are reliable and sensitive to the point of being used to investigate and quantify NP (electro)chemical reactions in model cases. However, since real chemical reactions usually take place in an inherently complex environment, approaches based exclusively on optical imaging only reach their limitations. The strategy is then taken one step further by merging together electrochemical nanoimpact experiments with 3D optical monitoring. Previous strategies are validated by showing that in simple cases, these two independent ways of probing NP size and reactivity yield the same results. For more complicated reactions (e.g., multistep reactions), one must go beyond either technique by showing that the two approaches are perfectly complementary and that the two signals contain information of different natures, thus providing a much better characterization of the reaction. This point is illustrated by studying Ag NP oxidation (single or agglomerates) in the presence of a precipitating agent, where the actual oxidation is uncoupled from the dissolution of the particle, thus proving the point of our symbiotic approach.}, } @article {pmid27595990, year = {2016}, author = {Machado-Ferreira, E and Vizzoni, VF and Balsemão-Pires, E and Moerbeck, L and Gazeta, GS and Piesman, J and Voloch, CM and Soares, CA}, title = {Coxiella symbionts are widespread into hard ticks.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {115}, number = {12}, pages = {4691-4699}, pmid = {27595990}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; China ; Coxiella/classification/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Ixodidae/*microbiology ; Kenya ; Molecular Typing ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods and can harbor several bacteria, including the worldwide zoonotic disease Q-fever agent Coxiella burnetii. Recent studies have reported a distinct group of Coxiella mostly associated with Ixodidae ticks, including the primary endosymbionts of Amblyomma americanum. In the present work, a screening for Coxiella infection was performed by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene analyses in 293 tick samples of 15 different species sampled worldwide, including Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, and China. Different Coxiella phylotypes were identified, and these putative symbiotic bacteria were detected in ten different Amblyomma tick species. Approximately 61 % of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and ∼37 % of Rhipicephalus microplus DNA samples were positive for Coxiella. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction grouped all the detected Coxiella with Coxiella-like symbionts from different Ixodidae ticks. This well-defined clade clearly excludes known phylotypes of C. burnetii pathogens and other Coxiella spp. detected in different environmental samples and other invertebrate hosts.}, } @article {pmid27594779, year = {2016}, author = {Polania, J and Poschenrieder, C and Rao, I and Beebe, S}, title = {Estimation of phenotypic variability in symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability of common bean under drought stress using [15]N natural abundance in grain.}, journal = {European journal of agronomy : the journal of the European Society for Agronomy}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {66-73}, pmid = {27594779}, issn = {1161-0301}, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume, cultivated by small farmers and is usually exposed to unfavorable conditions with minimum use of inputs. Drought and low soil fertility, especially phosphorus and nitrogen (N) deficiencies, are major limitations to bean yield in smallholder systems. Beans can derive part of their required N from the atmosphere through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Drought stress severely limits SNF ability of plants. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) test and validate the use of [15]N natural abundance in grain to quantify phenotypic differences in SNF ability for its implementation in breeding programs of common bean with bush growth habit aiming to improve SNF, and (ii) quantify phenotypic differences in SNF under drought to identify superior genotypes that could serve as parents. Field studies were conducted at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia using a set of 36 bean genotypes belonging to the Middle American gene pool for evaluation in two seasons with two levels of water supply (irrigated and drought stress). We used [15]N natural abundance method to compare SNF ability estimated from shoot tissue sampled at mid-pod filling growth stage vs. grain tissue sampled at harvest. Our results showed positive and significant correlation between nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) estimated using shoot tissue at mid-pod filling and %Ndfa estimated using grain tissue at harvest. Both methods showed phenotypic variability in SNF ability under both drought and irrigated conditions and a significant reduction in SNF ability was observed under drought stress. We suggest that the method of estimating Ndfa using grain tissue (Ndfa-G) could be applied in bean breeding programs to improve SNF ability. Using this method of Ndfa-G, we identified four bean lines (RCB 593, SEA 15, NCB 226 and BFS 29) that combine greater SNF ability with greater grain yield under drought stress and these could serve as potential parents to further improve SNF ability of common bean.}, } @article {pmid27592717, year = {2016}, author = {Slattery, J and MacFabe, DF and Kahler, SG and Frye, RE}, title = {Enteric Ecosystem Disruption in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Can the Microbiota and Macrobiota be Restored?.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical design}, volume = {22}, number = {40}, pages = {6107-6121}, doi = {10.2174/1381612822666160905123953}, pmid = {27592717}, issn = {1873-4286}, mesh = {Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/drug therapy/*immunology/*metabolism ; Humans ; Microbiota/*immunology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many lines of scientific research suggest that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) may be associated with alterations in the enteric ecosystem, including alterations of the enteric macrobiome (i.e. helminthes and fauna) and changes in predominant microbiome species, particularly a reduction in microbiome species diversity.

METHODS: We performed a comprehensive review of the literature and summarized the major findings.

RESULTS: Alterations in the enteric ecosystem are believed to be due to a variety of factors including changes in the post-industrial society related to decreased exposure to symbiotic organisms, increased human migration, overuse of antibiotics and changes in dietary habits. Changes in the enteric ecosystem are believed to alter metabolic and immune system function and epigenetic regulation. If these changes occur during critical developmental windows, the trajectory of brain development, as well as brain function, can be altered. This paper reviews theoretical models that explain how these perturbations may in isolation or in combination be causative for ASDs as well as the preclinical and clinical studies that support these models. We discuss how these alterations may converge to trigger or exacerbate the formation of an ASD phenotype. We focus on possible preconception, prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors that may alter the enteric ecosystem leading to physiological disruptions, potentially through triggering events.

CONCLUSION: If these theoretical models prove to be valid, they may lead to the development of practical interventions which could decrease ASD prevalence and/or morbidity.}, } @article {pmid27590698, year = {2016}, author = {Alum, A and Isaacs, GZ}, title = {Aerobiology of the built environment: Synergy between Legionella and fungi.}, journal = {American journal of infection control}, volume = {44}, number = {9 Suppl}, pages = {S138-43}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajic.2016.06.004}, pmid = {27590698}, issn = {1527-3296}, mesh = {*Air Microbiology ; Fungi/*growth & development/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Humans ; Legionella/*growth & development/*isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The modern built environment (BE) design creates unique ecological niches ideal for the survival and mutual interaction of microbial communities. This investigation focused on the synergistic relations between Legionella and the fungal species commonly found in BEs and the impact of these synergistic relationships on the survival and transmission of Legionella.

METHODS: A field study was conducted to identify the types and concentrations of fungi in BEs. The fungal isolates purified from BEs were cocultured with Legionella to study their synergistic association. Cocultured Legionella cells were aerosolized in an air-tight chamber to evaluate the efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) to inactivate these cells.

RESULTS: Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Cladosporium were the most common fungi detected in samples that tested positive for Legionella. After coculturing, Legionella cells were detected inside fungal hyphae. The microscopic observations of Legionella internalization in fungal hyphae were confirmed by molecular analyses. UV disinfection of the aerosolized Legionella cells that were cocultured with fungi indicated that fungal spores and propagules act as a shield against UV radiation. The shield effect of fungal spores on Legionella cells was quantified at >2.5 log10.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first evidence, to our knowledge, of Legionella cell presence inside fungi detected in an indoor environment. This symbiotic relationship with fungi results in longer survival of Legionella under ambient conditions and provides protection against UV rays.}, } @article {pmid27588707, year = {2017}, author = {Darnajoux, R and Zhang, X and McRose, DL and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F and Kraepiel, AM and Bellenger, JP}, title = {Biological nitrogen fixation by alternative nitrogenases in boreal cyanolichens: importance of molybdenum availability and implications for current biological nitrogen fixation estimates.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {2}, pages = {680-689}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14166}, pmid = {27588707}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/drug effects/*metabolism ; Discriminant Analysis ; Environmental Pollution ; Lichens/drug effects/*enzymology/*microbiology ; Linear Models ; Molybdenum/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*drug effects ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Sweden ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Vanadium/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Cryptogamic species and their associated cyanobacteria have attracted the attention of biogeochemists because of their critical roles in the nitrogen cycle through symbiotic and asymbiotic biological fixation of nitrogen (BNF). BNF is mediated by the nitrogenase enzyme, which, in its most common form, requires molybdenum at its active site. Molybdenum has been reported as a limiting nutrient for BNF in many ecosystems, including tropical and temperate forests. Recent studies have suggested that alternative nitrogenases, which use vanadium or iron in place of molybdenum at their active site, might play a more prominent role in natural ecosystems than previously recognized. Here, we studied the occurrence of vanadium, the role of molybdenum availability on vanadium acquisition and the contribution of alternative nitrogenases to BNF in the ubiquitous cyanolichen Peltigera aphthosa s.l. We confirmed the use of the alternative vanadium-based nitrogenase in the Nostoc cyanobiont of these lichens and its substantial contribution to BNF in this organism. We also showed that the acquisition of vanadium is strongly regulated by the abundance of molybdenum. These findings show that alternative nitrogenase can no longer be neglected in natural ecosystems, particularly in molybdenum-limited habitats.}, } @article {pmid27588025, year = {2016}, author = {Boivin, S and Fonouni-Farde, C and Frugier, F}, title = {How Auxin and Cytokinin Phytohormones Modulate Root Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1240}, pmid = {27588025}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {A large range of microorganisms can associate with plants, resulting in neutral, friendly or hostile interactions. The ability of plants to recognize compatible and incompatible microorganisms and to limit or promote their colonization is therefore crucial for their survival. Elaborated communication networks determine the degree of association between the host plant and the invading microorganism. Central to these regulations of plant microbe interactions, phytohormones modulate microorganism plant associations and coordinate cellular and metabolic responses associated to the progression of microorganisms across different plant tissues. We review here hormonal regulations, focusing on auxin and cytokinin phytohormones, involved in the interactions between plant roots and soil microorganisms, including bacterial and fungi associations, either beneficial (symbiotic) or detrimental (pathogenic). The aim is to highlight similarities and differences in cytokinin/auxin functions amongst various compatible versus incompatible associations.}, } @article {pmid27587484, year = {2016}, author = {Hellmann, C and Rascher, KG and Oldeland, J and Werner, C}, title = {Isoscapes resolve species-specific spatial patterns in plant-plant interactions in an invaded Mediterranean dune ecosystem.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {36}, number = {12}, pages = {1460-1470}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpw075}, pmid = {27587484}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Acacia/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; *Introduced Species ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Environmental heterogeneity and plant-plant interactions are key factors shaping plant communities. However, the spatial dimension of plant-plant interactions has seldom been addressed in field studies. This is at least partially rooted in a lack of methods that can accurately resolve functional processes in a spatially explicit manner. Isoscapes, that is, spatially explicit representations of stable isotope data, provide a versatile means to trace functional changes on spatial scales, for example, related to N-cycling (foliar δ[15]N) and water use efficiency (WUEi, foliar δ[13]C). In a case study in a nutrient-depleted Mediterranean dune ecosystem, we analysed the spatial impact of the invasive N2-fixing Acacia longifolia on three native species of different functional types using δ[15]N and δ[13]C isoscapes and spatial autocorrelation analyses. Isoscapes revealed strong spatial patterns in δ[15]N and δ[13]C with pronounced species-specific differences, demonstrating distinct spatial ranges of plant-plant interactions. A coniferous tree and an ericaceous dwarf shrub showed significant enrichment in δ[15]N within a range of 5-8 m surrounding the canopy of A. longifolia, indicating input of N originating from symbiotic N2-fixation by the invader. In the dwarf shrub, which was most responsive to invader influence, enrichment in δ[13]C additionally demonstrated spatially explicit changes to WUEi, while a native N2-fixer was unresponsive to the presence of the invader. Furthermore, δ[15]N and δ[13]C isoscapes yielded different patterns, indicating that plant-plant interactions can have distinct spatial distributions and ranges based on the process measured. Additionally, the magnitude of the effect differed between field situations with high and low invasion pressure. This study highlights that the spatial scale must be accounted for when assessing the effects and outcome of species interactions. Functional tracers such as stable isotopes enable us to quantify spatial ranges of plant-plant interactions, providing empirical data that can help to better understand and predict complex species interactions in multifaceted natural environments.}, } @article {pmid27586842, year = {2016}, author = {Fonouni-Farde, C and Tan, S and Baudin, M and Brault, M and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Niebel, A and Frugier, F and Diet, A}, title = {DELLA-mediated gibberellin signalling regulates Nod factor signalling and rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12636}, pmid = {27586842}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor/metabolism ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes develop symbiotic interactions with rhizobial bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing nodules. Bacterial Nod factors (NFs) and plant regulatory pathways modulating NF signalling control rhizobial infections and nodulation efficiency. Here we show that gibberellin (GA) signalling mediated by DELLA proteins inhibits rhizobial infections and controls the NF induction of the infection marker ENOD11 in Medicago truncatula. Ectopic expression of a constitutively active DELLA protein in the epidermis is sufficient to promote ENOD11 expression in the absence of symbiotic signals. We show using heterologous systems that DELLA proteins can interact with the nodulation signalling pathway 2 (NSP2) and nuclear factor-YA1 (NF-YA1) transcription factors that are essential for the activation of NF responses. Furthermore, MtDELLA1 can bind the ERN1 (ERF required for nodulation 1) promoter and positively transactivate its expression. Overall, we propose that GA-dependent action of DELLA proteins may directly regulate the NSP1/NSP2 and NF-YA1 activation of ERN1 transcription to regulate rhizobial infections.}, } @article {pmid27585456, year = {2016}, author = {Temate-Tiagueu, Y and Seesi, SA and Mathew, M and Mandric, I and Rodriguez, A and Bean, K and Cheng, Q and Glebova, O and Măndoiu, I and Lopanik, NB and Zelikovsky, A}, title = {Inferring metabolic pathway activity levels from RNA-Seq data.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17 Suppl 5}, number = {Suppl 5}, pages = {542}, pmid = {27585456}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bryozoa/genetics/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Software ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Assessing pathway activity levels is a plausible way to quantify metabolic differences between various conditions. This is usually inferred from microarray expression data. Wide availability of NGS technology has triggered a demand for bioinformatics tools capable of analyzing pathway activity directly from RNA-Seq data. In this paper we introduce XPathway, a set of tools that compares pathway activity analyzing mapping of contigs assembled from RNA-Seq reads to KEGG pathways. The XPathway analysis of pathway activity is based on expectation maximization and topological properties of pathway graphs.

RESULTS: XPathway tools have been applied to RNA-Seq data from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina with and without its symbiotic bacterium "Candidatus Endobugula sertula". We successfully identified several metabolic pathways with differential activity levels. The expression of enzymes from the identified pathways has been further validated through quantitative PCR (qPCR).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that XPathway is able to detect and quantify the metabolic difference in two samples. The software is implemented in C, Python and shell scripting and is capable of running on Linux/Unix platforms. The source code and installation instructions are available at http://alan.cs.gsu.edu/NGS/?q=content/xpathway .}, } @article {pmid27585433, year = {2016}, author = {Shah, V and Luxton, TP and Walker, VK and Brumfield, T and Yost, J and Shah, S and Wilkinson, JE and Kambhampati, M}, title = {Fate and impact of zero-valent copper nanoparticles on geographically-distinct soils.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {573}, number = {}, pages = {661-670}, pmid = {27585433}, issn = {1879-1026}, support = {EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/United States ; }, mesh = {Copper/*chemistry ; Geography ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*chemistry ; United States ; }, abstract = {The fate of engineered zero-valent copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) in soils collected from geographically-distinct regions of the continental United States and incubated under controlled conditions was investigated with respect to NP affinity for soil surfaces and changes in speciation, as well as their impact on bacterial communities. Soil geochemical properties had a great influence on Cu NP migration and transformation. Translocation of Cu NPs was low in soils enriched in organic matter and high in clay and sandy soils. X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis showed that the highest rates for transformation to Cu ions and adsorption complexes was in acidic soils. Although there was some change in overall bacterial community richness at the level of order in experimental soil, the level of perturbation was evident in side-by-side comparisons of orders using a 50% microbial community change value (MCC50). This assessment revealed that generally, Sphingomonas, known for its importance for remediation, and Rhizobiales, symbiotic partners with certain plants appeared susceptible to Cu NPs and their transformation products. The ecological importance of organisms from these orders and its greater vulnerability to Cu NPs suggests need for future targeted studies.}, } @article {pmid27583820, year = {2016}, author = {Ishangulyyeva, G and Najar, A and Curtis, JM and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Fatty Acid Composition of Novel Host Jack Pine Do Not Prevent Host Acceptance and Colonization by the Invasive Mountain Pine Beetle and Its Symbiotic Fungus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e0162046}, pmid = {27583820}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/drug effects/*microbiology/*physiology ; Fatty Acids/*pharmacology ; *Introduced Species ; Larva/drug effects/physiology ; Ophiostomatales/*drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Pinus/*metabolism/physiology ; Survival Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fatty acids are major components of plant lipids and can affect growth and development of insect herbivores. Despite a large literature examining the roles of fatty acids in conifers, relatively few studies have tested the effects of fatty acids on insect herbivores and their microbial symbionts. Particularly, whether fatty acids can affect the suitability of conifers for insect herbivores has never been studied before. Thus, we evaluated if composition of fatty acids impede or facilitate colonization of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) by the invasive mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and its symbiotic fungus (Grosmannia clavigera). This is the first study to examine the effects of tree fatty acids on any bark beetle species and its symbiotic fungus. In a novel bioassay, we found that plant tissues (hosts and non-host) amended with synthetic fatty acids at concentrations representative of jack pine were compatible with beetle larvae. Likewise, G. clavigera grew in media amended with lipid fractions or synthetic fatty acids at concentrations present in jack pine. In contrast, fatty acids and lipid composition of a non-host were not suitable for the beetle larvae or the fungus. Apparently, concentrations of individual, rather than total, fatty acids determined the suitability of jack pine. Furthermore, sampling of host and non-host tree species across Canada demonstrated that the composition of jack pine fatty acids was similar to the different populations of beetle's historical hosts. These results demonstrate that fatty acids composition compatible with insect herbivores and their microbial symbionts can be important factor defining host suitability to invasive insects.}, } @article {pmid27583519, year = {2016}, author = {Cale, JA and Collignon, RM and Klutsch, JG and Kanekar, SS and Hussain, A and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Fungal Volatiles Can Act as Carbon Sources and Semiochemicals to Mediate Interspecific Interactions Among Bark Beetle-Associated Fungal Symbionts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e0162197}, pmid = {27583519}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/*chemistry ; Coleoptera/microbiology/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) has killed millions of hectares of pine forests in western North America. Beetle success is dependent upon a community of symbiotic fungi comprised of Grosmannia clavigera, Ophiostoma montium, and Leptographium longiclavatum. Factors regulating the dynamics of this community during pine infection are largely unknown. However, fungal volatile organic compounds (FVOCs) help shape fungal interactions in model and agricultural systems and thus may be important drivers of interactions among bark beetle-associated fungi. We investigated whether FVOCs can mediate interspecific interactions among mountain pine beetle's fungal symbionts by affecting fungal growth and reproduction. Headspace volatiles were collected and identified to determine species-specific volatile profiles. Interspecific effects of volatiles on fungal growth and conidia production were assessed by pairing physically-separated fungal cultures grown either on a carbon-poor or -rich substrate, inside a shared-headspace environment. Fungal VOC profiles differed by species and influenced the growth and/or conidia production of the other species. Further, our results showed that FVOCs can be used as carbon sources for fungi developing on carbon-poor substrates. This is the first report demonstrating that FVOCs can drive interactions among bark beetle fungal symbionts, and thus are important factors in beetle attack success.}, } @article {pmid27582420, year = {2017}, author = {Delaux, PM}, title = {Comparative phylogenomics of symbiotic associations.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {1}, pages = {89-94}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14161}, pmid = {27582420}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {89 I. 89 II. 90 III. 90 IV. 91 V. 92 VI. 93 References 93 SUMMARY: Understanding the genetic bases of complex traits has been a main challenge in biology for decades. Comparative phylogenomics offers an opportunity to identify candidate genes associated with these complex traits. This approach initially developed in prokaryotes consists in looking at shared coevolution between genes and traits. It thus requires a precise reconstruction of the trait evolution, a large genomic sampling in the clades of interest and an accurate definition of orthogroups. Recently, with the growing body of sequenced plant genomes, comparative genomics has been successfully applied to plants to study the widespread arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Here I will use these findings to illustrate the main principles of comparative phylogenomic approaches and propose directions to improve our understanding of symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid27582377, year = {2017}, author = {Di Giacomo, E and Laffont, C and Sciarra, F and Iannelli, MA and Frugier, F and Frugis, G}, title = {KNAT3/4/5-like class 2 KNOX transcription factors are involved in Medicago truncatula symbiotic nodule organ development.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {2}, pages = {822-837}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14146}, pmid = {27582377}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Organogenesis/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {We investigated the role of KNOX genes in legume root nodule organogenesis. Class 1 KNOX homeodomain transcription factors (TFs) are involved in plant shoot development and leaf shape diversity. Class 2 KNOX genes are less characterized, even though an antagonistic function relative to class 1 KNOXs was recently proposed. In silico expression data and further experimental validation identified in the Medicago truncatula model legume three class 2 KNOX genes, belonging to the KNAT3/4/5-like subclass (Mt KNAT3/4/5-like), as expressed during nodulation from early stages. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing and overexpression studies were used to unravel a function for KNOX TFs in nodule development. Mt KNAT3/4/5-like genes encoded four highly homologous proteins showing overlapping expression patterns during nodule organogenesis, suggesting functional redundancy. Simultaneous reduction of Mt KNAT3/4/5-like genes indeed led to an increased formation of fused nodule organs, and decreased the expression of the MtEFD (Ethylene response Factor required for nodule Differentiation) TF and its direct target MtRR4, a cytokinin response gene. Class 2 KNOX TFs therefore regulate legume nodule development, potentially through the MtEFD/MtRR4 cytokinin-related regulatory module, and may control nodule organ boundaries and shape like class 2 KNOX function in leaf development.}, } @article {pmid27582300, year = {2017}, author = {Kaur, J and Fellers, J and Adholeya, A and Velivelli, SL and El-Mounadi, K and Nersesian, N and Clemente, T and Shah, D}, title = {Expression of apoplast-targeted plant defensin MtDef4.2 confers resistance to leaf rust pathogen Puccinia triticina but does not affect mycorrhizal symbiosis in transgenic wheat.}, journal = {Transgenic research}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {37-49}, pmid = {27582300}, issn = {1573-9368}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/pathogenicity ; Defensins/*genetics ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Triticum/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rust fungi of the order Pucciniales are destructive pathogens of wheat worldwide. Leaf rust caused by the obligate, biotrophic basidiomycete fungus Puccinia triticina (Pt) is an economically important disease capable of causing up to 50 % yield losses. Historically, resistant wheat cultivars have been used to control leaf rust, but genetic resistance is ephemeral and breaks down with the emergence of new virulent Pt races. There is a need to develop alternative measures for control of leaf rust in wheat. Development of transgenic wheat expressing an antifungal defensin offers a promising approach to complement the endogenous resistance genes within the wheat germplasm for durable resistance to Pt. To that end, two different wheat genotypes, Bobwhite and Xin Chun 9 were transformed with a chimeric gene encoding an apoplast-targeted antifungal plant defensin MtDEF4.2 from Medicago truncatula. Transgenic lines from four independent events were further characterized. Homozygous transgenic wheat lines expressing MtDEF4.2 displayed resistance to Pt race MCPSS relative to the non-transgenic controls in growth chamber bioassays. Histopathological analysis suggested the presence of both pre- and posthaustorial resistance to leaf rust in these transgenic lines. MtDEF4.2 did not, however, affect the root colonization of a beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. This study demonstrates that the expression of apoplast-targeted plant defensin MtDEF4.2 can provide substantial resistance to an economically important leaf rust disease in transgenic wheat without negatively impacting its symbiotic relationship with the beneficial mycorrhizal fungus.}, } @article {pmid27582179, year = {2016}, author = {Wolfowicz, I and Baumgarten, S and Voss, PA and Hambleton, EA and Voolstra, CR and Hatta, M and Guse, A}, title = {Aiptasia sp. larvae as a model to reveal mechanisms of symbiont selection in cnidarians.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {32366}, pmid = {27582179}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Association Studies ; Larva ; *Models, Biological ; Sea Anemones/genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis, defined as the persistent association between two distinct species, is an evolutionary and ecologically critical phenomenon facilitating survival of both partners in diverse habitats. The biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems depends on a functional symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the highly diverse genus Symbiodinium, which reside in coral host cells and continuously support their nutrition. The mechanisms underlying symbiont selection to establish a stable endosymbiosis in non-symbiotic juvenile corals are unclear. Here we show for the first time that symbiont selection patterns for larvae of two Acropora coral species and the model anemone Aiptasia are similar under controlled conditions. We find that Aiptasia larvae distinguish between compatible and incompatible symbionts during uptake into the gastric cavity and phagocytosis. Using RNA-Seq, we identify a set of candidate genes potentially involved in symbiosis establishment. Together, our data complement existing molecular resources to mechanistically dissect symbiont phagocytosis in cnidarians under controlled conditions, thereby strengthening the role of Aiptasia larvae as a powerful model for cnidarian endosymbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid27578274, year = {2016}, author = {Handa, S and Paul, BG and Miller, JF and Valentine, DL and Ghosh, P}, title = {Conservation of the C-type lectin fold for accommodating massive sequence variation in archaeal diversity-generating retroelements.}, journal = {BMC structural biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {13}, pmid = {27578274}, issn = {1472-6807}, support = {R01 AI096838/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*genetics ; Archaeal Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Lectins, C-Type/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Retroelements/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) provide organisms with a unique means for adaptation to a dynamic environment through massive protein sequence variation. The potential scope of this variation exceeds that of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. DGRs were known to exist only in viruses and bacteria until their recent discovery in archaea belonging to the 'microbial dark matter', specifically in organisms closely related to Nanoarchaeota. However, Nanoarchaeota DGR variable proteins were unassignable to known protein folds and apparently unrelated to characterized DGR variable proteins.

RESULTS: To address the issue of how Nanoarchaeota DGR variable proteins accommodate massive sequence variation, we determined the 2.52 Å resolution limit crystal structure of one such protein, AvpA, which revealed a C-type lectin (CLec)-fold that organizes a putative ligand-binding site that is capable of accommodating 10(13) sequences. This fold is surprisingly reminiscent of the CLec-folds of viral and bacterial DGR variable protein, but differs sufficiently to define a new CLec-fold subclass, which is consistent with early divergence between bacterial and archaeal DGRs. The structure also enabled identification of a group of AvpA-like proteins in multiple putative DGRs from uncultivated archaea. These variable proteins may aid Nanoarchaeota and these uncultivated archaea in symbiotic relationships.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results have uncovered the widespread conservation of the CLec-fold in viruses, bacteria, and archaea for accommodating massive sequence variation. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first report of an archaeal CLec-fold protein.}, } @article {pmid27577790, year = {2016}, author = {Estrada-Navarrete, G and Cruz-Mireles, N and Lascano, R and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Hernández-Barrera, A and Barraza, A and Olivares, JE and Arthikala, MK and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C and Sanchez, F}, title = {An Autophagy-Related Kinase Is Essential for the Symbiotic Relationship between Phaseolus vulgaris and Both Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {28}, number = {9}, pages = {2326-2341}, pmid = {27577790}, issn = {1532-298X}, abstract = {Eukaryotes contain three types of lipid kinases that belong to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) family. In plants and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, only PI3K class III family members have been identified. These enzymes regulate the innate immune response, intracellular trafficking, autophagy, and senescence. Here, we report that RNAi-mediated downregulation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) PI3K severely impaired symbiosis in composite P. vulgaris plants with endosymbionts such as Rhizobium tropici and Rhizophagus irregularis Downregulation of Pv-PI3K was associated with a marked decrease in root hair growth and curling. Additionally, infection thread growth, root-nodule number, and symbiosome formation in root nodule cells were severely affected. Interestingly, root colonization by AM fungi and the formation of arbuscules were also abolished in PI3K loss-of-function plants. Furthermore, the transcript accumulation of genes encoding proteins known to interact with PI3K to form protein complexes involved in autophagy was drastically reduced in these transgenic roots. RNAi-mediated downregulation of one of these genes, Beclin1/Atg6, resulted in a similar phenotype as observed for transgenic roots in which Pv-PI3K had been downregulated. Our findings show that an autophagy-related process is crucial for the mutualistic interactions of P. vulgaris with beneficial microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid27577597, year = {2017}, author = {Moran, NA}, title = {Old and new symbiotic partners in lachnine aphids.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13516}, pmid = {27577597}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids ; Buchnera ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid27577027, year = {2016}, author = {Roberty, S and Furla, P and Plumier, JC}, title = {Differential antioxidant response between two Symbiodinium species from contrasting environments.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {12}, pages = {2713-2724}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12825}, pmid = {27577027}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Environment ; Lipid Peroxidation ; *Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Respiratory Burst ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {High sea surface temperature accompanied by high levels of solar irradiance is responsible for the disruption of the symbiosis between cnidarians and their symbiotic dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium. This phenomenon, known as coral bleaching, is one of the major threats affecting coral reefs around the world. Because an important molecular trigger to bleaching appears related to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), it is critical to understand the function of the antioxidant network of Symbiodinium species. In this study we investigated the response of two Symbiodinium species, from contrasting environments, to a chemically induced oxidative stress. ROS produced during this oxidative burst reduced photosynthesis by 30 to 50% and significantly decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase. Lipid peroxidation levels and carotenoid concentrations, especially diatoxanthin, confirm that these molecules act as antioxidants and contribute to the stabilization of membrane lipids. The comparative analysis between the two Symbiodinium species allowed us to highlight that Symbiodinium sp. clade A temperate was more tolerant to oxidative stress than the tropical S. kawagutii clade F. These differences are very likely a consequence of adaptation to their natural environment, with the temperate species experiencing conditions of temperature and irradiance much more variable and extreme.}, } @article {pmid27576896, year = {2016}, author = {Cano-Ramírez, C and Santiago-Hernández, A and Rivera-Orduña, FN and García-Huante, Y and Zúñiga, G and Hidalgo-Lara, ME}, title = {Expression, purification and characterization of an endoglucanase from Serratia proteamaculans CDBB-1961, isolated from the gut of Dendroctonus adjunctus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae).}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {63}, pmid = {27576896}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Serratia proteamaculans CDBB-1961, a gut symbiont from the roundheaded pine beetle Dendroctonus adjunctus, displayed strong cellulolytic activity on agar-plates with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as carbon source. Automatic genome annotation of S. proteamaculans made possible the identification of a single endoglucanase encoding gene, designated spr cel8A. The predicted protein, named Spr Cel8A shows high similarity (59-94 %) to endo-1,4-β-D-glucanases (EC 3.2.1.4) from the glycoside hydrolase family 8 (GH8). The gene spr cel8A has an ORF of 1113 bp, encoding a 371 amino acid residue protein (41.2 kDa) with a signal peptide of 23 amino acid residues. Expression of the gene spr cel8A in Escherichia coli yields a mature recombinant endoglucanase 39 kDa. Cel8A displayed optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 40 °C, with a specific activity of 0.85 U/mg. The enzyme was stable at pH from 4 to 8.5, retaining nearly 40-80 % of its original activity, and exhibited a half-life of 8 days at 40 °C. The K m and V max values for Spr Cel8A were 6.87 mg/ml and 3.5 μmol/min/mg of protein, respectively, using CMC as substrate. The final principle products of Spr Cel8A-mediated hydrolysis of CMC were cellobiose, cello oligosaccharides and a small amount of glucose, suggesting that Spr Cel8A is an endo-β-1,4-glucanase manifesting exo-activity. This is the first report regarding the functional biochemical and molecular characterization of an endoglucanase from S. proteamaculans, found in the gut-associated bacteria community of Dendroctonus bark beetles. These results contribute to improved understanding of the functional role played by this bacterium as a symbiont of bark beetles.}, } @article {pmid27573819, year = {2016}, author = {Husnik, F and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Repeated replacement of an intrabacterial symbiont in the tripartite nested mealybug symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {37}, pages = {E5416-24}, pmid = {27573819}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics/growth & development ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Planococcus Insect/genetics/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Stable endosymbiosis of a bacterium into a host cell promotes cellular and genomic complexity. The mealybug Planococcus citri has two bacterial endosymbionts with an unusual nested arrangement: the γ-proteobacterium Moranella endobia lives in the cytoplasm of the β-proteobacterium Tremblaya princeps These two bacteria, along with genes horizontally transferred from other bacteria to the P. citri genome, encode gene sets that form an interdependent metabolic patchwork. Here, we test the stability of this three-way symbiosis by sequencing host and symbiont genomes for five diverse mealybug species and find marked fluidity over evolutionary time. Although Tremblaya is the result of a single infection in the ancestor of mealybugs, the γ-proteobacterial symbionts result from multiple replacements of inferred different ages from related but distinct bacterial lineages. Our data show that symbiont replacement can happen even in the most intricate symbiotic arrangements and that preexisting horizontally transferred genes can remain stable on genomes in the face of extensive symbiont turnover.}, } @article {pmid27572642, year = {2016}, author = {Pang, X and Xiao, X and Liu, Y and Zhang, R and Liu, J and Liu, Q and Wang, P and Cheng, G}, title = {Mosquito C-type lectins maintain gut microbiome homeostasis.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {16023}, doi = {10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.23}, pmid = {27572642}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Aedes/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Animals ; Culex/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Homeostasis ; Immune Evasion ; Lectins, C-Type/*metabolism ; Microbial Viability ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The long-term evolutionary interaction between the host immune system and symbiotic bacteria determines their cooperative rather than antagonistic relationship. It is known that commensal bacteria have evolved a number of mechanisms to manipulate the mammalian host immune system and maintain homeostasis. However, the strategies employed by the microbiome to overcome host immune responses in invertebrates still remain to be understood. Here, we report that the gut microbiome in mosquitoes utilizes C-type lectins (mosGCTLs) to evade the bactericidal capacity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Aedes aegypti mosGCTLs facilitate colonization by multiple bacterial strains. Furthermore, maintenance of the gut microbial flora relies on the expression of mosGCTLs in A. aegypti. Silencing the orthologues of mosGCTL in another major mosquito vector (Culex pipiens pallens) also impairs the survival of gut commensal bacteria. The gut microbiome stimulates the expression of mosGCTLs, which coat the bacterial surface and counteract AMP activity. Our study describes a mechanism by which the insect symbiotic microbiome offsets gut immunity to achieve homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid27572297, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, Z and Li, P and Yang, Y and Chi, Y and Fan, B and Chen, Z}, title = {Expression and Functional Analysis of a Novel Group of Legume-specific WRKY and Exo70 Protein Variants from Soybean.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {32090}, pmid = {27572297}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/physiology ; Arabidopsis ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; *Genes, Plant ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism ; Mosaic Viruses/genetics ; *Multigene Family ; Organ Specificity ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Domains ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Soybean Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with microorganisms and contain special traits in nitrogen assimilation and associated processes. Recently, we have reported a novel WRKY-related protein (GmWRP1) and a new clade of Exo70 proteins (GmExo70J) from soybean with homologs found only in legumes. GmWRP1 and some of the GmExo70J proteins are localized to Golgi apparatus through a novel N-terminal transmembrane domain. Here, we report further analysis of expression and functions of the novel GmWRP1 and GmExo70J genes. Promoter-GUS analysis in Arabidopsis revealed distinct tissue-specific expression patterns of the GmExo70J genes not only in vegetative but also in reproductive organs including mature tissues, where expression of previously characterized Exo70 genes is usually absent. Furthermore, expression of some GmExo70J genes including GmExo70J1, GmExo70J6 and GmExo70J7 increases greatly in floral organ-supporting receptacles during the development and maturation of siliques, indicating a possible role in seed development. More importantly, suppression of GmWRP1, GmExo70J7, GmExo70J8 and GmExo70J9 expression in soybean using virus- or artificial microRNA-mediated gene silencing resulted in accelerated leaf senescence and reduced nodule formation. These results strongly suggest that legume-specific GmWRP1 and GmExo70J proteins play important roles not only in legume symbiosis but also in other processes critical for legume growth and development.}, } @article {pmid27571759, year = {2016}, author = {Stulberg, E and Fravel, D and Proctor, LM and Murray, DM and LoTempio, J and Chrisey, L and Garland, J and Goodwin, K and Graber, J and Harris, MC and Jackson, S and Mishkind, M and Porterfield, DM and Records, A}, title = {An assessment of US microbiome research.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {15015}, pmid = {27571759}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Biomedical Research/methods/*trends ; *Biota ; Capital Financing ; Computational Biology/methods ; Humans ; Metagenomics/methods ; Microbiological Techniques/standards ; Microbiology/*trends ; United States ; }, abstract = {Genome-enabled technologies have supported a dramatic increase in our ability to study microbial communities in environments and hosts. Taking stock of previously funded microbiome research can help to identify common themes, under-represented areas and research priorities to consider moving forward. To assess the status of US microbiome research, a team of government scientists conducted an analysis of federally funded microbiome research. Microbiomes were defined as host-, ecosystem- or habitat-associated communities of microorganisms, and microbiome research was defined as those studies that emphasize community-level analyses using 'omics technologies. Single pathogen, single strain and culture-based studies were not included, except symbiosis studies that served as models for more complex communities. Fourteen governmental organizations participated in the data call. The analysis examined three broad research themes, eight environments and eight microbial categories. Human microbiome research was larger than any other environment studied, and the basic biology research theme accounted for half of the total research activities. Computational biology and bioinformatics, reference databases and biorepositories, standardized protocols and high-throughput tools were commonly identified needs. Longitudinal and functional studies and interdisciplinary research were also identified as needs. This study has implications for the funding of future microbiome research, not only in the United States but beyond.}, } @article {pmid27567899, year = {2016}, author = {Geldenhuys, J and Malan, AP and Dicks, LM}, title = {First Report of the Isolation of the Symbiotic Bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii Associated with Heterorhabditis safricana from South Africa.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {73}, number = {6}, pages = {790-795}, pmid = {27567899}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Photorhabdus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology/physiology ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii is closely associated with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and has, to date, not been isolated from other nematode species. This study is the first report of P. luminescens subsp. laumondii from two South African isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis safricana SF281 and H. bacteriophora SF351. Both symbiotic bacterial strains are phenotypically closely related to P. luminescens subsp. laumondii previously isolated and described from H. bacteriophora. The genetic relatedness between P. luminescens subsp. laumondii strains SF281B and SF351B was confirmed by comparing 16S rDNA, recA, gyrB and gltX sequences with sequences of P. luminescens subsp. laumondii, including the type strain (TT01[T]) and strain E21.}, } @article {pmid27567199, year = {2017}, author = {Yuan, C and Zhou, Z and Zhang, Y and Chen, G and Yu, X and Ni, X and Tang, J and Huang, B}, title = {Effects of elevated ammonium on the transcriptome of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {46-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.036}, pmid = {27567199}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*toxicity ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; Eutrophication ; Transcriptome/*physiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The survival of corals worldwide has been seriously threatened by eutrophication events concomitant with the increase in ocean pollution. In the present study, whole transcriptomes of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis exposed to elevated ammonium were sequenced. A total of 121,366,983 pair-end reads were obtained, and 209,337 genes were assembled, including 42,399 coral-derived and 54,874 zooxanthella-derived genes. Further, a comparison of the control versus stress group revealed 6572 differentially expressed genes. For 1015 significantly upregulated genes, 24 GO terms were overrepresented, among which 3 terms related to apoptosis and cell death induction included one caspase, five bcl-2-like proteins, and two tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member genes. For 5557 significantly downregulated genes, the top 10 overrepresented terms were related to metabolism and signal transduction. These results indicate that apoptosis and cell death could be induced under elevated ammonium, suggesting that metabolic regulation and signal transduction might be involved in the reconstruction of the coral-zooxanthellae symbiotic balance in the stony coral P. damicornis.}, } @article {pmid27566287, year = {2016}, author = {Deepika, KV and Raghuram, M and Kariali, E and Bramhachari, PV}, title = {Biological responses of symbiotic Rhizobium radiobacter strain VBCK1062 to the arsenic contaminated rhizosphere soils of mung bean.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {134P1}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.08.008}, pmid = {27566287}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {The rationale could be that mung bean is cultivated in areas of arsenic contamination and therefore it is worth investigating how Rhizobium is impacted by arsenic exposure. The objective(s) of the study deals with relationship between Rhizobium metal tolerance and its adaptations to metal stressed environment. The selected strain was recovered from root nodules of Vigna radiata, based on viscous EPS production and arsenic tolerant capacity, identified as R. radiobacter by 16S rDNA sequencing. Batch studies were performed to evaluate toxic effects of heavy metal ions in decreasing order of MIC As(V) (10mM), Cu(1.5mM), Pb(0.18mM), Cr(0.1mM), Ni(0.08mM) and Cd(0.04mM). Scanning electron microscopy analysis of Arsenic resistant strain revealed evident changes in cell morphology. SDS-PAGE results showed altered expression of proteins in response to arsenate. One unique protein of approximately 21kDa was highly expressed in 5mM arsenate, but same protein was down regulated in 10mM arsenate. The exopolysaccharide components such as total carbohydrates, proteins and uronic acids were significantly enhanced by 41%, 25% and 33% (P Value <0.05) and also produced EPS under Arsenic stressed conditions. Fourier transformed spectroscopy analysis demonstrated arsenic metal ion-EPS interactions. The results obtained from SEM-EDS analysis clearly revealed mucous nature of Rhizobial-EPS surrounding bacterial cells and confirmed the role of EPS in arsenate sequestration (10% as weight). Interestingly total arsenate uptake by strain VBCK1062 in whole-cell pellet and EPS were 0.045mg and 0.068mgg[-1] of biomass respectively. Thus these results significantly contribute to better understanding of plant-metal-microbe interactions, cellular-metabolic changes and As-enhanced EPSs, hence can serve as potential bioremediation agent for As-contaminated agrogeoecosystems.}, } @article {pmid27563299, year = {2016}, author = {Chandrasekaran, M and Kim, K and Krishnamoorthy, R and Walitang, D and Sundaram, S and Joe, MM and Selvakumar, G and Hu, S and Oh, SH and Sa, T}, title = {Mycorrhizal Symbiotic Efficiency on C3 and C4 Plants under Salinity Stress - A Meta-Analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1246}, pmid = {27563299}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A wide range of C3 and C4 plant species could acclimatize and grow under the impact of salinity stress. Symbiotic relationship between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread and are well known to ameliorate the influence of salinity stress on agro-ecosystem. In the present study, we sought to understand the phenomenon of variability on AMF symbiotic relationship on saline stress amelioration in C3 and C4 plants. Thus, the objective was to compare varied mycorrhizal symbiotic relationship between C3 and C4 plants in saline conditions. To accomplish the above mentioned objective, we conducted a random effects models meta-analysis across 60 published studies. An effect size was calculated as the difference in mycorrhizal responses between the AMF inoculated plants and its corresponding control under saline conditions. Responses were compared between (i) identity of AMF species and AMF inoculation, (ii) identity of host plants (C3 vs. C4) and plant functional groups, (iii) soil texture and level of salinity and (iv) experimental condition (greenhouse vs. field). Results indicate that both C3 and C4 plants under saline condition responded positively to AMF inoculation, thereby overcoming the predicted effects of symbiotic efficiency. Although C3 and C4 plants showed positive effects under low (EC < 4 ds/m) and high (>8 ds/m) saline conditions, C3 plants showed significant effects for mycorrhizal inoculation over C4 plants. Among the plant types, C4 annual and perennial plants, C4 herbs and C4 dicot had a significant effect over other counterparts. Between single and mixed AMF inoculants, single inoculants Rhizophagus irregularis had a positive effect on C3 plants whereas Funneliformis mosseae had a positive effect on C4 plants than other species. In all of the observed studies, mycorrhizal inoculation showed positive effects on shoot, root and total biomass, and in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (K) uptake. However, it showed negative effects in sodium (Na) uptake in both C3 and C4 plants. This influence, owing to mycorrhizal inoculation, was significantly higher in K uptake in C4 plants. For our analysis, we concluded that AMF-inoculated C4 plants showed more competitive K(+) ions uptake than C3 plants. Therefore, maintenance of high cytosolic K(+)/Na(+) ratio is a key feature of plant salt tolerance. Studies on the detailed mechanism for the selective transport of K in C3 and C4 mycorrhizal plants under salt stress is lacking, and this needs to be explored.}, } @article {pmid27562257, year = {2016}, author = {Okai, S and Usui, F and Yokota, S and Hori-I, Y and Hasegawa, M and Nakamura, T and Kurosawa, M and Okada, S and Yamamoto, K and Nishiyama, E and Mori, H and Yamada, T and Kurokawa, K and Matsumoto, S and Nanno, M and Naito, T and Watanabe, Y and Kato, T and Miyauchi, E and Ohno, H and Shinkura, R}, title = {High-affinity monoclonal IgA regulates gut microbiota and prevents colitis in mice.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {9}, pages = {16103}, pmid = {27562257}, issn = {2058-5276}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Colitis/immunology/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Escherichia coli/growth & development/immunology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Intestine, Small/immunology/microbiology ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the main antibody isotype secreted into the intestinal lumen. IgA plays a critical role in the defence against pathogens and in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. However, how secreted IgA regulates gut microbiota is not completely understood. In this study, we isolated monoclonal IgA antibodies from the small intestine of healthy mouse. As a candidate for an efficient gut microbiota modulator, we selected a W27 IgA, which binds to multiple bacteria, but not beneficial ones such as Lactobacillus casei. W27 could suppress the cell growth of Escherichia coli but not L. casei in vitro, indicating an ability to improve the intestinal environment. Indeed W27 oral treatment could modulate gut microbiota composition and have a therapeutic effect on both lymphoproliferative disease and colitis models in mice. Thus, W27 IgA oral treatment is a potential remedy for inflammatory bowel disease, acting through restoration of host-microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27558913, year = {2017}, author = {Daher, Z and Recorbet, G and Solymosi, K and Wienkoop, S and Mounier, A and Morandi, D and Lherminier, J and Wipf, D and Dumas-Gaudot, E and Schoefs, B}, title = {Changes in plastid proteome and structure in arbuscular mycorrhizal roots display a nutrient starvation signature.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {159}, number = {1}, pages = {13-29}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12505}, pmid = {27558913}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Plastids/metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Proteome ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, arbuscule-containing root cortex cells display a proliferation of plastids, a feature usually ascribed to an increased plant anabolism despite the lack of studies focusing on purified root plastids. In this study, we investigated mycorrhiza-induced changes in plastidic pathways by performing a label-free comparative subcellular quantitative proteomic analysis targeted on plastid-enriched fractions isolated from Medicago truncatula roots, coupled to a cytological analysis of plastid structure. We identified 490 root plastid protein candidates, among which 79 changed in abundance upon mycorrhization, as inferred from spectral counting. According to cross-species sequence homology searches, the mycorrhiza-responsive proteome was enriched in proteins experimentally localized in thylakoids, whereas it was depleted of proteins ascribed predominantly to amyloplasts. Consistently, the analysis of plastid morphology using transmission electron microscopy indicated that starch depletion associated with the proliferation of membrane-free and tubular membrane-containing plastids was a feature specific to arbusculated cells. The loss of enzymes involved in carbon/nitrogen assimilation and provision of reducing power, coupled to macromolecule degradation events in the plastid-enriched fraction of mycorrhizal roots that paralleled lack of starch accumulation in arbusculated cells, lead us to propose that arbuscule functioning elicits a nutrient starvation and an oxidative stress signature that may prime arbuscule breakdown.}, } @article {pmid27558341, year = {2016}, author = {Uriarte, SM and Edmisson, JS and Jimenez-Flores, E}, title = {Human neutrophils and oral microbiota: a constant tug-of-war between a harmonious and a discordant coexistence.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {273}, number = {1}, pages = {282-298}, pmid = {27558341}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {R01 DE024509/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*immunology/microbiology ; Dysbiosis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*immunology ; Neutrophils/*immunology/microbiology ; Periodontal Diseases/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Neutrophils are a major component of the innate host response, and the outcome of the interaction between the oral microbiota and neutrophils is a key determinant of oral health status. The composition of the oral microbiome is very complex and different in health and disease. Neutrophils are constantly recruited to the oral cavity, and their protective role is highlighted in cases where their number or functional responses are impeded, resulting in different forms of periodontal disease. Periodontitis, one of the more severe and irreversible forms of periodontal disease, is a microbial-induced chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gingival tissues supporting the tooth. This chronic inflammatory disease is the result of a shift of the oral bacterial symbiotic community to a dysbiotic more complex community. Chronic inflammatory infectious diseases such as periodontitis can occur because the pathogens are able to evade or disable the innate immune system. In this review, we discuss how human neutrophils interact with both the symbiotic and the dysbiotic oral community; an understanding of which is essential to increase our knowledge of the periodontal disease process.}, } @article {pmid27558336, year = {2016}, author = {DeCoursey, TE}, title = {The intimate and controversial relationship between voltage-gated proton channels and the phagocyte NADPH oxidase.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {273}, number = {1}, pages = {194-218}, pmid = {27558336}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {R01 GM102336/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Ion Channels/*metabolism ; Membrane Potentials ; NADPH Oxidases/*metabolism ; Neutrophils/*physiology ; Phagocytes/*physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Respiratory Burst ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {One of the most fascinating and exciting periods in my scientific career entailed dissecting the symbiotic relationship between two membrane transporters, the Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced form (NADPH) oxidase complex and voltage-gated proton channels (HV 1). By the time I entered this field, there had already been substantial progress toward understanding NADPH oxidase, but HV 1 were known only to a tiny handful of cognoscenti around the world. Having identified the first proton currents in mammalian cells in 1991, I needed to find a clear function for these molecules if the work was to become fundable. The then-recent discoveries of Henderson, Chappell, and colleagues in 1987-1988 that led them to hypothesize interactions of both molecules during the respiratory burst of phagocytes provided an excellent opportunity. In a nutshell, both transporters function by moving electrical charge across the membrane: NADPH oxidase moves electrons and HV 1 moves protons. The consequences of electrogenic NADPH oxidase activity on both membrane potential and pH strongly self-limit this enzyme. Fortunately, both consequences specifically activate HV 1, and HV 1 activity counteracts both consequences, a kind of yin-yang relationship. Notwithstanding a decade starting in 1995 when many believed the opposite, these are two separate molecules that function independently despite their being functionally interdependent in phagocytes. The relationship between NADPH oxidase and HV 1 has become a paradigm that somewhat surprisingly has now extended well beyond the phagocyte NADPH oxidase - an industrial strength producer of reactive oxygen species (ROS) - to myriad other cells that produce orders of magnitude less ROS for signaling purposes. These cells with their seven NADPH oxidase (NOX) isoforms provide a vast realm of mechanistic obscurity that will occupy future studies for years to come.}, } @article {pmid27557866, year = {2016}, author = {Rubin, BE and Moreau, CS}, title = {Comparative genomics reveals convergent rates of evolution in ant-plant mutualisms.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12679}, pmid = {27557866}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {UL1 TR000430/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genomics/methods ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis-the close and often long-term interaction of species-is predicted to drive genome evolution in a variety of ways. For example, parasitic interactions have been shown to increase rates of molecular evolution, a trend generally attributed to the Red Queen Hypothesis. However, it is much less clear how mutualisms impact the genome, as both increased and reduced rates of change have been predicted. Here we sequence the genomes of seven species of ants, three that have convergently evolved obligate plant-ant mutualism and four closely related species of non-mutualists. Comparing these sequences, we investigate how genome evolution is shaped by mutualistic behaviour. We find that rates of molecular evolution are higher in the mutualists genome wide, a characteristic apparently not the result of demography. Our results suggest that the intimate relationships of obligate mutualists may lead to selective pressures similar to those seen in parasites, thereby increasing rates of evolution.}, } @article {pmid27557842, year = {2017}, author = {Yan, J and Yan, H and Liu, LX and Chen, WF and Zhang, XX and Verástegui-Valdés, MM and Wang, ET and Han, XZ}, title = {Rhizobium hidalgonense sp. nov., a nodule endophytic bacterium of Phaseolus vulgaris in acid soil.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {97-104}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-016-1281-x}, pmid = {27557842}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Alanine/metabolism ; Asparagine/metabolism ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One Gram-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as FH14[T], was isolated from nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris grown in Hidalgo State of Mexico. Results based upon 16S rRNA gene (≥99.8 % similarities to known species), concatenated sequence (recA, atpD and glnII) analysis of three housekeeping genes (≤93.4 % similarities to known species) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of genome sequence (ranged from 87.6 to 90.0 % to related species) indicated the distinct position of strain FH14[T] within the genus Rhizobium. In analyses of symbiotic genes, only nitrogen fixation gene nifH was amplified that had nucleotide sequence identical to those of the bean-nodulating strains in R. phaseoli and R. vallis, while nodulation gene nodC gene was not amplified. The failure of nodulation to its original host P. vulgaris and other legumes evidenced the loss of its nodulation capability. Strain FH14[T] contained summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω6c/C18:1 ω7c, 59.96 %), C16:0 (10.6 %) and summed feature 2 (C12:0 aldehyde/unknown 10.928, 10.24 %) as the major components of cellular fatty acids. Failure to utilize alaninamide, and utilizing L-alanine, L-asparagine and γ-amino butyric acid as carbon source, distinguished the strain FH14[T] from the type strains for the related species. The genome size and DNA G+C content of FH14[T] were 6.94 Mbp and 60.8 mol %, respectively. Based on those results, a novel specie in Rhizobium, named Rhizobium hidalgonense sp. nov., was proposed, with FH14[T] (=HAMBI 3636[T] = LMG 29288[T]) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid27557714, year = {2016}, author = {Neave, MJ and Apprill, A and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Diversity and function of prevalent symbiotic marine bacteria in the genus Endozoicomonas.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {19}, pages = {8315-8324}, pmid = {27557714}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endozoicomonas bacteria are emerging as extremely diverse and flexible symbionts of numerous marine hosts inhabiting oceans worldwide. Their hosts range from simple invertebrate species, such as sponges and corals, to complex vertebrates, such as fish. Although widely distributed, the functional role of Endozoicomonas within their host microenvironment is not well understood. In this review, we provide a summary of the currently recognized hosts of Endozoicomonas and their global distribution. Next, the potential functional roles of Endozoicomonas, particularly in light of recent microscopic, genomic, and genetic analyses, are discussed. These analyses suggest that Endozoicomonas typically reside in aggregates within host tissues, have a free-living stage due to their large genome sizes, show signs of host and local adaptation, participate in host-associated protein and carbohydrate transport and cycling, and harbour a high degree of genomic plasticity due to the large proportion of transposable elements residing in their genomes. This review will finish with a discussion on the methodological tools currently employed to study Endozoicomonas and host interactions and review future avenues for studying complex host-microbial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid27557699, year = {2016}, author = {Marcondes, MI and Pereira, TR and Chagas, JC and Filgueiras, EA and Castro, MM and Costa, GP and Sguizzato, AL and Sainz, RD}, title = {Performance and health of Holstein calves fed different levels of milk fortified with symbiotic complex containing pre- and probiotics.}, journal = {Tropical animal health and production}, volume = {48}, number = {8}, pages = {1555-1560}, pmid = {27557699}, issn = {1573-7438}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn/growth & development ; Body Weight ; Brazil ; Cattle/*growth & development ; Diet/*veterinary ; Dietary Supplements ; *Feeding Behavior ; *Milk ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Tropical Climate ; Weaning ; Weight Gain ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and health of Holstein calves fed low or high milk supply (MSP) with or without symbiotic complex (SYM) supplementation, consisting of prebiotics, probiotics, and fibrolytic enzymes. Thirty-two Holstein calves with body weight (BW) of 34 ± 7 kg were distributed in a randomized block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of low and high MSP: 10 % of BW from 1st to 8th weeks after birth (low) and 20 % BW from 1st and 2nd weeks after birth, 15 % BW for the 3rd and 4th weeks after birth, and 10 % BW from 5th and 8th weeks after birth (high). Solid ration was supplied in addition to milk. Intake, ADG, diet digestibility, and fecal consistency index were evaluated. Low and high MSP groups tended (P < 0.10) to differ in calf growth, final BW (69 vs. 73 kg), post-weaning average weight gain (548 vs. 788 g/day), and final average weight gain (549 vs. 646 g/day) in low and high MSP calves, respectively. There was an interaction between MSP level and SYM on the digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < 0.10). In the low MSP group, inclusion of SYM increased digestibility of DM (0.720 to 0.736 g/kg) and NDF (0.758 to 0.783 g/kg). The inclusion of SYM improved calf health (P < 0.10) with a fecal score of 0.31 compared to 0.42 without SYM. Milk-feeding level was an important factor in calf performance, while SYM supplementation improved diet digestibility and animal health.}, } @article {pmid27557126, year = {2016}, author = {Abdullahi, M and Ngadi, MA}, title = {Correction: Hybrid Symbiotic Organisms Search Optimization Algorithm for Scheduling of Tasks on Cloud Computing Environment.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {e0162054}, pmid = {27557126}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158229.].}, } @article {pmid27555857, year = {2016}, author = {Kang, Y and Li, M and Sinharoy, S and Verdier, J}, title = {A Snapshot of Functional Genetic Studies in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1175}, pmid = {27555857}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the current context of food security, increase of plant protein production in a sustainable manner represents one of the major challenges of agronomic research, which could be partially resolved by increased cultivation of legume crops. Medicago truncatula is now a well-established model for legume genomic and genetic studies. With the establishment of genomics tools and mutant populations in M. truncatula, it has become an important resource to answer some of the basic biological questions related to plant development and stress tolerance. This review has an objective to overview a decade of genetic studies in this model plant from generation of mutant populations to nowadays. To date, the three biological fields, which have been extensively studied in M. truncatula, are the symbiotic nitrogen fixation, the seed development, and the abiotic stress tolerance, due to their significant agronomic impacts. In this review, we summarize functional genetic studies related to these three major biological fields. We integrated analyses of a nearly exhaustive list of genes into their biological contexts in order to provide an overview of the forefront research advances in this important legume model plant.}, } @article {pmid27555343, year = {2017}, author = {Tobias, NJ and Heinrich, AK and Eresmann, H and Wright, PR and Neubacher, N and Backofen, R and Bode, HB}, title = {Photorhabdus-nematode symbiosis is dependent on hfq-mediated regulation of secondary metabolites.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {119-129}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13502}, pmid = {27555343}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*genetics ; Host Factor 1 Protein/*genetics ; Insecta/microbiology/parasitology ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/physiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens maintains a symbiotic relationship with the nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and together they infect and kill insect larvae. To maintain this symbiotic relationship, the bacteria must produce an array of secondary metabolites to assist in the development and replication of nematodes. The regulatory mechanisms surrounding production of these compounds are mostly unknown. The global post-transcriptional regulator, Hfq, is widespread in bacteria and performs many functions, one of which is the facilitation of sRNA binding to target mRNAs, with recent research thoroughly exploring its various pleiotropic effects. Here we generate and characterize an hfq deletion mutant and show that in the absence of hfq, the bacteria are no longer able to maintain a healthy symbiosis with nematodes due to the abolishment of the production of all known secondary metabolites. RNAseq led us to produce a second deletion of a known repressor, HexA, in the same strain, which restored both metabolite production and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27555079, year = {2017}, author = {Lee, DJ and Lee, JB and Jang, HA and Ferrandon, D and Lee, BL}, title = {An antimicrobial protein of the Riptortus pedestris salivary gland was cleaved by a virulence factor of Serratia marcescens.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {427-433}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.08.009}, pmid = {27555079}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Hemiptera/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immune Evasion ; Immunity, Innate ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Metalloproteases/metabolism ; Proteolysis ; Salivary Glands/*immunology ; Serratia Infections/*immunology ; Serratia marcescens/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Virulence Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recently, our group demonstrated that the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is a good experimental symbiosis model to study the molecular cross-talk between the host insect and the gut symbiont. The Burkholderia symbiont is orally acquired by host nymphs from the environment in every generation. However, it is still unclear how Riptortus specifically interacts with entomopathogens that are abundant in the environmental soil. In preliminary experiments, we observed that a potent entomopathogen, Serratia marcescens, can colonize the midgut of Riptortus insects and was recovered from the midgut when Serratia cells were orally administered, suggesting that this pathogenic bacterium can escape host immune defenses in the salivary fluid. We examined how orally fed Serratia cells can survive in the presence of antimicrobial substances of the Riptortus salivary fluid. In this study, a 15 kDa trialysin-like protein from the salivary gland of R. pedestris and a potent virulence factor of Serratia cells, a serralysin metalloprotease, from the culture medium of S. marcescens were successfully purified to homogeneity. When the purified Riptortus trialysin (rip-trialysin) was incubated with purified serralysin, rip-trialysin was specifically hydrolyzed by serralysin, leading to the loss of antimicrobial activity. These results clearly demonstrated that a potent virulent metalloprotease of S. marcescens functions as a key player in the escape from the salivary fluid-mediated host immune response, resulting in successful colonization of S. marcescens in the host midgut.}, } @article {pmid27554295, year = {2017}, author = {Zeng, MY and Inohara, N and Nuñez, G}, title = {Mechanisms of inflammation-driven bacterial dysbiosis in the gut.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {18-26}, pmid = {27554295}, issn = {1935-3456}, support = {R01 DK091191/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HL007517/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095782/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK094775/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/*immunology ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/*immunology ; Enterobacteriaceae/growth & development/*immunology ; Food Hypersensitivity/immunology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota has diverse and essential roles in host metabolism, development of the immune system and as resistance to pathogen colonization. Perturbations of the gut microbiota, termed gut dysbiosis, are commonly observed in diseases involving inflammation in the gut, including inflammatory bowel disease, infection, colorectal cancer and food allergies. Importantly, the inflamed microenvironment in the gut is particularly conducive to blooms of Enterobacteriaceae, which acquire fitness benefits while other families of symbiotic bacteria succumb to environmental changes inflicted by inflammation. Here we summarize studies that examined factors in the inflamed gut that contribute to blooms of Enterobacterieaceae, and highlight potential approaches to restrict Enterobacterial blooms in treating diseases that are otherwise complicated by overgrowth of virulent Enterobacterial species in the gut.}, } @article {pmid27553986, year = {2017}, author = {Cigarran Guldris, S and González Parra, E and Cases Amenós, A}, title = {Gut microbiota in chronic kidney disease.}, journal = {Nefrologia : publicacion oficial de la Sociedad Espanola Nefrologia}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {9-19}, doi = {10.1016/j.nefro.2016.05.008}, pmid = {27553986}, issn = {1989-2284}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/*etiology/physiopathology/prevention & control/therapy ; Endotoxins/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Absorption ; Oxidative Stress ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*microbiology ; Uremia/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microflora maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host under normal conditions, but its imbalance has recently been associated with several diseases. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), dysbiotic intestinal microflora has been reported with an increase in pathogenic flora compared to symbiotic flora. An enhanced permeability of the intestinal barrier, allowing the passage of endotoxins and other bacterial products to the blood, has also been shown in CKD. By fermenting undigested products that reach the colon, the intestinal microflora produce indoles, phenols and amines, among others, that are absorbed by the host, accumulate in CKD and have harmful effects on the body. These gut-derived uraemic toxins and the increased permeability of the intestinal barrier in CKD have been associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress and have been involved in various CKD-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, anaemia, mineral metabolism disorders or the progression of CKD. The use of prebiotics, probiotics or synbiotics, among other approaches, could improve the dysbiosis and/or the increased permeability of the intestinal barrier in CKD. This article describes the situation of the intestinal microflora in CKD, the alteration of the intestinal barrier and its clinical consequences, the harmful effects of intestinal flora-derived uraemic toxins, and possible therapeutic options to improve this dysbiosis and reduce CKD-related complications.}, } @article {pmid27551098, year = {2016}, author = {Shikuma, NJ and Antoshechkin, I and Medeiros, JM and Pilhofer, M and Newman, DK}, title = {Stepwise metamorphosis of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans is mediated by a bacterial inducer and MAPK signaling.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {36}, pages = {10097-10102}, pmid = {27551098}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofouling/prevention & control ; Cilia/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Genome ; Immunity, Innate ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics/immunology ; Metamorphosis, Biological/*genetics/immunology ; Polychaeta/*genetics/growth & development/immunology/microbiology ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Pseudoalteromonas/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/immunology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Urochordata/genetics/growth & development ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Diverse animal taxa metamorphose between larval and juvenile phases in response to bacteria. Although bacteria-induced metamorphosis is widespread among metazoans, little is known about the molecular changes that occur in the animal upon stimulation by bacteria. Larvae of the tubeworm Hydroides elegans metamorphose in response to surface-bound Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea bacteria, producing ordered arrays of phage tail-like metamorphosis-associated contractile structures (MACs). Sequencing the Hydroides genome and transcripts during five developmental stages revealed that MACs induce the regulation of groups of genes important for tissue remodeling, innate immunity, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Using two MAC mutations that block P. luteoviolacea from inducing settlement or metamorphosis and three MAPK inhibitors, we established a sequence of bacteria-induced metamorphic events: MACs induce larval settlement; then, particular properties of MACs encoded by a specific locus in P. luteoviolacea initiate cilia loss and activate metamorphosis-associated transcription; finally, signaling through p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK pathways alters gene expression and leads to morphological changes upon initiation of metamorphosis. Our results reveal that the intricate interaction between Hydroides and P. luteoviolacea can be dissected using genomic, genetic, and pharmacological tools. Hydroides' dependency on bacteria for metamorphosis highlights the importance of external stimuli to orchestrate animal development. The conservation of Hydroides genome content with distantly related deuterostomes (urchins, sea squirts, and humans) suggests that mechanisms of bacteria-induced metamorphosis in Hydroides may have conserved features in diverse animals. As a major biofouling agent, insight into the triggers of Hydroides metamorphosis might lead to practical strategies for fouling control.}, } @article {pmid27551097, year = {2016}, author = {Shabab, M and Arnold, MF and Penterman, J and Wommack, AJ and Bocker, HT and Price, PA and Griffitts, JS and Nolan, EM and Walker, GC}, title = {Disulfide cross-linking influences symbiotic activities of nodule peptide NCR247.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {36}, pages = {10157-10162}, pmid = {27551097}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {DP2 OD007045/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES002109/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cysteine/chemistry ; Disulfides/chemistry ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host Specificity ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptides/*genetics/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/pharmacology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Interactions of rhizobia with legumes establish the chronic intracellular infection that underlies symbiosis. Within nodules of inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) legumes, rhizobia differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. This terminal differentiation is driven by host nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides that orchestrate the adaptation of free-living bacteria into intracellular residents. Medicago truncatula encodes a family of >700 NCR peptides that have conserved cysteine motifs. NCR247 is a cationic peptide with four cysteines that can form two intramolecular disulfide bonds in the oxidized forms. This peptide affects Sinorhizobium meliloti transcription, translation, and cell division at low concentrations and is antimicrobial at higher concentrations. By preparing the three possible disulfide-cross-linked NCR247 regioisomers, the reduced peptide, and a variant lacking cysteines, we performed a systematic study of the effects of intramolecular disulfide cross-linking and cysteines on the activities of an NCR peptide. The relative activities of the five NCR247 variants differed strikingly among the various bioassays, suggesting that the NCR peptide-based language used by plants to control the development of their bacterial partners during symbiosis is even greater than previously recognized. These patterns indicate that certain NCR bioactivities require cysteines whereas others do not. The results also suggest that NCR247 may exert some of its effects within the cell envelope whereas other activities occur in the cytoplasm. BacA, a membrane protein that is critical for symbiosis, provides protection against all bactericidal forms of NCR247. Oxidative folding protects NCR247 from degradation by the symbiotically relevant metalloprotease HrrP (host range restriction peptidase), suggesting that disulfide bond formation may additionally stabilize NCR peptides during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27551065, year = {2016}, author = {Shik, JZ and Gomez, EB and Kooij, PW and Santos, JC and Wcislo, WT and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Nutrition mediates the expression of cultivar-farmer conflict in a fungus-growing ant.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {36}, pages = {10121-10126}, pmid = {27551065}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Agaricales/*drug effects/physiology ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbohydrates/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Proteins/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Attine ants evolved farming 55-60 My before humans. Although evolutionarily derived leafcutter ants achieved industrial-scale farming, extant species from basal attine genera continue to farm loosely domesticated fungal cultivars capable of pursuing independent reproductive interests. We used feeding experiments with the basal attine Mycocepurus smithii to test whether reproductive allocation conflicts between farmers and cultivars constrain crop yield, possibly explaining why their mutualism has remained limited in scale and productivity. Stoichiometric and geometric framework approaches showed that carbohydrate-rich substrates maximize growth of both edible hyphae and inedible mushrooms, but that modest protein provisioning can suppress mushroom formation. Worker foraging was consistent with maximizing long-term cultivar performance: ant farmers could neither increase carbohydrate provisioning without cultivars allocating the excess toward mushroom production, nor increase protein provisioning without compromising somatic cultivar growth. Our results confirm that phylogenetically basal attine farming has been very successful over evolutionary time, but that unresolved host-symbiont conflict may have precluded these wild-type symbioses from rising to ecological dominance. That status was achieved by the evolutionarily derived leafcutter ants following full domestication of a coevolving cultivar 30-35 Mya after the first attine ants committed to farming.}, } @article {pmid27549437, year = {2017}, author = {Viollet, A and Pivato, B and Mougel, C and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Gubry-Rangin, C and Lemanceau, P and Mazurier, S}, title = {Pseudomonas fluorescens C7R12 type III secretion system impacts mycorrhization of Medicago truncatula and associated microbial communities.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {23-33}, pmid = {27549437}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi/classification/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Type III Secretion Systems/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Type three secretion systems (T3SSs) mediate cell-to-cell interactions between Gram-negative bacteria and eukaryotes. We hypothesized that fluorescent pseudomonads harboring T3SS (T3SS+) would be beneficial to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis because non-pathogenic fluorescent pseudomonads have been previously shown to be much more abundant in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal roots. We tested this hypothesis by comparing mycorrhization and the associated rhizosphere microbial communities of Medicago truncatula grown in a non-sterile soil inoculated with either the T3SS+ mycorrhiza helper bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens (C7R12) or a T3SS- mutant of the strain. Results showed that the bacterial secretion system was responsible for the promotion of mycorrhization because root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was not promoted by the T3SS- mutant. The observed T3SS-mediated promotion of mycorrhization was associated with changes in the rhizosphere bacterial communities and the increased occurrence of Claroidoglomeraceae within the intraradical arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, both pseudomonad strains promoted the host-free growth of a model arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in vitro, suggesting that T3SS-mediated promotion of mycorrhization occurs during plant-fungal interactions rather than during the pre-symbiotic phase of fungal growth. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the involvement of T3SS in promoting arbuscular mycorrhization by a model fluorescent pseudomonad and suggest the implication of interactions between the bacterium and mycorrhizas.}, } @article {pmid27548230, year = {2016}, author = {Ranger, CM and Schultz, PB and Reding, ME and Frank, SD and Palmquist, DE}, title = {Flood Stress as a Technique to Assess Preventive Insecticide and Fungicide Treatments for Protecting Trees against Ambrosia Beetles.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {27548230}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Ambrosia beetles tunnel into the heartwood of trees where they cultivate and feed upon a symbiotic fungus. We assessed the effectiveness of flood stress for making Cercis canadensis L. and Cornus florida L. trees attractive to attack as part of insecticide and fungicide efficacy trials conducted in Ohio and Virginia. Since female ambrosia beetles will not begin ovipositing until their symbiotic fungus is established within the host, we also assessed pre-treatment of trees with permethrin, azoxystrobin, and potassium phosphite on fungal establishment and beetle colonization success. Permethrin reduced attacks on flooded trees, yet no attacks occurred on any of the non-flooded trees. Fewer galleries created within flooded trees pre-treated with permethrin, azoxystrobin, and potassium phosphite contained the purported symbiotic fungus; foundress' eggs were only detected in flooded but untreated trees. While pre-treatment with permethrin, azoxystrobin, and potassium phosphite can disrupt colonization success, maintaining tree health continues to be the most effective and sustainable management strategy.}, } @article {pmid27547840, year = {2016}, author = {Jamison, MT and Molinski, TF}, title = {Jamaicensamide A, a Peptide Containing β-Amino-α-keto and Thiazole-Homologated η-Amino Acid Residues from the Sponge Plakina jamaicensis.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {79}, number = {9}, pages = {2243-2249}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00336}, pmid = {27547840}, issn = {1520-6025}, support = {S10 RR025636/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI100776/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/chemistry ; Animals ; Bahamas ; Biological Products/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Marine Biology ; Molecular Structure ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Theonella/*chemistry ; Thiazoles/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {A new cyclic peptide, jamaicensamide A, composed of six amino acids, including a thiazole-homologated amino acid, was isolated from the Bahamian sponge Plakina jamaicensis, along with known compounds bitungolide A and franklinolide A. The structure of the title peptide was solved by integrated analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR data, oxidation-hydrolyses to α-amino acids, and their stereodetermination by Marfey's method. The close structural resemblance of Western Atlantic-derived jamaicensamide A to known Western Pacific-derived peptides of lithistid sponges in the genus Theonella and Discodermia suggests a common origin: the symbiotic bacterium Entotheonella sp., a so-called "talented producer" responsible for biosynthesis of most Theonella-associated peptides. Similar natural products from sponges of disparate genera evince the likelihood that these invertebrates harbor the same or a very similar symbiont.}, } @article {pmid27547332, year = {2016}, author = {Weiss, C and Weiss, J and Boy, J and Iskandar, I and Mikutta, R and Guggenberger, G}, title = {Soil organic carbon stocks in estuarine and marine mangrove ecosystems are driven by nutrient colimitation of P and N.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {14}, pages = {5043-5056}, pmid = {27547332}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Mangroves play an important role in carbon sequestration, but soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks differ between marine and estuarine mangroves, suggesting differing processes and drivers of SOC accumulation. Here, we compared undegraded and degraded marine and estuarine mangroves in a regional approach across the Indonesian archipelago for their SOC stocks and evaluated possible drivers imposed by nutrient limitations along the land-to-sea gradients. SOC stocks in natural marine mangroves (271-572 Mg ha(-1) m(-1)) were much higher than under estuarine mangroves (100-315 Mg ha(-1) m(-1)) with a further decrease caused by degradation to 80-132 Mg ha(-1) m(-1). Soils differed in C/N ratio (marine: 29-64; estuarine: 9-28), δ (15)N (marine: -0.6 to 0.7‰; estuarine: 2.5 to 7.2‰), and plant-available P (marine: 2.3-6.3 mg kg(-1); estuarine: 0.16-1.8 mg kg(-1)). We found N and P supply of sea-oriented mangroves primarily met by dominating symbiotic N2 fixation from air and P import from sea, while mangroves on the landward gradient increasingly covered their demand in N and P from allochthonous sources and SOM recycling. Pioneer plants favored by degradation further increased nutrient recycling from soil resulting in smaller SOC stocks in the topsoil. These processes explained the differences in SOC stocks along the land-to-sea gradient in each mangrove type as well as the SOC stock differences observed between estuarine and marine mangrove ecosystems. This first large-scale evaluation of drivers of SOC stocks under mangroves thus suggests a continuum in mangrove functioning across scales and ecotypes and additionally provides viable proxies for carbon stock estimations in PES or REDD schemes.}, } @article {pmid27543961, year = {2016}, author = {Afkhami, ME and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Multiple mutualist effects on genomewide expression in the tripartite association between Medicago truncatula, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {19}, pages = {4946-4962}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13809}, pmid = {27543961}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While all species interact with multiple mutualists, the fitness consequences and molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions remain largely unknown. We combined factorial ecological experiments with genomewide expression analyses to examine the phenotypic and transcriptomic responses of model legume Medicago truncatula to rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. We found synergistic effects of these mutualists on plant performance and examined unique features of plant gene expression responses to multiple mutualists. There were genomewide signatures of mutualists and multiple mutualists on expression, with partners often affecting unique sets of genes. Mycorrhizal fungi had stronger effects on plant expression than rhizobia, with 70% of differentially expressed genes affected by fungi. Fungal and bacterial mutualists had joint effects on 10% of differentially expressed genes, including unexpected, nonadditive effects on some genes with important functions such as nutrient metabolism. For a subset of genes, interacting with multiple mutualists even led to reversals in the direction of expression (shifts from up to downregulation) compared to interacting with single mutualists. Rhizobia also affected the expression of several mycorrhizal genes, including those involved in nutrient transfer to host plants, indicating that partner species can also impact each other's molecular phenotypes. Collectively, these data illustrate the diverse molecular mechanisms and transcriptional responses associated with the synergistic benefits of multiple mutualists.}, } @article {pmid27543954, year = {2016}, author = {Reynolds, D and Thomas, T}, title = {Evolution and function of eukaryotic-like proteins from sponge symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {20}, pages = {5242-5253}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13812}, pmid = {27543954}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba ; Animals ; Ankyrin Repeat ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Escherichia coli ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Phagocytosis ; *Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges (Porifera) are ancient metazoans that harbour diverse microorganisms, whose symbiotic interactions are essential for the host's health and function. Although symbiosis between bacteria and sponges are ubiquitous, the molecular mechanisms that control these associations are largely unknown. Recent (meta-) genomic analyses discovered an abundance of genes encoding for eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) in bacterial symbionts from different sponge species. ELPs belonging to the ankyrin repeat (AR) class from a bacterial symbiont of the sponge Cymbastela concentrica were subsequently found to modulate amoebal phagocytosis. This might be a molecular mechanism, by which symbionts can control their interaction with the sponge. In this study, we investigated the evolution and function of ELPs from other classes and from symbionts found in other sponges to better understand the importance of ELPs for bacteria-eukaryote interactions. Phylogenetic analyses showed that all of the nine ELPs investigated were most closely related to proteins found either in eukaryotes or in bacteria that can live in association with eukaryotes. ELPs were then recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and exposed to the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii, which is functionally analogous to phagocytic cells in sponges. Phagocytosis assays with E. coli containing three ELP classes (AR, TPR-SEL1 and NHL) showed a significantly higher percentage of amoeba containing bacteria and average number of intracellular bacteria per amoeba when compared to negative controls. The result that various classes of ELPs found in symbionts of different sponges can modulate phagocytosis indicates that they have a broader function in mediating bacteria-sponge interactions.}, } @article {pmid27543560, year = {2017}, author = {Maher, AMD and Asaiyah, MAM and Brophy, C and Griffin, CT}, title = {An Entomopathogenic Nematode Extends Its Niche by Associating with Different Symbionts.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {211-223}, pmid = {27543560}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Desiccation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Ireland ; Photorhabdus/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts are increasingly recognised as mediators of ecologically important traits of their animal hosts, with acquisition of new traits possible by uptake of novel symbionts. The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis downesi associates with two bacterial symbionts, Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata and P. temperata subsp. cinerea. At one intensively studied coastal dune site, P. temperata subsp. cinerea is consistently more frequently isolated than P. temperata subsp. temperata in H. downesi recovered from under the bare sand/Ammophila arrenaria of the front dunes (where harsh conditions, including drought, prevail). This is not the case in the more permissive closed dune grassland further from the sea. No differences were detected in ITS1 (internal transcribed spacer) sequence between nematode lines carrying either of the two symbiont subspecies, nor did they differ in their ability to utilise insects from three orders. The two symbionts could be readily swapped between lines, and both were carried in equal numbers within infective juveniles. In laboratory experiments, we tested whether the symbionts differentially affected nematode survival in insect cadavers that were allowed to dry. We assessed numbers of nematode infective juveniles emerging from insects that had been infected with H. downesi carrying either symbiont subspecies and then allowed to desiccate for up to 62 days. In moist conditions, cadavers produced similar numbers of nematodes, irrespective of the symbiont subspecies present, while under desiccating conditions, P. temperata subsp. cinerea cadavers yielded more nematode progeny than P. temperata subsp. temperata cadavers. Desiccating cadavers with the same nematode isolates, carrying either one or the other symbiont subspecies, confirmed that the symbiont was responsible for differences in nematode survival. Moreover, cadavers harbouring P. temperata subsp. cinerea had a reduced rate of drying relative to cadavers harbouring P. temperata subsp. temperata. Our experiments support the hypothesis that H. downesi can extend its niche into harsher conditions by associating with P. temperata subsp. cinerea.}, } @article {pmid27543061, year = {2016}, author = {Feng, J and Guo, Y and Zhang, X and Wang, G and Lv, J and Liu, Q and Xie, S}, title = {Identification and characterization of a symbiotic alga from soil bryophyte for lipid profiles.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {1317-1323}, pmid = {27543061}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {A symbiotic alga was successfully isolated from the soil moss Entodon obtusatus found in the Guandi Mountains, Shanxi Province, China, and cultivated under axenic conditions. Morphological observations showed that the symbiotic alga was similar to Chlorococcum Based on phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and rbcL genes and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, Chlorococcum sp. GD was identified as Chlorococcum sphacosum The three data sets were congruent for those aspects of the topologies that were relatively robust, and differed for those parts of the topologies that were not. This strain was cultured in BG11 medium to test its growth and biodiesel properties. It produced a lipid content of nearly 40%, and achieved biomass concentration of 410 mg l(-1) and lipid productivity of 6.76 mg l(-1) day(-1), with favorable C16:0 (23.10%) and C18:1 (21.62%) fatty acid content. This alga appears to have potential for use in biodiesel production.}, } @article {pmid27543058, year = {2016}, author = {Dubousquet, V and Gros, E and Berteaux-Lecellier, V and Viguier, B and Raharivelomanana, P and Bertrand, C and Lecellier, GJ}, title = {Changes in fatty acid composition in the giant clam Tridacna maxima in response to thermal stress.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {5}, number = {10}, pages = {1400-1407}, pmid = {27543058}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Temperature can modify membrane fluidity and thus affects cellular functions and physiological activities. This study examines lipid remodelling in the marine symbiotic organism, Tridacna maxima, during a time series of induced thermal stress, with an emphasis on the morphology of their symbiont Symbiodinium First, we show that the French Polynesian giant clams harbour an important proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA), which reflects their tropical location. Second, in contrast to most marine organisms, the total lipid content in giant clams remained constant under stress, though some changes in their composition were shown. Third, the stress-induced changes in fatty acid (FA) diversity were accompanied by an upregulation of genes involved in lipids and ROS pathways. Finally, our microscopic analysis revealed that for the giant clam's symbiont, Symbiodinium, thermal stress led to two sequential cell death processes. Our data suggests that the degradation of Symbiodinium cells could provide an additional source of energy to T maxima in response to heat stress.}, } @article {pmid27540386, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, D and Thairu, MW and Hansen, AK}, title = {Novel Insights into Insect-Microbe Interactions-Role of Epigenomics and Small RNAs.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1164}, pmid = {27540386}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {It has become increasingly clear that microbes form close associations with the vast majority of animal species, especially insects. In fact, an array of diverse microbes is known to form shared metabolic pathways with their insect hosts. A growing area of research in insect-microbe interactions, notably for hemipteran insects and their mutualistic symbionts, is to elucidate the regulation of this inter-domain metabolism. This review examines two new emerging mechanisms of gene regulation and their importance in host-microbe interactions. Specifically, we highlight how the incipient areas of research on regulatory "dark matter" such as epigenomics and small RNAs, can play a pivotal role in the evolution of both insect and microbe gene regulation. We then propose specific models of how these dynamic forms of gene regulation can influence insect-symbiont-plant interactions. Future studies in this area of research will give us a systematic understanding of how these symbiotic microbes and animals reciprocally respond to and regulate their shared metabolic processes.}, } @article {pmid27540075, year = {2016}, author = {Keller-Costa, T and Silva, R and Lago-Lestón, A and Costa, R}, title = {Genomic Insights into Aquimarina sp. Strain EL33, a Bacterial Symbiont of the Gorgonian Coral Eunicella labiata.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27540075}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {To address the metabolic potential of symbiotic Aquimarina spp., we report here the genome sequence of Aquimarina sp. strain EL33, a bacterium isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata This first-described (to our knowledge) animal-associated Aquimarina genome possesses a sophisticated repertoire of genes involved in drug/antibiotic resistance and biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid27539649, year = {2016}, author = {Pérez-Montaño, F and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Acosta-Jurado, S and Navarro-Gómez, P and Ollero, FJ and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and López-Baena, FJ and Vinardell, JM}, title = {A transcriptomic analysis of the effect of genistein on Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 reveals novel rhizobial genes putatively involved in symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {31592}, pmid = {27539649}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects/physiology ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genistein/*pharmacology ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/physiology ; Transcriptome/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 is a rhizobial soybean symbiont that exhibits an extremely broad host-range. Flavonoids exuded by legume roots induce the expression of rhizobial symbiotic genes and activate the bacterial protein NodD, which binds to regulatory DNA sequences called nod boxes (NB). NB drive the expression of genes involved in the production of molecular signals (Nod factors) as well as the transcription of ttsI, whose encoded product binds to tts boxes (TB), inducing the secretion of proteins (effectors) through the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). In this work, a S. fredii HH103 global gene expression analysis in the presence of the flavonoid genistein was carried out, revealing a complex regulatory network. Three groups of genes differentially expressed were identified: i) genes controlled by NB, ii) genes regulated by TB, and iii) genes not preceded by a NB or a TB. Interestingly, we have found differentially expressed genes not previously studied in rhizobia, being some of them not related to Nod factors or the T3SS. Future characterization of these putative symbiotic-related genes could shed light on the understanding of the complex molecular dialogue established between rhizobia and legumes.}, } @article {pmid27535558, year = {2016}, author = {Krol, E and Klaner, C and Gnau, P and Kaever, V and Essen, LO and Becker, A}, title = {Cyclic mononucleotide- and Clr-dependent gene regulation in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {162}, number = {10}, pages = {1840-1856}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000356}, pmid = {27535558}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cyclic AMP/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Operon ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To identify physiological processes affected by cAMP in the plant-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm2011, cAMP levels were artificially increased by overexpression of its cognate adenylate/guanylate cyclase gene cyaJ. This resulted in high accumulation of cAMP in the culture supernatant, decreased swimming motility and increased production of succinoglycan, an exopolysaccharide involved in host invasion. Weaker, similar phenotypic changes were induced by overexpression of cyaB and cyaG1. Effects on swimming motility and succinoglycan production were partially dependent on clr encoding a cyclic AMP receptor-like protein. Transcriptome profiling of an cyaJ-overexpressing strain identified 72 upregulated and 82 downregulated genes. A considerable number of upregulated genes are related to polysaccharide biosynthesis and osmotic stress response. These included succinoglycan biosynthesis genes, genes of the putative polysaccharide synthesis nodP2-exoF3 cluster and feuN, the first gene of the operon encoding the FeuNPQ regulatory system. Downregulated genes were mostly related to respiration, central metabolism and swimming motility. Promoter-probe studies in the presence of externally added cAMP revealed 18 novel Clr-cAMP-regulated genes. Moreover, the addition of cGMP into the growth medium also promoted clr-dependent gene regulation. In vitro binding of Clr-cAMP and Clr-cGMP to the promoter regions of SMc02178, SMb20906,SMc04190, SMc00925, SMc01136 and cyaF2 required the DNA motif (A/C/T)GT(T/C)(T/C/A)C (N4) G(G/A)(T/A)ACA. Furthermore, SMc02178, SMb20906,SMc04190and SMc00653 promoters were activated by Clr-cAMP/cGMP in Escherichia coli as heterologous host. These findings suggest direct activation of these 7 genes by Clr-cAMP/cGMP.}, } @article {pmid27535176, year = {2016}, author = {Klock, MM and Barrett, LG and Thrall, PH and Harms, KE}, title = {Differential plant invasiveness is not always driven by host promiscuity with bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27535176}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Identification of mechanisms that allow some species to outcompete others is a fundamental goal in ecology and invasive species management. One useful approach is to examine congeners varying in invasiveness in a comparative framework across native and invaded ranges. Acacia species have been widely introduced outside their native range of Australia, and a subset of these species have become invasive in multiple parts of the world. Within specific regions, the invasive status of these species varies. Our study examined whether a key mechanism in the life history of Acacia species, the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, influences acacia invasiveness on a regional scale. To assess the extent to which species varying in invasiveness correspondingly differ with regard to the diversity of rhizobia they associate with, we grew seven Acacia species ranging in invasiveness in California in multiple soils from both their native (Australia) and introduced (California) ranges. In particular, the aim was to determine whether more invasive species formed symbioses with a wider diversity of rhizobial strains (i.e. are more promiscuous hosts). We measured and compared plant performance, including aboveground biomass, survival, and nodulation response, as well as rhizobial community composition and richness. Host promiscuity did not differ among invasiveness categories. Acacia species that varied in invasiveness differed in aboveground biomass for only one soil and did not differ in survival or nodulation within individual soils. In addition, acacias did not differ in rhizobial richness among invasiveness categories. However, nodulation differed between regions and was generally higher in the native than introduced range. Our results suggest that all Acacia species introduced to California are promiscuous hosts and that host promiscuity per se does not explain the observed differences in invasiveness within this region. Our study also highlights the utility of assessing potential mechanisms of invasion in species' native and introduced ranges.}, } @article {pmid27534623, year = {2016}, author = {Murakami, H and Uchiyama, J and Nikaido, S and Sato, R and Sakaguchi, M and Tsukamoto, K}, title = {Inefficient viral replication of bovine leukemia virus induced by spontaneous deletion mutation in the G4 gene.}, journal = {The Journal of general virology}, volume = {97}, number = {10}, pages = {2753-2762}, doi = {10.1099/jgv.0.000583}, pmid = {27534623}, issn = {1465-2099}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Enzootic Bovine Leukosis/*virology ; Leukemia Virus, Bovine/*genetics/physiology ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral/*genetics/metabolism ; *Sequence Deletion ; *Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {Enzootic bovine leucosis is caused by bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, which is highly prevalent in several regions of the world and significantly impacts the livestock industry. In BLV infection, the proviral load in the blood reflects disease progression. Although the BLV genome is highly conserved among retroviruses, genetic variation has been reported. However, the relationship between proviral load and genetic variation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the changes in proviral load in BLV-infected cattle in Japan and then identified and analysed a BLV strain pvAF967 that had a static proviral load. First, examining the proviral load in the aleukaemic cattle in 2014 and 2015, cow AF967 showed a static proviral load, while the other cows showed significant increases in proviral load. Sequencing the provirus in cow AF967 showed a deletion of 12 nt located in the G4 gene. An in vitro assay system using BLV molecular clone was set up to evaluate viral replication and production. In this in vitro assay, the deletion mutation in the G4 gene resulted in a significant decrease in viral replication and production. In addition, we showed that the deletion mutation did not affect the viral transcriptional activity of Tax protein, which is also important for virus replication. The emergence of strain pvAF967 that showed a static proviral load, combined with other retrovirus evolutionary traits, suggests that some BLV strains may have evolved to be symbiotic with cattle.}, } @article {pmid27531180, year = {2016}, author = {Takahashi, T}, title = {Simultaneous Evaluation of Life Cycle Dynamics between a Host Paramecium and the Endosymbionts of Paramecium bursaria Using Capillary Flow Cytometry.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {31638}, pmid = {27531180}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Cycle ; Chlorella/cytology/*physiology ; Flow Cytometry/methods ; Life Cycle Stages/physiology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Paramecium/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbioses are driving forces underlying cell evolution. The endosymbiosis exhibited by Paramecium bursaria is an excellent model with which to study symbiosis. A single-cell microscopic analysis of P. bursaria reveals that endosymbiont numbers double when the host is in the division phase. Consequently, endosymbionts must arrange their cell cycle schedule if the culture-condition-dependent change delays the generation time of P. bursaria. However, it remains poorly understood whether endosymbionts keep pace with the culture-condition-dependent behaviors of P. bursaria, or not. Using microscopy and flow cytometry, this study investigated the life cycle behaviors occurring between endosymbionts and the host. To establish a connection between the host cell cycle and endosymbionts comprehensively, multivariate analysis was applied. The multivariate analysis revealed important information related to regulation between the host and endosymbionts. Results show that dividing endosymbionts underwent transition smoothly from the division phase to interphase, when the host was in the logarithmic phase. In contrast, endosymbiont division stagnated when the host was in the stationary phase. This paper explains that endosymbionts fine-tune their cell cycle pace with their host and that a synchronous life cycle between the endosymbionts and the host is guaranteed in the symbiosis of P. bursaria.}, } @article {pmid27530082, year = {2016}, author = {den Boer, E and Łukaszewska, A and Kluczkiewicz, W and Lewandowska, D and King, K and Reijonen, T and Kuhmonen, T and Suhonen, A and Jääskeläinen, A and Heitto, A and Laatikainen, R and Hakalehto, E}, title = {Volatile fatty acids as an added value from biowaste.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {58}, number = {}, pages = {62-69}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2016.08.006}, pmid = {27530082}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Biotechnology/instrumentation/*methods ; Enterobacter aerogenes/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Ethanol/metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/chemistry/*metabolism ; Food ; Propionates/metabolism ; Solanum tuberosum/chemistry ; *Waste Products ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present work was to provide proof of concept of employing a co-culture of K. mobilis and E. coli for producing short and medium chain volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from kitchen biowaste and potato peels. To this aim, experiments were carried out at pilot-scale installation with a bioreactor of 250L. Different feeding strategies were tested under microaerobic conditions, at pH 6.0-6.5 in order to enhance chain elongation. Acetic acid and ethanol were dominating products in the initial stages of the bioprocess, but in a relatively short time of approx. 20-22h from the process start accumulation of propionic acid took place followed by a chain elongation to butyric and valeric acids. The highest final products yield of 325mg/g TS was achieved for the substrate load of 99.1g TS/L (VS of 91.1g/L) and pH 6.5, with the productivity of 448mg/L/h. However, the highest average VFAs chain length (3.77C) was observed in the process run with the loading of 63.2g TS/L and pH 6.0. In this study, we demonstrated that the existing symbiosis of the co-culture of K. mobilis and E. coli favours formation and chain elongation of VFA, induced most likely by the enhanced ethanol formation. Our finding differs from the previous research which focus mostly on anaerobic conditions of VFAs production. The results provide good basis for further optimisation of VFAs production process.}, } @article {pmid27529974, year = {2016}, author = {Zhukova, VA and Rychagova, TS and Fedorina, YV and Pinaeva, AG and Andronova, EE and Borisova, AY and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {[Features of Expression of the PsSst] and PsIgn1 Genes in Nodules of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Symbiotic Mutants].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {413-421}, pmid = {27529974}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Peas/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The sequences of the PsSst1 and PsIgn1 genes of pea (Pisum sativum L.) homologous to the symbiotic LjSST1 and LjIGN1 genes of Lotusjaponicus (Regel.) K. Larsen are determined. The expression level of PsSst1 and PsIgn1 genes is determined by real-time PCR in nodules of several symbiotic mutants and original lines of pea. Lines with increased (Sprint-2Fix[-] (Pssym31)) and decreased (P61 (Pssym25)) expression level of both genes are revealed along with the lines characterized by changes in the expression level of only one of these genes. The revealed features of the PsSst1 and PsIgn1 expression allow us to expand the phenotypic characterization of pea symbiotic mutants. In addition, PsSst1 and PsIgn1 cDNA is sequenced in selected mutant lines, characterized by a decreased expression level of these genes in nodules, but no mutations are found.}, } @article {pmid27529286, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, CW and Murray, JD}, title = {The Role of Flavonoids in Nodulation Host-Range Specificity: An Update.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {27529286}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {BB/G023832/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids are crucial signaling molecules in the symbiosis between legumes and their nitrogen-fixing symbionts, the rhizobia. The primary function of flavonoids in the interaction is to induce transcription of the genes for biosynthesis of the rhizobial signaling molecules called Nod factors, which are perceived by the plant to allow symbiotic infection of the root. Many legumes produce specific flavonoids that only induce Nod factor production in homologous rhizobia, and therefore act as important determinants of host range. Despite a wealth of evidence on legume flavonoids, relatively few have proven roles in rhizobial infection. Recent studies suggest that production of key "infection" flavonoids is highly localized at infection sites. Furthermore, some of the flavonoids being produced at infection sites are phytoalexins and may have a role in the selection of compatible symbionts during infection. The molecular details of how flavonoid production in plants is regulated during nodulation have not yet been clarified, but nitrogen availability has been shown to play a role.}, } @article {pmid27529073, year = {2016}, author = {Sangaré, AK and Doumbo, OK and Raoult, D}, title = {Management and Treatment of Human Lice.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2016}, number = {}, pages = {8962685}, pmid = {27529073}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Lice Infestations/epidemiology/*therapy ; *Phthiraptera ; }, abstract = {Of the three lice (head, body, and pubic louse) that infest humans, the body louse is the species involved in epidemics of louse-borne typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever, but all the three cause pediculosis. Their infestations occur today in many countries despite great efforts to maintain high standards of public health. In this review, literature searches were performed through PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost, with key search words of "Pediculus humanus", "lice infestation", "pediculosis", and "treatment"; and controlled clinical trials were viewed with great interest. Removing lice by hand or with a lice comb, heating infested clothing, and shaving the scalp were some of the oldest methods of controlling human lice. Despite the introduction of other resources including cresol, naphthalene, sulfur, mercury, vinegar, petroleum, and insecticides, the numbers of lice infestation cases and resistance have increased. To date, viable alternative treatments to replace insecticides have been developed experimentally in vitro. Today, the development of new treatment strategies such as symbiotic treatment and synergistic treatment (antibiotics + ivermectin) in vitro has proved effective and is promising. Here, we present an overview on managing and treating human lice and highlight new strategies to more effectively fight pediculosis and prevent resistance.}, } @article {pmid27528692, year = {2016}, author = {Egidi, E and McMullan-Fisher, S and Morgan, JW and May, T and Zeeman, B and Franks, AE}, title = {Fire regime, not time-since-fire, affects soil fungal community diversity and composition in temperate grasslands.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {363}, number = {17}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnw196}, pmid = {27528692}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Australia ; Ecosystem ; *Fires ; Fungi/genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; *Grassland ; Microbial Consortia ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Frequent burning is commonly undertaken to maintain diversity in temperate grasslands of southern Australia. How burning affects below-ground fungal community diversity remains unknown. We show, using a fungal rDNA metabarcoding approach (Illumina MiSeq), that the fungal community composition was influenced by fire regime (frequency) but not time-since-fire. Fungal community composition was resilient to direct fire effects, most likely because grassland fires transfer little heat to the soil. Differences in the fungal community composition due to fire regime was likely due to associated changes that occur in vegetation with recurrent fire, via the break up of obligate symbiotic relationships. However, fire history only partially explains the observed dissimilarity in composition among the soil samples, suggesting a distinctiveness in composition in each grassland site. The importance of considering changes in soil microbe communities when managing vegetation with fire is highlighted.}, } @article {pmid27527874, year = {2017}, author = {Ricci, JN and Morton, R and Kulkarni, G and Summers, ML and Newman, DK}, title = {Hopanoids play a role in stress tolerance and nutrient storage in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {173-183}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12204}, pmid = {27527874}, issn = {1472-4669}, support = {SC1 GM093998/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Mutation ; Nostoc/genetics/metabolism/*physiology/radiation effects ; *Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; Triterpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Hopanes are abundant in ancient sedimentary rocks at discrete intervals in Earth history, yet interpreting their significance in the geologic record is complicated by our incomplete knowledge of what their progenitors, hopanoids, do in modern cells. To date, few studies have addressed the breadth of diversity of physiological functions of these lipids and whether those functions are conserved across the hopanoid-producing bacterial phyla. Here, we generated mutants in the filamentous cyanobacterium, Nostoc punctiforme, that are unable to make all hopanoids (shc) or 2-methylhopanoids (hpnP). While the absence of hopanoids impedes growth of vegetative cells at high temperature, the shc mutant grows faster at low temperature. This finding is consistent with hopanoids acting as membrane rigidifiers, a function shared by other hopanoid-producing phyla. Apart from impacting fitness under temperature stress, hopanoids are dispensable for vegetative cells under other stress conditions. However, hopanoids are required for stress tolerance in akinetes, a resting survival cell type. While 2-methylated hopanoids do not appear to contribute to any stress phenotype, total hopanoids and to a lesser extent 2-methylhopanoids were found to promote the formation of cyanophycin granules in akinetes. Finally, although hopanoids support symbiotic interactions between Alphaproteobacteria and plants, they do not appear to facilitate symbiosis between N. punctiforme and the hornwort Anthoceros punctatus. Collectively, these findings support interpreting hopanes as general environmental stress biomarkers. If hopanoid-mediated enhancement of nitrogen-rich storage products turns out to be a conserved phenomenon in other organisms, a better understanding of this relationship may help us parse the enrichment of 2-methylhopanes in the rock record during episodes of disrupted nutrient cycling.}, } @article {pmid27527164, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, DZ and Kong, LF and Li, YY and Xie, ZX}, title = {Environmental Microbial Community Proteomics: Status, Challenges and Perspectives.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {27527164}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; }, abstract = {Microbial community proteomics, also termed metaproteomics, is an emerging field within the area of microbiology, which studies the entire protein complement recovered directly from a complex environmental microbial community at a given point in time. Although it is still in its infancy, microbial community proteomics has shown its powerful potential in exploring microbial diversity, metabolic potential, ecological function and microbe-environment interactions. In this paper, we review recent advances achieved in microbial community proteomics conducted in diverse environments, such as marine and freshwater, sediment and soil, activated sludge, acid mine drainage biofilms and symbiotic communities. The challenges facing microbial community proteomics are also discussed, and we believe that microbial community proteomics will greatly enhance our understanding of the microbial world and its interactions with the environment.}, } @article {pmid27524990, year = {2016}, author = {González-Guerrero, M and Escudero, V and Saéz, Á and Tejada-Jiménez, M}, title = {Transition Metal Transport in Plants and Associated Endosymbionts: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobia.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1088}, pmid = {27524990}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Transition metals such as iron, copper, zinc, or molybdenum are essential nutrients for plants. These elements are involved in almost every biological process, including photosynthesis, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, or symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, plants often grow in soils with limiting metallic oligonutrient bioavailability. Consequently, to ensure the proper metal levels, plants have developed a complex metal uptake and distribution system, that not only involves the plant itself, but also its associated microorganisms. These microorganisms can simply increase metal solubility in soils and making them more accessible to the host plant, as well as induce the plant metal deficiency response, or directly deliver transition elements to cortical cells. Other, instead of providing metals, can act as metal sinks, such as endosymbiotic rhizobia in legume nodules that requires relatively large amounts to carry out nitrogen fixation. In this review, we propose to do an overview of metal transport mechanisms in the plant-microbe system, emphasizing the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and endosymbiotic rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid27524989, year = {2016}, author = {Augé, RM and Toler, HD and Saxton, AM}, title = {Mycorrhizal Stimulation of Leaf Gas Exchange in Relation to Root Colonization, Shoot Size, Leaf Phosphorus and Nitrogen: A Quantitative Analysis of the Literature Using Meta-Regression.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1084}, pmid = {27524989}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis often stimulates gas exchange rates of the host plant. This may relate to mycorrhizal effects on host nutrition and growth rate, or the influence may occur independently of these. Using meta-regression, we tested the strength of the relationship between AM-induced increases in gas exchange, and AM size and leaf mineral effects across the literature. With only a few exceptions, AM stimulation of carbon exchange rate (CER), stomatal conductance (g s), and transpiration rate (E) has been significantly associated with mycorrhizal stimulation of shoot dry weight, leaf phosphorus, leaf nitrogen:phosphorus ratio, and percent root colonization. The sizeable mycorrhizal stimulation of CER, by 49% over all studies, has been about twice as large as the mycorrhizal stimulation of g s and E (28 and 26%, respectively). CER has been over twice as sensitive as g s and four times as sensitive as E to mycorrhizal colonization rates. The AM-induced stimulation of CER increased by 19% with each AM-induced doubling of shoot size; the AM effect was about half as large for g s and E. The ratio of leaf N to leaf P has been more closely associated with mycorrhizal influence on leaf gas exchange than leaf P alone. The mycorrhizal influence on CER has declined markedly over the 35 years of published investigations.}, } @article {pmid27523648, year = {2016}, author = {Needell, JC and Zipris, D}, title = {The Role of the Intestinal Microbiome in Type 1 Diabetes Pathogenesis.}, journal = {Current diabetes reports}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {89}, pmid = {27523648}, issn = {1539-0829}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/*etiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptors/physiology ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal system represents one of the largest interfaces between the human internal microenvironment and the external world. This system harbors trillions of commensal bacteria that reside in symbiosis with the host. Intestinal bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining systemic and intestinal immune and metabolic homeostasis because of their effect on nutrient absorption and immune development and function. Recently, altered gut bacterial composition (dysbiosis) was hypothesized to be involved in mechanisms through which islet autoimmunity is triggered. Evidence from animal models indicates that alterations in the gut bacterial composition precede disease onset, thus implicating a causal role for the gut microbiome in islet destruction. However, it remains unclear whether dysbiosis is directly linked to the mechanisms of human type 1 diabetes (T1D). In this review, we discuss data implicating the gut microbiota in disease progression with an emphasis on our recent studies performed in humans and in rodent models of T1D.}, } @article {pmid27523443, year = {2016}, author = {Orthlieb, JD and Ré, JP and Jeany, M and Giraudeau, A}, title = {[Temporomandibular joint, occlusion and bruxism].}, journal = {Revue de stomatologie, de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et de chirurgie orale}, volume = {117}, number = {4}, pages = {207-211}, doi = {10.1016/j.revsto.2016.07.006}, pmid = {27523443}, issn = {2213-6541}, mesh = {Bruxism/*etiology/physiopathology ; *Dental Occlusion ; Facial Pain/etiology ; Humans ; Malocclusion/physiopathology ; Temporomandibular Joint/pathology/*physiology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/complications/physiopathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome/etiology ; }, abstract = {Temporomandibular joint and dental occlusion are joined for better and worse. TMJ has its own weaknesses, sometimes indicated by bad functional habits and occlusal disorders. Occlusal analysis needs to be addressed simply and clearly. The term "malocclusion" is not reliable to build epidemiological studies, etiologic mechanisms or therapeutic advice on this "diagnosis". Understanding the impact of pathogenic malocclusion is not just about occlusal relationships that are more or less defective, it requires to locate them within the skeletal framework, the articular and behavioural context of the patient, and above all to assess their impact on the functions of the masticatory system. The TMJ-occlusion couple is often symbiotic, developing together in relation to its environment, compensating for its own shortcomings. However, a third partner may alter this relationship, such as bruxism, or more generally oral parafunctions, trauma or an interventionist practitioner.}, } @article {pmid27521632, year = {2016}, author = {Aghayeva, DN and Lutz, M and Piątek, M}, title = {Transmission electron microscopy of Tuberculina species (Helicobasidiales) reveals an unique mode of conidiogenesis within Basidiomycota.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {120}, number = {8}, pages = {1010-1016}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2016.04.007}, pmid = {27521632}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Cell Nucleus/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Spores, Fungal/*growth & development/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Tuberculina species represent the asexual life stage of the plant-parasitic sexual genus Helicobasidium. Tuberculina species are distributed all over the world, living in antagonistic symbiosis with over 150 rust species from at least 15 genera. Within the Basidiomycota, besides the spermogonia of rust fungi, only Tuberculina species develop distinct fructifications in the haplophase. However, the knowledge of conidiogenesis in Tuberculina is meagre. Therefore, conidial development in Tuberculina maxima, Tuberculina persicina, and Tuberculina sbrozzii was studied using transmission electron microscopy, and compared to each other as well as to spermatia formation in rust fungi. Significant ultrastructural characteristics such as the movement of nuclei in the process of conidium formation, and formation of the initial and late stages of conidiogenesis are documented. The mode of conidiogenesis of Tuberculina species is unique within the Basidiomycota in that (1) it is realized by haploid fructifications, (2) it is holoblastic, without annellidic proliferation, (3) the nucleus of the conidiogenous cell moves towards the forming conidium, divides, and no daughter nucleus remains inside the conidiogenous cell, and (4) the conidiogenous cell retains only cytoplasmic residues after the development of a single conidium, and a successive conidium is not produced.}, } @article {pmid27519312, year = {2016}, author = {Miyata, K and Hayafune, M and Kobae, Y and Kaku, H and Nishizawa, Y and Masuda, Y and Shibuya, N and Nakagawa, T}, title = {Evaluation of the Role of the LysM Receptor-Like Kinase, OsNFR5/OsRLK2 for AM Symbiosis in Rice.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {57}, number = {11}, pages = {2283-2290}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcw144}, pmid = {27519312}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Multimerization ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In legume-specific rhizobial symbiosis, host plants perceive rhizobial signal molecules, Nod factors, by a pair of LysM receptor-like kinases, NFR1/LYK3 and NFR5/NFP, and activate symbiotic responses through the downstream signaling components also required for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Recently, the rice NFR1/LYK3 ortholog, OsCERK1, was shown to play crucial roles for AM symbiosis. On the other hand, the roles of the NFR5/NFP ortholog in rice have not been elucidated, while it has been shown that NFR5/NFP orthologs, Parasponia PaNFR5 and tomato SlRLK10, engage in AM symbiosis. OsCERK1 also triggers immune responses in combination with a receptor partner, OsCEBiP, against fungal or bacterial infection, thus regulating opposite responses against symbiotic and pathogenic microbes. However, it has not been elucidated how OsCERK1 switches these opposite functions. Here, we analyzed the function of the rice NFR5/NFP ortholog, OsNFR5/OsRLK2, as a possible candidate of the OsCERK1 partner for symbiotic signaling. Inoculation of AM fungi induced the expression of OsNFR5 in the rice root, and the chimeric receptor consisting of the extracellular domain of LjNFR5 and the intracellular domain of OsNFR5 complemented the Ljnfr5 mutant for rhizobial symbiosis, indicating that the intracellular kinase domain of OsNFR5 could activate symbiotic signaling in Lotus japonicus. Although these data suggested the possible involvement of OsNFR5 in AM symbiosis, osnfr5 knockout mutants were colonized by AM fungi similar to the wild-type rice. These observations suggested several possibilities including the presence of functionally redundant genes other than OsNFR5 or involvement of novel ligands, which do not require OsNFR5 for recognition.}, } @article {pmid27518838, year = {2016}, author = {El Kafsi, H and Gorochov, G and Larsen, M}, title = {Host genetics affect microbial ecosystems via host immunity.}, journal = {Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {413-420}, doi = {10.1097/ACI.0000000000000302}, pmid = {27518838}, issn = {1473-6322}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; *Gene-Environment Interaction ; *Genetic Phenomena ; Homeostasis ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity/*genetics ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Genetic evolution of multicellular organisms has occurred in response to environmental challenges, including competition for nutrients, climate change, physical and chemical stressors, and pathogens. However, fitness of an organism is dependent not only on defense efficacy, but also on the ability to take advantage of symbiotic organisms. Indeed, microbes not only encompass pathogenicity, but also enable efficient nutrient uptake from diets nondegradable by the host itself. Moreover, microbes play important roles in the development of host immunity. Here we review associations between specific host genes and variance in microbiota composition and compare with interactions between microbes and host immunity.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent genome-wide association studies reveal that symbiosis between host and microbiota is the exquisite result of genetic coevolution. Moreover, a subset of microbes from human and mouse microbiota have been identified to interact with humoral and cellular immunity. Interestingly, microbes associated with both host genetics and host immunity are taxonomically related. Most involved are Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia, which are dually associated with both host immunity and host genetics.

SUMMARY: We conclude that future therapeutics targeting microbiota in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases need to consider both immune and genetic host features associated with microbiota homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid27515641, year = {2016}, author = {Krug, PJ and Vendetti, JE and Valdés, Á}, title = {Molecular and morphological systematics of Elysia Risso, 1818 (Heterobranchia: Sacoglossa) from the Caribbean region.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4148}, number = {1}, pages = {1-137}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4148.1.1}, pmid = {27515641}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Caribbean Region ; Female ; Gastropoda/*anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Larva ; Male ; }, abstract = {The Caribbean is a biodiversity hotspot for photosynthetic sea slugs, with about 27 described species in the genus Elysia Risso, 1818. However, many species are poorly known or have complex taxonomic histories, complicating assessments of regional biodiversity and impeding studies of plastid symbiosis, speciation, and larval biology. Using an integrative approach, we address the taxonomy and systematics of Caribbean elysiids by performing robust tests of existing species hypotheses, and describe six new species. Species delimitation included DNA barcoding of up to 189 nominal conspecific specimens; nuclear gene sequences were then used to confirm that divergent lineages were genetically distinct candidate species. New synonymies and species descriptions are based on external anatomy, penial and radular morphology, developmental characters, and host ecology of all species described from the region, plus a critical review of the literature. We synonymized three species (Elysia annedupontae Ortea, Espinosa & Caballer in Ortea, Caballer, Moro & Espinosa, 2005, Elysia clarki Pierce et al. 2006, and Elysia leeanneae Caballer, Ortea & Espinosa in Ortea, Espinosa, Buske & Caballer, 2013), transfered one species from Bosellia (Elysia marcusi), and described six new species (Elysia pawliki n. sp., Elysia zemi n. sp., Elysia christinae n. sp., Elysia hamanni n. sp., Elysia taino n. sp., and Elysia buonoi n. sp.). We resurrected the name Elysia velutinus Pruvot-Fol, 1947, a senior synonym of Elysia tuca Ev. Marcus & Er. Marcus, 1967. Based on a four-gene phylogeny of 76 Elysia spp., we identified shifts in host use and penial armature that may explain patterns of endemic diversification in Elysia, invoking both ecological and non-ecological mechanisms. Non-monophyly of stylet-bearing species rejects previous attempts to classify species based on presence of a stylet (i.e., the genus Checholysia Ortea, Caballer, Moro & Espinosa, 2005). Our findings show how integrative approaches can resolve the taxonomic status of problematic species (e.g., Elysia papillosa Verrill, 1901) for soft-bodied marine taxa.}, } @article {pmid27514472, year = {2016}, author = {Jin, Y and Liu, H and Luo, D and Yu, N and Dong, W and Wang, C and Zhang, X and Dai, H and Yang, J and Wang, E}, title = {DELLA proteins are common components of symbiotic rhizobial and mycorrhizal signalling pathways.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12433}, pmid = {27514472}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/*physiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes form symbiotic associations with either nitrogen-fixing bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Formation of these two symbioses is regulated by a common set of signalling components that act downstream of recognition of rhizobia or mycorrhizae by host plants. Central to these pathways is the calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK)-IPD3 complex which initiates nodule organogenesis following calcium oscillations in the host nucleus. However, downstream signalling events are not fully understood. Here we show that Medicago truncatula DELLA proteins, which are the central regulators of gibberellic acid signalling, positively regulate rhizobial symbiosis. Rhizobia colonization is impaired in della mutants and we provide evidence that DELLAs can promote CCaMK-IPD3 complex formation and increase the phosphorylation state of IPD3. DELLAs can also interact with NSP2-NSP1 and enhance the expression of Nod-factor-inducible genes in protoplasts. We show that DELLA is able to bridge a protein complex containing IPD3 and NSP2. Our results suggest a transcriptional framework for regulation of root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27514386, year = {2016}, author = {Handel, S and Wang, T and Yurkov, AM and König, H}, title = {Sugiyamaella mastotermitis sp. nov. and Papiliotrema odontotermitis f.a., sp. nov. from the gut of the termites Mastotermes darwiniensis and Odontotermes obesus.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {11}, pages = {4600-4608}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.001397}, pmid = {27514386}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Base Composition ; Basidiomycota/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; *Phylogeny ; Saccharomycetales/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Two novel yeast species were isolated from the guts of two different termite species. A new member of the genus Sugiyamaella was isolated from the hindgut and nest material of the lower Australian termite Mastotermes darwiniensis. The second novel yeast species, isolated from the higher termite Odontotermes obesus, was identified as a member of the genus Papiliotrema. Both yeast species were able to hydrolyse xylan, methylumbelliferyl β-xylobiose and methylumbelliferyl β-xylotriose. The ability to debranch different hemicellulose side chains and growth without the addition of external vitamins was observed. A symbiotic role of the novel yeast species is indicated, especially in respect to xylan degradation and the production of vitamins. Here, we describe these species as Sugiyamaella mastotermitis sp. nov., MycoBank 816574 (type strain MD39VT=DSM 100793T=CBS 14182T), and Papiliotrema odontotermitis f.a., sp. nov., MycoBank 816575 (type strain OO5T=DSM 100791T=CBS 14181T). Additionally, we transfer Candida qingdaonensis to the genus Sugiyamaella and propose the following combination: Sugiyamaella qingdaonensis f.a., comb. nov., MycoBank 816576.}, } @article {pmid27514019, year = {2017}, author = {Leclair, M and Polin, S and Jousseaume, T and Simon, JC and Sugio, A and Morlière, S and Fukatsu, T and Tsuchida, T and Outreman, Y}, title = {Consequences of coinfection with protective symbionts on the host phenotype and symbiont titres in the pea aphid system.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {798-808}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12380}, pmid = {27514019}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology/parasitology ; Coinfection ; Coxiellaceae/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between microbes and insects are widespread, and it is frequent that several symbionts share the same host individual. Hence, interactions can occur between these symbionts, influencing their respective abundance within the host with consequences on its phenotype. Here, we investigate the effects of multiple infections in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, which is the host of an obligatory and several facultative symbionts. In particular, we study the influence of a coinfection with 2 protective symbionts: Hamiltonella defensa, which confers protection against parasitoids, and Rickettsiella viridis, which provides protection against fungal pathogens and predators. The effects of Hamiltonella-Rickettsiella coinfection on the respective abundance of the symbionts, host fitness and efficacy of enemy protection were studied. Asymmetrical interactions between the 2 protective symbionts have been found: when they coinfect the same aphid individuals, the Rickettsiella infection affected Hamiltonella abundance within hosts but not the Hamiltonella-mediated protective phenotype while the Hamiltonella infection negatively influences the Rickettsiella-mediated protective phenotype but not its abundance. Harboring the 2 protective symbionts also reduced the survival and fecundity of host individuals. Overall, this work highlights the effects of multiple infections on symbiont abundances and host traits that are likely to impact the maintenance of the symbiotic associations in natural habitats.}, } @article {pmid27511459, year = {2016}, author = {Nehra, V and Allen, JM and Mailing, LJ and Kashyap, PC and Woods, JA}, title = {Gut Microbiota: Modulation of Host Physiology in Obesity.}, journal = {Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {327-335}, pmid = {27511459}, issn = {1548-9221}, support = {K08 DK100638/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; Energy Metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Obesity/*microbiology/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Many factors are involved in weight gain and metabolic disturbances associated with obesity. The gut microbiota has been of particular interest in recent years, since both human and animal studies have increased our understanding of the delicate symbiosis between the trillions of microbes that reside in the GI tract and the host. It has been suggested that disruption of this mutual tolerance may play a significant role in modulating host physiology during obesity. Environmental influences such as diet, exercise, and early life exposures can significantly impact the composition of the microbiota, and this dysbiosis can in turn lead to increased host adiposity via a number of different mechanisms. The ability of the microbiota to regulate host fat deposition, metabolism, and immune function makes it an attractive target for achieving sustained weight loss.}, } @article {pmid27507738, year = {2016}, author = {Muggia, L and Fernández-Brime, S and Grube, M and Wedin, M}, title = {Schizoxylon as an experimental model for studying interkingdom symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw165}, pmid = {27507738}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/*physiology ; Bacteria ; Chlorophyta/classification ; Coculture Techniques ; Lichens/classification/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Models, Theoretical ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Experiments to re-synthesise lichens so far focused on co-cultures of fungal and algal partners. However, recent studies have revealed that bacterial communities colonise lichens in a stable and host-specific manner. We were therefore interested in testing how lichenised fungi and algae interact with selected bacteria in an experimental setup. We selected the symbiotic system of Schizoxylon albescens and the algal genera Coccomyxa and Trebouxia as a suitable model. We isolated bacterial strains from the naturally occurring bacterial fraction of freshly collected specimens and established tripartite associations under mixed culture experiments. The bacteria belong to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and corresponded to groups already found associated with fungi including lichens. In mixed cultures with Coccomyxa, the fungus formed a characteristic filamentous matrix and tightly contacted the algae; the bacteria distributed in small patches between the algal cells and attached to the cell walls. In mixed cultures with Trebouxia, the fungus did not develop the filamentous matrix, but bacterial cells were observed to be tightly adhering to the fungal hyphae. Our experiments show that this tripartite fungal-algal-bacterial model system can be maintained in culture and can offer multiple opportunities for functional studies based on experiments under controlled conditions in the laboratory.}, } @article {pmid27507264, year = {2016}, author = {Suzuki, J and Uda, A and Watanabe, K and Shimizu, T and Watarai, M}, title = {Symbiosis with Francisella tularensis provides resistance to pathogens in the silkworm.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {31476}, pmid = {27507264}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism ; Bombyx/metabolism/*microbiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Disease Resistance ; Francisella tularensis/*physiology ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; Immunity ; Insect Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is a highly virulent facultative intracellular pathogen found in a wide range of animals, including arthropods, and environments. This bacterium has been known for over 100 years, but the lifestyle of F. tularensis in natural reservoirs remains largely unknown. Thus, we established a novel natural host model for F. tularensis using the silkworm (Bombyx mori), which is an insect model for infection by pathogens. F. tularensis established a symbiosis with silkworms, and bacteria were observed in the hemolymph. After infection with F. tularensis, the induction of melanization and nodulation, which are immune responses to bacterial infection, were inhibited in silkworms. Pre-inoculation of silkworms with F. tularensis enhanced the expression of antimicrobial peptides and resistance to infection by pathogenic bacteria. These results suggest that silkworms acquire host resistance via their symbiosis with F. tularensis, which may have important fitness benefits in natural reservoirs.}, } @article {pmid27502580, year = {2016}, author = {Schmidt, C and Titelboim, D and Brandt, J and Herut, B and Abramovich, S and Almogi-Labin, A and Kucera, M}, title = {Extremely heat tolerant photo-symbiosis in a shallow marine benthic foraminifera.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {30930}, pmid = {27502580}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Foraminifera/*physiology/radiation effects ; *Hot Temperature ; Mediterranean Region ; *Photochemistry ; Seawater ; Symbiosis/*physiology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Bleaching, the loss of algal symbionts, occurs in marine photosymbiotic organisms at water temperatures minimally exceeding average summer SST (sea surface temperatures). Pre-adaptation allows organisms to persist under warmer conditions, providing the tolerance can be carried to new habitats. Here we provide evidence for the existence of such adaptation in the benthic foraminifera Pararotalia calcariformata. This species occurs at a thermally polluted site in the Mediterranean, where water temperatures reach a maxima daily average of 36 °C during the summer. To test whether this occurrence represents a widespread adaptation, we conducted manipulative experiments exposing this species from an unpolluted site to elevated temperatures (20-42 °C). It was kept in co-culture with the more thermally sensitive foraminifera Amphistegina lobifera in two experiments (20-36 °C). Reduced photosynthetic activity in A. lobifera occurred at 32 °C whereas photochemical stress in P. calcariformata was first observed during exposure to 36 °C. Pararotalia calcariformata survived all treatment conditions and grew under 36 °C. The photosymbiosis in P. calcariformata is unusually thermally tolerant. These observations imply that marine eukaryote-eukaryote photosymbiosis can respond to elevated temperatures by drawing on a pool of naturally occurring pre-adaptations. It also provides a perspective on the massive occurrence of symbiont-bearing foraminifera in the early Cenozoic hothouse climate.}, } @article {pmid27502279, year = {2016}, author = {Muszyński, A and Heiss, C and Hjuler, CT and Sullivan, JT and Kelly, SJ and Thygesen, MB and Stougaard, J and Azadi, P and Carlson, RW and Ronson, CW}, title = {Structures of Exopolysaccharides Involved in Receptor-mediated Perception of Mesorhizobium loti by Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {291}, number = {40}, pages = {20946-20961}, pmid = {27502279}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Conformation ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; *Mutation ; Plant Epidermis/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In the symbiosis formed between Mesorhizobium loti strain R7A and Lotus japonicus Gifu, rhizobial exopolysaccharide (EPS) plays an important role in infection thread formation. Mutants of strain R7A affected in early exopolysaccharide biosynthetic steps form nitrogen-fixing nodules on L. japonicus Gifu after a delay, whereas mutants affected in mid or late biosynthetic steps induce uninfected nodule primordia. Recently, it was shown that a plant receptor-like kinase, EPR3, binds low molecular mass exopolysaccharide from strain R7A to regulate bacterial passage through the plant's epidermal cell layer (Kawaharada, Y., Kelly, S., Nielsen, M. W., Hjuler, C. T., Gysel, K., Muszyński, A., Carlson, R. W., Thygesen, M. B., Sandal, N., Asmussen, M. H., Vinther, M., Andersen, S. U., Krusell, L., Thirup, S., Jensen, K. J., et al. (2015) Nature 523, 308-312). In this work, we define the structure of both high and low molecular mass exopolysaccharide from R7A. The low molecular mass exopolysaccharide produced by R7A is a monomer unit of the acetylated octasaccharide with the structure (2,3/3-OAc)β-d-RibfA-(1→4)-α-d-GlcpA-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→6)-(3OAc)β-d-Glcp-(1→6)-*[(2OAc)β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-(2/3OAc)β-d-Glcp-(1→4)-β-d-Glcp-(1→3)-β-d-Galp]. We propose it is a biosynthetic constituent of high molecular mass EPS polymer. Every new repeating unit is attached via its reducing-end β-d-Galp to C-4 of the fourth glucose (asterisked above) of the octasaccharide, forming a branch. The O-acetylation occurs on the four glycosyl residues in a non-stoichiometric ratio, and each octasaccharide subunit is on average substituted with three O-acetyl groups. The availability of these structures will facilitate studies of EPR3 receptor binding of symbiotically compatible and incompatible EPS and the positive or negative consequences on infection by the M. loti exo mutants synthesizing such EPS variants.}, } @article {pmid27502203, year = {2016}, author = {Slaughter, LC and McCulley, RL}, title = {Aboveground Epichloë coenophiala-Grass Associations Do Not Affect Belowground Fungal Symbionts or Associated Plant, Soil Parameters.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {682-691}, pmid = {27502203}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/physiology ; Epichloe/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Fungi/growth & development/*physiology ; Grassland ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Kentucky ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Neotyphodium ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Cool season grasses host multiple fungal symbionts, such as aboveground Epichloë endophytes and belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSEs). Asexual Epichloë endophytes can influence root colonization by AMF, but the type of interaction-whether antagonistic or beneficial-varies. In Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue), Epichloë coenophiala can negatively affect AMF, which may impact soil properties and ecosystem function. Within field plots of S. arundinaceus that were either E. coenophiala-free (E-), infected with the common, mammal-toxic E. coenophiala strain (CTE+), or infected with one of two novel, non-toxic strains (AR542 NTE+ and AR584 NTE+), we hypothesized that (1) CTE+ would decrease AMF and DSE colonization rates and reduce soil extraradical AMF hyphae compared to E- or NTE+, and (2) this would lead to E- and NTE+ plots having greater water stable soil aggregates and C than CTE+. E. coenophiala presence and strain did not significantly alter AMF or DSE colonization, nor did it affect extraradical AMF hypha length, soil aggregates, or aggregate-associated C and N. Soil extraradical AMF hypha length negatively correlated with root AMF colonization. Our results contrast with previous demonstrations that E. coenophiala symbiosis inhibits belowground AMF communities. In our mesic, relatively nutrient-rich grassland, E. coenophiala symbiosis did not antagonize belowground symbionts, regardless of strain. Manipulating E. coenophiala strains within S. arundinaceus may not significantly alter AMF communities and nutrient cycling, yet we must further explore these relationships under different soils and environmental conditions given that symbiont interactions can be important in determining ecosystem response to global change.}, } @article {pmid27501983, year = {2016}, author = {Terpolilli, JJ and Masakapalli, SK and Karunakaran, R and Webb, IU and Green, R and Watmough, NJ and Kruger, NJ and Ratcliffe, RG and Poole, PS}, title = {Lipogenesis and Redox Balance in Nitrogen-Fixing Pea Bacteroids.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {198}, number = {20}, pages = {2864-2875}, pmid = {27501983}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {BB/F013159/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Acetyl Coenzyme A/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Citric Acid Cycle ; Hydroxybutyrates/metabolism ; *Lipogenesis ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peas/*microbiology/physiology ; Polyesters/metabolism ; Pyruvic Acid/metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Within legume root nodules, rhizobia differentiate into bacteroids that oxidize host-derived dicarboxylic acids, which is assumed to occur via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to generate NAD(P)H for reduction of N2 Metabolic flux analysis of laboratory-grown Rhizobium leguminosarum showed that the flux from [(13)C]succinate was consistent with respiration of an obligate aerobe growing on a TCA cycle intermediate as the sole carbon source. However, the instability of fragile pea bacteroids prevented their steady-state labeling under N2-fixing conditions. Therefore, comparative metabolomic profiling was used to compare free-living R. leguminosarum with pea bacteroids. While the TCA cycle was shown to be essential for maximal rates of N2 fixation, levels of pyruvate (5.5-fold reduced), acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA; 50-fold reduced), free coenzyme A (33-fold reduced), and citrate (4.5-fold reduced) were much lower in bacteroids. Instead of completely oxidizing acetyl-CoA, pea bacteroids channel it into both lipid and the lipid-like polymer poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), the latter via a type III PHB synthase that is active only in bacteroids. Lipogenesis may be a fundamental requirement of the redox poise of electron donation to N2 in all legume nodules. Direct reduction by NAD(P)H of the likely electron donors for nitrogenase, such as ferredoxin, is inconsistent with their redox potentials. Instead, bacteroids must balance the production of NAD(P)H from oxidation of acetyl-CoA in the TCA cycle with its storage in PHB and lipids.

IMPORTANCE: Biological nitrogen fixation by symbiotic bacteria (rhizobia) in legume root nodules is an energy-expensive process. Within legume root nodules, rhizobia differentiate into bacteroids that oxidize host-derived dicarboxylic acids, which is assumed to occur via the TCA cycle to generate NAD(P)H for reduction of N2 However, direct reduction of the likely electron donors for nitrogenase, such as ferredoxin, is inconsistent with their redox potentials. Instead, bacteroids must balance oxidation of plant-derived dicarboxylates in the TCA cycle with lipid synthesis. Pea bacteroids channel acetyl-CoA into both lipid and the lipid-like polymer poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, the latter via a type II PHB synthase. Lipogenesis is likely to be a fundamental requirement of the redox poise of electron donation to N2 in all legume nodules.}, } @article {pmid27499747, year = {2016}, author = {Rani, M and Raj, S and Dayaman, V and Kumar, M and Dua, M and Johri, AK}, title = {Functional Characterization of a Hexose Transporter from Root Endophyte Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1083}, pmid = {27499747}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Understanding the mechanism of photosynthate transfer at symbiotic interface by fungal monosaccharide transporter is of substantial importance. The carbohydrate uptake at the apoplast by the fungus is facilitated by PiHXT5 hexose transporter in root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica. The putative PiHXT5 belongs to MFS superfamily with 12 predicted transmembrane helices. It possess sugar transporter PFAM motif (PF0083) and MFS superfamily domain (PS50850). It contains the signature tags related to glucose transporter GLUT1 of human erythrocyte. PiHXT5 is regulated in response to mutualism as well as glucose concentration. We have functionally characterized PiHXT5 by complementation of hxt-null mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae EBY.VW4000. It is involved in transport of multiple sugars ranging from D-glucose, D-fructose, D-xylose, D-mannose, D-galactose with decreasing affinity. The uncoupling experiments indicate that it functions as H(+)/glucose co-transporter. Further, pH dependence analysis suggests that it functions maximum between pH 5 and 6. The expression of PiHXT5 is dependent on glucose concentration and was found to be expressed at low glucose levels (1 mM) which indicate its role as a high affinity glucose transporter. Our study on this sugar transporter will help in better understanding of carbon metabolism and flow in this agro-friendly fungus.}, } @article {pmid27499679, year = {2016}, author = {Akamatsu, A and Shimamoto, K and Kawano, Y}, title = {Crosstalk of Signaling Mechanisms Involved in Host Defense and Symbiosis Against Microorganisms in Rice.}, journal = {Current genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {297-307}, pmid = {27499679}, issn = {1389-2029}, abstract = {Rice is one of the most important food crops, feeding about half population in the world. Rice pathogens cause enormous damage to rice production worldwide. In plant immunity research, considerable progress has recently been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-triggered immunity. Using genome sequencing and molecular techniques, a number of new MAMPs and their receptors have been identified in the past two decades. Notably, the mechanisms for chitin perception via the lysine motif (LysM) domain-containing receptor OsCERK1, as well as the mechanisms for bacterial MAMP (e.g. flg22, elf18) perception via the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain-containing receptors FLS2 and EFR, have been clarified in rice and Arabidopsis, respectively. In chitin signaling in rice, two direct substrates of OsCERK1, Rac/ROP GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor OsRacGEF1 and receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase OsRLCK185, have been identified as components of the OsCERK1 complex and are rapidly phosphorylated by OsCERK1 in response to chitin. Interestingly, OsCERK1 also participates in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in rice and plays a role in the recognition of short-chitin molecules (CO4/5), which are symbiotic signatures included in AMF germinated spore exudates and induced by synthetic strigolactone. Thus, OsCERK1 contributes to both immunity and symbiotic responses. In this review, we describe recent studies on pathways involved in rice immunity and symbiotic signaling triggered by interactions with microorganisms. In addition, we describe recent advances in genetic engineering by using plant immune receptors and symbiotic microorganisms to enhance disease resistance of rice.}, } @article {pmid27499678, year = {2016}, author = {Thao, NP and Tran, LS}, title = {Enhancement of Plant Productivity in the Post-Genomics Era.}, journal = {Current genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {295-296}, doi = {10.2174/138920291704160607182507}, pmid = {27499678}, issn = {1389-2029}, abstract = {Obtaining high plant yield is not always achievable in agricultural activity as it is determined by various factors, including cultivar quality, nutrient and water supplies, degree of infection by pathogens, natural calamities and soil conditions, which affect plant growth and development. More noticeably, sustainable plant productivity to provide sufficient food for the increasing human population has become a thorny issue to scientists in the era of unpredictable global climatic changes, appearance of more tremendous or multiple stresses, and land restriction for cultivation. Well-established agricultural management by agrotechnological means has shown no longer to be effective enough to confront with this challenge. Instead, in order to maximize the production, it is advisable to implement such practices in combination with biological applications. Nowadays, high technologies are widely adopted into agricultural production, biological diversity conservation and crop improvement. Wang et al. has nicely outlined the utilization of DNA-based technologies in this field. Among these are the applications of (i) DNA markers into cultivar identification, seed purity analysis, germplasm resource evaluation, heterosis prediction, genetic mapping, cloning and breeding; and (ii) gene expression data in supporting the description of crop phenology, the analytic comparison of crop growth under stress versus non-stress conditions, or the study of fertilizer effects. Besides, various purposes of using transgenic technologies in agriculture, such as generating cultivars with better product quality, better tolerance to biotic or abiotic stress, are also discussed in the review. One of the important highlights in this issue is the review of the benefits brought by high-throughput sequencing technology, which is also known as next-generation sequencing (NGS). It is not so difficult to recognize that its application has allowed us to carry out biological studies at much deeper level and larger scale. In their article, Onda and Mochida detailed how to use these technologies in fully characterizing the genetic diversity or multigenecity within a particular plant species. The authors discussed the constant innovation of sequencing platforms which has made sequencing technologies become more superior and more powerful than ever before. Additionally, the efforts result in not only further cut down of the sequencing cost and increase in the sequencing speed, but also improvement in sequencing accuracy and extended sequencing application to studies at both DNA and RNA levels. Such knowledge will help the scientists interpret, at least partially, how plants can adapt to various environmental conditions, or how different cultivars can respond differently to the same stress. Another article by Ong et al. also laid emphasis on the importance of various high-throughput sequencing platforms, thanks to which a large number of genomic databases supplied with detailed annotation and useful bioinformatics tools have been established to assist geneticists. Readers can find in this review the summary of available plant-specific genomic databases up-to-date and popular web-based resources that are relevant for comparative genomics, plant evolution and phylogenomics studies. These, along with other approaches, such as quantitative trait locus and genome-wide association study, will lay foundation for prediction and identification of genes or alleles responsible for valuable agronomic traits, contributing to the enhancement of plant productivity by genetic engineering approach. In this thematic issue, specific examples for crop improvement are also demonstrated. The first showcase is given by Nongpiur et al. who provided evidence that synergistic employment of genomics approaches and high-throughput gene expression methods have aided in dissecting the salinity-responsive signaling pathway, identifying genes involved in the stress response and selecting candidate genes for further characterization aimed at generating new cultivars with better salinity stress tolerance. This paper is also a good reference source for readers who wish to get an overview about the general process from gene prediction to validation by experiments, including the details on techniques and approaches used. Another demonstration is provided by Khan et al. whose interest is enhancement of drought tolerance in crops. The focus of this article is to overview our current understanding of mechanisms regulating plants responses to drought. Evaluation of plant performance to drought and production of new elite varieties with better drought tolerance on the basis of using phenotyping and genomics-assisted breeding are also well discussed. In addition to the topics of environmental stress tolerance in plants, current knowledge on improving biotic stress tolerance is also summarized in our issue. Current picture on crosstalk of signaling mechanisms in rice between its immune system and symbiosis with microorganisms is presented by Akamatsu et al. Rice responses to bacteria and fungi via interactions between the plant pattern recognition receptors and the molecular microbe-associated molecular patterns are described in detail and suggested as targets for manipulation in order to increase disease resistance in crops. On the other hand, Bouain et al. are concerned about nutrient deficiency; specifically, how plant root system develops under growing conditions with inadequate phosphate. The authors overviewed our current understanding of the low phosphate-responsive mechanisms in Arabidopsis model plant, which was gained by using a combination of various advanced methods, including high-througput phenotyping, system biology analysis and "omics" technologies. Stress management in plants is proposed to be also achievable by regulating activities of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels. As emphasized in the paper of Jha et al., the application of such channels is important in mediating cellular ion homeostasis and plant tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. In summary, with recent progresses in biological and biotechnological areas, especially rapid development of advanced technologies in biological system modeling, functional genomics, computer-based analyzing tools, genetic engineering and molecular breeding, biological control and biotechnological applications in agriculture have brought about an extraordinary revolution and have been considered the most powerful approaches in maintaining or even increasing crop yield. Therefore, in this issue, we would like to introduce to the audience a collection of various strategies used for enhancing crop productivity, with the focus on advanced biological-biotechnological platforms in the post-genomics era.}, } @article {pmid27499533, year = {2016}, author = {Chen, J and Hu, M and Ma, H and Wang, Y and Wang, ET and Zhou, Z and Gu, J}, title = {Genetic diversity and distribution of bradyrhizobia nodulating peanut in acid-neutral soils in Guangdong Province.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {418-427}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.06.002}, pmid = {27499533}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Arachis/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Geography ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {To reveal the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rhizobia in Guangdong Province, one of the main peanut producing regions in China, 216 bradyrhizobial isolates were trapped by peanut plants inoculated with soil samples (pH 4.7-7.4) collected from ten sites in Guangdong. Based on BOX-PCR fingerprinting analysis, 71 representative isolates were selected for sequence analyses of ribosomal IGS, recA, atpD and symbiotic gene nodA. As a result, 22 genospecies were detected in the peanut rhizobia, including eight minor groups or single strains corresponding to Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, B. japonicum, B. yuanmingense, B. arachidis, B. guangdongense, B. guangxiense, B. iriomotense and B. liaoningense, as well as 14 novel Bradyrhizobium genospecies covering the majority of isolates. Five symbiotic clusters were obtained based on the phylogenetic relationships of nodA genes, related to the soybean-nodulating or peanut-nodulating reference strains. Biogeographic patterns, which were mainly correlated with potassium content and pH, were detected in the peanut bradyrhizobial community in Guangdong Province. These findings enriched the diversity of peanut rhizobia, and added the K content as a special determinant for peanut rhizobial distribution in acid soils.}, } @article {pmid27498805, year = {2016}, author = {Goto, R and Ishikawa, H and Hamamura, Y}, title = {Morphology, Biology, and Phylogenetic Position of the Bivalve Platomysia rugata (Heterodonta: Galeommatoidea), a Commensal with the Sipunculan Worm Sipunculus nudus.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {441-447}, doi = {10.2108/zs160009}, pmid = {27498805}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*genetics/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The bivalve superfamily Galeommatoidea is characterized by its symbiotic associations with other marine invertebrates. However, for many galeommatoideans, the host species remains unknown. Platomysia (Galeommatoidea) is a monotypic genus including a single species P. rugata, which is distinguished from other galeommatoideans in having distinct and evenly spaced commarginal ribs on its shell surface. This species was described based on a single right valve shell collected in Nanao Bay, Japan Sea, by Habe in 1951 and has been known only from Japanese waters. However, the biology of living animals has never been reported. We found that this species lives in the burrows of the sipunculan worm Sipunculus nudus in mud flats in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We investigated its host association and described its shell morphology and anatomy. In addition, we performed a phylogenetic analysis using two nuclear (18S and 28S ribosomal RNA) genes to determine its phylogenetic position in Galeommatoidea. The result suggests that this species belongs to the clade of commensal bivalves together with Pseudopythina, Byssobornia, and Pergrinamor. Platomysia rugata and other two groups of sipunculan-associated galeommatoideans were not monophyletic, suggesting that association with sipunculans occurred at least three times in the galeommatoid evolution.}, } @article {pmid27498804, year = {2016}, author = {Goto, R and Ishikawa, H and Hamamura, Y}, title = {Symbiotic Association of the Bivalve Tellimya fujitaniana (Galeommatoidea) with the Heart Urchin Echinocardium cordatum (Spatangoida) in the Northwestern Pacific.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {434-440}, doi = {10.2108/zs150215}, pmid = {27498804}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Shells/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Animals ; Bivalvia/anatomy & histology/classification/*physiology ; Pacific Ocean ; Reproduction ; Sea Urchins/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The bivalve Tellimya fujitaniana (Yokoyama, 1927) (Galeommatoidea, Heterodonta) was described based on a fossil shell. Until now, the biology of living animals has not been reported. In this study, we found T. fujitaniana in a commensal relationship with the heart urchin Echinocardium cordatum (Pennant, 1777) (Spatangoida, Echinoidea) on the intertidal mud flats of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We investigated the morphology, host associations, and reproductive biology of this bivalve species. The elongate-ovate shell is covered by a reddish-brown ferruginous deposit. The mantle is exposed anteriorly to form a temporal siphon, while posteriorly one pair of short tentacles is exposed. Small individuals (shell length, SL, ≤ 2.1 mm) were attached to the host's body surface; middle-sized individuals (SL 3.0-3.2 mm) were attached to or stayed close to larger T. fujitanianathat were living freely in the host burrow. Nearly all the large individuals (SL ≥ 4.8 mm) lived freely in the host burrow, behind the urchin. This suggests that the host utilization pattern of T. fujitanianachanges with development. Specimens with SL ≥ 4.8 mm had mature gonads, mostly occupied by ova, and some individuals were brooding eggs or veliger larvae in the gills. This species was previously assigned to Fronsella. However, the morphology and ecology of this bivalve are very similar to those of Tellimya ferruginosa (the type species of the genus Tellimya) in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Thus, we have reassigned this species to genus Tellimya. We also confirmed that T. fujitaniana and T. ferruginosa can be genetically distinguished using the mitochondrial COI gene.}, } @article {pmid27498183, year = {2016}, author = {Chiboub, M and Saadani, O and Fatnassi, IC and Abdelkrim, S and Abid, G and Jebara, M and Jebara, SH}, title = {Characterization of efficient plant-growth-promoting bacteria isolated from Sulla coronaria resistant to cadmium and to other heavy metals.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {339}, number = {9-10}, pages = {391-398}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2016.04.015}, pmid = {27498183}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics ; Bacteria/*chemistry ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biodiversity ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Sinorhizobium/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The inoculation of plants with plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria has become a priority in the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils. A total of 82 bacteria were isolated from Sulla coronaria root nodules cultivated on four soil samples differently contaminated by heavy metals. The phenotypic characterization of these isolates demonstrated an increased tolerance to cadmium reaching 4.1mM, and to other metals, including Zn, Cu and Ni. Polymerase Chain Reaction/Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) analysis showed a large diversity represented by genera related to Agrobacterium sp., R. leguminosarum, Sinorhizobium sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Rhizobium sp. Their symbiotic effectiveness was evaluated by nodulation tests. Taking into consideration efficiency and cadmium tolerance, four isolates were chosen; their 16SrRNA gene sequence showed that they belonged to Pseudomonas sp. and the Rhizobium sullae. The selected consortium of soil bacteria had the ability to produce plant-growth-promoting substances such as indole acetic acid and siderophore. The intracellular Cd accumulation was enhanced by increasing the time of incubation of the four soil bacteria cultivated in a medium supplemented with 0.1mM Cd. The existence of a cadmium-resistant gene was confirmed by PCR. These results suggested that Sulla coronaria in symbiosis with the consortium of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could be useful in the phytoremediation of cadmium-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid27497854, year = {2016}, author = {Radwan, EK and Yu, L and Achari, G and Langford, CH}, title = {Photocatalytic ozonation of pesticides in a fixed bed flow through UVA-LED photoreactor.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {23}, number = {21}, pages = {21313-21318}, pmid = {27497854}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/analysis/chemistry ; 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic Acid/analysis/chemistry ; Catalysis ; Ozone/*chemistry ; Pesticides/analysis/*chemistry ; *Photochemical Processes ; *Semiconductors ; Titanium/chemistry ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {In this study, a fixed bed flow through UVA-LED photoreactor was used to compare the efficiency of ozone, photocatalysis and photocatalysis-ozone degradation, and mineralization of two pure pesticides, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and a commercial one, Killex®. For the degradation of the parent compounds, ozone-based processes were more effective. While for mineralization, photocatalytic processes were more effective. Photocatalytic ozonation was the most efficient process for both the degradation and mineralization of the parent compounds. The degradation rates and mineralization by photocatalytic ozonation were higher than the summation of the corresponding rates by ozonation and photocatalysis, indicating a symbiotic relationship.Overall, the photocatalytic ozonation process with the fixed bed TiO2 reduces the time needed for the degradation and mineralization of the pesticides, reduces the costs of powder catalyst separation and overcomes the reduced efficiency of immobilized catalysts, which makes the process quite attractive for practical applications.}, } @article {pmid27497087, year = {2016}, author = {Vu, LTK and Loh, KC}, title = {Symbiotic hollow fiber membrane photobioreactor for microalgal growth and bacterial wastewater treatment.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {261-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2016.07.105}, pmid = {27497087}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Photobioreactors/*microbiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A hollow fiber membrane photobioreactor (HFMP) for microalgal growth and bacterial wastewater treatment was developed. C. vulgaris culture was circulated through one side of the HFMP and P. putida culture was circulated through the other. A symbiotic relationship was demonstrated as reflected by the photo-autotrophic growth of C. vulgaris using CO2 provided by P. putida and biodegradation of 500mg/L glucose by P. putida utilizing photosynthetic O2 produced by C. vulgaris. Performance of the HFMP was significantly enhanced when the microalgal culture was circulated through the lumen side of the HFMP: the average percentage of glucose degraded per 8-h cycle was as high as 98% and microalgal biomass productivity was increased by 69% compared to the reversed orientation. Enhanced glucose biodegradation was achieved in an HFMP packed with more fibers indicating the easy scalability of the HFMP for increased wastewater treatment efficiency.}, } @article {pmid27495380, year = {2016}, author = {Achenbach, S}, title = {Coronary CTA and percutaneous coronary intervention - A symbiosis waiting to happen.}, journal = {Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {384-385}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcct.2016.07.017}, pmid = {27495380}, issn = {1876-861X}, mesh = {Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; *Symbiosis ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; }, } @article {pmid27494657, year = {2016}, author = {Schneider, J and Bundschuh, J and do Nascimento, CWA}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-assisted phytoremediation of a lead-contaminated site.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {572}, number = {}, pages = {86-97}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.185}, pmid = {27494657}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Automobiles ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Brazil ; Electric Power Supplies ; Lead/*toxicity ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/metabolism ; Recycling ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Knowledge of the behavior of plant species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the ability of such plants to grow on metal-contaminated soils is important to phytoremediation. Here, we evaluate the occurrence and diversity of AMF and plant species as well as their interactions in soil contaminated with lead (Pb) from the recycling of automotive batteries. The experimental area was divided into three locations: a non-contaminated native area, a coarse rejects deposition area, and an area receiving particulate material from the chimneys during the Pb melting process. Thirty-nine AMF species from six families and 10 genera were identified. The Acaulospora and Glomus genera exhibited the highest occurrences both in the bulk (10 and 6) and in the rhizosphere soils (9 and 6). All of the herbaceous species presented mycorrhizal colonization. The highest Pb concentrations (mgkg[-1]) in roots and shoots, respectively, were observed in Vetiveria zizanoides (15,433 and 934), Pteris vitata (9343 and 865), Pteridim aquilinun (1433 and 733), and Ricinus communis (1106 and 625). The diversity of AMF seems to be related to the area heterogeneity; the structure communities of AMF are correlated with the soil Pb concentration. We found that plant diversity was significantly correlated with AMF diversity (r=0.645; P>0.05) in areas with high Pb soil concentrations. A better understanding of AMF communities in the presence of Pb stress may shed light on the interactions between fungi and metals taking place in contaminated sites. Such knowledge can aid in developing soil phytoremediation techniques such as phytostabilization.}, } @article {pmid27494030, year = {2016}, author = {Biosca, EG and Flores, R and Santander, RD and Díez-Gil, JL and Barreno, E}, title = {Innovative Approaches Using Lichen Enriched Media to Improve Isolation and Culturability of Lichen Associated Bacteria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {e0160328}, pmid = {27494030}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/chemistry/physiology ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Buffers ; Culture Media/*chemistry ; Lichens/chemistry/*microbiology ; Natamycin/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Lichens, self-supporting mutualistic associations between a fungal partner and one or more photosynthetic partners, also harbor non-photosynthetic bacteria. The diversity and contribution of these bacteria to the functioning of lichen symbiosis have recently begun to be studied, often by culture-independent techniques due to difficulties in their isolation and culture. However, culturing as yet unculturable lichenic bacteria is critical to unravel their potential functional roles in lichen symbiogenesis, to explore and exploit their biotechnological potential and for the description of new taxa. Our objective was to improve the recovery of lichen associated bacteria by developing novel isolation and culture approaches, initially using the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea. We evaluated the effect of newly developed media enriched with novel lichen extracts, as well as the influence of thalli washing time and different disinfection and processing protocols of thalli. The developed methodology included: i) the use of lichen enriched media to mimic lichen nutrients, supplemented with the fungicide natamycin; ii) an extended washing of thalli to increase the recovery of ectolichenic bacteria, thus allowing the disinfection of thalli to be discarded, hence enhancing endolichenic bacteria recovery; and iii) the use of an antioxidant buffer to prevent or reduce oxidative stress during thalli disruption. The optimized methodology allowed significant increases in the number and diversity of culturable bacteria associated with P. furfuracea, and it was also successfully applied to the lichens Ramalina farinacea and Parmotrema pseudotinctorum. Furthermore, we provide, for the first time, data on the abundance of culturable ecto- and endolichenic bacteria that naturally colonize P. furfuracea, R. farinacea and P. pseudotinctorum, some of which were only able to grow on lichen enriched media. This innovative methodology is also applicable to other microorganisms inhabiting these and other lichen species.}, } @article {pmid27493203, year = {2016}, author = {Yuyama, I and Higuchi, T and Takei, Y}, title = {Sulfur utilization of corals is enhanced by endosymbiotic algae.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {1299-1304}, pmid = {27493203}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Sulfur-containing compounds are important components of all organisms, but few studies have explored sulfate utilization in corals. Our previous study found that the expression of a sulfur transporter (SLC26A11) was upregulated in the presence of Symbiodinium cells in juveniles of the reef-building coral Acropora tenuis In this study, we performed autoradiography using (35)S-labeled sulfate ions ((35)SO4 (2-)) to examine the localization and amount of incorporated radioactive sulfate in the coral tissues and symbiotic algae. Incorporated (35)SO4 (2-) was detected in symbiotic algal cells, nematocysts, ectodermal cells and calicoblast cells. The combined results of (35)S autoradiography and Alcian Blue staining showed that incorporated (35)S accumulated as sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the ectodermal cell layer. We also compared the relative incorporation of (35)SO4 (2-) into coral tissues and endosymbiotic algae, and their chemical fractions in dark versus light (photosynthetic) conditions. The amount of sulfur compounds, such as GAGs and lipids, generated from (35)SO4 (2-) was higher under photosynthetic conditions. Together with the upregulation of sulfate transporters by symbiosis, our results suggest that photosynthesis of algal endosymbionts contributes to the synthesis and utilization of sulfur compounds in corals.}, } @article {pmid27492285, year = {2017}, author = {Kim, E and Hwang, S and Lee, I}, title = {SoyNet: a database of co-functional networks for soybean Glycine max.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {45}, number = {D1}, pages = {D1082-D1089}, pmid = {27492285}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {*Databases, Genetic ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genomics/*methods ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Phenotype ; *Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is a legume crop with substantial economic value, providing a source of oil and protein for humans and livestock. More than 50% of edible oils consumed globally are derived from this crop. Soybean plants are also important for soil fertility, as they fix atmospheric nitrogen by symbiosis with microorganisms. The latest soybean genome annotation (version 2.0) lists 56 044 coding genes, yet their functional contributions to crop traits remain mostly unknown. Co-functional networks have proven useful for identifying genes that are involved in a particular pathway or phenotype with various network algorithms. Here, we present SoyNet (available at www.inetbio.org/soynet), a database of co-functional networks for G. max and a companion web server for network-based functional predictions. SoyNet maps 1 940 284 co-functional links between 40 812 soybean genes (72.8% of the coding genome), which were inferred from 21 distinct types of genomics data including 734 microarrays and 290 RNA-seq samples from soybean. SoyNet provides a new route to functional investigation of the soybean genome, elucidating genes and pathways of agricultural importance.}, } @article {pmid27492201, year = {2016}, author = {Jiménez-Cortés, JG and Canales-Lazcano, J and Lara-Reyes, N and Rosenblueth, M and Martínez-Romero, E and Contreras-Garduño, J}, title = {Microbiota from Rhabditis regina may alter nematode entomopathogenicity.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {115}, number = {11}, pages = {4153-4165}, pmid = {27492201}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Coleoptera/*parasitology ; Klebsiella/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Larva ; Mexico ; *Microbiota ; Moths/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serratia/genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Here we report the presence of the entomopathogenic nematode Rhabditis (Rhabditoides) regina affecting white grubs (Phyllophaga sp. and Anomala sp.) in Mexico and R. regina-associated bacteria. Bioassays were performed to test the entomopathogenic capacity of dauer and L2 and L3 (combined) larval stages. Furthermore, we determined the diversity of bacteria from laboratory nematodes cultivated for 2 years (dauer and L2-L3 larvae) and from field nematodes (dauer and L2-L3 larvae) in addition to the virulence in Galleria mellonella larvae of some bacterial species from both laboratory and field nematodes. Dauer and non-dauer larvae of R. regina killed G. mellonella. Bacteria such as Serratia sp. (isolated from field nematodes) and Klebsiella sp. (isolated from larvae of laboratory and field nematodes) may explain R. regina entomopathogenic capabilities. Different bacteria were found in nematodes after subculturing in the laboratory suggesting that R. regina may acquire bacteria in different environments. However, there were some consistently found bacteria from laboratory and field nematodes such as Pseudochrobactrum sp., Comamonas sp., Alcaligenes sp., Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Leucobacter sp. that may constitute the nematode microbiome. Results showed that some bacteria contributing to entomopathogenicity may be lost in the laboratory representing a disadvantage when nematodes are cultivated to be used for biological control.}, } @article {pmid27490900, year = {2016}, author = {Costantini, F and Gori, A and Lopez-González, P and Bramanti, L and Rossi, S and Gili, JM and Abbiati, M}, title = {Limited Genetic Connectivity between Gorgonian Morphotypes along a Depth Gradient.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {e0160678}, pmid = {27490900}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Discriminant Analysis ; Ecosystem ; Gene Flow/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Gorgonian species show a high morphological variability in relation to the environment in which they live. In coastal areas, parameters such as temperature, light, currents, and food availability vary significantly with depth, potentially affecting morphology of the colonies and the structure of the populations, as well as their connectivity patterns. In tropical seas, the existence of connectivity between shallow and deep populations supported the hypothesis that the deep coral reefs could potentially act as (reproductive) refugia fostering re-colonization of shallow areas after mortality events. Moreover, this hypothesis is not so clear accepted in temperate seas. Eunicella singularis is one of the most common gorgonian species in Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, playing an important role as ecosystem engineer by providing biomass and complexity to the coralligenous habitats. It has a wide bathymetric distribution ranging from about 10 m to 100 m. Two depth-related morphotypes have been identified, differing in colony morphology, sclerite size and shape, and occurrence of symbiotic algae, but not in mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. In the present study the genetic structure of E. singularis populations along a horizontal and bathymetric gradient was assessed using microsatellites and ITS1 sequences. Restricted gene flow was found at 30-40 m depth between the two Eunicella morphotypes. Conversely, no genetic structuring has been found among shallow water populations within a spatial scale of ten kilometers. The break in gene flow between shallow and deep populations contributes to explain the morphological variability observed at different depths. Moreover, the limited vertical connectivity hinted that the refugia hypothesis does not apply to E. singularis. Re-colonization of shallow water populations, occasionally affected by mass mortality events, should then be mainly fueled by larvae from other shallow water populations.}, } @article {pmid27489584, year = {2016}, author = {Gish, M and Mescher, MC and De Moraes, CM}, title = {Mechanical defenses of plant extrafloral nectaries against herbivory.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e1178431}, pmid = {27489584}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Extrafloral nectaries play an important role in plant defense against herbivores by providing nectar rewards that attract ants and other carnivorous insects. However, extrafloral nectaries can themselves be targets of herbivory, in addition to being exploited by nectar-robbing insects that do not provide defensive services. We recently found that the extrafloral nectaries of Vicia faba plants, as well as immediately adjacent tissues, exhibit high concentrations of chemical toxins, apparently as a defense against herbivory. Here we report that the nectary tissues of this plant also exhibit high levels of structural stiffness compared to surrounding tissues, likely due to cell wall lignification and the concentration of calcium oxalate crystals in nectary tissues, which may provide an additional deterrent to herbivore feeding on nectary tissues.}, } @article {pmid27488257, year = {2016}, author = {Tobias, NJ and Mishra, B and Gupta, DK and Sharma, R and Thines, M and Stinear, TP and Bode, HB}, title = {Genome comparisons provide insights into the role of secondary metabolites in the pathogenic phase of the Photorhabdus life cycle.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {537}, pmid = {27488257}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Conserved Sequence ; Genome, Bacterial ; Insecta/parasitology ; Multigene Family ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacteria within the genus Photorhabdus maintain mutualistic symbioses with nematodes in complicated lifecycles that also involves insect pathogenic phases. Intriguingly, these bacteria are rich in biosynthetic gene clusters that produce compounds with diverse biological activities. As a basis to better understand the life cycles of Photorhabdus we sequenced the genomes of two recently discovered representative species and performed detailed genomic comparisons with five publically available genomes.

RESULTS: Here we report the genomic details of two new reference Photorhabdus species. By then conducting genomic comparisons across the genus, we show that there are several highly conserved biosynthetic gene clusters. These clusters produce a range of bioactive small molecules that support the pathogenic phase of the integral relationship that Photorhabdus maintain with nematodes.

CONCLUSIONS: Photorhabdus contain several genetic loci that allow them to become specialist insect pathogens by efficiently evading insect immune responses and killing the insect host.}, } @article {pmid27487095, year = {2016}, author = {Rajtor, M and Piotrowska-Seget, Z}, title = {Prospects for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to assist in phytoremediation of soil hydrocarbon contaminants.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {105-116}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.07.071}, pmid = {27487095}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Hydrocarbons/*analysis ; Mycelium/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualistic associations with the roots of 80-90% of vascular plant species and may constitute up to 50% of the total soil microbial biomass. AMF have been considered to be a tool to enhance phytoremediation, as their mycelium create a widespread underground network that acts as a bridge between plant roots, soil and rhizosphere microorganisms. Abundant extramatrical hyphae extend the rhizosphere thus creating the hyphosphere, which significantly increases the area of a plant's access to nutrients and contaminants. The paper presents and evaluates the role and significance of AMF in phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated sites. We focused on (1) an impact of hydrocarbons on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, (2) a potential of AMF to enhance phytoremediation, (3) determinants that influence effectiveness of hydrocarbon removal from contaminated soils. This knowledge may be useful for selection of proper plant and fungal symbionts and crucial to optimize environmental conditions for effective AMF-mediated phytoremediation. It has been concluded that three-component phytoremediation systems based on synergistic interactions between plant roots, AMF and hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms demonstrated high effectiveness in dissipation of organic pollutants in soil.}, } @article {pmid27486751, year = {2016}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Navarro-Gómez, P and Murdoch, Pdel S and Crespo-Rivas, JC and Jie, S and Cuesta-Berrio, L and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Exopolysaccharide Production by Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Is Repressed by Genistein in a NodD1-Dependent Manner.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {e0160499}, pmid = {27486751}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Down-Regulation/drug effects ; Flavonoids/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genistein/*pharmacology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*genetics/metabolism ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the rhizobia-legume symbiotic interaction, bacterial surface polysaccharides, such as exopolysaccharide (EPS), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), K-antigen polysaccharide (KPS) or cyclic glucans (CG), appear to play crucial roles either acting as signals required for the progression of the interaction and/or preventing host defence mechanisms. The symbiotic significance of each of these polysaccharides varies depending on the specific rhizobia-legume couple. In this work we show that the production of exopolysaccharide by Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, but not by other S. fredii strains such as USDA257 or NGR234, is repressed by nod gene inducing flavonoids such as genistein and that this repression is dependent on the presence of a functional NodD1 protein. In agreement with the importance of EPS for bacterial biofilms, this reduced EPS production upon treatment with flavonoids correlates with decreased biofilm formation ability. By using quantitative RT-PCR analysis we show that expression of the exoY2 and exoK genes is repressed in late stationary cultures of S. fredii HH103 upon treatment with genistein. Results presented in this work show that in S. fredii HH103 EPS production is regulated just in the opposite way than other bacterial signals such as Nod factors and type 3 secreted effectors: it is repressed by flavonoids and NodD1 and enhanced by the nod repressor NolR. These results are in agreement with our previous observations showing that lack of EPS production by S. fredii HH103 is not only non-detrimental but even beneficial for symbiosis with soybean.}, } @article {pmid27486442, year = {2016}, author = {Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Alqarawi, AA and Al-Huqail, AA and Wirth, S and Egamberdieva, D}, title = {The Interaction between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Endophytic Bacteria Enhances Plant Growth of Acacia gerrardii under Salt Stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1089}, pmid = {27486442}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbes living symbiotically in plant tissues mutually cooperate with each other by providing nutrients for proliferation of the partner organism and have a beneficial effect on plant growth. However, few studies thus far have examined the interactive effect of endophytic bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in hostile conditions and their potential to improve plant stress tolerance. In this study, we investigated how the synergistic interactions of endophytic bacteria and AMF affect plant growth, nodulation, nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance of Acacia gerrardii under salt stress. Plant growth varied between the treatments with both single inoculants and was higher in plants inoculated with the endophytic B. subtilis strain than with AMF. Co-inoculated A. gerrardii had a significantly greater shoot and root dry weight, nodule number, and leghemoglobin content than those inoculated with AMF or B. subtilis alone under salt stress. The endophytic B. subtilis could alleviate the adverse effect of salt on AMF colonization. The differences in nitrate and nitrite reductase and nitrogenase activities between uninoculated plants and those inoculated with AMF and B. subtilis together under stress were significant. Both inoculation treatments, either B. subtilis alone or combined with AMF, enhanced the N, P, K, Mg, and Ca contents and phosphatase activities in salt-stressed A. gerrardii tissues and reduced Na and Cl concentration, thereby protecting salt-stressed plants from ionic and osmotic stress-induced changes. In conclusion, our results indicate that endophytic bacteria and AMF contribute to a tripartite mutualistic symbiosis in A. gerrardii and are coordinately involved in the plant adaptation to salt stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid27485855, year = {2016}, author = {Srivastava, S and Conlan, XA and Cahill, DM and Adholeya, A}, title = {Rhizophagus irregularis as an elicitor of rosmarinic acid and antioxidant production by transformed roots of Ocimum basilicum in an in vitro co-culture system.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {919-930}, pmid = {27485855}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cinnamates/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Depsides/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Luminescent Measurements ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Ocimum basilicum/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association formed between plant roots and soil borne fungi that alter and at times improve the production of secondary metabolites. Detailed information is available on mycorrhizal development and its influence on plants grown under various edapho-climatic conditions, however, very little is known about their influence on transformed roots that are rich reserves of secondary metabolites. This raises the question of how mycorrhizal colonization progresses in transformed roots grown in vitro and whether the mycorrhizal fungus presence influences the production of secondary metabolites. To fully understand mycorrhizal ontogenesis and its effect on root morphology, root biomass, total phenolics, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and antioxidant production under in vitro conditions, a co-culture was developed between three Agrobacterium rhizogenes-derived, elite-transformed root lines of Ocimum basilicum and Rhizophagus irregularis. We found that mycorrhizal ontogenesis in transformed roots was similar to mycorrhizal roots obtained from an in planta system. Mycorrhizal establishment was also found to be transformed root line-specific. Colonization of transformed roots increased the concentration of rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and antioxidant production while no effect was observed on root morphological traits and biomass. Enhancement of total phenolics and rosmarinic acid in the three mycorrhizal transformed root lines was found to be transformed root line-specific and age dependent. We reveal the potential of R. irregularis as a biotic elicitor in vitro and propose its incorporation into commercial in vitro secondary metabolite production via transformed roots.}, } @article {pmid27485828, year = {2016}, author = {Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Gomes, DF and Del Cerro, P and Vasconcelos, AT and Canchaya, C and Almeida, LG and Mercante, FM and Ollero, FJ and Megías, M and Hungria, M}, title = {Genome of Rhizobium leucaenae strains CFN 299(T) and CPAO 29.8: searching for genes related to a successful symbiotic performance under stressful conditions.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {534}, pmid = {27485828}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Environment ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics/methods ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Osmotic Pressure ; Oxidative Stress/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume cropped worldwide for food production and its agronomic performance can be greatly improved if the benefits from symbiotic nitrogen fixation are maximized. The legume is known for its high promiscuity in nodulating with several Rhizobium species, but those belonging to the Rhizobium tropici "group" are the most successful and efficient in fixing nitrogen in tropical acid soils. Rhizobium leucaenae belongs to this group, which is abundant in the Brazilian "Cerrados" soils and frequently submitted to several environmental stresses. Here we present the first high-quality genome drafts of R. leucaenae, including the type strain CFN 299(T) and the very efficient strain CPAO 29.8. Our main objective was to identify features that explain the successful capacity of R. leucaenae in nodulating common bean under stressful environmental conditions.

RESULTS: The genomes of R. leucaenae strains CFN 299(T) and CPAO 29.8 were estimated at 6.7-6.8 Mbp; 7015 and 6899 coding sequences (CDS) were predicted, respectively, 6264 of which are common to both strains. The genomes of both strains present a large number of CDS that may confer tolerance of high temperatures, acid soils, salinity and water deficiency. Types I, II, IV-pili, IV and V secretion systems were present in both strains and might help soil and host colonization as well as the symbiotic performance under stressful conditions. The symbiotic plasmid of CPAO 29.8 is highly similar to already described tropici pSyms, including five copies of nodD and three of nodA genes. R. leucaenae CFN 299(T) is capable of synthesizing Nod factors in the absence of flavonoids when submitted to osmotic stress, indicating that under abiotic stress the regulation of nod genes might be different.

CONCLUSION: A detailed study of the genes putatively related to stress tolerance in R. leucaenae highlighted an intricate pattern comprising a variety of mechanisms that are probably orchestrated to tolerate the stressful conditions to which the strains are submitted on a daily basis. The capacity to synthesize Nod factors under abiotic stress might follow the same regulatory pathways as in CIAT 899(T) and may help both to improve bacterial survival and to expand host range to guarantee the perpetuation of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27485233, year = {2016}, author = {Mansour, TA and Rosenthal, JJ and Brown, CT and Roberson, LM}, title = {Transcriptome of the Caribbean stony coral Porites astreoides from three developmental stages.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {33}, pmid = {27485233}, issn = {2047-217X}, support = {P20 GM103475/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*growth & development/parasitology ; Caribbean Region ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Library ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Porites astreoides is a ubiquitous species of coral on modern Caribbean reefs that is resistant to increasing temperatures, overfishing, and other anthropogenic impacts that have threatened most other coral species. We assembled and annotated a transcriptome from this coral using Illumina sequences from three different developmental stages collected over several years: free-swimming larvae, newly settled larvae, and adults (>10 cm in diameter). This resource will aid understanding of coral calcification, larval settlement, and host-symbiont interactions.

FINDINGS: A de novo transcriptome for the P. astreoides holobiont (coral plus algal symbiont) was assembled using 594 Mbp of raw Illumina sequencing data generated from five age-specific cDNA libraries. The new transcriptome consists of 867 255 transcript elements with an average length of 685 bases. The isolated P. astreoides assembly consists of 129 718 transcript elements with an average length of 811 bases, and the isolated Symbiodinium sp. assembly had 186 177 transcript elements with an average length of 1105 bases.

CONCLUSIONS: This contribution to coral transcriptome data provides a valuable resource for researchers studying the ontogeny of gene expression patterns within both the coral and its dinoflagellate symbiont.}, } @article {pmid27484959, year = {2016}, author = {Paun, A and Danska, JS}, title = {Modulation of type 1 and type 2 diabetes risk by the intestinal microbiome.}, journal = {Pediatric diabetes}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {469-477}, doi = {10.1111/pedi.12424}, pmid = {27484959}, issn = {1399-5448}, mesh = {Autoimmunity/physiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Disease Susceptibility/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Obesity/complications/immunology/microbiology ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {The prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes have both risen dramatically over the last 50 years. Recent findings point towards the gut microbiota as a potential contributor to these trends. The hundred trillion bacteria residing in the mammalian gut have established a symbiotic relation with their host and influence many aspects of host metabolism, physiology, and immunity. In this review, we examine recent data linking gut microbiome composition and function to anti-pancreatic immunity, insulin-resistance, and obesity. Studies in rodents and human longitudinal studies suggest that an altered gut microbiome characterized by lower diversity and resilience is associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Through its metabolites and enzymatic arsenal, the microbiota shape host metabolism, energy extracted from the diet and contribute to the normal development of the immune system and to tissue inflammation. Increasing evidence underscores the importance of the maternal microbiome, the gestational environment and the conditions of newborn delivery in establishing the gut microbiota of the offspring. Perturbations of the maternal microbiome during gestation, or that of the offspring during early infant development may promote a pro-inflammatory environment conducive to the development of autoimmunity and metabolic disturbance. Collectively the findings reviewed herein underscore the need for mechanistic investigations in rodent models and in human studies to better define the relationships between microbial and host inflammatory activity in diabetes, and to evaluate the potential of microbe-derived therapeutics in the prevention and treatment of both forms of diabetes.}, } @article {pmid27484364, year = {2016}, author = {Steimle, A and Gronbach, K and Beifuss, B and Schäfer, A and Harmening, R and Bender, A and Maerz, JK and Lange, A and Michaelis, L and Maurer, A and Menz, S and McCoy, K and Autenrieth, IB and Kalbacher, H and Frick, JS}, title = {Symbiotic gut commensal bacteria act as host cathepsin S activity regulators.}, journal = {Journal of autoimmunity}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {82-95}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaut.2016.07.009}, pmid = {27484364}, issn = {1095-9157}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Bacteroides/immunology/physiology ; Bacteroides Infections/immunology/microbiology ; Benzopyrans/pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow Cells/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Carbamates/pharmacology ; Cathepsins/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Colitis/immunology/metabolism ; Cytokines/immunology/metabolism ; Dendritic Cells/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology/physiology ; Gene Expression/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Immune Tolerance/immunology ; Mice, 129 Strain ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Reactive Oxygen Species/immunology/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Cathepsin S (CTSS) is a lysosomal protease whose activity regulation is important for MHC-II signaling and subsequent activation of CD4[+] T cell mediated immune responses. Dysregulation of its enzymatic activity or enhanced secretion into extracellular environments is associated with the induction or progression of several autoimmune diseases. Here we demonstrate that commensal intestinal bacteria influence secretion rates and intracellular activity of host CTSS and that symbiotic bacteria, i.e. Bacteroides vulgatus mpk, may actively regulate this process and help to maintain physiological levels of CTSS activities in order to prevent from induction of pathological inflammation. The symbiont-controlled regulation of CTSS activity is mediated by anticipating reactive oxygen species induction in dendritic cells which, in turn, maintains cystatin C (CysC) monomer binding to CTSS. CysC monomers are potent endogenous CTSS inhibitors. This Bacteroides vulgatus caused and CysC dependent CTSS activity regulation is involved in the generation of tolerant intestinal dendritic cells contributing to prevention of T-cell mediated induction of colonic inflammation. Taken together, we demonstrate that symbionts of the intestinal microbiota regulate host CTSS activity and secretion and might therefore be an attractive approach to deal with CTSS associated autoimmune diseases.}, } @article {pmid27482821, year = {2016}, author = {Acosta-Jurado, S and Alias-Villegas, C and Navarro-Gómez, P and Zehner, S and Murdoch, PD and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Soto, MJ and Ollero, FJ and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Göttfert, M and Vinardell, JM}, title = {The Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 MucR1 Global Regulator Is Connected With the nod Regulon and Is Required for Efficient Symbiosis With Lotus burttii and Glycine max cv. Williams.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {9}, pages = {700-712}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-16-0116-R}, pmid = {27482821}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Regulon/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 is a rhizobial strain showing a broad host range of nodulation. In addition to the induction of bacterial nodulation genes, transition from a free-living to a symbiotic state requires complex genetic expression changes with the participation of global regulators. We have analyzed the role of the zinc-finger transcriptional regulator MucR1 from S. fredii HH103 under both free-living conditions and symbiosis with two HH103 host plants, Glycine max and Lotus burttii. Inactivation of HH103 mucR1 led to a severe decrease in exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis but enhanced production of external cyclic glucans (CG). This mutant also showed increased cell aggregation capacity as well as a drastic reduction in nitrogen-fixation capacity with G. max and L. burttii. However, in these two legumes, the number of nodules induced by the mucR1 mutant was significantly increased and decreased, respectively, with respect to the wild-type strain, indicating that MucR1 can differently affect nodulation depending on the host plant. RNA-Seq analysis carried out in the absence and the presence of flavonoids showed that MucR1 controls the expression of hundreds of genes (including some related to EPS production and CG transport), some of them being related to the nod regulon.}, } @article {pmid27482741, year = {2016}, author = {Bourne, DG and Morrow, KM and Webster, NS}, title = {Insights into the Coral Microbiome: Underpinning the Health and Resilience of Reef Ecosystems.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {317-340}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095440}, pmid = {27482741}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Corals are fundamental ecosystem engineers, creating large, intricate reefs that support diverse and abundant marine life. At the core of a healthy coral animal is a dynamic relationship with microorganisms, including a mutually beneficial symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) and enduring partnerships with an array of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, protistan, and viral associates, collectively termed the coral holobiont. The combined genomes of this coral holobiont form a coral hologenome, and genomic interactions within the hologenome ultimately define the coral phenotype. Here we integrate contemporary scientific knowledge regarding the ecological, host-specific, and environmental forces shaping the diversity, specificity, and distribution of microbial symbionts within the coral holobiont, explore physiological pathways that contribute to holobiont fitness, and describe potential mechanisms for holobiont homeostasis. Understanding the role of the microbiome in coral resilience, acclimation, and environmental adaptation is a new frontier in reef science that will require large-scale collaborative research efforts.}, } @article {pmid27482740, year = {2016}, author = {Graf, J}, title = {Lessons from Digestive-Tract Symbioses Between Bacteria and Invertebrates.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {375-393}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-091014-104258}, pmid = {27482740}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Invertebrates/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In most animals, digestive tracts harbor the greatest number of bacteria in the animal that contribute to its health: by aiding in the digestion of nutrients, provisioning essential nutrients and protecting against colonization by pathogens. Invertebrates have been used to enhance our understanding of metabolic processes and microbe-host interactions owing to experimental advantages. This review describes how advances in DNA sequencing technologies have dramatically altered how researchers investigate microbe-host interactions, including 16S rRNA gene surveys, metagenome experiments, and metatranscriptome studies. Advantages and challenges of each of these approaches are described herein. Hypotheses generated through omics studies can be directly tested using site-directed mutagenesis, and findings from transposon studies and site-directed experiments are presented. Finally, unique structural aspects of invertebrate digestive tracts that contribute to symbiont specificity are presented. The combination of omics approaches with genetics and microscopy allows researchers to move beyond correlations to identify conserved mechanisms of microbe-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid27482739, year = {2016}, author = {Youngblut, MD and Wang, O and Barnum, TP and Coates, JD}, title = {(Per)chlorate in Biology on Earth and Beyond.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {435-457}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095406}, pmid = {27482739}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Chlorates/chemistry/*metabolism ; Earth, Planet ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Perchlorates/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Respiration of perchlorate and chlorate [collectively, (per)chlorate] was only recognized in the last 20 years, yet substantial advances have been made in our understanding of the underlying metabolisms. Although it was once considered solely anthropogenic, pervasive natural sources, both terrestrial and extraterrestrial, indicate an ancient (per)chlorate presence across our solar system. These discoveries stimulated interest in (per)chlorate microbiology, and the application of advanced approaches highlights exciting new facets. Forward and reverse genetics revealed new information regarding underlying molecular biology and associated regulatory mechanisms. Structural and functional analysis characterized core enzymes and identified novel reaction sequences. Comparative genomics elucidated evolutionary aspects, and stress analysis identified novel response mechanisms to reactive chlorine species. Finally, systems biology identified unique metabolic versatility and novel mechanisms of (per)chlorate respiration, including symbiosis and a hybrid enzymatic-abiotic metabolism. While many published studies focus on (per)chlorate and their basic metabolism, this review highlights seminal advances made over the last decade and identifies new directions and potential novel applications.}, } @article {pmid27481780, year = {2016}, author = {Baker, CC and Bittleston, LS and Sanders, JG and Pierce, NE}, title = {Dissecting host-associated communities with DNA barcodes.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1702}, pages = {}, pmid = {27481780}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {DNA barcoding and metabarcoding methods have been invaluable in the study of interactions between host organisms and their symbiotic communities. Barcodes can help identify individual symbionts that are difficult to distinguish using morphological characters, and provide a way to classify undescribed species. Entire symbiont communities can be characterized rapidly using barcoding and especially metabarcoding methods, which is often crucial for isolating ecological signal from the substantial variation among individual hosts. Furthermore, barcodes allow the evolutionary histories of symbionts and their hosts to be assessed simultaneously and in reference to one another. Here, we describe three projects illustrating the utility of barcodes for studying symbiotic interactions: first, we consider communities of arthropods found in the ant-occupied domatia of the East African ant-plant Vachellia (Acacia) drepanolobium; second, we examine communities of arthropod and protozoan inquilines in three species of Nepenthes pitcher plant in South East Asia; third, we investigate communities of gut bacteria of South American ants in the genus Cephalotes Advances in sequencing and computation, and greater database connectivity, will continue to expand the utility of barcoding methods for the study of species interactions, especially if barcoding can be approached flexibly by making use of alternative genetic loci, metagenomes and whole-genome data.This article is part of the themed issue 'From DNA barcodes to biomes'.}, } @article {pmid27481779, year = {2016}, author = {McLean, AH and Parker, BJ and Hrček, J and Henry, LM and Godfray, HC}, title = {Insect symbionts in food webs.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1702}, pages = {}, pmid = {27481779}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Food Chain ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent research has shown that the bacterial endosymbionts of insects are abundant and diverse, and that they have numerous different effects on their hosts' biology. Here we explore how insect endosymbionts might affect the structure and dynamics of insect communities. Using the obligate and facultative symbionts of aphids as an example, we find that there are multiple ways that symbiont presence might affect food web structure. Many symbionts are now known to help their hosts escape or resist natural enemy attack, and others can allow their hosts to withstand abiotic stress or affect host plant use. In addition to the direct effect of symbionts on aphid phenotypes there may be indirect effects mediated through trophic and non-trophic community interactions. We believe that by using data from barcoding studies to identify bacterial symbionts, this extra, microbial dimension to insect food webs can be better elucidated.This article is part of the themed issue 'From DNA barcodes to biomes'.}, } @article {pmid27481227, year = {2017}, author = {Laranjo, M and Alexandre, A and Oliveira, S}, title = {Global transcriptional response to salt shock of the plant microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {168}, number = {1}, pages = {55-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2016.07.006}, pmid = {27481227}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Lotus/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; *Osmotic Pressure ; Sodium Chloride/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Soil salinity affects rhizobia both as free-living bacteria and in symbiosis with the host. The aim of this study was to examine the transcriptional response of the Lotus microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 to salt shock. Changes in the transcriptome of bacterial cells subjected to a salt shock of 10% NaCl for 30 min were analyzed. From a total of 7231 protein-coding genes, 385 were found to be differentially expressed upon salt shock, among which 272 were overexpressed. Although a large number of overexpressed genes encode hypothetical proteins, the two most frequently represented COG categories are "defense mechanisms" and "nucleotide transport and metabolism". A significant number of transcriptional regulators and ABC transporters genes were upregulated. Chemotaxis and motility genes were not differentially expressed. Moreover, most genes previously reported to be involved in salt tolerance were not differentially expressed. The transcriptional response to salt shock of a rhizobium with low ability to grow under salinity conditions, but enduring a salinity shock, may enlighten us concerning salinity stress response mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid27480059, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Wang, ET and Liu, Y and Li, X and Yu, B and Ren, C and Liu, W and Li, Y and Xie, Z}, title = {Rhizobium anhuiense as the predominant microsymbionts of Lathyrus maritimus along the Shandong Peninsula seashore line.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {384-390}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.07.001}, pmid = {27480059}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Lathyrus/*microbiology ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Beach pea [Lathyrus maritimus Bigelow, or Lathyrus japonicus subsp. maritimus (L.) P.W. Ball] is a wild legume distributed on the seashore line, and the rhizobia nodulating with this plant have been reported only rarely. In order to reveal the diversity of beach pea rhizobia on the seashore line of Shandong Peninsula, China, a total of 124 bacterial strains were isolated from the root nodules of beach pea plants collected from five sites. All the isolates were divided into five recA types after screening by recA gene sequence analysis and they consisted of Rhizobium anhuiense covering 122 symbiotic isolates in three recA types, as well as two single isolates Rhizobium sp. and Rhizobium lusitanum representing distinct recA types. The recA genotype III of R. anhuiense (103 isolates) represented by strain YIC11270 was dominant at all five sampling sites. Identical symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH) were detected in the three recA genotypes of R. anhuiense isolates that were closely related to those of the pea and faba rhizobia. This study clarified that R. anhuiense was the main symbiont for beach pea rhizobia on the seashore line of Shandong Peninsula. The low level genetic diversity of beach pea rhizobia revealed by both MLSA and the symbiotic genes might be related to the strong selection pressure produced by the saline-alkaline environment and the host plants.}, } @article {pmid27479744, year = {2016}, author = {de Saint Germain, A and Clavé, G and Badet-Denisot, MA and Pillot, JP and Cornu, D and Le Caer, JP and Burger, M and Pelissier, F and Retailleau, P and Turnbull, C and Bonhomme, S and Chory, J and Rameau, C and Boyer, FD}, title = {An histidine covalent receptor and butenolide complex mediates strigolactone perception.}, journal = {Nature chemical biology}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {787-794}, pmid = {27479744}, issn = {1552-4469}, support = {R01 GM094428/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Histidine/chemistry/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Ligands ; Molecular Structure ; Peas/enzymology/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactone plant hormones control plant architecture and are key players in both symbiotic and parasitic interactions. They contain an ABC tricyclic lactone connected to a butenolide group, the D ring. The DWARF14 (D14) strigolactone receptor belongs to the superfamily of α/β-hydrolases, and is known to hydrolyze the bond between the ABC lactone and the D ring. Here we characterized the binding and catalytic functions of RAMOSUS3 (RMS3), the pea (Pisum sativum) ortholog of rice (Oryza sativa) D14 strigolactone receptor. Using new profluorescent probes with strigolactone-like bioactivity, we found that RMS3 acts as a single-turnover enzyme that explains its apparent low enzymatic rate. We demonstrated the formation of a covalent RMS3-D-ring complex, essential for bioactivity, in which the D ring was attached to histidine 247 of the catalytic triad. These results reveal an undescribed mechanism of plant hormone reception in which the receptor performs an irreversible enzymatic reaction to generate its own ligand.}, } @article {pmid27479081, year = {2016}, author = {Nisbett, LM and Boon, EM}, title = {Nitric Oxide Regulation of H-NOX Signaling Pathways in Bacteria.}, journal = {Biochemistry}, volume = {55}, number = {35}, pages = {4873-4884}, pmid = {27479081}, issn = {1520-4995}, support = {T32 GM092714/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*physiology ; Biofilms ; Nitric Oxide/*physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a freely diffusible, radical gas that has now been established as an integral signaling molecule in eukaryotes and bacteria. It has been demonstrated that NO signaling is initiated upon ligation to the heme iron of an H-NOX domain in mammals and in some bacteria. Bacterial H-NOX proteins have been found to interact with enzymes that participate in signaling pathways and regulate bacterial processes such as quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and symbiosis. Here, we review the biochemical characterization of these signaling pathways and, where available, describe how ligation of NO to H-NOX specifically regulates the activity of these pathways and their associated bacterial phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid27477998, year = {2017}, author = {Monteverde, DR and Gómez-Consarnau, L and Suffridge, C and Sañudo-Wilhelmy, SA}, title = {Life's utilization of B vitamins on early Earth.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {3-18}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12202}, pmid = {27477998}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Coenzymes/*metabolism ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Origin of Life ; Vitamin B Complex/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coenzymes are essential across all domains of life. B vitamins (B1 -thiamin, B2 -riboflavin, B3 -niacin, B5 -pantothenate, B6 -pyridoxine, B7 -biotin, and B12 -cobalamin) represent the largest class of coenzymes, which participate in a diverse set of reactions including C1 -rearrangements, DNA repair, electron transfer, and fatty acid synthesis. B vitamin structures range from simple to complex heterocycles, yet, despite this complexity, multiple lines of evidence exist for their ancient origins including abiotic synthesis under putative early Earth conditions and/or meteorite transport. Thus, some of these critical coenzymes likely preceded life on Earth. Some modern organisms can synthesize their own B vitamins de novo while others must either scavenge them from the environment or establish a symbiotic relationship with a B vitamin producer. B vitamin requirements are widespread in some of the most ancient metabolisms including all six carbon fixation pathways, sulfate reduction, sulfur disproportionation, methanogenesis, acetogenesis, and photosynthesis. Understanding modern metabolic B vitamin requirements is critical for understanding the evolutionary conditions of ancient metabolisms as well as the biogeochemical cycling of critical elements such as S, C, and O.}, } @article {pmid27477008, year = {2017}, author = {Dinkins, RD and Nagabhyru, P and Graham, MA and Boykin, D and Schardl, CL}, title = {Transcriptome response of Lolium arundinaceum to its fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {213}, number = {1}, pages = {324-337}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14103}, pmid = {27477008}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lolium/*genetics/*microbiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is one of the primary forage and turf grasses in temperate regions of the world. A number of favourable characteristics of tall fescue are enhanced by its seed-transmissible fungal symbiont (endophyte) Epichloë coenophiala. Our approach was to assemble the tall fescue transcriptome, then identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for endophyte-symbiotic (E+) vs endophyte-free (E-) clones in leaf blades, pseudostems, crowns and roots. RNA-seq reads were used to construct a tall fescue reference transcriptome and compare gene expression profiles. Over all tissues examined, 478 DEGs were identified between the E+ and E- clones for at least one tissue (more than two-fold; P < 0.0001, 238 E+ > E- and 240 E- > E+), although no genes were differentially expressed in all four tissues. Gene ontology (GO) terms, GO:0010200 (response to chitin), GO:0002679 (respiratory burst during defence response) and GO:0035556 (intracellular signal transduction) were significantly overrepresented among 25 E- > E+ DEGs in leaf blade, and a number of other DEGs were associated with defence and abiotic response. In particular, endophyte effects on various WRKY transcription factors may have implications for symbiotic stability, endophyte distribution in the plant, or defence against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid27476770, year = {2017}, author = {Kreth, J and Giacaman, RA and Raghavan, R and Merritt, J}, title = {The road less traveled - defining molecular commensalism with Streptococcus sanguinis.}, journal = {Molecular oral microbiology}, volume = {32}, number = {3}, pages = {181-196}, pmid = {27476770}, issn = {2041-1014}, support = {R01 DE018893/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE021726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE022083/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Periodontitis ; Streptococcus mutans/physiology ; Streptococcus sanguis/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The commensal oral microbial flora has evolved with the human host to support colonization of the various intraoral sites without triggering a significant immune response. In exchange, the commensal microbes provide critical protection against invading pathogens. The intrinsic ability of the oral flora to create a symbiotic microbial community with the host can be disturbed, selecting for the overgrowth of a dysbiotic community that can result in dental diseases, such as caries and periodontitis. Although the mechanisms of molecular pathogenesis in oral diseases are well characterized, much less is known about the molecular mechanisms used by the commensal flora to maintain oral health. Here we focus on the commensal species Streptococcus sanguinis, which is found in abundance in the early oral biofilm and is strongly correlated with oral health. Streptococcus sanguinis exhibits a variety of features that make it ideally suited as a model organism to explore the molecular basis for commensalism. As such, this review will describe our current mechanistic understanding of S. sanguinis commensalism and speculate upon its molecular traits that may be exploitable to maintain or restore oral health under conditions that would otherwise lead to disease.}, } @article {pmid27476485, year = {2016}, author = {Heck, K and Machineski, GS and Alvarenga, DO and Vaz, MGMV and Varani, AM and Fiore, MF}, title = {Evaluating methods for purifying cyanobacterial cultures by qPCR and high-throughput Illumina sequencing.}, journal = {Journal of microbiological methods}, volume = {129}, number = {}, pages = {55-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2016.07.023}, pmid = {27476485}, issn = {1872-8359}, mesh = {Axenic Culture/*methods ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Metagenomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are commonly found in association with other microorganisms, which constitutes a great challenge during the isolation of cyanobacterial strains. Although several methods have been published for obtaining axenic cyanobacterial cultures, their efficiency is usually evaluated by observing the growth of non-cyanobacteria in culture media. In order to verify whether uncultured bacteria should be a concern during cyanobacterial isolation, this work aimed to detect by molecular methods sequences from cyanobacteria and other bacteria present before and after a technique for obtaining axenic cultures from plating and exposure of Fischerella sp. CENA161 akinetes to the Extran detergent and sodium hypochlorite. Solutions containing 0.5, 1, and 2% sodium hypochlorite were able to remove contaminant bacterial CFUs from the culture. However, qPCR pointed that the quantity of sequences amplified with universal bacteria primers was higher than the number of cyanobacteria-specific sequences before and after treatments. The presence of uncultured bacteria in post-hypochlorite cultures was confirmed by high-throughput Illumina sequencing. These results suggest that culturing may overlook the presence of uncultured bacteria associated to cyanobacterial strains and is not sufficient for monitoring the success of cyanobacterial isolation by itself. Molecular methods such as qPCR could be employed as an additional measure for evaluating axenity in cyanobacterial strains.}, } @article {pmid27476275, year = {2016}, author = {Muszyńska, B and Kała, K and Firlej, A and Sułkowska-Ziaja, K}, title = {CANTHARELLUS CIBARIUS - CULINARY-MEDICINAL MUSHROOM CONTENT AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY.}, journal = {Acta poloniae pharmaceutica}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {589-598}, pmid = {27476275}, issn = {0001-6837}, mesh = {Agaricales/*chemistry ; Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Basidiomycota/*chemistry ; Food ; Humans ; Nutritive Value ; }, abstract = {One of the most frequently harvested mushrooms in Polish forests is Yellow chanterelle (chanterelle) - Cantharellus cibarius Fr. from the Cantharellaceae family. Chanterelle is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom occurring in Poland. Chanterelle lives in symbiosis with pine, spruce, oak and hombeam. In cookery, chanterelle is appreciated because of the aroma, taste, firmness and crunchiness of its fruiting bodies. Wild edible mushrooms are widely consumed in Asia, Western Europe and Central America. Chanterelle contains a great number of carbohydrates and proteins and a low amount of fat. Actual review presents the main groups of physiologically active primary and secondary metabolites in the fruiting bodies of chanterelle such as indole and phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins, free amino acids, sterols, carotenoids, enzymes, vitamins and elements with biological activity. The presence of these compounds and elements conditions the nutrient and therapeutic activity of chanterelle, e.g., immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial and antigenotoxic properties.}, } @article {pmid27476200, year = {2016}, author = {Provorov, NA and Andronov, EE}, title = {[Evolution of Root Nodule Bacteria: Reconstruction of the Speciation Processes Resulting from Genomic Rearrangements in a Symbiotic System].}, journal = {Mikrobiologiia}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, pages = {115-125}, pmid = {27476200}, issn = {0026-3656}, mesh = {*Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The processes of speciation and macroevolution of root nodule bacteria (rhizobia), based on deep rearrangements of their genomes and occurring in the N2-fixing symbiotic system, are reconstructed. At the first stage of rhizobial evolution, transformation of free-living diazotrophs (related to Rhodopseudomonas) to symbiotic N2-fixers (Bradyrhizobium) occurred due to the acquisition of the fix gene system, which is responsible for providing nitrogenase with electrons and reducing equivalents, as well as for oxygen-dependent regulation of nitrogenase synthesis in planta, and then of the nod genes responsible for the synthesis of the lipo- chito-oligosaccharide Nod factors, which induce root nodule development. The subsequent rearrangements of bacterial genomes included: (1) increased volume of hereditary information supported by species, genera (pan-genome), and individual strains; (2) transition from the unitary genome to a multicomponent one; and (3) enhanced levels of bacterial genetic plasticity and horizontal gene transfer, resulting in formation of new genera, of which Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, and Sinorhizobium are the largest, and of over 100 species. Rhizobial evolution caused by development and diversification of the Nod factor synthesizing systems may result in both increased host specificity range (transition of Bradyrhizobium from autotrophic to symbiotrophic carbon metabolism in interaction with a broad spectrum of legumes) and to its contraction (transition of Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium to "altruistic" interaction with legumes of the galegoid clade). Reconstruction of the evolutionary pathway from symbiotic N2-fixers to their free-living ancestors makes it possible to initiate the studies based on up-to-date genome screening technologies and aimed at the issues of genetic integration of organisms into supracpecies complexes, ratios of the macro- and microevolutionary mechanisms, and developmetn of cooperative adaptations based on altruistic relationship between the symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid27475654, year = {2016}, author = {Vilanova, JC}, title = {The radiologist and the technique: the essential symbiosis.}, journal = {Radiologia}, volume = {58}, number = {5}, pages = {327-328}, doi = {10.1016/j.rx.2016.07.001}, pmid = {27475654}, issn = {1578-178X}, mesh = {Radiography/*methods ; *Radiologists ; *Radiology ; }, } @article {pmid27475238, year = {2016}, author = {Attia, MA and Brumer, H}, title = {Recent structural insights into the enzymology of the ubiquitous plant cell wall glycan xyloglucan.}, journal = {Current opinion in structural biology}, volume = {40}, number = {}, pages = {43-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.sbi.2016.07.005}, pmid = {27475238}, issn = {1879-033X}, support = {MOP-137134//CIHR/Canada ; MOP-142472//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Cell Wall/*enzymology/metabolism ; Glucans/*metabolism ; Humans ; Plant Cells/enzymology/*metabolism ; Xylans/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The xyloglucans (XyGs) constitute a family of highly decorated β(1→4)-glucans whose members are widespread and abundant across the plant kingdom. As such, XyGs constitute a significant reserve of metabolically accessible monosaccharides for diverse phytopathogenic, saprophytic, and gut symbiotic micro-organisms. To overcome the intrinsic stability of the diverse glycosidic bonds in XyGs, bacteria and fungi have evolved extensive repertoires of xyloglucan-active enzymes from manifold families, whose exquisitely adapted tertiary structures are recently coming to light.}, } @article {pmid27474734, year = {2016}, author = {Pitt, JM and Vétizou, M and Waldschmitt, N and Kroemer, G and Chamaillard, M and Boneca, IG and Zitvogel, L}, title = {Fine-Tuning Cancer Immunotherapy: Optimizing the Gut Microbiome.}, journal = {Cancer research}, volume = {76}, number = {16}, pages = {4602-4607}, doi = {10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0448}, pmid = {27474734}, issn = {1538-7445}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy/*trends ; Neoplasms/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The equilibrium linking the intestinal microbiota, the intestinal epithelium, and the host immune system establishes host health and homeostasis, with perturbations of this balance resulting in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune immunopathologies. The mutualistic symbiosis between gut microbiota and host immunity raises the possibility that dysbiosis of the intestinal content also influences the outcome of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we present our recent findings that specific gut-resident bacteria determine the immunotherapeutic responses associated with CTLA-4 checkpoint blockade. This new evidence hints that interindividual differences in the microbiome may account for the significant heterogeneity in therapeutic and immunopathologic responses to immune checkpoint therapies. We discuss how this new understanding could improve the therapeutic coverage of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and potentially limit their immune-mediated toxicity, through the use of adjunctive "oncomicrobiotics" that indirectly promote beneficial immune responses through optimizing the gut microbiome. Cancer Res; 76(16); 4602-7. ©2016 AACR.}, } @article {pmid27474717, year = {2016}, author = {Verma, SC and Miyashiro, T}, title = {Niche-Specific Impact of a Symbiotic Function on the Persistence of Microbial Symbionts within a Natural Host.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {19}, pages = {5990-5996}, pmid = {27474717}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R00 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Luminescence ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: How the function of microbial symbionts is affected by their population/consortium structure within a host remains poorly understood. The symbiosis established between Euprymna scolopes and Vibrio fischeri is a well-characterized host-microbe association in which the function and structure of V. fischeri populations within the host are known: V. fischeri populations produce bioluminescence from distinct crypt spaces within a dedicated host structure called the light organ. Previous studies have revealed that luminescence is required for V. fischeri populations to persist within the light organ and that deletion of the lux gene locus, which is responsible for luminescence in V. fischeri, leads to a persistence defect. In this study, we investigated the impact of bioluminescence on V. fischeri population structure within the light organ. We report that the persistence defect is specific to crypt I, which is the most developmentally mature crypt space within the nascent light organ. This result provides insight into the structure/function relationship that will be useful for future mechanistic studies of squid-Vibrio symbiosis. In addition, our report highlights the potential impact of the host developmental program on the spatiotemporal dynamics of host-microbe interactions.

IMPORTANCE: Metazoan development and physiology depend on microbes. The relationship between the symbiotic function of microbes and their spatial structure within the host environment remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate, using a binary symbiosis, that the host requirement for the symbiotic function of the microbial symbiont is restricted to a specific host environment. Our results also suggest a link between microbial function and host development that may be a fundamental aspect of the more complex host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid27473768, year = {2016}, author = {Calle-Espinosa, J and Ponce-de-Leon, M and Santos-Garcia, D and Silva, FJ and Montero, F and Peretó, J}, title = {Nature lessons: The whitefly bacterial endosymbiont is a minimal amino acid factory with unusual energetics.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {407}, number = {}, pages = {303-317}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.07.024}, pmid = {27473768}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Animals ; *Energy Metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Halomonadaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Metabolic Flux Analysis ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; beta Carotene/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Reductive genome evolution is a universal phenomenon observed in endosymbiotic bacteria in insects. As the genome reduces its size and irreversibly losses coding genes, the functionalities of the cell system, including the energetics processes, are more restricted. Several energetic pathways can also be lost. How do these reduced metabolic networks sustain the energy needs of the system? Among the bacteria with reduced genomes Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum, obligate endosymbiont of whiteflies, represents an extreme case since lacks several key mechanisms for ATP generation. Thus, to analyze the cell energetics in this system, a genome-scale metabolic model of this endosymbiont was constructed, and its energy production capabilities dissected using stoichiometric analysis. Our results suggest that energy generation is coupled to the synthesis of essential amino acids and carotenoids, crucial metabolites in the symbiotic association. A deeper insight showed that ATP production via carotenoid synthesis is also connected with amino acid production. This unusual association of energy production with anabolism suggests that, although minimized, endosymbiont metabolic networks maintain a remarkable biosynthetic potential.}, } @article {pmid27471225, year = {2016}, author = {Lindgren, AR and Buckley, BA and Eppley, SM and Reysenbach, AL and Stedman, KM and Wagner, JT}, title = {Life on the Edge-the Biology of Organisms Inhabiting Extreme Environments: An Introduction to the Symposium.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {493-499}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icw094}, pmid = {27471225}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Climate Change ; *Extreme Environments ; }, abstract = {Life persists, even under extremely harsh conditions. While the existence of extremophiles is well known, the mechanisms by which these organisms evolve, perform basic metabolic functions, reproduce, and survive under extreme physical stress are often entirely unknown. Recent technological advances in terms of both sampling and studying extremophiles have yielded new insight into their evolution, physiology and behavior, from microbes and viruses to plants to eukaryotes. The goal of the "Life on the Edge-the Biology of Organisms Inhabiting Extreme Environments" symposium was to unite researchers from taxonomically and methodologically diverse backgrounds to highlight new advances in extremophile biology. Common themes and new insight that emerged from the symposium included the important role of symbiotic associations, the continued challenges associated with sampling and studying extremophiles and the important role these organisms play in terms of studying climate change. As we continue to explore our planet, especially in difficult to reach areas from the poles to the deep sea, we expect to continue to discover new and extreme circumstances under which life can persist.}, } @article {pmid27470775, year = {2016}, author = {Ďuriš, Z and Lin, CW}, title = {The 'scorpion shrimp', a new species of the genus Metapontonia (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Taiwan, with new generic record from Papua New Guinea.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4138}, number = {3}, pages = {474-490}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4138.3.3}, pmid = {27470775}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; Female ; Male ; Palaemonidae/*anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics ; Papua New Guinea ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {A new species of shrimp Metapontonia scorpio symbiotic with scleractinian coral Diploastrea heliopora is described from Taiwan. The species belongs to the smallest symbiotic shrimps of the family Palaemonidae. It is remarkable by a unique ability to turn its last two pleonites with tail fan dorsally over the 4[th] and preceding pleonal segments, thus resembling scorpions. For such movement, the respective opposing dorsal margins of the 4[th]-6[th] segments are deeply concave. The new species is characterized by a short dorsally directed rostrum, incomplete orbit, semicircular scaphocerite, and medially concave basal antennular segment. The only species of the genus, M. fungiacola, is compared with the new species based on morphology and DNA. Metapontonia fungiacola is for the first time reported from Taiwan and Papua New Guinea. The morphological and colour variability of the species is discussed. The scleractinian corals Platygyra lamellina (Merulinidae), Lobophyllia hemprichii, cf. Micromusa sp., Symphyllia cf. radians (Lobophylliidae), and Galaxea sp. (Oculinidae), are new host records for the species.}, } @article {pmid27469944, year = {2016}, author = {Masuya, H and Manabe, R and Ohkuma, M and Endoh, R}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Raffaelea quercivora JCM 11526, a Japanese Oak Wilt Pathogen Associated with the Platypodid Beetle, Platypus quercivorus.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27469944}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The Japanese oak wilt pathogen Raffaelea quercivora and the platypodid beetle, Platypus quercivorus, cause serious mass mortality of Quercus spp. in Japan. Here, we present the first draft genome sequence of R. quercivora JCM 11526 to increase our understanding of the mechanism of pathogenicity and symbiosis with the ambrosia beetle.}, } @article {pmid27469048, year = {2016}, author = {Dawda, P and True, A and Wells, L}, title = {Commissioning: perspectives from the ground.}, journal = {Australian journal of primary health}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {5-8}, doi = {10.1071/PY15039}, pmid = {27469048}, issn = {1448-7527}, mesh = {Australia ; *Contract Services ; Decision Making, Organizational ; Health Care Reform/*organization & administration ; Health Care Sector/*organization & administration ; Health Policy ; Health Services Research ; Humans ; Models, Organizational ; Organizational Culture ; Organizational Objectives ; Primary Health Care/*organization & administration ; }, abstract = {Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have been tasked with two key objectives to be achieved through commissioning. Public value aims can be achieved by developing operational capability in the context of an authorising environment. Public value will need to focus on system level outcomes from multiple perspectives, including a consumer perspective. The authorising environment will require policymakers to allow time for PHNs to mature into their role. It will require an environment of effective collaboration amongst multiple stakeholders including consumers. The operational capability will need to ensure highly competent managers and clinical leadership working in a symbiotic relationship. Although some Medicare Locals demonstrated commissioning capacity and capability, this will need to be scaled up at-pace in the new healthcare landscape in order for PHNs to optimally fulfil their roles.}, } @article {pmid27466804, year = {2016}, author = {Ješovnik, A and González, VL and Schultz, TR}, title = {Phylogenomics and Divergence Dating of Fungus-Farming Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Genera Sericomyrmex and Apterostigma.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {e0151059}, pmid = {27466804}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/classification/*genetics ; *Fungi ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Fungus-farming ("attine") ants are model systems for studies of symbiosis, coevolution, and advanced eusociality. A New World clade of nearly 300 species in 15 genera, all attine ants cultivate fungal symbionts for food. In order to better understand the evolution of ant agriculture, we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed transcriptomes of four different attine ant species in two genera: three species in the higher-attine genus Sericomyrmex and a single lower-attine ant species, Apterostigma megacephala, representing the first genomic data for either genus. These data were combined with published genomes of nine other ant species and the honey bee Apis mellifera for phylogenomic and divergence-dating analyses. The resulting phylogeny confirms relationships inferred in previous studies of fungus-farming ants. Divergence-dating analyses recovered slightly older dates than most prior analyses, estimating that attine ants originated 53.6-66.7 million of years ago, and recovered a very long branch subtending a very recent, rapid radiation of the genus Sericomyrmex. This result is further confirmed by a separate analysis of the three Sericomyrmex species, which reveals that 92.71% of orthologs have 99% - 100% pairwise-identical nucleotide sequences. We searched the transcriptomes for genes of interest, most importantly argininosuccinate synthase and argininosuccinate lyase, which are functional in other ants but which are known to have been lost in seven previously studied attine ant species. Loss of the ability to produce the amino acid arginine has been hypothesized to contribute to the obligate dependence of attine ants upon their cultivated fungi, but the point in fungus-farming ant evolution at which these losses occurred has remained unknown. We did not find these genes in any of the sequenced transcriptomes. Although expected for Sericomyrmex species, the absence of arginine anabolic genes in the lower-attine ant Apterostigma megacephala strongly suggests that the loss coincided with the origin of attine ants.}, } @article {pmid27466444, year = {2016}, author = {Hemsworth, GR and Thompson, AJ and Stepper, J and Sobala, ŁF and Coyle, T and Larsbrink, J and Spadiut, O and Goddard-Borger, ED and Stubbs, KA and Brumer, H and Davies, GJ}, title = {Structural dissection of a complex Bacteroides ovatus gene locus conferring xyloglucan metabolism in the human gut.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {27466444}, issn = {2046-2441}, support = {322942/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; BB/I014802/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; MOP-137134//CIHR/Canada ; MOP-142472//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Arabinose/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacteroides/chemistry/*enzymology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Glucans/*metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; Substrate Specificity ; Xylans/*metabolism ; Xylosidases/chemistry ; beta-Glucosidase/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract harbours myriad bacterial species, collectively termed the microbiota, that strongly influence human health. Symbiotic members of our microbiota play a pivotal role in the digestion of complex carbohydrates that are otherwise recalcitrant to assimilation. Indeed, the intrinsic human polysaccharide-degrading enzyme repertoire is limited to various starch-based substrates; more complex polysaccharides demand microbial degradation. Select Bacteroidetes are responsible for the degradation of the ubiquitous vegetable xyloglucans (XyGs), through the concerted action of cohorts of enzymes and glycan-binding proteins encoded by specific xyloglucan utilization loci (XyGULs). Extending recent (meta)genomic, transcriptomic and biochemical analyses, significant questions remain regarding the structural biology of the molecular machinery required for XyG saccharification. Here, we reveal the three-dimensional structures of an α-xylosidase, a β-glucosidase, and two α-l-arabinofuranosidases from the Bacteroides ovatus XyGUL. Aided by bespoke ligand synthesis, our analyses highlight key adaptations in these enzymes that confer individual specificity for xyloglucan side chains and dictate concerted, stepwise disassembly of xyloglucan oligosaccharides. In harness with our recent structural characterization of the vanguard endo-xyloglucanse and cell-surface glycan-binding proteins, the present analysis provides a near-complete structural view of xyloglucan recognition and catalysis by XyGUL proteins.}, } @article {pmid27465344, year = {2016}, author = {Mikuláss, KR and Nagy, K and Bogos, B and Szegletes, Z and Kovács, E and Farkas, A and Váró, G and Kondorosi, É and Kereszt, A}, title = {Antimicrobial nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides disturb the integrity of bacterial outer and inner membranes and cause loss of membrane potential.}, journal = {Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {43}, pmid = {27465344}, issn = {1476-0711}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cell Membrane/*drug effects/ultrastructure ; Medicago truncatula/physiology ; Membrane Potentials/*drug effects ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Polymyxin B/pharmacology ; Root Nodules, Plant/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/growth & development/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Certain legume plants produce a plethora of AMP-like peptides in their symbiotic cells. The cationic subgroup of the nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides has potent antimicrobial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as unicellular and filamentous fungi.

FINDINGS: It was shown by scanning and atomic force microscopies that the cationic peptides NCR335, NCR247 and Polymyxin B (PMB) affect differentially on the surfaces of Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteria. Similarly to PMB, both NCR peptides caused damages of the outer and inner membranes but at different extent and resulted in the loss of membrane potential that could be the primary reason of their antimicrobial activity.

CONCLUSIONS: The primary reason for bacterial cell death upon treatment with cationic NCR peptides is the loss of membrane potential.}, } @article {pmid27463653, year = {2016}, author = {Pennisi, E}, title = {SYMBIOSIS. A lichen ménage à trois.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {353}, number = {6297}, pages = {337}, doi = {10.1126/science.353.6297.337}, pmid = {27463653}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Furans/analysis/chemistry ; Genomics/methods ; Parmeliaceae/*chemistry/*genetics ; Phenylacetates/analysis/chemistry ; Staining and Labeling/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Toxins, Biological/analysis/chemistry ; }, } @article {pmid27462339, year = {2016}, author = {Kunert, KJ and Vorster, BJ and Fenta, BA and Kibido, T and Dionisio, G and Foyer, CH}, title = {Drought Stress Responses in Soybean Roots and Nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1015}, pmid = {27462339}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Drought is considered to be a major threat to soybean production worldwide and yet our current understanding of the effects of drought on soybean productively is largely based on studies on above-ground traits. Although the roots and root nodules are important sensors of drought, the responses of these crucial organs and their drought tolerance features remain poorly characterized. The symbiotic interaction between soybean and rhizobia facilitates atmospheric nitrogen fixation, a process that provides essential nitrogen to support plant growth and development. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is important for sustainable agriculture, as it sustains plant growth on nitrogen-poor soils and limits fertilizer use for crop nitrogen nutrition. Recent developments have been made in our understanding of the drought impact on soybean root architecture and nodule traits, as well as underpinning transcriptome, proteome and also emerging metabolome information, with a view to improve the selection of more drought-tolerant soybean cultivars and rhizobia in the future. We conclude that the direct screening of root and nodule traits in the field as well as identification of genes, proteins and also metabolites involved in such traits will be essential in order to gain a better understanding of the regulation of root architecture, bacteroid development and lifespan in relation to drought tolerance in soybean.}, } @article {pmid27462309, year = {2016}, author = {Forbes, JD and Van Domselaar, G and Bernstein, CN}, title = {The Gut Microbiota in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1081}, pmid = {27462309}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The collection of microbes and their genes that exist within and on the human body, collectively known as the microbiome has emerged as a principal factor in human health and disease. Humans and microbes have established a symbiotic association over time, and perturbations in this association have been linked to several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. IMID is a term used to describe a group of chronic, highly disabling diseases that affect different organ systems. Though a cornerstone commonality between IMID is the idiopathic nature of disease, a considerable portion of their pathobiology overlaps including epidemiological co-occurrence, genetic susceptibility loci and environmental risk factors. At present, it is clear that persons with an IMID are at an increased risk for developing comorbidities, including additional IMID. Advancements in sequencing technologies and a parallel explosion of 16S rDNA and metagenomics community profiling studies have allowed for the characterization of microbiomes throughout the human body including the gut, in a myriad of human diseases and in health. The main challenge now is to determine if alterations of gut flora are common between IMID or, if particular changes in the gut community are in fact specific to a single disease. Herein, we review and discuss the relationships between the gut microbiota and IMID.}, } @article {pmid27462300, year = {2016}, author = {Erban, T and Klimov, PB and Smrz, J and Phillips, TW and Nesvorna, M and Kopecky, J and Hubert, J}, title = {Populations of Stored Product Mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae Differ in Their Bacterial Communities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1046}, pmid = {27462300}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tyrophagus putrescentiae colonizes different human-related habitats and feeds on various post-harvest foods. The microbiota acquired by these mites can influence the nutritional plasticity in different populations. We compared the bacterial communities of five populations of T. putrescentiae and one mixed population of T. putrescentiae and T. fanetzhangorum collected from different habitats.

MATERIAL: The bacterial communities of the six mite populations from different habitats and diets were compared by Sanger sequencing of cloned 16S rRNA obtained from amplification with universal eubacterial primers and using bacterial taxon-specific primers on the samples of adults/juveniles or eggs. Microscopic techniques were used to localize bacteria in food boli and mite bodies. The morphological determination of the mite populations was confirmed by analyses of CO1 and ITS fragment genes.

RESULTS: The following symbiotic bacteria were found in compared mite populations: Wolbachia (two populations), Cardinium (five populations), Bartonella-like (five populations), Blattabacterium-like symbiont (three populations), and Solitalea-like (six populations). From 35 identified OTUs97, only Solitalea was identified in all populations. The next most frequent and abundant sequences were Bacillus, Moraxella, Staphylococcus, Kocuria, and Microbacterium. We suggest that some bacterial species may occasionally be ingested with food. The bacteriocytes were observed in some individuals in all mite populations. Bacteria were not visualized in food boli by staining, but bacteria were found by histological means in ovaria of Wolbachia-infested populations.

CONCLUSION: The presence of Blattabacterium-like, Cardinium, Wolbachia, and Solitalea-like in the eggs of T. putrescentiae indicates mother to offspring (vertical) transmission. RESULTS of this study indicate that diet and habitats influence not only the ingested bacteria but also the symbiotic bacteria of T. putrescentiae.}, } @article {pmid27462299, year = {2016}, author = {Schreiber, L and Kjeldsen, KU and Funch, P and Jensen, J and Obst, M and López-Legentil, S and Schramm, A}, title = {Endozoicomonas Are Specific, Facultative Symbionts of Sea Squirts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1042}, pmid = {27462299}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ascidians are marine filter feeders and harbor diverse microbiota that can exhibit a high degree of host-specificity. Pharyngeal samples of Scandinavian and Mediterranean ascidians were screened for consistently associated bacteria by culture-dependent and -independent approaches. Representatives of the Endozoicomonas (Gammaproteobacteria, Hahellaceae) clade were detected in the ascidian species Ascidiella aspersa, Ascidiella scabra, Botryllus schlosseri, Ciona intestinalis, Styela clava, and multiple Ascidia/Ascidiella spp. In total, Endozoicomonas was detected in more than half of all specimens screened, and in 25-100% of the specimens for each species. The retrieved Endozoicomonas 16S rRNA gene sequences formed an ascidian-specific subclade, whose members were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as extracellular microcolonies in the pharynx. Two strains of the ascidian-specific Endozoicomonas subclade were isolated in pure culture and characterized. Both strains are chemoorganoheterotrophs and grow on mucin (a mucus glycoprotein). The strains tested negative for cytotoxic or antibacterial activity. Based on these observations, we propose ascidian-associated Endozoicomonas to be commensals, living off the mucus continuously secreted into the pharynx. Members of the ascidian-specific Endozoicomonas subclade were also detected in seawater from the Scandinavian sampling site, which suggests acquisition of the symbionts by horizontal transmission. The combined results indicate a host-specific, yet facultative symbiosis between ascidians and Endozoicomonas.}, } @article {pmid27460796, year = {2016}, author = {Ramond, E and Maclachlan, C and Clerc-Rosset, S and Knott, GW and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Cell Division by Longitudinal Scission in the Insect Endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27460796}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/analysis ; *Cell Division ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/analysis ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Hemolymph/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron ; Spiroplasma/chemistry/*cytology/drug effects/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Spiroplasma bacteria are highly motile bacteria with no cell wall and a helical morphology. This clade includes many vertically transmitted insect endosymbionts, including Spiroplasma poulsonii, a natural endosymbiont of Drosophila melanogaster S. poulsonii bacteria are mainly found in the hemolymph of infected female flies and exhibit efficient vertical transmission from mother to offspring. As is the case for many facultative endosymbionts, S. poulsonii can manipulate the reproduction of its host; in particular, S. poulsonii induces male killing in Drosophila melanogaster Here, we analyze the morphology of S. poulsonii obtained from the hemolymph of infected Drosophila This endosymbiont was not only found as long helical filaments, as previously described, but was also found in a Y-shaped form. The use of electron microscopy, immunogold staining of the FtsZ protein, and antibiotic treatment unambiguously linked the Y shape of S. poulsonii to cell division. Observation of the Y shape in another Spiroplasma, S. citri, and anecdotic observations from the literature suggest that cell division by longitudinal scission might be prevalent in the Spiroplasma clade. Our study is the first to report the Y-shape mode of cell division in an endosymbiotic bacterium and adds Spiroplasma to the so far limited group of bacteria known to utilize this cell division mode.

IMPORTANCE: Most bacteria rely on binary fission, which involves elongation of the bacteria and DNA replication, followed by splitting into two parts. Examples of bacteria with a Y-shape longitudinal scission remain scarce. Here, we report that Spiroplasma poulsonii, an endosymbiotic bacterium living inside the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, divide with the longitudinal mode of cell division. Observations of the Y shape in another Spiroplasma, S. citri, suggest that this mode of scission might be prevalent in the Spiroplasma clade. Spiroplasma bacteria are wall-less bacteria with a distinctive helical shape, and these bacteria are always associated with arthropods, notably insects. Our study raises the hypothesis that this mode of cell division by longitudinal scission could be linked to the symbiotic mode of life of these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27460792, year = {2016}, author = {Hernandez-Agreda, A and Leggat, W and Bongaerts, P and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {The Microbial Signature Provides Insight into the Mechanistic Basis of Coral Success across Reef Habitats.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27460792}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biota ; *Ecosystem ; Pacific Ocean ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: For ecosystems vulnerable to environmental change, understanding the spatiotemporal stability of functionally crucial symbioses is fundamental to determining the mechanisms by which these ecosystems may persist. The coral Pachyseris speciosa is a successful environmental generalist that succeeds in diverse reef habitats. The generalist nature of this coral suggests it may have the capacity to form functionally significant microbial partnerships to facilitate access to a range of nutritional sources within different habitats. Here, we propose that coral is a metaorganism hosting three functionally distinct microbial interactions: a ubiquitous core microbiome of very few symbiotic host-selected bacteria, a microbiome of spatially and/or regionally explicit core microbes filling functional niches (<100 phylotypes), and a highly variable bacterial community that is responsive to biotic and abiotic processes across spatial and temporal scales (>100,000 phylotypes). We find that this coral hosts upwards of 170,000 distinct phylotypes and provide evidence for the persistence of a select group of bacteria in corals across environmental habitats of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. We further show that a higher number of bacteria are consistently associated with corals on mesophotic reefs than on shallow reefs. An increase in microbial diversity with depth suggests reliance by this coral on bacteria for nutrient acquisition on reefs exposed to nutrient upwelling. Understanding the complex microbial communities of host organisms across broad biotic and abiotic environments as functionally distinct microbiomes can provide insight into those interactions that are ubiquitous niche symbioses and those that provide competitive advantage within the hosts' environment.

IMPORTANCE: Corals have been proposed as the most diverse microbial biosphere. The high variability of microbial communities has hampered the identification of bacteria playing key functional roles that contribute to coral survival. Exploring the bacterial community in a coral with a broad environmental distribution, we found a group of bacteria present across all environments and a higher number of bacteria consistently associated with mesophotic corals (60 to 80 m). These results provide evidence of consistent and ubiquitous coral-bacterial partnerships and support the consideration of corals as metaorganisms hosting three functionally distinct microbiomes: a ubiquitous core microbiome, a microbiome filling functional niches, and a highly variable bacterial community.}, } @article {pmid27459781, year = {2016}, author = {Thomas, MJ and Creed, RP and Skelton, J and Brown, BL}, title = {Ontogenetic shifts in a freshwater cleaning symbiosis: consequences for hosts and their symbionts.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {97}, number = {6}, pages = {1507-1517}, doi = {10.1890/15-1443.1}, pmid = {27459781}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*physiology ; Astacoidea/*physiology ; Body Size ; *Fresh Water ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Animal fitness is influenced by diverse assemblages of internal and external symbionts. These assemblages often change throughout host ontogeny, but the mechanisms that underlie these changes and their consequences for host fitness are seldom revealed. Here we examine a cleaning symbiosis between crayfish and an assemblage of ectosymbiotic branchiobdellidan worms to uncover what mechanisms drive changes in symbiont composition during host ontogeny and the consequences of these changes for both the host and symbionts. In surveys of a North Carolina river, the dominant worm species shifted from Cambarincola philadelphicus to Cambarincola ingens as crayfish (Cambarus bartonii) increased in size. We demonstrate that this shift is a function of host regulation by small crayfish and exclusion by a dominant symbiont on large crayfish. In a controlled lab experiment, small crayfish often removed their symbionts but C. ingens was removed at a higher rate than C. philadelphicus. In contrast, C. ingens had higher survivorship and reproduction than C. philadelphicus on large crayfish. We also measured the effect of each worm species on crayfish growth through ontogeny; neither worm species had an effect on small crayfish but both species had similar positive effects on the growth of large crayfish relative to controls. Evidence from another experiment suggested that intraguild predation by C. ingens caused a decline in C. philadelphicus on large crayfish. We have shown that shifts in partner fitness are a function of host size and that these shifts can involve the succession of symbionts. Further, our results suggest that changes in the outcome of symbioses can remain robust throughout host ontogeny despite interactive mechanisms that lead to shifts in symbiont community structure.}, } @article {pmid27459363, year = {2016}, author = {Rigby, RJ and Carr, J and Orgel, K and King, SL and Lund, PK and Dekaney, CM}, title = {Intestinal bacteria are necessary for doxorubicin-induced intestinal damage but not for doxorubicin-induced apoptosis.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {414-423}, pmid = {27459363}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {P30 ES010126/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK100508/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK007737/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Doxorubicin/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Germ-Free Life ; Goblet Cells/drug effects/microbiology ; Intestines/cytology/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paneth Cells/drug effects/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Doxorubicin (DOXO) induces significant, but transient, increases in apoptosis in the stem cell zone of the jejunum, followed by mucosal damage involving a decrease in crypt proliferation, crypt number, and villus height. The gastrointestinal tract is home to a vast population of commensal bacteria and numerous studies have demonstrated a symbiotic relationship between intestinal bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in maintaining homeostatic functions of the intestine. However, whether enteric bacteria play a role in DOXO-induced damage is not well understood. We hypothesized that enteric bacteria are necessary for induction of apoptosis and damage associated with DOXO treatment. Conventionally raised (CONV) and germ free (GF) mice were given a single injection of DOXO, and intestinal tissue was collected at 6, 72, and 120 h after treatment and from no treatment (0 h) controls. Histology and morphometric analyses quantified apoptosis, mitosis, crypt depth, villus height, and crypt density. Immunostaining for muc2 and lysozyme evaluated Paneth cells, goblet cells or dual stained intermediate cells. DOXO administration induced significant increases in apoptosis in jejunal epithelium regardless of the presence of enteric bacteria; however, the resulting injury, as demonstrated by statistically significant changes in crypt depth, crypt number, and proliferative cell number, was dependent upon the presence of enteric bacteria. Furthermore, we observed expansion of Paneth and goblet cells and presence of intermediate cells only in CONV and not GF mice. These findings provide evidence that manipulation and/or depletion of the enteric microbiota may have clinical significance in limiting chemotherapy-induced mucositis.}, } @article {pmid27456042, year = {2016}, author = {Li, T and Sun, Y and Ruan, Y and Xu, L and Hu, Y and Hao, Z and Zhang, X and Li, H and Wang, Y and Yang, L and Chen, B}, title = {Potential role of D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase and 14-3-3 genes in the crosstalk between Zea mays and Rhizophagus intraradices under drought stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {879-893}, pmid = {27456042}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {14-3-3 Proteins/*metabolism ; Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Intramolecular Lyases/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Water/*metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is known to stimulate plant drought tolerance. However, the mechanisms underlying the synergistic responses of the symbiotic partners to drought stress are largely unknown. A split-root experiment was designed to investigate the molecular interactions between a host plant and an AM fungus (AMF) under drought stress. In the two-compartment cultivation system, an entire or only a half root system of a maize plant was inoculated with an AMF, Rhizophagus intraradices, in the presence of localized or systemic drought treatment. Plant physiological parameters including growth, water status, and phosphorus concentration, and the expression of drought tolerance-related genes in both roots and R. intraradices were recorded. Although mycorrhizal inoculation in either one or both compartments systemically decreased abscisic acid (ABA) content in the whole root system subjected to systemic or local drought stress, we observed local and/or systemic AM effects on root physiological traits and the expression of functional genes in both roots and R. intraradices. Interestingly, the simultaneous increase in the expression of plant genes encoding D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (IPS) and 14-3-3-like protein GF14 (14-3GF), which were responsible for ABA signal transduction, was found to be involved in the activation of 14-3-3 protein and aquaporins (GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2) in R. intraradices. These findings suggest that coexpression of IPS and 14-3GF is responsible for the crosstalk between maize and R. intraradices under drought stress, and potentially induces the synergistic actions of the symbiotic partners in enhancing plant drought tolerance.}, } @article {pmid27455975, year = {2017}, author = {Silva, FAC and de Sousa Oliveira, M and de Souza, JM and Martins, PGS and Pestana-Calsa, MC and Junior, TC}, title = {Plant Proteomics and Peptidomics in Host-Pathogen Interactions: The Weapons Used by Each Side.}, journal = {Current protein & peptide science}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {400-410}, doi = {10.2174/1389203717666160724192305}, pmid = {27455975}, issn = {1875-5550}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/biosynthesis/genetics/*immunology ; Bacteria/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Disease Resistance/*genetics ; Fungi/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/immunology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/genetics/*immunology ; Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*immunology ; Plants/*genetics/immunology/microbiology/virology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Proteomics/methods ; Sesquiterpenes/immunology/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological/genetics/immunology ; Viruses/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Phytoalexins ; }, abstract = {Environmental biotic stress factors act continuously on plants, through multiple molecular interactions that eventually lead to the establishment and progress of symbiotic or pathogenic complex interactions. Proteins and peptides play noteworthy roles in such biological processes, usually being the main effectors since the initial recognizing and elicitor functions until the following transduction, gene regulation and physiological responses activities. Ranging from specific regulators to direct antimicrobial agents, plant or pathogen proteins and peptides comprise the arsenal available to each side in this biological war, resulting from the genetic coding potential inherited by each one. Post-translational research tools have widely contributed with valuable information on how the plant proteome works to achieve, maintain and adjust plant immunity in order to properly cope with the challenging pathogenic derived proteomes. These key proteins and peptides have great biotechnological potential since they represent distinctive features of each pathogen group (fungi, bacteria, viruses and other) in response to molecules of defense of host plants.}, } @article {pmid27454159, year = {2016}, author = {Prudent, M and Salon, C and Smith, DL and Emery, RJ}, title = {Nod factor supply under water stress conditions modulates cytokinin biosynthesis and enhances nodule formation and N nutrition in soybean.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e1212799}, pmid = {27454159}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*biosynthesis ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/physiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nod factors (NF) are molecules produced by rhizobia which are involved in the N2-fixing symbiosis with legume plants, enabling the formation of specific organs called nodules. Under drought conditions, nitrogen acquisition by N2-fixation is depressed, resulting in low legume productivity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of NF supply on nitrogen acquisition and on cytokinin biosynthesis of soybean plants grown under drought. NF supply to water stressed soybeans increased the CK content of all organs. The profile of CK metabolites also shifted from t-Z to cis-Z and an accumulation of nucleotide and glucoside conjugates. The changes in CK coincided with enhanced nodule formation with sustained nodule specific activity, which ultimately increased the total nitrogen fixed by the plant.}, } @article {pmid27453319, year = {2016}, author = {Baraúna, AC and Rouws, LFM and Simoes-Araujo, JL and Dos Reis Junior, FB and Iannetta, PPM and Maluk, M and Goi, SR and Reis, VM and James, EK and Zilli, JE}, title = {Rhizobium altiplani sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules on Mimosa pudica growing in untypically alkaline soil in central Brazil.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {10}, pages = {4118-4124}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.001322}, pmid = {27453319}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule bacteria were isolated from nodules on Mimosa pudica L. growing in neutral-alkaline soils from the Distrito Federal in central Brazil. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of 10 strains placed them into the genus Rhizobium with the closest neighbouring species (each with 99 % similarity) being Rhizobium grahamii, Rhizobium cauense, Rhizobium mesoamericanum and Rhizobium tibeticum. This high similarity, however, was not confirmed by multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) using three housekeeping genes (recA, glnII and rpoB), which revealed R. mesoamericanum CCGE 501T to be the closest type strain (92 % sequence similarity or less). Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles [with majority being C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c)], DNA G+C content (57.6 mol%), and carbon compound utilization patterns supported the placement of the novel strains in the genus Rhizobium. Results of average nucleotide identity (ANI) differentiated the novel strains from the closest species of the genus Rhizobium, R. mesoamericanum, R. grahamii and R. tibeticum with 89.0, 88.1 and 87.8 % similarity, respectively. The symbiotic genes essential for nodulation (nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) were most similar (99-100 %) to those of R. mesoamericanum, another Mimosa-nodulating species. Based on the current data, these 10 strains represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium for which the name Rhizobium altiplani sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BR 10423T (=HAMBI 3664T).}, } @article {pmid27452163, year = {2016}, author = {Uria, AR and Zilda, DS}, title = {Metagenomics-Guided Mining of Commercially Useful Biocatalysts from Marine Microorganisms.}, journal = {Advances in food and nutrition research}, volume = {78}, number = {}, pages = {1-26}, doi = {10.1016/bs.afnr.2016.05.001}, pmid = {27452163}, issn = {1043-4526}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/enzymology/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Enzymes/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Gene Library ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; *Metagenomics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {Marine microorganisms are a rich reservoir of highly diverse and unique biocatalysts that offer potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, fuel, and cosmetic industries. The fact that only less than 1% of microbes in any marine habitats can be cultured under standard laboratory conditions has hampered access to their extraordinary biocatalytic potential. Metagenomics has recently emerged as a powerful and well-established tool to investigate the vast majority of hidden uncultured microbial diversity for the discovery of novel industrially relevant enzymes from different types of environmental samples, such as seawater, marine sediment, and symbiotic microbial consortia. We discuss here in this review about approaches and methods in metagenomics that have been used and can potentially be used to mine commercially useful biocatalysts from uncultured marine microbes.}, } @article {pmid27451987, year = {2016}, author = {Hynson, NA and Schiebold, JM and Gebauer, G}, title = {Plant family identity distinguishes patterns of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope abundance and nitrogen concentration in mycoheterotrophic plants associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {118}, number = {3}, pages = {467-479}, pmid = {27451987}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Ericaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Orchidaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mycoheterotrophy entails plants meeting all or a portion of their carbon (C) demands via symbiotic interactions with root-inhabiting mycorrhizal fungi. Ecophysiological traits of mycoheterotrophs, such as their C stable isotope abundances, strongly correlate with the degree of species' dependency on fungal C gains relative to C gains via photosynthesis. Less explored is the relationship between plant evolutionary history and mycoheterotrophic plant ecophysiology. We hypothesized that the C and nitrogen (N) stable isotope compositions, and N concentrations of fully and partially mycoheterotrophic species differentiate them from autotrophs, and that plant family identity would be an additional and significant explanatory factor for differences in these traits among species. We focused on mycoheterotrophic species that associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi from plant families Ericaceae and Orchidaceae.

METHODS: Published and unpublished data were compiled on the N concentrations, C and N stable isotope abundances (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) of fully (n = 18) and partially (n = 22) mycoheterotrophic species from each plant family as well as corresponding autotrophic reference species (n = 156). These data were used to calculate site-independent C and N stable isotope enrichment factors (ε). Then we tested for differences in N concentration, (13)C and (15)N enrichment among plant families and trophic strategies.

KEY RESULTS: We found that in addition to differentiating partially and fully mycoheterotrophic species from each other and from autotrophs, C and N stable isotope enrichment also differentiates plant species based on familial identity. Differences in N concentrations clustered at the plant family level rather than the degree of dependency on mycoheterotrophy.

CONCLUSIONS: We posit that differences in stable isotope composition and N concentrations are related to plant family-specific physiological interactions with fungi and their environments.}, } @article {pmid27451897, year = {2016}, author = {Carter, AM and Tegeder, M}, title = {Increasing Nitrogen Fixation and Seed Development in Soybean Requires Complex Adjustments of Nodule Nitrogen Metabolism and Partitioning Processes.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {15}, pages = {2044-2051}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.003}, pmid = {27451897}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Seeds/*growth & development/metabolism ; Soybeans/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes are able to access atmospheric di-nitrogen (N2) through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia that reside within root nodules. In soybean, following N2 fixation by the bacteroids, ammonia is finally reduced in uninfected cells to allantoin and allantoic acid [1]. These ureides present the primary long-distance transport forms of nitrogen (N), and are exported from nodules via the xylem for shoot N supply. Transport of allantoin and allantoic acid out of nodules requires the function of ureide permeases (UPS1) located in cells adjacent to the vasculature [2, 3]. We expressed a common bean UPS1 transporter in cortex and endodermis cells of soybean nodules and found that delivery of N from nodules to shoot, as well as seed set, was significantly increased. In addition, the number of transgenic nodules was increased and symbiotic N2 fixation per nodule was elevated, indicating that transporter function in nodule N export is a limiting step in bacterial N acquisition. Further, the transgenic nodules showed considerable increases in nodule N assimilation, ureide synthesis, and metabolite levels. This suggests complex adjustments of nodule N metabolism and partitioning processes in support of symbiotic N2 fixation. We propose that the transgenic UPS1 plants display metabolic and allocation plasticity to overcome N2 fixation and seed yield limitations. Overall, it is demonstrated that transporter function in N export from nodules is a key step for enhancing atmospheric N2 fixation and nodule function and for improving shoot N nutrition and seed development in legumes.}, } @article {pmid27450523, year = {2016}, author = {Hermanovská, L and Bardoň, J and Čermák, P}, title = {[Vancomycin-resistant enterococci - the nature of resistance and risk of transmission from animals to humans].}, journal = {Klinicka mikrobiologie a infekcni lekarstvi}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {54-60}, pmid = {27450523}, issn = {1211-264X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle/microbiology ; Czech Republic ; Disease Reservoirs ; Humans ; Risk ; Swine/microbiology ; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Enterococci are part of the normal intestinal flora of humans and animals. Under certain circumstances, they are capable of extraintestinal conversion to opportunistic pathogens. They cause endogenous as well as exogenous community and nosocomial infections. The gastrointestinal tract of mammals provides them with favorable conditions for acquisition and spread of resistance genes, for example to vancomycin (van), from other symbiotic bacteria. Thus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) become potential reservoirs and vectors of the van genes. Their occurrence in the population of the Czech Republic was first reported by Kolář et al. in 1997. Some variants of the vanA gene cluster carried on Tn1546 which encode resistance to vancomycin are identical in humans and in animals. It means that animals, especially cattle, poultry and pigs, could be an important reservoir of VRE for humans. Kolář and Bardoň detected VRE in animals in the Czech Republic for the first time in 2000. In Europe, the glycopeptide antibiotic avoparcin, used as a growth stimulator, is responsible for selection of VRE strains in animals. Strains of Enterococcus faecium from animals may offer genes of antimicrobial resistance to other enterococci or they can be directly dangerous to human. This is demonstrated by finding isolates of E. faecalis from human patients and from pigs having very similar profiles of resistance and virulence genes. The goal of the paper was to point out the similarity between isolates of human and animal strains of enterococci resistant to vancomycin, and the possibility of their bilateral transfer between humans and animals.}, } @article {pmid27450336, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhang, CH and Lin, MM and Ge, Y}, title = {A symbiotic bacterium differentially influences arsenate absorption and transformation in Dunaliella salina under different phosphate regimes.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {318}, number = {}, pages = {443-451}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.07.031}, pmid = {27450336}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Alteromonas/chemistry/*metabolism ; Arsenates/*metabolism/toxicity ; Biotransformation ; Chlorophyta/classification/drug effects/*metabolism ; Culture Media ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, we investigated the effects of a symbiotic bacterium and phosphate (PO4(3-)) nutrition on the toxicity and metabolism of arsenate (As(V)) in Dunaliella salina. The bacterium was identified as Alteromonas macleodii based on analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence. When no As(V) was added, A. macleodii significantly enhanced the growth of D. salina, irrespective of PO4(3-) nutrition levels, but this effect was reversed after As(V)+PO4(3-) treatment (1.12mgL(-1)) for 3 days. Arsenic (As) absorption by the non-axenic D. salina was significantly higher than that by its axenic counterpart during incubation with 1.12mgL(-1) PO4(3-). However, when the culture was treated with 0.112mgL(-1) PO4(3-), As(V) reduction and its subsequent arsenite (As(III)) excretion by non-axenic D. salina were remarkably enhanced, which, in turn, contributed to lower As absorption in non-axenic algal cells from days 7 to 9. Moreover, dimethylarsinic acid was synthesized by D. salina alone, and the rates of its production and excretion were accelerated when the PO4(3-) concentration was 0.112mgL(-1). Our data demonstrate that A. macleodii strongly affected As toxicity, uptake, and speciation in D. salina, and these impacts were mediated by PO4(3-) in the cultures.}, } @article {pmid27450244, year = {2016}, author = {Zhao, Y and Wang, S and Zhou, C}, title = {Understanding the relation between urbanization and the eco-environment in China's Yangtze River Delta using an improved EKC model and coupling analysis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {571}, number = {}, pages = {862-875}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.067}, pmid = {27450244}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Better understanding the relationship between urbanization (U) and the eco-environment (E) is necessary to coordinate the development of them. Using a comprehensive index system for U and E with statistic data, and an improved environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model and dynamic coordination coupling degree (CCD) model, this study addressed the relationship between U and E in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in the period 1980-2013. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) Economic urbanization and eco-environment endowment were the highest weighted factors in the U and E system respectively, and thus constitute the key factors. (2) Differentiated inverted-U curves were shown to exist in the relation between U and E across the cities studied, thereby confirming the improved EKC hypothesis. We further found economically developed areas to have higher urbanization levels than less developed areas at the point at which the curve inflects, less developed areas have higher eco-environmental pressure at inflection. Before the appearance of the inflection point, a striking positive correlation was observed between eco-environmental pressure and the urbanization level, while a negative correlation was found to follow it. (3) A dynamic coordination coupling relation was found to exist between U and E, which conforms to an S-shaped curve. The coordination coupling process in the YRD has gradually moved from a "low-grade symbiosis" stage into a "break-in development" stage, but the pattern of coordination belonging to the eco-environment part of the relation was found to always show some lag. The dynamic CCD model showed a difference in the spatial distribution of CCD, presenting higher values in the periphery of the region, and lower values in the center during the study period. The improved EKC and coupling analysis detailed in this study may help Chinese decision makers to formulate sustainable measures to balance urbanization development and eco-environment protection.}, } @article {pmid27450089, year = {2016}, author = {Nasr Esfahani, M and Kusano, M and Nguyen, KH and Watanabe, Y and Ha, CV and Saito, K and Sulieman, S and Herrera-Estrella, L and Tran, LS}, title = {Adaptation of the symbiotic Mesorhizobium-chickpea relationship to phosphate deficiency relies on reprogramming of whole-plant metabolism.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {32}, pages = {E4610-9}, pmid = {27450089}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Phosphates/deficiency/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Low inorganic phosphate (Pi) availability is a major constraint for efficient nitrogen fixation in legumes, including chickpea. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in nodule acclimation to low Pi availability, two Mesorhizobium-chickpea associations exhibiting differential symbiotic performances, Mesorhizobium ciceri CP-31 (McCP-31)-chickpea and Mesorhizobium mediterranum SWRI9 (MmSWRI9)-chickpea, were comprehensively studied under both control and low Pi conditions. MmSWRI9-chickpea showed a lower symbiotic efficiency under low Pi availability than McCP-31-chickpea as evidenced by reduced growth parameters and down-regulation of nifD and nifK These differences can be attributed to decline in Pi level in MmSWRI9-induced nodules under low Pi stress, which coincided with up-regulation of several key Pi starvation-responsive genes, and accumulation of asparagine in nodules and the levels of identified amino acids in Pi-deficient leaves of MmSWRI9-inoculated plants exceeding the shoot nitrogen requirement during Pi starvation, indicative of nitrogen feedback inhibition. Conversely, Pi levels increased in nodules of Pi-stressed McCP-31-inoculated plants, because these plants evolved various metabolic and biochemical strategies to maintain nodular Pi homeostasis under Pi deficiency. These adaptations involve the activation of alternative pathways of carbon metabolism, enhanced production and exudation of organic acids from roots into the rhizosphere, and the ability to protect nodule metabolism against Pi deficiency-induced oxidative stress. Collectively, the adaptation of symbiotic efficiency under Pi deficiency resulted from highly coordinated processes with an extensive reprogramming of whole-plant metabolism. The findings of this study will enable us to design effective breeding and genetic engineering strategies to enhance symbiotic efficiency in legume crops.}, } @article {pmid27449598, year = {2016}, author = {Hwang, IY and Koh, E and Kim, HR and Yew, WS and Chang, MW}, title = {Reprogrammable microbial cell-based therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.}, journal = {Drug resistance updates : reviews and commentaries in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy}, volume = {27}, number = {}, pages = {59-71}, doi = {10.1016/j.drup.2016.06.002}, pmid = {27449598}, issn = {1532-2084}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/biosynthesis/*therapeutic use ; Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology/pathology/*therapy ; Bacteriophages/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Engineering/*methods ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/pathology/*therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The discovery of antimicrobial drugs and their subsequent use has offered an effective treatment option for bacterial infections, reducing morbidity and mortality over the past 60 years. However, the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in the clinical, community and agricultural settings has resulted in selection for multidrug-resistant bacteria, which has led to the prediction of possible re-entrance to the pre-antibiotic era. The situation is further exacerbated by significantly reduced antimicrobial drug discovery efforts by large pharmaceutical companies, resulting in a steady decline in the number of new antimicrobial agents brought to the market in the past several decades. Consequently, there is a pressing need for new antimicrobial therapies that can be readily designed and implemented. Recently, it has become clear that the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics can lead to collateral damage to the human commensal microbiota, which plays several key roles in host health. Advances in genetic engineering have opened the possibility of reprogramming commensal bacteria that are in symbiotic existence throughout the human body to implement antimicrobial drugs with high versatility and efficacy against pathogenic bacteria. In this review, we discuss recent advances and potentialities of engineered bacteria in providing a novel antimicrobial strategy against antibiotic resistance.}, } @article {pmid27446814, year = {2016}, author = {Cenci, U and Ducatez, M and Kadouche, D and Colleoni, C and Ball, SG}, title = {Was the Chlamydial Adaptative Strategy to Tryptophan Starvation an Early Determinant of Plastid Endosymbiosis?.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {67}, pmid = {27446814}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Chlamydia/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Plants/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Plastids/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tryptophan/biosynthesis/*deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chlamydiales were recently proposed to have sheltered the future cyanobacterial ancestor of plastids in a common inclusion. The intracellular pathogens are thought to have donated those critical transporters that triggered the efflux of photosynthetic carbon and the consequent onset of symbiosis. Chlamydiales are also suspected to have encoded glycogen metabolism TTS (Type Three Secretion) effectors responsible for photosynthetic carbon assimilation in the eukaryotic cytosol. We now review the reasons underlying other chlamydial lateral gene transfers evidenced in the descendants of plastid endosymbiosis. In particular we show that half of the genes encoding enzymes of tryptophan synthesis in Archaeplastida are of chlamydial origin. Tryptophan concentration is an essential cue triggering two alternative modes of replication in Chlamydiales. In addition, sophisticated tryptophan starvation mechanisms are known to act as antibacterial defenses in animal hosts. We propose that Chlamydiales have donated their tryptophan operon to the emerging plastid to ensure increased synthesis of tryptophan by the plastid ancestor. This would have allowed massive expression of the tryptophan rich chlamydial transporters responsible for symbiosis. It would also have allowed possible export of this valuable amino-acid in the inclusion of the tryptophan hungry pathogens. Free-living single cell cyanobacteria are devoid of proteins able to transport this amino-acid. We therefore investigated the phylogeny of the Tyr/Trp transporters homologous to E. coli TyrP/Mre and found yet another LGT from Chlamydiales to Archaeplastida thereby considerably strengthening our proposal.}, } @article {pmid27446142, year = {2016}, author = {Schott, S and Valdebenito, B and Bustos, D and Gomez-Porras, JL and Sharma, T and Dreyer, I}, title = {Cooperation through Competition-Dynamics and Microeconomics of a Minimal Nutrient Trade System in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {912}, pmid = {27446142}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, fungi and plants exchange nutrients (sugars and phosphate, for instance) for reciprocal benefit. Until now it is not clear how this nutrient exchange system works. Here, we used computational cell biology to simulate the dynamics of a network of proton pumps and proton-coupled transporters that are upregulated during AM formation. We show that this minimal network is sufficient to describe accurately and realistically the nutrient trade system. By applying basic principles of microeconomics, we link the biophysics of transmembrane nutrient transport with the ecology of organismic interactions and straightforwardly explain macroscopic scenarios of the relations between plant and AM fungus. This computational cell biology study allows drawing far reaching hypotheses about the mechanism and the regulation of nutrient exchange and proposes that the "cooperation" between plant and fungus can be in fact the result of a competition between both for the same resources in the tiny periarbuscular space. The minimal model presented here may serve as benchmark to evaluate in future the performance of more complex models of AM nutrient exchange. As a first step toward this goal, we included SWEET sugar transporters in the model and show that their co-occurrence with proton-coupled sugar transporters results in a futile carbon cycle at the plant plasma membrane proposing that two different pathways for the same substrate should not be active at the same time.}, } @article {pmid27446031, year = {2016}, author = {Egan, S and Gardiner, M}, title = {Microbial Dysbiosis: Rethinking Disease in Marine Ecosystems.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {991}, pmid = {27446031}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {With growing environmental pressures placed on our marine habitats there is concern that the prevalence and severity of diseases affecting marine organisms will increase. Yet relative to terrestrial systems, we know little about the underlying causes of many of these diseases. Moreover, factors such as saprophytic colonizers and a lack of baseline data on healthy individuals make it difficult to accurately assess the role of specific microbial pathogens in disease states. Emerging evidence in the field of medicine suggests that a growing number of human diseases result from a microbiome imbalance (or dysbiosis), questioning the traditional view of a singular pathogenic agent. Here we discuss the possibility that many diseases seen in marine systems are, similarly, the result of microbial dysbiosis and the rise of opportunistic or polymicrobial infections. Thus, understanding and managing disease in the future will require us to also rethink definitions of disease and pathogenesis for marine systems. We suggest that a targeted, multidisciplinary approach that addresses the questions of microbial symbiosis in both healthy and diseased states, and at that the level of the holobiont, will be key to progress in this area.}, } @article {pmid27445309, year = {2016}, author = {Spribille, T and Tuovinen, V and Resl, P and Vanderpool, D and Wolinski, H and Aime, MC and Schneider, K and Stabentheiner, E and Toome-Heller, M and Thor, G and Mayrhofer, H and Johannesson, H and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Basidiomycete yeasts in the cortex of ascomycete macrolichens.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {353}, number = {6298}, pages = {488-492}, pmid = {27445309}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {P 25237/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For over 140 years, lichens have been regarded as a symbiosis between a single fungus, usually an ascomycete, and a photosynthesizing partner. Other fungi have long been known to occur as occasional parasites or endophytes, but the one lichen-one fungus paradigm has seldom been questioned. Here we show that many common lichens are composed of the known ascomycete, the photosynthesizing partner, and, unexpectedly, specific basidiomycete yeasts. These yeasts are embedded in the cortex, and their abundance correlates with previously unexplained variations in phenotype. Basidiomycete lineages maintain close associations with specific lichen species over large geographical distances and have been found on six continents. The structurally important lichen cortex, long treated as a zone of differentiated ascomycete cells, appears to consistently contain two unrelated fungi.}, } @article {pmid27443280, year = {2016}, author = {Fukudome, M and Calvo-Begueria, L and Kado, T and Osuki, K and Rubio, MC and Murakami, E and Nagata, M and Kucho, K and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J and Becana, M and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Hemoglobin LjGlb1-1 is involved in nodulation and regulates the level of nitric oxide in the Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium loti symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {17}, pages = {5275-5283}, pmid = {27443280}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Hemoglobins/metabolism/*physiology ; Lotus/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Leghemoglobins transport and deliver O2 to the symbiosomes inside legume nodules and are essential for nitrogen fixation. However, the roles of other hemoglobins (Hbs) in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis are unclear. Several Lotus japonicus mutants affecting LjGlb1-1, a non-symbiotic class 1 Hb, have been used to study the function of this protein in symbiosis. Two TILLING alleles with single amino acid substitutions (A102V and E127K) and a LORE1 null allele with a retrotransposon insertion in the 5'-untranslated region (96642) were selected for phenotyping nodulation. Plants of all three mutant lines showed a decrease in long infection threads and nodules, and an increase in incipient infection threads. About 4h after inoculation, the roots of mutant plants exhibited a greater transient accumulation of nitric oxide (NO) than did the wild-type roots; nevertheless, in vitro NO dioxygenase activities of the wild-type, A102V, and E127K proteins were similar, suggesting that the mutated proteins are not fully functional in vivo The expression of LjGlb1-1, but not of the other class 1 Hb of L. japonicus (LjGlb1-2), was affected during infection of wild-type roots, further supporting a specific role for LjGlb1-1. In conclusion, the LjGlb1-1 mutants reveal that this protein is required during rhizobial infection and regulates NO levels.}, } @article {pmid27436133, year = {2016}, author = {Nygaard, S and Hu, H and Li, C and Schiøtt, M and Chen, Z and Yang, Z and Xie, Q and Ma, C and Deng, Y and Dikow, RB and Rabeling, C and Nash, DR and Wcislo, WT and Brady, SG and Schultz, TR and Zhang, G and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Reciprocal genomic evolution in the ant-fungus agricultural symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12233}, pmid = {27436133}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Animals ; Ants/*genetics ; Calibration ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Chitin/metabolism ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; Domestication ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/*genetics ; *Genome ; Genome, Insect ; Genome, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The attine ant-fungus agricultural symbiosis evolved over tens of millions of years, producing complex societies with industrial-scale farming analogous to that of humans. Here we document reciprocal shifts in the genomes and transcriptomes of seven fungus-farming ant species and their fungal cultivars. We show that ant subsistence farming probably originated in the early Tertiary (55-60 MYA), followed by further transitions to the farming of fully domesticated cultivars and leaf-cutting, both arising earlier than previously estimated. Evolutionary modifications in the ants include unprecedented rates of genome-wide structural rearrangement, early loss of arginine biosynthesis and positive selection on chitinase pathways. Modifications of fungal cultivars include loss of a key ligninase domain, changes in chitin synthesis and a reduction in carbohydrate-degrading enzymes as the ants gradually transitioned to functional herbivory. In contrast to human farming, increasing dependence on a single cultivar lineage appears to have been essential to the origin of industrial-scale ant agriculture.}, } @article {pmid27436119, year = {2016}, author = {Weinstein, SB and Kuris, AM}, title = {Independent origins of parasitism in Animalia.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {27436119}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Parasites/*classification ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nearly half of all animals may have a parasitic lifestyle, yet the number of transitions to parasitism and their potential for species diversification remain unresolved. Based on a comprehensive survey of the animal kingdom, we find that parasitism has independently evolved at least 223 times in just 15 phyla, with the majority of identified independent parasitic groups occurring in the Arthropoda, at or below the level of Family. Metazoan parasitology is dominated by the study of helminthes; however, only 20% of independently derived parasite taxa belong to those groups, with numerous transitions also seen in Mollusca, Rotifera, Annelida and Cnidaria. Parasitism is almost entirely absent from deuterostomes, and although worm-like morphology and host associations are widespread across Animalia, the dual symbiotic and trophic interactions required for parasitism may constrain its evolution from antecedent consumer strategies such as generalist predators and filter feeders. In general, parasitic groups do not differ from their free-living relatives in their potential for speciation. However, the 10 largest parasitic clades contain 90% of described parasitic species, or perhaps 40% of all animal species. Hence, a substantial fraction of animal diversity on the Earth arose following these few transitions to a parasitic trophic strategy.}, } @article {pmid27436081, year = {2016}, author = {Lee, L and Zhang, Y and Ozar, B and Sensen, CW and Schriemer, DC}, title = {Carnivorous Nutrition in Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes spp.) via an Unusual Complement of Endogenous Enzymes.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {3108-3117}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00224}, pmid = {27436081}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Digestion ; Enzymes/analysis ; Feeding Behavior ; Gene Library ; Insecta/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Proteins/analysis/metabolism ; Proteome/analysis ; Sarraceniaceae/*enzymology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants belonging to the genus Nepenthes are carnivorous, using specialized pitfall traps called "pitchers" that attract, capture, and digest insects as a primary source of nutrients. We have used RNA sequencing to generate a cDNA library from the Nepenthes pitchers and applied it to mass spectrometry-based identification of the enzymes secreted into the pitcher fluid using a nonspecific digestion strategy superior to trypsin in this application. This first complete catalog of the pitcher fluid subproteome includes enzymes across a variety of functional classes. The most abundant proteins present in the secreted fluid are proteases, nucleases, peroxidases, chitinases, a phosphatase, and a glucanase. Nitrogen recovery involves a particularly rich complement of proteases. In addition to the two expected aspartic proteases, we discovered three novel nepenthensins, two prolyl endopeptidases that we name neprosins, and a putative serine carboxypeptidase. Additional proteins identified are relevant to pathogen-defense and secretion mechanisms. The full complement of acid-stable enzymes discovered in this study suggests that carnivory in the genus Nepenthes can be sustained by plant-based mechanisms alone and does not absolutely require bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27435342, year = {2016}, author = {Rasmussen, SR and Füchtbauer, W and Novero, M and Volpe, V and Malkov, N and Genre, A and Bonfante, P and Stougaard, J and Radutoiu, S}, title = {Intraradical colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi triggers induction of a lipochitooligosaccharide receptor.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {29733}, pmid = {27435342}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Functional divergence of paralogs following gene duplication is one of the mechanisms leading to evolution of novel pathways and traits. Here we show that divergence of Lys11 and Nfr5 LysM receptor kinase paralogs of Lotus japonicus has affected their specificity for lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) decorations, while the innate capacity to recognize and induce a downstream signalling after perception of rhizobial LCOs (Nod factors) was maintained. Regardless of this conserved ability, Lys11 was found neither expressed, nor essential during nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, providing an explanation for the determinant role of Nfr5 gene during Lotus-rhizobia interaction. Lys11 was expressed in root cortex cells associated with intraradical colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Detailed analyses of lys11 single and nfr1nfr5lys11 triple mutants revealed a functional arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, indicating that Lys11 alone, or its possible shared function with the Nod factor receptors is not essential for the presymbiotic phases of AM symbiosis. Hence, both subfunctionalization and specialization appear to have shaped the function of these paralogs where Lys11 acts as an AM-inducible gene, possibly to fine-tune later stages of this interaction.}, } @article {pmid27435022, year = {2016}, author = {Strauss, LV}, title = {From pilot fish to analyst: Finding a path between symbiotic and autistic defences.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {97}, number = {6}, pages = {1521-1545}, doi = {10.1111/1745-8315.12545}, pmid = {27435022}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Adult ; Autistic Disorder/*psychology ; *Defense Mechanisms ; Humans ; Male ; *Professional-Patient Relations ; Psychoanalytic Therapy/*methods ; }, abstract = {This paper presents the clinical case of a patient with autistic features. One of the main difficulties in his treatment was the particular rapid rhythm of his projections, introjections and re-projections that constrained the analyst's capacity for reverie and hindered the use of effective projective identification processes. These alternating defensive constellations lead either to an expelling autistic barrier or to an engulfing symbiotic fusion. Their combination can be seen as the expression of a defence against an unintegrated and undifferentiated early experience of self that was in this way kept at bay to prevent it from invading his whole personality. Maintaining the symbiotic link, in which I kept included by staying partially fused to what was being projected and using my analytic function in a reduced way, helped to relate to what was in the patient's inside. Leaving this symbiotic link let my interpretations appear to 'force' their way through the autistic barrier. Yet as the process developed they allowed to show the patient how he ejected me and what was happening in his inside, behind his autistic barrier. So I found myself on the one hand accepting the symbiotic immobilization and on the other hand interpreting in a way that seemed forced to the patient, because it implied a breaking of the symbiotic position. The inordinate speed of projections and introjections could thus be interrupted, creating a space for awareness, reflection and transformation, and allowed the emergence of a connection between the patient's inside and outside. In the course of treatment I realized that this kind of dual defence system has been described by the late Argentinian analyst José Bleger. He assumes the existence of an early "agglutinated nucleus" that is held together by a psychic structure he calls the "glischro-caric" position, in which projective identification cannot take place because there is no self/object differentiation. I have considered the rapid and fugitive use of projection and re-introjection I met in my patient to be a manifestation of the dual defence system Bleger describes. Although he does not specifically mention this particular vicissitude of operative defences he does give hints about a rhythm in the patients' projections and introjections.}, } @article {pmid27433154, year = {2016}, author = {Ivarsson, M and Schnürer, A and Bengtson, S and Neubeck, A}, title = {Anaerobic Fungi: A Potential Source of Biological H2 in the Oceanic Crust.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {674}, pmid = {27433154}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The recent recognition of fungi in the oceanic igneous crust challenges the understanding of this environment as being exclusively prokaryotic and forces reconsiderations of the ecology of the deep biosphere. Anoxic provinces in the igneous crust are abundant and increase with age and depth of the crust. The presence of anaerobic fungi in deep-sea sediments and on the seafloor introduces a type of organism with attributes of geobiological significance not previously accounted for. Anaerobic fungi are best known from the rumen of herbivores where they produce molecular hydrogen, which in turn stimulates the growth of methanogens. The symbiotic cooperation between anaerobic fungi and methanogens in the rumen enhance the metabolic rate and growth of both. Methanogens and other hydrogen-consuming anaerobic archaea are known from subseafloor basalt; however, the abiotic production of hydrogen is questioned to be sufficient to support such communities. Alternatively, biologically produced hydrogen could serve as a continuous source. Here, we propose anaerobic fungi as a source of bioavailable hydrogen in the oceanic crust, and a close interplay between anaerobic fungi and hydrogen-driven prokaryotes.}, } @article {pmid27433078, year = {2016}, author = {Agrawal, B and Kumar, R}, title = {Symbiotic chemo- and immuno-therapy for hepatitis B and C viruses.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {22}, number = {25}, pages = {5623-5626}, pmid = {27433078}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hepacivirus/drug effects ; Hepatitis B virus/drug effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Virus Replication/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV), both cause serious chronic infections leading to fatal liver diseases. The prototype therapy for both HBV and HCV was based on IFN-α with or without ribavirin. The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for both HBV and HCV has remarkably improved the standard of treatment for both infections. While HCV can be eliminated following combination DAA therapy, HBV persists even after treatment, requiring life-long therapy with DAAs. Treatment with DAAs is also associated with high cost, the development of resistance and side effects. There is ample published evidence that both HBV and HCV can be eliminated from infected host cells through non-cytolytic immune mechanisms. We need to identify the mechanisms behind this successful elimination of replicating viruses and develop them into novel immunotherapeutic regimens. Moreover, a synergy of, chemo- and immuno-therapeutic strategies will be necessary to eradicate HBV or HCV from a host.}, } @article {pmid27433000, year = {2016}, author = {Caspermeyer, J}, title = {A Symbiotic Microbe's Life: Finding the Host with the Most Leads to Genomic Instability, Deletions.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {2173-2174}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msw133}, pmid = {27433000}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {*Genomic Instability ; Humans ; *Sequence Deletion ; }, } @article {pmid27432517, year = {2016}, author = {Suzuki, J and Hashino, M and Matsumoto, S and Takano, A and Kawabata, H and Takada, N and Andoh, M and Oikawa, Y and Kajita, H and Uda, A and Watanabe, K and Shimizu, T and Watarai, M}, title = {Detection of Francisella tularensis and analysis of bacterial growth in ticks in Japan.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {4}, pages = {240-246}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12616}, pmid = {27432517}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Francisella tularensis/*genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Hemolysin Proteins/genetics ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tularemia/microbiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Francisella tularensis is distributed in the Northern hemisphere and it is the bacterial agent responsible for tularaemia, a zoonotic disease. We collected 4 527 samples of DNA from ticks in Japan, which were then analysed by real-time PCR and nested PCR. Francisella DNA was detected by real-time PCR in 2·15% (45/2 093) of Ixodes ovatus, 0·66% (14/2 107) of I. persulcatus, 8·22% (6/73) of I. monospinosus and 0·72% (1/138) of Haemaphysalis flava specimens. Finally, Francisella DNA was detected by nested PCR in 42 and five samples I. ovatus and I. persulcatus, respectively, which were positive according to real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequence from I. ovatus and I. persulcatus were clustered with F. tularensis type B strains distributed in Eurasia. Microinjected live F. tularensis persisted in ticks, whereas heat-killed F. tularensis decreased. Microinjected F. tularensis hlyD mutant decreased in ticks significantly compared to parent strain, thereby suggesting that HlyD in F. tularensis contributes to the adaptation or survive of bacterial infection in ticks.

Francisella tularensis has been detected in ticks, suggesting that it is a tick-borne pathogen. However, F. tularensis has not been detected in ticks in Japan since 1991. In this study, we performed a large-scale analysis of DNA isolated from ticks in Japan and detected F. tularensis by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR. We found that F. tularensis could survive in ticks based on an experimental tick-infection model. We also identified a bacterial factor that contributes to survival in ticks. Our results suggest that ticks are candidate vectors that mediate F. tularensis infection in Japan.}, } @article {pmid27432285, year = {2016}, author = {Hecht, AL and Casterline, BW and Earley, ZM and Goo, YA and Goodlett, DR and Bubeck Wardenburg, J}, title = {Strain competition restricts colonization of an enteric pathogen and prevents colitis.}, journal = {EMBO reports}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {1281-1291}, pmid = {27432285}, issn = {1469-3178}, support = {P30 DK042086/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007281/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacteroides fragilis/classification/genetics ; Colitis/chemically induced/*microbiology/pathology/prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunity ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology/pathology ; Mice ; *Microbial Interactions ; }, abstract = {The microbiota is a major source of protection against intestinal pathogens; however, the specific bacteria and underlying mechanisms involved are not well understood. As a model of this interaction, we sought to determine whether colonization of the murine host with symbiotic non-toxigenic Bacteroides fragilis could limit acquisition of pathogenic enterotoxigenic B. fragilis We observed strain-specific competition with toxigenic B. fragilis, dependent upon type VI secretion, identifying an effector-immunity pair that confers pathogen exclusion. Resistance against host acquisition of a second non-toxigenic strain was also uncovered, revealing a broader function of type VI secretion systems in determining microbiota composition. The competitive exclusion of enterotoxigenic B. fragilis by a non-toxigenic strain limited toxin exposure and protected the host against intestinal inflammatory disease. Our studies demonstrate a novel role of type VI secretion systems in colonization resistance against a pathogen. This understanding of bacterial competition may be utilized to define a molecularly targeted probiotic strategy.}, } @article {pmid27431517, year = {2016}, author = {Schuster, P}, title = {Some mechanistic requirements for major transitions.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1701}, pages = {}, pmid = {27431517}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Kinetics ; *Models, Biological ; Models, Chemical ; Stochastic Processes ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Major transitions in nature and human society are accompanied by a substantial change towards higher complexity in the core of the evolving system. New features are established, novel hierarchies emerge, new regulatory mechanisms are required and so on. An obvious way to achieve higher complexity is integration of autonomous elements into new organized systems whereby the previously independent units give up their autonomy at least in part. In this contribution, we reconsider the more than 40 years old hypercycle model and analyse it by the tools of stochastic chemical kinetics. An open system is implemented in the form of a flow reactor. The formation of new dynamically organized units through integration of competitors is identified with transcritical bifurcations. In the stochastic model, the fully organized state is quasi-stationary whereas the unorganized state corresponds to a population with natural selection. The stability of the organized state depends strongly on the number of individual subspecies, n, that have to be integrated: two and three classes of individuals, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], readily form quasi-stationary states. The four-membered deterministic dynamical system, [Formula: see text], is stable but in the stochastic approach self-enhancing fluctuations drive it into extinction. In systems with five and more classes of individuals, [Formula: see text], the state of cooperation is unstable and the solutions of the deterministic ODEs exhibit large amplitude oscillations. In the stochastic system self-enhancing fluctuations lead to extinction as observed with [Formula: see text] Interestingly, cooperative systems in nature are commonly two-membered as shown by numerous examples of binary symbiosis. A few cases of symbiosis of three partners, called three-way symbiosis, have been found and were analysed within the past decade. Four-way symbiosis is rather rare but was reported to occur in fungus-growing ants. The model reported here can be used to illustrate the interplay between competition and cooperation whereby we obtain a hint on the role that resources play in major transitions. Abundance of resources seems to be an indispensable prerequisite of radical innovation that apparently needs substantial investments. Economists often claim that scarcity is driving innovation. Our model sheds some light on this apparent contradiction. In a nutshell, the answer is: scarcity drives optimization and increase in efficiency but abundance is required for radical novelty and the development of new features.This article is part of the themed issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'.}, } @article {pmid27431195, year = {2016}, author = {Okubo, T and Piromyou, P and Tittabutr, P and Teaumroong, N and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Origin and Evolution of Nitrogen Fixation Genes on Symbiosis Islands and Plasmid in Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {260-267}, pmid = {27431195}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genomic Islands ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Plasmids ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen fixation (nif) genes of nodule-forming Bradyrhizobium strains are generally located on symbiosis islands or symbiosis plasmids, suggesting that these genes have been transferred laterally. The nif genes of rhizobial and non-rhizobial Bradyrhizobium strains were compared in order to infer the evolutionary histories of nif genes. Based on all codon positions, the phylogenetic tree of concatenated nifD and nifK sequences showed that nifDK on symbiosis islands formed a different clade from nifDK on non-symbiotic loci (located outside of symbiosis islands and plasmids) with elongated branches; however, these genes were located in close proximity, when only the 1st and 2nd codon positions were analyzed. The guanine (G) and cytosine (C) content of the 3rd codon position of nifDK on symbiosis islands was lower than that on non-symbiotic loci. These results suggest that nif genes on symbiosis islands were derived from the non-symbiotic loci of Bradyrhizobium or closely related strains and have evolved toward a lower GC content with a higher substitution rate than the ancestral state. Meanwhile, nifDK on symbiosis plasmids clustered with nifDK on non-symbiotic loci in the tree representing all codon positions, and the GC content of symbiotic and non-symbiotic loci were similar. These results suggest that nif genes on symbiosis plasmids were derived from the non-symbiotic loci of Bradyrhizobium and have evolved with a similar evolutionary pattern and rate as the ancestral state.}, } @article {pmid27428292, year = {2016}, author = {Assié, A and Borowski, C and van der Heijden, K and Raggi, L and Geier, B and Leisch, N and Schimak, MP and Dubilier, N and Petersen, JM}, title = {A specific and widespread association between deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels and a novel family of Epsilonproteobacteria.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {805-813}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12442}, pmid = {27428292}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Bathymodiolus mussels dominate animal communities at many hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. Essential to the mussels' ecological and evolutionary success is their association with symbiotic methane- and sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacteria, which provide them with nutrition. In addition to these well-known gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts, we found epsilonproteobacterial sequences in metatranscriptomes, metagenomes and 16S rRNA clone libraries as well as by polymerase chain reaction screening of Bathymodiolus species sampled from vents and seeps around the world. These epsilonproteobacterial sequences were closely related, indicating that the association is highly specific. The Bathymodiolus-associated epsilonproteobacterial 16S rRNA sequences were at most 87.6% identical to the closest cultured relative, and 91.2% identical to the closest sequences in public databases. This clade therefore represents a novel family within the Epsilonproteobacteria. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy showed that the bacteria are filamentous epibionts associated with the gill epithelia in two Bathymodiolus species. In animals that host highly specific symbioses with one or a few types of endosymbionts, other less-abundant members of the microbiota can be easily overlooked. Our work highlights how widespread and specific associations with less-abundant microbes can be. Possibly, these microbes play an important role in the survival and health of their animal hosts.}, } @article {pmid27426103, year = {2016}, author = {Rother, M and Nussbaumer, MG and Renggli, K and Bruns, N}, title = {Protein cages and synthetic polymers: a fruitful symbiosis for drug delivery applications, bionanotechnology and materials science.}, journal = {Chemical Society reviews}, volume = {45}, number = {22}, pages = {6213-6249}, doi = {10.1039/c6cs00177g}, pmid = {27426103}, issn = {1460-4744}, mesh = {Drug Delivery Systems/*methods ; *Materials Science/methods ; Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; *Nanotechnology/methods ; Polymers/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Proteins/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Protein cages are hollow protein nanoparticles, such as viral capsids, virus-like particles, ferritin, heat-shock proteins and chaperonins. They have well-defined capsule-like structures with a monodisperse size. Their protein subunits can be modified by genetic engineering at predetermined positions, allowing for example site-selective introduction of attachment points for functional groups, catalysts or targeting ligands on their outer surface, in their interior and between subunits. Therefore, protein cages have been extensively explored as functional entities in bionanotechnology, as drug-delivery or gene-delivery vehicles, as nanoreactors or as templates for the synthesis of organic and inorganic nanomaterials. The scope of functionalities and applications of protein cages can be significantly broadened if they are combined with synthetic polymers on their surface or within their interior. For example, PEGylation reduces the immunogenicity of protein cage-based delivery systems and active targeting ligands can be attached via polymer chains to favour their accumulation in diseased tissue. Polymers within protein cages offer the possibility of increasing the loading density of drug molecules, nucleic acids, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents or catalysts. Moreover, the interaction of protein cages and polymers can be used to modulate the size and shape of some viral capsids to generate structures that do not occur with native viruses. Another possibility is to use the interior of polymer cages as a confined reaction space for polymerization reactions such as atom transfer radical polymerization or rhodium-catalysed polymerization of phenylacetylene. The protein nanoreactors facilitate a higher degree of control over polymer synthesis. This review will summarize the hybrid structures that have been synthesized by polymerizing from protein cage-bound initiators, by conjugating polymers to protein cages, by embedding protein cages into bulk polymeric materials, by forming two- and three-dimensional crystals of protein cages and dendrimers, by adsorbing proteins to the surface of materials, by layer-by-layer deposition of proteins and polyelectrolytes and by encapsulating polymers into protein cages. The application of these hybrid materials in the biomedical context or as tools and building blocks for bionanotechnology, biosensing, memory devices and the synthesis of materials will be highlighted. The review aims to showcase recent developments in this field and to suggest possible future directions and opportunities for the symbiosis of protein cages and polymers.}, } @article {pmid27424117, year = {2016}, author = {Chalk, PM and Lam, SK and Chen, D}, title = {(15)N methodologies for quantifying the response of N2-fixing associations to elevated [CO2]: A review.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {571}, number = {}, pages = {624-632}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.030}, pmid = {27424117}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Methodologies based on (15)N enrichment (E) and (15)N natural abundance (NA) have been used to obtain quantitative estimates of the response of biological N2 fixation (BNF) of legumes (woody, grain and forage) and actinorhizal plants grown in artificial media or in soil exposed to elevated atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide e[CO2] for extended periods of time, in growth rooms, greenhouses, open top chambers or free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) facilities. (15)N2 has also been used to quantify the response of endophytic and free-living diazotrophs to e[CO2]. The primary criterion of response was the proportional dependence of the N2-fixing system on the atmosphere as a source of N. i.e. the symbiotic dependence (Patm). The unique feature of (15)N-based methods is their ability to provide time-integrated and yield-independent estimates of Patm. In studies conducted in artificial media or in soil using the E methodology there was either no response or a positive response of Patm to e[CO2]. The interpretation of results obtained in artificial media or with (15)N2 is straight forward, not being subject to the assumptions on which the E and NA soil-cultured methods are based. A variety of methods have been used to estimate isotopic fractionation attendant on the NA technique, the so-called 'B value', which attaches a degree of uncertainty to the results obtained. Using the NA technique, a suite of responses of Patm to e[CO2] has been published, from positive to neutral to sometimes negative effects. Several factors which interact with the response of N2-fixing species to e[CO2] were identified.}, } @article {pmid27423979, year = {2016}, author = {Zheng, Y and Chen, L and Luo, CY and Zhang, ZH and Wang, SP and Guo, LD}, title = {Plant Identity Exerts Stronger Effect than Fertilization on Soil Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Sown Pasture.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {647-658}, pmid = {27423979}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biodiversity ; Biomass ; China ; DNA, Fungal/isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Ecosystem ; *Fertilizers ; Fungi/classification/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Grassland ; Hyphae/growth & development ; Manure ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Poaceae/microbiology ; Sheep ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/drug effects/growth & development ; Statistics as Topic ; Symbiosis ; Urea/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play key roles in plant nutrition and plant productivity. AM fungal responses to either plant identity or fertilization have been investigated. However, the interactive effects of different plant species and fertilizer types on these symbiotic fungi remain poorly understood. We evaluated the effects of the factorial combinations of plant identity (grasses Avena sativa and Elymus nutans and legume Vicia sativa) and fertilization (urea and sheep manure) on AM fungi following 2-year monocultures in a sown pasture field study. AM fungal extraradical hyphal density was significantly higher in E. nutans than that in A. sativa and V. sativa in the unfertilized control and was significantly increased by urea and manure in A. sativa and by manure only in E. nutans, but not by either fertilizers in V. sativa. AM fungal spore density was not significantly affected by plant identity or fertilization. Forty-eight operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of AM fungi were obtained through 454 pyrosequencing of 18S rDNA. The OTU richness and Shannon diversity index of AM fungi were significantly higher in E. nutans than those in V. sativa and/or A. sativa, but not significantly affected by any fertilizer in all of the three plant species. AM fungal community composition was significantly structured directly by plant identity only and indirectly by both urea addition and plant identity through soil total nitrogen content. Our findings highlight that plant identity has stronger influence than fertilization on belowground AM fungal community in this converted pastureland from an alpine meadow.}, } @article {pmid27423778, year = {2017}, author = {Deda, O and Chatziioannou, AC and Fasoula, S and Palachanis, D and Raikos, Ν and Theodoridis, GA and Gika, HG}, title = {Sample preparation optimization in fecal metabolic profiling.}, journal = {Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences}, volume = {1047}, number = {}, pages = {115-123}, doi = {10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.06.047}, pmid = {27423778}, issn = {1873-376X}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Feces/*chemistry ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods ; Male ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Specimen Handling/methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; }, abstract = {Metabolomic analysis of feces can provide useful insight on the metabolic status, the health/disease state of the human/animal and the symbiosis with the gut microbiome. As a result, recently there is increased interest on the application of holistic analysis of feces for biomarker discovery. For metabolomics applications, the sample preparation process used prior to the analysis of fecal samples is of high importance, as it greatly affects the obtained metabolic profile, especially since feces, as matrix are diversifying in their physicochemical characteristics and molecular content. However there is still little information in the literature and lack of a universal approach on sample treatment for fecal metabolic profiling. The scope of the present work was to study the conditions for sample preparation of rat feces with the ultimate goal of the acquisition of comprehensive metabolic profiles either untargeted by NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS or targeted by HILIC-MS/MS. A fecal sample pooled from male and female Wistar rats was extracted under various conditions by modifying the pH value, the nature of the organic solvent and the sample weight to solvent volume ratio. It was found that the 1/2 (wf/vs) ratio provided the highest number of metabolites under neutral and basic conditions in both untargeted profiling techniques. Concerning LC-MS profiles, neutral acetonitrile and propanol provided higher signals and wide metabolite coverage, though extraction efficiency is metabolite dependent.}, } @article {pmid27420027, year = {2017}, author = {Porter, SS and Chang, PL and Conow, CA and Dunham, JP and Friesen, ML}, title = {Association mapping reveals novel serpentine adaptation gene clusters in a population of symbiotic Mesorhizobium.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {248-262}, pmid = {27420027}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Chromosome Mapping ; Ecotype ; Genetic Variation ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genomics ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The genetic variants that underlie microbial environmental adaptation are key components of models of microbial diversification. Characterizing adaptive variants and the pangenomic context in which they evolve remains a frontier in understanding how microbial diversity is generated. The genomics of rhizobium adaptation to contrasting soil environments is ecologically and agriculturally important because these bacteria are responsible for half of all current biologically fixed nitrogen, yet they live the majority of their lives in soil. Our study uses whole-genome sequencing to describe the pan-genome of a focal clade of wild mesorhizobia that show contrasting levels of nickel adaptation despite high relatedness (99.8% identity at 16S). We observe ecotypic specialization within an otherwise genomically cohesive population, rather than finding distinct specialized bacterial lineages in contrasting soil types. This finding supports recent reports that heterogeneous environments impose selection that maintains differentiation only at a small fraction of the genome. Our work further uses a genome-wide association study to propose candidate genes for nickel adaptation. Several candidates show homology to genetic systems involved in nickel tolerance and one cluster of candidates correlates perfectly with soil origin, which validates our approach of ascribing genomic variation to adaptive divergence.}, } @article {pmid27417846, year = {2016}, author = {Orata, FD and Rosana, AR and Xu, Y and Simkus, DN and Bramucci, AR and Boucher, Y and Case, RJ}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Four Bacterial Strains Isolated from a Polymicrobial Culture of Naked (N-Type) Emiliania huxleyi CCMP1516.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27417846}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Strains of Sulfitobacter spp., Erythrobacter sp., and Marinobacter sp. were isolated from a polymicrobial culture of the naked (N-type) haptophyte Emiliania huxleyi strain CCMP1516. The genomes encode genes for the production of phytohormones, vitamins, and the consumption of their hosts' metabolic by-products, suggesting symbiotic interactions within this polymicrobial culture.}, } @article {pmid27417845, year = {2016}, author = {Rosana, AR and Orata, FD and Xu, Y and Simkus, DN and Bramucci, AR and Boucher, Y and Case, RJ}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Seven Bacterial Strains Isolated from a Polymicrobial Culture of Coccolith-Bearing (C-Type) Emiliania huxleyi M217.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27417845}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Strains of Rhodobacteraceae, Sphingomonadales, Alteromonadales, and Bacteroidetes were isolated from a polymicrobial culture of the coccolith-forming (C-type) haptophyte Emiliania huxleyi strain M217. The genomes encode genes for the production of algal growth factors and the consumption of their hosts' metabolic by-products, suggesting that the polymicrobial culture harbors many symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid27416027, year = {2016}, author = {Dobrijevic, D and Abraham, AL and Jamet, A and Maguin, E and van de Guchte, M}, title = {Functional Comparison of Bacteria from the Human Gut and Closely Related Non-Gut Bacteria Reveals the Importance of Conjugation and a Paucity of Motility and Chemotaxis Functions in the Gut Environment.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {e0159030}, pmid = {27416027}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/physiology ; *Chemotaxis ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The human GI tract is a complex and still poorly understood environment, inhabited by one of the densest microbial communities on earth. The gut microbiota is shaped by millennia of evolution to co-exist with the host in commensal or symbiotic relationships. Members of the gut microbiota perform specific molecular functions important in the human gut environment. This can be illustrated by the presence of a highly expanded repertoire of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, in phase with the large diversity of polysaccharides originating from the diet or from the host itself that can be encountered in this environment. In order to identify other bacterial functions that are important in the human gut environment, we investigated the distribution of functional groups of proteins in a group of human gut bacteria and their close non-gut relatives. Complementary to earlier global comparisons between different ecosystems, this approach should allow a closer focus on a group of functions directly related to the gut environment while avoiding functions related to taxonomically divergent microbiota composition, which may or may not be relevant for gut homeostasis. We identified several functions that are overrepresented in the human gut bacteria which had not been recognized in a global approach. The observed under-representation of certain other functions may be equally important for gut homeostasis. Together, these analyses provide us with new information about this environment so critical to our health and well-being.}, } @article {pmid27415413, year = {2016}, author = {Scheidegger, C}, title = {As thick as three in a bed.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {14}, pages = {3261-3263}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13710}, pmid = {27415413}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; Chlorophyta/classification ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During the evolution of the lichen symbiosis, shifts from one main type of photobiont to another were infrequent (Miadlikowska et al.) but some remarkable transitions from green algal to diazotrophic cyanobacterial photobionts are known from unrelated fungal clades within the ascomycetes. Cyanobacterial, including tripartite, associations (green algal and cyanobacterial photobionts in one lichen individual) facilitate these holobionts to live as C- and N-autotrophs. Tripartite lichens are among the most productive lichens, which provide N-fertilization to forest ecosystems under oceanic climates (Peltigerales) or deliver low, but ecologically significant N-input into subarctic and alpine soil communities (Lecanorales, Agyriales). In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Schneider et al. (2016) mapped morphometric data against an eight-locus fungal phylogeny across a transition of photobiont interactions from green algal to a tripartite association and used a phylogenetic comparative framework to explore the role of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in size differences in the Trapelia-Placopsis clade (Agyriales). Within the group of tripartite species, the volume of cyanobacteria-containing structures (cephalodia) correlates with thallus thickness in both phylogenetic generalized least squares and phylogenetic generalized linear mixed-effects analyses, and the fruiting body core volume increased ninefold. The authors conclude that cyanobacterial symbiosis appears to have enabled lichens to overcome size constraints in oligotrophic environments such as rock surfaces. The Trapelia-Placopsis clade analyzed by Schneider et al. (2016) is an exciting example of interactions between ecology, phylogeny and lichen biology including development - from thin crustose green algal microlichens to thick placodioid, tripartite macrolichens: as thick as three in a bed (Scott).}, } @article {pmid27409772, year = {2016}, author = {Martínez-García, Á and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Valdivia, E and Soler, JJ}, title = {Nest Bacterial Environment Affects Microbiome of Hoopoe Eggshells, but Not That of the Uropygial Secretion.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {e0158158}, pmid = {27409772}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Birds/*microbiology/physiology ; Cloaca/microbiology ; Egg Shell/*microbiology ; Female ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Sebaceous Glands/metabolism/microbiology ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The study of associations between symbiotic bacterial communities of hosts and those of surrounding environments would help to understand how bacterial assemblages are acquired, and how they are transmitted from one to another location (i.e. symbiotic bacteria acquisition by hosts). Hoopoes (Upupa epops) smear their eggshells with uropygial secretion (oily secretion produced in their uropygial gland) that harbors antibiotic producing bacteria. Trying to elucidate a possible role of nest material and cloaca microbiota in determining the bacterial community of the uropygial gland and the eggshells of hoopoes, we characterized bacterial communities of nest material, cloaca, uropygial gland and eggshells by the ARISA fingerprinting. Further, by adding material with scarce bacteria and antimicrobial properties, we manipulated the bacterial community of nest material and thus tested experimentally its effects on the microbiomes of the uropygial secretion and of the eggshells. The experiment did not influence the microbiome of the uropygial secretion of females, but affected the community established on eggshells. This is the first experimental evidence indicating that nest material influences the bacterial community of the eggshells and, therefore, probability of embryo infection. Some of the bacterial strains detected in the secretion were also in the bacterial communities of the nest material and of cloaca, but their occurrence within nests was not associated, which suggests that bacterial environments of nest material and cloaca are not sources of symbiotic bacteria for the gland. These results do not support a role of nest environments of hoopoes as reservoirs of symbiotic bacteria. We discuss possible scenarios explaining bacterial acquisition by hoopoes that should be further explored.}, } @article {pmid27411210, year = {2016}, author = {Menge, DN and Crews, TE}, title = {Can evolutionary constraints explain the rarity of nitrogen-fixing trees in high-latitude forests?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {4}, pages = {1195-1201}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14080}, pmid = {27411210}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; *Forests ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents 1195 I. 1195 II. 1196 III. 1196 IV. 1200 1200 References 1200 SUMMARY: The rarity of symbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing trees in temperate and boreal ('high-latitude') forests is curious. One explanation - the evolutionary constraints hypothesis - posits that high-latitude N-fixing trees are rare because few have evolved. Here, we consider traits necessary for high-latitude N-fixing trees. We then use recent developments in trait evolution to estimate that > 2000 and > 500 species could have evolved from low-latitude N-fixing trees and high-latitude N-fixing herbs, respectively. Evolution of N-fixing from nonfixing trees is an unlikely source of diversity. Dispersal limitation seems unlikely to limit high-latitude N-fixer diversity. The greater number of N-fixing species predicted to evolve than currently inhabit high-latitude forests suggests a greater role for ecological than evolutionary constraints.}, } @article {pmid27410794, year = {2016}, author = {Chen, W and Pacheco, A and Takano, Y and Day, JJ and Hanaoka, K and Xian, M}, title = {A Single Fluorescent Probe to Visualize Hydrogen Sulfide and Hydrogen Polysulfides with Different Fluorescence Signals.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {55}, number = {34}, pages = {9993-9996}, pmid = {27410794}, issn = {1521-3773}, support = {R01 HL116571/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Dyes/*chemistry ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide/*analysis ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Sulfides/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) and hydrogen polysulfides (H2 Sn , n>1) are endogenous regulators of many physiological processes. In order to better understand the symbiotic relationship and cellular cross-talk between H2 S and H2 Sn , it is highly desirable to develop single fluorescent probes which enable dual-channel discrimination between H2 S and H2 Sn . Herein, we report the rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of the first dual-detection fluorescent probe DDP-1 that can visualize H2 S and H2 Sn with different fluorescence signals. The probe showed high selectivity and sensitivity to H2 S and H2 Sn in aqueous media and in cells.}, } @article {pmid27409290, year = {2017}, author = {Rangel, WM and Thijs, S and Janssen, J and Oliveira Longatti, SM and Bonaldi, DS and Ribeiro, PR and Jambon, I and Eevers, N and Weyens, N and Vangronsveld, J and Moreira, FM}, title = {Native rhizobia from Zn mining soil promote the growth of Leucaena leucocephala on contaminated soil.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {142-156}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2016.1207600}, pmid = {27409290}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants on contaminated mining soils often show a reduced growth due to nutrient depletion as well as trace elements (TEs) toxicity. Since those conditions threat plant's survival, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), such as rhizobia, might be of crucial importance for plant colonization on TE-contaminated soils. Native rhizobia from mining soils are promising candidates for bioaugmented phytoremediation of those soils as they are adapted to the specific conditions. In this work, rhizobia from Zn- and Cd-contaminated mining soils were in vitro screened for their PGP features [organic acids, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and siderophore (SID) production; 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity; and Ca3(PO4)2 solubilization] and Zn and Cd tolerance. In addition, some type and reference rhizobia strains were included in the study as well. The in vitro screening indicated that rhizobia and other native genera have great potential for phytoremediation purposes, by exerting, besides biological N2 fixation, other plant growth-promoting traits. Leucaena leucocephala-Mesorhizobium sp. (UFLA 01-765) showed multielement tolerance and an efficient symbiosis on contaminated soil, decreasing the activities of antioxidative enzymes in shoots. This symbiosis is a promising combination for phytostabilization.}, } @article {pmid27407301, year = {2016}, author = {Kumar, R and Kushwah, J and Ganguly, S and Garg, V and Somvanshi, VS}, title = {Proteomic Investigation of Photorhabdus Bacteria for Nematode-Host Specificity.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {361-367}, pmid = {27407301}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Majority of animals form symbiotic relationships with bacteria. Based on the number of bacterial species associating with an animal, these symbiotic associations can be mono-specific, relatively simple (2-25 bacterial species/animal) or highly complex (>10(2)-10(3) bacterial species/animal). Photorhabdus (family-Enterobacteriaceae) forms a mono-specific symbiotic relationship with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis. This system provides a tractable genetic model for animal-microbe symbiosis studies. Here, we investigated the bacterial factors that may be responsible for governing host specificity between nematode and their symbiont bacteria using proteomics approach. Total protein profiles of P. luminescens ssp. laumondii (host nematode- H. bacteriophora) and P. luminescens ssp. akhurstii (host nematode- H. indica) were compared using 2-D gel electrophoresis, followed by identification of differentially expressed proteins by MALDI-TOF MS. Thirty-nine unique protein spots were identified - 24 from P. luminescens ssp. laumondii and 15 from P. luminescens ssp. akhurstii. These included proteins that might be involved in determining host specificity directly (for e.g. pilin FimA, outer membrane protein A), indirectly through effect on bacterial secondary metabolism (for e.g. malate dehydrogenase Mdh, Pyruvate formate-lyase PflA, flavo protein WrbA), or in a yet unknown manner (for e.g. hypothetical proteins, transcription regulators). Further functional validation is needed to establish the role of these bacterial proteins in nematode-host specificity.}, } @article {pmid27406567, year = {2016}, author = {Elhenawy, W and Bording-Jorgensen, M and Valguarnera, E and Haurat, MF and Wine, E and Feldman, MF}, title = {LPS Remodeling Triggers Formation of Outer Membrane Vesicles in Salmonella.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27406567}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/chemistry/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Lipid A/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Salmonella typhimurium/*metabolism ; Secretory Vesicles/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) are proposed to mediate multiple functions during pathogenesis and symbiosis. However, the mechanisms responsible for OMV formation remain poorly understood. It has been shown in eukaryotic membranes that lipids with an inverted-cone shape favor the formation of positive membrane curvatures. Based on these studies, we formulated the hypothesis that lipid A deacylation might impose shape modifications that result in the curvature of the outer membrane (OM) and subsequent OMV formation. We tested the effect of lipid A remodeling on OMV biogenesis employing Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as a model organism. Expression of the lipid A deacylase PagL resulted in increased vesiculation, without inducing an envelope stress response. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed profound differences in the patterns of lipid A in OM and OMV, with accumulation of deacylated lipid A forms exclusively in OMV. OMV biogenesis by intracellular bacteria upon macrophage infection was drastically reduced in a pagL mutant strain. We propose a novel mechanism for OMV biogenesis requiring lipid A deacylation in the context of a multifactorial process that involves the orchestrated remodeling of the outer membrane.

IMPORTANCE: The role of lipid remodeling in vesiculation is well documented in eukaryotes. Similarly, bacteria produce membrane-derived vesicles; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their production are yet to be determined. In this work, we investigated the role of outer membrane remodeling in OMV biogenesis in S Typhimurium. We showed that the expression of the lipid A deacylase PagL results in overvesiculation with deacylated lipid A accumulation exclusively in OMV. An S Typhimurium ΔpagL strain showed a significant reduction in intracellular OMV secretion relative to the wild-type strain. Our results suggest a novel mechanism for OMV biogenesis that involves outer membrane remodeling through lipid A modification. Understanding how OMV are produced by bacteria is important to advance our understanding of the host-pathogen interactions.}, } @article {pmid27406565, year = {2016}, author = {Lacroix, B and Citovsky, V}, title = {Transfer of DNA from Bacteria to Eukaryotes.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27406565}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics/*metabolism ; Eukaryota/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Transformation, Genetic ; Type IV Secretion Systems/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Historically, the members of the Agrobacterium genus have been considered the only bacterial species naturally able to transfer and integrate DNA into the genomes of their eukaryotic hosts. Yet, increasing evidence suggests that this ability to genetically transform eukaryotic host cells might be more widespread in the bacterial world. Indeed, analyses of accumulating genomic data reveal cases of horizontal gene transfer from bacteria to eukaryotes and suggest that it represents a significant force in adaptive evolution of eukaryotic species. Specifically, recent reports indicate that bacteria other than Agrobacterium, such as Bartonella henselae (a zoonotic pathogen), Rhizobium etli (a plant-symbiotic bacterium related to Agrobacterium), or even Escherichia coli, have the ability to genetically transform their host cells under laboratory conditions. This DNA transfer relies on type IV secretion systems (T4SSs), the molecular machines that transport macromolecules during conjugative plasmid transfer and also during transport of proteins and/or DNA to the eukaryotic recipient cells. In this review article, we explore the extent of possible transfer of genetic information from bacteria to eukaryotic cells as well as the evolutionary implications and potential applications of this transfer.}, } @article {pmid27404042, year = {2016}, author = {Ishikawa, M and Shimizu, H and Nozawa, M and Ikeo, K and Gojobori, T}, title = {Two-step evolution of endosymbiosis between hydra and algae.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {103}, number = {}, pages = {19-25}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.07.010}, pmid = {27404042}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics ; Genes, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Hydra/*classification/genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the Hydra vulgaris group, only 2 of the 25 strains in the collection of the National Institute of Genetics in Japan currently show endosymbiosis with green algae. However, whether the other non-symbiotic strains also have the potential to harbor algae remains unknown. The endosymbiotic potential of non-symbiotic strains that can harbor algae may have been acquired before or during divergence of the strains. With the aim of understanding the evolutionary process of endosymbiosis in the H. vulgaris group, we examined the endosymbiotic potential of non-symbiotic strains of the H. vulgaris group by artificially introducing endosymbiotic algae. We found that 12 of the 23 non-symbiotic strains were able to harbor the algae until reaching the grand-offspring through the asexual reproduction by budding. Moreover, a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genome sequences showed that all the strains with endosymbiotic potential grouped into a single cluster (cluster γ). This cluster contained two strains (J7 and J10) that currently harbor algae; however, these strains were not the closest relatives. These results suggest that evolution of endosymbiosis occurred in two steps; first, endosymbiotic potential was gained once in the ancestor of the cluster γ lineage; second, strains J7 and J10 obtained algae independently after the divergence of the strains. By demonstrating the evolution of the endosymbiotic potential in non-symbiotic H. vulgaris group strains, we have clearly distinguished two evolutionary steps. The step-by-step evolutionary process provides significant insight into the evolution of endosymbiosis in cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid27400652, year = {2016}, author = {Brown, BP and Wernegreen, JJ}, title = {Deep divergence and rapid evolutionary rates in gut-associated Acetobacteraceae of ants.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {140}, pmid = {27400652}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {R01 GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genes, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Microbial Consortia ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic associations between gut microbiota and their animal hosts shape the evolutionary trajectories of both partners. The genomic consequences of these relationships are significantly influenced by a variety of factors, including niche localization, interaction potential, and symbiont transmission mode. In eusocial insect hosts, socially transmitted gut microbiota may represent an intermediate point between free living or environmentally acquired bacteria and those with strict host association and maternal transmission.

RESULTS: We characterized the bacterial communities associated with an abundant ant species, Camponotus chromaiodes. While many bacteria had sporadic distributions, some taxa were abundant and persistent within and across ant colonies. Specially, two Acetobacteraceae operational taxonomic units (OTUs; referred to as AAB1 and AAB2) were abundant and widespread across host samples. Dissection experiments confirmed that AAB1 and AAB2 occur in C. chromaiodes gut tracts. We explored the distribution and evolution of these Acetobacteraceae OTUs in more depth. We found that Camponotus hosts representing different species and geographical regions possess close relatives of the Acetobacteraceae OTUs detected in C. chromaiodes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AAB1 and AAB2 join other ant associates in a monophyletic clade. This clade consists of Acetobacteraceae from three ant tribes, including a third, basal lineage associated with Attine ants. This ant-specific AAB clade exhibits a significant acceleration of substitution rates at the 16S rDNA gene and elevated AT content. Substitutions along 16S rRNA in AAB1 and AAB2 result in ~10 % reduction in the predicted rRNA stability.

CONCLUSIONS: Combined, these patterns in Camponotus-associated Acetobacteraceae resemble those found in cospeciating gut associates that are both socially and maternally transmitted. These associates may represent an intermediate point along an evolutionary trajectory manifest most extremely in symbionts with strict maternal transmission. Collectively, these results suggest that Acetobacteraceae may be a frequent and persistent gut associate in Camponotus species and perhaps other ant groups, and that its evolution is strongly impacted by this host association.}, } @article {pmid27400333, year = {2016}, author = {Nuzzo, G and Gomes, BA and Luongo, E and Torres, MC and Santos, EA and Cutignano, A and Pessoa, OD and Costa-Lotufo, LV and Fontana, A}, title = {Dinoflagellate-Related Amphidinolides from the Brazilian Octocoral Stragulum bicolor.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {79}, number = {7}, pages = {1881-1885}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00259}, pmid = {27400333}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Brazil ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; HCT116 Cells ; Humans ; Macrolides/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; }, abstract = {Benthic cnidarians are colonial marine animals that host a rich population of associated and symbiotic microorganisms. In a recent paper we described for the first time the isolation of amphidinolide P (1) from the Brazilian octocoral Stragulum bicolor. Amphidinolides and similar compounds had been previously reported only from dinoflagellates of the genus Amphidinium; thus the presence of 1 in the invertebrate opens intriguing questions on the role and occurrence of these molecules in marine ecosystems. Here we report the identification of four further amphidinolides from the same soft coral, including the known amphidinolide T1 (2) and the new analogues here named amphidinolides C4 (3), B8 (4), and B9 (5). The chemical structures have been elucidated mainly by extensive study of spectroscopic data. Cytotoxic activities of 3 and 4 were evaluated against the colon adenocarcinoma cell line HCT-116.}, } @article {pmid27400063, year = {2016}, author = {Spagnoletti, FN and Balestrasse, K and Lavado, RS and Giacometti, R}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza detoxifying response against arsenic and pathogenic fungus in soybean.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {133}, number = {}, pages = {47-56}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.06.012}, pmid = {27400063}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Arsenates/metabolism ; Arsenic/analysis/*toxicity ; Arsenites/metabolism ; Ascomycota/physiology ; Biomass ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Soybeans/*drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Uptake of Arsenic (As) in plant tissues can affect metabolism, causing physiological disorders, even death. As toxicity, but also pathogen infections trigger a generalised stress response called oxidative stress; however knowledge on the response of soybean (Glycine max L.) under multiple stressors is limited so far. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance the tolerance of host plants to abiotic and biotic stress. Thus, we investigated the effects of the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices on soybean grown in As-contaminated soils as well as in the presence of the pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina (charcoal rot of the stem). Plant parameters and degree of mycorrhizal colonization under the different assessed treatments were analyzed. Content of As in roots and leaves was quantified. Increasing As level in the soil stopped plant growth, but promoted plant As uptake. Inoculation of soybean plants with M. phaseolina accentuated As effect at all physiological levels. In the presence of mycorrhizal symbiosis biomass dramatically increased, and significantly reduced the As concentration in plant tissues. Mycorrhization decreased oxidative damage in the presence of both As and the pathogen. Furthermore, transcription analysis revealed that the high-affinity phosphate transporter from R. intraradices RiPT and the gene encoding a putative arsenic efflux pump RiArsA were up-regulated under higher As doses. These results suggest that R. intraradices is most likely to get involved in the defense response against M. phaseolina, but also in the reduction of arsenate to arsenite as a possible detoxification mechanism in AMF associations in soybean.

CAPSULE ABSTRACT: R. intraradices actively participates in the soybean antioxidant defense response against arsenic stress and M. phaseolina infection.}, } @article {pmid27399695, year = {2016}, author = {Strehmel, N and Mönchgesang, S and Herklotz, S and Krüger, S and Ziegler, J and Scheel, D}, title = {Piriformospora indica Stimulates Root Metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {27399695}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dipeptides/analysis ; Glucosinolates/analysis/metabolism ; Nucleosides/analysis ; Plant Growth Regulators/analysis/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica is a root-colonizing fungus, which interacts with a variety of plants including Arabidopsis thaliana. This interaction has been considered as mutualistic leading to growth promotion of the host. So far, only indolic glucosinolates and phytohormones have been identified as key players. In a comprehensive non-targeted metabolite profiling study, we analyzed Arabidopsis thaliana's roots, root exudates, and leaves of inoculated and non-inoculated plants by ultra performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/(ESI)-QTOFMS) and gas chromatography/electron ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/EI-QMS), and identified further biomarkers. Among them, the concentration of nucleosides, dipeptides, oligolignols, and glucosinolate degradation products was affected in the exudates. In the root profiles, nearly all metabolite levels increased upon co-cultivation, like carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, glucosinolates, oligolignols, and flavonoids. In the leaf profiles, we detected by far less significant changes. We only observed an increased concentration of organic acids, carbohydrates, ascorbate, glucosinolates and hydroxycinnamic acids, and a decreased concentration of nitrogen-rich amino acids in inoculated plants. These findings contribute to the understanding of symbiotic interactions between plant roots and fungi of the order of Sebacinales and are a valid source for follow-up mechanistic studies, because these symbioses are particular and clearly different from interactions of roots with mycorrhizal fungi or dark septate endophytes.}, } @article {pmid27397683, year = {2016}, author = {Aubol, BE and Wu, G and Keshwani, MM and Movassat, M and Fattet, L and Hertel, KJ and Fu, XD and Adams, JA}, title = {Release of SR Proteins from CLK1 by SRPK1: A Symbiotic Kinase System for Phosphorylation Control of Pre-mRNA Splicing.}, journal = {Molecular cell}, volume = {63}, number = {2}, pages = {218-228}, pmid = {27397683}, issn = {1097-4164}, support = {R01 GM052872/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM062287/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM067969/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007752/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Catalysis ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA Precursors/genetics/*metabolism ; *RNA Splicing ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/*metabolism ; Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear/metabolism ; Spliceosomes/*enzymology/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transfection ; beta-Globins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phosphorylation has been generally thought to activate the SR family of splicing factors for efficient splice-site recognition, but this idea is incompatible with an early observation that overexpression of an SR protein kinase, such as the CDC2-like kinase 1 (CLK1), weakens splice-site selection. Here, we report that CLK1 binds SR proteins but lacks the mechanism to release phosphorylated SR proteins, thus functionally inactivating the splicing factors. Interestingly, CLK1 overcomes this dilemma through a symbiotic relationship with the serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1). We show that SRPK1 interacts with an RS-like domain in the N terminus of CLK1 to facilitate the release of phosphorylated SR proteins, which then promotes efficient splice-site recognition and subsequent spliceosome assembly. These findings reveal an unprecedented signaling mechanism by which two protein kinases fulfill separate catalytic features that are normally encoded in single kinases to institute phosphorylation control of pre-mRNA splicing in the nucleus.}, } @article {pmid27395122, year = {2016}, author = {Johnsson, R and Bahia, C and Neves, E}, title = {A new genus of Asterocheridae (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) ectoassociate of the ascidian Eudistoma vannamei Millar, 1977 (Polycitoridae) from Brazil.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {4114}, number = {2}, pages = {162-170}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.4114.2.5}, pmid = {27395122}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Animals ; Body Size ; Brazil ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/*classification/growth & development ; Female ; Male ; Organ Size ; Urochordata/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Asterocheres Boeck, 1860 is the largest genus of the siphonostomatoid copepod family Asterocheridae, containing 63 valid species. The genus is known for its symbiotic relationships with many marine invertebrate taxa, especially sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, and echinoderms. Recent studies have restricted the diagnosis of this genus. Consequently, many species are now considered as species inquirendae. The present paper describes a new species living externally on the tunic of Eudistoma vannamei Millar, 1977, an endemic ascidian from Brazil. As the new species does not fit Asterocheres in the strict sense, a new genus is erected to accommodate it. Setacheres gen. nov. is characterized by its possession of two distal setae on the third endopodal segment of P3, thus differing from the distal seta and spine pattern that is deemed as diagnostic of Asterocheres. A revision and comparison of Asterocheres´ species inquirendae revealed eight species sharing the same generic characteristics and were thus reallocated as members of the new genus.}, } @article {pmid27394069, year = {2016}, author = {Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Flores-Félix, JD and Chahboune, R and Toro, M and Velázquez, E and Peix, A}, title = {Bradyrhizobium centrosemae (symbiovar centrosemae) sp. nov., Bradyrhizobium americanum (symbiovar phaseolarum) sp. nov. and a new symbiovar (tropici) of Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi establish symbiosis with Centrosema species native to America.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {378-383}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.06.001}, pmid = {27394069}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Venezuela ; }, abstract = {In this work we analyze through a polyphasic approach several Bradyrhizobium strains isolated in Venezuela from root nodules of Centrosema species. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the strains belong to three clusters within genus Bradyrhizobium which have 100% similarity with Bradyrhizobium daqingense CCBAU 15774(T)Bradyrhizobium guangxiense CCBAU 53363(T) and Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi SEMIA 690(T). The results of recA and glnII gene analysis confirmed the identification of the strains CMVU02 and CMVU30 as Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi but the nodC gene analysis showed that they belong to a new symbiovar for which we propose the name tropici. Nevertheless, the concatenated recA and glnII gene phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization and phenotypic characterization showed that the strains A9(T), CMVU44(T) and CMVU04 belong to two novel Bradyrhizobium species. The analysis of the nodC gene showed that these strains also represent two new symbiovars. Based on these results we propose the classification of the strain A9(T) isolated from Centrosema molle into the novel species Bradyrhizobium centrosemae (sv. centrosemae) sp. nov. (type strain A9(T)=LMG 29515(T)=CECT 9095(T)). and the classification of the strains CMVU44(T) and CMVU04 isolated from C. macrocarpum into the novel species Bradyrhizobium americanum (sv. phaseolarum) sp. nov. (type strain CMVU44(T)=LMG 29514(T)=CECT 9096(T)).}, } @article {pmid27394068, year = {2016}, author = {Sbabou, L and Regragui, A and Filali-Maltouf, A and Ater, M and Béna, G}, title = {Local genetic structure and worldwide phylogenetic position of symbiotic Rhizobium leguminosarum strains associated with a traditional cultivated crop, Vicia ervilia, from Northern Morocco.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {409-417}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.06.005}, pmid = {27394068}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Vicia/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A total of 212 symbiotic bacteria were isolated from nodules of Vicia ervilia, a traditional crop cultivated in Northern Morocco. The isolates were recovered from 10 different sites, trapped each time with the local cultivar grown in the same field. Four loci were sequenced in order to characterize the isolates, including two housekeeping genes (recA and glnII), one plasmidic symbiotic gene (nodC) and one locus from another plasmid (prL11). In several isolates, two different copies of glnII were detected and sequenced, suggesting a unique duplication event, which has never been reported previously. There was no correlation between the genetic differentiation among cultivars and among bacteria, showing that the evolution of the bacterial population was independent, at least partially, from the host plant. By placing the haplotypes in a wide-ranging phylogenetic reconstruction, it was shown that the diversity detected in Morocco was spread throughout the different clades detected worldwide. The differentiation between areas relied on frequency variations of haplotypes rather than a presence/absence pattern. This finding raises new questions concerning bacterial genetic resource preservation, and confirms the old tenet "everything is everywhere but the environment selects".}, } @article {pmid27393468, year = {2016}, author = {Döhlemann, J and Brennecke, M and Becker, A}, title = {Cloning-free genome engineering in Sinorhizobium meliloti advances applications of Cre/loxP site-specific recombination.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {233}, number = {}, pages = {160-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.06.033}, pmid = {27393468}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Electroporation ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Integrases/*genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Recombination, Genetic/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Transformation, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {The soil-dwelling α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti serves as model for studies of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, a highly important process in sustainable agriculture. Here, we report advancements of the genetic toolbox accelerating genome editing in S. meliloti. The hsdMSR operon encodes a type-I restriction-modification (R-M) system. Transformation of S. meliloti is counteracted by the restriction endonuclease HsdR degrading DNA which lacks the appropriate methylation pattern. We provide a stable S. meliloti hsdR deletion mutant showing enhanced transformation with Escherichia coli-derived plasmid DNA and demonstrate that using an E. coli plasmid donor, expressing S. meliloti methyl transferase genes, is an alternative strategy of increasing the transformation efficiency of S. meliloti. Furthermore, we devise a novel cloning-free genome editing (CFGE) method for S. meliloti, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Xanthomonas campestris, and demonstrate the applicability of this method for intricate applications of the Cre/lox recombination system in S. meliloti. An enhanced Cre/lox system, allowing for serial deletions of large genomic regions, was established. An assay of lox spacer mutants identified a set of lox sites mediating specific recombination. The availability of several non-promiscuous Cre recognition sites enables simultaneous specific Cre/lox recombination events. CFGE combined with Cre/lox recombination is put forward as powerful approach for targeted genome editing, involving serial steps of manipulation to expedite the genetic accessibility of S. meliloti as chassis.}, } @article {pmid27390861, year = {2016}, author = {Burke, GR}, title = {Analysis of Genetic Variation across the Encapsidated Genome of Microplitis demolitor Bracovirus in Parasitoid Wasps.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {e0158846}, pmid = {27390861}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {F32 AI096552/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Genes, Viral ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Viral ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Virulence Factors/*genetics ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {Insect parasitoids must complete part of their life cycle within or on another insect, ultimately resulting in the death of the host insect. One group of parasitoid wasps, the 'microgastroid complex' (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), engage in an association with beneficial symbiotic viruses that are essential for successful parasitism of hosts. These viruses, known as Bracoviruses, persist in an integrated form in the wasp genome, and activate to replicate in wasp ovaries during development to ultimately be delivered into host insects during parasitism. The lethal nature of host-parasitoid interactions, combined with the involvement of viruses in mediating these interactions, has led to the hypothesis that Bracoviruses are engaged in an arms race with hosts, resulting in recurrent adaptation in viral (and host) genes. Deep sequencing was employed to characterize sequence variation across the encapsidated Bracovirus genome within laboratory and field populations of the parasitoid wasp species Microplitis demolitor. Contrary to expectations, there was a paucity of evidence for positive directional selection among virulence genes, which generally exhibited signatures of purifying selection. These data suggest that the dynamics of host-parasite interactions may not result in recurrent rounds of adaptation, and that adaptation may be more variable in time than previously expected.}, } @article {pmid27389852, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, T and Zhao, M and Rotgans, BA and Ni, G and Dean, JF and Nahrung, HF and Cummins, SF}, title = {Proteomic analysis of the venom and venom sac of the woodwasp, Sirex noctilio - Towards understanding its biological impact.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {146}, number = {}, pages = {195-206}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2016.07.002}, pmid = {27389852}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Proteins ; Pinus/drug effects/*parasitology ; Plant Proteins ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Proteomics/*methods ; Wasp Venoms/*analysis/toxicity ; Wasps/pathogenicity/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The European horntail woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, is an invasive insect that attacks conifer hosts, particularly Pinus species. Venom injected by female S. noctilio, together with its symbiotic fungus, damages the normal physiology of Pinus, leading to death of the tree. To identify the proteinaceous components in the venom and uncover the interplay between venom proteins and tree proteins, clarification of the overall profile of proteins produced in the venom gland apparatus was carried out in this work. The venom sac proteome utilised in-solution digested in either a natural or deglycosylated state, prior to nanoHPLC LTQ-Orbitrap under CID/ETD mode. Here, we report the identification of 1454 and 1225 proteins in venom and sac, respectively, with 410 mutual proteins. Approximately 90 proteins were predicted to be secretory, of which 8 have features characteristic of toxins. Chemosensory binding proteins were also identified. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis were employed to predict the protein functions and biological pathways in venom and sac. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis suggested that one-step responses represent the majority of the Sirex-Pinus PPIs, and the proteins representing network hub nodes could be of importance for the development of pest management strategies.

SIGNIFICANCE: The woodwasp Sirex noctilio is an invasive species in many parts of the world, including Australia and North America, where it is considered within the top 10 most serious forest insects. Where they have been introduced, the female woodwasps attack living pine trees, causing significant economic losses. Central to this destruction is the woodwasp's life cycle requirement to bore a hole to deposit eggs and a toxic mucus that disables the tree's network for transporting water and nutrients, yet aids in larval survival. Here we specifically examine the mucus gland apparatus and its contents, revealing the protein components that together with 'noctilisin' facilitate this complex association. The identification of chemosensory binding proteins further supports a role for the woodwasp ovipositor as an instrument for early stages of host tree selection. These findings could provide important clues towards the development of novel control tools against this pest.}, } @article {pmid27389687, year = {2016}, author = {Hendry, TA and de Wet, JR and Dougan, KE and Dunlap, PV}, title = {Genome Evolution in the Obligate but Environmentally Active Luminous Symbionts of Flashlight Fish.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {2203-2213}, pmid = {27389687}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fishes/*microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomic Instability ; Phylogeny ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrionaceae/classification/*genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The luminous bacterial symbionts of anomalopid flashlight fish are thought to be obligately dependent on their hosts for growth and share several aspects of genome evolution with unrelated obligate symbionts, including genome reduction. However, in contrast to most obligate bacteria, anomalopid symbionts have an active environmental phase that may be important for symbiont transmission. Here we investigated patterns of evolution between anomalopid symbionts compared with patterns in free-living relatives and unrelated obligate symbionts to determine if trends common to obligate symbionts are also found in anomalopid symbionts. Two symbionts, "Candidatus Photodesmus katoptron" and "Candidatus Photodesmus blepharus," have genomes that are highly similar in gene content and order, suggesting genome stasis similar to ancient obligate symbionts present in insect lineages. This genome stasis exists in spite of the symbiont's inferred ability to recombine, which is frequently lacking in obligate symbionts with stable genomes. Additionally, we used genome comparisons and tests of selection to infer which genes may be particularly important for the symbiont's ecology compared with relatives. In keeping with obligate dependence, substitution patterns suggest that most symbiont genes are experiencing relaxed purifying selection compared with relatives. However, genes involved in motility and carbon storage, which are likely to be used outside the host, appear to be under increased purifying selection. Two chemoreceptor chemotaxis genes are retained by both species and show high conservation with amino acid sensing genes, suggesting that the bacteria may actively seek out hosts using chemotaxis toward amino acids, which the symbionts are not able to synthesize.}, } @article {pmid27389418, year = {2016}, author = {Oleskin, AV and Shenderov, BA}, title = {Neuromodulatory effects and targets of the SCFAs and gasotransmitters produced by the human symbiotic microbiota.}, journal = {Microbial ecology in health and disease}, volume = {27}, number = {}, pages = {30971}, pmid = {27389418}, issn = {0891-060X}, abstract = {The symbiotic gut microbiota plays an important role in the development and homeostasis of the host organism. Its physiological, biochemical, behavioral, and communicative effects are mediated by multiple low molecular weight compounds. Recent data on small molecules produced by gut microbiota in mammalian organisms demonstrate the paramount importance of these biologically active molecules in terms of biology and medicine. Many of these molecules are pleiotropic mediators exerting effects on various tissues and organs. This review is focused on the functional roles of gaseous molecules that perform neuromediator and/or endocrine functions. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of microbial fermentation-derived gaseous metabolites are not well understood. It is possible that these metabolites produce their effects via immunological, biochemical, and neuroendocrine mechanisms that involve endogenous and microbial modulators and transmitters; of considerable importance are also changes in epigenetic transcriptional factors, protein post-translational modification, lipid and mitochondrial metabolism, redox signaling, and ion channel/gap junction/transporter regulation. Recent findings have revealed that interactivity among such modulators/transmitters is a prerequisite for the ongoing dialog between microbial cells and host cells, including neurons. Using simple reliable methods for the detection and measurement of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and small gaseous molecules in eukaryotic tissues and prokaryotic cells, selective inhibitors of enzymes that participate in their synthesis, as well as safe chemical and microbial donors of pleiotropic mediators and modulators of host intestinal microbial ecology, should enable us to apply these chemicals as novel therapeutics and medical research tools.}, } @article {pmid27388448, year = {2016}, author = {Rector, BG and Czarnoleski, M and Skoracka, A and Lembicz, M}, title = {Change in abundance of three phytophagous mite species (Acari: Eriophyidae, Tetranychidae) on quackgrass in the presence of choke disease.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {35-43}, pmid = {27388448}, issn = {1572-9702}, mesh = {Animals ; Elymus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; Herbivory ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Poland ; Population Dynamics ; Species Specificity ; Tetranychidae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Phytophagous mites and endophytic fungi may interact when sharing a host plant, potentially influencing one another's growth or population dynamics; however, interactions between them are poorly known and remain largely unexplored. In this study, quantitative associations between three species of phytophagous mites and the endophytic fungus Epichloë bromicola Leuchtm. & Schardl (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycotina) on quackgrass, Elymus repens (L.) Gould are reported. The mites' abundance was assessed on field-collected grass shoots that were either exhibiting choke disease symptoms or without the fungus. Overall, the abundance of Tetranychus urticae and Aculodes mckenziei was significantly lower on quackgrass plants infected by E. bromicola compared to plants without the fungus. Conversely, populations of Abacarus hystrix were significantly larger on plants colonised by the fungus than on uninfected plants. Thus, the presence of this endophytic fungus may have divergent effects on different phytophagous mite species although the basis of these effects is not yet known.}, } @article {pmid27387908, year = {2016}, author = {Dohet, L and Grégoire, JC and Berasategui, A and Kaltenpoth, M and Biedermann, PH}, title = {Bacterial and fungal symbionts of parasitic Dendroctonus bark beetles.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw129}, pmid = {27387908}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Candida/isolation & purification ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Fungi/*isolation & purification ; Herbivory ; *Symbiosis ; Trees ; Yeasts/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are one of the most species-rich herbivorous insect groups with many shifts in ecology and host-plant use, which may be mediated by their bacterial and fungal symbionts. While symbionts are well studied in economically important, tree-killing species, little is known about parasitic species whose broods develop in living trees. Here, using culture-dependent and independent methods, we provide a comprehensive overview of the associated bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi of the parasitic Dendroctonus micans, D. punctatus and D. valens, and compare them to those of other tree-inhabiting insects. Despite inhabiting different geographical regions and/or host trees, the three species showed similar microbial communities. Enterobacteria were the most prevalent bacteria, in particular Rahnella, Pantoea and Ewingella, in addition to Streptomyces Likewise, the yeasts Candida/Cyberlindnera were the most prominent fungi. All these microorganisms are widespread among tree-inhabiting insects with various ecologies, but their high prevalence overall might indicate a beneficial role such as detoxification of tree defenses, diet supplementation or protection against pathogens. As such, our results enable comparisons of symbiont communities of parasitic bark beetles with those of other beetles, and will contribute to our understanding of how microbial symbioses facilitate dietary shifts in insects.}, } @article {pmid27387518, year = {2017}, author = {Stephan, BI and Alvarez Crespo, MC and Kemppainen, MJ and Pardo, AG}, title = {Agrobacterium-mediated insertional mutagenesis in the mycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Current genetics}, volume = {63}, number = {2}, pages = {215-227}, pmid = {27387518}, issn = {1432-0983}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Binding Sites/genetics ; Blotting, Southern ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Genome, Fungal/genetics ; Laccaria/*genetics ; *Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer (AMT) is extensively employed as a tool in fungal functional genomics and accordingly, in previous studies we used AMT on a dikaryotic strain of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor. The interest in this fungus derives from its capacity to establish a symbiosis with tree roots, thereby playing a major role in nutrient cycling of forest ecosystems. The ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is a highly complex interaction involving many genes from both partners. To advance in the functional characterization of fungal genes, AMT was used on a monokaryotic L. bicolor. A collection of over 1200 transgenic strains was produced, of which 200 randomly selected strains were analyzed for their genomic T-DNA insertion patterns. By means of insertional mutagenesis, a number of transgenic strains were obtained displaying differential growth features. Moreover, mating with a compatible strain resulted in dikaryons that retained altered phenotypic features of the transgenic monokaryon. The analysis of the T-DNA integration pattern revealed mostly similar results to those reported in earlier studies, confirming the usefulness of AMT on different genetic backgrounds of L. bicolor. Taken together, our studies display the great versatility and potentiality of AMT as a tool for the genetic characterization of L. bicolor.}, } @article {pmid27386079, year = {2016}, author = {Püschel, D and Janoušková, M and Hujslová, M and Slavíková, R and Gryndlerová, H and Jansa, J}, title = {Plant-fungus competition for nitrogen erases mycorrhizal growth benefits of Andropogon gerardii under limited nitrogen supply.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {13}, pages = {4332-4346}, pmid = {27386079}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Considered to play an important role in plant mineral nutrition, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a common relationship between the roots of a great majority of plant species and glomeromycotan fungi. Its effects on the plant host are highly context dependent, with the greatest benefits often observed in phosphorus (P)-limited environments. Mycorrhizal contribution to plant nitrogen (N) nutrition is probably less important under most conditions. Moreover, inasmuch as both plant and fungi require substantial quantities of N for their growth, competition for N could potentially reduce net mycorrhizal benefits to the plant under conditions of limited N supply. Further compounded by increased belowground carbon (C) drain, the mycorrhizal costs could outweigh the benefits under severe N limitation. Using a field AM fungal community or a laboratory culture of Rhizophagus irregularis as mycorrhizal inoculants, we tested the contribution of mycorrhizal symbiosis to the growth, C allocation, and mineral nutrition of Andropogon gerardii growing in a nutrient-poor substrate under variable N and P supplies. The plants unambiguously competed with the fungi for N when its supply was low, resulting in no or negative mycorrhizal growth and N-uptake responses under such conditions. The field AM fungal communities manifested their potential to improve plant P nutrition only upon N fertilization, whereas the R. irregularis slightly yet significantly increased P uptake of its plant host (but not the host's growth) even without N supply. Coincident with increasing levels of root colonization by the AM fungal structures, both inoculants invariably increased nutritional and growth benefits to the host with increasing N supply. This, in turn, resulted in relieving plant P deficiency, which was persistent in non-mycorrhizal plants across the entire range of nutrient supplies.}, } @article {pmid27384464, year = {2016}, author = {Field, EK and Kato, S and Findlay, AJ and MacDonald, DJ and Chiu, BK and Luther, GW and Chan, CS}, title = {Planktonic marine iron oxidizers drive iron mineralization under low-oxygen conditions.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {499-508}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12189}, pmid = {27384464}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; Iron Compounds/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Plankton/*metabolism ; Proteobacteria/*metabolism ; Seawater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Observations of modern microbes have led to several hypotheses on how microbes precipitated the extensive iron formations in the geologic record, but we have yet to resolve the exact microbial contributions. An initial hypothesis was that cyanobacteria produced oxygen which oxidized iron abiotically; however, in modern environments such as microbial mats, where Fe(II) and O2 coexist, we commonly find microaerophilic chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria producing Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. This suggests that such iron oxidizers could have inhabited niches in ancient coastal oceans where Fe(II) and O2 coexisted, and therefore contributed to banded iron formations (BIFs) and other ferruginous deposits. However, there is currently little evidence for planktonic marine iron oxidizers in modern analogs. Here, we demonstrate successful cultivation of planktonic microaerophilic iron-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria from the Chesapeake Bay during seasonal stratification. Iron oxidizers were associated with low oxygen concentrations and active iron redox cycling in the oxic-anoxic transition zone (<3 μm O2 , <0.2 μm H2 S). While cyanobacteria were also detected in this transition zone, oxygen concentrations were too low to support significant rates of abiotic iron oxidation. Cyanobacteria may be providing oxygen for microaerophilic iron oxidation through a symbiotic relationship; at high Fe(II) levels, cyanobacteria would gain protection against Fe(II) toxicity. A Zetaproteobacteria isolate from this site oxidized iron at rates sufficient to account for deposition of geologic iron formations. In sum, our results suggest that once oxygenic photosynthesis evolved, microaerophilic chemolithotrophic iron oxidizers were likely important drivers of iron mineralization in ancient oceans.}, } @article {pmid27383818, year = {2016}, author = {Li, J and Ó Foighil, D and Strong, EE}, title = {Commensal associations and benthic habitats shape macroevolution of the bivalve clade Galeommatoidea.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1834}, pages = {}, pmid = {27383818}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Bivalvia/*classification ; Ecosystem ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The great diversity of marine life has been shaped by the interplay between abiotic and biotic factors. Among different biotic interactions, symbiosis is an important yet less studied phenomenon. Here, we tested how symbiotic associations affected marine diversification, using the bivalve superfamily Galeommatoidea as a study system. This superfamily contains large numbers of obligate commensal as well as free-living species and is therefore amenable to comparative approaches. We constructed a global molecular phylogeny of Galeommatoidea and compared macroevolutionary patterns between free-living and commensal lineages. Our analyses inferred that commensalism/sediment-dwelling is likely to be the ancestral condition of Galeommatoidea and that secondary invasions of hard-bottom habitats linked to the loss of commensalism. One major clade containing most of the free-living species exhibits a 2-4 times higher diversification rate than that of the commensals, likely driven by frequent niche partitioning in highly heterogeneous hard-bottom habitats. However, commensal clades show much higher within-clade morphological disparity, likely promoted by their intimate associations with diverse hosts. Our study highlights the importance of interactions between different ecological factors in shaping marine macroevolution and that biotic factors cannot be ignored if we wish to fully understand processes that generate marine biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid27383683, year = {2016}, author = {Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Honma, H and Nakagome, M and Nagata, M and Yamaya-Ito, H and Sano, Y and Hiraoka, N and Ikemi, T and Suzuki, A and Okazaki, S and Minamisawa, K and Yokoyama, T}, title = {Growth Rate of and Gene Expression in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 due to a Mutation in blr7984, a TetR Family Transcriptional Regulator Gene.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {249-259}, pmid = {27383683}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; *Genes, Regulator ; *Mutation ; Repressor Proteins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Previous transcriptome analyses have suggested that a gene cluster including a transcriptional regulator (blr7984) of the tetracycline repressor family was markedly down-regulated in symbiosis. Since blr7984 is annotated to be the transcriptional repressor, we hypothesized that it is involved in the repression of genes in the genomic cluster including blr7984 in symbiotic bacteroids. In order to examine the function and involvement of the blr7984 gene in differentiation into bacteroids, we compared the free-living growth/symbiotic phenotype and gene expression between a blr7984-knockout mutant and the wild-type strain of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. The mutant transiently increased the cell growth rate under free-living conditions and nodule numbers over those with the wild-type strain USDA110. The expression of three genes adjacent to the disrupted blr7984 gene was strongly up-regulated in the mutant in free-living and symbiotic cells. The mutant also induced the expression of genes for glutathione S-transferase, cytochrome c oxidases, ABC transporters, PTS sugar transport systems, and flagella synthesis under free-living conditions. bll7983 encoding glutathione S-transferase was up-regulated the most by the blr7984 disruption. Since redox regulation by glutathione is known to be involved in cell division in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the strong expression of glutathione S-transferase encoded by the bll7983 gene may have caused redox changes in mutant cells, which resulted in higher rates of cell division.}, } @article {pmid27383628, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, LY and Cai, J and Li, RJ and Liu, W and Wagner, C and Wong, KB and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {A single amino acid substitution in a chitinase of the legume Medicago truncatula is sufficient to gain Nod-factor hydrolase activity.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {27383628}, issn = {2046-2441}, mesh = {*Amino Acid Substitution ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry ; Chitinases/*genetics/*metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Engineering ; Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and legumes depends on lipo-chitooligosaccharidic Nod-factors (NFs). The NF hydrolase MtNFH1 of Medicago truncatula is a symbiotic enzyme that hydrolytically inactivates NFs with a C16 : 2 acyl chain produced by the microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. MtNFH1 is related to class V chitinases (glycoside hydrolase family 18) but lacks chitinase activity. Here, we investigated the substrate specificity of MtNFH1-related proteins. MtCHIT5a and MtCHIT5b of M. truncatula as well as LjCHIT5 of Lotus japonicus showed chitinase activity, suggesting a role in plant defence. The enzymes failed to hydrolyse NFs from S. meliloti. NFs from Rhizobium leguminosarum with a C18 : 4 acyl moiety were neither hydrolysed by these chitinases nor by MtNFH1. Construction of chimeric proteins and further amino acid replacements in MtCHIT5b were performed to identify chitinase variants that gained the ability to hydrolyse NFs. A single serine-to-proline substitution was sufficient to convert MtCHIT5b into an NF-cleaving enzyme. MtNFH1 with the corresponding proline-to-serine substitution failed to hydrolyse NFs. These results are in agreement with a substrate-enzyme model that predicts NF cleavage when the C16 : 2 moiety is placed into a distinct fatty acid-binding cleft. Our findings support the view that MtNFH1 evolved from the ancestral MtCHIT5b by gene duplication and subsequent symbiosis-related neofunctionalization.}, } @article {pmid27379128, year = {2016}, author = {Checcucci, A and Azzarello, E and Bazzicalupo, M and Galardini, M and Lagomarsino, A and Mancuso, S and Marti, L and Marzano, MC and Mocali, S and Squartini, A and Zanardo, M and Mengoni, A}, title = {Mixed Nodule Infection in Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago sativa Symbiosis Suggest the Presence of Cheating Behavior.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {835}, pmid = {27379128}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes, host plants can form symbiotic root nodules with multiple rhizobial strains, potentially showing different symbiotic performances in nitrogen fixation. Here, we investigated the presence of mixed nodules, containing rhizobia with different degrees of mutualisms, and evaluate their relative fitness in the Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago sativa model symbiosis. We used three S. meliloti strains, the mutualist strains Rm1021 and BL225C and the non-mutualist AK83. We performed competition experiments involving both in vitro and in vivo symbiotic assays with M. sativa host plants. We show the occurrence of a high number (from 27 to 100%) of mixed nodules with no negative effect on both nitrogen fixation and plant growth. The estimation of the relative fitness as non-mutualist/mutualist ratios in single nodules shows that in some nodules the non-mutualist strain efficiently colonized root nodules along with the mutualist ones. In conclusion, we can support the hypothesis that in S. meliloti-M. sativa symbiosis mixed nodules are formed and allow non-mutualist or less-mutualist bacterial partners to be less or not sanctioned by the host plant, hence allowing a potential form of cheating behavior to be present in the nitrogen fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27379081, year = {2016}, author = {Margarita, V and Rappelli, P and Dessì, D and Pintus, G and Hirt, RP and Fiori, PL}, title = {Symbiotic Association with Mycoplasma hominis Can Influence Growth Rate, ATP Production, Cytolysis and Inflammatory Response of Trichomonas vaginalis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {953}, pmid = {27379081}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between the parasitic protist Trichomonas vaginalis and the opportunistic bacterium Mycoplasma hominis is the only one currently described involving two obligate human mucosal symbionts with pathogenic capabilities that can cause independent diseases in the same anatomical site: the lower urogenital tract. Although several aspects of this intriguing microbial partnership have been investigated, many questions on the influence of this symbiosis on the parasite pathobiology still remain unanswered. Here, we examined with in vitro cultures how M. hominis could influence the pathobiology of T. vaginalis by investigating the influence of M. hominis on parasite replication rate, haemolytic activity and ATP production. By comparing isogenic mycoplasma-free T. vaginalis and parasites stably associated with M. hominis we could demonstrate that the latter show a higher replication rate, increased haemolytic activity and are able to produce larger amounts of ATP. In addition, we demonstrated in a T. vaginalis-macrophage co-culture system that M. hominis could modulate an aspect of the innate immuno-response to T. vaginalis infections by influencing the production of nitric oxide (NO) by human macrophages, with the parasite-bacteria symbiosis outcompeting the human cells for the key substrate arginine. These results support a model in which the symbiosis between T. vaginalis and M. hominis influences host-microbes interactions to the benefit of both microbial partners during infections and to the detriment of their host.}, } @article {pmid27379080, year = {2016}, author = {Davis-Richardson, AG and Russell, JT and Dias, R and McKinlay, AJ and Canepa, R and Fagen, JR and Rusoff, KT and Drew, JC and Kolaczkowski, B and Emerich, DW and Triplett, EW}, title = {Corrigendum: Integrating DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Data in the Development of the Soybean-Bradyrhizobium N2-Fixing Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {952}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2016.00952}, pmid = {27379080}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article on p. 518 in vol. 7, PMID: 27148207.].}, } @article {pmid27378076, year = {2016}, author = {Wurch, L and Giannone, RJ and Belisle, BS and Swift, C and Utturkar, S and Hettich, RL and Reysenbach, AL and Podar, M}, title = {Genomics-informed isolation and characterization of a symbiotic Nanoarchaeota system from a terrestrial geothermal environment.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {12115}, pmid = {27378076}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Chromosome Mapping ; Crenarchaeota/classification/*genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Gene Expression ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Genomics/methods ; Hot Springs ; Nanoarchaeota/classification/*genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Biological features can be inferred, based on genomic data, for many microbial lineages that remain uncultured. However, cultivation is important for characterizing an organism's physiology and testing its genome-encoded potential. Here we use single-cell genomics to infer cultivation conditions for the isolation of an ectosymbiotic Nanoarchaeota ('Nanopusillus acidilobi') and its host (Acidilobus, a crenarchaeote) from a terrestrial geothermal environment. The cells of 'Nanopusillus' are among the smallest known cellular organisms (100-300 nm). They appear to have a complete genetic information processing machinery, but lack almost all primary biosynthetic functions as well as respiration and ATP synthesis. Genomic and proteomic comparison with its distant relative, the marine Nanoarchaeum equitans illustrate an ancient, common evolutionary history of adaptation of the Nanoarchaeota to ectosymbiosis, so far unique among the Archaea.}, } @article {pmid27377166, year = {2016}, author = {Sanders, WB and Pérez-Ortega, S and Nelsen, MP and Lücking, R and de Los Ríos, A}, title = {Heveochlorella (Trebouxiophyceae): a little-known genus of unicellular green algae outside the Trebouxiales emerges unexpectedly as a major clade of lichen photobionts in foliicolous communities.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {52}, number = {5}, pages = {840-853}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12446}, pmid = {27377166}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/genetics ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Algal/genetics ; Florida ; Lichens/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Foliicolous lichens are formed by diverse, highly specialized fungi that establish themselves and complete their life cycle within the brief duration of their leaf substratum. Over half of these lichen-forming fungi are members of either the Gomphillaceae or Pilocarpaceae, and associate with Trebouxia-like green algae whose identities have never been positively determined. We investigated the phylogenetic affinities of these photobionts to better understand their role in lichen establishment on an ephemeral surface. Thallus samples of Gomphillaceae and Pilocarpaceae were collected from foliicolous communities in southwest Florida and processed for sequencing of photobiont marker genes, algal cultivation and/or TEM. Additional specimens from these families and also from Aspidothelium (Thelenellaceae) were collected from a variety of substrates globally. Sequences from rbcL and nuSSU regions were obtained and subjected to Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Analysis of 37 rbcL and 7 nuSSU algal sequences placed all photobionts studied within the provisional trebouxiophycean assemblage known as the Watanabea clade. All but three of the sequences showed affinities within Heveochlorella, a genus recently described from tree trunks in East Asia. The photobiont chloroplast showed multiple thylakoid stacks penetrating the pyrenoid centripetally as tubules lined with pyrenoglobuli, similar to the two described species of Heveochlorella. We conclude that Heveochlorella includes algae of potentially major importance as lichen photobionts, particularly within (but not limited to) foliicolous communities in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The ease with which they may be cultivated on minimal media suggests their potential to thrive free-living as well as in lichen symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27376399, year = {2016}, author = {Shi, M and Zhao, S and Wang, ZH and Stanley, D and Chen, XX}, title = {Cotesia vestalis parasitization suppresses expression of a Plutella xylostella thioredoxin.}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {679-688}, doi = {10.1111/imb.12252}, pmid = {27376399}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/*physiology ; Fat Body/metabolism ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Larva/genetics/parasitology/physiology ; Male ; Moths/*genetics/metabolism/*parasitology ; Pupa/genetics/parasitology/physiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Thioredoxins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Thioredoxins (Trxs) are a family of small, highly conserved and ubiquitous proteins involved in protecting organisms against toxic reactive oxygen species. In this study, a typical thioredoxin gene, PxTrx, was isolated from Plutella xylostella. The full-length cDNA sequence is composed of 959 bp containing a 321 bp open reading frame that encodes a predicted protein of 106 amino acids, a predicted molecular weight of 11.7 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.03. PxTrx was mainly expressed in larval Malpighian tubules and the fat body. An enriched recombinant PxTrx had insulin disulphide reductase activity and stimulated Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK293) cell proliferation. It also protected supercoiled DNA and living HEK293 cells from H2 O2 -induced damage. Parasitization by Cotesia vestalis and injections of 0.05 and 0.01 equivalents of C. vestalis Bracovirus (CvBv), the symbiotic virus carried by the parasitoid, led to down-regulation of PxTrx expression in host fat body. Taken together, our results indicate that PxTrx contributes to the maintenance of P. xylostella cellular haemostasis. Host fat body expression of PxTrx is strongly attenuated by parasitization and by injections of CvBv.}, } @article {pmid27375649, year = {2016}, author = {Damiani, I and Drain, A and Guichard, M and Balzergue, S and Boscari, A and Boyer, JC and Brunaud, V and Cottaz, S and Rancurel, C and Da Rocha, M and Fizames, C and Fort, S and Gaillard, I and Maillol, V and Danchin, EG and Rouached, H and Samain, E and Su, YH and Thouin, J and Touraine, B and Puppo, A and Frachisse, JM and Pauly, N and Sentenac, H}, title = {Nod Factor Effects on Root Hair-Specific Transcriptome of Medicago truncatula: Focus on Plasma Membrane Transport Systems and Reactive Oxygen Species Networks.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {794}, pmid = {27375649}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root hairs are involved in water and nutrient uptake, and thereby in plant autotrophy. In legumes, they also play a crucial role in establishment of rhizobial symbiosis. To obtain a holistic view of Medicago truncatula genes expressed in root hairs and of their regulation during the first hours of the engagement in rhizobial symbiotic interaction, a high throughput RNA sequencing on isolated root hairs from roots challenged or not with lipochitooligosaccharides Nod factors (NF) for 4 or 20 h was carried out. This provided a repertoire of genes displaying expression in root hairs, responding or not to NF, and specific or not to legumes. In analyzing the transcriptome dataset, special attention was paid to pumps, transporters, or channels active at the plasma membrane, to other proteins likely to play a role in nutrient ion uptake, NF electrical and calcium signaling, control of the redox status or the dynamic reprogramming of root hair transcriptome induced by NF treatment, and to the identification of papilionoid legume-specific genes expressed in root hairs. About 10% of the root hair expressed genes were significantly up- or down-regulated by NF treatment, suggesting their involvement in remodeling plant functions to allow establishment of the symbiotic relationship. For instance, NF-induced changes in expression of genes encoding plasma membrane transport systems or disease response proteins indicate that root hairs reduce their involvement in nutrient ion absorption and adapt their immune system in order to engage in the symbiotic interaction. It also appears that the redox status of root hair cells is tuned in response to NF perception. In addition, 1176 genes that could be considered as "papilionoid legume-specific" were identified in the M. truncatula root hair transcriptome, from which 141 were found to possess an ortholog in every of the six legume genomes that we considered, suggesting their involvement in essential functions specific to legumes. This transcriptome provides a valuable resource to investigate root hair biology in legumes and the roles that these cells play in rhizobial symbiosis establishment. These results could also contribute to the long-term objective of transferring this symbiotic capacity to non-legume plants.}, } @article {pmid27375642, year = {2016}, author = {Konvalinková, T and Jansa, J}, title = {Lights Off for Arbuscular Mycorrhiza: On Its Symbiotic Functioning under Light Deprivation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {782}, pmid = {27375642}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants are often exposed to shade over different time scales and this may substantially affect not only their own growth, but also development and functioning of the energetically dependent organisms. Among those, the root symbionts such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobia represent particularly important cases-on the one hand, they consume a significant share of plant carbon (C) budget and, on the other, they generate a number of important nutritional feedbacks on their plant hosts, often resulting in a net positive effect on their host growth and/or fitness. Here we discuss our previous results comparing mycorrhizal performance under different intensities and durations of shade (Konvalinková et al., 2015) in a broader context of previously published literature. Additionally, we review publicly available knowledge on the root colonization and mycorrhizal growth responses in AM plants under light deprivation. Experimental evidence shows that sudden and intensive decrease of light availability to a mycorrhizal plant triggers rapid deactivation of phosphorus transfer from the AM fungus to the plant already within a few days, implying active and rapid response of the AM fungus to the energetic status of its plant host. When AM plants are exposed to intensive shading on longer time scales (weeks to months), positive mycorrhizal growth responses (MGR) are often decreasing and may eventually become negative. This is most likely due to the high C cost of the symbiosis relative to the C availability, and failure of plants to fully compensate for the fungal C demand under low light. Root colonization by AM fungi often declines under low light intensities, although the active role of plants in regulating the extent of root colonization has not yet been unequivocally demonstrated. Quantitative information on the rates and dynamics of C transfer from the plant to the fungus is mostly missing, as is the knowledge on the involved molecular mechanisms. Therefore, these subjects deserve particular attention in the future.}, } @article {pmid27375597, year = {2016}, author = {Peeters, C and Meier-Kolthoff, JP and Verheyde, B and De Brandt, E and Cooper, VS and Vandamme, P}, title = {Phylogenomic Study of Burkholderia glathei-like Organisms, Proposal of 13 Novel Burkholderia Species and Emended Descriptions of Burkholderia sordidicola, Burkholderia zhejiangensis, and Burkholderia grimmiae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {877}, pmid = {27375597}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM110444/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Partial gyrB gene sequence analysis of 17 isolates from human and environmental sources revealed 13 clusters of strains and identified them as Burkholderia glathei clade (BGC) bacteria. The taxonomic status of these clusters was examined by whole-genome sequence analysis, determination of the G+C content, whole-cell fatty acid analysis and biochemical characterization. The whole-genome sequence-based phylogeny was assessed using the Genome Blast Distance Phylogeny (GBDP) method and an extended multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) approach. The results demonstrated that these 17 BGC isolates represented 13 novel Burkholderia species that could be distinguished by both genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. BGC strains exhibited a broad metabolic versatility and developed beneficial, symbiotic, and pathogenic interactions with different hosts. Our data also confirmed that there is no phylogenetic subdivision in the genus Burkholderia that distinguishes beneficial from pathogenic strains. We therefore propose to formally classify the 13 novel BGC Burkholderia species as Burkholderia arvi sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29317(T) = CCUG 68412(T)), Burkholderia hypogeia sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29322(T) = CCUG 68407(T)), Burkholderia ptereochthonis sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29326(T) = CCUG 68403(T)), Burkholderia glebae sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29325(T) = CCUG 68404(T)), Burkholderia pedi sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29323(T) = CCUG 68406(T)), Burkholderia arationis sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29324(T) = CCUG 68405(T)), Burkholderia fortuita sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29320(T) = CCUG 68409(T)), Burkholderia temeraria sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29319(T) = CCUG 68410(T)), Burkholderia calidae sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29321(T) = CCUG 68408(T)), Burkholderia concitans sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29315(T) = CCUG 68414(T)), Burkholderia turbans sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29316(T) = CCUG 68413(T)), Burkholderia catudaia sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29318(T) = CCUG 68411(T)) and Burkholderia peredens sp. nov. (type strain LMG 29314(T) = CCUG 68415(T)). Furthermore, we present emended descriptions of the species Burkholderia sordidicola, Burkholderia zhejiangensis and Burkholderia grimmiae. The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences determined in this study are LT158612-LT158624 and LT158625-LT158641, respectively.}, } @article {pmid27375564, year = {2016}, author = {Laffy, PW and Wood-Charlson, EM and Turaev, D and Weynberg, KD and Botté, ES and van Oppen, MJ and Webster, NS and Rattei, T}, title = {HoloVir: A Workflow for Investigating the Diversity and Function of Viruses in Invertebrate Holobionts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {822}, pmid = {27375564}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Abundant bioinformatics resources are available for the study of complex microbial metagenomes, however their utility in viral metagenomics is limited. HoloVir is a robust and flexible data analysis pipeline that provides an optimized and validated workflow for taxonomic and functional characterization of viral metagenomes derived from invertebrate holobionts. Simulated viral metagenomes comprising varying levels of viral diversity and abundance were used to determine the optimal assembly and gene prediction strategy, and multiple sequence assembly methods and gene prediction tools were tested in order to optimize our analysis workflow. HoloVir performs pairwise comparisons of single read and predicted gene datasets against the viral RefSeq database to assign taxonomy and additional comparison to phage-specific and cellular markers is undertaken to support the taxonomic assignments and identify potential cellular contamination. Broad functional classification of the predicted genes is provided by assignment of COG microbial functional category classifications using EggNOG and higher resolution functional analysis is achieved by searching for enrichment of specific Swiss-Prot keywords within the viral metagenome. Application of HoloVir to viral metagenomes from the coral Pocillopora damicornis and the sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile demonstrated that HoloVir provides a valuable tool to characterize holobiont viral communities across species, environments, or experiments.}, } @article {pmid27375490, year = {2016}, author = {Klippel, BF and Duemke, LB and Leal, MA and Friques, AG and Dantas, EM and Dalvi, RF and Gava, AL and Pereira, TM and Andrade, TU and Meyrelles, SS and Campagnaro, BP and Vasquez, EC}, title = {Effects of Kefir on the Cardiac Autonomic Tones and Baroreflex Sensitivity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {211}, pmid = {27375490}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {AIMS: It has been previously shown that the probiotic kefir (a symbiotic matrix containing acid bacteria and yeasts) attenuated the hypertension and the endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In the present study, the effect of chronic administration of kefir on the cardiac autonomic control of heart rate (HR) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in SHR was evaluated.

METHODS: SHR were treated with kefir (0.3 mL/100 g body weight) for 60 days and compared with non-treated SHR and with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Cardiac autonomic vagal (VT) and sympathetic (ST) tones were estimated through the blockade of the cardiac muscarinic receptors (methylatropine) and the blockade of β1-adrenoceptor (atenolol). The BRS was evaluated by the tachycardia and bradycardia responses to vasoactive drug-induced decreases and increases in arterial blood pressure (BP), respectively. Additionally, spontaneous BRS was estimated by autoregressive spectral analysis.

RESULTS: Kefir-treated SHR exhibited significant attenuation of basal BP, HR, and cardiac hypertrophy compared to non-treated SHR (12, 13, and 21%, respectively). Cardiac VT and ST were significantly altered in the SHR (~40 and ~90 bpm) compared with Wistar rats (~120 and ~30 bpm) and were partially recovered in SHR-kefir (~90 and ~25 bpm). SHR exhibited an impaired bradycardic BRS (~50%) compared with Wistar rats, which was reduced to ~40% in the kefir-treated SHR and abolished by methylatropine in all groups. SHR also exhibited a significant impairment of the tachycardic BRS (~23%) compared with Wistar rats and this difference was reduced to 8% in the SHR-kefir. Under the action of atenolol the residual reflex tachycardia was smaller in SHR than in Wistar rats and kefir attenuated this abnormality. Spectral analysis revealed increased low frequency components of BP (~3.5-fold) and pulse interval (~2-fold) compared with Wistar rats and these differences were reduced by kefir-treatment to ~1.6- and ~1.5-fold, respectively. Spectral analysis also showed an impairment of spontaneous BRS in SHR, but kefir-treatment caused only a tendency to reverse this result.

CONCLUSIONS: The novelty of this study is that daily chronic consumption of a low dose of kefir reduced the impairment of the cardiac autonomic control of HR and of the impaired BRS in SHR.}, } @article {pmid27374981, year = {2016}, author = {Simmonds, TJ and Carrillo, D and Burke, GR}, title = {Characterization of a venom gland-associated rhabdovirus in the parasitoid wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {91-92}, number = {}, pages = {48-55}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.06.009}, pmid = {27374981}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Genome, Viral ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/growth & development/parasitology/physiology/virology ; Phylogeny ; Rhabdoviridae/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/parasitology ; Viral Proteins/*genetics ; Wasps/growth & development/physiology/*virology ; }, abstract = {Parasitoid wasps reproduce by laying their eggs on or inside of a host insect, which triggers a defense response in the host insect that kills the developing wasp. To counteract the host's lethal response, some parasitoid wasps are associated with symbiotic viruses that alter host metabolism and development to promote successful development of the wasp embryo. These symbiotic viruses display a number of characteristics that differ from those of pathogenic viruses, but are poorly understood with the exception of one group, the polydnaviruses. Here, we characterize the genome of a non-polydnavirus associated with parasitoid wasps, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata rhabdovirus (DlRhV), and assess its role as a potential mutualistic virus. Our results show that the DlRhV genome contains six open reading frames (ORFs). Three ORFs show sequence homology to known viral genes and one ORF encodes a previously identified protein, called parasitism-specific protein 24 (PSP24), that has been hypothesized to play a role in promoting successful parasitism by D. longicaudata. We constructed a phylogeny that shows that DlRhV is most closely related to other insect-infecting rhabdoviruses. Finally, we report that DlRhV infection does not occur in all populations of D. longicaudata, and is not required for successful parasitism.}, } @article {pmid27373707, year = {2016}, author = {Brune, A}, title = {Co-evolution of marine worms and their chemoautotrophic bacterial symbionts: unexpected host switches explained by ecological fitting?.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {13}, pages = {2964-2966}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13688}, pmid = {27373707}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification ; Nematoda/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic associations of bacteria and invertebrates are widespread and encompass an enormous diversity on the side of both partners. The advantages gained from the symbiosis favour reciprocal adaptations that increase the stability of the association and can lead to codiversification of symbiont and host. While numerous examples of a strictly vertical transfer of the symbionts from parent to offspring among intracellular associations abound, little is known about the fidelity of the partners in extracellular associations, where symbionts colonize the surface or body cavity of their host. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Zimmermann et al. () investigated the evolutionary history of the symbiotic association between a monophyletic clade of sulphur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria and two distantly related lineages of marine worms (nematodes and annelids). The study supports the surprising conclusion that partner fidelity does not necessarily increase with the intimacy of the association. Ectosymbionts on the cuticle of the nematodes seem to be cospeciating with their hosts, whereas endosymbionts housed in the body cavity of the annelids must have originated multiple times, probably by host switching, from ectosymbionts of sympatric nematodes. This excellent case study on the evolutionary history of invertebrate-microbe interactions supports the emerging concept that the co-evolutionary processes shaping such mutualistic symbioses include both codiversification and ecological fitting.}, } @article {pmid27373538, year = {2016}, author = {Yasuda, M and Miwa, H and Masuda, S and Takebayashi, Y and Sakakibara, H and Okazaki, S}, title = {Effector-Triggered Immunity Determines Host Genotype-Specific Incompatibility in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {57}, number = {8}, pages = {1791-1800}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcw104}, pmid = {27373538}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Soybeans/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*immunology ; *Transcriptome ; Type III Secretion Systems ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia leads to the formation of N2-fixing root nodules. In soybean, several host genes, referred to as Rj genes, control nodulation. Soybean cultivars carrying the Rj4 gene restrict nodulation by specific rhizobia such as Bradyrhizobium elkanii We previously reported that the restriction of nodulation was caused by B. elkanii possessing a functional type III secretion system (T3SS), which is known for its delivery of virulence factors by pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, we investigated the molecular basis for the T3SS-dependent nodulation restriction in Rj4 soybean. Inoculation tests revealed that soybean cultivar BARC-2 (Rj4/Rj4) restricted nodulation by B. elkanii USDA61, whereas its nearly isogenic line BARC-3 (rj4/rj4) formed nitrogen-fixing nodules with the same strain. Root-hair curling and infection threads were not observed in the roots of BARC-2 inoculated with USDA61, indicating that Rj4 blocked B. elkanii infection in the early stages. Accumulation of H2O2 and salicylic acid (SA) was observed in the roots of BARC-2 inoculated with USDA61. Transcriptome analyses revealed that inoculation of USDA61, but not its T3SS mutant in BARC-2, induced defense-related genes, including those coding for hypersensitive-induced responsive protein, which act in effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in Arabidopsis. These findings suggest that B. elkanii T3SS triggers the SA-mediated ETI-type response in Rj4 soybean, which consequently blocks symbiotic interactions. This study revealed a common molecular mechanism underlying both plant-pathogen and plant-symbiont interactions, and suggests that establishment of a root nodule symbiosis requires the evasion or suppression of plant immune responses triggered by rhizobial effectors.}, } @article {pmid27372872, year = {2016}, author = {Mazzocca, A and Ferraro, G and Misciagna, G and Carr, BI}, title = {A systemic evolutionary approach to cancer: Hepatocarcinogenesis as a paradigm.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {132-137}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2016.05.027}, pmid = {27372872}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fibrosis ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Systems Biology ; Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {The systemic evolutionary theory of cancer pathogenesis posits that cancer is generated by the de-emergence of the eukaryotic cell system and by the re-emergence of its archaea (genetic material and cytoplasm) and prokaryotic (mitochondria) subsystems with an uncoordinated behavior. This decreased coordination can be caused by a change in the organization of the eukaryote environment (mainly chronic inflammation), damage to mitochondrial DNA and/or to its membrane composition by many agents (e.g. viruses, chemicals, hydrogenated fatty acids in foods) or damage to nuclear DNA that controls mitochondrial energy production or metabolic pathways, including glycolysis. Here, we postulate that the two subsystems (the evolutionarily inherited archaea and the prokaryote) in a eukaryotic differentiated cell are well integrated, and produce the amount of clean energy that is constantly required to maintain the differentiated status. Conversely, when protracted injuries impair cell or tissue organization, the amount of energy necessary to maintain cell differentiation can be restricted, and this may cause gradual de-differentiation of the eukaryotic cell over time. In cirrhotic liver, for example, this process can be favored by reduced oxygen availability to the organ due to an altered vasculature and the fibrotic barrier caused by the disease. Thus, hepatocarcinogenesis is an ideal example to support our hypothesis. When cancer arises, the pre-eukaryote subsystems become predominant, as shown by the metabolic alterations of cancer cells (anaerobic glycolysis and glutamine utilization), and by their capacity for proliferation and invasion, resembling the primitive symbiotic components of the eukaryotic cell.}, } @article {pmid27371387, year = {2016}, author = {Heath-Heckman, EA}, title = {The Metronome of Symbiosis: Interactions Between Microbes and the Host Circadian Clock.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {56}, number = {5}, pages = {776-783}, pmid = {27371387}, issn = {1557-7023}, support = {F32 NS095665/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Circadian Clocks ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; *Microbiological Phenomena ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The entrainment of circadian rhythms, physiological cycles with a period of about 24 h, is regulated by a variety of mechanisms, including nonvisual photoreception. While circadian rhythms have been shown to be integral to many processes in multicellular organisms, including immune regulation, the effect of circadian rhythms on symbiosis, or host-microbe interactions, has only recently begun to be studied. This review summarizes recent work in the interactions of both pathogenic and mutualistic associations with host and symbiont circadian rhythms, focusing specifically on three mutualistic systems in which this phenomenon has been best studied. One important theme taken from these studies is the fact that mutualisms are profoundly affected by the circadian rhythms of the host, but that the microbial symbionts in these associations can, in turn, manipulate host rhythms. The interplay between circadian rhythms and symbiosis is a promising new field with effects that should be kept in mind when designing future studies across biology.}, } @article {pmid27365420, year = {2016}, author = {Ohishi, K and Yamamoto, M and Tame, A and Kusaka, C and Nagai, Y and Sugimura, M and Inoue, K and Uematsu, K and Yoshida, T and Ikuta, T and Toyofuku, T and Maruyama, T}, title = {Long-term Cultivation of the Deep-Sea Clam Calyptogena okutanii: Changes in the Abundance of Chemoautotrophic Symbiont, Elemental Sulfur, and Mucus.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {230}, number = {3}, pages = {257-267}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv230n3p257}, pmid = {27365420}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Gills/chemistry/microbiology ; Mucus/chemistry ; Mytilidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Sulfur/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Survival of deep-sea Calyptogena clams depends on organic carbon produced by symbiotic, sulfur-oxidizing, autotrophic bacteria present in the epithelial cells of the gill. To understand the mechanism underlying this symbiosis, the development of a long-term cultivation system is essential. We cultivated specimens of Calyptogena okutanii in an artificial chemosynthetic aquarium with a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) supply system provided by the sulfate reduction of dog food buried in the sediment. We studied morphological and histochemical changes in the clams' gills by immunohistochemical and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The freshly collected clams contained a high amount of elemental sulfur in the gill epithelial cells, as well as densely packed symbiotic bacteria. Neither elemental sulfur nor symbiotic bacteria was detected in any other organs except the ovaries, where symbiotic bacteria, but not sulfur, was detected. The longest survival of an individual clam in this aquarium was 151 days. In the 3 clams dissected on Days 57 and 91 of the experiment, no elemental sulfur was detected in the gills. The symbiotic bacteria content had significantly decreased by Day 57, and was absent by Day 91. For comparison, we also studied the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus septemdierum, which harbors a phylogenetically close, sulfur-oxidizing, symbiotic bacterium with similar sulfur oxidation pathways. Sulfur particles were not detected, even in the gills of the freshly collected mussels. We discuss the importance of the proportion of available H2S and oxygen to the bivalves for elemental sulfur accumulation. Storage of nontoxic elemental sulfur, an energy source, seems to be an adaptive strategy of C. okutanii.}, } @article {pmid27363169, year = {2016}, author = {Luo, PC and Li, H and Wang, SG}, title = {[Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) on Tolerance of Cattail to Cd Stress in Aquatic Environment].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {750-755}, pmid = {27363169}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Cadmium/*toxicity ; Environmental Pollution ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Leaves/drug effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Typhaceae/*drug effects/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Hygrophytes are planted more and more in landscaping and greening in many cities, but they often encounter threat from environmental pollution. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) have been confirmed to enhance the tolerance of terrestrial plants to environmental pollution in many previous studies, but it is unclear how they affect hygrophytes. In the present study, a hydroponic culture experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of AM fungi (Glomus etunicatum) inoculation on the tolerance of cattail (Typha latifolia) to different concentrations Cd2+ (0, 2.5, 5.0 mg x L(-1)). The aim was to provide reference for evaluating whether mycorrhizal technology can be used to enhance the tolerance of hygrophytes to environmental pollution. The results showed that symbiotic association was well established between AM fungi and cattail roots, and the mycorrhizal colonization rates (MCR) were beyond 30%. However, MCR presented downward trend one month after mycorrhizal cattails were transported to solution, and the maximal decrease was 25.5% (P < 0.05). AM increased pigment concentrations and peroxidase (POD) activity in cattail leaves, and also increased roots radial oxygen loss. However, AM only produced significant effect on increase of fresh weight in 5 mg x L(-1) Cd2+ solution. Although plant growth was inhibited by 5 mg x L(-1) Cd2+ and MCR was lower, AM increased Cd uptake of cattail at the two Cd2+ levels, and the maximal increments were 40.24% and 56.52% in aboveground and underground parts, respectively. This study indicates that AM has potential to enhance the tolerance of hygrophytes to environmental pollution and might be used to remedy heavy metal pollution.}, } @article {pmid27362408, year = {2016}, author = {Duron, O and Noël, V}, title = {A wide diversity of Pantoea lineages are engaged in mutualistic symbiosis and cospeciation processes with stinkbugs.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {715-727}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12432}, pmid = {27362408}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Pantoea are emerging as widespread bacteria engaged in associations with a variety of hosts, including plants, insects and humans. Recently, mutualistic Pantoea gut symbionts have also been reported in pentatomid stinkbugs. In the present study, we examine the incidence and evolutionary history of these Pantoea symbionts in pentatomid stinkbug populations from 14 species, characterising the processes that shape their diversity. We identify midgut crypts of pentatomid stinkbugs as harboring a remarkable diversity of Pantoea. Present in 10 of the 14 sampled host species, multi-locus typing revealed the presence of 10 novel Panteoa lineages, all highly differentiated from the known Panteoa species. Rearing experiments of two pentatomid stinkbug species confirmed that these novel Panteoa are maternally inherited through egg smearing and engaged in mutualistic interactions with their hosts. Phylogenetic investigations further revealed that the Pantoea evolutionary history in pentatomid stinkbugs was notably complex: it has been shaped not only by horizontal transfers with frequent host turnover but also by strict vertical transmission over long evolutionary periods, resulting in host-symbiont codiversification.}, } @article {pmid27362299, year = {2016}, author = {Ait Lahmidi, N and Courty, PE and Brulé, D and Chatagnier, O and Arnould, C and Doidy, J and Berta, G and Lingua, G and Wipf, D and Bonneau, L}, title = {Sugar exchanges in arbuscular mycorrhiza: RiMST5 and RiMST6, two novel Rhizophagus irregularis monosaccharide transporters, are involved in both sugar uptake from the soil and from the plant partner.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {354-363}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.06.023}, pmid = {27362299}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Light ; Medicago/genetics/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Monosaccharides/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; Stress, Physiological/genetics/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are associated with about 80% of land plants. AM fungi provide inorganic nutrients to plants and in return up to 20% of the plant-fixed CO2 is transferred to the fungal symbionts. Since AM fungi are obligate biotrophs, unraveling how sugars are provided to the fungus partner is a key for understanding the functioning of the symbiosis. In this study, we identified two new monosaccharide transporters from Rhizophagus irregularis (RiMST5 and RiMST6) that we characterized as functional high affinity monosaccharide transporters. RiMST6 was characterized as a glucose specific, high affinity H(+) co-transporter. We provide experimental support for a primary role of both RiMST5 and RiMST6 in sugar uptake directly from the soil. The expression patterns of RiMSTs in response to partial light deprivation and to interaction with different host plants were investigated. Expression of genes coding for RiMSTs was transiently enhanced after 48 h of shading and was unambiguously dependent on the host plant species. These results cast doubt on the 'fair trade' principle under carbon-limiting conditions. Therefore, in light of these findings, the possible mechanisms involved in the modulation between mutualism and parasitism in plant-AM fungus interactions are discussed.}, } @article {pmid27359330, year = {2016}, author = {Khan, AL and Al-Harrasi, A and Al-Rawahi, A and Al-Farsi, Z and Al-Mamari, A and Waqas, M and Asaf, S and Elyassi, A and Mabood, F and Shin, JH and Lee, IJ}, title = {Endophytic Fungi from Frankincense Tree Improves Host Growth and Produces Extracellular Enzymes and Indole Acetic Acid.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0158207}, pmid = {27359330}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/*analysis ; Endophytes/classification/isolation & purification ; Eurotiales/genetics/isolation & purification ; Frankincense/metabolism ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi, Unclassified/genetics/isolation & purification ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; Trees/chemistry/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Boswellia sacra, an economically important frankincense-producing tree found in the desert woodlands of Oman, is least known for its endophytic fungal diversity and the potential of these fungi to produce extracellular enzymes and auxins. We isolated various fungal endophytes belonging to Eurotiales (11.8%), Chaetomiaceae (17.6%), Incertae sadis (29.5%), Aureobasidiaceae (17.6%), Nectriaceae (5.9%) and Sporomiaceae (17.6%) from the phylloplane (leaf) and caulosphere (stem) of the tree. Endophytes were identified using genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing the internal transcribed spacer regions, whereas a detailed phylogenetic analysis of the same gene fragment was made with homologous sequences. The endophytic colonization rate was significantly higher in the leaf (5.33%) than the stem (0.262%). The Shannon-Weiner diversity index was H' 0.8729, while Simpson index was higher in the leaf (0.583) than in the stem (0.416). Regarding the endophytic fungi's potential for extracellular enzyme production, fluorogenic 4-methylumbelliferone standards and substrates were used to determine the presence of cellulases, phosphatases and glucosidases in the pure culture. Among fungal strains, Penicillum citrinum BSL17 showed significantly higher amounts of glucosidases (62.15±1.8 μM-1min-1mL) and cellulases (62.11±1.6 μM-1min-1mL), whereas Preussia sp. BSL10 showed significantly higher secretion of glucosidases (69.4±0.79 μM-1min-1mL) and phosphatases (3.46±0.31μM-1min-1mL) compared to other strains. Aureobasidium sp. BSS6 and Preussia sp. BSL10 showed significantly higher potential for indole acetic acid production (tryptophan-dependent and independent pathways). Preussia sp. BSL10 was applied to the host B. sacra tree saplings, which exhibited significant improvements in plant growth parameters and accumulation of photosynthetic pigments. The current study concluded that endophytic microbial resources producing extracellular enzymes and auxin could establish a unique niche for ecological adaptation during symbiosis with the host Frankincense tree.}, } @article {pmid27359066, year = {2016}, author = {Chitarra, W and Maserti, B and Gambino, G and Guerrieri, E and Balestrini, R}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis-mediated tomato tolerance to drought.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {e1197468}, pmid = {27359066}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A multidisciplinary approach, involving eco-physiological, morphometric, biochemical and molecular analyses, has been used to study the impact of two different AM fungi, i.e. Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, on tomato response to water stress. Overall, results show that AM symbiosis positively affects the tolerance to drought in tomato with a different plant response depending on the involved AM fungal species.}, } @article {pmid27358563, year = {2016}, author = {Wen, L and Zeng, P and Zhang, L and Huang, W and Wang, H and Chen, G}, title = {Symbiosis theory-directed green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their application in infected wound healing.}, journal = {International journal of nanomedicine}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {2757-2767}, pmid = {27358563}, issn = {1178-2013}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Dynamic Light Scattering ; Green Chemistry Technology/*methods ; Hydroxyproline/metabolism ; Inflammation/pathology ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry/ultrastructure ; Nanomedicine ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silver/*pharmacology ; Skin/drug effects ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Wound Healing/*drug effects ; X-Ray Diffraction ; Zingiberaceae/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized for the first time using an antibacterial endophytic fungus of Chinese medicinal herb Orchidantha chinensis, which has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. The AgNPs were analyzed by various characterization techniques to reveal their morphology, chemical composition, and stability. Also, the relationship between Chinese medicinal herbs, endophytic fungi, and the property of AgNPs was investigated for the first time. Interestingly, an experiment performed in this study revealed the proteins produced by the endophytic fungus to be capped on the nanoparticles, which led to an increase in the stability of spherical and polydispersed AgNPs with low aggregation for over 6 months. More importantly, further study demonstrated that the AgNPs possessed superior antibacterial activity and effectively promoted wound healing. Altogether, the biosynthesis of active AgNPs using the endophytic fungus from Chinese medicinal herb based on the symbiosis theory is simple, eco-friendly, and promising.}, } @article {pmid27358374, year = {2016}, author = {Nagelkerken, I and Pitt, KA and Rutte, MD and Geertsma, RC}, title = {Ocean acidification alters fish-jellyfish symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1833}, pages = {}, pmid = {27358374}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Dioxide/chemistry ; Fishes/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Scyphozoa/*physiology ; Seawater/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are common in nature, and are important for individual fitness and sustaining species populations. Global change is rapidly altering environmental conditions, but, with the exception of coral-microalgae interactions, we know little of how this will affect symbiotic relationships. We here test how the effects of ocean acidification, from rising anthropogenic CO2 emissions, may alter symbiotic interactions between juvenile fish and their jellyfish hosts. Fishes treated with elevated seawater CO2 concentrations, as forecast for the end of the century on a business-as-usual greenhouse gas emission scenario, were negatively affected in their behaviour. The total time that fish (yellowtail scad) spent close to their jellyfish host in a choice arena where they could see and smell their host was approximately three times shorter under future compared with ambient CO2 conditions. Likewise, the mean number of attempts to associate with jellyfish was almost three times lower in CO2-treated compared with control fish, while only 63% (high CO2) versus 86% (control) of all individuals tested initiated an association at all. By contrast, none of three fish species tested were attracted solely to jellyfish olfactory cues under present-day CO2 conditions, suggesting that the altered fish-jellyfish association is not driven by negative effects of ocean acidification on olfaction. Because shelter is not widely available in the open water column and larvae of many (and often commercially important) pelagic species associate with jellyfish for protection against predators, modification of the fish-jellyfish symbiosis might lead to higher mortality and alter species population dynamics, and potentially have flow-on effects for their fisheries.}, } @article {pmid27358364, year = {2016}, author = {Luan, JB and Shan, HW and Isermann, P and Huang, JH and Lammerding, J and Liu, SS and Douglas, AE}, title = {Cellular and molecular remodelling of a host cell for vertical transmission of bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1833}, pages = {}, pmid = {27358364}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cytoskeleton/physiology ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Oocytes/*microbiology ; Ovary/*cytology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Various insects require intracellular bacteria that are restricted to specialized cells (bacteriocytes) and are transmitted vertically via the female ovary, but the transmission mechanisms are obscure. We hypothesized that, in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, where intact bacteriocytes (and not isolated bacteria) are transferred to oocytes, the transmission mechanism would be evident as cellular and molecular differences between the nymph (pre-adult) and adult bacteriocytes. We demonstrate dramatic remodelling of bacteriocytes at the developmental transition from nymph to adulthood. This transition involves the loss of cell-cell adhesion, high division rates to constant cell size and onset of cell mobility, enabling the bacteriocytes to crawl to the ovaries. These changes are accompanied by cytoskeleton reorganization and changes in gene expression: genes functioning in cell-cell adhesion display reduced expression and genes involved in cell division, cell motility and endocytosis/exocytosis have elevated expression in adult bacteriocytes, relative to nymph bacteriocytes. This study demonstrates, for the first time, how developmentally orchestrated remodelling of gene expression and correlated changes in cell behaviour underpin the capacity of bacteriocytes to mediate the vertical transmission and persistence of the symbiotic bacteria on which the insect host depends.}, } @article {pmid27357680, year = {2016}, author = {Hatzenpichler, R and Connon, SA and Goudeau, D and Malmstrom, RR and Woyke, T and Orphan, VJ}, title = {Visualizing in situ translational activity for identifying and sorting slow-growing archaeal-bacterial consortia.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {28}, pages = {E4069-78}, pmid = {27357680}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Alkynes/*analysis ; Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/*isolation & purification ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Glycine/*analogs & derivatives/analysis ; Methane ; Microbial Consortia ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Staining and Labeling/*methods ; }, abstract = {To understand the biogeochemical roles of microorganisms in the environment, it is important to determine when and under which conditions they are metabolically active. Bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) can reveal active cells by tracking the incorporation of synthetic amino acids into newly synthesized proteins. The phylogenetic identity of translationally active cells can be determined by combining BONCAT with rRNA-targeted fluorescence in situ hybridization (BONCAT-FISH). In theory, BONCAT-labeled cells could be isolated with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (BONCAT-FACS) for subsequent genetic analyses. Here, in the first application, to our knowledge, of BONCAT-FISH and BONCAT-FACS within an environmental context, we probe the translational activity of microbial consortia catalyzing the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), a dominant sink of methane in the ocean. These consortia, which typically are composed of anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacteria, have been difficult to study due to their slow in situ growth rates, and fundamental questions remain about their ecology and diversity of interactions occurring between ANME and associated partners. Our activity-correlated analyses of >16,400 microbial aggregates provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that AOM consortia affiliated with all five major ANME clades are concurrently active under controlled conditions. Surprisingly, sorting of individual BONCAT-labeled consortia followed by whole-genome amplification and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed previously unrecognized interactions of ANME with members of the poorly understood phylum Verrucomicrobia This finding, together with our observation that ANME-associated Verrucomicrobia are found in a variety of geographically distinct methane seep environments, suggests a broader range of symbiotic relationships within AOM consortia than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid27357160, year = {2016}, author = {Bateman, C and Šigut, M and Skelton, J and Smith, KE and Hulcr, J}, title = {Fungal Associates of the Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) Are Spatially Segregated on the Insect Body.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {883-890}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvw070}, pmid = {27357160}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/genetics/physiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Florida ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Fusarium/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Studies of symbioses have traditionally focused on explaining one-to-one interactions between organisms. In reality, symbioses are often much more dynamic. They can involve many interacting members, and change depending on context. In studies of the ambrosia symbiosis-the mutualism between wood borer beetles and fungi-two variables have introduced uncertainty when explaining interactions: imprecise symbiont identification, and disregard for anatomical complexity of the insects. The black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus Eichhoff, is a globally invasive ambrosia beetle that infests >200 plant species. Despite many studies on this beetle, reports of its primary symbionts are conflicting. We sampled adult X. compactus and infested plant material in central Florida to characterize the fungal symbiont community using dilution series, beetle partitioning, and DNA-based identification. X. compactus was consistently associated with two fungal taxa, Fusarium spp. and Ambrosiella xylebori Multivariate analyses revealed that A. xylebori was strongly associated with the beetle mycangium while Fusarium spp. were associated with the abdomen and external surfaces. The Fusarium spp. carried by X. compactus are not members of the Ambrosia Fusarium Clade, and are probably not mutualists. Fungal community composition of the mycangium was less variable than external body surfaces, thus providing a more consistent fungal inoculum. This is the first report of spatial partitioning as a mechanism for maintenance of a multimember ambrosia fungus community. Our results provide an explanation for discrepancies among previous reports, and suggest that conflicting results are not due to differences in symbiont communities, but due to inconsistent and incomplete sampling.}, } @article {pmid27354649, year = {2016}, author = {Morishima, A and Inagawa, H}, title = {Clinical Effects of Orally Administered Lipopolysaccharide Derived from Pantoea agglomerans on Malignant Tumors.}, journal = {Anticancer research}, volume = {36}, number = {7}, pages = {3747-3751}, pmid = {27354649}, issn = {1791-7530}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/*administration & dosage ; Macrophage Activation/drug effects ; Macrophages/immunology ; Male ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/AIM: It has been reported that oral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) recovers an individual's immune condition and induces the exclusion of foreign matter, inflammation and tissue repair. We orally administered LPS from the wheat symbiotic bacteria Pantoea agglomerans, which has been ingested and proven to be safe, to cancer patients. Our observation of clinical improvements resulting from this treatment are reported.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen cancer patients who exhibited declined small intestinal immune competence were treated between June and September, 2015. Diagnosis was based on our evaluation on small intestinal immune competence and macrophage activity.

RESULTS: The state of malignant tumors at 3 months after starting this treatment was complete recovery for 3 cases, remission for 7 cases, maintenance for 4 cases, exacerbation for 1 case and death for 1 case (total response rate=62.5%). Small intestinal immune competence and macrophage activity recovered in all cases, suggesting that oral administration of LPS contributes to disease improvement. No clear side-effects that appeared to be related to LPS intake were noted.

CONCLUSION: Intake of an appropriate level of Pantoea agglomerans LPS recovers small intestinal immune competence and macrophage activity, contributing to improvement of malignant tumors' therapy.}, } @article {pmid27352077, year = {2016}, author = {Marshall, DG and Jackson, TA and Unelius, CR and Wee, SL and Young, SD and Townsend, RJ and Suckling, DM}, title = {Morganella morganii bacteria produces phenol as the sex pheromone of the New Zealand grass grub from tyrosine in the colleterial gland.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {103}, number = {7-8}, pages = {59}, pmid = {27352077}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis/metabolism ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Female ; Male ; Morganella morganii/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; New Zealand ; Phenol/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sex Attractants/*biosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Costelytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae) is a univoltine endemic species that has colonised and become a major pest of introduced clover and ryegrass pastures that form about half of the land area of New Zealand. Female beetles were previously shown to use phenol as their sex pheromone produced by symbiotic bacteria in the accessory or colleterial gland. In this study, production of phenol was confirmed from the female beetles, while bacteria were isolated from the gland and tested for attractiveness towards grass grub males in traps in the field. The phenol-producing bacterial taxon was identified by partial sequencing of the 16SrRNA gene, as Morganella morganii. We then tested the hypothesis that the phenol sex pheromone is biosynthesized from the amino acid tyrosine by the bacteria. This was shown to be correct, by addition of isotopically labelled tyrosine ((13)C) to the bacterial broth, followed by detection of the labelled phenol by SPME-GCMS. Elucidation of this pathway provides specific evidence how the phenol is produced as an insect sex pheromone by a mutualistic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27351888, year = {2017}, author = {Belmondo, S and Marschall, R and Tudzynski, P and López Ráez, JA and Artuso, E and Prandi, C and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Identification of genes involved in fungal responses to strigolactones using mutants from fungal pathogens.}, journal = {Current genetics}, volume = {63}, number = {2}, pages = {201-213}, pmid = {27351888}, issn = {1432-0983}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Botrytis/*genetics/growth & development ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*drug effects ; Hyphae/genetics/growth & development ; Lactones/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; *Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) as components of root exudates induce hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which is thought to favor the establishment of the beneficial symbiosis. Little is known on how AM fungi respond to SLs. Since AM fungi are poor model systems due to their obligate biotrophism and the lack of genetic transformation protocols, we took advantage of the sensitivity of several phytopathogenic fungi to GR24, a synthetic SLs analog. With the aim to identify the molecular determinants involved in SLs response in AM fungi and assuming conserved mechanisms in the fungal kingdom, we exploited the fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Cryphonectria parasitica, for which mutant collections are available. Exposure of B. cinerea and C. parasitica to GR24 embedded in solid medium led to reduction of fungal radial growth. We set up the screening of a set of well-characterized gene deletion mutants to isolate genotypes with altered responses to SLs. Two B. cinerea mutants (defective of BcTrr1, a thioredoxin reductase and BcLTF1, a GATA transcription factor) turned out to be less responsive to GR24. One feature shared by the two mutants is the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Indeed, an oxidizing effect was observed in a B. cinerea strain expressing a redox-sensitive GFP2 in the mitochondrial intermembrane space upon exposure to GR24. ROS and mitochondria are, therefore, emerging as mediators of SLs actions.}, } @article {pmid27350830, year = {2016}, author = {Yamamoto, M and Matsumoto, S}, title = {Gut microbiota and colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Genes and environment : the official journal of the Japanese Environmental Mutagen Society}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {11}, pmid = {27350830}, issn = {1880-7046}, abstract = {The mucosal immune system is unique to the gastrointestinal mucosa, in which a large number of immune cells are located and exert multiple functions. Meanwhile, ~100 trillion microorganisms are thought to co-inhabit in the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, immune cells and gut microbiota have a mutual influence and the maintenance of this symbiotic relationship results in gut homeostasis. A recent study suggested that a disturbance of gut microbiota-so called "dysbiosis"-is related to various diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). In this review, we discuss the relationship between gut microbiota and the mucosal immune system with regard to the development of IBD and CAC. In addition, we elucidate the possibility of probiotics in treatment against these diseases.}, } @article {pmid27350364, year = {2016}, author = {Millar, NS and Bennett, AE}, title = {Stressed out symbiotes: hypotheses for the influence of abiotic stress on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {625-641}, pmid = {27350364}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Abiotic stress is a widespread threat to both plant and soil communities. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can alleviate effects of abiotic stress by improving host plant stress tolerance, but the direct effects of abiotic stress on AM fungi are less well understood. We propose two hypotheses predicting how AM fungi will respond to abiotic stress. The stress exclusion hypothesis predicts that AM fungal abundance and diversity will decrease with persistent abiotic stress. The mycorrhizal stress adaptation hypothesis predicts that AM fungi will evolve in response to abiotic stress to maintain their fitness. We conclude that abiotic stress can have effects on AM fungi independent of the effects on the host plant. AM fungal communities will change in composition in response to abiotic stress, which may mean the loss of important individual species. This could alter feedbacks to the plant community and beyond. AM fungi will adapt to abiotic stress independent of their host plant. The adaptation of AM fungi to abiotic stress should allow the maintenance of the plant-AM fungal mutualism in the face of changing climates.}, } @article {pmid27349581, year = {2016}, author = {Camart, N and Cotte, M and Leignel, S and Bouvet, C and Limosin, F}, title = {[Dimensions of personality, attachment style and early maladaptive schemas in alcohol-dependent patients: Are there gender-specific differences?].}, journal = {L'Encephale}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {523-528}, doi = {10.1016/j.encep.2016.05.001}, pmid = {27349581}, issn = {0013-7006}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Alcoholism/*psychology ; Female ; France ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; *Object Attachment ; *Personality ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Sex Characteristics ; }, abstract = {AIM: Literature reports particularities in certain psychological dimensions, such as personality traits, early maladaptive schemas and attachment styles among patients dependent on alcohol. Several international studies have also emphasized significant gender differences in psychological profiles. However, in France, only a few studies have dealt with this subject. Our aim was on the one hand to study the characteristics of alcohol-dependent patients in these variables, and on the other hand to search for gender differences.

METHOD: The personality dimensions were assessed with the French Big Five Inventory (Fr-BFI), the attachment style with Bartholomew's Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ), and early maladaptive schemas with the short version of Young's questionnaire (YSQ-S1). Seventy-three subjects were included: 39 alcohol-dependent patients (19 men and 20 women) and 34 healthy control subjects (17 men and 17 women). The scores of alcohol-dependent patients were compared with those of a healthy control group (n=34, 17 men, 17 women) and available standards. We also compared the scores of men and women with alcohol dependence between them, and we compared the scores of men and women to those of the control group and those of the reference sample of the same sex.

RESULTS: This is an ongoing study and we publish here the first results. Compared with control subjects, and the reference sample, alcohol-dependent patients showed significantly higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion. Furthermore, differences in attachment styles were observed compared to the control group: alcohol-dependent patients presented a less secure attachment, seemed more fearful and detached, but the results remained within the normal standards. Compared to the control subjects, alcohol-dependent patients showed a significant increase in scores regarding many schemas: emotional deprivation, abandonment, abuse/mistrust, isolation, imperfection, dependence, symbiotic relationship, subjugation, and emotional inhibition. Men and women with alcohol dependence did not show a significant difference between them concerning the dimensions of personality, the schemas, and attachment styles. In addition, the comparison of each sub-group (male/female) with the control group of the same sex and standards available showed specific features: for dimensions of personality, alcohol-dependent men presented a high level of neuroticism and a low level of extraversion, while the women showed no specific features. Concerning attachment, both men and women differed from the control group. Their attachment was more fearful and men showed a less secure and more detached attachment. As for patterns, three are higher among men and women with alcohol dependence compared to controls of the same sex: emotional deprivation, abuse/mistrust, and imperfection. In addition, these schemas seem to be more specific according to gender: alcoholic women differed from controls of the same sex at the subjugation schema, which was not the case for men, while only men differed from men of the control group by higher scores in insufficient self-control, dependency and symbiotic relationship.

DISCUSSION: This study shows not only particularities in patients with alcohol dependence concerning personality dimensions, styles of attachment and early maladaptive schemas, but also gender differences when comparing each subgroup (men and women) with controls of the same sex. Even if these results need to be confirmed by using a larger sample, the particularities deserve consideration, especially gender differences in view of appropriate psychotherapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid27348127, year = {2016}, author = {Abdullahi, M and Ngadi, MA}, title = {Hybrid Symbiotic Organisms Search Optimization Algorithm for Scheduling of Tasks on Cloud Computing Environment.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0158229}, pmid = {27348127}, issn = {1932-6203}, abstract = {Cloud computing has attracted significant attention from research community because of rapid migration rate of Information Technology services to its domain. Advances in virtualization technology has made cloud computing very popular as a result of easier deployment of application services. Tasks are submitted to cloud datacenters to be processed on pay as you go fashion. Task scheduling is one the significant research challenges in cloud computing environment. The current formulation of task scheduling problems has been shown to be NP-complete, hence finding the exact solution especially for large problem sizes is intractable. The heterogeneous and dynamic feature of cloud resources makes optimum task scheduling non-trivial. Therefore, efficient task scheduling algorithms are required for optimum resource utilization. Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) has been shown to perform competitively with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The aim of this study is to optimize task scheduling in cloud computing environment based on a proposed Simulated Annealing (SA) based SOS (SASOS) in order to improve the convergence rate and quality of solution of SOS. The SOS algorithm has a strong global exploration capability and uses fewer parameters. The systematic reasoning ability of SA is employed to find better solutions on local solution regions, hence, adding exploration ability to SOS. Also, a fitness function is proposed which takes into account the utilization level of virtual machines (VMs) which reduced makespan and degree of imbalance among VMs. CloudSim toolkit was used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method using both synthetic and standard workload. Results of simulation showed that hybrid SOS performs better than SOS in terms of convergence speed, response time, degree of imbalance, and makespan.}, } @article {pmid27348121, year = {2016}, author = {Kant, C and Pradhan, S and Bhatia, S}, title = {Dissecting the Root Nodule Transcriptome of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0157908}, pmid = {27348121}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cicer/*genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/pathogenicity ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {A hallmark trait of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), like other legumes, is the capability to convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) in symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium ciceri. However, the complexity of molecular networks associated with the dynamics of nodule development in chickpea need to be analyzed in depth. Hence, in order to gain insights into the chickpea nodule development, the transcriptomes of nodules at early, middle and late stages of development were sequenced using the Roche 454 platform. This generated 490.84 Mb sequence data comprising 1,360,251 reads which were assembled into 83,405 unigenes. Transcripts were annotated using Gene Ontology (GO), Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathways analysis. Differential expression analysis revealed that a total of 3760 transcripts were differentially expressed in at least one of three stages, whereas 935, 117 and 2707 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed in the early, middle and late stages of nodule development respectively. MapMan analysis revealed enrichment of metabolic pathways such as transport, protein synthesis, signaling and carbohydrate metabolism during root nodulation. Transcription factors were predicted and analyzed for their differential expression during nodule development. Putative nodule specific transcripts were identified and enriched for GO categories using BiNGO which revealed many categories to be enriched during nodule development, including transcription regulators and transporters. Further, the assembled transcriptome was also used to mine for genic SSR markers. In conclusion, this study will help in enriching the transcriptomic resources implicated in understanding of root nodulation events in chickpea.}, } @article {pmid27347911, year = {2016}, author = {Park, HB and Perez, CE and Perry, EK and Crawford, JM}, title = {Activating and Attenuating the Amicoumacin Antibiotics.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {27347911}, issn = {1420-3049}, support = {DP2 CA186575/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM097096/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Coumarins/*chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Metabolomics/methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Multigene Family ; Protein Binding ; Ribosomes/chemistry/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The amicoumacins belong to a class of dihydroisocoumarin natural products and display antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. Amicoumacins are the pro-drug activation products of a bacterial nonribosomal peptide-polyketide hybrid biosynthetic pathway and have been isolated from Gram-positive Bacillus and Nocardia species. Here, we report the stimulation of a "cryptic" amicoumacin pathway in the entomopathogenic Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii, a strain not previously known to produce amicoumacins. X. bovienii participates in a multi-lateral symbiosis where it is pathogenic to insects and mutualistic to its Steinernema nematode host. Waxmoth larvae are common prey of the X. bovienii-Steinernema pair. Employing a medium designed to mimic the amino acid content of the waxmoth circulatory fluid led to the detection and characterization of amicoumacins in X. bovienii. The chemical structures of the amicoumacins were supported by 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-QTOF-MS, tandem MS, and polarimeter spectral data. A comparative gene cluster analysis of the identified X. bovienii amicoumacin pathway to that of the Bacillus subtilis amicoumacin pathway and the structurally-related Xenorhabdus nematophila xenocoumacin pathway is presented. The X. bovienii pathway encodes an acetyltransferase not found in the other reported pathways, which leads to a series of N-acetyl-amicoumacins that lack antibacterial activity. N-acetylation of amicoumacin was validated through in vitro protein biochemical studies, and the impact of N-acylation on amicoumacin's mode of action was examined through ribosomal structural analyses.}, } @article {pmid27345956, year = {2016}, author = {Garg, SG and Martin, WF}, title = {Mitochondria, the Cell Cycle, and the Origin of Sex via a Syncytial Eukaryote Common Ancestor.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {1950-1970}, pmid = {27345956}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/*genetics/metabolism ; Archaea/genetics/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Cycle/genetics ; Cytosol/physiology ; Eukaryotic Cells/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Meiosis/genetics ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Mitosis/genetics ; Prokaryotic Cells/physiology ; Protein Interaction Maps/genetics ; *Recombination, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Theories for the origin of sex traditionally start with an asexual mitosing cell and add recombination, thereby deriving meiosis from mitosis. Though sex was clearly present in the eukaryote common ancestor, the order of events linking the origin of sex and the origin of mitosis is unknown. Here, we present an evolutionary inference for the origin of sex starting with a bacterial ancestor of mitochondria in the cytosol of its archaeal host. We posit that symbiotic association led to the origin of mitochondria and gene transfer to host's genome, generating a nucleus and a dedicated translational compartment, the eukaryotic cytosol, in which-by virtue of mitochondria-metabolic energy was not limiting. Spontaneous protein aggregation (monomer polymerization) and Adenosine Tri-phosphate (ATP)-dependent macromolecular movement in the cytosol thereby became selectable, giving rise to continuous microtubule-dependent chromosome separation (reduction division). We propose that eukaryotic chromosome division arose in a filamentous, syncytial, multinucleated ancestor, in which nuclei with insufficient chromosome numbers could complement each other through mRNA in the cytosol and generate new chromosome combinations through karyogamy. A syncytial (or coenocytic, a synonym) eukaryote ancestor, or Coeca, would account for the observation that the process of eukaryotic chromosome separation is more conserved than the process of eukaryotic cell division. The first progeny of such a syncytial ancestor were likely equivalent to meiospores, released into the environment by the host's vesicle secretion machinery. The natural ability of archaea (the host) to fuse and recombine brought forth reciprocal recombination among fusing (syngamy and karyogamy) progeny-sex-in an ancestrally meiotic cell cycle, from which the simpler haploid and diploid mitotic cell cycles arose. The origin of eukaryotes was the origin of vertical lineage inheritance, and sex was required to keep vertically evolving lineages viable by rescuing the incipient eukaryotic lineage from Muller's ratchet. The origin of mitochondria was, in this view, the decisive incident that precipitated symbiosis-specific cell biological problems, the solutions to which were the salient features that distinguish eukaryotes from prokaryotes: A nuclear membrane, energetically affordable ATP-dependent protein-protein interactions in the cytosol, and a cell cycle involving reduction division and reciprocal recombination (sex).}, } @article {pmid27345326, year = {2016}, author = {Sweeney, T and O'Doherty, JV}, title = {Marine macroalgal extracts to maintain gut homeostasis in the weaning piglet.}, journal = {Domestic animal endocrinology}, volume = {56 Suppl}, number = {}, pages = {S84-9}, doi = {10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.02.002}, pmid = {27345326}, issn = {1879-0054}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*drug effects/microbiology ; Homeostasis/*drug effects ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Seaweed/*chemistry ; Swine/*physiology ; *Weaning ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a dynamic environment, where a symbiotic relationship exists between the resident microbiota and the digestive and immune systems of the host. The development of the immune system begins in-utero and is further developed after the colonization of the GIT with microbiota during birth and postnatal life. The early establishment of this relationship is fundamental to the development and long-term maintenance of gut homeostasis. Regulatory mechanisms ensure an appropriate level of immune reactivity in the gut to accommodate the presence of beneficial and dietary microorganisms, whereas allowing effective immune responses to clear pathogens. However, unfavorable alterations in the composition of the microbiota, known as dysbiosis, have been implicated in many conditions including post-weaning diarrhea in pigs. Weaning is a major critical period in pig husbandry. It involves complex dietary, social, and environmental stresses that interfere with gut development. Post-weaning complications in piglets are characterized by a reduction in-feed intake and growth, atrophy of small intestine architecture, upregulation of intestinal inflammatory cytokines, alterations in GIT microflora, diarrhea, and heightened susceptibility to infection. These challenges have been controlled with in-feed prophylactic antibiotics and dietary minerals. However, these strategies are under scrutiny because of their role in promoting multidrug resistant bacteria and the accumulation of minerals in the environment, respectively. Therefore, significant efforts are being made to identify natural alternatives to support homeostasis in the piglet GIT, in particular during the weaning period. Chemodiversity in nature; including microorganisms, terrestrial plants, seaweeds, and marine organisms, offers a valuable source for novel bioactives. In this review, we discuss the advances in our understanding of the immune mechanisms by which the dynamic interplay of the intestinal microbiota and its host normally favors a homeostatic, symbiotic relationship, and how feeding macroalgal bioactives in both the maternal diet and the piglet diet, can be used to support this symbiotic relationship in times of challenge.}, } @article {pmid27344411, year = {2016}, author = {Schreiber, L and Kjeldsen, KU and Obst, M and Funch, P and Schramm, A}, title = {Description of Endozoicomonas ascidiicola sp. nov., isolated from Scandinavian ascidians.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {313-318}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.05.008}, pmid = {27344411}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Oceanospirillaceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sweden ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Two gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, chemoorganoheterotrophic, motile and rod-shaped bacteria, strains AVMART05(T) and KASP37, were isolated from ascidians (Tunicata, Ascidiaceae) of the genus Ascidiella collected at Gullmarsfjord, Sweden. The strains are the first cultured representatives of an ascidian-specific lineage within the genus Endozoicomonas (Gammaproteobacteria, Oceanospirillales, Hahellaceae). Both strains feature three distinct 16S rRNA gene paralogs, with identities of 98.9-99.1% (AVMART05(T)) and 97.7-98.8% (KASP37) between paralogs. The strains are closely related to Endozoicomonas atrinae and Endozoicomonas elysicola, with which they share 97.3-98.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average nucleotide identity, and tetra-nucleotide correlation analysis indicate that both strains belong to a single species distinct from their closest relatives. Both strains feature similar DNA G+C contents of 46.70mol% (AVMART05(T)) and 44.64mol% (KASP37). The fatty acid patterns of AVMART05(T) and KASP37 are most similar to those of Endozoicomonas euniceicola and Endozoicomonas gorgoniicola. Based on the polyphasic approach, we propose the species Endozoicomonas ascidiicola sp. nov. to accommodate the newly isolated strains. E. ascidiicola sp. nov. is represented by the type strain AVMART05(T) (=DSM 100913(T)=LMG 29095(T)) and strain KASP37 (=DSM 100914=LMG 29096).}, } @article {pmid27344110, year = {2016}, author = {Müller, A and Walochnik, J and Wagner, M and Schmitz-Esser, S}, title = {A clinical Acanthamoeba isolate harboring two distinct bacterial endosymbionts.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {21-25}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2016.04.002}, pmid = {27344110}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/isolation & purification/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Amebiasis/*parasitology ; Chlamydiales/classification/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Keratitis/*parasitology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Acanthamoebae feed on bacteria but are also frequent hosts of bacterial symbionts. Here, we describe the stable co-occurrence of two symbionts, one affiliated to the genus Parachlamydia and the other to the candidate genus Paracaedibacter (Alphaproteobacteria), within a clinical isolate of Acanthamoeba hatchetti genotype T4. We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to describe this symbiosis. Our study adds to other reports of simultaneous co-occurrence of two symbionts within one Acanthamoeba cell.}, } @article {pmid27343289, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, Y and White, MM and Kvist, S and Moncalvo, JM}, title = {Genome-Wide Survey of Gut Fungi (Harpellales) Reveals the First Horizontally Transferred Ubiquitin Gene from a Mosquito Host.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {33}, number = {10}, pages = {2544-2554}, pmid = {27343289}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; Fungi/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Ubiquitin/*genetics ; Ubiquitination/genetics ; }, abstract = {Harpellales, an early-diverging fungal lineage, is associated with the digestive tracts of aquatic arthropod hosts. Concurrent with the production and annotation of the first four Harpellales genomes, we discovered that Zancudomyces culisetae, one of the most widely distributed Harpellales species, encodes an insect-like polyubiquitin chain. Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins are universally involved in protein degradation and regulation of immune response in eukaryotic organisms. Phylogenetic analyses inferred that this polyubiquitin variant has a mosquito origin. In addition, its amino acid composition, animal-like secondary structure, as well as the fungal nature of flanking genes all further support this as a horizontal gene transfer event. The single-copy polyubiquitin gene from Z. culisetae has lower GC ratio compared with homologs of insect taxa, which implies homogenization of the gene since its putatively ancient transfer. The acquired polyubiquitin gene may have served to improve important functions within Z. culisetae, by perhaps exploiting the insect hosts' ubiquitin-proteasome systems in the gut environment. Preliminary comparisons among the four Harpellales genomes highlight the reduced genome size of Z. culisetae, which corroborates its distinguishable symbiotic lifestyle. This is the first record of a horizontally transferred ubiquitin gene from disease-bearing insects to the gut-dwelling fungal endobiont and should invite further exploration in an evolutionary context.}, } @article {pmid27342310, year = {2016}, author = {Mohd-Radzman, NA and Laffont, C and Ivanovici, A and Patel, N and Reid, D and Stougaard, J and Frugier, F and Imin, N and Djordjevic, MA}, title = {Different Pathways Act Downstream of the CEP Peptide Receptor CRA2 to Regulate Lateral Root and Nodule Development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {4}, pages = {2536-2548}, pmid = {27342310}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Receptors, Peptide/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; }, abstract = {C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDEs (CEPs) control root system architecture in a non-cell-autonomous manner. In Medicago truncatula, MtCEP1 affects root development by increasing nodule formation and inhibiting lateral root emergence by unknown pathways. Here, we show that the MtCEP1 peptide-dependent increase in nodulation requires the symbiotic signaling pathway and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2 (EIN2)/SICKLE (SKL), but acts independently of SUPER NUMERIC NODULES. MtCEP1-dependent inhibition of lateral root development acts through an EIN2-independent mechanism. MtCEP1 increases nodulation by promoting rhizobial infections, the developmental competency of roots for nodulation, the formation of fused nodules, and an increase in frequency of nodule development that initiates at proto-phloem poles. These phenotypes are similar to those of the ein2/skl mutant and support that MtCEP1 modulates EIN2-dependent symbiotic responses. Accordingly, MtCEP1 counteracts the reduction in nodulation induced by increasing ethylene precursor concentrations, and an ethylene synthesis inhibitor treatment antagonizes MtCEP1 root phenotypes. MtCEP1 also inhibits the development of EIN2-dependent pseudonodule formation. Finally, mutants affecting the COMPACT ROOT ARCHITECTURE2 (CRA2) receptor, which is closely related to the Arabidopsis CEP Receptor1, are unresponsive to MtCEP1 effects on lateral root and nodule formation, suggesting that CRA2 is a CEP peptide receptor mediating both organogenesis programs. In addition, an ethylene inhibitor treatment counteracts the cra2 nodulation phenotype. These results indicate that MtCEP1 and its likely receptor, CRA2, mediate nodulation and lateral root development through different pathways.}, } @article {pmid27341695, year = {2016}, author = {Boivin, S and Kazmierczak, T and Brault, M and Wen, J and Gamas, P and Mysore, KS and Frugier, F}, title = {Different cytokinin histidine kinase receptors regulate nodule initiation as well as later nodule developmental stages in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {10}, pages = {2198-2209}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12779}, pmid = {27341695}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/microbiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants adapt to low nitrogen by developing an endosymbiosis with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria to form a new specific organ: the nitrogen-fixing nodule. In the Medicago truncatula model legume, the MtCRE1 cytokinin receptor is essential for this symbiotic interaction. As three other putative CHASE-domain containing histidine kinase (CHK) cytokinin receptors exist in M. truncatula, we determined their potential contribution to this symbiotic interaction. The four CHKs have extensive redundant expression patterns at early nodulation stages but diverge in differentiated nodules, even though MtCHK1/MtCRE1 has the strongest expression at all stages. Mutant and knock-down analyses revealed that other CHKs than MtCHK1/CRE1 are positively involved in nodule initiation, which explains the delayed nodulation phenotype of the chk1/cre1 mutant. In addition, cre1 nodules exhibit an increased growth, whereas other chk mutants have no detectable phenotype, and the maintained nitrogen fixation capacity in cre1 requires other CHK genes. Interestingly, an AHK4/CRE1 genomic locus from the aposymbiotic Arabidopsis plant rescues nodule initiation but not the nitrogen fixation capacity. This indicates that different CHK cytokinin signalling pathways regulate not only nodule initiation but also later developmental stages, and that legume-specific determinants encoded by the MtCRE1 gene are required for later nodulation stages than initiation.}, } @article {pmid27340511, year = {2016}, author = {Gehlot, HS and Ardley, J and Tak, N and Tian, R and Poonar, N and Meghwal, RR and Rathi, S and Tiwari, R and Adnawani, W and Seshadri, R and Reddy, TB and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Pillay, M and Markowitz, V and Baeshen, MN and Al-Hejin, AM and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Ensifer sp. PC2, isolated from a nitrogen-fixing root nodule of the legume tree (Khejri) native to the Thar Desert of India.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {43}, pmid = {27340511}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Ensifer sp. PC2 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from a nitrogen-fixing nodule of the tree legume P. cineraria (L.) Druce (Khejri), which is a keystone species that grows in arid and semi-arid regions of the Indian Thar desert. Strain PC2 exists as a dominant saprophyte in alkaline soils of Western Rajasthan. It is fast growing, well-adapted to arid conditions and is able to form an effective symbiosis with several annual crop legumes as well as species of mimosoid trees and shrubs. Here we describe the features of Ensifer sp. PC2, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 8,458,965 bp high-quality permanent draft genome is arranged into 171 scaffolds of 171 contigs containing 8,344 protein-coding genes and 139 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of the rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project proposal.}, } @article {pmid27335448, year = {2016}, author = {Benavides, M and Houlbrèque, F and Camps, M and Lorrain, A and Grosso, O and Bonnet, S}, title = {Diazotrophs: a non-negligible source of nitrogen for the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 17}, pages = {2608-2612}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.139451}, pmid = {27335448}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phytoplankton/cytology/*metabolism ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Corals are mixotrophs: they are able to fix inorganic carbon through the activity of their symbiotic dinoflagellates and to gain nitrogen from predation on plankton and uptake of dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients. They also live in close association with diverse diazotrophic communities, inhabiting their skeleton, tissue and mucus layer, which are able to fix dinitrogen (N2). The quantity of fixed N2 transferred to the corals and its distribution within coral compartments as well as the quantity of nitrogen assimilated through the ingestion of planktonic diazotrophs are still unknown. Here, we quantified nitrogen assimilation via (i) N2 fixation by symbiont diazotrophs, (ii) ingestion of cultured unicellular diazotrophs and (iii) ingestion of natural planktonic diazotrophs. We estimate that the ingestion of diazotrophs provides 0.76±0.15 µg N cm(-2) h(-1), suggesting that diazotrophs represent a non-negligible source of nitrogen for scleractinian corals.}, } @article {pmid27335203, year = {2016}, author = {Averill, C and Hawkes, CV}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi slow soil carbon cycling.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {937-947}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12631}, pmid = {27335203}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/*chemistry ; Carbon Cycle/*physiology ; Enzymes/metabolism ; Forests ; Fungi/*metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil/*chemistry ; Tsuga/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Respiration of soil organic carbon is one of the largest fluxes of CO2 on earth. Understanding the processes that regulate soil respiration is critical for predicting future climate. Recent work has suggested that soil carbon respiration may be reduced by competition for nitrogen between symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi that associate with plant roots and free-living microbial decomposers, which is consistent with increased soil carbon storage in ectomycorrhizal ecosystems globally. However, experimental tests of the mycorrhizal competition hypothesis are lacking. Here we show that ectomycorrhizal roots and hyphae decrease soil carbon respiration rates by up to 67% under field conditions in two separate field exclusion experiments, and this likely occurs via competition for soil nitrogen, an effect larger than 2 °C soil warming. These findings support mycorrhizal competition for nitrogen as an independent driver of soil carbon balance and demonstrate the need to understand microbial community interactions to predict ecosystem feedbacks to global climate.}, } @article {pmid27334939, year = {2016}, author = {Florea, S and Phillips, TD and Panaccione, DG and Farman, ML and Schardl, CL}, title = {Chromosome-End Knockoff Strategy to Reshape Alkaloid Profiles of a Fungal Endophyte.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {2601-2610}, pmid = {27334939}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Alkaloids/genetics/*metabolism ; Animal Feed ; *Chromosomes, Fungal ; Ecotype ; Endophytes/*genetics/metabolism ; Epichloe/*genetics/*metabolism ; Ergot Alkaloids/genetics/metabolism ; Ergotamines/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal ; Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified ; Multigene Family ; Poaceae/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Telomere/genetics ; }, abstract = {Molecular genetic techniques to precisely eliminate genes in asexual filamentous fungi require the introduction of a marker gene into the target genome. We developed a novel strategy to eliminate genes or gene clusters located in subterminal regions of chromosomes, and then eliminate the marker gene and vector backbone used in the transformation procedure. Because many toxin gene clusters are subterminal, this method is particularly suited to generating nontoxic fungal strains. We tested this technique on Epichloë coenophiala, a seed-transmissible symbiotic fungus (endophyte) of the important forage grass, tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum). The endophyte is necessary for maximal productivity and sustainability of this grass but can produce ergot alkaloids such as ergovaline, which are toxic to livestock. The genome sequence of E. coenophiala strain e19 revealed two paralogous ergot alkaloid biosynthesis gene clusters, designated EAS1 and EAS2. EAS1 was apparently subterminal, and the lpsB copy in EAS2 had a frame-shift mutation. We designed a vector with a fungal-active hygromycin phosphotransferase gene (hph), an lpsA1 gene fragment for homologous recombination at the telomere-distal end of EAS1, and a telomere repeat array positioned to drive spontaneous loss of hph and other vector sequences, and to stabilize the new chromosome end. We transformed E. coenophiala with this vector, then selected "knockoff" endophyte strains, confirmed by genome sequencing to lack 162 kb of a chromosome end including most of EAS1, and also to lack vector sequences. These ∆EAS1 knockoff strains produced no detectable ergovaline, whereas complementation with functional lpsB restored ergovaline production.}, } @article {pmid27333288, year = {2016}, author = {Roberts, EM and Todd, CN and Aanen, DK and Nobre, T and Hilbert-Wolf, HL and O'Connor, PM and Tapanila, L and Mtelela, C and Stevens, NJ}, title = {Oligocene Termite Nests with In Situ Fungus Gardens from the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania, Support a Paleogene African Origin for Insect Agriculture.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0156847}, pmid = {27333288}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Calibration ; Confidence Intervals ; *Fossils ; Fungi/*physiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Tanzania ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Based on molecular dating, the origin of insect agriculture is hypothesized to have taken place independently in three clades of fungus-farming insects: the termites, ants or ambrosia beetles during the Paleogene (66-24 Ma). Yet, definitive fossil evidence of fungus-growing behavior has been elusive, with no unequivocal records prior to the late Miocene (7-10 Ma). Here we report fossil evidence of insect agriculture in the form of fossil fungus gardens, preserved within 25 Ma termite nests from southwestern Tanzania. Using these well-dated fossil fungus gardens, we have recalibrated molecular divergence estimates for the origins of termite agriculture to around 31 Ma, lending support to hypotheses suggesting an African Paleogene origin for termite-fungus symbiosis; perhaps coinciding with rift initiation and changes in the African landscape.}, } @article {pmid27329751, year = {2016}, author = {Mendis, HC and Madzima, TF and Queiroux, C and Jones, KM}, title = {Function of Succinoglycan Polysaccharide in Sinorhizobium meliloti Host Plant Invasion Depends on Succinylation, Not Molecular Weight.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {27329751}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Gene Deletion ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The acidic polysaccharide succinoglycan produced by the rhizobial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 is required for this bacterium to invade the host plant Medicago truncatula and establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. S. meliloti mutants that cannot make succinoglycan cannot initiate invasion structures called infection threads in plant root hairs. S. meliloti exoH mutants that cannot succinylate succinoglycan are also unable to form infection threads, despite the fact that they make large quantities of succinoglycan. Succinoglycan produced by exoH mutants is refractory to cleavage by the glycanases encoded by exoK and exsH, and thus succinoglycan produced by exoH mutants is made only in the high-molecular-weight (HMW) form. One interpretation of the symbiotic defect of exoH mutants is that the low-molecular-weight (LMW) form of succinoglycan is required for infection thread formation. However, our data demonstrate that production of the HMW form of succinoglycan by S. meliloti 1021 is sufficient for invasion of the host M. truncatula and that the LMW form is not required. Here, we show that S. meliloti strains deficient in the exoK- and exsH-encoded glycanases invade M. truncatula and form a productive symbiosis, although they do this with somewhat less efficiency than the wild type. We have also characterized the polysaccharides produced by these double glycanase mutants and determined that they consist of only HMW succinoglycan and no detectable LMW succinoglycan. This demonstrates that LMW succinoglycan is not required for host invasion. These results suggest succinoglycan function is not dependent upon the presence of a small, readily diffusible form.

IMPORTANCE: Sinorhizobium meliloti is a bacterium that forms a beneficial symbiosis with legume host plants. S. meliloti and other rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a nutrient source for the host plant. To establish the symbiosis, rhizobia must invade plant roots, supplying the proper signals to prevent a plant immune response during invasion. A polysaccharide, succinoglycan, produced by S. meliloti is required for successful invasion. Here, we show that the critical feature of succinoglycan that allows infection to proceed is the attachment of a "succinyl" chemical group and that the chain length of succinoglycan is much less important for its function. We also show that none of the short-chain versions of succinoglycan is produced in the absence of two chain-cleaving enzymes.}, } @article {pmid27329476, year = {2016}, author = {Mirshad, PP and Puthur, JT}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal association enhances drought tolerance potential of promising bioenergy grass (Saccharum arundinaceum retz.).}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {188}, number = {7}, pages = {425}, pmid = {27329476}, issn = {1573-2959}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; *Biofuels ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Phenols/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Saccharum/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus spp.) on some physiological and biochemical characteristics of bioenergy grass Saccharum arundinaceum subjected to drought stress was studied. The symbiotic association of Glomus spp. was established with S. arundinaceum, a potential bioenergy grass as evident from the increase in percentage of root infection and distribution frequency of vesicles when compared with non-arbuscular mycorrhizal plants. AMF-treated plants exhibited an enhanced accumulation of osmolytes such as sugars and proline and also increased protein content under drought. AMF association significantly increased the accumulation of non-enzymatic antioxidants like phenols, ascorbate and glutathione as well as enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD (superoxide dismutase), APX (ascorbate peroxidase) and GPX (guaiacol peroxidase) resulting in reduced lipid peroxidation in S. arundinaceum. AMF symbiosis also ameliorated the drought-induced reduction of total chlorophyll content and activities of photosystem I and II. The maximum quantum efficiency of PS II (F v/F m) and potential photochemical efficiency (F v/F o) were higher in AMF plants as compared to non-AMF plants under drought stress. These results indicate that AMF association alleviate drought stress in S. arundinaceum by the accumulation of osmolytes and non-enzymatic antioxidants and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, and hence, the photosynthetic efficiency is improved resulting in increased biomass production. AMF association with energy grasses also improves the acclimatization of S. arundinaceum for growing in marginal lands of drought-affected soils.}, } @article {pmid27329350, year = {2016}, author = {Gould, AL and Dougan, KE and Koenigbauer, ST and Dunlap, PV}, title = {Life history of the symbiotically luminous cardinalfish Siphamia tubifer (Perciformes: Apogonidae).}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {89}, number = {2}, pages = {1359-1377}, doi = {10.1111/jfb.13063}, pmid = {27329350}, issn = {1095-8649}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; Cell Proliferation ; Coral Reefs ; Diet ; Female ; Fishes ; Japan ; Life Cycle Stages ; Light ; Luminescence ; Male ; Ovum ; Perciformes/*growth & development/microbiology ; Photobacterium/*physiology ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Zooplankton ; }, abstract = {Characteristics of the life history of the coral reef-dwelling cardinalfish Siphamia tubifer, from Okinawa, Japan, were defined. A paternal mouthbrooder, S. tubifer, is unusual in forming a bioluminescent symbiosis with Photobacterium mandapamensis. The examined S. tubifer (n = 1273) ranged in size from 9·5 to 43·5 mm standard length (LS), and the minimum size at sexual maturity was 22 mm LS . The number of S. tubifer associated during the day among the spines of host urchins was 22·9 ± 16·1 (mean ± s.d.; Diadema setosum) and 3·6 ± 3·2 (Echinothrix calamaris). Diet consisted primarily of crustacean zooplankton. Batch fecundity (number of eggs; FB) was related to LS by the equations: males (fertilized eggs) FB = 27·5LS - 189·46; females (eggs) FB = 31·3LS - 392·63. Individual mass (M; g) as a function of LS was described by the equation: M=9·74×10-5LS2·68. Growth, determined from otolith microstructure analysis, was described with the von Bertalanffy growth function with the following coefficients: L∞ = 40·8 mm LS , K = 0·026 day(-1) and t0 = 23·25 days. Planktonic larval duration was estimated to be 30 days. The age of the oldest examined individual was 240 days. The light organ of S. tubifer, which harbours the symbiotic population of P. mandapamensis, increased linearly in diameter as S. tubifer LS increased, and the bacterial population increased logarithmically with S. tubifer LS . These characteristics indicate that once settled, S. tubifer grows quickly, reproduces early and typically survives much less than 1 year in Okinawa. These characteristics are generally similar to other small reef fishes but they indicate that S. tubifer experiences higher mortality.}, } @article {pmid27324918, year = {2016}, author = {Ishikawa, M and Yuyama, I and Shimizu, H and Nozawa, M and Ikeo, K and Gojobori, T}, title = {Different Endosymbiotic Interactions in Two Hydra Species Reflect the Evolutionary History of Endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {2155-2163}, pmid = {27324918}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Hydra/*genetics/physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis is an important evolutionary event for organisms, and there is widespread interest in understanding the evolution of endosymbiosis establishment. Hydra is one of the most suitable organisms for studying the evolution of endosymbiosis. Within the genus Hydra, H. viridissima and H. vulgaris show endosymbiosis with green algae. Previous studies suggested that the endosymbiosis in H. vulgaris took place much more recently than that in H. viridissima, noting that the establishment of the interaction between H. vulgaris and its algae is not as stable as in H. viridissima. To investigate the on-going process of endosymbiosis, we first compared growth and tolerance to starvation in symbiotic and aposymbiotic polyps of both species. The results revealed that symbiotic H. viridissima had a higher growth rate and greater tolerance to starvation than aposymbiotic polyps. By contrast, growth of symbiotic H. vulgaris was identical to that of aposymbiotic polyps, and symbiotic H. vulgaris was less tolerant to starvation. Moreover, our gene expression analysis showed a pattern of differential gene expression in H. viridissima similar to that in other endosymbiotically established organisms, and contrary to that observed in H. vulgaris We also showed that H. viridissima could cope with oxidative stress that caused damage, such as cell death, in H. vulgaris These observations support the idea that oxidative stress related genes play an important role in the on-going process of endosymbiosis evolution. The different evolutionary stages of endosymbiosis studied here provide a deeper insight into the evolutionary processes occurring toward a stable endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27324571, year = {2016}, author = {Naamala, J and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Microsymbiont diversity and phylogeny of native bradyrhizobia associated with soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) nodulation in South African soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {336-344}, pmid = {27324571}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Molecular Typing ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity and identification of slow- and fast-growing soybean root nodule bacterial isolates from different agro-climatic regions in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng Provinces of South Africa were evaluated. The 16S-rDNA-RFLP analysis of 100 rhizobial isolates and eight reference type strains placed the isolates into six major clusters, and revealed their site-dependent genomic diversity. Sequence analysis of single and concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII and gyrB), as well as the symbiotic gene nifH captured a considerably higher level of genetic diversity and indicated the dominance of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and Bradyrhizobium japonicum in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng Provinces. Gene sequence similarities of isolates with type strains of Bradyrhizobium ranged from 97.3 to 100% for the 16S rDNA, and 83.4 to 100% for the housekeeping genes. The glnII gene phylogeny showed discordance with the other genes, suggesting lateral gene transfer or recombination events. Concatenated gene sequence analysis showed that most of the isolates did not align with known type strains and might represent new species from South Africa. This underscores the high genetic variability associated with soybean Bradyrhizobium in South African soils, and the presence of an important reservoir of novel soybean-nodulating bradyrhizobia in the country. In this study, the grouping of isolates was influenced by site origin, with Group I isolates originating from Limpopo Province and Groups II and III from Mpumlanga Province in the 16S rDNA-RFLP analysis.}, } @article {pmid27323714, year = {2016}, author = {Uesugi, T and Nakano, M and Selosse, MA and Obase, K and Matsuda, Y}, title = {Pyrola japonica, a partially mycoheterotrophic Ericaceae, has mycorrhizal preference for russulacean fungi in central Japan.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {819-829}, pmid = {27323714}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*classification/physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Pyrola/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis often displays low specificity, except for mycoheterotrophic plants that obtain carbon from their mycorrhizal fungi and often have higher specificity to certain fungal taxa. Partially mycoheterotrophic (or mixotrophic, MX) plant species tend to have a larger diversity of fungal partners, e.g., in the genus Pyrola (Monotropoideae, Ericaceae). Preliminary evidence however showed that the Japanese Pyrola japonica has preference for russulacean fungi based on direct sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region from a single site. The present study challenges this conclusion using (1) sampling of P. japonica in different Japanese regions and forest types and (2) fungal identification by ITS cloning. Plants were sampled from eight sites in three regions, in one of which the fungal community on tree ectomycorrhizal (ECM) tips surrounding P. japonica was also analyzed. In all, 1512 clone sequences were obtained successfully from 35 P. japonica plants and 137 sequences from ECM communities. These sequences were collectively divided into 74 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) (51 and 33 MOTUs, respectively). MOTUs from P. japonica involved 36 ECM taxa (96 % of all clones), and 17 of these were Russula spp. (76.2 % of all clones), which colonized 33 of the 35 sampled plants. The MOTU composition significantly differed between P. japonica and ECM tips, although shared species represented 26.3 % of the ECM tips community in abundance. This suggests that P. japonica has a preference for russulacean fungi.}, } @article {pmid27322934, year = {2016}, author = {Larsen, T and Ventura, M and Maraldo, K and Triadó-Margarit, X and Casamayor, EO and Wang, YV and Andersen, N and O'Brien, DM}, title = {The dominant detritus-feeding invertebrate in Arctic peat soils derives its essential amino acids from gut symbionts.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {5}, pages = {1275-1285}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12563}, pmid = {27322934}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Alaska ; Amino Acids, Essential/*metabolism ; Animals ; Arctic Regions ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Supplementation of nutrients by symbionts enables consumers to thrive on resources that might otherwise be insufficient to meet nutritional demands. Such nutritional subsidies by intracellular symbionts have been well studied; however, supplementation of de novo synthesized nutrients to hosts by extracellular gut symbionts is poorly documented, especially for generalists with relatively undifferentiated intestinal tracts. Although gut symbionts facilitate degradation of resources that would otherwise remain inaccessible to the host, such digestive actions alone cannot make up for dietary insufficiencies of macronutrients such as essential amino acids (EAA). Documenting whether gut symbionts also function as partners for symbiotic EAA supplementation is important because the question of how some detritivores are able to subsist on nutritionally insufficient diets has remained unresolved. To answer this poorly understood nutritional aspect of symbiont-host interactions, we studied the enchytraeid worm, a bulk soil feeder that thrives in Arctic peatlands. In a combined field and laboratory study, we employed stable isotope fingerprinting of amino acids to identify the biosynthetic origins of amino acids to bacteria, fungi and plants in enchytraeids. Enchytraeids collected from Arctic peatlands derived more than 80% of their EAA from bacteria. In a controlled feeding study with the enchytraeid Enchytraeus crypticus, EAA derived almost exclusively from gut bacteria when the worms fed on higher fibre diets, whereas most of the enchytraeids' EAA derived from dietary sources when fed on lower fibre diets. Our gene sequencing results of gut microbiota showed that the worms harbour several taxa in their gut lumen absent from their diets and substrates. Almost all gut taxa are candidates for EAA supplementation because almost all belong to clades capable of biosynthesizing EAA. Our study provides the first evidence of extensive symbiotic supplementation of EAA by microbial gut symbionts and demonstrates that symbiotic bacteria in the gut lumen appear to function as partners both for symbiotic EAA supplementation and for digestion of insoluble plant fibres.}, } @article {pmid27322614, year = {2016}, author = {Akorli, J and Gendrin, M and Pels, NA and Yeboah-Manu, D and Christophides, GK and Wilson, MD}, title = {Seasonality and Locality Affect the Diversity of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii Midgut Microbiota from Ghana.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0157529}, pmid = {27322614}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Breeding ; Cities ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Geography ; Ghana ; *Microbiota ; Rain ; *Seasons ; Shewanella/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria can have important implications in the development and competence of disease vectors. In Anopheles mosquitoes, the composition of the midgut microbiota is largely influenced by the larval breeding site, but the exact factors shaping this composition are currently unknown. Here, we examined whether the proximity to urban areas and seasons have an impact on the midgut microbial community of the two major malaria vectors in Africa, An. coluzzii and An. gambiae. Larvae and pupae were collected from selected habitats in two districts of Ghana during the dry and rainy season periods. The midgut microbiota of adults that emerged from these collections was determined by 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA. We show that in both mosquito species, Shewanellaceae constituted on average of 54% and 73% of the midgut microbiota from each site in the dry and rainy season, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae was found in comparatively low abundance below 1% in 22/30 samples in the dry season, and in 25/38 samples in the rainy season. Our data indicate that seasonality and locality significantly affect both the diversity of microbiota and the relative abundance of bacterial families with a positive impact of dry season and peri-urban settings.}, } @article {pmid27322121, year = {2016}, author = {Birnbaum, SS and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Patterns of Specificity of the Pathogen Escovopsis across the Fungus-Growing Ant Symbiosis.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {188}, number = {1}, pages = {52-65}, doi = {10.1086/686911}, pmid = {27322121}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Biological Evolution ; *Hypocreales ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Parasites evolve within complex abiotic and biotic environments. Because of this, it is often challenging to ascertain how evolutionary and ecological processes together affect parasite specialization. Here, we use the fungus-growing ant system, which consists of ancient, likely coevolved, complex communities, to explore the ecological and evolutionary forces shaping host-parasite specificity. We use a comparative phylogenetic framework to determine whether patterns of specificity between the fungal parasite Escovopsis and its host fungi at fine phylogenetic scales reflect patterns of specificity at broader phylogenetic levels. In other words, we ask whether parasite specificity across broad host phylogenetic relationships is maintained by specificity toward more closely related hosts. We couple this exploration with manipulations of the community context within which host-parasite interactions are taking place to evaluate how community complexity alters parasite specificity. Regardless of host community complexity, parasites displayed a consistent pattern of specialization on native hosts, that is, those that they are found attacking in nature, with the potential for occasional switching to hosts distantly related to their native hosts. These results suggest that, even within a complex community context, pairwise host and parasite adaptation and coadaptation can be the primary drivers of the evolution and maintenance of parasite specificity.}, } @article {pmid27321415, year = {2016}, author = {Rehman, AU and Szabó, M and Deák, Z and Sass, L and Larkum, A and Ralph, P and Vass, I}, title = {Symbiodinium sp. cells produce light-induced intra- and extracellular singlet oxygen, which mediates photodamage of the photosynthetic apparatus and has the potential to interact with the animal host in coral symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {212}, number = {2}, pages = {472-484}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14056}, pmid = {27321415}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*cytology/drug effects/*radiation effects ; Extracellular Space/chemistry ; Fluorescence ; Histidine/pharmacology ; Hot Temperature ; Intracellular Space/chemistry ; *Light ; Photosynthesis/drug effects/*radiation effects ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Singlet Oxygen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching is an important environmental phenomenon, whose mechanism has not yet been clarified. The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated, but direct evidence of what species are involved, their location and their mechanisms of production remains unknown. Histidine-mediated chemical trapping and singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG) were used to detect intra- and extracellular singlet oxygen ((1) O2) in Symbiodinium cultures. Inhibition of the Calvin-Benson cycle by thermal stress or high light promotes intracellular (1) O2 formation. Histidine addition, which decreases the amount of intracellular (1) O2 , provides partial protection against photosystem II photoinactivation and chlorophyll (Chl) bleaching. (1) O2 production also occurs in cell-free medium of Symbiodinium cultures, an effect that is enhanced under heat and light stress and can be attributed to the excretion of (1) O2 -sensitizing metabolites from the cells. Confocal microscopy imaging using SOSG showed most extracellular (1) O2 around the cell surface, but it is also produced across the medium distant from the cells. We demonstrate, for the first time, both intra- and extracellular (1) O2 production in Symbiodinium cultures. Intracellular (1) O2 is associated with photosystem II photodamage and pigment bleaching, whereas extracellular (1) O2 has the potential to mediate the breakdown of symbiotic interaction between zooxanthellae and their animal host during coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid27319348, year = {2016}, author = {Bessman, NJ and Sonnenberg, GF}, title = {Emerging roles for antigen presentation in establishing host-microbiome symbiosis.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {272}, number = {1}, pages = {139-150}, pmid = {27319348}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {DP5 OD012116/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI123368/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI114724/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; *Antigen Presentation ; Bacteria/*immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/metabolism ; Interleukins/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Trillions of beneficial bacteria inhabit the intestinal tract of healthy mammals from birth. Accordingly, mammalian hosts have evolved a series of complementary and redundant pathways to limit pathologic immune responses against these bacteria, while simultaneously protecting against enteric pathogen invasion. These pathways can be generically responsive to the presence of any commensal bacteria and innate in nature, as for IL-22-related pathways. Alternatively, specific bacterial antigens can drive a distinct set of adaptive immune cell responses, including IgA affinity maturation and secretion, and a recently described pathway of intestinal selection whereby MHCII(+) ILC3 deletes commensal bacteria-reactive CD4 T cells. These pathways can either promote or inhibit colonization by specific subsets of commensal bacteria, and cooperatively maintain intestinal homeostasis. In this review, we will highlight recent developments in understanding how these diverse pathways complement each other to cooperatively shape the symbiotic relationship between commensal bacteria and mammalian hosts.}, } @article {pmid27319280, year = {2016}, author = {Dey, G and Thattai, M and Baum, B}, title = {On the Archaeal Origins of Eukaryotes and the Challenges of Inferring Phenotype from Genotype.}, journal = {Trends in cell biology}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {476-485}, pmid = {27319280}, issn = {1879-3088}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; //Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Eukaryota/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {If eukaryotes arose through a merger between archaea and bacteria, what did the first true eukaryotic cell look like? A major step toward an answer came with the discovery of Lokiarchaeum, an archaeon whose genome encodes small GTPases related to those used by eukaryotes to regulate membrane traffic. Although 'Loki' cells have yet to be seen, their existence has prompted the suggestion that the archaeal ancestor of eukaryotes engulfed the future mitochondrion by phagocytosis. We propose instead that the archaeal ancestor was a relatively simple cell, and that eukaryotic cellular organization arose as the result of a gradual transfer of bacterial genes and membranes driven by an ever-closer symbiotic partnership between a bacterium and an archaeon.}, } @article {pmid27316960, year = {2016}, author = {Gano-Cohen, KA and Stokes, PJ and Blanton, MA and Wendlandt, CE and Hollowell, AC and Regus, JU and Kim, D and Patel, S and Pahua, VJ and Sachs, JL}, title = {Nonnodulating Bradyrhizobium spp. Modulate the Benefits of Legume-Rhizobium Mutualism.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {17}, pages = {5259-5268}, pmid = {27316960}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Rhizobia are best known for nodulating legume roots and fixing atmospheric nitrogen for the host in exchange for photosynthates. However, the majority of the diverse strains of rhizobia do not form nodules on legumes, often because they lack key loci that are needed to induce nodulation. Nonnodulating rhizobia are robust heterotrophs that can persist in bulk soil, thrive in the rhizosphere, or colonize roots as endophytes, but their role in the legume-rhizobium mutualism remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of nonnodulating strains on the native Acmispon-Bradyrhizobium mutualism. To examine the effects on both host performance and symbiont fitness, we performed clonal inoculations of diverse nonnodulating Bradyrhizobium strains on Acmispon strigosus hosts and also coinoculated hosts with mixtures of sympatric nodulating and nonnodulating strains. In isolation, nonnodulating Bradyrhizobium strains did not affect plant performance. In most cases, coinoculation of nodulating and nonnodulating strains reduced host performance compared to that of hosts inoculated with only a symbiotic strain. However, coinoculation increased host performance only under one extreme experimental treatment. Nearly all estimates of nodulating strain fitness were reduced in the presence of nonnodulating strains. We discovered that nonnodulating strains were consistently capable of coinfecting legume nodules in the presence of nodulating strains but that the fitness effects of coinfection for hosts and symbionts were negligible. Our data suggest that nonnodulating strains most often attenuate the Acmispon-Bradyrhizobium mutualism and that this occurs via competitive interactions at the root-soil interface as opposed to in planta

IMPORTANCE: Rhizobia are soil bacteria best known for their capacity to form root nodules on legume plants and enhance plant growth through nitrogen fixation. Yet, most rhizobia in soil do not have this capacity, and their effects on this symbiosis are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of diverse nonnodulating rhizobia on a native legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Nonnodulating strains did not affect plant growth in isolation. However, compared to inoculations with symbiotic rhizobia, coinoculations of symbiotic and nonnodulating strains often reduced plant and symbiont fitness. Coinoculation increased host performance only under one extreme treatment. Nonnodulating strains also invaded nodule interiors in the presence of nodulating strains, but this did not affect the fitness of either partner. Our data suggest that nonnodulating strains may be important competitors at the root-soil interface and that their capacity to attenuate this symbiosis should be considered in efforts to use rhizobia as biofertilizers.}, } @article {pmid27316955, year = {2016}, author = {Lemaire, B and Chimphango, SB and Stirton, C and Rafudeen, S and Honnay, O and Smets, E and Chen, WM and Sprent, J and James, EK and Muasya, AM}, title = {Biogeographical Patterns of Legume-Nodulating Burkholderia spp.: from African Fynbos to Continental Scales.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {17}, pages = {5099-5115}, pmid = {27316955}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Burkholderia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Fabaceae/classification/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; South Africa ; South America ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Rhizobia of the genus Burkholderia have large-scale distribution ranges and are usually associated with South African papilionoid and South American mimosoid legumes, yet little is known about their genetic structuring at either local or global geographic scales. To understand variation at different spatial scales, from individual legumes in the fynbos (South Africa) to a global context, we analyzed chromosomal (16S rRNA, recA) and symbiosis (nifH, nodA, nodC) gene sequences. We showed that the global diversity of nodulation genes is generally grouped according to the South African papilionoid or South American mimosoid subfamilies, whereas chromosomal sequence data were unrelated to biogeography. While nodulation genes are structured on a continental scale, a geographic or host-specific distribution pattern was not detected in the fynbos region. In host range experiments, symbiotic promiscuity of Burkholderia tuberum STM678(T) and B phymatum STM815(T) was discovered in selected fynbos species. Finally, a greenhouse experiment was undertaken to assess the ability of mimosoid (Mimosa pudica) and papilionoid (Dipogon lignosus, Indigofera filifolia, Macroptilium atropurpureum, and Podalyria calyptrata) species to nodulate in South African (fynbos) and Malawian (savanna) soils. While the Burkholderia-philous fynbos legumes (D lignosus, I filifolia, and P calyptrata) nodulated only in their native soils, the invasive neotropical species M pudica did not develop nodules in the African soils. The fynbos soil, notably rich in Burkholderia, seems to retain nodulation genes compatible with the local papilionoid legume flora but is incapable of nodulating mimosoid legumes that have their center of diversity in South America.

IMPORTANCE: This study is the most comprehensive phylogenetic assessment of root-nodulating Burkholderia and investigated biogeographic and host-related patterns of the legume-rhizobial symbiosis in the South African fynbos biome, as well as at global scales, including native species from the South American Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. While a global investigation of the rhizobial diversity revealed distinct nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes among South African and South American legumes, regionally distributed species in the Cape region were unrelated to geographic and host factors.}, } @article {pmid27316954, year = {2016}, author = {Perez, M and Juniper, SK}, title = {Insights into Symbiont Population Structure among Three Vestimentiferan Tubeworm Host Species at Eastern Pacific Spreading Centers.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {17}, pages = {5197-5205}, pmid = {27316954}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Host Specificity ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Polychaeta/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The symbiotic relationship between vestimentiferan tubeworms and their intracellular chemosynthetic bacteria is one of the more noteworthy examples of adaptation to deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments. The tubeworm symbionts have never been cultured in the laboratory. Nucleotide sequences from the small subunit rRNA gene suggest that the intracellular symbionts of the eastern Pacific vent tubeworms Oasisia alvinae, Riftia pachyptila, Tevnia jerichonana, and Ridgeia piscesae belong to the same phylotype of gammaproteobacteria, "Candidatus Endoriftia persephone." Comparisons of symbiont genomes between the East Pacific Rise tubeworms R. pachyptila and T. jerichonana confirmed that these two hosts share the same symbionts. Two Ridgeia symbiont genomes were assembled from trophosome metagenomes from worms collected from the Juan de Fuca Ridge (one and five individuals, respectively). We compared these assemblies to those of the sequenced Riftia and Tevnia symbionts. Pangenome composition, genome-wide comparisons of the nucleotide sequences, and pairwise comparisons of 2,313 orthologous genes indicated that "Ca Endoriftia persephone" symbionts are structured on large geographical scales but also on smaller scales and possibly through host specificity.

IMPORTANCE: Remarkably, the intracellular symbionts of four to six species of eastern Pacific vent tubeworms all belong to the same phylotype of gammaproteobacteria, "Candidatus Endoriftia persephone." Understanding the structure, dynamism, and interconnectivity of "Ca Endoriftia persephone" populations is important to advancing our knowledge of the ecology and evolution of their host worms, which are often keystone species in vent communities. In this paper, we present the first genomes for symbionts associated with the species R. piscesae, from the Juan de Fuca Ridge. We then combine these genomes with published symbiont genomes from the East Pacific Rise tubeworms R. pachyptila and T. jerichonana to develop a portrait of the "Ca Endoriftia persephone" pangenome and an initial outline of symbiont population structure in the different host species. Our study is the first to apply genome-wide comparisons of "Ca Endoriftia persephone" assemblies in the context of population genetics and molecular evolution.}, } @article {pmid27315080, year = {2016}, author = {Nouwen, N and Fardoux, J and Giraud, E}, title = {NodD1 and NodD2 Are Not Required for the Symbiotic Interaction of Bradyrhizobium ORS285 with Nod-Factor-Independent Aeschynomene Legumes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0157888}, pmid = {27315080}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Stems/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strain ORS285 forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots and stems of tropical aquatic legumes of the Aeschynomene genus. Depending on the Aeschynomene species, this symbiotic interaction does or does not rely on the synthesis of Nod-factors (NFs). However, whether during the interaction of Bradyrhizobium ORS285 with NF-independent Aeschynomene species the nod genes are expressed and if the general regulator NodD plays a symbiotic role is unknown. Expression studies showed that in contrast to the interaction with the NF-dependent Aeschynomene species, A. afraspera, the Bradyrhizobium ORS285 nod genes are not induced upon contact with the NF-independent host plant A. indica. Mutational analysis of the two nodD genes present in ORS285, showed that deletion of nodD1 and nodD2 did not affect the symbiotic interaction between Bradyrhizobium ORS285 and A. indica whereas the deletions had an effect on the symbiotic interaction with A. afraspera plants. In addition, when the expression of nod genes was artificially induced by adding naringenin to the plant growth medium, the nodulation of A. indica by Bradyrhizobium ORS285 is delayed and resulted in lower nodule numbers.}, } @article {pmid27313738, year = {2016}, author = {Song, M and Dai, W and Sun, R and Liang, H and Liu, B and Wu, Y and Ma, K and Lu, M}, title = {Giant cell tumor of the patella with a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst: A case report.}, journal = {Oncology letters}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {4045-4048}, pmid = {27313738}, issn = {1792-1074}, abstract = {The substance of the patella is an uncommon location for tumor occurrence and development. The present study reports a case of giant cell tumor (GCT) of the patella, combined with an aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of GCT with ABC published in English. GCT is the most common type of benign tumor. Secondary ABC is frequently associated with GCT, but this symbiotic tumor rarely occurs in the patella. A 27-year-old male patient was examined at the outpatient clinic, and clinicopathological characteristics of the tumor were observed. X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a lytic lesion located in the center of the right patella. Curettage, followed by autogenic and allograft bone grafting, was performed. Histopathologically, the lesion was diagnosed as a GCT with secondary ABC. No recurrence or metastasis was identified during the 1-year follow-up period. The present study reports a case of GCT with secondary ABC, and discusses the rare location and histopathological type of this tumor, in order to improve diagnosis and treatment of patellar tumors in general.}, } @article {pmid27313167, year = {2016}, author = {Suh, E and Fu, Y and Mercer, DR and Dobson, SL}, title = {Interaction of Wolbachia and Bloodmeal Type in Artificially Infected Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).}, journal = {Journal of medical entomology}, volume = {53}, number = {5}, pages = {1156-1162}, pmid = {27313167}, issn = {1938-2928}, support = {R01 AI067434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Maternally inherited Wolbachia bacteria are being introduced into vector mosquito populations, with the goal of reducing the transmission of diseases such as dengue fever. The infection dynamics of Wolbachia depends upon the ability of Wolbachia to manipulate host reproduction as well as any fitness costs imposed upon the host. Some vector mosquito species are opportunistic blood feeders, utilizing both human and nonhuman vertebrate hosts, and the effects of bloodmeal source on Wolbachia phenotype is not well understood. Here we transfer wMelPop Wolbachia from Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) into wild-type Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and characterize the resulting triple infection by examining for an effect of human and mouse blood on the Wolbachia infection persistence and phenotypes. When provided with human blood, the triple Wolbachia infection was persistent, with high maternal inheritance and relatively little fecundity cost, and a pattern of imperfect unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility was observed in mating experiments between wild-type and triply infected individuals. With mouse blood, reduced female fecundity and low maternal inheritance were observed in wMelPop-infected females, which affected the typical pattern of unidirectional CI. Our findings indicate the interactive effects of Wolbachia infection and blood source drive distinct shifts in the Wolbachia-host symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid27312778, year = {2016}, author = {Pérez Carrascal, OM and VanInsberghe, D and Juárez, S and Polz, MF and Vinuesa, P and González, V}, title = {Population genomics of the symbiotic plasmids of sympatric nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium species associated with Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2660-2676}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13415}, pmid = {27312778}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Genetic Variation/genetics ; Host Specificity/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phaseolus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plasmids/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Recombination, Genetic/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cultivated common beans are the primary protein source for millions of people around the world who subsist on low-input agriculture, enabled by the symbiotic N2 -fixation these legumes perform in association with rhizobia. Within a single agricultural plot, multiple Rhizobium species can nodulate bean roots, but it is unclear how genetically isolated these species remain in sympatry. To better understand this issue, we sequenced and compared the genomes of 33 strains isolated from the rhizosphere and root nodules of a particular bean variety grown in the same agricultural plot. We found that the Rhizobium species we observed coexist with low genetic recombination across their core genomes. Accessory plasmids thought to be necessary for the saprophytic lifestyle in soil show similar levels of genetic isolation, but with higher rates of recombination than the chromosomes. However, the symbiotic plasmids are extremely similar, with high rates of recombination and do not appear to have co-evolved with the chromosome or accessory plasmids. Therefore, while Rhizobium species are genetically isolated units within the microbial community, a common symbiotic plasmid allows all Rhizobium species to engage in symbiosis with the same host in a single agricultural plot.}, } @article {pmid27312602, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, Y and Huang, JM and Wang, SL and Gao, ZM and Zhang, AQ and Danchin, A and He, LS}, title = {Genomic characterization of symbiotic mycoplasmas from the stomach of deep-sea isopod bathynomus sp.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2646-2659}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13411}, pmid = {27312602}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion/genetics ; Biological Transport/genetics/physiology ; China ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Mycoplasma/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Proteolysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Stomach/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea isopod scavengers such as Bathynomus sp. are able to live in nutrient-poor environments, which is likely attributable to the presence of symbiotic microbes in their stomach. In this study we recovered two draft genomes of mycoplasmas, Bg1 and Bg2, from the metagenomes of the stomach contents and stomach sac of a Bathynomus sp. sample from the South China Sea (depth of 898 m). Phylogenetic trees revealed a considerable genetic distance to other mycoplasma species for Bg1 and Bg2. Compared with terrestrial symbiotic mycoplasmas, the Bg1 and Bg2 genomes were enriched with genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase systems (PTSs) and sodium-driven symporters responsible for the uptake of sugars, amino acids and other carbohydrates. The genome of mycoplasma Bg1 contained sialic acid lyase and transporter genes, potentially enabling the bacteria to attach to the stomach sac and obtain organic carbons from various cell walls. Both of the mycoplasma genomes contained multiple copies of genes related to proteolysis and oligosaccharide degradation, which may help the host survive in low-nutrient conditions. The discovery of the different types of mycoplasma bacteria in the stomach of this deep-sea isopod affords insights into symbiotic model of deep-sea animals and genomic plasticity of mycoplasma bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27312596, year = {2016}, author = {Anwar, H and Rahman, ZU}, title = {Efficacy of protein, symbiotic and probiotic supplementation on production performance and egg quality characteristics in molted layers.}, journal = {Tropical animal health and production}, volume = {48}, number = {7}, pages = {1361-1367}, pmid = {27312596}, issn = {1573-7438}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animals ; Chickens/*physiology ; Diet/*veterinary ; Dietary Proteins/*administration & dosage ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Oviposition/*drug effects ; Pakistan ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Two hundred white leg horn layers at 70 weeks of age were induced to molt with high dietary zinc (3 g/kg of feed); thereafter, birds were equally and randomly divided (n = 50 each) into four groups keeping G1 as control (CP 16 % diet, no other supplement), G2 (CP 18 % diet), G3 (CP 16 % diet + symbiotic; Perfectin® at 85 mg/L in drinking water daily), and G4 (CP 16 % diet + probiotic; Protexin® at 85 mg/L in drinking water daily). The egg production record was maintained throughout the experiment period, and egg quality parameters were performed at 5 %, peak, and end of post molt production stage. The overall egg production was highest in G2 (74.51 %) followed by G3 (64.95 %) and G4 (65.03 %) and lowest in G1 (58.51 %). The overall egg weight, length, diameter, weight and diameter of albumin and yolk, egg shell thickness as well as egg shell breaking strength increased (P ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The albumin height, yolk height, yolk index, and haugh unit score decreased (P ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. FCR/12 eggs improved in all the supplemented groups as compared to control (G1). The bacterial contamination of eggs was seen in G1. Conclusively, it was observed in the current experiment that the supplementation with protein, probiotic, and symbiotic did improve the production quality and potential in molted layers.}, } @article {pmid27308568, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, J and Mi, J and Zhou, BP}, title = {Metabolic rewiring in cancer-associated fibroblasts provides a niche for oncogenesis and metastatic dissemination.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular oncology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {e1056331}, pmid = {27308568}, issn = {2372-3556}, support = {P30 CA177558/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major participants in the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment. CAFs provide not only multiple soluble factors but also metabolic fuels to promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We discuss recent developments delineating the effects of metabolic symbiosis between CAFs and tumor cells on tumor growth.}, } @article {pmid27307029, year = {2016}, author = {Tatsukami, Y and Ueda, M}, title = {Rhizobial gibberellin negatively regulates host nodule number.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {27998}, pmid = {27307029}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Fabaceae/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Gibberellins/*pharmacology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In legume-rhizobia symbiosis, the nodule number is controlled to ensure optimal growth of the host. In Lotus japonicus, the nodule number has been considered to be tightly regulated by host-derived phytohormones and glycopeptides. However, we have discovered a symbiont-derived phytohormonal regulation of nodule number in Mesorhizobium loti. In this study, we found that M. loti synthesized gibberellic acid (GA) under symbiosis. Hosts inoculated with a GA-synthesis-deficient M. loti mutant formed more nodules than those inoculated with the wild-type form at four weeks post inoculation, indicating that GA from already-incorporated rhizobia prevents new nodule formation. Interestingly, the genes for GA synthesis are only found in rhizobial species that inhabit determinate nodules. Our findings suggest that the already-incorporated rhizobia perform GA-associated negative regulation of nodule number to prevent delayed infection by other rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid27306428, year = {2016}, author = {Bulgheresi, S}, title = {Bacterial cell biology outside the streetlight.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2305-2318}, pmid = {27306428}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {P 22470/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Eukaryota/*physiology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As much as vertical transmission of microbial symbionts requires their deep integration into the host reproductive and developmental biology, symbiotic lifestyle might profoundly affect bacterial growth and proliferation. This review describes the reproductive oddities displayed by bacteria associated - more or less intimately - with multicellular eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid27305777, year = {2016}, author = {Tian, L and Li, Y and Tian, C}, title = {[Response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal lipid metabolism to symbiotic signals in mycorrhiza].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {26-34}, pmid = {27305777}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi/*metabolism ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in energy flow and nutrient cycling, besides their wide distribution in the cosystem. With a long co-evolution, AM fungi and host plant have formed a symbiotic relationship, and fungal lipid metabolism may be the key point to find the symbiotic mechanism in arbusculart mycorrhiza. Here, we reviewed the most recent progress on the interaction between AM fungal lipid metabolism and symbiotic signaling networks, especially the response of AM fungal lipid metabolism to symbiotic signals. Furthermore, we discussed the response of AM fungal lipid storage and release to symbiotic or non-symbiotic status, and the correlation between fungal lipid metabolism and nutrient transfer in mycorrhiza. In addition, we explored the feedback of the lipolysis process to molecular signals during the establishment of symbiosis, and the corresponding material conversion and energy metabolism besides the crosstalk of fungal lipid metabolism and signaling networks. This review will help understand symbiotic mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi and further application in ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid27303417, year = {2016}, author = {Yuan, S and Li, R and Chen, S and Chen, H and Zhang, C and Chen, L and Hao, Q and Shan, Z and Yang, Z and Qiu, D and Zhang, X and Zhou, X}, title = {RNA-Seq Analysis of Differential Gene Expression Responding to Different Rhizobium Strains in Soybean (Glycine max) Roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {721}, pmid = {27303417}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The root nodule symbiosis (RNS) between legume plants and rhizobia is the most efficient and productive source of nitrogen fixation, and has critical importance in agriculture and mesology. Soybean (Glycine max), one of the most important legume crops in the world, establishes a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with different types of rhizobia, and the efficiency of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean greatly depends on the symbiotic host-specificity. Although, it has been reported that rhizobia use surface polysaccharides, secretion proteins of the type-three secretion systems and nod factors to modulate host range, the host control of nodulation specificity remains poorly understood. In this report, the soybean roots of two symbiotic systems (Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain 113-2-soybean and Sinorhizobium fredii USDA205-soybean)with notable different nodulation phenotypes and the control were studied at five different post-inoculation time points (0.5, 7-24 h, 5, 16, and 21 day) by RNA-seq (Quantification). The results of qPCR analysis of 11 randomly-selected genes agreed with transcriptional profile data for 136 out of 165 (82.42%) data points and quality assessment showed that the sequencing library is of quality and reliable. Three comparisons (control vs. 113-2, control vs. USDA205 and USDA205 vs. 113-2) were made and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between them were analyzed. The number of DEGs at 16 days post-inoculation (dpi) was the highest in the three comparisons, and most of the DEGs in USDA205 vs. 113-2 were found at 16 dpi and 21 dpi. 44 go function terms in USDA205 vs. 113-2 were analyzed to evaluate the potential functions of the DEGs, and 10 important KEGG pathway enrichment terms were analyzed in the three comparisons. Some important genes induced in response to different strains (113-2 and USDA205) were identified and analyzed, and these genes primarily encoded soybean resistance proteins, NF-related proteins, nodulins and immunity defense proteins, as well as proteins involving flavonoids/flavone/flavonol biosynthesis and plant-pathogen interaction. Besides, 189 candidate genes are largely expressed in roots and\or nodules. The DEGs uncovered in this study provides molecular candidates for better understanding the mechanisms of symbiotic host-specificity and explaining the different symbiotic effects between soybean roots inoculated with different strains (113-2 and USDA205).}, } @article {pmid27303411, year = {2016}, author = {Willis, JD and Mazarei, M and Stewart, CN}, title = {Transgenic Plant-Produced Hydrolytic Enzymes and the Potential of Insect Gut-Derived Hydrolases for Biofuels.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {675}, pmid = {27303411}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Various perennial C4 grass species have tremendous potential for use as lignocellulosic biofuel feedstocks. Currently available grasses require costly pre-treatment and exogenous hydrolytic enzyme application to break down complex cell wall polymers into sugars that can then be fermented into ethanol. It has long been hypothesized that engineered feedstock production of cell wall degrading (CWD) enzymes would be an efficient production platform for of exogenous hydrolytic enzymes. Most research has focused on plant overexpression of CWD enzyme-coding genes from free-living bacteria and fungi that naturally break down plant cell walls. Recently, it has been found that insect digestive tracts harbor novel sources of lignocellulolytic biocatalysts that might be exploited for biofuel production. These CWD enzyme genes can be located in the insect genomes or in symbiotic microbes. When CWD genes are transformed into plants, negative pleiotropic effects are possible such as unintended cell wall digestion. The use of codon optimization along with organelle and tissue specific targeting improves CWD enzyme yields. The literature teaches several important lessons on strategic deployment of CWD genes in transgenic plants, which is the focus of this review.}, } @article {pmid27298380, year = {2016}, author = {Chaintreuil, C and Rivallan, R and Bertioli, DJ and Klopp, C and Gouzy, J and Courtois, B and Leleux, P and Martin, G and Rami, JF and Gully, D and Parrinello, H and Séverac, D and Patrel, D and Fardoux, J and Ribière, W and Boursot, M and Cartieaux, F and Czernic, P and Ratet, P and Mournet, P and Giraud, E and Arrighi, JF}, title = {A gene-based map of the Nod factor-independent Aeschynomene evenia sheds new light on the evolution of nodulation and legume genomes.}, journal = {DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {365-376}, pmid = {27298380}, issn = {1756-1663}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Genes, Plant ; *Genetic Linkage ; *Genome, Plant ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Aeschynomene evenia has emerged as a new model legume for the deciphering of the molecular mechanisms of an alternative symbiotic process that is independent of the Nod factors. Whereas most of the research on nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, legume genetics and genomics has so far focused on Galegoid and Phaseolid legumes, A. evenia falls in the more basal and understudied Dalbergioid clade along with peanut (Arachis hypogaea). To provide insights into the symbiotic genes content and the structure of the A. evenia genome, we established a gene-based genetic map for this species. Firstly, an RNAseq analysis was performed on the two parental lines selected to generate a F2 mapping population. The transcriptomic data were used to develop molecular markers and they allowed the identification of most symbiotic genes. The resulting map comprised 364 markers arranged in 10 linkage groups (2n = 20). A comparative analysis with the sequenced genomes of Arachis duranensis and A. ipaensis, the diploid ancestors of peanut, indicated blocks of conserved macrosynteny. Altogether, these results provided important clues regarding the evolution of symbiotic genes in a Nod factor-independent context. They provide a basis for a genome sequencing project and pave the way for forward genetic analysis of symbiosis in A. evenia.}, } @article {pmid27297891, year = {2016}, author = {Martínez-Díaz, V and Latorre, A and Gil, R}, title = {Seasonal Changes in the Endosymbiotic Consortia of Aphids from the Genus Cinara.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {137-144}, pmid = {27297891}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/radiation effects ; Buchnera/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; *Microbial Consortia ; Serratia/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Buchnera aphidicola is the primary endosymbiont of aphids with which it maintains an obligate mutualistic symbiotic relationship. Insects also maintain facultative symbiotic relationships with secondary symbionts, and Serratia symbiotica is the most common in aphids. The presence of both symbionts in aphids of the subfamily Lachninae has been widely studied by our group. We examined two closely related aphids, Cinara tujafilina and C. cedri in the present study. Even though both B. aphidicola strains have similar genome sizes and gene contents, the genomes of the two S. symbiotica strains were markedly different. The SCc strain has the smallest genome known for this species, while SCt possesses a larger genome in an intermediate stage between the facultative S. symbiotica of Acyrthosiphon pisum (SAp) and the co-obligate S. symbiotica SCc.Aphids are vulnerable to high temperatures. Previous studies indicated that S. symbiotica SAp confers resistance to heat-shock stress. In order to clarify whether S. symbiotica strains from genus Cinara also play a role in heat stress protection, we performed a quantitative determination of the consortium Buchnera/Serratia from two geographically close populations, each of which belonged to the Cinara species examined, over two years in natural environments. We found no variation in the consortium from our C. cedri population, but a positive correlation between both endosymbiont densities and average daily temperatures in the C. tujafilina population. Even though S. symbiotica SCt may retain some protective role against heat stress, this does not appear to be due to the release of protective metabolites by cell lysis.}, } @article {pmid27297881, year = {2016}, author = {Sasaki, S and Minamisawa, K and Mitsui, H}, title = {A Sinorhizobium meliloti RpoH-Regulated Gene Is Involved in Iron-Sulfur Protein Metabolism and Effective Plant Symbiosis under Intrinsic Iron Limitation.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {198}, number = {17}, pages = {2297-2306}, pmid = {27297881}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Culture Media ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Iron/metabolism/pharmacology ; Iron-Sulfur Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Sigma Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: In Sinorhizobium meliloti, RpoH-type sigma factors have a global impact on gene expression during heat shock and play an essential role in symbiosis with leguminous plants. Using mutational analysis of a set of genes showing highly RpoH-dependent expression during heat shock, we identified a gene indispensable for effective symbiosis. This gene, designated sufT, was located downstream of the sufBCDS homologs that specify the iron-sulfur (Fe/S) cluster assembly pathway. The identified transcription start site was preceded by an RpoH-dependent promoter consensus sequence. SufT was related to a conserved protein family of unknown molecular function, of which some members are involved in Fe/S cluster metabolism in diverse organisms. A sufT mutation decreased bacterial growth in both rich and minimal media, tolerance to stresses such as iron starvation, and activities of some Fe/S cluster-dependent enzymes. These results support the involvement of SufT in SUF (sulfur mobilization) system-mediated Fe/S protein metabolism. Furthermore, we isolated spontaneous pseudorevertants of the sufT mutant with partially recovered growth; each of them had a mutation in rirA This gene encodes a global iron regulator whose loss increases the intracellular iron content. Deletion of rirA in the original sufT mutant improved growth and restored Fe/S enzyme activities and effective symbiosis. These results suggest that enhanced iron availability compensates for the lack of SufT in the maintenance of Fe/S proteins.

IMPORTANCE: Although RpoH-type sigma factors of the RNA polymerase are present in diverse proteobacteria, their role as global regulators of protein homeostasis has been studied mainly in the enteric gammaproteobacterium Escherichia coli In the soil alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the rpoH mutations have a strong impact on symbiosis with leguminous plants. We found that sufT is a unique member of the S. meliloti RpoH regulon; sufT contributes to Fe/S protein metabolism and effective symbiosis under intrinsic iron limitation exerted by RirA, a global iron regulator. Our study provides insights into the RpoH regulon function in diverse proteobacteria adapted to particular ecological niches and into the mechanism of conserved Fe/S protein biogenesis.}, } @article {pmid27296468, year = {2016}, author = {Chen, YT and Zhang, YK and Du, WX and Jin, PY and Hong, XY}, title = {Geography has a greater effect than Wolbachia infection on population genetic structure in the spider mite, Tetranychus pueraricola.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {106}, number = {5}, pages = {685-694}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485316000444}, pmid = {27296468}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry ; *Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Social Isolation ; Tetranychidae/*genetics/microbiology ; Wolbachia/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is an intracellular symbiotic bacterium that infects various spider mite species and is associated with alterations in host reproduction, which indicates the potential role in mite evolution. However, studies of Wolbachia infections in the spider mite Tetranychus pueraricola, a major agricultural pest, are limited. Here, we used multilocus sequence typing to determine Wolbachia infection status and examined the relationship between Wolbachia infection status and mitochondrial diversity in T. pueraricola from 12 populations in China. The prevalence of Wolbachia ranged from 2.8 to 50%, and three strains (wTpue1, wTpue2, and wTpue3) were identified. We also found double infections (wTpue1 + wTpue3) within the same individuals. Furthermore, the wTpue1 strain caused weak cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) (egg hatchability ~55%), whereas another widespread strain, wTpue3, did not induce CI. There was no reduction in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or nuclear DNA diversity among infected individuals, and mtDNA haplotypes did not correspond to specific Wolbachia strains. Phylogenetic analysis and analysis of molecular variance revealed that the distribution of mtDNA and nuclear DNA haplotypes were significantly associated with geography. These findings indicate that Wolbachia infection in T. pueraricola is complex, but T. pueraricola genetic differentiation likely resulted from substantial geographic isolation.}, } @article {pmid27294965, year = {2016}, author = {Nishida, H and Handa, Y and Tanaka, S and Suzaki, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Expression of the CLE-RS3 gene suppresses root nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {129}, number = {5}, pages = {909-919}, pmid = {27294965}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cytokinins/pharmacology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; *Genes, Plant ; Lotus/drug effects/*genetics ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Cell-to-cell communication, principally mediated by short- or long-range mobile signals, is involved in many plant developmental processes. In root nodule symbiosis, a mutual relationship between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, the mechanism for the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) plays a key role in preventing the production of an excess number of nodules. AON is based on long-distance cell-to-cell communication between roots and shoots. In Lotus japonicus, two CLAVATA3/ESR-related (CLE) peptides, encoded by CLE-ROOT SIGNAL 1 (CLE-RS1) and -RS2, act as putative root-derived signals that transmit signals inhibiting further nodule development through interaction with a shoot-acting receptor-like kinase HYPERNODULATION ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION 1 (HAR1). Here, an in silico search and subsequent expression analyses enabled us to identify two new L. japonicus CLE genes that are potentially involved in nodulation, designated as CLE-RS3 and LjCLE40. Time-course expression patterns showed that CLE-RS1/2/3 and LjCLE40 expression is induced during nodulation with different activation patterns. Furthermore, constitutive expression of CLE-RS3 significantly suppressed nodule formation in a HAR1-dependent manner. TOO MUCH LOVE, a root-acting regulator of AON, is also required for the CLE-RS3 action. These results suggest that CLE-RS3 is a new component of AON in L. japonicus that may act as a potential root-derived signal through interaction with HAR1. Because CLE-RS2, CLE-RS3 and LjCLE40 are located in tandem in the genome and their expression is induced not only by rhizobial infection but also by nitrate, these genes may have duplicated from a common gene.}, } @article {pmid27294415, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, J and Chung, SH and Peiffer, M and Rosa, C and Hoover, K and Zeng, R and Felton, GW}, title = {Herbivore Oral Secreted Bacteria Trigger Distinct Defense Responses in Preferred and Non-Preferred Host Plants.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {463-474}, pmid = {27294415}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Eating ; *Herbivory ; Larva/microbiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/cytology/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect symbiotic bacteria affect host physiology and mediate plant-insect interactions, yet there are few clear examples of symbiotic bacteria regulating defense responses in different host plants. We hypothesized that plants would induce distinct defense responses to herbivore- associated bacteria. We evaluated whether preferred hosts (horsenettle) or non-preferred hosts (tomato) respond similarly to oral secretions (OS) from the false potato beetle (FPB, Leptinotarsa juncta), and whether the induced defense triggered by OS was due to the presence of symbiotic bacteria in OS. Both horsenettle and tomato damaged by antibiotic (AB) treated larvae showed higher polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity than those damaged by non-AB treated larvae. In addition, application of OS from AB treated larvae induced higher PPO activity compared with OS from non-AB treated larvae or water treatment. False potato beetles harbor bacteria that may provide abundant cues that can be recognized by plants and thus mediate corresponding defense responses. Among all tested bacterial isolates, the genera Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, and Serratia were found to suppress PPO activity in tomato, while only Pantoea sp. among these four isolates was observed to suppress PPO activity in horsenettle. The distinct PPO suppression caused by symbiotic bacteria in different plants was similar to the pattern of induced defense-related gene expression. Pantoea inoculated FPB suppressed JA-responsive genes and triggered a SA-responsive gene in both tomato and horsenettle. However, Enterobacter inoculated FPB eliminated JA-regulated gene expression and elevated SA-regulated gene expression in tomato, but did not show evident effects on the expression levels of horsenettle defense-related genes. These results indicate that suppression of plant defenses by the bacteria found in the oral secretions of herbivores may be a more widespread phenomenon than previously indicated.}, } @article {pmid27293794, year = {2016}, author = {Ikuta, T and Igawa, K and Tame, A and Kuroiwa, T and Kuroiwa, H and Aoki, Y and Takaki, Y and Nagai, Y and Ozawa, G and Yamamoto, M and Deguchi, R and Fujikura, K and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Surfing the vegetal pole in a small population: extracellular vertical transmission of an 'intracellular' deep-sea clam symbiont.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {160130}, pmid = {27293794}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Symbiont transmission is a key event for understanding the processes underlying symbiotic associations and their evolution. However, our understanding of the mechanisms of symbiont transmission remains still fragmentary. The deep-sea clam Calyptogena okutanii harbours obligate sulfur-oxidizing intracellular symbiotic bacteria in the gill epithelial cells. In this study, we determined the localization of their symbiont associating with the spawned eggs, and the population size of the symbiont transmitted via the eggs. We show that the symbionts are located on the outer surface of the egg plasma membrane at the vegetal pole, and that each egg carries approximately 400 symbiont cells, each of which contains close to 10 genomic copies. The very small population size of the symbiont transmitted via the eggs might narrow the bottleneck and increase genetic drift, while polyploidy and its transient extracellular lifestyle might slow the rate of genome reduction. Additionally, the extracellular localization of the symbiont on the egg surface may increase the chance of symbiont exchange. This new type of extracellular transovarial transmission provides insights into complex interactions between the host and symbiont, development of both host and symbiont, as well as the population dynamics underlying genetic drift and genome evolution in microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid27292927, year = {2016}, author = {Couzigou, JM and Combier, JP}, title = {Plant microRNAs: key regulators of root architecture and biotic interactions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {212}, number = {1}, pages = {22-35}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14058}, pmid = {27292927}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Meristem/genetics ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/embryology/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Contents 22 I. 22 II. 24 III. 25 IV. 27 V. 29 VI. 10 31 References 32 SUMMARY: Plants have evolved a remarkable faculty of adaptation to deal with various and changing environmental conditions. In this context, the roots have taken over nutritional aspects and the root system architecture can be modulated in response to nutrient availability or biotic interactions with soil microorganisms. This adaptability requires a fine tuning of gene expression. Indeed, root specification and development are highly complex processes requiring gene regulatory networks involved in hormonal regulations and cell identity. Among the different molecular partners governing root development, microRNAs (miRNAs) are key players for the fast regulation of gene expression. miRNAs are small RNAs involved in most developmental processes and are required for the normal growth of organisms, by the negative regulation of key genes, such as transcription factors and hormone receptors. Here, we review the known roles of miRNAs in root specification and development, from the embryonic roots to the establishment of root symbioses, highlighting the major roles of miRNAs in these processes.}, } @article {pmid27290727, year = {2016}, author = {Shlaifer, I and Turnbull, JL}, title = {Characterization of two key enzymes for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in symbiotic archaea.}, journal = {Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {503-514}, pmid = {27290727}, issn = {1433-4909}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Aromatic/biosynthesis ; Archaeal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Chorismate Mutase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Desulfurococcaceae/*enzymology/physiology ; Enzyme Stability ; Hot Temperature ; Nanoarchaeota/*enzymology/physiology ; Nitrosamines/metabolism ; Prephenate Dehydratase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Prephenate Dehydrogenase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biosynthesis of L-tyrosine (L-Tyr) and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) is directed by the interplay of three enzymes. Chorismate mutase (CM) catalyzes the rearrangement of chorismate to prephenate, which can be either converted to hydroxyphenylpyruvate by prephenate dehydrogenase (PD) or to phenylpyruvate by prephenate dehydratase (PDT). This work reports the first characterization of a trifunctional PD-CM-PDT from the smallest hyperthermophilic archaeon Nanoarchaeum equitans and a bifunctional CM-PD from its host, the crenarchaeon Ignicoccus hospitalis. Hexa-histidine tagged proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Specific activities determined for the trifunctional enzyme were 21, 80, and 30 U/mg for CM, PD, and PDT, respectively, and 47 and 21 U/mg for bifunctional CM and PD, respectively. Unlike most PDs, these two archaeal enzymes were insensitive to regulation by L-Tyr and preferred NADP(+) to NAD(+) as a cofactor. Both the enzymes were highly thermally stable and exhibited maximal activity at 90 °C. N. equitans PDT was feedback inhibited by L-Phe (Ki = 0.8 µM) in a non-competitive fashion consistent with L-Phe's combination at a site separate from that of prephenate. Our results suggest that PD from the unique symbiotic archaeal pair encompass a distinct subfamily of prephenate dehydrogenases with regard to their regulation and co-substrate specificity.}, } @article {pmid27288422, year = {2016}, author = {Secher, T and Brehin, C and Oswald, E}, title = {Early settlers: which E. coli strains do you not want at birth?.}, journal = {American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology}, volume = {311}, number = {1}, pages = {G123-9}, doi = {10.1152/ajpgi.00091.2016}, pmid = {27288422}, issn = {1522-1547}, mesh = {Animals ; Escherichia coli/classification/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Peptides/metabolism ; Polyketides/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota exerts vital biological processes throughout the human lifetime, and imbalances in its composition have been implicated in both health and disease status. Upon birth, the neonatal gut moves from a barely sterile to a massively colonized environment. The development of the intestinal microbiota during the first year of life is characterized by rapid and important changes in microbial composition, diversity, and magnitude. The pioneer bacteria colonizing the postnatal intestinal tract profoundly contribute to the establishment of the host-microbe symbiosis, which is essential for health throughout life. Escherichia coli is one of the first colonizers of the gut after birth. E. coli is a versatile population including harmless commensal, probiotic strains as well as frequently deadly pathogens. The prevalence of the specific phylogenetic B2 group, which encompasses both commensal and extra- or intraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strains, is increasing among E. coli strains colonizing infants quickly after birth. Fifty percent of the B2 group strains carry in their genome the pks gene cluster encoding the synthesis of a nonribosomal peptide-polyketide hybrid genotoxin named colibactin. In this review, we summarize both clinical and experimental evidence associating the recently emerging neonatal B2 E. coli population with several pathology and discuss how the expression of colibactin by both normal inhabitants of intestinal microflora and virulent strains may darken the borderline between commensalism and pathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid27288412, year = {2016}, author = {Sankari, S and O'Brian, MR}, title = {The Bradyrhizobium japonicum Ferrous Iron Transporter FeoAB Is Required for Ferric Iron Utilization in Free Living Aerobic Cells and for Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {291}, number = {30}, pages = {15653-15662}, pmid = {27288412}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {R01 GM099667/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aerobiosis/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 does not synthesize siderophores for iron utilization in aerobic environments, and the mechanism of iron uptake within symbiotic soybean root nodules is unknown. An mbfA bfr double mutant defective in iron export and storage activities cannot grow aerobically in very high iron medium. Here, we found that this phenotype was suppressed by loss of function mutations in the feoAB operon encoding ferrous (Fe(2+)) iron uptake proteins. Expression of the feoAB operon genes was elevated under iron limitation, but mutants defective in either gene were unable to grow aerobically over a wide external ferric (Fe(3+)) iron (FeCl3) concentration range. Thus, FeoAB accommodates iron acquisition under iron limited and iron replete conditions. Incorporation of radiolabel from either (55)Fe(2+) or (59)Fe(3+) into cells was severely defective in the feoA and feoB strains, suggesting Fe(3+) reduction to Fe(2+) prior to traversal across the cytoplasmic membrane by FeoAB. The feoA or feoB deletion strains elicited small, ineffective nodules on soybean roots, containing few bacteria and lacking nitrogen fixation activity. A feoA(E40K) mutant contained partial iron uptake activity in culture that supported normal growth and established an effective symbiosis. The feoA(E40K) strain had partial iron uptake activity in situ within nodules and in isolated cells, indicating that FeoAB is the iron transporter in symbiosis. We conclude that FeoAB supports iron acquisition under limited conditions of soil and in the iron-rich environment of a symbiotic nodule.}, } @article {pmid27287843, year = {2016}, author = {Teixeira, H and Rodríguez-Echeverría, S}, title = {Identification of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria from three African leguminous trees in Gorongosa National Park.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {350-358}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.05.004}, pmid = {27287843}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Albizzia/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Forests ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Typing ; Mozambique ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Parks, Recreational ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between leguminous plants and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria is a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. Woody legumes are well represented in tropical African forests but despite their ecological and socio-economic importance, they have been little studied for this symbiosis. In this study, we examined the identity and diversity of symbiotic-nitrogen fixing bacteria associated with Acacia xanthophloea, Faidherbia albida and Albizia versicolor in the Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in Mozambique. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the identity of symbiotic-nitrogen fixing bacteria in this region. 166 isolates were obtained and subjected to molecular identification. BOX-A1R PCR was used to discriminate different bacterial isolates and PCR-sequencing of 16S rDNA, and two housekeeping genes, glnII and recA, was used to identify the obtained bacteria. The gene nifH was also analyzed to assess the symbiotic capacity of the obtained bacteria. All isolates from F. albida and Al. versicolor belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus whereas isolates from Ac. xanthophloea clustered with Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium or Ensifer strains. Soil chemical analysis revealed significant differences between the soils occupied by the three studied species. Thus, we found a clear delimitation in the rhizobial communities and soils associated with Ac. xanthophloea, F. albida and Al. versicolor, and higher rhizobial diversity for Ac. xanthophloea than previously reported.}, } @article {pmid27287440, year = {2016}, author = {Rúa, MA and Antoninka, A and Antunes, PM and Chaudhary, VB and Gehring, C and Lamit, LJ and Piculell, BJ and Bever, JD and Zabinski, C and Meadow, JF and Lajeunesse, MJ and Milligan, BG and Karst, J and Hoeksema, JD}, title = {Home-field advantage? evidence of local adaptation among plants, soil, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi through meta-analysis.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {122}, pmid = {27287440}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Local adaptation, the differential success of genotypes in their native versus foreign environment, arises from various evolutionary processes, but the importance of concurrent abiotic and biotic factors as drivers of local adaptation has only recently been investigated. Local adaptation to biotic interactions may be particularly important for plants, as they associate with microbial symbionts that can significantly affect their fitness and may enable rapid evolution. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is ideal for investigations of local adaptation because it is globally widespread among most plant taxa and can significantly affect plant growth and fitness. Using meta-analysis on 1170 studies (from 139 papers), we investigated the potential for local adaptation to shape plant growth responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation.

RESULTS: The magnitude and direction for mean effect size of mycorrhizal inoculation on host biomass depended on the geographic origin of the soil and symbiotic partners. Sympatric combinations of plants, AM fungi, and soil yielded large increases in host biomass compared to when all three components were allopatric. The origin of either the fungi or the plant relative to the soil was important for explaining the effect of AM inoculation on plant biomass. If plant and soil were sympatric but allopatric to the fungus, the positive effect of AM inoculation was much greater than when all three components were allopatric, suggesting potential local adaptation of the plant to the soil; however, if fungus and soil were sympatric (but allopatric to the plant) the effect of AM inoculation was indistinct from that of any allopatric combinations, indicating maladaptation of the fungus to the soil.

CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the potential to detect local adaptation for mycorrhizal relationships across a broad swath of the literature. Geographic origin of plants relative to the origin of AM fungal communities and soil is important for describing the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant biomass, suggesting that local adaptation represents a powerful factor for the establishment of novel combinations of fungi, plants, and soils. These results highlight the need for subsequent investigations of local adaptation in the mycorrhizal symbiosis and emphasize the importance of routinely considering the origin of plant, soil, and fungal components.}, } @article {pmid27284068, year = {2016}, author = {Arenas, A and Roces, F}, title = {Learning through the waste: olfactory cues from the colony refuse influence plant preferences in foraging leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 16}, pages = {2490-2496}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.139568}, pmid = {27284068}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/drug effects/*physiology ; Choice Behavior/drug effects/*physiology ; *Cues ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects/*physiology ; *Learning ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/*physiology ; Rubus/physiology ; Smell/drug effects/*physiology ; *Waste Products ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid plants initially harvested if they prove to be harmful for their symbiotic fungus once incorporated into the nest. At this point, waste particles removed from the fungus garden are likely to contain cues originating from both the unsuitable plant and the damaged fungus. We investigated whether leaf-cutting ant foragers learn to avoid unsuitable plants solely through the colony waste. We fed subcolonies of Acromymex ambiguus privet leaves treated with a fungicide undetectable to the ants, then collected the produced waste, and placed it into the fungus chamber of naive subcolonies. In individual choice tests, naive foragers preferred privet leaves before waste was put into the fungus chamber, but avoided them afterwards. Evidence on the influence of olfactory cues from the waste on decision making by foragers was obtained by scenting and transferring waste particles from subcolonies that had been fed either fungicide-treated or untreated leaves. In choice experiments, foragers from subcolonies given scented waste originating from fungicide-treated leaves collected fewer sugared paper discs with that scent compared with foragers from subcolonies given scented waste from untreated leaves. The results indicate that foragers learn to avoid plants unsuitable for the fungus by associating plant odours and cues from the damaged fungus that are present in waste particles. It is argued that waste particles may contribute to spread information about noxious plants for the fungus within the colony.}, } @article {pmid27282323, year = {2016}, author = {Fisher, JB and Sweeney, S and Brzostek, ER and Evans, TP and Johnson, DJ and Myers, JA and Bourg, NA and Wolf, AT and Howe, RW and Phillips, RP}, title = {Tree-mycorrhizal associations detected remotely from canopy spectral properties.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {2596-2607}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13264}, pmid = {27282323}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Ecology/*methods ; *Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Remote Sensing Technology ; Satellite Imagery ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A central challenge in global ecology is the identification of key functional processes in ecosystems that scale, but do not require, data for individual species across landscapes. Given that nearly all tree species form symbiotic relationships with one of two types of mycorrhizal fungi - arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi - and that AM- and ECM-dominated forests often have distinct nutrient economies, the detection and mapping of mycorrhizae over large areas could provide valuable insights about fundamental ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, species interactions, and overall forest productivity. We explored remotely sensed tree canopy spectral properties to detect underlying mycorrhizal association across a gradient of AM- and ECM-dominated forest plots. Statistical mining of reflectance and reflectance derivatives across moderate/high-resolution Landsat data revealed distinctly unique phenological signals that differentiated AM and ECM associations. This approach was trained and validated against measurements of tree species and mycorrhizal association across ~130 000 trees throughout the temperate United States. We were able to predict 77% of the variation in mycorrhizal association distribution within the forest plots (P < 0.001). The implications for this work move us toward mapping mycorrhizal association globally and advancing our understanding of biogeochemical cycling and other ecosystem processes.}, } @article {pmid27282316, year = {2016}, author = {Kazamia, E and Helliwell, KE and Purton, S and Smith, AG}, title = {How mutualisms arise in phytoplankton communities: building eco-evolutionary principles for aquatic microbes.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {810-822}, pmid = {27282316}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {BB/I013164/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ecology/methods ; Food Chain ; Microalgae/metabolism/physiology ; *Microbiota ; *Models, Biological ; Phytoplankton/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Extensive sampling and metagenomics analyses of plankton communities across all aquatic environments are beginning to provide insights into the ecology of microbial communities. In particular, the importance of metabolic exchanges that provide a foundation for ecological interactions between microorganisms has emerged as a key factor in forging such communities. Here we show how both studies of environmental samples and physiological experimentation in the laboratory with defined microbial co-cultures are being used to decipher the metabolic and molecular underpinnings of such exchanges. In addition, we explain how metabolic modelling may be used to conduct investigations in reverse, deducing novel molecular exchanges from analysis of large-scale data sets, which can identify persistently co-occurring species. Finally, we consider how knowledge of microbial community ecology can be built into evolutionary theories tailored to these species' unique lifestyles. We propose a novel model for the evolution of metabolic auxotrophy in microorganisms that arises as a result of symbiosis, termed the Foraging-to-Farming hypothesis. The model has testable predictions, fits several known examples of mutualism in the aquatic world, and sheds light on how interactions, which cement dependencies within communities of microorganisms, might be initiated.}, } @article {pmid27282315, year = {2016}, author = {Sanders, D and Kehoe, R and van Veen, FF and McLean, A and Godfray, HC and Dicke, M and Gols, R and Frago, E}, title = {Defensive insect symbiont leads to cascading extinctions and community collapse.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {789-799}, pmid = {27282315}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae ; *Extinction, Biological ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Animals often engage in mutualistic associations with microorganisms that protect them from predation, parasitism or pathogen infection. Studies of these interactions in insects have mostly focussed on the direct effects of symbiont infection on natural enemies without studying community-wide effects. Here, we explore the effect of a defensive symbiont on population dynamics and species extinctions in an experimental community composed of three aphid species and their associated specialist parasitoids. We found that introducing a bacterial symbiont with a protective (but not a non-protective) phenotype into one aphid species led to it being able to escape from its natural enemy and increase in density. This changed the relative density of the three aphid species which resulted in the extinction of the two other parasitoid species. Our results show that defensive symbionts can cause extinction cascades in experimental communities and so may play a significant role in the stability of consumer-herbivore communities in the field.}, } @article {pmid27281919, year = {2016}, author = {Isayenkov, S and Maathuis, FJ}, title = {CONSTRUCTION AND APPLICATIONS OF A MYCORRHIZAL ARBUSCULAR SPECIFIC cDNA LIBRARY.}, journal = {TSitologiia i genetika}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {3-12}, pmid = {27281919}, issn = {0564-3783}, mesh = {DNA, Complementary/*genetics ; *Gene Library ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Microdissection ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {To exploit the potential benefits of mycorrhizas, we need to investigate the processes that occur in these symbiotic interactions, particularly in the arbuscular compartment where nutrients are exchanged between the plant and the fungus. Progress in this area is restricted due to the intricacy and complexity of this plant-fungus interface and many techniques that have been employed successfully in other plants and animal systems cannot be used. An effective approach to study processes in arbuscules is to examine transcript composition and dynamics. We applied laser capture microdissection (LCM) to isolate approximately 3000 arbuscules from Glomus intraradices colonised Me- dicago truncatula roots. Total RNA was extracted from microdissected arbuscules and subjected to T7 RNA polymerase-based linear amplification. Amplified RNA was then usedfor construction of a cDNA library. The presence and level of enrichment of mycorrhiza-specific transcripts was determined by quantitative Real-time and conventional PCR. To improve enrichment a cDNA library subtraction was performed. Complementation of yeast mutants deficient in the uptake of.potassium, phosphate, sulphate, amino acids, ammonium and of a Mn[2+]sensitive strain, demonstrates the functionality of our cDNA library.}, } @article {pmid27280726, year = {2016}, author = {Yang, ZW and Jiang, YH and Ma, C and Silvestri, G and Bosinger, SE and Li, BL and Jong, A and Zhou, YH and Huang, SH}, title = {Coexpression Network Analysis of Benign and Malignant Phenotypes of SIV-Infected Sooty Mangabey and Rhesus Macaque.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0156170}, pmid = {27280726}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {P51 OD011132/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P51 RR000165/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI066998/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism/virology ; Cercocebus atys/*genetics/immunology/virology ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Immunity, Innate/genetics/immunology ; Macaca mulatta/*genetics/immunology/virology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*genetics/immunology/virology ; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/*isolation & purification ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {To explore the differences between the extreme SIV infection phenotypes, nonprogression (BEN: benign) to AIDS in sooty mangabeys (SMs) and progression to AIDS (MAL: malignant) in rhesus macaques (RMs), we performed an integrated dual positive-negative connectivity (DPNC) analysis of gene coexpression networks (GCN) based on publicly available big data sets in the GEO database of NCBI. The microarray-based gene expression data sets were generated, respectively, from the peripheral blood of SMs and RMs at several time points of SIV infection. Significant differences of GCN changes in DPNC values were observed in SIV-infected SMs and RMs. There are three groups of enriched genes or pathways (EGPs) that are associated with three SIV infection phenotypes (BEN+, MAL+ and mixed BEN+/MAL+). The MAL+ phenotype in SIV-infected RMs is specifically associated with eight EGPs, including the protein ubiquitin proteasome system, p53, granzyme A, gramzyme B, polo-like kinase, Glucocorticoid receptor, oxidative phosyphorylation and mitochondrial signaling. Mitochondrial (endosymbiotic) dysfunction is solely present in RMs. Specific BEN+ pattern changes in four EGPs are identified in SIV-infected SMs, including the pathways contributing to interferon signaling, BRCA1/DNA damage response, PKR/INF induction and LGALS8. There are three enriched pathways (PRR-activated IRF signaling, RIG1-like receptor and PRR pathway) contributing to the mixed (BEN+/MAL+) phenotypes of SIV infections in RMs and SMs, suggesting that these pathways play a dual role in the host defense against viral infections. Further analysis of Hub genes in these GCNs revealed that the genes LGALS8 and IL-17RA, which positively regulate the barrier function of the gut mucosa and the immune homeostasis with the gut microbiota (exosymbiosis), were significantly differentially expressed in RMs and SMs. Our data suggest that there exists an exo- (dysbiosis of the gut microbiota) and endo- (mitochondrial dysfunction) symbiotic imbalance (EESI) in HIV/SIV infections. Dissecting the mechanisms of the exo-endo symbiotic balance (EESB) that maintains immune homeostasis and the EESI problems in HIV/SIV infections may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS and the development of novel interventions for the rational control of this disease.}, } @article {pmid27279159, year = {2016}, author = {Yamamura, T}, title = {[Multiple Sclerosis and Commensal Gut Flora].}, journal = {Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo}, volume = {68}, number = {6}, pages = {617-622}, doi = {10.11477/mf.1416200450}, pmid = {27279159}, issn = {1881-6096}, mesh = {Animals ; Dysbiosis ; Feces/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology ; Intestines/microbiology ; Multiple Sclerosis ; }, abstract = {Although a symbiotic relationship between commensal gut microbiota and host is widely appreciated, recent works have indicated that normal gut flora functions to prevent inflammatory bowel diseases and obesity in the host, indicating a more mutualistic relationship. Dysbiosis of the commensal flora may lead to development of these disorders. Studies using experimental auto immune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a rodent model for studying multiple sclerosis (MS), revealed that onset of MS may be triggered by dysbiosis in the gut. We recently revealed a significant reduction in certain clostridia strains, which probably function to induce regulatory T cells, in the gut microbiota of patients with MS. Results from this study should be consideved when designing strategies for the prevention and treatment of MS.}, } @article {pmid27278090, year = {2016}, author = {Gogos, A and Moll, J and Klingenfuss, F and van der Heijden, M and Irin, F and Green, MJ and Zenobi, R and Bucheli, TD}, title = {Vertical transport and plant uptake of nanoparticles in a soil mesocosm experiment.}, journal = {Journal of nanobiotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {40}, pmid = {27278090}, issn = {1477-3155}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Environmental Exposure ; Hot Temperature ; Microwaves ; Nanoparticles/analysis/*metabolism ; Nanotubes, Carbon/*analysis ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plants/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Soil/*chemistry ; Titanium/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Agricultural soils represent a potential sink for increasing amounts of different nanomaterials that nowadays inevitably enter the environment. Knowledge on the relation between their actual exposure concentrations and biological effects on crops and symbiotic organisms is therefore of high importance. In this part of a joint companion study, we describe the vertical translocation as well as plant uptake of three different titanium dioxide (nano-)particles (TiO2 NPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) within a pot experiment with homogenously spiked natural agricultural soil and two plant species (red clover and wheat).

RESULTS: TiO2 NPs exhibited limited mobility from soil to leachates and did not induce significant titanium uptake into both plant species, although average concentrations were doubled from 4 to 8 mg/kg Ti at the highest exposures. While the mobility of MWCNTs in soil was limited as well, microwave-induced heating suggested MWCNT-plant uptake independent of the exposure concentration.

CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of actual exposure concentrations with a series of analytical methods confirmed nominal ones in soil mesocosms with red clover and wheat and pointed to low mobility and limited plant uptake of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes.}, } @article {pmid27277141, year = {2016}, author = {Green, KA and Becker, Y and Fitzsimons, HL and Scott, B}, title = {An Epichloë festucae homologue of MOB3, a component of the STRIPAK complex, is required for the establishment of a mutualistic symbiotic interaction with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {1480-1492}, pmid = {27277141}, issn = {1364-3703}, support = {P20 RR016481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Fusion ; Epichloe/cytology/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/cytology ; Lolium/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Multiprotein Complexes/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Stems/ultrastructure ; *Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In both Sordaria macrospora and Neurospora crassa, components of the conserved STRIPAK (striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase) complex regulate cell-cell fusion, hyphal network development and fruiting body formation. Interestingly, a number of Epichloë festucae genes that are required for hyphal cell-cell fusion, such as noxA, noxR, proA, mpkA and mkkA, are also required for the establishment of a mutualistic symbiotic interaction with Lolium perenne. To determine whether MobC, a homologue of the STRIPAK complex component MOB3 in S. macrospora and N. crassa, is required for E. festucae hyphal fusion and symbiosis, a mobC deletion strain was generated. The ΔmobC mutant showed reduced rates of hyphal cell-cell fusion, formed intrahyphal hyphae and exhibited enhanced conidiation. Plants infected with ΔmobC were severely stunted. Hyphae of ΔmobC showed a proliferative pattern of growth within the leaves of Lolium perenne with increased colonization of the intercellular spaces and vascular bundles. Although hyphae were still able to form expressoria, structures allowing the colonization of the leaf surface, the frequency of formation was significantly reduced. Collectively, these results show that the STRIPAK component MobC is required for the establishment of a mutualistic symbiotic association between E. festucae and L. perenne, and plays an accessory role in the regulation of hyphal cell-cell fusion and expressorium development in E. festucae.}, } @article {pmid27276034, year = {2016}, author = {Book, AJ and Lewin, GR and McDonald, BR and Takasuka, TE and Wendt-Pienkowski, E and Doering, DT and Suh, S and Raffa, KF and Fox, BG and Currie, CR}, title = {Evolution of High Cellulolytic Activity in Symbiotic Streptomyces through Selection of Expanded Gene Content and Coordinated Gene Expression.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {e1002475}, pmid = {27276034}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Cellulase/genetics/metabolism ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genomics/methods ; Hydrolysis ; Phylogeny ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Streptomyces/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolution of cellulose degradation was a defining event in the history of life. Without efficient decomposition and recycling, dead plant biomass would quickly accumulate and become inaccessible to terrestrial food webs and the global carbon cycle. On land, the primary drivers of plant biomass deconstruction are fungi and bacteria in the soil or associated with herbivorous eukaryotes. While the ecological importance of plant-decomposing microbes is well established, little is known about the distribution or evolution of cellulolytic activity in any bacterial genus. Here we show that in Streptomyces, a genus of Actinobacteria abundant in soil and symbiotic niches, the ability to rapidly degrade cellulose is largely restricted to two clades of host-associated strains and is not a conserved characteristic of the Streptomyces genus or host-associated strains. Our comparative genomics identify that while plant biomass degrading genes (CAZy) are widespread in Streptomyces, key enzyme families are enriched in highly cellulolytic strains. Transcriptomic analyses demonstrate that cellulolytic strains express a suite of multi-domain CAZy enzymes that are coregulated by the CebR transcriptional regulator. Using targeted gene deletions, we verify the importance of a highly expressed cellulase (GH6 family cellobiohydrolase) and the CebR transcriptional repressor to the cellulolytic phenotype. Evolutionary analyses identify complex genomic modifications that drive plant biomass deconstruction in Streptomyces, including acquisition and selective retention of CAZy genes and transcriptional regulators. Our results suggest that host-associated niches have selected some symbiotic Streptomyces for increased cellulose degrading activity and that symbiotic bacteria are a rich biochemical and enzymatic resource for biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid27275114, year = {2016}, author = {Ayob, FW and Simarani, K}, title = {Endophytic filamentous fungi from a Catharanthus roseus: Identification and its hydrolytic enzymes.}, journal = {Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {273-278}, pmid = {27275114}, issn = {1319-0164}, abstract = {This paper reported on the various filamentous fungi strains that were isolated from a wild grown Catharanthus roseus. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular technique through a Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA sequencing method using internal transcribed spacer (ITS), these fungi had been identified as a Colletotrichum sp., Macrophomina phaseolina, Nigrospora sphaerica and Fusarium solani. The ultrastructures of spores and hyphae were observed under a Scanning Electron Microscope. The hydrolytic enzyme test showed that all strains were positive in secreting cellulase. Colletotrichum sp. and F. solani strains also gave a positive result for amylase while only F. solani was capable to secrete protease. These fungi were putatively classified as endophytic fungi since they produced extracellular enzymes that allow them to penetrate plant cell walls and colonize with symbiotic properties.}, } @article {pmid27273758, year = {2016}, author = {Meirelles, LA and McFrederick, QS and Rodrigues, A and Mantovani, JD and de Melo Rodovalho, C and Ferreira, H and Bacci, M and Mueller, UG}, title = {Bacterial microbiomes from vertically transmitted fungal inocula of the leaf-cutting ant Atta texana.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {630-640}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12415}, pmid = {27273758}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Microbiome surveys provide clues for the functional roles of symbiotic microbial communities and their hosts. In this study, we elucidated bacterial microbiomes associated with the vertically transmitted fungal inocula (pellets) used by foundress queens of the leaf-cutting ant Atta texana as starter-cultures for new gardens. As reference microbiomes, we also surveyed bacterial microbiomes of foundress queens, gardens and brood of incipient nests. Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Propionibacterium and Corynebacterium were consistently present in high abundance in microbiomes. Some pellet and ant samples contained abundant bacteria from an Entomoplasmatales-clade, and a separate PCR-based survey of Entomoplasmatales bacteria in eight attine ant-genera from Brazil placed these bacteria in a monophyletic clade within the bacterial genus Mesoplasma. The attine ant-Mesoplasma association parallels a similar association between a closely related, monophyletic Entomoplasmatales-clade and army ants. Of thirteen A. texana nests surveyed, three nests with exceptionally high Mesoplasma abundance died, whereas the other nests survived. It is unclear whether Mesoplasma was the primary cause of mortality, or Mesoplasma became abundant in moribund nests for non-pathogenic reasons. However, the consistent and geographically widespread presence of Mesoplasma suggests an important functional role in the association with attine ants.}, } @article {pmid27273750, year = {2016}, author = {Zhu, DT and Xia, WQ and Rao, Q and Liu, SS and Ghanim, M and Wang, XW}, title = {Sequencing and comparison of the Rickettsia genomes from the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Middle East Asia Minor I.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {531-542}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12367}, pmid = {27273750}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Israel ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsia/*genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, harbors the primary symbiont 'Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum' and a variety of secondary symbionts. Among these secondary symbionts, Rickettsia is the only one that can be detected both inside and outside the bacteriomes. Infection with Rickettsia has been reported to influence several aspects of the whitefly biology, such as fitness, sex ratio, virus transmission and resistance to pesticides. However, mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear, largely due to the lack of genomic information of Rickettsia. In this study, we sequenced the genome of two Rickettsia strains isolated from the Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species of the B. tabaci complex in China and Israel. Both Rickettsia genomes were of high coding density and AT-rich, containing more than 1000 coding sequences, much larger than that of the coexisted primary symbiont, Portiera. Moreover, the two Rickettsia strains isolated from China and Israel shared most of the genes with 100% identity and only nine genes showed sequence differences. The phylogenetic analysis using orthologs shared in the genus, inferred the proximity of Rickettsia in MEAM1 and Rickettsia bellii. Functional analysis revealed that Rickettsia was unable to synthesize amino acids required for complementing the whitefly nutrition. Besides, a type IV secretion system and a number of virulence-related genes were detected in the Rickettsia genome. The presence of virulence-related genes might benefit the symbiotic life of the bacteria, and hint on potential effects of Rickettsia on whiteflies. The genome sequences of Rickettsia provided a basis for further understanding the function of Rickettsia in whiteflies.}, } @article {pmid27273065, year = {2016}, author = {Swamy, CT and Gayathri, D and Devaraja, TN and Bandekar, M and D'Souza, SE and Meena, RM and Ramaiah, N}, title = {Plant growth promoting potential and phylogenetic characteristics of a lichenized nitrogen fixing bacterium, Enterobacter cloacae.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {56}, number = {12}, pages = {1369-1379}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201600197}, pmid = {27273065}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Acetylene/metabolism ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacter cloacae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Siderophores/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are complex symbiotic association of mycobionts, photobionts, and bacteriobionts, including chemolithotropic bacteria. In the present study, 46 lichenized bacteria were isolated by conventional and enrichment culture methods on nitrogen-free bromothymol blue (NFb) medium. Only 11 of the 46 isolates fixed nitrogen on NFb and had reduced acetylene. All these 11 isolates had also produced siderophore and 10 of them the IAA. Further, ammonia production was recorded from nine of these nitrogen fixers (NF). On molecular characterization, 16 S rRNA sequencing recorded that, nine NF belonged to Proteobacteria, within Gammaproteobacteria, and were closely related to Enterobacter sp. with a maximum similarity to Enterobacter cloacae. Each one of our NF isolates was aligned closely to Enterobacter pulveris strain E443, Cronobacter sakazakii strain PNP8 and Providencia rettgeri strain ALK058. Notably, a few strains we examined found to possess plant growth promoting properties. This is the first report of Enterobacter sp. from lichens which may be inhabit lichen thalli extrinsically or intrinsically.}, } @article {pmid27273012, year = {2016}, author = {Carvalho, CR and Wedge, DE and Cantrell, CL and Silva-Hughes, AF and Pan, Z and Moraes, RM and Madoxx, VL and Rosa, LH}, title = {Molecular Phylogeny, Diversity, and Bioprospecting of Endophytic Fungi Associated with wild Ethnomedicinal North American Plant Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae).}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {13}, number = {7}, pages = {918-930}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.201500299}, pmid = {27273012}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*analysis/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Asteraceae/*microbiology ; *Bioprospecting ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endophytes/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Fatty Acids/analysis/chemistry/pharmacology ; Medicine, Traditional ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mitosporic Fungi/classification/*drug effects ; Molecular Conformation ; *Phylogeny ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungal community associated with the ethnomedicinal plant Echinacea purpurea was investigated as well as its potential for providing antifungal compounds against plant pathogenic fungi. A total of 233 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained and classified into 42 different taxa of 16 genera, of which Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum dematium, and Stagonosporopsis sp. 2 are the most frequent colonizers. The extracts of 29 endophytic fungi displayed activities against important phytopathogenic fungi. Eight antifungal extracts were selected for chemical analysis. Forty fatty acids were identified by gas chromatography-flame-ionization detection (GC-FID) analysis. The compounds (-)-5-methylmellein and (-)-(3R)-8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin were isolated from Biscogniauxia mediterraneaEPU38CA crude extract. (-)-5-Methylmellein showed weak activity against Phomopsis obscurans, P. viticola, and Fusarium oxysporum, and caused growth stimulation of C. fragariae, C. acutatum, C. gloeosporioides, and Botrytis cinerea. (-)-(3R)-8-Hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin appeared slightly more active in the microtiter environment than 5-methylmellein. Our results indicate that E. purpurea lives symbiotically with different endophytic fungi, which are able to produce bioactive fatty acids and aromatic compounds active against important phytopathogenic fungi. The detection of the different fatty acids and aromatic compounds produced by the endophytic community associated with wild E. purpurea suggests that it may have intrinsic mutualistic resistance against phytopathogen attacks in its natural environment.}, } @article {pmid27271618, year = {2016}, author = {Formey, D and Martín-Rodríguez, JÁ and Leija, A and Santana, O and Quinto, C and Cárdenas, L and Hernández, G}, title = {Regulation of Small RNAs and Corresponding Targets in Nod Factor-Induced Phaseolus vulgaris Root Hair Cells.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {27271618}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Phaseolus/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {A genome-wide analysis identified the set of small RNAs (sRNAs) from the agronomical important legume Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean), including novel P. vulgaris-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) potentially important for the regulation of the rhizobia-symbiotic process. Generally, novel miRNAs are difficult to identify and study because they are very lowly expressed in a tissue- or cell-specific manner. In this work, we aimed to analyze sRNAs from common bean root hairs (RH), a single-cell model, induced with pure Rhizobium etli nodulation factors (NF), a unique type of signal molecule. The sequence analysis of samples from NF-induced and control libraries led to the identity of 132 mature miRNAs, including 63 novel miRNAs and 1984 phasiRNAs. From these, six miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed during NF induction, including one novel miRNA: miR-RH82. A parallel degradome analysis of the same samples revealed 29 targets potentially cleaved by novel miRNAs specifically in NF-induced RH samples; however, these novel miRNAs were not differentially accumulated in this tissue. This study reveals Phaseolus vulgaris-specific novel miRNA candidates and their corresponding targets that meet all criteria to be involved in the regulation of the early nodulation events, thus setting the basis for exploring miRNA-mediated improvement of the common bean-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27269511, year = {2016}, author = {De Meyer, SE and Briscoe, L and Martínez-Hidalgo, P and Agapakis, CM and de-Los Santos, PE and Seshadri, R and Reeve, W and Weinstock, G and O'Hara, G and Howieson, JG and Hirsch, AM}, title = {Symbiotic Burkholderia Species Show Diverse Arrangements of nif/fix and nod Genes and Lack Typical High-Affinity Cytochrome cbb3 Oxidase Genes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {8}, pages = {609-619}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-16-0091-R}, pmid = {27269511}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {IOB-0537497//National Science Foundation/International ; IOS-1201735//National Science Foundation/International ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//US Department of Energy/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Burkholderia/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Cupriavidus/enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome analysis of fourteen mimosoid and four papilionoid beta-rhizobia together with fourteen reference alpha-rhizobia for both nodulation (nod) and nitrogen-fixing (nif/fix) genes has shown phylogenetic congruence between 16S rRNA/MLSA (combined 16S rRNA gene sequencing and multilocus sequence analysis) and nif/fix genes, indicating a free-living diazotrophic ancestry of the beta-rhizobia. However, deeper genomic analysis revealed a complex symbiosis acquisition history in the beta-rhizobia that clearly separates the mimosoid and papilionoid nodulating groups. Mimosoid-nodulating beta-rhizobia have nod genes tightly clustered in the nodBCIJHASU operon, whereas papilionoid-nodulating Burkholderia have nodUSDABC and nodIJ genes, although their arrangement is not canonical because the nod genes are subdivided by the insertion of nif and other genes. Furthermore, the papilionoid Burkholderia spp. contain duplications of several nod and nif genes. The Burkholderia nifHDKEN and fixABC genes are very closely related to those found in free-living diazotrophs. In contrast, nifA is highly divergent between both groups, but the papilionoid species nifA is more similar to alpha-rhizobia nifA than to other groups. Surprisingly, for all Burkholderia, the fixNOQP and fixGHIS genes required for cbb3 cytochrome oxidase production and assembly are missing. In contrast, symbiotic Cupriavidus strains have fixNOQPGHIS genes, revealing a divergence in the evolution of two distinct electron transport chains required for nitrogen fixation within the beta-rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid27269381, year = {2016}, author = {Van Cauwenberghe, J and Lemaire, B and Stefan, A and Efrose, R and Michiels, J and Honnay, O}, title = {Symbiont abundance is more important than pre-infection partner choice in a Rhizobium - legume mutualism.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {345-349}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.05.007}, pmid = {27269381}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Genotype ; Geography ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics/*growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vicia/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {It is known that the genetic diversity of conspecific rhizobia present in root nodules differs greatly among populations of a legume species, which has led to the suggestion that both dispersal limitation and the local environment affect rhizobial genotypic composition. However, it remains unclear whether rhizobial genotypes residing in root nodules are representative of the entire population of compatible symbiotic rhizobia. Since symbiotic preferences differ among legume populations, the genetic composition of rhizobia found within nodules may reflect the preferences of the local hosts, rather than the full diversity of potential nodulating rhizobia present in the soil. Here, we assessed whether Vicia cracca legume hosts of different provenances select different Rhizobium leguminosarum genotypes than sympatric V. cracca hosts, when presented a natural soil rhizobial population. Through combining V. cracca plants and rhizobia from adjacent and more distant populations, we found that V. cracca hosts are relatively randomly associated with rhizobial genotypes. This indicates that pre-infection partner choice is relatively weak in certain legume hosts when faced with a natural population of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid27267929, year = {2016}, author = {Sami, D and Mokhtar, R and Peter, M and Mohamed, M}, title = {Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii, Ensifer numidicus and Mesorhizobium amorphae symbiovar ciceri (or Mesorhizobium loti) are new endosymbiotic bacteria of Lens culinaris Medik.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw118}, pmid = {27267929}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cicer/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Lens Plant/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A total of 142 rhizobial bacteria were isolated from root nodules of Lens culinaris Medik endemic to Tunisia and they belonged to the species Rhizobium leguminosarum, and for the first time to Ensifer and Mesorhizobium, genera never previously described as microsymbionts of lentil. Phenotypically, our results indicate that L. culinaris Medik strains showed heterogenic responses to the different phenotypic features and they effectively nodulated their original host. Based on the concatenation of the 16S rRNA with relevant housekeeping genes (glnA, recA, dnaK), rhizobia that nodulate lentil belonged almost exclusively to the known R. leguminosarum sv. viciae. Interestingly, R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii, Ensifer numidicus (10 isolates) and Mesorhizobium amorphae (or M. loti) (9 isolates) isolates species, not considered, up to now, as a natural symbiont of lentil are reported. The E. numidicus and M. amorphae (or M. loti) strains induced fixing nodules on Medicago sativa and Cicer arietinum host plants, respectively. Symbiotic gene phylogenies showed that the E. numidicus, new symbiont of lentil, markedly diverged from strains of R. leguminosarum, the usual symbionts of lentil, and converged to the symbiovar meliloti so far described within E. meliloti Indeed, the nodC and nodA genes from the M. amorphae showed more than 99% similarity with respect to those from M. mediterraneum, the common chickpea nodulating species, and would be included in the new infrasubspecific division named M. amorphae symbiovar ciceri, or to M. loti, related to the strains able to effectively nodulate C. arietinum host plant. On the basis of these data, R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii (type strain LBg3 (T)), M. loti or M. amorphae sv. ciceri (type strain LB4 (T)) and E. numidicus (type strain LBi2 (T)) are proposed as new symbionts of L. culinaris Medik.}, } @article {pmid27266251, year = {2016}, author = {Makarova, LE and Dudareva, LV and Petrova, IG and Vasil'eva, GG}, title = {[Secretion of Phenolic Compounds into Root Exudates of Pea Seedlings upon Inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae or Pseudomonas siringae pv. Pisi].}, journal = {Prikladnaia biokhimiia i mikrobiologiia}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {217-222}, pmid = {27266251}, issn = {0555-1099}, mesh = {Peas/*metabolism/microbiology ; Phenols/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The content of apigenin, naringenin, pisatin, dibutyl-ortho-phthalate, and N-phenyl-2-naphthyl-amine were assayed in root exudates of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings one day after their inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum, bv. viceae or Pseudomonas siringae pv. pisi, which represent, respectively, mutualistic and antagonistic strategies of interaction with a host plant. After inoculation with either bacteria, the concentrations of apigenin and pisatin in the root exudates were equal, whereas the concentrations of naringenin and N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine were different and those of dibutyl-o-phthalate were unchanged. A certain role is suggested for the phenolic compounds in an accomplishment of symbiotic relations of bacteria with a host plant.}, } @article {pmid27265344, year = {2016}, author = {Kuechler, SM and Matsuura, Y and Dettner, K and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Phylogenetically Diverse Burkholderia Associated with Midgut Crypts of Spurge Bugs, Dicranocephalus spp. (Heteroptera: Stenocephalidae).}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {145-153}, pmid = {27265344}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Burkholderia/*classification/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Diverse phytophagous heteropteran insects, commonly known as stinkbugs, are associated with specific gut symbiotic bacteria, which have been found in midgut cryptic spaces. Recent studies have revealed that members of the stinkbug families Coreidae and Alydidae of the superfamily Coreoidea are consistently associated with a specific group of the betaproteobacterial genus Burkholderia, called the "stinkbug-associated beneficial and environmental (SBE)" group, and horizontally acquire specific symbionts from the environment every generation. However, the symbiotic system of another coreoid family, Stenocephalidae remains undetermined. We herein investigated four species of the stenocephalid genus Dicranocephalus. Examinations via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the typical arrangement and ultrastructures of midgut crypts and gut symbionts. Cloning and molecular phylogenetic analyses of bacterial genes showed that the midgut crypts of all species are colonized by Burkholderia strains, which were further assigned to different subgroups of the genus Burkholderia. In addition to the SBE-group Burkholderia, a number of stenocephalid symbionts belonged to a novel clade containing B. sordidicola and B. udeis, suggesting a specific symbiont clade for the Stenocephalidae. The symbiotic systems of stenocephalid bugs may provide a unique opportunity to study the ongoing evolution of symbiont associations in the stinkbug-Burkholderia interaction.}, } @article {pmid27265208, year = {2016}, author = {Tsai, S and Chang, WC and Chavanich, S and Viyakarn, V and Lin, C}, title = {Ultrastructural observation of oocytes in six types of stony corals.}, journal = {Tissue & cell}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {349-355}, doi = {10.1016/j.tice.2016.05.005}, pmid = {27265208}, issn = {1532-3072}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Cytoplasmic Granules/ultrastructure ; Female ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oocytes/growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Ovary/growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Reproduction/physiology ; }, abstract = {In this study, the ultrastructure of the oocytes of 6 types of scleractinian corals was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, histological and ultrastructural analyses were performed to improve our understanding of the organelles involved in coral oocyte formation. In all 6 stony coral species, the microvilli were tubular and directly grew from the surface of the oocyte membrane; yolk bodies, lipid granules, and cortical alveoli accounted for most of the volume inside the oocytes, suggesting that they are associated with energy storage and buoyancy. Clear differences were observed in the size of yolk bodies and lipid granules in the oocytes of the 6 stony coral species, which occupied approximately 55%-80% of the inner space of the oocytes. Galaxea fascicularis exhibited the largest lipid granule volume, but the oocytes contained only an average number of 12.45 lipid granules per unit area. Only Montipora incrassata oocytes contained symbiotic algae. The smallest size and proportion of lipid granules in M. incrassata oocytes may be attributed to the presence of symbiotic algae and large yolk bodies, which may help oocytes produce energy and function as a nutritional source. This study is crucial for improving the understanding of the basic biology of coral reproduction, and the ensuing datasets is critical for conservation-oriented studies seeking to cryopreserve corals during these times of dramatic global climate change.}, } @article {pmid27264641, year = {2016}, author = {Mori, N and Nishiuma, K and Sugiyama, T and Hayashi, H and Akiyama, K}, title = {Carlactone-type strigolactones and their synthetic analogues as inducers of hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {90-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.05.012}, pmid = {27264641}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Fungi/*chemistry ; Glomeromycota/chemistry ; Hyphae/drug effects ; Lactones/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Hyphal branching in the vicinity of host roots is a host recognition response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This morphological event is elicited by strigolactones. Strigolactones are carotenoid-derived terpenoids that are synthesized from carlactone and its oxidized derivatives. To test the possibility that carlactone and its oxidized derivatives might act as host-derived precolonization signals in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, carlactone, carlactonoic acid, and methyl carlactonoate as well as monohydroxycarlactones, 4-, 18-, and 19-hydroxycarlactones, were synthesized chemically and evaluated for hyphal branching-inducing activity in germinating spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita. Hyphal branching activity was found to correlate with the degree of oxidation at C-19 methyl. Carlactone was only weakly active (100 ng/disc), whereas carlactonoic acid showed comparable activity to the natural canonical strigolactones such as strigol and sorgomol (100 pg/disc). Hydroxylation at either C-4 or C-18 did not significantly affect the activity. A series of carlactone analogues, named AD ester and AA'D diester, was synthesized by reacting formyl Meldrum's acid with benzyl, cyclohexylmethyl, and cyclogeranyl alcohols (the A-ring part), followed by coupling of the potassium enolates of the resulting formylacetic esters with the D-ring butenolide. AD ester analogues exhibited moderate activity (1 ng-100 pg/disc), while AA'D diester analogues having cyclohexylmethyl and cyclogeranyl groups were highly active on the AM fungus (10 pg/disc). These results indicate that the oxidation of methyl to carboxyl at C-19 in carlactone is a prerequisite but BC-ring formation is not essential to show hyphal branching activity comparable to that of canonical strigolactones.}, } @article {pmid27263657, year = {2016}, author = {van de Water, JA and Melkonian, R and Junca, H and Voolstra, CR and Reynaud, S and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Spirochaetes dominate the microbial community associated with the red coral Corallium rubrum on a broad geographic scale.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {27277}, pmid = {27263657}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microbiota ; Oceanospirillaceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Spirochaeta/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mass mortality events in populations of the iconic red coral Corallium rubrum have been related to seawater temperature anomalies that may have triggered microbial disease development. However, very little is known about the bacterial community associated with the red coral. We therefore aimed to provide insight into this species' bacterial assemblages using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons generated from samples collected at five locations distributed across the western Mediterranean Sea. Twelve bacterial species were found to be consistently associated with the red coral, forming a core microbiome that accounted for 94.6% of the overall bacterial community. This core microbiome was particularly dominated by bacteria of the orders Spirochaetales and Oceanospirillales, in particular the ME2 family. Bacteria belonging to these orders have been implicated in nutrient cycling, including nitrogen, carbon and sulfur. While Oceanospirillales are common symbionts of marine invertebrates, our results identify members of the Spirochaetales as other important dominant symbiotic bacterial associates within Anthozoans.}, } @article {pmid27261483, year = {2016}, author = {Motl, RW and Sandroff, BM and DeLuca, J}, title = {Exercise Training and Cognitive Rehabilitation: A Symbiotic Approach for Rehabilitating Walking and Cognitive Functions in Multiple Sclerosis?.}, journal = {Neurorehabilitation and neural repair}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {499-511}, doi = {10.1177/1545968315606993}, pmid = {27261483}, issn = {1552-6844}, mesh = {Cognition Disorders/*etiology ; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/*methods ; Exercise Therapy/*methods ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis/*complications/*rehabilitation ; }, abstract = {The current review develops a rationale and framework for examining the independent and combined effects of exercise training and cognitive rehabilitation on walking and cognitive functions in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). To do so, we first review evidence for improvements in walking and cognitive outcomes with exercise training and cognitive rehabilitation in MS. We then review evidence regarding cognitive-motor coupling and possible cross-modality transfer effects of exercise training and cognitive rehabilitation. We lastly present a macro-level framework for considering mechanisms that might explain improvements in walking and cognitive dysfunction with exercise and cognitive rehabilitation individually and combined in MS. We conclude that researchers should consider examining the effects of exercise training and cognitive rehabilitation on walking, cognition, and cognitive-motor interactions in MS and the possible physiological and central mechanisms for improving these functions.}, } @article {pmid27260187, year = {2016}, author = {Rydlová, J and Püschel, D and Dostálová, M and Janoušková, M and Frouz, J}, title = {Nutrient limitation drives response of Calamagrostis epigejos to arbuscular mycorrhiza in primary succession.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {757-767}, pmid = {27260187}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Poaceae/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Little is known about the functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis over the course of primary succession, where soil, host plants, and AM fungal communities all undergo significant changes. Over the course of succession at the studied post-mining site, plant cover changes from an herbaceous community to the closed canopy of a deciduous forest. Calamagrostis epigejos (Poaceae) is a common denominator at all stages, and it dominates among AM host species. Its growth response to AM fungi was studied at four distinctive stages of natural succession: 12, 20, 30, and 50 years of age, each represented by three spatially separated sites. Soils obtained from all 12 studied sites were γ-sterilized and used in a greenhouse experiment in which C. epigejos plants were (1) inoculated with a respective community of native AM fungi, (2) inoculated with reference AM fungal isolates from laboratory collection, or (3) cultivated without AM fungi. AM fungi strongly boosted plant growth during the first two stages but not during the latter two, where the effect was neutral or even negative. While plant phosphorus (P) uptake was generally increased by AM fungi, no contribution of mycorrhizae to nitrogen (N) uptake was recorded. Based on N:P in plant biomass, we related the turn from a positive to a neutral/negative effect of AM fungi on plant growth, observed along the chronosequence, to a shift in relative P and N availability. No functional differences were found between native and reference inocula, yet root colonization by the native AM fungi decreased relative to the reference inoculum in the later succession stages, thereby indicating shifts in the composition of AM fungal communities reflected in different functional characteristics of their members.}, } @article {pmid27260154, year = {2016}, author = {Soares, MA and Li, HY and Kowalski, KP and Bergen, M and Torres, MS and White, JF}, title = {Functional Role of Bacteria from Invasive Phragmites australis in Promotion of Host Growth.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {2}, pages = {407-417}, pmid = {27260154}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Antibiosis ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Fungi/growth & development ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Lipopeptides/biosynthesis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Poaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We hypothesize that bacterial endophytes may enhance the competitiveness and invasiveness of Phragmites australis. To evaluate this hypothesis, endophytic bacteria were isolated from P. australis. The majority of the shoot meristem isolates represent species from phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. We chose one species from each phylum to characterize further and to conduct growth promotion experiments in Phragmites. Bacteria tested include Bacillus amyloliquefaciens A9a, Achromobacter spanius B1, and Microbacterium oxydans B2. Isolates were characterized for known growth promotional traits, including indole acetic acid (IAA) production, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, phosphate solubilization, and antibiosis activity. Potentially defensive antimicrobial lipopeptides were assayed for through application of co-culturing experiments and mass spectrometer analysis. B. amyloliquefaciens A9a and M. oxydans B2 produced IAA. B. amyloliquefaciens A9a secreted antifungal lipopeptides. Capability to promote growth of P. australis under low nitrogen conditions was evaluated in greenhouse experiments. All three isolates were found to increase the growth of P. australis under low soil nitrogen conditions and showed increased absorption of isotopic nitrogen into plants. This suggests that the Phragmites microbes we evaluated most likely promote growth of Phragmites by enhanced scavenging of nitrogenous compounds from the rhizosphere and transfer to host roots. Collectively, our results support the hypothesis that endophytic bacteria play a role in enhancing growth of P. australis in natural populations. Gaining a better understanding of the precise contributions and mechanisms of endophytes in enabling P. australis to develop high densities rapidly could lead to new symbiosis-based strategies for management and control of the host.}, } @article {pmid27258532, year = {2016}, author = {Bili, M and Cortesero, AM and Mougel, C and Gauthier, JP and Ermel, G and Simon, JC and Outreman, Y and Terrat, S and Mahéo, F and Poinsot, D}, title = {Bacterial Community Diversity Harboured by Interacting Species.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e0155392}, pmid = {27258532}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Diptera/*microbiology/parasitology ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {All animals are infected by microbial partners that can be passengers or residents and influence many biological traits of their hosts. Even if important factors that structure the composition and abundance of microbial communities within and among host individuals have been recently described, such as diet, developmental stage or phylogeny, few studies have conducted cross-taxonomic comparisons, especially on host species related by trophic relationships. Here, we describe and compare the microbial communities associated with the cabbage root fly Delia radicum and its three major parasitoids: the two staphylinid beetles Aleochara bilineata and A. bipustulata and the hymenopteran parasitoid Trybliographa rapae. For each species, two populations from Western France were sampled and microbial communities were described through culture independent methods (454 pyrosequencing). Each sample harbored at least 59 to 261 different bacterial phylotypes but was strongly dominated by one or two. Microbial communities differed markedly in terms of composition and abundance, being mainly influenced by phylogenetic proximity but also geography to a minor extent. Surprisingly, despite their strong trophic interaction, parasitoids shared a very low proportion of microbial partners with their insect host. Three vertically transmitted symbionts from the genus Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma were found in this study. Among them, Wolbachia and Spiroplasma were found in both the cabbage fly and at least one of its parasitoids, which could result from horizontal transfers through trophic interactions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this hypothesis may explain some but not all cases. More work is needed to understand the dynamics of symbiotic associations within trophic network and the effect of these bacterial communities on the fitness of their hosts.}, } @article {pmid27257543, year = {2016}, author = {Shapiro, JW and Williams, ES and Turner, PE}, title = {Evolution of parasitism and mutualism between filamentous phage M13 and Escherichia coli.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2060}, pmid = {27257543}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Background. How host-symbiont interactions coevolve between mutualism and parasitism depends on the ecology of the system and on the genetic and physiological constraints of the organisms involved. Theory often predicts that greater reliance on horizontal transmission favors increased costs of infection and may result in more virulent parasites or less beneficial mutualists. We set out to understand transitions between parasitism and mutualism by evolving the filamentous bacteriophage M13 and its host Escherichia coli. Results. The effect of phage M13 on bacterial fitness depends on the growth environment, and initial assays revealed that infected bacteria reproduce faster and to higher density than uninfected bacteria in 96-well microplates. These data suggested that M13 is, in fact, a facultative mutualist of E. coli. We then allowed E. coli and M13 to evolve in replicated environments, which varied in the relative opportunity for horizontal and vertical transmission of phage in order to assess the evolutionary stability of this mutualism. After 20 experimental passages, infected bacteria from treatments with both vertical and horizontal transmission of phage had evolved the fastest growth rates. At the same time, phage from these treatments no longer benefited the ancestral bacteria. Conclusions. These data suggest a positive correlation between the positive effects of M13 on E. coli hosts from the same culture and the negative effects of the same phage toward the ancestral bacterial genotype. The results also expose flaws in applying concepts from the virulence-transmission tradeoff hypothesis to mutualism evolution. We discuss the data in the context of more recent theory on how horizontal transmission affects mutualisms and explore how these effects influence phages encoding virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27257440, year = {2016}, author = {Abbass, HA and Petraki, E and Merrick, K and Harvey, J and Barlow, M}, title = {Trusted Autonomy and Cognitive Cyber Symbiosis: Open Challenges.}, journal = {Cognitive computation}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {385-408}, pmid = {27257440}, issn = {1866-9956}, abstract = {This paper considers two emerging interdisciplinary, but related topics that are likely to create tipping points in advancing the engineering and science areas. Trusted Autonomy (TA) is a field of research that focuses on understanding and designing the interaction space between two entities each of which exhibits a level of autonomy. These entities can be humans, machines, or a mix of the two. Cognitive Cyber Symbiosis (CoCyS) is a cloud that uses humans and machines for decision-making. In CoCyS, human-machine teams are viewed as a network with each node comprising humans (as computational machines) or computers. CoCyS focuses on the architecture and interface of a Trusted Autonomous System. This paper examines these two concepts and seeks to remove ambiguity by introducing formal definitions for these concepts. It then discusses open challenges for TA and CoCyS, that is, whether a team made of humans and machines can work in fluid, seamless harmony.}, } @article {pmid27478203, year = {2015}, author = {Snart, CJ and Hardy, IC and Barrett, DA}, title = {Entometabolomics: applications of modern analytical techniques to insect studies.}, journal = {Entomologia experimentalis et applicata}, volume = {155}, number = {1}, pages = {1-17}, pmid = {27478203}, issn = {0013-8703}, abstract = {Metabolomic analyses can reveal associations between an organism's metabolome and further aspects of its phenotypic state, an attractive prospect for many life-sciences researchers. The metabolomic approach has been employed in some, but not many, insect study systems, starting in 1990 with the evaluation of the metabolic effects of parasitism on moth larvae. Metabolomics has now been applied to a variety of aspects of insect biology, including behaviour, infection, temperature stress responses, CO 2 sedation, and bacteria-insect symbiosis. From a technical and reporting standpoint, these studies have adopted a range of approaches utilising established experimental methodologies. Here, we review current literature and evaluate the metabolomic approaches typically utilised by entomologists. We suggest that improvements can be made in several areas, including sampling procedures, the reduction in sampling and equipment variation, the use of sample extracts, statistical analyses, confirmation, and metabolite identification. Overall, it is clear that metabolomics can identify correlations between phenotypic states and underlying cellular metabolism that previous, more targeted, approaches are incapable of measuring. The unique combination of untargeted global analyses with high-resolution quantitative analyses results in a tool with great potential for future entomological investigations.}, } @article {pmid27703883, year = {2015}, author = {Guercio, JM and Hahs, AD}, title = {Applied Behavior Analysis and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS): a Symbiotic Relationship for Advancements in Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).}, journal = {Behavior analysis in practice}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {62-65}, pmid = {27703883}, issn = {1998-1929}, abstract = {The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a widely used diagnostic tool for the assessment of autism spectrum disorders. We compared interobserver reliability scores for observers using the existing guidelines for administration of the ADOS with those of the same observers using modified guidelines that included operational definitions for each area of observation. The results indicated increased mean interobserver reliability scores from 55.83 % using the existing guidelines to 84 % when using the modified guidelines and enhanced reliability scores for 3 of 3 clients with whom the ADOS was used. The guidelines are the following: integration of a highly effective diagnostic tool with ABA, the inclusion of a diagnostic tool may promote more comprehensive ABA services, more clearly define and identify areas of concern in autism, and impact implementation efficacy and reliability of assessments for individuals with autism.}, } @article {pmid27760919, year = {2015}, author = {Fukuhara, T}, title = {[Unique symbiotic viruses in plants: Endornaviruses].}, journal = {Uirusu}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {209-218}, doi = {10.2222/jsv.65.209}, pmid = {27760919}, issn = {0042-6857}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Gene Dosage ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Viruses/genetics/*physiology ; Plants/*virology ; RNA Viruses/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {Linear double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) of about 15 kbp in length are often found from healthy plants, such as bell pepper and rice plants. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analyses reveal that these dsRNAs are not transcribed from host genomic DNAs, encode a single long open reading frame (ORF) with a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain, and contain a site-specific nick in the 5' region of their coding strands. Consequently the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses has approved that these dsRNAs are viruses forming a distinct taxon, the family Endornaviridae the genus Endornavirus. Endornaviruses have common properties that differ from those of conventional viruses: they have no obvious effect on the phenotype of their host plants, and they are efficiently transmitted to the next generation via both pollen and ova, but their horizontal transfer to other plants has never been proven. Conventional single-stranded RNA viruses, such as cucumber mosaic virus, propagate hugely and systemically in host plants to sometime kill their hosts eventually and transmit horizontally (infect to other plants). In contrast, copy numbers of endornaviruses are low and constant (about 100 copies/cell), and they symbiotically propagate with host plants and transmit vertically. Therefore, endornaviruses are unique plant viruses with symbiotic properties.}, } @article {pmid27682125, year = {2015}, author = {Vitetta, L and Hall, S and Coulson, S}, title = {Metabolic Interactions in the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT): Host, Commensal, Probiotics, and Bacteriophage Influences.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {913-932}, pmid = {27682125}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Life on this planet has been intricately associated with bacterial activity at all levels of evolution and bacteria represent the earliest form of autonomous existence. Plants such as those from the Leguminosae family that form root nodules while harboring nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria are a primordial example of symbiotic existence. Similarly, cooperative activities between bacteria and animals can also be observed in multiple domains, including the most inhospitable geographical regions of the planet such as Antarctica and the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. In humans bacteria are often classified as either beneficial or pathogenic and in this regard we posit that this artificial nomenclature is overly simplistic and as such almost misinterprets the complex activities and inter-relationships that bacteria have with the environment as well as the human host and the plethora of biochemical activities that continue to be identified. We further suggest that in humans there are neither pathogenic nor beneficial bacteria, just bacteria embraced by those that tolerate the host and those that do not. The densest and most complex association exists in the human gastrointestinal tract, followed by the oral cavity, respiratory tract, and skin, where bacteria-pre- and post-birth-instruct the human cell in the fundamental language of molecular biology that normally leads to immunological tolerance over a lifetime. The overall effect of this complex output is the elaboration of a beneficial milieu, an environment that is of equal or greater importance than the bacterium in maintaining homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid27682083, year = {2015}, author = {Iguchi, H and Yurimoto, H and Sakai, Y}, title = {Interactions of Methylotrophs with Plants and Other Heterotrophic Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {137-151}, pmid = {27682083}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Methylotrophs, which can utilize methane and/or methanol as sole carbon and energy sources, are key players in the carbon cycle between methane and CO2, the two most important greenhouse gases. This review describes the relationships between methylotrophs and plants, and between methanotrophs (methane-utilizers, a subset of methylotrophs) and heterotrophic bacteria. Some plants emit methane and methanol from their leaves, and provide methylotrophs with habitats. Methanol-utilizing methylotrophs in the genus Methylobacterium are abundant in the phyllosphere and have the ability to promote the growth of some plants. Methanotrophs also inhabit the phyllosphere, and methanotrophs with high methane oxidation activities have been found on aquatic plants. Both plant and environmental factors are involved in shaping the methylotroph community on plants. Methanotrophic activity can be enhanced by heterotrophic bacteria that provide growth factors (e.g., cobalamin). Information regarding the biological interaction of methylotrophs with other organisms will facilitate a better understanding of the carbon cycle that is driven by methylotrophs.}, } @article {pmid27471720, year = {2015}, author = {Stiemsma, LT and Reynolds, LA and Turvey, SE and Finlay, BB}, title = {The hygiene hypothesis: current perspectives and future therapies.}, journal = {ImmunoTargets and therapy}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {143-157}, pmid = {27471720}, issn = {2253-1556}, abstract = {Developed countries have experienced a steady increase in atopic disease and disorders of immune dysregulation since the 1980s. This increase parallels a decrease in infectious diseases within the same time period, while developing countries seem to exhibit the opposite effect, with less immune dysregulation and a higher prevalence of infectious disease. The "hygiene hypothesis", proposed by Strachan in 1989, aimed to explain this peculiar generational rise in immune dysregulation. However, research over the past 10 years provides evidence connecting the commensal and symbiotic microbes (intestinal microbiota) and parasitic helminths with immune development, expanding the hygiene hypothesis into the "microflora" and "old friends" hypotheses, respectively. There is evidence that parasitic helminths and commensal microbial organisms co-evolved with the human immune system and that these organisms are vital in promoting normal immune development. Current research supports the potential for manipulation of the bacterial intestinal microbiota to treat and even prevent immune dysregulation in the form of atopic disease and other immune-mediated disorders (namely inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes). Both human and animal model research are crucial in understanding the mechanistic links between these intestinal microbes and helminth parasites, and the human immune system. Pro-, pre-, and synbiotic, as well as treatment with live helminth and excretory/secretory helminth product therapies, are all potential therapeutic options for the treatment and prevention of these diseases. In the future, therapeutics aimed at decreasing the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, and atopic disorders will likely involve personalized microbiota and/or helminth treatments used early in life.}, } @article {pmid27904315, year = {2014}, author = {Velićanski, AS and Cvetković, DD and Markov, SL and Šaponjac, VT and Vulić, JJ}, title = {Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of the Beverage Obtained by Fermentation of Sweetened Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) Tea with Symbiotic Consortium of Bacteria and Yeasts.}, journal = {Food technology and biotechnology}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {420-429}, pmid = {27904315}, issn = {1330-9862}, abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage which is traditionally prepared by fermenting sweetened black or green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) with symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). In this study, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) was used as the only nitrogen source for kombucha fermentation. During the seven-day fermentation process, pH value, titratable acidity (TA), total phenolic content, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity against hydroxyl (˙OH) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radicals were measured to detect the connection between the fermentation time and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of lemon balm kombucha. Antibacterial activity of finished beverages with optimum acidity (TA=4-4.5 g/L), the value which is confirmed by long-time kombucha consumers, and enhanced acidity (TA=8.12 g/L) was tested against eleven wild bacterial strains. The results showed that lemon balm could be successfully used as an alternative to C. sinensis L. for kombucha fermentation. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals of lemon balm fermentation broth were higher than those of traditional kombucha. Rosmarinic acid is the main phenolic compound of the lemon balm-based kombucha that probably provides biological activity of the beverage. Judging from the EC [50] values, kombucha beverages exhibited higher antioxidant activities compared with C. sinensis L. and M. officinalis L. infusions, which can probably be ascribed to SCOBY metabolites. Lemon balm kombucha with both optimum and enhanced acidity showed antibacterial activity, which can be primarily ascribed to acetic acid, but also to some other tea components and SCOBY metabolites.}, } @article {pmid27356369, year = {2014}, author = {Debré, P and Le Gall, JY and , }, title = {[Intestinal microbiota].}, journal = {Bulletin de l'Academie nationale de medecine}, volume = {198}, number = {9}, pages = {1667-1684}, pmid = {27356369}, issn = {0001-4079}, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/microbiology ; Obesity/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human body normally lives in symbiosis with a considerable microscopic environment present on all interfaces with the external environment; it hosts ten times more microbes (microbiota) that it has somatic or germ cells, representing a gene diversity (microbiome) 100-150 times higher than the human genome. These germs are located mainly in the gut, where they represent a mass of about one kilogram. The primary colonization of the gastrointestinal tract depends on the delivery route, the bacterial flora rewarding then depending on the environment, food hygiene, medical treatments. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the maturation of the immune system and in different physiological functions: digestion of polysaccharides, glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins, vitamins biosynthesis, bile salt metabolism of some amino acids and xenobiotics. Quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbiota are observed in a wide range of diseases: obesity, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune diseases, allergies... pharmacobiotics aim to modify the intestinal microbiota in a therapeutic goal and this by various means: prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics or fecal transplants. Intestinal flora also plays a direct role in the metabolism of certain drugs and the microbiota should be considered as a predictive parameter of response to some chemotherapies.}, } @article {pmid27630534, year = {2014}, author = {Ott, JA and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Leisch, N and Zimmermann, J}, title = {Phylogenetic confirmation of the genus Robbea (Nematoda: Desmodoridae, Stilbonematinae) with the description of three new species.}, journal = {Systematics and biodiversity}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {434-455}, pmid = {27630534}, issn = {1477-2000}, support = {P 22470/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {The Stilbonematinae are a monophyletic group of marine nematodes that are characterized by a coat of thiotrophic bacterial symbionts. Among the ten known genera of the Stilbonematinae, the genus Robbea Gerlach 1956 had a problematic taxonomic history of synonymizations and indications of polyphyletic origin. Here we describe three new species of the genus, R. hypermnestra sp. nov., R. ruetzleri sp. nov. and R. agricola sp. nov., using conventional light microscopy, interference contrast microscopy and SEM. We provide 18S rRNA gene sequences of all three species, together with new sequences for the genera Catanema and Leptonemella. Both our morphological analyses as well as our phylogenetic reconstructions corroborate the genus Robbea. In our phylogenetic analysis the three species of the genus Robbea form a distinct clade in the Stilbonematinae radiation and are clearly separated from the clade of the genus Catanema, which has previously been synonymized with Robbea. Surprisingly, in R. hypermnestra sp. nov. all females are intersexes exhibiting male sexual characters. Our extended dataset of Stilbonematinae 18S rRNA genes for the first time allows the identification of the different genera, e.g. in a barcoding approach. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D37C3F5A-CF2B-40E6-8B09-3C72EEED60B0.}, } @article {pmid28043405, year = {2014}, author = {Vavre, F and Kremer, N}, title = {Microbial impacts on insect evolutionary diversification: from patterns to mechanisms.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {29-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2014.08.003}, pmid = {28043405}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {Symbiosis can favor rapid shifts in host phenotypic traits, particularly through the contribution of symbionts to the host's physiology. In addition, variations in the microbiota composition between individuals can be associated with pre-zygotic and post-zygotic barriers. All together, these phenomena may contribute to insect diversification and speciation. Recent advances have also shown that the host-microbiota molecular dialog, mediated notably by host immune and developmental pathways, is critical for the acquisition and control of the microbiota, and could also contribute to reproductive isolation. While still a controversial hypothesis, adaptation through symbiosis could thus trigger host-symbiont coevolution and accelerate differentiation.}, } @article {pmid28043403, year = {2014}, author = {Klassen, JL}, title = {Microbial secondary metabolites and their impacts on insect symbioses.}, journal = {Current opinion in insect science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {15-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2014.08.004}, pmid = {28043403}, issn = {2214-5753}, abstract = {All insects host communities of microbes that interact both with the insect and each other. Secondary metabolites are understood to mediate many of these interactions, although examples having robust genetic, chemical and/or ecological evidence are relatively rare. Here, I review secondary metabolites mediating community interactions in the beewolf, entomopathogenic nematode and fungus-growing ant symbioses, using the logic of Koch's postulates to emphasize well-validated symbiotic functions mediated by these metabolites. I especially highlight how these interaction networks are structured by both ecological and evolutionary processes, and how selection acting on secondary metabolite production can be multidimensional.}, } @article {pmid27359022, year = {2014}, author = {Keidar, D and Yagoda, A}, title = {EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, MORAL, ETHICS, BIO-ETHICS AND WHAT IS IN BETWEEN.}, journal = {Medicine and law}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {131-159}, pmid = {27359022}, issn = {0723-1393}, mesh = {Bioethical Issues ; *Emotional Intelligence ; Humans ; *Morals ; Physician-Patient Relations/*ethics ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the study of emotions has broadened its scope and established its standing as a new scientific discipline. Humanity has become increasingly conscious of the seminal role played by the emotional components in both intrapersonal and interpersonal behavior. A deeply rooted and inherent correlation exists between emotional intelligence (E.I. - Emotional Intelligence) and positive social results: social adaptation, quality social relationships, the capacity for healthy social behaviors, caring, altruism, empathy, enlightened communication and the efficacy and personal coherence essential to moral and ethical behavior, including its manifestation in the sphere of bio-ethics. The importance of the personal relationship between the doctor and the patient is especially fundamental in the current era of immense and accelerated scientific-technological development, forcing doctors to cope with an increasingly complicated technical environment. Precisely because of this reality, it is essential that a doctor's actions and interpersonal relationship with the patient proceed from an ethical base, grounded in both professional and emotional responsibility. Emotional responsibility is one of the central elements underlying bioethical conduct and is the element that provides the guideposts for the treatment of others. The symbiotic connection between emotional intelligence and the sphere of ethics and morals is what delineates human beings. Human beings, by definition and in essence, bear responsibility for their actions. The beginning of ethics is in the human being's consciousness of choice in relation to self and to others. An individual's choices integrate emotion and cognition. That ability to integrate alongside the capacity for choice enables the human race to act in accordance with ethical and moral codes. At work, on a daily basis, a doctor is positioned opposite to the physical, emotional, cognitive and ethical entirety of the patient. Beyond the doctor's technical ability to heal, there also exists his capacity to create within the patient the desire to heal.}, } @article {pmid27355005, year = {2014}, author = {Kawaka, F and Dida, MM and Opala, PA and Ombori, O and Maingi, J and Osoro, N and Muthini, M and Amoding, A and Mukaminega, D and Muoma, J}, title = {Symbiotic Efficiency of Native Rhizobia Nodulating Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Soils of Western Kenya.}, journal = {International scholarly research notices}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {258497}, pmid = {27355005}, issn = {2356-7872}, abstract = {This study was conducted to determine the abundance and symbiotic efficiency of native rhizobia nodulating common bean in Kisumu and Kakamega, Kenya. Soil sampling was carried out in three farms that had been used for growing common bean for at least two seasons and one fallow land with no known history of growing common bean or inoculation. Abundance of soil rhizobia and symbiotic efficiency (SE) were determined in a greenhouse experiment. Native rhizobia populations ranged from 3.2 × 10(1) to 3.5 × 10(4) cells per gram of soil. Pure bacterial cultures isolated from fresh and healthy root nodules exhibited typical characteristics of Rhizobium sp. on yeast extract mannitol agar media supplemented with Congo red. Bean inoculation with the isolates significantly (p < 0.05) increased the shoot dry weight and nitrogen (N) concentration and content. The SE of all the native rhizobia were higher when compared to a reference strain, CIAT 899 (67%), and ranged from 74% to 170%. Four isolates had SE above a second reference strain, Strain 446 (110%). Our results demonstrate the presence of native rhizobia that are potentially superior to the commercial inoculants. These can be exploited to enhance bean inoculation programmes in the region.}, } @article {pmid27293663, year = {2014}, author = {Antwis, RE and Purcell, R and Walker, SL and Fidgett, AL and Preziosi, RF}, title = {Effects of visible implanted elastomer marking on physiological traits of frogs.}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {cou042}, pmid = {27293663}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Amphibians possess innate immune defences, including antimicrobial peptides and symbiotic bacterial communities, that can protect them from infectious diseases, including chytridiomycosis. On-going research is attempting to use amphibian symbiotic bacteria to develop probiotic treatments that can protect hosts from the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Events that cause disruption of symbiotic bacterial communities or deplete peptide stores could increase the susceptibility of individuals to disease and may have implications for amphibians involved in probiotic trials or time course studies that investigate symbiotic bacterial communities. It has previously been shown that passive integrated transponder tagging of frogs causes a rapid (within 24 h) and major proliferation of micro-organisms on the skin. Here, we show that marking of red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas) with visible elastomer has no effect on adrenal response (represented by faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations) or peptide production, although there was evidence of a slightly greater microbial abundance associated with the skin of marked frogs 2 weeks after tagging. The results indicate that visible elastomer may be a preferable marking technique to passive integrated transponder tagging, particularly in the context of probiotic trials or time course studies that investigate symbiotic bacterial communities. More work is required to determine the effects of different marking techniques on physiological responses of amphibians, whether these physiological responses are consistent across host species and whether such 'non-invasive' marking methods affect the susceptibility of amphibians to infectious pathogens, such as B. dendrobatidis.}, } @article {pmid27293655, year = {2014}, author = {Álvarez-Yépiz, JC and Cueva, A and Dovčiak, M and Teece, M and Yepez, EA}, title = {Ontogenetic resource-use strategies in a rare long-lived cycad along environmental gradients.}, journal = {Conservation physiology}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {cou034}, pmid = {27293655}, issn = {2051-1434}, abstract = {Functional traits can drive plant responses to short- and long-term stressful conditions, with potential effects on species persistence in local habitats, changes in population size and structure, and potential species range shifts in changing environments. We investigated whether ecophysiological traits in a rare cycad vary along environmental gradients and with ontogeny to understand intra-specific resource-use variation (e.g. symbiotic nitrogen fixation, nitrogen- and water-use efficiency) and possible species adaptations for different environments. Environmental gradients were characterized with 14 soil and topographic variables. Nitrogen- and water-use efficiency improved with ontogeny (from seedling to juvenile and adult stages) but declined as soil fertility decreased with increasing elevation. Conversely, reliance on symbiotic nitrogen fixation increased with elevation and varied slightly with ontogeny. Improved water-use efficiency at lower elevation and nitrogen fixation at higher elevation may represent key functional strategies for maintaining the lower and upper altitudinal species range limits, especially in arid environments where stressful conditions are intensifying due to climatic and land-use changes. In addition to facilitation linked to the regeneration niche, improved resource-use efficiency linked to the adult niche may strongly influence cycad distribution and persistence in contemporary environments. A functional approach to conservation of rare or endangered plant species may be needed in order to target the most sensitive stages to changing environmental conditions and to better understand potential range shifts and adaptive responses to global land-use and climate changes.}, } @article {pmid27407740, year = {2005}, author = {Sharma, YK and Sudarsanan, S and Bhatnagar, A}, title = {Skin and Psyche : Diversionary Symbiosis.}, journal = {Medical journal, Armed Forces India}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, pages = {163-166}, pmid = {27407740}, issn = {0377-1237}, abstract = {A significant proportion of patients with skin diseases have associated psychosocial factors. Not only does psychopathology manifest on the skin in absence of any real skin disease, primary skin disorders can also be exacerbated by emotional stress adversely influencing the homeostasis of immunological and inflammatory processes in deeper layers of the skin. Furthermore, many patients develop emotional problems as a result of having disfiguring skin diseases. In addition, some patients having solely sensory disturbances in absence of primary dermatoses or identifiable medical or neurological conditions, as well as some purely dermatologic conditions such as post-herpetic neuralgia may preferentially need psychotherapeutic modalities to address their underlying psychopathology irrespective of the presenting dermatologic manifestation arising out of 'somatisation' of a psychopathology into physical problems. The most obvious course of action of referral to a psychiatrist or another mental health professional may unfortunately not be readily tenable either due to the perceived stigma associated with psychiatric illness or lack of insight on the part of patients. In the interregnum, effective management of the psychologic or/and psychiatric problems can only be done by the dermatologist provided he has an adequate knowledge base and experience to undertake psychotherapeutic modalities.}, } @article {pmid27768501, year = {1995}, author = {Kelly, MS and Barker, MF and McKenzie, JD and Powell, J}, title = {The Incidence and Morphology of Subcuticular Bacteria in the Echinoderm Fauna of New Zealand.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {2}, pages = {91-105}, doi = {10.2307/1542459}, pmid = {27768501}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {New Zealand echinoderms (33 species drawn from all five extant classes) were examined for the presence of symbiotic bacteria by fluorescence and electron microscopy. Gram-negative, subcuticular bacteria (SCB) were found in 17 species from four classes. The SCB could be classified into two major morphological types. Some species had both types of SCB. The distribution of SCB was not obviously linked to host ecology but did appear to be related to host phylogeny. Related species usually all have SCB or all lack them. The number of SCB in five species was estimated to be between 8.41 x 108 and 4.96 x 109 g-1 ash-free dry weight of host tissue. Significant differences in bacterial load and relative proportions of the different types of bacteria were found among three congeneric echinoids (Pseudechinus huttoni, P. albocinctus and P. novaezealandia). Ophiocoma bollonsi was peculiar in having groups of bacteria enclosed in host cells (bacteriocytes) within the connective tissue of the tube feet.}, } @article {pmid27768480, year = {1995}, author = {Jaeckle, WB}, title = {Transport and Metabolism of Alanine and Palmitic Acid by Field-Collected Larvae of Tedania ignis (Porifera, Demospongiae): Estimated Consequences of Limited Label Translocation.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {189}, number = {2}, pages = {159-167}, doi = {10.2307/1542466}, pmid = {27768480}, issn = {1939-8697}, abstract = {The epidermis of larvae of Tedania ignis (Porifera, Demospongiae) is uniformly ciliated except for the posterior pole. The epidermal cells are long, columnar, and monociliate; each cilium arises from an epidermal crypt; symbiotic bacteria were not observed in larval cells. These lecithotrophic ("nonfeeding") larvae can feed by assimilating dissolved organic materials (DOM) from seawater. Larvae transported both the amino acid alanine (mean = 2.73 pmol larva-1 h-1; [S] = 1 {mu} M) and the fatty acid palmitic acid (mean = 16.27 pmol larva-1 h-1; [S] = 1 {mu} M) from seawater. Following assimilation, the label from alanine was recovered primarily in small molecular weight compounds; the label from palmitic acid was localized chiefly in the lipid fraction. Estimates of the contribution of transport to metabolism (mean respiration rate = 940.7 pmol O2 larva-1 h-1) reveal that alanine transport is energetically insignificant. Palmitic acid transport, in contrast, could account for 21%-55% of larval metabolism. Autoradiographic analysis of the distribution of the label in larvae suggests that epidermal cells are the chief recipients of the assimilated materials. Thus, the contribution of transport to whole-larva metabolism may underestimate the tissue-specific value. At palmitic acid concentrations of 1 and 0.25 {mu} M, the contribution of transport to the estimated metabolism of the epidermis would be 131% and 33% of energy requirements. Thus, the potential benefits of DOM to larvae are dependent not only on the nature of the epidermal transporters and the solute concentration, but also the degree to which materials are distributed among tissues.}, } @article {pmid27520781, year = {1980}, author = {Bishop, DG and Kenrick, JR}, title = {Fatty acid composition of symbiotic zooxanthellae in relation to their hosts.}, journal = {Lipids}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {799}, pmid = {27520781}, issn = {0024-4201}, abstract = {Gymnodinoid dinoflagellate symbionts, commonly referred to as zooxanthellae, are widely distributed among marine invertebrates. It has been assumed that they represent only one species,Gymnodinium microadriaticum. The fatty acid composition of total lipids and galactolipids of zooxanthellae isolated from 8 species of corals, 3 species of clams and a foraminiferan have been analyzed and found to vary according to the host. For example, the content of eicosapentaenoic acid in clam zooxanthellae monogalactosyldiacylglycerol was less than 2%, whereas in the same lipid from coral zooxanthellae, the content ranged from 9 to 22%. Corresponding values for the acid in digalactosyl-diacylglycerol were 1-8% from clam zooxanthellae and 23-40% from coral zooxanthellae. Coral zooxanthellae monogalactosyldiacylglycerol contain higher levels of octadecatetraenoic acid than are found in digalactosyldiacylglycerol, whereas the reverse is true in clam zooxanthellae. The fatty acid composition of the lipids of an axenic culture of zooxanthellae isolated from the clamTridacna maxima are similar to those of cells freshly isolated from the host. The results suggest either that the host is capable of affecting the fatty acid metabolism of the symbiont or that different strains of zooxanthellae occur in corals and clams.}, } @article {pmid27194398, year = {2016}, author = {Catta-Preta, CM and Dos Santos Pascoalino, B and de Souza, W and Mottram, JC and Motta, MC and Schenkman, S}, title = {Reduction of Tubulin Expression in Angomonas deanei by RNAi Modifies the Ultrastructure of the Trypanosomatid Protozoan and Impairs Division of Its Endosymbiotic Bacterium.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {6}, pages = {794-803}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12326}, pmid = {27194398}, issn = {1550-7408}, support = {MR/K019384/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/K019384/2/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*cytology/genetics ; Cell Division ; Protozoan Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; *Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Tubulin/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the last two decades, RNA interference pathways have been employed as a useful tool for reverse genetics in trypanosomatids. Angomonas deanei is a nonpathogenic trypanosomatid that maintains an obligatory endosymbiosis with a bacterium related to the Alcaligenaceae family. Studies of this symbiosis can help us to understand the origin of eukaryotic organelles. The recent elucidation of both the A. deanei and the bacterium symbiont genomes revealed that the host protozoan codes for the enzymes necessary for RNAi activity in trypanosomatids. Here, we tested the functionality of the RNAi machinery by transfecting cells with dsRNA to a reporter gene (green fluorescent protein), which had been previously expressed in the parasite and to α-tubulin, an endogenous gene. In both cases, protein expression was reduced by the presence of specific dsRNA, inducing, respectively, a decreased GFP fluorescence and the formation of enlarged cells with modified arrangement of subpellicular microtubules. Furthermore, symbiont division was impaired. These results indicate that the RNAi system is active in A. deanei and can be used to further explore gene function in symbiont-containing trypanosomatids and to clarify important aspects of symbiosis and cell evolution.}, } @article {pmid26748500, year = {2016}, author = {Drzewiecka, D}, title = {Significance and Roles of Proteus spp. Bacteria in Natural Environments.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {741-758}, pmid = {26748500}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Environment ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Houseflies/microbiology ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/microbiology ; *Proteus/classification/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Proteus Infections/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; Water Microbiology ; Water Pollution ; }, abstract = {Proteus spp. bacteria were first described in 1885 by Gustav Hauser, who had revealed their feature of intensive swarming growth. Currently, the genus is divided into Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus penneri, Proteus hauseri, and three unnamed genomospecies 4, 5, and 6 and consists of 80 O-antigenic serogroups. The bacteria are known to be human opportunistic pathogens, isolated from urine, wounds, and other clinical sources. It is postulated that intestines are a reservoir of these proteolytic organisms. Many wild and domestic animals may be hosts of Proteus spp. bacteria, which are commonly known to play a role of parasites or commensals. However, interesting examples of their symbiotic relationships with higher organisms have also been described. Proteus spp. bacteria present in soil or water habitats are often regarded as indicators of fecal pollution, posing a threat of poisoning when the contaminated water or seafood is consumed. The health risk may also be connected with drug-resistant strains sourcing from intestines. Positive aspects of the bacteria presence in water and soil are connected with exceptional features displayed by autochthonic Proteus spp. strains detected in these environments. These rods acquire various metabolic abilities allowing their adaptation to different environmental conditions, such as high concentrations of heavy metals or toxic substances, which may be exploited as sources of energy and nutrition by the bacteria. The Proteus spp. abilities to tolerate or utilize polluting compounds as well as promote plant growth provide a possibility of employing these microorganisms in bioremediation and environmental protection.}, } @article {pmid27222267, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, J and Jung, JH and Liu, Y}, title = {Antimicrobial Compounds from Marine Invertebrates-Derived Microorganisms.}, journal = {Current medicinal chemistry}, volume = {23}, number = {25}, pages = {2892-2905}, doi = {10.2174/0929867323666160525113837}, pmid = {27222267}, issn = {1875-533X}, mesh = {Alkaloids/chemistry/pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry/pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms/chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Invertebrates/chemistry/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Phenols/chemistry/pharmacology ; Polyketides/chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {It is known that marine invertebrates, including sponges, tunicates, cnidaria or mollusks, host affluent and various communities of symbiotic microorganisms. The microorganisms associated with the invertebrates metabolized various biologically active compounds, which could be an important resource for the discovery and development of potentially novel drugs. In this review, the new compounds with antimicrobial activity isolated from marine invertebrate-derived microorganisms in the last decade (2004-2014) will be presented, with focus on the relevant antimicrobial activities, origin of isolation, and information of strain species. New compounds without antimicrobial activity were not revealed.}, } @article {pmid27093048, year = {2016}, author = {Boulotte, NM and Dalton, SJ and Carroll, AG and Harrison, PL and Putnam, HM and Peplow, LM and van Oppen, MJ}, title = {Exploring the Symbiodinium rare biosphere provides evidence for symbiont switching in reef-building corals.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {2693-2701}, pmid = {27093048}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*parasitology/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seawater/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals possess a range of acclimatisation and adaptation mechanisms to respond to seawater temperature increases. In some corals, thermal tolerance increases through community composition changes of their dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodinium spp.), but this mechanism is believed to be limited to the Symbiodinium types already present in the coral tissue acquired during early life stages. Compelling evidence for symbiont switching, that is, the acquisition of novel Symbiodinium types from the environment, by adult coral colonies, is currently lacking. Using deep sequencing analysis of Symbiodinium rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) PCR amplicons from two pocilloporid coral species, we show evidence consistent with de novo acquisition of Symbiodinium types from the environment by adult corals following two consecutive bleaching events. Most of these newly detected symbionts remained in the rare biosphere (background types occurring below 1% relative abundance), but one novel type reached a relative abundance of ~33%. Two de novo acquired Symbiodinium types belong to the thermally resistant clade D, suggesting that this switching may have been driven by consecutive thermal bleaching events. Our results are particularly important given the maternal mode of Symbiodinium transmission in the study species, which generally results in high symbiont specificity. These findings will cause a paradigm shift in our understanding of coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis flexibility and mechanisms of environmental acclimatisation in corals.}, } @article {pmid27062511, year = {2016}, author = {Heath-Heckman, EA and Foster, J and Apicella, MA and Goldman, WE and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Environmental cues and symbiont microbe-associated molecular patterns function in concert to drive the daily remodelling of the crypt-cell brush border of the Euprymna scolopes light organ.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {1642-1652}, pmid = {27062511}, issn = {1462-5822}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK054759/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; NNX13AM44G//NASA/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI108255/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; Decapodiformes/cytology/microbiology/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Light ; Microvilli/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sense Organs/cytology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/radiation effects ; Vibrio/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Recent research has shown that the microbiota affects the biology of associated host epithelial tissues, including their circadian rhythms, although few data are available on how such influences shape the microarchitecture of the brush border. The squid-vibrio system exhibits two modifications of the brush border that supports the symbionts: effacement and repolarization. Together these occur on a daily rhythm in adult animals, at the dawn expulsion of symbionts into the environment, and symbiont colonization of the juvenile host induces an increase in microvillar density. Here we sought to define how these processes are related and the roles of both symbiont colonization and environmental cues. Ultrastructural analyses showed that the juvenile-organ brush borders also efface concomitantly with daily dawn-cued expulsion of symbionts. Manipulation of the environmental light cue and juvenile symbiotic state demonstrated that this behaviour requires the light cue, but not colonization. In contrast, symbionts were required for the observed increase in microvillar density that accompanies post dawn brush-border repolarization; this increase was induced solely by host exposure to phosphorylated lipid A of symbiont cells. These data demonstrate that a partnering of environmental and symbiont cues shapes the brush border and that microbe-associated molecular patterns play a role in the regulation of brush-border microarchitecture.}, } @article {pmid27255838, year = {2016}, author = {Bombarely, A and Moser, M and Amrad, A and Bao, M and Bapaume, L and Barry, CS and Bliek, M and Boersma, MR and Borghi, L and Bruggmann, R and Bucher, M and D'Agostino, N and Davies, K and Druege, U and Dudareva, N and Egea-Cortines, M and Delledonne, M and Fernandez-Pozo, N and Franken, P and Grandont, L and Heslop-Harrison, JS and Hintzsche, J and Johns, M and Koes, R and Lv, X and Lyons, E and Malla, D and Martinoia, E and Mattson, NS and Morel, P and Mueller, LA and Muhlemann, J and Nouri, E and Passeri, V and Pezzotti, M and Qi, Q and Reinhardt, D and Rich, M and Richert-Pöggeler, KR and Robbins, TP and Schatz, MC and Schranz, ME and Schuurink, RC and Schwarzacher, T and Spelt, K and Tang, H and Urbanus, SL and Vandenbussche, M and Vijverberg, K and Villarino, GH and Warner, RM and Weiss, J and Yue, Z and Zethof, J and Quattrocchio, F and Sims, TL and Kuhlemeier, C}, title = {Insight into the evolution of the Solanaceae from the parental genomes of Petunia hybrida.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {16074}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2016.74}, pmid = {27255838}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Plant ; *Hybridization, Genetic ; Petunia/*genetics ; Polyploidy ; }, abstract = {Petunia hybrida is a popular bedding plant that has a long history as a genetic model system. We report the whole-genome sequencing and assembly of inbred derivatives of its two wild parents, P. axillaris N and P. inflata S6. The assemblies include 91.3% and 90.2% coverage of their diploid genomes (1.4 Gb; 2n = 14) containing 32,928 and 36,697 protein-coding genes, respectively. The genomes reveal that the Petunia lineage has experienced at least two rounds of hexaploidization: the older gamma event, which is shared with most Eudicots, and a more recent Solanaceae event that is shared with tomato and other solanaceous species. Transcription factors involved in the shift from bee to moth pollination reside in particularly dynamic regions of the genome, which may have been key to the remarkable diversity of floral colour patterns and pollination systems. The high-quality genome sequences will enhance the value of Petunia as a model system for research on unique biological phenomena such as small RNAs, symbiosis, self-incompatibility and circadian rhythms.}, } @article {pmid27255270, year = {2016}, author = {Ohnmacht, C}, title = {Tolerance to the Intestinal Microbiota Mediated by ROR(γt)(+) Cells.}, journal = {Trends in immunology}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {477-486}, doi = {10.1016/j.it.2016.05.002}, pmid = {27255270}, issn = {1471-4981}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Immune Tolerance ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/*metabolism ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Th17 Cells/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Harmless microbes colonizing the gut require the establishment of a well-equilibrated symbiosis between this microbiota and its host. However, the immune system is primed to recognize both conserved microbial patterns and foreign antigens, and therefore developed strong tolerance mechanisms to prevent potential fatal immune reactivity to symbiotic microbes. The transcription factor RAR-related orphan-like γt [ROR(γt); encoded by Rorc] plays a key role in the gut for lymphoid tissue organogenesis, development of innate lymphoid cells type 3 (ILC3s) and proinflammatory type 17 T helper (Th17) cells. Surprisingly, recent research has revealed a contribution of ROR(γt)-expressing cells in a variety of tolerance mechanisms in both the innate and adaptive immune system.}, } @article {pmid27252708, year = {2016}, author = {Calabrese, S and Pérez-Tienda, J and Ellerbeck, M and Arnould, C and Chatagnier, O and Boller, T and Schüßler, A and Brachmann, A and Wipf, D and Ferrol, N and Courty, PE}, title = {GintAMT3 - a Low-Affinity Ammonium Transporter of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {679}, pmid = {27252708}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nutrient acquisition and transfer are essential steps in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, which is formed by the majority of land plants. Mineral nutrients are taken up by AM fungi from the soil and transferred to the plant partner. Within the cortical plant root cells the fungal hyphae form tree-like structures (arbuscules) where the nutrients are released to the plant-fungal interface, i.e., to the periarbuscular space, before being taken up by the plant. In exchange, the AM fungi receive carbohydrates from the plant host. Besides the well-studied uptake of phosphorus (P), the uptake and transfer of nitrogen (N) plays a crucial role in this mutualistic interaction. In the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly called Glomus intraradices), two ammonium transporters (AMT) were previously described, namely GintAMT1 and GintAMT2. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a newly identified R. irregularis AMT, GintAMT3. Phylogenetic analyses revealed high sequence similarity to previously identified AM fungal AMTs and a clear separation from other fungal AMTs. Topological analysis indicated GintAMT3 to be a membrane bound pore forming protein, and GFP tagging showed it to be highly expressed in the intraradical mycelium of a fully established AM symbiosis. Expression of GintAMT3 in yeast successfully complemented the yeast AMT triple deletion mutant (MATa ura3 mep1Δ mep2Δ::LEU2 mep3Δ::KanMX2). GintAMT3 is characterized as a low affinity transport system with an apparent Km of 1.8 mM and a V max of 240 nmol(-1) min(-1) 10(8) cells(-1), which is regulated by substrate concentration and carbon supply.}, } @article {pmid27249195, year = {2016}, author = {Kauppinen, M and Saikkonen, K and Helander, M and Pirttilä, AM and Wäli, PR}, title = {Epichloë grass endophytes in sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {15224}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.224}, pmid = {27249195}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {Conservation of Natural Resources/*methods ; Crop Production/*methods ; *Endophytes/physiology ; *Epichloe/physiology ; Poaceae/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {There is an urgent need to create new solutions for sustainable agricultural practices that circumvent the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides and increase the resilience of agricultural systems to environmental change. Beneficial microbial symbionts of plants are expected to play an important role in integrated pest management schemes over the coming decades. Epichloë endophytes, symbiotic fungi of many grass species, can protect plants against several stressors, and could therefore help to increase the productivity of forage grasses and the hardiness of turf grasses while reducing the use of synthetic pesticides. Indeed, Epichloë endophytes have successfully been developed and commercialized for agricultural use in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Many of the host grass species originate from Europe, which is a biodiversity hotspot for both grasses and endophytes. However, intentional use of endophyte-enhanced grasses in Europe is virtually non-existent. We suggest that the diversity of European Epichloë endophytes and their host grasses should be exploited for the development of sustainable agricultural, horticultural and landscaping practices, and potentially for bioremediation and bioenergy purposes, and for environmental improvement.}, } @article {pmid27249190, year = {2016}, author = {Bravo, A and York, T and Pumplin, N and Mueller, LA and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Genes conserved for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis identified through phylogenomics.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {15208}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.208}, pmid = {27249190}, issn = {2055-0278}, mesh = {*Genomics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS), a widespread mutualistic association of land plants and fungi(1), is predicted to have arisen once, early in the evolution of land plants(2-4). Consistent with this notion, several genes required for AMS have been conserved throughout evolution(5) and their symbiotic functions preserved, at least between monocot and dicot plants(6,7). Despite its significance, knowledge of the plants' genetic programme for AMS is limited. To date, most genes required for AMS have been found through commonalities with the evolutionarily younger nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium legume symbiosis (RLS)(8) or by reverse genetic analyses of differentially expressed candidate genes(9). Large sequence-indexed insertion mutant collections and recent genome editing technologies have vastly increased the power of reverse genetics but selection of candidate genes, from the thousands of genes that change expression during AMS, remains an arbitrary process. Here, we describe a phylogenomics approach to identify genes whose evolutionary history predicts conservation for AMS and we demonstrate the accuracy of the predictions through reverse genetics analysis. Phylogenomics analysis of 50 plant genomes resulted in 138 genes from Medicago truncatula predicted to function in AMS. This includes 15 genes with known roles in AMS. Additionally, we demonstrate that mutants in six previously uncharacterized AMS-conserved genes are all impaired in AMS. Our results demonstrate that phylogenomics is an effective strategy to identify a set of evolutionarily conserved genes required for AMS.}, } @article {pmid27249189, year = {2016}, author = {Pan, H and Oztas, O and Zhang, X and Wu, X and Stonoha, C and Wang, E and Wang, B and Wang, D}, title = {A symbiotic SNARE protein generated by alternative termination of transcription.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {15197}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.197}, pmid = {27249189}, issn = {2055-0278}, support = {//USDA Hatch Grant/International ; //University of Massachusetts Amherst/International ; }, mesh = {Alternative Splicing ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Polyadenylation ; Protein Isoforms ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; SNARE Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many microbes interact with their hosts across a membrane interface, which is often distinct from existing membranes. Understanding how this interface acquires its identity has significant implications. In the symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia, the symbiosome encases the intracellular bacteria and receives host secretory proteins important for bacterial development. We show that the Medicago truncatula SYNTAXIN 132 (SYP132) gene undergoes alternative cleavage and polyadenylation during transcription, giving rise to two target-membrane soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (t-SNARE) isoforms. One of these isoforms, SYP132A, is induced during the symbiosis, is able to localize to the peribacteroid membrane, and is required for the maturation of symbiosomes into functional forms. The second isoform, SYP132C, has important functions unrelated to symbiosis. The SYP132A sequence is broadly found in flowering plants that form arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, an ancestral mutualism between soil fungi and most land plants. SYP132A silencing severely inhibited arbuscule colonization, indicating that SYP132A is an ancient factor specifying plant-microbe interfaces.}, } @article {pmid27248330, year = {2016}, author = {Mulinti, P and Florea, S and Schardl, CL and Panaccione, DG}, title = {Modulation of Ergot Alkaloids in a Grass-Endophyte Symbiosis by Alteration of mRNA Concentrations of an Ergot Alkaloid Synthesis Gene.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {64}, number = {24}, pages = {4982-4989}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.6b01604}, pmid = {27248330}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Epichloe/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Ergot Alkaloids/*biosynthesis ; Lolium/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Poaceae/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The profile of ergot alkaloids in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) containing the endophytic fungus Epichloë typhina × festucae includes high concentrations of the early pathway metabolites ergotryptamine and chanoclavine-I in addition to the pathway end-product ergovaline. Because these alkaloids differ in activity, we investigated strategies to alter their relative concentrations. An RNAi-based approach reduced the concentration of mRNA from the gene easA, which encodes an enzyme required for a ring closure that separates ergotryptamine and chanoclavine-I from ergovaline. Lower easA mRNA concentrations correlated with lower concentrations of ergovaline and higher concentrations of ergotryptamine and chanoclavine-I. Overexpression of easA led to higher concentrations of ergovaline in leaf blades but not in pseudostems; concentrations of the early pathway metabolites were not altered in overexpression strains. The data indicate that altering the concentration of mRNA from a single gene can change alkaloid flux, but the magnitude of the change was limited and variable.}, } @article {pmid27246572, year = {2016}, author = {Aschtgen, MS and Lynch, JB and Koch, E and Schwartzman, J and McFall-Ngai, M and Ruby, E}, title = {Rotation of Vibrio fischeri Flagella Produces Outer Membrane Vesicles That Induce Host Development.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {198}, number = {16}, pages = {2156-2165}, pmid = {27246572}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM119238/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Cell Membrane ; *Extracellular Vesicles ; Flagella/*physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Rotation ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Using the squid-vibrio association, we aimed to characterize the mechanism through which Vibrio fischeri cells signal morphogenesis of the symbiotic light-emitting organ. The symbiont releases two cell envelope molecules, peptidoglycan (PG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that, within 12 h of light organ colonization, act in synergy to trigger normal tissue development. Recent work has shown that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by V. fischeri are sufficient to induce PG-dependent morphogenesis; however, the mechanism(s) of OMV release by these bacteria has not been described. Like several genera of both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, V. fischeri cells elaborate polar flagella that are enclosed by an extension of the outer membrane, whose function remains unclear. Here, we present evidence that along with the well-recognized phenomenon of blebbing from the cell's surface, rotation of this sheathed flagellum also results in the release of OMVs. In addition, we demonstrate that most of the development-inducing LPS is associated with these OMVs and that the presence of the outer membrane protein OmpU but not the LPS O antigen on these OMVs is important in triggering normal host development. These results also present insights into a possible new mechanism of LPS release by pathogens with sheathed flagella.

IMPORTANCE: Determining the function(s) of sheathed flagella in bacteria has been challenging, because no known mutation results only in the loss of this outer membrane-derived casing. Nevertheless, the presence of a sheathed flagellum in such host-associated genera as Vibrio, Helicobacter, and Brucella has led to several proposed functions, including physical protection of the flagella and masking of their immunogenic flagellins. Using the squid-vibrio light organ symbiosis, we demonstrate another role, that of V. fischeri cells require rotating flagella to induce apoptotic cell death within surface epithelium, which is a normal step in the organ's development. Further, we present evidence that this rotation releases apoptosis-triggering lipopolysaccharide in the form of outer membrane vesicles. Such release may also occur by pathogens but with different outcomes for the host.}, } @article {pmid27246395, year = {2016}, author = {Horká, I and De Grave, S and Fransen, CH and Petrusek, A and Ďuriš, Z}, title = {Multiple host switching events shape the evolution of symbiotic palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda).}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {26486}, pmid = {27246395}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Markers ; Host Specificity ; Palaemonidae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The majority of the almost 1,000 species of Palaemonidae, the most speciose family of caridean shrimp, largely live in symbioses with marine invertebrates of different phyla. These associations range from weak epibiosis to obligatory endosymbiosis and from restricted commensalism to semi-parasitism, with the specialisation to particular hosts likely playing a role in the diversification of this shrimp group. Our study elucidates the evolutionary history of symbiotic palaemonids based on a phylogenetic analysis of 87 species belonging to 43 genera from the Indo-West Pacific and the Atlantic using two nuclear and two mitochondrial markers. A complementary three-marker analysis including taxa from GenBank raises this number to 107 species from 48 genera. Seven larger clades were recovered in the molecular phylogeny; the basal-most one includes mostly free-living shrimp, albeit with a few symbiotic species. Ancestral state reconstruction revealed that free-living forms likely colonised cnidarian hosts initially, and switching between different host phyla occurred multiple times in palaemonid evolutionary history. In some cases this was likely facilitated by the availability of analogous microhabitats in unrelated but morphologically similar host groups. Host switching and adaptations to newly colonised host groups must have played an important role in the evolution of this diverse shrimp group.}, } @article {pmid27246225, year = {2016}, author = {Moora, M and Öpik, M and Davison, J and Jairus, T and Vasar, M and Zobel, M and Eckstein, RL}, title = {AM fungal communities inhabiting the roots of submerged aquatic plant Lobelia dortmanna are diverse and include a high proportion of novel taxa.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {735-745}, pmid = {27246225}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/*genetics ; Lobelia/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sweden ; }, abstract = {While the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is known to be widespread in terrestrial ecosystems, there is growing evidence that aquatic plants also form the symbiosis. It has been suggested that symbiosis with AM fungi may represent an important adaptation for isoëtid plants growing on nutrient-poor sediments in oligotrophic lakes. In this study, we address AM fungal root colonization intensity, richness and community composition (based on small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing) in five populations of the isoëtid plant species Lobelia dortmanna inhabiting oligotrophic lakes in Southern Sweden. We found that the roots of L. dortmanna hosted rich AM fungal communities and about 15 % of the detected molecular taxa were previously unrecorded. AM fungal root colonization intensity and taxon richness varied along an environmental gradient, being higher in oligotrophic and lower in mesotrophic lakes. The overall phylogenetic structure of this aquatic fungal community differed from that described in terrestrial systems: The roots of L. dortmanna hosted more Archaeosporaceae and fewer Glomeraceae taxa than would be expected based on global data from terrestrial AM fungal communities.}, } @article {pmid27246026, year = {2016}, author = {Luo, L and Reedy, AR and Jones, RM}, title = {Detecting Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Stem Cell Proliferation in the Drosophila Intestine.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1422}, number = {}, pages = {103-113}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-3603-8_10}, pmid = {27246026}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {R01 DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biosensing Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Self Renewal ; Drosophila melanogaster/cytology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Germ Cells/metabolism/*microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/cytology/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus plantarum/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*analysis ; Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The conservation of intestinal stem cell crypt dynamics between Drosophila melanogaster and mammals allows for the genetically tractable fly model to be used for analyses of intestinal development, homeostasis, and renewal in relation to microbiota. The invertebrate fly model is advantageous for genetic research due to its anatomical and genetic simplicity and short lifespan. Accordingly, experimental resources such as large numbers of mutant and genetically modified flies have been developed. We have developed techniques to generate germ-free Drosophila, monoassociate them with candidate bacteria, and assess ensuing physiological responses within the gut tissue that include the generation of reactive oxygen species and cell proliferation.}, } @article {pmid27245884, year = {2017}, author = {Kuruthukulangarakoola, GT and Zhang, J and Albert, A and Winkler, B and Lang, H and Buegger, F and Gaupels, F and Heller, W and Michalke, B and Sarioglu, H and Schnitzler, JP and Hebelstrup, KH and Durner, J and Lindermayr, C}, title = {Nitric oxide-fixation by non-symbiotic haemoglobin proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana under N-limited conditions.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {36-50}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12773}, pmid = {27245884}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Fumigation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Propanols/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; S-Nitrosothiols/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule that is involved in many different physiological processes in plants. Here, we report about a NO-fixing mechanism in Arabidopsis, which allows the fixation of atmospheric NO into nitrogen metabolism. We fumigated Arabidopsis plants cultivated in soil or as hydroponic cultures during the whole growing period with up to 3 ppmv of NO gas. Transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses were used to identify non-symbiotic haemoglobin proteins as key components of the NO-fixing process. Overexpressing non-symbiotic haemoglobin 1 or 2 genes resulted in fourfold higher nitrate levels in these plants compared with NO-treated wild-type. Correspondingly, rosettes size and weight, vegetative shoot thickness and seed yield were 25, 40, 30, and 50% higher, respectively, than in wild-type plants. Fumigation with 250 ppbv [15] NO confirmed the importance of non-symbiotic haemoglobin 1 and 2 for the NO-fixation pathway, and we calculated a daily uptake for non-symbiotic haemoglobin 2 overexpressing plants of 250 mg N/kg dry weight. This mechanism is probably important under conditions with limited N supply via the soil. Moreover, the plant-based NO uptake lowers the concentration of insanitary atmospheric NOx, and in this context, NO-fixation can be beneficial to air quality.}, } @article {pmid27245091, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, C and Yu, H and Luo, L and Duan, L and Cai, L and He, X and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Li, G and Xiao, A and Duanmu, D and Cao, Y and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z}, title = {NODULES WITH ACTIVATED DEFENSE 1 is required for maintenance of rhizobial endosymbiosis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {212}, number = {1}, pages = {176-191}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14017}, pmid = {27245091}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cellular Reprogramming/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Phenols/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between legume plants and rhizobia results in the formation of root nodules, in which symbiotic plant cells host and harbor thousands of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Here, a Medicago truncatula nodules with activated defense 1 (nad1) mutant was identified using reverse genetics methods. The mutant phenotype was characterized using cell and molecular biology approaches. An RNA-sequencing technique was used to analyze the transcriptomic reprogramming of nad1 mutant nodules. In the nad1 mutant plants, rhizobial infection and propagation in infection threads are normal, whereas rhizobia and their symbiotic plant cells become necrotic immediately after rhizobia are released from infection threads into symbiotic cells of nodules. Defense-associated responses were detected in nad1 nodules. NAD1 is specifically present in root nodule symbiosis plants with the exception of Morus notabilis, and the transcript is highly induced in nodules. NAD1 encodes a small uncharacterized protein with two predicted transmembrane helices and is localized at the endoplasmic reticulum. Our data demonstrate a positive role for NAD1 in the maintenance of rhizobial endosymbiosis during nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27243656, year = {2016}, author = {Kiers, ET and West, SA and Wyatt, GA and Gardner, A and Bücking, H and Werner, GD}, title = {Misconceptions on the application of biological market theory to the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {16063}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2016.63}, pmid = {27243656}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid27243655, year = {2016}, author = {van der Heijden, MG and Walder, F}, title = {Reply to 'Misconceptions on the application of biological market theory to the mycorrhizal symbiosis'.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {16062}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2016.62}, pmid = {27243655}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid27243010, year = {2016}, author = {Vukašinović, N and Žárský, V}, title = {Tethering Complexes in the Arabidopsis Endomembrane System.}, journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {46}, pmid = {27243010}, issn = {2296-634X}, abstract = {Targeting of endomembrane transport containers is of the utmost importance for proper land plant growth and development. Given the immobility of plant cells, localized membrane vesicle secretion and recycling are amongst the main processes guiding proper cell, tissue and whole plant morphogenesis. Cell wall biogenesis and modification are dependent on vectorial membrane traffic, not only during normal development, but also in stress responses and in plant defense against pathogens and/or symbiosis. It is surprising how little we know about these processes in plants, from small GTPase regulation to the tethering complexes that act as their effectors. Tethering factors are single proteins or protein complexes mediating first contact between the target membrane and arriving membrane vesicles. In this review we focus on the tethering complexes of the best-studied plant model-Arabidopsis thaliana. Genome-based predictions indicate the presence of all major tethering complexes in plants that are known from a hypothetical last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA). The evolutionary multiplication of paralogs of plant tethering complex subunits has produced the massively expanded EXO70 family, indicating a subfunctionalization of the terminal exocytosis machinery in land plants. Interpretation of loss of function (LOF) mutant phenotypes has to consider that related, yet clearly functionally-specific complexes often share some common core subunits. It is therefore impossible to conclude with clarity which version of the complex is responsible for the phenotypic deviations observed. Experimental interest in the analysis of plant tethering complexes is growing and we hope to contribute with this review by attracting even more attention to this fascinating field of plant cell biology.}, } @article {pmid27242845, year = {2016}, author = {Mo, Y and Wang, Y and Yang, R and Zheng, J and Liu, C and Li, H and Ma, J and Zhang, Y and Wei, C and Zhang, X}, title = {Regulation of Plant Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidation and Osmosis by an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus in Watermelon Seedlings under Well-Watered and Drought Conditions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {644}, pmid = {27242845}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Drought stress has become an increasingly serious environmental issue that influences the growth and production of watermelon. Previous studies found that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization improved the fruit yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of watermelon grown under water stress; however, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, the effects of Glomus versiforme symbiosis on the growth, physio-biochemical attributes, and stress-responsive gene expressions of watermelon seedlings grown under well-watered and drought conditions were investigated. The results showed that AM colonization did not significantly influence the shoot growth of watermelon seedlings under well-watered conditions but did promote root development irrespective of water treatment. Drought stress decreased the leaf relative water content and chlorophyll concentration, but to a lesser extent in the AM plants. Compared with the non-mycorrhizal seedlings, mycorrhizal plants had higher non-photochemical quenching values, which reduced the chloroplast ultrastructural damage in the mesophyll cells and thus maintained higher photosynthetic efficiency. Moreover, AM inoculation led to significant enhancements in the enzyme activities and gene expressions of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase in watermelon leaves upon drought imposition. Consequently, AM plants exhibited lower accumulation of MDA, H2O2 and [Formula: see text] compared with non-mycorrhizal plants. Under drought stress, the soluble sugar and proline contents were significantly increased, and further enhancements were observed by pre-treating the drought-stressed plants with AM. Taken together, our findings indicate that mycorrhizal colonization enhances watermelon drought tolerance through a stronger root system, greater protection of photosynthetic apparatus, a more efficient antioxidant system and improved osmoregulation. This study contributes to advances in the knowledge of AM-induced drought tolerance.}, } @article {pmid27242370, year = {2016}, author = {Ali, A and Ayesha, and Hameed, S and Imran, A and Iqbal, M and Iqbal, J and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {Functional characterization of a soybean growth stimulator Bradyrhizobium sp. strain SR-6 showing acylhomoserine lactone production.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {9}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw115}, pmid = {27242370}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Bradyrhizobium/enzymology/isolation & purification/*metabolism/physiology ; Catalase/analysis ; Soybeans/drug effects/*growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A soybean nodule endophytic bacterium Bradyrhizobium sp. strain SR-6 was characterized for production of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as quorum sensing molecules. Mass spectrometry analysis of AHLs revealed the presence of C6-HSL, 3OH-C6-HSL, C8-HSL, C10-HSL, 3oxoC10-HSL, 3oxo-C12-HSL and 3OH-C12-HSL which are significantly different from those reported earlier in soybean symbionts. Purified AHL extracts significantly improved wheat and soybean seedling growth and root hair development along with increased soybean nodulation under axenic conditions. A positive correlation was observed among in vivo nitrogenase and catalase enzyme activities of the strain SR-6. Transmission electron microscopic analysis showed the cytochemical localization of catalase activity within the bacteroids, specifically attached to the peribacteroidal membrane. Root and nodule colonization proved rhizosphere competence of SR-6. The inoculation of SR-6 resulted in increased shoot length (13%), plant dry matter (50%), grain weight (16%), seed yield (20%) and N-uptake (14%) as compared to non-inoculated soybean plants. The symbiotic bacterium SR-6 has potential to improve soybean growth and yield in sub-humid climate of Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan. The production and mass spectrometric profiling of AHLs as well as in vivo cytochemical localization of catalase enzyme activity in soybean Bradyrhizobium sp. have never been reported earlier elsewhere before our these investigations.}, } @article {pmid27241367, year = {2016}, author = {Barrett, LG and Zee, PC and Bever, JD and Miller, JT and Thrall, PH}, title = {Evolutionary history shapes patterns of mutualistic benefit in Acacia-rhizobial interactions.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {70}, number = {7}, pages = {1473-1485}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12966}, pmid = {27241367}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ecological and evolutionary factors that drive the emergence and maintenance of variation in mutualistic benefit (i.e., the benefits provided by one partner to another) in mutualistic symbioses are not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the role that host and symbiont phylogeny might play in determining patterns of mutualistic benefit for interactions among nine species of Acacia and 31 strains of nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Using phylogenetic comparative methods we compared patterns of variation in mutualistic benefit (host response to inoculation) to rhizobial phylogenies constructed from housekeeping and symbiosis genes; and a multigene host phylogeny. We found widespread genotype-by-genotype variation in patterns of plant growth. A relatively large component of this variation (21-28%) was strongly influenced by the interacting evolutionary histories of both partners, such that phylogenetically similar host species had similar growth responses when inoculated with phylogenetically similar rhizobia. We also found a relatively large nonphylogenetic effect for the average mutualistic benefit provided by rhizobia to plants, such that phylogenetic relatedness did not predict the overall benefit provided by rhizobia across all hosts. We conclude that phylogenetic relatedness should frequently predict patterns of mutualistic benefit in acacia-rhizobial mutualistic interactions; but that some mutualistic traits also evolve independently of the phylogenies.}, } @article {pmid27241115, year = {2016}, author = {Alunni, B and Gourion, B}, title = {Terminal bacteroid differentiation in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis: nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides and beyond.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {2}, pages = {411-417}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14025}, pmid = {27241115}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cysteine/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Contents 411 I. 411 II. 412 III. 412 IV. 413 V. 414 VI. 414 VII. 415 VIII. 415 416 References 416 SUMMARY: Terminal bacteroid differentiation (TBD) is a remarkable case of bacterial cell differentiation that occurs after rhizobia are released intracellularly within plant cells of symbiotic legume organs called nodules. The hallmarks of TBD are cell enlargement, genome amplification and membrane permeabilization. This plant-driven process is governed by a large family of bacteroid-targeted nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides that were until recently thought to be restricted to a specific lineage of the legume family, including the model plant Medicago truncatula. Recently, new plant and bacterial factors involved in TBD have been identified, challenging our view of this phenomenon at mechanistic and evolutionary levels. Here, we review the recent literature and discuss emerging questions about the mechanisms and the role(s) of TBD.}, } @article {pmid27240350, year = {2016}, author = {Lardi, M and Murset, V and Fischer, HM and Mesa, S and Ahrens, CH and Zamboni, N and Pessi, G}, title = {Metabolomic Profiling of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens-Induced Root Nodules Reveals Both Host Plant-Specific and Developmental Signatures.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {27240350}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Host Specificity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Principal Component Analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/*growth & development/microbiology ; Soybeans/chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/chemistry/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens is a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont, which can grow inside root-nodule cells of the agriculturally important soybean and other host plants. Our previous studies described B. diazoefficiens host-specific global expression changes occurring during legume infection at the transcript and protein level. In order to further characterize nodule metabolism, we here determine by flow injection-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis the metabolome of (i) nodules and roots from four different B. diazoefficiens host plants; (ii) soybean nodules harvested at different time points during nodule development; and (iii) soybean nodules infected by two strains mutated in key genes for nitrogen fixation, respectively. Ribose (soybean), tartaric acid (mungbean), hydroxybutanoyloxybutanoate (siratro) and catechol (cowpea) were among the metabolites found to be specifically elevated in one of the respective host plants. While the level of C4-dicarboxylic acids decreased during soybean nodule development, we observed an accumulation of trehalose-phosphate at 21 days post infection (dpi). Moreover, nodules from non-nitrogen-fixing bacteroids (nifA and nifH mutants) showed specific metabolic alterations; these were also supported by independent transcriptomics data. The alterations included signs of nitrogen limitation in both mutants, and an increased level of a phytoalexin in nodules induced by the nifA mutant, suggesting that the tissue of these nodules exhibits defense and stress reactions.}, } @article {pmid27236566, year = {2016}, author = {Bourebaba, Y and Durán, D and Boulila, F and Ahnia, H and Boulila, A and Temprano, F and Palacios, JM and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Rey, L}, title = {Diversity of Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating Lupinus micranthus on both sides of the Western Mediterranean: Algeria and Spain.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {266-274}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.04.006}, pmid = {27236566}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Algeria ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lupinus micranthus is a lupine distributed in the Mediterranean basin whose nitrogen fixing symbiosis has not been described in detail. In this study, 101 slow-growing nodule isolates were obtained from L. micranthus thriving in soils on both sides of the Western Mediterranean. The diversity of the isolates, 60 from Algeria and 41 from Spain, was addressed by multilocus sequence analysis of housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, atpD, glnII and recA) and one symbiotic gene (nodC). Using genomic fingerprints from BOX elements, 37 different profiles were obtained (22 from Algeria and 15 from Spain). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and concatenated atpD, glnII and recA sequences of a representative isolate of each BOX profile displayed a homogeneous distribution of profiles in six different phylogenetic clusters. All isolates were taxonomically ascribed to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Three clusters comprising 24, 6, and 4 isolates, respectively, accounted for most of the profiles. The largest cluster was close to the Bradyrhizobium canariense lineage, while the other two were related to B. cytisi/B. rifense. The three remaining clusters included only one isolate each, and were close to B. canariense, B. japonicum and B. elkanii species, respectively. In contrast, phylogenetic clustering of BOX profiles based on nodC sequences yielded only two phylogenetic groups. One of them included all the profiles except one, and belonged to symbiovar genistearum. The remaining profile, constituted by a strain related to B. elkanii, was not related to any well-defined symbiotic lineage, and may constitute both a new symbiovar and a new genospecies.}, } @article {pmid27235430, year = {2016}, author = {Tai, V and Carpenter, KJ and Weber, PK and Nalepa, CA and Perlman, SJ and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Genome Evolution and Nitrogen Fixation in Bacterial Ectosymbionts of a Protist Inhabiting Wood-Feeding Cockroaches.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {15}, pages = {4682-4695}, pmid = {27235430}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Cockroaches/*parasitology/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Feeding Behavior ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Parabasalidea/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism/parasitology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: By combining genomics and isotope imaging analysis using high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we examined the function and evolution of Bacteroidales ectosymbionts of the protist Barbulanympha from the hindguts of the wood-eating cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus In particular, we investigated the structure of ectosymbiont genomes, which, in contrast to those of endosymbionts, has been little studied to date, and tested the hypothesis that these ectosymbionts fix nitrogen. Unlike with most obligate endosymbionts, genome reduction has not played a major role in the evolution of the Barbulanympha ectosymbionts. Instead, interaction with the external environment has remained important for this symbiont as genes for synthesis of transporters, outer membrane proteins, lipopolysaccharides, and lipoproteins have been retained. The ectosymbiont genome carried two complete operons for nitrogen fixation, a urea transporter, and a urease, indicating the availability of nitrogen as a driving force behind the symbiosis. NanoSIMS analysis of C. punctulatus hindgut symbionts exposed in vivo to (15)N2 supports the hypothesis that Barbulanympha ectosymbionts are capable of nitrogen fixation. This genomic and in vivo functional investigation of protist ectosymbionts highlights the diversity of evolutionary forces and trajectories that shape symbiotic interactions.

IMPORTANCE: The ecological and evolutionary importance of symbioses is increasingly clear, but the overall diversity of symbiotic interactions remains poorly explored. In this study, we investigated the evolution and nitrogen fixation capabilities of ectosymbionts attached to the protist Barbulanympha from the hindgut of the wood-eating cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus In addressing genome evolution of protist ectosymbionts, our data suggest that the ecological pressures influencing the evolution of extracellular symbionts clearly differ from intracellular symbionts and organelles. Using NanoSIMS analysis, we also obtained direct imaging evidence of a specific hindgut microbe playing a role in nitrogen fixation. These results demonstrate the power of combining NanoSIMS and genomics tools for investigating the biology of uncultivable microbes. This investigation paves the way for a more precise understanding of microbial interactions in the hindguts of wood-eating insects and further exploration of the diversity and ecological significance of symbiosis between microbes.}, } @article {pmid27234337, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, XJ and Che, M and Xie, L and Zhan, S and Zhou, ZH and Huang, YP and Wang, Q}, title = {Metatranscriptome of the protistan community in Reticulitermes flaviceps.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {543-547}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12363}, pmid = {27234337}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulase/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/parasitology ; Isoptera/drug effects/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phenylcarbamates/pharmacology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The hindgut of lower termites harbors various symbiotic protists, which perform varied functions in lignocellulose decomposition. As termites are social insects, the species and numbers of these flagellated protists in the termite gut vary among the different castes. Juvenile hormones (JHs) can regulate caste differentiation in termites. In this study, we used the juvenile hormone analog fenoxycarb to induce termite workers (Reticulitermes flaviceps) to differentiate into pre-soldiers. A metatranscriptomic investigation of the protistan community was then performed by 454 pyrosequencing. From a thorough analysis based on 597 312 generated reads, we found that the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway was the most abundant pathway across the metatranscriptome. The current study demonstrates that the metatranscriptome of the protistan community in termites contains an abundance of lignocellulase, which plays a vital role in termite nutrition.}, } @article {pmid27233441, year = {2016}, author = {Blaimer, BB and LaPolla, JS and Branstetter, MG and Lloyd, MW and Brady, SG}, title = {Phylogenomics, biogeography and diversification of obligate mealybug-tending ants in the genus Acropyga.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {20-29}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.030}, pmid = {27233441}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*classification/genetics ; Calibration ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/*physiology ; Mandible/anatomy & histology ; Models, Theoretical ; *Phylogeny ; *Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Time Factors ; Tooth/anatomy & histology ; }, abstract = {Acropyga ants are a widespread clade of small subterranean formicines that live in obligate symbiotic associations with root mealybugs. We generated a data set of 944 loci of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) to reconstruct the phylogeny of 41 representatives of 23 Acropyga species using both concatenation and species-tree approaches. We investigated the biogeographic history of the genus through divergence dating analyses and ancestral range reconstructions. We also explored the evolution of the Acropyga-mealybug mutualism using ancestral state reconstruction methods. We recovered a highly supported species phylogeny for Acropyga with both concatenation and species-tree analyses. The age for crown-group Acropyga is estimated to be around 30Ma. The geographic origin of the genus remains uncertain, although phylogenetic affinities within the subfamily Formicinae point to a Paleotropical ancestor. Two main Acropyga lineages are recovered with mutually exclusive distributions in the Old World and New World. Within the Old World clade, a Palearctic and African lineage is suggested as sister to the remaining species. Ancestral state reconstructions indicate that Old World species have diversified mainly in close association with xenococcines from the genus Eumyrmococcus, although present-day associations also involve other mealybug genera. In contrast, New World Acropyga predominantly evolved with Neochavesia until a recent (10-15Ma) switch to rhizoecid mealybug partners (genus Rhizoecus). The striking mandibular variation in Acropyga evolved most likely from a 5-toothed ancestor. Our results provide an initial evolutionary framework for extended investigations of potential co-evolutionary interactions between these ants and their mealybug partners.}, } @article {pmid27232444, year = {2016}, author = {Hu, Y and Lin, J and Cui, S and Khanna, NZ}, title = {Measuring Urban Carbon Footprint from Carbon Flows in the Global Supply Chain.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {50}, number = {12}, pages = {6154-6163}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6b00985}, pmid = {27232444}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {*Carbon ; *Carbon Footprint ; China ; Models, Theoretical ; Urban Population ; Urbanization ; }, abstract = {A global multiregional input-output (MRIO) model was built for eight Chinese cities to track their carbon flows. For in-depth understanding of urban carbon footprint from the perspectives of production, consumption, and trade balance, four kinds of footprints and four redefined measurement indicators were calculated. From the global supply chain, urban carbon inflows from Mainland China were larger than outflows, while the carbon outflows to European, principal North American countries and East Asia were much larger than inflows. With the rapid urbanization of China, Construction was the largest consumer and Utilities was the largest producer. Cities with higher consumption (such as Dalian, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Beijing) should change their consumption patterns, while cities with lower production efficiency (such as Dalian, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Chongqing) should improve their technology. The cities of net carbon consumption tended to transfer carbon emissions out of them by trading in carbon-intensive products, while the cities of net carbon production tended to produce carbon-intensive products for nonlocal consumers. Our results indicated that urban carbon abatement requires not only rational consumption and industrial symbiosis at the city level, but also tighter collaboration along all stages of the global supply chain.}, } @article {pmid27231663, year = {2016}, author = {Ayayee, PA and Larsen, T and Sabree, Z}, title = {Symbiotic essential amino acids provisioning in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) under various dietary conditions.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e2046}, pmid = {27231663}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Insect gut microbes have been shown to provide nutrients such as essential amino acids (EAAs) to their hosts. How this symbiotic nutrient provisioning tracks with the host's demand is not well understood. In this study, we investigated microbial essential amino acid (EAA) provisioning in omnivorous American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), fed low-quality (LQD) and comparatively higher-quality dog food (DF) diets using carbon stable isotope ratios of EAAs (δ (13)CEAA). We assessed non-dietary EAA input, quantified as isotopic offsets (Δ(13)C) between cockroach (δ (13)CCockroach EAA) and dietary (δ (13)CDietary EAA) EAAs, and subsequently determined biosynthetic origins of non-dietary EAAs in cockroaches using (13)C-fingerprinting with dietary and representative bacterial and fungal δ (13)CEAA. Investigation of biosynthetic origins of de novo non-dietary EAAs indicated bacterial origins of EAA in cockroach appendage samples, and a mixture of fungal and bacterial EAA origins in gut filtrate samples for both LQD and DF-fed groups. We attribute the bacteria-derived EAAs in cockroach appendages to provisioning by the fat body residing obligate endosymbiont, Blattabacterium and gut-residing bacteria. The mixed signatures of gut filtrate samples are attributed to the presence of unassimilated dietary, as well as gut microbial (bacterial and fungal) EAAs. This study highlights the potential impacts of dietary quality on symbiotic EAA provisioning and the need for further studies investigating the interplay between host EAA demands, host dietary quality and symbiotic EAA provisioning in response to dietary sufficiency or deficiency.}, } @article {pmid27230986, year = {2020}, author = {Wooldridge, SA}, title = {Excess seawater nutrients, enlarged algal symbiont densities and bleaching sensitive reef locations: 1. Identifying thresholds of concern for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {152}, number = {}, pages = {107667}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.04.054}, pmid = {27230986}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Australia ; *Chlorophyll A ; Coral Reefs ; Nutrients ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Here, I contribute new insight into why excess seawater nutrients are an increasingly identified feature at reef locations that have low resistance to thermal stress. Specifically, I link this unfavourable synergism to the development of enlarged (suboptimal) zooxanthellae densities that paradoxically limit the capacity of the host coral to build tissue energy reserves needed to combat periods of stress. I explain how both theoretical predictions and field observations support the existence of species-specific 'optimal' zooxanthellae densities ~1.0-3.0×10[6] cellscm-[2]. For the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR), excess seawater nutrients that permit enlarged zooxanthellae densities beyond this optimum range are linked with seawater chlorophyll a>0.45μg·L[-1]; a eutrophication threshold previously shown to correlate with a significant loss in species for hard corals and phototrophic octocorals on the central GBR, and herein shown to correlate with enhanced bleaching sensitivity during the 1998 and 2002 mass bleaching events.}, } @article {pmid27230747, year = {2016}, author = {Maistrenko, OM and Serga, SV and Vaiserman, AM and Kozeretska, IA}, title = {Longevity-modulating effects of symbiosis: insights from Drosophila-Wolbachia interaction.}, journal = {Biogerontology}, volume = {17}, number = {5-6}, pages = {785-803}, doi = {10.1007/s10522-016-9653-9}, pmid = {27230747}, issn = {1573-6768}, mesh = {Aging/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila/*microbiology/*physiology ; Drosophila Proteins/metabolism ; Longevity/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities are known to significantly affect various fitness components and survival of their insect hosts, including Drosophila. The composition of symbiotic microbiota has been shown to change with the host's aging. It is unclear whether these changes are caused by the aging process or, vice versa, they affect the host's aging and longevity. Recent findings indicate that fitness and lifespan of Drosophila are affected by endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia. These effects, however, are inconsistent and have been reported both to extend and shorten longevity. The main molecular pathways underlying the lifespan-modulating effects of Wolbachia remain unclear, however insulin/insulin-like growth factor, immune deficiency, ecdysteroid synthesis and signaling and c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathways as well as heat shock protein synthesis and autophagy have been proposed to play a role. Here we revise the current evidence that elucidates the impact of Wolbachia endosymbionts on the aging processes in Drosophila.}, } @article {pmid27230505, year = {2016}, author = {Goto, Y and Lee, YA and Yamaguchi, Y and Jas, E}, title = {Biological mechanisms underlying evolutionary origins of psychotic and mood disorders.}, journal = {Neuroscience research}, volume = {111}, number = {}, pages = {13-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.neures.2016.04.007}, pmid = {27230505}, issn = {1872-8111}, mesh = {Animals ; Dopamine/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genetic Variation ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Maternal Behavior ; Mood Disorders/*genetics/physiopathology/psychology ; Psychotic Disorders/*genetics/physiopathology/psychology ; Selection, Genetic ; Serotonin/physiology ; Social Behavior ; Symbiosis ; Synaptic Transmission ; }, abstract = {Psychotic and mood disorders are brain dysfunctions that are caused by gene environment interactions. Although these disorders are disadvantageous and involve behavioral phenotypes that decrease the reproductive success of afflicted individuals in the modern human society, the prevalence of these disorders have remained constant in the population. Here, we propose several biological mechanisms by which the genes associated with psychotic and mood disorders could be selected for in specific environmental conditions that provide evolutionary bases for explanations of when, why, and where these disorders emerged and have been maintained in humans. We discuss the evolutionary origins of psychotic and mood disorders with specific focuses on the roles of dopamine and serotonin in the conditions of social competitiveness/hierarchy and maternal care and other potential mechanisms, such as social network homophily and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27230384, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Jackson, SA}, title = {Crowdsourcing the nodulation gene network discovery environment.}, journal = {BMC bioinformatics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {223}, pmid = {27230384}, issn = {1471-2105}, mesh = {Crowdsourcing/*methods ; Gene Regulatory Networks/*genetics ; Humans ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Legumes (Fabaceae) are an economically and ecologically important group of plant species with the conspicuous capacity for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in root nodules, specialized plant organs containing symbiotic microbes. With the aim of understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to nodulation, many efforts are underway to identify nodulation-related genes and determine how these genes interact with each other. In order to accurately and efficiently reconstruct nodulation gene network, a crowdsourcing platform, CrowdNodNet, was created.

RESULTS: The platform implements the jQuery and vis.js JavaScript libraries, so that users are able to interactively visualize and edit the gene network, and easily access the information about the network, e.g. gene lists, gene interactions and gene functional annotations. In addition, all the gene information is written on MediaWiki pages, enabling users to edit and contribute to the network curation.

CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing the continuously updated, collaboratively written, and community-reviewed Wikipedia model, the platform could, in a short time, become a comprehensive knowledge base of nodulation-related pathways. The platform could also be used for other biological processes, and thus has great potential for integrating and advancing our understanding of the functional genomics and systems biology of any process for any species. The platform is available at http://crowd.bioops.info/ , and the source code can be openly accessed at https://github.com/bioops/crowdnodnet under MIT License.}, } @article {pmid27230377, year = {2016}, author = {Charpentier, M and Sun, J and Vaz Martins, T and Radhakrishnan, GV and Findlay, K and Soumpourou, E and Thouin, J and Véry, AA and Sanders, D and Morris, RJ and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Nuclear-localized cyclic nucleotide-gated channels mediate symbiotic calcium oscillations.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {352}, number = {6289}, pages = {1102-1105}, doi = {10.1126/science.aae0109}, pmid = {27230377}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J018627/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Calcium Channels/genetics/*metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Nuclear Envelope/*metabolism ; Nucleotides, Cyclic/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Potassium Channels/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nuclear-associated Ca(2+) oscillations mediate plant responses to beneficial microbial partners--namely, nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria that colonize roots of legumes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that colonize roots of the majority of plant species. A potassium-permeable channel is known to be required for symbiotic Ca(2+) oscillations, but the calcium channels themselves have been unknown until now. We show that three cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in Medicago truncatula are required for nuclear Ca(2+) oscillations and subsequent symbiotic responses. These cyclic nucleotide-gated channels are located at the nuclear envelope and are permeable to Ca(2+) We demonstrate that the cyclic nucleotide-gated channels form a complex with the postassium-permeable channel, which modulates nuclear Ca(2+) release. These channels, like their counterparts in animal cells, might regulate multiple nuclear Ca(2+) responses to developmental and environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid27229733, year = {2016}, author = {Yamaguchi, YL and Ishida, T and Sawa, S}, title = {CLE peptides and their signaling pathways in plant development.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {16}, pages = {4813-4826}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw208}, pmid = {27229733}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {*Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Cell-to-cell communication is crucial for the coherent functioning of multicellular organisms, and they have evolved intricate molecular mechanisms to achieve such communication. Small, secreted peptide hormones participate in cell-to-cell communication to regulate various physiological processes. One such family of plant peptide hormones is the CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-related (CLE) family, whose members play crucial roles in the differentiation of shoot and root meristems. Recent biochemical and genetic studies have characterized various CLE signaling modules, which include CLE peptides, transmembrane receptors, and downstream intracellular signaling components. CLE signaling systems are conserved across the plant kingdom but have divergent modes of action in various developmental processes in different species. Moreover, several CLE peptides play roles in symbiosis, parasitism, and responses to abiotic cues. Here we review recent studies that have provided new insights into the mechanisms of CLE signaling.}, } @article {pmid27226472, year = {2016}, author = {Scott, A and Dixson, DL}, title = {Reef fishes can recognize bleached habitat during settlement: sea anemone bleaching alters anemonefish host selection.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1831}, pages = {}, pmid = {27226472}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Chemotaxis ; Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Perciformes/*physiology ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding how bleaching impacts the settlement of symbiotic habitat specialists and whether there is flexibility in settlement choices with regard to habitat quality is essential given our changing climate. We used five anemonefishes (Amphiprion clarkii, Amphiprion latezonatus, Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion percula and Premnas biaculeatus) and three host sea anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis crispa and Heteractis magnifica) in paired-choice flume experiments to determine whether habitat naive juveniles have the olfactory capabilities to distinguish between unbleached and bleached hosts, and how this may affect settlement decisions. All anemonefishes were able to distinguish between bleached and unbleached hosts, and responded only to chemical cues from species-specific host anemones irrespective of health status, indicating a lack of flexibility in host use. While bleached hosts were selected as habitat, this occurred only when unbleached options were unavailable, with the exception of A. latezonatus, which showed strong preferences for H. crispa regardless of health. This study highlights the potential deleterious indirect impacts of declining habitat quality during larval settlement in habitat specialists, which could be important in the field, given that bleaching events are becoming increasingly common.}, } @article {pmid27226009, year = {2016}, author = {Reyes-Pérez, A and Vargas, Mdel C and Hernández, M and Aguirre-von-Wobeser, E and Pérez-Rueda, E and Encarnacion, S}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis of the process of biofilm formation in Rhizobium etli CFN42.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {198}, number = {9}, pages = {847-860}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-016-1241-5}, pmid = {27226009}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Microarray Analysis ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Organisms belonging to the genus Rhizobium colonize leguminous plant roots and establish a mutually beneficial symbiosis. Biofilms are structured ecosystems in which microbes are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, and their development is a multistep process. The biofilm formation processes of R. etli CFN42 were analyzed at an early (24-h incubation) and mature stage (72 h), comparing cells in the biofilm with cells remaining in the planktonic stage. A genome-wide microarray analysis identified 498 differentially regulated genes, implying that expression of ~8.3 % of the total R. etli gene content was altered during biofilm formation. In biofilms-attached cells, genes encoding proteins with diverse functions were overexpressed including genes involved in membrane synthesis, transport and chemotaxis, repression of flagellin synthesis, as well as surface components (particularly exopolysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides), in combination with the presence of activators or stimulators of N-acyl-homoserine lactone synthesis This suggests that R. etli is able to sense surrounding environmental conditions and accordingly regulate the transition from planktonic and biofilm growth. In contrast, planktonic cells differentially expressed genes associated with transport, motility (flagellar and twitching) and inhibition of exopolysaccharide synthesis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of nodulation and nitrogen assimilation-related genes being involved in biofilm formation in R. etli. These results contribute to the understanding of the physiological changes involved in biofilm formation by bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27224284, year = {2016}, author = {Matsubara, VH and Bandara, HM and Ishikawa, KH and Mayer, MP and Samaranayake, LP}, title = {The role of probiotic bacteria in managing periodontal disease: a systematic review.}, journal = {Expert review of anti-infective therapy}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {643-655}, doi = {10.1080/14787210.2016.1194198}, pmid = {27224284}, issn = {1744-8336}, mesh = {*Bifidobacterium ; Combined Modality Therapy ; *Dental Scaling ; Dietary Supplements ; Humans ; *Lactobacillus ; Periodontal Attachment Loss/prevention & control ; Periodontal Pocket/prevention & control ; Periodontitis/*drug therapy/therapy ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The frequent recolonization of treated sites by periodontopathogens and the emergence of antibiotic resistance have led to a call for new therapeutic approaches for managing periodontal diseases. As probiotics are considered a new tool for combating infectious diseases, we systematically reviewed the evidences for their effectiveness in the management of periodontitis.

AREAS COVERED: An electronic search was performed in the MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library databases up to March 2016 using the terms 'periodontitis', 'chronic periodontitis', 'probiotic(s)', 'prebiotic(s)', 'symbiotic(s)', 'Bifidobacterium and 'Lactobacillus'. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the present study. Analysis of 12 RCTs revealed that in general, oral administration of probiotics improved the recognized clinical signs of chronic and aggressive periodontitis such as probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and attachment loss, with a concomitant reduction in the levels of major periodontal pathogens. Continuous probiotic administration, laced mainly with Lactobacillus species, was necessary to maintain these benefits. Expert commentary: Oral administration of probiotics is a safe and effective adjunct to conventional mechanical treatment (scaling) in the management of periodontitis, specially the chronic disease entity. Their adjunctive use is likely to improve disease indices and reduce the need for antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid27222223, year = {2016}, author = {Card, S and Johnson, L and Teasdale, S and Caradus, J}, title = {Deciphering endophyte behaviour: the link between endophyte biology and efficacious biological control agents.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw114}, pmid = {27222223}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Control Agents/*pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*growth & development/physiology ; Fungi/*growth & development/physiology ; Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytes associate with the majority of plant species found in natural and managed ecosystems. They are regarded as extremely important plant partners that provide improved stress tolerance to the host compared with plants that lack this symbiosis. Fossil records of endophytes date back more than 400 million years, implicating these microorganisms in host plant adaptation to habitat transitions. However, it is only recently that endophytes, and their bioactive products, have received meaningful attention from the scientific community. The benefits some endophytes can confer on their hosts include plant growth promotion and survival through the inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms and invertebrate pests, the removal of soil contaminants, improved tolerance of low fertility soils, and increased tolerance of extreme temperatures and low water availability. Endophytes are extremely diverse and can exhibit many different biological behaviours. Not all endophyte technologies have been successfully commercialised. Of interest in the development of the next generation of plant protection products is how much of this is due to the biology of the particular endophytic microorganism. In this review, we highlight selected case studies of endophytes and discuss their lifestyles and behavioural traits, and discuss how these factors contribute towards their effectiveness as biological control agents.}, } @article {pmid27221111, year = {2016}, author = {An, J and Ha, EM}, title = {Combination Therapy of Lactobacillus plantarum Supernatant and 5-Fluouracil Increases Chemosensitivity in Colorectal Cancer Cells.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {1490-1503}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1605.05024}, pmid = {27221111}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {AC133 Antigen/genetics ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family ; Antigens, CD/genetics ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Axin Protein/metabolism ; Caspase 3/genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal/genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; *Drug Synergism ; Fetal Proteins/genetics ; Fluorouracil/*pharmacology ; HCT116 Cells ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics ; Isoenzymes/genetics ; Lactobacillus plantarum/*chemistry/growth & development ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/*drug effects ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Retinal Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Tankyrases/metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects ; beta Catenin/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the representative chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer, it has therapeutic limits due to its chemoresistant characteristics. Colorectal cancer cells can develop into cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal potential, thereby causing malignant tumors. The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex gut microbiota that is essential for the host's homeostasis. Recently, many studies have reported correlations between gut flora and the onset, progression, and treatment of CRC. The present study confirms that the most representative symbiotic bacteria in humans, Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) supernatant (SN), selectively inhibit the characteristics of 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT- 116). LP SN inhibited the expression of the specific markers CD44, 133, 166, and ALDH1 of CSCs. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU inhibited the survival of CRCs and led to cell death by inducing caspase-3 activity. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU induced an anticancer mechanism by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling of chemoresistant CRC cells, and reducing the formation and size of colonospheres. In conclusion, our results show that LP SN can enhance the therapeutic effect of 5-FU for colon cancer, and reduce colorectal cancer stem-like cells by reversing the development of resistance to anticancer drugs. This implies that probiotic substances may be useful therapeutic alternatives as biotherapeutics for chemoresistant CRC.}, } @article {pmid27220082, year = {2016}, author = {Parrot, D and Legrave, N and Delmail, D and Grube, M and Suzuki, M and Tomasi, S}, title = {Review - Lichen-Associated Bacteria as a Hot Spot of Chemodiversity: Focus on Uncialamycin, a Promising Compound for Future Medicinal Applications.}, journal = {Planta medica}, volume = {82}, number = {13}, pages = {1143-1152}, doi = {10.1055/s-0042-105571}, pmid = {27220082}, issn = {1439-0221}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Anthraquinones/chemical synthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification/*therapeutic use ; Drug Discovery ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Streptomyces/chemistry ; }, abstract = {This review presents the state of knowledge on the medicinal potential of bacteria associated with lichens. In fact, besides the classical symbiotic partners (photobiont and mycobiont) forming the lichen thallus, associated bacteria have been recently described as a third partner. Various studies demonstrated the diversity of these communities with a predominance of Alphaproteobacteria. Bacterial groups more relevant for secondary metabolite synthesis have also been revealed. This article summarizes studies reporting the abilities of these communities to produce metabolites with relevant bioactivities. The biotechnological interest of these bacteria for drug discovery is highlighted regarding the production of compounds with therapeutic potential. Special focus is given to the synthesis of the most promising compound, uncialamycin, a potent enediyne isolated from a Streptomyces sp. associated with Cladonia uncialis.}, } @article {pmid27218454, year = {2016}, author = {Bhattacharya, D and Agrawal, S and Aranda, M and Baumgarten, S and Belcaid, M and Drake, JL and Erwin, D and Foret, S and Gates, RD and Gruber, DF and Kamel, B and Lesser, MP and Levy, O and Liew, YJ and MacManes, M and Mass, T and Medina, M and Mehr, S and Meyer, E and Price, DC and Putnam, HM and Qiu, H and Shinzato, C and Shoguchi, E and Stokes, AJ and Tambutté, S and Tchernov, D and Voolstra, CR and Wagner, N and Walker, CW and Weber, AP and Weis, V and Zelzion, E and Zoccola, D and Falkowski, PG}, title = {Comparative genomics explains the evolutionary success of reef-forming corals.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27218454}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {P20 GM103466/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 MD006084/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; U54 MD007584/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Calcification, Physiologic/*genetics ; Calcium Carbonate/chemistry/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome ; Genomics/*methods ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Light ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Transcriptome and genome data from twenty stony coral species and a selection of reference bilaterians were studied to elucidate coral evolutionary history. We identified genes that encode the proteins responsible for the precipitation and aggregation of the aragonite skeleton on which the organisms live, and revealed a network of environmental sensors that coordinate responses of the host animals to temperature, light, and pH. Furthermore, we describe a variety of stress-related pathways, including apoptotic pathways that allow the host animals to detoxify reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are generated by their intracellular photosynthetic symbionts, and determine the fate of corals under environmental stress. Some of these genes arose through horizontal gene transfer and comprise at least 0.2% of the animal gene inventory. Our analysis elucidates the evolutionary strategies that have allowed symbiotic corals to adapt and thrive for hundreds of millions of years.}, } @article {pmid27217575, year = {2016}, author = {Li, B and Li, YY and Wu, HM and Zhang, FF and Li, CJ and Li, XX and Lambers, H and Li, L}, title = {Root exudates drive interspecific facilitation by enhancing nodulation and N2 fixation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {23}, pages = {6496-6501}, pmid = {27217575}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Gene Expression ; Genistein/metabolism ; Isoflavones/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/chemistry/*metabolism ; Vicia faba/*metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant diversity in experimental systems often enhances ecosystem productivity, but the mechanisms causing this overyielding are only partly understood. Intercropping faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) result in overyielding and also, enhanced nodulation by faba beans. By using permeable and impermeable root barriers in a 2-y field experiment, we show that root-root interactions between faba bean and maize significantly increase both nodulation and symbiotic N2 fixation in intercropped faba bean. Furthermore, root exudates from maize promote faba bean nodulation, whereas root exudates from wheat and barley do not. Thus, a decline of soil nitrate concentrations caused by intercropped cereals is not the sole mechanism for maize promoting faba bean nodulation. Intercropped maize also caused a twofold increase in exudation of flavonoids (signaling compounds for rhizobia) in the systems. Roots of faba bean treated with maize root exudates exhibited an immediate 11-fold increase in the expression of chalcone-flavanone isomerase (involved in flavonoid synthesis) gene together with a significantly increased expression of genes mediating nodulation and auxin response. After 35 d, faba beans treated with maize root exudate continued to show up-regulation of key nodulation genes, such as early nodulin 93 (ENOD93), and promoted nitrogen fixation. Our results reveal a mechanism for how intercropped maize promotes nitrogen fixation of faba bean, where maize root exudates promote flavonoid synthesis in faba bean, increase nodulation, and stimulate nitrogen fixation after enhanced gene expression. These results indicate facilitative root-root interactions and provide a mechanism for a positive relationship between species diversity and ecosystem productivity.}, } @article {pmid27217496, year = {2016}, author = {Jardinaud, MF and Boivin, S and Rodde, N and Catrice, O and Kisiala, A and Lepage, A and Moreau, S and Roux, B and Cottret, L and Sallet, E and Brault, M and Emery, RJ and Gouzy, J and Frugier, F and Gamas, P}, title = {A Laser Dissection-RNAseq Analysis Highlights the Activation of Cytokinin Pathways by Nod Factors in the Medicago truncatula Root Epidermis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {3}, pages = {2256-2276}, pmid = {27217496}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lasers ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Epidermis/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Nod factors (NFs) are lipochitooligosaccharidic signal molecules produced by rhizobia, which play a key role in the rhizobium-legume symbiotic interaction. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression reprogramming induced by purified NF (4 and 24 h of treatment) in the root epidermis of the model legume Medicago truncatula Tissue-specific transcriptome analysis was achieved by laser-capture microdissection coupled to high-depth RNA sequencing. The expression of 17,191 genes was detected in the epidermis, among which 1,070 were found to be regulated by NF addition, including previously characterized NF-induced marker genes. Many genes exhibited strong levels of transcriptional activation, sometimes only transiently at 4 h, indicating highly dynamic regulation. Expression reprogramming affected a variety of cellular processes, including perception, signaling, regulation of gene expression, as well as cell wall, cytoskeleton, transport, metabolism, and defense, with numerous NF-induced genes never identified before. Strikingly, early epidermal activation of cytokinin (CK) pathways was indicated, based on the induction of CK metabolic and signaling genes, including the CRE1 receptor essential to promote nodulation. These transcriptional activations were independently validated using promoter:β-glucuronidase fusions with the MtCRE1 CK receptor gene and a CK response reporter (TWO COMPONENT SIGNALING SENSOR NEW). A CK pretreatment reduced the NF induction of the EARLY NODULIN11 (ENOD11) symbiotic marker, while a CK-degrading enzyme (CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE3) ectopically expressed in the root epidermis led to increased NF induction of ENOD11 and nodulation. Therefore, CK may play both positive and negative roles in M. truncatula nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27216714, year = {2016}, author = {Bona, E and Scarafoni, A and Marsano, F and Boatti, L and Copetta, A and Massa, N and Gamalero, E and D'Agostino, G and Cesaro, P and Cavaletto, M and Berta, G}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis affects the grain proteome of Zea mays: a field study.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {26439}, pmid = {27216714}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Edible Grain/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteomics/*methods ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maize is one of the most important crops worldwide and is strongly dependent on arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, organisms that form a mutualistic association with land plants. In maize, AM symbiosis enhances spike dry weight, spike length, spike circumference, and the dry weight and dimensions of the grain. Notwithstanding its ubiquitous nature, the detailed relationship between AM fungal colonization and plant development is not completely understood. To facilitate a better understanding of the effects of AM fungi on plants, the work reported here assessed the effects of a consortium of AM fungi on the kernel proteome of maize, cultivated in open-field conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the modulation of a plant seed proteome following AM fungal inoculation in the field. Here, it was found that AM fungi modify the maize seed proteome by up-regulating enzymes involved in energetic metabolism, embryo development, nucleotide metabolism, seed storage and stress responses.}, } @article {pmid27216029, year = {2016}, author = {Kumar, S and Gu, X and Kim, Y}, title = {A viral histone H4 suppresses insect insulin signal and delays host development.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {66-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.05.012}, pmid = {27216029}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Virus Infections/*immunology ; Histones/*metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insulin/genetics/*metabolism ; Larva ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Moths/*immunology/virology ; Polydnaviridae/*immunology ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Starvation ; Viral Proteins/*metabolism ; Wasps/*immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {Parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, alters host development of Plutella xylostella by extending larval period and preventing metamorphosis. Insulin signal plays a crucial role in mediating insect development and controlling blood sugar level in insects. In this study, three insulin-like peptide genes (PxILP1-3) were predicted from the genome of P. xylostella. However, only PxILP1 was confirmed to be expressed in P. xylostella. Starvation suppressed the expression level of PxILP1 and up-regulated plasma trehalose level. RNA interference against PxILP1 mimicked starvation effect and extended the larval period of P. xylostella. Parasitized larvae exhibited significantly lower levels of PxILP1 expression compared to nonparasitized larvae. Injection of wasp-symbiotic polydnavirus C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) also suppressed PxILP1 expression and extended the larval period. Injection of a viral segment (CpBV-S30) containing a viral histone H4 (CpBV-H4) also suppressed PxILP1 expression. Co-injection of CpBV-S30 and double-stranded RNA (dsCpBV-H4) specific to CpBV-H4 rescued the suppression of PxILP1 expression. Injection of CpBV-S30 significantly extended larval development. Co-injection of CpBV-S30 with dsCpBV-H4 rescued the delay of larval development. Injection of a bovine insulin to parasitized larvae prevented parasitoid development. These results indicate that parasitism of C. plutellae can down-regulate host insulin signaling with the help of parasitic factor CpBV-H4.}, } @article {pmid27215028, year = {2016}, author = {Provorov, NA and Tikhonovich, IA and Vorobyov, NI}, title = {[Symbiogenesis as a Model for Reconstructing the Early Stages of Genome Evolution].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {137-145}, pmid = {27215028}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; DNA/*genetics ; Eukaryota/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Organelle Biogenesis ; *Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA/*genetics ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiogenic evolution, which involves transformations of bacteria into the cellular organelles, is represented as a model for reconstructing the early stages of genome evolution, including the origin of DNA genomes from RNA genomes and the emergence of template processes on the basis of self-replicating molecular complexes in the ancestral metabolic systems. The antiquity of RNA genomes is supported by an increased evolutionary stability of ribosomal protein synthesis (translation) with respect to the DNA-dependent template processes (replication, transcription, recombination, and reparation). This stability is demonstrated by analysis of the deeply reduced genomes of symbiotic bacteria and cellular organelles as well as the "minimal" genomes which are common to phylogenetically diverse organisms. Higher evolutionary conservation of template biosynthetic processes with respect to step processes determining the metabolism and development in cells does not support the hypothesis about emergence ofgenomes within the ancestral cellular metabolic systems which are thought to be of abiogenic origin, instead suggesting dualistic origin of life on Earth. We suppose that the genome-free organelles of some eukaryotes (mitosomes, many hydrogenosomes, and some plastids) represent the products of reversion of symbiotic bacteria into ancestral forms which implemented their basic cellular functions using the informational macromolecules of exogenic origin. In the framework of this hypothesis the eukaryotic cells functioning based on the massive transfer of gene products (RNAs, proteins) from cytosol to organelles may represent the analogs of ancestral biocenoses that possessed integral hereditary systems (metagenomes).}, } @article {pmid27214646, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, N and Van der Putten, WH and Veen, GF}, title = {Effects of root decomposition on plant-soil feedback of early- and mid-successional plant species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {212}, number = {1}, pages = {220-231}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14007}, pmid = {27214646}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Biomass ; *Feedback ; Fungi/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Shoots/physiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Plant-soil feedback (PSF) is an important driver of plant community dynamics. Many studies have emphasized the role of pathogens and symbiotic mutualists in PSFs; however, less is known about the contribution of decomposing litter, especially that of roots. We conducted a PSF experiment, where soils were conditioned by living early- and mid-successional grasses and forbs with and without decomposing roots of conspecific species (conditioning phase). These soils were used to test growth responses of conspecific and heterospecific plant species (feedback phase). The addition of the roots of conspecifics decreased the biomass of both early- and mid-successional plant species in the conditioning phase. In the feedback phase, root addition had positive effects on the biomass of early-successional species and neutral effects on mid-successional species, except when mid-successional grasses were grown in soils conditioned by conspecifics, where effects were negative. Biomass of early- and mid-successional forbs was generally reduced in soils conditioned by conspecifics. We conclude that root decomposition may increase short-term negative PSF effects, but that the effects can become neutral to positive over time, thereby counteracting negative components of PSF. This implies that root decomposition is a key element of PSF and needs to be included in future studies.}, } @article {pmid27214346, year = {2016}, author = {Reid, T and VanMensel, D and Droppo, IG and Weisener, CG}, title = {The symbiotic relationship of sediment and biofilm dynamics at the sediment water interface of oil sands industrial tailings ponds.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {100}, number = {}, pages = {337-347}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2016.05.025}, pmid = {27214346}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Biofilms ; *Oil and Gas Fields ; *Ponds ; Water ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; }, abstract = {Within the oil sands industry, tailings ponds are used as a means of retaining tailings until a reclamation technology such as end pit lakes (EPLs) can be developed and optimized to remediate such tailings with a water cap (although dry-land strategies for tailing reclamation are also being developed). EPLs have proven successful for other mining ventures (e.g. metal rock mines) in eventually mitigating contaminant loads to receiving waters once biochemical remediation has taken place (although the duration for this to occur may be decades). While the biological interactions at the sediment water interface of tailings ponds or EPLs have been shown to control biogeochemical processes (i.e. chemical fluxes and redox profiles), these have often been limited to static microcosm conditions. Results from such experiments may not tell the whole story given that the sediment water interface often represents a dynamic environment where erosion and deposition may be occurring in association with microbial growth and decay. Mobilization of sediments and associated contaminants may therefore have a profound effect on remediation rates and, as such, may decrease the effectiveness of EPLs as viable reclamation strategies for mining industries. Using a novel core erosion system (U-GEMS), this paper examines how the microbial community can influence sediment water interface stability and how the biofilm community may change with tailings age and after disturbance (biofilm reestablishment). Shear strength, eroded mass measurements, density gradients, high-resolution microscopy, and microbial community analyses were made on 2 different aged tailings (fresh and ∼38 years) under biotic and abiotic conditions. The same experiments were repeated as duplicates with both sets of experiments having consolidation/biostabilization periods of 21 days. Results suggest that the stability of the tailings varies between types and conditions with the fresh biotic tailings experiencing up to 75% more biostabilization than the same abiotic tailings. Further, greater microbial diversity in the aged pond could be a contributing factor to the overall increase in stability of this material over the fresh tailings source.}, } @article {pmid27213334, year = {2016}, author = {López-Baena, FJ and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Bacterial Molecular Signals in the Sinorhizobium fredii-Soybean Symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27213334}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium fredii/metabolism/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii (S. fredii) is a rhizobial species exhibiting a remarkably broad nodulation host-range. Thus, S. fredii is able to effectively nodulate dozens of different legumes, including plants forming determinate nodules, such as the important crops soybean and cowpea, and plants forming indeterminate nodules, such as Glycyrrhiza uralensis and pigeon-pea. This capacity of adaptation to different symbioses makes the study of the molecular signals produced by S. fredii strains of increasing interest since it allows the analysis of their symbiotic role in different types of nodule. In this review, we analyze in depth different S. fredii molecules that act as signals in symbiosis, including nodulation factors, different surface polysaccharides (exopolysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, cyclic glucans, and K-antigen capsular polysaccharides), and effectors delivered to the interior of the host cells through a symbiotic type 3 secretion system.}, } @article {pmid27213330, year = {2016}, author = {Montiel, J and Arthikala, MK and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C}, title = {Legume NADPH Oxidases Have Crucial Roles at Different Stages of Nodulation.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27213330}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fabaceae/enzymology/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; NADPH Oxidases/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant NADPH oxidases, formerly known as respiratory burst oxidase homologues (RBOHs), are plasma membrane enzymes dedicated to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These oxidases are implicated in a wide variety of processes, ranging from tissue and organ growth and development to signaling pathways in response to abiotic and biotic stimuli. Research on the roles of RBOHs in the plant's response to biotic stresses has mainly focused on plant-pathogen interactions; nonetheless, recent findings have shown that these oxidases are also involved in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. The legume-rhizobia symbiosis leads to the formation of the root nodule, where rhizobia reduce atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. A complex signaling and developmental pathway in the legume root hair and root facilitate rhizobial entrance and nodule organogenesis, respectively. Interestingly, several reports demonstrate that RBOH-mediated ROS production displays versatile roles at different stages of nodulation. The evidence collected to date indicates that ROS act as signaling molecules that regulate rhizobial invasion and also function in nodule senescence. This review summarizes discoveries that support the key and versatile roles of various RBOH members in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27212153, year = {2016}, author = {Simões-Araújo, JL and Leite, J and Passos, SR and Xavier, GR and Rumjanek, NG and Zilli, JÉ}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain BR 3267, an elite strain recommended for cowpea inoculation in Brazil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {781-782}, pmid = {27212153}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics/methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Open Reading Frames ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The strain BR 3267 is a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria isolated from soil of semi-arid area of Brazilian Northeast using cowpea as the trap plant. This strain is used as commercial inoculant for cowpea and presents high efficient in nitrogen fixation as consequence of its adaptation potential to semi-arid conditions. We report here the draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain BR 3267, an elite bacterium used as inoculant for cowpea. Whole genome sequencing of BR 3267 using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology has 55 scaffolds with a total genome size of 7,904,309bp and C+G 63%. Annotation was added by the RAST prokaryotic genome annotation service and has shown 7314 coding sequences and 52 RNA genes.}, } @article {pmid27211528, year = {2016}, author = {Bai, X and Long, J and He, X and Yan, J and Chen, X and Tan, Y and Li, K and Chen, L and Xu, H}, title = {Overexpression of spinach non-symbiotic hemoglobin in Arabidopsis resulted in decreased NO content and lowered nitrate and other abiotic stresses tolerance.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {26400}, pmid = {27211528}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development ; Catalase/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Hemoglobins/genetics/*metabolism ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Nitric Acid/pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism ; Spinacia oleracea/genetics/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {A class 1 non-symbiotic hemoglobin family gene, SoHb, was isolated from spinach. qRT-PCR showed that SoHb was induced by excess nitrate, polyethylene glycol, NaCl, H2O2, and salicylic acid. Besides, SoHb was strongly induced by application of nitric oxide (NO) donor, while was suppressed by NO scavenger, nitrate reductase inhibitor, and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Overexpression of SoHb in Arabidopsis resulted in decreased NO level and sensitivity to nitrate stress, as shown by reduced root length, fresh weight, the maximum photosystem II quantum ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and higher malondialdehyde contents. The activities and gene transcription of superoxide dioxidase, and catalase decreased under nitrate stress. Expression levels of RD22, RD29A, DREB2A, and P5CS1 decreased after nitrate treatment in SoHb-overexpressing plants, while increased in the WT plants. Moreover, SoHb-overexpressing plants showed decreased tolerance to NaCl and osmotic stress. In addition, the SoHb-overexpression lines showed earlier flower by regulating the expression of SOC, GI and FLC genes. Our results indicated that the decreasing NO content in Arabidopsis by overexpressing SoHb might be responsible for lowered tolerance to nitrate and other abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid27209517, year = {2016}, author = {Wu, S and Zhang, X and Sun, Y and Wu, Z and Li, T and Hu, Y and Lv, J and Li, G and Zhang, Z and Zhang, J and Zheng, L and Zhen, X and Chen, B}, title = {Chromium immobilization by extra- and intraradical fungal structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {316}, number = {}, pages = {34-42}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.017}, pmid = {27209517}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Chromium/*analysis/chemistry ; *Fungal Structures ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mycelium/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants/metabolism ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Surface Properties ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance plant Cr tolerance through immobilizing Cr in mycorrhizal roots. However, the detailed processes and mechanisms are unclear. The present study focused on cellular distribution and speciation of Cr in both extraradical mycelium (ERM) and mycorrhizal roots exposed to Cr(VI) by using field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (FE-SEM-EDS), scanning transmission soft X-ray microscopy (STXM) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy techniques. We found that amounts of particles (possibly extracellular polymeric substances, EPS) were produced on the AM fungal surface upon Cr(VI) stress, which contributed greatly to Cr(VI) reduction and immobilization. With EDS of the surface of AM fungi exposed to various Cr(VI) levels, a positive correlation between Cr and P was revealed, suggesting that phosphate groups might act as counter ions of Cr(III), which was also confirmed by the XAFS analysis. Besides, STXM and XAFS analyses showed that Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) in AM fungal structures (arbuscules, intraradical mycelium, etc.) and cell walls in mycorrhizal roots, and complexed possibly with carboxyl groups or histidine analogues. The present work provided evidence of Cr immobilization on fungal surface and in fungal structures in mycorrhizal roots at a cellular level, and thus unraveled the underlying mechanisms by which AM symbiosis immobilize Cr.}, } @article {pmid27208734, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, X and Zhao, S and Bücking, H}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal growth responses are fungal specific but do not differ between soybean genotypes with different phosphate efficiency.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {118}, number = {1}, pages = {11-21}, pmid = {27208734}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a key role in the phosphate (P) uptake of many important crop species, but the mechanisms that control their efficiency and their contribution to the P nutrition of the host plant are only poorly understood.

METHODS: The P uptake and growth potential of two soybean genotypes that differ in their root architectural traits and P acquisition efficiency were studied after colonization with different AM fungi and the transcript levels of plant P transporters involved in the plant or mycorrhizal P uptake pathway were examined.

KEY RESULTS: The mycorrhizal growth responses of both soybean genotypes ranged from highly beneficial to detrimental, and were dependent on the P supply conditions, and the fungal species involved. Only the colonization with Rhizophagus irregularis increased the growth and P uptake of both soybean genotypes. The expression of GmPT4 was downregulated, while the mycorrhiza-inducible P transporter GmPT10 was upregulated by colonization with R. irregularis Colonization with both fungi also led to higher transcript levels of the mycorrhiza-inducible P transporter GmPT9, but only in plants colonized with R. irregularis were the higher transcript levels correlated to a better P supply.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that AM fungi can also significantly contribute to the P uptake and growth potential of genotypes with a higher P acquisition efficiency, but that mycorrhizal P benefits depend strongly on the P supply conditions and the fungal species involved.}, } @article {pmid27208301, year = {2016}, author = {Chitarra, W and Pagliarani, C and Maserti, B and Lumini, E and Siciliano, I and Cascone, P and Schubert, A and Gambino, G and Balestrini, R and Guerrieri, E}, title = {Insights on the Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis on Tomato Tolerance to Water Stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {2}, pages = {1009-1023}, pmid = {27208301}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Dehydration ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which form symbioses with the roots of the most important crop species, are usually considered biofertilizers, whose exploitation could represent a promising avenue for the development in the future of a more sustainable next-generation agriculture. The best understood function in symbiosis is an improvement in plant mineral nutrient acquisition, as exchange for carbon compounds derived from the photosynthetic process: this can enhance host growth and tolerance to environmental stresses, such as water stress (WS). However, physiological and molecular mechanisms occurring in arbuscular mycorrhiza-colonized plants and directly involved in the mitigation of WS effects need to be further investigated. The main goal of this work is to verify the potential impact of AM symbiosis on the plant response to WS To this aim, the effect of two AM fungi (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices) on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under the WS condition was studied. A combined approach, involving ecophysiological, morphometric, biochemical, and molecular analyses, has been used to highlight the mechanisms involved in plant response to WS during AM symbiosis. Gene expression analyses focused on a set of target genes putatively involved in the plant response to drought, and in parallel, we considered the expression changes induced by the imposed stress on a group of fungal genes playing a key role in the water-transport process. Taken together, the results show that AM symbiosis positively affects the tolerance to WS in tomato, with a different plant response depending on the AM fungi species involved.}, } @article {pmid27208242, year = {2016}, author = {Cerri, MR and Frances, L and Kelner, A and Fournier, J and Middleton, PH and Auriac, MC and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Erard, M and Barker, DG and Oldroyd, GE and de Carvalho-Niebel, F}, title = {The Symbiosis-Related ERN Transcription Factors Act in Concert to Coordinate Rhizobial Host Root Infection.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {2}, pages = {1037-1054}, pmid = {27208242}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Alleles ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Organogenesis/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Epidermis/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Binding ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Legumes improve their mineral nutrition through nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses with soil rhizobia. Rhizobial infection of legumes is regulated by a number of transcription factors, including ERF Required for Nodulation1 (ERN1). Medicago truncatula plants defective in ERN1 are unable to nodulate, but still exhibit early symbiotic responses including rhizobial infection. ERN1 has a close homolog, ERN2, which shows partially overlapping expression patterns. Here we show that ern2 mutants exhibit a later nodulation phenotype than ern1, being able to form nodules but with signs of premature senescence. Molecular characterization of the ern2-1 mutation reveals a key role for a conserved threonine for both DNA binding and transcriptional activity. In contrast to either single mutant, the double ern1-1 ern2-1 line is completely unable to initiate infection or nodule development. The strong ern1-1 ern2-1 phenotype demonstrates functional redundancy between these two transcriptional regulators and reveals the essential role of ERN1/ERN2 to coordinately induce rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. While ERN1/ERN2 act in concert in the root epidermis, only ERN1 can efficiently allow the development of mature nodules in the cortex, probably through an independent pathway. Together, these findings reveal the key roles that ERN1/ERN2 play at the very earliest stages of root nodule development.}, } @article {pmid27208130, year = {2016}, author = {Quelas, JI and Mesa, S and Mongiardini, EJ and Jendrossek, D and Lodeiro, AR}, title = {Regulation of Polyhydroxybutyrate Synthesis in the Soil Bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {14}, pages = {4299-4308}, pmid = {27208130}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cytoplasmic Granules/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydroxybutyrates/*metabolism ; Mannitol/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Polyesters/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a carbon and energy reserve polymer in various prokaryotic species. We determined that, when grown with mannitol as the sole carbon source, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens produces a homopolymer composed only of 3-hydroxybutyrate units (PHB). Conditions of oxygen limitation (such as microoxia, oxic stationary phase, and bacteroids inside legume nodules) were permissive for the synthesis of PHB, which was observed as cytoplasmic granules. To study the regulation of PHB synthesis, we generated mutations in the regulator gene phaR and the phasin genes phaP1 and phaP4 Under permissive conditions, mutation of phaR impaired PHB accumulation, and a phaP1 phaP4 double mutant produced more PHB than the wild type, which was accumulated in a single, large cytoplasmic granule. Moreover, PhaR negatively regulated the expression of phaP1 and phaP4 as well as the expression of phaA1 and phaA2 (encoding a 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A [CoA] thiolases), phaC1 and phaC2 (encoding PHB synthases), and fixK2 (encoding a cyclic AMP receptor protein [CRP]/fumarate and nitrate reductase regulator [FNR]-type transcription factor of genes for microoxic lifestyle). In addition to the depressed PHB cycling, phaR mutants accumulated more extracellular polysaccharides and promoted higher plant shoot dry weight and competitiveness for nodulation than the wild type, in contrast to the phaC1 mutant strain, which is defective in PHB synthesis. These results suggest that phaR not only regulates PHB granule formation by controlling the expression of phasins and biosynthetic enzymes but also acts as a global regulator of excess carbon allocation and symbiosis by controlling fixK2 IMPORTANCE: In this work, we investigated the regulation of polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis in the soybean-nodulating bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and its influence in bacterial free-living and symbiotic lifestyles. We uncovered a new interplay between the synthesis of this carbon reserve polymer and the network responsible for microoxic metabolism through the interaction between the gene regulators phaR and fixK2 These results contribute to the understanding of the physiological conditions required for polyhydroxybutyrate biosynthesis. The interaction between these two main metabolic pathways is also reflected in the symbiotic phenotypes of soybeans inoculated with phaR mutants, which were more competitive for nodulation and enhanced dry matter production by the plants. Therefore, this knowledge may be applied to the development of superior strains to be used as improved inoculants for soybean crops.}, } @article {pmid27208127, year = {2016}, author = {Coats, SR and Hashim, A and Paramonov, NA and To, TT and Curtis, MA and Darveau, RP}, title = {Cardiolipins Act as a Selective Barrier to Toll-Like Receptor 4 Activation in the Intestine.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {14}, pages = {4264-4278}, pmid = {27208127}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 DE012768/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/immunology ; Cardiolipins/*metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/immunology ; Immunologic Factors/*metabolism ; Intestines/*immunology/*microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*immunology ; Mice ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/*antagonists & inhibitors ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Intestinal homeostasis mechanisms must protect the host intestinal tissue from endogenous lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) produced by the intestinal microbiota. In this report, we demonstrate that murine intestinal fecal lipids effectively block Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) responses to naturally occurring Bacteroidetes sp. LPS. Cardiolipin (CL) represents a significant proportion of the total intestinal and fecal lipids and, furthermore, potently antagonizes TLR4 activation by reducing LPS binding at the lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), CD14, and MD-2 steps of the TLR4 signaling pathway. It is further demonstrated that intestinal lipids and CL are less effective at neutralizing more potent Enterobacteriaceae-type LPS, which is enriched in feces obtained from mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treated inflammatory bowel disease. The selective inhibition of naturally occurring LPS structures by intestinal lipids may represent a novel homeostasis mechanism that blocks LPS activation in response to symbiotic but not dysbiotic microbial communities.

IMPORTANCE: The guts of animals harbor a variety of Gram-negative bacteria associated with both states of intestinal health and states of disease. Environmental factors, such as dietary habits, can drive the microbial composition of the host animal's intestinal bacterial community toward a more pathogenic state. Both beneficial and harmful Gram-negative bacteria are capable of eliciting potentially damaging inflammatory responses from the host intestinal tissues via a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-dependent pathway. Physical mucosal barriers and antibodies produced by the intestinal immune system protect against the undesired inflammatory effects of LPS, although it is unknown why some bacteria are more effective at overcoming the protective barriers than others. This report describes the discovery of a lipid-type protective barrier in the intestine that reduces the deleterious effects of LPSs from beneficial bacteria but is less effective in dampening the inflammatory effects of LPSs from harmful bacteria, providing a novel mechanistic insight into inflammatory intestinal disorders.}, } @article {pmid27207673, year = {2016}, author = {Sharaff, M and Archana, G}, title = {Copper-induced modifications in early symbiotic signaling factors of Ensifer (Sinorhizobium)-Medicago interactions.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {198}, number = {7}, pages = {701-709}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-016-1242-4}, pmid = {27207673}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Copper/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Cu is an essential micronutrient required during nitrogen fixation, but above threshold concentrations it becomes toxic. The present study was aimed at studying the effect of high Cu concentrations on the early plant-microbe interactions between Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) meliloti 1021, a symbiotic diazotrophic bacterium belonging to α-Proteobacteria, and its plant host Medicago truncatula. E. meliloti exhibited pleomorphism with elongated and branched growth at 100 µM Cu which brought about 50 % reduction in growth. Early symbiotic signaling factors like exopolysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides levels and biofilm formation were adversely affected at sublethal levels of Cu. Cu stress resulted in over-expression of proteins such as GroEL (60 kDa chaperonin) and WrbA (NAD(P)H dehydrogenase). E. meliloti was unable to show efficient attachment on the roots of M. truncatula at 3 µM Cu, which corresponds to 50 % growth inhibitory levels for the plant, indicating that plant root surface modifications may also contribute to adverse effect of Cu on early plant-microbe interactions during nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27203723, year = {2016}, author = {Van Ness, LK and Jayaraman, D and Maeda, J and Barrett-Wilt, GA and Sussman, MR and Ané, JM}, title = {Mass Spectrometric-Based Selected Reaction Monitoring of Protein Phosphorylation during Symbiotic Signaling in the Model Legume, Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e0155460}, pmid = {27203723}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Unlike the major cereal crops corn, rice, and wheat, leguminous plants such as soybean and alfalfa can meet their nitrogen requirement via endosymbiotic associations with soil bacteria. The establishment of this symbiosis is a complex process playing out over several weeks and is facilitated by the exchange of chemical signals between these partners from different kingdoms. Several plant components that are involved in this signaling pathway have been identified, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding the early events in symbiotic signaling, i.e., within the first minutes and hours after the rhizobial signals (Nod factors) are perceived at the plant plasma membrane. The presence of several protein kinases in this pathway suggests a mechanism of signal transduction via posttranslational modification of proteins in which phosphate is added to the hydroxyl groups of serine, threonine and tyrosine amino acid side chains. To monitor the phosphorylation dynamics and complement our previous untargeted 'discovery' approach, we report here the results of experiments using a targeted mass spectrometric technique, Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) that enables the quantification of phosphorylation targets with great sensitivity and precision. Using this approach, we confirm a rapid change in the level of phosphorylation in 4 phosphosites of at least 4 plant phosphoproteins that have not been previously characterized. This detailed analysis reveals aspects of the symbiotic signaling mechanism in legumes that, in the long term, will inform efforts to engineer this nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in important non-legume crops such as rice, wheat and corn.}, } @article {pmid27200004, year = {2016}, author = {Valdés-López, O and Batek, J and Gomez-Hernandez, N and Nguyen, CT and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Zhang, N and Joshi, T and Xu, D and Hixson, KK and Weitz, KK and Aldrich, JT and Paša-Tolić, L and Stacey, G}, title = {Soybean Roots Grown under Heat Stress Show Global Changes in Their Transcriptional and Proteomic Profiles.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {517}, pmid = {27200004}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Heat stress is likely to be a key factor in the negative impact of climate change on crop production. Heat stress significantly influences the functions of roots, which provide support, water, and nutrients to other plant organs. Likewise, roots play an important role in the establishment of symbiotic associations with different microorganisms. Despite the physiological relevance of roots, few studies have examined their response to heat stress. In this study, we performed genome-wide transcriptomic and proteomic analyses on isolated root hairs, which are a single, epidermal cell type, and compared their response to stripped roots. On average, we identified 1849 and 3091 genes differentially regulated in root hairs and stripped roots, respectively, in response to heat stress. Our gene regulatory module analysis identified 10 key modules that might control the majority of the transcriptional response to heat stress. We also conducted proteomic analysis on membrane fractions isolated from root hairs and compared these responses to stripped roots. These experiments identified a variety of proteins whose expression changed within 3 h of application of heat stress. Most of these proteins were predicted to play a significant role in thermo-tolerance, as well as in chromatin remodeling and post-transcriptional regulation. The data presented represent an in-depth analysis of the heat stress response of a single cell type in soybean.}, } @article {pmid27199969, year = {2016}, author = {Bourrie, BC and Willing, BP and Cotter, PD}, title = {The Microbiota and Health Promoting Characteristics of the Fermented Beverage Kefir.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {647}, pmid = {27199969}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Kefir is a complex fermented dairy product created through the symbiotic fermentation of milk by lactic acid bacteria and yeasts contained within an exopolysaccharide and protein complex called a kefir grain. As with other fermented dairy products, kefir has been associated with a range of health benefits such as cholesterol metabolism and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, antimicrobial activity, tumor suppression, increased speed of wound healing, and modulation of the immune system including the alleviation of allergy and asthma. These reports have led to increased interest in kefir as a focus of research and as a potential probiotic-containing product. Here, we review those studies with a particular emphasis on the microbial composition and the health benefits of the product, as well as discussing the further development of kefir as an important probiotic product.}, } @article {pmid27199899, year = {2016}, author = {Kroer, P and Kjeldsen, KU and Nyengaard, JR and Schramm, A and Funch, P}, title = {A Novel Extracellular Gut Symbiont in the Marine Worm Priapulus caudatus (Priapulida) Reveals an Alphaproteobacterial Symbiont Clade of the Ecdysozoa.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {539}, pmid = {27199899}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Priapulus caudatus (phylum Priapulida) is a benthic marine predatory worm with a cosmopolitan distribution. In its digestive tract we detected symbiotic bacteria that were consistently present in specimens collected over 8 years from three sites at the Swedish west coast. Based on their 16S rRNA gene sequence, these symbionts comprise a novel genus of the order Rickettsiales (Alphaproteobacteria). Electron microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identified them as extracellular, elongate bacteria closely associated with the microvilli, for which we propose the name "Candidatus Tenuibacter priapulorum". Within Rickettsiales, they form a phylogenetically well-defined, family-level clade with uncultured symbionts of marine, terrestrial, and freshwater arthropods. Cand. Tenuibacter priapulorum expands the host range of this candidate family from Arthropoda to the entire Ecdysozoa, which may indicate an evolutionary adaptation of this bacterial group to the microvilli-lined guts of the Ecdysozoa.}, } @article {pmid27199347, year = {2016}, author = {Dirren, S and Posch, T}, title = {Promiscuous and specific bacterial symbiont acquisition in the amoeboid genus Nuclearia (Opisthokonta).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw105}, pmid = {27199347}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Amoeba/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Lakes ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We isolated 17 strains of the amoeboid genus Nuclearia (Opisthokonta) from five Swiss lakes. Eight of these nucleariid isolates were associated with bacterial endosymbionts and/or ectosymbionts. Amoebae were characterized morphologically and by their 18S rRNA genes. Phylogeny based on molecular data resulted in four established monophyletic branches and two new clusters. A heterogeneous picture emerged by highlighting nucleariids with associated bacteria. Apart from one cluster which consisted of only isolates with and three groups of amoebae without symbionts, we also found mixed clusters. The picture got even more 'blurred' by regarding the phylogeny of symbiotic bacteria. Although seven different bacterial strains could be identified, it seems that we still are only scratching the surface of symbionts' diversity. Furthermore, types of symbioses might be different depending on host species. Strains of Nuclearia thermophila harboured the same endosymbiont even when isolated from different lakes. This pointed to a specific and obligate interaction. However, two isolates of N. delicatula were associated with different endosymbiotic bacteria. Here the symbiont acquisition seemed to be rather promiscuous. This behaviour regarding symbiotic associations is especially remarkable considering the phylogenetic position of these basal opisthokonts.}, } @article {pmid27199345, year = {2016}, author = {Dall'Agnol, RF and Plotegher, F and Souza, RC and Mendes, IC and Dos Reis Junior, FB and Béna, G and Moulin, L and Hungria, M}, title = {Paraburkholderia nodosa is the main N2-fixing species trapped by promiscuous common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the Brazilian 'Cerradão'.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {8}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw108}, pmid = {27199345}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phaseolus/microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bacterial genus Burkholderia comprises species occupying several habitats, including a group of symbionts of leguminous plants-also called beta-rhizobia-that has been recently ascribed to the new genus Paraburkholderia We used common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants to trap rhizobia from an undisturbed soil of the Brazilian Cerrado under the vegetation type 'Cerradão'. Genetic characterization started with the analyses of 181 isolates by BOX-PCR, where the majority revealed unique profiles, indicating high inter- and intra-species diversity. Restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR of the 16S rRNA of representative strains of the BOX-PCR groups indicated two main clusters, and gene-sequencing analysis identified the minority (27%) as Rhizobium and the majority (73%) as Paraburkholderia Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and housekeeping (recA and gyrB) genes positioned all strains of the second cluster in the species P. nodosa, and the phylogeny of a symbiotic gene-nodC-was in agreement with the conserved genes. All isolates were stable vis-à-vis nodulating common bean, but, in general, with a low capacity for fixing N2, although some effective strains were identified. The predominance of P. nodosa might be associated with the edaphic properties of the Cerrado biome, and might represent an important role in terms of maintenance of the ecosystem, which is characterized by acid soils with high saturation of aluminum and low N2 content.}, } @article {pmid27199034, year = {2016}, author = {Berasategui, A and Axelsson, K and Nordlander, G and Schmidt, A and Borg-Karlson, AK and Gershenzon, J and Terenius, O and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {The gut microbiota of the pine weevil is similar across Europe and resembles that of other conifer-feeding beetles.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {16}, pages = {4014-4031}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13702}, pmid = {27199034}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification ; Europe ; Firmicutes/isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Pinus ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The pine weevil (Hylobius abietis, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an important pest of conifer seedlings in Europe. Despite its economic importance, little is known about the composition of its gut microbial community and the role it plays in mediating the weevil's ability to utilize conifers as a food source. Here, we characterized the gut bacterial communities of different populations of H. abietis across Europe and compared them to those of other beetles that occupy similar ecological niches. We demonstrate that the microbial community of H. abietis is similar at higher taxonomic levels (family and genus) across locations in Europe, with Wolbachia as the dominant microbe, followed by Enterobacteria and Firmicutes. Despite this similarity, we observed consistent differences between countries and locations, but not sexes. Our meta-analysis demonstrates that the gut bacterial community of the pine weevil is very similar to that of bark beetles that also exploit conifers as a food source. The Enterobacteriaceae symbionts of both host taxa are especially closely related phylogenetically. Conversely, the microbiota of H. abietis is distinct from that of closely related weevils feeding on nonconifer food sources, suggesting that the microbial community of the pine weevil is determined by the environment and may be relevant to host ecology. Furthermore, several H. abietis-associated members of the Enterobacteriaceae family are known to contain genes involved in terpenoid degradation. As such, we hypothesize that the gut microbial community is important for the utilization of conifer seedlings as a food source, either through the detoxification of plant secondary metabolites or through the supplementation of essential nutrients.}, } @article {pmid27198722, year = {2016}, author = {Kumari, I and Ahmed, M and Akhter, Y}, title = {Multifaceted impact of trichothecene metabolites on plant-microbe interactions and human health.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {13}, pages = {5759-5771}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-016-7599-0}, pmid = {27198722}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma/*drug therapy ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Hypocreales/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Trichothecenes/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Fungi present in rhizosphere produce trichothecene metabolites which are small in size and amphipathic in nature and some of them may cross cell membranes passively. Hypocreaceae family of rhizosphere fungi produce trichothecene molecules, however it is not a mandatory characteristic of all genera. Some of these molecules are also reported as growth adjuvant, while others are reported as deleterious for the plant growth. In this review, we are exploring the roles of these compounds during plant-microbe interactions. The three-way interaction among the plants, symbiotic microbial agents (fungi and bacteria), and the pathogenic microbes (bacteria, fungi) or multicellular pathogens like nematodes involving these compounds may only help us to understand better the complex processes happening in the microcosm of rhizosphere. These metabolites may further modulate the activity of different proteins involved in the cell signalling events of defence-related response in plants. That may induce the defence system against pathogens and growth promoting gene expression in plants, while in animal cells, these molecules have reported biochemical and pharmacological effects such as inducing oxidative stress, cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, and may be involved in maintenance of membrane integrity. The biochemistry, chemical structures and specific functional group-mediated activity of these compounds have not been studied in details yet. Few of these molecules are also recently reported as novel anti-cancer agent against human chondrosarcoma cells.}, } @article {pmid27196608, year = {2016}, author = {Doty, SL and Sher, AW and Fleck, ND and Khorasani, M and Bumgarner, RE and Khan, Z and Ko, AW and Kim, SH and DeLuca, TH}, title = {Variable Nitrogen Fixation in Wild Populus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e0155979}, pmid = {27196608}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Populus/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The microbiome of plants is diverse, and like that of animals, is important for overall health and nutrient acquisition. In legumes and actinorhizal plants, a portion of essential nitrogen (N) is obtained through symbiosis with nodule-inhabiting, N2-fixing microorganisms. However, a variety of non-nodulating plant species can also thrive in natural, low-N settings. Some of these species may rely on endophytes, microorganisms that live within plants, to fix N2 gas into usable forms. Here we report the first direct evidence of N2 fixation in the early successional wild tree, Populus trichocarpa, a non-leguminous tree, from its native riparian habitat. In order to measure N2 fixation, surface-sterilized cuttings of wild poplar were assayed using both 15N2 incorporation and the commonly used acetylene reduction assay. The 15N label was incorporated at high levels in a subset of cuttings, suggesting a high level of N-fixation. Similarly, acetylene was reduced to ethylene in some samples. The microbiota of the cuttings was highly variable, both in numbers of cultured bacteria and in genetic diversity. Our results indicated that associative N2-fixation occurred within wild poplar and that a non-uniformity in the distribution of endophytic bacteria may explain the variability in N-fixation activity. These results point to the need for molecular studies to decipher the required microbial consortia and conditions for effective endophytic N2-fixation in trees.}, } @article {pmid27194801, year = {2016}, author = {Lindsey, AR and Werren, JH and Richards, S and Stouthamer, R}, title = {Comparative Genomics of a Parthenogenesis-Inducing Wolbachia Symbiont.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {2113-2123}, pmid = {27194801}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {U54 HG003273/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ankyrin Repeat ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Culicidae/microbiology ; Drosophila/microbiology ; Frameshift Mutation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Host Specificity ; Open Reading Frames ; Parthenogenesis/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wasps/genetics/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is an intracellular symbiont of invertebrates responsible for inducing a wide variety of phenotypes in its host. These host-Wolbachia relationships span the continuum from reproductive parasitism to obligate mutualism, and provide a unique system to study genomic changes associated with the evolution of symbiosis. We present the genome sequence from a parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia strain (wTpre) infecting the minute parasitoid wasp Trichogramma pretiosum The wTpre genome is the most complete parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia genome available to date. We used comparative genomics across 16 Wolbachia strains, representing five supergroups, to identify a core Wolbachia genome of 496 sets of orthologous genes. Only 14 of these sets are unique to Wolbachia when compared to other bacteria from the Rickettsiales. We show that the B supergroup of Wolbachia, of which wTpre is a member, contains a significantly higher number of ankyrin repeat-containing genes than other supergroups. In the wTpre genome, there is evidence for truncation of the protein coding sequences in 20% of ORFs, mostly as a result of frameshift mutations. The wTpre strain represents a conversion from cytoplasmic incompatibility to a parthenogenesis-inducing lifestyle, and is required for reproduction in the Trichogramma host it infects. We hypothesize that the large number of coding frame truncations has accompanied the change in reproductive mode of the wTpre strain.}, } @article {pmid27194695, year = {2016}, author = {Lecointe, A and Domart-Coulon, I and Paris, A and Meibom, A}, title = {Cell proliferation and migration during early development of a symbiotic scleractinian coral.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1831}, pages = {}, pmid = {27194695}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In scleractinian reef-building corals, patterns of cell self-renewal, migration and death remain virtually unknown, limiting our understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying initiation of calcification, and ontogenesis of the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate relationship. In this study, we pulse-labelled the coral Stylophora pistillata for 24 h with BrdU at four life stages (planula, early metamorphosis, primary polyp and adult colony) to investigate coral and endosymbiont cell proliferation during development, while simultaneously recording TUNEL-positive (i.e. apoptotic) nuclei. In the primary polyp, the fate of BrdU-labelled cells was tracked during a 3-day chase. The pharynx and gastrodermis were identified as the most proliferative tissues in the developing polyp, and BrdU-labelled cells accumulated in the surface pseudostratified epithelium and the skeletogenic calicodermis during the chase, revealing cell migration to these epithelia. Surprisingly, the lowest cell turnover was recorded in the calicodermis at all stages, despite active, ongoing skeletal deposition. In dinoflagellate symbionts, DNA synthesis was systematically higher than coral host gastrodermis, especially in planula and early metamorphosis. The symbiont to host cell ratio remained constant, however, indicating successive post-mitotic control mechanisms by the host of its dinoflagellate density in early life stages, increasingly shifting to apoptosis in the growing primary polyp.}, } @article {pmid27193443, year = {2016}, author = {Cosme, M and Ramireddy, E and Franken, P and Schmülling, T and Wurst, S}, title = {Shoot- and root-borne cytokinin influences arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {709-720}, pmid = {27193443}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tobacco/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is functionally important for the nutrition and growth of most terrestrial plants. Nearly all phytohormones are employed by plants to regulate the symbiosis with AM fungi, but the regulatory role of cytokinin (CK) is not well understood. Here, we used transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) with a root-specific or constitutive expression of CK-degrading CKX genes and the corresponding wild-type to investigate whether a lowered content of CK in roots or in both roots and shoots influences the interaction with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Our data indicates that shoot CK has a positive impact on AM fungal development in roots and on the root transcript level of an AM-responsive phosphate transporter gene (NtPT4). A reduced CK content in roots caused shoot and root growth depression following AM colonization, while neither the uptake of phosphorus or nitrogen nor the root transcript levels of NtPT4 were significantly affected. This suggests that root CK may restrict the C availability from the roots to the fungus thus averting parasitism by AM fungi. Taken together, our study indicates that shoot- and root-borne CK have distinct roles in AM symbiosis. We propose a model illustrating how plants may employ CK to regulate nutrient exchange with the ubiquitous AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid27191935, year = {2016}, author = {Nagata, M and Yamamoto, N and Miyamoto, T and Shimomura, A and Arima, S and Hirsch, AM and Suzuki, A}, title = {Enhanced hyphal growth of arbuscular mycorrhizae by root exudates derived from high R/FR treated Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e1187356}, pmid = {27191935}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Hyphae/drug effects/*growth & development ; *Light ; Lotus/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*growth & development ; Oxylipins/pharmacology ; Plant Exudates/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Red/Far Red (R/FR) sensing positively influences the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis of both legume and nonlegume plants through jasmonic acid (JA) and strigolactone signaling. We previously reported that root exudates obtained from high R/FR-grown plants contained more strigolactone than low R/FR-grown plants. To determine whether JA and JA derivatives were secreted from roots, we investigated the expression levels of JA-responsive genes in L. japonicus Miyakojima MG20 plants treated with root exudates prepared from either high or low R/FR light-treated plants. The root exudates from high R/FR light-treated plants were found to enhance the expression levels of JA-responsive genes significantly. Moreover, exogenous JA increased AM fungal hyphal elongation as did the root exudates derived from high R/FR-grown L. japonicus plants. We conclude that increased JA accumulation and secretion into root exudates from high R/FR light-grown plants is the best explanation for increased colonization and enhanced mycorrhization under these conditions.}, } @article {pmid27190233, year = {2016}, author = {Ichida, H and Long, SR}, title = {LDSS-P: an advanced algorithm to extract functional short motifs associated with coordinated gene expression.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {44}, number = {11}, pages = {5045-5053}, pmid = {27190233}, issn = {1362-4962}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {5' Untranslated Regions ; *Algorithms ; Base Sequence ; Computational Biology/*methods ; *Consensus Sequence ; Conserved Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Nucleotide Motifs ; Position-Specific Scoring Matrices ; *Prokaryotic Cells ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism ; *Software ; Web Browser ; }, abstract = {Identifying functional elements in promoter sequences is a major goal in computational and experimental genome biology. Here, we describe an algorithm, Local Distribution of Short Sequences for Prokaryotes (LDSS-P), to identify conserved short motifs located at specific positions in the promoters of co-expressed prokaryotic genes. As a test case, we applied this algorithm to a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Sinorhizobium meliloti The LDSS-P profiles that overlap with the 5' section of the extracytoplasmic function RNA polymerase sigma factor RpoE2 consensus sequences displayed a sharp peak between -34 and -32 from TSS positions. The corresponding genes overlap significantly with RpoE2 targets identified from previous experiments. We further identified several groups of genes that are co-regulated with characterized marker genes. Our data indicate that in S. meliloti, and possibly in other Rhizobiaceae species, the master cell cycle regulator CtrA may recognize an expanded motif (AACCAT), which is positionally shifted from the previously reported CtrA consensus sequence in Caulobacter crescentus Bacterial one-hybrid experiments showed that base substitution in the expanded motif either increase or decrease the binding by CtrA. These results show the effectiveness of LDSS-P as a method to delineate functional promoter elements.}, } @article {pmid27190162, year = {2016}, author = {Zhao, Y and Nickels, LM and Wang, H and Ling, J and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {OxyR-regulated catalase activity is critical for oxidative stress resistance, nodulation and nitrogen fixation in Azorhizobium caulinodans.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {363}, number = {13}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnw130}, pmid = {27190162}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/enzymology/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Catalase/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Oxidative Stress ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The legume-rhizobial interaction results in the formation of symbiotic nodules in which rhizobia fix nitrogen. During the process of symbiosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated. Thus, the response of rhizobia to ROS is important for successful nodulation and nitrogen fixation. In this study, we investigated how Azorhizobium caulinodans, a rhizobium that forms both root and stem nodules on its host plant, regulates ROS resistance. We found that in-frame deletions of a gene encoding the putative catalase-peroxidase katG or a gene encoding a LysR-family regulatory protein, oxyR, exhibited increased sensitivity to H2O2 We then showed that OxyR positively regulated katG expression in an H2O2-independent fashion. Furthermore, we found that deletion of katG or oxyR led to significant reduction in the number of stem nodules and decrease of nitrogen fixation capacities in symbiosis. Our results revealed that KatG and OxyR are not only critical for antioxidant defense in vitro, but also important for nodule formation and nitrogen fixation during interaction with plant hosts.}, } @article {pmid27190007, year = {2016}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A and Simon, JC and Latorre, A}, title = {Reinventing the Wheel and Making It Round Again: Evolutionary Convergence in Buchnera-Serratia Symbiotic Consortia between the Distantly Related Lachninae Aphids Tuberolachnus salignus and Cinara cedri.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {1440-1458}, pmid = {27190007}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; Buchnera/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serratia/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Virtually all aphids (Aphididae) harbor Buchnera aphidicola as an obligate endosymbiont to compensate nutritional deficiencies arising from their phloem diet. Many species within the Lachninae subfamily seem to be consistently associated also with Serratia symbiotica We have previously shown that both Cinara (Cinara) cedri and Cinara (Cupressobium) tujafilina (Lachninae: Eulachnini tribe) have indeed established co-obligate associations with both Buchnera and S. symbiotica However, while Buchnera genomes of both Cinara species are similar, genome degradation differs greatly between the two S. symbiotica strains. To gain insight into the essentiality and degree of integration of S. symbiotica within the Lachninae, we sequenced the genome of both Buchnera and S. symbiotica endosymbionts from the distantly related aphid Tuberolachnus salignus (Lachninae: Tuberolachnini tribe). We found a striking level of similarity between the endosymbiotic system of this aphid and that of C. cedri In both aphid hosts, S. symbiotica possesses a highly reduced genome and is found exclusively intracellularly inside bacteriocytes. Interestingly, T. salignus' endosymbionts present the same tryptophan biosynthetic metabolic complementation as C. cedri's, which is not present in C. tujafilina's. Moreover, we corroborate the riboflavin-biosynthetic-role take-over/rescue by S. symbiotica in T. salignus, and therefore, provide further evidence for the previously proposed establishment of a secondary co-obligate endosymbiont in the common ancestor of the Lachninae aphids. Finally, we propose that the putative convergent split of the tryptophan biosynthetic role between Buchnera and S. symbiotica could be behind the establishment of S. symbiotica as an obligate intracellular symbiont and the triggering of further genome degradation.}, } @article {pmid27189544, year = {2016}, author = {Clayton, AL and Jackson, DG and Weiss, RB and Dale, C}, title = {Adaptation by Deletogenic Replication Slippage in a Nascent Symbiont.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {1957-1966}, pmid = {27189544}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007464/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA Replication ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; INDEL Mutation ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {As a consequence of population level constraints in the obligate, host-associated lifestyle, intracellular symbiotic bacteria typically exhibit high rates of molecular sequence evolution and extensive genome degeneration over the course of their host association. While the rationale for genome degeneration is well understood, little is known about the molecular mechanisms driving this change. To understand these mechanisms we compared the genome of Sodalis praecaptivus, a nonhost associated bacterium that is closely related to members of the Sodalis-allied clade of insect endosymbionts, with the very recently derived insect symbiont Candidatus Sodalis pierantonius. The characterization of indel mutations in the genome of Ca Sodalis pierantonius shows that the replication system in this organism is highly prone to deletions resulting from polymerase slippage events in regions encoding G+C-rich repetitive sequences. This slippage-prone phenotype is mechanistically associated with the loss of certain components of the bacterial DNA recombination machinery at an early stage in symbiotic life and is expected to facilitate rapid adaptation to the novel host environment. This is analogous to the emergence of mutator strains in both natural and laboratory populations of bacteria, which tend to reach high frequencies in clonal populations due to linkage between the mutator allele and the resulting adaptive mutations.}, } @article {pmid27188818, year = {2016}, author = {Sanjuán, J}, title = {Towards the minimal nitrogen-fixing symbiotic genome.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2292-2294}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13261}, pmid = {27188818}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {*Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {diCenzo and coworkers have reverse engineered a rhizobium into a non-nitrogen fixer, creating a genomic platform for gain-of-function genetics studies, which should aid to identify the minimal nitrogen fixing symbiotic genome.}, } @article {pmid27185560, year = {2016}, author = {Biagi, E and Franceschi, C and Rampelli, S and Severgnini, M and Ostan, R and Turroni, S and Consolandi, C and Quercia, S and Scurti, M and Monti, D and Capri, M and Brigidi, P and Candela, M}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Extreme Longevity.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {1480-1485}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.016}, pmid = {27185560}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacteria/*classification ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Italy ; *Longevity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The study of the extreme limits of human lifespan may allow a better understanding of how human beings can escape, delay, or survive the most frequent age-related causes of morbidity, a peculiarity shown by long-living individuals. Longevity is a complex trait in which genetics, environment, and stochasticity concur to determine the chance to reach 100 or more years of age [1]. Because of its impact on human metabolism and immunology, the gut microbiome has been proposed as a possible determinant of healthy aging [2, 3]. Indeed, the preservation of host-microbes homeostasis can counteract inflammaging [4], intestinal permeability [5], and decline in bone and cognitive health [6, 7]. Aiming at deepening our knowledge on the relationship between the gut microbiota and a long-living host, we provide for the first time the phylogenetic microbiota analysis of semi-supercentenarians, i.e., 105-109 years old, in comparison to adults, elderly, and centenarians, thus reconstructing the longest available human microbiota trajectory along aging. We highlighted the presence of a core microbiota of highly occurring, symbiotic bacterial taxa (mostly belonging to the dominant Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Bacteroidaceae families), with a cumulative abundance decreasing along with age. Aging is characterized by an increasing abundance of subdominant species, as well as a rearrangement in their co-occurrence network. These features are maintained in longevity and extreme longevity, but peculiarities emerged, especially in semi-supercentenarians, describing changes that, even accommodating opportunistic and allochthonous bacteria, might possibly support health maintenance during aging, such as an enrichment and/or higher prevalence of health-associated groups (e.g., Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Christensenellaceae).}, } @article {pmid27183792, year = {2016}, author = {Kaluzhnaya, OV and Itskovich, VB}, title = {[Distinctive Features of the Microbial Diversity and the Polyketide Synthase GenesSpectrum in the Community of the Endemic Baikal Sponge Swartschewskia papyracea].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {47-58}, pmid = {27183792}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Animals ; Genetic Variation ; Lakes ; Metagenome ; Microbiota/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/*genetics ; Porifera/genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The diversity of the symbiotic community of the endemic Baikal sponge Swartschewskia papyracea was studied, and an analysis of the polyketide synthases genes spectrum in sponge-associated microorganisms was carried out. Six bacterial phyla were detected in the S. papyracea microbiome, namely, Verrucomicrobia, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Planctomycetes. Unlike the microbial associations of other freshwater sponges, the community under study was dominated by the Verrucomicrobia (42.1%) and Cyanobacteria (17.5%) phyla, while the proportion of the Proteobacteria was unusually low (9.7%). In the S. papyracea community metagenome, there were identified 18 polyketide synthases genes fragments, the closest homologs of which included the polyketide synthases of the microorganisms belonging to the bacterial phyla Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria (Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria classes), and Acidobacteria and to the eukaryotic algae of the Heterokonta phylum (Eustigmatophyceae class). Polyketide synthase sequences from S. papyracea formed three groups on the phylogenetic tree: a group of hybrid NRPS/PKS complexes, a group of cyanobacterial polyketide synthases, and a group of homologs of the eukaryotic alga Nannochloropsis galiana. Notably, the identified polyketide synthase genes fragments showed only a 57-88% similarity to the sequences in the databases, which implies the presence of genes controlling the synthesis of the novel, still unstudied, polyketide compounds in the S. papyracea community. It was proposed that the habitation conditions of S. papyracea affect the taxonomic composition of the microorganisms associated with the sponge, including the diversity of the producers of secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid27183727, year = {2016}, author = {Titov, VN}, title = {[THE OPTIMIZATION OF NUTRITION FUNCTION UNDER SYNDROME OF RESISTANCE TO INSULIN, DISORDER OF FATTY ACIDS' METABOLISM AND ABSORPTION OF GLUCOSE BY CELLS (A LECTURE)].}, journal = {Klinicheskaia laboratornaia diagnostika}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {27-38}, pmid = {27183727}, issn = {0869-2084}, mesh = {Atherosclerosis/*metabolism/pathology/prevention & control ; Biological Evolution ; Biological Transport ; Diet/*methods ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension/*metabolism/pathology/prevention & control ; Insulin/metabolism ; *Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Metabolism ; Metabolic Syndrome/*metabolism/pathology/prevention & control ; Obesity/*metabolism/pathology/prevention & control ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Triglycerides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The phylogenetic processes continue to proceed in Homo Sapiens. At the very early stages ofphylogenesis, the ancient Archaea that formed mitochondria under symbiotic interaction with later bacterial cells conjointly formed yet another system. In this system, there are no cells' absorption of glucose if it is possible to absorb fatty acids from intercellular medium in the form of unesterfied fatty acids or ketonic bodies--metabolites of fatty acids. This is caused by objectively existed conditions and subsequent availability of substrates at the stages ofphylogenesis: acetate, ketonic bodies, fatty acids and only later glucose. The phylogenetically late insulin used after billions years the same dependencies at formation of regulation ofmetabolism offatty acids and cells' absorption of glucose. In order that syndrome ofresistance ceased to exist as afoundation of metabolic pandemic Homo Sapiens has to understand the following. After successful function ofArchaea+bacterial cells and considered by biology action of insulin for the third time in phylogenesis and using biological function of intelligence the content ofphylogenetically earlier palmitic saturated fatty acid infood can't to exceed possibilities of phylogenetically late lipoproteins to transfer it in intercellular medium and blood and cells to absorb it. It is supposed that at early stages of phylogenesis biological function of intelligence is primarily formed to bring into line "unconformities" of regulation of metabolism against the background of seeming relative biological "perfection". These unconformities were subsequently and separately formed at the level of cells in paracrin regulated cenosises of cells and organs and at the level of organism. The prevention of resistance to insulin basically requires biological function of intelligence, principle of self-restraint, bringing into line multiple desires of Homo Sapiens with much less extensive biological possibilities. The "unconformities" of regulation of metabolism in vivo are etiological factors of all metabolic pandemics including atherosclerosis, metabolic arterial hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome Tertiannondatum.}, } @article {pmid27183039, year = {2016}, author = {Takanashi, K and Sasaki, T and Kan, T and Saida, Y and Sugiyama, A and Yamamoto, Y and Yazaki, K}, title = {A Dicarboxylate Transporter, LjALMT4, Mainly Expressed in Nodules of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {7}, pages = {584-592}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-16-0071-R}, pmid = {27183039}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Dicarboxylic Acid Transporters/*genetics/metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; Lotus/cytology/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/cytology/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants can establish symbiosis with soil bacteria called rhizobia to obtain nitrogen as a nutrient directly from atmospheric N2 via symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Legumes and rhizobia form nodules, symbiotic organs in which fixed-nitrogen and photosynthetic products are exchanged between rhizobia and plant cells. The photosynthetic products supplied to rhizobia are thought to be dicarboxylates but little is known about the movement of dicarboxylates in the nodules. In terms of dicarboxylate transporters, an aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT) family is a strong candidate responsible for the membrane transport of carboxylates in nodules. Among the seven ALMT genes in the Lotus japonicus genome, only one, LjALMT4, shows a high expression in the nodules. LjALMT4 showed transport activity in a Xenopus oocyte system, with LjALMT4 mediating the efflux of dicarboxylates including malate, succinate, and fumarate, but not tricarboxylates such as citrate. LjALMT4 also mediated the influx of several inorganic anions. Organ-specific gene expression analysis showed LjALMT4 mRNA mainly in the parenchyma cells of nodule vascular bundles. These results suggest that LjALMT4 may not be involved in the direct supply of dicarboxylates to rhizobia in infected cells but is responsible for supplying malate as well as several anions necessary for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, via nodule vasculatures.}, } @article {pmid27182541, year = {2016}, author = {Gundel, PE and Helander, M and Garibaldi, LA and Vázquez-de-Aldana, BR and Zabalgogeazcoa, I and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Data on litter quality of host grass plants with and without fungal endophytes.}, journal = {Data in brief}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1469-1472}, doi = {10.1016/j.dib.2016.04.030}, pmid = {27182541}, issn = {2352-3409}, abstract = {Certain Pooideae species form persistent symbiosis with fungal endophytes of Epichloë genus. Although endophytes are known to impact the ecology and evolution of host species, their effects on parameters related with quality of plant biomass has been elusive. This article provides information about parameters related with the quality of plant litter biomass of two important grass species (Schedonorus phoenix and Schedonorus pratensis) affected by the symbiosis with fungal endophytes (Epichloë coenophiala and Epichloë uncinata, respectively). Four population origins of S. phoenix and one of S. pratensis were included. Mineral, biochemical and structural parameters were obtained from three samples per factors combination [species (and population origin)×endophyte]. This data can be potentially used in other studies which, by means of 'data reanalyzing' or meta-analysis, attempt to find generalizations about endophyte effects on host plant litter biomass. The present data is associated with the research article "Role of foliar fungal endophytes on litter decomposition among species and population origins" (Gundel et al., In preparation) [1].}, } @article {pmid27181949, year = {2016}, author = {Kühn, C}, title = {Review: Post-translational cross-talk between brassinosteroid and sucrose signaling.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {248}, number = {}, pages = {75-81}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.04.012}, pmid = {27181949}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Plant Immunity/physiology ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational/physiology ; *Signal Transduction/physiology ; Sucrose/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A direct link has been elucidated between brassinosteroid function and perception, and sucrose partitioning and transport. Sucrose regulation and brassinosteroid signaling cross-talk at various levels, including the well-described regulation of transcriptional gene expression: BZR-like transcription factors link the signaling pathways. Since brassinosteroid responses depend on light quality and quantity, a light-dependent alternative pathway was postulated. Here, the focus is on post-translational events. Recent identification of sucrose transporter-interacting partners raises the question whether brassinosteroid and sugars jointly affect plant innate immunity and plant symbiotic interactions. Membrane permeability and sensitivity depends on the number of cell surface receptors and transporters. More than one endocytic route has been assigned to specific components, including brassinosteroid-receptors. The number of such proteins at the plasma membrane relies on endocytic recycling, internalization and/or degradation. Therefore, vesicular membrane trafficking is gaining considerable attention with regard to plant immunity. The organization of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), other receptors or transporters in membrane microdomains participate in endocytosis and the formation of specific intracellular compartments, potentially impacting biotic interactions. This minireview focuses on post-translational events affecting the subcellular compartmentation of membrane proteins involved in signaling, transport, and defense, and on the cross-talk between brassinosteroid signals and sugar availability.}, } @article {pmid27181741, year = {2016}, author = {Pape, S and Wessig, P and Brunner, H}, title = {Iron Trichloride and Air Mediated Guanylation of Acylthioureas. An Ecological Route to Acylguanidines: Scope and Mechanistic Insights.}, journal = {The Journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {81}, number = {11}, pages = {4701-4712}, doi = {10.1021/acs.joc.6b00600}, pmid = {27181741}, issn = {1520-6904}, abstract = {Recently we introduced iron trichloride as an environmentally benign and cost-efficient reagent for the synthesis of N-benzoylguanidines. This highly attractive synthetic approach grants access to a broad spectrum of N-benzoylguanidines under mild conditions in short reaction times. In this work we present an extended scope of our methodology along with the results obtained from mechanistic studies via in situ IR spectroscopy in combination with LC (liquid chromatography)-MS analyses. On the basis of these new mechanistic insights we were able to optimize the synthetic protocol and to develop an alternative mechanistic proposal. In this context the symbiotic roles of iron trichloride and oxygen in the guanylation process are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid27181562, year = {2016}, author = {McCulloch, R and Navarro, M}, title = {The protozoan nucleus.}, journal = {Molecular and biochemical parasitology}, volume = {209}, number = {1-2}, pages = {76-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.05.002}, pmid = {27181562}, issn = {1872-9428}, support = {G0401553/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; 089172/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 104111/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; BB/K006495/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/*genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Chromosomes ; DNA Replication ; Eukaryota/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Mitosis ; }, abstract = {The nucleus is arguably the defining characteristic of eukaryotes, distinguishing their cell organisation from both bacteria and archaea. Though the evolutionary history of the nucleus remains the subject of debate, its emergence differs from several other eukaryotic organelles in that it appears not to have evolved through symbiosis, but by cell membrane elaboration from an archaeal ancestor. Evolution of the nucleus has been accompanied by elaboration of nuclear structures that are intimately linked with most aspects of nuclear genome function, including chromosome organisation, DNA maintenance, replication and segregation, and gene expression controls. Here we discuss the complexity of the nucleus and its substructures in protozoan eukaryotes, with a particular emphasis on divergent aspects in eukaryotic parasites, which shed light on nuclear function throughout eukaryotes and reveal specialisations that underpin pathogen biology.}, } @article {pmid27180095, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Xie, W and Li, Q}, title = {Characterisation of the bacterial community structures in the intestine of Lampetra morii.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {109}, number = {7}, pages = {979-986}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-016-0699-0}, pmid = {27180095}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Lampreys/*microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The metagenomic analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing method were used to investigate the bacterial community in the intestines of Lampetra morii. The bacterial community structure in L. morii intestine was relatively simple. Eight different operational taxonomic units were observed. Chitinophagaceae_unclassified (26.5 %) and Aeromonas spp. (69.6 %) were detected as dominant members at the genus level. The non-dominant genera were as follows: Acinetobacter spp. (1.4 %), Candidatus Bacilloplasma (2.5 %), Enterobacteria spp. (1.5 %), Shewanella spp. (0.04 %), Vibrio spp. (0.09 %), and Yersinia spp. (1.8 %). The Shannon-Wiener (H) and Simpson (1-D) indexes were 0.782339 and 0.5546, respectively. The rarefaction curve representing the bacterial community richness and Shannon-Wiener curve representing the bacterial community diversity reached asymptote, which indicated that the sequence depth were sufficient to represent the majority of species richness and bacterial community diversity. The number of Aeromonas in lamprey intestine was two times higher after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide than PBS. This study provides data for understanding the bacterial community harboured in lamprey intestines and exploring potential key intestinal symbiotic bacteria essential for the L. morii immune response.}, } @article {pmid27176641, year = {2016}, author = {Videau, P and Wells, KN and Singh, AJ and Gerwick, WH and Philmus, B}, title = {Assessment of Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120 as a Heterologous Expression Host for Cyanobacterial Natural Products: Production of Lyngbyatoxin A.}, journal = {ACS synthetic biology}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {978-988}, doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.6b00038}, pmid = {27176641}, issn = {2161-5063}, mesh = {Anabaena/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Lyngbya Toxins/*metabolism ; Plasmids/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are well-known producers of natural products of highly varied structure and biological properties. However, the long doubling times, difficulty in establishing genetic methods for marine cyanobacteria, and low compound titers have hindered research into the biosynthesis of their secondary metabolites. While a few attempts to heterologously express cyanobacterial natural products have occurred, the results have been of varied success. Here, we report the first steps in developing the model freshwater cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 (Anabaena 7120) as a general heterologous expression host for cyanobacterial secondary metabolites. We show that Anabaena 7120 can heterologously synthesize lyngbyatoxin A in yields comparable to those of the native producer, Moorea producens, and detail the design and use of replicative plasmids for compound production. We also demonstrate that Anabaena 7120 recognizes promoters from various biosynthetic gene clusters from both free-living and obligate symbiotic marine cyanobacteria. Through simple genetic manipulations, the titer of lyngbyatoxin A can be improved up to 13-fold. The development of Anabaena 7120 as a general heterologous expression host enables investigation of interesting cyanobacterial biosynthetic reactions and genetic engineering of their biosynthetic pathways.}, } @article {pmid27174359, year = {2016}, author = {Weemstra, M and Mommer, L and Visser, EJ and van Ruijven, J and Kuyper, TW and Mohren, GM and Sterck, FJ}, title = {Towards a multidimensional root trait framework: a tree root review.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {4}, pages = {1159-1169}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14003}, pmid = {27174359}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Roots/*physiology ; *Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contents 1159 I. 1159 II. 1161 III. 1164 IV. 1166 1167 References 1167 SUMMARY: The search for a root economics spectrum (RES) has been sparked by recent interest in trait-based plant ecology. By analogy with the one-dimensional leaf economics spectrum (LES), fine-root traits are hypothesised to match leaf traits which are coordinated along one axis from resource acquisitive to conservative traits. However, our literature review and meta-level analysis reveal no consistent evidence of an RES mirroring an LES. Instead the RES appears to be multidimensional. We discuss three fundamental differences contributing to the discrepancy between these spectra. First, root traits are simultaneously constrained by various environmental drivers not necessarily related to resource uptake. Second, above- and belowground traits cannot be considered analogues, because they function differently and might not be related to resource uptake in a similar manner. Third, mycorrhizal interactions may offset selection for an RES. Understanding and explaining the belowground mechanisms and trade-offs that drive variation in root traits, resource acquisition and plant performance across species, thus requires a fundamentally different approach than applied aboveground. We therefore call for studies that can functionally incorporate the root traits involved in resource uptake, the complex soil environment and the various soil resource uptake mechanisms - particularly the mycorrhizal pathway - in a multidimensional root trait framework.}, } @article {pmid27171465, year = {2016}, author = {Moll, J and Okupnik, A and Gogos, A and Knauer, K and Bucheli, TD and van der Heijden, MG and Widmer, F}, title = {Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Red Clover and Its Rhizobial Symbiont.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e0155111}, pmid = {27171465}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Culture Media/chemistry ; Hydroponics ; Meristem/drug effects ; Nanoparticles/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/drug effects/ultrastructure ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology/drug effects ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Titanium/*toxicity ; Trifolium/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are in consideration to be used in plant protection products. Before these products can be placed on the market, ecotoxicological tests have to be performed. In this study, the nitrogen fixing bacterium Rhizobium trifolii and red clover were exposed to two TiO2 NPs, i.e., P25, E171 and a non-nanomaterial TiO2. Growth of both organisms individually and their symbiotic root nodulation were investigated in liquid and hydroponic systems. While 23 and 18 mg l(-1) of E171 and non-nanomaterial TiO2 decreased the growth rate of R. trifolii by 43 and 23% respectively, P25 did not cause effects. Shoot length of red clover decreased between 41 and 62% for all tested TiO2 NPs. In 21% of the TiO2 NP treated plants, no nodules were found. At high concentrations certain TiO2 NPs impaired R. trifolii as well as red clover growth and their symbiosis in the hydroponic systems.}, } @article {pmid27170846, year = {2016}, author = {Pang, X and Xiao, X and Liu, Y and Zhang, R and Liu, J and Liu, Q and Wang, P and Cheng, G}, title = {Mosquito C-type lectins maintain gut microbiome homeostasis.}, journal = {Nature microbiology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {27170846}, issn = {2058-5276}, support = {R03 AI099625/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI103807/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The long-term evolutionary interaction between the host immune system and symbiotic bacteria determines their cooperative rather than antagonistic relationship. It is known that commensal bacteria have evolved a number of mechanisms to manipulate the mammalian host immune system and maintain homeostasis. However, the strategies employed by the microbiome to overcome host immune responses in invertebrates still remain to be understood. Here, we report that the gut microbiome in mosquitoes utilizes C-type lectins (mosGCTLs) to evade the bactericidal capacity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Aedes aegypti mosGCTLs facilitate colonization by multiple bacterial strains. Furthermore, maintenance of the gut microbial flora relies on the expression of mosGCTLs in A. aegypti. Silencing the orthologues of mosGCTL in another major mosquito vector (Culex pipiens pallens) also impairs the survival of gut commensal bacteria. The gut microbiome stimulates the expression of mosGCTLs, which coat the bacterial surface and counteract AMP activity. Our study describes a mechanism by which the insect symbiotic microbiome offsets gut immunity to achieve homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid27170470, year = {2016}, author = {Beaudoin-Nadeau, M and Gagné, A and Bissonnette, C and Bélanger, PA and Fortin, JA and Roy, S and Greer, CW and Khasa, DP}, title = {Performance of ectomycorrhizal alders exposed to specific Canadian oil sands tailing stressors under in vivo bipartite symbiotic conditions.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {7}, pages = {543-549}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2015-0703}, pmid = {27170470}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Alnus/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Basidiomycota/physiology ; Biomass ; Canada ; Carboxylic Acids/pharmacology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; *Oil and Gas Fields ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Canadian oil sands tailings are predominately sodic residues contaminated by hydrocarbons such as naphthenic acids. These conditions are harsh for plant development. In this study, we evaluated the effect of inoculating roots of Alnus viridis ssp. crispa and Alnus incana ssp. rugosa with ectomycorrhizal fungi in the presence of tailings compounds. Seedlings were inoculated with 7 different strains of Paxillus involutus and Alpova diplophloeus and were grown under different treatments of NaCl, Na2SO4, and naphthenic acids in a growth chamber. Afterwards, seedling survival, height, dry biomass, leaf necrosis, and root mycorrhization rate were measured. Paxillus involutus Mai was the most successful strain in enhancing alder survival, health, and growth. Seedlings inoculated with this strain displayed a 25% increase in survival rate, 2-fold greater biomass, and 2-fold less leaf necrosis compared with controls. Contrary to our expectations, A. diplophloeus was not as effective as P. involutus in improving seedling fitness, likely because it did not form ectomycorrhizae on roots of either alder species. High intraspecific variation characterized strains of P. involutus in their ability to stimulate alder height and growth and to minimize leaf necrosis. We conclude that in vivo selection under bipartite symbiotic conditions is essential to select effective strains that will be of use for the revegetation and reclamation of derelict lands.}, } @article {pmid27170360, year = {2016}, author = {Wielkopolan, B and Obrępalska-Stęplowska, A}, title = {Three-way interaction among plants, bacteria, and coleopteran insects.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {244}, number = {2}, pages = {313-332}, pmid = {27170360}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/microbiology/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; Herbivory ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coleoptera, the largest and the most diverse Insecta order, is characterized by multiple adaptations to plant feeding. Insect-associated microorganisms can be important mediators and modulators of interactions between insects and plants. Interactions between plants and insects are highly complex and involve multiple factors. There are various defense mechanisms initiated by plants upon attack by herbivorous insects, including the development of morphological structures and the synthesis of toxic secondary metabolites and volatiles. In turn, herbivores have adapted to feeding on plants and further sophisticated adaptations to overcome plant responses may continue to evolve. Herbivorous insects may detoxify toxic phytocompounds, sequester poisonous plant factors, and alter their own overall gene expression pattern. Moreover, insects are associated with microbes, which not only considerably affect insects, but can also modify plant defense responses to the benefit of their host. Plants are also frequently associated with endophytes, which may act as bioinsecticides. Therefore, it is very important to consider the factors influencing the interaction between plants and insects. Herbivorous insects cause considerable damage to global crop production. Coleoptera is the largest and the most diverse order in the class Insecta. In this review, various aspects of the interactions among insects, microbes, and plants are described with a focus on coleopteran species, their bacterial symbionts, and their plant hosts to demonstrate that many factors contribute to the success of coleopteran herbivory.}, } @article {pmid27169225, year = {2015}, author = {Andronov, EE and Igolkina, AA and Kimeklis, AK and Vorobyov, NI and Provorov, NA}, title = {[Characteristics of Natural Selection in Populations of Nodule Bacteria (Rhizobium leguminosarum) Interacting With Different Host Plants].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {10}, pages = {1108-1116}, pmid = {27169225}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Lathyrus/*microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Selection, Genetic/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; Vicia sativa/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Using high throughput sequencing of the nodA gene, we studied the population dynamics of Rhizobium leguminosarum (bv. viciae, bv. trifolii) in rhizospheric and nodular subpopulations associated with the leguminous plants representing different cross-inoculation groups (Vicia sativa, Lathyrus pratensis of the vetch/vetchling/pea group and Trifolium hybridum of the clover group). The "rhizosphere-nodules" transitions result in either an increase or decrease in the frequencies of 10 of the 23 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (which were identified with 95% similarity) depending on the symbiotic specificity and phylogenetic positions of OTUs. Statistical and bioinformatical analysis of the population structures suggest that the type of natural selection responsible for these changes may be diversifying at the whole-population level and frequency-dependent at the OTU-specific level, ensuring the divergent evolution of rhizobia interacting with different host species.}, } @article {pmid27168962, year = {2016}, author = {Dobson, NC and Johnson, ML and De Grave, S}, title = {Insights into the morphology of symbiotic shrimp eyes (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae); the effects of habitat demands.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1926}, pmid = {27168962}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Morphometric differences in the optical morphology of symbiotic palaemonid shrimps can be observed among species symbiotic with different host organisms. Discriminant functional analysis revealed three distinct groups within the species examined. Of these, bivalve symbionts appear to have an eye design that is solely unique to this host-symbiont grouping, a design that spans across multiple genera of phylogenetically unrelated animals. Although some taxonomic effects may be evident, this does not explain the difference and similarities in eye morphology that are seen within these shrimps. Therefore evolutionary pressures from their host environments are having an impact on the optical morphology of their eyes however, as indicated by host-hopping events there ecological adaptations occur post host invasion.}, } @article {pmid27168719, year = {2016}, author = {Chriki-Adeeb, R and Chriki, A}, title = {Estimating Divergence Times and Substitution Rates in Rhizobia.}, journal = {Evolutionary bioinformatics online}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {87-97}, pmid = {27168719}, issn = {1176-9343}, abstract = {Accurate estimation of divergence times of soil bacteria that form nitrogen-fixing associations with most leguminous plants is challenging because of a limited fossil record and complexities associated with molecular clocks and phylogenetic diversity of root nodule bacteria, collectively called rhizobia. To overcome the lack of fossil record in bacteria, divergence times of host legumes were used to calibrate molecular clocks and perform phylogenetic analyses in rhizobia. The 16S rRNA gene and intergenic spacer region remain among the favored molecular markers to reconstruct the timescale of rhizobia. We evaluate the performance of the random local clock model and the classical uncorrelated lognormal relaxed clock model, in combination with four tree models (coalescent constant size, birth-death, birth-death incomplete sampling, and Yule processes) on rhizobial divergence time estimates. Bayes factor tests based on the marginal likelihoods estimated from the stepping-stone sampling analyses strongly favored the random local clock model in combination with Yule process. Our results on the divergence time estimation from 16S rRNA gene and intergenic spacer region sequences are compatible with age estimates based on the conserved core genes but significantly older than those obtained from symbiotic genes, such as nodIJ genes. This difference may be due to the accelerated evolutionary rates of symbiotic genes compared to those of other genomic regions not directly implicated in nodulation processes.}, } @article {pmid27168155, year = {2016}, author = {Wyrwa, K and Książkiewicz, M and Szczepaniak, A and Susek, K and Podkowiński, J and Naganowska, B}, title = {Integration of Lupinus angustifolius L. (narrow-leafed lupin) genome maps and comparative mapping within legumes.}, journal = {Chromosome research : an international journal on the molecular, supramolecular and evolutionary aspects of chromosome biology}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {355-378}, pmid = {27168155}, issn = {1573-6849}, mesh = {Aspartate Aminotransferases/genetics ; Aspartate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; Centromere/genetics ; Chromosome Mapping/*methods ; Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Markers/genetics ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotype ; Lupinus/*genetics ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics ; Synteny/*genetics ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics ; }, abstract = {Narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) has recently been considered a reference genome for the Lupinus genus. In the present work, genetic and cytogenetic maps of L. angustifolius were supplemented with 30 new molecular markers representing lupin genome regions, harboring genes involved in nitrogen fixation during the symbiotic interaction of legumes and soil bacteria (Rhizobiaceae). Our studies resulted in the precise localization of bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) carrying sequence variants for early nodulin 40, nodulin 26, nodulin 45, aspartate aminotransferase P2, asparagine synthetase, cytosolic glutamine synthetase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Together with previously mapped chromosomes, the integrated L. angustifolius map encompasses 73 chromosome markers, including 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and 45S rDNA, and anchors 20 L. angustifolius linkage groups to corresponding chromosomes. Chromosomal identification using BAC fluorescence in situ hybridization identified two BAC clones as narrow-leafed lupin centromere-specific markers, which served as templates for preliminary studies of centromere composition within the genus. Bioinformatic analysis of these two BACs revealed that centromeric/pericentromeric regions of narrow-leafed lupin chromosomes consisted of simple sequence repeats ordered into tandem repeats containing the trinucleotide and pentanucleotide simple sequence repeats AGG and GATAC, structured into long arrays. Moreover, cross-genus microsynteny analysis revealed syntenic patterns of 31 single-locus BAC clones among several legume species. The gene and chromosome level findings provide evidence of ancient duplication events that must have occurred very early in the divergence of papilionoid lineages. This work provides a strong foundation for future comparative mapping among legumes and may facilitate understanding of mechanisms involved in shaping legume chromosomes.}, } @article {pmid27167761, year = {2016}, author = {Vahabi, K and Dorcheh, SK and Monajembashi, S and Westermann, M and Reichelt, M and Falkenberg, D and Hemmerich, P and Sherameti, I and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Stress promotes Arabidopsis - Piriformospora indica interaction.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e1136763}, pmid = {27167761}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology/radiation effects ; Basidiomycota/drug effects/*physiology ; Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; Diazonium Compounds/pharmacology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/radiation effects ; Isoleucine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Light ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Osmotic Pressure/drug effects ; Oxylipins/pharmacology ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development/radiation effects ; Pyridines/pharmacology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/radiation effects ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects/radiation effects ; Sulfates/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica colonizes Arabidopsis thaliana roots and promotes plant performance, growth and resistance/tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress. Here we demonstrate that the benefits for the plant increase when the two partners are co-cultivated under stress (limited access to nutrient, exposure to heavy metals and salt, light and osmotic stress, pathogen infection). Moreover, physical contact between P. indica and Arabidopsis roots is necessary for optimal growth promotion, and chemical communication cannot replace the physical contact. Lower nutrient availability down-regulates and higher nutrient availability up-regulates the plant defense system including the expression of pathogenesis-related genes in roots. High light, osmotic and salt stresses support the beneficial interaction between the plant and the fungus. P. indica reduces stomata closure and H2O2 production after Alternaria brassicae infection in leaves and suppresses the defense-related accumulation of the phytohormone jasmonic acid. Thus, shifting the growth conditions toward a stress promotes the mutualistic interaction, while optimal supply with nutrients or low stress diminishes the benefits for the plant in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27162183, year = {2016}, author = {García de León, D and Moora, M and Öpik, M and Neuenkamp, L and Gerz, M and Jairus, T and Vasar, M and Bueno, CG and Davison, J and Zobel, M}, title = {Symbiont dynamics during ecosystem succession: co-occurring plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw097}, pmid = {27162183}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Estonia ; Fungi/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although mycorrhizas are expected to play a key role in community assembly during ecological succession, little is known about the dynamics of the symbiotic partners in natural systems. For instance, it is unclear how efficiently plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi disperse into early successional ecosystems, and which, if either, symbiotic partner drives successional dynamics. This study describes the dynamics of plant and AM fungal communities, assesses correlation in the composition of plant and AM fungal communities and compares dispersal limitation of plants and AM fungi during succession. We studied gravel pits 20 and 50 years post abandonment and undisturbed grasslands in Western Estonia. The composition of plant and AM fungal communities was strongly correlated, and the strength of the correlation remained unchanged as succession progressed, indicating a stable dependence among mycorrhizal plants and AM fungi. A relatively high proportion of the AM fungal taxon pool was present in early successional sites, in comparison with the respective fraction of plants. These results suggest that AM fungi arrived faster than plants and may thus drive vegetation dynamics along secondary vegetation succession.}, } @article {pmid27162150, year = {2016}, author = {Jones, FP and Clark, IM and King, R and Shaw, LJ and Woodward, MJ and Hirsch, PR}, title = {Novel European free-living, non-diazotrophic Bradyrhizobium isolates from contrasting soils that lack nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes - a genome comparison.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {25858}, pmid = {27162150}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BBS/E/C/00005196//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Europe ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The slow-growing genus Bradyrhizobium is biologically important in soils, with different representatives found to perform a range of biochemical functions including photosynthesis, induction of root nodules and symbiotic nitrogen fixation and denitrification. Consequently, the role of the genus in soil ecology and biogeochemical transformations is of agricultural and environmental significance. Some isolates of Bradyrhizobium have been shown to be non-symbiotic and do not possess the ability to form nodules. Here we present the genome and gene annotations of two such free-living Bradyrhizobium isolates, named G22 and BF49, from soils with differing long-term management regimes (grassland and bare fallow respectively) in addition to carbon metabolism analysis. These Bradyrhizobium isolates are the first to be isolated and sequenced from European soil and are the first free-living Bradyrhizobium isolates, lacking both nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes, to have their genomes sequenced and assembled from cultured samples. The G22 and BF49 genomes are distinctly different with respect to size and number of genes; the grassland isolate also contains a plasmid. There are also a number of functional differences between these isolates and other published genomes, suggesting that this ubiquitous genus is extremely heterogeneous and has roles within the community not including symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid27161503, year = {2016}, author = {Robin, N and Béthoux, O and Sidorchuk, E and Cui, Y and Li, Y and Germain, D and King, A and Berenguer, F and Ren, D}, title = {A Carboniferous Mite on an Insect Reveals the Antiquity of an Inconspicuous Interaction.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {1376-1382}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.068}, pmid = {27161503}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; China ; Fossils/anatomy & histology ; Insecta/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Mites/anatomy & histology/*classification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis [1], understood as prolonged interspecific association, is as ancient as the eukaryotic cell [2, 3]. A variety of such associations have been reported in the continental fossil record, albeit sporadically. As for mites, which as a group have been present since the Devonian (ca. 390 mya) [4, 5] and are involved in a tremendous variety of modern-day symbioses, reported associations are limited to a few amber-preserved cases [6-11], with the earliest instance in the Cretaceous (ca. 85 mya) [11]. As a consequence, the antiquity and origin of associations involving small-sized mites and larger animals are poorly understood. Here we report, recovered from the Carboniferous Xiaheyan locality (ca. 320 mya), an oribatid mite located on the thorax of an extinct relative of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids [12]. The mite was investigated using several methods, including phase-contrast tomography. The detailed morphological data allowed the placement of the mite in a new family within Mixonomata, whose fossil record is thus extended by ca. 250 Ma. Specimen and abundance distribution data derived from the fossil insect sample indicate that specimens from the corresponding excavation site were buried rapidly and were sub-autochthonous, indicating a syn vivo association. Moreover, the mite is located in a sequestered position on the insect. The observed interaction best fits the definition for phoresy, in which the benefit is transport and protection for the mite. This discovery demonstrates that this association, a trait shared by representatives of the most speciose mite taxa, arose very early during mite evolution.}, } @article {pmid27161450, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, C and Wang, X and Wang, X and Sun, C}, title = {Acclimation of Antarctic Chlamydomonas to the sea-ice environment: a transcriptomic analysis.}, journal = {Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {437-450}, pmid = {27161450}, issn = {1433-4909}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*genetics ; Antarctic Regions ; Chlamydomonas/*genetics/metabolism ; *Cold Temperature ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Ice Cover ; Lipid Metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Chaperones/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Seawater ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The Antarctic green alga Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L was isolated from sea ice. As a psychrophilic microalga, it can tolerate the environmental stress in the sea-ice brine, such as freezing temperature and high salinity. We performed a transcriptome analysis to identify freezing stress responding genes and explore the extreme environmental acclimation-related strategies. Here, we show that many genes in ICE-L transcriptome that encoding PUFA synthesis enzymes, molecular chaperon proteins, and cell membrane transport proteins have high similarity to the gens from Antarctic bacteria. These ICE-L genes are supposed to be acquired through horizontal gene transfer from its symbiotic microbes in the sea-ice brine. The presence of these genes in both sea-ice microalgae and bacteria indicated the biological processes they involved in are possibly contributing to ICE-L success in sea ice. In addition, the biological pathways were compared between ICE-L and its closely related sister species, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri. In ICE-L transcripome, many sequences homologous to the plant or bacteria proteins in the post-transcriptional, post-translational modification, and signal-transduction KEGG pathways, are absent in the nonpsychrophilic green algae. These complex structural components might imply enhanced stress adaptation capacity. At last, differential gene expression analysis at the transcriptome level of ICE-L indicated that genes that associated with post-translational modification, lipid metabolism, and nitrogen metabolism are responding to the freezing treatment. In conclusion, the transcriptome of Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L is very useful for exploring the mutualistic interaction between microalgae and bacteria in sea ice; and discovering the specific genes and metabolism pathways responding to the freezing acclimation in psychrophilic microalgae.}, } @article {pmid27161395, year = {2016}, author = {Zampieri, E and Chiapello, M and Daghino, S and Bonfante, P and Mello, A}, title = {Soil metaproteomics reveals an inter-kingdom stress response to the presence of black truffles.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {25773}, pmid = {27161395}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/isolation & purification ; Gene Ontology ; *Metagenomics ; *Proteomics ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {For some truffle species of the Tuber genus, the symbiotic phase is often associated with the presence of an area of scant vegetation, commonly known as the brûlé, around the host tree. Previous metagenomics studies have identified the microorganisms present inside and outside the brûlé of a Tuber melanosporum truffle-ground, but the molecular mechanisms that operate in this ecological niche remain to be clarified. To elucidate the metabolic pathways present in the brûlé, we conducted a metaproteomics analysis on the soil of a characterized truffle-ground and cross-referenced the resulting proteins with a database we constructed, incorporating the metagenomics data for the organisms previously identified in this soil. The soil inside the brûlé contained a larger number of proteins and, surprisingly, more proteins from plants, compared with the soil outside the brûlé. In addition, Fisher's Exact Tests detected more biological processes inside the brûlé; these processes were related to responses to multiple types of stress. Thus, although the brûlé has a reduced diversity of plant and microbial species, the organisms in the brûlé show strong metabolic activity. Also, the combination of metagenomics and metaproteomics provides a powerful tool to reveal soil functioning.}, } @article {pmid27161241, year = {2016}, author = {Moll, J and Gogos, A and Bucheli, TD and Widmer, F and van der Heijden, MG}, title = {Effect of nanoparticles on red clover and its symbiotic microorganisms.}, journal = {Journal of nanobiotechnology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {36}, pmid = {27161241}, issn = {1477-3155}, mesh = {Cerium/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/physiology ; Nanoparticles/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nanotubes, Carbon/*chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; *Soil Microbiology ; Titanium/chemistry/*metabolism ; Trifolium/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nanoparticles are produced and used worldwide and are released to the environment, e.g., into soil systems. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cerium dioxide (CeO2) NPs are among the ten most produced NPs and it is therefore important to test, whether these NPs affect plants and symbiotic microorganisms that help plants to acquire nutrients. In this part of a joint companion study, we spiked an agricultural soil with TiO2 NPs, multi walled CNTs (MWCNTs), and CeO2 NPs and we examined effects of these NP on red clover, biological nitrogen fixation by rhizobia and on root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We also tested whether effects depended on the concentrations of the applied NPs.

RESULTS: Plant biomass and AMF root colonization were not negatively affected by NP exposure. The number of flowers was statistically lower in pots treated with 3 mg kg(-1) MWCNT, and nitrogen fixation slightly increased at 3000 mg kg(-1) MWCNT.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that red clover was more sensitive to MWCNTs than TiO2 and CeO2 NPs. Further studies are necessary for finding general patterns and investigating mechanisms behind the effects of NPs on plants and plant symbionts.}, } @article {pmid27160649, year = {2016}, author = {Philpott, DJ and Piquette-Miller, M}, title = {The Bugs Within Our Body: The Human Microbiota.}, journal = {Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics}, volume = {99}, number = {6}, pages = {570-574}, doi = {10.1002/cpt.371}, pmid = {27160649}, issn = {1532-6535}, mesh = {Diet ; Humans ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Pharmacology, Clinical/methods/trends ; }, abstract = {The human microbiota is the ecological community of microorganisms that live within our bodies. Emerging evidence has revealed that dysregulation of the host-microbe symbiotic relationship contributes to the pathogenesis of a vast number of human diseases and impacts the efficacy and toxicity of therapeutic drugs. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the human microbiota is crucial to the development of therapeutic interventions that target the microbiota and also provides fundamental insights towards understanding intersubject variability in therapeutic outcomes.}, } @article {pmid27160600, year = {2016}, author = {Masson, F and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Antimicrobial peptides and cell processes tracking endosymbiont dynamics.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1695}, pages = {}, pmid = {27160600}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/genetics/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many insects sustain long-term relationships with intracellular symbiotic bacteria that provide them with essential nutrients. Such endosymbiotic relationships likely emerged from ancestral infections of the host by free-living bacteria, the genomes of which experience drastic gene losses and rearrangements during the host-symbiont coevolution. While it is well documented that endosymbiont genome shrinkage results in the loss of bacterial virulence genes, whether and how the host immune system evolves towards the tolerance and control of bacterial partners remains elusive. Remarkably, many insects rely on a 'compartmentalization strategy' that consists in secluding endosymbionts within specialized host cells, the bacteriocytes, thus preventing direct symbiont contact with the host systemic immune system. In this review, we compile recent advances in the understanding of the bacteriocyte immune and cellular regulators involved in endosymbiont maintenance and control. We focus on the cereal weevils Sitophilus spp., in which bacteriocytes form bacteriome organs that strikingly evolve in structure and number according to insect development and physiological needs. We discuss how weevils track endosymbiont dynamics through at least two mechanisms: (i) a bacteriome local antimicrobial peptide synthesis that regulates endosymbiont cell cytokinesis and helps to maintain a homeostatic state within bacteriocytes and (ii) some cellular processes such as apoptosis and autophagy which adjust endosymbiont load to the host developmental requirements, hence ensuring a fine-tuned integration of symbiosis costs and benefits.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolutionary ecology of arthropod antimicrobial peptides'.}, } @article {pmid27160597, year = {2016}, author = {Broderick, NA}, title = {Friend, foe or food? Recognition and the role of antimicrobial peptides in gut immunity and Drosophila-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1695}, pages = {}, pmid = {27160597}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Insect Proteins/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Drosophila melanogaster lives, breeds and feeds on fermenting fruit, an environment that supports a high density, and often a diversity, of microorganisms. This association with such dense microbe-rich environments has been proposed as a reason that D. melanogaster evolved a diverse and potent antimicrobial peptide (AMP) response to microorganisms, especially to combat potential pathogens that might occupy this niche. Yet, like most animals, D. melanogaster also lives in close association with the beneficial microbes that comprise its microbiota, or microbiome, and recent studies have shown that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the epithelial immune response play an important role in dictating these interactions and controlling the host response to gut microbiota. Moreover, D. melanogaster also eats microbes for food, consuming fermentative microbes of decaying plant material and their by-products as both larvae and adults. The processes of nutrient acquisition and host defence are remarkably similar and use shared functions for microbe detection and response, an observation that has led to the proposal that the digestive and immune systems have a common evolutionary origin. In this manner, D. melanogaster provides a powerful model to understand how, and whether, hosts differentiate between the microbes they encounter across this spectrum of associations.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evolutionary ecology of arthropod antimicrobial peptides'.}, } @article {pmid27159681, year = {2016}, author = {Chomicki, G and Staedler, YM and Schönenberger, J and Renner, SS}, title = {Partner choice through concealed floral sugar rewards evolved with the specialization of ant-plant mutualisms.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {4}, pages = {1358-1370}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13990}, pmid = {27159681}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Choice Behavior ; Feeding Behavior ; Flowers/*chemistry ; Fruit/growth & development ; Metabolomics ; Plant Nectar ; *Reward ; Rubiaceae/*physiology ; Sucrose ; Sugars/*analysis ; *Symbiosis ; X-Ray Microtomography ; }, abstract = {Obligate mutualisms require filtering mechanisms to prevent their exploitation by opportunists, but ecological contexts and traits facilitating the evolution of such mechanisms are largely unknown. We investigated the evolution of filtering mechanisms in an epiphytic ant-plant symbiotic system in Fiji involving Rubiaceae and dolichoderine ants, using field experiments, metabolomics, X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning and phylogenetics. We discovered a novel plant reward consisting of sugary sap concealed in post-anthetic flowers only accessible to Philidris nagasau workers that bite through the thick epidermis. In five of the six species of Rubiaceae obligately inhabited by this ant, the nectar glands functioned for 10 d after a flower's sexual function was over. Sugar metabolomics and field experiments showed that ant foraging tracks sucrose levels, which only drop at the onset of fruit development. Ontogenetic analyses of our focal species and their relatives revealed a 25-fold increase in nectary size and delayed fruit development in the ant-rewarding species, and Bayesian analyses of several traits showed the correlated evolution of sugar rewards and symbiosis specialization. Concealed floral nectar forestalls exploitation by opportunists (generalist ants) and stabilizes these obligate mutualisms. Our study pinpoints the importance of partner choice mechanisms in transitions from facultative to obligate mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid27155351, year = {2016}, author = {Braunsdorf, C and Mailänder-Sánchez, D and Schaller, M}, title = {Fungal sensing of host environment.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {1188-1200}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.12610}, pmid = {27155351}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycoses/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {To survive inside a host, fungi have to adapt to a changing and often hostile environment and therefore need the ability to recognize what is going on around them. To adapt to different host niches, they need to sense external conditions such as temperature, pH and to recognize specific host factors. The ability to respond to physiological changes inside the host, independent of being in a commensal, pathogenic or even symbiotic context, implicates mechanisms for sensing of specific host factors. Because the cell wall is constantly in contact with the surrounding, fungi express receptors on the surface of their cell wall, such as pheromone receptors, which have important roles, besides mediating chemotropism for mating. We are not restricting the discussion to the human host because the receptors and mechanisms used by different fungal species to sense their environment are often similar even for plant pathogens. Furthermore, the natural habitat of opportunistic pathogenic fungi with the potential to cause infection in a human host is in soil and on plants. While the hosts' mechanisms of sensing fungal pathogens have been addressed in the literature, the focus of this review is to fill the gap, giving an overview on fungal sensing of a host-(ile) environment. Expanding our knowledge on host-fungal interactions is extremely important to prevent and treat diseases of pathogenic fungi, which are important issues in human health and agriculture but also to understand the delicate balance of fungal symbionts in our ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid27154066, year = {2016}, author = {Kooij, PW and Pullens, JW and Boomsma, JJ and Schiøtt, M}, title = {Ant mediated redistribution of a xyloglucanase enzyme in fungus gardens of Acromyrmex echinatior.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {81}, pmid = {27154066}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Agaricales/*enzymology/physiology ; Animals ; Ants/microbiology/*physiology ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Glucans/metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Xylans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Xyloglucan is an important component in plant cell walls that herbivores cannot digest without microbial symbionts. Leaf-cutting ants are major insect herbivores in the Neo-Tropics that rely on fungus-garden enzymes for degrading plant cell walls. However, many of these ants discard much of their harvested plant material after partial degradation, which has led to the hypothesis that the fungal symbionts are primarily producing cell wall degrading enzymes to gain access to intracellular nutrients rather than for obtaining sugars from recalcitrant cell wall polymers, such as (hemi-)cellulose.

RESULTS: The fungal symbiont provides a single xyloglucanase (Xeg1) to its ant farmers by upregulating the expression of this protein in the inflated hyphal tips (gongylidia) that the ants ingest. Similar to other enzymes ingested this way, also Xeg1 is not digested but vectored to the fresh leaf-fragment pulp at the top of fungus gardens via ant fecal fluid. Xeg1 is 4-5 times more active in fecal fluid when ants ingest their normal fungal food, compared to a sucrose control diet, as expected when they cannot produce Xeg1 themselves. We confirm substrate specificity of fungal Xeg1 towards xyloglucan by heterologous expression in yeast and show that xyloglucanase activity is higher in the oldest, bottom layers of fungus gardens and in discarded debris material than in the upper and middle layers of fungus gardens.

CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with Xeg1 playing a role in the initial breakdown of plant cell wall hemicellulose to provide sugars for aggressive hyphal growth before intracellular proteins become available. Xeg1 does not play a major decomposition role in the middle layer of fungus gardens where it is produced by the gongylidia. Overall high xyloglucanase activity in old mycelium that is (about to be) discarded is striking and quite possibly serves defensive purposes by precluding that competing microorganisms can grow. Our results support the hypothesis that the ant-fungus symbiosis prioritizes access to the protein-rich contents of live plant cells and that carbohydrates are not a limiting resource.}, } @article {pmid27153495, year = {2016}, author = {Koch, MA and Reiner, GL and Lugo, KA and Kreuk, LS and Stanbery, AG and Ansaldo, E and Seher, TD and Ludington, WB and Barton, GM}, title = {Maternal IgG and IgA Antibodies Dampen Mucosal T Helper Cell Responses in Early Life.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {165}, number = {4}, pages = {827-841}, pmid = {27153495}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01 AI095587/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI104914/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI095587/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP5 OD017851/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AI063302/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI072429/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn/*immunology/microbiology ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Milk, Human/*immunology ; Signal Transduction ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/*immunology ; Toll-Like Receptors/immunology ; }, abstract = {To maintain a symbiotic relationship between the host and its resident intestinal microbiota, appropriate mucosal T cell responses to commensal antigens must be established. Mice acquire both IgG and IgA maternally; the former has primarily been implicated in passive immunity to pathogens while the latter mediates host-commensal mutualism. Here, we report the surprising observation that mice generate T cell-independent and largely Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent IgG2b and IgG3 antibody responses against their gut microbiota. We demonstrate that maternal acquisition of these antibodies dampens mucosal T follicular helper responses and subsequent germinal center B cell responses following birth. This work reveals a feedback loop whereby T cell-independent, TLR-dependent antibodies limit mucosal adaptive immune responses to newly acquired commensal antigens and uncovers a broader function for maternal IgG.}, } @article {pmid27151657, year = {2016}, author = {Yuan, K and Miwa, H and Iizuka, M and Yokoyama, T and Fujii, Y and Okazaki, S}, title = {Genetic Diversity and Symbiotic Phenotype of Hairy Vetch Rhizobia in Japan.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {121-126}, pmid = {27151657}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is a leguminous crop widely used as green manure and a cover crop in Japan. It exhibits strong weed-suppressing activity, high resistance to insect pests, and the ability to fix nitrogen through symbiotic interactions with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. Few studies have investigated the rhizobia that form nodules on hairy vetch in Japan, and the biological resources available for selecting high nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are limited. In the present study, we isolated 110 hairy vetch rhizobia from 13 different areas in Japan. Based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, 73% of the isolates were identified as Rhizobium leguminosarum. A comparative analysis of nodC and 16S rRNA gene phylogenies revealed that several isolates possessed congruent nodC sequences despite having divergent 16S rRNA gene sequences, suggesting that the horizontal transfer of nod genes occurred during the evolution of rhizobia. Inoculation tests showed that isolates closely related to R. leguminosarum had better plant growth-promoting effects than other strains, thereby providing a promising agricultural resource for inoculating crops.}, } @article {pmid27151484, year = {2016}, author = {Suroowan, S and Mahomoodally, F and Ragoo, L}, title = {Management and Treatment of Dengue and Chikungunya - Natural Products to the Rescue.}, journal = {Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {554-564}, doi = {10.2174/1386207319666160506123401}, pmid = {27151484}, issn = {1875-5402}, mesh = {Aedes/virology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biological Products/*chemistry ; Chikungunya Fever/*drug therapy/epidemiology/etiology/transmission ; Dengue/*drug therapy/epidemiology/transmission ; Humans ; Mosquito Control ; Mosquito Vectors/virology ; Neglected Diseases/drug therapy ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) flourish mostly in impoverished developing nations of the world. It is estimated that NTDs plague up to 1 billion people every year thereby inducing a massive economic and health burden worldwide. Following explosive outbreaks mostly in Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Indian Ocean, two common NTDs namely, Chikungunya and Dengue both transmitted by an infected mosquito vector principally Aedes aegypti have emerged as a major public health threat. Given the limitations of conventional medicine in specifically targeting the Chikungunya and Dengue virus (CHIKV and DENV), natural products present an interesting avenue to explore in the quest of developing novel anti; mosquito, CHIKV and DENV agents. In this endeavor, a number of plant extracts, isolated phytochemicals, essential oils and seaweeds have shown promising larvicidal and insecticidal activity against some mosquito vectors as well as anti CHIKV and DENV activity invitro. Other natural products that have depicted good potential against these diseases include; the symbiotic bacterial genus Wolbachia which can largely reduce the life span and infectivity of mosquito vectors and the marine Cyanobacterium Trichodesmium erythraeum which has shown anti- CHIKV activity at minimal cytotoxic level. The impetus of modern drug discovery approaches such as high throughput screening, drug repositioning, synthesis and computer-aided drug design will undeniably enhance the process of developing more stable lead molecules from natural products which have shown promising antiviral activity in-vitro.}, } @article {pmid27148704, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Hu, X and Ren, B}, title = {Treatment of antimony mine drainage: challenges and opportunities with special emphasis on mineral adsorption and sulfate reducing bacteria.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {73}, number = {9}, pages = {2039-2051}, doi = {10.2166/wst.2016.044}, pmid = {27148704}, issn = {0273-1223}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Antimony/*chemistry ; Bacteria/*classification/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Industrial Waste ; Iron/analysis ; Mining ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The present article summarizes antimony mine distribution, antimony mine drainage generation and environmental impacts, and critically analyses the remediation approach with special emphasis on iron oxidizing bacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria. Most recent research focuses on readily available low-cost adsorbents, such as minerals, wastes, and biosorbents. It is found that iron oxides prepared by chemical methods present superior adsorption ability for Sb(III) and Sb(V). However, this process is more costly and iron oxide activity can be inhibited by plenty of sulfate in antimony mine drainage. In the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria, sulfate can be reduced to sulfide and form Sb(2)S(3) precipitates. However, dissolved oxygen and lack of nutrient source in antimony mine drainage inhibit sulfate reducing bacteria activity. Biogenetic iron oxide minerals from iron corrosion by iron-oxidizing bacteria may prove promising for antimony adsorption, while the micro-environment generated from iron corrosion by iron oxidizing bacteria may provide better growth conditions for symbiotic sulfate reducing bacteria. Finally, based on biogenetic iron oxide adsorption and sulfate reducing bacteria followed by precipitation, the paper suggests an alternative treatment for antimony mine drainage that deserves exploration.}, } @article {pmid27149150, year = {2016}, author = {Judy, JD and Kirby, JK and McLaughlin, MJ and McNear, D and Bertsch, PM}, title = {Symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and Medicago truncatula is not significantly affected by silver and silver sulfide nanomaterials.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {214}, number = {}, pages = {731-736}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.078}, pmid = {27149150}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Nanoparticles/*analysis/toxicity ; Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/drug effects/*growth & development ; Silver Compounds/*analysis/toxicity ; Soil/chemistry/standards ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis/toxicity ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Silver (Ag) engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are being released into waste streams and are being discharged, largely as Ag2S aged-ENMs (a-ENMs), into agroecosystems receiving biosolids amendments. Recent research has demonstrated that biosolids containing an environmentally relevant mixture of ZnO, TiO2, and Ag ENMs and their transformation products, including Ag2S a-ENMs, disrupted the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes. However, this study was unable to unequivocally determine which ENM or combination of ENMs and a-ENMs was responsible for the observed inhibition. Here, we examined further the effects of polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) coated pristine Ag ENMs (PVP-Ag), Ag2S a-ENMs, and soluble Ag (as AgSO4) at 1, 10, and 100 mg Ag kg(-1) on the symbiosis between the legume Medicago truncatula and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Sinorhizobium melliloti in biosolids-amended soil. Nodulation frequency, nodule function, glutathione reductase production, and biomass were not significantly affected by any of the Ag treatments, even at 100 mg kg(-1), a concentration analogous to a worst-case scenario resulting from long-term, repeated biosolids amendments. Our results provide additional evidence that the disruption of the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes in response to a mixture of ENMs in biosolids-amended soil reported previously may not be attributable to Ag ENMs or their transformation end-products. We anticipate these findings will provide clarity to regulators and industry regarding potential unintended consequences to terrestrial ecosystems resulting from of the use of Ag ENMs in consumer products.}, } @article {pmid27148312, year = {2016}, author = {Manck-Götzenberger, J and Requena, N}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza Symbiosis Induces a Major Transcriptional Reprogramming of the Potato SWEET Sugar Transporter Family.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {487}, pmid = {27148312}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Biotrophic microbes feeding on plants must obtain carbon from their hosts without killing the cells. The symbiotic Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonizing plant roots do so by inducing major transcriptional changes in the host that ultimately also reprogram the whole carbon partitioning of the plant. AM fungi obtain carbohydrates from the root cortex apoplast, in particular from the periarbuscular space that surrounds arbuscules. However, the mechanisms by which cortical cells export sugars into the apoplast for fungal nutrition are unknown. Recently a novel type of sugar transporter, the SWEET, able to perform not only uptake but also efflux from cells was identified. Plant SWEETs have been shown to be involved in the feeding of pathogenic microbes and are, therefore, good candidates to play a similar role in symbiotic associations. Here we have carried out the first phylogenetic and expression analyses of the potato SWEET family and investigated its role during mycorrhiza symbiosis. The potato genome contains 35 SWEETs that cluster into the same four clades defined in Arabidopsis. Colonization of potato roots by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis imposes major transcriptional rewiring of the SWEET family involving, only in roots, changes in 22 of the 35 members. None of the SWEETs showed mycorrhiza-exclusive induction and most of the 12 induced genes belong to the putative hexose transporters of clade I and II, while only two are putative sucrose transporters from clade III. In contrast, most of the repressed transcripts (10) corresponded to clade III SWEETs. Promoter-reporter assays for three of the induced genes, each from one cluster, showed re-localization of expression to arbuscule-containing cells, supporting a role for SWEETs in the supply of sugars at biotrophic interfaces. The complex transcriptional regulation of SWEETs in roots in response to AM fungal colonization supports a model in which symplastic sucrose in cortical cells could be cleaved in the cytoplasm by sucrose synthases or cytoplasmic invertases and effluxed as glucose, but also directly exported as sucrose and then converted into glucose and fructose by cell wall-bound invertases. Precise biochemical, physiological and molecular analyses are now required to profile the role of each potato SWEET in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27148208, year = {2016}, author = {Poole, AZ and Kitchen, SA and Weis, VM}, title = {The Role of Complement in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis and Immune Challenge in the Sea Anemone Aiptasia pallida.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {519}, pmid = {27148208}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The complement system is an innate immune pathway that in vertebrates, is responsible for initial recognition and ultimately phagocytosis and destruction of microbes. Several complement molecules including C3, Factor B, and mannose binding lectin associated serine proteases (MASP) have been characterized in invertebrates and while most studies have focused on their conserved role in defense against pathogens, little is known about their role in managing beneficial microbes. The purpose of this study was to (1) characterize complement pathway genes in the symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pallida, (2) investigate the evolution of complement genes in invertebrates, and (3) examine the potential dual role of complement genes Factor B and MASP in the onset and maintenance of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and immune challenge using qPCR based studies. The results demonstrate that A. pallida has multiple Factor B genes (Ap_Bf-1, Ap_Bf-2a, and Ap_Bf-2b) and one MASP gene (Ap_MASP). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the evolutionary history of complement genes is complex, and there have been many gene duplications or gene loss events, even within members of the same phylum. Gene expression analyses revealed a potential role for complement in both onset and maintenance of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and immune challenge. Specifically, Ap_Bf-1 and Ap_MASP are significantly upregulated in the light at the onset of symbiosis and in response to challenge with the pathogen Serratia marcescens suggesting that they play a role in the initial recognition of both beneficial and harmful microbes. Ap_Bf-2b in contrast, was generally downregulated during the onset and maintenance of symbiosis and in response to challenge with S. marcescens. Therefore, the exact role of Ap_Bf-2b in response to microbes remains unclear, but the results suggest that the presence of microbes leads to repressed expression. Together, these results indicate functional divergence between Ap_Bf-1 and Ap_Bf-2b, and that Ap_Bf-1 and Ap_MASP may be functioning together in an ancestral hybrid of the lectin and alternative complement pathways. Overall, this study provides information on the role of the complement system in a basal metazoan and its role in host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid27148207, year = {2016}, author = {Davis-Richardson, AG and Russell, JT and Dias, R and McKinlay, AJ and Canepa, R and Fagen, JR and Rusoff, KT and Drew, JC and Kolaczkowski, B and Emerich, DW and Triplett, EW}, title = {Integrating DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Data in the Development of the Soybean-Bradyrhizobium N2-Fixing Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {518}, pmid = {27148207}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Very little is known about the role of epigenetics in the differentiation of a bacterium from the free-living to the symbiotic state. Here genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation changes between these states is described using the model of symbiosis between soybean and its root nodule-forming, nitrogen-fixing symbiont, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. PacBio resequencing of the B. diazoefficiens genome from both states revealed 43,061 sites recognized by five motifs with the potential to be methylated genome-wide. Of those sites, 3276 changed methylation states in 2921 genes or 35.5% of all genes in the genome. Over 10% of the methylation changes occurred within the symbiosis island that comprises 7.4% of the genome. The CCTTGAG motif was methylated only during symbiosis with 1361 adenosines methylated among the 1700 possible sites. Another 89 genes within the symbiotic island and 768 genes throughout the genome were found to have methylation and significant expression changes during symbiotic development. Of those, nine known symbiosis genes involved in all phases of symbiotic development including early infection events, nodule development, and nitrogenase production. These associations between methylation and expression changes in many B. diazoefficiens genes suggest an important role of the epigenome in bacterial differentiation to the symbiotic state.}, } @article {pmid27148188, year = {2016}, author = {Gong, J and Qing, Y and Zou, S and Fu, R and Su, L and Zhang, X and Zhang, Q}, title = {Protist-Bacteria Associations: Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria Are Prevalent as Digestion-Resistant Bacteria in Ciliated Protozoa.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {498}, pmid = {27148188}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Protistan bacterivory, a microbial process involving ingestion and digestion, is ecologically important in the microbial loop in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. While bacterial resistance to protistan ingestion has been relatively well understood, little is known about protistan digestion in which some ingested bacteria could not be digested in cells of major protistan grazers in the natural environment. Here we report the phylogenetic identities of digestion-resistant bacteria (DRB) that could survive starvation and form relatively stable associations with 11 marine and one freshwater ciliate species. Using clone library and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, we found that the protistan predators could host a high diversity of DRB, most of which represented novel bacterial taxa that have not been cultivated. The localization inside host cells, quantity, and viability of these bacteria were checked using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The DRB were affiliated with Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Parcubacteria (OD1), Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria, with Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria being the most frequently occurring classes. The dominance of Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria corresponds well to a previous study of Global Ocean Sampling metagenomic data showing the widespread types of bacterial type VI and IV secretion systems (T6SS and T4SS) in these two taxa, suggesting a putatively significant role of secretion systems in promoting marine protist-bacteria associations. In the DRB assemblages, opportunistic bacteria such as Alteromonadaceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, and Vibrionaceae often presented with high proportions, indicating these bacteria could evade protistan grazing thus persist and accumulate in the community, which, however, contrasts with their well-known rarity in nature. This begs the question whether viral lysis is significant in killing these indigestible bacteria in microbial communities. Taken together, our study on the identity of DRB sheds new light on microbial interactions and generates further hypotheses including the potential importance of bacterial protein secretion systems in structuring bacterial community composition and functioning of "microbial black box" in aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid27148165, year = {2016}, author = {Farnelid, HM and Turk-Kubo, KA and Zehr, JP}, title = {Identification of Associations between Bacterioplankton and Photosynthetic Picoeukaryotes in Coastal Waters.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {339}, pmid = {27148165}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Photosynthetic picoeukaryotes are significant contributors to marine primary productivity. Associations between marine bacterioplankton and picoeukaryotes frequently occur and can have large biogeochemical impacts. We used flow cytometry to sort cells from seawater to identify non-eukaryotic phylotypes that are associated with photosynthetic picoeukaryotes. Samples were collected at the Santa Cruz wharf on Monterey Bay, CA, USA during summer and fall, 2014. The phylogeny of associated microbes was assessed through 16S rRNA gene amplicon clone and Illumina MiSeq libraries. The most frequently detected bacterioplankton phyla within the photosynthetic picoeukaryote sorts were Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria) and Bacteroidetes. Intriguingly, the presence of free-living bacterial genera in the photosynthetic picoeukaryote sorts could suggest that some of the photosynthetic picoeukaryotes were mixotrophs. However, the occurrence of bacterial sequences, which were not prevalent in the corresponding bulk seawater samples, indicates that there was also a selection for specific OTUs in association with photosynthetic picoeukaryotes suggesting specific functional associations. The results show that diverse bacterial phylotypes are found in association with photosynthetic picoeukaryotes. Taxonomic identification of these associations is a prerequisite for further characterizing and to elucidate their metabolic pathways and ecological functions.}, } @article {pmid27148067, year = {2016}, author = {Hawkins, TD and Hagemeyer, JC and Hoadley, KD and Marsh, AG and Warner, ME}, title = {Partitioning of Respiration in an Animal-Algal Symbiosis: Implications for Different Aerobic Capacity between Symbiodinium spp.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {128}, pmid = {27148067}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses are ecologically important and the subject of much investigation. However, our understanding of critical aspects of symbiosis physiology, such as the partitioning of total respiration between the host and symbiont, remains incomplete. Specifically, we know little about how the relationship between host and symbiont respiration varies between different holobionts (host-symbiont combinations). We applied molecular and biochemical techniques to investigate aerobic respiratory capacity in naturally symbiotic Exaiptasia pallida sea anemones, alongside animals infected with either homologous ITS2-type A4 Symbiodinium or a heterologous isolate of Symbiodinium minutum (ITS2-type B1). In naturally symbiotic anemones, host, symbiont, and total holobiont mitochondrial citrate synthase (CS) enzyme activity, but not host mitochondrial copy number, were reliable predictors of holobiont respiration. There was a positive association between symbiont density and host CS specific activity (mg protein(-1)), and a negative correlation between host- and symbiont CS specific activities. Notably, partitioning of total CS activity between host and symbiont in this natural E. pallida population was significantly different to the host/symbiont biomass ratio. In re-infected anemones, we found significant between-holobiont differences in the CS specific activity of the algal symbionts. Furthermore, the relationship between the partitioning of total CS activity and the host/symbiont biomass ratio differed between holobionts. These data have broad implications for our understanding of cnidarian-algal symbiosis. Specifically, the long-held assumption of equivalency between symbiont/host biomass and respiration ratios can result in significant overestimation of symbiont respiration and potentially erroneous conclusions regarding the percentage of carbon translocated to the host. The interspecific variability in symbiont aerobic capacity provides further evidence for distinct physiological differences that should be accounted for when studying diverse host-symbiont combinations.}, } @article {pmid27142817, year = {2016}, author = {Despres, J and Forano, E and Lepercq, P and Comtet-Marre, S and Jubelin, G and Chambon, C and Yeoman, CJ and Berg Miller, ME and Fields, CJ and Martens, E and Terrapon, N and Henrissat, B and White, BA and Mosoni, P}, title = {Xylan degradation by the human gut Bacteroides xylanisolvens XB1A(T) involves two distinct gene clusters that are linked at the transcriptional level.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {326}, pmid = {27142817}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {322820/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacteroides/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; Multigene Family ; Operon ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Xylans/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant cell wall (PCW) polysaccharides and especially xylans constitute an important part of human diet. Xylans are not degraded by human digestive enzymes in the upper digestive tract and therefore reach the colon where they are subjected to extensive degradation by some members of the symbiotic microbiota. Xylanolytic bacteria are the first degraders of these complex polysaccharides and they release breakdown products that can have beneficial effects on human health. In order to understand better how these bacteria metabolize xylans in the colon, this study was undertaken to investigate xylan breakdown by the prominent human gut symbiont Bacteroides xylanisolvens XB1A(T).

RESULTS: Transcriptomic analyses of B. xylanisolvens XB1A(T) grown on insoluble oat-spelt xylan (OSX) at mid- and late-log phases highlighted genes in a polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL), hereafter called PUL 43, and genes in a fragmentary remnant of another PUL, hereafter referred to as rPUL 70, which were highly overexpressed on OSX relative to glucose. Proteomic analyses supported the up-regulation of several genes belonging to PUL 43 and showed the important over-production of a CBM4-containing GH10 endo-xylanase. We also show that PUL 43 is organized in two operons and that the knockout of the PUL 43 sensor/regulator HTCS gene blocked the growth of the mutant on insoluble OSX and soluble wheat arabinoxylan (WAX). The mutation not only repressed gene expression in the PUL 43 operons but also repressed gene expression in rPUL 70.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that xylan degradation by B. xylanisolvens XB1A(T) is orchestrated by one PUL and one PUL remnant that are linked at the transcriptional level. Coupled to studies on other xylanolytic Bacteroides species, our data emphasize the importance of one peculiar CBM4-containing GH10 endo-xylanase in xylan breakdown and that this modular enzyme may be used as a functional marker of xylan degradation in the human gut. Our results also suggest that B. xylanisolvens XB1A(T) has specialized in the degradation of xylans of low complexity. This functional feature may provide a niche to all xylanolytic bacteria harboring similar PULs. Further functional and ecological studies on fibrolytic Bacteroides species are needed to better understand their role in dietary fiber degradation and their impact on intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid27141668, year = {2015}, author = {Li, PY and Yang, G and Zhou, XT and Zhou, LY and Shao, AJ and Chen, ML}, title = {[Effect of five fungicides on growth of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {40}, number = {23}, pages = {4591-4596}, pmid = {27141668}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Fungi/*drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Fungicides, Industrial/*pharmacology ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis/chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {In order to obtain the fungicides with minimal impact on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis, the effect of five fungicides including polyoxins, jinggangmycins, thiophanate methylate, chlorothalonil and carbendazim on the growth of medicinal plant and efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis were studied. Pot cultured Glycyrrhiza uralensis was treated with different fungicides with the concentration that commonly used in the field. 60 d after treated with fungicides, infection rate, infection density, biomass indexes, photosyn- thetic index and the content of active component were measured. Experimental results showed that carbendazim had the strongest inhibition on mycorrhizal symbiosis effect. Carbendazim significantly inhibited the mycorrhizal infection rate, significantly suppressed the actual photosynthetic efficiency of G. uralensis and the most indicators of biomass. Polyoxins showed the lowest inhibiting affection. Polyoxins had no significant effect on mycorrhizal infection rate, the actual photosynthetic efficiency of G. uralensis and the most indicators of biomass. The other three fungicides also had an inhibitory effect on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis, and the inhibition degrees were all between polyoxins's and carbendazim's. The author considered that fungicide's inhibition degree on mycorrhizal effect might be related with the species of fungicides, so the author suggested that the farmer should try to choose bio-fungicides like polyoxins.}, } @article {pmid27139830, year = {2016}, author = {Salah Ud-Din, AI and Roujeinikova, A}, title = {The periplasmic sensing domain of Vibrio fischeri chemoreceptor protein A (VfcA): cloning, purification and crystallographic analysis.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology communications}, volume = {72}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {382-385}, pmid = {27139830}, issn = {2053-230X}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Periplasm/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Flagella-mediated motility and chemotaxis towards nutrients are important characteristics of Vibrio fischeri that play a crucial role in the development of its symbiotic relationship with its Hawaiian squid host Euprymna scolopes. The V. fischeri chemoreceptor A (VfcA) mediates chemotaxis toward amino acids. The periplasmic sensory domain of VfcA has been crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using polyethylene glycol 3350 as a precipitating agent. The crystals belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 39.9, b = 57.0, c = 117.0 Å, α = 88.9, β = 80.5, γ = 89.7°. A complete X-ray diffraction data set has been collected to 1.8 Å resolution using cryocooling conditions and synchrotron radiation.}, } @article {pmid27139153, year = {2016}, author = {Wright, JR}, title = {The Politics Underlying the Provision of and Changes in Pathology and Laboratory Services in the United States During the Roaring Twenties.}, journal = {Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine}, volume = {140}, number = {9}, pages = {983-991}, doi = {10.5858/arpa.2016-0113-HP}, pmid = {27139153}, issn = {1543-2165}, mesh = {American Medical Association ; Clinical Laboratory Services/*trends ; Humans ; Laboratories, Hospital/trends ; Pathologists ; Pathology, Clinical/methods/organization & administration/*trends ; *Periodicals as Topic ; *Politics ; Public Health/methods/trends ; United States ; }, abstract = {CONTEXT: -Prior to 1900, laboratory tests were simple enough to be performed by clinicians on the wards and most pathologists were academicians with little involvement in patient care issues. In the next 2 decades, laboratory test menus expanded rapidly and the increasing complexity of the tests created a potential niche for clinical pathologists (ie, pathologists providing patient-oriented anatomic and clinical pathology services). In the late 1910s and early 1920s, most of these services were provided by mail-order commercial laboratories or state public health laboratories rather than by hospital-based pathologists.

OBJECTIVE: -To describe the political events in the 1920s that would drastically alter the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine and that would have been important to the discipline at the time the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine was being conceived and first published.

DESIGN: -Available primary and secondary historical sources were reviewed.

RESULTS: -In the 1920s, clinical pathologists organized, forming the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, and took on the powerful American Medical Association for permitting advertisements by private laboratories in the pages of the Journal of the American Medical Association that listed test prices as if these were commodities. They found a strong partner in the American College of Surgeons, which was attempting to elevate surgical practice by creating minimum standards for hospitals. Through this symbiotic relationship, hospital-based practice was firmly established and the commercial laboratory model faltered.

CONCLUSIONS: -The Roaring Twenties was the time when the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine evolved into what we recognize today.}, } @article {pmid27138686, year = {2016}, author = {Guo, T and Wang, HC and Xue, WQ and Zhao, J and Yang, ZL}, title = {Phylogenetic Analyses of Armillaria Reveal at Least 15 Phylogenetic Lineages in China, Seven of Which Are Associated with Cultivated Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e0154794}, pmid = {27138686}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Armillaria/*genetics/*physiology ; China ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrodia/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Fungal species of Armillaria, which can act as plant pathogens and/or symbionts of the Chinese traditional medicinal herb Gastrodia elata ("Tianma"), are ecologically and economically important and have consequently attracted the attention of mycologists. However, their taxonomy has been highly dependent on morphological characterization and mating tests. In this study, we phylogenetically analyzed Chinese Armillaria samples using the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region, translation elongation factor-1 alpha gene and beta-tubulin gene. Our data revealed at least 15 phylogenetic lineages of Armillaria from China, of which seven were newly discovered and two were recorded from China for the first time. Fourteen Chinese biological species of Armillaria, which were previously defined based on mating tests, could be assigned to the 15 phylogenetic lineages identified herein. Seven of the 15 phylogenetic lineages were found to be disjunctively distributed in different continents of the Northern Hemisphere, while eight were revealed to be endemic to certain continents. In addition, we found that seven phylogenetic lineages of Armillaria were used for the cultivation of Tianma, only two of which had been recorded to be associated with Tianma previously. We also illustrated that G. elata f. glauca ("Brown Tianma") and G. elata f. elata ("Red Tianma"), two cultivars of Tianma grown in different regions of China, form symbiotic relationships with different phylogenetic lineages of Armillaria. These findings should aid the development of Tianma cultivation in China.}, } @article {pmid27137897, year = {2016}, author = {Chilloux, J and Neves, AL and Boulangé, CL and Dumas, ME}, title = {The microbial-mammalian metabolic axis: a critical symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {250-256}, pmid = {27137897}, issn = {1473-6519}, support = {MR/M501797/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Diet/adverse effects ; *Diet, Healthy/veterinary ; Dysbiosis/etiology/microbiology/*prevention & control/veterinary ; Fermentation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Mammals ; Metabolic Diseases/etiology/microbiology/*prevention & control/veterinary ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The microbial-mammalian symbiosis plays a critical role in metabolic health. Microbial metabolites emerge as key messengers in the complex communication between the gut microbiota and their host. These chemical signals are mainly derived from nutritional precursors, which in turn are also able to modify gut microbiota population. Recent advances in the characterization of the gut microbiome and the mechanisms involved in this symbiosis allow the development of nutritional interventions. This review covers the latest findings on the microbial-mammalian metabolic axis as a critical symbiotic relationship particularly relevant to clinical nutrition.

RECENT FINDINGS: The modulation of host metabolism by metabolites derived from the gut microbiota highlights the importance of gut microbiota in disease prevention and causation. The composition of microbial populations in our gut ecosystem is a critical pathophysiological factor, mainly regulated by diet, but also by the host's characteristics (e.g. genetics, circadian clock, immune system, age). Tailored interventions, including dietary changes, the use of antibiotics, prebiotic and probiotic supplementation and faecal transplantation are promising strategies to manipulate microbial ecology.

SUMMARY: The microbiome is now considered as an easily reachable target to prevent and treat related diseases. Recent findings in both mechanisms of its interactions with host metabolism and in strategies to modify gut microbiota will allow us to develop more effective treatments especially in metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid27137204, year = {2016}, author = {Moodley, K and Rossouw, T and Staunton, C and Colvin, CJ}, title = {Synergies, tensions and challenges in HIV prevention, treatment and cure research: exploratory conversations with HIV experts in South Africa.}, journal = {BMC medical ethics}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {26}, pmid = {27137204}, issn = {1472-6939}, support = {P30 AI050410/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI108366/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Attitude ; Biomedical Research/*ethics ; Disease Eradication ; *Ethics, Research ; Female ; *HIV Infections/prevention & control/therapy ; Humans ; Male ; *Patient Advocacy ; *Physicians ; *Research Personnel ; Research Subjects ; South Africa ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ethical concerns associated with HIV prevention and treatment research have been widely explored in South Africa over the past 3 decades. However, HIV cure research is relatively new to the region and significant ethical and social challenges are anticipated. There has been no published empirical enquiry in Africa into key informant perspectives on HIV cure research. Consequently, this study was conducted to gain preliminary data from South African HIV clinicians, researchers and activists.

METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted on a purposive sample of fourteen key informants in South Africa. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim with concurrent thematic analysis. The perspectives of HIV clinicians, researchers and activists were captured. Analyst triangulation occurred as the data were analysed by three authors independently.

RESULTS: The rapid evolution of HIV cure research agendas was prominent with participants expressing some concern that the global North was driving the cure agenda. Participants described a symbiotic relationship between cure, treatment and prevention research necessitating collaboration. Assessing and managing knowledge and expectations around HIV cure research emerged as a central theme related to challenges to constructing 'cure' - how patients understand the idea of cure is important in explaining the complexity of cure research especially in the South African context where understanding of science is often challenging. Managing expectations and avoiding curative misconception will have implications for consent processes. Unique strategies in cure research could include treatment interruption, which has the potential to create therapeutic and ethical conflict and will be perceived as a significant risk. Ethical challenges in cure research will impact on informed consent and community engagement.

CONCLUSIONS: It was encouraging to note the desire for synergy amongst researchers and clinicians working in the fields of prevention, treatment and cure. Translation of complex HIV cure science into lay language is critical. Moving forward, RECs must be adequately constituted with scientific expertise and community representation when reviewing cure protocols. It is hoped that knowledge and resource sharing in the context of collaboration between research scientists working in cure and those working in treatment and prevention will accelerate progress towards cure.}, } @article {pmid27137074, year = {2016}, author = {Santos, HF and Carmo, FL and Martirez, N and Duarte, GA and Calderon, EN and Castro, CB and Pires, DO and Rosado, AS and Peixoto, RS}, title = {Cyanobacterial and microeukaryotic profiles of healthy, diseased, and dead Millepora alcicornis from the South Atlantic.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {119}, number = {2}, pages = {163-172}, doi = {10.3354/dao02972}, pmid = {27137074}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Atlantic Ocean ; Cyanobacteria/*isolation & purification ; Eukaryota/classification/*isolation & purification ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are at risk due to events associated with human activities, which have resulted in the increasing occurrence of coral diseases. Corals live in symbiotic relationships with different microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria, a very important group. Members of the phylum Cyanobacteria are found in great abundance in the marine environment and may play an essential role in keeping corals healthy but may also be pathogenic. Furthermore, some studies are showing a rise in cyanobacterial abundance in coral reefs as a result of climate change. The current study aimed to improve our understanding of the relationship between cyanobacteria and coral health. Our results revealed that the cyanobacterial genus GPI (Anabaena) is a possible opportunistic pathogen of the coral species Millepora alcicornis in the South Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, the bacterial and microeukaryotic profile of healthy, diseased, and post-disease (skeletal) regions of affected coral indicated that a microbial consortium composed of Anabaena sp., Prosthecochloris sp., and microeukaryotes could be involved in this pathogenicity or could be taking advantage of the diseased state.}, } @article {pmid27136716, year = {2016}, author = {Kikuchi, Y and Hijikata, N and Ohtomo, R and Handa, Y and Kawaguchi, M and Saito, K and Masuta, C and Ezawa, T}, title = {Aquaporin-mediated long-distance polyphosphate translocation directed towards the host in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: application of virus-induced gene silencing.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {4}, pages = {1202-1208}, doi = {10.1111/nph.14016}, pmid = {27136716}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Aquaporins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; *Gene Silencing ; Genes, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/genetics/physiology ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Transpiration/physiology ; Plant Viruses/*metabolism ; Polyphosphates/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi translocate polyphosphate through hyphae over a long distance to deliver to the host. More than three decades ago, suppression of host transpiration was found to decelerate phosphate delivery of the fungal symbiont, leading us to hypothesize that transpiration provides a primary driving force for polyphosphate translocation, probably via creating hyphal water flow in which fungal aquaporin(s) may be involved. The impact of transpiration suppression on polyphosphate translocation through hyphae of Rhizophagus clarus was evaluated. An aquaporin gene expressed in intraradical mycelia was characterized and knocked down by virus-induced gene silencing to investigate the involvement of the gene in polyphosphate translocation. Rhizophagus clarus aquaporin 3 (RcAQP3) that was most highly expressed in intraradical mycelia encodes an aquaglyceroporin responsible for water transport across the plasma membrane. Knockdown of RcAQP3 as well as the suppression of host transpiration decelerated polyphosphate translocation in proportion to the levels of knockdown and suppression, respectively. These results provide the first insight into the mechanism underlying long-distance polyphosphate translocation in mycorrhizal associations at the molecular level, in which host transpiration and the fungal aquaporin play key roles. A hypothetical model of the translocation is proposed for further elucidation of the mechanism.}, } @article {pmid27136534, year = {2016}, author = {Kumar, N and Astegno, A and Chen, J and Giorgetti, A and Dominici, P}, title = {Residues in the Distal Heme Pocket of Arabidopsis Non-Symbiotic Hemoglobins: Implication for Nitrite Reductase Activity.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {27136534}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Arabidopsis/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Heme/chemistry/metabolism ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Luminescent Measurements ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis ; Nitric Oxide/analysis/metabolism ; Nitrite Reductases/chemistry/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peroxynitrous Acid/chemistry ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {It is well-established that plant hemoglobins (Hbs) are involved in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism via NO dioxygenase and/or nitrite reductase activity. The ferrous-deoxy Arabidopsis Hb1 and Hb2 (AHb1 and AHb2) have been shown to reduce nitrite to NO under hypoxia. Here, to test the hypothesis that a six- to five-coordinate heme iron transition might mediate the control of the nitrite reduction rate, we examined distal pocket mutants of AHb1 and AHb2 for nitrite reductase activity, NO production and spectroscopic features. Absorption spectra of AHbs distal histidine mutants showed that AHb1 mutant (H69L) is a stable pentacoordinate high-spin species in both ferrous and ferric states, whereas heme iron in AHb2 mutant (H66L) is hexacoordinated low-spin with Lys69 as the sixth ligand. The bimolecular rate constants for nitrite reduction to NO were 13.3 ± 0.40, 7.3 ± 0.5, 10.6 ± 0.8 and 171.90 ± 9.00 M(-1)·s(-1) for AHb1, AHb2, AHb1 H69L and AHb2 H66L, respectively, at pH 7.4 and 25 °C. Consistent with the reductase activity, the amount of NO detected by chemiluminescence was significantly higher in the AHb2 H66L mutant. Our data indicate that nitrite reductase activity is determined not only by heme coordination, but also by a unique distal heme pocket in each AHb.}, } @article {pmid27135240, year = {2016}, author = {Pérez-Fernández, M and Calvo-Magro, E and Ramírez-Rojas, I and Moreno-Gallardo, L and Alexander, V}, title = {Patterns of Growth Costs and Nitrogen Acquisition in Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm. and Cytisus balansae (Boiss.) Ball are Mediated by Sources of Inorganic N.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {27135240}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing shrubby legumes in the Mediterranean area partly overcome nutrient limitations by making use of soil N and atmospheric N2 sources. Their ability to switch between different sources lets them adjust to the carbon costs pertaining to N acquisition throughout the year. We investigated the utilization of different inorganic N sources by Cytisus balansae and Cytisus striatus, shrubby legumes under low and a sufficient (5 and 500 µM P, respectively) levels of P. Plants grew in sterile sand, supplied with N-free nutrient solution and inoculated with effective Bradyrhizobium strains; other treatments consisted of plants treated with (i) 500 µM NH4NO3; and (ii) 500 µM NH4NO3 and inoculation with effective rhizobial strains. The application of NH4NO3 always resulted in greater dry biomass production. Carbon construction costs were higher in plants that were supplied with mineral and symbiotic N sources and always greater in the endemic C. striatus. Photosynthetic rates were similar in plants treated with different sources of N although differences were observed between the two species. Non-fertilized inoculated plants showed a neat dependence on N2 fixation and had more effective root nodules. Results accounted for the distribution of the two species with regards to their ability to use different N sources.}, } @article {pmid27135229, year = {2016}, author = {Gimenez-Ibanez, S and Chini, A and Solano, R}, title = {How Microbes Twist Jasmonate Signaling around Their Little Fingers.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {27135229}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Plant immunity relies on a complex network of hormone signaling pathways in which jasmonic acid (JA) plays a central role. Successful microbial pathogens or symbionts have developed strategies to manipulate plant hormone signaling pathways to cause hormonal imbalances for their own benefit. These strategies include the production of plant hormones, phytohormone mimics, or effector proteins that target host components to disrupt hormonal signaling pathways and enhance virulence. Here, we describe the molecular details of the most recent and best-characterized examples of specific JA hormonal manipulation by microbes, which exemplify the ingenious ways by which pathogens can take control over the plant's hormone signaling network to suppress host immunity.}, } @article {pmid27134180, year = {2016}, author = {Jiménez-Valerio, G and Martínez-Lozano, M and Bassani, N and Vidal, A and Ochoa-de-Olza, M and Suárez, C and García-Del-Muro, X and Carles, J and Viñals, F and Graupera, M and Indraccolo, S and Casanovas, O}, title = {Resistance to Antiangiogenic Therapies by Metabolic Symbiosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma PDX Models and Patients.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {1134-1143}, pmid = {27134180}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {281830/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; *Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects ; Everolimus/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Indoles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Kidney Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; Male ; Mice, Nude ; Phenotype ; Pyrroles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sunitinib ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; *Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; }, abstract = {Antiangiogenic drugs are used clinically for treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as a standard first-line treatment. Nevertheless, these agents primarily serve to stabilize disease, and resistance eventually develops concomitant with progression. Here, we implicate metabolic symbiosis between tumor cells distal and proximal to remaining vessels as a mechanism of resistance to antiangiogenic therapies in patient-derived RCC orthoxenograft (PDX) models and in clinical samples. This metabolic patterning is regulated by the mTOR pathway, and its inhibition effectively blocks metabolic symbiosis in PDX models. Clinically, patients treated with antiangiogenics consistently present with histologic signatures of metabolic symbiosis that are exacerbated in resistant tumors. Furthermore, the mTOR pathway is also associated in clinical samples, and its inhibition eliminates symbiotic patterning in patient samples. Overall, these data support a mechanism of resistance to antiangiogenics involving metabolic compartmentalization of tumor cells that can be inhibited by mTOR-targeted drugs.}, } @article {pmid27134168, year = {2016}, author = {Pisarsky, L and Bill, R and Fagiani, E and Dimeloe, S and Goosen, RW and Hagmann, J and Hess, C and Christofori, G}, title = {Targeting Metabolic Symbiosis to Overcome Resistance to Anti-angiogenic Therapy.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {1161-1174}, pmid = {27134168}, issn = {2211-1247}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Cell Hypoxia/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; *Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects ; Female ; Glycolysis/drug effects ; Humans ; Indoles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/blood supply/drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/*drug therapy/pathology ; }, abstract = {Despite the approval of several anti-angiogenic therapies, clinical results remain unsatisfactory, and transient benefits are followed by rapid tumor recurrence. Here, we demonstrate potent anti-angiogenic efficacy of the multi-kinase inhibitors nintedanib and sunitinib in a mouse model of breast cancer. However, after an initial regression, tumors resume growth in the absence of active tumor angiogenesis. Gene expression profiling of tumor cells reveals metabolic reprogramming toward anaerobic glycolysis. Indeed, combinatorial treatment with a glycolysis inhibitor (3PO) efficiently inhibits tumor growth. Moreover, tumors establish metabolic symbiosis, illustrated by the differential expression of MCT1 and MCT4, monocarboxylate transporters active in lactate exchange in glycolytic tumors. Accordingly, genetic ablation of MCT4 expression overcomes adaptive resistance against anti-angiogenic therapy. Hence, targeting metabolic symbiosis may be an attractive avenue to avoid resistance development to anti-angiogenic therapy in patients.}, } @article {pmid27134166, year = {2016}, author = {Allen, E and Miéville, P and Warren, CM and Saghafinia, S and Li, L and Peng, MW and Hanahan, D}, title = {Metabolic Symbiosis Enables Adaptive Resistance to Anti-angiogenic Therapy that Is Dependent on mTOR Signaling.}, journal = {Cell reports}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {1144-1160}, pmid = {27134166}, issn = {2211-1247}, support = {//European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Axitinib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glutamine/metabolism ; Glycolysis/drug effects ; Humans ; Imidazoles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Indazoles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Indoles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Intestinal Neoplasms/*blood supply/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/*blood supply/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*blood supply/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Pyrroles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sirolimus/pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*blood supply/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Sunitinib ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/*metabolism ; Up-Regulation/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Therapeutic targeting of tumor angiogenesis with VEGF inhibitors results in demonstrable, but transitory efficacy in certain human tumors and mouse models of cancer, limited by unconventional forms of adaptive/evasive resistance. In one such mouse model, potent angiogenesis inhibitors elicit compartmental reorganization of cancer cells around remaining blood vessels. The glucose and lactate transporters GLUT1 and MCT4 are induced in distal hypoxic cells in a HIF1α-dependent fashion, indicative of glycolysis. Tumor cells proximal to blood vessels instead express the lactate transporter MCT1, and p-S6, the latter reflecting mTOR signaling. Normoxic cancer cells import and metabolize lactate, resulting in upregulation of mTOR signaling via glutamine metabolism enhanced by lactate catabolism. Thus, metabolic symbiosis is established in the face of angiogenesis inhibition, whereby hypoxic cancer cells import glucose and export lactate, while normoxic cells import and catabolize lactate. mTOR signaling inhibition disrupts this metabolic symbiosis, associated with upregulation of the glucose transporter GLUT2.}, } @article {pmid27133028, year = {2016}, author = {Nagai, M and Obata, Y and Takahashi, D and Hase, K}, title = {Fine-tuning of the mucosal barrier and metabolic systems using the diet-microbial metabolite axis.}, journal = {International immunopharmacology}, volume = {37}, number = {}, pages = {79-86}, doi = {10.1016/j.intimp.2016.04.001}, pmid = {27133028}, issn = {1878-1705}, mesh = {Autoimmune Diseases/diet therapy ; *Diet Therapy ; Food Additives/*adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/diet therapy ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Obesity/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota has profound effects on human physiology, including the development and maintenance of the host immune and metabolic systems. Under physiological conditions, the intestinal microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host. Abnormalities in the host-microbe relationship, however, have been implicated in multiple disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), metabolic syndrome, and autoimmune diseases. There is a close correlation between dietary factors and the microbial composition in the gut. Long-term dietary habits influence the composition of the gut microbial community and consequently alter microbial metabolic activity. The diet-microbiota axis plays a vital role in the regulation of the host immune system, at least partly through altering microbial metabolism. In this review, we will describe the current findings regarding how dietary factors and microbial metabolites regulate the host immune system.}, } @article {pmid27132995, year = {2016}, author = {Amoedo, ND and Punzi, G and Obre, E and Lacombe, D and De Grassi, A and Pierri, CL and Rossignol, R}, title = {AGC1/2, the mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate carriers.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1863}, number = {10}, pages = {2394-2412}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.04.011}, pmid = {27132995}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid/*metabolism ; Biological Transport, Active/drug effects ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*physiology ; Cattle ; Consensus Sequence ; Glutamic Acid/*metabolism ; Humans ; Malates/metabolism ; Mice ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/deficiency/genetics/*physiology ; Models, Molecular ; NAD/metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins/physiology ; Organ Specificity ; Organic Anion Transporters/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Protein Conformation ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {In this review we discuss the structure and functions of the aspartate/glutamate carriers (AGC1-aralar and AGC2-citrin). Those proteins supply the aspartate synthesized within mitochondrial matrix to the cytosol in exchange for glutamate and a proton. A structure of an AGC carrier is not available yet but comparative 3D models were proposed. Moreover, transport assays performed by using the recombinant AGC1 and AGC2, reconstituted into liposome vesicles, allowed to explore the kinetics of those carriers and to reveal their specific transport properties. AGCs participate to a wide range of cellular functions, as the control of mitochondrial respiration, calcium signaling and antioxydant defenses. AGC1 might also play peculiar tissue-specific functions, as it was found to participate to cell-to-cell metabolic symbiosis in the retina. On the other hand, AGC1 is involved in the glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity in neurons and AGC gene or protein alterations were discovered in rare human diseases. Accordingly, a mice model of AGC1 gene knock-out presented with growth delay and generalized tremor, with myelinisation defects. More recently, AGC was proposed to play a crucial role in tumor metabolism as observed from metabolomic studies showing that the asparate exported from the mitochondrion by AGC1 is employed in the regeneration of cytosolic glutathione. Therefore, given the central role of AGCs in cell metabolism and human pathology, drug screening are now being developed to identify pharmacological modulators of those carriers. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Channels edited by Pierre Sonveaux, Pierre Maechler and Jean-Claude Martinou.}, } @article {pmid27132110, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, M and Monaco, MH and Donovan, SM}, title = {Impact of early gut microbiota on immune and metabolic development and function.}, journal = {Seminars in fetal & neonatal medicine}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {380-387}, doi = {10.1016/j.siny.2016.04.004}, pmid = {27132110}, issn = {1878-0946}, support = {R01 HD061929/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/metabolism/*microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microbial colonization of the infant intestine occurs in the first two years of life. Symbiotic host and microbe interactions are critical for host metabolic and immune development. Emerging evidence indicates that early microbiota colonization may influence the occurrence of metabolic and immune diseases. Further understanding of the importance of environmental factors, including fetal microbial exposure, diet, delivery mode, pre- and probiotic consumption, and antibiotic use on immune and metabolic programming will provide new opportunities for the development of therapeutic and prophylactic measures to improve infant health and reduce the risk of disease in post-infancy years.}, } @article {pmid27131331, year = {2016}, author = {Hughes, DP and Araújo, JP and Loreto, RG and Quevillon, L and de Bekker, C and Evans, HC}, title = {From So Simple a Beginning: The Evolution of Behavioral Manipulation by Fungi.}, journal = {Advances in genetics}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {437-469}, doi = {10.1016/bs.adgen.2016.01.004}, pmid = {27131331}, issn = {0065-2660}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Ants/microbiology/physiology ; Behavior Control ; *Behavior, Animal ; Biodiversity ; Fungi/*pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Hypocreales/pathogenicity/physiology ; Insecta/microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Parasites can manipulate the behavior of their hosts in ways that increase either their direct fitness or transmission to new hosts. The Kingdom Fungi have evolved a diverse array of strategies to manipulate arthropod behavior resulting in some of the most complex and impressive examples of behavioral manipulation by parasites. Here we provide an overview of these different interactions and discuss them from an evolutionary perspective. We discuss parasite manipulation within the context of Niko Tinbergen's four questions (function, phylogeny, causation, and ontogeny) before detailing the proximate mechanisms by which fungi control arthropod behavior and the evolutionary pathways to such adaptations. We focus on some systems for which we have recently acquired new knowledge (such as the zombie ant fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l.), but a major goal is also to highlight how many interesting examples remain to be discovered and investigated. With this in mind, we also discuss likely examples of manipulated spiders that are largely unexplored ("zombie spiders"). Armed with advanced tools in evolutionary biology (from serial block face SEM to RNAseq) we can discover how the fungi, a group of microbes capable of coordinated activity, have evolved the ability to direct animal behavior. In short, we have the ability to understand how the organism without the brain controls the one with the brain. We hope such a goal, coupled with the knowledge that many diverse examples of control exist, will inspire other organismal biologists to study the complex adaptations that have arisen from "so simple a beginning."}, } @article {pmid27131326, year = {2016}, author = {Ortiz-Urquiza, A and Keyhani, NO}, title = {Molecular Genetics of Beauveria bassiana Infection of Insects.}, journal = {Advances in genetics}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {165-249}, doi = {10.1016/bs.adgen.2015.11.003}, pmid = {27131326}, issn = {0065-2660}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/*genetics/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Research on the insect pathogenic filamentous fungus, Beauveria bassiana has witnessed significant growth in recent years from mainly physiological studies related to its insect biological control potential, to addressing fundamental questions regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms of fungal development and virulence. This has been in part due to a confluence of robust genetic tools and genomic resources for the fungus, and recognition of expanded ecological interactions with which the fungus engages. Beauveria bassiana is a broad host range insect pathogen that has the ability to form intimate symbiotic relationships with plants. Indeed, there is an increasing realization that the latter may be the predominant environmental interaction in which the fungus participates, and that insect parasitism may be an opportunist lifestyle evolved due to the carbon- and nitrogen-rich resources present in insect bodies. Here, we will review progress on the molecular genetics of B. bassiana, which has largely been directed toward identifying genetic pathways involved in stress response and virulence assumed to have practical applications in improving the insect control potential of the fungus. Important strides have also been made in understanding aspects of B. bassiana development. Finally, although increasingly apparent in a number of studies, there is a need for progressing beyond phenotypic mutant characterization to sufficiently investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying B. bassiana's unique and diverse lifestyles as saprophyte, insect pathogen, and plant mutualist.}, } @article {pmid27131019, year = {2016}, author = {Estrela, S and Kerr, B and Morris, JJ}, title = {Transitions in individuality through symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {31}, number = {}, pages = {191-198}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2016.04.007}, pmid = {27131019}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells/cytology ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology/parasitology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {When a more complex, functionally integrated entity emerges from the association of simpler, initially independent entities, a major evolutionary transition has occurred. Transitions that result from the association of different species include the evolution of the eukaryotic cell and some obligate mutualisms. Recent studies are revolutionizing our understanding of how these intimate interspecific associations come to be, revealing how and to what extent each partner contributes to the relationship, and how partners mediate conflict. Here, we review work on the evolution of mutualistic symbioses in the context of transitions in individuality and highlight how a better mechanistic understanding of the ecological drivers of host-symbiont interdependencies can help elucidate the evolutionary path to symbiotic organismality.}, } @article {pmid27130488, year = {2016}, author = {Emery, VJ and Tsutsui, ND}, title = {Differential Sharing of Chemical Cues by Social Parasites Versus Social Mutualists in a Three-Species Symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {277-285}, pmid = {27130488}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/drug effects/metabolism/*parasitology/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; *Cues ; Hydrocarbons/metabolism/pharmacology ; Nesting Behavior ; *Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Chemical recognition systems are crucial for maintaining the unity of social insect colonies. It has been proposed that colonies form a common chemical signature, called the gestalt odor, which is used to distinguish colony members and non-members. This chemical integration is achieved actively through social interactions such as trophallaxis and allogrooming, or passively such as through exposure to common nest material. When colonies are infiltrated by social parasites, the intruders often use some form of chemical mimicry. However, it is not always clear how this chemical mimicry is accomplished. Here, we used a three-species nesting symbiosis to test the differences in chemical integration of mutualistic (parabiotic) and parasitic ant species. We found that the parasite (Solenopsis picea) obtains chemical cues from both of the two parabiotic host ant species. However, the two parabiotic species (Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus) maintain species-specific cues, and do not acquire compounds from the other species. Our findings suggest that there is a fundamental difference in how social mutualists and social parasites use chemicals to integrate themselves into colonies.}, } @article {pmid27129691, year = {2017}, author = {Al Khodor, S and Shatat, IF}, title = {Gut microbiome and kidney disease: a bidirectional relationship.}, journal = {Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany)}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {921-931}, pmid = {27129691}, issn = {1432-198X}, mesh = {Carbon/therapeutic use ; Child ; Dietary Supplements ; Disease Progression ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; Indican/toxicity ; Indoles/metabolism ; Oxides/therapeutic use ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*physiopathology/*therapy ; }, abstract = {Recent technological advances and efforts, including powerful metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses, have led to a tremendous growth in our understanding of microbial communities. Changes in microbial abundance or composition of human microbial communities impact human health or disease state. However, explorations into the mechanisms underlying host-microbe interactions in health and disease are still in their infancy. Although changes in the gut microbiota have been described in patients with kidney disease, the relationships between pathogenesis, mechanisms of disease progression, and the gut microbiome are still evolving. Here, we review changes in the host-microbiome symbiotic relationship in an attempt to explore the bidirectional relationship in which alterations in the microbiome affect kidney disease progression and how kidney disease may disrupt a balanced microbiome. We also discuss potential targeted interventions that may help re-establish this symbiosis and propose more effective ways to deploy traditional treatments in patients with kidney disease.}, } @article {pmid27129432, year = {2016}, author = {Fliegmann, J and Jauneau, A and Pichereaux, C and Rosenberg, C and Gasciolli, V and Timmers, AC and Burlet-Schiltz, O and Cullimore, J and Bono, JJ}, title = {LYR3, a high-affinity LCO-binding protein of Medicago truncatula, interacts with LYK3, a key symbiotic receptor.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {590}, number = {10}, pages = {1477-1487}, doi = {10.1002/1873-3468.12191}, pmid = {27129432}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protoplasts/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {LYR3, LYK3, and NFP are lysin motif-containing receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs) from Medicago truncatula, involved in perception of symbiotic lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) signals. Here, we show that LYR3, a high-affinity LCO-binding protein, physically interacts with LYK3, a key player regulating symbiotic interactions. In vitro, LYR3 is phosphorylated by the active kinase domain of LYK3. Fluorescence lifetime imaging/Förster resonance energy transfer (FLIM/FRET) experiments in tobacco protoplasts show that the interaction between LYR3 and LYK3 at the plasma membrane is disrupted or inhibited by addition of LCOs. Moreover, LYR3 attenuates the cell death response, provoked by coexpression of NFP and LYK3 in tobacco leaves.}, } @article {pmid27129319, year = {2016}, author = {Hubert, J and Kamler, M and Nesvorna, M and Ledvinka, O and Kopecky, J and Erban, T}, title = {Comparison of Varroa destructor and Worker Honeybee Microbiota Within Hives Indicates Shared Bacteria.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {2}, pages = {448-459}, pmid = {27129319}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*microbiology/parasitology ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Female ; Male ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spiroplasma/*classification/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; Varroidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major pest of the honeybee Apis mellifera. In a previous study, bacteria were found in the guts of mites collected from winter beehive debris and were identified using Sanger sequencing of their 16S rRNA genes. In this study, community comparison and diversity analyses were performed to examine the microbiota of honeybees and mites at the population level. The microbiota of the mites and honeybees in 26 colonies in seven apiaries in Czechia was studied. Between 10 and 50 Varroa females were collected from the bottom board, and 10 worker bees were removed from the peripheral comb of the same beehive. Both bees and mites were surface sterilized. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene libraries revealed significant differences in the Varroa and honeybee microbiota. The Varroa microbiota was less diverse than was the honeybee microbiota, and the relative abundances of bacterial taxa in the mite and bee microbiota differed. The Varroa mites, but not the honeybees, were found to be inhabited by Diplorickettsia. The relative abundance of Arsenophonus, Morganella, Spiroplasma, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas was higher in Varroa than in honeybees, and the Diplorickettsia symbiont detected in this study is specific to Varroa mites. The results demonstrated that there are shared bacteria between Varroa and honeybee populations but that these bacteria occur in different relative proportions in the honeybee and mite bacteriomes. These results support the suggestion of bacterial transfer via mites, although only some of the transferred bacteria may be harmful.}, } @article {pmid27128997, year = {2016}, author = {Bongrand, C and Koch, EJ and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Cordero, OX and McFall-Ngai, M and Polz, MF and Ruby, EG}, title = {A genomic comparison of 13 symbiotic Vibrio fischeri isolates from the perspective of their host source and colonization behavior.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {2907-2917}, pmid = {27128997}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; P41 RR001614/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Environment ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Host Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Newly hatched Euprymna scolopes squid obtain their specific light-organ symbionts from an array of Vibrio (Allivibrio) fischeri strains present in their environment. Two genetically distinct populations of this squid species have been identified, one in Kaneohe Bay (KB), and another in Maunaloa Bay (MB), Oahu. We asked whether symbionts isolated from squid in each of these populations outcompete isolates from the other population in mixed-infection experiments. No relationship was found between a strain's host source (KB or MB) and its ability to competitively colonize KB or MB juveniles in a mixed inoculum. Instead, two colonization behaviors were identified among the 11 KB and MB strains tested: a 'dominant' outcome, in which one strain outcompetes the other for colonization, and a 'sharing' outcome, in which two strains co-colonize the squid. A genome-level comparison of these and other V. fischeri strains suggested that the core genomic structure of this species is both syntenous and highly conserved over time and geographical distance. We also identified ~250 Kb of sequence, encoding 194 dispersed orfs, that was specific to those strains that expressed the dominant colonization behavior. Taken together, the results indicate a link between the genome content of V. fischeri strains and their colonization behavior when initiating a light-organ symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27128742, year = {2016}, author = {Bonneville, S and Bray, AW and Benning, LG}, title = {Structural Fe(II) Oxidation in Biotite by an Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Drives Mechanical Forcing.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {50}, number = {11}, pages = {5589-5596}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5b06178}, pmid = {27128742}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Ferric Compounds/metabolism ; Ferrous Compounds/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms are essential agents of Earth's soil weathering engine who help transform primary rock-forming minerals into soils. Mycorrhizal fungi, with their vast filamentous networks in symbiosis with the roots of most plants can alter a large number of minerals via local acidification, targeted excretion of ligands, submicron-scale biomechanical forcing, and mobilization of Mg, Fe, Al, and K at the hypha-biotite interface. Here, we present experimental evidence that Paxillus involutus-a basidiomycete fungus-in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), is able to oxidize a substantial amount of structural Fe(II) in biotite. Iron redox chemistry, quantified by X-ray absorption near edge spectra on 13 fungi-biotite sections along three distinct hypha colonizing the [001] basal plane of biotite, revealed variable but extensive Fe(II) oxidation up to ∼2 μm in depth and a Fe(III)/Fetotal ratio of up to ∼0.8. The growth of Fe(III) hydroxide implies a volumetric change and a strain within the biotite lattice potentially large enough to induce microcrack formation, which are abundant below the hypha-biotite interface. This Fe(II) oxidation also leads to the formation of a large pool of Fe(III) (i.e., structural Fe(III) and Fe(III) oxyhydroxides) within biotite that could participate in the Fe redox cycling in soils.}, } @article {pmid27128187, year = {2016}, author = {Hillman, K and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Are you my symbiont? Microbial polymorphic toxins and antimicrobial compounds as honest signals of beneficial symbiotic defensive traits.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {31}, number = {}, pages = {184-190}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2016.04.010}, pmid = {27128187}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism ; Bacteriocins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In defensive symbioses where microbes benefit their host by killing competitors, predators or parasites, natural selection should favor the transmission of microbes with the most beneficial defensive traits. During the initiation of symbiosis, the host's ability to accurately pre-assess a symbiont's beneficial traits would be a selective advantage. We propose that one mechanism by which a host could recognize and select a beneficial partner would be if the latter displayed an honest signal of its defensive or other symbiotic capabilities. As one example, we suggest that polymorphic toxins and their surface receptors, which are involved in inter-microbial competition and predator killing activities, can be honest signals that facilitate partner choice in defensive symbioses.}, } @article {pmid27127196, year = {2016}, author = {Sigurbjörnsdóttir, MA and Vilhelmsson, O}, title = {Selective isolation of potentially phosphate-mobilizing, biosurfactant-producing and biodegradative bacteria associated with a sub-Arctic, terricolous lichen, Peltigera membranacea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {6}, pages = {fiw090}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw090}, pmid = {27127196}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Arctic Regions ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Firmicutes/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are the symbiotic association of fungi and a photosynthetic partner. However, non-phototrophic bacteria are also present and thought to comprise an essential part of the lichen symbiosis, although their roles in the symbiosis are still poorly understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized 110 non-phototrophic bacterial lichen associates from thalli of the terricolous lichen Peltigera membranacea The biodegradative and other nutrient-scavenging properties studied among selected isolates were phosphate mobilization, biosurfactant production and degradation of napthalene and several biopolymers, suggesting organic and inorganic nutrient scavenging as roles for bacteria in the lichen symbiotic association. Identification by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the isolates comprised 18 genera within the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, many with high similarities with bacteria typically associated with the plant and rhizosphere environments, could suggest that plants may be important sources of terricolous lichen-associated bacteria, or vice versa.}, } @article {pmid27126878, year = {2016}, author = {Chatterjee, S}, title = {A symbiotic view of the origin of life at hydrothermal impact crater-lakes.}, journal = {Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP}, volume = {18}, number = {30}, pages = {20033-20046}, doi = {10.1039/c6cp00550k}, pmid = {27126878}, issn = {1463-9084}, mesh = {Meteoroids ; *Origin of Life ; *Prebiotics ; Volcanic Eruptions ; }, abstract = {Submarine hydrothermal vents are generally considered as the likely habitats for the origin and evolution of early life on Earth. The theory suffers from the 'concentration problem' of cosmic and terrestrial biomolecules because of the vastness of the Eoarchean global ocean. An attractive alternative site would be highly sequestered, small, hydrothermal crater-lakes that might have cradled life on early Earth. A new symbiotic model for the origin of life at hydrothermal crater-lakes is proposed here. Meteoritic impacts on the Eoarchean crust at the tail end of the Heavy Bombardment period might have played important roles in the origin of life. Impacts and collisions that created hydrothermal crater lakes on the Eoarchean crust inadvertently became the perfect crucibles for prebiotic chemistry with building blocks of life, which ultimately led to the first organisms by prebiotic synthesis. In this scenario, life arose through four hierarchical stages of increasing molecular complexity in multiple niches of crater basins. In the cosmic stage (≥4.6 Ga), the building blocks of life had their beginnings in the interstellar space during the explosion of a nearby star. Both comets and carbonaceous chondrites delivered building blocks of life and ice to early Earth, which were accumulated in hydrothermal impact crater-lakes. In the geologic stage (∼4 Ga), crater basins contained an assortment of cosmic and terrestrial organic compounds, powered by hydrothermal, solar, tidal, and chemical energies, which drove the prebiotic synthesis. At the water surface, self-assembled primitive lipid membranes floated as a thick oil slick. Archean Greenstone belts in Greenland, Australia, and South Africa possibly represent the relics of these Archean craters, where the oldest fossils of thermophilic life (∼3.5 Ga) have been detected. In the chemical stage, monomers such as nucleotides and amino acids were selected from random assemblies of the prebiotic soup; they were polymerized at pores of mineral surfaces with the coevolution of RNA and protein molecules to form the 'RNA/protein world'. Lipid membranes randomly encapsulated these RNA and protein molecules to initiate a molecular symbiosis in a 'RNA/protein/lipid world' that led to hierarchical emergence of several cell components: plasma membranes, ribosomes, coding RNA and proteins, DNA, and finally protocells with a primitive genetic code. In the biological stage, the emergence of the first cells capable of reproduction, heredity, variation, and Darwinian evolution is the key breakthrough in the origin of life. RNA virus and prions may represent the evolutionary relics of the RNA/protein world that survived as parasites for billions of years. Although the proposed endosymbiotic model is speculative it has intrinsic heuristic value. Future experiments on encapsulated RNA virus and prions have the potential to create a synthetic cell that may confirm a coherent narrative of this hierarchical evolutionary sequence.}, } @article {pmid27126037, year = {2016}, author = {Blaser, MJ}, title = {Antibiotic use and its consequences for the normal microbiome.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {352}, number = {6285}, pages = {544-545}, pmid = {27126037}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {R01 DK090989/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI122285/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK090989/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01AI122285/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*adverse effects ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Drug Utilization ; Humans ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Anti-infectives, including antibiotics, are essentially different from all other drugs; they not only affect the individual to whom they are given but also the entire community, through selection for resistance to their own action. Thus, their use resides at the intersection of personal and public health. Antibiotics can be likened to a four-edged sword against bacteria. The first two edges of the antibiotic sword were identified immediately after their discovery and deployment in that they not only benefit an individual in treating their infection but also benefit the community in preventing the spread of that infectious agent. The third edge was already recognized by Alexander Fleming in 1945 in his Nobel acceptance speech, which warned about the cost to the community of antibiotic resistance that would inevitably evolve and be selected for during clinical practice. We have seen this cost mount up, as resistance curtails or precludes the activities of some of our most effective drugs for clinically important infections. But the fourth edge of the antibiotic sword remained unappreciated until recently, i.e., the cost that an antibiotic exerts on an individual's own health via the collateral damage of the drug on bacteria that normally live on or in healthy humans: our microbiota. These organisms, their genes, metabolites, and interactions with one another, as well as with their host collectively, represent our microbiome. Our relationship with these symbiotic bacteria is especially important during the early years of life, when the adult microbiome has not yet formed.}, } @article {pmid27125987, year = {2016}, author = {Yan, H and Yan, J and Sui, XH and Wang, ET and Chen, WX and Zhang, XX and Chen, WF}, title = {Ensifer glycinis sp. nov., a rhizobial species associated with species of the genus Glycine.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {8}, pages = {2910-2916}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.001120}, pmid = {27125987}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial strains from root nodules of Astragalus mongholicus and soybean (Glycine max) were characterized phylogenetically as members of the genus Ensifer (formerly named Sinorhizobium), based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons. Results based upon concatenated sequence analysis of three housekeeping genes (recA, atpD and glnII, ≤ 93.8 % similarities to known species) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of whole genome sequence comparisons (ranging from 89.6 % to 83.4 % to Ensifer fredii and Ensifer saheli, respectively) indicated the distinct positions of these novel strains within the genus Ensifer. Phylogeny of symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH) of three novel strains clustered them with rhizobial species Ensifer fredii and Ensifer sojae, both isolated from nodules of Glycine max. Cross-nodulation tests showed that the representative strain CCBAU 23380T could form root nodules with nitrogen fixation capability on Glycine soja, Albizia julibrissin, Vigna unguiculata and Cajanus cajan, but failed to nodulate Astragalus mongholicus, its original host legume. Strain CCBAU 23380T formed inefficient nodules on G. max, and it did not contain 18 : 0, 18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl or summed feature 1 fatty acids, which differed from other related strains. Failure to utilize malonic acid as a carbon source distinguished strain CCBAU 23380T from the type strains of related species. The genome size of CCBAU 23380T was 6.0 Mbp, comprising 5624 predicted genes with DNA G+C content of 62.4 mol%. Based on the results above, a novel species, Ensifer glycinis sp. nov., is proposed, with CCBAU 23380T (=LMG 29231T =HAMBI 3645T) as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid27124237, year = {2016}, author = {Zhong, Z and Zhao, G and Xu, D and Dong, B and Song, D and Xie, X and She, X}, title = {Bioinspired Total Syntheses of Isospongian-type Diterpenoids (-)-Kravanhins A and C.}, journal = {Chemistry, an Asian journal}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {1542-1547}, doi = {10.1002/asia.201600398}, pmid = {27124237}, issn = {1861-471X}, mesh = {Cyclization ; Diterpenes/*chemical synthesis ; Lactones/chemical synthesis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {The first bioinspired total syntheses of (-) kravanhins A and C were accomplished from a labdane diterpenoid derivative. The key reactions involve a photooxidation and a one-pot sequential aldol cyclization and lactonization, which provide a new plausible biosynthetic pathway for the kravanhins and other symbiotic members.}, } @article {pmid27122562, year = {2016}, author = {Hollowell, AC and Regus, JU and Turissini, D and Gano-Cohen, KA and Bantay, R and Bernardo, A and Moore, D and Pham, J and Sachs, JL}, title = {Metapopulation dominance and genomic-island acquisition of Bradyrhizobium with superior catabolic capabilities.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1829}, pages = {}, pmid = {27122562}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Carbon Cycle ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Genomic Islands ; Haplotypes ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Lotus/microbiology ; Models, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Root nodule-forming rhizobia exhibit a bipartite lifestyle, replicating in soil and also within plant cells where they fix nitrogen for legume hosts. Host control models posit that legume hosts act as a predominant selective force on rhizobia, but few studies have examined rhizobial fitness in natural populations. Here, we genotyped and phenotyped Bradyrhizobium isolates across more than 800 km of the native Acmispon strigosus host range. We sequenced chromosomal genes expressed under free-living conditions and accessory symbiosis loci expressed in planta and encoded on an integrated 'symbiosis island' (SI). We uncovered a massive clonal expansion restricted to the Bradyrhizobium chromosome, with a single chromosomal haplotype dominating populations, ranging more than 700 km, and acquiring 42 divergent SI haplotypes, none of which were spatially widespread. For focal genotypes, we quantified utilization of 190 sole-carbon sources relevant to soil fitness. Chromosomal haplotypes that were both widespread and dominant exhibited superior growth on diverse carbon sources, whereas these patterns were not mirrored among SI haplotypes. Abundance, spatial range and catabolic superiority of chromosomal, but not symbiosis genotypes suggests that fitness in the soil environment, rather than symbiosis with hosts, might be the key driver of Bradyrhizobium dominance.}, } @article {pmid27122496, year = {2016}, author = {Hubert, J and Kopecky, J and Sagova-Mareckova, M and Nesvorna, M and Zurek, L and Erban, T}, title = {Assessment of Bacterial Communities in Thirteen Species of Laboratory-Cultured Domestic Mites (Acari: Acaridida).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {109}, number = {4}, pages = {1887-1896}, doi = {10.1093/jee/tow089}, pmid = {27122496}, issn = {1938-291X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; Mites/*microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {House dust mites (HDMs) and stored-product mites (SPMs) of various species inhabit human homes and stored agricultural products. These mites are carriers and hosts of microorganisms that enable their survival. The bacteriome from 13 species of SPMs and HDMs was analyzed and compared by 454 pyrosequencing of partial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Altogether 128,052 sequences were obtained and assigned to 71 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the 97% identity level. The number of sequences in the OTUs between species of mites ranged from 6 to 31 in the individual mite species. We did not find any significant effect of diet or evolutionary origin of mites or their interaction on the composition of the mite bacteriome. In mite species with low bacterial diversity, the bacterial communities were dominated by potential symbiotic or parasitic bacteria, i.e., Cardinium in Dermatophagoides farinae (Hughes, 1961) and Aeroglyphus robustus (Banks 1906) and the enteric bacteria Erwinia in Blomia tropicalis Van Bronswijk, de Cock & Oshima, 1974 and Xenorhabdus in Tyroborus lini (Oudemans, 1924). Among the bacterial species identified, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Kocuria, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, and Brachybacterium likely serve as food sources for the mites. The domestic acaridid mites carried high numbers of various bacteria that are potential threats to human health. These results contribute to the general understanding of the ecology of mite adaptation to human-made habitats.}, } @article {pmid27122350, year = {2016}, author = {Fujii, S and Suzuki, T and Giegé, P and Higashiyama, T and Koizuka, N and Shikanai, T}, title = {The Restorer-of-fertility-like 2 pentatricopeptide repeat protein and RNase P are required for the processing of mitochondrial orf291 RNA in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {86}, number = {6}, pages = {504-513}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.13185}, pmid = {27122350}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/*genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Ribonuclease P/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotes harbor mitochondria obtained via ancient symbiosis events. The successful evolution of energy production in mitochondria has been dependent on the control of mitochondrial gene expression by the nucleus. In flowering plants, the nuclear-encoded pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) superfamily proteins are widely involved in mitochondrial RNA metabolism. Here, we show that an Arabidopsis nuclear-encoded RNA-binding protein, Restorer-of-fertility-like PPR protein 2 (RFL2), is required for RNA degradation of the mitochondrial orf291 transcript via endonucleolytic cleavage of the transcript in the middle of its reading frame. Both in vivo and in vitro, this RNA cleavage requires the activity of mitochondrial proteinaceous RNase P, which is possibly recruited to the site by RFL2. The site of RNase P cleavage likely forms a tRNA-like structure in the orf291 transcript. This study presents an example of functional collaboration between a PPR protein and an endonuclease in RNA cleavage. Furthermore, we show that the RFL2-binding region within the orf291 gene is hypervariable in the family Brassicaceae, possibly correlated with the rapid evolution of the RNA-recognition interfaces of the RFL proteins.}, } @article {pmid27121330, year = {2016}, author = {Levati, E and Sartini, S and Bolchi, A and Ottonello, S and Montanini, B}, title = {Moonlighting transcriptional activation function of a fungal sulfur metabolism enzyme.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {25165}, pmid = {27121330}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Genes, Essential ; Oxidoreductases/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; *Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {Moonlighting proteins, including metabolic enzymes acting as transcription factors (TF), are present in a variety of organisms but have not been described in higher fungi so far. In a previous genome-wide analysis of the TF repertoire of the plant-symbiotic fungus Tuber melanosporum, we identified various enzymes, including the sulfur-assimilation enzyme phosphoadenosine-phosphosulfate reductase (PAPS-red), as potential transcriptional activators. A functional analysis performed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, now demonstrates that a specific variant of this enzyme, PAPS-red A, localizes to the nucleus and is capable of transcriptional activation. TF moonlighting, which is not present in the other enzyme variant (PAPS-red B) encoded by the T. melanosporum genome, relies on a transplantable C-terminal polypeptide containing an alternating hydrophobic/hydrophilic amino acid motif. A similar moonlighting activity was demonstrated for six additional proteins, suggesting that multitasking is a relatively frequent event. PAPS-red A is sulfur-state-responsive and highly expressed, especially in fruitbodies, and likely acts as a recruiter of transcription components involved in S-metabolism gene network activation. PAPS-red B, instead, is expressed at low levels and localizes to a highly methylated and silenced region of the genome, hinting at an evolutionary mechanism based on gene duplication, followed by epigenetic silencing of this non-moonlighting gene variant.}, } @article {pmid27119147, year = {2016}, author = {Bieri, T and Onishi, M and Xiang, T and Grossman, AR and Pringle, JR}, title = {Relative Contributions of Various Cellular Mechanisms to Loss of Algae during Cnidarian Bleaching.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e0152693}, pmid = {27119147}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {S10 RR026780/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Cnidaria/*physiology ; Environment ; Pigmentation/physiology ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {When exposed to stress such as high seawater temperature, corals and other cnidarians can bleach due to loss of symbiotic algae from the host tissue and/or loss of pigments from the algae. Although the environmental conditions that trigger bleaching are reasonably well known, its cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Previous studies have reported the occurrence of at least four different cellular mechanisms for the loss of symbiotic algae from the host tissue: in situ degradation of algae, exocytic release of algae from the host, detachment of host cells containing algae, and death of host cells containing algae. The relative contributions of these several mechanisms to bleaching remain unclear, and it is also not known whether these relative contributions change in animals subjected to different types and/or durations of stresses. In this study, we used a clonal population of the small sea anemone Aiptasia, exposed individuals to various precisely controlled stress conditions, and quantitatively assessed the several possible bleaching mechanisms in parallel. Under all stress conditions tested, except for acute cold shock at 4°C, expulsion of intact algae from the host cells appeared to be by far the predominant mechanism of bleaching. During acute cold shock, in situ degradation of algae and host-cell detachment also became quantitatively significant, and the algae released under these conditions appeared to be severely damaged.}, } @article {pmid27119024, year = {2016}, author = {Campbell, A and Ellington, M}, title = {Reducing Time to First on Scene: An Ambulance-Community First Responder Scheme.}, journal = {Emergency medicine international}, volume = {2016}, number = {}, pages = {1915895}, pmid = {27119024}, issn = {2090-2840}, abstract = {The importance of early access to prehospital care has been demonstrated in many medical emergencies. This work aims to describe the potential time benefit of implementing a student Community First Responder scheme to support ambulance services in an inner-city setting in the United Kingdom. Twenty final and penultimate year medical students in the UK were trained in the "First Person on Scene" Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualification. Over 12 months, they attended 89 emergency calls in an inner-city setting as Community First Responders (CFRs), alongside the West Midlands Ambulance Service, UK. At the end of this period, a qualitative survey investigated the perceived educational value of the scheme. The mean CFR response time across all calls was an average of 3 minutes and 8 seconds less than ambulance crew response times. The largest difference was to calls relating to falls (12 min). The difference varied throughout the day, peaking between 16:00 and 18:00. All questionnaire respondents stated that they felt more prepared in assessing and treating acutely unwell patients. In this paper, the authors present a symbiotic solution which has both reduced time to first on scene and provided training and experience in medical emergencies for senior medical students.}, } @article {pmid27118585, year = {2016}, author = {Tauzin, AS and Kwiatkowski, KJ and Orlovsky, NI and Smith, CJ and Creagh, AL and Haynes, CA and Wawrzak, Z and Brumer, H and Koropatkin, NM}, title = {Molecular Dissection of Xyloglucan Recognition in a Prominent Human Gut Symbiont.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e02134-15}, pmid = {27118585}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {MOP-137134//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; MOP-142472//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*microbiology ; Glucans/chemistry/*metabolism ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; Xylans/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Polysaccharide utilization loci (PUL) within the genomes of resident human gut Bacteroidetes are central to the metabolism of the otherwise indigestible complex carbohydrates known as "dietary fiber." However, functional characterization of PUL lags significantly behind sequencing efforts, which limits physiological understanding of the human-bacterial symbiosis. In particular, the molecular basis of complex polysaccharide recognition, an essential prerequisite to hydrolysis by cell surface glycosidases and subsequent metabolism, is generally poorly understood. Here, we present the biochemical, structural, and reverse genetic characterization of two unique cell surface glycan-binding proteins (SGBPs) encoded by a xyloglucan utilization locus (XyGUL) from Bacteroides ovatus, which are integral to growth on this key dietary vegetable polysaccharide. Biochemical analysis reveals that these outer membrane-anchored proteins are in fact exquisitely specific for the highly branched xyloglucan (XyG) polysaccharide. The crystal structure of SGBP-A, a SusD homolog, with a bound XyG tetradecasaccharide reveals an extended carbohydrate-binding platform that primarily relies on recognition of the β-glucan backbone. The unique, tetra-modular structure of SGBP-B is comprised of tandem Ig-like folds, with XyG binding mediated at the distal C-terminal domain. Despite displaying similar affinities for XyG, reverse-genetic analysis reveals that SGBP-B is only required for the efficient capture of smaller oligosaccharides, whereas the presence of SGBP-A is more critical than its carbohydrate-binding ability for growth on XyG. Together, these data demonstrate that SGBP-A and SGBP-B play complementary, specialized roles in carbohydrate capture by B. ovatus and elaborate a model of how vegetable xyloglucans are accessed by the Bacteroidetes

IMPORTANCE: The Bacteroidetes are dominant bacteria in the human gut that are responsible for the digestion of the complex polysaccharides that constitute "dietary fiber." Although this symbiotic relationship has been appreciated for decades, little is currently known about how Bacteroidetes seek out and bind plant cell wall polysaccharides as a necessary first step in their metabolism. Here, we provide the first biochemical, crystallographic, and genetic insight into how two surface glycan-binding proteins from the complex Bacteroides ovatus xyloglucan utilization locus (XyGUL) enable recognition and uptake of this ubiquitous vegetable polysaccharide. Our combined analysis illuminates new fundamental aspects of complex polysaccharide recognition, cleavage, and import at the Bacteroidetes cell surface that may facilitate the development of prebiotics to target this phylum of gut bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27118154, year = {2016}, author = {Muñoz, N and Qi, X and Li, MW and Xie, M and Gao, Y and Cheung, MY and Wong, FL and Lam, HM}, title = {Improvement in nitrogen fixation capacity could be part of the domestication process in soybean.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {117}, number = {2}, pages = {84-93}, pmid = {27118154}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/metabolism ; Chromosome Mapping ; *Domestication ; Hydroxybutyrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Breeding ; Polyesters/metabolism ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in soybeans is a complex process involving the interplay between the plant host and the symbiotic rhizobia. As nitrogen supply has a crucial role in growth and development, higher nitrogen fixation capacity would be important to achieve bigger plants and larger seeds, which were important selection criteria during plant domestication by humans. To test this hypothesis, we monitored the nitrogen fixation-related performance in 31 cultivated and 17 wild soybeans after inoculation with the slow-growing Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens sp. nov. USDA110 and the fast-growing Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii CCBAU45436. Our results showed that, in general, cultivated soybeans gave better performance in BNF. Electron microscopic studies indicated that there was an exceptionally high accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate bodies in bacteroids in the nodules of all wild soybeans tested, suggesting that the C/N balance in wild soybeans may not be optimized for nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, we identified new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for total ureides and total nodule fresh weight by employing a recombinant inbred population composed of descendants from a cross between a cultivated and a wild parent. Using nucleotide diversity (θπ), divergence index (Fst) and distribution of fixed single-nucleotide polymorphisms as parameters, we found that some regions in the total ureides QTL on chromosome 17 and the total nodule fresh weight QTL on chromosome 12 exhibited very low diversity among cultivated soybeans, suggesting that these were traits specially selected during the domestication and breeding process.}, } @article {pmid27117333, year = {2016}, author = {Gierz, SL and Gordon, BR and Leggat, W}, title = {Integral Light-Harvesting Complex Expression In Symbiodinium Within The Coral Acropora aspera Under Thermal Stress.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {25081}, pmid = {27117333}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*radiation effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/*radiation effects ; *Hot Temperature ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/*biosynthesis ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Coral reef success is largely dependent on the symbiosis between coral hosts and dinoflagellate symbionts belonging to the genus Symbiodinium. Elevated temperatures can result in the expulsion of Symbiodinium or loss of their photosynthetic pigments and is known as coral bleaching. It has been postulated that the expression of light-harvesting protein complexes (LHCs), which bind chlorophylls (chl) and carotenoids, are important in photobleaching. This study explored the effect a sixteen-day thermal stress (increasing daily from 25-34 °C) on integral LHC (chlorophyll a-chlorophyll c2-peridinin protein complex (acpPC)) gene expression in Symbiodinium within the coral Acropora aspera. Thermal stress leads to a decrease in Symbiodinium photosynthetic efficiency by day eight, while symbiont density was significantly lower on day sixteen. Over this time period, the gene expression of five Symbiodinium acpPC genes was quantified. Three acpPC genes exhibited up-regulated expression when corals were exposed to temperatures above 31.5 °C (acpPCSym_1:1, day sixteen; acpPCSym_15, day twelve; and (acpPCSym_18), day ten and day sixteen). In contrast, the expression of acpPCSym_5:1 and acpPCSym_10:1 was unchanged throughout the experiment. Interestingly, the three acpPC genes with increased expression cluster together in a phylogenetic analysis of light-harvesting complexes.}, } @article {pmid27116367, year = {2016}, author = {Depotter, JR and Seidl, MF and Wood, TA and Thomma, BP}, title = {Interspecific hybridization impacts host range and pathogenicity of filamentous microbes.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {7-13}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2016.04.005}, pmid = {27116367}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Basidiomycota/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Genome, Fungal/genetics ; Host Specificity/*genetics ; Hybridization, Genetic/*genetics ; Oomycetes/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Interspecific hybridization is widely observed within diverse eukaryotic taxa, and is considered an important driver for genome evolution. As hybridization fuels genomic and transcriptional alterations, hybrids are adept to respond to environmental changes or to invade novel niches. This may be particularly relevant for organisms that establish symbiotic relationships with host organisms, such as mutualistic symbionts, endophytes and pathogens. The latter group is especially well-known for engaging in everlasting arms races with their hosts. Illustrated by the increased identification of hybrid pathogens with altered virulence or host ranges when compared with their parental lineages, it appears that hybridization is a strong driver for pathogen evolution, and may thus significantly impact agriculture and natural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid27114882, year = {2016}, author = {Steinert, G and Taylor, MW and Deines, P and Simister, RL and de Voogd, NJ and Hoggard, M and Schupp, PJ}, title = {In four shallow and mesophotic tropical reef sponges from Guam the microbial community largely depends on host identity.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1936}, pmid = {27114882}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {S06 GM044796/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U56 CA096278/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Sponges (phylum Porifera) are important members of almost all aquatic ecosystems, and are renowned for hosting often dense and diverse microbial communities. While the specificity of the sponge microbiota seems to be closely related to host phylogeny, the environmental factors that could shape differences within local sponge-specific communities remain less understood. On tropical coral reefs, sponge habitats can span from shallow areas to deeper, mesophotic sites. These habitats differ in terms of environmental factors such as light, temperature, and food availability, as well as anthropogenic impact. In order to study the host specificity and potential influence of varying habitats on the sponge microbiota within a local area, four tropical reef sponges, Rhabdastrella globostellata, Callyspongia sp., Rhaphoxya sp., and Acanthella cavernosa, were collected from exposed shallow reef slopes and a deep reef drop-off. Based on 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing profiles, beta diversity analyses revealed that each sponge species possessed a specific microbiota that was significantly different to those of the other species and exhibited attributes that are characteristic of high- and/or low-microbial-abundance sponges. These findings emphasize the influence of host identity on the associated microbiota. Dominant sponge- and seawater-associated bacterial phyla were Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Comparison of individual sponge taxa and seawater samples between shallow and deep reef sites revealed no significant variation in alpha diversity estimates, while differences in microbial beta diversity (variation in community composition) were significant for Callyspongia sp. sponges and seawater samples. Overall, the sponge-associated microbiota is significantly shaped by host identity across all samples, while the effect of habitat differentiation seems to be less predominant in tropical reef sponges.}, } @article {pmid27114069, year = {2016}, author = {Hall, AA and Morrow, JL and Fromont, C and Steinbauer, MJ and Taylor, GS and Johnson, SN and Cook, JM and Riegler, M}, title = {Codivergence of the primary bacterial endosymbiont of psyllids versus host switches and replacement of their secondary bacterial endosymbionts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2591-2603}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13351}, pmid = {27114069}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/*growth & development ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Coevolution between insects and bacterial endosymbionts contributes to the success of many insect lineages. For the first time, we tested for phylogenetic codivergence across multiple taxonomic scales, from within genera to superfamily between 36 psyllid species of seven recognised families (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), their exclusive primary endosymbiont Carsonella and more diverse secondary endosymbionts (S-endosymbionts). Within Aphalaridae, we found that Carsonella and S-endosymbionts were fixed in one Glycaspis and 12 Cardiaspina populations. The dominant S-endosymbiont was Arsenophonus, while Sodalis was detected in one Cardiaspina species. We demonstrated vertical transmission for Carsonella and Arsenophonus in three Cardiaspina species. We found strong support for strict cospeciation and validated the informative content of Carsonella as extended host genome for inference of psyllid relationships. However, S-endosymbiont and host phylogenies were incongruent, and displayed signs of host switching and endosymbiont replacement. The high incidence of Arsenophonus in psyllids and other plant sap-feeding Hemiptera may be due to repeated host switching within this group. In two psyllid lineages, Arsenophonus and Sodalis genes exhibited accelerated evolutionary rates and AT-biases characteristic of long-term host associations. Together with strict vertical transmission and 100% prevalence within host populations, our results suggest an obligate, and not facultative, symbiosis between psyllids and some S-endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid27113587, year = {2016}, author = {Porcel, R and Aroca, R and Azcon, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Regulation of cation transporter genes by the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice plants subjected to salinity suggests improved salt tolerance due to reduced Na(+) root-to-shoot distribution.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {673-684}, pmid = {27113587}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Salinity ; *Salt Tolerance ; Sodium/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tissue Distribution ; }, abstract = {Rice is a salt-sensitive crop whose productivity is strongly reduced by salinity around the world. Plants growing in saline soils are subjected to the toxicity of specific ions such as sodium, which damage cell organelles and disrupt metabolism. Plants have evolved biochemical and molecular mechanisms to cope with the negative effects of salinity. These include the regulation of genes with a role in the uptake, transport or compartmentation of Na(+) and/or K(+). Studies have shown that the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis alleviates salt stress in several host plant species. However, despite the abundant literature showing mitigation of ionic imbalance by the AM symbiosis, the molecular mechanisms involved are barely explored. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of the AM symbiosis on the expression of several well-known rice transporters involved in Na(+)/K(+) homeostasis and measure Na(+) and K(+) contents and their ratios in different plant tissues. Results showed that OsNHX3, OsSOS1, OsHKT2;1 and OsHKT1;5 genes were considerably upregulated in AM plants under saline conditions as compared to non-AM plants. Results suggest that the AM symbiosis favours Na(+) extrusion from the cytoplasm, its sequestration into the vacuole, the unloading of Na(+) from the xylem and its recirculation from photosynthetic organs to roots. As a result, there is a decrease of Na(+) root-to-shoot distribution and an increase of Na(+) accumulation in rice roots which seems to enhance the plant tolerance to salinity and allows AM rice plants to maintain their growing processes under salt conditions.}, } @article {pmid27111444, year = {2016}, author = {Skelton, J and Doak, S and Leonard, M and Creed, RP and Brown, BL}, title = {The rules for symbiont community assembly change along a mutualism-parasitism continuum.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {3}, pages = {843-853}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12498}, pmid = {27111444}, issn = {1365-2656}, support = {DEB-0949780//National Science Foundation/International ; DEB-0949823//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Annelida ; Astacoidea/parasitology/*physiology ; Female ; *Grooming ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; Virginia ; }, abstract = {Symbiont community assembly is driven by host-symbiont and symbiont-symbiont interactions. The effects that symbionts exert on their hosts are often context-dependent, and existing theoretical frameworks of symbiont community assembly do not consider the implications of variable outcomes to assembly processes. We hypothesized that symbiont-symbiont interactions become increasingly important along a parasitism/mutualism continuum because; (i) negative outcomes favour host resistance which in turn reduces symbiont colonization and subsequently reduce symbiont-symbiont interactions, whereas (ii) positive host outcomes favour tolerance and consequently higher symbiont colonization rates, leading to stronger interactions among symbionts. We found support for this hypothesis in the cleaning symbiosis between crayfish and ectosymbiotic branchiobdellidan worms. The symbiosis between crayfish and their worms can shift from parasitism/commensalism to mutualism as crayfish age. Here, field surveys identified changes in worm density, diversity and composition that were concomitant to changing symbiosis outcomes. We conducted several laboratory experiments and behavioural assays to relate patterns from the field to their likely causal processes. Young crayfish typically hosted only two relatively small worm species. Older crayfish hosted two additional larger species. In laboratory experiments, young crayfish exhibited a directed grooming response to all worm species, but were unable to remove small species. Conversely, adult crayfish did not exhibit grooming responses to any worm species. Relaxed grooming allowed the colonization of large worm species and initiated symbiont-symbiont intraguild predation that reduced the abundance and altered the behaviour of small worm species. Thus, the dominant processes of symbiont community assembly shifted from host resistance to symbiont-symbiont interactions through host ontogeny and a concomitant transition towards mutualism. This work shows that host resistance can have a prevailing influence over symbiont community assembly when symbiosis is disadvantageous to the host. However, when symbiosis is advantageous and resistance is relaxed, symbiont colonization rate and consequently abundance and diversity increases and interactions among symbionts become increasingly important to symbiont community assembly.}, } @article {pmid27110990, year = {2016}, author = {Ren, J and Liang, H and Dong, L and Sun, L and Gao, Z}, title = {Design for sustainability of industrial symbiosis based on emergy and multi-objective particle swarm optimization.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {562}, number = {}, pages = {789-801}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.092}, pmid = {27110990}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Industrial symbiosis provides novel and practical pathway to the design for the sustainability. Decision support tool for its verification is necessary for practitioners and policy makers, while to date, quantitative research is limited. The objective of this work is to present an innovative approach for supporting decision-making in the design for the sustainability with the implementation of industrial symbiosis in chemical complex. Through incorporating the emergy theory, the model is formulated as a multi-objective approach that can optimize both the economic benefit and sustainable performance of the integrated industrial system. A set of emergy based evaluation index are designed. Multi-objective Particle Swarm Algorithm is proposed to solve the model, and the decision-makers are allowed to choose the suitable solutions form the Pareto solutions. An illustrative case has been studied by the proposed method, a few of compromises between high profitability and high sustainability can be obtained for the decision-makers/stakeholders to make decision.}, } @article {pmid27110912, year = {2016}, author = {Huisman, R and Hontelez, J and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {A symbiosis-dedicated SYNTAXIN OF PLANTS 13II isoform controls the formation of a stable host-microbe interface in symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {4}, pages = {1338-1351}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13973}, pmid = {27110912}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Alternative Splicing/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Isoforms/chemistry/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; SNARE Proteins/metabolism ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobium bacteria are accommodated in specialized membrane compartments that form a host-microbe interface. To better understand how these interfaces are made, we studied the regulation of exocytosis during interface formation. We used a phylogenetic approach to identify target soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptors (t-SNAREs) that are dedicated to symbiosis and used cell-specific expression analysis together with protein localization to identify t-SNAREs that are present on the host-microbe interface in Medicago truncatula. We investigated the role of these t-SNAREs during the formation of a host-microbe interface. We showed that multiple syntaxins are present on the peri-arbuscular membrane. From these, we identified SYNTAXIN OF PLANTS 13II (SYP13II) as a t-SNARE that is essential for the formation of a stable symbiotic interface in both AM and rhizobium symbiosis. In most dicot plants, the SYP13II transcript is alternatively spliced, resulting in two isoforms, SYP13IIα and SYP13IIβ. These splice-forms differentially mark functional and degrading arbuscule branches. Our results show that vesicle traffic to the symbiotic interface is specialized and required for its maintenance. Alternative splicing of SYP13II allows plants to replace a t-SNARE involved in traffic to the plasma membrane with a t-SNARE that is more stringent in its localization to functional arbuscules.}, } @article {pmid27110057, year = {2016}, author = {Libro, S and Slatko, BE and Foster, JM}, title = {Characterization of innate immunity genes in the parasitic nematode Brugia malayi.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {145-155}, pmid = {27110057}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {The filarial nematode Brugia malayi is one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects 120 million people worldwide. The limited effectiveness of available anthelmintics and the absence of a vaccine have prompted extensive research on the interaction between Brugia and its obligate bacterial endosymbiont, Wolbachia. Recent studies suggest that Wolbachia is able to manipulate its nematode host immunity but relatively little is known about the immune system of filarial nematodes. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the immune system of B. malayi may be useful for understanding how the symbiotic relationship is maintained and help in the identification of new drug targets. In order to characterize the main genetic pathways involved in B. malayi immunity, we exposed adult female worms to two bacterial lysates (Escherichia coli and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), dsRNA and dsDNA. We performed transcriptome sequencing of worms exposed to each immune elicitor at two different timepoints. Gene expression analysis of untreated and immune-challenged worms was performed to characterize gene expression patterns associated with each type of immune stimulation. Our results indicate that different immune elicitors produced distinct expression patterns in B. malayi, with changes in the expression of orthologs of well-characterized C. elegans immune pathways such as insulin, TGF-β, and p38 MAPK pathways, as well as C-type lectins and several stress-response genes.}, } @article {pmid27109514, year = {2016}, author = {Michalik, K and Szklarzewicz, T and Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk, M and Jankowska, W and Michalik, A}, title = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia are obligatory symbionts of the eriococcids Acanthococcus aceris Signoret, 1875 and Gossyparia spuria (Modeer, 1778) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coccoidea).}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {265-272}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2016.04.002}, pmid = {27109514}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fat Body/microbiology ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Ovary/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Ovum/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the fat body cells of the scale insects, Gossyparia spuria and Acanthococcus aceris, numerous rod-shaped symbiotic bacteria occur. Molecular analyses have revealed that these microorganisms are closely related to the widely distributed bacterium Burkholderia. Ultrastructural observations have revealed that the bacteria are transovarially (vertically) transmitted from the mother to offspring. The microorganisms leave the fat body cells and invade ovarioles containing vitellogenic oocytes. They pass through the follicular epithelium in the neck region of the ovariole and enter the perivitelline space. Next, the symbionts infest the anterior region of the oocyte.}, } @article {pmid27109272, year = {2016}, author = {Narendran, G and Swaminathan, S}, title = {TB-HIV co-infection: a catastrophic comradeship.}, journal = {Oral diseases}, volume = {22 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {46-52}, doi = {10.1111/odi.12389}, pmid = {27109272}, issn = {1601-0825}, mesh = {Anti-HIV Agents/*therapeutic use ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Antitubercular Agents/*therapeutic use ; Coinfection/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; HIV Infections/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV poses a challenge to human survival. HIV complicates every aspect of TB including presentation, diagnosis and treatment. HIV-TB patients encounter unique problems like drug-drug interactions, cumulative toxicity, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), lower plasma drug levels and emergence of drug resistance during treatment despite adherence. TB may also be overdiagnosed in HIV due to a number of diseases that closely resemble TB. Notable among them are non-tuberculous mycobacteria, Pneumocystis Jirovecii and Nocardia. Even though diagnostic procedures have improved over the years, patients in developing countries usually seek health care at later stage of the disease. Research data ascertains the duration of therapy for TB to be 6 months with rifampicin and isoniazid, reinforced with ethambutol and pyrazinamide in the first 2 months. The schedule of therapy is still debatable with daily regimens being preferred in the context of HIV. Many reasons exist for persistence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (M.TB) in sputum, or delayed-clearance of TB from sputum smears in HIV, apart from emergence of drug resistance and non-compliance. Acquired rifampicin resistance (ARR) is a unique phenomenon complicating HIV-associated TB when an intermittent regimen of antituberculosis therapy (ATT) is used without timely initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), especially in patients harbouring isoniazid-resistant strains Immune restoration is often incomplete ('swiss cheese' pattern) even with effective HAART if not started early. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is the paradoxical worsening of the patient's condition often with radiological deterioration, due to an enhanced immune response with HAART. IRIS occurs despite an effective virological suppression and a favourable response to ATT. The incidence of IRIS in HIV has reached up to 54%, requiring utilization of experts and tertiary care which forms an obstacle to the decentralization of patients in the ART programme. Research in HIV-TB immunology and management needs further exploration in order to understand the diseases and offer appropriate treatment. The following paragraphs provide scientific evidences generated through research that could potentially guide management.}, } @article {pmid27107716, year = {2016}, author = {Čuklina, J and Hahn, J and Imakaev, M and Omasits, U and Förstner, KU and Ljubimov, N and Goebel, M and Pessi, G and Fischer, HM and Ahrens, CH and Gelfand, MS and Evguenieva-Hackenberg, E}, title = {Genome-wide transcription start site mapping of Bradyrhizobium japonicum grown free-living or in symbiosis - a rich resource to identify new transcripts, proteins and to study gene regulation.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {302}, pmid = {27107716}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; Chromosome Mapping/*methods ; Computational Biology ; Machine Learning ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Proteome ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcription Initiation Site ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Differential RNA-sequencing (dRNA-seq) is indispensable for determination of primary transcriptomes. However, using dRNA-seq data to map transcriptional start sites (TSSs) and promoters genome-wide is a bioinformatics challenge. We performed dRNA-seq of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110, the nitrogen-fixing symbiont of soybean, and developed algorithms to map TSSs and promoters.

RESULTS: A specialized machine learning procedure for TSS recognition allowed us to map 15,923 TSSs: 14,360 in free-living bacteria, 4329 in symbiosis with soybean and 2766 in both conditions. Further, we provide proteomic evidence for 4090 proteins, among them 107 proteins corresponding to new genes and 178 proteins with N-termini different from the existing annotation (72 and 109 of them with TSS support, respectively). Guided by proteomics evidence, previously identified TSSs and TSSs experimentally validated here, we assign a score threshold to flag 14 % of the mapped TSSs as a class of lower confidence. However, this class of lower confidence contains valid TSSs of low-abundant transcripts. Moreover, we developed a de novo algorithm to identify promoter motifs upstream of mapped TSSs, which is publicly available, and found motifs mainly used in symbiosis (similar to RpoN-dependent promoters) or under both conditions (similar to RpoD-dependent promoters). Mapped TSSs and putative promoters, proteomic evidence and updated gene annotation were combined into an annotation file.

CONCLUSIONS: The genome-wide TSS and promoter maps along with the extended genome annotation of B. japonicum represent a valuable resource for future systems biology studies and for detailed analyses of individual non-coding transcripts and ORFs. Our data will also provide new insights into bacterial gene regulation during the agriculturally important symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes.}, } @article {pmid27106049, year = {2016}, author = {Degli Esposti, M and Martinez Romero, E}, title = {A survey of the energy metabolism of nodulating symbionts reveals a new form of respiratory complex I.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {6}, pages = {fiw084}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw084}, pmid = {27106049}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex I/*metabolism ; *Energy Metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Nitrogenase ; Plants/metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A limiting factor in agriculture is the availability of nitrogen in the soil, which may be compensated by biological N2 fixation catalysed by bacteria. Most biological N2 fixation occurs in root nodules of plants that respond to bacterial infection by establishing symbiosis with selected prokaryotes. The plants provide energy metabolites and a microoxic environment to the bacterial symbionts to facilitate their capacity of N2 fixation. Despite enormous advances in the molecular genetics of this symbiosis between plants and nodulating bacteria, we still do not understand fundamental aspects which determine the efficiency of N2 fixation in the nodules, and therefore the capacity to biologically enrich agricultural soils. Here we provide an overview of the central features of the energy metabolism that sustains N2 fixation, with emphasis on the bacterial respiratory chain supplying the electrons and ATP required for the nitrogenase reaction. We discuss common trends and specific variations in the integrated process of respiratory electron transport and N2 fixation. Among such variations we introduce green complex I, an ancient version of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase that is present in several Rhizobiaceae and may facilitate N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid27105842, year = {2016}, author = {Latysheva, NS and Babu, MM}, title = {Discovering and understanding oncogenic gene fusions through data intensive computational approaches.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {44}, number = {10}, pages = {4487-4503}, pmid = {27105842}, issn = {1362-4962}, support = {MC_U105185859/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Algorithms ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Gene Fusion ; Humans ; Neoplasms/genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/*chemistry/genetics ; *Oncogenes ; Software ; }, abstract = {Although gene fusions have been recognized as important drivers of cancer for decades, our understanding of the prevalence and function of gene fusions has been revolutionized by the rise of next-generation sequencing, advances in bioinformatics theory and an increasing capacity for large-scale computational biology. The computational work on gene fusions has been vastly diverse, and the present state of the literature is fragmented. It will be fruitful to merge three camps of gene fusion bioinformatics that appear to rarely cross over: (i) data-intensive computational work characterizing the molecular biology of gene fusions; (ii) development research on fusion detection tools, candidate fusion prioritization algorithms and dedicated fusion databases and (iii) clinical research that seeks to either therapeutically target fusion transcripts and proteins or leverages advances in detection tools to perform large-scale surveys of gene fusion landscapes in specific cancer types. In this review, we unify these different-yet highly complementary and symbiotic-approaches with the view that increased synergy will catalyze advancements in gene fusion identification, characterization and significance evaluation.}, } @article {pmid27105685, year = {2016}, author = {Mousavi, SA and Li, L and Wei, G and Räsänen, L and Lindström, K}, title = {Evolution and taxonomy of native mesorhizobia nodulating medicinal Glycyrrhiza species in China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {260-265}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.03.009}, pmid = {27105685}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; China ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/genetics ; Glycyrrhiza/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Previously, 159 bacterial strains were isolated from the root nodules of wild perennial Glycyrrhiza legume species grown on 40 sites in central and north-western China, in which 57 strains were classified as "true symbionts" belonging to the genus Mesorhizobium based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) genomic fingerprinting and partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene [20]. In the present work, the phylogeny of Glycyrrhiza nodulating mesorhizobia was further examined by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). The concatenated gene tree of three housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, recA, and rpoB) of 59 strains including the 29 mesorhizobial test strains and 30 type mesorhizobial species, was constructed applying the maximum likelihood method and Bayesian inference. In the concatenated gene tree, the 29 test strains were distributed in seven separate clades. Seventeen test strains clustered with Mesorhizobium tianshanense, Mesorhizobium temperatum, Mesorhizobium muleiense, and Mesorhizobium alhagi with high bootstrap support (BS>85%). Eight test strains did not cluster with any of the described Mesorhizobium species. Based on the results, we proposed these eight test strains might belong to a putative new species of the genus Mesorhizobium. The sequences of three accessory genes (nodA, nodC, and nifH) of the test strains were also analyzed and were compared with those of representatives of the 30 described mesorhizobial species. The results showed that mesorhizobia involved in symbiosis with Glycyrrhiza plants probably have acquired some genetic material from other rhizobia in co-evolution with Glycyrrhiza and other legume species.}, } @article {pmid27103856, year = {2016}, author = {Choi, IY and Lee, WH and Lee, JJ and Park, MJ and Ko, JA and Choi, JR and Shin, HD}, title = {Characterization of a Septobasidium sp. Associated with Felt Disease of Schisandra chinensis.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {58-62}, pmid = {27103856}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Extensive disease surveys performed during the summers of 2013 and 2014 in Schisandra chinensis orchards resulted in the finding of a Septobasidium sp. associated with felt disease. The fungus was characterized to be symbiotic with a scale insect (Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli). Morphological and molecular characteristics of the Septobasidium isolates were investigated. The isolates were morphologically and phylogenetically close to S. bogoriense. We tentatively describe this isolate as a Septobasidium sp., mainly because of the limited amount of information available on the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA of Septobasidium spp.}, } @article {pmid27103626, year = {2016}, author = {Webster, NS and Thomas, T}, title = {The Sponge Hologenome.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e00135-16}, pmid = {27103626}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Microbial Consortia ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A paradigm shift has recently transformed the field of biological science; molecular advances have revealed how fundamentally important microorganisms are to many aspects of a host's phenotype and evolution. In the process, an era of "holobiont" research has emerged to investigate the intricate network of interactions between a host and its symbiotic microbial consortia. Marine sponges are early-diverging metazoa known for hosting dense, specific, and often highly diverse microbial communities. Here we synthesize current thoughts about the environmental and evolutionary forces that influence the diversity, specificity, and distribution of microbial symbionts within the sponge holobiont, explore the physiological pathways that contribute to holobiont function, and describe the molecular mechanisms that underpin the establishment and maintenance of these symbiotic partnerships. The collective genomes of the sponge holobiont form the sponge hologenome, and we highlight how the forces that define a sponge's phenotype in fact act on the genomic interplay between the different components of the holobiont.}, } @article {pmid27103309, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, J and Liu, J and Chen, A and Ji, M and Chen, J and Yang, X and Gu, M and Qu, H and Xu, G}, title = {Analysis of tomato plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase gene family suggests a mycorrhiza-mediated regulatory mechanism conserved in diverse plant species.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {645-656}, pmid = {27103309}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cell Membrane/enzymology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Genome, Plant ; Solanum lycopersicum/*enzymology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/genetics/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {In plants, the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase (HA) is considered to play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and respoding to environment stresses. Multiple paralogous genes encoding different isozymes of HA have been identified and characterized in several model plants, while limited information of the HA gene family is available to date for tomato. Here, we describe the molecular and expression features of eight HA-encoding genes (SlHA1-8) from tomato. All these genes are interrupted by multiple introns with conserved positions. SlHA1, 2, and 4 were widely expressed in all tissues, while SlHA5, 6, and 7 were almost only expressed in flowers. SlHA8, the transcripts of which were barely detectable under normal or nutrient-/salt-stress growth conditions, was strongly activated in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal-colonized roots. Extreme lack of SlHA8 expression in M161, a mutant defective to AM fungal colonization, provided genetic evidence towards the dependence of its expression on AM symbiosis. A 1521-bp SlHA8 promoter could direct the GUS reporter expression specifically in colonized cells of transgenic tobacco, soybean, and rice mycorrhizal roots. Promoter deletion assay revealed a 223-bp promoter fragment of SlHA8 containing a variant of AM-specific cis-element MYCS (vMYCS) sufficient to confer the AM-induced activity. Targeted deletion of this motif in the corresponding promoter region causes complete abolishment of GUS staining in mycorrhizal roots. Together, these results lend cogent evidence towards the evolutionary conservation of a potential regulatory mechanism mediating the activation of AM-responsive HA genes in diverse mycorrhizal plant species.}, } @article {pmid27103212, year = {2016}, author = {Plett, JM and Plett, KL and Bithell, SL and Mitchell, C and Moore, K and Powell, JR and Anderson, IC}, title = {Improved Phytophthora resistance in commercial chickpea (Cicer arietinum) varieties negatively impacts symbiotic gene signalling and symbiotic potential in some varieties.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {1858-1869}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12757}, pmid = {27103212}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cicer/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Disease Resistance ; Genes, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phytophthora/*physiology ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Breeding disease-resistant varieties is one of the most effective and economical means to combat soilborne diseases in pulse crops. Commonalities between pathogenic and mutualistic microbe colonization strategies, however, raises the concern that reduced susceptibility to pathogens may simultaneously reduce colonization by beneficial microbes. We investigate here the degree of overlap in the transcriptional response of the Phytophthora medicaginis susceptible chickpea variety 'Sonali' to the early colonization stages of either Phytophthora, rhizobial bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. From a total of 6476 genes differentially expressed in Sonali roots during colonization by any of the microbes tested, 10.2% were regulated in a similar manner regardless of whether it was the pathogenic oomycete or a mutualistic microbe colonizing the roots. Of these genes, 49.7% were oppositely regulated under the same conditions in the moderately Phytophthora resistant chickpea variety 'PBA HatTrick'. Chickpea varieties with improved resistance to Phytophthora also displayed lower colonization by rhizobial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi leading to an increased reliance on N and P from soil. Together, our results suggest that marker-based breeding in crops such as chickpea should be further investigated such that plant disease resistance can be tailored to a specific pathogen without affecting mutualistic plant:microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid27102878, year = {2016}, author = {Guha, S and Sarkar, M and Ganguly, P and Uddin, MR and Mandal, S and DasGupta, M}, title = {Segregation of nod-containing and nod-deficient bradyrhizobia as endosymbionts of Arachis hypogaea and as endophytes of Oryza sativa in intercropped fields of Bengal Basin, India.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2575-2590}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13348}, pmid = {27102878}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Arachis/*microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Endophytes/*physiology ; India ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobial invasion in dalbergoid legumes like Arachis hypogaea and endophytic bacterial invasions in non-legumes like Oryza sativa occur through epidermal cracks. Here, we show that there is no overlap between the bradyrhizobial consortia that endosymbiotically and endophytically colonise these plants. To minimise contrast due to phylogeographic isolation, strains were collected from Arachis/Oryza intercropped fields and a total of 17 bradyrhizobia from Arachis (WBAH) and 13 from Oryza (WBOS) were investigated. 16SrRNA and concatenated dnaK-glnII-recA phylogeny clustered the nodABC-positive WBAH and nodABC-deficient WBOS strains in two distinct clades. The in-field segregation is reproducible under controlled conditions which limits the factors that influence their competitive exclusion. While WBAH renodulated Arachis successfully, WBOS nodulated in an inefficient manner. Thus, Arachis, like other Aeschynomene legumes support nod-independent symbiosis that was ineffectual in natural fields. In Oryza, WBOS recolonised endophytically and promoted its growth. WBAH however caused severe chlorosis that was completely overcome when coinfected with WBOS. This explains the exclusive recovery of WBOS in Oryza in natural fields and suggests Nod-factors to have a role in counterselection of WBAH. Finally, canonical soxY1 and thiosulphate oxidation could only be detected in WBOS indicating loss of metabolic traits in WBAH with adaptation of symbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid27100359, year = {2016}, author = {Waits, DS and Santos, SR and Thornhill, DJ and Li, Y and Halanych, KM}, title = {Evolution of Sulfur Binding by Hemoglobin in Siboglinidae (Annelida) with Special Reference to Bone-Eating Worms, Osedax.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {82}, number = {4-5}, pages = {219-229}, pmid = {27100359}, issn = {1432-1432}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Bone and Bones ; Cysteine/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Hemoglobins/*genetics/metabolism ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*genetics/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Most members of Siboglinidae (Annelida) harbor endosymbiotic bacteria that allow them to thrive in extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents, methane seeps, and whale bones. These symbioses are enabled by specialized hemoglobins (Hbs) that are able to bind hydrogen sulfide for transportation to their chemosynthetic endosymbionts. Sulfur-binding capabilities are hypothesized to be due to cysteine residues at key positions in both vascular and coelomic Hbs, especially in the A2 and B2 chains. Members of the genus Osedax, which live on whale bones, do not have chemosynthetic endosymbionts, but instead harbor heterotrophic bacteria capable of breaking down complex organic compounds. Although sulfur-binding capabilities are important in other siboglinids, we questioned whether Osedax retained these cysteine residues and the potential ability to bind hydrogen sulfide. To answer these questions, we used high-throughput DNA sequencing to isolate and analyze Hb sequences from 8 siboglinid lineages. For Osedax mucofloris, we recovered three (A1, A2, and B1) Hb chains, but the B2 chain was not identified. Hb sequences from gene subfamilies A2 and B2 were translated and aligned to determine conservation of cysteine residues at previously identified key positions. Hb linker sequences were also compared to determine similarity between Osedax and siboglinids/sulfur-tolerant annelids. For O. mucofloris, our results found conserved cysteines within the Hb A2 chain. This finding suggests that Hb in O. mucofloris has retained some capacity to bind hydrogen sulfide, likely due to the need to detoxify this chemical compound that is abundantly produced within whale bones.}, } @article {pmid27100332, year = {2016}, author = {Lee, YS and Han, GB}, title = {Complete reduction of highly concentrated contaminants in piggery waste by a novel process scheme with an algal-bacterial symbiotic photobioreactor.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {177}, number = {}, pages = {202-212}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.04.025}, pmid = {27100332}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Ammonia/analysis/chemistry/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Biomass ; Microalgae/metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis/chemistry/metabolism ; Phosphorus/analysis/chemistry/metabolism ; *Photobioreactors ; Sewage/chemistry ; *Swine ; Symbiosis ; Waste Management/*methods ; }, abstract = {The complete reduction of highly concentrated contaminants in piggery waste was achieved with an innovative process scheme consecutively combining autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD), an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) and a microalgal-bacterial symbiotic vertical photobioreactor (VPBR), followed by biomass recycling for effluent polishing. Contaminants in piggery waste, such as high organic and inorganic matter, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents, were successfully reduced in the newly implemented system. The concentrations of volatile solids (VS) and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) for organic matter in the feed were reduced by approximately 99.3% and 99.7%, respectively, in the innovative system. The overall reduction efficiencies in TN, ammoniacal nitrogen, and TP were 98.8, 98.4, and 93.5%, respectively, through ammonia gas emission, coagulated sludge disposal, and the algal-bacterial symbiotic polishing process. Fecal coliform density was decreased to <1.7 × 10(4) CFU g(-1) total solids. Biogas and CH4 in the EGSB were generated in the range of 0.36-0.79 and 0.18-0.44 L g(-1) [VS removed], respectively, and contained 245 ± 19 ppm (v/v) [H2S].}, } @article {pmid27099709, year = {2016}, author = {Parkinson, JF and Gobin, B and Hughes, WO}, title = {Heritability of symbiont density reveals distinct regulatory mechanisms in a tripartite symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {2053-2060}, pmid = {27099709}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Beneficial eukaryotic-bacterial partnerships are integral to animal and plant evolution. Understanding the density regulation mechanisms behind bacterial symbiosis is essential to elucidating the functional balance between hosts and symbionts. Citrus mealybugs, Planococcus citri (Risso), present an excellent model system for investigating the mechanisms of symbiont density regulation. They contain two obligate nutritional symbionts, Moranella endobia, which resides inside Tremblaya princeps, which has been maternally transmitted for 100-200 million years. We investigate whether host genotype may influence symbiont density by crossing mealybugs from two inbred laboratory-reared populations that differ substantially in their symbiont density to create hybrids. The density of the M. endobia symbiont in the hybrid hosts matched that of the maternal parent population, in keeping with density being determined either by the symbiont or the maternal genotype. However, the density of the T. princeps symbiont was influenced by the paternal host genotype. The greater dependency of T. princeps on its host may be due to its highly reduced genome. The decoupling of T. princeps and M. endobia densities, in spite of their intimate association, suggests that distinct regulatory mechanisms can be at work in symbiotic partnerships, even when they are obligate and mutualistic.}, } @article {pmid27098727, year = {2016}, author = {Boulangé, CL and Neves, AL and Chilloux, J and Nicholson, JK and Dumas, ME}, title = {Impact of the gut microbiota on inflammation, obesity, and metabolic disease.}, journal = {Genome medicine}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {42}, pmid = {27098727}, issn = {1756-994X}, support = {MR/M501797/1//Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Inflammation/*etiology/metabolism/therapy ; Metabolic Diseases/*etiology/metabolism/therapy ; Metabolic Syndrome/etiology/metabolism ; Obesity/*etiology/metabolism/therapy ; }, abstract = {The human gut harbors more than 100 trillion microbial cells, which have an essential role in human metabolic regulation via their symbiotic interactions with the host. Altered gut microbial ecosystems have been associated with increased metabolic and immune disorders in animals and humans. Molecular interactions linking the gut microbiota with host energy metabolism, lipid accumulation, and immunity have also been identified. However, the exact mechanisms that link specific variations in the composition of the gut microbiota with the development of obesity and metabolic diseases in humans remain obscure owing to the complex etiology of these pathologies. In this review, we discuss current knowledge about the mechanistic interactions between the gut microbiota, host energy metabolism, and the host immune system in the context of obesity and metabolic disease, with a focus on the importance of the axis that links gut microbes and host metabolic inflammation. Finally, we discuss therapeutic approaches aimed at reshaping the gut microbial ecosystem to regulate obesity and related pathologies, as well as the challenges that remain in this area.}, } @article {pmid27098350, year = {2016}, author = {Zheng, R and Wang, J and Liu, M and Duan, G and Gao, X and Bai, S and Han, Y}, title = {Molecular cloning and functional analysis of two phosphate transporter genes from Rhizopogon luteolus and Leucocortinarius bulbiger, two ectomycorrhizal fungi of Pinus tabulaeformis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {633-644}, pmid = {27098350}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/*metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular/*methods ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) is essential for plant growth, and phosphate (P) deficiency is a primary limiting factor in Pinus tabulaeformis development in northern China. P acquisition in mycorrhizal plants is highly dependent on the activities of phosphate transporters of their root-associated fungi. In the current study, two phosphate transporter genes, RlPT and LbPT, were isolated from Rhizopogon luteolus and Leucocortinarius bulbiger, respectively, two ectomycorrhizal fungi forming symbiotic interactions with the P. tabulaeformis. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the sequence of the phosphate transporter of L. bulbiger is most closely related to a phosphate transporter of Hebeloma cylindrosporum, whereas the phosphate transporter of R. luteolus is most closely related to that of Piloderma croceum. The subcellular localization indicated that RlPT and LbPT were expressed in the plasma membrane. The complementation assay in yeast indicated that both RlPT and LbPT partially compensated for the absence of phosphate transporter activity in the MB192 yeast strain, with a K m value of 57.90 μmol/L Pi for RlPT and 35.87 μmol/L Pi for LbPT. qPCR analysis revealed that RlPT and LbPT were significantly up-regulated at lower P availability, which may enhance P uptake and transport under Pi starvation. Our results suggest that RlPT and LbPT presumably play a key role in Pi acquisition by P. tabulaeformis via ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid27097923, year = {2016}, author = {Brock, DA and Callison, WÉ and Strassmann, JE and Queller, DC}, title = {Sentinel cells, symbiotic bacteria and toxin resistance in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1829}, pages = {}, pmid = {27097923}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/physiology ; Dictyostelium/*cytology/drug effects/*microbiology ; Phagocytes/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Spores, Protozoan/drug effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Toxins, Biological/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is unusual among eukaryotes in having both unicellular and multicellular stages. In the multicellular stage, some cells, called sentinels, ingest toxins, waste and bacteria. The sentinel cells ultimately fall away from the back of the migrating slug, thus removing these substances from the slug. However, some D. discoideum clones (called farmers) carry commensal bacteria through the multicellular stage, while others (called non-farmers) do not. Farmers profit from their beneficial bacteria. To prevent the loss of these bacteria, we hypothesize that sentinel cell numbers may be reduced in farmers, and thus farmers may have a diminished capacity to respond to pathogenic bacteria or toxins. In support, we found that farmers have fewer sentinel cells compared with non-farmers. However, farmers produced no fewer viable spores when challenged with a toxin. These results are consistent with the beneficial bacteria Burkholderia providing protection against toxins. The farmers did not vary in spore production with and without a toxin challenge the way the non-farmers did, which suggests the costs of Burkholderia may be fixed while sentinel cells may be inducible. Therefore, the costs for non-farmers are only paid in the presence of the toxin. When the farmers were cured of their symbiotic bacteria with antibiotics, they behaved just like non-farmers in response to a toxin challenge. Thus, the advantages farmers gain from carrying bacteria include not just food and protection against competitors, but also protection against toxins.}, } @article {pmid27097902, year = {2016}, author = {Shchennikova, AV and Beletsky, AV and Shulga, OA and Mazur, AM and Prokhortchouk, EB and Kochieva, EZ and Ravin, NV and Skryabin, KG}, title = {Deep-sequence profiling of miRNAs and their target prediction in Monotropa hypopitys.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {91}, number = {4-5}, pages = {441-458}, pmid = {27097902}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Ericaceae/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Phylogeny ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Myco-heterotroph Monotropa hypopitys is a widely spread perennial herb used to study symbiotic interactions and physiological mechanisms underlying the development of non-photosynthetic plant. Here, we performed, for the first time, transcriptome-wide characterization of M. hypopitys miRNA profile using high throughput Illumina sequencing. As a result of small RNA library sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, we identified 55 members belonging to 40 families of known miRNAs and 17 putative novel miRNAs unique for M. hypopitys. Computational screening revealed 206 potential mRNA targets for known miRNAs and 31 potential mRNA targets for novel miRNAs. The predicted target genes were described in Gene Ontology terms and were found to be involved in a broad range of metabolic and regulatory pathways. The identification of novel M. hypopitys-specific miRNAs, some with few target genes and low abundances, suggests their recent evolutionary origin and participation in highly specialized regulatory mechanisms fundamental for non-photosynthetic biology of M. hypopitys. This global analysis of miRNAs and their potential targets in M. hypopitys provides a framework for further investigation of miRNA role in the evolution and establishment of non-photosynthetic myco-heterotrophs.}, } @article {pmid27097653, year = {2016}, author = {Schnepf, A and Leitner, D and Schweiger, PF and Scholl, P and Jansa, J}, title = {L-System model for the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, both within and outside of their host roots.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {13}, number = {117}, pages = {}, pmid = {27097653}, issn = {1742-5662}, mesh = {Hyphae/*growth & development ; *Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Development of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization of roots and the surrounding soil is the central process of mycorrhizal symbiosis, important for ecosystem functioning and commercial inoculum applications. To improve mechanistic understanding of this highly spatially and temporarily dynamic process, we developed a three-dimensional model taking into account growth of the roots and hyphae. It is for the first time that infection within the root system is simulated dynamically and in a spatially resolved way. Comparison between data measured in a calibration experiment and simulated results showed a good fit. Our simulations showed that the position of the fungal inoculum affects the sensitivity of hyphal growth parameters. Variation in speed of secondary infection and hyphal lifetime had a different effect on root infection and hyphal length, respectively, depending on whether the inoculum was concentrated or dispersed. For other parameters (branching rate, distance between entry points), the relative effect was the same independent of inoculum placement. The model also indicated that maximum root colonization levels well below 100%, often observed experimentally, may be a result of differential spread of roots and hyphae, besides intrinsic plant control, particularly upon localized placement of inoculum and slow secondary infection.}, } @article {pmid27096734, year = {2016}, author = {Del Cerro, P and Rolla-Santos, AA and Valderrama-Fernández, R and Gil-Serrano, A and Bellogín, RA and Gomes, DF and Pérez-Montaño, F and Megías, M and Hungría, M and Ollero, FJ}, title = {NrcR, a New Transcriptional Regulator of Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 Involved in the Legume Root-Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e0154029}, pmid = {27096734}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Plasmids/genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {The establishment of nitrogen-fixing rhizobium-legume symbioses requires a highly complex cascade of events. In this molecular dialogue the bacterial NodD transcriptional regulators in conjunction with plant inducers, mostly flavonoids, are responsible for the biosynthesis and secretion of Nod factors which are key molecules for successful nodulation. Other transcriptional regulators related to the symbiotic process have been identified in rhizobial genomes, including negative regulators such as NolR. Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 is an important symbiont of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and its genome encompasses intriguing features such as five copies of nodD genes, as well as other possible transcriptional regulators including the NolR protein. Here we describe and characterize a new regulatory gene located in the non-symbiotic plasmid pRtrCIAT899c, that shows homology (46% identity) with the nolR gene located in the chromosome of CIAT 899. The mutation of this gene, named nrcR (nolR-like plasmid c Regulator), enhanced motility and exopolysaccharide production in comparison to the wild-type strain. Interestingly, the number and decoration of Nod Factors produced by this mutant were higher than those detected in the wild-type strain, especially under salinity stress. The nrcR mutant showed delayed nodulation and reduced competitiveness with P. vulgaris, and reduction in nodule number and shoot dry weight in both P. vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala. Moreover, the mutant exhibited reduced capacity to induce the nodC gene in comparison to the wild-type CIAT 899. The finding of a new nod-gene regulator located in a non-symbiotic plasmid may reveal the existence of even more complex mechanisms of regulation of nodulation genes in R. tropici CIAT 899 that may be applicable to other rhizobial species.}, } @article {pmid27095407, year = {2016}, author = {Jokipii-Lukkari, S and Kastaniotis, AJ and Parkash, V and Sundström, R and Leiva-Eriksson, N and Nymalm, Y and Blokhina, O and Kukkola, E and Fagerstedt, KV and Salminen, TA and Läärä, E and Bülow, L and Ohlmeier, S and Hiltunen, JK and Kallio, PT and Häggman, H}, title = {Dual targeted poplar ferredoxin NADP(+) oxidoreductase interacts with hemoglobin 1.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {138-149}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.03.013}, pmid = {27095407}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Chloroplasts/metabolism ; Cytosol/metabolism ; Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase/genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitric Oxide/*pharmacology ; Oxygenases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Populus/*enzymology/genetics ; Proteomics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/drug effects/enzymology/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Previous reports have connected non-symbiotic and truncated hemoglobins (Hbs) to metabolism of nitric oxide (NO), an important signalling molecule involved in wood formation. We have studied the capability of poplar (Populus tremula × tremuloides) Hbs PttHb1 and PttTrHb proteins alone or with a flavin-protein reductase to relieve NO cytotoxicity in living cells. Complementation tests in a Hb-deficient, NO-sensitive yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Δyhb1 mutant showed that neither PttHb1 nor PttTrHb alone protected cells against NO. To study the ability of Hbs to interact with a reductase, ferredoxin NADP(+) oxidoreductase PtthFNR was characterized by sequencing and proteomics. To date, by far the greatest number of the known dual-targeted plant proteins are directed to chloroplasts and mitochondria. We discovered a novel variant of hFNR that lacks the plastid presequence and resides in cytosol. The coexpression of PttHb1 and PtthFNR partially restored NO resistance of the yeast Δyhb1 mutant, whereas PttTrHb coexpressed with PtthFNR failed to rescue growth. YFP fusion proteins confirmed the interaction between PttHb1 and PtthFNR in plant cells. The structural modelling results indicate that PttHb1 and PtthFNR are able to interact as NO dioxygenase. This is the first report on dual targeting of central plant enzyme FNR to plastids and cytosol.}, } @article {pmid27095401, year = {2016}, author = {Rogato, A and Valkov, VT and Alves, LM and Apone, F and Colucci, G and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {Down-regulated Lotus japonicus GCR1 plants exhibit nodulation signalling pathways alteration.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {247}, number = {}, pages = {71-82}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.03.007}, pmid = {27095401}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Down-Regulation ; Droughts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {G Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCRs) are integral membrane proteins involved in various signalling pathways by perceiving many extracellular signals and transducing them to heterotrimeric G proteins, which further transduce these signals to intracellular downstream effectors. GCR1 is the only reliable plant candidate as a member of the GPCRs superfamily. In the legume/rhizobia symbiotic interaction, G proteins are involved in signalling pathways controlling different steps of the nodulation program. In order to investigate the putative hierarchic role played by GCR1 in these symbiotic pathways we identified and characterized the Lotus japonicus gene encoding the seven transmembrane GCR1 protein. The detailed molecular and topological analyses of LjGCR1 expression patterns that are presented suggest a possible involvement in the early steps of nodule organogenesis. Furthermore, phenotypic analyses of independent transgenic RNAi lines, showing a significant LjGCR1 expression down regulation, suggest an epistatic action in the control of molecular markers of nodulation pathways, although no macroscopic symbiotic phenotypes could be revealed.}, } @article {pmid27095077, year = {2017}, author = {Yan, F and Liu, L and Cao, H and Moore, DJ and Washington, MK and Wang, B and Peek, RM and Acra, SA and Polk, DB}, title = {Neonatal colonization of mice with LGG promotes intestinal development and decreases susceptibility to colitis in adulthood.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {117-127}, pmid = {27095077}, issn = {1935-3456}, support = {P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK054993/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK056008/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK081134/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Colitis/*immunology/microbiology/prevention & control ; Dextran Sulfate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Intestines/microbiology/*physiology ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Symbiosis ; Tight Junctions/pathology ; }, abstract = {Development of the intestinal microbiota during early life serves as a key regulatory stage in establishing the host-microbial relationship. This symbiotic relationship contributes to developing host immunity and maintaining health throughout the life span. This study was to develop an approach to colonize conventionally raised mice with a model probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), and to determine the effects of LGG colonization on intestinal development and prevention of colitis in adulthood. LGG colonization in conventionally raised was established by administering LGG to pregnant mice starting at gestational day 18 and pups at postnatal days 1- 5. LGG colonization promoted bodyweight gain and increased diversity and richness of the colonic mucosa-associated microbiota before weaning. Intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, tight junction formation, and mucosal IgA production were all significantly enhanced in LGG-colonized mice. Adult mice colonized with LGG showed increased IgA production and decreased susceptibility to intestinal injury and inflammation induced in the dextran sodium sulfate model of colitis. Thus, neonatal colonization of mice with LGG enhances intestinal functional maturation and IgA production and confers lifelong health consequences on protection from intestinal injury and inflammation. This strategy might be applied for benefiting health in the host.}, } @article {pmid27094992, year = {2016}, author = {Mohamed, AR and Cumbo, V and Harii, S and Shinzato, C and Chan, CX and Ragan, MA and Bourne, DG and Willis, BL and Ball, EE and Satoh, N and Miller, DJ}, title = {The transcriptomic response of the coral Acropora digitifera to a competent Symbiodinium strain: the symbiosome as an arrested early phagosome.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {13}, pages = {3127-3141}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13659}, pmid = {27094992}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Phagosomes/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Despite the ecological significance of the relationship between reef-building corals and intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in its establishment. Indeed, microarray-based analyses point to the conclusion that host gene expression is largely or completely unresponsive during the establishment of symbiosis with a competent strain of Symbiodinium. In this study, the use of Illumina RNA-Seq technology allowed detection of a transient period of differential expression involving a small number of genes (1073 transcripts; <3% of the transcriptome) 4 h after the exposure of Acropora digitifera planulae to a competent strain of Symbiodinium (a clade B strain). This phenomenon has not previously been detected as a consequence of both the lower sensitivity of the microarray approaches used and the sampling times used. The results indicate that complex changes occur, including transient suppression of mitochondrial metabolism and protein synthesis, but are also consistent with the hypothesis that the symbiosome is a phagosome that has undergone early arrest, raising the possibility of common mechanisms in the symbiotic interactions of corals and symbiotic sea anemones with their endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid27093046, year = {2016}, author = {Vályi, K and Mardhiah, U and Rillig, MC and Hempel, S}, title = {Community assembly and coexistence in communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {2341-2351}, pmid = {27093046}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are asexual, obligately symbiotic fungi with unique morphology and genomic structure, which occupy a dual niche, that is, the soil and the host root. Consequently, the direct adoption of models for community assembly developed for other organism groups is not evident. In this paper we adapted modern coexistence and assembly theory to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We review research on the elements of community assembly and coexistence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, highlighting recent studies using molecular methods. By addressing several points from the individual to the community level where the application of modern community ecology terms runs into problems when arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are concerned, we aim to account for these special circumstances from a mycocentric point of view. We suggest that hierarchical spatial structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities should be explicitly taken into account in future studies. The conceptual framework we develop here for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is also adaptable for other host-associated microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid27092165, year = {2016}, author = {Damiani, I and Pauly, N and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R and Boscari, A}, title = {Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide Control Early Steps of the Legume - Rhizobium Symbiotic Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {454}, pmid = {27092165}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobium bacteria leads to the formation of a new organ, the nodule. Early steps of the interaction are characterized by the production of bacterial Nod factors, the reorientation of root-hair tip growth, the formation of an infection thread (IT) in the root hair, and the induction of cell division in inner cortical cells of the root, leading to a nodule primordium formation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) have been detected in early steps of the interaction. ROS/NO are determinant signals to arbitrate the specificity of this mutualistic association and modifications in their content impair the development of the symbiotic association. The decrease of ROS level prevents root hair curling and ITs formation, and that of NO conducts to delayed nodule formation. In root hairs, NADPH oxidases were shown to produce ROS which could be involved in the hair tip growth process. The use of enzyme inhibitors suggests that nitrate reductase and NO synthase-like enzymes are the main route for NO production during the early steps of the interaction. Transcriptomic analyses point to the involvement of ROS and NO in the success of the infection process, the induction of early nodulin gene expression, and the repression of plant defense, thereby favoring the establishment of the symbiosis. The occurrence of an interplay between ROS and NO was further supported by the finding of both S-sulfenylated and S-nitrosylated proteins during early symbiotic interaction, linking ROS/NO production to a redox-based regulation of the symbiotic process.}, } @article {pmid27092110, year = {2016}, author = {Peterson, BF and Scharf, ME}, title = {Lower Termite Associations with Microbes: Synergy, Protection, and Interplay.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {422}, pmid = {27092110}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lower-termites are one of the best studied symbiotic systems in insects. Their ability to feed on a nitrogen-poor, wood-based diet with help from symbiotic microbes has been under investigation for almost a century. A unique microbial consortium living in the guts of lower termites is essential for wood-feeding. Host and symbiont cellulolytic enzymes synergize each other in the termite gut to increase digestive efficiency. Because of their critical role in digestion, gut microbiota are driving forces in all aspects of termite biology. Social living also comes with risks for termites. The combination of group living and a microbe-rich habitat makes termites potentially vulnerable to pathogenic infections. However, the use of entomopathogens for termite control has been largely unsuccessful. One mechanism for this failure may be symbiotic collaboration; i.e., one of the very reasons termites have thrived in the first place. Symbiont contributions are thought to neutralize fungal spores as they pass through the termite gut. Also, when the symbiont community is disrupted pathogen susceptibility increases. These recent discoveries have shed light on novel interactions for symbiotic microbes both within the termite host and with pathogenic invaders. Lower termite biology is therefore tightly linked to symbiotic associations and their resulting physiological collaborations.}, } @article {pmid27092109, year = {2016}, author = {Saurav, K and Bar-Shalom, R and Haber, M and Burgsdorf, I and Oliviero, G and Costantino, V and Morgenstern, D and Steindler, L}, title = {In Search of Alternative Antibiotic Drugs: Quorum-Quenching Activity in Sponges and their Bacterial Isolates.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {416}, pmid = {27092109}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Owing to the extensive development of drug resistance in pathogens against the available antibiotic arsenal, antimicrobial resistance is now an emerging major threat to public healthcare. Anti-virulence drugs are a new type of therapeutic agent aiming at virulence factors rather than killing the pathogen, thus providing less selective pressure for evolution of resistance. One promising example of this therapeutic concept targets bacterial quorum sensing (QS), because QS controls many virulence factors responsible for bacterial infections. Marine sponges and their associated bacteria are considered a still untapped source for unique chemical leads with a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, we screened extracts of 14 sponge species collected from the Red and Mediterranean Sea for their quorum-quenching (QQ) potential. Half of the species showed QQ activity in at least 2 out of 3 replicates. Six out of the 14 species were selected for bacteria isolation, to test for QQ activity also in isolates, which, once cultured, represent an unlimited source of compounds. We show that ≈20% of the isolates showed QQ activity based on a Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 screen, and that the presence or absence of QQ activity in a sponge extract did not correlate with the abundance of isolates with the same activity from the same sponge species. This can be explained by the unknown source of QQ compounds in sponge-holobionts (host or symbionts), and further by the possible non-symbiotic nature of bacteria isolated from sponges. The potential symbiotic nature of the isolates showing QQ activity was tested according to the distribution and abundance of taxonomically close bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in a dataset including 97 sponge species and 178 environmental samples (i.e., seawater, freshwater, and marine sediments). Most isolates were found not to be enriched in sponges and may simply have been trapped in the filtration channels of the sponge at the time of collection. Our results highlight potential for QQ-bioactive lead molecules for anti-virulence therapy both from sponges and the bacteria isolated thereof, independently on the symbiotic nature of the latter.}, } @article {pmid27090761, year = {2016}, author = {López-García, Á and Horn, S and Rillig, MC and Hempel, S}, title = {Spatial and niche-based ecological processes drive the distribution of endophytic Sebacinales in soil and root of grassland communities.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {6}, pages = {fiw079}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw079}, pmid = {27090761}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Grassland ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The interest in endophytic sebacinalean communities has been increasing during the last decade due to the increased knowledge about their symbiotic life style and potential role for ecosystem functioning. Although they are present in many ecosystems, their abundance in individual plant roots is very limited. This fact affects their study: they are difficult to isolate and to detect in root DNA samples. To advance knowledge of the forces that shape their distribution, we approached the parallel study of sebacinalean communities in roots and soil of grassland. Using a small-scale spatially explicit sampling design, we analysed the contribution of spatial position, soil properties, plant community and phylogenetic components to the variation of sebacinalean communities. The results revealed the presence of 11 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and a high coincidence between root and soil communities: on an average a single-OTU per sample was recorded for both sample types. Spatial distance was found to mainly drive the distribution of Sebacinales in soil, whereas phylogenetic plus environmental signatures mainly drove their presence in roots. Independently of the sample type, we found clear evidence of environmental filtering caused by soil pH which, furthermore, seemed to control the presence of a specialized sebacinalean OTU.}, } @article {pmid27087920, year = {2016}, author = {Gordon, BR and Klinger, CR and Weese, DJ and Lau, JA and Burke, PV and Dentinger, BT and Heath, KD}, title = {Decoupled genomic elements and the evolution of partner quality in nitrogen-fixing rhizobia.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {1317-1327}, pmid = {27087920}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Understanding how mutualisms evolve in response to a changing environment will be critical for predicting the long-term impacts of global changes, such as increased N (nitrogen) deposition. Bacterial mutualists in particular might evolve quickly, thanks to short generation times and the potential for independent evolution of plasmids through recombination and/or HGT (horizontal gene transfer). In a previous work using the legume/rhizobia mutualism, we demonstrated that long-term nitrogen fertilization caused the evolution of less-mutualistic rhizobia. Here, we use our 63 previously isolated rhizobium strains in comparative phylogenetic and quantitative genetic analyses to determine the degree to which variation in partner quality is attributable to phylogenetic relationships among strains versus recent genetic changes in response to N fertilization. We find evidence of distinct evolutionary relationships between chromosomal and pSym genes, and broad similarity between pSym genes. We also find that nifD has a unique evolutionary history that explains much of the variation in partner quality, and suggest MoFe subunit interaction sites in the evolution of less-mutualistic rhizobia. These results provide insight into the mechanisms behind the evolutionary response of rhizobia to long-term N fertilization, and we discuss the implications of our results for the evolution of the mutualism.}, } @article {pmid27084869, year = {2016}, author = {Dagli, N and Dagli, R and Darwish, S and Baroudi, K}, title = {Oral Microbial Shift: Factors affecting the Microbiome and Prevention of Oral Disease.}, journal = {The journal of contemporary dental practice}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {90-96}, doi = {10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1808}, pmid = {27084869}, issn = {1526-3711}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/microbiology ; Mouth Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recently, oral microbiome has gained popularity among scientists. Microorganisms are no longer considered as disease-producing pathogens, rather they are now considered as partners of human in maintaining health. Since ancient times, changes in our lifestyle have affected our microbiome and the balance with their human host has been perturbed. The present review includes the description about factors affecting oral microbiome and establishing symbiosis with the human host so that they contribute in maintaining health rather than eliciting diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed on databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed and Medline until April 2015. First, articles were selected on the basis of their titles and then abstracts were screened and unwanted articles were excluded. Articles obtained from all the databases were checked and duplicate articles were removed. Articles obtained from various databases: PubMed = 35, Google Scholar=8. Out of these 43 articles, total 29 articles were finally selected for this review.

RESULTS: The published literature suggests that the modern oral microbiome is less biodiverse, and possess more pathogenic bacterial species and lesser beneficial bacteria. The possible factors mainly responsible for this shift in microbiome were found to be change in diet, industrial revolution and indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

CONCLUSION: Various changes in lifestyles have affected oral microbiome adversely and perturb the symbiosis between the microbiome and their hosts. The present oral microbiome is found to be less diverse and more pathogenic. The present review may be helpful in understanding the relationship between the microbiome and their human hosts so that microbiome contributes in maintaining healthy state of the body.}, } @article {pmid27084023, year = {2016}, author = {Mus, F and Crook, MB and Garcia, K and Garcia Costas, A and Geddes, BA and Kouri, ED and Paramasivan, P and Ryu, MH and Oldroyd, GED and Poole, PS and Udvardi, MK and Voigt, CA and Ané, JM and Peters, JW}, title = {Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and the Challenges to Its Extension to Nonlegumes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {13}, pages = {3698-3710}, pmid = {27084023}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {BB/L011484/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L011476/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Access to fixed or available forms of nitrogen limits the productivity of crop plants and thus food production. Nitrogenous fertilizer production currently represents a significant expense for the efficient growth of various crops in the developed world. There are significant potential gains to be had from reducing dependence on nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture in the developed world and in developing countries, and there is significant interest in research on biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for increasing its importance in an agricultural setting. Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N2 to NH3, a form that can be used by plants. However, the process is restricted to bacteria and archaea and does not occur in eukaryotes. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is part of a mutualistic relationship in which plants provide a niche and fixed carbon to bacteria in exchange for fixed nitrogen. This process is restricted mainly to legumes in agricultural systems, and there is considerable interest in exploring whether similar symbioses can be developed in nonlegumes, which produce the bulk of human food. We are at a juncture at which the fundamental understanding of biological nitrogen fixation has matured to a level that we can think about engineering symbiotic relationships using synthetic biology approaches. This minireview highlights the fundamental advances in our understanding of biological nitrogen fixation in the context of a blueprint for expanding symbiotic nitrogen fixation to a greater diversity of crop plants through synthetic biology.}, } @article {pmid27082768, year = {2016}, author = {Carro, L and Pujic, P and Alloisio, N and Fournier, P and Boubakri, H and Poly, F and Rey, M and Heddi, A and Normand, P}, title = {Physiological effects of major up-regulated Alnus glutinosa peptides on Frankia sp. ACN14a.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {162}, number = {7}, pages = {1173-1184}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000291}, pmid = {27082768}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Alnus/*metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion/*drug effects ; Defensins/*pharmacology ; Frankia/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Oxygen Consumption/*drug effects ; Plant Proteins/*pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Alnus glutinosa has been shown previously to synthesize, in response to nodulation by Frankia sp. ACN14a, an array of peptides called Alnus symbiotic up-regulated peptides (ASUPs). In a previous study one peptide (Ag5) was shown to bind to Frankia nitrogen-fixing vesicles and to modify their porosity. Here we analyse four other ASUPs, alongside Ag5, to determine whether they have different physiological effects on in vitro grown Frankia sp. ACN14a. The five studied peptides were shown to have different effects on nitrogen fixation, respiration, growth, the release of ions and amino acids, as well as on cell clumping and cell lysis. The mRNA abundance for all five peptides was quantified in symbiotic nodules and one (Ag11) was found to be more abundant in the meristem part of the nodule. These findings point to some peptides having complementary effects on Frankia cells.}, } @article {pmid27081850, year = {2016}, author = {Granger, BR and Chang, YC and Wang, Y and DeLisi, C and Segrè, D and Hu, Z}, title = {Visualization of Metabolic Interaction Networks in Microbial Communities Using VisANT 5.0.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {e1004875}, pmid = {27081850}, issn = {1553-7358}, support = {R01 DE024468/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM103502-05/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1RC2GM092602-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM089978/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM103502/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK036836/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 5R01DE024468/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; RC2 GM092602/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM089978/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Computer Graphics ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Microbiota/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; *Software ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {The complexity of metabolic networks in microbial communities poses an unresolved visualization and interpretation challenge. We address this challenge in the newly expanded version of a software tool for the analysis of biological networks, VisANT 5.0. We focus in particular on facilitating the visual exploration of metabolic interaction between microbes in a community, e.g. as predicted by COMETS (Computation of Microbial Ecosystems in Time and Space), a dynamic stoichiometric modeling framework. Using VisANT's unique metagraph implementation, we show how one can use VisANT 5.0 to explore different time-dependent ecosystem-level metabolic networks. In particular, we analyze the metabolic interaction network between two bacteria previously shown to display an obligate cross-feeding interdependency. In addition, we illustrate how a putative minimal gut microbiome community could be represented in our framework, making it possible to highlight interactions across multiple coexisting species. We envisage that the "symbiotic layout" of VisANT can be employed as a general tool for the analysis of metabolism in complex microbial communities as well as heterogeneous human tissues. VisANT is freely available at: http://visant.bu.edu and COMETS at http://comets.bu.edu.}, } @article {pmid27079453, year = {2016}, author = {Zhao, L and Wang, X and Huo, H and Yuan, G and Sun, Y and Zhang, D and Cao, Y and Xu, L and Wei, G}, title = {Phylogenetic Diversity of Ammopiptanthus Rhizobia and Distribution of Rhizobia Associated with Ammopiptanthus mongolicus in Diverse Regions of Northwest China.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {231-239}, pmid = {27079453}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aiming to investigate the diversity and distribution of rhizobia associated with Ammopiptanthus, an endangered evergreen legume widely distributed in deserts, we characterized a total of 219 nodule isolates from nine sampling sites in Northwest China with different soil characteristics based upon restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH). Ten isolates representing different 16S rRNA-RFLP types were selected for further sequence analyses of 16S rRNA and four housekeeping genes. As results, nine genospecies belonging to the genera Ensifer, Neorhizobium, Agrobacterium, Pararhizobium, and Rhizobium could be defined among the isolates. The nodC and nifH phylogenies of 14 isolates representing different symbiotic-RFLP types revealed five lineages linked to Ensifer fredii, Ensifer meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Mesorhizobium amorphae, and Rhizobium gallicum, which demonstrated the various origins and lateral transfers of symbiotic genes between different genera and species. The rhizobial diversities of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus varied among regions, and the community compositions of rhizobia associated with A. mongolicus were significantly different in wild and cultured fields. Constrained correspondence analysis showed that the distribution of A. mongolicus rhizobia could be explained by available potassium content and that the assembly of symbiotic types was mainly affected by available phosphorus content and carbon-nitrogen ratio.}, } @article {pmid27078972, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, F and Guo, W and Ma, PK and Pan, L and Zhang, J}, title = {[Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth and Ce Uptake of Maize Grown in Ce-contaminated Soils].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {309-316}, pmid = {27078972}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cerium/*metabolism ; *Glomeromycota ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus aggregatum (GA) and Funneliformis mosseae (FM) on AM colonization rate, biomass, nutrient uptake, C: N: P stoichiometric and Ce uptake and transport by maize (Zea mays L.) grown in soils with different levels of Ce-contaminated (100, 500 and 1000 mg x kg(-1)). The aim was to provide basic data and technical support for the treatment of soils contaminated by rare earth elements. The results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between the two isolates and maize, and the average AM colonization rate ranged from 7. 12% to 74.47%. The increasing concentration of Ce in soils significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate, biomass, nutrition contents and transport rate of Ce from root to shoot of maize, and significantly increased C: P and N: P ratios and Ce contents in shoot and root of maize. Both AM fungi inoculations promoted the growth of maize, but the promoting role of FM was more significant than that of GA in severe Ce-contaminated soils. There were no significant differences in the growth of maize between two AM fungi in mild and moderate Ce-contaminated soils. Inoculation with AM fungi significantly improved nutritional status of maize by increasing nutrient uptake and decreasing C: N: P ratios. GA was more efficient than FM in enhancing nutrient uptake in mild and moderate Ce-contaminated soils, while FM was more efficient in severe Ce-contaminated soils. Moreover, inoculation with AM fungi significantly increased Ce contents of shoot and root in mild Ce-contaminated soils, but had no significant effect on Ce contents of maize in moderate and severe Ce-contaminated soils, and promoted the transport of Ce from root to shoot. The experiment demonstrates that AM fungi can alleviate toxic effects of Ce on plants and have a potential role in the phytoremediation of soils contaminated by rare earth elements.}, } @article {pmid27078878, year = {2016}, author = {Freitas, HR and Ferraz, G and Ferreira, GC and Ribeiro-Resende, VT and Chiarini, LB and do Nascimento, JL and Matos Oliveira, KR and Pereira, Tde L and Ferreira, LG and Kubrusly, RC and Faria, RX and Herculano, AM and Reis, RA}, title = {Glutathione-Induced Calcium Shifts in Chick Retinal Glial Cells.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e0153677}, pmid = {27078878}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Avian Proteins/metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glutathione/*pharmacology ; Glutathione Disulfide/pharmacology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neuroglia/*drug effects/metabolism ; Neurons/drug effects/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7/metabolism ; Retina/*cytology/embryology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Neuroglia interactions are essential for the nervous system and in the retina Müller cells interact with most of the neurons in a symbiotic manner. Glutathione (GSH) is a low-molecular weight compound that undertakes major antioxidant roles in neurons and glia, however, whether this compound could act as a signaling molecule in neurons and/or glia is currently unknown. Here we used embryonic avian retina to obtain mixed retinal cells or purified Müller glia cells in culture to evaluate calcium shifts induced by GSH. A dose response curve (0.1-10 mM) showed that 5-10 mM GSH, induced calcium shifts exclusively in glial cells (later labeled and identified as 2M6 positive cells), while neurons responded to 50 mM KCl (labeled as βIII tubulin positive cells). BBG 100 nM, a P2X7 blocker, inhibited the effects of GSH on Müller glia. However, addition of DNQX 70 μM and MK-801 20 μM, non-NMDA and NMDA blockers, had no effect on GSH calcium induced shift. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) at 5 mM failed to induce calcium mobilization in glia cells, indicating that the antioxidant and/or structural features of GSH are essential to promote elevations in cytoplasmic calcium levels. Indeed, a short GSH pulse (60s) protects Müller glia from oxidative damage after 30 min of incubation with 0.1% H2O2. Finally, GSH induced GABA release from chick embryonic retina, mixed neuron-glia or from Müller cell cultures, which were inhibited by BBG or in the absence of sodium. GSH also induced propidium iodide uptake in Müller cells in culture in a P2X7 receptor dependent manner. Our data suggest that GSH, in addition to antioxidant effects, could act signaling calcium shifts at the millimolar range particularly in Müller glia, and could regulate the release of GABA, with additional protective effects on retinal neuron-glial circuit.}, } @article {pmid27078260, year = {2016}, author = {Voronin, D and Bachu, S and Shlossman, M and Unnasch, TR and Ghedin, E and Lustigman, S}, title = {Glucose and Glycogen Metabolism in Brugia malayi Is Associated with Wolbachia Symbiont Fitness.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e0153812}, pmid = {27078260}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 AI072465/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI101372/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI072465/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56AI101372/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aldehyde-Lyases/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Brugia malayi/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Doxycycline/pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Glycogen/*metabolism ; Glycolysis ; Helminth Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Wolbachia/metabolism/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria found in the majority of arthropods and filarial nematodes of medical and veterinary importance. They have evolved a wide range of symbiotic associations. In filarial nematodes that cause human lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi) or onchocerciasis (Onchocerca volvulus), Wolbachia are important for parasite development, reproduction and survival. The symbiotic bacteria rely in part on nutrients and energy sources provided by the host. Genomic analyses suggest that the strain of Wolbachia found in B. malayi (wBm) lacks the genes for two glycolytic enzymes--6-phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase--and is thus potentially unable to convert glucose into pyruvate, an important substrate for energy generation. The Wolbachia surface protein, wBm00432, is complexed to six B. malayi glycolytic enzymes, including aldolase. In this study we characterized two B. malayi aldolase isozymes and found that their expression is dependent on Wolbachia fitness and number. We confirmed by immuno-transmission electron microscopy that aldolase is associated with the Wolbachia surface. RNAi experiments suggested that aldolase-2 plays a significant role in both Wolbachia survival and embryogenesis in B. malayi. Treatment with doxycycline reduced Wolbachia fitness and increased the amount of both glucose and glycogen detected in the filarial parasite, indicating that glucose metabolism and glycogen storage in B. malayi are associated with Wolbachia fitness. This metabolic co-dependency between Wolbachia and its filarial nematode indicates that glycolysis could be a shared metabolic pathway between the bacteria and B. malayi, and thus a potential new target for anti-filarial therapy.}, } @article {pmid27076897, year = {2016}, author = {Asgharian, A and Askari, G and Esmailzade, A and Feizi, A and Mohammadi, V}, title = {The Effect of Symbiotic Supplementation on Liver Enzymes, C-reactive Protein and Ultrasound Findings in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Clinical Trial.}, journal = {International journal of preventive medicine}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {59}, pmid = {27076897}, issn = {2008-7802}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Regarding to the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), concentrating on various strategies to its prevention and management seems necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of symbiotic on C-reactive protein (CRP), liver enzymes, and ultrasound findings in patients with NAFLD.

METHODS: Eighty NAFLD patients were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants received symbiotic in form of a 500 mg capsule (containing seven species of probiotic bacteria and fructooligosaccharides) or a placebo capsule daily for 8 weeks. Ultrasound grading, CRP, and liver enzymes were evaluated at the baseline and the end of the study.

RESULTS: In the symbiotic group, ultrasound grade decreased significantly compared to baseline (P < 0.005) but symbiotic supplementation was not associated with changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. In the placebo group, there was no significant change in steatosis grade whereas ALT and AST levels were significantly increased (P = 0.002, P = 0.02, respectively). CRP values remained static in either group.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotic supplementation improved steatosis in NAFLD patients and might be useful in the management of NAFLD or protective against its progression.}, } @article {pmid27075898, year = {2016}, author = {Davidson, BE and Novak, SJ and Serpe, MD}, title = {Consequences of inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for root colonization and survival of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis seedlings after transplanting.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {595-608}, pmid = {27075898}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Artemisia/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seasons ; Seedlings/growth & development/*microbiology ; Water ; }, abstract = {In arid environments, the propagule density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may limit the extent of the plant-AMF symbiosis. Inoculation of seedlings with AMF could alleviate this problem, but the success of this practice largely depends on the ability of the inoculum to multiply and colonize the growing root system after transplanting. These phenomena were investigated in Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush) seedlings inoculated with native AMF. Seedlings were first grown in a greenhouse in soil without AMF (non-inoculated seedlings) or with AMF (inoculated seedlings). In spring and fall, 3-month-old seedlings were transplanted outdoors to 24-L pots containing soil from a sagebrush habitat (spring and fall mesocosm experiments) or to a recently burned sagebrush habitat (spring and fall field experiments). Five or 8 months after transplanting, colonization was about twofold higher in inoculated than non-inoculated seedlings, except for the spring field experiment. In the mesocosm experiments, inoculation increased survival during the summer by 24 % (p = 0.011). In the field experiments, increased AMF colonization was associated with increases in survival during cold and dry periods; 1 year after transplanting, survival of inoculated seedlings was 27 % higher than that of non-inoculated ones (p < 0.001). To investigate possible mechanisms by which AMF increased survival, we analyzed water use efficiency (WUE) based on foliar (13)C/(12)C isotope ratios (δ (13)C). A positive correlation between AMF colonization and δ (13)C values was observed in the spring mesocosm experiment. In contrast, inoculation did not affect the δ (13)C values of fall transplanted seedlings that were collected the subsequent spring. The effectiveness of AMF inoculation on enhancing colonization and reducing seedling mortality varied among the different experiments, but average effects were estimated by meta-analyses. Several months after transplanting, average AMF colonization was in proportion 84 % higher in inoculated than non-inoculated seedlings (p = 0.0042), while the average risk of seedling mortality was 42 % lower in inoculated than non-inoculated seedlings (p = 0.047). These results indicate that inoculation can increase AMF colonization over the background levels occurring in the soil, leading to higher rates of survival.}, } @article {pmid27075897, year = {2016}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Belmondo, S and Khouja, HR and Abbà, S and Faccio, A and Daghino, S and Lanfranco, L}, title = {RiPEIP1, a gene from the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, is preferentially expressed in planta and may be involved in root colonization.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {609-621}, pmid = {27075897}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Yeasts/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Transcriptomics and genomics data recently obtained from the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis have offered new opportunities to decipher the contribution of the fungal partner to the establishment of the symbiotic association. The large number of genes which do not show similarity to known proteins witnesses the uniqueness of this group of plant-associated fungi. In this work, we characterize a gene that was called RiPEIP1 (Preferentially Expressed In Planta). Its expression is strongly induced in the intraradical phase, including arbuscules, and follows the expression profile of the Medicago truncatula phosphate transporter MtPT4, a molecular marker of a functional symbiosis. Indeed, mtpt4 mutant plants, which exhibit low mycorrhizal colonization and an accelerated arbuscule turnover, also show a reduced RiPEIP1 mRNA abundance. To further characterize RiPEIP1, in the absence of genetic transformation protocols for AM fungi, we took advantage of two different fungal heterologous systems. When expressed as a GFP fusion in yeast cells, RiPEIP1 localizes in the endomembrane system, in particular to the endoplasmic reticulum, which is consistent with the in silico prediction of four transmembrane domains. We then generated RiPEIP1-expressing strains of the fungus Oidiodendron maius, ericoid endomycorrhizal fungus for which transformation protocols are available. Roots of Vaccinium myrtillus colonized by RiPEIP1-expressing transgenic strains showed a higher mycorrhization level compared to roots colonized by the O. maius wild-type strain, suggesting that RiPEIP1 may regulate the root colonization process.}, } @article {pmid27074533, year = {2016}, author = {Argüello, A and O'Brien, MJ and van der Heijden, MG and Wiemken, A and Schmid, B and Niklaus, PA}, title = {Options of partners improve carbon for phosphorus trade in the arbuscular mycorrhizal mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {648-656}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12601}, pmid = {27074533}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Phosphorus Isotopes/analysis ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plantago/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trifolium/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mutualism between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is widespread and has persisted for over 400 million years. Although this mutualism depends on fair resource exchange between plants and fungi, inequality exists among partners despite mechanisms that regulate trade. Here, we use (33) P and (14) C isotopes and a split-root system to test for preferential allocation and reciprocal rewards in the plant-AMF symbiosis by presenting a plant with two AMF that differ in cooperativeness. We found that plants received more (33) P from less cooperative AMF in the presence of another AMF species. This increase in (33) P resulted in a reduced (14) C cost per unit of (33) P from less cooperative AMF when alternative options were available. Our results indicate that AMF diversity promotes cooperation between plants and AMF, which may be an important mechanism maintaining the evolutionary persistence of and diversity within the plant-AMF mutualism.}, } @article {pmid27074334, year = {2016}, author = {Swain, TD and Vega-Perkins, JB and Oestreich, WK and Triebold, C and DuBois, E and Henss, J and Baird, A and Siple, M and Backman, V and Marcelino, L}, title = {Coral bleaching response index: a new tool to standardize and compare susceptibility to thermal bleaching.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {2475-2488}, pmid = {27074334}, issn = {1365-2486}, support = {R01 CA128641/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EB003682/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Ecology/*methods ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Models, Theoretical ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As coral bleaching events become more frequent and intense, our ability to predict and mitigate future events depends upon our capacity to interpret patterns within previous episodes. Responses to thermal stress vary among coral species; however the diversity of coral assemblages, environmental conditions, assessment protocols, and severity criteria applied in the global effort to document bleaching patterns creates challenges for the development of a systemic metric of taxon-specific response. Here, we describe and validate a novel framework to standardize bleaching response records and estimate their measurement uncertainties. Taxon-specific bleaching and mortality records (2036) of 374 coral taxa (during 1982-2006) at 316 sites were standardized to average percent tissue area affected and a taxon-specific bleaching response index (taxon-BRI) was calculated by averaging taxon-specific response over all sites where a taxon was present. Differential bleaching among corals was widely variable (mean taxon-BRI = 25.06 ± 18.44%, ±SE). Coral response may differ because holobionts are biologically different (intrinsic factors), they were exposed to different environmental conditions (extrinsic factors), or inconsistencies in reporting (measurement uncertainty). We found that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors have comparable influence within a given site and event (60% and 40% of bleaching response variance of all records explained, respectively). However, when responses of individual taxa are averaged across sites to obtain taxon-BRI, differential response was primarily driven by intrinsic differences among taxa (65% of taxon-BRI variance explained), not conditions across sites (6% explained), nor measurement uncertainty (29% explained). Thus, taxon-BRI is a robust metric of intrinsic susceptibility of coral taxa. Taxon-BRI provides a broadly applicable framework for standardization and error estimation for disparate historical records and collection of novel data, allowing for unprecedented accuracy in parameterization of mechanistic and predictive models and conservation plans.}, } @article {pmid27072675, year = {2016}, author = {Sillo, F and Fangel, JU and Henrissat, B and Faccio, A and Bonfante, P and Martin, F and Willats, WG and Balestrini, R}, title = {Understanding plant cell-wall remodelling during the symbiotic interaction between Tuber melanosporum and Corylus avellana using a carbohydrate microarray.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {244}, number = {2}, pages = {347-359}, pmid = {27072675}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Ascomycota/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cell Wall/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Corylus/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Mycorrhizae ; Pectins/analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {A combined approach, using a carbohydrate microarray as a support for genomic data, has revealed subtle plant cell-wall remodelling during Tuber melanosporum and Corylus avellana interaction. Cell walls are involved, to a great extent, in mediating plant-microbe interactions. An important feature of these interactions concerns changes in the cell-wall composition during interaction with other organisms. In ectomycorrhizae, plant and fungal cell walls come into direct contact, and represent the interface between the two partners. However, very little information is available on the re-arrangement that could occur within the plant and fungal cell walls during ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Taking advantage of the Comprehensive Microarray Polymer Profiling (CoMPP) technology, the current study has had the aim of monitoring the changes that take place in the plant cell wall in Corylus avellana roots during colonization by the ascomycetous ectomycorrhizal fungus T. melanosporum. Additionally, genes encoding putative plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) have been identified in the T. melanosporum genome, and RT-qPCRs have been performed to verify the expression of selected genes in fully developed C. avellana/T. melanosporum ectomycorrhizae. A localized degradation of pectin seems to occur during fungal colonization, in agreement with the growth of the ectomycorrhizal fungus through the middle lamella and with the fungal gene expression of genes acting on these polysaccharides.}, } @article {pmid27072327, year = {2017}, author = {Nicolucci, AC and Reimer, RA}, title = {Prebiotics as a modulator of gut microbiota in paediatric obesity.}, journal = {Pediatric obesity}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {265-273}, doi = {10.1111/ijpo.12140}, pmid = {27072327}, issn = {2047-6310}, support = {//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Pediatric Obesity/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {This review highlights our current understanding of the role of gut microbiota in paediatric obesity and the potential role for dietary manipulation of the gut microbiota with prebiotics in managing paediatric obesity. The aetiology of obesity is multifactorial and is now known to include microbial dysbiosis in the gut. Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates which selectively modulate the number and/or composition of gut microbes. The goal of prebiotic consumption is to restore symbiosis and thereby confer health benefits to the host. There is convincing evidence that prebiotics can reduce adiposity and improve metabolic health in preclinical rodent models. Furthermore, there are several clinical trials in adult humans highlighting metabolic and appetite-regulating benefits of prebiotics. In paediatric obesity, however, there are very limited data regarding the potential role of prebiotics as a dietary intervention for obesity management. As the prevalence of paediatric obesity and obesity-associated comorbidities increases globally, interventions that target the progression of obesity from an early age are essential in slowing the obesity epidemic. This review emphasizes the need for further research assessing the role of prebiotics, particularly as an intervention in effectively managing paediatric obesity.}, } @article {pmid27070734, year = {2016}, author = {Scotti-Campos, P and Duro, N and Costa, Md and Pais, IP and Rodrigues, AP and Batista-Santos, P and Semedo, JN and Leitão, AE and Lidon, FC and Pawlowski, K and Ramalho, JC and Ribeiro-Barros, AI}, title = {Antioxidative ability and membrane integrity in salt-induced responses of Casuarina glauca Sieber ex Spreng. in symbiosis with N2-fixing Frankia Thr or supplemented with mineral nitrogen.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {196-197}, number = {}, pages = {60-69}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2016.03.012}, pmid = {27070734}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*drug effects/physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Frankia/drug effects/*physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*drug effects/physiology ; Nitrogen/administration & dosage ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {The actinorhizal tree Casuarina glauca tolerates extreme environmental conditions, such as high salinity. This species is also able to establish a root-nodule symbiosis with N2-fixing bacteria of the genus Frankia. Recent studies have shown that C. glauca tolerance to high salt concentrations is innate and linked to photosynthetic adjustments. In this study we have examined the impact of increasing NaCl concentrations (200, 400 and 600mM) on membrane integrity as well as on the control of oxidative stress in branchlets of symbiotic (NOD+) and non-symbiotic (KNO3+) C. glauca. Membrane selectivity was maintained in both plant groups at 200mM NaCl, accompanied by an increase in the activity of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase). Regarding cellular membrane lipid composition, linolenic acid (C18:3) showed a significant decline at 200mM NaCl in both NOD+ and KNO3+ plants. In addition, total fatty acids (TFA) and C18:2 also decreased in NOD+ plants at this salt concentration, resulting in malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Such initial impact at 200mM NaCl is probably due to the fact that NOD+ plants are subjected to a double stress, i.e., salinity and low nitrogen availability. At 400mM NaCl a strong reduction of TFA and C18:3 levels was observed in both plant groups. This was accompanied by a decrease in the unsaturation degree of membrane lipids in NOD+. However, in both NOD+ and KNO3+ lipid modifications were not reflected by membrane leakage at 200 or 400mM, suggesting acclimation mechanisms at the membrane level. The fact that membrane selectivity was impaired only at 600mM NaCl in both groups of plants points to a high tolerance of C. glauca to salt stress independently of the symbiotic relation with Frankia.}, } @article {pmid27069790, year = {2016}, author = {Lefoulon, E and Bain, O and Makepeace, BL and d'Haese, C and Uni, S and Martin, C and Gavotte, L}, title = {Breakdown of coevolution between symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia and their filarial hosts.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1840}, pmid = {27069790}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Wolbachia is an alpha-proteobacterial symbiont widely distributed in arthropods. Since the identification of Wolbachia in certain animal-parasitic nematodes (the Onchocercidae or filariae), the relationship between arthropod and nematode Wolbachia has attracted great interest. The obligate symbiosis in filariae, which renders infected species susceptible to antibiotic chemotherapy, was held to be distinct from the Wolbachia-arthropod relationship, typified by reproductive parasitism. While co-evolutionary signatures in Wolbachia-arthropod symbioses are generally weak, reflecting horizontal transmission events, strict co-evolution between filariae and Wolbachia has been reported previously. However, the absence of close outgroups for phylogenetic studies prevented the determination of which host group originally acquired Wolbachia. Here, we present the largest co-phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia in filariae performed to date including: (i) a screening and an updated phylogeny of Wolbachia; (ii) a co-phylogenetic analysis; and (iii) a hypothesis on the acquisition of Wolbachia infection. First, our results show a general overestimation of Wolbachia occurrence and support the hypothesis of an ancestral absence of infection in the nematode phylum. The accuracy of supergroup J is also underlined. Second, although a global pattern of coevolution remains, the signal is derived predominantly from filarial clades associated with Wolbachia in supergroups C and J. In other filarial clades, harbouring Wolbachia supergroups D and F, horizontal acquisitions and secondary losses are common. Finally, our results suggest that supergroup C is the basal Wolbachia clade within the Ecdysozoa. This hypothesis on the origin of Wolbachia would change drastically our understanding of Wolbachia evolution.}, } @article {pmid27069784, year = {2016}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Yang, SY and Kawamura, I and Byron, G and Todd, PA and Reimer, JD}, title = {A citizen science approach to monitoring bleaching in the zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1815}, pmid = {27069784}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Coral reef bleaching events are expected to become more frequent and severe in the near future as climate changes. The zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa bleaches earlier than many scleractinian corals and may serve as an indicator species. Basic monitoring of such species could help to detect and even anticipate bleaching events, especially in areas where more sophisticated approaches that rely on buoy or satellite measurements of sea surface temperature are unavailable or too coarse. One simple and inexpensive monitoring method involves training volunteers to record observations of host color as a proxy for symbiosis quality. Here, we trained university students to take the 'color fingerprint' of a reef by assessing the color of multiple randomly selected colonies of P. tuberculosa at one time point in Okinawa Island, Japan. We tested the reliability of the students' color scores and whether they matched expectations based on previous monthly monitoring of tagged colonies at the same locations. We also measured three traditional metrics of symbiosis quality for comparison: symbiont morphological condition, cell density, and chlorophyll a content. We found that P. tuberculosa color score, although highly correlated among observers, provided little predictive power for the other variables. This was likely due to inherent variation in colony color among generally healthy zoantharians in midwinter, as well as low sample size and brief training owing to the course structure. Despite certain limitations of P. tuberculosa as a focal organism, the citizen science approach to color monitoring has promise, and we outline steps that could improve similar efforts in the future.}, } @article {pmid27069664, year = {2016}, author = {Sørensen, ME and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA and Wood, AJ}, title = {Metabolic constraints for a novel symbiosis.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {150708}, pmid = {27069664}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Ancient evolutionary events are difficult to study because their current products are derived forms altered by millions of years of adaptation. The primary endosymbiotic event formed the first photosynthetic eukaryote resulting in both plants and algae, with vast consequences for life on Earth. The evolutionary time that passed since this event means the dominant mechanisms and changes that were required are obscured. Synthetic symbioses such as the novel interaction between Paramecium bursaria and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PC6803, recently established in the laboratory, permit a unique window on the possible early trajectories of this critical evolutionary event. Here, we apply metabolic modelling, using flux balance analysis (FBA), to predict the metabolic adaptations necessary for this previously free-living symbiont to transition to the endosymbiotic niche. By enforcing reciprocal nutrient trading, we are able to predict the most efficient exchange nutrients for both host and symbiont. During the transition from free-living to obligate symbiosis, it is likely that the trading parameters will change over time, which leads in our model to discontinuous changes in the preferred exchange nutrients. Our results show the applicability of FBA modelling to ancient evolutionary transitions driven by metabolic exchanges, and predict how newly established endosymbioses, governed by conflict, will differ from a well-developed one that has reached a mutual-benefit state.}, } @article {pmid27068839, year = {2016}, author = {Beukes, CW and Stępkowski, T and Venter, SN and Cłapa, T and Phalane, FL and le Roux, MM and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Crotalarieae and Genisteae of the South African Great Escarpment are nodulated by novel Bradyrhizobium species with unique and diverse symbiotic loci.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {100}, number = {}, pages = {206-218}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.011}, pmid = {27068839}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Bradyrhizobium contains predominantly nitrogen-fixing legume symbionts. Phylogenetic analysis of the genes responsible for their symbiotic abilities (i.e., those encoded on the nodulation [nod] and nitrogen-fixation [nif] loci) has facilitated the development of an extensive phylogeographic framework for the genus. This framework however contains only a few nodulating isolates from Africa. Here we focused on nodulating Bradyrhizobium isolates associated with native southern African legumes in the tribes Genisteae and Crotalarieae found along the Great Escarpment in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The aims of this study were to: (1) obtain rhizobial isolates from legumes in the Genisteae and Crotalarieae; (2) verify their nodulation ability; (3) characterize them to species level based on phylogenetic analyses of several protein coding gene regions (atpD, dnaK, glnII, recA, rpoB and gyrB) and (4) determine their placement in the phylogeographic framework inferred from the sequences of the symbiotic loci nodA and nifD. Twenty of the 21 Bradyrhizobium isolates belonged to six novel species, while one was conspecific with the recently described B. arachidis. Among these isolates, the nodA phylogeny revealed several new clades, with 18 of our isolates found in Clades XIV and XV, and only three forming part of the cosmopolitan Clade III. These strains formed predominantly the same groups in the nifD phylogeny although with slight differences; indicating that both vertical and horizontal inheritance of the symbiotic loci occurred. These findings suggest that the largely unexplored diversity of indigenous African rhizobia are characterized by unique ancestries that might mirror the distribution of their hosts and the environmental factors driving their evolution.}, } @article {pmid27068168, year = {2016}, author = {Quispe, CF and Sonderman, O and Seng, A and Rasmussen, B and Weber, G and Mueller, C and Dunigan, DD and Van Etten, JL}, title = {Three-year survey of abundance, prevalence and genetic diversity of chlorovirus populations in a small urban lake.}, journal = {Archives of virology}, volume = {161}, number = {7}, pages = {1839-1847}, doi = {10.1007/s00705-016-2853-4}, pmid = {27068168}, issn = {1432-8798}, support = {P30 GM103509/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Chlorella/*virology ; *Genetic Variation ; Lakes/*virology ; Phycodnaviridae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {Inland water environments cover about 2.5 percent of our planet and harbor huge numbers of known and still unknown microorganisms. In this report, we examined water samples for the abundance, prevalence, and genetic diversity of a group of infectious viruses (chloroviruses) that infect symbiotic chlorella-like green algae. Samples were collected on a weekly basis for a period of 24 to 36 months from a recreational freshwater lake in Lincoln, Nebraska, and assayed for infectious viruses by plaque assay. The numbers of infectious virus particles were both host- and site-dependent. The consistent fluctuations in numbers of viruses suggest their impact as key factors in shaping microbial community structures in the water surface. Even in low-viral-abundance months, infectious chlorovirus populations were maintained, suggesting either that the viruses are very stable or that there is ongoing viral production in natural hosts.}, } @article {pmid27066229, year = {2016}, author = {Albornoz, FE and Lambers, H and Turner, BL and Teste, FP and Laliberté, E}, title = {Shifts in symbiotic associations in plants capable of forming multiple root symbioses across a long-term soil chronosequence.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {2368-2377}, pmid = {27066229}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Changes in soil nutrient availability during long-term ecosystem development influence the relative abundances of plant species with different nutrient-acquisition strategies. These changes in strategies are observed at the community level, but whether they also occur within individual species remains unknown. Plant species forming multiple root symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, and nitrogen-(N) fixing microorganisms provide valuable model systems to examine edaphic controls on symbioses related to nutrient acquisition, while simultaneously controlling for plant host identity. We grew two co-occurring species, Acacia rostellifera (N2-fixing and dual AM and ECM symbioses) and Melaleuca systena (AM and ECM dual symbioses), in three soils of contrasting ages (c. 0.1, 1, and 120 ka) collected along a long-term dune chronosequence in southwestern Australia. The soils differ in the type and strength of nutrient limitation, with primary productivity being limited by N (0.1 ka), co-limited by N and phosphorus (P) (1 ka), and by P (120 ka). We hypothesized that (i) within-species root colonization shifts from AM to ECM with increasing soil age, and that (ii) nodulation declines with increasing soil age, reflecting the shift from N to P limitation along the chronosequence. In both species, we observed a shift from AM to ECM root colonization with increasing soil age. In addition, nodulation in A. rostellifera declined with increasing soil age, consistent with a shift from N to P limitation. Shifts from AM to ECM root colonization reflect strengthening P limitation and an increasing proportion of total soil P in organic forms in older soils. This might occur because ECM fungi can access organic P via extracellular phosphatases, while AM fungi do not use organic P. Our results show that plants can shift their resource allocation to different root symbionts depending on nutrient availability during ecosystem development.}, } @article {pmid27066184, year = {2016}, author = {Bücking, H and Mensah, JA and Fellbaum, CR}, title = {Common mycorrhizal networks and their effect on the bargaining power of the fungal partner in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e1107684}, pmid = {27066184}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic interactions with the majority of land plants, including some of the most important crop species. The fungus takes up nutrients from the soil, and transfers these nutrients to the mycorrhizal interface in the root, where these nutrients are exchanged against carbon from the host. AM fungi form extensive hyphal networks in the soil and connect with their network multiple host plants. These common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) play a critical role in the long-distance transport of nutrients through soil ecosystems and allow the exchange of signals between the interconnected plants. CMNs affect the survival, fitness, and competitiveness of the fungal and plant species that interact via these networks, but how the resource transport within these CMNs is controlled is largely unknown. We discuss the significance of CMNs for plant communities and for the bargaining power of the fungal partner in the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27066061, year = {2016}, author = {Wu, P and Wu, Y and Liu, CC and Liu, LW and Ma, FF and Wu, XY and Wu, M and Hang, YY and Chen, JQ and Shao, ZQ and Wang, B}, title = {Identification of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM)-Responsive microRNAs in Tomato.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {429}, pmid = {27066061}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {A majority of land plants can form symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to regulate this process in legumes, but their involvement in non-legume species is largely unknown. In this study, by performing deep sequencing of sRNA libraries in tomato roots and comparing with tomato genome, a total of 700 potential miRNAs were predicted, among them, 187 are known plant miRNAs that have been previously deposited in miRBase. Unlike the profiles in other plants such as rice and Arabidopsis, a large proportion of predicted tomato miRNAs was 24 nt in length. A similar pattern was observed in the potato genome but not in tobacco, indicating a Solanum genus-specific expansion of 24-nt miRNAs. About 40% identified tomato miRNAs showed significantly altered expressions upon Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation, suggesting the potential roles of these novel miRNAs in AM symbiosis. The differential expression of five known and six novel miRNAs were further validated using qPCR analysis. Interestingly, three up-regulated known tomato miRNAs belong to a known miR171 family, a member of which has been reported in Medicago truncatula to regulate AM symbiosis. Thus, the miR171 family likely regulates AM symbiosis conservatively across different plant lineages. More than 1000 genes targeted by potential AM-responsive miRNAs were provided and their roles in AM symbiosis are worth further exploring.}, } @article {pmid27065972, year = {2016}, author = {Shu, B and Li, W and Liu, L and Wei, Y and Shi, S}, title = {Transcriptomes of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Litchi Host Interaction after Tree Girdling.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {408}, pmid = {27065972}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Trunk girdling can increase carbohydrate content above the girdling site and is an important strategy for inhibiting new shoot growth to promote flowering in cultivated litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). However, girdling inhibits carbohydrate transport to the root in nearly all of the fruit development periods and consequently decreases root absorption. The mechanism through which carbohydrates regulate root development in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) remains largely unknown. Carbohydrate content, AM colonization, and transcriptome in the roots were analyzed to elucidate the interaction between host litchi and AM fungi when carbohydrate content decreases. Girdling decreased glucose, fructose, sucrose, quebrachitol, and starch contents in the litchi mycorrhizal roots, thereby reducing AM colonization. RNA-seq achieved approximately 60 million reads of each sample, with an average length of reads reaching 100 bp. Assembly of all the reads of the 30 samples produced 671,316 transcripts and 381,429 unigenes, with average lengths of 780 and 643 bp, respectively. Litchi (54,100 unigenes) and AM fungi unigenes (33,120 unigenes) were achieved through sequence annotation during decreased carbohydrate content. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEG) showed that flavonoids, alpha-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid are the main factors that regulate AM colonization in litchi. However, flavonoids may play a role in detecting the stage at which carbohydrate content decreases; alpha-linolenic acid or linoleic acid may affect AM formation under the adaptation process. Litchi trees stimulated the expression of defense-related genes and downregulated symbiosis signal-transduction genes to inhibit new AM colonization. Moreover, transcription factors of the AP2, ERF, Myb, WRKY, bHLH families, and lectin genes altered maintenance of litchi mycorrhizal roots in the post-symbiotic stage for carbohydrate starvation. Similar to those of the litchi host, the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex SCF subunit scon-3 and polyubiquitin of AM fungi were upregulated at the perceived stages. This occurrence suggested that ubiquitination plays an important role in perceiving carbohydrate decrease in AM fungi. The transcription of cytochrome b-245 and leucine-rich repeat was detected in the DEG database, implying that the transcripts were involved in AM fungal adaptation under carbohydrate starvation. The transcriptome data might suggest novel functions of unigenes in carbohydrate shortage of mycorrhizal roots.}, } @article {pmid27065959, year = {2016}, author = {Romano, S and Fernàndez-Guerra, A and Reen, FJ and Glöckner, FO and Crowley, SP and O'Sullivan, O and Cotter, PD and Adams, C and Dobson, AD and O'Gara, F}, title = {Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals a Diverse Repertoire of Genes Involved in Prokaryote-Eukaryote Interactions within the Pseudovibrio Genus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {387}, pmid = {27065959}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Strains of the Pseudovibrio genus have been detected worldwide, mainly as part of bacterial communities associated with marine invertebrates, particularly sponges. This recurrent association has been considered as an indication of a symbiotic relationship between these microbes and their host. Until recently, the availability of only two genomes, belonging to closely related strains, has limited the knowledge on the genomic and physiological features of the genus to a single phylogenetic lineage. Here we present 10 newly sequenced genomes of Pseudovibrio strains isolated from marine sponges from the west coast of Ireland, and including the other two publicly available genomes we performed an extensive comparative genomic analysis. Homogeneity was apparent in terms of both the orthologous genes and the metabolic features shared amongst the 12 strains. At the genomic level, a key physiological difference observed amongst the isolates was the presence only in strain P. axinellae AD2 of genes encoding proteins involved in assimilatory nitrate reduction, which was then proved experimentally. We then focused on studying those systems known to be involved in the interactions with eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. This analysis revealed that the genus harbors a large diversity of toxin-like proteins, secretion systems and their potential effectors. Their distribution in the genus was not always consistent with the phylogenetic relationship of the strains. Finally, our analyses identified new genomic islands encoding potential toxin-immunity systems, previously unknown in the genus. Our analyses shed new light on the Pseudovibrio genus, indicating a large diversity of both metabolic features and systems for interacting with the host. The diversity in both distribution and abundance of these systems amongst the strains underlines how metabolically and phylogenetically similar bacteria may use different strategies to interact with the host and find a niche within its microbiota. Our data suggest the presence of a sponge-specific lineage of Pseudovibrio. The reduction in genome size and the loss of some systems potentially used to successfully enter the host, leads to the hypothesis that P. axinellae strain AD2 may be a lineage that presents an ancient association with the host and that may be vertically transmitted to the progeny.}, } @article {pmid27064570, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, H and Liu, Z and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Symbiosis of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Robinia pseudoacacia L. Improves Root Tensile Strength and Soil Aggregate Stability.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e0153378}, pmid = {27064570}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/growth & development/microbiology ; Robinia/growth & development/*microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tensile Strength ; }, abstract = {Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) is a widely planted tree species on Loess Plateau for revegetation. Due to its symbiosis forming capability with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, we explored the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant biomass, root morphology, root tensile strength and soil aggregate stability in a pot experiment. We inoculated R. pseudoacacia with/without AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis or Glomus versiforme), and measured root colonization, plant growth, root morphological characters, root tensile force and tensile strength, and parameters for soil aggregate stability at twelve weeks after inoculation. AM fungi colonized more than 70% plant root, significantly improved plant growth. Meanwhile, AM fungi elevated root morphological parameters, root tensile force, root tensile strength, Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) content in soil, and parameters for soil aggregate stability such as water stable aggregate (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD). Root length was highly correlated with WSA, MWD and GMD, while hyphae length was highly correlated with GRSP content. The improved R. pseudoacacia growth, root tensile strength and soil aggregate stability indicated that AM fungi could accelerate soil fixation and stabilization with R. pseudoacacia, and its function in revegetation on Loess Plateau deserves more attention.}, } @article {pmid27064448, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, D and Kim, YG and Seo, SU and Kim, DJ and Kamada, N and Prescott, D and Chamaillard, M and Philpott, DJ and Rosenstiel, P and Inohara, N and Núñez, G}, title = {Nod2-mediated recognition of the microbiota is critical for mucosal adjuvant activity of cholera toxin.}, journal = {Nature medicine}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {524-530}, pmid = {27064448}, issn = {1546-170X}, support = {P30 CA046592/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK061707/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine/pharmacology ; Adjuvants, Immunologic/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; CD11c Antigen/metabolism ; Cholera Toxin/*pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP/immunology ; Cytokines/immunology ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Germ-Free Life/*immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/*drug effects/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Microbiota/*drug effects/immunology ; Mucous Membrane/immunology ; Nasal Mucosa/immunology ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/agonists/*drug effects/immunology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spleen/cytology ; Staphylococcal Infections/*immunology ; Staphylococcus ; }, abstract = {Cholera toxin (CT) is a potent adjuvant for inducing mucosal immune responses. However, the mechanism by which CT induces adjuvant activity remains unclear. Here we show that the microbiota is critical for inducing antigen-specific IgG production after intranasal immunization. After mucosal vaccination with CT, both antibiotic-treated and germ-free (GF) mice had reduced amounts of antigen-specific IgG, smaller recall-stimulated cytokine responses, impaired follicular helper T (TFH) cell responses and reduced numbers of plasma cells. Recognition of symbiotic bacteria via the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (Nod2) sensor in cells that express the integrin CD11c (encoded by Itgax) was required for the adjuvanticity of CT. Reconstitution of GF mice with a Nod2 agonist or monocolonization with Staphylococcus sciuri, which has high Nod2-stimulatory activity, was sufficient to promote robust CT adjuvant activity, whereas bacteria with low Nod2-stimulatory activity did not. Mechanistically, CT enhanced Nod2-mediated cytokine production in dendritic cells via intracellular cyclic AMP. These results show a role for the microbiota and the intracellular receptor Nod2 in promoting the mucosal adjuvant activity of CT.}, } @article {pmid27064003, year = {2016}, author = {Xu, M and Heidmarsson, S and Olafsdottir, ES and Buonfiglio, R and Kogej, T and Omarsdottir, S}, title = {Secondary metabolites from cetrarioid lichens: Chemotaxonomy, biological activities and pharmaceutical potential.}, journal = {Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {441-459}, doi = {10.1016/j.phymed.2016.02.012}, pmid = {27064003}, issn = {1618-095X}, mesh = {Bioprospecting ; Lichens/*chemistry/classification ; Molecular Structure ; Phylogeny ; *Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens, as a symbiotic association of photobionts and mycobionts, display an unmatched environmental adaptability and a great chemical diversity. As an important morphological group, cetrarioid lichens are one of the most studied lichen taxa for their phylogeny, secondary chemistry, bioactivities and uses in folk medicines, especially the lichen Cetraria islandica. However, insufficient structure elucidation and discrepancy in bioactivity results could be found in a few studies.

PURPOSE: This review aimed to present a more detailed and updated overview of the knowledge of secondary metabolites from cetrarioid lichens in a critical manner, highlighting their potentials for pharmaceuticals as well as other applications. Here we also highlight the uses of molecular phylogenetics, metabolomics and ChemGPS-NP model for future bioprospecting, taxonomy and drug screening to accelerate applications of those lichen substances.

CHAPTERS: The paper starts with a short introduction in to the studies of lichen secondary metabolites, the biological classification of cetrarioid lichens and the aim. In light of ethnic uses of cetrarioid lichens for therapeutic purposes, molecular phylogeny is proposed as a tool for future bioprospecting of cetrarioid lichens, followed by a brief discussion of the taxonomic value of lichen substances. Then a delicate description of the bioactivities, patents, updated chemical structures and lichen sources is presented, where lichen substances are grouped by their chemical structures and discussed about their bioactivity in comparison with reference compounds. To accelerate the discovery of bioactivities and potential drug targets of lichen substances, the application of the ChemGPS NP model is highlighted. Finally the safety concerns of lichen substances (i.e. toxicity and immunogenicity) and future-prospects in the field are exhibited.

CONCLUSION: While the ethnic uses of cetrarioid lichens and the pharmaceutical potential of their secondary metabolites have been recognized, the knowledge of a large number of lichen substances with interesting structures is still limited to various in vitro assays with insufficient biological annotations, and this area still deserves more research in bioactivity, drug targets and screening. Attention should be paid on the accurate interpretation of their bioactivity for further applications avoiding over-interpretations from various in vitro bioassays.}, } @article {pmid27062807, year = {2015}, author = {Wei, ZX and Guo, DQ and Li, HF and Ding, B and Zhang, J and Zhou, N and Yu, J}, title = {[Photosynthetic parameters and physiological indexes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis influenced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {40}, number = {20}, pages = {3945-3952}, pmid = {27062807}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Liliaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Rhizome/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Through potted inoculation test at room temperature and indoor analysis, the photosynthetic parameters and physiological and biochemical indexes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis were observed after 28 arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were injected into the P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis growing in a sterile soil environment. The results showed that AM fungi established a good symbiosis with P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. The AM fungi influenced the photosynthetic parameters and physiological and biochemical indexes of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. And the influences were varied depending on different AM fungi. The application of AM fungi improved photosynthesis intensity of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis mesophyll cells, the contents of soluble protein and soluble sugar, protective enzyme activity of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis leaf, which was beneficial to resist the adverse environment and promote the growth of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Otherwise, there was a certain mutual selectivity between P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and AM fungi. From the comprehensive effect of inoculation, Racocetra coralloidea, Scutellospora calospora, Claroideoglomus claroideum, S. pellucida and Rhizophagus clarus were the most suitable AM fungi to P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis when P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis was planted in the field.}, } @article {pmid27061605, year = {2016}, author = {Chaintreuil, C and Gully, D and Hervouet, C and Tittabutr, P and Randriambanona, H and Brown, SC and Lewis, GP and Bourge, M and Cartieaux, F and Boursot, M and Ramanankierana, H and D'Hont, A and Teaumroong, N and Giraud, E and Arrighi, JF}, title = {The evolutionary dynamics of ancient and recent polyploidy in the African semiaquatic species of the legume genus Aeschynomene.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {3}, pages = {1077-1091}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13956}, pmid = {27061605}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Breeding ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Flowers/anatomy & histology ; Gene Duplication ; Genome, Plant ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Karyotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Stems/physiology ; *Polyploidy ; Species Specificity ; Time Factors ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The legume genus Aeschynomene is notable in the ability of certain semiaquatic species to develop nitrogen-fixing stem nodules. These species are distributed in two clades. In the first clade, all the species are characterized by the use of a unique Nod-independent symbiotic process. In the second clade, the species use a Nod-dependent symbiotic process and some of them display a profuse stem nodulation as exemplified in the African Aeschynomene afraspera. To facilitate the molecular analysis of the symbiotic characteristics of such legumes, we took an integrated molecular and cytogenetic approach to track occurrences of polyploidy events and to analyze their impact on the evolution of the African species of Aeschynomene. Our results revealed two rounds of polyploidy: a paleopolyploid event predating the African group and two neopolyploid speciations, along with significant chromosomal variations. Hence, we found that A. afraspera (8x) has inherited the contrasted genomic properties and the stem-nodulation habit of its parental lineages (4x). This study reveals a comprehensive picture of African Aeschynomene diversification. It notably evidences a history that is distinct from the diploid Nod-independent clade, providing clues for the identification of the specific determinants of the Nod-dependent and Nod-independent symbiotic processes, and for comparative analysis of stem nodulation.}, } @article {pmid27061259, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Li, X and Liu, Y and Wang, ET and Ren, C and Liu, W and Xu, H and Wu, H and Jiang, N and Li, Y and Zhang, X and Xie, Z}, title = {Genetic diversity and community structure of rhizobia nodulating Sesbania cannabina in saline-alkaline soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {195-202}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.02.004}, pmid = {27061259}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Agrobacterium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sesbania cannabina is a plant that grows naturally along the seashores in Rudong County, China (RDC) and it has been introduced into the Yellow River Delta (YRD) as a pioneer plant to improve the saline-alkaline soils. In order to investigate the diversity of S. cannabina rhizobia in these soils, a total of 198 rhizobial isolates were characterized and phylogenetic trees were constructed based on data from multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of the housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII, as well as 16S rRNA. Symbiotic features were also studied by establishing the phylogeny of the symbiotic genes nodA and nifH, and by performing nodulation assays. The isolates had highly conserved symbiotic genes and were classified into nine genospecies belonging to the genera Ensifer, Agrobacterium, Neorhizobium and Rhizobium. A unique community structure was detected in the rhizobia associated with S. cannabina in the saline-alkaline soils that was characterized by five novel genospecies and four defined species. In addition, Ensifer sp. I was the predominant rhizobia in YRD, whereas Ensifer meliloti and Neorhizobium huautlense were the dominant species in RDC. Therefore, the study demonstrated for the first time that this plant strongly selected the symbiotic gene background but not the genomic background of its microsymbionts. In addition, biogeographic patterns existed in the rhizobial populations associated with S. cannabina, which were mainly correlated with pH and salinity, as well as the mineral nutrient contents. This study provided novel information concerning the interaction between soil conditions, host plant and rhizobia, in addition to revealing the diversity of S. cannabina rhizobia in saline-alkaline soils.}, } @article {pmid27059754, year = {2016}, author = {Nakashima, S and Sarath, E and Okada, H and Ezaki, K and Darnaedi, D and Tsukaya, H and Soejima, A}, title = {Morphological and phylogenetic investigations for several cryptic ant-plants found in Callicarpa (Lamiaceae) from Borneo.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {129}, number = {4}, pages = {591-601}, pmid = {27059754}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; Borneo ; Lamiaceae/*anatomy & histology/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology ; Plant Stems/anatomy & histology ; }, abstract = {A tropical small tree, Callicarpa saccata, is known to have a symbiotic relationship with ants. It has sac-like structures at the base of the leaves that are inhabited by ants. No other species has been determined to be a myrmecophyte among the ca. 140 species of this genus. However, our recent field investigation discovered that two other species on Borneo (C. barbata and C. teneriflora) have hollow stems, which seem to be inhabited by ants. We observed the morphological features of these species in relation to their usage by ants, and became convinced that they are mymecophytic species. The molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and chloroplast regions suggest that C. saccata and C. teneriflora are closely related, but the differences in the myrmecophytic features of these species should be noted.}, } @article {pmid27056917, year = {2016}, author = {Almada, AA and Tarrant, AM}, title = {Vibrio elicits targeted transcriptional responses from copepod hosts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {6}, pages = {fiw072}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw072}, pmid = {27056917}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Copepoda/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Microbiota/genetics ; RNA/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcription, Genetic/*genetics ; Transcriptional Activation/*genetics ; Vibrio/immunology/*metabolism ; Zooplankton/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Copepods are abundant crustaceans that harbor diverse bacterial communities, yet the nature of their interactions with microbiota are poorly understood. Here, we report that Vibrio elicits targeted transcriptional responses in the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis We pre-treated E. affinis with an antibiotic cocktail and exposed them to either a zooplankton specialist (Vibrio sp. F10 9ZB36) or a free-living species (Vibrio ordalii 12B09) for 24 h. We then identified via RNA-Seq a total of 78 genes that were differentially expressed following Vibrio exposure, including homologs of C-type lectins, chitin-binding proteins and saposins. The response differed between the two Vibrio treatments, with the greatest changes elicited upon inoculation with V. sp. F10 We suggest that these differentially regulated genes play important roles in cuticle integrity, the innate immune response, and general stress response, and that their expression may enable E. affinis to recognize and regulate symbiotic vibrios. We further report that V. sp. F10 culturability is specifically altered upon colonization of E. affinis These findings suggest that rather than acting as passive environmental vectors, copepods discriminately interact with vibrios, which may ultimately impact the abundance and activity of copepod-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27056574, year = {2016}, author = {Dillon, CP and Tummers, B and Baran, K and Green, DR}, title = {Developmental checkpoints guarded by regulated necrosis.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {73}, number = {11-12}, pages = {2125-2136}, pmid = {27056574}, issn = {1420-9071}, support = {R37 AI044828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/*genetics ; CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein/*genetics ; Caspase 8/*genetics ; Cell Differentiation/genetics ; Embryonic Development/*genetics ; Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein/*genetics ; Humans ; Mice ; Necrosis/*genetics ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The process of embryonic development is highly regulated through the symbiotic control of differentiation and programmed cell death pathways, which together sculpt tissues and organs. The importance of programmed necrotic (RIPK-dependent necroptosis) cell death during development has recently been recognized as important and has largely been characterized using genetically engineered animals. Suppression of necroptosis appears to be essential for murine development and occurs at three distinct checkpoints, E10.5, E16.5, and P1. These distinct time points have helped delineate the molecular pathways and regulation of necroptosis. The embryonic lethality at E10.5 seen in knockouts of caspase-8, FADD, or FLIP (cflar), components of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway, resulted in pallid embryos that did not exhibit the expected cellular expansions. This was the first suggestion that these factors play an important role in the inhibition of necroptotic cell death. The embryonic lethality at E16.5 highlighted the importance of TNF engaging necroptosis in vivo, since elimination of TNFR1 from casp8 (-/-), fadd (-/-), or cflar (-/-), ripk3 (-/-) embryos delayed embryonic lethality from E10.5 until E16.5. The P1 checkpoint demonstrates the dual role of RIPK1 in both the induction and inhibition of necroptosis, depending on the upstream signal. This review summarizes the role of necroptosis in development and the genetic evidence that helped detail the molecular mechanisms of this novel pathway of programmed cell death.}, } @article {pmid27055295, year = {2015}, author = {Baymiev, AKh and Ivanova, ES and Gumenko, RS and Chubukova, OV and Baymiev, AKh}, title = {[Analysis of Symbiotic Genes of Leguminous Plants Nodule Bacteria Grown in the Southern Urals].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {12}, pages = {1359-1367}, pmid = {27055295}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {*Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*physiology ; *Genes, Plant ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Russia ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial strains isolated from the nodules, tissues, and root surface of wild legumes growing in the Southern Urals related to the tribes Galegeae, Hedysareae, Genisteae, Trifolieae, and Loteae were examined for the presence in their genomes of symbiotic (sym) genes. It was found that the sym-genes are present in microorganisms isolated only from the nodules of the analyzed plants (sym+ -strains). Phylogenetic analysis of sym+ -strains on the basis of a comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that sym+ -strains belong to five families of nodule bacteria: Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Rhizobium, and Phyllobacterium. A study the phylogeny of the sym-genes showed that the nodule bacteria of leguminous plants of the Southern Urals at the genus level are mainly characterized by a parallel evolution of symbiotic genes and the 16S rRNA gene. Thus, cases of horizontal transfer of sym genes, which sometimes leads to the formation of certain types of atypical rhizobial strains ofleguminous plants, are detected in nodule bacteria populations.}, } @article {pmid27054320, year = {2016}, author = {Berlanga, M and Llorens, C and Comas, J and Guerrero, R}, title = {Gut Bacterial Community of the Xylophagous Cockroaches Cryptocercus punctulatus and Parasphaeria boleiriana.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e0152400}, pmid = {27054320}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Cockroaches/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; }, abstract = {Cryptocercus punctulatus and Parasphaeria boleiriana are two distantly related xylophagous and subsocial cockroaches. Cryptocercus is related to termites. Xylophagous cockroaches and termites are excellent model organisms for studying the symbiotic relationship between the insect and their microbiota. In this study, high-throughput 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA was used to investigate the diversity of metagenomic gut communities of C. punctulatus and P. boleiriana, and thereby to identify possible shifts in symbiont allegiances during cockroaches evolution. Our results revealed that the hindgut prokaryotic communities of both xylophagous cockroaches are dominated by members of four Bacteria phyla: Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Other identified phyla were Spirochaetes, Planctomycetes, candidatus Saccharibacteria (formerly TM7), and Acidobacteria, each of which represented 1-2% of the total population detected. Community similarity based on phylogenetic relatedness by unweighted UniFrac analyses indicated that the composition of the bacterial community in the two species was significantly different (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis based on the characterized clusters of Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Deltaproteobacteria showed that many OTUs present in both cockroach species clustered with sequences previously described in termites and other cockroaches, but not with those from other animals or environments. These results suggest that, during their evolution, those cockroaches conserved several bacterial communities from the microbiota of a common ancestor. The ecological stability of those microbial communities may imply the important functional role for the survival of the host of providing nutrients in appropriate quantities and balance.}, } @article {pmid27051943, year = {2015}, author = {Xin, X and Junzhi, H and Xuedong, Z}, title = {[Oral microbiota: a promising predictor of human oral and systemic diseases].}, journal = {Hua xi kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Huaxi kouqiang yixue zazhi = West China journal of stomatology}, volume = {33}, number = {6}, pages = {555-560}, pmid = {27051943}, issn = {1000-1182}, mesh = {*Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases/microbiology ; Dental Caries/microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus/microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Mouth Diseases/microbiology ; Neoplasms/microbiology ; Oral Health ; Periodontal Diseases/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A human oral microbiota is the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms found in human oral cavity. Oral microbiota exists mostly in the form of a biofilm and maintains a dynamic ecological equilibrium with the host body. However, the disturbance of this ecological balance inevitably causes oral infectious diseases, such as dental caries, apical periodontitis, periodontal diseases, pericoronitis, and craniofacial bone osteomyelitis. Oral microbiota is also correlated with many systemic diseases, including cancer, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and preterm birth. Hence, oral microbiota has been considered as a potential biomarker of human diseases. The "Human Microbiome Project" and other metagenomic projects worldwide have advanced our knowledge of the human oral microbiota. The integration of these metadata has been the frontier of oral microbiology to improve clinical translation. By reviewing recent progress on studies involving oral microbiota-related oral and systemic diseases, we aimed to propose the essential role of oral microbiota in the prediction of the onset, progression, and prognosis of oral and systemic diseases. An oral microbiota-based prediction model helps develop a new paradigm of personalized medicine and benefits the human health in the post-metagenomics era.}, } @article {pmid27051861, year = {2016}, author = {Kopp, C and Domart-Coulon, I and Barthelemy, D and Meibom, A}, title = {Nutritional input from dinoflagellate symbionts in reef-building corals is minimal during planula larval life stage.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {e1500681}, pmid = {27051861}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics ; Larva ; Marine Biology ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dispersion of larval offspring is of fundamental ecological importance to sessile marine organisms. Photosymbiotic planulae emitted by many reef-forming corals may travel over large distances before settling to form a new colony. It is not clear whether the metabolic requirements of these planula larvae are met exclusively with lipid and protein reservoirs inherited from the mother colony or when metabolic inputs from their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates become important. Pulse-chase experiments using [(13)C]bicarbonate and [(15)N]nitrate, combined with subcellular structural and isotopic imaging of freshly emitted symbiotic larvae from the coral Pocillopora damicornis, show that metabolic input from the dinoflagellates is minimal in the planulae compared with adult colonies. The larvae are essentially lecithotrophic upon emission, indicating that a marked shift in metabolic interaction between the symbiotic partners takes place later during ontogeny. Understanding the cellular processes that trigger and control this metabolic shift, and how climate change might influence it, is a key challenge in coral biology.}, } @article {pmid27047592, year = {2016}, author = {McKenney, E and Flythe, T and Millis, C and Stalls, J and Urban, JM and Dunn, RR and Stevens, JL}, title = {Symbiosis in the Soil: Citizen Microbiology in Middle and High School Classrooms.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology & biology education}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {60-62}, pmid = {27047592}, issn = {1935-7877}, abstract = {Microorganisms are vital to environmental health, yet their association with disease often overshadows these benefits. Building citizen-science activities around the positive role of microorganisms and an understanding of their ubiquity can begin to dispel misconceptions while simultaneously engaging the public in research. Here, we describe a citizen-science microbiology project geared toward implementation in middle and high school classrooms. Students culture environmental microorganisms and document microbial diversity of plant root systems compared with adjacent bulk soil. Results contribute data toward research on microbiome recruitment of weeds and other successful plants while addressing core topics in science education.}, } @article {pmid27047533, year = {2016}, author = {Gupta, KJ and Igamberdiev, AU}, title = {Reactive Nitrogen Species in Mitochondria and Their Implications in Plant Energy Status and Hypoxic Stress Tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {369}, pmid = {27047533}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Hypoxic and anoxic conditions result in the energy crisis that leads to cell damage. Since mitochondria are the primary organelles for energy production, the support of these organelles in a functional state is an important task during oxygen deprivation. Plant mitochondria adapted the strategy to survive under hypoxia by keeping electron transport operative even without oxygen via the use of nitrite as a terminal electrons acceptor. The process of nitrite reduction to nitric oxide (NO) in the mitochondrial electron transport chain recycles NADH and leads to a limited rate of ATP production. The produced ATP alongside with the ATP generated by fermentation supports the processes of transcription and translation required for hypoxic survival and recovery of plants. Non-symbiotic hemoglobins (called phytoglobins in plants) scavenge NO and thus contribute to regeneration of NAD(+) and nitrate required for the operation of anaerobic energy metabolism. This overall operation represents an important strategy of biochemical adaptation that results in the improvement of energy status and thereby in protection of plants in the conditions of hypoxic stress.}, } @article {pmid27047458, year = {2016}, author = {Gill, SS and Gill, R and Trivedi, DK and Anjum, NA and Sharma, KK and Ansari, MW and Ansari, AA and Johri, AK and Prasad, R and Pereira, E and Varma, A and Tuteja, N}, title = {Piriformospora indica: Potential and Significance in Plant Stress Tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {332}, pmid = {27047458}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Owing to its exceptional ability to efficiently promote plant growth, protection and stress tolerance, a mycorrhiza like endophytic Agaricomycetes fungus Piriformospora indica has received a great attention over the last few decades. P. indica is an axenically cultiviable fungus which exhibits its versatility for colonizing/hosting a broad range of plant species through directly manipulating plant hormone-signaling pathway during the course of mutualism. P. indica-root colonization leads to a better plant performance in all respect, including enhanced root proliferation by indole-3-acetic acid production which in turn results into better nutrient-acquisition and subsequently to improved crop growth and productivity. Additionally, P. indica can induce both local and systemic resistance to fungal and viral plant diseases through signal transduction. P. indica-mediated stimulation in antioxidant defense system components and expressing stress-related genes can confer crop/plant stress tolerance. Therefore, P. indica can biotize micropropagated plantlets and also help these plants to overcome transplantation shock. Nevertheless, it can also be involved in a more complex symbiotic relationship, such as tripartite symbiosis and can enhance population dynamic of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. In brief, P. indica can be utilized as a plant promoter, bio-fertilizer, bioprotector, bioregulator, and biotization agent. The outcome of the recent literature appraised herein will help us to understand the physiological and molecular bases of mechanisms underlying P. indica-crop plant mutual relationship. Together, the discussion will be functional to comprehend the usefulness of crop plant-P. indica association in both achieving new insights into crop protection/improvement as well as in sustainable agriculture production.}, } @article {pmid27045340, year = {2016}, author = {Alves, M and Pereira, A and Matos, P and Henriques, J and Vicente, C and Aikawa, T and Hasegawa, K and Nascimento, F and Mota, M and Correia, A and Henriques, I}, title = {Bacterial community associated to the pine wilt disease insect vectors Monochamus galloprovincialis and Monochamus alternatus.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {23908}, pmid = {27045340}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/parasitology ; DNA/analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; Electrophoresis ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Vectors/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Nematoda ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Portugal ; }, abstract = {Monochamus beetles are the dispersing vectors of the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease (PWD). PWD inflicts significant damages in Eurasian pine forests. Symbiotic microorganisms have a large influence in insect survival. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial community associated to PWD vectors in Europe and East Asia using a culture-independent approach. Twenty-three Monochamus galloprovincialis were collected in Portugal (two different locations); twelve Monochamus alternatus were collected in Japan. DNA was extracted from the insects' tracheas for 16S rDNA analysis through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and barcoded pyrosequencing. Enterobacteriales, Pseudomonadales, Vibrionales and Oceanospirilales were present in all samples. Enterobacteriaceae was represented by 52.2% of the total number of reads. Twenty-three OTUs were present in all locations. Significant differences existed between the microbiomes of the two insect species while for M. galloprovincialis there were no significant differences between samples from different Portuguese locations. This study presents a detailed description of the bacterial community colonizing the Monochamus insects' tracheas. Several of the identified bacterial groups were described previously in association with pine trees and B. xylophilus, and their previously described functions suggest that they may play a relevant role in PWD.}, } @article {pmid27044109, year = {2016}, author = {Hume, BC and Voolstra, CR and Arif, C and D'Angelo, C and Burt, JA and Eyal, G and Loya, Y and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Ancestral genetic diversity associated with the rapid spread of stress-tolerant coral symbionts in response to Holocene climate change.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {16}, pages = {4416-4421}, pmid = {27044109}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {311179/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Ecosystem ; *Genetic Variation ; Oceans and Seas ; *Salinity ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral communities in the Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG) withstand unusually high salinity levels and regular summer temperature maxima of up to ∼35 °C that kill conspecifics elsewhere. Due to the recent formation of the PAG and its subsequent shift to a hot climate, these corals have had only <6,000 y to adapt to these extreme conditions and can therefore inform on how coral reefs may respond to global warming. One key to coral survival in the world's warmest reefs are symbioses with a newly discovered alga,Symbiodinium thermophilum Currently, it is unknown whether this symbiont originated elsewhere or emerged from unexpectedly fast evolution catalyzed by the extreme environment. Analyzing genetic diversity of symbiotic algae across >5,000 km of the PAG, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea coastline, we show thatS. thermophilumis a member of a highly diverse, ancient group of symbionts cryptically distributed outside the PAG. We argue that the adjustment to temperature extremes by PAG corals was facilitated by the positive selection of preadapted symbionts. Our findings suggest that maintaining the largest possible pool of potentially stress-tolerant genotypes by protecting existing biodiversity is crucial to promote rapid adaptation to present-day climate change, not only for coral reefs, but for ecosystems in general.}, } @article {pmid27040840, year = {2016}, author = {Borghi, L and Liu, GW and Emonet, A and Kretzschmar, T and Martinoia, E}, title = {The importance of strigolactone transport regulation for symbiotic signaling and shoot branching.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {243}, number = {6}, pages = {1351-1360}, pmid = {27040840}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Cell Communication ; Conserved Sequence ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review presents the role of strigolactone transport in regulating plant root and shoot architecture, plant-fungal symbiosis and the crosstalk with several phytohormone pathways. The authors, based on their data and recently published results, suggest that long-distance, as well local strigolactone transport might occur in a cell-to-cell manner rather than via the xylem stream. Strigolactones (SLs) are recently characterized carotenoid-derived phytohormones. They play multiple roles in plant architecture and, once exuded from roots to soil, in plant-rhizosphere interactions. Above ground SLs regulate plant developmental processes, such as lateral bud outgrowth, internode elongation and stem secondary growth. Below ground, SLs are involved in lateral root initiation, main root elongation and the establishment of the plant-fungal symbiosis known as mycorrhiza. Much has been discovered on players and patterns of SL biosynthesis and signaling and shown to be largely conserved among different plant species, however little is known about SL distribution in plants and its transport from the root to the soil. At present, the only characterized SL transporters are the ABCG protein PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 1 from Petunia axillaris (PDR1) and, in less detail, its close homologue from Nicotiana tabacum PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 6 (PDR6). PDR1 is a plasma membrane-localized SL cellular exporter, expressed in root cortex and shoot axils. Its expression level is regulated by its own substrate, but also by the phytohormone auxin, soil nutrient conditions (mainly phosphate availability) and mycorrhization levels. Hence, PDR1 integrates information from nutrient availability and hormonal signaling, thus synchronizing plant growth with nutrient uptake. In this review we discuss the effects of PDR1 de-regulation on plant development and mycorrhization, the possible cross-talk between SLs and other phytohormone transporters and finally the need for SL transporters in different plant species.}, } @article {pmid27040820, year = {2016}, author = {Viana, F and Jensen, CE and Macey, M and Schramm, A and Lund, MB}, title = {Earthworm ecology affects the population structure of their Verminephrobacter symbionts.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {170-172}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.03.005}, pmid = {27040820}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Adenylyl Cyclases/genetics ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Comamonadaceae/*classification/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; NADH Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Oligochaeta/classification/*microbiology ; Population Dynamics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Earthworms carry species-specific Verminephrobacter symbionts in their nephridia (excretory organs). The symbionts are vertically transmitted via the cocoon, can only colonize the host during early embryonic development, and have co-speciated with their host for about 100 million years. Although several studies have addressed Verminephrobacter diversity between worm species, the intra-species diversity of the symbiont population has never been investigated. In this study, symbiont population structure was examined by using a multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) approach on Verminephrobacter isolated from two contrasting ecological types of earthworm hosts: the high population density, fast reproducing compost worms, Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida, and the low-density, slow reproducing Aporrectodea tuberculata, commonly found in garden soils. Three distinct populations were investigated for both types and, according to MLST analysis of 193 Verminephrobacter isolates, the symbiont community in each worm individual was very homogeneous. The more solitary A. tuberculata carried unique symbiont populations in 9 out of 10 host individuals, whereas the symbiont populations in the social compost worms were homogeneous across host individuals from the same population. These data suggested that host ecology shaped the population structure of Verminephrobacter symbionts. The homogeneous symbiont populations in the compost worms led to the hypothesis that Verminephrobacter could be transferred bi-parentally or via leaky horizontal transmission in high-density, frequently mating worm populations.}, } @article {pmid27039268, year = {2016}, author = {Villarreal, LP}, title = {Persistent virus and addiction modules: an engine of symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {31}, number = {}, pages = {70-79}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2016.03.005}, pmid = {27039268}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Bacteriophages/genetics ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Escherichia coli/virology ; Eukaryota/*virology ; Genome, Viral/genetics ; Giant Viruses/*genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virophages/genetics ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {The giant DNA viruses are highly prevalent and have a particular affinity for the lytic infection of unicellular eukaryotic host. The giant viruses can also be infected by inhibitory virophage which can provide lysis protection to their host. The combined protective and destructive action of such viruses can define a general model (PD) of virus-mediated host survival. Here, I present a general model for role such viruses play in the evolution of host symbiosis. By considering how virus mixtures can participate in addiction modules, I provide a functional explanation for persistence of virus derived genetic 'junk' in their host genomic habitats.}, } @article {pmid27039196, year = {2016}, author = {Shapira, M}, title = {Gut Microbiotas and Host Evolution: Scaling Up Symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {539-549}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2016.03.006}, pmid = {27039196}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome, Bacterial ; Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Our understanding of species evolution is undergoing restructuring. It is well accepted that host-symbiont coevolution is responsible for fundamental aspects of biology. However, the emerging importance of plant- and animal-associated microbiotas to their hosts suggests a scale of coevolutionary interactions many-fold greater than previously considered. This review builds on current understanding of symbionts and their contributions to host evolution to evaluate recent data demonstrating similar contributions of gut microbiotas. It further considers a multilayered model for microbiota to account for emerging themes in host-microbiota interactions. Drawing on the structure of bacterial genomes, this model distinguishes between a host-adapted core microbiota, and a flexible, environmentally modulated microbial pool, differing in constraints on their maintenance and in their contributions to host adaptation.}, } @article {pmid27039108, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, SD and Santini, CL and Zhang, WJ and Barbe, V and Mangenot, S and Guyomar, C and Garel, M and Chen, HT and Li, XG and Yin, QJ and Zhao, Y and Armengaud, J and Gaillard, JC and Martini, S and Pradel, N and Vidaud, C and Alberto, F and Médigue, C and Tamburini, C and Wu, LF}, title = {Genomic and physiological analysis reveals versatile metabolic capacity of deep-sea Photobacterium phosphoreum ANT-2200.}, journal = {Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {301-310}, pmid = {27039108}, issn = {1433-4909}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Electron Transport ; *Energy Metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Glucose/metabolism ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Isoenzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Maltose/metabolism ; Methylamines/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating/genetics/metabolism ; Photobacterium/*genetics/metabolism ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Photobacterium thrive worldwide in oceans and show substantial eco-physiological diversity including free-living, symbiotic and piezophilic life styles. Genomic characteristics underlying this variability across species are poorly understood. Here we carried out genomic and physiological analysis of Photobacterium phosphoreum strain ANT-2200, the first deep-sea luminous bacterium of which the genome has been sequenced. Using optical mapping we updated the genomic data and reassembled it into two chromosomes and a large plasmid. Genomic analysis revealed a versatile energy metabolic potential and physiological analysis confirmed its growth capacity by deriving energy from fermentation of glucose or maltose, by respiration with formate as electron donor and trimethlyamine N-oxide (TMAO), nitrate or fumarate as electron acceptors, or by chemo-organo-heterotrophic growth in rich media. Despite that it was isolated at a site with saturated dissolved oxygen, the ANT-2200 strain possesses four gene clusters coding for typical anaerobic enzymes, the TMAO reductases. Elevated hydrostatic pressure enhances the TMAO reductase activity, mainly due to the increase of isoenzyme TorA1. The high copy number of the TMAO reductase isoenzymes and pressure-enhanced activity might imply a strategy developed by bacteria to adapt to deep-sea habitats where the instant TMAO availability may increase with depth.}, } @article {pmid27037857, year = {2016}, author = {Muñoz, V and Ibáñez, F and Figueredo, MS and Fabra, A}, title = {An oxidative burst and its attenuation by bacterial peroxidase activity is required for optimal establishment of the Arachis hypogaea-Bradyrhizobium sp. symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {121}, number = {1}, pages = {244-253}, doi = {10.1111/jam.13149}, pmid = {27037857}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Arachis/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peroxidases/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; *Respiratory Burst ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the Arachis hypogaea L. root oxidative burst, produced at early stages of its symbiotic interaction with Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144, and the bacterial antioxidant system are required for the successful development of this interaction.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Pharmacological approaches were used to reduce both plant oxidative burst and bacterial peroxidase enzyme activity. In plants whose H2 O2 levels were decreased, a low nodule number, a reduction in the proportion of red nodules (%) and an increase in the bacteroid density were found. The symbiotic phenotype of plants inoculated with a Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144 culture showing decreased peroxidase activity was also affected, since the biomass production, nodule number and percentage of red nodules in these plants were lower than in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. control cultures.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated for the first time that the oxidative burst triggered at the early events of the symbiotic interaction in peanut, is a prerequisite for the efficient development of root nodules, and that the antioxidant system of bradyrhizobial peanut symbionts, particularly the activity of peroxidases, is counteracting this oxidative burst for the successful establishment of the symbiosis.

Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms involved in the development of the symbiotic interaction established in A. hypogaea L. a legume infected in an intercellular way.}, } @article {pmid27037681, year = {2016}, author = {Schneider, K and Resl, P and Spribille, T}, title = {Escape from the cryptic species trap: lichen evolution on both sides of a cyanobacterial acquisition event.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {14}, pages = {3453-3468}, pmid = {27037681}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {P 25237/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification ; *Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/*classification ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Large, architecturally complex lichen symbioses arose only a few times in evolution, increasing thallus size by orders of magnitude over those from which they evolved. The innovations that enabled symbiotic assemblages to acquire and maintain large sizes are unknown. We mapped morphometric data against an eight-locus fungal phylogeny across one of the best-sampled thallus size transition events, the origins of the Placopsis lichen symbiosis, and used a phylogenetic comparative framework to explore the role of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in size differences. Thallus thickness increased by >150% and fruiting body core volume increased ninefold on average after acquisition of cyanobacteria. Volume of cyanobacteria-containing structures (cephalodia), once acquired, correlates with thallus thickness in both phylogenetic generalized least squares and phylogenetic generalized linear mixed-effects analyses. Our results suggest that the availability of nitrogen is an important factor in the formation of large thalli. Cyanobacterial symbiosis appears to have enabled lichens to overcome size constraints in oligotrophic environments such as acidic, rain-washed rock surfaces. In the case of the Placopsis fungal symbiont, this has led to an adaptive radiation of more than 60 recognized species from related crustose members of the genus Trapelia. Our data suggest that precyanobacterial symbiotic lineages were constrained to forming a narrow range of phenotypes, so-called cryptic species, leading systematists until now to recognize only six of the 13 species clusters we identified in Trapelia.}, } @article {pmid27037587, year = {2016}, author = {Yang, A and Narechania, A and Kim, E}, title = {Rickettsial endosymbiont in the "early-diverging" streptophyte green alga Mesostigma viride.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {219-229}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12385}, pmid = {27037587}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Likelihood Functions ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribosome Subunits, Small ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; Streptophyta/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {A bacterial endosymbiont was unexpectedly found in the "axenic" culture strain of the streptophyte green alga Mesostigma viride (NIES-995). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the symbiont belongs to the order Rickettsiales, specifically to the recently designated clade "Candidatus Megaira," which is closely related to the well-known Rickettsia clade. Rickettsiales bacteria of the "Ca. Megaira" clade are found in a taxonomically diverse array of eukaryotic hosts, including chlorophycean green algae, several ciliate species, and invertebrates such as Hydra. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridi-zation, and SYBR Green I staining experiments revealed that the endosymbiont of M. viride NIES-995 is rod shaped, typically occurs in clusters, and is surrounded by a halo-like structure, presumably formed by secretory substances from the bacterium. Two additional M. viride strains (NIES-296 and NIES-475), but not SAG50-1, were found to house the rickettsial endosymbiont. Analyses of strain NIES-995 transcriptome data indicated the presence of at least 91 transcriptionally active genes of symbiont origins. These include genes for surface proteins (e.g., rOmpB) that are known to play key roles in bacterial attachment onto host eukaryotes in related Rickettsia species. The assembled M. viride transcriptome includes transcripts that code for a suite of predicted algal-derived proteins, such as Ku70, WASH, SCAR, and CDC42, which may be important in the formation of the algal-rickettsial association.}, } @article {pmid27037119, year = {2016}, author = {Lin, Z and Torres, JP and Tianero, MD and Kwan, JC and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Origin of Chemical Diversity in Prochloron-Tunicate Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {12}, pages = {3450-3460}, pmid = {27037119}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM102602/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Prochloron/metabolism/*physiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Diversity-generating metabolism leads to the evolution of many different chemicals in living organisms. Here, by examining a marine symbiosis, we provide a precise evolutionary model of how nature generates a family of novel chemicals, the cyanobactins. We show that tunicates and their symbiotic Prochloron cyanobacteria share congruent phylogenies, indicating that Prochloron phylogeny is related to host phylogeny and not to external habitat or geography. We observe that Prochloron exchanges discrete functional genetic modules for cyanobactin secondary metabolite biosynthesis in an otherwise conserved genetic background. The module exchange leads to gain or loss of discrete chemical functional groups. Because the underlying enzymes exhibit broad substrate tolerance, discrete exchange of substrates and enzymes between Prochloron strains leads to the rapid generation of chemical novelty. These results have implications in choosing biochemical pathways and enzymes for engineered or combinatorial biosynthesis.

IMPORTANCE: While most biosynthetic pathways lead to one or a few products, a subset of pathways are diversity generating and are capable of producing thousands to millions of derivatives. This property is highly useful in biotechnology since it enables biochemical or synthetic biological methods to create desired chemicals. A fundamental question has been how nature itself creates this chemical diversity. Here, by examining the symbiosis between coral reef animals and bacteria, we describe the genetic basis of chemical variation with unprecedented precision. New compounds from the cyanobactin family are created by either varying the substrate or importing needed enzymatic functions from other organisms or via both mechanisms. This natural process matches successful laboratory strategies to engineer the biosynthesis of new chemicals and teaches a new strategy to direct biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid27037118, year = {2016}, author = {Hughey, MC and Walke, JB and Becker, MH and Umile, TP and Burzynski, EA and Minbiole, KPC and Iannetta, AA and Santiago, CN and Hopkins, WA and Belden, LK}, title = {Short-Term Exposure to Coal Combustion Waste Has Little Impact on the Skin Microbiome of Adult Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {12}, pages = {3493-3502}, pmid = {27037118}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anura ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Biota/*drug effects ; Cluster Analysis ; Coal ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Environmental Pollutants/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Skin/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Disruptions to the microbiome can impact host health as can exposure to environmental contaminants. However, few studies have addressed how environmental contaminants impact the microbiome. We explored this question for frogs that breed in wetlands contaminated with fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion that is enriched in trace elements. We found differences in the bacterial communities among a fly ash-contaminated site and several reference wetlands. We then experimentally assessed the impacts of fly ash on the skin microbiome of adult spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer). Frogs were exposed to fly ash in the laboratory for 12 h, the duration of a typical breeding event, and the skin microbiome was assessed after 5 days (experiment 1) or after 5 and 15 days (experiment 2). We examined bacterial community structure using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metabolite profiles using high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). We found little impact as the result of acute exposure to fly ash on the bacterial communities or metabolite profiles in either experiment, suggesting that the bacterial symbiont communities of adults may be relatively resistant to brief contaminant exposure. However, housing frogs in the laboratory altered bacterial community structure in the two experiments, which supports prior research suggesting that environmental source pools are important for maintaining the amphibian skin microbiome. Therefore, for contaminants like fly ash that may alter the potential source pool of symbionts, we think it may be important to explore how contaminants affect the initial assembly of the amphibian skin microbiome in larval amphibians that develop within contaminated sites.

IMPORTANCE: Animals are hosts to many symbiotic microorganisms, collectively called the microbiome, that play critical roles in host health. Therefore, environmental contaminants that alter the microbiome may impact hosts. Some of the most widespread contaminants, produced worldwide, are derived from the mining, storage, and combustion of coal for energy. Fly ash, for example, is a by-product of coal combustion. It contains compounds such as arsenic, selenium, cadmium, and strontium and is a recognized source of ground and surface water contamination. Here, we experimentally investigated the impacts of short-term fly ash exposure on the skin microbiome of spring peepers, one of many species of amphibian that sometimes breed in open fly ash disposal ponds. This research provides a look into the potential impacts of fly ash on an animal's microbiome and suggests important future directions for research on the effects of environmental contaminants on the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid27036743, year = {2015}, author = {Berlanga, M}, title = {Functional symbiosis and communication in microbial ecosystems. The case of wood-eating termites and cockroaches.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {159-169}, doi = {10.2436/20.1501.01.246.}, pmid = {27036743}, issn = {1139-6709}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Cockroaches/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Isoptera/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Wood/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Animal hosts typically have strong specificity for microbial symbionts and their functions. The symbiotic relationships have enhanced the limited metabolic networks of most eukaryotes by contributing several prokaryotic metabolic capabilities, such as methanogenesis, chemolithoautotrophy, nitrogen assimilation, etc. This review will examine the characteristics that determine bacterial "fidelity" to certain groups of animals (e.g., xylophagous insects, such as termites and cockroaches) over generations and throughout evolution. The hindgut bacteria of wood-feeding termites and cockroaches belong to several phyla, including Proteobacteria, especially Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinomycetes, Spirochetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria, as detected by 16S rRNA. Termites effectively feed on many types of lignocelluloses assisted by their gut microbial symbionts. Although the community structures differ between the hosts (termites and cockroaches), with changes in the relative abundances of particular bacterial taxa, the composition of the bacterial community could reflect at least in part the host evolution in that the microbiota may derive from the microbiota of a common ancestor. Therefore, factors other than host phylogeny, such as diet could have had strong influence in shaping the bacterial community structure.}, } @article {pmid27034284, year = {2016}, author = {Shropshire, JD and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Speciation by Symbiosis: the Microbiome and Behavior.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e01785}, pmid = {27034284}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior ; Behavior, Animal ; *Genetic Speciation ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Species are fundamental units of comparison in biology. The newly discovered importance and ubiquity of host-associated microorganisms are now stimulating work on the roles that microbes can play in animal speciation. We previously synthesized the literature and advanced concepts of speciation by symbiosis with notable attention to hybrid sterility and lethality. Here, we review recent studies and relevant data on microbes as players in host behavior and behavioral isolation, emphasizing the patterns seen in these analyses and highlighting areas worthy of additional exploration. We conclude that the role of microbial symbionts in behavior and speciation is gaining exciting traction and that the holobiont and hologenome concepts afford an evolving intellectual framework to promote research and intellectual exchange between disciplines such as behavior, microbiology, genetics, symbiosis, and speciation. Given the increasing centrality of microbiology in macroscopic life, microbial symbiosis is arguably the most neglected aspect of animal and plant speciation, and studying it should yield a better understanding of the origin of species.}, } @article {pmid27034283, year = {2016}, author = {Rosenberg, E and Zilber-Rosenberg, I}, title = {Microbes Drive Evolution of Animals and Plants: the Hologenome Concept.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e01395}, pmid = {27034283}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Biota ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Plants ; Recombination, Genetic ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hologenome concept of evolution postulates that the holobiont (host plus symbionts) with its hologenome (host genome plus microbiome) is a level of selection in evolution. Multicellular organisms can no longer be considered individuals by the classical definitions of the term. Every natural animal and plant is a holobiont consisting of the host and diverse symbiotic microbes and viruses. Microbial symbionts can be transmitted from parent to offspring by a variety of methods, including via cytoplasmic inheritance, coprophagy, direct contact during and after birth, and the environment. A large number of studies have demonstrated that these symbionts contribute to the anatomy, physiology, development, innate and adaptive immunity, and behavior and finally also to genetic variation and to the origin and evolution of species. Acquisition of microbes and microbial genes is a powerful mechanism for driving the evolution of complexity. Evolution proceeds both via cooperation and competition, working in parallel.}, } @article {pmid27033947, year = {2016}, author = {Leavitt, SD and Kraichak, E and Vondrak, J and Nelsen, MP and Sohrabi, M and Perez-Ortega, S and St Clair, LL and Lumbsch, HT}, title = {Cryptic diversity and symbiont interactions in rock-posy lichens.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {99}, number = {}, pages = {261-274}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.03.030}, pmid = {27033947}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Chlorophyta/classification/*physiology ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Lichens/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Identifying factors that influence species interactions is central to research in symbiotic systems. While lichens represent iconic models of symbiosis and play important roles in understanding the biology of symbiotic interactions, patterns of interactions in lichen symbionts and mechanisms governing these relationships are not well characterized. This is due, in part to the fact that current taxonomic approaches for recognizing diversity in lichen symbionts commonly fail to accurately reflect actual species diversity. In this study, we employed DNA-based approaches to circumscribed candidate species-level lineages in rock-posy lichen symbionts (mycobiont=Rhizoplaca s. lat. species; photobiont=Trebouxia species). Our results revealed a high degree of cryptic diversity in both the myco- and photobionts in these lichens. Using the candidate species circumscribed here, we investigated the specificity of the symbionts toward their partners and inferred the relative importance of various factors influencing symbiont interactions. Distinct mycobiont species complexes, ecozones, and biomes are significantly correlated with the occurrence of photobiont OTUs, indicating that complex interactions among mycobiont lineages, ecogeography, and microhabitat determine interactions between photobionts and their mycobionts in lichen symbiosis. One-to-one specificity between mycobiont and photobiont species was not found, with the exception of R. maheui that associated with a single Trebouxia OTU that was not found with other Rhizoplaca s. lat. species. We estimated the most recent common ancestor of the core Rhizoplaca group at c. 62.5Ma, similar in age to the diverse parmelioid core group in the well-studied family Parmeliaceae. However, in contrast to Parmeliaceae, species in Rhizoplaca were found to associate with a narrow range of photobionts. Our study provides important perspectives into species diversity and interactions in iconic lichen symbiotic systems and establishes a valuable framework for continuing research into rock-posy lichens.}, } @article {pmid27033730, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, L and Lin, X and Goes, JI and Lin, S}, title = {Phylogenetic Analyses of Three Genes of Pedinomonas noctilucae, the Green Endosymbiont of the Marine Dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, Reveal its Affiliation to the Order Marsupiomonadales (Chlorophyta, Pedinophyceae) under the Reinstated Name Protoeuglena noctilucae.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {205-216}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2016.02.005}, pmid = {27033730}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Eutrophication/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Phytoplankton/*classification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the last decade, field studies in the northern Arabian Sea showed a drastic shift from diatom-dominated phytoplankton blooms to thick and widespread blooms of the green dinoflagellate, Noctiluca scintillans. Unlike the exclusively heterotrophic red form, which occurs widely in tropical to temperate coastal waters, the green Noctiluca contains a large number of endosymbiotic algal cells that can perform photosynthesis. These symbiotic microalgae were first described under the genus Protoeuglena Subrahmanyan and further transferred to Pedinomonas as P. noctilucae Sweeney. In this study, we used the 18S rDNA, rbcL and chloroplast 16S rDNA as gene markers, in combination with the previously reported morphological features, to re-examine the phylogenetic position of this endosymbiotic algal species. Phylogenetic trees inferred from these genes consistently indicated that P. noctilucae is distantly related to the type species of Pedinomonas. The sequences formed a monophyletic clade sister to the clade of Marsupiomonas necessitating the placement of the algal symbionts as an independent genus within the family Marsupiomonadaceae. Based on the phylogenetic affiliation and ecological characteristics of this alga as well as the priority rule of nomenclature, we reinstate the genus Protoeuglena and reclassify the endosymbiont as Protoeuglena noctilucae.}, } @article {pmid27032947, year = {2016}, author = {Peng, J and Hu, Y and Wong, FS and Wen, L}, title = {The Gut Microbiome in the NOD Mouse.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1433}, number = {}, pages = {169-177}, doi = {10.1007/7651_2016_331}, pmid = {27032947}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/*genetics ; Feces/chemistry/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; *Genetic Markers ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; }, abstract = {The microbiome (or microbiota) are an ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that outnumber the cells of the human body tenfold. These microorganisms are most abundant in the gut where they play an important role in health and disease. Alteration of the homeostasis of the gut microbiota can have beneficial or harmful consequences to health. There has recently been a major increase in studies on the association of the gut microbiome composition with disease phenotypes.The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is an excellent mouse model to study spontaneous type 1 diabetes development. We, and others, have reported that gut bacteria are critical modulators for type 1 diabetes development in genetically susceptible NOD mice.Here we present our standard protocol for gut microbiome analysis in NOD mice that has been routinely implemented in our research laboratory. This incorporates the following steps: (1) Isolation of total DNA from gut bacteria from mouse fecal samples or intestinal contents; (2) bacterial DNA sequencing, and (3) basic data analysis.}, } @article {pmid27032680, year = {2016}, author = {Tanaka, K and Wada, K and Hamasaki, K}, title = {Distribution of Holtodrilus truncatus, a Branchiobdellidan Ectosymbiotic on Atyid Shrimps in the Kii Peninsula, Western Japan, with Reference to Salinity Tolerance and Host Preference.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {154-161}, doi = {10.2108/zs150049}, pmid = {27032680}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*physiology ; Crustacea/*physiology ; Female ; Japan ; Male ; *Salinity ; Seasons ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The distribution of the branchiobdellidan Holtodrilus truncatus (Liang, 1963), which is symbiotic on atyid shrimps, was surveyed in 26 river catchments, covering almost all of the Kii Peninsula, western Japan. Holtodrilus truncatus has been recorded in 10 rivers located from the southwest to northeast regions of the peninsula. Paratya compressa was the dominant host species in all rivers, with a lower prevalence on Caridina leucosticta, C. multidentata, C. typus, and Neocaridina denticulata. The longitudinal distribution of H. truncatus was limited to the middle and upper reaches, while its main host P. compressa occurred widely from the lower to the upper reaches. The numbers of H. truncatus and their cocoons per host increased in summer and decreased in winter, in accordance with the abundance of the host P. compressa. The body size of P. compressa was larger in individuals with H. truncatus than those without H. truncatus in some rivers, while in another river, sizes of the two groups were not different. A salinity tolerance experiment revealed that the threshold of salinity tolerance of H. truncatus occurred between 0-0.5%. A choice experiment between two host species showed that H. truncatus preferred C. leucosticta to C. multidentata, P. compressa to C. multidentata, and P. compressa to C. leucosticta.}, } @article {pmid27030417, year = {2016}, author = {Camp, EF and Hobbs, JP and De Brauwer, M and Dumbrell, AJ and Smith, DJ}, title = {Cohabitation promotes high diversity of clownfishes in the Coral Triangle.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1827}, pages = {20160277}, pmid = {27030417}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Body Size ; Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; Pacific Ocean ; Perciformes/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Population Density ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Global marine biodiversity peaks within the Coral Triangle, and understanding how such high diversity is maintained is a central question in marine ecology. We investigated broad-scale patterns in the diversity of clownfishes and their host sea anemones by conducting 981 belt-transects at 20 locations throughout the Indo-Pacific. Of the 1508 clownfishes encountered, 377 fish occurred in interspecific cohabiting groups and cohabitation was almost entirely restricted to the Coral Triangle. Neither the diversity nor density of host anemone or clownfish species alone influenced rates of interspecific cohabitation. Rather cohabitation occurred in areas where the number of clownfish species exceeds the number of host anemone species. In the Coral Triangle, cohabiting individuals were observed to finely partition their host anemone, with the subordinate species inhabiting the periphery. Furthermore, aggression did not increase in interspecific cohabiting groups, instead dominant species were accepting of subordinate species. Various combinations of clownfish species were observed cohabiting (independent of body size, phylogenetic relatedness, evolutionary age, dentition, level of specialization) in a range of anemone species, thereby ensuring that each clownfish species had dominant reproductive individuals in some cohabiting groups. Clownfishes are obligate commensals, thus cohabitation is an important process in maintaining biodiversity in high diversity systems because it supports the persistence of many species when host availability is limiting. Cohabitation is a likely explanation for high species richness in other obligate commensals within the Coral Triangle, and highlights the importance of protecting these habitats in order to conserve unique marine biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid27026792, year = {2016}, author = {Zhou, J and Lao, YM and Cai, ZH}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Providencia sneebia Strain ST1, a Quorum Sensing Bacterium Associated with Marine Microalgae.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {10-12}, pmid = {27026792}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {Providencia sneebia strain ST1 is a symbiotic bacterium (belonging to phylum gammaproteobacteria) with marine microalgae. This bacterium exhibits the ability to produce N-Acyl homoserine lactone signal molecule. To date, no genome that originates from marine Providencia spp. has been reported. In this study, we present the genome sequence of this strain. It has a genome size of 4.89 M, with 19 contigs and an average G+C of 51.97%. The function of 4,631 proteins was predicted, and 3,652 proteins were assigned to COG functional categories. Among them, 407 genes are involved in carbohydrate metabolism, 306 genes participate in nitrogen utilization and energy conversion, and 185 genes related to signal transduction process. Thus, this strain plays an active role in the biogeochemical cycle in algal life history. The whole-genome of this isolate and annotation will help enhance understanding of bacterial ecological behavior in the phycosphere.}, } @article {pmid27023570, year = {2016}, author = {Strand, M and Hedström, M and Seth, H and McEvoy, EG and Jacobsson, E and Göransson, U and Andersson, HS and Sundberg, P}, title = {The Bacterial (Vibrio alginolyticus) Production of Tetrodotoxin in the Ribbon Worm Lineus longissimus-Just a False Positive?.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {27023570}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Brachyura/microbiology/parasitology ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Helminths/*microbiology ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Paralysis/chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Tetrodotoxin/*toxicity ; Vibrio alginolyticus/*metabolism ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We test previous claims that the bacteria Vibrio alginolyticus produces tetrodotoxin (TTX) when living in symbiosis with the nemertean Lineus longissimus by a setup with bacteria cultivation for TTX production. Toxicity experiments on the shore crab, Carcinus maenas, demonstrated the presence of a paralytic toxin, but evidence from LC-MS and electrophysiological measurements of voltage-gated sodium channel-dependent nerve conductance in male Wistar rat tissue showed conclusively that this effect did not originate from TTX. However, a compound of similar molecular weight was found, albeit apparently non-toxic, and with different LC retention time and MS/MS fragmentation pattern than those of TTX. We conclude that C. maenas paralysis and death likely emanate from a compound <5 kDa, and via a different mechanism of action than that of TTX. The similarity in mass between TTX and the Vibrio-produced low-molecular-weight, non-toxic compound invokes that thorough analysis is required when assessing TTX production. Based on our findings, we suggest that re-examination of some published claims of TTX production may be warranted.}, } @article {pmid27023533, year = {2016}, author = {Houghton, D and Stewart, CJ and Day, CP and Trenell, M}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Lifestyle Interventions in NAFLD.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {447}, pmid = {27023533}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {189/ALZS_/Alzheimer's Society/United Kingdom ; G0700718/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/L016354/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; SRF-2011-04-017/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Diet ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Life Style ; *Microbiota ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism/*pathology ; Prebiotics/microbiology ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The human digestive system harbors a diverse and complex community of microorganisms that work in a symbiotic fashion with the host, contributing to metabolism, immune response and intestinal architecture. However, disruption of a stable and diverse community, termed "dysbiosis", has been shown to have a profound impact upon health and disease. Emerging data demonstrate dysbiosis of the gut microbiota to be linked with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although the exact mechanism(s) remain unknown, inflammation, damage to the intestinal membrane, and translocation of bacteria have all been suggested. Lifestyle intervention is undoubtedly effective at improving NAFLD, however, not all patients respond to these in the same manner. Furthermore, studies investigating the effects of lifestyle interventions on the gut microbiota in NAFLD patients are lacking. A deeper understanding of how different aspects of lifestyle (diet/nutrition/exercise) affect the host-microbiome interaction may allow for a more tailored approach to lifestyle intervention. With gut microbiota representing a key element of personalized medicine and nutrition, we review the effects of lifestyle interventions (diet and physical activity/exercise) on gut microbiota and how this impacts upon NAFLD prognosis.}, } @article {pmid27023802, year = {2017}, author = {Deng, QW and Wang, YD and Ding, DX and Hu, N and Sun, J and He, JD and Xu, F}, title = {Construction of the Syngonium podophyllum-Pseudomonas sp. XNN8 Symbiotic Purification System and Investigation of Its Capability of Remediating Uranium Wastewater.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {5134-5143}, pmid = {27023802}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Araceae ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; Hydroponics ; Indoleacetic Acids ; Organometallic Compounds ; Phosphates ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Podophyllum ; *Pseudomonas ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Symbiosis ; *Uranium ; Uranium Compounds ; *Wastewater ; Water Purification/*methods ; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy ; }, abstract = {The endophyte Pseudomonas sp. XNN8 was separated from Typha orientalis which can secrete indole-3-acetic acid and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase and siderophores and has strong resistance to uranium it was then colonized in the Syngonium podophyllum; and the S. podophyllum-Pseudomonas sp. XNN8 symbiotic purification system (SPPSPS) for uranium-containing wastewater was constructed. Afterwards, the hydroponic experiments to remove uranium from uranium-containing wastewater by the SPPSPS were conducted. After 24 days of treatment, the uranium concentrations of the wastewater samples with uranium concentrations between 0.5 and 5.0 mg/L were lowered to below 0.05 mg/L. Furthermore, the uranium in the plants was assayed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The Pseudomonas sp. XNN8 was found to generate substantial organic groups in the roots of the Syngonium podophyllum, which could improve the complexing capability of S. podophyllum for uranium. The uranium in the roots of S. podophyllum was found to be the uranyl phosphate (47.4 %) and uranyl acetate (52.6 %).}, } @article {pmid27023270, year = {2016}, author = {Yuasa, T and Takahashi, O}, title = {Light and electron microscopic observations of the reproductive swarmer cells of nassellarian and spumellarian polycystines (Radiolaria).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {19-32}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2016.02.007}, pmid = {27023270}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Life Cycle Stages ; *Microscopy, Electron ; Organelles/ultrastructure ; Reproduction ; Rhizaria/cytology/growth & development/*ultrastructure ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {We observed reproductive swarmer cells of the nassellarian and spumellarian polycystine radiolarians Didymocyrtis ceratospyris, Pterocanium praetextum, Tetrapyle sp., and Triastrum aurivillii using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The swarmer cells had subspherical to ovoid or spindle shapes with two unequal flagella tapered to whip-like ends. The cell size was approximately 2.5-5.5μm long and 1.6-2.2μm wide, which is significantly smaller than that of the collodarian (colonial or naked) polycystine radiolarians. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the swarmer cells possessed a nucleus, mitochondria with tubular cristae, Golgi body, and small lipid droplets in the cytoplasm; they also had a large vacuole in which a single crystalline inclusion (approx. 1.0-1.5μm) that was probably celestite (SrSO4) was enclosed. The swarmer cells were released directly from the parent cells. At that time, morphological change such as encystment was not observed in the parent cells, and the axopodia remained extended in a period of swarmer reproduction for floating existence. This may have prevented the polycystine swarmers from rapidly sinking down to great depths. Thus, we concluded that the polycystine radiolarians release the swarmer cells into the photic layer in the same way as the symbiotic acantharians.}, } @article {pmid27021349, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, JN and Wang, TH and Jia, QY and Gao, XH and Wan, H and Sun, WY and Yang, XL and Bao, R and Liu, JZ and Yu, ZJ}, title = {Characterization of the Microbial Communities in the Ant Lion Euroleon coreanus (Okamoto) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae).}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {397-403}, pmid = {27021349}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; China ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Euroleon coreanus (Okamoto) is widely distributed in China, and the larval stage can be treated as traditional Chinese medicine. However, the host-bacterium relationship remains unexplored, as there is a lack of knowledge on the microbial community of ant lions. Hence, in the current study, we explored the microbial community of the larval ant lion E. coreanus using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Results indicated that a total of 10 phyla, 126 genera, and 145 species were characterized from the second instars of E. coreanus, and most of the microbes were classified in the phylum Proteobacteria. Cronobacter muytjensii was the most abundant species characterized in the whole body and gut of E. coreanus, and the unclassified species in the genera Brevundimonas and Lactobacillus were relatively more abundant in the head and carcass. In addition, no Wolbachia-like bacteria were detected, whereas bacteria like Francisella tularensis subsp. Holarctica OSU18 and unclassified Rickettsiella were first identified in ant lion E. coreanus.}, } @article {pmid27021190, year = {2016}, author = {Kryvoruchko, IS and Sinharoy, S and Torres-Jerez, I and Sosso, D and Pislariu, CI and Guan, D and Murray, J and Benedito, VA and Frommer, WB and Udvardi, MK}, title = {MtSWEET11, a Nodule-Specific Sucrose Transporter of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {1}, pages = {554-565}, pmid = {27021190}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/G023832/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/L010305-1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Meristem/genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Sucrose/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Optimization of nitrogen fixation by rhizobia in legumes is a key area of research for sustainable agriculture. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) occurs in specialized organs called nodules and depends on a steady supply of carbon to both plant and bacterial cells. Here we report the functional characterization of a nodule-specific Suc transporter, MtSWEET11 from Medicago truncatula MtSWEET11 belongs to a clade of plant SWEET proteins that are capable of transporting Suc and play critical roles in pathogen susceptibility. When expressed in mammalian cells, MtSWEET11 transported sucrose (Suc) but not glucose (Glc). The MtSWEET11 gene was found to be expressed in infected root hair cells, and in the meristem, invasion zone, and vasculature of nodules. Expression of an MtSWEET11-GFP fusion protein in nodules resulted in green fluorescence associated with the plasma membrane of uninfected cells and infection thread and symbiosome membranes of infected cells. Two independent Tnt1-insertion sweet11 mutants were uncompromised in SNF Therefore, although MtSWEET11 appears to be involved in Suc distribution within nodules, it is not crucial for SNF, probably because other Suc transporters can fulfill its role(s).}, } @article {pmid27020747, year = {2016}, author = {Pimprikar, P and Carbonnel, S and Paries, M and Katzer, K and Klingl, V and Bohmer, MJ and Karl, L and Floss, DS and Harrison, MJ and Parniske, M and Gutjahr, C}, title = {A CCaMK-CYCLOPS-DELLA Complex Activates Transcription of RAM1 to Regulate Arbuscule Branching.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {987-998}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2016.01.069}, pmid = {27020747}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins ; Lotus/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Intracellular arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis between plants and glomeromycotan fungi leads to formation of highly branched fungal arbuscules that release mineral nutrients to the plant host. Their development is regulated in plants by a mechanistically unresolved interplay between symbiosis, nutrient, and hormone (gibberellin) signaling. Using a positional cloning strategy and a retrotransposon insertion line, we identify two novel alleles of Lotus japonicus REDUCED ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA1 (RAM1) encoding a GRAS protein. We confirm that RAM1 is a central regulator of arbuscule development: arbuscule branching is arrested in L. japonicus ram1 mutants, and ectopic expression of RAM1 activates genes critical for arbuscule development in the absence of fungal symbionts. Epistasis analysis places RAM1 downstream of CCaMK, CYCLOPS, and DELLA because ectopic expression of RAM1 restores arbuscule formation in cyclops mutants and in the presence of suppressive gibberellin. The corresponding proteins form a complex that activates RAM1 expression via binding of CYCLOPS to a cis element in the RAM1 promoter. We thus reveal a transcriptional cascade in arbuscule development that employs the promoter of RAM1 as integrator of symbiotic (transmitted via CCaMK and CYCLOPS) and hormonal (gibberellin) signals.}, } @article {pmid27018627, year = {2016}, author = {Belmondo, S and Calcagno, C and Genre, A and Puppo, A and Pauly, N and Lanfranco, L}, title = {NADPH oxidases in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e1165379}, pmid = {27018627}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; NADPH Oxidases/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant NADPH oxidases are the major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that plays key roles as both signal and stressor in several plant processes, including defense responses against pathogens. ROS accumulation in root cells during arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development has raised the interest in understanding how ROS-mediated defense programs are modulated during the establishment of this mutualistic interaction. We have recently analyzed the expression pattern of 5 NADPH oxidase (also called RBOH) encoding genes in Medicago truncatula, showing that only one of them (MtRbohE) is specifically upregulated in arbuscule-containing cells. In line with this result, RNAi silencing of MtRbohE generated a strong alteration in root colonization, with a significant reduction in the number of arbusculated cells. On this basis, we propose that MtRBOHE-mediated ROS production plays a crucial role in the intracellular accommodation of arbuscules.}, } @article {pmid27018441, year = {2016}, author = {Hubert, J and Stejskal, V and Nesvorna, M and Aulicky, R and Kopecky, J and Erban, T}, title = {Differences in the Bacterial Community of Laboratory and Wild Populations of the Predatory Mite Cheyletus eruditus (Acarina: Cheyletidae) and Bacteria Transmission From Its Prey Acarus siro (Acari: Acaridae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {109}, number = {3}, pages = {1450-1457}, doi = {10.1093/jee/tow032}, pmid = {27018441}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {The parthenogenetic predatory mite Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank, 1781) is used for biological control against mite pests produced as CHEYLETIN. Although there is evidence that bacteria are mainly responsible for parthenogeny in several species of predatory mites, the description of association between C. eruditus the specific and parasitic or symbiotic bacteria is still missing. We analyzed the bacterial communities of the predator, C. eruditus , and its prey, Acarus siro L. The 16S rRNA gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. The selected bacterial taxa were confirmed by amplification of isolated DNA with taxon-specific primers. The 16S rRNA gene sequences from the predatory and prey mites formed a total of 20 different bacterial taxa. Of these taxa, the predator and prey shared four taxa, six taxa were specific for the predatory, and 10 taxa for the prey mites. Cardinium - and Bartonella -like bacteria were found in both mite species. The reproductive parasite Wolbachia was found only in the predatory mite, and A. siro hosted Solitalea -like (Sphingobacteriales) bacteria that were not detected in C. eruditus . We focused on Cardinium occurrence in the field samples of C. eruditus. Using Cardinium -specific primers, 128 clones were obtained. Cardinium was found in seven field samples of C. eruditus as well as in the laboratory population that was used to produce CHEYLETIN. Phylogenetic analysis of the Cardinium clones identified three separate clusters: two clusters showed high similarity to the Cardinium sequences from astigmatid mites, and one cluster contained only the clones from C. eruditus . Sequences of both Cardinium and Wolbachia were found in the both adults and eggs of C. eruditus , indicating maternal transfer of these endosymbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27018440, year = {2016}, author = {Park, Y and Kyo Jung, J and Kim, Y}, title = {A Mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis With Xenorhabdus nematophila -Cultured Broth Enhances Toxicity Against Mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {109}, number = {3}, pages = {1086-1093}, doi = {10.1093/jee/tow063}, pmid = {27018440}, issn = {1938-291X}, abstract = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. (Enterobacteriaceae) can synthesize and release secondary metabolites that play crucial roles in their pathogenicity by suppressing the immunity of target insects. The insect immunity contributes to defense against the pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This study tested a hypothesis that bacterial immunosuppresants could enhance the susceptibility of mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens) to Bt. Three symbiotic bacteria [ X. nematophila (Xn), X. hominickii (Xh), and P. temperata temperata (Ptt)] were cultured in nutrient broth to allow them to produce secondary metabolites. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BtI) was highly toxic to both culicid mosquitoes with median lethal concentration (LC 50 , spores/ml) of 2.9 × 10 5 and 2.2 × 10 5 at 16 h after treatment, respectively. Addition of each bacteria-cultured broth enhanced BtI toxicity to these mosquito larvae. The LC 50 values of BtI to Ae. albopictus larvae were reduced to 1.5 × 10 5 in Xn mixture, 1.7 × 10 5 in Xh mixture, and 1.9 × 10 5 in Ptt mixture. The LC 50 values of BtI to Cx. pipiens pallens larvae were also reduced to 1.2 × 10 5 in Xn mixture, 1.3 × 10 5 in Xh mixture, and 1.5 × 10 5 in Ptt mixture. Adding benzylideneacetone or oxindole produced from Xn and Ptt also enhanced BtI toxicities to these mosquito larvae. Based on these results, we developed a new mosquitocidal Bt formulation called "Dip-Kill" consisting of 80% Xn-cultured broth, 10% BtI (10 10 spores/ml), and 10% preservative. Dip-Kill at 1,000 ppm was superior to a commercial BtI product at its recommended dose.}, } @article {pmid27018218, year = {2016}, author = {Song, X and He, X and Li, X and Qian, Y}, title = {The roles and functional mechanisms of interleukin-17 family cytokines in mucosal immunity.}, journal = {Cellular & molecular immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {418-431}, pmid = {27018218}, issn = {2042-0226}, support = {P01 HL103453/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; U10 HL109250/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Interleukin-17/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; }, abstract = {The mucosal immune system serves as our front-line defense against pathogens. It also tightly maintains immune tolerance to self-symbiotic bacteria, which are usually called commensals. Sensing both types of microorganisms is modulated by signalling primarily through various pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) on barrier epithelial cells or immune cells. After sensing, proinflammatory molecules such as cytokines are released by these cells to mediate either defensive or tolerant responses. The interleukin-17 (IL-17) family members belong to a newly characterized cytokine subset that is critical for the maintenance of mucosal homeostasis. In this review, we will summarize recent progress on the diverse functions and signals of this family of cytokines at different mucosal edges.}, } @article {pmid27017706, year = {2016}, author = {Walker, ML}, title = {Race Making in a Penal Institution.}, journal = {AJS; American journal of sociology}, volume = {121}, number = {4}, pages = {1051-1078}, doi = {10.1086/684033}, pmid = {27017706}, issn = {0002-9602}, mesh = {Anthropology, Cultural ; California ; Humans ; *Prisoners ; Prisons ; *Racism ; Risk Management ; *Violence ; }, abstract = {This article provides a ground-level investigation into the lives of penal inmates, linking the literature on race making and penal management to provide an understanding of racial formation processes in a modern penal institution. Drawing on 135 days of ethnographic data collected as an inmate in a Southern California county jail system, the author argues that inmates are subjected to two mutually constitutive racial projects--one institutional and the other microinteractional. Operating in symbiosis within a narrative of risk management, these racial projects increase (rather than decrease) incidents of intraracial violence and the potential for interracial violence. These findings have implications for understanding the process of racialization and evaluating the effectiveness of penal management strategies.}, } @article {pmid27016568, year = {2016}, author = {Xu, Y and Buss, EA and Boucias, DG}, title = {Culturing and Characterization of Gut Symbiont Burkholderia spp. from the Southern Chinch Bug, Blissus insularis (Hemiptera: Blissidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {11}, pages = {3319-3330}, pmid = {27016568}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriological Techniques/methods ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/*growth & development/*isolation & purification ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genotype ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Typing ; Organ Culture Techniques/methods ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The phloem-feeding Southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis, harbors a high density of the exocellular bacterial symbiont Burkholderia in the lumen of specialized midgut crypts. Here we developed an organ culture method that initially involved incubating the B. insularis crypts in osmotically balanced insect cell culture medium. This approach enabled the crypt-inhabiting Burkholderia spp. to make a transition to an in vitro environment and to be subsequently cultured in standard bacteriological media. Examinations using ribotyping and BOX-PCR fingerprinting techniques demonstrated that most in vitro-produced bacterial cultures were identical to their crypt-inhabiting Burkholderia counterparts. Genomic and physiological analyses of gut-symbiotic Burkholderia spp. that were isolated individually from two separate B. insularis laboratory colonies revealed that the majority of individual insects harbored a single Burkholderia ribotype in their midgut crypts, resulting in a diverse Burkholderia community within each colony. The diversity was also exhibited by the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these Burkholderia cultures. Access to cultures of crypt-inhabiting bacteria provides an opportunity to investigate the interaction between symbiotic Burkholderia spp. and the B. insularis host. Furthermore, the culturing method provides an alternative strategy for establishing in vitro cultures of other fastidious insect-associated bacterial symbionts.

IMPORTANCE: An organ culture method was developed to establish in vitro cultures of a fastidious Burkholderia symbiont associated with the midgut crypts of the Southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis The identities of the resulting cultures were confirmed using the genomic and physiological features of Burkholderia cultures isolated from B. insularis crypts, showing that host insects maintained the diversity of Burkholderia spp. over multiple generations. The availability of characterized gut-symbiotic Burkholderia cultures provides a resource for genetic manipulation of these bacteria and for examination of the mechanisms underlying insect-bacterium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid27016564, year = {2016}, author = {Sun, Y and LaSota, ED and Cecere, AG and LaPenna, KB and Larios-Valencia, J and Wollenberg, MS and Miyashiro, T}, title = {Intraspecific Competition Impacts Vibrio fischeri Strain Diversity during Initial Colonization of the Squid Light Organ.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {10}, pages = {3082-3091}, pmid = {27016564}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Animal Structures/*microbiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Animal development and physiology depend on beneficial interactions with microbial symbionts. In many cases, the microbial symbionts are horizontally transmitted among hosts, thereby making the acquisition of these microbes from the environment an important event within the life history of each host. The light organ symbiosis established between the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri is a model system for examining how hosts acquire horizontally transmitted microbial symbionts. Recent studies have revealed that the light organ of wild-caught E. scolopes squid contains polyclonal populations of V. fischeri bacteria; however, the function and development of such strain diversity in the symbiosis are unknown. Here, we report our phenotypic and phylogenetic characterizations of FQ-A001, which is a V. fischeri strain isolated directly from the light organ of an E. scolopes individual. Relative to the type strain ES114, FQ-A001 exhibits similar growth in rich medium but displays increased bioluminescence and decreased motility in soft agar. FQ-A001 outcompetes ES114 in colonizing the crypt spaces of the light organs. Remarkably, we find that animals cocolonized with FQ-A001 and ES114 harbor singly colonized crypts, in contrast to the cocolonized crypts observed from competition experiments involving single genotypes. The results with our two-strain system suggest that strain diversity within the squid light organ is a consequence of diversity in the single-strain colonization of individual crypt spaces.

IMPORTANCE: The developmental programs and overall physiologies of most animals depend on diverse microbial symbionts that are acquired from the environment. However, the basic principles underlying how microbes colonize their hosts remain poorly understood. Here, we report our findings of bacterial strain competition within the coevolved animal-microbe symbiosis composed of the Hawaiian squid and bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri Using fluorescent proteins to differentially label two distinct V. fischeri strains, we find that the strains are unable to coexist in the same niche within the host. Our results suggest that strain competition for distinct colonization sites dictates the strain diversity associated with the host. Our study provides a platform for studying how strain diversity develops within a host.}, } @article {pmid27016297, year = {2016}, author = {Hongo, Y and Ikuta, T and Takaki, Y and Shimamura, S and Shigenobu, S and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Expression of genes involved in the uptake of inorganic carbon in the gill of a deep-sea vesicomyid clam harboring intracellular thioautotrophic bacteria.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {585}, number = {2}, pages = {228-240}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2016.03.033}, pmid = {27016297}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bicarbonates/metabolism ; Bivalvia/*genetics/metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Gills/*metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization ; *Marine Biology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea vesicomyid clams, including the genus Phreagena (formerly Calyptogena), harbor thioautotrophic bacterial symbionts in the host symbiosome, which consists of cytoplasmic vacuoles in gill epithelial cells called bacteriocytes. The symbiont requires inorganic carbon (Ci), such as CO2, HCO3(-), and CO3(2-), to synthesize organic compounds, which are utilized by the host clam. The dominant Ci in seawater is HCO3(-), which is impermeable to cell membranes. Within the bacteriocyte, cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrase (CA) from the host, which catalyzes the inter-conversion between CO2 and HCO3(-), has been shown to be abundant and is thought to supply intracellular CO2 to symbionts in the symbiosome. However, the mechanism of Ci uptake by the host gill from seawater is poorly understood. To elucidate the influx pathway of Ci into the bacteriocyte, we isolated the genes related to Ci uptake via the pyrosequencing of cDNA from the gill of Phreagena okutanii, and investigated their expression patterns. Using phylogenetic and amino acid sequence analyses, three solute carrier family 4 (SLC4) bicarbonate transporters (slc4co1, slc4co2, and slc4co4) and two membrane-associated CAs (mcaco1 and mcaco2) were identified as candidate genes for Ci uptake. In an in situ hybridization analysis of gill sections, the expression of mcaco1 and mcaco2 was detected in the bacteriocytes and asymbiotic non-ciliated cells, respectively, and the expression of slc4co1 and slc4co2 was detected in the asymbiotic cells, including the intermediate cells of the inner area and the non-ciliated cells of the external area. Although subcellular localizations of the products of these genes have not been fully elucidated, they may play an important role in the uptake of Ci into the bacteriocytes. These findings will improve our understanding of the Ci transport system in the symbiotic relationships of chemosynthetic bivalves.}, } @article {pmid27016040, year = {2016}, author = {Desalegn, G and Turetschek, R and Kaul, HP and Wienkoop, S}, title = {Microbial symbionts affect Pisum sativum proteome and metabolome under Didymella pinodes infection.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {143}, number = {}, pages = {173-187}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.018}, pmid = {27016040}, issn = {1876-7737}, support = {P 24870/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota ; *Metabolome ; Mycoses ; Peas/*chemistry/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Proteome/*analysis ; Pterocarpans/biosynthesis ; Rhizobiaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The long cultivation of field pea led to an enormous diversity which, however, seems to hold just little resistance against the ascochyta blight disease complex. The potential of below ground microbial symbiosis to prime the immune system of Pisum for an upcoming pathogen attack has hitherto received little attention. This study investigates the effect of beneficial microbes on the leaf proteome and metabolome as well as phenotype characteristics of plants in various symbiont interactions (mycorrhiza, rhizobia, co-inoculation, non-symbiotic) after infestation by Didymella pinodes. In healthy plants, mycorrhiza and rhizobia induced changes in RNA metabolism and protein synthesis. Furthermore, metal handling and ROS dampening was affected in all mycorrhiza treatments. The co-inoculation caused the synthesis of stress related proteins with concomitant adjustment of proteins involved in lipid biosynthesis. The plant's disease infection response included hormonal adjustment, ROS scavenging as well as synthesis of proteins related to secondary metabolism. The regulation of the TCA, amino acid and secondary metabolism including the pisatin pathway, was most pronounced in rhizobia associated plants which had the lowest infection rate and the slowest disease progression.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A most comprehensive study of the Pisum sativum proteome and metabolome infection response to Didymella pinodes is provided. Several distinct patterns of microbial symbioses on the plant metabolism are presented for the first time. Upon D. pinodes infection, rhizobial symbiosis revealed induced systemic resistance e.g. by an enhanced level of proteins involved in pisatin biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid27014516, year = {2016}, author = {Freeman, CJ and Easson, CG}, title = {Sponge distribution and the presence of photosymbionts in Moorea, French Polynesia.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1816}, pmid = {27014516}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Photosymbionts play an important role in the ecology and evolution of diverse host species within the marine environment. Although sponge-photosymbiont interactions have been well described from geographically disparate sites worldwide, our understanding of these interactions from shallow water systems within French Polynesia is limited. We surveyed diverse habitats around the north coast of Moorea, French Polynesia and screened sponges for the presence of photosymbionts. Overall sponge abundance and diversity were low, with <1% cover and only eight putative species identified by 28S barcoding from surveys at 21 sites. Of these eight species, seven were found predominately in shaded or semi-cryptic habitats under overhangs or within caverns. Lendenfeldia chondrodes was the only species that supported a high abundance of photosymbionts and was also the only species found in exposed, illuminated habitats. Interestingly, L. chondrodes was found at three distinct sites, with a massive, fan-shaped growth form at two of the lagoon sites and a thin, encrusting growth form within a bay site. These two growth forms differed in their photosymbiont abundance, with massive individuals of L. chondrodes having higher photosymbiont abundance than encrusting individuals from the bay. We present evidence that some sponges from French Polynesia support abundant photosymbiont communities and provide initial support for the role of these communities in host ecology.}, } @article {pmid27014324, year = {2016}, author = {Singh, A and Jethva, M and Singla-Pareek, SL and Pareek, A and Kushwaha, HR}, title = {Analyses of Old "Prokaryotic" Proteins Indicate Functional Diversification in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {304}, pmid = {27014324}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {During evolution, various processes such as duplication, divergence, recombination, and many other events leads to the evolution of new genes with novel functions. These evolutionary events, thus significantly impact the evolution of cellular, physiological, morphological, and other phenotypic trait of organisms. While evolving, eukaryotes have acquired large number of genes from the earlier prokaryotes. This work is focused upon identification of old "prokaryotic" proteins in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa genome, further highlighting their possible role(s) in the two genomes. Our results suggest that with respect to their genome size, the fraction of old "prokaryotic" proteins is higher in Arabidopsis than in Oryza sativa. The large fractions of such proteins encoding genes were found to be localized in various endo-symbiotic organelles. The domain architecture of the old "prokaryotic" proteins revealed similar distribution in both Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa genomes showing their conserved evolution. In Oryza sativa, the old "prokaryotic" proteins were more involved in developmental processes, might be due to constant man-made selection pressure for better agronomic traits/productivity. While in Arabidopsis, these proteins were involved in metabolic functions. Overall, the analysis indicates the distinct pattern of evolution of old "prokaryotic" proteins in Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa.}, } @article {pmid27014249, year = {2016}, author = {Loudon, AH and Venkataraman, A and Van Treuren, W and Woodhams, DC and Parfrey, LW and McKenzie, VJ and Knight, R and Schmidt, TM and Harris, RN}, title = {Vertebrate Hosts as Islands: Dynamics of Selection, Immigration, Loss, Persistence, and Potential Function of Bacteria on Salamander Skin.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {333}, pmid = {27014249}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {T32 HL007749/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Skin bacterial communities can protect amphibians from a fungal pathogen; however, little is known about how these communities are maintained. We used a neutral model of community ecology to identify bacteria that are maintained on salamanders by selection or by dispersal from a bacterial reservoir (soil) and ecological drift. We found that 75% (9/12) of bacteria that were consistent with positive selection, <1% of bacteria that were consistent with random dispersal and none of the bacteria that were consistent under negative selection had a 97% or greater match to antifungal isolates. Additionally we performed an experiment where salamanders were either provided or denied a bacterial reservoir and estimated immigration and loss (emigration and local extinction) rates of bacteria on salamanders in both treatments. Loss was strongly related to bacterial richness, suggesting competition is important for structuring the community. Bacteria closely related to antifungal isolates were more likely to persist on salamanders with or without a bacterial reservoir, suggesting they had a competitive advantage. Furthermore, over-represented and under-represented operational taxonomic units (OTUs) had similar persistence on salamanders when a bacterial reservoir was present. However, under-represented OTUs were less likely to persist in the absence of a bacterial reservoir, suggesting that the over-represented and under-represented bacteria were selected against or for on salamanders through time. Our findings from the neutral model, migration and persistence analyses show that bacteria that exhibit a high similarity to antifungal isolates persist on salamanders, which likely protect hosts against pathogens and improve fitness. This research is one of the first to apply ecological theory to investigate assembly of host associated-bacterial communities, which can provide insights for probiotic bioaugmentation as a conservation strategy against disease.}, } @article {pmid27011222, year = {2016}, author = {Hoshina, R and Kusuoka, Y}, title = {DNA Analysis of Algal Endosymbionts of Ciliates Reveals the State of Algal Integration and the Surprising Specificity of the Symbiosis.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {174-184}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2016.02.004}, pmid = {27011222}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; Ciliophora/*genetics ; DNA, Algal/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Lakes ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Many freshwater protists harbor unicellular green algae within their cells, but little is known of their degree of integration and specificity. Using algae-targeted PCR of whole ciliate cells collected at irregular intervals over 15 months from Lake Biwa, Japan, we explored the SSU-ITS rDNA of the endosymbiotic algae and its changes over time, obtaining sequences of algal rDNA fragments from four ciliate species. A high proportion of clonal algae was evident within the ciliate cells. The differences observed in those sequences from the SSU through to the ITS region were less than 1%. The name 'Chlorb' is proposed for these algae, with the implication that they represent a single 'species.' The sequences of the algal DNA fragments were identical for any given host species throughout the collection period, thus we conclude that these four ciliates stably retain their algae over long term. In contrast, algal DNA fragments obtained from Didinium sp. were variable within each sample, which indicates that this ciliate only temporarily holds its algal cells. The ITS1 sequences of Chlorb populations are close (at intraspecific level) to those of algae isolated from ciliates in Austria, which raises the possibility that Chlorb algae are universally shared as symbionts among various ciliates.}, } @article {pmid27009806, year = {2016}, author = {Klompmaker, AA and Portell, RW and van der Meij, SE}, title = {Trace fossil evidence of coral-inhabiting crabs (Cryptochiridae) and its implications for growth and paleobiogeography.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {23443}, pmid = {27009806}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Brachyura/*anatomy & histology/*classification ; Florida ; Fossils ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; }, abstract = {Members of the Cryptochiridae are small, fragile, symbiotic crabs that live in domiciles in modern corals. Despite their worldwide occurrence with over 50 species known today, their fossil record is unknown. We provide the first unambiguous evidence of cryptochirids in the fossil record through their crescentic pits, typical for certain cryptochirids, in Western Atlantic fossil corals, while the Eocene genus Montemagrechirus is excluded from the Cryptochiridae and referred to Montemagrechiridae fam. nov. Nine Pleistocene corals with crescentic pits originate from Florida (USA), and single specimens with pits come from the late Pleistocene of Cuba and the late Pliocene of Florida, all of which are measured for growth analyses. These pits represent trace fossils named Galacticus duerri igen. nov., isp. nov. A study of modern cryptochirid domicile shape (crescentic pit, circular-oval pit, or a true gall) shows that species within crab genera tend to inhabit the same pit shape. Crescentic pits in corals occur not only in the Western Atlantic today, but also in the Indo-West Pacific and in the Eastern Pacific. Thus, examination of Cenozoic fossil coral collections from these regions should yield further examples of cryptochirid pits, which would help to constrain the antiquity of this cryptic crab family.}, } @article {pmid27009592, year = {2016}, author = {Chavez-Dozal, AA and Nourabadi, N and Erken, M and McDougald, D and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Comparative analysis of quantitative methodologies for Vibrionaceae biofilms.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {61}, number = {6}, pages = {449-453}, pmid = {27009592}, issn = {1874-9356}, support = {K12 GM088021/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007538/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Vibrionaceae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Multiple symbiotic and free-living Vibrio spp. grow as a form of microbial community known as a biofilm. In the laboratory, methods to quantify Vibrio biofilm mass include crystal violet staining, direct colony-forming unit (CFU) counting, dry biofilm cell mass measurement, and observation of development of wrinkled colonies. Another approach for bacterial biofilms also involves the use of tetrazolium (XTT) assays (used widely in studies of fungi) that are an appropriate measure of metabolic activity and vitality of cells within the biofilm matrix. This study systematically tested five techniques, among which the XTT assay and wrinkled colony measurement provided the most reproducible, accurate, and efficient methods for the quantitative estimation of Vibrionaceae biofilms.}, } @article {pmid27009222, year = {2016}, author = {Jusino, MA and Lindner, DL and Banik, MT and Rose, KR and Walters, JR}, title = {Experimental evidence of a symbiosis between red-cockaded woodpeckers and fungi.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1827}, pages = {20160106}, pmid = {27009222}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/classification/*physiology ; Birds/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Nesting Behavior ; North Carolina ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Primary cavity excavators, such as woodpeckers, are ecosystem engineers in many systems. Associations between cavity excavators and fungi have long been hypothesized to facilitate cavity excavation, but these relationships have not been experimentally verified. Fungi may help excavators by softening wood, while excavators may facilitate fungal dispersal. Here we demonstrate that excavators facilitate fungal dispersal and thus we report the first experimental evidence of a symbiosis between fungi and a cavity excavator, the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW,Picoides borealis). Swab samples of birds showed that RCWs carry fungal communities similar to those found in their completed excavations. A 26-month field experiment using human-made aseptically drilled excavations in live trees, half of which were inaccessible to RCWs, demonstrated that RCWs directly alter fungal colonization and community composition. Experimental excavations that were accessible to RCWs contained fungal communities similar to natural RCW excavations, whereas inaccessible experimental excavations contained significantly different fungal communities. Our work demonstrates a complex symbiosis between cavity excavators and communities of fungi, with implications for forest ecology, wildlife management, and conservation.}, } @article {pmid27006458, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, R and Gallant, É and Seyedsayamdost, MR}, title = {Investigation of the Genetics and Biochemistry of Roseobacticide Production in the Roseobacter Clade Bacterium Phaeobacter inhibens.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e02118}, pmid = {27006458}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K99 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Multigene Family ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Quorum Sensing ; Rhodobacteraceae/*genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Roseobacterclade bacteria are abundant in surface waters and are among the most metabolically diverse and ecologically significant species. This group includes opportunistic symbionts that associate with micro- and macroalgae. We have proposed that one representative member,Phaeobacter inhibens, engages in a dynamic symbiosis with the microalgaEmiliania huxleyi In one phase, mutualistically beneficial molecules are exchanged, including theRoseobacter-produced antibiotic tropodithietic acid (TDA), which is thought to protect the symbiotic interaction. In an alternative parasitic phase, triggered by algal senescence, the bacteria produce potent algaecides, the roseobacticides, which kill the algal host. Here, we employed genetic and biochemical screens to identify the roseobacticide biosynthetic gene cluster. By using a transposon mutagenesis approach, we found that genes required for TDA synthesis-thetdaoperon andpaacatabolon-are also necessary for roseobacticide production. Thus, in contrast to the one-cluster-one-compound paradigm, thetdagene cluster can generate two sets of molecules with distinct structures and bioactivities. We further show that roseobacticide production is quorum sensing regulated via anN-acyl homoserine lactone signal (3-OH-C10-HSL). To ensure tight regulation of algaecide production, and thus of a lifestyle switch from mutualism to parasitism, roseobacticide biosynthesis necessitates the presence of both an algal senescence molecule and a quorum sensing signal.IMPORTANCEMarineRoseobacterspecies are abundant in the oceans and engage in symbiotic interactions with microscopic algae. One member,P. inhibens, produces the antibiotic TDA and a growth hormone thought to protect and promote algal growth. However, in the presence of molecules released by senescing algae, the bacteria produce potent algaecides, the roseobacticides, which kill the host. We examined the regulatory networks and biosynthetic genes required for roseobacticide production. We found thatP. inhibensuses largely the same set of genes for production of both TDA and roseobacticides, thus providing a rare case in which one gene cluster synthesizes two structurally and functionally distinct molecules. Moreover, we found roseobacticide production to be regulated by quorum sensing. Thus, two small molecules, the algal metabolite and the quorum-sensing signal, ensure tight control in the production of roseobacticides. These results highlight the role of small molecules in regulating microbial symbioses.}, } @article {pmid27005450, year = {2016}, author = {Ross, KF and Herzberg, MC}, title = {Autonomous immunity in mucosal epithelial cells: fortifying the barrier against infection.}, journal = {Microbes and infection}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {387-398}, pmid = {27005450}, issn = {1769-714X}, support = {R01 DE011831/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE021800/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DE015056/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE008590/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; F33 DE020006/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE021206/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE015503/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Epithelial Cells/*immunology ; Epithelium/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; }, abstract = {Mucosal epithelial cells express an autonomous innate immune response that controls the overgrowth of invaded bacteria, mitigates the harmful effects of the bacteria carried within, and does not rely on other external arms of the immune response. Epithelial cell autonomous innate immunity "respects" the social biology of invading bacteria to achieve symbiosis, and is the primary protective mechanism against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid27004825, year = {2016}, author = {Schwartzman, JA and Ruby, EG}, title = {Stress as a Normal Cue in the Symbiotic Environment.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {414-424}, pmid = {27004825}, issn = {1878-4380}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050611/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Cues ; *Environment ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microbial Interactions ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All multicellular hosts form associations with groups of microorganisms. These microbial communities can be taxonomically diverse and dynamic, and their persistence is due to robust, and sometimes coevolved, host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. Chemical and physical sources of stress are prominently situated in this molecular exchange, as cues for cellular responses in symbiotic microbes. Stress in the symbiotic environment may arise from three sources: host tissues, microbe-induced immune responses, or other microbes in the host environment. The responses of microbes to these stresses can be general or highly specialized, and collectively may contribute to the stability of the symbiotic system. In this review, we highlight recent work that emphasizes the role of stress as a cue in the symbiotic environment of plants and animals.}, } @article {pmid27004796, year = {2016}, author = {Dittmer, J and Lesobre, J and Moumen, B and Bouchon, D}, title = {Host origin and tissue microhabitat shaping the microbiota of the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {5}, pages = {fiw063}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw063}, pmid = {27004796}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Isopoda/*microbiology/physiology ; Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {We present the first in-depth investigation of the host-associated microbiota of the terrestrial isopod crustacean Armadillidium vulgare. This species is an important decomposer of organic matter in terrestrial ecosystems and a major model organism for arthropod-Wolbachia symbioses due to its well-characterized association with feminizing Wolbachia 16S rRNA gene pyrotags were used to characterize its bacterial microbiota at multiple levels: (i) in individuals from laboratory lineages and field populations and (ii) in various host tissues. This integrative approach allowed us to reveal an unexpectedly high bacterial diversity, placing this species in the same league as termites in terms of symbiotic diversity. Interestingly, both animal groups belong to the same ecological guild in terrestrial ecosystems. While Wolbachia represented the predominant taxon in infected individuals, it was not the only major player. Together, the most abundant taxa represented a large scope of symbiotic interactions, including bacterial pathogens, a reproductive parasite (Wolbachia) and potential nutritional symbionts. Furthermore, we demonstrate that individuals from different populations harboured distinct bacterial communities, indicating a strong link between the host-associated microbiota and environmental bacteria, possibly due to terrestrial isopod nutritional ecology. Overall, this work highlights the need for more studies of host-microbiota interactions and bacterial diversity in non-insect arthropods.}, } @article {pmid27003906, year = {2016}, author = {Doty, SL}, title = {Plant-microbe symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {90}, number = {6}, pages = {535}, doi = {10.1007/s11103-016-0470-y}, pmid = {27003906}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Plants/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid27002971, year = {2016}, author = {Chialva, M and Zouari, I and Salvioli, A and Novero, M and Vrebalov, J and Giovannoni, JJ and Bonfante, P}, title = {Gr and hp-1 tomato mutants unveil unprecedented interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and fruit ripening.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {244}, number = {1}, pages = {155-165}, pmid = {27002971}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Flowers/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Fruit/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/radiation effects ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Light ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; *Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/physiology ; Phenotype ; Pigmentation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Systemic responses to an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus reveal opposite phenological patterns in two tomato ripening mutants depending whether ethylene or light reception is involved. The availability of tomato ripening mutants has revealed many aspects of the genetics behind fleshy fruit ripening, plant hormones and light signal reception. Since previous analyses revealed that arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis influences tomato berry ripening, we wanted to test the hypothesis that an interplay might occur between root symbiosis and fruit ripening. With this aim, we screened seven tomato mutants affected in the ripening process for their responsiveness to the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae. Following their phenological responses we selected two mutants for a deeper analysis: Green ripe (Gr), deficient in fruit ethylene perception and high-pigment-1 (hp-1), displaying enhanced light signal perception throughout the plant. We investigated the putative interactions between ripening processes, mycorrhizal establishment and systemic effects using biochemical and gene expression tools. Our experiments showed that both mutants, notwithstanding a normal mycorrhizal phenotype at root level, exhibit altered arbuscule functionality. Furthermore, in contrast to wild type, mycorrhization did not lead to a higher phosphate concentration in berries of both mutants. These results suggest that the mutations considered interfere with arbuscular mycorrhiza inducing systemic changes in plant phenology and fruits metabolism. We hypothesize a cross talk mechanism between AM and ripening processes that involves genes related to ethylene and light signaling.}, } @article {pmid27002549, year = {2016}, author = {Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Cabello, AM and Salazar, G and Sánchez-Baracaldo, P and Lima-Mendez, G and Hingamp, P and Alberti, A and Sunagawa, S and Bork, P and de Vargas, C and Raes, J and Bowler, C and Wincker, P and Zehr, JP and Gasol, JM and Massana, R and Acinas, SG}, title = {Cyanobacterial symbionts diverged in the late Cretaceous towards lineage-specific nitrogen fixation factories in single-celled phytoplankton.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {11071}, pmid = {27002549}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Atlantic Ocean ; *Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Genomics ; Haptophyta/*genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phytoplankton/*genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The unicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-A, one of the major contributors to nitrogen fixation in the open ocean, lives in symbiosis with single-celled phytoplankton. UCYN-A includes several closely related lineages whose partner fidelity, genome-wide expression and time of evolutionary divergence remain to be resolved. Here we detect and distinguish UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 lineages in symbiosis with two distinct prymnesiophyte partners in the South Atlantic Ocean. Both symbiotic systems are lineage specific and differ in the number of UCYN-A cells involved. Our analyses infer a streamlined genome expression towards nitrogen fixation in both UCYN-A lineages. Comparative genomics reveal a strong purifying selection in UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 with a diversification process ∼91 Myr ago, in the late Cretaceous, after the low-nutrient regime period occurred during the Jurassic. These findings suggest that UCYN-A diversified in a co-evolutionary process, wherein their prymnesiophyte partners acted as a barrier driving an allopatric speciation of extant UCYN-A lineages.}, } @article {pmid26999590, year = {2016}, author = {Monnin, D and Kremer, N and Berny, C and Henri, H and Dumet, A and Voituron, Y and Desouhant, E and Vavre, F}, title = {Influence of oxidative homeostasis on bacterial density and cost of infection in Drosophila-Wolbachia symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {1211-1222}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.12863}, pmid = {26999590}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*physiology ; *Homeostasis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phenotype ; *Reactive Oxygen Species ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The evolution of symbioses along the continuum between parasitism and mutualism can be influenced by the oxidative homeostasis, that is the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant molecules. Indeed, ROS can contribute to the host immune defence to regulate symbiont populations, but are also toxic. This interplay between ROS and symbiosis is notably exemplified by recent results in arthropod-Wolbachia interactions. Wolbachia are symbiotic bacteria involved in a wide range of interactions with their arthropods hosts, from facultative, parasitic associations to obligatory, mutualistic ones. In this study, we used Drosophila-Wolbachia associations to determine whether the oxidative homeostasis plays a role in explaining the differences between phenotypically distinct arthropod-Wolbachia symbioses. We used Drosophila lines with different Wolbachia infections and measured the effects of pro-oxidant (paraquat) and antioxidant (glutathione) treatments on the Wolbachia density and the host survival. We show that experimental manipulations of the oxidative homeostasis can reduce the cost of the infection through its effect on Wolbachia density. We discuss the implication of this result from an evolutionary perspective and argue that the oxidative homeostasis could underlie the evolution of tolerance and dependence on Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid26999466, year = {2016}, author = {Weber, D and Oefner, PJ and Dettmer, K and Hiergeist, A and Koestler, J and Gessner, A and Weber, M and Stämmler, F and Hahn, J and Wolff, D and Herr, W and Holler, E}, title = {Rifaximin preserves intestinal microbiota balance in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.}, journal = {Bone marrow transplantation}, volume = {51}, number = {8}, pages = {1087-1092}, pmid = {26999466}, issn = {1476-5365}, mesh = {Adult ; Enterococcus/drug effects ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Graft vs Host Disease/microbiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects/*methods/mortality ; Humans ; Indican/analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifamycins/*administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Rifaximin ; Survival Analysis ; Transplantation, Homologous ; }, abstract = {Intestinal dysbiosis has been associated with acute gastrointestinal GvHD and poor outcome following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). To assess the effect of a switch in 2012 from ciprofloxacin/metronidazole to rifaximin for gut decontamination on intestinal microbiota composition and ASCT outcome, we retrospectively analyzed 394 patients receiving ASCT from September 2008 through June 2015. In 131 and 90 patients, respectively, urinary 3-indoxyl sulfate levels and intestinal enterococcal load were measured before conditioning and weekly within the first 28 days after ASCT. The use of rifaximin correlated with lower enterococcal positivity (6.9 vs 21.9%, P=0.05) and higher urinary 3-indoxyl sulfate concentrations (10.5 vs 4.6 μmoL/mmoL crea, P<0.001) after ASCT. Patients on rifaximin showed lower 1-year transplant-related mortality (P=0.04) and higher overall survival (P=0.008). Treatment of infectious complications with systemic antibiotics did not abrogate the beneficial effects of rifaximin on intestinal microbiota composition in the early course of ASCT and outcome. The data underscore the importance of maintaining a diverse population of symbiotic and mutualistic bacteria in the gut on ASCT outcome.}, } @article {pmid26996922, year = {2016}, author = {Swain, TD and DuBois, E and Gomes, A and Stoyneva, VP and Radosevich, AJ and Henss, J and Wagner, ME and Derbas, J and Grooms, HW and Velazquez, EM and Traub, J and Kennedy, BJ and Grigorescu, AA and Westneat, MW and Sanborn, K and Levine, S and Schick, M and Parsons, G and Biggs, BC and Rogers, JD and Backman, V and Marcelino, LA}, title = {Skeletal light-scattering accelerates bleaching response in reef-building corals.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {10}, pmid = {26996922}, issn = {1472-6785}, support = {R01 EB003682/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; EB 003682/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology/*radiation effects ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Light ; Photobleaching ; Scattering, Radiation ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: At the forefront of ecosystems adversely affected by climate change, coral reefs are sensitive to anomalously high temperatures which disassociate (bleaching) photosynthetic symbionts (Symbiodinium) from coral hosts and cause increasingly frequent and severe mass mortality events. Susceptibility to bleaching and mortality is variable among corals, and is determined by unknown proportions of environmental history and the synergy of Symbiodinium- and coral-specific properties. Symbiodinium live within host tissues overlaying the coral skeleton, which increases light availability through multiple light-scattering, forming one of the most efficient biological collectors of solar radiation. Light-transport in the upper ~200 μm layer of corals skeletons (measured as 'microscopic' reduced-scattering coefficient, μ'(S,m)), has been identified as a determinant of excess light increase during bleaching and is therefore a potential determinant of the differential rate and severity of bleaching response among coral species.

RESULTS: Here we experimentally demonstrate (in ten coral species) that, under thermal stress alone or combined thermal and light stress, low-μ'(S,m) corals bleach at higher rate and severity than high-μ'(S,m) corals and the Symbiodinium associated with low-μ'(S,m) corals experience twice the decrease in photochemical efficiency. We further modelled the light absorbed by Symbiodinium due to skeletal-scattering and show that the estimated skeleton-dependent light absorbed by Symbiodinium (per unit of photosynthetic pigment) and the temporal rate of increase in absorbed light during bleaching are several fold higher in low-μ'(S,m) corals.

CONCLUSIONS: While symbionts associated with low-[Formula: see text] corals receive less total light from the skeleton, they experience a higher rate of light increase once bleaching is initiated and absorbing bodies are lost; further precipitating the bleaching response. Because microscopic skeletal light-scattering is a robust predictor of light-dependent bleaching among the corals assessed here, this work establishes μ'(S,m) as one of the key determinants of differential bleaching response.}, } @article {pmid26996832, year = {2017}, author = {Santhanam, P and Boshoven, JC and Salas, O and Bowler, K and Islam, MT and Saber, MK and van den Berg, GC and Bar-Peled, M and Thomma, BP}, title = {Rhamnose synthase activity is required for pathogenicity of the vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {347-362}, pmid = {26996832}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Epimerases/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Vascular Bundle/*microbiology ; Rhamnose/metabolism ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; Tobacco/microbiology ; Transformation, Genetic ; Uridine Diphosphate/metabolism ; Verticillium/*enzymology/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The initial interaction of a pathogenic fungus with its host is complex and involves numerous metabolic pathways and regulatory proteins. Considerable attention has been devoted to proteins that play a crucial role in these interactions, with an emphasis on so-called effector molecules that are secreted by the invading microbe to establish the symbiosis. However, the contribution of other types of molecules, such as glycans, is less well appreciated. Here, we present a random genetic screen that enabled us to identify 58 novel candidate genes that are involved in the pathogenic potential of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, which causes vascular wilt diseases in over 200 dicotyledonous plant species, including economically important crops. One of the candidate genes that was identified concerns a putative biosynthetic gene involved in nucleotide sugar precursor formation, as it encodes a putative nucleotide-rhamnose synthase/epimerase-reductase (NRS/ER). This enzyme has homology to bacterial enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the nucleotide sugar deoxy-thymidine diphosphate (dTDP)-rhamnose, a precursor of L-rhamnose, which has been shown to be required for virulence in several human pathogenic bacteria. Rhamnose is known to be a minor cell wall glycan in fungi and has therefore not been suspected as a crucial molecule in fungal-host interactions. Nevertheless, our study shows that deletion of the VdNRS/ER gene from the V. dahliae genome results in complete loss of pathogenicity on tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana plants, whereas vegetative growth and sporulation are not affected. We demonstrate that VdNRS/ER is a functional enzyme in the biosynthesis of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-rhamnose, and further analysis has revealed that VdNRS/ER deletion strains are impaired in the colonization of tomato roots. Collectively, our results demonstrate that rhamnose, although only a minor cell wall component, is essential for the pathogenicity of V. dahliae.}, } @article {pmid26995451, year = {2016}, author = {Ingrid, L and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A and Frédéric, L and Yolande, D and Joël, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal wheat inoculation promotes alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation: Microcosm experiment on aged-contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {213}, number = {}, pages = {549-560}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2016.02.056}, pmid = {26995451}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Alkanes/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/*methods ; France ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Triticum/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Very few studies reported the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to dissipate hydrocarbons in aged polluted soils. The present work aims to study the efficiency of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonized wheat plants in the dissipation of alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Our results demonstrated that the inoculation of wheat with Rhizophagus irregularis allowed a better dissipation of PAHs and alkanes after 16 weeks of culture by comparison to non-inoculated condition. These dissipations observed in the inoculated soil resulted from several processes: (i) a light adsorption on roots (0.5% for PAHs), (ii) a bioaccumulation in roots (5.7% for PAHs and 6.6% for alkanes), (iii) a transfer in shoots (0.4 for PAHs and 0.5% for alkanes) and mainly a biodegradation. Whereas PAHs and alkanes degradation rates were respectively estimated to 12 and 47% with non-inoculated wheat, their degradation rates reached 18 and 48% with inoculated wheat. The mycorrhizal inoculation induced an increase of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by 56 and 37% compared to the non-inoculated wheat. Moreover, an increase of peroxidase activity was assessed in mycorrhizal roots. Taken together, our findings suggested that mycorrhization led to a better hydrocarbon biodegradation in the aged-contaminated soil thanks to a stimulation of telluric bacteria and hydrocarbon metabolization in mycorrhizal roots.}, } @article {pmid26994997, year = {2016}, author = {Araya, T and von Wirén, N and Takahashi, H}, title = {CLE peptide signaling and nitrogen interactions in plant root development.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {91}, number = {6}, pages = {607-615}, pmid = {26994997}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Meristem/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Peptides/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {The CLAVATA signaling pathway is essential for the regulation of meristem activities in plants. This signaling pathway consists of small signaling peptides of the CLE family interacting with CLAVATA1 and leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs). The peptide-receptor relationships determine the specificities of CLE-dependent signals controlling stem cell fate and differentiation that are critical for the establishment and maintenance of shoot and root apical meristems. Plants root systems are highly organized into three-dimensional structures for successful anchoring and uptake of water and mineral nutrients from the soil environment. Recent studies have provided evidence that CLE peptides and CLAVATA signaling pathways play pivotal roles in the regulation of lateral root development and systemic autoregulation of nodulation (AON) integrated with nitrogen (N) signaling mechanisms. Integrations of CLE and N signaling pathways through shoot-root vascular connections suggest that N demand modulates morphological control mechanisms and optimize N uptake as well as symbiotic N fixation in roots.}, } @article {pmid26994935, year = {2016}, author = {Dupré, J and Guttinger, S}, title = {Viruses as living processes.}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {109-116}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsc.2016.02.010}, pmid = {26994935}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {Life ; Philosophy ; Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {The view that life is composed of distinct entities with well-defined boundaries has been undermined in recent years by the realisation of the near omnipresence of symbiosis. What had seemed to be intrinsically stable entities have turned out to be systems stabilised only by the interactions between a complex set of underlying processes (Dupré, 2012). This has not only presented severe problems for our traditional understanding of biological individuality but has also led some to claim that we need to switch to a process ontology to be able adequately to understand biological systems. A large group of biological entities, however, has been excluded from these discussions, namely viruses. Viruses are usually portrayed as stable and distinct individuals that do not fit the more integrated and collaborative picture of nature implied by symbiosis. In this paper we will contest this view. We will first discuss recent findings in virology that show that viruses can be 'nice' and collaborate with their hosts, meaning that they form part of integrated biological systems and processes. We further offer various reasons why viruses should be seen as processes rather than things, or substances. Based on these two claims we will argue that, far from serving as a counterexample to it, viruses actually enable a deeper understanding of the fundamentally interconnected and collaborative nature of nature. We conclude with some reflections on the debate as to whether viruses should be seen as living, and argue that there are good reasons for an affirmative answer to this question.}, } @article {pmid26994087, year = {2016}, author = {Platero, R and James, EK and Rios, C and Iriarte, A and Sandes, L and Zabaleta, M and Battistoni, F and Fabiano, E}, title = {Novel Cupriavidus Strains Isolated from Root Nodules of Native Uruguayan Mimosa Species.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {11}, pages = {3150-3164}, pmid = {26994087}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Cupriavidus/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Uruguay ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The large legume genus Mimosa is known to be associated with both alphaproteobacterial and betaproteobacterial symbionts, depending on environment and plant taxonomy, e.g., Brazilian species are preferentially nodulated by Burkholderia, whereas those in Mexico are associated with alphaproteobacterial symbionts. Little is known, however, about the symbiotic preferences of Mimosa spp. at the southern subtropical limits of the genus. In the present study, rhizobia were isolated from field-collected nodules from Mimosa species that are native to a region in southern Uruguay. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of the 16S rRNA, recA, and gyrB core genome and the nifH and nodA symbiosis-essential loci confirmed that all the isolates belonged to the genus Cupriavidus However, none were in the well-described symbiotic species C. taiwanensis, but instead they were closely related to other species, such as C. necator, and to species not previously known to be symbiotic (or diazotrophic), such as C. basilensis and C. pinatubonensis Selection of these novel Cupriavidus symbionts by Uruguayan Mimosa spp. is most likely due to their geographical separation from their Brazilian cousins and to the characteristics of the soils in which they were found.

IMPORTANCE: With the aim of exploring the diversity of rhizobia associated with native Mimosa species, symbionts were isolated from root nodules on five Mimosa species that are native to a region in southern Uruguay, Sierra del Abra de Zabaleta. In contrast to data obtained in the major centers of diversification of the genus Mimosa, Brazil and Mexico, where it is mainly associated with Burkholderia and Rhizobium/Ensifer, respectively, the present study has shown that all the isolated symbiotic bacteria belonged to the genus Cupriavidus Interestingly, none of nodules contained bacteria belonging to the well-described symbiotic species C. taiwanensis, but instead they were related to other Cupriavidus species such as C. necator and C. pinatubonensis These data suggest the existence of a higher diversity within beta-rhizobial Cupriavidus than was previously suspected, and that Mimosa spp. from Sierra del Abra de Zabaleta, may be natural reservoirs for novel rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid26994086, year = {2016}, author = {Boyd, BM and Allen, JM and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T and Sweet, AD and Johnson, KP and Reed, DL}, title = {Two Bacterial Genera, Sodalis and Rickettsia, Associated with the Seal Louse Proechinophthirus fluctus (Phthiraptera: Anoplura).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {11}, pages = {3185-3197}, pmid = {26994086}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Anoplura/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Fur Seals/parasitology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Rickettsia/*isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Roughly 10% to 15% of insect species host heritable symbiotic bacteria known as endosymbionts. The lice parasitizing mammals rely on endosymbionts to provide essential vitamins absent in their blood meals. Here, we describe two bacterial associates from a louse, Proechinophthirus fluctus, which is an obligate ectoparasite of a marine mammal. One of these is a heritable endosymbiont that is not closely related to endosymbionts of other mammalian lice. Rather, it is more closely related to endosymbionts of the genus Sodalis associated with spittlebugs and feather-chewing bird lice. Localization and vertical transmission of this endosymbiont are also more similar to those of bird lice than to those of other mammalian lice. The endosymbiont genome appears to be degrading in symbiosis; however, it is considerably larger than the genomes of other mammalian louse endosymbionts. These patterns suggest the possibility that this Sodalis endosymbiont might be recently acquired, replacing a now-extinct, ancient endosymbiont. From the same lice, we also identified an abundant bacterium belonging to the genus Rickettsia that is closely related to Rickettsia ricketsii, a human pathogen vectored by ticks. No obvious masses of the Rickettsia bacterium were observed in louse tissues, nor did we find any evidence of vertical transmission, so the nature of its association remains unclear.

IMPORTANCE: Many insects are host to heritable symbiotic bacteria. These heritable bacteria have been identified from numerous species of parasitic lice. It appears that novel symbioses have formed between lice and bacteria many times, with new bacterial symbionts potentially replacing existing ones. However, little was known about the symbionts of lice parasitizing marine mammals. Here, we identified a heritable bacterial symbiont in lice parasitizing northern fur seals. This bacterial symbiont appears to have been recently acquired by the lice. The findings reported here provide insights into how new symbioses form and how this lifestyle is shaping the symbiont genome.}, } @article {pmid26994081, year = {2016}, author = {Jiang, N and Liu, W and Li, Y and Wu, H and Zhang, Z and Alexandre, G and Elmerich, C and Xie, Z}, title = {A Chemotaxis Receptor Modulates Nodulation during the Azorhizobium caulinodans-Sesbania rostrata Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {11}, pages = {3174-3184}, pmid = {26994081}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*physiology ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Heme-Binding Proteins ; Hemeproteins/genetics/metabolism ; Locomotion ; Oxygen/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics/*metabolism ; Sesbania/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium which can induce nitrogen-fixing nodules both on the root and the stem of its legume host Sesbania rostrata This bacterium, which is an obligate aerobe that moves by means of a polar flagellum, possesses a single chemotaxis signal transduction pathway. The objective of this work was to examine the role that chemotaxis and aerotaxis play in the lifestyle of the bacterium in free-living and symbiotic conditions. In bacterial chemotaxis, chemoreceptors sense environmental changes and transmit this information to the chemotactic machinery to guide motile bacteria to preferred niches. Here, we characterized a chemoreceptor of A. caulinodans containing an N-terminal PAS domain, named IcpB. IcpB is a soluble heme-binding protein that localized at the cell poles. An icpB mutant strain was impaired in sensing oxygen gradients and in chemotaxis response to organic acids. Compared to the wild-type strain, the icpB mutant strain was also affected in the production of extracellular polysaccharides and impaired in flocculation. When inoculated alone, the icpB mutant induced nodules on S. rostrata, but the nodules formed were smaller and had reduced N2-fixing activity. The icpB mutant failed to nodulate its host when inoculated competitively with the wild-type strain. Together, the results identify chemotaxis and sensing of oxygen by IcpB as key regulators of the A. caulinodans-S. rostrata symbiosis.

IMPORTANCE: Bacterial chemotaxis has been implicated in the establishment of various plant-microbe associations, including that of rhizobial symbionts with their legume host. The exact signal(s) detected by the motile bacteria that guide them to their plant hosts remain poorly characterized. Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 is a diazotroph that is a motile and chemotactic rhizobial symbiont of Sesbania rostrata, where it forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on both the roots and the stems of the legume host. We identify here a chemotaxis receptor sensing oxygen in A. caulinodans that is critical for nodulation and nitrogen fixation on the stems and roots of S. rostrata These results identify oxygen sensing and chemotaxis as key regulators of the A. caulinodans-S. rostrata symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26992782, year = {2017}, author = {Wei, W and Gao, F and Du, MZ and Hua, HL and Wang, J and Guo, FB}, title = {Zisland Explorer: detect genomic islands by combining homogeneity and heterogeneity properties.}, journal = {Briefings in bioinformatics}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {357-366}, pmid = {26992782}, issn = {1477-4054}, mesh = {Genome, Archaeal ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomic Islands ; Genomics ; Software ; }, abstract = {Genomic islands are genomic fragments of alien origin in bacterial and archaeal genomes, usually involved in symbiosis or pathogenesis. In this work, we described Zisland Explorer, a novel tool to predict genomic islands based on the segmental cumulative GC profile. Zisland Explorer was designed with a novel strategy, as well as a combination of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of genomic sequences. While the sequence homogeneity reflects the composition consistence within each island, the heterogeneity measures the composition bias between an island and the core genome. The performance of Zisland Explorer was evaluated on the data sets of 11 different organisms. Our results suggested that the true-positive rate (TPR) of Zisland Explorer was at least 10.3% higher than that of four other widely used tools. On the other hand, the new tool did not lose overall accuracy with the improvement in the TPR and showed better equilibrium among various evaluation indexes. Also, Zisland Explorer showed better accuracy in the prediction of experimental island data. Overall, the tool provides an alternative solution over other tools, which expands the field of island prediction and offers a supplement to increase the performance of the distinct predicting strategy. We have provided a web service as well as a graphical user interface and open-source code across multiple platforms for Zisland Explorer, which is available at http://cefg.uestc.edu.cn/Zisland_Explorer/ or http://tubic.tju.edu.cn/Zisland_Explorer/.}, } @article {pmid26992507, year = {2016}, author = {da Costa, MP and Frasao, Bda S and Lima, BR and Rodrigues, BL and Conte Junior, CA}, title = {Simultaneous analysis of carbohydrates and organic acids by HPLC-DAD-RI for monitoring goat's milk yogurts fermentation.}, journal = {Talanta}, volume = {152}, number = {}, pages = {162-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.talanta.2016.01.061}, pmid = {26992507}, issn = {1873-3573}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbohydrates/*analysis ; Carboxylic Acids/*analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/*instrumentation ; Electrical Equipment and Supplies ; *Fermentation ; Goats ; Limit of Detection ; Milk/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Refractometry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Yogurt/analysis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {During yogurt manufacture, the lactose fermentation and organic acid production can be used to monitor the fermentation process by starter cultures and probiotic bacteria. In the present work, a simple, sensitive and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography with dual detectors, diode array detector and refractive index was validated by simultaneous analysis of carbohydrates and organic acids in goat milk yogurts. In addition, pH and bacterial analysis were performed. Separation of all the compounds was performed on an Aminex HPX-87H column (300×7.8 mm, 9 µm) utilizing a 3 mmol L(-1) sulfuric acid aqueous mobile phase under isocratic conditions. Lactose, glucose, galactose, citric, lactic and formic acids were used to evaluate the following performance parameters: selectivity, linearity, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), decision limits (CCα), detection capabilities (CCβ), recovery and robustness. For the method application a six goat milk yogurts were elaborated: natural, probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic, cupuassu fruit pulp, and probiotic with cupuassu fruit pulp. The validated method presented an excellent selectivity with no significant matrix effect, and a broad linear study range with coefficients of determination higher than 0.995. The relative standard deviation was lower than 10% under repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility conditions for the studied analytes. The LOD of the method was defined from 0.001 to 0.003 µg g(-1), and the LOQ from 0.003 to 0.013 µg g(-1). The CCα was ranged from 0.032 to 0.943 µg g(-1), and the CCβ from 0.053 to 1.604 µg g(-1). The obtained recovery values were from 78% to 119%. In addition, the method exhibited an appropriate robustness for all parameter evaluated. Base in our data, it was concluded that the performance parameters demonstrated total method adequacy for the detection and quantification of carbohydrates and organic acids in goat milk yogurts. The application of the method was successfully applied to monitoring different goat milk yogurts during fermentation.}, } @article {pmid26992401, year = {2016}, author = {Rojas, X and Guo, J and Leff, JW and McNear, DH and Fierer, N and McCulley, RL}, title = {Infection with a Shoot-Specific Fungal Endophyte (Epichloë) Alters Tall Fescue Soil Microbial Communities.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {197-206}, pmid = {26992401}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Archaea/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Chytridiomycota/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Endophytes/*classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Epichloe/*classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Festuca/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is a widespread grass that can form a symbiotic relationship with a shoot-specific fungal endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala). While the effects of fungal endophyte infection on fescue physiology and ecology have been relatively well studied, less attention has been given to how this relationship may impact the soil microbial community. We used high-throughput DNA sequencing and phospholipid fatty acid analysis to determine the structure and biomass of microbial communities in both bulk and rhizosphere soils from tall fescue stands that were either uninfected with E. coenophiala or were infected with the common toxic strain or one of several novel strains of the endophyte. We found that rhizosphere and bulk soils harbored distinct microbial communities. Endophyte presence, regardless of strain, significantly influenced soil fungal communities, but endophyte effects were less pronounced in prokaryotic communities. E. coenophiala presence did not change total fungal biomass but caused a shift in soil and rhizosphere fungal community composition, increasing the relative abundance of taxa within the Glomeromycota phylum and decreasing the relative abundance of genera in the Ascomycota phylum, including Lecanicillium, Volutella, Lipomyces, Pochonia, and Rhizoctonia. Our data suggests that tripartite interactions exist between the shoot endophyte E. coenophiala, tall fescue, and soil fungi that may have important implications for the functioning of soils, such as carbon storage, in fescue-dominated grasslands.}, } @article {pmid26992400, year = {2016}, author = {Carniel, FC and Gerdol, M and Montagner, A and Banchi, E and De Moro, G and Manfrin, C and Muggia, L and Pallavicini, A and Tretiach, M}, title = {New features of desiccation tolerance in the lichen photobiont Trebouxia gelatinosa are revealed by a transcriptomic approach.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {91}, number = {3}, pages = {319-339}, pmid = {26992400}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/genetics/*physiology ; Dehydration ; Desiccation ; Lichens/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcriptome/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Trebouxia is the most common lichen-forming genus of aero-terrestrial green algae and all its species are desiccation tolerant (DT). The molecular bases of this remarkable adaptation are, however, still largely unknown. We applied a transcriptomic approach to a common member of the genus, T. gelatinosa, to investigate the alteration of gene expression occurring after dehydration and subsequent rehydration in comparison to cells kept constantly hydrated. We sequenced, de novo assembled and annotated the transcriptome of axenically cultured T. gelatinosa by using Illumina sequencing technology. We tracked the expression profiles of over 13,000 protein-coding transcripts. During the dehydration/rehydration cycle c. 92 % of the total protein-coding transcripts displayed a stable expression, suggesting that the desiccation tolerance of T. gelatinosa mostly relies on constitutive mechanisms. Dehydration and rehydration affected mainly the gene expression for components of the photosynthetic apparatus, the ROS-scavenging system, Heat Shock Proteins, aquaporins, expansins, and desiccation related proteins (DRPs), which are highly diversified in T. gelatinosa, whereas Late Embryogenesis Abundant Proteins were not affected. Only some of these phenomena were previously observed in other DT green algae, bryophytes and resurrection plants, other traits being distinctive of T. gelatinosa, and perhaps related to its symbiotic lifestyle. Finally, the phylogenetic inference extended to DRPs of other chlorophytes, embryophytes and bacteria clearly pointed out that DRPs of chlorophytes are not orthologous to those of embryophytes: some of them were likely acquired through horizontal gene transfer from extremophile bacteria which live in symbiosis within the lichen thallus.}, } @article {pmid26992100, year = {2016}, author = {Koneru, SL and Salinas, H and Flores, GE and Hong, RL}, title = {The bacterial community of entomophilic nematodes and host beetles.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {10}, pages = {2312-2324}, pmid = {26992100}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {SC3 GM105579/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/*parasitology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Helminth/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Los Angeles ; *Microbiota ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Insects form the most species-rich lineage of Eukaryotes and each is a potential host for organisms from multiple phyla, including fungi, protozoa, mites, bacteria and nematodes. In particular, beetles are known to be associated with distinct bacterial communities and entomophilic nematodes. While entomopathogenic nematodes require symbiotic bacteria to kill and reproduce inside their insect hosts, the microbial ecology that facilitates other types of nematode-insect associations is largely unknown. To illuminate detailed patterns of the tritrophic beetle-nematode-bacteria relationship, we surveyed the nematode infestation profiles of scarab beetles in the greater Los Angeles area over a five-year period and found distinct nematode infestation patterns for certain beetle hosts. Over a single season, we characterized the bacterial communities of beetles and their associated nematodes using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. We found significant differences in bacterial community composition among the five prevalent beetle host species, independent of geographical origin. Anaerobes Synergistaceae and sulphate-reducing Desulfovibrionaceae were most abundant in Amblonoxia beetles, while Enterobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae were common in Cyclocephala beetles. Unlike entomopathogenic nematodes that carry bacterial symbionts, insect-associated nematodes do not alter the beetles' native bacterial communities, nor do their microbiomes differ according to nematode or beetle host species. The conservation of Diplogastrid nematodes associations with Melolonthinae beetles and sulphate-reducing bacteria suggests a possible link between beetle-bacterial communities and their associated nematodes. Our results establish a starting point towards understanding the dynamic interactions between soil macroinvertebrates and their microbiota in a highly accessible urban environment.}, } @article {pmid26991800, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, F and Li, Q and Chen, X and Huo, Y and Guo, H and Song, Z and Cui, F and Zhang, L and Fang, R}, title = {Roles of the Laodelphax striatellus Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule in Rice stripe virus infection of its insect vector.}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {413-421}, doi = {10.1111/imb.12226}, pmid = {26991800}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/metabolism ; Hemiptera/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Insect Vectors/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Nymph/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Oryza/*virology ; Plant Diseases/*virology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; Tenuivirus/*physiology ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {The arthropod Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) mediates pathogen-specific recognition via an extensive protein isoform repertoire produced by alternative splicing. To date, most studies have focused on the subsequent pathogen-specific immune response, and few have investigated the entry into cells of viruses or endosymbionts. In the present study, we cloned and characterized the cDNA of Laodelphax striatellus Dscam (LsDscam) and investigated the function of LsDscam in rice stripe virus (RSV) infection and the influence on the endosymbiont Wolbachia. LsDscam displayed a typical Dscam domain architecture, including 10 immunoglobulin (Ig) domains, six fibronectin type III domains, one transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail. Alternative splicing occurred at the N-termini of the Ig2 and Ig3 domains, the complete Ig7 domain, the transmembrane domain and the C-terminus, comprising 10, 51, 35, two and two variable exons, respectively. Potentially LsDscam could encode at least 71 400 unique isoforms and 17 850 types of extracellular regions. LsDscam was expressed in various L. striatellus tissues. Knockdown of LsDscam mRNA via RNA interference decreased the titres of both RSV and Wolbachia, but did not change the numbers of the extracellular symbiotic bacterium Acinetobacter rhizosphaerae. Specific Dscam isoforms may play roles in enhancing the infection of vector-borne viruses or endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid26991322, year = {2016}, author = {Becker, M and Becker, Y and Green, K and Scott, B}, title = {The endophytic symbiont Epichloë festucae establishes an epiphyllous net on the surface of Lolium perenne leaves by development of an expressorium, an appressorium-like leaf exit structure.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {1}, pages = {240-254}, pmid = {26991322}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endophytes/growth & development ; Epichloe/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mutation ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae forms a mutualistic symbiotic association with Lolium perenne. This biotrophic fungus systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of aerial tissues to form an endophytic hyphal network. E. festucae also grows as an epiphyte, but the mechanism for leaf surface colonization is not known. Here we identify an appressorium-like structure, which we call an expressorium that allows endophytic hyphae to penetrate the cuticle from the inside of the leaf to establish an epiphytic hyphal net on the surface of the leaf. We used a combination of scanning electron, transmission electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy to characterize this novel fungal structure and determine the composition of the hyphal cell wall using aniline blue and wheat germ agglutinin labelled with Alexafluor-488. Expressoria differentiate immediately below the cuticle in the leaf blade and leaf sheath intercalary cell division zones where the hyphae grow by tip growth. Differentiation of this structure requires components of both the NoxA and NoxB NADPH oxidase complexes. Major remodelling of the hyphal cell wall occurs following exit from the leaf. These results establish that the symbiotic association of E. festucae with L. perenne involves an interconnected hyphal network of both endophytic and epiphytic hyphae.}, } @article {pmid26991294, year = {2016}, author = {Borges, WL and Prin, Y and Ducousso, M and Le Roux, C and de Faria, SM}, title = {Rhizobial characterization in revegetated areas after bauxite mining.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {314-321}, pmid = {26991294}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Aluminum Oxide/analysis ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Mining ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Little is known regarding how the increased diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria contributes to the productivity and diversity of plants in complex communities. However, some authors have shown that the presence of a diverse group of nodulating bacteria is required for different plant species to coexist. A better understanding of the plant symbiotic organism diversity role in natural ecosystems can be extremely useful to define recovery strategies of environments that were degraded by human activities. This study used ARDRA, BOX-PCR fingerprinting and sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene to assess the diversity of root nodule nitrogen-fixing bacteria in former bauxite mining areas that were replanted in 1981, 1985, 1993, 1998, 2004 and 2006 and in a native forest. Among the 12 isolates for which the 16S rDNA gene was partially sequenced, eight, three and one isolate(s) presented similarity with sequences of the genera Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium, respectively. The richness, Shannon and evenness indices were the highest in the area that was replanted the earliest (1981) and the lowest in the area that was replanted most recently (2006).}, } @article {pmid26989743, year = {2015}, author = {Malek-Jafarian, M and Hosseini, FS and Ahmadi, AR}, title = {Pattern of infection and antibiotic activity among Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from adults in Mashhad, Iran.}, journal = {Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {89-93}, pmid = {26989743}, issn = {2322-3480}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: One of the main causes of sexually transmitted diseases is group B β- hemolytic streptococci (GBS) multiplying in the genital tracts. Penicillin is the most common drug for the treatment of infections caused by these bacteria, but in patients suffering from Penicillin allergy, Erythromycin and Clindamycin are used as alternative therapeutic drugs against GBS. Recently, resistance to these drugs has been reported more often. In this study, efforts have been made to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of GBS.

METHODS: Modified Christie Atkins Munch-Petersen (CAMP) test was conducted on over 2400 samples of urine and discharge taken from vagina, urethra and prostate. The drug sensitivity was performed by double disk sensitivity tests to Bacitracin, Trimethoprim, and Sulfamethoxazole and then the resistant samples were investigated by E-test to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) value.

RESULTS: Twenty-three vaginal and 10 urethral discharge, 27urine and 6 prostatic secretion samples were GBS positive. The most symbiotic microorganisms with GBS were strains of Enterococci (90%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (25%) and Candida albicans (6%). The disk diffusion method showed 18 cases with Penicillin resistance (MIC: 1.5 mg/ml).

CONCLUSION: Taken together, GBS carriers' rate in this study was found 20.65% (8.24% men and 12.4% women). Furthermore, findings showed high-level resistance to Erythromycin and Clindamycin.}, } @article {pmid26989623, year = {2016}, author = {Parmentier, E and Lanterbecq, D and Eeckhaut, I}, title = {From commensalism to parasitism in Carapidae (Ophidiiformes): heterochronic modes of development?.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1786}, pmid = {26989623}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Phenotypic variations allow a lineage to move into new regions of the adaptive landscape. The purpose of this study is to analyse the life history of the pearlfishes (Carapinae) in a phylogenetic framework and particularly to highlight the evolution of parasite and commensal ways of life. Furthermore, we investigate the skull anatomy of parasites and commensals and discuss the developmental process that would explain the passage from one form to the other. The genus Carapus forms a paraphyletic grouping in contrast to the genus Encheliophis, which forms a monophyletic cluster. The combination of phylogenetic, morphologic and ontogenetic data clearly indicates that parasitic species derive from commensal species and do not constitute an iterative evolution from free-living forms. Although the head morphology of Carapus species differs completely from Encheliophis, C. homei is the sister group of the parasites. Interestingly, morphological characteristics allowing the establishment of the relation between Carapus homei and Encheliophis spp. concern the sound-producing mechanism, which can explain the diversification of the taxon but not the acquisition of the parasite morphotype. Carapus homei already has the sound-producing mechanism typically found in the parasite form but still has a commensal way of life and the corresponding head structure. Moreover, comparisons between the larval and adult Carapini highlight that the adult morphotype "Encheliophis" is obtained by going beyond the adult stage reached by Carapus. The entrance into the new adaptive landscape could have been realised by at least two processes: paedomorphosis and allometric repatterning.}, } @article {pmid26988056, year = {2016}, author = {Ghazal, S and Oshone, R and Simpson, S and Morris, K and Abebe-Akele, F and Thomas, WK and Khalil, KM and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii HP88, an Entomopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from Nematodes.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {26988056}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii HP88 is an entomopathogenic bacterium that forms a symbiotic association with Heterorhabditis nematodes. We report here a 5.27-Mbp draft genome sequence for P. luminescens subsp. laumondii HP88, with a G+C content of 42.4% and containing 4,243 candidate protein-coding genes.}, } @article {pmid26988045, year = {2016}, author = {Servín-Garcidueñas, LE and Rogel, MA and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Zayas-Del Moral, A and Sánchez, F and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain CCGE-LA001, Isolated from Field Nodules of the Enigmatic Wild Bean Phaseolus microcarpus.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {26988045}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We present the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CCGE-LA001, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from nodules of Phaseolus microcarpus. Strain CCGE-LA001 represents the first sequenced bradyrhizobial strain obtained from a wild Phaseolus sp. Its genome revealed a large and novel symbiotic island.}, } @article {pmid26987814, year = {2016}, author = {Malkov, N and Fliegmann, J and Rosenberg, C and Gasciolli, V and Timmers, AC and Nurisso, A and Cullimore, J and Bono, JJ}, title = {Molecular basis of lipo-chitooligosaccharide recognition by the lysin motif receptor-like kinase LYR3 in legumes.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {473}, number = {10}, pages = {1369-1378}, doi = {10.1042/BCJ20160073}, pmid = {26987814}, issn = {1470-8728}, mesh = {Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitosan ; Lupinus/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {LYR3 [LysM (lysin motif) receptor-like kinase 3] of Medicago truncatula is a high-affinity binding protein for symbiotic LCO (lipo-chitooligosaccharide) signals, produced by rhizobia bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The present study shows that LYR3 from several other legumes, but not from two Lupinus species which are incapable of forming the mycorrhizal symbiosis, bind LCOs with high affinity and discriminate them from COs (chitooligosaccharides). The biodiversity of these proteins and the lack of binding to the Lupinus proteins were used to identify features required for high-affinity LCO binding. Swapping experiments between each of the three LysMs of the extracellular domain of the M. truncatula and Lupinus angustifolius LYR3 proteins revealed the crucial role of the third LysM in LCO binding. Site-directed mutagenesis identified a tyrosine residue, highly conserved in all LYR3 LCO-binding proteins, which is essential for high-affinity binding. Molecular modelling suggests that it may be part of a hydrophobic tunnel able to accommodate the LCO acyl chain. The lack of conservation of these features in the binding site of plant LysM proteins binding COs provides a mechanistic explanation of how LCO recognition might differ from CO perception by structurally related LysM receptors.}, } @article {pmid26987091, year = {2016}, author = {Yuasa, T and Horiguchi, T and Mayama, S and Takahashi, O}, title = {Gymnoxanthella radiolariae gen. et sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), a dinoflagellate symbiont from solitary polycystine radiolarians.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {89-104}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12371}, pmid = {26987091}, issn = {1529-8817}, mesh = {DNA, Ribosomal ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Japan ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oceans and Seas ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizaria/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic dinoflagellate Gymnoxanthella radiolariae T. Yuasa et T. Horiguchi gen. et sp. nov. isolated from polycystine radiolarians is described herein based on light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses of SSU and LSU rDNA sequences. Motile cells of G. radiolariae were obtained in culture, and appeared to be unarmored. The cells were 9.1-11.4 μm long and 5.7-9.4 μm wide, and oval to elongate oval in the ventral view. They possessed an counterclockwise horseshoe-shaped apical groove, a nuclear envelope with vesicular chambers, cingulum displacement with one cingulum width, and the nuclear fibrous connective; all of these are characteristics of Gymnodinium sensu stricto (Gymnodinium s.s.). Molecular phylogenetic analyses also indicated that G. radiolariae belongs to the clade of Gymnodinium s.s. However, in our molecular phylogenetic trees, G. radiolariae was distantly related to Gymnodinium fuscum, the type species of Gymnodinium. Based on the consistent morphological, genetic, and ecological divergence of our species with the other genera and species of Gymnodinium s.s., we considered it justified to erect a new, separate genus and species G. radiolariae gen. et sp. nov. As for the peridinioid symbiont of radiolarians, Brandtodinium has been erected as a new genus instead of Zooxanthella, but the name Zooxanthella is still valid. Brandtodinium is a junior synonym of Zooxanthella. Our results suggest that at least two dinoflagellate symbiont species, peridinioid Zooxanthella nutricula and gymnodinioid G. radiolariae, exist in radiolarians, and that they may have been mixed and reported as "Z. nutricula" since the 19th century.}, } @article {pmid26987007, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, LH and Chen, HK and Jhu, CS and Cheng, JO and Fang, LS and Chen, CS}, title = {Different strategies of energy storage in cultured and freshly isolated Symbiodinium sp.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {51}, number = {6}, pages = {1127-1136}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12349}, pmid = {26987007}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and Symbiodinium is critical for the survival of coral reefs. In this study, we developed a protocol to rapidly and freshly separate Symbiodinium from corals and sea anemones. Furthermore, we compared these freshly-isolated Symbiodinium with cultured Symbiodinium to investigate host and Symbiodinium interaction. Clade B Symbiodinium had higher starch content and lower lipid content than those of clades C and D in both freshly isolated and cultured forms. Clade C had the highest lipid content, particularly when associated with corals. Moreover, the coral-associated Symbiodinium had higher protein content than did cultured and sea anemone-associated Symbiodinium. Regarding fatty acid composition, cultured Symbiodinium and clades B, C, and D shared similar patterns, whereas sea anemone-associated Symbiodinium had a distinct pattern compared coral-associated Symbiodinium. Specifically, the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids were lower than those of the saturated fatty acids, and the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were the highest in all examined Symbiodinium. Furthermore, PUFAs levels were higher in coral-associated Symbiodinium than in cultured Symbiodinium. These results altogether indicated that different Symbiodinium clades used different energy storage strategies, which might be modified by hosts.}, } @article {pmid26986882, year = {2015}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Coffroth, MA and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {New species of Clade B Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) from the greater Caribbean belong to different functional guilds: S. aenigmaticum sp. nov., S. antillogorgium sp. nov., S. endomadracis sp. nov., and S. pseudominutum sp. nov.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {51}, number = {5}, pages = {850-858}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12340}, pmid = {26986882}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Molecular approaches have begun to supersede traditional morphometrics in the species delineation of micro-eukaryotes. In addition to fixed differences in DNA sequences, recent genetics-based descriptions within the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium have incorporated confirmatory morphological, physiological, and ecological evidence when possible. However, morphological and physiological data are difficult to collect from species that have not been cultured, while the natural ecologies of many cultured species remain unknown. Here, we rely on genetic evidence-the only data consistently available among all taxa investigated-to describe four new Clade B Symbiodinium species. The 'host-specialized' species (S. antillogorgium sp. nov. and S. endomadracis sp. nov.) engage in mutualisms with specific cnidarian hosts, but exhibit differences in our ability to culture them in vitro. The ecologically 'cryptic' species (S. aenigmaticum sp. nov. and S. pseudominutum sp. nov.) thrive in culture, but their roles or functions in the ecosystem (i.e., niches) are yet to be documented. These new species call further attention to the spectrum of ecological guilds among Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid26986787, year = {2015}, author = {Qiu, H and Price, DC and Yang, EC and Yoon, HS and Bhattacharya, D}, title = {Evidence of ancient genome reduction in red algae (Rhodophyta).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {51}, number = {4}, pages = {624-636}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12294}, pmid = {26986787}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Red algae (Rhodophyta) comprise a monophyletic eukaryotic lineage of ~6,500 species with a fossil record that extends back 1.2 billion years. A surprising aspect of red algal evolution is that sequenced genomes encode a relatively limited gene inventory (~5-10 thousand genes) when compared with other free-living algae or to other eukaryotes. This suggests that the common ancestor of red algae may have undergone extensive genome reduction, which can result from lineage specialization to a symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle or adaptation to an extreme or oligotrophic environment. We gathered genome and transcriptome data from a total of 14 red algal genera that represent the major branches of this phylum to study genome evolution in Rhodophyta. Analysis of orthologous gene gains and losses identifies two putative major phases of genome reduction: (i) in the stem lineage leading to all red algae resulting in the loss of major functions such as flagellae and basal bodies, the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis pathway, and the autophagy regulation pathway; and (ii) in the common ancestor of the extremophilic Cyanidiophytina. Red algal genomes are also characterized by the recruitment of hundreds of bacterial genes through horizontal gene transfer that have taken on multiple functions in shared pathways and have replaced eukaryotic gene homologs. Our results suggest that Rhodophyta may trace their origin to a gene depauperate ancestor. Unlike plants, it appears that a limited gene inventory is sufficient to support the diversification of a major eukaryote lineage that possesses sophisticated multicellular reproductive structures and an elaborate triphasic sexual cycle.}, } @article {pmid26986666, year = {2015}, author = {Škaloud, P and Steinová, J and Řídká, T and Vančurová, L and Peksa, O}, title = {Assembling the challenging puzzle of algal biodiversity: species delimitation within the genus Asterochloris (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {507-527}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12295}, pmid = {26986666}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {The genus Asterochloris represents one of the most common, widespread, and diverse taxa of lichen photobionts. In this report, we describe and characterize six new species (A. echinata, A. friedlii, A. gaertneri, A. leprarii, A. lobophora, and A. woessiae) that were identified during our recent investigation of photobiont diversity. We found that the species differed genetically, morphologically, ecologically, and with respect to their mycobiont partners. Statistical analyses revealed significant morphological differentiation of all six newly described species, as well as their separation from previously described Asterochloris species. Chloroplast morphology represented the best morphological marker for species delineation. In fact, each species can be recognized by the dominance and unique assemblage of particular chloroplast types. Although genetically well recognized by rapidly evolving internal transcribed spacer rDNA and actin intron markers, all 13 investigated Asterochloris species shared identical small subunit rDNA sequences. We therefore demonstrated that morphologically and ecologically diverse species can frequently be grouped into a single taxonomic unit in whole-transcriptome sequencing studies, considerably affecting the resulting estimates of species diversity. Finally, we demonstrated the presence of isogamous sexual reproduction in Asterochloris, disputing the current symbiotic dogma of the loss of sexual reproduction in algal symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26985663, year = {2016}, author = {Husseneder, C and Donaldson, JR and Foil, LD}, title = {Genetically Engineered Yeast Expressing a Lytic Peptide from Bee Venom (Melittin) Kills Symbiotic Protozoa in the Gut of Formosan Subterranean Termites.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0151675}, pmid = {26985663}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Antiprotozoal Agents/administration & dosage ; Bee Venoms/administration & dosage/*genetics ; Biological Assay ; Genetic Engineering ; Isoptera/*drug effects/*parasitology ; Melitten/administration & dosage/*genetics ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is a costly invasive urban pest in warm and humid regions around the world. Feeding workers of the Formosan subterranean termite genetically engineered yeast strains that express synthetic protozoacidal lytic peptides has been shown to kill the cellulose digesting termite gut protozoa, which results in death of the termite colony. In this study, we tested if Melittin, a natural lytic peptide from bee venom, could be delivered into the termite gut via genetically engineered yeast and if the expressed Melittin killed termites via lysis of symbiotic protozoa in the gut of termite workers and/or destruction of the gut tissue itself. Melittin expressing yeast did kill protozoa in the termite gut within 56 days of exposure. The expressed Melittin weakened the gut but did not add a synergistic effect to the protozoacidal action by gut necrosis. While Melittin could be applied for termite control via killing the cellulose-digesting protozoa in the termite gut, it is unlikely to be useful as a standalone product to control insects that do not rely on symbiotic protozoa for survival.}, } @article {pmid26985012, year = {2016}, author = {Bainbridge, ML and Cersosimo, LM and Wright, AD and Kraft, J}, title = {Rumen bacterial communities shift across a lactation in Holstein, Jersey and Holstein × Jersey dairy cows and correlate to rumen function, bacterial fatty acid composition and production parameters.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {5}, pages = {fiw059}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw059}, pmid = {26985012}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/*classification/isolation & purification ; Cattle/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Cell Membrane/chemistry ; Crosses, Genetic ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*analysis ; Female ; Lactation ; Milk/chemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rumen/chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rumen bacteria form a dynamic, complex, symbiotic relationship with their host, degrading forages to provide volatile fatty acids (VFA) and other substrates as energy to the animal. The objectives were to characterize rumen bacteria in three genetic lines of primiparous dairy cattle, Holstein (HO, n = 7), Jersey (JE, n = 8), and HO × JE crossbreeds (CB, n = 7) across a lactation [3, 93, 183 and 273 days in milk (DIM)] and correlate these factors with VFA, bacterial cell membrane fatty acids (FA), and animal production (i.e. milk yield). This study employed Illumina MiSeq (v. 3) to investigate rumen bacterial communities and gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy to identify bacterial membrane FA. Lactation stage had a prominent effect on rumen bacterial communities, whereas genetics had a lesser effect on rumen bacteria. The FA composition of bacterial cell membranes was affected by both lactation stage and genetics. Few correlations existed between VFA and bacterial communities; however, moderate correlations occurred between milk yield, protein percentage, fat yield and rumen bacterial communities. Positive correlations were found between branched-chain FA (BCFA) in bacterial cell membranes and bacterial genera. In conclusion, bacterial communities and their FA compositions are more affected by stage of lactation than by genetics of dairy cow.}, } @article {pmid26984810, year = {2016}, author = {Rafter, M and Yokoya, K and Schofield, EJ and Zettler, LW and Sarasan, V}, title = {Non-specific symbiotic germination of Cynorkis purpurea (Thouars) Kraezl., a habitat-specific terrestrial orchid from the Central Highlands of Madagascar.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {541-552}, pmid = {26984810}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Germination/*physiology ; Madagascar ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Orchids, particularly terrestrial taxa, rely mostly on basidiomycete fungi in the Cantharellales and Sebacinales that trigger the process of seed germination and/or initiate the full development of the seedling. During the course of development, orchids may associate with the same fungus, or they may enlist other types of fungi for their developmental needs leading to resilience in a natural setting. This study examined in vitro seed germination and seedling developmental behavior of Cynorkis purpurea, a terrestrial orchid from the Central Highlands of Madagascar. This species is mostly restricted to gallery forests in the Itremo Massif, in moist substrate between rocks bordering streams. The main objective was to understand the influence of diverse mycorrhizal fungi on seed germination and further development of C. purpurea. The study aims to compare symbiotic versus asymbiotic germination and seedling development with seeds and fungi collected from a 13-km(2) area in the Itremo region. Seeds collected from the wild were sown with diverse orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) spanning 12 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in three genera (Tulasnella, Ceratobasidium, and Sebacina) acquired from different habitats. Treatments were assessed in terms of the percentage of germinated seeds and fully developed seedlings against those in asymbiotic control media treatments. Overall, OMF significantly improved seedling development within the 12-week experiment period. Sebacina as a genus was the most effective at promoting seedling development of C. purpurea, as well as having the ability to enter into successful symbiotic relationships with orchids of different life forms; this new knowledge may be especially useful for orchid conservation practiced in tropical areas like Madagascar. A Sebacina isolate from an epiphytic seedling of Polystachya concreta was the most effective at inducing rapid seedling development and was among the five that outperformed fungi isolated from roots of C. purpurea. C. purpurea was found to be a mycorrhizal generalist, despite its specific habitat preference, highlighting the complex interaction between the plant, fungi, and the environment. The potential impact on conservation strategies of understanding the requirements for orchid seed germination and development by identifying and using OMF from diverse sources is discussed in detail.}, } @article {pmid26984507, year = {2016}, author = {Floss, DS and Lévesque-Tremblay, V and Park, HJ and Harrison, MJ}, title = {DELLA proteins regulate expression of a subset of AM symbiosis-induced genes in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e1162369}, pmid = {26984507}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The majority of the vascular flowering plants form symbiotic associations with fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota through which both partners gain access to nutrients, either mineral nutrients in the case of the plant, or carbon, in the case of the fungus. (1) The association develops in the roots and requires substantial remodeling of the root cortical cells where branched fungal hyphae, called arbuscules, are housed in a new membrane-bound apoplastic compartment. (2) Nutrient exchange between the symbionts occurs over this interface and its development and maintenance is critical for symbiosis. Previously, we showed that DELLA proteins, which are well known as repressors of gibberellic acid signaling, also regulate development of AM symbiosis and are necessary to enable arbuscule development. (3) Furthermore, constitutive overexpression of a dominant DELLA protein (della1-Δ18) is sufficient to induce transcripts of several AM symbiosis-induced genes, even in the absence of the fungal symbiont. (4) Here we further extend this approach and identify AM symbiosis genes that respond transcriptionally to constitutive expression of a dominant DELLA protein and also genes that do respond to this treatment. Additionally, we demonstrate that DELLAs interact with REQUIRED FOR ARBUSCULE DEVELOPMENT 1 (RAD1) which further extends our knowledge of GRAS factor complexes that have the potential to regulate gene expression during AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26982442, year = {2016}, author = {Ivens, AB and von Beeren, C and Blüthgen, N and Kronauer, DJ}, title = {Studying the Complex Communities of Ants and Their Symbionts Using Ecological Network Analysis.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {61}, number = {}, pages = {353-371}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023719}, pmid = {26982442}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/microbiology/parasitology/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ant colonies provide well-protected and resource-rich environments for a plethora of symbionts. Historically, most studies of ants and their symbionts have had a narrow taxonomic scope, often focusing on a single ant or symbiont species. Here we discuss the prospects of studying these assemblies in a community ecology context using the framework of ecological network analysis. We introduce three basic network metrics that we consider particularly relevant for improving our knowledge of ant-symbiont communities: interaction specificity, network modularity, and phylogenetic signal. We then discuss army ant symbionts as examples of large and primarily parasitic communities, and symbiotic sternorrhynchans as examples of generally smaller and primarily mutualistic communities in the context of these network analyses. We argue that this approach will provide new and complementary insights into the evolutionary and ecological dynamics between ants and their many associates, and will facilitate comparisons across different ant-symbiont assemblages as well as across different types of ecological networks.}, } @article {pmid26980834, year = {2016}, author = {Kostygov, AY and Dobáková, E and Grybchuk-Ieremenko, A and Váhala, D and Maslov, DA and Votýpka, J and Lukeš, J and Yurchenko, V}, title = {Novel Trypanosomatid-Bacterium Association: Evolution of Endosymbiosis in Action.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e01985}, pmid = {26980834}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/classification/cytology/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Ecuador ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/classification/cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: We describe a novel symbiotic association between a kinetoplastid protist, Novymonas esmeraldas gen. nov., sp. nov., and an intracytoplasmic bacterium, "Candidatus Pandoraea novymonadis" sp. nov., discovered as a result of a broad-scale survey of insect trypanosomatid biodiversity in Ecuador. We characterize this association by describing the morphology of both organisms, as well as their interactions, and by establishing their phylogenetic affinities. Importantly, neither partner is closely related to other known organisms previously implicated in eukaryote-bacterial symbiosis. This symbiotic association seems to be relatively recent, as the host does not exert a stringent control over the number of bacteria harbored in its cytoplasm. We argue that this unique relationship may represent a suitable model for studying the initial stages of establishment of endosymbiosis between a single-cellular eukaryote and a prokaryote. Based on phylogenetic analyses, Novymonas could be considered a proxy for the insect-only ancestor of the dixenous genus Leishmania and shed light on the origin of the two-host life cycle within the subfamily Leishmaniinae.

IMPORTANCE: The parasitic trypanosomatid protist Novymonas esmeraldas gen. nov., sp. nov. entered into endosymbiosis with the bacterium "Ca. Pandoraea novymonadis" sp. nov. This novel and rather unstable interaction shows several signs of relatively recent establishment, qualifying it as a potentially unique transient stage in the increasingly complex range of eukaryotic-prokaryotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid26979567, year = {2016}, author = {Jia, N and Ding, MZ and Du, J and Pan, CH and Tian, G and Lang, JD and Fang, JH and Gao, F and Yuan, YJ}, title = {Insights into mutualism mechanism and versatile metabolism of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare Hbe602 based on comparative genomics and metabolomics studies.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {23068}, pmid = {26979567}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {R03 AA020101/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Citric Acid Cycle/genetics ; Fructose/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics/*methods ; Glucose/metabolism ; Mannitol/metabolism ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Rhodobacteraceae/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Sorbitol/metabolism ; Sorbose/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ketogulonicigenium vulgare has been widely used in vitamin C two steps fermentation and requires companion strain for optimal growth. However, the understanding of K. vulgare as well as its companion strain is still preliminary. Here, the complete genome of K. vulgare Hbe602 was deciphered to provide insight into the symbiosis mechanism and the versatile metabolism. K. vulgare contains the LuxR family proteins, chemokine proteins, flagellar structure proteins, peptides and transporters for symbiosis consortium. Besides, the growth state and metabolite variation of K. vulgare were observed when five carbohydrates (D-sorbitol, L-sorbose, D-glucose, D-fructose and D-mannitol) were used as carbon source. The growth increased by 40.72% and 62.97% respectively when K. vulgare was cultured on D-mannitol/D-sorbitol than on L-sorbose. The insufficient metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and vitamins is the main reason for the slow growth of K. vulgare. The combined analysis of genomics and metabolomics indicated that TCA cycle, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism were significantly up-regulated when K. vulgare was cultured on the D-mannitol/D-sorbitol, which facilitated the better growth. The present study would be helpful to further understand its metabolic structure and guide the engineering transformation.}, } @article {pmid26979434, year = {2016}, author = {Nakashima, K and Tanabe, H and Fujii-Kuriyama, Y and Hayashi, H and Inoue, M}, title = {Atranorin and lecanoric acid antagonize TCDD-induced xenobiotic response element-driven activity, but not xenobiotic response element-independent activity.}, journal = {Journal of natural medicines}, volume = {70}, number = {3}, pages = {476-482}, pmid = {26979434}, issn = {1861-0293}, mesh = {Animals ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hydroxybenzoates/*pharmacology ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; Salicylates/*pharmacology ; Transfection ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that consist of fungi and photosynthetic symbionts (algae and/or cyanobacteria). Previous studies of their constituents suggested lichens produce many kinds of aromatic secondary metabolites, such as depsides, quinones, and dibenzofurans. In this study, we evaluated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) antagonistic activity of 17 lichen substances and demonstrated that atranorin (1) and lecanoric acid (2), isolated from Parmotrema tinctorum Hale, showed an inhibitory effect on luciferase activity increased by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), using an XRE-driven pX4TK-Luc reporter gene assay. In addition, CYP1A1 mRNA and protein levels increased by TCDD were also suppressed by 1 and 2. Conversely, neither 1 nor 2 antagonized the suppressive effect of TCDD on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced acute-phase response (APR) gene expression. Thus, we concluded that 1 and 2 were selective AhR modulators that antagonize XRE-dependent activity, but not XRE-independent activity. However, 1 has different characteristics to 2 in that 1 alone showed a suppressive effect on IL-1β-induced APR gene expression in a similar fashion to TCDD.}, } @article {pmid26979330, year = {2016}, author = {Kobae, Y and Ohmori, Y and Saito, C and Yano, K and Ohtomo, R and Fujiwara, T}, title = {Phosphate Treatment Strongly Inhibits New Arbuscule Development But Not the Maintenance of Arbuscule in Mycorrhizal Rice Roots.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {1}, pages = {566-579}, pmid = {26979330}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*growth & development ; Oryza/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Phosphorus/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a crucial nutrient for plant growth, but its availability to roots is limited in soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a promising strategy for improving plant P acquisition. However, P fertilizer reduces fungal colonization (P inhibition) and compromises mycorrhizal P uptake, warranting studies on the mechanistic basis of P inhibition. In this study, early morphological changes in P inhibition were identified in rice (Oryza sativa) using fungal cell wall staining and live-cell imaging of plant membranes that were associated with arbuscule life cycles. Arbuscule density decreased, and aberrant hyphal branching was observed in roots at 5 h after P treatment. Although new arbuscule development was severely inhibited, preformed arbuscules remained intact and longevity remained constant. P inhibition was accelerated in the rice pt11-1 mutant, which lacks P uptake from arbuscule branches, suggesting that mature arbuscules are stabilized by the symbiotic P transporter under high P condition. Moreover, P treatment led to increases in the number of vesicles, in which lipid droplets accumulated and then decreased within a few days. The development of new arbuscules resumed within by 2 d. Our data established that P strongly and temporarily inhibits new arbuscule development, but not intraradical accommodation of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid26978165, year = {2016}, author = {Pinto-Carbó, M and Sieber, S and Dessein, S and Wicker, T and Verstraete, B and Gademann, K and Eberl, L and Carlier, A}, title = {Evidence of horizontal gene transfer between obligate leaf nodule symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {2092-2105}, pmid = {26978165}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Burkholderia establish an obligate symbiosis with plant species of the Rubiaceae and Primulaceae families. The bacteria, housed within the leaves, are transmitted hereditarily and have not yet been cultured. We have sequenced and compared the genomes of eight bacterial leaf nodule symbionts of the Rubiaceae plant family. All of the genomes exhibit features consistent with genome erosion. Genes potentially involved in the biosynthesis of kirkamide, an insecticidal C7N aminocyclitol, are conserved in most Rubiaceae symbionts. However, some have partially lost the kirkamide pathway due to genome erosion and are unable to synthesize the compound. Kirkamide synthesis is therefore not responsible for the obligate nature of the symbiosis. More importantly, we find evidence of intra-clade horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events affecting genes of the secondary metabolism. This indicates that substantial gene flow can occur at the early stages following host restriction in leaf nodule symbioses. We propose that host-switching events and plasmid conjugative transfers could have promoted these HGTs. This genomic analysis of leaf nodule symbionts gives, for the first time, new insights in the genome evolution of obligate symbionts in their early stages of the association with plants.}, } @article {pmid26977191, year = {2016}, author = {Beemelmanns, C and Guo, H and Rischer, M and Poulsen, M}, title = {Natural products from microbes associated with insects.}, journal = {Beilstein journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {314-327}, pmid = {26977191}, issn = {1860-5397}, abstract = {Here we review discoveries of secondary metabolites from microbes associated with insects. We mainly focus on natural products, where the ecological role has been at least partially elucidated, and/or the pharmaceutical properties evaluated, and on compounds with unique structural features. We demonstrate that the exploration of specific microbial-host interactions, in combination with multidisciplinary dereplication processes, has emerged as a successful strategy to identify novel chemical entities and to shed light on the ecology and evolution of defensive associations.}, } @article {pmid26977108, year = {2016}, author = {Brooks, JF and Mandel, MJ}, title = {The Histidine Kinase BinK Is a Negative Regulator of Biofilm Formation and Squid Colonization.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {198}, number = {19}, pages = {2596-2607}, pmid = {26977108}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R25 GM079300/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM086262/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; IOS-1456963//National Science Foundation/International ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*enzymology/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Histidine Kinase/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Bacterial colonization of animal epithelial tissue is a dynamic process that relies on precise molecular communication. Colonization of Euprymna scolopes bobtail squid by Vibrio fischeri bacteria requires bacterial aggregation in host mucus as the symbiont transitions from a planktonic lifestyle in seawater to a biofilm-associated state in the host. We have identified a gene, binK (biofilm inhibitor kinase; VF_A0360), which encodes an orphan hybrid histidine kinase that negatively regulates the V. fischeri symbiotic biofilm (Syp) in vivo and in vitro We identified binK mutants as exhibiting a colonization advantage in a global genetic screen, a phenotype that we confirmed in controlled competition experiments. Bacterial biofilm aggregates in the host are larger in strains lacking BinK, whereas overexpression of BinK suppresses biofilm formation and squid colonization. Signaling through BinK is required for temperature modulation of biofilm formation at 28°C. Furthermore, we present evidence that BinK acts upstream of SypG, the σ(54)-dependent transcriptional regulator of the syp biofilm locus. The BinK effects are dependent on intact signaling in the RscS-Syp biofilm pathway. Therefore, we propose that BinK antagonizes the signal from RscS and serves as an integral component in V. fischeri biofilm regulation.

IMPORTANCE: Bacterial lifestyle transitions underlie the colonization of animal hosts from environmental reservoirs. Formation of matrix-enclosed, surface-associated aggregates (biofilms) is common in beneficial and pathogenic associations, but investigating the genetic basis of biofilm development in live animal hosts remains a significant challenge. Using the bobtail squid light organ as a model, we analyzed putative colonization factors and identified a histidine kinase that negatively regulates biofilm formation at the host interface. This work reveals a novel in vivo biofilm regulator that influences the transition of bacteria from their planktonic state in seawater to tight aggregates of cells in the host. The study enriches our understanding of biofilm regulation and beneficial colonization by an animal's microbiome.}, } @article {pmid26975437, year = {2016}, author = {Mao, YH and Li, F and Ma, JC and Hu, Z and Wang, HH}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Functionally Replaces 3-Oxoacyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (FabG) by Overexpressing NodG During Fatty Acid Synthesis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {458-467}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-15-0148-R}, pmid = {26975437}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Reductase/genetics/*metabolism ; Alcohol Oxidoreductases/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Mutation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In Sinorhizobium meliloti, the nodG gene is located in the nodFEG operon of the symbiotic plasmid. Although strong sequence similarity (53% amino acid identities) between S. meliloti NodG and Escherichia coli FabG was reported in 1992, it has not been determined whether S. meliloti NodG plays a role in fatty acid synthesis. We report that expression of S. meliloti NodG restores the growth of the E. coli fabG temperature-sensitive mutant CL104 under nonpermissive conditions. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that NodG is able to catalyze the reduction of the 3-oxoacyl-ACP intermediates in E. coli fatty acid synthetic reaction. Moreover, although deletion of the S. meliloti nodG gene does not cause any growth defects, upon overexpression of nodG from a plasmid, the S. meliloti fabG gene encoding the canonical 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase (OAR) can be disrupted without any effects on growth or fatty acid composition. This indicates that S. meliloti nodG encodes an OAR and can play a role in fatty acid synthesis when expressed at sufficiently high levels. Thus, a bacterium can simultaneously possess two or more OARs that can play a role in fatty acid synthesis. Our data also showed that, although SmnodG increases alfalfa nodulation efficiency, it is not essential for alfalfa nodulation.}, } @article {pmid26973612, year = {2016}, author = {Tang, N and San Clemente, H and Roy, S and Bécard, G and Zhao, B and Roux, C}, title = {A Survey of the Gene Repertoire of Gigaspora rosea Unravels Conserved Features among Glomeromycota for Obligate Biotrophy.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {233}, pmid = {26973612}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are a diverse group of soil fungi (Glomeromycota) that form the most ancient mutualistic association termed AM symbiosis with a majority of land plants, improving their nutrition uptake and resistance to stresses. In contrast to their great ecological implications, the knowledge of the molecular biological mechanisms involved is still scant, partly due to the limited genomic resources available. Here, we describe the gene repertoire of a new AM fungus Gigaspora rosea (Diversisporales). Among the 86332 non-redundant virtual transcripts assembled, 15346 presented similarities with proteins in the Refseq database and 10175 were assigned with GO terms. KOG and Interpro domain annotations clearly showed an enrichment of genes involved in signal transduction in G. rosea. KEGG pathway analysis indicates that most primary metabolic processes are active in G. rosea. However, as for Rhizophagus irregularis, several metabolic genes were not found, including the fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene. This finding supports the hypothesis that AM fungi depend on the lipids produced by their hosts. Furthermore, the presence of a large number of transporters and 100s of secreted proteins, together with the reduced number of plant cell wall degrading enzymes could be interpreted as an evolutionary adaptation to its mutualistic obligate biotrophy. The detection of meiosis-related genes suggests that G. rosea might use a cryptic sexual process. Lastly, a phylogeny of basal fungi clearly shows Glomeromycota as a sister clade to Mucoromycotina, not only to the Mucorales or Mortierellales. The characterization of the gene repertoire from an AM fungal species belonging to the order of Diversisporales and its comparison with the gene sets of R. irregularis (Glomerales) and Gigaspora margarita (Diversisporales), reveal that AM fungi share several features linked to mutualistic obligate biotrophy. This work contributes to lay the foundation for forthcoming studies into the genomics of Diversisporales, and also illuminates the utility of comparing gene repertoires of species from Diversisporales and other clades of Glomeromycota to gain more insights into the genetics and evolution of this fungal group.}, } @article {pmid26972872, year = {2016}, author = {Pradeu, T}, title = {Mutualistic viruses and the heteronomy of life.}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {80-88}, pmid = {26972872}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {Though viruses have generally been characterized by their pathogenic and more generally harmful effects, many examples of mutualistic viruses exist. Here I explain how the idea of mutualistic viruses has been defended in recent virology, and I explore four important conceptual and practical consequences of this idea. I ask to what extent this research modifies the way scientists might search for new viruses, our notion of how the host immune system interacts with microbes, the development of new therapeutic approaches, and, finally, the role played by the criterion of autonomy in our understanding of living things. Overall, I suggest that the recognition of mutualistic viruses plays a major role in a wider ongoing revision of our conception of viruses.}, } @article {pmid26972321, year = {2016}, author = {Miyawaki, H and Diba, K}, title = {Regulation of Hippocampal Firing by Network Oscillations during Sleep.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {893-902}, pmid = {26972321}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {MH103775/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R21 MH103775/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 MH109170/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; NS088798/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; MH109170/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R21 NS088798/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Electroencephalography ; Hippocampus/*physiology ; Neurons/cytology/*physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Long-Evans ; *Sleep ; Theta Rhythm ; Wakefulness ; }, abstract = {It has been hypothesized that waking leads to higher-firing neurons, with increased energy expenditure, and that sleep serves to return activity to baseline levels. Oscillatory activity patterns during different stages of sleep may play specific roles in this process, but consensus has been missing. To evaluate these phenomena in the hippocampus, we recorded from region CA1 neurons in rats across the 24-hr cycle, and we found that their firing increased upon waking and decreased 11% per hour across sleep. Waking and sleeping also affected lower- and higher-firing neurons differently. Interestingly, the incidences of sleep spindles and sharp-wave ripples (SWRs), typically associated with cortical plasticity, were predictive of ensuing firing changes and were more robustly predictive than other oscillatory events. Spindles and SWRs were initiated during non-REM sleep, yet the changes were incorporated in the network over the following REM sleep epoch. These findings indicate an important role for spindles and SWRs and provide novel evidence of a symbiotic relationship between non-REM and REM stages of sleep in the homeostatic regulation of neuronal activity.}, } @article {pmid26970631, year = {2016}, author = {Gilbert, SF}, title = {Developmental Plasticity and Developmental Symbiosis: The Return of Eco-Devo.}, journal = {Current topics in developmental biology}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {415-433}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ctdb.2015.12.006}, pmid = {26970631}, issn = {1557-8933}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Developmental Biology ; Ecosystem ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ecological developmental biology is the study of the interactions between developing organisms and their environments. Organisms have evolved to use the environment as a source of important cues that can alter the trajectory of their development. First, developmental plasticity enables the genome to generate a repertoire of possible phenotypes, and environmental cues are often used to select the phenotype that appears most adaptive at that time. This facilitates evolutionary strategies such as phenotypic accommodation, genetic assimilation, and niche construction. Second, developmental symbiosis, wherein the developing animal utilizes cues from other organisms for normal cell differentiation and morphogenesis, has been found to be ubiquitous. The coevolution of symbiotic microbes and animal cells has often led to the dependency of an animal's development on particular microbial signals, making these cues essential and expected components of normal development.}, } @article {pmid26970292, year = {2017}, author = {Bellwood, DR and Goatley, CH and Bellwood, O}, title = {The evolution of fishes and corals on reefs: form, function and interdependence.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {92}, number = {2}, pages = {878-901}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12259}, pmid = {26970292}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification ; Biodiversity ; Biological Coevolution ; *Biological Evolution ; *Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Fishes/*classification ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are renowned for their spectacular biodiversity and the close links between fishes and corals. Despite extensive fossil records and common biogeographic histories, the evolution of these two key groups has rarely been considered together. We therefore examine recent advances in molecular phylogenetics and palaeoecology, and place the evolution of fishes and corals in a functional context. In critically reviewing the available fossil and phylogenetic evidence, we reveal a marked congruence in the evolution of the two groups. Despite one group consisting of swimming vertebrates and the other colonial symbiotic invertebrates, fishes and corals have remarkably similar evolutionary histories. In the Paleocene and Eocene [66-34 million years ago (Ma)] most modern fish and coral families were present, and both were represented by a wide range of functional morphotypes. However, there is little evidence of diversification at this time. By contrast, in the Oligocene and Miocene (34-5.3 Ma), both groups exhibited rapid lineage diversification. There is also evidence of increasing reef area, occupation of new habitats, increasing coral cover, and potentially, increasing fish abundance. Functionally, the Oligocene-Miocene is marked by the appearance of new fish and coral taxa associated with high-turnover fast-growth ecosystems and the colonization of reef flats. It is in this period that the functional characteristics of modern coral reefs were established. Most species, however, only arose in the last 5.3 million years (Myr; Plio-Pleistocene), with the average age of fish species being 5.3 Myr, and corals just 1.9 Myr. While these species are genetically distinct, phenotypic differences are often limited to variation in colour or minor morphological features. This suggests that the rapid increase in biodiversity during the last 5.3 Myr was not matched by changes in ecosystem function. For reef fishes, colour appears to be central to recent diversification. However, the presence of pigment patterns in the Eocene suggests that colour may not have driven recent diversification. Furthermore, the lack of functional changes in fishes or corals over the last 5 Myr raises questions over the role and importance of biodiversity in shaping the future of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid26970128, year = {2016}, author = {Bultman, SJ}, title = {The microbiome and its potential as a cancer preventive intervention.}, journal = {Seminars in oncology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {97-106}, pmid = {26970128}, issn = {1532-8708}, support = {R01 CA125237/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK109559/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Butyrates/*metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*prevention & control ; Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {It is becoming increasingly clear that microbiota inhabiting our bodies influence cancer predisposition and etiology. In addition to pathogens with oncogenic properties, commensal and symbiotic microbiota have tumor-suppressive properties. Diet and other environmental factors can modulate the abundance of certain members of microbial communities within the gastrointestinal tract and at other anatomical sites. Furthermore, some dietary factors are metabolized by commensal/symbiotic gut microbiota into bioactive food components believed to prevent cancer. For example, dietary fiber undergoes bacterial fermentation in the colon to yield butyrate, which is a short-chain fatty acid and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that suppresses the viability and growth of colorectal cancer cell lines. A recent study using gnotobiotic mouse models demonstrates that fiber can protect against colorectal tumorigenesis in a microbiota- and butyrate-dependent manner that involves the Warburg effect. This and other examples suggest that some of the inter-individual variation observed in epidemiology and intervention studies that have investigated associations between diet and cancer risk might be explained by differences in microbiota among the participants. Data from basic research studies also support the idea that probiotics and prebiotics could be plausible chemoprevention strategies that may be utilized to a greater extent in the future.}, } @article {pmid26969692, year = {2016}, author = {Arendt, KR and Hockett, KL and Araldi-Brondolo, SJ and Baltrus, DA and Arnold, AE}, title = {Isolation of Endohyphal Bacteria from Foliar Ascomycota and In Vitro Establishment of Their Symbiotic Associations.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {10}, pages = {2943-2949}, pmid = {26969692}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Ascomycota ; Gammaproteobacteria/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Hyphae ; Plant Leaves ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endohyphal bacteria (EHB) can influence fungal phenotypes and shape the outcomes of plant-fungal interactions. Previous work has suggested that EHB form facultative associations with many foliar fungi in the Ascomycota. These bacteria can be isolated in culture, and fungi can be cured of EHB using antibiotics. Here, we present methods for successfully introducing EHB into axenic mycelia of strains representing two classes of Ascomycota. We first establish in vitro conditions favoring reintroduction of two strains of EHB (Luteibacter sp.) into axenic cultures of their original fungal hosts, focusing on fungi isolated from healthy plant tissue as endophytes: Microdiplodia sp. (Dothideomycetes) and Pestalotiopsis sp. (Sordariomycetes). We then demonstrate that these EHB can be introduced into a novel fungal host under the same conditions, successfully transferring EHB between fungi representing different classes. Finally, we manipulate conditions to optimize reintroduction in a focal EHB-fungal association. We show that EHB infections were initiated and maintained more often under low-nutrient culture conditions and when EHB and fungal hyphae were washed with MgCl2 prior to reassociation. Our study provides new methods for experimental assessment of the effects of EHB on fungal phenotypes and shows how the identity of the fungal host and growth conditions can define the establishment of these widespread and important symbioses.}, } @article {pmid26968003, year = {2016}, author = {Lacroix, B and Citovsky, V}, title = {A Functional Bacterium-to-Plant DNA Transfer Machinery of Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {e1005502}, pmid = {26968003}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {5R01GM05022418/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Reporter ; Mutation ; Plasmids/genetics ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Different strains and species of the soil phytopathogen Agrobacterium possess the ability to transfer and integrate a segment of DNA (T-DNA) into the genome of their eukaryotic hosts, which is mainly mediated by a set of virulence (vir) genes located on the bacterial Ti-plasmid that also contains the T-DNA. To date, Agrobacterium is considered to be unique in its capacity to mediate genetic transformation of eukaryotes. However, close homologs of the vir genes are encoded by the p42a plasmid of Rhizobium etli; this microorganism is related to Agrobacterium, but known only as a symbiotic bacterium that forms nitrogen-fixing nodules in several species of beans. Here, we show that R. etli can mediate functional DNA transfer and stable genetic transformation of plant cells, when provided with a plasmid containing a T-DNA segment. Thus, R. etli represents another bacterial species, besides Agrobacterium, that encodes a protein machinery for DNA transfer to eukaryotic cells and their subsequent genetic modification.}, } @article {pmid26967003, year = {2016}, author = {Baral, B and Teixeira da Silva, JA and Izaguirre-Mayoral, ML}, title = {Early signaling, synthesis, transport and metabolism of ureides.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {193}, number = {}, pages = {97-109}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2016.01.013}, pmid = {26967003}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Acylation ; Allantoin/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Urea/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/*metabolism ; Xylem/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between α nitrogen (N2)-fixing Proteobacteria (family Rhizobiaceae) and legumes belonging to the Fabaceae (a single phylogenetic group comprising three subfamilies: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae) results in the formation of a novel root structure called a nodule, where atmospheric N2 is fixed into NH3(+). In the determinate type of nodules harbored by Rhizobium-nodulated Fabaceae species, newly synthesized NH3(+) is finally converted into allantoin (C4H6N4O3) and allantoic acid (C4H8N4O4) (ureides) through complex pathways involving at least 20 different enzymes that act synchronously in two types of nodule cells with contrasting ultrastructure, including the tree nodule cell organelles. Newly synthesized ureides are loaded into the network of nodule-root xylem vessels and transported to aerial organs by the transpirational water current. Once inside the leaves, ureides undergo an enzymatically driven reverse process to yield NH4(+) that is used for growth. This supports the role of ureides as key nitrogen (N)-compounds for the growth and yield of legumes nodulated by Rhizobium that grow in soils with a low N content. Thus, a concrete understanding of the mechanisms underlying ureide biogenesis and catabolism in legumes may help agrobiologists to achieve greater agricultural discoveries. In this review we focus on the transmembranal and transorganellar symplastic and apoplastic movement of N-precursors within the nodules, as well as on the occurrence, localization and properties of enzymes and genes involved in the biogenesis and catabolism of ureides. The synthesis and transport of ureides are not unique events in Rhizobium-nodulated N2-fixing legumes. Thus, a brief description of the synthesis and catabolism of ureides in non-legumes was included for comparison. The establishment of the symbiosis, nodule organogenesis and the plant's control of nodule number, synthesis and translocation of ureides via feed-back inhibition mechanisms are also reviewed.}, } @article {pmid26966214, year = {2016}, author = {Rangel, WM and Thijs, S and Moreira, FM and Weyens, N and Vangronsveld, J and Van Hamme, JD and Bottos, EM and Rineau, F}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Mesorhizobium sp. UFLA 01-765, a Multitolerant, Efficient Symbiont and Plant Growth-Promoting Strain Isolated from Zn-Mining Soil Using Leucaena leucocephala as a Trap Plant.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {26966214}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We report the 7.4-Mb draft genome sequence of Mesorhizobium sp. strain UFLA 01-765, a Gram-negative bacterium of the Phyllobacteriaceae isolated from Zn-mining soil in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This strain promotes plant growth, efficiently fixes N2 in symbiosis with Leucaena leucocephala on multicontaminated soil, and has potential for application in bioremediation of marginal lands.}, } @article {pmid26966063, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, L and Cao, Y and Wang, ET and Qiao, YJ and Jiao, S and Liu, ZS and Zhao, L and Wei, GH}, title = {Biodiversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Shaanxi Province.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {211-219}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.02.001}, pmid = {26966063}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Ochrobactrum/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {The biodiversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with bean in Shaanxi Province were investigated. A total of 194 bacterial isolates from bean nodules collected from 13 sampling sites were characterized based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene, the housekeeping genes recA, glnII and atpD, and the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH. Fifteen genospecies belonging to the genera Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, Ensifer, Bradyrhizobium and Ochrobactrum were defined among the isolates, with Rhizobium sp. II, Agrobacterium sp. II, E. fredii and R. phaseoli being the dominant groups. Four symbiotic gene lineages corresponding to Rhizobium sp. I, Rhizobium sp. II, R. phaseoli and B. liaoningense were detected in the nodC and nifH sequence analyses, indicating different origins for the symbiotic genes and their co-evolution with the chromosome of the bacteria. Moreover, the Ensifer isolates harbored symbiotic genes closely related to bean-nodulating Pararhizobium giardinii, indicating possible lateral gene transfer from Rhizobium to Ensifer. Correlation of rhizobial community composition with moisture, temperature, intercropping, soil features and nutrients were detected. All the results demonstrated a great diversity of bean rhizobia in Shaanxi that might be due to the adaptable evolution of the bean-nodulating rhizobia subjected to the diverse ecological conditions in the area.}, } @article {pmid26965870, year = {2016}, author = {Hardy, L and Jespers, V and Abdellati, S and De Baetselier, I and Mwambarangwe, L and Musengamana, V and van de Wijgert, J and Vaneechoutte, M and Crucitti, T}, title = {A fruitful alliance: the synergy between Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis in bacterial vaginosis-associated biofilm.}, journal = {Sexually transmitted infections}, volume = {92}, number = {7}, pages = {487-491}, pmid = {26965870}, issn = {1472-3263}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterised by a change in the microbial composition of the vagina. The BV-associated organisms outnumber the health-associated Lactobacillus species and form a polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium, possibly explaining the difficulties with antibiotic treatment. A better understanding of vaginal biofilm with emphasis on Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis may contribute to a better diagnosis and treatment of BV.

METHODS: To this purpose, we evaluated the association between the presence of both bacteria by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and BV by Nugent scoring in 463 vaginal slides of 120 participants participating in a clinical trial in Rwanda.

RESULTS: A bacterial biofilm was detected in half of the samples using a universal bacterial probe. The biofilm contained A. vaginae in 54.1% and G. vaginalis in 82.0% of the samples. A. vaginae was accompanied by G. vaginalis in 99.5% of samples. The odds of having a Nugent score above 4 were increased for samples with dispersed G. vaginalis and/or A. vaginae present (OR 4.5; CI 2 to 10.3). The probability of having a high Nugent score was even higher when a combination of adherent G. vaginalis and dispersed A. vaginae was visualised (OR 75.6; CI 13.3 to 429.5) and highest when both bacteria were part of the biofilm (OR 119; CI 39.9 to 360.8).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study, although not comprehensive at studying the polymicrobial biofilm in BV, provided a strong indication towards the importance of A. vaginae and the symbiosis of A. vaginae and G. vaginalis in this biofilm.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01796613.}, } @article {pmid26965746, year = {2016}, author = {Mancini, MV and Spaccapelo, R and Damiani, C and Accoti, A and Tallarita, M and Petraglia, E and Rossi, P and Cappelli, A and Capone, A and Peruzzi, G and Valzano, M and Picciolini, M and Diabaté, A and Facchinelli, L and Ricci, I and Favia, G}, title = {Paratransgenesis to control malaria vectors: a semi-field pilot study.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {140}, pmid = {26965746}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/analysis/genetics ; *Insect Vectors ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Biology ; Pilot Projects ; Recombinant Proteins/analysis/genetics ; Staining and Labeling ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria still remains a serious health burden in developing countries, causing more than 1 million deaths annually. Given the lack of an effective vaccine against its major etiological agent, Plasmodium falciparum, and the growing resistance of this parasite to the currently available drugs repertoire and of Anopheles mosquitoes to insecticides, the development of innovative control measures is an imperative to reduce malaria transmission. Paratransgenesis, the modification of symbiotic organisms to deliver anti-pathogen effector molecules, represents a novel strategy against Plasmodium development in mosquito vectors, showing the potential to reduce parasite development. However, the field application of laboratory-based evidence of paratransgenesis imposes the use of more realistic confined semi-field environments.

METHODS: Large cages were used to evaluate the ability of bacteria of the genus Asaia expressing green fluorescent protein (Asaia (gfp)), to diffuse in Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles gambiae target mosquito populations. Asaia (gfp) was introduced in large cages through the release of paratransgenic males or by sugar feeding stations. Recombinant bacteria transmission was directly detected by fluorescent microscopy, and further assessed by molecular analysis.

RESULTS: Here we show the first known trial in semi-field condition on paratransgenic anophelines. Modified bacteria were able to spread at high rate in different populations of An. stephensi and An. gambiae, dominant malaria vectors, exploring horizontal ways and successfully colonising mosquito midguts. Moreover, in An. gambiae, vertical and trans-stadial diffusion mechanisms were demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the considerable ability of modified Asaia to colonise different populations of malaria vectors, including pecies where its association is not primary, in large environments. The data support the potential to employ transgenic Asaia as a tool for malaria control, disclosing promising perspective for its field application with suitable effector molecules.}, } @article {pmid26964360, year = {2015}, author = {Nigmatullina, LR and Lavina, AM and Vershinina, ZR and Baimiev, AKh}, title = {[Role of Bacterial Adhesin RAPA1 in Formation of Efficient Symbiosis of Rhizobium leguminosarum with Bean Plants].}, journal = {Mikrobiologiia}, volume = {84}, number = {6}, pages = {705-711}, pmid = {26964360}, issn = {0026-3656}, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizome/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial adhesins, the proteins responsible for attachment of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to plant roots, are involved in formation of stable associative symbioses. In the present work enhanced expression of the rapA1 adhesin gene in Rhizobium leguminosarum PVu5 was shown to improve the efficiency of nodulation on bean roots inoculated with the modified strain. The rapA1 gene was cloned into the pJN105Turbo plasmid, this construct was used for transformation of R. leguminosarum PVu5, bean plants were inoculated by this transgenic strain, and efficiency of root nodule formation was determined. In the plants treated with rapA1-transgenic rhizobia, the number of root nodules was on average two times higher than in the plants inoculated with the original strain. Aggregation of R. leguminosarum was achieved when the rapA1 gene expression was enhanced either in rhizobia or in the co-cultured modified strain E. coli pJN105TurboRapA1.}, } @article {pmid26962142, year = {2016}, author = {Klinger, CR and Lau, JA and Heath, KD}, title = {Ecological genomics of mutualism decline in nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1826}, pages = {20152563}, pmid = {26962142}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic changes can influence mutualism evolution; however, the genomic regions underpinning mutualism that are most affected by environmental change are generally unknown, even in well-studied model mutualisms like the interaction between legumes and their nitrogen (N)-fixing rhizobia. Such genomic information can shed light on the agents and targets of selection maintaining cooperation in nature. We recently demonstrated that N-fertilization has caused an evolutionary decline in mutualistic partner quality in the rhizobia that form symbiosis with clover. Here, population genomic analyses of N-fertilized versus control rhizobium populations indicate that evolutionary differentiation at a key symbiosis gene region on the symbiotic plasmid (pSym) contributes to partner quality decline. Moreover, patterns of genetic variation at selected loci were consistent with recent positive selection within N-fertilized environments, suggesting that N-rich environments might select for less beneficial rhizobia. By studying the molecular population genomics of a natural bacterial population within a long-term ecological field experiment, we find that: (i) the N environment is indeed a potent selective force mediating mutualism evolution in this symbiosis, (ii) natural variation in rhizobium partner quality is mediated in part by key symbiosis genes on the symbiotic plasmid, and (iii) differentiation at selected genes occurred in the context of otherwise recombining genomes, resembling eukaryotic models of adaptation.}, } @article {pmid26960961, year = {2016}, author = {Minamisawa, K and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Bao, Z and Shinoda, R and Okubo, T and Ikeda, S}, title = {Are Symbiotic Methanotrophs Key Microbes for N Acquisition in Paddy Rice Root?.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {4-10}, pmid = {26960961}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Methane/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The relationships between biogeochemical processes and microbial functions in rice (Oryza sativa) paddies have been the focus of a large number of studies. A mechanistic understanding of methane-nitrogen (CH4-N) cycle interactions is a key unresolved issue in research on rice paddies. This minireview is an opinion paper for highlighting the mechanisms underlying the interactions between biogeochemical processes and plant-associated microbes based on recent metagenomic, metaproteomic, and isotope analyses. A rice symbiotic gene, relevant to rhizobial nodulation and mycorrhization in plants, likely accommodates diazotrophic methanotrophs or the associated bacterial community in root tissues under low-N fertilizer management, which may permit rice plants to acquire N via N2 fixation. The amount of N fixed in rice roots was previously estimated to be approximately 12% of plant N based on measurements of (15)N natural abundance in a paddy field experiment. Community analyses also indicate that methanotroph populations in rice roots are susceptible to environmental conditions such as the microclimate of rice paddies. Therefore, CH4 oxidation by methanotrophs is a driving force in shaping bacterial communities in rice roots grown in CH4-rich environments. Based on these findings, we propose a hypothesis with unanswered questions to describe the interplay between rice plants, root microbiomes, and their biogeochemical functions (CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation).}, } @article {pmid26960732, year = {2016}, author = {Saha, S and Paul, A and Herring, L and Dutta, A and Bhattacharya, A and Samaddar, S and Goshe, MB and DasGupta, M}, title = {Gatekeeper Tyrosine Phosphorylation of SYMRK Is Essential for Synchronizing the Epidermal and Cortical Responses in Root Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {1}, pages = {71-81}, pmid = {26960732}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Phosphoamino Acids/analysis ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Epidermis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis receptor kinase (SYMRK) is indispensable for activation of root nodule symbiosis (RNS) at both epidermal and cortical levels and is functionally conserved in legumes. Previously, we reported SYMRK to be phosphorylated on "gatekeeper" Tyr both in vitro as well as in planta. Since gatekeeper phosphorylation was not necessary for activity, the significance remained elusive. Herein, we show that substituting gatekeeper with nonphosphorylatable residues like Phe or Ala significantly affected autophosphorylation on selected targets on activation segment/αEF and β3-αC loop of SYMRK. In addition, the same gatekeeper mutants failed to restore proper symbiotic features in a symrk null mutant where rhizobial invasion of the epidermis and nodule organogenesis was unaffected but rhizobia remain restricted to the epidermis in infection threads migrating parallel to the longitudinal axis of the root, resulting in extensive infection patches at the nodule apex. Thus, gatekeeper phosphorylation is critical for synchronizing epidermal/cortical responses in RNS.}, } @article {pmid26960548, year = {2016}, author = {Tsai, CC and Wu, KM and Chiang, TY and Huang, CY and Chou, CH and Li, SJ and Chiang, YC}, title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis of Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae) in response to fungus symbiosis to identify gastrodin biosynthesis-related genes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {212}, pmid = {26960548}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Agaricales ; Benzyl Alcohols ; Gastrodia/*genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Glucosides/*biosynthesis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Tubers/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae) is an important Chinese medicine with several functional components. In the life cycle of G. elata, the orchid develops a symbiotic relationship with two compatible mycorrhizal fungi Mycena spp. and Armillaria mellea during seed germination to form vegetative propagation corm and vegetative growth to develop tubers, respectively. Gastrodin (p-hydroxymethylphenol-beta-D-glucoside) is the most important functional component in G. elata, and gastrodin significantly increases from vegetative propagation corms to tubers. To address the gene regulation mechanism in gastrodin biosynthesis in G. elata, a comparative analysis of de novo transcriptome sequencing among the vegetative propagation corms and tubers of G. elata and A. mellea was conducted using deep sequencing.

RESULTS: Transcriptome comparison between the vegetative propagation corms and juvenile tubers of G. elata revealed 703 differentially expressed unigenes, of which 298 and 405 unigenes were, respectively up-regulated (fold-change ≥ 2, q-value < 0.05, the trimmed mean of M-values (TMM)-normalized fragments per kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads (FPKM) > 10) and down-regulated (fold-change ≤ 0.5, q-value <0.05, TMM-normalized FPKM > 10) in juvenile tubers. After Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, 112 up-regulated unigenes with KEGG Ortholog identifiers (KOids) or enzyme commission (EC) numbers were assigned to 159 isogroups involved in seventy-eight different pathways, and 132 down-regulated unigenes with KOids or EC numbers were assigned to 168 isogroups, involved in eighty different pathways. The analysis of the isogroup genes from all pathways revealed that the two unigenes TRINITY_DN54282_c0_g1 (putative monooxygenases) and TRINITY_DN50323_c0_g1 (putative glycosyltransferases) might participate in hydroxylation and glucosylation in the gastrodin biosynthetic pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: The gene expression of the two unique unigenes encoding monooxygenase and glycosyltransferase significantly increases from vegetative propagation corms to tubers, and the molecular basis of gastrodin biosynthesis in the tubers of G. elata is proposed.}, } @article {pmid26959836, year = {2016}, author = {Gully, D and Gargani, D and Bonaldi, K and Grangeteau, C and Chaintreuil, C and Fardoux, J and Nguyen, P and Marchetti, R and Nouwen, N and Molinaro, A and Mergaert, P and Giraud, E}, title = {A Peptidoglycan-Remodeling Enzyme Is Critical for Bacteroid Differentiation in Bradyrhizobium spp. During Legume Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {447-457}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-16-0052-R}, pmid = {26959836}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Peptidoglycan/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In response to the presence of compatible rhizobium bacteria, legumes form symbiotic organs called nodules on their roots. These nodules house nitrogen-fixing bacteroids that are a differentiated form of the rhizobium bacteria. In some legumes, the bacteroid differentiation comprises a dramatic cell enlargement, polyploidization, and other morphological changes. Here, we demonstrate that a peptidoglycan-modifying enzyme in Bradyrhizobium strains, a DD-carboxypeptidase that contains a peptidoglycan-binding SPOR domain, is essential for normal bacteroid differentiation in Aeschynomene species. The corresponding mutants formed bacteroids that are malformed and hypertrophied. However, in soybean, a plant that does not induce morphological differentiation of its symbiont, the mutation does not affect the bacteroids. Remarkably, the mutation also leads to necrosis in a large fraction of the Aeschynomene nodules, indicating that a normally formed peptidoglycan layer is essential for avoiding the induction of plant immune responses by the invading bacteria. In addition to exopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, and lipopolysaccharides, whose role during symbiosis is well defined, our work demonstrates an essential role in symbiosis for yet another rhizobial envelope component, the peptidoglycan layer.}, } @article {pmid26959627, year = {2016}, author = {Goverse, G and Stakenborg, M and Matteoli, G}, title = {The intestinal cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.}, journal = {The Journal of physiology}, volume = {594}, number = {20}, pages = {5771-5780}, pmid = {26959627}, issn = {1469-7793}, mesh = {Animals ; Central Nervous System/immunology ; Cholinergic Agents/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/*innervation ; Neurons/immunology ; }, abstract = {The main task of the immune system is to distinguish and respond accordingly to 'danger' or 'non-danger' signals. This is of critical importance in the gastrointestinal tract in which immune cells are constantly in contact with food antigens, symbiotic microflora and potential pathogens. This complex mixture of food antigens and symbionts are essential for providing vital nutrients, so they must be tolerated by the intestinal immune system to prevent aberrant inflammation. Therefore, in the gut the balance between immune activation and tolerance should be tightly regulated to maintain intestinal homeostasis and to prevent hypersensitivity to harmless luminal antigens. Loss of this delicate equilibrium can lead to abnormal activation of the intestinal immune system resulting in devastating gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent evidence supports the idea that the central nervous system interacts dynamically via the vagus nerve with the intestinal immune system to modulate inflammation through humoral and neural pathways, using a mechanism also referred to as the intestinal cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. In this review, we will focus on the current understanding of the mechanisms and neuronal circuits involved in the intestinal cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Further investigation on the crosstalk between the nervous and intestinal immune system will hopefully provide new insights leading to the identification of innovative therapeutic approaches to treat intestinal inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid26957597, year = {2016}, author = {Wexler, AG and Bao, Y and Whitney, JC and Bobay, LM and Xavier, JB and Schofield, WB and Barry, NA and Russell, AB and Tran, BQ and Goo, YA and Goodlett, DR and Ochman, H and Mougous, JD and Goodman, AL}, title = {Human symbionts inject and neutralize antibacterial toxins to persist in the gut.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {13}, pages = {3639-3644}, pmid = {26957597}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM101209/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DP2 GM105456/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; //Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; OD008440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; GM103574/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM118038/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DP2 OD008440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; //Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; GM108657/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI080609/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM105456/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM101209/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM103574/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI080609/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM108657/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/immunology/physiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/immunology/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Germ-Free Life ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/immunology/physiology ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiome is a dynamic and densely populated microbial community that can provide important benefits to its host. Cooperation and competition for nutrients among its constituents only partially explain community composition and interpersonal variation. Notably, certain human-associated Bacteroidetes--one of two major phyla in the gut--also encode machinery for contact-dependent interbacterial antagonism, but its impact within gut microbial communities remains unknown. Here we report that prominent human gut symbionts persist in the gut through continuous attack on their immediate neighbors. Our analysis of just one of the hundreds of species in these communities reveals 12 candidate antibacterial effector loci that can exist in 32 combinations. Through the use of secretome studies, in vitro bacterial interaction assays and multiple mouse models, we uncover strain-specific effector/immunity repertoires that can predict interbacterial interactions in vitro and in vivo, and find that some of these strains avoid contact-dependent killing by accumulating immunity genes to effectors that they do not encode. Effector transmission rates in live animals can exceed 1 billion events per minute per gram of colonic contents, and multiphylum communities of human gut commensals can partially protect sensitive strains from these attacks. Together, these results suggest that gut microbes can determine their interactions through direct contact. An understanding of the strategies human gut symbionts have evolved to target other members of this community may provide new approaches for microbiome manipulation.}, } @article {pmid26954675, year = {2016}, author = {Gilbert, JA and Medlock, J and Townsend, JP and Aksoy, S and Ndeffo Mbah, M and Galvani, AP}, title = {Determinants of Human African Trypanosomiasis Elimination via Paratransgenesis.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0004465}, pmid = {26954675}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {1U01AI115648/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR019895/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; D43 TW007391/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI115648/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 2U01GM087719/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR029676/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U01 GM087719/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Africa South of the Sahara ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Communicable Disease Control/methods ; *Disease Eradication ; Disease Transmission, Infectious/prevention & control ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*growth & development ; Entomology/methods ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; Trypanosoma brucei brucei/*growth & development ; Trypanosomiasis, African/epidemiology/*prevention & control/transmission ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), transmitted by tsetse flies, has historically infected hundreds of thousands of individuals annually in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the last decade, concerted control efforts have reduced reported cases to below 10,000 annually, bringing complete elimination within reach. A potential technology to eliminate HAT involves rendering the flies resistant to trypanosome infection. This approach can be achieved through the introduction of transgenic Sodalis symbiotic bacteria that have been modified to produce a trypanocide, and propagated via Wolbachia symbionts, which confer a reproductive advantage to the paratransgenic tsetse. However, the population dynamics of these symbionts within tsetse flies have not yet been evaluated. Specifically, the key factors that determine the effectiveness of paratransgenesis have yet to be quantified. To identify the impact of these determinants on T.b. gambiense and T.b. rhodesiense transmission, we developed a mathematical model of trypanosome transmission that incorporates tsetse and symbiont population dynamics. We found that fecundity and mortality penalties associated with Wolbachia or recombinant Sodalis colonization, probabilities of vertical transmission, and tsetse migration rates are fundamental to the feasibility of HAT elimination. For example, we determined that HAT elimination could be sustained over 25 years when Wolbachia colonization minimally impacted fecundity or mortality, and when the probability of recombinant Sodalis vertical transmission exceeded 99.9%. We also found that for a narrow range of recombinant Sodalis vertical transmission probability (99.9-90.6% for T.b. gambiense and 99.9-85.8% for T.b. rhodesiense), cumulative HAT incidence was reduced between 30% and 1% for T.b. gambiense and between 21% and 3% for T.b. rhodesiense, although elimination was not predicted. Our findings indicate that fitness and mortality penalties associated with paratransgenic symbionts, as well as tsetse migration rates, are instrumental to HAT elimination, and should be a key focus in the development of paratransgenic symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26953630, year = {2016}, author = {van der Meulen, TA and Harmsen, H and Bootsma, H and Spijkervet, F and Kroese, F and Vissink, A}, title = {The microbiome-systemic diseases connection.}, journal = {Oral diseases}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {719-734}, doi = {10.1111/odi.12472}, pmid = {26953630}, issn = {1601-0825}, mesh = {Autoimmune Diseases/etiology/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Immunity/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Mouth Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome consists of all microorganisms occupying the skin, mucous membranes and intestinal tract of the human body. The contact of the mucosal immune system with the human microbiome is a balanced interplay between defence mechanisms of the immune system and symbiotic or pathogenic microbial factors, such as microbial antigens and metabolites. In systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system is deranged to a chronic inflammatory state and autoantibodies are an important hallmark. Specific bacteria and/or a dysbiosis in the human microbiome can lead to local mucosal inflammation and increased intestinal permeability. Proinflammatory lymphocytes and cytokines can spread to the systemic circulation and increase the risk of inflammation at distant anatomical sites, such as the joints or salivary glands. Increased intestinal permeability increases antigen exposure and the risk of autoantibody production. If the human microbiome indeed plays such a critical role in SADs, this finding holds a great promise for new therapeutic strategies, such as diet interventions and probiotics and prebiotics. This review provides a background on the human microbiome and mucosal immunity in the gut and oral cavity and gives a summary of the current knowledge on the microbiome-SADs connection.}, } @article {pmid26951680, year = {2016}, author = {Chatzidaki-Livanis, M and Geva-Zatorsky, N and Comstock, LE}, title = {Bacteroides fragilis type VI secretion systems use novel effector and immunity proteins to antagonize human gut Bacteroidales species.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {13}, pages = {3627-3632}, pmid = {26951680}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P30DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI093771/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI120633/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI120633/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI093771/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/immunology/physiology ; Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/immunology/*physiology ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/immunology/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Mice ; Mutation ; Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/immunology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are multiprotein complexes best studied in Gram-negative pathogens where they have been shown to inhibit or kill prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells and are often important for virulence. We recently showed that T6SS loci are also widespread in symbiotic human gut bacteria of the order Bacteroidales, and that these T6SS loci segregate into three distinct genetic architectures (GA). GA1 and GA2 loci are present on conserved integrative conjugative elements (ICE) and are transferred and shared among diverse human gut Bacteroidales species. GA3 loci are not contained on conserved ICE and are confined to Bacteroides fragilis Unlike GA1 and GA2 T6SS loci, most GA3 loci do not encode identifiable effector and immunity proteins. Here, we studied GA3 T6SSs and show that they antagonize most human gut Bacteroidales strains analyzed, except for B. fragilis strains with the same T6SS locus. A combination of mutation analyses,trans-protection analyses, and in vitro competition assays, allowed us to identify novel effector and immunity proteins of GA3 loci. These proteins are not orthologous to known proteins, do not contain identified motifs, and most have numerous predicted transmembrane domains. Because the genes encoding effector and immunity proteins are contained in two variable regions of GA3 loci, GA3 T6SSs of the species B. fragilis are likely the source of numerous novel effector and immunity proteins. Importantly, we show that the GA3 T6SS of strain 638R is functional in the mammalian gut and provides a competitive advantage to this organism.}, } @article {pmid26951652, year = {2016}, author = {Di Prisco, G and Annoscia, D and Margiotta, M and Ferrara, R and Varricchio, P and Zanni, V and Caprio, E and Nazzi, F and Pennacchio, F}, title = {A mutualistic symbiosis between a parasitic mite and a pathogenic virus undermines honey bee immunity and health.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {12}, pages = {3203-3208}, pmid = {26951652}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*immunology/parasitology/virology ; Mites/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Honey bee colony losses are triggered by interacting stress factors consistently associated with high loads of parasites and/or pathogens. A wealth of biotic and abiotic stressors are involved in the induction of this complex multifactorial syndrome, with the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated deformed wing virus (DWV) apparently playing key roles. The mechanistic basis underpinning this association and the evolutionary implications remain largely obscure. Here we narrow this research gap by demonstrating that DWV, vectored by the Varroa mite, adversely affects humoral and cellular immune responses by interfering with NF-κB signaling. This immunosuppressive effect of the viral pathogen enhances reproduction of the parasitic mite. Our experimental data uncover an unrecognized mutualistic symbiosis between Varroa and DWV, which perpetuates a loop of reciprocal stimulation with escalating negative effects on honey bee immunity and health. These results largely account for the remarkable importance of this mite-virus interaction in the induction of honey bee colony losses. The discovery of this mutualistic association and the elucidation of the underlying regulatory mechanisms sets the stage for a more insightful analysis of how synergistic stress factors contribute to colony collapse, and for the development of new strategies to alleviate this problem.}, } @article {pmid26951432, year = {2016}, author = {Aihara, Y and Takahashi, S and Minagawa, J}, title = {Heat Induction of Cyclic Electron Flow around Photosystem I in the Symbiotic Dinoflagellate Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {1}, pages = {522-529}, pmid = {26951432}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/physiology ; Electrons ; Heat-Shock Response ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Increases in seawater temperature impair photosynthesis (photoinhibition) in the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium within cnidarian hosts, such as corals and sea anemones, and may destroy their symbiotic relationship. Although the degree of photoinhibition in Symbiodinium under heat stress differs among strains, the differences in their responses to increased temperatures, including cyclic electron flow (CEF), which sustains photoprotective thermal energy dissipation, have not been investigated. Here, we examined CEF in cultured Symbiodinium cells or those in an endosymbiotic relationship within a cnidarian host. The light-dependent reduction of the primary electron donor photosystem I, i.e. P700(+), was enhanced in any Symbiodinium cell by increasing temperatures, indicating CEF was induced by heat, which was accompanied by thermal energy dissipation activation. The critical temperatures for inducing CEF were different among Symbiodinium strains. The clade A strains with greater susceptibility to photoinhibition, OTcH-1 and Y106, exhibited higher CEF activities under moderate heat stress than a more phototolerant clade B strain Mf1.05b, suggesting that the observed CEF induction was not a preventive measure but a stress response in Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid26951045, year = {2016}, author = {Pérez-Montaño, F and Del Cerro, P and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and López-Baena, FJ and Cubo, MT and Hungria, M and Megías, M and Ollero, FJ}, title = {RNA-seq analysis of the Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 transcriptome shows similarities in the activation patterns of symbiotic genes in the presence of apigenin and salt.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {198}, pmid = {26951045}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Apigenin/*chemistry ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Operon ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sodium Chloride/*chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899 establishes effective symbioses with several legume species, including Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala. This bacterium synthesizes a large variety of nodulation factors in response to nod-gene inducing flavonoids and, surprisingly, also under salt stress conditions. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes in the presence of both inducer molecules, and analyze the promoter regions located upstream of these genes.

RESULTS: Results obtained by RNA-seq analyses of CIAT 899 induced with apigenin, a nod gene-inducing flavonoid for this strain, or salt allowed the identification of 19 and 790 differentially expressed genes, respectively. Fifteen of these genes were up-regulated in both conditions and were involved in the synthesis of both Nod factors and indole-3-acetic acid. Transcription of these genes was presumably activated through binding of at least one of the five NodD proteins present in this strain to specific nod box promoter sequences when the bacterium was induced by both apigenin and salt. Finally, under saline conditions, many other transcriptional responses were detected, including an increase in the transcription of genes involved in trehalose catabolism, chemotaxis and protein secretion, as well as ribosomal genes, and a decrease in the transcription of genes involved in transmembrane transport.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first time that a transcriptomic study shows that salt stress induces the expression of nodulation genes in the absence of flavonoids. Thus, in the presence of both nodulation inducer molecules, apigenin and salt, R. tropici CIAT 899 up-regulated the same set of symbiotic genes. It could be possible that the increases in the transcription levels of several genes related to nodulation under saline conditions could represent a strategy to establish symbiosis under abiotic stressing conditions.}, } @article {pmid26950404, year = {2016}, author = {Chanclud, E and Morel, JB}, title = {Plant hormones: a fungal point of view.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {1289-1297}, pmid = {26950404}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Fungi/growth & development/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; Virulence ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Most classical plant hormones are also produced by pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. The way in which these molecules favour the invasion of plant tissues and the development of fungi inside plant tissues is still largely unknown. In this review, we examine the different roles of such hormone production by pathogenic fungi. Converging evidence suggests that these fungal-derived molecules have potentially two modes of action: (i) they may perturb plant processes, either positively or negatively, to favour invasion and nutrient uptake; and (ii) they may also act as signals for the fungi themselves to engage appropriate developmental and physiological processes adapted to their environment. Indirect evidence suggests that abscisic acid, gibberellic acid and ethylene produced by fungi participate in pathogenicity. There is now evidence that auxin and cytokinins could be positive regulators required for virulence. Further research should establish whether or not fungal-derived hormones act like other fungal effectors.}, } @article {pmid26948294, year = {2016}, author = {Noori Koupaei, A and Dehghani, H and Mostafavi, PG and Mashini, AG}, title = {Phylogeny of Symbiodinium populations in zoantharians of the northern Persian Gulf.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {105}, number = {2}, pages = {553-557}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.02.058}, pmid = {26948294}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Indian Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Pigmentation/physiology ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Zoantharians of the Persian Gulf (PG) experience periods of anomalous high temperature, irradiance and desiccation. Their survival largely relies on the symbiotic relationship with single celled dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. However, the phylogeny of symbionts of zoantharians has not been investigated in the region. In this study, the second internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (ITS2) was used to recognize in hospite populations of Symbiodinium in Palythoa aff. mutuki, Palythoa tuberculosa and Zoanthus sansibaricus colonies from Hengam, Kish, Larak, and Qeshm Islands, in the PG. The results showed subclade D1-4 and a variant of A1, were the most prevalent subclades of Symbiodinium. Predominance of stress tolerant subclade D1-4 and putatively radiation tolerant variant of A1 of Symbiodinium in zoantharian species might suggest an adaptation strategy to the extreme physical environment of the PG.}, } @article {pmid26945826, year = {2016}, author = {Mondot, S and Lepage, P}, title = {The human gut microbiome and its dysfunctions through the meta-omics prism.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1372}, number = {1}, pages = {9-19}, doi = {10.1111/nyas.13033}, pmid = {26945826}, issn = {1749-6632}, mesh = {Disease ; Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Metabolomics ; *Metagenomics ; *Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The microorganisms inhabiting the human gut are abundant (10(14) cells) and diverse (approximately 500 species per individual). It is now acknowledged that the microbiota has coevolved with its host to achieve a symbiotic relationship, leading to physiological homeostasis. The gut microbiota ensures vital functions, such as food digestibility, maturation of the host immune system, and protection against pathogens. Over the last few decades, the gut microbiota has also been associated with numerous diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, and metabolic diseases. In most of these pathologies, a microbial dysbiosis has been found, indicating shifts in the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota and changes in its functionality. Our understanding of the influence of the gut microbiota on human health is still growing. Working with microorganisms residing in the gut is challenging since most of them are anaerobic and a vast majority (approximately 75%) are uncultivable to date. Recently, a wide range of new approaches (meta-omics) has been developed to bypass the uncultivability and reveal the intricate mechanisms that sustain gut microbial homeostasis. After a brief description of these approaches (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics), this review will discuss the importance of considering the gut microbiome as a structured ecosystem and the use of meta-omics to decipher dysfunctions of the gut microbiome in diseases.}, } @article {pmid26944199, year = {2016}, author = {Zeng, MY and Cisalpino, D and Varadarajan, S and Hellman, J and Warren, HS and Cascalho, M and Inohara, N and Núñez, G}, title = {Gut Microbiota-Induced Immunoglobulin G Controls Systemic Infection by Symbiotic Bacteria and Pathogens.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {647-658}, pmid = {26944199}, issn = {1097-4180}, support = {DK095782/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK091191/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32DK094775/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HL007517/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM59694/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; NIH 5P30DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM059694/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK091191/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI117561/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32HL007517/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 5R21AI117561/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK095782/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK094775/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Load/genetics ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*immunology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*immunology ; Homeostasis/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunoglobulin G/genetics/*metabolism ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Microbiota ; Peptidoglycan/*immunology ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is compartmentalized in the intestinal lumen and induces local immune responses, but it remains unknown whether the gut microbiota can induce systemic response and contribute to systemic immunity. We report that selective gut symbiotic gram-negative bacteria were able to disseminate systemically to induce immunoglobulin G (IgG) response, which primarily targeted gram-negative bacterial antigens and conferred protection against systemic infections by E. coli and Salmonella by directly coating bacteria to promote killing by phagocytes. T cells and Toll-like receptor 4 on B cells were important in the generation of microbiota-specific IgG. We identified murein lipoprotein (MLP), a highly conserved gram-negative outer membrane protein, as a major antigen that induced systemic IgG homeostatically in both mice and humans. Administration of anti-MLP IgG conferred crucial protection against systemic Salmonella infection. Thus, our findings reveal an important function for the gut microbiota in combating systemic infection through the induction of protective IgG.}, } @article {pmid26943626, year = {2016}, author = {Spraker, JE and Sanchez, LM and Lowe, TM and Dorrestein, PC and Keller, NP}, title = {Ralstonia solanacearum lipopeptide induces chlamydospore development in fungi and facilitates bacterial entry into fungal tissues.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {2317-2330}, pmid = {26943626}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {K12 GM068524/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM097509/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR029121/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Fungi/cytology/*drug effects/growth & development ; Hyphae ; Lipopeptides/*isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Microbial Consortia ; Mutation ; Peptide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*chemistry/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spores, Fungal ; }, abstract = {Ralstonia solanacearum is a globally distributed soil-borne plant pathogenic bacterium, which shares a broad ecological range with many plant- and soil-associated fungi. We sought to determine if R. solanacearum chemical communication directs symbiotic development of polymicrobial consortia. R. solanacearum produced a diffusible metabolite that induced conserved morphological differentiation in 34 species of fungi across three diverse taxa (Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Zygomycetes). Fungi exposed to this metabolite formed chlamydospores, survival structures with thickened cell walls. Some chlamydospores internally harbored R. solanacearum, indicating a newly described endofungal lifestyle for this important plant pathogen. Using imaging mass spectrometry and peptidogenomics, we identified an undescribed lipopeptide, ralsolamycin, produced by an R. solanacearum non-ribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase hybrid. Inactivation of the hybrid non-ribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase gene, rmyA, abolished ralsolamycin synthesis. R. solanacearum mutants lacking ralsolamycin no longer induced chlamydospore development in fungal coculture and invaded fungal hyphae less well than wild-type. We propose that ralsolamycin contributes to the invasion of fungal hyphae and that the formation of chlamydospores may provide not only a specific niche for bacterial colonization but also enhanced survival for the partnering fungus.}, } @article {pmid26942194, year = {2016}, author = {Oruru, MB and Njeru, EM}, title = {Upscaling Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Related Agroecosystems Services in Smallholder Farming Systems.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2016}, number = {}, pages = {4376240}, pmid = {26942194}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; Humans ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Smallholder farming systems form unique ecosystems that can protect beneficial soil biota and form an important source of useful genetic resources. They are characterized by high level of agricultural diversity mainly focused on meeting farmers' needs. Unfortunately, these systems often experience poor crop production mainly associated with poor planning and resource scarcity. Soil fertility is among the primary challenges faced by smallholder farmers, which necessitate the need to come up with affordable and innovative ways of replenishing soils. One such way is the use of microbial symbionts such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a beneficial group of soil microbiota that form symbiotic associations with majority of cultivated crops and play a vital role in biological soil fertility, plant nutrition, and protection. AMF can be incorporated in smallholder farming systems to help better exploit chemical fertilizers inputs which are often unaffordable to many smallholder farmers. The present review highlights smallholder farming practices that could be innovatively redesigned to increase AMF symbiosis and related agroecosystem services. Indeed, the future of global food security depends on the success of smallholder farming systems, whose crop productivity depends on the services provided by well-functioning ecosystems, including soil fertility.}, } @article {pmid26942047, year = {2015}, author = {Ramsay, JP and Ronson, CW}, title = {Silencing quorum sensing and ICE mobility through antiactivation and ribosomal frameshifting.}, journal = {Mobile genetic elements}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {103-108}, pmid = {26942047}, issn = {2159-2543}, abstract = {Mobile genetic elements run an evolutionary gauntlet to maintain their mobility in the face of selection against their selfish dissemination but, paradoxically, they can accelerate the adaptability of bacteria through the gene-transfer events that they facilitate. These temporally conflicting evolutionary forces have shaped exquisite regulation systems that silence mobility and maximize the competitive fitness of the host bacterium, but maintain the ability of the element to deliver itself to a new host should the opportunity arise. Here we review the excision regulation system of the Mesorhizobium loti symbiosis island ICEMlSym[R7A], a 502-kb integrative and conjugative element (ICE) capable of converting non-symbiotic mesorhizobia into plant symbionts. ICEMlSym[R7A] excision is activated by quorum sensing, however, both quorum sensing and excision are strongly repressed in the vast majority of cells by dual-target antiactivation and programmed ribosomal-frameshifting mechanisms. We examine these recently discovered regulatory features under the light of natural selection and discuss common themes that can be drawn from recent developments in ICE biology.}, } @article {pmid26941650, year = {2016}, author = {Erban, T and Rybanska, D and Harant, K and Hortova, B and Hubert, J}, title = {Feces Derived Allergens of Tyrophagus putrescentiae Reared on Dried Dog Food and Evidence of the Strong Nutritional Interaction between the Mite and Bacillus cereus Producing Protease Bacillolysins and Exo-chitinases.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {53}, pmid = {26941650}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781) is an emerging source of allergens in stored products and homes. Feces proteases are the major allergens of astigmatid mites (Acari: Acaridida). In addition, the mites are carriers of microorganisms and microbial adjuvant compounds that stimulate innate signaling pathways. We sought to analyze the mite feces proteome, proteolytic activities, and mite-bacterial interaction in dry dog food (DDF). Proteomic methods comprising enzymatic and zymographic analysis of proteases and 2D-E-MS/MS were performed. The highest protease activity was assigned to trypsin-like proteases; lower activity was assigned to chymotrypsin-like proteases, and the cysteine protease cathepsin B-like had very low activity. The 2D-E-MS/MS proteomic analysis identified mite trypsin allergen Tyr p3, fatty acid-binding protein Tyr p13 and putative mite allergens ferritin (Grp 30) and (poly)ubiquitins. Tyr p3 was detected at different positions of the 2D-E. It indicates presence of zymogen at basic pI, and mature-enzyme form and enzyme fragment at acidic pI. Bacillolysins (neutral and alkaline proteases) of Bacillus cereus symbiont can contribute to the protease activity of the mite extract. The bacterial exo-chitinases likely contribute to degradation of mite exuviae, mite bodies or food boluses consisting of chitin, including the peritrophic membrane. Thus, the chitinases disrupt the feces and facilitate release of the allergens. B. cereus was isolated and identified based on amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA and motB genes. B. cereus was added into high-fat, high-protein (DDF) and low-fat, low-protein (flour) diets to 1 and 5% (w/w), and the diets palatability was evaluated in 21-day population growth test. The supplementation of diet with B. cereus significantly suppressed population growth and the suppressive effect was higher in the high-fat, high-protein diet than in the low-fat, low-protein food. Thus, B. cereus has to coexist with the mite in balance to be beneficial for the mite. The mite-B. cereus symbiosis can be beneficial-suppressive at some level. The results increase the veterinary and medical importance of the allergens detected in feces. The B. cereus enzymes/toxins are important components of mite allergens. The strong symbiotic association of T. putrescentiae with B. cereus in DDF was indicated.}, } @article {pmid26940496, year = {2016}, author = {Peláez-Vico, MA and Bernabéu-Roda, L and Kohlen, W and Soto, MJ and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Strigolactones in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis: Stimulatory effect on bacterial surface motility and down-regulation of their levels in nodulated plants.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {245}, number = {}, pages = {119-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.01.012}, pmid = {26940496}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Down-Regulation/*drug effects ; Flagellin/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*pharmacology ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Movement/drug effects ; Nitrogen/deficiency ; Phosphorus/deficiency ; Plankton/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*drug effects/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional molecules acting as modulators of plant responses under nutrient deficient conditions. One of the roles of SLs is to promote beneficial association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi belowground under such stress conditions, mainly phosphorus shortage. Recently, a role of SLs in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis has been also described. While SLs' function in AM symbiosis is well established, their role in the Rhizobium-legume interaction is still emerging. Recently, SLs have been suggested to stimulate surface motility of rhizobia, opening the possibility that they could also act as molecular cues. The possible effect of SLs in the motility in the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti was investigated, showing that the synthetic SL analogue GR24 stimulates swarming motility in S. meliloti in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, it is known that SL production is regulated by nutrient deficient conditions and by AM symbiosis. Using the model alfalfa-S. meliloti, the impact of phosphorus and nitrogen deficiency, as well as of nodulation on SL production was also assessed. The results showed that phosphorus starvation promoted SL biosynthesis, which was abolished by nitrogen deficiency. In addition, a negative effect of nodulation on SL levels was detected, suggesting a conserved mechanism of SL regulation upon symbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid26939856, year = {2016}, author = {Cavallari, JF and Denou, E and Foley, KP and Khan, WI and Schertzer, JD}, title = {Different Th17 immunity in gut, liver, and adipose tissues during obesity: the role of diet, genetics, and microbes.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {82-89}, pmid = {26939856}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {MSH-136665//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/*immunology ; Animals ; Cytokines/immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/immunology/microbiology ; *Diet, High-Fat ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*pathology ; Liver/*immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neutrophil Activation/immunology ; Neutrophils/immunology ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/*deficiency/genetics ; Obesity/*immunology/microbiology ; Th17 Cells/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Microbes modify immunometabolism responses linking obesity and type 2 diabetes. Immunity helps maintain a host-microbe symbiosis, but inflammation can promote insulin resistance in tissues that control blood glucose. We were interested in compartmentalization of immune responses during obesity and show here that feeding mice an obesity-causing high-fat diet (HFD) decreased a marker of neutrophil activation and cytokines related to Th17 responses in the gut. A HFD decreased IL-17 and IL-21/22 in the ileum and colon, respectively. A HFD increased IL-17, IL-21/22 and other related Th17 responses in the liver. At the whole tissue level, there is divergence in gut and metabolic tissue Th17 cytokines during diet-induced obesity. Deletion of the bacterial peptidoglycan sensor NOD2 had relatively minor effects on these immune responses. We propose a model where diet-induced obesity promotes a permissive gut immune environment and sets the stage for host genetics to contribute to dysbiosis-driven metabolic tissue inflammation.}, } @article {pmid26939848, year = {2016}, author = {Kronsteiner, B and Bassaganya-Riera, J and Philipson, C and Viladomiu, M and Carbo, A and Abedi, V and Hontecillas, R}, title = {Systems-wide analyses of mucosal immune responses to Helicobacter pylori at the interface between pathogenicity and symbiosis.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {3-21}, pmid = {26939848}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {HHSN272201000056C//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1 ; Gastric Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Gastritis/*immunology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Helicobacter Infections/*immunology/microbiology ; Helicobacter pylori/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune Evasion/*immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/immunology ; Receptors, Chemokine/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori is the dominant member of the gastric microbiota in over half of the human population of which 5-15% develop gastritis or gastric malignancies. Immune responses to H. pylori are characterized by mixed T helper cell, cytotoxic T cell and NK cell responses. The presence of Tregs is essential for the control of gastritis and together with regulatory CX3CR1+ mononuclear phagocytes and immune-evasion strategies they enable life-long persistence of H. pylori. This H. pylori-induced regulatory environment might contribute to its cross-protective effect in inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Here we review host-microbe interactions, the development of pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses and how the latter contribute to H. pylori's role as beneficial member of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we present the integration of existing and new data into a computational/mathematical model and its use for the investigation of immunological mechanisms underlying initiation, progression and outcomes of H. pylori infection.}, } @article {pmid26938550, year = {2016}, author = {Mihara, T and Nishimura, Y and Shimizu, Y and Nishiyama, H and Yoshikawa, G and Uehara, H and Hingamp, P and Goto, S and Ogata, H}, title = {Linking Virus Genomes with Host Taxonomy.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {66}, pmid = {26938550}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Computational Biology/*methods ; *Databases, Factual ; *Databases, Genetic ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {Environmental genomics can describe all forms of organisms--cellular and viral--present in a community. The analysis of such eco-systems biology data relies heavily on reference databases, e.g., taxonomy or gene function databases. Reference databases of symbiosis sensu lato, although essential for the analysis of organism interaction networks, are lacking. By mining existing databases and literature, we here provide a comprehensive and manually curated database of taxonomic links between viruses and their cellular hosts.}, } @article {pmid26937279, year = {2016}, author = {Guichard, P and Gönczy, P}, title = {Basal body structure in Trichonympha.}, journal = {Cilia}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {9}, pmid = {26937279}, issn = {2046-2530}, abstract = {Trichonympha is a symbiotic flagellate of many species of termites and of the wood-feeding cockroach. Remarkably, this unicellular organism harbors up to over ten thousand flagella on its surface, which serve to propel it through the viscous environment of the host hindgut. In the 1960s, analysis of resin-embedded Trichonympha samples by electron microscopy revealed that the basal bodies that give rise to these flagella are exceptionally long, with a proximal, cartwheel-bearing, region some 50 times longer than that of regular centrioles. In recent years, this salient feature has prompted the analysis of the 3D architecture of Trichonympha basal bodies in the native state using cryo-electron tomography. The resulting ~40 Å resolution map of the basal body proximal region revealed a number of novel features that may be conserved in centrioles of other systems. These include proximal-distal polarity of the pinhead structure that links the cartwheel to centriolar microtubules, as well as of the linker between the A and the C microtubules. Moreover, this work demonstrated that the cartwheel is made of stacked ring-like structures that likely each comprise 18 molecules of SAS-6 proteins.}, } @article {pmid26937267, year = {2016}, author = {Palmer, M and de Maayer, P and Poulsen, M and Steenkamp, ET and van Zyl, E and Coutinho, TA and Venter, SN}, title = {Draft genome sequences of Pantoea agglomerans and Pantoea vagans isolates associated with termites.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {23}, pmid = {26937267}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {The genus Pantoea incorporates many economically and clinically important species. The plant-associated species, Pantoea agglomerans and Pantoea vagans, are closely related and are often isolated from similar environments. Plasmids conferring certain metabolic capabilities are also shared amongst these two species. The genomes of two isolates obtained from fungus-growing termites in South Africa were sequenced, assembled and annotated. A high number of orthologous genes are conserved within and between these species. The difference in genome size between P. agglomerans MP2 (4,733,829 bp) and P. vagans MP7 (4,598,703 bp) can largely be attributed to the differences in plasmid content. The genome sequences of these isolates may shed light on the common traits that enable P. agglomerans and P. vagans to co-occur in plant- and insect-associated niches.}, } @article {pmid26934591, year = {2016}, author = {Yang, SH and Chiang, PW and Hsu, TC and Kao, SJ and Tang, SL}, title = {Bacterial Community Associated with Organs of Shallow Hydrothermal Vent Crab Xenograpsus testudinatus near Kuishan Island, Taiwan.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0150597}, pmid = {26934591}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Brachyura/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Epsilonproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrothermal Vents/analysis/*microbiology ; Islands ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/analysis/*microbiology ; Sulfur/analysis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Shallow-water hydrothermal vents off Kueishan Island (northeastern Taiwan) provide a unique, sulfur-rich, highly acidic (pH 1.75-4.6) and variable-temperature environment. In this species-poor habitat, the crab Xenograpsus testudinatus is dominant, as it mainly feeds on zooplankton killed by sulfurous plumes. In this study, 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing was used to investigate diversity and composition of bacteria residing in digestive gland, gill, stomach, heart, and mid-gut of X. testudinatus, as well as in surrounding seawater. Dominant bacteria were Gamma- and Epsilonproteobacteria that might be capable of autotrophic growth by oxidizing reduced sulfur compounds and are usually resident in deep-sea hydrothermal systems. Dominant bacterial OTUs in X. testudinatus had both host and potential organ specificities, consistent with a potential trophic symbiotic relationship (nutrient transfer between host and bacteria). We inferred that versatile ways to obtain nutrients may provide an adaptive advantage for X. testudinatus in this demanding environment. To our knowledge, this is the first study of bacterial communities in various organs/tissues of a crustacean in a shallow-water hydrothermal system, and as such, may be a convenient animal model for studying these systems.}, } @article {pmid26934170, year = {2016}, author = {Arboleya, S and Stanton, C and Ryan, CA and Dempsey, E and Ross, PR}, title = {Bosom Buddies: The Symbiotic Relationship Between Infants and Bifidobacterium longum ssp. longum and ssp. infantis. Genetic and Probiotic Features.}, journal = {Annual review of food science and technology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1-21}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-food-041715-033151}, pmid = {26934170}, issn = {1941-1413}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Breast Feeding ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/prevention & control ; Gastroenteritis/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/prevention & control ; Infant ; Intestines ; Milk, Human/chemistry ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota is a complex community that plays an important role in human health from the initial steps of its establishment. Its microbial composition has been suggested to result from selective pressures imposed by the host and is modulated by competition among its members. Bifidobacterium longum is one of the most abundant species of the Bifidobacterium genus in the gut microbiota of healthy breast-fed infants and adults. The recent advancements of 'omics techniques have facilitated the genetic and functional studies of different gut microbiota members. They have revealed the complex genetic pathways used to metabolize different compounds that likely contribute to the competitiveness and persistence of B. longum in the colon. The discovery of a genomic island in B. longum ssp. infantis that encodes specific enzymes for the metabolism of human milk oligosaccharides suggests a specific ecological adaptation. Moreover, B. longum is widely used as probiotic, and beneficial effects in infant health have been reported in several studies.}, } @article {pmid26934109, year = {2016}, author = {Baeza, JA and Simpson, L and Ambrosio, LJ and Guéron, R and Mora, N}, title = {Monogamy in a Hyper-Symbiotic Shrimp.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e0149797}, pmid = {26934109}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Ostreidae/physiology ; Predatory Behavior/physiology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Theory predicts that monogamy is adaptive in resource-specialist symbiotic crustaceans inhabiting relatively small and morphologically simple hosts in tropical environments where predation risk away from hosts is high. We tested this prediction in Pontonia manningi, a hyper-symbiotic shrimp that dwells in the mantle cavity of the Atlantic winged oyster Pteria colymbus that, in turn, infects gorgonians from the genus Pseudopterogorgia in the Caribbean Sea. In agreement with theory, P. manningi were found dwelling as heterosexual pairs in oysters more frequently than expected by chance alone. Males and females also inhabited the same host individual independent of the female gravid condition or of the developmental stage of brooded embryos. While the observations above argue in favor of monogamy in P. manningi, there is evidence to suggest that males of the studied species are moderately promiscuous. That females found living solitary in oysters most often brooded embryos, and that males allocated more to weaponry (major claw size) than females at any given size suggest that males might be roaming among host individuals in search of and, fighting for, receptive females. All available information depicts a rather complex mating system in P. manningi: primarily monogamous but with moderately promiscuous males.}, } @article {pmid26933816, year = {2016}, author = {Varian, BJ and Gourishetti, S and Poutahidis, T and Lakritz, JR and Levkovich, T and Kwok, C and Teliousis, K and Ibrahim, YM and Mirabal, S and Erdman, SE}, title = {Beneficial bacteria inhibit cachexia.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {11803-11816}, pmid = {26933816}, issn = {1949-2553}, support = {R01 CA108854/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 CA164337/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cachexia/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri/*physiology ; Longevity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Sarcopenia/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Thymus Gland/cytology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Muscle wasting, known as cachexia, is a debilitating condition associated with chronic inflammation such as during cancer. Beneficial microbes have been shown to optimize systemic inflammatory tone during good health; however, interactions between microbes and host immunity in the context of cachexia are incompletely understood. Here we use mouse models to test roles for bacteria in muscle wasting syndromes. We find that feeding of a human commensal microbe, Lactobacillus reuteri, to mice is sufficient to lower systemic indices of inflammation and inhibit cachexia. Further, the microbial muscle-building phenomenon extends to normal aging as wild type animals exhibited increased growth hormone levels and up-regulation of transcription factor Forkhead Box N1 [FoxN1] associated with thymus gland retention and longevity. Interestingly, mice with a defective FoxN1 gene (athymic nude) fail to inhibit sarcopenia after L. reuteri therapy, indicating a FoxN1-mediated mechanism. In conclusion, symbiotic bacteria may serve to stimulate FoxN1 and thymic functions that regulate inflammation, offering possible alternatives for cachexia prevention and novel insights into roles for microbiota in mammalian ontogeny and phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid26932467, year = {2016}, author = {Roscher, C and Schmid, B and Kolle, O and Schulze, ED}, title = {Complementarity among four highly productive grassland species depends on resource availability.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {181}, number = {2}, pages = {571-582}, pmid = {26932467}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Biomass ; Fabaceae ; *Grassland ; Poaceae ; }, abstract = {Positive species richness-productivity relationships are common in biodiversity experiments, but how resource availability modifies biodiversity effects in grass-legume mixtures composed of highly productive species is yet to be explicitly tested. We addressed this question by choosing two grasses (Arrhenatherum elatius and Dactylis glomerata) and two legumes (Medicago × varia and Onobrychis viciifolia) which are highly productive in monocultures and dominant in mixtures (the Jena Experiment). We established monocultures, all possible two- and three-species mixtures, and the four-species mixture under three different resource supply conditions (control, fertilization, and shading). Compared to the control, community biomass production decreased under shading (-56 %) and increased under fertilization (+12 %). Net diversity effects (i.e., mixture minus mean monoculture biomass) were positive in the control and under shading (on average +15 and +72 %, respectively) and negative under fertilization (-10 %). Positive complementarity effects in the control suggested resource partitioning and facilitation of growth through symbiotic N2 fixation by legumes. Positive complementarity effects under shading indicated that resource partitioning is also possible when growth is carbon-limited. Negative complementarity effects under fertilization suggested that external nutrient supply depressed facilitative grass-legume interactions due to increased competition for light. Selection effects, which quantify the dominance of species with particularly high monoculture biomasses in the mixture, were generally small compared to complementarity effects, and indicated that these species had comparable competitive strengths in the mixture. Our study shows that resource availability has a strong impact on the occurrence of positive diversity effects among tall and highly productive grass and legume species.}, } @article {pmid26931800, year = {2016}, author = {Murphy, KA and Tabuloc, CA and Cervantes, KR and Chiu, JC}, title = {Ingestion of genetically modified yeast symbiont reduces fitness of an insect pest via RNA interference.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {22587}, pmid = {26931800}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {R01 GM102225/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Genes, Insect ; Insecta/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Larva/growth & development ; *RNA Interference ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {RNA interference has had major advances as a developing tool for pest management. In laboratory experiments, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is often administered to the insect by genetic modification of the crop, or synthesized in vitro and topically applied to the crop. Here, we engineered genetically modified yeast that express dsRNA targeting y-Tubulin in Drosophila suzukii. Our design takes advantage of the symbiotic interactions between Drosophila, yeast, and fruit crops. Yeast is naturally found growing on the surface of fruit crops, constitutes a major component of the Drosophila microbiome, and is highly attractive to Drosophila. Thus, this naturally attractive yeast biopesticide can deliver dsRNA to an insect pest without the need for genetic crop modification. We demonstrate that this biopesticide decreases larval survivorship, and reduces locomotor activity and reproductive fitness in adults, which are indicative of general health decline. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that yeast can be used to deliver dsRNA to an insect pest.}, } @article {pmid26931608, year = {2016}, author = {Sigurbjörnsdóttir, MA and Andrésson, ÓS and Vilhelmsson, O}, title = {Nutrient scavenging activity and antagonistic factors of non-photobiont lichen-associated bacteria: a review.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {68}, pmid = {26931608}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proteobacteria/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lichens are defined as the specific symbiotic structure comprising a fungus and a green alga and/or cyanobacterium. Up until recently, non-photobiont endothallic bacteria, while known to be present in large numbers, have generally been dismissed as functionally irrelevant cohabitants of the lichen thallus, or even environmental contaminants. Recent analyses of lichen metagenomes and innovative co-culture experiments have uncovered a functionally complex community that appears to contribute to a healthy lichen thallus in several ways. Lichen-associated bacteriomes are typically dominated by several lineages of Proteobacteria, some of which may be specific for lichen species. Recent work has implicated members of these lineages in several important ecophysiological roles. These include nutrient scavenging, including mobilization of iron and phosphate, nitrogen fixation, cellulase, xylanase and amylase activities, and oxidation of recalcitrant compounds, e.g. aromatics and aliphatics. Production of volatile organic compounds, conferring antibacterial and antifungal activity, has also been demonstrated for several lichen-associated isolates. In the present paper we review the nature of non-phototrophic endolichenic bacteria associated with lichens, and give insight into the current state of knowledge on their importance the lichen symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid26931172, year = {2016}, author = {Ge, YY and Xiang, QW and Wagner, C and Zhang, D and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {The type 3 effector NopL of Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234 is a mitogen-activated protein kinase substrate.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {8}, pages = {2483-2494}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erw065}, pmid = {26931172}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Phaseolus/physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Binding ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Serine/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/enzymology/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic bacteria utilize type 3 secretion systems to inject type 3 effectors (T3Es) into host cells, thereby subverting host defense reactions. Similarly, T3Es of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can affect nodule formation on roots of legumes. Previous work showed that NopL (nodulation outer protein L) of Sinorhizobium(Ensifer) sp. strain NGR234 is multiply phosphorylated in eukaryotic cells and that this T3E suppresses responses mediated by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling in yeast (mating pheromone signaling) and plant cells (expression of pathogenesis-related defense proteins). Here, we show that NopL is a MAP kinase substrate. Microscopic observations of fluorescent fusion proteins and bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis in onion cells indicated that NopL is targeted to the nucleus and forms a complex with SIPK (salicylic acid-induced protein kinase), a MAP kinase of tobacco. In vitro experiments demonstrated that NopL is phosphorylatyed by SIPK. At least nine distinct spots were observed after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, indicating that NopL can be hyperphosphorylated by MAP kinases. Senescence symptoms in nodules of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Tendergreen) were analyzed to determine the symbiotic effector activity of different NopL variants with serine to alanine substitutions at identified and predicted phosphorylation sites (serine-proline motif). NopL variants with six or eight serine to alanine substitutions were partially active, whereas NopL forms with 10 or 12 substituted serine residues were inactive. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that NopL interacts with MAP kinases and reveals the importance of serine-proline motifs for effector activity during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26930865, year = {2016}, author = {Kumar, V and Kumar, R and Kumar, A and Anal, D}, title = {Spore population, colonization, species diversity and factors influencing the association of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with litchi trees in India.}, journal = {Journal of environmental biology}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {91-100}, pmid = {26930865}, issn = {0254-8704}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; India ; Litchi/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/*classification ; }, abstract = {Abundance and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in association with litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) trees were studied during 2012-2013, where orchard soil had high pH (7.42-9.53) and salinity (0.07- 0.39 dSm(-1)). A total of 105 rhizospheric soil and root samples were collected considering variables like location, age of tree, cultivar and production management. Results showed that spore count was in the range of 1-22 g(-1) soil. All the examined root segments had colonization of AMF, which ranged between 3.3 to 90.0%. AMF community comprised of Glomus mosseae, G. intaradices, G. constricta, G. coronatum, G. fasciculatum, G. albidum, G. hoi, G. multicauli, Acaulospora scrobiculata, A. laevis, Rhizophagus litchi and Entrophosphora infrequens. Higher spore density and AMF colonization were observed at medium level (13-28 kg ha(-1)) of available phosphorus that decreased ('r' = -0.21 for spore density, -0.48 for root colonization) with increasing soil phosphorus. While nitrogen did not influence the AMF association, a weak negative linear relationship with AMF colonization ('r' = -0.30) was apparent in the medium level (112-200 kg ha(-1)) of potash. Micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and B) did not affect spore density (zero or a very weak linear correlation) but influenced root colonization ('r' = -0.53 to -0.44), the effect being more prominent above critical limits. Nutritionally sufficient, irrigated litchi orchards had greater spore count (46% samples having 5-22 spores g(-1) soil) and colonization (> 50% in 37.4% roots examined) than nutrient deficient, non-irrigated orchards, indicating essentiality of a threshold nutrients and moisture regime for the association. AMF symbiosis was influenced by cultivar (greater in 'China'), but tree age was not correlated to mycorrhizal association. A consortium of native species coupled with the understanding of nutrient effects on AMF would be useful for field application in litchi.}, } @article {pmid26928913, year = {2016}, author = {Callender, KL and Roy, S and Khasa, DP and Whyte, LG and Greer, CW}, title = {Actinorhizal Alder Phytostabilization Alters Microbial Community Dynamics in Gold Mine Waste Rock from Northern Quebec: A Greenhouse Study.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0150181}, pmid = {26928913}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alnus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biodiversity ; Frankia/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Gold ; *Industrial Waste ; *Mining ; Mycorrhizae/isolation & purification/physiology ; Quebec ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phytotechnologies are rapidly replacing conventional ex-situ remediation techniques as they have the added benefit of restoring aesthetic value, important in the reclamation of mine sites. Alders are pioneer species that can tolerate and proliferate in nutrient-poor, contaminated environments, largely due to symbiotic root associations with the N2-fixing bacteria, Frankia and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. In this study, we investigated the growth of two Frankia-inoculated (actinorhizal) alder species, A. crispa and A. glutinosa, in gold mine waste rock from northern Quebec. Alder species had similar survival rates and positively impacted soil quality and physico-chemical properties in similar ways, restoring soil pH to neutrality and reducing extractable metals up to two-fold, while not hyperaccumulating them into above-ground plant biomass. A. glutinosa outperformed A. crispa in terms of growth, as estimated by the seedling volume index (SVI), and root length. Pyrosequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for fungi provided a comprehensive, direct characterization of microbial communities in gold mine waste rock and fine tailings. Plant- and treatment-specific shifts in soil microbial community compositions were observed in planted mine residues. Shannon diversity and the abundance of microbes involved in key ecosystem processes such as contaminant degradation (Sphingomonas, Sphingobium and Pseudomonas), metal sequestration (Brevundimonas and Caulobacter) and N2-fixation (Azotobacter, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Pseudomonas) increased over time, i.e., as plants established in mine waste rock. Acetate mineralization and most probable number (MPN) assays showed that revegetation positively stimulated both bulk and rhizosphere communities, increasing microbial density (biomass increase of 2 orders of magnitude) and mineralization (five-fold). Genomic techniques proved useful in investigating tripartite (plant-bacteria-fungi) interactions during phytostabilization, contributing to our knowledge in this field of study.}, } @article {pmid26928590, year = {2016}, author = {Siebers, M and Brands, M and Wewer, V and Duan, Y and Hölzl, G and Dörmann, P}, title = {Lipids in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1861}, number = {9 Pt B}, pages = {1379-1395}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.02.021}, pmid = {26928590}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Ceramides/genetics ; Disease Resistance/*genetics ; Glycolipids/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Lipids/*genetics ; Phospholipases/genetics ; Phospholipids/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/microbiology ; Plants/genetics/microbiology ; Sphingolipids/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria and fungi can undergo symbiotic or pathogenic interactions with plants. Membrane lipids and lipid-derived molecules from the plant or the microbial organism play important roles during the infection process. For example, lipids (phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, sterol lipids) are involved in establishing the membrane interface between the two organisms. Furthermore, lipid-derived molecules are crucial for intracellular signaling in the plant cell, and lipids serve as signals during plant-microbial communication. These signal lipids include phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, lysophospholipids, and free fatty acids derived from phospholipase activity, apocarotenoids, and sphingolipid breakdown products such as ceramide, ceramide-phosphate, long chain base, and long chain base-phosphate. Fatty acids are the precursors for oxylipins, including jasmonic acid, and for azelaic acid, which together with glycerol-3-phosphate are crucial for the regulation of systemic acquired resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue titled "Plant Lipid Biology," guest editors Kent Chapman and Ivo Feussner.}, } @article {pmid26926518, year = {2016}, author = {Ryu, T and Seridi, L and Moitinho-Silva, L and Oates, M and Liew, YJ and Mavromatis, C and Wang, X and Haywood, A and Lafi, FF and Kupresanin, M and Sougrat, R and Alzahrani, MA and Giles, E and Ghosheh, Y and Schunter, C and Baumgarten, S and Berumen, ML and Gao, X and Aranda, M and Foret, S and Gough, J and Voolstra, CR and Hentschel, U and Ravasi, T}, title = {Hologenome analysis of two marine sponges with different microbiomes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {158}, pmid = {26926518}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {BB/G022771/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Genome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Porifera/*genetics/*microbiology ; Receptors, Scavenger/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sponges (Porifera) harbor distinct microbial consortia within their mesohyl interior. We herein analysed the hologenomes of Stylissa carteri and Xestospongia testudinaria, which notably differ in their microbiome content.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that S. carteri has an expanded repertoire of immunological domains, specifically Scavenger Receptor Cysteine-Rich (SRCR)-like domains, compared to X. testudinaria. On the microbial side, metatranscriptome analyses revealed an overrepresentation of potential symbiosis-related domains in X. testudinaria.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide genomic insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying host-symbiont coevolution and may serve as a roadmap for future hologenome analyses.}, } @article {pmid26926343, year = {2016}, author = {Bellis, ES and Howe, DK and Denver, DR}, title = {Genome-wide polymorphism and signatures of selection in the symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {160}, pmid = {26926343}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; *Biological Evolution ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Genome ; Genotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coral reef ecosystems are declining in response to global climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Yet patterns of standing genetic variation within cnidarian species, a major determinant of adaptive potential, are virtually unknown at genome-scale resolution. We explore patterns of genome-wide polymorphism and identify candidate loci under selection in the sea anemone Aiptasia, an important laboratory model system for studying the symbiosis between corals and dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium.

RESULTS: Low coverage genome sequencing revealed large genetic distances among globally widespread lineages, novel candidate targets of selection, and considerably higher heterozygosity than previously reported for Aiptasia. More than 670,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified among 10 Aiptasia individuals including two pairs of genetic clones. Evolutionary relationships based on genome-wide polymorphism supported the current paradigm of a genetically distinct population from the US South Atlantic that harbors diverse Symbiodinium clades. However, anemones from the US South Atlantic demonstrated a striking lack of shared derived polymorphism. Heterozygosity was an important feature shaping nucleotide diversity patterns: at any given SNP site, more than a third of individuals genotyped were heterozygotes, and heterozygosity within individual genomes ranged from 0.37-0.58%. Analysis of nonsynonymous and synonymous sites suggested that highly heterozygous regions are evolving under relaxed purifying selection compared to the rest of the Aiptasia genome. Genes previously identified as having elevated evolutionary rates in Aiptasia compared to other cnidarians were found in our study to be under strong purifying selection within Aiptasia. Candidate targets of selection, including lectins and genes involved in Rho GTPase signalling, were identified based on unusual signatures of nucleotide diversity, Tajima's D, and heterozygosity compared to genome-wide averages.

CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first genome-wide analysis of Tajima's D in a cnidarian. Our results shed light on patterns of intraspecific genome-wide polymorphism in a model for studies of coral-algae symbiosis and present genetic targets for future research on evolutionary and cellular processes in early-diverging metazoans.}, } @article {pmid26925812, year = {2016}, author = {Dean, AD and Minter, EJ and Sørensen, ME and Lowe, CD and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA and Jamie Wood, A}, title = {Host control and nutrient trading in a photosynthetic symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {405}, number = {}, pages = {82-93}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.02.021}, pmid = {26925812}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/radiation effects ; Chlorella/growth & development/*physiology ; Light ; Paramecium/growth & development/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis/*physiology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Photosymbiosis is one of the most important evolutionary trajectories, resulting in the chloroplast and the subsequent development of all complex photosynthetic organisms. The ciliate Paramecium bursaria and the alga Chlorella have a well established and well studied light dependent endosymbiotic relationship. Despite its prominence, there remain many unanswered questions regarding the exact mechanisms of the photosymbiosis. Of particular interest is how a host maintains and manages its symbiont load in response to the allocation of nutrients between itself and its symbionts. Here we construct a detailed mathematical model, parameterised from the literature, that explicitly incorporates nutrient trading within a deterministic model of both partners. The model demonstrates how the symbiotic relationship can manifest as parasitism of the host by the symbionts, mutualism, wherein both partners benefit, or exploitation of the symbionts by the hosts. We show that the precise nature of the photosymbiosis is determined by both environmental conditions (how much light is available for photosynthesis) and the level of control a host has over its symbiont load. Our model provides a framework within which it is possible to pose detailed questions regarding the evolutionary behaviour of this important example of an established light dependent endosymbiosis; we focus on one question in particular, namely the evolution of host control, and show using an adaptive dynamics approach that a moderate level of host control may evolve provided the associated costs are not prohibitive.}, } @article {pmid26925048, year = {2016}, author = {Soufi, Y and Soufi, B}, title = {Mass Spectrometry-Based Bacterial Proteomics: Focus on Dermatologic Microbial Pathogens.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {181}, pmid = {26925048}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The composition of human skin acts as a natural habitat for various bacterial species that function in a commensal and symbiotic fashion. In a healthy individual, bacterial flora serves to protect the host. Under certain conditions such as minor trauma, impaired host immunity, or environmental factors, the risk of developing skin infections is increased. Although a large majority of bacterial associated skin infections are common, a portion can potentially manifest into clinically significant morbidity. For example, Gram-positive species that typically reside on the skin such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus can cause numerous epidermal (impetigo, ecthyma) and dermal (cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, erysipelas) skin infections. Moreover, the increasing incidence of bacterial antibiotic resistance represents a serious challenge to modern medicine and threatens the health care system. Therefore, it is critical to develop tools and strategies that can allow us to better elucidate the nature and mechanism of bacterial virulence. To this end, mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has been revolutionizing biomedical research, and has positively impacted the microbiology field. Advances in MS technologies have paved the way for numerous bacterial proteomes and their respective post translational modifications (PTMs) to be accurately identified and quantified in a high throughput and robust fashion. This technological platform offers critical information with regards to signal transduction, adherence, and microbial-host interactions associated with bacterial pathogenesis. This mini-review serves to highlight the current progress proteomics has contributed toward the understanding of bacteria that are associated with skin related diseases, infections, and antibiotic resistance.}, } @article {pmid26925047, year = {2016}, author = {Aschenbrenner, IA and Cernava, T and Berg, G and Grube, M}, title = {Understanding Microbial Multi-Species Symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {180}, pmid = {26925047}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lichens are commonly recognized as a symbiotic association of a fungus and a chlorophyll containing partner, either green algae or cyanobacteria, or both. The fungus provides a suitable habitat for the partner, which provides photosynthetically fixed carbon as energy source for the system. The evolutionary result of the self-sustaining partnership is a unique joint structure, the lichen thallus, which is indispensable for fungal sexual reproduction. The classical view of a dual symbiosis has been challenged by recent microbiome research, which revealed host-specific bacterial microbiomes. The recent results about bacterial associations with lichens symbioses corroborate their notion as a multi-species symbiosis. Multi-omics approaches have provided evidence for functional contribution by the bacterial microbiome to the entire lichen meta-organism while various abiotic and biotic factors can additionally influence the bacterial community structure. Results of current research also suggest that neighboring ecological niches influence the composition of the lichen bacterial microbiome. Specificity and functions are here reviewed based on these recent findings, converging to a holistic view of bacterial roles in lichens. Finally we propose that the lichen thallus has also evolved to function as a smart harvester of bacterial symbionts. We suggest that lichens represent an ideal model to study multi-species symbiosis, using the recently available omics tools and other cutting edge methods.}, } @article {pmid26925043, year = {2016}, author = {Benjamino, J and Graf, J}, title = {Characterization of the Core and Caste-Specific Microbiota in the Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {171}, pmid = {26925043}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes harbors a complex symbiotic community consisting of protists, bacteria, and archaea. These symbionts aid in the digestion of lignocellulose from the termite's wood meal. Termite hindguts were sampled and the V4 hyper-variable region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and analyzed from individual termites. The core microbiota of worker termites consisted of 69 OTUs at the 97% identity level, grouped into 16 taxa, and together accounted for 67.05% of the sequences from the bacterial community. The core was dominated by Treponema, which contained 36 different OTUs and accounted for ∼32% of the sequences, which suggests Treponema sp. have an important impact on the overall physiology in the hindgut. Bray-Curtis beta diversity metrics showed that hindgut samples from termites of the same colony were more similar to each other than to samples from other colonies despite possessing a core that accounted for the majority of the sequences. The specific tasks and dietary differences of the termite castes could have an effect on the composition of the microbial community. The hindgut microbiota of termites from the alate castes differed from the worker caste with significantly lower abundances of Treponema and Endomicrobia, which dominated the hindgut microbiota in workers and soldiers. Protist abundances were also quantified in the same samples using qPCR of the 18S rRNA gene. Parabasalia abundances dropped significantly in the winged alates and the Oxymonadida abundances dropped in both alate castes. These data suggest that the changes in diet or overall host physiology affected the protist and bacterial populations in the hindgut. The in-depth bacterial characterization and protist quantification in this study sheds light on the potential community dynamics within the R. flavipes hindgut and identified a large and complex core microbiota in termites obtained from multiple colonies and castes.}, } @article {pmid26922360, year = {2016}, author = {Bayat, Z and Hassanshahian, M and Hesni, MA}, title = {Study the symbiotic crude oil-degrading bacteria in the mussel Mactra stultorum collected from the Persian Gulf.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {105}, number = {1}, pages = {120-124}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.02.042}, pmid = {26922360}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bivalvia/metabolism/*microbiology ; Indian Ocean ; Petroleum/analysis/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations are complex partnerships that can lead to new metabolic capabilities and the establishment of novel organisms. The diversity of these associations is very broad and there are still many mysteries about the origin and the exact relationship between the organisms that are involved in a symbiosis. The aim of the present study is to find symbiotic crude-oil degrading bacteria in the mussels that collected from the Persian Gulf. Fifteen crude-oil degrading bacteria were isolated from Mactra stultorum mussel that collected from oil contaminated area at Persian Gulf. According to high growth rate on crude oil five strains were selected from 15 isolated strains for more study. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding 16S rRNA show that these isolated strains belong to: Alcanivorax dieselolei strain BHA25, Idiomarina baltica strain BHA28, A. dieselolei strain BHA30, Alcanivorax sp. strain BHA32 and Vibrio azureus strain BHA36. Analysis of remaining of crude oil by Gas Chromatography (GC) confirmed that these strains can degrade: 64%, 63%, 71%, 58% and 75% of crude oil respectively.}, } @article {pmid26920390, year = {2016}, author = {Veerappan, V and Jani, M and Kadel, K and Troiani, T and Gale, R and Mayes, T and Shulaev, E and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Azad, RK and Dickstein, R}, title = {Rapid identification of causative insertions underlying Medicago truncatula Tnt1 mutants defective in symbiotic nitrogen fixation from a forward genetic screen by whole genome sequencing.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {141}, pmid = {26920390}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Ecotype ; *Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the model legume Medicago truncatula, the near saturation genome-wide Tnt1 insertion mutant population in ecotype R108 is a valuable tool in functional genomics studies. Forward genetic screens have identified many Tnt1 mutants defective in nodule development and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). However, progress toward identifying the causative mutations of these symbiotic mutants has been slow because of the high copy number of Tnt1 insertions in some mutant plants and inefficient recovery of flanking sequence tags (FSTs) by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (TAIL-PCR) and other techniques.

RESULTS: Two Tnt1 symbiotic mutants, NF11217 and NF10547, with defects in nodulation and SNF were isolated during a forward genetic screen. Both TAIL-PCR and whole genome sequencing (WGS) approaches were used in attempts to find the relevant mutant genes in NF11217 and NF10547. Illumina paired-end WGS generated ~16 Gb of sequence data from a 500 bp insert library for each mutant, yielding ~40X genome coverage. Bioinformatics analysis of the sequence data identified 97 and 65 high confidence independent Tnt1 insertion loci in NF11217 and NF10547, respectively. In comparison to TAIL-PCR, WGS recovered more Tnt1 insertions. From the WGS data, we found Tnt1 insertions in the exons of the previously described PHOSPHOLIPASE C (PLC)-like and NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) genes in NF11217 and NF10547 mutants, respectively. Co-segregation analyses confirmed that the symbiotic phenotypes of NF11217 and NF10547 are tightly linked to the Tnt1 insertions in PLC-like and NIN genes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: In this work, we demonstrate that WGS is an efficient approach for identification of causative genes underlying SNF defective phenotypes in M. truncatula Tnt1 insertion mutants obtained via forward genetic screens.}, } @article {pmid26918665, year = {2016}, author = {Warshan, D and Bay, G and Nahar, N and Wardle, DA and Nilsson, MC and Rasmussen, U}, title = {Seasonal variation in nifH abundance and expression of cyanobacterial communities associated with boreal feather mosses.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {2198-2208}, pmid = {26918665}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bryopsida/*microbiology ; Cyanobacteria/*enzymology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics/metabolism ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; Taiga ; }, abstract = {Dinitrogen (N2)-fixation by cyanobacteria living in symbiosis with pleurocarpous feather mosses (for example, Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens) represents the main pathway of biological N input into N-depleted boreal forests. Little is known about the role of the cyanobacterial community in contributing to the observed temporal variability of N2-fixation. Using specific nifH primers targeting four major cyanobacterial clusters and quantitative PCR, we investigated how community composition, abundance and nifH expression varied by moss species and over the growing seasons. We evaluated N2-fixation rates across nine forest sites in June and September and explored the abundance and nifH expression of individual cyanobacterial clusters when N2-fixation is highest. Our results showed temporal and host-dependent variations of cyanobacterial community composition, nifH gene abundance and expression. N2-fixation was higher in September than June for both moss species, explained by higher nifH gene expression of individual clusters rather than higher nifH gene abundance or differences in cyanobacterial community composition. In most cases, 'Stigonema cluster' made up less than 29% of the total cyanobacterial community, but accounted for the majority of nifH gene expression (82-94% of total nifH expression), irrespective of sampling date or moss species. Stepwise multiple regressions showed temporal variations in N2-fixation being greatly explained by variations in nifH expression of the 'Stigonema cluster'. These results suggest that Stigonema is potentially the most influential N2-fixer in symbiosis with boreal forest feather mosses.}, } @article {pmid26916267, year = {2016}, author = {Huang, X and Sun, K and Wei, Q and Urata, K and Yamashita, Y and Hong, N and Hama, T and Kawagoshi, Y}, title = {One-stage partial nitritation and anammox in membrane bioreactor.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {23}, number = {11}, pages = {11149-11162}, pmid = {26916267}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Nitrification ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Wastewater/*analysis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Partial nitritation and anammox (PN/A) was applied in a lab-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) to investigate its technical feasibility for treating ammonium-rich wastewater with low C/N ratio. The bacterial community was analyzed by molecular cloning and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Partial nitritation (PN) was first realized in MBR by seeding aerobic activated sludge. With dissolved oxygen control, a steady effluent mixture with NO2 (-)-N/NH4 (+)-N ratio of 1.13 ± 0.08 was generated from the PN process. Subsequently, the MBR was seeded with anammox biomass on day 59. After running 300 days, the one-stage PN/A achieved a maximum nitrogen removal rate of 1.45 kg N/m(3)/day at the nitrogen removal efficiency of 89.5 %. Microbial community analysis revealed that Nitrosomonas sp. HKU and Nitrosospira sp. YKU corresponded to nitritation; meanwhile, Candidatus Brocadia TKU sp. accounted for nitrogen removal of the PN/A system. Specifically, Nitrosomonas sp. were enriched in the reactor at the PN/A phase and then conquered Nitrosospira sp. to be the predominant ammonia oxidizers. Nitrite oxidizers and denitrifiers were detected in symbiosis with aforementioned microbes. Denitrification promised potential plus nitrogen depletion. The present one-stage PN/A process allows a significant decrease in operational costs compared with classical nitrification/denitrification.}, } @article {pmid26914590, year = {2016}, author = {Maltman, C and Walter, G and Yurkov, V}, title = {A Diverse Community of Metal(loid) Oxide Respiring Bacteria Is Associated with Tube Worms in the Vicinity of the Juan de Fuca Ridge Black Smoker Field.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0149812}, pmid = {26914590}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Genetic Variation ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Metals/*chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Epibiotic bacteria associated with tube worms living in the vicinity of deep sea hydrothermal vents of the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the Pacific Ocean were investigated for the ability to respire anaerobically on tellurite, tellurate, selenite, selenate, metavanadate and orthovanadate as terminal electron acceptors. Out of 107 isolates tested, 106 were capable of respiration on one or more of these oxides, indicating that metal(loid) oxide based respiration is not only much more prevalent in nature than is generally believed, but also is an important mode of energy generation in the habitat. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the bacterial community to be rich and highly diverse, containing many potentially new species. Furthermore, it appears that the worms not only possess a close symbiotic relationship with chemolithotrophic sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, but also with the metal(loid) oxide transformers. Possibly they protect the worms through reduction of the toxic compounds that would otherwise be harmful to the host.}, } @article {pmid26914459, year = {2016}, author = {Ikeda-Ohtsubo, W and Strassert, JF and Köhler, T and Mikaelyan, A and Gregor, I and McHardy, AC and Tringe, SG and Hugenholtz, P and Radek, R and Brune, A}, title = {'Candidatus Adiutrix intracellularis', an endosymbiont of termite gut flagellates, is the first representative of a deep-branching clade of Deltaproteobacteria and a putative homoacetogen.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2548-2564}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13234}, pmid = {26914459}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Deltaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Desulfovibrio/genetics ; Formate Dehydrogenases/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Hypermastigia/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termite gut flagellates are typically colonized by specific bacterial symbionts. Here we describe the phylogeny, ultrastructure and subcellular location of 'Candidatus Adiutrix intracellularis', an intracellular symbiont of Trichonympha collaris in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. It represents a novel, deep-branching clade of uncultured Deltaproteobacteria widely distributed in intestinal tracts of termites and cockroaches. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy localized the endosymbiont near hydrogenosomes in the posterior part and near the ectosymbiont 'Candidatus Desulfovibrio trichonymphae' in the anterior part of the host cell. The draft genome of 'Ca. Adiutrix intracellularis' obtained from a metagenomic library revealed the presence of a complete gene set encoding the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, including two homologs of fdhF encoding hydrogenase-linked formate dehydrogenases (FDHH) and all other components of the recently described hydrogen-dependent carbon dioxide reductase (HDCR) complex, which substantiates previous claims that the symbiont is capable of reductive acetogenesis from CO2 and H2 . The close phylogenetic relationship between the HDCR components and their homologs in homoacetogenic Firmicutes and Spirochaetes suggests that the deltaproteobacterium acquired the capacity for homoacetogenesis via lateral gene transfer. The presence of genes for nitrogen fixation and the biosynthesis of amino acids and cofactors indicate the nutritional nature of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26914272, year = {2016}, author = {Vannini, C and Carpentieri, A and Salvioli, A and Novero, M and Marsoni, M and Testa, L and de Pinto, MC and Amoresano, A and Ortolani, F and Bracale, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {An interdomain network: the endobacterium of a mycorrhizal fungus promotes antioxidative responses in both fungal and plant hosts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {211}, number = {1}, pages = {265-275}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13895}, pmid = {26914272}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Burkholderiaceae/*physiology ; Calcium Signaling ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lotus/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate plant biotrophs that may contain endobacteria in their cytoplasm. Genome sequencing of Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum revealed a reduced genome and dependence on the fungal host. RNA-seq analysis of the AMF Gigaspora margarita in the presence and absence of the endobacterium indicated that endobacteria have an important role in the fungal pre-symbiotic phase by enhancing fungal bioenergetic capacity. To improve the understanding of fungal-endobacterial interactions, iTRAQ (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) quantitative proteomics was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in G. margarita germinating spores with endobacteria (B+), without endobacteria in the cured line (B-) and after application of the synthetic strigolactone GR24. Proteomic, transcriptomic and biochemical data identified several fungal and bacterial proteins involved in interspecies interactions. Endobacteria influenced fungal growth, calcium signalling and metabolism. The greatest effects were on fungal primary metabolism and respiration, which was 50% higher in B+ than in B-. A shift towards pentose phosphate metabolism was detected in B-. Quantification of carbonylated proteins indicated that the B- line had higher oxidative stress levels, which were also observed in two host plants. This study shows that endobacteria generate a complex interdomain network that affects AMF and fungal-plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid26913482, year = {2016}, author = {Mukhi, N and Dhindwal, S and Uppal, S and Kapoor, A and Arya, R and Kumar, P and Kaur, J and Kundu, S}, title = {Structural and Functional Significance of the N- and C-Terminal Appendages in Arabidopsis Truncated Hemoglobin.}, journal = {Biochemistry}, volume = {55}, number = {12}, pages = {1724-1740}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.5b01013}, pmid = {26913482}, issn = {1520-4995}, mesh = {*Arabidopsis ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/*physiology ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Truncated Hemoglobins/*chemistry/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant hemoglobins constitute three distinct groups: symbiotic, nonsymbiotic, and truncated hemoglobins. Structural investigation of symbiotic and nonsymbiotic (class I) hemoglobins revealed the presence of a vertebrate-like 3/3 globin fold in these proteins. In contrast, plant truncated hemoglobins are similar to bacterial truncated hemoglobins with a putative 2/2 α-helical globin fold. While multiple structures have been reported for plant hemoglobins of the first two categories, for plant truncated globins only one structure has been reported of late. Here, we report yet another crystal structure of the truncated hemoglobin from Arabidopsis thaliana (AHb3) with two water molecules in the heme pocket, of which one is distinctly coordinated to the heme iron, unlike the only available crystal structure of AHb3 with a hydroxyl ligand. AHb3 was monomeric in its crystallographic asymmetric unit; however, dimer was evident in the crystallographic symmetry, and the globin indeed existed as a stable dimer in solution. The tertiary structure of the protein exhibited a bacterial-like 2/2 α-helical globin fold with an additional N-terminal α-helical extension and disordered C-termini. To address the role of these extended termini in AHb3, which is yet unknown, N- and C-terminal deletion mutants were created and characterized and molecular dynamics simulations performed. The C-terminal deletion had an insignificant effect on most properties but perturbed the dimeric equilibrium of AHb3 and significantly influenced azide binding kinetics in the ferric state. These results along with the disordered nature of the C-terminus indicated its putative role in intramolecular or intermolecular interactions probably regulating protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions. While the N-terminal deletion did not change the overall globin fold, stability, or ligand binding kinetics, it seemed to have influenced coordination at the heme iron, the hydration status of the active site, and the quaternary structure of AHb3. Evidence indicated that the N-terminus is the predominant factor regulating the quaternary interaction appropriate to physiological requirements, dynamics of the side chains in the heme pocket, and tunnel organization in the protein matrix.}, } @article {pmid26912857, year = {2016}, author = {Scheller, S and Yu, H and Chadwick, GL and McGlynn, SE and Orphan, VJ}, title = {Artificial electron acceptors decouple archaeal methane oxidation from sulfate reduction.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {351}, number = {6274}, pages = {703-707}, doi = {10.1126/science.aad7154}, pmid = {26912857}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; *Carbon Cycle ; Electron Transport ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Methane/*metabolism ; Methanosarcinales/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Archaeal/classification/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The oxidation of methane with sulfate is an important microbial metabolism in the global carbon cycle. In marine methane seeps, this process is mediated by consortia of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) that live in syntrophy with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The underlying interdependencies within this uncultured symbiotic partnership are poorly understood. We used a combination of rate measurements and single-cell stable isotope probing to demonstrate that ANME in deep-sea sediments can be catabolically and anabolically decoupled from their syntrophic SRB partners using soluble artificial oxidants. The ANME still sustain high rates of methane oxidation in the absence of sulfate as the terminal oxidant, lending support to the hypothesis that interspecies extracellular electron transfer is the syntrophic mechanism for the anaerobic oxidation of methane.}, } @article {pmid26912499, year = {2016}, author = {Patterson, E and Ryan, PM and Cryan, JF and Dinan, TG and Ross, RP and Fitzgerald, GF and Stanton, C}, title = {Gut microbiota, obesity and diabetes.}, journal = {Postgraduate medical journal}, volume = {92}, number = {1087}, pages = {286-300}, doi = {10.1136/postgradmedj-2015-133285}, pmid = {26912499}, issn = {1469-0756}, mesh = {*Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism/physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism/microbiology ; *Obesity/metabolism/physiopathology ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The central role of the intestinal microbiota in the progression and, equally, prevention of metabolic dysfunction is becoming abundantly apparent. The symbiotic relationship between intestinal microbiota and host ensures appropriate development of the metabolic system in humans. However, disturbances in composition and, in turn, functionality of the intestinal microbiota can disrupt gut barrier function, a trip switch for metabolic endotoxemia. This low-grade chronic inflammation, brought about by the influx of inflammatory bacterial fragments into circulation through a malfunctioning gut barrier, has considerable knock-on effects for host adiposity and insulin resistance. Conversely, recent evidence suggests that there are certain bacterial species that may interact with host metabolism through metabolite-mediated stimulation of enteric hormones and other systems outside of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the endocannabinoid system. When the abundance of these keystone species begins to decline, we see a collapse of the symbiosis, reflected in a deterioration of host metabolic health. This review will investigate the intricate axis between the microbiota and host metabolism, while also addressing the promising and novel field of probiotics as metabolic therapies.}, } @article {pmid26911963, year = {2016}, author = {Whitten, MM and Facey, PD and Del Sol, R and Fernández-Martínez, LT and Evans, MC and Mitchell, JJ and Bodger, OG and Dyson, PJ}, title = {Symbiont-mediated RNA interference in insects.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1825}, pages = {20160042}, pmid = {26911963}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {BB/G024154/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Targeting/*methods ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Double-Stranded/*genetics ; Rhodnius/*genetics/microbiology ; Rhodococcus/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Thysanoptera/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {RNA interference (RNAi) methods for insects are often limited by problems with double-stranded (ds) RNA delivery, which restricts reverse genetics studies and the development of RNAi-based biocides. We therefore delegated to insect symbiotic bacteria the task of: (i) constitutive dsRNA synthesis and (ii) trauma-free delivery. RNaseIII-deficient, dsRNA-expressing bacterial strains were created from the symbionts of two very diverse pest species: a long-lived blood-sucking bug, Rhodnius prolixus, and a short-lived globally invasive polyphagous agricultural pest, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). When ingested, the manipulated bacteria colonized the insects, successfully competed with the wild-type microflora, and sustainably mediated systemic knockdown phenotypes that were horizontally transmissible. This represents a significant advance in the ability to deliver RNAi, potentially to a large range of non-model insects.}, } @article {pmid26911707, year = {2016}, author = {Masuda, S and Saito, M and Sugawara, C and Itakura, M and Eda, S and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Identification of the Hydrogen Uptake Gene Cluster for Chemolithoautotrophic Growth and Symbiosis Hydrogen Uptake in Bradyrhizobium Diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {76-78}, pmid = {26911707}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/physiology ; *Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genomic Islands ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; *Multigene Family ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hydrogen uptake (Hup) system of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens recycles the H2 released by nitrogenase in soybean nodule symbiosis, and is responsible for H2-dependent chemolithoautotrophic growth. The strain USDA110 has two hup gene clusters located outside (locus I) and inside (locus II) a symbiosis island. Bacterial growth under H2-dependent chemolithoautotrophic conditions was markedly weaker and H2 production by soybean nodules was markedly stronger for the mutant of hup locus I (ΔhupS1L1) than for the mutant of hup locus II (ΔhupS2L2). These results indicate that locus I is primarily responsible for Hup activity.}, } @article {pmid26910474, year = {2016}, author = {Ambrosio, LJ and Baeza, JA}, title = {Territoriality and Conflict Avoidance Explain Asociality (Solitariness) of the Endosymbiotic Pea Crab Tunicotheres moseri.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0148285}, pmid = {26910474}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Avoidance Learning ; Brachyura/*physiology ; Choice Behavior ; *Conflict, Psychological ; *Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; *Territoriality ; Urochordata/physiology ; }, abstract = {Host monopolization theory predicts symbiotic organisms inhabiting morphologically simple, relatively small and scarce hosts to live solitarily as a result of territorial behaviors. We tested this prediction with Tunicotheres moseri, an endosymbiotic crab dwelling in the atrial chamber of the morphologically simple, small, and relatively scarce ascidian Styela plicata. As predicted, natural populations of T. moseri inhabit ascidian hosts solitarily with greater frequency than expected by chance alone. Furthermore, laboratory experiments demonstrated that intruder crabs take significantly longer to colonize previously infected compared to uninfected hosts, indicating as expected, that resident crabs exhibit monopolization behaviors. While territoriality does occur, agonistic behaviors employed by T. moseri do not mirror the overt behaviors commonly reported for other territorial crustaceans. Documented double and triple cohabitations in the field coupled with laboratory observations demonstrating the almost invariable success of intruder crabs colonizing occupied hosts, suggest that territoriality is ineffective in completely explaining the solitary social habit of this species. Additional experiments showed that T. moseri juveniles and adults, when searching for ascidians use chemical cues to avoid hosts occupied by conspecifics. This conspecific avoidance behavior reported herein is a novel strategy most likely employed to preemptively resolve costly territorial conflicts. In general, this study supports predictions central to host monopolization theory, but also implies that alternative behavioral strategies (i.e., conflict avoidance) may be more important than originally thought in explaining the host use pattern of symbiotic organisms.}, } @article {pmid26909085, year = {2016}, author = {Genre, A and Russo, G}, title = {Does a Common Pathway Transduce Symbiotic Signals in Plant-Microbe Interactions?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {96}, pmid = {26909085}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Recent years have witnessed major advances in our knowledge of plant mutualistic symbioses such as the rhizobium-legume symbiosis (RLS) and arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM). Some of these findings caused the revision of longstanding hypotheses, but one of the most solid theories is that a conserved set of plant proteins rules the transduction of symbiotic signals from beneficial glomeromycetes and rhizobia in a so-called common symbiotic pathway (CSP). Nevertheless, the picture still misses several elements, and a few crucial points remain unclear. How does one common pathway discriminate between - at least - two symbionts? Can we exclude that microbes other than AM fungi and rhizobia also use this pathway to communicate with their host plants? We here discuss the possibility that our current view is biased by a long-lasting focus on legumes, whose ability to develop both AM and RLS is an exception among plants and a recent innovation in their evolution; investigations in non-legumes are starting to place legume symbiotic signaling in a broader perspective. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that CSP proteins act in a wider scenario of symbiotic and non-symbiotic signaling. Overall, evidence is accumulating in favor of distinct activities for CSP proteins in AM and RLS, depending on the molecular and cellular context where they act.}, } @article {pmid26908163, year = {2016}, author = {Paun, A and Yau, C and Danska, JS}, title = {Immune recognition and response to the intestinal microbiome in type 1 diabetes.}, journal = {Journal of autoimmunity}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {10-18}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaut.2016.02.004}, pmid = {26908163}, issn = {1095-9157}, support = {272636//CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/epidemiology/*etiology ; Dysbiosis ; Environment ; Environmental Exposure ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease resulting from T cell-mediated destruction of the insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. During the past 50 years T1D incidence has increased dramatically in many countries accompanied by an earlier age of onset especially in persons with lower genetic risk. These observations have prompted investigations of dynamic environmental factors that may contributor to risk for anti-pancreatic immunity. The gut and pancreas are anatomically and biochemically linked through the enteroinsular axis, a system in which gut-derived immune and metabolic signals have the potential to evoke effects in the pancreas. The gut microbiome (i.e. the 100 trillion symbiotic microorganisms which inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract) influences numerous aspects of host metabolism, development and immunity. Here we examine recent evidence linking gut microbiome composition and function to pancreatic autoimmunity. Studies in children with genetic risk factors for T1D and analyses of the microbiome in rodent models have begun to associations between an altered microbiome composition potentially favoring a pro-inflammatory intestinal metabolic milieu and T1D. We discuss how environmental factors during critical developmental windows - gestation, birth, weaning and puberty may contribute to T1D risk. For example mode of delivery (vaginal or C-section) and exposure to antibiotics (pre- or post-natally) are two factors that modulate the maternal and/or offspring microbiome and can impact T1D development. Taken together, these emerging data underscore the requirement for longitudinal studies and mechanistic investigations in human subjects and rodent models to identify the basis for microbiome modulation of T1D and to identify biomarkers and therapeutics to improve the delayed onset and prevention of the disease.}, } @article {pmid26905289, year = {2016}, author = {Salcedo, RG and Olano, C and Gómez, C and Fernández, R and Braña, AF and Méndez, C and de la Calle, F and Salas, JA}, title = {Characterization and engineering of the biosynthesis gene cluster for antitumor macrolides PM100117 and PM100118 from a marine actinobacteria: generation of a novel improved derivative.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {44}, pmid = {26905289}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/drug effects/*genetics ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biological Transport/drug effects ; Biosynthetic Pathways/drug effects/*genetics ; Carbohydrates/biosynthesis/chemistry ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics/metabolism ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Genome, Bacterial ; Macrolides/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Multigene Family/*genetics ; Naphthoquinones/chemistry/metabolism ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: PM100117 and PM100118 are glycosylated polyketides with remarkable antitumor activity, which derive from the marine symbiotic actinobacteria Streptomyces caniferus GUA-06-05-006A. Structurally, PM100117 and PM100118 are composed of a macrocyclic lactone, three deoxysugar units and a naphthoquinone (NQ) chromophore that shows a clear structural similarity to menaquinone.

RESULTS: Whole-genome sequencing of S. caniferus GUA-06-05-006A has enabled the identification of PM100117 and PM100118 biosynthesis gene cluster, which has been characterized on the basis of bioinformatics and genetic engineering data. The product of four genes shows high identity to proteins involved in the biosynthesis of menaquinone via futalosine. Deletion of one of these genes led to a decay in PM100117 and PM100118 production, and to the accumulation of several derivatives lacking NQ. Likewise, five additional genes have been genetically characterized to be involved in the biosynthesis of this moiety. Moreover, the generation of a mutant in a gene coding for a putative cytochrome P450 has led to the production of PM100117 and PM100118 structural analogues showing an enhanced in vitro cytotoxic activity relative to the parental products.

CONCLUSIONS: Although a number of compounds structurally related to PM100117 and PM100118 has been discovered, this is, to our knowledge, the first insight reported into their biosynthesis. The structural resemblance of the NQ moiety to menaquinone, and the presence in the cluster of four putative menaquinone biosynthetic genes, suggests a connection between the biosynthesis pathways of both compounds. The availability of the PM100117 and PM100118 biosynthetic gene cluster will surely pave a way to the combinatorial engineering of more derivatives.}, } @article {pmid26904548, year = {2016}, author = {Martins Conde, Pdo R and Sauter, T and Pfau, T}, title = {Constraint Based Modeling Going Multicellular.}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {26904548}, issn = {2296-889X}, abstract = {Constraint based modeling has seen applications in many microorganisms. For example, there are now established methods to determine potential genetic modifications and external interventions to increase the efficiency of microbial strains in chemical production pipelines. In addition, multiple models of multicellular organisms have been created including plants and humans. While initially the focus here was on modeling individual cell types of the multicellular organism, this focus recently started to switch. Models of microbial communities, as well as multi-tissue models of higher organisms have been constructed. These models thereby can include different parts of a plant, like root, stem, or different tissue types in the same organ. Such models can elucidate details of the interplay between symbiotic organisms, as well as the concerted efforts of multiple tissues and can be applied to analyse the effects of drugs or mutations on a more systemic level. In this review we give an overview of the recent development of multi-tissue models using constraint based techniques and the methods employed when investigating these models. We further highlight advances in combining constraint based models with dynamic and regulatory information and give an overview of these types of hybrid or multi-level approaches.}, } @article {pmid26904363, year = {2016}, author = {Sarr, PS and Okon, JW and Begoude, DA and Araki, S and Ambang, Z and Shibata, M and Funakawa, S}, title = {Symbiotic N 2 -Fixation Estimated by the (15) N Tracer Technique and Growth of Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth. Inoculated with Bradyrhizobium Strain in Field Conditions.}, journal = {Scientifica}, volume = {2016}, number = {}, pages = {7026859}, pmid = {26904363}, issn = {2090-908X}, abstract = {This field experiment was established in Eastern Cameroon to examine the effect of selected rhizobial inoculation on N2-fixation and growth of Pueraria phaseoloides. Treatments consisted of noninoculated and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense S3-4-inoculated Pueraria with three replications each. Ipomoea batatas as a non-N2-fixing reference was interspersed in each Pueraria plot. All the twelve plots received 2 gN/m(2) of (15)N ammonium sulfate 10% atom excess. At harvest, dry matter yields and the nitrogen derived from atmospheric N2-fixation (%Ndfa) of inoculated Pueraria were significantly (P < 0.05) higher (81% and 10.83%, resp.) than those of noninoculated Pueraria. The inoculation enhanced nodule dry weight 2.44-fold. Consequently, the harvested N significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 83% in inoculated Pueraria, resulting from the increase in N2-fixation and soil N uptake. A loss of 55 to 60% of the N fertilizer was reported, and 36 to 40% of it was immobilized in soil. Here, we demonstrated that both N2-fixing potential of P. phaseoloides and soil N uptake are improved through field inoculations using efficient bradyrhizobial species. In practice, the inoculation contributes to maximize N input in soils by the cover crop's biomass and represent a good strategy to improve soil fertility for subsequent cultivation.}, } @article {pmid26904013, year = {2016}, author = {Feldman, M and Ginsburg, I and Al-Quntar, A and Steinberg, D}, title = {Thiazolidinedione-8 Alters Symbiotic Relationship in C. albicans-S. mutans Dual Species Biofilm.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {140}, pmid = {26904013}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The small molecule, thiazolidinedione-8 (S-8) was shown to impair biofilm formation of various microbial pathogens, including the fungus Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Previously, we have evaluated the specific molecular mode of S-8 action against C. albicans biofilm-associated pathogenicity. In this study we investigated the influence of S-8 on dual species, C. albicans-S. mutans biofilm. We show that in the presence of S-8 a reduction of the co-species biofilm formation occurred with a major effect on C. albicans. Biofilm biomass and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production were significantly reduced by S-8. Moreover, the agent caused oxidative stress associated with a strong induction of reactive oxygen species and hydrogen peroxide uptake inhibition by a mixed biofilm. In addition, S-8 altered symbiotic relationship between these species by a complex mechanism. Streptococcal genes associated with quorum sensing (QS) (comDE and luxS), EPS production (gtfBCD and gbpB), as well as genes related to protection against oxidative stress (nox and sodA) were markedly upregulated by S-8. In contrast, fungal genes related to hyphae formation (hwp1), adhesion (als3), hydrophobicity (csh1), and oxidative stress response (sod1, sod2, and cat1) were downregulated in the presence of S-8. In addition, ywp1 gene associated with yeast form of C. albicans was induced by S-8, which is correlated with appearance of mostly yeast cells in S-8 treated dual species biofilms. We concluded that S-8 disturbs symbiotic balance between C. albicans and S. mutans in dual species biofilm.}, } @article {pmid26903964, year = {2016}, author = {Rodriguez, IB and Lin, S and Ho, J and Ho, TY}, title = {Effects of Trace Metal Concentrations on the Growth of the Coral Endosymbiont Symbiodinium kawagutii.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {82}, pmid = {26903964}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiodinium is an indispensable endosymbiont in corals and the most important primary producer in coral reef ecosystems. During the past decades, coral bleaching attributed to the disruption of the symbiosis has frequently occurred resulting in reduction of coral reef coverage globally. Growth and proliferation of corals require some specific trace metals that are essential components of pertinent biochemical processes, such as in photosynthetic systems and electron transport chains. In addition, trace metals are vital in the survival of corals against oxidative stress because these metals serve as enzymatic cofactors in antioxidative defense mechanisms. The basic knowledge about trace metal requirements of Symbiodinium is lacking. Here we show that the requirement of Symbiodinium kawagutii for antioxidant-associated trace metals exhibits the following order: Fe >> Cu/Zn/Mn >> Ni. In growth media with Cu, Zn, Mn, and varying Fe concentrations, we observed that Cu, Zn, and Mn cellular quotas were inversely related to Fe concentrations. In the absence of Cu, Zn, and Mn, growth rates increased with increasing inorganic Fe concentrations up to 1250 pM, indicating the relatively high Fe requirement for Symbiodinium growth and potential functional complementarity of these metals. These results demonstrate the relative importance of trace metals to sustain Symbiodinium growth and a potential metal inter replacement strategy in Symbiodinium to ensure survival of coral reefs in an oligotrophic and stressful environment.}, } @article {pmid26903035, year = {2016}, author = {U'Ren, JM and Miadlikowska, J and Zimmerman, NB and Lutzoni, F and Stajich, JE and Arnold, AE}, title = {Contributions of North American endophytes to the phylogeny, ecology, and taxonomy of Xylariaceae (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {210-232}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.02.010}, pmid = {26903035}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*classification/*physiology ; Lichens/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; United States ; Xylariales/*classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The Xylariaceae (Sordariomycetes) comprise one of the largest and most diverse families of Ascomycota, with at least 85 accepted genera and ca. 1343 accepted species. In addition to their frequent occurrence as saprotrophs, members of the family often are found as endophytes in living tissues of phylogenetically diverse plants and lichens. Many of these endophytes remain sterile in culture, precluding identification based on morphological characters. Previous studies indicate that endophytes are highly diverse and represent many xylariaceous genera; however, phylogenetic analyses at the family level generally have not included endophytes, such that their contributions to understanding phylogenetic relationships of Xylariaceae are not well known. Here we use a multi-locus, cumulative supermatrix approach to integrate 92 putative species of fungi isolated from plants and lichens into a phylogenetic framework for Xylariaceae. Our collection spans 1933 isolates from living and senescent tissues in five biomes across the continental United States, and here is analyzed in the context of previously published sequence data from described species and additional taxon sampling of type specimens from culture collections. We found that the majority of strains obtained in our surveys can be classified in the hypoxyloid and xylaroid subfamilies, although many also were found outside of these lineages (as currently circumscribed). Many endophytes were placed in lineages previously not known for endophytism. Most endophytes appear to represent novel species, but inferences are limited by potential gaps in public databases. By linking our data, publicly available sequence data, and records of ascomata, we identify many geographically widespread, host-generalist clades capable of symbiotic associations with diverse photosynthetic partners. Concomitant with such cosmopolitan host use and distributions, many xylariaceous endophytes appear to inhabit both living and non-living plant tissues, with potentially important roles as saprotrophs. Overall, our study reveals major gaps in the availability of multi-locus datasets and metadata for this iconic family, and provides new hypotheses regarding the ecology and evolution of endophytism and other trophic modes across the family Xylariaceae.}, } @article {pmid26901365, year = {2016}, author = {Jefferson, T}, title = {[Facing the unreliability of clinical trials literature].}, journal = {Recenti progressi in medicina}, volume = {107}, number = {1}, pages = {10-18}, doi = {10.1701/2132.23098}, pmid = {26901365}, issn = {2038-1840}, mesh = {Decision Making ; Drug Industry/organization & administration ; Humans ; Periodicals as Topic/*standards ; Public Health ; *Publication Bias ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/*standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {Journal publications of randomized controlled trials ("literature") have so far formed the basis for evidence of the effects of pharmaceuticals and biologicals. In the last decade, progressively accumulating evidence has shown that literature is affected by reporting bias with evident implications for the reliability of any decision based on literature or its derivatives such as research synthesis. Another important factor is the growing body of evidence of the fragility of editorial quality control mechanisms in biomedicine ande their easy exploitation for marketing purposes in the symbiosis between publishing and the pharmaceutical industry. Regulatory documents are probably more reliable than currently accessible other sources but there are many severe limitations to the long-term use of regulatory documents for research synthesis and decision-making. Instead of trying to reform the fields of research, industry, government, regulation and publishing, I propose basing public health decisions and reimbursement of any important interventions on independent trials and studies following the model pioneered by the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research.}, } @article {pmid26897128, year = {2016}, author = {Naamala, J and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD}, title = {Antibiotics Resistance in Rhizobium: Type, Process, Mechanism and Benefit for Agriculture.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {6}, pages = {804-816}, pmid = {26897128}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The use of high-quality rhizobial inoculants on agricultural legumes has contributed substantially to the N economy of farming systems through inputs from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Large populations of symbiotically effective rhizobia should be available in the rhizosphere for symbiotic BNF with host plants. The rhizobial populations should also be able to compete and infect host plants. However, the rhizosphere comprises large populations of different microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms naturally produce antibiotics which are lethal to susceptible rhizobial populations in the soil. Therefore, intrinsic resistance to antibiotics is a desirable trait for the rhizobial population. It increases the rhizobia's chances of growth, multiplication and persistence in the soil. With a large population of rhizobia in the soil, infectivity of host plants and the subsequent BNF efficiency can be guaranteed. This review, therefore, puts together findings by various researchers on antibiotic resistance in bacteria with the main emphasis on rhizobia. It describes the different modes of action of different antibiotics, the types of antibiotic resistance exhibited by rhizobia, the mechanisms of acquisition of antibiotic resistance in rhizobia and the levels of tolerance of different rhizobial species to different antibiotics.}, } @article {pmid26894282, year = {2016}, author = {Lelandais-Brière, C and Moreau, J and Hartmann, C and Crespi, M}, title = {Noncoding RNAs, Emerging Regulators in Root Endosymbioses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {170-180}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-15-0240-FI}, pmid = {26894282}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Fungal/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis interactions allow plants to grow in nutrient-deficient soil environments. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an ancestral interaction between land plants and fungi, whereas nitrogen-fixing symbioses are highly specific for certain plants, notably major crop legumes. The signaling pathways triggered by specific lipochitooligosaccharide molecules involved in these interactions have common components that also overlap with plant root development. These pathways include receptor-like kinases, transcription factors (TFs), and various intermediate signaling effectors, including noncoding (nc)RNAs. These latter molecules have emerged as major regulators of gene expression and small ncRNAs, composed of micro (mi)RNAs and small interfering (si)RNAs, are known to control gene expression at transcriptional (chromatin) or posttranscriptional levels. In this review, we describe exciting recent data connecting variants of conserved si/miRNAs with the regulation of TFs, such as NSP2, NFY-A1, auxin-response factors, and AP2-like proteins, known to be involved in symbiosis. The link between hormonal regulations and these si- and miRNA-TF nodes is proposed in a model in which different feedback loops or regulations controlling endosymbiosis signaling are integrated. The diversity and emerging regulatory networks of young legume miRNAs are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid26892921, year = {2016}, author = {Farag, MA and Porzel, A and Al-Hammady, MA and Hegazy, ME and Meyer, A and Mohamed, TA and Westphal, H and Wessjohann, LA}, title = {Soft Corals Biodiversity in the Egyptian Red Sea: A Comparative MS and NMR Metabolomics Approach of Wild and Aquarium Grown Species.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {1274-1287}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00002}, pmid = {26892921}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Discriminant Analysis ; Diterpenes/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Egypt ; Indian Ocean ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; *Metabolomics ; Principal Component Analysis ; Secondary Metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sterols/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine life has developed unique metabolic and physiologic capabilities and advanced symbiotic relationships to survive in the varied and complex marine ecosystems. Herein, metabolite composition of the soft coral genus Sarcophyton was profiled with respect to its species and different habitats along the coastal Egyptian Red Sea via (1)H NMR and ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) large-scale metabolomics analyses. The current study extends the application of comparative secondary metabolite profiling from plants to corals revealing for metabolite compositional differences among its species via a comparative MS and NMR approach. This was applied for the first time to investigate the metabolism of 16 Sarcophyton species in the context of their genetic diversity or growth habitat. Under optimized conditions, we were able to simultaneously identify 120 metabolites including 65 diterpenes, 8 sesquiterpenes, 18 sterols, and 15 oxylipids. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS) were used to define both similarities and differences among samples. For a compound based classification of coral species, UPLC-MS was found to be more effective than NMR. The main differentiations emanate from cembranoids and oxylipids. The specific metabolites that contribute to discrimination between soft corals of S. ehrenbergi from the three different growing habitats also belonged to cembrane type diterpenes, with aquarium S. ehrenbergi corals being less enriched in cembranoids compared to sea corals. PCA using either NMR or UPLC-MS data sets was found equally effective in predicting the species origin of unknown Sarcophyton. Cyclopropane containing sterols observed in abundance in corals may act as cellular membrane protectant against the action of coral toxins, that is, cembranoids.}, } @article {pmid26892768, year = {2016}, author = {Jiang, QY and Zhuo, F and Long, SH and Zhao, HD and Yang, DJ and Ye, ZH and Li, SS and Jing, YX}, title = {Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce Cd uptake and alleviate Cd toxicity of Lonicera japonica grown in Cd-added soils?.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {21805}, pmid = {26892768}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cadmium/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lonicera/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytochelatins/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi--Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) on the growth, Cd uptake, antioxidant indices [glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate (ASA), glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] and phytochelatins (PCs) production of Lonicera japonica in Cd-amended soils. Gv and Ri significantly increased P acquisition, biomass of shoots and roots at all Cd treatments. Gv significantly decreased Cd concentrations in shoots and roots, and Ri also obviously reduced Cd concentrations in shoots but increased Cd concentrations in roots. Meanwhile, activities of CAT, APX and GR, and contents of ASA and PCs were remarkably higher in Gv/Ri-inoculated plants than those of uninoculated plants, but lower MDA and GSH contents in Gv/Ri-inoculated plants were found. In conclusion, Gv and Ri symbiosis alleviated Cd toxicity of L. japonica through the decline of shoot Cd concentrations and the improvement of P nutrition, PCs content and activities of GR, CAT, APX in inoculated plants, and then improved plant growth. The decrease of shoot Cd concentrations in L. japonica inoculated with Gv/Ri would provide a clue for safe production of this plant from Cd-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid26891327, year = {2016}, author = {Philippe, G}, title = {Lolitrem B and Indole Diterpene Alkaloids Produced by Endophytic Fungi of the Genus Epichloë and Their Toxic Effects in Livestock.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {47}, pmid = {26891327}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Dyskinesias/etiology/*veterinary ; Epichloe/chemistry ; Ergot Alkaloids/*toxicity ; Food Contamination ; Indole Alkaloids/*toxicity ; Livestock ; Lolium ; Mycotoxins/*toxicity ; Neurotoxins/*toxicity ; Plant Poisoning/etiology/*veterinary ; }, abstract = {Different group of alkaloids are produced during the symbiotic development of fungal endophytes of the genus Epichloë in grass. The structure and toxicity of the compounds vary considerably in mammalian herbivores and in crop pests. Alkaloids of the indole-diterpene group, of which lolitrem B is the most toxic, were first characterized in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass, and are responsible for "ryegrass staggers." Ergot alkaloids, of which ergovaline is the most abundant ergopeptide alkaloid produced, are also found in ryegrass, but generally at a lower rate than lolitrem B. Other alkaloids such as lolines and peramine are toxic for crop pests but have weak toxicological properties in mammals. The purpose of this review is to present indole-diterpene alkaloids produced in endophyte infected ryegrass from the first characterization of ryegrass staggers to the determination of the toxicokinetics of lolitrem B and of their mechanism of action in mammals, focusing on the different factors that could explain the worldwide distribution of the disease. Other indole diterpene alkaloids than lolitrem B that can be found in Epichloë infected ryegrass, and their tremorgenic properties, are presented in the last section of this review.}, } @article {pmid26890445, year = {2016}, author = {Kennedy, J}, title = {John Porter Lecture: Liberal Nationalisms Revisited.}, journal = {Canadian review of sociology = Revue canadienne de sociologie}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {7-25}, doi = {10.1111/cars.12090}, pmid = {26890445}, issn = {1755-618X}, abstract = {Liberal Nationalisms: Empire, State and Civil Society in Scotland and Quebec argues that the emergence and character of nationalism are directly related to changes in patterns of political rule and the liberal settlements that underlay that rule. The focus is on the emergence of two nationalist groups in Scotland and Quebec at the beginning of the twentieth century: the Young Scots' Society and Ligue nationaliste canadienne. They exhibited liberal nationalisms differently (1) in response to the British Empire's predatory imperial policies, (2) in the perception that their states had failed to effectively accommodate the Scottish and French Canadian nations, and more problematically (3) on the place of organized religion in civil society. Their responses suggest the emergence of two quite distinct liberal nationalisms: one in which the emphasis was on universal individual rights, and the other in which particular group rights were more clearly favored. The article offers some further reflection on the relationship between nationalism and liberalism, specifically on the existence of a symbiotic relationship and more generally that liberalism is successful when embedded in nationalism.}, } @article {pmid26889005, year = {2016}, author = {Foo, E and McAdam, EL and Weller, JL and Reid, JB}, title = {Interactions between ethylene, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids in the development of rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses of pea.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {8}, pages = {2413-2424}, pmid = {26889005}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/*metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Organophosphorus Compounds/pharmacology ; Peas/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phthalimides/pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal development and nodulation involves complex interactions between the plant and its microbial symbionts. In this study, we use the recently identified ethylene-insensitive ein2 mutant in pea (Pisum sativum L.) to explore the role of ethylene in the development of these symbioses. We show that ethylene acts as a strong negative regulator of nodulation, confirming reports in other legumes. Minor changes in gibberellin1 and indole-3-acetic acid levels in ein2 roots appear insufficient to explain the differences in nodulation. Double mutants produced by crosses between ein2 and the severely gibberellin-deficient na and brassinosteroid-deficient lk mutants showed increased nodule numbers and reduced nodule spacing compared with the na and lk single mutants, but nodule numbers and spacing were typical of ein2 plants, suggesting that the reduced number of nodules innaandlkplants is largely due to the elevated ethylene levels previously reported in these mutants. We show that ethylene can also negatively regulate mycorrhizae development when ethylene levels are elevated above basal levels, consistent with a role for ethylene in reducing symbiotic development under stressful conditions. In contrast to the hormone interactions in nodulation, ein2 does not override the effect of lk or na on the development of arbuscular mycorrhizae, suggesting that brassinosteroids and gibberellins influence this process largely independently of ethylene.}, } @article {pmid26884486, year = {2016}, author = {Sinharoy, S and Liu, C and Breakspear, A and Guan, D and Shailes, S and Nakashima, J and Zhang, S and Wen, J and Torres-Jerez, I and Oldroyd, G and Murray, JD and Udvardi, MK}, title = {A Medicago truncatula Cystathionine-β-Synthase-like Domain-Containing Protein Is Required for Rhizobial Infection and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {4}, pages = {2204-2217}, pmid = {26884486}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BB/G023832/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cystathionine beta-Synthase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Endocytosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Domains ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between leguminous plants and soil rhizobia culminates in the formation of nitrogen-fixing organs called nodules that support plant growth. Two Medicago truncatula Tnt1-insertion mutants were identified that produced small nodules, which were unable to fix nitrogen effectively due to ineffective rhizobial colonization. The gene underlying this phenotype was found to encode a protein containing a putative membrane-localized domain of unknown function (DUF21) and a cystathionine-β-synthase domain. The cbs1 mutants had defective infection threads that were sometimes devoid of rhizobia and formed small nodules with greatly reduced numbers of symbiosomes. We studied the expression of the gene, designated M truncatula Cystathionine-β-Synthase-like1 (MtCBS1), using a promoter-β-glucuronidase gene fusion, which revealed expression in infected root hair cells, developing nodules, and in the invasion zone of mature nodules. An MtCBS1-GFP fusion protein localized itself to the infection thread and symbiosomes. Nodulation factor-induced Ca(2+) responses were observed in the cbs1 mutant, indicating that MtCBS1 acts downstream of nodulation factor signaling. MtCBS1 expression occurred exclusively during Medicago-rhizobium symbiosis. Induction of MtCBS1 expression during symbiosis was found to be dependent on Nodule Inception (NIN), a key transcription factor that controls both rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. Interestingly, the closest homolog of MtCBS1, MtCBS2, was specifically induced in mycorrhizal roots, suggesting common infection mechanisms in nodulation and mycorrhization. Related proteins in Arabidopsis have been implicated in cell wall maturation, suggesting a potential role for CBS1 in the formation of the infection thread wall.}, } @article {pmid26883825, year = {2016}, author = {Wippel, K and Long, SR}, title = {Contributions of Sinorhizobium meliloti Transcriptional Regulator DksA to Bacterial Growth and Efficient Symbiosis with Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {198}, number = {9}, pages = {1374-1383}, pmid = {26883825}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Ligases/genetics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*growth & development ; *Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The stringent response, mediated by the (p)ppGpp synthetase RelA and the RNA polymerase-binding protein DksA, is triggered by limiting nutrient conditions. For some bacteria, it is involved in regulation of virulence. We investigated the role of two DksA-like proteins from the Gram-negative nitrogen-fixing symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti in free-living culture and in interaction with its host plant Medicago sativa The two paralogs, encoded by the genes SMc00469 and SMc00049, differ in the constitution of two major domains required for function in canonical DksA: the DXXDXA motif at the tip of a coiled-coil domain and a zinc finger domain. Using mutant analyses of single, double, and triple deletions for SMc00469(designated dksA),SMc00049, and relA, we found that the ΔdksA mutant but not the ΔSMc00049 mutant showed impaired growth on minimal medium, reduced nodulation on the host plant, and lower nitrogen fixation activity in early nodules, while its nod gene expression was normal. The ΔrelA mutant showed severe pleiotropic phenotypes under all conditions tested. Only S. meliloti dksA complemented the metabolic defects of an Escherichia coli dksA mutant. Modifications of the DXXDXA motif in SMc00049 failed to establish DksA function. Our results imply a role for transcriptional regulator DksA in the S. meliloti-M. sativa symbiosis.

IMPORTANCE: The stringent response is a bacterial transcription regulation process triggered upon nutritional stress.Sinorhizobium meliloti, a soil bacterium establishing agriculturally important root nodule symbioses with legume plants, undergoes constant molecular adjustment during host interaction. Analyzing the components of the stringent response in this alphaproteobacterium helps understand molecular control regarding the development of plant interaction. Using mutant analyses, we describe how the lack of DksA influences symbiosis with Medicago sativa and show that a second paralogous S. meliloti protein cannot substitute for this missing function. This work contributes to the field by showing the similarities and differences of S. meliloti DksA-like proteins to orthologs from other species, adding information to the diversity of the stringent response regulatory system.}, } @article {pmid26883490, year = {2016}, author = {Jiao, J and Wu, LJ and Zhang, B and Hu, Y and Li, Y and Zhang, XX and Guo, HJ and Liu, LX and Chen, WX and Zhang, Z and Tian, CF}, title = {MucR Is Required for Transcriptional Activation of Conserved Ion Transporters to Support Nitrogen Fixation of Sinorhizobium fredii in Soybean Nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {352-361}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-16-0019-R}, pmid = {26883490}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; Frameshift Mutation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Ion Transport ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {To achieve effective symbiosis with legume, rhizobia should fine-tune their background regulation network in addition to activating key genes involved in nodulation (nod) and nitrogen fixation (nif). Here, we report that an ancestral zinc finger regulator, MucR1, other than its paralog, MucR2, carrying a frameshift mutation, is essential for supporting nitrogen fixation of Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU45436 within soybean nodules. In contrast to the chromosomal mucR1, mucR2 is located on symbiosis plasmid, indicating its horizontal transfer potential. A MucR2 homolog lacking the frameshift mutation, such as the one from S. fredii NGR234, can complement phenotypic defects of the mucR1 mutant of CCBAU45436. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the MucR1 regulon of CCBAU45436 within nodules exhibits significant difference compared with that of free-living cells. MucR1 is required for active expression of transporters for phosphate, zinc, and elements essential for nitrogenase activity (iron, molybdenum, and sulfur) in nodules but is dispensable for transcription of key genes (nif/fix) involved in nitrogen fixation. Further reverse genetics suggests that S. fredii uses high-affinity transporters to meet the demand for zinc and phosphate within nodules. These findings, together with the horizontal transfer potential of the mucR homolog, imply an intriguing evolutionary role of this ancestral regulator in supporting nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid26882089, year = {2016}, author = {Detree, C and Chabenat, A and Lallier, FH and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E and Tanguy, A and Mary, J}, title = {Multiple I-Type Lysozymes in the Hydrothermal Vent Mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus and Their Role in Symbiotic Plasticity.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0148988}, pmid = {26882089}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Bivalvia/microbiology/*physiology ; Chlorobi/classification/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gills/microbiology/physiology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/classification/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Isoenzymes/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; Methylococcaceae/classification/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Muramidase/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was first to identify lysozymes paralogs in the deep sea mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus then to measure their relative expression or activity in different tissue or conditions. B. azoricus is a bivalve that lives close to hydrothermal chimney in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). They harbour in specialized gill cells two types of endosymbiont (gram-bacteria): sulphide oxidizing bacteria (SOX) and methanotrophic bacteria (MOX). This association is thought to be ruled by specific mechanism or actors of regulation to deal with the presence of symbiont but these mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we focused on the implication of lysozyme, a bactericidal enzyme, in this endosymbiosis. The relative expression of Ba-lysozymes paralogs and the global anti-microbial activity, were measured in natural population (Lucky Strike--1700 m, Mid-Atlantic Ridge), and in in situ experimental conditions. B. azoricus individuals were moved away from the hydrothermal fluid to induce a loss of symbiont. Then after 6 days some mussels were brought back to the mussel bed to induce a re-acquisition of symbiotic bacteria. Results show the presence of 6 paralogs in B. azoricus. In absence of symbionts, 3 paralogs are up-regulated while others are not differentially expressed. Moreover the global activity of lysozyme is increasing with the loss of symbiont. All together these results suggest that lysozyme may play a crucial role in symbiont regulation.}, } @article {pmid26880784, year = {2016}, author = {Baulina, O and Gorelova, O and Solovchenko, A and Chivkunova, O and Semenova, L and Selyakh, I and Scherbakov, P and Burakova, O and Lobakova, E}, title = {Diversity of the nitrogen starvation responses in subarctic Desmodesmus sp. (Chlorophyceae) strains isolated from symbioses with invertebrates.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {4}, pages = {fiw031}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw031}, pmid = {26880784}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cell Division/physiology ; Cell Wall/physiology ; Chlorophyta/*metabolism ; Microalgae/physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nitrogen/*deficiency ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Thylakoids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We report on common and strain-specific responses to nitrogen (N) starvation recorded in four closely related symbiotic Desmodesmus strains from taxonomically very distant animals (hydroids, a sponge and a polychaete) dwelling in the White Sea. A number of common for the studied strains and free-living microalgae as well as some specific patterns of acclimation to the N starvation were documented. The common responses included a slowdown of cell division, a reduction of photosynthetic apparatus and a vast expansion of storage subcompartments of the cell. Although these responses were qualitatively similar to those known in free-living chlorophytes, in the studied strains they occurred in a strain-specific manner. The specific N-starvation responses comprised formation of chloroplast envelope membrane twirls, thinning of the appressed thylakoid membranes and a loss of the luminal depositions and channeling of the fixed carbon to cell wall polysaccharide layer. Desmodesmus sp. from a hydroid featured a unique, among the studied strains, capability of 'emergency' degradation of Rubisco, apparently to salvage the N contained in this protein. The obtained results are discussed in view of the remarkable physiological plasticity of the symbiotic Desmodesmus spp. and their survival under the harsh conditions of the subarctic sea habitat.}, } @article {pmid26880363, year = {2016}, author = {Barnes, EC and Jumpathong, J and Lumyong, S and Voigt, K and Hertweck, C}, title = {Daldionin, an Unprecedented Binaphthyl Derivative, and Diverse Polyketide Congeners from a Fungal Orchid Endophyte.}, journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {4551-4555}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201504005}, pmid = {26880363}, issn = {1521-3765}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biological Products/*chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Cell Line ; Endophytes/*chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fungi/*chemistry/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Naphthalenes/*chemistry ; Polyketides/*chemistry ; Thailand ; }, abstract = {Thailand possesses a rich diversity of orchid species that, in turn, live in symbiosis with a wide variety of fungi. Such endophytes have the potential to produce secondary metabolites with bioactivity against orchid and/or human pathogens. The orchid-associated fungal strain Daldinia eschscholtzii was found to produce a diverse range of aromatic polyketides including the new naphthalene derivatives daldionin, nodulones B and C, and daldinones F and G along with eight known compounds. Daldionin possesses an unprecedented oxane-linked binaphthyl ring system. These compounds demonstrate the high diversity of structural variations that are constructed during fungal biosynthesis, and the results include important observations concerning the biosynthesis of binaphthyl derivatives. Daldionin was found to have weak antiproliferative activity against HUVEC and K-562 cell lines. All but one of the isolated compounds showed moderate antimicrobial activity towards at least one of the four tested microbial strains.}, } @article {pmid26880338, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, H and Liu, Y and Chen, SC and Long, Y and Kong, F and Xu, YC}, title = {Chaetomium atrobrunneum and Aspergillus fumigatus in multiple tracheal aspirates: Copathogens or symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology, immunology, and infection = Wei mian yu gan ran za zhi}, volume = {49}, number = {2}, pages = {281-285}, doi = {10.1016/j.jmii.2015.12.011}, pmid = {26880338}, issn = {1995-9133}, mesh = {Aged, 80 and over ; Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; Aspergillus fumigatus/*isolation & purification ; Bodily Secretions/microbiology ; Caspofungin ; Chaetomium/*isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Echinocandins/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lipopeptides/therapeutic use ; Male ; Microbiological Techniques ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Trachea/*microbiology ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Chaetomium atrobrunneum has never been reported to be associated with pneumonia. We report the isolation of C. atrobrunneum and Aspergillus fumigatus from a Chinese elderly patient with fatal pneumonia. Branched, long, and septate hyphae were observed in potassium hydroxide preparations and Gram-stained smears, and confluent C. atrobrunneum growth and a few A. fumigatus colonies were found in tracheal aspirates (nine separate occasions). These isolates were identified by conventional morphological methods and by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer and the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene. The patient responded poorly to the combination therapy of amphotericin B and caspofungin. This report adds C. atrobrunneum to the list of fungal pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. This case report also illustrated the presence of a growth symbiosis between Chaetomium species and A. fumigatus.}, } @article {pmid26879331, year = {2016}, author = {Penttinen, P and Greco, D and Muntyan, V and Terefework, Z and De Lajudie, P and Roumiantseva, M and Becker, A and Auvinen, P and Lindström, K}, title = {Divergent genes in potential inoculant Sinorhizobium strains are related to DNA replication, recombination, and repair.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {56}, number = {6}, pages = {680-685}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201500592}, pmid = {26879331}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {DNA Repair/*genetics ; DNA Replication/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Recombination, Genetic/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; }, abstract = {To serve as inoculants of legumes, nitrogen-fixing rhizobium strains should be competitive and tolerant of diverse environments. We hybridized the genomes of symbiotically efficient and salt tolerant Sinorhizobium inoculant strains onto the Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 microarray. The number of variable genes, that is, divergent or putatively multiplied genes, ranged from 503 to 1556 for S. meliloti AK23, S. meliloti STM 1064 and S. arboris HAMBI 1552. The numbers of divergent genes affiliated with the symbiosis plasmid pSymA and related to DNA replication, recombination and repair were significantly higher than expected. The variation was mainly in the accessory genome, implying that it was important in shaping the adaptability of the strains.}, } @article {pmid26878871, year = {2016}, author = {Duncan, RP and Feng, H and Nguyen, DM and Wilson, AC}, title = {Gene Family Expansions in Aphids Maintained by Endosymbiotic and Nonsymbiotic Traits.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {753-764}, pmid = {26878871}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Facilitating the evolution of new gene functions, gene duplication is a major mechanism driving evolutionary innovation. Gene family expansions relevant to host/symbiont interactions are increasingly being discovered in eukaryotes that host endosymbiotic microbes. Such discoveries entice speculation that gene duplication facilitates the evolution of novel, endosymbiotic relationships. Here, using a comparative transcriptomic approach combined with differential gene expression analysis, we investigate the importance of endosymbiosis in retention of amino acid transporter paralogs in aphid genomes. To pinpoint the timing of amino acid transporter duplications we inferred gene phylogenies for five aphid species and three outgroups. We found that while some duplications arose in the aphid common ancestor concurrent with endosymbiont acquisition, others predate aphid divergence from related insects without intracellular symbionts, and still others appeared during aphid diversification. Interestingly, several aphid-specific paralogs have conserved enriched expression in bacteriocytes, the insect cells that host primary symbionts. Conserved bacteriocyte enrichment suggests that the transporters were recruited to the aphid/endosymbiont interface in the aphid common ancestor, consistent with a role for gene duplication in facilitating the evolution of endosymbiosis in aphids. In contrast, the temporal variability of amino acid transporter duplication indicates that endosymbiosis is not the only trait driving selection for retention of amino acid transporter paralogs in sap-feeding insects. This study cautions against simplistic interpretations of the role of gene family expansion in the evolution of novel host/symbiont interactions by further highlighting that multiple complex factors maintain gene family paralogs in the genomes of eukaryotes that host endosymbiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid26877720, year = {2016}, author = {Muggia, L and Fleischhacker, A and Kopun, T and Grube, M}, title = {Extremotolerant fungi from alpine rock lichens and their phylogenetic relationships.}, journal = {Fungal diversity}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {119-142}, pmid = {26877720}, issn = {1560-2745}, support = {P 24114/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Fungi other than the lichen mycobiont frequently co-occur within lichen thalli and on the same rock in harsh environments. In these situations dark-pigmented mycelial structures are commonly observed on lichen thalli, where they persist under the same stressful conditions as their hosts. Here we used a comprehensive sampling of lichen-associated fungi from an alpine habitat to assess their phylogenetic relationships with fungi previously known from other niches. The multilocus phylogenetic analyses suggest that most of the 248 isolates belong to the Chaetothyriomycetes and Dothideomycetes, while a minor fraction represents Sordariomycetes and Leotiomycetes. As many lichens also were infected by phenotypically distinct lichenicolous fungi of diverse lineages, it remains difficult to assess whether the culture isolates represent these fungi or are from additional cryptic, extremotolerant fungi within the thalli. Some of these strains represent yet undescribed lineages within Chaethothyriomycetes and Dothideomycetes, whereas other strains belong to genera of fungi, that are known as lichen colonizers, plant and human pathogens, rock-inhabiting fungi, parasites and saprotrophs. The symbiotic structures of the lichen thalli appear to be a shared habitat of phylogenetically diverse stress-tolerant fungi, which potentially benefit from the lichen niche in otherwise hostile habitats.}, } @article {pmid26876233, year = {2016}, author = {Sutton, TL and Riegler, M and Cook, JM}, title = {One step ahead: a parasitoid disperses farther and forms a wider geographic population than its fig wasp host.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {882-894}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13445}, pmid = {26876233}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Australia ; Bayes Theorem ; *Ficus ; Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Geography ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Pollination ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wasps/*genetics/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {The structure of populations across landscapes influences the dynamics of their interactions with other species. Understanding the geographic structure of populations can thus shed light on the potential for interacting species to co-evolve. Host-parasitoid interactions are widespread in nature and also represent a significant force in the evolution of plant-insect interactions. However, there have been few comparisons of population structure between an insect host and its parasitoid. We used microsatellite markers to analyse the population genetic structure of Pleistodontes imperialis sp. 1, a fig-pollinating wasp of Port Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa), and its main parasitoid, Sycoscapter sp. A, in eastern Australia. Besides exploring this host-parasitoid system, our study also constitutes, to our knowledge, the first study of population structure in a nonpollinating fig wasp species. We collected matched samples of pollinators and parasitoids at several sites in two regions separated by up to 2000 km. We found that pollinators occupying the two regions represent distinct populations, but, in contrast, parasitoids formed a single population across the wide geographic range sampled. We observed genetic isolation by distance for each species, but found consistently lower FST and RST values between sites for parasitoids compared with pollinators. Previous studies have indicated that pollinators of monoecious figs can disperse over very long distances, and we provide the first genetic evidence that their parasitoids may disperse as far, if not farther. The contrasting geographic population structures of host and parasitoid highlight the potential for geographic mosaics in this important symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid26875833, year = {2016}, author = {Armoza-Zvuloni, R and Schneider, A and Sher, D and Shaked, Y}, title = {Rapid Hydrogen Peroxide release from the coral Stylophora pistillata during feeding and in response to chemical and physical stimuli.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {21000}, pmid = {26875833}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/physiology ; Calcium/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Escape Reaction/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Zooplankton/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Corals make use of different chemical compounds during interactions with prey, predators and aggressors. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is produced and released by a wide range of organisms as part of their defense against grazers or pathogens. In coral reefs, the large fluxes and relatively long half-life of H2O2, make it a potentially important info-chemical or defense molecule. Here we describe a previously unstudied phenomenon of rapid H2O2 release from the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata during feeding on zooplankton and in response to chemical and physical stimuli. Following stimuli, both symbiotic and bleached corals were found to rapidly release H2O2 to the surrounding water for a short period of time (few minutes). The H2O2 release was restricted to the site of stimulus, and an increase in physical stress and chemical stimuli concentration resulted in elevated H2O2 release. Omission of calcium (a key regulator of exocytotic processes) from the experimental medium inhibited H2O2 release. Hence we suggest that H2O2 is actively released in response to stimuli, rather than leaking passively from the coral tissue. We estimate that at the site of stimulus H2O2 can reach concentrations potentially high enough to deter predators or motile, potentially pathogenic, bacteria.}, } @article {pmid26875827, year = {2016}, author = {Zheng, K and Wang, X and Weighill, DA and Guo, HB and Xie, M and Yang, Y and Yang, J and Wang, S and Jacobson, DA and Guo, H and Muchero, W and Tuskan, GA and Chen, JG}, title = {Characterization of DWARF14 Genes in Populus.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {21593}, pmid = {26875827}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Hydrolases/*genetics ; Lactones ; Models, Molecular ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Populus/*genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*genetics ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are a new class of plant hormones regulating shoot branching and symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Studies of branching mutants in herbaceous plants have identified several key genes involved in strigolactone biosynthesis or signaling. The strigolactone signal is perceived by a member of the α/β-fold hydrolase superfamily, known as DWARF14 (D14). However, little is known about D14 genes in the woody perennial plants. Here we report the identification of D14 homologs in the model woody plant Populus trichocarpa. We showed that there are two D14 homologs in P. trichocarpa, designated as PtD14a and PtD14b that are over 95% similar at the amino acid level. Expression analysis indicated that the transcript level of PtD14a is generally more abundant than that of PtD14b. However, only PtD14a was able to complement Arabidopsis d14 mutants, suggesting that PtD14a is the functional D14 ortholog. Amino acid alignment and structural modeling revealed substitutions of several highly conserved amino acids in the PtD14b protein including a phenylalanine near the catalytic triad of D14 proteins. This study lays a foundation for further characterization of strigolactone pathway and its functions in the woody perennial plants.}, } @article {pmid26875632, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, JK and Park, HY and Lee, BL}, title = {The symbiotic role of O-antigen of Burkholderia symbiont in association with host Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {202-208}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.02.009}, pmid = {26875632}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; O Antigens/*physiology ; Polymyxin B/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Riptortus pedestris harboring Burkholderia symbiont is a useful symbiosis model to study the molecular interactions between insects and bacteria. We recently reported that the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen is absent in the Burkholderia symbionts isolated from Riptortus guts. Here, we investigated the symbiotic role of O-antigen comprehensively in the Riptortus-Burkholderia model. Firstly, Burkholderia mutant strains deficient of O-antigen biosynthesis genes were generated and confirmed for their different patterns of the lipopolysaccharide by electrophoretic analysis. The O-antigen-deficient mutant strains initially exhibited a reduction of infectivity, having significantly lower level of symbiont population at the second-instar stage. However, both the wild-type and O-antigen mutant symbionts exhibited a similar level of symbiont population from the third-instar stage, indicating that the O-antigen deficiency did not affect the bacterial persistence in the host midgut. Taken together, we showed that the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen of gut symbiont plays an exclusive role in the initial symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid26874622, year = {2016}, author = {Zhou, JY and Li, X and Zheng, JY and Dai, CC}, title = {Volatiles released by endophytic Pseudomonas fluorescens promoting the growth and volatile oil accumulation in Atractylodes lancea.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {132-140}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.01.026}, pmid = {26874622}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Atractylodes/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Benzaldehydes/*metabolism ; Oils, Volatile/*metabolism ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Atractylodes lancea is a well-known, but endangered, Chinese medicinal plant whose volatile oils are its main active components. As the volatile oil content in cultivated A. lancea is much lower than that in the wild herb, the application of microbes or related elicitors to promote growth and volatile oil accumulation in the cultivated herb is an important area of research. This study demonstrates that the endophytic bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens ALEB7B isolated from the geo-authentic A. lancea can release several nitrogenous volatiles, such as formamide and N,N-dimethyl-formamide, which significantly promote the growth of non-infected A. lancea. Moreover, the main bacterial volatile benzaldehyde significantly promotes volatile oil accumulation in non-infected A. lancea via activating plant defense responses. Notably, the bacterial nitrogenous volatiles cannot be detected in the A. lancea - Pseudomonas fluorescens symbiont while the benzaldehyde can be detected, indicating the nitrogenous volatiles or their precursors may have been consumed by the host plant. This study firstly demonstrates that the interaction between plant and endophytic bacterium is not limited to the commonly known physical contact, extending the ecological functions of endophyte in the phytosphere and deepening the understandings about the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid26874621, year = {2016}, author = {Fuentes, A and Ortiz, J and Saavedra, N and Salazar, LA and Meneses, C and Arriagada, C}, title = {Reference gene selection for quantitative real-time PCR in Solanum lycopersicum L. inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {124-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.01.022}, pmid = {26874621}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Fungi, Unclassified/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The gene expression stability of candidate reference genes in the roots and leaves of Solanum lycopersicum inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was investigated. Eight candidate reference genes including elongation factor 1 α (EF1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Acs), ribosomal protein L2 (RPL2), β-tubulin (TUB), ubiquitin (UBI) and actin (ACT) were selected, and their expression stability was assessed to determine the most stable internal reference for quantitative PCR normalization in S. lycopersicum inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The stability of each gene was analysed in leaves and roots together and separated using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. Differences were detected between leaves and roots, varying among the best-ranked genes depending on the algorithm used and the tissue analysed. PGK, TUB and EF1 genes showed higher stability in roots, while EF1 and UBI had higher stability in leaves. Statistical algorithms indicated that the GAPDH gene was the least stable under the experimental conditions assayed. Then, we analysed the expression levels of the LePT4 gene, a phosphate transporter whose expression is induced by fungal colonization in host plant roots. No differences were observed when the most stable genes were used as reference genes. However, when GAPDH was used as the reference gene, we observed an overestimation of LePT4 expression. In summary, our results revealed that candidate reference genes present variable stability in S. lycopersicum arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis depending on the algorithm and tissue analysed. Thus, reference gene selection is an important issue for obtaining reliable results in gene expression quantification.}, } @article {pmid26874359, year = {2016}, author = {Krjutškov, K and Katayama, S and Saare, M and Vera-Rodriguez, M and Lubenets, D and Samuel, K and Laisk-Podar, T and Teder, H and Einarsdottir, E and Salumets, A and Kere, J}, title = {Single-cell transcriptome analysis of endometrial tissue.}, journal = {Human reproduction (Oxford, England)}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {844-853}, pmid = {26874359}, issn = {1460-2350}, mesh = {Adult ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; CD13 Antigens/metabolism ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; Endometrium/cytology/*metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Estonia ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Library ; Gene Ontology ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Stromal Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Tetraspanin 29/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {STUDY QUESTION: How can we study the full transcriptome of endometrial stromal and epithelial cells at the single-cell level?

SUMMARY ANSWER: By compiling and developing novel analytical tools for biopsy, tissue cryopreservation and disaggregation, single-cell sorting, library preparation, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and statistical data analysis.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Although single-cell transcriptome analyses from various biopsied tissues have been published recently, corresponding protocols for human endometrium have not been described.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The frozen-thawed endometrial biopsies were fluorescence-activated cell sorted (FACS) to distinguish CD13-positive stromal and CD9-positive epithelial cells and single-cell transcriptome analysis performed from biopsied tissues without culturing the cells. We studied gene transcription, applying a modern and efficient RNA-seq protocol. In parallel, endometrial stromal cells were cultured and global expression profiles were compared with uncultured cells.

For method validation, we used two endometrial biopsies, one from mid-secretory phase (Day 21, LH+8) and another from late-secretory phase (Day 25). The samples underwent single-cell FACS sorting, single-cell RNA-seq library preparation and Illumina sequencing.

Here we present a complete pipeline for single-cell gene-expression studies, from clinical sampling to statistical data analysis. Tissue manipulation, starting from disaggregation and cell-type-specific labelling and ending with single-cell automated sorting, is managed within 90 min at low temperature to minimize changes in the gene expression profile. The single living stromal and epithelial cells were sorted using CD13- and CD9-specific antibodies, respectively. Of the 8622 detected genes, 2661 were more active in cultured stromal cells than in biopsy cells. In the comparison of biopsy versus cultured cells, 5603 commonly expressed genes were detected, with 241 significantly differentially expressed genes. Of these, 231 genes were up- and 10 down-regulated in cultured cells, respectively. In addition, we performed a gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed genes and found that these genes are mainly related to cell cycle, translational processes and metabolism.

Although CD9-positive single epithelial cells sorting was successfully established in our laboratory, the amount of transcriptome data per individual epithelial cell was low, complicating further analysis. This step most likely failed due to the high dose of RNases that are released by the cells' natural processes, or due to rapid turnaround time or the apoptotic conditions in freezing- or single-cell solutions. Since only the cells from the late-secretory phase were subject to more focused analysis, further studies including larger sample size from the different time-points of the natural menstrual cycle are needed. The methodology also needs further optimization to examine different cell types at high quality.

The symbiosis between clinical biopsy and the sophisticated laboratory and bioinformatic protocols described here brings together clinical diagnostic needs and modern laboratory and bioinformatic solutions, enabling us to implement a precise analytical toolbox for studying the endometrial tissue even at the single-cell level.}, } @article {pmid26874294, year = {2016}, author = {Wiebke-Strohm, B and Ligabue-Braun, R and Rechenmacher, C and De Oliveira-Busatto, LA and Carlini, CR and Bodanese-Zanettini, MH}, title = {Structural and transcriptional characterization of a novel member of the soybean urease gene family.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {96-104}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.01.023}, pmid = {26874294}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; *Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics ; *Soybeans/enzymology/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/*physiology ; *Urease/biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {In plants, ureases have been related to urea degradation, to defense against pathogenic fungi and phytophagous insects, and to the soybean-Bradyrhizobium japonicum symbiosis. Two urease isoforms have been described for soybean: the embryo-specific, encoded by Eu1 gene, and the ubiquitous urease, encoded by Eu4. A third urease-encoding locus exists in the completed soybean genome. The gene was designated Eu5 and the putative product of its ORF as SBU-III. Phylogenetic analysis shows that 41 plant, moss and algal ureases have diverged from a common ancestor protein, but ureases from monocots, eudicots and ancient species have evolved independently. Genomes of ancient organisms present a single urease-encoding gene and urease-encoding gene duplication has occurred independently along the evolution of some eudicot species. SBU-III has a shorter amino acid sequence, since many gaps are found when compared to other sequences. A mutation in a highly conserved amino acid residue suggests absence of ureolytic activity, but the overall protein architecture remains very similar to the other ureases. The expression profile of urease-encoding genes in different organs and developmental stages was determined by RT-qPCR. Eu5 transcripts were detected in seeds one day after dormancy break, roots of young plants and embryos of developing seeds. Eu1 and Eu4 transcripts were found in all analyzed organs, but Eu4 expression was more prominent in seeds one day after dormancy break whereas Eu1 predominated in developing seeds. The evidence suggests that SBU-III may not be involved in nitrogen availability to plants, but it could be involved in other biological role(s).}, } @article {pmid26873697, year = {2016}, author = {Froussart, E and Bonneau, J and Franche, C and Bogusz, D}, title = {Recent advances in actinorhizal symbiosis signaling.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {90}, number = {6}, pages = {613-622}, pmid = {26873697}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Frankia/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium ; Rhizosphere ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen and phosphorus availability are frequent limiting factors in plant growth and development. Certain bacteria and fungi form root endosymbiotic relationships with plants enabling them to exploit atmospheric nitrogen and soil phosphorus. The relationships between bacteria and plants include nitrogen-fixing Gram-negative proteobacteria called rhizobia that are able to interact with most leguminous plants (Fabaceae) but also with the non-legume Parasponia (Cannabaceae), and actinobacteria Frankia, which are able to interact with about 260 species collectively called actinorhizal plants. Fungi involved in the relationship with plants include Glomeromycota that form an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association intracellularly within the roots of more than 80% of land plants. Increasing numbers of reports suggest that the rhizobial association with legumes has recycled part of the ancestral program used by most plants to interact with AM fungi. This review focuses on the most recent progress made in plant genetic control of root nodulation that occurs in non-legume actinorhizal plant species.}, } @article {pmid26872040, year = {2016}, author = {Lanan, MC and Rodrigues, PA and Agellon, A and Jansma, P and Wheeler, DE}, title = {A bacterial filter protects and structures the gut microbiome of an insect.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {1866-1876}, pmid = {26872040}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/cytology/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Proventriculus/cytology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Associations with symbionts within the gut lumen of hosts are particularly prone to disruption due to the constant influx of ingested food and non-symbiotic microbes, yet we know little about how partner fidelity is maintained. Here we describe for the first time the existence of a gut morphological filter capable of protecting an animal gut microbiome from disruption. The proventriculus, a valve located between the crop and midgut of insects, functions as a micro-pore filter in the Sonoran Desert turtle ant (Cephalotes rohweri), blocking the entry of bacteria and particles ⩾0.2 μm into the midgut and hindgut while allowing passage of dissolved nutrients. Initial establishment of symbiotic gut bacteria occurs within the first few hours after pupation via oral-rectal trophallaxis, before the proventricular filter develops. Cephalotes ants are remarkable for having maintained a consistent core gut microbiome over evolutionary time and this partner fidelity is likely enabled by the proventricular filtering mechanism. In addition, the structure and function of the cephalotine proventriculus offers a new perspective on organismal resistance to pathogenic microbes, structuring of gut microbial communities, and development and maintenance of host-microbe fidelity both during the animal life cycle and over evolutionary time.}, } @article {pmid26870079, year = {2016}, author = {Ma, Y and Zhang, C and Oliveira, RS and Freitas, H and Luo, Y}, title = {Bioaugmentation with Endophytic Bacterium E6S Homologous to Achromobacter piechaudii Enhances Metal Rhizoaccumulation in Host Sedum plumbizincicola.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {75}, pmid = {26870079}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Application of hyperaccumulator-endophyte symbiotic systems is a potential approach to improve phytoremediation efficiency, since some beneficial endophytic bacteria are able to detoxify heavy metals, alter metal solubility in soil, and facilitate plant growth. The objective of this study was to isolate multi-metal resistant and plant beneficial endophytic bacteria and to evaluate their role in enhancing plant growth and metal accumulation/translocation. The metal resistant endophytic bacterial strain E6S was isolated from stems of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator plant Sedum plumbizincicola growing in metalliferous mine soils using Dworkin and Foster salts minimal agar medium with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) as the sole nitrogen source, and identified as homologous to Achromobacter piechaudii based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, partial 16S rDNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Strain E6S showed high level of resistance to various metals (Cd, Zn, and Pb). Besides utilizing ACC, strain E6S exhibited plant beneficial traits, such as solubilization of phosphate and production of indole-3-acetic acid. Inoculation with E6S significantly increased the bioavailability of Cd, Zn, and Pb in soil. In addition, bacterial cells bound considerable amounts of metal ions in the following order: Zn > Cd >Pb. Inoculation of E6S significantly stimulated plant biomass, uptake and bioaccumulation of Cd, Zn, and Pb. However, E6S greatly reduced the root to shoot translocation of Cd and Zn, indicating that bacterial inoculation assisted the host plant to uptake and store heavy metals in its root system. Inoculation with the endophytic bacterium E6S homologous to A. piechaudii can improve phytostabilization of metalliferous soils due to its effective ability to enhance in situ metal rhizoaccumulation in plants.}, } @article {pmid26870018, year = {2016}, author = {Xie, M and Ren, M and Yang, C and Yi, H and Li, Z and Li, T and Zhao, J}, title = {Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Symbiotic Relationship among Bacteria in Microcystis-Dominated Community.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {56}, pmid = {26870018}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microcystis bloom, a cyanobacterial mass occurrence often found in eutrophicated water bodies, is one of the most serious threats to freshwater ecosystems worldwide. In nature, Microcystis forms aggregates or colonies that contain heterotrophic bacteria. The Microcystis-bacteria colonies were persistent even when they were maintained in lab culture for a long period. The relationship between Microcystis and the associated bacteria was investigated by a metagenomic approach in this study. We developed a visualization-guided method of binning for genome assembly after total colony DNA sequencing. We found that the method was effective in grouping sequences and it did not require reference genome sequence. Individual genomes of the colony bacteria were obtained and they provided valuable insights into microbial community structures. Analysis of metabolic pathways based on these genomes revealed that while all heterotrophic bacteria were dependent upon Microcystis for carbon and energy, Vitamin B12 biosynthesis, which is required for growth by Microcystis, was accomplished in a cooperative fashion among the bacteria. Our analysis also suggests that individual bacteria in the colony community contributed a complete pathway for degradation of benzoate, which is inhibitory to the cyanobacterial growth, and its ecological implication for Microcystis bloom is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26869611, year = {2016}, author = {Nova, E and Pérez de Heredia, F and Gómez-Martínez, S and Marcos, A}, title = {The Role of Probiotics on the Microbiota: Effect on Obesity.}, journal = {Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {387-400}, doi = {10.1177/0884533615620350}, pmid = {26869611}, issn = {1941-2452}, mesh = {Animals ; Bifidobacterium/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; Lactobacillus/metabolism ; Mice ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Obesity/*metabolism/microbiology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Rats ; }, abstract = {The microbiota and the human host maintain a symbiotic association. Nowadays, metagenomic analyses are providing valuable knowledge on the diversity and functionality of the gut microbiota. However, with regard to the definition of a "healthy microbiota" and the characterization of the dysbiosis linked to obesity, there is still not a clear answer. Despite this fact, attempts have been made to counteract obesity through probiotic supplementation. A literature search of experimental studies relevant to the topic was performed in PubMed database with the keywords "probiotic" and "obesity" and restricted to those with "Lactobacillus" or "Bifidobacterium" in the title. So far, evidence of an antiobesity effect of different lactobacilli and bifidobacteria has been mainly obtained from animal models of dietary-induced obesity. Using these experimental models, a substantial number of studies have reported reductions in weight gain and, in particular, fat tissue mass at different locations following administration of bacteria, as compared with controls. Antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects-including regulation of expression of lipogenic and lipolytic genes in the liver, reduction in liver steatosis, improvement of blood lipid profile and glucose tolerance, decreased endotoxemia, and regulation of inflammatory pathways-are also reported in many of them. The number of human studies focused on probiotic administration for obesity management is still very scarce, and it is too soon to judge their potential efficacy, especially when considering the fact that the actions of probiotics are always strain specific and the individual response varies according to intrinsic factors, the overall composition of diet, and their interactions.}, } @article {pmid26869375, year = {2016}, author = {Slavov, C and Schrameyer, V and Reus, M and Ralph, PJ and Hill, R and Büchel, C and Larkum, AW and Holzwarth, AR}, title = {"Super-quenching" state protects Symbiodinium from thermal stress - Implications for coral bleaching.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1857}, number = {6}, pages = {840-847}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.02.002}, pmid = {26869375}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Electron Transport/radiation effects ; Kinetics ; Light ; Luminescent Measurements/methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Models, Biological ; Oxidation-Reduction/radiation effects ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Temperature ; Thylakoids/metabolism/radiation effects ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The global rise in sea surface temperatures causes regular exposure of corals to high temperature and high light stress, leading to worldwide disastrous coral bleaching events (loss of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) from reef-building corals). Our picosecond chlorophyll fluorescence experiments on cultured Symbiodinium clade C cells exposed to coral bleaching conditions uncovered the transformations of the alga's photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) that activate an extremely efficient non-photochemical "super-quenching" mechanism. The mechanism is associated with a transition from an initially heterogeneous photosystem II (PSII) pool to a homogeneous "spillover" pool, where nearly all excitation energy is transferred to photosystem I (PSI). There, the inherently higher stability of PSI and high quenching efficiency of P(700)(+) allow dumping of PSII excess excitation energy into heat, resulting in almost complete cessation of photosynthetic electron transport (PET). This potentially reversible "super-quenching" mechanism protects the PSA against destruction at the cost of a loss of photosynthetic activity. We suggest that the inhibition of PET and the consequent inhibition of organic carbon production (e.g. sugars) in the symbiotic Symbiodinium provide a trigger for the symbiont expulsion, i.e. bleaching.}, } @article {pmid26868980, year = {2016}, author = {Yubuki, N and Čepička, I and Leander, BS}, title = {Evolution of the microtubular cytoskeleton (flagellar apparatus) in parasitic protists.}, journal = {Molecular and biochemical parasitology}, volume = {209}, number = {1-2}, pages = {26-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.02.002}, pmid = {26868980}, issn = {1872-9428}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Cytoskeleton/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Flagella/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Locomotion ; Microtubules/*metabolism ; Parasites/classification/*physiology ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {The microtubular cytoskeleton of most single-celled eukaryotes radiates from an organizing center called the flagellar apparatus, which is essential for locomotion, feeding and reproduction. The structure of the flagellar apparatus tends to be conserved within diverse clades of eukaryotes, and modifications of this overall structure distinguish different clades from each other. Understanding the unity and diversity of the flagellar apparatus provides important insights into the evolutionary history of the eukaryotic cell. Diversification of the flagellar apparatus is particularly apparent during the multiple independent transitions to parasitic lifestyles from free-living ancestors. However, our understanding of these evolutionary transitions is hampered by the lack of detailed comparisons of the microtubular root systems in different lineages of parasitic microbial eukaryotes and those of their closest free-living relatives. Here we help to establish this comparative context by examining the unity and diversity of the flagellar apparatus in six major clades containing both free-living lineages and endobiotic (parasitic and symbiotic) microbial eukaryotes: stramenopiles (e.g., Phytophthora), fornicates (e.g., Giardia), parabasalids (e.g., Trichomonas), preaxostylids (e.g., Monocercomonoides), kinetoplastids (e.g., Trypanosoma), and apicomplexans (e.g., Plasmodium). These comparisons enabled us to address some broader patterns associated with the evolution of parasitism, including a general trend toward a more streamlined flagellar apparatus.}, } @article {pmid26868598, year = {2016}, author = {Gu, Y and Xing, S and He, C}, title = {Genome-Wide Analysis Indicates Lineage-Specific Gene Loss during Papilionoideae Evolution.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {635-648}, pmid = {26868598}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromosome Mapping ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Genome, Plant ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Gene loss is the driving force for changes in genome and morphology; however, this particular evolutionary event has been poorly investigated in leguminous plants. Legumes (Fabaceae) have some lineage-specific and diagnostic characteristics that are distinct from other angiosperms. To understand the potential role of gene loss in the evolution of legumes, we compared six genome-sequenced legume species of Papilionoideae, the largest representative clade of Fabaceae, such as Glycine max, with 34 nonlegume plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana. The results showed that the putative orthologs of the 34 Arabidopsis genes belonging to 29 gene families were absent in these legume species but these were conserved in the sequenced nonlegume angiosperm lineages. Further evolutionary analyses indicated that the orthologs of these genes were almost completely lost in the Papillionoideae ancestors, thus designated as the legume lost genes (LLGs), and these underwent purifying selection in nonlegume plants. Most LLGs were functionally unknown. In Arabidopsis, two LLGs were well-known genes that played a role in plant immunity such as HARMLESS TO OZONE LAYER 1 and HOPZ-ACTIVATED RESISTANCE 1, and 16 additional LLGs were predicted to participate in plant-pathogen interactions in in silico expression and protein-protein interaction network analyses. Most of these LLGs' orthologs in various plants were also found to be associated with biotic stress response, indicating the conserved role of these genes in plant defense. The evolutionary implication of LLGs during the development of the ability of symbiotic nitrogen fixation involving plant and bacterial interactions, which is a well-known characteristic of most legumes, is also discussed. Our work sheds light on the evolutionary implication of gene loss events in Papilionoideae evolution, as well as provides new insights into crop design to improve nitrogen fixation capacity.}, } @article {pmid26868597, year = {2016}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Baumgarten, S and Michell, CT and Baums, IB and LaJeunesse, TC and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Gene Expression Variation Resolves Species and Individual Strains among Coral-Associated Dinoflagellates within the Genus Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {665-680}, pmid = {26868597}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genotype ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals depend on symbiotic mutualisms with photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. This large microalgal group comprises many highly divergent lineages ("Clades A-I") and hundreds of undescribed species. Given their ecological importance, efforts have turned to genomic approaches to characterize the functional ecology of Symbiodinium. To date, investigators have only compared gene expression between representatives from separate clades-the equivalent of contrasting genera or families in other dinoflagellate groups-making it impossible to distinguish between clade-level and species-level functional differences. Here, we examined the transcriptomes of four species within one Symbiodinium clade (Clade B) at ∼20,000 orthologous genes, as well as multiple isoclonal cell lines within species (i.e., cultured strains). These species span two major adaptive radiations within Clade B, each encompassing both host-specialized and ecologically cryptic taxa. Species-specific expression differences were consistently enriched for photosynthesis-related genes, likely reflecting selection pressures driving niche diversification. Transcriptional variation among strains involved fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis pathways. Such differences among individuals are potentially a major source of physiological variation, contributing to the functional diversity of coral holobionts composed of unique host-symbiont genotype pairings. Our findings expand the genomic resources available for this important symbiont group and emphasize the power of comparative transcriptomics as a method for studying speciation processes and interindividual variation in nonmodel organisms.}, } @article {pmid26867773, year = {2016}, author = {Sakrouhi, I and Belfquih, M and Sbabou, L and Moulin, P and Bena, G and Filali-Maltouf, A and Le Quéré, A}, title = {Recovery of symbiotic nitrogen fixing acacia rhizobia from Merzouga Desert sand dunes in South East Morocco--Identification of a probable new species of Ensifer adapted to stressed environments.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {122-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2016.01.001}, pmid = {26867773}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Carbon/chemistry ; *Desert Climate ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Typing ; Morocco ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Bacteria capable of nodulating Acacia tortilis and A. gummifera could be recovered from sand dunes collected in the Moroccan Merzouga desert. The trapping approach enabled the recovery of 17 desert rhizobia that all clustered within the Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) genus. Four isolates of the dominant genotype comprising 15 strains as well as 2 divergent strains were further characterized by MLSA. Phylogenetic analyzes indicated that the dominant genetic type was belonging to a new and yet undefined species within the Ensifer genus. Interestingly, housekeeping gene phylogenies showed that this possibly new species is also present in another desert but in India. Phylogenetic analyses of nifH and nodC sequences showed high sequence conservation among the Moroccan strains belonging to the dominant genotype but high divergence with sequences from Indian isolates suggesting acquisition of symbiotic genes through Horizontal Gene Transfer. These desert rhizobia were capable of growing in media containing high salt concentrations, under high pH and most of the strains showed growth at 45°C. Only recovered from desert type of Biome, yet, this new taxon appears particularly adapted to such harsh environment.}, } @article {pmid26867636, year = {2016}, author = {Trempel, F and Ranf, S and Scheel, D and Lee, J}, title = {Quantitative Analysis of Microbe-Associated Molecular Pattern (MAMP)-Induced Ca(2+) Transients in Plants.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1398}, number = {}, pages = {331-344}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-3356-3_27}, pmid = {26867636}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Aequorin/genetics/*metabolism ; Apoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ca(2+) is a secondary messenger involved in early signaling events triggered in response to a plethora of biotic and abiotic stimuli. In plants, environmental cues that induce cytosolic Ca(2+) elevation include touch, reactive oxygen species, cold shock, and salt or osmotic stress. Furthermore, Ca(2+) signaling has been implicated in early stages of plant-microbe interactions of both symbiotic and antagonistic nature. A long-standing hypothesis is that there is information encoded in the Ca(2+) signals (so-called Ca(2+) signatures) to enable plants to differentiate between these stimuli and to trigger the appropriate cellular response. Qualitative and quantitative measurements of Ca(2+) signals are therefore needed to dissect the responses of plants to their environment. Luminescence produced by the Ca(2+) probe aequorin upon Ca(2+) binding is a widely used method for the detection of Ca(2+) transients and other changes in Ca(2+) concentrations in cells or organelles of plant cells. In this chapter, using microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), such as the bacterial-derived flg22 or elf18 peptides as stimuli, a protocol for the quantitative measurements of Ca(2+) fluxes in apoaequorin-expressing seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana in 96-well format is described.}, } @article {pmid26867502, year = {2016}, author = {Morran, LT and Penley, MJ and Byrd, VS and Meyer, AJ and O'Sullivan, TS and Bashey, F and Goodrich-Blair, H and Lively, CM}, title = {Nematode-bacteria mutualism: Selection within the mutualism supersedes selection outside of the mutualism.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {70}, number = {3}, pages = {687-695}, pmid = {26867502}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {F32 GM096482/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1F32GM096482-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The coevolution of interacting species can lead to codependent mutualists. Little is known about the effect of selection on partners within verses apart from the association. Here, we determined the effect of selection on bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophila) both within and apart from its mutualistic partner (a nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae). In nature, the two species cooperatively infect and kill arthropods. We passaged the bacteria either together with (M+), or isolated from (M-), nematodes under two different selection regimes: random selection (S-) and selection for increased virulence against arthropod hosts (S+). We found that the isolated bacteria evolved greater virulence under selection for greater virulence (M-S+) than under random selection (M-S-). In addition, the response to selection in the isolated bacteria (M-S+) caused a breakdown of the mutualism following reintroduction to the nematode. Finally, selection for greater virulence did not alter the evolutionary trajectories of bacteria passaged within the mutualism (M+S+ = M+S-), indicating that selection for the maintenance of the mutualism was stronger than selection for increased virulence. The results show that selection on isolated mutualists can rapidly breakdown beneficial interactions between species, but that selection within a mutualism can supersede external selection, potentially generating codependence over time.}, } @article {pmid26865973, year = {2016}, author = {Fahey, C and Winter, K and Slot, M and Kitajima, K}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on whole-plant respiration and thermal acclimation of tropical tree seedlings.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {859-870}, pmid = {26865973}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous in tropical forests. AMF play a role in the forest carbon cycle because they can increase nutrient acquisition and biomass of host plants, but also incur a carbon cost to the plant. Through their interactions with their host plants they have the potential to affect how plants respond to environmental perturbation such as global warming. Our objective was to experimentally determine how plant respiration rates and responses to warmer environment are affected by AMF colonization in seedlings of five tropical tree species at the whole plant level. We evaluated the interaction between AMF colonization and temperature on plant respiration against four possible outcomes; acclimation does or does not occur regardless of AMF, or AMF can increase or decrease respiratory acclimation. Seedlings were inoculated with AMF spores or sterilized inoculum and grown at ambient or elevated nighttime temperature. We measured whole plant and belowground respiration rates, as well as plant growth and biomass allocation. There was an overall increase in whole plant, root, and shoot respiration rate with AMF colonization, whereas temperature acclimation varied among species, showing support for three of the four possible responses. The influence of AMF colonization on growth and allocation also varied among plant species. This study shows that the effect of AMF colonization on acclimation differs among plant species. Given the cosmopolitan nature of AMF and the importance of plant acclimation for predicting climate feedbacks a better understanding of the patterns and mechanisms of acclimation is essential for improving predictions of how climate warming may influence vegetation feedbacks.}, } @article {pmid26865951, year = {2016}, author = {Gaume, L and Bazile, V and Huguin, M and Bonhomme, V}, title = {Different pitcher shapes and trapping syndromes explain resource partitioning in Nepenthes species.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {1378-1392}, pmid = {26865951}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Nepenthes pitcher plants display interspecific diversity in pitcher form and diets. This species-rich genus might be a conspicuous candidate for an adaptive radiation. However, the pitcher traits of different species have never been quantified in a comparative study, nor have their possible adaptations to the resources they exploit been tested. In this study, we compare the pitcher features and prey composition of the seven Nepenthes taxa that grow in the heath forest of Brunei (Borneo) and investigate whether these species display different trapping syndromes that target different prey. The Nepenthes species are shown to display species-specific combinations of pitcher shapes, volumes, rewards, attraction and capture traits, and different degrees of ontogenetic pitcher dimorphism. The prey spectra also differ among plant species and between ontogenetic morphotypes in their combinations of ants, flying insects, termites, and noninsect guilds. According to a discriminant analysis, the Nepenthes species collected at the same site differ significantly in prey abundance and composition at the level of order, showing niche segregation but with varying degrees of niche overlap according to pairwise species comparisons. Weakly carnivorous species are first characterized by an absence of attractive traits. Generalist carnivorous species have a sweet odor, a wide pitcher aperture, and an acidic pitcher fluid. Guild specializations are explained by different combinations of morpho-functional traits. Ant captures increase with extrafloral nectar, fluid acidity, and slippery waxy walls. Termite captures increase with narrowness of pitchers, presence of a rim of edible trichomes, and symbiotic association with ants. The abundance of flying insects is primarily correlated with pitcher conicity, pitcher aperture diameter, and odor presence. Such species-specific syndromes favoring resource partitioning may result from local character displacement by competition and/or previous adaptations to geographically distinct environments.}, } @article {pmid26865859, year = {2015}, author = {Kooij, PW and Poulsen, M and Schiøtt, M and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Somatic incompatibility and genetic structure of fungal crops in sympatric Atta colombica and Acromyrmex echinatior leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Fungal ecology}, volume = {18}, number = {}, pages = {10-17}, pmid = {26865859}, issn = {1754-5048}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Obligate mutualistic symbioses rely on mechanisms that secure host-symbiont commitments to maximize host benefits and prevent symbiont cheating. Previous studies showed that somatic incompatibilities correlate with neutral-marker-based genetic distances between fungal symbionts of Panamanian Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants, but the extent to which this relationship applies more generally remained unclear. Here we showed that genetic distances accurately predicted somatic incompatibility for Acromyrmex echinatior symbionts irrespective of whether neutral microsatellites or AFLP markers were used, but that such correlations were weaker or absent in sympatric Atta colombica colonies. Further analysis showed that the symbiont clades maintained by A. echinatior and A. colombica were likely to represent separate gene pools, so that neutral markers were unlikely to be similarly correlated with incompatibility loci that have experienced different selection regimes. We suggest that evolutionarily derived claustral colony founding by Atta queens may have removed selection for strong incompatibility in Atta fungi, as this condition makes the likelihood of symbiont swaps much lower than in Acromyrmex, where incipient nests stay open because queens have to forage until the first workers emerge.}, } @article {pmid26865249, year = {2016}, author = {Rupaimoole, R and Calin, GA and Lopez-Berestein, G and Sood, AK}, title = {miRNA Deregulation in Cancer Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment.}, journal = {Cancer discovery}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {235-246}, pmid = {26865249}, issn = {2159-8290}, support = {UH3TR000943/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; CA109298/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA016672/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U24 CA143835/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA097007/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA182905/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA100632/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA177909/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; UH3 TR000943/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA109298/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA016672/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA098258/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U54 CA151668/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA083639/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA182905/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA127001/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Disease Progression ; Fibroblasts/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Hypoxia/genetics/metabolism ; Inflammation/etiology/metabolism/pathology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/therapeutic use ; Neoplasms/*genetics/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Microenvironment/*genetics ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: miRNAs are a key component of the noncoding RNA family. The underlying mechanisms involved in the interplay between the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells involve highly dynamic factors such as hypoxia and cell types such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and macrophages. Although miRNA levels are known to be altered in cancer cells, recent evidence suggests a critical role for the tumor microenvironment in regulating miRNA biogenesis, methylation, and transcriptional changes. Here, we discuss the complex protumorigenic symbiotic role between tumor cells, the tumor microenvironment, and miRNA deregulation.

SIGNIFICANCE: miRNAs play a central role in cell signaling and homeostasis. In this article, we provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms involved in the deregulation of miRNAs in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment and discuss therapeutic intervention strategies to overcome this deregulation.}, } @article {pmid26864257, year = {2016}, author = {Howells, EJ and Abrego, D and Meyer, E and Kirk, NL and Burt, JA}, title = {Host adaptation and unexpected symbiont partners enable reef-building corals to tolerate extreme temperatures.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {2702-2714}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.13250}, pmid = {26864257}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Understanding the potential for coral adaptation to warming seas is complicated by interactions between symbiotic partners that define stress responses and the difficulties of tracking selection in natural populations. To overcome these challenges, we characterized the contribution of both animal host and symbiotic algae to thermal tolerance in corals that have already experienced considerable warming on par with end-of-century projections for most coral reefs. Thermal responses in Platygyra daedalea corals from the hot Persian Gulf where summer temperatures reach 36°C were compared with conspecifics from the milder Sea of Oman. Persian Gulf corals had higher rates of survival at elevated temperatures (33 and 36°C) in both the nonsymbiotic larval stage (32-49% higher) and the symbiotic adult life stage (51% higher). Additionally, Persian Gulf hosts had fixed greater potential to mitigate oxidative stress (31-49% higher) and their Symbiodinium partners had better retention of photosynthetic performance under elevated temperature (up to 161% higher). Superior thermal tolerance of Persian Gulf vs. Sea of Oman corals was maintained after 6-month acclimatization to a common ambient environment and was underpinned by genetic divergence in both the coral host and symbiotic algae. In P. daedalea host samples, genomewide SNP variation clustered into two discrete groups corresponding with Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman sites. Symbiodinium within host tissues predominantly belonged to ITS2 rDNA type C3 in the Persian Gulf and type D1a in the Sea of Oman contradicting patterns of Symbiodinium thermal tolerance from other regions. Our findings provide evidence that genetic adaptation of both host and Symbiodinium has enabled corals to cope with extreme temperatures in the Persian Gulf. Thus, the persistence of coral populations under continued warming will likely be determined by evolutionary rates in both, rather than single, symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid26862076, year = {2016}, author = {Shokal, U and Yadav, S and Atri, J and Accetta, J and Kenney, E and Banks, K and Katakam, A and Jaenike, J and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Effects of co-occurring Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts on the Drosophila immune response against insect pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {26862076}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/immunology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Male ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic interactions between microbes and animals are common in nature. Symbiotic organisms are particularly common in insects and, in some cases, they may protect their hosts from pathogenic infections. Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts naturally inhabit various insects including Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies. Therefore, this symbiotic association is considered an excellent model to investigate whether endosymbiotic bacteria participate in host immune processes against certain pathogens. Here we have investigated whether the presence of Wolbachia alone or together with Spiroplasma endosymbionts in D. melanogaster adult flies affects the immune response against the virulent insect pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens and against non-pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria.

RESULTS: We found that D. melanogaster flies carrying no endosymbionts, those carrying both Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, and those containing Wolbachia only had similar survival rates after infection with P. luminescens or Escherichia coli bacteria. However, flies carrying both endosymbionts or Wolbachia only contained higher numbers of E. coli cells at early time-points post infection than flies without endosymbiotic bacteria. Interestingly, flies containing Wolbachia only had lower titers of this endosymbiont upon infection with the pathogen P. luminescens than uninfected flies of the same strain. We further found that the presence of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in D. melanogaster up-regulated certain immune-related genes upon infection with P. luminescens or E. coli bacteria, but it failed to alter the phagocytic ability of the flies toward E. coli inactive bioparticles.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the presence of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma in D. melanogaster can modulate immune signaling against infection by certain insect pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. Results from such studies are important for understanding the molecular basis of the interactions between endosymbiotic bacteria of insects and exogenous microbes.}, } @article {pmid26861502, year = {2016}, author = {Sędzielewska Toro, K and Brachmann, A}, title = {The effector candidate repertoire of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus clarus.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {17}, number = {}, pages = {101}, pmid = {26861502}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cell Wall/genetics/metabolism ; Computational Biology/methods ; Enzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics/methods ; Glomeromycota/*classification/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form an ecologically important symbiosis with more than two thirds of studied land plants. Recent studies of plant-pathogen interactions showed that effector proteins play a key role in host colonization by controlling the plant immune system. We hypothesise that also for symbiotic-plant interactions the secreted effectome of the fungus is a major component of communication and the conservation level of effector proteins between AMF species may be indicative whether they play a fundamental role.

RESULTS: In this study, we used a bioinformatics pipeline to predict and compare the effector candidate repertoire of the two AMF species, Rhizophagus irregularis and Rhizophagus clarus. Our in silico pipeline revealed a list of 220 R. irregularis candidate effector genes that create a valuable information source to elucidate the mechanism of plant infection and colonization by fungi during AMF symbiotic interaction. While most of the candidate effectors show no homologies to known domains or proteins, the candidates with homologies point to potential roles in signal transduction, cell wall modification or transcription regulation. A remarkable aspect of our work is presence of a large portion of the effector proteins involved in symbiosis, which are not unique to each fungi or plant species, but shared along the Glomeromycota phylum. For 95% of R. irregularis candidates we found homologs in a R. clarus genome draft generated by Illumina high-throughput sequencing. Interestingly, 9% of the predicted effectors are at least as conserved between the two Rhizophagus species as proteins with housekeeping functions (similarity > 90%). Therefore, we state that this group of highly conserved effector proteins between AMF species may play a fundamental role during fungus-plant interaction.

CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesise that in symbiotic interactions the secreted effectome of the fungus might be an important component of communication. Identification and functional characterization of the primary AMF effectors that regulate symbiotic development will help in understanding the mechanisms of fungus-plant interaction.}, } @article {pmid26861479, year = {2016}, author = {Teramoto, M and Wu, B and Hogetsu, T}, title = {Pathway and sink activity for photosynthate translocation in Pisolithus extraradical mycelium of ectomycorrhizal Pinus thunbergii seedlings.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {453-464}, pmid = {26861479}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Autoradiography ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Carbon Radioisotopes ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Pinus/*metabolism ; Seedlings/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to identify the pathway and sink activity of photosynthate translocation in the extraradical mycelium (ERM) of a Pisolithus isolate. We labelled ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Pinus thunbergii seedlings with (14)CO2 and followed (14)C distribution within the ERM by autoradiography. (14)C photosynthate translocation in the ERM resulted in (14)C distribution in rhizomorphs throughout the ERM, with (14)C accumulation at the front. When most radial mycelial connections between ECM root tips and the ERM front were cut, the whole allocation of (14)C photosynthates to the ERM was reduced. However, the overall pattern of (14)C distribution in the ERM was maintained even in regions immediately above and below the cut, with no local (14)C depletion or accumulation. We inferred from this result that every portion in the ERM has a significant sink activity and a definite sink capacity for photosynthates and that photosynthates detour the cut and reach throughout the ERM by translocation in every direction. Next, we prepared paired ECM seedlings, ERMs of which had been connected with each other by hyphal fusion, alongside, labelled the left seedling with (14)CO2, and shaded none, one or both of them. (14)C photosynthates were acropetally and basipetally translocated from the left ERM to ECM root tips of the right seedling through rhizomorphs in the left and right ERMs, respectively. With the left seedling illuminated, (14)C translocation from the left to the right ERM increased by shading the right seedling. This result suggests that reduced photosynthate transfer from the host to its ERM increased sink activity of the ERM.}, } @article {pmid26859724, year = {2016}, author = {Keroack, CD and Wurster, JI and Decker, CG and Williams, KM and Slatko, BE and Foster, JM and Williams, SA}, title = {Absence of the Filarial Endosymbiont Wolbachia in Seal Heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) but Evidence of Ancient Lateral Gene Transfer.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {102}, number = {3}, pages = {312-318}, doi = {10.1645/15-872}, pmid = {26859724}, issn = {1937-2345}, mesh = {Acanthocheilonema/genetics/*microbiology ; Acanthocheilonemiasis/microbiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Blotting, Western ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Helminth/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Female ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal/physiology ; Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase/genetics ; Phoca/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Pseudogenes ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics/immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship of Wolbachia spp. was first observed in insects and subsequently in many parasitic filarial nematodes. This bacterium is believed to provide metabolic and developmental assistance to filarial parasitic nematodes, although the exact nature of this relationship remains to be fully elucidated. While Wolbachia is present in most filarial nematodes in the family Onchocercidae, it is absent in several disparate species such as the human parasite Loa loa . All tested members of the genus Acanthocheilonema, such as Acanthocheilonema viteae, have been shown to lack Wolbachia. Consistent with this, we show that Wolbachia is absent from the seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda), but lateral gene transfer (LGT) of DNA sequences between Wolbachia and A. spirocauda has occurred, indicating a past evolutionary association. Seal heartworm is an important pathogen of phocid seals and understanding its basic biology is essential for conservation of the host. The findings presented here may allow for the development of future treatments or diagnostics for the disease and also aid in clarification of the complicated nematode-Wolbachia relationship.}, } @article {pmid26859176, year = {2016}, author = {Feirstein, F}, title = {A Psychoanalytic Study of Sylvia Plath.}, journal = {Psychoanalytic review}, volume = {103}, number = {1}, pages = {103-126}, doi = {10.1521/prev.2016.103.1.103}, pmid = {26859176}, issn = {1943-3301}, mesh = {Bipolar Disorder/*psychology ; *Famous Persons ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Literature, Modern ; *Poetry as Topic ; *Psychoanalytic Interpretation ; Schizoid Personality Disorder/*psychology ; Suicide/*psychology ; }, abstract = {Sylvia Plath's rage at her abandoning husband and at her late beloved father was partly a displacement of anger toward her loving but smothering mother. Her schizoid pathology resulting from the symbiosis (along with her bipolarity) helped prompt her suicide. At the same time her rage at the men represented a struggle to prevent it. The focus of this paper is to explore in the context of her life how the style as well as the content of her last book, Ariel, made for one long suicide note-albeit a beautifully written work of art. In the most accessible of her poems, such as "Daddy," "Lady Lazarus," and "Edge," her health overcomes her pathology. In others her pathology dominates. In Ariel Plath attempted and succeeded in turning herself into a tragic, mythic heroine, eventually drowning herself in a gas oven as she would have in the ocean-a key metaphor for her mother.}, } @article {pmid26858743, year = {2016}, author = {Qiao, Z and Pingault, L and Nourbakhsh-Rey, M and Libault, M}, title = {Comprehensive Comparative Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses of the Legume Genes Controlling the Nodulation Process.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {34}, pmid = {26858743}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen is one of the most essential plant nutrients and one of the major factors limiting crop productivity. Having the goal to perform a more sustainable agriculture, there is a need to maximize biological nitrogen fixation, a feature of legumes. To enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the interaction between legumes and rhizobia, the symbiotic partner fixing and assimilating the atmospheric nitrogen for the plant, researchers took advantage of genetic and genomic resources developed across different legume models (e.g., Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, Glycine max, and Phaseolus vulgaris) to identify key regulatory protein coding genes of the nodulation process. In this study, we are presenting the results of a comprehensive comparative genomic analysis to highlight orthologous and paralogous relationships between the legume genes controlling nodulation. Mining large transcriptomic datasets, we also identified several orthologous and paralogous genes characterized by the induction of their expression during nodulation across legume plant species. This comprehensive study prompts new insights into the evolution of the nodulation process in legume plant and will benefit the scientific community interested in the transfer of functional genomic information between species.}, } @article {pmid26858111, year = {2016}, author = {Bittleston, LS and Pierce, NE and Ellison, AM and Pringle, A}, title = {Convergence in Multispecies Interactions.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {269-280}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2016.01.006}, pmid = {26858111}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Food Chain ; *Microbiota ; Plants ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The concepts of convergent evolution and community convergence highlight how selective pressures can shape unrelated organisms or communities in similar ways. We propose a related concept, convergent interactions, to describe the independent evolution of multispecies interactions with similar physiological or ecological functions. A focus on convergent interactions clarifies how natural selection repeatedly favors particular kinds of associations among species. Characterizing convergent interactions in a comparative context is likely to facilitate prediction of the ecological roles of organisms (including microbes) in multispecies interactions and selective pressures acting in poorly understood or newly discovered multispecies systems. We illustrate the concept of convergent interactions with examples: vertebrates and their gut bacteria; ectomycorrhizae; insect-fungal-bacterial interactions; pitcher-plant food webs; and ants and ant-plants.}, } @article {pmid26850795, year = {2016}, author = {Geurts, R and Xiao, TT and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {What Does It Take to Evolve A Nitrogen-Fixing Endosymbiosis?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {199-208}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2016.01.012}, pmid = {26850795}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Cell Division ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant rhizo- and phyllospheres are exposed to a plethora of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, providing opportunities for the establishment of symbiotic associations. Nitrogen-fixing endosymbioses are most profitable and have evolved more than ten times in the angiosperms. This suggests that the evolutionary trajectory towards endosymbiosis is not complex. Here, we argue that microbe-induced cell divisions are a prerequisite for the entrance of diazotrophic prokaryotes into living plant cells. For rhizobia and Frankia bacteria, this is achieved by adapting the readout of the common symbiosis signalling pathway, such that cell divisions are induced. The common symbiosis signalling pathway is conserved in the plant kingdom and is required to establish an endosymbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. We also discuss the adaptations that may have occurred that allowed nitrogen-fixing root nodule endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26850159, year = {2016}, author = {Postma, A and Slabbert, E and Postma, F and Jacobs, K}, title = {Soil bacterial communities associated with natural and commercial Cyclopia spp.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiw016}, pmid = {26850159}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Cyclopia Plant/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The commercially important plants in the genus Cyclopia spp. are indigenous to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and are used to manufacture an herbal tea known as honeybush tea. Growing in the low nutrient fynbos soils, these plants are highly dependent on symbiotic interactions with soil microorganisms for nutrient acquisition. The aim of this study was to investigate the soil bacterial communities associated with two commercially important Cyclopia species, namely C. subternata and C. longifolia. Specific interest was the differences between rhizosphere and bulk soil collected from natural sites and commercially grown plants. Samples were collected on two occasions to include a dry summer and wet winter season. Results showed that the dominant bacterial taxa associated with these plants included Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Commercial and natural as well as rhizosphere and bulk soil samples were highly similar in bacterial diversity and species richness. Significant differences were detected in bacterial community structures and co-occurrence patterns between the wet and dry seasons. The results of this study improved our knowledge on what effect commercial Cyclopia plantations and seasonal changes can have on soil bacterial communities within the endemic fynbos biome.}, } @article {pmid26849805, year = {2016}, author = {Busset, N and De Felice, A and Chaintreuil, C and Gully, D and Fardoux, J and Romdhane, S and Molinaro, A and Silipo, A and Giraud, E}, title = {The LPS O-Antigen in Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium Strains Is Dispensable for the Establishment of a Successful Symbiosis with Aeschynomene Legumes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0148884}, pmid = {26849805}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Ligases/genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; O Antigens/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Sugar Alcohol Dehydrogenases/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The photosynthetic bradyrhizobia are able to use a Nod-factor independent process to induce nitrogen-fixing nodules on some semi-aquatic Aeschynomene species. These bacteria display a unique LPS O-antigen composed of a new sugar, the bradyrhizose that is regarded as a key symbiotic factor due to its non-immunogenic character. In this study, to check this hypothesis, we isolated mutants affected in the O-antigen synthesis by screening a transposon mutant library of the ORS285 strain for clones altered in colony morphology. Over the 10,000 mutants screened, five were selected and found to be mutated in two genes, rfaL, encoding for a putative O-antigen ligase and gdh encoding for a putative dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase. Biochemical analysis confirmed that the LPS of these mutants completely lack the O-antigen region. However, no effect of the mutations could be detected on the symbiotic properties of the mutants indicating that the O-antigen region of photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strains is not required for the establishment of symbiosis with Aeschynomene.}, } @article {pmid26848549, year = {2016}, author = {Tang, F and Yang, S and Zhu, H}, title = {Functional analysis of alternative transcripts of the soybean Rj2 gene that restricts nodulation with specific rhizobial strains.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {537-541}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12442}, pmid = {26848549}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*Alternative Splicing ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Introns/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Protein Domains ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/*genetics/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Rj2 gene is a TIR-NBS-LRR-type resistance gene in soybean (Glycine max) that restricts root nodule symbiosis with a group of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains including USDA122. Rj2 generates two distinct transcript variants in its expression profile through alternative splicing. Alternative splicing of Rj2 is caused by the retention of the 86-bp intron 4. Inclusion of intron 4 in mature mRNA introduces an in-frame stop codon; as such, the alternative transcript is predicted to encode a truncated protein consisting of the entire portion of the TIR, NBS and LRR domains but missing the C-terminal domain of the full-length Rj2 protein encoded by the regular transcript. Since alternative splicing has been shown to be essential for full activity of several plant R genes, we attempted to test whether the alternative splicing is required for Rj2-mediated nodulation restriction. Here we demonstrated that the Rj2-mediated nodulation restriction does not require the combined presence of the regular and alternative transcripts, and the expression of the regular transcript alone is sufficient to confer nodulation restriction.}, } @article {pmid26846148, year = {2016}, author = {Grunewaldt-Stöcker, G and von Alten, H}, title = {Is the root-colonizing endophyte Acremonium strictum an ericoid mycorrhizal fungus?.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {429-440}, pmid = {26846148}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Acremonium/classification/cytology/*physiology ; Cell Survival ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/cytology/physiology ; Plant Roots/cytology/*microbiology ; Rhododendron/cytology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In previous investigations, we found that Acremonium strictum (strain DSM 100709) developed intracellular structures with similarity to mycelia of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizodermal cells of flax plants and in hair roots of Rhododendron plantlets. A. strictum had also been isolated from roots of ericaceous salal plants and was described as an unusual ericoid mycorrhizal fungus (ERMF). As its mycorrhizal traits were doubted, we revised the hypothesis of a mycorrhizal nature of A. strictum. A successful synthesis of mycorrhiza in hair roots of inoculated ericaceous plants was a first step of evidence, followed by fluorescence microscopy with FUN(®)1 cell stain to observe the vitality of the host cells at the early infection stage. In inoculation trials with in vitro-raised mycorrhiza-free Rhododendron plants in axenic liquid culture and in greenhouse substrate culture, A. strictum was never observed in living hair root cells. As compared to the ERMF Oidiodendron maius and Rhizoscyphus ericae that invaded metabolically active host cells and established a symbiotic unit, A. strictum was only found in cells that were dead or in the process of dying and in the apoplast. In conclusion, A. strictum does not behave like a common ERMF-if it is one at all. A comparison of A. strictum isolates from ericaceous and non-ericaceous hosts could reveal further identity details to generalize or specify our findings on the symbiotic nature of A. strictum. At least, the staining method enables to discern between true mycorrhizal and other root endophytes-a tool for further studies.}, } @article {pmid26846147, year = {2016}, author = {Yamato, M and Takahashi, H and Shimono, A and Kusakabe, R and Yukawa, T}, title = {Distribution of Petrosavia sakuraii (Petrosaviaceae), a rare mycoheterotrophic plant, may be determined by the abundance of its mycobionts.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {417-427}, pmid = {26846147}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Databases, Factual ; Demography ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Japan ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Petrosavia sakuraii (Petrosaviaceae) is a rare, mycoheterotrophic plant species that has a specific symbiotic interaction with a narrow clade of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the distribution and abundance of mycobionts in two P. sakuraii habitats, Nagiso and Sengenyama (central Honshu, Japan), determine the distribution pattern of this rare plant. Nagiso is a thriving habitat with hundreds of P. sakuraii individuals per 100 m(2), whereas Sengenyama is a sparsely populated habitat with fewer than 10 individuals per 100 m(2). AM fungal communities associated with tree roots were compared at 20-cm distances from P. sakuraii shoots between the two habitats by molecular identification of AM fungal partial sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. The percentage of AM fungal sequences showing over 99 % identity with those of the dominant P. sakuraii mycobionts was high (54.9 %) in Nagiso, but low (13.2 %) in Sengenyama. Accordingly, the abundance of P. sakuraii seems to reflect the proportion of potential mycobionts. It is likely that P. sakuraii mycobionts are not rare in Japanese warm temperate forests since 11.2 % of AM fungal sequences previously obtained from a deciduous broad-leaved forest devoid of P. sakuraii in Mizuho, central Honshu, Japan, were >99 % identical to those of the dominant P. sakuraii mycobionts. Thus, results suggest that the abundant mycobionts may be required for sufficient propagation of P. sakuraii, and this quantitative trait of AM fungal communities required for P. sakuraii may explain the rarity of this plant.}, } @article {pmid26845865, year = {2015}, author = {Kaluzhnaya, OV and Itskovich, VB}, title = {[Bleaching of Baikalian Sponge Affects The Taxonomic Composition of Symbiotic Microorganisms].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {11}, pages = {1335-1340}, pmid = {26845865}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The diversity of 16S rRNA genes in the microbial community of endemic sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis with bleached patches of tissue was studied. Eight bacterial phyla were identified in the sponge microbiome: Cyanobacteria (27.3%; n = 36; 2 OTU, operational taxonomic unit), Proteobacteria (22.7%; n = 30; 5 OTU), Actinobacteria (16.7%; n = 22; 7 OTU, operation taxonomic unit), Verrucomicrobia (15.2%; n = 20; 4 OTU), Plactomycetes (9%; n = 12; 3 OTU), Bacteroidetes (4.5%; n = 6; 3 OTU), WS5 (3%; n = 4; 1 OTU), and TM7 (1.5%; n = 2; 1 OTU). The basic phyla typical of freshwater sponge microbiomes are present in the community. However, in contrast to previously studied L. baicalensis bacterial associations, a dominance of Cyanobacteria and a low number of representatives of the Bacteroidetes and Betaproteobacteria were observed in the bleached sponge community. Phylotypes exhibiting a high percentage of similarity with the microorganisms inhabiting substrates rich in organic matter were also found. Clearly, the bleaching processes of Baikal sponges affect the composition and the ratio of the major taxonomic groups of sponge-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid26845770, year = {2016}, author = {Paço, A and Brígido, C and Alexandre, A and Mateos, PF and Oliveira, S}, title = {The Symbiotic Performance of Chickpea Rhizobia Can Be Improved by Additional Copies of the clpB Chaperone Gene.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e0148221}, pmid = {26845770}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/biosynthesis ; Amidohydrolases/biosynthesis ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Gene Dosage/*genetics ; Heat-Shock Proteins/*genetics ; Heat-Shock Response ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Molecular Chaperones/*genetics ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transformation, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {The ClpB chaperone is known to be involved in bacterial stress response. Moreover, recent studies suggest that this protein has also a role in the chickpea-rhizobia symbiosis. In order to improve both stress tolerance and symbiotic performance of a chickpea microsymbiont, the Mesorhizobium mediterraneum UPM-Ca36T strain was genetically transformed with pPHU231 containing an extra-copy of the clpB gene. To investigate if the clpB-transformed strain displays an improved stress tolerance, bacterial growth was evaluated under heat and acid stress conditions. In addition, the effect of the extra-copies of the clpB gene in the symbiotic performance was evaluated using plant growth assays (hydroponic and pot trials). The clpB-transformed strain is more tolerant to heat shock than the strain transformed with pPHU231, supporting the involvement of ClpB in rhizobia heat shock tolerance. Both plant growth assays showed that ClpB has an important role in chickpea-rhizobia symbiosis. The nodulation kinetics analysis showed a higher rate of nodule appearance with the clpB-transformed strain. This strain also induced a greater number of nodules and, more notably, its symbiotic effectiveness increased ~60% at pH5 and 83% at pH7, compared to the wild-type strain. Furthermore, a higher frequency of root hair curling was also observed in plants inoculated with the clpB-transformed strain, compared to the wild-type strain. The superior root hair curling induction, nodulation ability and symbiotic effectiveness of the clpB-transformed strain may be explained by an increased expression of symbiosis genes. Indeed, higher transcript levels of the nodulation genes nodA and nodC (~3 folds) were detected in the clpB-transformed strain. The improvement of rhizobia by addition of extra-copies of the clpB gene may be a promising strategy to obtain strains with enhanced stress tolerance and symbiotic effectiveness, thus contributing to their success as crop inoculants, particularly under environmental stresses. This is the first report on the successful improvement of a rhizobium with a chaperone gene.}, } @article {pmid26844491, year = {2016}, author = {Islam, SU}, title = {Clinical Uses of Probiotics.}, journal = {Medicine}, volume = {95}, number = {5}, pages = {e2658}, pmid = {26844491}, issn = {1536-5964}, mesh = {Dermatitis, Atopic/therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*therapy ; Humans ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Probiotics are live nonpathogenic microorganisms. Many of these microorganisms are part of the normal human gut flora, where they live in a symbiotic relationship. Probiotics have been used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI medical conditions. However, the data supporting their use are often conflicting, especially for non-GI-associated illnesses. The strongest evidence supporting the use of probiotics is related to the treatment of acute diarrhea and pouchitis. Atopic eczema in children and genitourinary infections are the only non-GI-related medical conditions where probiotics may have some beneficial effects. Product selection and dosing are not the same in all conditions, and the beneficial effects of each probiotic strain cannot be generalized.The purpose of this article is to provide most recent information about probiotics and its uses. In contrast with previously published reviews on probiotics, we also discuss the composition of various products (Table 1), indications for their use (Table 2), product selection, and dosing of probiotics.Probiotics are safe and appear to exert some beneficial effects in GI-related illnesses. The use of probiotics in non-GI illnesses is not sufficiently supported by current data.}, } @article {pmid26844018, year = {2016}, author = {Anantharaman, K and Brown, CT and Burstein, D and Castelle, CJ and Probst, AJ and Thomas, BC and Williams, KH and Banfield, JF}, title = {Analysis of five complete genome sequences for members of the class Peribacteria in the recently recognized Peregrinibacteria bacterial phylum.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e1607}, pmid = {26844018}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Five closely related populations of bacteria from the Candidate Phylum (CP) Peregrinibacteria, part of the bacterial Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR), were sampled from filtered groundwater obtained from an aquifer adjacent to the Colorado River near the town of Rifle, CO, USA. Here, we present the first complete genome sequences for organisms from this phylum. These bacteria have small genomes and, unlike most organisms from other lineages in the CPR, have the capacity for nucleotide synthesis. They invest significantly in biosynthesis of cell wall and cell envelope components, including peptidoglycan, isoprenoids via the mevalonate pathway, and a variety of amino sugars including perosamine and rhamnose. The genomes encode an intriguing set of large extracellular proteins, some of which are very cysteine-rich and may function in attachment, possibly to other cells. Strain variation in these proteins is an important source of genotypic variety. Overall, the cell envelope features, combined with the lack of biosynthesis capacities for many required cofactors, fatty acids, and most amino acids point to a symbiotic lifestyle. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that these bacteria likely represent a new class within the Peregrinibacteria phylum, although they ultimately may be recognized as members of a separate phylum. We propose the provisional taxonomic assignment as 'Candidatus Peribacter riflensis', Genus Peribacter, Family Peribacteraceae, Order Peribacterales, Class Peribacteria in the phylum Peregrinibacteria.}, } @article {pmid26842130, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, Z and Liu, Z}, title = {Paneth cells: the hub for sensing and regulating intestinal flora.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {59}, number = {5}, pages = {463-467}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-016-5018-5}, pmid = {26842130}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Autophagy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology/*pathology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Paneth Cells/*cytology ; }, abstract = {The complex interplay between symbiotic bacteria and host immunity plays a key role in shaping intestinal homeostasis and maintaining host health. Paneth cells, as one of the major producers of antimicrobial peptides in the intestine under steady-state conditions, play a vital role in regulating intestinal flora. Many studies on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated genes have put Paneth cells at the center of IBD pathogenesis. In this perspective, we focus on mechanistic studies of different cellular processes in Paneth cells that are regulated by various IBD-associated susceptibility genes, and we discuss the hypothesis that Paneth cells function as the central hub for sensing and regulating intestinal flora in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid26841977, year = {2015}, author = {Sugiyama, A and Ueda, Y and Takase, H and Yazaki, K}, title = {Do soybeans select specific species of Bradyrhizobium during growth?.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e992734}, pmid = {26841977}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Soybean is an important crop, with processed soybeans being the second largest source of vegetable oil and the largest source of animal protein feed in the world. Nodules on soybean roots are responsible for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, enabling soybean plants to obtain sufficient nitrogen for growth and seed production. Because nitrogen is an essential, but often limiting, nutrient for plant growth, improvements in nitrogen fixation are highly required in agriculture. We recently reported a comprehensive analysis of rhizosphere bacterial communities during soybean growth in a field in Kyoto prefecture, Japan. The bacterial communities of the rhizosphere changed significantly during growth, with potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, including Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, and Rhizobium, increasing in a stage-specific manner. In this addendum, we focus on changes in Bradyrhizobium during soybean growth, suggesting that soybean plants select for symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid26840037, year = {2016}, author = {Vipperla, K and O'Keefe, SJ}, title = {Diet, microbiota, and dysbiosis: a 'recipe' for colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Food & function}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {1731-1740}, pmid = {26840037}, issn = {2042-650X}, support = {R01 CA135379/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Diet ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The food we consume feeds not only us, but also a vast and diverse community of microbiota within our gastrointestinal tract. In a process of symbiotic co-evolution, the gut microbiota became essential for the maintenance of the health and integrity of our colon. The advent of next-generation DNA sequencing technology and metabolic profiling have, in the recent years, revealed the remarkable complexity of microbial diversity and function, and that the microbiota produce a wide variety of bioactive products that are not only active at the mucosal surface, but also absorbed and circulated throughout the body, influencing distant organ health and function. As a result, several microbiota compositional patterns and their associations with both health and disease states have been identified. Importantly, a disturbed microbiota-host relationship, termed dysbiosis, is now recognized to be the root cause for a growing list of diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). There is mounting in vitro and in vivo evidence to suggest that diet selects for the microbiota composition and several health promoting and deleterious effects of diet are, in fact, mediated by the microbiota. Recent findings of the feasibility of dietary fiber to boost the colonic microbial synthesis of anti-proliferative and counter carcinogenic metabolites, particularly butyrate, underscores the prerequisite of dietary modification as a key measure to curb the pandemic of CRC in westernized countries. Better understanding of the diet-microbiota interplay and large-scale studies to evaluate the efficacy of dietary modification and gut microbiota modulation in reversing dysbiosis and restoring health could offer novel preventative and/or therapeutic strategies against westernized diseases, which are now considered the chief threat to public health.}, } @article {pmid26840035, year = {2016}, author = {Röthig, T and Ochsenkühn, MA and Roik, A and van der Merwe, R and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Long-term salinity tolerance is accompanied by major restructuring of the coral bacterial microbiome.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {1308-1323}, pmid = {26840035}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acclimatization/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Photosynthesis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Salinity ; *Salt Tolerance ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals are assumed to be stenohaline osmoconformers, although they are frequently subjected to variations in seawater salinity due to precipitation, freshwater run-off and other processes. Observed responses to altered salinity levels include differences in photosynthetic performance, respiration and increased bleaching and mortality of the coral host and its algal symbiont, but a study looking at bacterial community changes is lacking. Here, we exposed the coral Fungia granulosa to strongly increased salinity levels in short- and long-term experiments to disentangle temporal and compartment effects of the coral holobiont (i.e. coral host, symbiotic algae and associated bacteria). Our results show a significant reduction in calcification and photosynthesis, but a stable microbiome after short-term exposure to high-salinity levels. By comparison, long-term exposure yielded unchanged photosynthesis levels and visually healthy coral colonies indicating long-term acclimation to high-salinity levels that were accompanied by a major coral microbiome restructuring. Importantly, a bacterium in the family Rhodobacteraceae was succeeded by Pseudomonas veronii as the numerically most abundant taxon. Further, taxonomy-based functional profiling indicates a shift in the bacterial community towards increased osmolyte production, sulphur oxidation and nitrogen fixation. Our study highlights that bacterial community composition in corals can change within days to weeks under altered environmental conditions, where shifts in the microbiome may enable adjustment of the coral to a more advantageous holobiont composition.}, } @article {pmid26839508, year = {2015}, author = {Hong, JW and Suh, H and Kim, OH and Lee, NS}, title = {Molecular Identification of Mycorrhizae of Cymbidium kanran (Orchidaceae) on Jeju Island, Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {475-480}, pmid = {26839508}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {A fungal internal transcribed spacer region was used to identify the mycorrhizae of Cymbidium kanran. The family Russulaceae was found to be the most frequently occurring group in both root and soil samples. In phylogenetic analyses, the majority of the Russulaceae clones were clustered with Russula brevipes and R. cyanoxantha. Therefore, C. kanran may form symbiotic relationships with the genus Russula.}, } @article {pmid26839506, year = {2015}, author = {Yun, YH and Suh, DY and Yoo, HD and Oh, MH and Kim, SH}, title = {Yeast Associated with the Ambrosia Beetle, Platypus koryoensis, the Pest of Oak Trees in Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {458-466}, pmid = {26839506}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Oak tree death caused by symbiosis of an ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, and an ophiostomatoid filamentous fungus, Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae, has been a nationwide problem in Korea since 2004. In this study, we surveyed the yeast species associated with P. koryoensis to better understand the diversity of fungal associates of the beetle pest. In 2009, a total of 195 yeast isolates were sampled from larvae and adult beetles (female and male) of P. koryoensis in Cheonan, Goyang, and Paju; 8 species were identified by based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses. Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Candida kashinagacola were found to be the two dominant species. Among the 8 species, Candida homilentoma was a newly recorded yeast species in Korea, and thus, its mycological characteristics were described. The P. koryoensis symbiont R. quercusmongolicae did not show extracelluar CM-cellulase, xylanase and avicelase activity that are responsible for degradation of wood structure; however, C. kashinagacola and M. guilliermondii did show the three extracellular enzymatic activities. Extracelluar CM-cellulase activity was also found in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, C. kashinagacola, and Candida sp. Extracelluar pectinase activity was detected in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, Candida sp., and M. guilliermondii. All the 8 yeast species displayed compatible relationships with R. quercus-mongolicae when they were co-cultivated on yeast extract-malt extract plates. Overall, our results demonstrated that P. koryoensis carries the yeast species as a symbiotic fungal associate. This is first report of yeast diversity associated with P. koryoensis.}, } @article {pmid26839504, year = {2015}, author = {Lee, EH and Eom, AH}, title = {Growth Characteristics of Rhizophagus clarus Strains and Their Effects on the Growth of Host Plants.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {444-449}, pmid = {26839504}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous in the rhizosphere and form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plant roots. In this study, four strains of Rhizophagus clarus were cultured and variations in their growth characteristics owing to functional diversity and resultant effects on host plant were investigated. Growth characteristics of the studied R. clarus strains varied significantly, suggesting that AMF retain high genetic variability at the intraspecies level despite asexual lineage. Furthermore, host plant growth response to the R. clarus strains showed that genetic variability in AMF could cause significant differences in the growth of the host plant, which prefers particular genetic types of fungal strains. These results suggest that the intraspecific genetic diversity of AMF could be result of similar selective pressure and may be expressed at a functional level.}, } @article {pmid26839382, year = {2016}, author = {Bulgheresi, S}, title = {All the microbiology nematodes can teach us.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {92}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {26839382}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {P 28593/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*microbiology ; Ecology ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Be it their pervasiveness, experimental tractability or their impact on human health and agriculture, nematode-bacterium associations are far-reaching research subjects. Although the omics hype did not spare them and helped reveal mechanisms of communication and exchange between the associated partners, a huge amount of knowledge still awaits to be harvested from their study. Here, I summarize and compare the kind of research that has been already performed on the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and on symbiotic nematodes, both marine and entomopathogenic ones. The emerging picture highlights how complementing genetic studies with ecological ones (in the case of well-established genetic model systems such as C. elegans) and vice versa (in the case of the yet uncultured Stilbonematinae) will deepen our understanding of how microbial symbioses evolved and how they impact our environment.}, } @article {pmid26839264, year = {2016}, author = {Zhou, F and Lou, Q and Wang, B and Xu, L and Cheng, C and Lu, M and Sun, J}, title = {Altered Carbohydrates Allocation by Associated Bacteria-fungi Interactions in a Bark Beetle-microbe Symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {20135}, pmid = {26839264}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Inositol/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Larva/microbiology ; Ophiostomatales/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect-microbe interaction is a key area of research in multiplayer symbiosis, yet little is known about the role of microbe-microbe interactions in insect-microbe symbioses. The red turpentine beetle (RTB) has destroyed millions of healthy pines in China and forms context-dependent relationships with associated fungi. The adult-associated fungus Leptographium procerum have played key roles in RTB colonization. However, common fungal associates (L. procerum and Ophiostoma minus) with RTB larvae compete for carbohydrates. Here, we report that dominant bacteria associated with RTB larvae buffer the competition by inhibiting the growth and D-glucose consumption of O. minus. However, they didn't inhibit the growth of L. procerum and forced this fungus to consume D-pinitol before consuming D-glucose, even though D-glucose was available and a better carbon source not only for L. procerum but also for RTB larvae and associated bacteria. This suggests the most frequently isolated bacteria associated with RTB larvae could affect fungal growth and the sequence of carbohydrate consumption. Thus, this regulates carbohydrate allocation in the RTB larva-microbe community, which may in turn benefit RTB larvae development. We also discuss the mechanism of carbohydrate allocation in the RTB larva-microbe community, and its potential contribution to the maintenance of a symbiotic community.}, } @article {pmid26839127, year = {2016}, author = {Vernié, T and Camut, S and Camps, C and Rembliere, C and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Mbengue, M and Timmers, T and Gasciolli, V and Thompson, R and le Signor, C and Lefebvre, B and Cullimore, J and Hervé, C}, title = {PUB1 Interacts with the Receptor Kinase DMI2 and Negatively Regulates Rhizobial and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbioses through Its Ubiquitination Activity in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {4}, pages = {2312-2324}, pmid = {26839127}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism ; *Ubiquitination ; }, abstract = {PUB1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which interacts with and is phosphorylated by the LYK3 symbiotic receptor kinase, negatively regulates rhizobial infection and nodulation during the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis in Medicago truncatula In this study, we show that PUB1 also interacts with and is phosphorylated by DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 2, the key symbiotic receptor kinase of the common symbiosis signaling pathway, required for both the rhizobial and the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) endosymbioses. We also show here that PUB1 expression is activated during successive stages of root colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis that is compatible with its interaction with DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 2. Through characterization of a mutant, pub1-1, affected by the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of PUB1, we have shown that the ubiquitination activity of PUB1 is required to negatively modulate successive stages of infection and development of rhizobial and AM symbioses. In conclusion, PUB1 represents, to our knowledge, a novel common component of symbiotic signaling integrating signal perception through interaction with and phosphorylation by two key symbiotic receptor kinases, and downstream signaling via its ubiquitination activity to fine-tune both rhizobial and AM root endosymbioses.}, } @article {pmid26838966, year = {2016}, author = {Bai, H and Kong, WW and Shao, CL and Li, Y and Liu, YZ and Liu, M and Guan, FF and Wang, CY}, title = {Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity Microscale Model for Ichthyotoxicity Evaluation of Marine Natural Products.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {264-270}, pmid = {26838966}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry ; *Biological Assay ; Biological Products/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; Embryonic Development/*drug effects ; Heart/*drug effects/growth & development ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Microscopy ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Zebrafish ; Zygote/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Marine organisms often protect themselves against their predators by chemical defensive strategy. The second metabolites isolated from marine organisms and their symbiotic microbes have been proven to play a vital role in marine chemical ecology, such as ichthyotoxicity, allelopathy, and antifouling. It is well known that the microscale models for marine chemoecology assessment are urgently needed for trace quantity of marine natural products. Zebrafish model has been widely used as a microscale model in the fields of environment ecological evaluation and drug safety evaluation, but seldom reported for marine chemoecology assessment. In this work, zebrafish embryo toxicity microscale model was established for ichthyotoxicity evaluation of marine natural products by using 24-well microplate based on zebrafish embryo. Ichthyotoxicity was evaluated by observation of multiple toxicological endpoints, including coagulation egg, death, abnormal heartbeat, no spontaneous movement, delayed hatch, and malformation of the different organs during zebrafish embryogenesis periods at 24, 48, and 72 h post-fertilization (hpf). 3,4-Dichloroaniline was used as the positive control for method validation. Subsequently, the established model was applied to test the ichthyotoxic activity of the compounds isolated from corals and their symbiotic microbes and to isolate the bioactive secondary metabolites from the gorgonian Subergorgia mollis under bioassay guidance. It was suggested that zebrafish embryo toxicity microscale model is suitable for bioassay-guided isolation and preliminary bioactivity screening of marine natural products.}, } @article {pmid26838671, year = {2016}, author = {Katayama, T}, title = {Host-derived glycans serve as selected nutrients for the gut microbe: human milk oligosaccharides and bifidobacteria.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {80}, number = {4}, pages = {621-632}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2015.1132153}, pmid = {26838671}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/*metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Milk, Human/*chemistry ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lactation is a common feeding strategy of eutherian mammals, but its functions go beyond feeding the neonates. Ever since Tissier isolated bifidobacteria from the stool of breast-fed infants, human milk has been postulated to contain compounds that selectively stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria in intestines. However, until relatively recently, there have been no reports to link human milk compound(s) with bifidobacterial physiology. Over the past decade, successive studies have demonstrated that infant-gut-associated bifidobacteria are equipped with genetic and enzymatic toolsets dedicated to assimilation of host-derived glycans, especially human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Among gut microbes, the presence of enzymes required for degrading HMOs with type-1 chains is essentially limited to infant-gut-associated bifidobacteria, suggesting HMOs serve as selected nutrients for the bacteria. In this study, I shortly discuss the research on bifidobacteria and HMOs from a historical perspective and summarize the roles of bifidobacterial enzymes in the assimilation of HMOs with type-1 chains. Based on this overview, I suggest the co-evolution between bifidobacteria and human beings mediated by HMOs.}, } @article {pmid26838439, year = {2016}, author = {Komaty, S and Letertre, M and Dang, HD and Jungnickel, H and Laux, P and Luch, A and Carrié, D and Merdrignac-Conanec, O and Bazureau, JP and Gauffre, F and Tomasi, S and Paquin, L}, title = {Sample preparation for an optimized extraction of localized metabolites in lichens: Application to Pseudevernia furfuracea.}, journal = {Talanta}, volume = {150}, number = {}, pages = {525-530}, doi = {10.1016/j.talanta.2015.12.081}, pmid = {26838439}, issn = {1873-3573}, mesh = {Complex Mixtures/*standards ; Hydroxybenzoates/*analysis/*isolation & purification ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Specimen Handling/*methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/methods ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms known for producing unique secondary metabolites with attractive cosmetic and pharmacological properties. In this paper, we investigated three standard methods of preparation of Pseudevernia furfuracea (blender grinding, ball milling, pestle and mortar). The materials obtained were characterized by electronic microscopy, nitrogen adsorption and compared from the point of view of extraction. Their microscopic structure is related to extraction efficiency. In addition, it is shown using thalline reactions and mass spectrometry mapping (TOF-SIMS) that these metabolites are not evenly distributed throughout the organism. Particularly, atranorin (a secondary metabolite of interest) is mainly present in the cortex of P. furfuracea. Finally, using microwave assisted extraction (MAE) we obtained evidence that an appropriate preparation can increase the extraction efficiency of atranorin by a factor of five.}, } @article {pmid26837824, year = {2016}, author = {Burstein, D and Sun, CL and Brown, CT and Sharon, I and Anantharaman, K and Probst, AJ and Thomas, BC and Banfield, JF}, title = {Major bacterial lineages are essentially devoid of CRISPR-Cas viral defence systems.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {10613}, pmid = {26837824}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; CRISPR-Cas Systems/*genetics ; Fatty Acids/biosynthesis ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; Nucleotides/biosynthesis ; Operon/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Viruses ; }, abstract = {Current understanding of microorganism-virus interactions, which shape the evolution and functioning of Earth's ecosystems, is based primarily on cultivated organisms. Here we investigate thousands of viral and microbial genomes recovered using a cultivation-independent approach to study the frequency, variety and taxonomic distribution of viral defence mechanisms. CRISPR-Cas systems that confer microorganisms with immunity to viruses are present in only 10% of 1,724 sampled microorganisms, compared with previous reports of 40% occurrence in bacteria and 81% in archaea. We attribute this large difference to the lack of CRISPR-Cas systems across major bacterial lineages that have no cultivated representatives. We correlate absence of CRISPR-Cas with lack of nucleotide biosynthesis capacity and a symbiotic lifestyle. Restriction systems are well represented in these lineages and might provide both non-specific viral defence and access to nucleotides.}, } @article {pmid26837223, year = {2017}, author = {Thagela, P and Yadav, RK and Mishra, V and Dahuja, A and Ahmad, A and Singh, PK and Tiwari, BS and Abraham, G}, title = {Salinity-induced inhibition of growth in the aquatic pteridophyte Azolla microphylla primarily involves inhibition of photosynthetic components and signaling molecules as revealed by proteome analysis.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {254}, number = {1}, pages = {303-313}, pmid = {26837223}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*growth & development/*physiology ; Biomass ; Electron Transport/drug effects ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; *Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Potassium/metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; *Salinity ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sodium/metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Tracheophyta/drug effects/*growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Salinity stress causes adverse physiological and biochemical changes in the growth and productivity of a plant. Azolla, a symbiotic pteridophyte and potent candidate for biofertilizer due to its nitrogen fixation ability, shows reduced growth and nitrogen fixation during saline stress. To better understand regulatory components involved in salinity-induced physiological changes, in the present study, Azolla microphylla plants were exposed to NaCl (6.74 and 8.61 ds/m) and growth, photochemical reactions of photosynthesis, ion accumulation, and changes in cellular proteome were studied. Maximum dry weight was accumulated in control and untreated plant while a substantial decrease in dry weight was observed in the plants exposed to salinity. Exposure of the organism to different concentrations of salt in hydroponic conditions resulted in differential level of Na[+] and K[+] ion accumulation. Comparative analysis of salinity-induced proteome changes in A. microphylla revealed 58 salt responsive proteins which were differentially expressed during the salt exposure. Moreover, 42 % spots among differentially expressed proteins were involved in different signaling events. The identified proteins are involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, protein synthesis, and defense. Downregulation of these key metabolic proteins appears to inhibit the growth of A. microphylla in response to salinity. Altogether, the study revealed that in Azolla, increased salinity primarily affected signaling and photosynthesis that in turn leads to reduced biomass.}, } @article {pmid26835593, year = {2016}, author = {Vaikunthanathan, T and Safinia, N and Lombardi, G and Lechler, RI}, title = {Microbiota, immunity and the liver.}, journal = {Immunology letters}, volume = {171}, number = {}, pages = {36-49}, doi = {10.1016/j.imlet.2016.01.008}, pmid = {26835593}, issn = {1879-0542}, support = {G1002000/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; /BHF_/British Heart Foundation/United Kingdom ; MR/J006742/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; *Immunity ; Liver/immunology/*microbiology ; Liver Diseases/immunology/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut harbors a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells known to exist in symbiotic harmony with the host influencing human physiology, metabolism, nutrition and immune function. It is now widely accepted that perturbations of this close partnership results in the pathogenesis of several major diseases with increasing evidence highlighting their role outside of the intestinal tract. The intimate proximity and circulatory loop of the liver and the gut has attracted significant attention regarding the role of the microbiota in the development and progression of liver disease. Here we give an overview of the interaction between the microbiota and the immune system and focus on their convincing role in both the propagation and treatment of liver disease.}, } @article {pmid26834773, year = {2015}, author = {Sun, Z and Wang, Y and Mou, F and Tian, Y and Chen, L and Zhang, S and Jiang, Q and Li, X}, title = {Genome-Wide Small RNA Analysis of Soybean Reveals Auxin-Responsive microRNAs that are Differentially Expressed in Response to Salt Stress in Root Apex.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1273}, pmid = {26834773}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Root growth and the architecture of the root system in Arabidopsis are largely determined by root meristematic activity. Legume roots show strong developmental plasticity in response to both abiotic and biotic stimuli, including symbiotic rhizobia. However, a global analysis of gene regulation in the root meristem of soybean plants is lacking. In this study, we performed a global analysis of the small RNA transcriptome of root tips from soybean seedlings grown under normal and salt stress conditions. In total, 71 miRNA candidates, including known and novel variants of 59 miRNA families, were identified. We found 66 salt-responsive miRNAs in the soybean root meristem; among them, 22 are novel miRNAs. Interestingly, we found auxin-responsive cis-elements in the promoters of many salt-responsive miRNAs, implying that these miRNAs may be regulated by auxin and auxin signaling plays a key role in regulating the plasticity of the miRNAome and root development in soybean. A functional analysis of miR399, a salt-responsive miRNA in the root meristem, indicates the crucial role of this miRNA in modulating soybean root developmental plasticity. Our data provide novel insight into the miRNAome-mediated regulatory mechanism in soybean root growth under salt stress.}, } @article {pmid26834754, year = {2015}, author = {Larsen, PE and Sreedasyam, A and Trivedi, G and Desai, S and Dai, Y and Cseke, LJ and Collart, FR}, title = {Multi-Omics Approach Identifies Molecular Mechanisms of Plant-Fungus Mycorrhizal Interaction.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1061}, pmid = {26834754}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In mycorrhizal symbiosis, plant roots form close, mutually beneficial interactions with soil fungi. Before this mycorrhizal interaction can be established however, plant roots must be capable of detecting potential beneficial fungal partners and initiating the gene expression patterns necessary to begin symbiosis. To predict a plant root-mycorrhizal fungi sensor systems, we analyzed in vitro experiments of Populus tremuloides (aspen tree) and Laccaria bicolor (mycorrhizal fungi) interaction and leveraged over 200 previously published transcriptomic experimental data sets, 159 experimentally validated plant transcription factor binding motifs, and more than 120-thousand experimentally validated protein-protein interactions to generate models of pre-mycorrhizal sensor systems in aspen root. These sensor mechanisms link extracellular signaling molecules with gene regulation through a network comprised of membrane receptors, signal cascade proteins, transcription factors, and transcription factor biding DNA motifs. Modeling predicted four pre-mycorrhizal sensor complexes in aspen that interact with 15 transcription factors to regulate the expression of 1184 genes in response to extracellular signals synthesized by Laccaria. Predicted extracellular signaling molecules include common signaling molecules such as phenylpropanoids, salicylate, and jasmonic acid. This multi-omic computational modeling approach for predicting the complex sensory networks yielded specific, testable biological hypotheses for mycorrhizal interaction signaling compounds, sensor complexes, and mechanisms of gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid26834752, year = {2015}, author = {Guinel, FC}, title = {Ethylene, a Hormone at the Center-Stage of Nodulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1121}, pmid = {26834752}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nodulation is the result of a beneficial interaction between legumes and rhizobia. It is a sophisticated process leading to nutrient exchange between the two types of symbionts. In this association, within a nodule, the rhizobia, using energy provided as photosynthates, fix atmospheric nitrogen and convert it to ammonium which is available to the plant. Nodulation is recognized as an essential process in nitrogen cycling and legume crops are known to enrich agricultural soils in nitrogenous compounds. Furthermore, as they are rich in nitrogen, legumes are considered important as staple foods for humans and fodder for animals. To tightly control this association and keep it mutualistic, the plant uses several means, including hormones. The hormone ethylene has been known as a negative regulator of nodulation for almost four decades. Since then, much progress has been made in the understanding of both the ethylene signaling pathway and the nodulation process. Here I have taken a large view, using recently obtained knowledge, to describe in some detail the major stages of the process. I have not only reviewed the steps most commonly covered (the common signaling transduction pathway, and the epidermal and cortical programs), but I have also looked into steps less understood (the pre-infection step with the plant defense response, the bacterial release and the formation of the symbiosome, and nodule functioning and senescence). After a succinct review of the ethylene signaling pathway, I have used the knowledge obtained from nodulation- and ethylene-related mutants to paint a more complete picture of the role played by the hormone in nodule organogenesis, functioning, and senescence. It transpires that ethylene is at the center of this effective symbiosis. It has not only been involved in most of the steps leading to a mature nodule, but it has also been implicated in host immunity and nodule senescence. It is likely responsible for the activation of other hormonal signaling pathways. I have completed the review by citing three studies which makes one wonder whether knowledge gained on nodulation in the last decades is ready to be transferred to agricultural fields.}, } @article {pmid26834728, year = {2016}, author = {Ohshima, T and Kojima, Y and Seneviratne, CJ and Maeda, N}, title = {Therapeutic Application of Synbiotics, a Fusion of Probiotics and Prebiotics, and Biogenics as a New Concept for Oral Candida Infections: A Mini Review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {10}, pmid = {26834728}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Candida is a major human fungal pathogen causing infectious conditions predominantly in the elderly and immunocompromised hosts. Although Candida resides as a member of the oral indigenous microbiota in symbiosis, some circumstances may cause microbial imbalance leading to dysbiosis and resultant oral candidiasis. Therefore, oral microbial symbiosis that suppresses the overgrowth of Candida is important for a healthy oral ecosystem. In this regard, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can be considered a potential therapeutic and preventive strategy against oral candidiasis. Prebiotics have a direct effect on microbial growth as they stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria and suppress the growth of pathogens. Probiotics render a local protective effect against pathogens and a systemic indirect effect on immunological amelioration. Synbiotics are fusion products of prebiotics and probiotics. This mini review discusses the potential use and associated limitations of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for the prevention and treatment of oral candidiasis. We will also introduce biogenics, a recent concept derived from the work on probiotics. Biogenics advocates the use of beneficial bioactive substances produced by probiotic bacteria, whose activities are independent from the viability of probiotic bacteria in human bodies.}, } @article {pmid26833573, year = {2016}, author = {Corrales, A and Mangan, SA and Turner, BL and Dalling, JW}, title = {An ectomycorrhizal nitrogen economy facilitates monodominance in a neotropical forest.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {383-392}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12570}, pmid = {26833573}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle/*physiology ; Panama ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees/*microbiology ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Tropical forests are renowned for their high diversity, yet in many sites a single tree species accounts for the majority of the individuals in a stand. An explanation for these monodominant forests remains elusive, but may be linked to mycorrhizal symbioses. We tested three hypotheses by which ectomycorrhizas might facilitate the dominance of the tree, Oreomunnea mexicana, in montane tropical forest in Panama. We tested whether access to ectomycorrhizal networks improved growth and survival of seedlings, evaluated whether ectomycorrhizal fungi promote seedling growth via positive plant-soil feedback, and measured whether Oreomunnea reduced inorganic nitrogen availability. We found no evidence that Oreomunnea benefits from ectomycorrhizal networks or plant-soil feedback. However, we found three-fold higher soil nitrate and ammonium concentrations outside than inside Oreomunnea-dominated forest and a correlation between soil nitrate and Oreomunnea abundance in plots. Ectomycorrhizal effects on nitrogen cycling might therefore provide an explanation for the monodominance of ectomycorrhizal tree species worldwide.}, } @article {pmid26832945, year = {2016}, author = {Venturi, V and Keel, C}, title = {Signaling in the Rhizosphere.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {187-198}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2016.01.005}, pmid = {26832945}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Microbiota ; Models, Biological ; Plants/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Signal Transduction ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Signaling studies in the rhizosphere have focused on close interactions between plants and symbiotic microorganisms. However, this focus is likely to expand to other microorganisms because the rhizomicrobiome is important for plant health and is able to influence the structure of the microbial community. We discuss here the shaping of the rhizomicrobiome and define which aspects can be considered signaling. We divide signaling in the rhizosphere into three categories: (i) between microbes, (ii) from plants to microorganisms, and (iii) from microorganisms to plants. Signals act on diverse organisms including the plant. Mycorrhizal and rhizobial interkingdom signaling has revealed its pivotal role in establishing associations, and the recent discovery of signaling with non-symbiotic microorganisms indicates the important role of communication in shaping the rhizomicrobiome.}, } @article {pmid26832644, year = {2016}, author = {Rouhrazi, K and Khodakaramian, G and Velázquez, E}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of rhizobial species and symbiovars nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in Iran.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {363}, number = {5}, pages = {fnw024}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnw024}, pmid = {26832644}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Iran ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/*genetics/growth & development ; Rhizobium tropici/classification/*genetics/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylogenetic diversity of 29 rhizobial strains nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in Iran was analysed on the basis of their core and symbiotic genes. These strains displayed five 16S rRNA-RFLP patterns and belong to eight ERIC-PCR clusters. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, recA and atpD core genes allowed the identification of several strains as Rhizobium sophoriradicis, R. leguminosarum, R. tropici and Pararhizobium giardinii, whereas other strains represented a new phylogenetic lineage related to R. vallis. These strains and those identified as R. sophoriradicis and R. leguminosarum belong to the symbiovar phaseoli carrying the γ nodC allele distributed in P. vulgaris endosymbionts in America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The strain identified as R. tropici belongs to the symbiovar tropici carried by strains of R. tropici, R. leucaenae, R. lusitanum and R. freirei nodulating P. vulgaris in America, Africa and Asia. The strain identified as P. giardinii belongs to the symbiovar giardinii together with the type strain of this species nodulating P. vulgaris in France. It is remarkable that the recently described species R. sophoriradicis is worldwide distributed in P. vulgaris nodules carrying the γ nodC allele of symbiovar phaseoli harboured by rhizobia isolated in the American distribution centers of this legume.}, } @article {pmid26830015, year = {2016}, author = {Niu, Q and Zhang, L and Zhang, K and Huang, X and Hui, F and Kan, Y and Yao, L}, title = {Changes in intestinal microflora of Caenorhabditis elegans following Bacillus nematocida B16 infection.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {20178}, pmid = {26830015}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/*physiology ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Intestines/microbiology/pathology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The effect of pathogenic bacteria on a host and its symbiotic microbiota is vital and widespread in the biotic world. The soil-dwelling opportunistic bacterium Bacillus nematocida B16 uses a "Trojan horse" mechanism to kill Caenorhabditis elegans. The alterations in the intestinal microflora that occur after B16 infection remain unknown. Here, we analyzed the intestinal bacteria presented in normal and infected worms. The gut microbial community experienced a complex change after B16 inoculation, as determined through marked differences in species diversity, structure, distribution and composition between uninfected and infected worms. Regardless of the worm's origin (i.e., from soil or rotten fruits), the diversity of the intestinal microbiome decreased after infection. Firmicutes increased sharply, whereas Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Acidobacteria decreased to different degrees. Fusobacteria was only present 12 h post-infection. After 24 h of infection, 1228 and 1109 bacterial species were identified in the uninfected and infected groups, respectively. The shared species reached 21.97%. The infected group had a greater number of Bacillus species but a smaller number of Pediococcus, Halomonas, Escherichia and Shewanella species (P < 0.01). Therefore, this study provides the first evaluation of the alterations caused by pathogenic bacteria on symbiotic microbiota using C. elegans as the model species.}, } @article {pmid26829532, year = {2016}, author = {Tambo, E and Yah, CS and Ugwu, CE and Olalubi, OA and Wurie, I and Jonhson, JK and Ngogang, JY}, title = {Fostering prevention and care delivery services capability on HIV pandemic and Ebola outbreak symbiosis in Africa.}, journal = {Journal of infection in developing countries}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {1-12}, doi = {10.3855/jidc.6875}, pmid = {26829532}, issn = {1972-2680}, mesh = {Africa, Western/epidemiology ; Communicable Disease Control/methods/*organization & administration ; Delivery of Health Care/methods/*organization & administration ; *Disease Outbreaks ; HIV Infections/*epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/*epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the re-emerging Ebola virus disease (EVD) are closely intertwined and remain a persistent public health threat and global challenge. Their origin and rapid transmission and spread have similar boundaries and share overlapping impact characteristics, including related symptoms and other interactions. The controversies and global threat of these viruses require rapid response policy and evidence-based implementation findings. The constraints and dual burden inflicted by Ebola and HIV infections are highly characterized by similar socio-demographics, socio-economic and political factors. EVD has similar effects and burdens to HIV infection. This study seeks to understand EVD in the context of HIV epidemic despite the challenges in developing an effective vaccine against HIV and EVD. Our findings show that early understanding, prevention and treatment of these diseases a global health threat mainly in Africa is important and valuable. The lessons learned so far from HIV and Ebola epidemics are crucial in health programming and execution of rapid response interventions and continued vigilance against EVD before it become another worldwide health menace. Therefore, the current regional West Africa EVD requires strengthening healthcare systems and building preparedness and response capacity. Importantly, appropriate community participation, health education and resilience coupled with deployment of effective novel diagnostic approaches in early warning and surveillance of threats and emerging diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel key strategies are crucial in curbing the constant viral resurgence, persistence transmission dynamics and spread, as well in accelerating Ebola vaccines regimen (immunization) development and national implementation plans in achieving sustained control, and eventual elimination.}, } @article {pmid26828669, year = {2016}, author = {Stec, N and Banasiak, J and Jasiński, M}, title = {Abscisic acid - an overlooked player in plant-microbe symbioses formation?.}, journal = {Acta biochimica Polonica}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {53-58}, doi = {10.18388/abp.2015_1210}, pmid = {26828669}, issn = {1734-154X}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Abscisic acid (ABA) is an ubiquitous plant hormone and one of the foremost signalling molecules, controlling plants' growth and development, as well as their response to environmental stresses. To date, the function of ABA has been extensively investigated as an abiotic stress molecule which regulates the plants' water status. However, in the context of symbiotic associations, ABA is less recognized. In contrast to well-described auxin/cytokinin and gibberellin/strigolactone involvement in symbioses, ABA has long been underestimated. Interestingly, ABA emerges as an important player in arbuscular mycorrhiza and legume-rhizobium symbiosis. The plant's use of stress hormones like ABA in regulation of those interactions directly links the efficiency of these processes to the environmental status of the plant, notably during drought stress. Here we provide an overview of ABA interplay in beneficial associations of plants with microorganisms and propose ABA as a potential factor determining whether the investment in establishing the interaction is higher than the profit coming from it.}, } @article {pmid26826340, year = {2016}, author = {Zimmermann, J and Wentrup, C and Sadowski, M and Blazejak, A and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Kleiner, M and Ott, JA and Cronholm, B and De Wit, P and Erséus, C and Dubilier, N}, title = {Closely coupled evolutionary history of ecto- and endosymbionts from two distantly related animal phyla.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {13}, pages = {3203-3223}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13554}, pmid = {26826340}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The level of integration between associated partners can range from ectosymbioses to extracellular and intracellular endosymbioses, and this range has been assumed to reflect a continuum from less intimate to evolutionarily highly stable associations. In this study, we examined the specificity and evolutionary history of marine symbioses in a group of closely related sulphur-oxidizing bacteria, called Candidatus Thiosymbion, that have established ecto- and endosymbioses with two distantly related animal phyla, Nematoda and Annelida. Intriguingly, in the ectosymbiotic associations of stilbonematine nematodes, we observed a high degree of congruence between symbiont and host phylogenies, based on their ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. In contrast, for the endosymbioses of gutless phallodriline annelids (oligochaetes), we found only a weak congruence between symbiont and host phylogenies, based on analyses of symbiont 16S rRNA genes and six host genetic markers. The much higher degree of congruence between nematodes and their ectosymbionts compared to those of annelids and their endosymbionts was confirmed by cophylogenetic analyses. These revealed 15 significant codivergence events between stilbonematine nematodes and their ectosymbionts, but only one event between gutless phallodrilines and their endosymbionts. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences from 50 Cand. Thiosymbion species revealed seven well-supported clades that contained both stilbonematine ectosymbionts and phallodriline endosymbionts. This closely coupled evolutionary history of marine ecto- and endosymbionts suggests that switches between symbiotic lifestyles and between the two host phyla occurred multiple times during the evolution of the Cand. Thiosymbion clade, and highlights the remarkable flexibility of these symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid26825726, year = {2016}, author = {Ellouze, W and Hamel, C and DePauw, RM and Knox, RE and Cuthbert, RD and Singh, AK}, title = {Potential to breed for mycorrhizal association in durum wheat.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {263-271}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2014-0598}, pmid = {26825726}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Triticum/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The selection of genotypes under high soil fertility may alter the effectiveness of mycorrhizal symbioses naturally forming between crop plants and the mycorrhizal fungi residing in cultivated fields. We tested the hypothesis that the mycorrhizal symbiosis of 5 landraces functions better than the mycorrhizal symbiosis of 27 cultivars of durum wheat that were bred after the development of the fertilizer industry. We examined the development of mycorrhiza and the response of these genotypes to mycorrhiza formation after 4 weeks of growth under high and low soil fertility levels in the greenhouse. The durum wheat genotypes were seeded in an established extraradical hyphal network of Rhizophagus irregularis and in a control soil free of mycorrhizal fungi. The percentage of root length colonized by mycorrhizal fungi was lower in landraces (21%) than in cultivars (27%; P = 0.04) and in the most recent releases (29%; P = 0.02), which were selected under high soil fertility levels. Plant growth response to mycorrhiza varied from -36% to +19%. Overall, durum wheat plant breeding in Canada has increased the mycorrhizal development in wheat grown at a low soil fertility level. However, breeding had inconsistent effects on mycorrhizal development and has led to the production of cultivars with patterns of regulation ranging from unimproved to inefficient.}, } @article {pmid26825594, year = {2016}, author = {Tworak, A and Urbanowicz, A and Podkowinski, J and Kurzynska-Kokorniak, A and Koralewska, N and Figlerowicz, M}, title = {Six Medicago truncatula Dicer-like protein genes are expressed in plant cells and upregulated in nodules.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {1043-1052}, pmid = {26825594}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Alternative Splicing ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Organ Specificity ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Ribonuclease III/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Here we report the existence of six putative Dicer-like genes in the Medicago truncatula genome. They are ubiquitously expressed throughout the plant and significantly induced in root nodules. Over the past decade, small noncoding RNAs (sncRNA) have emerged as widespread and important regulatory molecules influencing both the structure and expression of plant genomes. One of the key factors involved in sncRNA biogenesis in plants is a group of RNase III-type nucleases known as Dicer-like (DCL) proteins. Based on functional analysis of DCL proteins identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, four types of DCLs were distinguished (DCL1-4). DCL1 mainly produces 21 nt miRNAs. The products generated by DCL2, DCL3, and DCL4 belong to various classes of siRNAs that are 22, 24 and 21 nt in length, respectively. M. truncatula is a model legume plant closely related to many economically important cultivable species. By screening the recent M. truncatula genome assembly, we were able to identify three new DCL genes in addition to the MtDCL1-3 genes that had been earlier characterized. The newly found genes include MtDCL4 and two MtDCL2 homologs. We showed that all six M. truncatula DCL genes are expressed in plant cells. The first of the identified MtDCL2 paralogs encodes a truncated version of the DCL2 protein, while the second undergoes substantial and specific upregulation in the root nodules. Additionally, we identified an alternative splicing variant of MtDCL1 mRNA, similar to the one found in Arabidopsis. Our results indicate that DCL genes are differently activated during Medicago symbiosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria and upon pathogen infection. In addition, we hypothesize that the alternative splicing variant of MtDCL1 mRNA may be involved in tissue-specific regulation of the DCL1 level.}, } @article {pmid26825524, year = {2016}, author = {Wojtczak, G and Janik, P}, title = {Phytoremediation with Geosiphon-like symbiosis?.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {5992-5994}, pmid = {26825524}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Asteraceae/*growth & development ; Lead/*pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/*growth & development ; Soil Pollutants/*pharmacology ; Zinc/*pharmacology ; }, } @article {pmid26824233, year = {2016}, author = {Montes-Rodríguez, IM and Rivera, LE and López-Garriga, J and Cadilla, CL}, title = {Characterization and Expression of the Lucina pectinata Oxygen and Sulfide Binding Hemoglobin Genes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0147977}, pmid = {26824233}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R25 GM088023/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 GM103475/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM061838/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 MD007587/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; P20GM103475/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25GM061838/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; G12 MD007600/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bivalvia/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Hemoglobins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sulfides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The clam Lucina pectinata lives in sulfide-rich muds and houses intracellular symbiotic bacteria that need to be supplied with hydrogen sulfide and oxygen. This clam possesses three hemoglobins: hemoglobin I (HbI), a sulfide-reactive protein, and hemoglobin II (HbII) and III (HbIII), which are oxygen-reactive. We characterized the complete gene sequence and promoter regions for the oxygen reactive hemoglobins and the partial structure and promoters of the HbI gene from Lucina pectinata. We show that HbI has two mRNA variants, where the 5'end had either a sequence of 96 bp (long variant) or 37 bp (short variant). The gene structure of the oxygen reactive Hbs is defined by having 4-exons/3-introns with conservation of intron location at B12.2 and G7.0 and the presence of pre-coding introns, while the partial gene structure of HbI has the same intron conservation but appears to have a 5-exon/ 4-intron structure. A search for putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) was done with the promoters for HbII, HbIII, HbI short and HbI long. The HbII, HbIII and HbI long promoters showed similar predicted TFBSs. We also characterized MITE-like elements in the HbI and HbII gene promoters and intronic regions that are similar to sequences found in other mollusk genomes. The gene expression levels of the clam Hbs, from sulfide-rich and sulfide-poor environments showed a significant decrease of expression in the symbiont-containing tissue for those clams in a sulfide-poor environment, suggesting that the sulfide concentration may be involved in the regulation of these proteins. Gene expression evaluation of the two HbI mRNA variants indicated that the longer variant is expressed at higher levels than the shorter variant in both environments.}, } @article {pmid26824073, year = {2016}, author = {Susoy, V and Herrmann, M and Kanzaki, N and Kruger, M and Nguyen, CN and Rödelsperger, C and Röseler, W and Weiler, C and Giblin-Davis, RM and Ragsdale, EJ and Sommer, RJ}, title = {Large-scale diversification without genetic isolation in nematode symbionts of figs.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {e1501031}, pmid = {26824073}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Ficus/*genetics/*parasitology ; Genetic Speciation ; Genome/genetics ; Genotype ; Nematoda/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Reproductive Isolation ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Diversification is commonly understood to be the divergence of phenotypes accompanying that of lineages. In contrast, alternative phenotypes arising from a single genotype are almost exclusively limited to dimorphism in nature. We report a remarkable case of macroevolutionary-scale diversification without genetic divergence. Upon colonizing the island-like microecosystem of individual figs, symbiotic nematodes of the genus Pristionchus accumulated a polyphenism with up to five discrete adult morphotypes per species. By integrating laboratory and field experiments with extensive genotyping of individuals, including the analysis of 49 genomes from a single species, we show that rapid filling of potential ecological niches is possible without diversifying selection on genotypes. This uncoupling of morphological diversification and speciation in fig-associated nematodes has resulted from a remarkable expansion of discontinuous developmental plasticity.}, } @article {pmid26823098, year = {2016}, author = {Jacobson, LM and Edmunds, PJ and Muller, EB and Nisbet, RM}, title = {The implications of reduced metabolic rate in resource-limited corals.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {870-877}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.136044}, pmid = {26823098}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Darkness ; Food Deprivation/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many organisms exhibit depressed metabolism when resources are limited, a change that makes it possible to balance an energy budget. For symbiotic reef corals, daily cycles of light and periods of intense cloud cover can be chronic causes of food limitation through reduced photosynthesis. Furthermore, coral bleaching is common in present-day reefs, creating a context in which metabolic depression could have beneficial value to corals. In the present study, corals (massive Porites spp.) were exposed to an extreme case of resource limitation by starving them of food and light for 20 days. When resources were limited, the corals depressed area-normalized respiration to 37% of initial rates, and coral biomass declined to 64% of initial amounts, yet the corals continued to produce skeletal mass. However, the declines in biomass cannot account for the declines in area-normalized respiration, as mass-specific respiration declined to 30% of the first recorded time point. Thus, these corals appear to be capable of metabolic depression. It is possible that some coral species are better able to depress metabolic rates than others; such variation could explain differential survival during conditions that limit resources (e.g. shading). Furthermore, we found that maintenance of existing biomass, in part, supports the production of skeletal mass. This association could be explained if maintenance supplies needed energy (e.g. ATP) or inorganic carbon (i.e. CO2) that otherwise limits the production of skeletal mass. Finally, the observed metabolic depression can be explained as a change in pool sizes, and does not require a change in metabolic rules.}, } @article {pmid26822159, year = {2016}, author = {Simonet, P and Duport, G and Gaget, K and Weiss-Gayet, M and Colella, S and Febvay, G and Charles, H and Viñuelas, J and Heddi, A and Calevro, F}, title = {Direct flow cytometry measurements reveal a fine-tuning of symbiotic cell dynamics according to the host developmental needs in aphid symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {19967}, pmid = {26822159}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacterial Load ; Buchnera/physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic associations constitute a driving force in the ecological and evolutionary diversification of metazoan organisms. Little is known about whether and how symbiotic cells are coordinated according to host physiology. Here, we use the nutritional symbiosis between the insect pest, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and its obligate symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, as a model system. We have developed a novel approach for unculturable bacteria, based on flow cytometry, and used this method to estimate the absolute numbers of symbionts at key stages of aphid life. The endosymbiont population increases exponentially throughout nymphal development, showing a growing rate which has never been characterized by indirect molecular techniques. Using histology and imaging techniques, we have shown that the endosymbiont-bearing cells (bacteriocytes) increase significantly in number and size during the nymphal development, and clustering in the insect abdomen. Once adulthood is reached and the laying period has begun, the dynamics of symbiont and host cells is reversed: the number of endosymbionts decreases progressively and the bacteriocyte structure degenerates during insect aging. In summary, these results show a coordination of the cellular dynamics between bacteriocytes and primary symbionts and reveal a fine-tuning of aphid symbiotic cells to the nutritional demand imposed by the host physiology throughout development.}, } @article {pmid26821432, year = {2015}, author = {Lipova, EV and Yakovlev, AB and Aivazian, AA}, title = {[Enteric microbiocenotic modifiers and ways of enhancing their efficacy].}, journal = {Terapevticheskii arkhiv}, volume = {87}, number = {11}, pages = {139-143}, doi = {10.17116/terarkh20158711139-144}, pmid = {26821432}, issn = {0040-3660}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/*physiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Efficient recovery of enteric microbiocenosis is one of the central problems not only in gastroenterology, but also in a number of related areas. This problem becomes particularly pressing after antibiotic treatment. The combined modifiers of enteric microbiocenosis are most effective among other symbiotic drugs. Bion-3 apart from symbionts contains a vitamin/mineral complex and acts as an adaptogen.}, } @article {pmid26820139, year = {2016}, author = {Zhang, M and Sun, Y and Chen, L and Cai, C and Qiao, F and Du, Z and Li, E}, title = {Symbiotic Bacteria in Gills and Guts of Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Differ from the Free-Living Bacteria in Water.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0148135}, pmid = {26820139}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Brachyura/*microbiology/physiology ; China ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gills/*microbiology/physiology ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Aquatic animals have a close relationship with water, but differences in their symbiotic bacteria and the bacterial composition in water remains unclear. Wild or domestic Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) and the water in which they live were collected from four sampling sites in Jiangsu and Shanghai, China. Bacterial composition in water, gills or guts of E. sinensis, were compared by high-throughput sequencing using 16S rRNA genes. Analysis of >660,000 sequences indicated that bacterial diversity was higher in water than in gills or guts. Tenericutes and Proteobacteria were dominant phyla in guts, while Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were dominant in gills and water. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated that microbiota from gills, guts or water clearly separated into three groups, suggesting that crabs harbor a more specific microbial community than the water in which they live. The dominant OTUs in crab gut were related to Mycoplasmataceae, which were low in abundance in gills, showing that, like mammals, crabs have body-site specific microbiota. OTUs related to Ilumatobacter and Albimonas, which are commonly present in sediment and seawater, were dominant in gills but almost absent from the sampled water. Considering E. sinensis are bottom-dwelling crustacean and they mate in saline water or seawater, behavior and life cycle of crabs may play an important role in shaping the symbiotic bacterial pattern. This study revealed the relationship between the symbiotic bacteria of Chinese mitten crab and their habitat, affording information on the assembly factors of commensal bacteria in aquatic animals.}, } @article {pmid26819656, year = {2016}, author = {Hanessian, S}, title = {Academic-Industrial Collaboration: Toward the Consilience of Two Solitudes.}, journal = {ACS medicinal chemistry letters}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {6-9}, pmid = {26819656}, issn = {1948-5875}, abstract = {Current major advances in drug discovery can be traced back to pioneering contributions originating from academics over a century ago. Living in a symbiotic yet noninvasive coexistence, the academic community and the pharmaceutical industry have strived, each in their own way, to develop the modern medicines that benefit humankind today. The subject is presented from a historical and personal perspective.}, } @article {pmid26819216, year = {2017}, author = {Volmar, CH and Wahlestedt, C and Brothers, SP}, title = {Orphan diseases: state of the drug discovery art.}, journal = {Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)}, volume = {167}, number = {9-10}, pages = {197-204}, pmid = {26819216}, issn = {1563-258X}, support = {R01 MH110441/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS092671/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Academic Medical Centers/trends ; Austria ; *Drug Discovery/trends ; Drug Industry/trends ; Forecasting ; Genetic Therapy/trends ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Intersectoral Collaboration ; Pharmaceutical Research/trends ; Precision Medicine/trends ; Rare Diseases/*drug therapy/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Since 1983 more than 300 drugs have been developed and approved for orphan diseases. However, considering the development of novel diagnosis tools, the number of rare diseases vastly outpaces therapeutic discovery. Academic centers and nonprofit institutes are now at the forefront of rare disease R&D, partnering with pharmaceutical companies when academic researchers discover novel drugs or targets for specific diseases, thus reducing the failure risk and cost for pharmaceutical companies. Considerable progress has occurred in the art of orphan drug discovery, and a symbiotic relationship now exists between pharmaceutical industry, academia, and philanthropists that provides a useful framework for orphan disease therapeutic discovery. Here, the current state-of-the-art of drug discovery for orphan diseases is reviewed. Current technological approaches and challenges for drug discovery are considered, some of which can present somewhat unique challenges and opportunities in orphan diseases, including the potential for personalized medicine, gene therapy, and phenotypic screening.}, } @article {pmid26818258, year = {2016}, author = {Ryan, FP}, title = {Viral symbiosis and the holobiontic nature of the human genome.}, journal = {APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica}, volume = {124}, number = {1-2}, pages = {11-19}, doi = {10.1111/apm.12488}, pmid = {26818258}, issn = {1600-0463}, mesh = {Animals ; Endogenous Retroviruses/*genetics/*physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Human ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics/physiopathology ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human genome is a holobiontic union of the mammalian nuclear genome, the mitochondrial genome and large numbers of endogenized retroviral genomes. This article defines and explores this symbiogenetic pattern of evolution, looking at the implications for human genetics, epigenetics, embryogenesis, physiology and the pathogenesis of inborn errors of metabolism and many other diseases.}, } @article {pmid26818257, year = {2016}, author = {Weiss, RA}, title = {Human endogenous retroviruses: friend or foe?.}, journal = {APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica}, volume = {124}, number = {1-2}, pages = {4-10}, doi = {10.1111/apm.12476}, pmid = {26818257}, issn = {1600-0463}, mesh = {Embryonic Stem Cells/physiology/virology ; Endogenous Retroviruses/*genetics/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Female ; *Genome, Human ; Genome, Viral ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Placenta/physiology/virology ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; }, abstract = {The integration of proviral DNA into host chromosomal DNA as an obligatory step in the replication cycle of retroviruses is a natural event of genetic recombination between virus and host. When integration occurs in cells of the germ line, it results in mendelian inheritance of viral sequences that we call endogenous retroviruses (ERV) and HERV for humans. HERVs and host often establish a symbiotic relationship, especially in the placenta and in pluripotent embryonic stem cells, but HERVs occasionally have deleterious consequences for the host. This special issue of APMIS features the fascinating relationships between HERV and humans in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid26818097, year = {2016}, author = {Shaikevich, EV and Vinogradova, EB and Bouattour, A and Gouveia de Almeida, AP}, title = {Genetic diversity of Culex pipiens mosquitoes in distinct populations from Europe: contribution of Cx. quinquefasciatus in Mediterranean populations.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {47}, pmid = {26818097}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Culex/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/genetics ; Europe/epidemiology ; Female ; *Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Mediterranean Region/epidemiology ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex are cosmopolitan, and important vectors of neglected tropical diseases, such as arbovirosis and lymphatic filariasis. Among the complex taxa, Cx. pipiens (with two forms pipiens and molestus) and Cx. quinquefasciatus are the most ubiquitous mosquitoes in temperate and tropical regions respectively. Mosquitoes of this taxa lack of morphological differences between females, but have frank behavioral and physiological differences and have different trophic preferences that influence their vectorial status. Hybridization may change the vectorial capacity of these mosquitoes, increasing vector efficiency and medical importance of resulting hybrids.

METHODS: Culex pipiens s.l. from 35 distinct populations were investigated by the study of mtDNA, symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, nuclear DNA and flanking region of microsatellite CQ11 polymorphism using PCR with diagnostic primers, RFLP analysis and sequencing.

RESULTS: Six different mitochondrial haplotypes were revealed by sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and three different Wolbachia (wPip) groups were identified. A strong association was observed between COI haplotypes/groups, wPip groups and taxa; haplogroup A and infection with wPipII appear to be typical for Cx. pipiens form pipiens, haplotype D and infection with wPipIV for form molestus, while haplogroup E, characteristic of Cx. quinquefasciatus, were correlated with wPipI and found in Cx. pipiens sl. from coastal regions of Southern Europe and Mediterranean region. Analysis of microsatellite locus and nuclear DNA revealed hybrids between Cx. pipiens form pipiens and form molestus, as well as between Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus, in Mediterranean populations, as opposed to Northern Europe. Phylogenetic analysis of COI sequences yielded a tree topology that supported the RFLP analysis with significant bootstrap values for haplotype D and haplogroup E.

CONCLUSIONS: Molecular identification provides the first evidence of the presence of hybrids between Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pipiens as well as cytoplasmic introgression of Cx. quinquefasciatus into Cx. pipiens as a result of hybridization events in coastal regions of Southern Europe and Mediterranean region. Together with observed hybrids between pipiens and molestus forms, these findings point to the presence of hybrids in these areas, with consequent higher potential for disease transmission.}, } @article {pmid26817720, year = {2016}, author = {Chan, XY and Hong, KW and Yin, WF and Chan, KG}, title = {Microbiome and Biocatalytic Bacteria in Monkey Cup (Nepenthes Pitcher) Digestive Fluid.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {20016}, pmid = {26817720}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Genome, Bacterial ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Tracheophyta/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tropical carnivorous plant, Nepenthes, locally known as "monkey cup", utilises its pitcher as a passive trap to capture insects. It then secretes enzymes into the pitcher fluid to digest the insects for nutrients acquisition. However, little is known about the microbiota and their activity in its pitcher fluid. Eighteen bacteria phyla were detected from the metagenome study in the Nepenthes pitcher fluid. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria are the dominant phyla in the Nepenthes pitcher fluid. We also performed culturomics approach by isolating 18 bacteria from the Nepenthes pitcher fluid. Most of the bacterial isolates possess chitinolytic, proteolytic, amylolytic, and cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities. Fifteen putative chitinase genes were identified from the whole genome analysis on the genomes of the 18 bacteria isolated from Nepenthes pitcher fluid and expressed for chitinase assay. Of these, six clones possessed chitinase activity. In conclusion, our metagenome result shows that the Nepenthes pitcher fluid contains vast bacterial diversity and the culturomic studies confirmed the presence of biocatalytic bacteria within the Nepenthes pitcher juice which may act in symbiosis for the turn over of insects trapped in the Nepenthes pitcher fluid.}, } @article {pmid26815170, year = {2016}, author = {Helander, M and Phillips, T and Faeth, SH and Bush, LP and McCulley, R and Saloniemi, I and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Alkaloid Quantities in Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue are Affected by the Plant-Fungus Combination and Environment.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {118-126}, pmid = {26815170}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*analysis ; Hypocreales/*pathogenicity ; Poaceae/*chemistry/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many grass species are symbiotic with systemic, vertically-transmitted, asymptomatic Epichloë endophytic fungi. These fungi often produce alkaloids that defend the host against herbivores. We studied how environmental variables affect alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix) from three Northern European wild origins and the widely planted US cultivar 'Kentucky-31' (KY31). The plants were grown in identical common garden experiments in Finland and Kentucky for two growing seasons. Plants were left as controls (C) or given water (W), nutrient (N) or water and nutrient (WN) treatments. For 8-10 replications of each plant origin and treatment combination in both experiments, we analyzed ergot alkaloids, lysergic acid, and lolines. In Finland, tall fescue plants produced 50 % more ergot alkaloids compared to plants of the same origin and treatments in Kentucky. Origin of the plants affected the ergot alkaloid concentration at both study sites: the wild origin plants produced 2-4 times more ergot alkaloids than KY31, but the ergot alkaloid concentration of KY31 plants was the same at both locations. Overall lysergic acid content was 60 % higher in plants grown in Kentucky than in those grown in Finland. Nutrient treatments (N, WN) significantly increased ergot alkaloid concentrations in plants from Finland but not in plants from Kentucky. These results suggest that the success of KY31 in US is not due to selection for high ergot alkaloid production but rather other traits associated with the endophyte. In addition, the environmental effects causing variation in alkaloid production of grass-endophyte combinations should be taken into account when using endophyte-infected grasses agriculturally.}, } @article {pmid26812498, year = {2016}, author = {Staudinger, C and Mehmeti-Tershani, V and Gil-Quintana, E and Gonzalez, EM and Hofhansl, F and Bachmann, G and Wienkoop, S}, title = {Evidence for a rhizobia-induced drought stress response strategy in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {202-213}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2016.01.006}, pmid = {26812498}, issn = {1876-7737}, support = {P 23441/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Drought stress hampers plant energy and biomass production; however it is still unknown how internal C:N balance and rhizobial symbiosis impact on plant response to water limitation. Here, the effect of differential optimal nitrogen nutrition and root nodule symbiosis on drought stress and rehydration responses of Medicago truncatula was assessed. Two groups of plants were nodulated with Sinorhizobium medicae or Sinorhizobium meliloti--differing in the performance of N fixation; the third group grew in a rhizobia-free medium and received mineral nitrogen fertilizer. In addition to growth analyses, physiological and molecular responses of the two systems were studied using ionomic, metabolomic and proteomic techniques. We found a significant delay in drought-induced leaf senescence in nodulated relative to non-nodulated plants, independent of rhizobial strain and uncoupled from initial leaf N content. The major mechanisms involved are increased concentrations of potassium and shifts in the carbon partitioning between starch and sugars under well-watered conditions, as well as the enhanced allocation of reserves to osmolytes during drought. Consequently, nodulated plants recovered more effectively from drought, relative to non-nodulated M. truncatula. Proteomic data suggest that phytohormone interactions and enhanced translational regulation play a role in increased leaf maintenance in nodulated plants during drought.}, } @article {pmid26811798, year = {2016}, author = {Roy-Bolduc, A and Laliberté, E and Hijri, M}, title = {High richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi and low host specificity in a coastal sand dune ecosystem revealed by network analysis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {349-362}, pmid = {26811798}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are ubiquitous in temperate and boreal forests, comprising over 20,000 species forming root symbiotic associations with Pinaceae and woody angiosperms. As much as 100 different EM fungal species can coexist and interact with the same tree species, forming complex multispecies networks in soils. The degree of host specificity and structural properties of these interaction networks (e.g., nestedness and modularity) may influence plant and fungal community assembly and species coexistence, yet their structure has been little studied in northern coniferous forests, where trees depend on EM fungi for nutrient acquisition. We used high-throughput sequencing to characterize the composition and diversity of bulk soil and root-associated fungal communities in four co-occurring Pinaceae in a relic foredune plain located at Îles de la Madeleine, Québec, Canada. We found high EM fungal richness across the four hosts, with a total of 200 EM operational taxonomic units (OTUs), mainly belonging to the Agaricomycetes. Network analysis revealed an antinested pattern in both bulk soil and roots EM fungal communities. However, there was no detectable modularity (i.e., subgroups of interacting species) in the interaction networks, indicating a low level of specificity in these EM associations. In addition, there were no differences in EM fungal OTU richness or community structure among the four tree species. Limited shared resources and competitive exclusion typically restrict the number of taxa coexisting within the same niche. As such, our finding of high EM fungal richness and low host specificity highlights the need for further studies to determine the mechanisms enabling such a large number of EM fungal species to coexist locally on the same hosts.}, } @article {pmid26811603, year = {2016}, author = {Gagnière, J and Raisch, J and Veziant, J and Barnich, N and Bonnet, R and Buc, E and Bringer, MA and Pezet, D and Bonnet, M}, title = {Gut microbiota imbalance and colorectal cancer.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {501-518}, pmid = {26811603}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism/pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism/*microbiology/pathology ; DNA Damage ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota acts as a real organ. The symbiotic interactions between resident micro-organisms and the digestive tract highly contribute to maintain the gut homeostasis. However, alterations to the microbiome caused by environmental changes (e.g., infection, diet and/or lifestyle) can disturb this symbiotic relationship and promote disease, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and cancer. Colorectal cancer is a complex association of tumoral cells, non-neoplastic cells and a large amount of micro-organisms, and the involvement of the microbiota in colorectal carcinogenesis is becoming increasingly clear. Indeed, many changes in the bacterial composition of the gut microbiota have been reported in colorectal cancer, suggesting a major role of dysbiosis in colorectal carcinogenesis. Some bacterial species have been identified and suspected to play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis, such as Streptococcus bovis, Helicobacter pylori, Bacteroides fragilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium septicum, Fusobacterium spp. and Escherichia coli. The potential pro-carcinogenic effects of these bacteria are now better understood. In this review, we discuss the possible links between the bacterial microbiota and colorectal carcinogenesis, focusing on dysbiosis and the potential pro-carcinogenic properties of bacteria, such as genotoxicity and other virulence factors, inflammation, host defenses modulation, bacterial-derived metabolism, oxidative stress and anti-oxidative defenses modulation. We lastly describe how bacterial microbiota modifications could represent novel prognosis markers and/or targets for innovative therapeutic strategies.}, } @article {pmid26810895, year = {2016}, author = {Kariman, K and Barker, SJ and Jost, R and Finnegan, PM and Tibbett, M}, title = {Sensitivity of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) to phosphate, phosphite, and arsenate pulses as influenced by fungal symbiotic associations.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {401-415}, pmid = {26810895}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Arsenates/*metabolism ; Eucalyptus/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphites/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many plant species adapted to P-impoverished soils, including jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), develop toxicity symptoms when exposed to high doses of phosphate (Pi) and its analogs such as phosphite (Phi) and arsenate (AsV). The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of fungal symbionts Scutellospora calospora, Scleroderma sp., and Austroboletus occidentalis on the response of jarrah to highly toxic pulses (1.5 mmol kg(-1) soil) of Pi, Phi, and AsV. S. calospora formed an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis while both Scleroderma sp. and A. occidentalis established a non-colonizing symbiosis with jarrah plants. All these interactions significantly improved jarrah growth and Pi uptake under P-limiting conditions. The AM fungal colonization naturally declines in AM-eucalypt symbioses after 2-3 months; however, in the present study, the high Pi pulse inhibited the decline of AM fungal colonization in jarrah. Four weeks after exposure to the Pi pulse, plants inoculated with S. calospora had significantly lower toxicity symptoms compared to non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants, and all fungal treatments induced tolerance against Phi toxicity in jarrah. However, no tolerance was observed for AsV-treated plants even though all inoculated plants had significantly lower shoot As concentrations than the NM plants. The transcript profile of five jarrah high-affinity phosphate transporter (PHT1 family) genes in roots was not altered in response to any of the fungal species tested. Interestingly, plants exposed to high Pi supplies for 1 day did not have reduced transcript levels for any of the five PHT1 genes in roots, and transcript abundance of four PHT1 genes actually increased. It is therefore suggested that jarrah, and perhaps other P-sensitive perennial species, respond positively to Pi available in the soil solution through increasing rather than decreasing the expression of selected PHT1 genes. Furthermore, Scleroderma sp. can be considered as a fungus with dual functional capacity capable of forming both ectomycorrhizal and non-colonizing associations, where both pathways are always accompanied by evident growth and nutritional benefits.}, } @article {pmid26809519, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, EX and Ding, MZ and Ma, Q and Dong, XT and Yuan, YJ}, title = {Reorganization of a synthetic microbial consortium for one-step vitamin C fermentation.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {21}, pmid = {26809519}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Ascorbic Acid/*metabolism ; Fermentation/physiology ; Microbial Consortia/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In the industry, the conventional two-step fermentation method was used to produce 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KGA), the precursor of vitamin C, by three strains, namely, Gluconobacter oxydans, Bacillus spp. and Ketogulonicigenium vulgare. Despite its high production efficiency, the long incubation period and an additional second sterilization process inhibit the further development. Therefore, we aimed to reorganize a synthetic consortium of G. oxydans and K. vulgare for one-step fermentation of 2-KGA and enhance the symbiotic interaction between microorganisms to perform better.

RESULTS: During the fermentation, competition for sorbose of G. oxydans arose when co-cultured with K. vulgare. In this study, the competition between the two microbes was alleviated and their mutualism was enhanced by deleting genes involved in sorbose metabolism of G. oxydans. In the engineered synthetic consortium (H6 + Kv), the yield of 2-KGA (mol/mol) against D-sorbitol reached 89.7 % within 36 h, increased by 29.6 %. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis was used to verify the enhancement of the symbiotic relationship and to provide us potential strategies for improving the synthetic consortium. Additionally, a significant redistribution of metabolism occurred by co-culturing the K. vulgare with the engineered G. oxydans, mainly reflected in the increased TCA cycle, purine, and fatty acid metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS: We reorganized and optimized a synthetic consortium of G. oxydans and K. vulgare to produce 2-KGA directly from D-sorbitol. The yield of 2-KGA was comparable to that of the conventional two-step fermentation. The metabolic interaction between the strains was further investigated by metabolomics, which verified the enhancement of the mutualism between the microbes and gave us a better understanding of the synthetic consortium.}, } @article {pmid26807140, year = {2016}, author = {Gavrilovic, S and Yan, Z and Jurkiewicz, AM and Stougaard, J and Markmann, K}, title = {Inoculation insensitive promoters for cell type enriched gene expression in legume roots and nodules.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {4}, pmid = {26807140}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Establishment and maintenance of mutualistic plant-microbial interactions in the rhizosphere and within plant roots involve several root cell types. The processes of host-microbe recognition and infection require complex signal exchange and activation of downstream responses. These molecular events coordinate host responses across root cell layers during microbe invasion, ultimately triggering changes of root cell fates. The progression of legume root interactions with rhizobial bacteria has been addressed in numerous studies. However, tools to globally resolve the succession of molecular events in the host root at the cell type level have been lacking. To this end, we aimed to identify promoters exhibiting cell type enriched expression in roots of the model legume Lotus japonicus, as no comprehensive set of such promoters usable in legume roots is available to date.

RESULTS: Here, we use promoter:GUS fusions to characterize promoters stemming from Arabidopsis, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) or L. japonicus with respect to their expression in major cell types of the L. japonicus root differentiation zone, which shows molecular and morphological responses to symbiotic bacteria and fungi. Out of 24 tested promoters, 11 showed cell type enriched activity in L. japonicus roots. Covered cell types or cell type combinations are epidermis (1), epidermis and cortex (2), cortex (1), endodermis and pericycle (2), pericycle and phloem (4), or xylem (1). Activity of these promoters in the respective cell types was stable during early stages of infection of transgenic roots with the rhizobial symbiont of L. japonicus, Mesorhizobium loti. For a subset of five promoters, expression stability was further demonstrated in whole plant transgenics as well as in active nodules.

CONCLUSIONS: 11 promoters from Arabidopsis (10) or tomato (1) with enriched activity in major L. japonicus root and nodule cell types have been identified. Root expression patterns are independent of infection with rhizobial bacteria, providing a stable read-out in the root section responsive to symbiotic bacteria. Promoters are available as cloning vectors. We expect these tools to help provide a new dimension to our understanding of signaling circuits and transcript dynamics in symbiotic interactions of legumes with microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26805923, year = {2016}, author = {Carlozzi, P and Padovani, G}, title = {The aquatic fern Azolla as a natural plant-factory for ammonia removal from fish-breeding fresh wastewater.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {8749-8755}, pmid = {26805923}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Anabaena/*physiology ; Animals ; *Aquaculture ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cyanobacteria ; Ferns ; Fishes ; Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater/*chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {This study has investigated the potential of an Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis, a marriage between the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae and the aquatic fern (Azolla), to remove ammonia from freshwater fish breeding areas. Experiments were carried out under artificial light of 20, 70, and 140 μmol m(-2) s(-1). We investigated three different water temperatures for the growing Azolla, ranging from sub-optimal to optimal temperatures (15, 22, and 28 °C). The capability of Azolla to remove ammonia from wastewater was demonstrated, and the highest ammonia concentration tolerated by the symbiosis between Azolla-anabaena without any toxic effect on the aquatic ferns was ascertained. The shortest time taken to remove ammonia from wastes, 2.5 cm deep and at 28 °C, was 40 min. The ammonia removal rate (A RR) was both light and temperature dependent and the highest rate (6.394 h(-1)) was attained at light intensity of 140 μmol m(-2) s(-1) and at a temperature of 28 °C; the lowest (0.947 h(-1)) was achieved at 20 μmol m(-2) s(-1) and 15 °C. The depth of the fish-wastewater pool also affected the A RR with the relation between A RR and the depth being a hyperbolic function.}, } @article {pmid26805620, year = {2016}, author = {Battini, F and Cristani, C and Giovannetti, M and Agnolucci, M}, title = {Multifunctionality and diversity of culturable bacterial communities strictly associated with spores of the plant beneficial symbiont Rhizophagus intraradices.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {183}, number = {}, pages = {68-79}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2015.11.012}, pmid = {26805620}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacillus/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Biological Control Agents ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fertilizers/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Siderophores/biosynthesis ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) live in symbiosis with most crop plants and represent essential elements of soil fertility and plant nutrition and productivity, facilitating soil mineral nutrient uptake and protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. These beneficial services may be mediated by the dense and active spore-associated bacterial communities, which sustain diverse functions, such as the promotion of mycorrhizal activity, biological control of soilborne diseases, nitrogen fixation, and the supply of nutrients and growth factors. In this work, we utilised culture-dependent methods to isolate and functionally characterize the microbiota strictly associated to Rhizophagus intraradices spores, and molecularly identified the strains with best potential plant growth promoting (PGP) activities by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. We isolated in pure culture 374 bacterial strains belonging to different functional groups-actinobacteria, spore-forming, chitinolytic and N2-fixing bacteria-and screened 122 strains for their potential PGP activities. The most common PGP trait was represented by P solubilization from phytate (69.7%), followed by siderophore production (65.6%), mineral P solubilization (49.2%) and IAA production (42.6%). About 76% of actinobacteria and 65% of chitinolytic bacteria displayed multiple PGP activities. Nineteen strains with best potential PGP activities, assigned to Sinorhizobium meliloti, Streptomyces spp., Arthrobacter phenanthrenivorans, Nocardiodes albus, Bacillus sp. pumilus group, Fictibacillus barbaricus and Lysinibacillus fusiformis, showed the ability to produce IAA and siderophores and to solubilize P from mineral phosphate and phytate, representing suitable candidates as biocontrol agents, biofertilisers and bioenhancers, in the perspective of targeted management of beneficial symbionts and their associated bacteria in sustainable food production systems.}, } @article {pmid26805614, year = {2016}, author = {Leitão, AL and Enguita, FJ}, title = {Gibberellins in Penicillium strains: Challenges for endophyte-plant host interactions under salinity stress.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {183}, number = {}, pages = {8-18}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2015.11.004}, pmid = {26805614}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; Gibberellins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Penicillium/enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Salinity ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Penicillium is one of the most versatile "mycofactories", comprising some species able to produce gibberellins, bioactive compounds that can modulate plant growth and development. Although plants have the ability to synthesize gibberellins, their levels are lower when plants are under salinity stress. It has been recognized that detrimental abiotic conditions, such as saline stress, have negative effects on plants, being the availability of bioactive gibberellins a critical factor for their growth under this conditions. This review summarizes the interplay existing between endophytic Penicillium strains and plant host interactions, with focus on bioactive gibberellins production as a fungal response that allows plants to overcome salinity stress.}, } @article {pmid26805489, year = {2016}, author = {Dângelo, RA and de Souza, DJ and Mendes, TD and Couceiro, Jda C and Lucia, TM}, title = {Actinomycetes inhibit filamentous fungi from the cuticle of Acromyrmex leafcutter ants.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {229-237}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201500593}, pmid = {26805489}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism/*physiology ; Actinomycetales/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Animals ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Hypocreales/drug effects ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Streptomyces/classification/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Actinomycetes bacteria associated with leafcutter ants produce secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties against Escovopsis, a fungus specialized in attacking the gardens of fungus-growing ants, which denies the ants their food source. Because previous studies have used fungi isolated from fungus gardens but not from ant integument, the aims of the present study were to isolate actinomycetes associated with the cuticle of the Acromyrmex spp. and to quantify their inhibition abilities against the filamentous fungal species carried by these ants. The results demonstrated that actinomycetes had varied strain-dependent effects on several filamentous fungal species in addition to antagonistic activity against Escovopsis. The strain isolated from Acromyrmex balzani was identified as a Streptomyces species, whereas the remaining isolates were identified as different strains belonging to the genus Pseudonocardia. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that actinomycetes do not act specifically against Escovopsis mycoparasites and may have the ability to inhibit other species of pathogenic fungi.}, } @article {pmid26804428, year = {2016}, author = {Altieri, C and Iorio, MC and Bevilacqua, A and Sinigaglia, M}, title = {Influence of prebiotics on Lactobacillus reuteri death kinetics under sub-optimal temperatures and pH.}, journal = {International journal of food sciences and nutrition}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {92-98}, doi = {10.3109/09637486.2015.1136905}, pmid = {26804428}, issn = {1465-3478}, mesh = {Glucose/pharmacology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Inulin/pharmacology ; Kinetics ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri/drug effects/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology ; *Prebiotics ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Eaten foodstuffs are usually fortified with prebiotic ingredients, such as inulin and oligofructose (FOS). The main goal of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of inulin and FOS with either suboptimal pH or storage temperature on the viability of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016. Data were modeled through Weibull equation for the evaluation of the microbiological shelf life and the survival time. Prebiotics enhanced the microbiological shelf life and enhanced the survival time of the target bacterium. The use of the factorial ANOVA highlighted that inulin and FOS exerted a different effect as a function of pH and temperature. Inulin prolonged survival time under acidic conditions, while the effect of glucose + FOS was significant at pH 8. Finally, temperature could act by increasing or decreasing the effect of prebiotics, as they could exert a protective effect at 30 °C but not at 44 °C. As the main output of this research, we could suggest that the effect of prebiotics on L. reuteri could be significantly affected by pH and temperature, thus pinpointing that the design of a symbiotic food should also rely on these factors.}, } @article {pmid26804034, year = {2016}, author = {Bucher, M and Wolfowicz, I and Voss, PA and Hambleton, EA and Guse, A}, title = {Development and Symbiosis Establishment in the Cnidarian Endosymbiosis Model Aiptasia sp.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {19867}, pmid = {26804034}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Embryonic Development/physiology ; Larva/growth & development ; Models, Biological ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Sea Anemones/*embryology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between photosynthetic algae and heterotrophic organisms is widespread. One prominent example of high ecological relevance is the endosymbiosis between dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium and reef-building corals, which typically acquire symbionts anew each generation during larval stages. The tropical sea anemone Aiptasia sp. is a laboratory model system for this endosymbiosis and, similar to corals, produces non-symbiotic larvae that establish symbiosis by phagocytosing Symbiodinium from the environment into the endoderm. Here we generate the first overview of Aiptasia embryogenesis and larval development and establish in situ hybridization to analyze expression patterns of key early developmental regulators. Next, we quantify morphological changes in developing larvae and find a substantial enlargement of the gastric cavity over time. Symbiont acquisition starts soon after mouth formation and symbionts occupy a major portion of the host cell in which they reside. During the first 14 days of development, infection efficiency remains constant while in contrast, localization of phagocytosed symbionts changes, indicating that the occurrence of functional phagocytosing cells may be developmentally regulated. Taken together, here we provide the essential framework to further develop Aiptasia as a model system for the analysis of symbiosis establishment in cnidarian larvae at the molecular level.}, } @article {pmid26803727, year = {2016}, author = {Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Small is Plentiful.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {173-175}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2016.01.010}, pmid = {26803727}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/classification/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are legume symbionts that arise through horizontal transfer of symbiotic genes among soil bacteria. A recent study shows that these transfers occur frequently at a micro-scale, leading to unexpected rhizobial diversity and emergence of symbiovars within species. This confirms the disconnection between function and taxonomy in bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid26803293, year = {2016}, author = {Daubois, L and Beaudet, D and Hijri, M and de la Providencia, I}, title = {Independent mitochondrial and nuclear exchanges arising in Rhizophagus irregularis crossed-isolates support the presence of a mitochondrial segregation mechanism.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {11}, pmid = {26803293}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Cell Division ; Cell Nucleus/*genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/cytology/genetics/*metabolism ; Mitochondria/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are members of the phylum Glomeromycota, an early divergent fungal lineage that forms symbiotic associations with the large majority of land plants. These organisms are asexual obligate biotrophs, meaning that they cannot complete their life cycle in the absence of a suitable host. These fungi can exchange genetic information through hyphal fusions (i.e. anastomosis) with genetically compatible isolates belonging to the same species. The occurrence of transient mitochondrial length-heteroplasmy through anastomosis between geographically distant Rhizophagus irregularis isolates was previously demonstrated in single spores resulting from crossing experiments. However, (1) the persistence of this phenomenon in monosporal culture lines from crossed parental isolates, (2) its correlation with nuclear exchanges and (3) the potential mechanisms responsible for mitochondrial inheritance are still unknown. Using the AMF model organism R. irregularis, we tested whether the presence of a heteroplasmic state in progeny spores was linked to the occurrence of nuclear exchanges and whether the previously observed heteroplasmic state persisted in monosporal in vitro crossed-culture lines. We also investigated the presence of a putative mitochondrial segregation apparatus in Glomeromycota by identifying proteins similar to those found in other fungal groups.

RESULTS: We observed the occurrence of biparental inheritance both for mitochondrial and nuclear markers tested in single spores obtained from crossed-isolates. However, only one parental mitochondrial DNA and nuclear genotype were recovered in each monosporal crossed-cultures, with an overrepresentation of certain mitochondrial haplotypes. These results strongly support the presence of a nuclear-independent mitochondrial segregation mechanism in R. irregularis. Furthermore, a nearly complete set of genes was identified with putative orthology to those found in other fungi and known to be associated with the mitochondrial segregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and filamentous fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that mitochondrial segregation might take place either during spore formation or colony development and that it might be independent of the nuclear segregation machinery. We present the basic building blocks for a better understanding of the mitochondrial inheritance process and segregation in these important symbiotic fungi. The comprehension of these processes is of great importance since it has been shown that different segregated lines of the same isolate can have variable effects on the host plant.}, } @article {pmid26802120, year = {2016}, author = {Wilson, MZ and Wang, R and Gitai, Z and Seyedsayamdost, MR}, title = {Mode of action and resistance studies unveil new roles for tropodithietic acid as an anticancer agent and the γ-glutamyl cycle as a proton sink.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {6}, pages = {1630-1635}, pmid = {26802120}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {K99 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1DP2OD004389/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 AI124669/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP2 OD004389/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107384/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Antiporters/metabolism ; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone/pharmacology ; Dictyostelium/drug effects ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/*drug effects ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Flagella/drug effects ; Genetic Loci ; Glutamic Acid/*metabolism ; Metabolomics ; Models, Biological ; Nigericin/pharmacology ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; *Protons ; Time-Lapse Imaging ; Tropolone/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {While we have come to appreciate the architectural complexity of microbially synthesized secondary metabolites, far less attention has been paid to linking their structural features with possible modes of action. This is certainly the case with tropodithietic acid (TDA), a broad-spectrum antibiotic generated by marine bacteria that engage in dynamic symbioses with microscopic algae. TDA promotes algal health by killing unwanted marine pathogens; however, its mode of action (MoA) and significance for the survival of an algal-bacterial miniecosystem remains unknown. Using cytological profiling, we herein determine the MoA of TDA and surprisingly find that it acts by a mechanism similar to polyether antibiotics, which are structurally highly divergent. We show that like polyether drugs, TDA collapses the proton motive force by a proton antiport mechanism, in which extracellular protons are exchanged for cytoplasmic cations. The α-carboxy-tropone substructure is ideal for this purpose as the proton can be carried on the carboxyl group, whereas the basicity of the tropylium ion facilitates cation export. Based on similarities to polyether anticancer agents we have further examined TDA's cytotoxicity and find it to exhibit potent, broad-spectrum anticancer activities. These results highlight the power of MoA-profiling technologies in repurposing old drugs for new targets. In addition, we identify an operon that confers TDA resistance to the producing marine bacteria. Bioinformatic and biochemical analyses of these genes lead to a previously unknown metabolic link between TDA/acid resistance and the γ-glutamyl cycle. The implications of this resistance mechanism in the context of the algal-bacterial symbiosis are discussed.}, } @article {pmid26800228, year = {2016}, author = {Torres, EB and Nóbrega, RS and Fernandes-Júnior, PI and Silva, LB and Dos Santos Carvalho, G and Marinho, Rde C and Pavan, BE}, title = {The damage caused by Callosobruchus maculatus on cowpea grains is dependent on the plant genotype.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {96}, number = {12}, pages = {4276-4280}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.7639}, pmid = {26800228}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Disease Resistance ; Fertilizers ; Genotype ; Insecticides ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Plant Diseases/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Vigna/*genetics/metabolism/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Beans from cowpea cultivars fertilized with mineral N or inoculated with various rhizobium strains may contain different nitrogen concentrations and nitrogen metabolite composition, which affects the beans' defense mechanisms against pests. In this study, the population growth of Callosobruchus maculatus reared on beans from four cowpea cultivars fertilized with different nitrogen sources was evaluated. The factors tested were beans from four cowpea cultivars and seven different nitrogen sources: mineral N fertilization, inoculation with five strains of symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria, and soil nitrogen (absolute control).

RESULTS: BRS Tapaihum and BRS Acauã cultivars had lower cumulative emergence and instantaneous rate of population growth of the insects compared with other cultivars, indicating antixenosis resistance against C. maculatus. Inoculation of BRS Acauã cultivar with the diazotrophic bacteria strain BR 3299 resulted in higher mortality of C. maculatus. For BRS Tapaihum cultivar, inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria strains BR3267, BR 3262 and BR 3299, and nitrogen fertilization resulted in higher mortality among C. maculatus.

CONCLUSION: BRS Tapaihum and BRS Acauã cultivars showed the lowest cumulative insect emergence and instantaneous rates of population growth, and the highest insect mortality, mainly when the grains were obtained from plants inoculated with rhizobial strains. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid26798974, year = {2016}, author = {Juliano, CE and Hobmayer, B}, title = {Meeting report on "Animal Evolution: New Perspectives From Early Emerging Metazoans", Tutzing, September 14-17, 2015.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, pages = {216-219}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201500200}, pmid = {26798974}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Chromosome Mapping ; Cnidaria/cytology/genetics/growth & development ; Genome ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stem Cells/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This recent meeting covered non-bilaterian (e.g., cnidarians, ctenophores, and sponges) animals broadly, but with emphasis in four areas: 1) New genomic resources and tools for functional studies, 2) advances in developmental and regeneration studies, 3) the evolution and function of nervous systems, 4) symbiosis and the holobiome.}, } @article {pmid26798303, year = {2015}, author = {Salazar-Vallejo, SI and González, NE and Salazar-Silva, P}, title = {Lepidasthenia loboi sp. n. from Puerto Madryn, Argentina (Polychaeta, Polynoidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {546}, pages = {21-37}, pmid = {26798303}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Among polychaetes, polynoids have the highest number of symbiotic species found living with a wide variety of marine invertebrates, including other polychaetes. Lepidasthenia Malmgren, 1867 and Lepidametria Webster, 1879 were regarded as synonyms but belong to different subfamilies, although both have species associated with thelepodid or terebellid polychaetes. In this contribution Lepidasthenia loboi sp. n. is described from several specimens associated with the thelepodid Thelepus antarcticus Kinberg, 1867, collected on a rocky shore near Puerto Madryn, Argentina. Lepidasthenia loboi sp. n. can be confused with Lepidasthenia esbelta Amaral & Nonato, 1982 because both live with Thelepus, are of similar sizes with similar pigmentation patterns, and have giant neurochaetae. However, in Lepidasthenia loboi sp. n. all eyes are of the same size, cephalic and parapodial cirri are tapered and mucronate, the second pair of elytra is larger than the third, the ventral cirri arise at the base of parapodia such that they do not reach chaetal lobe tips, and neuraciculae are tapered. On the contrary, in Lepidasthenia esbelta the posterior eyes are larger than anterior ones, cephalic and parapodial appendages are swollen subdistally, the second and third pairs of elytra are of the same size, the ventral cirri arise medially such that their tips reach the neurochaetal lobe tips, and the neuraciculae have falcate tips. Some comments about other genera in the Lepidastheniinae, a simplified key to its genera, and a key to Lepidasthenia species with giant neurochaetae are also included.}, } @article {pmid26798263, year = {2015}, author = {Augustinos, AA and Drosopoulou, E and Gariou-Papalexiou, A and Asimakis, ED and Cáceres, C and Tsiamis, G and Bourtzis, K and Penelope Mavragani-Tsipidou, and Zacharopoulou, A}, title = {Cytogenetic and symbiont analysis of five members of the B. dorsalis complex (Diptera, Tephritidae): no evidence of chromosomal or symbiont-based speciation events.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {540}, pages = {273-298}, pmid = {26798263}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {The Bactrocera dorsalis species complex, currently comprising about 90 entities has received much attention. During the last decades, considerable effort has been devoted to delimiting the species of the complex. This information is of great importance for agriculture and world trade, since the complex harbours several pest species of major economic importance and other species that could evolve into global threats. Speciation in Diptera is usually accompanied by chromosomal rearrangements, particularly inversions that are assumed to reduce/eliminate gene flow. Other candidates currently receiving much attention regarding their possible involvement in speciation are reproductive symbionts, such as Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Arsenophonus, Rickettsia and Cardinium. Such symbionts tend to spread quickly through natural populations and can cause a variety of phenotypes that promote pre-mating and/or post-mating isolation and, in addition, can affect the biology, physiology, ecology and evolution of their insect hosts in various ways. Considering all these aspects, we present: (a) a summary of the recently gained knowledge on the cytogenetics of five members of the Bactrocera dorsalis complex, namely Bactrocera dorsalis s.s., Bactrocera invadens, Bactrocera philippinensis, Bactrocera papayae and Bactrocera carambolae, supplemented by additional data from a Bactrocera dorsalis s.s. colony from China, as well as by a cytogenetic comparison between the dorsalis complex and the genetically close species, Bactrocera tryoni, and, (b) a reproductive symbiont screening of 18 different colonized populations of these five taxa. Our analysis did not reveal any chromosomal rearrangements that could differentiate among them. Moreover, screening for reproductive symbionts was negative for all colonies derived from different geographic origins and/or hosts. There are many different factors that can lead to speciation, and our data do not support chromosomal and/or symbiotic-based speciation phenomena in the taxa under study.}, } @article {pmid26797793, year = {2016}, author = {Scharf, BE and Hynes, MF and Alexandre, GM}, title = {Chemotaxis signaling systems in model beneficial plant-bacteria associations.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {90}, number = {6}, pages = {549-559}, pmid = {26797793}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Chemotaxis/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Plant Roots/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial plant-microbe associations play critical roles in plant health. Bacterial chemotaxis provides a competitive advantage to motile flagellated bacteria in colonization of plant root surfaces, which is a prerequisite for the establishment of beneficial associations. Chemotaxis signaling enables motile soil bacteria to sense and respond to gradients of chemical compounds released by plant roots. This process allows bacteria to actively swim towards plant roots and is thus critical for competitive root surface colonization. The complete genome sequences of several plant-associated bacterial species indicate the presence of multiple chemotaxis systems and a large number of chemoreceptors. Further, most soil bacteria are motile and capable of chemotaxis, and chemotaxis-encoding genes are enriched in the bacteria found in the rhizosphere compared to the bulk soil. This review compares the architecture and diversity of chemotaxis signaling systems in model beneficial plant-associated bacteria and discusses their relevance to the rhizosphere lifestyle. While it is unclear how controlling chemotaxis via multiple parallel chemotaxis systems provides a competitive advantage to certain bacterial species, the presence of a larger number of chemoreceptors is likely to contribute to the ability of motile bacteria to survive in the soil and to compete for root surface colonization.}, } @article {pmid26796423, year = {2016}, author = {Armada, E and Probanza, A and Roldán, A and Azcón, R}, title = {Native plant growth promoting bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis and mixed or individual mycorrhizal species improved drought tolerance and oxidative metabolism in Lavandula dentata plants.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {192}, number = {}, pages = {1-12}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2015.11.007}, pmid = {26796423}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Bacillus thuringiensis/*physiology ; Biomass ; Dehydration ; Droughts ; Lavandula/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study evaluates the responses of Lavandula dentata under drought conditions to the inoculation with single autochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (five fungal strains) or with their mixture and the effects of these inocula with a native Bacillus thuringiensis (endophytic bacteria). These microorganisms were drought tolerant and in general, increased plant growth and nutrition. Particularly, the AM fungal mixture and B. thuringiensis maximized plant biomass and compensated drought stress as values of antioxidant activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase APX)] shown. The AMF-bacteria interactions highly reduced the plant oxidative damage of lipids [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and increased the mycorrhizal development (mainly arbuscular formation representative of symbiotic functionality). These microbial interactions explain the highest potential of dually inoculated plants to tolerate drought stress. B. thuringiensis "in vitro" under osmotic stress does not reduce its PGPB (plant growth promoting bacteria) abilities as indole acetic acid (IAA) and ACC deaminase production and phosphate solubilization indicating its capacity to improve plant growth under stress conditions. Each one of the autochthonous fungal strains maintained their particular interaction with B. thuringiensis reflecting the diversity, intrinsic abilities and inherent compatibility of these microorganisms. In general, autochthonous AM fungal species and particularly their mixture with B. thuringiensis demonstrated their potential for protecting plants against drought and helping plants to thrive in semiarid ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26792263, year = {2016}, author = {Fan, HW and Lu, JB and Ye, YX and Yu, XP and Zhang, CX}, title = {Characteristics of the draft genome of "Candidatus Arsenophonus nilaparvatae", a facultative endosymbiont of Nilaparvata lugens.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {478-486}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12318}, pmid = {26792263}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Vitamin B Complex/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {There exists a kind of symbiotic bacterium named "Candidatus Arsenophonus nilaparvatae" in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. After being filtered and assembled from the BPH genome sequencing project, the genome sequence of this bacterial symbiont was obtained. After initial analysis based on the genome, we have found its potential role to synthesize B vitamins for the host. In order to better understand the lifestyle and the genomic changes of this symbiotic bacterium after the symbiotic relationship was established, we further report the characteristics of this draft genome. Compared with several other related bacteria, "Candidatus Arsenophonus nilaparvatae" has proven to be a facultative endosymbiont at the genomic level. Concurrently, the presence of fimbriae and flagella formation related genes indicates this maternally transmitted endosymbiont is most likely to retain the capacity to invade new hosts. Through further analysis of annotated gene sets, we also find evidence of genome reduction in its secretion system and metabolic pathways. These findings reflect its evolutionary trend to be an obligate one and enable a deeper study of microbe-insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid26790563, year = {2016}, author = {Gavrin, A and Chiasson, D and Ovchinnikova, E and Kaiser, BN and Bisseling, T and Fedorova, EE}, title = {VAMP721a and VAMP721d are important for pectin dynamics and release of bacteria in soybean nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {210}, number = {3}, pages = {1011-1021}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13837}, pmid = {26790563}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cellulose/metabolism ; Esterification ; Gene Silencing ; Pectins/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Polysaccharide-Lyases/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Soybeans/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In root nodules rhizobia enter host cells via infection threads. The release of bacteria to a host cell is possible from cell wall-free regions of the infection thread. We hypothesized that the VAMP721d and VAMP721e exocytotic pathway, identified before in Medicago truncatula, has a role in the local modification of cell wall during the release of rhizobia. To clarify the role of VAMP721d and VAMP721e we used Glycine max, a plant with a determinate type of nodule. The localization of the main polysaccharide compounds of primary cell walls was analysed in control vs nodules with partially silenced GmVAMP721d. The silencing of GmVAMP721d blocked the release of rhizobia. Instead of rhizobia-containing membrane compartments - symbiosomes - the infected cells contained big clusters of bacteria embedded in a matrix of methyl-esterified and de-methyl-esterified pectin. These clusters were surrounded by a membrane. We found that GmVAMP721d-positive vesicles were not transporting methyl-esterified pectin. We hypothesized that they may deliver the enzymes involved in pectin turnover. Subsequently, we found that GmVAMP721d is partly co-localized with pectate lyase. Therefore, the biological role of VAMP721d may be explained by its action in delivering pectin-modifying enzymes to the site of release.}, } @article {pmid26790285, year = {2015}, author = {Zhou Nong, and Ding, B and Feng, Y and Qi, WH and Zhang, H and Guo, DQ and Xiang, J}, title = {[Effects of mycorrhizal colonization and medicine quality of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis inoculated by different foreign AM fungi species].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {40}, number = {16}, pages = {3158-3167}, pmid = {26790285}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis ; Fungi/classification/*growth & development ; Liliaceae/*chemistry/growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; Quality Control ; }, abstract = {After 28 foreign species of AM fungi were inoculated in sterilized soil, the effects of the AM mycorrhizal colonization and the medicine quality of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis were observed by combination of inoculation test in pot at room temperature and instrumental analysis. The results showed that, compared with control group (CK), the inoculation of foreign AM fungi in the soil influenced the spore density, mycorrhizal infection rate, and colonization intensity of AM fungi in root system of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. The inoculation of foreign AM fungi enhanced the mycorrhiza viability of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis by increasing the activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in intraradical hyphae. The content of single steroid saponin in rhizome of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis showed variation after P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis was inoculated by different foreign species of AM fungi, which was beneficial for increasing the medicine quality; however, the kinds of steroid saponin showed no difference. In a degree, there was a selectivity of symbiosis between P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and foreign AM fungi. And we found that the Claroideoglomus claroideum and Racocetra coralloidea were best foreign AM fungi species for cultivating P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis under field condition.}, } @article {pmid26785413, year = {2016}, author = {Merchant, J}, title = {The image schema and innate archetypes: theoretical and clinical implications.}, journal = {The Journal of analytical psychology}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {63-78}, doi = {10.1111/1468-5922.12194}, pmid = {26785413}, issn = {1468-5922}, mesh = {Adult ; *Body Image ; Humans ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; *Self Concept ; }, abstract = {Based in contemporary neuroscience, Jean Knox's 2004 JAP paper 'From archetypes to reflective function' honed her position on image schemas, thereby introducing a model for archetypes which sees them as 'reliably repeated early developmental achievements' and not as genetically inherited, innate psychic structures. The image schema model is used to illustrate how the analyst worked with a patient who began life as an unwanted pregnancy, was adopted at birth and as an adult experienced profound synchronicities, paranormal/telepathic phenomena and visions. The classical approach to such phenomena would see the intense affectivity arising out of a ruptured symbiotic mother-infant relationship constellating certain archetypes which set up the patient's visions. This view is contrasted with Knox's model which sees the archetype an sich as a developmentally produced image schema underpinning the emergence of later imagery. The patient's visions can then be understood to arise from his psychoid body memory related to his traumatic conception and birth. The contemporary neuroscience which supports this view is outlined and a subsequent image schema explanation is presented. Clinically, the case material suggests that a pre-birth perspective needs to be explored in all analytic work. Other implications of Knox's image schema model are summarized.}, } @article {pmid26782934, year = {2016}, author = {Matelska, D and Kurkowska, M and Purta, E and Bujnicki, JM and Dunin-Horkawicz, S}, title = {Loss of Conserved Noncoding RNAs in Genomes of Bacterial Endosymbionts.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {426-438}, pmid = {26782934}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Buchnera/*genetics ; Conserved Sequence ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Mycoplasma/*genetics ; Open Reading Frames ; RNA, Long Noncoding/*genetics ; Rickettsia/*genetics ; *Sequence Deletion ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genomes of intracellular symbiotic or pathogenic bacteria, such as of Buchnera, Mycoplasma, and Rickettsia, are typically smaller compared with their free-living counterparts. Here we showed that noncoding RNA (ncRNA) families, which are conserved in free-living bacteria, frequently could not be detected by computational methods in the small genomes. Statistical tests demonstrated that their absence is not an artifact of low GC content or small deletions in these small genomes, and thus it was indicative of an independent loss of ncRNAs in different endosymbiotic lineages. By analyzing the synteny (conservation of gene order) between the reduced and nonreduced genomes, we revealed instances of protein-coding genes that were preserved in the reduced genomes but lost cis-regulatory elements. We found that the loss of cis-regulatory ncRNA sequences, which regulate the expression of cognate protein-coding genes, is characterized by the reduction of secondary structure formation propensity, GC content, and length of the corresponding genomic regions.}, } @article {pmid26782655, year = {2015}, author = {Wakao, S and Siarot, L and Aono, T and Oyaizu, H}, title = {Effects of alteration in LPS structure in Azorhizobium caulinodans on nodule development.}, journal = {The Journal of general and applied microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {6}, pages = {248-254}, doi = {10.2323/jgam.61.248}, pmid = {26782655}, issn = {1349-8037}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/genetics/*metabolism/*physiology ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Lipopolysaccharides/*deficiency/*metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sesbania/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, which forms N2-fixing nodules on the stems and roots of Sesbania rostrata, is known to be a positive signal required for the progression of nodule formation. In this study, four A. caulinodans mutants producing a variety of defective LPSs were compared. The LPSs of the mutants having Tn5 insertion in the rfaF, rfaD, and rfaE genes were more truncated than the modified LPSs of the oac2 mutants. However, the nodule formation by the rfaF, rfaD, and rfaE mutants was more advanced than that of the oac2 mutant, suggesting that invasion ability depends on the LPS structure. Our hypothesis is that not only the wild-type LPSs but also the altered LPSs of the oac2 mutant may be recognized as signal molecules by plants. The altered LPSs may act as negative signals that halt the symbiotic process, whereas the wild-type LPSs may prevent the halt of the symbiotic process. The more truncated LPSs of the rfaF, rfaD, and rfaE mutants perhaps no longer function as negative signals inducing discontinuation of the symbiotic process, and thus these strains form more advanced nodules than ORS571-oac2.}, } @article {pmid26781957, year = {2016}, author = {van Eenennaam, JS and Wei, Y and Grolle, KC and Foekema, EM and Murk, AJ}, title = {Oil spill dispersants induce formation of marine snow by phytoplankton-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {104}, number = {1-2}, pages = {294-302}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.01.005}, pmid = {26781957}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Environmental Monitoring ; Lipids ; Mexico ; *Petroleum Pollution ; Phytoplankton/*metabolism ; Surface-Active Agents/*metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Unusually large amounts of marine snow, including Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS), were formed during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The marine snow settled with oil and clay minerals as an oily sludge layer on the deep sea floor. This study tested the hypothesis that the unprecedented amount of chemical dispersants applied during high phytoplankton densities in the Gulf of Mexico induced high EPS formation. Two marine phytoplankton species (Dunaliella tertiolecta and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) produced EPS within days when exposed to the dispersant Corexit 9500. Phytoplankton-associated bacteria were shown to be responsible for the formation. The EPS consisted of proteins and to lesser extent polysaccharides. This study reveals an unexpected consequence of the presence of phytoplankton. This emphasizes the need to test the action of dispersants under realistic field conditions, which may seriously alter the fate of oil in the environment via increased marine snow formation.}, } @article {pmid26781946, year = {2016}, author = {Lee, MJ and Jeong, HJ and Jang, SH and Lee, SY and Kang, NS and Lee, KH and Kim, HS and Wham, DC and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Most Low-Abundance "Background" Symbiodinium spp. Are Transitory and Have Minimal Functional Significance for Symbiotic Corals.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {771-783}, pmid = {26781946}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Biodiversity ; Dinoflagellida/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Speculation surrounds the importance of ecologically cryptic Symbiodinium spp. (dinoflagellates) that occur at low abundances in reef-building corals and in the surrounding environment. Evidence acquired from extensive sampling, long-term monitoring, and experimental manipulation can allow us to deduce the ecology and functional significance of these populations and whether they might contribute to the response of coral-dinoflagellate mutualisms to climate change. Quantitative PCR was used here to diagnose the prevalence, seasonal variation, and abundances of Symbiodinium spp. within and between colonies of the coral, Alveopora japonica. Consistent with broader geographic sampling, only one species comprised 99.9 %, or greater, the population of symbionts in every sample. However, other Symbiodinium including the non-mutualistic species, Symbiodinium voratum, were often detected, but at estimated cell densities thousands-fold less than the dominant symbiont. The temporal variation in prevalence and abundances of these "background" Symbiodinium could not be definitively related to any particular environmental factor including seasonality and water chemistry. The prevalence (proportion detected among host samples), but not abundance, of S. voratum may weakly correspond to increases in environmental inorganic silica (SiO2) and possibly nitrogen (NO3). When multiple background Symbiodinium occurred within an individual polyp, the average cell densities were positively correlated, suggesting non-specific processes of cell sorting and retention by the animal. While these findings substantiate the existence of a broader, yet uncharacterized, diversity of Symbiodinium, we conclude that only those species which can occur in high abundance and are temporally stable are ultimately important to coral-dinoflagellate mutualisms. Many transient Symbiodinium spp., which occur only at trace abundances in the coral's microbiome, belong to different functional guilds and likely have little, if any, importance to a coral's physiology. The successful integration between host and symbiont into a stable functional unit should therefore be considered when defining host-symbiont specificity.}, } @article {pmid26781750, year = {2016}, author = {Deveau, A and Antony-Babu, S and Le Tacon, F and Robin, C and Frey-Klett, P and Uroz, S}, title = {Temporal changes of bacterial communities in the Tuber melanosporum ectomycorrhizosphere during ascocarp development.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {389-399}, pmid = {26781750}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Corylus/microbiology/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizae create a multitrophic ecosystem formed by the association between tree roots, mycelium of the ectomycorrhizal fungus, and a complex microbiome. Despite their importance in the host tree's physiology and in the functioning of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, detailed studies on ectomycorrhiza-associated bacterial community composition and their temporal dynamics are rare. Our objective was to investigate the composition and dynamics of Tuber melanosporum ectomycorrhiza-associated bacterial communities from summer to winter seasons in a Corylus avellana tree plantation. We used 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based pyrosequencing to compare the bacterial community structure and the richness in T. melanosporum's ectomycorrhizae with those of the bulk soil. The T. melanosporum ectomycorrhizae harbored distinct bacterial communities from those of the bulk soil, with an enrichment in Alpha- and Gamma-proteobacteria. In contrast to the bacterial communities of truffle ascocarps that vastly varies in composition and richness during the maturation of the fruiting body and to those from the bulk soil, T. melanosporum ectomycorrhiza-associated bacterial community composition stayed rather stable from September to January. Our results fit with a recent finding from the same experimental site at the same period that a continuous supply of carbohydrates and nitrogen occurs from ectomycorrhizae to the fruiting bodies during the maturation of the ascocarps. We propose that this creates a stable niche in the ectomycorrhizosphere although the phenology of the tree changes.}, } @article {pmid26781435, year = {2016}, author = {Takahashi, F}, title = {Blue-light-regulated transcription factor, Aureochrome, in photosynthetic stramenopiles.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {129}, number = {2}, pages = {189-197}, pmid = {26781435}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Light ; *Light Signal Transduction ; Photoreceptors, Plant/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Phylogeny ; Stramenopiles/cytology/genetics/*physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {During the course of evolution through various endosymbiotic processes, diverse photosynthetic eukaryotes acquired blue light (BL) responses that do not use photosynthetic pathways. Photosynthetic stramenopiles, which have red algae-derived chloroplasts through secondary symbiosis, are principal primary producers in aquatic environments, and play important roles in ecosystems and aquaculture. Through secondary symbiosis, these taxa acquired BL responses, such as phototropism, chloroplast photo-relocation movement, and photomorphogenesis similar to those which green plants acquired through primary symbiosis. Photosynthetic stramenopile BL receptors were undefined until the discovery in 2007, of a new type of BL receptor, the aureochrome (AUREO), from the photosynthetic stramenopile alga, Vaucheria. AUREO has a bZIP domain and a LOV domain, and thus BL-responsive transcription factor. AUREO orthologs are only conserved in photosynthetic stramenopiles, such as brown algae, diatoms, and red tide algae. Here, a brief review is presented of the role of AUREOs as photoreceptors for these diverse BL responses and their biochemical properties in photosynthetic stramenopiles.}, } @article {pmid26779192, year = {2015}, author = {Balcerowicz, D and Schoenaers, S and Vissenberg, K}, title = {Cell Fate Determination and the Switch from Diffuse Growth to Planar Polarity in Arabidopsis Root Epidermal Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1163}, pmid = {26779192}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant roots fulfill important functions as they serve in water and nutrient uptake, provide anchorage of the plant body in the soil and in some species form the site of symbiotic interactions with soil-living biota. Root hairs, tubular-shaped outgrowths of specific epidermal cells, significantly increase the root's surface area and aid in these processes. In this review we focus on the molecular mechanisms that determine the hair and non-hair cell fate of epidermal cells and that define the site on the epidermal cell where the root hair will be initiated (=planar polarity determination). In the model plant Arabidopsis, trichoblast and atrichoblast cell fate results from intra- and intercellular position-dependent signaling and from complex feedback loops that ultimately regulate GL2 expressing and non-expressing cells. When epidermal cells reach the end of the root expansion zone, root hair promoting transcription factors dictate the establishment of polarity within epidermal cells followed by the selection of the root hair initiation site at the more basal part of the trichoblast. Molecular players in the abovementioned processes as well as the role of phytohormones are discussed, and open areas for future experiments are identified.}, } @article {pmid26779191, year = {2015}, author = {Vannier, N and Mony, C and Bittebière, AK and Vandenkoornhuyse, P}, title = {Epigenetic Mechanisms and Microbiota as a Toolbox for Plant Phenotypic Adjustment to Environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1159}, pmid = {26779191}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The classic understanding of organisms focuses on genes as the main source of species evolution and diversification. The recent concept of genetic accommodation questions this gene centric view by emphasizing the importance of phenotypic plasticity on evolutionary trajectories. Recent discoveries on epigenetics and symbiotic microbiota demonstrated their deep impact on plant survival, adaptation and evolution thus suggesting a novel comprehension of the plant phenotype. In addition, interplays between these two phenomena controlling plant plasticity can be suggested. Because epigenetic and plant-associated (micro-) organisms are both key sources of phenotypic variation allowing environmental adjustments, we argue that they must be considered in terms of evolution. This 'non-conventional' set of mediators of phenotypic variation can be seen as a toolbox for plant adaptation to environment over short, medium and long time-scales.}, } @article {pmid26779138, year = {2015}, author = {Bell, TA and Prithiviraj, B and Wahlen, BD and Fields, MW and Peyton, BM}, title = {A Lipid-Accumulating Alga Maintains Growth in Outdoor, Alkaliphilic Raceway Pond with Mixed Microbial Communities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1480}, pmid = {26779138}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Algal biofuels and valuable co-products are being produced in both open and closed cultivation systems. Growing algae in open pond systems may be a more economical alternative, but this approach allows environmental microorganisms to colonize the pond and potentially infect or outcompete the algal "crop." In this study, we monitored the microbial community of an outdoor, open raceway pond inoculated with a high lipid-producing alkaliphilic alga, Chlorella vulgaris BA050. The strain C. vulgaris BA050 was previously isolated from Soap Lake, Washington, a system characterized by a high pH (∼9.8). An outdoor raceway pond (200 L) was inoculated with C. vulgaris and monitored for 10 days and then the culture was transferred to a 2,000 L raceway pond and cultivated for an additional 6 days. Community DNA samples were collected over the 16-day period in conjunction with water chemistry analyses and cell counts. Universal primers for the SSU rRNA gene sequences for Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea were used for barcoded pyrosequence determination. The environmental parameters that most closely correlated with C. vulgaris abundance were pH and phosphate. Community analyses indicated that the pond system remained dominated by the Chlorella population (93% of eukaryotic sequences), but was also colonized by other microorganisms. Bacterial sequence diversity increased over time while archaeal sequence diversity declined over the same time period. Using SparCC co-occurrence network analysis, a positive correlation was observed between C. vulgaris and Pseudomonas sp. throughout the experiment, which may suggest a symbiotic relationship between the two organisms. The putative relationship coupled with high pH may have contributed to the success of C. vulgaris. The characterization of the microbial community dynamics of an alkaliphilic open pond system provides significant insight into open pond systems that could be used to control photoautotrophic biomass productivity in an open, non-sterile environment.}, } @article {pmid26778035, year = {2016}, author = {Ladha, JK and Tirol-Padre, A and Reddy, CK and Cassman, KG and Verma, S and Powlson, DS and van Kessel, C and de B Richter, D and Chakraborty, D and Pathak, H}, title = {Global nitrogen budgets in cereals: A 50-year assessment for maize, rice, and wheat production systems.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {19355}, pmid = {26778035}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {BBS/E/C/00006004/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Crop Production/*economics/history/trends ; *Edible Grain ; Fertilizers/*economics ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; *Nitrogen ; Oryza ; Triticum ; Zea mays ; }, abstract = {Industrially produced N-fertilizer is essential to the production of cereals that supports current and projected human populations. We constructed a top-down global N budget for maize, rice, and wheat for a 50-year period (1961 to 2010). Cereals harvested a total of 1551 Tg of N, of which 48% was supplied through fertilizer-N and 4% came from net soil depletion. An estimated 48% (737 Tg) of crop N, equal to 29, 38, and 25 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) for maize, rice, and wheat, respectively, is contributed by sources other than fertilizer- or soil-N. Non-symbiotic N2 fixation appears to be the major source of this N, which is 370 Tg or 24% of total N in the crop, corresponding to 13, 22, and 13 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) for maize, rice, and wheat, respectively. Manure (217 Tg or 14%) and atmospheric deposition (96 Tg or 6%) are the other sources of N. Crop residues and seed contribute marginally. Our scaling-down approach to estimate the contribution of non-symbiotic N2 fixation is robust because it focuses on global quantities of N in sources and sinks that are easier to estimate, in contrast to estimating N losses per se, because losses are highly soil-, climate-, and crop-specific.}, } @article {pmid26777788, year = {2016}, author = {Gillings, MR and Hilbert, M and Kemp, DJ}, title = {Information in the Biosphere: Biological and Digital Worlds.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {180-189}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.013}, pmid = {26777788}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Information Dissemination ; *Online Systems ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Evolution has transformed life through key innovations in information storage and replication, including RNA, DNA, multicellularity, and culture and language. We argue that the carbon-based biosphere has generated a cognitive system (humans) capable of creating technology that will result in a comparable evolutionary transition. Digital information has reached a similar magnitude to information in the biosphere. It increases exponentially, exhibits high-fidelity replication, evolves through differential fitness, is expressed through artificial intelligence (AI), and has facility for virtually limitless recombination. Like previous evolutionary transitions, the potential symbiosis between biological and digital information will reach a critical point where these codes could compete via natural selection. Alternatively, this fusion could create a higher-level superorganism employing a low-conflict division of labor in performing informational tasks.}, } @article {pmid26775042, year = {2016}, author = {Gómez-Hurtado, I and Such, J and Francés, R}, title = {Microbiome and bacterial translocation in cirrhosis.}, journal = {Gastroenterologia y hepatologia}, volume = {39}, number = {10}, pages = {687-696}, doi = {10.1016/j.gastrohep.2015.10.013}, pmid = {26775042}, issn = {0210-5705}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Translocation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/etiology/microbiology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/etiology/microbiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/*microbiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/etiology/microbiology ; Lymph Nodes/microbiology ; Mesentery ; Peritonitis/etiology/microbiology ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Qualitative and quantitative changes in gut microbiota play a very important role in cirrhosis. Humans harbour around 100 quintillion gut bacteria, thus representing around 10 times more microbial cells than eukaryotic ones. The gastrointestinal tract is the largest surface area in the body and it is subject to constant exposure to these living microorganisms. The existing symbiosis, proven by the lack of proinflammatory response against commensal bacteria, implies the presence of clearly defined communication lines that contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis of the host. Therefore, alterations of gut flora seem to play a role in the pathogenesis and progress of multiple liver and gastrointestinal diseases. This has made its selective modification into an area of high therapeutic interest. Bacterial translocation is defined as the migration of bacteria or bacterial products from the intestines to the mesenteric lymph nodes. It follows that alteration in gut microbiota have shown importance, at least to some extent, in the pathogenesis of several complications arising from terminal liver disease, such as hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. This review sums up, firstly, how liver disease can alter the common composition of gut microbiota, and secondly, how this alteration contributes to the development of complications in cirrhosis.}, } @article {pmid26774999, year = {2016}, author = {Corel, E and Lopez, P and Méheust, R and Bapteste, E}, title = {Network-Thinking: Graphs to Analyze Microbial Complexity and Evolution.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {224-237}, pmid = {26774999}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome ; *Models, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The tree model and tree-based methods have played a major, fruitful role in evolutionary studies. However, with the increasing realization of the quantitative and qualitative importance of reticulate evolutionary processes, affecting all levels of biological organization, complementary network-based models and methods are now flourishing, inviting evolutionary biology to experience a network-thinking era. We show how relatively recent comers in this field of study, that is, sequence-similarity networks, genome networks, and gene families-genomes bipartite graphs, already allow for a significantly enhanced usage of molecular datasets in comparative studies. Analyses of these networks provide tools for tackling a multitude of complex phenomena, including the evolution of gene transfer, composite genes and genomes, evolutionary transitions, and holobionts.}, } @article {pmid26774501, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, JK and Lee, JB and Jang, HA and Han, YS and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Understanding regulation of the host-mediated gut symbiont population and the symbiont-mediated host immunity in the Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis system.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {75-81}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2016.01.005}, pmid = {26774501}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/*immunology/microbiology ; Burkholderia/*immunology ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Disease Susceptibility ; Hemiptera/*immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Models, Animal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Valuable insect models have tremendously contributed to our understanding of innate immunity and symbiosis. Bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is a useful insect symbiosis model due to harboring cultivable monospecific gut symbiont, genus Burkholderia. Bean bug is a hemimetabolous insect whose immunity is not well-understood. However, we recently identified three major antimicrobial peptides of Riptortus and examined the relationship between gut symbiosis and host immunity. We found that the presence of Burkholderia gut symbiont positively affects Riptortus immunity. From studying host regulation mechanisms of symbiont population, we revealed that the symbiotic Burkholderia cells are much more susceptible to Riptortus immune responses than the cultured cells. We further elucidated that the immune-susceptibility of the Burkholderia gut symbionts is due to the drastic change of bacterial cell envelope. Finally, we show that the immune-susceptible Burkholderia symbionts are able to prosper in host owing to the suppression of immune responses of the symbiotic midgut.}, } @article {pmid26771607, year = {2016}, author = {Pachapur, VL and Kutty, P and Brar, SK and Ramirez, AA}, title = {Enrichment of Secondary Wastewater Sludge for Production of Hydrogen from Crude Glycerol and Comparative Evaluation of Mono-, Co- and Mixed-Culture Systems.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {26771607}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Acids/chemistry ; Alkalies/chemistry ; Bioreactors ; Chloroform/chemistry ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; *Fermentation ; Glycerol/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics ; Microwaves ; Propylene Glycols/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sewage/*chemistry/microbiology ; Waste Management/methods ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic digestion using mixed-culture with broader choice of pretreatments for hydrogen (H2) production was investigated. Pretreatment of wastewater sludge by five methods, such as heat, acid, base, microwave and chloroform was conducted using crude glycerol (CG) as substrate. Results for heat treatment (100 °C for 15 min) showed the highest H2 production across the pretreatment methods with 15.18 ± 0.26 mmol/L of medium at 30 °C in absence of complex media and nutrient solution. The heat-pretreated inoculum eliminated H2 consuming bacteria and produced twice as much as H2 as compared to other pretreatment methods. The fermentation conditions, such as CG concentration (1.23 to 24 g/L), percentage of inoculum size (InS) (1.23% to 24% v/v) along with initial pH (2.98 to 8.02) was tested using central composite design (CCD) with H2 production as response parameter. The maximum H2 production of 29.43 ± 0.71 mmol/L obtained at optimum conditions of 20 g/L CG, 20% InS and pH 7. Symbiotic correlation of pH over CG and InS had a significant (p-value: 0.0011) contribution to H2 production. The mixed-culture possessed better natural acclimatization activity for degrading CG, at substrate inhibition concentration and provided efficient inoculum conditions in comparison to mono- and co-culture systems. The heat pretreatment step used across mixed-culture system is simple, cheap and industrially applicable in comparison to mono-/co-culture systems for H2 production.}, } @article {pmid26770257, year = {2016}, author = {López-Legentil, S and Turon, X and Erwin, PM}, title = {Feeding cessation alters host morphology and bacterial communities in the ascidian Pseudodistoma crucigaster.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {2}, pmid = {26770257}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ascidians can associate with abundant and diverse consortia of microbial symbionts, yet these communities remain unexamined for the majority of host ascidians and little is known about host-symbiont interactions.

METHODS: We coupled electron microscopy and 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing to investigate the bacterial communities associated with the colonial ascidian Pseudodistoma crucigaster, a species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that has a life cycle with two phases: actively-filtering (active) and non-filtering (resting) forms.

RESULTS: Resting colonies exhibited a reduced branchial sac (feeding apparatus) and a thickened cuticle. Electron microscope images also suggested higher abundance of colonizing microorganisms on surfaces of resting colonies. Accordingly, bacterial sequences associated with environmental sources (sediment and biofilms, >99 % similarity) were detected exclusively in resting colonies. Bacterial communities of P. crucigaster colonies (active and resting) were dominated by 3 core taxa affiliated (>94 % similarity) with previously described symbiotic Alphaproteobacteria in marine invertebrates. Shifts in rare bacteria were detected when ascidians entered the resting phase, including the appearance of strictly anaerobic lineages and nitrifying bacterial guilds.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that physical (thickened cuticle) and metabolic (feeding cessation) changes in host ascidians have cascading effects on associated bacteria, where modified oxygen concentrations and chemical substrates for microbial metabolism may create anaerobic microhabitats and promote colonization by environmental microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid26769959, year = {2016}, author = {Bisch, G and Ogier, JC and Médigue, C and Rouy, Z and Vincent, S and Tailliez, P and Givaudan, A and Gaudriault, S}, title = {Comparative Genomics between Two Xenorhabdus bovienii Strains Highlights Differential Evolutionary Scenarios within an Entomopathogenic Bacterial Species.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {148-160}, pmid = {26769959}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Pseudogenes ; Virulence/genetics ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus are symbionts of soil entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema. This symbiotic association constitutes an insecticidal complex active against a wide range of insect pests. Within Xenorhabdus bovienii species, the X. bovienii CS03 strain (Xb CS03) is nonvirulent when directly injected into lepidopteran insects, and displays a low virulence when associated with its Steinernema symbiont. The genome of Xb CS03 was sequenced and compared with the genome of a virulent strain, X. bovienii SS-2004 (Xb SS-2004). The genome size and content widely differed between the two strains. Indeed, Xb CS03 had a large genome containing several specific loci involved in the inhibition of competitors, including a few NRPS-PKS loci (nonribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases) producing antimicrobial molecules. Consistently, Xb CS03 had a greater antimicrobial activity than Xb SS-2004. The Xb CS03 strain contained more pseudogenes than Xb SS-2004. Decay of genes involved in the host invasion and exploitation (toxins, invasins, or extracellular enzymes) was particularly important in Xb CS03. This may provide an explanation for the nonvirulence of the strain when injected into an insect host. We suggest that Xb CS03 and Xb SS-2004 followed divergent evolutionary scenarios to cope with their peculiar life cycle. The fitness strategy of Xb CS03 would involve competitor inhibition, whereas Xb SS-2004 would quickly and efficiently kill the insect host. Hence, Xenorhabdus strains would have widely divergent host exploitation strategies, which impact their genome structure.}, } @article {pmid26768651, year = {2016}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Zamani, M and Milunovic, B and Finan, TM}, title = {Genomic resources for identification of the minimal N2 -fixing symbiotic genome.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2534-2547}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13221}, pmid = {26768651}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Epimerases/genetics ; GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Replicon/genetics ; Rhizobium/growth & development ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The lack of an appropriate genomic platform has precluded the use of gain-of-function approaches to study the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, preventing the establishment of the genes necessary and sufficient for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and potentially hindering synthetic biology approaches aimed at engineering this process. Here, we describe the development of an appropriate system by reverse engineering Sinorhizobium meliloti. Using a novel in vivo cloning procedure, the engA-tRNA-rmlC (ETR) region, essential for cell viability and symbiosis, was transferred from Sinorhizobium fredii to the ancestral location on the S. meliloti chromosome, rendering the ETR region on pSymB redundant. A derivative of this strain lacking both the large symbiotic replicons (pSymA and pSymB) was constructed. Transfer of pSymA and pSymB back into this strain restored symbiotic capabilities with alfalfa. To delineate the location of the single-copy genes essential for SNF on these replicons, we screened a S. meliloti deletion library, representing > 95% of the 2900 genes of the symbiotic replicons, for their phenotypes with alfalfa. Only four loci, accounting for < 12% of pSymA and pSymB, were essential for SNF. These regions will serve as our preliminary target of the minimal set of horizontally acquired genes necessary and sufficient for SNF.}, } @article {pmid26768044, year = {2016}, author = {Wood, C}, title = {What do nurses do? Student reflections.}, journal = {British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {40-2, 44}, doi = {10.12968/bjon.2016.25.1.40}, pmid = {26768044}, issn = {0966-0461}, mesh = {Humans ; *Nurse's Role ; *Socialization ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; }, abstract = {The art of caring and the science of curing are accepted elements of a nurse's role, with symbiosis and overlap between them. However, following the publication of the Francis report there is now greater emphasis on developing the caring roles of nurses. The chief nursing officer for England's vision for care staff places care and compassion as central to nurses' roles. Student nurses often enter the profession with idealistic lay beliefs of what a nurse's role exemplifies. These beliefs are then challenged when they are exposed to education and practice. A recent educational evaluative exercise used with adult nursing students highlights their thoughts in response to the simple question: 'What do nurses do?', and how they differ at different stages of their education and training.}, } @article {pmid26763316, year = {2016}, author = {Ziegler, M and Roik, A and Porter, A and Zubier, K and Mudarris, MS and Ormond, R and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Coral microbial community dynamics in response to anthropogenic impacts near a major city in the central Red Sea.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {105}, number = {2}, pages = {629-640}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.12.045}, pmid = {26763316}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; Microbial Consortia ; Rhodobacteraceae/*growth & development ; Saudi Arabia ; Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Urbanization ; Vibrionaceae/*growth & development ; Water Microbiology ; Water Pollution/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Coral-associated bacteria play an increasingly recognized part in coral health. We investigated the effect of local anthropogenic impacts on coral microbial communities on reefs near Jeddah, the largest city on the Saudi Arabian coast of the central Red Sea. We analyzed the bacterial community structure of water and corals (Pocillopora verrucosa and Acropora hemprichii) at sites that were relatively unimpacted, exposed to sedimentation & local sewage, or in the discharge area of municipal wastewaters. Coral microbial communities were significantly different at impacted sites: in both corals the main symbiotic taxon decreased in abundance. In contrast, opportunistic bacterial families, such as e.g. Vibrionaceae and Rhodobacteraceae, were more abundant in corals at impacted sites. In conclusion, microbial community response revealed a measurable footprint of anthropogenic impacts to coral ecosystems close to Jeddah, even though the corals appeared visually healthy.}, } @article {pmid26762531, year = {2016}, author = {Wu, P and Wang, G and Wang, G and Børresen, BT and Liu, H and Zhang, J}, title = {Butanol production under microaerobic conditions with a symbiotic system of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Bacillus cereus.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {8}, pmid = {26762531}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Bacillus cereus/*metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Butanols/*metabolism ; Clostridium acetobutylicum/*metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: One major problem of ABE (acetone, butanol and ethanol) fermentation is high oxygen sensitivity of Clostridium acetobutylicum. Currently, no single strain has been isolated or genetically engineered to produce butanol effectively under aerobic conditions. In our previous work, a symbiotic system TSH06 has been developed successfully by our group, and two strains, C. acetobutylicum TSH1 and Bacillus cereus TSH2, were isolated from TSH06.

RESULTS: Compared with single culture, TSH06 showed promotion on cell growth and solvent accumulation under microaerobic conditions. To simulate TSH06, a new symbiotic system was successfully re-constructed by adding living cells of B. cereus TSH2 into C. acetobutylicum TSH1 cultures. During the fermentation process, the function of B. cereus TSH2 was found to deplete oxygen and provide anaerobic environment for C. acetobutylicum TSH1. Furthermore, inoculation ratio of C. acetobutylicum TSH1 and B. cereus TSH2 affected butanol production. In a batch fermentation with optimized inoculation ratio of 5 % C. acetobutylicum TSH1 and 0.5 % B. cereus TSH2, 11.0 g/L butanol and 18.1 g/L ABE were produced under microaerobic static condition. In contrast to the single culture of C. acetobutylicum TSH1, the symbiotic system became more aerotolerant and was able to produce 11.2 g/L butanol in a 5 L bioreactor even with continuous 0.15 L/min air sparging. In addition, qPCR assay demonstrated that the abundance of B. cereus TSH2 increased quickly at first and then decreased sharply to lower than 1 %, whereas C. acetobutylicum TSH1 accounted for more than 99 % of the whole population in solventogenic phase.

CONCLUSIONS: The characterization of a novel symbiotic system on butanol fermentation was studied. The new symbiotic system re-constructed by co-culture of C. acetobutylicum TSH1 and B. cereus TSH2 showed excellent performance on butanol production under microaerobic conditions. B. cereus TSH2 was a good partner for C. acetobutylicum TSH1 by providing an anaerobic environment. During fermentation process, the high ratio of Clostridium and low ratio of Bacillus composition indicated that this symbiotic system was an effective and easily controlled cultivation model for ABE fermentation under microaerobic conditions.}, } @article {pmid26762023, year = {2015}, author = {Li, X and Li, Y and Jiang, N and Wu, H and Song, W and Xu, H and Xie, Z}, title = {[Genetic diversity of the Rhizobia and screening of high-efficient growth-promoting strains isolated from Sesbania cannabina in Rudong County].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {55}, number = {9}, pages = {1105-1116}, pmid = {26762023}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sesbania/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To study the genetic diversity and phylogeny of Rhizobia isolated from Sesbania cannabina growing on the tidal flat in Rudong County and screen high-efficient growth-promoting strains as Rhizobia inoculator to S. cannabina.

METHODS: Phylogenetic analyses were based on 16S rRNA gene, housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnII) and symbiotic genes (nodA, nifH). The growth-promoting efficiency was tested by plant inoculation assay on S. cannabina in greenhouse.

RESULTS: The 32 isolates belonged to Ensifer, Neorhizobium, Rhizobium, and most closely related to E. meliloti, N. huautlense, R. pusense. The phylogenies of nodA and nifH were congruent, and most closely related to E. saheli. The 7 representative isolates were resistant to high concentration of NaCl (5%, W/V), and YIC5082 grew well in TY medium with 6% NaCl. In plant inoculation assay, all the 7 representative isolates were effective on symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and 6 out of the 7 isolates significantly enhanced the fresh weight and height of plants.

CONCLUSION: Rhizobia isolated from S. cannabina growing on the tidal flat in Rudong County showed rich genetic diversity. N. huautlense and E. meliloti were the dominant species. Most of the isolates showed fine growth-promoting efficiency and salt tolerance. YIC5077 showed the best growth-promoting efficiency, good nodulation and nitrogen fixation abilities, which has promising potential applications as Rhizobia inoculator to S. cannabina.}, } @article {pmid26761646, year = {2016}, author = {Li, Y and Simmons, DR and Bateman, CC and Short, DP and Kasson, MT and Rabaglia, RJ and Hulcr, J}, title = {Correction: New Fungus-Insect Symbiosis: Culturing, Molecular, and Histological Methods Determine Saprophytic Polyporales Mutualists of Ambrosiodmus Ambrosia Beetles.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0147305}, pmid = {26761646}, issn = {1932-6203}, } @article {pmid26761602, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, F and Liu, X and Shi, Z and Tong, R and Adams, CA and Shi, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae alleviate negative effects of zinc oxide nanoparticle and zinc accumulation in maize plants--A soil microcosm experiment.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {147}, number = {}, pages = {88-97}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.12.076}, pmid = {26761602}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Metal Nanoparticles/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Zinc/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; Zinc Oxide/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are considered an emerging contaminant when in high concentration, and their effects on crops and soil microorganisms pose new concerns and challenges. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (AMF) form mutualistic symbioses with most vascular plants, and putatively contribute to reducing nanotoxicity in plants. Here, we studied the interactions between ZnO NPs and maize plants inoculated with or without AMF in ZnO NPs-spiked soil. ZnO NPs had no significant adverse effects at 400 mg/kg, but inhibited both maize growth and AM colonization at concentrations at and above 800 mg/kg. Sufficient addition of ZnO NPs decreased plant mineral nutrient acquisition, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and root activity. Furthermore, ZnO NPs caused Zn concentrations in plants to increase in a dose-dependent pattern. As the ZnO NPs dose increased, we also found a positive correlation with soil diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Zn. However, AM inoculation significantly alleviated the negative effects induced by ZnO NPs: inoculated-plants experienced increased growth, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic pigment content, and SOD activity in leaves. Mycorrhizal plants also exhibited decreased ROS accumulation, Zn concentrations and bioconcentration factor (BCF), and lower soil DTPA-extractable Zn concentrations at high ZnO NPs doses. Our results demonstrate that, at high contamination levels, ZnO NPs cause toxicity to AM symbiosis, but AMF help alleviate ZnO NPs-induced phytotoxicity by decreasing Zn bioavailability and accumulation, Zn partitioning to shoots, and ROS production, and by increasing mineral nutrients and antioxidant capacity. AMF may play beneficial roles in alleviating the negative effects and environmental risks posed by ZnO NPs in agroecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26759710, year = {2016}, author = {Lu, HL and Price, DR and Wikramanayake, A and Chang, CC and Wilson, AC}, title = {Ontogenetic differences in localization of glutamine transporter ApGLNT1 in the pea aphid demonstrate that mechanisms of host/symbiont integration are not similar in the maternal versus embryonic bacteriome.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {1}, pmid = {26759710}, issn = {2041-9139}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Obligate intracellular symbionts of insects are metabolically and developmentally integrated with their hosts. Typically, reproduction fails in many insect nutritional endosymbioses when host insects are cured of their bacterial symbionts, and yet remarkably little is known about the processes that developmentally integrate host and symbiont. Here in the best studied insect obligate intracellular symbiosis, that of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, with the gammaproteobacterium Buchnera aphidicola, we tracked the expression and localization of amino acid transporter ApGLNT1 gene products during asexual embryogenesis. Recently being characterized as a glutamine transporter, ApGLNT1 has been proposed to be a key regulator of amino acid biosynthesis in A. pisum bacteriocytes. To determine when this important mediator of the symbiosis becomes expressed in aphid embryonic bacteriocytes, we applied whole-mount in situ hybridization and fluorescent immunostaining with a specific anti-ApGLNT1 antibody to detect the temporal and spatial expression of ApGLNT1 gene products during asexual embryogenesis.

RESULTS: During embryogenesis, ApGLNT1 mRNA and protein localize to the follicular epithelium that surrounds parthenogenetic viviparous embryos, where we speculate that it functions to supply developing embryos with glutamine from maternal hemolymph. Unexpectedly, in the embryonic bacteriome ApGLNT1 protein does not localize to the membrane of bacteriocytes, a pattern that leads us to conclude that the regulation of amino acid metabolism in the embryonic bacteriome mechanistically differs from that in the maternal bacteriome. Paralleling our earlier report of punctate cytoplasmic localization of ApGLNT1 in maternal bacteriocytes, we find ApGLNT1 protein localizing as cytoplasmic puncta throughout development in association with Buchnera.

CONCLUSIONS: Our work that documents ontogenetic shifts in the localization of ApGLNT1 protein in the host bacteriome demonstrates that maternal and embryonic bacteriomes are not equivalent. Significantly, the persistent punctate cytoplasmic localization of ApGLNT1 in association with Buchnera in embryos prior to bacteriocyte formation and later in both embryonic and maternal bacteriomes suggests that ApGLNT1 plays multiple roles in this symbiosis, roles that include amino acid transport and possibly nutrient sensing.}, } @article {pmid26757243, year = {2016}, author = {Tsuzuki, S and Handa, Y and Takeda, N and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Strigolactone-Induced Putative Secreted Protein 1 Is Required for the Establishment of Symbiosis by the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {277-286}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-15-0234-R}, pmid = {26757243}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/physiology ; Lactones/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is the most widespread association between plants and fungi. To provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of AM symbiosis, we screened and investigated genes of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis that contribute to the infection of host plants. R. irregularis genes involved in the infection were explored by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. One of the identified genes was then characterized by a reverse genetic approach using host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), which causes RNA interference in the fungus via the host plant. The RNA-seq analysis revealed that 19 genes are up-regulated by both treatment with strigolactone (SL) (a plant symbiotic signal) and symbiosis. Eleven of the 19 genes were predicted to encode secreted proteins and, of these, SL-induced putative secreted protein 1 (SIS1) showed the largest induction under both conditions. In hairy roots of Medicago truncatula, SIS1 expression is knocked down by HIGS, resulting in significant suppression of colonization and formation of stunted arbuscules. These results suggest that SIS1 is a putative secreted protein that is induced in a wide spatiotemporal range including both the presymbiotic and symbiotic stages and that SIS1 positively regulates colonization of host plants by R. irregularis.}, } @article {pmid26756534, year = {2016}, author = {Sędzielewska-Toro, K and Delaux, PM}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbioses: today and tomorrow.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {209}, number = {3}, pages = {917-920}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13820}, pmid = {26756534}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Research ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid26754963, year = {2016}, author = {Morley, NJ}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria of helminths: what role may they play in ecosystems under anthropogenic stress?.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {90}, number = {6}, pages = {647-657}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X15001066}, pmid = {26754963}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Pollution ; Helminths/*microbiology/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are a common feature of many animals, particularly invertebrates, from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. These bacteria have increasingly been recognized as performing an important role in maintaining invertebrate health. Both ecto- and endoparasitic helminths have also been found to harbour a range of bacterial species which provide a similar function. The part symbiotic bacteria play in sustaining homeostasis of free-living invertebrates exposed to anthropogenic pressure (climate change, pollution), and the consequences to invertebrate populations when their symbionts succumb to poor environmental conditions, are increasingly important areas of research. Helminths are also susceptible to environmental stress and their symbiotic bacteria may be a key aspect of their responses to deteriorating conditions. This article summarizes the ecophysiological relationship helminths have with symbiotic bacteria and the role they play in maintaining a healthy parasite and the relevance of specific changes that occur in free-living invertebrate-bacteria interactions under anthropogenic pressure to helminths and their bacterial communities. It also discusses the importance of understanding the mechanistic sensitivity of helminth-bacteria relationships to environmental stress for comprehending the responses of parasites to challenging conditions.}, } @article {pmid26754943, year = {2016}, author = {Valzano, M and Cecarini, V and Cappelli, A and Capone, A and Bozic, J and Cuccioloni, M and Epis, S and Petrelli, D and Angeletti, M and Eleuteri, AM and Favia, G and Ricci, I}, title = {A yeast strain associated to Anopheles mosquitoes produces a toxin able to kill malaria parasites.}, journal = {Malaria journal}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {21}, pmid = {26754943}, issn = {1475-2875}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Malaria/*parasitology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmodium berghei/pathogenicity ; Saccharomycetales/*metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Toxins, Biological/*metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria control strategies are focusing on new approaches, such as the symbiotic control, which consists in the use of microbial symbionts to prevent parasite development in the mosquito gut and to block the transmission of the infection to humans. Several microbes, bacteria and fungi, have been proposed for malaria or other mosquito-borne diseases control strategies. Among these, the yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus has been recently isolated from the gut of Anopheles mosquitoes, where it releases a natural antimicrobial toxin. Interestingly, many environmental strains of W. anomalus exert a wide anti-bacterial/fungal activity and some of these 'killer' yeasts are already used in industrial applications as food and feed bio-preservation agents. Since a few studies showed that W. anomalus killer strains have antimicrobial effects also against protozoan parasites, the possible anti-plasmodial activity of the yeast was investigated.

METHODS: A yeast killer toxin (KT), purified through combined chromatographic techniques from a W. anomalus strain isolated from the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, was tested as an effector molecule to target the sporogonic stages of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, in vitro. Giemsa staining was used to detect morphological damages in zygotes/ookinetes after treatment with the KT. Furthermore, the possible mechanism of action of the KT was investigated pre-incubating the protein with castanospermine, an inhibitor of β-glucanase activity.

RESULTS: A strong anti-plasmodial effect was observed when the P. berghei sporogonic stages were treated with KT, obtaining an inhibition percentage up to around 90%. Microscopy analysis revealed several ookinete alterations at morphological and structural level, suggesting the direct implication of the KT-enzymatic activity. Moreover, evidences of the reduction of KT activity upon treatment with castanospermine propose a β-glucanase-mediated activity.

CONCLUSION: The results showed the in vitro killing efficacy of a protein produced by a mosquito strain of W. anomalus against malaria parasites. Further studies are required to test the KT activity against the sporogonic stages in vivo, nevertheless this work opens new perspectives for the possible use of killer strains in innovative strategies to impede the development of the malaria parasite in mosquito vectors by the means of microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26754353, year = {2016}, author = {Chong, G and Tsai, S and Wang, LH and Huang, CY and Lin, C}, title = {Cryopreservation of the gorgonian endosymbiont Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {18816}, pmid = {26754353}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Cell Count ; *Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Freezing ; Sucrose ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The study focused on finding a suitable cryoprotectant (CPA) and an optimum freezing protocol for the cryopreservation of the endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, clade G) of Junceella fragilis wherein the success of experiments is crucial to both scientific and ecology studies. A two-step freezing technique was developed. The viability of the thawed dinoflagellates was assayed using the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioassay for the first time and was further confirmed through the culturing of dinoflagellates in vitro. The results suggested that 30 min was the most suitable holding time for the dinoflagellates, and the samples produced highest viability when suspended at 5 cm from the surface of LN2. Results also showed that 1 M methanol with 0.4 M sucrose was the most effective CPA, yielding the highest viability (56.93%). Although cell densities of both cryopreserved and control group suffered an initial decline of culture, the cell densities were maintained throughout the remaining duration. In the present study, the cryopreservation of clade G endosymbiont algae was studied for the first time and the method described here could be applied for future studies on symbiotic algae cryopreservation.}, } @article {pmid26754102, year = {2016}, author = {Sure, S and Torriero, AA and Gaur, A and Li, LH and Chen, Y and Tripathi, C and Adholeya, A and Ackland, ML and Kochar, M}, title = {Identification and topographical characterisation of microbial nanowires in Nostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {109}, number = {3}, pages = {475-480}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-015-0644-7}, pmid = {26754102}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Nanowires/*ultrastructure ; Nostoc/physiology/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Extracellular pili-like structures (PLS) produced by cyanobacteria have been poorly explored. We have done detailed topographical and electrical characterisation of PLS in Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73120 using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM). TEM analysis showed that N. punctiforme produces two separate types of PLS differing in their length and diameter. The first type of PLS are 6-7.5 nm in diameter and 0.5-2 µm in length (short/thin PLS) while the second type of PLS are ~20-40 nm in diameter and more than 10 µm long (long/thick PLS). This is the first study to report long/thick PLS in N. punctiforme. Electrical characterisation of these two different PLS by CAFM showed that both are electrically conductive and can act as microbial nanowires. This is the first report to show two distinct PLS and also identifies microbial nanowires in N. punctiforme. This study paves the way for more detailed investigation of N. punctiforme nanowires and their potential role in cell physiology and symbiosis with plants.}, } @article {pmid26752410, year = {2016}, author = {Szoboszlay, M and White-Monsant, A and Moe, LA}, title = {The Effect of Root Exudate 7,4'-Dihydroxyflavone and Naringenin on Soil Bacterial Community Structure.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0146555}, pmid = {26752410}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/*drug effects/genetics ; Flavanones/*pharmacology ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Medicago sativa/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/*chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Our goal was to investigate how root exudate flavonoids influence the soil bacterial community structure and to identify members of the community that change their relative abundance in response to flavonoid exudation. Using a model system that approximates flavonoid exudation of Medicago sativa roots, we treated a soil with 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone and naringenin in two separate experiments using three different rates: medium (equivalent to the exudation rate of 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone from M. sativa seedlings), high (10× the medium rate), and low (0.1× the medium rate). Controls received no flavonoid. Soil samples were subjected to ATP assays and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The flavonoid treatments caused no significant change in the soil ATP content. With the high 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone treatment rate, operational taxonomic units (OTUs) classified as Acidobacteria subdivision 4 increased in relative abundance compared with the control samples, whereas OTUs classified as Gaiellales, Nocardioidaceae, and Thermomonosporaceae were more prevalent in the control. The naringenin treatments did not cause significant changes in the soil bacterial community structure. Our results suggest that the root exudate flavonoid 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone can interact with a diverse range of soil bacteria and may have other functions in the rhizosphere in addition to nod gene induction in legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26751803, year = {2016}, author = {Frankowiak, K and Kret, S and Mazur, M and Meibom, A and Kitahara, MV and Stolarski, J}, title = {Fine-Scale Skeletal Banding Can Distinguish Symbiotic from Asymbiotic Species among Modern and Fossil Scleractinian Corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0147066}, pmid = {26751803}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; *Fossils ; Geography ; Geology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the evolution of scleractinian corals on geological timescales is key to predict how modern reef ecosystems will react to changing environmental conditions in the future. Important to such efforts has been the development of several skeleton-based criteria to distinguish between the two major ecological groups of scleractinians: zooxanthellates, which live in symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae, and azooxanthellates, which lack endosymbiotic dinoflagellates. Existing criteria are based on overall skeletal morphology and bio/geo-chemical indicators-none of them being particularly robust. Here we explore another skeletal feature, namely fine-scale growth banding, which differs between these two groups of corals. Using various ultra-structural imaging techniques (e.g., TEM, SEM, and NanoSIMS) we have characterized skeletal growth increments, composed of doublets of optically light and dark bands, in a broad selection of extant symbiotic and asymbiotic corals. Skeletons of zooxanthellate corals are characterized by regular growth banding, whereas in skeletons of azooxanthellate corals the growth banding is irregular. Importantly, the regularity of growth bands can be easily quantified with a coefficient of variation obtained by measuring bandwidths on SEM images of polished and etched skeletal surfaces of septa and/or walls. We find that this coefficient of variation (lower values indicate higher regularity) ranges from ~40 to ~90% in azooxanthellate corals and from ~5 to ~15% in symbiotic species. With more than 90% (28 out of 31) of the studied corals conforming to this microstructural criterion, it represents an easy and robust method to discriminate between zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate corals. This microstructural criterion has been applied to the exceptionally preserved skeleton of the Triassic (Norian, ca. 215 Ma) scleractinian Volzeia sp., which contains the first example of regular, fine-scale banding of thickening deposits in a fossil coral of this age. The regularity of its growth banding strongly suggests that the coral was symbiotic with zooxanthellates.}, } @article {pmid26751081, year = {2016}, author = {Yang, Y and Nguyen, TT and Jeong, MH and Crişan, F and Yu, YH and Ha, HH and Choi, KH and Jeong, HG and Jeong, TC and Lee, KY and Kim, KK and Hur, JS and Kim, H}, title = {Inhibitory Activity of (+)-Usnic Acid against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Motility.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0146575}, pmid = {26751081}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*chemistry ; Benzofurans/*chemistry ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor/drug effects ; Cell Movement ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Lung Neoplasms/*pathology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Romania ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms that produce various unique chemicals that can be used for pharmaceutical purposes. With the aim of screening new anti-cancer agents that inhibit cancer cell motility, we tested the inhibitory activity of seven lichen species collected from the Romanian Carpathian Mountains against migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-metastatic activity. Among them, Alectoria samentosa, Flavocetraria nivalis, Alectoria ochroleuca, and Usnea florida showed significant inhibitory activity against motility of human lung cancer cells. HPLC results showed that usnic acid is the main compound in these lichens, and (+)-usnic acid showed similar inhibitory activity that crude extract have. Mechanistically, β-catenin-mediated TOPFLASH activity and KITENIN-mediated AP-1 activity were decreased by (+)-usnic acid treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The quantitative real-time PCR data showed that (+)-usnic acid decreased the mRNA level of CD44, Cyclin D1 and c-myc, which are the downstream target genes of both β-catenin/LEF and c-jun/AP-1. Also, Rac1 and RhoA activities were decreased by treatment with (+)-usnic acid. Interestingly, higher inhibitory activity for cell invasion was observed when cells were treated with (+)-usnic acid and cetuximab. These results implied that (+)-usnic acid might have potential activity in inhibition of cancer cell metastasis, and (+)-usnic acid could be used for anti-cancer therapy with a distinct mechanisms of action.}, } @article {pmid26748854, year = {2016}, author = {Lowe, CD and Minter, EJ and Cameron, DD and Brockhurst, MA}, title = {Shining a Light on Exploitative Host Control in a Photosynthetic Endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {207-211}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.11.052}, pmid = {26748854}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Chlorella/*physiology ; Light ; Paramecium/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis allows hosts to acquire new functional traits such that the combined host and endosymbiont can exploit vacant ecological niches and occupy novel environments [1, 2]; consequently, endosymbiosis affects the structure and function of ecosystems [3, 4]. However, for many endosymbioses, it is unknown whether their evolutionary basis is mutualism or exploitation [5-9]. We estimated the fitness consequences of symbiosis using the interaction between the protist host Paramecium bursaria and the algal symbiont Chlorella sp. [10]. Host fitness was strongly context dependent: whereas hosts benefited from symbiosis at high light intensity, carrying endosymbionts was costly to hosts in the dark and conferred no benefit over growing autonomously at intermediate light levels. Autonomous Chlorella densities increased monotonically with light intensity, whereas per-host symbiont load and symbiont abundance peaked at intermediate light levels and were lowest at high light intensity. This suggests that hosts controlled the costs of symbiosis by manipulating symbiont load according to light intensity. Photosynthetic efficiency was consistently lower for symbiotic compared to autonomous algae, suggesting nutritional constraints upon algae in symbiosis. At intermediate light levels, we observed the establishment of small populations of free-living algae alongside the hosts with endosymbionts, suggesting that symbionts could escape symbiosis, but only under conditions where hosts didn't benefit from symbiosis. Together, these data suggest that hosts exerted strong control over endosymbionts and that there were no conditions where this nutritional symbiosis was mutually beneficial. Our findings support theoretical predictions (e.g., [5, 9]) that controlled exploitation is an important evolutionary pathway toward stable endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26748266, year = {2016}, author = {Ramos, G and de Lima, HC and Prenner, G and de Queiroz, LP and Zartman, CE and Cardoso, D}, title = {Molecular systematics of the Amazonian genus Aldina, a phylogenetically enigmatic ectomycorrhizal lineage of papilionoid legumes.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {11-18}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2015.12.017}, pmid = {26748266}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Biological Evolution ; Chloroplasts/genetics ; Fabaceae/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Flowers/anatomy & histology ; Likelihood Functions ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aldina (Leguminosae) is among the very few ecologically successful ectomycorrhizal lineages in a family largely marked by the evolution of nodulating symbiosis. The genus comprises 20 species predominantly distributed in Amazonia and has been traditionally classified in the tribe Swartzieae because of its radial flowers with an entire calyx and numerous free stamens. The taxonomy of Aldina is complicated due to its poor representation in herbaria and the lack of a robust phylogenetic hypothesis of relationship. Recent phylogenetic analyses of matK and trnL sequences confirmed the placement of Aldina in the 50-kb inversion clade, although the genus remained phylogenetically isolated or unresolved in the context of the evolutionary history of the main early-branching papilionoid lineages. We performed maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined chloroplast datasets (matK, rbcL, and trnL) and explored the effect of incomplete taxa or missing data in order to shed light on the enigmatic phylogenetic position of Aldina. Unexpectedly, a sister relationship of Aldina with the Andira clade (Andira and Hymenolobium) is revealed. We suggest that a new tribal phylogenetic classification of the papilionoid legumes should place Aldina along with Andira and Hymenolobium. These results highlight yet another example of the independent evolution of radial floral symmetry within the early-branching Papilionoideae, a large collection of florally heterogeneous lineages dominated by papilionate or bilaterally symmetric flower morphology.}, } @article {pmid26745979, year = {2016}, author = {Arora, M and Saxena, P and Choudhary, DK and Abdin, MZ and Varma, A}, title = {Dual symbiosis between Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum enhances the artemisinin content in Artemisia annua L.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {19}, pmid = {26745979}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Artemisia annua/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Artemisinins/*metabolism ; Azotobacter/*metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Nitrogen/chemistry/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/chemistry/metabolism ; RNA/isolation & purification ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {At present, Artemisia annua L. is the major source of artemisinin production. To control the outbreaks of malaria, artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended, and hence an ample amount of artemisinin is required for ACTs manufacture to save millions of lives. The low yield of this antimalarial drug in A. annua L. plants (0.01-1.1%) ensues its short supply and high cost, thus making it a topic of scrutiny worldwide. In this study, the effects of root endophyte, Piriformospora indica strain DSM 11827 and nitrogen fixing bacterium, Azotobacter chroococcum strain W-5, either singly and/or in combination for artemisinin production in A. annua L. plants have been studied under poly house conditions. The plant growth was monitored by measuring parameters like height of plant, total dry weight and leaf yield with an increase of 63.51, 52.61 and 79.70% respectively, for treatment with dual biological consortium, as compared to that of control plants. This significant improvement in biomass was associated with higher total chlorophyll content (59.29%) and enhanced nutrition (especially nitrogen and phosphorus, 55.75 and 86.21% respectively). The concentration of artemisinin along with expression patterns of artemisinin biosynthesis genes were appreciably higher in dual treatment, which showed positive correlation. The study suggested the potential use of the consortium P. indica strain DSM 11827 and A. chroococcum strain W-5 in A. annua L. plants for increased overall productivity and sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid26745883, year = {2016}, author = {An, R and Grewal, PS}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Xenorhabdus koppenhoeferi Gene Expression during Symbiotic Persistence in the Host Nematode.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0145739}, pmid = {26745883}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Species of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria form mutualistic associations with Steinernema and Heterorhabditis nematodes, respectively and serve as model systems for studying microbe-animal symbioses. Here, we profiled gene expression of Xenorhabdus koppenhoeferi during their symbiotic persistence in the newly formed infective juveniles of the host nematode Steinernema scarabaei through the selective capture of transcribed sequences (SCOTS). The obtained gene expression profile was then compared with other nematode-bacteria partnerships represented by Steinernema carpocapsae-Xenorhabdus nematophila and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora-Photorhabdus temperata. A total of 29 distinct genes were identified to be up-regulated and 53 were down-regulated in X. koppenhoeferi while in S. scarabaei infective juveniles. Of the identified genes, 8 of the up-regulated and 14 of the down-regulated genes were similarly expressed in X. nematophila during persistence in its host nematode S. carpocapsae. However, only one from each of these up- and down-regulated genes was common to the mutualistic partnership between the bacterium P. temperata and the nematode H. bacteriophora. Interactive network analysis of the shared genes between X. koppenhoeferi and X. nematophila demonstrated that the up-regulated genes were mainly involved in bacterial survival and the down-regulated genes were more related to bacterial virulence and active growth. Disruption of two selected genes pta (coding phosphotransacetylase) and acnB (coding aconitate hydratase) in X. nematophila with shared expression signature with X. koppenhoeferi confirmed that these genes are important for bacterial persistence in the nematode host. The results of our comparative analyses show that the two Xenorhabdus species share a little more than a quarter of the transcriptional mechanisms during persistence in their nematode hosts but these features are quite different from those used by P. temperata bacteria in their nematode host H. bacteriophora.}, } @article {pmid26744810, year = {2016}, author = {Rebollar, EA and Hughey, MC and Medina, D and Harris, RN and Ibáñez, R and Belden, LK}, title = {Skin bacterial diversity of Panamanian frogs is associated with host susceptibility and presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {1682-1695}, pmid = {26744810}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/immunology/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Chytridiomycota/*physiology ; Disease Susceptibility ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria on amphibian skin can inhibit growth of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) that has caused dramatic population declines and extinctions of amphibians in the Neotropics. It remains unclear how the amphibians' skin microbiota is influenced by environmental bacterial reservoirs, host-associated factors such as susceptibility to pathogens, and pathogen presence in tropical amphibians. We sampled skin bacteria from five co-occurring frog species that differ in Bd susceptibility at one Bd-naive site, and sampled one of the non-susceptible species from Bd-endemic and Bd-naive sites in Panama. We hypothesized that skin bacterial communities (1) would be distinct from the surrounding environment regardless of the host habitat, (2) would differ between Bd susceptible and non-susceptible species and (3) would differ on hosts in Bd-naive and Bd-endemic sites. We found that skin bacterial communities were enriched in bacterial taxa that had low relative abundances in the environment. Non-susceptible species had very similar skin bacterial communities that were enriched in particular taxa such as the genera Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. Bacterial communities of Craugastor fitzingeri in Bd-endemic sites were less diverse than in the naive site, and differences in community structure across sites were explained by changes in relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa. Our results indicate that skin microbial structure was associated with host susceptibility to Bd and might be associated to the history of Bd presence at different sites.}, } @article {pmid26740613, year = {2016}, author = {Steidinger, BS and Bever, JD}, title = {Host discrimination in modular mutualisms: a theoretical framework for meta-populations of mutualists and exploiters.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {283}, number = {1822}, pages = {}, pmid = {26740613}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ficus/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Pollination ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants in multiple symbioses are exploited by symbionts that consume their resources without providing services. Discriminating hosts are thought to stabilize mutualism by preferentially allocating resources into anatomical structures (modules) where services are generated, with examples of modules including the entire inflorescences of figs and the root nodules of legumes. Modules are often colonized by multiple symbiotic partners, such that exploiters that co-occur with mutualists within mixed modules can share rewards generated by their mutualist competitors. We developed a meta-population model to answer how the population dynamics of mutualists and exploiters change when they interact with hosts with different module occupancies (number of colonists per module) and functionally different patterns of allocation into mixed modules. We find that as module occupancy increases, hosts must increase the magnitude of preferentially allocated resources in order to sustain comparable populations of mutualists. Further, we find that mixed colonization can result in the coexistence of mutualist and exploiter partners, but only when preferential allocation follows a saturating function of the number of mutualists in a module. Finally, using published data from the fig-wasp mutualism as an illustrative example, we derive model predictions that approximate the proportion of exploiter, non-pollinating wasps observed in the field.}, } @article {pmid26740568, year = {2016}, author = {He, L and Cheng, L and Hu, L and Tang, J and Chen, X}, title = {Deviation from niche optima affects the nature of plant-plant interactions along a soil acidity gradient.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {20150925}, pmid = {26740568}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Aluminum/chemistry ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Soil/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {There is increasing recognition of the importance of niche optima in the shift of plant-plant interactions along environmental stress gradients. Here, we investigate whether deviation from niche optima would affect the outcome of plant-plant interactions along a soil acidity gradient (pH = 3.1, 4.1, 5.5 and 6.1) in a pot experiment. We used the acid-tolerant species Lespedeza formosa Koehne as the neighbouring plant and the acid-tolerant species Indigofera pseudotinctoria Mats. or acid-sensitive species Medicago sativa L. as the target plants. Biomass was used to determine the optimal pH and to calculate the relative interaction index (RII). We found that the relationships between RII and the deviation of soil pH from the target's optimal pH were linear for both target species. Both targets were increasingly promoted by the neighbour as pH values deviated from their optima; neighbours benefitted target plants by promoting soil symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, increasing soil organic matter or reducing soil exchangeable aluminium. Our results suggest that the shape of the curve describing the relationship between soil pH and facilitation/competition depends on the soil pH optima of the particular species.}, } @article {pmid26740544, year = {2016}, author = {Lynch, SC and Twizeyimana, M and Mayorquin, JS and Wang, DH and Na, F and Kayim, M and Kasson, MT and Thu, PQ and Bateman, C and Rugman-Jones, P and Hulcr, J and Stouthamer, R and Eskalen, A}, title = {Identification, pathogenicity and abundance of Paracremonium pembeum sp. nov. and Graphium euwallaceae sp. nov.--two newly discovered mycangial associates of the polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp.) in California.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {108}, number = {2}, pages = {313-329}, doi = {10.3852/15-063}, pmid = {26740544}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; California ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Female ; Persea/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fusarium euwallaceae is a well-characterized fungal symbiont of the exotic ambrosia beetle Euwallacea sp. (polyphagous shot hole borer [PSHB]), together inciting Fusarium dieback on many host plants in Israel and California. Recent discoveries of additional fungal symbionts within ambrosia beetle mycangia suggest these fungi occur as communities. Colony-forming units of Graphium euwallaceae sp. nov. and Paracremonium pembeum sp. nov., two novel fungal associates of PSHB from California, grew from 36 macerated female heads and 36 gallery walls collected from Platanus racemosa, Acer negundo, Persea americana and Ricinus communis. Fungi were identified based on micromorphology and phylogenetic analyses of the combined internal transcribed spacer region (nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 [ITS barcode]), elongation factor (EF 1-α), small subunit (18S rDNA) sequences for Graphium spp., ITS, EF 1-α, calmodulin (cmdA), large subunit of the ATP citrate lyase (acl1), β-tubulin (tub2), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) and large subunit (28S rDNA) sequences for Paracremonium spp. Other Graphium spp. recovered from PSHB in Vietnam, Euwallacea fornicatus in Thailand, E. validus in Pennsylvania and Paracremonium sp. recovered from PSHB in Vietnam were identified. F. euwallaceae was recovered from mycangia at higher frequencies and abundances in all hosts except R. communis, in which those of F. euwallaceae and P. pembeum were equal. P. pembeum was relatively more abundant within gallery walls of A. negundo and R. communis. In all hosts combined F. euwallaceae was relatively more abundant within PSHB heads than gallery walls. All three fungi grew at different rates and colonized inoculated excised stems of P. americana and A. negundo. P. pembeum produced longer lesions than F. euwallaceae and G. euwallaceae on inoculated avocado shoots. Results indicate PSHB is associated with a dynamic assemblage of mycangial fungal associates that pose additional risk to native and nonnative hosts in California.}, } @article {pmid26739990, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, Y and Hu, X and Jiang, B and Song, Z and Ma, Y}, title = {Symbiotic relationship analysis of predominant bacteria in a lab-scale anammox UASB bioreactor.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {7615-7626}, pmid = {26739990}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Ammonia/chemistry/metabolism ; *Bacteria ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; *Sewage ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In order to provide the comprehensive insight into the key microbial groups in anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, high-throughput sequencing analysis has been used for the investigation of the bacterial communities of a lab-scale upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) anammox bioreactor. Results revealed that 109 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; out of 14,820 reads) were identified and a domination of anammox bacteria of Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis (OTU474, 35.42 %), along with heterotrophs of Limnobacter sp. MED105 (OTU951, 14.98 %), Anerolinea thermophila UNI-1 (OTU465 and OTU833, 6.60 and 3.93 %), Azoarcus sp. B72 (OTU26, 9.47 %), and Ignavibacterium sp. JCM 16511 (OTU459, 8.33 %) were detected. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that Candidatus K. stuttgartiensis encountered gene defect in synthesizing a series of metabolic cofactors for growth, implying that K. stuttgartiensis is auxotrophic. Coincidentally, the other dominant species severally showed complete metabolic pathways with full set gene encoding to corresponding cofactors presented in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it was likely that the survival of heterotrophs in the autotrophic system indicates the existence of a symbiotic and mutual relationship in anammox system.}, } @article {pmid26734026, year = {2015}, author = {Ramalingam, A and Kudapa, H and Pazhamala, LT and Weckwerth, W and Varshney, RK}, title = {Proteomics and Metabolomics: Two Emerging Areas for Legume Improvement.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1116}, pmid = {26734026}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The crop legumes such as chickpea, common bean, cowpea, peanut, pigeonpea, soybean, etc. are important sources of nutrition and contribute to a significant amount of biological nitrogen fixation (>20 million tons of fixed nitrogen) in agriculture. However, the production of legumes is constrained due to abiotic and biotic stresses. It is therefore imperative to understand the molecular mechanisms of plant response to different stresses and identify key candidate genes regulating tolerance which can be deployed in breeding programs. The information obtained from transcriptomics has facilitated the identification of candidate genes for the given trait of interest and utilizing them in crop breeding programs to improve stress tolerance. However, the mechanisms of stress tolerance are complex due to the influence of multi-genes and post-transcriptional regulations. Furthermore, stress conditions greatly affect gene expression which in turn causes modifications in the composition of plant proteomes and metabolomes. Therefore, functional genomics involving various proteomics and metabolomics approaches have been obligatory for understanding plant stress tolerance. These approaches have also been found useful to unravel different pathways related to plant and seed development as well as symbiosis. Proteome and metabolome profiling using high-throughput based systems have been extensively applied in the model legume species, Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, as well as in the model crop legume, soybean, to examine stress signaling pathways, cellular and developmental processes and nodule symbiosis. Moreover, the availability of protein reference maps as well as proteomics and metabolomics databases greatly support research and understanding of various biological processes in legumes. Protein-protein interaction techniques, particularly the yeast two-hybrid system have been advantageous for studying symbiosis and stress signaling in legumes. In this review, several studies on proteomics and metabolomics in model and crop legumes have been discussed. Additionally, applications of advanced proteomics and metabolomics approaches have also been included in this review for future applications in legume research. The integration of these "omics" approaches will greatly support the identification of accurate biomarkers in legume smart breeding programs.}, } @article {pmid26733969, year = {2015}, author = {Braquart-Varnier, C and Raimond, M and Mappa, G and Chevalier, FD and Le Clec'h, W and Sicard, M}, title = {The Hematopoietic Organ: A Cornerstone for Wolbachia Propagation Between and Within Hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1424}, pmid = {26733969}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Wolbachia is an intracellular α-proteobacterium which is transmitted vertically from mother to offspring but also frequently switches horizontally from one host to another. Our hypothesis is based on the role of immune cells and the organs that produce them, the hematopoietic organs (HOs), as primordial niches for the propagation of Wolbachia via hemocytes both (i) within hosts: to initiate and maintain the systemic infection and (ii) between hosts: to promote both vertical and horizontal transmission of Wolbachia. Therefore, we review some fundamental ideas underlying this hypothesis and go further with new empirical data that lead to a first close-up analysis of the potential role of HOs in Wolbachia propagation. The monitoring of the first steps of Wolbachia infection in horizontally infected host organs by transmission electron microscopy and qPCR suggests that (i) HOs are colonized early and extensively as soon as they are in contact with Wolbachia which find in these cells a favorable niche to multiply and (ii) infected HOs which expel hemocytes all lifelong can generate and maintain a systemic infection that could contribute to increase both vertical and horizontal propagation of these symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26732875, year = {2016}, author = {López-Chávez, MY and Guillén-Navarro, K and Bertolini, V and Encarnación, S and Hernández-Ortiz, M and Sánchez-Moreno, I and Damon, A}, title = {Proteomic and morphometric study of the in vitro interaction between Oncidium sphacelatum Lindl. (Orchidaceae) and Thanatephorus sp. RG26 (Ceratobasidiaceae).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {353-365}, pmid = {26732875}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Biomarkers ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Proteomics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Orchidaceae establish symbiotic relationships with fungi in the Rhizoctonia group, resulting in interactions beneficial to both organisms or in cell destruction in one of them (pathogenicity). Previous studies have focused mostly on terrestrial species with a few, preliminary studies, on epiphytes. To further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in these symbioses, we evaluated the interaction between Oncidium sphacelatum Lindl. and the mycorrhizal fungus Thanatephorus sp. strain RG26 (isolated from a different orchid species) in vitro using morphometric and proteomic analyses. Evidence from the morphometric and microscopic analysis showed that the fungus promoted linear growth and differentiation of orchid protocorms during 98 days interaction. On day 63, protocorm development was evident, so we analyzed the physiological response of both organisms at that moment. Proteome results suggest that orchid development stimulated by the fungus apparently involves cell cycle proteins, purine recycling, ribosome biogenesis, energy metabolism, and secretion that were up-regulated in the orchid; whereas in the fungus, a high expression of proteins implicated in stress response, protein-protein interaction, and saccharides and protein biosynthesis were found in the symbiotic interaction. This is the first work reporting proteins differentially expressed in the epiphytic orchid-fungus interaction and will contribute to the search for molecular markers that will facilitate the study of this symbiosis in both wild orchids and those in danger of extinction.}, } @article {pmid26732662, year = {2015}, author = {Seah, BK and Gruber-Vodicka, HR}, title = {gbtools: Interactive Visualization of Metagenome Bins in R.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1451}, pmid = {26732662}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Improvements in DNA sequencing technology have increased the amount and quality of sequences that can be obtained from metagenomic samples, making it practical to extract individual microbial genomes from metagenomic assemblies ("binning"). However, while many tools and methods exist for unsupervised binning with various statistical algorithms, there are few options for visualizing the results, even though visualization is vital to exploratory data analysis. We have developed gbtools, a software package that allows users to visualize metagenomic assemblies by plotting coverage (sequencing depth) and GC values of contigs, and also to annotate the plots with taxonomic information. Different sets of annotations, including taxonomic assignments from conserved marker genes or SSU rRNA genes, can be imported simultaneously; users can choose which annotations to plot. Bins can be manually defined from plots, or be imported from third-party binning tools and overlaid onto plots, such that results from different methods can be compared side-by-side. gbtools reports summary statistics of bins including marker gene completeness, and allows the user to add or subtract bins with each other. We illustrate some of the functions available in gbtools with two examples: the metagenome of Olavius algarvensis, a marine oligochaete worm that has up to five bacterial symbionts, and the metagenome of a synthetic mock community comprising 64 bacterial and archaeal strains. We show how instances of poor automated binning, sequencer GC% bias, and variation between samples can be quickly diagnosed by visualization, and demonstrate how the results from different binning tools can be combined and refined to yield manually curated bins with higher completeness. gbtools is open-source and written in R. The software package, documentation, and example data are available freely online at https://github.com/kbseah/genome-bin-tools.}, } @article {pmid26731731, year = {2016}, author = {Szokoli, F and Sabaneyeva, E and Castelli, M and Krenek, S and Schrallhammer, M and Soares, CA and da Silva-Neto, ID and Berendonk, TU and Petroni, G}, title = {"Candidatus Fokinia solitaria", a Novel "Stand-Alone" Symbiotic Lineage of Midichloriaceae (Rickettsiales).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0145743}, pmid = {26731731}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paramecium/classification/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Wastewater/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Recently, the family Midichloriaceae has been described within the bacterial order Rickettsiales. It includes a variety of bacterial endosymbionts detected in different metazoan host species belonging to Placozoa, Cnidaria, Arthropoda and Vertebrata. Representatives of Midichloriaceae are also considered possible etiological agents of certain animal diseases. Midichloriaceae have been found also in protists like ciliates and amoebae. The present work describes a new bacterial endosymbiont, "Candidatus Fokinia solitaria", retrieved from three different strains of a novel Paramecium species isolated from a wastewater treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Symbionts were characterized through the full-cycle rRNA approach: SSU rRNA gene sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with three species-specific oligonucleotide probes. In electron micrographs, the tiny rod-shaped endosymbionts (1.2 x 0.25-0.35 μm in size) were not surrounded by a symbiontophorous vacuole and were located in the peripheral host cytoplasm, stratified in the host cortex in between the trichocysts or just below them. Frequently, they occurred inside autolysosomes. Phylogenetic analyses of Midichloriaceae apparently show different evolutionary pathways within the family. Some genera, such as "Ca. Midichloria" and "Ca. Lariskella", have been retrieved frequently and independently in different hosts and environmental surveys. On the contrary, others, such as Lyticum, "Ca. Anadelfobacter", "Ca. Defluviella" and the presently described "Ca. Fokinia solitaria", have been found only occasionally and associated to specific host species. These last are the only representatives in their own branches thus far. Present data do not allow to infer whether these genera, which we named "stand-alone lineages", are an indication of poorly sampled organisms, thus underrepresented in GenBank, or represent fast evolving, highly adapted evolutionary lineages.}, } @article {pmid26730960, year = {2016}, author = {Klose, J and Aistleitner, K and Horn, M and Krenn, L and Dirsch, V and Zehl, M and Bright, M}, title = {Trophosome of the Deep-Sea Tubeworm Riftia pachyptila Inhibits Bacterial Growth.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e0146446}, pmid = {26730960}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus subtilis/*growth & development ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/metabolism ; Listeria/*growth & development ; Polychaeta/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/growth & development ; Skin/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila lives in symbiosis with the chemoautotrophic gammaproteobacterium Cand. Endoriftia persephone. Symbionts are released back into the environment upon host death in high-pressure experiments, while microbial fouling is not involved in trophosome degradation. Therefore, we examined the antimicrobial effect of the tubeworm's trophosome and skin. The growth of all four tested Gram-positive, but only of one of the tested Gram-negative bacterial strains was inhibited by freshly fixed and degrading trophosome (incubated up to ten days at either warm or cold temperature), while no effect on Saccharomyces cerevisiae was observed. The skin did not show antimicrobial effects. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of the ethanol supernatant of fixed trophosomes lead to the tentative identification of the phospholipids 1-palmitoleyl-2-lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, 2-palmitoleyl-1-lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine and the free fatty acids palmitoleic, palmitic and oleic acid, which are known to have an antimicrobial effect. As a result of tissue autolysis, the abundance of the free fatty acids increased with longer incubation time of trophosome samples. This correlated with an increasing growth inhibition of Bacillus subtilis and Listeria welshimeri, but not of the other bacterial strains. Therefore, the free fatty acids produced upon host degradation could be the cause of inhibition of at least these two bacterial strains.}, } @article {pmid26728150, year = {2016}, author = {Boeglin, M and Fuglsang, AT and Luu, DT and Sentenac, H and Gaillard, I and Chérel, I}, title = {Reduced expression of AtNUP62 nucleoporin gene affects auxin response in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {2}, pmid = {26728150}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/*genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Signal Transduction ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The plant nuclear pore complex has strongly attracted the attention of the scientific community during the past few years, in particular because of its involvement in hormonal and pathogen/symbiotic signalling. In Arabidopsis thaliana, more than 30 nucleoporins have been identified, but only a few of them have been characterized. Among these, AtNUP160, AtNUP96, AtNUP58, and AtTPR have been reported to modulate auxin signalling, since corresponding mutants are suppressors of the auxin resistance conferred by the axr1 (auxin-resistant) mutation. The present work is focused on AtNUP62, which is essential for embryo and plant development. This protein is one of the three nucleoporins (with AtNUP54 and AtNUP58) of the central channel of the nuclear pore complex.

RESULTS: AtNUP62 promoter activity was detected in many organs, and particularly in the embryo sac, young germinating seedlings and at the adult stage in stipules of cauline leaves. The atnup62-1 mutant, harbouring a T-DNA insertion in intron 5, was identified as a knock-down mutant. It displayed developmental phenotypes that suggested defects in auxin transport or responsiveness. Atnup62 mutant plantlets were found to be hypersensitive to auxin, at the cotyledon and root levels. The phenotype of the AtNUP62-GFP overexpressing line further supported the existence of a link between AtNUP62 and auxin signalling. Furthermore, the atnup62 mutation led to an increase in the activity of the DR5 auxin-responsive promoter, and suppressed the auxin-resistant root growth and leaf serration phenotypes of the axr1 mutant.

CONCLUSION: AtNUP62 appears to be a major negative regulator of auxin signalling. Auxin hypersensitivity of the atnup62 mutant, reminding that of atnup58 (and not observed with other nucleoporin mutants), is in agreement with the reported interaction between AtNUP62 and AtNUP58 proteins, and suggests closely related functions. The effect of AtNUP62 on auxin signalling likely occurs in relation to scaffold proteins of the nuclear pore complex (AtNUP160, AtNUP96 and AtTPR).}, } @article {pmid26726131, year = {2016}, author = {Cotin-Galvan, L and Pozzi, AC and Schwob, G and Fournier, P and Fernandez, MP and Herrera-Belaroussi, A}, title = {In-planta Sporulation Capacity Enhances Infectivity and Rhizospheric Competitiveness of Frankia Strains.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {11-18}, pmid = {26726131}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Alnus/microbiology ; Frankia/*growth & development/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Spores, Bacterial/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Frankia Sp+ strains maintain their ability to sporulate in symbiosis with actinorhizal plants, producing abundant sporangia inside host plant cells, in contrast to Sp- strains, which are unable to perform in-planta sporulation. We herein examined the role of in-planta sporulation in Frankia infectivity and competitiveness for root infection. Fifteen strains belonging to different Sp+ and Sp- phylogenetic lineages were inoculated on seedlings of Alnus glutinosa (Ag) and A. incana (Ai). Strain competitiveness was investigated by performing Sp-/Sp+ co-inoculations. Plant inoculations were standardized using crushed nodules obtained under laboratory-controlled conditions (same plant species, age, and environmental factors). Specific oligonucleotide primers were developed to identify Frankia Sp+ and/or Sp- strains in the resulting nodules. Single inoculation experiments showed that (i) infectivity by Sp+ strains was significantly greater than that by Sp- strains, (ii) genetically divergent Sp+ strains exhibited different infective abilities, and (iii) Sp+ and Sp- strains showed different host preferences according to the origin (host species) of the inocula. Co-inoculations of Sp+ and Sp- strains revealed the greater competitiveness of Sp+ strains (98.3 to 100% of Sp+ nodules, with up to 15.6% nodules containing both Sp+ and Sp- strains). The results of the present study highlight differences in Sp+/Sp- strain ecological behaviors and provide new insights to strengthen the obligate symbiont hypothesis for Sp+ strains.}, } @article {pmid26721298, year = {2016}, author = {Mason, CJ and Hanshew, AS and Raffa, KF}, title = {Contributions by Host Trees and Insect Activity to Bacterial Communities in Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Galleries, and Their High Overlap With Other Microbial Assemblages of Bark Beetles.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {348-356}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvv184}, pmid = {26721298}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Trees/growth & development/*microbiology ; Weevils/*microbiology/*physiology ; Wisconsin ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles are associated with a diversity of symbiotic microbiota that can mediate interactions with their host plants. Dendroctonus valens LeConte is a widely distributed bark beetle in North and Central America, and initiates solitary attacks on several species of Pinus in the Great Lakes region. In this study, we aimed to further characterize the bacterial community associated with D. valens feeding galleries using next-generation sequencing, and the possible contributions of both tree-resident and insect-associated bacteria to these consortia. We found that D. valens galleries harbor a diversity of microbial associates. Many of these associates were classified into a few taxonomic groups, of which Gammaproteobacteria were the most abundant class. Of the Gammaproteobacteria detected, many formed clades with 16S-rRNA sequences of bacteria previously associated with D. valens Many of the bacteria sequences detected in the galleries were similar to bacteria that function in detoxification, kairomone metabolism, and nitrogen fixation and cycling. The abundance of bacteria in galleries were 7× and 44× higher than in the surrounding uninfested tissues, and that were not attacked by D. valens, respectively. This suggests that the bacteria present in beetle galleries are largely introduced by D. valens and proliferate in this environment.}, } @article {pmid26718931, year = {2015}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Differences in infectivity between endosymbiotic Chlorella variabilis cultivated outside host Paramecium bursaria for 50 years and those immediately isolated from host cells after one year of reendosymbiosis.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {55-61}, pmid = {26718931}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Chlorella variabilis strain NC64A is an intracellular photobiont of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria. NC64A was isolated from P. bursaria nearly 50 years ago and was thereafter cultivated outside the host. This study was undertaken to detect changes in its infectivity to P. bursaria and its auxotrophy for growth outside the host induced during long-term cultivation. NC64A can grow in Modified Bold's Basal Medium but not in C medium, whereas another symbiotic Chlorella variabilis strain, 1N, that was recently isolated from the host grew in C medium but not in Modified Bold's Basal Medium. With regards infectivity, NC64A in the logarithmic phase of growth showed low infectivity to alga-removed P. bursaria cells, whereas those in the early stationary phase showed high infectivity of about 30%. Those in the decay phase of growth showed no infectivity. Results show that NC64A has infectivity, but the infection rate depends on their culture age in the growth curve. Furthermore, NC64A that had been re-infected to P. bursaria for more than one year and isolated from the host showed a nearly 100% infection rate, which indicates that NC64A can recover its infectivity by re-infection to P. bursaria.}, } @article {pmid26718115, year = {2016}, author = {Azmat, R and Hamid, N and Moin, S and Saleem, A}, title = {Glomus fasciculatum Fungi as a Bio-convertor and Bio-activator of Inorganic and Organic P in Dual Symbiosis.}, journal = {Recent patents on biotechnology}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {130-138}, doi = {10.2174/1872208310666151231093252}, pmid = {26718115}, issn = {2212-4012}, mesh = {Fungi/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Patents as Topic ; Phosphorus/*chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dual symbiosis played an effective role in drought condition and temperature. Furthermore, performed services in absorption of water and solubilization of chief nutrients specially phosphorus for growth of plants. Phosphorous is essential for plant growth in any climatic condition because of central constituent of ATP providing chemical energy for all metabolic reactions of plants.

METHOD: The goal of this work was to monitor the growth of plant under three climatic conditions in comparison to control plant under Glomus fasciculatum inoculation related with adequate supply of phosphorous.

RESULTS: Results demonstrated that Glomus fasciculatum (VAM) activates the solubilization of P into the anionic form H2PO4(-) which is highly consumable form by the plants. Minerals including P in soil most regularly solubilized for fixing in plants and continuously changed to highly soluble forms by reaction with inorganic or organic constituents of the soil which are activated in the presence of fungi for continuous availability. Experimental facts and nonstop growth of plants recommended that VAM fungi act as a bio-convertor and bio-activator of soil nutrients, especially of P and their hyphal interaction absorbs soil nutrients and activates insoluble P to soluble one for plant development.

CONCLUSION: Continuous growth of 18 months old Conocarpus erectus L plant in dual symbiosis supports the proposed idea that phosphorus cycle exists during VAM inoculations, where soil reaction altered in presence of spores that help to solubilize the P which strengthens the plant, activates photo-biological activity and demonstrates the new function of VAM as a recycler for continues growth.}, } @article {pmid26717593, year = {2015}, author = {Kondratiuk, IuIu and Mamenko, PM and Kots, SY}, title = {[LEGUME-RHIZOBIUM SYMBIOSIS PROTEOMICS: ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES].}, journal = {Ukrainian biochemical journal}, volume = {87}, number = {5}, pages = {24-37}, doi = {10.15407/ubj87.05.024}, pmid = {26717593}, issn = {2409-4943}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Proteomics/*methods/trends ; Rhizobium/growth & development/*metabolism ; Soybean Proteins/biosynthesis ; Soybeans/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The present review contains results of proteomic researches of legume-rhizobium symbiosis. The technical difficulties associated with the methods of obtaining protein extracts from symbiotic structures and ways of overcoming them were discussed. The changes of protein synthesis under formation and functioning of symbiotic structures were shown. Special attention has been given to the importance of proteomic studies of plant-microbe structures in the formation of adaptation strategies under adverse environmental conditions. The technical and conceptual perspectives of legume-rhizobium symbiosis proteomics were shown.}, } @article {pmid26716757, year = {2016}, author = {Oakley, CA and Ameismeier, MF and Peng, L and Weis, VM and Grossman, AR and Davy, SK}, title = {Symbiosis induces widespread changes in the proteome of the model cnidarian Aiptasia.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {7}, pages = {1009-1023}, doi = {10.1111/cmi.12564}, pmid = {26716757}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Endocytosis ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Lipid Metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Proteome/*analysis/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; }, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems are metabolically founded on the mutualism between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. The glass anemone Aiptasia sp. has become a tractable model for this symbiosis, and recent advances in genetic information have enabled the use of mass spectrometry-based proteomics in this model. We utilized label-free liquid chromatography electrospray-ionization tandem mass spectrometry to analyze the effects of symbiosis on the proteomes of symbiotic and aposymbiotic Aiptasia. We identified and obtained relative quantification of more than 3,300 proteins in 1,578 protein clusters, with 81 protein clusters showing significantly different expression between symbiotic states. Symbiotic anemones showed significantly higher expression of proteins involved in lipid storage and transport, nitrogen transport and cycling, intracellular trafficking, endocytosis and inorganic carbon transport. These changes reflect shifts in host metabolism and nutrient reserves due to increased nutritional exchange with the symbionts, as well as mechanisms for supplying inorganic nutrients to the algae. Aposymbiotic anemones exhibited increased expression of multiple systems responsible for mediating reactive oxygen stress, suggesting that the host derives direct or indirect protection from oxidative stress while in symbiosis. Aposymbiotic anemones also increased their expression of an array of proteases and chitinases, indicating a metabolic shift from autotrophy to heterotrophy. These results provide a comprehensive Aiptasia proteome with more direct relative quantification of protein abundance than transcriptomic methods. The extension of "omics" techniques to this model system will allow more powerful studies of coral physiology, ecosystem function, and the effects of biotic and abiotic stress on the coral-dinoflagellate mutualism.}, } @article {pmid26715155, year = {2015}, author = {Rachwał, K and Matczyńska, E and Janczarek, M}, title = {Transcriptome profiling of a Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii rosR mutant reveals the role of the transcriptional regulator RosR in motility, synthesis of cell-surface components, and other cellular processes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {1111}, pmid = {26715155}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil bacterium capable of establishing a symbiotic relationship with red clover (Trifolium pratense). The presence of surface polysaccharides and other extracellular components as well as motility and competitiveness are essential traits for both adaptation of this bacterium to changing environmental conditions and successful infection of host plant roots. The R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii rosR gene encodes a protein belonging to the family of Ros/MucR transcriptional regulators, which contain a Cys2His2-type zinc-finger motif and are involved in the regulation of exopolysaccharide synthesis in several rhizobial species. Previously, it was established that a mutation in the rosR gene significantly decreased exopolysaccharide synthesis, increased bacterial sensitivity to some stress factors, and negatively affected infection of clover roots.

RESULTS: RNA-Seq analysis performed for the R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii wild-type strain Rt24.2 and its derivative Rt2472 carrying a rosR mutation identified a large number of genes which were differentially expressed in these two backgrounds. A considerable majority of these genes were up-regulated in the mutant (63.22 %), indicating that RosR functions mainly as a repressor. Transcriptome profiling of the rosR mutant revealed a role of this regulator in several cellular processes, including the synthesis of cell-surface components and polysaccharides, motility, and bacterial metabolism. Moreover, it was established that the Rt2472 strain was characterized by a longer generation time and showed an increased aggregation ability, but was impaired in motility as a result of considerably reduced flagellation of its cells.

CONCLUSIONS: The comparative transcriptome analysis of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii wild-type Rt24.2 and the Rt2472 mutant identified a set of genes belonging to the RosR regulon and confirmed the important role of RosR in the regulatory network. The data obtained in this study indicate that this protein affects several cellular processes and plays an important role in bacterial adaptation to environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid26713847, year = {2015}, author = {Cunning, R and Yost, DM and Guarinello, ML and Putnam, HM and Gates, RD}, title = {Variability of Symbiodinium Communities in Waters, Sediments, and Corals of Thermally Distinct Reef Pools in American Samoa.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0145099}, pmid = {26713847}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {American Samoa ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Computational Biology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Seawater/*microbiology ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals host assemblages of symbiotic algae (Symbiodinium spp.) whose diversity and abundance may fluctuate under different conditions, potentially facilitating acclimatization to environmental change. The composition of free-living Symbiodinium in reef waters and sediments may also be environmentally labile and may influence symbiotic assemblages by mediating supply and dispersal. The magnitude and spatial scales of environmental influence over Symbiodinium composition in different reef habitat compartments are, however, not well understood. We used pyrosequencing to compare Symbiodinium in sediments, water, and ten coral species between two backreef pools in American Samoa with contrasting thermal environments. We found distinct compartmental assemblages of clades A, C, D, F, and/or G Symbiodinium types, with strong differences between pools in water, sediments, and two coral species. In the pool with higher and more variable temperatures, abundance of various clade A and C types differed compared to the other pool, while abundance of D types was lower in sediments but higher in water and in Pavona venosa, revealing an altered habitat distribution and potential linkages among compartments. The lack of between-pool effects in other coral species was due to either low overall variability (in the case of Porites) or high within-pool variability. Symbiodinium communities in water and sediment also showed within-pool structure, indicating that environmental influences may operate over multiple, small spatial scales. This work suggests that Symbiodinium composition is highly labile in reef waters, sediments, and some corals, but the underlying drivers and functional consequences of this plasticity require further testing with high spatial resolution biological and environmental sampling.}, } @article {pmid26712000, year = {2016}, author = {Hamilton, PT and Peng, F and Boulanger, MJ and Perlman, SJ}, title = {A ribosome-inactivating protein in a Drosophila defensive symbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {113}, number = {2}, pages = {350-355}, pmid = {26712000}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Endoribonucleases/chemistry ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/metabolism ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification ; Ribosome Inactivating Proteins/*metabolism ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; Ricin/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vertically transmitted symbionts that protect their hosts against parasites and pathogens are well known from insects, yet the underlying mechanisms of symbiont-mediated defense are largely unclear. A striking example of an ecologically important defensive symbiosis involves the woodland fly Drosophila neotestacea, which is protected by the bacterial endosymbiont Spiroplasma when parasitized by the nematode Howardula aoronymphium. The benefit of this defense strategy has led to the rapid spread of Spiroplasma throughout the range of D. neotestacea, although the molecular basis for this protection has been unresolved. Here, we show that Spiroplasma encodes a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) related to Shiga-like toxins from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and that Howardula ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is depurinated during Spiroplasma-mediated protection of D. neotestacea. First, we show that recombinant Spiroplasma RIP catalyzes depurination of 28S rRNAs in a cell-free assay, as well as Howardula rRNA in vitro at the canonical RIP target site within the α-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of 28S rRNA. We then show that Howardula parasites in Spiroplasma-infected flies show a strong signal of rRNA depurination consistent with RIP-dependent modification and large decreases in the proportion of 28S rRNA intact at the α-sarcin/ricin loop. Notably, host 28S rRNA is largely unaffected, suggesting targeted specificity. Collectively, our study identifies a novel RIP in an insect defensive symbiont and suggests an underlying RIP-dependent mechanism in Spiroplasma-mediated defense.}, } @article {pmid26711634, year = {2016}, author = {Chou, M and Xia, C and Feng, Z and Sun, Y and Zhang, D and Zhang, M and Wang, L and Wei, G}, title = {A translationally controlled tumor protein gene Rpf41 is required for the nodulation of Robinia pseudoacacia.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {90}, number = {4-5}, pages = {389-402}, pmid = {26711634}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Plant ; Robinia/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is fundamental for the regulation of development and general growth in eukaryotes. Its multiple functions have been deduced from its involvement in several cell pathways, but its potential involvement in symbiotic nodulation of legumes cannot be suggested a priori. In the present work, we identified and characterized from the woody leguminous tree Robinia pseudoacacia a homolog of TCTP, Rpf41, which was up-regulated in the infected roots at 15 days post-inoculation but decreased in the matured nodules. Subcellular location assay showed that Rpf41 protein was located in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and also maybe in cytoskeleton. Knockdown of Rpf41 via RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in the impaired development of both nodule and root hair. Compared with wild plants, the root and stem length, fresh weight and nodule number per plant was decreased dramatically in Rpf41 RNAi plants. The number of ITs or nodule primordia was also significantly reduced in the Rpf41 RNAi roots. The analyses of nodule ultrastructure showed that the infected cell development in Rpf41 RNAi nodules remained in zone II, which had fewer infected cells. Furthermore, the symbiosomes displayed noticeable shrinkage of bacteroid and peribacteroid space enlargement in the infected cells of Rpf41 RNAi nodules. In the deeper cell layers, a more remarkable aberration of the infected cell ultrastructure was observed, and electron-transparent lesions in the bacteroid cytoplasm were detected. These results identify TCTP as an important regulator of symbiotic nodulation in legume for the first time, and it may be involved in symbiotic cell differentiation and preventing premature aging of the young nodules in R. pseudoacacia.}, } @article {pmid26710764, year = {2016}, author = {Daghino, S and Martino, E and Perotto, S}, title = {Model systems to unravel the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance in the ericoid mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {263-274}, pmid = {26710764}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ericaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ericoid mycorrhizal plants dominate in harsh environments where nutrient-poor, acidic soil conditions result in a higher availability of potentially toxic metals. Although metal-tolerant plant species and ecotypes are known in the Ericaceae, metal tolerance in these plants has been mainly attributed to their association with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. The mechanisms underlying plant protection by the fungal symbiont are poorly understood, whereas some insights have been achieved regarding the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance in the fungal symbiont. This review will briefly introduce the general features of heavy metal tolerance in mycorrhizal fungi and will then focus on the use of "omics" approaches and heterologous expression in model organisms to reveal the molecular bases of fungal response to heavy metals. Functional complementation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has allowed the identification of several ericoid mycorrhizal fungi genes (i.e., antioxidant enzymes, metal transporters, and DNA damage repair proteins) that may contribute to metal tolerance in a metal-tolerant ericoid Oidiodendron maius isolate. Although a powerful system, the use of the yeast complementation assay to study metal tolerance in mycorrhizal symbioses has limitations. Thus, O. maius has been developed as a model system to study heavy metal tolerance mechanisms in mycorrhizal fungi, thanks to its high metal tolerance, easy handling and in vitro mycorrhization, stable genetic transformation, genomics, transcriptomic and proteomic resources.}, } @article {pmid26710603, year = {2015}, author = {Zhou, Y and He, D and Li, X and Zeng, X and Tian, M and Cheng, G}, title = {[Antioxidative function of katG gene in Rhizobium leguminosarum].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {55}, number = {7}, pages = {843-850}, pmid = {26710603}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Catalase/genetics/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Catalase-peroxidase KatG can protect bacteria from damage of reactive oxygen species. This study investigated the antioxidative function of catalase - peroxidase gene katG in Rhizobium leguminosarum 3841.

METHODS: katG mutant strain of R. leguminosarum was constructed by homologous recombination. The wild type, katG mutant and complementary strain were challenged by oxidative stress and symbiotic ability.

RESULTS: Under free - living conditions, the katG mutant exhibited no generation time extension. However, cells of the katG strain were deficient in consumption oj high concentrations of H2O2and were vulnerable after aquick exposure to H2O2. The real-time qRT-PCR results showec that katG was expressed independently of exogenous H2O2. In contrast, the katG mutant strain displayed higher expres, level of ohrB gene and lower expression level of grxC than the wild type. With regard to symbiotic capacities with Pisum sativum, the katG mutant was indistinguishable in root nodule nitrogenase activity and competition nodule ability from the wild type. However, katG gene was expressed significantly lower in bacteroids than that in free-living strains. Besides, the colonization of the pea rhizosphere by the katG mutant was impaired compared to that of the wild type.

CONCLUSION: ThE deletion of katG had nosignificant effect in 3841 under the free-living and symbiosis condition but was essential ir antioxidation and colonization of the pea rhizosphere. Although katG could not be induced by H2O2, it still played acentra role in antioxidation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation by regulating the antioxidant genes such as ohrB and grxC.}, } @article {pmid26710600, year = {2015}, author = {Duan, Q and Yang, X and Huang, X}, title = {[Signal exchange between plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizae fungi during the early stage of symbiosis - A review].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {55}, number = {7}, pages = {819-825}, pmid = {26710600}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Much is known about Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (AM), an important component of the ecosystem, whereas little is known about the signal exchange that allows mutual recognition and reprograming for the anticipated physical interaction. This review addresses the latest advances of signal exchange between plants and AM, including signal substances and their function, related genes and regulation function in the early stage of plant-fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26710320, year = {2015}, author = {Fajemila, OT and Langer, MR and Lipps, JH}, title = {Spatial Patterns in the Distribution, Diversity and Abundance of Benthic Foraminifera around Moorea (Society Archipelago, French Polynesia).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0145752}, pmid = {26710320}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bays ; Biodiversity ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Foraminifera/*classification/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polynesia ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are now subject to global threats and influences from numerous anthropogenic sources. Foraminifera, a group of unicellular shelled organisms, are excellent indicators of water quality and reef health. Thus we studied a set of samples taken in 1992 to provide a foraminiferal baseline for future studies of environmental change. Our study provides the first island-wide analysis of shallow benthic foraminifera from around Moorea (Society Archipelago). We analyzed the composition, species richness, patterns of distribution and abundance of unstained foraminiferal assemblages from bays, fringing reefs, nearshore and back- and fore-reef environments. A total of 380 taxa of foraminifera were recorded, a number that almost doubles previous species counts. Spatial patterns of foraminiferal assemblages are characterized by numerical abundances of individual taxa, cluster groups and gradients of species richness, as documented by cluster, Fisher α, ternary plot and Principal Component Analyses (PCA). The inner bay inlets are dominated by stress-tolerant, mostly thin-shelled taxa of Bolivina, Bolivinella, Nonionoides, Elongobula, and Ammonia preferring low-oxygen and/or nutrient-rich habitats influenced by coastal factors such as fresh-water runoff and overhanging mangroves. The larger symbiont-bearing foraminifera (Borelis, Amphistegina, Heterostegina, Peneroplis) generally live in the oligotrophic, well-lit back- and fore-reef environments. Amphisteginids and peneroplids were among the few taxa found in the bay environments, probably due to their preferences for phytal substrates and tolerance to moderate levels of eutrophication. The fringing reef environments along the outer bay are characterized by Borelis schlumbergeri, Heterostegina depressa, Textularia spp. and various miliolids which represent a hotspot of diversity within the complex reef-lagoon system of Moorea. The high foraminiferal Fisher α and species richness diversity in outer bay fringing reefs is consistent with the disturbance-mosaic (microhabitat heterogeneity) hypothesis. Calculations of the FORAM Index (FI), a single metric index to assess reef vitality, indicate that all fore- and most back-reef environments support active carbonate accretion and provide habitat suitability for carbonate producers dependent on algal symbiosis. Lowest suitability values were recorded within the innermost bays, an area where natural and increasing anthropogenic influences continue to impact the reefs. The presence of habitat specific assemblages and numerical abundance values of individual taxa show that benthic foraminifera are excellent recorders of environmental perturbations and good indicators useful in modern and ancient ecological and environmental studies.}, } @article {pmid26710314, year = {2015}, author = {Laming, SR and Szafranski, KM and Rodrigues, CF and Gaudron, SM and Cunha, MR and Hilário, A and Le Bris, N and Duperron, S}, title = {Fickle or Faithful: The Roles of Host and Environmental Context in Determining Symbiont Composition in Two Bathymodioline Mussels.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0144307}, pmid = {26710314}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Gibraltar ; Mediterranean Sea ; Mytilidae/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The Mediterranean Sea and adjoining East Atlantic Ocean host a diverse array of small-sized mussels that predominantly live on sunken, decomposing organic remains. At least two of these, Idas modiolaeformis and Idas simpsoni, are known to engage in gill-associated symbioses; however, the composition, diversity and variability of these symbioses with changing habitat and location is poorly defined. The current study presents bacterial symbiont assemblage data, derived from 454 pyrosequencing carried out on replicate specimens of these two host species, collected across seven sample sites found in three oceanographic regions in the Mediterranean and East Atlantic. The presence of several bacterial OTUs in both the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic suggests that similar symbiont candidates occur on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar. The results reveal markedly different symbiotic modes in the two species. Idas modiolaeformis displays high symbiont diversity and flexibility, with strong variation in symbiont composition from the East Mediterranean to the East Atlantic. Idas simpsoni displays low symbiont diversity but high symbiont fidelity, with a single dominant OTU occurring in all specimens analysed. These differences are argued to be a function of the host species, where subtle differences in host evolution, life-history and behaviour could partially explain the observed patterns. The variability in symbiont compositions, particularly in Idas modiolaeformis, is thought to be a function of the nature, context and location of the habitat from which symbiont candidates are sourced.}, } @article {pmid26709005, year = {2016}, author = {Owen, JL and Cheng, SX and Ge, Y and Sahay, B and Mohamadzadeh, M}, title = {The role of the calcium-sensing receptor in gastrointestinal inflammation.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {44-51}, pmid = {26709005}, issn = {1096-3634}, support = {UL1PRO29890//PHS HHS/United States ; L30 CA111002/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA111002/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI093370/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; NICHDK08HD079674//PHS HHS/United States ; K08 HD079674/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis/*immunology/metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology/metabolism ; Diarrhea/immunology/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism ; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) tract must balance the extraction of energy and metabolic end-products from ingested nutrition and resident gut microbes and the maintenance of a symbiotic relationship with this microbiota, with the ability to mount functional immune responses to pathogenic organisms to maintain GI health. The gut epithelium is equipped with bacteria-sensing mechanisms that discriminate between pathogenic and commensal microorganisms and regulate host responses between immunity and tolerance. The epithelium also expresses numerous nutrient-sensing receptors, but their importance in the preservation of the gut microbiota and immune homeostasis remains largely unexplored. Observations that a deficiency in the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) using intestinal epithelium-specific receptor knockout mice resulted in diminished intestinal barrier integrity, altered composition of the gut microbiota, modified expression of intestinal pattern recognition receptors, and a skewing of local and systemic innate responses from regulatory to stimulatory, may change the way that this receptor is considered as a potential immunotherapeutic target in gut homeostasis. These findings suggest that pharmacologic CaSR activators and CaSR-based nutrients such as calcium, polyamines, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and oligo-peptides might be useful in conditioning the gut microenvironment, and thus, in the prevention and treatment of disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infectious enterocolitis, and other inflammatory and secretory diarrheal diseases. Here, we review the emerging roles of the CaSR in intestinal homeostasis and its therapeutic potential for gut pathology.}, } @article {pmid26708130, year = {2016}, author = {Jalali, F and Sharifi, M and Salehi, R}, title = {Kefir induces apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation in human acute erythroleukemia.}, journal = {Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {26708130}, issn = {1559-131X}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; *Cultured Milk Products ; Humans ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/*pathology ; }, abstract = {Acute erythroleukemia is an uncommon subtype of acute myeloid leukemia which has been considered to be a subtype of AML with a worse prognosis. Intensive chemotherapy is the first line of treatment. In recent years, the effect of kefir on some malignancies has been experimented. Kefir is a kind of beverage, which obtained by incubation of kefir grains with raw milk. Kefir grains are a symbiotic complex of different kinds of yeasts and bacteria, especially lactic acid bacteria which gather in a mostly carbohydrate matrix, named kefiran. We investigated the effect of kefir on acute erythroleukemia cell line (KG-1) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The cell line and PBMCs were treated with different doses of kefir and milk and incubated for three different times. We used Polymixin B to block the lipopolysaccharide and NaOH (1 mol/l) to neutralize the acidic media. Viability was detected by MTT assay. Apoptosis and necrosis were assessed by annexin-propidium iodide staining. Our results showed that kefir induced apoptosis and necrosis in KG-1 cell line. It was revealed that kefir decreased proliferation in erythroleukemia cell line. We did not observe a remarkable effect of kefir on PBMCs. Our study suggested that kefir may have potential to be an effective treatment for erythroleukemia.}, } @article {pmid26707138, year = {2015}, author = {Kovalchuk, A and Kohler, A and Martin, F and Asiegbu, FO}, title = {Diversity and evolution of ABC proteins in mycorrhiza-forming fungi.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {249}, pmid = {26707138}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genetic Variation ; Likelihood Functions ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Transporter proteins are predicted to have an important role in the mycorrhizal symbiosis, due to the fact that this type of an interaction between plants and fungi requires a continuous nutrient and signalling exchange. ABC transporters are one of the large groups of transporter proteins found both in plants and in fungi. The crucial role of plant ABC transporters in the formation of the mycorrhizal symbiosis has been demonstrated recently. Some of the fungal ABC transporter-encoding genes are also induced during the mycorrhiza formation. However, no experimental evidences of the direct involvement of fungal ABC transporters in this process are available so far. To facilitate the identification of fungal ABC proteins with a potential role in the establishment of the mycorrhizal symbiosis, we have performed an inventory of the ABC protein-encoding genes in the genomes of 25 species of mycorrhiza-forming fungi.

RESULTS: We have identified, manually annotated and curated more than 1300 gene models of putative ABC protein-encoding genes. Out of those, more than 1000 models are predicted to encode functional proteins, whereas about 300 models represent gene fragments or putative pseudogenes. We have also performed the phylogenetic analysis of the identified sequences. The sets of ABC proteins in the mycorrhiza-forming species were compared to the related saprotrophic or plant-pathogenic fungal species. Our results demonstrate the high diversity of ABC genes in the genomes of mycorrhiza-forming fungi. Via comparison of transcriptomics data from different species, we have identified candidate groups of ABC transporters that might have a role in the process of the mycorrhiza formation.

CONCLUSIONS: Results of our inventory will facilitate the identification of fungal transporters with a role in the mycorrhiza formation. We also provide the first data on ABC protein-coding genes for the phylum Glomeromycota and for orders Pezizales, Atheliales, Cantharellales and Sebacinales, contributing to the better knowledge of the diversity of this protein family within the fungal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid26704132, year = {2016}, author = {Emsen, B and Aslan, A and Togar, B and Turkez, H}, title = {In vitro antitumor activities of the lichen compounds olivetoric, physodic and psoromic acid in rat neuron and glioblastoma cells.}, journal = {Pharmaceutical biology}, volume = {54}, number = {9}, pages = {1748-1762}, doi = {10.3109/13880209.2015.1126620}, pmid = {26704132}, issn = {1744-5116}, mesh = {8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Benzoxepins/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Carboxylic Acids/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cerebral Cortex/*drug effects/metabolism ; DNA Damage ; Deoxyguanosine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Dibenzoxepins/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glioblastoma/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; *Lichens/chemistry ; Neurons/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylates/isolation & purification/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Context Since methods utilised in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are inadequate and have too many side effects, usage of herbal products in the treatment process comes into prominence. Lichens are symbiotic organisms used for medicinal purposes for many years. There are various anticancer treatments about components of two lichen species used in the present study. Objective Antitumor potential of three lichen secondary metabolites including olivetoric acid (OLA) and physodic acid (PHA) isolated from Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae) and psoromic acid (PSA) isolated from Rhizoplaca melanophthalma (DC.) Leuckert (Lecanoraceae) were investigated on human U87MG-GBM cell lines and primary rat cerebral cortex (PRCC) cells for the first time. Materials and methods PRCC cells used as healthy brain cells were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats. The treatments were carried out on the cells cultured for 48 h. Cytotoxic effects of different concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/L) of metabolites on the cells were determined via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) analyses. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) parameters were used for assessing oxidative alterations. Oxidative DNA damage potentials of metabolites were investigated via evaluating 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) levels. Results Median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of OLA, PHA and PSA were 125.71, 698.19 and 79.40 mg/L for PRCC cells and 17.55, 410.72 and 56.22 mg/L for U87MG cells, respectively. It was revealed that cytotoxic effects of these metabolites showed positive correlation with concentration, LDH activity and oxidative DNA damage. Discussion and conclusion The present findings obtained in this study revealed that primarily OLA and then PSA had high potential for use in the treatment of GBM.}, } @article {pmid26701359, year = {2016}, author = {Addis, T and Teshome, A and Strauch, O and Ehlers, RU}, title = {Life history trait analysis of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae provides the basis for prediction of dauer juvenile yields in monoxenic liquid culture.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {10}, pages = {4357-4366}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-7220-y}, pmid = {26701359}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Control Agents ; Body Size ; Culture Media/*chemistry ; Female ; Insecta/parasitology ; *Life History Traits ; Male ; Population Dynamics ; Rhabditida/*growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema spp.) are used in integrated pest management to control insect pests in cryptic environments. The nematodes are mass produced in monoxenic liquid culture with their symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. For a better understanding of nematode population dynamics, the life history traits (LHTs) of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae were assessed at 25 °C by observing single pairs of male and female nematodes using a hanging drop technique. To investigate the influence of different food supplies on nematode reproduction, the LHTs were assessed with a daily supply of 5 ×, 10 × and 20 × 10(9) cells ml(-1) of the nematode's bacterial symbiont Xenorhabdus bovienii in semi-solid nematode growth gelrite (NGG) medium. Increasing bacterial density had a significant positive influence on the average number of offspring produced, which ranged from 359 to 813 per female. The intrinsic rate of natural increase r m, which ranges from 1.10 to 1.19 day(-1), was neither influenced by the bacterial density, nor was the mean generation time T (5.12-5.25 days) and population doubling time (PDT) (0.64-0.59 days). The average lifespan of reproductive females, which ranged from 6.7 to 7.3 days, was positively correlated with bacterial density. A positive correlation between female body volume and bacterial density was recorded (R = 0.67) as well as a significant positive correlation between female body size and offspring production (R = 0.89) in hanging drops. Whether these data can be used to predict nematode yields in liquid culture was tested. The total female body volume calculated as the average female body volume × total number of parental females per millilitre 3 days after nematode inoculation was positively correlated (R = 0.72) with nematode yields. The total female body volume on process day 3 is thus a good indicator for the estimation of nematode yield at the end of the process (12-15 days post dauer juvenile (DJ) inoculation) in both Erlenmeyer flasks and bioreactors. With a mean deviation of 9467 DJs ml(-1), the error resembles approximately 5 % of the final DJ yields.}, } @article {pmid26700030, year = {2016}, author = {Wei, Z and Li, J}, title = {Brassinosteroids Regulate Root Growth, Development, and Symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {86-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2015.12.003}, pmid = {26700030}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Brassinosteroids/*poisoning ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Brassinosteroids (BRs) are natural plant hormones critical for growth and development. BR deficient or signaling mutants show significantly shortened root phenotypes. However, for a long time, it was thought that these phenotypes were solely caused by reduced cell elongation in the mutant roots. Functions of BRs in regulating root development have been largely neglected. Nonetheless, recent detailed analyses, revealed that BRs are not only involved in root cell elongation but are also involved in many aspects of root development, such as maintenance of meristem size, root hair formation, lateral root initiation, gravitropic response, mycorrhiza formation, and nodulation in legume species. In this review, current findings on the functions of BRs in mediating root growth, development, and symbiosis are discussed.}, } @article {pmid26699661, year = {2016}, author = {Laughton, AM and Garcia, JR and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Condition-dependent alteration of cellular immunity by secondary symbionts in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {17-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.12.005}, pmid = {26699661}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/enzymology/*immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; *Immunity, Cellular ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism ; Serratia/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbionts can fundamentally alter host physiology. Whether such changes are beneficial or detrimental to one or both partners may depend on the dynamics of the symbiotic relationship. Here we investigate the relationship between facultative symbionts and host immune responses. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, maintains an obligate primary symbiont, but may also harbour one or more facultative, secondary symbionts. Given their more transient nature and relatively recent adoption of a symbiotic lifestyle compared to primary symbionts, secondary symbionts may present a challenge for the host immune system. We assessed the response of several key components of the cellular immune system (phenoloxidase activity, encapsulation, immune cell counts) in the presence of alternative secondary symbionts, investigating the role of host and secondary symbiont genotype in specific responses. There was no effect of secondary symbiont presence on the phenoloxidase response, but we found variation in the encapsulation response and in immune cell counts based largely on the secondary symbiont. Host genotype was less influential in determining immunity outcomes. Our results highlight the importance of secondary symbionts in shaping host immunity. Understanding the complex physiological responses that can be propagated by host-symbiont associations has important consequences for host ecology, including symbiont and pathogen transmission dynamics.}, } @article {pmid26698576, year = {2015}, author = {Yang, Y and Han, X and Liang, Y and Ghosh, A and Chen, J and Tang, M}, title = {The Combined Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Lead (Pb) Stress on Pb Accumulation, Plant Growth Parameters, Photosynthesis, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Robinia pseudoacacia L.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0145726}, pmid = {26698576}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Heavy Metal Poisoning ; Lead/analysis/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Plant Development/*physiology ; Poisoning ; Robinia/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered as a potential biotechnological tool for improving phytostabilization efficiency and plant tolerance to heavy metal-contaminated soils. However, the mechanisms through which AMF help to alleviate metal toxicity in plants are still poorly understood. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of two AMF species (Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices) on the growth, Pb accumulation, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activities of a leguminous tree (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) at Pb addition levels of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg(-1) soil. AMF symbiosis decreased Pb concentrations in the leaves and promoted the accumulation of biomass as well as photosynthetic pigment contents. Mycorrhizal plants had higher gas exchange capacity, non-photochemistry efficiency, and photochemistry efficiency compared with non-mycorrhizal plants. The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidases (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were enhanced, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were reduced in mycorrhizal plants. These findings suggested that AMF symbiosis could protect plants by alleviating cellular oxidative damage in response to Pb stress. Furthermore, mycorrhizal dependency on plants increased with increasing Pb stress levels, indicating that AMF inoculation likely played a more important role in plant Pb tolerance in heavily contaminated soils. Overall, both F. mosseae and R. intraradices were able to maintain efficient symbiosis with R. pseudoacacia in Pb polluted soils. AMF symbiosis can improve photosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capabilities and decrease Pb concentrations in leaves to alleviate Pb toxicity in R. pseudoacacia. Our results suggest that the application of the two AMF species associated with R. pseudoacacia could be a promising strategy for enhancing the phytostabilization efficiency of Pb contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid26697329, year = {2015}, author = {Mandadi, N and Hendrickson, C and Handanahal, S and Rajappa, T and Pai, N and Javeed, S and Verghese, A and Rai, A and Pappu, A and Nagaraj, G and Dhingra, A}, title = {Genome sequences of Photorhabdus luminescens strains isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes from southern India.}, journal = {Genomics data}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {46-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.gdata.2015.07.023}, pmid = {26697329}, issn = {2213-5960}, abstract = {We report here draft whole genome sequences of three novel strains of Photorhabdus luminescens of 5.2-5.3 Mbps in size, and with a G + C content of 42.5% (each). Symbiotic γ-proteobacteria belonging to the genera, Photorhabdus (Family: Enterobacteriaceae) with their natural vectors, the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) (Phylum: Nematoda; Order: Rhabditida; Family: Heterorhabditidae), have emerged as important biological control agents of insect pests, and are capable of production and delivery of diverse compounds to influence host biology [1], [2], [3]. Analysis of these genomes is expected to provide enhanced insight into mechanisms of virulence, insecticidal toxin genetic diversity, antibiotic resistance and monoxenicity. The nucleotide sequence information for the three strains NBAII PLHb105, NBAII HiPL101 and NBAII H75HRPL105 has been deposited in NCBI Nucleotide database and is accessible via AZAB00000000, JTHJ00000000 and JXUR00000000 accession numbers respectively.}, } @article {pmid26697320, year = {2015}, author = {Vahabi, K and Sherameti, I and Bakshi, M and Mrozinska, A and Ludwig, A and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Microarray analyses during early and later stages of the Arabidopsis/Piriformospora indica interaction.}, journal = {Genomics data}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {16-18}, pmid = {26697320}, issn = {2213-5960}, abstract = {Colonization of the roots of different plant species by Piriformospora indica results in better plant performance and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. An increase of the biomass and seed yield is other beneficial effect of P. indica for the host plants. The interaction of P. indica with Arabidopsis thaliana roots is a unique model system to study symbiotic relationships. We describe a co-cultivation system which allows us to investigate the effects of fungal exudates on the root transcriptome before and after the establishment of a physical contact, and during early phases of root colonization. We present a detailed protocol which facilitates easy reproduction of the results (NCBI GEO accession number GSE58771) published by Vahabi et al. (2015) in BMC Plant Biology [1].}, } @article {pmid26697040, year = {2015}, author = {He, W and Zhuang, H and Fu, Y and Guo, L and Guo, B and Guo, L and Zhang, X and Wei, Y}, title = {De novo Transcriptome Assembly of a Chinese Locoweed (Oxytropis ochrocephala) Species Provides Insights into Genes Associated with Drought, Salinity, and Cold Tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1086}, pmid = {26697040}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Locoweeds (toxic Oxytropis and Astraglus species), containing the toxic agent swainsonine, pose serious threats to animal husbandry on grasslands in both China and the US. Some locoweeds have evolved adaptations in order to resist various stress conditions such as drought, salt and cold. As a result they replace other plants in their communities and become an ecological problem. Currently very limited genetic information of locoweeds is available and this hinders our understanding in the molecular basis of their environmental plasticity, and the interaction between locoweeds and their symbiotic swainsonine producing endophytes. Next-generation sequencing provides a means of obtaining transcriptomic sequences in a timely manner, which is particularly useful for non-model plants. In this study, we performed transcriptome sequencing of Oxytropis ochrocephala plants followed by a de nove assembly. Our primary aim was to provide an enriched pool of genetic sequences of an Oxytropis sp. for further locoweed research.

RESULTS: Transcriptomes of four different O. ochrocephala samples, from control (CK) plants, and those that had experienced either drought (20% PEG), salt (150 mM NaCl) or cold (4°C) stress were sequenced using an Illumina Hiseq 2000 platform. From 232,209,506 clean reads 23,220,950,600 (~23 G nucleotides), 182,430 transcripts and 88,942 unigenes were retrieved, with an N50 value of 1237. Differential expression analysis revealed putative genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs) and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, enzymes in secondary metabolite and plant hormone biosyntheses, and transcription factors which are involved in stress tolerance in O. ochrocephala. In order to validate our sequencing results, we further analyzed the expression profiles of nine genes by quantitative real-time PCR. Finally, we discuss the possible mechanism of O. ochrocephala's adaptations to stress environment.

CONCLUSION: Our transcriptome sequencing data present useful genetic information of a locoweed species. This genetic information will underpin further research in elucidating the environmental acclimation mechanism in locoweeds and the endophyte-plant association.}, } @article {pmid26697034, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, JP and Munyampundu, JP and Xu, YP and Cai, XZ}, title = {Phylogeny of Plant Calcium and Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases (CCaMKs) and Functional Analyses of Tomato CCaMK in Disease Resistance.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1075}, pmid = {26697034}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is a member of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase superfamily and is essential to microbe- plant symbiosis. To date, the distribution of CCaMK gene in plants has not yet been completely understood, and its function in plant disease resistance remains unclear. In this study, we systemically identified the CCaMK genes in genomes of 44 plant species in Phytozome and analyzed the function of tomato CCaMK (SlCCaMK) in resistance to various pathogens. CCaMKs in 18 additional plant species were identified, yet the absence of CCaMK gene in green algae and cruciferous species was confirmed. Sequence analysis of full-length CCaMK proteins from 44 plant species demonstrated that plant CCaMKs are highly conserved across all domains. Most of the important regulatory amino acids are conserved throughout all sequences, with the only notable exception being observed in N-terminal autophosphorylation site corresponding to Ser 9 in the Medicago truncatula CCaMK. CCaMK gene structures are similar, mostly containing six introns with a phase profile of 200200 and the exception was only noticed at the first exons. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that CCaMK lineage is likely to have diverged early from a calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) gene in the ancestor of all nonvascular plant species. The SlCCaMK gene was widely and differently responsive to diverse pathogenic stimuli. Furthermore, knock-down of SlCCaMK reduced tomato resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 and decreased H2O2 accumulation in response to Pst DC3000 inoculation. Our results reveal that SlCCaMK positively regulates disease resistance in tomato via promoting H2O2 accumulation. SlCCaMK is the first CCaMK gene proved to function in plant disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid26694378, year = {2015}, author = {Liu, SS and Chen, J and Li, SC and Zeng, X and Meng, ZX and Guo, SX}, title = {Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Genes Involved in GA-GID1-DELLA Regulatory Module in Symbiotic and Asymbiotic Seed Germination of Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {30190-30203}, pmid = {26694378}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Databases, Genetic ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genes, Plant ; Germination/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae ; Orchidaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Seeds/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae) is an endangered medicinal plant in China, also called "King Medicine". Due to lacking of sufficient nutrients in dust-like seeds, orchid species depend on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination in the wild. As part of a conservation plan for the species, research on seed germination is necessary. However, the molecular mechanism of seed germination and underlying orchid-fungus interactions during symbiotic germination are poorly understood. In this study, Illumina HiSeq 4000 transcriptome sequencing was performed to generate a substantial sequence dataset of germinating A. roxburghii seed. A mean of 44,214,845 clean reads were obtained from each sample. 173,781 unigenes with a mean length of 653 nt were obtained. A total of 51,514 (29.64%) sequences were annotated, among these, 49 unigenes encoding proteins involved in GA-GID1-DELLA regulatory module, including 31 unigenes involved in GA metabolism pathway, 5 unigenes encoding GID1, 11 unigenes for DELLA and 2 unigenes for GID2. A total of 11,881 genes showed significant differential expression in the symbiotic germinating seed sample compared with the asymbiotic germinating seed sample, of which six were involved in the GA-GID1-DELLA regulatory module, and suggested that they might be induced or suppressed by fungi. These results will help us understand better the molecular mechanism of orchid seed germination and orchid-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26694362, year = {2015}, author = {Patnaik, BB and Hwang, HJ and Kang, SW and Park, SY and Wang, TH and Park, EB and Chung, JM and Song, DK and Kim, C and Kim, S and Lee, JB and Jeong, HC and Park, HS and Han, YS and Lee, YS}, title = {Transcriptome Characterization for Non-Model Endangered Lycaenids, Protantigius superans and Spindasis takanosis, Using Illumina HiSeq 2500 Sequencing.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {29948-29970}, pmid = {26694362}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Butterflies/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; *Endangered Species ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Insect Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nucleotide Motifs/genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Species Specificity ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The Lycaenidae butterflies, Protantigius superans and Spindasis takanosis, are endangered insects in Korea known for their symbiotic association with ants. However, necessary genomic and transcriptomics data are lacking in these species, limiting conservation efforts. In this study, the P. superans and S. takanosis transcriptomes were deciphered using Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing. The P. superans and S. takanosis transcriptome data included a total of 254,340,693 and 245,110,582 clean reads assembled into 159,074 and 170,449 contigs and 107,950 and 121,140 unigenes, respectively. BLASTX hits (E-value of 1.0 × 10(-5)) against the known protein databases annotated a total of 46,754 and 51,908 transcripts for P. superans and S. takanosis. Approximately 41.25% and 38.68% of the unigenes for P. superans and S. takanosis found homologous sequences in Protostome DB (PANM-DB). BLAST2GO analysis confirmed 18,611 unigenes representing Gene Ontology (GO) terms and a total of 5259 unigenes assigned to 116 pathways for P. superans. For S. takanosis, a total of 6697 unigenes were assigned to 119 pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database. Additionally, 382,164 and 390,516 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) were compiled from the unigenes of P. superans and S. takanosis, respectively. This is the first report to record new genes and their utilization for conservation of lycaenid species population and as a reference information for closely related species.}, } @article {pmid26694086, year = {2016}, author = {Mollavali, M and Bolandnazar, SA and Schwarz, D and Rohn, S and Riehle, P and Zaare Nahandi, F}, title = {Flavonol Glucoside and Antioxidant Enzyme Biosynthesis Affected by Mycorrhizal Fungi in Various Cultivars of Onion (Allium cepa L.).}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {71-77}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04791}, pmid = {26694086}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Flavonols/*analysis/metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology ; Glucosides/*analysis/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Onions/chemistry/classification/enzymology/*microbiology ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/enzymology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of mycorrhizal symbiosis on qualitative characteristics of onion (Allium cepa L.). For this reason, five onion cultivars with different scale color and three different strains of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Diversispora versiformis, Rhizophagus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae) were used. Red cultivars, mainly 'Red Azar-shahr', showed the highest content in vitamin C, flavonols, and antioxidant enzymes. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased total phenolic, pyruvic acid, and vitamin C of onion plants. Considerable increase was observed in quercetin-4'-O-monoglucoside and isorhamnetin-4'-O-monoglucoside content in plants inoculated with Diversispora versiformis, but quercetin-3,4'-O-diglucoside was not significantly influenced. Analyses for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and antioxiodant enzyme activities such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) revealed that all except PPO were enhanced by mycorrhizal inoculation. Overall, these findings suggested that mycorrhizal inoculation influenced biosynthesis of flavonol glucosides and antioxidant enzymes by increasing nutrient uptake or by induction of the plant defense system.}, } @article {pmid26691487, year = {2015}, author = {Fu, N and Wu, J and Lv, L and He, J and Jiang, S}, title = {Anti-foot-and-mouth disease virus effects of Chinese herbal kombucha in vivo.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {1245-1255}, pmid = {26691487}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Antiviral Agents/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; Cattle ; China ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fermentation ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/pathology/*prevention & control/virology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Nasal Sprays ; Oral Sprays ; Plant Extracts/*administration & dosage/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load ; }, abstract = {The foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is sensitive to acids and can be inactivated by exposure to low pH conditions. Spraying animals at risk of infection with suspensions of acid-forming microorganisms has been identified as a potential strategy for preventing FMD. Kombucha is one of the most strongly acid-forming symbiotic probiotics and could thus be an effective agent with which to implement this strategy. Moreover, certain Chinese herbal extracts are known to have broad-spectrum antiviral effects. Chinese herbal kombucha can be prepared by fermenting Chinese herbal extracts with a kombucha culture. Previous studies demonstrated that Chinese herbal kombucha prepared in this way efficiently inhibits FMDV replication in vitro. To assess the inhibitory effects of Chinese herbal kombucha against FMDV in vitro, swine challenged by intramuscular injection with 1000 SID50 of swine FMDV serotype O strain O/China/99 after treatment with Chinese herbal kombucha were partially protected against infection, as demonstrated by a lack of clinical symptoms and qRT-PCR analysis. In a large scale field trial, spraying cattle in an FMD outbreak zone with kombucha protected against infection. Chinese herbal kombucha may be a useful probiotic agent for managing FMD outbreaks.}, } @article {pmid26689879, year = {2015}, author = {Füzy, A and Biró, I and Kovács, R and Takács, T}, title = {Estimation of AM fungal colonization - Comparability and reliability of classical methods.}, journal = {Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {435-451}, doi = {10.1556/030.62.2015.4.8}, pmid = {26689879}, issn = {1217-8950}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/chemistry/*growth & development/physiology ; Kinetics ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*growth & development/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trifolium/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The characterization of mycorrhizal status in hosts can be a good indicator of symbiotic associations in inoculation experiments or in ecological research. The most common microscopic-based observation methods, such as (i) the gridline intersect method, (ii) the magnified intersections method and (iii) the five-class system of Trouvelot were tested to find the most simple, easily executable, effective and objective ones and their appropriate parameters for characterization of mycorrhizal status. In a pot experiment, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) host plant was inoculated with 6 (BEG144; syn. Rhizophagus intradices) in pumice substrate to monitor the AMF colonization properties during host growth. Eleven (seven classical and four new) colonization parameters were estimated by three researchers in twelve sampling times during plant growth. Variations among methods, observers, parallels, or individual plants were determined and analysed to select the most appropriate parameters and sampling times for monitoring. The comparability of the parameters of the three methods was also tested. As a result of the experiment classical parameters were selected for hyphal colonization: colonization frequency in the first stage or colonization density in the later period, and arbuscular richness of roots. A new parameter was recommended to determine vesicule and spore content of colonized roots at later stages of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26689612, year = {2016}, author = {Lemaire, B and Van Cauwenberghe, J and Verstraete, B and Chimphango, S and Stirton, C and Honnay, O and Smets, E and Sprent, J and James, EK and Muasya, AM}, title = {Characterization of the papilionoid-Burkholderia interaction in the Fynbos biome: The diversity and distribution of beta-rhizobia nodulating Podalyria calyptrata (Fabaceae, Podalyrieae).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {41-48}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2015.09.006}, pmid = {26689612}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The South African Fynbos soils are renowned for nitrogen-fixing Burkholderia associated with diverse papilionoid legumes of the tribes Crotalarieae, Hypocalypteae, Indigofereae, Phaseoleae and Podalyrieae. However, despite numerous rhizobial studies in the region, the symbiotic diversity of Burkholderia has not been investigated in relation to a specific host legume and its geographical provenance. This study analyzed the diversity of nodulating strains of Burkholderia from the legume species Podalyria calyptrata. Diverse lineages were detected that proved to be closely related to Burkholderia taxa, originating from hosts in other legume tribes. By analyzing the genetic variation of chromosomal (recA) and nodulation (nodA) sequence data in relation to the sampling sites we assessed the geographical distribution patterns of the P. calyptrata symbionts. Although we found a degree of genetically differentiated rhizobial populations, a correlation between genetic (recA and nodA) and geographic distances among populations was not observed, suggesting high rates of dispersal and rhizobial colonization within Fynbos soils.}, } @article {pmid26688259, year = {2016}, author = {Li, H and Chen, XW and Wong, MH}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduced the ratios of inorganic/organic arsenic in rice grains.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {145}, number = {}, pages = {224-230}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.10.067}, pmid = {26688259}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Arsenic/analysis/*pharmacokinetics ; Cacodylic Acid/metabolism ; Edible Grain/*metabolism/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) - Rhizophagus intraradices was inoculated to rice to investigate its effects on arsenic (As) uptake, grain As speciation, and rhizospheric As concentration of six rice cultivars grown in As-amended soil (60 mg As kg(-1) soil). The AMF inoculation induced either positive, neutral or negative responses in rice grown in As contaminated soil, suggesting that functional diversity may exist in AMF symbiosis when As is taken up and transferred. The ratios of inorganic/organic As concentrations in rice grains of all cultivars were significantly reduced by AMF, that involved the transformation of inorganic As into less toxic organic form dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in rice. AMF decreased significantly total As and inorganic As concentrations in rice grains of Handao 3. Positive correlations (R(2) = 0.30-0.56, P < 0.05) between As in the rhizospheric soil solution and As in rice grain at different periods were observed. This inferred that the As survey of soil solution can be an effective measure for evaluating As in grains.}, } @article {pmid26686616, year = {2016}, author = {Mongiardini, EJ and Parisi, GD and Quelas, JI and Lodeiro, AR}, title = {The tight-adhesion proteins TadGEF of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 are involved in cell adhesion and infectivity on soybean roots.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {182}, number = {}, pages = {80-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2015.10.001}, pmid = {26686616}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Adhesion of symbiotic bacteria to host plants is an essential early step of the infection process that leads to the beneficial interaction. In the Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens-soybean symbiosis few molecular determinants of adhesion are known. Here we identified the tight-adhesion gene products TadGEF in the open-reading frames blr3941-blr3943 of the B. diazoefficiens USDA 110 complete genomic sequence. Predicted structure of TadG indicates a transmembrane domain and two extracytosolic domains, from which the C-terminal has an integrin fold. TadE and TadF are also predicted as bearing transmembrane segments. Mutants in tadG or the small cluster tadGEF were impaired in adhesion to soybean roots, and the root infection was delayed. However, nodule histology was not compromised by the mutations, indicating that these effects were restricted to the earliest contact of the B. diazoefficiens and root surfaces. Knowledge of preinfection determinants is important for development of inoculants that are applied to soybean crops worldwide.}, } @article {pmid26685173, year = {2016}, author = {Hillyer, KE and Tumanov, S and Villas-Bôas, S and Davy, SK}, title = {Metabolite profiling of symbiont and host during thermal stress and bleaching in a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {516-527}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.128660}, pmid = {26685173}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Glycolysis ; Hot Temperature ; Lipogenesis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bleaching (dinoflagellate symbiont loss) is one of the greatest threats facing coral reefs. The functional cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, which forms coral reefs, is based on the bi-directional exchange of nutrients. During thermal stress this exchange breaks down; however, major gaps remain in our understanding of the roles of free metabolite pools in symbiosis and homeostasis. In this study we applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to explore thermally induced changes in intracellular pools of amino and non-amino organic acids in each partner of the model sea anemone Aiptasia sp. and its dinoflagellate symbiont. Elevated temperatures (32 °C for 6 days) resulted in symbiont photoinhibition and bleaching. Thermal stress induced distinct changes in the metabolite profiles of both partners, associated with alterations to central metabolism, oxidative state, cell structure, biosynthesis and signalling. Principally, we detected elevated pools of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the symbiont, indicative of modifications to lipogenesis/lysis, membrane structure and nitrogen assimilation. In contrast, reductions of multiple PUFAs were detected in host pools, indicative of increased metabolism, peroxidation and/or reduced translocation of these groups. Accumulations of glycolysis intermediates were also observed in both partners, associated with photoinhibition and downstream reductions in carbohydrate metabolism. Correspondingly, we detected accumulations of amino acids and intermediate groups in both partners, with roles in gluconeogenesis and acclimation responses to oxidative stress. These data further our understanding of cellular responses to thermal stress in the symbiosis and generate hypotheses relating to the secondary roles of a number of compounds in homeostasis and heat-stress resistance.}, } @article {pmid26684730, year = {2016}, author = {Mordret, S and Romac, S and Henry, N and Colin, S and Carmichael, M and Berney, C and Audic, S and Richter, DJ and Pochon, X and de Vargas, C and Decelle, J}, title = {The symbiotic life of Symbiodinium in the open ocean within a new species of calcifying ciliate (Tiarina sp.).}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {1424-1436}, pmid = {26684730}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Ciliophora/*genetics/physiology ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Genotype ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Metagenomics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic partnerships between heterotrophic hosts and intracellular microalgae are common in tropical and subtropical oligotrophic waters of benthic and pelagic marine habitats. The iconic example is the photosynthetic dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium that establishes mutualistic symbioses with a wide diversity of benthic hosts, sustaining highly biodiverse reef ecosystems worldwide. Paradoxically, although various species of photosynthetic dinoflagellates are prevalent eukaryotic symbionts in pelagic waters, Symbiodinium has not yet been reported in symbiosis within oceanic plankton, despite its high propensity for the symbiotic lifestyle. Here we report a new pelagic photosymbiosis between a calcifying ciliate host and the microalga Symbiodinium in surface ocean waters. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy, together with an 18S rDNA-based phylogeny, showed that the host is a new ciliate species closely related to Tiarina fusus (Colepidae). Phylogenetic analyses of the endosymbionts based on the 28S rDNA gene revealed multiple novel closely related Symbiodinium clade A genotypes. A haplotype network using the high-resolution internal transcribed spacer-2 marker showed that these genotypes form eight divergent, biogeographically structured, subclade types that do not seem to associate with any benthic hosts. Ecological analyses using the Tara Oceans metabarcoding data set (V9 region of the 18S rDNA) and contextual oceanographic parameters showed a global distribution of the symbiotic partnership in nutrient-poor surface waters. The discovery of the symbiotic life of Symbiodinium in the open ocean provides new insights into the ecology and evolution of this pivotal microalga and raises new hypotheses about coastal pelagic connectivity.}, } @article {pmid26682876, year = {2016}, author = {Kitaeva, AB and Demchenko, KN and Tikhonovich, IA and Timmers, AC and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Comparative analysis of the tubulin cytoskeleton organization in nodules of Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum: bacterial release and bacteroid positioning correlate with characteristic microtubule rearrangements.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {210}, number = {1}, pages = {168-183}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13792}, pmid = {26682876}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Meristem/metabolism ; Microtubules/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Polymerization ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Tubulin/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study we analyzed and compared the organization of the tubulin cytoskeleton in nodules of Medicago truncatula and Pisum sativum. We combined antibody labeling and green fluorescent protein tagging with laser confocal microscopy to observe microtubules (MTs) in nodules of both wild-type (WT) plants and symbiotic plant mutants blocked at different steps of nodule development. The 3D MT organization of each histological nodule zone in both M. truncatula and P. sativum is correlated to specific developmental processes. Endoplasmic MTs appear to support infection thread growth, infection droplet formation and bacterial release into the host cytoplasm in nodules of both species. No differences in the organization of the MT cytoskeleton between WT and bacterial release mutants were apparent, suggesting both that the phenotype is not linked to a defect in MT organization and that the growth of hypertrophied infection threads is supported by MTs. Strikingly, bacterial release coincides with a change in the organization of cortical MTs from parallel arrays into an irregular, crisscross arrangement. After release, the organization of endoplasmic MTs is linked to the distribution of symbiosomes. The 3D MT organization of each nodule histological zone in M. truncatula and P. sativum was analyzed and linked to specific developmental processes.}, } @article {pmid26682851, year = {2016}, author = {Li, YZ and Wang, D and Feng, XY and Jiao, J and Chen, WX and Tian, CF}, title = {Genetic Analysis Reveals the Essential Role of Nitrogen Phosphotransferase System Components in Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU 45436 Symbioses with Soybean and Pigeonpea Plants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {1305-1315}, pmid = {26682851}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Cajanus/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphoenolpyruvate/metabolism ; Phosphotransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen phosphotransferase system (PTS(Ntr)) consists of EI(Ntr), NPr, and EIIA(Ntr). The active phosphate moiety derived from phosphoenolpyruvate is transferred through EI(Ntr) and NPr to EIIA(Ntr). Sinorhizobium fredii can establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the legume crops soybean (as determinate nodules) and pigeonpea (as indeterminate nodules). In this study, S. fredii strains with mutations in ptsP and ptsO (encoding EI(Ntr) and NPr, respectively) formed ineffective nodules on soybeans, while a strain with a ptsN mutation (encoding EIIA(Ntr)) was not defective in symbiosis with soybeans. Notable reductions in the numbers of bacteroids within each symbiosome and of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules in bacteroids were observed in nodules infected by the ptsP or ptsO mutant strains but not in those infected with the ptsN mutant strain. However, these defects of the ptsP and ptsO mutant strains were recovered in ptsP ptsN and ptsO ptsN double-mutant strains, implying a negative role of unphosphorylated EIIA(Ntr) in symbiosis. Moreover, the symbiotic defect of the ptsP mutant was also recovered by expressing EI(Ntr) with or without the GAF domain, indicating that the putative glutamine-sensing domain GAF is dispensable in symbiotic interactions. The critical role of PTS(Ntr) in symbiosis was also observed when related PTS(Ntr) mutant strains of S. fredii were inoculated on pigeonpea plants. Furthermore, nodule occupancy and carbon utilization tests suggested that multiple outputs could be derived from components of PTS(Ntr) in addition to the negative role of unphosphorylated EIIA(Ntr).}, } @article {pmid26680197, year = {2015}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Gobbato, E and Choi, J and Riemann, M and Johnston, MG and Summers, W and Carbonnel, S and Mansfield, C and Yang, SY and Nadal, M and Acosta, I and Takano, M and Jiao, WB and Schneeberger, K and Kelly, KA and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Rice perception of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi requires the karrikin receptor complex.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {350}, number = {6267}, pages = {1521-1524}, doi = {10.1126/science.aac9715}, pmid = {26680197}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {PDAG/223 T39//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Furans/*metabolism ; Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Pyrans/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {In terrestrial ecosystems, plants take up phosphate predominantly via association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We identified loss of responsiveness to AMF in the rice (Oryza sativa) mutant hebiba, reflected by the absence of physical contact and of characteristic transcriptional responses to fungal signals. Among the 26 genes deleted in hebiba, DWARF 14 LIKE is, the one responsible for loss of symbiosis . It encodes an alpha/beta-fold hydrolase, that is a component of an intracellular receptor complex involved in the detection of the smoke compound karrikin. Our finding reveals an unexpected plant recognition strategy for AMF and a previously unknown signaling link between symbiosis and plant development.}, } @article {pmid26679591, year = {2015}, author = {Delamuta, JR and Gomes, DF and Ribeiro, RA and Chueire, LM and Souza, RC and Almeida, LG and Vasconcelos, AT and Hungria, M}, title = {Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium tropiciagri Strain CNPSo 1112T, Isolated from a Root Nodule of Neonotonia wightii.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {26679591}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {CNPSo 1112(T) is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of perennial soybean, a tropical legume forage. Its draft genome indicates a large genome with a circular chromosome and 9,554 coding sequences (CDSs). Operons of nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and uptake hydrogenase were present in the symbiotic island, and the genome encompasses several CDSs of stress tolerance.}, } @article {pmid26679176, year = {2016}, author = {Perez, R and Forchhammer, K and Salerno, G and Maldener, I}, title = {Clear differences in metabolic and morphological adaptations of akinetes of two Nostocales living in different habitats.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {162}, number = {2}, pages = {214-223}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000230}, pmid = {26679176}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Anabaena variabilis/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cytoplasmic Granules ; Ecosystem ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Glycogen/metabolism ; Light ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nostoc/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphates/deficiency ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Spores, Bacterial/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Akinetes are resting spore-like cells formed by some heterocyst-forming filamentous cyanobacteria for surviving long periods of unfavourable conditions. We studied the development of akinetes in two model strains of cyanobacterial cell differentiation, the planktonic freshwater Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 and the terrestrial or symbiotic Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133, in response to low light and phosphate starvation. The best trigger of akinete differentiation of Anabaena variabilis was low light; that of N. punctiforme was phosphate starvation. Light and electron microscopy revealed that akinetes of both species differed from vegetative cells by their larger size, different cell morphology and large number of intracellular granules. Anabaena variabilis akinetes had a multilayer envelope; those of N. punctiforme had a simpler envelope. During akinete development of Anabaena variabilis, the amount of the storage compounds cyanophycin and glycogen increased transiently, whereas in N. punctiforme, cyanophycin and lipid droplets increased transiently. Photosynthesis and respiration decreased during akinete differentiation in both species, and remained at a low level in mature akinetes. The clear differences in the metabolic and morphological adaptations of akinetes of the two species could be related to their different lifestyles. The results pave the way for genetic and functional studies of akinete differentiation in these species.}, } @article {pmid26676797, year = {2016}, author = {Steves, CJ and Bird, S and Williams, FM and Spector, TD}, title = {The Microbiome and Musculoskeletal Conditions of Aging: A Review of Evidence for Impact and Potential Therapeutics.}, journal = {Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research}, volume = {31}, number = {2}, pages = {261-269}, doi = {10.1002/jbmr.2765}, pmid = {26676797}, issn = {1523-4681}, support = {MR/N01183X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; MR/N030125/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; 20682/ARC_/Arthritis Research UK/United Kingdom ; 20682/VAC_/Versus Arthritis/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Aging ; Animals ; *Bone Diseases/metabolism/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Joint Diseases/metabolism/therapy ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Recently, we have begun to realize that the billions of microorganisms living in symbiosis with us have an influence on disease. Evidence is mounting that the alimentary tract microbiome, in particular, influences both host metabolic potential and its innate and adaptive immune system. Inflammatory states characterize many bone and joint diseases of aging. This prompts the hypothesis that the gut microbiome could alter the inflammatory state of the individual and directly influence the development of these common and burdensome clinical problems. Because the microbiome is easily modifiable, this could have major therapeutic impact. This perspective discusses evidence to date on the role of the microbiome and the highly prevalent age-related disorders of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcopenia, and frailty. It also reviews data on the effects of probiotics and prebiotic interventions in animal and human models. Despite suggestive findings, research to date is not conclusive, and we identify priorities for research to substantiate and translate findings.}, } @article {pmid26674802, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, X and Crippen, TL and Coates, CJ and Wood, TK and Tomberlin, JK}, title = {Effect of Quorum Sensing by Staphylococcus epidermidis on the Attraction Response of Female Adult Yellow Fever Mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae), to a Blood-Feeding Source.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0143950}, pmid = {26674802}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aedes/*physiology ; Animals ; Humans ; *Insect Vectors ; *Quorum Sensing ; Staphylococcus epidermidis/*physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; Yellow Fever/transmission ; }, abstract = {Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of yellow fever and dengue fever, is responsible for more than 30,000 deaths annually. Compounds such as carbon dioxide, amino acids, fatty acids and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been widely studied for their role in attracting Ae. aegypti to hosts. Many VOCs from humans are produced by associated skin microbiota. Staphyloccocus epidermidis, although not the most abundant bacteria according to surveys of relative 16S ribosomal RNA abundance, commonly occurs on human skin. Bacteria demonstrate population level decision-making through quorum sensing. Many quorum sensing molecules, such as indole, volatilize and become part of the host odor plum. To date, no one has directly demonstrated the link between quorum sensing (i.e., decision-making) by bacteria associated with a host as a factor regulating arthropod vector attraction. This study examined this specific question with regards to S. epidermidis and Ae. aegypti. Pairwise tests were conducted to examine the response of female Ae. aegypti to combinations of tryptic soy broth (TSB) and S. epidermidis wildtype and agr- strains. The agr gene expresses an accessory gene regulator for quorum sensing; therefore, removing this gene inhibits quorum sensing of the bacteria. Differential attractiveness of mosquitoes to the wildtype and agr- strains was observed. Both wildtype and the agr- strain of S. epidermidis with TSB were marginally more attractive to Ae. aegypti than the TSB alone. Most interestingly, the blood-feeder treated with wildtype S. epidermidis/TSB attracted 74% of Ae. aegypti compared to the agr- strain of S. epidermidis/TSB (P ≤ 0.0001). This study is the first to suggest a role for interkingdom communication between host symbiotic bacteria and mosquitoes. This may have implications for mosquito decision-making with regards to host detection, location and acceptance. We speculate that mosquitoes "eavesdrop" on the chemical discussions occurring between host-associated microbes to determine suitability for blood feeding. We believe these data suggest that manipulating quorum sensing by bacteria could serve as a novel approach for reducing mosquito attraction to hosts, or possibly enhancing the trapping of adults at favored oviposition sites.}, } @article {pmid26673468, year = {2015}, author = {Frass, M}, title = {Middle Age Like Fight or Modern Symbiosis? Comment on "Substitutes or Complements? Diagnosis and Treatment With Non-conventional and Conventional Medicine".}, journal = {International journal of health policy and management}, volume = {4}, number = {12}, pages = {835}, pmid = {26673468}, issn = {2322-5939}, abstract = {Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by patients worldwide. Financial factors may influence the decision to use CAM. National Health Systems are requested to consider CAM in their health plans.}, } @article {pmid26672316, year = {2015}, author = {Ouyang, SL and Li, BW and Zhang, XF and Jia, XL and Zhao, M and Deng, LB}, title = {[Spectroscopic Research on Slag Nanocrystal Glass Ceramics Containing Rare Earth Elements].}, journal = {Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {2316-2319}, pmid = {26672316}, issn = {1000-0593}, abstract = {The research group prepared the high-performance slag nanocrystal glass ceramics by utilizing the valuable elements of the wastes in the Chinese Bayan Obo which are characterized by their symbiotic or associated existence. In this paper, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (Raman) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are all used in the depth analysis for the composition and structure of the samples. The experiment results of ICP, XRD and SEM showed that the principal crystalline phase of the slag nanocrystal glass ceramics containing rare earth elements is diopside, its grain size ranges from 45 to 100 nm, the elements showed in the SEM scan are basically in consistent with the component analysis of ICP. Raman analysis indicated that its amorphous phase is a three-dimensional network structure composed by the structural unit of silicon-oxy tetrahedron with different non-bridging oxygen bonds. According to the further analysis, we found that the rare earth microelement has significant effect on the network structure. Compared the nanocrystal slag glass ceramic with the glass ceramics of similar ingredients, we found that generally, the Raman band wavenumber for the former is lower than the later. The composition difference between the glass ceramics and the slag nanocrystal with the similar ingredients mainly lies on the rare earth elements and other trace elements. Therefore, we think that the rare earth elements and other trace elements remains in the slag nanocrystal glass ceramics have a significant effect on the network structure of amorphous phase. The research method of this study provides an approach for the relationship among the composition, structure and performance of the glass ceramics.}, } @article {pmid26672071, year = {2015}, author = {Vernié, T and Kim, J and Frances, L and Ding, Y and Sun, J and Guan, D and Niebel, A and Gifford, ML and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {The NIN Transcription Factor Coordinates Diverse Nodulation Programs in Different Tissues of the Medicago truncatula Root.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {3410-3424}, pmid = {26672071}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {BB/H019502/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J001872/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/cytology/genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation in legumes occurs in nodules that are initiated in the root cortex following Nod factor recognition at the root surface, and this requires coordination of diverse developmental programs in these different tissues. We show that while early Nod factor signaling associated with calcium oscillations is limited to the root surface, the resultant activation of Nodule Inception (NIN) in the root epidermis is sufficient to promote cytokinin signaling and nodule organogenesis in the inner root cortex. NIN or a product of its action must be associated with the transmission of a signal between the root surface and the cortical cells where nodule organogenesis is initiated. NIN appears to have distinct functions in the root epidermis and the root cortex. In the epidermis, NIN restricts the extent of Early Nodulin 11 (ENOD11) expression and does so through competitive inhibition of ERF Required for Nodulation (ERN1). In contrast, NIN is sufficient to promote the expression of the cytokinin receptor Cytokinin Response 1 (CRE1), which is restricted to the root cortex. Our work in Medicago truncatula highlights the complexity of NIN action and places NIN as a central player in the coordination of the symbiotic developmental programs occurring in differing tissues of the root that combined are necessary for a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26670313, year = {2016}, author = {Raharimalala, FN and Boukraa, S and Bawin, T and Boyer, S and Francis, F}, title = {Molecular detection of six (endo-) symbiotic bacteria in Belgian mosquitoes: first step towards the selection of appropriate paratransgenesis candidates.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {115}, number = {4}, pages = {1391-1399}, pmid = {26670313}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Belgium ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; Insect Control ; Larva/microbiology ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Actually, the use of symbiotic bacteria is one of alternative solution to avoid vector resistance to pesticides. In Belgium, among 31 identified mosquito species, 10 were considered as potential vectors. Given to introduction risks of arbovirosis, the purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of symbiosis bacteria in potential mosquito vectors. Eleven species caught from 12 sites in Belgium were used: Culex pipiens s.l., Culex torrentium, Culex hortensis, Anopheles claviger, Anopheles maculipennis s.l., Anopheles plumbeus, Culiseta annulata, Ochlerotatus geniculatus, Ochlerotatus dorsalis, Aedes albopictus, and Coquillettidia richiardii. Six genera of symbiotic bacteria were screened: Wolbachia sp., Comamonas sp, Delftia sp., Pseudomonas sp., Acinetobacter sp., and Asaia sp. A total of 173 mosquito individuals (144 larvae and 29 adults) were used for the polymerase chain reaction screening. Wolbachia was not found in any Anopheles species nor Cx. torrentium. A total absence of Comamonas and Delftia was observed in all species. Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Asaia were found in most of species with a high prevalence for Pseudomonas. These results were discussed to develop potential strategy and exploit the variable occurrence of symbiotic bacteria to focus on them to propose biological ways of mosquito control.}, } @article {pmid26669320, year = {2017}, author = {Kanu, SA and Dakora, FD}, title = {Symbiotic functioning, structural adaptation, and subcellular organization of root nodules from Psoralea pinnata (L.) plants grown naturally under wetland and upland conditions in the Cape Fynbos of South Africa.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {254}, number = {1}, pages = {137-145}, pmid = {26669320}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Psoralea/*growth & development/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Soil ; South Africa ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {In the Cape Fynbos of South Africa, Psoralea pinnata (L.) plants occur naturally in both wetland and well-drained soils and yet effectively fix N2 under the two contrasting conditions. In this study, nodule structure and functioning in P. pinnata plants from the two habitats were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as the [15]N natural abundance technique. The results showed that, structurally, fully developed P. pinnata nodules were spherical in shape with six components (namely, lenticels, periderm, outer cortex, middle cortex, inner cortex, and a central bacteria-infected medulla region). Morphometric analysis revealed 44 and 84 % increase in cell area and volume of wetland nodules compared to those from upland. The percentage area of nodules occupied by the middle cortex in wetland nodules was twice that of upland nodules. As a result, the size of the medulla region in wetland nodules was significantly reduced compared to upland nodules. Additionally, the average area of medulla occupied by intercellular air spaces in wetland nodules was about five times that of upland nodules (about 431 % increase in wetland over upland nodules). TEM data also showed more bacteroids in symbiosomes of upland nodules when compared to wetland nodules. However, isotopic analysis of above-ground plant parts revealed no differences in symbiotic parameters such as N concentration, ∂[15]N and %Ndfa between wetland and upland P. pinnata plants. These results suggest that, under limiting O2 conditions especially in wetlands, nodules make structural and functional adjustments to meet the O2 demands of N2-fixing bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid26668374, year = {2015}, author = {Palopoli, MF and Fergus, DJ and Minot, S and Pei, DT and Simison, WB and Fernandez-Silva, I and Thoemmes, MS and Dunn, RR and Trautwein, M}, title = {Global divergence of the human follicle mite Demodex folliculorum: Persistent associations between host ancestry and mite lineages.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {52}, pages = {15958-15963}, pmid = {26668374}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {5P20RR016463-12/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; P20 RR016463/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 8 P20 GM103423-12/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; //Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Africa ; Animals ; Asia ; Australia ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Europe ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Geography ; Hair Follicle/*parasitology ; Haplotypes ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Latin America ; Mites/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Microscopic mites of the genus Demodex live within the hair follicles of mammals and are ubiquitous symbionts of humans, but little molecular work has been done to understand their genetic diversity or transmission. Here we sampled mite DNA from 70 human hosts of diverse geographic ancestries and analyzed 241 sequences from the mitochondrial genome of the species Demodex folliculorum. Phylogenetic analyses recovered multiple deep lineages including a globally distributed lineage common among hosts of European ancestry and three lineages that primarily include hosts of Asian, African, and Latin American ancestry. To a great extent, the ancestral geography of hosts predicted the lineages of mites found on them; 27% of the total molecular variance segregated according to the regional ancestries of hosts. We found that D. folliculorum populations are stable on an individual over the course of years and that some Asian and African American hosts maintain specific mite lineages over the course of years or generations outside their geographic region of birth or ancestry. D. folliculorum haplotypes were much more likely to be shared within families and between spouses than between unrelated individuals, indicating that transmission requires close contact. Dating analyses indicated that D. folliculorum origins may predate modern humans. Overall, D. folliculorum evolution reflects ancient human population divergences, is consistent with an out-of-Africa dispersal hypothesis, and presents an excellent model system for further understanding the history of human movement.}, } @article {pmid26667400, year = {2015}, author = {De Clerck, C and Fujiwara, A and Joncour, P and Léonard, S and Félix, ML and Francis, F and Jijakli, MH and Tsuchida, T and Massart, S}, title = {A metagenomic approach from aphid's hemolymph sheds light on the potential roles of co-existing endosymbionts.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {63}, pmid = {26667400}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*physiology ; Babuvirus ; Buchnera/genetics/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Hemolymph/*microbiology/physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenome ; *Metagenomics ; Musa ; Riboflavin/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aphids are known to live in symbiosis with specific bacteria, called endosymbionts which can be classified as obligate or accessory. Buchnera aphidicola is generally the only obligatory symbiont present in aphids, supplying essential nutrients that are missing in the plants phloem to its host. Pentalonia nigronervosa is the main vector of the banana bunchy top virus, one of the most damageable viruses in banana. This aphid is carrying two symbionts: B. aphidicola (BPn) and Wolbachia sp. (wPn). The high occurrence of Wolbachia in the banana aphid raises questions about the role it plays in this insect. The goal of this study was to go further in the understanding of the role played by the two symbionts in P. nigronervosa. To do so, microinjection tests were made to see the effect of wPn elimination on the host, and then, high-throughput sequencing of the haemolymph was used to analyze the gene content of the symbionts.

RESULTS: We observed that the elimination of wPn systematically led to the death of aphids, suggesting that the bacterium could play a mutualistic role. In addition, we identify and annotate 587 and 250 genes for wPn and BPn, respectively, through high-throughput sequencing. Analysis of these genes suggests that the two bacteria are working together for the production of several essential nutrients. The most striking cases are for lysin and riboflavin which are usually provided by B. aphidicola alone to the host. In the banana aphid, the genes involved in the production pathways of these metabolites are shared between the two bacteria making them both essential for the survival of the aphid host.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a co-obligatory symbiosis between B. aphidicola and Wolbachia occurs in the banana aphid, the two bacteria acting together to supply essential nutrients to the host. This is, to our knowledge, the first time Wolbachia is reported to play an essential role in aphids.}, } @article {pmid26665222, year = {2015}, author = {Tsolaki, M and Zygouris, S and Lazarou, I and Kompatsiaris, I and Chatzileontiadis, L and Votis, C and Tzovaras, D and Karakostas, A and Karagkiozi, C and Dimitriou, T and Tsiatsios, T and Dimitriadis, S and Tarnanas, I and Dranidis, D and Bamidis, P}, title = {Our experience with informative and communication technologies (ICT) in dementia.}, journal = {Hellenic journal of nuclear medicine}, volume = {18 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {131-139}, pmid = {26665222}, issn = {1790-5427}, abstract = {Our research is implementing high quality next generation services for the Prediction, Early Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Support of patients with Cognitive Impairment (Subjective Cognitive Impairment -SCI-, Mild Cognitive Impairment -MCI-, Mild Dementia) and Education and Training for all stakeholders. Prediction, Early Diagnosis and Monitoring: The first idea was to Research and Develop a novel System using motion detection devices, depth cameras, and intelligent objects of everyday use (ranging from cooking implements such as kitchen to furniture (e.g. sofa, bed, etc.) which are appropriately adapted in order to capture changes of subject's Activities of Daily Living -ADL- and behavioural patterns (including mobility, nutrition, exercising and medication schedule). We also demonstrated the potential of a virtual supermarket (VSM) cognitive training game as a screening tool for patients with MCI in a sample of older adults. We have indicated that this VSM application displayed a correct classification rate (CCR) of 87.30%, achieving a level of diagnostic accuracy similar to standardized neuropsychological tests, which are the gold standard for MCI screening http://www.en-noisis.gr/ Support of patients: Cognitive tasks and cognitive exercises for patients suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) through web-based applications. These exercises have been developed in such a way in order to exploit rich interactive multimedia interfaces (including music) based on human computer interaction principles. To this direction we are implementing a web based portal with supportive services such as (a) on-line monitoring of patient's progress by health care professionals, (b) statistical representation of patients' progress. Multimedia enriched cognitive exercises in virtual reality form (i.e. 3D Serious Games) use suitable modalities for such activities through the creation probable of new brain cells and by assisting the brain to find out alternative methods to execute functions, which are controlled by damaged brain regions. Another program the "robot-programming-as-cognitive-training" approach aims to explore the impact that the activity of programming a friendly robot might have on AD and MCI patients' condition. http://aspad.csd.auth.gr. Another study aimed at investigating the benefits of combined physical and cognitive training on global cognition while assessing the effect of training dosage and exploring the role of several potential effect modifiers. The results indicate that combined physical and cognitive training improves global cognition in a dose-responsive manner but these benefits may be less pronounced in older adults with mild dementia. The long-lasting impact of combined training on the incidence and trajectory of cognitive disorders in relation to its severity should be assessed in future long-term trials. www.longlastingmemories.eu. Finally, Symbiosis is a revolutionary system aiming at providing integrated solutions to a series of problems related with MCI and AD. It is the first integrated AD support system that takes into account patient's response in an adaptive way that fulfills each patient's special needs and provides to caregivers and doctors considerable facilitations, unlocking the potential of innovative supporting role. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDkLz-T-jYE. Education and training for all stakeholders (i.e. health professionals and informal and formal caregivers) through distance education platforms and e-collaboration services. To augment this effort, the research team integrates biofeedback modules for stress measurement in teleconferences in order to support the emotional awareness of the participants. The depression, anxiety and burden of caregivers were reduced significantly in the same way as in a face to face intervention. http://aspad.csd.auth.gr. In conclusion ICT can help health professionals and caregivers to support in a better way the patients with cognitive, functional and behavioral problems.}, } @article {pmid26664988, year = {2015}, author = {Mon, KK and Saelao, P and Halstead, MM and Chanthavixay, G and Chang, HC and Garas, L and Maga, EA and Zhou, H}, title = {Salmonella enterica Serovars Enteritidis Infection Alters the Indigenous Microbiota Diversity in Young Layer Chicks.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {61}, pmid = {26664988}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {Avian gastrointestinal (GI) tracts are highly populated with a diverse array of microorganisms that share a symbiotic relationship with their hosts and contribute to the overall health and disease state of the intestinal tract. The microbiome of the young chick is easily prone to alteration in its composition by both exogenous and endogenous factors, especially during the early posthatch period. The genetic background of the host and exposure to pathogens can impact the diversity of the microbial profile that consequently contributes to the disease progression in the host. The objective of this study was to profile the composition and structure of the gut microbiota in young chickens from two genetically distinct highly inbred lines. Furthermore, the effect of the Salmonella Enteritidis infection on altering the composition makeup of the chicken microbiome was evaluated through the 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. One-day-old layer chicks were challenged with S. Enteritidis and the host cecal microbiota profile as well as the degree of susceptibility to Salmonella infection was examined at 2 and 7 days post infection. Our result indicated that host genotype had a limited effect on resistance to S. Enteritidis infection. Alpha diversity, beta diversity, and overall microbiota composition were analyzed for four factors: host genotype, age, treatment, and postinfection time points. S. Enteritidis infection in young chicks was found to significantly reduce the overall diversity of the microbiota population with expansion of Enterobacteriaceae family. These changes indicated that Salmonella colonization in the GI tract of the chickens has a direct effect on altering the natural development of the GI microbiota. The impact of S. Enteritidis infection on microbial communities was also more substantial in the late stage of infection. Significant inverse correlation between Enterobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae family in both non-infected and infected groups, suggested possible antagonistic interaction between members of these two taxa, which could potentially influences the overall microbial population in the gut. Our results also revealed that genetic difference between two lines had minimal effect on the establishment of microbiota population. Overall, this study provided preliminary insights into the contributing role of S. Enteritidis in influencing the overall makeup of chicken's gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid26664808, year = {2015}, author = {Funkhouser-Jones, LJ and Sehnert, SR and Martínez-Rodríguez, P and Toribio-Fernández, R and Pita, M and Bella, JL and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Wolbachia co-infection in a hybrid zone: discovery of horizontal gene transfers from two Wolbachia supergroups into an animal genome.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1479}, pmid = {26664808}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {R01 GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008554/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Hybrid zones and the consequences of hybridization have contributed greatly to our understanding of evolutionary processes. Hybrid zones also provide valuable insight into the dynamics of symbiosis since each subspecies or species brings its unique microbial symbionts, including germline bacteria such as Wolbachia, to the hybrid zone. Here, we investigate a natural hybrid zone of two subspecies of the meadow grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus in the Pyrenees Mountains. We set out to test whether co-infections of B and F Wolbachia in hybrid grasshoppers enabled horizontal transfer of phage WO, similar to the numerous examples of phage WO transfer between A and B Wolbachia co-infections. While we found no evidence for transfer between the divergent co-infections, we discovered horizontal transfer of at least three phage WO haplotypes to the grasshopper genome. Subsequent genome sequencing of uninfected grasshoppers uncovered the first evidence for two discrete Wolbachia supergroups (B and F) contributing at least 448 kb and 144 kb of DNA, respectively, into the host nuclear genome. Fluorescent in situ hybridization verified the presence of Wolbachia DNA in C. parallelus chromosomes and revealed that some inserts are subspecies-specific while others are present in both subspecies. We discuss our findings in light of symbiont dynamics in an animal hybrid zone.}, } @article {pmid26664655, year = {2015}, author = {Ardley, J and Tian, R and O'Hara, G and Seshadri, R and Reddy, TB and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Howieson, J and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Ensifer medicae strain WSM244, a microsymbiont isolated from Medicago polymorpha growing in alkaline soil.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {126}, pmid = {26664655}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Ensifer medicae WSM244 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that can exist as a soil saprophyte or as a legume microsymbiont of Medicago species. WSM244 was isolated in 1979 from a nodule recovered from the roots of the annual Medicago polymorpha L. growing in alkaline soil (pH 8.0) in Tel Afer, Iraq. WSM244 is the only acid-sensitive E. medicae strain that has been sequenced to date. It is effective at fixing nitrogen with M. polymorpha L., as well as with more alkaline-adapted Medicago spp. such as M. littoralis Loisel., M. scutellata (L.) Mill., M. tornata (L.) Mill. and M. truncatula Gaertn. This strain is also effective with the perennial M. sativa L. Here we describe the features of E. medicae WSM244, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 6,650,282 bp high-quality permanent draft genome is arranged into 91 scaffolds of 91 contigs containing 6,427 protein-coding genes and 68 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of the rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project proposal.}, } @article {pmid26663534, year = {2016}, author = {Carlier, A and Fehr, L and Pinto-Carbó, M and Schäberle, T and Reher, R and Dessein, S and König, G and Eberl, L}, title = {The genome analysis of Candidatus Burkholderia crenata reveals that secondary metabolism may be a key function of the Ardisia crenata leaf nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2507-2522}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13184}, pmid = {26663534}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ardisia/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Burkholderia/classification/*genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Depsipeptides/*biosynthesis ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Seedlings ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {A majority of Ardisia species harbour Burkholderia sp. bacteria within specialized leaf nodules. The bacteria are transmitted hereditarily and have not yet been cultured outside of their host. Because the plants cannot develop beyond the seedling stage without their symbionts, the symbiosis is considered obligatory. We sequenced for the first time the genome of Candidatus Burkholderia crenata (Ca. B. crenata), the leaf nodule symbiont of Ardisia crenata. The genome of Ca. B. crenata is the smallest Burkholderia genome to date. It contains a large amount of insertion sequences and pseudogenes and displays features consistent with reductive genome evolution. The genome does not encode functions commonly associated with plant symbioses such as nitrogen fixation and plant hormone metabolism. However, we identified unique genes with a predicted role in secondary metabolism in the genome of Ca. B. crenata. Specifically, we provide evidence that the bacterial symbionts are responsible for the synthesis of compound FR900359, a cyclic depsipeptide with biomedical properties previously isolated from leaves of A. crenata.}, } @article {pmid26659922, year = {2015}, author = {Lake, JA and Larsen, J and Sarna, B and de la Haba, RR and Pu, Y and Koo, H and Zhao, J and Sinsheimer, JS}, title = {Rings Reconcile Genotypic and Phenotypic Evolution within the Proteobacteria.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {3434-3442}, pmid = {26659922}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R01 GM086887/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM086887/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Flow ; *Genotype ; Models, Genetic ; *Phenotype ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Proteobacteria/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Although prokaryotes are usually classified using molecular phylogenies instead of phenotypes after the advent of gene sequencing, neither of these methods is satisfactory because the phenotypes cannot explain the molecular trees and the trees do not fit the phenotypes. This scientific crisis still exists and the profound disconnection between these two pillars of evolutionary biology--genotypes and phenotypes--grows larger. We use rings and a genomic form of goods thinking to resolve this conundrum (McInerney JO, Cummins C, Haggerty L. 2011. Goods thinking vs. tree thinking. Mobile Genet Elements. 1:304-308; Nelson-Sathi S, et al. 2015. Origins of major archaeal clades correspond to gene acquisitions from bacteria. Nature 517:77-80). The Proteobacteria is the most speciose prokaryotic phylum known. It is an ideal phylogenetic model for reconstructing Earth's evolutionary history. It contains diverse free living, pathogenic, photosynthetic, sulfur metabolizing, and symbiotic species. Due to its large number of species (Whitman WB, Coleman DC, Wiebe WJ. 1998. Prokaryotes: the unseen majority. Proc Nat Acad Sci U S A. 95:6578-6583) it was initially expected to provide strong phylogenetic support for a proteobacterial tree of life. But despite its many species, sequence-based tree analyses are unable to resolve its topology. Here we develop new rooted ring analyses and study proteobacterial evolution. Using protein family data and new genome-based outgroup rooting procedures, we reconstruct the complex evolutionary history of the proteobacterial rings (combinations of tree-like divergences and endosymbiotic-like convergences). We identify and map the origins of major gene flows within the rooted proteobacterial rings (P < 3.6 × 10(-6)) and find that the evolution of the "Alpha-," "Beta-," and "Gammaproteobacteria" is represented by a unique set of rings. Using new techniques presented here we also root these rings using outgroups. We also map the independent flows of genes involved in DNA-, RNA-, ATP-, and membrane- related processes within the Proteobacteria and thereby demonstrate that these large gene flows are consistent with endosymbioses (P < 3.6 × 10(-9)). Our analyses illustrate what it means to find that a gene is present, or absent, within a gene flow, and thereby clarify the origin of the apparent conflicts between genotypes and phenotypes. Here we identify the gene flows that introduced photosynthesis into the Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria from the common ancestor of the Actinobacteria and the Firmicutes. Our results also explain why rooted rings, unlike trees, are consistent with the observed genotypic and phenotypic relationships observed among the various proteobacterial classes. We find that ring phylogenies can explain the genotypes and the phenotypes of biological processes within large and complex groups like the Proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid26659224, year = {2016}, author = {Berasategui, A and Shukla, S and Salem, H and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Potential applications of insect symbionts in biotechnology.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {4}, pages = {1567-1577}, pmid = {26659224}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Humans ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between insects and microorganisms are widespread in nature and are often the source of ecological innovations. In addition to supplementing their host with essential nutrients, microbial symbionts can produce enzymes that help degrade their food source as well as small molecules that defend against pathogens, parasites, and predators. As such, the study of insect ecology and symbiosis represents an important source of chemical compounds and enzymes with potential biotechnological value. In addition, the knowledge on insect symbiosis can provide novel avenues for the control of agricultural pest insects and vectors of human diseases, through targeted manipulation of the symbionts or the host-symbiont associations. Here, we discuss different insect-microbe interactions that can be exploited for insect pest and human disease control, as well as in human medicine and industrial processes. Our aim is to raise awareness that insect symbionts can be interesting sources of biotechnological applications and that knowledge on insect ecology can guide targeted efforts to discover microorganisms of applied value.}, } @article {pmid26658820, year = {2016}, author = {Liu, Y and Zhang, H and Wu, C and Deng, W and Wang, D and Zhao, G and Song, J and Jiang, Y}, title = {Molecular analysis of dominant species in Listeria monocytogenes-positive biofilms in the drains of food processing facilities.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {7}, pages = {3165-3175}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-7203-z}, pmid = {26658820}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Aeromonas hydrophila/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Cloning, Molecular ; Food Handling ; Gene Expression ; Hemolysin Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Klebsiella oxytoca/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Listeria monocytogenes/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/genetics ; Pseudomonas/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wastewater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Listeria monocytogenes exhibits symbiotic codependence with the dominant commensal bacteria, which may help it avoid being removed or inactivated by disinfectants in local environments. In this study, we investigated L. monocytogenes-positive biofilms at food production facilities, and the dominant bacterial species of the biofilms were identified to determine the properties of the microbiological background. For this purpose, the ISO 11290 method was used for the detection and isolation of L. monocytogenes, and the species were further identified based on 16S rRNA and hly genes. 16S rRNA gene-based cloning, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis were combined to evaluate the dominant bacteria of the drain biofilms. Out of 100 drain samples, 8 were naturally contaminated with L. monocytogenes. Three molecular methods consistently showed that Pseudomonas psychrophila, Pseudomonas sp., and Klebsiella oxytoca were dominant species in 3Q, 5Q, and 6Q samples; Aeromonas hydrophila and Klebsiella sp. were significantly dominant in 1-2, 1-3, and 3-2 samples; A. hydrophila and K. oxytoca were dominant in the 2-3 sample; and A. hydrophila and Pseudomonas sp. were prominent in the 3-3 sample. Different biofilms from the same plant shared common bands, suggesting that similar bacteria can be found and can be dominant in different biofilms. This study provides a better understanding of the dominant compositions in these bacterial communities. Further studies to determine the mechanism of co-culture with L. monocytogenes will be of critical importance in predicting effective disinfection strategies.}, } @article {pmid26658758, year = {2015}, author = {Song, F and Qi, D and Liu, X and Kong, X and Gao, Y and Zhou, Z and Wu, Q}, title = {Proteomic analysis of symbiotic proteins of Glomus mosseae and Amorpha fruticosa.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {18031}, pmid = {26658758}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) can colonize the roots of Amorpha fruticosa, a perennial leguminous woody shrub, and form arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). AMF have significant promoting effects on A. fruticosa growth as the intensity of fungal colonization increases. Taking AMF-A. fruticosa symbionts as the experimental material, gel-free isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to investigate the expression of A. fruticosa mycorrhizal proteins at the maturation stage. A total of 3,473 proteins were identified, of which 77 showed dramatic changes in their root expression levels; 33 increased, and 44 decreased. We also found nine AMF proteins that were expressed with AMF treatment. The 77 proteins were classified according to function. Plant proteins were assigned into 11 categories: metabolism-related (32%), protein folding and degradation-related (22%), energy-related (10%), protein synthesis-related (8%), stress and defense-related (24%), transcription-related (6%), membrane and transport-related (4%), cellular structure-related (2.5%), signaling transduction-related (11%) and unknown proteins (5%). The results of the study provide a foundation for further investigation of the metabolic characteristics and molecular mechanisms of AM.}, } @article {pmid26658027, year = {2016}, author = {Gasmi, L and Jakubowska, AK and Herrero, S}, title = {Gasmin (BV2-5), a polydnaviral-acquired gene in Spodoptera exigua. Trade-off in the defense against bacterial and viral infections.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {37-45}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2015.11.014}, pmid = {26658027}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics/immunology ; Larva/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Phagocytes/immunology ; Spodoptera/*genetics/growth & development/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Thousands of Hymenopteran endoparasitoids have developed a unique symbiotic relationship with viruses named polydnavirus (PDVs). These viruses immunocompromise the lepidopteran host allowing the survival of the wasp eggs. In a previous work, we have shown the horizontal transfer of some polydnaviral genes into the genome of the Lepidoptera, Spodoptera exigua. One of these genes, BV2-5 (named gasmin) interferes with actin polymerization, negatively affecting the multiplication of baculovirus in cell culture. In this work, we have focused in the study of the effect of Gasmin expression on different aspects of the baculovirus production. In addition, and since actin polymerization is crucial for phagocytosis, we have studied the effect of Gasmin expression on the larval interaction with bacterial pathogens. Over-expression of Gasmin on hemocytes significantly reduces their capacity to phagocytize the pathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. According to these results, gasmin domestication negatively affects baculovirus replication, but increases larvae susceptibility to bacterial infections as pay off. Although the effect of Gasmin on the insect interaction with other pathogens or parasitoids remain unknown, the opposite effects described here could shape the biological history of this species based on the abundance of certain type of pathogens as suggested by the presence of truncated forms of this protein in several regions of the world.}, } @article {pmid26657897, year = {2016}, author = {Ramanan, R and Kim, BH and Cho, DH and Oh, HM and Kim, HS}, title = {Algae-bacteria interactions: Evolution, ecology and emerging applications.}, journal = {Biotechnology advances}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {14-29}, doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.12.003}, pmid = {26657897}, issn = {1873-1899}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology ; Aquaculture ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Biological Evolution ; Biotechnology/methods ; Ecosystem ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Lichens/microbiology ; *Microalgae/microbiology ; Phaeophyta/microbiology ; Phytoplankton/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Algae and bacteria have coexisted ever since the early stages of evolution. This coevolution has revolutionized life on earth in many aspects. Algae and bacteria together influence ecosystems as varied as deep seas to lichens and represent all conceivable modes of interactions - from mutualism to parasitism. Several studies have shown that algae and bacteria synergistically affect each other's physiology and metabolism, a classic case being algae-roseobacter interaction. These interactions are ubiquitous and define the primary productivity in most ecosystems. In recent years, algae have received much attention for industrial exploitation but their interaction with bacteria is often considered a contamination during commercialization. A few recent studies have shown that bacteria not only enhance algal growth but also help in flocculation, both essential processes in algal biotechnology. Hence, there is a need to understand these interactions from an evolutionary and ecological standpoint, and integrate this understanding for industrial use. Here we reflect on the diversity of such relationships and their associated mechanisms, as well as the habitats that they mutually influence. This review also outlines the role of these interactions in key evolutionary events such as endosymbiosis, besides their ecological role in biogeochemical cycles. Finally, we focus on extending such studies on algal-bacterial interactions to various environmental and bio-technological applications.}, } @article {pmid26657305, year = {2015}, author = {Takeshita, K and Matsuura, Y and Itoh, H and Navarro, R and Hori, T and Sone, T and Kamagata, Y and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Burkholderia of Plant-Beneficial Group are Symbiotically Associated with Bordered Plant Bugs (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoroidea: Largidae).}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {321-329}, pmid = {26657305}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A number of phytophagous stinkbugs (order Heteroptera: infraorder Pentatomomorpha) harbor symbiotic bacteria in a specific midgut region composed of numerous crypts. Among the five superfamilies of the infraorder Pentatomomorpha, most members of the Coreoidea and Lygaeoidea are associated with a specific group of the genus Burkholderia, called the "stinkbug-associated beneficial and environmental (SBE)" group, which is not vertically transmitted, but acquired from the environment every host generation. A recent study reported that, in addition to these two stinkbug groups, the family Largidae of the superfamily Pyrrhocoroidea also possesses a Burkholderia symbiont. Despite this recent finding, the phylogenetic position and biological nature of Burkholderia associated with Largidae remains unclear. Based on the combined results of fluorescence in situ hybridization, cloning analysis, Illumina deep sequencing, and egg inspections by diagnostic PCR, we herein demonstrate that the largid species are consistently associated with the "plant-associated beneficial and environmental (PBE)" group of Burkholderia, which are phylogenetically distinct from the SBE group, and that they maintain symbiosis through the environmental acquisition of the bacteria. Since the superfamilies Coreoidea, Lygaeoidea, and Pyrrhocoroidea are monophyletic in the infraorder Pentatomomorpha, it is plausible that the symbiotic association with Burkholderia evolved at the common ancestor of the three superfamilies. However, the results of this study strongly suggest that a dynamic transition from the PBE to SBE group, or vice versa, occurred in the course of stinkbug evolution.}, } @article {pmid26657304, year = {2015}, author = {Tittabutr, P and Sripakdi, S and Boonkerd, N and Tanthanuch, W and Minamisawa, K and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Possible Role of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate (ACC) Deaminase Activity of Sinorhizobium sp. BL3 on Symbiosis with Mung Bean and Determinate Nodule Senescence.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {310-320}, pmid = {26657304}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Carbon-Carbon Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Plant Development ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/*enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium sp. BL3 forms symbiotic interactions with mung bean (Vigna radiata) and contains lrpL-acdS genes, which encode the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase enzyme that cleaves ACC, a precursor of plant ethylene synthesis. Since ethylene interferes with nodule formation in some legumes and plays a role in senescence in plant cells, BL3-enhancing ACC deaminase activity (BL3(+)) and defective mutant (BL3(-)) strains were constructed in order to investigate the effects of this enzyme on symbiosis and nodule senescence. Nodulation competitiveness was weaker in BL3(-) than in the wild-type, but was stronger in BL3(+). The inoculation of BL3(-) into mung bean resulted in less plant growth, a lower nodule dry weight, and smaller nodule number than those in the wild-type, whereas the inoculation of BL3(+) had no marked effects. However, similar nitrogenase activity was observed with all treatments; it was strongly detected 3 weeks after the inoculation and gradually declined with time, indicating senescence. The rate of plant nodulation by BL3(+) increased in a time-dependent manner. Nodules occupied by BL3(-) formed smaller symbiosomes, and bacteroid degradation was more prominent than that in the wild-type 7 weeks after the inoculation. Changes in biochemical molecules during nodulation were tracked by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, and the results obtained confirmed that aging processes differed in nodules occupied by BL3 and BL3(-). This is the first study to show the possible role of ACC deaminase activity in senescence in determinate nodules. Our results suggest that an increase in ACC deaminase activity in this strain does not extend the lifespan of nodules, whereas the lack of this activity may accelerate nodule senescence.}, } @article {pmid26655763, year = {2016}, author = {Mikaelyan, A and Thompson, CL and Hofer, MJ and Brune, A}, title = {Deterministic Assembly of Complex Bacterial Communities in Guts of Germ-Free Cockroaches.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {1256-1263}, pmid = {26655763}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Cockroaches/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Germ-Free Life ; Isoptera ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota of termites plays important roles in the symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose. However, the factors shaping the microbial community structure remain poorly understood. Because termites cannot be raised under axenic conditions, we established the closely related cockroach Shelfordella lateralis as a germ-free model to study microbial community assembly and host-microbe interactions. In this study, we determined the composition of the bacterial assemblages in cockroaches inoculated with the gut microbiota of termites and mice using pyrosequencing analysis of their 16S rRNA genes. Although the composition of the xenobiotic communities was influenced by the lineages present in the foreign inocula, their structure resembled that of conventional cockroaches. Bacterial taxa abundant in conventional cockroaches but rare in the foreign inocula, such as Dysgonomonas and Parabacteroides spp., were selectively enriched in the xenobiotic communities. Donor-specific taxa, such as endomicrobia or spirochete lineages restricted to the gut microbiota of termites, however, either were unable to colonize germ-free cockroaches or formed only small populations. The exposure of xenobiotic cockroaches to conventional adults restored their normal microbiota, which indicated that autochthonous lineages outcompete foreign ones. Our results provide experimental proof that the assembly of a complex gut microbiota in insects is deterministic.}, } @article {pmid26655754, year = {2016}, author = {Britstein, M and Devescovi, G and Handley, KM and Malik, A and Haber, M and Saurav, K and Teta, R and Costantino, V and Burgsdorf, I and Gilbert, JA and Sher, N and Venturi, V and Steindler, L}, title = {A New N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone Synthase in an Uncultured Symbiont of the Red Sea Sponge Theonella swinhoei.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {1274-1285}, pmid = {26655754}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Alphaproteobacteria/classification/*enzymology/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Indian Ocean ; Ligases/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Theonella/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbor a remarkable diversity of microbial symbionts in which signal molecules can accumulate and enable cell-cell communication, such as quorum sensing (QS). Bacteria capable of QS were isolated from marine sponges; however, an extremely small fraction of the sponge microbiome is amenable to cultivation. We took advantage of community genome assembly and binning to investigate the uncultured majority of sponge symbionts. We identified a complete N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-QS system (designated TswIR) and seven partial luxI homologues in the microbiome of Theonella swinhoei. The TswIR system was novel and shown to be associated with an alphaproteobacterium of the order Rhodobacterales, here termed Rhodobacterales bacterium TS309. The tswI gene, when expressed in Escherichia coli, produced three AHLs, two of which were also identified in a T. swinhoei sponge extract. The taxonomic affiliation of the 16S rRNA of Rhodobacterales bacterium TS309 to a sponge-coral specific clade, its enrichment in sponge versus seawater and marine sediment samples, and the presence of sponge-specific features, such as ankyrin-like domains and tetratricopeptide repeats, indicate a likely symbiotic nature of this bacterium.}, } @article {pmid26655356, year = {2015}, author = {Nougué, O and Gallet, R and Chevin, LM and Lenormand, T}, title = {Niche Limits of Symbiotic Gut Microbiota Constrain the Salinity Tolerance of Brine Shrimp.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {186}, number = {3}, pages = {390-403}, doi = {10.1086/682370}, pmid = {26655356}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; Artemia/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chlorophyta ; Digestion/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; *Salinity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis generally causes an expansion of the niche of each partner along the axis for which a service is mutually provided. However, for other axes, the niche can be restricted to the intersection of each partner's niche and can thus be constrained rather than expanded by mutualism. We explore this phenomenon using Artemia as a model system. This crustacean is able to survive at very high salinities but not at low salinities, although its hemolymph's salinity is close to freshwater. We hypothesized that this low-salinity paradox results from poor performance of its associated microbiota at low salinity. We showed that, in sterile conditions, Artemia had low survival at all salinities when algae were the only source of carbon. In contrast, survival was high at all salinities when fed with yeast. We also demonstrated that bacteria isolated from Artemia's gut reached higher densities at high salinities than at low salinities, including when grown on algae. Taken together, our results show that Artemia can survive at low salinities, but their gut microbiota, which are required for algae digestion, have reduced fitness. Widespread facultative symbiosis may thus be an important determinant of niche limits along axes not specific to the mutualistic interaction.}, } @article {pmid26653035, year = {2015}, author = {Clayton, KA and Gall, CA and Mason, KL and Scoles, GA and Brayton, KA}, title = {The characterization and manipulation of the bacterial microbiome of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {632}, pmid = {26653035}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {T32 GM008336/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI4405/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Arachnid Vectors ; Bacteria/*classification/drug effects/*growth & development ; Dermacentor/*microbiology/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota ; North America ; Reproduction ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Wood/parasitology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In North America, ticks are the most economically impactful vectors of human and animal pathogens. The Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni (Acari: Ixodidae), transmits Rickettsia rickettsii and Anaplasma marginale to humans and cattle, respectively. In recent years, studies have shown that symbiotic organisms are involved in a number of biochemical and physiological functions. Characterizing the bacterial microbiome of D. andersoni is a pivotal step towards understanding symbiont-host interactions.

FINDINGS: In this study, we have shown by high-throughput sequence analysis that the composition of endosymbionts in the midgut and salivary glands in adult ticks is dynamic over three generations. Four Proteobacteria genera, Rickettsia, Francisella, Arsenophonus, and Acinetobacter, were identified as predominant symbionts in these two tissues. Exposure to therapeutic doses of the broad-spectrum antibiotic, oxytetracycline, affected both proportions of predominant genera and significantly reduced reproductive fitness. Additionally, Acinetobacter, a free-living ubiquitous microbe, invaded the bacterial microbiome at different proportions based on antibiotic treatment status suggesting that microbiome composition may have a role in susceptibility to environmental contaminants.

CONCLUSIONS: This study characterized the bacterial microbiome in D. andersoni and determined the generational variability within this tick. Furthermore, this study confirmed that microbiome manipulation is associated with tick fitness and may be a potential method for biocontrol.}, } @article {pmid26650672, year = {2015}, author = {Stefan, LM and Gómez-Díaz, E and Elguero, E and Proctor, HC and McCoy, KD and González-Solís, J}, title = {Niche Partitioning of Feather Mites within a Seabird Host, Calonectris borealis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0144728}, pmid = {26650672}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bird Diseases/*parasitology ; Birds ; Feathers/*parasitology ; Isotope Labeling ; Mite Infestations/parasitology/*veterinary ; Mites/*classification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {According to classic niche theory, species can coexist in heterogeneous environments by reducing interspecific competition via niche partitioning, e.g. trophic or spatial partitioning. However, support for the role of competition on niche partitioning remains controversial. Here, we tested for spatial and trophic partitioning in feather mites, a diverse and abundant group of arthropods. We focused on the two dominant mite species, Microspalax brevipes and Zachvatkinia ovata, inhabiting flight feathers of the Cory's shearwater, Calonectris borealis. We performed mite counts across and within primary and tail feathers on free-living shearwaters breeding on an oceanic island (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands). We then investigated trophic relationships between the two mite species and the host using stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen on mite tissues and potential host food sources. The distribution of the two mite species showed clear spatial segregation among feathers; M. brevipes showed high preference for the central wing primary feathers, whereas Z. ovata was restricted to the two outermost primaries. Morphological differences between M. brevipes and Z. ovata support an adaptive basis for the spatial segregation of the two mite species. However, the two mites overlap in some central primaries and statistical modeling showed that Z. ovata tends to outcompete M. brevipes. Isotopic analyses indicated similar isotopic values for the two mite species and a strong correlation in carbon signatures between mites inhabiting the same individual host suggesting that diet is mainly based on shared host-associated resources. Among the four candidate tissues examined (blood, feather remains, skin remains and preen gland oil), we conclude that the diet is most likely dominated by preen gland oil, while the contribution of exogenous material to mite diets is less marked. Our results indicate that ongoing competition for space and resources plays a central role in structuring feather mite communities. They also illustrate that symbiotic infracommunities are excellent model systems to study trophic ecology, and can improve our understanding of mechanisms of niche differentiation and species coexistence.}, } @article {pmid26650451, year = {2016}, author = {Li, R and Feng, C and Hu, W and Xi, B and Chen, N and Zhao, B and Liu, Y and Hao, C and Pu, J}, title = {Woodchip-sulfur based heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification (WSHAD) process for nitrate contaminated water remediation.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {89}, number = {}, pages = {171-179}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.044}, pmid = {26650451}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {*Autotrophic Processes ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Denitrification ; Drinking Water/chemistry ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*chemistry ; Thiobacillus/metabolism ; Water Purification/*methods ; *Wood ; }, abstract = {Nitrate contaminated water can be effectively treated by simultaneous heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification (HAD). In the present study, woodchips and elemental sulfur were used as co-electron donors for HAD. It was found that ammonium salts could enhance the denitrifying activity of the Thiobacillus bacteria, which utilize the ammonium that is produced by the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) in the woodchip-sulfur based heterotrophic and autotrophic denitrification (WSHAD) process. The denitrification performance of the WSHAD process (reaction constants range from 0.05485 h(-1) to 0.06637 h(-1)) is better than that of sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification (reaction constants range from 0.01029 h(-1) to 0.01379 h(-1)), and the optimized ratio of woodchips to sulfur is 1:1 (w/w). No sulfate accumulation is observed in the WSHAD process and the alkalinity generated in the heterotrophic denitrification can compensate for alkalinity consumption by the sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification. The symbiotic relationship between the autotrophic and the heterotrophic denitrification processes play a vital role in the mixotrophic environment.}, } @article {pmid26649810, year = {2016}, author = {Bull, L}, title = {On Cellular Darwinism: Mitochondria.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {112-118}, doi = {10.1162/ARTL_a_00182}, pmid = {26649810}, issn = {1064-5462}, mesh = {*Biological Coevolution ; *Cell Nucleus ; *Mitochondria ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The significant role of mitochondria within cells is becoming increasingly clear. This letter uses the NKCS model of coupled fitness landscapes to explore aspects of organelle-nucleus coevolution. The phenomenon of mitochondrial diversity is allowed to emerge under a simple intracellular evolutionary process, including varying the relative rate of evolution by the organelle. It is shown how the conditions for the maintenance of more than one genetic variant of mitochondria are similar to those previously suggested as needed for the original symbiotic origins of the relationship using the NKCS model.}, } @article {pmid26648937, year = {2015}, author = {Mu, Q and Zhang, H and Luo, XM}, title = {SLE: Another Autoimmune Disorder Influenced by Microbes and Diet?.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {608}, pmid = {26648937}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disease. Despite years of study, the etiology of SLE is still unclear. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in the disease mechanisms. In the past decade, a growing body of evidence has indicated an important role of gut microbes in the development of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. However, such knowledge on SLE is little, though we have already known that environmental factors can trigger the development of lupus. Several recent studies have suggested that alterations of the gut microbial composition may be correlated with SLE disease manifestations, while the exact roles of either symbiotic or pathogenic microbes in this disease remain to be explored. Elucidation of the roles of gut microbes - as well as the roles of diet that can modulate the composition of gut microbes - in SLE will shed light on how this autoimmune disorder develops, and provide opportunities for improved biomarkers of the disease and the potential to probe new therapies. In this review, we aim to compile the available evidence on the contributions of diet and gut microbes to SLE occurrence and pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid26648932, year = {2015}, author = {Song, F and Pan, Z and Bai, F and An, J and Liu, J and Guo, W and Bisseling, T and Deng, X and Xiao, S}, title = {The Scion/Rootstock Genotypes and Habitats Affect Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community in Citrus.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1372}, pmid = {26648932}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Citrus roots have rare root hairs and thus heavily depend on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for mineral nutrient uptake. However, the AMF community structure of citrus is largely unknown. By using 454-pyrosequencing of 18S rRNA gene fragment, we investigated the genetic diversity of AMF colonizing citrus roots, and evaluated the impact of habitats and rootstock and scion genotypes on the AMF community structure. Over 7,40,000 effective sequences were obtained from 77 citrus root samples. These sequences were assigned to 75 AMF virtual taxa, of which 66 belong to Glomus, highlighting an absolute dominance of this AMF genus in symbiosis with citrus roots. The citrus AMF community structure is significantly affected by habitats and host genotypes. Interestingly, our data suggests that the genotype of the scion exerts a greater impact on the AMF community structure than that of the rootstock where the physical root-AMF association occurs. This study not only provides a comprehensive assessment for the community composition of the AMF in citrus roots under different conditions, but also sheds novel insights into how the AMF community might be indirectly influenced by the spatially separated yet metabolically connected partner-the scion-of the grafted citrus tree.}, } @article {pmid26647967, year = {2016}, author = {Mika, A and Fleshner, M}, title = {Early-life exercise may promote lasting brain and metabolic health through gut bacterial metabolites.}, journal = {Immunology and cell biology}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {151-157}, pmid = {26647967}, issn = {1440-1711}, support = {R01 MH068283/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Brain/*physiology ; Exercise/*physiology/psychology ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Mental Health ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The 100 trillion microorganisms residing within our intestines contribute roughly 5 million additional genes to our genetic gestalt, thus posing the potential to influence many aspects of our physiology. Microbial colonization of the gut shortly after birth is vital for the proper development of immune, neural and metabolic systems, while sustaining a balanced, diverse gut flora populated with beneficial bacteria is necessary for maintaining optimal function of these systems. Although symbiotic host-microbial interactions are important throughout the lifespan, these interactions can have greater and longer lasting impacts during certain critical developmental periods. A better understanding of these sensitive periods is necessary to improve the impact and effectiveness of health-promoting interventions that target the microbial ecosystem. We have recently reported that exercise initiated in early life increases gut bacterial species involved in promoting psychological and metabolic health. In this review, we emphasize the ability of exercise during this developmentally receptive time to promote optimal brain and metabolic function across the lifespan through microbial signals.}, } @article {pmid26647876, year = {2015}, author = {Gomes, EV and Costa, Mdo N and de Paula, RG and de Azevedo, RR and da Silva, FL and Noronha, EF and Ulhoa, CJ and Monteiro, VN and Cardoza, RE and Gutiérrez, S and Silva, RN}, title = {The Cerato-Platanin protein Epl-1 from Trichoderma harzianum is involved in mycoparasitism, plant resistance induction and self cell wall protection.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {17998}, pmid = {26647876}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology/methods ; Disease Resistance/*genetics ; Ephrin-A1/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Protein Transport ; Transport Vesicles/metabolism ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Trichoderma harzianum species are well known as biocontrol agents against important fungal phytopathogens. Mycoparasitism is one of the strategies used by this fungus in the biocontrol process. In this work, we analyzed the effect of Epl-1 protein, previously described as plant resistance elicitor, in expression modulation of T. harzianum genes involved in mycoparasitism process against phytopathogenic fungi; self cell wall protection and recognition; host hyphae coiling and triggering expression of defense-related genes in beans plants. The results indicated that the absence of Epl-1 protein affects the expression of all mycoparasitism genes analyzed in direct confrontation assays against phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum as well as T. harzianum itself; the host mycoparasitic coiling process and expression modulation of plant defense genes showing different pattern compared with wild type strain. These data indicated the involvement T. harzianum Epl-1 in self and host interaction and also recognition of T. harzianum as a symbiotic fungus by the bean plants.}, } @article {pmid26647107, year = {2016}, author = {Doycheva, I and Leise, MD and Watt, KD}, title = {The Intestinal Microbiome and the Liver Transplant Recipient: What We Know and What We Need to Know.}, journal = {Transplantation}, volume = {100}, number = {1}, pages = {61-68}, doi = {10.1097/TP.0000000000001008}, pmid = {26647107}, issn = {1534-6080}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Translocation ; Dysbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Graft Rejection/immunology/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/immunology/microbiology/*surgery ; *Liver Transplantation/adverse effects ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiome and immune system are in close symbiotic relationship in health. Gut microbiota plays a role in many chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. However, alterations in the gut microbiome after liver transplantation and the implications for liver transplant recipients are not well understood and rely mainly on experimental animal studies. Recent advances in molecular techniques have identified that increased intestinal permeability, decreased beneficial bacteria, and increased pathogenic species may play important roles in the early posttransplant period. The associations between microbiota perturbation and postliver transplant infections and acute rejection are evolving. The link with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and cardiac disease in the general population require translation into the transplant recipient. This review focuses on our current knowledge of the known and potential interaction of the microbiome in the liver transplant recipient. Future human studies focused on microbiota changes in liver transplant patients are warranted and expected.}, } @article {pmid26644503, year = {2016}, author = {Reid, DE and Heckmann, AB and Novák, O and Kelly, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE3 Maintains Cytokinin Homeostasis during Root and Nodule Development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {2}, pages = {1060-1074}, pmid = {26644503}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Alleles ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; *Homeostasis ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/*growth & development ; Meristem/cytology/growth & development ; Mutation/genetics ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Cytokinins are required for symbiotic nodule development in legumes, and cytokinin signaling responses occur locally in nodule primordia and in developing nodules. Here, we show that the Lotus japonicus Ckx3 cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase gene is induced by Nod factor during the early phase of nodule initiation. At the cellular level, pCkx3::YFP reporter-gene studies revealed that the Ckx3 promoter is active during the first cortical cell divisions of the nodule primordium and in growing nodules. Cytokinin measurements in ckx3 mutants confirmed that CKX3 activity negatively regulates root cytokinin levels. Particularly, tZ and DHZ type cytokinins in both inoculated and uninoculated roots were elevated in ckx3 mutants, suggesting that these are targets for degradation by the CKX3 cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase. The effect of CKX3 on the positive and negative roles of cytokinin in nodule development, infection and regulation was further clarified using ckx3 insertion mutants. Phenotypic analysis indicated that ckx3 mutants have reduced nodulation, infection thread formation and root growth. We also identify a role for cytokinin in regulating nodulation and nitrogen fixation in response to nitrate as ckx3 phenotypes are exaggerated at increased nitrate levels. Together, these findings show that cytokinin accumulation is tightly regulated during nodulation in order to balance the requirement for cell divisions with negative regulatory effects of cytokinin on infection events and root development.}, } @article {pmid26644135, year = {2016}, author = {Barelli, L and Moonjely, S and Behie, SW and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Fungi with multifunctional lifestyles: endophytic insect pathogenic fungi.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {90}, number = {6}, pages = {657-664}, pmid = {26644135}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Fungi/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Metarhizium/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review examines the symbiotic, evolutionary, proteomic and genetic basis for a group of fungi that occupy a specialized niche as insect pathogens as well as endophytes. We focus primarily on species in the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria, traditionally recognized as insect pathogenic fungi but are also found as plant symbionts. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that these fungi are more closely related to grass endophytes and diverged from that lineage ca. 100 MYA. We explore how the dual life cycles of these fungi as insect pathogens and endophytes are coupled. We discuss the evolution of insect pathogenesis while maintaining an endophytic lifestyle and provide examples of genes that may be involved in the transition toward insect pathogenicity. That is, some genes for insect pathogenesis may have been co-opted from genes involved in endophytic colonization. Other genes may be multifunctional and serve in both lifestyle capacities. We suggest that their evolution as insect pathogens allowed them to effectively barter a specialized nitrogen source (i.e. insects) with host plants for photosynthate. These ubiquitous fungi may play an important role as plant growth promoters and have a potential reservoir of secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid26644069, year = {2015}, author = {Middelburg, JJ and Mueller, CE and Veuger, B and Larsson, AI and Form, A and van Oevelen, D}, title = {Discovery of symbiotic nitrogen fixation and chemoautotrophy in cold-water corals.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {17962}, pmid = {26644069}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Chemoautotrophic Growth ; Cold Temperature ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Water ; }, abstract = {Cold-water corals (CWC) are widely distributed around the world forming extensive reefs at par with tropical coral reefs. They are hotspots of biodiversity and organic matter processing in the world's deep oceans. Living in the dark they lack photosynthetic symbionts and are therefore considered to depend entirely on the limited flux of organic resources from the surface ocean. While symbiotic relations in tropical corals are known to be key to their survival in oligotrophic conditions, the full metabolic capacity of CWC has yet to be revealed. Here we report isotope tracer evidence for efficient nitrogen recycling, including nitrogen assimilation, regeneration, nitrification and denitrification. Moreover, we also discovered chemoautotrophy and nitrogen fixation in CWC and transfer of fixed nitrogen and inorganic carbon into bulk coral tissue and tissue compounds (fatty acids and amino acids). This unrecognized yet versatile metabolic machinery of CWC conserves precious limiting resources and provides access to new nitrogen and organic carbon resources that may be essential for CWC to survive in the resource-depleted dark ocean.}, } @article {pmid26643468, year = {2016}, author = {Ng, F and Kittelmann, S and Patchett, ML and Attwood, GT and Janssen, PH and Rakonjac, J and Gagic, D}, title = {An adhesin from hydrogen-utilizing rumen methanogen Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 binds a broad range of hydrogen-producing microorganisms.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {3010-3021}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13155}, pmid = {26643468}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Archaeal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cattle ; Ciliophora/*microbiology/physiology ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; Methane/*metabolism ; Methanobrevibacter/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Rumen/*microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations are ubiquitous in the microbial world and have a major role in shaping the evolution of both partners. One of the most interesting mutualistic relationships exists between protozoa and methanogenic archaea in the fermentative forestomach (rumen) of ruminant animals. Methanogens reside within and on the surface of protozoa as symbionts, and interspecies hydrogen transfer is speculated to be the main driver for physical associations observed between the two groups. In silico analyses of several rumen methanogen genomes have previously shown that up to 5% of genes encode adhesin-like proteins, which may be central to rumen interspecies attachment. We hypothesized that adhesin-like proteins on methanogen cell surfaces facilitate attachment to protozoal hosts. Using phage display technology, we have identified a protein (Mru_1499) from Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 as an adhesin that binds to a broad range of rumen protozoa (including the genera Epidinium and Entodinium). This unique adhesin also binds the cell surface of the bacterium Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus, suggesting a broad adhesion spectrum for this protein.}, } @article {pmid26643042, year = {2015}, author = {Lopetuso, LR and Petito, V and Scaldaferri, F and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {Gut Microbiota Modulation and Mucosal Immunity: Focus on Rifaximin.}, journal = {Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {179-185}, doi = {10.2174/138955751603151126121633}, pmid = {26643042}, issn = {1875-5607}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/*drug effects ; Models, Biological ; Rifamycins/*pharmacology ; Rifaximin ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract is a complex and dynamic network where an intricate and mutualistic symbiosis modulates the relationship between the host and the microbiota in order to establish and ensure gut homeostasis. Every day, thousands of compounds derived from food and microorganisms come in contact with the intestinal mucosa. This interaction requires a complex defense system that separates intestinal contents from the host tissues, regulates nutrient absorption, and allows tolerance between the resident bacterial flora and the mucosal immune system, while inhibiting translocation of infectious agents to the inner tissues. Unfavorable alteration of microbiota composition has been implicated in hepatic, gastrointestinal, and perhaps also systemic disorders. In this scenario, gut microbiota modulation represents an intriguing field and can be obtained by several approaches, including antibiotics, pro- and pre-biotics supplementation. Among antibiotics, Rifaximin seems to be a promising antibiotic to treat conditions related to gut microbiota imbalance and to potentially modulate intestinal homeostasis. This review focuses on what is currently known regarding the possible role of Rifaximin in restoring normal gut immune physiology and a healthy gut-liver axis. Detailed mechanistic studies will improve the development of targeted therapies that may shape gut microflora composition with the end goal of promoting gut health.}, } @article {pmid26642189, year = {2016}, author = {Looney, BP and Ryberg, M and Hampe, F and Sánchez-García, M and Matheny, PB}, title = {Into and out of the tropics: global diversification patterns in a hyperdiverse clade of ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {630-647}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13506}, pmid = {26642189}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*classification ; *Biological Evolution ; Climate ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Magnoliopsida/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; *Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, symbiotic mutualists of many dominant tree and shrub species, exhibit a biogeographic pattern counter to the established latitudinal diversity gradient of most macroflora and fauna. However, an evolutionary basis for this pattern has not been explicitly tested in a diverse lineage. In this study, we reconstructed a mega-phylogeny of a cosmopolitan and hyperdiverse genus of ECM fungi, Russula, sampling from annotated collections and utilizing publically available sequences deposited in GenBank. Metadata from molecular operational taxonomic unit cluster sets were examined to infer the distribution and plant association of the genus. This allowed us to test for differences in patterns of diversification between tropical and extratropical taxa, as well as how their associations with different plant lineages may be a driver of diversification. Results show that Russula is most species-rich at temperate latitudes and ancestral state reconstruction shows that the genus initially diversified in temperate areas. Migration into and out of the tropics characterizes the early evolution of the genus, and these transitions have been frequent since this time. We propose the 'generalized diversification rate' hypothesis to explain the reversed latitudinal diversity gradient pattern in Russula as we detect a higher net diversification rate in extratropical lineages. Patterns of diversification with plant associates support host switching and host expansion as driving diversification, with a higher diversification rate in lineages associated with Pinaceae and frequent transitions to association with angiosperms.}, } @article {pmid26641373, year = {2015}, author = {Youn, SJ and Castonguay, LG and Xiao, H and Janis, R and McAleavey, AA and Lockard, AJ and Locke, BD and Hayes, JA}, title = {The Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS): Merging clinical practice, training, and research.}, journal = {Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.)}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {432-441}, doi = {10.1037/pst0000029}, pmid = {26641373}, issn = {1939-1536}, mesh = {Cooperative Behavior ; Counseling/*education/*methods ; Feedback ; Humans ; Inservice Training/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Mental Disorders/*diagnosis/*psychology/therapy ; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Personality Assessment/*standards/*statistics & numerical data ; Psychometrics/statistics & numerical data ; Student Health Services/standards ; Students/*psychology ; Translational Research, Biomedical/*standards/*statistics & numerical data ; }, abstract = {The goal of this article is to present information about a standardized multidimensional measure of psychological symptoms, the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS; Locke et al., 2011; Locke, McAleavey, et al., 2012; McAleavey, Nordberg, Hayes, et al., 2012), developed to assess difficulties specific to college students' mental health. We provide (a) a brief review and summary of the psychometric and research support for the CCAPS; (b) examples of the use of the CCAPS for various purposes, including clinical, training, policy, and counseling center advocacy; and (c) implications of the integration of routine outcome monitoring and feedback for the future of training, research, and clinical practice. In particular, the article emphasizes how the assimilation of and symbiotic relationship between research and practice can address the scientist-practitioner gap.}, } @article {pmid26640954, year = {2015}, author = {Peng, H and Zhao, D and Liu, X and Gao, J}, title = {Collective Motion in a Network of Self-Propelled Agent Systems.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0144153}, pmid = {26640954}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Collective motions of animals that move towards the same direction is a conspicuous feature in nature. Such groups of animals are called a self-propelled agent (SPA) systems. Many studies have been focused on the synchronization of isolated SPA systems. In real scenarios, different SPA systems are coupled with each other forming a network of SPA systems. For example, a flock of birds and a school of fish show predator-prey relationships and different groups of birds may compete for food. In this work, we propose a general framework to study the collective motion of coupled self-propelled agent systems. Especially, we study how three different connections between SPA systems: symbiosis, predator-prey, and competition influence the synchronization of the network of SPA systems. We find that a network of SPA systems coupled with symbiosis relationship arrive at a complete synchronization as all its subsystems showing a complete synchronization; a network of SPA systems coupled by predator-prey relationship can not reach a complete synchronization and its subsystems converges to different synchronized directions; and the competitive relationship between SPA systems could increase the synchronization of each SPA systems, while the network of SPA systems coupled by competitive relationships shows an optimal synchronization for small coupling strength, indicating that small competition promotes the synchronization of the entire system.}, } @article {pmid26640686, year = {2015}, author = {Bracewell, RR and Six, DL}, title = {Experimental evidence of bark beetle adaptation to a fungal symbiont.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {21}, pages = {5109-5119}, pmid = {26640686}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The importance of symbiotic microbes to insects cannot be overstated; however, we have a poor understanding of the evolutionary processes that shape most insect-microbe interactions. Many bark beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) species are involved in what have been described as obligate mutualisms with symbiotic fungi. Beetles benefit through supplementing their nutrient-poor diet with fungi and the fungi benefit through gaining transportation to resources. However, only a few beetle-fungal symbioses have been experimentally manipulated to test whether the relationship is obligate. Furthermore, none have tested for adaptation of beetles to their specific symbionts, one of the requirements for coevolution. We experimentally manipulated the western pine beetle-fungus symbiosis to determine whether the beetle is obligately dependent upon fungi and to test for fine-scale adaptation of the beetle to one of its symbiotic fungi, Entomocorticium sp. B. We reared beetles from a single population with either a natal isolate of E. sp. B (isolated from the same population from which the beetles originated), a non-natal isolate (a genetically divergent isolate from a geographically distant beetle population), or with no fungi. We found that fungi were crucial for the successful development of western pine beetles. We also found no significant difference in the effects of the natal and non-natal isolate on beetle fitness parameters. However, brood adult beetles failed to incorporate the non-natal fungus into their fungal transport structure (mycangium) indicating adaption by the beetle to particular genotypes of symbiotic fungi. Our results suggest that beetle-fungus mutualisms and symbiont fidelity may be maintained via an undescribed recognition mechanism of the beetles for particular symbionts that may promote particular associations through time.}, } @article {pmid26640464, year = {2015}, author = {Wong, AC and Holmes, A and Ponton, F and Lihoreau, M and Wilson, K and Raubenheimer, D and Simpson, SJ}, title = {Behavioral Microbiomics: A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Microbial Influence on Behavior.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1359}, pmid = {26640464}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The role of microbes as a part of animal systems has historically been an under-appreciated aspect of animal life histories. Recently, evidence has emerged that microbes have wide-ranging influences on animal behavior. Elucidating the complex relationships between host-microbe interactions and behavior requires an expanded ecological perspective, involving the host, the microbiome and the environment; which, in combination, is termed the holobiont. We begin by seeking insights from the literature on host-parasite interactions, then expand to consider networks of interactions between members of the microbial community. A central aspect of the environment is host nutrition. We describe how interactions between the nutrient environment, the metabolic and behavioral responses of the host and the microbiome can be studied using an integrative framework called nutritional geometry, which integrates and maps multiple aspects of the host and microbial response in multidimensional nutrient intake spaces.}, } @article {pmid26638490, year = {2015}, author = {Leonova, NO}, title = {[AUXINS AND CYTOKININES SYNTHESIS BY BRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM UNDER FLAVONOIDS INFLUENCE].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {77}, number = {5}, pages = {95-103}, pmid = {26638490}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Biomass ; Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development/metabolism ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Cytokinins/*biosynthesis ; Flavanones/pharmacology ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Genistein/pharmacology ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/growth & development/metabolism ; Soybeans/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIM: Research the ability of different by effectiveness symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soybean bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum to the synthesis of phytohormones-stimulators auxins and cytokinins for the actions of plant flavonoids genistein and naringenin.

METHODS: Extracellular phytohormonal compound isolated from the supernatant culture liquid of the soybean rhizobia by redistribution of phytohormones in two phases solvent immiscible with each other. Auxins and cytokinins were determined by thin layer spectra densitometry chromatography.

RESULTS: Shown the ability of symbiotic diastrophic soybean strains to synthesize auxins (4-1067 mg/g of absolutely dry biomass) and cytokinins (141-1554 mg/g of absolutely dry biomass). Cultivation soybean rhizobia in the presence of flavonoid compounds genistein and naringenin leads to the narrowing of the range and reducing the number of phytohormones: unchecked synthesis of indole-3-carboxylic acid, indole-3-carbinol, indole-3-acetic acid hydrazide and zeatin.

CONCLUSIONS: Depressing effect of flavonoids on the phytohormones in soybean rhizobia synthesis is probably due to changes in metabolism microsymbiotic bacteria that are not aimed at the synthesis of secondary metabolites and to launch effective nodulating mechanisms, and also the concentration of flavonoid compounds in the nutrient medium.}, } @article {pmid26638242, year = {2015}, author = {Chuhukova, OV and Postrigan, BN and Baimiev, AKh and Chemeris, AV}, title = {[The Effect of Cadmium on the Efficiency of Development of Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis].}, journal = {Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia}, volume = {}, number = {5}, pages = {538-543}, pmid = {26638242}, issn = {1026-3470}, mesh = {Cadmium/*pharmacology ; *Peas/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*growth & development ; *Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Screening of nodule bacteria (rhizobia) forming symbiotic relationships with legumes has been performed in order to isolate strains resistant to cadmium ions in a wide range of concentrations (6-132 mg/kg). The effect ofcadmium salts (6, 12, 24 mg/kg) on the legume-rhizobium symbiosis ofthe pea Pisum sativum L. with Rhizobium leguminosarum and of the fodder galega Galega orientalis Lam. with Rhizobium galegae has been studied under experimental laboratory conditions. No statistically significant differences have been revealed in the growth and biomass of plants with regard to the control in the range of concentrations given above. However, it was found that cadmium inhibited nodulation in P. sativum and stimulated it in G. orientalis.}, } @article {pmid26638234, year = {2015}, author = {Usakova, NA and Nekrasov, RV and Pravdin, IV and Sverchkova, NV and Kolomiyets, EI and Pavlov, DS}, title = {[Mechanisms of the Effects of Probiotics on Symbiotic Digestion].}, journal = {Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia}, volume = {}, number = {5}, pages = {468-476}, pmid = {26638234}, issn = {1026-3470}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Digestion/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {The published data and our own data on the mechanisms of the influence of microbial probiotics, prebiotics, and their combinations on the processes of symbiotic digestion have been considered and generalized. It is shown that the effects on an organism are associated with the enhanced metabolic activity of intestinal bacteria: stimulation of bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates and formation of short-chained fatty acids, an increase in the blotting capacity of the intestines due to elongation of villi and deepening of crypts, and a decrease in secretion of toxic proteolytic products (ammonia, phenols, thiols, indoles, etc.). It has been shown that a combination of probiotics and prebiotic enhances the biological efficiency of a complex preparation, which contributes to activation of carbohydrate, protein, and mineral metabolism.}, } @article {pmid26637162, year = {2015}, author = {Yue, Y and Yu, H and Li, R and Xing, R and Liu, S and Li, P}, title = {Exploring the Antibacterial and Antifungal Potential of Jellyfish-Associated Marine Fungi by Cultivation-Dependent Approaches.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0144394}, pmid = {26637162}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ascomycota/growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Basidiomycota/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Rhizoctonia/*growth & development ; Salmonella enterica/*growth & development ; Scyphozoa/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Fungi isolated from marine invertebrates are of considerable importance as new promising sources of unique secondary metabolites with significant biomedical potential. However, the cultivable fungal community harbored in jellyfish was less investigated. In this work, we seek to recover symbiotic fungi from different tissues of jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai. A total of seven morphotypes were isolated, which were assigned into four genera (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Purpureocillium, and Tilletiopsis) from two phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) by comparing the rDNA-ITS sequences with the reference sequences in GenBank. The most fungi were found in the inner tissues of subumbrella. Two of the cultivation-independent procedures, changing media type and co-cultivation, were employed to maximize the complexity of metabolites. Thus, thirteen EtOAc gum were obtained and fingerprinted by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a photodiode array (PDA) detector. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of these complex mixtures were tested against a panel of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The antimicrobial results showed that all of the 13 EtOAc extracts displayed different levels of antibacterial activity, three of which exhibited strong to significant antibacterial activity to the bacterial pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella entrica. Antifungal activity indicated that the EtOAc extracts from pure culture of Aspergillus versicolor and co-culture of A. versicolor and Tilletiopsis sp. in rice media were promising for searching new compounds, with the maximal mycelial growth inhibition of 82.32% ± 0.61% for Rhizoctonia solani and 48.41% ± 11.02% for Botrytis cinerea at 200 μg/ml, respectively. This study is the first report on the antibacterial and antifungal activity of jellyfish-associated fungi and allows the first sight into cultivable fungal community residing in jellyfish. Induced metabolites by cultivation-dependent approaches provides a new reservoir for drug discovery from jellyfish-derived fungi.}, } @article {pmid26637128, year = {2016}, author = {Tian, RM and Sun, J and Cai, L and Zhang, WP and Zhou, GW and Qiu, JW and Qian, PY}, title = {The deep-sea glass sponge Lophophysema eversa harbours potential symbionts responsible for the nutrient conversions of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2481-2494}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13161}, pmid = {26637128}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Archaea/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Autotrophic Processes/physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Genome, Archaeal/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Glass sponge (Hexactinellida, Porifera) is a special lineage because of its unique tissue organization and skeleton material. Structure and physiology of glass sponge have been extensively studied. However, our knowledge of the glass sponge-associated microbial community and of the interaction with the host is rather limited. Here, we performed genomic studies on the microbial community in the glass sponge Lophophysema eversa in seamount. The microbial community was dominated by an ammonia-oxidizing archaeum (AOA), a nitrite-oxidizing bacterium (NOB) and a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium (SOB), all of which were autotrophs. Genomic analysis on the AOA, NOB and SOB in the sponge revealed specific functional features of sponge-associated microorganisms in comparison with the closely related free-living relatives, including chemotaxis, phage defence, vitamin biosynthesis and nutrient uptake among others, which are related to ecological functions. The three autotrophs play essential roles in the cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in the microenvironment inside the sponge body, and they are considered to play symbiotic roles in the host as scavengers of toxic ammonia, nitrite and sulfide. Our study extends knowledge regarding the metabolism and the evolution of chemolithotrophs inside the invertebrate body.}, } @article {pmid26637014, year = {2015}, author = {Perez-Muñoz, ME and Joglekar, P and Shen, YJ and Chang, KY and Peterson, DA}, title = {Identification and Phylogeny of the First T Cell Epitope Identified from a Human Gut Bacteroides Species.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e0144382}, pmid = {26637014}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R21 AI097419/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI07660901/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI097419/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antigens, Bacterial/genetics/*immunology ; Bacteroides/genetics/*immunology ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics/*immunology ; Humans ; Mice ; *Phylogeny ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Host T cell reactivity toward gut bacterial epitopes has been recognized as part of disease pathogenesis. However, the specificity of T cells that recognize this vast number of epitopes has not yet been well described. After colonizing a C57BL/6J germ-free mouse with the human gut symbiotic bacteria Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, we isolated a T cell that recognized these bacteria in vitro. Using this T cell, we mapped the first known non-carbohydrate T cell epitope within the phylum Bacteroidetes. The T cell also reacted to two other additional Bacteroides species. We identified the peptide that stimulated the T cell by using a genetic approach. Genomic data from the epitope-positive and epitope-negative bacteria explain the cross-reactivity of the T cell to multiple species. This epitope degeneracy should shape our understanding of the T cell repertoire stimulated by the complex microbiome residing in the gastrointestinal tract in both healthy and disease states.}, } @article {pmid26636983, year = {2016}, author = {Wagner, K and Krause, K and David, A and Kai, M and Jung, EM and Sammer, D and Kniemeyer, O and Boland, W and Kothe, E}, title = {Influence of zygomycete-derived D'orenone on IAA signalling in Tricholoma-spruce ectomycorrhiza.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2470-2480}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13160}, pmid = {26636983}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Aldehyde Dehydrogenase/biosynthesis ; Carotenoids/*pharmacology ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Picea/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/cytology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tricholoma/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Despite the rising interest in microbial communication, only few studies relate to mycorrhization and the pool of potential morphogenic substances produced by the surrounding soil community. Here, we investigated the effect exerted by the C18 - ketone β-apo-13-carotenone, D'orenone, on the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Tricholoma vaccinum and its symbiosis with the economically important host tree, spruce (Picea abies). D'orenone is an early intermediate in the biosynthesis of morphogens in sexual development of mucoromycetes, the trisporoids. In the ectomycorrhizal fungus T. vaccinum, D'orenone increased the production and/or release of the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) which had been proposed to be involved in the mutual symbiosis. The induced expression of the fungal aldehyde dehydrogenase, Ald5 is associated with IAA synthesis and excretion. In the host tree, D'orenone modulated root architecture by increasing lateral root length and hypertrophy of root cortex cells, likely via changed IAA concentrations and flux. Thus, we report for the first time on carotenoid metabolites from soil fungi affecting both ectomycorrhizal partners. The data imply a complex network of functions for secondary metabolites which act in an inter-kingdom signalling in soil.}, } @article {pmid26636731, year = {2016}, author = {Via, VD and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, F}, title = {How legumes recognize rhizobia.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {e1120396}, pmid = {26636731}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legume plants have developed the capacity to establish symbiotic interactions with soil bacteria (known as rhizobia) that can convert N2 to molecular forms that are incorporated into the plant metabolism. The first step of this relationship is the recognition of bacteria by the plant, which allows to distinguish potentially harmful species from symbiotic partners. The main molecular determinant of this symbiotic interaction is the Nod Factor, a diffusible lipochitooligosaccharide molecule produced by rhizobia and perceived by LysM receptor kinases; however, other important molecules involved in the specific recognition have emerged over the years. Secreted exopolysaccharides and the lipopolysaccharides present in the bacterial cell wall have been proposed to act as signaling molecules, triggering the expression of specific genes related to the symbiotic process. In this review we will briefly discuss how transcriptomic analysis are helping to understand how multiple signaling pathways, triggered by the perception of different molecules produced by rhizobia, control the genetic programs of root nodule organogenesis and bacterial infection. This knowledge can help to understand how legumes have evolved to recognize and establish complex ecological relationships with particular species and strains of rhizobia, adjusting gene expression in response to identity determinants of bacteria.}, } @article {pmid26636661, year = {2015}, author = {Moran, NA and Sloan, DB}, title = {The Hologenome Concept: Helpful or Hollow?.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {e1002311}, pmid = {26636661}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {R01 GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM108477/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; *Genome ; *Genome, Microbial ; Genomics/*methods/trends ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Models, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {With the increasing appreciation for the crucial roles that microbial symbionts play in the development and fitness of plant and animal hosts, there has been a recent push to interpret evolution through the lens of the "hologenome"--the collective genomic content of a host and its microbiome. But how symbionts evolve and, particularly, whether they undergo natural selection to benefit hosts are complex issues that are associated with several misconceptions about evolutionary processes in host-associated microbial communities. Microorganisms can have intimate, ancient, and/or mutualistic associations with hosts without having undergone natural selection to benefit hosts. Likewise, observing host-specific microbial community composition or greater community similarity among more closely related hosts does not imply that symbionts have coevolved with hosts, let alone that they have evolved for the benefit of the host. Although selection at the level of the symbiotic community, or hologenome, occurs in some cases, it should not be accepted as the null hypothesis for explaining features of host-symbiont associations.}, } @article {pmid26636483, year = {2016}, author = {Pérez-Escuredo, J and Dadhich, RK and Dhup, S and Cacace, A and Van Hée, VF and De Saedeleer, CJ and Sboarina, M and Rodriguez, F and Fontenille, MJ and Brisson, L and Porporato, PE and Sonveaux, P}, title = {Lactate promotes glutamine uptake and metabolism in oxidative cancer cells.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {72-83}, pmid = {26636483}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Glutaminase/*metabolism ; Glutamine/*metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism ; Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; Symporters/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Oxygenated cancer cells have a high metabolic plasticity as they can use glucose, glutamine and lactate as main substrates to support their bioenergetic and biosynthetic activities. Metabolic optimization requires integration. While glycolysis and glutaminolysis can cooperate to support cellular proliferation, oxidative lactate metabolism opposes glycolysis in oxidative cancer cells engaged in a symbiotic relation with their hypoxic/glycolytic neighbors. However, little is known concerning the relationship between oxidative lactate metabolism and glutamine metabolism. Using SiHa and HeLa human cancer cells, this study reports that intracellular lactate signaling promotes glutamine uptake and metabolism in oxidative cancer cells. It depends on the uptake of extracellular lactate by monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1). Lactate first stabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α), and HIF-2α then transactivates c-Myc in a pathway that mimics a response to hypoxia. Consequently, lactate-induced c-Myc activation triggers the expression of glutamine transporter ASCT2 and of glutaminase 1 (GLS1), resulting in improved glutamine uptake and catabolism. Elucidation of this metabolic dependence could be of therapeutic interest. First, inhibitors of lactate uptake targeting MCT1 are currently entering clinical trials. They have the potential to indirectly repress glutaminolysis. Second, in oxidative cancer cells, resistance to glutaminolysis inhibition could arise from compensation by oxidative lactate metabolism and increased lactate signaling.}, } @article {pmid26635804, year = {2015}, author = {Di Giovangiulio, M and Verheijden, S and Bosmans, G and Stakenborg, N and Boeckxstaens, GE and Matteoli, G}, title = {The Neuromodulation of the Intestinal Immune System and Its Relevance in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {590}, pmid = {26635804}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {One of the main tasks of the immune system is to discriminate and appropriately react to "danger" or "non-danger" signals. This is crucial in the gastrointestinal tract, where the immune system is confronted with a myriad of food antigens and symbiotic microflora that are in constant contact with the mucosa, in addition to any potential pathogens. This large number of antigens and commensal microflora, which are essential for providing vital nutrients, must be tolerated by the intestinal immune system to prevent aberrant inflammation. Hence, the balance between immune activation versus tolerance should be tightly regulated to maintain intestinal homeostasis and to prevent immune activation indiscriminately against all luminal antigens. Loss of this delicate equilibrium can lead to chronic activation of the intestinal immune response resulting in intestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In order to maintain homeostasis, the immune system has evolved diverse regulatory strategies including additional non-immunological actors able to control the immune response. Accumulating evidence strongly indicates a bidirectional link between the two systems in which the brain modulates the immune response via the detection of circulating cytokines and via direct afferent input from sensory fibers and from enteric neurons. In the current review, we will highlight the most recent findings regarding the cross-talk between the nervous system and the mucosal immune system and will discuss the potential use of these neuronal circuits and neuromediators as novel therapeutic tools to reestablish immune tolerance and treat intestinal chronic inflammation.}, } @article {pmid26635751, year = {2015}, author = {Augimeri, RV and Varley, AJ and Strap, JL}, title = {Establishing a Role for Bacterial Cellulose in Environmental Interactions: Lessons Learned from Diverse Biofilm-Producing Proteobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1282}, pmid = {26635751}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Bacterial cellulose (BC) serves as a molecular glue to facilitate intra- and inter-domain interactions in nature. Biosynthesis of BC-containing biofilms occurs in a variety of Proteobacteria that inhabit diverse ecological niches. The enzymatic and regulatory systems responsible for the polymerization, exportation, and regulation of BC are equally as diverse. Though the magnitude and environmental consequences of BC production are species-specific, the common role of BC-containing biofilms is to establish close contact with a preferred host to facilitate efficient host-bacteria interactions. Universally, BC aids in attachment, adherence, and subsequent colonization of a substrate. Bi-directional interactions influence host physiology, bacterial physiology, and regulation of BC biosynthesis, primarily through modulation of intracellular bis-(3'→5')-cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) levels. Depending on the circumstance, BC producers exhibit a pathogenic or symbiotic relationship with plant, animal, or fungal hosts. Rhizobiaceae species colonize plant roots, Pseudomonadaceae inhabit the phyllosphere, Acetobacteriaceae associate with sugar-loving insects and inhabit the carposphere, Enterobacteriaceae use fresh produce as vehicles to infect animal hosts, and Vibrionaceae, particularly Aliivibrio fischeri, colonize the light organ of squid. This review will highlight the diversity of the biosynthesis and regulation of BC in nature by discussing various examples of Proteobacteria that use BC-containing biofilms to facilitate host-bacteria interactions. Through discussion of current data we will establish new directions for the elucidation of BC biosynthesis, its regulation and its ecophysiological roles.}, } @article {pmid26635749, year = {2015}, author = {Pellegrin, C and Morin, E and Martin, FM and Veneault-Fourrey, C}, title = {Comparative Analysis of Secretomes from Ectomycorrhizal Fungi with an Emphasis on Small-Secreted Proteins.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1278}, pmid = {26635749}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Fungi are major players in the carbon cycle in forest ecosystems due to the wide range of interactions they have with plants either through soil degradation processes by litter decayers or biotrophic interactions with pathogenic and ectomycorrhizal symbionts. Secretion of fungal proteins mediates these interactions by allowing the fungus to interact with its environment and/or host. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis independently appeared several times throughout evolution and involves approximately 80% of trees. Despite extensive physiological studies on ECM symbionts, little is known about the composition and specificities of their secretomes. In this study, we used a bioinformatics pipeline to predict and analyze the secretomes of 49 fungal species, including 11 ECM fungi, wood and soil decayers and pathogenic fungi to tackle the following questions: (1) Are there differences between the secretomes of saprophytic and ECM fungi? (2) Are small-secreted proteins (SSPs) more abundant in biotrophic fungi than in saprophytic fungi? and (3) Are there SSPs shared between ECM, saprotrophic and pathogenic fungi? We showed that the number of predicted secreted proteins is similar in the surveyed species, independently of their lifestyle. The secretome from ECM fungi is characterized by a restricted number of secreted CAZymes, but their repertoires of secreted proteases and lipases are similar to those of saprotrophic fungi. Focusing on SSPs, we showed that the secretome of ECM fungi is enriched in SSPs compared with other species. Most of the SSPs are coded by orphan genes with no known PFAM domain or similarities to known sequences in databases. Finally, based on the clustering analysis, we identified shared- and lifestyle-specific SSPs between saprotrophic and ECM fungi. The presence of SSPs is not limited to fungi interacting with living plants as the genome of saprotrophic fungi also code for numerous SSPs. ECM fungi shared lifestyle-specific SSPs likely involved in symbiosis that are good candidates for further functional analyses.}, } @article {pmid26634666, year = {2015}, author = {Chang, OA and Allen, MM and Pandit, B}, title = {Capacity building for Pacific Island countries: the challenges and benefits of developing a postgraduate clinical training programme.}, journal = {Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists}, volume = {23}, number = {6 Suppl}, pages = {32-34}, doi = {10.1177/1039856215608294}, pmid = {26634666}, issn = {1440-1665}, mesh = {*Capacity Building ; *Education, Graduate ; Humans ; Mental Health/*education ; Pacific Islands ; *Program Development ; *Universities ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To describe the development of a postgraduate clinical training programme in mental health for the Pacific region by the Fiji National University (FNU), the challenges and benefits.

CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of FNU's one-year full-time postgraduate diploma in mental health (PGDMH) has resulted in graduates across the Pacific in all three main regions of Oceania trained as frontline practitioners in mental health. Most of the graduates hold key mental health positions in their respective countries. The PGDMH provides culturally relevant and sensitive training in settings and with resources similar to the graduates' homelands. Challenges relate mainly to the sustainability of the programme, selection of candidates, addressing the needs of stakeholders and teaching in an evolving, under-resourced mental health service. The ongoing challenge continues to be the maintenance of a symbiotic co-existence that results in mutual benefits for both the University and stakeholders without jeopardizing the integrity of the programme or the independence of the University.}, } @article {pmid26634595, year = {2015}, author = {Ricci, A and Tagliacarne, SC and Valsecchi, C and Boggini, T and Cattaneo, F and Licari, A and Caimmi, S and Castellazzi, AM}, title = {PROBIOTICS AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES.}, journal = {Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents}, volume = {29}, number = {2 Suppl 1}, pages = {96-113}, pmid = {26634595}, issn = {0393-974X}, abstract = {Intestinal microbiota is composed by symbiotic innocuous bacteria and potential pathogens also called pathobionts. Even if the mechanism of action of intestinal bacteria remain still unknown, specific microbial species seem to have important role in the maintenance of immunological equilibrium in the gut through the direct interaction with immune cells. Some studies have found a dysregulated interaction between the intestinal bacteria, the gut barrier, and the intestinal associated immune system in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients and in the pathogenesis of these pathologies. In IBD patients some Butyrate producing bacteria, as Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii, are under represented and this could be related with their chronic inflammatory state.}, } @article {pmid26631376, year = {2015}, author = {Comandatore, F and Cordaux, R and Bandi, C and Blaxter, M and Darby, A and Makepeace, BL and Montagna, M and Sassera, D}, title = {Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {150099}, pmid = {26631376}, issn = {2046-2441}, support = {095831//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; G0900740/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MR/K001744/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; //Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Filarioidea/*microbiology ; Genomics ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is possibly the most widespread endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. While all Wolbachia strains have historically been defined as a single species, 16 monophyletic clusters of diversity (called supergroups) have been described. Different supergroups have distinct host ranges and symbiotic relationships, ranging from mutualism to reproductive manipulation. In filarial nematodes, which include parasites responsible for major diseases of humans (such as Onchocerca volvulus, agent of river blindness) and companion animals (Dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm), Wolbachia has an obligate mutualist role and is the target of new treatment regimens. Here, we compare the genomes of eight Wolbachia strains, spanning the diversity of the major supergroups (A-F), analysing synteny, transposable element content, GC skew and gene loss or gain. We detected genomic features that differ between Wolbachia supergroups, most notably in the C and D clades from filarial nematodes. In particular, strains from supergroup C (symbionts of O. volvulus and D. immitis) present a pattern of GC skew, conserved synteny and lack of transposable elements, unique in the Wolbachia genus. These features could be the consequence of a distinct symbiotic relationship between C Wolbachia strains and their hosts, highlighting underappreciated differences between the mutualistic supergroups found within filarial nematodes.}, } @article {pmid26631109, year = {2015}, author = {Soen, Y and Knafo, M and Elgart, M}, title = {A principle of organization which facilitates broad Lamarckian-like adaptations by improvisation.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {68}, pmid = {26631109}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; *Models, Genetic ; *Phenotype ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: During the lifetime of an organism, every individual encounters many combinations of diverse changes in the somatic genome, epigenome and microbiome. This gives rise to many novel combinations of internal failures which are unique to each individual. How any individual can tolerate this high load of new, individual-specific scenarios of failure is not clear. While stress-induced plasticity and hidden variation have been proposed as potential mechanisms of tolerance, the main conceptual problem remains unaddressed, namely: how largely non-beneficial random variation can be rapidly and safely organized into net benefits to every individual.

We propose an organizational principle which explains how every individual can alleviate a high load of novel stressful scenarios using many random variations in flexible and inherently less harmful traits. Random changes which happen to reduce stress, benefit the organism and decrease the drive for additional changes. This adaptation (termed 'Adaptive Improvisation') can be further enhanced, propagated, stabilized and memorized when beneficial changes reinforce themselves by auto-regulatory mechanisms. This principle implicates stress not only in driving diverse variations in cells tissues and organs, but also in organizing these variations into adaptive outcomes. Specific (but not exclusive) examples include stress reduction by rapid exchange of mobile genetic elements (or exosomes) in unicellular, and rapid changes in the symbiotic microorganisms of animals. In all cases, adaptive changes can be transmitted across generations, allowing rapid improvement and assimilation in a few generations.

TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: We provide testable predictions derived from the hypothesis.

The hypothesis raises a critical, but thus far overlooked adaptation problem and explains how random variation can self-organize to confer a wide range of individual-specific adaptations beyond the existing outcomes of natural selection. It portrays gene regulation as an inseparable synergy between natural selection and adaptation by improvisation. The latter provides a basis for Lamarckian adaptation that is not limited to a specific mechanism and readily accounts for the remarkable resistance of tumors to treatment.}, } @article {pmid26630971, year = {2016}, author = {Pepe, A and Giovannetti, M and Sbrana, C}, title = {Different levels of hyphal self-incompatibility modulate interconnectedness of mycorrhizal networks in three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within the Glomeraceae.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {325-332}, pmid = {26630971}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/classification/*growth & development/physiology ; Hyphae/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*growth & development/physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) live in symbiosis with most plant species and produce underground extraradical hyphal networks functional in the uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients from the soil to host plants. This work investigated whether fungal genotype can affect patterns of interconnections and structural traits of extraradical mycelium (ERM), by comparing three Glomeraceae species growing in symbiosis with five plant hosts. An isolate of Funneliformis coronatus consistently showed low ability to form interconnected ERM and self-incompatibility that represented up to 21% of hyphal contacts. The frequency of post-fusion self-incompatible interactions, never detected before in AMF extraradical networks, was 8.9%. In F. coronatus ERM, the percentage of hyphal contacts leading to perfect hyphal fusions was 1.2-7.7, while it ranged from 25.8-48 to 35.6-53.6 in Rhizophagus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae, respectively. Low interconnectedness of F. coronatus ERM resulted also from a very high number of non-interacting contacts (83.2%). Such findings show that AMF genotypes in Glomeraceae can differ significantly in anastomosis behaviour and that ERM interconnectedness is modulated by the fungal symbiont, as F. coronatus consistently formed poorly interconnected networks when growing in symbiosis with five different host plants and in the asymbiotic stage. Structural traits, such as extent, density and hyphal self-compatibility/incompatibility, may represent key factors for the differential performance of AMF, by affecting fungal absorbing surface and foraging ability and thus nutrient flow from soil to host roots.}, } @article {pmid26630007, year = {2015}, author = {Kistler, L and Newsom, LA and Ryan, TM and Clarke, AC and Smith, BD and Perry, GH}, title = {Gourds and squashes (Cucurbita spp.) adapted to megafaunal extinction and ecological anachronism through domestication.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {49}, pages = {15107-15112}, pmid = {26630007}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Cucurbita/genetics/*physiology ; *Ecology ; *Extinction, Biological ; Genome, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plastids/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genus Cucurbita (squashes, pumpkins, gourds) contains numerous domesticated lineages with ancient New World origins. It was broadly distributed in the past but has declined to the point that several of the crops' progenitor species are scarce or unknown in the wild. We hypothesize that Holocene ecological shifts and megafaunal extinctions severely impacted wild Cucurbita, whereas their domestic counterparts adapted to changing conditions via symbiosis with human cultivators. First, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze complete plastid genomes of 91 total Cucurbita samples, comprising ancient (n = 19), modern wild (n = 30), and modern domestic (n = 42) taxa. This analysis demonstrates independent domestication in eastern North America, evidence of a previously unknown pathway to domestication in northeastern Mexico, and broad archaeological distributions of taxa currently unknown in the wild. Further, sequence similarity between distant wild populations suggests recent fragmentation. Collectively, these results point to wild-type declines coinciding with widespread domestication. Second, we hypothesize that the disappearance of large herbivores struck a critical ecological blow against wild Cucurbita, and we take initial steps to consider this hypothesis through cross-mammal analyses of bitter taste receptor gene repertoires. Directly, megafauna consumed Cucurbita fruits and dispersed their seeds; wild Cucurbita were likely left without mutualistic dispersal partners in the Holocene because they are unpalatable to smaller surviving mammals with more bitter taste receptor genes. Indirectly, megafauna maintained mosaic-like landscapes ideal for Cucurbita, and vegetative changes following the megafaunal extinctions likely crowded out their disturbed-ground niche. Thus, anthropogenic landscapes provided favorable growth habitats and willing dispersal partners in the wake of ecological upheaval.}, } @article {pmid26627211, year = {2016}, author = {López-Ráez, JA}, title = {How drought and salinity affect arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and strigolactone biosynthesis?.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {243}, number = {6}, pages = {1375-1385}, pmid = {26627211}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Droughts ; Lactones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis/chemistry/physiology ; Salt Tolerance ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {This paper reviews the importance of AM symbiosis in alleviating plant stress under unfavourable environmental conditions, making emphasis on the role of strigolactones. A better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate this beneficial association will increase its potential use as an innovative and sustainable strategy in modern agriculture. Plants are very dynamic systems with a great capacity for adaptation to a constantly changing environment. This phenotypic plasticity is particularly advantageous in areas damaged or subjected to intensive agriculture. Nowadays, global crop production systems are intensifying the impact on natural resources, such as water availability. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find more sustainable alternatives. One of the plant strategies to improve phenotypic plasticity is to establish mutualistic beneficial associations with soil microorganisms, such as the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The establishment of AM symbiosis requires a complex network of interconnected signalling pathways, in which phytohormones play a key role. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones acting as modulators of the coordinated development under nutrient shortage. SLs also act as host detection signals for AM fungi, favouring symbiosis establishment. In this review, current knowledge on the effect of water-related stresses, such as drought and salinity, in AM symbiosis and in SL production is discussed. Likewise, how the symbiosis helps the host plant to alleviate stress symptoms is also reviewed. Finally, we highlight how interactions between hormonal signalling pathways modulate all these responses, especially in the cross-talk between SLs and abscisic acid (ABA). Understanding the intricate mechanisms that regulate the establishment of AM symbiosis and the plant responses under unfavourable conditions will contribute to implement the use of AM fungi as bioprotective agents against these stresses.}, } @article {pmid26626941, year = {2016}, author = {He, T and Zhang, X}, title = {Characterization of Bacterial Communities in Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents from Three Oceanic Regions.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {232-241}, pmid = {26626941}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Atlantic Ocean ; Bacteroidetes/classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Ecosystem ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Indian Ocean ; Microbial Consortia/genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; *Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/classification/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are considered to be one of the most spectacular ecosystems on Earth. Microorganisms form the basis of the food chain in vents controlling the vent communities. However, the diversity of bacterial communities in deep-sea hydrothermal vents from different oceans remains largely unknown. In this study, the pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene was used to characterize the bacterial communities of the venting sulfide, seawater, and tubeworm trophosome from East Pacific Rise, South Atlantic Ridge, and Southwest Indian Ridge, respectively. A total of 23,767 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assigned into 42 different phyla. Although Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the predominant phyla in all vents, differences of bacterial diversity were observed among different vents from three oceanic regions. The sulfides of East Pacific Rise possessed the most diverse bacterial communities. The bacterial diversities of venting seawater were much lower than those of vent sulfides. The symbiotic bacteria of tubeworm Ridgeia piscesae were included in the bacterial community of vent sulfides, suggesting their significant ecological functions as the primary producers in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems. Therefore, our study presented a comprehensive view of bacterial communities in deep-sea hydrothermal vents from different oceans.}, } @article {pmid26626627, year = {2016}, author = {Reddy, MS and Kour, M and Aggarwal, S and Ahuja, S and Marmeisse, R and Fraissinet-Tachet, L}, title = {Metal induction of a Pisolithus albus metallothionein and its potential involvement in heavy metal tolerance during mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2446-2454}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13149}, pmid = {26626627}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; Copper/*toxicity ; Eucalyptus/drug effects/*microbiology ; Metallothionein/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Development/drug effects/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich peptides involved in intracellular sequestration of heavy metals in eukaryotes. We examined the role in metal homeostasis and detoxification of an MT from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus albus (PaMT1). PaMT1 encodes a 35 amino acid-long polypeptide, with 7 cysteine residues; most of them part of a C-x-C motif found in other known basidiomycete MTs. The expression levels of PaMT1 increased as a function of increased external Cu and Cd concentrations and were higher with Cu than with Cd. Heterologous complementation assays in metal-sensitive yeast mutants indicated that PaMT1 encodes a polypeptide capable of conferring higher tolerance to both Cu and Cd. Eucalyptus tereticornis plantlets colonized with P. albus grown in the presence of Cu and Cd showed better growth compared with those with non-mycorrhizal plants. Higher PaMT1 expression levels were recorded in mycorrhizal plants grown in the presence of Cu and Cd compared with those in control mycorrhizal plants not exposed to heavy metals. These data provide the first evidence to our knowledge that fungal MTs could protect ectomycorrhizal fungi from heavy metal stress and in turn help the plants to establish in metal-contaminated sites.}, } @article {pmid26625979, year = {2016}, author = {Iwai, S and Fujiwara, K and Tamura, T}, title = {Maintenance of algal endosymbionts in Paramecium bursaria: a simple model based on population dynamics.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2435-2445}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13140}, pmid = {26625979}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Cell Division/physiology ; Chlorella/cytology/*growth & development ; Light ; *Models, Theoretical ; Paramecium/*parasitology/physiology ; Phototrophic Processes/*physiology ; Population Density ; Population Dynamics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Algal endosymbiosis is widely distributed in eukaryotes including many protists and metazoans, and plays important roles in aquatic ecosystems, combining phagotrophy and phototrophy. To maintain a stable symbiotic relationship, endosymbiont population size in the host must be properly regulated and maintained at a constant level; however, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of algal endosymbionts are still largely unknown. Here we investigate the population dynamics of the unicellular ciliate Paramecium bursaria and its Chlorella-like algal endosymbiont under various experimental conditions in a simple culture system. Our results suggest that endosymbiont population size in P. bursaria was not regulated by active processes such as cell division coupling between the two organisms, or partitioning of the endosymbionts at host cell division. Regardless, endosymbiont population size was eventually adjusted to a nearly constant level once cells were grown with light and nutrients. To explain this apparent regulation of population size, we propose a simple mechanism based on the different growth properties (specifically the nutrient requirements) of the two organisms, and based from this develop a mathematical model to describe the population dynamics of host and endosymbiont. The proposed mechanism and model may provide a basis for understanding the maintenance of algal endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid26619210, year = {2015}, author = {Torres-Pérez, JL and Guild, LS and Armstrong, RA and Corredor, J and Zuluaga-Montero, A and Polanco, R}, title = {Relative Pigment Composition and Remote Sensing Reflectance of Caribbean Shallow-Water Corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0143709}, pmid = {26619210}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Caribbean Region ; Pigments, Biological/*chemistry/genetics ; Remote Sensing Technology ; Spectrum Analysis ; }, abstract = {Reef corals typically contain a number of pigments, mostly due to their symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic dinoflagellates. These pigments usually vary in presence and concentration and influence the spectral characteristics of corals. We studied the variations in pigment composition among seven Caribbean shallow-water Scleractinian corals by means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis to further resolve the discrimination of corals. We found a total of 27 different pigments among the coral species, including some alteration products of the main pigments. Additionally, pigments typically found in endolithic algae were also identified. A Principal Components Analysis and a Hierarchical Cluster Analysis showed the separation of coral species based on pigment composition. All the corals were collected under the same physical environmental conditions. This suggests that pigment in the coral's symbionts might be more genetically-determined than influenced by prevailing physical conditions of the reef. We further investigated the use of remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) as a tool for estimating the total pigment concentration of reef corals. Depending on the coral species, the Rrs and the total symbiont pigment concentration per coral tissue area correlation showed 79.5-98.5% confidence levels demonstrating its use as a non-invasive robust technique to estimate pigment concentration in studies of coral reef biodiversity and health.}, } @article {pmid26618779, year = {2016}, author = {von Beeren, C and Maruyama, M and Kronauer, DJ}, title = {Cryptic diversity, high host specificity and reproductive synchronization in army ant-associated Vatesus beetles.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {990-1005}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13500}, pmid = {26618779}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Biodiversity ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Coleoptera/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Costa Rica ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Female ; Larva ; Male ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Physiological Phenomena ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Army ants and their arthropod symbionts represent one of the most species-rich animal associations on Earth, and constitute a fascinating example of diverse host-symbiont interaction networks. However, despite decades of research, our knowledge of army ant symbionts remains fragmentary due to taxonomic ambiguity and the inability to study army ants in the laboratory. Here, we present an integrative approach that allows us to reliably determine species boundaries, assess biodiversity, match different developmental stages and sexes, and to study the life cycles of army ant symbionts. This approach is based on a combination of community sampling, DNA barcoding, morphology and physiology. As a test case, we applied this approach to the staphylinid beetle genus Vatesus and its different Eciton army ant host species at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. DNA barcoding led to the discovery of cryptic biodiversity and, in combination with extensive community sampling, revealed strict host partitioning with no overlap in host range. Using DNA barcoding, we were also able to match the larval stages of all focal Vatesus species. In combination with studies of female reproductive physiology, this allowed us to reconstruct almost the complete life cycles of the different beetle species. We show that Vatesus beetles are highly adapted to the symbiosis with army ants, in that their reproduction and larval development are synchronized with the stereotypical reproductive and behavioural cycles of their host colonies. Our approach can now be used to study army ant-symbiont communities more broadly, and to obtain novel insights into co-evolutionary and ecological dynamics in species-rich host-symbiont systems.}, } @article {pmid26618776, year = {2015}, author = {Polin, S and Le Gallic, JF and Simon, JC and Tsuchida, T and Outreman, Y}, title = {Conditional Reduction of Predation Risk Associated with a Facultative Symbiont in an Insect.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0143728}, pmid = {26618776}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Aphids/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Coleoptera/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*pathogenicity ; *Predatory Behavior ; Rickettsia/*pathogenicity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbionts are widespread among eukaryotes and their impacts on the ecology and evolution of their hosts are meaningful. Most insects harbour obligate and facultative symbiotic bacteria that can influence their phenotype. In the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, an astounding symbiotic-mediated phenotype has been recently observed: when infected with the symbiotic bacteria Rickettsiella viridis, young red aphid larvae become greener at adulthood and even darker green when co-infected with Rickettsiella viridis and Hamiltonella defensa. As body colour affects the susceptibility towards natural enemies in aphids, the influence of the colour change due to these facultative symbionts on the host survival in presence of predators was tested. Our results suggested that the Rickettsiella viridis infection may impact positively host survival by reducing predation risk. Due to results from uninfected aphids (i.e., more green ones attacked), the main assumption is that this symbiotic infection would deter the predatory ladybird feeding by reducing the profitability of their hosts rather than decreasing host detection through body colour change. Aphids co-infected with Rickettsiella viridis and Hamiltonella defensa were, however, more exposed to predation suggesting an ecological cost associated with multiple infections. The underlying mechanisms and ecological consequences of these symbiotic effects are discussed.}, } @article {pmid26618082, year = {2015}, author = {McKeon, CS and O'Donnell, JL}, title = {Variation in partner benefits in a shrimp-sea anemone symbiosis.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1409}, pmid = {26618082}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions, where two species occur in close physical proximity for the majority of the participants' lifespans, may constrain the fitness of one or both of the participants. Host choice could result in lineage divergence in symbionts if fitness benefits vary across the interaction with hosts. Symbiotic interactions are common in the marine environment, particularly in the most diverse marine ecosystems: coral reefs. However, the variation in symbiotic interactions that may drive diversification is poorly understood in marine systems. We measured the fecundity of the symbiotic shrimp Periclimenes yucatanicus on two anemone hosts on coral reefs in Panama, and found that while fecundity varies among host species, this variation is explained largely by host size, not species. This suggests that shrimp on larger hosts may have higher fitness regardless of host species, which in turn could drive selection for host choice, a proposed driver of diversification in this group.}, } @article {pmid26617596, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, H and Tomasch, J and Michael, V and Bhuju, S and Jarek, M and Petersen, J and Wagner-Döbler, I}, title = {Identification of Genetic Modules Mediating the Jekyll and Hyde Interaction of Dinoroseobacter shibae with the Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1262}, pmid = {26617596}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The co-cultivation of the alphaproteobacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae with the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum is characterized by a mutualistic phase followed by a pathogenic phase in which the bacterium kills aging algae. Thus it resembles the "Jekyll-and-Hyde" interaction that has been proposed for other algae and Roseobacter. Here, we identified key genetic components of this interaction. Analysis of the transcriptome of D. shibae in co-culture with P. minimum revealed growth phase dependent changes in the expression of quorum sensing, the CtrA phosphorelay, and flagella biosynthesis genes. Deletion of the histidine kinase gene cckA which is part of the CtrA phosphorelay or the flagella genes fliC or flgK resulted in complete lack of growth stimulation of P. minimum in co-culture with the D. shibae mutants. By contrast, pathogenicity was entirely dependent on one of the extrachromosomal elements of D. shibae, the 191 kb plasmid. The data show that flagella and the CtrA phosphorelay are required for establishing mutualism and prove a cell density dependent killing effect of D. shibae on P. minimum which is mediated by an unknown factor encoded on the 191 kb plasmid.}, } @article {pmid26615740, year = {2015}, author = {Reis, BMDS and Silva, A and Alvarez, MR and Oliveira, TB and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Fungal communities in gardens of the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes in forest and cabruca agrosystems of southern Bahia State (Brazil).}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {12}, pages = {1170-1178}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2015.09.001}, pmid = {26615740}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Brazil ; Feeding Behavior ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants interact with several fungi in addition to the fungal symbiont they cultivate for food. Here, we assessed alien fungal communities in colonies of Atta cephalotes. Fungus garden fragments were sampled from colonies in the Atlantic Rainforest and in a cabruca agrosystem in the state of Bahia (Brazil) in two distinct periods to evaluate whether differences in nest habitat influence the diversity of fungi in the ant colonies. We recovered a total of 403 alien fungi isolates from 628 garden fragments. The prevalent taxa found in these samples were Escovopsis sp. (26 %), Escovopsioides nivea (24 %), and Trichoderma spirale (10.9 %). Fungal diversity was similar between the colonies sampled in both areas suggesting that ants focus on reducing loads of alien fungi in the fungus gardens instead of avoiding specific fungi. However, fungal taxa composition differed between colonies sampled in the two areas and between the sampling periods. These differences are likely explained by the availability of plant substrates available for foraging over habitats and periods. Ordination analysis further supported that sampling period was the main attribute for community structuring but also revealed that additional factors may explain the structuring of fungal communities in colonies of A. cephalotes.}, } @article {pmid26615091, year = {2015}, author = {Pasztoi, M and Pezoldt, J and Huehn, J}, title = {Microenvironment Matters: Unique Conditions Within Gut-Draining Lymph Nodes Favor Efficient De Novo Induction of Regulatory T Cells.}, journal = {Progress in molecular biology and translational science}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {35-56}, doi = {10.1016/bs.pmbts.2015.07.012}, pmid = {26615091}, issn = {1878-0814}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cellular Microenvironment ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune System ; Lymph Nodes/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract constitutes the largest surface of the body and thus has developed multitude mechanisms to either prevent pathogen entry or to efficiently eliminate invading pathogens. At the same time, the gastrointestinal system has to avoid unwanted immune responses against self and harmless nonself antigens, such as nutrients and commensal microbiota. Therefore, it is somewhat not unexpected that the gastrointestinal mucosa serves as the largest repository of immune cells throughout the body, harboring both potent pro- as well as anti-inflammatory properties. One additional key element of this regulatory machinery is created by trillions of symbiotic commensal bacteria in the gut. The microbiota not only simply contribute to the breakdown of nutrients, but are essential in limiting the expansion of pathogens, directing the development of the intestinal immune system, and establishing mucosal tolerance by fostering the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In this review, we will discuss our current understanding about the microenvironmental factors fostering the de novo generation of Tregs within the gastrointestinal immune system, focusing on unique properties of antigen-presenting cells, tolerogenic cytokines, commensal-derived metabolites and the contribution of lymph node stromal cells.}, } @article {pmid26613340, year = {2016}, author = {Field, KJ and Rimington, WR and Bidartondo, MI and Allinson, KE and Beerling, DJ and Cameron, DD and Duckett, JG and Leake, JR and Pressel, S}, title = {Functional analysis of liverworts in dual symbiosis with Glomeromycota and Mucoromycotina fungi under a simulated Palaeozoic CO2 decline.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {1514-1526}, pmid = {26613340}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Fungi/drug effects/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Hepatophyta/drug effects/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomeromycota, but recent studies have found that ancient plant lineages form mutualisms with Mucoromycotina fungi. Simultaneous associations with both fungal lineages have now been found in some plants, necessitating studies to understand the functional and evolutionary significance of these tripartite associations for the first time. We investigate the physiology and cytology of dual fungal symbioses in the early-diverging liverworts Allisonia and Neohodgsonia at modern and Palaeozoic-like elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations under which they are thought to have evolved. We found enhanced carbon cost to liverworts with simultaneous Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycota associations, greater nutrient gain compared with those symbiotic with only one fungal group in previous experiments and contrasting responses to atmospheric CO2 among liverwort-fungal symbioses. In liverwort-Mucoromycotina symbioses, there is increased P-for-C and N-for-C exchange efficiency at 440 p.p.m. compared with 1500 p.p.m. CO2. In liverwort-Glomeromycota symbioses, P-for-C exchange is lower at ambient CO2 compared with elevated CO2. No characteristic cytologies of dual symbiosis were identified. We provide evidence of a distinct physiological niche for plant symbioses with Mucoromycotina fungi, giving novel insight into why dual symbioses with Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycota fungi persist to the present day.}, } @article {pmid26612499, year = {2016}, author = {Remigi, P and Zhu, J and Young, JPW and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Symbiosis within Symbiosis: Evolving Nitrogen-Fixing Legume Symbionts.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {63-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2015.10.007}, pmid = {26612499}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial accessory genes are genomic symbionts with an evolutionary history and future that is different from that of their hosts. Packages of accessory genes move from strain to strain and confer important adaptations, such as interaction with eukaryotes. The ability to fix nitrogen with legumes is a remarkable example of a complex trait spread by horizontal transfer of a few key symbiotic genes, converting soil bacteria into legume symbionts. Rhizobia belong to hundreds of species restricted to a dozen genera of the Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria, suggesting infrequent successful transfer between genera but frequent successful transfer within genera. Here we review the genetic and environmental conditions and selective forces that have shaped evolution of this complex symbiotic trait.}, } @article {pmid26612325, year = {2016}, author = {Buendia, L and Wang, T and Girardin, A and Lefebvre, B}, title = {The LysM receptor-like kinase SlLYK10 regulates the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {210}, number = {1}, pages = {184-195}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13753}, pmid = {26612325}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/*metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Most plants have the ability to establish a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which allows better plant nutrition. A plant signaling pathway, called the common symbiosis signaling pathway (CSSP), is essential for the establishment of both AM and root nodule symbioses. The CSSP is activated by microbial signals. Plant receptor(s) for AM fungal signals required for the activation of the CSSP and initial fungal penetration are currently unknown. We set up conditions to use virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Solanum lycopersicum to study the genes potentially involved in AM. We show that the lysin motif receptor-like kinase SlLYK10, whose orthologs in legumes are essential for nodulation, but not for AM, and SlCCaMK, a component of the CSSP, are required for penetration of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis into the roots of young tomato plants. Our results support the hypothesis that the SILYK10 ancestral gene originally played a role in AM and underwent duplication and neofunctionalization for a role in nodulation in legumes. Moreover, we conclude that VIGS is an efficient method for fast screening of genes playing major roles in AM.}, } @article {pmid26612036, year = {2015}, author = {Garg, D and Skouloubris, S and Briffotaux, J and Myllykallio, H and Wade, RC}, title = {Conservation and Role of Electrostatics in Thymidylate Synthase.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {17356}, pmid = {26612036}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Buchnera/chemistry/*enzymology ; Catalytic Domain ; Cloning, Molecular ; Deoxyuracil Nucleotides/*chemistry/metabolism ; Enzyme Assays ; Escherichia coli/chemistry/*enzymology ; Folic Acid/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Models, Molecular ; Mutation ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Static Electricity ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Substrate Specificity ; Thymidylate Synthase/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Wigglesworthia/chemistry/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Conservation of function across families of orthologous enzymes is generally accompanied by conservation of their active site electrostatic potentials. To study the electrostatic conservation in the highly conserved essential enzyme, thymidylate synthase (TS), we conducted a systematic species-based comparison of the electrostatic potential in the vicinity of its active site. Whereas the electrostatics of the active site of TS are generally well conserved, the TSs from minimal organisms do not conform to the overall trend. Since the genomes of minimal organisms have a high thymidine content compared to other organisms, the observation of non-conserved electrostatics was surprising. Analysis of the symbiotic relationship between minimal organisms and their hosts, and the genetic completeness of the thymidine synthesis pathway suggested that TS from the minimal organism Wigglesworthia glossinidia (W.g.b.) must be active. Four residues in the vicinity of the active site of Escherichia coli TS were mutated individually and simultaneously to mimic the electrostatics of W.g.b TS. The measured activities of the E. coli TS mutants imply that conservation of electrostatics in the region of the active site is important for the activity of TS, and suggest that the W.g.b. TS has the minimal activity necessary to support replication of its reduced genome.}, } @article {pmid26608752, year = {2015}, author = {Durand, AA and Bergeron, A and Constant, P and Buffet, JP and Déziel, E and Guertin, C}, title = {Surveying the endomicrobiome and ectomicrobiome of bark beetles: The case of Dendroctonus simplex.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {17190}, pmid = {26608752}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Larix ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Bark/*parasitology ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many bark beetles belonging to the Dendroctonus genus carry bacterial and fungal microbiota, forming a symbiotic complex that helps the insect to colonize the subcortical environment of the host tree. However, the biodiversity of those bacteria at the surface of the cuticle or inside the body parts of bark beetles is not well established. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial microbiome associated with the eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus simplex, using bacterial 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The ecto- and endomicrobiome and the subcortical galleries were investigated. Several bacterial genera were identified, among which Pseudomonas, Serratia and Yersinia are associated with the surface of the beetle cuticle, and genera belonging to Enterobacteriaceae and Gammaproteobacteria with the interior of the insect body. The index of dissimilarity indicates that the bacterial microbiome associated with each environment constitutes exclusive groups. These results suggest the presence of distinct bacterial microbiota on the surface of the cuticle and the interior of D. simplex body. Additionally, the bacterial diversity identified in the galleries is substantially different from the ectomicrobiome, which could indicate a selection by the insect. This study reports for the first time the identification of the eastern larch beetle microbiome.}, } @article {pmid26607965, year = {2015}, author = {Rossmassler, K and Dietrich, C and Thompson, C and Mikaelyan, A and Nonoh, JO and Scheffrahn, RH and Sillam-Dussès, D and Brune, A}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of the microbiota in the highly compartmented hindguts of six wood- or soil-feeding higher termites.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {56}, pmid = {26607965}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genes, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Termites are important contributors to carbon and nitrogen cycling in tropical ecosystems. Higher termites digest lignocellulose in various stages of humification with the help of an entirely prokaryotic microbiota housed in their compartmented intestinal tract. Previous studies revealed fundamental differences in community structure between compartments, but the functional roles of individual lineages in symbiotic digestion are mostly unknown.

RESULTS: Here, we conducted a highly resolved analysis of the gut microbiota in six species of higher termites that feed on plant material at different levels of humification. Combining amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, we assessed similarities in community structure and functional potential between the major hindgut compartments (P1, P3, and P4). Cluster analysis of the relative abundances of orthologous gene clusters (COGs) revealed high similarities among wood- and litter-feeding termites and strong differences to humivorous species. However, abundance estimates of bacterial phyla based on 16S rRNA genes greatly differed from those based on protein-coding genes.

CONCLUSION: Community structure and functional potential of the microbiota in individual gut compartments are clearly driven by the digestive strategy of the host. The metagenomics libraries obtained in this study provide the basis for future studies that elucidate the fundamental differences in the symbiont-mediated breakdown of lignocellulose and humus by termites of different feeding groups. The high proportion of uncultured bacterial lineages in all samples calls for a reference-independent approach for the correct taxonomic assignment of protein-coding genes.}, } @article {pmid26607947, year = {2015}, author = {Reyes-Prieto, M and Vargas-Chávez, C and Latorre, A and Moya, A}, title = {SymbioGenomesDB: a database for the integration and access to knowledge on host-symbiont relationships.}, journal = {Database : the journal of biological databases and curation}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {26607947}, issn = {1758-0463}, mesh = {Animals ; *Databases, Genetic ; Genes ; *Genome ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Internet ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships occur naturally throughout the tree of life, either in a commensal, mutualistic or pathogenic manner. The genomes of multiple organisms involved in symbiosis are rapidly being sequenced and becoming available, especially those from the microbial world. Currently, there are numerous databases that offer information on specific organisms or models, but none offer a global understanding on relationships between organisms, their interactions and capabilities within their niche, as well as their role as part of a system, in this case, their role in symbiosis. We have developed the SymbioGenomesDB as a community database resource for laboratories which intend to investigate and use information on the genetics and the genomics of organisms involved in these relationships. The ultimate goal of SymbioGenomesDB is to host and support the growing and vast symbiotic-host relationship information, to uncover the genetic basis of such associations. SymbioGenomesDB maintains a comprehensive organization of information on genomes of symbionts from diverse hosts throughout the Tree of Life, including their sequences, their metadata and their genomic features. This catalog of relationships was generated using computational tools, custom R scripts and manual integration of data available in public literature. As a highly curated and comprehensive systems database, SymbioGenomesDB provides web access to all the information of symbiotic organisms, their features and links to the central database NCBI. Three different tools can be found within the database to explore symbiosis-related organisms, their genes and their genomes. Also, we offer an orthology search for one or multiple genes in one or multiple organisms within symbiotic relationships, and every table, graph and output file is downloadable and easy to parse for further analysis. The robust SymbioGenomesDB will be constantly updated to cope with all the data being generated and included in major databases, in order to serve as an important, useful and timesaving tool. Database URL: http://symbiogenomesdb.uv.es.}, } @article {pmid26607894, year = {2015}, author = {Pujic, P and Bolotin, A and Fournier, P and Sorokin, A and Lapidus, A and Richau, KH and Briolay, J and Mebarki, F and Normand, P and Sellstedt, A}, title = {Genome Sequence of the Atypical Symbiotic Frankia R43 Strain, a Nitrogen-Fixing and Hydrogen-Producing Actinobacterium.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {26607894}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Frankia strain R43 is a nitrogen-fixing and hydrogen-producing symbiotic actinobacterium that was isolated from nodules of Casuarina cunninghamiana but infects only Elaeagnaceae. This communication reports the genome of the strain R43 and provides insights into the microbe genomics and physiological potentials.}, } @article {pmid26607554, year = {2015}, author = {van Best, N and Hornef, MW and Savelkoul, PH and Penders, J}, title = {On the origin of species: Factors shaping the establishment of infant's gut microbiota.}, journal = {Birth defects research. Part C, Embryo today : reviews}, volume = {105}, number = {4}, pages = {240-251}, doi = {10.1002/bdrc.21113}, pmid = {26607554}, issn = {1542-9768}, mesh = {Adult ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/*pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem, which naturally lives in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Perturbations of the microbial composition (dysbiosis) and reduced diversity may promote disease susceptibility and recurrence. In contrast to the mature intestinal microbiota of healthy adults, which appears relatively stable over time, the infant's microbiome only establishes and matures during the first years of life. In this respect, early childhood seems to represent a crucial age-window in disease prevention, since microbial diversification and maturation of the microbiome primarily occurs during this period of life. A better understanding of ecological processes and pioneer consortia in microbial development is crucial, in order to support the development of a beneficial microbiota. Various deterministic and stochastic aspects seem to shape the microbiome in early life, including maternal, environmental, and host factors. Here, we review the current understanding of the origin of pioneer bacteria and the evolutionary factors that influence the development of the gut microbiota in infants. In addition, future perspectives, including manipulating and promoting the succession of initial bacteria during infancy, will be highlighted.}, } @article {pmid26606826, year = {2015}, author = {Yurkova, AP and Jacobi, LM and Gapeeva, NE and Stepanova, GV and Shishova, MF}, title = {[Development of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza in Highly Responsive and Mycotrophic Host Plant-Black Medick (Medicago lupulina L.)].}, journal = {Ontogenez}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {313-326}, pmid = {26606826}, issn = {0475-1450}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota/physiology/ultrastructure ; *Hyphae/physiology/ultrastructure ; *Medicago/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Meristem/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {The main phases of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development were analyzed in black medick (Medicago lupulina) with Glomus intraradices. Methods of light and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate AM. The first mycorrhization was identified on the seventh day after sowing. M. lupulina with AM-fungus Glomus intraradices formed Arum type of AM. Roots of black medick at fruiting stage (on the 88th day) were characterized by the development of forceful mycelium. The thickness of mycelium was comparable with the vascular system of root central cylinder. The development of vesicules into intraradical spores was shown. Micelium, arbuscules, and vesicules developed in close vicinity to the division zone of root tip. This might be evidence of an active symbiotic interaction between partners. All stages of fungal development and breeding, including intraradical spores (in inter-cellular matrix of root cortex), were identified in the roots of black medick, which indicated an active utilization of host plant nutrient substrates by the mycosymbiont. Plant cell cytoplasm extension was identified around young arbuscular branches but not for intracellular hyphae. The presence of active symbiosis was confirmed by increased accumulation of phosphorus in M. lupulina root tissues under conditions of G. intraradices inoculation and low phosphorus level in the soil. Thus, black medick cultivar-population can be characterized as an ecologically obligate mycotrophic plant under conditions of low level of available phosphorus in the soil. Specific features of AM development in intensively mycotrophic black medick, starting from the stage of the first true leaf until host plant fruiting, were evaluated. The obtained plant-microbe system is a perspective model object for further ultracytological and molecular genetic studies of the mechanisms controlling arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiotic efficiency, including selection and investigation of new symbiotic plant mutants.}, } @article {pmid26606794, year = {2015}, author = {Tikhonovich, IA and Andronov, EE and Borisov, AY and Dolgikh, EA and Zhernakov, AI and Zhukov, VA and Provorov, NA and Roumiantseva, ML and Simarov, BV}, title = {[The Principle of Genome Complementarity in the Enhancement of Plant Adaptive Capacities].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {9}, pages = {973-990}, pmid = {26606794}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Genes, Plant/*physiology ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Plants/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In the present work, the potential for the enhancement of the adaptive capacity of microbe-plant systems (MPSs) through the integration of the symbiosis partners' genomes is considered on the example of different types of symbiotic relationships. The accumulated data on the genetic control of interactions for both the plant and microbe, which are discussed in the paper with respect to signaling genes, suggest that it is the complementarity of genetic determinants that underlies the successful formation of MPSs. A eukaryotic genome with limited information content, which is stable throughout a generation, is complemented by a virtually unlimited prokaryotic metagenome. The microsymbiont's ability to adapt to different living conditions is based on the restructuring of the accessory genome by different mechanisms, which are likely to be activated under the influence of plants, although the details of such a regulation remain unknown. Features of the genetic control of the interaction, particularly its universal character for different symbionts, allow us to formulate a principle of genome-complementarity with respect to interacting organisms and consider it an important factor, an adaptation that enhances the abilities of M PSs for their sustainable development in natural ecosystems and for high plant productivity in agrocenoses.}, } @article {pmid26605050, year = {2015}, author = {Hosokawa, T and Kaiwa, N and Matsuura, Y and Kikuchi, Y and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Infection prevalence of Sodalis symbionts among stinkbugs.}, journal = {Zoological letters}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {26605050}, issn = {2056-306X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Diverse insects and other organisms are associated with microbial symbionts, which often significantly contribute to growth and survival of their hosts and/or drastically affect phenotypes of their hosts in a variety of ways. Sodalis glossinidius was first identified as a facultative bacterial symbiont of tsetse flies, and recent studies revealed that Sodalis-allied bacteria encompass diverse ecological niches ranging from free-living bacteria through facultative symbionts to obligate symbionts associated with a diverse array of insects. Despite potential ecological and evolutionary relevance of the Sodalis symbionts, their infection prevalence in natural insect populations has been poorly investigated.

RESULTS: Here we surveyed diverse stinkbugs and allied terrestrial heteropteran bugs, which represented 17 families, 77 genera, 108 species, 310 populations and 960 individuals, for infection with the Sodalis symbionts. Diagnostic PCR detected relatively low infection frequencies of the Sodalis symbionts: 13.6% (14/103) of the species, 7.5% (22/295) of the populations, and 4.3% (35/822) of the individuals of the stinkbugs except for those belonging to the family Urostylididae. Among the urostylidid stinkbugs, strikingly, the Sodalis symbionts exhibited very high infection frequencies: 100% (5/5) of the species, 100% (15/15) of the populations, and 94.2% (130/138) of the individuals we examined. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that all the symbionts were placed in the clade of Sodalis-allied bacteria while the symbiont phylogeny did not reflect the systematics of their stinkbug hosts. Notably, the Sodalis symbionts of the urostylidid stinkbugs were not clustered with the Sodalis symbionts of the other stinkbug groups on the phylogeny, suggesting their distinct evolutionary trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low infection frequency and the overall host-symbiont phylogenetic incongruence suggest that the Sodalis symbionts are, in general, facultative symbiotic associates in the majority of the stinkbug groups. On the other hand, it is conceivable, although speculative, that the Sodalis symbionts may play some substantial biological roles for their host stinkbugs of the Urostylididae.}, } @article {pmid26601484, year = {2015}, author = {Goryacheva, II and Blekhman, AV and Andrianov, BV and Gorelova, TV and Zakharov, IA}, title = {[Genotypic Diversity of Wolbachia pipientis in Native and Invasive Harmonia axyridis Pall., 1773 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) Populations].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {8}, pages = {857-863}, pmid = {26601484}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Coleoptera/*genetics/microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The distribution and variability of reproductive symbiotic Wolbachia pipientis bacteria were studied in seven native and six invasive H. axyridis populations. Wolbachia-infected individuals were found in two invasive and two native populations. We demonstrated for the first time an infection of invasive H. axyridis populations with Wolbachia. Two new molecular forms of Wolbachia were detected by a system of multilocus typing. The supergroup A Wolbachia was found for the first time in H. axyridis. The detected genotypic diversity of Wolbachia indicates repeated and independent infection events in the evolutionary past of H. axyridis.}, } @article {pmid26601393, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, YJ and Wang, QJ and Chen, Y and Hu, F and Xu, R and Lin, QZ}, title = {[A Method to Extract Content of Minerals Based on Measured Hyperspectral Data].}, journal = {Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {1700-1704}, pmid = {26601393}, issn = {1000-0593}, abstract = {To improve the accuracy of mineral content extraction by linear decomposition model, a method was established, which took rock spectra with wavelength from 350 to 2 500 nm as the data source, identified minerals based on spectral matching methods, applied Hapke model to transform spectral reflectance into single scattering albedo and resolved single scattering albedo to get mineral content. In this method, sectional noise filtering and regional mineral spectra library were added to improve the identifying accuracy. Based on the analysis on the fifth Baogutu rock body, compared with XRD results, accuracies of quartz, feldspar class and altered minerals identification were 75%, 100% and 92.2% separately. Accuracy of the content extraction of feldspar class, hornblende and altered minerals were 80.5%, 64%, 92.36% separately. This method added mineralogy symbiotic relationship into mineral identification to ensure the reliability, proposed the idea of sectional noise filtering to avoid the influence of filtering algorithm, applied the single scattering albedo to avoid the complex nonlinearly calculations to improve the accuracy theoretically. This method has a certain guiding significance for the work such as rapid analysis of alteration information.}, } @article {pmid26601279, year = {2015}, author = {Toju, H and Guimarães, PR and Olesen, JM and Thompson, JN}, title = {Below-ground plant-fungus network topology is not congruent with above-ground plant-animal network topology.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {1}, number = {9}, pages = {e1500291}, pmid = {26601279}, issn = {2375-2548}, abstract = {In nature, plants and their pollinating and/or seed-dispersing animals form complex interaction networks. The commonly observed pattern of links between specialists and generalists in these networks has been predicted to promote species coexistence. Plants also build highly species-rich mutualistic networks below ground with root-associated fungi, and the structure of these plant-fungus networks may also affect terrestrial community processes. By compiling high-throughput DNA sequencing data sets of the symbiosis of plants and their root-associated fungi from three localities along a latitudinal gradient, we uncovered the entire network architecture of these interactions under contrasting environmental conditions. Each network included more than 30 plant species and hundreds of mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi belonging to diverse phylogenetic groups. The results were consistent with the notion that processes shaping host-plant specialization of fungal species generate a unique linkage pattern that strongly contrasts with the pattern of above-ground plant-partner networks. Specifically, plant-fungus networks lacked a "nested" architecture, which has been considered to promote species coexistence in plant-partner networks. Rather, the below-ground networks had a conspicuous "antinested" topology. Our findings lead to the working hypothesis that terrestrial plant community dynamics are likely determined by the balance between above-ground and below-ground webs of interspecific interactions.}, } @article {pmid26598731, year = {2016}, author = {Eisthen, HL and Theis, KR}, title = {Animal-microbe interactions and the evolution of nervous systems.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {371}, number = {1685}, pages = {20150052}, pmid = {26598731}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Central Nervous System/*anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Invertebrates/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/physiology ; Vertebrates/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Animals ubiquitously interact with environmental and symbiotic microbes, and the effects of these interactions on animal physiology are currently the subject of intense interest. Nevertheless, the influence of microbes on nervous system evolution has been largely ignored. We illustrate here how taking microbes into account might enrich our ideas about the evolution of nervous systems. For example, microbes are involved in animals' communicative, defensive, predatory and dispersal behaviours, and have likely influenced the evolution of chemo- and photosensory systems. In addition, we speculate that the need to regulate interactions with microbes at the epithelial surface may have contributed to the evolutionary internalization of the nervous system.}, } @article {pmid26598691, year = {2015}, author = {Steffan, SA and Chikaraishi, Y and Currie, CR and Horn, H and Gaines-Day, HR and Pauli, JN and Zalapa, JE and Ohkouchi, N}, title = {Microbes are trophic analogs of animals.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {49}, pages = {15119-15124}, pmid = {26598691}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {In most ecosystems, microbes are the dominant consumers, commandeering much of the heterotrophic biomass circulating through food webs. Characterizing functional diversity within the microbiome, therefore, is critical to understanding ecosystem functioning, particularly in an era of global biodiversity loss. Using isotopic fingerprinting, we investigated the trophic positions of a broad diversity of heterotrophic organisms. Specifically, we examined the naturally occurring stable isotopes of nitrogen ((15)N:(14)N) within amino acids extracted from proteobacteria, actinomycetes, ascomycetes, and basidiomycetes, as well as from vertebrate and invertebrate macrofauna (crustaceans, fish, insects, and mammals). Here, we report that patterns of intertrophic (15)N-discrimination were remarkably similar among bacteria, fungi, and animals, which permitted unambiguous measurement of consumer trophic position, independent of phylogeny or ecosystem type. The observed similarities among bacterial, fungal, and animal consumers suggest that within a trophic hierarchy, microbiota are equivalent to, and can be interdigitated with, macrobiota. To further test the universality of this finding, we examined Neotropical fungus gardens, communities in which bacteria, fungi, and animals are entwined in an ancient, quadripartite symbiosis. We reveal that this symbiosis is a discrete four-level food chain, wherein bacteria function as the apex carnivores, animals and fungi are meso-consumers, and the sole herbivores are fungi. Together, our findings demonstrate that bacteria, fungi, and animals can be integrated within a food chain, effectively uniting the macro- and microbiome in food web ecology and facilitating greater inclusion of the microbiome in studies of functional diversity.}, } @article {pmid26598690, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, M and Chen, Y and Xi, J and Waters, C and Chen, R and Wang, D}, title = {An antimicrobial peptide essential for bacterial survival in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {49}, pages = {15238-15243}, pmid = {26598690}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Anti-Infective Agents ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Peptides ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legume hosts and rhizobia, the bacteria are engulfed by a plant cell membrane to become intracellular organelles. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, internalization and differentiation of Sinorhizobium (also known as Ensifer) meliloti is a prerequisite for nitrogen fixation. The host mechanisms that ensure the long-term survival of differentiating intracellular bacteria (bacteroids) in this unusual association are unclear. The M. truncatula defective nitrogen fixation4 (dnf4) mutant is unable to form a productive symbiosis, even though late symbiotic marker genes are expressed in mutant nodules. We discovered that in the dnf4 mutant, bacteroids can apparently differentiate, but they fail to persist within host cells in the process. We found that the DNF4 gene encodes NCR211, a member of the family of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides. The phenotype of dnf4 suggests that NCR211 acts to promote the intracellular survival of differentiating bacteroids. The greatest expression of DNF4 was observed in the nodule interzone II-III, where bacteroids undergo differentiation. A translational fusion of DNF4 with GFP localizes to the peribacteroid space, and synthetic NCR211 prevents free-living S. meliloti from forming colonies, in contrast to mock controls, suggesting that DNF4 may interact with bacteroids directly or indirectly for its function. Our findings indicate that a successful symbiosis requires host effectors that not only induce bacterial differentiation, but also that maintain intracellular bacteroids during the host-symbiont interaction. The discovery of NCR211 peptides that maintain bacterial survival inside host cells has important implications for improving legume crops.}, } @article {pmid26597961, year = {2016}, author = {Bor, B and Poweleit, N and Bois, JS and Cen, L and Bedree, JK and Zhou, ZH and Gunsalus, RP and Lux, R and McLean, JS and He, X and Shi, W}, title = {Phenotypic and Physiological Characterization of the Epibiotic Interaction Between TM7x and Its Basibiont Actinomyces.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {243-255}, pmid = {26597961}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {F32 DE025548/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE020102/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01DE023810-01/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DE027719/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095373/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T90 DE022734/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinomyces/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Humans ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite many examples of obligate epibiotic symbiosis (one organism living on the surface of another) in nature, such an interaction has rarely been observed between two bacteria. Here, we further characterize a newly reported interaction between a human oral obligate parasitic bacterium TM7x (cultivated member of Candidatus Saccharimonas formerly Candidate Phylum TM7), and its basibiont Actinomyces odontolyticus species (XH001), providing a model system to study epiparasitic symbiosis in the domain Bacteria. Detailed microscopic studies indicate that both partners display extensive morphological changes during symbiotic growth. XH001 cells manifested as short rods in monoculture, but displayed elongated and hyphal morphology when physically associated with TM7x. Interestingly, these dramatic morphological changes in XH001 were also induced in oxygen-depleted conditions, even in the absence of TM7x. Targeted quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses revealed that both the physical association with TM7x as well as oxygen depletion triggered up-regulation of key stress response genes in XH001, and in combination, these conditions act in an additive manner. TM7x and XH001 co-exist with relatively uniform cell morphologies under nutrient-replete conditions. However, upon nutrient depletion, TM7x-associated XH001 displayed a variety of cell morphologies, including swollen cell body, clubbed-ends, and even cell lysis, and a large portion of TM7x cells transformed from ultrasmall cocci into elongated cells. Our study demonstrates a highly dynamic interaction between epibiont TM7x and its basibiont XH001 in response to physical association or environmental cues such as oxygen level and nutritional status, as reflected by their morphological and physiological changes during symbiotic growth.}, } @article {pmid26597592, year = {2015}, author = {Bai, XD and Zhang, M and Xiong, J and Yang, GJ and Deng, FG}, title = {Selective distillation phenomenon in two-species Bose-Einstein condensates in open boundary optical lattices.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {17101}, pmid = {26597592}, issn = {2045-2322}, abstract = {We investigate the formation of discrete breathers (DBs) and the dynamics of the mixture of two-species Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in open boundary optical lattices using the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The results show that the coupling of intra- and interspecies interaction can lead to the existence of pure single-species DBs and symbiotic DBs (i.e., two-species DBs). Furthermore, we find that there is a selective distillation phenomenon in the dynamics of the mixture of two-species BECs. One can selectively distil one species from the mixture of two-species BECs and can even control dominant species fraction by adjusting the intra- and interspecies interaction in optical lattices. Our selective distillation mechanism may find potential application in quantum information storage and quantum information processing based on multi-species atoms.}, } @article {pmid26597293, year = {2015}, author = {Hohnjec, N and Czaja-Hasse, LF and Hogekamp, C and Küster, H}, title = {Pre-announcement of symbiotic guests: transcriptional reprogramming by mycorrhizal lipochitooligosaccharides shows a strict co-dependency on the GRAS transcription factors NSP1 and RAM1.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {994}, pmid = {26597293}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genome, Plant ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: More than 80 % of all terrestrial plant species establish an arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis with Glomeromycota fungi. This plant-microbe interaction primarily improves phosphate uptake, but also supports nitrogen, mineral, and water aquisition. During the pre-contact stage, the AM symbiosis is controled by an exchange of diffusible factors from either partner. Amongst others, fungal signals were identified as a mix of sulfated and non-sulfated lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs), being structurally related to rhizobial nodulation (Nod)-factor LCOs that in legumes induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. LCO signals are transduced via a common symbiotic signaling pathway (CSSP) that activates a group of GRAS transcription factors (TFs). Using complex gene expression fingerprints as molecular phenotypes, this study primarily intended to shed light on the importance of the GRAS TFs NSP1 and RAM1 for LCO-activated gene expression during pre-symbiotic signaling.

RESULTS: We investigated the genome-wide transcriptional responses in 5 days old primary roots of the Medicago truncatula wild type and four symbiotic mutants to a 6 h challenge with LCO signals supplied at 10(-7/-8) M. We were able to show that during the pre-symbiotic stage, sulfated Myc-, non-sulfated Myc-, and Nod-LCO-activated gene expression almost exclusively depends on the LysM receptor kinase NFP and is largely controled by the CSSP, although responses independent of this pathway exist. Our results show that downstream of the CSSP, gene expression activation by Myc-LCOs supplied at 10(-7/-8) M strictly required both the GRAS transcription factors RAM1 and NSP1, whereas those genes either co- or specifically activated by Nod-LCOs displayed a preferential NSP1-dependency. RAM1, a central regulator of root colonization by AM fungi, controled genes activated by non-sulfated Myc-LCOs during the pre-symbiotic stage that are also up-regulated in areas with early physical contact, e.g. hyphopodia and infecting hyphae; linking responses to externally applied LCOs with early root colonization.

CONCLUSIONS: Since both RAM1 and NSP1 were essential for the pre-symbiotic transcriptional reprogramming by Myc-LCOs, we propose that downstream of the CSSP, these GRAS transcription factors act synergistically in the transduction of those diffusible signals that pre-announce the presence of symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid26597071, year = {2015}, author = {Taylor, PD}, title = {Differentiating Parasitism and Other Interactions in Fossilized Colonial Organisms.}, journal = {Advances in parasitology}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {329-347}, doi = {10.1016/bs.apar.2015.05.002}, pmid = {26597071}, issn = {2163-6079}, mesh = {Animals ; *Fossils ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Invertebrates/*parasitology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Colonial species occur in a wide range of aquatic invertebrates, some having excellent fossil records, notably corals, bryozoans and graptolite hemichordates. In contrast to unitary animals, colonial animals grow by adding repetitive modules known as zooids. The ability of colonies to endure partial mortality and the typically plastic growth of benthic colonial species facilitates the formation of macrosymbiotic associations, some of which may be parasitic. However, as with unitary fossils, it is notoriously difficult to identify whether the symbioses are parasitisms (+/-) or mutualisms (+/+). Intergrowths between host colonies of stromatoporoid sponges, corals or bryozoans, and skeletal or soft-bodied symbionts are particularly common in Ordovician-Devonian shallow-water deposits. Soft-bodied symbionts in such intergrowths are represented by moulds in the host skeletons, a process of preservation termed bioclaustration. As yet, however, there is a lack of convincing data showing that any of these symbionts were parasites. By comparison with modern analogues, some fossil galls provide more convincing examples of parasitism, and the destructive effects of borings into the skeletons of benthic colonies also argue in favour of parasitism. Pelagic graptoloid hemichordates from the Early Palaeozoic occasionally contain cysts or tubes that have been attributed to parasites on the grounds that they would have adversely affected the hydrodynamics of the floating colonies. Future studies should test for parasitism by comparing the sizes of colonies hosting symbionts with those lacking symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26597069, year = {2015}, author = {Klompmaker, AA and Boxshall, GA}, title = {Fossil Crustaceans as Parasites and Hosts.}, journal = {Advances in parasitology}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {233-289}, doi = {10.1016/bs.apar.2015.06.001}, pmid = {26597069}, issn = {2163-6079}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea/*parasitology/*physiology ; Fishes/parasitology ; *Fossils ; Invertebrates/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Numerous crustacean lineages have independently moved into parasitism as a mode of life. In modern marine ecosystems, parasitic crustaceans use representatives from many metazoan phyla as hosts. Crustaceans also serve as hosts to a rich diversity of parasites, including other crustaceans. Here, we show that the fossil record of such parasitic interactions is sparse, with only 11 examples, one dating back to the Cambrian. This may be due to the limited preservation potential and small size of parasites, as well as to problems with ascribing traces to parasitism with certainty, and to a lack of targeted research. Although the confirmed stratigraphic ranges are limited for nearly every example, evidence of parasitism related to crustaceans has become increasingly more complete for isopod-induced swellings in decapods so that quantitative analyses can be carried out. Little attention has yet been paid to the origin of parasitism in deep time, but insight can be generated by integrating data on fossils with molecular studies on modern parasites. In addition, there are other traces left by parasites that could fossilize, but have not yet been recognized in the fossil record.}, } @article {pmid26596538, year = {2016}, author = {Matthews, JL and Sproles, AE and Oakley, CA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK}, title = {Menthol-induced bleaching rapidly and effectively provides experimental aposymbiotic sea anemones (Aiptasia sp.) for symbiosis investigations.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {219}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {306-310}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.128934}, pmid = {26596538}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/physiology ; Menthol/*pharmacology ; Photosynthesis ; Physiology/*methods ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Experimental manipulation of the symbiosis between cnidarians and photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) is crucial to advancing the understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in host-symbiont interactions, and overall coral reef ecology. The anemone Aiptasia sp. is a model for cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, and notably it can be rendered aposymbiotic (i.e. dinoflagellate-free) and re-infected with a range of Symbiodinium types. Various methods exist for generating aposymbiotic hosts; however, they can be hugely time consuming and not wholly effective. Here, we optimise a method using menthol for production of aposymbiotic Aiptasia. The menthol treatment produced aposymbiotic hosts within just 4 weeks (97-100% symbiont loss), and the condition was maintained long after treatment when anemones were held under a standard light:dark cycle. The ability of Aiptasia to form a stable symbiosis appeared to be unaffected by menthol exposure, as demonstrated by successful re-establishment of the symbiosis when anemones were experimentally re-infected. Furthermore, there was no significant impact on photosynthetic or respiratory performance of re-infected anemones.}, } @article {pmid26596081, year = {2015}, author = {Glyan'ko, AK}, title = {[Signaling Systems of Rhizobia (Rhizobiaceae) and Leguminous Plants (Fabaceae) upon the Formation of a Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis (Review)].}, journal = {Prikladnaia biokhimiia i mikrobiologiia}, volume = {51}, number = {5}, pages = {453-464}, pmid = {26596081}, issn = {0555-1099}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/genetics/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*genetics/growth & development ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Data from the literature and our own data on the participation and interrelation of bacterial signaling Nod-factors and components of the calcium, NADPH-oxidase, and NO-synthase signaling systems of a plant at the preinfection and infectious stages of the formation of a legume-rhizobium symbiosis are summarized in this review. The physiological role of Nod-factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium (Ca2+), NADPH-oxidase, nitric oxide (NO), and their cross influence on the processes determining the formation of symbiotic structures on the roots of the host plant is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26592351, year = {2016}, author = {Nawaz, S and Yuan, Y}, title = {Computational pathology: Exploring the spatial dimension of tumor ecology.}, journal = {Cancer letters}, volume = {380}, number = {1}, pages = {296-303}, doi = {10.1016/j.canlet.2015.11.018}, pmid = {26592351}, issn = {1872-7980}, support = {105104//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/therapy ; Female ; *High-Throughput Screening Assays/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; *Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Models, Statistical ; Pathology/*methods/statistics & numerical data ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Phenotype ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Time Factors ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Tumors are evolving ecosystems where cancer subclones and the microenvironment interact. This is analogous to interaction dynamics between species in their natural habitats, which is a prime area of study in ecology. Spatial statistics are frequently used in ecological studies to infer complex relations including predator-prey, resource dependency and co-evolution. Recently, the emerging field of computational pathology has enabled high-throughput spatial analysis by using image processing to identify different cell types and their locations within histological tumor samples. We discuss how these data may be analyzed with spatial statistics used in ecology to reveal patterns and advance our understanding of ecological interactions occurring among cancer cells and their microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid26592344, year = {2015}, author = {Menezes, C and Vollet-Neto, A and Marsaioli, AJ and Zampieri, D and Fontoura, IC and Luchessi, AD and Imperatriz-Fonseca, VL}, title = {A Brazilian social bee must cultivate fungus to survive.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {25}, number = {21}, pages = {2851-2855}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.09.028}, pmid = {26592344}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Animals ; Bees/*microbiology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Brazil ; Fungi/*physiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The nests of social insects provide suitable microenvironments for many microorganisms as they offer stable environmental conditions and a rich source of food [1-4]. Microorganisms in turn may provide several benefits to their hosts, such as nutrients and protection against pathogens [1, 4-6]. Several examples of symbiosis between social insects and microorganisms have been found in ants and termites. These symbioses have driven the evolution of complex behaviors and nest structures associated with the culturing of the symbiotic microorganisms [5, 7, 8]. However, while much is known about these relationships in many species of ants and termites, symbiotic relationships between microorganisms and social bees have been poorly explored [3, 4, 9, 10]. Here, we report the first case of an obligatory relationship between the Brazilian stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis and a fungus of the genus Monascus (Ascomycotina). Fungal mycelia growing on the provisioned food inside the brood cell are eaten by the larva. Larvae reared in vitro on sterilized larval food supplemented with fungal mycelia had a much higher survival rate (76%) compared to larvae reared under identical conditions but without fungal mycelia (8% survival). The fungus was found to originate from the material from which the brood cells are made. Since the bees recycle and transport this material between nests, fungus would be transferred to newly built cells and also to newly founded nests. This is the first report of a fungus cultivation mutualism in a social bee.}, } @article {pmid26591004, year = {2016}, author = {Zeilinger, S and Gupta, VK and Dahms, TE and Silva, RN and Singh, HB and Upadhyay, RS and Gomes, EV and Tsui, CK and Nayak S, C}, title = {Friends or foes? Emerging insights from fungal interactions with plants.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {182-207}, pmid = {26591004}, issn = {1574-6976}, support = {V 139/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi interact with plants in various ways, with each interaction giving rise to different alterations in both partners. While fungal pathogens have detrimental effects on plant physiology, mutualistic fungi augment host defence responses to pathogens and/or improve plant nutrient uptake. Tropic growth towards plant roots or stomata, mediated by chemical and topographical signals, has been described for several fungi, with evidence of species-specific signals and sensing mechanisms. Fungal partners secrete bioactive molecules such as small peptide effectors, enzymes and secondary metabolites which facilitate colonization and contribute to both symbiotic and pathogenic relationships. There has been tremendous advancement in fungal molecular biology, omics sciences and microscopy in recent years, opening up new possibilities for the identification of key molecular mechanisms in plant-fungal interactions, the power of which is often borne out in their combination. Our fragmentary knowledge on the interactions between plants and fungi must be made whole to understand the potential of fungi in preventing plant diseases, improving plant productivity and understanding ecosystem stability. Here, we review innovative methods and the associated new insights into plant-fungal interactions.}, } @article {pmid26590998, year = {2016}, author = {He, F and Zhang, H and Tang, M}, title = {Aquaporin gene expression and physiological responses of Robinia pseudoacacia L. to the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and drought stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {311-323}, pmid = {26590998}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Aquaporins/*genetics/metabolism ; Droughts ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/classification/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Robinia/classification/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Seedlings/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and drought stress on aquaporin (AQP) gene expression, water status, and photosynthesis was investigated in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Seedlings were grown in potted soil inoculated without or with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, under well-watered and drought stress conditions. Six full-length AQP complementary DNAs (cDNAs) were isolated from Robinia pseudoacacia, named RpTIP1;1, RpTIP1;3, RpTIP2;1, RpPIP1;1, RpPIP1;3, and RpPIP2;1. A phylogenetic analysis of deduced amino acid sequences demonstrated that putative proteins coded by these RpAQP genes belong to the water channel protein family. Expression analysis revealed higher RpPIP expression in roots while RpTIP expression was higher in leaves, except for RpTIP1;3. AM symbiosis regulated host plant AQPs, and the expression of RpAQP genes in mycorrhizal plants depended on soil water condition and plant tissue. Positive effects were observed for plant physiological parameters in AM plants, which had higher dry mass and lower water saturation deficit and electrolyte leakage than non-AM plants. Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation also slightly increased leaf net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance under well-watered and drought stress conditions. These findings suggest that AM symbiosis can enhance the drought tolerance in Robinia pseudoacacia plants by regulating the expression of RpAQP genes, and by improving plant biomass, tissue water status, and leaf photosynthesis in host seedlings.}, } @article {pmid26590448, year = {2016}, author = {Ramezani, A and Massy, ZA and Meijers, B and Evenepoel, P and Vanholder, R and Raj, DS}, title = {Role of the Gut Microbiome in Uremia: A Potential Therapeutic Target.}, journal = {American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation}, volume = {67}, number = {3}, pages = {483-498}, pmid = {26590448}, issn = {1523-6838}, support = {1U01DK099924-01/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK099924/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1U01DK099914-01/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK099914/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK073665/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01DK073665-01A1/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Disease Progression ; *Dysbiosis/complications/metabolism ; Early Medical Intervention/methods ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; *Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications/metabolism/therapy ; Uremia/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Also known as the "second human genome," the gut microbiome plays important roles in both the maintenance of health and the pathogenesis of disease. The symbiotic relationship between host and microbiome is disturbed due to the proliferation of dysbiotic bacteria in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Fermentation of protein and amino acids by gut bacteria generates excess amounts of potentially toxic compounds such as ammonia, amines, thiols, phenols, and indoles, but the generation of short-chain fatty acids is reduced. Impaired intestinal barrier function in patients with CKD permits translocation of gut-derived uremic toxins into the systemic circulation, contributing to the progression of CKD, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and protein-energy wasting. The field of microbiome research is still nascent, but is evolving rapidly. Establishing symbiosis to treat uremic syndrome is a novel concept, but if proved effective, it will have a significant impact on the management of patients with CKD.}, } @article {pmid26589214, year = {2016}, author = {Brown, DR}, title = {Catecholamine-Directed Epithelial Cell Interactions with Bacteria in the Intestinal Mucosa.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {874}, number = {}, pages = {79-99}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-20215-0_3}, pmid = {26589214}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Catecholamines/analysis/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/chemistry/immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine are present in or have access to mucous membranes in the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tracts, which represent the first sites of microbial colonization and infection within the body. Epithelial cells at mucosal surfaces establish and maintain symbiotic microbial communities and serve as the initial cellular point of contact for pathogens with the animal host. These cells express receptors that are capable of detecting and responding to microbe-associated molecular patterns and in most host species express G protein-coupled receptors for catecholamines. Although it is increasingly recognized that substances produced and released from nerves and endocrine cells can exert immuno-modulatory actions at mucosal sites, there have been few investigations focused specifically on the catecholaminergic modulation of interactions between the mucosal epithelium and bacteria or other mucosa-associated microorganisms. The potential biomedical importance of this phenomenon cannot be understated. For example, psychological stress or other conditions that activate the sympathetic nervous system to release epinephrine and norepinephrine may act to produce short-term changes in luminal and mucosal microbial communities or alter the course of a bacterial infection. This chapter will briefly review this developing and important research area of mucosa-microbe interactions with a focus on intestinal host defense.}, } @article {pmid26589212, year = {2016}, author = {Lyte, M}, title = {Microbial Endocrinology: An Ongoing Personal Journey.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {874}, number = {}, pages = {1-24}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-20215-0_1}, pmid = {26589212}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/physiology ; Endocrinology/methods ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The development of microbial endocrinology is covered from a decidedly personal perspective. Specific focus is given to the role of microbial endocrinology in the evolutionary symbiosis between man and microbe as it relates to both health and disease. Since the first edition of this book series 5 years ago, the role of microbial endocrinology in the microbiota-gut-brain axis is additionally discussed. Future avenues of research are suggested.}, } @article {pmid26587275, year = {2015}, author = {Ben-Yosef, M and Pasternak, Z and Jurkevitch, E and Yuval, B}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria enable olive fly larvae to overcome host defences.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {2}, number = {7}, pages = {150170}, pmid = {26587275}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Ripe fruit offer readily available nutrients for many animals, including fruit fly larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their associated rot-inducing bacteria. Yet, during most of their ontogeny, fruit remain chemically defended and effectively suppress herbivores and pathogens by high levels of secondary metabolites. Olive flies (Bactrocera oleae) are uniquely able to develop in unripe olives. Unlike other frugivorous tephritids, the larvae maintain bacteria confined within their midgut caeca. We examined the interaction between larvae, their associated bacteria, and fruit chemical defence, hypothesizing that bacterial contribution to larval development is contingent on the phenology of fruit defensive chemistry. We demonstrate that larvae require their natural complement of bacteria (Candidatus Erwinia dacicola: Enterobacteriaceae) in order to develop in unripe olives. Conversely, when feeding on ripe fruit, larval development proceeds independently of these bacteria. Our experiments suggest that bacteria counteract the inhibitory effect of oleuropein-the principal phenolic glycoside in unripe olives. In light of these results, we suggest that the unique symbiosis in olive flies, compared with other frugivorous tephritids, is understood by considering the relationship between the fly, bacteria and fruit chemistry. When applied in an evolutionary context, this approach may also point out the forces which shaped symbioses across the Tephritidae.}, } @article {pmid26587252, year = {2015}, author = {Schär, S and Larsen, LL and Meyling, NV and Nash, DR}, title = {Reduced entomopathogen abundance in Myrmica ant nests-testing a possible immunological benefit of myrmecophily using Galleria mellonella as a model.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {2}, number = {10}, pages = {150474}, pmid = {26587252}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Social insects such as ants have evolved collective rather than individual immune defence strategies against diseases and parasites at the level of their societies (colonies), known as social immunity. Ants frequently host other arthropods, so-called myrmecophiles, in their nests. Here, we tested the hypothesis that myrmecophily may partly arise from selection for exploiting the ants' social immunity. We used larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella as 'model myrmecophiles' (baits) to test this hypothesis. We found significantly reduced abundance of entomopathogens in ant nests compared with the surrounding environment. Specific entomopathogen groups (Isaria fumosorosea and nematodes) were also found to be significantly less abundant inside than outside ant nests, whereas one entomopathogen (Beauveria brongniartii) was significantly more abundant inside nests. We therefore hypothesize that immunological benefits of entering ant nests may provide us a new explanation of why natural selection acts in favour of such a life-history strategy.}, } @article {pmid26586868, year = {2015}, author = {Moreno, LF and Stielow, JB and de Vries, M and Weiss, VA and Vicente, VA and de Hoog, S}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Ant-Associated Fungus Phialophora attae (CBS 131958).}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {26586868}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The black yeast Phialophora attae was isolated from the cuticle of tropical ant gynes. The ant-fungus association is sustained due to symbiotic evolutionary adaptations that allow fungal assimilation and tolerance of toxic compounds produced by the ant. The genome sequence of the first ant-associated fungus, P. attae, is presented here.}, } @article {pmid26585452, year = {2015}, author = {Wężowicz, K and Turnau, K and Anielska, T and Zhebrak, I and Gołuszka, K and Błaszkowski, J and Rozpądek, P}, title = {Metal toxicity differently affects the Iris pseudacorus-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi symbiosis in terrestrial and semi-aquatic habitats.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {24}, pages = {19400-19407}, pmid = {26585452}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/metabolism/pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Iris Plant/*microbiology ; Iron/metabolism/pharmacology ; Lead/metabolism/pharmacology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Phytoremediation offers an environmental friendly alternative to conventional cleanup techniques. In this study, mycorrhizal fungi isolated from the roots of Mentha longifolia grown in the basin of the Centuria River (S Poland) were used. Iris pseudacorus was grown in substratum from an industrial waste, enriched in Pb, Fe, Zn, and Cd in a terrestrial and water-logged habitat. Plant yield and photosynthetic performance was the highest in the aquatic environment; however, the presence of toxic metals (TM) negatively affected photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry as shown by the JIP test. Fungi colonization and Cd accumulation within plant tissues was decreased. In the terrestrial habitat, neither arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) nor metal toxicity affected plant growth, although metal uptake, Cd in particular, as well as photosynthesis were affected. Inoculated plants accumulated significantly more Cd, and photosynthesis was downregulated. The results presented in this study clearly indicate that the I. pseudacorus-AMF symbiosis adapts itself to the presence of toxic metals in the environment, optimizing resource supply, energy fluxes, and possibly stress tolerance mechanisms. Plant/AMF consortia grown in terrestrial and water-logged habitats utilize different strategies to cope with metal toxicity. The use of AMF in improving the phytoremediation potential of I. pseudacorus needs, however, further research.}, } @article {pmid26585446, year = {2016}, author = {Egamberdieva, D and Li, L and Lindström, K and Räsänen, LA}, title = {A synergistic interaction between salt-tolerant Pseudomonas and Mesorhizobium strains improves growth and symbiotic performance of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fish.) under salt stress.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {100}, number = {6}, pages = {2829-2841}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-7147-3}, pmid = {26585446}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Glycyrrhiza uralensis/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Osmotic Pressure ; Pseudomonas/*physiology ; Salinity ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chinese liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fish.) is a salt-tolerant medicinal legume that could be utilized for bioremediation of salt-affected soils. We studied whether co-inoculation of the symbiotic Mesorhizobium sp. strain NWXJ19 or NWXJ31 with the plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas extremorientalis TSAU20 could restore growth, nodulation, and shoot/root nitrogen contents of salt-stressed G. uralensis, which was grown in potting soil and irrigated with 0, 50, and 75 mM NaCl solutions under greenhouse conditions. Irrigation with NaCl solutions clearly retarded the growth of uninoculated liquorice, and the higher the NaCl concentration (75 and 100 mM NaCl), the more adverse is the effect. The two Mesorhizobium strains, added either alone or in combination with P. extremorientalis TSAU20, responded differently to the salt levels used. The strain NWXJ19 was a good symbiont for plants irrigated with 50 mM NaCl, whereas the strain NWXJ31 was more efficient for plants irrigated with water or 75 mM NaCl solution. P. extremorientalis TSAU20 combined with single Mesorhizobium strains alleviated the salt stress of liquorice plants and improved yield and nodule numbers significantly in comparison with single-strain-inoculated liquorice. Both salt stress and inoculation raised the nitrogen content of shoots and roots. The nitrogen contents were at their highest, i.e., 30 and 35 % greater compared to non-stressed uninoculated plants, when plants were inoculated with P. extremorientalis TSAU20 and Mesorhizobium sp. NWXJ31 as well as irrigated with 75 mM NaCl solution. From this study, we conclude that dual inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria could be a new approach to improve the tolerance of G. uralensis to salt stress, thereby improving its suitability for the remediation of saline lands.}, } @article {pmid26585326, year = {2016}, author = {Templeton, TJ and Pain, A}, title = {Diversity of extracellular proteins during the transition from the 'proto-apicomplexan' alveolates to the apicomplexan obligate parasites.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {143}, number = {1}, pages = {1-17}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182015001213}, pmid = {26585326}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Alveolata/*genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Apicomplexa/genetics/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism ; Genome, Protozoan/*genetics ; Parasites/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Proteome ; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The recent completion of high-coverage draft genome sequences for several alveolate protozoans - namely, the chromerids, Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis; the perkinsid Perkinsus marinus; the apicomplexan, Gregarina niphandrodes, as well as high coverage transcriptome sequence information for several colpodellids, allows for new genome-scale comparisons across a rich landscape of apicomplexans and other alveolates. Genome annotations can now be used to help interpret fine ultrastructure and cell biology, and guide new studies to describe a variety of alveolate life strategies, such as symbiosis or free living, predation, and obligate intracellular parasitism, as well to provide foundations to dissect the evolutionary transitions between these niches. This review focuses on the attempt to identify extracellular proteins which might mediate the physical interface of cell-cell interactions within the above life strategies, aided by annotation of the repertoires of predicted surface and secreted proteins encoded within alveolate genomes. In particular, we discuss what descriptions of the predicted extracellular proteomes reveal regarding a hypothetical last common ancestor of a pre-apicomplexan alveolate - guided by ultrastructure, life strategies and phylogenetic relationships - in an attempt to understand the evolution of obligate parasitism in apicomplexans.}, } @article {pmid26584898, year = {2015}, author = {Seshadri, R and Reeve, WG and Ardley, JK and Tennessen, K and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, NC and Ivanova, NN}, title = {Discovery of Novel Plant Interaction Determinants from the Genomes of 163 Root Nodule Bacteria.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {16825}, pmid = {26584898}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/classification/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Geography ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Operon/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Root nodule bacteria (RNB) or "rhizobia" are a type of plant growth promoting bacteria, typified by their ability to fix nitrogen for their plant host, fixing nearly 65% of the nitrogen currently utilized in sustainable agricultural production of legume crops and pastures. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 110 RNB from diverse hosts and biogeographical regions, and undertook a global exploration of all available RNB genera with the aim of identifying novel genetic determinants of symbiotic association and plant growth promotion. Specifically, we performed a subtractive comparative analysis with non-RNB genomes, employed relevant transcriptomic data, and leveraged phylogenetic distribution patterns and sequence signatures based on known precepts of symbiotic- and host-microbe interactions. A total of 184 protein families were delineated, including known factors for nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and candidates with previously unexplored functions, for which a role in host-interaction, -regulation, biocontrol, and more, could be posited. These analyses expand our knowledge of the RNB purview and provide novel targets for strain improvement in the ultimate quest to enhance plant productivity and agricultural sustainability.}, } @article {pmid26583115, year = {2015}, author = {Larmonier, CB and Shehab, KW and Ghishan, FK and Kiela, PR}, title = {T Lymphocyte Dynamics in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Role of the Microbiome.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {504638}, pmid = {26583115}, issn = {2314-6141}, support = {R01 DK041274/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1K01DK099268-01/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 5R01 DK041274/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; *Immune Tolerance ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/microbiology ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {Humans have coevolved with a complex community of bacterial species also referred to as the microbiome, which reciprocally provides critical contributions to human metabolism and immune system development. Gut microbiome composition differs significantly between individuals depending on host genetics, diet, and environmental factors. A dysregulation of the symbiotic nature of the intestinal host-microbial relationship and an aberrant and persistent immune response are the fundamental processes involved in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Considering the essential role of T cells in IBD and the contributing role of the microbiome in shaping the immune response during the pathogenesis of IBD, this review focuses on the complex relationship, interplay, and communication between the gut microbiome and T cells, including their differentiation into different subsets of effector or regulatory cells.}, } @article {pmid26582727, year = {2016}, author = {Tang, F and Yang, S and Liu, J and Zhu, H}, title = {Rj4, a Gene Controlling Nodulation Specificity in Soybeans, Encodes a Thaumatin-Like Protein But Not the One Previously Reported.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {1}, pages = {26-32}, pmid = {26582727}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Chromosome Mapping ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Soybeans/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rj4 is a dominant gene in soybeans (Glycine max) that restricts nodulation by many strains of Bradyrhizobium elkanii. The soybean-B. elkanii symbiosis has a low nitrogen-fixation efficiency, but B. elkanii strains are highly competitive for nodulation; thus, cultivars harboring an Rj4 allele are considered favorable. Cloning the Rj4 gene is the first step in understanding the molecular basis of Rj4-mediated nodulation restriction and facilitates the development of molecular tools for genetic improvement of nitrogen fixation in soybeans. We finely mapped the Rj4 locus within a small genomic region on soybean chromosome 1, and validated one of the candidate genes as Rj4 using both complementation tests and CRISPR/Cas9-based gene knockout experiments. We demonstrated that Rj4 encodes a thaumatin-like protein, for which a corresponding allele is not present in the surveyed rj4 genotypes, including the reference genome Williams 82. Our conclusion disagrees with the previous report that Rj4 is the Glyma.01G165800 gene (previously annotated as Glyma01g37060). Instead, we provide convincing evidence that Rj4 is Glyma.01g165800-D, a duplicated and unique version of Glyma.01g165800, that has evolved the ability to control symbiotic specificity.}, } @article {pmid26582029, year = {2015}, author = {Chomicki, G and Ward, PS and Renner, SS}, title = {Macroevolutionary assembly of ant/plant symbioses: Pseudomyrmex ants and their ant-housing plants in the Neotropics.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1819}, pages = {}, pmid = {26582029}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Americas ; Animals ; Ants/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Polygonaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses include some of the clearest cases of coevolution, but their origin, loss or reassembly with different partners can rarely be inferred. Here we use ant/plant symbioses involving three plant clades to investigate the evolution of symbioses. We generated phylogenies for the big-eyed arboreal ants (Pseudomyrmecinae), including 72% of their 286 species, as well as for five of their plant host groups, in each case sampling more than 61% of the species. We show that the ant-housing Vachellia (Mimosoideae) clade and its ants co-diversified for the past 5 Ma, with some species additionally colonized by younger plant-nesting ant species, some parasitic. An apparent co-radiation of ants and Tachigali (Caesalpinioideae) was followed by waves of colonization by the same ant clade, and subsequent occupation by a younger ant group. Wide crown and stem age differences between the ant-housing genus Triplaris (Polygonaceae) and its obligate ant inhabitants, and stochastic trait mapping, indicate that its domatium evolved earlier than the ants now occupying it, suggesting previous symbioses that dissolved. Parasitic ant species evolved from generalists, not from mutualists, and are younger than the mutualistic systems they parasitize. Our study illuminates the macroevolutionary assembly of ant/plant symbioses, which has been highly dynamic, even in very specialized systems.}, } @article {pmid26581105, year = {2015}, author = {Taboada, S and Riesgo, A and Bas, M and Arnedo, MA and Cristobo, J and Rouse, GW and Avila, C}, title = {Bone-Eating Worms Spread: Insights into Shallow-Water Osedax (Annelida, Siboglinidae) from Antarctic, Subantarctic, and Mediterranean Waters.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0140341}, pmid = {26581105}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; Aquatic Organisms ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Bone and Bones/chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/physiology ; Histones/genetics ; Male ; Oceans and Seas ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {Osedax, commonly known as bone-eating worms, are unusual marine annelids belonging to Siboglinidae and represent a remarkable example of evolutionary adaptation to a specialized habitat, namely sunken vertebrate bones. Usually, females of these animals live anchored inside bone owing to a ramified root system from an ovisac, and obtain nutrition via symbiosis with Oceanospirillales gamma-proteobacteria. Since their discovery, 26 Osedax operational taxonomic units (OTUs) have been reported from a wide bathymetric range in the Pacific, the North Atlantic, and the Southern Ocean. Using experimentally deployed and naturally occurring bones we report here the presence of Osedax deceptionensis at very shallow-waters in Deception Island (type locality; Antarctica) and at moderate depths near South Georgia Island (Subantarctic). We present molecular evidence in a new phylogenetic analysis based on five concatenated genes (28S rDNA, Histone H3, 18S rDNA, 16S rDNA, and cytochrome c oxidase I-COI-), using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference, supporting the placement of O. deceptionensis as a separate lineage (Clade VI) although its position still remains uncertain. This phylogenetic analysis includes a new unnamed species (O. 'mediterranea') recently discovered in the shallow-water Mediterranean Sea belonging to Osedax Clade I. A timeframe of the diversification of Osedax inferred using a Bayesian framework further suggests that Osedax diverged from other siboglinids during the Middle Cretaceous (ca. 108 Ma) and also indicates that the most recent common ancestor of Osedax extant lineages dates to the Late Cretaceous (ca. 74.8 Ma) concomitantly with large marine reptiles and teleost fishes. We also provide a phylogenetic framework that assigns newly-sequenced Osedax endosymbionts of O. deceptionensis and O. 'mediterranea' to ribospecies Rs1. Molecular analysis for O. deceptionensis also includes a COI-based haplotype network indicating that individuals from Deception Island and the South Georgia Island (ca. 1,600 km apart) are clearly the same species, confirming the well-developed dispersal capabilities reported in other congeneric taxa. In addition, we include a complete description of living features and morphological characters (including scanning and transmission electron microscopy) of O. deceptionensis, a species originally described from a single mature female, and compare it to information available for other congeneric OTUs.}, } @article {pmid26580120, year = {2015}, author = {Verhoeven, T and Buteneers, P and Wiersema, JR and Dambre, J and Kindermans, PJ}, title = {Towards a symbiotic brain-computer interface: exploring the application-decoder interaction.}, journal = {Journal of neural engineering}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {066027}, doi = {10.1088/1741-2560/12/6/066027}, pmid = {26580120}, issn = {1741-2552}, mesh = {Adult ; *Brain-Computer Interfaces/trends ; Electroencephalography/*methods/trends ; Event-Related Potentials, P300/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; *Machine Learning/trends ; Male ; Photic Stimulation/*methods ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: State of the art brain-computer interface (BCI) research focuses on improving individual components such as the application or the decoder that converts the user's brain activity to control signals. In this study, we investigate the interaction between these components in the P300 speller, a BCI for communication. We introduce a synergistic approach in which the stimulus presentation sequence is modified to enhance the machine learning decoding. In this way we aim for an improved overall BCI performance.

APPROACH: First, a new stimulus presentation paradigm is introduced which provides us flexibility in tuning the sequence of visual stimuli presented to the user. Next, an experimental setup in which this paradigm is compared to other paradigms uncovers the underlying mechanism of the interdependence between the application and the performance of the decoder.

MAIN RESULTS: Extensive analysis of the experimental results reveals the changing requirements of the decoder concerning the data recorded during the spelling session. When few data is recorded, the balance in the number of target and non-target stimuli shown to the user is more important than the signal-to-noise rate (SNR) of the recorded response signals. Only when more data has been collected, the SNR becomes the dominant factor.

SIGNIFICANCE: For BCIs in general, knowing the dominant factor that affects the decoder performance and being able to respond to it is of utmost importance to improve system performance. For the P300 speller, the proposed tunable paradigm offers the possibility to tune the application to the decoder's needs at any time and, as such, fully exploit this application-decoder interaction.}, } @article {pmid26579156, year = {2015}, author = {Akum, FN and Steinbrenner, J and Biedenkopf, D and Imani, J and Kogel, KH}, title = {The Piriformospora indica effector PIIN_08944 promotes the mutualistic Sebacinalean symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {906}, pmid = {26579156}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Pathogenic and mutualistic microbes actively suppress plant defense by secreting effector proteins to manipulate the host responses for their own benefit. Current knowledge about fungal effectors has been mainly derived from biotrophic and hemibiotrophic plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes with restricted host range. We studied colonization strategies of the root endophytic basidiomycete Piriformospora indica that colonizes a wide range of plant species thereby establishing long-term mutualistic relationships. The release of P. indica's genome helped to identify hundreds of genes coding for candidate effectors and provides an opportunity to investigate the role of those proteins in a mutualistic symbiosis. We demonstrate that the candidate effector PIIN_08944 plays a crucial role during fungal colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana roots. PIIN_08944 expression was detected during chlamydospore germination, and fungal deletion mutants (PiΔ08944) showed delayed root colonization. Constitutive over-expression of PIIN_08944 in Arabidopsis rescued the delayed colonization phenotype of the deletion mutant. PIIN_08944-expressing Arabidopsis showed a reduced expression of flg22-induced marker genes of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and the salicylic acid (SA) defense pathway, and expression of PIIN_08944 in barley reduced the burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered by flg22 and chitin. These data suggest that PIIN_08944 contributes to root colonization by P. indica by interfering with SA-mediated basal immune responses of the host plant. Consistent with this, PIIN_08944-expressing Arabidopsis also supported the growth of the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis while growth of the necrotrophic fungi Botrytis cinerea on Arabidopsis and Fusarium graminearum on barley was not affected.}, } @article {pmid26579144, year = {2015}, author = {Paradiso, R and Buonomo, R and Dixon, MA and Barbieri, G and De Pascale, S}, title = {Effect of bacterial root symbiosis and urea as source of nitrogen on performance of soybean plants grown hydroponically for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSSs).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {888}, pmid = {26579144}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Soybean is traditionally grown in soil, where root symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium japonicum can supply nitrogen (N), by means of bacterial fixation of atmospheric N2. Nitrogen fertilizers inhibit N-fixing bacteria. However, urea is profitably used in soybean cultivation in soil, where urease enzymes of telluric microbes catalyze the hydrolysis to ammonium, which has a lighter inhibitory effect compared to nitrate. Previous researches demonstrated that soybean can be grown hydroponically with recirculating complete nitrate-based nutrient solutions. In Space, urea derived from crew urine could be used as N source, with positive effects in resource procurement and waste recycling. However, whether the plants are able to use urea as the sole source of N and its effect on root symbiosis with B. japonicum is still unclear in hydroponics. We compared the effect of two N sources, nitrate and urea, on plant growth and physiology, and seed yield and quality of soybean grown in closed-loop Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) in growth chamber, with or without inoculation with B. japonicum. Urea limited plant growth and seed yield compared to nitrate by determining nutrient deficiency, due to its low utilization efficiency in the early developmental stages, and reduced nutrients uptake (K, Ca, and Mg) throughout the whole growing cycle. Root inoculation with B. japonicum did not improve plant performance, regardless of the N source. Specifically, nodulation increased under fertigation with urea compared to nitrate, but this effect did not result in higher leaf N content and better biomass and seed production. Urea was not suitable as sole N source for soybean in closed-loop NFT. However, the ability to use urea increased from young to adult plants, suggesting the possibility to apply it during reproductive phase or in combination with nitrate in earlier developmental stages. Root symbiosis did not contribute significantly to N nutrition and did not enhance the plant ability to use urea, possibly because of ineffective infection process and nodule functioning in hydroponics.}, } @article {pmid26579093, year = {2015}, author = {Alamgir, KM and Masuda, S and Fujitani, Y and Fukuda, F and Tani, A}, title = {Production of ergothioneine by Methylobacterium species.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1185}, pmid = {26579093}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Metabolomic analysis revealed that Methylobacterium cells accumulate a large amount of ergothioneine (EGT), which is a sulfur-containing, non-proteinogenic, antioxidative amino acid derived from histidine. EGT biosynthesis and its role in methylotrophy and physiology for plant surface-symbiotic Methylobacterium species were investigated in this study. Almost all Methylobacterium type strains can synthesize EGT. We selected one of the most productive strains (M. aquaticum strain 22A isolated from a moss), and investigated the feasibility of fermentative EGT production through optimization of the culture condition. Methanol as a carbon source served as the best substrate for production. The productivity reached up to 1000 μg/100 ml culture (1200 μg/g wet weight cells, 6.3 mg/g dry weight) in 38 days. Next, we identified the genes (egtBD) responsible for EGT synthesis, and generated a deletion mutant defective in EGT production. Compared to the wild type, the mutant showed better growth on methanol and on the plant surface as well as severe susceptibility to heat treatment and irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) and sunlight. These results suggested that EGT is not involved in methylotrophy, but is involved in their phyllospheric lifestyle fitness of the genus in natural conditions.}, } @article {pmid26579083, year = {2015}, author = {Belden, LK and Hughey, MC and Rebollar, EA and Umile, TP and Loftus, SC and Burzynski, EA and Minbiole, KP and House, LL and Jensen, RV and Becker, MH and Walke, JB and Medina, D and Ibáñez, R and Harris, RN}, title = {Panamanian frog species host unique skin bacterial communities.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1171}, pmid = {26579083}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Vertebrates, including amphibians, host diverse symbiotic microbes that contribute to host disease resistance. Globally, and especially in montane tropical systems, many amphibian species are threatened by a chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), that causes a lethal skin disease. Bd therefore may be a strong selective agent on the diversity and function of the microbial communities inhabiting amphibian skin. In Panamá, amphibian population declines and the spread of Bd have been tracked. In 2012, we completed a field survey in Panamá to examine frog skin microbiota in the context of Bd infection. We focused on three frog species and collected two skin swabs per frog from a total of 136 frogs across four sites that varied from west to east in the time since Bd arrival. One swab was used to assess bacterial community structure using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and to determine Bd infection status, and one was used to assess metabolite diversity, as the bacterial production of anti-fungal metabolites is an important disease resistance function. The skin microbiota of the three Panamanian frog species differed in OTU (operational taxonomic unit, ~bacterial species) community composition and metabolite profiles, although the pattern was less strong for the metabolites. Comparisons between frog skin bacterial communities from Panamá and the US suggest broad similarities at the phylum level, but key differences at lower taxonomic levels. In our field survey in Panamá, across all four sites, only 35 individuals (~26%) were Bd infected. There was no clustering of OTUs or metabolite profiles based on Bd infection status and no clear pattern of west-east changes in OTUs or metabolite profiles across the four sites. Overall, our field survey data suggest that different bacterial communities might be producing broadly similar sets of metabolites across frog hosts and sites. Community structure and function may not be as tightly coupled in these skin symbiont microbial systems as it is in many macro-systems.}, } @article {pmid26579078, year = {2015}, author = {Palau-Rodriguez, M and Tulipani, S and Isabel Queipo-Ortuño, M and Urpi-Sarda, M and Tinahones, FJ and Andres-Lacueva, C}, title = {Metabolomic insights into the intricate gut microbial-host interaction in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1151}, pmid = {26579078}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Gut microbiota has recently been proposed as a crucial environmental factor in the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, mainly due to its contribution in the modulation of several processes including host energy metabolism, gut epithelial permeability, gut peptide hormone secretion, and host inflammatory state. Since the symbiotic interaction between the gut microbiota and the host is essentially reflected in specific metabolic signatures, much expectation is placed on the application of metabolomic approaches to unveil the key mechanisms linking the gut microbiota composition and activity with disease development. The present review aims to summarize the gut microbial-host co-metabolites identified so far by targeted and untargeted metabolomic studies in humans, in association with impaired glucose homeostasis and/or obesity. An alteration of the co-metabolism of bile acids, branched fatty acids, choline, vitamins (i.e., niacin), purines, and phenolic compounds has been associated so far with the obese or diabese phenotype, in respect to healthy controls. Furthermore, anti-diabetic treatments such as metformin and sulfonylurea have been observed to modulate the gut microbiota or at least their metabolic profiles, thereby potentially affecting insulin resistance through indirect mechanisms still unknown. Despite the scarcity of the metabolomic studies currently available on the microbial-host crosstalk, the data-driven results largely confirmed findings independently obtained from in vitro and animal model studies, putting forward the mechanisms underlying the implication of a dysfunctional gut microbiota in the development of metabolic disorders.}, } @article {pmid26578586, year = {2016}, author = {Paytuví Gallart, A and Hermoso Pulido, A and Anzar Martínez de Lagrán, I and Sanseverino, W and Aiese Cigliano, R}, title = {GREENC: a Wiki-based database of plant lncRNAs.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {44}, number = {D1}, pages = {D1161-6}, pmid = {26578586}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {*Databases, Nucleic Acid ; *Genome, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; RNA, Long Noncoding/*chemistry/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are functional non-translated molecules greater than 200 nt. Their roles are diverse and they are usually involved in transcriptional regulation. LncRNAs still remain largely uninvestigated in plants with few exceptions. Experimentally validated plant lncRNAs have been shown to regulate important agronomic traits such as phosphate starvation response, flowering time and interaction with symbiotic organisms, making them of great interest in plant biology and in breeding. There is still a lack of lncRNAs in most sequenced plant species, and in those where they have been annotated, different methods have been used, so making the lncRNAs less useful in comparisons within and between species. We developed a pipeline to annotate lncRNAs and applied it to 37 plant species and six algae, resulting in the annotation of more than 120 000 lncRNAs. To facilitate the study of lncRNAs for the plant research community, the information gathered is organised in the Green Non-Coding Database (GreeNC, http://greenc.sciencedesigners.com/).}, } @article {pmid26576759, year = {2016}, author = {Splitt, SD and Risser, DD}, title = {The non-metabolizable sucrose analog sucralose is a potent inhibitor of hormogonium differentiation in the filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {198}, number = {2}, pages = {137-147}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-015-1171-7}, pmid = {26576759}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Magnoliopsida/microbiology ; Nostoc/*drug effects/growth & development ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Sucrose/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nostoc punctiforme is a filamentous cyanobacterium which forms nitrogen-fixing symbioses with several different plants and fungi. Establishment of these symbioses requires the formation of motile hormogonium filaments. Once infected, the plant partner is thought to supply a hormogonium-repressing factor (HRF) to maintain the cyanobacteria in a vegetative, nitrogen-fixing state. Evidence implies that sucrose may serve as a HRF. Here, we tested the effects of sucralose, a non-metabolizable sucrose analog, on hormogonium differentiation. Sucralose inhibited hormogonium differentiation at a concentration approximately one-tenth that of sucrose. This result implies that: (1) sucrose, not a sucrose catabolite, is perceived by the cell and (2) inhibition is not due to a more general osmolarity-dependent effect. Additionally, both sucrose and sucralose induced the accrual of a polysaccharide sheath which bound specifically to the lectin ConA, indicating the presence of α-D-mannose and/or α-D-glucose. A ConA-specific polysaccharide was also found to be expressed in N. punctiforme colonies from tissue sections of the symbiotically grown hornwort Anthoceros punctatus. These findings imply that plant-derived sucrose or sucrose analogs may have multiple effects on N. punctiforme, including both repression of hormogonia and the induction of a polysaccharide sheath that may be essential to establish and maintain the symbiotic state.}, } @article {pmid26574513, year = {2016}, author = {Schäper, S and Krol, E and Skotnicka, D and Kaever, V and Hilker, R and Søgaard-Andersen, L and Becker, A}, title = {Cyclic Di-GMP Regulates Multiple Cellular Functions in the Symbiotic Alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {198}, number = {3}, pages = {521-535}, pmid = {26574513}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Mutation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/biosynthesis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Sinorhizobium meliloti undergoes major lifestyle changes between planktonic states, biofilm formation, and symbiosis with leguminous plant hosts. In many bacteria, the second messenger 3',5'-cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP, or cdG) promotes a sessile lifestyle by regulating a plethora of processes involved in biofilm formation, including motility and biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS). Here, we systematically investigated the role of cdG in S. meliloti Rm2011 encoding 22 proteins putatively associated with cdG synthesis, degradation, or binding. Single mutations in 21 of these genes did not cause evident changes in biofilm formation, motility, or EPS biosynthesis. In contrast, manipulation of cdG levels by overproducing endogenous or heterologous diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) or phosphodiesterases (PDEs) affected these processes and accumulation of N-Acyl-homoserine lactones in the culture supernatant. Specifically, individual overexpression of the S. meliloti genes pleD, SMb20523, SMb20447, SMc01464, and SMc03178 encoding putative DGCs and of SMb21517 encoding a single-domain PDE protein had an impact and resulted in increased levels of cdG. Compared to the wild type, an S. meliloti strain that did not produce detectable levels of cdG (cdG(0)) was more sensitive to acid stress. However, it was symbiotically potent, unaffected in motility, and only slightly reduced in biofilm formation. The SMc01790-SMc01796 locus, homologous to the Agrobacterium tumefaciens uppABCDEF cluster governing biosynthesis of a unipolarly localized polysaccharide, was found to be required for cdG-stimulated biofilm formation, while the single-domain PilZ protein McrA was identified as a cdG receptor protein involved in regulation of motility.

IMPORTANCE: We present the first systematic genome-wide investigation of the role of 3',5'-cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP, or cdG) in regulation of motility, biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and symbiosis in a symbiotic alpha-rhizobial species. Phenotypes of an S. meliloti strain unable to produce cdG (cdG(0)) demonstrated that this second messenger is not essential for root nodule symbiosis but may contribute to acid tolerance. Our data further suggest that enhanced levels of cdG promote sessility of S. meliloti and uncovered a single-domain PilZ protein as regulator of motility.}, } @article {pmid26573520, year = {2015}, author = {Beedessee, G and Hisata, K and Roy, MC and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E}, title = {Multifunctional polyketide synthase genes identified by genomic survey of the symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium minutum.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {941}, pmid = {26573520}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Dinoflagellida/enzymology/*genetics ; Genome ; Polyketide Synthases/classification/*genetics ; Polyketides/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dinoflagellates are unicellular marine and freshwater eukaryotes. They possess large nuclear genomes (1.5-245 gigabases) and produce structurally unique and biologically active polyketide secondary metabolites. Although polyketide biosynthesis is well studied in terrestrial and freshwater organisms, only recently have dinoflagellate polyketides been investigated. Transcriptomic analyses have characterized dinoflagellate polyketide synthase genes having single domains. The Genus Symbiodinium, with a comparatively small genome, is a group of major coral symbionts, and the S. minutum nuclear genome has been decoded.

RESULTS: The present survey investigated the assembled S. minutum genome and identified 25 candidate polyketide synthase (PKS) genes that encode proteins with mono- and multifunctional domains. Predicted proteins retain functionally important amino acids in the catalytic ketosynthase (KS) domain. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of KS domains form a clade in which S. minutum domains cluster within the protist Type I PKS clade with those of other dinoflagellates and other eukaryotes. Single-domain PKS genes are likely expanded in dinoflagellate lineage. Two PKS genes of bacterial origin are found in the S. minutum genome. Interestingly, the largest enzyme is likely expressed as a hybrid non-ribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase (NRPS-PKS) assembly of 10,601 amino acids, containing NRPS and PKS modules and a thioesterase (TE) domain. We also found intron-rich genes with the minimal set of catalytic domains needed to produce polyketides. Ketosynthase (KS), acyltransferase (AT), and acyl carrier protein (ACP) along with other optional domains are present. Mapping of transcripts to the genome with the dinoflagellate-specific spliced leader sequence, supports expression of multifunctional PKS genes. Metabolite profiling of cultured S. minutum confirmed production of zooxanthellamide D, a polyhydroxy amide polyketide and other unknown polyketide secondary metabolites.

CONCLUSION: This genomic survey demonstrates that S. minutum contains genes with the minimal set of catalytic domains needed to produce polyketides and provides evidence of the modular nature of Type I PKS, unlike monofunctional Type I PKS from other dinoflagellates. In addition, our study suggests that diversification of dinoflagellate PKS genes comprises dinoflagellate-specific PKS genes with single domains, multifunctional PKS genes with KS domains orthologous to those of other protists, and PKS genes of bacterial origin.}, } @article {pmid26573298, year = {2016}, author = {Skabytska, Y and Kaesler, S and Volz, T and Biedermann, T}, title = {The role of innate immune signaling in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and consequences for treatments.}, journal = {Seminars in immunopathology}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {29-43}, pmid = {26573298}, issn = {1863-2300}, mesh = {Animals ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Dermatitis, Atopic/diagnosis/*etiology/*metabolism/therapy ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Microbiota ; Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules/metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Skin/cytology/immunology/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Th2 Cells/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The skin is the largest organ at the interface between the environment and the host. Consequently, the skin plays a central role in mounting effective host defense. In addition to pathogens, the microbiota and the host immune system are in permanent contact and communication via the skin. Consequences of this permanent interaction are a unique and partly symbiotic relationship, a tight interdependence between these partners, and also a functional "setting the clock," in which, in the healthy steady state, an induction of protective responses to pathogens is guaranteed. At the same time, commensal microbes contribute to the alertness of the immune system and to the maintenance of immune tolerance. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease based on a complex genetic trait with defects in cutaneous barrier, in stabilizing skin integrity. Most of AD patients develop deviated innate and adaptive immune responses. As a result, increased susceptibility to cutaneous infection is found in AD patients, and the interactions between these microbes and the skin participate in the development of chronic cutaneous inflammation. The role of the adaptive immune system was characterized in much detail, less though the contribution of innate immunity to AD pathogenesis. It is rather recent evidence that demonstrates a dominant role of components of the innate immune system not only for protecting from microbial invasion but also by orchestrating chronic skin inflammation. In this review we discuss the role of innate immune signaling and consecutive immune networks important for the pathogenesis and management of AD.}, } @article {pmid26569401, year = {2015}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Pérez-Montaño, F and Medina, C and Ollero, FJ and López-Baena, FJ}, title = {NopC Is a Rhizobium-Specific Type 3 Secretion System Effector Secreted by Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii HH103.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0142866}, pmid = {26569401}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Flavonoids/pharmacology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Genetic Loci ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/cytology/microbiology ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; Sinorhizobium/drug effects/*metabolism ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Type III Secretion Systems/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii HH103 is a broad host-range nitrogen-fixing bacterium able to nodulate many legumes, including soybean. In several rhizobia, root nodulation is influenced by proteins secreted through the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). This specialized secretion apparatus is a common virulence mechanism of many plant and animal pathogenic bacteria that delivers proteins, called effectors, directly into the eukaryotic host cells where they interfere with signal transduction pathways and promote infection by suppressing host defenses. In rhizobia, secreted proteins, called nodulation outer proteins (Nops), are involved in host-range determination and symbiotic efficiency. S. fredii HH103 secretes at least eight Nops through the T3SS. Interestingly, there are Rhizobium-specific Nops, such as NopC, which do not have homologues in pathogenic bacteria. In this work we studied the S. fredii HH103 nopC gene and confirmed that its expression was regulated in a flavonoid-, NodD1- and TtsI-dependent manner. Besides, in vivo bioluminescent studies indicated that the S. fredii HH103 T3SS was expressed in young soybean nodules and adenylate cyclase assays confirmed that NopC was delivered directly into soybean root cells by means of the T3SS machinery. Finally, nodulation assays showed that NopC exerted a positive effect on symbiosis with Glycine max cv. Williams 82 and Vigna unguiculata. All these results indicate that NopC can be considered a Rhizobium-specific effector secreted by S. fredii HH103.}, } @article {pmid26568541, year = {2016}, author = {Garnica-Vergara, A and Barrera-Ortiz, S and Muñoz-Parra, E and Raya-González, J and Méndez-Bravo, A and Macías-Rodríguez, L and Ruiz-Herrera, LF and López-Bucio, J}, title = {The volatile 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one from Trichoderma atroviride regulates Arabidopsis thaliana root morphogenesis via auxin signaling and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 functioning.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {209}, number = {4}, pages = {1496-1512}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13725}, pmid = {26568541}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Biological Transport/drug effects ; Biomass ; Darkness ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Morphogenesis/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*growth & development ; Pyrones/chemistry/pharmacology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Trichoderma/*chemistry ; Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Plants interact with root microbes via chemical signaling, which modulates competence or symbiosis. Although several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fungi may affect plant growth and development, the signal transduction pathways mediating VOC sensing are not fully understood. 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6-PP) is a major VOC biosynthesized by Trichoderma spp. which is probably involved in plant-fungus cross-kingdom signaling. Using microscopy and confocal imaging, the effects of 6-PP on root morphogenesis were found to be correlated with DR5:GFP, DR5:VENUS, H2B::GFP, PIN1::PIN1::GFP, PIN2::PIN2::GFP, PIN3::PIN3::GFP and PIN7::PIN7::GFP gene expression. A genetic screen for primary root growth resistance to 6-PP in wild-type seedlings and auxin- and ethylene-related mutants allowed identification of genes controlling root architectural responses to this metabolite. Trichoderma atroviride produced 6-PP, which promoted plant growth and regulated root architecture, inhibiting primary root growth and inducing lateral root formation. 6-PP modulated expression of PIN auxin-transport proteins in a specific and dose-dependent manner in primary roots. TIR1, AFB2 and AFB3 auxin receptors and ARF7 and ARF19 transcription factors influenced the lateral root response to 6-PP, whereas EIN2 modulated 6-PP sensing in primary roots. These results indicate that root responses to 6-PP involve components of auxin transport and signaling and the ethylene-response modulator EIN2.}, } @article {pmid26568407, year = {2016}, author = {Mushegian, AA and Ebert, D}, title = {Rethinking "mutualism" in diverse host-symbiont communities.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {100-108}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201500074}, pmid = {26568407}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Eukaryota/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {While examples of bacteria benefiting eukaryotes are increasingly documented, studies examining effects of eukaryote hosts on microbial fitness are rare. Beneficial bacteria are often called "mutualistic" even if mutual reciprocity of benefits has not been demonstrated and despite the plausibility of other explanations for these microbes' beneficial effects on host fitness. Furthermore, beneficial bacteria often occur in diverse communities, making mutualism both empirically and conceptually difficult to demonstrate. We suggest reserving the terms "mutualism" and "parasitism" for pairwise interactions where the relationship is largely independent of other species and can be verified by measuring the fitness effect experienced by both partners. In hosts with diverse microbial communities, we propose re-formulating some of the essential questions of symbiosis research - e.g. concerning specificity, transmission mode, and common evolutionary fates - as questions of community ecology and ecosystem function, allowing important biological interactions to be investigated without making assumptions about reciprocity. Understanding the fitness of host-associated bacteria is a crucial component of investigations into the role of microbes in eukaryote evolution.}, } @article {pmid26567312, year = {2016}, author = {Nikolakakis, K and Monfils, K and Moriano-Gutierrez, S and Brennan, CA and Ruby, EG}, title = {Characterization of the Vibrio fischeri Fatty Acid Chemoreceptors, VfcB and VfcB2.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {2}, pages = {696-704}, pmid = {26567312}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM112214/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32GM112214/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/chemistry/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Bacteria use a wide variety of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) to mediate their attraction to or repulsion from different chemical signals in their environment. The bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri is the monospecific symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and encodes a large repertoire of MCPs that are hypothesized to be used during different parts of its complex, multistage lifestyle. Here, we report the initial characterization of two such MCPs from V. fischeri that are responsible for mediating migration toward short- and medium-chain aliphatic (or fatty) acids. These receptors appear to be distributed among only members of the family Vibrionaceae and are likely descended from a receptor that has been lost by the majority of the members of this family. While chemotaxis greatly enhances the efficiency of host colonization by V. fischeri, fatty acids do not appear to be used as a chemical cue during this stage of the symbiosis. This study presents an example of straight-chain fatty acid chemoattraction and contributes to the growing body of characterized MCP-ligand interactions.}, } @article {pmid26564958, year = {2015}, author = {Lee, ST and Davy, SK and Tang, SL and Fan, TY and Kench, PS}, title = {Successive shifts in the microbial community of the surface mucus layer and tissues of the coral Acropora muricata under thermal stress.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv142}, pmid = {26564958}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Flavobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Hot Temperature ; *Microbial Consortia/genetics ; Mucus/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Verrucomicrobia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Vibrio/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The coral mucus may harbor commensal bacteria that inhibit growth of pathogens. Therefore, there is a need to understand the dynamics of bacterial communities between the coral mucus and tissues. Nubbins of Acropora muricata were subjected to increasing water temperatures of 26°C-33°C, to simultaneously explore the bacterial diversity in coral mucus and tissues by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Photochemical efficiency of symbiotic dinoflagellates within the corals declined above 31°C. Both the mucus and tissues of healthy A. muricata were dominated by γ-Proteobacteria, but under thermal stress there was a shift towards bacteria from the Verrucomicrobiaceae and α-Proteobacteria. Members of Cyanobacteria, Flavobacteria and Sphingobacteria also become more prominent at higher temperatures. The relative abundance of Vibrio spp. in the coral mucus increased at 29°C, but at 31°C, there was a drop in the relative abundance of Vibrio spp. in the mucus, with a reciprocal increase in the tissues. On the other hand, during bleaching, the relative abundance of Endozoicomonas spp. decreased in the tissues with a reciprocal increase in the mucus. This is the first systematic experiment that shows the potential for a bacterial community shift between the coral surface mucus and tissues in a thermally stressed coral.}, } @article {pmid26564204, year = {2016}, author = {Cabrera, JJ and Salas, A and Torres, MJ and Bedmar, EJ and Richardson, DJ and Gates, AJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {An integrated biochemical system for nitrate assimilation and nitric oxide detoxification in Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {473}, number = {3}, pages = {297-309}, pmid = {26564204}, issn = {1470-8728}, support = {BB/M00256X/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrite Reductases/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrites/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are recognized to establish N2-fixing symbiotic interactions with legume plants. Bradyrhizobium japonicum, the symbiont of soybeans, can denitrify and grow under free-living conditions with nitrate (NO3 (-)) or nitrite (NO2 (-)) as sole nitrogen source. Unlike related bacteria that assimilate NO3 (-), genes encoding the assimilatory NO3 (-) reductase (nasC) and NO2 (-) reductase (nirA) in B. japonicum are located at distinct chromosomal loci. The nasC gene is located with genes encoding an ABC-type NO3 (-) transporter, a major facilitator family NO3 (-)/NO2 (-) transporter (NarK), flavoprotein (Flp) and single-domain haemoglobin (termed Bjgb). However, nirA clusters with genes for a NO3 (-)/NO2 (-)-responsive regulator (NasS-NasT). In the present study, we demonstrate NasC and NirA are both key for NO3 (-) assimilation and that growth with NO3 (-), but not NO2 (-) requires flp, implying Flp may function as electron donor to NasC. In addition, bjgb and flp encode a nitric oxide (NO) detoxification system that functions to mitigate cytotoxic NO formed as a by-product of NO3 (-) assimilation. Additional experiments reveal NasT is required for NO3 (-)-responsive expression of the narK-bjgb-flp-nasC transcriptional unit and the nirA gene and that NasS is also involved in the regulatory control of this novel bipartite assimilatory NO3 (-)/NO2 (-) reductase pathway.}, } @article {pmid26563814, year = {2015}, author = {Azmat, R and Hamid, N and Moin, S}, title = {The effective role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in sinking CO2 from atmosphere of mega cities.}, journal = {Recent patents on biotechnology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {63-74}, pmid = {26563814}, issn = {2212-4012}, mesh = {Atmosphere ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioengineering/*methods ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cities ; Global Warming/*prevention & control ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/*physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {An effort was made after detailed literature survey and few experiments, conducted at Laboratory conditions about the VAM fungus inoculated plants; they have large surface area and more photosynthetic rate, can assimilate more CO2, even can grow in drought condition including water deficiency and high temperature. For this purpose, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in which soil manifested with fungi was used and Conocarpus erectus L (common on green belt of Karachi Streets) was selected for testing the fungal engineering. Results demonstrated a well-developed strong roots system and branching pattern of shoots rather than larger surface area of leaves of the fungal engineered plant when compared with non-treated ones. The long root system indicates the stability of plant and water transport system in high temperature and low water conditions. While increased branching pattern of areal part may be directly related to an increase in net photosynthetic rates or increase CO2 absorption in the fungal inoculated plants. This investigation showed an interesting use of VAM services for technology development of root organ culture development in areas of low water availability and high temperature condition with elevated concentration of CO2. A mechanism of absorption of CO2 related with the alteration in plant bio-physical metabolism is discussed in relation with phosphorus uptake under VAM inoculation.}, } @article {pmid26563366, year = {2016}, author = {Silva, LS and Goncalves, LG and Silva, F and Domingues, G and Maximo, V and Ferreira, J and Lam, EW and Dias, S and Felix, A and Serpa, J}, title = {STAT3:FOXM1 and MCT1 drive uterine cervix carcinoma fitness to a lactate-rich microenvironment.}, journal = {Tumour biology : the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {5385-5395}, pmid = {26563366}, issn = {1423-0380}, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/genetics/pathology ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Cycle Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Cervix Uteri/pathology ; Female ; Forkhead Box Protein M1/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Forkhead Box Protein O3/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Mice ; Oncogene Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; }, abstract = {Uterine cervix cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide with human papillomavirus (HPV) as the etiologic factor. The two main histological variants, squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and adenocarcinomas (AC), resemble the cell morphology of exocervix and endocervix, respectively. Cancer metabolism is a cancer hallmark conditioned by the microenvironment. As uterine cervix homeostasis is dependent on lactate, we hypothesized lactate plays a role in uterine cervix cancer progression. Using in vitro (SiHa-SCC and HeLa-AC) and BALB-c/SCID models, we demonstrated that lactate metabolism is linked to histological types, with SCC predominantly consuming and AC producing lactate. MCT1 is a key factor, allowing lactate consumption and being regulated in vitro by lactate through the FOXM1:STAT3 pathway. In vivo models showed that SCC (SiHa) expresses MCT1 and is dependent on lactate to grow, whereas AC (HeLa) expresses MCT1 and MCT4, with higher growth capacities. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue microarrays (TMA) from human cervical tumors showed that MCT1 expression associates with the SCC type and metastatic behavior of AC, whereas MCT4 expression concomitantly increases from in situ SCC to invasive SCC and is significantly associated with the AC type. Consistently, FOXM1 expression is statistically associated with MCT1 positivity in SCC, whereas the expression of FOXO3a, a FOXM1 functional antagonist, is linked to MCT1 negativity in AC. Our study reinforces the role of the microenvironment in the metabolic adaptation of cancer cells, showing that cells that retain metabolic features of their normal counterparts are positively selected by the organ's microenvironment and will survive. In particular, MCT1 was shown to be a key element in uterine cervix cancer development; however, further studies are needed to validate MCT1 as a suitable therapeutic target in uterine cervix cancer.}, } @article {pmid26563320, year = {2016}, author = {Yasumiba, K and Bell, S and Alford, R}, title = {Cell Density Effects of Frog Skin Bacteria on Their Capacity to Inhibit Growth of the Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {124-130}, pmid = {26563320}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Australia ; Bacteria/chemistry/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Chytridiomycota/drug effects/*growth & development ; Ranidae/*microbiology ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts on frog skin can reduce the growth of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) through production of inhibitory metabolites. Bacteria can be effective at increasing the resistance of amphibians to chytridiomycosis when added to amphibian skin, and isolates can be screened for production of metabolites that inhibit Bd growth in vitro. However, some bacteria use density-dependent mechanism such as quorum sensing to regulate metabolite production. It is therefore important to consider cell density effects when evaluating bacteria as possible candidates for bioaugmentation. The aim of our study was to evaluate how the density of cutaneous bacteria affects their inhibition of Bd growth in vitro. We sampled cutaneous bacteria isolated from three frog species in the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland, Australia, and selected ten isolates that were inhibitory to Bd in standardised pilot trials. We grew each isolate in liquid culture at a range of initial dilutions, sub-sampled each dilution at a series of times during the first 48 h of growth and measured spectrophotometric absorbance values, cell counts and Bd-inhibitory activity of cell-free supernatants at each time point. The challenge assay results clearly demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of most isolates were density dependent, with relatively low variation among isolates in the minimum cell density needed to inhibit Bd growth. We suggest the use of minimum cell densities and fast-growing candidate isolates to maximise bioaugmentation efforts.}, } @article {pmid26563200, year = {2016}, author = {Turgeman, T and Lubinsky, O and Roth-Bejerano, N and Kagan-Zur, V and Kapulnik, Y and Koltai, H and Zaady, E and Ben-Shabat, S and Guy, O and Lewinsohn, E and Sitrit, Y}, title = {The role of pre-symbiotic auxin signaling in ectendomycorrhiza formation between the desert truffle Terfezia boudieri and Helianthemum sessiliflorum.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {287-297}, pmid = {26563200}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Cistaceae/*metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ectendomycorrhizal fungus Terfezia boudieri is known to secrete auxin. While some of the effects of fungal auxin on the plant root system have been described, a comprehensive understanding is still lacking. A dual culture system to study pre mycorrhizal signal exchange revealed previously unrecognized root-fungus interaction mediated by the fungal auxin. The secreted fungal auxin induced negative taproot gravitropism, attenuated taproot growth rate, and inhibited initial host development. Auxin also induced expression of Arabidopsis carriers AUX1 and PIN1, both of which are involved in the gravitropic response. Exogenous application of auxin led to a root phenotype, which fully mimicked that induced by ectomycorrhizal fungi. Co-cultivation of Arabidopsis auxin receptor mutants tir1-1, tir1-1 afb2-3, tir1-1 afb1-3 afb2-3, and tir1-1 afb2-3 afb3-4 with Terfezia confirmed that auxin induces the observed root phenotype. The finding that auxin both induces taproot deviation from the gravity axis and coordinates growth rate is new. We propose a model in which the fungal auxin induces horizontal root development, as well as the coordination of growth rates between partners, along with the known auxin effect on lateral root induction that increases the availability of accessible sites for colonization at the soil plane of fungal spore abundance. Thus, the newly observed responses described here of the root to Terfezia contribute to a successful encounter between symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26560130, year = {2015}, author = {Segev, E and Tellez, A and Vlamakis, H and Kolter, R}, title = {Morphological Heterogeneity and Attachment of Phaeobacter inhibens.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0141300}, pmid = {26560130}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM058213/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM082137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM58213/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM82137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion/*physiology ; Bacteriological Techniques/methods ; Biofilms/growth & development ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Rhodobacteraceae/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Time-Lapse Imaging/methods ; }, abstract = {The Roseobacter clade is a key group of bacteria in the ocean exhibiting diverse metabolic repertoires and a wide range of symbiotic life-styles. Many Roseobacters possess remarkable capabilities of attachment to both biotic and abiotic surfaces. When attached to each other, these bacteria form multi-cellular structures called rosettes. Phaeobacter inhibens, a well-studied Roseobacter, exhibits various cell sizes and morphologies that are either associated with rosettes or occur as single cells. Here we describe the distribution of P. inhibens morphologies and rosettes within a population. We detect an N-acetylglucosamine-containing polysaccharide on the poles of some cells and at the center of all rosettes. We demonstrate that rosettes are formed by the attachment of individual cells at the polysaccharide-containing pole rather than by cell division. Finally, we show that P. inhibens attachment to abiotic surfaces is hindered by the presence of DNA from itself, but not from other bacteria. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that cell adhesiveness is likely to play a significant role in the life cycle of P. inhibens as well as other Roseobacters.}, } @article {pmid26559953, year = {2015}, author = {Skelton, J and Creed, RP and Brown, BL}, title = {A symbiont's dispersal strategy: condition-dependent dispersal underlies predictable variation in direct transmission among hosts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1819}, pages = {}, pmid = {26559953}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Astacoidea/*physiology ; Genetic Fitness ; Leeches/*physiology ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; Virginia ; }, abstract = {Direct horizontal transmission of pathogenic and mutualistic symbionts has profound consequences for host and symbiont fitness alike. While the importance of contact rates for transmission is widely recognized, the processes that underlie variation in transmission during contact are rarely considered. Here, we took a symbiont's perspective of transmission as a form of dispersal and adopted the concept of condition-dependent dispersal strategies from the study of free-living organisms to understand and predict variation in transmission in the cleaning symbiosis between crayfish and ectosymbiotic branchiobdellidan worms. Field study showed that symbiont reproductive success was correlated with host size and competition among worms for microhabitats. Laboratory experiments demonstrated high variability in transmission among host contacts. Moreover, symbionts were more likely to disperse when host size and competition for microhabitat created a fitness environment below a discrete minimum threshold. A predictive model based on a condition-dependent symbiont dispersal strategy correctly predicted transmission in 95% of experimental host encounters and the exact magnitude of transmission in 67%, both significantly better than predictions that assumed a fixed transmission rate. Our work provides a dispersal-based understanding of symbiont transmission and suggests adaptive symbiont dispersal strategies can explain variation in transmission dynamics and complex patterns of host infection.}, } @article {pmid26557442, year = {2015}, author = {Vandegrift, R and Roy, BA and Pfeifer-Meister, L and Johnson, BR and Bridgham, SD}, title = {The herbaceous landlord: integrating the effects of symbiont consortia within a single host.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1379}, pmid = {26557442}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Plants are typically infected by a consortium of internal fungal associates, including endophytes in their leaves, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) in their roots. It is logical that these organisms will interact with each other and the abiotic environment in addition to their host, but there has been little work to date examining the interactions of multiple symbionts within single plant hosts, or how the relationships among symbionts and their host change across environmental conditions. We examined the grass Agrostis capillaris in the context of a climate manipulation experiment in prairies in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Each plant was tested for presence of foliar endophytes in the genus Epichloë, and we measured percent root length colonized (PRLC) by AMF and DSE. We hypothesized that the symbionts in our system would be in competition for host resources, that the outcome of that competition could be driven by the benefit to the host, and that the host plants would be able to allocate carbon to the symbionts in such a way as to maximize fitness benefit within a particular environmental context. We found a correlation between DSE and AMF PRLC across climatic conditions; we also found a fitness cost to increasing DSE colonization, which was negated by presence of Epichloë endophytes. These results suggest that selective pressure on the host is likely to favor host/symbiont relationships that structure the community of symbionts in the most beneficial way possible for the host, not necessarily favoring the individual symbiont that is most beneficial to the host in isolation. These results highlight the need for a more integrative, systems approach to the study of host/symbiont consortia.}, } @article {pmid26556489, year = {2015}, author = {Wagner, C and Hänsch, GM}, title = {[Pathophysiology of implant-associated infections: From biofilm to osteolysis and septic loosening].}, journal = {Der Orthopade}, volume = {44}, number = {12}, pages = {967-973}, pmid = {26556489}, issn = {1433-0431}, mesh = {Bacterial Infections/etiology/*microbiology/*physiopathology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Humans ; Osteolysis/*complications/microbiology/physiopathology ; Prosthesis Failure ; Prosthesis-Related Infections/etiology/*microbiology/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Biofilm formation is the key factor in the pathogenesis of implant-associated infections. The most common pathogens isolated are Staphylococcus species, opportunists belonging to the physiological flora of the skin. Biofilm formation starts with the adhesion of bacteria and colonisation preferentially occurs on the surfaces of the foreign body material. As an interactive symbiotic "city of microbes," biofilm formation represents an efficient survival strategy for bacteria. In clinically apparent infections the biofilm induces a local host response with infiltration of phagocytic immune cells. The proinflammatory microenvironment results in a stimulation of osteoclastogenesis, with local osteolysis, and finally septic loosening of the implant. According to the biofilm theory, retaining the implant in primary revision surgery is only recommended in early-stage infections with a stable implant; in late-stage infections, or when loosening occurs, the implant should be removed. Results of previous anti-biofilm therapies have not been satisfactory; therefore, current research is focused on prevention strategies, especially the modification of implant surfaces. Basic knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology is a prerequisite for the development of innovative interdisciplinary therapy and prevention strategies; in this context, essential aspects of biofilm formation, its consequences, and its relevance to diagnosis and therapy are described and discussed.}, } @article {pmid26556361, year = {2015}, author = {Johnson, KN}, title = {The Impact of Wolbachia on Virus Infection in Mosquitoes.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {5705-5717}, pmid = {26556361}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Animals ; Culicidae/*microbiology/*virology ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; Viruses/*growth & development ; Wolbachia/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue, West Nile and chikungunya viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality in human populations. Since current methods are not sufficient to control disease occurrence, novel methods to control transmission of arboviruses would be beneficial. Recent studies have shown that virus infection and transmission in insects can be impeded by co-infection with the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. Wolbachia is a maternally inherited endosymbiont that is commonly found in insects, including a number of mosquito vector species. In Drosophila, Wolbachia mediates antiviral protection against a broad range of RNA viruses. This discovery pointed to a potential strategy to interfere with mosquito transmission of arboviruses by artificially infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia. This review outlines research on the prevalence of Wolbachia in mosquito vector species and the impact of antiviral effects in both naturally and artificially Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid26556278, year = {2015}, author = {Moriyama, M and Nikoh, N and Hosokawa, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Riboflavin Provisioning Underlies Wolbachia's Fitness Contribution to Its Insect Host.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {e01732-15}, pmid = {26556278}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Insecta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Riboflavin/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia represent the most successful symbiotic bacteria in the terrestrial ecosystem. The success of Wolbachia has been ascribed to its remarkable phenotypic effects on host reproduction, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, whereby maternally inherited bacteria can spread in their host populations at the expense of their host's fitness. Meanwhile, recent theoretical as well as empirical studies have unveiled that weak and/or conditional positive fitness effects may significantly facilitate invasion and spread of Wolbachia infections in host populations. Here, we report a previously unrecognized nutritional aspect, the provision of riboflavin (vitamin B2), that potentially underpins the Wolbachia-mediated fitness benefit to insect hosts. A comparative genomic survey for synthetic capability of B vitamins revealed that only the synthesis pathway for riboflavin is highly conserved among diverse insect-associated Wolbachia strains, while the synthesis pathways for other B vitamins were either incomplete or absent. Molecular phylogenetic and genomic analyses of riboflavin synthesis genes from diverse Wolbachia strains revealed that, in general, their phylogenetic relationships are concordant with Wolbachia's genomic phylogeny, suggesting that the riboflavin synthesis genes have been stably maintained in the course of Wolbachia evolution. In rearing experiments with bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) on blood meals in which B vitamin contents were manipulated, we demonstrated that Wolbachia's riboflavin provisioning significantly contributes to growth, survival, and reproduction of the insect host. These results provide a physiological basis upon which Wolbachia-mediated positive fitness consequences are manifested and shed new light on the ecological and evolutionary relevance of Wolbachia infections.

IMPORTANCE: Conventionally, Wolbachia has been regarded as a parasitic bacterial endosymbiont that manipulates the host insect's reproduction in a selfish manner, which tends to affect a host's fitness negatively. Meanwhile, some theories predict that, at the same time, Wolbachia can directly affect the host's fitness positively, which may potentially reconcile the negative effect and facilitate spread and stability of the symbiotic association. Here we demonstrate, by using comparative genomic and experimental approaches, that among synthetic pathways for B vitamins, the synthetic pathway for riboflavin (vitamin B2) is exceptionally conserved among diverse insect-associated Wolbachia strains, and Wolbachia's riboflavin provisioning certainly contributes to growth, survival, and reproduction in an insect. These findings uncover a nutritional mechanism of a Wolbachia-mediated fitness benefit, which provides empirical evidence highlighting a "Jekyll and Hyde" aspect of Wolbachia infection.}, } @article {pmid26556271, year = {2015}, author = {Pudlo, NA and Urs, K and Kumar, SS and German, JB and Mills, DA and Martens, EC}, title = {Symbiotic Human Gut Bacteria with Variable Metabolic Priorities for Host Mucosal Glycans.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {e01282-15}, pmid = {26556271}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteroides/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*physiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Mucins/chemistry/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Many symbiotic gut bacteria possess the ability to degrade multiple polysaccharides, thereby providing nutritional advantages to their hosts. Like microorganisms adapted to other complex nutrient environments, gut symbionts give different metabolic priorities to substrates present in mixtures. We investigated the responses of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a common human intestinal bacterium that metabolizes more than a dozen different polysaccharides, including the O-linked glycans that are abundant in secreted mucin. Experiments in which mucin glycans were presented simultaneously with other carbohydrates show that degradation of these host carbohydrates is consistently repressed in the presence of alternative substrates, even by B. thetaiotaomicron previously acclimated to growth in pure mucin glycans. Experiments with media containing systematically varied carbohydrate cues and genetic mutants reveal that transcriptional repression of genes involved in mucin glycan metabolism is imposed by simple sugars and, in one example that was tested, is mediated through a small intergenic region in a transcript-autonomous fashion. Repression of mucin glycan-responsive gene clusters in two other human gut bacteria, Bacteroides massiliensis and Bacteroides fragilis, exhibited variable and sometimes reciprocal responses compared to those of B. thetaiotaomicron, revealing that these symbionts vary in their preference for mucin glycans and that these differences occur at the level of controlling individual gene clusters. Our results reveal that sensing and metabolic triaging of glycans are complex processes that vary among species, underscoring the idea that these phenomena are likely to be hidden drivers of microbiota community dynamics and may dictate which microorganisms preferentially commit to various niches in a constantly changing nutritional environment.

IMPORTANCE: Human intestinal microorganisms impact many aspects of health and disease, including digestion and the propensity to develop disorders such as inflammation and colon cancer. Complex carbohydrates are a major component of the intestinal habitat, and numerous species have evolved and refined strategies to compete for these coveted nutrients. Our findings reveal that individual bacteria exhibit different preferences for carbohydrates emanating from host diet and mucosal secretions and that some of these prioritization strategies are opposite to one another. Thus, we reveal new aspects of how individual bacteria, some with otherwise similar metabolic potential, partition to "preferred niches" in the complex gut ecosystem, which has important and immediate implications for understanding and predicting the behavioral dynamics of this community.}, } @article {pmid26555763, year = {2016}, author = {Huang, PJ and Kuo, CC and Lee, HC and Shen, CI and Cheng, FC and Wu, SF and Chang, JC and Pan, HC and Lin, SZ and Liu, CS and Su, HL}, title = {Transferring Xenogenic Mitochondria Provides Neural Protection Against Ischemic Stress in Ischemic Rat Brains.}, journal = {Cell transplantation}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {913-927}, doi = {10.3727/096368915X689785}, pmid = {26555763}, issn = {1555-3892}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/pathology ; Brain Ischemia/pathology/*therapy ; Cell Death/physiology ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Cricetinae ; Electron Transport/physiology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/pathology/*therapy ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Male ; Mitochondria/*transplantation ; Neurons/cytology ; Neuroprotection/*physiology ; Neuroprotective Agents/*therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; *Transplantation, Heterologous ; }, abstract = {Transferring exogenous mitochondria has therapeutic effects on damaged heart, liver, and lung tissues. Whether this protective effect requires the symbiosis of exogenous mitochondria in host cells remains unknown. Here xenogenic mitochondria derived from a hamster cell line were applied to ischemic rat brains and rat primary cortical neurons. Isolated hamster mitochondria, either through local intracerebral or systemic intra-arterial injection, significantly restored the motor performance of brain-ischemic rats. The brain infarct area and neuronal cell death were both attenuated by the exogenous mitochondria. Although internalized mitochondria could be observed in neurons and astrocytes, the low efficacy of mitochondrial internalization could not completely account for the high rate of rescue of the treated neural cells. We further illustrated that disrupting electron transport or ATPase synthase in mitochondria significantly attenuated the protective effect, suggesting that intact respiratory activity is essential for the mitochondrial potency on neural protection. These results emphasize that nonsymbiotic extracellular mitochondria can provide an effective cell defense against acute injurious ischemic stress in the central nervous system.}, } @article {pmid26555464, year = {2015}, author = {Markov, EY and Kulikalova, ES and Urbanovich, LY and Vishnyakov, VS and Balakhonov, SV}, title = {Chitin and Products of Its Hydrolysis in Vibrio cholerae Ecology.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {80}, number = {9}, pages = {1109-1116}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297915090023}, pmid = {26555464}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Chitin/*metabolism ; Chitinases/*physiology ; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Humans ; Vibrio cholerae/pathogenicity/*physiology ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The role of chitin and its hydrolysis products generated by Vibrio cholerae chitinases in mechanisms of its adaptation in water environments, metabolism, preservation, acquisition of pathogenic potential, and its epidemiological value are reviewed. Chitin utilization by V. cholerae as a source of energy, carbon, and nitrogen is described. Chitin association promotes biofilm formation on natural chitinous surfaces, increasing V. cholerae resistance to adverse factors in ecological niches: the human body and water environments with its inhabitants. Hydrolytic enzymes regulated by the corresponding genes result in complete chitin biodegradation by a chitinolytic catabolic cascade. Consequences of V. cholerae cell and chitin interaction at different hierarchical levels include metabolic and physiological cell reactions such as chemotaxis, cell division, biofilm formation, induction of genetic competence, and commensalic and symbiotic mutual relations with higher organisms, nutrient cycle, pathogenicity for humans, and water organisms that is an example of successful interrelation of bacteria and substratum in the ecology of the microorganism.}, } @article {pmid26555273, year = {2015}, author = {Khan, MH and Meghvansi, MK and Gupta, R and Veer, V}, title = {Elemental stoichiometry indicates predominant influence of potassium and phosphorus limitation on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in acidic soil at high altitude.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {105-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2015.10.005}, pmid = {26555273}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Altitude ; Capsicum/*microbiology/physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*deficiency ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The functioning of high-altitude agro-ecosystems is constrained by the harsh environmental conditions, such as low temperatures, acidic soil, and low nutrient supply. It is therefore imperative to investigate the site-specific ecological stoichiometry with respect to AM symbiosis in order to maximize the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) benefits for the plants in such ecosystems. Here, we assess the elemental stoichiometry of four Capsicum genotypes grown on acidic soil at high altitude in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Further, we try to identify the predominant resource limitations influencing the symbioses of different Capsicum genotypes with the AM fungi. Foliar and soil elemental stoichiometric relations of Capsicum genotypes were evaluated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization and occurrence under field conditions. AM fungal diversity in rhizosphere, was estimated through PCR-DGGE profiling. Results demonstrated that the symbiotic interaction of various Capsicum genotypes with the AM fungi in acidic soil was not prominent in the study site as evident from the low range of root colonization (21-43.67%). In addition, despite the rich availability of carbon in plant leaves as well as in soil, the carbon-for-phosphorus trade between AMF and plants appeared to be limited. Our results provide strong evidences of predominant influence of the potassium-limitation, in addition to phosphorus-limitation, on AM symbiosis with Capsicum in acidic soil at high altitude. We also conclude that the potassium should be considered in addition to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in further studies investigating the stoichiometric relationships with the AMF symbioses in high altitude agro-ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26555246, year = {2016}, author = {Hester, ER and Barott, KL and Nulton, J and Vermeij, MJ and Rohwer, FL}, title = {Stable and sporadic symbiotic communities of coral and algal holobionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {1157-1169}, pmid = {26555246}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Archaea/*classification ; Bacteria/classification ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; Environment ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/classification ; *Microbiota ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Viruses/classification ; }, abstract = {Coral and algal holobionts are assemblages of macroorganisms and microorganisms, including viruses, Bacteria, Archaea, protists and fungi. Despite a decade of research, it remains unclear whether these associations are spatial-temporally stable or species-specific. We hypothesized that conflicting interpretations of the data arise from high noise associated with sporadic microbial symbionts overwhelming signatures of stable holobiont members. To test this hypothesis, the bacterial communities associated with three coral species (Acropora rosaria, Acropora hyacinthus and Porites lutea) and two algal guilds (crustose coralline algae and turf algae) from 131 samples were analyzed using a novel statistical approach termed the Abundance-Ubiquity (AU) test. The AU test determines whether a given bacterial species would be present given additional sampling effort (that is, stable) versus those species that are sporadically associated with a sample. Using the AU test, we show that coral and algal holobionts have a high-diversity group of stable symbionts. Stable symbionts are not exclusive to one species of coral or algae. No single bacterial species was ubiquitously associated with one host, showing that there is not strict heredity of the microbiome. In addition to the stable symbionts, there was a low-diversity community of sporadic symbionts whose abundance varied widely across individual holobionts of the same species. Identification of these two symbiont communities supports the holobiont model and calls into question the hologenome theory of evolution.}, } @article {pmid26553640, year = {2015}, author = {Dyakov, MY and Insarova, ID and Kharabadze, DE and Ptushenko, VV and Shtaer, OV}, title = {Influence of extreme ambient temperatures and anaerobic conditions on Peltigera aphthosa (L.) Willd. viability.}, journal = {Life sciences in space research}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {66-72}, doi = {10.1016/j.lssr.2015.10.002}, pmid = {26553640}, issn = {2214-5532}, mesh = {Anaerobic Threshold ; Anaerobiosis ; *Ascomycota ; Chlorophyta ; Fluorescence ; Lichens ; Microbial Viability ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Lichen are symbiotic systems constituted by heterotrophic fungi (mycobionts) and photosynthetic microorganism (photobionts). These organisms can survive under extreme stress conditions. The aim of this work was to study the influence of low (-70 °C) or high (+70 °C) temperatures, temperature fluctuations from +70 °C to -70 °C, and anaerobic conditions on P. aphthosa (L.) Willd. viability. None of the studied stress factors affected significantly photosynthetic and respiratory activity of the thalli. No changes in morphology or ultrastructure of the cells were revealed for both photobiont and mycobiont components after extreme temperature treatment of P. aphthosa thalli. The data show the extreme tolerance of P. aphthosa to some stress factors inherent to the space flight conditions.}, } @article {pmid26552915, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, M and Bezemer, TM and van der Putten, WH and Biere, A}, title = {Effects of the Timing of Herbivory on Plant Defense Induction and Insect Performance in Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) Depend on Plant Mycorrhizal Status.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {41}, number = {11}, pages = {1006-1017}, pmid = {26552915}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Herbivory ; Larva/growth & development/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plantago/*microbiology/*physiology ; Spodoptera/growth & development/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Plants often are exposed to antagonistic and symbiotic organisms both aboveground and belowground. Interactions between above- and belowground organisms may occur either simultaneously or sequentially, and jointly can determine plant responses to future enemies. However, little is known about time-dependency of such aboveground-belowground interactions. We examined how the timing of a 24 h period of aboveground herbivory by Spodoptera exigua (1-8 d prior to later arriving conspecifics) influenced the response of Plantago lanceolata and the performance of later arriving conspecifics. We also examined whether these induced responses were modulated by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Funneliformis mosseae. The amount of leaf area consumed by later arriving herbivores decreased with time after induction by early herbivores. Mycorrhizal infection reduced the relative growth rate (RGR) of later arriving herbivores, associated with a reduction in efficiency of conversion of ingested food rather than a reduction in relative consumption rates. In non-mycorrhizal plants, leaf concentrations of the defense compound catalpol showed a linear two-fold increase during the eight days following early herbivory. By contrast, mycorrhizal plants already had elevated levels of leaf catalpol prior to their exposure to early herbivory and did not show any further increase following herbivory. These results indicate that AMF resulted in a systemic induction, rather than priming of these defenses. AMF infection significantly reduced shoot biomass of Plantago lanceolata. We conclude that plant responses to future herbivores are not only influenced by exposure to prior aboveground and belowground organisms, but also by when these prior organisms arrive and interact.}, } @article {pmid26552373, year = {2015}, author = {Hanning, I and Diaz-Sanchez, S}, title = {The functionality of the gastrointestinal microbiome in non-human animals.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {51}, pmid = {26552373}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Environment ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Metagenome ; }, abstract = {Due to the significance of the microbiome on human health, much of the current data available regarding microbiome functionality is centered on human medicine. For agriculturally important taxa, the functionality of gastrointestinal bacteria has been studied with the primary goals of improving animal health and production performance. With respect to cattle, the digestive functions of bacteria in cattle are unarguably critical to digestion and positively impact production performance. Conversely, some research suggests that the gastrointestinal microbiome in chickens competes with the host for nutrients and produces toxins that can harm the host resulting in decreased growth efficiency. Concerning many other species including reptiles and cetaceans, some cataloging of fecal bacteria has been conducted, but the functionality within the host remains ambiguous. These taxa could provide interesting gastrointestinal insight into functionality and symbiosis considering the extreme feeding regimes (snakes), highly specialized diets (vampire bats), and living environments (polar bears), which warrants further exploration.}, } @article {pmid26551890, year = {2015}, author = {Wu, S and Zhang, X and Sun, Y and Wu, Z and Li, T and Hu, Y and Su, D and Lv, J and Li, G and Zhang, Z and Zheng, L and Zhang, J and Chen, B}, title = {Transformation and Immobilization of Chromium by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as Revealed by SEM-EDS, TEM-EDS, and XAFS.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {49}, number = {24}, pages = {14036-14047}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5b03659}, pmid = {26551890}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Chromium/analysis/metabolism/*pharmacokinetics ; Daucus carota/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Histidine/chemistry/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Phosphates/chemistry ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/metabolism/*pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Symbiosis ; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy/methods ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), ubiquitous soil fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the majority of terrestrial plants, are known to play an important role in plant tolerance to chromium (Cr) contamination. However, the underlying mechanisms, especially the direct influences of AMF on the translocation and transformation of Cr in the soil-plant continuum, are still unresolved. In a two-compartment root-organ cultivation system, the extraradical mycelium (ERM) of mycorrhizal roots was treated with 0.05 mmol L(-1) Cr(VI) for 12 days to investigate the uptake, translocation, and transformation of Cr(VI) by AMF using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), and X-ray-absorption fine structure (XAFS) technologies. The results indicated that AMF can immobilize quantities of Cr via reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), forming Cr(III)-phosphate analogues, likely on the fungal surface. Besides this, we also confirmed that the extraradical mycelium (ERM) can actively take up Cr [either in the form of Cr(VI) or Cr(III)] and transport Cr [potentially in the form of Cr(III)-histidine analogues] to mycorrhizal roots but immobilize most of the Cr(III) in the fungal structures. Based on an X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy analysis of Cr(VI)-treated roots, we proposed that the intraradical fungal structures can also immobilize Cr within mycorrhizal roots. Our findings confirmed the immobilization of Cr by AMF, which plays an essential role in the Cr(VI) tolerance of AM symbioses.}, } @article {pmid26549314, year = {2016}, author = {Shantz, AA and Lemoine, NP and Burkepile, DE}, title = {Nutrient loading alters the performance of key nutrient exchange mutualisms.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {20-28}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12538}, pmid = {26549314}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Carbon Cycle ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Phototrophic Processes ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nutrient exchange mutualisms between phototrophs and heterotrophs, such as plants and mycorrhizal fungi or symbiotic algae and corals, underpin the functioning of many ecosystems. These relationships structure communities, promote biodiversity and help maintain food security. Nutrient loading may destabilise these mutualisms by altering the costs and benefits each partner incurs from interacting. Using meta-analyses, we show a near ubiquitous decoupling in mutualism performance across terrestrial and marine environments in which phototrophs benefit from enrichment at the expense of their heterotrophic partners. Importantly, heterotroph identity, their dependence on phototroph-derived C and the type of nutrient enrichment (e.g. nitrogen vs. phosphorus) mediated the responses of different mutualisms to enrichment. Nutrient-driven changes in mutualism performance may alter community organisation and ecosystem processes and increase costs of food production. Consequently, the decoupling of nutrient exchange mutualisms via alterations of the world's nitrogen and phosphorus cycles may represent an emerging threat of global change.}, } @article {pmid26547794, year = {2016}, author = {Berg, G and Rybakova, D and Grube, M and Köberl, M}, title = {The plant microbiome explored: implications for experimental botany.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {67}, number = {4}, pages = {995-1002}, pmid = {26547794}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {J 3638/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Botany/*trends ; *Microbiota ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The importance of microbial root inhabitants for plant growth and health was recognized as early as 100 years ago. Recent insights reveal a close symbiotic relationship between plants and their associated microorganisms, and high structural and functional diversity within plant microbiomes. Plants provide microbial communities with specific habitats, which can be broadly categorized as the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere. Plant-associated microbes interact with their host in essential functional contexts. They can stimulate germination and growth, help plants fend off disease, promote stress resistance, and influence plant fitness. Therefore, plants have to be considered as metaorganisms within which the associated microbes usually outnumber the cells belonging to the plant host. The structure of the plant microbiome is determined by biotic and abiotic factors but follows ecological rules. Metaorganisms are co-evolved species assemblages. The metabolism and morphology of plants and their microbiota are intensively connected with each other, and the interplay of both maintains the functioning and fitness of the holobiont. Our study of the current literature shows that analysis of plant microbiome data has brought about a paradigm shift in our understanding of the diverse structure and functioning of the plant microbiome with respect to the following: (i) the high interplay of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists; (ii) the high specificity even at cultivar level; (iii) the vertical transmission of core microbiomes; (iv) the extraordinary function of endophytes; and (v) several unexpected functions and metabolic interactions. The plant microbiome should be recognized as an additional factor in experimental botany and breeding strategies.}, } @article {pmid26546782, year = {2015}, author = {Dhawi, F and Datta, R and Ramakrishna, W}, title = {Mycorrhiza and PGPB modulate maize biomass, nutrient uptake and metabolic pathways in maize grown in mining-impacted soil.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {390-399}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.10.028}, pmid = {26546782}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Elements ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolome ; *Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil/chemistry ; Zea mays/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Abiotic stress factors including poor nutrient content and heavy metal contamination in soil, can limit plant growth and productivity. The main goal of our study was to evaluate element uptake, biomass and metabolic responses in maize roots growing in mining-impacted soil with the combination of arbuscular mycorrhiza (My) and plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB/B). Maize plants subjected to PGPB, My and combined treatments showed a significant increase in biomass and uptake of some elements in shoot and root. Metabolite analysis identified 110 compounds that were affected ≥2-fold compared to control, with 69 metabolites upregulated in the My group, 53 metabolites in the My+B group and 47 metabolites in B group. Pathway analysis showed that impact on glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism was common between My and My+B groups, whereas PGPB group showed a unique effect on fatty acid biosynthesis with significant increase in palmitic acid and stearic acid. Differential regulation of some metabolites by mycorrhizal treatment correlated with root biomass while PGPB regulated metabolites correlated with biomass increase in shoot. Overall, the combination of rhizospheric microorganisms used in our study significantly increased maize nutrient uptake and growth relative to control. The changes in metabolic pathways identified during the symbiotic interaction will improve our understanding of mechanisms involved in rhizospheric interactions that are responsible for increased growth and nutrient uptake in crop plants.}, } @article {pmid26546365, year = {2016}, author = {Almeida-Rodríguez, AM and Gómes, MP and Loubert-Hudon, A and Joly, S and Labrecque, M}, title = {Symbiotic association between Salix purpurea L. and Rhizophagus irregularis: modulation of plant responses under copper stress.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {407-420}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpv119}, pmid = {26546365}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Copper/*metabolism ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Salix/growth & development/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {There are increasing concerns about trace metal levels such as copper (Cu) in industrial sites and the broader environment. Different studies have highlighted the role of mycorrhizal associations in plant tolerance to trace metals, modulating some of the plant metabolic and physiological responses. In this study, we investigated the role of the symbiotic association betweenRhizophagus irregularisandSalix purpureaL. in modulating plant responses under Cu stress. We measured Cu accumulation, oxidative stress-related, photosynthetic-related and hydraulic traits, for non-inoculated (non-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and inoculated saplings exposed to different Cu concentrations. We found thatS. purpureais a suitable option for phytoremediation of Cu, acting as a phytostabilizer of this trace metal in its root system. We observed that the symbiotic association modulates a broad spectrum of metabolic and physiological responses inS. purpureaunder Cu conditions, including (i) a reduction in gas exchange associated with chlorophyll content changes and (ii) the sequestration of Cu into the cell walls, modifying vessels anatomy and impacting leaf specific conductivity (KL) and root hydraulic conductance (LP). UpholdingKLandLPunder Cu stress might be related to a dynamic Aquaporin gene regulation ofPIP1;2along with an up-regulation ofTIP2;2in the roots of inoculatedS. purpurea.}, } @article {pmid26544881, year = {2015}, author = {Johnston, PR and Rolff, J}, title = {Host and Symbiont Jointly Control Gut Microbiota during Complete Metamorphosis.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {e1005246}, pmid = {26544881}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Holometabolous insects undergo a radical anatomical re-organisation during metamorphosis. This poses a developmental challenge: the host must replace the larval gut but at the same time retain symbiotic gut microbes and avoid infection by opportunistic pathogens. By manipulating host immunity and bacterial competitive ability, we study how the host Galleria mellonella and the symbiotic bacterium Enterococcus mundtii interact to manage the composition of the microbiota during metamorphosis. Disenabling one or both symbiotic partners alters the composition of the gut microbiota, which incurs fitness costs: adult hosts with a gut microbiota dominated by pathogens such as Serratia and Staphylococcus die early. Our results reveal an interaction that guarantees the safe passage of the symbiont through metamorphosis and benefits the resulting adult host. Host-symbiont "conspiracies" as described here are almost certainly widespread in holometobolous insects including many disease vectors.}, } @article {pmid26542574, year = {2015}, author = {Lin, S and Cheng, S and Song, B and Zhong, X and Lin, X and Li, W and Li, L and Zhang, Y and Zhang, H and Ji, Z and Cai, M and Zhuang, Y and Shi, X and Lin, L and Wang, L and Wang, Z and Liu, X and Yu, S and Zeng, P and Hao, H and Zou, Q and Chen, C and Li, Y and Wang, Y and Xu, C and Meng, S and Xu, X and Wang, J and Yang, H and Campbell, DA and Sturm, NR and Dagenais-Bellefeuille, S and Morse, D}, title = {The Symbiodinium kawagutii genome illuminates dinoflagellate gene expression and coral symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {350}, number = {6261}, pages = {691-694}, doi = {10.1126/science.aad0408}, pmid = {26542574}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {AI056034/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI073806/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Targeting ; *Genome, Protozoan ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are important components of marine ecosystems and essential coral symbionts, yet little is known about their genomes. We report here on the analysis of a high-quality assembly from the 1180-megabase genome of Symbiodinium kawagutii. We annotated protein-coding genes and identified Symbiodinium-specific gene families. No whole-genome duplication was observed, but instead we found active (retro)transposition and gene family expansion, especially in processes important for successful symbiosis with corals. We also documented genes potentially governing sexual reproduction and cyst formation, novel promoter elements, and a microRNA system potentially regulating gene expression in both symbiont and coral. We found biochemical complementarity between genomes of S. kawagutii and the anthozoan Acropora, indicative of host-symbiont coevolution, providing a resource for studying the molecular basis and evolution of coral symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26541672, year = {2016}, author = {Ng, HM and Kin, LX and Dashper, SG and Slakeski, N and Butler, CA and Reynolds, EC}, title = {Bacterial interactions in pathogenic subgingival plaque.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {60-69}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2015.10.022}, pmid = {26541672}, issn = {1096-1208}, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/physiology ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Chemotaxis/physiology ; Chronic Periodontitis/microbiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Dental Plaque/*microbiology ; Gingiva/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; Periodontal Pocket/microbiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tannerella forsythia/*growth & development ; Treponema denticola/*physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Chronic periodontitis has a polymicrobial biofilm aetiology. Polymicrobial biofilms are complex, dynamic microbial communities formed by two or more bacterial species that are important for the persistence and proliferation of participating microbes in the environment. Interspecies adherence, which often involves bacterial surface-associated molecules, and communications are essential in the spatial and temporal development of a polymicrobial biofilm, which in turn is necessary for the overall fitness of a well-organized multispecies biofilm community. In the oral cavity, interactions between key oral bacterial species, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, are essential for the progression of chronic periodontitis. In vivo, P. gingivalis and T. denticola are frequently found to co-exist in deep periodontal pockets and have been co-localized to the superficial layers of subgingival plaque as microcolony blooms adjacent to the pocket epithelium, suggesting possible interbacterial interactions that contribute towards disease. The motility and chemotactic ability of T. denticola, although not considered as classic virulence factors, are likely to be important in the synergistic biofilm formation with P. gingivalis. In vitro, P. gingivalis and T. denticola display a symbiotic relationship in nutrient utilization and growth promotion. Together these data suggest there is an intimate relationship between these two species that has evolved to enhance their survival and virulence.}, } @article {pmid26541655, year = {2015}, author = {Borges-Canha, M and Portela-Cidade, JP and Dinis-Ribeiro, M and Leite-Moreira, AF and Pimentel-Nunes, P}, title = {Role of colonic microbiota in colorectal carcinogenesis: a systematic review.}, journal = {Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas}, volume = {107}, number = {11}, pages = {659-671}, doi = {10.17235/reed.2015.3830/2015}, pmid = {26541655}, issn = {1130-0108}, mesh = {Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Colon/*microbiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology ; Dysbiosis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIM: The human colonic mucosa is populated by a wide range of microorganisms, usually in a symbiotic relation with the host. Sometimes this balance is lost and a state of dysbiosis arises, exposing the colon to different metabolic and inflammatory stimuli (according to the microbiota's changing profile). Recent findings lead to hypothesize that this unbalance may create a subclinical pro-inflammatory state that increases DNA mutations and, therefore, colorectal carcinogenesis. In this article we aim to systematically review the scientific evidence regarding colonic microbiota and its role in colorectal carcinogenesis.

METHODS: Systematic review of PubMed searching results for original articles studying microbiota and colorectal cancer until November 2014.

RESULTS: Thirty-one original articles studied the role of colon microbiota in colorectal carcinoma including both human and animal studies. Different and heterogeneous methods were used and different bacteria were considered. Nevertheless, some bacteria are consistently augmented (such as Fusobacteria, Alistipes, Porphyromonadaceae, Coriobacteridae, Staphylococcaceae, Akkermansia spp. and Methanobacteriales), while other are constantly diminished in colorectal cancer (such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium spp., Roseburia, and Treponema). Moreover, bacteria metabolites amino acids are increased and butyrate is decreased throughout colonic carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSION: Conclusive evidence shows that colorectal carcinogenesis is associated with microbial dysbiosis. This information may be used to create new prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer.}, } @article {pmid26540237, year = {2015}, author = {Campos, C and Cardoso, H and Nogales, A and Svensson, J and Lopez-Ráez, JA and Pozo, MJ and Nobre, T and Schneider, C and Arnholdt-Schmitt, B}, title = {Intra and Inter-Spore Variability in Rhizophagus irregularis AOX Gene.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0142339}, pmid = {26540237}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Mitochondrial Proteins/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants/*genetics/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are root-inhabiting fungi that form mutualistic symbioses with their host plants. AMF symbiosis improves nutrient uptake and buffers the plant against a diversity of stresses. Rhizophagus irregularis is one of the most widespread AMF species in the world, and its application in agricultural systems for yield improvement has increased over the last years. Still, from the inoculum production perspective, a lack of consistency of inoculum quality is referred to, which partially may be due to a high genetic variability of the fungus. The alternative oxidase (AOX) is an enzyme of the alternative respiratory chain already described in different taxa, including various fungi, which decreases the damage caused by oxidative stress. Nevertheless, virtually nothing is known on the involvement of AMF AOX on symbiosis establishment, as well on the existence of AOX variability that could affect AMF effectiveness and consequently plant performance. Here, we report the isolation and characterisation of the AOX gene of R. irregularis (RiAOX), and show that it is highly expressed during early phases of the symbiosis with plant roots. Phylogenetic analysis clustered RiAOX sequence with ancient fungi, and multiple sequence alignment revealed the lack of several regulatory motifs which are present in plant AOX. The analysis of RiAOX polymorphisms in single spores of three different isolates showed a reduced variability in one spore relatively to a group of spores. A high number of polymorphisms occurred in introns; nevertheless, some putative amino acid changes resulting from non-synonymous variants were found, offering a basis for selective pressure to occur within the populations. Given the AOX relatedness with stress responses, differences in gene variants amongst R. irregularis isolates are likely to be related with its origin and environmental constraints and might have a potential impact on inoculum production.}, } @article {pmid26540162, year = {2015}, author = {Fan, B and Li, L and Chao, Y and Förstner, K and Vogel, J and Borriss, R and Wu, XQ}, title = {dRNA-Seq Reveals Genomewide TSSs and Noncoding RNAs of Plant Beneficial Rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e0142002}, pmid = {26540162}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacillus/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; RNA, Untranslated/*genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Initiation Site/physiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum FZB42 is a representative of Gram-positive plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that inhabit plant root environments. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms of bacteria-plant symbiosis, we have systematically analyzed the primary transcriptome of strain FZB42 grown under rhizosphere-mimicking conditions using differential RNA sequencing (dRNA-seq). Our analysis revealed 4,877 transcription start sites for protein-coding genes, identified genes differentially expressed under different growth conditions, and corrected many previously mis-annotated genes. We also identified a large number of riboswitches and cis-encoded antisense RNAs, as well as trans-encoded small noncoding RNAs that may play important roles in the gene regulation of Bacillus. Overall, our analyses provided a landscape of Bacillus primary transcriptome and improved the knowledge of rhizobacteria-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid26539201, year = {2015}, author = {Taudiere, A and Munoz, F and Lesne, A and Monnet, AC and Bellanger, JM and Selosse, MA and Moreau, PA and Richard, F}, title = {Beyond ectomycorrhizal bipartite networks: projected networks demonstrate contrasted patterns between early- and late-successional plants in Corsica.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {881}, pmid = {26539201}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis connects mutualistic plants and fungal species into bipartite networks. While links between one focal ECM plant and its fungal symbionts have been widely documented, systemic views of ECM networks are lacking, in particular, concerning the ability of fungal species to mediate indirect ecological interactions between ECM plant species (projected-ECM networks). We assembled a large dataset of plant-fungi associations at the species level and at the scale of Corsica using molecular data and unambiguously host-assigned records to: (i) examine the correlation between the number of fungal symbionts of a plant species and the average specialization of these fungal species, (ii) explore the structure of the plant-plant projected network and (iii) compare plant association patterns in regard to their position along the ecological succession. Our analysis reveals no trade-off between specialization of plants and specialization of their partners and a saturation of the plant projected network. Moreover, there is a significantly lower-than-expected sharing of partners between early- and late-successional plant species, with fewer fungal partners for early-successional ones and similar average specialization of symbionts of early- and late-successional plants. Our work paves the way for ecological readings of Mediterranean landscapes that include the astonishing diversity of below-ground interactions.}, } @article {pmid26539040, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, CS and Jo, JW and Kwag, YN and Sung, GH and Lee, SG and Kim, SY and Shin, CH and Han, SK}, title = {Mushroom Flora of Ulleung-gun and a Newly Recorded Bovista Species in the Republic of Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {239-257}, pmid = {26539040}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {We conducted five times surveys, in June, September and October in 2012; June and September 2013, to catalog the mushroom flora in Ulleung-gun, Republic of Korea. More than 400 specimens were collected, and 317 of the specimens were successfully sequenced using the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer barcode marker. We also surveyed the morphological characteristics of the sequenced specimens. The specimens were classified into 2 phyla, 7 classes, 21 orders, 59 families, 122 genera, and 221 species, and were deposited in the herbarium of Korea National Arboretum. Among the collected species, 72% were saprophytic, 25% were symbiotic, and 3% were parasitic. The most common order was Agaricales (189 specimens, 132 species), followed by Polyporales (47 specimens, 27 species), Russulales (31 specimens, 22 species), Boletales (10 specimens, 7 species), and so on. Herein, we also reported the first Bovista species in Korea, which was collected from Dokdo, the far-eastern island of Korea.}, } @article {pmid26534982, year = {2015}, author = {Lopez-Obando, M and Ligerot, Y and Bonhomme, S and Boyer, FD and Rameau, C}, title = {Strigolactone biosynthesis and signaling in plant development.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {142}, number = {21}, pages = {3615-3619}, doi = {10.1242/dev.120006}, pmid = {26534982}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Lactones/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Proteolysis ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), first identified for their role in parasitic and symbiotic interactions in the rhizosphere, constitute the most recently discovered group of plant hormones. They are best known for their role in shoot branching but, more recently, roles for SLs in other aspects of plant development have emerged. In the last five years, insights into the SL biosynthetic pathway have also been revealed and several key components of the SL signaling pathway have been identified. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we summarize our current understanding of the SL pathway and discuss how this pathway regulates plant development.}, } @article {pmid26531326, year = {2015}, author = {Neves, AL and Chilloux, J and Sarafian, MH and Rahim, MB and Boulangé, CL and Dumas, ME}, title = {The microbiome and its pharmacological targets: therapeutic avenues in cardiometabolic diseases.}, journal = {Current opinion in pharmacology}, volume = {25}, number = {}, pages = {36-44}, doi = {10.1016/j.coph.2015.09.013}, pmid = {26531326}, issn = {1471-4973}, support = {MR/M501797/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Indoles/*metabolism ; Metabolic Syndrome/diet therapy/*drug therapy/*metabolism/microbiology ; Methylamines/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; }, abstract = {Consisting of trillions of non-pathogenic bacteria living in a symbiotic relationship with their mammalian host, the gut microbiota has emerged in the past decades as one of the key drivers for cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). By degrading dietary substrates, the gut microbiota produces several metabolites that bind human pharmacological targets, impact subsequent signalling networks and in fine modulate host's metabolism. In this review, we revisit the pharmacological relevance of four classes of gut microbial metabolites in CMD: short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), bile acids, methylamines and indoles. Unravelling the signalling mechanisms of the microbial-mammalian metabolic axis adds one more layer of complexity to the physiopathology of CMD and opens new avenues for the development of microbiota-based pharmacological therapies.}, } @article {pmid26529571, year = {2015}, author = {Martins, E and Santos, RS and Bettencourt, R}, title = {Vibrio diabolicus challenge in Bathymodiolus azoricus populations from Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent sites.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {962-977}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2015.10.038}, pmid = {26529571}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Azores ; Hydrothermal Vents ; *Immunity, Innate ; Mytilidae/*genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Organ Specificity ; *Transcriptome ; Vibrio/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Menez Gwen (MG) and Lucky Strike (LS) deep-sea hydrothermal vents are located at 850 m and 1730 m depths respectively and support chemosynthesis-based ecosystems partially differing in heavy metal concentration, temperature range, and faunistic composition. The successfully adapted deep-sea vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus is found at both vent locations. In such inhospitable environments survival strategies rely on the establishment of bacteria-vent animal symbiosis In spite of the toxic nature of deep-sea vents, the problem of microbial threat and the need for immunity exist in B. azoricus. This study aims at investigating the immune system of B. azoricus from MG and LS populations by comparing immune gene expressions profiles using the deep-sea vent-related Vibrio diabolicus. Expression of nineteen immune genes was analyzed from gill, digestive gland and mantle tissues upon 3 h, 12 h and 24 h V. diabolicus challenges. Based on quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) significant gene expression differences were found among MG and LS populations and challenge times MG mussels revealed that gill and digestive gland gene expression levels were remarkably higher than those from LS mussels. Expression of Carcinolectin, Serpin-2, SRCR, IRGs, RTK, TLR2, NF-κB, HSP70 and Ferritin genes was greater in MG than LS mussels. In contrast, mantle tissue from LS mussels revealed the highest peak of expression at 24 h for most genes analyzed. The activation of immune signaling pathways demonstrated that gene expression profiles are distinct between the two mussel populations. These differences may possibly ensue from intrinsic immune transcriptional activities upon which host responses are modulated in presence of V. diabolicus. mRNA transcript variations were assessed during 24 h acclimatization taking into account the partial depuration to which mussels were subjected to. Additionally, gene expression differences may reflect still accountable effects from the presence of vent remaining microfluidic environments within the tissues analyzed.}, } @article {pmid26529380, year = {2015}, author = {Lukito, Y and Chujo, T and Scott, B}, title = {Molecular and cellular analysis of the pH response transcription factor PacC in the fungal symbiont Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {85}, number = {}, pages = {25-37}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2015.10.008}, pmid = {26529380}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Epichloe/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyphae ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In order to survive and adapt to the environment, it is imperative for fungi to be able to sense and respond to changes in extracellular pH conditions. In ascomycetes, sensing of extracellular pH is mediated by the Pal pathway resulting in activation of the PacC transcription factor at alkaline pH. The role of PacC in regulating fungal virulence and pathogenicity has been described in several pathogenic fungi but to date not in a symbiotic fungus. Epichloë festucae is a biotrophic fungal endophyte that forms a stable mutualistic interaction with Lolium perenne. In this study, pacC deletion (ΔpacC) and dominant active (pacC(C)) mutants were generated in order to study the cellular roles of PacC in E. festucae. Deletion of pacC resulted in increased sensitivity of the mutant to salt-stress but surprisingly did not affect the ability of the mutant to grow under alkaline pH conditions. Alkaline pH was observed to induce conidiation in wild-type E. festucae but not in the ΔpacC mutant. On the other hand the pacC(C) mutant had increased conidiation at neutral pH alone. Null pacC mutants had no effect on the symbiotic interaction with ryegrass plants whereas the pacC(C) mutant increased the tiller number. Examination of the growth of the pacC(C) mutant in the plant revealed the formation of aberrant convoluted hyphal structures and an increase in hyphal breakage, which are possible reasons for the altered host interaction phenotype.}, } @article {pmid26529094, year = {2016}, author = {Ouaryi, A and Boularbah, A and Sanguin, H and Hafidi, M and Baudoin, E and Ouahmane, L and Le Roux, C and Galiana, A and Prin, Y and Duponnois, R}, title = {High potential of symbiotic interactions between native mycorrhizal fungi and the exotic tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis for phytostabilization of metal-contaminated arid soils.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {41-47}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2015.1058335}, pmid = {26529094}, issn = {1549-7879}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Eucalyptus/*metabolism ; Introduced Species ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Mining ; Morocco ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Waste dumps generated by mining activities contain heavy metals that are dispersed into areas leading to significant environmental contamination. The objectives of this study were (i) to survey native plants and their associated AM fungal communities from waste soils in a Moroccan mine site and (ii) to follow Eucalyptus growth in soil collected from the waste-mine. AM spores from native plant species were collected from the mining site and the surrounding uncontaminated areas were multiplied and inoculated onto Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The results showed that (i) the native plant species recorded in the waste did not show an active metal uptake, (ii) the selected native plant species are associated with AM mycorrhizal fungi and (iii) the use of AM fungi adapted to these drastic conditions can improve the growth of the fast-growing tree, E. camaldulensis and its tolerance to high soil Cu content. In conclusion, it is suggested that in order to define efficient low-cost phytostabilization processes, the use of native resources (i.e., mixtures of native mycorrhizal fungi) in combination with fast-growing tree species such as Eucalyptus, could be used to optimize the establishment of a permanent cover plant in contaminated areas.}, } @article {pmid26528320, year = {2015}, author = {Ghnaya, T and Mnassri, M and Ghabriche, R and Wali, M and Poschenrieder, C and Lutts, S and Abdelly, C}, title = {Nodulation by Sinorhizobium meliloti originated from a mining soil alleviates Cd toxicity and increases Cd-phytoextraction in Medicago sativa L.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {863}, pmid = {26528320}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Besides their role in nitrogen supply to the host plants as a result of symbiotic N fixation, the association between legumes and Rhizobium could be useful for the rehabilitation of metal-contaminated soils by phytoextraction. A major limitation presents the metal-sensitivity of the bacterial strains. The aim of this work was to explore the usefulness of Sinorhizobium meliloti originated from a mining site for Cd phytoextraction by Medicago sativa. Inoculated and non-inoculated plants were cultivated for 60 d on soils containing 50 and/or 100 mg Cd kg(-1) soil. The inoculation hindered the occurrence of Cd- induced toxicity symptoms that appeared in the shoots of non-inoculated plants. This positive effect of S. meliloti colonization was accompanied by an increase in biomass production and improved nutrient acquisition comparatively to non-inoculated plants. Nodulation enhanced Cd absorption by the roots and Cd translocation to the shoots. The increase of plant biomass concomitantly with the increase of Cd shoot concentration in inoculated plants led to higher potential of Cd-phytoextraction in these plants. In the presence of 50 mg Cd kg(-1) in the soil, the amounts of Cd extracted in the shoots were 58 and 178 μg plant(-1) in non-inoculated and inoculated plants, respectively. This study demonstrates that this association M. sativa-S. meliloti may be an efficient biological system to extract Cd from contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid26528269, year = {2015}, author = {Iglesias, V and de Groot, NS and Ventura, S}, title = {Computational analysis of candidate prion-like proteins in bacteria and their role.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1123}, pmid = {26528269}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Prion proteins were initially associated with diseases such as Creutzfeldt Jakob and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. However, deeper research revealed them as versatile tools, exploited by the cells to execute fascinating functions, acting as epigenetic elements or building membrane free compartments in eukaryotes. One of the most intriguing properties of prion proteins is their ability to propagate a conformational assembly, even across species. In this context, it has been observed that bacterial amyloids can trigger the formation of protein aggregates by interacting with host proteins. As our life is closely linked to bacteria, either through a parasitic or symbiotic relationship, prion-like proteins produced by bacterial cells might play a role in this association. Bioinformatics is helping us to understand the factors that determine conformational conversion and infectivity in prion-like proteins. We have used PrionScan to detect prion domains in 839 different bacteria proteomes, detecting 2200 putative prions in these organisms. We studied this set of proteins in order to try to understand their functional role and structural properties. Our results suggest that these bacterial polypeptides are associated to peripheral rearrangement, macromolecular assembly, cell adaptability, and invasion. Overall, these data could reveal new threats and therapeutic targets associated to infectious diseases.}, } @article {pmid26528243, year = {2015}, author = {Johri, AK and Oelmüller, R and Dua, M and Yadav, V and Kumar, M and Tuteja, N and Varma, A and Bonfante, P and Persson, BL and Stroud, RM}, title = {Fungal association and utilization of phosphate by plants: success, limitations, and future prospects.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {984}, pmid = {26528243}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM024485/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 GM024485/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a major macronutrient for plant health and development. The available form of P is generally low in the rhizosphere even in fertile soils. A major proportion of applied phosphate (Pi) fertilizers in the soil become fixed into insoluble, unavailable forms, which restricts crop production throughout the world. Roots possess two distinct modes of P uptake from the soil, direct and indirect uptake. The direct uptake of P is facilitated by the plant's own Pi transporters while indirect uptake occurs via mycorrhizal symbiosis, where the host plant obtains P primarily from the fungal partner, while the fungus benefits from plant-derived reduced carbon. So far, only one Pi transporter has been characterized from the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus versiforme. As arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi cannot be cultured axenically, their Pi transporter network is difficult to exploite for large scale sustainable agriculture. Alternatively, the root-colonizing endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica can grow axenically and provides strong growth-promoting activity during its symbiosis with a broad spectrum of plants. P. indica contains a high affinity Pi transporter (PiPT) involved in improving Pi nutrition levels in the host plant under P limiting conditions. As P. indica can be manipulated genetically, it opens new vistas to be used in P deficient fields.}, } @article {pmid26527705, year = {2016}, author = {Madej, JP and Bednarczyk, M}, title = {Effect of in ovo-delivered prebiotics and synbiotics on the morphology and specific immune cell composition in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {95}, number = {1}, pages = {19-29}, doi = {10.3382/ps/pev291}, pmid = {26527705}, issn = {0032-5791}, mesh = {Animals ; Bursa of Fabricius/drug effects/growth & development/*immunology ; Chickens/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*immunology ; Gastric Mucosa/drug effects/growth & development/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/growth & development/*immunology ; Male ; Ovum ; Prebiotics/administration & dosage/*analysis ; Synbiotics/administration & dosage/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to examine how pre- and synbiotic administration in ovo into the air chamber at d 12 of egg incubation influenced the specific immune cell composition and distribution in the ileum, cecal tonsils (CT) and bursa of Fabricius of broilers. The experiment was performed on 800 hatching eggs of the meat-type chickens (Ross 308). Hatching eggs were treated with: prebiotic, consisting of inulin (Pre1) or Bi(2)tos(®) (Pre2); symbiotic, composed of inulin and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IBB SL1 (Syn1) or Bi(2)tos and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris IBB SC1 (Syn2); or physiological saline as a control group. Seven chickens from each treatment group were randomly selected on , 1, 7, and 21 after hatch for tissue collection. Ileum, cecal tonsil and bursa of Fabricius samples were immunohistochemically stained and the proportions of Bu-1(+), CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8α(+) and TCRγδ(+) cells were estimated. It was indicated that the pre- and synbiotics do not adversely affect the development of the GALT of the chicken. The temporary decrease in B-cell number in bursa on d 7 after hatch suggested an increased colonization rate of the peripheral lymphoid organs by these cells after Pre1, Pre2, and Syn2 treatment. In CT at d 7 after hatch more potent colonization of the GALT by T cells was observed in all pre- and synbiotic treated groups and by B cells in both synbiotic-treated groups than those in respective controls. Then, on d 21 in both synbiotic-treated groups, an increase in T-cell number in ileum was also noticed with faster colonization of the CT by B cells. In 21-day-old chickens, both synbiotics exerted stronger stimulatory effect on the GALT colonization by T cells then prebiotics respectively. Similarly, the colonization by B cells was more pronounced in the Syn2 than in the Pre2 group. The data obtained in this study indicated that prebiotics and particularly synbiotics administrated in ovo stimulated GALT development after hatch.}, } @article {pmid26527297, year = {2016}, author = {Shah, F and Nicolás, C and Bentzer, J and Ellström, M and Smits, M and Rineau, F and Canbäck, B and Floudas, D and Carleer, R and Lackner, G and Braesel, J and Hoffmeister, D and Henrissat, B and Ahrén, D and Johansson, T and Hibbett, DS and Martin, F and Persson, P and Tunlid, A}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi decompose soil organic matter using oxidative mechanisms adapted from saprotrophic ancestors.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {209}, number = {4}, pages = {1705-1719}, pmid = {26527297}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal ; Laccase/metabolism ; Lignin/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Organic Chemicals/*analysis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Soil/*chemistry ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi are thought to have a key role in mobilizing organic nitrogen that is trapped in soil organic matter (SOM). However, the extent to which ectomycorrhizal fungi decompose SOM and the mechanism by which they do so remain unclear, considering that they have lost many genes encoding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes that are present in their saprotrophic ancestors. Spectroscopic analyses and transcriptome profiling were used to examine the mechanisms by which five species of ectomycorrhizal fungi, representing at least four origins of symbiosis, decompose SOM extracted from forest soils. In the presence of glucose and when acquiring nitrogen, all species converted the organic matter in the SOM extract using oxidative mechanisms. The transcriptome expressed during oxidative decomposition has diverged over evolutionary time. Each species expressed a different set of transcripts encoding proteins associated with oxidation of lignocellulose by saprotrophic fungi. The decomposition 'toolbox' has diverged through differences in the regulation of orthologous genes, the formation of new genes by gene duplications, and the recruitment of genes from diverse but functionally similar enzyme families. The capacity to oxidize SOM appears to be common among ectomycorrhizal fungi. We propose that the ancestral decay mechanisms used primarily to obtain carbon have been adapted in symbiosis to scavenge nutrients instead.}, } @article {pmid26526032, year = {2015}, author = {Liu, MM and Xing, YM and Zhang, DW and Guo, SX}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of genes involved in defence response in Polyporus umbellatus with Armillaria mellea infection.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {16075}, pmid = {26526032}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Armillaria/*genetics/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Chaperones/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Polyporus/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Fungal/chemistry/*metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Polyporus umbellatus, a species symbiotic with Armillaria mellea and it also exhibits substantial defence response to Armillaria mellea infection. There are no genomics resources databases for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the infection stress of P. umbellatus. Therefore, we performed a large-scale transcriptome sequencing of this fungus with A. mellea infection using Illumina sequencing technology. The assembly of the clean reads resulted in 120,576 transcripts, including 38,444 unigenes. Additionally, we performed a gene expression profiling analysis upon infection treatment. The results indicated significant differences in the gene expression profiles between the control and the infection group. In total, 10933 genes were identified between the two groups. Based on the differentially expressed genes, a Gene Ontology annotation analysis showed many defence-relevant categories. Meanwhile, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis uncovered some important pathways. Furthermore, the expression patterns of 13 putative genes that are involved in defence response resulting from quantitative real-time PCR were consistent with their transcript abundance changes as identified by RNA-seq. The sequenced genes covered a considerable proportion of the P. umbellatus transcriptome, and the expression results may be useful to strengthen the knowledge on the defence response of this fungus defend against Armillaria mellea invasion.}, } @article {pmid26525894, year = {2015}, author = {Murfin, KE and Whooley, AC and Klassen, JL and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Comparison of Xenorhabdus bovienii bacterial strain genomes reveals diversity in symbiotic functions.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {889}, pmid = {26525894}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Xenorhabdus bacteria engage in a beneficial symbiosis with Steinernema nematodes, in part by providing activities that help kill and degrade insect hosts for nutrition. Xenorhabdus strains (members of a single species) can display wide variation in host-interaction phenotypes and genetic potential indicating that strains may differ in their encoded symbiosis factors, including secreted metabolites.

METHODS: To discern strain-level variation among symbiosis factors, and facilitate the identification of novel compounds, we performed a comparative analysis of the genomes of 10 Xenorhabdus bovienii bacterial strains.

RESULTS: The analyzed X. bovienii draft genomes are broadly similar in structure (e.g. size, GC content, number of coding sequences). Genome content analysis revealed that general classes of putative host-microbe interaction functions, such as secretion systems and toxin classes, were identified in all bacterial strains. In contrast, we observed diversity of individual genes within families (e.g. non-ribosomal peptide synthetase clusters and insecticidal toxin components), indicating the specific molecules secreted by each strain can vary. Additionally, phenotypic analysis indicates that regulation of activities (e.g. enzymes and motility) differs among strains.

CONCLUSIONS: The analyses presented here demonstrate that while general mechanisms by which X. bovienii bacterial strains interact with their invertebrate hosts are similar, the specific molecules mediating these interactions differ. Our data support that adaptation of individual bacterial strains to distinct hosts or niches has occurred. For example, diverse metabolic profiles among bacterial symbionts may have been selected by dissimilarities in nutritional requirements of their different nematode hosts. Similarly, factors involved in parasitism (e.g. immune suppression and microbial competition factors), likely differ based on evolution in response to naturally encountered organisms, such as insect hosts, competitors, predators or pathogens. This study provides insight into effectors of a symbiotic lifestyle, and also highlights that when mining Xenorhabdus species for novel natural products, including antibiotics and insecticidal toxins, analysis of multiple bacterial strains likely will increase the potential for the discovery of novel molecules.}, } @article {pmid26523414, year = {2016}, author = {Goh, CH and Nicotra, AB and Mathesius, U}, title = {The presence of nodules on legume root systems can alter phenotypic plasticity in response to internal nitrogen independent of nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {883-896}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12672}, pmid = {26523414}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*anatomy & histology/drug effects/microbiology ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*drug effects ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Rhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*anatomy & histology/drug effects/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Trifolium/*anatomy & histology/drug effects/microbiology ; }, abstract = {All higher plants show developmental plasticity in response to the availability of nitrogen (N) in the soil. In legumes, N starvation causes the formation of root nodules, where symbiotic rhizobacteria fix atmospheric N2 for the host in exchange for fixed carbon (C) from the shoot. Here, we tested whether plastic responses to internal [N] of legumes are altered by their symbionts. Glasshouse experiments compared root phenotypes of three legumes, Medicago truncatula, Medicago sativa and Trifolium subterraneum, inoculated with their compatible symbiont partners and grown under four nitrate levels. In addition, six strains of rhizobia, differing in their ability to fix N2 in M. truncatula, were compared to test if plastic responses to internal [N] were dependent on the rhizobia or N2 -fixing capability of the nodules. We found that the presence of rhizobia affected phenotypic plasticity of the legumes to internal [N], particularly in root length and root mass ratio (RMR), in a plant species-dependent way. While root length responses of M. truncatula to internal [N] were dependent on the ability of rhizobial symbionts to fix N2 , RMR response to internal [N] was dependent only on initiation of nodules, irrespective of N2 -fixing ability of the rhizobia strains.}, } @article {pmid26523344, year = {2015}, author = {Krüger, T and Engstler, M}, title = {Flagellar motility in eukaryotic human parasites.}, journal = {Seminars in cell & developmental biology}, volume = {46}, number = {}, pages = {113-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.10.034}, pmid = {26523344}, issn = {1096-3634}, mesh = {Animals ; Flagella/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Kinetoplastida/classification/genetics/physiology ; Movement/physiology ; Parasites/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Parasitic Diseases/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Plasmodium/classification/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {A huge variety of protists rely on one or more motile flagella to either move themselves or move fluids and substances around them. Many of these flagellates have evolved a symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle. Several of the parasites have adapted to human hosts, and include agents of prevalent and serious diseases. These unicellular parasites have become specialised in colonising a wide range of biological niches within humans. They usually have diverse transmission cycles, and frequently manifest a variety of distinct morphological stages. The motility of the single or multiple flagella plays important but understudied roles in parasite transmission, host invasion, dispersal, survival, proliferation and pathology. In this review we provide an overview of the important human pathogens that possess a motile flagellum for at least part of their life cycle. We highlight recently published studies that aim to elucidate motility mechanisms, and their relevance for human disease. We then bring the physics of swimming at the microscale into context, emphasising the importance of interdisciplinary approaches for a full understanding of flagellate motility - especially in light of the parasites' microenvironments and population dynamics. Finally, we summarise some important technological aspects, describing challenges for the field and possibilities for motility analyses in the future.}, } @article {pmid26522386, year = {2015}, author = {Hom, EFY and Aiyar, P and Schaeme, D and Mittag, M and Sasso, S}, title = {A Chemical Perspective on Microalgal-Microbial Interactions.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {20}, number = {11}, pages = {689-693}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2015.09.004}, pmid = {26522386}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Food Chain ; Microalgae/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The exchange of chemical compounds is central to the interactions of microalgae with other microorganisms. Although foundational for many food webs, these interactions have been poorly studied compared with higher plant-microbe interactions. Emerging insights have begun to reveal how these interactions and the participating chemical compounds shape microbial communities and broadly impact biogeochemical processes.}, } @article {pmid26521936, year = {2016}, author = {Marupakula, S and Mahmood, S and Finlay, RD}, title = {Analysis of single root tip microbiomes suggests that distinctive bacterial communities are selected by Pinus sylvestris roots colonized by different ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {1470-1483}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13102}, pmid = {26521936}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification ; Fungi/*classification ; Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic ectomycorrhizal tree roots represent an important niche for interaction with bacteria since the fungi colonizing them have a large surface area and receive a direct supply of photosynthetically derived carbon. We examined individual root tips of Pinus sylvestris at defined time points between 5 days and 24 weeks, identified the dominant fungi colonizing each root tip using Sanger sequencing and the bacterial communities colonizing individual root tips by 454 pyrosequencing. Bacterial colonization was extremely dynamic with statistically significant variation in time and increasing species richness until week 16 (3477 operational taxonomic units). Bacterial community structure of roots colonized by Russula sp. 6 GJ-2013b, Piloderma spp., Meliniomyces variabilis and Paxillus involutus differed significantly at weeks 8 and 16 but diversity declined and significant differences were no longer apparent at week 24. The most common genera were Burkholderia, Sphingopyxsis, Dyella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Actinospica, Aquaspirillum, Acidobacter Gp1, Sphingomonas, Terriglobus, Enhydrobacter, Herbaspirillum and Bradyrhizobium. Many genera had high initial abundance at week 8, declining with time but Dyella and Terriglobus increased in abundance at later time points. In roots colonized by Piloderma spp. several other bacterial genera, such as Actinospica, Bradyrhizobium, Acidobacter Gp1 and Rhizomicrobium appeared to increase in abundance at later sampling points.}, } @article {pmid26521863, year = {2016}, author = {Crespo-Rivas, JC and Guefrachi, I and Mok, KC and Villaécija-Aguilar, JA and Acosta-Jurado, S and Pierre, O and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Taga, ME and Mergaert, P and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 bacteroids are not terminally differentiated and show altered O-antigen in nodules of the Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade legume Glycyrrhiza uralensis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2392-2404}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13101}, pmid = {26521863}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Inverted Repeat Sequences ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; O Antigens/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In rhizobial species that nodulate inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) legumes, such as the interaction between Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago, bacteroid differentiation is driven by an endoreduplication event that is induced by host nodule-specific cysteine rich (NCR) antimicrobial peptides and requires the participation of the bacterial protein BacA. We have studied bacteroid differentiation of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 in three host plants: Glycine max, Cajanus cajan and the IRLC legume Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Flow cytometry, microscopy analyses and viability studies of bacteroids as well as confocal microscopy studies carried out in nodules showed that S. fredii HH103 bacteroids, regardless of the host plant, had deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contents, cellular sizes and survival rates similar to those of free-living bacteria. Contrary to S. meliloti, S. fredii HH103 showed little or no sensitivity to Medicago NCR247 and NCR335 peptides. Inactivation of S. fredii HH103 bacA neither affected symbiosis with Glycyrrhiza nor increased bacterial sensitivity to Medicago NCRs. Finally, HH103 bacteroids isolated from Glycyrrhiza, but not those isolated from Cajanus or Glycine, showed an altered lipopolysaccharide. Our studies indicate that, in contrast to the S. meliloti-Medicago model symbiosis, bacteroids in the S. fredii HH103-Glycyrrhiza symbiosis do not undergo NCR-induced and bacA-dependent terminal differentiation.}, } @article {pmid26520831, year = {2016}, author = {Donald, KJ and Clarke, HV and Mitchell, C and Cornwell, RM and Hubbard, SF and Karley, AJ}, title = {Protection of Pea Aphids Associated with Coinfecting Bacterial Symbionts Persists During Superparasitism by a Braconid Wasp.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {1-4}, pmid = {26520831}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/growth & development/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Female ; Larva/growth & development ; Male ; Nymph/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbionts that associate facultatively with insect herbivores can influence insect fitness and trophic interactions. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, can be protected from parasitism by the braconid wasp Aphidius ervi when harbouring particular symbiotic bacteria, with specific endosymbiont coinfections providing almost complete protection. However, studies often quantify aphid mummification with no control over parasitoid oviposition per aphid; thus, if mummy production fails or is low, the causes are often unclear. Here, we show that the high level of protection associated with the coinfecting endosymbionts Hamiltonella defensa and X-type is maintained even when pea aphids are superparasitised. This contrasts strongly with the protection provided by H. defensa alone, which has been shown by others to be overcome by superparasitism. By dissecting aphids exposed to two parasitoid attacks, we reveal that A. ervi deposits eggs equally freely in endosymbiont-infected and uninfected nymphs, and lack of mummification in endosymbiont-protected nymphs arises from failure of the wasp eggs to hatch or emerging larvae to develop.}, } @article {pmid26519859, year = {2015}, author = {Alex, A and Antunes, A}, title = {Whole Genome Sequencing of the Symbiont Pseudovibrio sp. from the Intertidal Marine Sponge Polymastia penicillus Revealed a Gene Repertoire for Host-Switching Permissive Lifestyle.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {3022-3032}, pmid = {26519859}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; *Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrionaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbor a complex consortium of microbial communities living in symbiotic relationship benefiting each other through the integration of metabolites. The mechanisms influencing a successful microbial association with a sponge partner are yet to be fully understood. Here, we sequenced the genome of Pseudovibrio sp. POLY-S9 strain isolated from the intertidal marine sponge Polymastia penicillus sampled from the Atlantic coast of Portugal to identify the genomic features favoring the symbiotic relationship. The draft genome revealed an exceptionally large genome size of 6.6 Mbp compared with the previously reported genomes of the genus Pseudovibrio isolated from a coral and a sponge larva. Our genomic study detected the presence of several biosynthetic gene clusters-polyketide synthase, nonribosomal peptide synthetase and siderophore-affirming the potential ability of the genus Pseudovibrio to produce a wide variety of metabolic compounds. Moreover, we identified a repertoire of genes encoding adaptive symbioses factors (eukaryotic-like proteins), such as the ankyrin repeats, tetratrico peptide repeats, and Sel1 repeats that improve the attachment to the eukaryotic hosts and the avoidance of the host's immune response : The genome also harbored a large number of mobile elements (∼5%) and gene transfer agents, which explains the massive genome expansion and suggests a possible mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. In conclusion, the genome of POLY-S9 exhibited an increase in size, number of mobile DNA, multiple metabolite gene clusters, and secretion systems, likely to influence the genome diversification and the evolvability.}, } @article {pmid26519220, year = {2015}, author = {Johnson, RD and Lane, GA and Koulman, A and Cao, M and Fraser, K and Fleetwood, DJ and Voisey, CR and Dyer, JM and Pratt, J and Christensen, M and Simpson, WR and Bryan, GT and Johnson, LJ}, title = {A novel family of cyclic oligopeptides derived from ribosomal peptide synthesis of an in planta-induced gene, gigA, in Epichloë endophytes of grasses.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {85}, number = {}, pages = {14-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2015.10.005}, pmid = {26519220}, issn = {1096-0937}, support = {MC_EX_G0800783/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Endophytes/*genetics/physiology ; Epichloe/*genetics/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Oligopeptides/genetics/metabolism ; Peptides, Cyclic/genetics/metabolism ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Ribosomal Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophytes belonging to the genus Epichloë form associations with temperate grasses belonging to the sub-family Poöideae that range from mutualistic through to pathogenic. We previously identified a novel endophyte gene (designated gigA for grass induced gene) that is one of the most abundantly expressed fungal transcripts in endophyte-infected grasses and which is distributed and highly expressed in a wide range of Epichloë grass associations. Molecular and biochemical analyses indicate that gigA encodes a small secreted protein containing an imperfect 27 amino acid repeat that includes a kexin protease cleavage site. Kexin processing of GigA liberates within the plant multiple related products, named here as epichloëcyclins, which we have demonstrated by MS/MS to be cyclic peptidic in nature. Gene deletion of gigA leads to the elimination of all epichloëcyclins with no conspicuous phenotypic impact on the host grass, suggesting a possible bioactive role. This is a further example of a ribosomal peptide synthetic (RiPS) pathway operating within the Ascomycetes, and is the first description of such a pathway from a mutualistic symbiotic fungus from this Phylum.}, } @article {pmid26518432, year = {2016}, author = {Otani, S and Hansen, LH and Sørensen, SJ and Poulsen, M}, title = {Bacterial communities in termite fungus combs are comprised of consistent gut deposits and contributions from the environment.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {1}, pages = {207-220}, pmid = {26518432}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Environment ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Isoptera/classification/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Termitomyces/growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites (subfamily Macrotermitinae) mix plant forage with asexual spores of their plant-degrading fungal symbiont Termitomyces in their guts and deposit this blend in fungus comb structures, within which the plant matter is degraded. As Termitomyces grows, it produces nodules with asexual spores, which the termites feed on. Since all comb material passes through termite guts, it is inevitable that gut bacteria are also deposited in the comb, but it has remained unknown which bacteria are deposited and whether distinct comb bacterial communities are sustained. Using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we explored the bacterial community compositions of 33 fungus comb samples from four termite species (three genera) collected at four South African geographic locations in 2011 and 2013. We identified 33 bacterial phyla, with Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Candidate division TM7 jointly accounting for 92 % of the reads. Analyses of gut microbiotas from 25 of the 33 colonies showed that dominant fungus comb taxa originate from the termite gut. While gut communities were consistent between 2011 and 2013, comb community compositions shifted over time. These shifts did not appear to be due to changes in the taxa present, but rather due to differences in the relative abundances of primarily gut-derived bacteria within fungus combs. This indicates that fungus comb microbiotas are largely termite species-specific due to major contributions from gut deposits and also that environment affects which gut bacteria dominate comb communities at a given point in time.}, } @article {pmid26517699, year = {2016}, author = {Ohbayashi, R and Watanabe, S and Ehira, S and Kanesaki, Y and Chibazakura, T and Yoshikawa, H}, title = {Diversification of DnaA dependency for DNA replication in cyanobacterial evolution.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {1113-1121}, pmid = {26517699}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; *DNA Replication ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*metabolism ; Fresh Water/*microbiology ; Synechococcus/genetics/metabolism ; Synechocystis/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Regulating DNA replication is essential for all living cells. The DNA replication initiation factor DnaA is highly conserved in prokaryotes and is required for accurate initiation of chromosomal replication at oriC. DnaA-independent free-living bacteria have not been identified. The dnaA gene is absent in plastids and some symbiotic bacteria, although it is not known when or how DnaA-independent mechanisms were acquired. Here, we show that the degree of dependency of DNA replication on DnaA varies among cyanobacterial species. Deletion of the dnaA gene in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 shifted DNA replication from oriC to a different site as a result of the integration of an episomal plasmid. Moreover, viability during the stationary phase was higher in dnaA disruptants than in wild-type cells. Deletion of dnaA did not affect DNA replication or cell growth in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 or Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, indicating that functional dependency on DnaA was already lost in some nonsymbiotic cyanobacterial lineages during diversification. Therefore, we proposed that cyanobacteria acquired DnaA-independent replication mechanisms before symbiosis and such an ancestral cyanobacterium was the sole primary endosymbiont to form a plastid precursor.}, } @article {pmid26517270, year = {2015}, author = {Qiu, L and Lin, JS and Xu, J and Sato, S and Parniske, M and Wang, TL and Downie, JA and Xie, F}, title = {SCARN a Novel Class of SCAR Protein That Is Required for Root-Hair Infection during Legume Nodulation.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {e1005623}, pmid = {26517270}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {BB/E017045/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000012/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000150/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex/genetics ; Actins/genetics ; Arabidopsis/genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial infection of legume root hairs requires a rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton to enable the establishment of plant-made infection structures called infection threads. In the SCAR/WAVE (Suppressor of cAMP receptor defect/WASP family verpolin homologous protein) actin regulatory complex, the conserved N-terminal domains of SCAR proteins interact with other components of the SCAR/WAVE complex. The conserved C-terminal domains of SCAR proteins bind to and activate the actin-related protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex, which can bind to actin filaments catalyzing new actin filament formation by nucleating actin branching. We have identified, SCARN (SCAR-Nodulation), a gene required for root hair infection of Lotus japonicus by Mesorhizobium loti. Although the SCARN protein is related to Arabidopsis thaliana SCAR2 and SCAR4, it belongs to a distinct legume-sub clade. We identified other SCARN-like proteins in legumes and phylogeny analyses suggested that SCARN may have arisen from a gene duplication and acquired specialized functions in root nodule symbiosis. Mutation of SCARN reduced formation of infection-threads and their extension into the root cortex and slightly reduced root-hair length. Surprisingly two of the scarn mutants showed constitutive branching of root hairs in uninoculated plants. However we observed no effect of scarn mutations on trichome development or on the early actin cytoskeletal accumulation that is normally seen in root hair tips shortly after M. loti inoculation, distinguishing them from other symbiosis mutations affecting actin nucleation. The C-terminal domain of SCARN binds to ARPC3 and ectopic expression of the N-terminal SCAR-homology domain (but not the full length protein) inhibited nodulation. In addition, we found that SCARN expression is enhanced by M. loti in epidermal cells and that this is directly regulated by the NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) transcription factor.}, } @article {pmid26516078, year = {2015}, author = {Nakagawa, T and Imaizumi-Anraku, H}, title = {Rice arbuscular mycorrhiza as a tool to study the molecular mechanisms of fungal symbiosis and a potential target to increase productivity.}, journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {32}, pmid = {26516078}, issn = {1939-8425}, abstract = {Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a monocot model crop for cereal molecular biology. Following the emergence of molecular genetics of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in model legumes in the 1990s, studies on rice genetic resources have considerably contributed to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and evolution of root intracellular symbioses.In this review, we trace the history of these studies and suggest the potential utility of AM symbiosis for improvement in rice productivity.}, } @article {pmid26516030, year = {2016}, author = {Catalá, S and Del Campo, EM and Barreno, E and García-Breijo, FJ and Reig-Armiñana, J and Casano, LM}, title = {Coordinated ultrastructural and phylogenomic analyses shed light on the hidden phycobiont diversity of Trebouxia microalgae in Ramalina fraxinea.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {94}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {765-777}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2015.10.021}, pmid = {26516030}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Genetic Variation ; Lichens/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Microalgae/classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The precise boundary delineations between taxa in symbiotic associations are very important for evolutionary and ecophysiological studies. Growing evidence indicates that in many cases, the use of either morphological characters or molecular markers results in diversity underestimation. In lichen symbioses, Trebouxia is the most common genus of lichen phycobionts, however, the diversity within this genus has been poorly studied and as such there is no clear species concept. This study constitutes a multifaceted approach incorporating aspects of ultrastructural characterization by TEM and phylogenomics to evaluate the morphological and genetic diversity of phycobionts within the sexually reproducing lichen Ramalina fraxinea in the context of Mediterranean and temperate populations. Results reveal an association with at least seven different Trebouxia lineages belonging to at least two species, T. decolorans and T. jamesii, and diverse combinations of such lineages coexisting within the same thallus depending on the analyzed sample. Some of these lineages are shared by several other non-related lichen taxa. Our findings indicate the existence of a highly diverse assemblage of Trebouxia algae associating with R. fraxinea and suggest a possible incipient speciation within T. decolorans rendering a number of lineages or even actual species. This study stresses the importance of coordinated ultrastructural and molecular analyses to improve estimates of diversity and reveal the coexistence of more than one Trebouxia species within the same thallus. It is also necessary to have clearer species delimitation criteria within the genus Trebouxia and microalgae in general.}, } @article {pmid26515381, year = {2015}, author = {Franasiak, JM and Scott, RT}, title = {Introduction: Microbiome in human reproduction.}, journal = {Fertility and sterility}, volume = {104}, number = {6}, pages = {1341-1343}, doi = {10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.10.021}, pmid = {26515381}, issn = {1556-5653}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development ; Biofilms ; Dysbiosis ; Female ; Fertility ; Genitalia/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Infertility/*microbiology/physiopathology/therapy ; Male ; *Microbiota ; *Reproduction ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; }, abstract = {The human microbiome has been termed the "second human genome" and data that has come about of late certainly makes it appear every bit as complex. The human body contains 10-fold more microbial cells than the human cells and accounts for 1%-3% of our total body mass. As we learn more about this symbiotic relationship, it appears this complex interaction occurs in nearly every part of the body, even those areas at one time considered to be sterile. Indeed, the microbiome in human reproduction has been investigated in terms of both the lower and upper reproductive tract and includes interactions even at the point of gametogenesis. What is all the more fascinating is that we have known about the importance of microbes for over 150 years, even before they existed in name. And now, with the assistance of an exciting technologic revolution which has pushed forward our understanding of the microbiome, we appear to stand on the precipice of a higher level of understanding of microbes, the biofilms they create, and their impact of health and disease in human reproduction.}, } @article {pmid26513713, year = {2016}, author = {Menge, DN and Chazdon, RL}, title = {Higher survival drives the success of nitrogen-fixing trees through succession in Costa Rican rainforests.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {209}, number = {3}, pages = {965-977}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13734}, pmid = {26513713}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Costa Rica ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Stems/physiology ; *Rainforest ; Species Specificity ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Trees capable of symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation ('N fixers') are abundant in many tropical forests. In temperate forests, it is well known that N fixers specialize in early-successional niches, but in tropical forests, successional trends of N-fixing species are poorly understood. We used a long-term census study (1997-2013) of regenerating lowland wet tropical forests in Costa Rica to document successional patterns of N fixers vs non-fixers, and used an individual-based model to determine the demographic drivers of these trends. N fixers increased in relative basal area during succession. In the youngest forests, N fixers grew 2.5 times faster, recruited at a similar rate and were 15 times less likely to die as non-fixers. As succession proceeded, the growth and survival disparities decreased, whereas N fixer recruitment decreased relative to non-fixers. According to our individual-based model, high survival was the dominant driver of the increase in basal area of N fixers. Our data suggest that N fixers are successful throughout secondary succession in tropical rainforests of north-east Costa Rica, and that attempts to understand this success should focus on tree survival.}, } @article {pmid26511916, year = {2015}, author = {Park, HJ and Floss, DS and Levesque-Tremblay, V and Bravo, A and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Hyphal Branching during Arbuscule Development Requires Reduced Arbuscular Mycorrhiza1.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {4}, pages = {2774-2788}, pmid = {26511916}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Models, Genetic ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Binding ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, arbuscule development in the root cortical cell and simultaneous deposition of the plant periarbuscular membrane generate the interface for symbiotic nutrient exchange. The transcriptional changes that accompany arbuscule development are extensive and well documented. By contrast, the transcriptional regulators that control these programs are largely unknown. Here, we provide a detailed characterization of an insertion allele of Medicago truncatula Reduced Arbuscular Mycorrhiza1 (RAM1), ram1-3, which reveals that RAM1 is not necessary to enable hyphopodium formation or hyphal entry into the root but is essential to support arbuscule branching. In ram1-3, arbuscules consist only of the arbuscule trunk and in some cases, a few initial thick hyphal branches. ram1-3 is also insensitive to phosphate-mediated regulation of the symbiosis. Transcript analysis of ram1-3 and ectopic expression of RAM1 indicate that RAM1 regulates expression of EXO70I and Stunted Arbuscule, two genes whose loss of function impacts arbuscule branching. Furthermore, RAM1 regulates expression of a transcription factor Required for Arbuscule Development (RAD1). RAD1 is also required for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, and rad1 mutants show reduced colonization. RAM1 itself is induced in colonized root cortical cells, and expression of RAM1 and RAD1 is modulated by DELLAs. Thus, the data suggest that DELLAs regulate arbuscule development through modulation of RAM1 and RAD1 and that the precise transcriptional control essential to place proteins in the periarbuscular membrane is controlled, at least in part, by RAM1.}, } @article {pmid26510552, year = {2016}, author = {Thirkell, TJ and Cameron, DD and Hodge, A}, title = {Resolving the 'nitrogen paradox' of arbuscular mycorrhizas: fertilization with organic matter brings considerable benefits for plant nutrition and growth.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {8}, pages = {1683-1690}, pmid = {26510552}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {BB/J014443/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Chlorella ; Fertilizers ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/*metabolism ; Plantago/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can transfer nitrogen (N) to host plants, but the ecological relevance is debated, as total plant N and biomass do not generally increase. The extent to which the symbiosis is mutually beneficial is thought to rely on the stoichiometry of N, phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) availability. While inorganic N fertilization has been shown to elicit strong mutualism, characterized by improved plant and fungal growth and mineral nutrition, similar responses following organic N addition are lacking. Using a compartmented microcosm experiment, we determined the significance to a mycorrhizal plant of placing a (15) N-labelled, nitrogen-rich patch of organic matter in a compartment to which only AMF hyphae had access. Control microcosms denied AMF hyphal access to the patch compartment. When permitted access to the patch compartment, the fungus proliferated extensively in the patch and transferred substantial quantities of N to the plant. Moreover, our data demonstrate that allowing hyphal access to an organic matter patch enhanced total plant N and P contents, with a simultaneous and substantial increase in plant biomass. Furthermore, we demonstrate that organic matter fertilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants can foster a mutually beneficial symbiosis based on nitrogen transfer, a phenomenon previously thought irrelevant.}, } @article {pmid26510159, year = {2015}, author = {Kaniewska, P and Chan, CK and Kline, D and Ling, EY and Rosic, N and Edwards, D and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, S}, title = {Transcriptomic Changes in Coral Holobionts Provide Insights into Physiological Challenges of Future Climate and Ocean Change.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0139223}, pmid = {26510159}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; *Climate Change ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Ontology ; *Oceans and Seas ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Seawater ; Temperature ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Tropical reef-building coral stress levels will intensify with the predicted rising atmospheric CO2 resulting in ocean temperature and acidification increase. Most studies to date have focused on the destabilization of coral-dinoflagellate symbioses due to warming oceans, or declining calcification due to ocean acidification. In our study, pH and temperature conditions consistent with the end-of-century scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) caused major changes in photosynthesis and respiration, in addition to decreased calcification rates in the coral Acropora millepora. Population density of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) under high levels of ocean acidification and temperature (Representative Concentration Pathway, RCP8.5) decreased to half of that found under present day conditions, with photosynthetic and respiratory rates also being reduced by 40%. These physiological changes were accompanied by evidence for gene regulation of calcium and bicarbonate transporters along with components of the organic matrix. Metatranscriptomic RNA-Seq data analyses showed an overall down regulation of metabolic transcripts, and an increased abundance of transcripts involved in circadian clock control, controlling the damage of oxidative stress, calcium signaling/homeostasis, cytoskeletal interactions, transcription regulation, DNA repair, Wnt signaling and apoptosis/immunity/ toxins. We suggest that increased maintenance costs under ocean acidification and warming, and diversion of cellular ATP to pH homeostasis, oxidative stress response, UPR and DNA repair, along with metabolic suppression, may underpin why Acroporid species tend not to thrive under future environmental stress. Our study highlights the potential increased energy demand when the coral holobiont is exposed to high levels of ocean warming and acidification.}, } @article {pmid26509922, year = {2015}, author = {Challinor, VL and Bode, HB}, title = {Bioactive natural products from novel microbial sources.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1354}, number = {}, pages = {82-97}, doi = {10.1111/nyas.12954}, pmid = {26509922}, issn = {1749-6632}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/*drug effects/metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Biological Products/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/*drug effects ; Humans ; Insecta/microbiology ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite the importance of microbial natural products for human health, only a few bacterial genera have been mined for the new natural products needed to overcome the urgent threat of antibiotic resistance. This is surprising, given that genome sequencing projects have revealed that the capability to produce natural products is not a rare feature among bacteria. Even the bacteria occurring in the human microbiome produce potent antibiotics, and thus potentially are an untapped resource for novel compounds, potentially with new activities. This review highlights examples of bacteria that should be considered new sources of natural products, including anaerobes, pathogens, and symbionts of humans, insects, and nematodes. Exploitation of these producer strains, combined with advances in modern natural product research methodology, has the potential to open the way for a new golden age of microbial therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid26507654, year = {2016}, author = {McGregor, N and Morar, M and Fenger, TH and Stogios, P and Lenfant, N and Yin, V and Xu, X and Evdokimova, E and Cui, H and Henrissat, B and Savchenko, A and Brumer, H}, title = {Structure-Function Analysis of a Mixed-linkage β-Glucanase/Xyloglucanase from the Key Ruminal Bacteroidetes Prevotella bryantii B(1)4.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {291}, number = {3}, pages = {1175-1197}, pmid = {26507654}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {U54 GM074942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 GM094585/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54-GM074942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54-GM094585/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Substitution ; Apoenzymes/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Catalytic Domain ; Cellulase/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Cellulose/chemistry/metabolism ; Endo-1,3(4)-beta-Glucanase/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Glucans/chemistry/metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Models, Molecular ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Prevotella/*enzymology ; Protein Conformation ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Xylans/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The recent classification of glycoside hydrolase family 5 (GH5) members into subfamilies enhances the prediction of substrate specificity by phylogenetic analysis. However, the small number of well characterized members is a current limitation to understanding the molecular basis of the diverse specificity observed across individual GH5 subfamilies. GH5 subfamily 4 (GH5_4) is one of the largest, with known activities comprising (carboxymethyl)cellulases, mixed-linkage endo-glucanases, and endo-xyloglucanases. Through detailed structure-function analysis, we have revisited the characterization of a classic GH5_4 carboxymethylcellulase, PbGH5A (also known as Orf4, carboxymethylcellulase, and Cel5A), from the symbiotic rumen Bacteroidetes Prevotella bryantii B14. We demonstrate that carboxymethylcellulose and phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose are in fact relatively poor substrates for PbGH5A, which instead exhibits clear primary specificity for the plant storage and cell wall polysaccharide, mixed-linkage β-glucan. Significant activity toward the plant cell wall polysaccharide xyloglucan was also observed. Determination of PbGH5A crystal structures in the apo-form and in complex with (xylo)glucan oligosaccharides and an active-site affinity label, together with detailed kinetic analysis using a variety of well defined oligosaccharide substrates, revealed the structural determinants of polysaccharide substrate specificity. In particular, this analysis highlighted the PbGH5A active-site motifs that engender predominant mixed-linkage endo-glucanase activity vis à vis predominant endo-xyloglucanases in GH5_4. However the detailed phylogenetic analysis of GH5_4 members did not delineate particular clades of enzymes sharing these sequence motifs; the phylogeny was instead dominated by bacterial taxonomy. Nonetheless, our results provide key enzyme functional and structural reference data for future bioinformatics analyses of (meta)genomes to elucidate the biology of complex gut ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26505688, year = {2015}, author = {Hirsch, PR and Mauchline, TH}, title = {The Importance of the Microbial N Cycle in Soil for Crop Plant Nutrition.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {45-71}, doi = {10.1016/bs.aambs.2015.09.001}, pmid = {26505688}, issn = {0065-2164}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Crops, Agricultural/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Nitrification ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is crucial for living cells, and prior to the introduction of mineral N fertilizer, fixation of atmospheric N2 by diverse prokaryotes was the primary source of N in all ecosystems. Microorganisms drive the N cycle starting with N2 fixation to ammonia, through nitrification in which ammonia is oxidized to nitrate and denitrification where nitrate is reduced to N2 to complete the cycle, or partially reduced to generate the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Traditionally, agriculture has relied on rotations that exploited N fixed by symbiotic rhizobia in leguminous plants, and recycled wastes and manures that microbial activity mineralized to release ammonia or nitrate. Mineral N fertilizer provided by the Haber-Bosch process has become essential for modern agriculture to increase crop yields and replace N removed from the system at harvest. However, with the increasing global population and problems caused by unintended N wastage and pollution, more sustainable ways of managing the N cycle in soil and utilizing biological N2 fixation have become imperative. This review describes the biological N cycle and details the steps and organisms involved. The effects of various agricultural practices that exploit fixation, retard nitrification, and reduce denitrification are presented, together with strategies that minimize inorganic fertilizer applications and curtail losses. The development and implementation of new technologies together with rediscovering traditional practices are discussed to speculate how the grand challenge of feeding the world sustainably can be met.}, } @article {pmid26503705, year = {2015}, author = {Gil-Quintana, E and Lyon, D and Staudinger, C and Wienkoop, S and González, EM}, title = {Medicago truncatula and Glycine max: Different Drought Tolerance and Similar Local Response of the Root Nodule Proteome.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {5240-5251}, pmid = {26503705}, issn = {1535-3907}, support = {P 23441/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Down-Regulation ; *Droughts ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Soybeans/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Legume crops present important agronomical and environmental advantages mainly due to their capacity to reduce atmospheric N2 to ammonium via symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). This process is very sensitive to abiotic stresses such as drought, but the mechanism underlying this response is not fully understood. The goal of the current work is to compare the drought response of two legumes with high economic impact and research importance, Medicago truncatula and Glycine max, by characterizing their root nodule proteomes. Our results show that, although M. truncatula exhibits lower water potential values under drought conditions compared to G. max, SNF declined analogously in the two legumes. Both of their nodule proteomes are very similar, and comparable down-regulation responses in the diverse protein functional groups were identified (mainly proteins related to the metabolism of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur). We suggest lipoxygenases and protein turnover as newly recognized players in SNF regulation. Partial drought conditions applied to a split-root system resulted in the local down-regulation of the entire proteome of drought-stressed nodules in both legumes. The high degree of similarity between both legume proteomes suggests that the vast amount of research conducted on M. truncatula could be applied to economically important legume crops, such as soybean.}, } @article {pmid26503135, year = {2015}, author = {van Zeijl, A and Liu, W and Xiao, TT and Kohlen, W and Yang, WC and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {The strigolactone biosynthesis gene DWARF27 is co-opted in rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {260}, pmid = {26503135}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; *Genes, Plant ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*genetics/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Oligosaccharides ; Phosphates/deficiency ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Strigolactones are a class of plant hormones whose biosynthesis is activated in response to phosphate starvation. This involves several enzymes, including the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases 7 (CCD7) and CCD8 and the carotenoid isomerase DWARF27 (D27). D27 expression is known to be responsive to phosphate starvation. In Medicago truncatula and rice (Oryza sativa) this transcriptional response requires the GRAS-type proteins NSP1 and NSP2; both proteins are essential for rhizobium induced root nodule formation in legumes. In line with this, we questioned whether MtNSP1-MtNSP2 dependent MtD27 regulation is co-opted in rhizobium symbiosis.

RESULTS: We provide evidence that MtD27 is involved in strigolactone biosynthesis in M. truncatula roots upon phosphate stress. Spatiotemporal expression studies revealed that this gene is also highly expressed in nodule primordia and subsequently becomes restricted to the meristem and distal infection zone of a mature nodules. A similar expression pattern was found for MtCCD7 and MtCCD8. Rhizobium lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) application experiments revealed that of these genes MtD27 is most responsive in an MtNSP1 and MtNSP2 dependent manner. Symbiotic expression of MtD27 requires components of the symbiosis signaling pathway; including MtDMI1, MtDMI2, MtDMI3/MtCCaMK and in part MtERN1. This in contrast to MtD27 expression upon phosphate starvation, which only requires MtNSP1 and MtNSP2.

CONCLUSION: Our data show that the phosphate-starvation responsive strigolactone biosynthesis gene MtD27 is also rapidly induced by rhizobium LCO signals in an MtNSP1 and MtNSP2-dependent manner. Additionally, we show that MtD27 is co-expressed with MtCCD7 and MtCCD8 in nodule primordia and in the infection zone of mature nodules.}, } @article {pmid26502986, year = {2015}, author = {del Cerro, P and Rolla-Santos, AA and Gomes, DF and Marks, BB and del Rosario Espuny, M and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Soria-Díaz, ME and Nakatani, AS and Hungria, M and Ollero, FJ and Megías, M}, title = {Opening the "black box" of nodD3, nodD4 and nodD5 genes of Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {864}, pmid = {26502986}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Transcription of nodulation genes in rhizobial species is orchestrated by the regulatory nodD gene. Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899 is an intriguing species in possessing features such as broad host range, high tolerance of abiotic stresses and, especially, by carrying the highest known number of nodD genes--five--and the greatest diversity of Nod factors (lipochitooligosaccharides, LCOs). Here we shed light on the roles of the multiple nodD genes of CIAT 899 by reporting, for the first time, results obtained with nodD3, nodD4 and nodD5 mutants.

METHODS: The three nodD mutants were built by insertion of Ω interposon. Nod factors were purified and identified by LC-MS/MS analyses. In addition, nodD1 and nodC relative gene expressions were measured by quantitative RT-PCR in the wt and derivative mutant strains. Phenotypic traits such as exopolysaccharide (EPS), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), swimming and swarming motilities, biofilm formation and indole acetid acid (IAA) production were also perfomed. All these experiments were carried out in presence of both inducers of CIAT 899, apigenin and salt. Finally, nodulation assays were evaluated in up to six different legumes, including common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

RESULTS: Phenotypic and symbiotic properties, Nod factors and gene expression of nodD3, nodD4 and nodD5 mutants were compared with those of the wild-type (WT) CIAT 899, both in the presence and in the absence of the nod-gene-inducing molecule apigenin and of saline stress. No differences between the mutants and the WT were observed in exopolysaccharide (EPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles, motility, indole acetic acid (IAA) synthesis or biofilm production, either in the presence, or in the absence of inducers. Nodulation studies demonstrated the most complex regulatory system described so far, requiring from one (Leucaena leucocephala, Lotus burtii) to four (Lotus japonicus) nodD genes. Up to 38 different structures of Nod factors were detected, being higher under salt stress, except for the nodD5 mutant; in addition, a high number of structures was synthesized by the nodD4 mutant in the absence of any inducer. Probable activator (nodD3 and nodD5) or repressor roles (nodD4), possibly via nodD1 and/or nodD2, were attributed to the three nodD genes. Expression of nodC, nodD1 and each nodD studied by RT-qPCR confirmed that nodD3 is an activator of nodD1, both in the presence of apigenin and salt stress. In contrast, nodD4 might be an inducer with apigenin and a repressor under saline stress, whereas nodD5 was an inducer under both conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: We report for R. tropici CIAT 899 the most complex model of regulation of nodulation genes described so far. Five nodD genes performed different roles depending on the host plant and the inducing environment. Nodulation required from one to four nodD genes, depending on the host legume. nodD3 and nodD5 were identified as activators of the nodD1 gene, whereas, for the first time, it was shown that a regulatory nodD gene-nodD4-might act as repressor or inducer, depending on the inducing environment, giving support to the hypothesis that nodD roles go beyond nodulation, in terms of responses to abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid26502774, year = {2015}, author = {Artuso, E and Ghibaudi, E and Lace, B and Marabello, D and Vinciguerra, D and Lombardi, C and Koltai, H and Kapulnik, Y and Novero, M and Occhiato, EG and Scarpi, D and Parisotto, S and Deagostino, A and Venturello, P and Mayzlish-Gati, E and Bier, A and Prandi, C}, title = {Stereochemical Assignment of Strigolactone Analogues Confirms Their Selective Biological Activity.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {78}, number = {11}, pages = {2624-2633}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00557}, pmid = {26502774}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Germination/drug effects ; Lactones/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Growth Regulators/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Plant Weeds/drug effects ; Seeds/drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are new plant hormones with various developmental functions. They are also soil signaling chemicals that are required for establishing beneficial mycorrhizal plant/fungus symbiosis. In addition, SLs play an essential role in inducing seed germination in root-parasitic weeds, which are one of the seven most serious biological threats to food security. There are around 20 natural SLs that are produced by plants in very low quantities. Therefore, most of the knowledge on SL signal transduction and associated molecular events is based on the application of synthetic analogues. Stereochemistry plays a crucial role in the structure-activity relationship of SLs, as compounds with an unnatural D-ring configuration may induce biological effects that are unrelated to SLs. We have synthesized a series of strigolactone analogues, whose absolute configuration has been elucidated and related with their biological activity, thus confirming the high specificity of the response. Analogues bearing the R-configured butenolide moiety showed enhanced biological activity, which highlights the importance of this stereochemical motif.}, } @article {pmid26500812, year = {2015}, author = {Simonsen, AK and Han, S and Rekret, P and Rentschler, CS and Heath, KD and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Short-term fertilizer application alters phenotypic traits of symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1291}, pmid = {26500812}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Fertilizer application is a common anthropogenic alteration to terrestrial systems. Increased nutrient input can impact soil microbial diversity or function directly through altered soil environments, or indirectly through plant-microbe feedbacks, with potentially important effects on ecologically-important plant-associated mutualists. We investigated the impacts of plant fertilizer, containing all common macro and micronutrients on symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia), a group of bacteria that are important for plant productivity and ecosystem function. We collected rhizobia nodule isolates from natural field soil that was treated with slow-release plant fertilizer over a single growing season and compared phenotypic traits related to free-living growth and host partner quality in these isolates to those of rhizobia from unfertilized soils. Through a series of single inoculation assays in controlled glasshouse conditions, we found that isolates from fertilized field soil provided legume hosts with higher mutualistic benefits. Through growth assays on media containing variable plant fertilizer concentrations, we found that plant fertilizer was generally beneficial for rhizobia growth. Rhizobia isolated from fertilized field soil had higher growth rates in the presence of plant fertilizer compared to isolates from unfertilized field soil, indicating that plant fertilizer application favoured rhizobia isolates with higher abilities to utilize fertilizer for free-living growth. We found a positive correlation between growth responses to fertilizer and mutualism benefits among isolates from fertilized field soil, demonstrating that variable plant fertilizer induces context-dependent genetic correlations, potentially changing the evolutionary trajectory of either trait through increased trait dependencies. Our study shows that short-term application is sufficient to alter the composition of rhizobia isolates in the population or community, either directly though changes in the soil chemistry or indirectly through altered host legume feedbacks, and is potentially a strong selective agent acting on natural rhizobia populations.}, } @article {pmid26499895, year = {2016}, author = {Donaldson, GP and Lee, SM and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Gut biogeography of the bacterial microbiota.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {20-32}, pmid = {26499895}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {R01 MH100556/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; MH100556/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS085910/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals assemble and maintain a diverse but host-specific gut microbial community. In addition to characteristic microbial compositions along the longitudinal axis of the intestines, discrete bacterial communities form in microhabitats, such as the gut lumen, colonic mucus layers and colonic crypts. In this Review, we examine how the spatial distribution of symbiotic bacteria among physical niches in the gut affects the development and maintenance of a resilient microbial ecosystem. We consider novel hypotheses for how nutrient selection, immune activation and other mechanisms control the biogeography of bacteria in the gut, and we discuss the relevance of this spatial heterogeneity to health and disease.}, } @article {pmid26499392, year = {2016}, author = {Welling, MT and Liu, L and Rose, TJ and Waters, DL and Benkendorff, K}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: effects on plant terpenoid accumulation.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {552-562}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12408}, pmid = {26499392}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plants/anatomy & histology/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Terpenes/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a diverse group of soil-dwelling fungi that form symbiotic associations with land plants. AMF-plant associations promote the accumulation of plant terpenoids beneficial to human health, although how AMF mediate terpenoid accumulation is not fully understood. A critical assessment and discussion of the literature relating to mechanisms by which AMF influence plant terpenoid accumulation, and whether this symbiosis can be harnessed in horticultural ecosystems was performed. Modification of plant morphology, phosphorus availability and gene transcription involved with terpenoid biosynthetic pathways were identified as key mechanisms associated with terpenoid accumulation in AMF-colonised plants. In order to exploit AMF-plant symbioses in horticultural ecosystems it is important to consider the specificity of the AMF-plant association, the predominant factor affecting terpenoid accumulation, as well as the end use application of the harvested plant material. Future research should focus on resolving the relationship between ecologically matched AMF genotypes and terpenoid accumulation in plants to establish if these associations are effective in promoting mechanisms favourable for plant terpenoid accumulation.}, } @article {pmid26497873, year = {2015}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Banaszak, AT and Altman, NS and LaJeunesse, TC and Baums, IB}, title = {Intraspecific diversity among partners drives functional variation in coral symbioses.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {15667}, pmid = {26497873}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; Climate ; *Cold Temperature ; Cold-Shock Response/genetics/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation/*physiology ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Photochemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The capacity of coral-dinoflagellate mutualisms to adapt to a changing climate relies in part on standing variation in host and symbiont populations, but rarely have the interactions between symbiotic partners been considered at the level of individuals. Here, we tested the importance of inter-individual variation with respect to the physiology of coral holobionts. We identified six genetically distinct Acropora palmata coral colonies that all shared the same isoclonal Symbiodinium 'fitti' dinoflagellate strain. No other Symbiodinium could be detected in host tissues. We exposed fragments of each colony to extreme cold and found that the stress-induced change in symbiont photochemical efficiency varied up to 3.6-fold depending on host genetic background. The S. 'fitti' strain was least stressed when associating with hosts that significantly altered the expression of 184 genes under cold shock; it was most stressed in hosts that only adjusted 14 genes. Key expression differences among hosts were related to redox signaling and iron availability pathways. Fine-scale interactions among unique host colonies and symbiont strains provide an underappreciated source of raw material for natural selection in coral symbioses.}, } @article {pmid26497477, year = {2015}, author = {Flowers, SA and Ellingrod, VL}, title = {The Microbiome in Mental Health: Potential Contribution of Gut Microbiota in Disease and Pharmacotherapy Management.}, journal = {Pharmacotherapy}, volume = {35}, number = {10}, pages = {910-916}, doi = {10.1002/phar.1640}, pmid = {26497477}, issn = {1875-9114}, mesh = {Affect/physiology ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism ; Brain/metabolism ; Diet ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Mental Disorders/*physiopathology ; *Mental Health ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome is composed of ~10(13) -10(14) microbial cells and viruses that exist in a symbiotic bidirectional communicative relationship with the host. Bacterial functions in the gut have an important role in healthy host metabolic function, and dysbiosis can contribute to the pathology of many medical conditions. Alterations in the relationship between gut microbiota and host have gained some attention in mental health because new evidence supports the association of gut bacteria to cognitive and emotional processes. Of interest, illnesses such as major depressive disorder are disproportionately prevalent in patients with gastrointestinal illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease, which pathologically has been strongly linked to microbiome function. Not only is the microbiome associated with the disease itself, but it may also influence the effectiveness or adverse effects associated with pharmacologic agents used to treat these disorders. This field of study may also provide new insights on how dietary agents may help manage mental illness both directly as well as though their influence on the therapeutic and adverse effects of psychotropic agents.}, } @article {pmid26497146, year = {2015}, author = {Gutzwiller, F and Carmo, CR and Miller, DE and Rice, DW and Newton, IL and Hawley, RS and Teixeira, L and Bergman, CM}, title = {Dynamics of Wolbachia pipientis Gene Expression Across the Drosophila melanogaster Life Cycle.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {2843-2856}, pmid = {26497146}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {BB/L002817/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*growth & development/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Life Cycle Stages ; Phylogeny ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between microbes and their multicellular hosts have manifold biological consequences. To better understand how bacteria maintain symbiotic associations with animal hosts, we analyzed genome-wide gene expression for the endosymbiotic α-proteobacteria Wolbachia pipientis across the entire life cycle of Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the majority of Wolbachia genes are expressed stably across the D. melanogaster life cycle, but that 7.8% of Wolbachia genes exhibit robust stage- or sex-specific expression differences when studied in the whole-organism context. Differentially-expressed Wolbachia genes are typically up-regulated after Drosophila embryogenesis and include many bacterial membrane, secretion system, and ankyrin repeat-containing proteins. Sex-biased genes are often organized as small operons of uncharacterized genes and are mainly up-regulated in adult Drosophila males in an age-dependent manner. We also systematically investigated expression levels of previously-reported candidate genes thought to be involved in host-microbe interaction, including those in the WO-A and WO-B prophages and in the Octomom region, which has been implicated in regulating bacterial titer and pathogenicity. Our work provides comprehensive insight into the developmental dynamics of gene expression for a widespread endosymbiont in its natural host context, and shows that public gene expression data harbor rich resources to probe the functional basis of the Wolbachia-Drosophila symbiosis and annotate the transcriptional outputs of the Wolbachia genome.}, } @article {pmid26496685, year = {2015}, author = {Braesel, J and Götze, S and Shah, F and Heine, D and Tauber, J and Hertweck, C and Tunlid, A and Stallforth, P and Hoffmeister, D}, title = {Three Redundant Synthetases Secure Redox-Active Pigment Production in the Basidiomycete Paxillus involutus.}, journal = {Chemistry & biology}, volume = {22}, number = {10}, pages = {1325-1334}, doi = {10.1016/j.chembiol.2015.08.016}, pmid = {26496685}, issn = {1879-1301}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*enzymology/genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pigments, Biological/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sequence Alignment ; Substrate Specificity ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic fungus Paxillus involutus serves a critical role in maintaining forest ecosystems, which are carbon sinks of global importance. P. involutus produces involutin and other 2,5-diarylcyclopentenone pigments that presumably assist in the oxidative degradation of lignocellulose via Fenton chemistry. Their precise biosynthetic pathways, however, remain obscure. Using a combination of biochemical, genetic, and transcriptomic analyses, in addition to stable-isotope labeling with synthetic precursors, we show that atromentin is the key intermediate. Atromentin is made by tridomain synthetases of high similarity: InvA1, InvA2, and InvA5. An inactive atromentin synthetase, InvA3, gained activity after a domain swap that replaced its native thioesterase domain with that of InvA5. The found degree of multiplex biosynthetic capacity is unprecedented with fungi, and highlights the great importance of the metabolite for the producer.}, } @article {pmid26496493, year = {2015}, author = {Gnat, S and Małek, W and Oleńska, E and Wdowiak-Wróbel, S and Kalita, M and Łotocka, B and Wójcik, M}, title = {Phylogeny of Symbiotic Genes and the Symbiotic Properties of Rhizobia Specific to Astragalus glycyphyllos L.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0141504}, pmid = {26496493}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Astragalus Plant/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Loci ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylogeny of symbiotic genes of Astragalus glycyphyllos L. (liquorice milkvetch) nodule isolates was studied by comparative sequence analysis of nodA, nodC, nodH and nifH loci. In all these genes phylograms, liquorice milkvetch rhizobia (closely related to bacteria of three species, i.e. Mesorhizobium amorphae, Mesorhizobium septentrionale and Mesorhizobium ciceri) formed one clearly separate cluster suggesting the horizontal transfer of symbiotic genes from a single ancestor to the bacteria being studied. The high sequence similarity of the symbiotic genes of A. glycyphyllos rhizobia (99-100% in the case of nodAC and nifH genes, and 98-99% in the case of nodH one) points to the relatively recent (in evolutionary scale) lateral transfer of these genes. In the nodACH and nifH phylograms, A. glycyphyllos nodule isolates were grouped together with the genus Mesorhizobium species in one monophyletic clade, close to M. ciceri, Mesorhizobium opportunistum and Mesorhizobium australicum symbiovar biserrulae bacteria, which correlates with the close relationship of these rhizobia host plants. Plant tests revealed the narrow host range of A. glycyphyllos rhizobia. They formed effective symbiotic interactions with their native host (A. glycyphyllos) and Amorpha fruticosa but not with 11 other fabacean species. The nodules induced on A. glycyphyllos roots were indeterminate with apical, persistent meristem, an age gradient of nodule tissues and cortical vascular bundles. To reflect the symbiosis-adaptive phenotype of rhizobia, specific for A. glycyphyllos, we propose for these bacteria the new symbiovar "glycyphyllae", based on nodA and nodC genes sequences.}, } @article {pmid26496201, year = {2015}, author = {Binnebose, AM and Haughney, SL and Martin, R and Imerman, PM and Narasimhan, B and Bellaire, BH}, title = {Polyanhydride Nanoparticle Delivery Platform Dramatically Enhances Killing of Filarial Worms.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e0004173}, pmid = {26496201}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R01 AI047195/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthelmintics/*pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Brugia malayi/*drug effects/*physiology ; Doxycycline/pharmacology ; Drug Carriers/*metabolism ; Ivermectin/pharmacology ; Locomotion/drug effects ; Nanoparticles/*metabolism ; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests ; Polyanhydrides/*metabolism ; Survival Analysis ; }, abstract = {Filarial diseases represent a significant social and economic burden to over 120 million people worldwide and are caused by endoparasites that require the presence of symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia for fertility and viability of the host parasite. Targeting Wolbachia for elimination is a therapeutic approach that shows promise in the treatment of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Here we demonstrate the use of a biodegradable polyanhydride nanoparticle-based platform for the co-delivery of the antibiotic doxycycline with the antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, to reduce microfilarial burden and rapidly kill adult worms. When doxycycline and ivermectin were co-delivered within polyanhydride nanoparticles, effective killing of adult female Brugia malayi filarial worms was achieved with approximately 4,000-fold reduction in the amount of drug used. Additionally the time to death of the macrofilaria was also significantly reduced (five-fold) when the anti-filarial drug cocktail was delivered within polyanhydride nanoparticles. We hypothesize that the mechanism behind this dramatically enhanced killing of the macrofilaria is the ability of the polyanhydride nanoparticles to behave as a Trojan horse and penetrate the cuticle, bypassing excretory pumps of B. malayi, and effectively deliver drug directly to both the worm and Wolbachia at high enough microenvironmental concentrations to cause death. These provocative findings may have significant consequences for the reduction in the amount of drug and the length of treatment required for filarial infections in terms of patient compliance and reduced cost of treatment.}, } @article {pmid26496168, year = {2015}, author = {Peppicelli, S and Bianchini, F and Toti, A and Laurenzana, A and Fibbi, G and Calorini, L}, title = {Extracellular acidity strengthens mesenchymal stem cells to promote melanoma progression.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {14}, number = {19}, pages = {3088-3100}, pmid = {26496168}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Disease Progression ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects ; Esomeprazole/pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Melanoma/*pathology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology/drug effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) participate to tumor stroma development and several evidence suggests that they play a role in facilitating cancer progression. Because melanoma often shows extracellular pH low enough to influence host cell as tumor cell behavior, the aim of this study is to elucidate whether acidity affects cross talk between MSC and melanoma cells to disclose new liaisons promoting melanoma progression, and to offer new therapeutic opportunities. We found that MSC grown in a low pH medium (LpH-MSC) stimulate melanoma xenografts more than MSC grown in a standard pH medium. LpH-MSC express a higher level of TGFβ that is instrumental of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like phenotype induction in melanoma cells. LpH-MSC profile also shows a switching to an oxidative phosphorylation metabolism that was accompanied by a forced glycolytic pathway of melanoma cells grown in LpH-MSC-conditioned medium. Metformin, an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory chain was able to reconvert oxidative metabolism and abrogate TGFβ expression in LpH-MSC. In addition, esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor activated in acidosis, blocked TGFβ expression in LpH-MSC through the downregulation of IkB. Both agents, metformin and esomeprazole, inhibited EMT profile in melanoma cells grown in LpH-MSC medium, and reduced glycolytic markers. Thus, acidosis of tumor microenvironment potentiates the pro-tumoral activity of MSC and orchestrates for a new potential symbiosis, which could be target to limit melanoma progression.}, } @article {pmid26494419, year = {2015}, author = {Kubinak, JL and Stephens, WZ and Soto, R and Petersen, C and Chiaro, T and Gogokhia, L and Bell, R and Ajami, NJ and Petrosino, JF and Morrison, L and Potts, WK and Jensen, PE and O'Connell, RM and Round, JL}, title = {MHC variation sculpts individualized microbial communities that control susceptibility to enteric infection.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {8642}, pmid = {26494419}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {DP2 AT008746/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; P40 OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI95375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP2 GM111099/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; N01AI95375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R00 HL102228/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034987/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DP2AT008746-01/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI-055434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1S10RR026802-01/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR026802/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 5-P39-DK034987/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI109122/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI095375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP2GM111099-01/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; R56 AI107090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI107090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007464/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI109122/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 5-P40-OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R00HL102228-05/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Susceptibility ; Enteritis/*immunology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Heterozygote ; Immunoglobulin A/genetics ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Lactobacillus ; *Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Male ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Salmonella Infections, Animal/*immunology ; Salmonella enterica ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The presentation of protein antigens on the cell surface by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules coordinates vertebrate adaptive immune responses, thereby mediating susceptibility to a variety of autoimmune and infectious diseases. The composition of symbiotic microbial communities (the microbiota) is influenced by host immunity and can have a profound impact on host physiology. Here we use an MHC congenic mouse model to test the hypothesis that genetic variation at MHC genes among individuals mediates susceptibility to disease by controlling microbiota composition. We find that MHC genotype significantly influences antibody responses against commensals in the gut, and that these responses are correlated with the establishment of unique microbial communities. Transplantation experiments in germfree mice indicate that MHC-mediated differences in microbiota composition are sufficient to explain susceptibility to enteric infection. Our findings indicate that MHC polymorphisms contribute to defining an individual's unique microbial fingerprint that influences health.}, } @article {pmid26494154, year = {2015}, author = {Chavez-Dozal, A and Gorman, C and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Proteomic and metabolomic profiles demonstrate variation among free-living and symbiotic vibrio fischeri biofilms.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {226}, pmid = {26494154}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T34 GM007667/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007538/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM0007667-34/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC1AI081659-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 3SC1AI081659-02S1/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*chemistry/*physiology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Mass Spectrometry ; *Metabolomics ; *Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A number of bacterial species are capable of growing in various life history modes that enable their survival and persistence in both planktonic free-living stages as well as in biofilm communities. Mechanisms contributing to either planktonic cell or biofilm persistence and survival can be carefully delineated using multiple differential techniques (e.g., genomics and transcriptomics). In this study, we present both proteomic and metabolomic analyses of Vibrio fischeri biofilms, demonstrating the potential for combined differential studies for elucidating life-history switches important for establishing the mutualism through biofilm formation and host colonization.

METHODS: The study used a metabolomics/proteomics or "meta-proteomics" approach, referring to the combined protein and metabolic data analysis that bridges the gap between phenotypic changes (planktonic cell to biofilm formation) with genotypic changes (reflected in protein/metabolic profiles). Our methods used protein shotgun construction, followed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) detection and quantification for both free-living and biofilm forming V. fischeri.

RESULTS: We present a time-resolved picture of approximately 100 proteins (2D-PAGE and shotgun proteomics) and 200 metabolites that are present during the transition from planktonic growth to community biofilm formation. Proteins involved in stress response, DNA repair damage, and transport appeared to be highly expressed during the biofilm state. In addition, metabolites detected in biofilms correspond to components of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) matrix (sugars and glycerol-derived). Alterations in metabolic enzymes were paralleled by more pronounced changes in concentration of intermediates from the glycolysis pathway as well as several amino acids.

CONCLUSIONS: This combined analysis of both types of information (proteins, metabolites) has provided a more complete picture of the biochemical processes of biofilm formation and what determines the switch between the two life history strategies. The reported findings have broad implications for Vibrio biofilm ecology, and mechanisms for successful survival in the host and environment.}, } @article {pmid26492411, year = {2015}, author = {Furihata, S and Hirata, M and Matsumoto, H and Hayakawa, Y}, title = {Bacteria Endosymbiont, Wolbachia, Promotes Parasitism of Parasitoid Wasp Asobara japonica.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0140914}, pmid = {26492411}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/parasitology ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Male ; Oviposition/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Wasps/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is the most widespread endosymbiotic bacterium that manipulates reproduction of its arthropod hosts to enhance its own spread throughout host populations. Infection with Wolbachia causes complete parthenogenetic reproduction in many Hymenoptera, producing only female offspring. The mechanism of such reproductive manipulation by Wolbachia has been extensively studied. However, the effects of Wolbachia symbiosis on behavioral traits of the hosts are scarcely investigated. The parasitoid wasp Asobara japonica is an ideal insect to investigate this because symbiotic and aposymbiotic strains are available: Wolbachia-infected Tokyo (TK) and noninfected Iriomote (IR) strains originally collected on the main island and southwest islands of Japan, respectively. We compared the oviposition behaviors of the two strains and found that TK strain females parasitized Drosophila melanogaster larvae more actively than the IR strain, especially during the first two days after eclosion. Removing Wolbachia from the TK strain wasps by treatment with tetracycline or rifampicin decreased their parasitism activity to the level of the IR strain. Morphological and behavioral analyses of both strain wasps showed that Wolbachia endosymbionts do not affect development of the host female reproductive tract and eggs, but do enhance host-searching ability of female wasps. These results suggest the possibility that Wolbachia endosymbionts may promote their diffusion and persistence in the host A. japonica population not only at least partly by parthenogenesis but also by enhancement of oviposition frequency of the host females.}, } @article {pmid26489859, year = {2015}, author = {Kulkarni, G and Busset, N and Molinaro, A and Gargani, D and Chaintreuil, C and Silipo, A and Giraud, E and Newman, DK}, title = {Specific hopanoid classes differentially affect free-living and symbiotic states of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {e01251-15}, pmid = {26489859}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Triterpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: A better understanding of how bacteria resist stresses encountered during the progression of plant-microbe symbioses will advance our ability to stimulate plant growth. Here, we show that the symbiotic system comprising the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens and the legume Aeschynomene afraspera requires hopanoid production for optimal fitness. While methylated (2Me) hopanoids contribute to growth under plant-cell-like microaerobic and acidic conditions in the free-living state, they are dispensable during symbiosis. In contrast, synthesis of extended (C35) hopanoids is required for growth microaerobically and under various stress conditions (high temperature, low pH, high osmolarity, bile salts, oxidative stress, and antimicrobial peptides) in the free-living state and also during symbiosis. These defects might be due to a less rigid membrane resulting from the absence of free or lipidA-bound C35 hopanoids or the accumulation of the C30 hopanoid diploptene. Our results also show that C35 hopanoids are necessary for symbiosis only with the host Aeschynomene afraspera but not with soybean. This difference is likely related to the presence of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides in Aeschynomene nodules that induce drastic modification in bacterial morphology and physiology. The study of hopanoid mutants in plant symbionts thus provides an opportunity to gain insight into host-microbe interactions during later stages of symbiotic progression, as well as the microenvironmental conditions for which hopanoids provide a fitness advantage.

IMPORTANCE: Because bradyrhizobia provide fixed nitrogen to plants, this work has potential agronomical implications. An understanding of how hopanoids facilitate bacterial survival in soils and plant hosts may aid the engineering of more robust agronomic strains, especially relevant in regions that are becoming warmer and saline due to climate change. Moreover, this work has geobiological relevance: hopanes, molecular fossils of hopanoids, are enriched in ancient sedimentary rocks at discrete intervals in Earth history. This is the first study to uncover roles for 2Me- and C35 hopanoids in the context of an ecological niche that captures many of the stressful environmental conditions thought to be important during (2Me)-hopane deposition. Though much remains to be done to determine whether the conditions present within the plant host are shared with niches of relevance to the rock record, our findings represent an important step toward identifying conserved mechanisms whereby hopanoids contribute to fitness.}, } @article {pmid26489100, year = {2015}, author = {Howland, RH}, title = {Can a Bug in the Gut Act Like a Drug in the Brain?.}, journal = {Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services}, volume = {53}, number = {10}, pages = {22-24}, doi = {10.3928/02793695-20150923-01}, pmid = {26489100}, issn = {0279-3695}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Mental Disorders/*metabolism/*psychology ; Probiotics/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms inhabiting the gut exist in a symbiotic relationship with our bodies, performing many essential metabolic tasks for human physiology. The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication system integrating neural, hormonal, and immunological signaling between the gut and brain. There is strong experimental evidence from animal studies that the intestinal microbiome has an important role in the control of brain development, function, and behavior. A small number of clinical studies, mainly in healthy individuals, using probiotic formulations as an experimental probe suggest that gut bugs may indeed act like a drug and affect the brain, but much more work is needed.}, } @article {pmid26486646, year = {2015}, author = {Shimizu, H and Benno, Y}, title = {Membrane filter method to study the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum on fecal microbiota.}, journal = {Microbiology and immunology}, volume = {59}, number = {11}, pages = {643-652}, pmid = {26486646}, issn = {1348-0421}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/*physiology ; Clostridium/*growth & development/*physiology ; Coculture Techniques/*methods ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*physiology ; Ruminococcus/*growth & development/*physiology ; Streptococcus/*growth & development/*physiology ; Veillonella/*growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A large number of commensal bacteria inhabit the intestinal tract, and interbacterial communication among gut microbiota is thought to occur. In order to analyze symbiotic relationships between probiotic strains and the gut microbiota, a ring with a membrane filter fitted to the bottom was used for in vitro investigations. Test strains comprising probiotic nitto strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus NT and Bifidobacterium longum NT) and type strains (L. acidophilus JCM1132(T) and B. longum JCM1217(T)) were obtained from diluted fecal samples using the membrane filter to simulate interbacterial communication. Bifidobacterium spp., Streptococcus pasteurianus, Collinsella aerofaciens, and Clostridium spp. were the most abundant gut bacteria detected before coculture with the test strains. Results of the coculture experiments indicated that the test strains significantly promote the growth of Ruminococcus gnavus, Ruminococcus torques, and Veillonella spp. and inhibit the growth of Sutterella wadsworthensis. Differences in the relative abundances of gut bacterial strains were furthermore observed after coculture of the fecal samples with each test strain. Bifidobacterium spp., which was detected as the dominant strain in the fecal samples, was found to be unaffected by coculture with the test strains. In the present study, interbacterial communication using bacterial metabolites between the test strains and the gut microbiota was demonstrated by the coculture technique. The detailed mechanisms and effects of the complex interbacterial communications that occur among the gut microbiota are, however, still unclear. Further investigation of these relationships by coculture of several fecal samples with probiotic strains is urgently required.}, } @article {pmid26486359, year = {2015}, author = {Hoogenboom, M and Rottier, C and Sikorski, S and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Among-species variation in the energy budgets of reef-building corals: scaling from coral polyps to communities.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 24}, pages = {3866-3877}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.124396}, pmid = {26486359}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between corals and dinoflagellates promotes the rapid growth of corals in shallow tropical oceans, and the high overall productivity of coral reefs. The aim of this study was to quantify and understand variation in carbon acquisition and allocation among coral species. We measured multiple physiological traits (including symbiont density, calcification, photosynthesis and tissue composition) for the same coral fragments to facilitate direct comparisons between species (Stylophora pistillata, Pocillopora damicornis, Galaxea fascicularis, Turbinaria reniformis and Acropora sp.). Tissue protein content was highly sensitive to the availability of particulate food, increasing in fed colonies of all species. Despite among-species variation in physiology, and consistent effects of feeding on some traits, overall energy allocation to tissue compared with skeleton growth did not depend on food availability. Extrapolating from our results, estimated whole-assemblage carbon uptake varied >20-fold across different coral assemblages, but this variation was largely driven by differences in the tissue surface area of different colony morphologies, rather than by differences in surface-area-specific physiological rates. Our results caution against drawing conclusions about reef productivity based solely on physiological rates measured per unit tissue surface area. Understanding the causes and consequences of among-species variation in physiological energetics provides insight into the mechanisms that underlie the fluxes of organic matter within reefs, and between reefs and the open ocean.}, } @article {pmid26484850, year = {2016}, author = {Chabaud, M and Gherbi, H and Pirolles, E and Vaissayre, V and Fournier, J and Moukouanga, D and Franche, C and Bogusz, D and Tisa, LS and Barker, DG and Svistoonoff, S}, title = {Chitinase-resistant hydrophilic symbiotic factors secreted by Frankia activate both Ca(2+) spiking and NIN gene expression in the actinorhizal plant Casuarina glauca.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {209}, number = {1}, pages = {86-93}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13732}, pmid = {26484850}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Chitinases/metabolism ; Frankia/genetics/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Luminescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Magnoliopsida/genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although it is now well-established that decorated lipo-chitooligosaccharide Nod factors are the key rhizobial signals which initiate infection/nodulation in host legume species, the identity of the equivalent microbial signaling molecules in the Frankia/actinorhizal association remains elusive. With the objective of identifying Frankia symbiotic factors we present a novel approach based on both molecular and cellular pre-infection reporters expressed in the model actinorhizal species Casuarina glauca. By introducing the nuclear-localized cameleon Nup-YC2.1 into Casuarina glauca we show that cell-free culture supernatants of the compatible Frankia CcI3 strain are able to elicit sustained high frequency Ca(2+) spiking in host root hairs. Furthermore, an excellent correlation exists between the triggering of nuclear Ca(2+) spiking and the transcriptional activation of the ProCgNIN:GFP reporter as a function of the Frankia strain tested. These two pre-infection symbiotic responses have been used in combination to show that the signal molecules present in the Frankia CcI3 supernatant are hydrophilic, of low molecular weight and resistant to chitinase degradation. In conclusion, the biologically active symbiotic signals secreted by Frankia appear to be chemically distinct from the currently known chitin-based rhizobial/arbuscular mycorrhizal signaling molecules. Convenient bioassays in Casuarina glauca are now available for their full characterization.}, } @article {pmid26483827, year = {2015}, author = {Saia, S and Rappa, V and Ruisi, P and Abenavoli, MR and Sunseri, F and Giambalvo, D and Frenda, AS and Martinelli, F}, title = {Soil inoculation with symbiotic microorganisms promotes plant growth and nutrient transporter genes expression in durum wheat.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {815}, pmid = {26483827}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In a field experiment conducted in a Mediterranean area of inner Sicily, durum wheat was inoculated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), or with both to evaluate their effects on nutrient uptake, plant growth, and the expression of key transporter genes involved in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake. These biotic associations were studied under either low N availability (unfertilized plots) and supplying the soil with an easily mineralizable organic fertilizer. Regardless of N fertilization, at the tillering stage, inoculation with AMF alone or in combination with PGPR increased the aboveground biomass yield compared to the uninoculated control. Inoculation with PGPR enhanced the aboveground biomass yield compared to the control, but only when N fertilizer was added. At the heading stage, inoculation with all microorganisms increased the aboveground biomass and N. Inoculation with PGPR and AMF+PGPR resulted in significantly higher aboveground P compared to the control and inoculation with AMF only when organic N was applied. The role of microbe inoculation in N uptake was elucidated by the expression of nitrate transporter genes. NRT1.1, NRT2, and NAR2.2 were significantly upregulated by inoculation with AMF and AMF+PGPR in the absence of organic N. A significant down-regulation of the same genes was observed when organic N was added. The ammonium (NH4 (+)) transporter genes AMT1.2 showed an expression pattern similar to that of the NO3 (-) transporters. Finally, in the absence of organic N, the transcript abundance of P transporters Pht1 and PT2-1 was increased by inoculation with AMF+PGPR, and inoculation with AMF upregulated Pht2 compared to the uninoculated control. These results indicate the soil inoculation with AMF and PGPR (alone or in combination) as a valuable option for farmers to improve yield, nutrient uptake, and the sustainability of the agro-ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid26482588, year = {2016}, author = {Guéra, A and Gasulla, F and Barreno, E}, title = {Formation of photosystem II reaction centers that work as energy sinks in lichen symbiotic Trebouxiophyceae microalgae.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {128}, number = {1}, pages = {15-33}, pmid = {26482588}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {Ascomycota/physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Chlorophyta/*metabolism/physiology ; Diuron/pharmacology ; Lichens/metabolism/*physiology ; Light ; Microalgae/drug effects/*metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are poikilohydric symbiotic organisms that can survive in the absence of water. Photosynthesis must be highly regulated in these organisms, which live under continuous desiccation-rehydration cycles, to avoid photooxidative damage. Analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence induction curves in the lichen microalgae of the Trebouxiophyceae Asterochloris erici and in Trebouxia jamesii (TR1) and Trebouxia sp. (TR9) phycobionts, isolated from the lichen Ramalina farinacea, shows differences with higher plants. In the presence of the photosynthetic electron transport inhibitor DCMU, the kinetics of Q(A) reduction is related to variable fluorescence by a sigmoidal function that approaches a horizontal asymptote. An excellent fit to these curves was obtained by applying a model based on the following assumptions: (1) after closure, the reaction centers (RCs) can be converted into "energy sink" centers (sRCs); (2) the probability of energy leaving the sRCs is very low or zero and (3) energy is not transferred from the antenna of PSII units with sRCs to other PSII units. The formation of sRCs units is also induced by repetitive light saturating pulses or at the transition from dark to light and probably requires the accumulation of reduced Q(A), as well as structural changes in the reaction centers of PSII. This type of energy sink would provide a very efficient way to protect symbiotic microalgae against abrupt changes in light intensity.}, } @article {pmid26482132, year = {2015}, author = {Masson, F and Moné, Y and Vigneron, A and Vallier, A and Parisot, N and Vincent-Monégat, C and Balmand, S and Carpentier, MC and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Weevil endosymbiont dynamics is associated with a clamping of immunity.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {819}, pmid = {26482132}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics ; Autophagy/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Digestive System/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Insect Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Larva/growth & development/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Weevils/*genetics/growth & development/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects subsisting on nutritionally unbalanced diets have evolved long-term mutualistic relationships with intracellular symbiotic bacteria (endosymbionts). The endosymbiont population load undergoes changes along with insect development. In the cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae, the midgut endosymbionts Sodalis pierantonius drastically multiply following adult metamorphosis and rapidly decline until total elimination when the insect achieves its cuticle synthesis. Whilst symbiont load was shown to timely meet insect metabolic needs, little is known about the host molecular and immune processes underlying this dynamics.

METHODS: We performed RNA sequencing analysis on weevil midguts at three representative phases of the endosymbiont dynamics (i.e. increase, climax and decrease). To screen genes which transcriptional changes are specifically related to symbiont dynamics and not to the intrinsic development of the midgut, we further have monitored by RT-qPCR sixteen gene transcript levels in symbiotic and artificially non-symbiotic (aposymbiotic) weevils. We also localized the endosymbionts during the elimination process by fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS: Functional analysis of the host differentially expressed genes by RNA sequencing showed that the main transcriptional changes occur during endosymbiont growth phase and affect cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, phagocytosis, and metabolism of fatty acids and nucleic acids. We also showed that symbiont dynamics alters the expression of several genes involved in insect development. Our results strengthened the implication of apoptosis and autophagy processes in symbiont elimination and recycling. Remarkably, apart from the coleoptericin A that is known to target endosymbionts and controls their division and location, no gene coding antimicrobial peptide was upregulated during the symbiont growth and elimination phases.

CONCLUSION: We show that endosymbiont dynamics parallels numerous transcriptional changes in weevil developing adults and affects several biological processes, including metabolism and development. It also triggers cell apoptosis, autophagy and gut epithelial cell swelling and delamination. Strikingly, immunity is repressed during the whole process, presumably avoiding tissue inflammation and allowing insects to optimize nutrient recovery from recycled endosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid26481731, year = {2015}, author = {Miao, Z and Xu, W and Li, D and Hu, X and Liu, J and Zhang, R and Tong, Z and Dong, J and Su, Z and Zhang, L and Sun, M and Li, W and Du, Z and Hu, S and Wang, T}, title = {De novo transcriptome analysis of Medicago falcata reveals novel insights about the mechanisms underlying abiotic stress-responsive pathway.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {818}, pmid = {26481731}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicago/genetics/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Sodium Chloride/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The entire world is facing a deteriorating environment. Understanding the mechanisms underlying plant responses to external abiotic stresses is important for breeding stress-tolerant crops and herbages. Phytohormones play critical regulatory roles in plants in the response to external and internal cues to regulate growth and development. Medicago falcata is one of the stress-tolerant candidate leguminous species and is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This ability allows leguminous plants to grow in nitrogen deficient soils.

METHODS: We performed Illumina sequencing of cDNA prepared from abiotic stress treated M. falcata. Sequencedreads were assembled to provide a transcriptome resource. Transcripts were annotated using BLASTsearches against the NCBI non-redundant database and gene ontology definitions were assigned. Acomparison among the three abiotic stress treated samples was carried out. The expression of transcriptswas confirmed with qRT-PCR.

RESULTS: We present an abiotic stress-responsive M. falcata transcriptome using next-generation sequencing data from samples grown under standard, dehydration, high salinity, and cold conditions. We combined reads from all samples and de novo assembled 98,515 transcripts to build the M. falcata gene index. A comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome revealed abiotic stress-responsive mechanisms underlying the metabolism and core signalling components of major phytohormones. We identified nod factor signalling pathways during early symbiotic nodulation that are modified by abiotic stresses. Additionally, a global comparison of homology between the M. falcata and M. truncatula transcriptomes, along with five other leguminous species, revealed a high level of global sequence conservation within the family.

CONCLUSIONS: M. falcata is shown to be a model candidate for studying abiotic stress-responsive mechanisms in legumes. This global gene expression analysis provides new insights into the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in the acclimation to abiotic stresses. Our data provides many gene candidates that might be used for herbage and crop breeding. Additionally, FalcataBase (http://bioinformatics.cau.edu.cn/falcata/) was built for storing these data.}, } @article {pmid26481560, year = {2015}, author = {Pasaribu, B and Weng, LC and Lin, IP and Camargo, E and Tzen, JT and Tsai, CH and Ho, SL and Lin, MR and Wang, LH and Chen, CS and Jiang, PL}, title = {Morphological Variability and Distinct Protein Profiles of Cultured and Endosymbiotic Symbiodinium cells Isolated from Exaiptasia pulchella.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {15353}, pmid = {26481560}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Proteome ; *Proteomics/methods ; Sea Anemones/*anatomy & histology/*parasitology/ultrastructure ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Symbiodinium is a dinoflagellate that plays an important role in the physiology of the symbiotic relationships of Cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones. However, it is very difficult to cultivate free-living dinoflagellates after being isolated from the host, as they are very sensitive to environmental changes. How these symbiont cells are supported by the host tissue is still unclear. This study investigated the characteristics of Symbiodinium cells, particularly with respect to the morphological variability and distinct protein profiles of both cultured and endosymbiotic Symbiodinium which were freshly isolated from Exaiptasia pulchella. The response of the cellular morphology of freshly isolated Symbiodinium cells kept under a 12 h L:12 h D cycle to different temperatures was measured. Cellular proliferation was investigated by measuring the growth pattern of Symbiodinium cells, the results of which indicated that the growth was significantly reduced in response to the extreme temperatures. Proteomic analysis of freshly isolated Symbiodinium cells revealed twelve novel proteins that putatively included transcription translation factors, photosystem proteins, and proteins associated with energy and lipid metabolism, as well as defense response. The results of this study will bring more understandings to the mechanisms governing the endosymbiotic relationship between the cnidarians and dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid26481128, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, DY and Lee, MJ and Cho, HY and Lee, JS and Lee, MH and Chung, CW and Shin, DH and Rhee, YH and Son, KH and Park, HY}, title = {Genetic and functional characterization of an extracellular modular GH6 endo-β-1,4-glucanase from an earthworm symbiont, Cellulosimicrobium funkei HY-13.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {1-12}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-015-0604-2}, pmid = {26481128}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/metabolism ; Cellobiose/metabolism ; Cellulase/chemistry/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cellulomonas/*enzymology/genetics ; Chitin/metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Stability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lignin/metabolism ; Mannans/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Proteoglycans ; Xylans/metabolism ; beta-Glucans/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gene (1608-bp) encoding a GH6 endo-β-1,4-glucanase (CelL) from the earthworm-symbiotic bacterium Cellulosimicrobium funkei HY-13 was cloned from its whole genome sequence, expressed recombinantly, and biochemically characterized. CelL (56.0 kDa) is a modular enzyme consisting of an N-terminal catalytic GH6 domain (from Val57 to Pro396), which is 71 % identical to a GH6 protein (accession no.: WP_034662937) from Cellulomonas sp. KRMCY2, together with a C-terminal CBM 2 domain (from Cys429 to Cys532). The highest catalytic activity of CelL toward carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was observed at 50 °C and pH 5.0, and was relatively stable at a broad pH range of 4.0-10.0. The enzyme was capable of efficiently hydrolyzing the cellulosic polymers in the order of barley β-1,3-1,4-D-glucan > CMC > lichenan > Avicel > konjac glucomannan. However, cellobiose, cellotriose, p-nitrophenyl derivatives of mono- and disaccharides, or structurally unrelated carbohydrate polymers including β-1,3-D-glucan, β-1,4-D-galactomannan, and β-1,4-D-xylan were not susceptible to CelL. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellopentaose resulted in the production of a mixture of 68.6 % cellobiose and 31.4 % cellotriose but barley β-1,3-1,4-D-glucan was 100 % degraded to cellotriose by CelL. The enzyme strongly bound to Avicel, ivory nut mannan, and chitin but showed relatively weak binding affinity to lichenan, lignin, or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) granules.}, } @article {pmid26479018, year = {2014}, author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Roeser-Mueller, K and Stubblefield, JW and Seger, J and Strohm, E}, title = {Biogeography of a defensive symbiosis.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e993265}, pmid = {26479018}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Mutualistic microorganisms play important roles in nutrition, reproduction and defense of many insects, yet the factors contributing to their maintenance and dispersal remain unknown in most cases. Theory suggests that collaboration can be maintained by repeated interaction of the same partners (partner fidelity) or by selective discrimination against non-cooperative partners (partner choice). In the defensive mutualism between solitary beewolf wasps and their antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria, partner choice by host control of vertical symbiont transmission reinforces partner fidelity and has helped to maintain this highly specific association since it originated in the late Cretaceous. However, co-phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses suggest that there has also been considerable horizontal transmission of the symbionts. While the beewolves clearly have a paleotropic or palearctic origin, with later colonization of the nearctic and neotropics via Beringia and the Aves ridge, respectively, the bacteria show only weak geographical clustering, implying global dispersal or vicariance within the confines of an otherwise apparently exclusive symbiotic relationship. We discuss several hypotheses that may explain these patterns. Future studies investigating the occurrence of beewolf symbionts in the environment could yield broadly applicable insights into the relative impact of animal-vectored and free-living dispersal on the distribution of microorganisms in nature.}, } @article {pmid26478871, year = {2015}, author = {Rabiei, S and Shakerhosseini, R and Saadat, N}, title = {The effects of symbiotic therapy on anthropometric measures, body composition and blood pressure in patient with metabolic syndrome: a triple blind RCT.}, journal = {Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {213}, pmid = {26478871}, issn = {1016-1430}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Increase in prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes which are of the main risk factors of metabolic syndrome, is not only the result of changes in genetic, diet or physical activity, but also an imbalance of micro flora may play an important role. Therefore, alteration of micro flora using pre/probiotic is considered as a new strategy for treatment of metabolic disorders.

METHODS: The current study is a triple blind randomized controlled trial. 46 patients from both sexes, who fulfilled inclusion criteria, randomly categorized into intervention or placebo group. The intervention and placebo groups consumed 2 probiotic capsules or 2 placebo capsules during 3 months, respectively. Both groups received a weight loss diet, according to their adjusted ideal body weight. Anthropometric, body composition, blood pressure and nutritional measurements were done in the beginning, at 6th week, and at the end of the study. T-test and paired-t test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: 40 patients completed the study. BMI, WC, HC, fat mass, lean mass and blood pressure were reduced in all participants (p< 0.05). Systolic blood pressure in symbiotic group was less than placebo group, significantly (p< 0.05). The trend of weight loss in symbiotic group continued at least for 12 weeks while it was stopped at week 6 in placebo group.

CONCLUSION: Symbiotic supplement with the weight loss diet had synergistic effects on improvement in systolic blood pressure and anthropometric measurements. Based on our findings, symbiotic can postpone plateau phase of weight loss and it may prevent resistance to further weight loss.}, } @article {pmid26478786, year = {2015}, author = {De Meyer, SE and Parker, M and Van Berkum, P and Tian, R and Seshadri, R and Reddy, TB and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N and Howieson, J and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of the Mimosa asperata - nodulating Cupriavidus sp. strain AMP6.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {80}, pmid = {26478786}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Cupriavidus sp. strain AMP6 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from a root nodule of Mimosa asperata collected in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, in 2005. Mimosa asperata is the only legume described so far to exclusively associates with Cupriavidus symbionts. Moreover, strain AMP6 represents an early-diverging lineage within the symbiotic Cupriavidus group and has the capacity to develop an effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with three other species of Mimosa. Therefore, the genome of Cupriavidus sp. strain AMP6 enables comparative analyses of symbiotic trait evolution in this genus and here we describe the general features, together with sequence and annotation. The 7,579,563 bp high-quality permanent draft genome is arranged in 260 scaffolds of 262 contigs, contains 7,033 protein-coding genes and 97 RNA-only encoding genes, and is part of the GEBA-RNB project proposal.}, } @article {pmid26478771, year = {2015}, author = {Hunt, T}, title = {The Microcosm within: An interview with William B. Miller, Jr., on the Extended Hologenome theory of evolution.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e1000711}, pmid = {26478771}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {There is a singular unifying reality underlying every biologic interaction on our planet. In immunology, that which does not kill you makes you different. -William B. Miller, Jr. We are experiencing a revolution in our understanding of inner space on a par with our exponentially increasing understanding of outer space. In biology, we are learning that the genetic and epigenetic complexity within organisms is far deeper than suspected. This is a key theme in William B. Miller Jr.'s book, The Microcosm Within: Evolution and Extinction in the Hologenome. We are learning also that a focus on the human genome alone is misleading when it comes to who we really are as biological entities, and in terms of how we and other creatures have evolved. Rather than being defined by the human genome alone, we are instead defined by the "hologenome," the sum of the human genome and the far larger genetic endowment of the microbiome and symbiotic communities that reside within and around us. Miller is a medical doctor previously in private practice in Pennsylvania and Phoenix, Arizona. This book is his first foray into evolutionary theory. His book could have been titled "The Origin of Variation" because this is his primary focus. He accepts that natural selection plays a role in evolution, but he demotes this mechanism to a less important role than the Modern Synthesis suggests. His main gripe, however, concerns random variation. He argues that random variation is unable to explain the origin and evolution of biological forms that we see in the world around us and in the historical record. Miller suggests that, rather than random variation as the engine of novelty, there is a creative impulse at the heart of cellular life, and even at the level of the genetic aggregate, that generates novelty on a regular basis. I probe this assertion in the interview below. He also highlights the strong role of "exogenous genetic assault" in variation and in his immunological model of evolution.}, } @article {pmid26478191, year = {2016}, author = {Revel, J and Massi, L and Mehiri, M and Boutoute, M and Mayzaud, P and Capron, L and Sabourault, C}, title = {Differential distribution of lipids in epidermis, gastrodermis and hosted Symbiodinium in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {140-151}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.10.017}, pmid = {26478191}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Epidermis/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis mainly relies on nutrient recycling, thus providing both partners with a competitive advantage in nutrient-poor waters. Essential processes related to lipid metabolism can be influenced by various factors, including hyperthermal stress. This can affect the lipid content and distribution in both partners, while contributing to symbiosis disruption and bleaching. In order to gain further insight into the role and distribution of lipids in the cnidarian metabolism, we investigated the lipid composition of the sea anemone Anemonia viridis and its photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodinium). We compared the lipid content and fatty acid profiles of the host cellular layers, non-symbiotic epidermal and symbiont-containing gastrodermal cells, and those of Symbiodinium, in a mass spectrometry-based assessment. Lipids were more concentrated in Symbiodinium cells, and the lipid class distribution was dominated by polar lipids in all tissues. The fatty acid distribution between host cell layers and Symbiodinium cells suggested potential lipid transfers between the partners. The lipid composition and distribution was modified during short-term hyperthermal stress, mainly in Symbiodinium cells and gastrodermis. Exposure to elevated temperature rapidly caused a decrease in polar lipid C18 unsaturated fatty acids and a strong and rapid decrease in the abundance of polar lipid fatty acids relative to sterols. These lipid indicators could therefore be used as sensitive biomarkers to assess the physiology of symbiotic cnidarians, especially the effect of thermal stress at the onset of cnidarian bleaching. Overall, the findings of this study provide some insight on key lipids that may regulate maintenance of the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid26476189, year = {2016}, author = {Volpe, V and Giovannetti, M and Sun, XG and Fiorilli, V and Bonfante, P}, title = {The phosphate transporters LjPT4 and MtPT4 mediate early root responses to phosphate status in non mycorrhizal roots.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {660-671}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12659}, pmid = {26476189}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis improves host plant phosphorous (P) status and elicits the expression of AM-inducible phosphate transporters (PTs) in arbuscule-containing cells, where they control arbuscule morphogenesis and P release. We confirmed such functions for LjPT4 in mycorrhizal Lotus japonicus. Promoter-GUS experiments showed LjPT4 transcription not only in arbusculated cells but also in root tips, in the absence of the fungus: here LjPT4 transcription profile depended on the phosphate level. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the expression of Lotus and Medicago truncatula PT4 in the tips of non-mycorrhizal roots. Starting from these observations, we hypothesized that AM-inducible PTs may have a regulatory role in plant development, irrespective of the fungal presence. Firstly, we focused on root development responses to different phosphate treatments in both plants demonstrating that phosphate starvation induced a higher number of lateral roots. By contrast, Lotus PT4i plants and Medicago mtpt4 mutants did not show any differential response to phosphate levels, suggesting that PT4 genes affect early root branching. Phosphate starvation-induced genes and a key auxin receptor, MtTIR1, showed an impaired expression in mtpt4 plants. We suggest PT4 genes as novel components of the P-sensing machinery at the root tip level, independently of AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid26476138, year = {2015}, author = {Prosdocimi, EM and Mapelli, F and Gonella, E and Borin, S and Crotti, E}, title = {Microbial ecology-based methods to characterize the bacterial communities of non-model insects.}, journal = {Journal of microbiological methods}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {110-125}, doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2015.10.010}, pmid = {26476138}, issn = {1872-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Humans ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Among the animals of the Kingdom Animalia, insects are unparalleled for their widespread diffusion, diversity and number of occupied ecological niches. In recent years they have raised researcher interest not only because of their importance as human and agricultural pests, disease vectors and as useful breeding species (e.g. honeybee and silkworm), but also because of their suitability as animal models. It is now fully recognized that microorganisms form symbiotic relationships with insects, influencing their survival, fitness, development, mating habits and the immune system and other aspects of the biology and ecology of the insect host. Thus, any research aimed at deepening the knowledge of any given insect species (perhaps species of applied interest or species emerging as novel pests or vectors) must consider the characterization of the associated microbiome. The present review critically examines the microbiology and molecular ecology techniques that can be applied to the taxonomical and functional analysis of the microbiome of non-model insects. Our goal is to provide an overview of current approaches and methods addressing the ecology and functions of microorganisms and microbiomes associated with insects. Our focus is on operational details, aiming to provide a concise guide to currently available advanced techniques, in an effort to extend insect microbiome research beyond simple descriptions of microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid26475926, year = {2015}, author = {Miller, PG and Bonn, MB and Franklin, CL and Ericsson, AC and McKarns, SC}, title = {TNFR2 Deficiency Acts in Concert with Gut Microbiota To Precipitate Spontaneous Sex-Biased Central Nervous System Demyelinating Autoimmune Disease.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {195}, number = {10}, pages = {4668-4684}, pmid = {26475926}, issn = {1550-6606}, support = {R01 ES022966/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*immunology ; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS/*genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis/immunology ; Interleukin-17/biosynthesis/immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II/*genetics ; Sex Factors ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; Th17 Cells/cytology/immunology ; }, abstract = {TNF-α antagonists provide benefit to patients with inflammatory autoimmune disorders such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. However, TNF antagonism unexplainably exacerbates CNS autoimmunity, including multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. The underlying mechanisms remain enigmatic. We demonstrate that TNFR2 deficiency results in female-biased spontaneous autoimmune CNS demyelination in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific 2D2 TCR transgenic mice. Disease in TNFR2(-/-) 2D2 mice was associated with CNS infiltration of T and B cells as well as increased production of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific IL-17, IFN-γ, and IgG2b. Attenuated disease in TNF(-/-) 2D2 mice relative to TNFR2(-/-) 2D2 mice identified distinctive roles for TNFR1 and TNFR2. Oral antibiotic treatment eliminated spontaneous autoimmunity in TNFR2(-/-) 2D2 mice to suggest role for gut microbiota. Illumina sequencing of fecal 16S rRNA identified a distinct microbiota profile in male TNFR2(-/-) 2D2 that was associated with disease protection. Akkermansia muciniphila, Sutterella sp., Oscillospira sp., Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Anaeroplasma sp. were selectively more abundant in male TNFR2(-/-) 2D2 mice. In contrast, Bacteroides sp., Bacteroides uniformis, and Parabacteroides sp. were more abundant in affected female TNFR2(-/-) 2D2 mice, suggesting a role in disease causation. Overall, TNFR2 blockade appears to disrupt commensal bacteria-host immune symbiosis to reveal autoimmune demyelination in genetically susceptible mice. Under this paradigm, microbes likely contribute to an individual's response to anti-TNF therapy. This model provides a foundation for host immune-microbiota-directed measures for the prevention and treatment of CNS-demyelinating autoimmune disorders.}, } @article {pmid26473052, year = {2015}, author = {Pakpour, S and Klironomos, J}, title = {The invasive plant, Brassica nigra, degrades local mycorrhizas across a wide geographical landscape.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, pages = {150300}, pmid = {26473052}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Disruption of mycorrhizal fungi that form symbioses with local native plants is a strategy used by some invasive exotic plants for competing within their resident communities. Example invasive plants include Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) and Brassica nigra (black mustard), both non-mycorrhizal plants in the Family Brassicaceae. Although there is clear evidence for mycorrhizal degradation, it is not known if such an effect is widespread across the naturalized range. In this study, we tested the ability of black mustard to degrade the local mycorrhizal symbiosis and supress the growth of native flora from across a variety of locations where black mustard has invaded. We found that the effects on mycorrhizal fungi and on the growth of native plants were consistently negative at the various sites. The present results indicate that degradation of the mycorrhizal symbiosis by black mustard is of general significance, and may be highly problematic considering the large range that it has occupied in open fields across North America.}, } @article {pmid26473050, year = {2015}, author = {Meirelles, LA and Solomon, SE and Bacci, M and Wright, AM and Mueller, UG and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Shared Escovopsis parasites between leaf-cutting and non-leaf-cutting ants in the higher attine fungus-growing ant symbiosis.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, pages = {150257}, pmid = {26473050}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Fungus-gardening (attine) ants grow fungus for food in protected gardens, which contain beneficial, auxiliary microbes, but also microbes harmful to gardens. Among these potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the most consistently isolated are fungi in the genus Escovopsis, which are thought to co-evolve with ants and their cultivar in a tripartite model. To test clade-to-clade correspondence between Escovopsis and ants in the higher attine symbiosis (including leaf-cutting and non-leaf-cutting ants), we amassed a geographically comprehensive collection of Escovopsis from Mexico to southern Brazil, and reconstructed the corresponding Escovopsis phylogeny. Contrary to previous analyses reporting phylogenetic divergence between Escovopsis from leafcutters and Trachymyrmex ants (non-leafcutter), we found no evidence for such specialization; rather, gardens from leafcutters and non-leafcutters genera can sometimes be infected by closely related strains of Escovopsis, suggesting switches at higher phylogenetic levels than previously reported within the higher attine symbiosis. Analyses identified rare Escovopsis strains that might represent biogeographically restricted endemic species. Phylogenetic patterns correspond to morphological variation of vesicle type (hyphal structures supporting spore-bearing cells), separating Escovopsis with phylogenetically derived cylindrical vesicles from ancestral Escovopsis with globose vesicles. The new phylogenetic insights provide an improved basis for future taxonomic and ecological studies of Escovopsis.}, } @article {pmid26472713, year = {2016}, author = {Yi, Y and Wu, G and Lv, J and Li, M}, title = {Eicosanoids mediate Galleria mellonella immune response to hemocoel injection of entomopathogenic nematode cuticles.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {115}, number = {2}, pages = {597-608}, pmid = {26472713}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Eicosanoids/biosynthesis/*immunology ; Hemocytes/cytology/immunology ; Hemolymph/immunology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; Larva/immunology ; Microspheres ; Moths/*immunology ; Phagocytosis ; Rhabditida/*immunology/microbiology ; Rhabditoidea/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes are symbiotically associated with bacteria and widely used in biological control of insect pests. The interference of symbiotic bacteria with insect host immune responses is fairly well documented. However, knowledge of mechanisms regulating parasite–host interactions still remains fragmentary. In this study, we used nematode (Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) cuticles and Galleria mellonella larvae as parasite–host model, focused on the changes of innate immune parameters of the host in the early phase of nematode cuticle infection and investigated the role of eicosanoid biosynthesis pathway in the process. The results showed that injection of either S. carpocapsae or H. bacteriophora cuticles into the larval hemocoel both resulted in significant decreases in the key innate immune parameters (e.g., hemocyte density, microaggregation, phagocytosis and encapsulation abilities of hemocyte, and phenoloxidase and antibacterial activities of the cell-free hemolymph). Our study indicated that the parasite cuticles could actively suppress the innate immune response of the G. mellonella host. We also found that treating G. mellonella larvae with dexamethasone and indomethacin induced similar depression in the key innate immune parameters to the nematode cuticles. However, these effects were reversed when dexamethasone, indomethacin, or nematode cuticles were injected together with arachidonic acid. Additionally, we found that palmitic acid did not reverse the influence of the dexamethasone, indomethacin, or nematode cuticles on the innate immune responses. Therefore, we inferred from our results that both S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora cuticles inhibited eicosanoid biosynthesis to induce host immunodepression.}, } @article {pmid26472343, year = {2015}, author = {Luo, B and Gu, W and Zhong, J and Wang, Y and Zhang, G}, title = {Revealing crosstalk of plant and fungi in the symbiotic roots of sewage-cleaning Eichhornia crassipes using direct de novo metatranscriptomic analysis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {15407}, pmid = {26472343}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {R01 AA020504/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Algorithms ; Contig Mapping ; Down-Regulation ; Eichhornia/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Fungi/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Fusarium/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metals, Heavy/chemistry/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sewage/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Cultivation and environmental changes can induce development of novel phenotypes in plants. For example, the root morphology of cultivated purple root Eichhornia crassipes differs remarkably from normal Eichhornia crassipes and also shows an enhanced ability to absorb heavy metal from groundwater. However, the changes in gene expression associated with these processes are unknown because of the lack of information on its large and unsequenced genome and its complex plant-rhizosphere symbiotic system. To investigate these gene expression changes, we applied a new strategy, direct de novo metatranscriptome analysis. Using this approach, we assembled the metatranscriptome of the entire rhizosphere and identified species-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via hyper-accurate algorithms, showing a polarized plant/fungus distribution: the plant genes were responsible for morphological changes to the root system, offering a greater volume and surface area that hosts more fungi; while genes associated with heavy metal response in the fungus Fusarium were upregulated more than 3600-fold. These results suggested a distinct and synergistic functional response by the plant and fungal transcriptomes, indicating significant plant/fungal crosstalk during environmental changes. This study demonstrates that the metatranscriptomic approach adopted here offers a cost-efficient strategy to study symbiosis systems without the need for a priori genomic knowledge.}, } @article {pmid26472206, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, D and Wang, YC and Wu, LJ and Liu, JX and Zhang, P and Jiao, J and Yan, H and Liu, T and Tian, CF and Chen, WX}, title = {Construction and pilot screening of a signature-tagged mutant library of Sinorhizobium fredii.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {198}, number = {2}, pages = {91-99}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-015-1161-9}, pmid = {26472206}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Cajanus/microbiology ; *Gene Library ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Mutation ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii is well known for its ability to establish symbiosis with diverse legumes such as Glycine max (soybean, determinate nodules) and Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea, indeterminate nodules). In order to make screening of S. fredii genes related to symbiosis cost-effective, we constructed a large Tn5 insertion mutant library of S. fredii CCBAU45436 using the signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) technique. This STM library contains a total of 25,500 independent mutants distributed in 17 sublibraries tagged by corresponding distinct DNA bar-code sequences. After the pilot screening of 255 mutants in 15 batches, Tag85-4, Tag4-17, Tag4-11 and Tag10-13 were found to have attenuated competitiveness (0-30 % in nodule occupation) compared to the wild-type strain when inoculated on soybean. Further characterization of these mutants suggests that Tag4-11 (a pyrC mutant) and Tag10-13 (a nrdJ mutant) are defective in establishing symbiosis with soybean. The pyrC mutant induced uninfected pseudonodules while the nrdJ mutant formed significantly more nodules containing bacteroids with poor persistence ability. When these two mutants were tested on pigeon pea, host-specific symbiotic defects were found. These results demonstrated the STM library as a valuable resource for identifying S. fredii genes relevant to symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26471971, year = {2016}, author = {Negreiros de Carvalho, PL and Silva, Ede O and Chagas-Paula, DA and Hortolan Luiz, JH and Ikegaki, M}, title = {Importance and Implications of the Production of Phenolic Secondary Metabolites by Endophytic Fungi: A Mini-Review.}, journal = {Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {259-271}, doi = {10.2174/1389557515666151016123923}, pmid = {26471971}, issn = {1875-5607}, mesh = {Biological Products/chemistry/metabolism ; Endophytes/chemistry/*metabolism ; Fungi/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phenols/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plants/chemistry/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In the natural products research, a valuable approach is the prospection of uncommon sources and unexplored habitat. Special attention has been given to endophytic fungi because of their ability to produce new and interesting secondary metabolites, which have several biological applications. The endophytes establish exclusive symbiotic relationships with plants and the metabolic interactions may support the synthesis of some similar valuables compounds. Among secondary metabolites, phenol-derived structures are responsible for several bioactivities such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, among others. Phenolic compounds might be biosynthesized from the shikimate pathway. Although shikimic acid is a common precursor in plants, it is described as rare in microorganisms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review about phenolic compounds produced by endophytic fungi and a comparison has been made with those produced by the plant host. This review covers 124 phenolic secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi. Considering the data analyzed by us, only seven of such compounds were isolated from fungi and from their hosts. These observations claim for more attention to phenolic compounds produced by endophytic fungi with a view to understand the real importance of these compounds to endophytes survival.}, } @article {pmid26470423, year = {2015}, author = {Kremleva, EA and Sgibnev, AV and Cherkasov, SV}, title = {[EFFECT OF MICROSYMBIONTS ON THE ABILITY OF VAGINAL EPITHELIOCYTES TO MODIFY BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BACTERIA].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {75-79}, pmid = {26470423}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Epithelial Cells/*microbiology ; Escherichia coli/growth & development ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus/*metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; Vagina/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study regularities of effects of various types of vaginal microsymbionts on the ability of mucosal epitheliocytes of the vagina to modify biological properties of bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Effect of thermo-inactivated cells of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, H2O2-producing and H2O2-non-producing lactobacilli on the ability of primary vaginal epitheliocytes to alter growth and antagonistic activity of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia colt, H2O2-producing and H2O2-nonproducing lactobacilli was studied using a multi-component module system.

RESULTS: Alterations of composition of vaginal epitlieliocyte exometabolites under the effect of S. aureus and E. coli was established to result in a pronounced stimulation of antagonistic activity of H2O2-producing and an increase of the number of H2O2-nonproducing lactobacilli. Thermo-inactivated cells of lactobacilli stimulated production of metabolites by epitheliocytes, that suppress the growth and antagonistic activity of allochthonous microflora and stimulate similar parameters of lactobacilli. The strongest effects on the ability of vaginal epitheliocytes to alter biological properties of bacteria were rendered by H2O2-producing lactobacilli.

CONCLUSION: The regularities identified allow to examine epitheliocytes and normoflora of vagina as a symbiotic system, the coordinated interaction of its components is directed on maintaining microecological stability of female reproductive tract.}, } @article {pmid26470419, year = {2015}, author = {Nemtseva, NV}, title = {[HYDROBIOCENOSES--A MODEL SYSTEM OF ASSOCIATIVE SYMBIOSIS].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {49-54}, pmid = {26470419}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary formed mechanisms, that preserve and support microorganism populations in any environmental conditions up to extreme, that are the base of survival strategy, were analyzed. Natural mechanisms, that support biodiversity and stability of ecosystems of natural water bodies, are shown to determine structuredness of hydrobiont communities by associative symbiosis type.}, } @article {pmid26470418, year = {2015}, author = {Andryuschenko, SV and Perunova, NB}, title = {[ACID-BASE MODULATION OF LYSOZYME ACTIVITY IN MEDIUM FOR CULTIVATION OF ENTEROBACTERIA].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {45-48}, pmid = {26470418}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Enterobacteriaceae/*enzymology/growth & development ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Muramidase/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {AIM: Determination of modulating effect of acid-base state of medium for cultivation of enterobacteria on activity of C-type lysozyme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) strain for protein expression, Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 model strain, Escherichia coli No. 242 strain, isolated from intestine biotope; 2 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, one of those contained plasmid homologue of periplasmatic lysozyme inhibitor gene pliC; 1 typical Salmonella enterica ATCC 14028 strain and a Micrococcus luteus ATCC 15307 strain as a control--served as material for the study. The bacteria were cultivated for 24 hours in 2 ml of liquid medium LB at 37 degrees C, 250 rpm. Determination of antilysozyme activity (ALA) was carried out by a photonepehlometrical method according to O.V. Bukharin et al. (1999) with alterations.

RESULTS: All the studied microorganisms, including Micrococcus luteus, at the specified conditions 24 hours after cultivation were established to change the pH of the liquid nutrient medium LB from the initial value of 6.6 ± 0.1 to 8.2 ± 0.2 units. ALA determination in the cultivation medium without buffer correction was accompanied by a decline of lysozyme activity at an order of magnitude. The effect was absent during ALA measurement by a standard technique.

CONCLUSION: The local shift of acid-base state of biotope under the conditions of buffer system insufficiency results in a reversible alteration of antimicrobial activity of muramidase, that among other non-specific factors of the environment determines the background of interactions on the level of associative symbiosis. This aspect should be taken into consideration during development of models, that are close to real conditions of microsymbiocenotical interactions.}, } @article {pmid26470412, year = {2015}, author = {Sycheva, MV and Kartashova, OL}, title = {[BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ENTEROCOCCI OF VARIOUS ORIGINS].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {17-21}, pmid = {26470412}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Enterococcus/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the prevalence and intensity of anti-hemoglobin and anti-lactoferrin activity in enterococci as representatives of symbiotic intestine microflora and causative agents of infection-inflammatory diseases in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 95 strains of enterococci were used in the study, that were isolated from intestines of children during examination for dysbiosis, and 34 clinical isolates. Strain identification was carried out by using multiplex PCR. Anti-lactoferrin and anti-hemoglobin activity were determined by O.V. Bukharin et al. (2005).

RESULTS: A higher level of prevalence and intensity of anti-lactoferrin, anti-hemoglobin activity, as well as a combination of those properties was established in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecaIis and E. faecium compared with strains, isolated from intestines of healthy individuals.

CONCLUSION: The studied properties could be used for differentiation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of enterococci and during selection of inhibitory preparations, suitable for therapy of enterococci infections.}, } @article {pmid26470411, year = {2015}, author = {Gladysheva, IV and Cherkasov, SV}, title = {[ROLE OF BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CORYNEBACTERIA IN ASSOCIATIVE SYMBIOSIS].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {9-17}, pmid = {26470411}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion/physiology ; Corynebacterium/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms of the Corynebacterium genus are examined in the review as a component of a single microecological system of humans in the context of their interaction with the macroorganism, dominant and associative microorganisms under the conditions of both normo- and pathocenosis. Adhesive ability, antagonistic activity, pathogenicity and persistence factors, antibiotics resistance are described. The role of non-pathogenic corynebacteria in the formation of microbiocenoses of human body and realization of colonization resistance is shown on an example of vaginal biotope.}, } @article {pmid26470217, year = {2015}, author = {Sun, L and Hse, CY and Shupe, T and Sun, M and Wang, X and Zhao, K}, title = {Isolation and Characterization of an Endophytic Fungal Strain with Potent Antimicrobial and Termiticidal Activities From Port-Orford-Cedar.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {108}, number = {3}, pages = {962-968}, doi = {10.1093/jee/tov070}, pmid = {26470217}, issn = {0022-0493}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Aspergillus/*chemistry/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Cupressaceae/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/metabolism ; Endophytes/*chemistry/classification/genetics/physiology ; Insecticides/*pharmacology ; Isoptera/*drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Termites are responsible for an estimated US$1 billion annually in property damage, repairs, pest control, and prevention. There is an urgent need of finding a better alternative way to control and prevent termites. Port-Orford-Cedar (POC) has been known to have significant levels of natural durability and termiticidal activities due to its extractive contents. In this study, 25 endophytes including 22 fungal and 3 bacterial strains were isolated from the POC. Four strains, namely, HDZK-BYF21, HDZK-BYF1, HDZK-BYF2, and HDZK-BYB11, were chosen to test their termiticidal activities. The fermentation broth of strain HDZK-BYF21 displayed the potent antimicrobial and termiticidal activities. Morphological examination and 18 S rDNA sequence analysis demonstrated that strain HDZK-BYF21 belonged to the genus Aspergillus. This finding indicates the existence of an interesting chemical symbiosis between an endophytic fungus and its host. This is also the first report on endophytes isolated from the POC that may have potential termiticidal activities. Endophytes with termiticidal activities can be grown in bioreactor to provide an inexhaustible supply of bioactive compounds and thus can be exploited commercially.}, } @article {pmid26470139, year = {2015}, author = {Kendra, PE and Niogret, J and Montgomery, WS and Deyrup, MA and Epsky, ND}, title = {Cubeb Oil Lures: Terpenoid Emissions, Trapping Efficacy, and Longevity for Attraction of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {108}, number = {1}, pages = {350-361}, doi = {10.1093/jee/tou023}, pmid = {26470139}, issn = {0022-0493}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Insect Control/*instrumentation ; Oils, Volatile/chemistry ; Plant Oils/*chemistry ; Terpenes/*analysis/chemistry ; *Weevils ; }, abstract = {Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is an exotic wood borer and the primary vector of Raffaelea lauricola, a symbiotic fungus that causes laurel wilt. This lethal disease has decimated native redbay [Persea borbonia (L.) Sprengel] and swampbay [Persea palustris (Rafinesque) Sargent] throughout southeastern U.S. forests, and currently threatens avocado (Persea americana Miller) in Florida. To curtail the spread of laurel wilt, effective attractants are needed for early detection of the vector. Phoebe oil lures were the best known attractant for X. glabratus, but they are no longer available. The current detection system uses manuka oil lures, but previous research indicated that manuka lures have a short field life in Florida. Recently, cubeb oil was identified as a new attractant for X. glabratus, and cubeb bubble lures are now available commercially. This study compared trapping efficacy and field longevity of cubeb and manuka lures with phoebe lures that had been in storage since 2010 over a 12-wk period in south Florida. In addition, terpenoid emissions were quantified from cubeb and manuka lures aged outdoors for 12 wk. Captures were comparable with all three lures for 3 wk, but by 4 wk, captures with manuka were significantly less. Equivalent captures were obtained with cubeb and phoebe lures for 7 wk, but captures with cubeb were significantly greater from 8 to 12 wk. Our results indicate that cubeb bubble lures are the most effective tool currently available for detection of X. glabratus, with a field life of 3 months due to extended low release of attractive sesquiterpenes, primarily α-copaene and α-cubebene.}, } @article {pmid26468060, year = {2016}, author = {Garg, N and Bhandari, P}, title = {Interactive effects of silicon and arbuscular mycorrhiza in modulating ascorbate-glutathione cycle and antioxidant scavenging capacity in differentially salt-tolerant Cicer arietinum L. genotypes subjected to long-term salinity.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {253}, number = {5}, pages = {1325-1345}, pmid = {26468060}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Cicer/*metabolism ; Glutathione/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipoxygenase/metabolism ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Salinity ; Salt Tolerance/*physiology ; Silicon/*pharmacology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Salinity is the major environmental constraint that affects legume productivity by inducing oxidative stress. Individually, both silicon (Si) nutrition and mycorrhization have been reported to alleviate salt stress. However, the mechanisms adopted by both in mediating stress responses are poorly understood. Thus, pot trials were undertaken to evaluate comparative as well as interactive effects of Si and/or arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in alleviating NaCl toxicity in modulating oxidative stress and antioxidant defence mechanisms in two Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) genotypes-HC 3 (salt-tolerant) and CSG 9505 (salt-sensitive). Plants subjected to different NaCl concentrations (0-100 mM) recorded a substantial increase in the rate of superoxide radical (O2 (·-)), H2O2, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which induced leakage of ions and disturbed Ca(2+)/Na(+) ratio in roots and leaves. Individually, Si and AM reduced oxidative burst by strengthening antioxidant enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX)). Si was relatively more efficient in reducing accumulation of stress metabolites, while mycorrhization significantly up-regulated antioxidant machinery and modulated ascorbate-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle. Combined applications of Si and AM complemented each other in reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) build-up by further enhancing the antioxidant defence responses. Magnitude of ROS-mediated oxidative burden was lower in HC 3 which correlated strongly with more effective AM symbiosis, better capacity to accumulate Si and stronger defence response when compared with CSG 9505. Study indicated that Si and/or AM fungal amendments upgraded salt tolerance through a dynamic shift from oxidative destruction towards favourable antioxidant defence system in stressed chickpea plants.}, } @article {pmid26467244, year = {2016}, author = {Hollowell, AC and Regus, JU and Gano, KA and Bantay, R and Centeno, D and Pham, J and Lyu, JY and Moore, D and Bernardo, A and Lopez, G and Patil, A and Patel, S and Lii, Y and Sachs, JL}, title = {Epidemic Spread of Symbiotic and Non-Symbiotic Bradyrhizobium Genotypes Across California.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {700-710}, pmid = {26467244}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {S10 OD016290/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; California ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genomic Islands ; Genotype ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The patterns and drivers of bacterial strain dominance remain poorly understood in natural populations. Here, we cultured 1292 Bradyrhizobium isolates from symbiotic root nodules and the soil root interface of the host plant Acmispon strigosus across a >840-km transect in California. To investigate epidemiology and the potential role of accessory loci as epidemic drivers, isolates were genotyped at two chromosomal loci and were assayed for presence or absence of accessory "symbiosis island" loci that encode capacity to form nodules on hosts. We found that Bradyrhizobium populations were very diverse but dominated by few haplotypes-with a single "epidemic" haplotype constituting nearly 30 % of collected isolates and spreading nearly statewide. In many Bradyrhizobium lineages, we inferred presence and absence of the symbiosis island suggesting recurrent evolutionary gain and or loss of symbiotic capacity. We did not find statistical phylogenetic evidence that the symbiosis island acquisition promotes strain dominance and both symbiotic and non-symbiotic strains exhibited population dominance and spatial spread. Our dataset reveals that a strikingly few Bradyrhizobium genotypes can rapidly spread to dominate a landscape and suggests that these epidemics are not driven by the acquisition of accessory loci as occurs in key human pathogens.}, } @article {pmid26466881, year = {2015}, author = {Mayers, CG and McNew, DL and Harrington, TC and Roeper, RA and Fraedrich, SW and Biedermann, PHW and Castrillo, LA and Reed, SE}, title = {Three genera in the Ceratocystidaceae are the respective symbionts of three independent lineages of ambrosia beetles with large, complex mycangia.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {11}, pages = {1075-1092}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2015.08.002}, pmid = {26466881}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ambrosia/parasitology ; Animals ; Ascomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The genus Ambrosiella accommodates species of Ceratocystidaceae (Microascales) that are obligate, mutualistic symbionts of ambrosia beetles, but the genus appears to be polyphyletic and more diverse than previously recognized. In addition to Ambrosiella xylebori, Ambrosiella hartigii, Ambrosiella beaveri, and Ambrosiella roeperi, three new species of Ambrosiella are described from the ambrosia beetle tribe Xyleborini: Ambrosiella nakashimae sp. nov. from Xylosandrus amputatus, Ambrosiella batrae sp. nov. from Anisandrus sayi, and Ambrosiella grosmanniae sp. nov. from Xylosandrus germanus. The genus Meredithiella gen. nov. is created for symbionts of the tribe Corthylini, based on Meredithiella norrisii sp. nov. from Corthylus punctatissimus. The genus Phialophoropsis is resurrected to accommodate associates of the Xyloterini, including Phialophoropsis trypodendri from Trypodendron scabricollis and Phialophoropsis ferruginea comb. nov. from Trypodendron lineatum. Each of the ten named species was distinguished by ITS rDNA barcoding and morphology, and the ITS rDNA sequences of four other putative species were obtained with Ceratocystidaceae-specific primers and template DNA extracted from beetles or galleries. These results support the hypothesis that each ambrosia beetle species with large, complex mycangia carries its own fungal symbiont. Conidiophore morphology and phylogenetic analyses using 18S (SSU) rDNA and TEF1α DNA sequences suggest that these three fungal genera within the Ceratocystidaceae independently adapted to symbiosis with the three respective beetle tribes. In turn, the beetle genera with large, complex mycangia appear to have evolved from other genera in their respective tribes that have smaller, less selective mycangia and are associated with Raffaelea spp. (Ophiostomatales).}, } @article {pmid26466747, year = {2015}, author = {Jeong, K and Mattes, N and Catausan, S and Chin, JH and Paszkowski, U and Heuer, S}, title = {Genetic diversity for mycorrhizal symbiosis and phosphate transporters in rice.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {57}, number = {11}, pages = {969-979}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12435}, pmid = {26466747}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oryza/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a major plant nutrient and developing crops with higher P-use efficiency is an important breeding goal. In this context we have conducted a comparative study of irrigated and rainfed rice varieties to assess genotypic differences in colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and expression of different P transporter genes. Plants were grown in three different soil samples from a rice farm in the Philippines. The data show that AM symbiosis in all varieties was established after 4 weeks of growth under aerobic conditions and that, in soil derived from a rice paddy, natural AM populations recovered within 6 weeks. The analysis of AM marker genes (AM1, AM3, AM14) and P transporter genes for the direct Pi uptake (PT2, PT6) and AM-mediated pathway (PT11, PT13) were largely in agreement with the observed root AM colonization providing a useful tool for diversity studies. Interestingly, delayed AM colonization was observed in the aus-type rice varieties which might be due to their different root structure and might confer an advantage for weed competition in the field. The data further showed that P-starvation induced root growth and expression of the high-affinity P transporter PT6 was highest in the irrigated variety IR66 which also maintained grain yield under P-deficient field conditions.}, } @article {pmid26463703, year = {2016}, author = {Grönemeyer, JL and Hurek, T and Bünger, W and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Bradyrhizobium vignae sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing symbiont isolated from effective nodules of Vigna and Arachis.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {62-69}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.000674}, pmid = {26463703}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Namibia ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Twenty one strains of symbiotic bacteria from root nodules of local races of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) and peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) grown on subsistence farmers' fields in the Kavango region of Namibia, were previously characterized as a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To verify their taxonomic position, the strains were further analysed using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequences were most similar to Bradyrhizobium manausense BR 3351T, with Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense RITF806T being the most closely related type strain in the phylogenetic analysis, and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense CCBAU 10071T in the ITS sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated glnII-recA-rpoB-dnaK placed the strains in a highly supported lineage distinct from species of the genus Bradyrhizobium with validly published names; they were most closely related to Bradyrhizobium subterraneum 58 2-1T. The status of the species was validated by results of DNA-DNA hybridization. The combination of phenotypic characteristics from several tests, including carbon source utilization and antibiotic resistance, could be used to differentiate representative strains of species of the genus Bradyrhizobium with validly published names. Novel strain 7-2T induced effective nodules on Vigna subterranea, Vigna unguiculata, Arachis hypogaea and on Lablab purpureus. The DNA G+C content of strain 7-2T was 65.4 mol% (Tm). Based on the data presented, we conclude that these strains represent a novel species for which the name Bradyrhizobium vignae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 7-2T [LMG 28791T, DSMZ 100297T, NTCCM0018T (Windhoek)] as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid26463160, year = {2015}, author = {Krasity, BC and Troll, JV and Lehnert, EM and Hackett, KT and Dillard, JP and Apicella, MA and Goldman, WE and Weiss, JP and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Structural and functional features of a developmentally regulated lipopolysaccharide-binding protein.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {e01193-15}, pmid = {26463160}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES005605/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008692/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI059372/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI097157/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acute-Phase Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/chemistry/*physiology ; Animals ; Carrier Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Francisella tularensis/chemistry ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Neisseria meningitidis/chemistry ; Protein Binding ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Mammalian lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding proteins (LBPs) occur mainly in extracellular fluids and promote LPS delivery to specific host cell receptors. The function of LBPs has been studied principally in the context of host defense; the possible role of LBPs in nonpathogenic host-microbe interactions has not been well characterized. Using the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri model, we analyzed the structure and function of an LBP family protein, E. scolopes LBP1 (EsLBP1), and provide evidence for its role in triggering a symbiont-induced host developmental program. Previous studies showed that, during initial host colonization, the LPS of V. fischeri synergizes with peptidoglycan (PGN) monomer to induce morphogenesis of epithelial tissues of the host animal. Computationally modeled EsLBP1 shares some but not all structural features of mammalian LBPs that are thought important for LPS binding. Similar to human LBP, recombinant EsLBP1 expressed in insect cells bound V. fischeri LPS and Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide (LOS) with nanomolar or greater affinity but bound Francisella tularensis LPS only weakly and did not bind PGN monomer. Unlike human LBP, EsLBP1 did not bind N. meningitidis LOS:CD14 complexes. The eslbp1 transcript was upregulated ~22-fold by V. fischeri at 24 h postinoculation. Surprisingly, this upregulation was not induced by exposure to LPS but, rather, to the PGN monomer alone. Hybridization chain reaction-fluorescent in situ hybridization (HCR-FISH) and immunocytochemistry (ICC) localized eslbp1 transcript and protein in crypt epithelia, where V. fischeri induces morphogenesis. The data presented here provide a window into the evolution of LBPs and the scope of their roles in animal symbioses.

IMPORTANCE: Mammalian lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) is implicated in conveying LPS to host cells and potentiating its signaling activity. In certain disease states, such as obesity, the overproduction of this protein has been a reliable biomarker of chronic inflammation. Here, we describe a symbiosis-induced invertebrate LBP whose tertiary structure and LPS-binding characteristics are similar to those of mammalian LBPs; however, the primary structure of this distantly related squid protein (EsLBP1) differs in key residues previously believed to be essential for LPS binding, suggesting that an alternative strategy exists. Surprisingly, symbiotic expression of eslbp1 is induced by peptidoglycan derivatives, not LPS, a pattern converse to that of RegIIIγ, an important mammalian immunity protein that binds peptidoglycan but whose gene expression is induced by LPS. Finally, EsLBP1 occurs along the apical surfaces of all the host's epithelia, suggesting that it was recruited from a general defensive role to one that mediates specific interactions with its symbiont.}, } @article {pmid26462363, year = {2015}, author = {Vitetta, L and Palacios, T and Hall, S and Coulson, S}, title = {Gastrointestinal Tract Commensal Bacteria and Probiotics: Influence on End-Organ Physiology.}, journal = {Progress in drug research. Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung. Progres des recherches pharmaceutiques}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {1-33}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-0348-0927-6_1}, pmid = {26462363}, issn = {0071-786X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Immune Tolerance ; Microbiota ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Bacteria represent the earliest form of independent life on this planet. Bacterial development has included cooperative symbiosis with plants (e.g., Leguminosae family and nitrogen fixing bacteria in soil) and animals (e.g., the gut microbiome). It is generally agreed upon that the fusion of two prokaryotes evolutionarily gave rise to the eukaryotic cell in which mitochondria may be envisaged as a genetically functional mosaic, a relic from one of the prokaryotes. This is expressed by the appearance of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells (an alpha-proteobacteria input), a significant endosymbiotic evolutionary event. As such, the evolution of human life has been complexly connected to bacterial activities. Hence, microbial colonization of mammals has been a progressively driven process. The interactions between the human host and the microbiome inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) for example, afford the human host the necessary cues for the development of regulated signals that in part are induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). This regulated activity then promotes immunological tolerance and metabolic regulation and stability, which then helps establish control of local and extraintestinal end-organ (e.g., kidneys) physiology. Pharmacobiotics, the targeted administration of live probiotic cultures, is an advancing area of potential therapeutics, either directly or as adjuvants. Hence the continued scientific understanding of the human microbiome in health and disease may further lead to fine tuning the targeted delivery of probiotics for a therapeutic gain.}, } @article {pmid26462113, year = {2015}, author = {Gibert, A and Magda, D and Hazard, L}, title = {Interplay between Endophyte Prevalence, Effects and Transmission: Insights from a Natural Grass Population.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0139919}, pmid = {26462113}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Elasticity ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Festuca/growth & development/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Prevalence ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two main mechanisms are thought to affect the prevalence of endophyte-grass symbiosis in host populations: the mode of endophyte transmission, and the fitness differential between symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants. These mechanisms have mostly been studied in synthetic grass populations. If we are to improve our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of such symbioses, we now need to determine the combinations of mechanisms actually operating in the wild, in populations shaped by evolutionary history. We used a demographic population modeling approach to identify the mechanisms operating in a natural stand of an intermediate population (i.e. 50% of plants symbiotic) of the native grass Festuca eskia. We recorded demographic data in the wild over a period of three years, with manipulation of the soil resources for half the population. We developed two stage-structured matrix population models. The first model concerned either symbiotic or non-symbiotic plants. The second model included both symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants and took endophyte transmission rates into account. According to our models, symbiotic had a significantly higher population growth rate than non-symbiotic plants, and endophyte prevalence was about 58%. Endophyte transmission rates were about 0.67 or 0.87, depending on the growth stage considered. In the presence of nutrient supplementation, population growth rates were still significantly higher for symbiotic than for non-symbiotic plants, but endophyte prevalence fell to 0%. At vertical transmission rates below 0.10-0.20, no symbiosis was observed. Our models showed that a positive benefit of the endophyte and vertical transmission rates of about 0.6 could lead to the coexistence of symbiotic and non-symbiotic F. eskia plants. The positive effect of the symbiont on host is not systematically associated with high transmission rates of the symbiont over short time scales, in particular following an environmental change.}, } @article {pmid26460857, year = {2015}, author = {Li, Y and Xu, M and Wang, N and Li, Y}, title = {A JAZ Protein in Astragalus sinicus Interacts with a Leghemoglobin through the TIFY Domain and Is Involved in Nodule Development and Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0139964}, pmid = {26460857}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Astragalus Plant/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Biomass ; Fluorescence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant ; Leghemoglobin/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Cells/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tobacco/cytology ; }, abstract = {Leghemoglobins (Lbs) play an important role in legumes-rhizobia symbiosis. Lbs bind O2 and protect nitrogenase activity from damage by O2 in nodules, therefore, they are regarded as a marker of active nitrogen fixation in nodules. Additionally, Lbs are involved in the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway, acting as a NO scavenger during nodule development and nitrogen fixation. However, regulators responsible for Lb expression and modulation of Lb activity have not been characterized. In our previous work, a Jasmonate-Zim-domain (JAZ) protein interacting with a Lb (AsB2510) in Astragalus sinicus was identified and designated AsJAZ1. In this study, the interaction between AsJAZ1 and AsB2510 was verified using a yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro Glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays, resulting in identification of the interaction domain as a TIFY (previously known as zinc-finger protein expressed in inflorescence meristem, ZIM) domain. TIFY domain is named after the most conserved amino acids within the domain. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) was used to confirm the interaction between AsJAZ1 and AsB2510 in tobacco cells, demonstrating that AsJAZ1-AsB2510 interaction was localized to the cell membrane and cytoplasm. Furthermore, the expression patterns and the symbiotic phenotypes of AsJAZ1 were investigated. Knockdown of AsJAZ1 expression via RNA interference led to decreased number of nodules, abnormal development of bacteroids, accumulation of poly-x-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and loss of nitrogenase activity. Taken together, our results suggest that AsJAZ1 interacts with AsB2510 and participates in nodule development and nitrogen fixation. Our results provide novel insights into the functions of Lbs or JAZ proteins during legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26460087, year = {2016}, author = {Li, X and Zeng, R and Liao, H}, title = {Improving crop nutrient efficiency through root architecture modifications.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {58}, number = {3}, pages = {193-202}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12434}, pmid = {26460087}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*anatomy & histology/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Improving crop nutrient efficiency becomes an essential consideration for environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture. Plant growth and development is dependent on 17 essential nutrient elements, among them, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the two most important mineral nutrients. Hence it is not surprising that low N and/or low P availability in soils severely constrains crop growth and productivity, and thereby have become high priority targets for improving nutrient efficiency in crops. Root exploration largely determines the ability of plants to acquire mineral nutrients from soils. Therefore, root architecture, the 3-dimensional configuration of the plant's root system in the soil, is of great importance for improving crop nutrient efficiency. Furthermore, the symbiotic associations between host plants and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi/rhizobial bacteria, are additional important strategies to enhance nutrient acquisition. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the current understanding of crop species control of root architecture alterations in response to nutrient availability and root/microbe symbioses, through gene or QTL regulation, which results in enhanced nutrient acquisition.}, } @article {pmid26459665, year = {2016}, author = {Miri, M and Janakirama, P and Held, M and Ross, L and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Into the Root: How Cytokinin Controls Rhizobial Infection.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {178-186}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2015.09.003}, pmid = {26459665}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants selectively initiate primary responses to rhizobial nodulation factors (NF) that ultimately lead to symbiotic root nodule formation. Functioning downstream, cytokinin has emerged as the key endogenous plant signal for nodule differentiation, but its role in mediating rhizobial entry into the root remains obscure. Nonetheless, such a role is suggested by aberrant infection phenotypes of plant mutants with defects in cytokinin signaling. We postulate that cytokinin participates in orchestrating signaling events that promote rhizobial colonization of the root cortex and limit the extent of subsequent infection at the root epidermis, thus maintaining homeostasis of the symbiotic interaction. We further argue that cytokinin signaling must have been crucial during the evolution of plant cell predisposition for rhizobial colonization.}, } @article {pmid26458461, year = {2015}, author = {Goto, Y and Kurashima, Y and Kiyono, H}, title = {[Roles of the gut mucosal immune system in symbiosis and immunity].}, journal = {[Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology}, volume = {56}, number = {10}, pages = {2205-2212}, doi = {10.11406/rinketsu.56.2205}, pmid = {26458461}, issn = {0485-1439}, mesh = {Gastric Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Lymphocytes/immunology ; Mast Cells/immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The intestine is a unique organ which is continuously exposed to various antigens such as food-derived antigens, as well as both commensal and pathogenic bacteria, under physiological conditions. Intestinal epithelial cells constitute both a physical and an immunological barrier system against this vast array of antigens. The α1,2-fucose-conjugated carbohydrate chains expressed on intestinal epithelial cells are physiologically and immunologically important and are regulated by type III innate lymphoid cells (ILC3). IL-22-producing ILC3 induce anti-microbial molecules such as RegIIIγ, contributing to the formation of a safeguard system for homeostasis of commensal flora in the intestinal lumen, containment of Alcaligenes in Peyer's patches, and establishment of a defensive platform against infection by pathogenic bacteria. The other intestinal innate immune cell type, the mast cell, is also a critical player. Mast cells are activated by ATP produced in host cells and commensal flora, predisposing to the development of inflammatory bowel diseases. Furthermore, mucosal mast cells regulate the differentiation of follicular helper T cells through ATP signals and contribute to subsequent IgA affinity maturation and regulating the homeostasis of commensal microflora.}, } @article {pmid26458227, year = {2016}, author = {Jousselin, E and Clamens, AL and Galan, M and Bernard, M and Maman, S and Gschloessl, B and Duport, G and Meseguer, AS and Calevro, F and Coeur d'acier, A}, title = {Assessment of a 16S rRNA amplicon Illumina sequencing procedure for studying the microbiome of a symbiont-rich aphid genus.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {628-640}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.12478}, pmid = {26458227}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Computational Biology/*methods ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bacterial communities inhabiting arthropods are generally dominated by a few endosymbionts that play an important role in the ecology of their hosts. Rather than comparing bacterial species richness across samples, ecological studies on arthropod endosymbionts often seek to identify the main bacterial strains associated with each specimen studied. The filtering out of contaminants from the results and the accurate taxonomic assignment of sequences are therefore crucial in arthropod microbiome studies. We aimed here to validate an Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing protocol and analytical pipeline for investigating endosymbiotic bacteria associated with aphids. Using replicate DNA samples from 12 species (Aphididae: Lachninae, Cinara) and several controls, we removed individual sequences not meeting a minimum threshold number of reads in each sample and carried out taxonomic assignment for the remaining sequences. With this approach, we show that (i) contaminants accounted for a negligible proportion of the bacteria identified in our samples; (ii) the taxonomic composition of our samples and the relative abundance of reads assigned to a taxon were very similar across PCR and DNA replicates for each aphid sample; in particular, bacterial DNA concentration had no impact on the results. Furthermore, by analysing the distribution of unique sequences across samples rather than aggregating them into operational taxonomic units (OTUs), we gained insight into the specificity of endosymbionts for their hosts. Our results confirm that Serratia symbiotica is often present in Cinara species, in addition to the primary symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. Furthermore, our findings reveal new symbiotic associations with Erwinia- and Sodalis-related bacteria. We conclude with suggestions for generating and analysing 16S rRNA gene sequences for arthropod-endosymbiont studies.}, } @article {pmid26458005, year = {2015}, author = {van Gils, JA and Ahmedou Salem, MV}, title = {Validating the Incorporation of 13C and 15N in a Shorebird That Consumes an Isotopically Distinct Chemosymbiotic Bivalve.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0140221}, pmid = {26458005}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*chemistry/metabolism/physiology ; Carbon Isotopes/chemistry/metabolism ; Charadriiformes/metabolism/*physiology ; *Eating ; Nitrogen Isotopes/chemistry/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The wealth of field studies using stable isotopes to make inferences about animal diets require controlled validation experiments to make proper interpretations. Despite several pleas in the literature for such experiments, validation studies are still lagging behind, notably in consumers dwelling in chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. In this paper we present such a validation experiment for the incorporation of 13C and 15N in the blood plasma of a medium-sized shorebird, the red knot (Calidris canutus canutus), consuming a chemosymbiotic lucinid bivalve (Loripes lucinalis). Because this bivalve forms a symbiosis with chemoautotrophic sulphide-oxidizing bacteria living inside its gill, the bivalve is isotopically distinct from 'normal' bivalves whose food has a photosynthetic basis. Here we experimentally tested the hypothesis that isotope discrimination and incorporation dynamics are different when consuming such chemosynthesis-based prey. The experiment showed that neither the isotopic discrimination factor, nor isotopic turnover time, differed between birds consuming the chemosymbiotic lucinid and a control group consuming a photosynthesis-based bivalve. This was true for 13C as well as for 15N. However, in both groups the 15N discrimination factor was much higher than expected, which probably had to do with the birds losing body mass over the course of the experiment.}, } @article {pmid26457857, year = {2015}, author = {Newburg, DS and He, Y}, title = {Neonatal Gut Microbiota and Human Milk Glycans Cooperate to Attenuate Infection and Inflammation.}, journal = {Clinical obstetrics and gynecology}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {814-826}, doi = {10.1097/GRF.0000000000000156}, pmid = {26457857}, issn = {1532-5520}, support = {R01 HD061930/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; HD061930/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P01 HD013021/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; HD059140/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; AI075563/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD059140/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; HD013021/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI075563/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Dysbiosis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/microbiology/prevention & control ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Milk, Human/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Oligosaccharides/immunology ; Polysaccharides/immunology/*metabolism ; Prebiotics ; }, abstract = {Glycans of the intestinal mucosa and oligosaccharides of human milk influence the early colonization of the infant gut and establishment of mucosal homeostasis, and differences in colonization of the gut influence the ontogeny of glycans on the surface of the intestinal mucosa, proinflammatory signaling, homeostasis, and resilience to insult. This interkingdom reciprocal interaction is typical of a mutualistic symbiotic relationship. The period in which the infant gut most needs protection from hypersensitive inflammation overlaps with the recommended period of exclusive nursing; electively substituting artificial formula that lacks human milk protective glycans seems ill advised, especially for premature infants.}, } @article {pmid26455774, year = {2015}, author = {López-García, P and Moreira, D}, title = {Open Questions on the Origin of Eukaryotes.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {697-708}, pmid = {26455774}, issn = {1872-8383}, support = {322669/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Archaea ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*classification ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Mitochondria ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite recent progress, the origin of the eukaryotic cell remains enigmatic. It is now known that the last eukaryotic common ancestor was complex and that endosymbiosis played a crucial role in eukaryogenesis at least via the acquisition of the alphaproteobacterial ancestor of mitochondria. However, the nature of the mitochondrial host is controversial, although the recent discovery of an archaeal lineage phylogenetically close to eukaryotes reinforces models proposing archaea-derived hosts. We argue that, in addition to improved phylogenomic analyses with more comprehensive taxon sampling to pinpoint the closest prokaryotic relatives of eukaryotes, determining plausible mechanisms and selective forces at the origin of key eukaryotic features, such as the nucleus or the bacterial-like eukaryotic membrane system, is essential to constrain existing models.}, } @article {pmid26451344, year = {2015}, author = {Al-Asmakh, M and Hedin, L}, title = {Microbiota and the control of blood-tissue barriers.}, journal = {Tissue barriers}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {e1039691}, pmid = {26451344}, issn = {2168-8362}, abstract = {The gastro-intestinal tract is an ecosystem containing trillions of commensal bacteria living in symbiosis with the host. These microbiota modulate a variety of our physiological processes, including production of vitamins, absorption of nutrients and development of the immune system. One of their major functions is to fortify the intestinal barrier, thereby helping to prevent pathogens and harmful substances from crossing into the general circulation. Recently, effects of these microbiota on other blood-tissue barriers have also been reported. Here, we review the evidence indicating that gut bacteria play a role in regulating the blood-brain and blood-testis barriers. The underlying mechanisms include control of the expression of tight junction proteins by fermentation products such as butyrate, which also influences the activity of histone deacetylase.}, } @article {pmid26450743, year = {2015}, author = {Lee, D and Kim, YK and Kim, YS and Kim, TJ}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Elizabethkingia sp. BM10, a Symbiotic Bacterium of the Wood-Feeding Termite Reticulitermes speratus KMT1.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {26450743}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Elizabethkingia sp. BM10 was isolated from the hindgut of the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes speratus KMT1. It had cellobiohydrolase and β-glucosidase activities but not endo-β-glucanase activity. The complete sequence of its genome, which has a total size of 4,242,519 bases, is reported here. The genomic analysis identified six β-glucosidase candidate genes and three β-glucanase candidate genes.}, } @article {pmid26449385, year = {2015}, author = {Wagner, K and Linde, J and Krause, K and Gube, M and Koestler, T and Sammer, D and Kniemeyer, O and Kothe, E}, title = {Tricholoma vaccinum host communication during ectomycorrhiza formation.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv120}, pmid = {26449385}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Fungal Proteins/analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Picea/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Protein Translocation Systems ; Proteome/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Tricholoma/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The genome sequence of Tricholoma vaccinum was obtained to predict its secretome in order to elucidate communication of T. vaccinum with its host tree spruce (Picea abies) in interkingdom signaling. The most prominent protein domains within the 206 predicted secreted proteins belong to energy and nutrition (52%), cell wall degradation (19%) and mycorrhiza establishment (9%). Additionally, we found small secreted proteins that show typical features of effectors potentially involved in host communication. From the secretome, 22 proteins could be identified, two of which showed higher protein abundances after spruce root exudate exposure, while five were downregulated in this treatment. The changes in T. vaccinum protein excretion with first recognition of the partner were used to identify small secreted proteins with the potential to act as effectors in the mutually beneficial symbiosis. Our observations support the hypothesis of a complex communication network including a cocktail of communication molecules induced long before physical contact of the partners.}, } @article {pmid26447959, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, A}, title = {Dysbiosis: A Review Highlighting Obesity and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.}, journal = {Journal of clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {49 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S20-4}, doi = {10.1097/MCG.0000000000000356}, pmid = {26447959}, issn = {1539-2031}, mesh = {Dysbiosis/complications/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Obesity/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; }, abstract = {There are microbes in and on many parts of the human body and all of the microbes that inhabit an ecosystem are the microbiota, which can be commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic. Alterations in the homeostasis of the microbiota are considered dysbiosis. To determine how changes to the normal flora are associated with disease, we first need to identify normal gut flora. The gold standard for microbiota analysis is currently by 16S rRNA gene amplification techniques. The human diseases, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, are prime examples of dysbiosis. Both diseases exhibit a decreased diversity of microorganisms and characteristic changes in bacterial phyla as well as evidence of abnormal gut bacterial translocation and inflammation. As standardization of techniques and longitudinal studies come together in multicenter observations of the gut microbiota, a blossoming understanding will inevitably allow us to better diagnose, treat, and possibly even prevent disease.}, } @article {pmid26446590, year = {2015}, author = {Fabre, S and Gully, D and Poitout, A and Patrel, D and Arrighi, JF and Giraud, E and Czernic, P and Cartieaux, F}, title = {Nod Factor-Independent Nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia Required the Common Plant-Microbe Symbiotic Toolkit.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {4}, pages = {2654-2664}, pmid = {26446590}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Histidine Kinase ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis is a crucial area of research for more sustainable agriculture. Our knowledge of the plant cascade in response to the perception of bacterial Nod factors has increased in recent years. However, the discovery that Nod factors are not involved in the Aeschynomene-Bradyrhizobium spp. interaction suggests that alternative molecular dialogues may exist in the legume family. We evaluated the conservation of the signaling pathway common to other endosymbioses using three candidate genes: Ca(2+)/Calmodulin-Dependent Kinase (CCaMK), which plays a central role in cross signaling between nodule organogenesis and infection processes; and Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SYMRK) and Histidine Kinase1 (HK1), which act upstream and downstream of CCaMK, respectively. We showed that CCaMK, SYMRK, and HK1 are required for efficient nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia. Our results demonstrate that CCaMK and SYMRK are recruited in Nod factor-independent symbiosis and, hence, may be conserved in all vascular plant endosymbioses described so far.}, } @article {pmid26446190, year = {2015}, author = {Lasse Grönemeyer, J and Hurek, T and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Bradyrhizobium kavangense sp. nov., a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium from root nodules of traditional Namibian pulses.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {12}, pages = {4886-4894}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.000666}, pmid = {26446190}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Namibia ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Eight strains of symbiotic bacteria from root nodules of local races of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) grown on subsistence farmers' fields in the Kavango region, Namibia, were previously characterized and identified as a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To clarify their taxonomic status, these strains were further characterized using a polyphasic approach. In phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence the novel group was most closely related to Bradyrhizobium iriomotense EK05T and Bradyrhizobium ingae BR 10250T, and to 'Bradyrhizobium arachidis' CCBAU 051107 in the ITS sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated glnII-recA-rpoB-dnaK sequences placed the strains in a lineage distinct from named species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. The species status was validated by results of DNA-DNA hybridization. Phylogenetic analysis of nifH and nodC genes placed the novel strains in a group with 'B. arachidis' CCBAU 051107. The combination of phenotypic characteristics from several tests including carbon source utilization and antibiotic resistance could be used to differentiate representative strains from recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Novel strain 14-3T induces effective nodules on Vigna subterranea, Vigna unguiculata, Arachis hypogaea and Lablab purpureus. Based on the data presented, it is concluded that the strains represent a novel species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, for which the name Bradyrhizobium kavangense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 14-3T [ = DSM 100299T = LMG 28790T = NTCCM 0012T (Windhoek)]. The DNA G+C content of strain 14-3T is 63.8 mol% (Tm).}, } @article {pmid26445347, year = {2015}, author = {Yoshida, GJ}, title = {Metabolic reprogramming: the emerging concept and associated therapeutic strategies.}, journal = {Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR}, volume = {34}, number = {}, pages = {111}, pmid = {26445347}, issn = {1756-9966}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism ; *Cellular Reprogramming Techniques ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/physiology ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Glycolysis/physiology ; Humans ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/therapy ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Tumor tissue is composed of cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells with diverse genetic/epigenetic backgrounds, a situation known as intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Cancer cells are surrounded by a totally different microenvironment than that of normal cells; consequently, tumor cells must exhibit rapidly adaptive responses to hypoxia and hypo-nutrient conditions. This phenomenon of changes of tumor cellular bioenergetics, called "metabolic reprogramming", has been recognized as one of 10 hallmarks of cancer. Metabolic reprogramming is required for both malignant transformation and tumor development, including invasion and metastasis. Although the Warburg effect has been widely accepted as a common feature of metabolic reprogramming, accumulating evidence has revealed that tumor cells depend on mitochondrial metabolism as well as aerobic glycolysis. Remarkably, cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor stroma tend to activate both glycolysis and autophagy in contrast to neighboring cancer cells, which leads to a reverse Warburg effect. Heterogeneity of monocarboxylate transporter expression reflects cellular metabolic heterogeneity with respect to the production and uptake of lactate. In tumor tissue, metabolic heterogeneity induces metabolic symbiosis, which is responsible for adaptation to drastic changes in the nutrient microenvironment resulting from chemotherapy. In addition, metabolic heterogeneity is responsible for the failure to induce the same therapeutic effect against cancer cells as a whole. In particular, cancer stem cells exhibit several biological features responsible for resistance to conventional anti-tumor therapies. Consequently, cancer stem cells tend to form minimal residual disease after chemotherapy and exhibit metastatic potential with additional metabolic reprogramming. This type of altered metabolic reprogramming leads to adaptive/acquired resistance to anti-tumor therapy. Collectively, complex and dynamic metabolic reprogramming should be regarded as a reflection of the "robustness" of tumor cells against unfavorable conditions. This review focuses on the concept of metabolic reprogramming in heterogeneous tumor tissue, and further emphasizes the importance of developing novel therapeutic strategies based on drug repositioning.}, } @article {pmid26445111, year = {2015}, author = {Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Martín-Platero, AM and López-López, JP and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Soler, JJ and Valdivia, E and Martínez-Bueno, M}, title = {The Hoopoe's Uropygial Gland Hosts a Bacterial Community Influenced by the Living Conditions of the Bird.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0139734}, pmid = {26445111}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Birds/*microbiology ; Enterococcus/*genetics ; Female ; Residence Characteristics ; Scent Glands/*microbiology ; Social Conditions ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Molecular methods have revealed that symbiotic systems involving bacteria are mostly based on whole bacterial communities. Bacterial diversity in hoopoe uropygial gland secretion is known to be mainly composed of certain strains of enterococci, but this conclusion is based solely on culture-dependent techniques. This study, by using culture-independent techniques (based on the 16S rDNA and the ribosomal intergenic spacer region) shows that the bacterial community in the uropygial gland secretion is more complex than previously thought and its composition is affected by the living conditions of the bird. Besides the known enterococci, the uropygial gland hosts other facultative anaerobic species and several obligated anaerobic species (mostly clostridia). The bacterial assemblage of this community was largely invariable among study individuals, although differences were detected between captive and wild female hoopoes, with some strains showing significantly higher prevalence in wild birds. These results alter previous views on the hoopoe-bacteria symbiosis and open a new window to further explore this system, delving into the possible sources of symbiotic bacteria (e.g. nest environments, digestive tract, winter quarters) or the possible functions of different bacterial groups in different contexts of parasitism or predation of their hoopoe host.}, } @article {pmid26442762, year = {2015}, author = {Gutzwiller, F and Dedeine, F and Kaiser, W and Giron, D and Lopez-Vaamonde, C}, title = {Correlation between the green-island phenotype and Wolbachia infections during the evolutionary diversification of Gracillariidae leaf-mining moths.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {18}, pages = {4049-4062}, pmid = {26442762}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Internally feeding herbivorous insects such as leaf miners have developed the ability to manipulate the physiology of their host plants in a way to best meet their metabolic needs and compensate for variation in food nutritional composition. For instance, some leaf miners can induce green-islands on yellow leaves in autumn, which are characterized by photosynthetically active green patches in otherwise senescing leaves. It has been shown that endosymbionts, and most likely bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, play an important role in green-island induction in the apple leaf-mining moth Phyllonorycter blancardella. However, it is currently not known how widespread is this moth-Wolbachia-plant interaction. Here, we studied the co-occurrence between Wolbachia and the green-island phenotype in 133 moth specimens belonging to 74 species of Lepidoptera including 60 Gracillariidae leaf miners. Using a combination of molecular phylogenies and ecological data (occurrence of green-islands), we show that the acquisitions of the green-island phenotype and Wolbachia infections have been associated through the evolutionary diversification of Gracillariidae. We also found intraspecific variability in both green-island formation and Wolbachia infection, with some species being able to form green-islands without being infected by Wolbachia. In addition, Wolbachia variants belonging to both A and B supergroups were found to be associated with green-island phenotype suggesting several independent origins of green-island induction. This study opens new prospects and raises new questions about the ecology and evolution of the tripartite association between Wolbachia, leaf miners, and their host plants.}, } @article {pmid26442091, year = {2015}, author = {Song, Y and Chen, D and Lu, K and Sun, Z and Zeng, R}, title = {Enhanced tomato disease resistance primed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {786}, pmid = {26442091}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Roots of most terrestrial plants form symbiotic associations (mycorrhiza) with soil- borne arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Many studies show that mycorrhizal colonization enhances plant resistance against pathogenic fungi. However, the mechanism of mycorrhiza-induced disease resistance remains equivocal. In this study, we found that mycorrhizal inoculation with AMF Funneliformis mosseae significantly alleviated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) early blight disease caused by Alternaria solani Sorauer. AMF pre-inoculation led to significant increases in activities of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and lipoxygenase (LOX) in tomato leaves upon pathogen inoculation. Mycorrhizal inoculation alone did not influence the transcripts of most genes tested. However, pathogen attack on AMF-inoculated plants provoked strong defense responses of three genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins, PR1, PR2, and PR3, as well as defense-related genes LOX, AOC, and PAL, in tomato leaves. The induction of defense responses in AMF pre-inoculated plants was much higher and more rapid than that in un-inoculated plants in present of pathogen infection. Three tomato genotypes: a Castlemart wild-type (WT) plant, a jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis mutant (spr2), and a prosystemin-overexpressing 35S::PS plant were used to examine the role of the JA signaling pathway in AMF-primed disease defense. Pathogen infection on mycorrhizal 35S::PS plants led to higher induction of defense-related genes and enzymes relative to WT plants. However, pathogen infection did not induce these genes and enzymes in mycorrhizal spr2 mutant plants. Bioassays showed that 35S::PS plants were more resistant and spr2 plants were more susceptible to early blight compared with WT plants. Our finding indicates that mycorrhizal colonization enhances tomato resistance to early blight by priming systemic defense response, and the JA signaling pathway is essential for mycorrhiza-primed disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid26442036, year = {2015}, author = {Smith, DL and Praslickova, D and Ilangumaran, G}, title = {Inter-organismal signaling and management of the phytomicrobiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {722}, pmid = {26442036}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The organisms of the phytomicrobiome use signal compounds to regulate aspects of each other's behavior. Legumes use signals (flavonoids) to regulate rhizobial nod gene expression during establishment of the legume-rhizobia N2-fixation symbiosis. Lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) produced by rhizobia act as return signals to the host plant and are recognized by specific lysine motif receptor like kinases, which triggers a signal cascade leading to nodulation of legume roots. LCOs also enhance plant growth, particularly when plants are stressed. Chitooligosaccharides activate plant immune responses, providing enhanced resistance against diseases. Co-inoculation of rhizobia with other plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can improve nodulation and crop growth. PGPR also alleviate plant stress by secreting signal compounds including phytohormones and antibiotics. Thuricin 17, a small bacteriocin produced by a phytomicrobiome member promotes plant growth. Lumichrome synthesized by soil rhizobacteria function as stress-sensing cues. Inter-organismal signaling can be used to manage/engineer the phytomicrobiome to enhance crop productivity, particularly in the face of stress. Stressful conditions are likely to become more frequent and more severe because of climate change.}, } @article {pmid26442023, year = {2015}, author = {Smith, DL and Subramanian, S and Lamont, JR and Bywater-Ekegärd, M}, title = {Signaling in the phytomicrobiome: breadth and potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {709}, pmid = {26442023}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Higher plants have evolved intimate, complex, subtle, and relatively constant relationships with a suite of microbes, the phytomicrobiome. Over the last few decades we have learned that plants and microbes can use molecular signals to communicate. This is well-established for the legume-rhizobia nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, and reasonably elucidated for mycorrhizal associations. Bacteria within the phytomircobiome communicate among themselves through quorum sensing and other mechanisms. Plants also detect materials produced by potential pathogens and activate pathogen-response systems. This intercommunication dictates aspects of plant development, architecture, and productivity. Understanding this signaling via biochemical, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomic studies has added valuable knowledge regarding development of effective, low-cost, eco-friendly crop inputs that reduce fossil fuel intense inputs. This knowledge underpins phytomicrobiome engineering: manipulating the beneficial consortia that manufacture signals/products that improve the ability of the plant-phytomicrobiome community to deal with various soil and climatic conditions, leading to enhanced overall crop plant productivity.}, } @article {pmid26442016, year = {2015}, author = {Dakora, FD and Matiru, VN and Kanu, AS}, title = {Rhizosphere ecology of lumichrome and riboflavin, two bacterial signal molecules eliciting developmental changes in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {700}, pmid = {26442016}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Lumichrome and riboflavin are novel molecules from rhizobial exudates that stimulate plant growth. Reported studies have revealed major developmental changes elicited by lumichrome at very low nanomolar concentrations (5 nM) in plants, which include early initiation of trifoliate leaves, expansion of unifoliate and trifoliate leaves, increased stem elongation and leaf area, and consequently greater biomass accumulation in monocots and dicots. But higher lumichrome concentration (50 nM) depressed root development and reduced growth of unifoliate and second trifoliate leaves. While the mechanisms remain unknown, it is possible that lumichrome released by rhizobia induced the biosynthesis of classical phytohormones that caused the observed developmental changes in plants. We also showed in earlier studies that applying either 10 nM lumichrome, 10 nM ABA, or 10 ml of infective rhizobial cells (0.2 OD600) to roots of monocots and dicots for 44 h produced identical effects, which included decreased stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration in Bambara groundnut, soybean, and maize, increased stomatal conductance and transpiration in cowpea and lupin, and elevated root respiration in maize (19% by rhizobia and 20% by lumichrome). Greater extracellular exudation of lumichrome, riboflavin and indole acetic acid by N2-fixing rhizobia over non-fixing bacteria is perceived to be an indication of their role as symbiotic signals. This is evidenced by the increased concentration of lumichrome and riboflavin in the xylem sap of cowpea and soybean plants inoculated with infective rhizobia. In fact, greater xylem concentration of lumichrome in soybean and its correspondingly increased accumulation in leaves was found to result in dramatic developmental changes than in cowpea. Furthermore, lumichrome and riboflavin secreted by soil rhizobia are also known to function as (i) ecological cues for sensing environmental stress, (ii) growth factors for microbes, plants, and humans, (iii) signals for stomatal functioning in land plants, and (iv) protectants/elicitors of plant defense. The fact that exogenous application of ABA to plant roots caused the same effect as lumichrome on leaf stomatal functioning suggests molecular cross-talk in plant response to environmental stimuli.}, } @article {pmid26441999, year = {2015}, author = {Banhara, A and Ding, Y and Kühner, R and Zuccaro, A and Parniske, M}, title = {Colonization of root cells and plant growth promotion by Piriformospora indica occurs independently of plant common symbiosis genes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {667}, pmid = {26441999}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi (Glomeromycota) form symbiosis with and deliver nutrients via the roots of most angiosperms. AM fungal hyphae are taken up by living root epidermal cells, a program which relies on a set of plant common symbiosis genes (CSGs). Plant root epidermal cells are also infected by the plant growth-promoting fungus Piriformospora indica (Basidiomycota), raising the question whether this interaction relies on the AM-related CSGs. Here we show that intracellular colonization of root cells and intracellular sporulation by P. indica occurred in CSG mutants of the legume Lotus japonicus and in Arabidopsis thaliana, which belongs to the Brassicaceae, a family that has lost the ability to form AM as well as a core set of CSGs. A. thaliana mutants of homologs of CSGs (HCSGs) interacted with P. indica similar to the wild-type. Moreover, increased biomass of A. thaliana evoked by P. indica was unaltered in HCSG mutants. We conclude that colonization and growth promotion by P. indica are independent of the CSGs and that AM fungi and P. indica exploit different host pathways for infection.}, } @article {pmid26441944, year = {2015}, author = {López-Legentil, S and Turon, X and Espluga, R and Erwin, PM}, title = {Temporal stability of bacterial symbionts in a temperate ascidian.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {1022}, pmid = {26441944}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In temperate seas, both bacterioplankton communities and invertebrate lifecycles follow a seasonal pattern. To investigate whether the bacterial community associated with the Mediterranean ascidian Didemnum fulgens exhibited similar variations, we monitored its bacterial community structure monthly for over a year using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and clone library analyses based on a nearly full length fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. D. fulgens harbored a bacterial consortium typical of ascidians, including numerous members of the phylum Proteobacteria, and a few members of the phyla Cyanobacteria and Acidobacteria. The overall bacterial community in D. fulgens had a distinct signature from the surrounding seawater and was stable over time and across seasonal fluctuations in temperature. Bacterial symbionts were also observed around animal cells in the tunic of adult individuals and in the inner tunic of D. fulgens larvae by transmission electron microscopy. Our results suggest that, as seen for sponges and corals, some species of ascidians host stable and unique bacterial communities that are at least partially inherited by their progeny by vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid26441909, year = {2015}, author = {Firrincieli, A and Otillar, R and Salamov, A and Schmutz, J and Khan, Z and Redman, RS and Fleck, ND and Lindquist, E and Grigoriev, IV and Doty, SL}, title = {Genome sequence of the plant growth promoting endophytic yeast Rhodotorula graminis WP1.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {978}, pmid = {26441909}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid26441903, year = {2015}, author = {Minard, G and Tran, FH and Van, VT and Goubert, C and Bellet, C and Lambert, G and Kim, KL and Thuy, TH and Mavingui, P and Valiente Moro, C}, title = {French invasive Asian tiger mosquito populations harbor reduced bacterial microbiota and genetic diversity compared to Vietnamese autochthonous relatives.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {970}, pmid = {26441903}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is one of the most significant pathogen vectors of the twenty-first century. Originating from Asia, it has invaded a wide range of eco-climatic regions worldwide. The insect-associated microbiota is now recognized to play a significant role in host biology. While genetic diversity bottlenecks are known to result from biological invasions, the resulting shifts in host-associated microbiota diversity has not been thoroughly investigated. To address this subject, we compared four autochthonous Ae. albopictus populations in Vietnam, the native area of Ae. albopictus, and three populations recently introduced to Metropolitan France, with the aim of documenting whether these populations display differences in host genotype and bacterial microbiota. Population-level genetic diversity (microsatellite markers and COI haplotype) and bacterial diversity (16S rDNA metabarcoding) were compared between field-caught mosquitoes. Bacterial microbiota from the whole insect bodies were largely dominated by Wolbachia pipientis. Targeted analysis of the gut microbiota revealed a greater bacterial diversity in which a fraction was common between French and Vietnamese populations. The genus Dysgonomonas was the most prevalent and abundant across all studied populations. Overall genetic diversities of both hosts and bacterial microbiota were significantly reduced in recently established populations of France compared to the autochthonous populations of Vietnam. These results open up many important avenues of investigation in order to link the process of geographical invasion to shifts in commensal and symbiotic microbiome communities, as such shifts may have dramatic impacts on the biology and/or vector competence of invading hematophagous insects.}, } @article {pmid26441846, year = {2015}, author = {Christian, N and Whitaker, BK and Clay, K}, title = {Microbiomes: unifying animal and plant systems through the lens of community ecology theory.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {869}, pmid = {26441846}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The field of microbiome research is arguably one of the fastest growing in biology. Bacteria feature prominently in studies on animal health, but fungi appear to be the more prominent functional symbionts for plants. Despite the similarities in the ecological organization and evolutionary importance of animal-bacterial and plant-fungal microbiomes, there is a general failure across disciplines to integrate the advances made in each system. Researchers studying bacterial symbionts in animals benefit from greater access to efficient sequencing pipelines and taxonomic reference databases, perhaps due to high medical and veterinary interest. However, researchers studying plant-fungal symbionts benefit from the relative tractability of fungi under laboratory conditions and ease of cultivation. Thus each system has strengths to offer, but both suffer from the lack of a common conceptual framework. We argue that community ecology best illuminates complex species interactions across space and time. In this synthesis we compare and contrast the animal-bacterial and plant-fungal microbiomes using six core theories in community ecology (i.e., succession, community assembly, metacommunities, multi-trophic interactions, disturbance, restoration). The examples and questions raised are meant to spark discussion amongst biologists and lead to the integration of these two systems, as well as more informative, manipulatory experiments on microbiomes research.}, } @article {pmid26440374, year = {2015}, author = {Abbott, DW and Martens, EC and Gilbert, HJ and Cuskin, F and Lowe, EC}, title = {Coevolution of yeast mannan digestion: Convergence of the civilized human diet, distal gut microbiome, and host immunity.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {334-339}, pmid = {26440374}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 097907/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; WT097907AIA/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteroides/*metabolism ; *Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; *Immunity ; Mannans/*metabolism ; Microbial Interactions ; Yeasts/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The complex carbohydrates accessible to the distal gut microbiota (DGM) are key drivers in determining the structure of this ecosystem. Typically, plant cell wall polysaccharides and recalcitrant starch (i.e. dietary fiber), in addition to host glycans are considered the primary nutrients for the DGM; however, we recently demonstrated that α-mannans, highly branched polysaccharides that decorate the surface of yeast, are also nutrients for several members of Bacteroides spp. This relationship suggests that the advent of yeast in contemporary food technologies and the colonization of the intestine by endogenous fungi have roles in microbiome structure and function. Here we discuss the process of yeast mannan metabolism, and the intersection between various sources of intestinal fungi and their roles in recognition by the host innate immune system.}, } @article {pmid26440189, year = {2015}, author = {Zbib, N and Repussard, C and Tardieu, D and Priymenko, N and Domange, C and Guerre, P}, title = {Toxicity of endophyte-infected ryegrass hay containing high ergovaline level in lactating ewes.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {93}, number = {8}, pages = {4098-4109}, doi = {10.2527/jas.2014-8848}, pmid = {26440189}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Diet/veterinary ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Ergotamines/chemistry/*toxicity ; Female ; Indole Alkaloids/chemistry/*toxicity ; Lactation/drug effects ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Milk/chemistry ; Mycotoxins/chemistry/*toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; Prolactin/blood ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases/*chemically induced ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association of var. (formerly named) with perennial ryegrass () leads to the production of ergovaline (EV) and lolitrem B (LB) that are toxic for livestock. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of feeding endophyte-infected ryegrass (SE+) hay on 16 lactating ewes (BW 80 ± 10 kg) in comparison with endophyte-free ryegrass (SE-) hay to investigate the putative mechanisms of action of EV and LB and to evaluate their persistence in milk and animal tissues. The mean EV and LB concentrations in SE+ hay were 851 and 884 μg/kg DM, respectively, whereas these alkaloids were below the limit of detection in SE- hay. No effect of SE+ was observed on animal health and skin temperature whereas prolactin decreased and significant differences between hays were observed from d 7 to 28 of the study (< 0.03) but had no effect on milk production. Hematocrit and biochemical analyses of plasma revealed no significant difference between SE+ and SE-, whereas cortisol concentration differed significantly on d 28 (= 0.001). Measurement of oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma, liver, and kidneys revealed a slight increase in some enzyme activities involved in defense against oxidative damage in the SE+ fed ewes. Slight variations in the activities of hepatic and kidney flavin monooxygenase enzymes were observed, whereas in the kidney, glutathione -transferase activity decreased significantly (= 0.002) in the SE+ fed ewes, whereas uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase activity increased (= 0.001). After 28 d of exposure of ewes to the SE+ hay, low EV and LB concentrations were measured in tissues. The highest concentration of EV was observed in the liver (0.68 μg/kg) whereas fat contained the highest concentration of LB (2.39 μg/kg). Both toxins were also identified at the trace level in milk.}, } @article {pmid26439535, year = {2016}, author = {Murakoshi, F and Ichikawa-Seki, M and Aita, J and Yaita, S and Kinami, A and Fujimoto, K and Nishikawa, Y and Murakami, S and Horimoto, T and Kato, K}, title = {Molecular epidemiological analyses of Cryptosporidium parvum virus 1 (CSpV1), a symbiotic virus of Cryptosporidium parvum, in Japan.}, journal = {Virus research}, volume = {211}, number = {}, pages = {69-72}, doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2015.09.021}, pmid = {26439535}, issn = {1872-7492}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Cryptosporidiosis/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Cryptosporidium parvum/physiology/*virology ; Feces/parasitology ; Genotype ; Japan/epidemiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA Viruses/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We show that Cryptosporidium parvum virus 1 (CSpV1), a member of the family Partitiviridae, genus Cryspovirus that can infect Cryptosporidium parvum, is a new candidate for high-resolution tool for tracing C. parvum. CSpV1 was detected in all C. parvum-positive samples tested. Phylogenetic analysis of dsRNA1 sequence from CSpV1 can distinguish infected areas of C. parvum on the national level. Sequences detected in samples from Iwate prefecture and other islands (Tanegashima, and Okinawa) belonged to a single clade. This system can differentiate the samples from Hokkaido and south part of Japan as well as from other countries. Samples from Iwate, Tanegashima, and Okinawa belonged to a single subclade, respectively. Therefore, the CSpV1 dsRNA sequences reflect the regional distribution of their host and have potential as a high-resolution tool to trace C. parvum IIaA15G2R1 subtype.}, } @article {pmid26438870, year = {2015}, author = {Delaux, PM and Radhakrishnan, GV and Jayaraman, D and Cheema, J and Malbreil, M and Volkening, JD and Sekimoto, H and Nishiyama, T and Melkonian, M and Pokorny, L and Rothfels, CJ and Sederoff, HW and Stevenson, DW and Surek, B and Zhang, Y and Sussman, MR and Dunand, C and Morris, RJ and Roux, C and Wong, GK and Oldroyd, GE and Ané, JM}, title = {Algal ancestor of land plants was preadapted for symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {43}, pages = {13390-13395}, pmid = {26438870}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/L014130/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*genetics/physiology ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/physiology ; Closterium/genetics/growth & development ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Embryophyta/*genetics/physiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Hepatophyta/genetics/growth & development ; Likelihood Functions ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Spirogyra/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Colonization of land by plants was a major transition on Earth, but the developmental and genetic innovations required for this transition remain unknown. Physiological studies and the fossil record strongly suggest that the ability of the first land plants to form symbiotic associations with beneficial fungi was one of these critical innovations. In angiosperms, genes required for the perception and transduction of diffusible fungal signals for root colonization and for nutrient exchange have been characterized. However, the origin of these genes and their potential correlation with land colonization remain elusive. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of 259 transcriptomes and 10 green algal and basal land plant genomes, coupled with the characterization of the evolutionary path leading to the appearance of a key regulator, a calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, showed that the symbiotic signaling pathway predated the first land plants. In contrast, downstream genes required for root colonization and their specific expression pattern probably appeared subsequent to the colonization of land. We conclude that the most recent common ancestor of extant land plants and green algae was preadapted for symbiotic associations. Subsequent improvement of this precursor stage in early land plants through rounds of gene duplication led to the acquisition of additional pathways and the ability to form a fully functional arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26438860, year = {2015}, author = {Sit, CS and Ruzzini, AC and Van Arnam, EB and Ramadhar, TR and Currie, CR and Clardy, J}, title = {Variable genetic architectures produce virtually identical molecules in bacterial symbionts of fungus-growing ants.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {43}, pages = {13150-13154}, pmid = {26438860}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {U19AI09673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI109673/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW009872/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM108415/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Small molecules produced by Actinobacteria have played a prominent role in both drug discovery and organic chemistry. As part of a larger study of the actinobacterial symbionts of fungus-growing ants, we discovered a small family of three previously unreported piperazic acid-containing cyclic depsipeptides, gerumycins A-C. The gerumycins are slightly smaller versions of dentigerumycin, a cyclic depsipeptide that selectively inhibits a common fungal pathogen, Escovopsis. We had previously identified this molecule from a Pseudonocardia associated with Apterostigma dentigerum, and now we report the molecule from an associate of the more highly derived ant Trachymyrmex cornetzi. The three previously unidentified compounds, gerumycins A-C, have essentially identical structures and were produced by two different symbiotic Pseudonocardia spp. from ants in the genus Apterostigma found in both Panama and Costa Rica. To understand the similarities and differences in the biosynthetic pathways that produced these closely related molecules, the genomes of the three producing Pseudonocardia were sequenced and the biosynthetic gene clusters identified. This analysis revealed that dramatically different biosynthetic architectures, including genomic islands, a plasmid, and the use of spatially separated genetic loci, can lead to molecules with virtually identical core structures. A plausible evolutionary model that unifies these disparate architectures is presented.}, } @article {pmid26433961, year = {2016}, author = {Gavazov, K and Hagedorn, F and Buttler, A and Siegwolf, R and Bragazza, L}, title = {Environmental drivers of carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures in peatland vascular plants along an altitude gradient.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {180}, number = {1}, pages = {257-264}, pmid = {26433961}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Altitude ; Bacteria/growth & development ; *Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; *Climate ; Climate Change ; Cyperaceae ; *Ecosystem ; Ericaceae ; Fungi/growth & development ; Magnoliopsida/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Plant Development ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Poaceae ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Peatlands are important sinks of atmospheric carbon (C) that, in response to climate warming, are undergoing dynamic vegetation succession. Here we examined the hypothesis that the uptake of nutrients by different plant growth forms (PGFs) is one key mechanism driving changes in species abundance in peatlands. Along an altitude gradient representing a natural climate experiment, we compared the variability of the stable C isotope composition (δ(13)C) and stable nitrogen (N) isotope composition (δ(15)N) in current-year leaves of two major PGFs, i.e. ericoids and graminoids. The climate gradient was associated with a gradient of vascular plant cover, which was parallelled by different concentrations of organic and inorganic N as well as the fungal/bacterial ratio in peat. In both PGFs the (13)C natural abundance showed a marginal spatial decrease with altitude and a temporal decrease with progression of the growing season. Our data highlight a primary physical control of foliar δ(13)C signature, which is independent from the PGFs. Natural abundance of foliar (15)N did not show any seasonal pattern and only in the ericoids showed depletion at lower elevation. This decreasing δ(15)N pattern was primarily controlled by the higher relative availability of organic versus inorganic N and, only for the ericoids, by an increased proportion of fungi to bacteria in soil. Our space-for-time approach demonstrates that a change in abundance of PGFs is associated with a different strategy of nutrient acquisition (i.e. transfer via mycorrhizal symbiosis versus direct fine-root uptake), which could likely promote observed and predicted dwarf shrub expansion under climate change.}, } @article {pmid26433010, year = {2015}, author = {Lemaire, B and Van Cauwenberghe, J and Chimphango, S and Stirton, C and Honnay, O and Smets, E and Muasya, AM}, title = {Recombination and horizontal transfer of nodulation and ACC deaminase (acdS) genes within Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria nodulating legumes of the Cape Fynbos biome.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {11}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv118}, pmid = {26433010}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Betaproteobacteria/classification/enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The goal of this work is to study the evolution and the degree of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) within rhizobial genera of both Alphaproteobacteria (Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium) and Betaproteobacteria (Burkholderia), originating from South African Fynbos legumes. By using a phylogenetic approach and comparing multiple chromosomal and symbiosis genes, we revealed conclusive evidence of high degrees of horizontal transfer of nodulation genes among closely related species of both groups of rhizobia, but also among species with distant genetic backgrounds (Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium), underscoring the importance of lateral transfer of symbiosis traits as an important evolutionary force among rhizobia of the Cape Fynbos biome. The extensive exchange of symbiosis genes in the Fynbos is in contrast with a lack of significant events of HGT among Burkholderia symbionts from the South American Cerrado and Caatinga biome. Furthermore, homologous recombination among selected housekeeping genes had a substantial impact on sequence evolution within Burkholderia and Mesorhizobium. Finally, phylogenetic analyses of the non-symbiosis acdS gene in Mesorhizobium, a gene often located on symbiosis islands, revealed distinct relationships compared to the chromosomal and symbiosis genes, suggesting a different evolutionary history and independent events of gene transfer. The observed events of HGT and incongruence between different genes necessitate caution in interpreting topologies from individual data types.}, } @article {pmid26432878, year = {2015}, author = {Baudin, M and Laloum, T and Lepage, A and Rípodas, C and Ariel, F and Frances, L and Crespi, M and Gamas, P and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Niebel, A}, title = {A Phylogenetically Conserved Group of Nuclear Factor-Y Transcription Factors Interact to Control Nodulation in Legumes.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {4}, pages = {2761-2773}, pmid = {26432878}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; CCAAT-Binding Factor/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/genetics/metabolism ; Cytoplasm/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Protein Binding ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiotic association between legumes and soil bacteria called rhizobia leads to the formation of a new root-derived organ called the nodule in which differentiated bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be assimilated by the host plant. Successful root infection by rhizobia and nodule organogenesis require the activation of symbiotic genes that are controlled by a set of transcription factors (TFs). We recently identified Medicago truncatula nuclear factor-YA1 (MtNF-YA1) and MtNF-YA2 as two M. truncatula TFs playing a central role during key steps of the Sinorhizobium meliloti-M. truncatula symbiotic interaction. NF-YA TFs interact with NF-YB and NF-YC subunits to regulate target genes containing the CCAAT box consensus sequence. In this study, using a yeast two-hybrid screen approach, we identified the NF-YB and NF-YC subunits able to interact with MtNF-YA1 and MtNF-YA2. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and in planta, we further demonstrated by both coimmunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation that these NF-YA, -B, and -C subunits interact and form a stable NF-Y heterotrimeric complex. Reverse genetic and chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR approaches revealed the importance of these newly identified NF-YB and NF-YC subunits for rhizobial symbiosis and binding to the promoter of MtERN1 (for Ethylene Responsive factor required for Nodulation), a direct target gene of MtNF-YA1 and MtNF-YA2. Finally, we verified that a similar trimer is formed in planta by the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) NF-Y subunits, revealing the existence of evolutionary conserved NF-Y protein complexes to control nodulation in leguminous plants. This sheds light on the process whereby an ancient heterotrimeric TF mainly controlling cell division in animals has acquired specialized functions in plants.}, } @article {pmid26432822, year = {2016}, author = {Grandclément, C and Tannières, M and Moréra, S and Dessaux, Y and Faure, D}, title = {Quorum quenching: role in nature and applied developments.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {86-116}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuv038}, pmid = {26432822}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Bacteria/enzymology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biofilms ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) refers to the capacity of bacteria to monitor their population density and regulate gene expression accordingly: the QS-regulated processes deal with multicellular behaviors (e.g. growth and development of biofilm), horizontal gene transfer and host-microbe (symbiosis and pathogenesis) and microbe-microbe interactions. QS signaling requires the synthesis, exchange and perception of bacterial compounds, called autoinducers or QS signals (e.g. N-acylhomoserine lactones). The disruption of QS signaling, also termed quorum quenching (QQ), encompasses very diverse phenomena and mechanisms which are presented and discussed in this review. First, we surveyed the QS-signal diversity and QS-associated responses for a better understanding of the targets of the QQ phenomena that organisms have naturally evolved and are currently actively investigated in applied perspectives. Next the mechanisms, targets and molecular actors associated with QS interference are presented, with a special emphasis on the description of natural QQ enzymes and chemicals acting as QS inhibitors. Selected QQ paradigms are detailed to exemplify the mechanisms and biological roles of QS inhibition in microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. Finally, some QQ strategies are presented as promising tools in different fields such as medicine, aquaculture, crop production and anti-biofouling area.}, } @article {pmid26432094, year = {2015}, author = {Ma, Y and Shi, N and Li, M and Chen, F and Niu, H}, title = {Applications of Next-generation Sequencing in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases.}, journal = {Genomics, proteomics & bioinformatics}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {242-249}, pmid = {26432094}, issn = {2210-3244}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*genetics/immunology ; Base Sequence ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*genetics/immunology ; Mice ; Multiple Sclerosis/*genetics/immunology ; Mutation/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Systemic autoimmune diseases are a group of heterogeneous disorders caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Although numerous causal genes have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), these susceptibility genes are correlated to a relatively low disease risk, indicating that environmental factors also play an important role in the pathogenesis of disease. The intestinal microbiome, as the main symbiotic ecosystem between the host and host-associated microorganisms, has been demonstrated to regulate the development of the body's immune system and is likely related to genetic mutations in systemic autoimmune diseases. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, with high-throughput capacity and accuracy, provides a powerful tool to discover genomic mutations, abnormal transcription and intestinal microbiome identification for autoimmune diseases. In this review, we briefly outlined the applications of NGS in systemic autoimmune diseases. This review may provide a reference for future studies in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases.}, } @article {pmid26426118, year = {2015}, author = {Lutz, A and Raina, JB and Motti, CA and Miller, DJ and van Oppen, MJ}, title = {Host Coenzyme Q Redox State Is an Early Biomarker of Thermal Stress in the Coral Acropora millepora.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e0139290}, pmid = {26426118}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology/*physiology ; Biomarkers/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; Ubiquinone/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bleaching episodes caused by increasing seawater temperatures may induce mass coral mortality and are regarded as one of the biggest threats to coral reef ecosystems worldwide. The current consensus is that this phenomenon results from enhanced production of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disrupt the symbiosis between corals and their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium. Here, the responses of two important antioxidant defence components, the host coenzyme Q (CoQ) and symbiont plastoquinone (PQ) pools, are investigated for the first time in colonies of the scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora, during experimentally-induced bleaching under ecologically relevant conditions. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to quantify the states of these two pools, together with physiological parameters assessing the general state of the symbiosis (including photosystem II photochemical efficiency, chlorophyll concentration and Symbiodinium cell densities). The results show that the responses of the two antioxidant systems occur on different timescales: (i) the redox state of the Symbiodinium PQ pool remained stable until twelve days into the experiment, after which there was an abrupt oxidative shift; (ii) by contrast, an oxidative shift of approximately 10% had occurred in the host CoQ pool after 6 days of thermal stress, prior to significant changes in any other physiological parameter measured. Host CoQ pool oxidation is thus an early biomarker of thermal stress in corals, and this antioxidant pool is likely to play a key role in quenching thermally-induced ROS in the coral-algal symbiosis. This study adds to a growing body of work that indicates host cellular responses may precede the bleaching process and symbiont dysfunction.}, } @article {pmid26424710, year = {2015}, author = {Gaude, N and Bortfeld, S and Erban, A and Kopka, J and Krajinski, F}, title = {Symbiosis dependent accumulation of primary metabolites in arbuscule-containing cells.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {234}, pmid = {26424710}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/*microbiology ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is characterized by the presence of different symbiotic structures and stages within a root system. Therefore tools allowing the analysis of molecular changes at a cellular level are required to reveal insight into arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis development and functioning.

RESULTS: Here we describe the analysis of metabolite pools in arbuscule-containing cells, which are the site of nutrient transfer between AM fungus and host plant. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-EI/TOF-MS) enabled the analysis of primary metabolite levels,which might be of plant or fungal origin, within these cells.

CONCLUSIONS: High levels of the amino acids, aspartate, asparagine, glutamate, and glutamine, were observed in arbuscule-containing cells. Elevated amounts of sucrose and the steady-state of hexose levels indicated a direct assimilation of monosaccharides by the fungal partner.}, } @article {pmid26424103, year = {2015}, author = {Konoki, K and Okada, K and Kohama, M and Matsuura, H and Saito, K and Cho, Y and Nishitani, G and Miyamoto, T and Fukuzawa, S and Tachibana, K and Yotsu-Yamashita, M}, title = {Identification of okadaic acid binding protein 2 in reconstituted sponge cell clusters from Halichondria okadai and its contribution to the detoxification of okadaic acid.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {38-45}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.09.026}, pmid = {26424103}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; *Inactivation, Metabolic ; Okadaic Acid/chemistry/metabolism ; Porifera/genetics/*metabolism ; Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Okadaic acid (OA) and OA binding protein 2 (OABP2) were previously isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. Because the amino acid sequence of OABP2 is completely different from that of protein phosphatase 2A, a well-known target of OA, we have been investigating the production and function of OABP2. In the present study, we hypothesized that OABP2 plays a role in the detoxification of OA in H. okadai and that the OA concentrations are in proportional to the OABP2 concentrations in the sponge specimens. Based on the OA concentrations and the OABP2 concentrations in the sponge specimens collected in various places and in different seasons, however, we could not determine a positive correlation between OA and OABP2. We then attempted to determine distribution of OA and OABP2 in the sponge specimen. When the mixture of dissociated sponge cells and symbiotic species were separated with various pore-sized nylon meshes, most of the OA and OABP2 was detected from the same 0-10 μm fraction. Next, when sponge cell clusters were prepared from a mixture of dissociated sponge cells and symbiotic species in the presence of penicillin and streptomycin, we identified the 18S rDNA of H. okadai and the gene of OABP2 in the analysis of genomic DNA but could not detect OA by LC-MS/MS. We thus concluded that the sponge cells express OABP2, and that OA was not apparently present in the sponge cells but could be colocalized with OABP2 in the sponge cells at a concentration less than the limit of detection.}, } @article {pmid26422404, year = {2015}, author = {Blanquet, P and Silva, L and Catrice, O and Bruand, C and Carvalho, H and Meilhoc, E}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Controls Nitric Oxide-Mediated Post-Translational Modification of a Medicago truncatula Nodule Protein.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {1353-1363}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-15-0118-R}, pmid = {26422404}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula ; Mutation ; Nitric Oxide/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; Tyrosine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in various plant-microbe interactions. In the symbiosis between soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and model legume Medicago truncatula, NO is required for an optimal establishment of the interaction but is also a signal for nodule senescence. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for NO effects in the legume-rhizobium interaction. Here, we investigate the contribution of the bacterial NO response to the modulation of a plant protein post-translational modification in nitrogen-fixing nodules. We made use of different bacterial mutants to finely modulate NO levels inside M. truncatula root nodules and to examine the consequence on tyrosine nitration of the plant glutamine synthetase, a protein responsible for assimilation of the ammonia released by nitrogen fixation. Our results reveal that S. meliloti possesses several proteins that limit inactivation of plant enzyme activity via NO-mediated post-translational modifications. This is the first demonstration that rhizobia can impact the course of nitrogen fixation by modulating the activity of a plant protein.}, } @article {pmid26422403, year = {2015}, author = {Hood, G and Karunakaran, R and Downie, JA and Poole, P}, title = {MgtE From Rhizobium leguminosarum Is a Mg[2+] Channel Essential for Growth at Low pH and N2 Fixation on Specific Plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {1281-1287}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-15-0166-R}, pmid = {26422403}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000012/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; P19980/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; Ion Channels/metabolism/*physiology ; Magnesium/*metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Vicia/*growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {MgtE is predicted to be a Rhizobium leguminosarum channel and is essential for growth when both Mg[2+] is limiting and the pH is low. N2was only fixed at 8% of the rate of wild type when the crop legume Pisum sativum was inoculated with an mgtE mutant of R. leguminosarum and, although bacteroids were present, they were few in number and not fully developed. R. leguminosarum MgtE was also essential for N2fixation on the native legume Vicia hirsuta but not when in symbiosis with Vicia faba. The importance of MgtE and the relevance of the contrasting phenotypes is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26422237, year = {2015}, author = {Hagedorn, M and Carter, VL}, title = {Seasonal Preservation Success of the Marine Dinoflagellate Coral Symbiont, Symbiodinium sp.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0136358}, pmid = {26422237}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida ; Ecosystem ; *Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, but are threatened by global and local stressors, mandating the need for incorporating ex situ conservation practices. One approach that is highly protective is the development of genome resource banks that preserve the species and its genetic diversity. A critical component of the reef are the endosymbiotic algae, Symbiodinium sp., living within most coral that transfer energy-rich sugars to their hosts. Although Symbiodinium are maintained alive in culture collections around the world, the cryopreservation of these algae to prevent loss and genetic drift is not well-defined. This study examined the quantum yield physiology and freezing protocols that resulted in survival of Symbiodinium at 24 h post-thawing. Only the ultra-rapid procedure called vitrification resulted in success whereas conventional slow freezing protocols did not. We determined that success also depended on using a thin film of agar with embedded Symbiodinium on Cryotops, a process that yielded a post-thaw viability of >50% in extracted and vitrified Symbiodinium from Fungia scutaria, Pocillopora damicornis and Porites compressa. Additionally, there also was a seasonal influence on vitrification success as the best post-thaw survival of F. scutaria occurred in winter and spring compared to summer and fall (P < 0.05). These findings lay the foundation for developing a viable genome resource bank for the world's Symbiodinium that, in turn, will not only protect this critical element of coral functionality but serve as a resource for understanding the complexities of symbiosis, support selective breeding experiments to develop more thermally resilient strains of coral, and provide a 'gold-standard' genomics collection, allowing for full genomic sequencing of unique Symbiodinium strains.}, } @article {pmid26421612, year = {2015}, author = {Rodríguez-Marconi, S and De la Iglesia, R and Díez, B and Fonseca, CA and Hajdu, E and Trefault, N}, title = {Characterization of Bacterial, Archaeal and Eukaryote Symbionts from Antarctic Sponges Reveals a High Diversity at a Three-Domain Level and a Particular Signature for This Ecosystem.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0138837}, pmid = {26421612}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; *Aquatic Organisms/classification/microbiology/physiology ; *Archaea/classification/physiology ; *Bacteria/classification/growth & development ; *Ecosystem ; *Porifera/classification/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sponge-associated microbial communities include members from the three domains of life. In the case of bacteria, they are diverse, host specific and different from the surrounding seawater. However, little is known about the diversity and specificity of Eukarya and Archaea living in association with marine sponges. This knowledge gap is even greater regarding sponges from regions other than temperate and tropical environments. In Antarctica, marine sponges are abundant and important members of the benthos, structuring the Antarctic marine ecosystem. In this study, we used high throughput ribosomal gene sequencing to investigate the three-domain diversity and community composition from eight different Antarctic sponges. Taxonomic identification reveals that they belong to families Acarnidae, Chalinidae, Hymedesmiidae, Hymeniacidonidae, Leucettidae, Microcionidae, and Myxillidae. Our study indicates that there are different diversity and similarity patterns between bacterial/archaeal and eukaryote microbial symbionts from these Antarctic marine sponges, indicating inherent differences in how organisms from different domains establish symbiotic relationships. In general, when considering diversity indices and number of phyla detected, sponge-associated communities are more diverse than the planktonic communities. We conclude that three-domain microbial communities from Antarctic sponges are different from surrounding planktonic communities, expanding previous observations for Bacteria and including the Antarctic environment. Furthermore, we reveal differences in the composition of the sponge associated bacterial assemblages between Antarctic and tropical-temperate environments and the presence of a highly complex microbial eukaryote community, suggesting a particular signature for Antarctic sponges, different to that reported from other ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26421239, year = {2015}, author = {Lu, FC and Lee, CY and Wang, CL}, title = {The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on yam (Dioscorea spp.) tuber weights and secondary metabolite content.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1266}, pmid = {26421239}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely distributed in nature. They live in the roots of higher plants, in a symbiotic relationship. In this study, five commercial species of yams (Dioscorea spp.) were inoculated with six species of AMF, Glomus clarum, G. etunicatum, G. fasciculatum, Gigaspora sp., G. mosseae, and Acaulospora sp., in field cultivation conditions to investigate the influence of AMF inoculation on tuber weights and secondary metabolite content in yam tubers. The results showed that mycorrhizae formation rates ranged from 63.33% to 90%. G. etunicatum inoculation treatment increased the tube weights of the five species of yam tubers by 39%, 35%, 20%, 56%, and 40% for Tainung 1, Tainung 2, Ercih, Zihyuxieshu, and Tainung 5, respectively. The content of secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanin, was significantly increased by the AMF treatment in tuber flesh and peel of all the tested yam species. Specifically, the maximums exchange of secondary metabolite contents increased to 40%, 42%, and 106% for polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanin, respectively, in the tuber fresh. This study revealed that different species of yam had varying degrees of affinity with various AMF species; selecting effective AMF species is necessary to facilitate yam growth and improve the quality and quantity of yam tubers.}, } @article {pmid26420599, year = {2016}, author = {Chagnon, PL and U'Ren, JM and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F and Arnold, AE}, title = {Interaction type influences ecological network structure more than local abiotic conditions: evidence from endophytic and endolichenic fungi at a continental scale.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {180}, number = {1}, pages = {181-191}, pmid = {26420599}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; Forests ; *Fungi/genetics ; Lichens/*microbiology ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tundra ; }, abstract = {Understanding the factors that shape community assembly remains one of the most enduring and important questions in modern ecology. Network theory can reveal rules of community assembly within and across study systems and suggest novel hypotheses regarding the formation and stability of communities. However, such studies generally face the challenge of disentangling the relative influence of factors such as interaction type and environmental conditions on shaping communities and associated networks. Endophytic and endolichenic symbioses, characterized by microbial species that occur within healthy plants and lichen thalli, represent some of the most ubiquitous interactions in nature. Fungi that engage in these symbioses are hyperdiverse, often horizontally transmitted, and functionally beneficial in many cases, and they represent the diversification of multiple phylogenetic groups. We evaluated six measures of ecological network structure for >4100 isolates of endophytic and endolichenic fungi collected systematically from five sites across North America. Our comparison of these co-occurring interactions in biomes ranging from tundra to subtropical forest showed that the type of interactions (i.e., endophytic vs. endolichenic) had a much more pronounced influence on network structure than did environmental conditions. In particular, endophytic networks were less nested, less connected, and more modular than endolichenic networks in all sites. The consistency of the network structure within each interaction type, independent of site, is encouraging for current efforts devoted to gathering metadata on ecological network structure at a global scale. We discuss several mechanisms potentially responsible for such patterns and draw attention to knowledge gaps in our understanding of networks for diverse interaction types.}, } @article {pmid27247647, year = {2015}, author = {Ináncsi, T and Láng, A and Bereczkei, T}, title = {Machiavellianism and Adult Attachment in General Interpersonal Relationships and Close Relationships.}, journal = {Europe's journal of psychology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {139-154}, pmid = {27247647}, issn = {1841-0413}, abstract = {Up to the present, the relationship between Machiavellianism and adult attachment has remained a question to be answered in the psychological literature. That is why this study focused on the relationship between Machiavellianism and attachment towards significant others in general interpersonal relationships and in intimate-close relationships. Two attachment tests (Relationship Questionnaire and long-form of Experiences in Close Relationship) and the Mach-IV test were conducted on a sample consisting of 185 subjects. Results have revealed that Machiavellian subjects show a dismissing-avoidant attachment style in their general interpersonal relationships, while avoidance is further accompanied by some characteristics of attachment anxiety in their intimate-close relationships. Our findings further refine the relationship between Machiavellianism and dismissing-avoidant attachment. Machiavellian individuals not only have a negative representation of significant others, but they also tend to seek symbiotic closeness in order to exploit their partners. This ambitendency in distance regulation might be particularly important in understanding the vulnerability of Machiavellian individuals.}, } @article {pmid27047078, year = {2015}, author = {Saiyed, MA and Joshi, RS and Savaliya, FP and Patel, AB and Mishra, RK and Bhagora, NJ}, title = {Study on inclusion of probiotic, prebiotic and its combination in broiler diet and their effect on carcass characteristics and economics of commercial broilers.}, journal = {Veterinary world}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {225-231}, pmid = {27047078}, issn = {0972-8988}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIM: In today era, broiler industry facing a problem of price hiking of feed of broiler, also in competitive era there should be lower feed cost, lower feed conversion ratio, low feed consumption yet good body weight at marketable age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Day-old commercial broiler chicks (n=200) were distributed randomly into 5 dietary treatment groups viz. control (T1), probiotic in the feed @ 100 g/tonne of feed (T2), prebiotic in the feed @ 500 g/tonne of feed (T3), probiotic + prebiotic @ 100 g/tonne and 500 g/tonne of feed, respectively (T4) and probiotic + prebiotic @ 50 g/tonne and 250 g/tonne of feed (T5). The growth of broilers and dressing weight along with the weight of giblet (liver without gall bladder, gizzard without serous layer, and heart without pericardium), Kidney, Abdominal fat, Length of Intestine and dressing percentage were measured. Economics in terms of Return Over Feed Cost (ROFC) and European Performance Efficiency Index (EPEI) was calculated.

RESULTS: Among all carcass traits, dressing percentage, abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat percentage (as a percentage of dressed weight) were recorded significant (p<0.05) difference among different treatment groups. The income from selling of the birds was significantly (p<0.05) higher in all treatment groups than the control group but there was a non-significant difference between supplemented groups. Feed cost during whole experimental period was significantly (p<0.05) lower in synbiotic supplemented groups (T4 and T5) than other groups. ROFC of all treatment group found significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control group.

CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the diet supplemented with synbiotic (100% level) was most efficient in terms of EPEI and synbiotic (50% level) in terms of ROFC. Hence, as feed supplement, synbiotic has a beneficial effect over probiotic and prebiotic when used alone.}, } @article {pmid27251717, year = {2015}, author = {Sheffer, E and Batterman, SA and Levin, SA and Hedin, LO}, title = {Biome-scale nitrogen fixation strategies selected by climatic constraints on nitrogen cycle.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {15182}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.182}, pmid = {27251717}, issn = {2055-0278}, abstract = {Dinitrogen fixation by plants (in symbiosis with root bacteria) is a major source of new nitrogen for land ecosystems(1). A long-standing puzzle(2) is that trees capable of nitrogen fixation are abundant in nitrogen-rich tropical forests, but absent or restricted to early successional stages in nitrogen-poor extra-tropical forests. This biome-scale pattern presents an evolutionary paradox(3), given that the physiological cost(4) of nitrogen fixation predicts the opposite pattern: fixers should be out-competed by non-fixers in nitrogen-rich conditions, but competitively superior in nitrogen-poor soils. Here we evaluate whether this paradox can be explained by the existence of different fixation strategies in tropical versus extra-tropical trees: facultative fixers (capable of downregulating fixation(5,6) by sanctioning mutualistic bacteria(7)) are common in the tropics, whereas obligate fixers (less able to downregulate fixation) dominate at higher latitudes. Using a game-theoretic approach, we assess the ecological and evolutionary conditions under which these fixation strategies emerge, and examine their dependence on climate-driven differences in the nitrogen cycle. We show that in the tropics, transient soil nitrogen deficits following disturbance and rapid tree growth favour a facultative strategy and the coexistence of fixers and non-fixers. In contrast, sustained nitrogen deficits following disturbance in extra-tropical forests favour an obligate fixation strategy, and cause fixers to be excluded in late successional stages. We conclude that biome-scale differences in the abundance of nitrogen fixers can be explained by the interaction between individual plant strategies and climatic constraints on the nitrogen cycle over evolutionary time.}, } @article {pmid27251544, year = {2015}, author = {Tena, G}, title = {Evolution: Symbiotic beginnings.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {15180}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.180}, pmid = {27251544}, issn = {2055-0278}, } @article {pmid27251530, year = {2015}, author = {Walder, F and van der Heijden, MG}, title = {Regulation of resource exchange in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {15159}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.159}, pmid = {27251530}, issn = {2055-0278}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are one of the most important groups of plant symbionts. These fungi provide mineral nutrients to plants in exchange for carbon. Although substantial amounts of resources are exchanged, the factors that regulate trade in the AM symbiosis are poorly understood. Recent evidence for the reciprocally regulated exchange of resources by AM fungi and plants has led to the suggestion that these symbioses operate according to biological market dynamics, in which interactions are viewed from an economic perspective, and the most beneficial partners are favoured. Here we present five arguments that challenge the importance of reciprocally regulated exchange, and thereby market dynamics, for resource exchange in the AM symbiosis, and suggest that such reciprocity is only found in a subset of symbionts, under specific conditions. We instead propose that resource exchange in the AM symbiosis is determined by competition for surplus resources, functional diversity and sink strength.}, } @article {pmid27250004, year = {2015}, author = {Menge, DN and Wolf, AA and Funk, JL}, title = {Diversity of nitrogen fixation strategies in Mediterranean legumes.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {15064}, doi = {10.1038/nplants.2015.64}, pmid = {27250004}, issn = {2055-0278}, abstract = {Symbiotic N2 fixation (SNF) brings nitrogen into ecosystems, fuelling much of the world's agriculture(1) and sustaining carbon storage(2,3). However, it can also cause nitrogen saturation, exacerbating eutrophication and greenhouse warming(4-7). The balance of these effects depends on the degree to which N2-fixing plants adjust how much N2 they fix based on their needs (their SNF 'strategies')(5,6). Genetic, biochemical and physiological details of SNF are well known for certain economically important species(8,9), but the diversity of N2-fixing plants(10) and bacteria(11) is enormous, and little is known about most N2-fixing symbioses in natural ecosystems(12). Here, we show that co-occurring, closely related herbs exhibit diverse SNF strategies. In response to a nitrogen supply gradient, four species fixed less N2 than they needed (over-regulation), two fixed what they needed (facultative) and two did not downregulate SNF (obligate). No species downregulated but fixed more N2 than it needed (under-regulation or incomplete downregulation), but some species under-regulated or incompletely downregulated structural allocation to SNF. In fact, most species maintained nodules (the root structures that house symbionts) when they did not fix N2, suggesting decoupling of SNF activity and structure. Simulations showed that over-regulation of SNF activity is more adaptive than under-regulation or incomplete downregulation, and that different strategies have wildly different effects on ecosystem-level nitrogen cycling.}, } @article {pmid27135343, year = {2015}, author = {Ng, JL and Perrine-Walker, F and Wasson, AP and Mathesius, U}, title = {The Control of Auxin Transport in Parasitic and Symbiotic Root-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {606-643}, pmid = {27135343}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Most field-grown plants are surrounded by microbes, especially from the soil. Some of these, including bacteria, fungi and nematodes, specifically manipulate the growth and development of their plant hosts, primarily for the formation of structures housing the microbes in roots. These developmental processes require the correct localization of the phytohormone auxin, which is involved in the control of cell division, cell enlargement, organ development and defense, and is thus a likely target for microbes that infect and invade plants. Some microbes have the ability to directly synthesize auxin. Others produce specific signals that indirectly alter the accumulation of auxin in the plant by altering auxin transport. This review highlights root-microbe interactions in which auxin transport is known to be targeted by symbionts and parasites to manipulate the development of their host root system. We include case studies for parasitic root-nematode interactions, mycorrhizal symbioses as well as nitrogen fixing symbioses in actinorhizal and legume hosts. The mechanisms to achieve auxin transport control that have been studied in model organisms include the induction of plant flavonoids that indirectly alter auxin transport and the direct targeting of auxin transporters by nematode effectors. In most cases, detailed mechanisms of auxin transport control remain unknown.}, } @article {pmid27135340, year = {2015}, author = {Bensmihen, S}, title = {Hormonal Control of Lateral Root and Nodule Development in Legumes.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {523-547}, pmid = {27135340}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Many plants can establish symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, some of which lead to nodulation, including legumes. Indeed, in the rhizobium/legume symbiosis, new root organs, called nodules, are formed by the plant in order to host the rhizobia in protective conditions, optimized for nitrogen fixation. In this way, these plants can benefit from the reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen into ammonia by the hosted bacteria, and in exchange the plant provides the rhizobia with a carbon source. Since this symbiosis is costly for the plant it is highly regulated. Both legume nodule and lateral root organogenesis involve divisions of the root inner tissues, and both developmental programs are tightly controlled by plant hormones. In fact, most of the major plant hormones, such as auxin, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and strigolactones, control both lateral root formation and nodule organogenesis, but often in an opposite manner. This suggests that the sensitivity of legume plants to some phytohormones could be linked to the antagonism that exists between the processes of nodulation and lateral root formation. Here, we will review the implication of some major phytohormones in lateral root formation in legumes, compare them with their roles in nodulation, and discuss specificities and divergences from non-legume eudicot plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana.}, } @article {pmid27099570, year = {2015}, author = {Jung Lee, W and Lattimer, LD and Stephen, S and Borum, ML and Doman, DB}, title = {Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: A Review of Emerging Indications Beyond Relapsing Clostridium difficile Toxin Colitis.}, journal = {Gastroenterology & hepatology}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {24-32}, pmid = {27099570}, issn = {1554-7914}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and humans has been forged over many millennia. This relationship has evolved to establish an intimate partnership that we are only beginning to understand. Gut microbiota were once considered pathogenic, but the concept of gut microbiota and their influence in human health is undergoing a major paradigm shift, as there is mounting evidence of their impact in the homeostasis of intestinal development, metabolic activities, and the immune system. The disruption of microbiota has been associated with many gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal diseases, and the reconstitution of balanced microbiota has been postulated as a potential therapeutic strategy. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a unique method to reestablish a sustained balance in the disrupted microbiota of diseased intestine, has demonstrated great success in the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection and has gained increasing acceptance in clinical use. The possibility of dysfunctional micro-biota playing a causative role in other gastrointestinal and nongas-trointestinal diseases, therefore, has also been raised, and there are an increasing number of studies supporting this hypothesis. FMT is emerging as a feasible therapeutic option for several diseases; however, its efficacy remains in question, given the lack of clinical trial data. Altering microbiota with FMT holds great promise, but much research is needed to further define FMT's therapeutic role and optimize the microbiota delivery system.}, } @article {pmid26987211, year = {2015}, author = {Shevliuk, NN and Stadnikov, AA}, title = {[INTERACTION OF PRO- AND EUKARYOTES AND THE PROBLEMS OF TISSUE BIOLOGY].}, journal = {Morfologiia (Saint Petersburg, Russia)}, volume = {148}, number = {5}, pages = {7-13}, pmid = {26987211}, issn = {1026-3543}, mesh = {Eukaryotic Cells/cytology/*physiology ; Prokaryotic Cells/cytology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The article considers the interaction of pro- and eukaryotes from the standpoint of tissue biology. Examples of long-term persistence of prokaryotes in eukaryotic cells are presented. Morpho-functional characteristics of the interactions of pro- and eukaryotic cells are given, including their ultrastructural relationship. It is shown that the symbiosis between unrelated organisms is a reflection of their adaptation to the use of trophic resources of the environment. One of the implications of endocytobiosis of non-pathogenic bacteria in eukaryotic cells is to increase the biodiversity. The concept of multicellular eukaryotic organisms as complex cell and tissue systems of symbiotic interactions of pro- and eukaryotic cells, is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26973784, year = {2015}, author = {Álvarez-Salgado, E and Arredondo-Peter, R}, title = {Effect of the synthesis of rice non-symbiotic hemoglobins 1 and 2 in the recombinant Escherichia coli TB1 growth.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1053}, pmid = {26973784}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {Non-symbiotic hemoglobins (nsHbs) are widely distributed in land plants, including rice. These proteins are classified into type 1 (nsHbs-1) and type 2. The O 2-affinity of nsHbs-1 is very high mostly because of an extremely low O 2-dissociation rate constant resulting in that nsHbs-1 apparently do not release O 2 after oxygenation. Thus, it is possible that the in vivo function of nsHbs-1 is other than O 2-transport. Based on the properties of multiple Hbs it was proposed that nsHbs-1 could play diverse roles in rice organs, however the in vivo activity of rice nsHbs-1 has been poorly analyzed. An in vivo analysis for rice nsHbs-1 is essential to elucidate the biological function(s) of these proteins. Rice Hb1 and Hb2 are nsHbs-1 that have been generated in recombinant Es cherichia coli TB1. The rice Hb1 and Hb2 amino acid sequence, tertiary structure and rate and equilibrium constants for the reaction of O 2 are highly similar. Thus, it is possible that rice Hb1 and Hb2 function similarly in vivo. As an initial approach to test this hypothesis we analyzed the effect of the synthesis of rice Hb1 and Hb2 in the recombinant E. coli TB1 growth. Effect of the synthesis of the O 2-carrying soybean leghemoglobin a, cowpea leghemoglobin II and Vitreoscilla Hb in the recombinant E. coli TB1 growth was also analyzed as an O 2-carrier control. Our results showed that synthesis of rice Hb1, rice Hb2, soybean Lb a, cowpea LbII and Vitreoscilla Hb inhibits the recombinant E. coli TB1 growth and that growth inhibition was stronger when recombinant E. coli TB1 synthesized rice Hb2 than when synthesized rice Hb1. These results suggested that rice Hb1 and Hb2 could function differently in vivo.}, } @article {pmid26988781, year = {2014}, author = {Lawrence, SA and Wilson, WH and Davy, JE and Davy, SK}, title = {Latent virus-like infections are present in a diverse range of Symbiodinium spp. (Dinophyta).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {50}, number = {6}, pages = {984-997}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12242}, pmid = {26988781}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by disease outbreaks, which affect the coral animal and/or its algal symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.) and can cause mass mortalities. Currently around half of the recognized coral diseases have unknown causative agents. While many of the diseases are thought to be bacterial in origin, there is growing evidence that viruses may play a role. In particular, it appears that viruses may infect the algal symbionts, causing breakdown of the coral-algal mutualism. In this study, we screened a wide range of Symbiodinium cultures in vitro for the presence of latent viral infections. Using flow cytometry and electron microscopy, we found that many types of Symbiodinium apparently harbor such infections, and that the type of putative virus varied within and among host types. Furthermore, the putative viral infections could be induced via abiotic stress and cause host cell lysis and population decline. If similar processes occur in Symbiodinium cells in hospite, they may provide an explanation for some of the diseases affecting corals and other organisms forming symbioses with these algae.}, } @article {pmid26958725, year = {2014}, author = {Strand, MR and Burke, GR}, title = {Polydnaviruses: Nature's Genetic Engineers.}, journal = {Annual review of virology}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {333-354}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-031413-085451}, pmid = {26958725}, issn = {2327-056X}, abstract = {Virus-host associations are usually viewed as parasitic, but several studies in recent years have reported examples of viruses that benefit host organisms. The Polydnaviridae are of particular interest because these viruses are all obligate mutualists of insects called parasitoid wasps. Parasitoids develop during their immature stages by feeding inside the body of other insects, which serve as their hosts. Polydnaviruses are vertically transmitted as proviruses through the germ line of wasps but also function as gene delivery vectors that wasps rely upon to genetically manipulate the hosts they parasitize. Here we review the evolutionary origin of polydnaviruses, the organization and function of their genomes, and some of their roles in parasitism.}, } @article {pmid26988640, year = {2014}, author = {Mazzillo Mays, M and Kempf, SC}, title = {Antigenic variation in mucilage secreted by members of the genus Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {50}, number = {5}, pages = {850-859}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12215}, pmid = {26988640}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Symbiodinium reside intracellularly in a complex symbiosome (host and symbiont-derived) within cnidarian hosts in a specific host-symbiont association. Symbiodinium is a diverse genus with variation greater than other dinoflagellate orders. In this paper, our investigation into specificity examines antigenic variation in the algal mucilage secretions at the host-symbiont interface. Cultured Symbiodinium from a variety of clades were labeled with one of two antibodies to symbiont mucilage (PC3, developed using a clade B alga cultured from Aiptasia pallida; BF10, developed using a clade F alga cultured from Briareum sp.). The labeling was visualized with a fluorescent marker and examined with epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. PC3 antigen was found in cultured Symbiodinium from clades A and B, but not clades C, D, E and F. The correlation between labeling and clade may account for some of the specificity between host and symbiont in the field. Within clades A and B there was variation in the amount of label present. BF10 antigen was more specific and only found in cultures of the same cp23S-rDNA strain the antibody was created against. These results indicate that the mucilage secretions do vary both qualitatively and quantitatively amongst Symbiodinium strains. Since the mucilage forms the host-symbiont interface, variation in its molecular composition is likely to be the source of any signals involved in recognition and specificity.}, } @article {pmid26988452, year = {2014}, author = {Scholz, B}, title = {Purification and culture characteristics of 36 benthic marine diatoms isolated from the Solthörn tidal flat (Southern North Sea).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {685-697}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12193}, pmid = {26988452}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Marine benthic diatoms growing in biofilms on sediment surfaces generally occur associated with heterotrophic bacteria, whereas modern molecular techniques and analyses of species-specific physiology create a demand for axenic cultures. Numerous benthic diatoms were isolated from surface sediments during a monitoring of the Solthörn tidal flat (southern North Sea, Germany) from May 2008 to May 2009. Of these, around 50% could be purified from the accompanying heterotrophic bacteria using different antibiotics combined with physical separation methods (vortexing, ultrasound). Overall, seven different antibiotics were tested at different concentrations, and a best working protocol was developed. The axenic strains were stable on average for only around 15 months, indicating a symbiotic interaction between the benthic diatoms and the associated bacteria. While most short-term effects during the purification process were restricted to differences in growth rates among xenic and axenic diatom strains, long-term cultivation led to distinct changes in cell volumes and growth characteristics of the axenic strains.}, } @article {pmid26988327, year = {2014}, author = {Tonk, L and Sampayo, EM and LaJeunesse, TC and Schrameyer, V and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) diversity in reef-invertebrates along an offshore to inshore reef gradient near Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {50}, number = {3}, pages = {552-563}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12185}, pmid = {26988327}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Despite extensive work on the genetic diversity of reef invertebrate-dinoflagellate symbioses on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR; Australia), large information gaps exist from northern and inshore regions. Therefore, a broad survey was done comparing the community of inshore, mid-shelf and outer reefs at the latitude of Lizard Island. Symbiodinium (Freudenthal) diversity was characterized using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting and sequencing of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA. Thirty-nine distinct Symbiodinium types were identified from four subgeneric clades (B, C, D, and G). Several Symbiodinium types originally characterized from the Indian Ocean were discovered as well as eight novel types (C1kk, C1LL, C3nn, C26b, C161a, C162, C165, C166). Multivariate analyses on the Symbiodinium species diversity data showed a strong link with host identity, consistent with previous findings. Of the four environmental variables tested, mean austral winter sea surface temperature (SST) influenced Symbiodinium distribution across shelves most significantly. A similar result was found when the analysis was performed on Symbiodinium diversity data of genera with an open symbiont transmission mode separately with chl a and PAR explaining additional variation. This study underscores the importance of SST and water quality related variables as factors driving Symbiodinium distribution on cross-shelf scales. Furthermore, this study expands our knowledge on Symbiodinium species diversity, ecological partitioning (including host-specificity) and geographic ranges across the GBR. The accelerating rate of environmental change experienced by coral reef ecosystems emphasizes the need to comprehend the full complexity of cnidarian symbioses, including the biotic and abiotic factors that shape their current distributions.}, } @article {pmid26973939, year = {2014}, author = {Brødsgaard, A and Wagner, L and Poulsen, I}, title = {Childhood Overweight Dependence on Mother-Child Relationship.}, journal = {Health psychology research}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {1583}, pmid = {26973939}, issn = {2420-8124}, abstract = {The causes of childhood overweight are numerous and inter-related. The mother-child relationship is of great significance for the child's health. Previous studies have found patterns of dysfunctional interaction in families with obese children. Therefore, development of childhood overweight could be due to the mother-child relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate how, and to what degree, the mother-child relationship, assessed by the mothers, was related to overweight among children aged seven to nine years. The study was a cross sectional case-controlled one. It included 111 overweight and 149 non-overweight seven to nine year old children and their mothers. Weight status was determined according to the International Obesity Task Force reference for children Body Mass Index, age and gender adjusted. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to categorize the mother-child relationship as: complementary, asymmetrical, symmetrical or symbiotic prototypes. There was no difference in mother-child relationships - characterized by the prototypes - between the overweight and non-overweight mother-child pairs. Therefore, we conclude that the mother-child relationship has no bearing on the child's weight status according to the prototypes. It is suggested that it is more the culture, or the universal phenomenon of expressing love through food, than the mother-child relationship, which influences the development of childhood overweight, or that the mothers are not capable of assess the true attachment style between themselves and their children.}, } @article {pmid26988195, year = {2014}, author = {Probert, I and Siano, R and Poirier, C and Decelle, J and Biard, T and Tuji, A and Suzuki, N and Not, F}, title = {Brandtodinium gen. nov. and B. nutricula comb. Nov. (Dinophyceae), a dinoflagellate commonly found in symbiosis with polycystine radiolarians.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {388-399}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12174}, pmid = {26988195}, issn = {1529-8817}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between pelagic hosts and microalgae have received little attention, although they are widespread in the photic layer of the world ocean, where they play a fundamental role in the ecology of the planktonic ecosystem. Polycystine radiolarians (including the orders Spumellaria, Collodaria and Nassellaria) are planktonic heterotrophic protists that are widely distributed and often abundant in the ocean. Many polycystines host symbiotic microalgae within their cytoplasm, mostly thought to be the dinoflagellate Scrippsiella nutricula, a species originally described by Karl Brandt in the late nineteenth century as Zooxanthella nutricula. The free-living stage of this dinoflagellate has never been characterized in terms of morphology and thecal plate tabulation. We examined morphological characters and sequenced conservative ribosomal markers of clonal cultures of the free-living stage of symbiotic dinoflagellates isolated from radiolarian hosts from the three polycystine orders. In addition, we sequenced symbiont genes directly from several polycystine-symbiont holobiont specimens from different oceanic regions. Thecal plate arrangement of the free-living stage does not match that of Scrippsiella or related genera, and LSU and SSU rDNA-based molecular phylogenies place these symbionts in a distinct clade within the Peridiniales. Both phylogenetic analyses and the comparison of morphological features of culture strains with those reported for other closely related species support the erection of a new genus that we name Brandtodinium gen. nov. and the recombination of S. nutricula as B. nutricula comb. nov.}, } @article {pmid26988003, year = {2014}, author = {Amsler, CD and McClintock, JB and Baker, BJ}, title = {Chemical mediation of mutualistic interactions between macroalgae and mesograzers structure unique coastal communities along the western Antarctic Peninsula.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12137}, pmid = {26988003}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Hard bottom communities along the western Antarctic Peninsula region are dominated by thick macroalgal forests, which support high densities of mesograzers, particularly amphipods, and also numerous gastropods. The macroalgae are chemically defended from consumption by the mesograzers and other herbivores and they provide the mesograzers a chemically defended refuge from predation by omnivorous fish. The macroalgae benefit in return because the mesograzers remove epiphytic algae from them. Since these two assemblages are major components of the community, this can be viewed as a community-wide mutualism. Most subcomponents of these interactions have also been documented in lower latitude communities and the similarities and differences between the communities in Antarctica and in other regions are discussed.}, } @article {pmid27135495, year = {2014}, author = {Davies, JM}, title = {Annexin-Mediated Calcium Signalling in Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {128-140}, pmid = {27135495}, issn = {2223-7747}, abstract = {Calcium-permeable channels underpin elevations of free calcium that encode specific signals in stress adaptation, development and immunity. Identifying the genes encoding these channels remains a central goal of plant signalling research. Evidence now suggests that members of the plant annexin family function as unconventional calcium-permeable channels, with roles in development and stress signalling. Arabidopsis annexin 1 mediates a plasma membrane calcium-permeable conductance in roots that is activated by reactive oxygen species. Recombinant annexin 1 forms a very similar conductance in planar lipid bilayers, indicating that this protein could facilitate the in vivo conductance directly. The annexin 1 mutant is impaired in salinity-induced calcium signalling. Protein-protein interactions, post-translational modification and dynamic association with membranes could all influence annexin-mediated calcium signalling and are reviewed here. The prospect of annexins playing roles in calcium signalling events in symbiosis and immunity are considered.}, } @article {pmid27132354, year = {2014}, author = {Coyer, MJ}, title = {Phrenological Controversy and the Medical Imagination: 'A Modern Pythagorean' in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine.}, journal = {Clio medica (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {172-195}, pmid = {27132354}, issn = {0045-7183}, support = {/097597/Z/11/Z//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Hermeneutics ; History, 19th Century ; Literature, Modern/*history ; *Medicine in Literature ; Phrenology/*history ; Scotland ; Surgeons/*history ; }, abstract = {The periodical press in the early nineteenth century was a site of dynamic exchange between men of science and men of letters, and Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine was a particularly rich site of expression for medical ideas. This chapter explores the symbiotic relationship between the Blackwoodian prose fiction and the scientific and medical investigations of the Glaswegian surgeon and writer, Robert Macnish (1802-37), and in particular, his explorations of altered states of consciousness and phrenology. It is argued that his prose tales reveal the Blackwoodian 'tale of terror' to be an experimental template for the medical theorist and budding phrenologist, revealing problematic sites for medical hermeneutics in early nineteenth-century Scotland.}, } @article {pmid26664911, year = {2014}, author = {Tellez, G}, title = {Prokaryotes Versus Eukaryotes: Who is Hosting Whom?.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {26664911}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {Microorganisms represent the largest component of biodiversity in our world. For millions of years, prokaryotic microorganisms have functioned as a major selective force shaping eukaryotic evolution. Microbes that live inside and on animals outnumber the animals' actual somatic and germ cells by an estimated 10-fold. Collectively, the intestinal microbiome represents a "forgotten organ," functioning as an organ inside another that can execute many physiological responsibilities. The nature of primitive eukaryotes was drastically changed due to the association with symbiotic prokaryotes facilitating mutual coevolution of host and microbe. Phytophagous insects have long been used to test theories of evolutionary diversification; moreover, the diversification of a number of phytophagous insect lineages has been linked to mutualisms with microbes. From termites and honey bees to ruminants and mammals, depending on novel biochemistries provided by the prokaryotic microbiome, the association helps to metabolize several nutrients that the host cannot digest and converting these into useful end products (such as short-chain fatty acids), a process, which has huge impact on the biology and homeostasis of metazoans. More importantly, in a direct and/or indirect way, the intestinal microbiota influences the assembly of gut-associated lymphoid tissue, helps to educate immune system, affects the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, modulates proliferation and differentiation of its epithelial lineages, regulates angiogenesis, and modifies the activity of enteric as well as the central nervous system. Despite these important effects, the mechanisms by which the gut microbial community influences the host's biology remain almost entirely unknown. Our aim here is to encourage empirical inquiry into the relationship between mutualism and evolutionary diversification between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, which encourage us to postulate: who is hosting whom?}, } @article {pmid27007628, year = {2013}, author = {Dimond, JL and Bingham, BL and le Muller-Parker, G and Oakley, CA}, title = {Symbiont physiology and population dynamics before and during symbiont shifts in a flexible algal-cnidarian symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {49}, number = {6}, pages = {1074-1083}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12112}, pmid = {27007628}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {For cnidarians that can undergo shifts in algal symbiont relative abundance, the underlying algal physiological changes that accompany these shifts are not well known. The sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima associates with the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium muscatinei and the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina, symbionts with very different tolerances to light and temperature. We compared the performance of these symbionts in anemones maintained in an 8-11.5 month outdoor common garden experiment with simulated intertidal conditions and three levels of shading (2, 43, and 85% ambient irradiance). Symbiont densities, mitotic indices, photophysiology and pigments were assessed at three time points during the summer, a period of high irradiance and solar heating during aerial exposure. Whereas S. muscatinei was either neutrally or positively affected by higher irradiance treatments, E. marina responded mostly negatively to high irradiance. E. marina in the 85% irradiance treatment exhibited significantly reduced Pmax and chlorophyll early in the summer, but it was not until nearly 3 months later that a shift in symbiont relative abundance toward S. muscatinei occurred, coincident with bleaching. Symbiont densities and proportions remained largely stable in all other treatments over time, and displacement of S. muscatinei by E. marina was not observed in the 2% irradiance treatment despite the potentially better performance of E. marina. While our results support the view that rapid changes in symbiont relative abundance are typically associated with symbiont physiological dysfunction and bleaching, they also show that significant temporal lags may occur between the onset of symbiont stress and shifts in symbiont relative abundances.}, } @article {pmid27007203, year = {2013}, author = {McGinley, MP and Suggett, DJ and Warner, ME}, title = {Transcript patterns of chloroplast-encoded genes in cultured Symbiodinium spp. (Dinophyceae): testing the influence of a light shift and diel periodicity.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {709-718}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12079}, pmid = {27007203}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Microalgae possess numerous cellular mechanisms specifically employed for acclimating the photosynthetic pathways to changes in the physical environment. Despite the importance of coral-dinoflagellate symbioses, little focus has been given as to how the symbiotic algae (Symbiodinium spp.) regulate the expression of their photosynthetic genes. This study used real-time PCR to investigate the transcript abundance of the plastid-encoded genes, psbA (encoding the D1 protein of photosystem II) and psaA (encoding the P700 protein in photosystem I), within the cultured Symbiodinium ITS-2 (internal transcribed spacer region) types A20 and A13. Transcript abundance was monitored during a low to high-light shift, as well as over a full diel light cycle. In addition, psaA was characterized in three isolates (A20, A13, and D4-5) and noted as another example of a dinoflagellate plastid gene encoded on a minicircle. In general, the overall incongruence of transcript patterns for both psbA and psaA between the Symbiodinium isolates and other models of transcriptionally controlled chloroplast gene expression (e.g., Pisum sativum [pea], Sinapis alba [mustard seedling], and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 [cyanobacteria]) suggests that Symbiodinium is reliant on posttranscriptional mechanisms for homeostatic regulation of its photosynthetic proteins.}, } @article {pmid27007034, year = {2013}, author = {Xiang, T and Hambleton, EA and DeNofrio, JC and Pringle, JR and Grossman, AR}, title = {Isolation of clonal axenic strains of the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium and their growth and host specificity(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {447-458}, doi = {10.1111/jpy.12055}, pmid = {27007034}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The cnidarian-dinoflagellate mutualism is integral to the survival of the coral-reef ecosystem. Despite the enormous ecological and economic importance of corals, their cellular and molecular biology and the ways in which they respond to environmental change are still poorly understood. We have been developing a proxy system for examining the coral mutualism in which the dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodinium is introduced into a clonal population of the host Aiptasia, a small sea anemone closely related to corals. To further develop the tools for this system, we generated five clonal, axenic strains of Symbiodinium and verified the lack of contaminants by growth on rich medium, microscopic examination, and PCR analysis. These strains were assigned to clades A (two strains), B, E, and F based on their chloroplast 23S rDNA sequences. Growth studies in liquid cultures showed that the clade B strain and one of the clade A strains were able to grow photoautotrophically (in light with no fixed carbon), mixotrophically (in light with fixed carbon), or heterotrophically (in dark with fixed carbon). The clade E strain, thought to be free-living, was able to grow photoautotrophically but not heterotrophically. Infection of an aposymbiotic Aiptasia host with the axenic strains showed consistent patterns of specificity, with only the clade B and one of the clade A strains able to successfully establish symbiosis. Overall, the Aiptasia-Symbiodinium association represents an important model system for dissecting aspects of the physiology and cellular and molecular biology of cnidarian-dinoflagellate mutualism and exploring issues that bear directly on coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid27137393, year = {2013}, author = {Martins, TV and Evans, MJ and Woolfenden, HC and Morris, RJ}, title = {Towards the Physics of Calcium Signalling in Plants.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {541-588}, pmid = {27137393}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Calcium is an abundant element with a wide variety of important roles within cells. Calcium ions are inter- and intra-cellular messengers that are involved in numerous signalling pathways. Fluctuating compartment-specific calcium ion concentrations can lead to localised and even plant-wide oscillations that can regulate downstream events. Understanding the mechanisms that give rise to these complex patterns that vary both in space and time can be challenging, even in cases for which individual components have been identified. Taking a systems biology approach, mathematical and computational techniques can be employed to produce models that recapitulate experimental observations and capture our current understanding of the system. Useful models make novel predictions that can be investigated and falsified experimentally. This review brings together recent work on the modelling of calcium signalling in plants, from the scale of ion channels through to plant-wide responses to external stimuli. Some in silico results that have informed later experiments are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid26462427, year = {2013}, author = {Behie, SW and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Insects as a Nitrogen Source for Plants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {413-424}, pmid = {26462427}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Many plants have evolved adaptations in order to survive in low nitrogen environments. One of the best-known adaptations is that of plant symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria; this is the major route by which nitrogen is incorporated into plant biomass. A portion of this plant-associated nitrogen is then lost to insects through herbivory, and insects represent a nitrogen reservoir that is generally overlooked in nitrogen cycles. In this review we show three specialized plant adaptations that allow for the recovery of insect nitrogen; that is, plants gaining nitrogen from insects. First, we show specialized adaptations by carnivorous plants in low nitrogen habitats. Insect carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants and sundews (Nepenthaceae/Sarraceniaceae and Drosera respectively) are able to obtain substantial amounts of nitrogen from the insects that they capture. Secondly, numerous plants form associations with mycorrhizal fungi that can provide soluble nitrogen from the soil, some of which may be insect-derived nitrogen, obtained from decaying insects or insect frass. Finally, a specialized group of endophytic, insect-pathogenic fungi (EIPF) provide host plants with insect-derived nitrogen. These soil-inhabiting fungi form a remarkable symbiosis with certain plant species. They can infect a wide range of insect hosts and also form endophytic associations in which they transfer insect-derived nitrogen to the plant. Root colonizing fungi are found in disparate fungal phylogenetic lineages, indicating possible convergent evolutionary strategies between taxa, evolution potentially driven by access to carbon-containing root exudates.}, } @article {pmid27009994, year = {2012}, author = {Spoerner, M and Wichard, T and Bachhuber, T and Stratmann, J and Oertel, W}, title = {Growth and Thallus Morphogenesis of Ulva mutabilis (Chlorophyta) Depends on A Combination of Two Bacterial Species Excreting Regulatory Factors.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {1433-1447}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2012.01231.x}, pmid = {27009994}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Axenic Ulva mutabilis gametes develop parthenogenetically into callus-like colonies consisting of undifferentiated cells without normal cell walls. From the accompanying microbial flora of established laboratory strains of U. mutabilis with normal morphology, a Roseobacter, a Sulfitobacter, and a Halomonas species were isolated. Each of these microbe species alone induced the development of the Ulva gametes into thalli composed of differentiated cells with characteristic deficiencies. Typical traits of these thalli were: an enhanced rate of cell division not followed by cell expansion, the presence of unusual cell wall protrusions, and the absence of differentiated rhizoid cells. The addition of a Cytophaga species, also derived from the same microbial flora, to either one of the three other strains resulted in the development of normal fast growing thalli with the typical morphology of the algal strain used. These effects are mediated by specific regulatory factors that are excreted into the environment by the bacteria and could be also isolated from the bacterial cell extracts. In contrast with the Cytophaga-factor, the regulatory factor of the three other bacterial species was also found intracellularly in other bacterial strains not associated with Ulva, but in this case it was not excreted. Functionally, the Roseobacter-, Sulfitobacter-, and Halomonas-factors resemble a cytokinin, while the Cytophaga-factor acts similar to auxin. Neither factor could be replaced by known phytohormones. The Roseobacter species exhibits a specific chemotactic affinity to the rhizoid cells of U. mutabilis and seems to cooperate with the Cytophaga strain and the alga by chemical communication forming a symbiotic tripartite community.}, } @article {pmid27009990, year = {2012}, author = {Wakahama, T and Laza-Martínez, A and Bin Haji Mohd Taha, AI and Okuyama, H and Yoshida, K and Kogame, K and Awai, K and Kawachi, M and Maoka, T and Takaichi, S}, title = {Structural Confirmation of a Unique Carotenoid Lactoside, P457, in Symbiodinium sp. Strain nbrc 104787 Isolated from a Sea Anemone and its Distribution in Dinoflagellates and Various Marine Organisms.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {1392-1402}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2012.01219.x}, pmid = {27009990}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The molecular structure of the carotenoid lactoside P457, (3S,5R,6R,3'S,5'R,6'S)-13'-cis-5,6-epoxy-3',5'-dihydroxy-3-(β-d-galactosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucosyl)oxy-6',7'-didehydro-5,6,7,8,5',6'-hexahydro-β,β-caroten-20-al, was confirmed by spectroscopic methods using Symbiodinium sp. strain NBRC 104787 cells isolated from a sea anemone. Among various algae, cyanobacteria, land plants, and marine invertebrates, the distribution of this unique diglycosyl carotenoid was restricted to free-living peridinin-containing dinoflagellates and marine invertebrates that harbor peridinin-containing zooxanthellae. Neoxanthin appeared to be a common precursor for biosynthesis of peridinin and P457, although neoxanthin was not found in peridinin-containing dinoflagellates. Fucoxanthin-containing dinoflagellates did not possess peridinin or P457; green dinoflagellates, which contain chlorophyll a and b, did not contain peridinin, fucoxanthin, or P457; and no unicellular algae containing both peridinin and P457, other than peridinin-containing dinoflagellates, have been observed. Therefore, the biosynthetic pathways for peridinin and P457 may have been coestablished during the evolution of dinoflagellates after the host heterotrophic eukaryotic microorganism formed a symbiotic association with red alga that does not contain peridinin or P457.}, } @article {pmid27009983, year = {2012}, author = {Fay, SA and Weber, MX}, title = {The Occurrence of Mixed Infections of Symbiodinium (Dinoflagellata) within Individual Hosts.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {1306-1316}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2012.01220.x}, pmid = {27009983}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems depend on symbiosis between dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium Freudenthal and their various hosts. The physiological characteristics associated with a particular lineage or species of Symbiodinium can determine a host's susceptibility to harmful bleaching. Therefore, the threat posed by global climate change on a host may be reduced if it can switch or shuffle its dominant algal symbiont type. An important prerequisite to this potential to switch or shuffle is the ability to host multiple alternative dominant symbiont genotypes. To examine the distribution of this trait, we review reports of mixed Symbiodinium infections in corals and nonscleractinian hosts from a phylogenetic perspective. Hosts showing evidence of mixed infection are broadly distributed across the most deeply divergent host lineages, including foraminifera, mollusks, sponges, and cnidarians. The occurrence of mixed infections is also broadly distributed across most clades of scleractinian corals. Individual colonies of certain well-studied cosmopolitan coral genera, such as Acropora, Montastraea, and Pocillopora, yield many reports of mixed infection, while other genera, such as Porites, do not. We further discuss mixed Symbiodinium infections in the context of evolutionary ecology theory. Selection pressures that affect the prevalence of mixed infection may be exerted by variation in host environment, host ontogeny, symbiont transmission strategy, host regulation of symbiont populations, availability of free-living symbiont lineages, competition between symbiont lineages, and niche partitioning of the internal host environment.}, } @article {pmid27008273, year = {2012}, author = {Lajeunesse, TC and Parkinson, JE and Reimer, JD}, title = {A genetics-based description of Symbiodinium minutum sp. nov. and S. psygmophilum sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), two dinoflagellates symbiotic with cnidaria.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {1380-1391}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2012.01217.x}, pmid = {27008273}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Traditional approaches for describing species of morphologically cryptic and often unculturable forms of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates are problematic. Two new species in the genus Symbiodinium Freudenthal 1962 are described using an integrative evolutionary genetics approach: Symbiodinium minutum sp. nov. are harbored by widespread tropical anemones in the genus Aiptasia; and Symbiodinium psygmophilum sp. nov. are harbored by subtropical and temperate stony corals (e.g., Astrangia, Cladocora, and Oculina) from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Both new species are readily distinguished from each other by phylogenetic disparity and reciprocal monophyly of several nucleic acid sequences including nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, single copy microsatellite flanker Sym15, mitochondrial cytochrome b, and the chloroplast 23S rRNA gene. Such molecular evidence, combined with well-defined differences in cell size, physiology (thermal tolerance), and ecology (host compatibility) establishes these organisms as distinct species. Future descriptions of Symbiodinium spp. will need to emphasize genetics-based descriptions because significant morphological overlap in this group obscures large differences in ecology and evolutionary divergence. By using molecular evidence based on conserved and rapidly evolving genes analyzed from a variety of samples, species boundaries are defined under the precepts of Evolutionary and Biological Species Concepts without reliance on an arbitrary genetic distance metric. Because ecological specialization arises through genetic adaptations, the Ecological Species Concept can also serve to delimit many host-specific Symbiodinium spp.}, } @article {pmid27009727, year = {2012}, author = {Soule, KM and Rumpho, ME}, title = {LIGHT-REGULATED PHOTOSYNTHETIC GENE EXPRESSION AND PHOSPHORIBULOKINASE ENZYME ACTIVITY IN THE HETEROKONT ALGA VAUCHERIA LITOREA (XANTHOPHYCEAE) AND ITS SYMBIOTIC MOLLUSKAN PARTNER ELYSIA CHLOROTICA (GASTROPODA)(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {373-383}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2012.01111.x}, pmid = {27009727}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Photosynthesis is composed of tightly coupled reactions requiring finely tuned nucleocytosolic-plastid interaction. Herein, we examined the influence of light on select photosynthetic gene expression and enzyme activity in the plastid-containing mollusk (sea slug) Elysia chlorotica and its heterokont algal prey Vaucheria litorea C. Agardh. Transcript levels of nuclear photosynthetic genes (psbO and prk) were significantly lower in E. chlorotica compared with V. litorea, whereas plastid photosynthesis genes (psaA and rbcL) were more comparable, although still lower in the animal. None of the genes responded similarly to changes in light conditions over a 24 h period in the sea slug compared with the alga. Activity of the nuclear-encoded photosynthetic enzyme phosphoribulokinase (PRK) exhibited redox regulation in vitro in crude extracts of both organisms sequentially treated with oxidizing and reducing agents. However, PRK was differentially affected in vivo by redox and light versus dark treatment in V. litorea, but not in E. chlorotica. Overall, these results support the active transcription of algal nuclear and plastid genes in E. chlorotica, as well as sustained activity of a nuclear-encoded plastid enzyme, even after several months of starvation (absence of algal prey). The apparent absence of tight transcriptional regulation and redox control suggests that essential nuclear-encoded regulatory factors in V. litorea are probably not present in the sea slug. These findings are discussed relative to light regulation of photosynthetic gene expression in the green and red algal lineages and in the context of the sea slug/algal plastid kleptoplastic association.}, } @article {pmid26467964, year = {2012}, author = {Six, DL}, title = {Ecological and Evolutionary Determinants of Bark Beetle -Fungus Symbioses.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {339-366}, pmid = {26467964}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Ectosymbioses among bark beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) and fungi (primarily ophiostomatoid Ascomycetes) are widespread and diverse. Associations range from mutualistic to commensal, and from facultative to obligate. Some fungi are highly specific and associated only with a single beetle species, while others can be associated with many. In addition, most of these symbioses are multipartite, with the host beetle associated with two or more consistent partners. Mycangia, structures of the beetle integument that function in fungal transport, have evolved numerous times in the Scolytinae. The evolution of such complex, specialized structures indicates a high degree of mutual dependence among the beetles and their fungal partners. Unfortunately, the processes that shaped current day beetle-fungus symbioses remain poorly understood. Phylogeny, the degree and type of dependence on partners, mode of transmission of symbionts (vertical vs. horizontal), effects of the abiotic environment, and interactions among symbionts themselves or with other members of the biotic community, all play important roles in determining the composition, fidelity, and longevity of associations between beetles and their fungal associates. In this review, I provide an overview of these associations and discuss how evolution and ecological processes acted in concert to shape these fascinating, complex symbioses.}, } @article {pmid26467954, year = {2012}, author = {Geib, SM and Scully, ED and Jimenez-Gasco, Mdel M and Carlson, JE and Tien, M and Hoover, K}, title = {Phylogenetic Analysis of Fusarium solani Associated with the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {141-160}, pmid = {26467954}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Culture-independent analysis of the gut of a wood-boring insect, Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), revealed a consistent association between members of the fungal Fusarium solani species complex and the larval stage of both colony-derived and wild A. glabripennis populations. Using the translation elongation factor 1-alpha region for culture-independent phylogenetic and operational taxonomic unit (OTU)-based analyses, only two OTUs were detected, suggesting that genetic variance at this locus was low among A. glabripennis-associated isolates. To better survey the genetic variation of F. solani associated with A. glabripennis, and establish its phylogenetic relationship with other members of the F. solani species complex, single spore isolates were created from different populations and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis was performed using a combination of the translation elongation factor alpha-1, internal transcribed spacer, and large subunit rDNA regions. These analyses revealed that colony-derived larvae reared in three different tree species or on artificial diet, as well as larvae from wild populations collected from three additional tree species in New York City and from a single tree species in Worcester, MA, consistently harbored F. solani within their guts. While there is some genetic variation in the F. solani carried between populations, within-population variation is low. We speculate that F. solani is able to fill a broad niche in the A. glabripennis gut, providing it with fungal lignocellulases to allow the larvae to grow and develop on woody tissue. However, it is likely that many F. solani genotypes could potentially fill this niche, so the relationship may not be limited to a single member of the F. solani species complex. While little is known about the role of filamentous fungi and their symbiotic associations with insects, this report suggests that larval A. glabripennis has developed an intimate relationship with F. solani that is not limited by geographic location or host tree.}, } @article {pmid26467950, year = {2012}, author = {Burke, GR and Strand, MR}, title = {Polydnaviruses of Parasitic Wasps: Domestication of Viruses To Act as Gene Delivery Vectors.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {91-119}, pmid = {26467950}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Symbiosis is a common phenomenon in which associated organisms can cooperate in ways that increase their ability to survive, reproduce, or utilize hostile environments. Here, we discuss polydnavirus symbionts of parasitic wasps. These viruses are novel in two ways: (1) they have become non-autonomous domesticated entities that cannot replicate outside of wasps; and (2) they function as a delivery vector of genes that ensure successful parasitism of host insects that wasps parasitize. In this review we discuss how these novelties may have arisen, which genes are potentially involved, and what the consequences have been for genome evolution.}, } @article {pmid26467948, year = {2012}, author = {Aylward, FO and Currie, CR and Suen, G}, title = {The Evolutionary Innovation of Nutritional Symbioses in Leaf-Cutter Ants.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {41-61}, pmid = {26467948}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants gain access to nutrients stored in plant biomass through their association with a mutualistic fungus they grow for food. This 50 million-year-old obligate mutualism likely facilitated some of these species becoming dominant Neotropical herbivores that can achieve immense colony sizes. Recent culture-independent investigations have shed light on the conversion of plant biomass into nutrients within ant fungus gardens, revealing that this process involves both the fungal cultivar and a symbiotic community of bacteria including Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pantoea species. Moreover, the genome sequences of the leaf-cutter ants Atta cephalotes and Acromyrmex echinatior have provided key insights into how this symbiosis has shaped the evolution of these ants at a genetic level. Here we summarize the findings of recent research on the microbial community dynamics within fungus-growing ant fungus gardens and discuss their implications for this ancient symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26466539, year = {2012}, author = {Kölsch, G and Synefiaridou, D}, title = {Shared Ancestry of Symbionts? Sagrinae and Donaciinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) Harbor Similar Bacteria.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {473-491}, pmid = {26466539}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {When symbioses between insects and bacteria are discussed, the origin of a given association is regularly of interest. We examined the evolution of the symbiosis between reed beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae) and intracellular symbionts belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae. We analyzed the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA to assess the phylogenetic relationships with bacteria we found in other beetle groups (Cerambycidae, Anobiidae, other Chrysomelidae). We discuss the ecology of each association in the context of the phylogenetic analysis. The bacteria in Sagra femorata (Chrysomelidae, Sagrinae) are very closely related to those in the Donaciinae and are located in similar mycetomes. The Sagrinae build a cocoon for pupation like the Donaciinae, in which the bacteria produce the material required for the cocoon. These aspects support the close relationship between Sagrinae and Donaciinae derived in earlier studies and make a common ancestry of the symbioses likely. Using PCR primers specific for fungi, we found Candida sp. in the mycetomes of a cerambycid beetle along with the bacteria.}, } @article {pmid27020021, year = {2011}, author = {Kaniewska, P and Magnusson, SH and Anthony, KR and Reef, R and Kühl, M and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {IMPORTANCE OF MACRO- VERSUS MICROSTRUCTURE IN MODULATING LIGHT LEVELS INSIDE CORAL COLONIES(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {846-860}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01021.x}, pmid = {27020021}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Adjusting the light exposure and capture of their symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium Freud.) is central to the success of reef-building corals (order Scleractinia) across high spatio-temporal variation in the light environment of coral reefs. We tested the hypothesis that optical properties of tissues in some coral species can provide light management at the tissue scale comparable to light modulation by colony architecture in other species. We compared within-tissue scalar irradiance in two coral species from the same light habitat but with contrasting colony growth forms: branching Stylophora pistillata and massive Lobophyllia corymbosa. Scalar irradiance at the level of the symbionts (2 mm into the coral tissues) were <10% of ambient irradiance and nearly identical for the two species, despite substantially different light environments at the tissue surface. In S. pistillata, light attenuation (90% relative to ambient) was observed predominantly at the colony level as a result of branch-to-branch self-shading, while in L. corymbosa, near-complete light attenuation (97% relative to ambient) was occurring due to tissue optical properties. The latter could be explained partly by differences in photosynthetic pigment content in the symbiont cells and pigmentation in the coral host tissue. Our results demonstrate that different strategies of light modulation at colony, polyp, and cellular levels by contrasting morphologies are equally effective in achieving favorable irradiances at the level of coral photosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid27020013, year = {2011}, author = {Steinke, M and Brading, P and Kerrison, P and Warner, ME and Suggett, DJ}, title = {CONCENTRATIONS OF DIMETHYLSULFONIOPROPIONATE AND DIMETHYL SULFIDE ARE STRAIN-SPECIFIC IN SYMBIOTIC DINOFLAGELLATES (SYMBIODINIUM SP., DINOPHYCEAE)(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {775-783}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01011.x}, pmid = {27020013}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) are sulfur compounds that may function as antioxidants in algae. Symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium show strain-specific differences in their susceptibility to temperature-induced oxidative stress and have been shown to contain high concentrations of DMSP. We investigated continuous cultures of four strains from distinct phylotypes (A1, A13, A2, and B1) that can be characterized by differential thermal tolerances. We hypothesized that strains with high thermal tolerance have higher concentrations of DMSP and DMS in comparison to strains with low thermal tolerance. DMSP concentrations were strain-specific with highest concentrations occurring in A1 (225 ± 3.5 mmol · L(-1) cell volume [CV]) and lowest in A2 (158 ± 3.8 mmol · L(-1) CV). Both strains have high thermal tolerance. Strains with low thermal tolerance (A13 and B1) showed DMSP concentrations in between these extremes (194 ± 19.0 and 160 ± 6.1 mmol · L(-1) CV, respectively). DMS data further confirmed this general pattern with high DMS concentrations in A1 and A13 (4.1 ± 1.22 and 2.1 ± 0.37 mmol · L(-1) CV, respectively) and low DMS concentrations in A2 and B1 (0.3 ± 0.06 and 0.5 ± 0.22 mmol · L(-1) CV, respectively). Hence, the strain-specific differences in DMSP and DMS concentrations did not match the different abilities of the four phylotypes to withstand thermal stress. Future work should quantify the possible dynamics in DMSP and DMS concentrations during periods of high oxidative stress in Symbiodinium sp. and address the role of these antioxidants in zooxanthellate cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid27021860, year = {2011}, author = {Nelsen, MP and Plata, ER and Andrew, CJ and Lücking, R and Lumbsch, HT}, title = {PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY OF TRENTEPOHLIALEAN ALGAE ASSOCIATED WITH LICHEN-FORMING FUNGI(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {282-290}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.00962.x}, pmid = {27021860}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Nearly one-fourth of the lichen-forming fungi associate with trentepohlialean algae, yet their genetic diversity remains unknown. Recent work focusing on free-living trentepohlialean algae has provided a phylogenetic context within which questions regarding the lichenization of these algae can be asked. Here, we concentrated our sampling on trentepohlialean algae from lichens producing a diversity of growth forms (fruticose and crustose) over a broad geographic substratum, ecological, and phylogenetic range. We have demonstrated that there is no evidence for a single clade of strictly lichenized algae; rather, a wide range demonstrated the ability to associate with lichenized fungi. Variation was also observed among trentepohlialean algae in lichens from a single geographic area and tree, suggesting that fungi in close proximity can associate with different trentepohlialean algae, consistent with the findings of trebouxiophycean algae and cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid26467833, year = {2011}, author = {Kleinschmidt, B and Kölsch, G}, title = {Adopting Bacteria in Order to Adapt to Water-How Reed Beetles Colonized the Wetlands (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae).}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {540-554}, pmid = {26467833}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The present paper reviews the biology of reed beetles (Donaciinae), presents experimental data on the role of specific symbiotic bacteria, and describes a molecular method for the detection of those bacteria. Reed beetles are herbivores living on wetland plants, each species being mono- or oligo-phagous. They lay their eggs on the host plant and the larvae live underwater in the sediment attached to its roots. The larvae pupate there in a water-tight cocoon, which they build using a secretion that is produced by symbiotic bacteria. The bacteria are located in four blind sacs at the foregut of the larvae; in (female) adults they colonize two out of the six Malpighian tubules. Tetracycline treatment of larvae reduced their pupation rate, although the bacteria could not be fully eliminated. When the small amount of bacterial mass attached to eggs was experimentally removed before hatching, symbiont free larvae resulted, showing the external transmission of the bacteria to the offspring. Specific primers were designed to detect the bacteria, and to confirm their absence in manipulated larvae. The pupation underwater enabled the reed beetles to permanently colonize the wetlands and to diversify in this habitat underexploited by herbivorous insects (adaptive radiation).}, } @article {pmid26467831, year = {2011}, author = {Snyder, AK and Adkins, KZ and Rio, RV}, title = {Use of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Regions to Examine Symbiont Divergence and as a Diagnostic Tool for Sodalis-Related Bacteria.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {515-531}, pmid = {26467831}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Bacteria excel in most ecological niches, including insect symbioses. A cluster of bacterial symbionts, established within a broad range of insects, share high 16S rRNA similarities with the secondary symbiont of the tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae), Sodalis glossinidius. Although 16S rRNA has proven informative towards characterization of this clade, the gene is insufficient for examining recent divergence due to selective constraints. Here, we assess the application of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, specifically the ITS(glu) and ITS(ala,ile), used in conjunction with 16S rRNA to enhance the phylogenetic resolution of Sodalis-allied bacteria. The 16S rRNA + ITS regions of Sodalis and allied bacteria demonstrated significant divergence and were robust towards phylogenetic resolution. A monophyletic clade of Sodalis isolates from tsetse species, distinct from other Enterobacteriaceae, was consistently observed suggesting diversification due to host adaptation. In contrast, the phylogenetic distribution of symbionts isolated from hippoboscid flies and various Hemiptera and Coleoptera were intertwined suggesting either horizontal transfer or a recent establishment from an environmental source. Lineage splitting of Sodalis-allied bacteria into symbiotic and free-living sister groups was also observed. Additionally, we propose an ITS region as a diagnostic marker for the identification of additional Sodalis-allied symbionts in the field. These results expand our knowledge of informative genome regions to assess genetic divergence since splitting from the last common ancestor, of this versatile insect symbiont clade that have become increasingly recognized as valuable towards our understanding of the evolution of symbiosis. These facultative and recently associated symbionts may provide a novel source of traits adaptable to the dynamic ecologies encountered by diverse host backgrounds.}, } @article {pmid26467737, year = {2011}, author = {Vogel, KJ and Moran, NA}, title = {Effect of Host Genotype on Symbiont Titer in the Aphid-Buchnera Symbiosis.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {423-434}, pmid = {26467737}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {Obligate nutritional symbioses require balance between the energetic needs of the host and the symbiont. The resident symbiont population size within a host may have major impacts on host fitness, as both host and symbiont consume and supply metabolites in a shared metabolite pool. Given the massive genome degradation that is a hallmark of bacterial endosymbionts of insects, it is unclear at what level these populations are regulated, and how regulation varies among hosts within natural populations. We measured the titer of the endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola from different clones of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and found significant variation in titer, measured as Buchnera genomes per aphid genome, among aphid clones. Additionally, we found that titer can change with the age of the host, and that the number of bacteriocytes within an aphid is one factor likely controlling Buchnera titer. Buchnera titer measurements in clones from a sexual cross indicate that the symbiont genotype is not responsible for variation in titer and that this phenotype is likely non-heritable across sexual reproduction. Symbiont titer is more variable among lab-produced F1 aphid clones than among field-collected ones, suggesting that intermediate titer is favored in natural populations. Potentially, a low heritability of titer during the sexual phase may generate clones with extreme and maladaptive titers each season.}, } @article {pmid26467727, year = {2011}, author = {Jenkins, TM and Eaton, TD}, title = {Population Genetic Baseline of the First Plataspid Stink Bug Symbiosis (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Plataspidae) Reported in North America.}, journal = {Insects}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {264-272}, pmid = {26467727}, issn = {2075-4450}, abstract = {The stink bug, Megacopta cribraria, has an obligate relationship with a bacterial endosymbiont which allows it to feed on legumes. The insect is a pest of soybeans in Asia and was first reported in the Western Hemisphere in October 2009 on kudzu vine, Pueraria montana, in North Georgia, USA. By October 2010 M. cribraria had been confirmed in 80 counties in Georgia actively feeding on kudzu vine and soybean plants. Since the symbiosis may support the bug's ecological expansions, a population genetic baseline for the symbiosis was developed from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nuDNA) gene sequence collected from each insect and its primary g- proteobacterium and secondary a -proteobacterium endosymbionts. A single mitochondrial DNA haplotype was found in all insects sampled in Georgia and South Carolina identified as GA1. The GAI haplotype appears to be rapidly dispersing across Georgia and into contiguous states. Primary and secondary endosymbiont gene sequences from M. cribraria in Georgia were the same as those found in recently collected Megacopta samples from Japan. The implications of these data are discussed.}, } @article {pmid27032587, year = {2009}, author = {Barsanti, L and Evangelista, V and Passarelli, V and Frassanito, AM and Coltelli, P and Gualtieri, P}, title = {MICROSPECTROPHOTOMETRY AS A METHOD TO IDENTIFY KLEPTOPLASTIDS IN THE NAKED FRESHWATER DINOFLAGELLATE GYMNODINIUM ACIDOTUM(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {6}, pages = {1304-1309}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00751.x}, pmid = {27032587}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {A relatively small number of freshwater dinoflagellates are involved in symbiotic association with cryptophytes. The chloroplasts of the cryptophytes are retained by the dinoflagellate and give it the characteristic phycobilin pigmentation, either phycoerythrin or phycocyanin. The pigment characterization of the retained chloroplasts can give precise and accurate information about the type of cryptophyte preyed upon by the dinoflagellate. For this purpose, we performed microspectrophotometric evaluation of the pigments of Gymnodinium acidotum Nygaard and three different cryptophytes present in samples collected from a tributary of the river Arno, in Tuscany (Italy). The comparison of the different spectroscopic data allowed us to discriminate effectively among the cryptophytes preyed upon by the dinoflagellate.}, } @article {pmid27032358, year = {2009}, author = {Letsch, MR and Muller-Parker, G and Friedl, T and Lewis, LA}, title = {ELLIPTOCHLORIS MARINA SP. NOV. (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE, CHLOROPHYTA), SYMBIOTIC GREEN ALGA OF THE TEMPERATE PACIFIC SEA ANEMONES ANTHOPLEURA XANTHOGRAMMICA AND A. ELEGANTISSIMA (ANTHOZOA, CNIDARIA)(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {5}, pages = {1127-1135}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00727.x}, pmid = {27032358}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Symbiotic green algae from two species of intertidal Pacific sea anemones, Anthopleura elegantissima and Anthopleura xanthogrammica, were collected from the northeastern Pacific coast of North America across the known range of the symbiont. Freshly isolated Anthopleura symbionts were used for both morphological and molecular analyses because Anthopleura symbiont cultures were not available. Light and transmission electron microscopy supported previous morphological studies, showing the symbionts consist of spherical unicells from 5 to 10 μm in diameter, with numerous vesicles, and a single bilobed chloroplast. Pyrenoids were not seen in LM, but a thylakoid-free area was observed in TEM, consistent with previous findings. Many algal cells extracted from fresh anemone tissue were observed in the process of division, producing two autospores within a maternal cell wall. The morphology of the green symbionts matches that of Elliptochloris Tscherm.-Woess. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear SSU rDNA and the plastid encoded gene for the large subunit of RUBISCO (rbcL) support the monophyly of these green algal symbionts, regardless of host species and geographic origin. Phylogenetically, sequences of the Anthopleura symbionts are nested within the genus Elliptochloris and are distinct from sequences of all other Elliptochloris spp. examined. Given the ecological and phylogenetic distinctions among the green algal symbionts in Anthopleura spp. and the named species of Elliptochloris, we designate the green algal symbionts as a new species, Elliptochloris marina (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta).}, } @article {pmid27032347, year = {2009}, author = {Smith, RT and Pinzón, JH and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {SYMBIODINIUM (DINOPHYTA) DIVERSITY AND STABILITY IN AQUARIUM CORALS(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {5}, pages = {1030-1036}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00730.x}, pmid = {27032347}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Indo-Pacific reef corals growing for years in closed-system aquaria provide an alternate means to investigate host-symbiont specificity and stability. The diversity of dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodinium spp.) from coral communities in private and public aquaria was investigated using molecular-genetic analyses. Of the 29 symbiont types (i.e., species) identified, 90% belonged to the most prevalent group of Symbiodinium harbored by Indo-Pacific reef corals, Clade C, while the rest belonged to Clade D. Sixty-five percent of all types were known from field surveys conducted throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans. Because specific coral-dinoflagellate partnerships appear to have defined geographic distributions, correspondence of the same symbionts in aquarium and field-collected specimens identifies regions where particular colonies must have been collected in the wild. Symbiodinium spp. in clade D, believed to be "stress-tolerant" and/or "opportunistic," occurred in a limited number of individual colonies. The absence of a prevalent, or "weedy," symbiont suggests that conditions under which aquarium corals are grown do not favor competitive replacements of their native symbiont populations. The finding of typical and diverse assemblages of Symbiodinium spp. among aquarium corals living many years under variable chemical/physical conditions, artificial and natural light, while undergoing fragmentation periodically, indicates that individual colonies maintain stable, long-term symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid27034215, year = {2009}, author = {McBride, BB and Muller-Parker, G and Jakobsen, HH}, title = {LOW THERMAL LIMIT OF GROWTH RATE OF SYMBIODINIUM CALIFORNIUM (DINOPHYTA) IN CULTURE MAY RESTRICT THE SYMBIONT TO SOUTHERN POPULATIONS OF ITS HOST ANEMONES (ANTHOPLEURA SPP.; ANTHOZOA, CNIDARIA)(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {855-863}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00716.x}, pmid = {27034215}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Symbiodinium californium (#383, Banaszak et al. 1993) is one of two known dinoflagellate symbionts of the intertidal sea anemones Anthopleura elegantissima, A. xanthogrammica, and A. sola and occurs only in hosts at southern latitudes of the North Pacific. To investigate if temperature restricts the latitudinal distribution of S. californium, growth and photosynthesis at a range of temperatures (5°C-30°C) were determined for cultured symbionts. Mean specific growth rates were the highest between 15°C and 28°C (μ 0.21-0.26 · d(-1)) and extremely low at 5, 10, and 30°C (0.02-0.03 · d(-1)). Average doubling times ranged from 2.7 d (20°C) to 33 d (5, 10, and 30°C). Cells cultured at 10°C had the greatest cell volume (821 μm(3)) and the highest percentage of motile cells (64.5%). Growth and photosynthesis were uncoupled; light-saturated maximum photosynthesis (Pmax) increased from 2.9 pg C · cell(-1) · h(-1) at 20°C to 13.2 pg C · cell(-1) · h(-1) at 30°C, a 4.5-fold increase. Less than 11% of daily photosynthetically fixed carbon was utilized for growth at 5, 10, and 30°C, indicating the potential for high carbon translocation at these temperatures. Low temperature effects on growth rate, and not on photosynthesis and cell morphology, may restrict the distribution of S. californium to southern populations of its host anemones.}, } @article {pmid27034214, year = {2009}, author = {Verma, V and Bhatti, S and Huss, VA and Colman, B}, title = {PHOTOSYNTHETIC INORGANIC CARBON ACQUISITION IN AN ACID-TOLERANT, FREE-LIVING SPECIES OF COCCOMYXA (CHLOROPHYTA)(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, pages = {847-854}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00718.x}, pmid = {27034214}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The processes of CO2 acquisition were characterized for the acid-tolerant, free-living chlorophyte alga, CPCC 508. rDNA data indicate an affiliation to the genus Coccomyxa, but distinct from other known members of the genus. The alga grows over a wide range of pH from 3.0 to 9.0. External carbonic anhydrase (CA) was detected in cells grown above pH 5, with the activity increasing marginally from pH 7 to 9, but most of the CA activity was internal. The capacity for HCO3 (-) uptake of cells treated with the CA inhibitor acetazolamide (AZA), was investigated by comparing the calculated rate of uncatalyzed CO2 formation with the rate of photosynthesis. Active bicarbonate transport occurred in cells grown in media above pH 7.0. Monitoring CO2 uptake and O2 evolution by membrane-inlet mass spectrometry demonstrated that air-grown cells reduced the CO2 concentration in the medium to an equilibrium concentration of 15 μM, but AZA-treated cells caused a drop in extracellular CO2 concentration to a compensation concentration of 27 μM at pH 8.0. CO2 -pulsing experiments with cells in the light indicated that the cells do not actively take up CO2 . An internal pool of unfixed inorganic carbon was not detected at the CO2 compensation concentration, probably because of the lack of active CO2 uptake, but was detectable at times before compensation point was reached. These results indicate that this free-living Coccomyxa possesses a CO2 -concentrating mechanism (CCM) due to an active bicarbonate-uptake system, unlike the Coccomyxa sp. occurring in symbiotic association with lichens.}, } @article {pmid27033814, year = {2009}, author = {Buxton, L and Badger, M and Ralph, P}, title = {EFFECTS OF MODERATE HEAT STRESS AND DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON CONCENTRATION ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION OF SYMBIODINIUM SP. (DINOPHYCEAE) IN CULTURE AND IN SYMBIOSIS(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {357-365}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00659.x}, pmid = {27033814}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The influence of temperature and inorganic carbon (Ci) concentration on photosynthesis was examined in whole corals and samples of cultured symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.) using combined measurements from a membrane inlet mass spectrometer and chl a fluorometer. In whole corals, O2 production at 26°C was significantly limited at Ci concentrations below ambient seawater (∼2.2 mM). Further additions of Ci up to ∼10 mM caused no further stimulation of oxygenic photosynthesis. Following exposure to 30°C (2 d), net oxygen production decreased significantly in whole corals, as a result of reduced production of photosynthetically derived oxygen rather than increased host consumption. Whole corals maintained a rate of oxygen evolution around eight times lower than cultured Symbiodinium sp. at inorganic carbon concentrations <2 mM, but cultures displayed greater levels of photoinhibition following heat treatment (30°C, 2 d). Whole corals and cultured zooxanthellae differed considerably in their responses to Ci concentration and moderate heat stress, demonstrating that cultured Symbiodinium make an incongruous model for those in hospite. Reduced net oxygen evolution, in whole corals, under conditions of low Ci (<2 mM) has been interpreted in terms of possible sink limitation leading to increased nonphotochemical energy dissipation. The advantages of combined measurement of net gas exchange and fluorometry offered by this method are discussed.}, } @article {pmid26493132, year = {2009}, author = {Dordas, C}, title = {Nonsymbiotic hemoglobins and stress tolerance in plants.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {433-440}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2009.01.003}, pmid = {26493132}, issn = {0168-9452}, abstract = {Hemoglobins (Hbs) are heme containing proteins found in most organisms including animals, bacteria, and plants. Their structure, size, and function are quite diverse among the different organisms. There are three different types of hemoglobins in plants: symbiotic (sHb), nonsymbiotic (nsHb), and truncated hemoglobins (trHb). The nonsymbiotic hemoglobins are divided into: class 1 hemoglobins (nsHb-1s), which have a very high affinity for oxygen: and class 2 hemoglobins (nsHb-2s), which have lower affinity for oxygen, are similar to the sHbs. nsHb-1s are expressed under hypoxia, osmotic stress, nutrient deprivation, cold stress, rhizobial infection, nitric oxide exposure, and fungal infection. Tolerance to stress is very important for the survival of the plant. Hemoglobins are one of many different strategies that plants have evolved to overcome stress conditions and survive. Hbs also react with NO produced under different stress conditions. Class 1 nsHbs are involved in a metabolic pathway involving NO. Those hemoglobins provide an alternative type of respiration to mitochondrial electron transport under limiting oxygen concentrations. Class 1 nsHbs in hypoxic plants act as part of a soluble, terminal, NO dioxygenase system, yielding nitrate from the reaction of oxyHb with NO. The overall reaction sequence, referred to as the nsHb/NO cycle, consumes NADH and maintains ATP levels via an as yet unknown mechanism. Class 2 nsHbs seem to scavenge NO in a similar fashion as class 1 Hbs and are involved in reducing flowering time in Arabidopsis. nsHbs also show peroxidase-like activity and NO metabolism and possibly protect against nitrosative stress in plant-pathogen interaction and in symbiotic interactions. nsHbs may be involved in other stress conditions such as osmotic, nutrient and cold stress together with NO and the function of nsHbs can be in NO metabolism and signal transduction. However, other possible functions cannot be precluded as Hbs have many different functions in other organisms.}, } @article {pmid27033647, year = {2009}, author = {Enríquez, S and Ávila, E and Carballo, JL}, title = {PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY INDUCED IN TRANSPLANT EXPERIMENTS IN A MUTUALISTIC ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE RED ALGA JANIA ADHAERENS (RHODOPHYTA, CORALLINALES) AND THE SPONGE HALICLONA CAERULEA (PORIFERA: HAPLOSCLERIDA): MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF THE ALGA(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {81-90}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00640.x}, pmid = {27033647}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The association between the red macroalga Jania adhaerens J. V. Lamour. and the sponge Haliclona caerulea is the most successful life-form between 2 and 4 m depth in Mazatlán Bay (Mexican Pacific). J. adhaerens colonizes the rocky intertidal area and penetrates into deeper areas only when it lives in association with H. caerulea. The aposymbiotic form of the sponge has not been reported in the bay. To understand the ecological success of this association, we examined the capacity of J. adhaerens to acclimate in Mazatlán Bay using transplant experiments. The transplanted aposymbiotic J. adhaerens did not survive the first 2 weeks; however, J. adhaerens when living in association with H. caerulea, acclimated easily to depth, showing no sign of mortality during the 103 d of the experiment. We conclude that the ability of J. adhaerens to colonize in deeper areas in this hydrodynamic environment may in part rely on the protection provided by the sponge to the algal canopy. Both species contribute to the shape of the associated form. Nevertheless, the morphological variation in the association appears to be dominated by the variation in J. adhaerens canopy to regulate pigment self-shading under light-limited conditions and/or tissue resistance under high hydrodynamics. Consequently, our results are consistent with light as the abiotic controlling factor, which regulates the lower depth distribution of the association in Mazatlán Bay, through limiting the growth rate of J. adhaerens. Hydrodynamics may determine the upper limit of the association by imposing high mass losses.}, } @article {pmid27041709, year = {2008}, author = {Thornhill, DJ and Kemp, DW and Bruns, BU and Fitt, WK and Schmidt, GW}, title = {CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN COLD TOLERANCE AND TEMPERATE BIOGEOGRAPHY IN A WESTERN ATLANTIC SYMBIODINIUM (DINOPHYTA) LINEAGE(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {1126-1135}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00567.x}, pmid = {27041709}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Many corals form obligate symbioses with photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium Freudenthal (1962). These symbionts vary genotypically, with their geographical distribution and abundance dependent upon host specificity and tolerance to temperature and light variation. Despite the importance of these mutualistic relationships, the physiology and ecology of Symbiodinium spp. remain poorly characterized. Here, we report that rDNA internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) defined Symbiodinium type B2 associates with the cnidarian hosts Astrangia poculata and Oculina arbuscula from northerly habitats of the western Atlantic. Using pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) fluorometry, we compared maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII of type B2 to that of common tropical Symbiodinium lineages (types A3, B1, and C2) under cold-stress conditions. Symbiont cultures were gradually cooled from 26°C to 10°C to simulate seasonal temperature declines. Cold stress decreased the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and likely the photosynthetic potential for all Symbiodinium clades tested. Cultures were then maintained at 10°C for a 2-week period and gradually returned to initial conditions. Subsequent to low temperature stress, only type B2 displayed rapid and full recovery of PSII photochemical efficiency, whereas other symbiont phylotypes remained nonfunctional. These findings indicate that the distribution and abundance of Symbiodinium spp., and by extension their cnidarian hosts, in temperate climates correspond significantly with the photosynthetic cold tolerance of these symbiotic algae.}, } @article {pmid27041623, year = {2008}, author = {Elvebakk, A and Papaefthimiou, D and Robertsen, EH and Liaimer, A}, title = {PHYLOGENETIC PATTERNS AMONG NOSTOC CYANOBIONTS WITHIN BI- AND TRIPARTITE LICHENS OF THE GENUS PANNARIA(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {1049-1059}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00556.x}, pmid = {27041623}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Phylogenetic relationships between Nostoc cyanobionts in the lichen genus Pannaria were studied to evaluate their correlation to geography, habitat ecology, and other patterns previously reported. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of a total of 37 samples of 21 Pannaria species from seven countries from the Northern and Southern hemispheres were analyzed and compared with 69 free-living and symbiotic cyanobacterial strains. The sequences from Pannaria were distributed throughout a branch of Nostoc sequences previously called "the Nephroma guild," and within two subgroups from another branch, referred to as the "Peltigera guild," although there was a gradual transition between the two major groups. There is a more diverse pattern of relationships between Nostoc sequences from bipartite versus tripartite lichen species in Pannaria, compared with other well-studied genera, such as Nephroma and Peltigera. Cyanobionts from several tripartite Pannaria species from the Southern Hemisphere and corticolous bipartite species from both hemispheres were grouped together. Four sequences of Pannaria and Pseudocyphellaria cyanobionts from rocks in the Chilean Juan Fernández Islands were nested within corticolous cyanobionts, whereas the terricolous "Pannaria sphinctrina clade" was placed with other terricolous strains. The cluster patterns derived from phylogenetic analysis were partly reflecting lichen taxonomy, in two groups of lichen species, possibly indicating coevolution. The phylogram partly also reflected lichen ecology. Three Pannaria species have very different cyanobiont strains when they grow in different habitats.}, } @article {pmid27041613, year = {2008}, author = {Suggett, DJ and Warner, ME and Smith, DJ and Davey, P and Hennige, S and Baker, NR}, title = {PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE BY SYMBIODINIUM (PYRRHOPHYTA) PHYLOTYPES WITH DIFFERENT THERMAL TOLERANCES(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {4}, pages = {948-956}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00537.x}, pmid = {27041613}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Occurrences whereby cnidaria lose their symbiotic dinoflagellate microalgae (Symbiodinium spp.) are increasing in frequency and intensity. These so-called bleaching events are most often related to an increase in water temperature, which is thought to limit certain Symbiodinium phylotypes from effectively dissipating absorbed excitation energy that is otherwise used for photochemistry. Here, we examined photosynthetic characteristics and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2) production, a possible signal involved in bleaching, from two Symbiodinium types (a thermally "tolerant" A1 and "sensitive" B1) representative of cnidaria-Symbiodinium symbioses of reef-building Caribbean corals. Under steady-state growth at 26°C, a higher efficiency of PSII photochemistry, rate of electron turnover, and rate of O2 production were observed for type A1 than for B1. The two types responded very differently to a period of elevated temperature (32°C): type A1 increased light-driven O2 consumption but not the amount of H2 O2 produced; in contrast, type B1 increased the amount of H2 O2 produced without an increase in light-driven O2 consumption. Therefore, our results are consistent with previous suggestions that the thermal tolerance of Symbiodinium is related to adaptive constraints associated with photosynthesis and that sensitive phylotypes are more prone to H2 O2 production. Understanding these adaptive differences in the genus Symbiodinium will be crucial if we are to interpret the response of symbiotic associations, including reef-building corals, to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid27041420, year = {2008}, author = {Sriwoon, R and Pholpunthin, P and Lirdwitayaprasit, T and Kishino, M and Furuya, K}, title = {POPULATION DYNAMICS OF GREEN NOCTILUCA SCINTILLANS (DINOPHYCEAE) ASSOCIATED WITH THE MONSOON CYCLE IN THE UPPER GULF OF THAILAND(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {605-615}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00516.x}, pmid = {27041420}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Population dynamics of Noctiluca scintillans (Macartney) Kof. et Swezy containing the photosynthetic endosymbiont Pedinomonas noctilucae (Subrahman.) Sweeney was investigated in relation to environmental conditions in the upper Gulf of Thailand. A clear association was observed between the abundance of N. scintillans and the monsoon cycle, with its blooms occurring during the southwest (SW) monsoon from May to September, and low abundance during the northeast (NE) monsoon from November to February. Nutrient concentrations were higher during the SW monsoon than during the NE monsoon due to the combined effect of increased river discharge into the northern upper gulf and the transport of the riverine inputs by the prevailing clockwise circulation of the water. These nutrient conditions favored the growth of both phytoplankton and the endosymbiont. Correlation analysis revealed that the higher abundance of N. scintillans in the SW monsoon was manifested primarily by higher growth through both sexual and asexual reproduction supported by phagotrophy. However, the dependence of N. scintillans on the nutrient concentration was not significant, probably because the nutrient supply for the endosymbiont was sufficient due to intracellular accumulation of nutrients within the host cells. Sexual reproduction occurred only during the SW monsoon, and its potential importance in population growth was suggested. These findings showed the bottom-up control of the population dynamics of N. scintillans through growth of phytoplankton as prey. The seasonal shift in the circulation pattern associated with the monsoon cycle played a crucial role in blooming of N. scintillans by producing favorable food conditions.}, } @article {pmid27041207, year = {2008}, author = {Roff, G and Ulstrup, KE and Fine, M and Ralph, PJ and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY WITHIN DISEASED CORALS FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {526-538}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00480.x}, pmid = {27041207}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Morphological diagnosis and descriptions of seven disease-like syndromes affecting scleractinian corals were characterized from the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Chl a fluorescence of PSII was measured using an Imaging-PAM (pulse amplitude modulated) fluorometer, enabling visualization of the two-dimensional variability in the photophysiology of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) by measuring rapid light curves. Three of four syndromes associated with active tissue loss (type a) were spatially homogenous (white syndrome, brown band, and skeletal eroding band), with no impact on the photochemical function of zooxanthellae populations at or behind the lesion borders. However, a decline in maximum quantum yield (Fv /Fm) and elevated levels of maximum nonphotochemical quenching (NPQmax) occurred in visually healthy tissue of black band disease adjacent to the lesion borders, possibly due to hypoxic conditions caused by the black band cyanobacterial mat. Two out of three syndromes associated with pathological change of intact tissue with no active tissue loss (type b) showed variable photophysiological responses (neoplasia and pigmentation response). Only the bleached foci associated with white patch syndrome appeared to impact primarily on the symbiotic dinoflagellates, as evidenced by declines in minimum fluorescence (F0) and maximum quantum yield (Fv /Fm), with no indication of degeneration in the host tissues. Our results suggest that for the majority of coral syndromes from the GBR, pathogenesis occurs in the host tissue, while the impact on the zooxanthellae populations residing in affected corals is minimal.}, } @article {pmid27041186, year = {2008}, author = {Hill, R and Ralph, PJ}, title = {IMPACT OF BLEACHING STRESS ON THE FUNCTION OF THE OXYGEN EVOLVING COMPLEX OF ZOOXANTHELLAE FROM SCLERACTINIAN CORALS(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {299-310}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2008.00468.x}, pmid = {27041186}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {Global climate change is leading to the rise of ocean temperatures and is triggering mass coral bleaching events on reefs around the world. The expulsion of the symbiotic dinoflagellate algae is believed to occur as a result of damage to the photosynthetic apparatus of these symbionts, although the specific site of initial impact is yet to be conclusively resolved. Here, the sensitivity of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) to bleaching stress was studied as well as its natural variation between seasons. The artificial electron donor, diphenyl carbazide (DPC), was added to cultured, freshly isolated and expelled (bleaching treatments only) zooxanthellae suspensions. Chl a fluorescence and oxygen production measurements showed that upon addition of DPC, no restoration of diminished photochemical efficiency occurred under control or bleaching conditions. This result was consistent between 12 h and 5 d bleaching treatments on Pocilloporadamicornis, indicating that the OEC is not the primary site of damage, and that zooxanthellae expulsion from the host is a nonselective process with respect to the functioning of the OEC. Further experiments measuring fast induction curves (FICs) revealed that in both summer and winter, the temperature when OEC function was lost occurred between 7°C and 14°C above the sea surface temperature. FIC and oxygen production measurements of P. damicornis during exposure to bleaching stress demonstrated that the thermotolerance of the OEC increased above the temperature of the bleaching treatment over a 4 h period. This finding indicates that the OEC has the capacity to acclimate between seasons and remains functional at temperatures well above bleaching thresholds.}, } @article {pmid27041043, year = {2008}, author = {Summerer, M and Sonntag, B and Sommaruga, R}, title = {CILIATE-SYMBIONT SPECIFICITY OF FRESHWATER ENDOSYMBIOTIC CHLORELLA (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE, CHLOROPHYTA)(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {77-84}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2007.00455.x}, pmid = {27041043}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The nature of Chlorella symbioses in invertebrates and protists has attracted much interest, but the uncertain taxonomy of the algal partner has constrained a deeper ecological understanding of this symbiosis. We sequenced parts of the nuclear 18S rDNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 region, and the chloroplast 16S rDNA of several Chlorella isolated from pelagic ciliate species of different lakes, Paramecium bursaria symbionts, and free-living Chlorella to elucidate phylogenetic relationships of Chlorella-like algae and to assess their host specificity. Sequence analyses resulted in well-resolved phylogenetic trees providing strong statistical support for a homogenous 'zoochlorellae' group of different ciliate species from one lake, but clearly different Chlorella in one of those ciliate species occurring in another lake. The two Chlorella strains isolated from the same ciliate species, but from lakes having a 10-fold difference in underwater UV transparency, also presented a distinct physiological trait, such as the ability to synthesize UV-absorbing substances known as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). Algal symbionts of all P. bursaria strains of different origin resolved in one clade apart from the other ciliate symbionts but split into two distinct lineages, suggesting the existence of a biogeographic pattern. Overall, our results suggest a high degree of species specificity but also hint at the importance of physiological adaptation in symbiotic Chlorella.}, } @article {pmid27041041, year = {2008}, author = {Papaefthimiou, D and Van Hove, C and Lejeune, A and Rasmussen, U and Wilmotte, A}, title = {DIVERSITY AND HOST SPECIFICITY OF AZOLLA CYANOBIONTS(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {60-70}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.2007.00448.x}, pmid = {27041041}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {A unique, hereditary symbiosis exists between the water fern Azolla and cyanobacteria that reside within a cavity in the dorsal leaf-lobe of the plant. This association has been studied extensively, and questions have frequently been raised regarding the number and diversity of cyanobionts (cyanobacterial symbionts) among the different Azolla strains and species. In this work, denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and a clone library based on the 16S rRNA gene were used to study the genetic diversity and host specificity of the cyanobionts in 35 Azolla strains covering a wide taxonomic and geographic range. DNA was extracted directly from the cyanobacterial packets, isolated after enzymatic digestion of the Azolla leaves. Our results indicated the existence of different cyanobiont strains among Azolla species, and diversity within a single Azolla species, independent of the geographic origin of the host. Furthermore, the cyanobiont exhibited host-species specificity and showed most divergence between the two sections of genus Azolla, Azolla and Rhizosperma. These findings are in agreement with the recent redefinition of the taxon Azolla cristata within the section Azolla. With regard to the taxonomic status of the cyanobiont, the genus Anabaena of the Nostocaceae family was identified as the closest relative by this work.}, } @article {pmid27096452, year = {1969}, author = {Taylor, DL}, title = {IDENTITY OF ZOOXANTHELLAE ISOLATED FROM SOME PACIFIC TRIDACNIDAE.}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {336-340}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.1969.tb02623.x}, pmid = {27096452}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The taxonomy and nltrastructure of zooxanthellae from 6 species of Pacific giant clam have been studied from cultures. Comparison with type material shows that all of the isolates are Symbiodinium microadriaticum, a symbiotic dinoflagellate originally recorded from coelenterates in the Caribbean. Specific criteria for the identification of this organism are discussed, and their value to the comparative taxonomy of marine zooxanthellae is noted.}, } @article {pmid27065038, year = {1967}, author = {Taylor, DL}, title = {THE PIGMENTS OF THE ZOOXANTHELLAE SYMBIOTIC WITH THE INTERTIDAL ANEMONE, ANEMONIA SULCATA(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {238-240}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.1967.tb04665.x}, pmid = {27065038}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The photo synthetic pigments of the zooxanthellae found in the endodermal tissues of Anemonia sulcata have been identified by column chromatography and spectrophotometry analysis. They appear to be identical with those found among free-living species of Dinophyceae as well as the zooxanthellae of Pacific Madreporaria and Tridacnidae, and confirm the taxonomic relationship which tills symbiont has in common with these organisms.}, } @article {pmid27053412, year = {1966}, author = {Oschman, JL}, title = {DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYMBIOSIS OF CONVOLUTA ROSCOFFENSIS GRAFF AND PLATYMONAS SP.(1).}, journal = {Journal of phycology}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {105-111}, doi = {10.1111/j.1529-8817.1966.tb04603.x}, pmid = {27053412}, issn = {0022-3646}, abstract = {The acoel flatworm Convoluta roscoffensis is infected by the alga Platymonas sp. The ova and young Convoluta do not contain algae, and each generation must be reinfected. The infecting algae undergo morphological alterations when within the worm. Flagella, theca, and eyespot are lost in that order. Flagellar basal bodies and striated rootlets remain. Loss of theca may be the result of a dissolution process, possibly the result of enzymes from the animal or from the algae. Upon loss of theca, the alga assumes an irregularly shaped form. Fingerlike processes of the algal cells penetrate between adjacent animal cells. This form is present in all but the earliest stages of infection, and may be a prerequisite for the establishment of a balanced photosynthetic mutualism.}, } @article {pmid26410666, year = {2016}, author = {Jacob, MJ and Rao, PB}, title = {Socio-ecological studies on marine fishing villages in the selective south coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {134}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {344-349}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.08.026}, pmid = {26410666}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; *Fisheries ; Humans ; India ; *Poverty ; Rural Population ; *Socioeconomic Factors ; }, abstract = {Coasts are an amazing gift of nature. Industrialization, infrastructure development, urbanisation, tourism, mechanized fishing, disposal of industrial and urban wastes and effluents, are all ringing the death-knell of the sensitive coastal ecosystems of recently separated State of Andhra Pradesh. These modern interventions have been violent, disregarding both nature's rejuvenating mechanisms, and the symbiotic relationship that exist between the coast and traditional marine fishing communities. Modern fishing tecnologies using mechanized trawlers and small meshed nets lead directly to overexploitation, which is not sustainable. It is evident that fish have to breed successfully and need to have time to grow if the yield has to be used sustainably. Multiple pressures and excessive technological invasion on these marine fishing villages had created an environment in which life has become physically and mentally unhealthy. The focus of this paper is to emphasize that investing in large-scale industrial fishing, building bigger boats, and giving subsidies for pursuing deep sea fishing would be a waste of resources as the fish hauls in these selelctive districts i.e. Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore coastal communities have dropped off alarmingly in recent years. It is essential and crucial to focus research and scientific analysis and establish awareness and education to provide a means of distinguishing responses between improvements in quality of ecosystem and those of damages. The study is to elaborate that long-term ecological gains cannot be sacrificed for short-term economic gains that unfortunately lead to environmental damage. Investigating coastal regulations, policies, and their implementation is an urgent social need for the sake of socio-ecological safety and security of coasts and host communities.}, } @article {pmid26418631, year = {2016}, author = {Ikuta, T and Takaki, Y and Nagai, Y and Shimamura, S and Tsuda, M and Kawagucci, S and Aoki, Y and Inoue, K and Teruya, M and Satou, K and Teruya, K and Shimoji, M and Tamotsu, H and Hirano, T and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Heterogeneous composition of key metabolic gene clusters in a vent mussel symbiont population.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {990-1001}, pmid = {26418631}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Gills ; In Situ Hybridization ; *Multigene Family ; Mytilidae/*microbiology ; Oxygen/chemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chemosynthetic symbiosis is one of the successful systems for adapting to a wide range of habitats including extreme environments, and the metabolic capabilities of symbionts enable host organisms to expand their habitat ranges. However, our understanding of the adaptive strategies that enable symbiotic organisms to expand their habitats is still fragmentary. Here, we report that a single-ribotype endosymbiont population in an individual of the host vent mussel, Bathymodiolus septemdierum has heterogeneous genomes with regard to the composition of key metabolic gene clusters for hydrogen oxidation and nitrate reduction. The host individual harbours heterogeneous symbiont subpopulations that either possess or lack the gene clusters encoding hydrogenase or nitrate reductase. The proportions of the different symbiont subpopulations in a host appeared to vary with the environment or with the host's development. Furthermore, the symbiont subpopulations were distributed in patches to form a mosaic pattern in the gill. Genomic heterogeneity in an endosymbiont population may enable differential utilization of diverse substrates and confer metabolic flexibility. Our findings open a new chapter in our understanding of how symbiotic organisms alter their metabolic capabilities and expand their range of habitats.}, } @article {pmid26418593, year = {2015}, author = {Sugiyama, A and Fukuda, S and Takanashi, K and Yoshioka, M and Yoshioka, H and Narusaka, Y and Narusaka, M and Kojima, M and Sakakibara, H and Shitan, N and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Kawaguchi, M and Yazaki, K}, title = {Molecular Characterization of LjABCG1, an ATP-Binding Cassette Protein in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0139127}, pmid = {26418593}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/*genetics ; Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics ; Plant Diseases/*immunology/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Pseudomonas syringae/immunology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {LjABCG1, a full-size ABCG subfamily of ATP-binding cassette proteins of a model legume, Lotus japonicus, was reported as a gene highly expressed during the early stages of nodulation, but have not been characterized in detail. In this study we showed that the induction of LjABCG1 expression was remarkable by methyl jasmonate treatment, and reporter gene experiments indicated that LjABCG1 was strongly expressed in the nodule parenchyma and cell layers adjacent to the root vascular tissue toward the nodule. LjABCG1 was suggested to be localized at the plasma membrane based on the fractionation of microsomal membranes as well as separation via aqueous two-phase partitioning. The physiological functions of LjABCG1 in symbiosis and pathogenesis were analyzed in homologous and heterologous systems. LjABCG1 knock-down L. japonicus plants did not show clear phenotypic differences in nodule formation, and not in defense against Pseudomonas syringae, either. In contrast, when LjABCG1 was expressed in the Arabidopsis pdr8-1 mutant, the penetration frequency of Phytophthora infestans, a potato late blight pathogen, was significantly reduced in LjABCG1/pdr8-1 than in pdr8-1 plants. This finding indicated that LjABCG1, at least partially, complemented the phenotype of pdr8 in Arabidopsis, suggesting the multiple roles of this protein in plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid26418558, year = {2015}, author = {Takaichi, H and Comparini, D and Iwase, J and Bouteau, F and Mancuso, S and Kawano, T}, title = {Mitigation of copper toxicity by DNA oligomers in green paramecia.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e1010919}, pmid = {26418558}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Copper/*toxicity ; Cytoprotection/drug effects ; DNA/*pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paramecium/cytology/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Impact of transition metals which catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), on activation of cell death signaling in plant cells have been documented to date. Similarly in green paramecia (Paramecium bursaria), an aquatic protozoan species harboring symbiotic green algae in the cytoplasm, toxicities of various metallic ions have been documented. We have recently examined the effects of double-stranded GC-rich DNA fragments with copper-binding nature and ROS removal catalytic activity as novel plant cell-protecting agents, using the suspension-cultured tobacco cells. Here, we show that above DNA oligomers protect the cells of green paramecia from copper-induced cell death, suggesting that the phenomenon firstly observed in tobacco cells is not limited only within higher plants but it could be universally observable in wider range of organisms.}, } @article {pmid26415660, year = {2015}, author = {Kwak, Y and Shin, JH}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Photorhabdus temperata subsp. thracensis 39-8 T, an entomopathogenic bacterium for the improved commercial bioinsecticide.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {214}, number = {}, pages = {115-116}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.09.024}, pmid = {26415660}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Bacterial Toxins/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Insecticides ; Pest Control, Biological ; Photorhabdus/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus temperata subsp. thracensis 39-8(T), a symbiotic bacterium from an entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, is a novel bacterium harboring insect pathogenicity. Herein, we present the complete genome sequence of strain 39-8(T), which consists of one circular chromosome of 5,147,098 bp with a GC content of 44.10%. This genetic information will provide insights into biotechnological applications of the genus Photorhabdus producing insecticidal toxins, leading to the enhanced commercial bioinsecticide in agricultural pest control.}, } @article {pmid26414414, year = {2015}, author = {Blackall, LL and Wilson, B and van Oppen, MJ}, title = {Coral-the world's most diverse symbiotic ecosystem.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {21}, pages = {5330-5347}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13400}, pmid = {26414414}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*microbiology ; Archaea/classification ; Bacteria/*classification ; Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Zooxanthellate corals (i.e. those harbouring Symbiodinium) are the main builders of the world's shallow-water marine coral reefs. They represent intimate diverse symbioses between coral animals, single-celled photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.), other microscopic eukaryotes, prokaryotes and viruses. Crabs and other crustaceans, worms, sponges, bivalves and hydrozoans, fishes, sea urchins, octopuses and sea stars are itinerant members of these 'rainforests of the sea'. This review focuses on the biodiversity of scleractinian coral animals and their best studied microscopic epi- and endosymbionts. In relation to coral-associated species diversity, Symbiodinium internal transcribed spacer region sequence types tally 10(2) -10(3) or up to ~15 different operational taxonomic units (OTUs, or putative species at the 97% sequence identity level; this cut-off was chosen based on intragenomic sequence diversity observed in monoclonal cultures) and prokaryotes (mostly bacterial) total 10(2) -10(4) OTUs. We analysed all publically accessible 16S rRNA gene sequence data and found Gammaproteobacteria were extremely abundant, followed by Alphaproteobacteria. Notably, Archaea were poorly represented and 'unassigned OTUs' were abundant in data generated by high-throughput DNA sequencing studies of corals. We outline and compare model systems that could be used in future studies of the coral holobiont. In our future directions, we recommend a global coral sampling effort including substantial attention being paid to method of coral tissue acquisition, which compartments (mucus, tissue, skeleton) to explore, broadening the holobiont members considered and linking biodiversity with functional investigations.}, } @article {pmid26413453, year = {2014}, author = {Gannon, BM and Reichard, EE and Fantegrossi, WE}, title = {Psychostimulant Abuse and HIV Infection: cocaine, methamphetamine, and "bath salts" cathinone analogues.}, journal = {Current addiction reports}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {237-242}, pmid = {26413453}, issn = {2196-2952}, support = {T32 DA022981/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Psychostimulants are among the most widely-abused substances worldwide, and typically exert their abuse-related effects via interactions with monoamine reuptake transporters within the CNS. Over the last decade, a symbiotic relationship between psychostimulant abuse and HIV infection has been demonstrated, where psychostimulants potentiate the effects of HIV infection, and HIV infection increases sensitivity to psychostimulant drugs. Most recently, a new class of designer psychostimulants has emerged in abuse-ready "bath salt" preparations. These commercial products typically contain ring-substituted and/or side-chain-substituted analogues of cathinone, which is itself a psychostimulant drug of abuse in its natural plant form. The cathinone analogues exhibit a range of interactions with monoamine transporters, from cocaine-like reuptake inhibition to methamphetamine-like release. Since the primary mechanism of action of these novel drugs overlaps with those of traditional psychostimulants, it may be the case that the cathinone analogues also interact with HIV infection. As use of these emerging cathinone-derived drugs continues to rise, there is an urgent need to better understand the pharmacology and toxicology of these novel compounds, both in terms of their abuse-related effects, and in terms of their capacity to interact with HIV infection.}, } @article {pmid26413054, year = {2015}, author = {Ruíz-Valdiviezo, VM and Canseco, LM and Suárez, LA and Gutiérrez-Miceli, FA and Dendooven, L and Rincón-Rosales, R}, title = {Symbiotic potential and survival of native rhizobia kept on different carriers.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {46}, number = {3}, pages = {735-742}, pmid = {26413054}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Aluminum Oxide/chemistry ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/chemistry ; Cellulose/chemistry ; Fertilizers/*microbiology ; Mannitol/chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phaseolus/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Silicon Dioxide/chemistry ; Sinorhizobium/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Starch/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Yeasts/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Native rhizobia are ideal for use as commercial legume inoculants. The characteristics of the carrier used to store the inoculants are important for the survival and symbiotic potential of the rhizobia. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of peat (PEAT), perlite sugarcane bagasse (PSB), carboxymethyl cellulose plus starch (CMCS), and yeast extract mannitol supplemented with mannitol (YEMM) on the survival, nodulation potential and N2 fixation capacity of the native strains Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG R7(T) and Rhizobium calliandrae LBP2-1(T) and of the reference strain Rhizobium etli CFN42(T). A factorial design (4 × 3) with four repetitions was used to determine the symbiotic potential of the rhizobial strains. The survival of the strains was higher for PEAT (46% for strain LBP2-1(T), 167% for strain CFN42(T) and 219% for strain ITTG R7(T)) than for the other carriers after 240 days, except for CFN42(T) kept on CMCS (225%). All the strains kept on the different carriers effectively nodulated common bean, with the lowest number of nodules found (5 nodules) when CFN42(T) was kept on CMCS and with the highest number of nodules found (28 nodules) when ITTG R7(T) was kept on PSB. The nitrogenase activity was the highest for ITTG R7(T) kept on PEAT (4911 μmol C2H4 per fresh weight nodule h(-1)); however, no activity was found when the strains were kept on YEMM. Thus, the survival and symbiotic potential of the rhizobia depended on the carrier used to store them.}, } @article {pmid26412782, year = {2015}, author = {Nagata, M and Yamamoto, N and Shigeyama, T and Terasawa, Y and Anai, T and Sakai, T and Inada, S and Arima, S and Hashiguchi, M and Akashi, R and Nakayama, H and Ueno, D and Hirsch, AM and Suzuki, A}, title = {Red/Far Red Light Controls Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization via Jasmonic Acid and Strigolactone Signaling.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {11}, pages = {2100-2109}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcv135}, pmid = {26412782}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Light ; Lotus/*microbiology/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Establishment of a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia not only requires sufficient photosynthate, but also the sensing of the ratio of red to far red (R/FR) light. Here, we show that R/FR light sensing also positively influences the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis of a legume and a non-legume through jasmonic acid (JA) and strigolactone (SL) signaling. The level of AM colonization in high R/FR light-grown tomato and Lotus japonicus significantly increased compared with that determined for low R/FR light-grown plants. Transcripts for JA-related genes were also elevated under high R/FR conditions. The root exudates derived from high R/FR light-grown plants contained more (+)-5-deoxystrigol, an AM-fungal hyphal branching inducer, than those from low R/FR light-grown plants. In summary, high R/FR light changes not only the levels of JA and SL synthesis, but also the composition of plant root exudates released into the rhizosphere, in this way augmenting the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26412060, year = {2015}, author = {Azmat, R and Hamid, N and Moin, S}, title = {The effective role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in sinking CO2 from atmosphere of mega cities.}, journal = {Recent patents on biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {26412060}, issn = {2212-4012}, abstract = {An effort was made after detailed literature survey and few experiments, conducted at Laboratory conditions about the VAM fungus inoculated plants, they have large surface area and more photosynthetic rate, can assimilate more CO2, grow even in drought condition including water deficiency and high temperature. For this purpose a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in which soil manifested with fungi was used and Conocarpus erectus L was selected for testing the fungal engineering (common on green belt of Karachi Streets). Results demonstrated a well-developed strong roots system and branching pattern of shoots rather than largest surface area of leaves of the fungal engineered plant when compared with non-treated ones. The long root system indicates the stability of plant and water transport system in high temperature conditions and low water conditions. While increased branching pattern of areal part may be directly related with the increase in net photosynthetic rates or increase CO2 absorption in the fungal inoculated plants. This investigation showed an interesting use of VAM services for technology development for root organ culture development in areas of low water availability and high temperature condition with elevated concentration of CO2. A mechanism of absorption of CO2 related with the alteration in plant physical and bio metabolism has been discussed in relation with phosphorus uptake under VAM inoculation.}, } @article {pmid26410793, year = {2015}, author = {Sheu, SY and Chen, MH and Liu, WYY and Andrews, M and James, EK and Ardley, JK and De Meyer, SE and James, TK and Howieson, JG and Coutinho, BG and Chen, WM}, title = {Burkholderia dipogonis sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Dipogon lignosus in New Zealand and Western Australia.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {12}, pages = {4716-4723}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.000639}, pmid = {26410793}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Introduced Species ; Molecular Sequence Data ; New Zealand ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ubiquinone/chemistry ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Seven strains, ICMP 19430T, ICMP 19429, ICMP 19431, WSM4637, WSM4638, WSM4639 and WSM4640, were isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules on roots of the invasive South African legume Dipogon lignosus (subfamily Papilionoideae, tribe Phaseoleae) in New Zealand and Western Australia, and their taxonomic positions were investigated by using a polyphasic approach. All seven strains grew at 10-37 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), at pH 4.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0-7.0) and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum growth in the absence of NaCl). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strains showed 99.0-99.5 % sequence similarity to the closest type strain, Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJNT, and 98.4-99.7 % sequence similarity to Burkholderia caledonica LMG 19076T. The predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c (21.0 % of the total fatty acids in strain ICMP 19430T), C16 : 0 (19.1 %), C17 : 0 cyclo (18.9 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 10.7 %) and C19 : 0 cyclov ω8c (7.5 %). The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and several uncharacterized aminophospholipids and phospholipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 and the DNA G+C content of strain ICMP 19430T was 63.2 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness of the novel strains with respect to the closest neighbouring members of the genus Burkholderia was 55 % or less. On the basis of 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence similarities and chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data,these strains represent a novel symbiotic species in the genus Burkholderia, for which the name Burkholderia dipogonis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain ICMP 19430T (=LMG28415T=HAMBI 3637T).}, } @article {pmid26405832, year = {2016}, author = {Callens, M and Macke, E and Muylaert, K and Bossier, P and Lievens, B and Waud, M and Decaestecker, E}, title = {Food availability affects the strength of mutualistic host-microbiota interactions in Daphnia magna.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {911-920}, pmid = {26405832}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size ; Daphnia/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Diet ; Environment ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic gut microbial community is generally known to have a strong impact on the fitness of its host. Nevertheless, it is less clear how the impact of symbiotic interactions on the hosts' fitness varies according to environmental circumstances such as changes in the diet. This study aims to get a better understanding of host-microbiota interactions under different levels of food availability. We conducted experiments with the invertebrate, experimental model organism Daphnia magna and compared growth, survival and reproduction of conventionalized symbiotic Daphnia with germ-free individuals given varying quantities of food. Our experiments revealed that the relative importance of the microbiota for the hosts' fitness varied according to dietary conditions. The presence of the microbiota had strong positive effects on Daphnia when food was sufficient or abundant, but had weaker effects under food limitation. Our results indicate that the microbiota can be a potentially important factor in determining host responses to changes in dietary conditions. Characterization of the host-associated microbiota further showed that Aeromonas sp. was the most prevalent taxon in the digestive tract of Daphnia.}, } @article {pmid26405830, year = {2016}, author = {Cabello, AM and Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Raho, N and Blasco, D and Vidal, M and Audic, S and de Vargas, C and Latasa, M and Acinas, SG and Massana, R}, title = {Global distribution and vertical patterns of a prymnesiophyte-cyanobacteria obligate symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {693-706}, pmid = {26405830}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Haptophyta/*microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A marine symbiosis has been recently discovered between prymnesiophyte species and the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium UCYN-A. At least two different UCYN-A phylotypes exist, the clade UCYN-A1 in symbiosis with an uncultured small prymnesiophyte and the clade UCYN-A2 in symbiosis with the larger Braarudosphaera bigelowii. We targeted the prymnesiophyte-UCYN-A1 symbiosis by double CARD-FISH (catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization) and analyzed its abundance in surface samples from the MALASPINA circumnavigation expedition. Our use of a specific probe for the prymnesiophyte partner allowed us to verify that this algal species virtually always carried the UCYN-A symbiont, indicating that the association was also obligate for the host. The prymnesiophyte-UCYN-A1 symbiosis was detected in all ocean basins, displaying a patchy distribution with abundances (up to 500 cells ml(-1)) that could vary orders of magnitude. Additional vertical profiles taken at the NE Atlantic showed that this symbiosis occupied the upper water column and disappeared towards the Deep Chlorophyll Maximum, where the biomass of the prymnesiophyte assemblage peaked. Moreover, sequences of both prymnesiophyte partners were searched within a large 18S rDNA metabarcoding data set from the Tara-Oceans expedition around the world. This sequence-based analysis supported the patchy distribution of the UCYN-A1 host observed by CARD-FISH and highlighted an unexpected homogeneous distribution (at low relative abundance) of B. bigelowii in the open ocean. Our results demonstrate that partners are always in symbiosis in nature and show contrasted ecological patterns of the two related lineages.}, } @article {pmid26405300, year = {2015}, author = {Erwin, PM and Coma, R and López-Sendino, P and Serrano, E and Ribes, M}, title = {Stable symbionts across the HMA-LMA dichotomy: low seasonal and interannual variation in sponge-associated bacteria from taxonomically diverse hosts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {10}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv115}, pmid = {26405300}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Seasons ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges host bacterial communities with important ecological and economic roles in nature and society, yet these benefits depend largely on the stability of host-symbiont interactions and their susceptibility to changing environmental conditions. Here, we investigated the temporal stability of complex host-microbe symbioses in a temperate, seasonal environment over three years, targeting sponges across a range of symbiont density (high and low microbial abundance, HMA and LMA) and host taxonomy (six orders). Symbiont profiling by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that bacterial communities in all sponges exhibited a high degree of host specificity, low seasonal dynamics and low interannual variability: results that represent an emerging trend in the field of sponge microbiology and contrast sharply with the seasonal dynamics of free-living bacterioplankton. Further, HMA sponges hosted more diverse, even and similar symbiont communities than LMA sponges and these differences in community structure extended to core members of the microbiome. Together, these findings show clear distinctions in symbiont structure between HMA and LMA sponges while resolving notable similarities in their stability over seasonal and inter-annual scales, thus providing insight into the ecological consequences of the HMA-LMA dichotomy and the temporal stability of complex host-microbe symbioses.}, } @article {pmid26403286, year = {2016}, author = {Belmondo, S and Calcagno, C and Genre, A and Puppo, A and Pauly, N and Lanfranco, L}, title = {The Medicago truncatula MtRbohE gene is activated in arbusculated cells and is involved in root cortex colonization.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {243}, number = {1}, pages = {251-262}, pmid = {26403286}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Glomeromycota/cytology/*physiology ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/*physiology ; NADPH Oxidases/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Our study demonstrated that the NAPDH oxidase gene MtRbohE is expressed in arbusculated cells and plays a role in arbuscule development. Plant NADPH oxidases, known as respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOH), belong to a multigenic family that plays an important role in the regulation of plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we monitored the expression profiles of five Rboh genes (MtRbohA, MtRbohB, MtRbohE, MtRbohG, MtRbohF) in the roots of the model species Medicago truncatula upon colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. A complementary cellular and molecular approach was used to monitor changes in mRNA abundance and localize transcripts in different cell types from mycorrhizal roots. Rboh transcript levels did not drastically change in total RNA extractions from whole mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots. Nevertheless, the analysis of laser microdissected cells and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-transformed roots expressing a GUS transcriptional fusion construct highlighted the MtRbohE expression in arbuscule-containing cells. Furthermore, the down regulation of MtRbohE by an RNAi approach generated an altered colonization pattern in the root cortex, when compared to control roots, with fewer arbuscules and multiple penetration attempts. Altogether our data indicate a transient up-regulation of MtRbohE expression in cortical cells colonized by arbuscules and suggest a role for MtRbohE in arbuscule accommodation within cortical cells.}, } @article {pmid26401955, year = {2015}, author = {Liu, T and Tian, CF and Chen, WX}, title = {Site-Specific Ser/Thr/Tyr Phosphoproteome of Sinorhizobium meliloti at Stationary Phase.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0139143}, pmid = {26401955}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Phosphoproteins/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Serine/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Threonine/*metabolism ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti, a facultative microsymbiont of alfalfa, should fine-tune its cellular processes to live saprophytically in soils characterized with limited nutrients and diverse stresses. In this study, TiO2 enrichment and LC-MS/MS were used to uncover the site-specific Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteome of S. meliloti in minimum medium at stationary phase. There are a total of 96 unique phosphorylated sites, with a Ser/Thr/Tyr distribution of 63:28:5, in 77 proteins. Phosphoproteins identified in S. meliloti showed a wide distribution pattern regarding to functional categories, such as replication, transcription, translation, posttranslational modification, transport and metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrate, inorganic ion, succinoglycan etc. Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphosites identified within the conserved motif in proteins of key cellular function indicate a crucial role of phosphorylation in modulating cellular physiology. Moreover, phosphorylation in proteins involved in processes related to rhizobial adaptation was also discussed, such as those identified in SMa0114 and PhaP2 (polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis), ActR (pH stress and microaerobic adaption), SupA (potassium stress), chaperonin GroEL2 (viability and potentially symbiosis), and ExoP (succinoglycan synthesis and secretion). These Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphosites identified herein would be helpful for our further investigation and understanding of the role of phosphorylation in rhizobial physiology.}, } @article {pmid26401024, year = {2015}, author = {Price, PA and Tanner, HR and Dillon, BA and Shabab, M and Walker, GC and Griffitts, JS}, title = {Rhizobial peptidase HrrP cleaves host-encoded signaling peptides and mediates symbiotic compatibility.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {49}, pages = {15244-15249}, pmid = {26401024}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P41 GM103311/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41-GM103311/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptide Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; *Protein Sorting Signals ; Proteolysis ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium pairs are often observed that produce symbiotic root nodules but fail to fix nitrogen. Using the Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago truncatula symbiotic system, we previously described several naturally occurring accessory plasmids capable of disrupting the late stages of nodule development while enhancing bacterial proliferation within the nodule. We report here that host range restriction peptidase (hrrP), a gene found on one of these plasmids, is capable of conferring both these properties. hrrP encodes an M16A family metallopeptidase whose catalytic activity is required for these symbiotic effects. The ability of hrrP to suppress nitrogen fixation is conditioned upon the genotypes of both the host plant and the hrrP-expressing rhizobial strain, suggesting its involvement in symbiotic communication. Purified HrrP protein is capable of degrading a range of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides encoded by M. truncatula. NCR peptides are crucial signals used by M. truncatula for inducing and maintaining rhizobial differentiation within nodules, as demonstrated in the accompanying article [Horváth B, et al. (2015) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 10.1073/pnas.1500777112]. The expression pattern of hrrP and its effects on rhizobial morphology are consistent with the NCR peptide cleavage model. This work points to a symbiotic dialogue involving a complex ensemble of host-derived signaling peptides and bacterial modifier enzymes capable of adjusting signal strength, sometimes with exploitative outcomes.}, } @article {pmid26401023, year = {2015}, author = {Horváth, B and Domonkos, Á and Kereszt, A and Szűcs, A and Ábrahám, E and Ayaydin, F and Bóka, K and Chen, Y and Chen, R and Murray, JD and Udvardi, MK and Kondorosi, É and Kaló, P}, title = {Loss of the nodule-specific cysteine rich peptide, NCR169, abolishes symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the Medicago truncatula dnf7 mutant.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {49}, pages = {15232-15237}, pmid = {26401023}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Cysteine/*chemistry ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; *Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Host compatible rhizobia induce the formation of legume root nodules, symbiotic organs within which intracellular bacteria are present in plant-derived membrane compartments termed symbiosomes. In Medicago truncatula nodules, the Sinorhizobium microsymbionts undergo an irreversible differentiation process leading to the development of elongated polyploid noncultivable nitrogen fixing bacteroids that convert atmospheric dinitrogen into ammonia. This terminal differentiation is directed by the host plant and involves hundreds of nodule specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs). Except for certain in vitro activities of cationic peptides, the functional roles of individual NCR peptides in planta are not known. In this study, we demonstrate that the inability of M. truncatula dnf7 mutants to fix nitrogen is due to inactivation of a single NCR peptide, NCR169. In the absence of NCR169, bacterial differentiation was impaired and was associated with early senescence of the symbiotic cells. Introduction of the NCR169 gene into the dnf7-2/NCR169 deletion mutant restored symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Replacement of any of the cysteine residues in the NCR169 peptide with serine rendered it incapable of complementation, demonstrating an absolute requirement for all cysteines in planta. NCR169 was induced in the cell layers in which bacteroid elongation was most pronounced, and high expression persisted throughout the nitrogen-fixing nodule zone. Our results provide evidence for an essential role of NCR169 in the differentiation and persistence of nitrogen fixing bacteroids in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid26400492, year = {2015}, author = {Santiago, IF and Soares, MA and Rosa, CA and Rosa, LH}, title = {Lichensphere: a protected natural microhabitat of the non-lichenised fungal communities living in extreme environments of Antarctica.}, journal = {Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {1087-1097}, pmid = {26400492}, issn = {1433-4909}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Cold Temperature ; *Ecosystem ; Usnea/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {We surveyed the diversity, distribution and ecology of non-lichenised fungal communities associated with the Antarctic lichens Usnea antarctica and Usnea aurantiaco-atra across Antarctica. The phylogenetic study of the 438 fungi isolates identified 74 taxa from 21 genera of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Zygomycota. The most abundant taxa were Pseudogymnoascus sp., Thelebolus sp., Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus and Cryptococcus victoriae, which are considered endemic and/or highly adapted to Antarctica. Thirty-five fungi may represent new and/or endemic species. The fungal communities displayed high diversity, richness and dominance indices; however, the similarity among the communities was variable. After discovering rich and diverse fungal communities composed of symbionts, decomposers, parasites and endemic and cold-adapted cosmopolitan taxa, we introduced the term "lichensphere". We hypothesised that the lichensphere may represent a protected natural microhabitat with favourable conditions able to help non-lichenised fungi and other Antarctic life forms survive and disperse in the extreme environments of Antarctica.}, } @article {pmid26399913, year = {2016}, author = {Aschtgen, MS and Wetzel, K and Goldman, W and McFall-Ngai, M and Ruby, E}, title = {Vibrio fischeri-derived outer membrane vesicles trigger host development.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {488-499}, pmid = {26399913}, issn = {1462-5822}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animal Structures/growth & development/microbiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Exosomes/*metabolism ; *Morphogenesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) are critical elements in many host-cell/microbe interactions. Previous studies of the symbiotic association between Euprymna scolopes and Vibrio fischeri had shown that within 12 h of colonizing crypts deep within the squid's light organ, the symbionts trigger an irreversible programme of tissue development in the host. Here, we report that OMV produced by V. fischeri are powerful contributors to this process. The first detectable host response to the OMV is an increased trafficking of macrophage-like cells called haemocytes into surface epithelial tissues. We showed that exposing the squid to other Vibrio species fails to induce this trafficking; however, addition of a high concentration of their OMV, which can diffuse into the crypts, does. We also provide evidence that tracheal cytotoxin released by the symbionts, which can induce haemocyte trafficking, is not part of the OMV cargo, suggesting two distinct mechanisms to induce the same morphogenesis event. By manipulating the timing and localization of OMV signal delivery, we showed that haemocyte trafficking is fully induced only when V. fischeri, the sole species able to reach and grow in the crypts, succeeds in establishing a sustained colonization. Further, our data suggest that the host's detection of OMV serves as a symbiotic checkpoint prior to inducing irreversible morphogenesis.}, } @article {pmid26399688, year = {2016}, author = {Tikhonenkov, DV and Janouškovec, J and Keeling, PJ and Mylnikov, AP}, title = {The Morphology, Ultrastructure and SSU rRNA Gene Sequence of a New Freshwater Flagellate, Neobodo borokensis n. sp. (Kinetoplastea, Excavata).}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {2}, pages = {220-232}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12271}, pmid = {26399688}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Fresh Water/parasitology ; *Genes, Protozoan ; *Genes, rRNA ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Kinetoplastida/*genetics/isolation & purification/*ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {A small free-living freshwater bacteriotrophic flagellate Neobodo borokensis n. sp. was investigated by electron microscopy and analysis of its SSU ribosomal RNA gene. This protist has paraxonemal rods of typical bodonid structure in the flagella, mastigonemes on the proximal part of the posterior flagellum, two nearly parallel basal bodies, a compact kinetoplast, and discoid mitochondrial cristae. The flagellar pocket is supported by three microtubular roots (R1, R2 and R3) originating from the kinetosome. The cytopharynx is supported by the root R2, a microtubular prism, cytopharynx associated additional microtubules (CMT) and cytostome associated microtubules (FAS) bands. Symbiotic bacteria and small glycosomes were found in the cytoplasm. Cysts have not been found. The flagellate prefers freshwater habitats, but tolerates salinity up to 3-4‰. The overall morphological and ultrastructural features confirm that N. borokensis represents a new species of the genus Neobodo. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rRNA genes is congruent with the ultrastructure and strongly supports the close relationship of N. borokensis to Neobodo saliens, N. designis, Actuariola, and a misidentified sequence of "Bodo curvifilus" within the class Kinetoplastea.}, } @article {pmid26399186, year = {2015}, author = {Oono, R and Lefèvre, E and Simha, A and Lutzoni, F}, title = {A comparison of the community diversity of foliar fungal endophytes between seedling and adult loblolly pines (Pinus taeda).}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {10}, pages = {917-928}, pmid = {26399186}, issn = {1878-6146}, support = {T32 AI052080/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi, Unclassified ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Pinus taeda/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophytes represent one of the most ubiquitous plant symbionts on Earth and are phylogenetically diverse. The structure and diversity of endophyte communities have been shown to depend on host taxa and climate, but there have been relatively few studies exploring endophyte communities throughout host maturity. We compared foliar fungal endophyte communities between seedlings and adult trees of loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) at the same seasons and locations by culturing and culture-independent methods. We sequenced the internal transcribed spacer region and adjacent partial large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (ITS-LSU amplicon) to delimit operational taxonomic units and phylogenetically characterize the communities. Despite the lower infection frequency in seedlings compared to adult trees, seedling needles were receptive to a more diverse community of fungal endophytes. Culture-free method confirmed the presence of commonly cultured OTUs from adult needles but revealed several new OTUs from seedling needles that were not found with culturing methods. The two most commonly cultured OTUs in adults were rarely cultured from seedlings, suggesting that host age is correlated with a selective enrichment for specific endophytes. This shift in endophyte species dominance may be indicative of a functional change between these fungi and their loblolly pine hosts.}, } @article {pmid26398789, year = {2015}, author = {Sulieman, S and Tran, LS}, title = {Phosphorus homeostasis in legume nodules as an adaptive strategy to phosphorus deficiency.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {239}, number = {}, pages = {36-43}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.06.018}, pmid = {26398789}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Phosphorus/deficiency/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes have a significant role in effective management of fertilizers and improving soil health in sustainable agriculture. Because of the high phosphorus (P) requirements of N2-fixing nodule, P deficiency represents an important constraint for legume crop production, especially in tropical marginal countries. P deficiency is an important constraint for legume crop production, especially in poor soils present in many tropical degraded areas. Unlike nitrogen, mineral P sources are nonrenewable, and high-grade rock phosphates are expected to be depleted in the near future. Accordingly, developing legume cultivars with effective N2 fixation under P-limited conditions could have a profound significance for improving agricultural sustainability. Legumes have evolved strategies at both morphological and physiological levels to adapt to P deficiency. Molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptive strategies to P deficiency have been elucidated in legumes. These include maintenance of the P-homeostasis in nodules as a main adaptive strategy for rhizobia-legume symbiosis under P deficiency. The stabilization of P levels in the symbiotic tissues can be achieved through several mechanisms, including elevated P allocation to nodules, formation of a strong P sink in nodules, direct P acquisition via nodule surface and P remobilization from organic-P containing substances. The detailed biochemical, physiological and molecular understanding will be essential to the advancement of genetic and molecular approaches for enhancement of legume adaptation to P deficiency. In this review, we evaluate recent progress made to gain further and deeper insights into the physiological, biochemical and molecular reprogramming that legumes use to maintain P-homeostasis in nodules during P scarcity.}, } @article {pmid26398775, year = {2015}, author = {Di Venere, M and Fumagalli, M and Cafiso, A and De Marco, L and Epis, S and Plantard, O and Bardoni, A and Salvini, R and Viglio, S and Bazzocchi, C and Iadarola, P and Sassera, D}, title = {Ixodes ricinus and Its Endosymbiont Midichloria mitochondrii: A Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Salivary Glands and Ovaries.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0138842}, pmid = {26398775}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ixodes/*metabolism/parasitology ; Ovary/*metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Proteomics ; Rickettsiaceae/*metabolism ; Salivary Glands/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Hard ticks are hematophagous arthropods that act as vectors of numerous pathogenic microorganisms of high relevance in human and veterinary medicine. Ixodes ricinus is one of the most important tick species in Europe, due to its role of vector of pathogenic bacteria such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, of viruses such as tick borne encephalitis virus and of protozoans as Babesia spp. In addition to these pathogens, I. ricinus harbors a symbiotic bacterium, Midichloria mitochondrii. This is the dominant bacteria associated to I. ricinus, but its biological role is not yet understood. Most M. mitochondrii symbionts are localized in the tick ovaries, and they are transmitted to the progeny. M. mitochondrii bacteria have however also been detected in the salivary glands and saliva of I. ricinus, as well as in the blood of vertebrate hosts of the tick, prompting the hypothesis of an infectious role of this bacterium. To investigate, from a proteomic point of view, the tick I. ricinus and its symbiont, we generated the protein profile of the ovary tissue (OT) and of salivary glands (SG) of adult females of this tick species. To compare the OT and SG profiles, 2-DE profiling followed by LC-MS/MS protein identification were performed. We detected 21 spots showing significant differences in the relative abundance between the OT and SG, ten of which showed 4- to 18-fold increase/decrease in density. This work allowed to establish a method to characterize the proteome of I. ricinus, and to detect multiple proteins that exhibit a differential expression profile in OT and SG. Additionally, we were able to use an immunoproteomic approach to detect a protein from the symbiont. Finally, the method here developed will pave the way for future studies on the proteomics of I. ricinus, with the goals of better understanding the biology of this vector and of its symbiont M. mitochondrii.}, } @article {pmid26398478, year = {2015}, author = {Pinheiro da Silva, F and César Machado, MC}, title = {Personalized Medicine for Sepsis.}, journal = {The American journal of the medical sciences}, volume = {350}, number = {5}, pages = {409-413}, doi = {10.1097/MAJ.0000000000000558}, pmid = {26398478}, issn = {1538-2990}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Immunity/drug effects ; Metagenome ; Precision Medicine/*methods ; *Sepsis/drug therapy/immunology/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Sepsis is a complex syndrome triggered by infection and characterized by systemic deregulation of immune and inflammatory pathways. It is a major cause of death worldwide and results in the widespread use of antibiotics and substantial health care costs. In a vicious circle, sepsis treatment promotes the emergence of highly virulent and resistant pathogens and devastating nosocomial infections. Sepsis is a heterogeneous disease affecting many people worldwide. Because individual patients have different inflammatory responses and unique profiles of immune activation against pathogens, the most effective way to advance the treatment of sepsis is probably through a tailored approach. The advent of high-throughput technologies and the remarkable progress in the field of bioinformatics has allowed the subclassification of many pathological conditions. This has potential to provide better understanding of life-threatening infections in people. The study of host factors, however, needs to be integrated with studies on bacterial signaling in both symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. Sepsis is certainly the sum of multiple host-microbial interactions and the metagenome should be extensively investigated. Personalized medicine is probably the only strategy able to deconstruct and reassemble our knowledge about sepsis, and its use should allow us to understand and manipulate sepsis as a wide, interconnected phenomenon with myriad variables and peculiarities. In this study, the recent advances in this area, the major challenges that remain, and the reasons why the septic patient should be approached as a superorganism are discussed.}, } @article {pmid26397199, year = {2015}, author = {Sun, XG and Bonfante, P and Tang, M}, title = {Effect of volatiles versus exudates released by germinating spores of Gigaspora margarita on lateral root formation.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.09.010}, pmid = {26397199}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Calcium Signaling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*chemistry/physiology ; Lactones/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Spores, Fungal/*chemistry/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi influence the root system architecture of their hosts; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Ectomycorrhizal fungi influence root architecture via volatiles. To determine whether volatiles also play a role in root system changes in response to AM fungi, spores of the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita were inoculated on the same plate as either wild type (WT) Lotus japonicus, the L. japonicus mutant Ljcastor (which lacks the symbiotic cation channel CASTOR, which is required for inducing nuclear calcium spiking, which is necessary for symbiotic partner recognition), or Arabidopsis thaliana, separated by cellophane membranes (fungal exudates experiment), or on different media but with a shared head space (fungal volatiles experiment). Root development was monitored over time. Both germinating spore exudates (GSEs) and geminated-spore-emitted volatile organic compounds (GVCs) significantly promoted lateral root formation (LRF) in WT L. japonicus. LRF in Ljcastor was significantly enhanced in the presence of GVCs. GVCs stimulated LRF in A. thaliana, whereas GSEs showed an inhibitory effect. The expression profile of the genes involved in mycorrhizal establishment and root development were investigated using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis. Only the expression of the LjCCD7 gene, an important component of the strigolactone synthesis pathway, was differentially expressed following exposure to GVCs. We conclude that volatile organic compounds released by the germinating AM fungal spores may stimulate LRF in a symbiosis signaling pathway (SYM)- and host-independent way, whereas GSEs stimulate LRF in a SYM- and host-dependent way.}, } @article {pmid26396228, year = {2016}, author = {Ayayee, PA and Larsen, T and Rosa, C and Felton, GW and Ferry, JG and Hoover, K}, title = {Essential Amino Acid Supplementation by Gut Microbes of a Wood-Feeding Cerambycid.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {66-73}, pmid = {26396228}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Essential/*metabolism ; Animals ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Larva/metabolism/microbiology ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Insects are unable to synthesize essential amino acids (EAAs) de novo, thus rely on dietary or symbiotic sources for them. Wood is a poor resource of nitrogen in general, and EAAs in particular. In this study, we investigated whether gut microbiota of the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), a cerambycid that feeds in the heartwood of healthy host trees, serve as sources of EAAs to their host under different dietary conditions. δ(13)C-stable isotope analyses revealed significant δ(13)C-enrichment (3.4 ± 0.1‰; mean ± SEM) across five EAAs in wood-fed larvae relative to their woody diet. δ(13)C values for the consumers greater than 1‰ indicate significant contributions from non-dietary EAA sources (symbionts in this case). In contrast, δ(13)C-enrichment of artificial diet-fed larvae (controls) relative to their food source was markedly less (1.7 ± 0.1‰) than was observed in wood-fed larvae, yet still exceeded the threshold of 1‰. A predictive model based on δ(13)CEAA signatures of five EAAs from representative bacterial, fungal, and plant samples identified symbiotic bacteria and fungi as the likely supplementary sources of EAA in wood-fed larvae. Using the same model, but with an artificial diet as the dietary source, we identified minor supplementary bacterial sources of EAA in artificial diet-fed larvae. This study highlights how microbes associated with A. glabripennis can serve as a source of EAAs when fed on nutrient-limited diets, potentially circumventing the dietary limitations of feeding on woody substrates.}, } @article {pmid26395514, year = {2015}, author = {diCenzo, GC and Zamani, M and Cowie, A and Finan, TM}, title = {Proline auxotrophy in Sinorhizobium meliloti results in a plant-specific symbiotic phenotype.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {161}, number = {12}, pages = {2341-2351}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000182}, pmid = {26395514}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Host Specificity ; Medicago/classification/*microbiology ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Proline/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In order to effectively manipulate rhizobium-legume symbioses for our benefit, it is crucial to first gain a complete understanding of the underlying genetics and metabolism. Studies with rhizobium auxotrophs have provided insight into the requirement for amino acid biosynthesis during the symbiosis; however, a paucity of available L-proline auxotrophs has limited our understanding of the role of L-proline biosynthesis. Here, we examined the symbiotic phenotypes of a recently described Sinorhizobium meliloti L-proline auxotroph. Proline auxotrophy was observed to result in a host-plant-specific phenotype. The S. meliloti auxotroph displayed reduced symbiotic capability with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) due to a decrease in nodule mass formed and therefore a reduction in nitrogen fixed per plant. However, the proline auxotroph formed nodules on white sweet clover (Melilotus alba) that failed to fix nitrogen. The rate of white sweet clover nodulation by the auxotroph was slightly delayed, but the final number of nodules per plant was not impacted. Examination of white sweet clover nodules by confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of the S. meliloti proline auxotroph cells within the host legume cells, but few differentiated bacteroids were identified compared with the bacteroid-filled plant cells of WT nodules. Overall, these results indicated that L-proline biosynthesis is a general requirement for a fully effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, likely due to a transient requirement during bacteroid differentiation.}, } @article {pmid26391706, year = {2015}, author = {Sanders, WB and de los Ríos, A}, title = {Structure and in situ development of the microlichen Gyalectidium paolae (Gomphillaceae, Ascomycota), an overlooked colonist on palm leaves in southwest Florida.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {102}, number = {9}, pages = {1403-1412}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1500202}, pmid = {26391706}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Arecaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Ascomycota/cytology/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Florida ; Lichens/cytology/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Nondeciduous leaves of warm, humid climates can host highly specialized communities of diminutive lichens. The rarely reported Gyalectidium paolae, locally abundant on palm leaves in southwest Florida, may reproduce when as small as 0.15 mm diameter. We examined structural and developmental features to better understand the lifestyle of this extreme ephemeral.

METHODS: Blocks containing resin-embedded thalli were sectioned and examined with TEM and SEM-BSE. Propagule development was studied with light microscopy applied to inoculated and naturally colonized plastic coverslips placed in the field.

KEY RESULTS: Thallus areolae showed a heterogeneous covering that varied from cellular cortex to a simpler structure derived from fungal wall materials and sparse fungal cells of reduced diameter. Plates of crystalline deposits seemed to interrupt thallus structure, elevating the surface layer. No organized algal layer was present. Symbiont interactions were limited to appositional wall contacts with no haustorial penetration observed. Symbiotic propagules germinated promptly, but relative growth of fungal vs. algal components varied considerably. Smaller photobiont cells released from sporangia were present at the periphery of the thallus, or escaped to some distance. Fully formed hyphophores with abundant propagules appeared within 5 months, although there was evidence that propagule formation in Gyalectidium might occur much sooner.

CONCLUSIONS: Gyalectidium paolae builds relatively simple thalli with limited fungal structure, prioritizing rapid formation of asexual propagules. Codispersal of algal symbionts permitted propagules to develop directly into thalli, but microenvironmental conditions may strongly influence survival and developmental equilibrium between the two symbionts necessary for success as a lichen.}, } @article {pmid26389798, year = {2015}, author = {Jiao, YS and Liu, YH and Yan, H and Wang, ET and Tian, CF and Chen, WX and Guo, BL and Chen, WF}, title = {Rhizobial Diversity and Nodulation Characteristics of the Extremely Promiscuous Legume Sophora flavescens.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {1338-1352}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-15-0141-R}, pmid = {26389798}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Genes, Plant ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Sophora/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In present study, we report our extensive survey on the diversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with Sophora flavescens, a sophocarpidine (matrine)-containing medicinal legume. We additionally investigated the cross nodulation, infection pattern, light and electron microscopies of root nodule sections of S. flavescens infected by various rhizobia. Seventeen genospecies of rhizobia belonging to five genera with seven types of symbiotic nodC genes were found to nodulate S. flavescens in natural soils. In the cross-nodulation tests, most representative rhizobia in class α-Proteobacteria, whose host plants belong to different cross-nodulation groups, form effective indeterminate nodules, while representative rhizobia in class β-Proteobacteria form ineffective nodules on S. flavescens. Highly host-specific biovars of Rhizobium leguminosarum (bv. trifolii and bv. viciae) and Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli could establish symbioses with S. flavescens, providing further evidence that S. flavescens is an extremely promiscuous legume and it does not have strict selectivity on either the symbiotic genes or the species-determining housekeeping genes of rhizobia. Root-hair infection is found as the pattern that rhizobia have gained entry into the curled root hairs. Electron microscopies of ultra-thin sections of S. flavescens root nodules formed by different rhizobia show that the bacteroids are regular or irregular rod shape and nonswollen types. Some bacteroids contain poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), while others do not, indicating the synthesis of PHB in bacteroids is rhizobia-dependent. The extremely promiscuous symbiosis between S. flavescens and different rhizobia provide us a basis for future studies aimed at understanding the molecular interactions of rhizobia and legumes.}, } @article {pmid26387646, year = {2015}, author = {Marsh, PD}, title = {The commensal microbiota and the development of human disease - an introduction.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {29128}, doi = {10.3402/jom.v7.29128}, pmid = {26387646}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {Humans have co-evolved with microorganisms, and both exist in a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship. We are colonised by a diverse, resident microbiota, which develop into structurally and functionally organised biofilms. The resident microorganisms gain a secure, warm, nutritious habitat from the host and, in return, contribute to the development of many important host functions. The resident microbiota of each habitat is natural and provides important benefits for the host including immunological priming, down-regulation of excessive pro-inflammatory responses, regulation of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, and prevention of colonisation by exogenous microbes. The biological properties of each habitat determine which microorganisms can colonise and grow, and dictate which will be major or minor components of the resident microbiota of a site. This results in different surfaces having distinct but characteristic microbiotas. This relationship between the resident microbiota and the host is dynamic and, on occasions, this symbiotic relationship breaks down due to, for example, changes in lifestyle, immune status or following broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. This 'dysbiosis' can result in previously minor components of the microbiota out-competing the normally dominant and beneficial bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of disease. Such perturbations have been associated with a number of clinical disorders such as obesity, allergy, and a variety of inflammatory diseases, including periodontal diseases. A better understanding of the delicate balance between the host and its resident microbiota could lead to novel approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention of dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26386557, year = {2015}, author = {Yadav, S and Shokal, U and Forst, S and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {An improved method for generating axenic entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {461}, pmid = {26386557}, issn = {1756-0500}, support = {R01 AI110675/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1R21AI109517-01A1/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI110675/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI109517/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1R56AI110675-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI110675-01A1/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biomedical Research/*methods ; *Drosophila melanogaster ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Nematoda ; *Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Steinernema carpocapsae are parasitic nematodes that invade and kill insects. The nematodes are mutualistically associated with the bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila and together form an excellent model to study pathogen infection processes and host anti-nematode/antibacterial immune responses. To determine the contribution of S. carpocapsae and their associated X. nematophila to the successful infection of insects as well as to investigate the interaction of each mutualistic partner with the insect immune system, it is important to develop and establish robust methods for generating nematodes devoid of their bacteria.

FINDINGS: To produce S. carpocapsae nematodes without their associated X. nematophila bacteria, we have modified a previous method, which involves the use of a X. nematophila rpoS mutant strain that fails to colonize the intestine of the worms. We confirmed the absence of bacteria in the nematodes using a molecular diagnostic and two rounds of an axenicity assay involving appropriate antibiotics and nematode surface sterilization. We used axenic and symbiotic S. carpocapsae to infect Drosophila melanogaster larvae and found that both types of nematodes were able to cause insect death at similar rates.

CONCLUSION: Generation of entomopathogenic nematodes lacking their mutualistic bacteria provides an excellent tool to dissect the molecular and genetic basis of nematode parasitism and to identify the insect host immune factors that participate in the immune response against nematode infections.}, } @article {pmid26384815, year = {2016}, author = {Schwartzman, JA and Ruby, EG}, title = {A conserved chemical dialog of mutualism: lessons from squid and vibrio.}, journal = {Microbes and infection}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {26384815}, issn = {1769-714X}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrio/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms shape, and are shaped by, their environment. In host-microbe associations, this environment is defined by tissue chemistry, which reflects local and organism-wide physiology, as well as inflammatory status. We review how, in the squid-vibrio mutualism, both partners shape tissue chemistry, revealing common themes governing tissue homeostasis in animal-microbe associations.}, } @article {pmid26384154, year = {2015}, author = {Elias, JE}, title = {Metaproteomic analysis adds a functional glimpse into host-microbe succession in an infant's GI.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {15}, number = {20}, pages = {3407-3408}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201500359}, pmid = {26384154}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Microbiota/*genetics ; *Proteomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Succession is a fundamental concept in ecology, describing the process by which pioneering species colonize a new environmental niche, paving the way for increasingly complex, yet stable ecosystems. The human gut-among the most complex ecosystems known-develops from a nearly sterile state as newborns to a thriving functional network of trillions of organisms living in concert with the host. Recent microbiome analyses have begun to characterize the identities of the microbes during this period of colonization. However, the biochemical processes that govern the stages of interorganism succession remains a poorly understood, yet exciting frontier. Toward the goal of learning how host-microbe symbiosis arises and is maintained, Young et al. (Proteomics 2015, 15, 3463-3473) present a longitudinal metaproteomic case study of an infant during her second and third weeks of life. In the first such analysis of its kind, Young et al. portray overlapping stages of protein production by both the microbiota and the host consistent with their increasing complexity, and deepening interactions.}, } @article {pmid26382631, year = {2016}, author = {Zelante, T and Pieraccini, G and Scaringi, L and Aversa, F and Romani, L}, title = {Learning from other diseases: protection and pathology in chronic fungal infections.}, journal = {Seminars in immunopathology}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {239-248}, pmid = {26382631}, issn = {1863-2300}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Resistance/genetics/immunology ; Disease Susceptibility ; Fungi/classification/*physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism ; Indoles/metabolism ; Kynurenine/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Mycoses/*etiology/metabolism/therapy ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungal commensals coexist in a complex milieu of bacteria within the human body. An increased understanding of the importance of microbiota in shaping the host's immune and metabolic activities has rendered fungal interactions with their hosts more complex than previously appreciated. Metagenomics has revealed the complex interactions between fungal and bacterial commensals that, either directly or through the participation of the host immune system, impact on immune homeostasis at mucosal surfaces that, in turn, lead to secondary fungal infections. Metabolomics has captured the dialogue between the mammalian host and its microbiota. It appears that the host tryptophan catabolic enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) plays a dominant role in the interplay between tryptophan catabolism by microbial communities, the host's own pathway of metabolite production, and the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)/IL-22 axis, eventually impacting on mucosal immune homeostasis and host/fungal symbiosis. Thus, the regulatory loop involving AhR and IDO1 may be exploited for the development of multi-pronged host- and microbiota-directed therapeutic approaches for mucosal and systemic fungal diseases.}, } @article {pmid26382071, year = {2015}, author = {Huang, JH and Douglas, AE}, title = {Consumption of dietary sugar by gut bacteria determines Drosophila lipid content.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {20150469}, pmid = {26382071}, issn = {1744-957X}, support = {R01GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacter/metabolism ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Dietary Sucrose/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Lipid Metabolism ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Gut microorganisms are essential for the nutritional health of many animals, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated how lipid accumulation by adult Drosophila melanogaster is reduced in flies associated with the bacterium Acetobacter tropicalis which displays oral-faecal cycling between the gut and food. We demonstrate that the lower lipid content of A. tropicalis-colonized flies relative to bacteria-free flies is linked with a parallel bacterial-mediated reduction in food glucose content; and can be accounted for quantitatively by the amount of glucose acquired by the flies, as determined from the feeding rate and assimilation efficiency of bacteria-free and A. tropicalis-colonized flies. We recommend that nutritional studies on Drosophila include empirical quantification of food nutrient content, to account for likely microbial-mediated effects on diet composition. More broadly, this study demonstrates that selective consumption of dietary constituents by microorganisms can alter the nutritional balance of food and, thereby, influence the nutritional status of the animal host.}, } @article {pmid26381539, year = {2016}, author = {Senra, MV and Dias, RJ and Castelli, M and Silva-Neto, ID and Verni, F and Soares, CA and Petroni, G}, title = {A House for Two--Double Bacterial Infection in Euplotes woodruffi Sq1 (Ciliophora, Euplotia) Sampled in Southeastern Brazil.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {2}, pages = {505-517}, pmid = {26381539}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brazil ; Euplotes/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several ciliated protists form symbiotic associations with a diversity of microorganisms, leading to drastic impact on their ecology and evolution. In this work, two Euplotes spp. sampled in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were identified based on morphological and molecular features as Euplotes woodruffi strain Sq1 and E. encysticus strain Sq2 and investigated for the presence of endosymbionts. While E. woodruffi Sq1 stably hosts two bacterial populations, namely Polynucleobacter necessarius (Betaproteobacteria) and a new member of the family "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales), here described as "Candidatus Bandiella woodruffii," branching with a broad host range bacterial group found in association with cnidarians, sponges, euglenoids, and some arthropods; in E. encysticus Sq2 no symbiotic bacterium could be detected. The dispersion ability of this novel bacterium was tested by co-incubating E. woodruffi Sq1 with three different ciliate species. Among the tested strains "Ca. B. woodruffii" could only be detected in association with E. encysticus Sq2 with a prevalence of 20 % after 1 week and 40 % after 2 weeks, maintaining this level for up to 6 months. Nevertheless, this apparent in vitro association was abolished when E. woodruffi Sq1 donor was removed from the microcosm, suggesting that this bacterium has the capacity for at least a short-term survival outside its natural host and the aptitude to ephemerally interact with other organisms. Together, these findings strongly suggest the need for more detailed investigations to evaluate the host range for "Ca. B. woodruffii" and any possible pathogenic effect of this bacterium on other organisms including humans.}, } @article {pmid26380641, year = {2015}, author = {Reeve, W and Sullivan, J and Ronson, C and Tian, R and Munk, C and Han, C and Reddy, TB and Seshadri, R and Woyke, T and Pati, A and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N}, title = {High-Quality draft genome sequence of the Lotus spp. microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti strain CJ3Sym.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {54}, pmid = {26380641}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti strain CJ3Sym was isolated in 1998 following transfer of the integrative and conjugative element ICEMlSym(R7A), also known as the R7A symbiosis island, in a laboratory mating from the donor M. loti strain R7A to a nonsymbiotic recipient Mesorhizobium strain CJ3. Strain CJ3 was originally isolated from a field site in the Rocklands range in New Zealand in 1994. CJ3Sym is an aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod. This report reveals the genome of M. loti strain CJ3Sym currently comprises 70 scaffolds totaling 7,563,725 bp. The high-quality draft genome is arranged in 70 scaffolds of 71 contigs, contains 7,331 protein-coding genes and 70 RNA-only encoding genes, and is part of the GEBA-RNB project proposal.}, } @article {pmid26380076, year = {2015}, author = {Larsen, PE and Dai, Y}, title = {Metabolome of human gut microbiome is predictive of host dysbiosis.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {42}, pmid = {26380076}, issn = {2047-217X}, mesh = {Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Metabolome ; *Microbiota ; Support Vector Machine ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Humans live in constant and vital symbiosis with a closely linked bacterial ecosystem called the microbiome, which influences many aspects of human health. When this microbial ecosystem becomes disrupted, the health of the human host can suffer; a condition called dysbiosis. However, the community compositions of human microbiomes also vary dramatically from individual to individual, and over time, making it difficult to uncover the underlying mechanisms linking the microbiome to human health. We propose that a microbiome's interaction with its human host is not necessarily dependent upon the presence or absence of particular bacterial species, but instead is dependent on its community metabolome; an emergent property of the microbiome.

RESULTS: Using data from a previously published, longitudinal study of microbiome populations of the human gut, we extrapolated information about microbiome community enzyme profiles and metabolome models. Using machine learning techniques, we demonstrated that the aggregate predicted community enzyme function profiles and modeled metabolomes of a microbiome are more predictive of dysbiosis than either observed microbiome community composition or predicted enzyme function profiles.

CONCLUSIONS: Specific enzyme functions and metabolites predictive of dysbiosis provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of microbiome-host interactions. The ability to use machine learning to predict dysbiosis from microbiome community interaction data provides a potentially powerful tool for understanding the links between the human microbiome and human health, pointing to potential microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.}, } @article {pmid26380037, year = {2015}, author = {Tian, R and Parker, M and Seshadri, R and Reddy, T and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Baeshen, M and Baeshen, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Ai1a-2; a microsymbiont of Andira inermis discovered in Costa Rica.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {33}, pmid = {26380037}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. Ai1a-2 is is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen fixing root nodule of Andira inermis collected from Tres Piedras in Costa Rica. In this report we describe, for the first time, the genome sequence information and annotation of this legume microsymbiont. The 9,029,266 bp genome has a GC content of 62.56% with 247 contigs arranged into 246 scaffolds. The assembled genome contains 8,482 protein-coding genes and 102 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project proposal.}, } @article {pmid26379286, year = {2015}, author = {Gasmi, L and Boulain, H and Gauthier, J and Hua-Van, A and Musset, K and Jakubowska, AK and Aury, JM and Volkoff, AN and Huguet, E and Herrero, S and Drezen, JM}, title = {Recurrent Domestication by Lepidoptera of Genes from Their Parasites Mediated by Bracoviruses.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e1005470}, pmid = {26379286}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Viral ; *Genes, Insect ; Lepidoptera/*parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polydnaviridae/genetics/*physiology ; Spodoptera/genetics ; Wasps/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bracoviruses are symbiotic viruses associated with tens of thousands of species of parasitic wasps that develop within the body of lepidopteran hosts and that collectively parasitize caterpillars of virtually every lepidopteran species. Viral particles are produced in the wasp ovaries and injected into host larvae with the wasp eggs. Once in the host body, the viral DNA circles enclosed in the particles integrate into lepidopteran host cell DNA. Here we show that bracovirus DNA sequences have been inserted repeatedly into lepidopteran genomes, indicating this viral DNA can also enter germline cells. The original mode of Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) unveiled here is based on the integrative properties of an endogenous virus that has evolved as a gene transfer agent within parasitic wasp genomes for ≈100 million years. Among the bracovirus genes thus transferred, a phylogenetic analysis indicated that those encoding C-type-lectins most likely originated from the wasp gene set, showing that a bracovirus-mediated gene flux exists between the 2 insect orders Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. Furthermore, the acquisition of bracovirus sequences that can be expressed by Lepidoptera has resulted in the domestication of several genes that could result in adaptive advantages for the host. Indeed, functional analyses suggest that two of the acquired genes could have a protective role against a common pathogen in the field, baculovirus. From these results, we hypothesize that bracovirus-mediated HGT has played an important role in the evolutionary arms race between Lepidoptera and their pathogens.}, } @article {pmid26378580, year = {2015}, author = {Giorni, P and Dall'Asta, C and Reverberi, M and Scala, V and Ludovici, M and Cirlini, M and Galaverna, G and Fanelli, C and Battilani, P}, title = {Open Field Study of Some Zea mays Hybrids, Lipid Compounds and Fumonisins Accumulation.}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {3657-3670}, pmid = {26378580}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Food Contamination/*analysis ; Food Microbiology ; Fumonisins/*analysis ; Fusarium/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Sphingolipids/metabolism ; Zea mays/*chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lipid molecules are increasingly recognized as signals exchanged by organisms interacting in pathogenic and/or symbiotic ways. Some classes of lipids actively determine the fate of the interactions. Host cuticle/cell wall/membrane components such as sphingolipids and oxylipins may contribute to determining the fate of host-pathogen interactions. In the present field study, we considered the relationship between specific sphingolipids and oxylipins of different hybrids of Zea mays and fumonisin by F. verticillioides, sampling ears at different growth stages from early dough to fully ripe. The amount of total and free fumonisin differed significantly between hybrids and increased significantly with maize ripening. Oxylipins and phytoceramides changed significantly within the hybrids and decreased with kernel maturation, starting from physiological maturity. Although the correlation between fumonisin accumulation and plant lipid profile is certain, the data collected so far cannot define a cause-effect relationship but open up new perspectives. Therefore, the question-"Does fumonisin alter plant lipidome or does plant lipidome modulate fumonisin accumulation?"-is still open.}, } @article {pmid26378462, year = {2015}, author = {Le Pogam, P and Schinkovitz, A and Legouin, B and Le Lamer, AC and Boustie, J and Richomme, P}, title = {Matrix-Free UV-Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry as a Versatile Approach for Accelerating Dereplication Studies on Lichens.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {20}, pages = {10421-10428}, doi = {10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02531}, pmid = {26378462}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Lichens/*chemistry/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; }, abstract = {The present study examined the suitability of laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) for the rapid chemical fingerprinting of lichen extracts. Lichens are known to produce a wide array of secondary metabolites. Most of these compounds are unique to the symbiotic condition but some can be found in many species. Therefore, dereplication, that is, the rapid identification of known compounds within a complex mixture is crucial in the search for novel natural products. Over the past decade, significant advances were made in analytical techniques and profiling methods specifically adapted to crude lichen extracts, but LDI-MS has never been applied in this context. However, most classes of lichen metabolites have UV chromophores, which are quite similar to commercial matrix molecules used in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). It is consequently postulated that these molecules could be directly detectable by matrix-free LDI-MS. The present study evaluated the versatility of this technique by investigating the LDI properties of a vast array of single lichen metabolites as well as lichen extracts of known chemical composition. Results from the LDI experiments were compared with those obtained by direct ESI-MS detection as well as LC-ESI-MS. It was shown that LDI ionization leads to strong molecular ion formation with little fragmentation, thus, facilitating straightforward spectra interpretation and representing a valuable alternative to time-consuming LC-MS analysis.}, } @article {pmid26377641, year = {2016}, author = {Singh, RP and Manchanda, G and Singh, RN and Srivastava, AK and Dubey, RC}, title = {Selection of alkalotolerant and symbiotically efficient chickpea nodulating rhizobia from North-West Indo Gangetic Plains.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {14-25}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201500267}, pmid = {26377641}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Base Sequence ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; India ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Salinity ; Salt Tolerance ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In an effort to obtain reliable, alkali-tolerant, and symbiotically efficient rhizobial strains, 54 indigenous rhizobial isolates were obtained from root nodules of chickpea grown in alkaline soil of 5 different agricultural locations in North-West Indo Gangetic Plains (NW-IGP). Of these, 16 most symbiotically effective isolates were selected for polyphasic analysis (pH stress, salt tolerance, and genetic characterization). All the selected isolates were able to tolerate the high alkaline pH. Among them, CPN1, CPN8, and CPN32 grew well at pH 11.0. High pH-induced proteins were explored by SDS-PAGE assay. Identification and genetic characterization of isolates was done by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, RNA polymerase subunit-B (rpoB) and symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH). The study revealed diverse symbiotically efficient alkalotolerant chickpea nodulating rhizobial strains from NW-IGP. This study has thus contributed a valuable genetic pool of isolates that can potentially be used to increase chickpea production in these soil types.}, } @article {pmid26377567, year = {2015}, author = {Luan, JB and Chen, W and Hasegawa, DK and Simmons, AM and Wintermantel, WM and Ling, KS and Fei, Z and Liu, SS and Douglas, AE}, title = {Metabolic Coevolution in the Bacterial Symbiosis of Whiteflies and Related Plant Sap-Feeding Insects.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {2635-2647}, pmid = {26377567}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Duplication ; Genome, Insect ; Halomonadaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Hemiptera/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Genomic decay is a common feature of intracellular bacteria that have entered into symbiosis with plant sap-feeding insects. This study of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci and two bacteria (Portiera aleyrodidarum and Hamiltonella defensa) cohoused in each host cell investigated whether the decay of Portiera metabolism genes is complemented by host and Hamiltonella genes, and compared the metabolic traits of the whitefly symbiosis with other sap-feeding insects (aphids, psyllids, and mealybugs). Parallel genomic and transcriptomic analysis revealed that the host genome contributes multiple metabolic reactions that complement or duplicate Portiera function, and that Hamiltonella may contribute multiple cofactors and one essential amino acid, lysine. Homologs of the Bemisia metabolism genes of insect origin have also been implicated in essential amino acid synthesis in other sap-feeding insect hosts, indicative of parallel coevolution of shared metabolic pathways across multiple symbioses. Further metabolism genes coded in the Bemisia genome are of bacterial origin, but phylogenetically distinct from Portiera, Hamiltonella and horizontally transferred genes identified in other sap-feeding insects. Overall, 75% of the metabolism genes of bacterial origin are functionally unique to one symbiosis, indicating that the evolutionary history of metabolic integration in these symbioses is strongly contingent on the pattern of horizontally acquired genes. Our analysis, further, shows that bacteria with genomic decay enable host acquisition of complex metabolic pathways by multiple independent horizontal gene transfers from exogenous bacteria. Specifically, each horizontally acquired gene can function with other genes in the pathway coded by the symbiont, while facilitating the decay of the symbiont gene coding the same reaction.}, } @article {pmid26376921, year = {2015}, author = {Foxall, RL and Ballok, AE and Avitabile, A and Whistler, CA}, title = {Spontaneous phenotypic suppression of GacA-defective Vibrio fischeri is achieved via mutation of csrA and ihfA.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {180}, pmid = {26376921}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {5R03A1076831-02//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Gene Deletion ; Luminescence ; Mutant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Siderophores/metabolism ; *Suppression, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiosis defective GacA-mutant derivatives of Vibrio fischeri are growth impaired thereby creating a selective advantage for growth-enhanced spontaneous suppressors. Suppressors were isolated and characterized for effects of the mutations on gacA-mutant defects of growth, siderophore activity and luminescence. The mutations were identified by targeted and whole genome sequencing.

RESULTS: Most mutations that restored multiple phenotypes were non-null mutations that mapped to conserved domains in or altered expression of CsrA, a post-transcriptional regulator that mediates GacA effects in a number of bacterial species. These represent an array of unique mutations compared to those that have been described previously. Different substitutions at the same amino acid residue were identified allowing comparisons of effects such as at the R6 residue, which conferred relative differences in luminescence and siderophore levels. The screen revealed residues not previously identified as critical for function including a single native alanine. Most csrA mutations enhanced luminescence more than siderophore activity, which was especially evident for mutations predicted to reduce the amount of CsrA. Although CsrA mutations compensate for many known GacA mutant defects, not all CsrA suppressors restore symbiotic colonization. Phenotypes of a suppressor allele of ihfA that encodes one subunit of the integration host factor (IHF) heteroduplex indicated the protein represses siderophore and activates luminescence in a GacA-independent manner.

CONCLUSIONS: In addition to its established role in regulation of central metabolism, the CsrA regulator represses luminescence and siderophore as an intermediate of the GacA regulatory hierachy. Siderophore regulation was less sensitive to stoichiometry of CsrA consistent with higher affinity for the targets of this trait. The lack of CsrA null-mutant recovery implied these mutations do not enhance fitness of gacA mutants and alluded to this gene being conditionally essential. This study also suggests a role for IHF in the GacA-CsrB-CsrA regulatory cascade by potentially assisting with the binding of repressors of siderohphore and activators of luminescence. As many phosphorelay proteins reduce fitness when mutated, the documented instability used in this screen also highlights a potentially universal and underappreciated problem that, if not identified and strategically avoided, could introduce confounding variability during experimental study of these regulatory pathways.}, } @article {pmid26376661, year = {2016}, author = {Cass, BN and Himler, AG and Bondy, EC and Bergen, JE and Fung, SK and Kelly, SE and Hunter, MS}, title = {Conditional fitness benefits of the Rickettsia bacterial symbiont in an insect pest.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {180}, number = {1}, pages = {169-179}, pmid = {26376661}, issn = {1432-1939}, support = {1K 12 GM00708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Genetic Fitness ; Hemiptera/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Hot Temperature ; Male ; *Phenotype ; Rickettsia/*growth & development ; *Sex Ratio ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {Inherited bacterial symbionts are common in arthropods and can have strong effects on the biology of their hosts. These effects are often mediated by host ecology. The Rickettsia symbiont can provide strong fitness benefits to its insect host, Bemisia tabaci, under laboratory and field conditions. However, the frequency of the symbiont is heterogeneous among field collection sites across the USA, suggesting that the benefits of the symbiont are contingent on additional factors. In two whitefly genetic lines collected from the same location, we tested the effect of Rickettsia on whitefly survival after heat shock, on whitefly competitiveness at different temperatures, and on whitefly competitiveness at different starting frequencies of Rickettsia. Rickettsia did not provide protection against heat shock nor affect the competitiveness of whiteflies at different temperatures or starting frequencies. However, there was a strong interaction between Rickettsia infection and whitefly genetic line. Performance measures indicated that Rickettsia was associated with significant female bias in both whitefly genetic lines, but in the second whitefly genetic line it conferred no significant fitness benefits nor conferred any competitive advantage to its host over uninfected whiteflies in population cages. These results help to explain other reports of variation in the phenotype of the symbiosis. Furthermore, they demonstrate the complex nature of these close symbiotic associations and the need to consider these interactions in the context of host population structure.}, } @article {pmid26376473, year = {2016}, author = {Soares, SC and Geyik, H and Ramos, RT and de Sá, PH and Barbosa, EG and Baumbach, J and Figueiredo, HC and Miyoshi, A and Tauch, A and Silva, A and Azevedo, V}, title = {GIPSy: Genomic island prediction software.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {232}, number = {}, pages = {2-11}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.09.008}, pmid = {26376473}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomic Islands/*genetics ; Genomics/*methods ; *Software ; }, abstract = {Bacteria are highly diverse organisms that are able to adapt to a broad range of environments and hosts due to their high genomic plasticity. Horizontal gene transfer plays a pivotal role in this genome plasticity and in evolution by leaps through the incorporation of large blocks of genome sequences, ordinarily known as genomic islands (GEIs). GEIs may harbor genes encoding virulence, metabolism, antibiotic resistance and symbiosis-related functions, namely pathogenicity islands (PAIs), metabolic islands (MIs), resistance islands (RIs) and symbiotic islands (SIs). Although many software for the prediction of GEIs exist, they only focus on PAI prediction and present other limitations, such as complicated installation and inconvenient user interfaces. Here, we present GIPSy, the genomic island prediction software, a standalone and user-friendly software for the prediction of GEIs, built on our previously developed pathogenicity island prediction software (PIPS). We also present four application cases in which we crosslink data from literature to PAIs, MIs, RIs and SIs predicted by GIPSy. Briefly, GIPSy correctly predicted the following previously described GEIs: 13 PAIs larger than 30kb in Escherichia coli CFT073; 1 MI for Burkholderia pseudomallei K96243, which seems to be a miscellaneous island; 1 RI of Acinetobacter baumannii AYE, named AbaR1; and, 1 SI of Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 presenting a mosaic structure. GIPSy is the first life-style-specific genomic island prediction software to perform analyses of PAIs, MIs, RIs and SIs, opening a door for a better understanding of bacterial genome plasticity and the adaptation to new traits.}, } @article {pmid26375670, year = {2015}, author = {Chi, MS and Lee, CY and Huang, SC and Yang, KL and Ko, HL and Chen, YK and Chung, CH and Liao, KW and Chi, KH}, title = {Double autophagy modulators reduce 2-deoxyglucose uptake in sarcoma patients.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {6}, number = {30}, pages = {29808-29817}, pmid = {26375670}, issn = {1949-2553}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Autophagy/*drug effects ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Exanthema/chemically induced ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*metabolism/pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea/chemically induced ; Positron-Emission Tomography/methods ; Sarcoma/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Sirolimus/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden/drug effects ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {RATIONALE: According to the metabolic symbiosis model, cancer stromal fibroblasts could be hijacked by surrounding cancer cells into a state of autophagy with aerobic glycolysis to help provide recycled nutrients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combined treatment with the autophagy inhibitor: hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and the autophagy inducer: sirolimus (rapamycin, Rapa) would reduce glucose utilization in sarcoma patients.

METHODS: Ten sarcoma patients who failed first-line treatment were enrolled in this study. They were treated with 1 mg of Rapa and 200 mg of HCQ twice daily for two weeks. The standardized uptake values (SUV) from pretreatment and posttreatment [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) scans were reviewed, and changes from the baseline SUVmax were evaluated.

RESULTS: Based on FDG PET response criteria, six patients had a partial response; three had stable disease, and one had progressive disease. Nevertheless, none of them showed a reduction in tumor volume. The mean SUVmax reduction in the 34 lesions evaluated was - 19.6% (95% CI = -30.1% to -9.1%), while the mean volume change was +16.4% (95% CI = +5.8% to + 27%). Only grade 1 toxicities were observed. Elevated serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase were detected after treatment in most metabolic responders.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of reduced SUVmax without tumor volume reduction after two weeks of Rapa and HCQ treatment may indicate that non-proliferative glycolysis occurred mainly in the cancer associated fibroblast compartment, and decreased glycolytic activity was evident from Rapa + HCQ double autophagy modulator treatment.}, } @article {pmid26375331, year = {2016}, author = {Grajales, A and Rodríguez, E}, title = {Elucidating the evolutionary relationships of the Aiptasiidae, a widespread cnidarian-dinoflagellate model system (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Metridioidea).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {94}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {252-263}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2015.09.004}, pmid = {26375331}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Genetic Speciation ; *Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sea Anemones/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Sea anemones of the family Aiptasiidae sensu Grajales and Rodríguez (2014) are conspicuous members of shallow-water environments, including several species widely used as model systems for the study of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and coral bleaching. Although previously published phylogenetic studies of sea anemones recovered Aiptasiidae as polyphyletic, they only included a sparse sample in terms of its taxonomic diversity and membership of the family had not been yet revised. This study explores the phylogenetic relationships of this family using five molecular markers and including newly collected material from the geographical distribution of most of the currently described genera and species. We find a monophyletic family Aiptasiidae. All the currently proposed genera were recovered as monophyletic units, a finding also supported by diagnostic morphological characters. Our results confirm Bellactis and Laviactis as members of Aiptasiidae, also in agreement with previous morphological studies. The monophyly of the group is congruent with the morphological homogeneity of the members of this family. The obtained results also allow discussing the evolution of morphological characters within the family. Furthermore, we find evidence for and describe a new cryptic species, Exaiptasia brasiliensis sp. nov., based on molecular data, geographical distribution, and the identity of its endosymbiotic dinoflagellate.}, } @article {pmid26373372, year = {2015}, author = {Feiner, R and Argov, T and Rabinovich, L and Sigal, N and Borovok, I and Herskovits, AA}, title = {A new perspective on lysogeny: prophages as active regulatory switches of bacteria.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {641-650}, pmid = {26373372}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA Transformation Competence/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/physiology ; Lysogeny/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Phagosomes/physiology ; Prophages/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Virus Replication/physiology ; }, abstract = {Unlike lytic phages, temperate phages that enter lysogeny maintain a long-term association with their bacterial host. In this context, mutually beneficial interactions can evolve that support efficient reproduction of both phages and bacteria. Temperate phages are integrated into the bacterial chromosome as large DNA insertions that can disrupt gene expression, and they may pose a fitness burden on the cell. However, they have also been shown to benefit their bacterial hosts by providing new functions in a bacterium-phage symbiotic interaction termed lysogenic conversion. In this Opinion article, we discuss another type of bacterium-phage interaction, active lysogeny, in which phages or phage-like elements are integrated into the bacterial chromosome within critical genes or operons and serve as switches that regulate bacterial genes via genome excision.}, } @article {pmid26371554, year = {2015}, author = {Sayavedra, L and Kleiner, M and Ponnudurai, R and Wetzel, S and Pelletier, E and Barbe, V and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E and Fink, D and Breusing, C and Reusch, TB and Rosenstiel, P and Schilhabel, MB and Becher, D and Schweder, T and Markert, S and Dubilier, N and Petersen, JM}, title = {Abundant toxin-related genes in the genomes of beneficial symbionts from deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {e07966}, pmid = {26371554}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*genetics/growth & development ; Bacterial Toxins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Proteome/analysis ; Seawater ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bathymodiolus mussels live in symbiosis with intracellular sulfur-oxidizing (SOX) bacteria that provide them with nutrition. We sequenced the SOX symbiont genomes from two Bathymodiolus species. Comparison of these symbiont genomes with those of their closest relatives revealed that the symbionts have undergone genome rearrangements, and up to 35% of their genes may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Many of the genes specific to the symbionts were homologs of virulence genes. We discovered an abundant and diverse array of genes similar to insecticidal toxins of nematode and aphid symbionts, and toxins of pathogens such as Yersinia and Vibrio. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed that the SOX symbionts express the toxin-related genes (TRGs) in their hosts. We hypothesize that the symbionts use these TRGs in beneficial interactions with their host, including protection against parasites. This would explain why a mutualistic symbiont would contain such a remarkable 'arsenal' of TRGs.}, } @article {pmid26371291, year = {2015}, author = {Reininger, V and Martinez-Garcia, LB and Sanderson, L and Antunes, PM}, title = {Composition of fungal soil communities varies with plant abundance and geographic origin.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {26371291}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Interactions of belowground fungal communities with exotic and native plant species may be important drivers of plant community structure in invaded grasslands. However, field surveys linking plant community structure with belowground fungal communities are missing. We investigated whether a selected number of abundant and relatively rare plants, either native or exotic, from an old-field site associate with different fungal communities. We also assessed whether these plants showed different symbiotic relationships with soil biota through their roots. We characterized the plant community and collected roots to investigate fungal communities using 454 pyrosequencing and assessed arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and enemy-induced lesions. Differences in fungal communities were considered based on the assessment of α- and β diversity depending on plant 'abundance' and 'origin'. Plant abundance and origin determined the fungal community. Fungal richness was higher for native abundant as opposed to relatively rare native plant species. However, this was not observed for exotics of contrasting abundance. Regardless of their origin, β diversity was higher for rare than for abundant species. Abundant exotics in the community, which happen to be grasses, were the least mycorrhizal whereas rare natives were most susceptible to enemy attack. Our results suggest that compared with exotics, the relative abundance of remnant native plant species in our old-field site is still linked to the structure of belowground fungal communities. In contrast, exotic species may act as a disturbing agent contributing towards the homogenization of soil fungal communities, potentially changing feedback interactions.}, } @article {pmid26370902, year = {2015}, author = {Gilbert, SF and Bosch, TC and Ledón-Rettig, C}, title = {Eco-Evo-Devo: developmental symbiosis and developmental plasticity as evolutionary agents.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Genetics}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {611-622}, pmid = {26370902}, issn = {1471-0064}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology/physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Developmental Biology/methods ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The integration of research from developmental biology and ecology into evolutionary theory has given rise to a relatively new field, ecological evolutionary developmental biology (Eco-Evo-Devo). This field integrates and organizes concepts such as developmental symbiosis, developmental plasticity, genetic accommodation, extragenic inheritance and niche construction. This Review highlights the roles that developmental symbiosis and developmental plasticity have in evolution. Developmental symbiosis can generate particular organs, can produce selectable genetic variation for the entire animal, can provide mechanisms for reproductive isolation, and may have facilitated evolutionary transitions. Developmental plasticity is crucial for generating novel phenotypes, facilitating evolutionary transitions and altered ecosystem dynamics, and promoting adaptive variation through genetic accommodation and niche construction. In emphasizing such non-genomic mechanisms of selectable and heritable variation, Eco-Evo-Devo presents a new layer of evolutionary synthesis.}, } @article {pmid26370165, year = {2015}, author = {Wielbo, J and Podleśna, A and Kidaj, D and Podleśny, J and Skorupska, A}, title = {The Diversity of Pea Microsymbionts in Various Types of Soils and Their Effects on Plant Host Productivity.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {254-261}, pmid = {26370165}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Peas/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The growth and yield of peas cultivated on eight different soils, as well as the diversity of pea microsymbionts derived from these soils were investigated in the present study. The experimental plot was composed of soils that were transferred from different parts of Poland more than a century ago. The soils were located in direct vicinity of each other in the experimental plot. All soils examined contained pea microsymbionts, which were suggested to belong to Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae based on the nucleotide sequence of the partial 16S rRNA gene. PCR-RFLP analyses of the 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS region and nodD alleles revealed the presence of numerous and diversified groups of pea microsymbionts and some similarities between the tested populations, which may have been the result of the spread or displacement of strains. However, most populations retained their own genetic distinction, which may have been related to the type of soil. Most of the tested populations comprised low-effective strains for the promotion of pea growth. No relationships were found between the characteristics of soil and symbiotic effectiveness of rhizobial populations; however, better seed yield was obtained for soil with medium biological productivity inhabited by high-effective rhizobial populations than for soil with high agricultural quality containing medium-quality pea microsymbionts, and these results showed the importance of symbiosis for plant hosts.}, } @article {pmid26370111, year = {2016}, author = {Huang, YL and Devan, MM and U'Ren, JM and Furr, SH and Arnold, AE}, title = {Pervasive Effects of Wildfire on Foliar Endophyte Communities in Montane Forest Trees.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {2}, pages = {452-468}, pmid = {26370111}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {R01 CA090265/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01-CA90265/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fires ; Forests ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/*microbiology ; Trees/chemistry/classification/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plants in all terrestrial ecosystems form symbioses with endophytic fungi that inhabit their healthy tissues. How these foliar endophytes respond to wildfires has not been studied previously, but is important given the increasing frequency and intensity of severe wildfires in many ecosystems, and because endophytes can influence plant growth and responses to stress. The goal of this study was to examine effects of severe wildfires on endophyte communities in forest trees, with a focus on traditionally fire-dominated, montane ecosystems in the southwestern USA. We evaluated the abundance, diversity, and composition of endophytes in foliage of Juniperus deppeana (Cupressaceae) and Quercus spp. (Fagaceae) collected contemporaneously from areas affected by recent wildfire and paired areas not affected by recent fire. Study sites spanned four mountain ranges in central and southern Arizona. Our results revealed significant effects of fires on endophyte communities, including decreases in isolation frequency, increases in diversity, and shifts in community structure and taxonomic composition among endophytes of trees affected by recent fires. Responses to fire were similar in endophytes of each host in these fire-dominated ecosystems and reflect regional fire-return intervals, with endophytes after fire representing subsets of the regional mycoflora. Together, these findings contribute to an emerging perspective on the responses of diverse communities to severe fire, and highlight the importance of considering fire history when estimating endophyte diversity and community structure for focal biomes.}, } @article {pmid26367271, year = {2015}, author = {Li, Y and Simmons, DR and Bateman, CC and Short, DP and Kasson, MT and Rabaglia, RJ and Hulcr, J}, title = {New Fungus-Insect Symbiosis: Culturing, Molecular, and Histological Methods Determine Saprophytic Polyporales Mutualists of Ambrosiodmus Ambrosia Beetles.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e0137689}, pmid = {26367271}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Base Sequence ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Hyphae/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polyporales/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia symbiosis is an obligate, farming-like mutualism between wood-boring beetles and fungi. It evolved at least 11 times and includes many notorious invasive pests. All ambrosia beetles studied to date cultivate ascomycotan fungi: early colonizers of recently killed trees with poor wood digestion. Beetles in the widespread genus Ambrosiodmus, however, colonize decayed wood. We characterized the mycosymbionts of three Ambrosiodmus species using quantitative culturing, high-throughput metabarcoding, and histology. We determined the fungi to be within the Polyporales, closely related to Flavodon flavus. Culture-independent sequencing of Ambrosiodmus minor mycangia revealed a single operational taxonomic unit identical to the sequences from the cultured Flavodon. Histological sectioning confirmed that Ambrosiodmus possessed preoral mycangia containing dimitic hyphae similar to cultured F. cf. flavus. The Ambrosiodmus-Flavodon symbiosis is unique in several aspects: it is the first reported association between an ambrosia beetle and a basidiomycotan fungus; the mycosymbiont grows as hyphae in the mycangia, not as budding pseudo-mycelium; and the mycosymbiont is a white-rot saprophyte rather than an early colonizer: a previously undocumented wood borer niche. Few fungi are capable of turning rotten wood into complete animal nutrition. Several thousand beetle-fungus symbioses remain unstudied and promise unknown and unexpected mycological diversity and enzymatic innovations.}, } @article {pmid26366561, year = {2015}, author = {Seksik, P and Landman, C}, title = {Understanding Microbiome Data: A Primer for Clinicians.}, journal = {Digestive diseases (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {33 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {11-16}, doi = {10.1159/000437034}, pmid = {26366561}, issn = {1421-9875}, abstract = {The human gut contains 1014 bacteria and many other micro-organisms such as Archaea, viruses and fungi. This gut microbiota has co-evolved with host determinants through symbiotic and co-dependent relationships. Bacteria, which represent 10 times the number of human cells, form the most depicted part of this black box owing to new tools. Re-evaluating the gut microbiota showed how this entity participates in gut physiology and beyond this in human health. Studying and handling this real 'hidden organ' remains a challenge for clinicians. In this review, we aimed to bring information about gut microbiota, its structure, its roles and the way to capture and measure it. After bacterial colonization in infant, intestinal microbial composition is unique for each individual although more than 95% can be assigned to 4 major phyla. Besides its biodiversity, the major characteristics of gut microbiota are stability over time and resilience after perturbation. In pathological situations, dysbiosis (i.e. imbalance in gut microbiota composition) is observed with a loss in overall diversity. Dysbiosis associated with inflammatory bowel disease was specified with the reduction in biodiversity, the decreased representation of different taxa in the Firmicutes phylum and an increase in Gammaproteobacteria. Beyond depicting gut microbial composition, metagenomics allows the description of the combined genomes of the microorganisms present in the gut, giving access to their potential functions. In fact, each individual overall microbial metagenome outnumbers the size of human genome by a factor of 150. Besides a functional core in which there is redundancy for mandatory functions assuring the robustness of the ecosystem, human gut contains an important diversity and high number of non-redundant bacterial genes. Clinical data, treatment and all the factors able to influence microbiome should enter integrated big data sets to put in light pathways of interplay within the supra organism composed of gut microbiome and host. A better understanding of dynamics within human gut microbiota and microbes-host interaction will allow new insight into gut pathophysiology especially regarding resilience mechanisms and dysbiosis onset and maintenance. This will lead to description of biomarkers of diseases, development of new probiotics/prebiotics and new therapies.}, } @article {pmid26364183, year = {2015}, author = {Lodeiro, AR}, title = {[Queries related to the technology of soybean seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium spp].}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {47}, number = {3}, pages = {261-273}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2015.06.006}, pmid = {26364183}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {*Agricultural Inoculants ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Bradyrhizobium/growth & development/*physiology ; Chemotaxis ; Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {With the aim of exploiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation, soybean crops are inoculated with selected strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens or Bradyrhizobium elkanii (collectively referred to as Bradyrhizobium spp.). The most common method of inoculation used is seed inoculation, whether performed immediately before sowing or using preinoculated seeds or pretreated seeds by the professional seed treatment. The methodology of inoculation should not only cover the seeds with living rhizobia, but must also optimize the chances of these rhizobia to infect the roots and nodulate. To this end, inoculated rhizobia must be in such an amount and condition that would allow them to overcome the competition exerted by the rhizobia of the allochthonous population of the soil, which are usually less effective for nitrogen fixation and thus dilute the effect of inoculation on yield. This optimization requires solving some queries related to the current knowledge of seed inoculation, which are addressed in this article. I conclude that the aspects that require further research are the adhesion and survival of rhizobia on seeds, the release of rhizobia once the seeds are deposited in the soil, and the movement of rhizobia from the vicinity of the seeds to the infection sites in the roots.}, } @article {pmid26362821, year = {2017}, author = {Wang, CL and Shyu, YL and Wang, JY and Lu, CH}, title = {Progressive compensatory symbiosis: spouse caregiver experiences of caring for persons with dementia in Taiwan.}, journal = {Aging & mental health}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {241-252}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2015.1081148}, pmid = {26362821}, issn = {1364-6915}, mesh = {Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Dementia/*nursing ; Empathy ; Female ; Grounded Theory ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Qualitative Research ; Spouses/*psychology ; Stress, Psychological/psychology ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Spouse caregivers have been the predominant family members who care for persons with dementia in Taiwan. Although studies in western countries have described the caregiving experiences and changes in the marital relationship for these spouse caregivers, this information is lacking in Taiwan. This study explored the experiences of spouse caregivers caring for persons with dementia in Taiwan.

METHODS: A grounded theory approach was used for this qualitative descriptive study. Data were collected through recorded in-depth interviews and observations with 15 spouse caregivers of persons with dementia. Constant comparative analysis was used to analyse the transcripts and field notes.

RESULTS: Analysis of interview transcripts revealed that the experiences of caregiving for spouse caregivers who lived with persons with dementia could be described as 'progressive compensatory symbiosis.' This core category included three components: awareness of unbalanced intimacy, making a commitment and implementing a compensatory scheme. These experiences could be either mutually beneficial or unbalanced and fluctuated as the disease progressed through the phases of 'subtle,' 'revealed' and 'confirmed,' which also influence the pace, transition and evolution of the compensatory symbiosis.

CONCLUSION: This exploratory study describes the family caregiving experiences for 15 spouse caregivers of persons with dementia in Taiwan. These results can provide guidance for developing interventions to prepare, facilitate and promote a mutually beneficial adjustment for spousal caregivers and their spouses as dementia progresses. The findings are worthy of further investigation with a larger sample and a prospective design.}, } @article {pmid26362781, year = {2015}, author = {Ferraz Helene, LC and Marçon Delamuta, JR and Augusto Ribeiro, R and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Antonio Rogel, M and Martínez-Romero, E and Hungria, M}, title = {Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi sp. nov., encompassing nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legumes used for green manure and environmental services.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {12}, pages = {4441-4448}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.000591}, pmid = {26362781}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Manure ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, commonly called rhizobia, are agronomically important because they can provide significant amounts of nitrogen to plants and help in recovery of impoverished soils and improvement of degraded environments. In recent years, with advances in molecular techniques, several studies have shown that these bacteria have high levels of genetic diversity, resulting in taxonomic reclassifications and descriptions of new species. However, despite the advances achieved, highly conserved 16S ribosomal genes (16S rRNA) do not elucidate differences between species of several genera, including the genus Bradyrhizobium. Other methodologies, such as multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), have been used in such cases, with good results. In this study, three strains (SEMIAs 690T, 6387 and 6428) of the genus Bradyrhizobium, isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules of Centrosema and Acacia species, without clear taxonomic positions, were studied. These strains differed from genetically closely related species according to the results of MLSA of four housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA) and nucleotide identities of the concatenated genes with those of related species ranged from 87.8 % to 95.7 %, being highest with Bradyrhizobium elkanii. DNA-DNA hybridization (less than 32 % DNA relatedness) and average nucleotide identity values of the whole genomes (less than 90.5 %) indicated that these strains represented a novel species, and phenotypic traits were determined. Our data supported the description of the SEMIA strains as Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi sp. nov., and SEMIA 690T (= CNPSo 991T = C 100aT = BR 1804T = LMG 28866T), isolated from Centrosema pubescens, was chosen as type strain.}, } @article {pmid26362739, year = {2015}, author = {Costello, ME and Robinson, PC and Benham, H and Brown, MA}, title = {The intestinal microbiome in human disease and how it relates to arthritis and spondyloarthritis.}, journal = {Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {202-212}, doi = {10.1016/j.berh.2015.08.001}, pmid = {26362739}, issn = {1532-1770}, mesh = {Arthritis/*microbiology ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Spondylarthritis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Humans and microbes have developed a symbiotic relationship over time, and alterations in this symbiotic relationship have been linked to several immune mediated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes and spondyloarthropathies. Improvements in sequencing technologies, coupled with a renaissance in 16S rRNA gene based community profiling, have enabled the characterization of microbiomes throughout the body including the gut. Improved characterization and understanding of the human gut microbiome means the gut flora is progressively being explored as a target for novel therapies including probiotics and faecal microbiota transplants. These innovative therapies are increasingly used for patients with debilitating conditions where conventional treatments have failed. This review discusses the current understanding of the interplay between host genetics and the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathies, and how this may relate to potential therapies for these conditions.}, } @article {pmid26362082, year = {2015}, author = {Brown, AM and Howe, DK and Wasala, SK and Peetz, AB and Zasada, IA and Denver, DR}, title = {Comparative Genomics of a Plant-Parasitic Nematode Endosymbiont Suggest a Role in Nutritional Symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {2727-2746}, pmid = {26362082}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Ontology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pseudogenes ; *Symbiosis ; Verrucomicrobia/classification/*genetics ; Vitis/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial mutualists can modulate the biochemical capacity of animals. Highly coevolved nutritional mutualists do this by synthesizing nutrients missing from the host's diet. Genomics tools have advanced the study of these partnerships. Here we examined the endosymbiont Xiphinematobacter (phylum Verrucomicrobia) from the dagger nematode Xiphinema americanum, a migratory ectoparasite of numerous crops that also vectors nepovirus. Previously, this endosymbiont was identified in the gut, ovaries, and eggs, but its role was unknown. We explored the potential role of this symbiont using fluorescence in situ hybridization, genome sequencing, and comparative functional genomics. We report the first genome of an intracellular Verrucomicrobium and the first exclusively intracellular non-Wolbachia nematode symbiont. Results revealed that Xiphinematobacter had a small 0.916-Mb genome with only 817 predicted proteins, resembling genomes of other mutualist endosymbionts. Compared with free-living relatives, conserved proteins were shorter on average, and there was large-scale loss of regulatory pathways. Despite massive gene loss, more genes were retained for biosynthesis of amino acids predicted to be essential to the host. Gene ontology enrichment tests showed enrichment for biosynthesis of arginine, histidine, and aromatic amino acids, as well as thiamine and coenzyme A, diverging from the profiles of relatives Akkermansia muciniphilia (in the human colon), Methylacidiphilum infernorum, and the mutualist Wolbachia from filarial nematodes. Together, these features and the location in the gut suggest that Xiphinematobacter functions as a nutritional mutualist, supplementing essential nutrients that are depleted in the nematode diet. This pattern points to evolutionary convergence with endosymbionts found in sap-feeding insects.}, } @article {pmid26354898, year = {2015}, author = {Li, HL and Wang, W and Mortimer, PE and Li, RQ and Li, DZ and Hyde, KD and Xu, JC and Soltis, DE and Chen, ZD}, title = {Large-scale phylogenetic analyses reveal multiple gains of actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing symbioses in angiosperms associated with climate change.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {14023}, pmid = {26354898}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Climate Change ; Magnoliopsida/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is fundamental to all life forms and is also one of the most limiting of nutrients for plant growth. Several clades of angiosperms have developed symbiotic relationships with actinorhizal bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen and increase access to this nutrient. However, the evolutionary patterns of actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing symbioses remain unclear to date. Furthermore the underlying environmental pressures that led to the gain of symbiotic actinorhizal nitrogen fixation have never been investigated. Here, we present the most comprehensive genus-level phylogenetic analysis of the nitrogen-fixing angiosperms based on three plastid loci. We found that actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing species are distributed in nine distinct lineages. By dating the branching events, we determined that seven actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing lineages originated during the Late Cretaceous, and two more emerged during the Eocene. We put forward a hypothesis that multiple gains of actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing symbioses in angiosperms may have been associated with increased global temperatures and high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide during these two time periods, as well as the availability of open habitats with high light conditions. Our nearly complete genus-level time-tree for the nitrogen-fixing clade is a significant advance in understanding the evolutionary and ecological background of this important symbiosis between plants and bacteria.}, } @article {pmid26354075, year = {2016}, author = {Zhu, F and Hawk, S}, title = {Rethinking the Relationship Between Academia and Industry: Qualitative Case Studies of MIT and Stanford.}, journal = {Science and engineering ethics}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {1497-1511}, doi = {10.1007/s11948-015-9699-0}, pmid = {26354075}, issn = {1471-5546}, mesh = {Attitude ; Industry/*ethics/trends ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Universities/*ethics/trends ; }, abstract = {As knowledge has become more closely tied to economic development, the interrelationship between academia and industry has become stronger. The result has been the emergence of what Slaughter and Leslie call academic capitalism. Inevitably, tensions between academia and industry arise; however, universities such as MIT and Stanford with long traditions of industry interaction have been able to achieve a balance between academic and market values. This paper describes the strategies adopted by MIT and Stanford to achieve this balance. The results indicate that implicit culture is a stronger determinant of balance than are explicit rules. Finally, the author proposes a concept of balance to reconsider the relationship between academia and industry: today's universities, particularly those with strengths in engineering and management, are both symbiotic and interdependent with industry. A reasonable attitude toward the university-industry relationship is that of balance rather than strict separation. Universities can thus establish effective mechanisms to reach a balance between conflicting values.}, } @article {pmid26351356, year = {2015}, author = {Azarakhsh, M and Kirienko, AN and Zhukov, VA and Lebedeva, MA and Dolgikh, EA and Lutova, LA}, title = {KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX 3: a new regulator of symbiotic nodule development.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {22}, pages = {7181-7195}, pmid = {26351356}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Cytokinins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Homeobox ; *Genes, Plant ; *Genes, Regulator ; Glucuronidase/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Peas/*genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {KNOX transcription factors (TFs) regulate different aspects of plant development essentially through their effects on phytohormone metabolism. In particular, KNOX TF SHOOTMERISTEMLESS activates the cytokinin biosynthesis ISOPENTENYL TRANSFERASE (IPT) genes in the shoot apical meristem. However, the role of KNOX TFs in symbiotic nodule development and their possible effects on phytohormone metabolism during nodulation have not been studied to date. Cytokinin is a well-known regulator of nodule development, playing the key role in the regulation of cell division during nodule primordium formation. Recently, the activation of IPT genes was shown to take place during nodulation. Therefore, it was hypothesized that KNOX TFs may regulate nodule development and activate cytokinin biosynthesis upon nodulation. This study analysed the expression of different KNOX genes in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. and Pisum sativum L. Among them, the KNOX3 gene was upregulated in response to rhizobial inoculation in both species. pKNOX3::GUS activity was observed in developing nodule primordium. KNOX3 ectopic expression caused the formation of nodule-like structures on transgenic root without bacterial inoculation, a phenotype similar to one described previously for legumes with constitutive activation of the cytokinin receptor. Furthermore, in transgenic roots with MtKNOX3 knockdown, downregulation of A-type cytokinin response genes was found, as well as the MtIPT3 and LONELYGUY2 (MtLOG2) gene being involved in cytokinin activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that KNOX3 gene is involved in symbiotic nodule development and may regulate cytokinin biosynthesis/activation upon nodule development in legume plants.}, } @article {pmid26351164, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, JH and Sun, Z and Wang, XJ and Su, XQ and Ning, K}, title = {[Research in metagenomics and its applications in translational medicine].}, journal = {Yi chuan = Hereditas}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {645-654}, doi = {10.16288/j.yczz.14-444}, pmid = {26351164}, issn = {0253-9772}, mesh = {High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; *Metagenomics ; *Translational Research, Biomedical ; }, abstract = {Humans are born with microbiota, which have accompanied us through our life-span. There is an important symbiotic relationship between us and the microbial communities, thus microbial communities are of great importance to our health. All genomic information within this microbiota is referered to as "metagenomics" (also referred to as "human's second genome"). The analysis of high throughput metagenomic data generated from biomedical experiments would provide new approaches for translational research, and it have several applications in clinics. With the help of next generation sequencing technology and the emerging metagenomic approach (analysis of all genomic information in microbiota as a whole), we can overcome the pitfalls of tedious traditional method of isolation and cultivation of single microbial species. The metagenomic approach can also help us to analyze the whole microbial community efficiently and offer deep insights in human-microbe relationships as well as new ideas on many biomedical problems. In this review, we summarize frontiers in metagenomic research, including new concepts and methods. Then, we focus on the applications of metagenomic research in medical researches and clinical applications in recent years, which would clearly show the importance of metagenomic research in the field of translational medicine.}, } @article {pmid26350628, year = {2015}, author = {Kumar Bhuyan, S and Bandyopadhyay, P and Kumar, P and Kumar Mishra, D and Prasad, R and Kumari, A and Chandra Upadhyaya, K and Varma, A and Kumar Yadava, P}, title = {Interaction of Piriformospora indica with Azotobacter chroococcum.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {13911}, pmid = {26350628}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Azotobacter/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Basidiomycota/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; Proteome ; Proteomics/methods ; Secondary Metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial communities in rhizosphere interact with each other and form a basis of a cumulative impact on plant growth. Rhizospheric microorganisms like Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum are well known for their beneficial interaction with plants. These features make P. indica/A. chroococcum co-inoculation of crops most promising with respect to sustainable agriculture and to understanding the transitions in the evolution of rhizospheric microbiome. Here, we investigated interactions of P. indica with A. chroococcum in culture. Out of five Azotobacter strains tested, WR5 exhibited growth-promoting while strain M4 exerted growth-inhibitory effect on the fungus in axenic culture. Electron microscopy of co-culture indicated an intimate association of the bacterium with the fungus. 2-D gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry of P. indica cellular proteins grown with or without WR5 and M4 showed differential expression of many metabolic proteins like enolase-I, ureaseD, the GTP binding protein YPT1 and the transmembrane protein RTM1. Fungal growth as influenced by bacterial crude metabolites was also monitored. Taken together, the results conform to a model where WR5 and M4 influence the overall growth and physiology of P. indica which may have a bearing on its symbiotic relationship with plants.}, } @article {pmid26350619, year = {2016}, author = {Tétard-Jones, C and Edwards, R}, title = {Potential roles for microbial endophytes in herbicide tolerance in plants.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {72}, number = {2}, pages = {203-209}, pmid = {26350619}, issn = {1526-4998}, support = {BB/L001489/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; *Herbicide Resistance ; Herbicides/pharmacology ; Pheromones/pharmacology ; Plant Weeds/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Xenobiotics/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Herbicide tolerance in crops and weeds is considered to be monotrophic, i.e. determined by the relative susceptibility of the physiological process targeted and the plant's ability to metabolise and detoxify the agrochemical. A growing body of evidence now suggests that endophytes, microbes that inhabit plant tissues and provide a range of growth, health and defence enhancements, can contribute to other types of abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. The current evidence for herbicide tolerance being bitrophic, with both free-living and plant-associated endophytes contributing to tolerance in the host plant, has been reviewed. We propose that endophytes can directly contribute to herbicide detoxification through their ability to metabolise xenobiotics. In addition, we explore the paradigm that microbes can 'prime' resistance mechanisms in plants such that they enhance herbicide tolerance by inducing the host's stress responses to withstand the downstream toxicity caused by herbicides. This latter mechanism has the potential to contribute to the growth of non-target-site-based herbicide resistance in weeds. Microbial endophytes already contribute to herbicide detoxification in planta, and there is now significant scope to extend these interactions using synthetic biology approaches to engineer new chemical tolerance traits into crops via microbial engineering.}, } @article {pmid26349402, year = {2015}, author = {Huang, YT and Yamauchi, Y and Rawat, A}, title = {Gene polA as a Suitable Reference for Studying Antibacterial Effect of Hydroxyapatite.}, journal = {Journal of biomedical nanotechnology}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {906-912}, doi = {10.1166/jbn.2015.2011}, pmid = {26349402}, issn = {1550-7033}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; DNA Polymerase I/*genetics ; Durapatite/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/genetics ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling/standards ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/standards ; Nanoparticles ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/*standards ; Reference Standards ; }, abstract = {Hydroxyapatite (HAP: Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is a widely used biocompatible material; however, information on the reaction mechanism between HAP and microorganisms is insufficient. This study aimed to identify a stable reference gene for studying the antibacterial activity of HAP. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (C50) and gene expression of a human symbiotic Escherichia coli strain TOP10, was investigated at various concentrations of HAP. Our uniformly sized HAP nanoparticles (HANPs) had a high surface area and an estimated IC50 of 75 mg/mL. The expressions of genes, including those of DNA polymerase I (poIA), DNA polymerase II (poIB), cytochrome d complex (cyd), glucan biosynthesis protein G (mdoG), D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), were analyzed by performing quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and using reported and newly designed primers. The changes in the copy numbers compared to non-HANPs-treated conditions for polB, cyd, mdoG, GAPDH, and 16S rRNA were 50%-381%, 0.7%-66.3%, 1.1%-7.8%, 1.6%-86.3%, and 0.3%-8.1%, respectively. The expressions of polA remained stable under all conditions (62.8%-88.4%). Therefore, we identified polA as a suitable reference gene. Moreover, the expressions of cyd and mdoG were inhibited, indicating that the antibacterial activity of HANPs is related to cell membrane or cell wall proteins. Our findings provide a thorough understanding of HAP-microorganism interactions for potential biomedical applications.}, } @article {pmid26349239, year = {2015}, author = {Varshavskiy, AA and Varshavskiy, AA}, title = {[Cellobiohydrolase Activity in the Digestive Tract of two African Rodent Species the African Grass Rat Arvicanthis niloticus and Vlei Rat Otomys helleri].}, journal = {Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia}, volume = {}, number = {3}, pages = {326-330}, pmid = {26349239}, issn = {1026-3470}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase/*metabolism ; Digestion ; Gastrointestinal Tract/enzymology ; Herbivory ; Muridae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cellobiohydrolase activity (CBHA) of endosymbionts in the digestive tract of two African rodent species differing in its morphology and in feeding specialization--Arvicanthis niloticus and Otomys helleri--has been studied as a characteristic of their physiological and ecological adaptation to phytophagy A statistically significant correlation of CBHA with obesity has been revealed in A. niloticus, with the CBHA level being significantly higher in corpus ceci than in ampulla ceci. The possible morphophysiological and ecological significance of the observed features of symbiotic digestion are discussed.}, } @article {pmid26348261, year = {2015}, author = {Mikaelyan, A and Dietrich, C and Köhler, T and Poulsen, M and Sillam-Dussès, D and Brune, A}, title = {Diet is the primary determinant of bacterial community structure in the guts of higher termites.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {20}, pages = {5284-5295}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13376}, pmid = {26348261}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Cluster Analysis ; Democratic Republic of the Congo ; *Diet ; French Guiana ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Isoptera/classification/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; Wood ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota of termites plays critical roles in the symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose. While phylogenetically 'lower termites' are characterized by a unique association with cellulolytic flagellates, higher termites (family Termitidae) harbour exclusively prokaryotic communities in their dilated hindguts. Unlike the more primitive termite families, which primarily feed on wood, they have adapted to a variety of lignocellulosic food sources in different stages of humification, ranging from sound wood to soil organic matter. In this study, we comparatively analysed representatives of different taxonomic lineages and feeding groups of higher termites to identify the major drivers of bacterial community structure in the termite gut, using amplicon libraries of 16S rRNA genes from 18 species of higher termites. In all analyses, the wood-feeding species were clearly separated from humus and soil feeders, irrespective of their taxonomic affiliation, offering compelling evidence that diet is the primary determinant of bacterial community structure. Within each diet group, however, gut communities of termites from the same subfamily were more similar than those of distantly related species. A highly resolved classification using a curated reference database revealed only few genus-level taxa whose distribution patterns indicated specificity for certain host lineages, limiting any possible cospeciation between the gut microbiota and host to short evolutionary timescales. Rather, the observed patterns in the host-specific distribution of the bacterial lineages in termite guts are best explained by diet-related differences in the availability of microhabitats and functional niches.}, } @article {pmid26347302, year = {2015}, author = {Gohain, A and Gogoi, A and Debnath, R and Yadav, A and Singh, BP and Gupta, VK and Sharma, R and Saikia, R}, title = {Antimicrobial biosynthetic potential and genetic diversity of endophytic actinomycetes associated with medicinal plants.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {362}, number = {19}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnv158}, pmid = {26347302}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification ; Antibiosis ; Azadirachta/microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Endophytes/genetics/metabolism ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; India ; Micromonosporaceae ; Phyllanthus emblica/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal/*microbiology ; Polyketide Synthases/biosynthesis/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rauwolfia/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Streptomyces/genetics ; Streptomyces antibioticus/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic actinomycetes are one of the primary groups that share symbiotic relationships with medicinal plants and are key reservoir of biologically active compounds. In this study, six selective medicinal plants were targeted for the first time for endophytic actinomycetes isolation from Gibbon Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam, India, during winter and summer and 76 isolates were obtained. The isolates were found to be prevalent in roots followed by stem and leaves. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed 16 genera, including rare genera, Verrucosispora, Isoptericola and Kytococcus, which have never been previously reported as endophytic. The genus Streptomyces (66%) was dominant in both seasons. Shannon's diversity index showed that Azadirachta indica (1.49), Rauwolfia serpentina (1.43) and Emblica officinalis (1.24) were relatively good habitat for endophytic actinomycetes. Antimicrobial strains showed prevalence of polyketide synthase (PKS) type-II (85%) followed by PKS type-I (14%) encoded in the genomes. Expression studies showed 12-fold upregulation of PKSII gene in seventh day of incubation for Streptomyces antibioticus (EAAG90). Our results emphasize that the actinomycetes assemblages within plant tissue exhibited biosynthetic systems encoding for important biologically active compounds.}, } @article {pmid26346721, year = {2016}, author = {Butterly, CR and Armstrong, R and Chen, D and Tang, C}, title = {Free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) reduces the inhibitory effect of soil nitrate on N2 fixation of Pisum sativum.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {117}, number = {1}, pages = {177-185}, pmid = {26346721}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {*Air ; Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Fertilizers ; Leghemoglobin/metabolism ; Nitrate Reductase/metabolism ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*drug effects ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Peas/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/physiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Additional carbohydrate supply resulting from enhanced photosynthesis under predicted future elevated CO2 is likely to increase symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation in legumes. This study examined the interactive effects of atmospheric CO2 and nitrate (NO3(-)) concentration on the growth, nodulation and N fixation of field pea (Pisum sativum) in a semi-arid cropping system.

METHODS: Field pea was grown for 15 weeks in a Vertosol containing 5, 25, 50 or 90 mg NO3(-)-N kg(-1) under either ambient CO2 (aCO2; 390 ppm) or elevated CO2 (eCO2; 550 ppm) using free-air CO2 enrichment (SoilFACE).

KEY RESULTS: Under aCO2, field pea biomass was significantly lower at 5 mg NO3(-)-N kg(-1) than at 90 mg NO3(-)-N kg(-1) soil. However, increasing the soil N level significantly reduced nodulation of lateral roots but not the primary root, and nodules were significantly smaller, with 85% less nodule mass in the 90 NO3(-)-N kg(-1) than in the 5 mg NO3(-)-N kg(-1) treatment, highlighting the inhibitory effects of NO3(-). Field pea grown under eCO2 had greater biomass (approx. 30%) than those grown under aCO2, and was not affected by N level. Overall, the inhibitory effects of NO3(-) on nodulation and nodule mass appeared to be reduced under eCO2 compared with aCO2, although the effects of CO2 on root growth were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated CO2 alleviated the inhibitory effect of soil NO3(-) on nodulation and N2 fixation and is likely to lead to greater total N content of field pea growing under future elevated CO2 environments.}, } @article {pmid26346682, year = {2015}, author = {Salzberger, B and Rauscher, C}, title = {[The microbiome of the gut in critically ill patients].}, journal = {Medizinische Klinik, Intensivmedizin und Notfallmedizin}, volume = {110}, number = {7}, pages = {521-525}, pmid = {26346682}, issn = {2193-6226}, mesh = {Critical Care/methods ; *Critical Illness/therapy ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/microbiology/therapy ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The complexity and diversity of the human intestinal microbiome has only recently been characterized. The multiple metabolic and immunologic effects of the bacterial flora have demonstrated the symbiosis between the microbiome and its host. This symbiosis is disturbed in a multitude of diseases, especially in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES: A review of the changes in the intestinal microbiome of critically ill patients and the use of probiotics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nonsystematic literature search in PubMed on the topics: (1) changes in the intestinal microbiome in critically ill patients, (2) interventions using probiotics in critically ill patients, and (3) use of fecal transplantation in Clostridium difficile colitis.

RESULTS: Trauma, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and other conditions lead to shifts in the composition of the intestinal microbiome, which are correlated with clinical outcome. The most obvious change is a profound loss of obligate anaerobe bacteria, leading also to metabolic changes. Probiotics have been used in several studies and show efficacy in the reduction of infectious complication but not in overall mortality. C. difficile colitis as the model disease for a disturbed microbiome can be treated effectively by transfer of donor feces, which also restores the diversity of the microbiome.

CONCLUSION: Taking into account the successful intervention of fecal transplantation on the intestinal microbiome, new products developed using the current knowledge of the intestinal microbiome could be more effective.}, } @article {pmid26345272, year = {2016}, author = {Greshake, B and Zehr, S and Dal Grande, F and Meiser, A and Schmitt, I and Ebersberger, I}, title = {Potential and pitfalls of eukaryotic metagenome skimming: a test case for lichens.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {511-523}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.12463}, pmid = {26345272}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/genetics ; *Biota ; Chlorophyta/classification/genetics ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Computer Simulation ; Lichens/classification/*genetics ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; }, abstract = {Whole-genome shotgun sequencing of multispecies communities using only a single library layout is commonly used to assess taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial assemblages. Here, we investigate to what extent such metagenome skimming approaches are applicable for in-depth genomic characterizations of eukaryotic communities, for example lichens. We address how to best assemble a particular eukaryotic metagenome skimming data, what pitfalls can occur, and what genome quality can be expected from these data. To facilitate a project-specific benchmarking, we introduce the concept of twin sets, simulated data resembling the outcome of a particular metagenome sequencing study. We show that the quality of genome reconstructions depends essentially on assembler choice. Individual tools, including the metagenome assemblers Omega and MetaVelvet, are surprisingly sensitive to low and uneven coverages. In combination with the routine of assembly parameter choice to optimize the assembly N50 size, these tools can preclude an entire genome from the assembly. In contrast, MIRA, an all-purpose overlap assembler, and SPAdes, a multisized de Bruijn graph assembler, facilitate a comprehensive view on the individual genomes across a wide range of coverage ratios. Testing assemblers on a real-world metagenome skimming data from the lichen Lasallia pustulata demonstrates the applicability of twin sets for guiding method selection. Furthermore, it reveals that the assembly outcome for the photobiont Trebouxia sp. falls behind the a priori expectation given the simulations. Although the underlying reasons remain still unclear, this highlights that further studies on this organism require special attention during sequence data generation and downstream analysis.}, } @article {pmid26344933, year = {2016}, author = {Henke, C and Jung, EM and Voit, A and Kothe, E and Krause, K}, title = {Dehydrogenase genes in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma vaccinum: A role for Ald1 in mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {56}, number = {2}, pages = {162-174}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201500381}, pmid = {26344933}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Picea/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tricholoma/*enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is important for forest ecosystem functioning with tree-fungal cooperation increasing performance and countering stress conditions. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are key enzymes for detoxification and thus may play a role in stress response of the symbiotic association. With this focus, eight dehydrogenases, Ald1 through Ald7 and TyrA, of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Tricholoma vaccinum were characterized and phylogenetically investigated. Functional analysis was performed through differential expression analysis by feeding different, environmentally important substances. A strong effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was identified, linking mycorrhiza formation and auxin signaling between the symbiosis partners. We investigated ald1 overexpressing strains for performance in mycorrhiza with the host tree spruce (Picea abies) and observed an increased width of the apoplast, accommodating the Hartig' net hyphae of the T. vaccinum over-expressing transformants. The results support a role for Ald1 in ectomycorrhiza formation and underline functional differentiation within fungal aldehyde dehydrogenases in the family 1 of ALDHs.}, } @article {pmid26344027, year = {2015}, author = {Stefan, A and Rosu, CM and Stedel, C and Gorgan, LD and Efrose, RC}, title = {RAPD-inferred genetic variability of some indigenous Rhizobium leguminosarum isolates from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) nodules.}, journal = {Acta biologica Hungarica}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {316-325}, doi = {10.1556/018.66.2015.3.7}, pmid = {26344027}, issn = {0236-5383}, mesh = {*Genetic Variation ; *Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The application of commercial rhizobial inoculants to legume crops is proving to be an alternative to synthetic fertilizer use. The challenge for sustainable agriculture resides in the compatibility between crop, inoculants and environmental conditions. The evaluation of symbiotic efficiency and genetic diversity of indigenous rhizobial strains could lead to the development of better inoculants and increased crop production. The genetic variability of 32 wild indigenous rhizobial isolates was assessed by RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA). The strains were isolated from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) nodules from two distinct geographical regions of Northern and Eastern Romania. Three decamer primers were used to resolve the phylogenetic relationships between the investigated isolates. Cluster analysis revealed a high diversity; most strains clustered together based on their geographical location.}, } @article {pmid26341535, year = {2015}, author = {Dohra, H and Fujishima, M and Suzuki, H}, title = {Analysis of amino acid and codon usage in Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {589}, number = {20 Pt B}, pages = {3113-3118}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2015.08.033}, pmid = {26341535}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*genetics/metabolism ; Chlorella/physiology ; Codon/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Paramecium/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The ciliate Paramecium bursaria harbors the green-alga Chlorella symbionts. We reassembled the P. bursaria transcriptome to minimize falsely fused transcripts, and investigated amino acid and codon usage using the transcriptome data. Surface proteins preferentially use smaller amino acid residues like cysteine. Unusual synonymous codon and amino acid usage in highly expressed genes can reflect a balance between translational selection and other factors. A correlation of gene expression level with synonymous codon or amino acid usage is emphasized in genes down-regulated in symbiont-bearing cells compared to symbiont-free cells. Our results imply that the selection is associated with P. bursaria-Chlorella symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26341483, year = {2015}, author = {Staehelin, C and Krishnan, HB}, title = {Nodulation outer proteins: double-edged swords of symbiotic rhizobia.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {470}, number = {3}, pages = {263-274}, doi = {10.1042/BJ20150518}, pmid = {26341483}, issn = {1470-8728}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Fimbriae, Bacterial/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial ; Models, Biological ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that establish a nodule symbiosis with legumes. Nodule formation depends on signals and surface determinants produced by both symbiotic partners. Among them, rhizobial Nops (nodulation outer proteins) play a crucial symbiotic role in many strain-host combinations. Nops are defined as proteins secreted via a rhizobial T3SS (type III secretion system). Functional T3SSs have been characterized in many rhizobial strains. Nops have been identified using various genetic, biochemical, proteomic, genomic and experimental approaches. Certain Nops represent extracellular components of the T3SS, which are visible in electron micrographs as bacterial surface appendages called T3 (type III) pili. Other Nops are T3 effector proteins that can be translocated into plant cells. Rhizobial T3 effectors manipulate cellular processes in host cells to suppress plant defence responses against rhizobia and to promote symbiosis-related processes. Accordingly, mutant strains deficient in synthesis or secretion of T3 effectors show reduced symbiotic properties on certain host plants. On the other hand, direct or indirect recognition of T3 effectors by plant cells expressing specific R (resistance) proteins can result in effector triggered defence responses that negatively affect rhizobial infection. Hence Nops are double-edged swords that may promote establishment of symbiosis with one legume (symbiotic factors) and impair symbiotic processes when bacteria are inoculated on another legume species (asymbiotic factors). In the present review, we provide an overview of our current understanding of Nops. We summarize their symbiotic effects, their biochemical properties and their possible modes of action. Finally, we discuss future perspectives in the field of T3 effector research.}, } @article {pmid26340934, year = {2015}, author = {Osińska-Jaroszuk, M and Jarosz-Wilkołazka, A and Jaroszuk-Ściseł, J and Szałapata, K and Nowak, A and Jaszek, M and Ozimek, E and Majewska, M}, title = {Extracellular polysaccharides from Ascomycota and Basidiomycota: production conditions, biochemical characteristics, and biological properties.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {1823-1844}, pmid = {26340934}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Fungal Polysaccharides/*biosynthesis/*chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Fungal polysaccharides (PSs) are the subject of research in many fields of science and industry. Many properties of PSs have already been confirmed and the list of postulated functions continues to grow. Fungal PSs are classified into different groups according to systematic affinity, structure (linear and branched), sugar composition (homo- and heteropolysaccharides), type of bonds between the monomers (β-(1 → 3), β-(1 → 6), and α-(1 → 3)) and their location in the cell (cell wall PSs, exoPSs, and endoPSs). Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are most frequently studied fungal PSs but their definition, classification, and origin are still not clear and should be explained. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi producing EPS have different ecological positions (saprotrophic and endophytic, pathogenic or symbiotic-mycorrhizae fungi); therefore, EPSs play different biological functions, for example in the protection against environmental stress factors and in interactions with other organisms. EPSs obtained from Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungal cultures are known for their antioxidant, immunostimulating, antitumor, and antimicrobial properties. The major objective of the presented review article was to provide a detailed description of the state-of-the-art knowledge of the effectiveness of EPS production by filamentous and yeast Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi and techniques of derivation of EPSs, their biochemical characteristics, and biological properties allowing comprehensive analysis as well as indication of similarities and differences between these fungal groups. Understanding the role of EPSs in a variety of processes and their application in food or pharmaceutical industries requires improvement of the techniques of their derivation, purification, and characterization. The detailed analyses of data concerning the derivation and application of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota EPSs can facilitate development and trace the direction of application of these EPSs in different branches of industry, agriculture, and medicine.}, } @article {pmid26340565, year = {2015}, author = {Galardini, M and Brilli, M and Spini, G and Rossi, M and Roncaglia, B and Bani, A and Chiancianesi, M and Moretto, M and Engelen, K and Bacci, G and Pini, F and Biondi, EG and Bazzicalupo, M and Mengoni, A}, title = {Evolution of Intra-specific Regulatory Networks in a Multipartite Bacterial Genome.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {e1004478}, pmid = {26340565}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Regulatory Networks/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Models, Genetic ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; }, abstract = {Reconstruction of the regulatory network is an important step in understanding how organisms control the expression of gene products and therefore phenotypes. Recent studies have pointed out the importance of regulatory network plasticity in bacterial adaptation and evolution. The evolution of such networks within and outside the species boundary is however still obscure. Sinorhizobium meliloti is an ideal species for such study, having three large replicons, many genomes available and a significant knowledge of its transcription factors (TF). Each replicon has a specific functional and evolutionary mark; which might also emerge from the analysis of their regulatory signatures. Here we have studied the plasticity of the regulatory network within and outside the S. meliloti species, looking for the presence of 41 TFs binding motifs in 51 strains and 5 related rhizobial species. We have detected a preference of several TFs for one of the three replicons, and the function of regulated genes was found to be in accordance with the overall replicon functional signature: house-keeping functions for the chromosome, metabolism for the chromid, symbiosis for the megaplasmid. This therefore suggests a replicon-specific wiring of the regulatory network in the S. meliloti species. At the same time a significant part of the predicted regulatory network is shared between the chromosome and the chromid, thus adding an additional layer by which the chromid integrates itself in the core genome. Furthermore, the regulatory network distance was found to be correlated with both promoter regions and accessory genome evolution inside the species, indicating that both pangenome compartments are involved in the regulatory network evolution. We also observed that genes which are not included in the species regulatory network are more likely to belong to the accessory genome, indicating that regulatory interactions should also be considered to predict gene conservation in bacterial pangenomes.}, } @article {pmid26338189, year = {2015}, author = {Fan, HW and Noda, H and Xie, HQ and Suetsugu, Y and Zhu, QH and Zhang, CX}, title = {Genomic Analysis of an Ascomycete Fungus from the Rice Planthopper Reveals How It Adapts to an Endosymbiotic Lifestyle.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {2623-2634}, pmid = {26338189}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Animals ; Ascomycota/classification/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Fungal ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A number of sap-sucking insects harbor endosymbionts, which are thought to play an important role in the development of their hosts. One of the most important rice pests, the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), harbors an obligatory yeast-like symbiont (YLS) that cannot be cultured in vitro. Genomic information on this YLS would be useful to better understand its evolution. In this study, we performed genome sequencing of the YLS using both 454 and Illumina approaches, generating a draft genome that shows a slightly smaller genome size and relatively higher GC content than most ascomycete fungi. A phylogenomic analysis of the YLS supported its close relationship with insect pathogens. We analyzed YLS-specific genes and the categories of genes that are likely to have changed in the YLS during its evolution. The loss of mating type locus demonstrated in the YLS sheds light on the evolution of eukaryotic symbionts. This information about the YLS genome provides a helpful guide for further understanding endosymbiotic associations in hemiptera and the symbiotic replacement of ancient bacteria with a multifunctional YLS seems to have been a successful change.}, } @article {pmid26337794, year = {2016}, author = {Wing, MR and Patel, SS and Ramezani, A and Raj, DS}, title = {Gut microbiome in chronic kidney disease.}, journal = {Experimental physiology}, volume = {101}, number = {4}, pages = {471-477}, doi = {10.1113/EP085283}, pmid = {26337794}, issn = {1469-445X}, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism/microbiology ; Disease Progression ; Endotoxins/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {What is the topic of this review? This review addresses the contribution of the altered gut microbiome to uraemic syndrome, with specific reference to gut microbiome-derived uraemic toxins. It also discusses the potential treatment options to normalize the disturbed microbiome in chronic kidney disease (CKD). What advances does it highlight? This review highlights the importance of the gut-kidney connection and how the altered microbial landscape in the intestine contributes to dysmetabolism and inflammation in CKD. Recent findings linking gut-derived uraemic toxins to progression of CKD, cardiovascular disease and mortality are also discussed. Finally, we briefly explain targeted therapies that have been studied to restore intestinal symbiosis in CKD. The human intestine is now recognized as an important metabolic organ powered by gut microbiota. This review addresses the alteration in the gut microbiome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its consequence. We describe the major uraemic toxins, p-cresol sulfate, indoxyl sulfate and trimethylamine N-oxide, which are produced by the gut microbiome, and how these metabolites contribute to progression of CKD and associated cardiovascular disease. Translocation of endotoxin from the gut into the systemic circulation contributes to inflammation in CKD. Targeting the gut microbiome to restore symbiosis may prove to be a potent strategy in reducing inflammation and production of these uraemic toxins.}, } @article {pmid26337598, year = {2016}, author = {Le Bescot, N and Mahé, F and Audic, S and Dimier, C and Garet, MJ and Poulain, J and Wincker, P and de Vargas, C and Siano, R}, title = {Global patterns of pelagic dinoflagellate diversity across protist size classes unveiled by metabarcoding.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, pages = {609-626}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13039}, pmid = {26337598}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/*genetics ; Ecology ; Oceans and Seas ; Phytoplankton/*classification/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates (Alveolata) are one of the ecologically most important groups of modern phytoplankton. Their biological complexity makes assessment of their global diversity and community structure difficult. We used massive V9 18S rDNA sequencing from 106 size-fractionated plankton communities collected across the world's surface oceans during the Tara Oceans expedition (2009-2012) to assess patterns of pelagic dinoflagellate diversity and community structuring over global taxonomic and ecological scales. Our data and analyses suggest that dinoflagellate diversity has been largely underestimated, representing overall ∼ 1/2 of protistan rDNA metabarcode richness assigned at ≥ 90% to a reference sequence in the world's surface oceans. Dinoflagellate metabarcode diversity and abundance display regular patterns across the global scale, with different order-level taxonomic compositions across organismal size fractions. While the pico to nano-planktonic communities are composed of an extreme diversity of metabarcodes assigned to Gymnodiniales or are simply undetermined, most micro-dinoflagellate metabarcodes relate to the well-referenced Gonyaulacales and Peridiniales orders, and a lower abundance and diversity of essentially symbiotic Peridiniales is unveiled in the meso-plankton. Our analyses could help future development of biogeochemical models of pelagic systems integrating the separation of dinoflagellates into functional groups according to plankton size classes.}, } @article {pmid26336647, year = {2015}, author = {Ayayee, PA and Jones, SC and Sabree, ZL}, title = {Can (13)C stable isotope analysis uncover essential amino acid provisioning by termite-associated gut microbes?.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1218}, pmid = {26336647}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Gut-associated microbes of insects are postulated to provide a variety of nutritional functions including provisioning essential amino acids (EAAs). Demonstrations of EAA provisioning in insect-gut microbial systems, nonetheless, are scant. In this study, we investigated whether the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes sourced EAAs from its gut-associated microbiota. δ (13)CEAA data from termite carcass, termite gut filtrate and dietary (wood) samples were determined following (13)C stable isotope analysis. Termite carcass samples (-27.0 ± 0.4‰, mean ± s.e.) were significantly different from termite gut filtrate samples (-27.53 ± 0.5‰), but not the wood diet (-26.0 ± 0.5‰) (F (2,64) = 6, P < 0.0052). δ (13)CEAA-offsets between termite samples and diet suggested possible non-dietary EAA input. Predictive modeling identified gut-associated bacteria and fungi, respectively as potential major and minor sources of EAAs in both termite carcass and gut filtrate samples, based on δ (13)CEAA data of four and three EAAs from representative bacteria, fungi and plant data. The wood diet, however, was classified as fungal rather than plant in origin by the model. This is attributed to fungal infestation of the wood diet in the termite colony. This lowers the confidence with which gut microbes (bacteria and fungi) can be attributed with being the source of EAA input to the termite host. Despite this limitation, this study provides tentative data in support of hypothesized EAA provisioning by gut microbes, and also a baseline/framework upon which further work can be carried out to definitively verify this function.}, } @article {pmid26336636, year = {2015}, author = {Hoang, D and Kopp, A and Chandler, JA}, title = {Interactions between Drosophila and its natural yeast symbionts-Is Saccharomyces cerevisiae a good model for studying the fly-yeast relationship?.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1116}, pmid = {26336636}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Yeasts play an important role in the biology of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In addition to being a valuable source of nutrition, yeasts affect D. melanogaster behavior and interact with the host immune system. Most experiments investigating the role of yeasts in D. melanogaster biology use the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, S. cerevisiae is rarely found with natural populations of D. melanogaster or other Drosophila species. Moreover, the strain of S. cerevisiae used most often in D. melanogaster experiments is a commercially and industrially important strain that, to the best of our knowledge, was not isolated from flies. Since disrupting natural host-microbe interactions can have profound effects on host biology, the results from D. melanogaster-S. cerevisiae laboratory experiments may not be fully representative of host-microbe interactions in nature. In this study, we explore the D. melanogaster-yeast relationship using five different strains of yeast that were isolated from wild Drosophila populations. Ingested live yeasts have variable persistence in the D. melanogaster gastrointestinal tract. For example, Hanseniaspora occidentalis persists relative to S. cerevisiae, while Brettanomyces naardenensis is removed. Despite these differences in persistence relative to S. cerevisiae, we find that all yeasts decrease in total abundance over time. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important component of the D. melanogaster anti-microbial response and can inhibit S. cerevisiae growth in the intestine. To determine if sensitivity to ROS explains the differences in yeast persistence, we measured yeast growth in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide. We find that B. naardenesis is completely inhibited by hydrogen peroxide, while H. occidentalis is not, which is consistent with yeast sensitivity to ROS affecting persistence within the D. melanogaster gastrointestinal tract. We also compared the feeding preference of D. melanogaster when given the choice between a naturally associated yeast and S. cerevisiae. We do not find a correlation between preferred yeasts and those that persist in the intestine. Notably, in no instances is S. cerevisiae preferred over the naturally associated strains. Overall, our results show that D. melanogaster-yeast interactions are more complex than might be revealed in experiments that use only S. cerevisiae. We propose that future research utilize other yeasts, and especially those that are naturally associated with Drosophila, to more fully understand the role of yeasts in Drosophila biology. Since the genetic basis of host-microbe interactions is shared across taxa and since many of these genes are initially discovered in D. melanogaster, a more realistic fly-yeast model system will benefit our understanding of host-microbe interactions throughout the animal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid26336033, year = {2015}, author = {Maurel, C and Boursiac, Y and Luu, DT and Santoni, V and Shahzad, Z and Verdoucq, L}, title = {Aquaporins in Plants.}, journal = {Physiological reviews}, volume = {95}, number = {4}, pages = {1321-1358}, doi = {10.1152/physrev.00008.2015}, pmid = {26336033}, issn = {1522-1210}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquaporins/*metabolism ; Biological Transport/physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Plants/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; }, abstract = {Aquaporins are membrane channels that facilitate the transport of water and small neutral molecules across biological membranes of most living organisms. In plants, aquaporins occur as multiple isoforms reflecting a high diversity of cellular localizations, transport selectivity, and regulation properties. Plant aquaporins are localized in the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, plastids and, in some species, in membrane compartments interacting with symbiotic organisms. Plant aquaporins can transport various physiological substrates in addition to water. Of particular relevance for plants is the transport of dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia or metalloids such as boron and silicon. Structure-function studies are developed to address the molecular and cellular mechanisms of plant aquaporin gating and subcellular trafficking. Phosphorylation plays a central role in these two processes. These mechanisms allow aquaporin regulation in response to signaling intermediates such as cytosolic pH and calcium, and reactive oxygen species. Combined genetic and physiological approaches are now integrating this knowledge, showing that aquaporins play key roles in hydraulic regulation in roots and leaves, during drought but also in response to stimuli as diverse as flooding, nutrient availability, temperature, or light. A general hydraulic control of plant tissue expansion by aquaporins is emerging, and their role in key developmental processes (seed germination, emergence of lateral roots) has been established. Plants with genetically altered aquaporin functions are now tested for their ability to improve plant tolerance to stresses. In conclusion, research on aquaporins delineates ever expanding fields in plant integrative biology thereby establishing their crucial role in plants.}, } @article {pmid26335931, year = {2016}, author = {Anwar, H and Rahman, ZU}, title = {Dynamics of anterior pituitary immunoreactive gonadotrophs in moulted hens supplemented with protein, symbiotic and probiotics.}, journal = {Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition}, volume = {100}, number = {3}, pages = {448-455}, doi = {10.1111/jpn.12382}, pmid = {26335931}, issn = {1439-0396}, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Chickens/*physiology ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Proteins/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Gonadotropins/*metabolism ; *Molting ; Pituitary Hormones, Anterior/immunology/*metabolism ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The present work delineates redistribution patterns of the hormone-producing cells of the anterior pituitary, after the phase of moulting. Two hundred single comb White Leghorn hens at the end of their first production cycle (Age = 70 week) were purchased from the commercial poultry farm and were induced to moult by high-dietary zinc (3 g/kg feed/day) after 1 week of acclimatization, at the experimental research station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The moulted birds were equally (n = 50) and randomly allocated to their respective groups as G1 (control; CP (Crude protein) 16%, no supplement), G2 (CP18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP16%, symbiotic at does rate of 85 mg/l in drinking water daily) and G4 (CP16%, probiotic at dose rate of 85 mg/l in drinking water daily). Ten birds were slaughtered in each group at 5% and at peak of post-moult production stage to collect their pituitary glands. An earlier post-moult production recovery, sustained and lengthier production span was seen in the G2 as compared to all other groups. The lowest production and an earlier production decline were seen in G1. The cell diameter and area of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) gonadotroph increased (p ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The FSH gonadotroph nucleus diameter and area did increase (p ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3, while LH gonadotroph nucleus diameter and area decreased (p ≤ 0.01) in G2 and G3 as compared to G1. The increased FSH and LH gonadotroph diameter in protein and symbiotic supplemented birds is accountable for the increased egg production in these groups.}, } @article {pmid26332792, year = {2015}, author = {Łukasik, P and Guo, H and van Asch, M and Henry, LM and Godfray, HC and Ferrari, J}, title = {Horizontal transfer of facultative endosymbionts is limited by host relatedness.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {69}, number = {10}, pages = {2757-2766}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12767}, pmid = {26332792}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {BB/E010857/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology/parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/physiology ; Fertility ; Fungi/pathogenicity ; Genotype ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Symbiosis ; Wasps ; }, abstract = {Heritable microbial symbionts can have important effects on many aspects of their hosts' biology. Acquisition of a novel symbiont strain can provide fitness benefits to the host, with significant ecological and evolutionary consequences. We measured barriers to horizontal transmission by artificially transferring facultative symbionts from the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, and five other aphid species into two clonal genotypes of S. avenae. We found the symbiont Hamiltonella defensa establishes infections more easily following a transfer from the same host species and that such infections are more stable. Infection success was also higher when the introduced symbiont strain was more closely related to the strain that was originally present in the host (but which had previously been removed). There were no differences among successfully established symbiont strains in their effect on aphid fecundity. Hamiltonella defensa did not confer protection against parasitoids in our S. avenae clones, although it often does in other aphid hosts. However, strains of the symbiont Regiella insecticola originating from two host species protected grain aphids against the pathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis. This study helps describe the extent to which facultative symbionts can act as a pool of adaptations that can be sampled by their eukaryote hosts.}, } @article {pmid26329415, year = {2015}, author = {Dagli, N and Dagli, R and Baroudi, K and Tarakji, B}, title = {Oral Paleomicrobiology: Study of Ancient Oral Microbiome.}, journal = {The journal of contemporary dental practice}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {588-594}, doi = {10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1726}, pmid = {26329415}, issn = {1526-3711}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/history ; Dental Calculus/*history/microbiology ; Dental Pulp/microbiology ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Paleodontology ; Paleontology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Paleomicrobiology is a special branch of micropaleontology concerned with the study of bacterial fossils. We have used the term 'oral paleomicrobiology', as in this review we have focused on the ancient oral microflora. Recently, dental calculus and dental pulp have been identified as rich sources of ancient microbial DNA. Study of this ancient genetic material opens a new door to the ancient world. This review gives an overview of history of ancient DNA research, various techniques of analyzing ancient DNA in dental calculus and dental pulp, and the implications of the oral paleomicrobiology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the following databases-pubmed, medline and google scholar for studies published before 10 April, 2015. The following keywords were used- 'ancient DNA', 'ancient oral flora, 'oral paleomicrobiology' and 'oral microbiome', '16S rRNA sequencing'. To obtain additional data, a manual search was performed using the reference lists of selected articles.

RESULT: As a result of literature search, 27 articles were found in pubmed, 12 in google scholar and one in medline. Eight more articles were selected from the reference list of selected articles.

CONCLUSION: The combination of microbiology and paleontology has brought a revolution in the study of human evolution and microbial communities. The naturally well-preserved samples of microbial DNA from dental pulp and microbial colonies trapped in dental calculus are a potential source of microbial genetic material, which will prove invaluable in resolving mysteries of the past. This may be a beginning of a new era of oral paleomicrobiology, which will contribute in our studies about prevention of disease by establishing symbiosis between human beings and their microbiome.}, } @article {pmid26324935, year = {2015}, author = {Ohbayashi, T and Takeshita, K and Kitagawa, W and Nikoh, N and Koga, R and Meng, XY and Tago, K and Hori, T and Hayatsu, M and Asano, K and Kamagata, Y and Lee, BL and Fukatsu, T and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Insect's intestinal organ for symbiont sorting.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {37}, pages = {E5179-88}, pmid = {26324935}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Coloring Agents/chemistry ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Flagella/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Insecta ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Luminescent Proteins/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis has significantly contributed to organismal adaptation and diversification. For establishment and maintenance of such host-symbiont associations, host organisms must have evolved mechanisms for selective incorporation, accommodation, and maintenance of their specific microbial partners. Here we report the discovery of a previously unrecognized type of animal organ for symbiont sorting. In the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, the posterior midgut is morphologically differentiated for harboring specific symbiotic bacteria of a beneficial nature. The sorting organ lies in the middle of the intestine as a constricted region, which partitions the midgut into an anterior nonsymbiotic region and a posterior symbiotic region. Oral administration of GFP-labeled Burkholderia symbionts to nymphal stinkbugs showed that the symbionts pass through the constricted region and colonize the posterior midgut. However, administration of food colorings revealed that food fluid enters neither the constricted region nor the posterior midgut, indicating selective symbiont passage at the constricted region and functional isolation of the posterior midgut for symbiosis. Coadministration of the GFP-labeled symbiont and red fluorescent protein-labeled Escherichia coli unveiled selective passage of the symbiont and blockage of E. coli at the constricted region, demonstrating the organ's ability to discriminate the specific bacterial symbiont from nonsymbiotic bacteria. Transposon mutagenesis and screening revealed that symbiont mutants in flagella-related genes fail to pass through the constricted region, highlighting that both host's control and symbiont's motility are involved in the sorting process. The blocking of food flow at the constricted region is conserved among diverse stinkbug groups, suggesting the evolutionary origin of the intestinal organ in their common ancestor.}, } @article {pmid26324931, year = {2015}, author = {}, title = {Correction for Venkateshwaran et al., A role for the mevalonate pathway in early plant symbiotic signaling.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {38}, pages = {E5378}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1516711112}, pmid = {26324931}, issn = {1091-6490}, } @article {pmid26324906, year = {2015}, author = {Baumgarten, S and Simakov, O and Esherick, LY and Liew, YJ and Lehnert, EM and Michell, CT and Li, Y and Hambleton, EA and Guse, A and Oates, ME and Gough, J and Weis, VM and Aranda, M and Pringle, JR and Voolstra, CR}, title = {The genome of Aiptasia, a sea anemone model for coral symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {38}, pages = {11893-11898}, pmid = {26324906}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/G022771/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; 5 T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Chromosomes/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genome/*genetics ; Genome Size ; Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Synteny/genetics ; }, abstract = {The most diverse marine ecosystems, coral reefs, depend upon a functional symbiosis between a cnidarian animal host (the coral) and intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellate algae. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this endosymbiosis are not well understood, in part because of the difficulties of experimental work with corals. The small sea anemone Aiptasia provides a tractable laboratory model for investigating these mechanisms. Here we report on the assembly and analysis of the Aiptasia genome, which will provide a foundation for future studies and has revealed several features that may be key to understanding the evolution and function of the endosymbiosis. These features include genomic rearrangements and taxonomically restricted genes that may be functionally related to the symbiosis, aspects of host dependence on alga-derived nutrients, a novel and expanded cnidarian-specific family of putative pattern-recognition receptors that might be involved in the animal-algal interactions, and extensive lineage-specific horizontal gene transfer. Extensive integration of genes of prokaryotic origin, including genes for antimicrobial peptides, presumably reflects an intimate association of the animal-algal pair also with its prokaryotic microbiome.}, } @article {pmid26323767, year = {2015}, author = {Akanni, WA and Siu-Ting, K and Creevey, CJ and McInerney, JO and Wilkinson, M and Foster, PG and Pisani, D}, title = {Horizontal gene flow from Eubacteria to Archaebacteria and what it means for our understanding of eukaryogenesis.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1678}, pages = {20140337}, pmid = {26323767}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {BB/G024707/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K007440//BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Gene Flow ; Genome, Bacterial ; Models, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The origin of the eukaryotic cell is considered one of the major evolutionary transitions in the history of life. Current evidence strongly supports a scenario of eukaryotic origin in which two prokaryotes, an archaebacterial host and an α-proteobacterium (the free-living ancestor of the mitochondrion), entered a stable symbiotic relationship. The establishment of this relationship was associated with a process of chimerization, whereby a large number of genes from the α-proteobacterial symbiont were transferred to the host nucleus. A general framework allowing the conceptualization of eukaryogenesis from a genomic perspective has long been lacking. Recent studies suggest that the origins of several archaebacterial phyla were coincident with massive imports of eubacterial genes. Although this does not indicate that these phyla originated through the same process that led to the origin of Eukaryota, it suggests that Archaebacteria might have had a general propensity to integrate into their genomes large amounts of eubacterial DNA. We suggest that this propensity provides a framework in which eukaryogenesis can be understood and studied in the light of archaebacterial ecology. We applied a recently developed supertree method to a genomic dataset composed of 392 eubacterial and 51 archaebacterial genera to test whether large numbers of genes flowing from Eubacteria are indeed coincident with the origin of major archaebacterial clades. In addition, we identified two potential large-scale transfers of uncertain directionality at the base of the archaebacterial tree. Our results are consistent with previous findings and seem to indicate that eubacterial gene imports (particularly from δ-Proteobacteria, Clostridia and Actinobacteria) were an important factor in archaebacterial history. Archaebacteria seem to have long relied on Eubacteria as a source of genetic diversity, and while the precise mechanism that allowed these imports is unknown, we suggest that our results support the view that processes comparable to those through which eukaryotes emerged might have been common in archaebacterial history.}, } @article {pmid26323755, year = {2015}, author = {McInerney, J and Pisani, D and O'Connell, MJ}, title = {The ring of life hypothesis for eukaryote origins is supported by multiple kinds of data.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1678}, pages = {20140323}, pmid = {26323755}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Eukaryotic Cells ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The literature is replete with manuscripts describing the origin of eukaryotic cells. Most of the models for eukaryogenesis are either autogenous (sometimes called slow-drip), or symbiogenic (sometimes called big-bang). In this article, we use large and diverse suites of 'Omics' and other data to make the inference that autogeneous hypotheses are a very poor fit to the data and the origin of eukaryotic cells occurred in a single symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26323752, year = {2015}, author = {Williams, TA and Embley, TM}, title = {Changing ideas about eukaryotic origins.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1678}, pages = {20140318}, pmid = {26323752}, issn = {1471-2970}, support = {268701/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; 045404//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/*cytology ; Genome ; }, abstract = {The origin of eukaryotic cells is one of the most fascinating challenges in biology, and has inspired decades of controversy and debate. Recent work has led to major upheavals in our understanding of eukaryotic origins and has catalysed new debates about the roles of endosymbiosis and gene flow across the tree of life. Improved methods of phylogenetic analysis support scenarios in which the host cell for the mitochondrial endosymbiont was a member of the Archaea, and new technologies for sampling the genomes of environmental prokaryotes have allowed investigators to home in on closer relatives of founding symbiotic partners. The inference and interpretation of phylogenetic trees from genomic data remains at the centre of many of these debates, and there is increasing recognition that trees built using inadequate methods can prove misleading, whether describing the relationship of eukaryotes to other cells or the root of the universal tree. New statistical approaches show promise for addressing these questions but they come with their own computational challenges. The papers in this theme issue discuss recent progress on the origin of eukaryotic cells and genomes, highlight some of the ongoing debates, and suggest possible routes to future progress.}, } @article {pmid26323110, year = {2015}, author = {Widakowich, C}, title = {[THE MANIC DEPRESSIVE DISEASE: PSYCHODYNAMICS ASPECTS AND AFFECTIVE SYNTONY].}, journal = {Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina)}, volume = {26}, number = {119}, pages = {28-33}, pmid = {26323110}, issn = {0327-6139}, mesh = {*Affect ; Bipolar Disorder/*psychology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {In a time when manic-depressive disease became bipolar disorder, and it is conceptualized and treated almost as a fully medical illness, such as epilepsy, we found worth returning to some psychodynamic aspects underlying this condition. Conventionally, we depart from the concept of melancholy, to introduce in a second time, the mania, as a liberating solution of the depression. To Abraham (1912), mania is the liberation from suffering imposed by the reality principle For Freud (1915), mania becomes a leak from the ego face a tyrannical superego (the encounter of ego and the ego ideal). Klein (1934) explains that the mania serves to counter the depressive position and thus avoid the guilt inside of ego. For Racamier (1979), mania is clearly a frantic negation of the anguish and emotional suffering. Today, some authors as Chabot and Husain try to define the manic depression organization, with the help of projective tests. This personality structure would be between psychosis and borderline. An axial element of this structure is the research for an affective symbiosis with each other. These concept, strongly resemble the "syntony", from Bleuler. We trace the evolution of manic depression from a psychodynamic and structural point of view, with particular interesting in the concept of syntony.}, } @article {pmid26322072, year = {2015}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Vallino, M and Biselli, C and Faccio, A and Bagnaresi, P and Bonfante, P}, title = {Host and non-host roots in rice: cellular and molecular approaches reveal differential responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {636}, pmid = {26322072}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Oryza sativa, a model plant for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, has both host and non-host roots. Large lateral (LLR) and fine lateral (FLR) roots display opposite responses: LLR support AM colonization, but FLR do not. Our research aimed to study the molecular, morphological and physiological aspects related to the non-host behavior of FLR. RNA-seq analysis revealed that LLR and FLR displayed divergent expression profiles, including changes in many metabolic pathways. Compared with LLR, FLR showed down-regulation of genes instrumental for AM establishment and gibberellin signaling, and a higher expression of nutrient transporters. Consistent with the transcriptomic data, FLR had higher phosphorus content. Light and electron microscopy demonstrated that, surprisingly, in the Selenio cultivar, FLR have a two-layered cortex, which is theoretically compatible with AM colonization. According to RNA-seq, a gibberellin inhibitor treatment increased anticlinal divisions leading to a higher number of cortex cells in FLR. We propose that some of the differentially regulated genes that lead to the anatomical and physiological properties of the two root types also function as genetic factors regulating fungal colonization. The rice root apparatus offers a unique tool to study AM symbiosis, allowing direct comparisons of host and non-host roots in the same individual plant.}, } @article {pmid26321175, year = {2015}, author = {Farsad-Naeimi, A and Imani, S and Arefhosseini, SR and Alizadeh, M}, title = {Effect of Safflower Oil on Concentration of Conjugated Linoleic Acid of Kefir Prepared by Low-fat Milk.}, journal = {Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {128-133}, doi = {10.2174/2212798407666150831144122}, pmid = {26321175}, issn = {1876-1429}, mesh = {Animals ; Carthamus/chemistry ; Cultured Milk Products/*chemistry ; Dietary Fats/*analysis ; Fat Substitutes/*chemistry ; *Food Handling ; Food Microbiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated/*analysis ; Milk/chemistry ; *Patents as Topic ; Safflower Oil/*chemistry ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a special fatty acid in dairy products with unique antioxidant and anti-cancerous effects. Kefir, a milk product, comprises normalized homogenized cow's milk, the fructose and lactulose syrup as well as a symbiotic starter which has improved probiotic characteristics. The study was aimed to discuss patents and to examine the effect of different safflower oil concentrations on CLA content of the kefir drink prepared by low-fat milk.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Safflower oil was added at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5% (V/V) to low-fat cow's milk and six formulations of kefir samples were prepared. The CLA content of the kefir products was measured at pH=6.0 and pH=6.8 by gas chromatography. Acid and bile tolerance of bacterial microenvironment in the products were also determined.

RESULTS: Substitution of natural fat content of milk with safflower oil resulted in proportional increase in the CLA contents of kefir in a dose dependent manner. The highest concentration of CLA was found under 0.5% (V/V) of safflower oil at pH 6.0 and temperature of 37 °C. Adding the Safflower oil into milk used for kefir production, increased CLA content from 0.123 (g/100 g) in pure safflower free samples to 0.322 (g/100 g) in samples with 0.5% (V/V) of safflower oil.

CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that substitution of safflower oil with natural fat of cow's milk may help the production of kefir samples with remarkable increase in CLA content of final product.}, } @article {pmid26320242, year = {2015}, author = {Herrmann, S and Recht, S and Boenn, M and Feldhahn, L and Angay, O and Fleischmann, F and Tarkka, MT and Grams, TE and Buscot, F}, title = {Endogenous rhythmic growth in oak trees is regulated by internal clocks rather than resource availability.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {22}, pages = {7113-7127}, pmid = {26320242}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/physiology ; *Biological Clocks/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; DNA, Plant ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/genetics ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Quercus/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Common oak trees display endogenous rhythmic growth with alternating shoot and root flushes. To explore the mechanisms involved, microcuttings of the Quercus robur L. clone DF159 were used for (13)C/(15)N labelling in combination with RNA sequencing (RNASeq) transcript profiling of shoots and roots. The effect of plant internal resource availability on the rhythmic growth of the cuttings was tested through inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Piloderma croceum. Shoot and root flushes were related to parallel shifts in above- and below-ground C and, to a lesser extent, N allocation. Increased plant internal resource availability by P. croceum inoculation with enhanced plant growth affected neither the rhythmic growth nor the associated resource allocation patterns. Two shifts in transcript abundance were identified during root and shoot growth cessation, and most concerned genes were down-regulated. Inoculation with P. croceum suppressed these transcript shifts in roots, but not in shoots. To identify core processes governing the rhythmic growth, functions [Gene Ontology (GO) terms] of the genes differentially expressed during the growth cessation in both leaves and roots of non-inoculated plants and leaves of P. croceum-inoculated plants were examined. Besides genes related to resource acquisition and cell development, which might reflect rather than trigger rhythmic growth, genes involved in signalling and/or regulated by the circadian clock were identified. The results indicate that rhythmic growth involves dramatic oscillations in plant metabolism and gene regulation between below- and above-ground parts. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis may play a previously unsuspected role in smoothing these oscillations without modifying the rhythmic growth pattern.}, } @article {pmid26319409, year = {2015}, author = {Cheung, MK and Yip, HY and Nong, W and Law, PT and Chu, KH and Kwan, HS and Hui, JH}, title = {Rapid Change of Microbiota Diversity in the Gut but Not the Hepatopancreas During Gonadal Development of the New Shrimp Model Neocaridina denticulata.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {811-819}, pmid = {26319409}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Decapoda/growth & development/*microbiology ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Gonads/*growth & development ; Hepatopancreas/*microbiology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {During evolution of animals, their co-evolution with bacteria has generally been ignored. Recent studies have provided evidences that the symbiotic bacteria in the animal gut can either be essential or contributing to the plasticity of the host. The Crustacea includes crab, crayfish, lobster, and shrimp and represents the second largest subphylum on the planet. Although there are already studies investigating the intestinal bacterial communities in crustaceans, none of them has examined the microbiota in different parts of the digestive system during the gonad development of the host. Here, we utilized a new shrimp model Neocaridina denticulata and sequenced the 16S rRNA using the Ion Torrent platform to survey the bacterial populations colonizing the hepatopancreas, foregut, and intestine, including midgut and hindgut, of the early, mid, and late ovarian maturation stages of the shrimp. The predominant bacteria phylum was found to be Proteobacteria, with more than 80 % reads from the gut flora at the early gonad development belonged to a Coxiella-type bacterium. Distinct bacterial communities can be detected between the hepatopancreas and gut, although no significant difference could be revealed between the different regions of the gut investigated. Surprisingly, during the gonad development, bacterial diversity changed rapidly in the gut but not the hepatopancreas. This study provides the first evidence that microbiota modified differentially in specific regions of the digestive tract during gonadal development of crustaceans.}, } @article {pmid26318755, year = {2015}, author = {Lee, JB and Byeon, JH and Jang, HA and Kim, JK and Yoo, JW and Kikuchi, Y and Lee, BL}, title = {Bacterial cell motility of Burkholderia gut symbiont is required to colonize the insect gut.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {589}, number = {19 Pt B}, pages = {2784-2790}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2015.08.022}, pmid = {26318755}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*cytology/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase/deficiency/genetics ; Phenotype ; Sequence Deletion ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We generated a Burkholderia mutant, which is deficient of an N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase, AmiC, involved in peptidoglycan degradation. When non-motile ΔamiC mutant Burkholderia cells harboring chain form were orally administered to Riptortus insects, ΔamiC mutant cells were unable to establish symbiotic association. But, ΔamiC mutant complemented with amiC gene restored in vivo symbiotic association. ΔamiC mutant cultured in minimal medium restored their motility with single-celled morphology. When ΔamiC mutant cells harboring single-celled morphology were administered to the host insect, this mutant established normal symbiotic association, suggesting that bacterial motility is essential for the successful symbiosis between host insect and Burkholderia symbiont.}, } @article {pmid26318329, year = {2015}, author = {Cooper, MB and Smith, AG}, title = {Exploring mutualistic interactions between microalgae and bacteria in the omics age.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {147-153}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.07.003}, pmid = {26318329}, issn = {1879-0356}, support = {BB/I013164/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Microalgae/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microalgae undertake a wide range of mutualistic interactions with bacteria. Here we consider how transcriptomic, metagenomic and metabolomic approaches have been combined with microbiological and biochemical analyses to expand our understanding of algal-bacterial interactions. Identification of the major bacterial species associated with algae indicates that specific bacterial groups, particularly the alpha-Proteobacteria, are found more frequently, suggesting that these may have the means to initiate and maintain symbiotic relationships. Nutrient exchange is frequently the basis of algal-bacterial mutualism, and as the compounds involved are characterised, evidence is accumulating that these are complex and specific molecules, offering opportunities for signalling processes and regulation rather than merely passive diffusion. At the same time, it is clear that the interactions are not static, but can be initiated and broken in response to environmental and developmental cues.}, } @article {pmid26314016, year = {2015}, author = {Alkhedir, H and Karlovsky, P and Mashaly, AM and Vidal, S}, title = {Phylogenetic Relationships of the Symbiotic Bacteria in the Aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {44}, number = {5}, pages = {1358-1366}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvv114}, pmid = {26314016}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Buchnera/*classification/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics ; Germany ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids have developed symbiotic associations with different bacterial species, and some morphological and molecular analyses have provided evidence of the host relationship between the primary symbiotic bacteria (Buchnera aphidicola) and the aphid while the contrary with the secondary symbiotic bacteria. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of the bacterial endosymbionts in the aphid Sitobion avenae (F.). We characterized all bacterial endosymbionts in 10 genetically defined S. avenae clones by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and, from these clones, sequenced the 16S rRNA genes of both the primary endosymbiont, B. aphidicola (for the first time), and the secondary endosymbionts, Regiella insecticola and Hamiltonella defensa (for the first time). The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Buchnera from Sitobion related to those in Macrosiphoni. The analysis of the secondary endosymbionts indicated that there is no host relationship between H. defensa and R. insecticola from Sitobion and those from other aphid species. In this study, therefore, we identified further evidence for the relationship between Buchnera and its host and reported a relationship within the secondary endosymbionts of S. avenae from the same country, even though there were no relationships between the secondary bacteria and their host. We also discussed the diversity within the symbiotic bacteria in S. avenae clones.}, } @article {pmid26313964, year = {2015}, author = {Lavy, O and Sher, N and Malik, A and Chiel, E}, title = {Do Bacterial Symbionts Govern Aphid's Dropping Behavior?.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {588-592}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvv044}, pmid = {26313964}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Behavior, Animal ; Predatory Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Defensive symbiosis is amongst nature's most important interactions shaping the ecology and evolution of all partners involved. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae), harbors one obligatory bacterial symbiont and up to seven different facultative symbionts, some of which are known to protect the aphid from pathogens, natural enemies, and other mortality factors. Pea aphids typically drop off the plant when a mammalian herbivore approaches it to avoid incidental predation. Here, we examined whether bacterial symbionts govern the pea aphid dropping behavior by comparing the bacterial fauna in dropping and nondropping aphids of two A. pisum populations, using two molecular techniques: high-throughput profiling of community structure using 16 S reads sequenced on the Illumina platform, and diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found that in addition to the obligatory symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, the tested colonies of A. pisum harbored the facultative symbionts Serratia symbiotica, Regiella insecticola and Rickettsia, with no significant differences in infection proportions between dropping and nondropping aphids. While S. symbiotica was detected by both techniques, R. insecticola and Rickettsia could be detected only by diagnostic PCR. We therefore conclude that A. pisum's dropping behavior is not affected by its bacterial symbionts and is possibly affected by other factors.}, } @article {pmid26313935, year = {2015}, author = {Tanner, SA and Lacroix, C and Del'Homme, C and Jans, C and Zihler Berner, A and Bernalier-Donadille, A and Chassard, C}, title = {Effect of Bifidobacterium thermophilum RBL67 and fructo-oligosaccharides on the gut microbiota in Göttingen minipigs.}, journal = {The British journal of nutrition}, volume = {114}, number = {5}, pages = {746-755}, doi = {10.1017/S0007114515002263}, pmid = {26313935}, issn = {1475-2662}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bifidobacterium ; Cecum/drug effects/microbiology ; Colon/drug effects/microbiology ; Dietary Carbohydrates/pharmacology ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Fructose/pharmacology ; Intestine, Large/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Oligosaccharides/*pharmacology ; *Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; Salmonella ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {Modulating the gut microbiota via dietary interventions is a common strategy to enhance the natural defence mechanisms of the host. Several in vitro studies have highlighted the probiotic potential of Bifidobacterium thermophilum RBL67 (RBL67) selected for its anti-Salmonella effects. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of RBL67 alone and combined with fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on the gut microbiota of Göttingen minipigs. Minipigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with 8 g/d probiotic powder (1×109 CFU/g in skim milk matrix) (probiotic diet (PRO)), 8 g/d probiotic powder plus 8 g/d FOS (synbiotic diet (SYN)) or 8 g/d skim milk powder (control), following a cross-sectional study design. Faecal and caecal microbiota compositions were analysed with pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes and quantitative PCR. Metabolic activity in the caecum and colon was measured by HPLC. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that minipig faeces show close similarity to pig microbiota. During the treatments and at the time of killing of animals, RBL67 was consistently detected in faeces, caecum and colon at numbers of 105-106 16S rRNA copies/g content after feeding PRO and SYN diets. At the time of killing of animals, significantly higher Bifidobacterium numbers in the caecum and colon of SYN-fed minipigs were measured compared with PRO. Our data indicate that the Göttingen minipig may be a suitable model for gut microbiota research in pigs. Data from this first in vivo study of RBL67 colonisation suggest that the combination with FOS may represent a valuable symbiotic strategy to increase probiotic bacteria levels and survival in gastrointestinal tracts for feed and food applications.}, } @article {pmid26313411, year = {2015}, author = {Huisman, R and Bouwmeester, K and Brattinga, M and Govers, F and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E}, title = {Haustorium Formation in Medicago truncatula Roots Infected by Phytophthora palmivora Does Not Involve the Common Endosymbiotic Program Shared by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobia.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {1271-1280}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-15-0130-R}, pmid = {26313411}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Genes, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phytophthora/*pathogenicity ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In biotrophic plant-microbe interactions, microbes infect living plant cells, in which they are hosted in a novel membrane compartment, the host-microbe interface. To create a host-microbe interface, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobia make use of the same endosymbiotic program. It is a long-standing hypothesis that pathogens make use of plant proteins that are dedicated to mutualistic symbiosis to infect plants and form haustoria. In this report, we developed a Phytophthora palmivora pathosystem to study haustorium formation in Medicago truncatula roots. We show that P. palmivora does not require host genes that are essential for symbiotic infection and host-microbe interface formation to infect Medicago roots and form haustoria. Based on these findings, we conclude that P. palmivora does not hijack the ancient intracellular accommodation program used by symbiotic microbes to form a biotrophic host-microbe interface.}, } @article {pmid26312987, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, Q and Táborský, P and Silberman, JD and Pánek, T and Čepička, I and Simpson, AG}, title = {Marine Isolates of Trimastix marina Form a Plesiomorphic Deep-branching Lineage within Preaxostyla, Separate from Other Known Trimastigids (Paratrimastix n. gen.).}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {166}, number = {4}, pages = {468-491}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2015.07.003}, pmid = {26312987}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Eukaryota/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Flagella/ultrastructure ; Organelles/ultrastructure ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Trimastigids are free-living, anaerobic protists that are closely related to the symbiotic oxymonads, forming together the taxon Preaxostyla (Excavata: Metamonada). We isolated fourteen new strains morphologically corresponding to two species assigned to Trimastix (until now the only genus of trimastigids), Trimastix marina and Trimastix pyriformis. Unexpectedly, marine strains of Trimastix marina branch separately from freshwater strains of this morphospecies in SSU rRNA gene trees, and instead form the sister group of all other Preaxostyla. This position is confirmed by three-gene phylogenies. Ultrastructural examination of a marine isolate of Trimastix marina demonstrates a combination of trimastigid-like features (e.g. preaxostyle-like I fibre) and ancestral characters (e.g. absence of thickened flagellar vane margins), consistent with inclusion of marine T. marina within Preaxostyla, but also supporting its distinctiveness from 'freshwater T. marina' and its deep-branching position within Preaxostyla. Since these results indicate paraphyly of Trimastix as currently understood, we transfer the other better-studied trimastigids to Paratrimastix n. gen. and Paratrimastigidae n. fam. The freshwater form previously identified as T. marina is described as Paratrimastix eleionoma n. sp., and Trimastix pyriformis becomes Paratrimastix pyriformis n. comb. Because of its phylogenetic position, 'true' Trimastix is potentially important for understanding the evolution of mitochondrion-related organelles in metamonads.}, } @article {pmid26311868, year = {2015}, author = {Johnson, MC and Tatum, KB and Lynn, JS and Brewer, TE and Lu, S and Washburn, BK and Stroupe, ME and Jones, KM}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Phage ΦM9 Defines a New Group of T4 Superfamily Phages with Unusual Genomic Features but a Common T=16 Capsid.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {89}, number = {21}, pages = {10945-10958}, pmid = {26311868}, issn = {1098-5514}, support = {S10 OD018142/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteriophages/chemistry/classification/*genetics/*ultrastructure ; Base Sequence ; Capsid/*physiology ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; *Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*virology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Relatively little is known about the phages that infect agriculturally important nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Here we report the genome and cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Sinorhizobium meliloti-infecting T4 superfamily phage ΦM9. This phage and its close relative Rhizobium phage vB_RleM_P10VF define a new group of T4 superfamily phages. These phages are distinctly different from the recently characterized cyanophage-like S. meliloti phages of the ΦM12 group. Structurally, ΦM9 has a T=16 capsid formed from repeating units of an extended gp23-like subunit that assemble through interactions between one subunit and the adjacent E-loop insertion domain. Though genetically very distant from the cyanophages, the ΦM9 capsid closely resembles that of the T4 superfamily cyanophage Syn9. ΦM9 also has the same T=16 capsid architecture as the very distant phage SPO1 and the herpesviruses. Despite their overall lack of similarity at the genomic and structural levels, ΦM9 and S. meliloti phage ΦM12 have a small number of open reading frames in common that appear to encode structural proteins involved in interaction with the host and which may have been acquired by horizontal transfer. These proteins are predicted to encode tail baseplate proteins, tail fibers, tail fiber assembly proteins, and glycanases that cleave host exopolysaccharide.

IMPORTANCE: Despite recent advances in the phylogenetic and structural characterization of bacteriophages, only a small number of phages of plant-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria have been studied at the molecular level. The effects of phage predation upon beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth remain poorly characterized. First steps in understanding these soil bacterium-phage dynamics are genetic, molecular, and structural characterizations of these groups of phages. The T4 superfamily phages are among the most complex phages; they have large genomes packaged within an icosahedral head and a long, contractile tail through which the DNA is delivered to host cells. This phylogenetic and structural study of S. meliloti-infecting T4 superfamily phage ΦM9 provides new insight into the diversity of this family. The comparison of structure-related genes in both ΦM9 and S. meliloti-infecting T4 superfamily phage ΦM12, which comes from a completely different lineage of these phages, allows the identification of host infection-related factors.}, } @article {pmid26311208, year = {2015}, author = {Hammer, TJ and Dickerson, JC and Fierer, N}, title = {Evidence-based recommendations on storing and handling specimens for analyses of insect microbiota.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e1190}, pmid = {26311208}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Research on insect microbiota has greatly expanded over the past decade, along with a growing appreciation of the microbial contributions to insect ecology and evolution. Many of these studies use DNA sequencing to characterize the diversity and composition of insect-associated microbial communities. The choice of strategies used for specimen collection, storage, and handling could introduce biases in molecular assessments of insect microbiota, but such potential influences have not been systematically evaluated. Likewise, although it is common practice to surface sterilize insects prior to DNA extraction, it is not known if this time-consuming step has any effect on microbial community analyses. To resolve these methodological unknowns, we conducted an experiment wherein replicate individual insects of four species were stored intact for two months using five different methods-freezing, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), cetrimonium bromide (CTAB), and room-temperature storage without preservative-and then subjected to whole-specimen 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess whether the structure of the insect-associated bacterial communities was impacted by these different storage strategies. Overall, different insect species harbored markedly distinct bacterial communities, a pattern that was highly robust to the method used to store samples. Storage method had little to no effect on assessments of microbiota composition, and the magnitude of the effect differed among the insect species examined. No single method emerged as "best," i.e., one consistently having the highest similarity in community structure to control specimens, which were not stored prior to homogenization and DNA sequencing. We also found that surface sterilization did not change bacterial community structure as compared to unsterilized insects, presumably due to the vastly greater microbial biomass inside the insect body relative to its surface. We therefore recommend that researchers can use any of the methods tested here, and base their choice according to practical considerations such as prior use, cost, and availability in the field, although we still advise that all samples within a study be handled in an identical manner when possible. We also suggest that, in large-scale molecular studies of hundreds of insect specimens, surface sterilization may not be worth the time and effort involved. This information should help researchers design sampling strategies and will facilitate cross-comparisons and meta-analyses of microbial community data obtained from insect specimens preserved in different ways.}, } @article {pmid26310431, year = {2016}, author = {Wedin, M and Maier, S and Fernandez-Brime, S and Cronholm, B and Westberg, M and Grube, M}, title = {Microbiome change by symbiotic invasion in lichens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {1428-1439}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13032}, pmid = {26310431}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {I 799/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are obligate symbioses between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria. Most lichens resynthesize their symbiotic thalli from propagules, but some develop within the structures of already existing lichen symbioses. Diploschistes muscorum starts as a parasite infecting the lichen Cladonia symphycarpa and gradually develops an independent Diploschistes lichen thallus. Here we studied how this process influences lichen-associated microbiomes and photobionts by sampling four transitional stages, at sites in Sweden and Germany, and characterizing their microbial communities using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene and photobiont-specific ITS rDNA sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. A gradual microbiome shift occurred during the transition, but fractions of Cladonia-associated bacteria were retained during the process of symbiotic reorganization. Consistent changes observed across sites included a notable decrease in the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria with a concomitant increase in Betaproteobacteria. Armatimonadia, Spartobacteria and Acidobacteria also decreased during the infection of Cladonia by Diploschistes. The lichens differed in photobiont specificity. Cladonia symphycarpa was associated with the same algal species at all sites, but Diploschistes muscorum had a flexible strategy with different photobiont combinations at each site. This symbiotic invasion system suggests that partners can be reorganized and selected for maintaining potential roles rather than depending on particular species.}, } @article {pmid26310104, year = {2015}, author = {Krueger, T and Hawkins, TD and Becker, S and Pontasch, S and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Leggat, W and Fisher, PL and Davy, SK}, title = {Differential coral bleaching-Contrasting the activity and response of enzymatic antioxidants in symbiotic partners under thermal stress.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {190}, number = {}, pages = {15-25}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.08.012}, pmid = {26310104}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/parasitology/*physiology/radiation effects ; Ascorbate Peroxidases/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/growth & development/*physiology/radiation effects ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects ; *Oxidative Stress ; Pacific Ocean ; Photobleaching/radiation effects ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Pigments, Biological/*metabolism ; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism ; Queensland ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Stress, Physiological/radiation effects ; Sunlight/adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Mass coral bleaching due to thermal stress represents a major threat to the integrity and functioning of coral reefs. Thermal thresholds vary, however, between corals, partly as a result of the specific type of endosymbiotic dinoflagellate (Symbiodinium sp.) they harbour. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in corals under thermal and light stress has been recognised as one mechanism that can lead to cellular damage and the loss of their symbiont population (Oxidative Theory of Coral Bleaching). Here, we compared the response of symbiont and host enzymatic antioxidants in the coral species Acropora millepora and Montipora digitata at 28°C and 33°C. A. millepora at 33°C showed a decrease in photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) and increase in maximum midday excitation pressure on PSII, with subsequent bleaching (declining photosynthetic pigment and symbiont density). M. digitata exhibited no bleaching response and photochemical changes in its symbionts were minor. The symbiont antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase peroxidase showed no significant upregulation to elevated temperatures in either coral, while only catalase was significantly elevated in both coral hosts at 33°C. Increased host catalase activity in the susceptible coral after 5days at 33°C was independent of antioxidant responses in the symbiont and preceded significant declines in PSII photochemical efficiencies. This finding suggests a potential decoupling of host redox mechanisms from symbiont photophysiology and raises questions about the importance of symbiont-derived ROS in initiating coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid26310029, year = {2015}, author = {Provoro, NA and Tikhonovich, IA and Vorobyov, NI}, title = {[Symbiogenesis and Synthetic Evolutionary Theory: The Third Synthesis].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {6}, pages = {658-667}, pmid = {26310029}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Plant ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Integration of the concepts of symbiogenesis and synthetic evolutionary theory is the main path for the development of evolutionary biology. It is based on the analysis of cooperative adaptations that evolve under the impact of symbiotic-specific selective pressures responsible for the formation of super-species hereditary systems--metagenomes, symbiogenomes, and hologenomes. The genetic integration of nonrelated organisms (symbiogenesis) is determined by the inheritance of microsymbionts by hosts resulted in the complication of mutualistic interactions according to the scheme: pleiotropic symbiosis --> mutual partner's exploitation --> interspecies altruism. This evolution may result in the loss of genetic individuality in microsymbionts; this loss is expressed as a deep reduction in their genomes. A significant number of these may be exported to the host, resulting in the transformation of symbiotic systems into novel, genetically integral organisms.}, } @article {pmid26309284, year = {2014}, author = {Bordeaux, JM and Lorenz, WW and Johnson, D and Badgett, MJ and Glushka, J and Orlando, R and Dean, JF}, title = {Noctilisin, a Venom Glycopeptide of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), Causes Needle Wilt and Defense Gene Responses in Pines.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {107}, number = {5}, pages = {1931-1945}, pmid = {26309284}, issn = {0022-0493}, support = {P41 GM103390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Arthropod Venoms/genetics/*pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Glycopeptides/genetics/*pharmacology ; Hymenoptera/genetics/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*pharmacology ; Pinus/genetics/immunology/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {During oviposition, female Sirex noctilio (F.) (Siricidae) woodwasps inject their conifer hosts with a venom gland secretion. The secretion induces a variety of host physiological changes that facilitate subsequent lethal infection by a symbiotic fungus. A heat-stable factor that can migrate from the site of oviposition in the trunk through the xylem to needles in the crown of attacked pines was purified by size-fractionation and reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography using activity assays based on defense gene induction as well as the needle wilt response in pine shoot explants. An 11-amino acid, posttranslationally modified peptide (SEGPROGTKRP) encoded by the most abundant transcript recovered from S. noctilio venom gland tissue comprised the backbone of the 1,850 Da active factor. Posttranslational modifications included hydroxylation of a Pro residue at position 6 as well as O-glycosylation of Ser and Thr residues at positions 1 and 8, respectively. The O-linked sugars were identical α-linked N-acetylgalactosamine residues modified at the C6 position by addition of phosphoethanolamine. In contrast to the native peptide, a synthetic version of the hydroxylated peptide backbone lacking the glycosyl side chains failed to induce pine defense genes or cause needle wilt in excised shoots. This peptide, hereafter called noctilisin, is related to the O-glycosylated short-chain proline-rich antimicrobial peptides exemplified by drosocin. The noctilisin structure contains motifs which may explain how it avoids detection by pine defense systems.}, } @article {pmid26309130, year = {2015}, author = {Heavner, ME and Qiu, WG and Cheng, HP}, title = {Phylogenetic Co-Occurrence of ExoR, ExoS, and ChvI, Components of the RSI Bacterial Invasion Switch, Suggests a Key Adaptive Mechanism Regulating the Transition between Free-Living and Host-Invading Phases in Rhizobiales.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {e0135655}, pmid = {26309130}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {SC1 AI107955/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC3 GM081147/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SGM081147//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {ADP Ribose Transferases/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Toxins/*classification/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Sequence Alignment ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Transcription Factors/*classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {Both bacterial symbionts and pathogens rely on their host-sensing mechanisms to activate the biosynthetic pathways necessary for their invasion into host cells. The Gram-negative bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti relies on its RSI (ExoR-ExoS-ChvI) Invasion Switch to turn on the production of succinoglycan, an exopolysaccharide required for its host invasion. Recent whole-genome sequencing efforts have uncovered putative components of RSI-like invasion switches in many other symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. To explore the possibility of the existence of a common invasion switch, we have conducted a phylogenomic survey of orthologous ExoR, ExoS, and ChvI tripartite sets in more than ninety proteobacterial genomes. Our analyses suggest that functional orthologs of the RSI invasion switch co-exist in Rhizobiales, an order characterized by numerous invasive species, but not in the order's close relatives. Phylogenomic analyses and reconstruction of orthologous sets of the three proteins in Alphaproteobacteria confirm Rhizobiales-specific gene synteny and congruent RSI evolutionary histories. Evolutionary analyses further revealed site-specific substitutions correlated specifically to either animal-bacteria or plant-bacteria associations. Lineage restricted conservation of any one specialized gene is in itself an indication of species adaptation. However, the orthologous phylogenetic co-occurrence of all interacting partners within this single signaling pathway strongly suggests that the development of the RSI switch was a key adaptive mechanism. The RSI invasion switch, originally found in S. meliloti, is a characteristic of the Rhizobiales, and potentially a conserved crucial activation step that may be targeted to control host invasion by pathogenic bacterial species.}, } @article {pmid26307112, year = {2015}, author = {Subbaraj, AK and Barrett, BA and Wakelin, SA and Fraser, K}, title = {Using non-targeted direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) to discriminate seeds based on endogenous or exogenous chemicals.}, journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}, volume = {407}, number = {26}, pages = {8047-8058}, doi = {10.1007/s00216-015-8977-7}, pmid = {26307112}, issn = {1618-2650}, mesh = {Diuron/analysis ; Herbicides/analysis ; Lolium/*chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Medicago sativa/*chemistry ; Oxylipins/analysis ; Seeds/*chemistry ; Trifolium/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Forage seeds are a highly traded agricultural commodity, and therefore, quality control and assurance is high priority. In this study, we have used direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) as a tool to discriminate forage seeds based on their non-targeted chemical profiles. In the first experiment, two lots of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) seed were discriminated based on exogenous residues of N-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea (Diuron(TM)), a herbicide. In a separate experiment, washed and unwashed seeds of the forage legumes white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were discriminated based on the presence or absence of oxylipins, a class of endogenous antimicrobial compounds. Unwashed seeds confer toxicity towards symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia which are routinely coated on legume seeds before planting, resulting in reduced rhizobial count. This is the first report of automatic introduction of intact seeds in the DART ion source and detecting oxylipins using DART-MS. Apart from providing scope to investigate legume-rhizobia symbiosis further in the context of oxylipins, the results presented here will enable future studies aimed at classification of seeds based on chemicals bound to the seed coat, thereby offering an efficient screening device for industry.}, } @article {pmid26306708, year = {2015}, author = {Swiatczak, B and Cohen, IR}, title = {Gut feelings of safety: tolerance to the microbiota mediated by innate immune receptors.}, journal = {Microbiology and immunology}, volume = {59}, number = {10}, pages = {573-585}, doi = {10.1111/1348-0421.12318}, pmid = {26306708}, issn = {1348-0421}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/*immunology ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {To enable microbial colonization of the gut mucosa, the intestinal immune system must not only react to danger signals but also recognize cues that indicate safety. Recognition of safety, paradoxically, is mediated by the same environmental sensors that are involved in signaling danger. Indeed, in addition to their well-established role in inducing inflammation in response to stress signals, pattern recognition receptors and a variety of metabolic sensors also promote gut-microbiota symbiosis by responding to "microbial symbiosis factors", "resolution-associated molecular patterns", markers of energy extraction and other signals indicating the absence of pathogenic infection and tissue damage. Here we focus on how the paradoxical roles of immune receptors and other environmental sensors define the microbiota signature of an individual.}, } @article {pmid26305954, year = {2015}, author = {DiSalvo, S and Haselkorn, TS and Bashir, U and Jimenez, D and Brock, DA and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {Burkholderia bacteria infectiously induce the proto-farming symbiosis of Dictyostelium amoebae and food bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {36}, pages = {E5029-37}, pmid = {26305954}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {F32 GM108414/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32GM108414/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amoeba/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Dictyostelium/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spores, Protozoan/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations can allow an organism to acquire novel traits by accessing the genetic repertoire of its partner. In the Dictyostelium discoideum farming symbiosis, certain amoebas (termed "farmers") stably associate with bacterial partners. Farmers can suffer a reproductive cost but also gain beneficial capabilities, such as carriage of bacterial food (proto-farming) and defense against competitors. Farming status previously has been attributed to amoeba genotype, but the role of bacterial partners in its induction has not been examined. Here, we explore the role of bacterial associates in the initiation, maintenance, and phenotypic effects of the farming symbiosis. We demonstrate that two clades of farmer-associated Burkholderia isolates colonize D. discoideum nonfarmers and infectiously endow them with farmer-like characteristics, indicating that Burkholderia symbionts are a major driver of the farming phenomenon. Under food-rich conditions, Burkholderia-colonized amoebas produce fewer spores than uncolonized counterparts, with the severity of this reduction being dependent on the Burkholderia colonizer. However, the induction of food carriage by Burkholderia colonization may be considered a conditionally adaptive trait because it can confer an advantage to the amoeba host when grown in food-limiting conditions. We observed Burkholderia inside and outside colonized D. discoideum spores after fruiting body formation; this observation, together with the ability of Burkholderia to colonize new amoebas, suggests a mixed mode of symbiont transmission. These results change our understanding of the D. discoideum farming symbiosis by establishing that the bacterial partner, Burkholderia, is an important causative agent of the farming phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid26305687, year = {2015}, author = {Dupont, PY and Eaton, CJ and Wargent, JJ and Fechtner, S and Solomon, P and Schmid, J and Day, RC and Scott, B and Cox, MP}, title = {Fungal endophyte infection of ryegrass reprograms host metabolism and alters development.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {4}, pages = {1227-1240}, pmid = {26305687}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Base Sequence ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*growth & development ; Epichloe/*growth & development ; Gene Expression ; *Genes, Plant ; Lolium/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Plant ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial associations between plants and microbes play an important role in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. For example, associations between fungi of the genus Epichloë, and cool-season grasses are known for their ability to increase resistance to insect pests, fungal pathogens and drought. However, little is known about the molecular changes induced by endophyte infection. To study the impact of endophyte infection, we compared the expression profiles, based on RNA sequencing, of perennial ryegrass infected with Epichloë festucae with noninfected plants. We show that infection causes dramatic changes in the expression of over one third of host genes. This is in stark contrast to mycorrhizal associations, where substantially fewer changes in host gene expression are observed, and is more similar to pathogenic interactions. We reveal that endophyte infection triggers reprogramming of host metabolism, favouring secondary metabolism at a cost to primary metabolism. Infection also induces changes in host development, particularly trichome formation and cell wall biogenesis. Importantly, this work sheds light on the mechanisms underlying enhanced resistance to drought and super-infection by fungal pathogens provided by fungal endophyte infection. Finally, our study reveals that not all beneficial plant-microbe associations behave the same in terms of their effects on the host.}, } @article {pmid26305264, year = {2016}, author = {Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Aroca, R and Zamarreño, ÁM and Molina, S and Andreo-Jiménez, B and Porcel, R and García-Mina, JM and Ruyter-Spira, C and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis induces strigolactone biosynthesis under drought and improves drought tolerance in lettuce and tomato.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {441-452}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12631}, pmid = {26305264}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Biomass ; *Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Droughts ; Genes, Plant ; Lactones ; Lettuce/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis alleviates drought stress in plants. However, the intimate mechanisms involved, as well as its effect on the production of signalling molecules associated with the host plant-AM fungus interaction remains largely unknown. In the present work, the effects of drought on lettuce and tomato plant performance and hormone levels were investigated in non-AM and AM plants. Three different water regimes were applied, and their effects were analysed over time. AM plants showed an improved growth rate and efficiency of photosystem II than non-AM plants under drought from very early stages of plant colonization. The levels of the phytohormone abscisic acid, as well as the expression of the corresponding marker genes, were influenced by drought stress in non-AM and AM plants. The levels of strigolactones and the expression of corresponding marker genes were affected by both AM symbiosis and drought. The results suggest that AM symbiosis alleviates drought stress by altering the hormonal profiles and affecting plant physiology in the host plant. In addition, a correlation between AM root colonization, strigolactone levels and drought severity is shown, suggesting that under these unfavourable conditions, plants might increase strigolactone production in order to promote symbiosis establishment to cope with the stress.}, } @article {pmid26304779, year = {2016}, author = {Zwanenburg, B and Ćavar Zeljković, S and Pospíšil, T}, title = {Synthesis of strigolactones, a strategic account.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {15-29}, doi = {10.1002/ps.4105}, pmid = {26304779}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Lactones/chemical synthesis/*chemistry ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemical synthesis/*chemistry ; Weed Control/*methods ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) constitute a new class of plant hormones that have received growing interest in recent years. They firstly became known as signalling molecules for host recognition by parasitic plants, and for symbiosis of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, they are involved in numerous physiological processes in plants, such as the regulation of plant architecture and the response to abiotic factors. SLs are produced by plants in extremely low quantities, and they may be unstable during the purification process. Therefore, their total synthesis is highly relevant for confirming the structures assigned on the basis of spectroscopic and other physical data. A second important theme in SL research is the design and synthesis of SL analogues that have a simplified structure while still featuring the essential bioproperties. This review summarises the strategy and synthesis of naturally occurring SLs, and the design and synthesis of SL analogues with appreciable bioactivity.}, } @article {pmid26302674, year = {2015}, author = {Petrican, R and Saverino, C and Shayna Rosenbaum, R and Grady, C}, title = {Inter-individual differences in the experience of negative emotion predict variations in functional brain architecture.}, journal = {NeuroImage}, volume = {123}, number = {}, pages = {80-88}, pmid = {26302674}, issn = {1095-9572}, support = {14036-4//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; MOP14036//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Affect/*physiology ; Anger/physiology ; Anxiety/physiopathology ; Brain/*physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Female ; Humans ; *Individuality ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neural Pathways/physiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Current evidence suggests that two spatially distinct neuroanatomical networks, the dorsal attention network (DAN) and the default mode network (DMN), support externally and internally oriented cognition, respectively, and are functionally regulated by a third, frontoparietal control network (FPC). Interactions among these networks contribute to normal variations in cognitive functioning and to the aberrant affective profiles present in certain clinical conditions, such as major depression. Nevertheless, their links to non-clinical variations in affective functioning are still poorly understood. To address this issue, we used fMRI to measure the intrinsic functional interactions among these networks in a sample of predominantly younger women (N=162) from the Human Connectome Project. Consistent with the previously documented dichotomous motivational orientations (i.e., withdrawal versus approach) associated with sadness versus anger, we hypothesized that greater sadness would predict greater DMN (rather than DAN) functional dominance, whereas greater anger would predict the opposite. Overall, there was evidence of greater DAN (rather than DMN) functional dominance, but this pattern was modulated by current experience of specific negative emotions, as well as subclinical depressive and anxiety symptoms. Thus, greater levels of currently experienced sadness and subclinical depression independently predicted weaker DAN functional dominance (i.e., weaker DAN-FPC functional connectivity), likely reflecting reduced goal-directed attention towards the external perceptual environment. Complementarily, greater levels of currently experienced anger and subclinical anxiety predicted greater DAN functional dominance (i.e., greater DAN-FPC functional connectivity and, for anxiety only, also weaker DMN-FPC coupling). Our findings suggest that distinct affective states and subclinical mood symptoms have dissociable neural signatures, reflective of the symbiotic relationship between cognitive processes and emotional states.}, } @article {pmid26301979, year = {2015}, author = {Meehan, CJ and Langille, MG and Beiko, RG}, title = {Frailty and the Microbiome.}, journal = {Interdisciplinary topics in gerontology and geriatrics}, volume = {41}, number = {}, pages = {54-65}, doi = {10.1159/000381162}, pmid = {26301979}, issn = {2297-3486}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging/*immunology/physiology ; Disease Susceptibility/epidemiology/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Female ; *Frail Elderly ; Geriatric Assessment/methods ; Humans ; Longevity/immunology ; Male ; Microbiota/immunology/*physiology ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {From the moment of birth, the human body plays host to a rich diversity of microbes. Body sites such as the skin, the gut and the mouth support communities of microorganisms (collectively known as the microbiome) that are both numerous and diverse. As our understanding of the microbiome advances, it is evident that these microbial populations participate in a multitude of symbiotic associations with us. The disruption of these associations can lead to a range of diseases beyond mere pathogenesis as microbial nutrition, signaling, and immune defense break down. It is known that changes in microbial composition occur as the human host ages and that diet and living conditions influence the microbiome of older individuals. However, the link between the microbiome and frailty is as yet mostly unexplored. Although the microbiome is likely to influence health factors that contribute to frailty, further work is needed to determine whether overall microbial signatures of frailty exist and, if so, what the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of these signatures might be.}, } @article {pmid26300879, year = {2015}, author = {Tang, BL}, title = {Thoughts on a very acidic symbiosome.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {816}, pmid = {26300879}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid26299372, year = {2015}, author = {Alías-Villegas, C and Cubo, MT and Lara-Dampier, V and Bellogín, RA and Camacho, M and Temprano, F and Espuny, MR}, title = {Rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of Medicago marina in southwest Spain are abiotic-stress tolerant and symbiotically diverse.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {7}, pages = {506-514}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2015.07.003}, pmid = {26299372}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; *Genetic Variation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipopolysaccharides/analysis ; Medicago/*microbiology ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/analysis ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Spain ; Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The isolation and characterisation of nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria from Medicago marina, a tolerant legume species, were studied in two areas from southwest Spain. A total of 30 out of 82 isolates with distinct ERIC-PCR fingerprints were analysed on the basis of molecular (PCR-RFLP of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (IGS) with two endonucleases, analysis of the 16S rDNA and symbiotic nodC gene sequences, plasmid profiles and SDS-PAGE of LPS, including the partial sequence of the housekeeping gene glnII and the symbiotic gene nodA of some representatives), physiological (utilisation of sole carbon sources, tolerance to antibiotics, NaCl, heavy metals, temperature and pH) and symbiotic parameters (efficacy on M. marina, M. minima, M. murex, M. orbicularis, M. polymorpha, M. sativa and M. truncatula). All the bacteria isolated from M. marina nodules belonged to Ensifer meliloti, except for one strain that belonged to E. medicae. To determine the nodulation range of M. marina, 10 different Ensifer species were tested for their ability to nodulate on this plant. E. kummerowiae CCBAU 71714 and the E. medicae control strain M19.1 were the only Ensifer species tested that developed nitrogen-fixing nodules on this plant. Most of the M. marina-nodulating strains showed tolerance to stress factors and all of them shared the presence of a gene similar to cadA, a gene that encodes for a PIB-type ATPase, which is a transporter belonging to the large superfamily of ATP-driven pumps involved in the transport of metals across cell membranes.}, } @article {pmid26299211, year = {2015}, author = {Divakar, PK and Crespo, A and Wedin, M and Leavitt, SD and Hawksworth, DL and Myllys, L and McCune, B and Randlane, T and Bjerke, JW and Ohmura, Y and Schmitt, I and Boluda, CG and Alors, D and Roca-Valiente, B and Del-Prado, R and Ruibal, C and Buaruang, K and Núñez-Zapata, J and Amo de Paz, G and Rico, VJ and Molina, MC and Elix, JA and Esslinger, TL and Tronstad, IK and Lindgren, H and Ertz, D and Gueidan, C and Saag, L and Mark, K and Singh, G and Dal Grande, F and Parnmen, S and Beck, A and Benatti, MN and Blanchon, D and Candan, M and Clerc, P and Goward, T and Grube, M and Hodkinson, BP and Hur, JS and Kantvilas, G and Kirika, PM and Lendemer, J and Mattsson, JE and Messuti, MI and Miadlikowska, J and Nelsen, M and Ohlson, JI and Pérez-Ortega, S and Saag, A and Sipman, HJ and Sohrabi, M and Thell, A and Thor, G and Truong, C and Yahr, R and Upreti, DK and Cubas, P and Lumbsch, HT}, title = {Evolution of complex symbiotic relationships in a morphologically derived family of lichen-forming fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {4}, pages = {1217-1226}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13553}, pmid = {26299211}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Classification ; *Genes, Fungal ; Lichens/*genetics ; Parmeliaceae/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We studied the evolutionary history of the Parmeliaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota), one of the largest families of lichen-forming fungi with complex and variable morphologies, also including several lichenicolous fungi. We assembled a six-locus data set including nuclear, mitochondrial and low-copy protein-coding genes from 293 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The lichenicolous lifestyle originated independently three times in lichenized ancestors within Parmeliaceae, and a new generic name is introduced for one of these fungi. In all cases, the independent origins occurred c. 24 million yr ago. Further, we show that the Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene were key periods when diversification of major lineages within Parmeliaceae occurred, with subsequent radiations occurring primarily during the Oligocene and Miocene. Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the independent origin of lichenicolous fungi associated with climatic shifts at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary. Moreover, diversification bursts at different times may be crucial factors driving the diversification of Parmeliaceae. Additionally, our study provides novel insight into evolutionary relationships in this large and diverse family of lichen-forming ascomycetes.}, } @article {pmid26299131, year = {2015}, author = {Fernández Di Pardo, A and Chiocchio, VM and Barrera, V and Colombo, RP and Martinez, AE and Gasoni, L and Godeas, AM}, title = {Mycorrhizal fungi isolated from native terrestrial orchids of pristine regions in Cordoba (Argentina).}, journal = {Revista de biologia tropical}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {275-283}, doi = {10.15517/rbt.v63i1.14226}, pmid = {26299131}, issn = {0034-7744}, mesh = {Argentina ; DNA, Fungal ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/growth & development ; Orchidaceae/classification/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Orchidaceae is a highly dependent group on the Rhizoctonia complex that includes Ceratorhiza, Moniliopsis, Epulorhiza and Rhizoctonia, for seed germination and the development of new orchid plants. Thus, the isolation and identification of orchid mycorrhizal fungi are important to understand the orchid-fungus relationship, which can lead to the development of efficient conservation strategies by in vivo germination of seeds from endangered orchid plants. The aim of our work was to isolate and characterize the different mycorrhizal fungi found in roots of terrestrial orchids from Cordoba (Argentina), and, to learn about the natural habit and fungal associations in the Chaco Serrano woodland pristine region. In this study, bloomed orchid root and rhizosphere soil samples were obtained in two times from Valle de Punilla during spring of 2007; samples were kept in plastic bags until processed within 48 hours, and mycorrhizal condition confirmed assessing peloton presence. A total of 23 isolates of the orchideous mycorrhizal Rhizoctonia complex were obtained. The isolates were studied based on morphological characters and ITS-rDNA sequences. Morphological characteristics as color of colonies, texture, growth rate, hyphal diameter and length and presence of sclerotia were observed on culture media. To define the number of nuclei per cell, the isolates were grown in Petri dishes containing water-agar (WA) for three days at 25 degrees C and stained with Safranine-O solution. The mycorrhizal fungi were grouped into binucleate (MSGib, 10 isolates) and multinucleate (MSGim, 13 isolates) based on morphological characteristics of the colonies. We obtained the ITS1-5.8s-ITS4 region that was amplified using primers ITSI and ITS4. Based on DNA sequencing, isolates Q23 and Q29 were found to be related to species of Ceratobasidium. Isolates Q24 and Q4 were related to the binucleated anastomosis group AG-C of Rhizoctonia sp. The rest of the isolates grouped in the Ceratobasidium clade without grouping. From our knowledge this is the first report of the asso- ciation of the AG-C testers with terrestrial orchids. A high specificity was observed in the symbiotic relationship. As the mycorrhizal fungal isolates were obtained from native orchids, they could be incorporated in conservation programes of endangered orchids in Argentina.}, } @article {pmid26297195, year = {2016}, author = {Vijayakumar, V and Liebisch, G and Buer, B and Xue, L and Gerlach, N and Blau, S and Schmitz, J and Bucher, M}, title = {Integrated multi-omics analysis supports role of lysophosphatidylcholine and related glycerophospholipids in the Lotus japonicus-Glomus intraradices mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {393-415}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12624}, pmid = {26297195}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*physiology ; Glycerophospholipids/*metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects/genetics ; Lotus/cytology/drug effects/*microbiology ; Lysophosphatidylcholines/*metabolism ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Proteomics/*methods ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Transcriptome/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Interaction of plant roots with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a complex trait resulting in cooperative interactions among the two symbionts including bidirectional exchange of resources. To study arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) trait variation in the model plant Lotus japonicus, we performed an integrated multi-omics analysis with a focus on plant and fungal phospholipid (PL) metabolism and biological significance of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Our results support the role of LPC as a bioactive compound eliciting cellular and molecular response mechanisms in Lotus. Evidence is provided for large interspecific chemical diversity of LPC species among mycorrhizae with related AMF species. Lipid, gene expression and elemental profiling emphasize the Lotus-Glomus intraradices interaction as distinct from other arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interactions. In G. intraradices, genes involved in fatty acid (FA) elongation and biosynthesis of unsaturated FAs were enhanced, while in Lotus, FA synthesis genes were up-regulated during AMS. Furthermore, FAS protein localization to mitochondria suggests FA biosynthesis and elongation may also occur in AMF. Our results suggest the existence of interspecific partitioning of PL resources for generation of LPC and novel candidate bioactive PLs in the Lotus-G. intraradices symbiosis. Moreover, the data advocate research with phylogenetically diverse Glomeromycota species for a broader understanding of the molecular underpinnings of AMS.}, } @article {pmid26297041, year = {2015}, author = {Ribeiro, RA and Martins, TB and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Marçon Delamuta, JR and Rogel, MA and Martínez-Romero, E and Hungria, M}, title = {Rhizobium ecuadorense sp. nov., an indigenous N2-fixing symbiont of the Ecuadorian common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genetic pool.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {9}, pages = {3162-3169}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.000392}, pmid = {26297041}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecuador ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization/genetics ; Peru ; Phaseolus ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {There are two major centres of genetic diversification of common bean (Phaseolus vilgaris L.), the Mesoamerican and the Andean, and the legume is capable of establishing nitrogen-fixing symbioses with several rhizobia; Rhizobium etli seems to be the dominant species in both centres. Another genetic pool of common bean, in Peru and Ecuador, is receiving increasing attention, and studies of microsymbionts from the region can help to increase our knowledge about coevolution of this symbiosis. We have previously reported several putative new lineages from this region and here present data indicating that strains belonging to one of them, PEL4, represent a novel species. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny, PEL4 strains are positioned in the Rhizobium phaseoli/R. etli/Rhizobium leguminosarum clade, but show unique properties in several morphological, physiological and biochemical analyses, as well as in BOX-PCR profiles (< 75% similarity with related species). PEL4 strains also differed from related species based on multilocus sequence analysis of three housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB and recA). Nucleotide identities of the three concatenated genes between PEL4 strains and related species ranged from 91.8 to 94.2%, being highest with Rhizobium fabae. DNA-DNA hybridization (< 47% DNA relatedness) and average nucleotide identity values of the whole genomes (< 90.2%) also supported the novel species status. The PEL4 strains were effective in nodulating and fixing N2 with common beans. The data supported the view that PEL4 strains represent a novel species, Rhizobium ecuadorense sp. nov. The type strain is CNPSo 671(T) (= UMR 1450(T) = PIMAMPIRS I 5(T) = LMG 27578(T)).}, } @article {pmid26296963, year = {2015}, author = {Kalloniati, C and Krompas, P and Karalias, G and Udvardi, MK and Rennenberg, H and Herschbach, C and Flemetakis, E}, title = {Nitrogen-Fixing Nodules Are an Important Source of Reduced Sulfur, Which Triggers Global Changes in Sulfur Metabolism in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {2384-2400}, pmid = {26296963}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases Acting on Sulfur Group Donors/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Sulfur Radioisotopes/metabolism/pharmacokinetics ; Symbiosis ; Tissue Distribution ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We combined transcriptomic and biochemical approaches to study rhizobial and plant sulfur (S) metabolism in nitrogen (N) fixing nodules (Fix(+)) of Lotus japonicus, as well as the link of S-metabolism to symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the effect of nodules on whole-plant S-partitioning and metabolism. Our data reveal that N-fixing nodules are thiol-rich organs. Their high adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase activity and strong (35)S-flux into cysteine and its metabolites, in combination with the transcriptional upregulation of several rhizobial and plant genes involved in S-assimilation, highlight the function of nodules as an important site of S-assimilation. The higher thiol content observed in nonsymbiotic organs of N-fixing plants in comparison to uninoculated plants could not be attributed to local biosynthesis, indicating that nodules are an important source of reduced S for the plant, which triggers whole-plant reprogramming of S-metabolism. Enhanced thiol biosynthesis in nodules and their impact on the whole-plant S-economy are dampened in plants nodulated by Fix(-) mutant rhizobia, which in most respects metabolically resemble uninoculated plants, indicating a strong interdependency between N-fixation and S-assimilation.}, } @article {pmid26296678, year = {2015}, author = {Alves-Carvalho, S and Aubert, G and Carrère, S and Cruaud, C and Brochot, AL and Jacquin, F and Klein, A and Martin, C and Boucherot, K and Kreplak, J and da Silva, C and Moreau, S and Gamas, P and Wincker, P and Gouzy, J and Burstin, J}, title = {Full-length de novo assembly of RNA-seq data in pea (Pisum sativum L.) provides a gene expression atlas and gives insights into root nodulation in this species.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {84}, number = {1}, pages = {1-19}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12967}, pmid = {26296678}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Peas/*genetics/*growth & development ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*growth & development ; RNA, Plant/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Next-generation sequencing technologies allow an almost exhaustive survey of the transcriptome, even in species with no available genome sequence. To produce a Unigene set representing most of the expressed genes of pea, 20 cDNA libraries produced from various plant tissues harvested at various developmental stages from plants grown under contrasting nitrogen conditions were sequenced. Around one billion reads and 100 Gb of sequence were de novo assembled. Following several steps of redundancy reduction, 46 099 contigs with N50 length of 1667 nt were identified. These constitute the 'Caméor' Unigene set. The high depth of sequencing allowed identification of rare transcripts and detected expression for approximately 80% of contigs in each library. The Unigene set is now available online (http://bios.dijon.inra.fr/FATAL/cgi/pscam.cgi), allowing (i) searches for pea orthologs of candidate genes based on gene sequences from other species, or based on annotation, (ii) determination of transcript expression patterns using various metrics, (iii) identification of uncharacterized genes with interesting patterns of expression, and (iv) comparison of gene ontology pathways between tissues. This resource has allowed identification of the pea orthologs of major nodulation genes characterized in recent years in model species, as a major step towards deciphering unresolved pea nodulation phenotypes. In addition to a remarkable conservation of the early transcriptome nodulation apparatus between pea and Medicago truncatula, some specific features were highlighted. The resource provides a reference for the pea exome, and will facilitate transcriptome and proteome approaches as well as SNP discovery in pea.}, } @article {pmid26292032, year = {2015}, author = {Yang, FJ and Cheng, LL and Zhang, L and Dai, WJ and Liu, Z and Yao, N and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C}, title = {Retraction for Yang et al., Y4lO of Rhizobium sp. Strain NGR234 Is a Symbiotic Determinant Required for Symbiosome Differentiation.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {18}, pages = {3026}, doi = {10.1128/JB.00478-15}, pmid = {26292032}, issn = {1098-5530}, } @article {pmid26291919, year = {2015}, author = {Porcel, R and Redondo-Gómez, S and Mateos-Naranjo, E and Aroca, R and Garcia, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis ameliorates the optimum quantum yield of photosystem II and reduces non-photochemical quenching in rice plants subjected to salt stress.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {185}, number = {}, pages = {75-83}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2015.07.006}, pmid = {26291919}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rice is the most important food crop in the world and is a primary source of food for more than half of the world population. However, salinity is considered the most common abiotic stress reducing its productivity. Soil salinity inhibits photosynthetic processes, which can induce an over-reduction of the reaction centres in photosystem II (PSII), damaging the photosynthetic machinery. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis may improve host plant tolerance to salinity, but it is not clear how the AM symbiosis affects the plant photosynthetic capacity, particularly the efficiency of PSII. This study aimed at determining the influence of the AM symbiosis on the performance of PSII in rice plants subjected to salinity. Photosynthetic activity, plant gas-exchange parameters, accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and rubisco activity and gene expression were also measured in order to analyse comprehensively the response of the photosynthetic processes to AM symbiosis and salinity. Results showed that the AM symbiosis enhanced the actual quantum yield of PSII photochemistry and reduced the quantum yield of non-photochemical quenching in rice plants subjected to salinity. AM rice plants maintained higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate than nonAM plants. Thus, we propose that AM rice plants had a higher photochemical efficiency for CO2 fixation and solar energy utilization and this increases plant salt tolerance by preventing the injury to the photosystems reaction centres and by allowing a better utilization of light energy in photochemical processes. All these processes translated into higher photosynthetic and rubisco activities in AM rice plants and improved plant biomass production under salinity.}, } @article {pmid26291447, year = {2015}, author = {Krediet, CJ and DeNofrio, JC and Caruso, C and Burriesci, MS and Cella, K and Pringle, JR}, title = {Rapid, Precise, and Accurate Counts of Symbiodinium Cells Using the Guava Flow Cytometer, and a Comparison to Other Methods.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {e0135725}, pmid = {26291447}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/cytology ; Dinoflagellida/cytology ; Flow Cytometry/*methods ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In studies of both the establishment and breakdown of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, it is often necessary to determine the number of Symbiodinium cells relative to the quantity of host tissue. Ideally, the methods used should be rapid, precise, and accurate. In this study, we systematically evaluated methods for sample preparation and storage and the counting of algal cells using the hemocytometer, a custom image-analysis program for automated counting of the fluorescent algal cells, the Coulter Counter, or the Millipore Guava flow-cytometer. We found that although other methods may have value in particular applications, for most purposes, the Guava flow cytometer provided by far the best combination of precision, accuracy, and efficient use of investigator time (due to the instrument's automated sample handling), while also allowing counts of algal numbers over a wide range and in small volumes of tissue homogenate. We also found that either of two assays of total homogenate protein provided a precise and seemingly accurate basis for normalization of algal counts to the total amount of holobiont tissue.}, } @article {pmid26291081, year = {2015}, author = {Groten, K and Pahari, NT and Xu, S and Miloradovic van Doorn, M and Baldwin, IT}, title = {Virus-Induced Gene Silencing Using Tobacco Rattle Virus as a Tool to Study the Interaction between Nicotiana attenuata and Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {e0136234}, pmid = {26291081}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Gene Ontology ; *Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Viruses/*genetics/physiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Homology ; Tobacco/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants live in a symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that belong to the phylum Glomeromycota. Although a number of plant genes involved in the plant-AMF interactions have been identified by analyzing mutants, the ability to rapidly manipulate gene expression to study the potential functions of new candidate genes remains unrealized. We analyzed changes in gene expression of wild tobacco roots (Nicotiana attenuata) after infection with mycorrhizal fungi (Rhizophagus irregularis) by serial analysis of gene expression (SuperSAGE) combined with next generation sequencing, and established a virus-induced gene-silencing protocol to study the function of candidate genes in the interaction. From 92,434 SuperSAGE Tag sequences, 32,808 (35%) matched with our in-house Nicotiana attenuata transcriptome database and 3,698 (4%) matched to Rhizophagus genes. In total, 11,194 Tags showed a significant change in expression (p<0.05, >2-fold change) after infection. When comparing the functions of highly up-regulated annotated Tags in this study with those of two previous large-scale gene expression studies, 18 gene functions were found to be up-regulated in all three studies mainly playing roles related to phytohormone metabolism, catabolism and defense. To validate the function of identified candidate genes, we used the technique of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to silence the expression of three putative N. attenuata genes: germin-like protein, indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase GH3.9 and, as a proof-of-principle, calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK). The silencing of the three plant genes in roots was successful, but only CCaMK silencing had a significant effect on the interaction with R. irregularis. Interestingly, when a highly activated inoculum was used for plant inoculation, the effect of CCaMK silencing on fungal colonization was masked, probably due to trans-complementation. This study demonstrates that large-scale gene expression studies across different species induce of a core set of genes of similar functions. However, additional factors seem to influence the overall pattern of gene expression, resulting in high variability among independent studies with different hosts. We conclude that VIGS is a powerful tool with which to investigate the function of genes involved in plant-AMF interactions but that inoculum strength can strongly influence the outcome of the interaction.}, } @article {pmid26289620, year = {2015}, author = {Abate, S and Lanzafame, P and Perathoner, S and Centi, G}, title = {New Sustainable Model of Biorefineries: Biofactories and Challenges of Integrating Bio- and Solar Refineries.}, journal = {ChemSusChem}, volume = {8}, number = {17}, pages = {2854-2866}, doi = {10.1002/cssc.201500277}, pmid = {26289620}, issn = {1864-564X}, mesh = {*Biofuels ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Models, Theoretical ; *Solar Energy ; *Systems Integration ; }, abstract = {The new scenario for sustainable (low-carbon) chemical and energy production drives the development of new biorefinery concepts (indicated as biofactories) with chemical production at the core, but flexible and small-scale production. An important element is also the integration of solar energy and CO2 use within biobased production. This concept paper, after shortly introducing the motivation and recent trends in this area, particularly at the industrial scale, and some of the possible models (olefin and intermediate/high-added-value chemicals production), discusses the opportunities and needs for research to address the challenge of integrating bio- and solar refineries. Aspects discussed regard the use of microalgae and CO2 valorization in biorefineries/biofactories by chemo- or biocatalysis, including possibilities for their synergetic cooperation and symbiosis, as well as integration within the agroenergy value chain.}, } @article {pmid26287951, year = {2015}, author = {Oudman, T and Hin, V and Dekinga, A and van Gils, JA}, title = {The Effect of Digestive Capacity on the Intake Rate of Toxic and Non-Toxic Prey in an Ecological Context.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {e0136144}, pmid = {26287951}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/pathogenicity/physiology ; Charadriiformes/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Diet ; Digestion/*physiology ; Eating/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Energy Intake ; Feeding Behavior/physiology ; Food Chain ; Food Preferences/physiology ; Gizzard, Avian/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Organ Size ; Toxins, Biological/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Digestive capacity often limits food intake rate in animals. Many species can flexibly adjust digestive organ mass, enabling them to increase intake rate in times of increased energy requirement and/or scarcity of high-quality prey. However, some prey species are defended by secondary compounds, thereby forcing a toxin limitation on the forager's intake rate, a constraint that potentially cannot be alleviated by enlarging digestive capacity. Hence, physiological flexibility may have a differential effect on intake of different prey types, and consequently on dietary preferences. We tested this effect in red knots (Calidris canutus canutus), medium-sized migratory shorebirds that feed on hard-shelled, usually mollusc, prey. Because they ingest their prey whole and crush the shell in their gizzard, the intake rate of red knots is generally constrained by digestive capacity. However, one of their main prey, the bivalve Loripes lucinalis, imposes a toxin constraint due to its symbiosis with sulphide-oxidizing bacteria. We manipulated gizzard sizes of red knots through prolonged exposure to hard-shelled or soft foods. We then measured maximum intake rates of toxic Loripes versus a non-toxic bivalve, Dosinia isocardia. We found that intake of Dosinia exponentially increased with gizzard mass, confirming earlier results with non-toxic prey, whereas intake of Loripes was independent of gizzard mass. Using linear programming, we show that this leads to markedly different expected diet preferences in red knots that try to maximize energy intake rate with a small versus a large gizzard. Intra- and inter-individual variation in digestive capacity is found in many animal species. Hence, the here proposed functional link with individual differences in foraging decisions may be general. We emphasize the potential relevance of individual variation in physiology when studying trophic interactions.}, } @article {pmid26287653, year = {2015}, author = {Nizampatnam, NR and Schreier, SJ and Damodaran, S and Adhikari, S and Subramanian, S}, title = {microRNA160 dictates stage-specific auxin and cytokinin sensitivities and directs soybean nodule development.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {84}, number = {1}, pages = {140-153}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12965}, pmid = {26287653}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legume nodules result from coordinated interactions between the plant and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. The phytohormone cytokinin promotes nodule formation, and recent findings suggest that the phytohormone auxin inhibits nodule formation. Here we show that microRNA160 (miR160) is a key signaling element that determines the auxin/cytokinin balance during nodule development in soybean (Glycine max). miR160 appears to promote auxin activity by suppressing the levels of the ARF10/16/17 family of repressor ARF transcription factors. Using quantitative PCR assays and a fluorescence miRNA sensor, we show that miR160 levels are relatively low early during nodule formation and high in mature nodules. We had previously shown that ectopic expression of miR160 in soybean roots led to a severe reduction in nodule formation, coupled with enhanced sensitivity to auxin and reduced sensitivity to cytokinin. Here we show that exogenous cytokinin restores nodule formation in miR160 over-expressing roots. Therefore, low miR160 levels early during nodule development favor cytokinin activity required for nodule formation. Suppression of miR160 levels using a short tandem target mimic (STTM160) resulted in reduced sensitivity to auxin and enhanced sensitivity to cytokinin. In contrast to miR160 over-expressing roots, STTM160 roots had increased nodule formation, but nodule maturation was significantly delayed. Exogenous auxin partially restored proper nodule formation and maturation in STTM160 roots, suggesting that high miR160 activity later during nodule development favors auxin activity and promotes nodule maturation. Therefore, miR160 dictates developmental stage-specific sensitivities to auxin and cytokinin to direct proper nodule formation and maturation in soybean.}, } @article {pmid26286984, year = {2015}, author = {Campbell, MA and Van Leuven, JT and Meister, RC and Carey, KM and Simon, C and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Genome expansion via lineage splitting and genome reduction in the cicada endosymbiont Hodgkinia.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10192-10199}, pmid = {26286984}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {P20RR017670/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Organelles ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Comparative genomics from mitochondria, plastids, and mutualistic endosymbiotic bacteria has shown that the stable establishment of a bacterium in a host cell results in genome reduction. Although many highly reduced genomes from endosymbiotic bacteria are stable in gene content and genome structure, organelle genomes are sometimes characterized by dramatic structural diversity. Previous results from Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola, an endosymbiont of cicadas, revealed that some lineages of this bacterium had split into two new cytologically distinct yet genetically interdependent species. It was hypothesized that the long life cycle of cicadas in part enabled this unusual lineage-splitting event. Here we test this hypothesis by investigating the structure of the Ca. Hodgkinia genome in one of the longest-lived cicadas, Magicicada tredecim. We show that the Ca. Hodgkinia genome from M. tredecim has fragmented into multiple new chromosomes or genomes, with at least some remaining partitioned into discrete cells. We also show that this lineage-splitting process has resulted in a complex of Ca. Hodgkinia genomes that are 1.1-Mb pairs in length when considered together, an almost 10-fold increase in size from the hypothetical single-genome ancestor. These results parallel some examples of genome fragmentation and expansion in organelles, although the mechanisms that give rise to these extreme genome instabilities are likely different.}, } @article {pmid26286983, year = {2015}, author = {Godfrey-Smith, P}, title = {Reproduction, symbiosis, and the eukaryotic cell.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10120-10125}, pmid = {26286983}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/*physiology ; Humans ; Mitochondria/physiology ; Models, Biological ; *Reproduction ; Selection, Genetic ; Social Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This paper develops a conceptual framework for addressing questions about reproduction, individuality, and the units of selection in symbiotic associations, with special attention to the origin of the eukaryotic cell. Three kinds of reproduction are distinguished, and a possible evolutionary sequence giving rise to a mitochondrion-containing eukaryotic cell from an endosymbiotic partnership is analyzed as a series of transitions between each of the three forms of reproduction. The sequence of changes seen in this "egalitarian" evolutionary transition is compared with those that apply in "fraternal" transitions, such as the evolution of multicellularity in animals.}, } @article {pmid26286718, year = {2015}, author = {Czernic, P and Gully, D and Cartieaux, F and Moulin, L and Guefrachi, I and Patrel, D and Pierre, O and Fardoux, J and Chaintreuil, C and Nguyen, P and Gressent, F and Da Silva, C and Poulain, J and Wincker, P and Rofidal, V and Hem, S and Barrière, Q and Arrighi, JF and Mergaert, P and Giraud, E}, title = {Convergent Evolution of Endosymbiont Differentiation in Dalbergioid and Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade Legumes Mediated by Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {2}, pages = {1254-1265}, pmid = {26286718}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Cysteine/chemistry ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptides/chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nutritional symbiotic interactions require the housing of large numbers of microbial symbionts, which produce essential compounds for the growth of the host. In the legume-rhizobium nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, thousands of rhizobium microsymbionts, called bacteroids, are confined intracellularly within highly specialized symbiotic host cells. In Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade (IRLC) legumes such as Medicago spp., the bacteroids are kept under control by an arsenal of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, which induce the bacteria in an irreversible, strongly elongated, and polyploid state. Here, we show that in Aeschynomene spp. legumes belonging to the more ancient Dalbergioid lineage, bacteroids are elongated or spherical depending on the Aeschynomene spp. and that these bacteroids are terminally differentiated and polyploid, similar to bacteroids in IRLC legumes. Transcriptome, in situ hybridization, and proteome analyses demonstrated that the symbiotic cells in the Aeschynomene spp. nodules produce a large diversity of NCR-like peptides, which are transported to the bacteroids. Blocking NCR transport by RNA interference-mediated inactivation of the secretory pathway inhibits bacteroid differentiation. Together, our results support the view that bacteroid differentiation in the Dalbergioid clade, which likely evolved independently from the bacteroid differentiation in the IRLC clade, is based on very similar mechanisms used by IRLC legumes.}, } @article {pmid26286030, year = {2015}, author = {Corcos, D}, title = {Food-Nonfood Discrimination in Ancestral Vertebrates: Gamete Cannibalism and the Origin of the Adaptive Immune System.}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of immunology}, volume = {82}, number = {5}, pages = {409-417}, doi = {10.1111/sji.12348}, pmid = {26286030}, issn = {1365-3083}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Autoimmunity ; *Biological Evolution ; Cannibalism ; *Food ; Germ Cells/*physiology ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Predatory Behavior ; Vertebrates ; }, abstract = {Adaptive immunity is a complex system that appeared twice in vertebrates (in gnathostomes and in jawless fish) although it is not required for invertebrate defence. The adaptive immune system is tightly associated with self-non-self discrimination, and it is now clear that this interplay is not limited to the prevention of autoreactivity. Micro-organisms are usually considered for their pathogenicity or symbiotic ability, but, for most small metazoans, they mainly constitute food. Vertebrates are characterized by feeding by predation on larger preys, when compared to their ancestors who were filter feeders and ate micro-organisms. Predation gives a strong selective advantage, not only due to the availability of new food resources but also by the ability to eliminate competitors for environmental resources (intraguild predation (IGP)). Unlike size-structured IGP, intraspecific predation of juveniles, zygotes or gametes can be detrimental for species fitness in some circumstances. The ability of individuals to recognize highly polymorphic molecules on the surface of gametes present in the plankton and so distinguish self versus non-self gametes might have constituted a strong selective advantage in intraspecific competition. Here, I propose the theory that the capacity to rearrange receptors has been selected in ancestral vertebrates as a consequence of this strong need for discriminating between hetero-cannibalism versus filial cannibalism. This evolutionary origin sheds light on presently unexplained features of the immune system, including the existence of regulatory T cells and of non-pathogenic natural autoimmunity.}, } @article {pmid26285783, year = {2015}, author = {Crooks, JA and Stilwell, MD and Oliver, PM and Zhong, Z and Weibel, DB}, title = {Decoding the Chemical Language of Motile Bacteria by Using High-Throughput Microfluidic Assays.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {16}, number = {15}, pages = {2151-2155}, pmid = {26285783}, issn = {1439-7633}, support = {DP2 OD008735/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008293/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1DP2OD008735/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; NIH T32GM08293/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Chemotaxis/*drug effects ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/*chemistry/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/*drug effects/*physiology ; *High-Throughput Screening Assays ; *Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; }, abstract = {Motile bacteria navigate chemical environments by using chemoreceptors. The output of these protein sensors is linked to motility machinery and enables bacteria to follow chemical gradients. Understanding the chemical specificity of different families of chemoreceptors is essential for predicting and controlling bacterial behavior in ecological niches, including symbiotic and pathogenic interactions with plants and mammals. The identification of chemical(s) recognized by specific families of receptors is limited by the low throughput and complexity of chemotaxis assays. To address this challenge, we developed a microfluidic-based chemotaxis assay that is quantitative, simple, and enables high-throughput measurements of bacterial response to different chemicals. Using the model bacterium Escherichia coli, we demonstrated a strategy for identifying molecules that activate chemoreceptors from a diverse compound library and for determining how global behavioral strategies are tuned to chemical environments.}, } @article {pmid26284777, year = {2015}, author = {Bordenstein, SR and Theis, KR}, title = {Host Biology in Light of the Microbiome: Ten Principles of Holobionts and Hologenomes.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {e1002226}, pmid = {26284777}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mutation ; Plants/genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Groundbreaking research on the universality and diversity of microorganisms is now challenging the life sciences to upgrade fundamental theories that once seemed untouchable. To fully appreciate the change that the field is now undergoing, one has to place the epochs and foundational principles of Darwin, Mendel, and the modern synthesis in light of the current advances that are enabling a new vision for the central importance of microbiology. Animals and plants are no longer heralded as autonomous entities but rather as biomolecular networks composed of the host plus its associated microbes, i.e., "holobionts." As such, their collective genomes forge a "hologenome," and models of animal and plant biology that do not account for these intergenomic associations are incomplete. Here, we integrate these concepts into historical and contemporary visions of biology and summarize a predictive and refutable framework for their evaluation. Specifically, we present ten principles that clarify and append what these concepts are and are not, explain how they both support and extend existing theory in the life sciences, and discuss their potential ramifications for the multifaceted approaches of zoology and botany. We anticipate that the conceptual and evidence-based foundation provided in this essay will serve as a roadmap for hypothesis-driven, experimentally validated research on holobionts and their hologenomes, thereby catalyzing the continued fusion of biology's subdisciplines. At a time when symbiotic microbes are recognized as fundamental to all aspects of animal and plant biology, the holobiont and hologenome concepts afford a holistic view of biological complexity that is consistent with the generally reductionist approaches of biology.}, } @article {pmid26284103, year = {2015}, author = {Mendoza-Soto, AB and Naya, L and Leija, A and Hernández, G}, title = {Responses of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing common bean to aluminum toxicity and delineation of nodule responsive microRNAs.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {587}, pmid = {26284103}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Aluminum (Al) toxicity is widespread in acidic soils where the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), the most important legume for human consumption, is produced and it is a limiting factor for crop production and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. We characterized the nodule responses of common bean plants inoculated with Rhizobioum tropici CIAT899 and the root responses of nitrate-fertilized plants exposed to excess Al in low pH, for long or short periods. A 43-50% reduction in nitrogenase activity indicates that Al toxicity (Alt) highly affected nitrogen fixation in common bean. Bean roots and nodules showed characteristic symptoms for Alt. In mature nodules Al accumulation and lipoperoxidation were observed in the infected zone, while callose deposition and cell death occurred mainly in the nodule cortex. Regulatory mechanisms of plant responses to metal toxicity involve microRNAs (miRNAs) along other regulators. Using a miRNA-macroarray hybridization approach we identified 28 (14 up-regulated) Alt nodule-responsive miRNAs. We validated (quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR) the expression of eight nodule responsive miRNAs in roots and in nodules exposed to high Al for long or short periods. The inverse correlation between the target and miRNA expression ratio (stress:control) was observed in every case. Generally, miRNAs showed a higher earlier response in roots than in nodules. Some of the common bean Alt-responsive miRNAs identified has also been reported as differentially expressed in other plant species subjected to similar stress condition. miRNA/target nodes analyzed in this work are known to be involved in relevant signaling pathways, thus we propose that the participation of miR164/NAC1 (NAM/ATAF/CUC transcription factor) and miR393/TIR1 (TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1-like protein) in auxin and of miR170/SCL (SCARECROW-like protein transcription factor) in gibberellin signaling is relevant for common bean response/adaptation to Al stress. Our data provide a foundation for evaluating the individual roles of miRNAs in the response of common bean nodules to Alt.}, } @article {pmid26284048, year = {2015}, author = {Maltz, M and LeVarge, BL and Graf, J}, title = {Identification of iron and heme utilization genes in Aeromonas and their role in the colonization of the leech digestive tract.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {763}, pmid = {26284048}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM095390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {It is known that many pathogens produce high-affinity iron uptake systems like siderophores and/or proteins for utilizing iron bound to heme-containing molecules, which facilitate iron-acquisition inside a host. In mutualistic digestive-tract associations, iron uptake systems have not been as well studied. We investigated the importance of two iron utilization systems within the beneficial digestive-tract association Aeromonas veronii and the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana. Siderophores were detected in A. veronii using chrome azurol S. Using a mini Tn5, a transposon insertion in viuB generated a mutant unable to utilize iron using siderophores. The A. veronii genome was then searched for genes potentially involved in iron utilization bound to heme-containing molecules. A putative outer membrane heme receptor (hgpB) was identified with a transcriptional activator, termed hgpR, downstream. The hgpB gene was interrupted with an antibiotic resistance cassette in both the parent strain and the viuB mutant, yielding an hgpB mutant and a mutant with both iron uptake systems inactivated. In vitro assays indicated that hgpB is involved in utilizing iron bound to heme and that both iron utilization systems are important for A. veronii to grow in blood. In vivo colonization assays revealed that the ability to acquire iron from heme-containing molecules is critical for A. veronii to colonize the leech gut. Since iron and specifically heme utilization is important in this mutualistic relationship and has a potential role in virulence factor of other organisms, genomes from different Aeromonas strains (both clinical and environmental) were queried with iron utilization genes of A. veronii. This analysis revealed that in contrast to the siderophore utilization genes heme utilization genes are widely distributed among aeromonads. The importance of heme utilization in the colonization of the leech further confirms that symbiotic and pathogenic relationships possess similar mechanisms for interacting with animal hosts.}, } @article {pmid26284045, year = {2015}, author = {Thompson, CM and Visick, KL}, title = {Assessing the function of STAS domain protein SypA in Vibrio fischeri using a comparative analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {760}, pmid = {26284045}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes by Vibrio fischeri requires biofilm formation dependent on the 18-gene symbiosis polysaccharide locus, syp. One key regulator, SypA, controls biofilm formation by an as-yet unknown mechanism; however, it is known that SypA itself is regulated by SypE. Biofilm-proficient strains form wrinkled colonies on solid media, while sypA mutants form biofilm-defective smooth colonies. To begin to understand the function of SypA, we used comparative analyses and mutagenesis approaches. sypA (and the syp locus) is conserved in other Vibrios, including two food-borne human pathogens, Vibrio vulnificus (rbdA) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (sypA VP). We found that both homologs could complement the biofilm defect of the V. fischeri sypA mutant, but their phenotypes varied depending on the biofilm-inducing conditions used. Furthermore, while SypAVP retained an ability to be regulated by SypE, RbdA was resistant to this control. To better understand SypA function, we examined the biofilm-promoting ability of a number of mutant SypA proteins with substitutions in conserved residues, and found many that were biofilm-defective. The most severe biofilm-defective phenotypes occurred when changes were made to a conserved stretch of amino acids within a predicted α-helix of SypA; we hypothesize that this region of SypA may interact with another protein to promote biofilm formation. Finally, we identified a residue required for negative control by SypE. Together, our data provide insights into the function of this key biofilm regulator and suggest that the SypA orthologs may play similar roles in their native Vibrio species.}, } @article {pmid26283348, year = {2015}, author = {Klose, J and Polz, MF and Wagner, M and Schimak, MP and Gollner, S and Bright, M}, title = {Endosymbionts escape dead hydrothermal vent tubeworms to enrich the free-living population.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {36}, pages = {11300-11305}, pmid = {26283348}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development/ultrastructure ; Bacterial Load ; Cell Death ; Environmental Microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hydrothermal Vents/*parasitology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Larva/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Polychaeta/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Theory predicts that horizontal acquisition of symbionts by plants and animals must be coupled to release and limited dispersal of symbionts for intergenerational persistence of mutualisms. For deep-sea hydrothermal vent tubeworms (Vestimentifera, Siboglinidae), it has been demonstrated that a few symbiotic bacteria infect aposymbiotic host larvae and grow in a newly formed organ, the trophosome. However, whether viable symbionts can be released to augment environmental populations has been doubtful, because (i) the adult worms lack obvious openings and (ii) the vast majority of symbionts has been regarded as terminally differentiated. Here we show experimentally that symbionts rapidly escape their hosts upon death and recruit to surfaces where they proliferate. Estimating symbiont release from our experiments taken together with well-known tubeworm density ranges, we suggest a few million to 1.5 billion symbionts seeding the environment upon death of a tubeworm clump. In situ observations show that such clumps have rapid turnover, suggesting that release of large numbers of symbionts may ensure effective dispersal to new sites followed by active larval colonization. Moreover, release of symbionts might enable adaptations that evolve within host individuals to spread within host populations and possibly to new environments.}, } @article {pmid26283342, year = {2015}, author = {Keeling, PJ and McCutcheon, JP and Doolittle, WF}, title = {Symbiosis becoming permanent: Survival of the luckiest.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10101-10103}, pmid = {26283342}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Canada ; Chloroplasts/physiology ; Genome ; Genotype ; Mitochondria/physiology ; Plastids/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; United States ; }, } @article {pmid26282238, year = {2015}, author = {Dalla Via, V and Narduzzi, C and Aguilar, OM and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {Changes in the Common Bean Transcriptome in Response to Secreted and Surface Signal Molecules of Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {2}, pages = {1356-1370}, pmid = {26282238}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Circadian Clocks/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Mutation ; Phaseolus/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizobium etli/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis requires the recognition of rhizobial molecules to initiate the development of nodules. Using transcriptional profiling of roots inoculated with mutant strains defective in the synthesis of Nod Factor (NF), exopolysaccharide (EPS), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we identified 2,606 genes from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that are differentially regulated at early stages of its interaction with Rhizobium etli. Many transcription factors from different families are modulated by NF, EPS, and LPS in different combinations, suggesting that the plant response depends on the integration of multiple signals. Some receptors identified as differentially expressed constitute excellent candidates to participate in signal perception of molecules derived from the bacteria. Several components of the ethylene signal response, a hormone that plays a negative role during early stages of the process, were down-regulated by NF and LPS. In addition, genes encoding proteins involved in small RNA-mediated gene regulation were regulated by these signal molecules, such as Argonaute7, a specific component of the trans-acting short interfering RNA3 pathway, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and an XH/XP domain-containing protein, which is part of the RNA-directed DNA methylation. Interestingly, a number of genes encoding components of the circadian central oscillator were down-regulated by NF and LPS, suggesting that a root circadian clock is adjusted at early stages of symbiosis. Our results reveal a complex interaction of the responses triggered by NF, LPS, and EPS that integrates information of the signals present in the surface or secreted by rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid26281217, year = {2015}, author = {Kuz'mina, VV}, title = {[THE ROLE OF FOOD OBJECTS AND ENTERAL MICROBIOTA PROTEASES IN NUTRITIVE AND TEMPERATURE ADAPTATIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN FISH].}, journal = {Zhurnal evoliutsionnoi biokhimii i fiziologii}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {154-162}, pmid = {26281217}, issn = {0044-4529}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Cold Temperature ; Fishes/microbiology/*physiology ; Food ; Intestines/*enzymology/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Peptide Hydrolases/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The review presents data on the activity and some temperature characteristics of proteases in the potential food objects of fishes and some enteral microbiota representatives that provide induced autolysis and symbiotic digestion. It is shown that during the active feeding period the total protease activity in the prey tissues exceeds the total protease activity in the fish gastric mucosa by 5-10 times. At low temperature, the relative activity of the prey tissue lysosomal hydrolases (20-35%) and the enteral microbiota enzymes (up to 45%) may exceed that of proteases synthesized by the hepatopancreas and functioning in the consumers' intestinal mucosa (less than 10% maximal activity). The data presented indicate the important role of proteases of food objects and enteral microbiota in nutritive adaptations of the fish digestive system.}, } @article {pmid26280746, year = {2016}, author = {Tu, Q and Zhou, X and He, Z and Xue, K and Wu, L and Reich, P and Hobbie, S and Zhou, J}, title = {The Diversity and Co-occurrence Patterns of N2-Fixing Communities in a CO2-Enriched Grassland Ecosystem.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {604-615}, pmid = {26280746}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Grassland ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Diazotrophs are the major organismal group responsible for atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixation in natural ecosystems. The extensive diversity and structure of N2-fixing communities in grassland ecosystems and their responses to increasing atmospheric CO2 remain to be further explored. Through pyrosequencing of nifH gene amplicons and extraction of nifH genes from shotgun metagenomes, coupled with co-occurrence ecological network analysis approaches, we comprehensively analyzed the diazotrophic community in a grassland ecosystem exposed to elevated CO2 (eCO2) for 12 years. Long-term eCO2 increased the abundance of nifH genes but did not change the overall nifH diversity and diazotrophic community structure. Taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis of amplified nifH sequences suggested a high diversity of nifH genes in the soil ecosystem, the majority belonging to nifH clusters I and II. Co-occurrence ecological network analysis identified different co-occurrence patterns for different groups of diazotrophs, such as Azospirillum/Actinobacteria, Mesorhizobium/Conexibacter, and Bradyrhizobium/Acidobacteria. This indicated a potential attraction of non-N2-fixers by diazotrophs in the soil ecosystem. Interestingly, more complex co-occurrence patterns were found for free-living diazotrophs than commonly known symbiotic diazotrophs, which is consistent with the physical isolation nature of symbiotic diazotrophs from the environment by root nodules. The study provides novel insights into our understanding of the microbial ecology of soil diazotrophs in natural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26278539, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, S and Zhou, J and Wang, G and Wang, X and Liao, H}, title = {The role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in aluminum and phosphorus interactions in relation to aluminum tolerance in soybean.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {23}, pages = {10225-10235}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-6913-6}, pmid = {26278539}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Aluminum/metabolism/*toxicity ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Soybeans/*drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi protect plants against aluminum (Al) toxicity, but the mechanisms of Al and phosphorus (P) interactions in relation to Al tolerance in mycorrhizal plants are only poorly understood. In this study, varying Al and P treatments were applied to soybean plants cultivated in the presence or absence of three different AM fungi. The results showed that plants in symbiotic association with Gigaspora margarita displayed higher Al tolerance than Rhizophagus irregularis or Glomus claroideum. The effectiveness of G. margarita appeared to be associated with more abundant arbuscules and less affected intraradical hyphae compared to no Al controls. The highest levels of Al toxicity mitigation were observed with the combination of high P availability and AM fungal inoculation, which was associated with a concomitant increase in the expression of the AM-inducible phosphate (Pi) transporter gene GmPT9 in soybean. Taken together, these results suggest that AM symbiosis can alleviate Al toxicity in soybean through enhanced P nutrition, as well as, the alteration of the abundance of mycorrhizal infection structures. These findings highlight the importance of P nutrition status in ameliorating Al toxicity in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid26275834, year = {2015}, author = {Laming, SR and Duperron, S and Gaudron, SM and Hilário, A and Cunha, MR}, title = {Adapted to change: The rapid development of symbiosis in newly settled, fast-maturing chemosymbiotic mussels in the deep sea.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {112}, number = {Pt B}, pages = {100-112}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.07.014}, pmid = {26275834}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Ecosystem ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mytilidae/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Portugal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between microbiota and marine metazoa occur globally at chemosynthetic habitats facing imminent threat from anthropogenic disturbance, yet little is known concerning the role of symbiosis during early development in chemosymbiotic metazoans: a critical period in any benthic species' lifecycle. The emerging symbiosis of Idas (sensu lato) simpsoni mussels undergoing development is assessed over a post-larval-to-adult size spectrum using histology and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Post-larval development shows similarities to that of both heterotrophic and chemosymbiotic mussels. Data from newly settled specimens confirm aposymbiotic, planktotrophic larval development. Sulphur-oxidising (SOX) symbionts subsequently colonise multiple exposed, non-ciliated epithelia shortly after metamorphosis, but only become abundant on gills as these expand with greater host size. This wide-spread bathymodiolin recorded from sulphidic wood, bone and cold-seep habitats, displays a suite of adaptive traits that could buffer against anthropogenic disturbance.}, } @article {pmid26272906, year = {2015}, author = {Sefik, E and Geva-Zatorsky, N and Oh, S and Konnikova, L and Zemmour, D and McGuire, AM and Burzyn, D and Ortiz-Lopez, A and Lobera, M and Yang, J and Ghosh, S and Earl, A and Snapper, SB and Jupp, R and Kasper, D and Mathis, D and Benoist, C}, title = {MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY. Individual intestinal symbionts induce a distinct population of RORγ[+] regulatory T cells.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {349}, number = {6251}, pages = {993-997}, pmid = {26272906}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {T32 AI007061/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI110630/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01-AI51530/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI051530/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK102771/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051530/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56-AI110630/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology ; Bacteroidetes/immunology/physiology ; Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology ; Colon/*immunology/microbiology ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/analysis/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota/*immunology/physiology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; Th17 Cells/immunology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {T regulatory cells that express the transcription factor Foxp3 (Foxp3(+) T(regs)) promote tissue homeostasis in several settings. We now report that symbiotic members of the human gut microbiota induce a distinct T(reg) population in the mouse colon, which constrains immuno-inflammatory responses. This induction—which we find to map to a broad, but specific, array of individual bacterial species—requires the transcription factor Rorγ, paradoxically, in that Rorγ is thought to antagonize FoxP3 and to promote T helper 17 (T(H)17) cell differentiation. Rorγ's transcriptional footprint differs in colonic T(regs) and T(H)17 cells and controls important effector molecules. Rorγ, and the T(regs) that express it, contribute substantially to regulating colonic T(H)1/T(H)17 inflammation. Thus, the marked context-specificity of Rorγ results in very different outcomes even in closely related cell types.}, } @article {pmid26272573, year = {2015}, author = {Dube, AN and Moyo, F and Dhlamini, Z}, title = {Metagenome Sequencing of the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) Rumen Microbiome.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {26272573}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Ruminant herbivores utilize a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms in their rumen to exploit fibrous foods for nutrition. We report the metagenome sequences of the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) rumen digesta, revealing a diverse community of microbes and some novel hydrolytic enzymes.}, } @article {pmid26272091, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, G and Wu, P and Liu, Y and Mi, S and Mai, S and Gu, C and Wang, G and Liu, H and Zhang, J and Børresen, BT and Mellemsæther, E and Kotlar, HK}, title = {Isolation and characterisation of non-anaerobic butanol-producing symbiotic system TSH06.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {20}, pages = {8803-8813}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-6864-y}, pmid = {26272091}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bacillus cereus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Butanols/*metabolism ; Clostridium acetobutylicum/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; *Microbial Consortia ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Butanol-producing microorganisms are all obligate anaerobes. In this study, a unique symbiotic system TSH06 was isolated to be capable of producing butanol under non-anaerobic condition. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) revealed that two strains coexist in TSH06. The two strains were identical to Clostridium acetobutylicum and Bacillus cereus, respectively. They were isolated individually and named as C. acetobutylicum TSH1 and B. cereus TSH2. C. acetobutylicum TSH1 is a butanol-producing, obligate anaerobic strain. Facultative anaerobic B. cereus TSH2 did not possess the ability of butanol production; however, it offered C. acetobutylicum TSH1 the viability under non-anaerobic condition. Moreover, B. cereus TSH2 enhanced butanol yield and speed of fermentation. TSH06 produced 12.97 g/L butanol and 15.39 g/L total solvent under non-anaerobic condition, which is 25 and 24 %, respectively, higher than those of C. acetobutylicum TSH1. In addition, TSH06 produced butanol faster under non-anaerobic condition than under anaerobic condition. Butanol accounted for more than 80 % of total solvent, which is higher than the known report. TSH06 was stable during passage. In all, TSH06 is a promising candidate for industrialisation of biobutanol with high yield, high butanol proportion, easy-handling and time-saving system. These results demonstrated the potential advantage of symbiosis. This study also provides a promising strategy for butanol fermentation.}, } @article {pmid26271664, year = {2015}, author = {Hernández, VM and Girard, L and Hernández-Lucas, I and Vázquez, A and Ortíz-Ortíz, C and Díaz, R and Dunn, MF}, title = {Genetic and biochemical characterization of arginine biosynthesis in Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {161}, number = {8}, pages = {1671-1682}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000122}, pmid = {26271664}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Acetyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Amidohydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Arginine/*biosynthesis ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Ornithine/analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/enzymology/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {L-Ornithine production in the alfalfa microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti occurs as an intermediate step in arginine biosynthesis. Ornithine is required for effective symbiosis but its synthesis in S. meliloti has been little studied. Unlike most bacteria, S. meliloti 1021 is annotated as encoding two enzymes producing ornithine: N-acetylornithine (NAO) deacetylase (ArgE) hydrolyses NAO to acetate and ornithine, and glutamate N-acetyltransferase (ArgJ) transacetylates l-glutamate with the acetyl group from NAO, forming ornithine and N-acetylglutamate (NAG). NAG is the substrate for the second step of arginine biosynthesis catalysed by NAG kinase (ArgB). Inactivation of argB in strain 1021 resulted in arginine auxotrophy. The activity of purified ArgB was significantly inhibited by arginine but not by ornithine. The purified ArgJ was highly active in NAO deacetylation/glutamate transacetylation and was significantly inhibited by ornithine but not by arginine. The purified ArgE protein (with a 6His-Sumo affinity tag) was also active in deacetylating NAO. argE and argJ single mutants, and an argEJ double mutant, are arginine prototrophs. Extracts of the double mutant contained aminoacylase (Ama) activity that deacetylated NAO to form ornithine. The purified products of three candidate ama genes (smc00682 (hipO1), smc02256 (hipO2) and smb21279) all possessed NAO deacetylase activity. hipO1 and hipO2, but not smb21279, expressed in trans functionally complemented an Escherichia coli ΔargE : : Km mutant. We conclude that Ama activity accounts for the arginine prototrophy of the argEJ mutant. Transcriptional assays of argB, argE and argJ, fused to a promoterless gusA gene, showed that their expression was not significantly affected by exogenous arginine or ornithine.}, } @article {pmid26271635, year = {2016}, author = {Dill-McFarland, KA and Weimer, PJ and Pauli, JN and Peery, MZ and Suen, G}, title = {Diet specialization selects for an unusual and simplified gut microbiota in two- and three-toed sloths.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {1391-1402}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13022}, pmid = {26271635}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Herbivory ; Male ; Sloths/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities are critical to the function and survival of animals. This relationship is obligatory for herbivores that engage gut microorganisms for the conversion of dietary plant materials into nutrients such as short-chain organic acids (SCOAs). The constraint on body size imposed by their arboreal lifestyle is thought to make this symbiosis especially important for sloths. Here, we use next-generation sequencing to identify the bacteria present in the fore and distal guts of wild two- and three-toed sloths, and correlate these communities with both diet and SCOAs. We show that, unlike other mammalian herbivores, sloth gut communities are dominated by the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Specifically, three-toed sloths possess a highly conserved, low-diversity foregut community with a highly abundant Neisseria species associated with foregut lactate. In contrast, two-toed sloths have a more variable and diverse foregut microbiota correlated with a variety of SCOAs. These differences support the hypothesis that feeding behaviour selects for specific gut bacterial communities, as three-toed sloths subsist primarily on Cecropia tree leaves while two-toed sloths have a more generalist diet. The less diverse diet and gut microbiota of three-toed sloths may render them more susceptible to habitat loss and other diet-altering conditions.}, } @article {pmid26266755, year = {2015}, author = {Praveen, P and Loh, KC}, title = {Photosynthetic aeration in biological wastewater treatment using immobilized microalgae-bacteria symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {23}, pages = {10345-10354}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-6896-3}, pmid = {26266755}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bioreactors/microbiology ; Cells, Immobilized/metabolism ; Chlorella vulgaris/growth & development/*metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; *Microbial Consortia ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Pseudomonas putida/growth & development/*metabolism ; Time Factors ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; Water Purification ; }, abstract = {Chlorella vulgaris encapsulated in alginate beads were added into a bioreactor treating synthetic wastewater using Pseudomonas putida. A symbiotic CO2/O2 gas exchange was established between the two microorganisms for photosynthetic aeration of wastewater. During batch operation, glucose removal efficiency in the bioreactor improved from 50% in 12 h without aeration to 100% in 6 h, when the bioreactor was aerated photosynthetically. During continuous operation, the bioreactor was operated at a low hydraulic retention time of 3.3 h at feed concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/L glucose. The removal efficiency at 500 mg/L increased from 73% without aeration to 100% in the presence of immobilized microalgae. The initial microalgae concentration was critical to achieve adequate aeration, and the removal rate increased with increasing microalgae concentration. The highest removal rate of 142 mg/L-h glucose was achieved at an initial microalgae concentration of 190 mg/L. Quantification of microalgae growth in the alginate beads indicated an exponential growth during symbiosis, indicating that the bioreactor performance was limited by oxygen production rates. Under symbiotic conditions, the chlorophyll content of the immobilized microalgae increased by more than 30%. These results indicate that immobilized microalgae in symbiosis with heterotrophic bacteria are promising in wastewater aeration.}, } @article {pmid26265506, year = {2015}, author = {Bontemps-Gallo, S and Lacroix, JM}, title = {New insights into the biological role of the osmoregulated periplasmic glucans in pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {690-697}, pmid = {26265506}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {Z99 AI999999//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Glucans/*metabolism ; Osmoregulation ; Periplasm/*chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {This review emphasizes the biological roles of the osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs). Osmoregulated periplasmic glucans occur in almost all α-, β- and γ-Proteobacteria. This polymer of glucose is required for full virulence. The roles of the OPGs are complex and vary depending on the species. Here, we outline the four major roles of the OPGs through four different pathogenic and one symbiotic bacterial models (Dickeya dadantii, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Brucella abortus and Sinorhizobium meliloti). When periplasmic, the OPGs are a part of the signal transduction pathway and indirectly regulate genes involved in virulence. The OPGs can also be secreted. When outside of the cell, they interact directly with antibiotics to protect the bacterial cell or interact with the host cell to facilitate the invasion process. When OPGs are not found, as in the ε-Proteobacteria, OPG-like oligosaccharides are present. Their presence strengthens the evidence that OPGs play an important role in virulence.}, } @article {pmid26263687, year = {2015}, author = {Roumiantseva, ML and Muntyan, VS}, title = {[Root Nodule Bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti: Tolerance to Salinity and Bacterial Genetic Determinants].}, journal = {Mikrobiologiia}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {263-280}, pmid = {26263687}, issn = {0026-3656}, mesh = {Alleles ; Betaine/metabolism ; Droughts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Frequency ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Osmolar Concentration ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Salinity ; Salt Tolerance/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The theoretical and experimental data on salt tolerance of root nodule bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti (Ensifer meliloti), an alfalfa symbiont, and on genetic determination of this feature are reviewed. Extensive data on the genes affecting adaptation of proteobacteria are provided, as well as on the groups of genes with activity depending on the osmolarity of the medium. Structural and functional polymorphism of the bet genes involved in betaine synthesis and transport in S. meliloti is discussed. The phenotypic and. genotypic polymorphism in 282 environmental rhizobial strains isolated from the centers of alfalfa diversity affected by aridity and salinity is discussed. The isolates from the Aral Sea area and northern Caucasus were shown to possess the betC gene represented by two types of alleles: the dominant A-type allele found in Rm 1021 and the less common divergent E-type allele, which was revealed in regions at the frequencies at the frequencies of 0.35 and 0.48, respectively. In the isolates with the salt-tolerant phenotype, which were isolated from root nodules and subsequently formed less effective symbioses with alfalfa, the frequency of E-type alleles was 2.5 times higher. Analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the E-type allele of the betC gene revealed that establishment of this allele in the population was a result of positive selection. It is concluded that diversification of the functionally diverse bet genes occurring in S. meliloti affects the salt tolerance and symbiotic effectivity of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid26262625, year = {2015}, author = {Gardères, J and Bedoux, G and Koutsouveli, V and Crequer, S and Desriac, F and Pennec, GL}, title = {Lipopolysaccharides from Commensal and Opportunistic Bacteria: Characterization and Response of the Immune System of the Host Sponge Suberites domuncula.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {4985-5006}, pmid = {26262625}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/immunology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Cell Wall/immunology ; Gene Expression/immunology ; Hydrolysis ; Lipid A/immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*immunology ; Macrophages/immunology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*immunology/*microbiology ; Suberites/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges harbor a rich bacterioflora with which they maintain close relationships. However, the way these animals make the distinction between bacteria which are consumed to meet their metabolic needs and opportunistic and commensal bacteria which are hosted is not elucidated. Among the elements participating in this discrimination, bacterial cell wall components such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could play a role. In the present study, we investigated the LPS chemical structure of two bacteria associated with the sponge Suberites domuncula: a commensal Endozoicomonas sp. and an opportunistic Pseudoalteromonas sp. Electrophoretic patterns indicated different LPS structures for these bacteria. The immunomodulatory lipid A was isolated after mild acetic acid hydrolysis. The electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectra revealed monophosphorylated molecules corresponding to tetra- and pentaacylated structures with common structural features between the two strains. Despite peculiar structural characteristics, none of these two LPS influenced the expression of the macrophage-expressed gene S. domuncula unlike the Escherichia coli ones. Further research will have to include a larger number of genes to understand how this animal can distinguish between LPS with resembling structures and discriminate between bacteria associated with it.}, } @article {pmid26261403, year = {2015}, author = {Mansotra, P and Sharma, P and Sharma, S}, title = {Bioaugmentation of Mesorhizobium cicer, Pseudomonas spp. and Piriformospora indica for Sustainable Chickpea Production.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {385-393}, pmid = {26261403}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Chickpea establishes symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium to fulfill its nitrogen (N) requirement. Integrating chickpea rhizosphere with potential native mesorhizobia and other plant growth promoting microorganisms can contribute multiple benefits to plants. The present investigation was undertaken to study interactions among Piriformospora indica (PI) with potential plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) viz. Pseudomonas argentinensis (LPGPR1), Pseudomonas sp. (LPGPR2) along with national check Pseudomons sp. (LK884) and Mesorhizobium cicer (LGR33, MR) to examine the synergistic effect of consortium for improving growth, symbiotic efficiency, nutrient acquisition and yield in two chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties viz. desi PBG1 and kabuli BG1053. In-vitro, seed germination with consortium MR + PI + LPGPR1 was the best compatible treatment followed by MR + PI + LK884 and MR + PI + LPGPR2. Significant improvement in the growth, symbiotic parameters and grain yield was observed with MR + PI + LPGPR1 and MR + PI + LK884 treatments. Significantly high chlorophyll and leghaemoglobin content was recorded with MR + PI + LPGPR1 (1.57 and 1.64 mg g(-1) fresh weight of leaves and 5.19 and 4.39 mg/g(-1) fresh weight of nodules) in desi PBG1 and kabuli BG1053 chickpea varieties, respectively. At 90 DAS, MR + PI + LPGPR1 treatment significantly improved nodule dry weight (ranged between 84.0 and 141.7 mg plant(-1)) as compared to MR alone treatment (ranged between 62.3 and 123.3 mg plant(-1)). Data revealed significant increase in total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content of shoot with MR + PI + LPGPR1 by 1.2 and 1.5 fold, respectively over MR alone treatment. On the basis of overall mean, MR + PI + LPGPR1 significantly improved the yield by 8.2 % over Mesorhizobium alone application. It seems from foregoing study that tripartite combination of different micro-organisms can be explored as biofertilizer for improvement in chickpea productivity.}, } @article {pmid26260652, year = {2015}, author = {Bennett, GM and McCutcheon, JP and McDonald, BR and Moran, NA}, title = {Lineage-Specific Patterns of Genome Deterioration in Obligate Symbionts of Sharpshooter Leafhoppers.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {296-301}, pmid = {26260652}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Coenzymes/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/pathogenicity ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomic Instability ; Hemiptera/microbiology ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Methionine/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Vitamins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant sap-feeding insects (Hemiptera) rely on obligate bacterial symbionts that provision nutrients. Some of these symbionts are ancient and have evolved tiny genomes, whereas others are younger and retain larger, dynamic genomes. Baumannia cicadellinicola, an obligate symbiont of sharpshooter leafhoppers, is derived from a relatively recent symbiont replacement. To better understand evolutionary decay of genomes, we compared Baumannia from three host species. A newly sequenced genome for Baumannia from the green sharpshooter (B-GSS) was compared with genomes of Baumannia from the blue-green sharpshooter (B-BGSS, 759 kilobases [kb]) and from the glassy-winged sharpshooter (B-GWSS, 680 kb). B-GSS has the smallest Baumannia genome sequenced to date (633 kb), with only three unique genes, all involved in membrane function. It has lost nearly all pathways involved in vitamin and cofactor synthesis, as well as amino acid biosynthetic pathways that are redundant with pathways of the host or the symbiotic partner, Sulcia muelleri. The entire biosynthetic pathway for methionine is eliminated, suggesting that methionine has become a dietary requirement for hosts. B-GSS and B-BGSS share 33 genes involved in bacterial functions (e.g., cell division, membrane synthesis, metabolite transport, etc.) that are lost from the more distantly related B-GWSS and most other tiny genome symbionts. Finally, pairwise divergence estimates indicate that B-GSS has experienced a lineage-specific increase in substitution rates. This increase correlates with accelerated protein-level changes and widespread gene loss. Thus, the mode and tempo of genome reduction vary widely among symbiont lineages and result in wide variation in metabolic capabilities across hosts.}, } @article {pmid26257873, year = {2015}, author = {Shukla, K and Hager, HA and Yurkonis, KA and Newman, JA}, title = {Effects of the Epichloë fungal endophyte symbiosis with Schedonorus pratensis on host grass invasiveness.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {13}, pages = {2596-2607}, pmid = {26257873}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Initial studies of grass-endophyte mutualisms using Schedonorus arundinaceus cultivar Kentucky-31 infected with the vertically transmitted endophyte Epichloë coenophiala found strong, positive endophyte effects on host-grass invasion success. However, more recent work using different cultivars of S. arundinaceus has cast doubt on the ubiquity of this effect, at least as it pertains to S. arundinaceus-E. coenophiala. We investigated the generality of previous work on vertically transmitted Epichloë-associated grass invasiveness by studying a pair of very closely related species: S. pratensis and E. uncinata. Seven cultivars of S. pratensis and two cultivars of S. arundinaceus that were developed with high- or low-endophyte infection rate were broadcast seeded into 2 × 2-m plots in a tilled, old-field grassland community in a completely randomized block design. Schedonorus abundance, endophyte infection rate, and co-occurring vegetation were sampled 3, 4, 5, and 6 years after establishment, and the aboveground invertebrate community was sampled in S. pratensis plots 3 and 4 years after establishment. Endophyte infection did not enable the host grass to achieve high abundance in the plant community. Contrary to expectations, high-endophyte S. pratensis increased plant richness relative to low-endophyte cultivars. However, as expected, high-endophyte S. pratensis marginally decreased invertebrate taxon richness. Endophyte effects on vegetation and invertebrate community composition were inconsistent among cultivars and were weaker than temporal effects. The effect of the grass-Epichloë symbiosis on diversity is not generalizable, but rather specific to species, cultivar, infection, and potentially site. Examining grass-endophyte systems using multiple cultivars and species replicated among sites will be important to determine the range of conditions in which endophyte associations benefit host grass performance and have subsequent effects on co-occurring biotic communities.}, } @article {pmid26257709, year = {2015}, author = {Nelson, WC and Stegen, JC}, title = {The reduced genomes of Parcubacteria (OD1) contain signatures of a symbiotic lifestyle.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {713}, pmid = {26257709}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Candidate phylum OD1 bacteria (also referred to as Parcubacteria) have been identified in a broad range of anoxic environments through community survey analysis. Although none of these species have been isolated in the laboratory, several genome sequences have been reconstructed from metagenomic sequence data and single-cell sequencing. The organisms have small (generally <1 Mb) genomes with severely reduced metabolic capabilities. We have reconstructed 8 partial to near-complete OD1 genomes from oxic groundwater samples, and compared them against existing genomic data. The conserved core gene set comprises 202 genes, or ~28% of the genomic complement. "Housekeeping" genes and genes for biosynthesis of peptidoglycan and Type IV pilus production are conserved. Gene sets for biosynthesis of cofactors, amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids are absent entirely or greatly reduced. The only aspects of energy metabolism conserved are the non-oxidative branch of the pentose-phosphate shunt and central glycolysis. These organisms also lack some activities conserved in almost all other known bacterial genomes, including signal recognition particle, pseudouridine synthase A, and FAD synthase. Pan-genome analysis indicates a broad genotypic diversity and perhaps a highly fluid gene complement, indicating historical adaptation to a wide range of growth environments and a high degree of specialization. The genomes were examined for signatures suggesting either a free-living, streamlined lifestyle, or a symbiotic lifestyle. The lack of biosynthetic capabilities and DNA repair, along with the presence of potential attachment and adhesion proteins suggest that the Parcubacteria are ectosymbionts or parasites of other organisms. The wide diversity of genes that potentially mediate cell-cell contact suggests a broad range of partner/prey organisms across the phylum.}, } @article {pmid26254485, year = {2015}, author = {Lo, WS and Gasparich, GE and Kuo, CH}, title = {Found and Lost: The Fates of Horizontally Acquired Genes in Arthropod-Symbiotic Spiroplasma.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {2458-2472}, pmid = {26254485}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Phylogeny ; Spiroplasma/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important mechanism that contributed to biological diversity, particularly in bacteria. Through acquisition of novel genes, the recipient cell may change its ecological preference and the process could promote speciation. In this study, we determined the complete genome sequence of two Spiroplasma species for comparative analyses and inferred the putative gene gains and losses. Although most Spiroplasma species are symbionts of terrestrial insects, Spiroplasma eriocheiris has evolved to be a lethal pathogen of freshwater crustaceans. We found that approximately 7% of the genes in this genome may have originated from HGT and these genes expanded the metabolic capacity of this organism. Through comparison with the closely related Spiroplasma atrichopogonis, as well as other more divergent lineages, our results indicated that these HGT events could be traced back to the most recent common ancestor of these two species. However, most of these horizontally acquired genes have been pseudogenized in S. atrichopogonis, suggesting that they did not contribute to the fitness of this lineage that maintained the association with terrestrial insects. Thus, accumulation of small deletions that disrupted these foreign genes was not countered by natural selection. On the other hand, the long-term survival of these horizontally acquired genes in the S. eriocheiris genome hinted that they might play a role in the ecological shift of this species. Finally, the implications of these findings and the conflicts among gene content, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and serological typing, are discussed in light of defining bacterial species.}, } @article {pmid26253865, year = {2015}, author = {Tu, R and Jin, W and Xi, T and Yang, Q and Han, SF and Abomohra, Ael-F}, title = {Effect of static magnetic field on the oxygen production of Scenedesmus obliquus cultivated in municipal wastewater.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {132-138}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2015.07.039}, pmid = {26253865}, issn = {1879-2448}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorophyll/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; *Magnetic Fields ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Scenedesmus/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater/microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Algal-bacterial symbiotic system, with biological synergism of physiological functions of both algae and bacteria, has been proposed for cultivation of microalgae in municipal wastewater for biomass production and wastewater treatment. The algal-bacterial symbiotic system can enhance dissolved oxygen production which enhances bacterial growth and catabolism of pollutants in wastewater. Therefore, the oxygen production efficiency of microalgae in algal-bacterial systems is considered as the key factor influencing the wastewater treatment efficiency. In the present study, we have proposed a novel approach which uses static magnetic field to enhance algal growth and oxygen production rate with low operational cost and non-toxic secondary pollution. The performance of oxygen production with the magnetic field was evaluated using Scenedesmus obliquus grown in municipal wastewater and was calculated based on the change in dissolved oxygen concentration. Results indicated that magnetic treatment stimulates both algal growth and oxygen production. Application of 1000 GS of magnetic field once at logarithmic growth phase for 0.5 h increased the chlorophyll-a content by 11.5% over the control after 6 days of growth. In addition, magnetization enhanced the oxygen production rate by 24.6% over the control. Results of the study confirmed that application of a proper magnetic field could reduce the energy consumption required for aeration during the degradation of organic matter in municipal wastewater in algal-bacterial symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid26253705, year = {2015}, author = {Ng, JL and Hassan, S and Truong, TT and Hocart, CH and Laffont, C and Frugier, F and Mathesius, U}, title = {Flavonoids and Auxin Transport Inhibitors Rescue Symbiotic Nodulation in the Medicago truncatula Cytokinin Perception Mutant cre1.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {2210-2226}, pmid = {26253705}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Biological Transport/drug effects ; Chalcones/metabolism/pharmacology ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Flavanones/metabolism/pharmacology ; Flavonoids/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Kaempferols/metabolism/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; *Mutation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/*genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Triiodobenzoic Acids/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Initiation of symbiotic nodules in legumes requires cytokinin signaling, but its mechanism of action is largely unknown. Here, we tested whether the failure to initiate nodules in the Medicago truncatula cytokinin perception mutant cre1 (cytokinin response1) is due to its altered ability to regulate auxin transport, auxin accumulation, and induction of flavonoids. We found that in the cre1 mutant, symbiotic rhizobia cannot locally alter acro- and basipetal auxin transport during nodule initiation and that these mutants show reduced auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) accumulation and auxin responses compared with the wild type. Quantification of flavonoids, which can act as endogenous auxin transport inhibitors, showed a deficiency in the induction of free naringenin, isoliquiritigenin, quercetin, and hesperetin in cre1 roots compared with wild-type roots 24 h after inoculation with rhizobia. Coinoculation of roots with rhizobia and the flavonoids naringenin, isoliquiritigenin, and kaempferol, or with the synthetic auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5,-triiodobenzoic acid, rescued nodulation efficiency in cre1 mutants and allowed auxin transport control in response to rhizobia. Our results suggest that CRE1-dependent cytokinin signaling leads to nodule initiation through the regulation of flavonoid accumulation required for local alteration of polar auxin transport and subsequent auxin accumulation in cortical cells during the early stages of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid26253539, year = {2015}, author = {Bloodworth, RAM and Zlitni, S and Brown, ED and Cardona, ST}, title = {An electron transfer flavoprotein is essential for viability and its depletion causes a rod-to-sphere change in Burkholderia cenocepacia.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {161}, number = {10}, pages = {1909-1920}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000156}, pmid = {26253539}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Burkholderia cenocepacia/*cytology/growth & development/*physiology ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Electron-Transferring Flavoproteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Microbial Viability ; }, abstract = {Essential gene studies often reveal novel essential functions for genes with dispensable homologues in other species. This is the case with the widespread family of electron transfer flavoproteins (ETFs), which are required for the metabolism of specific substrates or for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in some bacteria. Despite these non-essential functions high-throughput screens have identified ETFs as putatively essential in several species. In this study, we constructed a conditional expression mutant of one of the ETFs in Burkholderia cenocepacia, and demonstrated that its expression is essential for growth on both complex media and a variety of single-carbon sources. We further demonstrated that the two subunits EtfA and EtfB interact with each other, and that cells depleted of ETF are non-viable and lack redox potential. These cells also transition from the short rods characteristic of Burkholderia cenocepacia to small spheres independently of MreB. The putative membrane partner ETF dehydrogenase also induced the same rod-to-sphere change. We propose that the ETF of Burkholderia cenocepacia is a novel antibacterial target.}, } @article {pmid26252399, year = {2015}, author = {Roberts, FA and Darveau, RP}, title = {Microbial protection and virulence in periodontal tissue as a function of polymicrobial communities: symbiosis and dysbiosis.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {18-27}, pmid = {26252399}, issn = {1600-0757}, support = {R01 DE012768/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE018274/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms/growth & development ; *Dysbiosis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Mouth/microbiology ; Periodontitis/*microbiology ; Periodontium/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {This review discusses polymicrobial interactions with the host in both health and disease. As our ability to identify specific bacterial clonal types, with respect to their abundance and location in the oral biofilm, improves, we will learn more concerning their contribution to both oral health and disease. Recent studies examining host- bacteria interactions have revealed that commensal bacteria not only protect the host simply by niche occupation, but that bacterial interactions with host tissue can promote the development of proper tissue structure and function. These data indicate that our host-associated polymicrobial communities, such as those found in the oral cavity, co-evolved with us and have become an integral part of who we are. Understanding the microbial community factors that underpin the associations with host tissue that contribute to periodontal health may also reveal how dysbiotic periodontopathic oral communities disrupt normal periodontal tissue functions in disease. A disruption of the oral microbial community creates dysbiosis, either by overgrowth of specific or nonspecific microorganisms or by changes in the local host response where the community can now support a disease state. Dysbiosis provides the link between systemic changes (e.g. diabetes) and exogenous risk factors (e.g. smoking), and the dysbiotic community, and can drive the destruction of periodontal tissue. Many other risk factors associated with periodontal disease, such as stress, aging and genetics, are also likely to affect the microbial community, and more research is needed, utilizing sophisticated bacterial taxonomic techniques, to elucidate these effects on the microbiome and to develop strategies to target the dysbiotic mechanisms and improve periodontal health.}, } @article {pmid26252398, year = {2015}, author = {Meyle, J and Chapple, I}, title = {Molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of periodontitis.}, journal = {Periodontology 2000}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {7-17}, doi = {10.1111/prd.12104}, pmid = {26252398}, issn = {1600-0757}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Cytokines/physiology ; Dysbiosis ; Epithelial Cells/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa/physiology ; Periodontitis/*etiology/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The past decade of basic research in periodontology has driven radical changes in our understanding and perceptions of the pathogenic processes that drive periodontal tissue destruction. The core elements of the classical model of disease pathogenesis, developed by Page & Kornman in 1997, remain pertinent today; however, our understanding of the dynamic interactions between the various microbial and host factors has changed significantly. The molecular era has unraveled aspects of genetics, epigenetics, lifestyle and environmental factors that, in combination, influence biofilm composition and the host's inflammatory immune response, creating a heterogenic biological phenotype that we label as 'periodontitis'. In this volume of Periodontology 2000, experts in their respective fields discuss these emerging concepts, such as a health-promoting biofilm being essential for periodontal stability, involving a true symbiosis between resident microbial species and each other and also with the host response to that biofilm. Rather like the gut microbiome, changes in the local environment, which may include inflammatory response mediators or viruses, conspire to drive dysbiosis and create a biofilm that supports pathogenic species capable of propagating disease. The host response is now recognized as the major contributor to periodontal tissue damage in what becomes a dysfunctional, poorly targeted and nonresolving inflammation that only serves to nourish and sustain the dysbiosis. The role of epithelial cells in signaling to the immune system is becoming clearer, as is the role of dendritic cells as transporters of periodontal pathogens to distant sites within the body, namely metastatic infection. The involvement of nontraditional immune cells, such as natural killer cells, is being recognized, and the simple balance between T-helper 1- and T-helper 2-type T-cell populations has become less clear with the emergence of T-regulatory cells, T-helper 17 cells and follicular helper cells. The dominance of the neutrophil has emerged, not only as a potential destructor when poorly regulated but as an equally unpredictable effector cell for specific B-cell immunity. The latter has emerged, in part, from the realization that neutrophils live for 5.4 days in the circulation, rather than for 24 h, and are also schizophrenic in nature, being powerful synthesizers of proinflammatory cytokines but also responding to prostaglandin signals to trigger a switch to a pro-resolving phenotype that appears capable of regenerating the structure and function of healthy tissue. Key to these outcomes are the molecular signaling pathways that dominate at any one time, but even these are influenced by microRNAs capable of 'silencing' certain inflammatory genes. This volume of Periodontology 2000 tries to draw these complex new learnings into a contemporary model of disease pathogenesis, in which inflammation and dysbiosis impact upon whether the outcome is driven toward acute resolution and stability, chronic resolution and repair, or failed resolution and ongoing periodontal tissue destruction.}, } @article {pmid26251877, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, C and Xu, X and Hong, Z and Feng, Y and Zhang, Z}, title = {Involvement of ROP6 and clathrin in nodulation factor signaling.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e1033127}, pmid = {26251877}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Clathrin/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Signal Transduction/genetics ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Tobacco/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association between the legume Lotus japonicus and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Mesorhizobium loti results in the formation of root nodules. This process begins with the recognition of the rhizobial nodulation factor (NF) by the NF receptors (NFR) at the cell surface of the host roots. The downstream signaling cascades after NFR recognition have not been fully characterized. We recently identified a clathrin heavy chain 1 (CHC1) from L. japonicus as a potential target of the NF signaling cascades. CHC is a known central component in the clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) in eukaryotic cells. The CHC1 gene was highly expressed in Rhizobium-infected root hairs and the CHC1 protein was present in cytoplasmic punctate structures near the infection pockets and along the infection thread membrane. Furthermore, expression of a dominant-negative variant of CHC1 or treatment with a chemical inhibitor of CME resulted in impaired phenotypes in the NF signaling, rhizobial infection and nodulation. These findings open a new avenue for future work aiming at understanding the role of endocytosis in NF signaling pathway and rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid26249681, year = {2015}, author = {Pires, AJ and Ribeiro, T and Thompson, A and Venditto, I and Fernandes, VO and Bule, P and Santos, H and Alves, VD and Pires, V and Ferreira, LM and Fontes, CM and Najmudin, S}, title = {Purification and crystallographic studies of a putative carbohydrate-binding module from the Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 endoglucanase Cel5A.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology communications}, volume = {71}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {958-961}, pmid = {26249681}, issn = {2053-230X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics ; Catalytic Domain ; Cellulase/*chemistry/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Ruminococcus/*chemistry/enzymology ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Ruminant herbivores meet their carbon and energy requirements from a symbiotic relationship with cellulosome-producing anaerobic bacteria that efficiently degrade plant cell-wall polysaccharides. The assembly of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) into cellulosomes enhances protein stability and enzyme synergistic interactions. Cellulosomes comprise diverse CAZymes displaying a modular architecture in which a catalytic domain is connected, via linker sequences, to one or more noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). CBMs direct the appended catalytic modules to their target substrates, thus facilitating catalysis. The genome of the ruminal cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens strain FD-1 contains over 200 modular proteins containing the cellulosomal signature dockerin module. One of these is an endoglucanase Cel5A comprising two family 5 glycoside hydrolase catalytic modules (GH5) flanking an unclassified CBM (termed CBM-Rf2) and a C-terminal dockerin. This novel CBM-Rf2 has been purified and crystallized, and data from cacodylate-derivative crystals were processed to 1.02 and 1.29 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P212121. The CBM-Rf2 structure was solved by a single-wavelength anomalous dispersion experiment at the As edge.}, } @article {pmid26249310, year = {2015}, author = {Djordjevic, MA and Mohd-Radzman, NA and Imin, N}, title = {Small-peptide signals that control root nodule number, development, and symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {17}, pages = {5171-5181}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erv357}, pmid = {26249310}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Peptides/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many legumes have the capacity to enter into a symbiotic association with soil bacteria generically called 'rhizobia' that results in the formation of new lateral organs on roots called nodules within which the rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen (N). Up to 200 million tonnes of N per annum is fixed by this association. Therefore, this symbiosis plays an integral role in the N cycle and is exploited in agriculture to support the sustainable fixation of N for cropping and animal production in developing and developed nations. Root nodulation is an expendable developmental process and competency for nodulation is coupled to low-N conditions. Both nodule initiation and development is suppressed under high-N conditions. Although root nodule formation enables sufficient N to be fixed for legumes to grow under N-deficient conditions, the carbon cost is high and nodule number is tightly regulated by local and systemic mechanisms. How legumes co-ordinate nodule formation with the other main organs of nutrient acquisition, lateral roots, is not fully understood. Independent mechanisms appear to regulate lateral roots and nodules under low- and high-N regimes. Recently, several signalling peptides have been implicated in the local and systemic regulation of nodule and lateral root formation. Other peptide classes control the symbiotic interaction of rhizobia with the host. This review focuses on the roles played by signalling peptides during the early stages of root nodule formation, in the control of nodule number, and in the establishment of symbiosis. Here, we highlight the latest findings and the gaps in our understanding of these processes.}, } @article {pmid26245981, year = {2015}, author = {Batista-Santos, P and Duro, N and Rodrigues, AP and Semedo, JN and Alves, P and da Costa, M and Graça, I and Pais, IP and Scotti-Campos, P and Lidon, FC and Leitão, AE and Pawlowski, K and Ribeiro-Barros, AI and Ramalho, JC}, title = {Is salt stress tolerance in Casuarina glauca Sieb. ex Spreng. associated with its nitrogen-fixing root-nodule symbiosis? An analysis at the photosynthetic level.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {97-109}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.07.021}, pmid = {26245981}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Electron Transport ; Magnoliopsida/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/*physiology ; *Salts ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Thylakoids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Casuarina glauca is an actinorhizal tree which establishes root-nodule symbiosis with N2-fixing Frankia bacteria. This plant is commonly found in saline zones and is widely used to remediate marginal soils and prevent desertification. The nature of its ability to survive in extreme environments and the extent of Frankia contribution to stress tolerance remain unknown. Thus, we evaluated the ability of C. glauca to cope with salt stress and the influence of the symbiosis on this trait. To this end, we analysed the impact of salt on plant growth, mineral contents, water relations, photosynthetic-related parameters and non-structural sugars in nodulated vs. non-nodulated plants. Although the effects on photosynthesis and stomatal conductance started to become measurable in the presence of 200 mM NaCl, photochemical (e.g., photosynthetic electron flow) and biochemical (e.g., activity of photosynthetic enzymes) parameters were only strongly impaired when NaCl levels reached 600 mM. These results indicate the maintenance of high tissue hydration under salt stress, probably associated with enhanced osmotic potential. Furthermore, the maintenance of photosynthetic assimilation potential (A(max)), together with the increase in the quantum yield of down-regulated energy dissipation of PSII (Y(NPQ)), suggested a down-regulation of photosynthesis instead of photo-damaging effects. A comparison of the impact of increasing NaCl levels on the activities of photosynthetic (RubisCO and ribulose-5 phosphate kinase) and respiratory (pyruvate kinase and NADH-dependent malate dehydrogenase) enzymes vs. photosynthetic electron flow and fluorescence parameters, revealed that biochemical impairments are more limiting than photochemical damage. Altogether, these results indicate that, under controlled conditions, C. glauca tolerates high NaCl levels and that this capacity is linked to photosynthetic adjustments.}, } @article {pmid26242694, year = {2015}, author = {Xu, KW and Zou, L and Penttinen, P and Wang, K and Heng, NN and Zhang, XP and Chen, Q and Zhao, K and Chen, YX}, title = {Symbiotic effectiveness and phylogeny of rhizobia isolated from faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Sichuan hilly areas, China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {7}, pages = {515-523}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2015.06.009}, pmid = {26242694}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A total of 54 rhizobial strains were isolated from faba bean root nodules in 21 counties of Sichuan hilly areas in China, and their symbiotic effectiveness, genetic diversity and phylogeny were assessed. Only six strains increased the shoot dry mass of the host plant significantly (P ≤ 0.05). Based on the cluster analysis of combined 16S rDNA and intergenic spacer region (IGS) PCR-RFLP, the strains were divided into 31 genotypes in 11 groups, indicating a high degree of genetic diversity among the strains. The sequence analysis of three housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII and recA) and 16S rDNA indicated that the strains represented two R. leguminosarum, two Rhizobium spp., R. mesosinicum, Agrobacterium sp. and A. tumefaciens. The strains representing four Rhizobium species were divided into two distinct nodC and nifH genotypes. However, the phylogeny of housekeeping genes and symbiotic genes was not congruent, implying that the strains had been shaped by vertical evolution of the housekeeping genes and lateral evolution of the symbiotic genes.}, } @article {pmid26240856, year = {2015}, author = {Godschalx, AL and Schädler, M and Trisel, JA and Balkan, MA and Ballhorn, DJ}, title = {Ants are less attracted to the extrafloral nectar of plants with symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {2}, pages = {348-354}, doi = {10.1890/14-1178.1}, pmid = {26240856}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves ; *Plant Nectar ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants simultaneously maintain mutualistic relationships with different partners that are connected through the same host, but do not interact directly. One or more participating mutualists may alter their host's phenotype, resulting in a shift in the host's ecological interactions with all other mutualists involved. Understanding the functional interplay of mutualists associated with the same host remains an important challenge in biology. Here, we show belowground nitrogen-fixing rhizobia on lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) alter their host plant's defensive mutualism with aboveground ants. We induced extrafloral nectar (EFN), an indirect defense acting through ant attraction. We also measured various nutritive and defensive plant traits, biomass, and counted ants on rhizobial and rhizobia-free plants. Rhizobia increased plant protein as well as cyanogenesis, a direct chemical defense against herbivores, but decreased EFN. Ants were significantly more attracted to rhizobia-free plants, and our structural equation model shows a strong link between rhizobia and reduced EFN as well as between EFN and ants: the sole path to ant recruitment. The rhizobia-mediated effects on simultaneously expressed defensive plant traits indicate rhizobia can have significant bottom-up effects on higher trophic levels. Our results show belowground symbionts play a critical and underestimated role in determining aboveground mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid26238172, year = {2015}, author = {Wei, F and Ma, T and Gong, X and Zhang, N and Bao, B}, title = {Identification of tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria from goby Yongeichthys criniger.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {104}, number = {}, pages = {46-51}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.07.335}, pmid = {26238172}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enterobacter cloacae/*isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fishes/*microbiology ; Liver/microbiology ; Mice ; Phylogeny ; Rahnella/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; Tetrodotoxin/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Toxic goby fish (Yongeichthys criniger) containing tetrodotoxin (TTX), from Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China, were screened for TTX-producing bacteria. Two toxic bacterial strains were isolated from the liver of Y. criniger and respectively denoted XC3-3 and XL-1. TTX production by the strains was confirmed by mouse bioassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, strain XC3-3 was identified as Enterobacter cloaca and XL-1 was closely related to Rahnella aquatilis. These findings show for the first time that TTX-producing bacteria are symbiotic bacteria in goby and suggest that bacterial strains are at least partially responsible for TTX accumulation in Y. criniger.}, } @article {pmid26237551, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, Q and Pan, Y and Yan, R and Zeng, B and Wang, H and Zhang, X and Li, W and Wei, H and Liu, Z}, title = {Commensal bacteria direct selective cargo sorting to promote symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {918-926}, pmid = {26237551}, issn = {1529-2916}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterocolitis/genetics/*immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/genetics/*immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2 ; Listeriosis/genetics/*immunology ; Lysosomes ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muramidase ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/genetics/immunology ; Paneth Cells/*immunology ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*immunology ; Secretory Vesicles/immunology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*immunology ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Mucosal immunity protects a host from intestinal inflammation and infection and is profoundly influenced by symbiotic bacteria. Here we report that in mice symbiotic bacteria directed selective cargo sorting in Paneth cells to promote symbiosis through Nod2, a cytosolic bacterial sensor, and the multifunctional protein kinase LRRK2, both encoded by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated genes. Commensals recruited Nod2 onto lysozyme-containing dense core vesicles (DCVs), which was required for DCV localization of LRRK2 and a small GTPase, Rab2a. Deficiency of Nod2, LRRK2 or Rab2a or depletion of commensals resulted in lysosomal degradation of lysozyme. Thus, commensal bacteria and host factors orchestrate the lysozyme-sorting process to protect the host from enteric infection, implicating Paneth cell dysfunction in IBD pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid26237108, year = {2015}, author = {Florea, S and Schardl, CL and Hollin, W}, title = {Detection and Isolation of Epichloë Species, Fungal Endophytes of Grasses.}, journal = {Current protocols in microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {19A.1.1-19A.1.24}, doi = {10.1002/9780471729259.mc19a01s38}, pmid = {26237108}, issn = {1934-8533}, mesh = {Antigens, Fungal/analysis/immunology ; DNA, Fungal/analysis/genetics ; Endophytes/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Epichloe/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Immunoassay/*methods ; Microbiological Techniques/*methods ; Microscopy/*methods ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/*methods ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Epichloë species (including former Neotyphodium species) are endophytic fungi that significantly affect fitness of cool-season grass hosts, potentially by increasing nutrient uptake and resistance to drought, parasitism and herbivory. Epichloë species are obligately biotrophic, living in the intercellular spaces of their plant hosts, and spreading systemically throughout host aerial tissues. The reproduction of Epichloë species is versatile; some strains have both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction, but others are restricted to one or the other mode. The reproduction mode determines the dissemination mechanism, and the asexual species most important to agriculture are strictly seed-borne, cause no signs or symptoms, and are undetectable except by specialized microscopic, molecular or antigenic procedures. These procedures can be used to identify endophytes in a variety of plant tissues. Similar protocols can be modified to detect less common symbionts, such as the penicillate "p-endophytes," when they occur by themselves or together with Epichloë species.}, } @article {pmid26236862, year = {2015}, author = {Riginos, C and Karande, MA and Rubenstein, DI and Palmer, TM}, title = {Disruption of a protective ant-plant mutualism by an invasive ant increases elephant damage to savanna trees.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {3}, pages = {654-661}, doi = {10.1890/14-1348.1}, pmid = {26236862}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Acacia/*physiology ; Aggression ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Competitive Behavior ; Elephants/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; *Food Chain ; Grassland ; *Introduced Species ; Kenya ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Invasive species can indirectly affect ecosystem processes via the disruption of mutualisms. The mutualism between the whistling thorn acacia (Acacia drepanolobium) and four species of symbiotic ants is an ecologically important one; ants strongly defend trees against elephants, which can otherwise have dramatic impacts on tree cover. In Laikipia, Kenya, the invasive big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) has established itself at numerous locations within the last 10-15 years. In invaded areas on five properties, we found that three species of symbiotic Crematogaster ants were virtually extirpated, whereas Tetraponera penzigi co-occurred with P. megacephala. T. penzigi appears to persist because of its nonaggressive behavior; in a whole-tree translocation experiment, Crematogaster defended host trees against P. megacephala, but were extirpated from trees within hours. In contrast, T. penzigi retreated into domatia and withstood invading ants for >30 days. In the field, the loss of defensive Crematogaster ants in invaded areas led to a five- to sevenfold increase in the number of trees catastrophically damaged by elephants compared to uninvaded areas. In savannas, tree cover drives many ecosystem processes and provides essential forage for many large mammal species; thus, the invasion of big-headed ants may strongly alter the dynamics and diversity of East Africa's whistling thorn savannas by disrupting this system's keystone acaciaant mutualism.}, } @article {pmid26236853, year = {2015}, author = {Cunning, R and Vaughan, N and Gillette, P and Capo, TR and Matté, JL and Baker, AC}, title = {Dynamic regulation of partner abundance mediates response of reef coral symbioses to environmental change.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {5}, pages = {1411-1420}, doi = {10.1890/14-0449.1}, pmid = {26236853}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Biomass ; *Coral Reefs ; Models, Biological ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Regulating partner abunclance may allow symmotic organisms to mediate interaction outcomes, facilitating adaptive responses to environmental change. To explore the capacity for-adaptive regulation in an ecologically important endosymbiosis, we studied the population dynamics of symbiotic algae in reef-building corals under different abiotic contexts. We found high natural variability in symbiont abundance in corals across reefs, but this variability converged to different symbiont-specific abundances when colonies were maintained under constant conditions. When conditions changed seasonally, symbiont abundance readjusted to new equilibria. We explain these patterns using an a priori model of symbiotic costs and benefits to the coral host, which shows that the observed changes in symbiont abundance are consistent with the maximization of interaction benefit under different environmental conditions. These results indicate that, while regulating symbiont abundance helps hosts sustain maximum benefit in a dynamic environment, spatiotemporal variation in abiotic factors creates a broad range of symbiont abundances (and interaction outcomes) among corals that may account for observed natural variability in performance (e.g., growth rate) and stress tolerance (e.g., bleaching susceptibility). This cost or benefit framework provides a new perspective on the dynamic regulation of reef coral symbioses and illustrates that the dependence of interaction outcomes on biotic and abiotic contexts may be important in understanding how diverse mutualisms respond to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid26236308, year = {2015}, author = {Sun, Y and Verma, SC and Bogale, H and Miyashiro, T}, title = {NagC represses N-acetyl-glucosamine utilization genes in Vibrio fischeri within the light organ of Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {741}, pmid = {26236308}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R00 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria often use transcription factors to regulate the expression of metabolic genes in accordance to available nutrients. NagC is a repressor conserved among γ-proteobacteria that regulates expression of enzymes involved in the metabolism of N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc). The polymeric form of GlcNAc, known as chitin, has been shown to play roles in chemotactic signaling and nutrition within the light organ symbiosis established between the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes. Here, we investigate the impact of NagC regulation on the physiology of V. fischeri. We find that NagC repression contributes to the fitness of V. fischeri in the absence of GlcNAc. In addition, the inability to de-repress expression of NagC-regulated genes reduces the fitness of V. fischeri in the presence of GlcNAc. We find that chemotaxis toward GlcNAc or chitobiose, a dimeric form of GlcNAc, is independent of NagC regulation. Finally, we show that NagC represses gene expression during the early stages of symbiosis. Our data suggest that the ability to regulate gene expression with NagC contributes to the overall fitness of V. fischeri in environments that vary in levels of GlcNAc. Furthermore, our finding that NagC represses gene expression within the squid light organ during an early stage of symbiosis supports the notion that the ability of the squid to provide a source of GlcNAc emerges later in host development.}, } @article {pmid26235304, year = {2015}, author = {Tap, J and Furet, JP and Bensaada, M and Philippe, C and Roth, H and Rabot, S and Lakhdari, O and Lombard, V and Henrissat, B and Corthier, G and Fontaine, E and Doré, J and Leclerc, M}, title = {Gut microbiota richness promotes its stability upon increased dietary fibre intake in healthy adults.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {4954-4964}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.13006}, pmid = {26235304}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Adult ; Clostridiales/genetics/isolation & purification ; Diet/*methods ; Dietary Fiber/*administration & dosage ; Dietary Supplements ; Fatty Acids/*analysis ; Feces/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Prevotella/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota richness and stability are important parameters in host-microbe symbiosis. Diet modification, notably using dietary fibres, might be a way to restore a high richness and stability in the gut microbiota. In this work, during a 6-week nutritional trial, 19 healthy adults consumed a basal diet supplemented with 10 or 40 g dietary fibre per day for 5 days, followed by 15-day washout periods. Fecal samples were analysed by a combination of 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, intestinal cell genotoxicity assay, metatranscriptomics sequencing approach and short-chain fatty analysis. This short-term change in the dietary fibre level did not have the same impact for all individuals but remained significant within each individual gut microbiota at genus level. Higher microbiota richness was associated with higher microbiota stability upon increased dietary fibre intake. Increasing fibre modulated the expression of numerous microbiota metabolic pathways such as glycan metabolism, with genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes active on fibre or host glycans. High microbial richness was also associated with high proportions of Prevotella and Coprococcus species and high levels of caproate and valerate. This study provides new insights on the role of gut microbial richness in healthy adults upon dietary changes and host microbes' interaction.}, } @article {pmid26234718, year = {2016}, author = {Derakhshanrad, SA and Piven, E and Hosseini, SA and Shahboulaghi, FM and Nazeran, H and Rassafiani, M}, title = {Exploring the Nature of the Intention, Meaning and Perception Process of the Neuro-occupation Model to Understand Adaptation to Change.}, journal = {Occupational therapy international}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {29-38}, doi = {10.1002/oti.1402}, pmid = {26234718}, issn = {1557-0703}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; Humans ; *Intention ; Iran ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; *Occupational Therapy ; *Perception ; Qualitative Research ; Resilience, Psychological ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke/*psychology ; }, abstract = {The theoretical model of neuro-occupation, intention, meaning and perception, sought to describe the symbiotic relationship between occupation and the brain, as a chaotic, self-organized, complex system. Lack of evidence has limited its applicability to practice. The aim of this study was to track the postulates of the model within the daily experiences of subjects. Structured matrices were created for content analysis, using a qualitative multiple-case-study design, typically used for testing models. An underpinning principle of the model, defined a circular causality feedback process, which was confirmed as described through tracing the repetitive processes within the lived experience of two Iranian men. The process suggested that continual adaptation occurred in lives interrupted by cerebrovascular accident, which enabled the subjects to return to expression of meaning through purposeful occupation and continually re-shaped their perceptions. The primary limitation of this study was that it was the earliest attempt to test the model and to substantiate the process by comparing the similarities and differences between too few subjects. Future research should identify the same process in more subjects and validate a practical assessment tool for clients. These findings may inform practitioners about intentional use of occupational challenges to elicit adaptive behaviours in clients.}, } @article {pmid26234213, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, X and Pumplin, N and Ivanov, S and Harrison, MJ}, title = {EXO70I Is Required for Development of a Sub-domain of the Periarbuscular Membrane during Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {25}, number = {16}, pages = {2189-2195}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.06.075}, pmid = {26234213}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In eukaryotic cells, polarized secretion mediated by exocytotic fusion of membrane vesicles with the plasma membrane is essential for spatially restricted expansion of the plasma membrane and for the delivery of molecules to specific locations at the membrane and/or cell surface. The EXOCYST complex is central to this process, and in yeast, regulation of the EXO70 subunit influences exocytosis and cargo specificity. In contrast to yeast and mammalian cells, plants have upwards of 23 EXO70 genes with largely unknown roles. During arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, deposition of the plant periarbuscular membrane (PAM) around the fungal arbuscule creates an intracellular membrane interface between the symbionts. The PAM has two major membrane sub-domains, and symbiosis-specific transporter proteins are localized in the branch domain. Currently, the mechanisms and cellular machinery involved in biogenesis of the PAM are largely unknown. Here, we identify an EXO70I protein present exclusively in plants forming AM symbiosis. Medicago truncatula exo70i mutants are unable to support normal arbuscule development, and incorporation of two PAM-resident ABC transporters, STR and STR2, is limited. During arbuscule branching, EXO70I is located in spatially restricted zones adjacent to the PAM around the arbuscule hyphal tips where it interacts with Vapyrin, a plant-specific protein required for arbuscule development. We conclude that EXO70I provides a specific exocytotic capacity necessary for development of the main functional sub-domain of the PAM. Furthermore, in contrast to other eukaryotes, plant EXO70s have evolved distinct specificities and interaction partners to fulfill their specialized secretory requirements.}, } @article {pmid26234210, year = {2015}, author = {Hojo, MK and Pierce, NE and Tsuji, K}, title = {Lycaenid Caterpillar Secretions Manipulate Attendant Ant Behavior.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {25}, number = {17}, pages = {2260-2264}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.07.016}, pmid = {26234210}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Aggression ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Brain/physiology ; Butterflies/growth & development/*physiology ; Dopamine/metabolism ; Exocrine Glands/metabolism ; Japan ; Larva/growth & development/physiology ; Motor Activity ; Reward ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions typically involve the exchange of different commodities between species. Nutritious secretions are produced by a number of insects and plants in exchange for services such as defense. These rewards are valuable metabolically and can be used to reinforce the behavior of symbiotic partners that can learn and remember them effectively. We show here novel effects of insect exocrine secretions produced by caterpillars in modulating the behavior of attendant ants in the food-for-defense interaction between lycaenid butterflies and ants. Reward secretions from the dorsal nectary organ (DNO) of Narathura japonica caterpillars function to reduce the locomotory activities of their attendant ants, Pristomyrmex punctatus workers. Moreover, workers that feed from caterpillar secretions are significantly more likely to show aggressive responses to eversion of the tentacle organs of the caterpillars. Analysis of the neurogenic amines in the brains of workers that consumed caterpillar secretions showed a significant decrease in levels of dopamine compared with controls. Experimental treatments in which reserpine, a known inhibitor of dopamine in Drosophila, was fed to workers similarly reduced their locomotory activity. We conclude that DNO secretions of lycaenid caterpillars can manipulate attendant ant behavior by altering dopaminergic regulation and increasing partner fidelity. Unless manipulated ants also receive a net nutritional benefit from DNO secretions, this suggests that similar reward-for-defense interactions that have been traditionally considered to be mutualisms may in fact be parasitic in nature.}, } @article {pmid26233756, year = {2015}, author = {Fliegmann, J and Bono, JJ}, title = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharidic nodulation factors and their perception by plant receptors.}, journal = {Glycoconjugate journal}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {455-464}, pmid = {26233756}, issn = {1573-4986}, mesh = {Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides produced by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are signaling molecules involved in the establishment of an important agronomical and ecological symbiosis with plants. These compounds, known as Nod factors, are biologically active on plant roots at very low concentrations indicating that they are perceived by specific receptors. This article summarizes the main strategies developed for the syntheses of bioactive Nod factors and their derivatives in order to better understand their mode of perception. Different Nod factor receptors and LCO-binding proteins identified by genetic or biochemical approaches are also presented, indicating perception mechanisms that seem to be more complicated than expected, probably involving multi-component receptor complexes.}, } @article {pmid26231627, year = {2015}, author = {Haddock, SH and Dunn, CW}, title = {Fluorescent proteins function as a prey attractant: experimental evidence from the hydromedusa Olindias formosus and other marine organisms.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {1094-1104}, pmid = {26231627}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Although proteins in the green fluorescent protein family (GFPs) have been discovered in a wide array of taxa, their ecological functions in these organisms remain unclear. Many hypothesized roles are related to modifying bioluminescence spectra or modulating the light regime for algal symbionts, but these do not explain the presence of GFPs in animals that are non-luminous and non-symbiotic. Other hypothesized functions are unrelated to the visual signals themselves, including stress responses and antioxidant roles, but these cannot explain the localization of fluorescence in particular structures on the animals. Here we tested the hypothesis that fluorescence might serve to attract prey. In laboratory experiments, the predator was the hydromedusa Olindias formosus (previously known as O. formosa), which has fluorescent and pigmented patches on the tips of its tentacles. The prey, juvenile rockfishes in the genus Sebastes, were significantly more attracted (P<1×10(-5)) to the medusa's tentacles under lighting conditions where fluorescence was excited and tentacle tips were visible above the background. The fish did not respond significantly when treatments did not include fluorescent structures or took place under yellow or white lights, which did not generate fluorescence visible above the ambient light. Furthermore, underwater observations of the behavior of fishes when presented with a brightly illuminated point showed a strong attraction to this visual stimulus. In situ observations also provided evidence for fluorescent lures as supernormal stimuli in several other marine animals, including the siphonophore Rhizophysa eysenhardti. Our results support the idea that fluorescent structures can serve as prey attractants, thus providing a potential function for GFPs and other fluorescent proteins in a diverse range of organisms.}, } @article {pmid26231248, year = {2015}, author = {Choi, H and Oh, DC}, title = {Considerations of the chemical biology of microbial natural products provide an effective drug discovery strategy.}, journal = {Archives of pharmacal research}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {1591-1605}, doi = {10.1007/s12272-015-0639-y}, pmid = {26231248}, issn = {1976-3786}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Products/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/*methods ; Drug Discovery/*methods ; Humans ; Microbial Viability/*drug effects ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Conventional approaches to natural product drug discovery rely mainly on random searches for bioactive compounds using bioassays. These traditional approaches do not incorporate a chemical biology perspective. Searching for bioactive molecules using a chemical and biological rationale constitutes a powerful search paradigm. Here, the authors review recent examples of the discovery of bioactive natural products based on chemical and biological interactions between hosts and symbionts, and propose this method provides a more effective means of exploring natural chemical diversity and eventually of discovering new drugs.}, } @article {pmid26231215, year = {2016}, author = {Miyamoto, Y and Nara, K}, title = {Soil propagule banks of ectomycorrhizal fungi share many common species along an elevation gradient.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {189-197}, pmid = {26231215}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Carbon/analysis ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Host Specificity ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Pinus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {We conducted bioassay experiments to investigate the soil propagule banks of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi in old-growth forests along an elevation gradient and compared the elevation pattern with the composition of EM fungi on existing roots in the field. In total, 150 soil cores were collected from three forests on Mt. Ishizuchi, western Japan, and subjected to bioassays using Pinus densiflora and Betula maximowicziana. Using molecular analyses, we recorded 23 EM fungal species in the assayed propagule banks. Eight species (34.8 %) were shared across the three sites, which ranged from a warm-temperate evergreen mixed forest to a subalpine conifer forest. The elevation pattern of the assayed propagule banks differed dramatically from that of EM fungi on existing roots along the same gradient, where only a small proportion of EM fungal species (3.5 %) were shared across sites. The EM fungal species found in the assayed propagule banks included many pioneer fungal species and composition differed significantly from that on existing roots. Furthermore, only 4 of 23 species were shared between the two host species, indicating a strong effect of bioassay host identity in determining the propagule banks of EM fungi. These results imply that the assayed propagule bank is less affected by climate compared to EM fungal communities on existing roots. The dominance of disturbance-dependent fungal species in the assayed propagule banks may result in higher ecosystem resilience to disturbance even in old-growth temperate forests.}, } @article {pmid26230152, year = {2015}, author = {Telesford, KM and Yan, W and Ochoa-Reparaz, J and Pant, A and Kircher, C and Christy, MA and Begum-Haque, S and Kasper, DL and Kasper, LH}, title = {A commensal symbiotic factor derived from Bacteroides fragilis promotes human CD39(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and Treg function.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {234-242}, pmid = {26230152}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {1R41 AI110170-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antigens, CD/analysis ; Apyrase/analysis ; Bacteroides fragilis/*immunology/*physiology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/analysis ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lipopolysaccharides/immunology ; *Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/chemistry/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Polysaccharide A (PSA) derived from the human commensal Bacteroides fragilis is a symbiosis factor that stimulates immunologic development within mammalian hosts. PSA rebalances skewed systemic T helper responses and promotes T regulatory cells (Tregs). However, PSA-mediated induction of Foxp3 in humans has not been reported. In mice, PSA-generated Foxp3(+) Tregs dampen Th17 activity thereby facilitating bacterial intestinal colonization while the increased presence and function of these regulatory cells may guard against pathological organ-specific inflammation in hosts. We herein demonstrate that PSA induces expression of Foxp3 along with CD39 among naïve CD4 T cells in vitro while promoting IL-10 secretion. PSA-activated dendritic cells are essential for the mediation of this regulatory response. When cultured with isolated Foxp3(+) Tregs, PSA enriched Foxp3 expression, enhanced the frequency of CD39(+)HLA-DR(+) cells, and increased suppressive function as measured by decreased TNFα expression by LPS-stimulated monocytes. Our findings are the first to demonstrate in vitro induction of human CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and enhanced suppressive function of circulating Foxp3(+) Tregs by a human commensal bacterial symbiotic factor. Use of PSA for the treatment of human autoimmune diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, may represent a new paradigm in the approach to treating autoimmune disease.}, } @article {pmid26230014, year = {2015}, author = {Emery, SM and Bell-Dereske, L and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Fungal symbiosis and precipitation alter traits and dune building by the ecosystem engineer, Ammophila breviligulata.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {96}, number = {4}, pages = {927-935}, doi = {10.1890/14-1121.1}, pmid = {26230014}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Great Lakes Region ; Poaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Rain ; Soil/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Ecosystem engineer species influence their community and ecosystem by creating or altering the physical structure of habitats. The function of ecosystem engineers is variable and can depend on both abiotic and biotic factors. Here we make use of a primary successional system to evaluate the direct and interactive effects of climate change (precipitation) and fungal endophyte symbiosis on population traits and ecosystem function of the ecosystem engineering grass species, Ammophila breviligulata. We manipulated endophyte presence in A. breviligulata in combination with rain-out shelters and rainfall additions in a factorial field experiment established in 2010 on Lake Michigan sand dunes. We monitored plant traits, survival, growth, and sexual reproduction of A. breviligulata from 2010-2013, and quantified ecosystem engineering as the sand accumulation rate. Presence of the endophyte in A. breviligulata increased vegetative growth by up to 19%, and reduced sexual reproduction by up to 46% across all precipitation treatments. Precipitation was a less significant factor than endophyte colonization for A. breviligulata growth. Reduced precipitation increased average leaf number per tiller but had no other effects on plant traits. Changes in A. breviligulata traits corresponded to increases in sand accumulation in plots with the endophyte as well as in plots with reduced precipitation. Sand accumulation is a key ecosystem function in these primary successional habitats, and so microbial symbiosis in this ecosystem engineer could lead to direct effects on the value of these dune habitats for humans.}, } @article {pmid26228273, year = {2015}, author = {Shen, C and Yue, R and Bai, Y and Feng, R and Sun, T and Wang, X and Yang, Y and Tie, S and Wang, H}, title = {Identification and Analysis of Medicago truncatula Auxin Transporter Gene Families Uncover their Roles in Responses to Sinorhizobium meliloti Infection.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {10}, pages = {1930-1943}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcv113}, pmid = {26228273}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Auxin transport plays a pivotal role in the interaction between legume species and nitrogen-fixing bacteria to form symbioses. Auxin influx carriers auxin resistant 1/like aux 1 (AUX/LAX), efflux carriers pin-formed (PIN) and efflux/conditional P-glycoprotein (PGP/ABCB) are three major protein families participating in auxin polar transport. We used the latest Medicago truncatula genome sequence to characterize and analyze the M. truncatula LAX (MtLAX), M. truncatula PIN (MtPIN) and M. truncatula ABCB (MtABCB) families. Transient expression experiments indicated that three representative auxin transporters (MtLAX3, MtPIN7 and MtABCB1) showed cell plasma membrane localizations. The expression of most MtLAX, MtPIN and MtABCB genes was up-regulated in the roots and was down-regulated in the shoots by Sinorhizobium meliloti infection in the wild type (WT). However, the expression of these genes was down-regulated in both the roots and shoots of an infection-resistant mutant, dmi3. The different expression patterns between the WT and the mutant roots indicated that auxin relocation may be involved in rhizobial infection responses. Furthermore, IAA contents were significantly up-regulated in the shoots and down-regulated in the roots after Sinorhizobium meliloti infection in the WT. Inoculation of roots with rhizobia may reduce the auxin loading from shoots to roots by inhibiting the expression of most auxin transporter genes. However, the rate of change of gene expression and IAA contents in the dmi3 mutant were obviously lower than in the WT. The identification and expression analysis of auxin transporter genes helps us to understand the roles of auxin in the regulation of nodule formation in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid26224455, year = {2015}, author = {Thaweethawakorn, A and Parks, D and So, JS and Chang, WS}, title = {Role of the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor CarQ in oxidative response of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {53}, number = {8}, pages = {526-534}, pmid = {26224455}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Sigma Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {As a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum can establish a symbiotic relationship with the soybean plant (Glycine max). To be a successful symbiont, B. japonicum must deal with plant defense responses, such as an oxidative burst. Our previous functional genomics study showed that carQ (bll1028) encoding extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor was highly expressed (107.8-fold induction) under oxidative stress. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms of how CarQ responds to oxidative stress. In this study, a carQ knock-out mutant was constructed using site-specific mutagenesis to identify the role of carQ in the oxidative response of B. japonicum. The carQ mutant showed a longer generation time than the wild type and exhibited significantly decreased survival at 10 mM H(2)O(2) for 10 min of exposure. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in expression of oxidative stress-responsive genes such as katG and sod between the wild type and carQ mutant. The mutant also showed a significant increase in susceptibility to H(2)O(2) compared to the wild type in the zone inhibition assay. Nodulation phenotypes of the carQ mutant were distinguishable compared to those of the wild type, including lower numbers of nodules, decreased nodule dry weight, decreased plant dry weight, and a lower nitrogen fixation capability. Moreover, desiccation of mutant cells also resulted in significantly lower percent of survival in both early (after 4 h) and late (after 24 h) desiccation periods. Taken together, this information will provide an insight into the role of the ECF sigma factor in B. japonicum to deal with a plant-derived oxidative burst.}, } @article {pmid26224454, year = {2015}, author = {Taw, MN and Lee, HI and Lee, SH and Chang, WS}, title = {Characterization of MocR, a GntR-like transcriptional regulator, in Bradyrhizobium japonicum: its impact on motility, biofilm formation, and soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {53}, number = {8}, pages = {518-525}, pmid = {26224454}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/physiology ; Biofilms ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a Gram-negative soil bacterium that can fix nitrogen into ammonia by developing a symbiotic relationship with the soybean plant. MocR proteins make up a subfamily of GntR superfamily, one of the most widely distributed and prolific groups of the helix-turn-helix transcription factors. In this study, we constructed a mutant strain for mocR (blr6977) to investigate its role in cellular processes and symbiosis in B. japonicum. Although growth rate and morphology of the mutant were indistinguishable from those of the wild type, the mutant showed significant differences in motility and attachment (i.e., biofilm formation) from the wild type. The mutant displayed a decrease in biofilm formation, but was more motile than the wild type. The inactivation of mocR did not affect the number of nodules on soybean roots, but caused delayed nodulation. Delayed nodulation intrigued us to study competitiveness of the mutant infecting soybeans. The mutant was less competitive than the wild type, indicating that delayed nodulation might be due to competitiveness. Gene expressions of other MocR subfamily members were also compared between the wild type and mutant strains. None of the mocR-like genes examined in this study were differentially expressed between both strains.}, } @article {pmid26221957, year = {2015}, author = {Shao, MW and Lu, YH and Miao, S and Zhang, Y and Chen, TT and Zhang, YL}, title = {Diversity, Bacterial Symbionts and Antibacterial Potential of Gut-Associated Fungi Isolated from the Pantala flavescens Larvae in China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0134542}, pmid = {26221957}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis ; Biodiversity ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fungi/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Larva/microbiology ; Odonata/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The diversity of fungi associated with the gut of Pantala flavescens larvae was investigated using a culture-dependent method and molecular identification based on an analysis of the internally transcribed spacer sequence. In total, 48 fungal isolates were obtained from P. flavescens larvae. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the fungal isolates were grouped in 5 classes and 12 different genera. Fourteen bacterial 16S rDNA sequences derived from total genomic DNA extractions of fungal mycelia were obtained. The majority of the sequences were associated with Proteobacteria (13/14), and one Bacillaceae (1/14) was included. Leclercia sp., Oceanobacillus oncorhynchi and Methylobacterium extorquens, were reported for the first time as bacterial endosymbionts in fungi. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis indicated that bacterial symbionts produced specific metabolites and also exerted an inhibitory effect on fungal metabolites. The biological activity of the fungal culture extracts against the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) was investigated, and 20 extracts (42%) exhibited antibacterial activity against at least one of the tested bacterial strains. This study is the first report on the diversity and antibacterial activity of symbiotic fungi residing in the gut of P. flavescens larvae, and the results show that these fungi are highly diverse and could be exploited as a potential source of bioactive compounds.}, } @article {pmid26221088, year = {2015}, author = {Bezerra, JD and Nascimento, CC and Barbosa, Rdo N and da Silva, DC and Svedese, VM and Silva-Nogueira, EB and Gomes, BS and Paiva, LM and Souza-Motta, CM}, title = {Endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Bauhinia forficata: Diversity and biotechnological potential.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {49-57}, pmid = {26221088}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*metabolism ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Bauhinia/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Biological Products/metabolism ; Biotechnology/methods ; Brazil ; Endophytes/*classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plants, Medicinal/*microbiology ; South America ; Technology, Pharmaceutical/methods ; }, abstract = {Bauhinia forficata is native to South America and used with relative success in the folk medicine in Brazil. The diversity, antibacterial activity, and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes of endophytic fungi associated with this plant were studied. Plant samples, which included leaves, sepals, stems, and seeds, were used. Ninety-five endophytic fungal were isolated (18 from leaves, 22 from sepals, 46 from stems, and nine from seeds), comprising 28 species. The most frequently isolated species were Acremonium curvulum (9.5%), Aspergillus ochraceus (7.37%), Gibberella fujikuroi (10.53%), Myrothecium verrucaria (10.53%) and Trichoderma piluliferum (7.37%). Diversity and species richness were higher in stem tissues, and Sorensen's index of similarity between the tissues was low. Eleven fungi showed antibacterial activity. Aspergillus ochraceus , Gibberella baccata , Penicillium commune , and P. glabrum were those with the greatest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes . Thirteen species showed proteolytic activity, particularly Phoma putaminum . Fourteen species were cellulase positive, particularly the Penicillium species and Myrmecridium schulzeri . All isolates tested were xylanase positive and 10 showed lipolytic activity, especially Penicillium glabrum . It is clear that the endophytic fungi from B. forficata have potential for the production of bioactive compounds and may be a source of new therapeutic agents for the effective treatment of diseases in humans, other animals, and plants. To our knowledge, this is the first study of endophytic fungi from different tissues of B. forficata and their biotechnological potential.}, } @article {pmid26220839, year = {2015}, author = {Rajević, N and Kovačević, G and Kalafatić, M and Gould, SB and Martin, WF and Franjević, D}, title = {Algal endosymbionts in European Hydra strains reflect multiple origins of the zoochlorella symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {55-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2015.07.014}, pmid = {26220839}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Chlorella/*genetics ; Chloroplasts/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Hydra/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations are of broad significance in evolution and biodiversity. Green Hydra is a classic example of endosymbiosis. In its gastrodermal myoepithelial cells it harbors endosymbiotic unicellular green algae, most commonly from the genus Chlorella. We reconstructed the phylogeny of cultured algal endosymbionts isolated and maintained in laboratory conditions for years from green Hydra strains collected from four different geographical sites within Croatia, one from Germany and one from Israel. Nuclear (18S rDNA, ITS region) and chloroplast markers (16S, rbcL) for maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses were used. We focused on investigating the positions of these algal endosymbiotic strains within the chlorophyte lineage. Molecular analyses established that different genera and species of unicellular green algae are present as endosymbionts in green Hydra, showing that endosymbiotic algae growing within green Hydra sampled from four Croatian localities are not monophyletic. Our results indicate that the intracellular algal endosymbionts of green Hydra have become established several times independently in evolution.}, } @article {pmid26220632, year = {2015}, author = {Fernández-Moriano, C and Divakar, PK and Crespo, A and Gómez-Serranillos, MP}, title = {Neuroprotective activity and cytotoxic potential of two Parmeliaceae lichens: Identification of active compounds.}, journal = {Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {847-855}, doi = {10.1016/j.phymed.2015.06.005}, pmid = {26220632}, issn = {1618-095X}, mesh = {Astrocytes/drug effects ; Biological Products/chemistry ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers/*pharmacology ; Glutathione/chemistry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure ; Neuroprotective Agents/*chemistry ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Phenols/chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species/chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are symbiotic organisms capable of producing unique secondary metabolites, whose pharmacological activities are attracting much interest.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro neuroprotective effects and anticancer potential of methanol extracts of two Parmeliaceae lichens: Cetraria islandica and Vulpicida canadensis. The chemical composition of the two lichens was also determined.

METHODS: Neuroprotective activity was studied with respect to the antioxidant properties of the extracts; radical scavenging tests (ORAC and DPPH assays) were performed and oxidative stress markers (intracellular ROS production, caspase-3 activity, MDA and glutathione levels) were assessed in a hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress model in astrocytes. Cytotoxic activity was tested against human HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines.

RESULTS: Cell viability studies identified a single concentration for each extract that was subsequently used to measure oxidative stress markers. Lichen extracts were able to reverse the oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide, thus promoting astrocyte survival. Both lichen extracts also had anticancer activity in the cell lines, with IC50 values of 19.51-181.05 µg/ml. The extracts had a high total phenolic content, and the main constituents identified by HPLC were fumarprotocetraric acid in Cetraria islandica, and usnic, pinastric and vulpinic acids in Vulpicida canadensis. The biological activities of the lichen extracts can be attributed to these secondary metabolites.

CONCLUSION: The lichen species studied are promising sources of natural compounds with neuroprotective activity and cytotoxic potential, and warrant further research.}, } @article {pmid26219074, year = {2015}, author = {Baxter, L and Brain, RA and Hosmer, AJ and Nema, M and Müller, KM and Solomon, KR and Hanson, ML}, title = {Effects of atrazine on egg masses of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and its endosymbiotic alga (Oophila amblystomatis).}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {206}, number = {}, pages = {324-331}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2015.07.017}, pmid = {26219074}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Ambystoma/*embryology ; Animals ; Atrazine/*toxicity ; Chlorophyta/*drug effects/physiology ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Ovum/*drug effects/growth & development ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Toxicity Tests ; }, abstract = {Embryonic growth of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) is enhanced by the presence of the green alga Oophila amblystomatis, in the egg capsule. To further assess potential impacts of herbicides on this relationship, A. maculatum egg masses were exposed to atrazine (0-338 μg/L) until hatching (up to 66 days). Exposure to atrazine reduced PSII yield of the symbiotic algae in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not significantly affect visible algal growth or any metrics associated with salamander development. Algal cells were also cultured in the laboratory for toxicity testing. In the 96-h growth inhibition test (0-680 μg/L), ECx values were generally greater than those reported for standard algal test species. Complete recovery of growth rates occurred within 96-h of transferring cells to untreated media. Overall, development of A. maculatum embryos was not affected by exposure to atrazine at concentrations and durations exceeding those found in the environment.}, } @article {pmid26218797, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, HK and Song, SN and Wang, LH and Mayfield, AB and Chen, YJ and Chen, WN and Chen, CS}, title = {A Compartmental Comparison of Major Lipid Species in a Coral-Symbiodinium Endosymbiosis: Evidence that the Coral Host Regulates Lipogenesis of Its Cytosolic Lipid Bodies.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0132519}, pmid = {26218797}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The lipid body (LB) formation in the host coral gastrodermal cell cytoplasm is a hallmark of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis, and such lipid-based entities are not found in endosymbiont-free cnidarian cells. Therefore, the elucidation of lipogenesis regulation in LBs and how it is related to the lipid metabolism of the host and endosymbiont could provide direct insight to understand the symbiosis mechanism. Herein, the lipid composition of host cells of the stony coral Euphyllia glabrescens, as well as that of their cytoplasmic LBs and in hospite Symbiodinium populations, was examined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and six major lipid species were identified: wax esters, sterol esters, triacylglycerols, cholesterols, free fatty acids, and phospholipids. Their concentrations differed significantly between host coral cells, LBs, and Symbiodinium, suggesting compartmental regulation. WE were only present in the host coral and were particularly highly concentrated in LBs. Amongst the four species of WE, the monoene R = C18:1/R = C16 was found to be LB-specific and was not present in the host gastrodermal cell cytoplasm. Furthermore, the acyl pool profiles of the individual LB lipid species were more similar, but not equal to, those of the host gastrodermal cells in which they were located, indicating partially autonomous lipid metabolism in these LBs. Nevertheless, given the overall similarity in the host gastrodermal cell and LB lipid profiles, these data suggest that a significant portion of the LB lipids may be of host coral origin. Finally, lipid profiles of the in hospite Symbiodinium populations were significantly distinct from those of the cultured Symbiodinium, potentially suggesting a host regulation effect that may be fundamental to lipid metabolism in endosymbiotic associations involving clade C Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid26218660, year = {2015}, author = {Hammami, R and Ben Abdallah, N and Barbeau, J and Fliss, I}, title = {Symbiotic maple saps minimize disruption of the mice intestinal microbiota after oral antibiotic administration.}, journal = {International journal of food sciences and nutrition}, volume = {66}, number = {6}, pages = {665-671}, doi = {10.3109/09637486.2015.1071340}, pmid = {26218660}, issn = {1465-3478}, mesh = {Acer/*chemistry ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Bacteroides/drug effects/growth & development ; Bifidobacterium/drug effects/physiology ; Clostridium/drug effects/growth & development ; Female ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Inulin/metabolism ; Kanamycin/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; Random Allocation ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study was undertaken to evaluate the in vivo impact of new symbiotic products based on liquid maple sap or its concentrate. Sap and concentrate, with or without inulin (2%), were inoculated with Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG valio at initial counts of 2-4 × 10(8) cfu mL(-1). The experiments started with intra-gastric administration of antibiotic (kanamycin 40 mg in 0.1 cc) (to induce microbiota disturbance and/or diarrhea) to 3-to-5-week-old C57BL/6 female mice followed by a combination of prebiotic and probiotics included in the maple sap or its concentrate for a week. The combination inulin and probiotics in maple sap and concentrate appeared to minimize the antibiotic-induced breakdown of mice microbiota with a marked effect on bifidobacterium and bacteroides levels, thus permitting a more rapid re-establishment of the baseline microbiota levels. Results suggest that maple sap and its concentrate represent good candidates for the production of non-dairy functional foods.}, } @article {pmid26218403, year = {2015}, author = {Meeßen, J and Wuthenow, P and Schille, P and Rabbow, E and de Vera, JP and Ott, S}, title = {Resistance of the Lichen Buellia frigida to Simulated Space Conditions during the Preflight Tests for BIOMEX--Viability Assay and Morphological Stability.}, journal = {Astrobiology}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {601-615}, pmid = {26218403}, issn = {1557-8070}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*cytology/*physiology ; *Extraterrestrial Environment ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Lichens/*cytology/*physiology ; Mars ; Microbial Viability ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Samples of the extremotolerant Antarctic endemite lichen Buellia frigida are currently exposed to low-Earth orbit-space and simulated Mars conditions at the Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX), which is part of the ESA mission EXPOSE-R2 on the International Space Station and was launched on 23 July 2014. In preparation for the mission, several preflight tests (Experimental and Scientific Verification Tests, EVT and SVT) assessed the sample preparation and hardware integration procedures as well as the resistance of the candidate organism toward the abiotic stressors experienced under space and Mars conditions. Therefore, we quantified the post-exposure viability with a live/dead staining technique utilizing FUN-1 and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate putative patterns of morphological-anatomical damage that lichens may suffer under the extreme exposure conditions. The present results demonstrate that Buellia frigida is capable of surviving the conditions tested in EVT and SVT. The mycobiont showed lower average impairment of its viability than the photobiont (viability rates of >83% and >69%, respectively), and the lichen thallus suffered no significant damage in terms of thalline integrity and symbiotic contact. These results will become essential to substantiate and validate the results prospectively obtained from the returning space mission. Moreover, they will help assess the limits and limitations of terrestrial organisms under space and Mars conditions as well as characterize the adaptive traits that confer lichen extremotolerance.}, } @article {pmid26215568, year = {2015}, author = {Kwon, MC and Proost, N and Song, JY and Sutherland, KD and Zevenhoven, J and Berns, A}, title = {Paracrine signaling between tumor subclones of mouse SCLC: a critical role of ETS transcription factor Pea3 in facilitating metastasis.}, journal = {Genes & development}, volume = {29}, number = {15}, pages = {1587-1592}, pmid = {26215568}, issn = {1549-5477}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics/*physiopathology ; Paracrine Communication/*physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets/genetics/metabolism ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/*physiopathology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tumor heterogeneity can create a unique symbiotic tumor microenvironment. Earlier, we showed that clonal evolution in mouse small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can result in subclones that, upon cografting, endow the neuroendocrine tumor cells with metastatic potential. We now show that paracrine signaling between SCLC subclones is a critical requirement in the early steps of the metastatic process, such as local invasion and intravasation. We further show evidence that paracrine signaling via fibroblast growth factor 2 (Fgf2) and Mapk between these diverged tumor subclones causes enhanced expression of the Pea3 (polyomavirus enhancer activator 3) transcription factor, resulting in metastatic dissemination of the neuroendocrine tumor subclones. Our data reveal for the first time paracrine signaling between tumor cell subclones in SCLC that results in metastatic spread of SCLC.}, } @article {pmid26214613, year = {2016}, author = {Bontemps, C and Rogel, MA and Wiechmann, A and Mussabekova, A and Moody, S and Simon, MF and Moulin, L and Elliott, GN and Lacercat-Didier, L and Dasilva, C and Grether, R and Camargo-Ricalde, SL and Chen, W and Sprent, JI and Martínez-Romero, E and Young, JP and James, EK}, title = {Endemic Mimosa species from Mexico prefer alphaproteobacterial rhizobial symbionts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {209}, number = {1}, pages = {319-333}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13573}, pmid = {26214613}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Host Specificity ; Mexico ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The legume genus Mimosa has > 500 species, with two major centres of diversity, Brazil (c. 350 spp.) and Mexico (c. 100 spp.). In Brazil most species are nodulated by Burkholderia. Here we asked whether this is also true of native and endemic Mexican species. We have tested this apparent affinity for betaproteobacteria by examining the symbionts of native and endemic species of Mimosa in Mexico, especially from the central highlands where Mimosa spp. have diversified. Nodules were tested for betaproteobacteria using in situ immunolocalization. Rhizobia isolated from the nodules were genetically characterized and tested for their ability to nodulate Mimosa spp. Immunological analysis of 25 host taxa suggested that most (including all the highland endemics) were not nodulated by betaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, recA, nodA, nodC and nifH genes from 87 strains isolated from 20 taxa confirmed that the endemic Mexican Mimosa species favoured alphaproteobacteria in the genera Rhizobium and Ensifer: this was confirmed by nodulation tests. Host phylogeny, geographic isolation and coevolution with symbionts derived from very different soils have potentially contributed to the striking difference in the choice of symbiotic partners by Mexican and Brazilian Mimosa species.}, } @article {pmid26213919, year = {2015}, author = {Noh, JG and Jeon, HE and So, JS and Chang, WS}, title = {Effects of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum waaL (rfaL) Gene on Hydrophobicity, Motility, Stress Tolerance, and Symbiotic Relationship with Soybeans.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {16778-16791}, pmid = {26213919}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*genetics/physiology ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Flagella/metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Movement ; Mutation ; Novobiocin/toxicity ; O Antigens ; Osmotic Pressure/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/microbiology ; Soybeans/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {We cloned and sequenced the waaL (rfaL) gene from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which infects soybean and forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean roots. waaL has been extensively studied in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis of enteric bacteria, but little is known about its function in (brady)rhizobial LPS architecture. To characterize its role as O-antigen ligase in the LPS biosynthesis pathway, we constructed a waaL knock-out mutant and its complemented strain named JS015 and CS015, respectively. LPS analysis showed that an LPS structure of JS015 is deficient in O-antigen as compared to that of the wild type and complemented strain CS015, suggesting that WaaL ligates the O-antigen to lipid A-core oligosaccharide to form a complete LPS. JS015 also revealed increased cell surface hydrophobicity, but it showed decreased motility in soft agar plates. In addition to the alteration in cell surface properties, disruption of the waaL gene caused increased sensitivity of JS015 to hydrogen peroxide, osmotic pressure, and novobiocin. Specifically, plant tests revealed that JS015 failed to nodulate the host plant soybean, indicating that the rhizobial waaL gene is responsible for the establishment of a symbiotic relationship between soybean and B. japonicum.}, } @article {pmid26212518, year = {2015}, author = {Fujiyoshi, S and Tateno, H and Watsuji, T and Yamaguchi, H and Fukushima, D and Mino, S and Sugimura, M and Sawabe, T and Takai, K and Sawayama, S and Nakagawa, S}, title = {Effects of Hemagglutination Activity in the Serum of a Deep-Sea Vent Endemic Crab, Shinkaia Crosnieri, on Non-Symbiotic and Symbiotic Bacteria.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {228-234}, pmid = {26212518}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Decapoda/*microbiology ; Erythrocytes/immunology ; Hemagglutination ; Horses ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Rabbits ; Serum/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In deep-sea hydrothermal environments, most invertebrates associate with dense populations of symbiotic microorganisms in order to obtain nutrition. The molecular interactions between deep-sea animals and environmental microbes, including their symbionts, have not yet been elucidated in detail. Hemagglutinins/lectins, which are carbohydrate-binding proteins, have recently been reported to play important roles in a wide array of biological processes, including the recognition and control of non-self materials. We herein assessed hemagglutination activity in the serum of a deep-sea vent endemic crab, Shinkaia crosnieri, which harbors chemosynthetic epibionts on its plumose setae. Horse and rabbit erythrocytes were agglutinated using this serum (opt. pH 7.5 and opt. temperature 15°C). Agglutinating activity was inhibited by eight kinds of sugars and several divalent cations, did not require any divalent metal ions, and remained detectable even after heating the serum at 100°C for 30 min. By using fluorescently labeled serum, we demonstrated that deep-sea crab serum components bound to the epibionts even in the presence of sugars. This study represents the first immunological assessment of a deep-sea vent endemic crab and demonstrated the possibility of a non-lectin-mediated symbiont-host interaction.}, } @article {pmid26211831, year = {2015}, author = {Íñiguez, LP and Nova-Franco, B and Hernández, G}, title = {Novel players in the AP2-miR172 regulatory network for common bean nodulation.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e1062957}, pmid = {26211831}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Plant ; MADS Domain Proteins/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The intricate regulatory network for floral organogenesis in plants that includes AP2/ERF, SPL and AGL transcription factors, miR172 and miR156 along with other components is well documented, though its complexity and size keep increasing. The miR172/AP2 node was recently proposed as essential regulator in the legume-rhizobia nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Research from our group contributed to demonstrate the control of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nodulation by miR172c/AP2-1, however no other components of such regulatory network have been reported. Here we propose AGLs as new protagonists in the regulation of common bean nodulation and discuss the relevance of future deeper analysis of the complex AP2 regulatory network for nodule organogenesis in legumes.}, } @article {pmid26210106, year = {2015}, author = {Rabus, R and Venceslau, SS and Wöhlbrand, L and Voordouw, G and Wall, JD and Pereira, IA}, title = {A Post-Genomic View of the Ecophysiology, Catabolism and Biotechnological Relevance of Sulphate-Reducing Prokaryotes.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {55-321}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ampbs.2015.05.002}, pmid = {26210106}, issn = {2162-5468}, mesh = {Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Biotechnology/*methods/trends ; Corrosion ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods ; *Genome, Microbial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Prokaryotic Cells/*metabolism ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; Water Purification/methods ; }, abstract = {Dissimilatory sulphate reduction is the unifying and defining trait of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP). In their predominant habitats, sulphate-rich marine sediments, SRP have long been recognized to be major players in the carbon and sulphur cycles. Other, more recently appreciated, ecophysiological roles include activity in the deep biosphere, symbiotic relations, syntrophic associations, human microbiome/health and long-distance electron transfer. SRP include a high diversity of organisms, with large nutritional versatility and broad metabolic capacities, including anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds and hydrocarbons. Elucidation of novel catabolic capacities as well as progress in the understanding of metabolic and regulatory networks, energy metabolism, evolutionary processes and adaptation to changing environmental conditions has greatly benefited from genomics, functional OMICS approaches and advances in genetic accessibility and biochemical studies. Important biotechnological roles of SRP range from (i) wastewater and off gas treatment, (ii) bioremediation of metals and hydrocarbons and (iii) bioelectrochemistry, to undesired impacts such as (iv) souring in oil reservoirs and other environments, and (v) corrosion of iron and concrete. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of SRPs focusing mainly on works published after 2000. The wealth of publications in this period, covering many diverse areas, is a testimony to the large environmental, biogeochemical and technological relevance of these organisms and how much the field has progressed in these years, although many important questions and applications remain to be explored.}, } @article {pmid26209969, year = {2015}, author = {Skoracka, A and Magalhães, S and Rector, BG and Kuczyński, L}, title = {Cryptic speciation in the Acari: a function of species lifestyles or our ability to separate species?.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {165-182}, pmid = {26209969}, issn = {1572-9702}, mesh = {Acari/*genetics ; Animals ; *Biodiversity ; *Genetic Speciation ; }, abstract = {There are approximately 55,000 described Acari species, accounting for almost half of all known Arachnida species, but total estimated Acari diversity is reckoned to be far greater. One important source of currently hidden Acari diversity is cryptic speciation, which poses challenges to taxonomists documenting biodiversity assessment as well as to researchers in medicine and agriculture. In this review, we revisit the subject of biodiversity in the Acari and investigate what is currently known about cryptic species within this group. Based on a thorough literature search, we show that the probability of occurrence of cryptic species is mainly related to the number of attempts made to detect them. The use of, both, DNA tools and bioassays significantly increased the probability of cryptic species detection. We did not confirm the generally-accepted idea that species lifestyle (i.e. free-living vs. symbiotic) affects the number of cryptic species. To increase detection of cryptic lineages and to understand the processes leading to cryptic speciation in Acari, integrative approaches including multivariate morphometrics, molecular tools, crossing, ecological assays, intensive sampling, and experimental evolution are recommended. We conclude that there is a demonstrable need for future investigations focusing on potentially hidden mite and tick species and addressing evolutionary mechanisms behind cryptic speciation within Acari.}, } @article {pmid26209676, year = {2015}, author = {Lowrey, L and Woodhams, DC and Tacchi, L and Salinas, I}, title = {Topographical Mapping of the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Microbiome Reveals a Diverse Bacterial Community with Antifungal Properties in the Skin.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {19}, pages = {6915-6925}, pmid = {26209676}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {P20 GM103452/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 GM110907/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20GM103452/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Arthrobacter/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fish Diseases/microbiology ; Gills/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Mucor/*growth & development/physiology ; Oncorhynchus mykiss/*microbiology ; Saprolegnia/*growth & development/physiology ; Skin/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mucosal surfaces of wild and farmed aquatic vertebrates face the threat of many aquatic pathogens, including fungi. These surfaces are colonized by diverse symbiotic bacterial communities that may contribute to fight infection. Whereas the gut microbiome of teleosts has been extensively studied using pyrosequencing, this tool has rarely been employed to study the compositions of the bacterial communities present on other teleost mucosal surfaces. Here we provide a topographical map of the mucosal microbiome of an aquatic vertebrate, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing, we revealed novel bacterial diversity at each of the five body sites sampled and showed that body site is a strong predictor of community composition. The skin exhibited the highest diversity, followed by the olfactory organ, gills, and gut. Flectobacillus was highly represented within skin and gill communities. Principal coordinate analysis and plots revealed clustering of external sites apart from internal sites. A highly diverse community was present within the epithelium, as demonstrated by confocal microscopy and pyrosequencing. Using in vitro assays, we demonstrated that two Arthrobacter sp. skin isolates, a Psychrobacter sp. strain, and a combined skin aerobic bacterial sample inhibit the growth of Saprolegnia australis and Mucor hiemalis, two important aquatic fungal pathogens. These results underscore the importance of symbiotic bacterial communities of fish and their potential role for the control of aquatic fungal diseases.}, } @article {pmid26208816, year = {2016}, author = {Mediavilla, O and Olaizola, J and Santos-del-Blanco, L and Oria-de-Rueda, JA and Martín-Pinto, P}, title = {Mycorrhization between Cistus ladanifer L. and Boletus edulis Bull is enhanced by the mycorrhiza helper bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {161-168}, pmid = {26208816}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*growth & development ; Cistus/*microbiology/physiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/physiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Boletus edulis Bull. is one of the most economically and gastronomically valuable fungi worldwide. Sporocarp production normally occurs when symbiotically associated with a number of tree species in stands over 40 years old, but it has also been reported in 3-year-old Cistus ladanifer L. shrubs. Efforts toward the domestication of B. edulis have thus focused on successfully generating C. ladanifer seedlings associated with B. edulis under controlled conditions. Microorganisms have an important role mediating mycorrhizal symbiosis, such as some bacteria species which enhance mycorrhiza formation (mycorrhiza helper bacteria). Thus, in this study, we explored the effect that mycorrhiza helper bacteria have on the efficiency and intensity of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between C. ladanifer and B. edulis. The aim of this work was to optimize an in vitro protocol for the mycorrhizal synthesis of B. edulis with C. ladanifer by testing the effects of fungal culture time and coinoculation with the helper bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula. The results confirmed successful mycorrhizal synthesis between C. ladanifer and B. edulis. Coinoculation of B. edulis with P. fluorescens doubled within-plant mycorrhization levels although it did not result in an increased number of seedlings colonized with B. edulis mycorrhizae. B. edulis mycelium culture time also increased mycorrhization levels but not the presence of mycorrhizae. These findings bring us closer to controlled B. edulis sporocarp production in plantations.}, } @article {pmid26207928, year = {2015}, author = {Frenzel, T and Lawaczeck, R and Taupitz, M and Jost, G and Lohrke, J and Sieber, MA and Pietsch, H}, title = {Contrast Media for X-ray and Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Development, Current Status and Future Perspectives.}, journal = {Investigative radiology}, volume = {50}, number = {9}, pages = {671-678}, doi = {10.1097/RLI.0000000000000193}, pmid = {26207928}, issn = {1536-0210}, mesh = {*Contrast Media ; Humans ; Image Enhancement/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods/*trends ; Radiography/*methods/*trends ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/trends ; }, abstract = {Over the last 120 years, the extensive advances in medical imaging allowed enhanced diagnosis and therapy of many diseases and thereby improved the quality of life of many patient generations. From the beginning, all technical solutions and imaging procedures were combined with dedicated pharmaceutical developments of contrast media, to further enhance the visualization of morphology and physiology. This symbiosis of imaging hardware and contrast media development was of high importance for the development of modern clinical radiology. Today, all available clinically approved contrast media fulfill the highest requirements for clinical safety and efficacy. All new concepts to increase the efficacy of contrast media have also to consider the high clinical safety standards and cost of goods of current marketed contrast media. Nevertheless, diagnostic imaging will contribute significantly to the progresses in medicine, and new contrast media developments are mandatory to address the medical needs of the future.}, } @article {pmid26207903, year = {2015}, author = {Montano, S and Maggioni, D and Arrigoni, R and Seveso, D and Puce, S and Galli, P}, title = {The Hidden Diversity of Zanclea Associated with Scleractinians Revealed by Molecular Data.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0133084}, pmid = {26207903}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*physiology ; Base Sequence ; Biota ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Hydrozoa/classification/*genetics ; Indian Ocean Islands ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Ribotyping ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian reef corals have recently been acknowledged as the most numerous host group found in association with hydroids belonging to the Zanclea genus. However, knowledge of the molecular phylogenetic relationships among Zanclea species associated with scleractinians is just beginning. This study, using the nuclear 28S rDNA region and the fast-evolving mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes, provides the most comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Zanclea with a particular focus on the genetic diversity among Zanclea specimens associated with 13 scleractinian genera. The monophyly of Zanclea associated with scleractinians was strongly supported in all nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenetic reconstructions. Furthermore, a combined mitochondrial 16S and COI phylogenetic tree revealed a multitude of hidden molecular lineages within this group (Clades I, II, III, V, VI, VII, and VIII), suggesting the existence of both host-generalist and genus-specific lineages of Zanclea associated with scleractinians. In addition to Z. gallii living in association with the genus Acropora, we discovered four well-supported lineages (Clades I, II, III, and VII), each one forming a strict association with a single scleractinian genus, including sequences of Zanclea associated with Montipora from two geographically separated areas (Maldives and Taiwan). Two host-generalist Zanclea lineages were also observed, and one of them was formed by Zanclea specimens symbiotic with seven scleractinian genera (Clade VIII). We also found that the COI gene allows the recognition of separated hidden lineages in agreement with the commonly recommended mitochondrial 16S as a DNA barcoding gene for Hydrozoa and shows reasonable potential for phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses in the genus Zanclea. Finally, as no DNA sequences are available for the majority of the nominal Zanclea species known, we note that they will be necessary to elucidate the diversity of the Zanclea-scleractinian association.}, } @article {pmid26207800, year = {2016}, author = {Kumari, I and Chaudhary, N and Sandhu, P and Ahmed, M and Akhter, Y}, title = {Structural and mechanistic analysis of engineered trichodiene synthase enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum: towards higher catalytic activities empowering sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {1176-1189}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2015.1073632}, pmid = {26207800}, issn = {1538-0254}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Catalysis ; Catalytic Domain ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Ligands ; *Models, Molecular ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Mutation ; Protein Binding ; *Protein Conformation ; Protein Stability ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Trichoderma/*enzymology/genetics ; }, abstract = {Trichoderma spp. are well-known bioagents for the plant growth promotion and pathogen suppression. The beneficial activities of the fungus Trichoderma spp. are attributed to their ability to produce and secrete certain secondary metabolites such as trichodermin that belongs to trichothecene family of molecules. The initial steps of trichodermin biosynthetic pathway in Trichoderma are similar to the trichothecenes from Fusarium sporotrichioides. Trichodiene synthase (TS) encoded by tri5 gene in Trichoderma catalyses the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to trichodiene as reported earlier. In this study, we have carried out a comprehensive comparative sequence and structural analysis of the TS, which revealed the conserved residues involved in catalytic activity of the protein. In silico, modelled tertiary structure of TS protein showed stable structural behaviour during simulations. Two single-substitution mutants, i.e. D109E, D248Y and one double-substitution mutant (D109E and D248Y) of TS with potentially higher activities are screened out. The mutant proteins showed more stability than the wild type, an increased number of electrostatic interactions and better binding energies with the ligand, which further elucidates the amino acid residues involved in the reaction mechanism. These results will lead to devise strategies for higher TS activity to ultimately enhance the trichodermin production by Trichoderma spp. for its better exploitation in the sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid26205969, year = {2015}, author = {Andrade, SC and Novo, M and Kawauchi, GY and Worsaae, K and Pleijel, F and Giribet, G and Rouse, GW}, title = {Articulating "Archiannelids": Phylogenomics and Annelid Relationships, with Emphasis on Meiofaunal Taxa.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {2860-2875}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msv157}, pmid = {26205969}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*classification/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/classification/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Annelid disparity has resulted in morphological-based classifications that disagree with phylogenies based on Sanger sequencing and phylogenomic analyses. However, the data used for the latter studies came from various sources and technologies, involved poorly occupied matrices and lacked key lineages. Here, we generated a new Illumina-based data set to address annelid relationships from a fresh perspective, independent from previously generated data and with nearly fully occupied matrices. Our sampling reflects the span of annelid diversity, including two symbiotic annelid groups (Myzostomida and Spinther) and five meiofaunal groups once referred to as part of Archiannelida (three from Protodrilida, plus Dinophilus and Polygordius). As well as the placement of these unusual annelids, we sought to address the overall phylogeny of Annelida, and provide a new perspective for naming of major clades. Our results largely corroborate the phylogenomic results of Weigert et al. (2014; Illuminating the base of the annelid tree using transcriptomics. Mol Biol Evol. 31:1391-1401), with "Magelona + Owenia" and Chaetopteridae forming a grade with respect to all other annelids. Echiura and Sipuncula are supported as being annelid groups, with Sipuncula closest to amphinomids as sister group to Sedentaria and Errantia. We recovered the three Protodrilida terminals as sister clade to Phyllodocida and Eunicida (=clade Aciculata). We therefore place Protodrilida as part of Errantia. Polygordius was found to be sister group to the scaleworm terminal and the possibility that it is a simplified scaleworm clade, as has been shown for the former family Pisionidae, is discussed. Our results were equivocal with respect to Dinophilus, Myzostomida, and Spinther possibly owing to confounding long-branch effects.}, } @article {pmid26204840, year = {2015}, author = {Jeon, JM and Lee, HI and Sadowsky, MJ and Sugawara, M and Chang, WS}, title = {Characterization of a Functional Role of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum Isocitrate Lyase in Desiccation Tolerance.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {16695-16709}, pmid = {26204840}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Desiccation ; Isocitrate Lyase/genetics/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of soybean. In previous studies, transcriptomic profiling of B. japonicum USDA110, grown under various environmental conditions, revealed the highly induced gene aceA, encoding isocitrate lyase (ICL). The ICL catalyzes the conversion of isocitrate to succinate and glyoxylate in the glyoxylate bypass of the TCA cycle. Here, we evaluated the functional role of B. japonicum ICL under desiccation-induced stress conditions. We purified AceA (molecular mass = 65 kDa) from B. japonicum USDA110, using a His-tag and Ni-NTA column approach, and confirmed its ICL enzyme activity. The aceA mutant showed higher sensitivity to desiccation stress (27% relative humidity (RH)), compared to the wild type. ICL activity of the wild type strain increased approximately 2.5-fold upon exposure to 27% RH for 24 h. The aceA mutant also showed an increased susceptibility to salt stress. Gene expression analysis of aceA using qRT-PCR revealed a 148-fold induction by desiccation, while other genes involved in the glyoxylate pathway were not differentially expressed in this condition. Transcriptome analyses revealed that stress-related genes, such as chaperones, were upregulated in the wild-type under desiccating conditions, even though fold induction was not dramatic (ca. 1.5-2.5-fold).}, } @article {pmid26203338, year = {2015}, author = {Tian, R and Parker, M and Seshadri, R and Reddy, T and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Baeshen, MN and Baeshen, NA and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Tv2a.2, a microsymbiont of Tachigali versicolor discovered in Barro Colorado Island of Panama.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {27}, pmid = {26203338}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobiumsp. Tv2a.2 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen-fixing root nodule of Tachigali versicolor collected in Barro Colorado Island of Panama. Here we describe the features of Bradyrhizobiumsp. Tv2a.2, together with high-quality permanent draft genome sequence information and annotation. The 8,496,279 bp high-quality draft genome is arranged in 87 scaffolds of 87 contigs, contains 8,109 protein-coding genes and 72 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid26203336, year = {2015}, author = {Tian, R and Parker, M and Seshadri, R and Reddy, T and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Baeshen, MN and Baeshen, NA and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. Th.b2, a microsymbiont of Amphicarpaea bracteata collected in Johnson City, New York.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {24}, pmid = {26203336}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. Th.b2 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen-fixing root nodule of Amphicarpaea bracteata collected in Johnson City, New York. Here we describe the features of Bradyrhizobium sp. Th.b2, together with high-quality permanent draft genome sequence information and annotation. The 10,118,060 high-quality draft genome is arranged in 266 scaffolds of 274 contigs, contains 9,809 protein-coding genes and 108 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid26203296, year = {2015}, author = {Faville, MJ and Briggs, L and Cao, M and Koulman, A and Jahufer, MZ and Koolaard, J and Hume, DE}, title = {A QTL analysis of host plant effects on fungal endophyte biomass and alkaloid expression in perennial ryegrass.}, journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {161}, pmid = {26203296}, issn = {1380-3743}, support = {MC_EX_G0800783/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {The association between perennial ryegrass (Loliumperenne L.) and its Epichloë fungal endophyte symbiont, Epichloëfestucae var. lolii, supports the persistence of ryegrass-based pastures principally by producing bioactive alkaloid compounds that deter invertebrate herbivory. The host plant genotype affects endophyte trait expression, and elucidation of the underlying genetic mechanisms would enhance understanding of the symbiosis and support improvement of inplanta endophyte performance through plant breeding. Rapid metabolite profiling and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantify endophyte alkaloids and mycelial mass (MM) in leaves harvested, in consecutive autumns, from an F1 mapping population hosting standard toxic endophyte. Co-aligned quantitative trait loci (QTL) on linkage groups (LG)2, LG4 and LG7 for MM and concentrations of alkaloids peramine and ergovaline confirmed host plant effects on both MM and alkaloid level and inferred the effect on alkaloids was modulated through the quantity of endophyte present in the leaf tissue. For ergovaline, host regulation independent of endophyte concentration was also indicated, by the presence of MM-independent ergovaline QTL on LG4 and LG7. Partitioning of host genetic influence between MM-dependent and MM-independent mechanisms was also observed for the alkaloid N-formylloline (NFL), in a second mapping population harbouring a tall fescue-sourced endophyte. Single-marker analysis on repeated MM and NFL measures identified marker-trait associations at nine genome locations, four affecting both NFL and MM but five influencing NFL concentration alone. Co-occurrence of QTL on LG3, LG4 and LG7 in both mapping populations is evidence for host regulatory loci effective across genetic backgrounds and independent of endophyte variant. Variation at these loci may be exploited using marker-assisted breeding to improve endophyte trait expression in different host population × endophyte combinations.}, } @article {pmid26203006, year = {2015}, author = {Ezzat, L and Maguer, JF and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {New insights into carbon acquisition and exchanges within the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis under NH4+ and NO3- supply.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1812}, pages = {20150610}, pmid = {26203006}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/*physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment affects the biogeochemical cycles and nutrient stoichiometry of coastal ecosystems and is often associated with coral reef decline. However, the mechanisms by which dissolved inorganic nutrients, and especially nitrogen forms (ammonium versus nitrate) can disturb the association between corals and their symbiotic algae are subject to controversial debate. Here, we investigated the coral response to varying N : P ratios, with nitrate or ammonium as a nitrogen source. We showed significant differences in the carbon acquisition by the symbionts and its allocation within the symbiosis according to nutrient abundance, type and stoichiometry. In particular, under low phosphate concentration (0.05 µM), a 3 µM nitrate enrichment induced a significant decrease in carbon fixation rate and low values of carbon translocation, compared with control conditions (N : P = 0.5 : 0.05), while these processes were significantly enhanced when nitrate was replaced by ammonium. A combined enrichment in ammonium and phosphorus (N : P = 3 : 1) induced a shift in nutrient allocation to the symbionts, at the detriment of the host. Altogether, these results shed light into the effect of nutrient enrichment on reef corals. More broadly, they improve our understanding of the consequences of nutrient loading on reef ecosystems, which is urgently required to refine risk management strategies.}, } @article {pmid26202872, year = {2015}, author = {Schweiger, R and Müller, C}, title = {Leaf metabolome in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {120-126}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.06.009}, pmid = {26202872}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Most land plants are associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which colonise the plant roots and facilitate the uptake of water and nutrients. In turn, the fungi receive plant carbohydrates. Although the fungus is morphologically restricted to the roots, the exchange of substances and involvement of phytohormone signalling has consequences on systemic shoot tissues. Recent research provides growing insight in the species-specificity of leaf metabolic responses to arbuscular mycorrhiza, revealing that various metabolites can be affected. Such mycorrhiza-mediated changes in the chemical composition of leaf tissues can confer phytoprotection against different abiotic stresses. Moreover, they have consequences on numerous biotic interactions. In this review we highlight such findings and point out fields where more research is required.}, } @article {pmid26199419, year = {2015}, author = {Venkateshwaran, M and Jayaraman, D and Chabaud, M and Genre, A and Balloon, AJ and Maeda, J and Forshey, K and den Os, D and Kwiecien, NW and Coon, JJ and Barker, DG and Ané, JM}, title = {A role for the mevalonate pathway in early plant symbiotic signaling.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {31}, pages = {9781-9786}, pmid = {26199419}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Calcium Signaling/drug effects/genetics ; Cell Nucleus/drug effects/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Silencing/drug effects ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways/drug effects ; Mevalonic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Epidermis/cytology/drug effects ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi produce signals that are perceived by host legume receptors at the plasma membrane and trigger sustained oscillations of the nuclear and perinuclear Ca(2+) concentration (Ca(2+) spiking), which in turn leads to gene expression and downstream symbiotic responses. The activation of Ca(2+) spiking requires the plasma membrane-localized receptor-like kinase Does not Make Infections 2 (DMI2) as well as the nuclear cation channel DMI1. A key enzyme regulating the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl CoA Reductase 1 (HMGR1), interacts with DMI2 and is required for the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Here, we show that HMGR1 is required to initiate Ca(2+) spiking and symbiotic gene expression in Medicago truncatula roots in response to rhizobial and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal signals. Furthermore, MVA, the direct product of HMGR1 activity, is sufficient to induce nuclear-associated Ca(2+) spiking and symbiotic gene expression in both wild-type plants and dmi2 mutants, but interestingly not in dmi1 mutants. Finally, MVA induced Ca(2+) spiking in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 cells expressing DMI1. This demonstrates that the nuclear cation channel DMI1 is sufficient to support MVA-induced Ca(2+) spiking in this heterologous system.}, } @article {pmid26199376, year = {2015}, author = {Jansen, G and Crummenerl, LL and Gilbert, F and Mohr, T and Pfefferkorn, R and Thänert, R and Rosenstiel, P and Schulenburg, H}, title = {Evolutionary Transition from Pathogenicity to Commensalism: Global Regulator Mutations Mediate Fitness Gains through Virulence Attenuation.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {2883-2896}, pmid = {26199376}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {P40 OD010440/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; Biological Evolution ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*genetics/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mutation ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*genetics/*pathogenicity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions are indispensable for metazoan function, but their origin and evolution remain elusive. We use a controlled evolution experiment to demonstrate the emergence of novel commensal interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an initially pathogenic bacterium, and a metazoan host, Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that commensalism evolves through loss of virulence, because it provides bacteria with a double fitness advantage: Increased within-host fitness and a larger host population to infect. Commensalism arises irrespective of host immune status, as the adaptive path in immunocompromised C. elegans knockouts does not differ from that in wild type. Dissection of temporal dynamics of genomic adaptation for 125 bacterial populations reveals highly parallel evolution of incipient commensalism across independent biological replicates. Adaptation is mainly achieved through frame shift mutations in the global regulator lasR and nonsynonymous point mutations in the polymerase gene rpoB that arise early in evolution. Genetic knockouts of lasR not only corroborate its role in virulence attenuation but also show that further mutations are necessary for the fully commensal phenotype. The evolutionary transition from pathogenicity to commensalism as we observe here is facilitated by mutations in global regulators such as lasR, because few genetic changes cause pleiotropic effects across the genome with large phenotypic effects. Finally, we found that nucleotide diversity increased more quickly in bacteria adapting to immunocompromised hosts than in those adapting to immunocompetent hosts. Nevertheless, the outcome of evolution was comparable across host types. Commensalism can thus evolve independently of host immune state solely as a side-effect of bacterial adaptation to novel hosts.}, } @article {pmid26199224, year = {2016}, author = {Kita, A and Miura, T and Kawata, S and Yamaguchi, T and Okamura, Y and Aki, T and Matsumura, Y and Tajima, T and Kato, J and Nishio, N and Nakashimada, Y}, title = {Bacterial community structure and predicted alginate metabolic pathway in an alginate-degrading bacterial consortium.}, journal = {Journal of bioscience and bioengineering}, volume = {121}, number = {3}, pages = {286-292}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiosc.2015.06.014}, pmid = {26199224}, issn = {1347-4421}, mesh = {Alginates/*metabolism ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Glucuronic Acid/metabolism ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Hexuronic Acids/metabolism ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Metagenomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Methane fermentation is one of the effective approaches for utilization of brown algae; however, this process is limited by the microbial capability to degrade alginate, a main polysaccharide found in these algae. Despite its potential, little is known about anaerobic microbial degradation of alginate. Here we constructed a bacterial consortium able to anaerobically degrade alginate. Taxonomic classification of 16S rRNA gene, based on high-throughput sequencing data, revealed that this consortium included two dominant strains, designated HUA-1 and HUA-2; these strains were related to Clostridiaceae bacterium SK082 (99%) and Dysgonomonas capnocytophagoides (95%), respectively. Alginate lyase activity and metagenomic analyses, based on high-throughput sequencing data, revealed that this bacterial consortium possessed putative genes related to a predicted alginate metabolic pathway. However, HUA-1 and 2 did not grow on agar medium with alginate by using roll-tube method, suggesting the existence of bacterial interactions like symbiosis for anaerobic alginate degradation.}, } @article {pmid26198296, year = {2015}, author = {Bertucci, A and Forêt, S and Ball, EE and Miller, DJ}, title = {Transcriptomic differences between day and night in Acropora millepora provide new insights into metabolite exchange and light-enhanced calcification in corals.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {17}, pages = {4489-4504}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13328}, pmid = {26198296}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/radiation effects ; Australia ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Circadian Rhythm ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Light ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photosynthesis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The evolutionary success of reef-building corals is often attributed to their symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, but metabolic interactions between the partners and the molecular bases of light-enhanced calcification (LEC) are not well understood. Here, the metabolic bases of the interaction between the coral Acropora millepora and its dinoflagellate symbiont were investigated by comparing gene expression levels under light and dark conditions at the whole transcriptome level. Among the 497 differentially expressed genes identified, a suite of genes involved in cholesterol transport was found to be upregulated under light conditions, confirming the significance of this compound in the coral symbiosis. Although ion transporters likely to have roles in calcification were not differentially expressed in this study, expression levels of many genes associated with skeletal organic matrix composition and organization were higher in light conditions. This implies that the rate of organic matrix synthesis is one factor limiting calcification at night. Thus, LEC during the day is likely to be a consequence of increases in both matrix synthesis and the supply of precursor molecules as a result of photosynthetic activity.}, } @article {pmid26198108, year = {2015}, author = {Grönemeyer, JL and Chimwamurombe, P and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Bradyrhizobium subterraneum sp. nov., a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium from root nodules of groundnuts.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {10}, pages = {3241-3247}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.000403}, pmid = {26198108}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Namibia ; Nitrogen ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Seven strains of symbiotic bacteria from root nodules of local races of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) and peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) grown on subsistence farmers' fields in the Kavango region, Namibia, were previously characterized and identified as a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To corroborate their taxonomic status, these strains were further characterized using a polyphasic approach. All strains possessed identical 16S rRNA gene sequences with Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense CCBAU 10071T being the most closely related type strain in the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis, and Bradyrhizobium daqingense CCBAU 15774T in the ITS sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated glnII-recA-rpoB-dnaK placed the strains in a highly supported lineage distinct from named species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, most closely related to Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense CCBAU 10071T. The species status was validated by results of DNA–DNA hybridization. Phylogenetic analysis of nifH genes placed the novel strains in a group with nifH of ‘Bradyrhizobium arachidis’ CCBAU 051107 that also nodulates peanuts. The combination of phenotypic characteristics from several tests including carbon source utilization and antibiotic resistance could be used to differentiate representative strains from recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Novel strain 58 2-1T induced effective nodules on V. subterranea, Vigna unguiculata and A. hypogaea, and some strains on Lablab purpureus. Based on the data presented, we conclude that our strains represent a novel species for which the name Bradyrhizobium subterraneum sp. nov. is proposed, with 58 2-1T [ = DSM 100298T = LMG 28792T = NTCCM0016T (Windhoek)] as the type strain. The DNA G+C content of strain 58 2-1T was 64.7 mol% (T m).}, } @article {pmid26197317, year = {2015}, author = {Sheng, P and Li, Y and Marshall, SD and Zhang, H}, title = {High Genetic Diversity of Microbial Cellulase and Hemicellulase Genes in the Hindgut of Holotrichia parallela Larvae.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {16545-16559}, pmid = {26197317}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Bacteroidetes/enzymology/genetics/pathogenicity ; Base Sequence ; Cellulase/chemistry/*genetics ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Firmicutes/enzymology/genetics/pathogenicity ; Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/*genetics ; Intestines/microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Proteobacteria/enzymology/genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {In this study, we used a culture-independent method based on library construction and sequencing to analyze the genetic diversity of the cellulase and hemicellulase genes of the bacterial community resident in the hindgut of Holotrichia parallela larvae. The results indicate that there is a large, diverse set of bacterial genes encoding lignocellulose hydrolysis enzymes in the hindgut of H. parallela. The total of 101 distinct gene fragments (similarity <95%) of glycosyl hydrolase families including GH2 (24 genes), GH8 (27 genes), GH10 (19 genes), GH11 (14 genes) and GH36 (17 genes) families was retrieved, and certain sequences of GH2 (10.61%), GH8 (3.33%), and GH11 (18.42%) families had <60% identities with known sequences in GenBank, indicating their novelty. Based on phylogenetic analysis, sequences from hemicellulase families were related to enzymes from Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Fragments from cellulase family were most associated with the phylum of Proteobacteria. Furthermore, a full-length endo-xylanase gene was obtained, and the enzyme exhibited activity over a broad range of pH levels. Our results indicate that there are large number of cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria in the hindgut of H. parallela larvae, and these symbiotic bacteria play an important role in the degradation of roots and other organic matter for the host insect.}, } @article {pmid26196315, year = {2015}, author = {Judy, JD and Kirby, JK and Creamer, C and McLaughlin, MJ and Fiebiger, C and Wright, C and Cavagnaro, TR and Bertsch, PM}, title = {Effects of silver sulfide nanomaterials on mycorrhizal colonization of tomato plants and soil microbial communities in biosolid-amended soil.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {206}, number = {}, pages = {256-263}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2015.07.002}, pmid = {26196315}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Bacteria/drug effects/growth & development ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Nanostructures/analysis ; Silver Compounds/*pharmacology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {We investigated effects of Ag2S engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Ag ENMs (PVP-Ag), and Ag(+) on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), their colonization of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and overall microbial community structure in biosolids-amended soil. Concentration-dependent uptake was measured in all treatments. Plants exposed to 100 mg kg(-1) PVP-Ag ENMs and 100 mg kg(-1) Ag(+) exhibited reduced biomass and greatly reduced mycorrhizal colonization. Bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were inhibited by all treatment classes, with the largest reductions measured in 100 mg kg(-1) PVP-Ag ENMs and 100 mg kg(-1) Ag(+). Overall, Ag2S ENMs were less toxic to plants, less disruptive to plant-mycorrhizal symbiosis, and less inhibitory to the soil microbial community than PVP-Ag ENMs or Ag(+). However, significant effects were observed at 1 mg kg(-1) Ag2S ENMs, suggesting that the potential exists for microbial communities and the ecosystem services they provide to be disrupted by environmentally relevant concentrations of Ag2S ENMs.}, } @article {pmid26195303, year = {2015}, author = {Brune, A and Dietrich, C}, title = {The Gut Microbiota of Termites: Digesting the Diversity in the Light of Ecology and Evolution.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {145-166}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155715}, pmid = {26195303}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/classification ; Bacteria/classification ; Eukaryota/classification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termite guts harbor a dense and diverse microbiota that is essential for symbiotic digestion. The major players in lower termites are unique lineages of cellulolytic flagellates, whereas higher termites harbor only bacteria and archaea. The functions of the mostly uncultivated lineages and their distribution in different diet groups are slowly emerging. Patterns in community structure match changes in the biology of different host groups and reflect the availability of microbial habitats provided by flagellates, wood fibers, and the increasing differentiation of the intestinal tract, which also creates new niches for microbial symbionts. Whereas the intestinal communities in the closely related cockroaches seem to be shaped primarily by the selective forces of microhabitat and functional niche, the social behavior of termites reduces the stochastic element of community assembly, which facilitates coevolution and may ultimately result in cospeciation.}, } @article {pmid26194853, year = {2015}, author = {Ohkouchi, N and Kuroda, J and Taira, A}, title = {The origin of Cretaceous black shales: a change in the surface ocean ecosystem and its triggers.}, journal = {Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and biological sciences}, volume = {91}, number = {7}, pages = {273-291}, pmid = {26194853}, issn = {1349-2896}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/chemistry/growth & development ; Autotrophic Processes ; *Ecosystem ; Geologic Sediments/*chemistry ; *Oceans and Seas ; Oxygen/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Black shale is dark-colored, organic-rich sediment, and there have been many episodes of black shale deposition over the history of the Earth. Black shales are source rocks for petroleum and natural gas, and thus are both geologically and economically important. Here, we review our recent progress in understanding of the surface ocean ecosystem during periods of carbonaceous sediment deposition, and the factors triggering black shale deposition. The stable nitrogen isotopic composition of geoporphyrins (geological derivatives of chlorophylls) strongly suggests that N2-fixation was a major process for nourishing the photoautotrophs. A symbiotic association between diatoms and cyanobacteria may have been a major primary producer during episodes of black shale deposition. The timing of black shale formation in the Cretaceous is strongly correlated with the emplacement of large igneous provinces such as the Ontong Java Plateau, suggesting that black shale deposition was ultimately induced by massive volcanic events. However, the process that connects these events remains to be solved.}, } @article {pmid26191069, year = {2015}, author = {Nelson, MS and Sadowsky, MJ}, title = {Secretion systems and signal exchange between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and legumes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {491}, pmid = {26191069}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The formation of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots and/or stem of leguminous plants involves a complex signal exchange between both partners. Since many microorganisms are present in the soil, legumes and rhizobia must recognize and initiate communication with each other to establish symbioses. This results in the formation of nodules. Rhizobia within nodules exchange fixed nitrogen for carbon from the legume. Symbiotic relationships can become non-beneficial if one partner ceases to provide support to the other. As a result, complex signal exchange mechanisms have evolved to ensure continued, beneficial symbioses. Proper recognition and signal exchange is also the basis for host specificity. Nodule formation always provides a fitness benefit to rhizobia, but does not always provide a fitness benefit to legumes. Therefore, legumes have evolved a mechanism to regulate the number of nodules that are formed, this is called autoregulation of nodulation. Sequencing of many different rhizobia have revealed the presence of several secretion systems - and the Type III, Type IV, and Type VI secretion systems are known to be used by pathogens to transport effector proteins. These secretion systems are also known to have an effect on host specificity and are a determinant of overall nodule number on legumes. This review focuses on signal exchange between rhizobia and legumes, particularly focusing on the role of secretion systems involved in nodule formation and host specificity.}, } @article {pmid26188921, year = {2016}, author = {Kobiałka, M and Michalik, A and Walczak, M and Junkiert, Ł and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Sulcia symbiont of the leafhopper Macrosteles laevis (Ribaut, 1927) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) harbors Arsenophonus bacteria.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {253}, number = {3}, pages = {903-912}, pmid = {26188921}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Oocytes/microbiology/physiology ; Ovary/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Poland ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The leafhopper Macrosteles laevis, like other plant sap-feeding hemipterans, lives in obligate symbiotic association with microorganisms. The symbionts are harbored in the cytoplasm of large cells termed bacteriocytes, which are integrated into huge organs termed bacteriomes. Morphological and molecular investigations have revealed that in the bacteriomes of M. laevis, two types of bacteriocytes are present which are as follows: bacteriocytes with bacterium Sulcia and bacteriocytes with Nasuia symbiont. We observed that in bacteriocytes with Sulcia, some cells of this bacterium contain numerous cells of the bacterium Arsenophonus. All types of symbionts are transmitted transovarially between generations. In the mature female, the bacteria Nasuia, bacteria Sulcia, and Sulcia with Arsenophonus inside are released from the bacteriocytes and start to assemble around the terminal oocytes. Next, the bacteria enter the cytoplasm of follicular cells surrounding the posterior pole of the oocyte. After passing through the follicular cells, the symbionts enter the space between the oocyte and follicular epithelium, forming a characteristic "symbiont ball."}, } @article {pmid26188545, year = {2015}, author = {Nguyen, TT and Volkening, JD and Rose, CM and Venkateshwaran, M and Westphall, MS and Coon, JJ and Ané, JM and Sussman, MR}, title = {Potential regulatory phosphorylation sites in a Medicago truncatula plasma membrane proton pump implicated during early symbiotic signaling in roots.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {589}, number = {17}, pages = {2186-2193}, pmid = {26188545}, issn = {1873-3468}, support = {T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites/genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Membrane/*enzymology ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Phosphorylation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/growth & development ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Serine/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Threonine/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In plants and fungi the plasma membrane proton pump generates a large proton-motive force that performs essential functions in many processes, including solute transport and the control of cell elongation. Previous studies in yeast and higher plants have indicated that phosphorylation of an auto-inhibitory domain is involved in regulating pump activity. In this report we examine the Medicago truncatula plasma membrane proton pump gene family, and in particular MtAHA5. Yeast complementation assays with phosphomimetic mutations at six candidate sites support a phosphoregulatory role for two residues, suggesting a molecular model to explain early Nod factor-induced changes in the plasma membrane proton-motive force of legume root cells.}, } @article {pmid26188205, year = {2015}, author = {Hastwell, AH and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Genome-wide annotation and characterization of CLAVATA/ESR (CLE) peptide hormones of soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and their orthologues of Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {17}, pages = {5271-5287}, pmid = {26188205}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/metabolism ; *Genome, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Peptide Hormones/*genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {CLE peptides are key regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation in plant shoots, roots, vasculature, and legume nodules. They are C-terminally encoded peptides that are post-translationally cleaved and modified from their corresponding pre-propeptides to produce a final ligand that is 12-13 amino acids in length. In this study, an array of bionformatic and comparative genomic approaches was used to identify and characterize the complete family of CLE peptide-encoding genes in two of the world's most important crop species, soybean and common bean. In total, there are 84 CLE peptide-encoding genes in soybean (considerably more than the 32 present in Arabidopsis), including three pseudogenes and two multi-CLE domain genes having six putative CLE domains each. In addition, 44 CLE peptide-encoding genes were identified in common bean. In silico characterization was used to establish all soybean homeologous pairs, and to identify corresponding gene orthologues present in common bean and Arabidopsis. The soybean CLE pre-propeptide family was further analysed and separated into seven distinct groups based on structure, with groupings strongly associated with the CLE domain sequence and function. These groups provide evolutionary insight into the CLE peptide families of soybean, common bean, and Arabidopsis, and represent a novel tool that can aid in the functional characterization of the peptides. Transcriptional evidence was also used to provide further insight into the location and function of all CLE peptide-encoding members currently available in gene atlases for the three species. Taken together, this in-depth analysis helped to identify and categorize the complete CLE peptide families of soybean and common bean, established gene orthologues within the two legume species, and Arabidopsis, and provided a platform to help compare, contrast, and identify the function of critical CLE peptide hormones in plant development.}, } @article {pmid26188202, year = {2015}, author = {He, X and Fu, Z and Li, M and Liu, H and Cai, S and Man, N and Lu, X}, title = {Nosema bombycis (Microsporidia) suppresses apoptosis in BmN cells (Bombyx mori).}, journal = {Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica}, volume = {47}, number = {9}, pages = {696-702}, doi = {10.1093/abbs/gmv062}, pmid = {26188202}, issn = {1745-7270}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Bombyx ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c/metabolism ; Dactinomycin/pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Nosema/*physiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nosema bombycis (N. bombycis, Nb) is a fungus-related and obligate intracellular parasite that causes chronic pebrine disease in the silkworm. After infecting the host, spores obtain energy from host cells and survive for several days. This symbiosis between the pathogen and the host cell suggests that N. bombycis prevents apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of host cells to create the optimal environmental conditions for its growth and development. In this study, different methods were used to prove that N. bombycis suppressed apoptosis in BmN cells. Flow cytometry analysis results showed that spores suppressed apoptosis of BmN cells at 2 and 5 days after infection (P < 0.05). Compared with actinomycin D (ActD) treatment, apoptosis of BmN cells was apparently reduced after spore infection (P < 0.01). Forty-eight hours after infection, the ROS production of BmN cells was down-regulated compared with that after ActD treatment for 6 h. Furthermore, N. bombycis prevented the formation of apoptosomes by down-regulating the expression of apaf-1 and cytochrome C. In addition, N. bombycis also up-regulated the expression of buffy. Western blot analysis demonstrated that spores decreased the level of host cytochrome C at 48 and 98 h post infection. Thus, our results suggested that N. bombycis inhibited the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of the host cells to create an optimal environment for its own survival.}, } @article {pmid26187969, year = {2015}, author = {Vahdatzadeh, M and Deveau, A and Splivallo, R}, title = {The Role of the Microbiome of Truffles in Aroma Formation: a Meta-Analysis Approach.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {20}, pages = {6946-6952}, pmid = {26187969}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*chemistry/*growth & development ; Biological Products/*metabolism ; Flavoring Agents/*metabolism ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*chemistry/*growth & development ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Truffles (Tuber spp.) are ascomycete subterraneous fungi that form ectomycorrhizas in a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. Their fruiting bodies are appreciated for their distinctive aroma, which might be partially derived from microbes. Indeed, truffle fruiting bodies are colonized by a diverse microbial community made up of bacteria, yeasts, guest filamentous fungi, and viruses. The aim of this minireview is two-fold. First, the current knowledge on the microbial community composition of truffles has been synthesized to highlight similarities and differences among four truffle (Tuber) species (T. magnatum, T. melanosporum, T. aestivum, and T. borchii) at various stages of their life cycle. Second, the potential role of the microbiome in truffle aroma formation has been addressed for the same four species. Our results suggest that on one hand, odorants, which are common to many truffle species, might be of mixed truffle and microbial origin, while on the other hand, less common odorants might be derived from microbes only. They also highlight that bacteria, the dominant group in the microbiome of the truffle, might also be the most important contributors to truffle aroma not only in T. borchii, as already demonstrated, but also in T. magnatum, T. aestivum, and T. melanosporum.}, } @article {pmid26187596, year = {2015}, author = {Abebe-Akele, F and Tisa, LS and Cooper, VS and Hatcher, PJ and Abebe, E and Thomas, WK}, title = {Genome sequence and comparative analysis of a putative entomopathogenic Serratia isolated from Caenorhabditis briggsae.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {531}, pmid = {26187596}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Caenorhabditis/*genetics/microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/pathogenicity ; *Genome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serratia/genetics/pathogenicity ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Entomopathogenic associations between nematodes in the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabdus with their cognate bacteria from the bacterial genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, respectively, are extensively studied for their potential as biological control agents against invasive insect species. These two highly coevolved associations were results of convergent evolution. Given the natural abundance of bacteria, nematodes and insects, it is surprising that only these two associations with no intermediate forms are widely studied in the entomopathogenic context. Discovering analogous systems involving novel bacterial and nematode species would shed light on the evolutionary processes involved in the transition from free living organisms to obligatory partners in entomopathogenicity.

RESULTS: We report the complete genome sequence of a new member of the enterobacterial genus Serratia that forms a putative entomopathogenic complex with Caenorhabditis briggsae. Analysis of the 5.04 MB chromosomal genome predicts 4599 protein coding genes, seven sets of ribosomal RNA genes, 84 tRNA genes and a 64.8 KB plasmid encoding 74 genes. Comparative genomic analysis with three of the previously sequenced Serratia species, S. marcescens DB11 and S. proteamaculans 568, and Serratia sp. AS12, revealed that these four representatives of the genus share a core set of ~3100 genes and extensive structural conservation. The newly identified species shares a more recent common ancestor with S. marcescens with 99% sequence identity in rDNA sequence and orthology across 85.6% of predicted genes. Of the 39 genes/operons implicated in the virulence, symbiosis, recolonization, immune evasion and bioconversion, 21 (53.8%) were present in Serratia while 33 (84.6%) and 35 (89%) were present in Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus EPN bacteria respectively.

CONCLUSION: The majority of unique sequences in Serratia sp. SCBI (South African Caenorhabditis briggsae Isolate) are found in ~29 genomic islands of 5 to 65 genes and are enriched in putative functions that are biologically relevant to an entomopathogenic lifestyle, including non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, bacteriocins, fimbrial biogenesis, ushering proteins, toxins, secondary metabolite secretion and multiple drug resistance/efflux systems. By revealing the early stages of adaptation to this lifestyle, the Serratia sp. SCBI genome underscores the fact that in EPN formation the composite end result - killing, bioconversion, cadaver protection and recolonization- can be achieved by dissimilar mechanisms. This genome sequence will enable further study of the evolution of entomopathogenic nematode-bacteria complexes.}, } @article {pmid26184928, year = {2015}, author = {Zheng, H and Brune, A}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Endomicrobium proavitum, a Free-Living Relative of the Intracellular Symbionts of Termite Gut Flagellates (Phylum Elusimicrobia).}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {26184928}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We sequenced the complete genome of Endomicrobium proavitum strain Rsa215, the first isolate of the class Endomicrobia (phylum Elusimicrobia). It is the closest free-living relative of the endosymbionts of termite gut flagellates and thereby provides an excellent model for studying the evolutionary processes during the establishment of an intracellular symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26184604, year = {2016}, author = {Pedranzani, H and Rodríguez-Rivera, M and Gutiérrez, M and Porcel, R and Hause, B and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis regulates physiology and performance of Digitaria eriantha plants subjected to abiotic stresses by modulating antioxidant and jasmonate levels.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {141-152}, pmid = {26184604}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Digitaria/*microbiology/physiology ; Droughts ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Salinity ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study evaluates antioxidant responses and jasmonate regulation in Digitaria eriantha cv. Sudafricana plants inoculated (AM) and non-inoculated (non-AM) with Rhizophagus irregularis and subjected to drought, cold, or salinity. Stomatal conductance, photosynthetic efficiency, biomass production, hydrogen peroxide accumulation, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants enzymes activities, and jasmonate levels were determined. Stomatal conductance and photosynthetic efficiency decreased in AM and non-AM plants under all stress conditions. However, AM plants subjected to drought, salinity, or non-stress conditions showed significantly higher stomatal conductance values. AM plants subjected to drought or non-stress conditions increased their shoot/root biomass ratios, whereas salinity and cold caused a decrease in these ratios. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation, which was high in non-AM plant roots under all treatments, increased significantly in non-AM plant shoots under cold stress and in AM plants under non-stress and drought conditions. Lipid peroxidation increased in the roots of all plants under drought conditions. In shoots, although lipid peroxidation decreased in AM plants under non-stress and cold conditions, it increased under drought and salinity. AM plants consistently showed high catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity under all treatments. By contrast, the glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of AM roots was lower than that of non-AM plants and increased in shoots. The endogenous levels of cis-12-oxophytodienoc acid (OPDA), jasmonic acid (JA), and 12-OH-JA showed a significant increase in AM plants as compared to non-AM plants. 11-OH-JA content only increased in AM plants subjected to drought. Results show that D. eriantha is sensitive to drought, salinity, and cold stresses and that inoculation with AM fungi regulates its physiology and performance under such conditions, with antioxidants and jasmonates being involved in this process.}, } @article {pmid26183220, year = {2015}, author = {Gavelis, GS and White, RA and Suttle, CA and Keeling, PJ and Leander, BS}, title = {Single-cell transcriptomics using spliced leader PCR: Evidence for multiple losses of photosynthesis in polykrikoid dinoflagellates.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {528}, pmid = {26183220}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Carotenoids/metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/classification/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Spliced Leader/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most microbial eukaryotes are uncultivated and thus poorly suited to standard genomic techniques. This is the case for Polykrikos lebouriae, a dinoflagellate with ultrastructurally aberrant plastids. It has been suggested that these plastids stem from a novel symbiosis with either a diatom or haptophyte, but this hypothesis has been difficult to test as P. lebouriae dwells in marine sand rife with potential genetic contaminants.

RESULTS: We applied spliced-leader targeted PCR (SLPCR) to obtain dinoflagellate-specific transcriptomes on single-cell isolates of P. lebouriae from marine sediments. Polykrikos lebouriae expressed nuclear-encoded photosynthetic genes that were characteristic of the peridinin-plastids of dinoflagellates, rather than those from a diatom of haptophyte. We confirmed these findings at the genomic level using multiple displacement amplification (MDA) to obtain a partial plastome of P. lebouriae.

CONCLUSION: From these data, we infer that P. lebouriae has retained the peridinin plastids ancestral for dinoflagellates as a whole, while its closest relatives have lost photosynthesis multiple times independently. We discuss these losses with reference to mixotrophy in polykrikoid dinoflagellates. Our findings demonstrate new levels of variation associated with the peridinin plastids of dinoflagellates and the usefulness of SLPCR approaches on single cell isolates. Unlike other transcriptomic methods, SLPCR has taxonomic specificity, and can in principle be adapted to different splice-leader bearing groups.}, } @article {pmid26180832, year = {2015}, author = {Juliano, JJ and Barnett, E and Parobek, CM and Taylor, SM and Meshnick, SR and Stone, S and Chang, E and Fong, S and Huang, L}, title = {Use of Oropharyngeal Washes to Diagnose and Genotype Pneumocystis jirovecii.}, journal = {Open forum infectious diseases}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {ofv080}, pmid = {26180832}, issn = {2328-8957}, support = {K08 AI100924/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 HL098964/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; K24 HL087713/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI089819/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007092/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL090335/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008719/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AI050410/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Pneumocystis jirovecii is a symbiotic respiratory fungus that presents in 2 clinical forms: pneumonia in immunocompromised patients or colonization, defined by the presence of the organism without associated clinical symptoms. Currently, diagnosis requires invasive bronchoscopy, which may not be available in some settings and is inappropriate for detecting colonization in healthy individuals. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques and molecular strain typing tools that can be used on these samples are critical for conducting studies to better understand transmission. We evaluated 2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting dihydropteroate synthase and the major surface glycoprotein for detection in 77 oropharyngeal washes (OPWs) from 43 symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who underwent bronchoscopy. We also evaluated the ability of a new microsatellite (MS) genotyping panel to strain type infections from these samples. Each PCR used individually provided a high sensitivity (>80%) for detection of pneumonia but a modest specificity (<70%). When used in combination, specificity was increased to 100% with a drop in sensitivity (74%). Concentration of organisms by PCR in the OPW tended to be lower in colonized individuals compared with those with pneumonia, but differences in concentration could not clearly define colonization in symptomatic individuals. Oropharyngeal wash samples were genotyped using 6 MSs with ≥4 alleles successfully genotyped in the majority of colonized patients and ≥5 alleles in patients with pneumonia. The MS profile was consistent over time within patients with serial OPWs analyzed. Microsatellite genotyping on noninvasive samples may aid in studying the molecular epidemiology of this pathogen without requiring invasive diagnostic techniques.}, } @article {pmid26180070, year = {2015}, author = {Reichard, M and Douda, K and Przybyłski, M and Popa, OP and Karbanová, E and Matasová, K and Rylková, K and Polačik, M and Blažek, R and Smith, C}, title = {Population-specific responses to an invasive species.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1812}, pages = {20151063}, pmid = {26180070}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anodonta/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Avoidance Learning ; Cyprinidae/*parasitology/*physiology ; Europe ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Introduced Species ; Larva/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; *Oviposition ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {Predicting the impacts of non-native species remains a challenge. As populations of a species are genetically and phenotypically variable, the impact of non-native species on local taxa could crucially depend on population-specific traits and adaptations of both native and non-native species. Bitterling fishes are brood parasites of unionid mussels and unionid mussels produce larvae that parasitize fishes. We used common garden experiments to measure three key elements in the bitterling-mussel association among two populations of an invasive mussel (Anodonta woodiana) and four populations of European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus). The impact of the invasive mussel varied between geographically distinct R. amarus lineages and between local populations within lineages. The capacity of parasitic larvae of the invasive mussel to exploit R. amarus was higher in a Danubian than in a Baltic R. amarus lineage and in allopatric than in sympatric R. amarus populations. Maladaptive oviposition by R. amarus into A. woodiana varied among populations, with significant population-specific consequences for R. amarus recruitment. We suggest that variation in coevolutionary states may predispose different populations to divergent responses. Given that coevolutionary relationships are ubiquitous, population-specific attributes of invasive and native populations may play a critical role in the outcome of invasion. We argue for a shift from a species-centred to population-centred perspective of the impacts of invasions.}, } @article {pmid26179993, year = {2015}, author = {Chandran, D}, title = {Co-option of developmentally regulated plant SWEET transporters for pathogen nutrition and abiotic stress tolerance.}, journal = {IUBMB life}, volume = {67}, number = {7}, pages = {461-471}, doi = {10.1002/iub.1394}, pmid = {26179993}, issn = {1521-6551}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbohydrates/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Development ; *Plant Diseases ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Pollen/growth & development/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Plant sugar will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) sugar transporters have been implicated in various developmental processes where sugar efflux is essential, including sucrose loading of phloem for long-distance sugar transport, nectar secretion, embryo and pollen nutrition, and maintenance of sugar homeostasis in plant organs. Notably, these transporters are selectively targeted by pathogens to gain access to host sugars. In most cases, when SWEET function is blocked, the growth and virulence of the pathogen is also reduced. There is growing evidence to suggest that the lifestyle of the pathogen may dictate which SWEET or set of SWEET genes are recruited for pathogen growth and proliferation. Furthermore, SWEET transporters may also play a role in abiotic stress tolerance by enabling plant growth under unfavorable environmental conditions. This review provides an overview of the diverse functions of SWEET proteins in plant development, pathogen nutrition, and abiotic stress tolerance. In addition, utility of the model legume Medicago truncatula as a tool to elucidate SWEET function in diverse host-microbe interactions is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26177420, year = {2016}, author = {Clavero, M and Nores, C and Kubersky-Piredda, S and Centeno-Cuadros, A}, title = {Interdisciplinarity to reconstruct historical introductions: solving the status of cryptogenic crayfish.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {91}, number = {4}, pages = {1036-1049}, doi = {10.1111/brv.12205}, pmid = {26177420}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; Astacoidea/*classification ; Classification ; Europe ; Interdisciplinary Studies ; *Introduced Species ; Phylogeography ; }, abstract = {Anciently introduced species can be confounded with native species because introduction pre-dates the first species inventories or because of the loss of the collective memory of the introductions. The term 'cryptogenic species' denotes species of unknown or unclear status (native versus non-native) in a given territory, and disciplinary approaches are often insufficient for solving their true status. Here, we follow an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to solve the status of a cryptogenic species, proposing that building on evidence from multiple disciplines can produce robust and clarifying insights. We undertook an exhaustive review of information on a putatively native crayfish (Austropotamobius italicus) in Spain. The reviewed information included taxonomy, genetics and phylogeography, history, archaeology, linguistics, biogeography, ecology, symbiotic organisms and even gastronomy and pharmacy. The knowledge produced by different scientific disciplines converges to indicate that A. italicus is a non-native species in Spain. Historical documents even identify the first introduction event: crayfish were shipped from Italy to Spain in 1588 as a diplomatic gift from Francesco I de' Medici to King Philip II of Spain. Previous discussions on the status of A. italicus focussed on inconclusive and often confusing genetic results and excluded the rich and clarifying evidence available from other approaches and disciplines. Interdisciplinarity is an often-invoked but rarely implemented practice in an academic environment that increasingly promotes narrow-focussed specialization. Our review shows that the integration of disciplines can surpass disciplinary approaches in solving scientific controversies. Our results have straightforward implications for strategies to conserve biological diversity in Spain and Europe, urging a debate on the appropriateness of devoting conservation efforts to non-native species.}, } @article {pmid26176959, year = {2015}, author = {Tan, SY and Jiang, QY and Zhuo, F and Liu, H and Wang, YT and Li, SS and Ye, ZH and Jing, YX}, title = {Effect of Inoculation with Glomus versiforme on Cadmium Accumulation, Antioxidant Activities and Phytochelatins of Solanum photeinocarpum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0132347}, pmid = {26176959}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Cadmium/chemistry/*metabolism/toxicity ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Phytochelatins/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/enzymology/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/chemistry/metabolism/toxicity ; Solanum/enzymology/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The plant growth, phosphate acquisition, Cd translocation, phytochelatins (PCs) production and antioxidant parameters [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione (GSH), ascorbate (ASA) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] were investigated in Cd-hyperaccumulator Solanum photeinocarpum inoculated with Glomus versiforme BGC GD01C (Gv) in Cd-added soils (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 mg Cd kg-1 soil). Mycorrhizal colonization rates were generally high (from 77% to 94%), and hardly affected by Cd. Gv colonization significantly enhanced P acquisition, growth and total Cd uptakes in both shoots and roots of S. photeinocarpum at all Cd levels. Meanwhile, Gv symbiosis significantly increased Cd concentration in the roots, and decreased Cd concentration in the shoots at all Cd levels, which indicates that Gv could promote phytostabilization by enhancing Cd accumulation in the roots to inhibit its translocation to shoots and the "dilution effects" linked to an increase in plant dry matter yield and a reduced Cd partitioning to shoots. Moreover, the improvement of CAT, POD and APX activities in the leaves of mycorrhizal plants infers that Gv symbiosis helped S. photeinocarpum to relieve oxidative damage to biomolecules in Cd-contaminated soil. The evident decline of MDA content in the leaves of mycorrhizal plants indicates that Gv symbiosis evidently improved antioxidant activities, and the enhancement of PCs production in the leaves of mycorrhizal plants suggests that Gv-inoculated plant may be more efficient to relieve Cd phytotoxicity. Therefore, the possible mechanisms of Cd phytotoxicity alleviation by Gv can be concluded as the decline of Cd concentration in the shoots and the improvement of P acquisition, PCs production and activities of CAT, POD, APX in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid26176899, year = {2015}, author = {Liu, CW and Breakspear, A and Roy, S and Murray, JD}, title = {Cytokinin responses counterpoint auxin signaling during rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e1019982}, pmid = {26176899}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The transcriptomics approach to study gene expression in root hairs from M. truncatula has shed light on the developmental events during rhizobial infection and the underlying hormone responses. This approach revealed the induction of several cyclins and an aurora kinase which suggests that the cell-division machinery plays a role in rhizobial infection. Changes in the cell cycle in plants are governed by hormones, in particular auxin and cytokinin. Through gene expression and genetic analyses, we have shown auxin plays a role during rhizobial infection. Here we provide further analysis of the data showing the induction of a set of cytokinin signaling components. These include genes encoding 2 cytokinin-activating enzymes, the cytokinin receptor CRE1, and 5 type-A cytokinin response regulators. We discuss the possible interactions between auxin and cytokinin signaling during the infection process. We also consider a potential role for cytokinin signaling in rhizobial attachment.}, } @article {pmid26176189, year = {2015}, author = {Nielsen, DA and Pernice, M and Schliep, M and Sablok, G and Jeffries, TC and Kühl, M and Wangpraseurt, D and Ralph, PJ and Larkum, AW}, title = {Microenvironment and phylogenetic diversity of Prochloron inhabiting the surface of crustose didemnid ascidians.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {4121-4132}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12983}, pmid = {26176189}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofilms ; Cellular Microenvironment/*physiology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Light ; Photosynthesis/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Prochloron/*classification/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The cyanobacterium Prochloron didemni is primarily found in symbiotic relationships with various marine hosts such as ascidians and sponges. Prochloron remains to be successfully cultivated outside of its host, which reflects a lack of knowledge of its unique ecophysiological requirements. We investigated the microenvironment and diversity of Prochloron inhabiting the upper, exposed surface of didemnid ascidians, providing the first insights into this microhabitat. The pH and O2 concentration in this Prochloron biofilm changes dynamically with irradiance, where photosynthetic activity measurements showed low light adaptation (Ek ∼ 80 ± 7 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1)) but high light tolerance. Surface Prochloron cells exhibited a different fine structure to Prochloron cells from cloacal cavities in other ascidians, the principle difference being a central area of many vacuoles dissected by single thylakoids in the surface Prochloron. Cyanobacterial 16S rDNA pyro-sequencing of the biofilm community on four ascidians resulted in 433 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) where on average -85% (65-99%) of all sequence reads, represented by 136 OTUs, were identified as Prochloron via blast search. All of the major Prochloron-OTUs clustered into independent, highly supported phylotypes separate from sequences reported for internal Prochloron, suggesting a hitherto unexplored genetic variability among Prochloron colonizing the outer surface of didemnids.}, } @article {pmid26175746, year = {2015}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Mari, A and Novero, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {Early Lotus japonicus root transcriptomic responses to symbiotic and pathogenic fungal exudates.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {480}, pmid = {26175746}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The objective of this study is to evaluate Lotus japonicus transcriptomic responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) germinated spore exudates (GSEs), responsible for activating nuclear Ca(2+) spiking in plant root epidermis. A microarray experiment was performed comparing gene expression in Lotus rootlets treated with GSE or water after 24 and 48 h. The transcriptional pattern of selected genes that resulted to be regulated in the array was further evaluated upon different treatments and timings. In particular, Lotus rootlets were treated with: GSE from the pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum trifolii; short chitin oligomers (COs; acknowledged AM fungal signals) and long COs (as activators of pathogenic responses). This experimental set up has revealed that AM GSE generates a strong transcriptomic response in Lotus roots with an extensive defense-related response after 24 h and a subsequent down-regulation after 48 h. A similar subset of defense-related genes resulted to be up-regulated also upon treatment with C. trifolii GSE, although with an opposite trend. Surprisingly, long COs activated both defense-like and symbiosis-related genes. Among the genes regulated in the microarray, promoter-GUS assay showed that LjMATE1 activates in epidermal cells and root hairs.}, } @article {pmid26175514, year = {2015}, author = {Larrainzar, E and Riely, BK and Kim, SC and Carrasquilla-Garcia, N and Yu, HJ and Hwang, HJ and Oh, M and Kim, GB and Surendrarao, AK and Chasman, D and Siahpirani, AF and Penmetsa, RV and Lee, GS and Kim, N and Roy, S and Mun, JH and Cook, DR}, title = {Deep Sequencing of the Medicago truncatula Root Transcriptome Reveals a Massive and Early Interaction between Nodulation Factor and Ethylene Signals.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {1}, pages = {233-265}, pmid = {26175514}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/drug effects/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Ethylenes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Feedback, Physiological ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Ontology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Transcriptome/drug effects/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis is initiated through the activation of the Nodulation (Nod) factor-signaling cascade, leading to a rapid reprogramming of host cell developmental pathways. In this work, we combine transcriptome sequencing with molecular genetics and network analysis to quantify and categorize the transcriptional changes occurring in roots of Medicago truncatula from minutes to days after inoculation with Sinorhizobium medicae. To identify the nature of the inductive and regulatory cues, we employed mutants with absent or decreased Nod factor sensitivities (i.e. Nodulation factor perception and Lysine motif domain-containing receptor-like kinase3, respectively) and an ethylene (ET)-insensitive, Nod factor-hypersensitive mutant (sickle). This unique data set encompasses nine time points, allowing observation of the symbiotic regulation of diverse biological processes with high temporal resolution. Among the many outputs of the study is the early Nod factor-induced, ET-regulated expression of ET signaling and biosynthesis genes. Coupled with the observation of massive transcriptional derepression in the ET-insensitive background, these results suggest that Nod factor signaling activates ET production to attenuate its own signal. Promoter:β-glucuronidase fusions report ET biosynthesis both in root hairs responding to rhizobium as well as in meristematic tissue during nodule organogenesis and growth, indicating that ET signaling functions at multiple developmental stages during symbiosis. In addition, we identified thousands of novel candidate genes undergoing Nod factor-dependent, ET-regulated expression. We leveraged the power of this large data set to model Nod factor- and ET-regulated signaling networks using MERLIN, a regulatory network inference algorithm. These analyses predict key nodes regulating the biological process impacted by Nod factor perception. We have made these results available to the research community through a searchable online resource.}, } @article {pmid26175488, year = {2015}, author = {Goulet, O}, title = {Potential role of the intestinal microbiota in programming health and disease.}, journal = {Nutrition reviews}, volume = {73 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {32-40}, doi = {10.1093/nutrit/nuv039}, pmid = {26175488}, issn = {1753-4887}, mesh = {Cultured Milk Products ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*prevention & control ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The composition of the microbiota varies according to prenatal events, delivery methods, infant feeding, infant care environment, and antibiotic use. Postnatal gut function and immune development are largely influenced by the intestinal microbiota. Emerging evidence has shown that early microbiota colonization may influence the occurrence of later diseases (microbial programming). The vast majority of microbial species (commensals) give rise to symbiotic host-bacterial interactions that are fundamental for human health. However, changes in the composition of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) may be associated with several clinical conditions, including obesity and metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases and allergy, acute and chronic intestinal inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), allergic gastroenteritis (e.g., eosinophilic gastroenteritis and allergic IBS), and necrotizing enterocolitis. Based on recent advances, modulation of gut microbiota with probiotics, prebiotics, or fermented dairy products has been suggested as a treatment of, or prevention for, different disorders such as IBS, infectious diarrhea, allergic disease, and necrotizing enterocolitis.}, } @article {pmid26173698, year = {2015}, author = {Pan, M and Schwartzman, JA and Dunn, AK and Lu, Z and Ruby, EG}, title = {A Single Host-Derived Glycan Impacts Key Regulatory Nodes of Symbiont Metabolism in a Coevolved Mutualism.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e00811}, pmid = {26173698}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetates/metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Chitin/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Fermentation ; Luminescence ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Most animal-microbe mutualistic associations are characterized by nutrient exchange between the partners. When the host provides the nutrients, it can gain the capacity to shape its microbial community, control the stability of the interaction, and promote its health and fitness. Using the bioluminescent squid-vibrio model, we demonstrate how a single host-derived glycan, chitin, regulates the metabolism of Vibrio fischeri at key points in the development and maintenance of the symbiosis. We first characterized the pathways for catabolism of chitin sugars by V. fischeri, demonstrating that the Ccr-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate-pyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) prioritizes transport of these sugars in V. fischeri by blocking the uptake of non-PTS carbohydrates, such as glycerol. Next, we found that PTS transport of chitin sugars into the bacterium shifted acetate homeostasis toward a net excretion of acetate and was sufficient to override an activation of the acetate switch by AinS-dependent quorum sensing. Finally, we showed that catabolism of chitin sugars decreases the rate of cell-specific oxygen consumption. Collectively, these three metabolic functions define a physiological shift that favors fermentative growth on chitin sugars and may support optimal symbiont luminescence, the functional basis of the squid-vibrio mutualism.

IMPORTANCE: Host-derived glycans have recently emerged as a link between symbiont nutrition and innate immune function. Unfortunately, the locations at which microbes typically access host-derived glycans are inaccessible to experimentation and imaging, and they take place in the context of diverse microbe-microbe interactions, creating a complex symbiotic ecology. Here we describe the metabolic state of a single microbial symbiont in a natural association with its coevolved host and, by doing so, infer key points at which a host-controlled tissue environment might regulate the physiological state of its symbionts. We show that the presence of a regulatory glycan is sufficient to shift symbiont carbohydrate catabolism, acetate homeostasis, and oxygen consumption.}, } @article {pmid26172211, year = {2016}, author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Strupat, K and Svatoš, A}, title = {Linking metabolite production to taxonomic identity in environmental samples by (MA)LDI-FISH.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {527-531}, pmid = {26172211}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/*methods ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Streptomyces/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {One of the greatest challenges in microbial ecology remains to link the metabolic activity of individual cells to their taxonomic identity and localization within environmental samples. Here we combined mass-spectrometric imaging (MSI) through (matrix-assisted) laser desorption ionization time-of-flight MSI ([MA]LDI-TOF/MSI) with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to monitor antibiotic production in the defensive symbiosis between beewolf wasps and 'Streptomyces philanthi' bacteria. Our results reveal similar distributions of the different symbiont-produced antibiotics across the surface of beewolf cocoons, which colocalize with the producing cell populations. Whereas FISH achieves single-cell resolution, MSI is currently limited to a step size of 20-50 μm in the combined approach because of the destructive effects of high laser intensities that are associated with tighter laser beam focus at higher lateral resolution. However, on the basis of the applicability of (MA)LDI-MSI to a broad range of small molecules, its combination with FISH provides a powerful tool for studying microbial interactions in situ, and further modifications of this technique could allow for linking metabolic profiling to gene expression.}, } @article {pmid26172208, year = {2016}, author = {van der Heijden, MG and de Bruin, S and Luckerhoff, L and van Logtestijn, RS and Schlaeppi, K}, title = {A widespread plant-fungal-bacterial symbiosis promotes plant biodiversity, plant nutrition and seedling recruitment.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {389-399}, pmid = {26172208}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Fungi/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Highly diverse microbial assemblages colonize plant roots. It is still poorly understood whether different members of this root microbiome act synergistically by supplying different services (for example, different limiting nutrients) to plants and plant communities. In order to test this, we manipulated the presence of two widespread plant root symbionts, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria in model grassland communities established in axenic microcosms. Here, we demonstrate that both symbionts complement each other resulting in increased plant diversity, enhanced seedling recruitment and improved nutrient acquisition compared with a single symbiont situation. Legume seedlings obtained up to 15-fold higher productivity if they formed an association with both symbionts, opposed to productivity they reached with only one symbiont. Our results reveal the importance of functional diversity of symbionts and demonstrate that different members of the root microbiome can complement each other in acquiring different limiting nutrients and in driving important ecosystem functions.}, } @article {pmid26171947, year = {2015}, author = {Doré, J and Perraud, M and Dieryckx, C and Kohler, A and Morin, E and Henrissat, B and Lindquist, E and Zimmermann, SD and Girard, V and Kuo, A and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Marmeisse, R and Gay, G}, title = {Comparative genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics give new insight into the exoproteome of the basidiomycete Hebeloma cylindrosporum and its involvement in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {4}, pages = {1169-1187}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13546}, pmid = {26171947}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Genes, Fungal ; Genomics ; Hebeloma/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Extracellular proteins play crucial roles in the interaction between mycorrhizal fungi and their environment. Computational prediction and experimental detection allowed identification of 869 proteins constituting the exoproteome of Hebeloma cylindrosporum. Small secreted proteins (SSPs) and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were the two major classes of extracellular proteins. Twenty-eight per cent of the SSPs were secreted by free-living mycelia and five of the 10 most abundant extracellular proteins were SSPs. By contrast, 63-75% of enzymes involved in nutrient acquisition were secreted. A total of 150 extracellular protein-coding genes were differentially expressed between mycorrhizas and free-living mycelia. SSPs were the most affected. External environmental conditions also affected expression of 199 exoproteome genes in mycorrhizas. SSPs displayed different patterns of regulation in response to presence of a host plant or other environmental signals. Several of the genes most overexpressed in the presence of organic matter encoded oxidoreductases. Hebeloma cylindrosporum has not fully lost its ancestral saprotrophic capacities but rather adapted them not to harm its hosts and to use soil organic nitrogen. The complex and divergent patterns of regulation of SSPs in response to a symbiotic partner and/or organic matter suggest various roles in the biology of mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid26170413, year = {2015}, author = {Kato, J and Lefebre, M and Galán, JE}, title = {Structural Features Reminiscent of ATP-Driven Protein Translocases Are Essential for the Function of a Type III Secretion-Associated ATPase.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {18}, pages = {3007-3014}, pmid = {26170413}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphatases/*classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/physiology ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Salmonella typhimurium/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Many bacterial pathogens and symbionts utilize type III secretion systems to interact with their hosts. These machines have evolved to deliver bacterial effector proteins into eukaryotic target cells to modulate a variety of cellular functions. One of the most conserved components of these systems is an ATPase, which plays an essential role in the recognition and unfolding of proteins destined for secretion by the type III pathway. Here we show that structural features reminiscent of other ATP-driven protein translocases are essential for the function of InvC, the ATPase associated with a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium type III secretion system. Mutational and functional analyses showed that a two-helix-finger motif and a conserved loop located at the entrance of and within the predicted pore formed by the hexameric ATPase are essential for InvC function. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the function of this highly conserved component of type III secretion machines.

IMPORTANCE: Type III secretion machines are essential for the virulence or symbiotic relationships of many bacteria. These machines have evolved to deliver bacterial effector proteins into host cells to modulate cellular functions, thus facilitating bacterial colonization and replication. An essential component of these machines is a highly conserved ATPase, which is necessary for the recognition and secretion of proteins destined to be delivered by the type III secretion pathway. Using modeling and structure and function analyses, we have identified structural features of one of these ATPases from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium that help to explain important aspects of its function.}, } @article {pmid26170407, year = {2015}, author = {Hussa, EA and Casanova-Torres, ÁM and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {The Global Transcription Factor Lrp Controls Virulence Modulation in Xenorhabdus nematophila.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {18}, pages = {3015-3025}, pmid = {26170407}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {P20 GM103476/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1F32AI084441-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM07215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AI084441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila engages in phenotypic variation with respect to pathogenicity against insect larvae, yielding both virulent and attenuated subpopulations of cells from an isogenic culture. The global regulatory protein Lrp is necessary for X. nematophila virulence and immunosuppression in insects, as well as colonization of the mutualistic host nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, and mediates expression of numerous genes implicated in each of these phenotypes. Given the central role of Lrp in X. nematophila host associations, as well as its involvement in regulating phenotypic variation pathways in other bacteria, we assessed its function in virulence modulation. We discovered that expression of lrp varies within an isogenic population, in a manner that correlates with modulation of virulence. Unexpectedly, although Lrp is necessary for optimal virulence and immunosuppression, cells expressing high levels of lrp were attenuated in these processes relative to those with low to intermediate lrp expression. Furthermore, fixed expression of lrp at high and low levels resulted in attenuated and normal virulence and immunosuppression, respectively, and eliminated population variability of these phenotypes. These data suggest that fluctuating lrp expression levels are sufficient to drive phenotypic variation in X. nematophila.

IMPORTANCE: Many bacteria use cell-to-cell phenotypic variation, characterized by distinct phenotypic subpopulations within an isogenic population, to cope with environmental change. Pathogenic bacteria utilize this strategy to vary antigen or virulence factor expression. Our work establishes that the global transcription factor Lrp regulates phenotypic variation in the insect pathogen Xenorhabdus nematophila, leading to attenuation of virulence and immunosuppression in insect hosts. Unexpectedly, we found an inverse correlation between Lrp expression levels and virulence: high levels of expression of Lrp-dependent putative virulence genes are detrimental for virulence but may have an adaptive advantage in other aspects of the life cycle. Investigation of X. nematophila phenotypic variation facilitates dissection of this phenomenon in the context of a naturally occurring symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26170303, year = {2015}, author = {Matsuura, Y and Kikuchi, Y and Miura, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Ultrabithorax is essential for bacteriocyte development.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {30}, pages = {9376-9381}, pmid = {26170303}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Drosophila Proteins/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Hemiptera/microbiology/*physiology ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism/*physiology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Insect Proteins/*physiology ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; RNA Interference ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis often entails the emergence of novel adaptive traits in organisms. Microbial symbionts are indispensable for diverse insects via provisioning of essential nutrients, wherein novel host cells and organs for harboring the microbes, called bacteriocytes and bacteriomes, have evolved repeatedly. Molecular and developmental mechanisms underpinning the emergence of novel symbiotic cells and organs comprise an unsolved question in evolutionary developmental biology. Here, we report that a conserved homeotic gene, Ultrabithorax, plays a pivotal role in the bacteriocyte differentiation in a hemipteran insect Nysius plebeius. During embryonic development, six pairs of aggregated presumptive bacteriocytes appear on both sides of six abdominal segments, incorporate the symbiotic bacteria at the stage of germband retraction, and fuse into a pair of lateral bacteriomes at the stage of germband flip, where bacteriocyte-associated Ultrabithorax expression coincides with the symbiont infection process. Suppression of Ultrabithorax expression by maternal RNA interference results in disappearance of the bacteriocytes and the symbiont localization therein, suggesting that Ultrabithorax is involved in differentiation of the host cells for symbiosis. Suppression of other homeotic genes abdominal-A and Antennapedia disturbs integrity and positioning of the bacteriomes, affecting the configuration of the host organs for symbiosis. Our findings unveil the molecular and developmental mechanisms underlying the bacteriocyte differentiation, which may have evolved either via cooption of the transcription factors for inducing the novel symbiotic cells, or via revival of the developmental pathway for the bacteriocytes that had existed in the ancestral hemipterans.}, } @article {pmid26164930, year = {2015}, author = {Guo, JY and Guo, W and Bi, N and Fu, RY and Zhao, WJ and Zhao, RX and Wang, LX}, title = {[Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth of Reeds in Wetland Soils with Different Salt Content].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {1481-1488}, pmid = {26164930}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots ; Poaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Salinity ; Salts ; Sodium Chloride ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Claroideoglomus etunicatum (CE), Rhizophagus intraradices (RI), Funneliformis mosseae (FM) and Glomus versiforme (GV) on AM colonization rate, biomass, mineral nutrient uptake, C: N: P ratios and Na and Cl- concentrations of reeds (Phragmites australis) grown in saline and non-saline wetland soils. The aim was to provide a technical basis for the ecological revegetation and salinity restoration of wetland ecosystem. The results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between the four isolates and reeds grown in the two types of wetland soils. The average AM colonization rates ranged from 2.5% to 38%. The mean root colonization rate of CE was significantly higher than those of the other three isolates. There were no significant differences in root colonization rates between saline and non-saline wetland soils. The biomass and nutrient contents of reeds grown in non-saline wetland soils were significantly higher than those grown in saline wetland soils. However, Na+ and Cl- concentrations of reeds grown in non-saline wetland soils were significantly lower than those grown in saline wetland soils. In non-saline wetland soils, inoculation with GV significantly increased the shoot dry weight and the shoot N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents of reeds. Inoculation with GV and RI significantly improved the root P and K contents of reeds. Inoculation with the four AM fungi significantly reduced the shoot N: P ratios. Inoculation with FM and GV significantly reduced the root C : N and C : P ratios. Inoculation with the four AM fungi significantly reduced the shoot Cl- concentrations. Inoculation with RI significantly reduced the shoot Na+ concentrations. In saline wetland soils, inoculation with AM fungi had no significant effect on the biomass, mineral nutrient uptake and Na+ and Cl- concentrations of reeds. The results demonstrated that the four AM fungi isolates had different effects on the growth of reeds in wetland soils with different salt contents. Inoculation with AM fungi played a more positive role in improving the growth of reeds in non-saline wetland soil than those in saline wetland soil. Further experiments should be conducted to screen optimal AM fungi isolates under field conditions and to evaluate the practical effects of AM fungi on the growth of reeds in wetland soils with different salt contents.}, } @article {pmid26164333, year = {2015}, author = {Zhokhov, AE and Mikheev, VN}, title = {Symbiotic relationships of coral fish influence their infection by macroparasites.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {462}, number = {}, pages = {134-137}, pmid = {26164333}, issn = {1608-3105}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/physiology ; Disease Resistance/physiology ; Fish Diseases/*parasitology/*physiopathology ; Fishes ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/*parasitology/*physiopathology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid26164198, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, JK and Lee, JB and Huh, YR and Jang, HA and Kim, CH and Yoo, JW and Lee, BL}, title = {Burkholderia gut symbionts enhance the innate immunity of host Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {265-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2015.07.006}, pmid = {26164198}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*immunology ; Escherichia coli K12/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/microbiology ; Hemolymph/immunology ; Heteroptera/*immunology/*microbiology ; Immunity, Cellular/immunology ; Immunity, Humoral/genetics/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Phagocytosis/immunology ; Staphylococcus aureus/immunology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The relation between gut symbiosis and immunity has been reported in various animal model studies. Here, we corroborate the effect of gut symbiont to host immunity using the bean bug model. The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is a useful gut symbiosis model due to the monospecific gut symbiont, genus Burkholderia. To examine the effect of gut symbiosis to host immunity, we generated the gut symbiont-harboring (symbiotic) insect line and the gut symbiont-lacking (aposymbiotic) insect line. Upon bacterial challenges, the symbiotic Riptortus exhibited better survival than aposymbiotic Riptortus. When cellular immunity was inhibited, the symbiotic Riptortus still survived better than aposymbioic Riptortus, suggesting stronger humoral immunity. The molecular basis of the strong humoral immunity was further confirmed by the increase of hemolymph antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial peptide expression in the symbiotic insects. Taken together, our data clearly demonstrate that Burkhoderia gut symbiont positively affect the Riptortus systemic immunity.}, } @article {pmid26162887, year = {2015}, author = {Sapountzis, P and Gruntjes, T and Otani, S and Estevez, J and da Costa, RR and Plunkett, G and Perna, NT and Poulsen, M}, title = {The Enterobacterium Trabulsiella odontotermitis Presents Novel Adaptations Related to Its Association with Fungus-Growing Termites.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {19}, pages = {6577-6588}, pmid = {26162887}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome, Fungal ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/classification/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites rely on symbiotic microorganisms to help break down plant material and to obtain nutrients. Their fungal cultivar, Termitomyces, is the main plant degrader and food source for the termites, while gut bacteria complement Termitomyces in the degradation of foodstuffs, fixation of nitrogen, and metabolism of amino acids and sugars. Due to the community complexity and because these typically anaerobic bacteria can rarely be cultured, little is known about the physiological capabilities of individual bacterial members of the gut communities and their associations with the termite host. The bacterium Trabulsiella odontotermitis is associated with fungus-growing termites, but this genus is generally understudied, with only two described species. Taking diverse approaches, we obtained a solid phylogenetic placement of T. odontotermitis among the Enterobacteriaceae, investigated the physiology and enzymatic profiles of T. odontotermitis isolates, determined the localization of the bacterium in the termite gut, compared draft genomes of two T. odontotermitis isolates to those of their close relatives, and examined the expression of genes relevant to host colonization and putative symbiont functions. Our findings support the hypothesis that T. odontotermitis is a facultative symbiont mainly located in the paunch compartment of the gut, with possible roles in carbohydrate metabolism and aflatoxin degradation, while displaying adaptations to association with the termite host, such as expressing genes for a type VI secretion system which has been demonstrated to assist bacterial competition, colonization, and survival within hosts.}, } @article {pmid26162375, year = {2015}, author = {Castillo, JC and Creasy, T and Kumari, P and Shetty, A and Shokal, U and Tallon, LJ and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {Drosophila anti-nematode and antibacterial immune regulators revealed by RNA-Seq.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {519}, pmid = {26162375}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/immunology ; Bacterial Infections/*genetics/*immunology ; Computational Biology ; Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics/*immunology ; Nematode Infections/*genetics/*immunology ; Photorhabdus/*immunology ; RNA/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Transcription, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Drosophila melanogaster activates a variety of immune responses against microbial infections. However, information on the Drosophila immune response to entomopathogenic nematode infections is currently limited. The nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is an insect parasite that forms a mutualistic relationship with the gram-negative bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens. Following infection, the nematodes release the bacteria that quickly multiply within the insect and produce several toxins that eventually kill the host. Although we currently know that the insect immune system interacts with Photorhabdus, information on interaction with the nematode vector is scarce.

RESULTS: Here we have used next generation RNA-sequencing to analyze the transcriptional profile of wild-type adult flies infected by axenic Heterorhabditis nematodes (lacking Photorhabdus bacteria), symbiotic Heterorhabditis nematodes (carrying Photorhabdus bacteria), and Photorhabdus bacteria alone. We have obtained approximately 54 million reads from the different infection treatments. Bioinformatic analysis shows that infection with Photorhabdus alters the transcription of a large number of Drosophila genes involved in translational repression as well in response to stress. However, Heterorhabditis infection alters the transcription of several genes that participate in lipidhomeostasis and metabolism, stress responses, DNA/protein synthesis and neuronal functions. We have also identified genes in the fly with potential roles in nematode recognition, anti-nematode activity and nociception.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide fundamental information on the molecular events that take place in Drosophila upon infection with the two pathogens, either separately or together. Such large-scale transcriptomic analyses set the stage for future functional studies aimed at identifying the exact role of key factors in the Drosophila immune response against nematode-bacteria complexes.}, } @article {pmid26161635, year = {2016}, author = {Okazaki, S and Tittabutr, P and Teulet, A and Thouin, J and Fardoux, J and Chaintreuil, C and Gully, D and Arrighi, JF and Furuta, N and Miwa, H and Yasuda, M and Nouwen, N and Teaumroong, N and Giraud, E}, title = {Rhizobium-legume symbiosis in the absence of Nod factors: two possible scenarios with or without the T3SS.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {64-74}, pmid = {26161635}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The occurrence of alternative Nod factor (NF)-independent symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia was first demonstrated in some Aeschynomene species that are nodulated by photosynthetic bradyrhizobia lacking the canonical nodABC genes. In this study, we revealed that a large diversity of non-photosynthetic bradyrhizobia, including B. elkanii, was also able to induce nodules on the NF-independent Aeschynomene species, A. indica. Using cytological analysis of the nodules and the nitrogenase enzyme activity as markers, a gradient in the symbiotic interaction between bradyrhizobial strains and A. indica could be distinguished. This ranged from strains that induced nodules that were only infected intercellularly to rhizobial strains that formed nodules in which the host cells were invaded intracellularly and that displayed a weak nitrogenase activity. In all non-photosynthetic bradyrhizobia, the type III secretion system (T3SS) appears required to trigger nodule organogenesis. In contrast, genome sequence analysis revealed that apart from a few exceptions, like the Bradyrhizobium ORS285 strain, photosynthetic bradyrhizobia strains lack a T3SS. Furthermore, analysis of the symbiotic properties of an ORS285 T3SS mutant revealed that the T3SS could have a positive or negative role for the interaction with NF-dependent Aeschynomene species, but that it is dispensable for the interaction with all NF-independent Aeschynomene species tested. Taken together, these data indicate that two NF-independent symbiotic processes are possible between legumes and rhizobia: one dependent on a T3SS and one using a so far unknown mechanism.}, } @article {pmid26161080, year = {2015}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Latorre, A and Moya, A and Gil, R}, title = {The link between independent acquisition of intracellular gamma-endosymbionts and concerted evolution in Tremblaya princeps.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {642}, pmid = {26161080}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Many insect species establish mutualistic symbiosis with intracellular bacteria that complement their unbalanced diets. The betaproteobacterium "Candidatus Tremblaya" maintains an ancient symbiosis with mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), which are classified in subfamilies Phenacoccinae and Pseudococcinae. Most Phenacoccinae mealybugs have "Candidatus Tremblaya phenacola" as their unique endosymbiont, while most Pseudococcinae mealybugs show a nested symbiosis (a bacterial symbiont placed inside another one) where every "Candidatus Tremblaya princeps" cell harbors several cells of a gammaproteobacterium. Genomic characterization of the endosymbiotic consortium from Planococcus citri, composed by "Ca. Tremblaya princeps" and "Candidatus Moranella endobia," unveiled several atypical features of the former's genome, including the concerted evolution of paralogous loci. Its comparison with the genome of "Ca. Tremblaya phenacola" PAVE, single endosymbiont of Phenacoccus avenae, suggests that the atypical reductive evolution of "Ca. Tremblaya princeps" could be linked to the acquisition of "Ca. Moranella endobia," which possess an almost complete set of genes encoding proteins involved in homologous recombination. In order to test this hypothesis, we performed comparative genomics between "Ca. Tremblaya phenacola" and "Ca. Tremblaya princeps" and searched for the co-occurrence of concerted evolution and homologous recombination genes in endosymbiotic consortia from four unexplored mealybug species, Dysmicoccus boninsis, Planococcus ficus, Pseudococcus longispinus, and Pseudococcus viburni. Our results support a link between concerted evolution and nested endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26160380, year = {2015}, author = {Ohnmacht, C and Park, JH and Cording, S and Wing, JB and Atarashi, K and Obata, Y and Gaboriau-Routhiau, V and Marques, R and Dulauroy, S and Fedoseeva, M and Busslinger, M and Cerf-Bensussan, N and Boneca, IG and Voehringer, D and Hase, K and Honda, K and Sakaguchi, S and Eberl, G}, title = {MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY. The microbiota regulates type 2 immunity through RORγt[+] T cells.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {349}, number = {6251}, pages = {989-993}, doi = {10.1126/science.aac4263}, pmid = {26160380}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology ; Colon/immunology/microbiology ; Germ-Free Life ; Homeostasis ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/*microbiology ; Intestine, Small/immunology/microbiology ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Mice ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Models, Immunological ; Nematospiroides dubius ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/*metabolism ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Strongylida Infections/immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/metabolism ; Th17 Cells/immunology ; Th2 Cells/immunology ; Vitamin A/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Changes to the symbiotic microbiota early in life, or the absence of it, can lead to exacerbated type 2 immunity and allergic inflammations. Although it is unclear how the microbiota regulates type 2 immunity, it is a strong inducer of proinflammatory T helper 17 (T(H)17) cells and regulatory T cells (T(regs)) in the intestine. Here, we report that microbiota-induced T(regs) express the nuclear hormone receptor RORγt and differentiate along a pathway that also leads to T(H)17 cells. In the absence of RORγt(+) T(regs), T(H)2-driven defense against helminths is more efficient, whereas T(H)2-associated pathology is exacerbated. Thus, the microbiota regulates type 2 responses through the induction of type 3 RORγt(+) T(regs) and T(H)17 cells and acts as a key factor in balancing immune responses at mucosal surfaces.}, } @article {pmid26159623, year = {2015}, author = {Parker, MA}, title = {A single sym plasmid type predominates across diverse chromosomal lineages of Cupriavidus nodule symbionts.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {417-423}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2015.06.003}, pmid = {26159623}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Caribbean Region ; Cluster Analysis ; Cupriavidus/*classification/*genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Essential ; *Genetic Variation ; Mimosa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; Plasmids/*analysis/*classification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; }, abstract = {Cupriavidus nodule symbionts from Mimosa host legumes indigenous to five locations around the Caribbean region were analyzed by sequencing portions of five chromosomal housekeeping loci and five sym plasmid loci in 80 isolates. Nodule symbionts did not form a single clade separated from non-symbiotic reference strains of Cupriavidus and Ralstonia, implying that either convergent losses or independent gains of the trait of legume symbiosis have taken place. Chromosomal genes exhibited significantly higher nucleotide polymorphism and haplotype diversity than sym plasmid loci. A single derived sym plasmid haplotype (A1) was found to predominate in four of the populations, and was shared by multiple housekeeping gene clades. This suggests that one sym plasmid variant has recently spread geographically and has been acquired by diverse chromosomal lineages within the region. Inoculation of two Mimosa host species indicated that strains carrying the predominant A1 haplotype ranked either first or second among the five major sym plasmid haplotype groups with respect to plant growth enhancement. Symbiotic outcomes also varied greatly among chromosomally diverse strains that all shared the A1 haplotype. Thus, chromosomal as well as sym plasmid variants likely contribute to differential interactions with Mimosa host species.}, } @article {pmid26159581, year = {2016}, author = {Rosa, TM and Giovanna, PM and Maria, M and Angela, M and Matteo, C}, title = {Old Weapons for New Wars: Bioactive Molecules From Cnidarian Internal Defense Systems.}, journal = {Central nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {183-196}, doi = {10.2174/1871524915666150710120650}, pmid = {26159581}, issn = {1875-6166}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/immunology/isolation & purification/toxicity ; *Cnidaria ; Cnidarian Venoms/immunology/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; Humans ; Neurotoxins/immunology/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; Peptides/immunology/isolation & purification/*toxicity ; Sodium Channel Blockers/immunology/isolation & purification/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The renewed interest in the study of genes of immunity in Cnidaria has led to additional information to the scenario of the first stages of immunity evolution revealing the cellular processes involved in symbiosis, in the regulation of homeostasis and in the fight against infections. The recent study with new molecular and functional approach on these organisms have therefore contributed with unexpected information on the knowledge of the stages of capturing activities and defense mechanisms strongly associated with toxin production. Cnidarians are diblastic aquatic animals with radial symmetry; they represent the ancestral state of Metazoa, they are the simplest multicellular organisms that have reached the level of tissue organization.The Cnidaria phylum has evolved using biotoxins as defense or predation mechanisms for ensure survival in hostile and competitive environments such as the seas and oceans. From benthic and pelagic species a large number of toxic compounds that have been determined can have an active role in the development of various antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial functions. Although the immune defense response of these animals is scarcely known, the tissues and the mucus produced by cnidarians are involved in immune defense and contain a large variety of peptides such as sodium and potassium channel neurotoxins, cytolysins, phospholipase A2 (PLA2), acid-sensing ion channel peptide toxins (ASICs) and other toxins, classified following biochemical and pharmacological studies on the basis of functional, molecular and structural parameters. These basal metazoan in fact, are far from "simple" in the range of methods at their disposal to deal with potential prey but also invading microbes and pathogens. They could also take advantage of the multi-functionality of some of their toxins, for example, some bioactive molecules have characteristics of toxicity associated with a potential antimicrobial activity. The interest in cnidarians was not only directed to the study of toxins and venom, but also to the fact these animals have been suggested as source of new molecules potentially relevant for biotechnology and pharmaceutical applications. Here, we review the cnidarian type of toxins regarding their multifunctional role and the future possibility of drawing important applications in fields ranging from biology to pharmacology.}, } @article {pmid26159523, year = {2015}, author = {Zilli, JE and Passos, SR and Leite, J and Xavier, GR and Rumjaneck, NG and Simoes-Araujo, JL}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Microvirga vignae Strain BR 3299T, a Novel Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Alphaproteobacterium Isolated from a Brazilian Semiarid Region.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {26159523}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Microvirga vignae is a recently described species of root-nodule bacteria isolated from cowpeas grown in a Brazilian semiarid region. We report here the 6.4-Mb draft genome sequence and annotation of M. vignae type strain BR 3299. This genome information may help to understand the mechanisms underlying the ability of the organism to grow under drought and high-temperatures conditions.}, } @article {pmid26159404, year = {2015}, author = {Byeon, JH and Seo, ES and Lee, JB and Lee, MJ and Kim, JK and Yoo, JW and Jung, Y and Lee, BL}, title = {A specific cathepsin-L-like protease purified from an insect midgut shows antibacterial activity against gut symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {79-84}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2015.06.003}, pmid = {26159404}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Burkholderia/*drug effects/growth & development ; Cathepsin L/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/immunology/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Because gut symbiotic bacteria affect host biology, host insects are expected to evolve some mechanisms for regulating symbiont population. The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, harbors the Burkholderia genus as a gut symbiont in the midgut organ, designated as the M4 region. Recently, we demonstrated that the lysate of M4B, the region adjacent to M4, harbors potent antibacterial activity against symbiotic Burkholderia but not to cultured Burkholderia. However, the bona fide substance responsible for observed antibacterial activity was not identified in the previous study. Here, we report that cathepsin-L-like protease purified from the lysate of M4B showed strong antibacterial activity against symbiotic Burkholderia but not the cultured Burkholderia. To further confirm this activity, recombinant cathepsin-L-like protease expressed in Escherichia coli also showed antibacterial activity against symbiotic Burkholderia. These results suggest that cathepsin-L-like protease purified from the M4B region plays a critical role in controlling the population of the Burkholderia gut symbiont.}, } @article {pmid26157431, year = {2015}, author = {Cernava, T and Müller, H and Aschenbrenner, IA and Grube, M and Berg, G}, title = {Analyzing the antagonistic potential of the lichen microbiome against pathogens by bridging metagenomic with culture studies.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {620}, pmid = {26157431}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {I 882/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Naturally occurring antagonists toward pathogens play an important role to avoid pathogen outbreaks in ecosystems, and they can be applied as biocontrol agents for crops. Lichens present long-living symbiotic systems continuously exposed to pathogens. To analyze the antagonistic potential in lichens, we studied the bacterial community active against model bacteria and fungi by an integrative approach combining isolate screening, omics techniques, and high resolution mass spectrometry. The highly diverse microbiome of the lung lichen [Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm.] included an abundant antagonistic community dominated by Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Burkholderia. While antagonists represent 24.5% of the isolates, they were identified with only 7% in the metagenome; which means that they were overrepresented in the culturable fraction. Isolates of the dominant antagonistic genus Stenotrophomonas produced spermidine as main bioactive component. Moreover, spermidine-related genes, especially for the transport, were identified in the metagenome. The majority of hits identified belonged to Alphaproteobacteria, while Stenotrophomonas-specific spermidine synthases were not present in the dataset. Evidence for plant growth promoting effects was found for lichen-associated strains of Stenotrophomonas. Linking of metagenomic and culture data was possible but showed partly contradictory results, which required a comparative assessment. However, we have shown that lichens are important reservoirs for antagonistic bacteria, which open broad possibilities for biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid26157423, year = {2015}, author = {Rivero, J and Gamir, J and Aroca, R and Pozo, MJ and Flors, V}, title = {Metabolic transition in mycorrhizal tomato roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {598}, pmid = {26157423}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Beneficial plant-microorganism interactions are widespread in nature. Among them, the symbiosis between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is of major importance, commonly improving host nutrition and tolerance against environmental and biotic challenges. Metabolic changes were observed in a well-established symbiosis between tomato and two common AMF: Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae. Principal component analysis of metabolites, determined by non-targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, showed a strong metabolic rearrangement in mycorrhizal roots. There was generally a negative impact of mycorrhizal symbiosis on amino acid content, mainly on those involved in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. On the other hand, many intermediaries in amino acid and sugar metabolism and the oxylipin pathway were among the compounds accumulating more in mycorrhizal roots. The metabolic reprogramming also affected other pathways in the secondary metabolism, mainly phenyl alcohols (lignins and lignans) and vitamins. The results showed that source metabolites of these pathways decreased in mycorrhizal roots, whilst the products derived from α-linolenic and amino acids presented higher concentrations in AMF-colonized roots. Mycorrhization therefore increased the flux into those pathways. Venn-diagram analysis showed that there are many induced signals shared by both mycorrhizal interactions, pointing to general mycorrhiza-associated changes in the tomato metabolome. Moreover, fungus-specific fingerprints were also found, suggesting that specific molecular alterations may underlie the reported functional diversity of the symbiosis. Since most positively regulated pathways were related to stress response mechanisms, their potential contribution to improved host stress tolerance is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26157119, year = {2015}, author = {Burke, GR and Simmonds, TJ and Thomas, SA and Strand, MR}, title = {Microplitis demolitor Bracovirus Proviral Loci and Clustered Replication Genes Exhibit Distinct DNA Amplification Patterns during Replication.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {89}, number = {18}, pages = {9511-9523}, pmid = {26157119}, issn = {1098-5514}, support = {F32 AI096552/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Viral/biosynthesis ; Gene Amplification/*physiology ; Genetic Loci/*physiology ; Polydnaviridae/*physiology ; Proviruses/*physiology ; Virus Replication/*physiology ; Wasps/genetics/*virology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Polydnaviruses are large, double-stranded DNA viruses that are beneficial symbionts of parasitoid wasps. Polydnaviruses in the genus Bracovirus (BVs) persist in wasps as proviruses, and their genomes consist of two functional components referred to as proviral segments and nudivirus-like genes. Prior studies established that the DNA domains where proviral segments reside are amplified during replication and that segments within amplified loci are circularized before packaging into nucleocapsids. One DNA domain where nudivirus-like genes are located is also amplified but never packaged into virions. We recently sequenced the genome of the braconid Microplitis demolitor, which carries M. demolitor bracovirus (MdBV). Here, we took advantage of this resource to characterize the DNAs that are amplified during MdBV replication using a combination of Illumina and Pacific Biosciences sequencing approaches. The results showed that specific nucleotide sites identify the boundaries of amplification for proviral loci. Surprisingly, however, amplification of loci 3, 4, 6, and 8 produced head-to-tail concatemeric intermediates; loci 1, 2, and 5 produced head-to-head/tail-to-tail concatemers; and locus 7 yielded no identified concatemers. Sequence differences at amplification junctions correlated with the types of amplification intermediates the loci produced, while concatemer processing gave rise to the circularized DNAs that are packaged into nucleocapsids. The MdBV nudivirus-like gene cluster was also amplified, albeit more weakly than most proviral loci and with nondiscrete boundaries. Overall, the MdBV genome exhibited three patterns of DNA amplification during replication. Our data also suggest that PacBio sequencing could be useful in studying the replication intermediates produced by other DNA viruses.

IMPORTANCE: Polydnaviruses are of fundamental interest because they provide a novel example of viruses evolving into beneficial symbionts. All polydnaviruses are associated with insects called parasitoid wasps, which are of additional applied interest because many are biological control agents of pest insects. Polydnaviruses in the genus Bracovirus (BVs) evolved ~100 million years ago from an ancestor related to the baculovirus-nudivirus lineage but have also established many novelties due to their symbiotic lifestyle. These include the fact that BVs are transmitted only vertically as proviruses and produce replication-defective virions that package only a portion of the viral genome. Here, we studied Microplitis demolitor bracovirus (MdBV) and report that its genome exhibits three distinct patterns of DNA amplification during replication. We also identify several previously unknown features of BV genomes that correlate with these different amplification patterns.}, } @article {pmid26156314, year = {2016}, author = {Ferreira, T and Addison, MF and Malan, AP}, title = {Development and population dynamics of Steinernema yirgalemense (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and growth characteristics of its associated Xenorhabdus indica symbiont in liquid culture.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {90}, number = {3}, pages = {364-371}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X15000450}, pmid = {26156314}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; Moths/parasitology ; Population Dynamics ; Rhabditida/*growth & development/*microbiology/pathogenicity ; Survival Analysis ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes have become a valuable addition to the range of biological control agents available for insect control. An endemic nematode, Steinernema yirgalemense, has been found to be effective against a wide range of key insect pests. The next step would be the mass production this nematode for commercial application. This requires the establishment of monoxenic cultures of both the nematode and the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus indica. First-stage juveniles of S. yirgalemense were obtained from eggs, while X. indica was isolated from nematode-infected wax moth larvae. The population density of the various life stages of S. yirgalemense during the developmental phase in liquid culture was determined. The recovery of infective juveniles (IJs) to the third-stage feeding juveniles, was 67 ± 10%, reaching a maximum population density of 75,000 IJs ml- 1 on day 13 after inoculation. Adult density increased after 8 days, with the maximum female density being 4600 ml- 1 on day 15, whereas the maximum male density was 4300 ml- 1 on day 12. Growth curves for X. indica showed that the exponential phase was reached 15 h after inoculation to the liquid medium. The stationary phase was reached after 42 h, with an average of 51 × 107 colony-forming units ml- 1. Virulence tests showed a significant difference in insect mortality between in vitro- and in vivo-produced nematodes. The success obtained with the production of S. yirgalemense in liquid culture can serve as the first step in the optimizing and upscaling of the commercial production of nematodes in fermenters.}, } @article {pmid26155583, year = {2015}, author = {Jijin, MJ and Jaishankar, HP and Narayaran, VS and Rangaswamy, K and Puthaswamy, KA}, title = {Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome In An Adolescent Female: A Case Study.}, journal = {Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {ZD23-5}, pmid = {26155583}, issn = {2249-782X}, abstract = {Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome (PLS) is a rare inherited autosomal-recessive condition with one-third of the patients' showing consanguinity of the parents. Lesions are characterised by palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis and hyperhidrosis. Early onset of periodonditis, severe periodontal destruction in both primary and permanent dentitions, and calcification of the duramater form the three important features of this disease. Here, we present a case of a 14-year-old female who presented to the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology with a complaint of mobility of the teeth since four months. Oral examination of the patient showed generalised mobility of the teeth. General physical examination of the patient showed dry scaly skin on dorsum of bilateral feet, hands, and knee. The patient had familial history positive for consanguinity. The patient was medically diagnosed as positive for PLS. The patients with PLS show combination of dermatological and dental lesions and it requires the dentist to assume a more prominent role in early treatment and rehabilitation. There is a need for symbiotic and synergetic approach between the two specialties for effective management of this rare disease.}, } @article {pmid26154300, year = {2015}, author = {Kurilshikov, A and Livanova, NN and Fomenko, NV and Tupikin, AE and Rar, VA and Kabilov, MR and Livanov, SG and Tikunova, NV}, title = {Comparative Metagenomic Profiling of Symbiotic Bacterial Communities Associated with Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes pavlovskyi and Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0131413}, pmid = {26154300}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; Dermacentor/*microbiology ; Female ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Male ; *Metagenomics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes pavlovskyi, and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks inhabiting Western Siberia are responsible for the transmission of a number of etiological agents that cause human and animal tick-borne diseases. Because these ticks are abundant in the suburbs of large cities, agricultural areas, and popular tourist sites and frequently attack people and livestock, data regarding the microbiomes of these organisms are required. Using metagenomic 16S profiling, we evaluate bacterial communities associated with I. persulcatus, I. pavlovskyi, and D. reticulatus ticks collected from the Novosibirsk region of Russia. A total of 1214 ticks were used for this study. DNA extracted from the ticks was pooled according to tick species and sex. Sequencing of the V3-V5 domains of 16S rRNA genes was performed using the Illumina Miseq platform. The following bacterial genera were prevalent in the examined communities: Acinetobacter (all three tick species), Rickettsia (I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus) and Francisella (D. reticulatus). B. burgdorferi sensu lato and B. miyamotoi sequences were detected in I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi but not in D. reticulatus ticks. The pooled samples of all tick species studied contained bacteria from the Anaplasmataceae family, although their occurrence was low. DNA from A. phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis was first observed in I. pavlovskyi ticks. Significant inter-species differences in the number of bacterial taxa as well as intra-species diversity related to tick sex were observed. The bacterial communities associated with the I. pavlovskyi ticks displayed a higher biodiversity compared with those of the I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus ticks. Bacterial community structure was also diverse across the studied tick species, as shown by permutational analysis of variance using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity metric (p = 0.002). Between-sex variation was confirmed by PERMANOVA testing in I. persulcatus (p = 0.042) and I. pavlovskyi (p = 0.042) ticks. Our study indicated that 16S metagenomic profiling could be used for rapid assessment of the occurrence of medically important bacteria in tick populations inhabiting different natural biotopes and therefore the epidemic danger of studied foci.}, } @article {pmid26153863, year = {2015}, author = {Kawaharada, Y and Kelly, S and Nielsen, MW and Hjuler, CT and Gysel, K and Muszyński, A and Carlson, RW and Thygesen, MB and Sandal, N and Asmussen, MH and Vinther, M and Andersen, SU and Krusell, L and Thirup, S and Jensen, KJ and Ronson, CW and Blaise, M and Radutoiu, S and Stougaard, J}, title = {Receptor-mediated exopolysaccharide perception controls bacterial infection.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {523}, number = {7560}, pages = {308-312}, pmid = {26153863}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Epidermis/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; Suppression, Genetic/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Surface polysaccharides are important for bacterial interactions with multicellular organisms, and some are virulence factors in pathogens. In the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are essential for the development of infected root nodules. We have identified a gene in Lotus japonicus, Epr3, encoding a receptor-like kinase that controls this infection. We show that epr3 mutants are defective in perception of purified EPS, and that EPR3 binds EPS directly and distinguishes compatible and incompatible EPS in bacterial competition studies. Expression of Epr3 in epidermal cells within the susceptible root zone shows that the protein is involved in bacterial entry, while rhizobial and plant mutant studies suggest that Epr3 regulates bacterial passage through the plant's epidermal cell layer. Finally, we show that Epr3 expression is inducible and dependent on host perception of bacterial nodulation (Nod) factors. Plant-bacterial compatibility and bacterial access to legume roots is thus regulated by a two-stage mechanism involving sequential receptor-mediated recognition of Nod factor and EPS signals.}, } @article {pmid26153862, year = {2015}, author = {Long, SR}, title = {Symbiosis: Receptive to infection.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {523}, number = {7560}, pages = {298-299}, pmid = {26153862}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid26153303, year = {2015}, author = {Shin, P and Sharac, J and Rosenbaum, S}, title = {Community Health Centers And Medicaid At 50: An Enduring Relationship Essential For Health System Transformation.}, journal = {Health affairs (Project Hope)}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {1096-1104}, doi = {10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0099}, pmid = {26153303}, issn = {1544-5208}, mesh = {Community Health Centers/economics/*organization & administration ; *Government Programs ; Medicaid/*organization & administration ; Medically Underserved Area ; Primary Health Care ; United States ; }, abstract = {Community health centers reach their fiftieth anniversary in 2015, along with Medicaid. Health policy makers have understood the programs' symbiotic connection from the earliest days of their implementation. Medicaid's expansion and growth have made the modern community health center program possible, while health centers represent one of the principal sources of primary care for the nation's Medicaid population. With their shared mission and high level of interdependence, Medicaid and community health centers are essential for continued health system transformation in medically underserved communities nationwide--for example, by implementing delivery system reforms aimed at increasing clinical integration and improving efficiencies and by becoming medical homes for high-risk patients. Achieving this transformation will depend on the ability of community health centers and Medicaid to understand and respond to the challenges that each faces, while fully deploying the strengths that each has to offer.}, } @article {pmid26153267, year = {2015}, author = {Kumar, N and Pison, L and Lozekoot, P and Choudhury, R and La Meir, M and Gelsomino, S and Crijns, H and Maessen, J}, title = {The symbiosis of contact force catheter use for hybrid ablation for atrial fibrillation.}, journal = {Netherlands heart journal : monthly journal of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {438-446}, pmid = {26153267}, issn = {1568-5888}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Reconduction across an ablation line is a common reason for arrhythmia recurrence over time. The hybrid procedure combines epicardial ablation of the pulmonary vein (PV) and creation of a box lesion with endocardial touch-ups for any electrical gaps. A high contact force (CF) between the ablation tip and cardiac tissue may increase the risk of thrombus formation, catheter tip charring, steam pop formation, and even cardiac perforation. CF monitoring is a significant new parameter for titration of the CF for creating an adequate lesion.

METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients underwent epicardial ablation using bipolar radiofrequency devices. After checking electrical bidirectional block of the ablation lines, an endocardial CF catheter was used for further ablation (if needed) to complete the isolation of PVs, box lesion, cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI), and complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE).

RESULTS: Endocardial touch-up was needed for 2 PVs (1.3 %) and 10 (26.3 %) box lesions. It was also used for the CTI line in 7 (18.4 %) patients, atrial tachycardia in 3 (7.9 %) patients, and additional CFAE ablation in 17 (44.7 %) patients. All 5 patients with arrhythmia recurrence had a mean CF < 10 g (p = 0.03). Procedure duration was significantly shorter in the CF group (223 ± 57 vs. 256 ± 60 min, p = 0.03) compared with control group.

CONCLUSION: Use of CF catheters is safe, feasible, and complementary to a hybrid procedure setup for atrial fibrillation ablation. Its real-time monitoring may predict future arrhythmia recurrence, and decrease procedure time.}, } @article {pmid26153197, year = {2015}, author = {Akram Kooshki, A and Tofighiyan, T and Rakhshani, MH}, title = {Effects of Synbiotics on Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.}, journal = {Global journal of health science}, volume = {7}, number = {7 Spec No}, pages = {1-5}, pmid = {26153197}, issn = {1916-9736}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators/blood ; Interleukin-6/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*blood ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: With regard to the relationship between inflammation and insulin resistance and due to the lack of researches conducted about the effect of synbiotics on inflammatory markers in diabetes patients, this study was designed to investigate the effect of these markers.

METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 44 type 2 diabetes patients. They were randomized to symbiotic or placebo group. Patients in the symbiotic group received one symbiotic tablet daily for 8 weeks whereas the placebo group received 1 placebo tablet. The hs-CRP concentration, TNF-α and IL-6 were measured by using ELISA kits. The dietary intakes of patients were assessed at the first and the end of the study and analyzed by Nutritionist IV. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 16.0 via paired and independent t-test.

RESULTS: Anthropometric and dietary data were not significantly different between the two groups at the first and the end of the study. The serum concentrations of hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased significantly in the symbiotic group at the end of week 8 compared to baseline (p<0.05). Also, no significant changes were seen in the placebo group (p>0.05). The reduction in inflammatory markers in the symbiotic group were significant in compared to the placebo group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotic supplementation can reduce serum hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.}, } @article {pmid26152795, year = {2015}, author = {Harper, SE and Spradling, TA and Demastes, JW and Calhoun, CS}, title = {Host behaviour drives parasite genetics at multiple geographic scales: population genetics of the chewing louse, Thomomydoecus minor.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {16}, pages = {4129-4144}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13306}, pmid = {26152795}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Genetics, Population ; Gophers/*parasitology ; Haplotypes ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Sequence Data ; New Mexico ; Phthiraptera/*genetics ; Rodent Diseases/parasitology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Pocket gophers and their symbiotic chewing lice form a host-parasite assemblage known for a high degree of cophylogeny, thought to be driven by life history parameters of both host and parasite that make host switching difficult. However, little work to date has focused on determining whether these life histories actually impact louse populations at the very fine scale of louse infrapopulations (individuals on a single host) at the same or at nearby host localities. We used microsatellite and mtDNA sequence data to make comparisons of chewing-louse (Thomomydoecus minor) population subdivision over time and over geographic space where there are different potential amounts of host interaction surrounding a zone of contact between two hybridizing pocket-gopher subspecies. We found that chewing lice had high levels of population isolation consistent with a paucity of horizontal transmission even at the very fine geographic scale of a single alfalfa field. We also found marked genetic discontinuity in louse populations corresponding with host subspecies and little, if any, admixture in the louse genetic groups even though the lice are closely related. The correlation of louse infrapopulation differentiation with host interaction at multiple scales, including across a discontinuity in pocket-gopher habitat, suggests that host behaviour is the primary driver of parasite genetics. This observation makes sense in light of the life histories of both chewing lice and pocket gophers and provides a powerful explanation for the well-documented pattern of parallel cladogenesis in pocket gophers and chewing lice.}, } @article {pmid26150823, year = {2015}, author = {Yang, Y and Sun, T and Xu, L and Pi, E and Wang, S and Wang, H and Shen, C}, title = {Genome-wide identification of CAMTA gene family members in Medicago truncatula and their expression during root nodule symbiosis and hormone treatments.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {459}, pmid = {26150823}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) are well-characterized calmodulin-binding transcription factors in the plant kingdom. Previous work shows that CAMTAs play important roles in various biological processes including disease resistance, herbivore attack response, and abiotic stress tolerance. However, studies that address the function of CAMTAs during the establishment of symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia are still lacking. This study undertook comprehensive identification and analysis of CAMTA genes using the latest updated M. truncatula genome. All the MtCAMTA genes were expressed in a tissues-specific manner and were responsive to environmental stress-related hormones. The expression profiling of MtCAMTA genes during the early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection was also analyzed. Our data showed that the expression of most MtCAMTA genes was suppressed in roots by S. meliloti infection. The responsiveness of MtCAMTAs to S. meliloti infection indicated that they may function as calcium-regulated transcription factors in the early nodulation signaling pathway. In addition, bioinformatics analysis showed that CAMTA binding sites existed in the promoter regions of various early rhizobial infection response genes, suggesting possible MtCAMTAs-regulated downstream candidate genes during the early phase of S. meliloti infection. Taken together, these results provide basic information about MtCAMTAs in the model legume M. truncatula, and the involvement of MtCAMTAs in nodule organogenesis. This information furthers our understanding of MtCAMTA protein functions in M. truncatula and opens new avenues for continued research.}, } @article {pmid26150448, year = {2015}, author = {Nováková, E and Husník, F and Šochová, E and Hypša, V}, title = {Arsenophonus and Sodalis Symbionts in Louse Flies: an Analogy to the Wigglesworthia and Sodalis System in Tsetse Flies.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {18}, pages = {6189-6199}, pmid = {26150448}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phthiraptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; *Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between insects and bacteria result in a variety of arrangements, genomic modifications, and metabolic interconnections. Here, we present genomic, phylogenetic, and morphological characteristics of a symbiotic system associated with Melophagus ovinus, a member of the blood-feeding family Hippoboscidae. The system comprises four unrelated bacteria representing different stages in symbiosis evolution, from typical obligate mutualists inhabiting bacteriomes to freely associated commensals and parasites. Interestingly, the whole system provides a remarkable analogy to the association between Glossina and its symbiotic bacteria. In both, the symbiotic systems are composed of an obligate symbiont and two facultative intracellular associates, Sodalis and Wolbachia. In addition, extracellular Bartonella resides in the gut of Melophagus. However, the phylogenetic origins of the two obligate mutualist symbionts differ. In Glossina, the mutualistic Wigglesworthia appears to be a relatively isolated symbiotic lineage, whereas in Melophagus, the obligate symbiont originated within the widely distributed Arsenophonus cluster. Although phylogenetically distant, the two obligate symbionts display several remarkably similar traits (e.g., transmission via the host's "milk glands" or similar pattern of genome reduction). To obtain better insight into the biology and possible role of the M. ovinus obligate symbiont, "Candidatus Arsenophonus melophagi," we performed several comparisons of its gene content based on assignments of the Cluster of Orthologous Genes (COG). Using this criterion, we show that within a set of 44 primary and secondary symbionts, "Ca. Arsenophonus melophagi" is most similar to Wigglesworthia. On the other hand, these two bacteria also display interesting differences, such as absence of flagellar genes in Arsenophonus and their presence in Wigglesworthia. This finding implies that a flagellum is not essential for bacterial transmission via milk glands.}, } @article {pmid26149957, year = {2015}, author = {Xu, L and Mohamad, OA and Ma, YS and Zhang, YM and Kong, ZY}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity on housekeeping and symbiotic genes of rhizobial from Sphaerophysa in China.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {1451-1459}, pmid = {26149957}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {China ; DNA, Bacterial ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; *Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Recombination, Genetic ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study explored the diversity and phylogeny of rhizobia collected from nodules of Sphaerophysa salsula in different geographical regions of Northwest China. The 16S rRNA gene sequences divided the strains into the following distinct groups: Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Shinella. The phylogenies of recA and atpD genes showed low correlation with nifH and nodA gene in most species, which indicated that, the gene recombination between species and genera might have been exist. To our knowledge, this is the first study using the multilocus sequencing analysis Sphaerophysa rhizobia in order to understand the relation between genetic diversity and ecology.}, } @article {pmid26148451, year = {2016}, author = {Zhu, X and Song, F and Liu, S and Liu, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza improve growth, nitrogen uptake, and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat grown under elevated CO2.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {133-140}, pmid = {26148451}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/analysis ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*physiology ; Isotope Labeling ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Triticum/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on plant growth, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulation, and partitioning was investigated in Triticum aestivum L. plants grown under elevated CO2 in a pot experiment. Wheat plants inoculated or not inoculated with the AM fungus were grown in two glasshouse cells with different CO2 concentrations (400 and 700 ppm) for 10 weeks. A (15)N isotope labeling technique was used to trace plant N uptake. Results showed that elevated CO2 increased AM fungal colonization. Under CO2 elevation, AM plants had higher C concentration and higher plant biomass than the non-AM plants. CO2 elevation did not affect C and N partitioning in plant organs, while AM symbiosis increased C and N allocation into the roots. In addition, plant C and N accumulation, (15)N recovery rate, and N use efficiency (NUE) were significantly higher in AM plants than in non-AM controls under CO2 enrichment. It is concluded that AM symbiosis favors C and N partitioning in roots, increases C accumulation and N uptake, and leads to greater NUE in wheat plants grown at elevated CO2.}, } @article {pmid26147688, year = {2015}, author = {Lindner, C and Thomsen, I and Wahl, B and Ugur, M and Sethi, MK and Friedrichsen, M and Smoczek, A and Ott, S and Baumann, U and Suerbaum, S and Schreiber, S and Bleich, A and Gaboriau-Routhiau, V and Cerf-Bensussan, N and Hazanov, H and Mehr, R and Boysen, P and Rosenstiel, P and Pabst, O}, title = {Diversification of memory B cells drives the continuous adaptation of secretory antibodies to gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {880-888}, pmid = {26147688}, issn = {1529-2916}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*immunology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Antibodies/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology/metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*immunology/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*immunology ; Immunologic Memory/immunology ; Mammary Glands, Animal/immunology/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microbiota/genetics/*immunology/physiology ; Mutation ; Plasma Cells/immunology/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects/immunology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) shields the gut epithelium from luminal antigens and contributes to host-microbe symbiosis. However, how antibody responses are regulated to achieve sustained host-microbe interactions is unknown. We found that mice and humans exhibited longitudinal persistence of clonally related B cells in the IgA repertoire despite major changes in the microbiota during antibiotic treatment or infection. Memory B cells recirculated between inductive compartments and were clonally related to plasma cells in gut and mammary glands. Our findings suggest that continuous diversification of memory B cells constitutes a central process for establishing symbiotic host-microbe interactions and offer an explanation of how maternal antibodies are optimized throughout life to protect the newborn.}, } @article {pmid26143243, year = {2015}, author = {Cornet, V and Henry, J and Corre, E and Le Corguillé, G and Zatylny-Gaudin, C}, title = {The Toll/NF-κB pathway in cuttlefish symbiotic accessory nidamental gland.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {42-46}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2015.06.016}, pmid = {26143243}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Genitalia/*metabolism ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Microbiota/immunology ; NF-kappa B/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics ; Sepia/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptors/*genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The female genital apparatus of decapod cephalopods contains a symbiotic accessory nidamental gland (ANG) that harbors bacterial symbionts. Although the ANG bacterial consortium is now well described, the impact of symbiosis on Sepia officinalis innate immunity pathways remains unknown. In silico analysis of the de novo transcriptome of ANG highlighted for the first time the existence of the NF-κB pathway in S. officinalis. Several signaling components were identified, i.e. five Toll-like receptors, eight signaling cascade features, and the immune response target gene iNOS, previously described as being involved in the initiation of bacterial symbiosis in a cephalopod gland. This work provides a first key for studying bacterial symbiosis and its impact on innate immunity in S. officinalis ANG.}, } @article {pmid26141894, year = {2015}, author = {Armendariz, AL and Talano, MA and Wevar Oller, AL and Medina, MI and Agostini, E}, title = {Effect of arsenic on tolerance mechanisms of two plant growth-promoting bacteria used as biological inoculants.}, journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)}, volume = {33}, number = {}, pages = {203-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2014.12.024}, pmid = {26141894}, issn = {1001-0742}, mesh = {Arsenic/chemistry/*toxicity ; Azospirillum brasilense/*drug effects/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Biomass ; Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/metabolism ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Movement ; Soil Pollutants/chemistry/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Bacterial ability to colonize the rhizosphere of plants in arsenic (As) contaminated soils is highly important for symbiotic and free-living plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) used as inoculants, since they can contribute to enhance plant As tolerance and limit metalloid uptake by plants. The aim of this work was to study the effect of As on growth, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, biofilm formation and motility of two strains used as soybean inoculants, Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 and Azospirillum brasilense Az39. The metabolism of arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) and their removal and/or possible accumulation were also evaluated. The behavior of both bacteria under As treatment was compared and discussed in relation to their potential for colonizing plant rhizosphere with high content of the metalloid. B. japonicum E109 growth was reduced with As(III) concentration from 10 μM while A. brasilense Az39 showed a reduction of growth with As(III) from 500 μM. EPS and biofilm production increased significantly under 25 μM As(III) for both strains. Moreover, this was more notorious for Azospirillum under 500 μM As(III), where motility was seriously affected. Both bacterial strains showed a similar ability to reduce As(V). However, Azospirillum was able to oxidize more As(III) (around 53%) than Bradyrhizobium (17%). In addition, both strains accumulated As in cell biomass. The behavior of Azospirillum under As treatments suggests that this strain would be able to colonize efficiently As contaminated soils. In this way, inoculation with A. brasilense Az39 would positively contribute to promoting growth of different plant species under As treatment.}, } @article {pmid26140479, year = {2015}, author = {Miyako, E and Chechetka, SA and Doi, M and Yuba, E and Kono, K}, title = {In Vivo Remote Control of Reactions in Caenorhabditis elegans by Using Supramolecular Nanohybrids of Carbon Nanotubes and Liposomes.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {54}, number = {34}, pages = {9903-9906}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201504987}, pmid = {26140479}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Liposomes/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nanostructures/*chemistry ; Nanotubes, Carbon/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {A supramolecular nanohybrid based on carbon nanotubes and liposomes that is highly biocompatible and capable of permeation through cells is described. The nanohybrid can be loaded with a variety of functional molecules and is structurally controlled by near-infrared laser irradiation for the release of molecules from the nanohybrids in a targeted manner via microscopy. We implemented the controlled release of molecules from the nanohybrids and demonstrated remote regulation of the photoinduced nanohybrid functions. As a proof of principle, nanohybrids loaded with amiloride were successfully used in the spatiotemporally targeted blocking of amiloride-sensitive mechanosensory neurons in living Caenorhabditis elegans. Our prototype could inspire new designs for biomimetic parasitism and symbiosis, and biologically active nanorobots for the higher-level manipulation of organisms.}, } @article {pmid26140087, year = {2015}, author = {Abdul-Hai, A and Abdallah, A and Malnick, SD}, title = {Influence of gut bacteria on development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.}, journal = {World journal of hepatology}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {1679-1684}, pmid = {26140087}, issn = {1948-5182}, abstract = {The intestine of the human contains a dynamic population of microbes that have a symbiotic relationship with the host. In addition, there is an effect of the intestinal microbiota on metabolism and digestion. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause worldwide of hepatic pathology and is thought to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In this review we examine the effect of the human microbiome on the components and pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. We are now on the threshold of therapeutic interventions on the human microbiome in order to effect human disease including NAFLD.}, } @article {pmid26139916, year = {2015}, author = {Lobo, RO and Shenoy, CK}, title = {Myocardial potency of Bio-tea against Isoproterenol induced myocardial damage in rats.}, journal = {Journal of food science and technology}, volume = {52}, number = {7}, pages = {4491-4498}, pmid = {26139916}, issn = {0022-1155}, abstract = {Kombucha (Bio-tea) is a beverage produced by the fermentation of sugared black tea using a symbiotic association of bacteria and yeasts. Traditional claims about Kombucha report beneficial effects such as antibiotic properties, gastric regulation, relief from joint rheumatism and positive influence on the cholesterol level, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and aging problems. The present investigation was carried out to understand the preventive effect of Kombucha on heart weight, blood glucose, total protein, lipid profile and cardiac markers in rats with myocardial damage induced using Isoproterenol. As Bio-tea is produced by fermenting tea, the parameters were compared in rats pre-treated with normal black tea and Bio-tea for 30 days followed by subcutaneous injection of Isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight). Normal rats as well as Isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats were also used, which served as controls. Isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted control rats showed a significant increase in heart weight, blood glucose and cardiac markers and a decrease in plasma protein. Increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipids (LDL) and very low density lipids (VLDL) were also observed, while the high density lipid (HDL) content decreased. Bio-tea showed a higher preventive effect against myocardial infarction when compared to tea, as was observed by the significant reduction in heart weight, and blood glucose and increase in plasma albumin levels. Bio-tea significantly decreased cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL while simultaneously increasing the levels of HDL. Similarly a decrease in leakage of cardiac markers from the myocardium was also observed.}, } @article {pmid26139612, year = {2015}, author = {Choi, S and Shin, SK and Jeong, G and Yi, H}, title = {Wolbachia Sequence Typing in Butterflies Using Pyrosequencing.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {1410-1416}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1503.03097}, pmid = {26139612}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Animals ; Butterflies/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Korea ; Multilocus Sequence Typing/*methods ; Wolbachia/*classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is an obligate symbiotic bacteria that is ubiquitous in arthropods, with 25-70% of insect species estimated to be infected. Wolbachia species can interact with their insect hosts in a mutualistic or parasitic manner. Sequence types (ST) of Wolbachia are determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of housekeeping genes. However, there are some limitations to MLST with respect to the generation of clone libraries and the Sanger sequencing method when a host is infected with multiple STs of Wolbachia. To assess the feasibility of massive parallel sequencing, also known as next-generation sequencing, we used pyrosequencing for sequence typing of Wolbachia in butterflies. We collected three species of butterflies (Eurema hecabe, Eurema laeta, and Tongeia fischeri) common to Korea and screened them for Wolbachia STs. We found that T. fischeri was infected with a single ST of Wolbachia, ST41. In contrast, E. hecabe and E. laeta were each infected with two STs of Wolbachia, ST41 and ST40. Our results clearly demonstrate that pyrosequencing-based MLST has a higher sensitivity than cloning and Sanger sequencing methods for the detection of minor alleles. Considering the high prevalence of infection with multiple Wolbachia STs, next-generation sequencing with improved analysis would assist with scaling up approaches to Wolbachia MLST.}, } @article {pmid26139332, year = {2015}, author = {Steinmeyer, S and Lee, K and Jayaraman, A and Alaniz, RC}, title = {Microbiota metabolite regulation of host immune homeostasis: a mechanistic missing link.}, journal = {Current allergy and asthma reports}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {24}, pmid = {26139332}, issn = {1534-6315}, support = {R01 AI110642/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Metazoans predominantly co-exist with symbiotic microorganisms called the microbiota. Metagenomic surveys of the microbiota reveal a diverse ecosystem of microbes particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Perturbations in the GI microbiota in higher mammals (i.e., humans) are linked to diseases with variegated symptomology including inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and auto-inflammatory disorders. Indeed, studies using germ-free mice (lacking a microbiota) confirm that host development and homeostasis are dependent on the microbiota. A long-known key feature of the GI tract microbiota is metabolizing host indigestible dietary matter for maximum energy extraction; however, host signaling pathways are greatly influenced by the microbiota as well. In line with these observations, recent research has revealed that metabolites produced strictly by select microbiota members are mechanistic regulators of host cell functions. In this review, we discuss two major classes of microbiota-produced metabolites: short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan metabolites. We describe the known important roles for these metabolites in shaping host immunity and comment on the current status and future directions for microbiota metabolomics research.}, } @article {pmid26136763, year = {2015}, author = {Kulcheski, FR and Côrrea, R and Gomes, IA and de Lima, JC and Margis, R}, title = {NPK macronutrients and microRNA homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {451}, pmid = {26136763}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Macronutrients are essential elements for plant growth and development. In natural, non-cultivated systems, the availability of macronutrients is not a limiting factor of growth, due to fast recycling mechanisms. However, their availability might be an issue in modern agricultural practices, since soil has been frequently over exploited. From a crop management perspective, the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are three important limiting factors and therefore frequently added as fertilizers. NPK are among the nutrients that have been reported to alter post-embryonic root developmental processes and consequently, impairs crop yield. To cope with nutrients scarcity, plants have evolved several mechanisms involved in metabolic, physiological, and developmental adaptations. In this scenario, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as additional key regulators of nutrients uptake and assimilation. Some studies have demonstrated the intrinsic relation between miRNAs and their targets, and how they can modulate plants to deal with the NPK availability. In this review, we focus on miRNAs and their regulation of targets involved in NPK metabolism. In general, NPK starvation is related with miRNAs that are involved in root-architectural changes and uptake activity modulation. We further show that several miRNAs were discovered to be involved in plant-microbe symbiosis during N and P uptake, and in this way we present a global view of some studies that were conducted in the last years. The integration of current knowledge about miRNA-NPK signaling may help future studies to focus in good candidates genes for the development of important tools for plant nutritional breeding.}, } @article {pmid26136729, year = {2015}, author = {Egan, S and Thomas, T}, title = {Editorial for: Microbial symbiosis of marine sessile hosts- diversity and function.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {585}, pmid = {26136729}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid26136451, year = {2015}, author = {McLean, AH and Godfray, HC}, title = {Evidence for specificity in symbiont-conferred protection against parasitoids.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1811}, pages = {}, pmid = {26136451}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*parasitology/virology ; Bacteriophages/genetics/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*physiology/virology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Ononis/growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many insects harbour facultative symbiotic bacteria, some of which have been shown to provide resistance against natural enemies. One of the best-known protective symbionts is Hamiltonella defensa, which in pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) confers resistance against attack by parasitoid wasps in the genus Aphidius (Braconidae).We asked (i) whether this symbiont also confers protection against a phylogenetically distant group of parasitoids (Aphelinidae) and (ii) whether there are consistent differences in the effects of bacteria found in pea aphid biotypes adapted to different host plants. We found that some H. defensa strains do provide protection against an aphelinid parasitoid Aphelinus abdominalis. Hamiltonella defensa from the Lotus biotype provided high resistance to A. abdominalis and moderate to low resistance to Aphidius ervi, while the reverse was seen from Medicago biotype isolates. Aphids from Ononis showed no evidence of symbiont-mediated protection against either wasp species and were relatively vulnerable to both. Our results may reflect the different selection pressures exerted by the parasitoid community on aphids feeding on different host plants, and could help explain the maintenance of genetic diversity in bacterial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid26133733, year = {2015}, author = {Kamfwa, K and Cichy, KA and Kelly, JD}, title = {Genome-wide association analysis of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in common bean.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {128}, number = {10}, pages = {1999-2017}, pmid = {26133733}, issn = {1432-2242}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*genetics/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Shoots/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Seeds/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Significant SNPs and candidate genes for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and related traits were identified on Pv03, Pv07 and Pv09 chromosomes of common bean. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to explore the genetic basis of variation for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and related traits in the Andean Diversity Panel (ADP) comprising 259 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes. The ADP was evaluated for SNF and related traits in both greenhouse and field experiments. After accounting for population structure and cryptic relatedness, significant SNPs were identified on chromosomes Pv03, Pv07 and Pv09 for nitrogen derived from atmosphere (Ndfa) in the shoot at flowering, and for Ndfa in seed. The SNPs for Ndfa in shoot and Ndfa in seed co-localized on Pv03 and Pv09. Two genes Phvul.007G050500 and Phvul.009G136200 that code for leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLK) were identified as candidate genes for Ndfa. LRR-RLK genes play a key role in signal transduction required for nodule formation. Significant SNPs identified in this study could potentially be used in marker-assisted breeding to accelerate genetic improvement of common bean for SNF.}, } @article {pmid26133016, year = {2015}, author = {Darnall, BD and Schatman, ME}, title = {Toward the Healthiest Symbiosis.}, journal = {Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)}, volume = {16}, number = {7}, pages = {1254-1255}, doi = {10.1111/pme.12828_3}, pmid = {26133016}, issn = {1526-4637}, mesh = {*Bias ; Conflict of Interest/*legislation & jurisprudence ; Education, Medical, Continuing/*ethics ; Humans ; Industry/*ethics ; *Pain ; Societies, Medical/*ethics ; }, } @article {pmid26132469, year = {2015}, author = {Heinonsalo, J and Sun, H and Santalahti, M and Bäcklund, K and Hari, P and Pumpanen, J}, title = {Evidences on the Ability of Mycorrhizal Genus Piloderma to Use Organic Nitrogen and Deliver It to Scots Pine.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e0131561}, pmid = {26132469}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Pinus sylvestris/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Soil ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis has been proposed to link plant photosynthesis and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition through the production of fungal enzymes which promote SOM degradation and nitrogen (N) uptake. However, laboratory and field evidence for the existence of these processes are rare. Piloderma sp., a common ECM genus in boreal forest soil, was chosen as model mycorrhiza for this study. The abundance of Piloderma sp. was studied in root tips and soil over one growing season and in winter. Protease production was measured from ectomycorrhiza and soil solution in the field and pure fungal cultures. We also tested the effect of Piloderma olivaceum on host plant organic N nutrition in the laboratory. The results showed that Piloderma sp. was highly abundant in the field and produced extracellular proteases, which correlated positively with the gross primary production, temperature and soil respiration. In the laboratory, Piloderma olivaceum could improve the ability of Pinus sylvestris L. to utilize N from extragenous proteins. We suggest that ECM fungi, although potentially retaining N in their hyphae, are important in forest C and N cycling due to their ability to access proteinaeous N. As Piloderma sp. abundance appeared to be seasonally highly variable, recycling of fungal-bound N after hyphal death may therefore be of primary importance for the N cycling in boreal ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26131174, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, X and Lan, H and Shen, T and Gu, P and Guo, F and Lin, X and Jin, K}, title = {Perineural invasion: a potential reason of hepatocellular carcinoma bone metastasis.}, journal = {International journal of clinical and experimental medicine}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {5839-5846}, pmid = {26131174}, issn = {1940-5901}, abstract = {The nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of epithelial homeostasis and has also been postulated to play a role in tumorigenesis. Perineural invasion (PNI) is the only interaction between cancer cells and nerves studied to date. It is a symbiotic relationship between cancer cells and nerves that result in growth advantage for both. The potential association between HCC bone metastases and PNI is unknown. In this study, we investigate the nerve density in HCC and paired bone metastases to reveal the potential association of HCC bone metastases and PNI. The nerve density was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and paired bone metastases tissues from 13 HCC patients with synchronous or metachronous bone metastases that underwent surgical resection. FFPE specimens of HCC bone metastases tissues express higher perineural density than HCC tissues, pointing to a potential role of the PNI in bone metastases from HCC. This is the first description of the potential association of PNI and HCC bone metastases.}, } @article {pmid26130822, year = {2015}, author = {Parker, MA and Jankowiak, JG and Landrigan, GK}, title = {Diversifying selection by Desmodiinae legume species on Bradyrhizobium symbionts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv075}, pmid = {26130822}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genomic Islands/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Desmodium and Hylodesmum (Papilionoideae Subtribe Desmodiinae) are among the most common herbaceous perennial legumes native to eastern North America. To analyze the population structure of their Bradyrhizobium sp. root-nodule bacteria, 159 isolates were sampled from ten host species across a 1000 km region. Phylogenetic analysis of four housekeeping loci (2164 bp) and two loci in the symbiosis island (SI) chromosomal region (1374 bp) indicated extensive overlap in symbiont utilization, with each common bacterial clade found on 2-7 species of these legume genera. However, host species differed considerably in the relative proportion of symbionts belonging to different Bradyrhizobium clades. High phylogenetic incongruence between trees for housekeeping loci and SI loci suggested that diversification of these Bradyrhizobium lineages involved substantial horizontal gene transfer. Plant inoculation with strains from six Bradyrhizobium clades revealed marked disparity in relative bacterial reproductive success across four Desmodium species. Estimated yield of Bradyrhizobium progeny cells per plant ranged from zero to >10(9), and strains with high fitness on one host sometimes reproduced poorly on other host species. Diversifying selection on bacteria, arising from differential success in habitats with different Desmodium and Hylodesmum taxa, is therefore likely to affect Bradyrhizobium diversity patterns at the landscape level.}, } @article {pmid26130124, year = {2016}, author = {Forsythe, P}, title = {Microbes taming mast cells: Implications for allergic inflammation and beyond.}, journal = {European journal of pharmacology}, volume = {778}, number = {}, pages = {169-175}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.06.034}, pmid = {26130124}, issn = {1879-0712}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Communication ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*immunology/*microbiology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Mast Cells/*immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {There is increasing awareness of a relationship between our microbiota and the pathogenesis of allergy and other inflammatory diseases. In investigating the mechanisms underlying microbiota modulation of allergy the focus has been on the induction phase; alterations in the phenotype and function of antigen presenting cells, induction of regulatory T cells and shifts in Th1/Th2 balance. However there is evidence that microbes can influence the effector phase of disease, specifically that certain potentially beneficial bacteria can attenuate mast cell activation and degranulation. Furthermore, it appears that different non-pathogenic bacteria can utilize distinct mechanisms to stabilize mast cells, acting locally though direct interaction with the mast cell at mucosal sites or attenuating systemic mast cell dependent responses, likely through indirect signaling mechanisms. The position of mast cells on the frontline of defense against pathogens also suggests they may play an important role in fostering the host-microbiota relationship. Mast cells are also conduits of neuro-immuo-endocrine communication, suggesting the ability of microbes to modulate cell responses may have implications for host physiology beyond immunology. Further investigation of mast cell regulation by non-pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria will likely lead to a greater understanding of host microbiota interaction and the role of the microbiome in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid26126934, year = {2015}, author = {Smith, CC and Mueller, UG}, title = {Sexual transmission of beneficial microbes.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {438-440}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2015.05.006}, pmid = {26126934}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Culicidae/microbiology ; Fungi/virology ; Humans ; Microbiota ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/microbiology/veterinary ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an understudied phenomenon with important implications for the evolution of cooperation and host reproductive behavior. Challenging the prevailing expectation that sexual transmission leads to pathogenesis, these symbionts provide new opportunities to examine how STIs might influence sexual selection and the evolution of promiscuity.}, } @article {pmid26126202, year = {2015}, author = {Alvarez, M and Reynaert, N and Chávez, MN and Aedo, G and Araya, F and Hopfner, U and Fernández, J and Allende, ML and Egaña, JT}, title = {Generation of Viable Plant-Vertebrate Chimeras.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0130295}, pmid = {26126202}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Bioengineering ; Chimera/embryology/genetics/*microbiology ; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Larva/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Microalgae/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Microinjections ; Photosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Zebrafish/embryology/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The extreme dependence on external oxygen supply observed in animals causes major clinical problems and several diseases are related to low oxygen tension in tissues. The vast majority of the animals do not produce oxygen but a few exceptions have shown that photosynthetic capacity is physiologically compatible with animal life. Such symbiotic photosynthetic relationships are restricted to a few aquatic invertebrates. In this work we aimed to explore if we could create a chimerical organism by incorporating photosynthetic eukaryotic cells into a vertebrate animal model. Here, the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was injected into zebrafish eggs and the interaction and viability of both organisms were studied. Results show that microalgae were distributed into different tissues, forming a fish-alga chimera organism for a prolonged period of time. In addition, microscopic observation of injected algae, in vivo expression of their mRNA and re-growth of the algae ex vivo suggests that they survived to the developmental process, living for several days after injection. Moreover microalgae did not trigger a significant inflammatory response in the fish. This work provides additional evidence to support the possibility that photosynthetic vertebrates can be engineered.}, } @article {pmid26124451, year = {2015}, author = {Eeckhaut, I and Caulier, G and Brasseur, L and Flammang, P and Gerbaux, P and Parmentier, E}, title = {Effects of Holothuroid Ichtyotoxic Saponins on the Gills of Free-Living Fishes and Symbiotic Pearlfishes.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {228}, number = {3}, pages = {253-265}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv228n3p253}, pmid = {26124451}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects ; Fishes/*physiology ; Gills/*drug effects/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Saponins/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Sea Cucumbers/*chemistry/*physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Several carapid fishes, known as pearlfishes, are endosymbiotic in holothuroids and asteroids. These echinoderms contain a strong concentration of saponins that are efficient membranolytic repellents to predators. We compared the effects of exposure to saponins from the sea cucumber body wall and from the Cuvierian tubules on the behavior and gill ultrastructure of pearlfishes and free-living fishes. Saponins were extracted from the body wall of two holothuroids, the Mediterranean Holothuria forskali and the tropical Bohadschia atra, and from the water surrounding the Cuvierian tubules of B. atra. Five species of carapids that live in symbiosis with holothuroids and seven species of free-living fishes were exposed to these extracts. The free-living fishes exhibited a stress response and died about 45 times faster than pearlfishes when exposed to the same quantity of saponins. Cuvierian tubules and saponins extracted from the body wall were lethal to the free-living fishes, whereas the carapids were much less sensitive. The carapids did not exhibit a stress response. The high toxicity shown by Cuvierian tubules was not explained by the nature of the saponins that were identified by mass spectrometry, but it is likely due to the higher concentration of saponins in the tubules. Histology and scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the gills of the free-living fishes and pearlfishes showed that saponins act at the level of the secondary lamellae where they induce the detachment of the epithelia, create edema at the level of the epithelia, and induce pores in the epithelial cells that lead to their destruction and the invasion of inner cells (pillar cells and red blood cells). This sequence of events happens 5 min after saponin exposure in free-living fishes and after 1 h in carapids.}, } @article {pmid26123673, year = {2015}, author = {Sharma, R and Kishore, A and Mukesh, M and Ahlawat, S and Maitra, A and Pandey, AK and Tantia, MS}, title = {Genetic diversity and relationship of Indian cattle inferred from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers.}, journal = {BMC genetics}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {73}, pmid = {26123673}, issn = {1471-2156}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Gene Frequency ; *Genetic Markers ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; India ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Indian agriculture is an economic symbiosis of crop and livestock production with cattle as the foundation. Sadly, the population of indigenous cattle (Bos indicus) is declining (8.94% in last decade) and needs immediate scientific management. Genetic characterization is the first step in the development of proper management strategies for preserving genetic diversity and preventing undesirable loss of alleles. Thus, in this study we investigated genetic diversity and relationship among eleven Indian cattle breeds using 21 microsatellite markers and mitochondrial D loop sequence.

RESULTS: The analysis of autosomal DNA was performed on 508 cattle which exhibited sufficient genetic diversity across all the breeds. Estimates of mean allele number and observed heterozygosity across all loci and population were 8.784 ± 0.25 and 0.653 ± 0.014, respectively. Differences among breeds accounted for 13.3% of total genetic variability. Despite high genetic diversity, significant inbreeding was also observed within eight populations. Genetic distances and cluster analysis showed a close relationship between breeds according to proximity in geographic distribution. The genetic distance, STRUCTURE and Principal Coordinate Analysis concluded that the Southern Indian Ongole cattle are the most distinct among the investigated cattle populations. Sequencing of hypervariable mitochondrial DNA region on a subset of 170 cattle revealed sixty haplotypes with haplotypic diversity of 0.90240, nucleotide diversity of 0.02688 and average number of nucleotide differences as 6.07407. Two major star clusters for haplotypes indicated population expansion for Indian cattle.

CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear and mitochondrial genomes show a similar pattern of genetic variability and genetic differentiation. Various analyses concluded that the Southern breed 'Ongole' was distinct from breeds of Northern/ Central India. Overall these results provide basic information about genetic diversity and structure of Indian cattle which should have implications for management and conservation of indicine cattle diversity.}, } @article {pmid26123288, year = {2015}, author = {Swain, TD and Schellinger, JL and Strimaitis, AM and Reuter, KE}, title = {Evolution of anthozoan polyp retraction mechanisms: convergent functional morphology and evolutionary allometry of the marginal musculature in order Zoanthidea (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia).}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {123}, pmid = {26123288}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Muscles/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/anatomy & histology/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Retraction is among the most important basic behaviors of anthozoan Cnidaria polyps and is achieved through the coordinated contraction of at least six different muscle groups. Across the Anthozoa, these muscles range from unrecognizable atrophies to massive hypertrophies, producing a wide diversity of retraction abilities and functional morphologies. The marginal musculature is often the single largest component of the retraction mechanism and is composed of a diversity of muscular, attachment, and structural features. Although the arrangements of these features have defined the higher taxonomy of Zoanthidea for more than 100 years, a decade of inferring phylogenies from nucleotide sequences has demonstrated fundamental misconceptions of their evolution.

RESULTS: Here we expand the diversity of known marginal muscle forms from two to at least ten basic states and reconstruct the evolution of its functional morphology across the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny available. We demonstrate that the evolution of these forms follows a series of transitions that are much more complex than previously hypothesized and converge on similar forms multiple times. Evolution of the marginal musculature and its attachment and support structures are partially scaled according to variation in polyp and muscle size, but also vary through evolutionary allometry.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the retraction mechanisms are diverse and their evolutionary histories complex, their morphologies are largely reflective of the evolutionary relationships among Zoanthidea higher taxa and may offer a key feature for integrative systematics. The convergence on similar forms across multiple linages of Zoanthidea mirrors the evolution of the marginal musculature in another anthozoan order (Actiniaria). The marginal musculature varies through evolutionary allometry of functional morphologies in response to requirements for additional force and resistance, and the specific ecological and symbiotic functions of individual taxa.}, } @article {pmid26119469, year = {2015}, author = {Małolepszy, A and Urbański, DF and James, EK and Sandal, N and Isono, E and Stougaard, J and Andersen, SU}, title = {The deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH1 is required for rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {83}, number = {4}, pages = {719-731}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12922}, pmid = {26119469}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*enzymology/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases/genetics/*metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis contributes large quantities of fixed nitrogen to both agricultural and natural ecosystems. This global impact and the selective interaction between rhizobia and legumes culminating in development of functional root nodules have prompted detailed studies of the underlying mechanisms. We performed a screen for aberrant nodulation phenotypes using the Lotus japonicus LORE1 insertion mutant collection. Here, we describe the identification of amsh1 mutants that only develop small nodule primordia and display stunted shoot growth, and show that the aberrant nodulation phenotype caused by LORE1 insertions in the Amsh1 gene may be separated from the shoot phenotype. In amsh1 mutants, rhizobia initially became entrapped in infection threads with thickened cells walls. Some rhizobia were released into plant cells much later than observed for the wild-type; however, no typical symbiosome structures were formed. Furthermore, cytokinin treatment only very weakly induced nodule organogenesis in amsh1 mutants, suggesting that AMSH1 function is required downstream of cytokinin signaling. Biochemical analysis showed that AMSH1 is an active deubiquitinating enzyme, and that AMSH1 specifically cleaves K63-linked ubiquitin chains. Post-translational ubiquitination and deubiquitination processes involving the AMSH1 deubiquitinating enzyme are thus involved in both infection and organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, } @article {pmid26117729, year = {2015}, author = {Castillo, MG and Salazar, KA and Joffe, NR}, title = {The immune response of cephalopods from head to foot.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {145-160}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2015.05.029}, pmid = {26117729}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Cephalopoda/*immunology ; *Immunity, Cellular ; *Immunity, Humoral ; }, abstract = {Cephalopods are a diverse group of marine molluscs that have proven their worth in a vast array of ways, ranging from their importance within ecological settings and increasing commercial value, to their recent use as model organisms in biological research. However, despite their acknowledged importance, our understanding of basic cephalopod biology does not equate their ecological, societal, and scientific significance. Among these undeveloped research areas, cephalopod immunology stands out because it encompasses a wide variety of scientific fields including many within the biological and chemical sciences, and because of its potential biomedical and commercial relevance. This review aims to address the current knowledge on the topic of cephalopod immunity, focusing on components and functions already established as part of the animals' internal defense mechanisms, as well as identifying gaps that would benefit from future research. More specifically, the present review details both cellular and humoral defenses, and organizes them into sensor, signaling, and effector components. Molluscan, and particularly cephalopod immunology has lagged behind many other areas of study, but thanks to the efforts of many dedicated researchers and the assistance of modern technology, this gap is steadily decreasing. A better understanding of cephalopod immunity will have a positive impact on the health and survival of one of the most intriguing and unique animal groups on the planet, and will certainly influence many other areas of human interest such as ecology, evolution, physiology, symbiosis, and aquaculture.}, } @article {pmid26116978, year = {2015}, author = {Shinya, T and Nakagawa, T and Kaku, H and Shibuya, N}, title = {Chitin-mediated plant-fungal interactions: catching, hiding and handshaking.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {64-71}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.05.032}, pmid = {26116978}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Chitin/*metabolism ; Fungi/*pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants can detect infecting fungi through the perception of chitin oligosaccharides by lysin motif receptors such as CEBiP and CERK1. A major function of CERK1 seems to be as a signaling molecule in the receptor complex formed with ligand-binding molecules and to activate downstream defense signaling. Fungal pathogens, however, have developed counter strategies to escape from the chitin-mediated detection by using effectors and/or changing their cell walls. Common structural features between chitin and Nod-/Myc-factors and corresponding receptors have suggested the close relationships between the chitin-mediated immunity and rhizobial/arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. The recent discovery of the dual function of OsCERK1 in both plant immunity and mycorrhizal symbiosis sheds new light on the evolutionary relationships between defense and symbiotic systems in plants.}, } @article {pmid26116977, year = {2015}, author = {Maróti, G and Downie, JA and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Plant cysteine-rich peptides that inhibit pathogen growth and control rhizobial differentiation in legume nodules.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {57-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.05.031}, pmid = {26116977}, issn = {1879-0356}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000012/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cysteine/*chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Peptides/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants must co-exist with both pathogenic and beneficial microbes. Antimicrobial peptides with broad antimicrobial activities represent one of the first lines of defense against pathogens. Many plant cysteine-rich peptides with potential antimicrobial properties have been predicted. Amongst them, defensins and defensin-like peptides are the most abundant and plants can express several hundreds of them. In some rhizobial-legume symbioses special defensin-like peptides, the nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides have evolved in those legumes whose symbiotic partner terminally differentiates. In Medicago truncatula, >700 NCRs exist and collectively act as plant effectors inducing irreversible differentiation of rhizobia to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Cationic NCR peptides have a broad range of potent antimicrobial activities but do not kill the endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid26116975, year = {2015}, author = {Plett, JM and Martin, F}, title = {Reconsidering mutualistic plant-fungal interactions through the lens of effector biology.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {45-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.06.001}, pmid = {26116975}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic mycorrhizal plant-fungal interactions have shaped the evolution of plant life on land. In these intimate associations, fungal hyphae grow invasively within plant tissues. Despite this invasion, these mycorrhizal fungi are not repulsed leading to a great deal of research focused on the signals exchanged between mutualistic fungi and their host plants in an effort to understand how these relationships are established. In this review, we focus on one type of signal used by mutualistic fungi during symbiosis: effector proteins. These small secreted proteins have recently been found to be used by a range of beneficial fungi to alter the physiological status of the plant host such that symbiosis is favoured. We discuss how the role of these novel proteins has altered our vision of how the 'mutualistic' lifestyle evolved in fungi: rather than being perceived as beneficial by their plant hosts, these microbes currently viewed as 'beneficial' may actually be overcoming the defences of their plant hosts in a mechanism originally thought to be unique to pathogenic microbes.}, } @article {pmid26116716, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, JK and Son, DW and Kim, CH and Cho, JH and Marchetti, R and Silipo, A and Sturiale, L and Park, HY and Huh, YR and Nakayama, H and Fukatsu, T and Molinaro, A and Lee, BL}, title = {Insect Gut Symbiont Susceptibility to Host Antimicrobial Peptides Caused by Alteration of the Bacterial Cell Envelope.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {290}, number = {34}, pages = {21042-21053}, pmid = {26116716}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology ; Burkholderia/*chemistry/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Cell Membrane/chemistry/drug effects/metabolism ; Cell Wall/*chemistry/drug effects/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Heteroptera/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; O Antigens/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The molecular characterization of symbionts is pivotal for understanding the cross-talk between symbionts and hosts. In addition to valuable knowledge obtained from symbiont genomic studies, the biochemical characterization of symbionts is important to fully understand symbiotic interactions. The bean bug (Riptortus pedestris) has been recognized as a useful experimental insect gut symbiosis model system because of its cultivatable Burkholderia symbionts. This system is greatly advantageous because it allows the acquisition of a large quantity of homogeneous symbionts from the host midgut. Using these naïve gut symbionts, it is possible to directly compare in vivo symbiotic cells with in vitro cultured cells using biochemical approaches. With the goal of understanding molecular changes that occur in Burkholderia cells as they adapt to the Riptortus gut environment, we first elucidated that symbiotic Burkholderia cells are highly susceptible to purified Riptortus antimicrobial peptides. In search of the mechanisms of the increased immunosusceptibility of symbionts, we found striking differences in cell envelope structures between cultured and symbiotic Burkholderia cells. The bacterial lipopolysaccharide O antigen was absent from symbiotic cells examined by gel electrophoretic and mass spectrometric analyses, and their membranes were more sensitive to detergent lysis. These changes in the cell envelope were responsible for the increased susceptibility of the Burkholderia symbionts to host innate immunity. Our results suggest that the symbiotic interactions between the Riptortus host and Burkholderia gut symbionts induce bacterial cell envelope changes to achieve successful gut symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26116674, year = {2015}, author = {Haagensen, JA and Hansen, SK and Christensen, BB and Pamp, SJ and Molin, S}, title = {Development of Spatial Distribution Patterns by Biofilm Cells.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {18}, pages = {6120-6128}, pmid = {26116674}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/*physiology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; *Microbial Consortia ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Pseudomonas putida/*physiology ; Time-Lapse Imaging ; }, abstract = {Confined spatial patterns of microbial distribution are prevalent in nature, such as in microbial mats, soil communities, and water stream biofilms. The symbiotic two-species consortium of Pseudomonas putida and Acinetobacter sp. strain C6, originally isolated from a creosote-polluted aquifer, has evolved a distinct spatial organization in the laboratory that is characterized by an increased fitness and productivity. In this consortium, P. putida is reliant on microcolonies formed by Acinetobacter sp. C6, to which it attaches. Here we describe the processes that lead to the microcolony pattern by Acinetobacter sp. C6. Ecological spatial pattern analyses revealed that the microcolonies were not entirely randomly distributed and instead were arranged in a uniform pattern. Detailed time-lapse confocal microscopy at the single-cell level demonstrated that the spatial pattern was the result of an intriguing self-organization: small multicellular clusters moved along the surface to fuse with one another to form microcolonies. This active distribution capability was dependent on environmental factors (carbon source and oxygen) and historical contingency (formation of phenotypic variants). The findings of this study are discussed in the context of species distribution patterns observed in macroecology, and we summarize observations about the processes involved in coadaptation between P. putida and Acinetobacter sp. C6. Our results contribute to an understanding of spatial species distribution patterns as they are observed in nature, as well as the ecology of engineered communities that have the potential for enhanced and sustainable bioprocessing capacity.}, } @article {pmid26114142, year = {2015}, author = {Akbari, S and Oshaghi, MA and Hashemi-Aghdam, SS and Hajikhani, S and Oshaghi, G and Shirazi, MH}, title = {Aerobic Bacterial Community of American Cockroach Periplaneta americana,a Step toward Finding Suitable Paratransgenesis Candidates.}, journal = {Journal of arthropod-borne diseases}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {35-48}, pmid = {26114142}, issn = {2322-1984}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cockroaches mechanically spread pathogenic agents, however, little is known about their gut microbiota. Identification of midgut microbial community helps targeting novel biological control strategies such as paratransgenesis. Here the bacterial microbiota of Periplaneta americana midgut, were identified and evaluated for finding proper paratransgenesis candidate.

METHODS: Midgut of specimens were dissected and cultivated in different media. The bacterial isolates were then identified using the phenotypic and 16S-rRNA sequencing methods.

RESULTS: The analytical profile index (API) kit showed presence of 11 bacterial species including: Escherichia coli, Shigella flexineri, Citrobacter freundii, E. vulneris, Enterobacter cloacae, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Y. intermedia, Leclericia adecarboxylata, Klebsiella oxytoca, K. planticola, and Rahnella aquatilis in the cockroach midguts. The first three species are potentially symbiotic whereas others are transient. The conventional plating method revealed presence of only four isolates of Salmonella, E. coli, and Proteus which in three cases mismatched with API and 16S-rRNA genotyping. The API correctly identified the four isolates as Shigella flexneri, Citrobacter freundii, and E. coli (n= 2). 16S-rRNA sequence analysis confirmed the API results; however the C. freundii sequence was identical with C. murliniae indicating lack of genetic variation in the gene between these two closely related species.

CONCLUSION: A low number of potentially symbiotic bacteria were found in the American cockroach midguts. Among them Enterobacter cloacae is a potential candidate for paratransgenesis approach whereas other bacteria are pathogens and are not useful for the approach. Data analysis showed that identification levels increase from the conventional to API and to genotyping respectively.}, } @article {pmid26114108, year = {2015}, author = {Zverkov, OA and Seliverstov, AV and Lyubetsky, VA}, title = {A Database of Plastid Protein Families from Red Algae and Apicomplexa and Expression Regulation of the moeB Gene.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {510598}, pmid = {26114108}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Apicomplexa/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Chloroplast Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Databases, Protein ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; Rhodophyta/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {We report the database of plastid protein families from red algae, secondary and tertiary rhodophyte-derived plastids, and Apicomplexa constructed with the novel method to infer orthology. The families contain proteins with maximal sequence similarity and minimal paralogous content. The database contains 6509 protein entries, 513 families and 278 nonsingletons (from which 230 are paralog-free, and among the remaining 48, 46 contain at maximum two proteins per species, and 2 contain at maximum three proteins per species). The method is compared with other approaches. Expression regulation of the moeB gene is studied using this database and the model of RNA polymerase competition. An analogous database obtained for green algae and their symbiotic descendants, and applications based on it are published earlier.}, } @article {pmid26113689, year = {2015}, author = {Kellner, K and Ishak, HD and Linksvayer, TA and Mueller, UG}, title = {Bacterial community composition and diversity in an ancestral ant fungus symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {7}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv073}, pmid = {26113689}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Lactobacillus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Microbial Consortia ; Panama ; Pantoea/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Fungus-farming ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Attini) exhibit some of the most complex microbial symbioses because both macroscopic partners (ants and fungus) are associated with a rich community of microorganisms. The ant and fungal microbiomes are thought to serve important beneficial nutritional and defensive roles in these symbioses. While most recent research has investigated the bacterial communities in the higher attines (e.g. the leaf-cutter ant genera Atta and Acromyrmex), which are often associated with antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria, very little is known about the microbial communities in basal lineages, labeled as 'lower attines', which retain the ancestral traits of smaller and more simple societies. In this study, we used 16S amplicon pyrosequencing to characterize bacterial communities of the lower attine ant Mycocepurus smithii among seven sampling sites in central Panama. We discovered that ant and fungus garden-associated microbiota were distinct from surrounding soil, but unlike the situation in the derived fungus-gardening ants, which show distinct ant and fungal microbiomes, microbial community structure of the ants and their fungi were similar. Another surprising finding was that the abundance of actinomycete bacteria was low and instead, these symbioses were characterized by an abundance of Lactobacillus and Pantoea bacteria. Furthermore, our data indicate that Lactobacillus strains are acquired from the environment rather than acquired vertically.}, } @article {pmid26111733, year = {2015}, author = {Roterman, YR and Benayahu, Y and Reshef, L and Gophna, U}, title = {The gill microbiota of invasive and indigenous Spondylus oysters from the Mediterranean Sea and northern Red Sea.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {860-867}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12315}, pmid = {26111733}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Gills/*microbiology ; Indian Ocean ; Mediterranean Sea ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Ostreidae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {The gill tissue of bivalve mollusks hosts rich symbiotic microbial communities that may contribute to the animal's metabolism. Spondylus spinosus is an invasive oyster that has become highly abundant along the eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) coastline, but is scarce in the northern Red Sea (NRS), its indigenous region. The composition and seasonal dynamics of the gill microbial communities of S. spinosus were examined in both regions, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Additionally, two Red Sea Spondylus species, S. avramsingeri and S. pickeringae, were investigated using the same approach. Significant differences were found between microbial communities of the EMS S. spinosus and the three NRS species. Bacteria from the family Hahellaceae dominated the communities of the EMS S. spinosus and the NRS S. avramsingeri, oysters that are dominant in their habitat, yet were rare in the NRS S. spinosus and S. pickeringae, which are only seldom encountered. Bacterial communities of EMS S. spinosus were more similar to those of NRS S. spinosus than to those of other NRS Spondylus species, indicating that either part of the microbiota had co-invaded with their host into the Mediterranean Sea, or that there are species-specific selective constraints on microbial composition.}, } @article {pmid26111583, year = {2015}, author = {Field, KJ and Pressel, S and Duckett, JG and Rimington, WR and Bidartondo, MI}, title = {Symbiotic options for the conquest of land.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {477-486}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2015.05.007}, pmid = {26111583}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Embryophyta/*microbiology ; Fossils ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The domination of the landmasses of Earth by plants starting during the Ordovician Period drastically altered the development of the biosphere and the composition of the atmosphere, with far-reaching consequences for all life ever since. It is widely thought that symbiotic soil fungi facilitated the colonization of the terrestrial environment by plants. However, recent discoveries in molecular ecology, physiology, cytology, and paleontology have brought into question the hitherto-assumed identity and biology of the fungi engaged in symbiosis with the earliest-diverging lineages of extant land plants. Here, we reconsider the existing paradigm and show that the symbiotic options available to the first plants emerging onto the land were more varied than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid26110714, year = {2015}, author = {Merkling, SH and van Rij, RP}, title = {Analysis of resistance and tolerance to virus infection in Drosophila.}, journal = {Nature protocols}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {1084-1097}, doi = {10.1038/nprot.2015.071}, pmid = {26110714}, issn = {1750-2799}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/microbiology/*virology ; Female ; Genes, Insect ; Genetic Variation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Viruses/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Male ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Host defense to virus infection involves both resistance mechanisms that reduce viral burden and tolerance mechanisms that limit detrimental effects of infection. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has emerged as a model for identifying and characterizing the genetic basis of resistance and tolerance. This protocol describes how to analyze host responses to virus infection in Drosophila, and it covers the preparation of virus stocks, experimental inoculation of flies and assessment of host survival and virus production, which are indicative of resistance or tolerance. It also provides guidance on how to account for recently identified confounding factors, including natural genetic variation in the pastrel locus and contamination of fly stocks with persistent viruses and the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. Our protocol aims to be accessible to newcomers to the field and, although optimized for virus research using Drosophila, some of the techniques could be adapted to other host organisms and/or other microbial pathogens. Preparation of fly stocks requires ∼1 month, virus stock preparation requires 17-20 d, virus injection and survival assays require 10-15 d and virus titration requires 14 d.}, } @article {pmid26108631, year = {2015}, author = {Kieft, TL and Simmons, KA}, title = {Allometry of animal-microbe interactions and global census of animal-associated microbes.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1810}, pages = {}, pmid = {26108631}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {P20 GM103451/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Body Weight ; Invertebrates/*microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Vertebrates/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Animals live in close association with microorganisms, mostly prokaryotes, living in or on them as commensals, mutualists or parasites, and profoundly affecting host fitness. Most animal-microbe studies focus on microbial community structure; for this project, allometry (scaling of animal attributes with animal size) was applied to animal-microbe relationships across a range of species spanning 12 orders of magnitude in animal mass, from nematodes to whales. Microbial abundances per individual animal were gleaned from published literature and also microscopically counted in three species. Abundance of prokaryotes/individual versus animal mass scales as a nearly linear power function (exponent = 1.07, R(2) = 0.94). Combining this power function with allometry of animal abundance indicates that macrofauna have an outsized share of animal-associated microorganisms. The total number of animal-associated prokaryotes in Earth's land animals was calculated to be 1.3-1.4 × 10(25) cells and the total of marine animal-associated microbes was calculated to be 8.6-9.0 × 10(24) cells. Animal-associated microbes thus total 2.1-2.3 × 10(25) of the approximately 10(30) prokaryotes on the Earth. Microbes associated with humans comprise 3.3-3.5% of Earth's animal-associated microbes, and domestic animals harbour 14-20% of all animal-associated microbes, adding a new dimension to the scale of human impact on the biosphere. This novel allometric power function may reflect underlying mechanisms involving the transfer of energy and materials between microorganisms and their animal hosts. Microbial diversity indices of animal gut communities and gut microbial species richness for 60 mammals did not indicate significant scaling relationships with animal body mass; however, further research in this area is warranted.}, } @article {pmid26108501, year = {2015}, author = {Rosic, NN and Braun, C and Kvaskoff, D}, title = {Extraction and Analysis of Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids in Marine Algae.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1308}, number = {}, pages = {119-129}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-2684-8_6}, pmid = {26108501}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Amino Acids/analysis/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry/physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry/physiology ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Rhodophyta/*chemistry/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine organisms use mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) as biological sunscreens for the protection from damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the prevention of oxidative stress. MAAs have been discovered in many different marine and freshwater species including cyanobacteria, fungi, and algae, but also in animals like cnidarian and fishes. Here, we describe a general method for the isolation and characterization of MAA compounds from red algae and symbiotic dinoflagellates isolated from coral hosts. This method is also suitable for the extraction and analyses of MAAs from a range of other algal and marine biota.}, } @article {pmid26106901, year = {2015}, author = {Guefrachi, I and Pierre, O and Timchenko, T and Alunni, B and Barrière, Q and Czernic, P and Villaécija-Aguilar, JA and Verly, C and Bourge, M and Fardoux, J and Mars, M and Kondorosi, E and Giraud, E and Mergaert, P}, title = {Bradyrhizobium BclA Is a Peptide Transporter Required for Bacterial Differentiation in Symbiosis with Aeschynomene Legumes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {11}, pages = {1155-1166}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-15-0094-R}, pmid = {26106901}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago/metabolism/microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Peptides/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Polyploidy ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodules of legume plants are highly integrated symbiotic systems shaped by millions of years of evolution. They harbor nitrogen-fixing rhizobium bacteria called bacteroids. Several legume species produce peptides called nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides in the symbiotic nodule cells which house the bacteroids. NCR peptides are related to antimicrobial peptides of innate immunity. They induce the endosymbionts into a differentiated, enlarged, and polyploid state. The bacterial symbionts, on their side, evolved functions for the response to the NCR peptides. Here, we identified the bclA gene of Bradyrhizobium sp. strains ORS278 and ORS285, which is required for the formation of differentiated and functional bacteroids in the nodules of the NCR peptide-producing Aeschynomene legumes. The BclA ABC transporter promotes the import of NCR peptides and provides protection against the antimicrobial activity of these peptides. Moreover, BclA can complement the role of the related BacA transporter of Sinorhizobium meliloti, which has a similar symbiotic function in the interaction with Medicago legumes.}, } @article {pmid26105827, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, J and Si, Z and Li, F and Xiong, X and Lei, L and Xie, F and Chen, D and Li, Y and Li, Y}, title = {A purple acid phosphatase plays a role in nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Astragalus sinicus.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {88}, number = {6}, pages = {515-529}, pmid = {26105827}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Astragalus Plant/*enzymology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; DNA, Plant ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Gene Silencing ; Glycoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Time Factors ; Up-Regulation/physiology ; }, abstract = {The AsPPD1 gene from Astragalus sinicus encodes a purple acid phosphatase. To address the functions of AsPPD1 in legume-rhizobium symbiosis, its expression patterns, enzyme activity, subcellular localization, and phenotypes associated with its over-expression and RNA interference (RNAi) were investigated. The expression of AsPPD1 was up-regulated in roots and nodules after inoculation with rhizobia. Phosphate starvation reduced the levels of AsPPD1 transcripts in roots while increased those levels in nodules. We confirmed the acid phosphatase and phosphodiesterase activities of recombinant AsPPD1 purified from Pichia pastoris, and demonstrated its ability to hydrolyze ADP and ATP in vitro. Subcellular localization showed that AsPPD1 located on the plasma membranes in hairy roots and on the symbiosomes membranes in root nodules. Over-expression of AsPPD1 in hairy roots inhibited nodulation, while its silencing resulted in nodules early senescence and significantly decreased nitrogenase activity. Furthermore, HPLC measurement showed that AsPPD1 overexpression affects the ADP levels in the infected roots and nodules, AsPPD1 silencing affects the ratio of ATP/ADP and the energy charge in nodules, and quantitative observation demonstrated the changes of AsPPD1 transcripts level affected nodule primordia formation. Taken together, it is speculated that AsPPD1 contributes to symbiotic ADP levels and energy charge control, and this is required for effective nodule organogenesis and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid26105186, year = {2015}, author = {Davis, BJ and Phillips, RD and Wright, M and Linde, CC and Dixon, KW}, title = {Continent-wide distribution in mycorrhizal fungi: implications for the biogeography of specialized orchids.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {116}, number = {3}, pages = {413-421}, pmid = {26105186}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Germination ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Dispersal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although mycorrhizal associations are predominantly generalist, specialized mycorrhizal interactions have repeatedly evolved in Orchidaceae, suggesting a potential role in limiting the geographical range of orchid species. In particular, the Australian orchid flora is characterized by high mycorrhizal specialization and short-range endemism. This study investigates the mycorrhizae used by Pheladenia deformis, one of the few orchid species to occur across the Australian continent. Specifically, it examines whether P. deformis is widely distributed through using multiple fungi or a single widespread fungus, and if the fungi used by Australian orchids are widespread at the continental scale.

METHODS: Mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from P. deformis populations in eastern and western Australia. Germination trials using seed from western Australian populations were conducted to test if these fungi supported germination, regardless of the region in which they occurred. A phylogenetic analysis was undertaken using isolates from P. deformis and other Australian orchids that use the genus Sebacina to test for the occurrence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in eastern and western Australia.

KEY RESULTS: With the exception of one isolate, all fungi used by P. deformis belonged to a single fungal OTU of Sebacina. Fungal isolates from eastern and western Australia supported germination of P. deformis. A phylogenetic analysis of Australian Sebacina revealed that all of the OTUs that had been well sampled occurred on both sides of the continent.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of a widespread fungal OTU in P. deformis enables a broad distribution despite high mycorrhizal specificity. The Sebacina OTUs that are used by a range of Australian orchids occur on both sides of the continent, demonstrating that the short-range endemism prevalent in the orchids is not driven by fungal species with narrow distributions. Alternatively, a combination of specific edaphic requirements and a high incidence of pollination by sexual deception may explain biogeographic patterns in southern Australian orchids.}, } @article {pmid26104700, year = {2015}, author = {Fujiwara, H}, title = {Site-specific non-LTR retrotransposons.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {MDNA3-0001-2014}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0001-2014}, pmid = {26104700}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; DNA/*metabolism ; Humans ; Molecular Biology/methods ; *Recombination, Genetic ; *Reverse Transcription ; *Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements ; }, abstract = {Although most of non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are incorporated in the host genome almost randomly, some non-LTR retrotransposons are incorporated into specific sequences within a target site. On the basis of structural and phylogenetic features, non-LTR retrotransposons are classified into two large groups, restriction enzyme-like endonuclease (RLE)-encoding elements and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE)-encoding elements. All clades of RLE-encoding non-LTR retrotransposons include site-specific elements. However, only two of more than 20 APE-encoding clades, Tx1 and R1, contain site-specific non-LTR elements. Site-specific non-LTR retrotransposons usually target within multi-copy RNA genes, such as rRNA gene (rDNA) clusters, or repetitive genomic sequences, such as telomeric repeats; this behavior may be a symbiotic strategy to reduce the damage to the host genome. Site- and sequence-specificity are variable even among closely related non-LTR elements and appeared to have changed during evolution. In the APE-encoding elements, the primary determinant of the sequence- specific integration is APE itself, which nicks one strand of the target DNA during the initiation of target primed reverse transcription (TPRT). However, other factors, such as interaction between mRNA and the target DNA, and access to the target region in the nuclei also affect the sequence-specificity. In contrast, in the RLE-encoding elements, DNA-binding motifs appear to affect their sequence-specificity, rather than the RLE domain itself. Highly specific integration properties of these site-specific non-LTR elements make them ideal alternative tools for sequence-specific gene delivery, particularly for therapeutic purposes in human diseases.}, } @article {pmid26104690, year = {2015}, author = {Curcio, MJ and Lutz, S and Lesage, P}, title = {The Ty1 LTR-Retrotransposon of Budding Yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {MDNA3-0053-2014}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0053-2014}, pmid = {26104690}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {*DNA Replication ; Genes, Fungal ; Recombination, Genetic ; *Retroelements ; Reverse Transcription ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Long-terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposons generate a copy of their DNA (cDNA) by reverse transcription of their RNA genome in cytoplasmic nucleocapsids. They are widespread in the eukaryotic kingdom and are the evolutionary progenitors of retroviruses. The Ty1 element of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the first LTR-retrotransposon demonstrated to mobilize through an RNA intermediate, and not surprisingly, is the best studied. The depth of our knowledge of Ty1 biology stems not only from the predominance of active Ty1 elements in the S. cerevisiae genome but also the ease and breadth of genomic, biochemical, and cell biology approaches available to study cellular processes in yeast. This review describes the basic structure of Ty1 and its gene products, the replication cycle, the rapidly expanding compendium of host cofactors known to influence retrotransposition, and the nature of Ty1's elaborate symbiosis with its host. Our goal is to illuminate the value of Ty1 as a paradigm to explore the biology of LTR-retrotransposons in multicellular organisms, where the low frequency of retrotransposition events presents a formidable barrier to investigations of retrotransposon biology.}, } @article {pmid26104575, year = {2015}, author = {Wilke, AB and Marrelli, MT}, title = {Paratransgenesis: a promising new strategy for mosquito vector control.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {342}, pmid = {26104575}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Culicidae/*genetics/*physiology ; Insect Vectors/*genetics ; Mosquito Control/*methods ; Neglected Diseases/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {The three main mosquito genera, Anopheles, Aedes and Culex, transmit respectively malaria, dengue and lymphatic filariasis. Current mosquito control strategies have proved unsuccessful, and there still is a substantial number of morbidity and mortality from these diseases. Genetic control methods have now arisen as promising alternative strategies, based on two approaches: the replacement of a vector population by disease-refractory mosquitoes and the release of mosquitoes carrying a lethal gene to suppress target populations. However, substantial hurdles and limitations need to be overcome if these methods are to be used successfully, the most significant being that a transgenic mosquito strain is required for every target species, making genetically modified mosquito strategies inviable when there are multiple vector mosquitoes in the same area. Genetically modified bacteria capable of colonizing a wide range of mosquito species may be a solution to this problem and another option for the control of these diseases. In the paratransgenic approach, symbiotic bacteria are genetically modified and reintroduced in mosquitoes, where they express effector molecules. For this approach to be used in practice, however, requires a better understanding of mosquito microbiota and that symbiotic bacteria and effector molecules be identified. Paratransgenesis could prove very useful in mosquito species that are inherently difficult to transform or in sibling species complexes. In this approach, a genetic modified bacteria can act by: (a) causing pathogenic effects in the host; (b) interfering with the host's reproduction; (c) reducing the vector's competence; and (d) interfering with oogenesis and embryogenesis. It is a much more flexible and adaptable approach than the use of genetically modified mosquitoes because effector molecules and symbiotic bacteria can be replaced if they do not achieve the desired result. Paratransgenesis may therefore become an important integrated pest management tool for mosquito control.}, } @article {pmid26104371, year = {2014}, author = {Lagares, A and Sanjuán, J and Pistorio, M}, title = {The Plasmid Mobilome of the Model Plant-Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti: Coming up with New Questions and Answers.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1128/microbiolspec.PLAS-0005-2013}, pmid = {26104371}, issn = {2165-0497}, mesh = {Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA Replication ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; Medicago/microbiology ; Melilotus/microbiology ; *Plasmids ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trigonella/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are Gram-negative Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria living in the underground which have the ability to associate with legumes for the establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbioses. Sinorhizobium meliloti in particular-the symbiont of Medicago, Melilotus, and Trigonella spp.-has for the past decades served as a model organism for investigating, at the molecular level, the biology, biochemistry, and genetics of a free-living and symbiotic soil bacterium of agricultural relevance. To date, the genomes of seven different S. meliloti strains have been fully sequenced and annotated, and several other draft genomic sequences are also available. The vast amount of plasmid DNA that S. meliloti frequently bears (up to 45% of its total genome), the conjugative ability of some of those plasmids, and the extent of the plasmid diversity has provided researchers with an extraordinary system to investigate functional and structural plasmid molecular biology within the evolutionary context surrounding a plant-associated model bacterium. Current evidence indicates that the plasmid mobilome in S. meliloti is composed of replicons varying greatly in size and having diverse conjugative systems and properties along with different evolutionary stabilities and biological roles. While plasmids carrying symbiotic functions (pSyms) are known to have high structural stability (approaching that of chromosomes), the remaining plasmid mobilome (referred to as the non-pSym, functionally cryptic, or accessory compartment) has been shown to possess remarkable diversity and to be highly active in conjugation. In light of the modern genomic and current biochemical data on the plasmids of S. meliloti, the current article revises their main structural components, their transfer and regulatory mechanisms, and their potential as vehicles in shaping the evolution of the rhizobial genome.}, } @article {pmid26104166, year = {2015}, author = {Johnson, JA}, title = {Dilemmas of 19th-century Liberalism among German Academic Chemists: Shaping a National Science Policy from Hofmann to Fischer, 1865-1919.}, journal = {Annals of science}, volume = {72}, number = {2}, pages = {224-241}, doi = {10.1080/00033790.2015.1007525}, pmid = {26104166}, issn = {0003-3790}, mesh = {Academies and Institutes/*history ; Chemistry/*history ; Germany ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Politics ; World War I ; }, abstract = {This paper's primary goal is to compare the personalities, values, and influence of August Wilhelm Hofmann and Emil Fischer as exemplars and acknowledged leaders of successive generations of the German chemical profession and as scientists sharing a 19th-century liberal, internationalist outlook from the German wars of unification in the 1860s to Fischer's death in 1919 in the aftermath of German defeat in World War I. The paper will consider the influence of Hofmann and Fischer on the shaping of national scientific institutions in Germany, from founding of the German Chemical Society in 1867 to the first institutes of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society founded in 1911, their academic leadership in other areas including the shaping of a successful academic-industrial symbiosis in organic chemistry, and finally their response to war as a force disruptive of scientific internationalism. All of these developments posed serious dilemmas, exacerbated by emerging strains of nationalism and anti-Semitism in German society. Whereas Hofmann's lifework came to a relatively successful end in 1892, Fischer was not so fortunate, as the war brought him heavy responsibilities and terrible personal losses, but with no German victory and no peace of reconciliation--a bleak end for Fischer and the 19th-century liberal ideals that had inspired him.}, } @article {pmid26102587, year = {2015}, author = {Li, Z and Wu, N and Liu, T and Chen, H and Tang, M}, title = {Sex-Related Responses of Populus cathayana Shoots and Roots to AM Fungi and Drought Stress.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0128841}, pmid = {26102587}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Droughts ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*pathogenicity ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Plant Shoots/physiology ; Populus/microbiology/*physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {We investigated the impact of drought and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the morphological structure and physiological function of shoots and roots of male and female seedlings of the dioecious plant Populus cathayana Rehder. Pot-grown seedlings were subjected to well watered or water-limiting conditions (drought) and were grown in soil that was either inoculated or not inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices. No significant differences were found in the infection rates between the two sexes. Drought decreased root and shoot growth, biomass and root morphological characteristics, whereas superoxide radical (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide content, peroxidase (POD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and proline content were significantly enhanced in both sexes. Male plants that formed an AM fungal symbiosis showed a significant increase in shoot and root morphological growth, increased proline content of leaves and roots, and increased POD activity in roots under both watering regimes; however, MDA concentration in the roots decreased. By contrast, AM fungi either had no effect or a slight negative effect on the shoot and root growth of female plants, with lower root biomass, total biomass and root/shoot ration under drought. In females, MDA concentration increased in leaves and roots under both watering regimes, and the proline content and POD activity of roots increased under drought conditions; however, POD activity significantly decreased under well-watered conditions. These findings suggest that AM fungi enhanced the tolerance of male plants to drought by improving shoot and root growth, biomass and the antioxidant system. Further investigation is needed to unravel the complex effects of AM fungi on the growth and antioxidant system of female plants.}, } @article {pmid26100152, year = {2015}, author = {Bah, GS and Tanya, VN and Makepeace, BL}, title = {Immunotherapy with mutated onchocystatin fails to enhance the efficacy of a sub-lethal oxytetracycline regimen against Onchocerca ochengi.}, journal = {Veterinary parasitology}, volume = {212}, number = {1-2}, pages = {25-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.06.005}, pmid = {26100152}, issn = {1873-2550}, mesh = {Animals ; Cameroon ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/drug therapy/*therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination/standards/veterinary ; Female ; Helminth Proteins/administration & dosage/genetics/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunotherapy/*veterinary ; Male ; Mutation ; Onchocerca/drug effects/physiology ; Oxytetracycline/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaccines/administration & dosage/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Human onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, has been successfully controlled by a single drug, ivermectin, for over 25 years. Ivermectin prevents the disease symptoms of severe itching and visual impairment by killing the microfilarial stage, but does not eliminate the adult parasites, necessitating repeated annual treatments. Mass drug administration with ivermectin does not always break transmission in forest zones and is contraindicated in individuals heavily co-infected with Loa loa, while reports of reduced drug efficacy in Ghana and Cameroon may signal the development of resistance. An alternative treatment for onchocerciasis involves targeting the essential Wolbachia symbiont with tetracycline or its derivatives, which are adulticidal. However, implementation of antibiotic therapy has not occurred on a wide scale due to the prolonged treatment regimen required (several weeks). In the bovine Onchocerca ochengi system, it has been shown previously that prolonged oxytetracycline therapy increases eosinophil counts in intradermal nodules, which kill the adult worms by degranulating on their surface. Here, in an "immunochemotherapeutic" approach, we sought to enhance the efficacy of a short, sub-lethal antibiotic regimen against O. ochengi by prior immunotherapy targeting onchocystatin, an immunomodulatory protein located in the adult female worm cuticle. A key asparagine residue in onchocystatin was mutated to ablate immunomodulatory activity, which has been demonstrated previously to markedly improve the protective efficacy of this vaccine candidate when used as an immunoprophylactic. The immunochemotherapeutic regimen was compared with sub-lethal oxytetracycline therapy alone; onchocystatin immunotherapy alone; a gold-standard prolonged, intermittent oxytetracycline regimen; and no treatment (negative control) in naturally infected Cameroonian cattle. Readouts were collected over one year and comprised adult worm viability, dermal microfilarial density, anti-onchocystatin IgG in sera, and eosinophil counts in nodules. Only the gold-standard antibiotic regimen achieved significant killing of adult worms, a profound reduction in microfilarial load, and a sustained increase in local tissue eosinophilia. A small but statistically significant elevation in anti-onchocystatin IgG was observed for several weeks after immunisation in the immunotherapy-only group, but the antibody response in the immunochemotherapy group was more variable. At 12 weeks post-treatment, only a transient and non-significant increase in eosinophil counts was apparent in the immunochemotherapy group. We conclude that the addition of onchocystatin immunotherapy to a sub-lethal antibiotic regimen is insufficient to induce adulticidal activity, although with booster immunisations or the targeting of additional filarial immunomodulatory proteins, the efficacy of this strategy could be strengthened.}, } @article {pmid26099939, year = {2015}, author = {Arora, AK and Forshaw, A and Miller, TA and Durvasula, R}, title = {A delivery system for field application of paratransgenic control.}, journal = {BMC biotechnology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {59}, pmid = {26099939}, issn = {1472-6750}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Drug Compounding ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Pantoea/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: As an alternative to chemical pesticides, paratransgenesis relies on transformation of symbiotic bacteria of an arthropod vector to deliver molecules that disrupt pathogen transmission. For over a decade paratransgenesis has remained a laboratory-based endeavor owing to regulatory concerns regarding introduction of transformed microorganisms into the environment. To facilitate field application of paratransgenic strategies, risk mitigation approaches that address environmental contamination and gene spread must be developed.

RESULTS: Using biopolymer manipulation, we introduce a novel microencapsulation platform for containment and targeted delivery of engineered bacteria to the gut of a disease-transmitting arthropod. We demonstrate the first proof of principle of targeted delivery of EPA-approved Pantoea agglomerans E325 in a paratransgenic system to control spread of Pierce's Disease by glassy-winged sharpshooters, (Homalodisca vitripennis) under simulated field conditions. Engineered microcapsules may address regulatory concerns regarding containment of recombinant bacteria and environmental spread of foreign genetic material and may represent an important step in translating paratransgenic science beyond the lab and into the field.

CONCLUSIONS: We present, for the first time, a microencapsulation strategy to deliver recombinant bacteria to an insect and demonstrate targeted release of bacteria into the physiologically relevant region of the insect gut. This is a first step toward addressing concerns related to field application of recombinant bacteria. Engineered microparticles may decrease environmental contamination, horizontal gene transfer and competition with native species by acting as a barrier between recombinant bacteria and the environment.}, } @article {pmid26098760, year = {2015}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Olsson, S and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Evolution of the tRNALeu (UAA) Intron and Congruence of Genetic Markers in Lichen-Symbiotic Nostoc.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0131223}, pmid = {26098760}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Markers ; Genome, Bacterial ; Introns/*genetics/physiology ; Lichens/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nostoc/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Transfer, Leu/*genetics/physiology ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The group I intron interrupting the tRNALeu UAA gene (trnL) is present in most cyanobacterial genomes as well as in the plastids of many eukaryotic algae and all green plants. In lichen symbiotic Nostoc, the P6b stem-loop of trnL intron always involves one of two different repeat motifs, either Class I or Class II, both with unresolved evolutionary histories. Here we attempt to resolve the complex evolution of the two different trnL P6b region types. Our analysis indicates that the Class II repeat motif most likely appeared first and that independent and unidirectional shifts to the Class I motif have since taken place repeatedly. In addition, we compare our results with those obtained with other genetic markers and find strong evidence of recombination in the 16S rRNA gene, a marker widely used in phylogenetic studies on Bacteria. The congruence of the different genetic markers is successfully evaluated with the recently published software Saguaro, which has not previously been utilized in comparable studies.}, } @article {pmid26096779, year = {2015}, author = {Clavijo, F and Diedhiou, I and Vaissayre, V and Brottier, L and Acolatse, J and Moukouanga, D and Crabos, A and Auguy, F and Franche, C and Gherbi, H and Champion, A and Hocher, V and Barker, D and Bogusz, D and Tisa, LS and Svistoonoff, S}, title = {The Casuarina NIN gene is transcriptionally activated throughout Frankia root infection as well as in response to bacterial diffusible signals.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {3}, pages = {887-903}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13506}, pmid = {26096779}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Frankia/*physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbioses (RNS) allow plants to acquire atmospheric nitrogen by establishing an intimate relationship with either rhizobia, the symbionts of legumes or Frankia in the case of actinorhizal plants. In legumes, NIN (Nodule INception) genes encode key transcription factors involved in nodulation. Here we report the characterization of CgNIN, a NIN gene from the actinorhizal tree Casuarina glauca using both phylogenetic analysis and transgenic plants expressing either ProCgNIN::reporter gene fusions or CgNIN RNAi constructs. We have found that CgNIN belongs to the same phylogenetic group as other symbiotic NIN genes and CgNIN is able to complement a legume nin mutant for the early steps of nodule development. CgNIN expression is correlated with infection by Frankia, including preinfection stages in developing root hairs, and is induced by culture supernatants. Knockdown mutants were impaired for nodulation and early root hair deformation responses were severely affected. However, no mycorrhizal phenotype was observed and no induction of CgNIN expression was detected in mycorrhizas. Our results indicate that elements specifically required for nodulation include NIN and possibly related gene networks derived from the nitrate signalling pathways.}, } @article {pmid26093964, year = {2016}, author = {Vohník, M and Borovec, O and Kolařík, M}, title = {Communities of Cultivable Root Mycobionts of the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the Northwest Mediterranean Sea Are Dominated by a Hitherto Undescribed Pleosporalean Dark Septate Endophyte.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {71}, number = {2}, pages = {442-451}, pmid = {26093964}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Alismatales/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Mediterranean Sea ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Seagrasses, a small group of submerged marine macrophytes, were reported to lack mycorrhizae, i.e., the root-fungus symbioses most terrestrial plants use for nutrient uptake. On the other hand, several authors detected fungal endophytes in seagrass leaves, shoots, rhizomes, and roots, and an anatomically and morphologically unique dark septate endophytic (DSE) association has been recently described in the roots of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Nevertheless, the global diversity of seagrass mycobionts is not well understood, and it remains unclear what fungus forms the DSE association in P. oceanica roots. We isolated and determined P. oceanica root mycobionts from 11 localities in the northwest Mediterranean Sea with documented presence of the DSE association and compared our results with recent literature. The mycobiont communities were low in diversity (only three species), were dominated by a single yet unreported marine fungal species (ca. 90 % of the total 177 isolates), and lacked common terrestrial and freshwater root mycobionts. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the dominating species represents a new monotypic lineage within the recently described Aigialaceae family (Pleosporales, Ascomycota), probably representing a new genus. Most of its examined colonies developed from intracellular microsclerotia occupying host hypodermis and resembling microsclerotia of terrestrial DSE fungi. Biological significance of this hitherto overlooked seagrass root mycobiont remains obscure, but its presence across the NW Mediterranean Sea and apparent root intracellular lifestyle indicate an intriguing symbiotic relationship with the dominant Mediterranean seagrass. Our microscopic observations suggest that it may form the DSE association recently described in P. oceanica roots.}, } @article {pmid26092634, year = {2015}, author = {Biard, T and Pillet, L and Decelle, J and Poirier, C and Suzuki, N and Not, F}, title = {Towards an Integrative Morpho-molecular Classification of the Collodaria (Polycystinea, Radiolaria).}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {166}, number = {3}, pages = {374-388}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2015.05.002}, pmid = {26092634}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizaria/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Collodaria are ubiquitous and abundant marine radiolarian (Rhizaria) protists. They occur as either large colonies or solitary specimens, and, unlike most radiolarians, some taxa lack silicified structures. Collodarians are known to play an important role in oceanic food webs as both active predators and hosts of symbiotic microalgae, yet very little is known about their diversity and evolution. Taxonomic delineation of collodarians is challenging and only a few species have been genetically characterized. Here we investigated collodarian diversity using phylogenetic analyses of both nuclear small (18S) and large (28S) subunits of the ribosomal DNA, including 124 new sequences from 75 collodarians sampled worldwide. The resulting molecular phylogeny was compared to morphology-based classification. Our analyses distinguished the monophyletic clade of skeleton-less and spicule-bearing Sphaerozoidae from the sister clades Collosphaeridae (skeleton-bearing) and Collophidiidae (skeleton-less), while the Thalassicollidae was not retrieved as a monophyletic clade. Detailed morphological examination with electron microscopy combined with molecular analyses revealed many discrepancies, such as a mix between solitary and colonial species, co-existence of skeleton-less and skeleton-bearing specimens within the Collosphaeridae, as well as complex intraspecific variability in silicified structures. Such observations challenge a morphology-based classification and highlight the pertinence of an integrative taxonomic approach to study collodarian diversity.}, } @article {pmid26092456, year = {2015}, author = {Nguyen-Kim, H and Bettarel, Y and Bouvier, T and Bouvier, C and Doan-Nhu, H and Nguyen-Ngoc, L and Nguyen-Thanh, T and Tran-Quang, H and Brune, J}, title = {Coral Mucus Is a Hot Spot for Viral Infections.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {17}, pages = {5773-5783}, pmid = {26092456}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/microbiology/*virology ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Mucus/virology ; Seasons ; Vietnam ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {There is increasing suspicion that viral communities play a pivotal role in maintaining coral health, yet their main ecological traits still remain poorly characterized. In this study, we examined the seasonal distribution and reproduction pathways of viruses inhabiting the mucus of the scleractinians Fungia repanda and Acropora formosa collected in Nha Trang Bay (Vietnam) during an 11-month survey. The strong coupling between epibiotic viral and bacterial abundance suggested that phages are dominant among coral-associated viral communities. Mucosal viruses also exhibited significant differences in their main features between the two coral species and were also remarkably contrasted with their planktonic counterparts. For example, their abundance (inferred from epifluorescence counts), lytic production rates (KCN incubations), and the proportion of lysogenic cells (mitomycin C inductions) were, respectively, 2.6-, 9.5-, and 2.2-fold higher in mucus than in the surrounding water. Both lytic and lysogenic indicators were tightly coupled with temperature and salinity, suggesting that the life strategy of viral epibionts is strongly dependent upon environmental circumstances. Finally, our results suggest that coral mucus may represent a highly favorable habitat for viral proliferation, promoting the development of both temperate and virulent phages. Here, we discuss how such an optimized viral arsenal could be crucial for coral viability by presumably forging complex links with both symbiotic and adjacent nonsymbiotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid26091871, year = {2015}, author = {Bélanger, PA and Bellenger, JP and Roy, S}, title = {Heavy metal stress in alders: Tolerance and vulnerability of the actinorhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {138}, number = {}, pages = {300-308}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.06.005}, pmid = {26091871}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Alnus/chemistry/*drug effects/microbiology ; Biomass ; Drug Tolerance ; Frankia/*growth & development ; Hydroponics ; Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/chemistry/drug effects/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/chemistry/drug effects/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Alders have already demonstrated their potential for the revegetation of both mining and industrial sites. These actinorhizal trees and shrubs and the actinobacteria Frankia associate in a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis which could however be negatively affected by the presence of heavy metals, and accumulate them. In our hydroponic assay with black alders, quantification of the roots and shoots metal concentrations showed that, in the absence of stress, symbiosis increases Mo and Ni root content and simultaneously decreases Mo shoot content. Interestingly, the Mo shoot content also decreases in the presence of Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd for symbiotic alders. In symbiotic alders, Pb shoot translocation was promoted in presence of Pb. On the other hand, Cd exclusion in symbiotic root tissues was observed with Pb and Cd. In the presence of symbiosis, only Cd and Pb showed translocation into aerial tissues when present in the nutrient solution. Moreover, the translocation of Ni to shoot was prevented by symbiosis in the presence of Cd, Ni and Pb. The hydroponic experiment demonstrated that alders benefit from the symbiosis, producing more biomass (total, root and shoot) than non nodulated alders in control condition, and in the presence of metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cd). Heavy metals did not reduce the nodule numbers (SNN), but the presence of Zn or Cd did reduce nodule allocation. Our study suggests that the Frankia-alder symbiosis is a promising (and a compatible) plant-microorganism association for the revegetation of contaminated sites, with minimal risk of metal dispersion.}, } @article {pmid26090511, year = {2015}, author = {Llorente, C and Schnabl, B}, title = {The gut microbiota and liver disease.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {275-284}, pmid = {26090511}, issn = {2352-345X}, support = {I01 BX002213/BX/BLRD VA/United States ; K08 DK081830/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA021856/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The leaky gut hypothesis links translocating microbial products with the onset and progression of liver disease, and for a long time was considered one of its major contributors. However, a more detailed picture of the intestinal microbiota contributing to liver disease started to evolve. The gut is colonized by trillions of microbes that aid in digestion, modulate immune response, and generate a variety of products that result from microbial metabolic activities. These products together with host-bacteria interactions influence both normal physiology and disease susceptibility. A disruption of the symbiosis between microbiota and host is known as dysbiosis and can have profound effects on health. Qualitative changes such as increased proportions of harmful bacteria and reduced levels of beneficial bacteria, and also quantitative changes in the total amount of bacteria (overgrowth) have been associated with liver disease. Understanding the link between the pathophysiology of liver diseases and compositional and functional changes of the microbiota will help in the design of innovative therapies. In this review, we focus on factors resulting in dysbiosis, and discuss how dysbiosis can disrupt intestinal homeostasis and contribute to liver disease.}, } @article {pmid26090491, year = {2015}, author = {Frosali, S and Pagliari, D and Gambassi, G and Landolfi, R and Pandolfi, F and Cianci, R}, title = {How the Intricate Interaction among Toll-Like Receptors, Microbiota, and Intestinal Immunity Can Influence Gastrointestinal Pathology.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {489821}, pmid = {26090491}, issn = {2314-7156}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immune System/*immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology ; Toll-Like Receptors/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The gut is able to maintain tolerance to microbial and food antigens. The intestine minimizes the number of harmful bacteria by shaping the microbiota through a symbiotic relationship. In healthy human intestine, a constant homeostasis is maintained by the perfect regulation of microbial load and the immune response generated against it. Failure of this balance may result in various pathological conditions. Innate immune sensors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), may be considered an interface among intestinal epithelial barrier, microbiota, and immune system. TLRs pathway, activated by pathogens, is involved in the pathogenesis of several infectious and inflammatory diseases. The alteration of the homeostasis between physiologic and pathogenic bacteria of intestinal flora causes a condition called dysbiosis. The breakdown of homeostasis by dysbiosis may increase susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases. It is evident that environment, genetics, and host immunity form a highly interactive regulatory triad that controls TLR function. Imbalanced relationships within this triad may promote aberrant TLR signaling, critically contributing to acute and chronic intestinal inflammatory processes, such as in IBD, colitis, and colorectal cancer. The study of interactions between different components of the immune systems and intestinal microbiota will open new horizons in the knowledge of gut inflammation.}, } @article {pmid26090420, year = {2015}, author = {Hong, F and Wei, B and Chen, L}, title = {Preliminary Study on Biosynthesis of Bacterial Nanocellulose Tubes in a Novel Double-Silicone-Tube Bioreactor for Potential Vascular Prosthesis.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {560365}, pmid = {26090420}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Bioreactors ; *Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Cellulose/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Extracellular Matrix/chemistry ; Gluconacetobacter xylinus ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanostructures/*chemistry ; Oxygen/chemistry ; Silicones/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has demonstrated a tempting prospect for applications in substitute of small blood vessels. However, present technology is inefficient in production and BNC tubes have a layered structure that may bring danger after implanting. Double oxygen-permeable silicone tubes in different diameters were therefore used as a tube-shape mold and also as oxygenated supports to construct a novel bioreactor for production of the tubular BNC materials. Double cannula technology was used to produce tubular BNC via cultivations with Acetobacter xylinum, and Kombucha, a symbiosis of acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. The results indicated that Kombucha gave higher yield and productivity of BNC than A. xylinum. Bacterial nanocellulose was simultaneously synthesized both on the inner surface of the outer silicone tube and on the outer surface of the inner silicone tube. Finally, the nano BNC fibrils from two directions formed a BNC tube with good structural integrity. Scanning electron microscopy inspection showed that the tubular BNC had a multilayer structure in the beginning but finally it disappeared and an intact BNC tube formed. The mechanical properties of BNC tubes were comparable with the reported value in literatures, demonstrating a great potential in vascular implants or in functional substitutes in biomedicine.}, } @article {pmid26090306, year = {2015}, author = {Molina-Sánchez, MD and López-Contreras, JA and Toro, N and Fernández-López, M}, title = {Genomic characterization of Sinorhizobium meliloti AK21, a wild isolate from the Aral Sea Region.}, journal = {SpringerPlus}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {259}, pmid = {26090306}, issn = {2193-1801}, abstract = {The symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti has been widely studied due to its ability to improve crop yields through direct interactions with leguminous plants. S. meliloti AK21 is a wild type strain that forms nodules on Medicago plants in saline and drought conditions in the Aral Sea Region. The aim of this work was to establish the genetic similarities and differences between S. meliloti AK21 and the reference strain S. meliloti 1021. Comparative genome hybridization with the model reference strain S. meliloti 1021 yielded 365 variable genes, grouped into 11 regions in the three main replicons in S. meliloti AK21. The most extensive regions of variability were found in the symbiotic plasmid pSymA, which also contained the largest number of orthologous and polymorphic sequences identified by suppression subtractive hybridization. This procedure identified a large number of divergent sequences and others without homology in the databases, the further investigation of which could provide new insight into the alternative metabolic pathways present in S. meliloti AK21. We identified a plasmid replication module from the repABC replicon family, together with plasmid mobilization-related genes (traG and a VirB9-like protein), which suggest that this indigenous isolate harbors an accessory plasmid. Furthermore, the transcriptomic profiles reflected differences in gene content and regulation between S. meliloti AK21 and S. meliloti 1021 (ExpR and PhoB regulons), but provided evidence for an as yet unknown, alternative mechanism involving activation of the cbb3 terminal oxidase. Finally, phenotypic microarrays characterization revealed a greater versatility of substrate use and chemical degradation than for S. meliloti 1021.}, } @article {pmid26087621, year = {2015}, author = {Provorov, NA and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {[Bacterial Genome Evolution in Superspecies Systems: an Approach to the Reconstruction of Symbiogenesis Processes].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {51}, number = {4}, pages = {456-465}, pmid = {26087621}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria form a broad spectrum of symbioses with eukaryotes. This permits reconstruction of the symbiogenesis processes providing the transformation of free-living microorganisms into cellular organelles. In ecologically (conditionally) obligate symbioses, an increase in the size and complexity of the bacterial genome structure was observed. This was associated with segregation of the regions controlling symbiosis into gene clusters, islands, and plasmids. In genetically (strictly) obligate symbioses, a reduction of "nonsymbiotic" regions of microbial genome occurs, which could begin from genes encoding metabolic and regulatory functions. It is extended towards genes encoding template processes. Conditionally obligate symbioses are characterised by the activation of horizontal gene transfer between various forms of microsymbionts, while for strictly obligate intracellular symbioses an activation of endo-symbiotic gene transfer between microsymbionts and their hosts was detected. The latter is responsible for bacterial transition from the functional (based on gene cross-regulation) to structural (based on recombination) genetic integration with hosts, which later could be followed by the complete assimilation of microbial genomes. In α-proteobacteria this evolutionary pathway could result in the formation of cellular organelles that are deficient in their own genomes but capable of preserving proteomic and cytological traits as a result of the gene-product import synthesized in cytosol (hydrogenosomes and mitosomes). The symbiogenic evolution of cyanobacteria could result in the loss of the plasmids generated from them, while the host maintains a significant part of their genome in nuclear chromosomes.}, } @article {pmid26085673, year = {2015}, author = {McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Giving microbes their due--animal life in a microbially dominant world.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 12}, pages = {1968-1973}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.115121}, pmid = {26085673}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Archaea/*physiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The new technology of next-generation sequencing is changing our perceptions of the form and function of the biological world. The emerging data reveal an array of microbes that is more vast and more central to all biological processes than previously appreciated. Further, evidence is accumulating that the alliances of microbes with one another and with constituents of the macrobiological world are critical for the health of the biosphere. This contribution summarizes the basic arguments as to why, when considering the biochemical adaptations of animals, we should integrate the roles of their microbial partners.}, } @article {pmid26085552, year = {2015}, author = {Cooling, L}, title = {Blood Groups in Infection and Host Susceptibility.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology reviews}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {801-870}, pmid = {26085552}, issn = {1098-6618}, mesh = {Blood Group Antigens/*genetics/*immunology ; Disease Susceptibility/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {Blood group antigens represent polymorphic traits inherited among individuals and populations. At present, there are 34 recognized human blood groups and hundreds of individual blood group antigens and alleles. Differences in blood group antigen expression can increase or decrease host susceptibility to many infections. Blood groups can play a direct role in infection by serving as receptors and/or coreceptors for microorganisms, parasites, and viruses. In addition, many blood group antigens facilitate intracellular uptake, signal transduction, or adhesion through the organization of membrane microdomains. Several blood groups can modify the innate immune response to infection. Several distinct phenotypes associated with increased host resistance to malaria are overrepresented in populations living in areas where malaria is endemic, as a result of evolutionary pressures. Microorganisms can also stimulate antibodies against blood group antigens, including ABO, T, and Kell. Finally, there is a symbiotic relationship between blood group expression and maturation of the gastrointestinal microbiome.}, } @article {pmid26085091, year = {2015}, author = {Sakanaka, A and Kuboniwa, M and Takeuchi, H and Hashino, E and Amano, A}, title = {Arginine-Ornithine Antiporter ArcD Controls Arginine Metabolism and Interspecies Biofilm Development of Streptococcus gordonii.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {290}, number = {35}, pages = {21185-21198}, pmid = {26085091}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; Antiporters/genetics/*metabolism ; Arginine/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; Ornithine/metabolism ; Streptococcal Infections/*microbiology ; Streptococcus gordonii/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arginine is utilized by the oral inhabitant Streptococcus gordonii as a substrate of the arginine deiminase system (ADS), eventually producing ATP and NH3, the latter of which is responsible for microbial resistance to pH stress. S. gordonii expresses a putative arginine-ornithine antiporter (ArcD) whose function has not been investigated despite relevance to the ADS and potential influence on inter-bacterial communication with periodontal pathogens that utilize amino acids as a main energy source. Here, we generated an S. gordonii ΔarcD mutant to explore the role of ArcD in physiological homeostasis and bacterial cross-feeding. First, we confirmed that S. gordonii ArcD plays crucial roles for mediating arginine uptake and promoting bacterial growth, particularly under arginine-limited conditions. Next, metabolomic profiling and transcriptional analysis of the ΔarcD mutant revealed that deletion of this gene caused intracellular accumulation of ornithine leading to malfunction of the ADS and suppression of de novo arginine biosynthesis. The mutant strain also showed increased susceptibility to low pH stress due to reduced production of ammonia. Finally, accumulation of Fusobacterium nucleatum was found to be significantly decreased in biofilm formed by the ΔarcD mutant as compared with the wild-type strain, although ornithine supplementation restored fusobacterium biovolume in dual-species biofilms with the ΔarcD mutant and also enhanced single species biofilm development by F. nucleatum. Our results are the first direct evidence showing that S. gordonii ArcD modulates not only alkali and energy production but also interspecies interaction with F. nucleatum, thus initiating a middle stage of periodontopathic biofilm formation, by metabolic cross-feeding.}, } @article {pmid26084921, year = {2015}, author = {Vayssières, A and Pěnčík, A and Felten, J and Kohler, A and Ljung, K and Martin, F and Legué, V}, title = {Development of the Poplar-Laccaria bicolor Ectomycorrhiza Modifies Root Auxin Metabolism, Signaling, and Response.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {1}, pages = {890-902}, pmid = {26084921}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Laccaria/drug effects/*physiology ; Metabolome/drug effects ; Models, Biological ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Populus/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Root systems of host trees are known to establish ectomycorrhizae (ECM) interactions with rhizospheric fungi. This mutualistic association leads to dramatic developmental modifications in root architecture, with the formation of numerous short and swollen lateral roots ensheathed by a fungal mantle. Knowing that auxin plays a crucial role in root development, we investigated how auxin metabolism, signaling, and response are affected in poplar (Populus spp.)-Laccaria bicolor ECM roots. The plant-fungus interaction leads to the arrest of lateral root growth with simultaneous attenuation of the synthetic auxin response element DR5. Measurement of auxin-related metabolites in the free-living partners revealed that the mycelium of L. bicolor produces high concentrations of the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Metabolic profiling showed an accumulation of IAA and changes in the indol-3-pyruvic acid-dependent IAA biosynthesis and IAA conjugation and degradation pathways during ECM formation. The global analysis of auxin response gene expression and the regulation of AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX PROTEIN5, AUXIN/IAA, and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR expression in ECM roots suggested that symbiosis-dependent auxin signaling is activated during the colonization by L. bicolor. Taking all this evidence into account, we propose a model in which auxin signaling plays a crucial role in the modification of root growth during ECM formation.}, } @article {pmid26083555, year = {2016}, author = {Thomas, R and Matusitz, J}, title = {Pet Therapy in Correctional Institutions: A Perspective From Relational-Cultural Theory.}, journal = {Journal of evidence-informed social work}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {228-235}, doi = {10.1080/23761407.2015.1029840}, pmid = {26083555}, issn = {2376-1415}, mesh = {Animal Assisted Therapy/*organization & administration ; *Empathy ; Humans ; Prisoners/*psychology ; Prisons/*organization & administration ; *Social Theory ; }, abstract = {In this article the authors apply Relational-Cultural Theory to pet therapy in correctional institutions. An important premise is that when pet therapy is used in prisons a symbiotic relationship develops between pets and prison inmates which, at the same time, improve their relationships with people themselves. Relational-Cultural Theory posits that relationships with individuals are not just a means to an end. Rather, good relationships promote growth and healthy development; they also cultivate reciprocal empathy. Hence, a major reason of suffering for most people is their experience of isolation; healing can occur in growth-fostering relationships.}, } @article {pmid26083019, year = {2015}, author = {Carrillo, JM and Overstreet, RM and Raga, JA and Aznar, FJ}, title = {Living on the Edge: Settlement Patterns by the Symbiotic Barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis on Small Cetaceans.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0127367}, pmid = {26083019}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animal Distribution/*physiology ; Animal Fins/*parasitology ; Animals ; Body Size/physiology ; Larva/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Rheology ; Stenella/*parasitology ; Swimming ; Thoracica/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The highly specialized coronulid barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis attaches exclusively on cetaceans worldwide, but little is known about the factors that drive the microhabitat patterns on its hosts. We investigate this issue based on data on occurrence, abundance, distribution, orientation, and size of X. globicipitis collected from 242 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) that were stranded along the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Barnacles exclusively infested the fins, particularly along the trailing edge. Occurrence, abundance, and density of X. globicipitis were significantly higher, and barnacles were significantly larger, on the caudal fin than on the flippers and dorsal fin. Barnacles were found more frequently and in greater numbers on the dorsal rather than ventral side of the caudal fin and on the central third of dorsal and ventral fluke surfaces. Nearly all examined individuals attached with their cirral fan oriented opposite to the fluke edge. We suggest that X. globicipitis may chemically recognize dolphins as a substratum, but fins, particularly the flukes, are passively selected because of creation of vortices that increase contact of cyprids with skin and early survival of these larvae at the corresponding sites. Cyprids could actively select the trailing edge and orient with the cirri facing the main direction of flow. Attachment on the dorsal side of the flukes is likely associated with asymmetrical oscillation of the caudal fin, and the main presence on the central segment of the flukes could be related to suitable water flow conditions generated by fluke performance for both settlement and nutrient filtration.}, } @article {pmid26082790, year = {2015}, author = {Tóth, K and Stacey, G}, title = {Does plant immunity play a critical role during initiation of the legume-rhizobium symbiosis?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {401}, pmid = {26082790}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants are exposed to many different microbes in their habitats. These microbes may be benign or pathogenic, but in some cases they are beneficial for the host. The rhizosphere provides an especially rich palette for colonization by beneficial (associative and symbiotic) microorganisms, which raises the question as to how roots can distinguish such 'friends' from possible 'foes' (i.e., pathogens). Plants possess an innate immune system that can recognize pathogens, through an arsenal of protein receptors, including receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and receptor-like proteins (RLPs) located at the plasma membrane. In addition, the plant host has intracellular receptors (so called NBS-LRR proteins or R proteins) that directly or indirectly recognize molecules released by microbes into the plant cell. A successful cooperation between legume plants and rhizobia leads to beneficial symbiotic interaction. The key rhizobial, symbiotic signaling molecules [lipo-chitooligosaccharide Nod factors (NF)] are perceived by the host legume plant using lysin motif-domain containing RLKs. Perception of the symbiotic NFs trigger signaling cascades leading to bacterial infection and accommodation of the symbiont in a newly formed root organ, the nodule, resulting in a nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis. The net result of this symbiosis is the intracellular colonization of the plant with thousands of bacteria; a process that seems to occur in spite of the immune ability of plants to prevent pathogen infection. In this review, we discuss the potential of the invading rhizobial symbiont to actively avoid this innate immune response, as well as specific examples of where the plant immune response may modulate rhizobial infection and host range.}, } @article {pmid26082757, year = {2015}, author = {Catta-Preta, CM and Brum, FL and da Silva, CC and Zuma, AA and Elias, MC and de Souza, W and Schenkman, S and Motta, MC}, title = {Endosymbiosis in trypanosomatid protozoa: the bacterium division is controlled during the host cell cycle.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {520}, pmid = {26082757}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mutualism is defined as a beneficial relationship for the associated partners and usually assumes that the symbiont number is controlled. Some trypanosomatid protozoa co-evolve with a bacterial symbiont that divides in coordination with the host in a way that results in its equal distribution between daughter cells. The mechanism that controls this synchrony is largely unknown, and its comprehension might provide clues to understand how eukaryotic cells evolved when acquiring symbionts that later became organelles. Here, we approached this question by studying the effects of inhibitors that affect the host exclusively in two symbiont-bearing trypanosomatids, Strigomonas culicis and Angomonas deanei. We found that inhibiting host protein synthesis using cycloheximide or host DNA replication using aphidicolin did not affect the duplication of bacterial DNA. Although the bacteria had autonomy to duplicate their DNA when host protein synthesis was blocked by cycloheximide, they could not complete cytokinesis. Aphidicolin promoted the inhibition of the trypanosomatid cell cycle in the G1/S phase, leading to symbiont filamentation in S. culicis but not in A. deanei. Treatment with camptothecin blocked the host protozoa cell cycle in the G2 phase and induced the formation of filamentous symbionts in both species. Oryzalin, which affects host microtubule polymerization, blocked trypanosomatid mitosis and abrogated symbiont division. Our results indicate that host factors produced during the cell division cycle are essential for symbiont segregation and may control the bacterial cell number.}, } @article {pmid26082354, year = {2015}, author = {Flores-Villegas, AL and Salazar-Schettino, PM and Córdoba-Aguilar, A and Gutiérrez-Cabrera, AE and Rojas-Wastavino, GE and Bucio-Torres, MI and Cabrera-Bravo, M}, title = {Immune defence mechanisms of triatomines against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {105}, number = {5}, pages = {523-532}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485315000504}, pmid = {26082354}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Fungi/*immunology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Viruses/*immunology ; Triatominae/*immunology/microbiology/parasitology/virology ; }, abstract = {Triatomines are vectors that transmit the protozoan haemoflagellate Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. The aim of the current review is to provide a synthesis of the immune mechanisms of triatomines against bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites to provide clues for areas of further research including biological control. Regarding bacteria, the triatomine immune response includes antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as defensins, lysozymes, attacins and cecropins, whose sites of synthesis are principally the fat body and haemocytes. These peptides are used against pathogenic bacteria (especially during ecdysis and feeding), and also attack symbiotic bacteria. In relation to viruses, Triatoma virus is the only one known to attack and kill triatomines. Although the immune response to this virus is unknown, we hypothesize that haemocytes, phenoloxidase (PO) and nitric oxide (NO) could be activated. Different fungal species have been described in a few triatomines and some immune components against these pathogens are PO and proPO. In relation to parasites, triatomines respond with AMPs, including PO, NO and lectin. In the case of T. cruzi this may be effective, but Trypanosoma rangeli seems to evade and suppress PO response. Although it is clear that three parasite-killing processes are used by triatomines - phagocytosis, nodule formation and encapsulation - the precise immune mechanisms of triatomines against invading agents, including trypanosomes, are as yet unknown. The signalling processes used in triatomine immune response are IMD, Toll and Jak-STAT. Based on the information compiled, we propose some lines of research that include strategic approaches of biological control.}, } @article {pmid26081637, year = {2015}, author = {Linden, JR and Ma, Y and Zhao, B and Harris, JM and Rumah, KR and Schaeren-Wiemers, N and Vartanian, T}, title = {Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Causes Selective Death of Mature Oligodendrocytes and Central Nervous System Demyelination.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e02513}, pmid = {26081637}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 GM007739/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/metabolism/*toxicity ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Central Nervous System/*drug effects ; Demyelinating Diseases/*chemically induced ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins/deficiency/*metabolism ; Oligodendroglia/*drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin (ε-toxin) is responsible for a devastating multifocal central nervous system (CNS) white matter disease in ruminant animals. The mechanism by which ε-toxin causes white matter damage is poorly understood. In this study, we sought to determine the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ε-toxin causes pathological changes to white matter. In primary CNS cultures, ε-toxin binds to and kills oligodendrocytes but not astrocytes, microglia, or neurons. In cerebellar organotypic culture, ε-toxin induces demyelination, which occurs in a time- and dose-dependent manner, while preserving neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. ε-Toxin specificity for oligodendrocytes was confirmed using enriched glial culture. Sensitivity to ε-toxin is developmentally regulated, as only mature oligodendrocytes are susceptible to ε-toxin; oligodendrocyte progenitor cells are not. ε-Toxin sensitivity is also dependent on oligodendrocyte expression of the proteolipid myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL), as MAL-deficient oligodendrocytes are insensitive to ε-toxin. In addition, ε-toxin binding to white matter follows the spatial and temporal pattern of MAL expression. A neutralizing antibody against ε-toxin inhibits oligodendrocyte death and demyelination. This study provides several novel insights into the action of ε-toxin in the CNS. (i) ε-Toxin causes selective oligodendrocyte death while preserving all other neural elements. (ii) ε-Toxin-mediated oligodendrocyte death is a cell autonomous effect. (iii) The effects of ε-toxin on the oligodendrocyte lineage are restricted to mature oligodendrocytes. (iv) Expression of the developmentally regulated proteolipid MAL is required for the cytotoxic effects. (v) The cytotoxic effects of ε-toxin can be abrogated by an ε-toxin neutralizing antibody.

IMPORTANCE: Our intestinal tract is host to trillions of microorganisms that play an essential role in health and homeostasis. Disruption of this symbiotic relationship has been implicated in influencing or causing disease in distant organ systems such as the brain. Epsilon toxin (ε-toxin)-carrying Clostridium perfringens strains are responsible for a devastating white matter disease in ruminant animals that shares similar features with human multiple sclerosis. In this report, we define the mechanism by which ε-toxin causes white matter disease. We find that ε-toxin specifically targets the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system (CNS), oligodendrocytes, leading to cell death. The selectivity of ε-toxin for oligodendrocytes is remarkable, as other cells of the CNS are unaffected. Importantly, ε-toxin-induced oligodendrocyte death results in demyelination and is dependent on expression of myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL). These results help complete the mechanistic pathway from bacteria to brain by explaining the specific cellular target of ε-toxin within the CNS.}, } @article {pmid26081482, year = {2015}, author = {Oren, M and Tarrant, AM and Alon, S and Simon-Blecher, N and Elbaz, I and Appelbaum, L and Levy, O}, title = {Profiling molecular and behavioral circadian rhythms in the non-symbiotic sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {11418}, pmid = {26081482}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics ; Circadian Clocks ; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Locomotion ; Photoperiod ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Endogenous circadian clocks are poorly understood within early-diverging animal lineages. We have characterized circadian behavioral patterns and identified potential components of the circadian clock in the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis: a model cnidarian which lacks algal symbionts. Using automatic video tracking we showed that Nematostella exhibits rhythmic circadian locomotor activity, which is persistent in constant dark, shifted or disrupted by external dark/light cues and maintained the same rate at two different temperatures. This activity was inhibited by a casein kinase 1δ/ε inhibitor, suggesting a role for CK1 homologue(s) in Nematostella clock. Using high-throughput sequencing we profiled Nematostella transcriptomes over 48 hours under a light-dark cycle. We identified 180 Nematostella diurnally-oscillated transcripts and compared them with previously established databases of adult and larvae of the symbiotic coral Acropora millepora, revealing both shared homologues and unique rhythmic genes. Taken together, this study further establishes Nematostella as a non-symbiotic model organism to study circadian rhythms and increases our understanding about the fundamental elements of circadian regulation and their evolution within the Metazoa.}, } @article {pmid26080859, year = {2015}, author = {Shi, X and Wang, J}, title = {Engineering and characterization of a symbiotic selection-marker-free vector-host system for therapeutic plasmid production.}, journal = {Molecular medicine reports}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {4669-4677}, doi = {10.3892/mmr.2015.3945}, pmid = {26080859}, issn = {1791-3004}, mesh = {Aspartate-Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Escherichia coli/*genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors/*biosynthesis ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Plasmids/*biosynthesis ; Transfection ; }, abstract = {The present study aimed to develop a symbiotic selection-marker-free plasmid and host system that would allow successful plasmid maintenance and amplification for use in gene therapy. Initially, the chromosomal aspartate‑semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) gene was disrupted in DH10B Escherichia coli using Red recombinase‑mediated homologous recombination. This method required the use of linear DNA fragments carrying kan‑kil genes, and/or homologous extensions to the targeted locus. The resultant auxotrophic cell wall‑deficient strain (DH10BΔasd) was evaluated as a symbiotic host for amplification of the marker‑free plasmid, allowing it to supply ASD activity. In order to construct the plasmid, an asd expression cassette was inserted, under the control of the nirB promoter, into a eukaryotic expression vector, and its kanamycin resistance gene was subsequently removed. The symbiotic plasmid and host system was assessed for numerous plasmid production and stability parameters, including structure, yield, plasmid‑retention rate, and bacterial storability, under various conditions. The presence of the plasmid was subsequently confirmed by growth test, restriction enzyme mapping, and sequencing. The plasmid yield and copy number produced in the symbiotic cells, in the absence of antibiotic selection, were shown to be similar to those produced under kanamycin selection, in the cells containing the precursor plasmid and kanamycin resistance gene. Furthermore, the results of the present study demonstrated that when inoculated with <1% inoculant volume, >98% of the cells in the culture retained the plasmid regardless of the number of passages. The strain was stable when stored at ‑70˚C, with negligible viability loss over 12 months. The constructed plasmid is stable and has potential in future gene therapy, while much work is still required.}, } @article {pmid26079670, year = {2015}, author = {Whitehead, MR and Linde, CC and Peakall, R}, title = {Pollination by sexual deception promotes outcrossing and mate diversity in self-compatible clonal orchids.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {1526-1541}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.12673}, pmid = {26079670}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Crosses, Genetic ; Deception ; Genetics, Population ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Orchidaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Pollen/*genetics ; *Pollination ; Self-Fertilization ; Wasps ; }, abstract = {The majority of flowering plants rely on animals as pollen vectors. Thus, plant mating systems and pollen dispersal are strongly influenced by pollinator behaviour. In Australian sexually deceptive orchids pollinated by male thynnine wasps, outcrossing and extensive pollen flow is predicted due to floral deception, which minimizes multiple flower visitations within patches, and the movement of pollinators under mate-search rather than foraging behaviours. This hypothesis was tested using microsatellite markers to reconstruct and infer paternity in two clonal, self-compatible orchids. Offspring from naturally pollinated Chiloglottis valida and C. aff. jeanesii were acquired through symbiotic culture of seeds collected over three seasons. In both species, outcrossing was extensive (tm = 0.924-1.00) despite clone sizes up to 11 m wide. The median pollen flow distance based on paternity for both taxa combined was 14.5 m (n = 18, range 0-69 m), being larger than typically found by paternity analyses in other herbaceous plants. Unexpectedly for orchids, some capsules were sired by more than one father, with an average of 1.35 pollen donors per fruit. This is the first genetic confirmation of polyandry in orchid capsules. Further, we report a possible link between multiple paternity and increased seed fitness. Together, these results demonstrate that deceptive pollination by mate-searching wasps enhances offspring fitness by promoting both outcrossing and within-fruit paternal diversity.}, } @article {pmid26079531, year = {2015}, author = {Yuki, M and Kuwahara, H and Shintani, M and Izawa, K and Sato, T and Starns, D and Hongoh, Y and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Dominant ectosymbiotic bacteria of cellulolytic protists in the termite gut also have the potential to digest lignocellulose.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {4942-4953}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12945}, pmid = {26079531}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/*metabolism ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Genome ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Oxymonadida/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Wood-feeding lower termites harbour symbiotic gut protists that support the termite nutritionally by degrading recalcitrant lignocellulose. These protists themselves host specific endo- and ectosymbiotic bacteria, functions of which remain largely unknown. Here, we present draft genomes of a dominant, uncultured ectosymbiont belonging to the order Bacteroidales, 'Candidatus Symbiothrix dinenymphae', which colonizes the cell surface of the cellulolytic gut protists Dinenympha spp. We analysed four single-cell genomes of Ca. S. dinenymphae, the highest genome completeness was estimated to be 81.6-82.3% with a predicted genome size of 4.28-4.31 Mb. The genome retains genes encoding large parts of the amino acid, cofactor and nucleotide biosynthetic pathways. In addition, the genome contains genes encoding various glycoside hydrolases such as endoglucanases and hemicellulases. The genome indicates that Ca. S. dinenymphae ferments lignocellulose-derived monosaccharides to acetate, a major carbon and energy source of the host termite. We suggest that the ectosymbiont digests lignocellulose and provides nutrients to the host termites, and hypothesize that the hydrolytic activity might also function as a pretreatment for the host protist to effectively decompose the crystalline cellulose components.}, } @article {pmid26078039, year = {2015}, author = {Martínez-García, Á and Soler, JJ and Rodríguez-Ruano, SM and Martínez-Bueno, M and Martín-Platero, AM and Juárez-García, N and Martín-Vivaldi, M}, title = {Preening as a Vehicle for Key Bacteria in Hoopoes.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {70}, number = {4}, pages = {1024-1033}, pmid = {26078039}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Load ; Birds/*microbiology/*physiology ; Egg Shell/microbiology ; Feathers/microbiology ; Female ; *Grooming ; Prevalence ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Oily secretions produced in the uropygial gland of incubating female hoopoes contain antimicrobial-producing bacteria that prevent feathers from degradation and eggs from pathogenic infection. Using the beak, females collect the uropygial gland secretion and smear it directly on the eggshells and brood patch. Thus, some bacterial strains detected in the secretion should also be present on the eggshell, beak, and brood patch. To characterize these bacterial communities, we used Automatic Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA), which distinguishes between taxonomically different bacterial strains (i.e. different operational taxonomic units [OTUs]) by the size of the sequence amplified. We identified a total of 146 different OTUs with sizes between 139 and 999 bp. Of these OTUs, 124 were detected in the uropygial oil, 106 on the beak surface, 97 on the brood patch, and 98 on the eggshell. The highest richness of OTUs appeared in the uropygial oil samples. Moreover, the detection of some OTUs on the beak, brood patch, and eggshells of particular nests depended on these OTUs being present in the uropygial oil of the female. These results agree with the hypothesis that symbiotic bacteria are transmitted from the uropygial gland to beak, brood patch, and eggshell surfaces, opening the possibility that the bacterial community of the secretion plays a central role in determining the communities of special hoopoe eggshell structures (i.e., crypts) that, soon after hatching, are filled with uropygial oil, thereby protecting embryos from pathogens.}, } @article {pmid26075497, year = {2015}, author = {Peskan-Berghöfer, T and Vilches-Barro, A and Müller, TM and Glawischnig, E and Reichelt, M and Gershenzon, J and Rausch, T}, title = {Sustained exposure to abscisic acid enhances the colonization potential of the mutualist fungus Piriformospora indica on Arabidopsis thaliana roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {3}, pages = {873-886}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13504}, pmid = {26075497}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Ethylenes ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Immunity, Innate ; Indoles/metabolism ; Naphthalenes ; Osmotic Pressure ; Plant Roots/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Sulfonamides ; Symbiosis ; Thiazoles/metabolism ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Root colonization by the beneficial fungus Piriformospora indica is controlled by plant innate immunity, but factors that channel this interaction into a mutualistic relationship are not known. We have explored the impact of abscisic acid (ABA) and osmotic stress on the P. indica interaction with Arabidopsis thaliana. The activation of plant innate immunity in roots was determined by measuring the concentration of the phytoalexin camalexin and expression of transcription factors regulating the biosynthesis of tryptophan-related defence metabolites. Furthermore, the impact of the fungus on the content of ABA, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid (JA) and JA-related metabolites was examined. We demonstrated that treatment with exogenous ABA or the ABA analogue pyrabactin increased fungal colonization efficiency without impairment of plant fitness. Concomitantly, ABA-deficient mutants of A. thaliana (aba1-6 and aba2-1) were less colonized, while plants exposed to moderate stress were more colonized than corresponding controls. Sustained exposure to ABA attenuated expression of transcription factors MYB51, MYB122 and WRKY33 in roots upon P. indica challenge or chitin treatment, and prevented an increase in camalexin content. The results indicate that ABA can strengthen the interaction with P. indica as a consequence of its impact on plant innate immunity. Consequently, ABA will be relevant for the establishment and outcome of the symbiosis under stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid26074907, year = {2015}, author = {Møller, P and Lund, MB and Schramm, A}, title = {Evolution of the tripartite symbiosis between earthworms, Verminephrobacter and Flexibacter-like bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {529}, pmid = {26074907}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Nephridial (excretory organ) symbionts are widespread in lumbricid earthworms and the complexity of the nephridial symbiont communities varies greatly between earthworm species. The two most common symbionts are the well-described Verminephrobacter and less well-known Flexibacter-like bacteria. Verminephrobacter are present in almost all lumbricid earthworms, they are species-specific, vertically transmitted, and have presumably been associated with their hosts since the origin of lumbricids. Flexibacter-like symbionts have been reported from about half the investigated earthworms; they are also vertically transmitted. To investigate the evolution of this tri-partite symbiosis, phylogenies for 18 lumbricid earthworm species were constructed based on two mitochondrial genes, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and compared to their symbiont phylogenies based on RNA polymerase subunit B (rpoB) and 16S rRNA genes. The two nephridial symbionts showed markedly different evolutionary histories with their hosts. For Verminephrobacter, clear signs of long-term host-symbiont co-evolution with rare host switching events confirmed its ancient association with lumbricid earthworms, likely dating back to their last common ancestor about 100 million years (MY) ago. In contrast, phylogenies for the Flexibacter-like symbionts suggested an ability to switch to new hosts, to which they adapted and subsequently became species-specific. Putative co-speciation events were only observed with closely related host species; on that basis, this secondary symbiosis was estimated to be minimum 45 MY old. Based on the monophyletic clustering of the Flexibacter-like symbionts, the low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the nearest described species (<92%) and environmental sequences (<94.2%), and the specific habitat in the earthworm nephridia, we propose a new candidate genus for this group, Candidatus Nephrothrix.}, } @article {pmid26074885, year = {2015}, author = {Lòpez-Fernàndez, S and Sonego, P and Moretto, M and Pancher, M and Engelen, K and Pertot, I and Campisano, A}, title = {Whole-genome comparative analysis of virulence genes unveils similarities and differences between endophytes and other symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {419}, pmid = {26074885}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant pathogens and endophytes co-exist and often interact with the host plant and within its microbial community. The outcome of these interactions may lead to healthy plants through beneficial interactions, or to disease through the inducible production of molecules known as virulence factors. Unravelling the role of virulence in endophytes may crucially improve our understanding of host-associated microbial communities and their correlation with host health. Virulence is the outcome of a complex network of interactions, and drawing the line between pathogens and endophytes has proven to be conflictive, as strain-level differences in niche overlapping, ecological interactions, state of the host's immune system and environmental factors are seldom taken into account. Defining genomic differences between endophytes and plant pathogens is decisive for understanding the boundaries between these two groups. Here we describe the major differences at the genomic level between seven grapevine endophytic test bacteria, and 12 reference strains. We describe the virulence factors detected in the genomes of the test group, as compared to endophytic and non-endophytic references, to better understand the distribution of these traits in endophytic genomes. To do this, we adopted a comparative whole-genome approach, encompassing BLAST-based searches through the GUI-based tools Mauve and BRIG as well as calculating the core and accessory genomes of three genera of enterobacteria. We outline divergences in metabolic pathways of these endophytes and reference strains, with the aid of the online platform RAST. We present a summary of the major differences that help in the drawing of the boundaries between harmless and harmful bacteria, in the spirit of contributing to a microbiological definition of endophyte.}, } @article {pmid26073165, year = {2015}, author = {Leavitt, SD and Kraichak, E and Nelsen, MP and Altermann, S and Divakar, PK and Alors, D and Esslinger, TL and Crespo, A and Lumbsch, T}, title = {Fungal specificity and selectivity for algae play a major role in determining lichen partnerships across diverse ecogeographic regions in the lichen-forming family Parmeliaceae (Ascomycota).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {14}, pages = {3779-3797}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13271}, pmid = {26073165}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Algal/genetics ; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics ; Geography ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbionts are instrumental to the ecological and long-term evolutionary success of their hosts, and the central role of symbiotic interactions is increasingly recognized across the vast majority of life. Lichens provide an iconic group for investigating patterns in species interactions; however, relationships among lichen symbionts are often masked by uncertain species boundaries or an inability to reliably identify symbionts. The species-rich lichen-forming fungal family Parmeliaceae provides a diverse group for assessing patterns of interactions of algal symbionts, and our study addresses patterns of lichen symbiont interactions at the largest geographic and taxonomic scales attempted to date. We analysed a total of 2356 algal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences collected from lichens representing ten mycobiont genera in Parmeliaceae, two genera in Lecanoraceae and 26 cultured Trebouxia strains. Algal ITS sequences were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs); we attempted to validate the evolutionary independence of a subset of the inferred OTUs using chloroplast and mitochondrial loci. We explored the patterns of symbiont interactions in these lichens based on ecogeographic distributions and mycobiont taxonomy. We found high levels of undescribed diversity in Trebouxia, broad distributions across distinct ecoregions for many photobiont OTUs and varying levels of mycobiont selectivity and specificity towards the photobiont. Based on these results, we conclude that fungal specificity and selectivity for algal partners play a major role in determining lichen partnerships, potentially superseding ecology, at least at the ecogeographic scale investigated here. To facilitate effective communication and consistency across future studies, we propose a provisional naming system for Trebouxia photobionts and provide representative sequences for each OTU circumscribed in this study.}, } @article {pmid26071873, year = {2016}, author = {Rudawska, M and Pietras, M and Smutek, I and Strzeliński, P and Leski, T}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungal assemblages of Abies alba Mill. outside its native range in Poland.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {57-65}, pmid = {26071873}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Abies/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Forests ; Humans ; Meristem/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Poland ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbolism ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Abies alba (Mill.) is an important forest tree species, native to the mountainous regions of Europe but has been also widely introduced in the lowlands outside its native range. Like most forest tree species, A. alba forms obligate mutualisms with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. This investigation sought to examine ECM fungal communities of A. alba when the species grows 400 km north of its native range in the region of Pomerania in Poland. We surveyed for ECM fungi by sampling live roots from four mature forest stands where the A. alba component ranged from 20 to 100%. Ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts were identified based on morphotyping and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Thirty-five ECM fungal taxa were distinguished on root tips of A. alba from all tested stands with 22 to 27 ECM fungal taxa in the individual stand. The diversity and similarity metrics revealed a lack of statistical differences in the structure of the ECM fungal community between stands varying in overstory tree composition. Cenococcum geophilum was the most common fungal species at all investigated A. alba stands, with an abundance of 50 to 70%. The ECM community was characterized by the lack of Abies-specific fungal symbionts and a rich and diverse suite of host-generalist mycobionts that seem to be sufficient for successful growth and development of A. alba outside of its native range.}, } @article {pmid26070722, year = {2015}, author = {Becerra, JX and Venable, GX and Saeidi, V}, title = {Wolbachia-Free Heteropterans Do Not Produce Defensive Chemicals or Alarm Pheromones.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {41}, number = {7}, pages = {593-601}, pmid = {26070722}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Aldehydes/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Pheromones/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The true bugs, or heteropterans, are known for their widespread production of anti-predator chemicals and alarm pheromones in scent glands, a derived trait that constitutes one of the defining characters of the suborder Heteroptera and a potential novel trait that contributed to their diversification. We investigated whether symbiotic bacteria could be involved in the formation of these chemicals using Thasus neocalifornicus, a coreid bug that produces semiochemicals frequently found in other bugs. Using DNA phylogenetic methodology and experiments using antibiotics coupled with molecular techniques, we identified Wolbachia as the microorganism infecting the scent glands of this bug. Decreasing the level of Wobachia infection using antibiotics was correlated with a diminution of heteropteran production of defensive compounds and alarm pheromones, suggesting that this symbiotic bacterium might be implicated in the formation of chemicals.}, } @article {pmid26070449, year = {2016}, author = {Sánchez-Romera, B and Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Zamarreño, ÁM and García-Mina, JM and Aroca, R}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and methyl jasmonate avoid the inhibition of root hydraulic conductivity caused by drought.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {111-122}, pmid = {26070449}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Acetates/*metabolism ; Aquaporins/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; *Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hormonal regulation and symbiotic relationships provide benefits for plants to overcome stress conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) application on root hydraulic conductivity (L) of Phaseolus vulgaris plants which established arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis under two water regimes (well-watered and drought conditions). The variation in endogenous contents of several hormones (MeJA, JA, abscisic acid (ABA), indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA)) and the changes in aquaporin gene expression, protein abundance and phosphorylation state were analyzed. AM symbiosis decreased L under well-watered conditions, which was partially reverted by the MeJA treatment, apparently by a drop in root IAA contents. Also, AM symbiosis and MeJA prevented inhibition of L under drought conditions, most probably by a reduction in root SA contents. Additionally, the gene expression of two fungal aquaporins was upregulated under drought conditions, independently of the MeJA treatment. Plant aquaporin gene expression could not explain the behaviour of L. Conversely, evidence was found for the control of L by phosphorylation of aquaporins. Hence, MeJA addition modified the response of L to both AM symbiosis and drought, presumably by regulating the root contents of IAA and SA and the phosphorylation state of aquaporins.}, } @article {pmid26068125, year = {2015}, author = {Ma, D and Storelli, G and Mitchell, M and Leulier, F}, title = {Studying host-microbiota mutualism in Drosophila: Harnessing the power of gnotobiotic flies.}, journal = {Biomedical journal}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {285-293}, doi = {10.4103/2319-4170.158620}, pmid = {26068125}, issn = {2320-2890}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster/growth & development ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism ; Germ-Free Life/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The complex interaction between the metazoan host and its commensal gut microbiota is one of the essential features of symbiosis in the animal kingdom. As there is a burgeoning interest to decipher the molecular dialog that shapes host-microbiota mutualism, the use of gnotobiotic model organism becomes an imperative approach to unambiguously parse the specific contributions to such interaction from the microbiome. In this review, we focus on several remarkable gnotobiotic studies in Drosophila that functionally depicted how the gut microbes can alter host physiology and behavior through transcriptomic regulation, hormonal control, and diet modification. These results in concert illustrate that the gnotobiotic flies mono- or poly-associated with members of its gut microbiota deliver a versatile and powerful model that is amenable to different types of studies ranging from classic genetics to large-scale systems approaches.}, } @article {pmid26067571, year = {2016}, author = {Schwab, F and Zhai, G and Kern, M and Turner, A and Schnoor, JL and Wiesner, MR}, title = {Barriers, pathways and processes for uptake, translocation and accumulation of nanomaterials in plants--Critical review.}, journal = {Nanotoxicology}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {257-278}, doi = {10.3109/17435390.2015.1048326}, pmid = {26067571}, issn = {1743-5404}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Models, Biological ; Nanoparticles/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Uptake, transport and toxicity of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) into plant cells are complex processes that are currently still not well understood. Parts of this problem are the multifaceted plant anatomy, and analytical challenges to visualize and quantify ENMs in plants. We critically reviewed the currently known ENM uptake, translocation, and accumulation processes in plants. A vast number of studies showed uptake, clogging, or translocation in the apoplast of plants, most notably of nanoparticles with diameters much larger than the commonly assumed size exclusion limit of the cell walls of ∼5-20 nm. Plants that tended to translocate less ENMs were those with low transpiration, drought-tolerance, tough cell wall architecture, and tall growth. In the absence of toxicity, accumulation was often linearly proportional to exposure concentration. Further important factors strongly affecting ENM internalization are the cell wall composition, mucilage, symbiotic microorganisms (mycorrhiza), the absence of a cuticle (submerged plants) and stomata aperture. Mostly unexplored are the roles of root hairs, leaf repellency, pit membrane porosity, xylem segmentation, wounding, lateral roots, nodes, the Casparian band, hydathodes, lenticels and trichomes. The next steps towards a realistic risk assessment of nanoparticles in plants are to measure ENM uptake rates, the size exclusion limit of the apoplast and to unravel plant physiological features favoring uptake.}, } @article {pmid26067203, year = {2015}, author = {Contreras-Cornejo, HA and López-Bucio, JS and Méndez-Bravo, A and Macías-Rodríguez, L and Ramos-Vega, M and Guevara-García, ÁA and López-Bucio, J}, title = {Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 6 and Ethylene and Auxin Signaling Pathways Are Involved in Arabidopsis Root-System Architecture Alterations by Trichoderma atroviride.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {701-710}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-15-0005-R}, pmid = {26067203}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Indoles/metabolism ; Methionine/metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mutation ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Protein Kinases ; Seedlings/enzymology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Trichoderma/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Trichoderma atroviride is a symbiotic fungus that interacts with roots and stimulates plant growth and defense. Here, we show that Arabidopsis seedlings cocultivated with T. atroviride have an altered root architecture and greater biomass compared with axenically grown seedlings. These effects correlate with increased activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MPK6). The primary roots of mpk6 mutants showed an enhanced growth inhibition by T. atroviride when compared with wild-type (WT) plants, while T. atroviride increases MPK6 activity in WT roots. It was also found that T. atroviride produces ethylene (ET), which increases with l-methionine supply to the fungal growth medium. Analysis of growth and development of WT seedlings and etr1, ein2, and ein3 ET-related Arabidopsis mutants indicates a role for ET in root responses to the fungus, since etr1 and ein2 mutants show defective root-hair induction and enhanced primary-root growth inhibition when cocultivated with T. atroviride. Increased MPK6 activity was evidenced in roots of ctr1 mutants, which correlated with repression of primary root growth, thus connecting MPK6 signaling with an ET response pathway. Auxin-inducible gene expression analysis using the DR5:uidA reporter construct further revealed that ET affects auxin signaling through the central regulator CTR1 and that fungal-derived compounds, such as indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-acetaldehyde, induce MPK6 activity. Our results suggest that T. atroviride likely alters root-system architecture modulating MPK6 activity and ET and auxin action.}, } @article {pmid26064625, year = {2015}, author = {Pinzón, JH and Kamel, B and Burge, CA and Harvell, CD and Medina, M and Weil, E and Mydlarz, LD}, title = {Whole transcriptome analysis reveals changes in expression of immune-related genes during and after bleaching in a reef-building coral.}, journal = {Royal Society open science}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {140214}, pmid = {26064625}, issn = {2054-5703}, abstract = {Climate change is negatively affecting the stability of natural ecosystems, especially coral reefs. The dissociation of the symbiosis between reef-building corals and their algal symbiont, or coral bleaching, has been linked to increased sea surface temperatures. Coral bleaching has significant impacts on corals, including an increase in disease outbreaks that can permanently change the entire reef ecosystem. Yet, little is known about the impacts of coral bleaching on the coral immune system. In this study, whole transcriptome analysis of the coral holobiont and each of the associate components (i.e. coral host, algal symbiont and other associated microorganisms) was used to determine changes in gene expression in corals affected by a natural bleaching event as well as during the recovery phase. The main findings include evidence that the coral holobiont and the coral host have different responses to bleaching, and the host immune system appears suppressed even a year after a bleaching event. These results support the hypothesis that coral bleaching changes the expression of innate immune genes of corals, and these effects can last even after recovery of symbiont populations. Research on the role of immunity on coral's resistance to stressors can help make informed predictions on the future of corals and coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid26064122, year = {2015}, author = {Goktas, FM and Sahin, B and Yigitarslan, S}, title = {Production of Sterilizing Agents from Calendula officinalis Extracts Optimized by Response Surface Methodology.}, journal = {International journal of analytical chemistry}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {789732}, pmid = {26064122}, issn = {1687-8760}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to produce hand sterilizing liquid and wet wipes with the extracts of Calendula officinalis. Since this plant has well known antimicrobial activity due to its phytochemical constituents, the increase in the extraction yield was chosen as the principle part of the production process. To achieve the maximum yield, parameters of solid-to-liquid ratio, extraction temperature, and time were studied. The optimum conditions were determined by response surface methodology as 41°C, 7 h, and 3.3 g/200 mL for temperature, time, and solid-to-liquid ratio, respectively. The yield achieved at those conditions was found to be 90 percent. The highest amounts of flavonoids were detected at optimum, whereas the highest triterpene and saponin constituents were determined at different design points. The microbial efficiencies of extracts were determined by the inhibition of the growth of selected microorganisms. Different dilution rates and interaction times were used as parameters of inhibition. Not any of the constituent but symbiotic relation in-between reached the highest inhibition of 90 percent. The pH values of the extracts were 5.1 to 5.4. As a result, the extraction of Calendula officinalis at the optimum conditions can be used effectively in the production of wet wipes and hand sterilizing liquid.}, } @article {pmid26061863, year = {2015}, author = {Judy, JD and McNear, DH and Chen, C and Lewis, RW and Tsyusko, OV and Bertsch, PM and Rao, W and Stegemeier, J and Lowry, GV and McGrath, SP and Durenkamp, M and Unrine, JM}, title = {Nanomaterials in Biosolids Inhibit Nodulation, Shift Microbial Community Composition, and Result in Increased Metal Uptake Relative to Bulk/Dissolved Metals.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {49}, number = {14}, pages = {8751-8758}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5b01208}, pmid = {26061863}, issn = {1520-5851}, support = {BBS/E/C/00005094//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/drug effects/*growth & development ; Biomass ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/physiology ; Metals/*metabolism ; Nanostructures/*toxicity ; Plant Root Nodulation/*drug effects ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology ; Sewage/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {We examined the effects of amending soil with biosolids produced from a pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant containing a mixture of metal-based engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on the growth of Medicago truncatula, its symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti, and on soil microbial community structure. Treatments consisted of soils amended with biosolids generated with (1) Ag, ZnO, and TiO2 ENMs introduced into the influent wastewater (ENM biosolids), (2) AgNO3, Zn(SO4)2, and micron-sized TiO2 (dissolved/bulk metal biosolids) introduced into the influent wastewater stream, or (3) no metal added to influent wastewater (control). Soils were amended with biosolids to simulate 20 years of metal loading, which resulted in nominal metal concentrations of 1450, 100, and 2400 mg kg(-1) of Zn, Ag, and Ti, respectively, in the dissolved/bulk and ENM treatments. Tissue Zn concentrations were significantly higher in the plants grown in the ENM treatment (182 mg kg(-1)) compared to those from the bulk treatment (103 mg kg(-1)). Large reductions in nodulation frequency, plant growth, and significant shifts in soil microbial community composition were found for the ENM treatment compared to the bulk/dissolved metal treatment. These results suggest differences in metal bioavailability and toxicity between ENMs and bulk/dissolved metals at concentrations relevant to regulatory limits.}, } @article {pmid26061632, year = {2015}, author = {Fang, Z and Weng, S and Ye, X and Feng, W and Zheng, Z and Lu, M and Lin, S and Fu, X and Liu, P}, title = {Defect Engineering and Phase Junction Architecture of Wide-Bandgap ZnS for Conflicting Visible Light Activity in Photocatalytic H2 Evolution.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {7}, number = {25}, pages = {13915-13924}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.5b02641}, pmid = {26061632}, issn = {1944-8252}, abstract = {ZnS is among the superior photocatalysts for H2 evolution, whereas the wide bandgap restricts its performance to only UV region. Herein, defect engineering and phase junction architecture from a controllable phase transformation enable ZnS to achieve the conflicting visible-light-driven activities for H2 evolution. On the basis of first-principle density functional theory calculations, electron spin resonance and photoluminescence results, etc., it is initially proposed that the regulated sulfur vacancies in wurtzite phase of ZnS play the key role of photosensitization units for charge generation in visible light and active sites for effective electron utilization. The symbiotic sphalerite-wurtzite phase junctions that dominate the charge-transfer kinetics for photoexciton separation are the indispensable configuration in the present systems. Neither ZnS samples without phase junction nor those without enough sulfur vacancies conduct visible-light photocatalytic H2 evolution, while the one with optimized phase junctions and maximum sulfur vacancies shows considerable photocatalytic activity. This work will not only contribute to the realization of visible light photocatalysis for wide-bandgap semiconductors but also broaden the vision on the design of highly efficient transition metal sulfide photocatalysts.}, } @article {pmid26061566, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, Y and Liu, J and Zhang, J and Liu, H and Liu, S and Zhai, L and Wang, H and Lei, Q and Ren, T and Yin, C}, title = {Row Ratios of Intercropping Maize and Soybean Can Affect Agronomic Efficiency of the System and Subsequent Wheat.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0129245}, pmid = {26061566}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Biomass ; China ; Crops, Agricultural/economics/growth & development ; Seasons ; Soybeans/*growth & development ; Triticum/*growth & development ; Zea mays/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Intercropping is regarded as an important agricultural practice to improve crop production and environmental quality in the regions with intensive agricultural production, e.g., northern China. To optimize agronomic advantage of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) intercropping system compared to monoculture of maize, two sequential experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was to screening the optimal cropping system in summer that had the highest yields and economic benefits, and Experiment 2 was to identify the optimum row ratio of the intercrops selected from Experiment 1. Results of Experiment 1 showed that maize intercropping with soybean (maize || soybean) was the optimal cropping system in summer. Compared to conventional monoculture of maize, maize || soybean had significant advantage in yield, economy, land utilization ratio and reducing soil nitrate nitrogen (N) accumulation, as well as better residual effect on the subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Experiment 2 showed that intercropping systems reduced use of N fertilizer per unit land area and increased relative biomass of intercropped maize, due to promoted photosynthetic efficiency of border rows and N utilization during symbiotic period. Intercropping advantage began to emerge at tasseling stage after N topdressing for maize. Among all treatments with different row ratios, alternating four maize rows with six soybean rows (4M:6S) had the largest land equivalent ratio (1.30), total N accumulation in crops (258 kg ha(-1)), and economic benefit (3,408 USD ha(-1)). Compared to maize monoculture, 4M:6S had significantly lower nitrate-N accumulation in soil both after harvest of maize and after harvest of the subsequent wheat, but it did not decrease yield of wheat. The most important advantage of 4M:6S was to increase biomass of intercropped maize and soybean, which further led to the increase of total N accumulation by crops as well as economic benefit. In conclusion, alternating four maize rows with six soybean rows was the optimum row ratio in maize || soybean system, though this needs to be further confirmed by pluri-annual trials.}, } @article {pmid26059639, year = {2015}, author = {Tago, K and Kikuchi, Y and Nakaoka, S and Katsuyama, C and Hayatsu, M}, title = {Insecticide applications to soil contribute to the development of Burkholderia mediating insecticide resistance in stinkbugs.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {14}, pages = {3766-3778}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13265}, pmid = {26059639}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fenitrothion/metabolism ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Insecticide Resistance/*genetics ; Insecticides ; Models, Theoretical ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some soil Burkholderia strains are capable of degrading the organophosphorus insecticide, fenitrothion, and establish symbiosis with stinkbugs, making the host insects fenitrothion-resistant. However, the ecology of the symbiotic degrading Burkholderia adapting to fenitrothion in the free-living environment is unknown. We hypothesized that fenitrothion applications affect the dynamics of fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia, thereby controlling the transmission of symbiotic degrading Burkholderia from the soil to stinkbugs. We investigated changes in the density and diversity of culturable Burkholderia (i.e. symbiotic and nonsymbiotic fenitrothion degraders and nondegraders) in fenitrothion-treated soil using microcosms. During the incubation with five applications of pesticide, the density of the degraders increased from less than the detection limit to around 10(6)/g of soil. The number of dominant species among the degraders declined with the increasing density of degraders; eventually, one species predominated. This process can be explained according to the competitive exclusion principle using V(max) and K(m) values for fenitrothion metabolism by the degraders. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of representative strains isolated from the microcosms and evaluated their ability to establish symbiosis with the stinkbug Riptortus pedestris. The strains that established symbiosis with R. pedestris were assigned to a cluster including symbionts commonly isolated from stinkbugs. The strains outside the cluster could not necessarily associate with the host. The degraders in the cluster predominated during the initial phase of degrader dynamics in the soil. Therefore, only a few applications of fenitrothion could allow symbiotic degraders to associate with their hosts and may cause the emergence of symbiont-mediated insecticide resistance.}, } @article {pmid26059339, year = {2015}, author = {Formey, D and Iñiguez, LP and Peláez, P and Li, YF and Sunkar, R and Sánchez, F and Reyes, JL and Hernández, G}, title = {Genome-wide identification of the Phaseolus vulgaris sRNAome using small RNA and degradome sequencing.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {423}, pmid = {26059339}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Conserved Sequence ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; MicroRNAs/analysis/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Plant/*analysis/metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering/analysis/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: MiRNAs and phasiRNAs are negative regulators of gene expression. These small RNAs have been extensively studied in plant model species but only 10 mature microRNAs are present in miRBase version 21, the most used miRNA database, and no phasiRNAs have been identified for the model legume Phaseolus vulgaris. Thanks to the recent availability of the first version of the common bean genome, degradome data and small RNA libraries, we are able to present here a catalog of the microRNAs and phasiRNAs for this organism and, particularly, we suggest new protagonists in the symbiotic nodulation events.

RESULTS: We identified a set of 185 mature miRNAs, including 121 previously unpublished sequences, encoded by 307 precursors and distributed in 98 families. Degradome data allowed us to identify a total of 181 targets for these miRNAs. We reveal two regulatory networks involving conserved miRNAs: those known to play crucial roles in the establishment of nodules, and novel miRNAs present only in common bean, suggesting a specific role for these sequences. In addition, we identified 125 loci that potentially produce phased small RNAs, with 47 of them having all the characteristics of being triggered by a total of 31 miRNAs, including 14 new miRNAs identified in this study.

CONCLUSIONS: We provide here a set of new small RNAs that contribute to the broader knowledge of the sRNAome of Phaseolus vulgaris. Thanks to the identification of the miRNA targets from degradome analysis and the construction of regulatory networks between the mature microRNAs, we present here the probable functional regulation associated with the sRNAome and, particularly, in N2-fixing symbiotic nodules.}, } @article {pmid26058537, year = {2015}, author = {Marincowitz, S and Duong, TA and Wilhelm de Beer, Z and Wingfield, MJ}, title = {Cornuvesica: A little known mycophilic genus with a unique biology and unexpected new species.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {7}, pages = {615-630}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2015.03.007}, pmid = {26058537}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Lamiaceae/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Ophiostomatales/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Bark/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Little is known about the biology of the monotypic genus Cornuvesica (Microascales), apart from that isolates are notoriously difficult to culture on artificial media. A recent collection of material resembling this genus from freshly made wounds on Gmelina arborea in Indonesia, provided an opportunity to reconsider all available material of Cornuvesica falcata, type species of the genus. In addition to morphological comparisons, multigene phylogenetic analyses were made using sequences of the SSU, ITS, LSU and TEF-1α genes. Our results showed that the holotype of Cor. falcata from pine in Canada differed from all other material previously considered to represent this species and also from the new Indonesian collections. The collections considered represented three additional species that we describe here as new. Three New Zealand isolates and an isolate from UK were respectively described as Cor. acuminata and Cor. crypta, while the Indonesian isolates were described as Cor. magnispora. Phylogenies based on the SSU and LSU data sets showed that Cornuvesica spp. do not belong in the Ceratocystidaceae as previously suggested, but represent a distinct lineage in the Microascales that has yet to be named. Results showed that culture filtrates from other fungi or ferric chloride markedly stimulated the growth of Cor. magnispora.}, } @article {pmid26058535, year = {2015}, author = {Castrillo, LA and Hajek, AE and Pajares, JA and Thomsen, IM and Csóka, G and Kenaley, SC and Kepler, RM and Zamora, P and Angeli, S}, title = {Multilocus genotyping of Amylostereum spp. associated with Sirex noctilio and other woodwasps from Europe reveal clonal lineage introduced to the US.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {7}, pages = {595-604}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2015.03.004}, pmid = {26058535}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Europe ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Hymenoptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Introduced Species ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Plant Diseases/parasitology ; United States ; }, abstract = {Sirex noctilio is a woodwasp of Eurasian origin that was inadvertently introduced to the southern hemisphere in the 1900s and to North America over a decade ago. Its larvae bore in Pinus spp. and can cause significant mortality in pine plantations. S noctilio is associated with a symbiotic white rot fungus, Amylostereum areolatum, which females inject into trees when they oviposit and which is required for survival of developing larvae. We compared the genetic diversity of A. areolatum isolated from S. noctilio and other woodwasps collected from Europe and from northeastern North America to determine the origin of introduction(s) into the United States. Multilocus genotyping of nuclear ribosomal regions and protein coding genes revealed two widespread multilocus genotypes (MLGs) among the European samples, one of which is present in the US. The other two MLGs associated with S. noctilio in the US represented unique haplotypes. These latter two haplotypes were likely from unrepresented source populations, and together with the introduced widespread haplotype reveal multiple A. areolatum MLGs introduced by S. noctilio and indicate possible multiple S. noctilio introductions to North America from Europe. Our results also showed a lack of fidelity between woodwasp hosts and Amylostereum species.}, } @article {pmid26055188, year = {2015}, author = {Ambrose, KV and Tian, Z and Wang, Y and Smith, J and Zylstra, G and Huang, B and Belanger, FC}, title = {Functional characterization of salicylate hydroxylase from the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {10939}, pmid = {26055188}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Droughts ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Epichloe/*metabolism ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/*metabolism ; Poaceae/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Epichloë spp. are symbiotic fungal endophytes of many cool season grasses. The presence of the fungal endophytes often confers insect, drought, and disease tolerance to the host grasses. The presence of the fungal endophytes within the host plants does not elicit host defense responses. The molecular basis for this phenomenon is not known. Epichloë festucae, the endophyte of Festuca rubra, expresses a salicylate hydroxylase similar to NahG from the bacterium Pseudomonas putida. Few fungal salicylate hydroxylase enzymes have been reported. The in planta expression of an endophyte salicylate hydroxylase raised the possibility that degradation of plant-produced salicylic acid is a factor in the mechanism of how the endophyte avoids eliciting host plant defenses. Here we report the characterization of the E. festucae salicylate hydroxylase, designated Efe-shyA. Although the fungal enzyme has the expected activity, based on salicylic acid levels in endophyte-free and endophyte-infected plants it is unlikely that expression of the endophyte salicylate hydroxylase is a factor in the lack of a host defense response to the presence of the fungal endophyte.}, } @article {pmid26054776, year = {2015}, author = {Marrero, MA and Agaras, B and Wall, LG and Valverde, C}, title = {[Selective enrichment of Pseudomonas spp. in the rhizoplane of different plant species].}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {47}, number = {2}, pages = {132-137}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2015.03.007}, pmid = {26054776}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {Argentina ; Biodiversity ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Pseudomonas/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Seeds/microbiology ; Selection, Genetic ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Triticum/microbiology ; Zea mays/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In contrast to rhizobia-legume symbiosis, the specificity for root colonization by pseudomonads seems to be less strict. However, several studies about bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere highlight the influence of plant species on the selective enrichment of certain microorganisms from the bulk soil community. In order to evaluate the effect that different crops have on the structure of pseudomonad community on the root surface, we performed plant trap experiments, using surface-disinfected maize, wheat or soybean seeds that were sown in pots containing the same pristine soil as substrate. Rhizoplane suspensions were plated on a selective medium for Pseudomonas, and pooled colonies served as DNA source to carry out PCR-RFLP community structure analysis of the pseudomonads-specific marker genes oprF and gacA. PCR-RFLP profiles were grouped by plant species, and were distinguished from those of bulk soil samples. Partial sequencing of 16S rDNA genes of some representative colonies of Pseudomonas confirmed the selective enrichment of distinctive genotypes in the rhizoplane of each plant species. These results support the idea that the root systems of agricultural crops such as soybean, maize and wheat, select differential sets of pseudomonads from the native microbial repertoire inhabiting the bulk soil.}, } @article {pmid26053106, year = {2015}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Heinrichs, J and Krings, M and Myllys, L and Grabenhorst, H and Rikkinen, J and Schmidt, AR}, title = {Alectorioid Morphologies in Paleogene Lichens: New Evidence and Re-Evaluation of the Fossil Alectoria succini Mägdefrau.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e0129526}, pmid = {26053106}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amber ; *Fossils ; Lichens/*cytology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {One of the most important issues in molecular dating studies concerns the incorporation of reliable fossil taxa into the phylogenies reconstructed from DNA sequence variation in extant taxa. Lichens are symbiotic associations between fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria. Several lichen fossils have been used as minimum age constraints in recent studies concerning the diversification of the Ascomycota. Recent evolutionary studies of Lecanoromycetes, an almost exclusively lichen-forming class in the Ascomycota, have utilized the Eocene amber inclusion Alectoria succinic as a minimum age constraint. However, a re-investigation of the type material revealed that this inclusion in fact represents poorly preserved plant remains, most probably of a root. Consequently, this fossil cannot be used as evidence of the presence of the genus Alectoria (Parmeliaceae, Lecanorales) or any other lichens in the Paleogene. However, newly discovered inclusions from Paleogene Baltic and Bitterfeld amber verify that alectorioid morphologies in lichens were in existence by the Paleogene. The new fossils represent either a lineage within the alectorioid group or belong to the genus Oropogon.}, } @article {pmid26051213, year = {2015}, author = {Davis, CC and Xi, Z}, title = {Horizontal gene transfer in parasitic plants.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {14-19}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.05.008}, pmid = {26051213}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between species has been a major focus of plant evolutionary research during the past decade. Parasitic plants, which establish a direct connection with their hosts, have provided excellent examples of how these transfers are facilitated via the intimacy of this symbiosis. In particular, phylogenetic studies from diverse clades indicate that parasitic plants represent a rich system for studying this phenomenon. Here, HGT has been shown to be astonishingly high in the mitochondrial genome, and appreciable in the nuclear genome. Although explicit tests remain to be performed, some transgenes have been hypothesized to be functional in their recipient species, thus providing a new perspective on the evolution of novelty in parasitic plants.}, } @article {pmid26048966, year = {2015}, author = {Pickard, JM and Chervonsky, AV}, title = {Intestinal fucose as a mediator of host-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {194}, number = {12}, pages = {5588-5593}, pmid = {26048966}, issn = {1550-6606}, support = {P30 DK042086/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DK42086/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Fucose/*metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fucose is an L-configuration sugar found abundantly in the mammalian gut. It has long been known to be induced there by the presence of bacteria, but only recently have some of the molecular mechanisms behind this process been uncovered. New work suggests that fucose can have a protective role in both gut-centered and systemic infection and inflammation. This review highlights recent studies showing that, in addition to acting as a food source for beneficial gut symbionts, host fucose can suppress the virulence of pathogens and pathobionts. The relevance of gut fucosylation to human diseases also is discussed.}, } @article {pmid26047562, year = {2015}, author = {Limpens, E and van Zeijl, A and Geurts, R}, title = {Lipochitooligosaccharides modulate plant host immunity to enable endosymbioses.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {53}, number = {}, pages = {311-334}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-080614-120149}, pmid = {26047562}, issn = {1545-2107}, mesh = {Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Immunity ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobium bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi use lipochitooligosaccharide (LCO) signals to communicate with potential host plants. Upon a compatible match, an intimate relation is established during which the microsymbiont is allowed to enter root (-derived) cells. Plants perceive microbial LCO molecules by specific LysM-domain-containing receptor-like kinases. These do not only activate a common symbiosis signaling pathway that is shared in both symbioses but also modulate innate immune responses. Recent studies revealed that symbiotic LCO receptors are closely related to chitin innate immune receptors, and some of these receptors even function in symbiosis as well as immunity. This raises questions about how plants manage to translate structurally very similar microbial signals into different outputs. Here, we describe the current view on chitin and LCO perception in innate immunity and endosymbiosis and question how LCOs might modulate the immune system. Furthermore, we discuss what it takes to become an endosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid26046255, year = {2016}, author = {Salvioli, A and Ghignone, S and Novero, M and Navazio, L and Venice, F and Bagnaresi, P and Bonfante, P}, title = {Symbiosis with an endobacterium increases the fitness of a mycorrhizal fungus, raising its bioenergetic potential.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {130-144}, pmid = {26046255}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Energy Metabolism ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) occur in the rhizosphere and in plant tissues as obligate symbionts, having key roles in plant evolution and nutrition. AMF possess endobacteria, and genome sequencing of the endobacterium Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum revealed a reduced genome and a dependence on the fungal host. To understand the effect of bacteria on fungal fitness, we used next-generation sequencing to analyse the transcriptional profile of Gigaspora margarita in the presence and in the absence of its endobacterium. Genomic data on AMF are limited; therefore, we first generated a gene catalogue for G. margarita. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the endobacterium has a stronger effect on the pre-symbiotic phase of the fungus. Coupling transcriptomics with cell biology and physiological approaches, we demonstrate that the bacterium increases the fungal sporulation success, raises the fungal bioenergetic capacity, increasing ATP production, and eliciting mechanisms to detoxify reactive oxygen species. By using TAT peptide to translocate the bioluminescent calcium reporter aequorin, we demonstrated that the line with endobacteria had a lower basal intracellular calcium concentration than the cured line. Lastly, the bacteria seem to enhance the fungal responsiveness to strigolactones, the plant molecules that AMF perceive as branching factors. Although the endobacterium exacts a nutritional cost on the AMF, endobacterial symbiosis improves the fungal ecological fitness by priming mitochondrial metabolic pathways and giving the AMF more tools to face environmental stresses. Thus, we hypothesise that, as described for the human microbiota, endobacteria may increase AMF innate immunity.}, } @article {pmid26045536, year = {2015}, author = {Murfin, KE and Lee, MM and Klassen, JL and McDonald, BR and Larget, B and Forst, S and Stock, SP and Currie, CR and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Xenorhabdus bovienii Strain Diversity Impacts Coevolution and Symbiotic Maintenance with Steinernema spp. Nematode Hosts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e00076}, pmid = {26045536}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM07215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Microbial symbionts provide benefits that contribute to the ecology and fitness of host plants and animals. Therefore, the evolutionary success of plants and animals fundamentally depends on long-term maintenance of beneficial associations. Most work investigating coevolution and symbiotic maintenance has focused on species-level associations, and studies are lacking that assess the impact of bacterial strain diversity on symbiotic associations within a coevolutionary framework. Here, we demonstrate that fitness in mutualism varies depending on bacterial strain identity, and this is consistent with variation shaping phylogenetic patterns and maintenance through fitness benefits. Through genome sequencing of nine bacterial symbiont strains and cophylogenetic analysis, we demonstrate diversity among Xenorhabdus bovienii bacteria. Further, we identified cocladogenesis between Steinernema feltiae nematode hosts and their corresponding X. bovienii symbiont strains, indicating potential specificity within the association. To test the specificity, we performed laboratory crosses of nematode hosts with native and nonnative symbiont strains, which revealed that combinations with the native bacterial symbiont and closely related strains performed significantly better than those with more divergent symbionts. Through genomic analyses we also defined potential factors contributing to specificity between nematode hosts and bacterial symbionts. These results suggest that strain-level diversity (e.g., subspecies-level differences) in microbial symbionts can drive variation in the success of host-microbe associations, and this suggests that these differences in symbiotic success could contribute to maintenance of the symbiosis over an evolutionary time scale.

IMPORTANCE: Beneficial symbioses between microbes and plant or animal hosts are ubiquitous, and in these associations, microbial symbionts provide key benefits to their hosts. As such, host success is fundamentally dependent on long-term maintenance of beneficial associations. Prolonged association between partners in evolutionary time is expected to result in interactions in which only specific partners can fully support symbiosis. The contribution of bacterial strain diversity on specificity and coevolution in a beneficial symbiosis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that strain-level differences in fitness benefits occur in beneficial host-microbe interactions, and this variation likely shapes phylogenetic patterns and symbiotic maintenance. This highlights that symbiont contributions to host biology can vary significantly based on very-fine-scale differences among members of a microbial species. Further, this work emphasizes the need for greater phylogenetic resolution when considering the causes and consequences of host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid26044435, year = {2015}, author = {Califano, G and Franco, T and Gonçalves, AC and Castanho, S and Soares, F and Ribeiro, L and Mata, L and Costa, R}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Aliivibrio fischeri Strain 5LC, a Bacterium Retrieved from Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) Larvae Reared in Aquaculture.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {26044435}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {To shed light on the putative host-mediated lifestyle of the quintessential marine symbiont Aliivibrio fischeri, and on the symbiosis versus potentially pathogenic features of bacteria associated with farmed fish, we report the draft genome sequence of A. fischeri strain 5LC, a bacterium retrieved from gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) larvae.}, } @article {pmid26043435, year = {2015}, author = {Gobbato, E}, title = {Recent developments in arbuscular mycorrhizal signaling.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {26}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.05.006}, pmid = {26043435}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants can establish root endosymbioses with both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial bacteria to improve their nutrition. Our understanding of the molecular events underlying the establishment of these symbioses has significantly advanced in the last few years. Here I highlight major recent findings in the field of endosymbiosis signaling. Despite the identification of new signaling components and the definition, or in some cases better re-definition of the molecular functions of previously known players, major questions still remain that need to be addressed. Most notably the mechanisms defining signaling specificities within either symbiosis remain unclear.}, } @article {pmid26042417, year = {2015}, author = {Zgadzaj, R and James, EK and Kelly, S and Kawaharada, Y and de Jonge, N and Jensen, DB and Madsen, LH and Radutoiu, S}, title = {A legume genetic framework controls infection of nodules by symbiotic and endophytic bacteria.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {e1005280}, pmid = {26042417}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Endophytes/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Rhizobium/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes have an intrinsic capacity to accommodate both symbiotic and endophytic bacteria within root nodules. For the symbionts, a complex genetic mechanism that allows mutual recognition and plant infection has emerged from genetic studies under axenic conditions. In contrast, little is known about the mechanisms controlling the endophytic infection. Here we investigate the contribution of both the host and the symbiotic microbe to endophyte infection and development of mixed colonised nodules in Lotus japonicus. We found that infection threads initiated by Mesorhizobium loti, the natural symbiont of Lotus, can selectively guide endophytic bacteria towards nodule primordia, where competent strains multiply and colonise the nodule together with the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic partner. Further co-inoculation studies with the competent coloniser, Rhizobium mesosinicum strain KAW12, show that endophytic nodule infection depends on functional and efficient M. loti-driven Nod factor signalling. KAW12 exopolysaccharide (EPS) enabled endophyte nodule infection whilst compatible M. loti EPS restricted it. Analysis of plant mutants that control different stages of the symbiotic infection showed that both symbiont and endophyte accommodation within nodules is under host genetic control. This demonstrates that when legume plants are exposed to complex communities they selectively regulate access and accommodation of bacteria occupying this specialized environmental niche, the root nodule.}, } @article {pmid26042135, year = {2015}, author = {Aliferis, KA and Chamoun, R and Jabaji, S}, title = {Metabolic responses of willow (Salix purpurea L.) leaves to mycorrhization as revealed by mass spectrometry and (1)H NMR spectroscopy metabolite profiling.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {344}, pmid = {26042135}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The root system of most terrestrial plants form symbiotic interfaces with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which are important for nutrient cycling and ecosystem sustainability. The elucidation of the undergoing changes in plants' metabolism during symbiosis is essential for understanding nutrient acquisition and for alleviation of soil stresses caused by environmental cues. Within this context, we have undertaken the task of recording the fluctuation of willow (Salix purpurea L.) leaf metabolome in response to AMF inoculation. The development of an advanced metabolomics/bioinformatics protocol employing mass spectrometry (MS) and (1)H NMR analyzers combined with the in-house-built metabolite library for willow (http://willowmetabolib.

RESEARCH: mcgill.ca/index.html) are key components of the research. Analyses revealed that AMF inoculation of willow causes up-regulation of various biosynthetic pathways, among others, those of flavonoid, isoflavonoid, phenylpropanoid, and the chlorophyll and porphyrin pathways, which have well-established roles in plant physiology and are related to resistance against environmental stresses. The recorded fluctuation in the willow leaf metabolism is very likely to provide AMF-inoculated willows with a significant advantage compared to non-inoculated ones when they are exposed to stresses such as, high levels of soil pollutants. The discovered biomarkers of willow response to AMF inoculation and corresponding pathways could be exploited in biomarker-assisted selection of willow cultivars with superior phytoremediation capacity or genetic engineering programs.}, } @article {pmid26042046, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, F and Li, X and Zhang, Y and Coates, B and Zhou, XJ and Cheng, D}, title = {Bacterial symbionts, Buchnera, and starvation on wing dimorphism in English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {155}, pmid = {26042046}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Wing dimorphism in aphids can be affected by multiple cues, including both biotic (nutrition, crowding, interspecific interactions, the presence of natural enemies, maternal and transgenerational effects, and alarm pheromone) and abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, and photoperiod). The majority of the phloem-feeding aphids carry Buchnera, an obligate symbiotic proteobacteria. Buchnera has a highly reduced genome size, but encode key enzymes in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway and is crucial for nutritional balance, development and reproduction in aphids. In this study, we investigated the impact of two nutritional-based biotic factors, symbionts and starvation, on the wing dimorphism in the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, a devastating insect pest of cereal crops (e.g., wheat) worldwide. Elimination of Buchnera using the antibiotic rifampicin significantly reduced the formation of winged morphs, body mass, and fecundity in S. avenae. Furthermore, the absence of this primary endosymbiont may disrupt the nutrient acquisition in aphids and alter transgenerational phenotypic expression. Similarly, both survival rate and the formation of winged morphs were substantially reduced after neonatal (<24 h old) offspring were starved for a period of time. The combined results shed light on the impact of two nutritional-based biotic factors on the phenotypic plasticity in aphids. A better understanding of the wing dimorphism in aphids will provide the theoretical basis for the prediction and integrated management of these phloem-feeding insect pests.}, } @article {pmid26041807, year = {2015}, author = {Werner, GD and Cornwell, WK and Cornelissen, JH and Kiers, ET}, title = {Evolutionary signals of symbiotic persistence in the legume-rhizobia mutualism.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10262-10269}, pmid = {26041807}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {335542/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Geography ; Likelihood Functions ; Models, Genetic ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Understanding the origins and evolutionary trajectories of symbiotic partnerships remains a major challenge. Why are some symbioses lost over evolutionary time whereas others become crucial for survival? Here, we use a quantitative trait reconstruction method to characterize different evolutionary stages in the ancient symbiosis between legumes (Fabaceae) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, asking how labile is symbiosis across different host clades. We find that more than half of the 1,195 extant nodulating legumes analyzed have a high likelihood (>95%) of being in a state of high symbiotic persistence, meaning that they show a continued capacity to form the symbiosis over evolutionary time, even though the partnership has remained facultative and is not obligate. To explore patterns associated with the likelihood of loss and retention of the N2-fixing symbiosis, we tested for correlations between symbiotic persistence and legume distribution, climate, soil and trait data. We found a strong latitudinal effect and demonstrated that low mean annual temperatures are associated with high symbiotic persistence in legumes. Although no significant correlations between soil variables and symbiotic persistence were found, nitrogen and phosphorus leaf contents were positively correlated with legumes in a state of high symbiotic persistence. This pattern suggests that highly demanding nutrient lifestyles are associated with more stable partnerships, potentially because they "lock" the hosts into symbiotic dependency. Quantitative reconstruction methods are emerging as a powerful comparative tool to study broad patterns of symbiont loss and retention across diverse partnerships.}, } @article {pmid26041354, year = {2015}, author = {Cunning, R and Silverstein, RN and Baker, AC}, title = {Investigating the causes and consequences of symbiont shuffling in a multi-partner reef coral symbiosis under environmental change.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1809}, pages = {20141725}, pmid = {26041354}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; *Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Florida ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dynamic symbioses may critically mediate impacts of climate change on diverse organisms, with repercussions for ecosystem persistence in some cases. On coral reefs, increases in heat-tolerant symbionts after thermal bleaching can reduce coral susceptibility to future stress. However, the relevance of this adaptive response is equivocal owing to conflicting reports of symbiont stability and change. We help reconcile this conflict by showing that change in symbiont community composition (symbiont shuffling) in Orbicella faveolata depends on the disturbance severity and recovery environment. The proportion of heat-tolerant symbionts dramatically increased following severe experimental bleaching, especially in a warmer recovery environment, but tended to decrease if bleaching was less severe. These patterns can be explained by variation in symbiont performance in the changing microenvironments created by differentially bleached host tissues. Furthermore, higher proportions of heat-tolerant symbionts linearly increased bleaching resistance but reduced photochemical efficiency, suggesting that any change in community structure oppositely impacts performance and stress tolerance. Therefore, even minor symbiont shuffling can adaptively benefit corals, although fitness effects of resulting trade-offs are difficult to predict. This work helps elucidate causes and consequences of dynamism in symbiosis, which is critical to predicting responses of multi-partner symbioses such as O. faveolata to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid26040196, year = {2015}, author = {Azevedo, H and Lopes, F and Silla, P and Hungria, M}, title = {A database for the taxonomic and phylogenetic identification of the genus Bradyrhizobium using multilocus sequence analysis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16 Suppl 5}, number = {Suppl 5}, pages = {S10}, pmid = {26040196}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Bacterial Typing Techniques/*methods ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Computational Biology/methods ; Databases, Factual ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Internet ; Multilocus Sequence Typing/*methods ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Biological nitrogen fixation, with an emphasis on the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, is a key process for agriculture and the environment, allowing the replacement of nitrogen fertilizers, reducing water pollution by nitrate as well as emission of greenhouse gases. Soils contain numerous strains belonging to the bacterial genus Bradyrhizobium, which establish symbioses with a variety of legumes. However, due to the high conservation of Bradyrhizobium 16S rRNA genes - considered as the backbone of the taxonomy of prokaryotes - few species have been delineated. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) methodology, which includes analysis of housekeeping genes, has been shown to be promising and powerful for defining bacterial species, and, in this study, it was applied to Bradyrhizobium, species, increasing our understanding of the diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

DESCRIPTION: Classification of bacteria of agronomic importance is relevant to biodiversity, as well as to biotechnological manipulation to improve agricultural productivity. We propose the construction of an online database that will provide information and tools using MLSA to improve phylogenetic and taxonomic characterization of Bradyrhizobium, allowing the comparison of genomic sequences with those of type and representative strains of each species.

CONCLUSION: A database for the taxonomic and phylogenetic identification of the Bradyrhizobium, genus, using MLSA, will facilitate the use of biological data available through an intuitive web interface. Sequences stored in the on-line database can be compared with multiple sequences of other strains with simplicity and agility through multiple alignment algorithms and computational routines integrated into the database. The proposed database and software tools are available at http://mlsa.cnpso.embrapa.br, and can be used, free of charge, by researchers worldwide to classify Bradyrhizobium, strains; the database and software can be applied to replicate the experiments presented in this study as well as to generate new experiments. The next step will be expansion of the database to include other rhizobial species.}, } @article {pmid26039986, year = {2015}, author = {Wilson, AC and Duncan, RP}, title = {Signatures of host/symbiont genome coevolution in insect nutritional endosymbioses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10255-10261}, pmid = {26039986}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acids/chemistry ; Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/chemistry ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Buchnera/genetics ; Cell Lineage ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; Pantothenic Acid/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The role of symbiosis in bacterial symbiont genome evolution is well understood, yet the ways that symbiosis shapes host genomes or more particularly, host/symbiont genome coevolution in the holobiont is only now being revealed. Here, we identify three coevolutionary signatures that characterize holobiont genomes. The first signature, host/symbiont collaboration, arises when completion of essential pathways requires host/endosymbiont genome complementarity. Metabolic collaboration has evolved numerous times in the pathways of amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis. Here, we highlight collaboration in branched-chain amino acid and pantothenate (vitamin B5) biosynthesis. The second coevolutionary signature is acquisition, referring to the observation that holobiont genomes acquire novel genetic material through various means, including gene duplication, lateral gene transfer from bacteria that are not their current obligate symbionts, and full or partial endosymbiont replacement. The third signature, constraint, introduces the idea that holobiont genome evolution is constrained by the processes governing symbiont genome evolution. In addition, we propose that collaboration is constrained by the expression profile of the cell lineage from which endosymbiont-containing host cells, called bacteriocytes, are derived. In particular, we propose that such differences in bacteriocyte cell lineage may explain differences in patterns of host/endosymbiont metabolic collaboration between the sap-feeding suborders Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhynca. Finally, we review recent studies at the frontier of symbiosis research that are applying functional genomic approaches to characterization of the developmental and cellular mechanisms of host/endosymbiont integration, work that heralds a new era in symbiosis research.}, } @article {pmid26039982, year = {2015}, author = {Ereshefsky, M and Pedroso, M}, title = {Rethinking evolutionary individuality.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10126-10132}, pmid = {26039982}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development ; *Biofilms ; *Biological Evolution ; Fungi/physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Microbial Consortia ; Microbiota ; Reproduction ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {This paper considers whether multispecies biofilms are evolutionary individuals. Numerous multispecies biofilms have characteristics associated with individuality, such as internal integrity, division of labor, coordination among parts, and heritable adaptive traits. However, such multispecies biofilms often fail standard reproductive criteria for individuality: they lack reproductive bottlenecks, are comprised of multiple species, do not form unified reproductive lineages, and fail to have a significant division of reproductive labor among their parts. If such biofilms are good candidates for evolutionary individuals, then evolutionary individuality is achieved through other means than frequently cited reproductive processes. The case of multispecies biofilms suggests that standard reproductive requirements placed on individuality should be reconsidered. More generally, the case of multispecies biofilms indicates that accounts of individuality that focus on single-species eukaryotes are too restrictive and that a pluralistic and open-ended account of evolutionary individuality is needed.}, } @article {pmid26037523, year = {2015}, author = {Therrien, J and Mason, CJ and Cale, JA and Adams, A and Aukema, BH and Currie, CR and Raffa, KF and Erbilgin, N}, title = {Bacteria influence mountain pine beetle brood development through interactions with symbiotic and antagonistic fungi: implications for climate-driven host range expansion.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {179}, number = {2}, pages = {467-485}, pmid = {26037523}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Climate ; Coleoptera/*growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Host Specificity ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Ophiostomatales/*physiology ; Pinus/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles are associated with diverse communities of symbionts. Although fungi have received significant attention, we know little about how bacteria, and in particular their interactions with fungi, affect bark beetle reproduction. We tested how interactions between four bacterial associates, two symbiotic fungi, and two opportunistic fungi affect performance of mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in host tissue. We compared beetle performance in phloem of its historical host, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and its novel host recently accessed through warming climate, jack pine (Pinus banksiana). Overall, beetles produced more larvae, and established longer ovipositional and larval galleries in host tissue predominantly colonized by the symbiotic fungi, Grosmannia clavigera, or Ophiostoma montium than by the opportunistic colonizer Aspergillus and to a lesser extent, Trichoderma. This occurred in both historical and naïve hosts. Impacts of bacteria on beetle reproduction depended on particular fungus-bacterium combinations and host species. Some bacteria, e.g., Pseudomonas sp. D4-22 and Hy4T4 in P. contorta and Pseudomonas sp. Hy4T4 and Stenotrophomonas in P. banksiana, reduced antagonistic effects by Aspergillus and Trichoderma resulting in more larvae and longer ovipositional and larval galleries. These effects were not selective, as bacteria also reduced beneficial effects by symbionts in both host species. Interestingly, Bacillus enhanced antagonistic effects by Aspergillus in both hosts. These results demonstrate that bacteria influence brood development of bark beetles in host tissue. They also suggest that climate-driven range expansion of D. ponderosae through the boreal forest will not be significantly constrained by requirements of, or interactions among, its microbial associates.}, } @article {pmid26037118, year = {2015}, author = {Burgsdorf, I and Slaby, BM and Handley, KM and Haber, M and Blom, J and Marshall, CW and Gilbert, JA and Hentschel, U and Steindler, L}, title = {Lifestyle evolution in cyanobacterial symbionts of sponges.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e00391-15}, pmid = {26037118}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Methionine/metabolism ; O Antigens/immunology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Synechococcus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum" group includes different clades of cyanobacteria with high 16S rRNA sequence identity (~99%) and is the most abundant and widespread cyanobacterial symbiont of marine sponges. The first draft genome of a "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" group member was recently published, providing evidence of genome reduction by loss of genes involved in several nonessential functions. However, "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" includes a variety of clades that may differ widely in genomic repertoire and consequently in physiology and symbiotic function. Here, we present three additional draft genomes of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum," each from a different clade. By comparing all four symbiont genomes to those of free-living cyanobacteria, we revealed general adaptations to life inside sponges and specific adaptations of each phylotype. Symbiont genomes shared about half of their total number of coding genes. Common traits of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" members were a high abundance of DNA modification and recombination genes and a reduction in genes involved in inorganic ion transport and metabolism, cell wall biogenesis, and signal transduction mechanisms. Moreover, these symbionts were characterized by a reduced number of antioxidant enzymes and low-weight peptides of photosystem II compared to their free-living relatives. Variability within the "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" group was mostly related to immune system features, potential for siderophore-mediated iron transport, and dependency on methionine from external sources. The common absence of genes involved in synthesis of residues, typical of the O antigen of free-living Synechococcus species, suggests a novel mechanism utilized by these symbionts to avoid sponge predation and phage attack.

IMPORTANCE: While the Synechococcus/Prochlorococcus-type cyanobacteria are widely distributed in the world's oceans, a subgroup has established its niche within marine sponge tissues. Recently, the first genome of sponge-associated cyanobacteria, "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum," was described. The sequencing of three representatives of different clades within this cyanobacterial group has enabled us to investigate intraspecies diversity, as well as to give a more comprehensive understanding of the common symbiotic features that adapt "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" to its life within the sponge host.}, } @article {pmid26036799, year = {2015}, author = {Molinier, V and Murat, C and Frochot, H and Wipf, D and Splivallo, R}, title = {Fine-scale spatial genetic structure analysis of the black truffle Tuber aestivum and its link to aroma variability.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {3039-3050}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12910}, pmid = {26036799}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/metabolism ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*genetics ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Genotype ; Geography ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Odorants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Truffles are symbiotic fungi in high demand by food connoisseurs. Improving yield and product quality requires a better understanding of truffle genetics and aroma biosynthesis. One aim here was to investigate the diversity and fine-scale spatial genetic structure of the Burgundy truffle Tuber aestivum. The second aim was to assess how genetic structuring along with fruiting body maturation and geographical origin influenced single constituents of truffle aroma. A total of 39 Burgundy truffles collected in two orchards were characterized in terms of aroma profile (SPME-GC/MS) and genotype (microsatellites). A moderate genetic differentiation was observed between the populations of the two orchards. An important seasonal and spatial genetic structuring was detected. Within one orchard, individuals belonging to the same genet were generally collected during a single season and in the close vicinity from each other. Maximum genet size nevertheless ranged from 46 to 92 m. Geographical origin or maturity only had minor effects on aroma profiles but genetic structuring, specifically clonal identity, had a pronounced influence on the concentrations of C8 - and C4 -VOCs. Our results highlight a high seasonal genetic turnover and indicate that the aroma of Burgundy truffle is influenced by the identity of single clones/genets.}, } @article {pmid26036671, year = {2015}, author = {Wardecki, T and Brötz, E and De Ford, C and von Loewenich, FD and Rebets, Y and Tokovenko, B and Luzhetskyy, A and Merfort, I}, title = {Endophytic Streptomyces in the traditional medicinal plant Arnica montana L.: secondary metabolites and biological activity.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {108}, number = {2}, pages = {391-402}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-015-0492-5}, pmid = {26036671}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/analysis ; Arnica/*microbiology ; Biological Products/analysis ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Endophytes/*chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolome ; Multigene Family ; Plants, Medicinal/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Streptomyces/*chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arnica montana L. is a medical plant of the Asteraceae family and grows preferably on nutrient poor soils in mountainous environments. Such surroundings are known to make plants dependent on symbiosis with other organisms. Up to now only arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were found to act as endophytic symbiosis partners for A. montana. Here we identified five Streptomyces strains, microorganisms also known to occur as endophytes in plants and to produce a huge variety of active secondary metabolites, as inhabitants of A. montana. The secondary metabolite spectrum of these strains does not contain sesquiterpene lactones, but consists of the glutarimide antibiotics cycloheximide and actiphenol as well as the diketopiperazines cyclo-prolyl-valyl, cyclo-prolyl-isoleucyl, cyclo-prolyl-leucyl and cyclo-prolyl-phenylalanyl. Notably, genome analysis of one strain was performed and indicated a huge genome size with a high number of natural products gene clusters among which genes for cycloheximide production were detected. Only weak activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was revealed, but the extracts showed a marked cytotoxic activity as well as an antifungal activity against Candida parapsilosis and Fusarium verticillioides. Altogether, our results provide evidence that A. montana and its endophytic Streptomyces benefit from each other by completing their protection against competitors and pathogens and by exchanging plant growth promoting signals with nutrients.}, } @article {pmid26035130, year = {2015}, author = {Ledermann, R and Bartsch, I and Remus-Emsermann, MN and Vorholt, JA and Fischer, HM}, title = {Stable Fluorescent and Enzymatic Tagging of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens to Analyze Host-Plant Infection and Colonization.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {9}, pages = {959-967}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-15-0054-TA}, pmid = {26035130}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Recombinant ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*physiology ; Luminescent Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110 (formerly named Bradyrhizobium japonicum) can fix dinitrogen when living as an endosymbiont in root nodules of soybean and some other legumes. Formation of a functional symbiosis relies on a defined developmental program mediated by controlled gene expression in both symbiotic partners. In contrast to other well-studied Rhizobium-legume model systems that have been thoroughly examined by means of genetically tagged strains, analysis of B. diazoefficiens host infection has been impaired due to the lack of suitable tagging systems. Here, we describe the construction of B. diazoefficiens strains constitutively expressing single-copy genes for fluorescent proteins (eBFP2, mTurquoise2, GFP+, sYFP2, mCherry, HcRed) and enzymes (GusA, LacZ). For stable inheritance, the constructs were recombined into the chromosome. Effectiveness and versatility of the tagged strains was demonstrated in plant infection assays. (i) The infection process was followed from root-hair attachment to colonization of nodule cells with epifluorescent microscopy. (ii) Monitoring mixed infections with two strains producing different fluorescent proteins allowed rapid analysis of nodule occupancy and revealed that the majority of nodules contained clonal populations. (iii) Microscopic analysis of nodules induced by fluorescent strains provided evidence for host-dependent control of B. diazoefficiens bacteroid morphology in nodules of Aeschynomene afraspera and Arachis hypogaea (peanut), as deduced from their altered morphology compared with bacteroids in soybean nodules.}, } @article {pmid26034268, year = {2015}, author = {Pettay, DT and Wham, DC and Smith, RT and Iglesias-Prieto, R and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Microbial invasion of the Caribbean by an Indo-Pacific coral zooxanthella.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {24}, pages = {7513-7518}, pmid = {26034268}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Caribbean Region ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Indian Ocean ; *Introduced Species ; Pacific Ocean ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Human-induced environmental changes have ushered in the rapid decline of coral reef ecosystems, particularly by disrupting the symbioses between reef-building corals and their photosymbionts. However, escalating stressful conditions enable some symbionts to thrive as opportunists. We present evidence that a stress-tolerant "zooxanthella" from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Symbiodinium trenchii, has rapidly spread to coral communities across the Greater Caribbean. In marked contrast to populations from the Indo-Pacific, Atlantic populations of S. trenchii contained exceptionally low genetic diversity, including several widespread and genetically similar clones. Colonies with this symbiont tolerate temperatures 1-2 °C higher than other host-symbiont combinations; however, calcification by hosts harboring S. trenchii is reduced by nearly half, compared with those harboring natives, and suggests that these new symbioses are maladapted. Unforeseen opportunism and geographical expansion by invasive mutualistic microbes could profoundly influence the response of reef coral symbioses to major environmental perturbations but may ultimately compromise ecosystem stability and function.}, } @article {pmid26034049, year = {2015}, author = {Rodríguez-Echeverría, S and Traveset, A}, title = {Putative linkages between below- and aboveground mutualisms during alien plant invasions.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {26034049}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Evidence of the fundamental role of below-aboveground links in controlling ecosystem processes is mostly based on studies done with soil herbivores or mutualists and aboveground herbivores. Much less is known about the links between belowground and aboveground mutualisms, which have been studied separately for decades. It has not been until recently that these mutualisms-mycorrhizas and legume-rhizobia on one hand, and pollinators and seed dispersers on the other hand-have been found to influence each other, with potential ecological and evolutionary consequences. Here we review the mechanisms that may link these two-level mutualisms, mostly reported for native plant species, and make predictions about their relevance during alien plant invasions. We propose that alien plants establishing effective mutualisms with belowground microbes might improve their reproductive success through positive interactions between those mutualists and pollinators and seed dispersers. On the other hand, changes in the abundance and diversity of soil mutualists induced by invasion can also interfere with below-aboveground links for native plant species. We conclude that further research on this topic is needed in the field of invasion ecology as it can provide interesting clues on synergistic interactions and invasional meltdowns during alien plant invasions.}, } @article {pmid26033226, year = {2015}, author = {Sieber, S and Carlier, A and Neuburger, M and Grabenweger, G and Eberl, L and Gademann, K}, title = {Isolation and Total Synthesis of Kirkamide, an Aminocyclitol from an Obligate Leaf Nodule Symbiont.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {54}, number = {27}, pages = {7968-7970}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201502696}, pmid = {26033226}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Biological Products/*chemical synthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Burkholderia/physiology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cyclitols/*chemical synthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Cyclohexylamines/*chemical synthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Methylation ; Models, Molecular ; Palladium/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology ; Psychotria/*chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The new C7N aminocyclitol kirkamide (1) was isolated from leaf nodules of the plant Psychotria kirkii by using a genome-driven (1)H NMR-guided fractionation approach. The structure and absolute configuration were elucidated by HRMS, NMR, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. An enantioselective total synthesis was developed, which delivered kirkamide (1) on a gram scale in 11 steps and features a Ferrier carbocyclization and a Pd-mediated hydroxymethylation. We propose that kirkamide is synthesized by Candidatus Burkholderia kirkii, the obligate leaf symbiont of Psychotria kirkii. Kirkamide (1) was shown to be toxic to aquatic arthropods and insects, thus suggesting that bacterial secondary metabolites play a protective role in the Psychotria/Burkholderia leaf nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26033175, year = {2015}, author = {Pringle, RM and Kimuyu, DM and Sensenig, RL and Palmer, TM and Riginos, C and Veblen, KE and Young, TP}, title = {Synergistic effects of fire and elephants on arboreal animals in an African savanna.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {6}, pages = {1637-1645}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12404}, pmid = {26033175}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Elephants/*physiology ; *Fires ; *Food Chain ; *Grassland ; Kenya ; Lizards/*physiology ; Trees/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Disturbance is a crucial determinant of animal abundance, distribution and community structure in many ecosystems, but the ways in which multiple disturbance types interact remain poorly understood. The effects of multiple-disturbance interactions can be additive, subadditive or super-additive (synergistic). Synergistic effects in particular can accelerate ecological change; thus, characterizing such synergies, the conditions under which they arise, and how long they persist has been identified as a major goal of ecology. We factorially manipulated two principal sources of disturbance in African savannas, fire and elephants, and measured their independent and interactive effects on the numerically dominant vertebrate (the arboreal gekkonid lizard Lygodactylus keniensis) and invertebrate (a guild of symbiotic Acacia ants) animal species in a semi-arid Kenyan savanna. Elephant exclusion alone (minus fire) had negligible effects on gecko density. Fire alone (minus elephants) had negligible effects on gecko density after 4 months, but increased gecko density twofold after 16 months, likely because the decay of fire-damaged woody biomass created refuges and nest sites for geckos. In the presence of elephants, fire increased gecko density nearly threefold within 4 months of the experimental burn; this occurred because fire increased the incidence of elephant damage to trees, which in turn improved microhabitat quality for geckos. However, this synergistic positive effect of fire and elephants attenuated over the ensuing year, such that only the main effect of fire was evident after 16 months. Fire also altered the structure of symbiotic plant-ant assemblages occupying the dominant tree species (Acacia drepanolobium); this influenced gecko habitat selection but did not explain the synergistic effect of fire and elephants. However, fire-driven shifts in plant-ant occupancy may have indirectly mediated this effect by increasing trees' susceptibility to elephant damage. Our findings confirm the importance of fire × elephant interactions in structuring arboreal wildlife populations. Where habitat modification by megaherbivores facilitates co-occurring species, fire may amplify these effects in the short term by increasing the frequency or intensity of herbivory, leading to synergy. In the longer term, tree mortality due to both top kill by fire and toppling by large herbivores may reduce overall microhabitat availability, eliminating the synergy.}, } @article {pmid26032422, year = {2015}, author = {Blackmore, NJ and Nazmi, AR and Hutton, RD and Webby, MN and Baker, EN and Jameson, GB and Parker, EJ}, title = {Complex Formation between Two Biosynthetic Enzymes Modifies the Allosteric Regulatory Properties of Both: AN EXAMPLE OF MOLECULAR SYMBIOSIS.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {290}, number = {29}, pages = {18187-18198}, pmid = {26032422}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Allosteric Regulation ; Amino Acids, Aromatic/*metabolism ; Chorismate Mutase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/chemistry/*enzymology/metabolism ; Protein Multimerization ; Tuberculosis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Allostery, where remote ligand binding alters protein function, is essential for the control of metabolism. Here, we have identified a highly sophisticated allosteric response that allows complex control of the pathway for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This response is mediated by an enzyme complex formed by two pathway enzymes: chorismate mutase (CM) and 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (DAH7PS). Whereas both enzymes are active in isolation, the catalytic activity of both enzymes is enhanced, and in particular that of the much smaller CM is greatly enhanced (by 120-fold), by formation of a hetero-octameric complex between CM and DAH7PS. Moreover, on complex formation M. tuberculosis CM, which has no allosteric response on its own, acquires allosteric behavior to facilitate its own regulatory needs by directly appropriating and partly reconfiguring the allosteric machinery that provides a synergistic allosteric response in DAH7PS. Kinetic and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments demonstrate that allosteric binding of phenylalanine specifically promotes hetero-octameric complex dissociation, with concomitant reduction of CM activity. Together, DAH7PS and CM from M. tuberculosis provide exquisite control of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, not only controlling flux into the start of the pathway, but also directing the pathway intermediate chorismate into either Phe/Tyr or Trp biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid26032408, year = {2015}, author = {Peay, KG and Russo, SE and McGuire, KL and Lim, Z and Chan, JP and Tan, S and Davies, SJ}, title = {Lack of host specificity leads to independent assortment of dipterocarps and ectomycorrhizal fungi across a soil fertility gradient.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {807-816}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12459}, pmid = {26032408}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Borneo ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Fungi/classification/genetics ; Linear Models ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rainforest ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/classification/*microbiology ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Plants interact with a diversity of microorganisms, and there is often concordance in their community structures. Because most community-level studies are observational, it is unclear if such concordance arises because of host specificity, in which microorganisms or plants limit each other's occurrence. Using a reciprocal transplant experiment, we tested the hypothesis that host specificity between trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi determines patterns of tree and fungal soil specialisation. Seedlings of 13 dipterocarp species with contrasting soil specialisations were seeded into plots crossing soil type and canopy openness. Ectomycorrhizal colonists were identified by DNA sequencing. After 2.5 years, we found no evidence of host specificity. Rather, soil environment was the primary determinant of ectomycorrhizal diversity and composition on seedlings. Despite their close symbiosis, our results show that ectomycorrhizal fungi and tree communities in this Bornean rain forest assemble independently of host-specific interactions, raising questions about how mutualism shapes the realised niche.}, } @article {pmid26032249, year = {2015}, author = {Martínez-Hidalgo, P and Flores-Félix, JD and Menéndez, E and Rivas, R and Carro, L and Mateos, PF and Martínez-Molina, E and León-Barrios, M and Velázquez, E}, title = {Cicer canariense, an endemic legume to the Canary Islands, is nodulated in mainland Spain by fast-growing strains from symbiovar trifolii phylogenetically related to Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {346-350}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2015.03.011}, pmid = {26032249}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cicer/*microbiology/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; Spain ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cicer canariense is a threatened endemic legume from the Canary Islands where it can be nodulated by mesorhizobial strains from the symbiovar ciceri, which is the common worldwide endosymbiont of Cicer arietinum linked to the genus Mesorhizobium. However, when C. canariense was cultivated in a soil from mainland Spain, where the symbiovar ciceri is present, only fast-growing rhizobial strains were unexpectedly isolated from its nodules. These strains were classified into the genus Rhizobium by analysis of the recA and atpD genes, and they were phylogenetically related to Rhizobium leguminosarum. The analysis of the nodC gene showed that the isolated strains belonged to the symbiovar trifolii that harbored a nodC allele (β allele) different to that harbored by other strains from this symbiovar. Nodulation experiments carried out with the lacZ-labeled strain RCCHU01, representative of the β nodC allele, showed that it induced curling of root hairs, infected them through infection threads, and formed typical indeterminate nodules where nitrogen fixation took place. This represents a case of exceptional performance between the symbiovar trifolii and a legume from the tribe Cicereae that opens up new possibilities and provides new insights into the study of rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26031014, year = {2014}, author = {Wong, LJ and H'ng, PS and Wong, SY and Lee, SH and Lum, WC and Chai, EW and Wong, WZ and Chin, KL}, title = {Termite digestomes as a potential source of symbiotic microbiota for lignocelluloses degradation: a review.}, journal = {Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {956-963}, doi = {10.3923/pjbs.2014.956.963}, pmid = {26031014}, issn = {1028-8880}, mesh = {Animals ; Digestion ; Intestines/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Termites thrive in great abundance in terrestrial ecosystems and the symbiotic gut microbiota play important roles in digestion of lignocelluloses and nitrogen metabolism. Termites are excellent models of biocatalysts as they inhabit dense microbes in their guts that produce digestive enzymes to decompose lignocelluloses and convert it to end products such as sugars, hydrogen, and acetate. Different of digestive system between lower and higher termites which lower termites dependent on their dual decomposing system, consisting of termite's own cellulases and gut's protists. Higher termites decompose cellulose using their own enzymes, because of the absence of symbiotic protists. Termite gut prokaryotes efficiently support lignocelluloses degradation. In this review, a brief overview of recent experimental works, development and commercialization is discussed. Significant progress has been made to isolate cellulolytic strains from termites and optimise the digestion efficiency of cellulose. Future perspective should emphasize the isolation of cellulolytic strains from termites, genetically modifying or immobilization of the microbes which produce the desired enzyme and thus benefits on the microbiology and biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid26029487, year = {2015}, author = {Sanmiguel, C and Gupta, A and Mayer, EA}, title = {Gut Microbiome and Obesity: A Plausible Explanation for Obesity.}, journal = {Current obesity reports}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {250-261}, pmid = {26029487}, issn = {2162-4968}, support = {P30 DK041301/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P50 DK064539/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK048351/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipose Tissue/*metabolism ; *Bacteria ; Brain/physiology ; Dysbiosis/*complications ; *Energy Metabolism/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/etiology/microbiology ; Obesity/*etiology/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Obesity is a multifactorial disorder that results in excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. Although obesity is caused by alterations in the energy consumption/expenditure balance, the factors promoting this disequilibrium are incompletely understood. The rapid development of new technologies and analysis strategies to decode the gut microbiota composition and metabolic pathways has opened a door into the complexity of the guest-host interactions between the gut microbiota and its human host in health and in disease. Pivotal studies have demonstrated that manipulation of the gut microbiota and its metabolic pathways can affect host's adiposity and metabolism. These observations have paved the way for further assessment of the mechanisms underlying these changes. In this review we summarize the current evidence for possible mechanisms underlying gut microbiota induced obesity. The review addresses some well-known effects of the gut microbiota on energy harvesting and changes in metabolic machinery, on metabolic and immune interactions and on possible changes in brain function and behavior. Although there is limited understanding on the symbiotic relationship between us and our gut microbiome, and how disturbances of this relationship affects our health, there is compelling evidence for an important role of the gut microbiota in the development and perpetuation of obesity.}, } @article {pmid26029236, year = {2015}, author = {Meng, L and Zhang, A and Wang, F and Han, X and Wang, D and Li, S}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobium facilitate nitrogen uptake and transfer in soybean/maize intercropping system.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {339}, pmid = {26029236}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The tripartite symbiosis between legumes, rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi are generally considered to be beneficial for the nitrogen (N) uptake of legumes, but the facilitation of symbiosis in legume/non-legume intercropping systems is not clear. Therefore, the aims of the research are as follows: (1) to verify if the dual inoculation can facilitate the N uptake and N transfer in maize/soybean intercropping systems and (2) to calculate how much N will be transferred from soybean to maize. A pot experiment with different root separations [solid barrier, mesh (30 μm) barrier and no barrier] was conducted, and the (15)N isotopic tracing method was used to calculate how much N transferred from soybean to maize inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobium in a soybean (Glycine max L.cv. Dongnong No. 42)/maize (Zea mays L.cv. Dongnong No. 48) intercropping system. Compared with the Glomus mosseae inoculation (G.m.), Rhizobium SH212 inoculation (SH212), no inoculation (NI), the dual inoculation (SH212+G.m.) increased the N uptake of soybean by 28.69, 39.58, and 93.07% in a solid barrier system. N uptake of maize inoculated with both G. mosseae and rhizobium was 1.20, 1.28, and 1.68 times more than that of G.m., SH212 and NI, respectively, in solid barrier treatments. In addition, the amount of N transferred from soybean to maize in a dual inoculation system with a mesh barrier was 7.25, 7.01, and 11.45 mg more than that of G.m., SH212 and NI and similarly, 6.40, 7.58, and 12.46 mg increased in no barrier treatments. Inoculating with both AMF and rhizobium in the soybean/maize intercropping system improved the N fixation efficiency of soybean and promoted N transfer from soybean to maize, resulting in the improvement of yield advantages of legume/non-legume intercropping.}, } @article {pmid26029201, year = {2015}, author = {Kouzuma, A and Kato, S and Watanabe, K}, title = {Microbial interspecies interactions: recent findings in syntrophic consortia.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {477}, pmid = {26029201}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbes are ubiquitous in our biosphere, and inevitably live in communities. They excrete a variety of metabolites and support the growth of other microbes in a community. According to the law of chemical equilibrium, the consumption of excreted metabolites by recipient microbes can accelerate the metabolism of donor microbes. This is the concept of syntrophy, which is a type of mutualism and governs the metabolism and growth of diverse microbes in natural and engineered ecosystems. A representative example of syntrophy is found in methanogenic communities, where reducing equivalents, e.g., hydrogen and formate, transfer between syntrophic partners. Studies have revealed that microbes involved in syntrophy have evolved molecular mechanisms to establish specific partnerships and interspecies communication, resulting in efficient metabolic cooperation. In addition, recent studies have provided evidence suggesting that microbial interspecies transfer of reducing equivalents also occurs as electric current via biotic (e.g., pili) and abiotic (e.g., conductive mineral and carbon particles) electric conduits. In this review, we describe these findings as examples of sophisticated cooperative behavior between different microbial species. We suggest that these interactions have fundamental roles in shaping the structure and activity of microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid26028424, year = {2015}, author = {Price, DR and Wilson, AC and Luetje, CW}, title = {Proton-dependent glutamine uptake by aphid bacteriocyte amino acid transporter ApGLNT1.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1848}, number = {10 Pt A}, pages = {2085-2091}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.05.019}, pmid = {26028424}, issn = {0006-3002}, support = {DC011091/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/*metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Glutamine/*pharmacokinetics ; Ion Channel Gating/*physiology ; Membrane Potentials/*physiology ; Oocytes/*physiology ; Protons ; Xenopus laevis ; }, abstract = {Aphids house large populations of the gammaproteobacterial symbiont Buchnera aphidicola in specialized bacteriocyte cells. The combined biosynthetic capability of the holobiont (Acyrthosiphon pisum and Buchnera) is sufficient for biosynthesis of all twenty protein coding amino acids, including amino acids that animals alone cannot synthesize; and that are present at low concentrations in A. pisum's plant phloem sap diet. Collaborative holobiont amino acid biosynthesis depends on glutamine import into bacteriocytes, which serves as a nitrogen-rich amino donor for biosynthesis of other amino acids. Recently, we characterized A. pisum glutamine transporter 1 (ApGLNT1), a member of the amino acid/auxin permease family, as the dominant bacteriocyte plasma membrane glutamine transporter. Here we show ApGLNT1 to be structurally and functionally related to mammalian proton-dependent amino acid transporters (PATs 1-4). Using functional expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes, combined with two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology we demonstrate that ApGLNT1 is electrogenic and that glutamine induces large inward currents. ApGLNT1 glutamine induced currents are dependent on external glutamine concentration, proton (H+) gradient across the membrane, and membrane potential. Based on these transport properties, ApGLNT1-mediated glutamine uptake into A. pisum bacteriocytes can be regulated by changes in either proton gradients across the plasma membrane or membrane potential.}, } @article {pmid26026623, year = {2016}, author = {Jank, T and Lang, AE and Aktories, K}, title = {Rho-modifying bacterial protein toxins from Photorhabdus species.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {17-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.05.017}, pmid = {26026623}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/*chemistry/toxicity ; Insecta/drug effects ; Larva/drug effects ; Models, Molecular ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Protein Domains ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus bacteria live in symbiosis with entomopathogenic nematodes. The nematodes invade insect larvae, where they release the bacteria, which then produce toxins to kill the insects. Recently, the molecular mechanisms of some toxins from Photorhabdus luminescens and asymbiotica have been elucidated, showing that GTP-binding proteins of the Rho family are targets. The tripartite Tc toxin PTC5 from P. luminescens activates Rho proteins by ADP-ribosylation of a glutamine residue, which is involved in GTP hydrolysis, while PaTox from Photorhabdus asymbiotica inhibits the activity of GTPases by N-acetyl-glucosaminylation at tyrosine residues and activates Rho proteins indirectly by deamidation of heterotrimeric G proteins.}, } @article {pmid26026593, year = {2015}, author = {Dheilly, NM and Poulin, R and Thomas, F}, title = {Biological warfare: Microorganisms as drivers of host-parasite interactions.}, journal = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases}, volume = {34}, number = {}, pages = {251-259}, doi = {10.1016/j.meegid.2015.05.027}, pmid = {26026593}, issn = {1567-7257}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Warfare ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Parasitic Diseases/*microbiology/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding parasite strategies for evasion, manipulation or exploitation of hosts is crucial for many fields, from ecology to medical sciences. Generally, research has focused on either the host response to parasitic infection, or the parasite virulence mechanisms. More recently, integrated studies of host-parasite interactions have allowed significant advances in theoretical and applied biology. However, these studies still provide a simplistic view of these as mere two-player interactions. Host and parasite are associated with a myriad of microorganisms that could benefit from the improved fitness of their partner. Illustrations of such complex multi-player interactions have emerged recently from studies performed in various taxa. In this conceptual article, we propose how these associated microorganisms may participate in the phenotypic alterations induced by parasites and hence in host-parasite interactions, from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. Host- and parasite-associated microorganisms may participate in the host-parasite interaction by interacting directly or indirectly with the other partner. As a result, parasites may develop (i) the disruptive strategy in which the parasite alters the host microbiota to its advantage, and (ii) the biological weapon strategy where the parasite-associated microorganism contributes to or modulates the parasite's virulence. Some phenotypic alterations induced by parasite may also arise from conflicts of interests between the host or parasite and its associated microorganism. For each situation, we review the literature and propose new directions for future research. Specifically, investigating the role of host- and parasite-associated microorganisms in host-parasite interactions at the individual, local and regional level will lead to a holistic understanding of how the co-evolution of the different partners influences how the other ones respond, both ecologically and evolutionary. The conceptual framework we propose here is important and relevant to understand the proximate basis of parasite strategies, to predict their evolutionary dynamics and potentially to prevent therapeutic failures.}, } @article {pmid26025891, year = {2015}, author = {Singh, P and Brooks, JF and Ray, VA and Mandel, MJ and Visick, KL}, title = {CysK Plays a Role in Biofilm Formation and Colonization by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {15}, pages = {5223-5234}, pmid = {26025891}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM08061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM079300/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM086262/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Cysteine Synthase/genetics/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genetic Testing ; Mutation ; }, abstract = {A biofilm, or a matrix-embedded community of cells, promotes the ability of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri to colonize its symbiotic host, the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes. Biofilm formation and colonization depend on syp, an 18-gene polysaccharide locus. To identify other genes necessary for biofilm formation, we screened for mutants that failed to form wrinkled colonies, a type of biofilm. We obtained several with defects in genes required for cysteine metabolism, including cysH, cysJ, cysK, and cysN. The cysK mutant exhibited the most severe wrinkling defect. It could be complemented with a wild-type copy of the cysK gene, which encodes O-acetylserine sulfhydrolase, or by supplementing the medium with additional cysteine. None of a number of other mutants defective for biosynthetic genes negatively impacted wrinkled colony formation, suggesting a specific role for CysK. CysK did not appear to control activation of Syp regulators or transcription of the syp locus, but it did influence production of the Syp polysaccharide. Under biofilm-inducing conditions, the cysK mutant retained the same ability as that of the parent strain to adhere to the agar surface. The cysK mutant also exhibited a defect in pellicle production that could be complemented by the cysK gene but not by cysteine, suggesting that, under these conditions, CysK is important for more than the production of cysteine. Finally, our data reveal a role for cysK in symbiotic colonization by V. fischeri. Although many questions remain, this work provides insights into additional factors required for biofilm formation and colonization by V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid26025560, year = {2015}, author = {Gottlieb, Y and Lalzar, I and Klasson, L}, title = {Distinctive Genome Reduction Rates Revealed by Genomic Analyses of Two Coxiella-Like Endosymbionts in Ticks.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1779-1796}, pmid = {26025560}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Coxiella/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rhipicephalus/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome reduction is a hallmark of symbiotic genomes, and the rate and patterns of gene loss associated with this process have been investigated in several different symbiotic systems. However, in long-term host-associated coevolving symbiont clades, the genome size differences between strains are normally quite small and hence patterns of large-scale genome reduction can only be inferred from distant relatives. Here we present the complete genome of a Coxiella-like symbiont from Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks (CRt), and compare it with other genomes from the genus Coxiella in order to investigate the process of genome reduction in a genus consisting of intracellular host-associated bacteria with variable genome sizes. The 1.7-Mb CRt genome is larger than the genomes of most obligate mutualists but has a very low protein-coding content (48.5%) and an extremely high number of identifiable pseudogenes, indicating that it is currently undergoing genome reduction. Analysis of encoded functions suggests that CRt is an obligate tick mutualist, as indicated by the possible provisioning of the tick with biotin (B7), riboflavin (B2) and other cofactors, and by the loss of most genes involved in host cell interactions, such as secretion systems. Comparative analyses between CRt and the 2.5 times smaller genome of Coxiella from the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum (CLEAA) show that many of the same gene functions are lost and suggest that the large size difference might be due to a higher rate of genome evolution in CLEAA generated by the loss of the mismatch repair genes mutSL. Finally, sequence polymorphisms in the CRt population sampled from field collected ticks reveal up to one distinct strain variant per tick, and analyses of mutational patterns within the population suggest that selection might be acting on synonymous sites. The CRt genome is an extreme example of a symbiont genome caught in the act of genome reduction, and the comparison between CLEAA and CRt indicates that losses of particular genes early on in this process can potentially greatly influence the speed of this process.}, } @article {pmid26024809, year = {2015}, author = {Mirzahossini, Z and Shabani, L and Sabzalian, MR and Sharifi-Tehrani, M}, title = {ABC transporter and metallothionein expression affected by NI and Epichloe endophyte infection in tall fescue.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {120}, number = {}, pages = {13-19}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.05.025}, pmid = {26024809}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics ; Biomass ; Endophytes/*pathogenicity ; Epichloe/*pathogenicity ; Festuca/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Metallothionein/*metabolism ; Mycoses/*physiopathology ; Nickel/*toxicity ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Epichloe endophytes are symbiotic fungi which unlike mycorrhiza grow within aerial parts of host plants. The fungi may increase host tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, the effect of endophyte infection on growth and tolerance, carbohydrate contents and ABC (ABC transporter) and MET (metallothionein) expression in the leaves of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) plants cultivated in Ni polluted soil were evaluated. The endophyte infected (E+) and non-infected (E-) fescue plants were cultivated in soil under different Ni concentrations (30, 90 and 180mgkg(-1)). Growth parameters including root, shoot, total biomass, tiller number and total chlorophyll content of plants and H2O2 content of shoots were measured at the end of experiment. Ni translocation to the shoots, carbohydrate contents in roots and expression of ABC and MET of the leaves were also measured after 10 weeks of growth. Results demonstrated the beneficial effect of endophyte association on growth and Ni tolerance of tall fescue under Ni stress through an avoidance mechanism (reduction of Ni accumulation and translocation to the shoots). Endophyte infected plants showed less ABC and MET expression compared to the endophyte free plants. In endophyte free plants, H2O2 production had a significant positive correlation with genes expression, indicating that an increase in H2O2 might be involved in the up-regulation of ABC and MET under Ni stress.}, } @article {pmid26024424, year = {2015}, author = {Takeda, N and Handa, Y and Tsuzuki, S and Kojima, M and Sakakibara, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Gibberellin regulates infection and colonization of host roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e1028706}, pmid = {26024424}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/physiology ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Diseases/genetics/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is established by the entry of AM fungi into the host plant roots and the formation of symbiotic structures called arbuscules. The host plant supplies photosynthetic products to the AM fungi, which in return provide phosphate and other minerals to the host through the arbuscules. Both partners gain great advantages from this symbiotic interaction, and both regulate AM development. Our recent work revealed that gibberellic acids (GAs) are required for AM development in the legume Lotus japonicus. GA signaling interact with symbiosis signaling pathways, directing AM fungal colonization in host roots. Expression analysis showed that genes for GA biosynthesis and metabolism were induced in host roots around AM fungal hyphae, suggesting that the GA signaling changes with both location and time during AM development. The fluctuating GA concentrations sometimes positively and sometimes negatively affect the expression of AM-induced genes that regulate AM fungal infection and colonization.}, } @article {pmid26023876, year = {2015}, author = {Sudakaran, S and Retz, F and Kikuchi, Y and Kost, C and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Evolutionary transition in symbiotic syndromes enabled diversification of phytophagous insects on an imbalanced diet.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {2587-2604}, pmid = {26023876}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Feeding Behavior ; Heteroptera/classification/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Evolutionary adaptations for the exploitation of nutritionally challenging or toxic host plants represent a major force driving the diversification of phytophagous insects. Although symbiotic bacteria are known to have essential nutritional roles for insects, examples of radiations into novel ecological niches following the acquisition of specific symbionts remain scarce. Here we characterized the microbiota across bugs of the family Pyrrhocoridae and investigated whether the acquisition of vitamin-supplementing symbionts enabled the hosts to diversify into the nutritionally imbalanced and chemically well-defended seeds of Malvales plants as a food source. Our results indicate that vitamin-provisioning Actinobacteria (Coriobacterium and Gordonibacter), as well as Firmicutes (Clostridium) and Proteobacteria (Klebsiella) are widespread across Pyrrhocoridae, but absent from the sister family Largidae and other outgroup taxa. Despite the consistent association with a specific microbiota, the Pyrrhocoridae phylogeny is neither congruent with a dendrogram based on the hosts' microbial community profiles nor phylogenies of individual symbiont strains, indicating frequent horizontal exchange of symbiotic partners. Phylogenetic dating analyses based on the fossil record reveal an origin of the Pyrrhocoridae core microbiota in the late Cretaceous (81.2-86.5 million years ago), following the transition from crypt-associated beta-proteobacterial symbionts to an anaerobic community localized in the M3 region of the midgut. The change in symbiotic syndromes (that is, symbiont identity and localization) and the acquisition of the pyrrhocorid core microbiota followed the evolution of their preferred host plants (Malvales), suggesting that the symbionts facilitated their hosts' adaptation to this imbalanced nutritional resource and enabled the subsequent diversification in a competition-poor ecological niche.}, } @article {pmid26022515, year = {2015}, author = {Kita, A and Jimbo, M and Sakai, R and Morimoto, Y and Miki, K}, title = {Crystal structure of a symbiosis-related lectin from octocoral.}, journal = {Glycobiology}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {1016-1023}, doi = {10.1093/glycob/cwv033}, pmid = {26022515}, issn = {1460-2423}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cnidaria/chemistry ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {D-Galactose-binding lectin from the octocoral, Sinularia lochmodes (SLL-2), distributes densely on the cell surface of microalgae, Symbiodinium sp., an endosymbiotic dinoflagellate of the coral, and is also shown to be a chemical cue that transforms dinoflagellate into a non-motile (coccoid) symbiotic state. SLL-2 binds with high affinity to the Forssman antigen (N-acetylgalactosamine(GalNAc)α1-3GalNAcβ1-3Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc-ceramide), and the presence of Forssman antigen-like sugar on the surface of Symbiodinium CS-156 cells was previously confirmed. Here we report the crystal structures of SLL-2 and its GalNAc complex as the first crystal structures of a lectin involved in the symbiosis between coral and dinoflagellate. N-Linked sugar chains and a galactose derivative binding site common to H-type lectins were observed in each monomer of the hexameric SLL-2 crystal structure. In addition, unique sugar-binding site-like regions were identified at the top and bottom of the hexameric SLL-2 structure. These structural features suggest a possible binding mode between SLL-2 and Forssman antigen-like pentasaccharide.}, } @article {pmid26021918, year = {2015}, author = {Gonçalves, AC and Franco, T and Califano, G and Dowd, SE and Pohnert, G and Costa, R}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio sp. Strain Vb278, an Antagonistic Bacterium Isolated from the Marine Sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {26021918}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We report here the draft genome sequence of Vibrio sp. Vb278, a biofilm-producing strain isolated from the marine sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus, showing in vitro antibacterial activity. The annotated genome displays a range of symbiotic factors and the potential for the biosynthesis of several biologically active natural products.}, } @article {pmid26021705, year = {2015}, author = {Ceccaroli, P and Saltarelli, R and Polidori, E and Barbieri, E and Guescini, M and Ciacci, C and Stocchi, V}, title = {Sugar transporters in the black truffle Tuber melanosporum: from gene prediction to functional characterization.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {81}, number = {}, pages = {52-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2015.05.006}, pmid = {26021705}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Biological Transport ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Fructose/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Glucose/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In a natural forest ecosystem, ectomycorrhiza formation is a way for soil fungi to obtain carbohydrates from their host plants. However, our knowledge of sugar transporters in ectomycorrhizal ascomycetous fungi is limited. To bridge this gap we used data obtained from the sequenced genome of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum Vittad. to search for sugar transporters. Twenty-three potential hexose transporters were found, and three of them (Tmelhxt1, Tmel2281 and Tmel131), differentially expressed during the fungus life cycle, were investigated. The heterologous expression of Tmelhxt1 and Tmel2281 in an hxt-null Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain restores the growth in glucose and fructose. The functional characterization and expression profiles of Tmelhxt1 and Tmel2281 in the symbiotic phase suggest that they are high affinity hexose transporters at the plant-fungus interface. On the contrary, Tmel131 is preferentially expressed in the fruiting body and its inability to restore the S. cerevisiae mutant strain growth led us to hypothesize that it could be involved in the transport of alternative carbon sources important for a hypothetical saprophytic strategy for the complete maturation of the carpophore.}, } @article {pmid26020781, year = {2015}, author = {Persson, T and Battenberg, K and Demina, IV and Vigil-Stenman, T and Vanden Heuvel, B and Pujic, P and Facciotti, MT and Wilbanks, EG and O'Brien, A and Fournier, P and Cruz Hernandez, MA and Mendoza Herrera, A and Médigue, C and Normand, P and Pawlowski, K and Berry, AM}, title = {Candidatus Frankia Datiscae Dg1, the Actinobacterial Microsymbiont of Datisca glomerata, Expresses the Canonical nod Genes nodABC in Symbiosis with Its Host Plant.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0127630}, pmid = {26020781}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Cucurbitaceae/*microbiology ; *Frankia/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/physiology ; Operon/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Frankia strains are nitrogen-fixing soil actinobacteria that can form root symbioses with actinorhizal plants. Phylogenetically, symbiotic frankiae can be divided into three clusters, and this division also corresponds to host specificity groups. The strains of cluster II which form symbioses with actinorhizal Rosales and Cucurbitales, thus displaying a broad host range, show suprisingly low genetic diversity and to date can not be cultured. The genome of the first representative of this cluster, Candidatus Frankia datiscae Dg1 (Dg1), a microsymbiont of Datisca glomerata, was recently sequenced. A phylogenetic analysis of 50 different housekeeping genes of Dg1 and three published Frankia genomes showed that cluster II is basal among the symbiotic Frankia clusters. Detailed analysis showed that nodules of D. glomerata, independent of the origin of the inoculum, contain several closely related cluster II Frankia operational taxonomic units. Actinorhizal plants and legumes both belong to the nitrogen-fixing plant clade, and bacterial signaling in both groups involves the common symbiotic pathway also used by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However, so far, no molecules resembling rhizobial Nod factors could be isolated from Frankia cultures. Alone among Frankia genomes available to date, the genome of Dg1 contains the canonical nod genes nodA, nodB and nodC known from rhizobia, and these genes are arranged in two operons which are expressed in D. glomerata nodules. Furthermore, Frankia Dg1 nodC was able to partially complement a Rhizobium leguminosarum A34 nodC::Tn5 mutant. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Dg1 Nod proteins are positioned at the root of both α- and β-rhizobial NodABC proteins. NodA-like acyl transferases were found across the phylum Actinobacteria, but among Proteobacteria only in nodulators. Taken together, our evidence indicates an Actinobacterial origin of rhizobial Nod factors.}, } @article {pmid26020166, year = {2015}, author = {McAllister, TA and Meale, SJ and Valle, E and Guan, LL and Zhou, M and Kelly, WJ and Henderson, G and Attwood, GT and Janssen, PH}, title = {RUMINANT NUTRITION SYMPOSIUM: Use of genomics and transcriptomics to identify strategies to lower ruminal methanogenesis.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {1431-1449}, doi = {10.2527/jas.2014-8329}, pmid = {26020166}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animals ; Euryarchaeota/genetics/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Livestock/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metagenomics/*methods/trends ; Methane/*biosynthesis ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Ruminants/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Globally, methane (CH4) emissions account for 40% to 45% of greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant livestock, with over 90% of these emissions arising from enteric fermentation. Reduction of carbon dioxide to CH4 is critical for efficient ruminal fermentation because it prevents the accumulation of reducing equivalents in the rumen. Methanogens exist in a symbiotic relationship with rumen protozoa and fungi and within biofilms associated with feed and the rumen wall. Genomics and transcriptomics are playing an increasingly important role in defining the ecology of ruminal methanogenesis and identifying avenues for its mitigation. Metagenomic approaches have provided information on changes in abundances as well as the species composition of the methanogen community among ruminants that vary naturally in their CH4 emissions, their feed efficiency, and their response to CH4 mitigators. Sequencing the genomes of rumen methanogens has provided insight into surface proteins that may prove useful in the development of vaccines and has allowed assembly of biochemical pathways for use in chemogenomic approaches to lowering ruminal CH4 emissions. Metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analysis of entire rumen microbial communities are providing new perspectives on how methanogens interact with other members of this ecosystem and how these relationships may be altered to reduce methanogenesis. Identification of community members that produce antimethanogen agents that either inhibit or kill methanogens could lead to the identification of new mitigation approaches. Discovery of a lytic archaeophage that specifically lyses methanogens is 1 such example. Efforts in using genomic data to alter methanogenesis have been hampered by a lack of sequence information that is specific to the microbial community of the rumen. Programs such as Hungate1000 and the Global Rumen Census are increasing the breadth and depth of our understanding of global ruminal microbial communities, steps that are key to using these tools to further define the science of ruminal methanogenesis.}, } @article {pmid26019874, year = {2015}, author = {Ansari, F and Khodaiyan, F and Rezaei, K and Rahmani, A}, title = {Modelling of aflatoxin G1 reduction by kefir grain using response surface methodology.}, journal = {Journal of environmental health science & engineering}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {40}, pmid = {26019874}, issn = {2052-336X}, abstract = {Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) is one of the main toxic contaminants in pistachio nuts and causes potential health hazards. Hence, AFG1 reduction is one of the main concerns in food safety. Kefir-grains contain symbiotic association of microorganisms well known for their aflatoxin decontamination effects. In this study, a central composite design (CCD) using response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to develop a model in order to predict AFG1 reduction in pistachio nuts by kefir-grain (already heated at 70 and 110°C). The independent variables were: toxin concentration (X1: 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ng/g), kefir-grain level (X2: 5, 10, 20, 10 and 25%), contact time (X3: 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h), and incubation temperature (X4: 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60°C). There was a significant reduction in AFG1 (p < 0.05) when pre-heat-treated kefir-grain used. The variables including X1, X3 and the interactions between X2-X4 as well as X3-X4 have significant effects on AFG1 reduction. The model provided a good prediction of AFG1 reduction under the assay conditions. Optimization was used to enhance the efficiency of kefir-grain on AFG1 reduction. The optimum conditions for the highest AFG1 reduction (96.8%) were predicted by the model as follows: toxin concentration = 20 ng/g, kefir-grain level = 10%, contact time = 6 h, and incubation temperature = 30°C which validated practically in six replications.}, } @article {pmid26019574, year = {2014}, author = {Denkova, R and Ilieva, S and Denkova, Z and Georgieva, L and Yordanova, M and Nikolova, D and Evstatieva, Y}, title = {Production of wheat bread without preservatives using sourdough starters.}, journal = {Biotechnology, biotechnological equipment}, volume = {28}, number = {5}, pages = {889-898}, pmid = {26019574}, issn = {1310-2818}, abstract = {In order for the beneficial effects of sourdough application in breadmaking to take place a proper selection of lactic acid bacteria species and strains, an appropriate technology and effective control of the purity and activity of the selected cultures. Four symbiotic starters for sourdough for the production of bread were developed and probated in a production laboratory using the selected strains Lactobacillus brevis LBRZ7, L. buchneri LBRZ6, L. plantarum X2, L. paracasei RN5, L. sanfranciscensis R and L. fermentum LBRH10 and the probiotic strain Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii NBIMCC 327. The starter sourdoughs that include Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii NBIMCC 327 had greater antimicrobial activity against saprophytic microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, B. mesentericus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp., but none of them inhibited the growth of bakery yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was established that in order to prevent bacterial spoilage 10% of the selected starter sourdoughs had to be added in the breadmaking process, while for prevention of mold spoilage the necessary amount of starter sourdough had to be between 15% and 20%.The application of the developed starters for the production of wheat bread guarantees longer shelf life and no adverse alterations in the features of the final bread.}, } @article {pmid26018191, year = {2015}, author = {Roder, C and Bayer, T and Aranda, M and Kruse, M and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Microbiome structure of the fungid coral Ctenactis echinata aligns with environmental differences.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {13}, pages = {3501-3511}, pmid = {26018191}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Coral Reefs ; *Environment ; Indian Ocean ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; }, abstract = {The significance of bacteria for eukaryotic functioning is increasingly recognized. Coral reef ecosystems critically rely on the relationship between coral hosts and their intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellates, but the role of the associated bacteria remains largely theoretical. Here, we set out to relate coral-associated bacterial communities of the fungid host species Ctenactis echinata to environmental settings (geographic location, substrate cover, summer/winter, nutrient and suspended matter concentrations) and coral host abundance. We show that bacterial diversity of C. echinata aligns with ecological differences between sites and that coral colonies sampled at the species' preferred habitats are primarily structured by one bacterial taxon (genus Endozoicomonas) representing more than 60% of all bacteria. In contrast, host microbiomes from lower populated coral habitats are less structured and more diverse. Our study demonstrates that the content and structure of the coral microbiome aligns with environmental differences and denotes habitat adequacy. Availability of a range of coral host habitats might be important for the conservation of distinct microbiome structures and diversity.}, } @article {pmid26017673, year = {2015}, author = {Sirikharin, R and Taengchaiyaphum, S and Sanguanrut, P and Chi, TD and Mavichak, R and Proespraiwong, P and Nuangsaeng, B and Thitamadee, S and Flegel, TW and Sritunyalucksana, K}, title = {Characterization and PCR Detection Of Binary, Pir-Like Toxins from Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolates that Cause Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) in Shrimp.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0126987}, pmid = {26017673}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animal Diseases ; Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/*genetics/metabolism/toxicity ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hepatopancreas/microbiology/pathology ; Penaeidae/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Vibrio Infections/microbiology/*veterinary ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus/*genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Unique isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPAHPND) have previously been identified as the causative agent of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp. AHPND is characterized by massive sloughing of tubule epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas (HP), proposed to be induced by soluble toxins released from VPAHPND that colonize the shrimp stomach. Since these toxins (produced in broth culture) have been reported to cause AHPND pathology in reverse gavage bioassays with shrimp, we used ammonium sulfate precipitation to prepare protein fractions from broth cultures of VPAHPND isolates for screening by reverse gavage assays. The dialyzed 60% ammonium sulfate fraction caused high mortality within 24-48 hours post-administration, and histological analysis of the moribund shrimp showed typical massive sloughing of hepatopancreatic tubule epithelial cells characteristic of AHPND. Analysis of the active fraction by SDS-PAGE revealed two major bands at marker levels of approximately 16 kDa (ToxA) and 50 kDa (ToxB). Mass spectrometry analysis followed by MASCOT analysis revealed that both proteins had similarity to hypothetical proteins of V. parahaemolyticus M0605 (contig034 GenBank accession no. JALL01000066.1) and similarity to known binary insecticidal toxins called 'Photorhabdus insect related' proteins A and B (Pir-A and Pir-B), respectively, produced by the symbiotic, nematode bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. In in vivo tests, it was shown that recombinant ToxA and ToxB were both required in a dose dependent manner to cause AHPND pathology, indicating further similarity to Pir-A and -B. A single-step PCR method was designed for detection of the ToxA gene and was validated using 104 bacterial isolates consisting of 51 VPAHPND isolates, 34 non-AHPND VP isolates and 19 other isolates of bacteria commonly found in shrimp ponds (including other species of Vibrio and Photobacterium). The results showed 100% specificity and sensitivity for detection of VPAHPND isolates in the test set.}, } @article {pmid26016381, year = {2016}, author = {Lake, J and Bell, J}, title = {Medical educators: the rich symbiosis between clinical and teaching roles.}, journal = {The clinical teacher}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {43-47}, doi = {10.1111/tct.12358}, pmid = {26016381}, issn = {1743-498X}, mesh = {Communication ; Education, Medical/*organization & administration ; *Faculty, Medical ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Problem Solving ; Professional Role/*psychology ; Qualitative Research ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Although many medical educators now undertake formal courses in education, some to a high academic level, there has been little investigation into the ways in which their clinical and educational roles interact. In this qualitative study, we investigate these links and consider their importance.

METHODS: We carried out semi-structured interviews with 18 medical educators from a variety of backgrounds and specialties to investigate the links between clinical and educational roles. Data were analysed for recurring themes.

FINDINGS: We found an intuitive sharing of professional skills between the clinical and educational roles of doctors. Doctors came to see their practice as more complex and nuanced through their teaching, giving them a route to deepen their understanding of their own professional practice and enhance their self-worth. When teaching, doctors drew upon clinical experience, particularly their communication and problem-solving skills, to develop their practice in a holistic way. We found an intuitive sharing of professional skills between the clinical and educational roles of doctors

DISCUSSION: We have found that medical practitioners bring their experience and expertise in clinical medicine to their work as educators. In addition, developing as a medical educator affects and enhances clinical practice. These findings have important implications for those charged with the development of medical education and medical educators themselves, as well as the patients that they care for.}, } @article {pmid26016337, year = {2015}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Stepanova, TF and Peruhova, NB and Ivanova, EV and Andryuschenko, SV and Kataeva, LV}, title = {[Protein profile strain specificity of Bifidobacterium genus members].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {2}, pages = {3-9}, pmid = {26016337}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*analysis ; Bifidobacterium/*chemistry/classification/isolation & purification ; Dysbiosis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Proteome/*analysis ; Species Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Analysis of differences in protein spectra of various bifidobacteria strains of intestine microsymbiocenosis using identification results from MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Results of mass-spectrometry ("Bruker Daltonics", Germany) for 57 intestine isolates' of Bifidobacterium spp. are provided. 500,laser impulses were used for obtaining every mass-spectrum; parameters of mass-spectrometer were optimized for the 1000-18000 m/z (mass to charge) range.

RESULTS: Comparative analysis of mass-spectrometry biomarkers for Bifidobacterium genus members has detected variations in the quantity of peaks (4 to 56) among both various species and within bifidobacteria species, that reflects uniqueness of the protein profile of separate strains. Along with biomarkers, specific for most cultures, significant differences of the examined peaks were detected; including among microorganisms, that belong to the same species. As such, for B. bifidum species strains--only in 67 ± 7.5% of cultures the presence of common peaks in'the 9282-9901 m/z was detected, whereas protein spectra in other ranges differed by both quantity and molecular mass.

CONCLUSION: Differences in protein profile of Bifidobacterium genus microorganisms reflect uniqueness of protein spectra (proteome) of every separate strain; determining their functional activity, features of interaction, with associative microsymbionts and host organism in human associative symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26014379, year = {2016}, author = {Peerakietkhajorn, S and Kato, Y and Kasalický, V and Matsuura, T and Watanabe, H}, title = {Betaproteobacteria Limnohabitans strains increase fecundity in the crustacean Daphnia magna: symbiotic relationship between major bacterioplankton and zooplankton in freshwater ecosystem.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2366-2374}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12919}, pmid = {26014379}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Daphnia/*microbiology/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Fertility ; Food Chain ; Fresh Water/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Zooplankton/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {How symbioses between bacteria and aquatic animals influence food webs in freshwater ecosystems is a fundamental question in ecology. We investigated symbiosis between a crustacean zooplankton Daphnia magna and its dominant bacterial symbiont Limnohabitans, an abundant and globally distributed freshwater Betaproteobacteria. Aposymbiotic juvenile Daphnia were prepared and exposed to any of four Limnohabitans sp. - Limnohabitans strains DM1, 2KL-3, 2KL-7 and Limnohabitans planktonicus strain II-D5, all previously found in D. magna digestive tract or culture. Re-infected Daphnia were cultured until they produced the first clutch of juveniles. Limnohabitans strain DM1 and L. planktonicus strain II-D5 successfully re-infected Daphnia through single exposure at the first instar juvenile stage. In contrast to aposymbiotic Daphnia that produced non-viable juveniles, re-infected Daphnia produced viable juveniles and increased fecundity to levels of that of symbiotic Daphnia. Re-infected Daphnia did not increase their number of eggs nor growth rates. Limnohabitans strains 2KL-7 and 2KL-3 could not recover fecundity even in multiple exposures during culture. This study shows the functional evidence demonstrating that a single bacterium Limnohabitans regulates fecundity of the consumer Daphnia through symbiosis. Our results indicated that symbiotic relationship between major bacterioplankton and zooplankton is important for maintaining the population of zooplankton in freshwater ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26013991, year = {2015}, author = {Skrede, I and Brandström Durling, M}, title = {Population genomic analyses reveal possible drivers of population divergence.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {2598-2600}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13209}, pmid = {26013991}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Genetics, Population ; *Reproductive Isolation ; }, abstract = {Recent advances in sequencing technology and efficiency enable new and improved methods to investigate how populations diverge and species evolve. Fungi have relatively small and simple genomes and can often be cultured in the laboratory. Fungal populations can thus be sequenced for a relatively low cost, which makes them ideal for population genomic analyses. In several recent population genomic studies, wild populations of fungal model organisms and human pathogens have been analysed, for example Neurospora crassa (Ellison et al.), Saccharomyces uvarum (Almeida et al.), Coccidioides spp. (Neafsey et al.) and Cryptococcus gatti (Engelthaler et al.). In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Branco et al. () apply population genomic tools to understand population divergence and adaptation in a symbiotic (mycorrhizal) fungus. This study exemplifies the possibilities of diving deeper into the genomic features involved in population divergence and speciation, also for nonmodel organisms, and how molecular and analytical tools will improve our understanding of the patterns and mechanisms that underlie adaptation to habitats, population divergence and dispersal limitation of fungi.}, } @article {pmid26013968, year = {2015}, author = {Safronova, VI and Kuznetsova, IG and Sazanova, AL and Kimeklis, AK and Belimov, AA and Andronov, EE and Pinaev, AG and Pukhaev, AR and Popov, KP and Akopian, JA and Willems, A and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Extra-slow-growing Tardiphaga strains isolated from nodules of Vavilovia formosa (Stev.) Fed.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {197}, number = {7}, pages = {889-898}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-015-1122-3}, pmid = {26013968}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobiaceae/*classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Eleven extra-slow-growing strains were isolated from nodules of the relict legume Vavilovia formosa growing in North Ossetia (Caucasus) and Armenia. All isolates formed a single rrs cluster together with the type strain Tardiphaga robiniae LMG 26467(T), while the sequencing of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic region (ITS) and housekeeping genes glnII, atpD, dnaK, gyrB, recA and rpoB divided them into three groups. North Ossetian isolates (in contrast to the Armenian ones) were clustered separately from the type strain LMG 26467(T). However, all isolates were classified as T. robiniae because the DNA-DNA relatedness between them and the type strain LMG 26467(T) was 69.6% minimum. Two symbiosis-related genes (nodM and nodT) were amplified in all isolated Tardiphaga strains. It was shown that the nodM gene phylogeny is similar to that of ITS and housekeeping genes. The presence of the other symbiosis-related genes in described Tardiphaga strains, which is recently described genus of rhizobia, as well as their ability to form nodules on any plants are under investigation.}, } @article {pmid26013766, year = {2015}, author = {Kleiner, M and Wentrup, C and Holler, T and Lavik, G and Harder, J and Lott, C and Littmann, S and Kuypers, MM and Dubilier, N}, title = {Use of carbon monoxide and hydrogen by a bacteria-animal symbiosis from seagrass sediments.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {5023-5035}, pmid = {26013766}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Carbon Monoxide/*metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; Mediterranean Region ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; Sulfur Compounds/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gutless marine worm Olavius algarvensis lives in symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria that provide nutrition by fixing carbon dioxide (CO2) into biomass using reduced sulfur compounds as energy sources. A recent metaproteomic analysis of the O. algarvensis symbiosis indicated that carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) might also be used as energy sources. We provide direct evidence that the O. algarvensis symbiosis consumes CO and H2 . Single cell imaging using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry revealed that one of the symbionts, the γ3-symbiont, uses the energy from CO oxidation to fix CO2 . Pore water analysis revealed considerable in-situ concentrations of CO and H2 in the O. algarvensis environment, Mediterranean seagrass sediments. Pore water H2 concentrations (89-2147 nM) were up to two orders of magnitude higher than in seawater, and up to 36-fold higher than previously known from shallow-water marine sediments. Pore water CO concentrations (17-51 nM) were twice as high as in the overlying seawater (no literature data from other shallow-water sediments are available for comparison). Ex-situ incubation experiments showed that dead seagrass rhizomes produced large amounts of CO. CO production from decaying plant material could thus be a significant energy source for microbial primary production in seagrass sediments.}, } @article {pmid26013486, year = {2015}, author = {Leonetti, CT and Hamada, MA and Laurer, SJ and Broulidakis, MP and Swerdlow, KJ and Lee, CA and Grossman, AD and Berkmen, MB}, title = {Critical Components of the Conjugation Machinery of the Integrative and Conjugative Element ICEBs1 of Bacillus subtilis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {15}, pages = {2558-2567}, pmid = {26013486}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM050895/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM50895/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacillus subtilis/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Conjugation, Genetic/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Plasmids ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Conjugation, or mating, plays a profound role in bacterial evolution by spreading genes that allow bacteria to adapt to and colonize new niches. ICEBs1, an integrative and conjugative element of Bacillus subtilis, can transfer itself and mobilize resident plasmids. DNA transfer is mediated by a type IV secretion system (T4SS). Characterized components of the ICEBs1 T4SS include the conserved VirB4-like ATPase ConE, the bifunctional cell wall hydrolase CwlT, and the presumed VirD4-like coupling protein ConQ. A fusion of ConE to green fluorescent protein (GFP) localizes to the membrane preferentially at the cell poles. One or more ICEBs1 proteins are required for ConE's localization at the membrane, as ConE lacks predicted transmembrane segments and ConE-GFP is found dispersed throughout the cytoplasm in cells lacking ICEBs1. Here, we analyzed five ICEBs1 genes to determine if they are required for DNA transfer and/or ConE-GFP localization. We found that conB, conC, conD, and conG, but not yddF, are required for both ICEBs1 transfer and plasmid mobilization. All four required genes encode predicted integral membrane proteins. conB and, to some extent, conD were required for localization of ConE-GFP to the membrane. Using an adenylate cyclase-based bacterial two-hybrid system, we found that ConE interacts with ConB. We propose a model in which the ICEBs1 conjugation machinery is composed of ConB, ConC, ConD, ConE, ConG, CwlT, ConQ, and possibly other ICEBs1 proteins, and that ConB interacts with ConE, helping to recruit and/or maintain ConE at the membrane.

IMPORTANCE: Conjugation is a major form of horizontal gene transfer and has played a profound role in bacterial evolution by moving genes, including those involved in antibiotic resistance, metabolism, symbiosis, and infectious disease. During conjugation, DNA is transferred from cell to cell through the conjugation machinery, a type of secretion system. Relatively little is known about the conjugation machinery of Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we analyzed five genes of the integrative and conjugative element ICEBs1 of Bacillus subtilis. Our research identifies four new components of the ICEBs1 conjugation machinery (ConB, ConC, ConD, and ConG) and shows an interaction between ConB and ConE that is required for ConE to associate with the cell membrane.}, } @article {pmid26012569, year = {2015}, author = {Manzo, VE and Bhatt, AS}, title = {The human microbiome in hematopoiesis and hematologic disorders.}, journal = {Blood}, volume = {126}, number = {3}, pages = {311-318}, pmid = {26012569}, issn = {1528-0020}, support = {K08 CA184420/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Hematologic Diseases/genetics/*microbiology ; Hematopoiesis/*physiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Humans are now understood to be in complex symbiosis with a diverse ecosystem of microbial organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Efforts to characterize the role of these microorganisms, commonly referred as the microbiota, in human health have sought to answer the fundamental questions of what organisms are present, how are they functioning to interact with human cells, and by what mechanism are these interactions occurring. In this review, we describe recent efforts to describe the microbiota in healthy and diseased individuals, summarize the role of various molecular technologies (ranging from 16S ribosomal RNA to shotgun metagenomic sequencing) in enumerating the community structure of the microbiota, and explore known interactions between the microbiota and humans, with a focus on the microbiota's role in hematopoiesis and hematologic diseases.}, } @article {pmid26011293, year = {2015}, author = {Toomer, KH and Chen, X and Naito, M and Mondo, SJ and den Bakker, HC and VanKuren, NW and Lekberg, Y and Morton, JB and Pawlowska, TE}, title = {Molecular evolution patterns reveal life history features of mycoplasma-related endobacteria associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {13}, pages = {3485-3500}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13250}, pmid = {26011293}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Variation ; Glomeromycota ; Haplotypes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoplasma/*genetics ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE), representing a recently discovered lineage of Mollicutes, are widely distributed across arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota). AMF colonize roots of most terrestrial plants and improve plant mineral nutrient uptake in return for plant-assimilated carbon. The role of MRE in the biology of their fungal hosts is unknown. To start characterizing this association, we assessed partitioning of MRE genetic diversity within AMF individuals and across the AMF phylogeographic range. We further used molecular evolution patterns to make inferences about MRE codivergence with AMF, their lifestyle and antiquity of the Glomeromycota-MRE association. While we did not detect differentiation between MRE derived from different continents, high levels of diversity were apparent in MRE populations within AMF host individuals. MRE exhibited significant codiversification with AMF over ecological time and the absence of codivergence over evolutionary time. Moreover, genetic recombination was evident in MRE. These patterns indicate that, while MRE transmission is predominantly vertical, their complex intrahost populations are likely generated by horizontal transmission and recombination. Based on predictions of evolutionary theory, we interpreted these observations as a suggestion that MRE may be antagonists of AMF. Finally, we detected a marginally significant signature of codivergence of MRE with Glomeromycota and the Endogone lineage of Mucoromycotina, implying that the symbiosis between MRE and fungi may predate the divergence between these two groups of fungi.}, } @article {pmid26011278, year = {2015}, author = {Abouna, S and Gonzalez-Rizzo, S and Grimonprez, A and Gros, O}, title = {First Description of Sulphur-Oxidizing Bacterial Symbiosis in a Cnidarian (Medusozoa) Living in Sulphidic Shallow-Water Environments.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {e0127625}, pmid = {26011278}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/anatomy & histology/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Environment ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Sulfides/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Water ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Since the discovery of thioautotrophic bacterial symbiosis in the giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila, there has been great impetus to investigate such partnerships in other invertebrates. In this study, we present the occurrence of a sulphur-oxidizing symbiosis in a metazoan belonging to the phylum Cnidaria in which this event has never been described previously.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) observations and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXs) analysis, were employed to unveil the presence of prokaryotes population bearing elemental sulphur granules, growing on the body surface of the metazoan. Phylogenetic assessments were also undertaken to identify this invertebrate and microorganisms in thiotrophic symbiosis. Our results showed the occurrence of a thiotrophic symbiosis in a cnidarian identified as Cladonema sp.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report describing the occurrence of a sulphur-oxidizing symbiosis in a cnidarian. Furthermore, of the two adult morphologies, the polyp and medusa, this mutualistic association was found restricted to the polyp form of Cladonema sp.}, } @article {pmid26010117, year = {2015}, author = {Granqvist, E and Sun, J and Op den Camp, R and Pujic, P and Hill, L and Normand, P and Morris, RJ and Downie, JA and Geurts, R and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Bacterial-induced calcium oscillations are common to nitrogen-fixing associations of nodulating legumes and nonlegumes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {207}, number = {3}, pages = {551-558}, pmid = {26010117}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000012/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000CA282/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Frankia/physiology ; Microinjections ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; }, abstract = {Plants that form root-nodule symbioses are within a monophyletic 'nitrogen-fixing' clade and associated signalling processes are shared with the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Central to symbiotic signalling are nuclear-associated oscillations in calcium ions (Ca(2+)), occurring in the root hairs of several legume species in response to the rhizobial Nod factor signal. In this study we expanded the species analysed for activation of Ca(2+) oscillations, including nonleguminous species within the nitrogen-fixing clade. We showed that Ca(2+) oscillations are a common feature of legumes in their association with rhizobia, while Cercis, a non-nodulating legume, does not show Ca(2+) oscillations in response to Nod factors from Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234. Parasponia andersonii, a nonlegume that can associate with rhizobia, showed Nod factor-induced calcium oscillations to S. fredii NGR234 Nod factors, but its non-nodulating sister species, Trema tomentosa, did not. Also within the nitrogen-fixing clade are actinorhizal species that associate with Frankia bacteria and we showed that Alnus glutinosa induces Ca(2+) oscillations in root hairs in response to exudates from Frankia alni, but not to S. fredii NGR234 Nod factors. We conclude that the ability to mount Ca(2+) oscillations in response to symbiotic bacteria is a common feature of nodulating species within the nitrogen-fixing clade.}, } @article {pmid26009800, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, X and Miché, L and Sachs, S and Wang, Q and Buschart, A and Yang, H and Vera Cruz, CM and Hurek, T and Reinhold-Hurek, B}, title = {Rice responds to endophytic colonization which is independent of the common symbiotic signaling pathway.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {2}, pages = {531-543}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13458}, pmid = {26009800}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Azoarcus/physiology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oryza/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Proteomics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; Xanthomonas/physiology ; }, abstract = {As molecular interactions of plants with N2 -fixing endophytes are largely uncharacterized, we investigated whether the common signaling pathway (CSP) shared by root nodule symbioses (RNS) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses may have been recruited for the endophytic Azoarcus sp.-rice (Oryza sativa) interaction, and combined this investigation with global approaches to characterize rice root responses to endophytic colonization. Putative homologs of genes required for the CSP were analyzed for their putative role in endophytic colonization. Proteomic and suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) approaches were also applied, and a comparison of defense-related processes was carried out by setting up a pathosystem for flooded roots with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strain PXO99 (Xoo). All tested genes were expressed in rice roots seedlings but not induced upon Azoarcus sp. inoculation, and the oscyclops and oscastor mutants were not impaired in endophytic colonization. Global approaches highlighted changes in rice metabolic activity and Ca(2+) -dependent signaling in roots colonized by endophytes, including some stress proteins. Marker genes for defense responses were induced to a lesser extent by the endophytes than by the pathogen, indicating a more compatible interaction. Our results thus suggest that rice roots respond to endophytic colonization by inducing metabolic shifts and signaling events, for which the CSP is not essential.}, } @article {pmid26009592, year = {2015}, author = {Handa, Y and Nishide, H and Takeda, N and Suzuki, Y and Kawaguchi, M and Saito, K}, title = {RNA-seq Transcriptional Profiling of an Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Provides Insights into Regulated and Coordinated Gene Expression in Lotus japonicus and Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {8}, pages = {1490-1511}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcv071}, pmid = {26009592}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Seedlings/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Gene expression during arbuscular mycorrhizal development is highly orchestrated in both plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. To elucidate the gene expression profiles of the symbiotic association, we performed a digital gene expression analysis of Lotus japonicus and Rhizophagus irregularis using a HiSeq 2000 next-generation sequencer with a Cufflinks assembly and de novo transcriptome assembly. There were 3,641 genes differentially expressed during arbuscular mycorrhizal development in L. japonicus, approximately 80% of which were up-regulated. The up-regulated genes included secreted proteins, transporters, proteins involved in lipid and amino acid metabolism, ribosomes and histones. We also detected many genes that were differentially expressed in small-secreted peptides and transcription factors, which may be involved in signal transduction or transcription regulation during symbiosis. Co-regulated genes between arbuscular mycorrhizal and root nodule symbiosis were not particularly abundant, but transcripts encoding for membrane traffic-related proteins, transporters and iron transport-related proteins were found to be highly co-up-regulated. In transcripts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, expansion of cytochrome P450 was observed, which may contribute to various metabolic pathways required to accommodate roots and soil. The comprehensive gene expression data of both plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide a powerful platform for investigating the functional and molecular mechanisms underlying arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid26004817, year = {2015}, author = {Chaisiri, K and McGarry, JW and Morand, S and Makepeace, BL}, title = {Symbiosis in an overlooked microcosm: a systematic review of the bacterial flora of mites.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {142}, number = {9}, pages = {1152-1162}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182015000530}, pmid = {26004817}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Mites/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A dataset of bacterial diversity found in mites was compiled from 193 publications (from 1964 to January 2015). A total of 143 mite species belonging to the 3 orders (Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes) were recorded and found to be associated with approximately 150 bacteria species (in 85 genera, 51 families, 25 orders and 7 phyla). From the literature, the intracellular symbiont Cardinium, the scrub typhus agent Orientia, and Wolbachia (the most prevalent symbiont of arthropods) were the dominant mite-associated bacteria, with approximately 30 mite species infected each. Moreover, a number of bacteria of medical and veterinary importance were also reported from mites, including species from the genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Bartonella, Francisella, Coxiella, Borrelia, Salmonella, Erysipelothrix and Serratia. Significant differences in bacterial infection patterns among mite taxa were identified. These data will not only be useful for raising awareness of the potential for mites to transmit disease, but also enable a deeper understanding of the relationship of symbionts with their arthropod hosts, and may facilitate the development of intervention tools for disease vector control. This review provides a comprehensive overview of mite-associated bacteria and is a valuable reference database for future research on mites of agricultural, veterinary and/or medical importance.}, } @article {pmid26004795, year = {2015}, author = {Kato, S}, title = {Biotechnological Aspects of Microbial Extracellular Electron Transfer.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {133-139}, pmid = {26004795}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Biotechnology/*methods ; *Corrosion ; *Electron Transport ; *Environmental Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is a type of microbial respiration that enables electron transfer between microbial cells and extracellular solid materials, including naturally-occurring metal compounds and artificial electrodes. Microorganisms harboring EET abilities have received considerable attention for their various biotechnological applications, in addition to their contribution to global energy and material cycles. In this review, current knowledge on microbial EET and its application to diverse biotechnologies, including the bioremediation of toxic metals, recovery of useful metals, biocorrosion, and microbial electrochemical systems (microbial fuel cells and microbial electrosynthesis), were introduced. Two potential biotechnologies based on microbial EET, namely the electrochemical control of microbial metabolism and electrochemical stimulation of microbial symbiotic reactions (electric syntrophy), were also discussed.}, } @article {pmid26004418, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, Y and Yan, M and Or, PM and Chan, AM}, title = {The genetic landscapes of inflammation-driven gastrointestinal tract cancers.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical design}, volume = {21}, number = {21}, pages = {2924-2941}, doi = {10.2174/1381612821666150514103332}, pmid = {26004418}, issn = {1873-4286}, mesh = {Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Gastroenteritis/*complications/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*etiology/*genetics ; Humans ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers account for a significant proportion of human malignancies. While classical multistep carcinogenesis is characterized by the stochastic accumulation of genetic mutations, additional extrinsic factors can also contribute to tumor promotion. Inflammation plays a critical role in cancers of the GI tract, for which the two major etiological factors are tissue injuries and altered microbiota. Together with infiltrating immune cells, all of these components generate a dynamic tumor microenvironment that inevitably induces malignant progression and metastatic growth. Crosstalk between tumor and immune cells is mediated by a multitude of pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines. Their biological actions are propagated in both tumor and immune cells through an intricate network of intracellular signaling pathways that ultimately modulate essential cellular functions such as tumorigenic properties and lineage specification. Using the vast amount of information stored in the database on genetic changes associated with human cancers that has been collected over the past decades, this book chapter will first profile the genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of some of the major GI tract cancers. Critical driver genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines will be discussed in detail. The mechanisms by which genetic mutations in cancer cells can provoke inflammation and vice versa will be explored. The way in which the symbiotic relationship between cancer cells and chronic inflammation can modulate tumor cell behavior will be examined. We will present some of the most recent advancements in the targeting of inflammation for the treatment of GI tract cancers.}, } @article {pmid26002031, year = {2015}, author = {Goto, Y and Kurashima, Y and Kiyono, H}, title = {The gut microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {Current opinion in rheumatology}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {388-396}, doi = {10.1097/BOR.0000000000000192}, pmid = {26002031}, issn = {1531-6963}, mesh = {Bacteria/immunology ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/methods ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology/therapy ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) reflect the cooperative influence of numerous host and environmental factors, including those of elements of the intestinal immune system, the gut microbiota, and dietary habits. This review focuses on features of the gut microbiota and mucosal immune system that are important in the development and control of IBDs.

RECENT FINDINGS: Gut innate-type immune cells, including dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, and mast cells, educate acquired-type immune cells and intestinal epithelial cells to achieve a symbiotic relationship with commensal bacteria. However, perturbation of the number or type of commensal microorganisms and endogenous genetic polymorphisms that affect immune responses and epithelial barrier system can ultimately lead to IBDs. Providing beneficial bacteria or fecal microbiota transplants helps to reestablish the intestinal environment, maintain its homeostasis, and ameliorate IBDs.

SUMMARY: The gut immune system participates in a symbiotic milieu that includes cohabiting commensal bacteria. However, dysbiotic conditions and aberrations in the epithelial barrier and gut immune system can disrupt the mutualistic relationship between the host and gut microbiota, leading to IBDs. Progress in our molecular and cellular understanding of this relationship has yielded numerous insights regarding clinical applications for the treatment of IBDs.}, } @article {pmid26000251, year = {2015}, author = {Kumar, PS and Mason, MR}, title = {Mouthguards: does the indigenous microbiome play a role in maintaining oral health?.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {35}, pmid = {26000251}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {F30 DE024940/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE022579/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; F30DE024940/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01DE022579/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Mouth/*microbiology ; *Oral Health ; }, abstract = {The existence of symbiotic relationships between bacteria and their hosts in various ecosystems have long been known to science. The human body also hosts vast numbers of bacteria in several habitats. Emerging evidence from the gastro-intestinal tract, genito-urinary tract and respiratory indicates that there are several health benefits to hosting a complex and diverse microbial community. Bacteria colonize the oral cavity within a few minutes after birth and form stable communities. Our knowledge of the oral microbiome has expanded exponentially with development of novel exploratory methods that allow us to examine diversity, structure, function, and topography without the need to cultivate the individual components of the biofilm. The purpose of this perspective, therefore, is to examine the strength of current evidence supporting a role for the oral microbiome in maintaining oral health. While several lines of evidence are emerging to suggest that indigenous oral microbiota may have a role in immune education and preventing pathogen expansion, much more work is needed to definitively establish whether oral bacteria do indeed contribute to sustaining oral health, and if so, the mechanisms underlying this role.}, } @article {pmid26000194, year = {2015}, author = {Wilkinson, DM and Creevy, AL and Kalu, CL and Schwartzman, DW}, title = {Are heterotrophic and silica-rich eukaryotic microbes an important part of the lichen symbiosis?.}, journal = {Mycology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {4-7}, pmid = {26000194}, issn = {2150-1203}, abstract = {We speculate that heterotrophic and/or silica-rich eukaryotic microorganisms maybe an important part of the lichen symbiosis. None of the very few studies of heterotrophic protists associated with lichens have considered the possibility that they may be of functional significance in the lichen symbiosis. Here we start to develop, currently speculative, theoretical ideas about their potential significance. For example, all the protist taxa identified in lichens we sampled in Ohio USA depend on silica for growth and construction of their cell walls, this could suggest that silica-rich lichen symbionts may be significant in the biogeochemistry of the lichen symbiosis. We also present arguments suggesting a role for protists in nitrogen cycling within lichen thalli and a potential role in controlling bacterial populations associated with lichens. In this necessarily speculative paper we highlight areas for future research and how newer technologies may be useful for understanding the full suite of organisms involved in the lichen symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25999517, year = {2015}, author = {Lima-Mendez, G and Faust, K and Henry, N and Decelle, J and Colin, S and Carcillo, F and Chaffron, S and Ignacio-Espinosa, JC and Roux, S and Vincent, F and Bittner, L and Darzi, Y and Wang, J and Audic, S and Berline, L and Bontempi, G and Cabello, AM and Coppola, L and Cornejo-Castillo, FM and d'Ovidio, F and De Meester, L and Ferrera, I and Garet-Delmas, MJ and Guidi, L and Lara, E and Pesant, S and Royo-Llonch, M and Salazar, G and Sánchez, P and Sebastian, M and Souffreau, C and Dimier, C and Picheral, M and Searson, S and Kandels-Lewis, S and , and Gorsky, G and Not, F and Ogata, H and Speich, S and Stemmann, L and Weissenbach, J and Wincker, P and Acinas, SG and Sunagawa, S and Bork, P and Sullivan, MB and Karsenti, E and Bowler, C and de Vargas, C and Raes, J}, title = {Ocean plankton. Determinants of community structure in the global plankton interactome.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {348}, number = {6237}, pages = {1262073}, doi = {10.1126/science.1262073}, pmid = {25999517}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Food Chain ; Host Specificity ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/*classification/*physiology ; Platyhelminths/classification/physiology ; Sunlight ; *Symbiosis ; Viruses/classification ; }, abstract = {Species interaction networks are shaped by abiotic and biotic factors. Here, as part of the Tara Oceans project, we studied the photic zone interactome using environmental factors and organismal abundance profiles and found that environmental factors are incomplete predictors of community structure. We found associations across plankton functional types and phylogenetic groups to be nonrandomly distributed on the network and driven by both local and global patterns. We identified interactions among grazers, primary producers, viruses, and (mainly parasitic) symbionts and validated network-generated hypotheses using microscopy to confirm symbiotic relationships. We have thus provided a resource to support further research on ocean food webs and integrating biological components into ocean models.}, } @article {pmid25999516, year = {2015}, author = {de Vargas, C and Audic, S and Henry, N and Decelle, J and Mahé, F and Logares, R and Lara, E and Berney, C and Le Bescot, N and Probert, I and Carmichael, M and Poulain, J and Romac, S and Colin, S and Aury, JM and Bittner, L and Chaffron, S and Dunthorn, M and Engelen, S and Flegontova, O and Guidi, L and Horák, A and Jaillon, O and Lima-Mendez, G and Lukeš, J and Malviya, S and Morard, R and Mulot, M and Scalco, E and Siano, R and Vincent, F and Zingone, A and Dimier, C and Picheral, M and Searson, S and Kandels-Lewis, S and , and Acinas, SG and Bork, P and Bowler, C and Gorsky, G and Grimsley, N and Hingamp, P and Iudicone, D and Not, F and Ogata, H and Pesant, S and Raes, J and Sieracki, ME and Speich, S and Stemmann, L and Sunagawa, S and Weissenbach, J and Wincker, P and Karsenti, E}, title = {Ocean plankton. Eukaryotic plankton diversity in the sunlit ocean.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {348}, number = {6237}, pages = {1261605}, doi = {10.1126/science.1261605}, pmid = {25999516}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Eukaryota/*classification/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Plankton/*classification/genetics ; Ribosomes/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sunlight ; }, abstract = {Marine plankton support global biological and geochemical processes. Surveys of their biodiversity have hitherto been geographically restricted and have not accounted for the full range of plankton size. We assessed eukaryotic diversity from 334 size-fractionated photic-zone plankton communities collected across tropical and temperate oceans during the circumglobal Tara Oceans expedition. We analyzed 18S ribosomal DNA sequences across the intermediate plankton-size spectrum from the smallest unicellular eukaryotes (protists, >0.8 micrometers) to small animals of a few millimeters. Eukaryotic ribosomal diversity saturated at ~150,000 operational taxonomic units, about one-third of which could not be assigned to known eukaryotic groups. Diversity emerged at all taxonomic levels, both within the groups comprising the ~11,200 cataloged morphospecies of eukaryotic plankton and among twice as many other deep-branching lineages of unappreciated importance in plankton ecology studies. Most eukaryotic plankton biodiversity belonged to heterotrophic protistan groups, particularly those known to be parasites or symbiotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid25997368, year = {2015}, author = {Song, PC and Wu, TM and Hong, MC and Chen, MC}, title = {Elevated temperature inhibits recruitment of transferrin-positive vesicles and induces iron-deficiency genes expression in Aiptasia pulchella host-harbored Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology}, volume = {188}, number = {}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.05.005}, pmid = {25997368}, issn = {1879-1107}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cytoplasmic Vesicles/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Flavodoxin/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects ; Iron/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sea Anemones/cytology/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transferrin/genetics/*metabolism ; rab4 GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching is the consequence of disruption of the mutualistic Cnidaria-dinoflagellate association. Elevated seawater temperatures have been proposed as the most likely cause of coral bleaching whose severity is enhanced by a limitation in the bioavailability of iron. Iron is required by numerous organisms including the zooxanthellae residing inside the symbiosome of cnidarian cells. However, the knowledge of how symbiotic zooxanthellae obtain iron from the host cells and how elevated water temperature affects the association is very limited. Since cellular iron acquisition is known to be mediated through transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis, a vesicular trafficking pathway specifically regulated by Rab4 and Rab5, we set out to examine the roles of these key proteins in the iron acquisition by the symbiotic Symbiodinium. Thus, we hypothesized that the iron recruitments into symbiotic zooxanthellae-housed symbiosomes may be dependent on rab4/rab5-mediated fusion with vesicles containing iron-bound transferrins and will be retarded under elevated temperature. In this study, we cloned a novel monolobal transferrin (ApTF) gene from the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella and confirmed that the association of ApTF with A. pulchella Rab4 (ApRab4) or A. pulchella Rab5 (ApRab5) vesicles is inhibited by elevated temperature through immunofluorescence analysis. We confirmed the iron-deficient phenomenon by demonstrating the induced overexpression of iron-deficiency-responsive genes, flavodoxin and high-affinity iron permease 1, and reduced intracellular iron concentration in zooxanthellae under desferrioxamine B (iron chelator) and high temperature treatment. In conclusion, our data are consistent with algal iron deficiency being a contributing factor for the thermal stress-induced bleaching of symbiotic cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid25996879, year = {2015}, author = {Alam, F and Bhuiyan, MA and Alam, SS and Waghmode, TR and Kim, PJ and Lee, YB}, title = {Effect of Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 inoculation on nodulation, nitrogen fixation and yield of soybean (Glycine max) genotypes in gray terrace soil.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {79}, number = {10}, pages = {1660-1668}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2015.1044931}, pmid = {25996879}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Gene Expression ; Genotype ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/enzymology/*genetics/growth & development ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Soybean plants require high amounts of nitrogen, which are mainly obtained from biological nitrogen fixation. A field experiment was conducted by soybean (Glycine max) genotypes, growing two varieties (Shohag and BARI Soybean6) and two advanced lines (MTD10 and BGM02026) of soybean with or without Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 inoculation. Soybean plants of all genotypes inoculated with Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 produced greater nodule numbers, nodule weight, shoot and root biomass, and plant height than non-inoculated plants. Similarly, inoculated plants showed enhanced activity of nitrogenase (NA) enzyme, contributing to higher nitrogen fixation and assimilation, compared to non-inoculated soybean plants in both years. Plants inoculated with Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 also showed higher pod, stover, and seed yield than non-inoculated plants. Therefore, Rhizobium sp. BARIRGm901 established an effective symbiotic relationship with a range of soybean genotypes and thus increased the nodulation, growth, and yield of soybean grown in gray terrace soils in Bangladesh.}, } @article {pmid25995366, year = {2015}, author = {Dorrell, RG and Howe, CJ}, title = {Integration of plastids with their hosts: Lessons learned from dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10247-10254}, pmid = {25995366}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Alveolata/*genetics/microbiology ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/*genetics ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; Chloroplasts/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Plastids/*genetics ; Rhodophyta/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Xanthophylls/metabolism ; }, abstract = {After their endosymbiotic acquisition, plastids become intimately connected with the biology of their host. For example, genes essential for plastid function may be relocated from the genomes of plastids to the host nucleus, and pathways may evolve within the host to support the plastid. In this review, we consider the different degrees of integration observed in dinoflagellates and their associated plastids, which have been acquired through multiple different endosymbiotic events. Most dinoflagellate species possess plastids that contain the pigment peridinin and show extreme reduction and integration with the host biology. In some species, these plastids have been replaced through serial endosymbiosis with plastids derived from a different phylogenetic derivation, of which some have become intimately connected with the biology of the host whereas others have not. We discuss in particular the evolution of the fucoxanthin-containing dinoflagellates, which have adapted pathways retained from the ancestral peridinin plastid symbiosis for transcript processing in their current, serially acquired plastids. Finally, we consider why such a diversity of different degrees of integration between host and plastid is observed in different dinoflagellates and how dinoflagellates may thus inform our broader understanding of plastid evolution and function.}, } @article {pmid25991810, year = {2015}, author = {de la Providencia, IE and Stefani, FO and Labridy, M and St-Arnaud, M and Hijri, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity associated with Eleocharis obtusa and Panicum capillare growing in an extreme petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted sedimentation basin.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {362}, number = {12}, pages = {fnv081}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnv081}, pmid = {25991810}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Eleocharis/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Panicum/*microbiology ; Petroleum/toxicity ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been extensively studied in natural and agricultural ecosystems, but little is known about their diversity and community structure in highly petroleum-polluted soils. In this study, we described an unexpected diversity of AMF in a sedimentation basin of a former petrochemical plant, in which petroleum hydrocarbon (PH) wastes were dumped for many decades. We used high-throughput PCR, cloning and sequencing of 18S rDNA to assess the molecular diversity of AMF associated with Eleocharis obtusa and Panicum capillare spontaneously inhabiting extremely PH-contaminated sediments. The analyses of rhizosphere and root samples over two years showed a remarkable AMF richness comparable with that found in temperate natural ecosystems. Twenty-one taxa, encompassing the major families within Glomeromycota, were detected. The most abundant OTUs belong to genera Claroideoglomus, Diversispora, Rhizophagus and Paraglomus. Both plants had very similar overall community structures and OTU abundances; however, AMF community structure differed when comparing the overall OTU distribution across the two years of sampling. This could be likely explained by variations in precipitations between 2011 and 2012. Our study provides the first view of AMF molecular diversity in soils extremely polluted by PH, and demonstrated the ability of AMF to colonize and establish in harsh environments.}, } @article {pmid25991678, year = {2015}, author = {Xue, Z and Zhang, W and Wang, L and Hou, R and Zhang, M and Fei, L and Zhang, X and Huang, H and Bridgewater, LC and Jiang, Y and Jiang, C and Zhao, L and Pang, X and Zhang, Z}, title = {The bamboo-eating giant panda harbors a carnivore-like gut microbiota, with excessive seasonal variations.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e00022-15}, pmid = {25991678}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Zoo ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Feces/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ursidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The giant panda evolved from omnivorous bears. It lives on a bamboo-dominated diet at present, but it still retains a typical carnivorous digestive system and is genetically deficient in cellulose-digesting enzymes. To find out whether this endangered mammalian species, like other herbivores, has successfully developed a gut microbiota adapted to its fiber-rich diet, we conducted a 16S rRNA gene-based large-scale structural profiling of the giant panda fecal microbiota. Forty-five captive individuals were sampled in spring, summer, and late autumn within 1 year. Significant intraindividual variations in the diversity and structure of gut microbiota across seasons were observed in this population, which were even greater than the variations between individuals. Compared with published data sets involving 124 gut microbiota profiles from 54 mammalian species, these giant pandas, together with 9 captive and 7 wild individuals investigated previously, showed extremely low gut microbiota diversity and an overall structure that diverged from those of nonpanda herbivores but converged with those of carnivorous and omnivorous bears. The giant panda did not harbor putative cellulose-degrading phylotypes such as Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides bacteria that are typically enriched in other herbivores, but instead, its microbiota was dominated by Escherichia/Shigella and Streptococcus bacteria. Members of the class Clostridia were common and abundant in the giant panda gut microbiota, but most of the members present were absent in other herbivores and were not phylogenetically related with known cellulolytic lineages. Therefore, the giant panda appears not to have evolved a gut microbiota compatible with its newly adopted diet, which may adversely influence the coevolutionary fitness of this herbivore.

IMPORTANCE: The giant panda, an endangered mammalian species endemic to western China, is well known for its unique bamboo diet. Unlike other herbivores that have successfully evolved anatomically specialized digestive systems to efficiently deconstruct fibrous plant matter, the giant panda still retains a gastrointestinal tract typical of carnivores. We characterized the fecal bacterial communities from a giant panda population to determine whether this animal relies on its symbiotic gut microbiota to cope with the complex carbohydrates that dominate its diet, as is common in other herbivores. We found that the giant panda gut microbiota is low in diversity and highly variable across seasons. It also shows an overall composition typical of bears and entirely differentiated from other herbivores, with low levels of putative cellulose-digesting bacteria. The gut microbiota of this herbivore, therefore, may not have well adapted to its highly fibrous diet, suggesting a potential link with its poor digestive efficiency.}, } @article {pmid25989453, year = {2015}, author = {van Dam, JW and Uthicke, S and Beltran, VH and Mueller, JF and Negri, AP}, title = {Combined thermal and herbicide stress in functionally diverse coral symbionts.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {271-279}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.013}, pmid = {25989453}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/physiology ; Diuron/*toxicity ; Genotype ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Hot Temperature/*adverse effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Most reef building corals rely on symbiotic microalgae (genus Symbiodinium) to supply a substantial proportion of their energy requirements. Functional diversity of different Symbiodinium genotypes, endorsing the host with physiological advantages, has been widely reported. Yet, the influence of genotypic specificity on the symbiont's susceptibility to contaminants or cumulative stressors is unknown. Cultured Symbiodinium of presumed thermal-tolerant clade D tested especially vulnerable to the widespread herbicide diuron, suggesting important free-living populations may be at risk in areas subjected to terrestrial runoff. Co-exposure experiments where cultured Symbiodinium were exposed to diuron over a thermal stress gradient demonstrated how fast-growing clade C1 better maintained photosynthetic capability than clade D. The mixture toxicity model of Independent Action, considering combined thermal stress and herbicide contamination, revealed response additivity for inhibition of photosynthetic yield in both tested cultures, emphasizing the need to account for cumulative stressor impacts in ecological risk assessment and resource management.}, } @article {pmid25989370, year = {2015}, author = {D'Angelo, C and Hume, BC and Burt, J and Smith, EG and Achterberg, EP and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Local adaptation constrains the distribution potential of heat-tolerant Symbiodinium from the Persian/Arabian Gulf.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {2551-2560}, pmid = {25989370}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {311179/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Indian Ocean ; Oman ; Seasons ; Seawater/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association of corals and unicellular algae of the genus Symbiodinium in the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG) display an exceptional heat tolerance, enduring summer peak temperatures of up to 36 °C. As yet, it is not clear whether this resilience is related to the presence of specific symbiont types that are exclusively found in this region. Therefore, we used molecular markers to identify the symbiotic algae of three Porites species along >1000 km of coastline in the PAG and the Gulf of Oman and found that a recently described species, Symbiodinium thermophilum, is integral to coral survival in the southern PAG, the world's hottest sea. Despite the geographic isolation of the PAG, we discovered that representatives of the S. thermophilum group can also be found in the adjacent Gulf of Oman providing a potential source of thermotolerant symbionts that might facilitate the adaptation of Indian Ocean populations to the higher water temperatures expected for the future. However, corals from the PAG associated with S. thermophilum show strong local adaptation not only to high temperatures but also to the exceptionally high salinity of their habitat. We show that their superior heat tolerance can be lost when these corals are exposed to reduced salinity levels common for oceanic environments elsewhere. Consequently, the salinity prevailing in most reefs outside the PAG might represent a distribution barrier for extreme temperature-tolerant coral/Symbiodinium associations from the PAG.}, } @article {pmid25989369, year = {2015}, author = {Baker, DM and Freeman, CJ and Knowlton, N and Thacker, RW and Kim, K and Fogel, ML}, title = {Productivity links morphology, symbiont specificity and bleaching in the evolution of Caribbean octocoral symbioses.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {2620-2629}, pmid = {25989369}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Carbon Cycle ; Caribbean Region ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many cnidarians host endosymbiotic dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium. It is generally assumed that the symbiosis is mutualistic, where the host benefits from symbiont photosynthesis while providing protection and photosynthetic substrates. Diverse assemblages of symbiotic gorgonian octocorals can be found in hard bottom communities throughout the Caribbean. While current research has focused on the phylo- and population genetics of gorgonian symbiont types and their photo-physiology, relatively less work has focused on biogeochemical benefits conferred to the host and how these benefits vary across host species. Here we examine this symbiosis among 11 gorgonian species collected in Bocas del Toro, Panama. By coupling light and dark bottle incubations (P/R) with (13)C-bicarbonate tracers, we quantified the link between holobiont oxygen metabolism with carbon assimilation and translocation from symbiont to host. Our data show that P/R varied among species, and was correlated with colony morphology and polyp size. Sea fans and sea plumes were net autotrophs (P/R>1.5), while nine species of sea rods were net heterotrophs with most below compensation (P/R<1.0). (13)C assimilation corroborated the P/R results, and maximum δ(13)Chost values were strongly correlated with polyp size, indicating higher productivity by colonies with high polyp SA:V. A survey of gorgonian-Symbiodinium associations revealed that productive species maintain specialized, obligate symbioses and are more resistant to coral bleaching, whereas generalist and facultative associations are common among sea rods that have higher bleaching sensitivities. Overall, productivity and polyp size had strong phylogenetic signals with carbon fixation and polyp size showing evidence of trait covariance.}, } @article {pmid25989093, year = {2015}, author = {Alcántara, C and Domínguez, JM and García, D and Blanco, S and Pérez, R and García-Encina, PA and Muñoz, R}, title = {Evaluation of wastewater treatment in a novel anoxic-aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor with biomass recycling through carbon and nitrogen mass balances.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {191}, number = {}, pages = {173-186}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.125}, pmid = {25989093}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {*Aerobiosis ; *Biomass ; *Bioreactors ; Carbon/*metabolism ; *Hypoxia ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Algal-bacterial symbiosis, implemented in an innovative anoxic-aerobic photobioreactor configuration with biomass recycling, supported an efficient removal of total organic carbon (86-90%), inorganic carbon (57-98%) and total nitrogen (68-79%) during synthetic wastewater treatment at a hydraulic and sludge retention times of 2 days and 20 days, respectively. The availability of inorganic carbon in the photobioreactor, determined by its supply in the wastewater and microalgae activity, governed the extent of nitrogen removal by assimilation or nitrification-denitrification. Unexpectedly, nitrate production was negligible despite the high dissolved oxygen concentrations, denitrification being only based on nitrite reduction. Biomass recycling resulted in the enrichment of rapidly settling algal flocs, which supported effluent total suspended solid concentrations below the European Union maximum discharge limits. Finally, the maximum nitrous oxide emissions recorded were far below the emission factors reported for wastewater treatment plants, confirming the environmental sustainability of this innovative photobioreactor in terms of global warming impact.}, } @article {pmid25986549, year = {2015}, author = {Mello, A and Lumini, E and Napoli, C and Bianciotto, V and Bonfante, P}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in the Tuber melanosporum brûlé.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {6}, pages = {518-527}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2015.02.003}, pmid = {25986549}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*growth & development ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; France ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Quercus/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The development of the fruiting body (truffle) of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum is associated with the production of an area (commonly referred to with the French word brûlé) around its symbiotic plant that has scanty vegetation. As truffles produce metabolites that can mediate fungal-plant interactions, the authors wondered whether the brûlé could affect the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that colonize the patchy herbaceous plants inside the brûlé. A morphological evaluation of the roots of plants collected in 2009 from a T. melanosporum/Quercus pubescens brûlé in France has shown that the herbaceous plants are colonized by AMF to a great extent. An analysis of the 18S rRNA sequences obtained from roots and soil inside the brûlé has shown that the AMF community structure seemed to be affected in the soil inside the brûlé, where less richness was observed compared to outside the brûlé.}, } @article {pmid25985656, year = {2015}, author = {Chuan, LM and He, P and Zhao, TK and Xu, XP and Zhou, W and Zheng, HG}, title = {[Nitrogen cycling and balance for wheat in China].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {76-86}, pmid = {25985656}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Ammonia ; China ; Environment ; *Fertilizers ; Nitrogen/*chemistry ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; Rivers ; Soil/chemistry ; Triticum/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In this study, the input and output parameters of N for wheat production were collected from published literatures and International Plant Nutrition Institute in the period of 2000 to 2011 to evaluate N cycling and balances in North China, the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and Northwest China. The results showed that the N fertilizer application rates for each region were 170, 183 and 150 kg N . hm-2, the amounts of N from the previous crop were 74.6, 15.2 and 8.1 kg N . hm-2, and from seeds were 4.9, 4.2 and 3.5 kg N . hm-2, respectively. The N inputs from symbiotic fixation, atmospheric deposition and irrigation water in North China were 15, 12.9 and 9.9 kg N . hm-2, and in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River were 15, 14.5 and 5.8 kg N . hm-2, and in Northwest China were 15, 9.4 and 7.7 kg N . hm-2, respectively. The amounts of N uptake by aboveground plant at harvest time in North China, the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and Northwest China were 174.3, 144.4 and 122.3 kg N . hm-2, respectively, and the rates of ammonia volatilization, N20 emission and N leaching in North China were 19.9, 2.6 and 11.8 kg N . hm-2, in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River were 9.4, 2.4 and 15.5 kg N . hm-2, and in Northwest China were 3.4, 0.7 and 0 kg N . hm-2, respectively. As a result, the N balances in these three regions were all showing surpluses by 78.7, 66.0 and 67.3 kg N . hm-2. It is therefore necessary to adjust the N fertilizer application rates in these three regions to avoid the negative impacts on the environment.}, } @article {pmid25984582, year = {2015}, author = {Gurav, A and Sivaprakasam, S and Bhutia, YD and Boettger, T and Singh, N and Ganapathy, V}, title = {Slc5a8, a Na+-coupled high-affinity transporter for short-chain fatty acids, is a conditional tumour suppressor in colon that protects against colitis and colon cancer under low-fibre dietary conditions.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {469}, number = {2}, pages = {267-278}, pmid = {25984582}, issn = {1470-8728}, support = {R01 CA190710/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK103576/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aldehyde Dehydrogenase/genetics/immunology ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family ; Animals ; Butyric Acid/pharmacology ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Colitis/genetics/*immunology/pathology ; Colon/*immunology/pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/genetics/*immunology/pathology ; Dendritic Cells/immunology/pathology ; Dietary Fiber/*pharmacology ; Fatty Acids/genetics/immunology ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics/immunology ; Histamine Antagonists/pharmacology ; Immune Tolerance/drug effects/genetics ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/genetics/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/genetics/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters ; Retinal Dehydrogenase ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology/pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Mammalian colon harbours trillions of bacteria under physiological conditions; this symbiosis is made possible because of a tolerized response from the mucosal immune system. The mechanisms underlying this tolerogenic phenomenon remain poorly understood. In the present study we show that Slc5a8 (solute carrier gene family 5a, member 8), a Na(+)-coupled high-affinity transporter in colon for the bacterial fermentation product butyrate, plays a critical role in this process. Among various immune cells in colon, dendritic cells (DCs) are unique not only in their accessibility to luminal contents but also in their ability to induce tolerogenic phenotype in T-cells. We found that DCs exposed to butyrate express the immunosuppressive enzymes indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A2 (Aldh1A2), promote conversion of naive T-cells into immunosuppressive forkhead box P3(+) (FoxP3(+)) Tregs (regulatory T-cells) and suppress conversion of naive T-cells into pro-inflammatory interferon (IFN)-γ-producing cells. Slc5a8-null DCs do not induce IDO1 and Aldh1A2 and do not generate Tregs or suppress IFN-γ-producing T-cells in response to butyrate. We also provide in vivo evidence for an obligatory role for Slc5a8 in suppression of IFN-γ-producing T-cells. Furthermore, Slc5a8 protects against colitis and colon cancer under conditions of low-fibre intake but not when dietary fibre intake is optimal. This agrees with the high-affinity nature of the transporter to mediate butyrate entry into cells. We conclude that Slc5a8 is an obligatory link between dietary fibre and mucosal immune system via the bacterial metabolite butyrate and that this transporter is a conditional tumour suppressor in colon linked to dietary fibre content.}, } @article {pmid25983730, year = {2015}, author = {Cernava, T and Aschenbrenner, IA and Grube, M and Liebminger, S and Berg, G}, title = {A novel assay for the detection of bioactive volatiles evaluated by screening of lichen-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {398}, pmid = {25983730}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {I 882/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microorganisms are known both for their effect on pathogens and their role as mediators in various interactions and communications. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of VOCs for ecosystem functioning as well as their biotechnological potential, but screening for bioactive volatiles remained difficult. We have developed an efficient testing assay that is based on two multi-well plates, separated by a sealing silicone membrane, two tightening clamps, and variable growth media, or indicators. The experiment design as presented here is a novel and robust technique to identify positive as well as negative VOC effects on the growth of a target organism and to test for specific substances e.g., hydrogen cyanide which can be detected with a suitable indicator. While the first pre-screening assay is primarily based on indicator color change and visible growth diameter reduction, we also introduce an advanced and quantitatively precise experiment design. This adaptation involves qPCR-based quantification of viable target cells after concluding the treatment with VOCs. Therefore, we chose preselected active isolates and compared the partial 16S rRNA gene copy number of headspace-exposed E. coli with non-treated controls. Separately obtained headspace SPME and GC/MS-based profiles of selected bacterial isolates revealed the presence of specific and unique signatures which suggests divergent modes of action. The assay was evaluated by screening 100 isolates of lung lichen-associated bacteria. Approximately one quarter of the isolates showed VOC-based antibacterial and/or antifungal activity; mainly Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas species were identified as producers of bioactive volatiles.}, } @article {pmid25982949, year = {2015}, author = {Garcia, K and Delaux, PM and Cope, KR and Ané, JM}, title = {Molecular signals required for the establishment and maintenance of ectomycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {1}, pages = {79-87}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13423}, pmid = {25982949}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Forests ; *Fungi/genetics/metabolism ; *Genes, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses are among the most widespread associations between roots of woody plants and soil fungi in forest ecosystems. These associations contribute significantly to the sustainability and sustainagility of these ecosystems through nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms controlling the mutual recognition between both partners are still poorly understood. Elegant work has demonstrated that effector proteins from ECM and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi regulate host defenses by manipulating plant hormonal pathways. In parallel, genetic and evolutionary studies in legumes showed that a 'common symbiosis pathway' is required for the establishment of the ancient AM symbiosis and has been recruited for the rhizobia-legume association. Given that genes of this pathway are present in many angiosperm trees that develop ectomycorrhizas, we propose their potential involvement in some but not all ECM associations. The maintenance of a successful long-term relationship seems strongly regulated by resource allocation between symbiotic partners, suggesting that nutrients themselves may serve as signals. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the early and late signal exchanges between woody plants and ECM fungi, and we suggest future directions for decoding the molecular basis of the underground dance between trees and their favorite fungal partners.}, } @article {pmid25982383, year = {2015}, author = {Nambu, M and Tatsukami, Y and Morisaka, H and Kuroda, K and Ueda, M}, title = {Quantitative time-course proteome analysis of Mesorhizobium loti during nodule maturation.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {125}, number = {}, pages = {112-120}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2015.04.034}, pmid = {25982383}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*metabolism ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that establish a symbiotic relationship with leguminous plants. To understand the mechanism by which rhizobia alter their metabolism to establish successful nitrogen-fixing symbiotic relationship with hosts, Lotus japonicus were inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti. Bacteroids were isolated from nodules harvested at 2weeks (the early stage of nodule development), and at 3 and 4weeks (the intermediate stage of nodule development) post-inoculation. Using a quantitative time-course proteome analysis, we quantified the variations in the production of 537 proteins in M. loti bacteroids during the course of nodule maturation. The results revealed significant changes in the carbon and amino acid metabolisms by M. loti upon differentiating into bacteroids. Furthermore, our findings suggested that M. loti enters a nitrogen-deficient condition during the early stages of nodule development, and then a nitrogen-rich condition during the intermediate stages of nodule development. In addition, our data indicated that M. loti assimilated ammonia during the intermediate stages of nodule development. Our results provide new insights into the course of physiological transitions undergone by M. loti during nodule maturation.}, } @article {pmid25980927, year = {2015}, author = {Fernández-González, S and Pérez-Rodríguez, A and de la Hera, I and Proctor, HC and Pérez-Tris, J}, title = {Different space preferences and within-host competition promote niche partitioning between symbiotic feather mite species.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {45}, number = {9-10}, pages = {655-662}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.04.003}, pmid = {25980927}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Animals ; Bird Diseases/*parasitology ; Feathers/*parasitology ; Mite Infestations/parasitology/*veterinary ; Mites/classification/*physiology ; *Passeriformes ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Obligate symbionts (including parasites, commensals and mutualists) often share host species and host-based food resources. Such symbionts are frequently distributed unequally among hosts with different phenotypic features, or occupy different regions on a host. However, the processes leading to distinct within-host symbiont distributions remain obscure. We aimed to test whether distinct in-host symbiont distributions arise as the outcome of species-specific habitat preferences or interspecific competition, and how host phenotype influences such processes. To this end, we studied the distribution within and among individual bird hosts of two feather mites (Proctophyllodes sylviae and Trouessartia bifurcata) of migratory and sedentary European blackcaps, Sylvia atricapilla, wintering in sympatry. Trouessartia bifurcata was mostly restricted to resident blackcaps, while P. sylviae was abundant on both host types. Within hosts, each species tended to settle on different feather sectors (proximal or distal, respectively), which they filled by spreading on the wing following ordered but opposite patterns, thereby supporting the view that spatial segregation was primarily the outcome of dissimilar space preferences. However, we also found evidence of competition finely tuning mite distributions: when P. sylviae increased abundance and expanded onto the range of T. bifurcata, abundances of the two species were negatively correlated in the shared areas. In addition, the presence of T. bifurcata on a host was associated with a more restricted distribution of P. sylviae. Our results show that both species-specific preferences and interspecific interactions contribute to shaping mite distributions among and on individual hosts, a situation likely mirrored by other host-multi-symbiont systems.}, } @article {pmid25979941, year = {2015}, author = {Ohkuma, M and Noda, S and Hattori, S and Iida, T and Yuki, M and Starns, D and Inoue, J and Darby, AC and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Acetogenesis from H2 plus CO2 and nitrogen fixation by an endosymbiotic spirochete of a termite-gut cellulolytic protist.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10224-10230}, pmid = {25979941}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/*metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome ; Intestines/microbiology ; Isoptera/microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; Spirochaetales/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations of cellulolytic eukaryotic protists and diverse bacteria are common in the gut microbial communities of termites. Besides cellulose degradation by the gut protists, reductive acetogenesis from H2 plus CO2 and nitrogen fixation by gut bacteria play crucial roles in the host termites' nutrition by contributing to the energy demand of termites and supplying nitrogen poor in their diet, respectively. Fractionation of these activities and the identification of key genes from the gut community of the wood-feeding termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti revealed that substantial activities in the gut--nearly 60% of reductive acetogenesis and almost exclusively for nitrogen fixation--were uniquely attributed to the endosymbiotic bacteria of the cellulolytic protist in the genus Eucomonympha. The rod-shaped endosymbionts were surprisingly identified as a spirochete species in the genus Treponema, which usually exhibits a characteristic spiral morphology. The endosymbionts likely use H2 produced by the protist for these dual functions. Although H2 is known to inhibit nitrogen fixation in some bacteria, it seemed to rather stimulate this important mutualistic process. In addition, the single-cell genome analyses revealed the endosymbiont's potentials of the utilization of sugars for its energy requirement, and of the biosynthesis of valuable nutrients such as amino acids from the fixed nitrogen. These metabolic interactions are suitable for the dual functions of the endosymbiont and reconcile its substantial contributions in the gut.}, } @article {pmid25978424, year = {2015}, author = {Pini, F and De Nisco, NJ and Ferri, L and Penterman, J and Fioravanti, A and Brilli, M and Mengoni, A and Bazzicalupo, M and Viollier, PH and Walker, GC and Biondi, EG}, title = {Cell Cycle Control by the Master Regulator CtrA in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e1005232}, pmid = {25978424}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {T32 GM007287/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA014051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM007287/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM31010/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA14051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES002109/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Caulobacter crescentus/cytology/*genetics ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints/*genetics ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; Chromosome Mapping ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA Replication ; Down-Regulation ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genetic Markers ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/cytology/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transduction, Genetic ; beta-Galactosidase/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In all domains of life, proper regulation of the cell cycle is critical to coordinate genome replication, segregation and cell division. In some groups of bacteria, e.g. Alphaproteobacteria, tight regulation of the cell cycle is also necessary for the morphological and functional differentiation of cells. Sinorhizobium meliloti is an alphaproteobacterium that forms an economically and ecologically important nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with specific legume hosts. During this symbiosis S. meliloti undergoes an elaborate cellular differentiation within host root cells. The differentiation of S. meliloti results in massive amplification of the genome, cell branching and/or elongation, and loss of reproductive capacity. In Caulobacter crescentus, cellular differentiation is tightly linked to the cell cycle via the activity of the master regulator CtrA, and recent research in S. meliloti suggests that CtrA might also be key to cellular differentiation during symbiosis. However, the regulatory circuit driving cell cycle progression in S. meliloti is not well characterized in both the free-living and symbiotic state. Here, we investigated the regulation and function of CtrA in S. meliloti. We demonstrated that depletion of CtrA cause cell elongation, branching and genome amplification, similar to that observed in nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. We also showed that the cell cycle regulated proteolytic degradation of CtrA is essential in S. meliloti, suggesting a possible mechanism of CtrA depletion in differentiated bacteroids. Using a combination of ChIP-Seq and gene expression microarray analysis we found that although S. meliloti CtrA regulates similar processes as C. crescentus CtrA, it does so through different target genes. For example, our data suggest that CtrA does not control the expression of the Fts complex to control the timing of cell division during the cell cycle, but instead it negatively regulates the septum-inhibiting Min system. Our findings provide valuable insight into how highly conserved genetic networks can evolve, possibly to fit the diverse lifestyles of different bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25978383, year = {2015}, author = {Duron, O and Noël, V and McCoy, KD and Bonazzi, M and Sidi-Boumedine, K and Morel, O and Vavre, F and Zenner, L and Jourdain, E and Durand, P and Arnathau, C and Renaud, F and Trape, JF and Biguezoton, AS and Cremaschi, J and Dietrich, M and Léger, E and Appelgren, A and Dupraz, M and Gómez-Díaz, E and Diatta, G and Dayo, GK and Adakal, H and Zoungrana, S and Vial, L and Chevillon, C}, title = {The Recent Evolution of a Maternally-Inherited Endosymbiont of Ticks Led to the Emergence of the Q Fever Pathogen, Coxiella burnetii.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {e1004892}, pmid = {25978383}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Behavior, Animal ; *Biological Evolution ; Cell Line ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology/microbiology/*transmission/veterinary ; Coxiella burnetii/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Coxiellaceae/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; Female ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Global Health ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Microbial Viability ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Q Fever/epidemiology/microbiology/*transmission/veterinary ; *Symbiosis ; Ticks/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Q fever is a highly infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. Its causative agent, the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii, infects a variety of vertebrate species, including humans. Its evolutionary origin remains almost entirely unknown and uncertainty persists regarding the identity and lifestyle of its ancestors. A few tick species were recently found to harbor maternally-inherited Coxiella-like organisms engaged in symbiotic interactions, but their relationships to the Q fever pathogen remain unclear. Here, we extensively sampled ticks, identifying new and atypical Coxiella strains from 40 of 58 examined species, and used this data to infer the evolutionary processes leading to the emergence of C. burnetii. Phylogenetic analyses of multi-locus typing and whole-genome sequencing data revealed that Coxiella-like organisms represent an ancient and monophyletic group allied to ticks. Remarkably, all known C. burnetii strains originate within this group and are the descendants of a Coxiella-like progenitor hosted by ticks. Using both colony-reared and field-collected gravid females, we further establish the presence of highly efficient maternal transmission of these Coxiella-like organisms in four examined tick species, a pattern coherent with an endosymbiotic lifestyle. Our laboratory culture assays also showed that these Coxiella-like organisms were not amenable to culture in the vertebrate cell environment, suggesting different metabolic requirements compared to C. burnetii. Altogether, this corpus of data demonstrates that C. burnetii recently evolved from an inherited symbiont of ticks which succeeded in infecting vertebrate cells, likely by the acquisition of novel virulence factors.}, } @article {pmid25977213, year = {2015}, author = {Beaulieu, WT and Panaccione, DG and Ryan, KL and Kaonongbua, W and Clay, K}, title = {Phylogenetic and chemotypic diversity of Periglandula species in eight new morning glory hosts (Convolvulaceae).}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {107}, number = {4}, pages = {667-678}, doi = {10.3852/14-239}, pmid = {25977213}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Convolvulaceae/classification/*microbiology ; Ergot Alkaloids/chemistry/metabolism ; Hypocreales/*chemistry/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Periglandula ipomoeae and P. turbinae (Ascomycota, Clavicipitaceae) are recently described fungi that form symbiotic associations with the morning glories (Convolvulaceae) Ipomoea asarifolia and Turbina corymbosa, respectively. These Periglandula species are vertically transmitted and produce bioactive ergot alkaloids in seeds of infected plants and ephemeral mycelia on the adaxial surface of young leaves. Whether other morning glories that contain ergot alkaloids also are infected by Periglandula fungi is a central question. Here we report on a survey of eight species of Convolvulaceae (Argyreia nervosa, I. amnicola, I. argillicola, I. gracilis, I. hildebrandtii, I. leptophylla, I. muelleri, I. pes-caprae) for ergot alkaloids in seeds and associated clavicipitaceous fungi potentially responsible for their production. All host species contained ergot alkaloids in four distinct chemotypes with concentrations of 15.8-3223.0 μg/g. Each chemotype was a combination of four or five ergot alkaloids out of seven alkaloids detected across all hosts. In addition, each host species exhibited characteristic epiphytic mycelia on adaxial surfaces of young leaves with considerable interspecific differences in mycelial density. We sequenced three loci from fungi infecting each host: the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), introns of the translation factor 1-α gene (tefA) and the dimethylallyl-tryptophan synthase gene (dmaW), which codes for the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that these fungi are in the family Clavicipitaceae and form a monophyletic group with the two described Periglandula species. This study is the first to report Periglandula spp. from Asian, Australian, African and North American species of Convolvulaceae, including host species with a shrub growth form and host species occurring outside of the tropics. This study demonstrates that ergot alkaloids in morning glories always co-occur with Periglandula spp. and that closely related Periglandula spp. produce alkaloid chemotypes more similar than more distantly related species.}, } @article {pmid25976031, year = {2015}, author = {Granada, CE and Beneduzi, A and Lisboa, BB and Turchetto-Zolet, AC and Vargas, LK and Passaglia, LM}, title = {Multilocus sequence analysis reveals taxonomic differences among Bradyrhizobium sp. symbionts of Lupinus albescens plants growing in arenized and non-arenized areas.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {323-329}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2015.03.009}, pmid = {25976031}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Lupinus albescens is a leguminous plant that belongs to "New World" lupine species, which is native to southern Brazil. This Brazilian region is characterized by poor degraded soils with low organic matter and is designated as an arenized area. The symbiosis between Lupinus plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria belonging to the Bradyrhizobium genus may help the plant establish itself in these areas. To characterize the bradyrhizobial population symbionts of L. albescens plants grown in arenized and non-arenized areas, a multilocus phylogenetic analysis allied to genetic diversity indices were conducted. Seventy-four bradyrhizobial isolates were analyzed, 38 coming from L. albescens plants growing in an arenized area and 36 from a non-arenized area. Isolates were different between arenized and non-arenized areas. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA, dnaK, atpD, recA, glnII, rpoB, gyrB, nodA, nodB, and nodZ genes resulted in three supported clades, which were most likely to be three different new Bradyrhizobium species: one species from the arenized area and two from the non-arenized area. Estimates of genetic diversity, which decreased in arenized areas, were positively correlated with habitat variability. These results suggested that a few resistant and efficient Bradyrhizobium sp. strains were capable of forming nodules on L. albescens plants growing in an arenized area. An in vivo inoculation experiment with L. albescens plants showed that Bradyrhizobium ssp. isolated from this extreme environment were more efficient at promoting plant growth than those from the non-arenized area. This result suggested that the environment affected the selection of more efficient plant growth promoters in order to sustain plant growth.}, } @article {pmid25975874, year = {2015}, author = {Malys, MK and Campbell, L and Malys, N}, title = {Symbiotic and antibiotic interactions between gut commensal microbiota and host immune system.}, journal = {Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)}, volume = {51}, number = {2}, pages = {69-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.medici.2015.03.001}, pmid = {25975874}, issn = {1648-9144}, support = {BB/I008349//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*drug effects/genetics/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; Immunoglobulin A/immunology ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; }, abstract = {The human gut commensal microbiota forms a complex population of microorganisms that survive by maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the host. Amongst the metabolic benefits it brings, formation of adaptive immune system and maintenance of its homeostasis are functions that play an important role. This review discusses the integral elements of commensal microbiota that stimulate responses of different parts of the immune system and lead to health or disease. It aims to establish conditions and factors that contribute to gut commensal microbiota's transformation from symbiotic to antibiotic relationship with human. We suggest that the host-microbiota relationship has been evolved to benefit both parties and any changes that may lead to disease, are not due to unfriendly properties of the gut microbiota but due to host genetics or environmental changes such as diet or infection.}, } @article {pmid25975821, year = {2015}, author = {Ghobakhlou, AF and Johnston, A and Harris, L and Antoun, H and Laberge, S}, title = {Microarray transcriptional profiling of Arctic Mesorhizobium strain N33 at low temperature provides insights into cold adaption strategies.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {383}, pmid = {25975821}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; *Cold Temperature ; DNA Repair/genetics ; DNA Replication/genetics ; Energy Metabolism/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Lipid Metabolism/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Molecular Chaperones/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; *Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Recombination, Genetic/genetics ; Ribosomes/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arctic Mesorhizobium strain N33 was isolated from nodules of the legume Oxytropis arctobia in Canada's eastern Arctic. This symbiotic bacterium can grow at temperatures ranging from 0 to 30 °C, fix nitrogen at 10 °C, and is one of the best known cold-adapted rhizobia. Despite the economic potential of this bacterium for northern regions, the key molecular mechanisms of its cold adaptation remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: Using a microarray printed with 5760 Arctic Mesorhizobium genomic clones, we performed a partial transcriptome analysis of strain N33 grown under eight different temperature conditions, including both sustained and transient cold treatments, compared with cells grown at room temperature. Cells treated under constant (4 and 10 °C) low temperatures expressed a prominent number of induced genes distinct from cells treated to short-term cold-exposure (<60 min), but exhibited an intermediate expression profile when exposed to a prolonged cold exposure (240 min). The most prominent up-regulated genes encode proteins involved in metabolite transport, transcription regulation, protein turnover, oxidoreductase activity, cryoprotection (mannitol, polyamines), fatty acid metabolism, and membrane fluidity. The main categories of genes affected in N33 during cold treatment are sugar transport and protein translocation, lipid biosynthesis, and NADH oxidoreductase (quinone) activity. Some genes were significantly down-regulated and classified in secretion, energy production and conversion, amino acid transport, cell motility, cell envelope and outer membrane biogenesis functions. This might suggest growth cessation or reduction, which is an important strategy to adjust cellular function and save energy under cold stress conditions.

CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed a complex series of changes associated with cold exposure adaptation and constant growth at low temperatures. Moreover, it highlighted some of the strategies and different physiological states that Mesorhizobium strain N33 has developed to adapt to the cold environment of the Canadian high Arctic and has revealed candidate genes potentially involved in cold adaptation.}, } @article {pmid25974299, year = {2015}, author = {Sampson, TR and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Control of brain development, function, and behavior by the microbiome.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {565-576}, pmid = {25974299}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 MH100556/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; NS085910/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; MH100556/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS085910/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior ; Brain/*physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Animals share an intimate and life-long partnership with a myriad of resident microbial species, collectively referred to as the microbiota. Symbiotic microbes have been shown to regulate nutrition and metabolism and are critical for the development and function of the immune system. More recently, studies have suggested that gut bacteria can impact neurological outcomes--altering behavior and potentially affecting the onset and/or severity of nervous system disorders. In this review, we highlight emerging evidence that the microbiome extends its influence to the brain via various pathways connecting the gut to the central nervous system. While understanding and appreciation of a gut microbial impact on neurological function is nascent, unraveling gut-microbiome-brain connections holds the promise of transforming the neurosciences and revealing potentially novel etiologies for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.}, } @article {pmid25973570, year = {2016}, author = {Kim, Y and Hepat, R}, title = {Baculoviral p94 homologs encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus suppress both immunity and development of the diamondback moth, Plutellae xylostella.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {235-244}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12237}, pmid = {25973570}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Genes, Viral ; Immunity, Innate ; Larva/growth & development/immunology/parasitology/virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Moths/growth & development/immunology/*parasitology/*virology ; Phylogeny ; Polydnaviridae/growth & development/*physiology ; RNA Interference ; Wasps/*physiology/virology ; }, abstract = {Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are a group of insect DNA viruses, which exhibit a mutual symbiotic relationship with their specific host wasps. Moreover, most encapsidated genes identified so far in PDVs share homologies with insect-originated genes, but not with virus-originated genes. In the meantime, PDVs associated with 2 wasp genera Cotesia and Glytapanteles encode some genes presumably originated from other viruses. Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) encodes 4 genes homologous to baculoviral p94: CpBV-E94k1, CpBV-E94k2, CpBV-E94k3, and CpBV-E94k4. This study was conducted to predict the origin of CpBV-E94ks by comparing their sequences with those of baculoviral orthologs and to determine the physiological functions by their transient expressions in nonparasitized larvae and subsequent specific RNA interference. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that CpBV-E94ks were clustered with other E94ks originated from different PDVs and shared high similarity with betabaculoviral p94s. These 4 CpBV genes were expressed during most developmental stages of the larvae of Plutella xylostella parasitized by C. plutellae. Expression of these 4 E94ks was mainly detected in hemocytes and fat body. Subsequent functional analysis by in vivo transient expression showed that all 4 viral genes significantly inhibited both host immune and developmental processes. These results suggest that CpBV-E94ks share an origin with betabaculoviral p94s and play parasitic roles in suppressing host immune and developmental processes.}, } @article {pmid25972851, year = {2015}, author = {Fiore, CL and Labrie, M and Jarett, JK and Lesser, MP}, title = {Transcriptional activity of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta Holobiont: molecular evidence for metabolic interchange.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {364}, pmid = {25972851}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Compared to our understanding of the taxonomic composition of the symbiotic microbes in marine sponges, the functional diversity of these symbionts is largely unknown. Furthermore, the application of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic techniques to functional questions on sponge host-symbiont interactions is in its infancy. In this study, we generated a transcriptome for the host and a metatranscriptome of its microbial symbionts for the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta, from the Caribbean. In combination with a gene-specific approach, our goals were to (1) characterize genetic evidence for nitrogen cycling in X. muta, an important limiting nutrient on coral reefs (2) identify which prokaryotic symbiont lineages are metabolically active and, (3) characterize the metabolic potential of the prokaryotic community. Xestospongia muta expresses genes from multiple nitrogen transformation pathways that when combined with the abundance of this sponge, and previous data on dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes, shows that this sponge is an important contributor to nitrogen cycling biogeochemistry on coral reefs. Additionally, we observed significant differences in gene expression of the archaeal amoA gene, which is involved in ammonia oxidation, between coral reef locations consistent with differences in the fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen previously reported. In regards to symbiont metabolic potential, the genes in the biosynthetic pathways of several amino acids were present in the prokaryotic metatranscriptome dataset but in the host-derived transcripts only the catabolic reactions for these amino acids were present. A similar pattern was observed for the B vitamins (riboflavin, biotin, thiamin, cobalamin). These results expand our understanding of biogeochemical cycling in sponges, and the metabolic interchange highlighted here advances the field of symbiont physiology by elucidating specific metabolic pathways where there is high potential for host-prokaryote interactions.}, } @article {pmid25971550, year = {2015}, author = {Rich, MK and Schorderet, M and Bapaume, L and Falquet, L and Morel, P and Vandenbussche, M and Reinhardt, D}, title = {The Petunia GRAS Transcription Factor ATA/RAM1 Regulates Symbiotic Gene Expression and Fungal Morphogenesis in Arbuscular Mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {788-797}, pmid = {25971550}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Loci ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Meristem/genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Morphogenesis ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Petunia/*genetics/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a mutual symbiosis that involves a complex symbiotic interface over which nutrients are exchanged between the plant host and the AM fungus. Dozens of genes in the host are required for the establishment and functioning of the interaction, among them nutrient transporters that mediate the uptake of mineral nutrients delivered by the fungal arbuscules. We have isolated in a genetic mutant screen a petunia (Petunia hybrida) Gibberellic Acid Insensitive, Repressor of Gibberellic Acid Insensitive, and Scarecrow (GRAS)-type transcription factor, Atypical Arbuscule (ATA), that acts as the central regulator of AM-related genes and is required for the morphogenesis of arbuscules. Forced mycorrhizal inoculations from neighboring wild-type plants revealed an additional role of ATA in restricting mycorrhizal colonization of the root meristem. The lack of ATA, which represents the ortholog of Required For Arbuscular Mycorrhiza1 in Medicago truncatula, renders the interaction completely ineffective, hence demonstrating the central role of AM-related genes for arbuscule development and function.}, } @article {pmid25968049, year = {2016}, author = {Wang, H and Xie, B}, title = {Study on how nanosilver-based inorganic antibacterial agent functions on biofilm formation of Candida albicans, inside the oral cavity.}, journal = {Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology}, volume = {44}, number = {6}, pages = {1429-1433}, doi = {10.3109/21691401.2015.1031907}, pmid = {25968049}, issn = {2169-141X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/pharmacology ; *Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Candida albicans/*physiology ; Humans ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Mouth/*microbiology ; *Silver/chemistry/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is a common symbiotic fungus in the oral cavity, which can easily adhere to the surface of implanted materials. Highlighted by a broad antibacterial spectrum and potent antibacterial effects, nanosilver-based inorganic antibacterial agents (NSBIAA) are currently being hotly discussed with regard to their influences on biofilm formation of Candida albicans.

PURPOSE: This paper aims to explore the influence of NSBIAA on biofilm formation of Candida albicans.

METHOD: The XTT reduction method and the method of crystal violet determination were applied in measuring the influence of NSBIAA on biofilm formation of Candida albicans. In addition, biofilm morphology was determined by crystal violet staining.

RESULT: It was observed that with the application of liquid antibacterial agent, at a concentration of 0.62 mg/ml, the biofilm activity of Candida albicans reduced (96.1 ± 3.0) %, along with a reduction in the biomass (95.4 ± 2.7) %, and biofilm formation was not observed under an inverted microscope.

CONCLUSION: NSBIAA are able to inhibit biofilm formation.}, } @article {pmid25967288, year = {2015}, author = {Lau, WL and Kalantar-Zadeh, K and Vaziri, ND}, title = {The Gut as a Source of Inflammation in Chronic Kidney Disease.}, journal = {Nephron}, volume = {130}, number = {2}, pages = {92-98}, pmid = {25967288}, issn = {2235-3186}, support = {K24 DK091419/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001414/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; K24-DK091419/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Toxins/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*complications/physiopathology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*complications/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Chronic inflammation is a non-traditional risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. In recent years, the gastrointestinal tract has emerged as a major instigator of systemic inflammation in CKD. Postmortem studies previously discovered gut wall inflammation throughout the digestive tract in chronic dialysis patients. In CKD animals, colon wall inflammation is associated with breakdown of the epithelial tight junction barrier ('leaky gut') and translocation of bacterial DNA and endotoxin into the bloodstream. Gut bacterial DNA and endotoxin have also been detected in the serum from CKD and dialysis patients, whereby endotoxin levels increase with the CKD stage and correlate with the severity of systemic inflammation in the dialysis population. The CKD diet that is low in plant fiber and symbiotic organisms (in adherence with low potassium, low phosphorus intake) can alter the normal gut microbiome, leading to overgrowth of bacteria that produce uremic toxins such as cresyl and indoxyl molecules. The translocation of these toxins from the 'leaky gut' into the bloodstream further promotes systemic inflammation, adverse cardiovascular outcomes and CKD progression. Data are lacking on optimal fiber and yogurt consumption in CKD that would favor growth of a more symbiotic microbiome while avoiding potassium and phosphorus overload. Prebiotic and probiotic formulations have shown promise in small clinical trials, in terms of lowering serum levels of uremic toxins and improving quality of life. The evidence points to a strong relationship between intestinal inflammation and adverse outcomes in CKD, and more trials investigating gut-targeted therapeutics are needed.}, } @article {pmid25967282, year = {2015}, author = {Holt, DB and Gupta, V and Meyer, D and Abel, NB and Andersen, SU and Stougaard, J and Markmann, K}, title = {micro RNA 172 (miR172) signals epidermal infection and is expressed in cells primed for bacterial invasion in Lotus japonicus roots and nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {1}, pages = {241-256}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13445}, pmid = {25967282}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Endophytes/growth & development ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Epidermis/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes interact with rhizobial bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Host signalling following mutual recognition ensures a specific response, but is only partially understood. Focusing on the stage of epidermal infection with Mesorhizobium loti, we analysed endogenous small RNAs (sRNAs) of the model legume Lotus japonicus to investigate their involvement in host response regulation. We used Illumina sequencing to annotate the L. japonicus sRNA-ome and isolate infection-responsive sRNAs, followed by candidate-based functional characterization. Sequences from four libraries revealed 219 novel L. japonicus micro RNAs (miRNAs) from 114 newly assigned families, and 76 infection-responsive sRNAs. Unlike infection-associated coding genes such as NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), a micro RNA 172 (miR172) isoform showed strong accumulation in dependency of both Nodulation (Nod) factor and compatible rhizobia. The genetics of miR172 induction support the existence of distinct epidermal and cortical signalling events. MIR172a promoter activity followed a previously unseen pattern preceding infection thread progression in epidermal and cortical cells. Nodule-associated miR172a expression was infection-independent, representing the second of two genetically separable activity waves. The combined data provide a valuable resource for further study, and identify miR172 as an sRNA marking successful epidermal infection. We show that miR172 acts upstream of several APETALA2-type (AP2) transcription factors, and suggest that it has a role in fine-tuning AP2 levels during bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25967041, year = {2015}, author = {Chihaoui, SA and Trabelsi, D and Jdey, A and Mhadhbi, H and Mhamdi, R}, title = {Inoculation of Phaseolus vulgaris with the nodule-endophyte Agrobacterium sp. 10C2 affects richness and structure of rhizosphere bacterial communities and enhances nodulation and growth.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {197}, number = {6}, pages = {805-813}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-015-1118-z}, pmid = {25967041}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*physiology ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Bacillus/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Endophytes/*physiology ; *Phaseolus/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Proteobacteria/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium sp. 10C2 is a nonpathogenic and non-symbiotic nodule-endophyte strain isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris. The effect of this strain on nodulation, plant growth and rhizosphere bacterial communities of P. vulgaris is investigated under seminatural conditions. Inoculation with strain 10C2 induced an increase in nodule number (+54 %) and plant biomass (+16 %). Grains also showed a significant increase in phosphorus (+53 %), polyphenols (+217 %), flavonoids (+62 %) and total antioxidant capacity (+82 %). The effect of strain 10C2 on bacterial communities was monitored using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. When the initial soil was inoculated with strain 10C2 and left 15 days, the Agrobacterium strain did not affect TRF richness but changed structure. When common bean was sown in these soils and cultivated during 75 days, both TRF richness and structure were affected by strain 10C2. TRF richness increased in the rhizosphere soil, while it decreased in the bulk soil (root free). The taxonomic assignation of TRFs induced by strain 10C2 in the bean rhizosphere revealed the presence of four phyla (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria) with a relative preponderance of Firmicutes, represented mainly by Bacillus species. Some of these taxa (i.e., Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus senegalensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus firmus and Paenibacillus koreensis) are particularly known for their plant growth-promoting potentialities. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of strain 10C2 observed on plant growth and grain quality are explained at least in part by the indirect effect through the promotion of beneficial microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid25964335, year = {2015}, author = {Torres-Cortés, G and Ghignone, S and Bonfante, P and Schüßler, A}, title = {Mosaic genome of endobacteria in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Transkingdom gene transfer in an ancient mycoplasma-fungus association.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {25}, pages = {7785-7790}, pmid = {25964335}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Mosaicism ; *Mycorrhizae ; }, abstract = {For more than 450 million years, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have formed intimate, mutualistic symbioses with the vast majority of land plants and are major drivers in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. The obligate plant-symbiotic AMF host additional symbionts, so-called Mollicutes-related endobacteria (MRE). To uncover putative functional roles of these widespread but yet enigmatic MRE, we sequenced the genome of DhMRE living in the AMF Dentiscutata heterogama. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses showed that MRE form a previously unidentified lineage sister to the hominis group of Mycoplasma species. DhMRE possesses a strongly reduced metabolic capacity with 55% of the proteins having unknown function, which reflects unique adaptations to an intracellular lifestyle. We found evidence for transkingdom gene transfer between MRE and their AMF host. At least 27 annotated DhMRE proteins show similarities to nuclear-encoded proteins of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis, which itself lacks MRE. Nuclear-encoded homologs could moreover be identified for another AMF, Gigaspora margarita, and surprisingly, also the non-AMF Mortierella verticillata. Our data indicate a possible origin of the MRE-fungus association in ancestors of the Glomeromycota and Mucoromycotina. The DhMRE genome encodes an arsenal of putative regulatory proteins with eukaryotic-like domains, some of them encoded in putative genomic islands. MRE are highly interesting candidates to study the evolution and interactions between an ancient, obligate endosymbiotic prokaryote with its obligate plant-symbiotic fungal host. Our data moreover may be used for further targeted searches for ancient effector-like proteins that may be key components in the regulation of the arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25964062, year = {2015}, author = {Hopkins, SR and Boyle, LJ and Belden, LK and Wojdak, JM}, title = {Dispersal of a defensive symbiont depends on contact between hosts, host health, and host size.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {179}, number = {2}, pages = {307-318}, pmid = {25964062}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Ecology ; Environment ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Oligochaeta/*physiology ; Snails/anatomy & histology/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Trematoda/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiont dispersal is necessary for the maintenance of defense mutualisms in space and time, and the distribution of symbionts among hosts should be intricately tied to symbiont dispersal behaviors. However, we know surprisingly little about how most defensive symbionts find and choose advantageous hosts or what cues trigger symbionts to disperse from their current hosts. In a series of six experiments, we explored the dispersal ecology of an oligochaete worm (Chaetogaster limnaei) that protects snail hosts from infection by larval trematode parasites. Specifically, we determined the factors that affected net symbiont dispersal from a current "donor" host to a new "receiver" host. Symbionts rarely dispersed unless hosts directly came in contact with one another. However, symbionts overcame their reluctance to disperse across the open environment if the donor host died. When hosts came in direct contact, net symbiont dispersal varied with both host size and trematode infection status, whereas symbiont density did not influence the probability of symbiont dispersal. Together, these experiments show that symbiont dispersal is not a constant, random process, as is often assumed in symbiont dispersal models, but rather the probability of dispersal varies with ecological conditions and among individual hosts. The observed heterogeneity in dispersal rates among hosts may help to explain symbiont aggregation among snail hosts in nature.}, } @article {pmid25961926, year = {2016}, author = {Guo, F and Wang, Y and Liu, J and Mok, SC and Xue, F and Zhang, W}, title = {CXCL12/CXCR4: a symbiotic bridge linking cancer cells and their stromal neighbors in oncogenic communication networks.}, journal = {Oncogene}, volume = {35}, number = {7}, pages = {816-826}, pmid = {25961926}, issn = {1476-5594}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Communication/*physiology ; Chemokine CXCL12/*metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology ; Receptors, CXCR4/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence indicates that the tumor microenvironment has critical roles in all aspects of cancer biology, including growth, angiogenesis, metastasis and progression. Although chemokines and their receptors were originally identified as mediators of inflammatory diseases, it is being increasingly recognized that they serve as critical communication bridges between tumor cells and stromal cells to create a permissive microenvironment for tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, an important therapeutic strategy for cancer is to break this communication channel and isolate tumor cells for long-term elimination. Cytokine CXCL12 (also known as stromal-derived factor 1α) and its receptor CXCR4 represent the most promising actionable targets for this strategy. Both are overexpressed in various cancer types, and this aberrant expression strongly promotes proliferation, migration and invasion through multiple signal pathways. Several molecules that target CXCL12 or CXCR4 have been developed to interfere with tumor growth and metastasis. In this article, we review our current understanding of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in cancer tumorigenesis and progression and discuss its therapeutic implications.}, } @article {pmid25959751, year = {2015}, author = {Viale, E and Martinez-Sañudo, I and Brown, JM and Simonato, M and Girolami, V and Squartini, A and Bressan, A and Faccoli, M and Mazzon, L}, title = {Pattern of association between endemic Hawaiian fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and their symbiotic bacteria: Evidence of cospeciation events and proposal of "Candidatus Stammerula trupaneae".}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {90}, number = {}, pages = {67-79}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2015.04.025}, pmid = {25959751}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis ; Hawaii ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/*classification/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Several insect lineages have evolved mutualistic association with symbiotic bacteria. This is the case of some species of mealybugs, whiteflies, weevils, tsetse flies, cockroaches, termites, carpenter ants, aphids and fruit flies. Some species of Tephritinae, the most specialized subfamily of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae), harbour co-evolved vertically transmitted, bacterial symbionts in their midgut, known as "Candidatus Stammerula spp.". The 25 described endemic species of Hawaiian tephritids, plus at least three undescribed species, are taxonomically distributed among three genera: the cosmopolitan genus Trupanea (21 described spp.), the endemic genus Phaeogramma (2 spp.) and the Nearctic genus Neotephritis (2 spp.). We examined the presence of symbiotic bacteria in the endemic tephritids of the Hawaiian Islands, which represent a spectacular example of adaptive radiation, and tested the concordant evolution between host and symbiont phylogenies. We detected through PCR assays the presence of specific symbiotic bacteria, designated as "Candidatus Stammerula trupaneae", from 35 individuals of 15 species. The phylogeny of the insect host was reconstructed based on two regions of the mitochondrial DNA (16S rDNA and COI-tRNALeu-COII), while the bacterial 16S rRNA was used for the symbiont analysis. Host and symbiont phylogenies were then compared and evaluated for patterns of cophylogeny and strict cospeciation. Topological congruence between Hawaiian Tephritinae and their symbiotic bacteria phylogenies suggests a limited, but significant degree of host-symbiont cospeciation. We also explored the character reconstruction of three host traits, as island location, host lineage, and host tissue attacked, based on the symbiont phylogenies under the hypothesis of cospeciation.}, } @article {pmid25958358, year = {2015}, author = {Firmin, S and Labidi, S and Fontaine, J and Laruelle, F and Tisserant, B and Nsanganwimana, F and Pourrut, B and Dalpé, Y and Grandmougin, A and Douay, F and Shirali, P and Verdin, A and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation protects Miscanthus × giganteus against trace element toxicity in a highly metal-contaminated site.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {527-528}, number = {}, pages = {91-99}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.116}, pmid = {25958358}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/*physiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Metals/toxicity ; Mycorrhizae ; Poaceae/drug effects/*physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Trace Elements/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF)-assisted phytoremediation could constitute an ecological and economic method in polluted soil rehabilitation programs. The aim of this work was to characterize the trace element (TE) phytoremediation potential of mycorrhizal Miscanthus × giganteus. To understand the mechanisms involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis tolerance to TE toxicity, the fatty acid compositions and several stress oxidative biomarkers were compared in the roots and leaves of Miscanthus × giganteus cultivated under field conditions in either TE-contaminated or control soils. TEs were accumulated in greater amounts in roots, but the leaves were the organ most affected by TE contamination and were characterized by a strong decrease in fatty acid contents. TE-induced oxidative stress in leaves was confirmed by an increase in the lipid peroxidation biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA). TE contamination decreased the GSSG/GSH ratio in the leaves of exposed plants, while peroxidase (PO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were increased in leaves and in whole plants, respectively. AMF inoculation also increased root colonization in the presence of TE contamination. The mycorrhizal colonization determined a decrease in SOD activity in the whole plant and PO activities in leaves and induced a significant increase in the fatty acid content in leaves and a decrease in MDA formation in whole plants. These results suggested that mycorrhization is able to confer protection against oxidative stress induced by soil pollution. Our findings suggest that mycorrhizal inoculation could be used as a bioaugmentation technique, facilitating Miscanthus cultivation on highly TE-contaminated soil.}, } @article {pmid25958075, year = {2015}, author = {Vohník, M and Borovec, O and Župan, I and Vondrášek, D and Petrtýl, M and Sudová, R}, title = {Anatomically and morphologically unique dark septate endophytic association in the roots of the Mediterranean endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {663-672}, pmid = {25958075}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Alismatales/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*growth & development ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Roots of terrestrial plants host a wide spectrum of soil fungi that form various parasitic, neutral and mutualistic associations. A similar trend is evident in freshwater aquatic plants and plants inhabiting salt marshes or mangroves. Marine vascular plants (seagrasses), by contrast, seem to lack specific root-fungus symbioses. We examined roots of two Mediterranean seagrasses, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa, in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea for fungal colonization using light and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. We found that P. oceanica, but not C. nodosa, is regularly associated with melanized septate hyphae in a manner resembling colonization by the ubiquitous dark septate endophytes (DSE) in roots of most terrestrial plants. P. oceanica roots were found to be colonized by sparse dematiaceous running hyphae as well as dense parenchymatous nets/hyphal sheaths on the root surface, intracellular melanized microsclerotia and occasionally also intra- and intercellular hyphae. The colonization was most prominent in the thick-walled hypodermis of the thinnest healthy looking roots, and the mycobiont seemed to colonize both living and dead host cells. Dark septate hyphae infrequently occurred also inside rhizodermal cells, but never colonized vascular tissues. The biological significance of this overlooked marine symbiosis remains unknown, but its morphology, extent, distribution across the NW Mediterranean Sea and absence in C. nodosa indicate an intriguing relationship between the dominant Mediterranean seagrass and its dark septate root mycobionts.}, } @article {pmid25957139, year = {2015}, author = {Das, AC and Das, R and Bhowmick, S}, title = {Non-symbiotic N2-fixation and phosphate-solubility in Gangetic alluvial soil as influenced by pre-emergence herbicide residues.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {135}, number = {}, pages = {202-207}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.039}, pmid = {25957139}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Acetanilides ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; India ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Pesticide Residues/*toxicity ; Phosphates ; Phosphorus ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Solubility ; Thiocarbamates ; }, abstract = {An experiment has been conducted under laboratory conditions to investigate the effect of two pre-emergence herbicides viz., thiobencarb (at 1.5 and 4.5 kg a.i. ha(-1)) and pretilachlor (at 0.5 and 1.5 kg a.i. ha(-1)), on the changes of growth and activities of aerobic non-symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms in relation to availability of mineral nitrogen and soluble phosphorus in the Gangetic alluvial soil (Typic Haplustept) of West Bengal, India. Application of herbicides, in general, significantly increased growth and activities of microorganisms, resulting in greater release of available nitrogen and soluble phosphorus in soil; and the stimulation was more pronounced when the herbicides were applied at their lower concentrations (recommended field application rates), more so with thiobencarb, as compared to pretilachlor. As compared to untreated control, application of thiobencarb at lower concentration increased the proliferation of aerobic non-symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and non-symbiotic N2-fixing capacity of soil to the extent of 54.0, 44.6 and 31.7%, respectively; and accumulated the highest amount of available nitrogen (37.8%) and phosphorus (54.5%) in soil, while pretilachlor at field application rate highly induced (37.2%) phosphate-solubilizing capacity of soil. At higher concentration, pretilachlor was superior to thiobencarb in augmenting the growth and activities of phosphate-solubilizers. The results of the present study also indicated that gradual increase in concentration of the herbicides over their recommended field application rates was not much conducive for growth and activities of microorganisms, and subsequent release of nutrients in soil.}, } @article {pmid25956763, year = {2015}, author = {Nikolakakis, K and Lehnert, E and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {Use of Hybridization Chain Reaction-Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization To Track Gene Expression by Both Partners during Initiation of Symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {14}, pages = {4728-4735}, pmid = {25956763}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM112214/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32GM112214/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The establishment of a productive symbiosis between Euprymna scolopes, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, and its luminous bacterial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, is mediated by transcriptional changes in both partners. A key challenge to unraveling the steps required to successfully initiate this and many other symbiotic associations is characterization of the timing and location of these changes. We report on the adaptation of hybridization chain reaction-fluorescent in situ hybridization (HCR-FISH) to simultaneously probe the spatiotemporal regulation of targeted genes in both E. scolopes and V. fischeri. This method revealed localized, transcriptionally coregulated epithelial cells within the light organ that responded directly to the presence of bacterial cells while, at the same time, provided a sensitive means to directly show regulated gene expression within the symbiont population. Thus, HCR-FISH provides a new approach for characterizing habitat transition in bacteria and for discovering host tissue responses to colonization.}, } @article {pmid25953181, year = {2015}, author = {Givan, SA and Zhou, MY and Bromert, K and Bivens, N and Chapman, LF}, title = {Genome Sequences of Pseudoalteromonas Strains ATCC BAA-314, ATCC 70018, and ATCC 70019.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {25953181}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The assembly and annotation of the draft genome sequences for Pseudoalteromonas strains ATCC BAA314, ATCC 700518, and ATCC 700519 reveal candidates for promoting symbiosis between Pseudoalteromonas strains and eukaryotes. Groups of genes generally associated with virulence are present in all three strains, suggesting that these bacteria may be pathogenic under specific circumstances.}, } @article {pmid25948707, year = {2015}, author = {Jones, JM and Clairmont, L and Macdonald, ES and Weiner, CA and Emery, RJ and Guinel, FC}, title = {E151 (sym15), a pleiotropic mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.), displays low nodule number, enhanced mycorrhizae, delayed lateral root emergence, and high root cytokinin levels.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {13}, pages = {4047-4059}, pmid = {25948707}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/pharmacology ; Ammonium Compounds/pharmacology ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; *Genetic Pleiotropy ; Mutation/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Peas/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Epidermis/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In legumes, the formation of rhizobial and mycorrhizal root symbioses is a highly regulated process which requires close communication between plant and microorganism. Plant mutants that have difficulties establishing symbioses are valuable tools for unravelling the mechanisms by which these symbioses are formed and regulated. Here E151, a mutant of Pisum sativum cv. Sparkle, was examined to characterize its root growth and symbiotic defects. The symbioses in terms of colonization intensity, functionality of micro-symbionts, and organ dominance were compared between the mutant and wild type. The endogenous cytokinin (CK) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels and the effect of the exogenous application of these two hormones were determined. E151 was found to be a low and delayed nodulator, exhibiting defects in both the epidermal and cortical programmes though a few mature and functional nodules develop. Mycorrhizal colonization of E151 was intensified, although the fungal functionality was impaired. Furthermore, E151 displayed an altered lateral root (LR) phenotype compared with that of the wild type whereby LR emergence is initially delayed but eventually overcome. No differences in ABA levels were found between the mutant and the wild type, but non-inoculated E151 exhibited significantly high CK levels. It is hypothesized that CK plays an essential role in differentially mediating the entry of the two micro-symbionts into the cortex; whereas it would inhibit the entry of the rhizobia in that tissue, it would promote that of the fungus. E151 is a developmental mutant which may prove to be a useful tool in further understanding the role of hormones in the regulation of beneficial root symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25948649, year = {2016}, author = {Xavier, JM and Rodrigues, CM and Solá, S}, title = {Mitochondria: Major Regulators of Neural Development.}, journal = {The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {346-358}, doi = {10.1177/1073858415585472}, pmid = {25948649}, issn = {1089-4098}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Cell Cycle ; DNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism/physiology ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondria/metabolism/*physiology ; Neural Stem Cells/metabolism/*physiology ; *Neurogenesis ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are organelles derived from primitive symbiosis between archeon ancestors and prokaryotic α-proteobacteria species, which lost the capacity of synthetizing most proteins encoded the bacterial DNA, along the evolutionary process of eukaryotes. Nowadays, mitochondria are constituted by small circular mitochondrial DNA of 16 kb, responsible for the control of several proteins, including polypeptides of the electron transport chain. Throughout evolution, these organelles acquired the capacity of regulating energy production and metabolism, thus becoming central modulators of cell fate. In fact, mitochondria are crucial for a variety of cellular processes, including adenosine triphosphate production by oxidative phosphorylation, intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis, generation of reactive oxygen species, and also cellular specialization in a variety of tissues that ultimately relies on specific mitochondrial specialization and maturation. In this review, we discuss recent evidence extending the importance of mitochondrial function and energy metabolism to the context of neuronal development and adult neurogenesis.}, } @article {pmid25947951, year = {2015}, author = {Churkin, DV and Sugavanam, S and Tarasov, N and Khorev, S and Smirnov, SV and Kobtsev, SM and Turitsyn, SK}, title = {Stochasticity, periodicity and localized light structures in partially mode-locked fibre lasers.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {7004}, pmid = {25947951}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {267763/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Physical systems with co-existence and interplay of processes featuring distinct spatio-temporal scales are found in various research areas ranging from studies of brain activity to astrophysics. The complexity of such systems makes their theoretical and experimental analysis technically and conceptually challenging. Here, we discovered that while radiation of partially mode-locked fibre lasers is stochastic and intermittent on a short time scale, it exhibits non-trivial periodicity and long-scale correlations over slow evolution from one round-trip to another. A new technique for evolution mapping of intensity autocorrelation function has enabled us to reveal a variety of localized spatio-temporal structures and to experimentally study their symbiotic co-existence with stochastic radiation. Real-time characterization of dynamical spatio-temporal regimes of laser operation is set to bring new insights into rich underlying nonlinear physics of practical active- and passive-cavity photonic systems.}, } @article {pmid25947154, year = {2015}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Sawers, RJ and Marti, G and Andrés-Hernández, L and Yang, SY and Casieri, L and Angliker, H and Oakeley, EJ and Wolfender, JL and Abreu-Goodger, C and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Transcriptome diversity among rice root types during asymbiosis and interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {21}, pages = {6754-6759}, pmid = {25947154}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Cell Wall/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Hydroxybenzoates/metabolism ; Minerals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Suppression, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Root systems consist of different root types (RTs) with distinct developmental and functional characteristics. RTs may be individually reprogrammed in response to their microenvironment to maximize adaptive plasticity. Molecular understanding of such specific remodeling--although crucial for crop improvement--is limited. Here, RT-specific transcriptomes of adult rice crown, large and fine lateral roots were assessed, revealing molecular evidence for functional diversity among individual RTs. Of the three rice RTs, crown roots displayed a significant enrichment of transcripts associated with phytohormones and secondary cell wall (SCW) metabolism, whereas lateral RTs showed a greater accumulation of transcripts related to mineral transport. In nature, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis represents the default state of most root systems and is known to modify root system architecture. Rice RTs become heterogeneously colonized by AM fungi, with large laterals preferentially entering into the association. However, RT-specific transcriptional responses to AM symbiosis were quantitatively most pronounced for crown roots despite their modest physical engagement in the interaction. Furthermore, colonized crown roots adopted an expression profile more related to mycorrhizal large lateral than to noncolonized crown roots, suggesting a fundamental reprogramming of crown root character. Among these changes, a significant reduction in SCW transcripts was observed that was correlated with an alteration of SCW composition as determined by mass spectrometry. The combined change in SCW, hormone- and transport-related transcript profiles across the RTs indicates a previously overlooked switch of functional relationships among RTs during AM symbiosis, with a potential impact on root system architecture and functioning.}, } @article {pmid25946118, year = {2015}, author = {Arthikala, MK and Nava, N and Quinto, C}, title = {Effect of Rhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on electrolyte leakage in Phaseolus vulgaris roots overexpressing RbohB.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e1011932}, pmid = {25946118}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Electrolytes/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phaseolus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/growth & development/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Respiratory oxidative burst homolog (RBOH)-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate a wide range of biological functions in plants. They play a critical role in the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. For instance, overexpression of PvRbohB enhances nodule numbers, but reduces mycorrhizal colonization in Phaseolus vulgaris hairy roots and downregulation has the opposite effect. In the present study, we assessed the effect of both rhizobia and AM fungi on electrolyte leakage in transgenic P. vulgaris roots overexpressing (OE) PvRbohB. We demonstrate that elevated levels of electrolyte leakage in uninoculated PvRbohB-OE transgenic roots were alleviated by either Rhizobium or AM fungi symbiosis, with the latter interaction having the greater effect. These results suggest that symbiont colonization reduces ROS elevated electrolyte leakage in P. vulgaris root cells.}, } @article {pmid25944856, year = {2015}, author = {Rao, M and Smith, BC and Marletta, MA}, title = {Nitric Oxide Mediates Biofilm Formation and Symbiosis in Silicibacter sp. Strain TrichCH4B.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e00206-15}, pmid = {25944856}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {T32 GM066698/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism/*physiology ; Cyclic GMP/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Histidine Kinase ; *Microbial Interactions ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Rhodobacteraceae/*drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important signaling role in all domains of life. Many bacteria contain a heme-nitric oxide/oxygen binding (H-NOX) protein that selectively binds NO. These H-NOX proteins often act as sensors that regulate histidine kinase (HK) activity, forming part of a bacterial two-component signaling system that also involves one or more response regulators. In several organisms, NO binding to the H-NOX protein governs bacterial biofilm formation; however, the source of NO exposure for these bacteria is unknown. In mammals, NO is generated by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and signals through binding the H-NOX domain of soluble guanylate cyclase. Recently, several bacterial NOS proteins have also been reported, but the corresponding bacteria do not also encode an H-NOX protein. Here, we report the first characterization of a bacterium that encodes both a NOS and H-NOX, thus resembling the mammalian system capable of both synthesizing and sensing NO. We characterized the NO signaling pathway of the marine alphaproteobacterium Silicibacter sp. strain TrichCH4B, determining that the NOS is activated by an algal symbiont, Trichodesmium erythraeum. NO signaling through a histidine kinase-response regulator two-component signaling pathway results in increased concentrations of cyclic diguanosine monophosphate, a key bacterial second messenger molecule that controls cellular adhesion and biofilm formation. Silicibacter sp. TrichCH4B biofilm formation, activated by T. erythraeum, may be an important mechanism for symbiosis between the two organisms, revealing that NO plays a previously unknown key role in bacterial communication and symbiosis.

IMPORTANCE: Bacterial nitric oxide (NO) signaling via heme-nitric oxide/oxygen binding (H-NOX) proteins regulates biofilm formation, playing an important role in protecting bacteria from oxidative stress and other environmental stresses. Biofilms are also an important part of symbiosis, allowing the organism to remain in a nutrient-rich environment. In this study, we show that in Silicibacter sp. strain TrichCH4B, NO mediates symbiosis with the alga Trichodesmium erythraeum, a major marine diazotroph. In addition, Silicibacter sp. TrichCH4B is the first characterized bacteria to harbor both the NOS and H-NOX proteins, making it uniquely capable of both synthesizing and sensing NO, analogous to mammalian NO signaling. Our study expands current understanding of the role of NO in bacterial signaling, providing a novel role for NO in bacterial communication and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25941530, year = {2015}, author = {Chorianopoulou, SN and Saridis, YI and Dimou, M and Katinakis, P and Bouranis, DL}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alters the expression patterns of three key iron homeostasis genes, ZmNAS1, ZmNAS3, and ZmYS1, in S deprived maize plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {257}, pmid = {25941530}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nicotianamine is an essential molecule for Fe homeostasis in plants, its primary precursor is the S-containing compound methionine, and it is biosynthesized by the enzyme family of nicotianamine synthases (NASs). In maize, a graminaceous plant that follows Strategy II for Fe uptake, ZmNAS genes can be subgrouped into two classes, according to their roles and tissue specific expression profiles. In roots, the genes of class I provide NA for the production of deoxymugineic acid (DMA), which is secreted to the rhizosphere and chelates Fe(III). The Fe(III)-DMA complex is then inserted to the root via a ZmYS1 transporter. The genes of class II provide NA for local translocation and detoxification of Fe in the leaves. Due to the connection between S and Fe homeostasis, S deficiency causes Fe deprivation responses to graminaceous plants and when S is supplied, these responses are inverted. In this study, maize plants were grown in pots with sterile river sand containing FePO4 and were inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The plants were grown under S deficient conditions until day 60 from sowing and on that day sulfate was provided to the plants. In order to assess the impact of AM symbiosis on Fe homeostasis, the expression patterns of ZmNAS1, ZmNAS3 (representatives of ZmNAS class I and class II), and ZmYS1 were monitored before and after S supply by means of real time RT-PCR and they were used as indicators of the plant Fe status. In addition, total shoot Fe concentration was determined before and after S supply. AM symbiosis prevented Fe deprivation responses in the S deprived maize plants and iron was possibly provided directly to the mycorrhizal plants through the fungal network. Furthermore, sulfate possibly regulated the expression of all three genes revealing its potential role as signal molecule for Fe homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid25941314, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, Y and Li, K and Chen, L and Zou, Y and Liu, H and Tian, Y and Li, D and Wang, R and Zhao, F and Ferguson, BJ and Gresshoff, PM and Li, X}, title = {MicroRNA167-Directed Regulation of the Auxin Response Factors GmARF8a and GmARF8b Is Required for Soybean Nodulation and Lateral Root Development.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {984-999}, pmid = {25941314}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism/pharmacology ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/*genetics ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Soybeans/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Legume root nodules convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonium through symbiosis with a prokaryotic microsymbiont broadly called rhizobia. Auxin signaling is required for determinant nodule development; however, the molecular mechanism of auxin-mediated nodule formation remains largely unknown. Here, we show in soybean (Glycine max) that the microRNA miR167 acts as a positive regulator of lateral root organs, namely nodules and lateral roots. miR167c expression was up-regulated in the vasculature, pericycle, and cortex of soybean roots following inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain USDA110 (the microsymbiont). It was found to positively regulate nodule numbers directly by repressing the target genes GmARF8a and GmARF8b (homologous genes of Arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana] AtARF8 that encode auxin response factors). Moreover, the expression of miR167 and its targets was up- and down-regulated by auxin, respectively. The miR167-GmARF8 module also positively regulated nodulation efficiency under low microsymbiont density, a condition often associated with environmental stress. The regulatory role of miR167 on nodule initiation was dependent on the Nod factor receptor GmNFR1α, and it acts upstream of the nodulation-associated genes nodule inception, nodulation signaling pathway1, early nodulin40-1, NF-YA1 (previously known as HAEM activator protein2-1), and NF-YA2. miR167 also promoted lateral root numbers. Collectively, our findings establish a key role for the miR167-GmARF8 module in auxin-mediated nodule and lateral root formation in soybean.}, } @article {pmid25940846, year = {2015}, author = {Teixeira da Silva, JA and Tsavkelova, EA and Zeng, S and Ng, TB and Parthibhan, S and Dobránszki, J and Cardoso, JC and Rao, MV}, title = {Symbiotic in vitro seed propagation of Dendrobium: fungal and bacterial partners and their influence on plant growth and development.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {242}, number = {1}, pages = {1-22}, pmid = {25940846}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Dendrobium/*microbiology ; Fungi/*metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Seeds/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Dendrobium is one of the largest genera of the Orchidaceae Juss. family, although some of its members are the most threatened today. The reason why many species face a vulnerable or endangered status is primarily because of anthropogenic interference in natural habitats and commercial overexploitation. The development and application of modern techniques and strategies directed towards in vitro propagation of orchids not only increases their number but also provides a viable means to conserve plants in an artificial environment, both in vitro and ex vitro, thus providing material for reintroduction. Dendrobium seed germination and propagation are challenging processes in vivo and in vitro, especially when the extreme specialization of these plants is considered: (1) their biotic relationships with pollinators and mycorrhizae; (2) adaptation to epiphytic or lithophytic life-styles; (3) fine-scale requirements for an optimal combination of nutrients, light, temperature, and pH. This review also aims to summarize the available data on symbiotic in vitro Dendrobium seed germination. The influence of abiotic factors as well as composition and amounts of different exogenous nutrient substances is examined. With a view to better understanding how to optimize and control in vitro symbiotic associations, a part of the review describes the strong biotic relations of Dendrobium with different associative microorganisms that form microbial communities with adult plants, and also influence symbiotic seed germination. The beneficial role of plant growth-promoting bacteria is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid25937788, year = {2015}, author = {Schmidt, EW}, title = {The secret to a successful relationship: lasting chemistry between ascidians and their symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Invertebrate biology : a quarterly journal of the American Microscopical Society and the Division of Invertebrate Zoology/ASZ}, volume = {134}, number = {1}, pages = {88-102}, pmid = {25937788}, issn = {1077-8306}, support = {R01 GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bioactive secondary metabolites are common components of marine animals. In many cases, symbiotic bacteria, and not the animals themselves, synthesize the compounds. Among marine animals, ascidians are good models for understanding these symbioses. Ascidians often contain potently bioactive secondary metabolites as their major extractable components. Strong evidence shows that ~8% of the known secondary metabolites from ascidians are made by symbiotic bacteria, and indirect evidence implicates bacteria in the synthesis of many more. Far from being "secondary" to the animals, secondary metabolites are essential components of the interaction between host animals and their symbiotic bacteria. These interactions have complex underlying biology, but the chemistry is clearly ascidian-species specific. The chemical interactions are ancient in at least some cases, and they are widespread among ascidians. Ascidians maintain secondary metabolic symbioses with bacteria that are phylogenetically diverse, indicating a convergent solution to obtaining secondary metabolites and reinforcing the importance of secondary metabolism in animal survival.}, } @article {pmid25937330, year = {2015}, author = {Samoylova, ES and Kostina, NV and Striganova, BR}, title = {Non-symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the intestine of click beetle larvae (Coleoptera, Elateridae).}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {461}, number = {}, pages = {92-95}, pmid = {25937330}, issn = {1608-3105}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Larva/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid25936226, year = {2015}, author = {Narasimhan, S and Fikrig, E}, title = {Tick microbiome: the force within.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {315-323}, pmid = {25936226}, issn = {1471-5007}, support = {R01 AI032947/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI076705/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Tick-Borne Diseases/*transmission ; Ticks/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ticks are obligate blood-feeders and serve as vectors of human and livestock pathogens worldwide. Defining the tick microbiome and deciphering the interactions between the tick and its symbiotic bacteria in the context of tick development and pathogen transmission will likely reveal new insights and spawn new paradigms to control tick-borne diseases. Descriptive observations on the tick microbiome that began almost a century ago serve as forerunners to the gathering momentum to define the tick microbiome in greater detail. This review will focus on the current efforts to address the microbiomes of diverse ticks, and the evolving understanding of tick microbiomes. There is hope that these efforts will bring a holistic understanding of pathogen transmission by ticks.}, } @article {pmid25933608, year = {2015}, author = {Österman, J and Mousavi, SA and Koskinen, P and Paulin, L and Lindström, K}, title = {Genomic features separating ten strains of Neorhizobium galegae with different symbiotic phenotypes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {348}, pmid = {25933608}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Galega/growth & development/microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics ; Seeds/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sigma Factor/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic phenotype of Neorhizobium galegae, with strains specifically fixing nitrogen with either Galega orientalis or G. officinalis, has made it a target in research on determinants of host specificity in nitrogen fixation. The genomic differences between representative strains of the two symbiovars are, however, relatively small. This introduced a need for a dataset representing a larger bacterial population in order to make better conclusions on characteristics typical for a subset of the species. In this study, we produced draft genomes of eight strains of N. galegae having different symbiotic phenotypes, both with regard to host specificity and nitrogen fixation efficiency. These genomes were analysed together with the previously published complete genomes of N. galegae strains HAMBI 540T and HAMBI 1141.

RESULTS: The results showed that the presence of an additional rpoN sigma factor gene in the symbiosis gene region is a characteristic specific to symbiovar orientalis, required for nitrogen fixation. Also the nifQ gene was shown to be crucial for functional symbiosis in both symbiovars. Genome-wide analyses identified additional genes characteristic of strains of the same symbiovar and of strains having similar plant growth promoting properties on Galega orientalis. Many of these genes are involved in transcriptional regulation or in metabolic functions.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm that the only symbiosis-related gene that is present in one symbiovar of N. galegae but not in the other is an rpoN gene. The specific function of this gene remains to be determined, however. New genes that were identified as specific for strains of one symbiovar may be involved in determining host specificity, while others are defined as potential determinant genes for differences in efficiency of nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid25929085, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, BD and Sun, YQ and Zhang, X and Wu, SL}, title = {[Underlying mechanisms of the heavy metal tolerance of mycorrhizal fungi].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {1123-1132}, pmid = {25929085}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ecosystem ; *Metals, Heavy ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous in natural ecosystems and can form symbiotic associations with the majority of terrestrial plants. They can be detected even in heavy metal-contaminated soils, while some fungal strains show strong heavy metal tolerance and could potentially be used in bioremediation of contaminated soils. We reviewed current research progresses in the underlying mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance of mycorrhizal fungi, with focuses on habitat selection, physiological adaptation and functional genes. Future research perspectives were proposed to promote the basic research and development of mycorrhizal technology for remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid25926838, year = {2015}, author = {Hu, J and Rampitsch, C and Bykova, NV}, title = {Advances in plant proteomics toward improvement of crop productivity and stress resistancex.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {209}, pmid = {25926838}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Abiotic and biotic stresses constrain plant growth and development negatively impacting crop production. Plants have developed stress-specific adaptations as well as simultaneous responses to a combination of various abiotic stresses with pathogen infection. The efficiency of stress-induced adaptive responses is dependent on activation of molecular signaling pathways and intracellular networks by modulating expression, or abundance, and/or post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins primarily associated with defense mechanisms. In this review, we summarize and evaluate the contribution of proteomic studies to our understanding of stress response mechanisms in different plant organs and tissues. Advanced quantitative proteomic techniques have improved the coverage of total proteomes and sub-proteomes from small amounts of starting material, and characterized PTMs as well as protein-protein interactions at the cellular level, providing detailed information on organ- and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms responding to a variety of individual stresses or stress combinations during plant life cycle. In particular, we address the tissue-specific signaling networks localized to various organelles that participate in stress-related physiological plasticity and adaptive mechanisms, such as photosynthetic efficiency, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, plant growth, tolerance and common responses to environmental stresses. We also provide an update on the progress of proteomics with major crop species and discuss the current challenges and limitations inherent to proteomics techniques and data interpretation for non-model organisms. Future directions in proteomics research toward crop improvement are further discussed.}, } @article {pmid25926808, year = {2015}, author = {Berg, JL}, title = {The role of personal purpose and personal goals in symbiotic visions.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {443}, pmid = {25926808}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {It is believed that symbiotic visions can drive employees and organizations toward a common objective based on the premise that people have a high level of self-motivation and engagement when they are working toward something very personal. The field of organizational development has been aspiring to help organizations and people align their visions for decades without much, if any, empirical support for the role of personal purpose and goals in the symbiotic relationship with a company vision. This qualitative study examines the role personal purpose and goals play in how high performing leaders align to their company's vision. Whether and how senior managers articulate this alignment, and its correlation to their motivation and engagement, was examined. An observation was that most senior managers within organizations with a well-developed and widely known higher purpose vision are driven by something personal, identified as either personal goals or a personal purpose. One of the key findings is that personal purpose and goals, when aligned to a company vision, appear to impact motivation and engagement in different ways. When alignment is felt through the sense of the greater purpose, there is a deep, almost spiritual, commitment to making the world a better place and helping the organization contribute to that. This seems to motivate them to guide the organization toward its higher purpose vision. When alignment is felt through the organization's alignment to one's personal goals, there is a great sense of commitment to completing the steps or tasks necessary to move toward the vision, yet a clear delineation between work and life ambitions.}, } @article {pmid25925100, year = {2015}, author = {Fernández-Marín, H and Nash, DR and Higginbotham, S and Estrada, C and van Zweden, JS and d'Ettorre, P and Wcislo, WT and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Functional role of phenylacetic acid from metapleural gland secretions in controlling fungal pathogens in evolutionarily derived leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1807}, pages = {20150212}, pmid = {25925100}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Exocrine Glands/*metabolism ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Metarhizium/*physiology ; Phenylacetates/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Fungus-farming ant colonies vary four to five orders of magnitude in size. They employ compounds from actinomycete bacteria and exocrine glands as antimicrobial agents. Atta colonies have millions of ants and are particularly relevant for understanding hygienic strategies as they have abandoned their ancestors' prime dependence on antibiotic-based biological control in favour of using metapleural gland (MG) chemical secretions. Atta MGs are unique in synthesizing large quantities of phenylacetic acid (PAA), a known but little investigated antimicrobial agent. We show that particularly the smallest workers greatly reduce germination rates of Escovopsis and Metarhizium spores after actively applying PAA to experimental infection targets in garden fragments and transferring the spores to the ants' infrabuccal cavities. In vitro assays further indicated that Escovopsis strains isolated from evolutionarily derived leaf-cutting ants are less sensitive to PAA than strains from phylogenetically more basal fungus-farming ants, consistent with the dynamics of an evolutionary arms race between virulence and control for Escovopsis, but not Metarhizium. Atta ants form larger colonies with more extreme caste differentiation relative to other attines, in societies characterized by an almost complete absence of reproductive conflicts. We hypothesize that these changes are associated with unique evolutionary innovations in chemical pest management that appear robust against selection pressure for resistance by specialized mycopathogens.}, } @article {pmid25923844, year = {2015}, author = {Lo Presti, L and Lanver, D and Schweizer, G and Tanaka, S and Liang, L and Tollot, M and Zuccaro, A and Reissmann, S and Kahmann, R}, title = {Fungal effectors and plant susceptibility.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {513-545}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-043014-114623}, pmid = {25923844}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Plants can be colonized by fungi that have adopted highly diverse lifestyles, ranging from symbiotic to necrotrophic. Colonization is governed in all systems by hundreds of secreted fungal effector molecules. These effectors suppress plant defense responses and modulate plant physiology to accommodate fungal invaders and provide them with nutrients. Fungal effectors either function in the interaction zone between the fungal hyphae and host or are transferred to plant cells. This review describes the effector repertoires of 84 plant-colonizing fungi. We focus on the mechanisms that allow these fungal effectors to promote virulence or compatibility, discuss common plant nodes that are targeted by effectors, and provide recent insights into effector evolution. In addition, we address the issue of effector uptake in plant cells and highlight open questions and future challenges.}, } @article {pmid25923724, year = {2015}, author = {Robledo, M and Frage, B and Wright, PR and Becker, A}, title = {A stress-induced small RNA modulates alpha-rhizobial cell cycle progression.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {e1005153}, pmid = {25923724}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Cell Cycle/*genetics ; Cell Division/genetics ; DNA Replication/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Small Untranslated/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mechanisms adjusting replication initiation and cell cycle progression in response to environmental conditions are crucial for microbial survival. Functional characterization of the trans-encoded small non-coding RNA (trans-sRNA) EcpR1 in the plant-symbiotic alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti revealed a role of this class of riboregulators in modulation of cell cycle regulation. EcpR1 is broadly conserved in at least five families of the Rhizobiales and is predicted to form a stable structure with two defined stem-loop domains. In S. meliloti, this trans-sRNA is encoded downstream of the divK-pleD operon. ecpR1 belongs to the stringent response regulon, and its expression was induced by various stress factors and in stationary phase. Induced EcpR1 overproduction led to cell elongation and increased DNA content, while deletion of ecpR1 resulted in reduced competitiveness. Computationally predicted EcpR1 targets were enriched with cell cycle-related mRNAs. Post-transcriptional repression of the cell cycle key regulatory genes gcrA and dnaA mediated by mRNA base-pairing with the strongly conserved loop 1 of EcpR1 was experimentally confirmed by two-plasmid differential gene expression assays and compensatory changes in sRNA and mRNA. Evidence is presented for EcpR1 promoting RNase E-dependent degradation of the dnaA mRNA. We propose that EcpR1 contributes to modulation of cell cycle regulation under detrimental conditions.}, } @article {pmid25923645, year = {2015}, author = {Groten, K and Nawaz, A and Nguyen, NH and Santhanam, R and Baldwin, IT}, title = {Silencing a key gene of the common symbiosis pathway in Nicotiana attenuata specifically impairs arbuscular mycorrhizal infection without influencing the root-associated microbiome or plant growth.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {38}, number = {11}, pages = {2398-2416}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12561}, pmid = {25923645}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {293926/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Silencing ; Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tobacco/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {While the biochemical function of calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is well studied, and plants impaired in the expression of CCaMK are known not to be infected by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in glasshouse studies, the whole-plant and ecological consequences of CCaMK silencing are not well understood. Here we show that three independently transformed lines of Nicotiana attenuata plants silenced in CCaMK (irCCaMK) are neither infected by Rhizophagus irregularis in the glasshouse nor by native fungal inoculum in the field. The overall fungal community of field-grown roots did not differ significantly among empty vector (EV) and the transgenic lines, and the bacterial communities only showed minor differences, as revealed by the alpha-diversity parameters of bacterial OTUs, which were higher in EV plants compared with two of the three transformed lines, while beta-diversity parameters did not differ. Furthermore, growth and fitness parameters were similar in the glasshouse and field. Herbivory-inducible and basal levels of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid did not differ among the genotypes, suggesting that activation of the classical defence pathways are not affected by CCaMK silencing. Based on these results, we conclude that silencing of CCaMK has few, if any, non-target effects.}, } @article {pmid25923203, year = {2015}, author = {Kandalepas, D and Blum, MJ and Van Bael, SA}, title = {Shifts in Symbiotic Endophyte Communities of a Foundational Salt Marsh Grass following Oil Exposure from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0122378}, pmid = {25923203}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {G12 MD007595/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; *Petroleum Pollution ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations can be disrupted by disturbance or by changing environmental conditions. Endophytes are fungal and bacterial symbionts of plants that can affect performance. As in more widely known symbioses, acute or chronic stressor exposure might trigger disassociation of endophytes from host plants. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effects of oil exposure following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill on endophyte diversity and abundance in Spartina alterniflora - the foundational plant in northern Gulf coast salt marshes affected by the spill. We compared bacterial and fungal endophytes isolated from plants in reference areas to isolates from plants collected in areas with residual oil that has persisted for more than three years after the DWH spill. DNA sequence-based estimates showed that oil exposure shifted endophyte diversity and community structure. Plants from oiled areas exhibited near total loss of leaf fungal endophytes. Root fungal endophytes exhibited a more modest decline and little change was observed in endophytic bacterial diversity or abundance, though a shift towards hydrocarbon metabolizers was found in plants from oiled sites. These results show that plant-endophyte symbioses can be disrupted by stressor exposure, and indicate that symbiont community disassembly in marsh plants is an enduring outcome of the DWH spill.}, } @article {pmid25923137, year = {2015}, author = {Nouri, E and Breuillin-Sessoms, F and Feller, U and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Correction: Phosphorus and Nitrogen Regulate Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Petunia hybrida.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0127472}, pmid = {25923137}, issn = {1932-6203}, } @article {pmid25920666, year = {2015}, author = {Laplaze, L and Lucas, M and Champion, A}, title = {Rhizobial root hair infection requires auxin signaling.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {332-334}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2015.04.004}, pmid = {25920666}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Cell Cycle Proteins/*genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes can enter into a mutualistic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria. A recent study by A. Breakspear et al. sheds new light on the mechanisms involved in rhizobial infection of their host root hair during symbiosis establishment and reveals a new role for auxin signaling in this process.}, } @article {pmid25919491, year = {2015}, author = {Camps, C and Jardinaud, MF and Rengel, D and Carrère, S and Hervé, C and Debellé, F and Gamas, P and Bensmihen, S and Gough, C}, title = {Combined genetic and transcriptomic analysis reveals three major signalling pathways activated by Myc-LCOs in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {208}, number = {1}, pages = {224-240}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13427}, pmid = {25919491}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Chitin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Fungal Polysaccharides/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Fungi/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; *Genes, Plant ; Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; *Mycorrhizae ; Oligosaccharides ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcriptome/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Myc-LCOs are newly identified symbiotic signals produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Like rhizobial Nod factors, they are lipo-chitooligosaccharides that activate the common symbiotic signalling pathway (CSSP) in plants. To increase our limited understanding of the roles of Myc-LCOs we aimed to analyse Myc-LCO-induced transcriptional changes and their genetic control. Whole genome RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on roots of Medicago truncatula wild-type plants, and dmi3 and nsp1 symbiotic mutants affected in nodulation and mycorrhizal signalling. Plants were treated separately with the two major types of Myc-LCOs, sulphated and nonsulphated. Generalized linear model analysis identified 2201 differentially expressed genes and classified them according to genotype and/or treatment effects. Three genetic pathways for Myc-LCO-regulation of transcriptomic reprogramming were highlighted: DMI3- and NSP1-dependent; DMI3-dependent and NSP1-independent; and DMI3- and NSP1-independent. Comprehensive analysis revealed overlaps with previous AM studies, and highlighted certain functions, especially signalling components and transcription factors. These data provide new insights into mycorrhizal signalling mechanisms, supporting a role for NSP1, and specialisation for NSP1-dependent and -independent pathways downstream of DMI3. Our data also indicate significant Myc-LCO-activated signalling upstream of DMI3 and/or parallel to the CSSP and some constitutive activity of the CSSP.}, } @article {pmid25919406, year = {2015}, author = {Lahrmann, U and Strehmel, N and Langen, G and Frerigmann, H and Leson, L and Ding, Y and Scheel, D and Herklotz, S and Hilbert, M and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Mutualistic root endophytism is not associated with the reduction of saprotrophic traits and requires a noncompromised plant innate immunity.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {207}, number = {3}, pages = {841-857}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13411}, pmid = {25919406}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Basidiomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Endophytes/drug effects/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Genome, Fungal ; Glucosinolates/pharmacology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; *Immunity, Innate ; Indoles/pharmacology ; Metabolome/drug effects ; Mutation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Phytoalexins ; }, abstract = {During a compatible interaction, the sebacinoid root-associated fungi Piriformospora indica and Sebacina vermifera induce modification of root morphology and enhance shoot growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. The genomic traits common in these two fungi were investigated and compared with those of other root-associated fungi and saprotrophs. The transcriptional responses of the two sebacinoid fungi and of Arabidopsis roots to colonization at three different symbiotic stages were analyzed by custom-designed microarrays. We identified key genomic features characteristic of sebacinoid fungi, such as expansions for gene families involved in hydrolytic activities, carbohydrate-binding and protein-protein interaction. Additionally, we show that colonization of Arabidopsis correlates with the induction of salicylic acid catabolism and accumulation of jasmonate and glucosinolates (GSLs). Genes involved in root developmental processes were specifically induced by S. vermifera at later stages during interaction. Using different Arabidopsis indole-GSLs mutants and measurement of secondary metabolites, we demonstrate the importance of the indolic glucosinolate pathway in the growth restriction of P. indica and S. vermifera and we identify indole-phytoalexins and specifically indole-carboxylic acids derivatives as potential key players in the maintenance of a mutualistic interaction with root endophytes.}, } @article {pmid25918367, year = {2015}, author = {Frommlet, JC and Sousa, ML and Alves, A and Vieira, SI and Suggett, DJ and Serôdio, J}, title = {Coral symbiotic algae calcify ex hospite in partnership with bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {19}, pages = {6158-6163}, pmid = {25918367}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Acids/chemistry ; Alcian Blue/chemistry ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry ; *Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Calcium/*chemistry ; Calibration ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium are commonly recognized as invertebrate endosymbionts that are of central importance for the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. However, the endosymbiotic phase within Symbiodinium life history is inherently tied to a more cryptic free-living (ex hospite) phase that remains largely unexplored. Here we show that free-living Symbiodinium spp. in culture commonly form calcifying bacterial-algal communities that produce aragonitic spherulites and encase the dinoflagellates as endolithic cells. This process is driven by Symbiodinium photosynthesis but occurs only in partnership with bacteria. Our findings not only place dinoflagellates on the map of microbial-algal organomineralization processes but also point toward an endolithic phase in the Symbiodinium life history, a phenomenon that may provide new perspectives on the biology and ecology of Symbiodinium spp. and the evolutionary history of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25917908, year = {2015}, author = {Hurst, S and Rowedder, H and Michaels, B and Bullock, H and Jackobeck, R and Abebe-Akele, F and Durakovic, U and Gately, J and Janicki, E and Tisa, LS}, title = {Elucidation of the Photorhabdus temperata Genome and Generation of a Transposon Mutant Library To Identify Motility Mutants Altered in Pathogenesis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {13}, pages = {2201-2216}, pmid = {25917908}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Library ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Moths/parasitology ; Movement ; Mutation ; Nematoda/*microbiology/physiology ; Photorhabdus/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora forms a specific mutualistic association with its bacterial partner Photorhabdus temperata. The microbial symbiont is required for nematode growth and development, and symbiont recognition is strain specific. The aim of this study was to sequence the genome of P. temperata and identify genes that plays a role in the pathogenesis of the Photorhabdus-Heterorhabditis symbiosis. A draft genome sequence of P. temperata strain NC19 was generated. The 5.2-Mb genome was organized into 17 scaffolds and contained 4,808 coding sequences (CDS). A genetic approach was also pursued to identify mutants with altered motility. A bank of 10,000 P. temperata transposon mutants was generated and screened for altered motility patterns. Five classes of motility mutants were identified: (i) nonmotile mutants, (ii) mutants with defective or aberrant swimming motility, (iii) mutant swimmers that do not require NaCl or KCl, (iv) hyperswimmer mutants that swim at an accelerated rate, and (v) hyperswarmer mutants that are able to swarm on the surface of 1.25% agar. The transposon insertion sites for these mutants were identified and used to investigate other physiological properties, including insect pathogenesis. The motility-defective mutant P13-7 had an insertion in the RNase II gene and showed reduced virulence and production of extracellular factors. Genetic complementation of this mutant restored wild-type activity. These results demonstrate a role for RNA turnover in insect pathogenesis and other physiological functions.

IMPORTANCE: The relationship between Photorhabdus and entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis represents a well-known mutualistic system that has potential as a biological control agent. The elucidation of the genome of the bacterial partner and role that RNase II plays in its life cycle has provided a greater understanding of Photorhabdus as both an insect pathogen and a nematode symbiont.}, } @article {pmid25916971, year = {2015}, author = {Mellor, I}, title = {The Association, the Journal and the Publisher: a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {The Journal of small animal practice}, volume = {56}, number = {5}, pages = {297}, doi = {10.1111/jsap.12364}, pmid = {25916971}, issn = {1748-5827}, mesh = {*Periodicals as Topic ; *Societies, Medical/organization & administration ; Veterinary Medicine/*organization & administration ; }, } @article {pmid25915555, year = {2015}, author = {Nakaya, HI and Bruna-Romero, O}, title = {Is the gut microbiome key to modulating vaccine efficacy?.}, journal = {Expert review of vaccines}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {777-779}, doi = {10.1586/14760584.2015.1040395}, pmid = {25915555}, issn = {1744-8395}, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Vaccines/*administration & dosage/*immunology ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic relationship with gut microbes is critical for the normal function of human health. Vaccination, however, tips the symbiotic balance slightly in favor of human health. Recent work has shown that gut bacterial residents can have great (positive) influence over vaccine-induced immunity. With an arsenal of modern high-throughput technologies in the hands of microbiologists and immunologists, it is now easier and more cost-effective than ever to characterize and measure the microbiome of vaccinees. Such data will lead to an understanding of how and to what extent gut microbes can impact vaccine efficacy.}, } @article {pmid25914697, year = {2015}, author = {Guo, J and McCulley, RL and McNear, DH}, title = {Tall fescue cultivar and fungal endophyte combinations influence plant growth and root exudate composition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {183}, pmid = {25914697}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.)] is a cool-season perennial grass used in pastures throughout the Southeastern United States. The grass can harbor a shoot-specific fungal endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala) thought to provide the plant with enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Because alkaloids produced by the common variety of the endophyte cause severe animal health issues, focus has been on replacing the common-toxic strain with novel varieties that do not produce the mammal-toxic alkaloids but maintain abiotic and biotic stress tolerance benefits. Little attention has been given to the influence of the plant-fungal symbiosis on rhizosphere processes. Therefore, our objective was to study the influence of this relationship on plant biomass production and root exudate composition in tall fescue cultivars PDF and 97TF1, which were either not infected with the endophyte (E-), infected with the common toxic endophyte (CTE+) strain or with one of two novel endophytes (AR542E+, AR584E+). Plants were grown sterile for 3 weeks after which plant biomass, total organic carbon, total phenolic content and detailed chemical composition of root exudates were determined. Plant biomass production and exudate phenolic and organic carbon content were influenced by endophyte status, tall fescue cultivar, and their interaction. GC-TOF MS identified 132 compounds, including lipids, carbohydrates and carboxylic acids. Cluster analysis showed that the interaction between endophyte and cultivar resulted in unique exudate profiles. This is the first detailed study to assess how endophyte infection, notably with novel endophytes, and tall fescue cultivar interact to influence root exudate composition. Our results illustrate that tall fescue cultivar and endophyte status can influence plant growth and root exudate composition, which may help explain the observed influence of this symbiosis on rhizosphere biogeochemical processes.}, } @article {pmid25913295, year = {2015}, author = {Marietta, E and Rishi, A and Taneja, V}, title = {Immunogenetic control of the intestinal microbiota.}, journal = {Immunology}, volume = {145}, number = {3}, pages = {313-322}, pmid = {25913295}, issn = {1365-2567}, support = {R01 AR030752/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AR030752/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; AR30752/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Genetic Variation/immunology ; HLA Antigens/genetics/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; *Immunogenetics ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Microbiota/genetics/*immunology/physiology ; Models, Immunological ; Toll-Like Receptors/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {All vertebrates contain a diverse collection of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, on their various body surfaces, and the ecological community of these microorganisms is referred to as the microbiota. Mucosal sites, such as the intestine, harbour the majority of microorganisms, and the human intestine contains the largest community of commensal and symbiotic bacteria. This intestinal community of bacteria is diverse, and there is a significant variability among individuals with respect to the composition of the intestinal microbiome. Both genetic and environmental factors can influence the diversity and composition of the intestinal bacteria with the predominant environmental factor being diet. So far, studies have shown that diet-dependent differences in the composition of intestinal bacteria can be classified into three groups, called enterotypes. Other environmental factors that can influence the composition include antibiotics, probiotics, smoking and drugs. Studies of monozygotic and dizygotic twins have proven that genetics plays a role. Recently, MHC II genes have been associated with specific microbial compositions in human infants and transgenic mice that express different HLA alleles. There is a growing list of genes/molecules that are involved with the sensing and monitoring of the intestinal lumen by the intestinal immune system that, when genetically altered, will significantly alter the composition of the intestinal microflora. The focus of this review will be on the genetic factors that influence the composition of the intestinal microflora.}, } @article {pmid25911697, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, L and Li, X and Li, C and Swoboda, GA and Young, CA and Sugawara, K and Leuchtmann, A and Schardl, CL}, title = {Two distinct Epichloë species symbiotic with Achnatherum inebrians, drunken horse grass.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {107}, number = {4}, pages = {863-873}, doi = {10.3852/15-019}, pmid = {25911697}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Alkaloids/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; China ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Epichloe/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/classification/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Achnatherum inebrians, colloquially known as drunken horse grass, is associated with livestock toxicity in northern China. Epichloë gansuensis (Eg) was described from endophyte isolates from A. inebrians in Sunan County, Gansu Province, whereas a morphologically distinct variety, E. gansuensis var. inebrians (Ei), was described based on two isolates from A. inebrians seeds collected in Urumqi County, Xinjiang Province. Genome sequencing and alkaloid analyses also distinguish these taxa; the Ei isolates produce neurotropic lysergic acid amides (ergot alkaloids), and an Eg isolate produces paxilline (an indole-diterpene alkaloid). To better elucidate the taxonomic diversity of Epichloë spp. symbiotic with A. inebrians, we surveyed eight populations in Xinjiang, Gansu and Inner Mongolia provinces of China and analyzed their genotypes by multiplex PCR for alkaloid biosynthesis genes and mating-type genes. Genotypes consistent with Ei were present in all eight populations, of which they dominated seven. The Ei isolates were all mating type A and tested positive for the ergot alkaloid gene, dmaW. In contrast Eg isolates were all mating type B and had the indole-diterpene gene, idtG. The genome was sequenced from an Ei isolate from seeds collected in Xiahe County, Gansu, and compared to that of the varietal ex type isolate from Urumqi. Alkaloid genes and four different housekeeping genes were nearly identical between the two sequenced Ei isolates and were distinct from a sequenced Eg isolate. Phylogenetic analysis placed Ei, Eg and Epichloë sibirica into respective subclades of a clade that emanated from the base of the Epichloë phylogeny. Given its chemotypic, genotypic, morphological and phylogenetic distinctiveness, its widespread occurrence in rangelands of northern China, and its importance in livestock toxicity, we propose raising Ei to species rank as Epichloë inebrians.}, } @article {pmid25911490, year = {2015}, author = {Somera, AF and Lima, AM and Dos Santos-Neto, ÁJ and Lanças, FM and Bacci, M}, title = {Leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens are biphasic mixed microbial bioreactors that convert plant biomass to polyols with biotechnological applications.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {13}, pages = {4525-4535}, pmid = {25911490}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Biomass ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Fermentation ; Fungi/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Polymers/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutter ants use plant matter to culture the obligate mutualistic basidiomycete Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. This fungus mediates ant nutrition on plant resources. Furthermore, other microbes living in the fungus garden might also contribute to plant digestion. The fungus garden comprises a young sector with recently incorporated leaf fragments and an old sector with partially digested plant matter. Here, we show that the young and old sectors of the grass-cutter Atta bisphaerica fungus garden operate as a biphasic solid-state mixed fermenting system. An initial plant digestion phase occurred in the young sector in the fungus garden periphery, with prevailing hemicellulose and starch degradation into arabinose, mannose, xylose, and glucose. These products support fast microbial growth but were mostly converted into four polyols. Three polyols, mannitol, arabitol, and inositol, were secreted by L. gongylophorus, and a fourth polyol, sorbitol, was likely secreted by another, unidentified, microbe. A second plant digestion phase occurred in the old sector, located in the fungus garden core, comprising stocks of microbial biomass growing slowly on monosaccharides and polyols. This biphasic operation was efficient in mediating symbiotic nutrition on plant matter: the microbes, accounting for 4% of the fungus garden biomass, converted plant matter biomass into monosaccharides and polyols, which were completely consumed by the resident ants and microbes. However, when consumption was inhibited through laboratory manipulation, most of the plant polysaccharides were degraded, products rapidly accumulated, and yields could be preferentially switched between polyols and monosaccharides. This feature might be useful in biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid25909973, year = {2015}, author = {VanInsberghe, D and Maas, KR and Cardenas, E and Strachan, CR and Hallam, SJ and Mohn, WW}, title = {Non-symbiotic Bradyrhizobium ecotypes dominate North American forest soils.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {2435-2441}, pmid = {25909973}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Atmosphere ; Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Ecotype ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Forests ; Genetic Markers ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation ; North America ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Bradyrhizobium has served as a model system for studying host-microbe symbiotic interactions and nitrogen fixation due to its importance in agricultural productivity and global nitrogen cycling. In this study, we identify a bacterial group affiliated with this genus that dominates the microbial communities of coniferous forest soils from six distinct ecozones across North America. Representative isolates from this group were obtained and characterized. Using quantitative population genomics, we show that forest soil populations of Bradyrhizobium represent ecotypes incapable of nodulating legume root hairs or fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Instead, these populations appear to be free living and have a greater potential for metabolizing aromatic carbon sources than their close symbiotic relatives. In addition, we identify fine-scaled differentiation between populations inhabiting neighboring soil layers that illustrate how diversity within Bradyrhizobium is structured by habitat similarity. These findings reconcile incongruent observations about this widely studied and important group of bacteria and highlight the value of ecological context to interpretations of microbial diversity and taxonomy. These results further suggest that the influence of this genus likely extends well beyond facilitating agriculture, especially as forest ecosystems are large and integral components of the biosphere. In addition, this study demonstrates how focusing research on economically important microorganisms can bias our understanding of the natural world.}, } @article {pmid25908807, year = {2015}, author = {Kiers, ET and West, SA}, title = {Evolutionary biology. Evolving new organisms via symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {348}, number = {6233}, pages = {392-394}, doi = {10.1126/science.aaa9605}, pmid = {25908807}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Biological Evolution ; Energy Metabolism ; Insecta/microbiology ; Platyhelminths ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid25908060, year = {2015}, author = {Hopkinson, BM and Tansik, AL and Fitt, WK}, title = {Internal carbonic anhydrase activity in the tissue of scleractinian corals is sufficient to support proposed roles in photosynthesis and calcification.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 13}, pages = {2039-2048}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.118182}, pmid = {25908060}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*enzymology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Carbonate/metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrases/*metabolism ; Caribbean Region ; Dinoflagellida ; Oxygen Isotopes ; Photosynthesis ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals import inorganic carbon (Ci) to build their calcium carbonate skeletons and to support photosynthesis by the symbiotic algae that reside in their tissue. The internal pathways that deliver Ci for both photosynthesis and calcification are known to involve the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), which interconverts CO2 and HCO3 (-). We have developed a method for absolute quantification of internal CA (iCA) activity in coral tissue based on the rate of (18)O-removal from labeled Ci. The method was applied to three Caribbean corals (Orbicella faveolata, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea radians) and showed that these species have similar iCA activities per unit surface area, but that S. radians has ∼10-fold higher iCA activity per unit tissue volume. A model of coral Ci processing shows that the measured iCA activity is sufficient to support the proposed roles for iCA in Ci transport for photosynthesis and calcification. This is the case even when iCA activity is homogeneously distributed throughout the coral, but the model indicates that it would be advantageous to concentrate iCA in the spaces where calcification (the calcifying fluid) and photosynthesis (the oral endoderm) take place. We argue that because the rates of photosynthesis and calcification per unit surface area are similar among the corals studied here, the areal iCA activity used to deliver Ci for these reactions should also be similar. The elevated iCA activity per unit volume of S. radians compared with that of the other species is probably due to the thinner effective tissue thickness in this species.}, } @article {pmid25907143, year = {2015}, author = {Liberti, J and Sapountzis, P and Hansen, LH and Sørensen, SJ and Adams, RM and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Bacterial symbiont sharing in Megalomyrmex social parasites and their fungus-growing ant hosts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {3151-3169}, pmid = {25907143}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {323085/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*classification ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fungi ; Genotype ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts are important fitness determinants of insects. Some hosts have independently acquired taxonomically related microbes to meet similar challenges, but whether distantly related hosts that live in tight symbiosis can maintain similar microbial communities has not been investigated. Varying degrees of nest sharing between Megalomyrmex social parasites (Solenopsidini) and their fungus-growing ant hosts (Attini) from the genera Cyphomyrmex, Trachymyrmex and Sericomyrmex allowed us to address this question, as both ant lineages rely on the same fungal diet, interact in varying intensities and are distantly related. We used tag-encoded FLX 454 pyrosequencing and diagnostic PCR to map bacterial symbiont diversity across the Megalomyrmex phylogenetic tree, which also contains free-living generalist predators. We show that social parasites and hosts share a subset of bacterial symbionts, primarily consisting of Entomoplasmatales, Bartonellaceae, Acinetobacter, Wolbachia and Pseudonocardia and that Entomoplasmatales and Bartonellaceae can co-infect specifically associated combinations of hosts and social parasites with identical 16S rRNA genotypes. We reconstructed in more detail the population-level infection dynamics for Entomoplasmatales and Bartonellaceae in Megalomyrmex symmetochus guest ants and their Sericomyrmex amabilis hosts. We further assessed the stability of the bacterial communities through a diet manipulation experiment and evaluated possible transmission modes in shared nests such as consumption of the same fungus garden food, eating of host brood by social parasites, trophallaxis and grooming interactions between the ants, or parallel acquisition from the same nest environment. Our results imply that cohabiting ant social parasites and hosts may obtain functional benefits from bacterial symbiont transfer even when they are not closely related.}, } @article {pmid25905888, year = {2015}, author = {Dutra, HL and Dos Santos, LM and Caragata, EP and Silva, JB and Villela, DA and Maciel-de-Freitas, R and Moreira, LA}, title = {From lab to field: the influence of urban landscapes on the invasive potential of Wolbachia in Brazilian Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e0003689}, pmid = {25905888}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology ; Animals ; Brazil ; *Cities ; Dengue/*prevention & control/transmission ; *Environment ; Fertility/physiology ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; *Phenotype ; Wolbachia/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia is currently being trialled as a biocontrol agent in several countries to reduce dengue transmission. Wolbachia can invade and spread to infect all individuals within wild mosquito populations, but requires a high rate of maternal transmission, strong cytoplasmic incompatibility and low fitness costs in the host in order to do so. Additionally, extensive differences in climate, field-release protocols, urbanization level and human density amongst the sites where this bacterium has been deployed have limited comparison and analysis of Wolbachia's invasive potential.

We examined key phenotypic effects of the wMel Wolbachia strain in laboratory Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with a Brazilian genetic background to characterize its invasive potential. We show that the wMel strain causes strong cytoplasmic incompatibility, a high rate of maternal transmission and has no evident detrimental effect on host fecundity or fertility. Next, to understand the effects of different urban landscapes on the likelihood of mosquito survival, we performed mark-release-recapture experiments using Wolbachia-uninfected Brazilian mosquitoes in two areas of Rio de Janeiro where Wolbachia will be deployed in the future. We characterized the mosquito populations in relation to the socio-demographic conditions at these sites, and at three other future release areas. We then constructed mathematical models using both the laboratory and field data, and used these to describe the influence of urban environmental conditions on the likelihood that the Wolbachia infection frequency could reach 100% following mosquito release. We predict successful invasion at all five field sites, however the conditions by which this occurs vary greatly between sites, and are strongly influenced by the size of the local mosquito population.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Through analysis of laboratory, field and mathematical data, we show that the wMel strain of Wolbachia possesses the characteristics required to spread effectively in different urban socio-demographic environments in Rio de Janeiro, including those where mosquito releases from the Eliminate Dengue Program will take place.}, } @article {pmid25905625, year = {2015}, author = {Becker, AA and Janssens, GP and Snauwaert, C and Hesta, M and Huys, G}, title = {Integrated community profiling indicates long-term temporal stability of the predominant faecal microbiota in captive cheetahs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0123933}, pmid = {25905625}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acinonyx/*microbiology ; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Animals, Zoo/microbiology ; Clostridium/genetics ; Feces/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/microbiology ; Lactobacillaceae/genetics ; Longitudinal Studies ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Understanding the symbiotic relationship between gut microbes and their animal host requires characterization of the core microbiota across populations and in time. Especially in captive populations of endangered wildlife species such as the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), this knowledge is a key element to enhance feeding strategies and reduce gastrointestinal disorders. In order to investigate the temporal stability of the intestinal microbiota in cheetahs under human care, we conducted a longitudinal study over a 3-year period with bimonthly faecal sampling of 5 cheetahs housed in two European zoos. For this purpose, an integrated 16S rRNA DGGE-clone library approach was used in combination with a series of real-time PCR assays. Our findings disclosed a stable faecal microbiota, beyond intestinal community variations that were detected between zoo sample sets or between animals. The core of this microbiota was dominated by members of Clostridium clusters I, XI and XIVa, with mean concentrations ranging from 7.5-9.2 log10 CFU/g faeces and with significant positive correlations between these clusters (P<0.05), and by Lactobacillaceae. Moving window analysis of DGGE profiles revealed 23.3-25.6% change between consecutive samples for four of the cheetahs. The fifth animal in the study suffered from intermediate episodes of vomiting and diarrhea during the monitoring period and exhibited remarkably more change (39.4%). This observation may reflect the temporary impact of perturbations such as the animal's compromised health, antibiotic administration or a combination thereof, which temporarily altered the relative proportions of Clostridium clusters I and XIVa. In conclusion, this first long-term monitoring study of the faecal microbiota in feline strict carnivores not only reveals a remarkable compositional stability of this ecosystem, but also shows a qualitative and quantitative similarity in a defined set of faecal bacterial lineages across the five animals under study that may typify the core phylogenetic microbiome of cheetahs.}, } @article {pmid25904854, year = {2015}, author = {Falibene, A and Roces, F and Rössler, W}, title = {Long-term avoidance memory formation is associated with a transient increase in mushroom body synaptic complexes in leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {84}, pmid = {25904854}, issn = {1662-5153}, abstract = {Long-term behavioral changes related to learning and experience have been shown to be associated with structural remodeling in the brain. Leaf-cutting ants learn to avoid previously preferred plants after they have proved harmful for their symbiotic fungus, a process that involves long-term olfactory memory. We studied the dynamics of brain microarchitectural changes after long-term olfactory memory formation following avoidance learning in Acromyrmex ambiguus. After performing experiments to control for possible neuronal changes related to age and body size, we quantified synaptic complexes (microglomeruli, MG) in olfactory regions of the mushroom bodies (MBs) at different times after learning. Long-term avoidance memory formation was associated with a transient change in MG densities. Two days after learning, MG density was higher than before learning. At days 4 and 15 after learning-when ants still showed plant avoidance-MG densities had decreased to the initial state. The structural reorganization of MG triggered by long-term avoidance memory formation clearly differed from changes promoted by pure exposure to and collection of novel plants with distinct odors. Sensory exposure by the simultaneous collection of several, instead of one, non-harmful plant species resulted in a decrease in MG densities in the olfactory lip. We hypothesize that while sensory exposure leads to MG pruning in the MB olfactory lip, the formation of long-term avoidance memory involves an initial growth of new MG followed by subsequent pruning.}, } @article {pmid25903335, year = {2015}, author = {Roossinck, MJ}, title = {Move over, bacteria! Viruses make their mark as mutualistic microbial symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {89}, number = {13}, pages = {6532-6535}, pmid = {25903335}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*virology ; Insecta/*virology ; Mammals/*virology ; Plants/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Viruses are being redefined as more than just pathogens. They are also critical symbiotic partners in the health of their hosts. In some cases, viruses have fused with their hosts in symbiogenetic relationships. Mutualistic interactions are found in plant, insect, and mammalian viruses, as well as with eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes, and some interactions involve multiple players of the holobiont. With increased virus discovery, more mutualistic interactions are being described and more will undoubtedly be discovered.}, } @article {pmid25903186, year = {2015}, author = {Kong, Z and Mohamad, OA and Deng, Z and Liu, X and Glick, BR and Wei, G}, title = {Rhizobial symbiosis effect on the growth, metal uptake, and antioxidant responses of Medicago lupulina under copper stress.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {16}, pages = {12479-12489}, pmid = {25903186}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Ascorbate Peroxidases/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Copper/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; Glutathione Reductase/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Medicago/*drug effects/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The effects of rhizobial symbiosis on the growth, metal uptake, and antioxidant responses of Medicago lupulina in the presence of 200 mg kg(-1) Cu(2+) throughout different stages of symbiosis development were studied. The symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 induced an increase in plant growth and nitrogen content irrespective of the presence of Cu(2+). The total amount of Cu uptake of inoculated plants significantly increased by 34.0 and 120.4% in shoots and roots, respectively, compared with non-inoculated plants. However, although the rhizobial symbiosis promoted Cu accumulation both in shoots and roots, the increase in roots was much higher than in shoots, thus decreasing the translocation factor and helping Cu phytostabilization. The rate of lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in both shoots and roots of inoculated vs. non-inoculated plants when measured either 8, 13, or 18 days post-inoculation. In comparison with non-inoculated plants, the activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase of shoots of inoculated plants exposed to excess Cu were significantly elevated at different stages of symbiosis development; similar increases occurred in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase of inoculated roots. The symbiosis with S. meliloti CCNWSX0020 also upregulated the corresponding genes involved in antioxidant responses in the plants treated with excess Cu. The results indicated that the rhizobial symbiosis with S. meliloti CCNWSX0020 not only enhanced plant growth and metal uptake but also improved the responses of plant antioxidant defense to excess Cu stress.}, } @article {pmid25901893, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, H and Luo, XM}, title = {Control of commensal microbiota by the adaptive immune system.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {156-160}, pmid = {25901893}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between the mammalian host and gut microbes has fascinated many researchers in recent years. Use of germ-free animals has contributed to our understanding of how commensal microbes affect the host. Immunodeficiency animals lacking specific components of the mammalian immune system, on the other hand, enable studying of the reciprocal function-how the host controls which microbes to allow for symbiosis. Here we review the recent advances and discuss our perspectives of how to better understand the latter, with an emphasis on the effects of adaptive immunity on the composition and diversity of gut commensal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25901305, year = {2015}, author = {Brasier, MD and Antcliffe, J and Saunders, M and Wacey, D}, title = {Changing the picture of Earth's earliest fossils (3.5-1.9 Ga) with new approaches and new discoveries.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {16}, pages = {4859-4864}, pmid = {25901305}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Earth, Planet ; Environment ; *Fossils ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; Ontario ; Paleontology/*methods ; Time Factors ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {New analytical approaches and discoveries are demanding fresh thinking about the early fossil record. The 1.88-Ga Gunflint chert provides an important benchmark for the analysis of early fossil preservation. High-resolution analysis of Gunflintia shows that microtaphonomy can help to resolve long-standing paleobiological questions. Novel 3D nanoscale reconstructions of the most ancient complex fossil Eosphaera reveal features hitherto unmatched in any crown-group microbe. While Eosphaera may preserve a symbiotic consortium, a stronger conclusion is that multicellular morphospace was differently occupied in the Paleoproterozoic. The 3.46-Ga Apex chert provides a test bed for claims of biogenicity of cell-like structures. Mapping plus focused ion beam milling combined with transmission electron microscopy data demonstrate that microfossil-like taxa, including species of Archaeoscillatoriopsis and Primaevifilum, are pseudofossils formed from vermiform phyllosilicate grains during hydrothermal alteration events. The 3.43-Ga Strelley Pool Formation shows that plausible early fossil candidates are turning up in unexpected environmental settings. Our data reveal how cellular clusters of unexpectedly large coccoids and tubular sheath-like envelopes were trapped between sand grains and entombed within coatings of dripstone beach-rock silica cement. These fossils come from Earth's earliest known intertidal to supratidal shoreline deposit, accumulated under aerated but oxygen poor conditions.}, } @article {pmid25901015, year = {2015}, author = {Bonhomme, M and Boitard, S and San Clemente, H and Dumas, B and Young, N and Jacquet, C}, title = {Genomic Signature of Selective Sweeps Illuminates Adaptation of Medicago truncatula to Root-Associated Microorganisms.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {8}, pages = {2097-2110}, pmid = {25901015}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; *Genes, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is a model legume species used to investigate plant-microorganism interactions, notably root symbioses. Massive population genomic and transcriptomic data now available for this species open the way for a comprehensive investigation of genomic variations associated with adaptation of M. truncatula to its environment. Here we performed a fine-scale genome scan of selective sweep signatures in M. truncatula using more than 15 million single nucleotide polymorphisms identified on 283 accessions from two populations (Circum and Far West), and exploited annotation and published transcriptomic data to identify biological processes associated with molecular adaptation. We identified 58 swept genomic regions with a 15 kb average length and comprising 3.3 gene models on average. The unimodal sweep state probability distribution in these regions enabled us to focus on the best single candidate gene per region. We detected two unambiguous species-wide selective sweeps, one of which appears to underlie morphological adaptation. Population genomic analyses of the remaining 56 sweep signatures indicate that sweeps identified in the Far West population are less population-specific and probably more ancient than those identified in the Circum population. Functional annotation revealed a predominance of immunity-related adaptations in the Circum population. Transcriptomic data from accessions of the Far West population allowed inference of four clusters of coregulated genes putatively involved in the adaptive control of symbiotic carbon flow and nodule senescence, as well as in other root adaptations upon infection with soil microorganisms. We demonstrate that molecular adaptations in M. truncatula were primarily triggered by selective pressures from root-associated microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid25900723, year = {2016}, author = {Szklarzewicz, T and Grzywacz, B and Szwedo, J and Michalik, A}, title = {Bacterial symbionts of the leafhopper Evacanthus interruptus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {253}, number = {2}, pages = {379-391}, pmid = {25900723}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*physiology ; Betaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Molecular Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant sap-feeding hemipterans harbor obligate symbiotic microorganisms which are responsible for the synthesis of amino acids missing in their diet. In this study, we characterized the obligate symbionts hosted in the body of the xylem-feeding leafhopper Evacanthus interruptus (Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae: Evacanthini) by means of histological, ultrastructural and molecular methods. We observed that E. interruptus is associated with two types of symbiotic microorganisms: bacterium 'Candidatus Sulcia muelleri' (Bacteroidetes) and betaproteobacterium that is closely related to symbionts which reside in two other Cicadellidae representatives: Pagaronia tredecimpunctata (Evacanthinae: Pagaronini) and Hylaius oregonensis (Bathysmatophorinae: Bathysmatophorini). Both symbionts are harbored in their own bacteriocytes which are localized between the body wall and ovaries. In E. interruptus, both Sulcia and betaproteobacterial symbionts are transovarially transmitted from one generation to the next. In the mature female, symbionts leave the bacteriocytes and gather around the posterior pole of the terminal oocytes. Then, they gradually pass through the cytoplasm of follicular cells surrounding the posterior pole of the oocyte and enter the space between them and the oocyte. The bacteria accumulate in the deep depression of the oolemma and form a characteristic 'symbiont ball'. In the light of the results obtained, the phylogenetic relationships within modern Cicadomorpha and some Cicadellidae subfamilies are discussed.}, } @article {pmid25900420, year = {2015}, author = {Degola, F and Fattorini, L and Bona, E and Sprimuto, CT and Argese, E and Berta, G and Sanità di Toppi, L}, title = {The symbiosis between Nicotiana tabacum and the endomycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae increases the plant glutathione level and decreases leaf cadmium and root arsenic contents.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {92}, number = {}, pages = {11-18}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.04.001}, pmid = {25900420}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Arsenic/*metabolism ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Glutathione/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Over time, anthropogenic activities have led to severe cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) pollution in several environments. Plants inhabiting metal(loid)-contaminated areas should be able to sequester and detoxify these toxic elements as soon as they enter roots and leaves. We postulated here that an important role in protecting plants from excessive metal(loid) accumulation and toxicity might be played by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In fact, human exploitation of plant material derived from Cd- and As-polluted environments may lead to a noxious intake of these toxic elements; in particular, a possible source of Cd and As for humans is given by cigarette and cigar smoke. We investigated the role of AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Schüßler in protecting Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv. Petit Havana) from the above-mentioned metal(loid) stress. Our findings proved that the AM symbiosis is effective in increasing the plant tissue content of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), in influencing the amount of metal(loid)-induced chelators as phytochelatins, and in reducing the Cd and As content in leaves and roots of adult tobacco plants. These results might also prove useful in improving the quality of commercial tobacco, thus reducing the risks to human health due to inhalation of toxic elements contained in smoking products.}, } @article {pmid25897034, year = {2015}, author = {Schallies, KB and Sadowski, C and Meng, J and Chien, P and Gibson, KE}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti CtrA Stability Is Regulated in a CbrA-Dependent Manner That Is Influenced by CpdR1.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {13}, pages = {2139-2149}, pmid = {25897034}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R15 GM099052/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM111706/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1 R15 GM099052-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 3U56CA1186305-05S1/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM111706/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM084517/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R43 GM084517/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Mutation ; Phosphorylation ; Phylogeny ; Protein Stability ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: CbrA is a DivJ/PleC-like histidine kinase of DivK that is required for cell cycle progression and symbiosis in the alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Loss of cbrA results in increased levels of CtrA as well as its phosphorylation. While many of the known Caulobacter crescentus regulators of CtrA phosphorylation and proteolysis are phylogenetically conserved within S. meliloti, the latter lacks the PopA regulator that is required for CtrA degradation in C. crescentus. In order to investigate whether CtrA proteolysis occurs in S. meliloti, CtrA stability was assessed. During exponential growth, CtrA is unstable and therefore likely to be degraded in a cell cycle-regulated manner. Loss of cbrA significantly increases CtrA stability, but this phenotype is restored to that of the wild type by constitutive ectopic expression of a CpdR1 variant that cannot be phosphorylated (CpdR1(D53A)). Addition of CpdR1(D53A) fully suppresses cbrA mutant cell cycle defects, consistent with regulation of CtrA stability playing a key role in mediating proper cell cycle progression in S. meliloti. Importantly, the cbrA mutant symbiosis defect is also suppressed in the presence of CpdR1(D53A). Thus, regulation of CtrA stability by CbrA and CpdR1 is associated with free-living cell cycle outcomes and symbiosis.

IMPORTANCE: The cell cycle is a fundamental process required for bacterial growth, reproduction, and developmental differentiation. Our objective is to understand how a two-component signal transduction network directs cell cycle events during free-living growth and host colonization. The Sinorhizobium meliloti nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with plants is associated with novel cell cycle events. This study identifies a link between the regulated stability of an essential response regulator, free-living cell cycle progression, and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25896956, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, Y and Zhang, S and Zhang, G and Liu, X and Wang, C and Xu, J}, title = {Comparison of mitochondrial genomes provides insights into intron dynamics and evolution in the caterpillar fungus Cordyceps militaris.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {95-107}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2015.04.009}, pmid = {25896956}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Animals ; Cordyceps/*genetics/pathogenicity/ultrastructure ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Exons ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Introns ; Larva/microbiology ; Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Intra-specific comparison of mitochondrial genomes can help elucidate the evolution of a species, however it has not been performed for hypocrealean fungi that form diverse symbiotic associations with other organisms. In this study, comparative analyses of three completely sequenced mitochondrial genomes of a hypocrealean fungus, Cordyceps militaris, the type species of Cordyceps genus, revealed that the introns were the main contributors to mitochondrial genome size variations among strains. Mitochondrial genes in C. militaris have been invaded by group I introns in at least eight positions. PCR assays of various C. militaris isolates showed abundant variations of intron presence/absence among strains at seven of the eight intronic loci. Although the ancestral intron pattern was inferred to contain all eight introns, loss and/or gain events occurred for seven of the eight introns. These introns invaded the C. militaris mitochondrial genome probably by horizontal transfer from other fungi, and intron insertions into intronless genes in C. militaris were accompanied by co-conversions of upstream exon sequences especially for those introns targeting protein-coding genes. We also detected phylogenetic congruence between the intron and exon trees at each individual locus, consistent with the ancestral mitochondria of C. militaris as having all eight introns. This study helps to explain the evolution of C. militaris mitochondrial genomes and will facilitate population genetic studies of this medicinally important fungus.}, } @article {pmid25893868, year = {2015}, author = {Huwald, D and Schrapers, P and Kositzki, R and Haumann, M and Hemschemeier, A}, title = {Characterization of unusual truncated hemoglobins of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii suggests specialized functions.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {242}, number = {1}, pages = {167-185}, pmid = {25893868}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/*metabolism ; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Heme/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; Oxygen/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Truncated Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy ; }, abstract = {Annotated hemoglobin genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii form functional globins, despite unusual architectures. Spectral characteristics show subtle biochemical differences. Multiple globins might help the alga to cope with its versatile environment. The unicellular green alga C. reinhardtii is a photosynthetic, often soil-dwelling organism, subjected to a changeable environment in nature. The alga contains 12 genes encoding so-called truncated hemoglobins that feature a two-on-two helical fold instead of the three-on-three helix arrangement of the long-studied vertebrate globins or plant symbiotic and non-symbiotic hemoglobins. In plants, non-symbiotic hemoglobins often play a role in acclimation to stress, and we could show recently that one of the C. reinhardtii globin genes is vital for anoxic growth. Here, three further globin encoding transcripts (Cre16.g661000.t1.1, Cre16.g661300.t2.1 and Cre16.g662750.t1.2) were heterologously expressed along with the recently studied THB1. UV-Vis and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses show that the sequences indeed encode functional hemoglobins, despite their uncommon primary sequences, which include long C-termini without any predictable function, or a split heme-binding domain. The proteins show some variations regarding the coordination of the heme iron or the interaction with diatomic ligands, indicating different functionalities. The respective transcripts are not responsive to the nitrogen source, in contrast to results reported for THB1, but they accumulate in darkness. This work advances experimental data on the very large globin family in general, and, more specifically, on hemoglobins in photosynthetic organisms.}, } @article {pmid25893374, year = {2015}, author = {Saha, S and DasGupta, M}, title = {Does SUNN-SYMRK Crosstalk occur in Medicago truncatula for regulating nodule organogenesis?.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e1028703}, pmid = {25893374}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; *Organogenesis ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recently we reported that overexpression of intracellular kinase domain of Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SYMRK-kd) hyperactivated spontaneous nodulation in Medicago truncatula indicating the importance of SYMRK ectodomain in restricting nodule number. To clarify whether sunn and sickle pathways were overcome by SYMRK-kd for hyperactivation of nodule organogenesis, we overexpressed SYMRK-kd in these mutants and analyzed for spontaneous nodulation in absence of rhizobia. Spontaneous nodulation in skl/SYMRK-kd roots was 2-fold higher than A17/SYMRK-kd roots indicating nodule organogenesis induced by SYMRK-kd to be ethylene sensitive. Intriguingly, sunn/SYMRK-kd roots failed to generate any spontaneous nodule which directly indicate the LRR-RLK SUNN to have a role in SYMRK-kd mediated nodule development under non-symbiotic conditions. We hypothesize a crosstalk between SUNN and SYMRK receptors for activation as well as restriction of nodule development.}, } @article {pmid25893143, year = {2015}, author = {Curcio, MJ and Lutz, S and Lesage, P}, title = {The Ty1 LTR-retrotransposon of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {1-35}, pmid = {25893143}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R01 GM052072/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Long-terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposons generate a copy of their DNA (cDNA) by reverse transcription of their RNA genome in cytoplasmic nucleocapsids. They are widespread in the eukaryotic kingdom and are the evolutionary progenitors of retroviruses [1]. The Ty1 element of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the first LTR-retrotransposon demonstrated to mobilize through an RNA intermediate, and not surprisingly, is the best studied. The depth of our knowledge of Ty1 biology stems not only from the predominance of active Ty1 elements in the S. cerevisiae genome but also the ease and breadth of genomic, biochemical and cell biology approaches available to study cellular processes in yeast. This review describes the basic structure of Ty1 and its gene products, the replication cycle, the rapidly expanding compendium of host co-factors known to influence retrotransposition and the nature of Ty1's elaborate symbiosis with its host. Our goal is to illuminate the value of Ty1 as a paradigm to explore the biology of LTR-retrotransposons in multicellular organisms, where the low frequency of retrotransposition events presents a formidable barrier to investigations of retrotransposon biology.}, } @article {pmid25891201, year = {2015}, author = {Flórez, LV and Biedermann, PH and Engl, T and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Defensive symbioses of animals with prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {32}, number = {7}, pages = {904-936}, doi = {10.1039/c5np00010f}, pmid = {25891201}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; Defense Mechanisms ; Ecology ; Invertebrates/physiology ; Molecular Structure ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vertebrates/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many organisms team up with microbes for defense against predators, parasites, parasitoids, or pathogens. Here we review the described protective symbioses between animals (including marine invertebrates, nematodes, insects, and vertebrates) and bacteria, fungi, and dinoflagellates. We focus on associations where the microbial natural products mediating the protective activity have been elucidated or at least strong evidence for the role of symbiotic microbes in defense is available. In addition to providing an overview of the known defensive animal-microbe symbioses, we aim to derive general patterns on the chemistry, ecology, and evolution of such associations.}, } @article {pmid25890050, year = {2015}, author = {Pereira, AL and Monteiro, B and Azevedo, J and Campos, A and Osório, H and Vasconcelos, V}, title = {Effects of the naturally-occurring contaminant microcystins on the Azolla filiculoides-Anabaena azollae symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {118}, number = {}, pages = {11-20}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.04.008}, pmid = {25890050}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Anabaena/chemistry ; Animal Feed ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ferns/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Fertilizers ; Microcystins/*toxicity ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Harmful algal blooms (HABs) contaminate aquatic ecosystems and are responsible for animal poisoning worldwide. We conducted a toxicity test with the aquatic fern and the biofertilizer, Azolla filiculoides. The sporophytes were exposed to three concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1μgmL(-1)) of a microcystin (MC) cyanobacterial crude extract and purified MC-LR. The growth of A. filiculoides decreased only at 1μgmL(-1) crude extract concentration while with MC-LR it decreased at all the tested concentrations, indicating that the presence of other compounds in the crude extract altered toxicity and stimulated the fern growth at lower concentrations (0.01 and 0.1μgmL(-1)). Both phycoerythrocyanin and allophycocyanin levels decreased in all the concentrations of crude extract and MC-LR. The phycocyanin had a marked increase at 0.1μgmL(-1) crude extract concentration and a marked decrease at 1μgmL(-1) MC-LR concentration. These changes in the phycobiliprotein content indicate a shift in the antenna pigments of the cyanobionts of A. filiculoides. The changes in two oxidative stress enzymes, glutathione reductase for the crude extract assay and glutathione peroxidase for MC-LR assay, points towards the induction of stress defense responses. The low bioconcentration factor in both crude extract and MC-LR treatments can suggest the low uptake of microcystins, and indicates that the aquatic fern can be used as a biofertilizer and as animal feed but is not suitable for MC phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid25888944, year = {2015}, author = {Keenan, SW and Elsey, RM}, title = {The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown: Microbial Symbioses of the American Alligator.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {55}, number = {6}, pages = {972-985}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icv006}, pmid = {25888944}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Alligators and Crocodiles/*microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Vertebrates coexist with microorganisms in diverse symbiotic associations that range from beneficial to detrimental to the host. Most research has aimed at deciphering the nature of the composite microbial assemblage's genome, or microbiome, from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and skin of mammals (i.e., humans). In mammals, the GI tract's microbiome aids digestion, enhances uptake of nutrients, and prevents the establishment of pathogenic microorganisms. However, because the GI tract microbiome of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is distinct from that of all other vertebrates studied to date, being comprised of Fusobacteria in the lower GI tract with lesser abundances of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, the function of these assemblages is largely unknown. This review provides a synthesis of our current understanding of the composition of alligators' microbiomes, highlights the potential role of microbiome members in alligators' health (the good), and presents a brief summary of microorganisms detrimental to alligators' health (the bad) including Salmonella spp. and others. Microbial assemblages of the GI tract have co-evolved with their vertebrate host over geologic time, which means that evolutionary hypotheses can be tested using information about the microbiome. For reptiles and amphibians, the number of taxa studied at present is limited, thereby restricting evolutionary insights. Nevertheless, we present a compilation of our current understanding of reptiles' and amphibians' microbiomes, and highlight future avenues of research (the unknown). As in humans, composition of microbiome assemblages provides a promising tool for assessing hosts' health or disease. By further exploring present-day associations between symbiotic microorganisms in the microbiomes of reptiles and amphibians, we can better identify good (beneficial) and bad (detrimental) microorganisms, and unravel the evolutionary history of the acquisition of microbiomes by these poorly-studied vertebrates.}, } @article {pmid25887897, year = {2015}, author = {Krueger, T and Fisher, PL and Becker, S and Pontasch, S and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Leggat, W and Davy, SK}, title = {Transcriptomic characterization of the enzymatic antioxidants FeSOD, MnSOD, APX and KatG in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {48}, pmid = {25887897}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/enzymology/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peroxidases/chemistry/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Superoxide Dismutase/chemistry/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The diversity of the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp., as assessed by genetic markers, is well established. To what extent this diversity is reflected on the amino acid level of functional genes such as enzymatic antioxidants that play an important role in thermal stress tolerance of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis is, however, unknown. Here we present a predicted structural analysis and phylogenetic characterization of the enzymatic antioxidant repertoire of the genus Symbiodinium. We also report gene expression and enzymatic activity under short-term thermal stress in Symbiodinium of the B1 genotype.

RESULTS: Based on eight different ITS2 types, covering six clades, multiple protein isoforms for three of the four investigated antioxidants (ascorbate peroxidase [APX], catalase peroxidase [KatG], manganese superoxide dismutase [MnSOD]) are present in the genus Symbiodinium. Amino acid sequences of both SOD metalloforms (Fe/Mn), as well as KatG, exhibited a number of prokaryotic characteristics that were also supported by the protein phylogeny. In contrast to the bacterial form, KatG in Symbiodinium is characterized by extended functionally important loops and a shortened C-terminal domain. Intercladal sequence variations were found to be much higher in both peroxidases, compared to SODs. For APX, these variable residues involve binding sites for substrates and cofactors, and might therefore differentially affect the catalytic properties of this enzyme between clades. While expression of antioxidant genes was successfully measured in Symbiodinium B1, it was not possible to assess the link between gene expression and protein activity due to high variability in expression between replicates, and little response in their enzymatic activity over the three-day experimental period.

CONCLUSIONS: The genus Symbiodinium has a diverse enzymatic antioxidant repertoire that has similarities to prokaryotes, potentially as a result of horizontal gene transfer or events of secondary endosymbiosis. Different degrees of sequence evolution between SODs and peroxidases might be the result of potential selective pressure on the conserved molecular function of SODs as the first line of defence. In contrast, genetic redundancy of hydrogen peroxide scavenging enzymes might permit the observed variations in peroxidase sequences. Our data and successful measurement of antioxidant gene expression in Symbiodinium will serve as basis for further studies of coral health.}, } @article {pmid25887812, year = {2015}, author = {Rao, Q and Rollat-Farnier, PA and Zhu, DT and Santos-Garcia, D and Silva, FJ and Moya, A and Latorre, A and Klein, CC and Vavre, F and Sagot, MF and Liu, SS and Mouton, L and Wang, XW}, title = {Genome reduction and potential metabolic complementation of the dual endosymbionts in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {226}, pmid = {25887812}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Animals ; DNA/analysis/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Halomonadaceae/*genetics ; Hemiptera/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Vitamins/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an important agricultural pest with global distribution. This phloem-sap feeder harbors a primary symbiont, "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum", which compensates for the deficient nutritional composition of its food sources, and a variety of secondary symbionts. Interestingly, all of these secondary symbionts are found in co-localization with the primary symbiont within the same bacteriocytes, which should favor the evolution of strong interactions between symbionts.

RESULTS: In this paper, we analyzed the genome sequences of the primary symbiont Portiera and of the secondary symbiont Hamiltonella in the B. tabaci Mediterranean (MED) species in order to gain insight into the metabolic role of each symbiont in the biology of their host. The genome sequences of the uncultured symbionts Portiera and Hamiltonella were obtained from one single bacteriocyte of MED B. tabaci. As already reported, the genome of Portiera is highly reduced (357 kb), but has kept a number of genes encoding most essential amino-acids and carotenoids. On the other hand, Portiera lacks almost all the genes involved in the synthesis of vitamins and cofactors. Moreover, some pathways are incomplete, notably those involved in the synthesis of some essential amino-acids. Interestingly, the genome of Hamiltonella revealed that this secondary symbiont can not only provide vitamins and cofactors, but also complete the missing steps of some of the pathways of Portiera. In addition, some critical amino-acid biosynthetic genes are missing in the two symbiotic genomes, but analysis of whitefly transcriptome suggests that the missing steps may be performed by the whitefly itself or its microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that Portiera and Hamiltonella are not only complementary but could also be mutually dependent to provide a full complement of nutrients to their host. Altogether, these results illustrate how functional redundancies can lead to gene losses in the genomes of the different symbiotic partners, reinforcing their inter-dependency.}, } @article {pmid25887753, year = {2015}, author = {Wilkinson, SP and Fisher, PL and van Oppen, MJ and Davy, SK}, title = {Intra-genomic variation in symbiotic dinoflagellates: recent divergence or recombination between lineages?.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {46}, pmid = {25887753}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Environment ; Genomics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombination, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiosis between corals and the dinoflagellate alga Symbiodinium is essential for the development and survival of coral reefs. Yet this fragile association is highly vulnerable to environmental disturbance. A coral's ability to tolerate temperature stress depends on the fitness of its resident symbionts, whose thermal optima vary extensively between lineages. However, the in hospite population genetic structure of Symbiodinium is poorly understood and mostly based on analysis of bulk DNA extracted from thousands to millions of cells. Using quantitative single-cell PCR, we enumerated DNA polymorphisms in the symbionts of the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis, and applied a model selection approach to explore the potential for recombination between coexisting Symbiodinium populations.

RESULTS: Two distinct Symbiodinium ITS2 sequences (denoted C100 and C109) were retrieved from all P. damicornis colonies analysed. However, the symbiont assemblage consisted of three distinct Symbiodinium populations: cells featuring pure arrays of ITS2 type C109, near-homogeneous cells of type C100 (with trace ITS2 copies of type C109), and those with co-dominant C100 and C109 ITS2 repeats. The symbiont consortia of some colonies consisted almost entirely of these putative C100 × C109 recombinants.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the occurrence of sexual recombination between Symbiodinium types C100 and C109. While the multiple-copy nature of the ITS2 dictates that the observed pattern of intra-genomic co-dominance may be a result of incomplete concerted evolution of intra-genomic polymorphisms, this is a less likely explanation given the occurrence of homogeneous cells of the C109 type. Conclusive evidence for inter-lineage recombination and introgression in this genus will require either direct observational evidence or a single-cell genotyping approach targeting multiple, single-copy loci.}, } @article {pmid25887237, year = {2015}, author = {Hunsperger, HM and Randhawa, T and Cattolico, RA}, title = {Extensive horizontal gene transfer, duplication, and loss of chlorophyll synthesis genes in the algae.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {25887237}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {T32 HG000035/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HG00035/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Chlorophyll/genetics ; Chlorophyll A ; Chloroplasts/genetics ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/*genetics ; Eukaryota/classification/cytology/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Stramenopiles/cytology/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Two non-homologous, isofunctional enzymes catalyze the penultimate step of chlorophyll a synthesis in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae and land plants: the light-independent (LIPOR) and light-dependent (POR) protochlorophyllide oxidoreductases. Whereas the distribution of these enzymes in cyanobacteria and land plants is well understood, the presence, loss, duplication, and replacement of these genes have not been surveyed in the polyphyletic and remarkably diverse eukaryotic algal lineages.

RESULTS: A phylogenetic reconstruction of the history of the POR enzyme (encoded by the por gene in nuclei) in eukaryotic algae reveals replacement and supplementation of ancestral por genes in several taxa with horizontally transferred por genes from other eukaryotic algae. For example, stramenopiles and haptophytes share por gene duplicates of prasinophytic origin, although their plastid ancestry predicts a rhodophytic por signal. Phylogenetically, stramenopile pors appear ancestral to those found in haptophytes, suggesting transfer from stramenopiles to haptophytes by either horizontal or endosymbiotic gene transfer. In dinoflagellates whose plastids have been replaced by those of a haptophyte or diatom, the ancestral por genes seem to have been lost whereas those of the new symbiotic partner are present. Furthermore, many chlorarachniophytes and peridinin-containing dinoflagellates possess por gene duplicates. In contrast to the retention, gain, and frequent duplication of algal por genes, the LIPOR gene complement (chloroplast-encoded chlL, chlN, and chlB genes) is often absent. LIPOR genes have been lost from haptophytes and potentially from the euglenid and chlorarachniophyte lineages. Within the chlorophytes, rhodophytes, cryptophytes, heterokonts, and chromerids, some taxa possess both POR and LIPOR genes while others lack LIPOR. The gradual process of LIPOR gene loss is evidenced in taxa possessing pseudogenes or partial LIPOR gene compliments. No horizontal transfer of LIPOR genes was detected.

CONCLUSIONS: We document a pattern of por gene acquisition and expansion as well as loss of LIPOR genes from many algal taxa, paralleling the presence of multiple por genes and lack of LIPOR genes in the angiosperms. These studies present an opportunity to compare the regulation and function of por gene families that have been acquired and expanded in patterns unique to each of various algal taxa.}, } @article {pmid25887093, year = {2015}, author = {Dahan, RA and Duncan, RP and Wilson, AC and Dávalos, LM}, title = {Amino acid transporter expansions associated with the evolution of obligate endosymbiosis in sap-feeding insects (Hemiptera: sternorrhyncha).}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {52}, pmid = {25887093}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Amino Acid Transport Systems/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Hemiptera/*classification/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mutualistic obligate endosymbioses shape the evolution of endosymbiont genomes, but their impact on host genomes remains unclear. Insects of the sub-order Sternorrhyncha (Hemiptera) depend on bacterial endosymbionts for essential amino acids present at low abundances in their phloem-based diet. This obligate dependency has been proposed to explain why multiple amino acid transporter genes are maintained in the genomes of the insect hosts. We implemented phylogenetic comparative methods to test whether amino acid transporters have proliferated in sternorrhynchan genomes at rates grater than expected by chance.

RESULTS: By applying a series of methods to reconcile gene and species trees, inferring the size of gene families in ancestral lineages, and simulating the null process of birth and death in multi-gene families, we uncovered a 10-fold increase in duplication rate in the AAAP family of amino acid transporters within Sternorrhyncha. This gene family expansion was unmatched in other closely related clades lacking endosymbionts that provide essential amino acids.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the influence of obligate endosymbioses on host genome evolution by both inferring significant expansions of gene families involved in symbiotic interactions, and discovering increases in the rate of duplication associated with multiple emergences of obligate symbiosis in Sternorrhyncha.}, } @article {pmid25885563, year = {2015}, author = {D Ainsworth, T and Krause, L and Bridge, T and Torda, G and Raina, JB and Zakrzewski, M and Gates, RD and Padilla-Gamiño, JL and Spalding, HL and Smith, C and Woolsey, ES and Bourne, DG and Bongaerts, P and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Leggat, W}, title = {The coral core microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {2261-2274}, pmid = {25885563}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Despite being one of the simplest metazoans, corals harbor some of the most highly diverse and abundant microbial communities. Differentiating core, symbiotic bacteria from this diverse host-associated consortium is essential for characterizing the functional contributions of bacteria but has not been possible yet. Here we characterize the coral core microbiome and demonstrate clear phylogenetic and functional divisions between the micro-scale, niche habitats within the coral host. In doing so, we discover seven distinct bacterial phylotypes that are universal to the core microbiome of coral species, separated by thousands of kilometres of oceans. The two most abundant phylotypes are co-localized specifically with the corals' endosymbiotic algae and symbiont-containing host cells. These bacterial symbioses likely facilitate the success of the dinoflagellate endosymbiosis with corals in diverse environmental regimes.}, } @article {pmid25885210, year = {2015}, author = {Vigil-Stenman, T and Larsson, J and Nylander, JA and Bergman, B}, title = {Local hopping mobile DNA implicated in pseudogene formation and reductive evolution in an obligate cyanobacteria-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {193}, pmid = {25885210}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Order ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Phylogeny ; *Pseudogenes ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insertion sequences (ISs) are approximately 1 kbp long "jumping" genes found in prokaryotes. ISs encode the protein Transposase, which facilitates the excision and reinsertion of ISs in genomes, making these sequences a type of class I ("cut-and-paste") Mobile Genetic Elements. ISs are proposed to be involved in the reductive evolution of symbiotic prokaryotes. Our previous sequencing of the genome of the cyanobacterium 'Nostoc azollae' 0708, living in a tight perpetual symbiotic association with a plant (the water fern Azolla), revealed the presence of an eroding genome, with a high number of insertion sequences (ISs) together with an unprecedented large proportion of pseudogenes. To investigate the role of ISs in the reductive evolution of 'Nostoc azollae' 0708, and potentially in the formation of pseudogenes, a bioinformatic investigation of the IS identities and positions in 47 cyanobacterial genomes was conducted. To widen the scope, the IS contents were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively in 20 other genomes representing both free-living and symbiotic bacteria.

RESULTS: Insertion Sequences were not randomly distributed in the bacterial genomes and were found to transpose short distances from their original location ("local hopping") and pseudogenes were enriched in the vicinity of IS elements. In general, symbiotic organisms showed higher densities of IS elements and pseudogenes than non-symbiotic bacteria. A total of 1108 distinct repeated sequences over 500 bp were identified in the 67 genomes investigated. In the genome of 'Nostoc azollae' 0708, IS elements were apparent at 970 locations (14.3%), with 428 being full-length. Morphologically complex cyanobacteria with large genomes showed higher frequencies of IS elements, irrespective of life style.

CONCLUSIONS: The apparent co-location of IS elements and pseudogenes found in prokaryotic genomes implies earlier IS transpositions into genes. As transpositions tend to be local rather than genome wide this likely explains the proximity between IS elements and pseudogenes. These findings suggest that ISs facilitate the reductive evolution in for instance in the symbiotic cyanobacterium 'Nostoc azollae' 0708 and in other obligate prokaryotic symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25885165, year = {2015}, author = {Khan, AL and Waqas, M and Hussain, J and Al-Harrasi, A and Hamayun, M and Lee, IJ}, title = {Phytohormones enabled endophytic fungal symbiosis improve aluminum phytoextraction in tolerant Solanum lycopersicum: An examples of Penicillium janthinellum LK5 and comparison with exogenous GA3.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {295}, number = {}, pages = {70-78}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.04.008}, pmid = {25885165}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Aluminum/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Gibberellins/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This work investigates the potentials of fungal-endophyte Penicillium janthinellum LK5 (PjLK5) and its inherent gibberellic acid (GA3) as reference to enhance aluminum (Al) induced toxicity in tolerant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Initial screening showed significantly higher uptake of Al by PjLK5. Aluminum stress (100 μM) significantly retarted plant growth in control plants. Conversely PjLK5 and GA3 application significantly increased morphological attributes of Al-tolerant tomato plants with or without Al-stress. PjLK5 inoculation with and without Al-stress maintained the plant growth whilst extracting and translocating higher Al in shoot (∼ 1 92 mg/kg) and root (∼ 296 mg/kg). This was almost similar in GA3 treatments as well. In addition, PjLK5 inoculation extended protective effects to tomato plants by maintaining reduced cellular superoxide anions in Al stress. Al-induced oxidative stress was further reduced due to significantly higher activity of metal-responsive reduced glutathione. The functional membrane was less damaged in PjLK5 and GA3 treatments because the plants synthesized reduced levels of malondialdhyde, lenolenic and linoleic acids. Defense-related endogenous phytohormone salicylic acid was significantly up-regulated to counteract the adverse effects of Al-stress. In conclusion, the PjLK5 possess a similar bio-prospective potential as of GA3. Application of such biochemically active endophyte could increase metal phytoextraction whilst maintaining crop physiological homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid25884357, year = {2015}, author = {Treloar, C and Newland, J and Maher, L}, title = {A qualitative study trialling the acceptability of new hepatitis C prevention messages for people who inject drugs: symbiotic messages, pleasure and conditional interpretations.}, journal = {Harm reduction journal}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {25884357}, issn = {1477-7517}, mesh = {Adult ; Drug Users/*psychology ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Harm Reduction ; Health Communication/methods ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hepatitis C/complications/*prevention & control/*psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needle-Exchange Programs ; Pilot Projects ; *Pleasure ; *Posters as Topic ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications/*psychology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Prevention of hepatitis C (HCV) remains a public health challenge. A new body of work is emerging seeking to explore and exploit "symbiotic goals" of people who inject drugs (PWID). That is, strategies used by PWID to achieve other goals may be doubly useful in facilitating the same behaviours (use of sterile injecting equipment) required to prevent HCV. This project developed and trialled new HCV prevention messages based on the notion of symbiotic messages.

METHOD: New HCV prevention messages were developed in a series of 12 posters after consultation with staff from needle and syringe programs (NSPs) and a drug user organisation. Two posters were displayed each week for a 6-week period within one NSP. NSP staff and clients were invited to focus groups to discuss their responses to the posters.

RESULTS: A total of four focus groups were conducted; one group of seven staff members and three groups of clients with a total of 21 participants. Responses to each of the posters were mixed. Staff and clients interpreted messages in literal ways rather than as dependent on context, with staff concerned that not all HCV prevention information was included in any one message; while clients felt that some messages were misleading in relation to the expectations of pleasure. Clients appreciated the efforts to use bright imagery and messages that included acknowledgement of pleasure. Clients were not aware of some harm reduction information contained in the messages (such as "shoot to the heart"), and this generated potential for misunderstanding of the intended message. Clients felt that any message provided by the NSP could be trusted and did not require visible endorsement by health departments.

CONCLUSIONS: While the logic of symbiotic messages is appealing, it is challenging to produce eye-catching, brief messages that provide sufficient information to cover the breadth of HCV prevention. Incorporation of symbiotic messages in conversations or activities between staff and clients may provide opportunities for these messages to be related to the clients' needs and priorities and for staff to provide HCV prevention information in accord with their professional ethos.}, } @article {pmid25883391, year = {2015}, author = {Rafferty, NE and CaraDonna, PJ and Bronstein, JL}, title = {Phenological shifts and the fate of mutualisms.}, journal = {Oikos (Copenhagen, Denmark)}, volume = {124}, number = {1}, pages = {14-21}, pmid = {25883391}, issn = {0030-1299}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Climate change is altering the timing of life history events in a wide array of species, many of which are involved in mutualistic interactions. Because many mutualisms can form only if partner species are able to locate each other in time, differential phenological shifts are likely to influence their strength, duration and outcome. At the extreme, climate change-driven shifts in phenology may result in phenological mismatch: the partial or complete loss of temporal overlap of mutualistic species. We have a growing understanding of how, when, and why phenological change can alter one type of mutualism-pollination. However, as we show here, there has been a surprising lack of attention to other types of mutualism. We generate a set of predictions about the characteristics that may predispose mutualisms in general to phenological mismatches. We focus not on the consequences of such mismatches but rather on the likelihood that mismatches will develop. We explore the influence of three key characteristics of mutualism: 1) intimacy, 2) seasonality and duration, and 3) obligacy and specificity. We predict that the following characteristics of mutualism may increase the likelihood of phenological mismatch: 1) a non-symbiotic life history in which co-dispersal is absent; 2) brief, seasonal interactions; and 3) facultative, generalized interactions. We then review the limited available data in light of our a priori predictions and point to mutualisms that are more and less likely to be at risk of becoming phenologically mismatched, emphasizing the need for research on mutualisms other than plant-pollinator interactions. Future studies should explicitly focus on mutualism characteristics to determine whether and how changing phenologies will affect mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid25883268, year = {2015}, author = {O'Malley, MA}, title = {Endosymbiosis and its implications for evolutionary theory.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10270-10277}, pmid = {25883268}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Biological Evolution ; Environment ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetics, Population ; Models, Theoretical ; Mutation ; Origin of Life ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Historically, conceptualizations of symbiosis and endosymbiosis have been pitted against Darwinian or neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory. In more recent times, Lynn Margulis has argued vigorously along these lines. However, there are only shallow grounds for finding Darwinian concepts or population genetic theory incompatible with endosymbiosis. But is population genetics sufficiently explanatory of endosymbiosis and its role in evolution? Population genetics "follows" genes, is replication-centric, and is concerned with vertically consistent genetic lineages. It may also have explanatory limitations with regard to macroevolution. Even so, asking whether population genetics explains endosymbiosis may have the question the wrong way around. We should instead be asking how explanatory of evolution endosymbiosis is, and exactly which features of evolution it might be explaining. This paper will discuss how metabolic innovations associated with endosymbioses can drive evolution and thus provide an explanatory account of important episodes in the history of life. Metabolic explanations are both proximate and ultimate, in the same way genetic explanations are. Endosymbioses, therefore, point evolutionary biology toward an important dimension of evolutionary explanation.}, } @article {pmid25882426, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, H and Tan, SN and Teo, CH and Yew, YR and Ge, L and Chen, X and Yong, JW}, title = {Analysis of phytohormones in vermicompost using a novel combinative sample preparation strategy of ultrasound-assisted extraction and solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.}, journal = {Talanta}, volume = {139}, number = {}, pages = {189-197}, doi = {10.1016/j.talanta.2015.02.052}, pmid = {25882426}, issn = {1873-3573}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid ; Chromatography, Liquid/*methods ; Fertilizers/*analysis ; Indoleacetic Acids/analysis ; Naphthaleneacetic Acids/analysis ; Plant Growth Regulators/*analysis/*isolation & purification ; Solid Phase Extraction/*methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; *Ultrasonics ; }, abstract = {Vermicompost (VC), a widely used premium organic fertilizer, is the by-product of symbiotic interactions between earthworms and microorganisms living within them. It has been postulated that phytohormones are plausible "magic compounds" in VC that are responsible for making them such good fertilizers. Thus, a novel approach involving ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed as a fast and efficient sample preparation method to screen for different classes of phytohormones in VC by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Nine phytohormones from three different classes, including trans-zeatin (tZ), kinetin (K), N(6)-[2-isopentyl]adenine (iP), N(6)-benzyladenine (BA), N(6)-isopentenyladenosine (iPR), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 4-[3-indolyl]butyric acid (IBA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and (+)-abscisic acid (ABA), were simultaneously screened. The extraction parameters influencing UAE efficiency were optimized to provide comparable recovery to the conventional mix-stirring (MSt) method. The optimized UAE method was subsequently applied on the analysis of phytohormones in VC, i.e. phytohormone extract was further pre-concentrated and purified using C18 and MCX SPE cartridges prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. The following phytohormones, namely iP, iPR and IAA, were detected and quantified to be 0.49, 0.53, 79.78ngg(-1), respectively; tZ was found to be below the limit of quantitation. Recoveries of 10.2%, 9.1%, 18.9% and 0.3% for tZ, iP, iPR and IAA were obtained. This is one of the few reported works for the successful detection and quantitation of cytokinins and auxins in VC, that provided the key empirical evidence to explain the growth efficacy of applying VC in promoting plant growth. Additionally, this pioneering work could potentially be applicable for the analysis of other types of organic fertilizers such as composts and activated composted materials awaiting phytohormone analyzes for quality assessment and control.}, } @article {pmid25880529, year = {2015}, author = {del Cerro, P and Rolla-Santos, AA and Gomes, DF and Marks, BB and Pérez-Montaño, F and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MÁ and Nakatani, AS and Gil-Serrano, A and Megías, M and Ollero, FJ and Hungria, M}, title = {Regulatory nodD1 and nodD2 genes of Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899 and their roles in the early stages of molecular signaling and host-legume nodulation.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {251}, pmid = {25880529}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Apigenin/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation are mediated by several genes, both of the host legume and of the bacterium. The rhizobial regulatory nodD gene plays a critical role, orchestrating the transcription of the other nodulation genes. Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT 899 is an effective symbiont of several legumes-with an emphasis on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)-and is unusual in carrying multiple copies of nodD, the roles of which remain to be elucidated.

RESULTS: Phenotypes, Nod factors and gene expression of nodD1 and nodD2 mutants of CIAT 899 were compared with those of the wild type strain, both in the presence and in the absence of the nod-gene-inducing molecules apigenin and salt (NaCl). Differences between the wild type and mutants were observed in swimming motility and IAA (indole acetic acid) synthesis. In the presence of both apigenin and salt, large numbers of Nod factors were detected in CIAT 899, with fewer detected in the mutants. nodC expression was lower in both mutants; differences in nodD1 and nodD2 expression were observed between the wild type and the mutants, with variation according to the inducing molecule, and with a major role of apigenin with nodD1 and of salt with nodD2. In the nodD1 mutant, nodulation was markedly reduced in common bean and abolished in leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), whereas a mutation in nodD2 reduced nodulation in common bean, but not in the other two legumes.

CONCLUSION: Our proposed model considers that full nodulation of common bean by R. tropici requires both nodD1 and nodD2, whereas, in other legume species that might represent the original host, nodD1 plays the major role. In general, nodD2 is an activator of nod-gene transcription, but, in specific conditions, it can slightly repress nodD1. nodD1 and nodD2 play other roles beyond nodulation, such as swimming motility and IAA synthesis.}, } @article {pmid25878092, year = {2015}, author = {Mennes, CB and Moerland, MS and Rath, M and Smets, EF and Merckx, VS}, title = {Evolution of mycoheterotrophy in Polygalaceae: The case of Epirixanthes.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {102}, number = {4}, pages = {598-608}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1400549}, pmid = {25878092}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Borneo ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Malaysia ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Polygalaceae/classification/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The mycoheterotrophic lifestyle has enabled some plant lineages to obtain carbon from their mycorrhizal symbionts. The mycoheterotrophic genus Epirixanthes (Polygalaceae) consists of six species from tropical Asia. Although it is probably closely related to the chlorophyllous genus Salomonia and linked to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, lack of DNA sequence data has thus far prevented these hypotheses from being tested. Therefore, the evolutionary history of Epirixanthes remains largely unknown.

METHODS: We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Epirixanthes based on nuclear ITS and plastid matK data. Divergence times were inferred using a Bayesian relaxed clock approach, and we phylogenetically analyzed its mycorrhizal symbionts. We furthermore assigned these symbionts to operational taxonomic units, compared them with symbionts of other Polygalaceae, and measured their phylogenetic diversity.

KEY RESULTS: We found that Epirixanthes is placed in tribe Polygaleae as sister to Salomonia. Epirixanthes has a Miocene-Oligocene stem age and grows exclusively in symbiosis with fungi of Glomeraceae. Salomonia and some Polygala species are linked to both Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae, resulting in higher phylogenetic diversity values. The majority of the symbionts of Epirixanthes are not found in Salomonia or Polygala, although a few shared fungal taxa are found.

CONCLUSIONS: Epirixanthes forms a relatively young mycoheterotrophic lineage. The Oligocene-Miocene origin suggests its evolution was influenced by the environmental dynamics in Southeast Asia during this time. Although comparison of fungi from Epirixanthes with those from Salomonia and Polygala suggests some specialization, many other mycoheterotrophic plants are linked to a more narrow set of Glomeraceae.}, } @article {pmid25877258, year = {2015}, author = {Huete-Stauffer, C and Valisano, L and Gaino, E and Vezzulli, L and Cerrano, C}, title = {Development of long-term primary cell aggregates from Mediterranean octocorals.}, journal = {In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal}, volume = {51}, number = {8}, pages = {815-826}, pmid = {25877258}, issn = {1543-706X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*cytology/metabolism/physiology/ultrastructure ; Cell Aggregation/*physiology ; Cell Survival ; DNA/biosynthesis ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; }, abstract = {In lower metazoans, the aggregative properties of dissociated cells leading to in vitro stable multicellular aggregates have furnished a remarkable experimental material to carry out investigations in various research fields. One of the main expectations is to find good models for the study in vitro of the first steps of biomineralization processes. In this study, we examined five common Mediterranean gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata, Corallium rubrum, Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolinii, and Eunicella verrucosa) using mechanical cell aggregate production techniques. In particular, we investigated the conditions of aggregate formation, their number and survival in experimental conditions, the DNA synthesizing activity using 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) tests, and the response to calcein addition and observed the secretion of newly formed sclerites. The BrdU tests showed that cell proliferation depends on the size of aggregates and on the presence/absence of symbiotic zooxanthellae. With epifluorescent and confocal imaging from calcein addition assays, we observed the presence of calcium ions within cells, a possible clue for prediction of sclerite formation or calcium deposition. The species-specific efficiency in production of cell aggregates is correlated to the size of polyps, showing that the higher density of polyps and their diameter correspond to higher production of cell aggregates. Regarding the long-term maintenance, we obtained the best results from E. singularis, which formed multicellular aggregates of 0.245 mm ± 0.086 mm in size and maintained symbiotic association with zooxanthellae throughout the experimental run. Formation of sclerites within aggregates opens a wide field of investigation on biomineralization, since de novo sclerites were observed around 30 d after the beginning of the experiment.}, } @article {pmid25876848, year = {2015}, author = {Beinart, RA and Gartman, A and Sanders, JG and Luther, GW and Girguis, PR}, title = {The uptake and excretion of partially oxidized sulfur expands the repertoire of energy resources metabolized by hydrothermal vent symbioses.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1806}, pages = {20142811}, pmid = {25876848}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Carbon Cycle ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pacific Ocean ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sulfides/metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between animals and chemoautotrophic bacteria crowd around hydrothermal vents. In these associations, symbiotic bacteria use chemical reductants from venting fluid for the energy to support autotrophy, providing primary nutrition for the host. At vents along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center, the partially oxidized sulfur compounds (POSCs) thiosulfate and polysulfide have been detected in and around animal communities but away from venting fluid. The use of POSCs for autotrophy, as an alternative to the chemical substrates in venting fluid, could mitigate competition in these communities. To determine whether ESLC symbioses could use thiosulfate to support carbon fixation or produce POSCs during sulfide oxidation, we used high-pressure, flow-through incubations to assess the productivity of three symbiotic mollusc genera-the snails Alviniconcha spp. and Ifremeria nautilei, and the mussel Bathymodiolus brevior-when oxidizing sulfide and thiosulfate. Via the incorporation of isotopically labelled inorganic carbon, we found that the symbionts of all three genera supported autotrophy while oxidizing both sulfide and thiosulfate, though at different rates. Additionally, by concurrently measuring their effect on sulfur compounds in the aquaria with voltammetric microelectrodes, we showed that these symbioses excreted POSCs under highly sulfidic conditions, illustrating that these symbioses could represent a source for POSCs in their habitat. Furthermore, we revealed spatial disparity in the rates of carbon fixation among the animals in our incubations, which might have implications for the variability of productivity in situ. Together, these results re-shape our thinking about sulfur cycling and productivity by vent symbioses, demonstrating that thiosulfate may be an ecologically important energy source for vent symbioses and that they also likely impact the local geochemical regime through the excretion of POSCs.}, } @article {pmid25876600, year = {2015}, author = {Wei, Y and Chen, Z and Wu, F and Li, J and ShangGuan, Y and Li, F and Zeng, QR and Hou, H}, title = {Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with a Sb Accumulator Plant, Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), in an Active Sb Mining.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {1205-1215}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1411.11033}, pmid = {25876600}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Antimony/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Boehmeria/*metabolism/*microbiology ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Genes, rRNA ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/cytology/genetics/*growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have great potential for assisting heavy metal hyperaccumulators in the remediation of contaminated soils. However, little information is available about the symbiosis of AMF associated with an antimony (Sb) accumulator plant under natural conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the colonization and molecular diversity of AMF associated with the Sb accumulator ramie (Boehmeria nivea) growing in Sb-contaminated soils. Four Sb mine spoils and one adjacent reference area were selected from Xikuangshan in southern China. PCR-DGGE was used to analyze the AMF community composition in ramie roots. Morphological identification was also used to analyze the species in the rhizosphere soil of ramie. Results obtained showed that mycorrhizal symbiosis was established successfully even in the most heavily polluted sites. From the unpolluted site Ref to the highest polluted site T4, the spore numbers and AMF diversity increased at first and then decreased. Colonization increased consistently with the increasing Sb concentrations in the soil. A total of 14 species were identified by morphological analysis. From the total number of species, 4 (29%) belonged to Glomus, 2 (14%) belonged to Acaulospora, 2 (14%) belonged to Funneliformis, 1 (7%) belonged to Claroideoglomus, 1 (7%) belonged to Gigaspora, 1 (7%) belonged to Paraglomus, 1 (7%) belonging to Rhizophagus, 1 (7%) belonging to Sclervocystis, and 1 (7%) belonged to Scutellospora. Some AMF sequences were present even in the most polluted site. Morphological identification and phylogenetic analysis both revealed that most species were affiliated withGlomus, suggesting that Glomus was the dominant genus in this AMF community. This study demonstrated that ramie associated with AMF may have great potential for remediation of Sb-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid25876410, year = {2014}, author = {Ji, ZJ and Wang, FM and Wang, SG and Yang, SH and Guo, R and Tang, RY and Chen, WX and Chen, WF}, title = {[Symbiotic matching between soybean cultivar Luhuang No. 1 and different rhizobia].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {12}, pages = {3573-3579}, pmid = {25876410}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Seeds ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean plants could establish symbiosis and fix nitrogen with different rhizobial species in the genera of Sinorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. Studies on the symbiotic matching between soybean cultivars and different rhizobial species are theoretically and practically important for selecting effective strains used to inoculate the plants and improve the soybean production and quality. A total of 27 strains were isolated and purified from a soil sample of Huanghuaihai area by using the soybean cultivar Luhang No. 1, a protein-rich cultivar grown in that area, as the trapping plants. These strains were identified as members of Sinorhizobium (18 strains) and Bradyrhizobium (9 strains) based on the sequence analysis of housekeeping gene recA. Two representative strains (Sinorhizobium fredii S6 and Bradyrhizobium sp. S10) were used to inoculate the seeds of Luhang No. 1 alone or mixed, in pots filled with vermiculite or soil, and in the field trial to investigate their effects on soybean growth, nodulation, nitrogen fixation activity, yield, contents of protein and oil in seeds. The results demonstrated that strain S6 showed better effects on growth-promotion, yield of seeds and seed quality than strain S10. Thus strain S6 was finally regarded as the effective rhizobium matching to soybean Luhuang No. 1, which could be the candidate as a good inoculant for planting the soybean Luhuang No. 1 at a large scale in the Huanghuaihai area.}, } @article {pmid25873456, year = {2015}, author = {Rua, CP and Gregoracci, GB and Santos, EO and Soares, AC and Francini-Filho, RB and Thompson, F}, title = {Potential metabolic strategies of widely distributed holobionts in the oceanic archipelago of St Peter and St Paul (Brazil).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {6}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv043}, pmid = {25873456}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/genetics/isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Brazil ; Carbon/metabolism ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sponges are one of the most complex symbiotic communities and while the taxonomic composition of associated microbes has been determined, the biggest challenge now is to uncover their functional role in symbiosis. We investigated the microbiota of two widely distributed sponge species, regarding both their taxonomic composition and their functional roles. Samples of Didiscus oxeata and Scopalina ruetzleri were collected in the oceanic archipelago of St Peter and St Paul and analysed through metagenomics. Sequences generated by 454 pyrosequencing and Ion Torrent were taxonomically and functionally annotated on the MG-RAST server using the GenBank and SEED databases, respectively. Both communities exhibit equivalence in core functions, interestingly played by the most abundant taxa in each community. Conversely, the microbial communities differ in composition, taxonomic diversity and potential metabolic strategies. Functional annotation indirectly suggests differences in preferential pathways of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur metabolisms, which may indicate different metabolic strategies.}, } @article {pmid25871418, year = {2015}, author = {Marsh, PD and Head, DA and Devine, DA}, title = {Ecological approaches to oral biofilms: control without killing.}, journal = {Caries research}, volume = {49 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {46-54}, doi = {10.1159/000377732}, pmid = {25871418}, issn = {1421-976X}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Biofilms/drug effects ; Computer Simulation ; Dental Plaque/microbiology/prevention & control ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Microbial Viability ; Microbiota/drug effects/physiology ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Oral Health ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Humans have co-evolved with micro-organisms and have a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with their resident microbiome. As at other body surfaces, the mouth has a diverse microbiota that grows on oral surfaces as structurally and functionally organised biofilms. The oral microbiota is natural and provides important benefits to the host, including immunological priming, down-regulation of excessive pro-inflammatory responses, regulation of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, and colonisation by exogenous microbes. On occasions, this symbiotic relationship breaks down, and previously minor components of the microbiota outcompete beneficial bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of disease. Antimicrobial agents have been formulated into many oral care products to augment mechanical plaque control. A delicate balance is needed, however, to control the oral microbiota at levels compatible with health, without killing beneficial bacteria and losing the key benefits delivered by these resident microbes. These antimicrobial agents may achieve this by virtue of their recommended twice daily topical use, which results in pharmacokinetic profiles indicating that they are retained in the mouth for relatively long periods at sublethal levels. At these concentrations they are still able to inhibit bacterial traits implicated in disease (e.g. sugar transport/acid production; protease activity) and retard growth without eliminating beneficial species. In silico modelling studies have been performed which support the concept that either reducing the frequency of acid challenge and/or the terminal pH, or by merely slowing bacterial growth, results in maintaining a community of beneficial bacteria under conditions that might otherwise lead to disease (control without killing).}, } @article {pmid25870449, year = {2015}, author = {Hays, CA and Spiers, JA and Paterson, B}, title = {Opportunities and Constraints in Disseminating Qualitative Research in Web 2.0 Virtual Environments.}, journal = {Qualitative health research}, volume = {25}, number = {11}, pages = {1576-1588}, doi = {10.1177/1049732315580556}, pmid = {25870449}, issn = {1049-7323}, mesh = {Health Services Research/*methods ; Humans ; Information Dissemination/methods ; *Internet ; *Qualitative Research ; *Social Media ; }, abstract = {The Web 2.0 digital environment is revolutionizing how users communicate and relate to each other, and how information is shared, created, and recreated within user communities. The social media technologies in the Web 2.0 digital ecosystem are fundamentally changing the opportunities and dangers in disseminating qualitative health research. The social changes influenced by digital innovations shift dissemination from passive consumption to user-centered, apomediated cooperative approaches, the features of which are underutilized by many qualitative researchers. We identify opportunities new digital media presents for knowledge dissemination activities including access to wider audiences with few gatekeeper constraints, new perspectives, and symbiotic relationships between researchers and users. We also address some of the challenges in embracing these technologies including lack of control, potential for unethical co-optation of work, and cyberbullying. Finally, we offer solutions to enhance research dissemination in sustainable, ethical, and effective strategies.}, } @article {pmid25870270, year = {2015}, author = {Perlman, SJ and Hodson, CN and Hamilton, PT and Opit, GP and Gowen, BE}, title = {Maternal transmission, sex ratio distortion, and mitochondria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10162-10168}, pmid = {25870270}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Electron Transport Complex IV/metabolism ; Female ; Haplotypes ; *Inheritance Patterns ; Insecta/microbiology ; Male ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Sex Ratio ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {In virtually all multicellular eukaryotes, mitochondria are transmitted exclusively through one parent, usually the mother. In this short review, we discuss some of the major consequences of uniparental transmission of mitochondria, including deleterious effects in males and selection for increased transmission through females. Many of these consequences, particularly sex ratio distortion, have well-studied parallels in other maternally transmitted genetic elements, such as bacterial endosymbionts of arthropods. We also discuss the consequences of linkage between mitochondria and other maternally transmitted genetic elements, including the role of cytonuclear incompatibilities in maintaining polymorphism. Finally, as a case study, we discuss a recently discovered maternally transmitted sex ratio distortion in an insect that is associated with extraordinarily divergent mitochondria.}, } @article {pmid25869452, year = {2015}, author = {Pund, S and Pawar, S and Gangurde, S and Divate, D}, title = {Transcutaneous delivery of leflunomide nanoemulgel: Mechanistic investigation into physicomechanical characteristics, in vitro anti-psoriatic and anti-melanoma activity.}, journal = {International journal of pharmaceutics}, volume = {487}, number = {1-2}, pages = {148-156}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.04.015}, pmid = {25869452}, issn = {1873-3476}, mesh = {Adhesiveness ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Antineoplastic Agents/*administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drug Stability ; Emulsions ; Excipients ; Gels ; Hardness Tests ; Humans ; Isoxazoles/*administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Leflunomide ; Melanoma/*drug therapy ; Nanostructures ; Particle Size ; Psoriasis/*drug therapy ; Skin Absorption ; Viscosity ; }, abstract = {The present study is a mechanistic validation of 'proof of concept' of effective topical delivery of leflunomide (LFD) nanoemulgel for localized efficient treatment of psoriatic lesions as well as melanoma affected skin regions. Hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in psoriasis and symbiotic relationship between keratinocytes and melanocytes, justifies the need of dual acting treatment. LFD is recently introduced significantly effective disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug and has been considered valuable for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis as well as melanoma. Current available treatments for psoriasis and melanoma are inefficient due to systemic side effects, poor transcutaneous permeation and thus present a challenge for development of novel colloidal carriers. We newly reformulated LFD as a nanoemulgel based on self nanoemulsifying technique using Capryol 90, Cremophor EL, Transcutol HP as nanoemulsifying components and Pluronic F127 as a gelling agent. This thermodynamically stable nanoemuslsifying preconcentrate after gelation showed mean globule size, 123.7 nm and viscosity 9620 ± 93 cp. Complete mechanical characterization was carried out using Texture Analyzer and hardness, adhesiveness and springiness index were found to be 523 gms, 431 gms and 1.02, respectively. Ex vivo permeation through rat abdominal skin revealed significant improvement in flux, apparent permeability coefficient, steady state diffusion coefficient and drug deposition in skin due to nanoemulsification of LFD. The in vitro cytoxicity of LFD nanoemulgel in human HaCaT, melanoma A375 and SK-MEL-2 cell lines showed significantly enhanced therapeutic response. In gist, LFD nanoemulgel for trancutaneous delivery will reduce the overall dose and drug consumption, by effectively localizing at the applied target site and will ultimately minimize systemic side effects.}, } @article {pmid25868982, year = {2015}, author = {Bhar, K and Maity, A and Ghosh, A and Das, T and Dastidar, SG and Siddhanta, A}, title = {Phosphorylation of Leghemoglobin at S45 is Most Effective to Disrupt the Molecular Environment of Its Oxygen Binding Pocket.}, journal = {The protein journal}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {158-167}, pmid = {25868982}, issn = {1875-8355}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Leghemoglobin/*chemistry/genetics ; Lotus/chemistry ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxygen/*chemistry ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry ; Serine/*chemistry/genetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {In leguminous plants, nitrogenase that catalyzes anaerobic symbiotic nitrogen fixation is protected by the sequestration of O2 by Leghemoglobin (LegH). The modulation of the oxygen binding capacity of Hemoglobin (Hb) by different post-translational modifications is well studied; whereas similar studies on LegH's O2 binding are not yet benchmarked. Our results show that in vitro serine phosphorylation of recombinant LegH from Lotus japonicus, a model legume, by a homologous kinase caused a reduction in its oxygen consumption as determined by Clark type electrode. Although mass spectrometry revealed a few phosphorylated serine residues in the LegH, molecular modeling study showed that particularly S45 is the most critical one, along with S55, however the latter with lesser impact on its molecular environment responsible for oxygen consumption. Separate S45D and S55D mutants of recombinant LegH also corroborated the results obtained from molecular modeling study. Thus, this work lays groundwork for further investigation of structural and functional role of serine phosphorylation as one of the mechanisms by which oxygen consumption by LegH may possibly be regulated during nodulation.}, } @article {pmid25868684, year = {2015}, author = {Rädecker, N and Pogoreutz, C and Voolstra, CR and Wiedenmann, J and Wild, C}, title = {Nitrogen cycling in corals: the key to understanding holobiont functioning?.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {490-497}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2015.03.008}, pmid = {25868684}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Archaea/growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/physiology ; Fungi/growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals are animals that form close mutualistic associations with endosymbiotic photosynthetic algae of the genus Symbiodinium. Together they provide the calcium carbonate framework of coral reef ecosystems. The importance of the microbiome (i.e., bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses) to holobiont functioning has only recently been recognized. Given that growth and density of Symbiodinium within the coral host is highly dependent on nitrogen availability, nitrogen-cycling microbes may be of fundamental importance to the stability of the coral-algae symbiosis and holobiont functioning, in particular under nutrient-enriched and -depleted scenarios. We summarize what is known about nitrogen cycling in corals and conclude that disturbance of microbial nitrogen cycling may be tightly linked to coral bleaching and disease.}, } @article {pmid25868653, year = {2015}, author = {Nouri, E and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Flowers and mycorrhizal roots--closer than we think?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {20}, number = {6}, pages = {344-350}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2015.03.012}, pmid = {25868653}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Flowers/growth & development/*physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pollination ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Roots and flowers are formed at the extreme ends of plants and they differ in almost every aspect of their development and function; even so, they exhibit surprising molecular commonalities. For example, the calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) plays a central role in root symbioses with fungi and bacteria, but is also highly expressed in developing anthers. Moreover, independent evidence from transcriptomics, phylogenomics, and genetics reveals common developmental elements in root symbioses and reproductive development. We discuss the significance of these overlaps, and we argue that an integrated comparative view of the two phenomena will stimulate research and provide new insight, not only into shared components, but also into the specific aspects of anther development and root symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25868533, year = {2015}, author = {Henry, LM and Maiden, MC and Ferrari, J and Godfray, HC}, title = {Insect life history and the evolution of bacterial mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {516-525}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12425}, pmid = {25868533}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {087622//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants ; Aphids/classification/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Markov Chains ; Models, Genetic ; Monte Carlo Method ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbiosis has played a fundamental role in the evolution of eukaryotes. However, we still know little about how cooperative relationships with bacteria originate, and why they form in some host species but not others. Facultative symbionts that are beneficial, but not essential, provide unique insights into these processes. We use data from over a hundred aphid species to test if host life history is associated with the presence of facultative symbionts. We find that aphid species that have mutualistic associations with ants that protect them from natural enemies are less likely to carry symbionts that provide similar benefits. We also find one symbiont species occurs more frequently in unrelated aphid species that specialise on certain plant genera. In addition, aphid species that attack multiple plants often carry different symbiont complements. Our findings provide evidence of the ecological conditions that facilitate stable, mutually beneficial relationships between microbes and eukaryotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid25866215, year = {2015}, author = {Ciernikova, S and Mego, M and Hainova, K and Adamcikova, Z and Stevurkova, V and Zajac, V}, title = {Modification of microflora imbalance: future directions for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer?.}, journal = {Neoplasma}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {345-352}, doi = {10.4149/neo_2015_042}, pmid = {25866215}, issn = {0028-2685}, abstract = {Increasing incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer brings the necessity to uncover new possibilities in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The microbiome as the collective genetic material of the microflora, overexceed the number of genes in the human genome and is unique for each individual. Due to the benefits providing for the host and mainly for immediate interaction with the host immune system, a gastrointestinal microflora can be considered "cardinal microbiome". Host-microbial relations includes symbiotic, pathogenic and competitive interactions. Causal role of gastrointestinal microflora in colorectal carcinogenesis is still not well determined. This minireview is focused on current evidence in understanding the role of bacteria in colorectal carcinogenesis, the impact of bacterial dysbiosis on tumor formation, and ability of probiotics and bacterial vectors to modulate the gastrointestinal microflora as prevention and therapy tool in colorectal cancer.}, } @article {pmid25864343, year = {2015}, author = {Fadeeva, NA and Ruchkina, IN and Parfenov, AI and Shcherbakov, PL}, title = {[Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth as a cause of lactase deficiency].}, journal = {Terapevticheskii arkhiv}, volume = {87}, number = {2}, pages = {20-23}, doi = {10.17116/terarkh201587220-23}, pmid = {25864343}, issn = {0040-3660}, mesh = {Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Small/enzymology/*microbiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diet therapy/enzymology/*microbiology ; Lactase/*deficiency ; Lactose Intolerance/diet therapy/enzymology/*microbiology ; Male ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {AIM: To establish the rate of lactase deficiency (LD) in patients with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS), to define a role of enteric bacteria in the pathogenesis of hypolactasia, and to evaluate the efficiency of probiotic therapy.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Examinations were made in 386 patients with PI-IBS, including 112 (79.4%) women; mean age 33.9 ± 9.1 years; disease duration 2.6 ± 1.4 years. Rapid tests of small intestinal mucosa (SIM) biopsy specimens obtained from the duodenal retrobulbar segment were used to diagnose LD. Bacterial growth was estimated by a hydrogen breath test using a H2 MICRO gas analyzer.

RESULTS: The patients with PI-IBS were revealed to have moderate and severe LD in 25.6 and 10.9%, respectively. All the patients with LD were detected to have small intestinal (SI) bacterial overgrowth (BOG). An inverse correlation was found between LD and the degree of SI BOG (r = -0.53; p < 0.001). 73.7% of the patients with moderate LD showed a positive effect of probiotic therapy as regression of clinical symptoms of LD, a decrease of hydrogen levels in expired air from 72.4 ± 25.1 to 16.41 ± 3.2 ppm (p < 0.05), an increase of lactate activity in the SIM biopsy specimens and an improvement of quality of life from 2.69 ± 0.53 to 5.53 ± 0.64 scores according to the GCI scale. No improvement occurred in 73.8% of the patients with severe LD.

CONCLUSION: LD was identified in 36.5% of the patients with PI-IBS. There was an inverse correlation between the degree of LD and SI BOG. The good therapeutic effect of probiotics in LD suggests that the symbiotic gut microflora positively affects the activity of lactase in the human SIM. No therapeutic effect of probiotics in patients with severe LN serves as the basis for a search for more active probiotic therapy.}, } @article {pmid25862225, year = {2015}, author = {Iida, T and Itakura, M and Anda, M and Sugawara, M and Isawa, T and Okubo, T and Sato, S and Chiba-Kakizaki, K and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Symbiosis island shuffling with abundant insertion sequences in the genomes of extra-slow-growing strains of soybean bradyrhizobia.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {12}, pages = {4143-4154}, pmid = {25862225}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*growth & development ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomic Islands ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Extra-slow-growing bradyrhizobia from root nodules of field-grown soybeans harbor abundant insertion sequences (ISs) and are termed highly reiterated sequence-possessing (HRS) strains. We analyzed the genome organization of HRS strains with the focus on IS distribution and symbiosis island structure. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we consistently detected several plasmids (0.07 to 0.4 Mb) in the HRS strains (NK5, NK6, USDA135, 2281, USDA123, and T2), whereas no plasmids were detected in the non-HRS strain USDA110. The chromosomes of the six HRS strains (9.7 to 10.7 Mb) were larger than that of USDA110 (9.1 Mb). Using MiSeq sequences of 6 HRS and 17 non-HRS strains mapped to the USDA110 genome, we found that the copy numbers of ISRj1, ISRj2, ISFK1, IS1632, ISB27, ISBj8, and IS1631 were markedly higher in HRS strains. Whole-genome sequencing showed that the HRS strain NK6 had four small plasmids (136 to 212 kb) and a large chromosome (9,780 kb). Strong colinearity was found between 7.4-Mb core regions of the NK6 and USDA110 chromosomes. USDA110 symbiosis islands corresponded mainly to five small regions (S1 to S5) within two variable regions, V1 (0.8 Mb) and V2 (1.6 Mb), of the NK6 chromosome. The USDA110 nif gene cluster (nifDKENXSBZHQW-fixBCX) was split into two regions, S2 and S3, where ISRj1-mediated rearrangement occurred between nifS and nifB. ISs were also scattered in NK6 core regions, and ISRj1 insertion often disrupted some genes important for survival and environmental responses. These results suggest that HRS strains of soybean bradyrhizobia were subjected to IS-mediated symbiosis island shuffling and core genome degradation.}, } @article {pmid25861561, year = {2015}, author = {Williams, LE and Wernegreen, JJ}, title = {Genome evolution in an ancient bacteria-ant symbiosis: parallel gene loss among Blochmannia spanning the origin of the ant tribe Camponotini.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e881}, pmid = {25861561}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {R01 GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Stable associations between bacterial endosymbionts and insect hosts provide opportunities to explore genome evolution in the context of established mutualisms and assess the roles of selection and genetic drift across host lineages and habitats. Blochmannia, obligate endosymbionts of ants of the tribe Camponotini, have coevolved with their ant hosts for ∼40 MY. To investigate early events in Blochmannia genome evolution across this ant host tribe, we sequenced Blochmannia from two divergent host lineages, Colobopsis obliquus and Polyrhachis turneri, and compared them with four published genomes from Blochmannia of Camponotus sensu stricto. Reconstructed gene content of the last common ancestor (LCA) of these six Blochmannia genomes is reduced (690 protein coding genes), consistent with rapid gene loss soon after establishment of the symbiosis. Differential gene loss among Blochmannia lineages has affected cellular functions and metabolic pathways, including DNA replication and repair, vitamin biosynthesis and membrane proteins. Blochmannia of P. turneri (i.e., B. turneri) encodes an intact DnaA chromosomal replication initiation protein, demonstrating that loss of dnaA was not essential for establishment of the symbiosis. Based on gene content, B. obliquus and B. turneri are unable to provision hosts with riboflavin. Of the six sequenced Blochmannia, B. obliquus is the earliest diverging lineage (i.e., the sister group of other Blochmannia sampled) and encodes the fewest protein-coding genes and the most pseudogenes. We identified 55 genes involved in parallel gene loss, including glutamine synthetase, which may participate in nitrogen recycling. Pathways for biosynthesis of coenzyme A, terpenoids and riboflavin were lost in multiple lineages, suggesting relaxed selection on the pathway after inactivation of one component. Analysis of Illumina read datasets did not detect evidence of plasmids encoding missing functions, nor the presence of coresident symbionts other than Wolbachia. Although gene order is strictly conserved in four Blochmannia of Camponotus sensu stricto, comparisons with deeply divergent lineages revealed inversions in eight genomic regions, indicating ongoing recombination despite ancestral loss of recA. In sum, the addition of two Blochmannia genomes of divergent host lineages enables reconstruction of early events in evolution of this symbiosis and suggests that Blochmannia lineages may experience distinct, host-associated selective pressures. Understanding how evolutionary forces shape genome reduction in this system may help to clarify forces driving gene loss in other bacteria, including intracellular pathogens.}, } @article {pmid25860838, year = {2015}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Siegler, H and Haga, K and Iino, M and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Full establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice occurs independently of enzymatic jasmonate biosynthesis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0123422}, pmid = {25860838}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/metabolism ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oryza/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Development of the mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis between most land plants and fungi of the Glomeromycota is regulated by phytohormones. The role of jasmonate (JA) in AM colonization has been investigated in the dicotyledons Medicago truncatula, tomato and Nicotiana attenuata and contradicting results have been obtained with respect to a neutral, promotive or inhibitory effect of JA on AM colonization. Furthermore, it is currently unknown whether JA plays a role in AM colonization of monocotyledonous roots. Therefore we examined whether JA biosynthesis is required for AM colonization of the monocot rice. To this end we employed the rice mutant constitutive photomorphogenesis 2 (cpm2), which is deficient in JA biosynthesis. Through a time course experiment the amount and morphology of fungal colonization did not differ between wild-type and cpm2 roots. Furthermore, no significant difference in the expression of AM marker genes was detected between wild type and cpm2. However, treatment of wild-type roots with 50 μM JA lead to a decrease of AM colonization and this was correlated with induction of the defense gene PR4. These results indicate that JA is not required for AM colonization of rice but high levels of JA in the roots suppress AM development likely through the induction of defense.}, } @article {pmid25860835, year = {2015}, author = {Symanczik, S and Courty, PE and Boller, T and Wiemken, A and Al-Yahya'ei, MN}, title = {Impact of water regimes on an experimental community of four desert arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species, as affected by the introduction of a non-native AMF species.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {639-647}, pmid = {25860835}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Desert Climate ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Introduced Species ; Meristem/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Soil Microbiology ; Sorghum/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Field studies have revealed the impact of changing water regimes on the structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities, but it is not known what happens to the abundance of individual AMF species within the community when the water conditions in the rhizosphere change. The behavior of four AMF species isolated from the Arabian desert (Diversispora aurantia, Diversispora omaniana, Septoglomus africanum, and an undescribed Paraglomus species) was investigated when assembled in microcosms containing Sorghum bicolor as host plant, and treated with various water regimes. Furthermore, the impact of invasion of these assemblages by Rhizophagus irregularis, an AMF species widely used in commercial inocula, was studied. The abundance of each AMF species in sorghum roots was measured by determining the transcript numbers of their large ribosomal subunit (rLSU) by real-time PCR, using cDNA and species-specific primers. Plant biomass and length of AMF extraradical hyphae were also measured. The abundance of each AMF species within the sorghum roots was influenced by both the water regime and the introduction of R. irregularis. Under dry conditions, the introduction of R. irregularis reduced the total abundance of all native AMF species in roots and also led to a reduction in the amount of extraradical mycelium, as well as to a partial decrease in plant biomass. The results indicate that both water regime and the introduction of an invasive AMF species can strongly alter the structure of an AMF native assemblage with a consequent impact on the entire symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship.}, } @article {pmid25858141, year = {2015}, author = {Roossinck, MJ}, title = {Plants, viruses and the environment: Ecology and mutualism.}, journal = {Virology}, volume = {479-480}, number = {}, pages = {271-277}, doi = {10.1016/j.virol.2015.03.041}, pmid = {25858141}, issn = {1096-0341}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/growth & development/virology ; Plant Diseases/virology ; Plant Viruses/*physiology ; Plants/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since the discovery of Tobacco mosaic virus nearly 120 years ago, most studies on viruses have focused on their roles as pathogens. Virus ecology takes a different look at viruses, from the standpoint of how they affect their hosts׳ interactions with the environment. Using the framework of symbiotic relationships helps put the true nature of viruses into perspective. Plants clearly have a long history of relationships with viruses that have shaped their evolution. In wild plants viruses are common but usually asymptomatic. In experimental studies plant viruses are sometimes mutualists rather than pathogens. Virus ecology is closely tied to the ecology of their vectors, and the behavior of insects, critical for transmission of many plant viruses, is impacted by virus-plant interactions. Virulence is probable not beneficial for most host-virus interactions, hence commensal and mutualistic relationships are almost certainly common, in spite of the paucity of literature on beneficial viruses.}, } @article {pmid25855527, year = {2015}, author = {Li, B and Huang, W and Zhang, C and Feng, S and Zhang, Z and Lei, Z and Sugiura, N}, title = {Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on aerobic granulation of algal-bacterial symbiosis system and nutrients removal from synthetic wastewater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {187}, number = {}, pages = {214-220}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2015.03.118}, pmid = {25855527}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria, Aerobic/drug effects/*physiology ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Metal Nanoparticles/*administration & dosage ; Microbial Consortia/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; Titanium/*pharmacology ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Water Purification/methods ; }, abstract = {The influence of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) (10-50mg/L) on aerobic granulation of algal-bacterial symbiosis system was investigated by using two identical sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Although little adverse effect was observed on their nitritation efficiency (98-100% in both reactors), algal-bacterial granules in the control SBR (Rc) gradually lost stability mainly brought about by algae growth. TiO2-NPs addition to RT was found to enhance the granulation process achieving stable and compact algal-bacterial granules with remarkably improved nitratation thus little nitrite accumulation in RT when influent TiO2-NPs⩾30mg/L. Despite almost similar organics and phosphorus removals obtained in both reactors, the stably high nitratation efficiency in addition to much stable granular structure in RT suggests that TiO2-NPs addition might be a promising remedy for the long-term operation of algal-bacterial granular system, most probably attributable to the stimulated excretion of extracellular polymeric substances and less filamentous TM7.}, } @article {pmid25854984, year = {2015}, author = {Zhong, Z and Wang, Y and Ping, W and Ling, J and Zheng, H and Wang, H and Zhu, J}, title = {Function of MsiR on canavanine-mediated repression in Mesorhizobium tianshanense.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {197}, number = {5}, pages = {729-735}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-015-1106-3}, pmid = {25854984}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Biological Transport/genetics/*physiology ; Canavanine/*metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Binding/genetics ; Protein Conformation ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium tianshanense employs MsiA as canavanine exporter, which is upregulated by MsiR, to successfully form a symbiosis with the legume Glycyrrhiza uralensis. In this research, through gel-shift and bacterial two-hybrid examination, MsiR was found to spontaneously form dimers and bind to msiA promoter without additional canavanine. Six truncated forms of MsiR were constructed, and the conserved helix-turn-helix (HTH), substrate-binding, and surface-loop domains were found essential for MsiR functions. Random mutagenesis was used to study the functional sites of MsiR. Seven point mutants were selected, in which three mutants constitutively induced msiA expression without additional canavanine, two mutants partially changed substrate specificity, and the other two were almost null mutants. Results from the site mutation show that the functional subunits (HTH domain, dimerization interface domains, and C-terminal) are important in the conformation and induction ability of MsiR.}, } @article {pmid25853701, year = {2015}, author = {Rababah, TM and Awaisheh, SS and Al-Tamimi, HJ and Brewer, S}, title = {The hypocholesterolemic and hormone modulation effects of isoflavones alone or co-fermented with probiotic bacteria in hypercholesterolemic rats model.}, journal = {International journal of food sciences and nutrition}, volume = {66}, number = {5}, pages = {546-552}, doi = {10.3109/09637486.2015.1028908}, pmid = {25853701}, issn = {1465-3478}, mesh = {Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Bacteria ; Cholesterol/*blood ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Diet, High-Fat ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fermentation ; Hydrocortisone/*blood ; Hypercholesterolemia/blood/*drug therapy/etiology ; Isoflavones/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Steroids/blood ; Testosterone/*blood ; Thyroid Hormones/*blood ; Triglycerides/blood ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of isoflavones alone or probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones on serum and hepatic lipid profile, serum steroid (SHs) and thyroid hormones (THs) of hypercholesterolemic rats (N = 48). Animals were fed for 8 weeks with probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones or isoflavones alone, beside high-fat-high-cholesterol diet. Serum was analyzed for cholesterols, triglycerides (TG), SHs and THs. Results demonstrated that the given treatments significantly decreased serum total-cholesterol (TC), low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL/HDL ratio, and increased TG, compared to controls. The probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones decreased TC, LDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio more effectively than isoflavones alone. Also, both isoflavones treatments induced a hyperthyroidism state, as the levels of T-T4, T-T3 and fT3 significantly increased. In addition, these treatments decreased testosterone and increased cortisol levels. Thus, isoflavones-containing-treatments, particularly probiotics-co-fermented isoflavones, could reduce CVD incidence by controlling lipid profile; and this control could in part be due to modulation of SHs and THs.}, } @article {pmid25853675, year = {2015}, author = {Inui, Y and Shimizu-Kaya, U and Okubo, T and Yamsaki, E and Itioka, T}, title = {Various chemical strategies to deceive ants in three Arhopala species (lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) exploiting Macaranga myrmecophytes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {e0120652}, pmid = {25853675}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*drug effects ; Deception ; Eating ; *Euphorbiaceae ; Hydrocarbons/analysis ; Larva/chemistry/physiology ; Lepidoptera/*chemistry/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Macaranga myrmecophytes (ant-plants) are generally well protected from herbivore attacks by their symbiotic ants (plant-ants). However, larvae of Arhopala (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) species survive and develop on specific Macaranga ant-plant species without being attacked by the plant-ants of their host species. We hypothesized that Arhopala larvae chemically mimic or camouflage themselves with the ants on their host plant so that the larvae are accepted by the plant-ant species of their host. Chemical analyses of cuticular hydrocarbons showed that chemical congruency varied among Arhopala species; A. dajagaka matched well the host plant-ants, A. amphimuta did not match, and unexpectedly, A. zylda lacked hydrocarbons. Behaviorally, the larvae and dummies coated with cuticular chemicals of A. dajagaka were well attended by the plant-ants, especially by those of the host. A. amphimuta was often attacked by all plant-ants except for the host plant-ants toward the larvae, and those of A. zylda were ignored by all plant-ants. Our results suggested that conspicuous variations exist in the chemical strategies used by the myrmecophilous butterflies that allow them to avoid ant attack and be accepted by the plant-ant colonies.}, } @article {pmid25852650, year = {2015}, author = {Balzano, S and Corre, E and Decelle, J and Sierra, R and Wincker, P and Da Silva, C and Poulain, J and Pawlowski, J and Not, F}, title = {Transcriptome analyses to investigate symbiotic relationships between marine protists.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {98}, pmid = {25852650}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Rhizaria are an important component of oceanic plankton communities worldwide. A number of species harbor eukaryotic microalgal symbionts, which are horizontally acquired in the environment at each generation. Although these photosymbioses are determinant for Rhizaria ability to thrive in oceanic ecosystems, the mechanisms for symbiotic interactions are unclear. Using high-throughput sequencing technology (i.e., 454), we generated large Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) datasets from four uncultured Rhizaria, an acantharian (Amphilonche elongata), two polycystines (Collozoum sp. and Spongosphaera streptacantha), and one phaeodarian (Aulacantha scolymantha). We assessed the main genetic features of the host/symbionts consortium (i.e., the holobiont) transcriptomes and found rRNA sequences affiliated to a wide range of bacteria and protists in all samples, suggesting that diverse microbial communities are associated with the holobionts. A particular focus was then carried out to search for genes potentially involved in symbiotic processes such as the presence of c-type lectins-coding genes, which are proteins that play a role in cell recognition among eukaryotes. Unigenes coding putative c-type lectin domains (CTLD) were found in the species bearing photosynthetic symbionts (A. elongata, Collozoum sp., and S. streptacantha) but not in the non-symbiotic one (A. scolymantha). More particularly, phylogenetic analyses group CTLDs from A. elongata and Collozoum sp. on a distinct branch from S. streptacantha CTLDs, which contained carbohydrate-binding motifs typically observed in other marine photosymbiosis. Our data suggest that similarly to other well-known marine photosymbiosis involving metazoans, the interactions of glycans with c-type lectins is likely involved in modulation of the host/symbiont specific recognition in Radiolaria.}, } @article {pmid25852067, year = {2015}, author = {Nissen, M and Shcherbakov, D and Heyer, A and Brümmer, F and Schill, RO}, title = {Behaviour of the plathelminth Symsagittifera roscoffensis under different light conditions and the consequences for the symbiotic algae Tetraselmis convolutae.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 11}, pages = {1693-1698}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.110429}, pmid = {25852067}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorophyta/physiology/*radiation effects ; *Light ; Movement/radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; Platyhelminths/physiology/*radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symsagittifera roscoffensis is a plathelminth living in symbiosis with the green algae Tetraselmis convolutae. Host and symbiont are a model system for the study of endosymbiosis, which has so far mainly focused on their biochemical interactions. Symsagittifera roscoffensis is well known for its positive phototaxis that is hypothesized to optimize the symbiont's light perception for photosynthesis. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of phototaxis using light sources of different wavelength and brightness by videotracking. Furthermore, we compared the behavioural data with the electron transfer rate of the photosystem from cultured symbiotic cells. The symbiotic algae is adapted to low light conditions, showing a positive electron transfer rate at a photosynthetically active radiation of 0.112 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1), and S. roscoffensis showed a positive phototactic behaviour for light intensities up to 459.17 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1), which is not optimal regarding the needs of the symbiotic cells and may even harm host and symbiont. Red light cannot be detected by the animals and therefore their eyes seem not to be suitable for measuring the exact photosynthetically active radiation to the benefit of the photosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid25851957, year = {2015}, author = {De Vooght, L and Caljon, G and Van Hees, J and Van Den Abbeele, J}, title = {Paternal Transmission of a Secondary Symbiont during Mating in the Viviparous Tsetse Fly.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {8}, pages = {1977-1980}, pmid = {25851957}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*physiology ; Male ; Reproduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Tsetse Flies/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sodalis glossinidius, a maternally inherited secondary symbiont of the tsetse fly, is a bacterium in the early/intermediate state of the transition toward symbiosis, representing an important model for investigating establishment and evolution of insect-bacteria symbiosis. The absence of phylogenetic congruence in tsetse-Sodalis coevolution and the existence of Sodalis genotypic diversity in field flies are suggestive for a horizontal transmission route. However, to date no natural mechanism for the horizontal transfer of this symbiont has been identified. Using novel methodologies for the stable fluorescent-labeling and introduction of modified Sodalis in tsetse flies, we unambiguously show that male-borne Sodalis is 1) horizontally transferred to females during mating and 2) subsequently vertically transmitted to the progeny, that is, paternal transmission. This mixed mode of transmission has major consequences regarding Sodalis' genome evolution as it can lead to coinfections creating opportunities for lateral gene transfer which in turn could affect the interaction with the tsetse host.}, } @article {pmid25850738, year = {2016}, author = {Salvat, B and Roche, H and Ramade, F}, title = {On the occurrence of a widespread contamination by herbicides of coral reef biota in French Polynesia.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {49-60}, pmid = {25850738}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; *Biota/drug effects ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Fishes ; *Herbicides/analysis ; Polynesia ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {Research has been conducted within the framework of the French Initiative for Coral Reefs (IFRECOR) to assess pesticide pollution levels in the coral reef trophic webs in French Polynesia. Unexpected widespread contamination by herbicides was found in algae, fishes and macro-invertebrates located at various levels of the reef trophic web. Concentrations in organisms investigated were for the majority below the lowest observable effect level and do not pose a dietary risk to native population who subsist on these fish. However, the widespread contamination may affect the reef ecosystem in the future as coral symbiotic algae, Symbidinium sp. (Dinophyta) are particularly sensitive to photosystem II herbicides, particularly the substituted urea and triazine derivatives.}, } @article {pmid25849363, year = {2015}, author = {Vahabi, K and Sherameti, I and Bakshi, M and Mrozinska, A and Ludwig, A and Reichelt, M and Oelmüller, R}, title = {The interaction of Arabidopsis with Piriformospora indica shifts from initial transient stress induced by fungus-released chemical mediators to a mutualistic interaction after physical contact of the two symbionts.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {58}, pmid = {25849363}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Down-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Stomata/drug effects/physiology ; Seedlings/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Transcriptome/drug effects/genetics ; Up-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Piriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, colonizes the roots of many plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana. The symbiotic interaction promotes plant performance, growth and resistance/tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress.

RESULTS: We demonstrate that exudated compounds from the fungus activate stress and defense responses in the Arabidopsis roots and shoots before the two partners are in physical contact. They induce stomata closure, stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, stress-related phytohormone accumulation and activate defense and stress genes in the roots and/or shoots. Once a physical contact is established, the stomata re-open, ROS and phytohormone levels decline, and the number and expression level of defense/stress-related genes decreases.

CONCLUSIONS: We propose that exudated compounds from P. indica induce stress and defense responses in the host. Root colonization results in the down-regulation of defense responses and the activation of genes involved in promoting plant growth, metabolism and performance.}, } @article {pmid25846922, year = {2015}, author = {Garofalo, C and Osimani, A and Milanović, V and Aquilanti, L and De Filippis, F and Stellato, G and Di Mauro, S and Turchetti, B and Buzzini, P and Ercolini, D and Clementi, F}, title = {Bacteria and yeast microbiota in milk kefir grains from different Italian regions.}, journal = {Food microbiology}, volume = {49}, number = {}, pages = {123-133}, doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2015.01.017}, pmid = {25846922}, issn = {1095-9998}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Cultured Milk Products/chemistry/*microbiology ; Italy ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Yeasts/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Kefir grains are a unique symbiotic association of different microrganisms, mainly lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and occasionally acetic acid bacteria, cohabiting in a natural polysaccharide and a protein matrix. The microbial composition of kefir grains can be considered as extremely variable since it is strongly influenced by the geographical origin of the grains and by the sub-culturing method used. The aim of this study was to elucidate the bacteria and yeast species occurring in milk kefir grains collected in some Italian regions by combining the results of scanning electron microscopy analysis, viable counts on selective culture media, PCR-DGGE and pyrosequencing. The main bacterial species found was Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens while Dekkera anomala was the predominant yeast. The presence of sub-dominant species ascribed to Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis and Acetobacter genera was also highlighted. In addition, Lc. lactis, Enterococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Acetobacter fabarum, Acetobacter lovaniensis and Acetobacter orientalis were identified as part of the cultivable community. This work further confirms both the importance of combining culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches to study microbial diversity in food and how the combination of multiple 16S rRNA gene targets strengthens taxonomic identification using sequence-based identification approaches.}, } @article {pmid25846719, year = {2015}, author = {Gomez, A and Petrzelkova, K and Yeoman, CJ and Vlckova, K and Mrázek, J and Koppova, I and Carbonero, F and Ulanov, A and Modry, D and Todd, A and Torralba, M and Nelson, KE and Gaskins, HR and Wilson, B and Stumpf, RM and White, BA and Leigh, SR}, title = {Gut microbiome composition and metabolomic profiles of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) reflect host ecology.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {2551-2565}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13181}, pmid = {25846719}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Central African Republic ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diet/veterinary ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Feces/chemistry/*microbiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Geography ; Gorilla gorilla/*microbiology ; Metabolomics ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The metabolic activities of gut microbes significantly influence host physiology; thus, characterizing the forces that modulate this micro-ecosystem is key to understanding mammalian biology and fitness. To investigate the gut microbiome of wild primates and determine how these microbial communities respond to the host's external environment, we characterized faecal bacterial communities and, for the first time, gut metabolomes of four wild lowland gorilla groups in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic. Results show that geographical range may be an important modulator of the gut microbiomes and metabolomes of these gorilla groups. Distinctions seemed to relate to feeding behaviour, implying energy harvest through increased fruit consumption or fermentation of highly fibrous foods. These observations were supported by differential abundance of metabolites and bacterial taxa associated with the metabolism of cellulose, phenolics, organic acids, simple sugars, lipids and sterols between gorillas occupying different geographical ranges. Additionally, the gut microbiomes of a gorilla group under increased anthropogenic pressure could always be distinguished from that of all other groups. By characterizing the interplay between environment, behaviour, diet and symbiotic gut microbes, we present an alternative perspective on primate ecology and on the forces that shape the gut microbiomes of wild primates from an evolutionary context.}, } @article {pmid25846321, year = {2015}, author = {Min, YW and Rhee, PL}, title = {The Role of Microbiota on the Gut Immunology.}, journal = {Clinical therapeutics}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {968-975}, doi = {10.1016/j.clinthera.2015.03.009}, pmid = {25846321}, issn = {1879-114X}, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/biosynthesis ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; Th17 Cells/immunology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: The human gut contains >100 trillion microbes. This microbiota plays a crucial role in the gut homeostasis. Importantly, the microbiota contributes to the development and regulation of the gut immune system. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota could also cause several intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Many experimental studies help us to understand the complex interplay between the host and microbiota.

METHODS: This review presents our current understanding of the mucosal immune system and the role of gut microbiota for the development and functionality of the mucosal immunity, with a particular focus on gut-associated lymphoid tissues, mucosal barrier, TH17 cells, regulatory T cells, innate lymphoid cells, dendritic cells, and IgA-producing B cells and plasma cells.

FINDINGS: Comparative studies using germ-free and conventionally-raised animals reveal that the presence of microbiota is important for the development and regulation of innate and adaptive immune systems. The host-microbial symbiosis seems necessary for gut homeostasis. However, the precise mechanisms by which microbiota contributes to development and functionality of the immune system remain to be elucidated.

IMPLICATIONS: Understanding the complex interplay between the host and microbiota and further investigation of the host-microbiota relationship could provide us the insight into the therapeutic and/or preventive strategy for the disorders related to dysbiosis of the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid25845304, year = {2015}, author = {Lopes, MS}, title = {Engineering biological systems toward a sustainable bioeconomy.}, journal = {Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {813-838}, pmid = {25845304}, issn = {1476-5535}, mesh = {Bioengineering/*economics/*trends ; Carbon/economics ; Conservation of Natural Resources/*economics/*trends ; Fossil Fuels/economics ; Industry/economics/*trends ; Internationality ; }, abstract = {The nature of our major global risks calls for sustainable innovations to decouple economic growth from greenhouse gases emission. The development of sustainable technologies has been negatively impacted by several factors including sugar production costs, production scale, economic crises, hydraulic fracking development and the market inability to capture externality costs. However, advances in engineering of biological systems allow bridging the gap between exponential growth of knowledge about biology and the creation of sustainable value chains for a broad range of economic sectors. Additionally, industrial symbiosis of different biobased technologies can increase competitiveness and sustainability, leading to the development of eco-industrial parks. Reliable policies for carbon pricing and revenue reinvestments in disruptive technologies and in the deployment of eco-industrial parks could boost the welfare while addressing our major global risks toward the transition from a fossil to a biobased economy.}, } @article {pmid25845267, year = {2015}, author = {Cassone, BJ and Redinbaugh, MG and Dorrance, AE and Michel, AP}, title = {Shifts in Buchnera aphidicola density in soybean aphids (Aphis glycines) feeding on virus-infected soybean.}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {422-431}, doi = {10.1111/imb.12170}, pmid = {25845267}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/genetics/*virology ; Comovirus/*physiology ; Fertility ; Genes, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Mosaic Viruses ; Plant Diseases/virology ; Population Dynamics ; Soybeans/parasitology/*virology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Vertically transmitted bacterial symbionts are common in arthropods. Aphids undergo an obligate symbiosis with Buchnera aphidicola, which provides essential amino acids to its host and contributes directly to nymph growth and reproduction. We previously found that newly adult Aphis glycines feeding on soybean infected with the beetle-transmitted Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) had significantly reduced fecundity. We hypothesized that the reduced fecundity was attributable to detrimental impacts of the virus on the aphid microbiome, namely Buchnera. To test this, mRNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR were used to assay Buchnera transcript abundance and titre in A. glycines feeding on Soybean mosaic virus-infected, BPMV-infected, and healthy soybean for up to 14 days. Our results indicated that Buchnera density was lower and ultimately suppressed in aphids feeding on virus-infected soybean. While the decreased Buchnera titre may be associated with reduced aphid fecundity, additional mechanisms are probably involved. The present report begins to describe how interactions among insects, plants, and plant pathogens influence endosymbiont population dynamics.}, } @article {pmid25844838, year = {2015}, author = {Lang, C and Long, SR}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago truncatula Symbiosis Using Nitrogen Fixation-Deficient Nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {856-868}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-14-0407-R}, pmid = {25844838}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti interacts symbiotically with legume plant hosts such as Medicago truncatula to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. During symbiosis, plant and bacterial cells differentiate in a coordinated manner, resulting in specialized plant cells that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Both plant and bacterial genes are required at each developmental stage of symbiosis. We analyzed gene expression in nodules formed by wild-type bacteria on six plant mutants with defects in nitrogen fixation. We observed differential expression of 482 S. meliloti genes with functions in cell envelope homeostasis, cell division, stress response, energy metabolism, and nitrogen fixation. We simultaneously analyzed gene expression in M. truncatula and observed differential regulation of host processes that may trigger bacteroid differentiation and control bacterial infection. Our analyses of developmentally arrested plant mutants indicate that plants use distinct means to control bacterial infection during early and late symbiotic stages.}, } @article {pmid25844461, year = {2014}, author = {Andronov, EE and Onishchuk, OP and Kurchak, ON and Provorov, NA}, title = {[Population structure of the clover rhizobia Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii upon transition from soil into the nodular niche].}, journal = {Mikrobiologiia}, volume = {83}, number = {4}, pages = {500-508}, pmid = {25844461}, issn = {0026-3656}, mesh = {Medicago/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*classification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {High-throughput sequencing of the amplicon gene library revealed variations in the population structure of clover rhizobia (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii) upon transition from soil into the root nodules of the host plant (Trifolium-hybridum). Analysis of rhizobial-diversity using the nodA gene revealed 3258 and 1449 nucleotide sequences (allelic-variants) for the soil and root nodule population, respectively. They were combined into 29 operational taxonomic units (OTU) according to the 97% identity level; 24 OTU were. foundin the soil population, 12 were present in the root nodulepopulation, and 7 were common. The predominant OTE13 (77.4 and 91.5% of the soil and root nodule populations, respectively) contained 155 and -200 variants of the soil and root nodule populations, respectively, with the nucleotide diversity increasing significantly upon the "soil-->root" transition. The "moving window" approach was used to reveal the sites of the nodA gene in which polymorphism, including that associated with increased frequency of non-synonymous substitution frequency, increased sharply upon transition from soil into root nodiles. PCR analysis of the IGS genotypes of individual strains revealed insignificant changes in rhizobial diversity upon transition from soil into root nodules. These results indicate that acceleration of rhizobial evolutioin in the course of symbiosis may be associated with development of highly polymorphic virulent:subpopulations subjected to directional selection in the "plant-soil" system.}, } @article {pmid25844441, year = {2014}, author = {Beleneva, IA and Magarlamov, TY and Kukhlevskii, AD}, title = {[Characterization, identification, and screening for tetrodotoxin production by bacteria associated with the Cephalotrix simula (Ivata, 1952) proboscis worm].}, journal = {Mikrobiologiia}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {312-319}, pmid = {25844441}, issn = {0026-3656}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms ; Bacillus/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Tetrodotoxin/*metabolism ; Vibrio/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The taxonomic composition of bacteria associated with the Cephalotrix simula proboscis worm was studied and screening of the tetrodotoxin (TTX)-producing bacteria was carried out using confocal laser scanning microscopy and polyclonal antibodies. Bacterial isolates were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phenotypic characteristics. A Bacillus species was found to be responsible for tetrodotoxin production in C. simula proboscis worms. Vibrio spp. predominated in the associated microflora (68.18% of the total number of isolates). Analysis of the sensitivity of 16 strains to antibiotics of various classes revealed multiple resistance to three or more antibiotics in all studied isolates. Poor growth of most of the isolates on all laboratory media was an indirect confirmation of the symbiotic relationships between the micro- and macroorganisms.}, } @article {pmid25843585, year = {2015}, author = {Rodríguez, J and Montoya-Lerma, J and Calle, Z}, title = {Effect of Tithonia diversifolia mulch on Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {25843585}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Agaricales/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Asteraceae/*chemistry ; Colombia ; Feeding Behavior ; *Manure ; Melastomataceae/chemistry ; Nesting Behavior ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Soil/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have shown an insecticidal effect of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) Gray (Asterales: Asteraceae) foliage on workers of Atta cephalotes L. and inhibitory effects of this plant on the growth of the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (A. Müler) Singer. To evaluate the potential of T. diversifolia as a biological control treatment of this important pest, we assessed the effect of green manure (mulch) of this plant on natural nests of A. cephalotes, in Cali, Colombia. Three treatments were randomly assigned to 30 nests: 1) green mulch of T. diversifolia, 2) green mulch of Miconia sp., Ruiz & Pav. and 3) unmulched control. Every 2 wk for 6 mo, the surface of the nests was completely covered with leaves. Physical and chemical parameters of nest soil were assessed before the first and after the last application of the mulch. Ant foraging in T. diversifolia-treated nests decreased by 60% after the initial applications of the mulch, while nest surface area decreased by 40%. When the nests covered with T. diversifolia were opened, it was observed that the superficial fungus chambers had been relocated at a greater depth. In addition, microbial activity and soil pH increased by 84% and 12%, respectively, in nests covered with plant residues. In conclusion, the continued use of T. diversifolia mulch reduces foraging activity and negatively affects the internal conditions of the colonies, thereby inducing the ants to relocate the fungus chambers within the nests.}, } @article {pmid25843147, year = {2015}, author = {Alberts, EM and Taylor, SD and Edwards, SL and Sherman, DM and Huang, CP and Kenny, P and Wilker, JJ}, title = {Structural and compositional characterization of the adhesive produced by reef building oysters.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {7}, number = {16}, pages = {8533-8538}, doi = {10.1021/acsami.5b00287}, pmid = {25843147}, issn = {1944-8252}, mesh = {Adhesives/*chemistry ; Animal Shells/ultrastructure ; Animals ; *Coral Reefs ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Ostreidae/*chemistry/ultrastructure ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; }, abstract = {Oysters have an impressive ability to overcome difficulties of life within the stressful intertidal zone. These shellfish produce an adhesive for attaching to each other and building protective reef communities. With their reefs often exceeding kilometers in length, oysters play a major role in balancing the health of coastal marine ecosystems. Few details are available to describe oyster adhesive composition or structure. Here several characterization methods were applied to describe the nature of this material. Microscopy studies indicated that the glue is comprised of organic fiber-like and sheet-like structures surrounded by an inorganic matrix. Phospholipids, cross-linking chemistry, and conjugated organics were found to differentiate this adhesive from the shell. Symbiosis in material synthesis could also be present, with oysters incorporating bacterial polysaccharides into their adhesive. Oyster glue shows that an organic-inorganic composite material can provide adhesion, a property especially important when constructing a marine ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid25841208, year = {2015}, author = {Tomè, E and Tagliavini, M and Scandellari, F}, title = {Recently fixed carbon allocation in strawberry plants and concurrent inorganic nitrogen uptake through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {83-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2015.02.008}, pmid = {25841208}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; *Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Flowers/metabolism ; Fragaria/*metabolism ; Fruit/metabolism ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Isotope Labeling ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; }, abstract = {Most crop species form a symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, receiving plant photosynthate and exchanging nutrients from the soil. The plant carbon (C) allocation to AM fungi and the nitrogen feedback are rarely studied together. In this study, a dual (13)CO2 and (15)NH4(15)NO3 pulse labeling experiment was carried out to determine the allocation of recent photosynthates to mycorrhizal hyphae and the translocation of N absorbed by hyphae to strawberry plants. Plants were grown in pots in which a 50 μm mesh net allowed the physical separation of the mycorrhizal hyphae from the roots in one portion of the pot. An inorganic source of (15)N was added to the hyphal compartment at the same time of the (13)CO2 pulse labeling. One and seven days after pulse labeling, the plants were destructively harvested and the amount of the recently fixed carbon (C) and of the absorbed N was determined. (13)C allocated to belowground organs such as roots and mycorrhizal hyphae accounted for an average of 10%, with 4.3% allocated to mycorrhizal hyphae within the first 24h after the pulse labeling. Mycorrhizae absorbed labeled inorganic nitrogen, of which almost 23% was retained in the fungal mycelium. The N uptake was linearly correlated with the (13)C fixed by the plants suggesting a positive correlation between a plant photosynthetic rate and the hyphal absorption capacity.}, } @article {pmid25841038, year = {2015}, author = {Breuillin-Sessoms, F and Floss, DS and Gomez, SK and Pumplin, N and Ding, Y and Levesque-Tremblay, V and Noar, RD and Daniels, DA and Bravo, A and Eaglesham, JB and Benedito, VA and Udvardi, MK and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Suppression of Arbuscule Degeneration in Medicago truncatula phosphate transporter4 Mutants is Dependent on the Ammonium Transporter 2 Family Protein AMT2;3.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {1352-1366}, pmid = {25841038}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, the plant gains access to phosphate (Pi) and nitrogen delivered by its fungal symbiont. Transfer of mineral nutrients occurs at the interface between branched hyphae called arbuscules and root cortical cells. In Medicago truncatula, a Pi transporter, PT4, is required for symbiotic Pi transport, and in pt4, symbiotic Pi transport fails, arbuscules degenerate prematurely, and the symbiosis is not maintained. Premature arbuscule degeneration (PAD) is suppressed when pt4 mutants are nitrogen-deprived, possibly the result of compensation by PT8, a second AM-induced Pi transporter. However, PAD is also suppressed in nitrogen-starved pt4 pt8 double mutants, negating this hypothesis and furthermore indicating that in this condition, neither of these symbiotic Pi transporters is required for symbiosis. In M. truncatula, three AMT2 family ammonium transporters are induced during AM symbiosis. To test the hypothesis that suppression of PAD involves AMT2 transporters, we analyzed double and triple Pi and ammonium transporter mutants. ATM2;3 but not AMT2;4 was required for suppression of PAD in pt4, while AMT2;4, but not AMT2;3, complemented growth of a yeast ammonium transporter mutant. In summary, arbuscule life span is influenced by PT4 and ATM2;3, and their relative importance varies with the nitrogen status of the plant.}, } @article {pmid25838498, year = {2015}, author = {Tarkka, MT and Feldhahn, L and Buscot, F and Wubet, T}, title = {Genome Sequence of the Mycorrhiza Helper Bacterium Streptomyces sp. Strain AcH 505.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {25838498}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {A draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. strain AcH 505 is presented here. The genome encodes 22 secondary metabolite gene clusters and a large arsenal of secreted proteins, and their comparative and functional analyses will help to advance our knowledge of symbiotic interactions and fungal and plant biomass degradation.}, } @article {pmid25830112, year = {2015}, author = {Demopoulos, AW and Sikkel, PC}, title = {Enhanced understanding of ectoparasite-host trophic linkages on coral reefs through stable isotope analysis.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {125-134}, pmid = {25830112}, issn = {2213-2244}, abstract = {Parasitism, although the most common type of ecological interaction, is usually ignored in food web models and studies of trophic connectivity. Stable isotope analysis is widely used in assessing the flow of energy in ecological communities and thus is a potentially valuable tool in understanding the cryptic trophic relationships mediated by parasites. In an effort to assess the utility of stable isotope analysis in understanding the role of parasites in complex coral-reef trophic systems, we performed stable isotope analysis on three common Caribbean reef fish hosts and two kinds of ectoparasitic isopods: temporarily parasitic gnathiids (Gnathia marleyi) and permanently parasitic cymothoids (Anilocra). To further track the transfer of fish-derived carbon (energy) from parasites to parasite consumers, gnathiids from host fish were also fed to captive Pederson shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) for at least 1 month. Parasitic isopods had δ(13)C and δ(15)N values similar to their host, comparable with results from the small number of other host-parasite studies that have employed stable isotopes. Adult gnathiids were enriched in (15)N and depleted in (13)C relative to juvenile gnathiids, providing insights into the potential isotopic fractionation associated with blood-meal assimilation and subsequent metamorphosis. Gnathiid-fed Pedersen shrimp also had δ(13)C values consistent with their food source and enriched in (15)N as predicted due to trophic fractionation. These results further indicate that stable isotopes can be an effective tool in deciphering cryptic feeding relationships involving parasites and their consumers, and the role of parasites and cleaners in carbon transfer in coral-reef ecosystems specifically.}, } @article {pmid25830022, year = {2015}, author = {Abdul Rahman, N and Parks, DH and Willner, DL and Engelbrektson, AL and Goffredi, SK and Warnecke, F and Scheffrahn, RH and Hugenholtz, P}, title = {A molecular survey of Australian and North American termite genera indicates that vertical inheritance is the primary force shaping termite gut microbiomes.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {25830022}, issn = {2049-2618}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Termites and their microbial gut symbionts are major recyclers of lignocellulosic biomass. This important symbiosis is obligate but relatively open and more complex in comparison to other well-known insect symbioses such as the strict vertical transmission of Buchnera in aphids. The relative roles of vertical inheritance and environmental factors such as diet in shaping the termite gut microbiome are not well understood.

RESULTS: The gut microbiomes of 66 specimens representing seven higher and nine lower termite genera collected in Australia and North America were profiled by small subunit (SSU) rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing. These represent the first reported culture-independent gut microbiome data for three higher termite genera: Tenuirostritermes, Drepanotermes, and Gnathamitermes; and two lower termite genera: Marginitermes and Porotermes. Consistent with previous studies, bacteria comprise the largest fraction of termite gut symbionts, of which 11 phylotypes (6 Treponema, 1 Desulfarculus-like, 1 Desulfovibrio, 1 Anaerovorax-like, 1 Sporobacter-like, and 1 Pirellula-like) were widespread occurring in ≥50% of collected specimens. Archaea are generally considered to comprise only a minority of the termite gut microbiota (<3%); however, archaeal relative abundance was substantially higher and variable in a number of specimens including Macrognathotermes, Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes, Porotermes, and Mastotermes (representing up to 54% of amplicon reads). A ciliate related to Clevelandella was detected in low abundance in Gnathamitermes indicating that protists were either reacquired after protists loss in higher termites or persisted in low numbers across this transition. Phylogenetic analyses of the bacterial communities indicate that vertical inheritance is the primary force shaping termite gut microbiota. The effect of diet is secondary and appears to influence the relative abundance, but not membership, of the gut communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Vertical inheritance is the primary force shaping the termite gut microbiome indicating that species are successfully and faithfully passed from one generation to the next via trophallaxis or coprophagy. Changes in relative abundance can occur on shorter time scales and appear to be an adaptive mechanism for dietary fluctuations.}, } @article {pmid25829258, year = {2015}, author = {Gegner, T and Otti, O and Tragust, S and Feldhaar, H}, title = {Do microsporidia function as "biological weapon" for Harmonia axyridis under natural conditions?.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {353-359}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12224}, pmid = {25829258}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; *Introduced Species ; Larva/microbiology ; Microsporidia/physiology ; Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Invasive alien species, such as the multicoloured Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis, are often regarded as major drivers of biodiversity loss. Therefore understanding which characteristics or mechanisms contribute to their invasive success is important. Here the role of symbiotic microsporidia in the hemolymph of H. axyridis was investigated in the context of intraguild predation between wild-caught H. axyridis and the native ladybird species Coccinella septempunctata. The microsporidia were recently discussed to contribute to the unpalatability of Harmonia for other coccinellids during intraguild predation and to function as "biological weapons". In the present study, visual detection of microsporidia in hemolymph samples revealed that 73.5% of H. axyridis were infected. Intraguild predation experiments between larvae of the two species showed a significant competitive advantage for H. axyridis, even against larger larvae of C. septempunctata. Adult C. septempunctata always killed and fed on H. axyridis larvae. However only 11.4% (4 of 47) of C. septempunctata that fed on infected H. axyridis died within 4 months. In contrast to previous studies this suggests that microsporidia or harmonine, the chemical defense compound of H. axyridis, do not lead to death of C. septempunctata preying on larvae of H. axyridis. Instead our results support the idea that competitive advantage during intraguild predation greatly facilitates the success of H. axyridis and that this may help this highly invasive species to outcompete native species. The impact of microsporidia on Harmonia itself as well as on interspecific interactions require further studies.}, } @article {pmid25827202, year = {2015}, author = {Cheeke, TE and Schütte, UM and Hemmerich, CM and Cruzan, MB and Rosenstiel, TN and Bever, JD}, title = {Spatial soil heterogeneity has a greater effect on symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and plant growth than genetic modification with Bacillus thuringiensis toxin genes.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {2580-2593}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13178}, pmid = {25827202}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Endotoxins/genetics ; Hemolysin Proteins/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oregon ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/classification/*growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/classification/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maize, genetically modified with the insect toxin genes of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is widely cultivated, yet its impacts on soil organisms are poorly understood. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with plant roots and may be uniquely sensitive to genetic changes within a plant host. In this field study, the effects of nine different lines of Bt maize and their corresponding non-Bt parental isolines were evaluated on AMF colonization and community diversity in plant roots. Plants were harvested 60 days after sowing, and data were collected on plant growth and per cent AMF colonization of roots. AMF community composition in roots was assessed using 454 pyrosequencing of the 28S rRNA genes, and spatial variation in mycorrhizal communities within replicated experimental field plots was examined. Growth responses, per cent AMF colonization of roots and AMF community diversity in roots did not differ between Bt and non-Bt maize, but root and shoot biomass and per cent colonization by arbuscules varied by maize cultivar. Plot identity had the most significant effect on plant growth, AMF colonization and AMF community composition in roots, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the field. Mycorrhizal fungal communities in maize roots were autocorrelated within approximately 1 m, but at greater distances, AMF community composition of roots differed between plants. Our findings indicate that spatial variation and heterogeneity in the field has a greater effect on the structure of AMF communities than host plant cultivar or modification by Bt toxin genes.}, } @article {pmid25826211, year = {2015}, author = {Papazi, A and Kastanaki, E and Pirintsos, S and Kotzabasis, K}, title = {Lichen symbiosis: nature's high yielding machines for induced hydrogen production.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0121325}, pmid = {25826211}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Culture Media ; Darkness ; Electron Transport ; Glucose/metabolism ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; Lichens/metabolism/*physiology ; Light ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Hydrogen is a promising future energy source. Although the ability of green algae to produce hydrogen has long been recognized (since 1939) and several biotechnological applications have been attempted, the greatest obstacle, being the O2-sensitivity of the hydrogenase enzyme, has not yet been overcome. In the present contribution, 75 years after the first report on algal hydrogen production, taking advantage of a natural mechanism of oxygen balance, we demonstrate high hydrogen yields by lichens. Lichens have been selected as the ideal organisms in nature for hydrogen production, since they consist of a mycobiont and a photobiont in symbiosis. It has been hypothesized that the mycobiont's and photobiont's consumption of oxygen (increase of COX and AOX proteins of mitochondrial respiratory pathways and PTOX protein of chrolorespiration) establishes the required anoxic conditions for the activation of the phycobiont's hydrogenase in a closed system. Our results clearly supported the above hypothesis, showing that lichens have the ability to activate appropriate bioenergetic pathways depending on the specific incubation conditions. Under light conditions, they successfully use the PSII-dependent and the PSII-independent pathways (decrease of D1 protein and parallel increase of PSaA protein) to transfer electrons to hydrogenase, while under dark conditions, lichens use the PFOR enzyme and the dark fermentative pathway to supply electrons to hydrogenase. These advantages of lichen symbiosis in combination with their ability to survive in extreme environments (while in a dry state) constitute them as unique and valuable hydrogen producing natural factories and pave the way for future biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid25826070, year = {2015}, author = {Ohtsuka, S and Metillo, E and Boxshall, GA}, title = {First record of association of copepods with highly venomous box jellyfish Chironex, with description of new species of Paramacrochiron (Cyclopoida: Macrochironidae).}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {195-203}, doi = {10.2108/zs140216}, pmid = {25826070}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/classification/*physiology ; Cubozoa/*parasitology ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Paramacrochiron chironecicola n. sp. (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Macrochironidae) is described from the highly venomous box jellyfish Chironex sp. collected from Malampaya Sound, Palawan Island, The Philippines. This is the first record of copepods associated with cubozoan medusae, although other cnidarian groups such scyphozoans, hydrozoans, and anthozoans are common hosts for symbiotic copepods. The infection sites were on the subumbrella, pedalium, and rhopalium, but also rarely on the adradial furrow. The new species is distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following features: (1) the fifth pedigerous somite dorsally covering the anterior part of the female genital double-somite; (2) the fine structures of the antenna (relative lengths of segments) and maxilliped (positions of terminal elements) of the female; (3) the relatively long outer spines on the exopodal segments of legs 1-4; (4) the relatively long and thick female leg 5 bearing a long protopodal seta which reaches to the distal margin of the exopod; (5) the relatively short caudal ramus in the female; and (6) the plump prosome and short urosome in the male. Since members of the genus typically parasitize scyphozoans, especially rhizostomes, the association of this parasitic copepod on cubozoans may reflect the relatively close phylogenetic relationship between cubozoans and scyphozoans.}, } @article {pmid25825286, year = {2015}, author = {Yan, L and Wang, X and Liu, H and Tian, Y and Lian, J and Yang, R and Hao, S and Wang, X and Yang, S and Li, Q and Qi, S and Kui, L and Okpekum, M and Ma, X and Zhang, J and Ding, Z and Zhang, G and Wang, W and Dong, Y and Sheng, J}, title = {The Genome of Dendrobium officinale Illuminates the Biology of the Important Traditional Chinese Orchid Herb.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {922-934}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2014.12.011}, pmid = {25825286}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Dendrobium/classification/*genetics ; *Genome, Plant ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plants, Medicinal/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a traditional Chinese orchid herb that has both ornamental value and a broad range of therapeutic effects. Here, we report the first de novo assembled 1.35 Gb genome sequences for D. officinale by combining the second-generation Illumina Hiseq 2000 and third-generation PacBio sequencing technologies. We found that orchids have a complete inflorescence gene set and have some specific inflorescence genes. We observed gene expansion in gene families related to fungus symbiosis and drought resistance. We analyzed biosynthesis pathways of medicinal components of D. officinale and found extensive duplication of SPS and SuSy genes, which are related to polysaccharide generation, and that the pathway of D. officinale alkaloid synthesis could be extended to generate 16-epivellosimine. The D. officinale genome assembly demonstrates a new approach to deciphering large complex genomes and, as an important orchid species and a traditional Chinese medicine, the D. officinale genome will facilitate future research on the evolution of orchid plants, as well as the study of medicinal components and potential genetic breeding of the dendrobe.}, } @article {pmid25822599, year = {2015}, author = {Andongma, AA and Wan, L and Dong, YC and Li, P and Desneux, N and White, JA and Niu, CY}, title = {Pyrosequencing reveals a shift in symbiotic bacteria populations across life stages of Bactrocera dorsalis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {9470}, pmid = {25822599}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bactrocera dorsalis is one of the most economically important fruit flies around the world. In this study, 454 pyrosequencing was used to identify the bacteria associated with different developmental stages of B. dorsalis. At ≥ 97% nucleotide similarity, total reads could be assigned to 172 Operational Taxonomic Units belonging to six phyla. Proteobacteria dominated in immature stages while Firmicutes dominated in adult stages. The most abundant families were Enterococcaceae and Comamondaceae. The genus Comamonas was most abundant in pupae whereas completely absent in adults. Some identified species had low sequence similarity to reported species indicating the possibility of novel taxa. However, a majority sequence reads were similar to sequences previously identified to be associated with Bactrocera correcta, suggesting a characteristic microbial fauna for this insect genus. The type and abundance of different bacterial groups varied across the life stages of B. dorsalis. Selection pressure exerted by the host insect as a result of its habitat and diet choices could be the reason for the observed shift in the bacteria groups. These findings increase our understanding of the intricate symbiotic relationships between bacteria and B. dorsalis and provide clues to develop potential biocontrol techniques against this fruit fly.}, } @article {pmid25821456, year = {2015}, author = {Scharf, ME}, title = {Omic research in termites: an overview and a roadmap.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {76}, pmid = {25821456}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Many recent breakthroughs in our understanding of termite biology have been facilitated by "omics" research. Omic science seeks to collectively catalog, quantify, and characterize pools of biological molecules that translate into structure, function, and life processes of an organism. Biological molecules in this context include genomic DNA, messenger RNA, proteins, and other biochemicals. Other permutations of omics that apply to termites include sociogenomics, which seeks to define social life in molecular terms (e.g., behavior, sociality, physiology, symbiosis, etc.) and digestomics, which seeks to define the collective pool of host and symbiont genes that collaborate to achieve high-efficiency lignocellulose digestion in the termite gut. This review covers a wide spectrum of termite omic studies from the past 15 years. Topics covered include a summary of terminology, the various kinds of omic efforts that have been undertaken, what has been revealed, and to a degree, what the results mean. Although recent omic efforts have contributed to a better understanding of many facets of termite and symbiont biology, and have created important new resources for many species, significant knowledge gaps still remain. Crossing these gaps can best be done by applying new omic resources within multi-dimensional (i.e., functional, translational, and applied) research programs.}, } @article {pmid25819964, year = {2015}, author = {Antwis, RE and Preziosi, RF and Harrison, XA and Garner, TW}, title = {Amphibian Symbiotic Bacteria Do Not Show a Universal Ability To Inhibit Growth of the Global Panzootic Lineage of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {11}, pages = {3706-3711}, pmid = {25819964}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amphibians/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chytridiomycota/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbiomes associated with multicellular organisms influence the disease susceptibility of hosts. The potential exists for such bacteria to protect wildlife from infectious diseases, particularly in the case of the globally distributed and highly virulent fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis of the global panzootic lineage (B. dendrobatidis GPL), responsible for mass extinctions and population declines of amphibians. B. dendrobatidis GPL exhibits wide genotypic and virulence variation, and the ability of candidate probiotics to restrict growth across B. dendrobatidis isolates has not previously been considered. Here we show that only a small proportion of candidate probiotics exhibited broad-spectrum inhibition across B. dendrobatidis GPL isolates. Moreover, some bacterial genera showed significantly greater inhibition than others, but overall, genus and species were not particularly reliable predictors of inhibitory capabilities. These findings indicate that bacterial consortia are likely to offer a more stable and effective approach to probiotics, particularly if related bacteria are selected from genera with greater antimicrobial capabilities. Together these results highlight a complex interaction between pathogens and host-associated symbiotic bacteria that will require consideration in the development of bacterial probiotics for wildlife conservation. Future efforts to construct protective microbiomes should incorporate bacteria that exhibit broad-spectrum inhibition of B. dendrobatidis GPL isolates.}, } @article {pmid25818701, year = {2015}, author = {Tejada-Jiménez, M and Castro-Rodríguez, R and Kryvoruchko, I and Lucas, MM and Udvardi, M and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Medicago truncatula natural resistance-associated macrophage Protein1 is required for iron uptake by rhizobia-infected nodule cells.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {168}, number = {1}, pages = {258-272}, pmid = {25818701}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biological Transport/drug effects ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/drug effects/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Iron/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Manganese/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Multigene Family ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Subcellular Fractions/drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Iron is critical for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) as a key component of multiple ferroproteins involved in this biological process. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, iron is delivered by the vasculature to the infection/maturation zone (zone II) of the nodule, where it is released to the apoplast. From there, plasma membrane iron transporters move it into rhizobia-containing cells, where iron is used as the cofactor of multiple plant and rhizobial proteins (e.g. plant leghemoglobin and bacterial nitrogenase). MtNramp1 (Medtr3g088460) is the M. truncatula Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein family member, with the highest expression levels in roots and nodules. Immunolocalization studies indicate that MtNramp1 is mainly targeted to the plasma membrane. A loss-of-function nramp1 mutant exhibited reduced growth compared with the wild type under symbiotic conditions, but not when fertilized with mineral nitrogen. Nitrogenase activity was low in the mutant, whereas exogenous iron and expression of wild-type MtNramp1 in mutant nodules increased nitrogen fixation to normal levels. These data are consistent with a model in which MtNramp1 is the main transporter responsible for apoplastic iron uptake by rhizobia-infected cells in zone II.}, } @article {pmid25818619, year = {2015}, author = {Moir, JW}, title = {Meningitis in adolescents: the role of commensal microbiota.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {181-182}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2015.02.004}, pmid = {25818619}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Meningitis, Meningococcal/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Neisseria meningitidis/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Porphyromonas/metabolism ; Propionates/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The pathogen Neisseria meningitidis causes disease amongst infants and adolescents/young adults. Here we argue that disease amongst adolescents is due largely to interaction between N. meningitidis and other members of the upper respiratory tract microbiota, through a metabolic interaction involving exchange of propionic acid.}, } @article {pmid25817415, year = {2015}, author = {Frankowski, K and Wilmowicz, E and Kućko, A and Zienkiewicz, A and Zienkiewicz, K and Kopcewicz, J}, title = {Molecular cloning of the BLADE-ON-PETIOLE gene and expression analyses during nodule development in Lupinus luteus.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {35-39}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2015.01.019}, pmid = {25817415}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Lupinus/*genetics/*growth & development ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {The BLADE-ON-PETIOLE (BOP) genes have been recently shown to play an essential role in many physiological processes, including embryogenesis, meristem determinacy, leaf patterning and nodule development. In our research we used Lupinus luteus, a plant with great agronomic potential due to its high protein content and nitrogen fixation ability. In this work, LlBOP in L. luteus was identified for the first time and its expression during nodule development was analyzed. The high expression levels of LlBOP and LlLbI (LEGHEMOGLOBIN), essential to nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, were noted in the developing root nodules and were correlated with the occurrence of leghemoglobin. All of these data indicate that LlBOP is an important regulator of root nodule formation and functioning in L. luteus.}, } @article {pmid25816767, year = {2015}, author = {Nakajima, T and Fujikawa, Y and Matsubara, T and Karita, M and Sano, A}, title = {Differentiation of a free-living alga into forms with ecto- and endosymbiotic associations with heterotrophic organisms in a 5-year microcosm culture.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {131}, number = {}, pages = {9-21}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2015.03.005}, pmid = {25816767}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Cell Aggregation ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/physiology ; Clone Cells ; Culture Techniques ; Escherichia coli/*genetics ; *Genetic Speciation ; Phenotype ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; Tetrahymena thermophila/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The ecological mechanisms underlying the diversification of autotrophic species into endosymbiotic lifestyles and the ways in which the evolution of endosymbiotic species is ecologically and evolutionarily affected by sister lineages/lines that are adapted to extra-host environments remain unclear. In this paper, we investigated a differentiation process of algal species in which an endosymbiotic type was differentiated phenotypically from a free-living ancestral clone, by using an experimental model called the CET microcosm, which contains a green alga (Micractinium sp.), a bacterium (Escherichia coli), and a ciliate (Tetrahymena thermophila) cultured together without an external resource supply for over 5 years. We then analyzed the algal diversification process by comparing algal phenotypic properties regarding cell-aggregate formation and their effects on the survival of Tetrahymena (using a clone isolated on day 2668) in the absence of bacteria. We examined 13 Micractinium clones, including both ancestral and derived clones isolated from long-term (day 1819-1847) CET microcosm cultures. The results revealed that the free-living ancestral algal strain diversified in sympatry into an aggregate-forming type that associates with E. coli, and a non-aggregate-forming type that associates with Tetrahymena. Furthermore, a competition experiment revealed that the endosymbiotic (non-aggregate-forming) type was less adapted to the extracellular environment than the aggregate-forming type. This result suggests that severe competition with a nonendosymbiotic sister line in the extra-host environment favors the host-benefiting phenotype in an endosymbiotic line, because such symbionts can enhance the longevity of the host, thereby enabling the survival and reproduction of the symbiont within the host.}, } @article {pmid25816516, year = {2014}, author = {Gladysheva, IV and Cherkasov, SV}, title = {[The role of fibronectin in adhesion of corynebacteria to vaginal epitheliocytes].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {6}, pages = {67-73}, pmid = {25816516}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Adult ; Bacterial Adhesion/drug effects ; Bacterial Load ; Corynebacterium/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells/cytology/*drug effects/microbiology ; Female ; Fibronectins/*pharmacology ; Humans ; Primary Cell Culture ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; Vagina/cytology/*drug effects/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Determination of the role of fibronectin in adhesion of corynebacteria to vaginal epitheliocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corynebacterium genus microorganisms and primary epitheliocytes isolated from the lower reproductive tract of women were used. Adhesive ability of corynebacteria was studied in polystyrene plates against fixed fibronectin and on the model of vaginal epitheliocytes. Changes in adhesion of corynebacteria to vaginal epitheliocytes was evaluated after treatment of the latter with fibronectin.

RESULTS: All the studied strains had the adhesion ability to fibronectin and vaginal epitheliocytes. The same strains were attributed to groups of high, moderate or low adhesive using both plate method and method utilizing vaginal epitheliocytes model, that tells of their comparability. During the addition of fibronectin to epitheliocytes, an enhancement of adhesion of all the studied corynebacteria strains took place. Adhesion index in strains isolated from healthy women increased by an average of 46.6%, adhesion index by 10.5 bact. cells/epith. In strains isolated from women with micro-ecologic disruption, adhesion increase was by 15.3% and 4.9 bact. cells/epith., respectively.

CONCLUSION: Fibronectin is a factor that determines adhesion of corynebacteria to vaginal epitheliocytes and thus is important for formation of associative symbiosis of reproductive tract of women. The data obtained open perspective of use of fibronectin with the aim of colonizing ability increase of probiotics.}, } @article {pmid25814307, year = {2015}, author = {Venturini, L and Delledonne, M}, title = {Symbiotic plant-fungi interactions stripped down to the root.}, journal = {Nature genetics}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {309-310}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3261}, pmid = {25814307}, issn = {1546-1718}, mesh = {Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi live in the roots of host plants and are crucial components of all forest ecosystems. A large-scale study of fungal genomics provides new insights into the evolution of mycorrhizae and a deep exploration of mycorrhizal diversity that helps to uncover the molecular and genetic details of fungal symbiotic relationships with plants.}, } @article {pmid25813499, year = {2015}, author = {Buendía, L}, title = {Expansion and retrenchment of the Swedish welfare state: a long-term approach.}, journal = {International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {226-245}, doi = {10.1177/0020731414568506}, pmid = {25813499}, issn = {0020-7314}, mesh = {Economic Development/*trends ; Economic Recession ; Humans ; *Politics ; *Public Policy ; Social Welfare/economics/*trends ; Sweden ; Taxes/economics ; }, abstract = {In this article, we will undertake a long-term analysis of the evolution of the Swedish welfare state, seeking to explain that evolution through the use of a systemic approach. That is, our approach will consider the interrelations between economic growth (EG), the sociopolitical institutional framework (IF), and the welfare state (WS)-understood as a set of institutions embracing the labor market and its regulation, the tax system, and the so-called social wage-in order to find the main variables that elucidate its evolution. We will show that the expansive phase of the Swedish welfare state can be explained by the symbiotic relationships developed in the WS-EG-IF interaction, whereas the period of welfare state retrenchment is one result of changes operating within the sociopolitical IF and EG bases.}, } @article {pmid25811863, year = {2015}, author = {Renoz, F and Noël, C and Errachid, A and Foray, V and Hance, T}, title = {Infection dynamic of symbiotic bacteria in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum gut and host immune response at the early steps in the infection process.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0122099}, pmid = {25811863}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*immunology/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Insect ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In addition to its obligatory symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum can harbor several facultative bacterial symbionts which can be mutualistic in the context of various ecological interactions. Belonging to a genus where many members have been described as pathogen in invertebrates, Serratia symbiotica is one of the most common facultative partners found in aphids. The recent discovery of strains able to grow outside their host allowed us to simulate environmental acquisition of symbiotic bacteria by aphids. Here, we performed an experiment to characterize the A. pisum response to the ingestion of the free-living S. symbiotica CWBI-2.3T in comparison to the ingestion of the pathogenic Serratia marcescens Db11 at the early steps in the infection process. We found that, while S. marcescens Db11 killed the aphids within a few days, S. symbiotica CWBI-2.3T did not affect host survival and colonized the whole digestive tract within a few days. Gene expression analysis of immune genes suggests that S. symbiotica CWBI-2.3T did not trigger an immune reaction, while S. marcescens Db11 did, and supports the hypothesis of a fine-tuning of the host immune response set-up for fighting pathogens while maintaining mutualistic partners. Our results also suggest that the lysosomal system and the JNK pathway are possibly involved in the regulation of invasive bacteria in aphids and that the activation of the JNK pathway is IMD-independent in the pea aphid.}, } @article {pmid25811369, year = {2015}, author = {Oliveira, KN and Coley, PD and Kursar, TA and Kaminski, LA and Moreira, MZ and Campos, RI}, title = {The effect of symbiotic ant colonies on plant growth: a test using an Azteca-Cecropia system.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0120351}, pmid = {25811369}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; Climate ; Herbivory ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; *Plants ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In studies of ant-plant mutualisms, the role that ants play in increasing the growth rates of their plant partners is potentially a key beneficial service. In the field, we measured the growth of Cecropia glaziovii saplings and compared individuals that were naturally colonized by Azteca muelleri ants with uncolonized plants in different seasons (wet and dry). We also measured light availability as well as attributes that could be influenced by the presence of Azteca colonies, such as herbivory, leaf nutrients (total nitrogen and δ(15)N), and investments in defense (total phenolics and leaf mass per area). We found that colonized plants grew faster than uncolonized plants and experienced a lower level of herbivory in both the wet and dry seasons. Colonized plants had higher nitrogen content than uncolonized plants, although the δ(15)N, light environment, total phenolics and leaf mass per area, did not differ between colonized and uncolonized plants. Since colonized and uncolonized plants did not differ in the direct defenses that we evaluated, yet herbivory was lower in colonized plants, we conclude that biotic defenses were the most effective protection against herbivores in our system. This result supports the hypothesis that protection provided by ants is an important factor promoting plant growth. Since C. glaziovii is widely distributed among a variety of forests and ecotones, and since we demonstrated a strong relationship with their ant partners, this system can be useful for comparative studies of ant-plant interactions in different habitats. Also, given this study was carried out near the transition to the subtropics, these results help generalize the geographic distribution of this mutualism and may shed light on the persistence of the interactions in the face of climate change.}, } @article {pmid25811236, year = {2015}, author = {Walker, K and Duringer, J and Craig, AM}, title = {Determination of the Ergot Alkaloid Ergovaline in Tall Fescue Seed and Straw Using a QuEChERS Extraction Method with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Fluorescence Detection.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {63}, number = {16}, pages = {4236-4242}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01149}, pmid = {25811236}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Chemical Fractionation/*methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/instrumentation/*methods ; Ergotamines/*analysis/*isolation & purification ; Festuca/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/*analysis/*isolation & purification ; Plant Stems/chemistry ; Seeds/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Ergovaline is an ergot alkaloid produced by the symbiotic endophyte Epichloë coenophiala, which can colonize varieties of the cool-season grass tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). It is the principle toxicant responsible for the vasoconstrictive and reproductive sequelae seen in "fescue toxicosis" in livestock which consume forage exceeding the threshold of toxicity established for this compound. A new method for extraction of ergovaline from tall fescue seed and straw was optimized and validated, on the basis of the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method, with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. Fourteen extraction solvents were tested; 2.1 mM ammonium carbonate/acetonitrile (50/50, v/v) had the highest and most consistent recovery (91-101%). Linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, accuracy,and intra- and interday precisions for tall fescue seed and straw were 100-3500 μg/kg, 37 and 30 μg/kg, 100 μg/kg, 98%, 3.0 and 1.6%, and 3.8 and 1.0%, respectively. When the currently used solid-phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS methods were applied to 17 tall fescue straw samples, there was good agreement (correlation coefficient 0.9978). The QuEChERS method achieved the goals of eliminating chlorinated solvents and developing a fast, efficient, reliable method for quantitating ergovaline in tall fescue forage that can be applied in a high-throughput food safety laboratory.}, } @article {pmid25809237, year = {2015}, author = {Vassallo, G and Mirijello, A and Ferrulli, A and Antonelli, M and Landolfi, R and Gasbarrini, A and Addolorato, G}, title = {Review article: Alcohol and gut microbiota - the possible role of gut microbiota modulation in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease.}, journal = {Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics}, volume = {41}, number = {10}, pages = {917-927}, doi = {10.1111/apt.13164}, pmid = {25809237}, issn = {1365-2036}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/microbiology/*therapy ; Microbiota ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Alcohol abuse represents the most common cause of liver disease in the Western countries. Pre-clinical and clinical studies showed that alcohol consumption affects amount and composition of gut microbiota. Moreover, gut flora plays an important role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury.

AIM: To review the relationship between alcohol administration and changes on gut microbiota, its involvement in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease, and how gut microbiota modulation could be a target for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

METHODS: Articles were identified using the PubMed database with the search terms 'Alcohol', 'Gut Microbiota', 'Alcoholic liver disease', 'Probiotic', 'Prebiotic', 'Symbiotic' and 'Antibiotic'. English-language articles were screened for relevance. Full review of publications for the relevant studies was conducted, including additional publications that were identified from individual article reference lists.

RESULTS: Alcohol abuse induces changes in the composition of gut microbiota, although the exact mechanism for this alteration is not well known. The translocation of bacterial products into the portal blood appears to play a key role in alcohol-induced liver damage. Several studies show that the modulation of gut microbiota seem to be a promising strategy to reduce alcohol-induced liver injury.

CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between alcohol administration and changes in gut microbiota, and its involvement in alcoholic liver disease. Moreover larger studies are needed to confirm the preliminary results on the therapeutic effects of gut microbiota modulation.}, } @article {pmid25808912, year = {2016}, author = {Hagiwara, K and Wright, PR and Tabandera, NK and Kelman, D and Backofen, R and Ómarsdóttir, S and Wright, AD}, title = {Comparative analysis of the antioxidant properties of Icelandic and Hawaiian lichens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {8}, pages = {2319-2325}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12850}, pmid = {25808912}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*analysis ; Hawaii ; Lichens/*chemistry/classification/growth & development/radiation effects ; Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Antioxidant activity of symbiotic organisms known as lichens is an intriguing field of research because of its strong contribution to their ability to withstand extremes of physical and biological stress (e.g. desiccation, temperature, UV radiation and microbial infection). We present a comparative study on the antioxidant activities of 76 Icelandic and 41 Hawaiian lichen samples assessed employing the DPPH- and FRAP-based antioxidant assays. Utilizing this unprecedented sample size, we show that while highest individual sample activity is present in the Icelandic dataset, the overall antioxidant activity is higher for lichens found in Hawaii. Furthermore, we report that lichens from the genus Peltigera that have been described as strong antioxidant producers in studies on Chinese, Russian and Turkish lichens also show high antioxidant activities in both Icelandic and Hawaiian lichen samples. Finally, we show that opportunistic sampling of lichens in both Iceland and Hawaii will yield high numbers of lichen species that exclusively include green algae as photobiont.}, } @article {pmid25807543, year = {2015}, author = {Titus, BM and Daly, M and Exton, DA}, title = {Do reef fish habituate to diver presence? Evidence from two reef sites with contrasting historical levels of SCUBA intensity in the Bay Islands, Honduras.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0119645}, pmid = {25807543}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Coral Reefs ; *Diving ; Fishes/*physiology ; Honduras ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Contact between humans and the marine environment is increasing, but the capacity of communities to adapt to human presence remains largely unknown. The popularization of SCUBA diving has added a new dimension to human impacts in aquatic systems and, although individual-level impacts have been identified, cumulative effects on ecosystem function and community-wide responses are unclear. In principle, habituation may mitigate the consequences of human presence on the biology of an individual and allow the quick resumption of its ecological roles, but this has not been documented in aquatic systems. Here, we investigate the short-term impact of human presence and the long-term habituation potential of reef-fish communities to recreational SCUBA divers by studying symbiotic cleaning interactions on coral reefs with differing levels of historical contact with divers. We show that incidences of human contact result in a smaller decline in ecosystem function and more rapid resumption of baseline services on a reef in Utila, Honduras that has heavy historical levels of SCUBA diver presence, compared to an un-dived reef site in the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area (CCMPA). Nonetheless, despite the generally smaller change in ecosystem function and decades of regular contact with divers, cleaning behavior is suppressed by >50% at Utila when divers are present. We hypothesize that community-wide habituation of reef fish is not fully achievable and may be biologically restricted to only partial habituation. Differential responses to human presence impacts the interpretation and execution of behavioral research where SCUBA is the predominant means of data collection, and provides an important rationale for future research investigating the interplay between human presence, ecosystem function, and community structure on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid25807441, year = {2015}, author = {Novati, S and Sacchi, P and Cima, S and Zuccaro, V and Columpsi, P and Pagani, L and Filice, G and Bruno, R}, title = {General issues on microbial translocation in HIV-infected patients.}, journal = {European review for medical and pharmacological sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {5}, pages = {866-878}, pmid = {25807441}, issn = {2284-0729}, mesh = {Disease Progression ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology ; HIV Infections/immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The lumen of the gastrointestinal tract is home to an enormous quantity of different bacterial species that thrive in an often symbiotic relationship with the host. It is the principal source of microbial products because of its massive bacterial load. Injury to the immune component of the gastrointestinal mucosal surface, along with damage to the intestinal epithelial microenvironment with its antimicrobial functions, may affect systemic immune activation during the chronic phase of HIV infection through the increased translocation of luminal microbial products. Moreover, microbial translocation, which is defined as "the passage of both viable and nonviable microbes and microbial products such as endotoxin across anatomically intact intestinal barrier", may be a fundamental mechanism through which HIV accelerates progression of chronic viral hepatitis. Improvements in the tools available to microbiota research, and especially advancement of our knowledge in this area may help us in controlling the evolution of HIV disease, although population complexity and diversity between individuals make this challenging.}, } @article {pmid25807344, year = {2015}, author = {Hong, M and Sandalova, E and Low, D and Gehring, AJ and Fieni, S and Amadei, B and Urbani, S and Chong, YS and Guccione, E and Bertoletti, A}, title = {Trained immunity in newborn infants of HBV-infected mothers.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {6588}, pmid = {25807344}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cytokines/*immunology ; Female ; Fetal Blood/cytology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Infant, Newborn ; Interferon-alpha/immunology ; Interleukin-10/immunology ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p40/immunology ; Interleukin-17/immunology ; Interleukin-1alpha/immunology ; Interleukin-1beta/immunology ; Interleukin-6/immunology ; Interleukin-8/immunology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*immunology ; Th1 Cells/*immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The newborn immune system is characterized by an impaired Th1-associated immune response. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmitted from infected mothers to newborns is thought to exploit the newborns' immune system immaturity by inducing a state of immune tolerance that facilitates HBV persistence. Contrary to this hypothesis, we demonstrate here that HBV exposure in utero triggers a state of trained immunity, characterized by innate immune cell maturation and Th1 development, which in turn enhances the ability of cord blood immune cells to respond to bacterial infection in vitro. These training effects are associated with an alteration of the cytokine environment characterized by low IL-10 and, in most cases, high IL-12p40 and IFN-α2. Our data uncover a potentially symbiotic relationship between HBV and its natural host, and highlight the plasticity of the fetal immune system following viral exposure in utero.}, } @article {pmid25805725, year = {2015}, author = {Koskimäki, JJ and Pirttilä, AM and Ihantola, EL and Halonen, O and Frank, AC}, title = {The intracellular Scots pine shoot symbiont Methylobacterium extorquens DSM13060 aggregates around the host nucleus and encodes eukaryote-like proteins.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {25805725}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {*Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Cytoplasm/*microbiology ; Endophytes/metabolism/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Methylobacterium extorquens/metabolism/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Endophytes are microbes that inhabit plant tissues without any apparent signs of infection, often fundamentally altering plant phenotypes. While endophytes are typically studied in plant roots, where they colonize the apoplast or dead cells, Methylobacterium extorquens strain DSM13060 is a facultatively intracellular symbiont of the meristematic cells of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) shoot tips. The bacterium promotes host growth and development without the production of known plant growth-stimulating factors. Our objective was to examine intracellular colonization by M. extorquens DSM13060 of Scots pine and sequence its genome to identify novel molecular mechanisms potentially involved in intracellular colonization and plant growth promotion. Reporter construct analysis of known growth promotion genes demonstrated that these were only weakly active inside the plant or not expressed at all. We found that bacterial cells accumulate near the nucleus in intact, living pine cells, pointing to host nuclear processes as the target of the symbiont's activity. Genome analysis identified a set of eukaryote-like functions that are common as effectors in intracellular bacterial pathogens, supporting the notion of intracellular bacterial activity. These include ankyrin repeats, transcription factors, and host-defense silencing functions and may be secreted by a recently imported type IV secretion system. Potential factors involved in host growth include three copies of phospholipase A2, an enzyme that is rare in bacteria but implicated in a range of plant cellular processes, and proteins putatively involved in gibberellin biosynthesis. Our results describe a novel endophytic niche and create a foundation for postgenomic studies of a symbiosis with potential applications in forestry and agriculture.

IMPORTANCE: All multicellular eukaryotes host communities of essential microbes, but most of these interactions are still poorly understood. In plants, bacterial endophytes are found inside all tissues. M. extorquens DSM13060 occupies an unusual niche inside cells of the dividing shoot tissues of a pine and stimulates seedling growth without producing cytokinin, auxin, or other plant hormones commonly synthesized by plant-associated bacteria. Here, we tracked the bacteria using a fluorescent tag and confocal laser scanning microscopy and found that they localize near the nucleus of the plant cell. This prompted us to sequence the genome and identify proteins that may affect host growth by targeting processes in the host cytoplasm and nucleus. We found many novel genes whose products may modulate plant processes from within the plant cell. Our results open up new avenues to better understand how bacteria assist in plant growth, with broad implications for plant science, forestry, and agriculture.}, } @article {pmid25805123, year = {2015}, author = {Suzaki, T and Yoro, E and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Leguminous plants: inventors of root nodules to accommodate symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {International review of cell and molecular biology}, volume = {316}, number = {}, pages = {111-158}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ircmb.2015.01.004}, pmid = {25805123}, issn = {1937-6448}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/metabolism ; *Bacteria ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Immunity, Innate ; Lotus/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes and a few other plant species can establish a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, which enables them to survive in a nitrogen-deficient environment. During the course of nodulation, infection with rhizobia induces the dedifferentiation of host cells to form primordia of a symbiotic organ, the nodule, which prepares plants to accommodate rhizobia in host cells. While these nodulation processes are known to be genetically controlled by both plants and rhizobia, recent advances in studies on two model legumes, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, have provided great insight into the underlying plant-side molecular mechanism. In this chapter, we review such knowledge, with particular emphasis on two key processes of nodulation, nodule development and rhizobial invasion.}, } @article {pmid25804975, year = {2015}, author = {van Zeijl, A and Op den Camp, RH and Deinum, EE and Charnikhova, T and Franssen, H and Op den Camp, HJ and Bouwmeester, H and Kohlen, W and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {Rhizobium Lipo-chitooligosaccharide Signaling Triggers Accumulation of Cytokinins in Medicago truncatula Roots.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {1213-1226}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2015.03.010}, pmid = {25804975}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Chitin/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Ethylenes/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Oligosaccharides ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*chemistry ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Legume rhizobium symbiosis is initiated upon perception of bacterial secreted lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs). Perception of these signals by the plant initiates a signaling cascade that leads to nodule formation. Several studies have implicated a function for cytokinin in this process. However, whether cytokinin accumulation and subsequent signaling are an integral part of rhizobium LCO signaling remains elusive. Here, we show that cytokinin signaling is required for the majority of transcriptional changes induced by rhizobium LCOs. In addition, we demonstrate that several cytokinins accumulate in the root susceptible zone 3 h after rhizobium LCO application, including the biologically most active cytokinins, trans-zeatin and isopentenyl adenine. These responses are dependent on calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK), a key protein in rhizobial LCO-induced signaling. Analysis of the ethylene-insensitive Mtein2/Mtsickle mutant showed that LCO-induced cytokinin accumulation is negatively regulated by ethylene. Together with transcriptional induction of ethylene biosynthesis genes, it suggests a feedback loop negatively regulating LCO signaling and subsequent cytokinin accumulation. We argue that cytokinin accumulation is a key step in the pathway leading to nodule organogenesis and that this is tightly controlled by feedback loops.}, } @article {pmid25804489, year = {2015}, author = {Tame, A and Yoshida, T and Ohishi, K and Maruyama, T}, title = {Phagocytic activities of hemocytes from the deep-sea symbiotic mussels Bathymodiolus japonicus, B. platifrons, and B. septemdierum.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {146-156}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2015.03.020}, pmid = {25804489}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemocytes/immunology ; Japan ; Lysosomes/immunology ; Mytilidae/*immunology/physiology ; *Phagocytosis ; Phagosomes/immunology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea mytilid mussels harbor symbiotic bacteria in their gill epithelial cells that are horizontally or environmentally transmitted to the next generation of hosts. To understand the immune defense system in deep-sea symbiotic mussels, we examined the hemocyte populations of the symbiotic Bathymodiolus mussel species Bathymodiolus japonicus, Bathymodiolus platifrons, and Bathymodiolus septemdierum, and characterized three types of hemocytes: agranulocytes (AGs), basophilic granulocytes (BGs), and eosinophilic granulocytes (EGs). Of these, the EG cells were the largest (diameter, 8.4-10.0 μm) and had eosinophilic cytoplasm with numerous eosinophilic granules (diameter, 0.8-1.2 μm). Meanwhile, the BGs were of medium size (diameter, 6.7-8.0 μm) and contained small basophilic granules (diameter, 0.3-0.4 μm) in basophilic cytoplasm, and the AGs, the smallest of the hemocytes (diameter, 4.8-6.0 μm), had basophilic cytoplasm lacking granules. A lectin binding assay revealed that concanavalin A bound to all three hemocyte types, while wheat germ agglutinin bound exclusively to EGs and BGs. The total hemocyte population densities within the hemolymph of all three Bathymodiolus mussel species were similar (8.4-13.3 × 10(5) cells/mL), and the percentages of circulating AGs, BGs, and EGs in the hemolymph of these organisms were 44.7-48.5%, 14.3-17.6%, and 34.3-41.0%, respectively. To analyze the functional differences between these hemocytes, the phagocytic activity and post-phagocytic phagosome-lysosome fusion events were analyzed in each cell type using a fluorescent Alexa Fluor(®) 488-conjugated Escherichia coli bioparticle and a LysoTracker(®) lysosomal marker, respectively. While the AGs exhibited no phagocytic activity, both types of granulocytes were phagocytic. Of the three hemocyte types, the EGs exhibited the highest level of phagocytic activity as well as rapid phagosome-lysosome fusion, which occurred within 2 h of incubation. Meanwhile, the BGs showed lower phagocytic activity and lower rates of phagosome-lysosome fusion than the EGs. These findings indicate that the two types of granulocyte play distinct roles in the defense system.}, } @article {pmid25801658, year = {2015}, author = {Hafidi, M and Qaddoury, A and Duponnois, R and Wipf, D and Hijri, M and Bâ, A}, title = {International Congress on Mycorrhizae: mycorrhizal symbiosis a key factor for improving plant productivity and ecosystems restoration.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {673-674}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-015-0637-4}, pmid = {25801658}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Environment ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid25801275, year = {2015}, author = {Ibáñez, F and Angelini, J and Figueredo, MS and Muñoz, V and Tonelli, ML and Fabra, A}, title = {Sequence and expression analysis of putative Arachis hypogaea (peanut) Nod factor perception proteins.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {128}, number = {4}, pages = {709-718}, pmid = {25801275}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arachis/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Protein Conformation ; Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Peanut, like most legumes, develops a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia to overcome nitrogen limitation. Rhizobial infection of peanut roots occurs through a primitive and poorly characterized intercellular mechanism. Knowledge of the molecular determinants of this symbiotic interaction is scarce, and little is known about the molecules implicated in the recognition of the symbionts. Here, we identify the LysM extracellular domain sequences of two putative peanut Nod factor receptors, named AhNFR1 and AhNFP. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that they correspond to LjNFR1 and LjNFR5 homologs, respectively. Transcriptional analysis revealed that, unlike LjNFR5, AhNFP expression was not induced at 8 h post bradyrhizobial inoculation. Further examination of AhNFP showed that the predicted protein sequence is identical to GmNFR5 in two positions that are crucial for Nod factor perception in other legumes. Analysis of the AhNFP LysM2 tridimensional model revealed that these two amino acids are very close, delimiting a zone of the molecule essential for Nod factor recognition. These data, together with the analysis of the molecular structure of Nod factors of native peanut symbionts previously reported, suggest that peanut and soybean could share some of the determinants involved in the signalling cascade that allows symbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid25801069, year = {2015}, author = {Barrio, J and Díaz-Martín, JJ and Manrique, I and Martín Martínez, B and Ortega, E}, title = {[Expert consensus on the nutritional aspects of initial and follow-on infant formulas].}, journal = {Anales de pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)}, volume = {83}, number = {6}, pages = {376-386}, doi = {10.1016/j.anpedi.2015.02.001}, pmid = {25801069}, issn = {1695-9531}, mesh = {Breast Feeding ; Calcium ; Consensus ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula/*standards ; *Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Lactose ; Lipids ; *Nutritive Value ; Vitamin D ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Infant feeding in the first months/years of life affects the health in the short and long term. Breastfeeding is the perfect food due to its many benefits. However, when breastfeeding is not possible, infant formulas are the best alternative. The aim of this study is to define the role of the supplemented formulas in infant nutrition using the opinion of a panel of experts in infant gastroenterology and nutrition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey, using 62 items, stratified into 5 blocks, was performed by 48 panelists using the Delphi method to achieve a professional criteria consensus on nutritional aspects of infant formulas.

RESULTS: A consensus was reached in 64.6% of the items, with a non-unified agreement being established as regards the nutritional aspects of infant formulas, and their influence in body and brain development and immune maturity.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the experts surveyed, there is consensus as regards the suitable composition of lipids, lactose, calcium, vitamin D, and prebiotics in infant formulas, for a correct cerebral, immune and somatic development. There was no consensus on the not yet well-defined subjects, such as nutritional quality of proteins, use of thickeners, taurine supplementation, probiotic, and symbiotic aspects. More studies are necessary to confirm these subjects.}, } @article {pmid25799577, year = {2015}, author = {Baeza, JA and Hemphill, CA and Ritson-Williams, R}, title = {The sexual and mating system of the shrimp Odontonia katoi (Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae), a symbiotic guest of the ascidian Polycarpa aurata in the Coral Triangle.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0121120}, pmid = {25799577}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Palaemonidae/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Sex Characteristics ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*parasitology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Theory predicts that monogamy is adaptive in symbiotic crustaceans inhabiting relatively small and morphologically simple hosts in tropical environments where predation risk away from hosts is high. We tested this prediction in the shrimp Odontonia katoi, which inhabits the atrial chamber of the ascidian Polycarpa aurata in the Coral Triangle. Preliminary observations in O. katoi indicated that males were smaller than females, which is suggestive of sex change (protandry) in some symbiotic organisms. Thus, we first investigated the sexual system of O. katoi to determine if this shrimp was sequentially hermaphroditic. Morphological identification and size frequency distributions indicated that the population comprised males that, on average, were smaller than females. Gonad dissections demonstrated the absence of transitional individuals. Thus, O. katoi is a gonochoric species with reverse sexual dimorphism. The population distribution of O. katoi in its ascidian host did not differ significantly from a random distribution and shrimps inhabiting the same host individual as pairs were found with a frequency similar to that expected by chance alone. This is in contrast to that reported for other socially monogamous crustaceans in which pairs of heterosexual conspecifics are found in host individuals more frequently than expected by chance alone. Thus, the available information argues against monogamy in O. katoi. Furthermore, that a high frequency of solitary females were found brooding embryos and that the sex ratio was skewed toward females suggests that males might be roaming among hosts in search of receptive females in O. katoi. Symbiotic crustaceans can be used as a model system to understand the adaptive value of sexual and mating systems in marine invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid25798135, year = {2015}, author = {Chan, CS and Chan, KG and Tay, YL and Chua, YH and Goh, KM}, title = {Diversity of thermophiles in a Malaysian hot spring determined using 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenome sequencing.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {177}, pmid = {25798135}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The Sungai Klah (SK) hot spring is the second hottest geothermal spring in Malaysia. This hot spring is a shallow, 150-m-long, fast-flowing stream, with temperatures varying from 50 to 110°C and a pH range of 7.0-9.0. Hidden within a wooded area, the SK hot spring is continually fed by plant litter, resulting in a relatively high degree of total organic content (TOC). In this study, a sample taken from the middle of the stream was analyzed at the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region by amplicon metagenome sequencing. Over 35 phyla were detected by analyzing the 16S rRNA data. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria represented approximately 57% of the microbiome. Approximately 70% of the detected thermophiles were strict anaerobes; however, Hydrogenobacter spp., obligate chemolithotrophic thermophiles, represented one of the major taxa. Several thermophilic photosynthetic microorganisms and acidothermophiles were also detected. Most of the phyla identified by 16S rRNA were also found using the shotgun metagenome approaches. The carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen metabolism within the SK hot spring community were evaluated by shotgun metagenome sequencing, and the data revealed diversity in terms of metabolic activity and dynamics. This hot spring has a rich diversified phylogenetic community partly due to its natural environment (plant litter, high TOC, and a shallow stream) and geochemical parameters (broad temperature and pH range). It is speculated that symbiotic relationships occur between the members of the community.}, } @article {pmid25798110, year = {2015}, author = {Ip, YK and Ching, B and Hiong, KC and Choo, CY and Boo, MV and Wong, WP and Chew, SF}, title = {Light induces changes in activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, H(+)/K(+)-ATPase and glutamine synthetase in tissues involved directly or indirectly in light-enhanced calcification in the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa.}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {68}, pmid = {25798110}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 12 h of exposure to light, as compared with 12 h of exposure to darkness (control), on enzymatic activities of transporters involved in the transport of NH(+) 4 or H(+), and activities of enzymes involved in converting NH(+) 4 to glutamate/glutamine in inner mantle, outer mantle, and ctenidia of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. Exposure to light resulted in a significant increase in the effectiveness of NH(+) 4 in substitution for K(+) to activate Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA), manifested as a significant increase in the Na(+)/NH(+) 4-activated-NKA activity in the inner mantle. However, similar phenomena were not observed in the extensible outer mantle, which contained abundant symbiotic zooxanthellae. Hence, during light-enhanced calcification, H(+) released from CaCO3 deposition could react with NH3 to form NH(+) 4 in the extrapallial fluid, and NH(+) 4 could probably be transported into the shell-facing inner mantle epithelium through NKA. Light also induced an increase in the activity of glutamine synthetase, which converts NH(+) 4 and glutamate to glutamine, in the inner mantle. Taken together, these results explained observations reported elsewhere that light induced a significant increase in pH and a significant decrease in ammonia concentration in the extrapallial fluid, as well as a significant increase in the glutamine concentration in the inner mantle, of T. squamosa. Exposure of T. squamosa to light also led to a significant decrease in the N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)-sensitive-V-H(+)-ATPase (VATPase) in the inner mantle, and significant increases in the Na(+)/K(+)-activated-NKA, H(+)/NH(+) 4-activated-H(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and NEM-sensitive-VATPase activities in ctenidia, indicating that light-enhanced calcification might perturb Na(+) homeostasis and acid/base balance in the hemolymph, and might involve the active uptake of NH(+) 4 from the environment. This is the first report on light having direct enhancing effects on activities of certain transporters/enzymes related to light-enhanced calcification in the inner mantle and ctenidia of T. squamosa.}, } @article {pmid25797311, year = {2015}, author = {Li, W and Silipo, A and Molinaro, A and Yu, B}, title = {Synthesis of bradyrhizose, a unique inositol-fused monosaccharide relevant to a Nod-factor independent nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {51}, number = {32}, pages = {6964-6967}, doi = {10.1039/c5cc00752f}, pmid = {25797311}, issn = {1364-548X}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/metabolism ; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring/*chemical synthesis/*chemistry/metabolism ; Inositol/*analogs & derivatives/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/metabolism ; Monosaccharides/*chemical synthesis/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of Bradyrhizobium sp. BTAi1 with its host plant Aeschynomene indica relies on a Nod-factor independent mechanism, wherein the Bradyrhizobium O-antigen is regarded as a key factor. This O-antigen polysaccharide is composed of a unique C10 monosaccharide, namely bradyrhizose, which has a galactose-inositol trans-fused scaffold, via a homogeneous α-(1 → 7)-linkage. Herein, we report the first synthesis of bradyrhizose. The scalable synthesis requires 26 steps in a high overall yield of 9%, with the inositol scaffold being constructed effectively via a Ferrier II rearrangement from a fully functionalized C2 and C4 branched pyranose derivative.}, } @article {pmid25795776, year = {2015}, author = {Peterson, DA and Planer, JD and Guruge, JL and Xue, L and Downey-Virgin, W and Goodman, AL and Seedorf, H and Gordon, JI}, title = {Characterizing the interactions between a naturally primed immunoglobulin A and its conserved Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron species-specific epitope in gnotobiotic mice.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {290}, number = {20}, pages = {12630-12649}, pmid = {25795776}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {GM007200/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P01 DK078669/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK030292/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K08-AI07660902/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007200/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK30292/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK078669/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R37 DK030292/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/genetics/*immunology ; Bacteroides/genetics/*immunology ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Epitopes/genetics/*immunology ; Genetic Loci/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; O Antigens/genetics/immunology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The adaptive immune response to the human gut microbiota consists of a complex repertoire of antibodies interacting with a broad range of taxa. Fusing intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes from mice monocolonized with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron to a myeloma fusion partner allowed us to recover hybridomas that captured naturally primed, antigen-specific antibody responses representing multiple isotypes, including IgA. One of these hybridomas, 260.8, produced a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope specific for B. thetaiotaomicron isolates in a large panel of hospital- and community-acquired Bacteroides. Whole genome transposon mutagenesis revealed a 19-gene locus, involved in LPS O-antigen polysaccharide synthesis and conserved among multiple B. thetaiotaomicron isolates, that is required for 260.8 epitope expression. Mutants in this locus exhibited marked fitness defects in vitro during growth in rich medium and in gnotobiotic mice colonized with defined communities of human gut symbionts. Expression of the 260.8 epitope was sustained during 10 months of daily passage in vitro and during 14 months of monocolonization of gnotobiotic wild-type, Rag1-/-, or Myd88-/- mice. Comparison of gnotobiotic Rag1-/- mice with and without subcutaneous 260.8 hybridomas disclosed that this IgA did not affect B. thetaiotaomicron population density or suppress 260.8 epitope production but did affect bacterial gene expression in ways emblematic of a diminished host innate immune response. Our study illustrates an approach for (i) generating diagnostic antibodies, (ii) characterizing IgA responses along a continuum of specificity/degeneracy that defines the IgA repertoire to gut symbionts, and (iii) identifying immunogenic epitopes that affect competitiveness and help maintain host-microbe mutualism.}, } @article {pmid25795171, year = {2015}, author = {Poland, J}, title = {Breeding-assisted genomics.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {24}, number = {}, pages = {119-124}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2015.02.009}, pmid = {25795171}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*genetics ; *Genomics ; *Plant Breeding ; }, abstract = {The revolution of inexpensive sequencing has ushered in an unprecedented age of genomics. The promise of using this technology to accelerate plant breeding is being realized with a vision of genomics-assisted breeding that will lead to rapid genetic gain for expensive and difficult traits. The reality is now that robust phenotypic data is an increasing limiting resource to complement the current wealth of genomic information. While genomics has been hailed as the discipline to fundamentally change the scope of plant breeding, a more symbiotic relationship is likely to emerge. In the context of developing and evaluating large populations needed for functional genomics, none excel in this area more than plant breeders. While genetic studies have long relied on dedicated, well-structured populations, the resources dedicated to these populations in the context of readily available, inexpensive genotyping is making this philosophy less tractable relative to directly focusing functional genomics on material in breeding programs. Through shifting effort for basic genomic studies from dedicated structured populations, to capturing the entire scope of genetic determinants in breeding lines, we can move towards not only furthering our understanding of functional genomics in plants, but also rapidly improving crops for increased food security, availability and nutrition.}, } @article {pmid25793963, year = {2015}, author = {Panis, G and Murray, SR and Viollier, PH}, title = {Versatility of global transcriptional regulators in alpha-Proteobacteria: from essential cell cycle control to ancillary functions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {120-133}, doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuu002}, pmid = {25793963}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Caulobacter crescentus/cytology/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent data indicate that cell cycle transcription in many alpha-Proteobacteria is executed by at least three conserved functional modules in which pairs of antagonistic regulators act jointly, rather than in isolation, to control transcription in S-, G2- or G1-phase. Inactivation of module components often results in pleiotropic defects, ranging from cell death and impaired cell division to fairly benign deficiencies in motility. Expression of module components can follow systemic (cell cycle) or external (nutritional/cell density) cues and may be implemented by auto-regulation, ancillary regulators or other (unknown) mechanisms. Here, we highlight the recent progress in understanding the molecular events and the genetic relationships of the module components in environmental, pathogenic and/or symbiotic alpha-proteobacterial genera. Additionally, we take advantage of the recent genome-wide transcriptional analyses performed in the model alpha-Proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus to illustrate the complexity of the interactions of the global regulators at selected cell cycle-regulated promoters and we detail the consequences of (mis-)expression when the regulators are absent. This review thus provides the first detailed mechanistic framework for understanding orthologous operational principles acting on cell cycle-regulated promoters in other alpha-Proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid25793042, year = {2014}, author = {Ahanchian, H and Nouri, Z and Jafari, SA and Moghiman, T and Amirian, MH and Ezzati, A and Kianifar, HR}, title = {Synbiotics in Children with Cow's Milk Allergy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.}, journal = {Iranian journal of pediatrics}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {29-34}, pmid = {25793042}, issn = {2008-2142}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Cow`s milk protein allergy usually occurs in infants within the first months of life. It can affect several organs, but gastrointestinal symptoms are the most clinical symptoms observed. The most effective treatment is restricting the cow `s milk protein in mother and infant`s diet. Lactobacillus GG supplementation in infant could be effective through modulation of the immune system and the gut microflora.

METHODS: Thirty two breastfed infants with cow`s milk protein allergy were enrolled in a double-blinded randomized controlled trial in which they received Synbiotic (n=16) or placebo (n=16) once a day for one month, simultaneously with cow`s milk protein restriction in mother and infant`s diet. Clinical gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, colic, rectal bleeding and diarrhea), head circumference, body length and weight were recorded at the beginning, the end of the first and third month of study. Findings : Percentage of increment in head circumference and weight were statistically more in synbiotic group compared with placebo group at the end of the first and third month of study. There was no significant difference in resolution of clinical gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, colic, rectal bleeding or diarrhea) and percentage of increment in body length.

CONCLUSION: Synbiotic supplementation in infants may improve increment of head circumference and weight gain, but has no effect on resolution of clinical symptoms.}, } @article {pmid25792281, year = {2015}, author = {Fleischhacker, A and Grube, M and Kopun, T and Hafellner, J and Muggia, L}, title = {Community Analyses Uncover High Diversity of Lichenicolous Fungi in Alpine Habitats.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {348-360}, pmid = {25792281}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {P 24114/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/*genetics ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are frequently colonized by specialized, lichenicolous fungi. Symptomatic lichenicolous fungi usually display typical phenotypes and reproductive structures on the lichen hosts. The classification based on these structures revealed different host specificity patterns. Other fungi occur asymptomatically in the lichen thalli and are much less known. We aimed at studying the diversity of lichen-associated fungi in specific, lichen-rich communities on rocks in the Alps. We tested whether lichenicolous fungi developing symptomatically on their known hosts also occur asymptomatically in other thalli of the same or of different host species. We collected lichen thalli according to a uniform sampling design comprising individuals adjacent to thalli that showed symptoms of lichenicolous fungal infections. The total fungal communities in the selected lichen thalli were further studied by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) fingerprinting analyses and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragments. The systematic, stratified sampling strategy helped to recover 17 previously undocumented lichenicolous fungi and almost exhaustively the species diversity of symptomatic lichenicolous fungi in the studied region. The results from SSCP and the sequencing analyses did not reveal asymptomatic occurrence of normally symptomatic lichenicolous fungi in thalli of both the same and different lichen host species. The fungal diversity did not correlate with the species diversity of the symptomatic lichenicolous fungus-lichen host associations. The complex fingerprint patterns recovered here for fungal communities, in associations of well-delimited lichen thalli, suggest lichen symbiosis as suitable subjects for fungal metacommunity studies.}, } @article {pmid25791268, year = {2015}, author = {Henke, C and Jung, EM and Kothe, E}, title = {Hartig' net formation of Tricholoma vaccinum-spruce ectomycorrhiza in hydroponic cultures.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {24}, pages = {19394-19399}, pmid = {25791268}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Dehydration ; Environmental Pollution ; Hydroponics ; Hyphae/physiology/ultrastructure ; Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Picea/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Tricholoma/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {For re-forestation of metal-contaminated land, ectomycorrhizal trees may provide a solution. Hence, the study of the interaction is necessary to allow for comprehensive understanding of the mutually symbiotic features. On a structural level, hyphal mantle and the Hartig' net formed in the root apoplast are essential for plant protection and mycorrhizal functioning. As a model, we used the basidiomycete Tricholoma vaccinum and its host spruce (Picea abies). Using an optimized hydroponic cultivation system, both features could be visualized and lower stress response of the tree was obtained in non-challenged cultivation. Larger spaces in the apoplasts could be shown with high statistical significance. The easy accessibility will allow to address metal stress or molecular responses in both partners. Additionally, the proposed cultivation system will enable for other experimental applications like addressing flooding, biological interactions with helper bacteria, chemical signaling, or other biotic or abiotic challenges relevant in the natural habitat.}, } @article {pmid25789995, year = {2015}, author = {Petrzik, K and Vondrák, J and Kvíderová, J and Lukavský, J}, title = {Platinum anniversary: virus and lichen alga together more than 70 years.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0120768}, pmid = {25789995}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Anniversaries and Special Events ; Base Sequence ; Caulimovirus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Chlorophyta/*virology ; DNA, Viral/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Gold/chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Trebouxia aggregata (Archibald) Gärtner (phylum Chlorophyta, family Trebouxiaceae), a lichen symbiotic alga, has been identified as host of the well-known herbaceous plant virus Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV, family Caulimoviridae). The alga had been isolated from Xanthoria parietina more than 70 years ago and has been maintained in a collection since that time. The CaMV detected in this collection entry has now been completely sequenced. The virus from T. aggregata is mechanically transmissible to a herbaceous host and induces disease symptoms there. Its genome differs by 173 nt from the closest European CaMV-D/H isolate from cauliflower. No site under positive selection was found on the CaMV genome from T. aggregata. We therefore assume that the virus's presence in this alga was not sufficiently long to fix any specific changes in its genome. Apart from this symbiotic alga, CaMV capsid protein sequences were amplified from many other non-symbiotic algae species maintained in a collection (e.g., Oonephris obesa, Elliptochloris sp., Microthamnion kuetzingianum, Chlorella vulgaris, Pseudococcomyxa sp.). CaMV-free Chlorella vulgaris was treated with CaMV to establish virus infection. The virus was still detected there after five passages. The virus infection is morphologically symptomless on Chlorella algae and the photosynthesis activity is slightly decreased in comparison to CaMV-free alga culture. This is the first proof as to the natural presence of CaMV in algae and the first demonstration of algae being artificially infected with this virus.}, } @article {pmid25788900, year = {2015}, author = {Korb, J and Poulsen, M and Hu, H and Li, C and Boomsma, JJ and Zhang, G and Liebig, J}, title = {A genomic comparison of two termites with different social complexity.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {9}, pmid = {25788900}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {The termites evolved eusociality and complex societies before the ants, but have been studied much less. The recent publication of the first two termite genomes provides a unique comparative opportunity, particularly because the sequenced termites represent opposite ends of the social complexity spectrum. Zootermopsis nevadensis has simple colonies with totipotent workers that can develop into all castes (dispersing reproductives, nest-inheriting replacement reproductives, and soldiers). In contrast, the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis belongs to the higher termites and has very large and complex societies with morphologically distinct castes that are life-time sterile. Here we compare key characteristics of genomic architecture, focusing on genes involved in communication, immune defenses, mating biology and symbiosis that were likely important in termite social evolution. We discuss these in relation to what is known about these genes in the ants and outline hypothesis for further testing.}, } @article {pmid25788591, year = {2015}, author = {Becker, MH and Walke, JB and Cikanek, S and Savage, AE and Mattheus, N and Santiago, CN and Minbiole, KP and Harris, RN and Belden, LK and Gratwicke, B}, title = {Composition of symbiotic bacteria predicts survival in Panamanian golden frogs infected with a lethal fungus.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1805}, pages = {}, pmid = {25788591}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bufonidae/physiology ; Chytridiomycota/*physiology ; Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoses/microbiology/mortality/*veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes can dramatically impact host health and fitness, and recent research in a diversity of systems suggests that different symbiont community structures may result in distinct outcomes for the host. In amphibians, some symbiotic skin bacteria produce metabolites that inhibit the growth of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a cutaneous fungal pathogen that has caused many amphibian population declines and extinctions. Treatment with beneficial bacteria (probiotics) prevents Bd infection in some amphibian species and creates optimism for conservation of species that are highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by Bd. In a laboratory experiment, we used Bd-inhibitory bacteria from Bd-tolerant Panamanian amphibians in a probiotic development trial with Panamanian golden frogs, Atelopus zeteki, a species currently surviving only in captive assurance colonies. Approximately 30% of infected golden frogs survived Bd exposure by either clearing infection or maintaining low Bd loads, but this was not associated with probiotic treatment. Survival was instead related to initial composition of the skin bacterial community and metabolites present on the skin. These results suggest a strong link between the structure of these symbiotic microbial communities and amphibian host health in the face of Bd exposure and also suggest a new approach for developing amphibian probiotics.}, } @article {pmid25787256, year = {2015}, author = {Ramsay, JP and Tester, LG and Major, AS and Sullivan, JT and Edgar, CD and Kleffmann, T and Patterson-House, JR and Hall, DA and Tate, WP and Hynes, MF and Ronson, CW}, title = {Ribosomal frameshifting and dual-target antiactivation restrict quorum-sensing-activated transfer of a mobile genetic element.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {13}, pages = {4104-4109}, pmid = {25787256}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; *Frameshifting, Ribosomal ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genomic Islands ; *Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mesorhizobium/metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; Plasmids/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Biosynthesis ; *Quorum Sensing ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Ribosomes/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors ; Transcription, Genetic ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; beta-Galactosidase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis islands are integrative and conjugative mobile genetic elements that convert nonsymbiotic rhizobia into nitrogen-fixing symbionts of leguminous plants. Excision of the Mesorhizobium loti symbiosis island ICEMlSym(R7A) is indirectly activated by quorum sensing through TraR-dependent activation of the excisionase gene rdfS. Here we show that a +1 programmed ribosomal frameshift (PRF) fuses the coding sequences of two TraR-activated genes, msi172 and msi171, producing an activator of rdfS expression named Frameshifted excision activator (FseA). Mass-spectrometry and mutational analyses indicated that the PRF occurred through +1 slippage of the tRNA(phe) from UUU to UUC within a conserved msi172-encoded motif. FseA activated rdfS expression in the absence of ICEMlSym(R7A), suggesting that it directly activated rdfS transcription, despite being unrelated to any characterized DNA-binding proteins. Bacterial two-hybrid and gene-reporter assays demonstrated that FseA was also bound and inhibited by the ICEMlSym(R7A)-encoded quorum-sensing antiactivator QseM. Thus, activation of ICEMlSym(R7A) excision is counteracted by TraR antiactivation, ribosomal frameshifting, and FseA antiactivation. This robust suppression likely dampens the inherent biological noise present in the quorum-sensing autoinduction circuit and ensures that ICEMlSym(R7A) transfer only occurs in a subpopulation of cells in which both qseM expression is repressed and FseA is translated. The architecture of the ICEMlSym(R7A) transfer regulatory system provides an example of how a set of modular components have assembled through evolution to form a robust genetic toggle that regulates gene transcription and translation at both single-cell and cell-population levels.}, } @article {pmid25786308, year = {2014}, author = {Provorov, NA and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {[Super-species genetic systems].}, journal = {Zhurnal obshchei biologii}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {247-260}, pmid = {25786308}, issn = {0044-4596}, mesh = {Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*physiology ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Quorum Sensing/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Genetic integration of diverse organisms results in generation of three types of the super-species systems of heredity: metagenome (set of genetic factors of the microbial community which occupies a certain ecological niche), symbiogenome (functionally integrated system of the partners' symbiotic genes) and hologenome (entire hereditary system of a symbiotically originated organism). The integrity of metagenome is based on the cross-regulation and horizontal transfer of genes in co-evolving organisms which in the soil microbial communities are accompanied by maintenance of the stable extracellular DNA pool. Formation of symbiogenome is related to the highly specific partners' signaling interactions which are responsible for development of the joint metabolic pathways based on the specialized cellular and tissue structures. Transitions of symbiogenome into hologenome are due to the endosymbiotic gene transfer from microsymbionts to their hosts. In symbiotic bacteria, these transitions are coupled with establishments of multi-component, reduced and rudimentary genomes revealed for the ecologically obligatory symbionts, genetically obligatory symbionts, and cellular organelles, respectively. Their evolution is related to the stringency of transmission of microsymbionts by hosts increased from pseudo-vertical (via environment) to the trans-embryonic (via embryos and the surrounding tissues) and trans-ovarian transmission (via germ cells) which are culminated in the cytoplasmic inheritance of cellular organelles. We suggest the hypothesis about generation of endophytic plant symbiogenome on the basis of soil metagenome subjected to the control of host by its involvement into the quorum sensing auto-regulation of microbial community.}, } @article {pmid25784916, year = {2015}, author = {Wichard, T}, title = {Exploring bacteria-induced growth and morphogenesis in the green macroalga order Ulvales (Chlorophyta).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {86}, pmid = {25784916}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Green macroalgae, such as Ulvales, lose their typical morphology completely when grown under axenic conditions or in the absence of the appropriate microbiome. As a result, slow growing aberrant phenotypes or even callus-like morphotypes are observed in Ulvales. The cross-kingdom interactions between marine algae and microorganisms are hence not only restricted by the exchange of macronutrients, including vitamins and nutrients, but also by infochemicals such as bacterial morphogenetic compounds. The latter are a fundamental trait mediating the mutualism within the chemosphere where the organisms interact with each other via compounds in their surroundings. Approximately 60 years ago, pilot studies demonstrated that certain bacteria promote growth, whereas other bacteria induce morphogenesis; this is particularly true for the order of Ulvales. However, only slow progress was made towards the underlying mechanism due to the complexity of, for example, algal cultivation techniques, and the lack of standardized experiments in the laboratory. A breakthrough in this research was the discovery of the morphogenetic compound thallusin, which was isolated from an epiphytic bacterium and induces normal germination restoring the foliaceous morphotypes of Monostroma. Owing to the low concentration, the purification and structure elucidation of highly biologically active morphogenetic compounds are still challenging. Recently, it was found that only the combination of two specific bacteria from the Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae can completely recover the growth and morphogenesis of axenic Ulva mutabilis cultures forming a symbiotic tripartite community by chemical communication. This review combines literature detailing evidences of bacteria-induced morphogenesis in Ulvales. A set of standardized experimental approaches is further proposed for the preparation of axenic algal tissues, bacteria isolation, co-cultivation experiments, and the analysis of the chemosphere.}, } @article {pmid25784898, year = {2015}, author = {Müller, H and Berg, C and Landa, BB and Auerbach, A and Moissl-Eichinger, C and Berg, G}, title = {Plant genotype-specific archaeal and bacterial endophytes but similar Bacillus antagonists colonize Mediterranean olive trees.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {138}, pmid = {25784898}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytes have an intimate and often symbiotic interaction with their hosts. Less is known about the composition and function of endophytes in trees. In order to evaluate our hypothesis that plant genotype and origin have a strong impact on both, endophytes of leaves from 10 Olea europaea L. cultivars from the Mediterranean basin growing at a single agricultural site in Spain and from nine wild olive trees located in natural habitats in Greece, Cyprus, and on Madeira Island were studied. The composition of the bacterial endophytic communities as revealed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and the subsequent PCoA analysis showed a strong correlation to the plant genotypes. The bacterial distribution patterns were congruent with the plant origins in "Eastern" and "Western" areas of the Mediterranean basin. Subsequently, the endophytic microbiome of wild olives was shown to be closely related to those of cultivated olives of the corresponding geographic origins. The olive leaf endosphere harbored mostly Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The detection of a high portion of archaeal taxa belonging to the phyla Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, and Euryarchaeota in the amplicon libraries was an unexpected discovery, which was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR revealing an archaeal portion of up to 35.8%. Although the function of these Archaea for their host plant remains speculative, this finding suggests a significant relevance of archaeal endophytes for plant-microbe interactions. In addition, the antagonistic potential of culturable endophytes was determined; all isolates with antagonistic activity against the olive-pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb. belong to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. In contrast to the specific global structural diversity, BOX-fingerprints of the antagonistic Bacillus isolates were highly similar and independent of the olive genotype from which they were isolated.}, } @article {pmid25783944, year = {2015}, author = {Yan, Z and Hossain, MS and Arikit, S and Valdés-López, O and Zhai, J and Wang, J and Libault, M and Ji, T and Qiu, L and Meyers, BC and Stacey, G}, title = {Identification of microRNAs and their mRNA targets during soybean nodule development: functional analysis of the role of miR393j-3p in soybean nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {207}, number = {3}, pages = {748-759}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13365}, pmid = {25783944}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Stability/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Soybeans/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) play important regulatory roles in a number of developmental processes. The present work investigated the roles of miRNAs during nodule development in the crop legume soybean (Glycine max). Fifteen soybean small RNA libraries were sequenced from different stages of nodule development, including young nodules, mature nodules and senescent nodules. In order to identify the regulatory targets of the miRNAs, five parallel analysis of RNA ends (PARE) libraries were also sequenced from the same stages of nodule development. Sequencing identified 284 miRNAs, including 178 novel soybean miRNAs. Analysis of miRNA abundance identified 139 miRNAs whose expression was significantly regulated during nodule development, including 12 miRNAs whose expression changed > 10-fold. Analysis of the PARE libraries identified 533 miRNA targets, including three nodulation-related genes and eight nodule-specific genes. miR393j-3p was selected for detailed analysis as its expression was significantly regulated during nodule formation, and it targeted a nodulin gene, Early Nodulin 93 (ENOD93). Strong, ectopic expression of miR393j-3p, as well as RNAi silencing of ENOD93 expression, significantly reduced nodule formation. The data indicate that miR393j-3p regulation of ENOD93 mRNA abundance is a key control point for soybean nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid25782273, year = {2014}, author = {Mukhina, VS}, title = {[Origination and evolution of plastids].}, journal = {Zhurnal obshchei biologii}, volume = {75}, number = {5}, pages = {329-352}, pmid = {25782273}, issn = {0044-4596}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Plastids/*physiology ; Protein Transport/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plastids are photosynthetic DNA-containing organelles of plants and algae. In the review, the history of their origination and evolution within different taxa is considered. All of the plastids appear to be descendants of cyanobacteria that colonized eukaryotic cells. The first plastids arose through symbiosis of cyanobacteria with algal ancestors from Archaeplastida kingdom. Later, there occurred repeated secondary symbioses of other eukariotes with photosynthetic protists: in this way plastids emerged in organisms of other taxa. Co-evolution of cyanobacteria and ancestral algae led to extensive transformation of both: reduction of endosymbiont, mass transfer of cyanobacteria genes into karyogenome, formation of complex system of proteins transportation to plastids and their functioning regulation.}, } @article {pmid25779926, year = {2015}, author = {Karaś, MA and Turska-Szewczuk, A and Trapska, D and Urbanik-Sypniewska, T}, title = {Growth and Survival of Mesorhizobium loti Inside Acanthamoeba Enhanced Its Ability to Develop More Nodules on Lotus corniculatus.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {566-575}, pmid = {25779926}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/*microbiology ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The importance of protozoa as environmental reservoirs of pathogens is well recognized, while their impact on survival and symbiotic properties of rhizobia has not been explored. The possible survival of free-living rhizobia inside amoebae could influence bacterial abundance in the rhizosphere of legume plants and the nodulation competitiveness of microsymbionts. Two well-characterized strains of Mesorhizobium: Mesorhizobium loti NZP2213 and Mesorhizobium huakuii symbiovar loti MAFF303099 were assayed for their growth ability within the Neff strain of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Although the association ability and the initial uptake rate of both strains were similar, recovery of viable M. huakuii MAFF303099 after 4 h postinfection decreased markedly and that of M. loti NZP2213 increased. The latter strain was also able to survive prolonged co-incubation within amoebae and to self-release from the amoeba cell. The temperature 28 °C and PBS were established as optimal for the uptake of Mesorhizobium by amoebae. The internalization of mesorhizobia was mediated by the mannose-dependent receptor. M. loti NZP2213 bacteria released from amoebae developed 1.5 times more nodules on Lotus corniculatus than bacteria cultivated in an amoebae-free medium.}, } @article {pmid25779612, year = {2015}, author = {Hayashi, H}, title = {Frontier studies on highly selective bio-regulators useful for environmentally benign agricultural production.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {79}, number = {6}, pages = {877-887}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2015.1015954}, pmid = {25779612}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Animals ; *Environment ; Fungi/cytology/metabolism/physiology ; Humans ; Insecta/microbiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungal metabolites active for insects were obtained from fermentation products using okara media. The mechanisms of action of these compounds against insects were clarified using voltage clamp electrophysiology. The branching factor inducing hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was isolated from the root exudates of Lotus japonicus and identified as 5-deoxystrigol. Strigolactones were originally identified as seed germination stimulants of parasitic weeds; therefore, synthetic strigolactones were developed to exhibit the inducing activity of hyphal branching in AM fungi and diminish the stimulating activity of seed germination of parasitic weeds. Signaling molecules, acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), in quorum sensing were identified in the fungal strain Mortierella alpina A-178, and the true producer of AHLs was clarified as symbiotic bacteria in the fungus. Since acyl-(S)-adenosylmethionine analogs may be good candidates for competitive inhibitors of AHL synthases, intermediate mimics in the biosynthesis of AHLs have been synthesized.}, } @article {pmid25778998, year = {2015}, author = {Zarivi, O and Cesare, P and Ragnelli, AM and Aimola, P and Leonardi, M and Bonfigli, A and Colafarina, S and Poma, AM and Miranda, M and Pacioni, G}, title = {Validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR in Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) developmental stages.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {78-86}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.02.024}, pmid = {25778998}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Ascomycota/chemistry/*genetics ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribosomal Proteins ; Software ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic fungus Tuber melanosporum Vittad. (Périgord black truffle) belongs to the Ascomycota and forms mutualistic symbiosis with tree and shrub roots. This truffle has a high value in a global market and is cultivated in many countries of both hemispheres. The publication of the T. melanosporum genome has given researchers unique opportunities to learn more about the biology of the fungus. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is a definitive technique for quantitating differences in transcriptional gene expression levels between samples. To facilitate gene expression studies and obtain more accurate qRT-PCR data, normalization relative to stable housekeeping genes is required. These housekeeping genes must show stable expression under given experimental conditions for the qRT-PCR results to be accurate. Unfortunately, there are no studies on the stability of housekeeping genes used in T. melanosporum development. In this study, we present a morphological and microscopical classification of the developmental stages of T. melanosporum fruit body, and investigate the expression levels of 12 candidate reference genes (18S rRNA; 5.8S rRNA; Elongation factor 1-alpha; Elongation factor 1-beta; α-tubulin; 60S ribosomal protein L29; β-tubulin; 40S ribosomal protein S1; 40S ribosomal protein S3; Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; β-actin; Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme). To evaluate the suitability of these genes as endogenous controls, five software-based approaches and one web-based comprehensive tool (RefFinder) were used to analyze and rank the tested genes. We demonstrate here that the 18S rRNA gene shows the most stable expression during T. melanosporum development and that a set of three genes, 18S rRNA, Elongation factor 1-alpha and 40S ribosomal protein S3, is the most suitable to normalize qRT-PCR data from all the analyzed developmental stages; conversely, 18S rRNA, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and Elongation factor 1-alpha are the most suitable genes for fruiting body developmental stages.}, } @article {pmid25777671, year = {2015}, author = {Barnett, MJ and Long, SR}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti SyrM regulon: effects on global gene expression are mediated by syrA and nodD3.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {10}, pages = {1792-1806}, pmid = {25777671}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago/microbiology ; *Regulon ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: In Sinorhizobium meliloti, three NodD transcriptional regulators activate bacterial nodulation (nod) gene expression. NodD1 and NodD2 require plant compounds to activate nod genes. The NodD3 protein does not require exogenous compounds to activate nod gene expression; instead, another transcriptional regulator, SyrM, activates nodD3 expression. In addition, NodD3 can activate syrM expression. SyrM also activates expression of another gene, syrA, which when overexpressed causes a dramatic increase in exopolysaccharide production. In a previous study, we identified more than 200 genes with altered expression in a strain overexpressing nodD3. In this work, we define the transcriptomes of strains overexpressing syrM or syrA. The syrM, nodD3, and syrA overexpression transcriptomes share similar gene expression changes; analyses imply that nodD3 and syrA are the only targets directly activated by SyrM. We propose that most of the gene expression changes observed when nodD3 is overexpressed are due to NodD3 activation of syrM expression, which in turn stimulates SyrM activation of syrA expression. The subsequent increase in SyrA abundance results in broad changes in gene expression, most likely mediated by the ChvI-ExoS-ExoR regulatory circuit.

IMPORTANCE: Symbioses with bacteria are prevalent across the animal and plant kingdoms. Our system of study, the rhizobium-legume symbiosis (Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago spp.), involves specific host-microbe signaling, differentiation in both partners, and metabolic exchange of bacterial fixed nitrogen for host photosynthate. During this complex developmental process, both bacteria and plants undergo profound changes in gene expression. The S. meliloti SyrM-NodD3-SyrA and ChvI-ExoS-ExoR regulatory circuits affect gene expression and are important for optimal symbiosis. In this study, we defined the transcriptomes of S. meliloti overexpressing SyrM or SyrA. In addition to identifying new targets of the SyrM-NodD3-SyrA regulatory circuit, our work further suggests how it is linked to the ChvI-ExoS-ExoR regulatory circuit.}, } @article {pmid25776491, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, NH and Jung, HI and Choi, WS and Son, BW and Seo, YB and Choi, JS and Kim, GD}, title = {Toluhydroquinone, the secondary metabolite of marine algae symbiotic microorganism, inhibits angiogenesis in HUVECs.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {129-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2015.01.004}, pmid = {25776491}, issn = {1950-6007}, mesh = {Angiogenesis Inhibitors/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Aspergillus/metabolism ; Cell Survival/drug effects/physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Humans ; Hydroquinones/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Rhodophyta/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from the existing ones, occurs during embryo development and wound healing. However, most malignant tumors require angiogenesis for their growth and metastasis as well. Therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis has been focused as a new strategy of cancer therapies. To treat cancer, there are marine microorganism-derived secondary metabolites developed as chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we used toluhydroquinone (2-methyl-1,4-hydroquinone), one of the secondary metabolites isolated from marine algae symbiotic fungus, Aspergillus sp. We examined the effects of toluhydroquinone on angiogenesis using HUVECs. We identified that toluhydroquinone inhibited the activity of β-catenin and down-regulated Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling which are crucial components during angiogenesis. In addition, the expression and activity of MMPs are reduced by the treatment of toluhydroquinone. In conclusion, we confirmed that toluhydroquinone has inhibitory effects on angiogenic behaviors of human endothelial cells, HUVECs. Our findings suggest that toluhydroquinone can be proposed as a potent anti-angiogenesis drug candidate to treat cancers.}, } @article {pmid25776061, year = {2015}, author = {Ziegler, D and Pothier, JF and Ardley, J and Fossou, RK and Pflüger, V and de Meyer, S and Vogel, G and Tonolla, M and Howieson, J and Reeve, W and Perret, X}, title = {Ribosomal protein biomarkers provide root nodule bacterial identification by MALDI-TOF MS.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {13}, pages = {5547-5562}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-6515-3}, pmid = {25776061}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacteria/*chemistry/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Biomarkers/analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribosomal Proteins/*analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; }, abstract = {Accurate identification of soil bacteria that form nitrogen-fixing associations with legume crops is challenging given the phylogenetic diversity of root nodule bacteria (RNB). The labor-intensive and time-consuming 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and/or multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of conserved genes so far remain the favored molecular tools to characterize symbiotic bacteria. With the development of mass spectrometry (MS) as an alternative method to rapidly identify bacterial isolates, we recently showed that matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) can accurately characterize RNB found inside plant nodules or grown in cultures. Here, we report on the development of a MALDI-TOF RNB-specific spectral database built on whole cell MS fingerprints of 116 strains representing the major rhizobial genera. In addition to this RNB-specific module, which was successfully tested on unknown field isolates, a subset of 13 ribosomal proteins extracted from genome data was found to be sufficient for the reliable identification of nodule isolates to rhizobial species as shown in the putatively ascribed ribosomal protein masses (PARPM) database. These results reveal that data gathered from genome sequences can be used to expand spectral libraries to aid the accurate identification of bacterial species by MALDI-TOF MS.}, } @article {pmid25775562, year = {2015}, author = {Irmer, S and Podzun, N and Langel, D and Heidemann, F and Kaltenegger, E and Schemmerling, B and Geilfus, CM and Zörb, C and Ober, D}, title = {New aspect of plant-rhizobia interaction: alkaloid biosynthesis in Crotalaria depends on nodulation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {13}, pages = {4164-4169}, pmid = {25775562}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/metabolism ; Crotalaria/*metabolism/microbiology ; DNA, Complementary/metabolism ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Infection of legume hosts by rhizobial bacteria results in the formation of a specialized organ, the nodule, in which atmospheric nitrogen is reduced to ammonia. Nodulation requires the reprogramming of the plant cell, allowing the microsymbiont to enter the plant tissue in a highly controlled manner. We have found that, in Crotalaria (Fabaceae), this reprogramming is associated with the biosynthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These compounds are part of the plant's chemical defense against herbivores and cannot be regarded as being functionally involved in the symbiosis. PAs in Crotalaria are detectable only when the plants form nodules after infection with their rhizobial partner. The identification of a plant-derived sequence encoding homospermidine synthase (HSS), the first pathway-specific enzyme of PA biosynthesis, suggests that the plant and not the microbiont is the producer of PAs. Transcripts of HSS are detectable exclusively in the nodules, the tissue with the highest concentration of PAs, indicating that PA biosynthesis is restricted to the nodules and that the nodules are the source from which the alkaloids are transported to the above ground parts of the plant. The link between nodulation and the biosynthesis of nitrogen-containing alkaloids in Crotalaria highlights a further facet of the effect of symbiosis with rhizobia on the ecologically important trait of the plant's chemical defense.}, } @article {pmid25775272, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, C and Yu, H and Zhang, Z and Yu, L and Xu, X and Hong, Z and Luo, L}, title = {Phytosulfokine Is Involved in Positive Regulation of Lotus japonicus Nodulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {8}, pages = {847-855}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-15-0032-R}, pmid = {25775272}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Glucuronidase/genetics ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxylipins/metabolism/pharmacology ; Peptide Hormones/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phytosulfokine (PSK) is a tyrosine-sulfated peptide that is widely distributed in plants, participating in cell proliferation, differentiation, and innate immunity. The potential role of PSK in nodulation in legumes has not been reported. In this work, five PSK precursor genes were identified in Lotus japonicas, designated as LjPSK1 to LjPSK5. Three of them (LjPSK1, LjPSK4, and LjPSK5) were found to be expressed in nitrogen-fixing root nodules. LjPSK1 and LjPSK4 were not induced at the early stage of nodulation. Interestingly, while the expression of LjPSK4 was also found in spontaneous nodules without rhizobial colonization, LjPSK1 was not induced in these pseudo nodules. Promoter-β-glucuronidase analysis revealed that LjPSK1 was highly expressed in enlarged symbiotic cells of nodules. Exogenous addition of 1 1M synthetic PSK peptide resulted in increased nodule numbers per plant. Consistently, the number of mature nodules but not the events of rhizobial infection and nodule initiation was increased by overexpressing LjPSK1 in transgenic hairy roots, in which the expression of jasmonate-responsive genes was found to be repressed. These results suggest that PSK is a new peptide signal that regulates nodulation in legumes, probably through cross-talking with other phytohormones.}, } @article {pmid25775271, year = {2015}, author = {Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Pérez-Montaño, F and Monreal, JA and Preston, GM and Fones, H and Vioque, B and Ollero, FJ and López-Baena, FJ}, title = {The Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii HH103 Type 3 Secretion System Suppresses Early Defense Responses to Effectively Nodulate Soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {790-799}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-15-0020-R}, pmid = {25775271}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Isoleucine/metabolism ; Mutation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Soybeans/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plants that interact with pathogenic bacteria in their natural environments have developed barriers to block or contain the infection. Phytopathogenic bacteria have evolved mechanisms to subvert these defenses and promote infection. Thus, the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) delivers bacterial effectors directly into the plant cells to alter host signaling and suppress defenses, providing an appropriate environment for bacterial multiplication. Some rhizobial strains possess a symbiotic T3SS that seems to be involved in the suppression of host defenses to promote nodulation and determine the host range. In this work, we show that the inactivation of the Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii HH103 T3SS negatively affects soybean nodulation in the early stages of the symbiotic process, which is associated with a reduction of the expression of early nodulation genes. This symbiotic phenotype could be the consequence of the bacterial triggering of soybean defense responses associated with the production of salicylic acid (SA) and the impairment of the T3SS mutant to suppress these responses. Interestingly, the early induction of the transcription of GmMPK4, which negatively regulates SA accumulation and defense responses in soybean via WRKY33, could be associated with the differential defense responses induced by the parental and the T3SS mutant strain.}, } @article {pmid25773891, year = {2015}, author = {Metian, M and Hédouin, L and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Teyssié, JL and Oberhansli, F and Buschiazzo, E and Warnau, M}, title = {Metal bioconcentration in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata: investigating the role of different components of the holobiont using radiotracers.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {187}, number = {4}, pages = {178}, pmid = {25773891}, issn = {1573-2959}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry/physiology ; Environment ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Metals/*analysis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Bioconcentration kinetics of five metals (Ag, Cd, Co, Mn, and Zn) were determined in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata (entire symbiotic association vs. cultured symbionts), using radiotracer techniques. Among contrasting element behaviors observed in S. pistillata, the highest efficiency of concentration and retention was observed for Ag in the symbiotic association (CFss reaching 5000 and T b½>1 year). Predominant proportion of this metal was found associated with the skeleton whereas the other metals were mainly present in the coral tissues (including host tissues and symbionts). A 96-h exposure of cultured symbionts (isolated zooxantellae from S. pistillata) indicated that they displayed a very high potential for metal bioconcentration (higher by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude compared to the skeleton). In addition, among the five elements investigated, Ag had the highest concentration factor in the cultured symbionts. Contrasting kinetic characteristics of skeleton vs. tissues offer interesting implications for biomonitoring purposes. Indeed, the skeleton was shown to display stable metal concentrations after an exposure (long retention time) and thereby allows recording contamination event on the long term, whereas the concentrations within coral tissues rapidly increased during the exposure and dropped when non-contaminating conditions were restored, allowing information on the current (short term) contamination status. The present study confirms that the coral can be seen as a two-compartment box model for metal bioconcentration: the tissues sensus latto as a first box governing metal entrance (with a crucial role played by the symbionts) and the skeleton as a second box where metal detoxification (storage) is taking place; the first box also depurates toward the environment when non-contaminating conditions are restored.}, } @article {pmid25773718, year = {2015}, author = {Moore, ML and Six, DL}, title = {Effects of Temperature on Growth, Sporulation, and Competition of Mountain Pine Beetle Fungal Symbionts.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {336-347}, pmid = {25773718}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Ophiostomatales/*growth & development/*physiology ; Population Dynamics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, depends on two fungi, Grosmannia clavigera and Ophiostoma montium, to augment a nutrient-poor woody food resource. Because the two fungi exert differential effects on the host beetle, temperature-driven differences in fungal growth and competition outcomes have a strong potential to influence host population dynamics. Weisolated fungi from beetles and wood from three locations in Montana and Utah, USA, and measured their growth rates and sporulation between 5 and 35 °C on artificial media. We also measured growth rates and percent resource capture for each fungus at 10, 15, 21, and 25 °C during inter- and intra-specific competition. G. clavigera excelled at resource capture at most temperatures. Its optimal growth temperature occurs around 20 °C while that of O. montium occurs near 30 °C. There was no effect of collection site on growth or sporulation; however, O. montium exhibited greater variability in response to temperature than did G. clavigera. Sporulation of G. clavigera was greatest at 30 °C while O. montium sporulated at low levels across all temperatures. During competition experiments, G. clavigera captured more resources than O. montium at most temperatures and captured a greater percentage of resources at a greater rate during inter-specific competition than during intra-specific competition. In contrast, O. montium captured a greater percentage of resources during intra-specific competition. These results demonstrate that temperature can differentially affect growth, sporulation, and resource capture of the two symbionts, indicating that it may be an important factor influencing the composition and dynamics of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25769948, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, JI and Kwon, M and Lee, SH and Kim, Y}, title = {Parasitism and survival rate of Diadegma fenestrale (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and DfIV gene expression patterns in two lepidopteran hosts.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {459}, number = {4}, pages = {579-584}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.150}, pmid = {25769948}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Animals ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hymenoptera/*physiology ; Lepidoptera/genetics/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {The genus Diadegma is a well-known parasitoid group and some are known to have symbiotic virus, polydnavirus (PDV). A novel IV was discovered from the calyx of Diadegma fenestrale female and sequenced its genome. D. fenestrale has more than two hosts, including potato tuber moth (PTM) and diamondback moth (DBM). D. fenestrale preferred PTM to DBM as hosts based on the oviposition and survival rate. Nevertheless, the developmental period and morphology of D. fenestrale were not significantly different between PTM and DBM. We compared DfIV gene expression patterns between PTM and DBM under various conditions to understand the phenomena. DfIV genes were more widely expressed in PTM with large numbers than in DBM after parasitized by D. fenestrale, particularly at the initial point. They showed differential expression patterns between two lepidopteran hosts. This DfIV gene expression plasticity showed a dependency on the lepidopteran host species and parasitization time, suggesting that it may contribute to increase the parasitoid survival rate. This might be one of the key elements that determine the symbiotic relationship between PDV and parasitoid.}, } @article {pmid25765523, year = {2016}, author = {Work, TM and Aeby, GS and Hughen, KA}, title = {Gross and Microscopic Lesions in Corals from Micronesia.}, journal = {Veterinary pathology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {153-162}, doi = {10.1177/0300985815571669}, pmid = {25765523}, issn = {1544-2217}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Color ; Hyperplasia/pathology/*veterinary ; Micronesia ; Necrosis/veterinary ; }, abstract = {The authors documented gross and microscopic morphology of lesions in corals on 7 islands spanning western, southern, and eastern Micronesia, sampling 76 colonies comprising 30 species of corals among 18 genera, with Acropora, Porites, and Montipora dominating. Tissue loss comprised the majority of gross lesions sampled (41%), followed by discoloration (30%) and growth anomaly (29%). Of 31 cases of tissue loss, most lesions were subacute (48%), followed by acute and chronic (26% each). Of 23 samples with discoloration, most were dark discoloration (40%), with bleaching and other discoloration each constituting 30%. Of 22 growth anomalies, umbonate growth anomalies composed half, with exophytic, nodular, and rugose growth anomalies composing the remainder. On histopathology, for 9 cases of dark discoloration, fungal infections predominated (77%); for 7 bleached corals, depletion of zooxanthellae from the gastrodermis made up a majority of microscopic diagnoses (57%); and for growth anomalies other than umbonate, hyperplasia of the basal body wall was the most common microscopic finding (63%). For the remainder of the gross lesions, no single microscopic finding constituted >50% of the total. Host response varied with the agent present on histology. Fragmentation of tissues was most often associated with algae (60%), whereas necrosis dominated (53%) for fungi. Two newly documented potentially symbiotic tissue-associated metazoans were seen in Porites and Montipora. Findings of multiple potential etiologies for a given gross lesion highlight the importance of incorporating histopathology in coral disease surveys. This study also expands the range of corals infected with cell-associated microbial aggregates.}, } @article {pmid25764554, year = {2015}, author = {Bauer, E and Lampert, N and Mikaelyan, A and Köhler, T and Maekawa, K and Brune, A}, title = {Physicochemical conditions, metabolites and community structure of the bacterial microbiota in the gut of wood-feeding cockroaches (Blaberidae: Panesthiinae).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {2}, pages = {1-14}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiu028}, pmid = {25764554}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acetates/metabolism ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cockroaches/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoptera/microbiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Methane/*metabolism ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wood/metabolism ; }, abstract = {While the gut microbiota of termites and its role in symbiotic digestion have been studied for decades, little is known about the bacteria colonizing the intestinal tract of the distantly related wood-feeding cockroaches (Blaberidae: Panesthiinae). Here, we show that physicochemical gut conditions and microbial fermentation products in the gut of Panesthia angustipennis resemble that of other cockroaches. Microsensor measurements confirmed that all gut compartments were anoxic at the center and had a slightly acidic to neutral pH and a negative redox potential. While acetate dominated in all compartments, lactate and hydrogen accumulated only in the crop. The high, hydrogen-limited rates of methane emission from living cockroaches were in agreement with the restriction of F420-fluorescent methanogens to the hindgut. The gut microbiota of both P. angustipennis and Salganea esakii differed strongly between compartments, with the highest density and diversity in the hindgut, but similarities between homologous compartments of both cockroaches indicated a specificity of the microbiota for their respective habitats. While some lineages were most closely related to the gut microbiota of omnivorous cockroaches and wood- or litter-feeding termites, others have been encountered also in vertebrates, reinforcing the hypothesis that strong environmental selection drives community structure in the cockroach gut.}, } @article {pmid25764552, year = {2015}, author = {Lemaire, B and Dlodlo, O and Chimphango, S and Stirton, C and Schrire, B and Boatwright, JS and Honnay, O and Smets, E and Sprent, J and James, EK and Muasya, AM}, title = {Symbiotic diversity, specificity and distribution of rhizobia in native legumes of the Core Cape Subregion (South Africa).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {2}, pages = {1-17}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiu024}, pmid = {25764552}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; South Africa ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial diversity and host preferences were assessed in 65 native Fynbos legumes of the papilionoid legume tribes Astragaleae, Crotalarieae, Genisteae, Indigofereae, Millettieae, Phaseoleae, Podalyrieae, Psoraleeae and Sesbanieae. Sequence analyses of chromosomal 16S rRNA, recA, atpD and symbiosis-related nodA, nifH genes in parallel with immunogold labelling assays identified the symbionts as alpha- (Azorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium) and beta-rhizobial (Burkholderia) lineages with the majority placed in the genera Mesorhizobium and Burkholderia showing a wide range of host interactions. Despite a degree of symbiotic promiscuity in the tribes Crotalarieae and Indigofereae nodulating with both alpha- and beta-rhizobia, Mesorhizobium symbionts appeared to exhibit a general host preference for the tribe Psoraleeae, whereas Burkholderia prevailed in the Podalyrieae. Although host genotype was the main factor determining rhizobial diversity, ecological factors such as soil acidity and site elevation were positively correlated with genetic variation within Mesorhizobium and Burkholderia, respectively, indicating an interplay of host and environmental factors on the distribution of Fynbos rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid25764543, year = {2015}, author = {Bolaños, LM and Servín-Garcidueñas, LE and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Arthropod-Spiroplasma relationship in the genomic era.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {2}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiu008}, pmid = {25764543}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plectrovirus/genetics ; Spiroplasma/*genetics/*pathogenicity/virology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genus Spiroplasma comprises wall-less, low-GC bacteria that establish pathogenic, mutualistic and commensal symbiotic associations with arthropods and plants. This review focuses on the symbiotic relationships between Spiroplasma bacteria and arthropod hosts in the context of the available genomic sequences. Spiroplasma genomes are reduced and some contain highly repetitive plectrovirus-related sequences. Spiroplasma's diversity in viral invasion susceptibility, virulence factors, substrate utilization, genome dynamics and symbiotic associations with arthropods make this bacterial genus a biological model that provides insights about the evolutionary traits that shape bacterial symbiotic relationships with eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid25764533, year = {2015}, author = {Singh, G and Dal Grande, F and Werth, S and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Long-term consequences of disturbances on reproductive strategies of the rare epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria: clonality a gift and a curse.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {1}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiu009}, pmid = {25764533}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal/*genetics ; Genetic Variation/*genetics ; Genotype ; Lichens/*genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; Reproduction ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The effect of disturbance on symbiotic organisms such as lichens is particularly severe. In case of heterothallic lichen-forming fungi, disturbances may lead to unbalanced gene frequency and patchy distribution of mating types, thus inhibiting sexual reproduction and imposing clonality. The impact of disturbance on reproductive strategies and genetic diversity of clonal systems has so far received little attention. To infer the effects of disturbances on mating-type allele frequencies and population structure, we selected three populations in the Parc Jurassien Vaudois (Switzerland), which were affected by uneven-aged forestry, intensive logging and fire, respectively. We used microsatellite markers to infer genetic diversity, allelic richness and clonal diversity of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria and used L. pulmonaria-specific MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 markers to analyse the frequency and distribution of mating types of 889 individuals. Our study shows that stand-replacing disturbances affect the mating-type frequency and distribution, thus compromising the potential for sexual reproduction. The fire-disturbed area had a significantly lower genetic and genotypic diversity and a higher clonality. Furthermore, the majority of compatible mating pairs in this area were beyond the effective vegetative dispersal range of the species. We conclude that stand-replacing disturbances lead to lower chances of sex and symbiont reshuffling and thus have long-lasting negative consequences on the reproductive strategies and adaptive potential of epiphytic lichen symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25764472, year = {2015}, author = {Zimmermann, BL and Bouchon, D and Almerão, MP and Araujo, PB}, title = {Wolbachia in Neotropical terrestrial isopods.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {4}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv025}, pmid = {25764472}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Geography ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South America ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Despite Wolbachia being widespread among terrestrial isopods, studies on this symbiotic relationship are still incipient in the Neotropical region. The aims of the present study were to investigate the presence and prevalence of Wolbachia in natural populations of terrestrial isopod species in South America, and to analyze the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Wolbachia strains. A total of 1172 individuals representing 11 families and 35 species were analyzed. We observed distinct evolutionary scenarios according to the geographical origins of the species: strains harbored by most of the introduced species belong to the Oniclade in supergroup B and are identical to those found in their original ecozone (i.e. Palearctic). On the other hand, the strains found in native Neotropical terrestrial isopods showed low prevalence, high diversity and none of them belonged to the Oniclade, although most belonged to supergroup B. The dynamics of infection in Neotropical species seems to be the result of several events of loss and acquisition of the bacteria, which refutes the hypothesis of an ancestral acquisition of Wolbachia in Oniscidea. The presence of strains from supergroups A and F was also detected for the first time in terrestrial isopods, revealing a Wolbachia diversity previously unknown for this group of host.}, } @article {pmid25764456, year = {2015}, author = {Murakami, T and Segawa, T and Bodington, D and Dial, R and Takeuchi, N and Kohshima, S and Hongoh, Y}, title = {Census of bacterial microbiota associated with the glacier ice worm Mesenchytraeus solifugus.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {91}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiv003}, pmid = {25764456}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Ice Cover/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tenericutes/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The glacier ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus, is a unique annelid, inhabiting only snow and ice in North American glaciers. Here, we analyzed the taxonomic composition of bacteria associated with M. solifugus based on the 16S rRNA gene. We analyzed four fixed-on-site and 10 starved ice worm individuals, along with glacier surface samples. In total, 1341 clones of 16S rRNA genes were analyzed for the ice worm samples, from which 65 bacterial phylotypes (99.0% cut-off) were identified. Of these, 35 phylotypes were closely related to sequences obtained from their habitat glacier and/or other components of cryosphere; whereas three dominant phylotypes were affiliated with animal-associated lineages of the class Mollicutes. Among the three, phylotype Ms-13 shared less than 89% similarity with database sequences and was closest to a gut symbiont of a terrestrial earthworm. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, Ms-13 was located on the gut wall surface of the ice worms. We propose a novel genus and species, 'Candidatus Vermiplasma glacialis', for this bacterium. Our results raise the possibility that the ice worm has exploited indigenous glacier bacteria, while several symbiotic bacterial lineages have maintained their association with the ice worm during the course of adaptive evolution to the permanently cold environment.}, } @article {pmid25763697, year = {2014}, author = {Foo, E and Ferguson, BJ and Reid, JB}, title = {Common and divergent roles of plant hormones in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e29593}, pmid = {25763697}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {All of the classical plant hormones have been suggested to influence nodulation, including some that interact with the Autoregulation of Nodulation (AON) pathway. Leguminous plants strictly regulate the number of nodules formed through this AON pathway via a root-shoot-root loop that acts to suppress excessive nodulation. A related pathway, the Autoregulation of Mycorrhization (AOM) pathway controls the more ancient, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. A comparison of the published responses to the classical hormones in these 2 symbioses shows that most influence the symbioses in the same direction. This may be expected if they affect the symbioses via common components of these symbiotic regulatory pathways. However, some hormones influence these symbioses in opposite directions, suggesting a more complex relationship, and probably one that is not via the common components of these pathways. In a recent paper we showed, using a genetic approach, that strigolactones and brassinosteroids do not act downstream of the AON genes examined and argued that they probably act independently to promote nodule formation. Recently it has been shown that the control of nodulation via the AON pathway involves mobile CLE peptide signals. It is therefore suggested that a more direct avenue to determine if the classical hormones play a direct role in the autoregulatory pathways is to further examine whether CLE peptides and other components of these processes can influence, or be influenced by, the classical hormones. Such studies and other comparisons between the nodulation and mycorrhizal symbioses should allow the role of the classical hormones in these critical symbioses to be rapidly advanced.}, } @article {pmid25763303, year = {2015}, author = {Nguyen, NK and Dong, NT and Nguyen, HT and Le, PH}, title = {Lactic acid bacteria: promising supplements for enhancing the biological activities of kombucha.}, journal = {SpringerPlus}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {91}, pmid = {25763303}, issn = {2193-1801}, abstract = {Kombucha is sweetened black tea that is fermented by a symbiosis of bacteria and yeast embedded within a cellulose membrane. It is considered a health drink in many countries because it is a rich source of vitamins and may have other health benefits. It has previously been reported that adding lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) strains to kombucha can enhance its biological functions, but in that study only lactic acid bacteria isolated from kefir grains were tested. There are many other natural sources of lactic acid bacteria. In this study, we examined the effects of lactic acid bacteria from various fermented Vietnamese food sources (pickled cabbage, kefir and kombucha) on kombucha's three main biological functions: glucuronic acid production, antibacterial activity and antioxidant ability. Glucuronic acid production was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, antibacterial activity was assessed by the agar-well diffusion method and antioxidant ability was evaluated by determining the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity. Four strains of food-borne pathogenic bacteria were used in our antibacterial experiments: Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19111, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778. Our findings showed that lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from kefir are superior to those from other sources for improving glucuronic acid production and enhancing the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of kombucha. This study illustrates the potential of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from kefir as biosupplements for enhancing the bioactivities of kombucha.}, } @article {pmid25763004, year = {2015}, author = {Gómez-Sagasti, MT and Marino, D}, title = {PGPRs and nitrogen-fixing legumes: a perfect team for efficient Cd phytoremediation?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {81}, pmid = {25763004}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic, biologically non-essential and highly mobile metal that has become an increasingly important environmental hazard to both wildlife and humans. In contrast to conventional remediation technologies, phytoremediation based on legume-rhizobia symbiosis has emerged as an inexpensive decontamination alternative which also revitalize contaminated soils due to the role of legumes in nitrogen cycling. In recent years, there is a growing interest in understanding symbiotic legume-rhizobia relationship and its interactions with Cd. The aim of the present review is to provide a comprehensive picture of the main effects of Cd in N2-fixing leguminous plants and the benefits of exploiting this symbiosis together with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to boost an efficient reclamation of Cd-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid25763002, year = {2015}, author = {Konvalinková, T and Püschel, D and Janoušková, M and Gryndler, M and Jansa, J}, title = {Duration and intensity of shade differentially affects mycorrhizal growth- and phosphorus uptake responses of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {65}, pmid = {25763002}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant and fungal partners in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis trade mineral nutrients for carbon, with the outcome of this relationship for plant growth and nutrition being highly context-dependent and changing with the availability of resources as well as with the specific requirements of the different partners. Here we studied how the model legume Medicago truncatula, inoculated or not with a mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis, responded to a gradient of light intensities applied over different periods of time, in terms of growth, phosphorus nutrition and the levels of root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus. Short-term (6 d) shading, depending on its intensity, resulted in a rapid decline of phosphorus uptake to the shoots of mycorrhizal plants and simultaneous accumulation of phosphorus in the roots (most likely in the fungal tissues), as compared to the non-mycorrhizal controls. There was, however, no significant change in the levels of mycorrhizal colonization of roots due to short-term shading. Long-term (38 d) shading, depending on its intensity, provoked a multitude of plant compensatory mechanisms, which were further boosted by the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhizal growth- and phosphorus uptake benefits, however, vanished at 10% of the full light intensity applied over a long-term. Levels of root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus were significantly reduced by long-term shading. Our results indicate that even short periods of shade could have important consequences for the functioning of mycorrhizal symbiosis in terms of phosphorus transfer between the fungus and the plants, without any apparent changes in root colonization parameters or mycorrhizal growth response, and call for more focused research on temporal dynamics of mycorrhizal functioning under changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid25759839, year = {2015}, author = {Silva, MJ and Carneiro, MB and dos Anjos Pultz, B and Pereira Silva, D and Lopes, ME and dos Santos, LM}, title = {The multifaceted role of commensal microbiota in homeostasis and gastrointestinal diseases.}, journal = {Journal of immunology research}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {321241}, pmid = {25759839}, issn = {2314-7156}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immune System ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Probiotics ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract houses a complex and diverse community of microbes. In recent years, an increased understanding of the importance of intestinal microbiota for human physiology has been gained. In the steady state, commensal microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship with the host and possess critical and distinct functions, including directly influencing immunity. This means that recognition of commensal antigens is necessary for the development of complete immune responses. Therefore, the immune system must face the challenge of maintaining mucosal homeostasis while dealing with undue passage of commensal or pathogenic microbes, as well as the host nutritional status or drug use. Disruption of this fine balance has been associated with the development of several intestinal inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms involved in the modulation of host-microbe interactions and how the breakdown of this homeostatic association can lead to intestinal inflammation and pathology.}, } @article {pmid25759704, year = {2015}, author = {Shen, C and Yue, R and Sun, T and Zhang, L and Xu, L and Tie, S and Wang, H and Yang, Y}, title = {Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of auxin response factor gene family in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {73}, pmid = {25759704}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Auxin response factors (ARFs) bind specifically to auxin response elements (AuxREs) in the promoters of down-stream target genes and play roles in plant responses to diverse environmental factors. Using the latest updated Medicago truncatula reference genome sequence, a comprehensive characterization and analysis of 24 MtARF (M. truncatula ARF) genes were performed. To uncover the basic information and functions of MtARF genes during symbiosis, we analyzed the expression patterns of MtARF genes during the early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection. The systematic analysis indicated that changes in MtARF gene expression occur during these early stages of infection, suggesting a functional role in symbiosis. Furthermore, the roles of MtARF-mediated auxin signaling in symbiosis were tested in the infection resistant mutant (dmi3). The expression responses of MtARFs to S. meliloti infection were attenuated in the mutant compared to wild-type A17. In summary, our results show that changes in MtARF gene expression occur during the response to S. meliloti infection, suggesting that members of this family may have important roles in the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid25759496, year = {2015}, author = {Zargar, A and Quan, DN and Carter, KK and Guo, M and Sintim, HO and Payne, GF and Bentley, WE}, title = {Bacterial secretions of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli elicit inflammatory pathways: a closer investigation of interkingdom signaling.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {e00025}, pmid = {25759496}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells/*drug effects ; Escherichia coli/*immunology/*physiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins/*immunology/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: There have been many studies on the relationship between nonpathogenic bacteria and human epithelial cells; however, the bidirectional effects of the secretomes (secreted substances in which there is no direct bacterium-cell contact) have yet to be fully investigated. In this study, we use a transwell model to explore the transcriptomic effects of bacterial secretions from two different nonpathogenic Escherichia coli strains on the human colonic cell line HCT-8 using next-generation transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). E. coli BL21 and W3110, while genetically very similar (99.1% homology), exhibit key phenotypic differences, including differences in their production of macromolecular structures (e.g., flagella and lipopolysaccharide) and in their secretion of metabolic byproducts (e.g., acetate) and signaling molecules (e.g., quorum-sensing autoinducer 2 [AI-2]). After analysis of differential epithelial responses to the respective secretomes, this study shows for the first time that a nonpathogenic bacterial secretome activates the NF-κB-mediated cytokine-cytokine receptor pathways while also upregulating negative-feedback components, including the NOD-like signaling pathway. Because of AI-2's relevance as a bacterium-bacterium signaling molecule and the differences in its secretion rates between these strains, we investigated its role in HCT-8 cells. We found that the expression of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) responded to AI-2 with a pattern of rapid upregulation before subsequent downregulation after 24 h. Collectively, these data demonstrate that secreted products from nonpathogenic bacteria stimulate the transcription of immune-related biological pathways, followed by the upregulation of negative-feedback elements that may serve to temper the inflammatory response.

IMPORTANCE: The symbiotic relationship between the microbiome and the host is important in the maintenance of human health. There is a growing need to further understand the nature of these relationships to aid in the development of homeostatic probiotics and also in the design of novel antimicrobial therapeutics. To our knowledge, this is the first global-transcriptome study of bacteria cocultured with human epithelial cells in a model to determine the transcriptional effects of epithelial cells in which epithelial and bacterial cells are allowed to "communicate" with each other only through diffusible small molecules and proteins. By beginning to demarcate the direct and indirect effects of bacteria on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, two-way interkingdom communication can potentially be mediated between host and microbe.}, } @article {pmid25759397, year = {2015}, author = {Iwamori, M and Tanaka, K and Adachi, S and Aoki, D and Nomura, T}, title = {Absence of lactobacilli containing glycolipids with the α-galactose epitope and the enhanced fucosylation of a receptor glycolipid GA1 in the digestive tracts of immune-deficient scid mice.}, journal = {Journal of biochemistry}, volume = {158}, number = {1}, pages = {73-82}, doi = {10.1093/jb/mvv021}, pmid = {25759397}, issn = {1756-2651}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies/blood/immunology ; Epitopes/chemistry/*immunology ; Female ; Fucose/chemistry/*immunology ; Galactose/chemistry/*immunology ; Glycolipids/chemistry/deficiency/*immunology ; Humans ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Lactobacillus/chemistry/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, SCID ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The Lactobacillus species in the digestive tracts of immune-deficient scid mice was distinct from that in control mice, i.e. Lactobacillus murinus in scid and L. johnsonii in control mice, according to their 16S-rRNA, indicating that a symbiotic relationship between lactobacilli and a host is established under pressure from the immune system. The caecal and colonal contents rich in L. murinus of scid mice were loose with a strong sour smell, resulting in diarrhoea, and those with L. johnsonii in control mice included abundant solid materials. Lactobacillus glycolipids were revealed to be recognized by the immune system, and by TLC-immunostaining, LacTetH-DG (Galα1-6Galα1-6Galα1-2Glcα1-3'DG) of L. johnsonii was detected in the stomach, caecum and colon of control mice, but not in those of scid ones, in which fucosylation of a receptor GA1 for L. johnsonii was enhanced more than 4-fold compared with in the control mice. Thus, structural modification of receptor glycolipids was revealed to occur in the process of establishment of a symbiotic relationship between lactobacilli and a host. LacTetH-DG was also immunogenic to human, because of the presence of natural antibodies against it, and the antibody binding to it was comparable to that of blood group- and species-related glycosphingolipids.}, } @article {pmid25759327, year = {2015}, author = {Karim, W and Seidi, A and Hill, R and Chow, WS and Minagawa, J and Hidaka, M and Takahashi, S}, title = {Novel Characteristics of Photodamage to PSII in a High-Light-Sensitive Symbiodinium Phylotype.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {6}, pages = {1162-1171}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcv040}, pmid = {25759327}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Absorption, Radiation ; Dinoflagellida/growth & development/*radiation effects ; *Light ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium form symbiotic relationships with many marine invertebrates, including reef-building corals. Symbiodinium is genetically diverse, and acquiring suitable Symbiodinium phylotypes is crucial for the host to survive in habitat environments, such as high-light conditions. The sensitivity of Symbiodinium to high light differs among Symbiodinium phylotypes, but the mechanism that controls light sensitivity has not yet been fully resolved. In the present study using high-light-tolerant and -sensitive Symbiodinium phylotypes, we examined what determines sensitivity to high light. In growth experiments under different light intensities, Symbiodinium CS-164 (clade B1) and CCMP2459 (clade B2) were identified as high-light-tolerant and -sensitive phylotypes, respectively. Measurements of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) and the maximum photosynthetic oxygen production rate after high-light exposure demonstrated that CCMP2459 is more sensitive to photoinhibition of PSII than CS-164, and tends to lose maximum photosynthetic activity faster. Measurement of photodamage to PSII under light of different wavelength ranges demonstrated that PSII in both Symbiodinium phylotypes was significantly more sensitive to photodamage under shorter wavelength regions of light spectra (<470 nm). Importantly, PSII in CCMP2459, but not CS-164, was also sensitive to photodamage under the regions of light spectra around 470-550 and 630-710 nm, where photosynthetic antenna proteins of Symbiodinium have light absorption peaks. This finding indicates that the high-light-sensitive CCMP2459 has an extra component of photodamage to PSII, resulting in higher sensitivity to high light. Our results demonstrate that sensitivity of PSII to photodamage differs among Symbiodinium phylotypes and this determines their sensitivity to high light.}, } @article {pmid25757706, year = {2015}, author = {Moya, P and Škaloud, P and Chiva, S and García-Breijo, FJ and Reig-Armiñana, J and Vančurová, L and Barreno, E}, title = {Molecular phylogeny and ultrastructure of the lichen microalga Asterochloris mediterranea sp. nov. from Mediterranean and Canary Islands ecosystems.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {1838-1854}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.000185}, pmid = {25757706}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; *Lichens ; Mediterranean Region ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; }, abstract = {The microalgae of the genus Asterochloris are the preferential phycobionts in Cladonia, Lepraria and Stereocaulon lichens. Recent studies have highlighted the hidden diversity of the genus, even though phycobionts hosting species of the genus Cladonia in Mediterranean and Canarian ecosystems have been poorly explored. Phylogenetic analyses were made by concatenation of the sequences obtained with a plastid - LSU rDNA - and two nuclear - internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and actin - molecular markers of the phycobionts living in several populations of the Cladonia convoluta-Cladonia foliacea complex, Cladonia rangiformis and Cladonia cervicornis s. str. widely distributed in these areas in a great variety of substrata and habitats. A new strongly supported clade was obtained in relation to the previously published Asterochloris phylogenies. Minimum genetic variation was detected between our haplotypes and other sequences available in the GenBank database. The correct identification of the fungal partners was corroborated by the ITS rDNA barcode. In this study we provide a detailed characterization comprising chloroplast morphology, and ultrastructural and phylogenetic analyses of a novel phycobiont species, here described as Asterochloris mediterranea sp. nov. Barreno, Chiva, Moya et Škaloud. A cryopreserved holotype specimen has been deposited in the Culture Collection of Algae of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic (CAUP) as CAUP H 1015. We suggest the use of a combination of several nuclear and plastid molecular markers, as well as ultrastructural (transmission electron and confocal microscopy) techniques, both in culture and in the symbiotic state, to improve novel species delimitation of phycobionts in lichens.}, } @article {pmid25756121, year = {2014}, author = {Nguyen-Kim, H and Bouvier, T and Bouvier, C and Doan-Nhu, H and Nguyen-Ngoc, L and Rochelle-Newall, E and Baudoux, AC and Desnues, C and Reynaud, S and Ferrier-Pages, C and Bettarel, Y}, title = {High occurrence of viruses in the mucus layer of scleractinian corals.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {675-682}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12185}, pmid = {25756121}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*virology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Viruses/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Viruses attract increasing interest from environmental microbiologists seeking to understand their function and role in coral health. However, little is known about their main ecological traits within the coral holobiont. In this study, a quantitative and qualitative characterization of viral and bacterial communities was conducted on the mucus of seven different coral species of the Van Phong Bay (Vietnam). On average, the concentrations of viruses and bacteria were, respectively, 17- and twofold higher in the mucus than in the surrounding water. The examination of bacterial community composition also showed remarkable differences between mucus and water samples. The percentage of active respiring cells was nearly threefold higher in mucus (m = 24.8%) than in water (m = 8.6%). Interestingly, a positive and highly significant correlation was observed between the proportion of active cells and viral abundance in the mucus, suggesting that the metabolism of the bacterial associates is probably a strong determinant of the distribution of viruses within the coral holobiont. Overall, coral mucus, given its unique physicochemical characteristics and sticking properties, can be regarded as a highly selective biotope for abundant, diversified and specialized symbiotic microbial and viral organisms.}, } @article {pmid25755651, year = {2015}, author = {Collins, AJ and Fullmer, MS and Gogarten, JP and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Comparative genomics of Roseobacter clade bacteria isolated from the accessory nidamental gland of Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {123}, pmid = {25755651}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The accessory nidamental gland (ANG) of the female Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, houses a consortium of bacteria including members of the Flavobacteriales, Rhizobiales, and Verrucomicrobia but is dominated by members of the Roseobacter clade (Rhodobacterales) within the Alphaproteobacteria. These bacteria are deposited into the jelly coat of the squid's eggs, however, the function of the ANG and its bacterial symbionts has yet to be elucidated. In order to gain insight into this consortium and its potential role in host reproduction, we cultured 12 Rhodobacterales isolates from ANGs of sexually mature female squid and sequenced their genomes with Illumina sequencing technology. For taxonomic analyses, the ribosomal proteins of 79 genomes representing both roseobacters and non-roseobacters along with a separate MLSA analysis of 33 housekeeping genes from Roseobacter organisms placed all 12 isolates from the ANG within two groups of a single Roseobacter clade. Average nucelotide identity analysis suggests the ANG isolates represent three genera (Leisingera, Ruegeria, and Tateyamaria) comprised of seven putative species groups. All but one of the isolates contains a predicted Type VI secretion system, which has been shown to be important in secreting signaling and/or effector molecules in host-microbe associations and in bacteria-bacteria interactions. All sequenced genomes also show potential for secondary metabolite production, and are predicted to be involved with the production of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) and/or siderophores. An AHL bioassay confirmed AHL production in three tested isolates and from whole ANG homogenates. The dominant symbiont, Leisingera sp. ANG1, showed greater viability in iron-limiting conditions compared to other roseobacters, possibly due to higher levels of siderophore production. Future comparisons will try to elucidate novel metabolic pathways of the ANG symbionts to understand their putative role in host development.}, } @article {pmid25754513, year = {2015}, author = {Yoneyama, K and Arakawa, R and Ishimoto, K and Kim, HI and Kisugi, T and Xie, X and Nomura, T and Kanampiu, F and Yokota, T and Ezawa, T and Yoneyama, K}, title = {Difference in Striga-susceptibility is reflected in strigolactone secretion profile, but not in compatibility and host preference in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in two maize cultivars.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {206}, number = {3}, pages = {983-989}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13375}, pmid = {25754513}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Host Specificity ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Lactones/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry/metabolism/parasitology ; Striga/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/chemistry/metabolism/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones released from plant roots trigger both seed germination of parasitic weeds such as Striga spp. and hyphal branching of the symbionts arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Generally, strigolactone composition in exudates is quantitatively and qualitatively different among plants, which may be involved in susceptibility and host specificity in the parasite-plant interactions. We hypothesized that difference in strigolactone composition would have a significant impact on compatibility and host specificity/preference in AM symbiosis. Strigolactones in root exudates of Striga-susceptible (Pioneer 3253) and -resistant (KST 94) maize (Zea mays) cultivars were characterized by LC-MS/MS combined with germination assay using Striga hermonthica seeds. Levels of colonization and community compositions of AM fungi in the two cultivars were investigated in field and glasshouse experiments. 5-Deoxystrigol was exuded exclusively by the susceptible cultivar, while the resistant cultivar mainly exuded sorgomol. Despite the distinctive difference in strigolactone composition, the levels of AM colonization and the community compositions were not different between the cultivars. The present study demonstrated that the difference in strigolactone composition has no appreciable impact on AM symbiosis, at least in the two maize cultivars, and further suggests that the traits involved in Striga-resistance are not necessarily accompanied by reduction in compatibility to AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid25754368, year = {2015}, author = {Ruiz-Herrera, J and León-Ramírez, C and Vera-Nuñez, A and Sánchez-Arreguín, A and Ruiz-Medrano, R and Salgado-Lugo, H and Sánchez-Segura, L and Peña-Cabriales, JJ}, title = {A novel intracellular nitrogen-fixing symbiosis made by Ustilago maydis and Bacillus spp.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {207}, number = {3}, pages = {769-777}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13359}, pmid = {25754368}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Acetylene/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacillus/drug effects/*physiology ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Intracellular Space/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Ustilago/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {We observed that the maize pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis grew in nitrogen (N)-free media at a rate similar to that observed in media containing ammonium nitrate, suggesting that it was able to fix atmospheric N2 . Because only prokaryotic organisms have the capacity to reduce N2 , we entertained the possibility that U. maydis was associated with an intracellular bacterium. The presence of nitrogenase in the fungus was analyzed by acetylene reduction, and capacity to fix N2 by use of (15) N2 . Presence of an intracellular N2 -fixing bacterium was analyzed by PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA and nifH genes, and by microscopic observations. Nitrogenase activity and (15) N incorporation into the cells proved that U. maydis fixed N2 . Light and electron microscopy, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments revealed the presence of intracellular bacteria related to Bacillus pumilus, as evidenced by sequencing of the PCR-amplified fragments. These observations reveal for the first time the existence of an endosymbiotic N2 -fixing association involving a fungus and a bacterium.}, } @article {pmid25753751, year = {2015}, author = {Quandt, CA and Kohler, A and Hesse, CN and Sharpton, TJ and Martin, F and Spatafora, JW}, title = {Metagenome sequence of Elaphomyces granulatus from sporocarp tissue reveals Ascomycota ectomycorrhizal fingerprints of genome expansion and a Proteobacteria-rich microbiome.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {2952-2968}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12840}, pmid = {25753751}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobiaceae/classification/*genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/*genetics ; Eurotiales/classification/*genetics ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*genetics ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Talaromyces/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many obligate symbiotic fungi are difficult to maintain in culture, and there is a growing need for alternative approaches to obtaining tissue and subsequent genomic assemblies from such species. In this study, the genome of Elaphomyces granulatus was sequenced from sporocarp tissue. The genome assembly remains on many contigs, but gene space is estimated to be mostly complete. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Elaphomyces lineage is most closely related to Talaromyces and Trichocomaceae s.s. The genome of E. granulatus is reduced in carbohydrate-active enzymes, despite a large expansion in genome size, both of which are consistent with what is seen in Tuber melanosporum, the other sequenced ectomycorrhizal ascomycete. A large number of transposable elements are predicted in the E. granulatus genome, especially Gypsy-like long terminal repeats, and there has also been an expansion in helicases. The metagenome is a complex community dominated by bacteria in Bradyrhizobiaceae, and there is evidence to suggest that the community may be reduced in functional capacity as estimated by KEGG pathways. Through the sequencing of sporocarp tissue, this study has provided insights into Elaphomyces phylogenetics, genomics, metagenomics and the evolution of the ectomycorrhizal association.}, } @article {pmid25751449, year = {2015}, author = {Hubberten, HM and Sieh, D and Zöller, D and Hoefgen, R and Krajinski, F}, title = {Medicago truncatula Mtha1-2 mutants loose metabolic responses to mycorrhizal colonization.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {e989025}, pmid = {25751449}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Photoperiod ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; }, abstract = {Bidirectional nutrient transfer is one of the key features of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Recently we were able to identify a Medicago truncatula mutant (mtha1-2) that is defective in the uptake of phosphate from the periarbuscular space due to a lack of the energy providing proton gradient provided by the symbiosis specific proton ATPase MtHA1 In order to further characterize the impact of fungal colonization on the plant metabolic status, without the beneficial aspect of improved mineral nutrition, we performed leaf ion analyses in mutant and wildtype plants with and without fungal colonization. Although frequency of fungal colonization was unaltered, the mutant did not show a positive growth response to mycorrhizal colonization. This indicates that nutrient transfer into the plant cell fails in the truncated arbuscules due to lacking expression of a functional MtHA1 protein. The leaves of wildtype plants showed clear metabolic responses to root mycorrhizal colonization, whereas no changes of leaf metabolite levels of mycorrhizal mtha1-2 plants were detected, even though they were colonized. These results show that MtHa1 is indispensable for a functional mycorrhizal symbiosis and, moreover, suggest that fungal root colonization per se does not depend on nutrient transfer to the plant host.}, } @article {pmid25750045, year = {2015}, author = {Wani, ZA and Ashraf, N and Mohiuddin, T and Riyaz-Ul-Hassan, S}, title = {Plant-endophyte symbiosis, an ecological perspective.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {7}, pages = {2955-2965}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-015-6487-3}, pmid = {25750045}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biotechnology/methods ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytism is the phenomenon of mutualistic association of a plant with a microorganism wherein the microbe lives within the tissues of the plant without causing any symptoms of disease. In addition to being a treasured biological resource, endophytes play diverse indispensable functions in nature for plant growth, development, stress tolerance, and adaptation. Our understanding of endophytism and its ecological aspects are overtly limited, and we have only recently started to appreciate its essence. Endophytes may impact plant biology through the production of diverse chemical entities including, but not limited to, plant growth hormones and by modulating the gene expression of defense and other secondary metabolic pathways of the host. Studies have shown differential recruitment of endophytes in endophytic populations of plants growing in the same locations, indicating host specificity and that endophytes evolve in a coordinated fashion with the host plants. Endophytic technology can be employed for the efficient production of agricultural and economically important plants and plant products. The rational application of endophytes to manipulate the microbiota, intimately associated with plants, can help in enhancement of production of agricultural produce, increased production of key metabolites in medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as adaption to new bio-geographic regions through tolerance to various biotic and abiotic conditions. However, the potential of endophytic biology can be judiciously harnessed only when we obtain insight into the molecular mechanism of this unique mutualistic relationship. In this paper, we present a discussion on endophytes, endophytism, their significance, and diverse functions in nature as unraveled by the latest research to understand this universal natural phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid25749366, year = {2015}, author = {Mazaheri-Naeini, M and Sabbagh, SK and Martinez, Y and Séjalon-Delmas, N and Roux, C}, title = {Assessment of Ustilago maydis as a fungal model for root infection studies.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {119}, number = {2-3}, pages = {145-153}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2014.12.002}, pmid = {25749366}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lactones/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/drug effects ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Ustilago/*growth & development ; Zea mays/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ustilago maydis is a fungus infecting aerial parts of maize to form smutted galls. Due to its interest as a genetic tool in plant pathology, we evaluated its ability to penetrate into plant roots. The fungus can penetrate between epidermic root cells, forming inter and intracellular pseudohyphae. Root infection didn't provoke gall formation on the maize lines tested, and targeted PCR detection showed that U. maydis, unlike the other maize smut fungus Sporisorium reilianum, has a weak aptitude to grow from the roots up to the aerial part of maize. We also observed that U. maydis can infect Medicago truncatula hairy roots as an alternative host. This plant species is a model host to study root symbiosis, and this pathosystem can provide new insights on root-microbe interactions. Considering that U. maydis could be a soil fungus, we tested its responsiveness to GR24, a strigolactone analogue. Strigolactones are root exuded molecules which activate mitochondrial metabolism of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Physiologic and molecular analysis revealed that GR24 also increases cell respiration of U. maydis. This result points out that strigolactones could have an incidence on several rhizospheric microbes. These data provide evidences that the biotrophic pathogen U. maydis has to be considered for studying root infection.}, } @article {pmid25747242, year = {2015}, author = {Sheikh-Assadi, M and Khandan-Mirkohi, A and Alemardan, A and Moreno-Jiménez, E}, title = {Mycorrhizal limonium sinuatum (L.) mill. Enhances accumulation of lead and cadmium.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {17}, number = {1-6}, pages = {556-562}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2014.922928}, pmid = {25747242}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/analysis/*metabolism ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/instrumentation/*methods ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development/metabolism ; Lead/analysis/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plumbaginaceae/chemistry/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals accumulation in soils poses a potential threat to ecosystems, which, in turn, threat human health through food chains. Therefore, remediating polluted sites is important to environment and humanity. In this investigation, statice (L. sinuatum) was exposed to Cd (0, 15, 30, 60 mg kg(-1) soil) or Pb (0, 100, 150, 300 mg kg(-1) soil) in a pot experiment to assess its tolerance to each metal and study its phytoaccumulation capability. The benefits of mycorrhization (mixture of Glomus mosseae and G. intraradices) were also studied simultaneously. Single exposure to Cd or Pb reduced the plant growth, but statice was still relatively tolerant to both metals. The plants accumulated both metals in their roots; little was translocated to the shoots. Total Pb and total Cd accumulated by the roots was approximately 2 and 3 times higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal plants (49 versus 147 and 595 versus 956 μg plant(-1)) respectively; however, mycorrhization alleviated metal phytotoxicity. The results suggest that statice is a potential candidate to be used as an ornamental plant in lead and cadmium polluted sites, mainly inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Besides that, it would be useful as a Pb or Cd controlling agent by means of phytostabilization.}, } @article {pmid25745427, year = {2015}, author = {Wichard, T and Charrier, B and Mineur, F and Bothwell, JH and Clerck, OD and Coates, JC}, title = {The green seaweed Ulva: a model system to study morphogenesis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {72}, pmid = {25745427}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Green macroalgae, mostly represented by the Ulvophyceae, the main multicellular branch of the Chlorophyceae, constitute important primary producers of marine and brackish coastal ecosystems. Ulva or sea lettuce species are some of the most abundant representatives, being ubiquitous in coastal benthic communities around the world. Nonetheless the genus also remains largely understudied. This review highlights Ulva as an exciting novel model organism for studies of algal growth, development and morphogenesis as well as mutualistic interactions. The key reasons that Ulva is potentially such a good model system are: (i) patterns of Ulva development can drive ecologically important events, such as the increasing number of green tides observed worldwide as a result of eutrophication of coastal waters, (ii) Ulva growth is symbiotic, with proper development requiring close association with bacterial epiphytes, (iii) Ulva is extremely developmentally plastic, which can shed light on the transition from simple to complex multicellularity and (iv) Ulva will provide additional information about the evolution of the green lineage.}, } @article {pmid25745417, year = {2015}, author = {Kowalski, KP and Bacon, C and Bickford, W and Braun, H and Clay, K and Leduc-Lapierre, M and Lillard, E and McCormick, MK and Nelson, E and Torres, M and White, J and Wilcox, DA}, title = {Advancing the science of microbial symbiosis to support invasive species management: a case study on Phragmites in the Great Lakes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {95}, pmid = {25745417}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {A growing body of literature supports microbial symbiosis as a foundational principle for the competitive success of invasive plant species. Further exploration of the relationships between invasive species and their associated microbiomes, as well as the interactions with the microbiomes of native species, can lead to key new insights into invasive success and potentially new and effective control approaches. In this manuscript, we review microbial relationships with plants, outline steps necessary to develop invasive species control strategies that are based on those relationships, and use the invasive plant species Phragmites australis (common reed) as an example of how development of microbial-based control strategies can be enhanced using a collective impact approach. The proposed science agenda, developed by the Collaborative for Microbial Symbiosis and Phragmites Management, contains a foundation of sequential steps and mutually-reinforcing tasks to guide the development of microbial-based control strategies for Phragmites and other invasive species. Just as the science of plant-microbial symbiosis can be transferred for use in other invasive species, so too can the model of collective impact be applied to other avenues of research and management.}, } @article {pmid25742727, year = {2015}, author = {Yazzie, N and Salazar, KA and Castillo, MG}, title = {Identification, molecular characterization, and gene expression analysis of a CD109 molecule in the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {342-355}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2015.02.036}, pmid = {25742727}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antigens, CD/chemistry/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Decapodiformes/*genetics ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {All organisms have unique immune systems that help them identify and eliminate invading microorganisms. A group of evolutionary ancient molecules, the thioester-containing proteins (TEP) superfamily, are known to play an important immune role by aiding animal hosts in the recognition, destruction, and elimination of hazardous microorganisms and their products. Our laboratory focuses on studying the role of the immune system in the mutualistic relationship between the sepiolid squid, Euprymna scolopes and its bioluminescent symbiont Vibrio fischeri. In the present study, we report the identification of a novel TEP-like transcript expressed in the light organ of squid. Characterization of the full-length coding sequence showed a molecule of 4218 nucleotides, corresponding to 1406 amino acids. Further sequence analysis revealed it contained structural characteristics of A2M molecules, including the thioester and receptor-binding domains. Analysis using the predicted amino acid sequence suggested this transcript was a homologue of CD109 molecules, thus we named it E. scolopes-CD109 (Es-CD109). In addition to the light organ, we were able to detect and amplify Es-CD109 in 12 out of 14 adult squid tissues tested. Quantification experiments showed that Es-CD109 expression levels were significantly lower in the light organ of symbiotic compared to aposymbiotic juveniles, suggesting a possible down-regulation of the host immune response in the presence of the bacterial symbiont.}, } @article {pmid25744530, year = {2015}, author = {Hsu, CK and Zink, A and Wei, KJ and Dzika, E and Plewig, G and Chen, W}, title = {[Primary human demodicosis. A disease sui generis].}, journal = {Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {189-194}, pmid = {25744530}, issn = {1432-1173}, mesh = {Acaricides/*administration & dosage ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Mite Infestations/*diagnosis/*drug therapy/parasitology ; Skin Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis/*drug therapy/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Human Demodex mites (Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis) are unique in that they are an obligate human ectoparasite that can inhabit the pilosebaceous unit lifelong without causing obvious host immune response in most cases. The mode of symbiosis between humans and human Demodex mites is unclear, while the pathogenicity of human Demodex mites in many inflammatory skin diseases is now better understood. Primary human demodicosis is a skin disease sui generis not associated with local or systemic immunosuppression. Diagnosis is often underestimated and differentiation from folliculitis, papulopustular rosacea and perioral dermatitis is not always straightforward. Dependent on the morphology and degree of inflammation, the clinical manifestations can be classified into spinulate, papulopustular, nodulocystic, crustic and fulminant demodicosis. Therapy success can be achieved only with acaricides/arachidicides. The effective doses, optimal regimen and antimicrobial resistance remain to be determined.}, } @article {pmid25743160, year = {2015}, author = {Lagunas, B and Schäfer, P and Gifford, ML}, title = {Housing helpful invaders: the evolutionary and molecular architecture underlying plant root-mutualist microbe interactions.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {8}, pages = {2177-2186}, pmid = {25743160}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {BB/H019502/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/H109502/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Introduced Species ; *Microbial Interactions ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant root rhizosphere interactions with mutualistic microbes are diverse and numerous, having evolved over time in response to selective pressures on plants to attain anchorage and nutrients. These relationships can be considered to be formed through a combination of architectural connections: molecular architecture interactions that control root-microbe perception and regulate the balance between host and symbiont and developmental architecture interactions that enable the microbes to be 'housed' in the root and enable the exchange of compounds. Recent findings that help to understand the common architecture that exists between nodulation and mycorrhizal interactions, and how this architecture could be re-tuned to develop new symbioses, are discussed here.}, } @article {pmid25743038, year = {2015}, author = {Ivanova, KA and Tsyganova, AV and Brewin, NJ and Tikhonovich, IA and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Induction of host defences by Rhizobium during ineffective nodulation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) carrying symbiotically defective mutations sym40 (PsEFD), sym33 (PsIPD3/PsCYCLOPS) and sym42.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {252}, number = {6}, pages = {1505-1517}, pmid = {25743038}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Glucans/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipids ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; *Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Pectins/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are able to establish a beneficial interaction with legumes by forming a new organ, called the symbiotic root nodule, which is a unique ecological niche for rhizobial nitrogen fixation. Rhizobial infection has many similarities with pathogenic infection and induction of defence responses accompanies both interactions, but defence responses are induced to a lesser extent during rhizobial infection. However, strong defence responses may result from incompatible interactions between legumes and rhizobia due to a mutation in either macro- or microsymbiont. The aim of this research was to analyse different plant defence reactions in response to Rhizobium infection for several pea (Pisum sativum) mutants that result in ineffective symbiosis. Pea mutants were examined by histochemical and immunocytochemical analyses, light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy and quantitative real-time PCR gene expression analysis. It was observed that mutations in pea symbiotic genes sym33 (PsIPD3/PsCYCLOPS encoding a transcriptional factor) and sym40 (PsEFD encoding a putative negative regulator of the cytokinin response) led to suberin depositions in ineffective nodules, and in the sym42 there were callose depositions in infection thread (IT) and host cell walls. The increase in deposition of unesterified pectin in IT walls was observed for mutants in the sym33 and sym42; for mutant in the sym42, unesterified pectin was also found around degrading bacteroids. In mutants in the genes sym33 and sym40, an increase in the expression level of a gene encoding peroxidase was observed. In the genes sym40 and sym42, an increase in the expression levels of genes encoding a marker of hypersensitive reaction and PR10 protein was demonstrated. Thus, a range of plant defence responses like suberisation, callose and unesterified pectin deposition as well as activation of defence genes can be triggered by different pea single mutations that cause perception of an otherwise beneficial strain of Rhizobium as a pathogen.}, } @article {pmid25742598, year = {2015}, author = {Baker, E and Tang, Y and Chu, F and Tisa, LS}, title = {Molecular responses of Frankia sp. strain QA3 to naphthalene.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {4}, pages = {281-292}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2014-0786}, pmid = {25742598}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Frankia/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Naphthalenes/*metabolism ; Proteome/genetics/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Frankia-actinorhizal plant symbiosis plays a significant role in plant colonization in soils contaminated with heavy metals and toxic aromatic hydrocarbons. The molecular response of Frankia upon exposure to soil contaminants is not well understood. To address this issue, we subjected Frankia sp. strain QA3 to naphthalene stress and showed that it could grow on naphthalene as a sole carbon source. Bioinformatic analysis of the Frankia QA3 genome identified a potential operon for aromatic compound degradation as well as several ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases. Under naphthalene stress, the expression of these genes was upregulated. Proteome analysis showed a differential protein profile for cells under naphthalene stress. Several protein spots were analyzed and used to identify proteins involved in stress response, metabolism, and energy production, including a lignostilbene dioxygenase. These results provide a model for understanding the molecular response of Frankia to common soil pollutants, which may be required for survival and proliferation of the bacterium and their hosts in polluted environments.}, } @article {pmid25741697, year = {2015}, author = {Maruyama, S and Shoguchi, E and Satoh, N and Minagawa, J}, title = {Diversification of the light-harvesting complex gene family via intra- and intergenic duplications in the coral symbiotic alga Symbiodinium.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e0119406}, pmid = {25741697}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/*physiology ; *Gene Duplication ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The light-harvesting complex (LHC) is an essential component in light energy capture and transduction to facilitate downstream photosynthetic reactions in plant and algal chloroplasts. The unicellular dinoflagellate alga Symbiodinium is an endosymbiont of cnidarian animals, including corals and sea anemones, and provides carbohydrates generated through photosynthesis to host animals. Although Symbiodinium possesses a unique LHC gene family, called chlorophyll a-chlorophyll c2-peridinin protein complex (acpPC), its genome-level diversity and evolutionary trajectories have not been investigated. Here, we describe a phylogenetic analysis revealing that many of the LHCs are encoded by highly duplicated genes with multi-subunit polyprotein structures in the nuclear genome of Symbiodinium minutum. This analysis provides an extended list of the LHC gene family in a single organism, including 80 loci encoding polyproteins composed of 145 LHC subunits recovered in the phylogenetic tree. In S. minutum, 5 phylogenetic groups of the Lhcf-type gene family, which is exclusively conserved in algae harboring secondary plastids of red algal origin, were identified. Moreover, 5 groups of the Lhcr-type gene family, of which members are known to be associated with PSI in red algal plastids and secondary plastids of red algal origin, were identified. Notably, members classified within a phylogenetic group of the Lhcf-type (group F1) are highly duplicated, which may explain the presence of an unusually large number of LHC genes in this species. Some gene units were homologous to other units within single loci of the polyprotein genes, whereas intergenic homologies between separate loci were conspicuous in other cases, implying that gene unit 'shuffling' by gene conversion and/or genome rearrangement might have been a driving force for diversification. These results suggest that vigorous intra- and intergenic gene duplication events have resulted in the genomic framework of photosynthesis in coral symbiont dinoflagellate algae.}, } @article {pmid25741353, year = {2015}, author = {Fort, F and Jouany, C and Cruz, P}, title = {Hierarchical traits distances explain grassland Fabaceae species' ecological niches distances.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {63}, pmid = {25741353}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Fabaceae species play a key role in ecosystem functioning through their capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen via their symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria. To increase benefits of using Fabaceae in agricultural systems, it is necessary to find ways to evaluate species or genotypes having potential adaptations to sub-optimal growth conditions. We evaluated the relevance of phylogenetic distance, absolute trait distance and hierarchical trait distance for comparing the adaptation of 13 grassland Fabaceae species to different habitats, i.e., ecological niches. We measured a wide range of functional traits (root traits, leaf traits, and whole plant traits) in these species. Species phylogenetic and ecological distances were assessed from a species-level phylogenetic tree and species' ecological indicator values, respectively. We demonstrated that differences in ecological niches between grassland Fabaceae species were related more to their hierarchical trait distances than to their phylogenetic distances. We showed that grassland Fabaceae functional traits tend to converge among species with the same ecological requirements. Species with acquisitive root strategies (thin roots, shallow root systems) are competitive species adapted to non-stressful meadows, while conservative ones (coarse roots, deep root systems) are able to tolerate stressful continental climates. In contrast, acquisitive species appeared to be able to tolerate low soil-P availability, while conservative ones need high P availability. Finally we highlight that traits converge along the ecological gradient, providing the assumption that species with similar root-trait values are better able to coexist, regardless of their phylogenetic distance.}, } @article {pmid25740929, year = {2015}, author = {Matamoros, MA and Saiz, A and Peñuelas, M and Bustos-Sanmamed, P and Mulet, JM and Barja, MV and Rouhier, N and Moore, M and James, EK and Dietz, KJ and Becana, M}, title = {Function of glutathione peroxidases in legume root nodules.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {10}, pages = {2979-2990}, pmid = {25740929}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glutathione Peroxidase/*genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/*genetics/metabolism ; Organisms, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; S-Nitrosoglutathione/metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Glutathione peroxidases (Gpxs) are antioxidant enzymes not studied so far in legume nodules, despite the fact that reactive oxygen species are produced at different steps of the symbiosis. The function of two Gpxs that are highly expressed in nodules of the model legume Lotus japonicus was examined. Gene expression analysis, enzymatic and nitrosylation assays, yeast cell complementation, in situ mRNA hybridization, immunoelectron microscopy, and LjGpx-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions were used to characterize the enzymes and to localize each transcript and isoform in nodules. The LjGpx1 and LjGpx3 genes encode thioredoxin-dependent phospholipid hydroperoxidases and are differentially regulated in response to nitric oxide (NO) and hormones. LjGpx1 and LjGpx3 are nitrosylated in vitro or in plants treated with S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). Consistent with the modification of the peroxidatic cysteine of LjGpx3, in vitro assays demonstrated that this modification results in enzyme inhibition. The enzymes are highly expressed in the infected zone, but the LjGpx3 mRNA is also detected in the cortex and vascular bundles. LjGpx1 is localized to the plastids and nuclei, and LjGpx3 to the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum. Based on yeast complementation experiments, both enzymes protect against oxidative stress, salt stress, and membrane damage. It is concluded that both LjGpxs perform major antioxidative functions in nodules, preventing lipid peroxidation and other oxidative processes at different subcellular sites of vascular and infected cells. The enzymes are probably involved in hormone and NO signalling, and may be regulated through nitrosylation of the peroxidatic cysteine essential for catalytic function.}, } @article {pmid25740892, year = {2015}, author = {Salem, H and Florez, L and Gerardo, N and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {An out-of-body experience: the extracellular dimension for the transmission of mutualistic bacteria in insects.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1804}, pages = {20142957}, pmid = {25740892}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Insecta/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Across animals and plants, numerous metabolic and defensive adaptations are a direct consequence of symbiotic associations with beneficial microbes. Explaining how these partnerships are maintained through evolutionary time remains one of the central challenges within the field of symbiosis research. While genome erosion and co-cladogenesis with the host are well-established features of symbionts exhibiting intracellular localization and transmission, the ecological and evolutionary consequences of an extracellular lifestyle have received little attention, despite a demonstrated prevalence and functional importance across many host taxa. Using insect-bacteria symbioses as a model, we highlight the diverse routes of extracellular symbiont transfer. Extracellular transmission routes are unified by the common ability of the bacterial partners to survive outside their hosts, thereby imposing different genomic, metabolic and morphological constraints than would be expected from a strictly intracellular lifestyle. We emphasize that the evolutionary implications of symbiont transmission routes (intracellular versus extracellular) do not necessarily correspond to those of the transmission mode (vertical versus horizontal), a distinction of vital significance when addressing the genomic and physiological consequences for both host and symbiont.}, } @article {pmid25740371, year = {2015}, author = {Grønlund, M}, title = {VIGS for dissecting mechanisms involved in the symbiotic interaction of microbes with plants.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1287}, number = {}, pages = {255-265}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-2453-0_19}, pmid = {25740371}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques/methods ; *Gene Silencing ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Peas/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Viruses/*genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an alternative reverse genetics tool for silencing of genes in some plants which are difficult to transform. The pea early browning virus (PEBV) has been developed as a VIGS vector and used in pea for functional analysis of several genes. Here, a PEBV-VIGS protocol is described which is suitable for reverse genetics studies in pea for genes involved in the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium.}, } @article {pmid25740364, year = {2015}, author = {Sinharoy, S and Pislariu, CI and Udvardi, MK}, title = {A high-throughput RNA interference (RNAi)-based approach using hairy roots for the study of plant-rhizobia interactions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1287}, number = {}, pages = {159-178}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-2453-0_12}, pmid = {25740364}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; High-Throughput Screening Assays/*methods ; Medicago/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes are major contributors to sustainable agriculture; their key feature is their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Legumes are often recalcitrant to regeneration and transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens; however, A. rhizogenes-mediated root transformation and composite plant generation are rapid and convenient alternatives to study root biology, including root nodule symbiosis. RNA interference (RNAi), coupled with A. rhizogenes-mediated root transformation, has been very successfully used for analyses of gene function by reverse genetics. Besides being applied to model legumes (Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus), this method has been adopted for several other legumes due to the ease and relative speed with which transgenic roots can be generated. Several protocols for hairy root transformation have been published. Here we describe an improved hairy root transformation protocol and the methods to study nodulation in Medicago. We also highlight the major differences between our protocol and others, and key steps that need to be adjusted in order to translate this method to other legumes.}, } @article {pmid25740356, year = {2015}, author = {Niu, D and Wang, Z and Wang, S and Qiao, L and Zhao, H}, title = {Profiling of small RNAs involved in plant-pathogen interactions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1287}, number = {}, pages = {61-79}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-2453-0_4}, pmid = {25740356}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Silencing ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; MicroRNAs/metabolism ; Plant Viruses/physiology ; Plants/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; RNA, Plant/*metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Small RNA (sRNA)-mediated gene silencing is an important gene expression regulatory mechanism conserved in eukaryotes. Such sRNAs, first discovered in plants, are involved in diverse biological processes. In plants, sRNAs participate in many growth and developmental processes, such as embryo development, seed germination, flowering, hormone synthesis and distribution, and nutrient assimilation. However, the significance of sRNA in shaping the relationship between plants and their symbiotic microbes or pathogens has been underestimated. Recent progress in profiling sRNA, especially advances in next-generation sequencing technology, has revealed its extensive and complicated involvement in interactions between plants and viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In this review, we will summarize recent findings regarding sRNA in plant-pathogen interactions.}, } @article {pmid25739995, year = {2015}, author = {Horwitz, R and Borell, EM and Yam, R and Shemesh, A and Fine, M}, title = {Natural high pCO2 increases autotrophy in Anemonia viridis (Anthozoa) as revealed from stable isotope (C, N) analysis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {8779}, pmid = {25739995}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Autotrophic Processes ; *Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Mitotic Index ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Seawater/analysis/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Contemporary cnidarian-algae symbioses are challenged by increasing CO2 concentrations (ocean warming and acidification) affecting organisms' biological performance. We examined the natural variability of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis to investigate dietary shifts (autotrophy/heterotrophy) along a natural pCO2 gradient at the island of Vulcano, Italy. δ(13)C values for both algal symbionts (Symbiodinium) and host tissue of A. viridis became significantly lighter with increasing seawater pCO2. Together with a decrease in the difference between δ(13)C values of both fractions at the higher pCO2 sites, these results indicate there is a greater net autotrophic input to the A. viridis carbon budget under high pCO2 conditions. δ(15)N values and C/N ratios did not change in Symbiodinium and host tissue along the pCO2 gradient. Additional physiological parameters revealed anemone protein and Symbiodinium chlorophyll a remained unaltered among sites. Symbiodinium density was similar among sites yet their mitotic index increased in anemones under elevated pCO2. Overall, our findings show that A. viridis is characterized by a higher autotrophic/heterotrophic ratio as pCO2 increases. The unique trophic flexibility of this species may give it a competitive advantage and enable its potential acclimation and ecological success in the future under increased ocean acidification.}, } @article {pmid25739700, year = {2015}, author = {Nova-Franco, B and Íñiguez, LP and Valdés-López, O and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Leija, A and Fuentes, SI and Ramírez, M and Paul, S and Reyes, JL and Girard, L and Hernández, G}, title = {The micro-RNA72c-APETALA2-1 node as a key regulator of the common bean-Rhizobium etli nitrogen fixation symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {168}, number = {1}, pages = {273-291}, pmid = {25739700}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Ontology ; Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; *Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/genetics ; Phaseolus/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Protein Isoforms ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/drug effects/*physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Micro-RNAs are recognized as important posttranscriptional regulators in plants. The relevance of micro-RNAs as regulators of the legume-rhizobia nitrogen-fixing symbiosis is emerging. The objective of this work was to functionally characterize the role of micro-RNA172 (miR172) and its conserved target APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factor in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)-Rhizobium etli symbiosis. Our expression analysis revealed that mature miR172c increased upon rhizobial infection and continued increasing during nodule development, reaching its maximum in mature nodules and decaying in senescent nodules. The expression of AP2-1 target showed a negative correlation with miR172c expression. A drastic decrease in miR172c and high AP2-1 mRNA levels were observed in ineffective nodules. Phenotypic analysis of composite bean plants with transgenic roots overexpressing miR172c or a mutated AP2-1 insensitive to miR172c cleavage demonstrated the pivotal regulatory role of the miR172 node in the common bean-rhizobia symbiosis. Increased miR172 resulted in improved root growth, increased rhizobial infection, increased expression of early nodulation and autoregulation of nodulation genes, and improved nodulation and nitrogen fixation. In addition, these plants showed decreased sensitivity to nitrate inhibition of nodulation. Through transcriptome analysis, we identified 114 common bean genes that coexpressed with AP2-1 and proposed these as being targets for transcriptional activation by AP2-1. Several of these genes are related to nodule senescence, and we propose that they have to be silenced, through miR172c-induced AP2-1 cleavage, in active mature nodules. Our work sets the basis for exploring the miR172-mediated improvement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in common bean, the most important grain legume for human consumption.}, } @article {pmid25739293, year = {2014}, author = {Shaĭkevich, EV and Zakharov, IA}, title = {[Coevolution of symbiotic bacteria Wolbachia and host mtDNA in Russian populations of the Culex pipiens mosquito complex].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {50}, number = {11}, pages = {1390-1393}, pmid = {25739293}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Animals ; Culex/*genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Phylogeny ; Russia ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The mitochondrial DNA phylogenies of closely related forms of mosquitoes from the Culex pipiens complex and of strains of the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia pipientis were compared. Based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene polymorphism, six mitochondrial haplotypes and four W. pipientis groups were discovered in mosquitoes from geographically remote populations. A strict correlation between the COI type and the type of W. pipientis proves the stable coinheritance and distribution of both cytoplasmic components in the examined mosquito populations and suggests either the absence or rarity of horizontal transfer of the symbionts in the Culex pipiens complex.}, } @article {pmid25739280, year = {2014}, author = {Provorov, NA and Onishchuk, OP and Iurgel', SN and Kurchak, ON and Chizhevskaia, EP and Vorob'ev, NI and Zatovskaia, TV and Simarov, BV}, title = {[Construction of high-effective symbiotic bacteria: evolutionary models and genetic approaches].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {50}, number = {11}, pages = {1273-1285}, pmid = {25739280}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Organisms, Genetically Modified ; *Rhizome/genetics/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Using the example of N2-fixing legume-rhizobial symbiosis, we demonstrated that the origin and evolution of bacteria symbiotic for plants involve the following: 1) the formation of novel sym gene systems based on reorganizations of the bacterial genomes and on the gene transfer from the distant organisms; 2) the loss of genes encoding for functions that are required for autonomous performance but interfere with symbiotic functions (negative regulators of symbiosis). Therefore, the construction of effective rhizobia strains should involve improvement of sym genes activities (for instance, nif, fix, and dct genes, encoding for nitrogenase synthesis or for the energy supply of N2 fixation), as well as the inactivation of negative regulators of symbiosis identified in our lab (eff genes encoding for the transport of sugars, and the production of polysaccharides, and storage compounds, as well as for oxidative-reductive processes).}, } @article {pmid25737483, year = {2015}, author = {Sigurbjörnsdóttir, MA and Andrésson, ÓS and Vilhelmsson, O}, title = {Analysis of the Peltigera membranacea metagenome indicates that lichen-associated bacteria are involved in phosphate solubilization.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {161}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {989-996}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.000069}, pmid = {25737483}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Computational Biology ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Genomics ; Lichens/*physiology ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although lichens are generally described as mutualistic symbioses of fungi and photosynthetic partners, they also harbour a diverse non-phototrophic microbiota, which is now regarded as a significant part of the symbiosis. However, the role of the non-phototrophic microbiota within the lichen is still poorly known, although possible functions have been suggested, including phosphate solubilization and various lytic activities. In the present study we focus on the bacterial biota associated with the foliose lichen Peltigera membranacea. To address our hypotheses on possible roles of the non-phototrophic microbiota, we used a metagenomic approach. A DNA library of bacterial sequence contigs was constructed from the lichen thallus material and the bacterial microbiota DNA sequence was analysed in terms of phylogenetic diversity and functional gene composition. Analysis of about 30,000 such bacterial contigs from the P. membranacea metagenome revealed significant representation of several genes involved in phosphate solubilization and biopolymer degradation.}, } @article {pmid25737297, year = {2015}, author = {Becker, MH and Walke, JB and Murrill, L and Woodhams, DC and Reinert, LK and Rollins-Smith, LA and Burzynski, EA and Umile, TP and Minbiole, KP and Belden, LK}, title = {Phylogenetic distribution of symbiotic bacteria from Panamanian amphibians that inhibit growth of the lethal fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {1628-1641}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13135}, pmid = {25737297}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Anura/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; Chytridiomycota/*growth & development ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Panama ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The introduction of next-generation sequencing has allowed for greater understanding of community composition of symbiotic microbial communities. However, determining the function of individual members of these microbial communities still largely relies on culture-based methods. Here, we present results on the phylogenetic distribution of a defensive functional trait of cultured symbiotic bacteria associated with amphibians. Amphibians are host to a diverse community of cutaneous bacteria and some of these bacteria protect their host from the lethal fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) by secreting antifungal metabolites. We cultured over 450 bacterial isolates from the skins of Panamanian amphibian species and tested their interactions with Bd using an in vitro challenge assay. For a subset of isolates, we also completed coculture experiments and found that culturing isolates with Bd had no effect on inhibitory properties of the bacteria, but it significantly decreased metabolite secretion. In challenge assays, approximately 75% of the bacterial isolates inhibited Bd to some extent and these inhibitory isolates were widely distributed among all bacterial phyla. Although there was no clear phylogenetic signal of inhibition, three genera, Stenotrophomonas, Aeromonas and Pseudomonas, had a high proportion of inhibitory isolates (100%, 77% and 73%, respectively). Overall, our results demonstrate that antifungal properties are phylogenetically widespread in symbiotic microbial communities of Panamanian amphibians and that some functional redundancy for fungal inhibition occurs in these communities. We hope that these findings contribute to the discovery and development of probiotics for amphibians that can mitigate the threat of chytridiomycosis.}, } @article {pmid25736865, year = {2015}, author = {Tago, K and Okubo, T and Itoh, H and Kikuchi, Y and Hori, T and Sato, Y and Nagayama, A and Hayashi, K and Ikeda, S and Hayatsu, M}, title = {Insecticide-degrading Burkholderia symbionts of the stinkbug naturally occupy various environments of sugarcane fields in a Southeast island of Japan.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {29-36}, pmid = {25736865}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Biotransformation ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytosol/chemistry ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fenitrothion/metabolism ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Insecticides/*metabolism ; Islands ; Japan ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Saccharum/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The stinkbug Cavelerius saccharivorus, which harbors Burkholderia species capable of degrading the organophosphorus insecticide, fenitrothion, has been identified on a Japanese island in farmers' sugarcane fields that have been exposed to fenitrothion. A clearer understanding of the ecology of the symbiotic fenitrothion degraders of Burkholderia species in a free-living environment is vital for advancing our knowledge on the establishment of degrader-stinkbug symbiosis. In the present study, we analyzed the composition and abundance of degraders in sugarcane fields on the island. Degraders were recovered from field samples without an enrichment culture procedure. Degrader densities in the furrow soil in fields varied due to differences in insecticide treatment histories. Over 99% of the 659 isolated degraders belonged to the genus Burkholderia. The strains related to the stinkbug symbiotic group predominated among the degraders, indicating a selection for this group in response to fenitrothion. Degraders were also isolated from sugarcane stems, leaves, and rhizosphere in fields that were continuously exposed to fenitrothion. Their density was lower in the plant sections than in the rhizosphere. A phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that most of the degraders from the plants and rhizosphere clustered with the stinkbug symbiotic group, and some were identical to the midgut symbionts of C. saccharivorus collected from the same field. Our results confirmed that plants and the rhizosphere constituted environmental reservoirs for stinkbug symbiotic degraders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the composition and abundance of the symbiotic fenitrothion degraders of Burkholderia species in farmers' fields.}, } @article {pmid25736572, year = {2015}, author = {Draus, P and Roddy, J and Asabigi, K}, title = {Streets, strolls and spots: sex work, drug use and social space in Detroit.}, journal = {The International journal on drug policy}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {453-460}, doi = {10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.01.004}, pmid = {25736572}, issn = {1873-4758}, mesh = {Adult ; Cities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Michigan ; Middle Aged ; Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data ; Sex Work/psychology/*statistics & numerical data ; Social Environment ; Substance-Related Disorders/*epidemiology/psychology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In this paper, we explore social spaces related to street sex work and illicit drug use in Detroit. We consider these spaces as assemblages (Duff, 2011, 2013; Latour, 2005) that reflect the larger moral geography (Hubbard, 2012) of the city and fulfill specific functions in the daily lives of drug using sex workers.

METHODS: We draw on thirty-one in-depth qualitative interviews with former street sex workers who were recruited through a court-based treatment and recovery program, as well as ethnographic field notes from drug treatment and law enforcement settings.

RESULTS: Our interview findings reveal highly organized and routine activities that exist in a relatively stable, symbiotic relationship with law enforcement practices, employment and commuter patterns, and built environments. While the daily life of street sex work involves a good deal of individual agency in terms of moving between spaces and negotiating terms of exchange, daily trajectories were also circumscribed by economics, illicit substance use, and the objective risks of the street and the police.

CONCLUSION: We consider the implications of these results for future policy directed at harm reduction in the street setting.}, } @article {pmid25736375, year = {2015}, author = {Lugo-Villarino, G and Neyrolles, O}, title = {SIGNing a symbiotic treaty with gut microbiota.}, journal = {The EMBO journal}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {829-831}, pmid = {25736375}, issn = {1460-2075}, mesh = {Animals ; Antigens, CD/*immunology ; Bacterial Proteins/*immunology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*immunology ; Lectins, C-Type/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microbes hold great promise for the treatment of a wide range of immune and inflammatory disorders. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Lightfoot and colleagues report how the food-grade bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus helps the immune system to limit experimental colitis in mice through interaction between SIGNR3 and surface layer protein A (SlpA) in L. acidophilus. These results pave the way for future development of novel therapies for inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease.}, } @article {pmid25734328, year = {2015}, author = {Mandal, S and Upadhyay, S and Singh, VP and Kapoor, R}, title = {Enhanced production of steviol glycosides in mycorrhizal plants: a concerted effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on transcription of biosynthetic genes.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {89}, number = {}, pages = {100-106}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.02.010}, pmid = {25734328}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Diterpenes, Kaurane/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Erythritol/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Glucosides/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Glycosides/biosynthesis/genetics ; Glycosyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Manganese/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Stevia/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Sugar Phosphates/metabolism ; Sweetening Agents ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Uridine Diphosphate/metabolism ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) produces steviol glycosides (SGs)--stevioside (stev) and rebaudioside-A (reb-A) that are valued as low calorie sweeteners. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) augments SGs production, though the effect of this interaction on SGs biosynthesis has not been studied at molecular level. In this study transcription profiles of eleven key genes grouped under three stages of the SGs biosynthesis pathway were compared. The transcript analysis showed upregulation of genes encoding 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway enzymes viz.,1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phospate synthase (DXS), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phospate reductoisomerase (DXR) and 2-C-methyl-D-erytrithol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (MDS) in mycorrhizal (M) plants. Zn and Mn are imperative for the expression of MDS and their enhanced uptake in M plants could be responsible for the increased transcription of MDS. Furthermore, in the second stage of SGs biosynthesis pathway, mycorrhization enhanced the transcription of copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPPS) and kaurenoic acid hydroxylase (KAH). Their expression is decisive for SGs biosynthesis as CPPS regulates flow of metabolites towards synthesis of kaurenoid precursors and KAH directs these towards steviol synthesis instead of gibberellins. In the third stage glucosylation of steviol to reb-A by four specific uridine diphosphate (UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) occurs. While higher transcription of all the three characterized UGTs in M plants explains augmented production of SGs; higher transcript levels of UGT76G1, specifically improved reb-A to stev ratio implying increased sweetness. The work signifies that AM symbiosis upregulates the transcription of all eleven SGs biosynthesis genes as a result of improved nutrition and enhanced sugar concentration due to increased photosynthesis in M plants.}, } @article {pmid25732741, year = {2015}, author = {Ryu, CM}, title = {Against friend and foe: type 6 effectors in plant-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, pages = {201-208}, pmid = {25732741}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/*physiology ; Biofilms ; Microbial Interactions ; Pectobacterium/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/metabolism ; Pseudomonas syringae/metabolism ; Ralstonia solanacearum/metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Bacterial secretion systems play critical roles in communication with neighboring bacteria and in the modulation of host immune responses via the secretion of small proteins called effectors. Several secretion systems have been identified and these are denoted types I-VII. Of these, the type VI secretion system (T6SS) and its effectors were only recently elucidated. Most studies on the role and significance of the T6SS and its effectors have focused on human pathogens. In this review, type 6 effectors from plant-associated beneficial and pathogenic bacteria are discussed, including effectors from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya dadanti, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Pectobacterium atroseptium, Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas protegens. Type 6 effectors act in symbiosis, biofilm formation, virulence, and interbacterial competition. Understanding the impact of type 6 effectors on pathogenesis will contribute to the management of bacterial pathogens in crop plants by allowing the manipulation of intra and inter-specific interactions.}, } @article {pmid25732740, year = {2015}, author = {Bosch, TC and Grasis, JA and Lachnit, T}, title = {Microbial ecology in Hydra: why viruses matter.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, pages = {193-200}, pmid = {25732740}, issn = {1976-3794}, support = {F32 AI098418/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 5F32AI098418/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Cnidaria/*virology ; Hydra/*virology ; Hydrobiology ; Microbiota/physiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {While largely studied because of their harmful effects on human health, there is growing appreciation that viruses are also important members of the animal holobiont. This review highlights recent findings on viruses associated with Hydra and related Cnidaria. These early evolutionary diverging animals not only select their bacterial communities but also select for viral communities in a species-specific manner. The majority of the viruses associating with these animals are bacteriophages. We demonstrate that the animal host and its virome have evolved into a homeostatic, symbiotic relationship and propose that viruses are an important part of the Hydra holobiont by controlling the species-specific microbiome. We conclude that beneficial virus-bacterial-host interactions should be considered as an integral part of animal development and evolution.}, } @article {pmid25732535, year = {2015}, author = {Hichri, I and Boscari, A and Castella, C and Rovere, M and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Nitric oxide: a multifaceted regulator of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {10}, pages = {2877-2887}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erv051}, pmid = {25732535}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The specific interaction between legumes and Rhizobium-type bacteria leads to the establishment of a symbiotic relationship characterized by the formation of new differentiated organs named nodules, which provide a niche for bacterial nitrogen (N2) fixation. In the nodules, bacteria differentiate into bacteroids with the ability to fix atmospheric N2 via nitrogenase activity. As nitrogenase is strongly inhibited by oxygen, N2 fixation is made possible by the microaerophilic conditions prevailing in the nodules. Increasing evidence has shown the presence of NO during symbiosis, from early interaction steps between the plant and the bacterial partners to N2-fixing and senescence steps in mature nodules. Both the plant and the bacterial partners participate in NO synthesis. NO was found to be required for the optimal establishment of the symbiotic interaction. Transcriptomic analysis at an early stage of the symbiosis showed that NO is potentially involved in the repression of plant defence reactions, favouring the establishment of the plant-microbe interaction. In mature nodules, NO was shown to inhibit N2 fixation, but it was also demonstrated to have a regulatory role in nitrogen metabolism, to play a beneficial metabolic function for the maintenance of the energy status under hypoxic conditions, and to trigger nodule senescence. The present review provides an overview of NO sources and multifaceted effects from the early steps of the interaction to the senescence of the nodule, and presents several approaches which appear to be particularly promising in deciphering the roles of NO in N2-fixing symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25732064, year = {2015}, author = {Bulgarelli, D and Garrido-Oter, R and Münch, PC and Weiman, A and Dröge, J and Pan, Y and McHardy, AC and Schulze-Lefert, P}, title = {Structure and function of the bacterial root microbiota in wild and domesticated barley.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {392-403}, pmid = {25732064}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {323094/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Hordeum/*microbiology ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The microbial communities inhabiting the root interior of healthy plants, as well as the rhizosphere, which consists of soil particles firmly attached to roots, engage in symbiotic associations with their host. To investigate the structural and functional diversification among these communities, we employed a combination of 16S rRNA gene profiling and shotgun metagenome analysis of the microbiota associated with wild and domesticated accessions of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Bacterial families Comamonadaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and Rhizobiaceae dominate the barley root-enriched microbiota. Host genotype has a small, but significant, effect on the diversity of root-associated bacterial communities, possibly representing a footprint of barley domestication. Traits related to pathogenesis, secretion, phage interactions, and nutrient mobilization are enriched in the barley root-associated microbiota. Strikingly, protein families assigned to these same traits showed evidence of positive selection. Our results indicate that the combined action of microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions drives microbiota differentiation at the root-soil interface.}, } @article {pmid25728665, year = {2015}, author = {Branco, S and Gladieux, P and Ellison, CE and Kuo, A and LaButti, K and Lipzen, A and Grigoriev, IV and Liao, HL and Vilgalys, R and Peay, KG and Taylor, JW and Bruns, TD}, title = {Genetic isolation between two recently diverged populations of a symbiotic fungus.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {2747-2758}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13132}, pmid = {25728665}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics ; California ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Genetics, Population ; Genome, Fungal ; Likelihood Functions ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Pinus/microbiology ; *Reproductive Isolation ; Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungi are an omnipresent and highly diverse group of organisms, making up a significant part of eukaryotic diversity. Little is currently known about the drivers of fungal population differentiation and subsequent divergence of species, particularly in symbiotic, mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we investigate the population structure and environmental adaptation in Suillus brevipes (Peck) Kuntze, a wind-dispersed soil fungus that is symbiotic with pine trees. We assembled and annotated the reference genome for Su. brevipes and resequenced the whole genomes of 28 individuals from coastal and montane sites in California. We detected two clearly delineated coast and mountain populations with very low divergence. Genomic divergence was restricted to few regions, including a region of extreme divergence containing a gene encoding for a membrane Na(+) /H(+) exchanger known for enhancing salt tolerance in plants and yeast. Our results are consistent with a very recent split between the montane and coastal Su. brevipes populations, with few small genomic regions under positive selection and a pattern of dispersal and/or establishment limitation. Furthermore, we identify a putatively adaptive gene that motivates further functional analyses to link genotypes and phenotypes and shed light on the genetic basis of adaptive traits.}, } @article {pmid25728515, year = {2015}, author = {Pines, A}, title = {Microbiotica in women.}, journal = {Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {666-668}, doi = {10.3109/13697137.2015.1017337}, pmid = {25728515}, issn = {1473-0804}, mesh = {Female ; Female Urogenital Diseases/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/*microbiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The perception that certain body cavities and spaces that are heavily inhabited by micro-organisms should be regarded as 'external' to the body function is no longer valid. Extensive research during recent years has demonstrated the importance of those microbes to normal physiology, which means that the human body and those tiny organisms are actually symbiotic. The major point of interaction between the human body and the microbiome is the gut. There are also gender-specific aspects for this symbiosis: bacterial vaginosis has serious implications for female morbidity, including reports of pelvic inflammatory disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections and infertility. Re-establishing a normal flora might be beneficial and therefore the use of probiotics and re-colonization by 'healthy' bacteria have become very popular. Probiotics may serve as an adjunct for treating recurrences of urogenital infections and vaginal atrophy. Some animal studies have pointed at potential beneficial effects of Lactobacilli species on bone health.}, } @article {pmid25727289, year = {2015}, author = {Hooper, LV}, title = {Epithelial cell contributions to intestinal immunity.}, journal = {Advances in immunology}, volume = {126}, number = {}, pages = {129-172}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ai.2014.11.003}, pmid = {25727289}, issn = {1557-8445}, support = {R01 DK070855/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; //Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/immunology ; Autophagy ; Epithelial Cells/*immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The epithelial surfaces of the mammalian intestine interface directly with the external environment and thus continuously encounter pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. The intestinal epithelium is also closely associated with complex communities of symbiotic microorganisms. Intestinal epithelial cells are thus faced with the unique challenge of directly interacting with enormous numbers of microbes that include both pathogens and symbionts. As a result, gut epithelia have evolved an array of strategies that contribute to host immunity. This chapter considers the various mechanisms used by epithelial cells to limit microbial invasion of host tissues, shape the composition of indigenous microbial communities, and coordinate the adaptive immune response to microorganisms. Study of intestinal epithelial cells has contributed fundamental insights into intestinal immune homeostasis and has revealed how impaired epithelial cell function can contribute to inflammatory disease.}, } @article {pmid25726896, year = {2015}, author = {Peppin, JF and Raffa, RB}, title = {Delta opioid agonists: a concise update on potential therapeutic applications.}, journal = {Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {155-166}, doi = {10.1111/jcpt.12244}, pmid = {25726896}, issn = {1365-2710}, mesh = {Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology ; Drug Tolerance/physiology ; Enkephalins/metabolism ; Humans ; Learning/drug effects ; Memory/drug effects ; Opioid-Related Disorders/metabolism ; Pain/*drug therapy/*physiopathology ; Receptors, Opioid/agonists ; Receptors, Opioid, delta/*agonists ; }, abstract = {WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The endogenous opioid system co-evolved with chemical defences, or at times symbiotic relationships, between plants and other autotrophs and heterotrophic predators - thus, it is not surprising that endogenous opioid ligands and exogenous mimetic ligands produce diverse physiological effects. Among the endogenous opioid peptides (endomorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins and nociception/orphanin FQ) derived from the precursors encoded by four genes (PNOC, PENK, PDYN and POMC) are the pentapeptides Met-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) and Leu-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu). The physiological effects of the enkephalins are mediated via 7-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, including delta opioid receptor (DOR). We present a concise update on the status of progress and opportunities of this approach.

METHODS: A literature search of the PUBMED database and a combination of keywords including delta opioid receptor, analgesia, mood and individual compounds identified therein, from industry and other source, and from www.clinicaltrials.com.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: DOR agonist and antagonist ligands have been developed with ever increasing affinity and selectivity for DOR over other opioid receptor subtypes and studied for therapeutic utility, primarily for pain relief, but also for other clinical endpoints.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Selective DOR agonists have been designed with a large increase in therapeutic window for a variety of potential CNS applications including pain, depression, and learning and memory among others.}, } @article {pmid25724908, year = {2015}, author = {Clarke, VC and Loughlin, PC and Gavrin, A and Chen, C and Brear, EM and Day, DA and Smith, PM}, title = {Proteomic analysis of the soybean symbiosome identifies new symbiotic proteins.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1301-1322}, pmid = {25724908}, issn = {1535-9484}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Biological Transport ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/chemistry/metabolism ; Liquid-Liquid Extraction ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphoproteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Plant Cells/chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Proteome/*analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; rab7 GTP-Binding Proteins ; }, abstract = {Legumes form a symbiosis with rhizobia in which the plant provides an energy source to the rhizobia bacteria that it uses to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This nitrogen is provided to the legume plant, allowing it to grow without the addition of nitrogen fertilizer. As part of the symbiosis, the bacteria in the infected cells of a new root organ, the nodule, are surrounded by a plant-derived membrane, the symbiosome membrane, which becomes the interface between the symbionts. Fractions containing the symbiosome membrane (SM) and material from the lumen of the symbiosome (peribacteroid space or PBS) were isolated from soybean root nodules and analyzed using nongel proteomic techniques. Bicarbonate stripping and chloroform-methanol extraction of isolated SM were used to reduce complexity of the samples and enrich for hydrophobic integral membrane proteins. One hundred and ninety-seven proteins were identified as components of the SM, with an additional fifteen proteins identified from peripheral membrane and PBS protein fractions. Proteins involved in a range of cellular processes such as metabolism, protein folding and degradation, membrane trafficking, and solute transport were identified. These included a number of proteins previously localized to the SM, such as aquaglyceroporin nodulin 26, sulfate transporters, remorin, and Rab7 homologs. Among the proteome were a number of putative transporters for compounds such as sulfate, calcium, hydrogen ions, peptide/dicarboxylate, and nitrate, as well as transporters for which the substrate is not easy to predict. Analysis of the promoter activity for six genes encoding putative SM proteins showed nodule specific expression, with five showing expression only in infected cells. Localization of two proteins was confirmed using GFP-fusion experiments. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001132. This proteome will provide a rich resource for the study of the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25724637, year = {2015}, author = {Sun, J and Miller, JB and Granqvist, E and Wiley-Kalil, A and Gobbato, E and Maillet, F and Cottaz, S and Samain, E and Venkateshwaran, M and Fort, S and Morris, RJ and Ané, JM and Dénarié, J and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Activation of symbiosis signaling by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in legumes and rice.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {823-838}, pmid = {25724637}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Calcium Signaling/drug effects ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Chitosan ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology ; Oryza/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology ; Seedlings/drug effects/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions involves plant recognition of diffusible signals from the fungus, including lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and chitooligosaccharides (COs). Nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria that associate with leguminous plants also signal to their hosts via LCOs, the so-called Nod factors. Here, we have assessed the induction of symbiotic signaling by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (Myc) fungal-produced LCOs and COs in legumes and rice (Oryza sativa). We show that Myc-LCOs and tetra-acetyl chitotetraose (CO4) activate the common symbiosis signaling pathway, with resultant calcium oscillations in root epidermal cells of Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus. The nature of the calcium oscillations is similar for LCOs produced by rhizobial bacteria and by mycorrhizal fungi; however, Myc-LCOs activate distinct gene expression. Calcium oscillations were activated in rice atrichoblasts by CO4, but not the Myc-LCOs, whereas a mix of CO4 and Myc-LCOs activated calcium oscillations in rice trichoblasts. In contrast, stimulation of lateral root emergence occurred following treatment with Myc-LCOs, but not CO4, in M. truncatula, whereas both Myc-LCOs and CO4 were active in rice. Our work indicates that legumes and non-legumes differ in their perception of Myc-LCO and CO signals, suggesting that different plant species respond to different components in the mix of signals produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid25724297, year = {2015}, author = {Yao, YR and Tian, XL and Shen, BM and Mao, ZC and Chen, GH and Xie, BY}, title = {Transformation of the endophytic fungus Acremonium implicatum with GFP and evaluation of its biocontrol effect against Meloidogyne incognita.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {549-556}, pmid = {25724297}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Acremonium/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Antibiosis ; Endophytes/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Hyphae/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*parasitology ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; *Transformation, Genetic ; Tylenchoidea/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Acremonium implicatum is an endophytic fungus with biocontrol potential against Meloidogyne incognita based on its opportunistic egg-parasitic, hatching inhibition, and toxic properties. To understand its mode of plant endophytism and opportunistic egg parasitism, GFP-tagged A. implicatum was constructed by PEG-mediated protoplast transformation. By laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), we evaluated the endophytism and opportunistic egg parasitism of a stable gfp transformant (Acr-1). Acr-1 could colonize epidermal tissue, cortical tissue, and xylem of roots and form a mutualistic symbiosis with tomato host plants. LSCM of Acr-1 infecting M. incognita eggs revealed that hyphae penetrated the shell and grew inside eggs to form trophic hyphae. A large number of hyphae enveloped parasitized eggs. In addition, the egg shell integrity was destroyed by fungal penetration. The percentage of egg parasitism was 33.8 %. There were no marked differences between the wild type and mutant in nematode second-stage juvenile mortality and egg hatching and in fungal control efficiency in a pot experiment. In conclusion, gfp-transformation did not change the nematicidal activity of A. implicatum and is a tool to examine the mode of plant endophytism and opportunistic egg parasitism of A. implicatum.}, } @article {pmid25724277, year = {2015}, author = {Peterson, BF and Stewart, HL and Scharf, ME}, title = {Quantification of symbiotic contributions to lower termite lignocellulose digestion using antimicrobial treatments.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {80-88}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.02.009}, pmid = {25724277}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Isoptera/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animal-microbe co-evolution and symbiosis are broadly distributed across the animal kingdom. Insects form a myriad of associations with microbes ranging from vectoring of pathogens to intracellular, mutualistic relationships. Lower termites are key models for insect-microbe symbiosis because of the diversity, complexity and functionality of their unique tripartite symbiosis. This collaboration allows termites to live on a diet of nitrogen-poor lignocellulose. Recent functional investigations of lignocellulose digestion in lower termites have primarily focused on the contributions of the eukaryotic members of the termite holobiont (termite and protist). Here, using multiple antimicrobial treatments, we induced differing degrees of dysbiosis in the termite gut, leading to variably altered symbiont abundance and diversity, and lignocellulolytic capacity. Although protists are clearly affected by antimicrobial treatments, our findings provide novel evidence that the removal of distinct groups of bacteria partially reduces, but does not abolish, the saccharolytic potential of the termite gut holobiont. This is specifically manifested by reductions of 23-47% and 30-52% in glucose and xylose yields respectively from complex lignocellulose. Thus, all members of the lower termite holobiont (termite, protist and prokaryotes) are involved in the process of efficient, sustained lignocellulase activity. This unprecedented quantification of the relative importance of prokaryotes in this system emphasizes the collaborative nature of the termite holobiont, and the relevance of lower termites as models for inter-domain symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25723107, year = {2014}, author = {O'Connor-Sánchez, A and Rivera-Domínguez, AJ and Santos-Briones, Cde L and López-Aguiar, LK and Peña-Ramírez, YJ and Prieto-Davo, A}, title = {Acidobacteria appear to dominate the microbiome of two sympatric Caribbean Sponges and one Zoanthid.}, journal = {Biological research}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {67}, pmid = {25723107}, issn = {0717-6287}, mesh = {Acidobacteria/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Caribbean Region ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Mexico ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/classification/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/classification/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Sympatry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine invertebrate-associated microbial communities are interesting examples of complex symbiotic systems and are a potential source of biotechnological products.

RESULTS: In this work, pyrosequencing-based assessment from bacterial community structures of sediments, two sponges, and one zoanthid collected in the Mexican Caribbean was performed. The results suggest that the bacterial diversity at the species level is higher in the sediments than in the animal samples. Analysis of bacterial communities' structure showed that about two thirds of the bacterial diversity in all the samples belongs to the phyla Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria. The genus Acidobacterium appears to dominate the bacterial community in all the samples, reaching almost 80% in the sponge Hyrtios.

CONCLUSIONS: Our evidence suggests that the sympatric location of these benthonic species may lead to common bacterial structure features among their bacterial communities. The results may serve as a first insight to formulate hypotheses that lead to more extensive studies of sessile marine organisms' microbiomes from the Mexican Caribbean.}, } @article {pmid25722004, year = {2015}, author = {Tremblay, P and Maguer, JF and Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Trophic dynamics of scleractinian corals: stable isotope evidence.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1223-1234}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.115303}, pmid = {25722004}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Light ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Photosynthesis ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals form symbioses with dinoflagellates from the diverse genus Symbiodinium. This symbiotic association has developed adaptations to acquire and share nutrients, which are essential for its survival and growth in nutrient-poor tropical waters. The host is thus able to prey on a wide range of organic food sources (heterotrophic nutrition) whereas the symbionts acquire most of the inorganic nutrients (autotrophic nutrition). However, nutrient fluxes between the two partners remain unclear, especially concerning heterotrophically acquired carbon and nitrogen. We combined physiological measurements and pulse-chase isotopic labeling of heterotrophic carbon and nitrogen, as well as autotrophic carbon to track nutrient fluxes in two coral species, Stylophora pistillata and Turbinaria reniformis, in symbiosis with Symbiodinium clades A, and C,D respectively. We showed a rapid acquisition, exchange and a long-term retention of heterotrophic nutrients within the symbiosis, whereas autotrophic nutrients were rapidly used to meet immediate metabolic needs. In addition, there was a higher retention of heterotrophic nitrogen compared with carbon, in agreement with the idea that tropical corals are nitrogen-limited. Finally, a coupling between auto- and heterotrophy was observed in the species S. pistillata, with a higher acquisition and retention of heterotrophic nutrients under low irradiance to compensate for a 50% reduction in autotrophic nutrient acquisition and translocation. Conversely, T. reniformis conserved an equivalent heterotrophic nutrient acquisition at both light levels because this coral species did not significantly reduce its rates of gross photosynthesis and autotrophic carbon acquisition between the two irradiances. These experiments advance the current understanding of the nutrient exchanges between the two partners of a symbiotic association, providing evidence of the complexity of the host-symbiont relationship.}, } @article {pmid25721451, year = {2015}, author = {Ezzakkioui, F and El Mourabit, N and Chahboune, R and Castellano-Hinojosa, A and Bedmar, EJ and Barrijal, S}, title = {Phenotypic and genetic characterization of rhizobia isolated from Hedysarum flexuosum in Northwest region of Morocco.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {7}, pages = {830-837}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201400790}, pmid = {25721451}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, rRNA ; Genetic Variation ; Morocco ; *Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Seventy bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of the legume Hedysarum flexuosum grown wild in soils from Northwest Morocco. Repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) clustered the strains into 30 REP-PCR groups. The nearly complete sequence of the 16S rRNA gene from a representative strain of each REP-PCR pattern showed that 17 strains were closely related to members of the genus Rhizobium of the family Rhizobiaceae of the Alphaproteobacteria. Pairwise alignments between globally aligned sequences of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the strains from H. flexuosum had 99.75-100% identity with Rhizobium sullae type strain IS123(T). The phenotypic characteristics analyzed allowed description of a wide physiological diversity among the isolates, where the carbohydrate assimilation test was the most discriminating. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of a representative strains from the remaining 13 REP-PCR groups showed they belong to a wide variety of phylogenetic groups being closely related to species of genera Stenotrophomonas, Serratia, Massilia, Acinetobacter, Achromobacter, and Pseudomonas from the Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria. The R. sullae strains identified in this study produced effective symbiosis with their original host plant. None of the other bacterial strains could form nodules on H. flexuosum.}, } @article {pmid25720737, year = {2015}, author = {Rydlová, J and Sýkorová, Z and Slavíková, R and Turis, P}, title = {The importance of arbuscular mycorrhiza for Cyclamen purpurascens subsp. immaculatum endemic in Slovakia.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {599-609}, pmid = {25720737}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cyclamen/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Slovakia ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {At present, there is no relevant information on arbuscular mycorrhiza and the effect of the symbiosis on the growth of wild populations of cyclamens. To fill this gap, two populations of Cyclamen purpurascens subsp. immaculatum, endemic in Nízke Tatry (NT) mountains and Veľká Fatra (VF) mountains, Slovakia, were studied in situ as well as in a greenhouse pot experiment. For both populations, mycorrhizal root colonization of native plants was assessed, and mycorrhizal inoculation potential (MIP) of the soils at the two sites was determined in 3 consecutive years. In the greenhouse experiment, the growth response of cyclamens to cross-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was tested: plants from both sites were grown in their native soils and inoculated with a Septoglomus constrictum isolate originating either from the same or from the other plant locality. Although the MIP of soil at the NT site was significantly higher than at the VF site, the level of AMF root colonization of C. purpurascens subsp. immaculatum plants in the field did not significantly differ between the two localities. In the greenhouse experiment, inoculation with AMF generally accelerated cyclamen growth and significantly increased all growth parameters (shoot dry weight, leaf number and area, number of flowers, tuber, and root dry weight) and P uptake. The two populations of C. purpurascens subsp. immaculatum grown in their native soils, however, differed in their response to inoculation. The mycorrhizal growth response of NT plants was one-order higher compared to VF plants, and all their measured growth parameters were stimulated regardless of the fungal isolates' origin. In the VF plants, only the non-native (NT originating) isolate showed a significant positive effect on several growth traits. It can be concluded that mycorrhiza significantly increased fitness of C. purpurascens subsp. immaculatum, despite the differences between plant populations, implying that AMF symbionts should be taken into account in conservation programs of this endemic plant.}, } @article {pmid25720577, year = {2015}, author = {Hume, BC and D'Angelo, C and Smith, EG and Stevens, JR and Burt, J and Wiedenmann, J}, title = {Symbiodinium thermophilum sp. nov., a thermotolerant symbiotic alga prevalent in corals of the world's hottest sea, the Persian/Arabian Gulf.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {8562}, pmid = {25720577}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Base Sequence ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Coral Reefs ; Cytochromes b/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Genes, Protozoan ; Genetic Markers ; Global Warming ; Indian Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; Seawater ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are in rapid decline on a global scale due to human activities and a changing climate. Shallow water reefs depend on the obligatory symbiosis between the habitat forming coral host and its algal symbiont from the genus Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). This association is highly sensitive to thermal perturbations and temperatures as little as 1°C above the average summer maxima can cause the breakdown of this symbiosis, termed coral bleaching. Predicting the capacity of corals to survive the expected increase in seawater temperatures depends strongly on our understanding of the thermal tolerance of the symbiotic algae. Here we use molecular phylogenetic analysis of four genetic markers to describe Symbiodinium thermophilum, sp. nov. from the Persian/Arabian Gulf, a thermally tolerant coral symbiont. Phylogenetic inference using the non-coding region of the chloroplast psbA gene resolves S. thermophilum as a monophyletic lineage with large genetic distances from any other ITS2 C3 type found outside the Gulf. Through the characterisation of Symbiodinium associations of 6 species (5 genera) of Gulf corals, we demonstrate that S. thermophilum is the prevalent symbiont all year round in the world's hottest sea, the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf.}, } @article {pmid25720135, year = {2014}, author = {Kurchak, ON and Provorov, NA and Onishchuk, OP and Vorobyov, NI and Roumiantseva, ML and Simarov, BV}, title = {[Influence of salt stress on the genetically polymorphic system of Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago truncatula].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {50}, number = {7}, pages = {777-786}, pmid = {25720135}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Salt Tolerance ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {The impacts of salt stress (75 mM NaC1) on the ecological efficiency of the genetically polymorphic Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago truncatula system were studied. Its impact on a symbiotic system results in an increase of the partners' variability for symbiotic traits and of the symbiosis integrity as indicated by: a) the specificity of the partners' interactions--the nonadditive inputs of their genotypes into the variation of symbiotic parameters; and b) the correlative links between these parameters. The structure of the nodDI locus and the content correlates to the efficiency of the symbiosis between S. meliloti and M. truncatula genotypes under stress conditions more sufficiently than in the absence of stress. Correlations between the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia strains and their growth rate outside symbiosis are expressed under stress conditions, not in the absence of stress. Under salt stress symbiotic effectiveness was decreased for M. truncatula line F83005.5, which was salt sensitive for mineral nutrition. The inhibition of symbiotic activity for this line is linked with decreased nodule formation, whereas for Jemalong 6 and DZA315.16 lines it is associated with repressed N2-fixation. It was demonstrated for the first time that salt stress impairs the M. truncatula habitus (the mass : height ratio increased 2- to 6-fold), which in the salt-resistant cultivar Jemalong 6 is normalized as the result of rhizobia inoculation.}, } @article {pmid25717037, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, C and Zhu, M and Duan, L and Yu, H and Chang, X and Li, L and Kang, H and Feng, Y and Zhu, H and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z}, title = {Lotus japonicus clathrin heavy Chain1 is associated with Rho-Like GTPase ROP6 and involved in nodule formation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {1497-1510}, pmid = {25717037}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Clathrin/genetics/*metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Lotus/enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Leaves/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {Mechanisms underlying nodulation factor signaling downstream of the nodulation factor receptors (NFRs) have not been fully characterized. In this study, clathrin heavy chain1 (CHC1) was shown to interact with the Rho-Like GTPase ROP6, an interaction partner of NFR5 in Lotus japonicus. The CHC1 gene was found to be expressed constitutively in all plant tissues and induced in Mesorhizobium loti-infected root hairs and nodule primordia. When expressed in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana, CHC1 and ROP6 were colocalized at the cell circumference and within cytoplasmic punctate structures. In M. loti-infected root hairs, the CHC protein was detected in cytoplasmic punctate structures near the infection pocket along the infection thread membrane and the plasma membrane of the host cells. Transgenic plants expressing the CHC1-Hub domain, a dominant negative effector of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, were found to suppress early nodulation gene expression and impair M. loti infection, resulting in reduced nodulation. Treatment with tyrphostin A23, an inhibitor of clathrin-mediated endocytosis of plasma membrane cargoes, had a similar effect on down-regulation of early nodulation genes. These findings show an important role of clathrin in the leguminous symbiosis with rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid25716721, year = {2014}, author = {Kisseleva, EP}, title = {Innate immunity underlies symbiotic relationships.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {79}, number = {12}, pages = {1273-1285}, doi = {10.1134/S0006297914120013}, pmid = {25716721}, issn = {1608-3040}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Here, the modern data regarding interactions between normal microbiota and barrier tissues in plants, humans and animals are reviewed. The main homeostatic mechanisms responsible for interactions between epithelium and innate immune cells with symbiotic bacteria are described. A key step in this process is recognition of soluble microbial products by ligation to pattern-recognition receptors expressed on the host cells. As a result, epithelial cells secrete mucus, antibacterial peptides and immunoregulatory molecules. The main outcomes from immunological reactions towards symbiotic bacteria involve development of conditions for formation and maintenance of microbial biocenosis as well as providing safety for the host. Also, it is considered important to preserve and transfer beneficial bacteria to progeny.}, } @article {pmid25715442, year = {2014}, author = {Rumiantseva, ML and Muntian, VS and Mengoni, A and Simarov, BV}, title = {[ITS-polymorphism of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive native isolates of Sinorhizoblum meliloti--symbionts of alfalfa, clover and fenugreek plants].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {400-412}, pmid = {25715442}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/*genetics ; Medicago/microbiology ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Salt Tolerance/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development ; Sodium Chloride/toxicity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Trigonella/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Polymorphism of rrs-rrl sequence of ribosomal operons (intergenic sequence, ITS) was studied among 81 isolates of Sinorhizobium meliloti (AK001-AK210) derived from the collection of alfalfa nodulating bacteria of the Laboratory of genetics of ARRIAM, by using species-specific primers FGPS 1490/FGPL132VM. Isolates were obtained from nodules of different species of wild host plants from Medicago, Melilotus and Trigonella genera grown in salinized North-Western region of Kazakhstan. The typical structure of ITS, similar to that of test strain Rm1021, was dominant in native rhizobia population, while in one third of the isolates (33.3%) this sequence was divergent. Among the latter, the ITS type of strain AK83 (RCAM00182) was dominant. Here, we show for the first time that isolates with reduced level of salt-tolerance had more diverse intergenic sequences of rrn-operons. No phylogenetic separation was observed between isolates grouped on the basis of their tolerance or sensitivity towards 0.6 M NaCl. However, the frequency of divergent ITS types within the two groups of rhizobia depended on the host symbiotic preference observed in natural environment, allowing to speculate about the existence of a chromosome types specific for S. meliloti isolates with differential salt tolerance. In conclusion, we propose that in the area subjected to secondary salinization, which are also the centre of introgressive hybridization of alfalfa, micro-evolutionary processes, affecting rrn-operons and associated with salt adaptation, are also occurring in symbiotic root nodule bacteria populations.}, } @article {pmid25714744, year = {2015}, author = {Rollat-Farnier, PA and Santos-Garcia, D and Rao, Q and Sagot, MF and Silva, FJ and Henri, H and Zchori-Fein, E and Latorre, A and Moya, A and Barbe, V and Liu, SS and Wang, XW and Vavre, F and Mouton, L}, title = {Two host clades, two bacterial arsenals: evolution through gene losses in facultative endosymbionts.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {839-855}, pmid = {25714744}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Cell Wall/chemistry ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/*genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Deletion ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacterial endosymbiosis is an important evolutionary process in insects, which can harbor both obligate and facultative symbionts. The evolution of these symbionts is driven by evolutionary convergence, and they exhibit among the tiniest genomes in prokaryotes. The large host spectrum of facultative symbionts and the high diversity of strategies they use to infect new hosts probably impact the evolution of their genome and explain why they undergo less severe genomic erosion than obligate symbionts. Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa is suitable for the investigation of the genomic evolution of facultative symbionts because the bacteria are engaged in specific relationships in two clades of insects. In aphids, H. defensa is found in several species with an intermediate prevalence and confers protection against parasitoids. In whiteflies, H. defensa is almost fixed in some species of Bemisia tabaci, which suggests an important role of and a transition toward obligate symbiosis. In this study, comparisons of the genome of H. defensa present in two B. tabaci species (Middle East Asia Minor 1 and Mediterranean) and in the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum revealed that they belong to two distinct clades and underwent specific gene losses. In aphids, it contains highly virulent factors that could allow protection and horizontal transfers. In whiteflies, the genome lost these factors and seems to have a limited ability to acquire genes. However it contains genes that could be involved in the production of essential nutrients, which is consistent with a primordial role for this symbiont. In conclusion, although both lineages of H. defensa have mutualistic interactions with their hosts, their genomes follow distinct evolutionary trajectories that reflect their phenotype and could have important consequences on their evolvability.}, } @article {pmid25713563, year = {2015}, author = {Erlacher, A and Cernava, T and Cardinale, M and Soh, J and Sensen, CW and Grube, M and Berg, G}, title = {Rhizobiales as functional and endosymbiontic members in the lichen symbiosis of Lobaria pulmonaria L.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {53}, pmid = {25713563}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {I 882/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Rhizobiales (Alphaproteobacteria) are well-known beneficial partners in plant-microbe interactions. Less is known about the occurrence and function of Rhizobiales in the lichen symbiosis, although it has previously been shown that Alphaproteobacteria are the dominating group in growing lichen thalli. We have analyzed the taxonomic structure and assigned functions to Rhizobiales within a metagenomic dataset of the lung lichen Lobaria pulmonaria L. One third (32.2%) of the overall bacteria belong to the Rhizobiales, in particular to the families Methylobacteriaceae, Bradyrhizobiaceae, and Rhizobiaceae. About 20% of our metagenomic assignments could not be placed in any of the Rhizobiales lineages, which indicates a yet undescribed bacterial diversity. SEED-based functional analysis focused on Rhizobiales and revealed functions supporting the symbiosis, including auxin and vitamin production, nitrogen fixation and stress protection. We also have used a specifically developed probe to localize Rhizobiales by confocal laser scanning microscopy after fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH-CLSM). Bacteria preferentially colonized fungal surfaces, but there is clear evidence that members of the Rhizobiales are able to intrude at varying depths into the interhyphal gelatinous matrix of the upper lichen cortical layer and that at least occasionally some bacteria also are capable to colonize the interior of the fungal hyphae. Interestingly, the gradual development of an endosymbiotic bacterial life was found for lichen- as well as for fungal- and plant-associated bacteria. The new tools to study Rhizobiales, FISH microscopy and comparative metagenomics, suggest a similar beneficial role for lichens than for plants and will help to better understand the Rhizobiales-host interaction and their biotechnological potential.}, } @article {pmid25713367, year = {2015}, author = {Bennett, GM and Moran, NA}, title = {Heritable symbiosis: The advantages and perils of an evolutionary rabbit hole.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {33}, pages = {10169-10176}, pmid = {25713367}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/*physiology ; Ecology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Extinction, Biological ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Genetic Drift ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immune System ; Insecta ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many eukaryotes have obligate associations with microorganisms that are transmitted directly between generations. A model for heritable symbiosis is the association of aphids, a clade of sap-feeding insects, and Buchnera aphidicola, a gammaproteobacterium that colonized an aphid ancestor 150 million years ago and persists in almost all 5,000 aphid species. Symbiont acquisition enables evolutionary and ecological expansion; aphids are one of many insect groups that would not exist without heritable symbiosis. Receiving less attention are potential negative ramifications of symbiotic alliances. In the short run, symbionts impose metabolic costs. Over evolutionary time, hosts evolve dependence beyond the original benefits of the symbiosis. Symbiotic partners enter into an evolutionary spiral that leads to irreversible codependence and associated risks. Host adaptations to symbiosis (e.g., immune-system modification) may impose vulnerabilities. Symbiont genomes also continuously accumulate deleterious mutations, limiting their beneficial contributions and environmental tolerance. Finally, the fitness interests of obligate heritable symbionts are distinct from those of their hosts, leading to selfish tendencies. Thus, genes underlying the host-symbiont interface are predicted to follow a coevolutionary arms race, as observed for genes governing host-pathogen interactions. On the macroevolutionary scale, the rapid evolution of interacting symbiont and host genes is predicted to accelerate host speciation rates by generating genetic incompatibilities. However, degeneration of symbiont genomes may ultimately limit the ecological range of host species, potentially increasing extinction risk. Recent results for the aphid-Buchnera symbiosis and related systems illustrate that, whereas heritable symbiosis can expand ecological range and spur diversification, it also presents potential perils.}, } @article {pmid25713351, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, F and Blasiak, LC and Karolin, JO and Powell, RJ and Geddes, CD and Hill, RT}, title = {Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {14}, pages = {4381-4386}, pmid = {25713351}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; Biodiversity ; Coral Reefs ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Florida ; Luminescent Proteins ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphorus/chemistry/*physiology ; Polyphosphates/chemistry ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are major habitat-forming organisms in coastal benthic communities and have an ancient origin in evolution history. Here, we report significant accumulation of polyphosphate (polyP) granules in three common sponge species of the Caribbean coral reef. The identity of the polyP granules was confirmed by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and by the fluorescence properties of the granules. Microscopy images revealed that a large proportion of microbial cells associated with sponge hosts contained intracellular polyP granules. Cyanobacterial symbionts cultured from sponges were shown to accumulate polyP. We also amplified polyphosphate kinase (ppk) genes from sponge DNA and confirmed that the gene was expressed. Based on these findings, we propose here a potentially important phosphorus (P) sequestration pathway through symbiotic microorganisms of marine sponges. Considering the widespread sponge population and abundant microbial cells associated with them, this pathway is likely to have a significant impact on the P cycle in benthic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25711931, year = {2015}, author = {Irwin, NA and Lynn, DH}, title = {Molecular Phylogeny of Mobilid and Sessilid Ciliates Symbiotic in Eastern Pacific Limpets (Mollusca: Patellogastropoda).}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {543-552}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12208}, pmid = {25711931}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Ciliophora/*classification/cytology/*genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Gastropoda/*parasitology ; Genes, rRNA ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligohymenophorea/classification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Ribosome Subunits, Small/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The phylogenetic relationships of the ciliate subclass Peritrichia, composed of the orders Mobilida and Sessilida, have recently come under debate as morphological and molecular analyses have struck contrasting conclusions as to the monophyly of the group. We provide additional molecular data to assess the monophyly of the Peritrichia by sequencing the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of two symbiotic peritrichs, Urceolaria korschelti and Scyphidia ubiquita, found inhabiting the mantle cavity of limpets. Although phylogenetic analyses indicated a nonmonophyletic Peritrichia, approximately unbiased tests revealed that the monophyletic hypothesis could not be rejected. With regard to the Mobilida, our analysis showed divergence within the family Trichodinidae related to host taxa-a molluscan clade and a fish clade. For the Sessilida, the family Scyphidiidae was sister to the Astylozoidae. In our sampling of U. korschelti and S. ubiquita, both species showed significant genetic divergence among geographically isolated, yet morphologically indistinguishable populations. We hypothesize that cryptic speciation has produced these morphologically identical species and argue that more extensive genomic analyses are required to fully assess the monophyly, biogeography, and ultimately biodiversity of the peritrichs.}, } @article {pmid25711010, year = {2014}, author = {Sidorova, KK and Shumnyĭ, VK and Glianenko, MN and Vlasova, EIu and Mishchenko, TM}, title = {[Genetic potential of local endemic forms of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) on the basis of nitrogen fixation and productivity].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {35-43}, pmid = {25711010}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Peas/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Seeds/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Morphological and symbiotic traits were studied in local endemic forms of the pea originating from Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan, and Palestine. A number of endemic forms exceeded the zoned Druzhnaya variety of the fodder pea in productivity of the seeds in field and greenhouse experiments. In order to improve nodulation and nitrogen fixation, endemic forms were crossed with the supernodulating K301 mutant marked by the nod4 gene. Recurrent selection of lines up to F5,6 generations was conducted with an estimation of productivity, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation. The most promising recurrent lines with a high productivity, active nodulation, and high nitrogen fixation were obtained during the crossing of endemic forms with the recurrent line marked by the nod4 gene. The line was previously created during the crossing between the Druzhnaya variety and the supernodulating K301 mutant marked by the nod4 gene.}, } @article {pmid25710540, year = {2015}, author = {Okazaki, S and Noisangiam, R and Okubo, T and Kaneko, T and Oshima, K and Hattori, M and Teamtisong, K and Songwattana, P and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Saeki, K and Sato, S and Uchiumi, T and Minamisawa, K and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Genome analysis of a novel Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 carrying a symbiotic plasmid.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e0117392}, pmid = {25710540}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 isolated from the legume Aeschynomene americana exhibited a broad host range and divergent nodulation (nod) genes compared with other members of the Bradyrhizobiaceae. Genome analysis of DOA9 revealed that its genome comprised a single chromosome of 7.1 Mbp and a plasmid of 0.7 Mbp. The chromosome showed highest similarity with that of the nod gene-harboring soybean symbiont B. japonicum USDA110, whereas the plasmid showed highest similarity with pBBta01 of the nod gene-lacking photosynthetic strain BTAi1, which nodulates Aeschynomene species. Unlike in other bradyrhizobia, the plasmid of DOA9 encodes genes related to symbiotic functions including nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and type III/IV protein secretion systems. The plasmid has also a lower GC content (60.1%) than the chromosome (64.4%). These features suggest that the plasmid could be the origin of the symbiosis island that is found in the genome of other bradyrhizobia. The nod genes of DOA9 exhibited low similarity with those of other strains. The nif gene cluster of DOA9 showed greatest similarity to those of photosynthetic bradyrhizobia. The type III/IV protein secretion systems of DOA9 are similar to those of nod gene-harboring B. elkanii and photosynthetic BTAi1. The DOA9 genome exhibited intermediate characteristics between nod gene-harboring bradyrhizobia and nod gene-lacking photosynthetic bradyrhizobia, thus providing the evidence for the evolution of the Bradyrhizobiaceae during ecological adaptation. Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 isolated from the legume Aeschynomene americana exhibited a broad host range and divergent nodulation (nod) genes compared with other members of the Bradyrhizobiaceae. Genome analysis of DOA9 revealed that its genome comprised a single chromosome of 7.1 Mbp and a plasmid of 0.7 Mbp. The chromosome showed highest similarity with that of the nod gene-harboring soybean symbiont B. japonicum USDA110, whereas the plasmid showed highest similarity with pBBta01 of the nod gene-lacking photosynthetic strain BTAi1, which nodulates Aeschynomene species. Unlike in other bradyrhizobia, the plasmid of DOA9 encodes genes related to symbiotic functions including nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and type III/IV protein secretion systems. The plasmid has also a lower GC content (60.1%) than the chromosome (64.4%). These features suggest that the plasmid could be the origin of the symbiosis island that is found in the genome of other bradyrhizobia. The nod genes of DOA9 exhibited low similarity with those of other strains. The nif gene cluster of DOA9 showed greatest similarity to those of photosynthetic bradyrhizobia. The type III/IV protein secretion systems of DOA9 are similar to those of nod gene-harboring B. elkanii and photosynthetic BTAi1. The DOA9 genome exhibited intermediate characteristics between nod gene-harboring bradyrhizobia and nod gene-lacking photosynthetic bradyrhizobia, thus providing the evidence for the evolution of the Bradyrhizobiaceae during ecological adaptation.}, } @article {pmid25710371, year = {2015}, author = {Piromyou, P and Greetatorn, T and Teamtisong, K and Okubo, T and Shinoda, R and Nuntakij, A and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Minamisawa, K and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Preferential association of endophytic bradyrhizobia with different rice cultivars and its implications for rice endophyte evolution.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {9}, pages = {3049-3061}, pmid = {25710371}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobiaceae/*growth & development/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Endophytes/*growth & development/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant colonization by bradyrhizobia is found not only in leguminous plants but also in nonleguminous species such as rice. To understand the evolution of the endophytic symbiosis of bradyrhizobia, the effect of the ecosystems of rice plantations on their associations was investigated. Samples were collected from various rice (Oryza sativa) tissues and crop rotational systems. The rice endophytic bradyrhizobia were isolated on the basis of oligotrophic properties, selective medium, and nodulation on siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum). Six bradyrhizobial strains were obtained exclusively from rice grown in a crop rotational system. The isolates were separated into photosynthetic bradyrhizobia (PB) and nonphotosynthetic bradyrhizobia (non-PB). Thai bradyrhizobial strains promoted rice growth of Thai rice cultivars better than the Japanese bradyrhizobial strains. This implies that the rice cultivars possess characteristics that govern rice-bacterium associations. To examine whether leguminous plants in a rice plantation system support the persistence of rice endophytic bradyrhizobia, isolates were tested for legume nodulation. All PB strains formed symbioses with Aeschynomene indica and Aeschynomene evenia. On the other hand, non-PB strains were able to nodulate Aeschynomene americana, Vigna radiata, and M. atropurpureum but unable to nodulate either A. indica or A. evenia. Interestingly, the nodABC genes of all of these bradyrhizobial strains seem to exhibit low levels of similarity to those of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 and Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285. From these results, we discuss the evolution of the plant-bradyrhizobium association, including nonlegumes, in terms of photosynthetic lifestyle and nod-independent interactions.}, } @article {pmid25709053, year = {2015}, author = {Shi, Y and Huang, Z and Han, S and Fan, S and Yang, H}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of Archaea in the intestinal tract of termites from different lineages.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {8}, pages = {1021-1028}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201400678}, pmid = {25709053}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genes, rRNA ; Genetic Variation ; Isoptera/anatomy & histology/classification/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Termites are among the few arthropods that emit methane to the atmosphere, which is a significant source of global greenhouse gas due to their huge biomass on earth. In this study, phylogenetic diversity of Archaea of five termite species from different lineages were analyzed based on 16S rRNA genes. Archaea associated with wood-feeding lower termite, R. chinensis were exclusively Methanobrevibacter in the order Methanobacteriales. This type of methanogens was also found in Nasutitermes sp. and Microcerotermes sp. but not in the fungus-cultivating termites, Odontotermes formosanus and Macrotermes barneyi, which harbor Archaea of the order Methanoplasmatales and Methanosarcinales in their guts. Archaeal diversity of wood-feeding higher termites was higher than wood-feeding lower termites. The highest archaeal diversity was found in Nasutitermes sp. In addition to methanogens affiliated with the orders Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales, and Methanoplasmatales, 37% of archaeal clones were affiliated with non-methanogenic Thaumarchaeota. The results of this study will be significant for further understanding of symbiotic relationship between intestinal microbiota and termites.}, } @article {pmid25708401, year = {2015}, author = {Mensah, JA and Koch, AM and Antunes, PM and Kiers, ET and Hart, M and Bücking, H}, title = {High functional diversity within species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is associated with differences in phosphate and nitrogen uptake and fungal phosphate metabolism.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {533-546}, pmid = {25708401}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Plant growth responses following colonization with different isolates of a single species of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus can range from highly beneficial to detrimental, but the reasons for this high within-species diversity are currently unknown. To examine whether differences in growth and nutritional benefits are related to the phosphate (P) metabolism of the fungal symbiont, the effect of 31 different isolates from 10 AM fungal morphospecies on the P and nitrogen (N) nutrition of Medicago sativa and the P allocation among different P pools was examined. Based on differences in the mycorrhizal growth response, high, medium, and low performance isolates were distinguished. Plant growth benefit was positively correlated to the mycorrhizal effect on P and N nutrition. High performance isolates increased plant biomass by more than 170 % and contributed substantially to both P and N nutrition, whereas the effect of medium performance isolates particularly on the N nutrition of the host was significantly lower. Roots colonized by high performance isolates were characterized by relatively low tissue concentrations of inorganic P and short-chain polyphosphates and a high ratio between long- to short-chain polyphosphates. The high performance isolates belonged to different morphospecies and genera, indicating that the ability to contribute to P and N nutrition is widespread within the Glomeromycota and that differences in symbiotic performance and P metabolism are not specific for individual fungal morphospecies.}, } @article {pmid25707365, year = {2015}, author = {Memtily, N and Okada, T and Ebihara, T and Sato, M and Kurabayashi, A and Furihata, M and Suga, M and Nishiyama, H and Mio, K and Sato, C}, title = {Observation of tissues in open aqueous solution by atmospheric scanning electron microscopy: applicability to intraoperative cancer diagnosis.}, journal = {International journal of oncology}, volume = {46}, number = {5}, pages = {1872-1882}, pmid = {25707365}, issn = {1791-2423}, mesh = {Animals ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Female ; Intraoperative Care ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/*methods ; Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery ; Staining and Labeling/methods ; }, abstract = {In the atmospheric scanning electron microscope (ASEM), a 2- to 3-µm layer of the sample resting on a silicon nitride-film window in the base of an open sample dish is imaged, in liquid, at atmospheric pressure, from below by an inverted SEM. Thus, the time-consuming pretreatments generally required for biological samples to withstand the vacuum of a standard electron microscope are avoided. In the present study, various mouse tissues (brain, spinal cord, muscle, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and stomach) were fixed, stained with heavy metals, and visualized in radical scavenger D-glucose solution using the ASEM. While some stains made the nuclei of cells very prominent (platinum-blue, phosphotungstic acid), others also emphasized cell organelles and membranous structures (uranium acetate or the NCMIR method). Notably, symbiotic bacteria were sometimes observed on stomach mucosa. Furthermore, kidney tissue could be stained and successfully imaged in <30 min. Lung and spinal cord tissue from normal mice and mice metastasized with breast cancer cells was also examined. Cancer cells present in lung alveoli and in parts of the spine tissue clearly had larger nuclei than normal cells. The results indicate that the ASEM has the potential to accelerate intraoperative cancer diagnosis, the diagnosis of kidney diseases and pathogen detection. Importantly, in the course of the present study it was possible to increase the observable tissue area by using a new multi-windowed ASEM sample dish and sliding the tissue across its eight windows.}, } @article {pmid25706952, year = {2015}, author = {Militz, TA and Hutson, KS}, title = {Beyond symbiosis: cleaner shrimp clean up in culture.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e0117723}, pmid = {25706952}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquaculture/*methods ; Crustacea/*parasitology ; Ecosystem ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/physiology ; Ovum/physiology ; Parasites/physiology ; Perciformes/parasitology/physiology ; Platyhelminths/*physiology ; Skin Pigmentation/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Cleaner organisms exhibit a remarkable natural behaviour where they consume ectoparasites attached to "client" organisms. While this behaviour can be utilized as a natural method of parasitic disease control (or biocontrol), it is not known whether cleaner organisms can also limit reinfection from parasite eggs and larvae within the environment. Here we show that cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis, consume eggs and larvae of a harmful monogenean parasite, Neobenedenia sp., in aquaculture. Shrimp consumed parasite eggs under diurnal (63%) and nocturnal (14%) conditions as well as infectious larvae (oncomiracidia) diurnally (26%). Furthermore, we trialled the inclusion of cleaner shrimp for preventative parasite management of ornamental fish, Pseudanthias squamipinnis, and found shrimp reduced oncomiracidia infection success of host fish by half compared to controls (held without shrimp). Fish held without cleaner shrimp exhibited pigmentation changes as a result of infection, possibly indicative of a stress response. These results provide the first empirical evidence that cleaner organisms reduce parasite loads in the environment through non-symbiotic cleaning activities. Our research findings have relevance to aquaculture and the marine ornamental trade, where cleaner shrimp could be applied for prophylaxis and control of ectoparasite infections.}, } @article {pmid25706625, year = {2015}, author = {Kohler, A and Kuo, A and Nagy, LG and Morin, E and Barry, KW and Buscot, F and Canbäck, B and Choi, C and Cichocki, N and Clum, A and Colpaert, J and Copeland, A and Costa, MD and Doré, J and Floudas, D and Gay, G and Girlanda, M and Henrissat, B and Herrmann, S and Hess, J and Högberg, N and Johansson, T and Khouja, HR and LaButti, K and Lahrmann, U and Levasseur, A and Lindquist, EA and Lipzen, A and Marmeisse, R and Martino, E and Murat, C and Ngan, CY and Nehls, U and Plett, JM and Pringle, A and Ohm, RA and Perotto, S and Peter, M and Riley, R and Rineau, F and Ruytinx, J and Salamov, A and Shah, F and Sun, H and Tarkka, M and Tritt, A and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Zuccaro, A and , and Tunlid, A and Grigoriev, IV and Hibbett, DS and Martin, F}, title = {Convergent losses of decay mechanisms and rapid turnover of symbiosis genes in mycorrhizal mutualists.}, journal = {Nature genetics}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {410-415}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3223}, pmid = {25706625}, issn = {1546-1718}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/genetics ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence/*genetics ; }, abstract = {To elucidate the genetic bases of mycorrhizal lifestyle evolution, we sequenced new fungal genomes, including 13 ectomycorrhizal (ECM), orchid (ORM) and ericoid (ERM) species, and five saprotrophs, which we analyzed along with other fungal genomes. Ectomycorrhizal fungi have a reduced complement of genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs), as compared to their ancestral wood decayers. Nevertheless, they have retained a unique array of PCWDEs, thus suggesting that they possess diverse abilities to decompose lignocellulose. Similar functional categories of nonorthologous genes are induced in symbiosis. Of induced genes, 7-38% are orphan genes, including genes that encode secreted effector-like proteins. Convergent evolution of the mycorrhizal habit in fungi occurred via the repeated evolution of a 'symbiosis toolkit', with reduced numbers of PCWDEs and lineage-specific suites of mycorrhiza-induced genes.}, } @article {pmid25703428, year = {2015}, author = {Jalasvuori, M and Koonin, EV}, title = {Classification of prokaryotic genetic replicators: between selfishness and altruism.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1341}, number = {}, pages = {96-105}, pmid = {25703428}, issn = {1749-6632}, support = {Z01 LM000073-12//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Archaea/*genetics/virology ; Archaeal Viruses/classification/genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/*genetics/virology ; Bacteriophages/classification/genetics/physiology ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Plasmids/classification/*genetics ; Virus Replication/genetics ; }, abstract = {Prokaryotes harbor a variety of genetic replicators, including plasmids, viruses, and chromosomes, each having different effects on the phenotype of the hosting cell. Here, we propose a classification for replicators of bacteria and archaea on the basis of their horizontal-transfer potential and the type of relationships (mutualistic, symbiotic, commensal, or parasitic) that they have with the host cell vehicle. Horizontal movement of replicators can be either active or passive, reflecting whether or not the replicator encodes the means to mediate its own transfer from one cell to another. Some replicators also have an infectious extracellular state, thus separating viruses from other mobile elements. From the perspective of the cell vehicle, the different types of replicators form a continuum from genuinely mutualistic to completely parasitic replicators. This classification provides a general framework for dissecting prokaryotic systems into evolutionarily meaningful components.}, } @article {pmid25702576, year = {2015}, author = {Castelle, CJ and Wrighton, KC and Thomas, BC and Hug, LA and Brown, CT and Wilkins, MJ and Frischkorn, KR and Tringe, SG and Singh, A and Markillie, LM and Taylor, RC and Williams, KH and Banfield, JF}, title = {Genomic expansion of domain archaea highlights roles for organisms from new phyla in anaerobic carbon cycling.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {690-701}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.01.014}, pmid = {25702576}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/genetics ; Archaea/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Carbon Cycle/*genetics ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Metagenomics ; Models, Biological ; Models, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Archaea represent a significant fraction of Earth's biodiversity, yet they remain much less well understood than Bacteria. Gene surveys, a few metagenomic studies, and some single-cell sequencing projects have revealed numerous little-studied archaeal phyla. Certain lineages appear to branch deeply and may be part of a major phylum radiation. The structure of this radiation and the physiology of the organisms remain almost unknown.

RESULTS: We used genome-resolved metagenomic analyses to investigate the diversity, genomes sizes, metabolic capacities, and potential roles of Archaea in terrestrial subsurface biogeochemical cycles. We sequenced DNA from complex sediment and planktonic consortia from an aquifer adjacent to the Colorado River (USA) and reconstructed the first complete genomes for Archaea using cultivation-independent methods. To provide taxonomic context, we analyzed an additional 151 newly sampled archaeal sequences. We resolved two new phyla within a major, apparently deep-branching group of phyla (a superphylum). The organisms have small genomes, and metabolic predictions indicate that their primary contributions to Earth's biogeochemical cycles involve carbon and hydrogen metabolism, probably associated with symbiotic and/or fermentation-based lifestyles.

CONCLUSIONS: The results dramatically expand genomic sampling of the domain Archaea and clarify taxonomic designations within a major superphylum. This study, in combination with recently published work on bacterial phyla lacking cultivated representatives, reveals a fascinating phenomenon of major radiations of organisms with small genomes, novel proteome composition, and strong interdependence in both domains.}, } @article {pmid25702529, year = {2015}, author = {Michaudel, Q and Ishihara, Y and Baran, PS}, title = {Academia-industry symbiosis in organic chemistry.}, journal = {Accounts of chemical research}, volume = {48}, number = {3}, pages = {712-721}, pmid = {25702529}, issn = {1520-4898}, support = {R01 GM073949/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM106210/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM-073949/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM-106210/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Chemistry, Organic/*organization & administration ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Industry/*organization & administration ; Research/*organization & administration ; }, abstract = {Collaboration between academia and industry is a growing phenomenon within the chemistry community. These sectors have long held strong ties since academia traditionally trains the future scientists of the corporate world, but the recent drastic decrease of public funding is motivating the academic world to seek more private grants. This concept of industrial "sponsoring" is not new, and in the past, some companies granted substantial amounts of money per annum to various academic institutions in exchange for prime access to all their scientific discoveries and inventions. However, academic and industrial interests were not always aligned, and therefore the investment has become increasingly difficult to justify from industry's point of view. With fluctuating macroeconomic factors, this type of unrestricted grant has become more rare and has been largely replaced by smaller and more focused partnerships. In our view, forging a partnership with industry can be a golden opportunity for both parties and can represent a true symbiosis. This type of project-specific collaboration is engendered by industry's desire to access very specific academic expertise that is required for the development of new technologies at the forefront of science. Since financial pressures do not allow companies to spend the time to acquire this expertise and even less to explore fundamental research, partnering with an academic laboratory whose research is related to the problem gives them a viable alternative. From an academic standpoint, it represents the perfect occasion to apply "pure science" research concepts to solve problems that benefit humanity. Moreover, it offers a unique opportunity for students to face challenges from the "real world" at an early stage of their career. Although not every problem in industry can be solved by research developments in academia, we argue that there is significant scientific overlap between these two seemingly disparate groups, thereby presenting an opportunity for a symbiosis. This type of partnership is challenging but can be a win-win situation if both parties agree on some general guidelines, including clearly defined goals and deliverables, biweekly meetings to track research progress, and quarterly or annual meetings to recognize overarching, common objectives. This Account summarizes our personal experience concerning collaborations with various industrial groups and the way it impacted the research programs for both sides in a symbiotic fashion.}, } @article {pmid25701848, year = {2015}, author = {Grison, CM and Jackson, S and Merlot, S and Dobson, A and Grison, C}, title = {Rhizobium metallidurans sp. nov., a symbiotic heavy metal resistant bacterium isolated from the Anthyllis vulneraria Zn-hyperaccumulator.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {1525-1530}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.000130}, pmid = {25701848}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; France ; Mining ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; *Zinc ; }, abstract = {A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (ChimEc512(T)) was isolated from 56 host seedlings of the hyperaccumulating Anthyllis vulneraria legume, which was on an old zinc mining site at Les Avinières, Saint-Laurent-Le-Minier, Gard, South of France. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain ChimEc512(T) was shown to belong to the genus Rhizobium and to be most closely related to Rhizobium endophyticum CCGE 2052(T) (98.4%), Rhizobium tibeticum CCBAU 85039(T) (98.1%), Rhizobium grahamii CCGE 502(T) (98.0%) and Rhizobium mesoamericanum CCGE 501(T) (98.0%). The phylogenetic relationships of ChimEc512(T) were confirmed by sequencing and analyses of recA and atpD genes. DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain ChimEc512(T) with R. endophyticum CCGE 2052(T), R. tibeticum CCBAU 85039(T), R. mesoamericanum CCGE 52(T), Rhizobium grahamii CCGE 502(T), Rhizobium etli CCBAU 85039(T) and Rhizobium radiobacter KL09-16-8-2(T) were 27, 22, 16, 18, 19 and 11%, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain ChimEc512(T) was 58.9 mol%. The major cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c, characteristic of the genus Rhizobium . The polar lipid profile included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine and moderate amounts of aminolipids, phospholipid and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol. Although ChimEc512(T) was able to nodulate A. vulneraria, the nodC and nifH genes were not detected by PCR. The rhizobial strain was tolerant to high concentrations of heavy metals: up to 35 mM Zn and up to 0.5 mM Cd and its growth kinetics was not impacted by Zn. The results of DNA-DNA hybridizations and physiological tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain ChimEc512(T) from species of the genus Rhizobium with validly published names. Strain ChimEc512(T), therefore, represents a novel species, for which the name Rhizobium metallidurans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain ChimEc512(T) (=DSM 26575 = CIP 110550(T)).}, } @article {pmid25701073, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, KH and Miadlikowska, J and Molnár, K and Arnold, AE and U'Ren, JM and Gaya, E and Gueidan, C and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Phylogenetic analyses of eurotiomycetous endophytes reveal their close affinities to Chaetothyriales, Eurotiales, and a new order - Phaeomoniellales.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {85}, number = {}, pages = {117-130}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2015.01.008}, pmid = {25701073}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Endophytes/*classification ; Lichens/microbiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Ribosome Subunits, Large, Eukaryotic/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic fungi living in plants as endophytes, and in lichens as endolichenic fungi, cause no apparent symptoms to their hosts. They are ubiquitous, ecologically important, hyperdiverse, and represent a rich source of secondary compounds for new pharmaceutical and biocontrol products. Due in part to the lack of visible reproductive structures and other distinctive phenotypic traits for many species, the diversity and phylogenetic affiliations of these cryptic fungi are often poorly known. The goal of this study was to determine the phylogenetic placement of representative endophytes within the Eurotiomycetes (Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota), one of the most diverse and evolutionarily dynamic fungal classes, and to use that information to infer processes of macroevolution in trophic modes. Sequences of a single locus marker spanning the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (nrITS) and 600 base pairs at the 5' end of the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU) were obtained from previous studies of >6000 endophytic and endolichenic fungi from diverse biogeographic locations and hosts. We conducted phylum-wide phylogenetic searches using this marker to determine which fungal strains belonged to Eurotiomycetes and the results were used as the basis for a class-wide, seven-locus phylogenetic study focusing on endophytic and endolichenic Eurotiomycetes. Our cumulative supermatrix-based analyses revealed that representative endophytes within Eurotiomycetes are distributed in three main clades: Eurotiales, Chaetothyriales and Phaeomoniellales ord. nov., a clade that had not yet been described formally. This new order, described herein, is sister to the clade including Verrucariales and Chaetothyriales. It appears to consist mainly of endophytes and plant pathogens. Morphological characters of endophytic Phaeomoniellales resemble those of the pathogenic genus Phaeomoniella. This study highlights the capacity of endophytic and endolichenic fungi to expand our understanding of the ecological modes associated with particular clades, and provides a first estimation of their phylogenetic relationships in the Eurotiomycetes.}, } @article {pmid25699072, year = {2015}, author = {Hussain, A and Shah, ST and Rahman, H and Irshad, M and Iqbal, A}, title = {Effect of IAA on in vitro growth and colonization of Nostoc in plant roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {46}, pmid = {25699072}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nostoc is widely known for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and the establishment of symbiotic relationship with a wide range of plants from various taxonomic groups. Several strains of Nostoc produce phytohormones that promote growth of its plant partners. Nostoc OS-1 was therefore selected for study because of the presence of putative ipdC gene that encodes a key enzyme to produce Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The results indicated that both cellular and released IAA was found high with increasing incubation time and reached to a peak value (i.e., 21 pmol mg(-1)ch-a) on the third week as determined by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Also the Nostoc OS-1 strain efficiently colonized the roots and promoted the growth of rice as well as wheat under axenic conditions and induced ipdC gene that suggested the possible involvement of IAA in these phenotypes. To confirm the impact of IAA on root colonization efficiency and plant promoting phenotypes of Nostoc OS-1, an ipdC knockout mutant was generated by homologous recombinant method. The amount of releasing IAA, in vitro growth, root colonization, and plant promoting efficiency of the ipdC knockout mutant was observed significantly lower than wild type strain under axenic conditions. Importantly, these phenotypes were restored to wild-type levels when the ipdC knockout mutant was complemented with wild type ipdC gene. These results together suggested that ipdC and/or synthesized IAA of Nostoc OS-1 is required for its efficient root colonization and plant promoting activity.}, } @article {pmid25699071, year = {2015}, author = {Kaiser, B and Vogg, G and Fürst, UB and Albert, M}, title = {Parasitic plants of the genus Cuscuta and their interaction with susceptible and resistant host plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {45}, pmid = {25699071}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {By comparison with plant-microbe interaction, little is known about the interaction of parasitic plants with their hosts. Plants of the genus Cuscuta belong to the family of Cuscutaceae and comprise about 200 species, all of which live as stem holoparasites on other plants. Cuscuta spp. possess no roots nor fully expanded leaves and the vegetative portion appears to be a stem only. The parasite winds around plants and penetrates the host stems via haustoria, forming direct connections to the vascular bundles of their hosts to withdraw water, carbohydrates, and other solutes. Besides susceptible hosts, a few plants exist that exhibit an active resistance against infestation by Cuscuta spp. For example, cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fends off Cuscuta reflexa by means of a hypersensitive-type response occurring in the early penetration phase. This report on the plant-plant dialog between Cuscuta spp. and its host plants focuses on the incompatible interaction of C. reflexa with tomato.}, } @article {pmid25698520, year = {2015}, author = {Bandyopadhyay, S and Plascencia-Villa, G and Mukherjee, A and Rico, CM and José-Yacamán, M and Peralta-Videa, JR and Gardea-Torresdey, JL}, title = {Comparative phytotoxicity of ZnO NPs, bulk ZnO, and ionic zinc onto the alfalfa plants symbiotically associated with Sinorhizobium meliloti in soil.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {515-516}, number = {}, pages = {60-69}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.02.014}, pmid = {25698520}, issn = {1879-1026}, support = {2G12MD007592/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; 5G12RR013646-12/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; G12MD007591/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Hydroponics ; Medicago sativa/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Nanoparticles/*toxicity ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/physiology ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Zinc Oxide/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are reported as potentially phytotoxic in hydroponic and soil media. However, studies on ZnO NPs toxicity in a plant inoculated with bacterium in soil are limited. In this study, ZnO NPs, bulk ZnO, and ZnCl2 were exposed to the symbiotic alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-Sinorhizobium meliloti association at concentrations ranging from 0 to 750 mg/kg soil. Plant growth, Zn bioaccumulation, dry biomass, leaf area, total protein, and catalase (CAT) activity were measured in 30 day-old plants. Results showed 50% germination reduction by bulk ZnO at 500 and 750 mg/kg and all ZnCl2 concentrations. ZnO NPs and ionic Zn reduced root and shoot biomass by 80% and 25%, respectively. Conversely, bulk ZnO at 750 mg/kg increased shoot and root biomass by 225% and 10%, respectively, compared to control. At 500 and 750 mg/kg, ZnCl2 reduced CAT activity in stems and leaves. Total leaf protein significantly decreased as external ZnCl2 concentration increased. STEM-EDX imaging revealed the presence of ZnO particles in the root, stem, leaf, and nodule tissues. ZnO NPs showed less toxicity compared to ZnCl2 and bulk ZnO found to be growth enhancing on measured traits. These findings are significant to reveal the toxicity effects of different Zn species (NPs, bulk, and ionic Zn) into environmentally important plant-bacterial system in soil.}, } @article {pmid25694551, year = {2015}, author = {Riccio, P and Rossano, R}, title = {Nutrition facts in multiple sclerosis.}, journal = {ASN neuro}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {25694551}, issn = {1759-0914}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dietary Supplements ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; *Life Style ; Microbiota ; *Multiple Sclerosis/diet therapy/etiology/psychology ; *Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Rats ; }, abstract = {The question whether dietary habits and lifestyle have influence on the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) is still a matter of debate, and at present, MS therapy is not associated with any information on diet and lifestyle. Here we show that dietary factors and lifestyle may exacerbate or ameliorate MS symptoms by modulating the inflammatory status of the disease both in relapsing-remitting MS and in primary-progressive MS. This is achieved by controlling both the metabolic and inflammatory pathways in the human cell and the composition of commensal gut microbiota. What increases inflammation are hypercaloric Western-style diets, characterized by high salt, animal fat, red meat, sugar-sweetened drinks, fried food, low fiber, and lack of physical exercise. The persistence of this type of diet upregulates the metabolism of human cells toward biosynthetic pathways including those of proinflammatory molecules and also leads to a dysbiotic gut microbiota, alteration of intestinal immunity, and low-grade systemic inflammation. Conversely, exercise and low-calorie diets based on the assumption of vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, prebiotics, and probiotics act on nuclear receptors and enzymes that upregulate oxidative metabolism, downregulate the synthesis of proinflammatory molecules, and restore or maintain a healthy symbiotic gut microbiota. Now that we know the molecular mechanisms by which dietary factors and exercise affect the inflammatory status in MS, we can expect that a nutritional intervention with anti-inflammatory food and dietary supplements can alleviate possible side effects of immune-modulatory drugs and the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and thus favor patient wellness.}, } @article {pmid25693143, year = {2015}, author = {Klueter, A and Crandall, JB and Archer, FI and Teece, MA and Coffroth, MA}, title = {Taxonomic and environmental variation of metabolite profiles in marine dinoflagellates of the genus symbiodinium.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {74-99}, pmid = {25693143}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Microorganisms in terrestrial and marine ecosystems are essential to environmental sustainability. In the marine environment, invertebrates often depend on metabolic cooperation with their endosymbionts. Coral reefs, one of the most important marine ecosystems, are based on the symbiosis between a broad diversity of dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium and a wide phyletic diversity of hosts (i.e., cnidarian, molluscan, poriferan). This diversity is reflected in the ecology and physiology of the symbionts, yet the underlying biochemical mechanisms are still poorly understood. We examined metabolite profiles of four cultured species of Symbiodinium known to form viable symbioses with reef-building corals, S. microadriaticum (cp-type A194), S. minutum (cp-type B184), S. psygmophilum (cp-type B224) and S. trenchii (cp-type D206). Metabolite profiles were shown to differ among Symbiodinium species and were found to be affected by their physiological response to growth in different temperatures and light regimes. A combined Random Forests and Bayesian analysis revealed that the four Symbiodinium species examined primarily differed in their production of sterols and sugars, including a C29 stanol and the two sterols C28Δ5 and C28Δ5,22, as well as differences in metabolite abundances of a hexose and inositol. Inositol levels were also strongly affected by changes in temperature across all Symbiodinium species. Our results offer a detailed view of the metabolite profile characteristic of marine symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, and identify patterns of metabolites related to several growth conditions.}, } @article {pmid25691772, year = {2015}, author = {Romero, IL and Mukherjee, A and Kenny, HA and Litchfield, LM and Lengyel, E}, title = {Molecular pathways: trafficking of metabolic resources in the tumor microenvironment.}, journal = {Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research}, volume = {21}, number = {4}, pages = {680-686}, pmid = {25691772}, issn = {1557-3265}, support = {UL1 TR000430/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; K12HD000849/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; K12 HD000849/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA111882/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; L30 CA153336/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01CA111882/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01CA169604/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA169604/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Models, Biological ; Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A model of tumor metabolism is proposed that describes how the complementary metabolic functions of the local stroma and the tumor cells contribute to cancer progression. Cancer cells alter the metabolism of cancer-associated fibroblasts to obtain lactate and amino acids, which are utilized for energy production, rapid growth, and resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Cancer cells use glutamine supplied by cancer-associated fibroblasts to replenish tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and as a nitrogen source for nucleotide synthesis. Moreover, adipocytes in the microenvironment attract cancer cells through the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and proteases. The cancer cells then induce metabolic changes in the adipocytes to acquire free fatty acids that are oxidized by cancer cells to generate energy for proliferation. Increasing knowledge about the metabolic symbiosis within the tumor has led to novel therapeutic strategies designed to restrict metabolic adaptation, including inhibiting lactate transporters and repurposing antidiabetic drugs (thiazolidinediones, metformin).}, } @article {pmid25691531, year = {2015}, author = {Zheng, H and Mao, Y and Zhu, Q and Ling, J and Zhang, N and Naseer, N and Zhong, Z and Zhu, J}, title = {The quorum sensing regulator CinR hierarchically regulates two other quorum sensing pathways in ligand-dependent and -independent fashions in Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {197}, number = {9}, pages = {1573-1581}, pmid = {25691531}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Protein Binding ; *Quorum Sensing ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/*physiology ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Many rhizobial species use complex N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing (QS) systems to monitor their population density and regulate their symbiotic interactions with their plant hosts. There are at least three LuxRI-type regulatory systems in Rhizobium etli CFN42: CinRI, RaiRI, and TraRI. In this study, we show that CinI, RaiI, and TraI are responsible for synthesizing all AHLs under the tested conditions. The activation of these AHL synthase genes requires their corresponding LuxR-type counterparts. We further demonstrate that CinRI is at the top of the regulatory cascade that activates RaiRI and TraRI QS systems. Moreover, we discovered that CinR possesses a specific affinity to bind cinI promoter in the absence of its cognate AHL ligand, thereby activating cinI transcription. Addition of AHLs leads to improved binding to the cinI promoter and enhanced cinI expression. Furthermore, we found that compared to the wild type, the cinR mutation displayed reduced nodule formation, and cinR, raiR, and traI mutants show significantly lower levels of nitrogen fixation activity than the wild type. These results suggest that the complex QS regulatory systems in R. etli play an important role in its symbiosis with legume hosts.

IMPORTANCE: Many bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to monitor their cell densities and coordinately regulate a number of physiological functions. Rhizobia often have diverse and complex LuxR/LuxI-type quorum sensing systems that may be involved in symbiosis and N2 fixation. In this study, we identified three LuxR/LuxI-type QS systems in Rhizobium etli CFN42: CinRI, RaiRI, and TraRI. We established a complex network of regulation between these QS components and found that these QS systems played important roles in symbiosis processes.}, } @article {pmid25690539, year = {2015}, author = {Durgo, H and Klement, E and Hunyadi-Gulyas, E and Szucs, A and Kereszt, A and Medzihradszky, KF and Kondorosi, E}, title = {Identification of nodule-specific cysteine-rich plant peptides in endosymbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {15}, number = {13}, pages = {2291-2295}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201400385}, pmid = {25690539}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis of Medicago truncatula with Sinorhizobium meliloti or Sinorhizobium medicae soil bacteria results in the formation of root nodules where bacteria inside the plant cells are irreversibly converted to polyploid, nondividing nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Bacteroid differentiation is host-controlled and the plant effectors are symbiosis-specific secreted plant peptides. In the M. truncatula genome there are more than 600 symbiotic peptide genes including 500 small genes coding for nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides. While NCR transcripts represent >5% of the nodule transcriptome, the existence of only eight NCR peptides has been demonstrated so far. The predicted NCRs are secreted peptides targeted to the endosymbionts. Correspondingly, all the eight detected peptides were present in the bacteroids. Here, we report on large-scale detection of NCR peptides from nodules and from isolated, semipurified endosymbionts at various stages of their differentiation. In total 138 NCRs were detected in the bacteroids; 38 were cationic while the majority was anionic. The presence of early NCRs in nitrogen-fixing bacteroids indicates their high stability, and their long-term maintenance suggests persisting biological roles in the bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid25688377, year = {2015}, author = {Emamverdian, A and Ding, Y and Mokhberdoran, F and Xie, Y}, title = {Heavy metal stress and some mechanisms of plant defense response.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {756120}, pmid = {25688377}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {Chelating Agents/metabolism ; Environmental Pollutants/*analysis ; Inactivation, Metabolic/*physiology ; Metallothionein/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*analysis/pharmacokinetics/toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plants/*chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Unprecedented bioaccumulation and biomagnification of heavy metals (HMs) in the environment have become a dilemma for all living organisms including plants. HMs at toxic levels have the capability to interact with several vital cellular biomolecules such as nuclear proteins and DNA, leading to excessive augmentation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This would inflict serious morphological, metabolic, and physiological anomalies in plants ranging from chlorosis of shoot to lipid peroxidation and protein degradation. In response, plants are equipped with a repertoire of mechanisms to counteract heavy metal (HM) toxicity. The key elements of these are chelating metals by forming phytochelatins (PCs) or metallothioneins (MTs) metal complex at the intra- and intercellular level, which is followed by the removal of HM ions from sensitive sites or vacuolar sequestration of ligand-metal complex. Nonenzymatically synthesized compounds such as proline (Pro) are able to strengthen metal-detoxification capacity of intracellular antioxidant enzymes. Another important additive component of plant defense system is symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM can effectively immobilize HMs and reduce their uptake by host plants via binding metal ions to hyphal cell wall and excreting several extracellular biomolecules. Additionally, AM fungi can enhance activities of antioxidant defense machinery of plants.}, } @article {pmid25688250, year = {2015}, author = {Mercante, V and Duarte, CM and Sánchez, CM and Zalguizuri, A and Caetano-Anollés, G and Lepek, VC}, title = {The absence of protein Y4yS affects negatively the abundance of T3SS Mesorhizobium loti secretin, RhcC2, in bacterial membranes.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {12}, pmid = {25688250}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 has a functional type III secretion system (T3SS) that is involved in the determination of nodulation competitiveness on Lotus. The M. loti T3SS cluster contains gene y4yS (mlr8765) that codes for a protein of unknown function (Y4yS). A mutation in the y4yS gene favors the M. loti symbiotic competitive ability on Lotus tenuis cv. Esmeralda and affects negatively the secretion of proteins through T3SS. Here we localize Y4yS in the bacterial membrane using a translational reporter peptide fusion. In silico analysis indicated that this protein presents a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, a signal peptide and a canonical lipobox LGCC in the N-terminal sequence. These features that are shared with proteins required for the formation of the secretin complex in type IV secretion systems and in the Tad system, together with its localization, suggest that the y4yS-encoded protein is required for the formation of the M. loti T3SS secretin (RhcC2) complex. Remarkably, analysis of RhcC2 in the wild-type and M. loti y4yS mutant strains indicated that the absence of Y4yS affects negatively the accumulation of normal levels of RhcC2 in the membrane.}, } @article {pmid25687126, year = {2015}, author = {Nguyen, NH and Bruns, TD}, title = {The Microbiome of Pinus muricata Ectomycorrhizae: Community Assemblages, Fungal Species Effects, and Burkholderia as Important Bacteria in Multipartnered Symbioses.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {69}, number = {4}, pages = {914-921}, pmid = {25687126}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Burkholderia/genetics/*physiology ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria have been observed to grow with fungi, and those that associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi have often been thought of as symbionts that may either increase or decrease ectomycorrhizal formation rate or provide other unaccounted benefits. To explore this symbiosis from a community ecology perspective, we sampled ectomycorrhizal root tips over a 3-year period and used 454 pyrosequencing to identify the bacteria that live inside the ectomycorrhizal root tips. The results showed that fungal community composition within the same soil core and fungal taxonomic identity had a stronger effect on bacterial community composition than sample year or site. Members of the Burkholderiales and Rhizobiales were most highly represented, reflecting many previous reports of these bacteria in association with fungi. The repeated occurrences of these two bacterial orders suggest that they may be symbiotic with their fungal hosts, although the nature of such mechanisms, be it symbiotic diazotrophy or otherwise, remains to be thoroughly tested.}, } @article {pmid25685802, year = {2015}, author = {Sulieman, S and Van Ha, C and Nasr Esfahani, M and Watanabe, Y and Nishiyama, R and Pham, CT and Van Nguyen, D and Tran, LS}, title = {DT2008: a promising new genetic resource for improved drought tolerance in soybean when solely dependent on symbiotic N2 fixation.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2015}, number = {}, pages = {687213}, pmid = {25685802}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Droughts ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*growth & development ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {Water deficit is one of the major constraints for soybean production in Vietnam. The soybean breeding research efforts conducted at the Agriculture Genetics Institute (AGI) of Vietnam resulted in the development of promising soybean genotypes, suitable for the drought-stressed areas in Vietnam and other countries. Such a variety, namely, DT2008, was recommended by AGI and widely used throughout the country. The aim of this work was to assess the growth of shoots, roots, and nodules of DT2008 versus Williams 82 (W82) in response to drought and subsequent rehydration in symbiotic association as a means to provide genetic resources for genomic research. Better shoot, root, and nodule growth and development were observed in the cultivar DT2008 under sufficient, water deficit, and recovery conditions. Our results represent a good foundation for further comparison of DT2008 and W82 at molecular levels using high throughput omic technologies, which will provide huge amounts of data, enabling us to understand the genetic network involved in regulation of soybean responses to water deficit and increasing the chances of developing drought-tolerant cultivars.}, } @article {pmid25685260, year = {2015}, author = {Reeve, W and Ardley, J and Tian, R and Eshragi, L and Yoon, JW and Ngamwisetkun, P and Seshadri, R and Ivanova, NN and Kyrpides, NC}, title = {A Genomic Encyclopedia of the Root Nodule Bacteria: assessing genetic diversity through a systematic biogeographic survey.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {14}, pmid = {25685260}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Root nodule bacteria are free-living soil bacteria, belonging to diverse genera within the Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria, that have the capacity to form nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes. The symbiosis is specific and is governed by signaling molecules produced from both host and bacteria. Sequencing of several model RNB genomes has provided valuable insights into the genetic basis of symbiosis. However, the small number of sequenced RNB genomes available does not currently reflect the phylogenetic diversity of RNB, or the variety of mechanisms that lead to symbiosis in different legume hosts. This prevents a broad understanding of symbiotic interactions and the factors that govern the biogeography of host-microbe symbioses. Here, we outline a proposal to expand the number of sequenced RNB strains, which aims to capture this phylogenetic and biogeographic diversity. Through the Vavilov centers of diversity (Proposal ID: 231) and GEBA-RNB (Proposal ID: 882) projects we will sequence 107 RNB strains, isolated from diverse legume hosts in various geographic locations around the world. The nominated strains belong to nine of the 16 currently validly described RNB genera. They include 13 type strains, as well as elite inoculant strains of high commercial importance. These projects will strongly support systematic sequence-based studies of RNB and contribute to our understanding of the effects of biogeography on the evolution of different species of RNB, as well as the mechanisms that determine the specificity and effectiveness of nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation by RNB with diverse legume hosts.}, } @article {pmid25683808, year = {2015}, author = {Sasse, J and Simon, S and Gübeli, C and Liu, GW and Cheng, X and Friml, J and Bouwmeester, H and Martinoia, E and Borghi, L}, title = {Asymmetric localizations of the ABC transporter PaPDR1 trace paths of directional strigolactone transport.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {647-655}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2015.01.015}, pmid = {25683808}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Biological Transport/genetics/physiology ; Germination/*drug effects ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Orobanche/metabolism/*physiology ; Petunia/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones, first discovered as germination stimulants for parasitic weeds [1], are carotenoid-derived phytohormones that play major roles in inhibiting lateral bud outgrowth and promoting plant-mycorrhizal symbiosis [2-4]. Furthermore, strigolactones are involved in the regulation of lateral and adventitious root development, root cell division [5, 6], secondary growth [7], and leaf senescence [8]. Recently, we discovered the strigolactone transporter Petunia axillaris PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 1 (PaPDR1), which is required for efficient mycorrhizal colonization and inhibition of lateral bud outgrowth [9]. However, how strigolactones are transported through the plant remained unknown. Here we show that PaPDR1 exhibits a cell-type-specific asymmetric localization in different root tissues. In root tips, PaPDR1 is co-expressed with the strigolactone biosynthetic gene DAD1 (CCD8), and it is localized at the apical membrane of root hypodermal cells, presumably mediating the shootward transport of strigolactone. Above the root tip, in the hypodermal passage cells that form gates for the entry of mycorrhizal fungi, PaPDR1 is present in the outer-lateral membrane, compatible with its postulated function as strigolactone exporter from root to soil. Transport studies are in line with our localization studies since (1) a papdr1 mutant displays impaired transport of strigolactones out of the root tip to the shoot as well as into the rhizosphere and (2) DAD1 expression and PIN1/PIN2 levels change in plants deregulated for PDR1 expression, suggestive of variations in endogenous strigolactone contents. In conclusion, our results indicate that the polar localizations of PaPDR1 mediate directional shootward strigolactone transport as well as localized exudation into the soil.}, } @article {pmid25683348, year = {2015}, author = {Smith, AH and Łukasik, P and O'Connor, MP and Lee, A and Mayo, G and Drott, MT and Doll, S and Tuttle, R and Disciullo, RA and Messina, A and Oliver, KM and Russell, JA}, title = {Patterns, causes and consequences of defensive microbiome dynamics across multiple scales.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {1135-1149}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13095}, pmid = {25683348}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*genetics ; Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Sequence Data ; New England ; *Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The microbiome can significantly impact host phenotypes and serve as an additional source of heritable genetic variation. While patterns across eukaryotes are consistent with a role for symbiotic microbes in host macroevolution, few studies have examined symbiont-driven host evolution or the ecological implications of a dynamic microbiome across temporal, spatial or ecological scales. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and its eight heritable bacterial endosymbionts have served as a model for studies on symbiosis and its potential contributions to host ecology and evolution. But we know little about the natural dynamics or ecological impacts of the heritable microbiome of this cosmopolitan insect pest. Here we report seasonal shifts in the frequencies of heritable defensive bacteria from natural pea aphid populations across two host races and geographic regions. Microbiome dynamics were consistent with symbiont responses to host-level selection and findings from one population suggested symbiont-driven adaptation to seasonally changing parasitoid pressures. Conversely, symbiont levels were negatively correlated with enemy-driven mortality when measured across host races, suggesting important ecological impacts of host race microbiome divergence. Rapid drops in symbiont frequencies following seasonal peaks suggest microbiome instability in several populations, with potentially large costs of 'superinfection' under certain environmental conditions. In summary, the realization of several laboratory-derived, a priori expectations suggests important natural impacts of defensive symbionts in host-enemy eco-evolutionary feedbacks. Yet negative findings and unanticipated correlations suggest complexities within this system may limit or obscure symbiont-driven contemporary evolution, a finding of broad significance given the widespread nature of defensive microbes across plants and animals.}, } @article {pmid25682610, year = {2015}, author = {Berrabah, F and Ratet, P and Gourion, B}, title = {Multiple steps control immunity during the intracellular accommodation of rhizobia.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {7}, pages = {1977-1985}, pmid = {25682610}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/genetics/*immunology/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula belongs to the legume family and forms symbiotic associations with nitrogen fixing bacteria, the rhizobia. During these interactions, the plants develop root nodules in which bacteria invade the plant cells and fix nitrogen for the benefit of the plant. Despite massive infection, legume nodules do not develop visible defence reactions, suggesting a special immune status of these organs. Some factors influencing rhizobium maintenance within the plant cells have been previously identified, such as the M. truncatula NCR peptides whose toxic effects are reduced by the bacterial protein BacA. In addition, DNF2, SymCRK, and RSD are M. truncatula genes required to avoid rhizobial death within the symbiotic cells. DNF2 and SymCRK are essential to prevent defence-like reactions in nodules after bacteria internalization into the symbiotic cells. Herein, we used a combination of genetics, histology and molecular biology approaches to investigate the relationship between the factors preventing bacterial death in the nodule cells. We show that the RSD gene is also required to repress plant defences in nodules. Upon inoculation with the bacA mutant, defence responses are observed only in the dnf2 mutant and not in the symCRK and rsd mutants. In addition, our data suggest that lack of nitrogen fixation by the bacterial partner triggers bacterial death in nodule cells after bacteroid differentiation. Together our data indicate that, after internalization, at least four independent mechanisms prevent bacterial death in the plant cell. These mechanisms involve successively: DNF2, BacA, SymCRK/RSD and bacterial ability to fix nitrogen.}, } @article {pmid25681798, year = {2015}, author = {Corning, PA and Szathmáry, E}, title = {"Synergistic selection": a Darwinian frame for the evolution of complexity.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {371}, number = {}, pages = {45-58}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.02.002}, pmid = {25681798}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Models, Biological ; Publications ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Non-Darwinian theories about the emergence and evolution of complexity date back at least to Lamarck, and include those of Herbert Spencer and the "emergent evolution" theorists of the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In recent decades, this approach has mostly been espoused by various practitioners in biophysics and complexity theory. However, there is a Darwinian alternative - in essence, an economic theory of complexity - proposing that synergistic effects of various kinds have played an important causal role in the evolution of complexity, especially in the "major transitions". This theory is called the "synergism hypothesis". We posit that otherwise unattainable functional advantages arising from various cooperative phenomena have been favored over time in a dynamic that the late John Maynard Smith characterized and modeled as "synergistic selection". The term highlights the fact that synergistic "wholes" may become interdependent "units" of selection. We provide some historical perspective on this issue, as well as a brief explication of the underlying theory and the concept of synergistic selection, and we describe two relevant models.}, } @article {pmid25681180, year = {2015}, author = {Berry, D and Takach, JE and Schardl, CL and Charlton, ND and Scott, B and Young, CA}, title = {Disparate independent genetic events disrupt the secondary metabolism gene perA in certain symbiotic Epichloë species.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {8}, pages = {2797-2807}, pmid = {25681180}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {P20 RR016481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 2 P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Epichloe/genetics/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Mutation ; Peptide Synthases/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Polyamines/chemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Peramine is an insect-feeding deterrent produced by Epichloë species in symbiotic association with C3 grasses. The perA gene responsible for peramine synthesis encodes a two-module nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Alleles of perA are found in most Epichloë species; however, peramine is not produced by many perA-containing Epichloë isolates. The genetic basis of these peramine-negative chemotypes is often unknown. Using PCR and DNA sequencing, we analyzed the perA genes from 72 Epichloë isolates and identified causative mutations of perA null alleles. We found nonfunctional perA-ΔR* alleles, which contain a transposon-associated deletion of the perA region encoding the C-terminal reductase domain, are widespread within the Epichloë genus and represent a prevalent mutation found in nonhybrid species. Disparate phylogenies of adjacent A2 and T2 domains indicated that the deletion of the reductase domain (R*) likely occurred once and early in the evolution of the genus, and subsequently there have been several recombinations between those domains. A number of novel point, deletion, and insertion mutations responsible for abolishing peramine production in full-length perA alleles were also identified. The regions encoding the first and second adenylation domains (A1 and A2, respectively) were common sites for such mutations. Using this information, a method was developed to predict peramine chemotypes by combining PCR product size polymorphism analysis with sequencing of the perA adenylation domains.}, } @article {pmid25681119, year = {2015}, author = {Lamdan, NL and Shalaby, S and Ziv, T and Kenerley, CM and Horwitz, BA}, title = {Secretome of Trichoderma interacting with maize roots: role in induced systemic resistance.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {1054-1063}, pmid = {25681119}, issn = {1535-9484}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Disease Resistance/*immunology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Proteomics ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; Zea mays/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Trichoderma virens is a biocontrol agent used in agriculture to antagonize pathogens of crop plants. In addition to direct mycoparasitism of soil-borne fungal pathogens, T. virens interacts with roots. This interaction induces systemic resistance (ISR), which reduces disease in above-ground parts of the plant. In the molecular dialog between fungus and plant leading to ISR, proteins secreted by T. virens provide signals. Only a few such proteins have been characterized previously. To study the secretome, proteins were characterized from hydroponic culture systems with T. virens alone or with maize seedlings, and combined with a bioassay for ISR in maize leaves infected by the pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus. The secreted protein fraction from coculture of maize roots and T. virens (Tv+M) was found to have a higher ISR activity than from T. virens grown alone (Tv). A total of 280 fungal proteins were identified, 66 showing significant differences in abundance between the two conditions: 32 were higher in Tv+M and 34 were higher in Tv. Among the 34 found in higher abundance in Tv and negatively regulated by roots were 13 SSCPs (small, secreted, cysteine rich proteins), known to be important in the molecular dialog between plants and fungi. The role of four SSCPs in ISR was studied by gene knockout. All four knockout lines showed better ISR activity than WT without affecting colonization of maize roots. Furthermore, the secreted protein fraction from each of the mutant lines showed improved ISR activity compared with WT. These SSCPs, apparently, act as negative effectors reducing the defense levels in the plant and may be important for the fine tuning of ISR by Trichoderma. The down-regulation of SSCPs in interaction with plant roots implies a revision of the current model for the Trichoderma-plant symbiosis and its induction of resistance to pathogens.}, } @article {pmid25681010, year = {2015}, author = {Corrêa, A and Cruz, C and Ferrol, N}, title = {Nitrogen and carbon/nitrogen dynamics in arbuscular mycorrhiza: the great unknown.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {499-515}, pmid = {25681010}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many studies have established that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi transfer N to the host plant. However, the role and importance of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in plant N nutrition is still uncertain, as are the C/N interactions within the symbiosis. Published reports provide differing, and often contradictory, results that are difficult to combine in a coherent framework. This review explores questions such as: What makes the difference between a positive and a negative effect of AM on plant N nutrition? Is the mycorrhizal N response (MNR) correlated to the mycorrhizal growth response (MGR), and how or under which conditions? Is the MNR effect on plant growth C mediated? Is plant C investment on fungal growth related to N needs or N benefit? How is the N for C trade between symbionts regulated? The patternless nature of current knowledge is made evident, and possible reasons for this are discussed.}, } @article {pmid25680927, year = {2015}, author = {Gertsman, I and Gangoiti, JA and Nyhan, WL and Barshop, BA}, title = {Perturbations of tyrosine metabolism promote the indolepyruvate pathway via tryptophan in host and microbiome.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and metabolism}, volume = {114}, number = {3}, pages = {431-437}, doi = {10.1016/j.ymgme.2015.01.005}, pmid = {25680927}, issn = {1096-7206}, mesh = {Aldehydes/metabolism ; Alkaptonuria/blood/drug therapy/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclohexanones/*therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Indoles/blood/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics ; Nitrobenzoates/*therapeutic use ; Phenylpyruvic Acids/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tryptophan/*metabolism ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; Tyrosinemias/blood/drug therapy/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The drug nitisinone (NTBC) is used to treat tyrosinemia type I, and more recently has been also used for the treatment of another disorder of tyrosine metabolism, alkaptonuria. While studying the dose effects of NTBC treatment on alkaptonuria, untargeted metabolomics revealed perturbations in a completely separate pathway, that of tryptophan metabolism. Significant elevations in several indolic compounds associated with the indolepyruvate pathway of tryptophan metabolism were present in NTBC-treated patient sera and correlated with elevations of an intermediate of tyrosine metabolism. Indolic compounds of this pathway have long been associated with commensal bacterial and plant metabolism. These exogenous sources of indoles have been more recently implicated in affecting mammalian cell function and disease. We studied the correlation of these indolic compounds in other disorders of tyrosine metabolism including tyrosinemia types I and II as well as transient tyrosinemia, and demonstrated that 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (4-HPP) was directly responsible for the promotion of this pathway. We then investigated the regulation of the indolepyruvate pathway and the role of 4-HPP further in both mammalian cells and intestinal microbial cultures. We demonstrated that several of the indolic products, including indolepyruvate and indolelactate, were in fact generated by human cell metabolism, while the downstream indole metabolite, indolecarboxaldehyde, was produced exclusively by microbial cultures of human gut flora. This study describes a symbiotic perturbation in host and microbiome tryptophan metabolism in response to elevations related to defects of tyrosine metabolism and concomitant drug treatment.}, } @article {pmid25680230, year = {2015}, author = {Schulz, F and Horn, M}, title = {Intranuclear bacteria: inside the cellular control center of eukaryotes.}, journal = {Trends in cell biology}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {339-346}, doi = {10.1016/j.tcb.2015.01.002}, pmid = {25680230}, issn = {1879-3088}, support = {281633/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Cell Nucleus/*microbiology ; Cytoplasm/*microbiology ; Eukaryota/*isolation & purification ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Vacuoles/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Intracellular bacteria including major pathogens live in the cytoplasm or in cytoplasmic vacuoles within their host cell. However, some can invade more unusual intracellular niches such as the eukaryotic nucleus. Phylogenetically diverse intranuclear bacteria have been discovered in various protist, arthropod, marine invertebrate, and mammalian hosts. Although targeting the same cellular compartment, they have apparently developed fundamentally-different infection strategies. The nucleus provides a rich pool of nutrients and protection against host cytoplasmic defense mechanisms; intranuclear bacteria can directly manipulate the host by interfering with nuclear processes. The impact on their host cells ranges from stable associations with a neutral or beneficial effect on host fitness to rapid host lysis. The analysis of the intranuclear lifestyle will extend our current framework for understanding host-pathogen interactions.}, } @article {pmid25679684, year = {2015}, author = {Campbell, R and Oppo, GL and Borkowski, M}, title = {Interactions and collisions of discrete breathers in two-species Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices.}, journal = {Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {91}, number = {1}, pages = {012909}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.91.012909}, pmid = {25679684}, issn = {1550-2376}, abstract = {The dynamics of static and traveling breathers in two-species Bose-Einstein condensates in a one-dimensional optical lattice is modelled within the tight-binding approximation. Two coupled discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations describe the interaction of the condensates in two cases of relevance: a mixture of two ytterbium isotopes and a mixture of (87)Rb and (41)K. Depending on their initial separation, interaction between static breathers of different species can lead to the formation of symbiotic structures and transform one of the breathers from a static into a traveling one. Collisions between traveling and static discrete breathers composed of different species are separated into four distinct regimes ranging from totally elastic when the interspecies interaction is highly attractive to mutual destruction when the interaction is sufficiently large and repulsive. We provide an explanation of the collision features in terms of the interspecies coupling and the negative effective mass of the discrete breathers.}, } @article {pmid25678260, year = {2015}, author = {Steinert, G and Taylor, MW and Schupp, PJ}, title = {Diversity of Actinobacteria Associated with the Marine Ascidian Eudistoma toealensis.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, pages = {377-385}, pmid = {25678260}, issn = {1436-2236}, support = {S06-GM-44796/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Micronesia ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Staurosporine/biosynthesis ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ascidians have yielded a wide variety of bioactive natural products. The colonial ascidian Eudistoma toealensis from Micronesia has been identified as the source of a series of staurosporine derivatives, though the exact origin of these derivatives is still unknown. To identify known staurosporine-producing microbes associated with E. toealensis, we analyzed with 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing the overall bacterial community and focused on potential symbiotic bacteria already known from other ascidians or other marine hosts, such as sponges. The described microbiota was one of very high diversity, comprising 43 phyla: two from archaea, 34 described bacterial phyla, and seven candidate bacterial phyla. Many bacteria, which are renowned community members of other ascidians and marine holobionts, such as sponges and corals, were also part of the E. toealensis microbial community. Furthermore, two known producers of indolocarbazoles, Salinispora and Verrucosispora, were found with high abundance exclusively in the ascidian tissue, suggesting that microbial symbionts and not the organism itself may be the true producers of the staurosporines in E. toealensis.}, } @article {pmid25677805, year = {2015}, author = {Rzotkiewicz, S and Gutiérrez, R and Krasnov, BR and Morick, D and Khokhlova, IS and Nachum-Biala, Y and Baneth, G and Harrus, S}, title = {Novel evidence suggests that a 'Rickettsia felis-like' organism is an endosymbiont of the desert flea, Xenopsylla ramesis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {1364-1373}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13106}, pmid = {25677805}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {KP050777-81//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Israel ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsia felis/*genetics ; Rodentia/parasitology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Xenopsylla/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fleas are acknowledged vectors and reservoirs of various bacteria that present a wide range of pathogenicity. In this study, fleas collected from wild rodents from the Negev desert in southern Israel were tested for RickettsiaDNA by targeting the 16S rRNA (rrs) gene. Thirty-eight Xenopsylla ramesis, 91 Synosternus cleopatrae and 15 Leptopsylla flea pools (a total of 568 fleas) were screened. RickettsiaDNA was detected in 100% of the X. ramesis and in one S. cleopatrae flea pools. None of L. algira flea pools was found positive. All positive flea pools were further characterized by sequencing of five additional genetic loci (gltA, ompB, ompA, htrA and fusA). The molecular identification of the positive samples showed all sequences to be closely related to the 'Rickettsia felis-like' organisms (99-100% similarities in the six loci). To further investigate the association between 'R. felis-like' and X. ramesis fleas, ten additional single X. ramesis adult fleas collected from the wild and five laboratory-maintained X. ramesis imago, five larva pools (2-18 larvae per pool) and two egg pools (18 eggs per pool) were tested for the presence of 'R. felis-like' DNA. All samples were found positive by a specific ompAPCR assay, confirming the close association of this Rickettsia species with X. ramesis in all its life stages. These results suggest a symbiotic association between 'Rickettsia felis-like' and X. ramesis fleas.}, } @article {pmid25675256, year = {2015}, author = {Vinardell, JM and Acosta-Jurado, S and Zehner, S and Göttfert, M and Becker, A and Baena, I and Blom, J and Crespo-Rivas, JC and Goesmann, A and Jaenicke, S and Krol, E and McIntosh, M and Margaret, I and Pérez-Montaño, F and Schneiker-Bekel, S and Serranía, J and Szczepanowski, R and Buendía, AM and Lloret, J and Bonilla, I and Pühler, A and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Weidner, S}, title = {The Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Genome: A Comparative Analysis With S. fredii Strains Differing in Their Symbiotic Behavior With Soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {811-824}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-14-0397-FI}, pmid = {25675256}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics ; Quorum Sensing ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 is a fast-growing rhizobial strain infecting a broad range of legumes including both American and Asiatic soybeans. In this work, we present the sequencing and annotation of the HH103 genome (7.25 Mb), consisting of one chromosome and six plasmids and representing the structurally most complex sinorhizobial genome sequenced so far. Comparative genomic analyses of S. fredii HH103 with strains USDA257 and NGR234 showed that the core genome of these three strains contains 4,212 genes (61.7% of the HH103 genes). Synteny plot analysis revealed that the much larger chromosome of USDA257 (6.48 Mb) is colinear to the HH103 (4.3 Mb) and NGR324 chromosomes (3.9 Mb). An additional region of the USDA257 chromosome of about 2 Mb displays similarity to plasmid pSfHH103e. Remarkable differences exist between HH103 and NGR234 concerning nod genes, flavonoid effect on surface polysaccharide production, and quorum-sensing systems. Furthermore a number of protein secretion systems have been found. Two genes coding for putative type III-secreted effectors not previously described in S. fredii, nopI and gunA, have been located on the HH103 genome. These differences could be important to understand the different symbiotic behavior of S. fredii strains HH103, USDA257, and NGR234 with soybean.}, } @article {pmid25672506, year = {2015}, author = {Getgood, A and Gelber, J and Gortz, S and De Young, A and Bugbee, W}, title = {Combined osteochondral allograft and meniscal allograft transplantation: a survivorship analysis.}, journal = {Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {946-953}, pmid = {25672506}, issn = {1433-7347}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allografts ; Bone Transplantation/*methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Knee Injuries/*surgery ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial/*transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) and osteochondral allografting (OCA) as individual treatment modalities for select applications is well established. MAT and OCA are considered symbiotic procedures due to a complementary spectrum of indications and reciprocal contraindications. However, few outcomes of concomitant MAT and OCA have been reported. This study is a retrospective review of patients who received simultaneous MAT and OCA between 1983 and 2011.

METHODS: Forty-eight (twenty-nine male: nineteen female) patients with a median age of 35.8 years (15-66) received combined MAT and OCA procedures between 1983 and 2011. Forty-three patients had received previous surgery with a median of 3 procedures (1-11 procedures). The underlying diagnosis was trauma (tibial plateau fracture) in 33 % with osteoarthritis predominating in 54.2 % of cases. Thirty-one patients received a lateral meniscus, 16 received a medial meniscus and one patient received bilateral MAT. The median number of OCAs was two per patient (1-5 grafts), with a median graft area of 15 cm(2) (0.7-41 cm(2)). There were 21 unipolar, 24 bipolar (tibiofemoral) and three multifocal lesions. Thirty-six MATs constituted a compound tibial plateau OCA with native meniscus attached. At follow-up, failure was defined as any procedure resulting in removal or revision of one or more of the grafts. Patients completed the modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel (18-point) scale, Knee Society Function (KS-F) score, and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores. Patient satisfaction was also captured.

RESULTS: Twenty-six of 48 patients (54.2 %) required reoperation, but only 11 patients (22.9 %) were noted to have failed (10 MAT and 11 OCA). The mean time to failure was 3.2 years (95 % CI 1.5-4.9 years) and 2.7 years (95 % CI 1.3-4.2 years) for MAT and OCA, respectively. The 5-year survivorship was 78 and 73 % for MAT and OCA respectively, and 69 and 68 % at 10 years. Six of the failures were in the OA cases and one was an OCD lesion where bipolar grafts were utilized. The OCD case underwent a revision OCA and remains intact. The others were converted to knee arthroplasty. One case failed due to early deep infection, ultimately requiring arthrodesis. Of those with grafts still intact, the mean clinical follow-up was 6.8 years (1.7-17.1 years). Statistically significant improvements in all outcome scores were noted between baseline and the latest follow-up. In total, 90 % of those responding would have the surgery again and 78 % were either extremely satisfied or satisfied with the outcome.

CONCLUSION: The overall success rate of concomitant MAT and OCA was comparable with reported results for either procedure in isolation. A trend towards  a worse outcome was observed with bipolar tibiofemoral grafts in the setting of OA. Comparatively better results in less advanced, unipolar disease could suggest a benefit to early intervention that might merit a lower treatment threshold for combined MAT and OCA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.}, } @article {pmid25670779, year = {2015}, author = {Kopp, C and Domart-Coulon, I and Escrig, S and Humbel, BM and Hignette, M and Meibom, A}, title = {Subcellular investigation of photosynthesis-driven carbon assimilation in the symbiotic reef coral Pocillopora damicornis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {25670779}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Reef-building corals form essential, mutualistic endosymbiotic associations with photosynthetic Symbiodinium dinoflagellates, providing their animal host partner with photosynthetically derived nutrients that allow the coral to thrive in oligotrophic waters. However, little is known about the dynamics of these nutritional interactions at the (sub)cellular level. Here, we visualize with submicrometer spatial resolution the carbon and nitrogen fluxes in the intact coral-dinoflagellate association from the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis by combining nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and transmission electron microscopy with pulse-chase isotopic labeling using [(13)C]bicarbonate and [(15)N]nitrate. This allows us to observe that (i) through light-driven photosynthesis, dinoflagellates rapidly assimilate inorganic bicarbonate and nitrate, temporarily storing carbon within lipid droplets and starch granules for remobilization in nighttime, along with carbon and nitrogen incorporation into other subcellular compartments for dinoflagellate growth and maintenance, (ii) carbon-containing photosynthates are translocated to all four coral tissue layers, where they accumulate after only 15 min in coral lipid droplets from the oral gastroderm and within 6 h in glycogen granules from the oral epiderm, and (iii) the translocation of nitrogen-containing photosynthates is delayed by 3 h.

IMPORTANCE: Our results provide detailed in situ subcellular visualization of the fate of photosynthesis-derived carbon and nitrogen in the coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. We directly demonstrate that lipid droplets and glycogen granules in the coral tissue are sinks for translocated carbon photosynthates by dinoflagellates and confirm their key role in the trophic interactions within the coral-dinoflagellate association.}, } @article {pmid25670708, year = {2015}, author = {Vicario, JC and Dardanelli, MS and Giordano, W}, title = {Swimming and swarming motility properties of peanut-nodulating rhizobia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {362}, number = {2}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnu038}, pmid = {25670708}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Movement ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seeds ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Motility allows populations of bacteria to rapidly reach and colonize new microniches or microhabitats. The motility of rhizobia (symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria that nodulate legume roots) is an important factor determining their competitive success. We evaluated the effects of temperature, incubation time, and seed exudates on swimming and swarming motility of five strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. (peanut-nodulating rhizobia). Swimming motility was increased by exudate exposure for all strains except native Pc34. In contrast, swarming motility was increased by exudate exposure for native 15A but unchanged for the other four strains. All five strains displayed the ability to differentiate into swarm cells. Morphological examination by scanning electron microscopy showed that the length of the swarm cells was variable, but generally greater than that of vegetative cells. Our findings suggest the importance of differential motility properties of peanut-nodulating rhizobial strains during agricultural inoculation and early steps of symbiotic interaction with the host.}, } @article {pmid25669915, year = {2015}, author = {Bresciano, JC and Salvador, CA and Paz-Y-Miño, C and Parody-Merino, AM and Bosch, J and Woodhams, DC}, title = {Variation in the Presence of Anti-Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Bacteria of Amphibians Across Life Stages and Elevations in Ecuador.}, journal = {EcoHealth}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {310-319}, pmid = {25669915}, issn = {1612-9210}, mesh = {Animal Diseases ; Animals ; Anura/microbiology ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology/*veterinary ; Chytridiomycota ; *Ecosystem ; Ecuador/epidemiology ; Mycoses/*microbiology/*veterinary ; Topography, Medical ; }, abstract = {Amphibian populations are decreasing worldwide due to a variety of factors. In South America, the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is linked to many population declines. The pathogenic effect of Bd on amphibians can be inhibited by specific bacteria present on host skin. This symbiotic association allows some amphibians to resist the development of the disease chytridiomycosis. Here, we aimed (1) to determine for the first time if specific anti-Bd bacteria are present on amphibians in the Andes of Ecuador, (2) to monitor anti-Bd bacteria across developmental stages in a focal amphibian, the Andean marsupial tree frog, Gastrotheca riobambae, that deposits larvae in aquatic habitats, and (3) to compare the Bd presence associated with host assemblages including 10 species at sites ranging in biogeography from Amazonian rainforest (450 masl) to Andes montane rainforest (3200 masl). We sampled and identified skin-associated bacteria of frogs in the field using swabs and a novel methodology of aerobic counting plates, and a combination of morphological, biochemical, and molecular identification techniques. The following anti-Bd bacteria were identified and found to be shared among several hosts at high-elevation sites where Bd was present at a prevalence of 32.5%: Janthinobacterium lividum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Serratia sp. Bd were detected in Gastrotheca spp. and not detected in the lowlands (sites below 1000 masl). In G. riobambae, recognized Bd-resistant bacteria start to be present at the metamorphic stage. Overall bacterial abundance was significantly higher post-metamorphosis and on species sampled at lower elevations. Further metagenomic studies are needed to evaluate the roles of host identity, life-history stage, and biogeography of the microbiota and their function in disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid25668183, year = {2015}, author = {Gerardo, NM}, title = {Harnessing evolution to elucidate the consequences of symbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e1002066}, pmid = {25668183}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/immunology/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/genetics/growth & development/*pathogenicity ; Drosophila melanogaster/immunology/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/growth & development/*pathogenicity ; Gene Dosage ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Longevity ; Phenotype ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Virulence ; Wolbachia/genetics/growth & development/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Many organisms harbor microbial associates that have profound impacts on host traits. The phenotypic effect of symbionts on their hosts may include changes in development, reproduction, longevity, and defense against natural enemies. Determining the consequences of associating with a microbial symbiont requires experimental comparison of hosts with and without symbionts. Then, determining the mechanism by which symbionts alter these phenotypes can involve genomic, genetic, and evolutionary approaches; however, many host-associated symbionts are not amenable to genetic approaches that require cultivation of the microbe outside the host. In the current issue of PLOS Biology, Chrostek and Teixeira highlight an elegant approach to studying functional mechanisms of symbiont-conferred traits. They used directed experimental evolution to select for strains of Wolbachia wMelPop (a bacterial symbiont of fruit flies) that differed in copy number of a region of the genome suspected to underlie virulence. Copy number evolved rapidly when under selection, and wMelPop strains with more copies of the region shortened the lives of their Drosophila hosts more than symbionts with fewer copies. Interestingly, the wMelPop strains with more copies also increase host resistance to viruses compared to symbionts with fewer copies. Their study highlights the power of exploiting alternative approaches when elucidating the functional impacts of symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid25667316, year = {2015}, author = {Watson, BS and Bedair, MF and Urbanczyk-Wochniak, E and Huhman, DV and Yang, DS and Allen, SN and Li, W and Tang, Y and Sumner, LW}, title = {Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal enhanced specialized metabolism in Medicago truncatula root border cells.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {1699-1716}, pmid = {25667316}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Ascomycota/physiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Metabolomics ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Diseases/*immunology/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics of Medicago truncatula seedling border cells and root tips revealed substantial metabolic differences between these distinct and spatially segregated root regions. Large differential increases in oxylipin-pathway lipoxygenases and auxin-responsive transcript levels in border cells corresponded to differences in phytohormone and volatile levels compared with adjacent root tips. Morphological examinations of border cells revealed the presence of significant starch deposits that serve as critical energy and carbon reserves, as documented through increased β-amylase transcript levels and associated starch hydrolysis metabolites. A substantial proportion of primary metabolism transcripts were decreased in border cells, while many flavonoid- and triterpenoid-related metabolite and transcript levels were increased dramatically. The cumulative data provide compounding evidence that primary and secondary metabolism are differentially programmed in border cells relative to root tips. Metabolic resources normally destined for growth and development are redirected toward elevated accumulation of specialized metabolites in border cells, resulting in constitutively elevated defense and signaling compounds needed to protect the delicate root cap and signal motile rhizobia required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Elevated levels of 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone were further increased in border cells of roots exposed to cotton root rot (Phymatotrichopsis omnivora), and the value of 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone as an antimicrobial compound was demonstrated using in vitro growth inhibition assays. The cumulative and pathway-specific data provide key insights into the metabolic programming of border cells that strongly implicate a more prominent mechanistic role for border cells in plant-microbe signaling, defense, and interactions than envisioned previously.}, } @article {pmid25666263, year = {2015}, author = {Muilu-Mäkelä, R and Vuosku, J and Läärä, E and Saarinen, M and Heiskanen, J and Häggman, H and Sarjala, T}, title = {Water availability influences morphology, mycorrhizal associations, PSII efficiency and polyamine metabolism at early growth phase of Scots pine seedlings.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {88}, number = {}, pages = {70-81}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.01.009}, pmid = {25666263}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biomass ; *Droughts ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Plant ; *Mycorrhizae ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Pinus sylvestris/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/physiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Putrescine/metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Soil ; Spermine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is adapted to various soil types with diverse water availabilities. However, Scots pine seedlings are vulnerable to abiotic stress during the early growth, when they may be exposed to both dry and wet conditions. Here, we focused on the above and below ground coping strategies of Scots pine seedlings under controlled wet, optimal and dry soil conditions by investigating morphological traits including seedling biomass, number of root tips, proportion of mycorrhizal root tips and brown needles. In addition, we studied metabolic and physiological responses including gene expression involved in biosynthesis and catabolism of polyamines (PA), PSII efficiency and the expression of the catalase (CAT) late-embryogenesis abundant protein (LEA), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) and glutathione synthetase (GS) genes. We found that seedlings invested in shoots by maintaining stable shoot water content and high PSII efficiency under drought stress. Free and soluble conjugated putrescine (Put) accumulated in needles under drought stress, suggesting the role of Put in protection of photosynthesizing tissues. However, the expression of the PA biosynthesis genes, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), spermidine synthase (SPDS) and thermospermine synthase (ACL5) was not affected under drought stress whereas catabolizing genes diamino oxidase (DAO) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) were down-regulated in shoots. The morphology of the roots was affected by peat water content. Furthermore, both drought stress and water excess restricted the seedling ability to sustain a symbiotic relationship. The consistent pattern of endogenous PAs seems to be advantageous to the Scots pine seedlings also under stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid25666178, year = {2015}, author = {Anju, KM and Archana, MM and Mohandas, C and Nambisan, B}, title = {Purification and identification of an antibacterial protein from the symbiotic bacteria associated with novel entomopathogenic nematode, Rhabditis (Oscheius) sp.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {4}, pages = {621-632}, pmid = {25666178}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacillus cereus/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacillus subtilis/drug effects ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) belonging to the families steinernematidae and heterorhabditidae and their symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are well-known as biological control agents and are found to produce a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites. Studies carried out at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) on entomopathogenic nematodes resulted in the identification of novel EPN belonging to the family Rhabditidae. This study reports the purification of a high molecular weight antibacterial protein from culture filtrates of a bacterium (Bacillus cereus) symbiotically associated with a novel entomopathogenic nematode Rhabditis (Oscheius) species, maintained at CTCRI laboratory. Fermentation conditions were standardized and optimum antibacterial activity was observed in tryptic soy broth after 48 h incubation at 30 °C. The aqueous extracts yielded antibacterial proteins which were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. Native gel electrophoresis indicated an active protein of molecular mass 220KDa which resolved into a major band of 90 kDa and a minor band of about 40 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The 90 kDa protein showed antibacterial activity and was further analysed by MALDI TOF-MS/MS. The protein was identified as a TQXA (Threonine-glutamine dipeptide) domain containing protein from Bacillus cereus. The protein was found to be active against Bacillus subtilis MTCC2756, Staphylococus aureus MTCC902 and Escherichia coli MTCC 2622 and was thermally stable.}, } @article {pmid25666066, year = {2015}, author = {Chellan, P and Sadler, PJ}, title = {The elements of life and medicines.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {373}, number = {2037}, pages = {}, pmid = {25666066}, issn = {1471-2962}, abstract = {Which elements are essential for human life? Here we make an element-by-element journey through the periodic table and attempt to assess whether elements are essential or not, and if they are, whether there is a relevant code for them in the human genome. There are many difficulties such as the human biochemistry of several so-called essential elements is not well understood, and it is not clear how we should classify elements that are involved in the destruction of invading microorganisms, or elements which are essential for microorganisms with which we live in symbiosis. In general, genes do not code for the elements themselves, but for specific chemical species, i.e. for the element, its oxidation state, type and number of coordinated ligands, and the coordination geometry. Today, the biological periodic table is in a position somewhat similar to Mendeleev's chemical periodic table of 1869: there are gaps and we need to do more research to fill them. The periodic table also offers potential for novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents, based on not only essential elements, but also non-essential elements, and on radionuclides. Although the potential for inorganic chemistry in medicine was realized more than 2000 years ago, this area of research is still in its infancy. Future advances in the design of inorganic drugs require more knowledge of their mechanism of action, including target sites and metabolism. Temporal speciation of elements in their biological environments at the atomic level is a major challenge, for which new methods are urgently needed.}, } @article {pmid25664570, year = {2015}, author = {Xiang, T and Nelson, W and Rodriguez, J and Tolleter, D and Grossman, AR}, title = {Symbiodinium transcriptome and global responses of cells to immediate changes in light intensity when grown under autotrophic or mixotrophic conditions.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {67-80}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12789}, pmid = {25664570}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology/radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/*radiation effects ; Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Spliced Leader/genetics ; Sea Anemones ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between unicellular dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) and their cnidarian hosts (e.g. corals, sea anemones) is the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Dysfunction of this symbiosis under changing environmental conditions has led to global reef decline. Little information is known about Symbiodinium gene expression and mechanisms by which light impacts host-symbiont associations. To address these issues, we generated a transcriptome from axenic Symbiodinium strain SSB01. Here we report features of the transcriptome, including occurrence and length distribution of spliced leader sequences, the functional landscape of encoded proteins and the impact of light on gene expression. Expression of many Symbiodinium genes appears to be significantly impacted by light. Transcript encoding cryptochrome 2 declined in high light while some transcripts for Regulators of Chromatin Condensation (RCC1) declined in the dark. We also identified a transcript encoding a light harvesting AcpPC protein with homology to Chlamydomonas LHCSR2. The level of this transcript increased in high light autotrophic conditions, suggesting that it is involved in photo-protection and the dissipation of excess absorbed light energy. The most extensive changes in transcript abundances occurred when the algae were transferred from low light to darkness. Interestingly, transcripts encoding several cell adhesion proteins rapidly declined following movement of cultures to the dark, which correlated with a dramatic change in cell surface morphology, likely reflecting the complexity of the extracellular matrix. Thus, light-sensitive cell adhesion proteins may play a role in establishing surface architecture, which may in turn alter interactions between the endosymbiont and its host.}, } @article {pmid25662308, year = {2015}, author = {Stewart, GA}, title = {Studies of house dust mites can now fully embrace the "-omics" era.}, journal = {The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology}, volume = {135}, number = {2}, pages = {549-550}, doi = {10.1016/j.jaci.2014.12.934}, pmid = {25662308}, issn = {1097-6825}, mesh = {Allergens/*genetics ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides/*genetics ; Dermatophagoides farinae/*genetics/*immunology ; Female ; *Genome ; *Transcriptome ; }, } @article {pmid25661839, year = {2015}, author = {Schlüter, JP and Czuppon, P and Schauer, O and Pfaffelhuber, P and McIntosh, M and Becker, A}, title = {Classification of phenotypic subpopulations in isogenic bacterial cultures by triple promoter probing at single cell level.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {3-14}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.01.021}, pmid = {25661839}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Galactans/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Reporter/genetics ; Glucans/genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/*genetics ; Quorum Sensing/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Phenotypic heterogeneity, defined as the unequal behavior of individuals in an isogenic population, is prevalent in microorganisms. It has a significant impact both on industrial bioprocesses and microbial ecology. We introduce a new versatile reporter system designed for simultaneous monitoring of the activities of three different promoters, where each promoter is fused to a dedicated fluorescent reporter gene (cerulean, mCherry, and mVenus). The compact 3.1 kb triple reporter cassette can either be carried on a replicating plasmid or integrated into the genome avoiding artifacts associated with variation in copy number of plasmid-borne reporter constructs. This construct was applied to monitor promoter activities related to quorum sensing (sinI promoter) and biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide galactoglucan (wgeA promoter) at single cell level in colonies of the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti growing in a microfluidics system. The T5-promoter served as a constitutive and homogeneously active control promoter indicating cell viability. wgeA promoter activity was heterogeneous over the whole period of colony development, whereas sinI promoter activity passed through a phase of heterogeneity before becoming homogeneous at late stages. Although quorum sensing-dependent regulation is a major factor activating galactoglucan production, activities of both promoters did not correlate at single cell level. We developed a novel mathematical strategy for classification of the gene expression status in cell populations based on the increase in fluorescence over time in each individual. With respect to galactoglucan biosynthesis, cells in the population were classified into non-contributors, weak contributors, and strong contributors.}, } @article {pmid25661201, year = {2015}, author = {Bruning, B and van Logtestijn, R and Broekman, R and de Vos, A and González, AP and Rozema, J}, title = {Growth and nitrogen fixation of legumes at increased salinity under field conditions: implications for the use of green manures in saline environments.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {25661201}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {The use of legumes as green manure can potentially increase crop productivity in saline environments and thus contribute to the sustainability of agricultural systems. Here, we present results from a field experiment conducted in the Netherlands that addressed the efficiency of nitrogen (N) fixation by a legume at varying salinities. We grew Melilotus officinalis in an agricultural field using drip irrigation with water salinity varying in electrical conductivity between 1.7 and 20 dS m(-1). In the experiment, nearly 100 % of total plant N in M. officinalis was derived from symbiotic fixation at all but the highest salinity level (20 dS m(-1)). Our results indicated that this species derived substantial amounts of N via symbiotic fixation, the N becoming available in the soil (and thus available to crops) when cultivated legumes senesce and decompose. Based on the growth performance of M. officinalis and its ability to fix N at moderate soil salinity in our field experiments, we identified this species as a promising source for green manure in saline agriculture in temperate regions.}, } @article {pmid25659749, year = {2015}, author = {Quain, MD and Makgopa, ME and Cooper, JW and Kunert, KJ and Foyer, CH}, title = {Ectopic phytocystatin expression increases nodule numbers and influences the responses of soybean (Glycine max) to nitrogen deficiency.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {112}, number = {}, pages = {179-187}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.12.027}, pmid = {25659749}, issn = {1873-3700}, support = {BB/K010476/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K501839/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cystatins/*genetics ; *Ectopic Gene Expression ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Nitrogen/*deficiency ; Oryza/genetics ; Papain/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*growth & development ; Soybeans/drug effects/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Transgenes/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cysteine proteases and cystatins have many functions that remain poorly characterised, particularly in crop plants. We therefore investigated the responses of these proteins to nitrogen deficiency in wild-type soybeans and in two independent transgenic soybean lines (OCI-1 and OCI-2) that express the rice cystatin, oryzacystatin-I (OCI). Plants were grown for four weeks under either a high (5 mM) nitrate (HN) regime or in the absence of added nitrate (LN) in the absence or presence of symbiotic rhizobial bacteria. Under the LN regime all lines showed similar classic symptoms of nitrogen deficiency including lower shoot biomass and leaf chlorophyll. However, the LN-induced decreases in leaf protein and increases in root protein tended to be smaller in the OCI-1 and OCI-2 lines than in the wild type. When LN-plants were grown with rhizobia, OCI-1 and OCI-2 roots had significantly more crown nodules than wild-type plants. The growth nitrogen regime had a significant effect on the abundance of transcripts encoding vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs), LN-dependent increases in VPE2 and VPE3 transcripts in all lines. However, the LN-dependent increases of VPE2 and VPE3 transcripts were significantly lower in the leaves of OCI-1 and OCI-2 plants than in the wild type. These results show that nitrogen availability regulates the leaf and root cysteine protease, VPE and cystatin transcript profiles in a manner that is in some cases influenced by ectopic OCI expression. Moreover, the OCI-dependent inhibition of papain-like cysteine proteases favours increased nodulation and enhanced tolerance to nitrogen limitation, as shown by the smaller LN-dependent decreases in leaf protein observed in the OCI-1 and OCI-2 plants relative to the wild type.}, } @article {pmid25659382, year = {2015}, author = {Fournier, J and Teillet, A and Chabaud, M and Ivanov, S and Genre, A and Limpens, E and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Barker, DG}, title = {Remodeling of the infection chamber before infection thread formation reveals a two-step mechanism for rhizobial entry into the host legume root hair.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {1233-1242}, pmid = {25659382}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biomarkers ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In many legumes, root entry of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia occurs via host-constructed tubular tip-growing structures known as infection threads (ITs). Here, we have used a confocal microscopy live-tissue imaging approach to investigate early stages of IT formation in Medicago truncatula root hairs (RHs) expressing fluorescent protein fusion reporters. This has revealed that ITs only initiate 10 to 20 h after the completion of RH curling, by which time major modifications have occurred within the so-called infection chamber, the site of bacterial entrapment. These include the accumulation of exocytosis (M. truncatula Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein721e)- and cell wall (M. truncatula EARLY NODULIN11)-associated markers, concomitant with radial expansion of the chamber. Significantly, the infection-defective M. truncatula nodule inception-1 mutant is unable to create a functional infection chamber. This underlines the importance of the NIN-dependent phase of host cell wall remodeling that accompanies bacterial proliferation and precedes IT formation, and leads us to propose a two-step model for rhizobial infection initiation in legume RHs.}, } @article {pmid25659048, year = {2015}, author = {Suárez, JE}, title = {[Autochthonous microbiota, probiotics and prebiotics].}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {31 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {3-9}, doi = {10.3305/nh.2015.31.sup1.8701}, pmid = {25659048}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Mucous Membrane/microbiology ; *Prebiotics ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The autochthonous microbiota is the community of microorganisms that colonizes the skin and mucosal surfaces. The symbiosis is, generally, mutualistic but it can become parasitic due to immune response alterations. The skin microbiota includes bacteria (95%), lipophilic fungi and mites. In the digestive apparatus, each cavity presents its own microbiota, which reaches its target organ during the perinatal period, originating complex and stable communities (homeostasis). The vaginal microbiota varies with the endocrine activity, significantly increasing during the fertile and pregnancy periods, when lactobacilli are the most abundant organisms. Four are the main benefits of the autochthonous microbiota: i) delivery of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and some amino acids; ii) utilization of undigestible diet components, the colonic microbiota degrades complex glycans and fulfils almost 20% of the calories present in a normal diet; iii) development of the immune system: the continuous contact with the immune system maintains it alert and in good shape to repel pathogens efficaciously and iv) microbial antagonism, hinders colonization of our mucosal surfaces by alochthonous, potentially pathogenic, organisms. This works through three mechanisms: colonization interference, production of antimicrobials and co-aggregation with the potential pathogens. The microbiota can, sporadically, produce damages: opportunistic endogenous infections and generation of carcinogenic compounds. Probiotics are "live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the consumer". Prebiotics are undigestible glycans that enhance the growth or activity of the intestinal microbiota, thus generating a health benefit. Synbiotics are mixes of probiotics and prebiotics that exert a synergistic health effect.}, } @article {pmid25658054, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, L and Feng, Y and Tian, J and Xiang, M and Sun, J and Ding, J and Yin, WB and Stadler, M and Che, Y and Liu, X}, title = {Farming of a defensive fungal mutualist by an attelabid weevil.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {1793-1801}, pmid = {25658054}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/drug effects/growth & development ; Female ; Fungi/drug effects/*growth & development/physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {The mutualism between fungus-growing animals and fungi is a classic example of a complex interspecies association. A handful of insects, notably the well-recognized fungus-farming ants, termites and beetles, have developed advanced agriculture, which includes seeding new gardens with crop propagules, improving growth conditions and protecting and harvesting the fungal crop. More examples, which could be called 'proto-fungiculture', involve fewer adaptations, as exemplified by marine snails that farm intertidal fungi on marsh grass. Recent work has indicated that the solitary leaf-rolling weevil Euops chinensis (family Attelabidae) has a protofarming symbiosis with the mycangial fungus Penicillium herquei (family Trichocomaceae). In this study, we investigated how the weevils create cradles (leaf-rolls) for their offspring and protect the fungal garden. We describe new specialized structures and behaviors that E. chinensis females use for leaf-rolling and fungus inoculation. The fungus P. herquei produces the antibiotic (+)-scleroderolide in laboratory culture and in leaf-rolls, which can serve to inhibit microbial 'weeds' and pests, thus protecting the fungal garden against potential infection. The fungiculture of E. chinensis differs from other advanced insect fungiculture systems because female weevils do not continuously tend the inoculated microbe and do not depend nutritionally on the fungus. The defensive role of the cultivated fungus makes the attelabid weevils exceptional in 'proto-fungiculture' animals.}, } @article {pmid25655016, year = {2015}, author = {Vandenkoornhuyse, P and Quaiser, A and Duhamel, M and Le Van, A and Dufresne, A}, title = {The importance of the microbiome of the plant holobiont.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {206}, number = {4}, pages = {1196-1206}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13312}, pmid = {25655016}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Microbiota ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plants can no longer be considered as standalone entities and a more holistic perception is needed. Indeed, plants harbor a wide diversity of microorganisms both inside and outside their tissues, in the endosphere and ectosphere, respectively. These microorganisms, which mostly belong to Bacteria and Fungi, are involved in major functions such as plant nutrition and plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Hence, the microbiota impact plant growth and survival, two key components of fitness. Plant fitness is therefore a consequence of the plant per se and its microbiota, which collectively form a holobiont. Complementary to the reductionist perception of evolutionary pressures acting on plant or symbiotic compartments, the plant holobiont concept requires a novel perception of evolution. The interlinkages between the plant holobiont components are explored here in the light of current ecological and evolutionary theories. Microbiome complexity and the rules of microbiotic community assemblage are not yet fully understood. It is suggested that the plant can modulate its microbiota to dynamically adjust to its environment. To better understand the level of plant dependence on the microbiotic components, the core microbiota need to be determined at different hierarchical scales of ecology while pan-microbiome analyses would improve characterization of the functions displayed.}, } @article {pmid25653910, year = {2015}, author = {Jernigan, KK and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Tandem-repeat protein domains across the tree of life.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e732}, pmid = {25653910}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {F32 GM100778/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD007043/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Tandem-repeat protein domains, composed of repeated units of conserved stretches of 20-40 amino acids, are required for a wide array of biological functions. Despite their diverse and fundamental functions, there has been no comprehensive assessment of their taxonomic distribution, incidence, and associations with organismal lifestyle and phylogeny. In this study, we assess for the first time the abundance of armadillo (ARM) and tetratricopeptide (TPR) repeat domains across all three domains in the tree of life and compare the results to our previous analysis on ankyrin (ANK) repeat domains in this journal. All eukaryotes and a majority of the bacterial and archaeal genomes analyzed have a minimum of one TPR and ARM repeat. In eukaryotes, the fraction of ARM-containing proteins is approximately double that of TPR and ANK-containing proteins, whereas bacteria and archaea are enriched in TPR-containing proteins relative to ARM- and ANK-containing proteins. We show in bacteria that phylogenetic history, rather than lifestyle or pathogenicity, is a predictor of TPR repeat domain abundance, while neither phylogenetic history nor lifestyle predicts ARM repeat domain abundance. Surprisingly, pathogenic bacteria were not enriched in TPR-containing proteins, which have been associated within virulence factors in certain species. Taken together, this comparative analysis provides a newly appreciated view of the prevalence and diversity of multiple types of tandem-repeat protein domains across the tree of life. A central finding of this analysis is that tandem repeat domain-containing proteins are prevalent not just in eukaryotes, but also in bacterial and archaeal species.}, } @article {pmid25653837, year = {2014}, author = {Arredondo-Peter, R and Moran, JF and Sarath, G}, title = {Rice (Oryza) hemoglobins.}, journal = {F1000Research}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {253}, pmid = {25653837}, issn = {2046-1402}, abstract = {Hemoglobins (Hbs) corresponding to non-symbiotic (nsHb) and truncated (tHb) Hbs have been identified in rice (Oryza). This review discusses the major findings from the current studies on rice Hbs. At the molecular level, a family of the nshb genes, consisting of hb1, hb2, hb3, hb4 and hb5, and a single copy of the thb gene exist in Oryza sativa var. indica and O. sativa var. japonica, Hb transcripts coexist in rice organs and Hb polypeptides exist in rice embryonic and vegetative organs and in the cytoplasm of differentiating cells. At the structural level, the crystal structure of rice Hb1 has been elucidated, and the structures of the other rice Hbs have been modeled. Kinetic analysis indicated that rice Hb1 and 2, and possibly rice Hb3 and 4, exhibit a very high affinity for O 2, whereas rice Hb5 and tHb possibly exhibit a low to moderate affinity for O 2. Based on the accumulated information on the properties of rice Hbs and data from the analysis of other plant and non-plant Hbs, it is likely that Hbs play a variety of roles in rice organs, including O 2-transport, O 2-sensing, NO-scavenging and redox-signaling. From an evolutionary perspective, an outline for the evolution of rice Hbs is available. Rice nshb and thb genes vertically evolved through different lineages, rice nsHbs evolved into clade I and clade II lineages and rice nshbs and thbs evolved under the effect of neutral selection. This review also reveals lacunae in our ability to completely understand rice Hbs. Primary lacunae are the absence of experimental information about the precise functions of rice Hbs, the properties of modeled rice Hbs and the cis-elements and trans-acting factors that regulate the expression of rice hb genes, and the partial understanding of the evolution of rice Hbs.}, } @article {pmid25649504, year = {2015}, author = {Nakayama, S and Parratt, SR and Hutchence, KJ and Lewis, Z and Price, TA and Hurst, GD}, title = {Can maternally inherited endosymbionts adapt to a novel host? Direct costs of Spiroplasma infection, but not vertical transmission efficiency, evolve rapidly after horizontal transfer into D. melanogaster.}, journal = {Heredity}, volume = {114}, number = {6}, pages = {539-543}, pmid = {25649504}, issn = {1365-2540}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Female ; Genetic Fitness ; Linear Models ; Male ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Maternally inherited symbionts are common in arthropods and many have important roles in host adaptation. The observation that specific symbiont lineages infect distantly related host species implies new interactions are commonly established by lateral transfer events. However, studies have shown that symbionts often perform poorly in novel hosts. We hypothesized selection on the symbiont may be sufficiently rapid that poor performance in a novel host environment is rapidly ameliorated, permitting symbiont maintenance. Here, we test this prediction for a Spiroplasma strain transinfected into the novel host Drosophila melanogaster. In the generations immediately following transinfection, the symbiont had low transmission efficiency to offspring and imposed severe fitness costs on its host. We observed that effects on host fitness evolved rapidly, being undetectable after 17 generations in the novel host, whereas vertical transmission efficiency was poorly responsive over this period. Our results suggest that long-term symbiosis may more readily be established in cases where symbionts perform poorly in just one aspect of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25649218, year = {2015}, author = {Chagas-Moutinho, VA and Silva, R and de Souza, W and Motta, MC}, title = {Identification and ultrastructural characterization of the Wolbachia symbiont in Litomosoides chagasfilhoi.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {74}, pmid = {25649218}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Filarioidea/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phylogeny ; Subcutaneous Tissue/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Filarial nematodes are arthropod-transmitted parasites of vertebrates that affect more than 150 million people around the world and remain a major public health problem throughout tropical and subtropical regions. Despite the importance of these nematodes, the current treatment strategies are not efficient in eliminating the parasite. The main strategy of control is based on chemotherapy with diethylcarbamazine, albendazole and ivermectin. In the 1970s, it was found that some filarids possess endosymbiotic bacteria that are important for the development, survival and infectivity of the nematodes. These bacteria belong to the genus Wolbachia, which is a widespread and abundant intracellular symbiont in worms. Knowledge about the structure of the bacteria and their relationship with their nematode hosts may allow new perspectives for the control of filarial nematodes.

METHODS: In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy combined with three-dimensional approaches to observe the structure of the endosymbiont of the filarial nematode Litomosoides chagasfilhoi, an experimental model for the study of lymphatic filariasis. In addition, the bacterium was classified based on PCR analyses.

RESULTS: The bacterium was mainly found in the hypodermis and in the female reproductive system in close association with host cell structures, such as the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum. Our ultrastructural data also showed that the symbiont envelope is composed of two membrane units and is enclosed in a cytoplasmic vacuole, the symbiosome. Molecular data revealed that the bacterium of L. chagasfilhoi shares 100% identity with the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Litomosoides galizai.

CONCLUSIONS: Here we described ultrastructural aspects of the relationship of the Wolbachia with the filarial nematode Litomosoides chagasfilhoi and the findings lead us to consider this relationship as a mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25648224, year = {2015}, author = {Moscatiello, R and Zaccarin, M and Ercolin, F and Damiani, E and Squartini, A and Roveri, A and Navazio, L}, title = {Identification of ferredoxin II as a major calcium binding protein in the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium Mesorhizobium loti.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {16}, pmid = {25648224}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Chemical Precipitation ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Electrophoresis ; Ferredoxins/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Isoelectric Point ; Mesorhizobium/*enzymology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes establish with rhizobial bacteria a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis which is of the utmost importance for both plant nutrition and a sustainable agriculture. Calcium is known to act as a key intracellular messenger in the perception of symbiotic signals by both the host plant and the microbial partner. Regulation of intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration, which is a fundamental prerequisite for any Ca(2+)-based signalling system, is accomplished by complex mechanisms including Ca(2+) binding proteins acting as Ca(2+) buffers. In this work we investigated the occurrence of Ca(2+) binding proteins in Mesorhizobium loti, the specific symbiotic partner of the model legume Lotus japonicus.

RESULTS: A soluble, low molecular weight protein was found to share several biochemical features with the eukaryotic Ca(2+)-binding proteins calsequestrin and calreticulin, such as Stains-all blue staining on SDS-PAGE, an acidic isoelectric point and a Ca(2+)-dependent shift of electrophoretic mobility. The protein was purified to homogeneity by an ammonium sulfate precipitation procedure followed by anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose and electroendosmotic preparative electrophoresis. The Ca(2+) binding ability of the M. loti protein was demonstrated by (45)Ca(2+)-overlay assays. ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS analyses of the peptides generated after digestion with either trypsin or endoproteinase AspN identified the rhizobial protein as ferredoxin II and confirmed the presence of Ca(2+) adducts.

CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate that ferredoxin II is a major Ca(2+) binding protein in M. loti that may participate in Ca(2+) homeostasis and suggest an evolutionarily ancient origin for protein-based Ca(2+) regulatory systems.}, } @article {pmid25646533, year = {2014}, author = {Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat, N and Condemine, G and Shevchik, VE}, title = {Bacterial pectate lyases, structural and functional diversity.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {6}, number = {5}, pages = {427-440}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12166}, pmid = {25646533}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Bacteria/chemistry/*enzymology/genetics ; Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Polysaccharide-Lyases/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pectate lyases are enzymes involved in plant cell wall degradation. They cleave pectin using a β-elimination mechanism, specific for acidic polysaccharides. They are mainly produced by plant pathogens and plant-associated organisms, and only rarely by animals. Pectate lyases are also commonly produced in the bacterial world, either by bacteria living in close proximity with plants or by gut bacteria that find plant material in the digestive tract of their hosts. The role of pectate lyases is essential for plant pathogens, such as Dickeya dadantii, that use a set of pectate lyases as their main virulence factor. Symbiotic bacteria produce their own pectate lyases, but they also induce plant pectate lyases to initiate the symbiosis. Pectin degradation products may act as signals affecting the plant–bacteria interactions. Bacterial pectate lyases are also essential for using the pectin of dead or living plants as a carbon source for growth. In the animal gut, Bacteroides pectate lyases degrade the pectin of ingested food, and this is particularly important for herbivores that depend on their microflora for the digestion of pectin. Some human pathogens, such as Yersinia enterocolitica, produce a few intracellular pectate lyases that can facilitate their growth in the presence of highly pectinolytic bacteria, at the plant surface, in the soil or in the animal gut.}, } @article {pmid25645736, year = {2015}, author = {Kolora, LD and Powell, CM and Hunter, W and Bextine, B and Lauzon, CR}, title = {Internal extracellular bacteria of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), the Asian citrus psyllid.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {5}, pages = {710-715}, pmid = {25645736}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Biota ; Citrus/parasitology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; North America ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is an invasive insect pest that transmits Candidatus Liberibacter spp. This insect/pathogen system was first identified in North America in the early 2000's and has become the top threat to the citrus industry. Limited options for management of this problem exist; therefore, innovative pest management strategies are being developed. In this study, we describe the first step toward a paratransgenic approach (also referred to symbiotic control) for control of the insect vector or the pathogen. Culturable bacteria from the gut of Asian Citrus Psyllids were identified using standard culture techniques followed by sequencing of the cultured microorganisms. Further, 454 pyrosequencing of the gut was performed to audit bacterial presence in order to begin to identify any relationship between psyllid symbionts and C. Liberibacter spp.}, } @article {pmid25642988, year = {2015}, author = {Daulatzai, MA}, title = {Non-celiac gluten sensitivity triggers gut dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, gut-brain axis dysfunction, and vulnerability for dementia.}, journal = {CNS & neurological disorders drug targets}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {110-131}, doi = {10.2174/1871527314666150202152436}, pmid = {25642988}, issn = {1996-3181}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/physiopathology ; Dementia/*chemically induced/therapy ; Dysbiosis/*etiology/therapy ; Encephalitis/*chemically induced/therapy ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*physiopathology ; Glutens/*adverse effects ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder which is very common world wide. The human gut harbors microbiota which has a wide variety of microbial organisms; they are mainly symbiotic and important for well being. However, "dysbiosis" - i.e. an alteration in normal commensal gut microbiome with an increase in pathogenic microbes, impacts homeostasis/health. Dysbiosis in NCGS causes gut inflammation, diarrhea, constipation, visceral hypersensitivity, abdominal pain, dysfunctional metabolic state, and peripheral immune and neuro-immune communication. Thus, immune-mediated gut and extra-gut dysfunctions, due to gluten sensitivity with comorbid diarrhea, may last for decades. A significant proportion of NCGS patients may chronically consume alcohol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and fatty diet, as well as suffer from various comorbid disorders. The above pathophysiological substrate and dysbiosis are underpinned by dysfunctional bidirectional "Gut-Brain Axis" pathway. Pathogenic gut microbiota is known to upregulate gut- and systemic inflammation (due to lipopolysaccharide from pathogenic bacteria and synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines); they enhance energy harvest, cause obesity, insulin resistance, and dysfunctional vago-vagal gut-brain axis. Conceivably, the above cascade of pathology may promote various pathophysiological mechanisms, neuroinflammation, and cognitive dysfunction. Hence, dysbiosis, gut inflammation, and chronic dyshomeostasis are of great clinical relevance. It is argued here that we need to be aware of NCGS and its chronic pathophysiological impact. Therapeutic measures including probiotics, vagus nerve stimulation, antioxidants, alpha 7 nicotinic receptor agonists, and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 antagonist may ameliorate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in NCGS; they may therefore, prevent cognitive dysfunction and vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease.}, } @article {pmid25642232, year = {2014}, author = {Rípodas, C and Castaingts, M and Clúa, J and Blanco, F and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Annotation, phylogeny and expression analysis of the nuclear factor Y gene families in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {761}, pmid = {25642232}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In the past decade, plant nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) genes have gained major interest due to their roles in many biological processes in plant development or adaptation to environmental conditions, particularly in the root nodule symbiosis established between legume plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria. NF-Ys are heterotrimeric transcriptional complexes composed of three subunits, NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC, which bind with high affinity and specificity to the CCAAT box, a cis element present in many eukaryotic promoters. In plants, NF-Y subunits consist of gene families with about 10 members each. In this study, we have identified and characterized the NF-Y gene families of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a grain legume of worldwide economical importance and the main source of dietary protein of developing countries. Expression analysis showed that some members of each family are up-regulated at early or late stages of the nitrogen fixing symbiotic interaction with its partner Rhizobium etli. We also showed that some genes are differentially accumulated in response to inoculation with high or less efficient R. etli strains, constituting excellent candidates to participate in the strain-specific response during symbiosis. Genes of the NF-YA family exhibit a highly structured intron-exon organization. Moreover, this family is characterized by the presence of upstream ORFs when introns in the 5' UTR are retained and miRNA target sites in their 3' UTR, suggesting that these genes might be subjected to a complex post-transcriptional regulation. Multiple protein alignments indicated the presence of highly conserved domains in each of the NF-Y families, presumably involved in subunit interactions and DNA binding. The analysis presented here constitutes a starting point to understand the regulation and biological function of individual members of the NF-Y families in different developmental processes in this grain legume.}, } @article {pmid25642227, year = {2014}, author = {Tian, RM and Lee, OO and Wang, Y and Cai, L and Bougouffa, S and Chiu, JM and Wu, RS and Qian, PY}, title = {Effect of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) treatment on the composition and function of the bacterial community in the sponge Haliclona cymaeformis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {799}, pmid = {25642227}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Marine sponges play important roles in benthic environments and are sensitive to environmental stresses. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used as flame retardants since the 1970s and are cytotoxic and genotoxic to organisms. In the present study, we studied the short-period effect of PBDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether) treatment on the community structure and functional gene composition of the bacterial community inhabiting the marine sponge Haliclona cymaeformis. Our results showed that the bacterial community shifted from an autotrophic bacteria-dominated community to a heterotrophic bacteria-dominated community in response to PBDE-47 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. A potentially symbiotic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium (SOB) was dominant (>80% in abundance) in the untreated sponge. However, exposure to a high concentration (1 μg/L) of PBDE-47 caused a substantial decrease in the potential symbiont and an enrichment of heterotrophic bacteria like Clostridium. A metagenomic analysis showed a selective effect of the high concentration treatment on the functional gene composition of the enriched heterotrophic bacteria, revealing an enrichment for the functions responsible for DNA repair, multidrug efflux pumping, and bacterial chemotaxis and motility. This study demonstrated that PBDE-47 induced a shift in the composition of the community and functional genes in the sponge-associated bacterial community, revealing the selective effect of PBDE-47 treatment on the functions of the bacterial community in the microenvironment of the sponge.}, } @article {pmid25640854, year = {2015}, author = {Cabeza, RA and Liese, R and Fischinger, SA and Sulieman, S and Avenhaus, U and Lingner, A and Hein, H and Koester, B and Baumgarten, V and Dittert, K and Schulze, J}, title = {Long-term non-invasive and continuous measurements of legume nodule activity.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {81}, number = {4}, pages = {637-648}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12751}, pmid = {25640854}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Circadian Rhythm ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/*analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a process of considerable economic, ecological and scientific interest. The central enzyme nitrogenase reduces H(+) alongside N2 , and the evolving H2 allows a continuous and non-invasive in vivo measurement of nitrogenase activity. The objective of this study was to show that an elaborated set-up providing such measurements for periods as long as several weeks will produce specific insight into the nodule activity's dependence on environmental conditions and genotype features. A system was developed that allows the air-proof separation of a root/nodule and a shoot compartment. H2 evolution in the root/nodule compartment can be monitored continuously. Nutrient solution composition, temperature, CO2 concentration and humidity around the shoots can concomitantly be maintained and manipulated. Medicago truncatula plants showed vigorous growth in the system when relying on nitrogen fixation. The set-up was able to provide specific insights into nitrogen fixation. For example, nodule activity depended on the temperature in their surroundings, but not on temperature or light around shoots. Increased temperature around the nodules was able to induce higher nodule activity in darkness versus light around shoots for a period of as long as 8 h. Conditions that affected the N demand of the shoots (ammonium application, Mg or P depletion, super numeric nodules) induced consistent and complex daily rhythms in nodule activity. It was shown that long-term continuous measurements of nodule activity could be useful for revealing special features in mutants and could be of importance when synchronizing nodule harvests for complex analysis of their metabolic status.}, } @article {pmid25639293, year = {2015}, author = {van der Heijden, MGA and Martin, FM and Selosse, MA and Sanders, IR}, title = {Mycorrhizal ecology and evolution: the past, the present, and the future.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1406-1423}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13288}, pmid = {25639293}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Carbon Cycle ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Almost all land plants form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi. These below-ground fungi play a key role in terrestrial ecosystems as they regulate nutrient and carbon cycles, and influence soil structure and ecosystem multifunctionality. Up to 80% of plant N and P is provided by mycorrhizal fungi and many plant species depend on these symbionts for growth and survival. Estimates suggest that there are c. 50 000 fungal species that form mycorrhizal associations with c. 250 000 plant species. The development of high-throughput molecular tools has helped us to better understand the biology, evolution, and biodiversity of mycorrhizal associations. Nuclear genome assemblies and gene annotations of 33 mycorrhizal fungal species are now available providing fascinating opportunities to deepen our understanding of the mycorrhizal lifestyle, the metabolic capabilities of these plant symbionts, the molecular dialogue between symbionts, and evolutionary adaptations across a range of mycorrhizal associations. Large-scale molecular surveys have provided novel insights into the diversity, spatial and temporal dynamics of mycorrhizal fungal communities. At the ecological level, network theory makes it possible to analyze interactions between plant-fungal partners as complex underground multi-species networks. Our analysis suggests that nestedness, modularity and specificity of mycorrhizal networks vary and depend on mycorrhizal type. Mechanistic models explaining partner choice, resource exchange, and coevolution in mycorrhizal associations have been developed and are being tested. This review ends with major frontiers for further research.}, } @article {pmid25636847, year = {2015}, author = {Hayashi, T and Hosokawa, T and Meng, XY and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Female-specific specialization of a posterior end region of the midgut symbiotic organ in Plautia splendens and allied stinkbugs.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {7}, pages = {2603-2611}, pmid = {25636847}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Heteroptera/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Survival Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Zygote/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many stinkbugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are associated with bacterial symbionts in a posterior region of the midgut. In these stinkbugs, adult females excrete symbiont-containing materials from the anus for transmission of the beneficial symbionts to their offspring. For ensuring the vertical symbiont transmission, a variety of female-specific elaborate traits at the cellular, morphological, developmental, and behavioral levels have been reported from diverse stinkbugs of the families Plataspidae, Urostylididae, Parastrachiidae, etc. Meanwhile, such elaborate female-specific traits for vertical symbiont transmission have been poorly characterized for the largest and economically important stinkbug family Pentatomidae. Here, we investigated the midgut symbiotic system of a pentatomid stinkbug, Plautia splendens. A specific gammaproteobacterial symbiont was consistently present extracellularly in the cavity of numerous crypts arranged in four rows on the midgut fourth section. The symbiont was smeared on the egg surface upon oviposition by adult females, orally acquired by newborn nymphs, and thereby transmitted vertically to the next generation and important for growth and survival of the host insects. We found that, specifically in adult females, several rows of crypts at the posterior end region of the symbiotic midgut were morphologically differentiated and conspicuously enlarged, often discharging the symbiotic bacteria from the crypt cavity to the main tract of the symbiotic midgut. The female-specific enlarged end crypts were also found in other pentatomid stinkbugs Plautia stali and Carbula crassiventris. These results suggest that the enlarged end crypts represent a female-specific specialized morphological trait for vertical symbiont transmission commonly found among stinkbugs of the family Pentatomidae.}, } @article {pmid25635766, year = {2015}, author = {Gengler, S and Laudisoit, A and Batoko, H and Wattiau, P}, title = {Long-term persistence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0116818}, pmid = {25635766}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/parasitology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva/microbiology/parasitology ; Moths/microbiology/parasitology ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are small worms whose ecological behaviour consists to invade, kill insects and feed on their cadavers thanks to a species-specific symbiotic bacterium belonging to any of the genera Xenorhabdus or Photorhabdus hosted in the gastro-intestinal tract of EPNs. The symbiont provides a number of biological functions that are essential for its EPN host including the production of entomotoxins, of enzymes able to degrade the insect constitutive macromolecules and of antimicrobial compounds able to prevent the growth of competitors in the insect cadaver. The question addressed in this study was to investigate whether a mammalian pathogen taxonomically related to Xenorhabdus was able to substitute for or "hijack" the symbiotic relationship associating Xenorhabdus and Steinernema EPNs. To deal with this question, a laboratory experimental model was developed consisting in Galleria mellonella insect larvae, Steinernema EPNs with or without their natural Xenorhabdus symbiont and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis brought artificially either in the gut of EPNs or in the haemocoel of the insect larva prior to infection. The developed model demonstrated the capacity of EPNs to act as an efficient reservoir ensuring exponential multiplication, maintenance and dissemination of Y. pseudotuberculosis.}, } @article {pmid25635464, year = {2015}, author = {Salvitti, LR and Wood, SA and McNabb, P and Cary, SC}, title = {No evidence for a culturable bacterial tetrodotoxin producer in Pleurobranchaea maculata (Gastropoda: Pleurobranchidae) and Stylochoplana sp. (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida).}, journal = {Toxins}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {255-273}, pmid = {25635464}, issn = {2072-6651}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Platyhelminths/*microbiology ; Pleurobranchaea/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tetrodotoxin/analysis/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin found in the tissues of many taxonomically diverse organisms. Its origin has been the topic of much debate, with suggestions including endogenous production, acquisition through diet, and symbiotic bacterial synthesis. Bacterial production of TTX has been reported in isolates from marine biota, but at lower than expected concentrations. In this study, 102 strains were isolated from Pleurobranchaea maculata (Opisthobranchia) and Stylochoplana sp. (Platyhelminthes). Tetrodotoxin production was tested utilizing a recently developed sensitive method to detect the C9 base of TTX via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bacterial strains were characterized by sequencing a region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. To account for the possibility that TTX is produced by a consortium of bacteria, a series of experiments using marine broth spiked with various P. maculata tissues were undertaken. Sixteen unique strains from P. maculata and one from Stylochoplana sp. were isolated, representing eight different genera; Pseudomonadales, Actinomycetales, Oceanospirillales, Thiotrichales, Rhodobacterales, Sphingomonadales, Bacillales, and Vibrionales. Molecular fingerprinting of bacterial communities from broth experiments showed little change over the first four days. No C9 base or TTX was detected in isolates or broth experiments (past day 0), suggesting a culturable microbial source of TTX in P. maculata and Stylochoplana sp. is unlikely.}, } @article {pmid25632977, year = {2015}, author = {Masson, F and Vallier, A and Vigneron, A and Balmand, S and Vincent-Monégat, C and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Systemic infection generates a local-like immune response of the bacteriome organ in insect symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of innate immunity}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {290-301}, pmid = {25632977}, issn = {1662-8128}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*immunology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Weevils/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis is common in insects thriving in nutritionally unbalanced habitats. The cereal weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, houses Sodalis pierantonius, a Gram-negative intracellular symbiotic bacterium (endosymbiont), within a dedicated organ called a bacteriome. Recent data have shown that the bacteriome expresses certain immune genes that result in local symbiont tolerance and control. Here, we address the question of whether and how the bacteriome responds to insect infections involving exogenous bacteria. We have established an infection model by challenging weevil larvae with the Gram-negative bacterium Dickeya dadantii. We showed that D. dadantii infects host tissues and triggers a systemic immune response. Gene transcript analysis indicated that the bacteriome is also immune responsive, but it expresses immune effector genes to a lesser extent than the systemic and intestinal responses. Most genes putatively involved in immune pathways remain weakly expressed in the bacteriome following D. dadantii infection. Moreover, quantitative PCR experiments showed that the endosymbiont load is not affected by insect infection or the resulting bacteriome immune activation. Thus, the contained immune effector gene expression in the bacteriome may prevent potentially harmful effects of the immune response on endosymbionts, whilst efficiently protecting them from bacterial intruders.}, } @article {pmid25632246, year = {2015}, author = {Pica, D and Cairns, SD and Puce, S and Newman, WA}, title = {Southern hemisphere deep-water stylasterid corals including a new species, Errinalabrosa sp. n. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Stylasteridae), with notes on some symbiotic scalpellids (Cirripedia, Thoracica, Scalpellidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {472}, pages = {1-25}, pmid = {25632246}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {A number of stylasterid corals are known to act as host species and create refuges for a variety of mobile and sessile organisms, which enhances their habitat complexity. These include annelids, anthozoans, cirripeds, copepods, cyanobacteria, echinoderms, gastropods, hydroids and sponges. Here we report the first evidence of a diverse association between stylasterids and scalpellid pedunculate barnacles and describe a new stylasterid species, Errinalabrosa, from the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago. Overall, five stylasterid species are found to host eight scalpellid barnacles from several biogeographic regions in the southern hemisphere (Southern Ocean, temperate South America and the southern Indo-Pacific realms). There is an apparent lack of specificity in this kind of association and different grades of reaction to the symbiosis have been observed in the coral. These records suggest that the association between pedunculate barnacles and hard stylasterid corals has a wide distribution among different biogeographic realms and that it is relatively rare and confined largely to deep water.}, } @article {pmid25631820, year = {2015}, author = {Bansal, S and Mittal, A}, title = {A statistical anomaly indicates symbiotic origins of eukaryotic membranes.}, journal = {Molecular biology of the cell}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {1238-1248}, pmid = {25631820}, issn = {1939-4586}, mesh = {Archaea/chemistry/metabolism ; Bacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Cell Membrane/*chemistry ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Eukaryota/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Compositional analyses of nucleic acids and proteins have shed light on possible origins of living cells. In this work, rigorous compositional analyses of ∼5000 plasma membrane lipid constituents of 273 species in the three life domains (archaea, eubacteria, and eukaryotes) revealed a remarkable statistical paradox, indicating symbiotic origins of eukaryotic cells involving eubacteria. For lipids common to plasma membranes of the three domains, the number of carbon atoms in eubacteria was found to be similar to that in eukaryotes. However, mutually exclusive subsets of same data show exactly the opposite-the number of carbon atoms in lipids of eukaryotes was higher than in eubacteria. This statistical paradox, called Simpson's paradox, was absent for lipids in archaea and for lipids not common to plasma membranes of the three domains. This indicates the presence of interaction(s) and/or association(s) in lipids forming plasma membranes of eubacteria and eukaryotes but not for those in archaea. Further inspection of membrane lipid structures affecting physicochemical properties of plasma membranes provides the first evidence (to our knowledge) on the symbiotic origins of eukaryotic cells based on the "third front" (i.e., lipids) in addition to the growing compositional data from nucleic acids and proteins.}, } @article {pmid25631740, year = {2015}, author = {Tang, J and Zhang, Y and Cui, Y and Ma, J}, title = {Effects of a rhizobacterium on the growth of and chromium remediation by Lemna minor.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {13}, pages = {9686-9693}, pmid = {25631740}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Araceae/*physiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chromium/*toxicity ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/*methods ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {Duckweed has shown great potential for both energy and environmental applications, particularly in wastewater treatment and fuel ethanol production. A rhizobacterium, Exiguobacterium sp. MH3, has been reported to associate with the duckweed Lemna minor for symbiotic growth. The aim of this work is to study the effects of rhizobacterium MH3 on L. minor growth and chromium (Cr) remediation. It appeared to have a synergism between the rhizobacterium MH3 and duckweed; the presence of strain MH3 promoted the growth of duckweeds by increasing both the frond number and dry weight of duckweed by more than 30%, while duckweed in turn provided essential carbon source and energy for the growth of rhizobacterium MH3. Under Cr(VI) exposure, particularly at higher Cr(VI) concentrations, Exiguobacterium sp. MH3 significantly alleviated the harmful effects of the stress on the duckweed by promoting duckweed growth and preventing duckweed from excessive uptake of Cr. Potential mechanisms were also discussed in light of the genome sequence of strain MH3, and it was speculated that siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) secreted by strain MH3 might contribute to promoting duckweed growth.}, } @article {pmid25631043, year = {2015}, author = {Zou, J and Li, W and Misra, A and Yue, F and Song, K and Chen, Q and Guo, G and Yi, J and Kimata, JT and Liu, L}, title = {The viral restriction factor tetherin prevents leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRPPRC) from association with beclin 1 and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and enhances autophagy and mitophagy.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {290}, number = {11}, pages = {7269-7279}, pmid = {25631043}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {P30 AI036211/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA142862/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI099007/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; CA142862/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antigens, CD/*metabolism ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/*metabolism ; *Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; GPI-Linked Proteins/metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; *Mitophagy ; Neoplasm Proteins/*metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tetherin has been characterized as a key factor that restricts viral particles such as HIV and hepatitis C virus on plasma membranes, acts as a ligand of the immunoglobulin-like transcript 7 (ILT7) receptor in tumor cells, and suppresses antiviral innate immune responses mediated by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. However, the normal cellular function of Tetherin without viral infection is unknown. Here we show that Tetherin not only serves as a substrate of autophagy but itself regulates the initiation of autophagy. Tetherin interacts with the autophagy/mitophagy suppressor LRPPRC and prevents LRPPRC from forming a ternary complex with Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 so that Beclin 1 is released to bind with PI3KCIII (class III PI3K) to activate the initiation of autophagy. Suppression of Tetherin leads to impairment of autophagy, whereas overexpression of Tetherin causes activation of autophagy. Under mitophagic stress, Tetherin is concentrated on mitochondria engulfed in autophagosomes. Tetherin plays a general role in the degradation of autophagosomes containing not only the symbiotic mitochondria but also, possibly, the infected virus. Therefore, Tetherin may enhance autophagy and mitophagy to suppress tumorigenesis, enhance innate immune responses, or prevent T cell apoptosis or pyroptosis.}, } @article {pmid25631025, year = {2015}, author = {Cheng, Y and Perocchi, F}, title = {Prediction of mitochondrial protein function by comparative physiology and phylogenetic profiling.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1264}, number = {}, pages = {321-329}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-2257-4_28}, pmid = {25631025}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology/methods ; Databases, Genetic ; Humans ; Internet ; Mitochondria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; *Phylogeny ; *Physiology, Comparative ; }, abstract = {According to the endosymbiotic theory, mitochondria originate from a free-living alpha-proteobacteria that established an intracellular symbiosis with the ancestor of present-day eukaryotic cells. During the bacterium-to-organelle transformation, the proto-mitochondrial proteome has undergone a massive turnover, whereby less than 20 % of modern mitochondrial proteomes can be traced back to the bacterial ancestor. Moreover, mitochondrial proteomes from several eukaryotic organisms, for example, yeast and human, show a rather modest overlap, reflecting differences in mitochondrial physiology. Those differences may result from the combination of differential gain and loss of genes and retargeting processes among lineages. Therefore, an evolutionary signature, also called "phylogenetic profile", could be generated for every mitochondrial protein. Here, we present two evolutionary biology approaches to study mitochondrial physiology: the first strategy, which we refer to as "comparative physiology," allows the de novo identification of mitochondrial proteins involved in a physiological function; the second, known as "phylogenetic profiling," allows to predict protein functions and functional interactions by comparing phylogenetic profiles of uncharacterized and known components.}, } @article {pmid25630535, year = {2015}, author = {Gerlach, N and Schmitz, J and Polatajko, A and Schlüter, U and Fahnenstich, H and Witt, S and Fernie, AR and Uroic, K and Scholz, U and Sonnewald, U and Bucher, M}, title = {An integrated functional approach to dissect systemic responses in maize to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {38}, number = {8}, pages = {1591-1612}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12508}, pmid = {25630535}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Anthocyanins/metabolism ; Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects/genetics ; Metabolome/drug effects/genetics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/drug effects/genetics ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Zea mays/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Most terrestrial plants benefit from the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mainly under nutrient-limited conditions. Here the crop plant Zea mays was grown with and without AMF in a bi-compartmented system separating plant and phosphate (Pi) source by a hyphae-permeable membrane. Thus, Pi was preferentially taken up via the mycorrhizal Pi uptake pathway while other nutrients were ubiquitously available. To study systemic effects of mycorrhizal Pi uptake on leaf status, leaves of these plants that display an increased biomass in the presence of AMF were subjected to simultaneous ionomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. We observed robust changes of the leaf elemental composition, that is, increase of P, S and Zn and decrease of Mn, Co and Li concentration in mycorrhizal plants. Although changes in anthocyanin and lipid metabolism point to an improved P status, a global increase in C versus N metabolism highlights the redistribution of metabolic pools including carbohydrates and amino acids. Strikingly, an induction of systemic defence gene expression and concomitant accumulation of secondary metabolites such as the terpenoids alpha- and beta-amyrin suggest priming of mycorrhizal maize leaves as a mycorrhiza-specific response. This work emphasizes the importance of AM symbiosis for the physiological status of plant leaves and could lead to strategies for optimized breeding of crop species with high growth potential.}, } @article {pmid25630435, year = {2015}, author = {Bárzana, G and Aroca, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Localized and non-localized effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on accumulation of osmolytes and aquaporins and on antioxidant systems in maize plants subjected to total or partial root drying.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {38}, number = {8}, pages = {1613-1627}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12507}, pmid = {25630435}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Aquaporins/*metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; Biomass ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Desiccation ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Osmosis ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphorylation ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; Proline/metabolism ; Solubility ; *Symbiosis ; Zea mays/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis alters host plant physiology under drought stress, but no information is available on whether or not the AM affects respond to drought locally or systemically. A split-root system was used to obtain AM plants with total or only half root system colonized as well as to induce physiological drought affecting the whole plant or non-physiological drought affecting only the half root system. We analysed the local and/or systemic nature of the AM effects on accumulation of osmoregulatory compounds and aquaporins and on antioxidant systems. Maize plants accumulated proline both, locally in roots affected by drought and systemically when the drought affected the whole root system, being the last effect ampler in AM plants. PIPs (plasma membrane intrinsic proteins) aquaporins were also differently regulated by drought in AM and non-AM root compartments. When the drought affected only the AM root compartment, the rise of lipid peroxidation was restricted to such compartment. On the contrary, when the drought affected the non-AM root fraction, the rise of lipid peroxidation was similar in both root compartments. Thus, the benefits of the AM symbiosis not only rely in a lower oxidative stress in the host plant, but it also restricts locally such oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid25629699, year = {2015}, author = {Hagedorn, M and Carter, V and Zuchowicz, N and Phillips, M and Penfield, C and Shamenek, B and Vallen, EA and Kleinhans, FW and Peterson, K and White, M and Yancey, PH}, title = {Trehalose is a chemical attractant in the establishment of coral symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0117087}, pmid = {25629699}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {F33 GM096488/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1F33GM096488-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Chemotactic Factors/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trehalose/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs have evolved with a crucial symbiosis between photosynthetic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) and their cnidarian hosts (Scleractinians). Most coral larvae take up Symbiodinium from their environment; however, the earliest steps in this process have been elusive. Here we demonstrate that the disaccharide trehalose may be an important signal from the symbiont to potential larval hosts. Symbiodinium freshly isolated from Fungia scutaria corals constantly released trehalose (but not sucrose, maltose or glucose) into seawater, and released glycerol only in the presence of coral tissue. Spawning Fungia adults increased symbiont number in their immediate area by excreting pellets of Symbiodinium, and when these naturally discharged Symbiodinium were cultured, they also released trehalose. In Y-maze experiments, coral larvae demonstrated chemoattractant and feeding behaviors only towards a chamber with trehalose or glycerol. Concomitantly, coral larvae and adult tissue, but not symbionts, had significant trehalase enzymatic activities, suggesting the capacity to utilize trehalose. Trehalase activity was developmentally regulated in F. scutaria larvae, rising as the time for symbiont uptake occurs. Consistent with the enzymatic assays, gene finding demonstrated the presence of a trehalase enzyme in the genome of a related coral, Acropora digitifera, and a likely trehalase in the transcriptome of F. scutaria. Taken together, these data suggest that adult F. scutaria seed the reef with Symbiodinium during spawning and the exuded Symbiodinium release trehalose into the environment, which acts as a chemoattractant for F. scutaria larvae and as an initiator of feeding behavior- the first stages toward establishing the coral-Symbiodinium relationship. Because trehalose is a fixed carbon compound, this cue would accurately demonstrate to the cnidarian larvae the photosynthetic ability of the potential symbiont in the ambient environment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a chemical cue attracting the motile coral larvae to the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid25628615, year = {2014}, author = {Mandyam, KG and Jumpponen, A}, title = {Mutualism-parasitism paradigm synthesized from results of root-endophyte models.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {776}, pmid = {25628615}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plant tissues host a variety of fungi. One important group is the dark septate endophytes (DSEs) that colonize plant roots and form characteristic intracellular structures - melanized hyphae and microsclerotia. The DSE associations are common and frequently observed in various biomes and plant taxa. Reviews suggest that the proportion of plant species colonized by DSE equal that colonized by AM and microscopic studies show that the proportion of the root system colonized by fungi DSE can equal, or even exceed, the colonization by AM fungi. Despite the high frequency and suspected ecological importance, the effects of DSE colonization on plant growth and performance have remained unclear. Here, we draw from over a decade of experimentation with the obscure DSE symbiosis and synthesize across large bodies of published and unpublished data from Arabidopsis thaliana and Allium porrum model systems as well as from experiments that use native plants to better resolve the host responses to DSE colonization. The data indicate similar distribution of host responses in model and native plant studies, validating the use of model plants for tractable dissection of DSE symbioses. The available data also permit empirical testing of the environmental modulation of host responses to DSE colonization and refining the "mutualism-parasitism-continuum" paradigm for DSE symbioses. These data highlight the context dependency of the DSE symbioses: not only plant species but also ecotypes vary in their responses to populations of conspecific DSE fungi - environmental conditions further shift the host responses similar to those predicted based on the mutualism-parasitism-continuum paradigm. The model systems provide several established avenues of inquiry that permit more detailed molecular and functional dissection of fungal endophyte symbioses, identifying thus likely mechanisms that may underlie the observed host responses to endophyte colonization.}, } @article {pmid25627476, year = {2016}, author = {Mejia, EM and Hatch, GM}, title = {Mitochondrial phospholipids: role in mitochondrial function.}, journal = {Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {99-112}, pmid = {25627476}, issn = {1573-6881}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Humans ; Mitochondria/*metabolism/pathology ; Mitochondrial Membranes/*metabolism/pathology ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*metabolism ; Phospholipids/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are essential components of eukaryotic cells and are involved in a diverse set of cellular processes that include ATP production, cellular signalling, apoptosis and cell growth. These organelles are thought to have originated from a symbiotic relationship between prokaryotic cells in an effort to provide a bioenergetic jump and thus, the greater complexity observed in eukaryotes (Lane and Martin 2010). Mitochondrial processes are required not only for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, but also allow cell to cell and tissue to tissue communication (Nunnari and Suomalainen 2012). Mitochondrial phospholipids are important components of this system. Phospholipids make up the characteristic outer and inner membranes that give mitochondria their shape. In addition, these membranes house sterols, sphingolipids and a wide variety of proteins. It is the phospholipids that also give rise to other characteristic mitochondrial structures such as cristae (formed from the invaginations of the inner mitochondrial membrane), the matrix (area within cristae) and the intermembrane space (IMS) which separates the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). Phospholipids are the building blocks that make up these structures. However, the phospholipid composition of the OMM and IMM is unique in each membrane. Mitochondria are able to synthesize some of the phospholipids it requires, but the majority of cellular lipid biosynthesis takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in conjunction with the Golgi apparatus (Fagone and Jackowski 2009). In this review, we will focus on the role that mitochondrial phospholipids play in specific cellular functions and discuss their biosynthesis, metabolism and transport as well as the differences between the OMM and IMM phospholipid composition. Finally, we will focus on the human diseases that result from disturbances to mitochondrial phospholipids and the current research being performed to help us gain a better understanding of their function.}, } @article {pmid25627215, year = {2015}, author = {Champion, A and Lucas, M and Tromas, A and Vaissayre, V and Crabos, A and Diédhiou, I and Prodjinoto, H and Moukouanga, D and Pirolles, E and Cissoko, M and Bonneau, J and Gherbi, H and Franche, C and Hocher, V and Svistoonoff, S and Laplaze, L}, title = {Inhibition of auxin signaling in Frankia species-infected cells in Casuarina glauca nodules leads to increased nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {167}, number = {3}, pages = {1149-1157}, pmid = {25627215}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Size ; Fabaceae/*cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; Frankia/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal symbioses are mutualistic interactions between plants and the soil bacteria Frankia spp. that lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. The plant hormone auxin has been suggested to play a role in the mechanisms that control the establishment of this symbiosis in the actinorhizal tree Casuarina glauca. Here, we analyzed the role of auxin signaling in Frankia spp.-infected cells. Using a dominant-negative version of an endogenous auxin-signaling regulator, INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID7, we established that inhibition of auxin signaling in these cells led to increased nodulation and, as a consequence, to higher nitrogen fixation per plant even if nitrogen fixation per nodule mass was similar to that in the wild type. Our results suggest that auxin signaling in Frankia spp.-infected cells is involved in the long-distance regulation of nodulation in actinorhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25626994, year = {2015}, author = {Suter, M and Connolly, J and Finn, JA and Loges, R and Kirwan, L and Sebastià, MT and Lüscher, A}, title = {Nitrogen yield advantage from grass-legume mixtures is robust over a wide range of legume proportions and environmental conditions.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {2424-2438}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12880}, pmid = {25626994}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Climate ; Europe ; Fabaceae/*metabolism ; *Grassland ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Poaceae/*metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Current challenges to global food security require sustainable intensification of agriculture through initiatives that include more efficient use of nitrogen (N), increased protein self-sufficiency through homegrown crops, and reduced N losses to the environment. Such challenges were addressed in a continental-scale field experiment conducted over 3 years, in which the amount of total nitrogen yield (Ntot) and the gain of N yield in mixtures as compared to grass monocultures (Ngainmix) was quantified from four-species grass-legume stands with greatly varying legume proportions. Stands consisted of monocultures and mixtures of two N2 -fixing legumes and two nonfixing grasses. The amount of Ntot of mixtures was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than that of grass monocultures at the majority of evaluated sites in all 3 years. Ntot and thus Ngainmix increased with increasing legume proportion up to one-third of legumes. With higher legume percentages, Ntot and Ngainmix did not continue to increase. Thus, across sites and years, mixtures with one-third proportion of legumes attained ~95% of the maximum Ntot acquired by any stand and had 57% higher Ntot than grass monocultures. Realized legume proportion in stands and the relative N gain in mixture (Ngainmix /Ntot in mixture) were most severely impaired by minimum site temperature (R = 0.70, P = 0.003 for legume proportion; R = 0.64, P = 0.010 for Ngainmix /Ntot in mixture). Nevertheless, the relative N gain in mixture was not correlated to site productivity (P = 0.500), suggesting that, within climatic restrictions, balanced grass-legume mixtures can benefit from comparable relative gains in N yield across largely differing productivity levels. We conclude that the use of grass-legume mixtures can substantially contribute to resource-efficient agricultural grassland systems over a wide range of productivity levels, implying important savings in N fertilizers and thus greenhouse gas emissions and a considerable potential for climate change mitigation.}, } @article {pmid25624477, year = {2015}, author = {Liaimer, A and Helfrich, EJ and Hinrichs, K and Guljamow, A and Ishida, K and Hertweck, C and Dittmann, E}, title = {Nostopeptolide plays a governing role during cellular differentiation of the symbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {6}, pages = {1862-1867}, pmid = {25624477}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Cell Differentiation/*physiology ; Cell Surface Extensions/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Embryophyta/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Magnoliopsida/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Structure ; Nostoc/metabolism/*physiology ; Peptides/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Species Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nostoc punctiforme is a versatile cyanobacterium that can live either independently or in symbiosis with plants from distinct taxa. Chemical cues from plants and N. punctiforme were shown to stimulate or repress, respectively, the differentiation of infectious motile filaments known as hormogonia. We have used a polyketide synthase mutant that accumulates an elevated amount of hormogonia as a tool to understand the effect of secondary metabolites on cellular differentiation of N. punctiforme. Applying MALDI imaging to illustrate the reprogramming of the secondary metabolome, nostopeptolides were identified as the predominant difference in the pks2(-) mutant secretome. Subsequent differentiation assays and visualization of cell-type-specific expression of nostopeptolides via a transcriptional reporter strain provided evidence for a multifaceted role of nostopeptolides, either as an autogenic hormogonium-repressing factor or as a chemoattractant, depending on its extracellular concentration. Although nostopeptolide is constitutively expressed in the free-living state, secreted levels dynamically change before, during, and after the hormogonium differentiation phase. The metabolite was found to be strictly down-regulated in symbiosis with Gunnera manicata and Blasia pusilla, whereas other metabolites are up-regulated, as demonstrated via MALDI imaging, suggesting plants modulate the fine-balanced cross-talk network of secondary metabolites within N. punctiforme.}, } @article {pmid25622136, year = {2015}, author = {Weiberg, A and Bellinger, M and Jin, H}, title = {Conversations between kingdoms: small RNAs.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {207-215}, pmid = {25622136}, issn = {1879-0429}, support = {R01 GM093008/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Ligands ; Plants/*genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/*genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Humans, animals, and plants are constantly under attack from pathogens and pests, resulting in severe consequences on global human health and crop production. Small RNA (sRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved regulatory mechanism that is involved in almost all eukaryotic cellular processes, including host immunity and pathogen virulence. Recent evidence supports the significant contribution of sRNAs and RNAi to the communication between hosts and some eukaryotic pathogens, pests, parasites, or symbiotic microorganisms. Mobile silencing signals—most likely sRNAs—are capable of translocating from the host to its interacting organism, and vice versa. In this review, we will provide an overview of sRNA communications between different kingdoms, with a primary focus on the advances in plant-pathogen interaction systems.}, } @article {pmid25621846, year = {2015}, author = {Yamazaki, A and Hayashi, M}, title = {Building the interaction interfaces: host responses upon infection with microorganisms.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {23}, number = {}, pages = {132-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.12.003}, pmid = {25621846}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plants/immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Research fields of plant symbiosis and plant immunity were relatively ignorant with each other until a little while ago. Recently, however, increasing intercommunications between those two fields have begun to provide novel aspects and knowledge for understanding relationships between plants and microorganisms. Here, we review recent reports on plant-microbe interactions, focusing on the infection processes, in order to elucidate plant cellular responses that are triggered by both symbionts and pathogens. Highlighting the core elements of host responses over biotic interactions will provide insights into general mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid25621512, year = {2015}, author = {Al-Babili, S and Bouwmeester, HJ}, title = {Strigolactones, a novel carotenoid-derived plant hormone.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {66}, number = {}, pages = {161-186}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-043014-114759}, pmid = {25621512}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plants/enzymology/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant hormones and signaling molecules. When released into the soil, SLs indicate the presence of a host to symbiotic fungi and root parasitic plants. In planta, they regulate several developmental processes that adapt plant architecture to nutrient availability. Highly branched/tillered mutants in Arabidopsis, pea, and rice have enabled the identification of four SL biosynthetic enzymes: a cis/trans-carotene isomerase, two carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases, and a cytochrome P450 (MAX1). In vitro and in vivo enzyme assays and analysis of mutants have shown that the pathway involves a combination of new reactions leading to carlactone, which is converted by a rice MAX1 homolog into an SL parent molecule with a tricyclic lactone moiety. In this review, we focus on SL biosynthesis, describe the hormonal and environmental factors that determine this process, and discuss SL transport and downstream signaling as well as the role of SLs in regulating plant development.}, } @article {pmid25621279, year = {2014}, author = {Thompson, JR and Rivera, HE and Closek, CJ and Medina, M}, title = {Microbes in the coral holobiont: partners through evolution, development, and ecological interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {176}, pmid = {25621279}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the last two decades, genetic and genomic studies have revealed the astonishing diversity and ubiquity of microorganisms. Emergence and expansion of the human microbiome project has reshaped our thinking about how microbes control host health-not only as pathogens, but also as symbionts. In coral reef environments, scientists have begun to examine the role that microorganisms play in coral life history. Herein, we review the current literature on coral-microbe interactions within the context of their role in evolution, development, and ecology. We ask the following questions, first posed by McFall-Ngai et al. (2013) in their review of animal evolution, with specific attention to how coral-microbial interactions may be affected under future environmental conditions: (1) How do corals and their microbiome affect each other's genomes? (2) How does coral development depend on microbial partners? (3) How is homeostasis maintained between corals and their microbial symbionts? (4) How can ecological approaches deepen our understanding of the multiple levels of coral-microbial interactions? Elucidating the role that microorganisms play in the structure and function of the holobiont is essential for understanding how corals maintain homeostasis and acclimate to changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid25620963, year = {2014}, author = {Ott, BM and Rickards, A and Gehrke, L and Rio, RV}, title = {Characterization of shed medicinal leech mucus reveals a diverse microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {757}, pmid = {25620963}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial transmission through mucosal-mediated mechanisms is widespread throughout the animal kingdom. One example of this occurs with Hirudo verbana, the medicinal leech, where host attraction to shed conspecific mucus facilitates horizontal transmission of a predominant gut symbiont, the Gammaproteobacterium Aeromonas veronii. However, whether this mucus may harbor other bacteria has not been examined. Here, we characterize the microbiota of shed leech mucus through Illumina deep sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Additionally, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) typing with subsequent Sanger Sequencing of a 16S rRNA gene clone library provided qualitative confirmation of the microbial composition. Phylogenetic analyses of full-length 16S rRNA sequences were performed to examine microbial taxonomic distribution. Analyses using both technologies indicate the dominance of the Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria phyla within the mucus microbiota. We determined the presence of other previously described leech symbionts, in addition to a number of putative novel leech-associated bacteria. A second predominant gut symbiont, the Rikenella-like bacteria, was also identified within mucus and exhibited similar population dynamics to A. veronii, suggesting persistence in syntrophy beyond the gut. Interestingly, the most abundant bacterial genus belonged to Pedobacter, which includes members capable of producing heparinase, an enzyme that degrades the anticoagulant, heparin. Additionally, bacteria associated with denitrification and sulfate cycling were observed, indicating an abundance of these anions within mucus, likely originating from the leech excretory system. A diverse microbiota harbored within shed mucus has significant potential implications for the evolution of microbiomes, including opportunities for gene transfer and utility in host capture of a diverse group of symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25620548, year = {2015}, author = {Kubinak, JL and Petersen, C and Stephens, WZ and Soto, R and Bake, E and O'Connell, RM and Round, JL}, title = {MyD88 signaling in T cells directs IgA-mediated control of the microbiota to promote health.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {153-163}, pmid = {25620548}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {DP2 AT008746/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; P40 OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI95375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP2 GM111099/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; N01AI95375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R00 HL102228/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034987/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DP2AT008746-01/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI-055434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1S10RR026802-01/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR026802/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 5-P39-DK034987/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055434/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI109122/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI095375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DP2GM111099-01/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; R56 AI107090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI107090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007464/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI109122/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 5-P40-OD010995/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R00HL102228-05/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Altered commensal communities are associated with human disease. IgA mediates intestinal homeostasis and regulates microbiota composition. Intestinal IgA is produced at high levels as a result of T follicular helper cell (TFH) and B cell interactions in germinal centers. However, the pathways directing host IgA responses toward the microbiota remain unknown. Here, we report that signaling through the innate adaptor MyD88 in gut T cells coordinates germinal center responses, including TFH and IgA+ B cell development. TFH development is deficient in germ-free mice and can be restored by feeding TLR2 agonists that activate T cell-intrinsic MyD88 signaling. Loss of this pathway diminishes high-affinity IgA targeting of the microbiota and fails to control the bacterial community, leading to worsened disease. Our findings identify that T cells converge innate and adaptive immune signals to coordinate IgA against the microbiota, constraining microbial community membership to promote symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25619106, year = {2015}, author = {Aeron, A and Chauhan, PS and Dubey, RC and Maheshwari, DK and Bajpai, VK}, title = {Root nodule bacteria from Clitoria ternatea L. are putative invasive nonrhizobial endophytes.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, pages = {131-142}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2014-0483}, pmid = {25619106}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics ; Clitoria/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Endophytes/*isolation & purification ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, bacteria (8 species and 5 genera) belonging to the classes Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Sphingobacteria were isolated from root nodules of the multipurpose legume Clitoria ternatea L. and identified on the basis of partial 16S rRNA sequencing. The root nodule bacteria were subjected to phenotypic clustering and diversity studies using biochemical kits, including Hi-Media Carbokit™, Enterobacteriaceae™ identification kit, ERIC-PCR, and 16S ARDRA. All the strains showed growth on Ashby's N-free media over 7 generations, indicative of presumptive nitrogen fixation and further confirmed by amplification of the nifH gene. None of the strains showed the capability to renodulate the host plant, neither alone nor in combination with standard rhizobial strains, which was further confirmed by the absence of nodC bands in PCR assay. The results clearly indicate the common existence of nonrhizobial microflora inside the root nodules of legumes, which were thought to be colonized only by rhizobia and were responsible for N2 fixation in leguminous crops. However, with the recent discovery of nodule endophytes from a variety of legumes, as also observed here, it can be assumed that symbiotic rhizobia are not all alone and that these invasive endophytes belonging to various bacterial genera are more than just opportunistic colonizers of specialized nodule niche.}, } @article {pmid25618992, year = {2014}, author = {Boyd, JW and LoCicero, A and Malowney, M and Aldis, R and Marlin, RP}, title = {Failing ethics 101: psychologists, the U.S. military establishment, and human rights.}, journal = {International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {615-625}, doi = {10.2190/HS.44.3.j}, pmid = {25618992}, issn = {0020-7314}, mesh = {Female ; *Human Rights ; Humans ; Male ; Pilot Projects ; Psychology/*ethics ; Students/*psychology ; *Torture ; United States ; United States Department of Defense/*ethics ; }, abstract = {The American Psychological Association (APA) has long maintained a close, even symbiotic, relationship with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Veterans Administration (VA). Herein we highlight these close ties and describe psychologists' participation in interrogations by U.S. military and intelligence entities. We then review the APA's statements about the permissibility of psychologist participation in the interrogation and torture of suspected terrorists. These issues are significant in and of themselves and because the VA and DOD have been described as "growth careers" for psychologists of the future (1). Additionally, the Health Care Personnel Delivery System allows the drafting of civilian clinical psychologists into military service even in the absence of a general draft. In light of psychologists' extensive involvement in the interrogation process of suspected terrorists, and the possibility that psychologists without prior military experience may be drafted, we wondered how much psychologists have been taught about their ethical duties should they find themselves in military settings. The results of our pilot study of U.S. psychology graduate students, which assessed their knowledge of military ethics, raise concerns that psychologists receive inadequate formal training in these matters. This may leave psychologists vulnerable to misinformation about proper ethical conduct in their future work.}, } @article {pmid25618142, year = {2015}, author = {Smith, TA and Driscoll, T and Gillespie, JJ and Raghavan, R}, title = {A Coxiella-like endosymbiont is a potential vitamin source for the Lone Star tick.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {831-838}, pmid = {25618142}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R01 AI017828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI043006/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI017828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI043006/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Coxiella/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Coxiella burnetii/classification ; Genome, Bacterial ; Ixodidae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence/genetics ; Vitamins/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Amblyomma americanum (Lone star tick) is an important disease vector in the United States. It transmits several human pathogens, including the agents of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness. Blood-feeding insects (Class Insecta) depend on bacterial endosymbionts to provide vitamins and cofactors that are scarce in blood. It is unclear how this deficiency is compensated in ticks (Class Arachnida) that feed exclusively on mammalian blood. A bacterium related to Coxiella burnetii, the agent of human Q fever, has been observed previously within cells of A. americanum. Eliminating this bacterium (CLEAA, Coxiella-like endosymbiont of A. americanum) with antibiotics reduced tick fecundity, indicating that it is an essential endosymbiont. In an effort to determine its role within this symbiosis, we sequenced the CLEAA genome. While highly reduced (656,901 bp) compared with C. burnetii (1,995,281 bp), the CLEAA genome encodes most major vitamin and cofactor biosynthesis pathways, implicating CLEAA as a vitamin provisioning endosymbiont. In contrast, CLEAA lacks any recognizable virulence genes, indicating that it is not a pathogen despite its presence in tick salivary glands. As both C. burnetii and numerous "Coxiella-like bacteria" have been reported from several species of ticks, we determined the evolutionary relationship between the two bacteria. Phylogeny estimation revealed that CLEAA is a close relative of C. burnetii, but was not derived from it. Our results are important for strategies geared toward controlling A. americanum and the pathogens it vectors, and also contribute novel information regarding the metabolic interdependencies of ticks and their nutrient-provisioning endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid25617765, year = {2015}, author = {Indrasumunar, A and Wilde, J and Hayashi, S and Li, D and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Functional analysis of duplicated Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SymRK) genes during nodulation and mycorrhizal infection in soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {157-168}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2015.01.002}, pmid = {25617765}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial ; Clone Cells ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Duplicate ; Genes, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nucleotide Motifs/genetics ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA Interference ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/enzymology/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Association between legumes and rhizobia results in the formation of root nodules, where symbiotic nitrogen fixation occurs. The early stages of this association involve a complex of signalling events between the host and microsymbiont. Several genes dealing with early signal transduction have been cloned, and one of them encodes the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase (SymRK; also termed NORK). The Symbiosis Receptor Kinase gene is required by legumes to establish a root endosymbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria as well as mycorrhizal fungi. Using degenerate primer and BAC sequencing, we cloned duplicated SymRK homeologues in soybean called GmSymRKα and GmSymRKβ. These duplicated genes have high similarity of nucleotide (96%) and amino acid sequence (95%). Sequence analysis predicted a malectin-like domain within the extracellular domain of both genes. Several putative cis-acting elements were found in promoter regions of GmSymRKα and GmSymRKβ, suggesting a participation in lateral root development, cell division and peribacteroid membrane formation. The mutant of SymRK genes is not available in soybean; therefore, to know the functions of these genes, RNA interference (RNAi) of these duplicated genes was performed. For this purpose, RNAi construct of each gene was generated and introduced into the soybean genome by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation. RNAi of GmSymRKβ gene resulted in an increased reduction of nodulation and mycorrhizal infection than RNAi of GmSymRKα, suggesting it has the major activity of the duplicated gene pair. The results from the important crop legume soybean confirm the joint phenotypic action of GmSymRK genes in both mycorrhizal and rhizobial infection seen in model legumes.}, } @article {pmid25617454, year = {2015}, author = {Leal, MC and Hoadley, K and Pettay, DT and Grajales, A and Calado, R and Warner, ME}, title = {Symbiont type influences trophic plasticity of a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {218}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {858-863}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.115519}, pmid = {25617454}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Cycle ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Sea Anemones/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The association between cnidarians and photosynthetic dinoflagellates within the genus Symbiodinium is a prevalent relationship in tropical and subtropical marine environments. Although the diversity of Symbiodinium provides a possible axis for niche diversification, increased functional range and resilience to physical stressors such as elevated temperature, how such diversity relates to the physiological balance between autotrophy and heterotrophy of the host animal remains unknown. Here, we experimentally show interspecific and intraspecific variability of photosynthetic carbon fixation and subsequent translocation by Symbiodinium to the model cnidarian host Aiptasia pallida. By using a clonal anemone line harboring different species of Symbiodinium, we determined that symbiont identity influences trophic plasticity through its density, capacity to fix carbon, quantity of translocated carbon and ultimately the host's capacity to ingest and digest prey. Symbiont carbon translocation and host prey ingestion were positively correlated across symbiont combinations that consisted of different isoclonal lines of Symbiodinium minutum, while a combination with type D4-5 Symbiodinium displayed lower carbon translocation, and prey capture and digestion more similar to Aiptasia lacking symbionts. The absence of a shift toward greater heterotrophy when carbon translocation is low suggests that the metabolic demand of feeding and digestion may overwhelm nutritional stores when photosynthesis is reduced, and amends the possible role of animal feeding in resistance to or recovery from the effects of climate change in more obligate symbioses such as reef-building corals.}, } @article {pmid25616789, year = {2015}, author = {Bazghaleh, N and Hamel, C and Gan, Y and Tar'an, B and Knight, JD}, title = {Genotype-specific variation in the structure of root fungal communities is related to chickpea plant productivity.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {7}, pages = {2368-2377}, pmid = {25616789}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Biota ; Cicer/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Saskatchewan ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence supports the existence of variations in the association of plant roots with symbiotic fungi that can improve plant growth and inhibit pathogens. However, it is unclear whether intraspecific variations in the symbiosis exist among plant cultivars and if they can be used to improve crop productivity. In this study, we determined genotype-specific variations in the association of chickpea roots with soil fungal communities and evaluated the effect of root mycota on crop productivity. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in southwestern Saskatchewan, the central zone of the chickpea growing region of the Canadian prairie. The effects of 13 cultivars of chickpea, comprising a wide range of phenotypes and genotypes, were tested on the structure of root-associated fungal communities based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 18S rRNA gene markers using 454 amplicon pyrosequencing. Chickpea cultivar significantly influenced the structure of the root fungal community. The magnitude of the effect varied with the genotypes evaluated, and effects were consistent across years. For example, the roots of CDC Corrine, CDC Cory, and CDC Anna hosted the highest fungal diversity and CDC Alma and CDC Xena the lowest. Fusarium sp. was dominant in chickpea roots but was less abundant in CDC Corrine than the other cultivars. A bioassay showed that certain of these fungal taxa, including Fusarium species, can reduce the productivity of chickpea, whereas Trichoderma harzianum can increase chickpea productivity. The large variation in the profile of chickpea root mycota, which included growth-promoting and -inhibiting species, supports the possibility of improving the productivity of chickpea by improving its root mycota in chickpea genetic improvement programs using traditional breeding techniques.}, } @article {pmid25615931, year = {2015}, author = {Doré, J and Blottière, H}, title = {The influence of diet on the gut microbiota and its consequences for health.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {32}, number = {}, pages = {195-199}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2015.01.002}, pmid = {25615931}, issn = {1879-0429}, mesh = {Animals ; *Diet ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Life Style ; Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Man is an intimate symbiosis between 10 trillion human cells and some 100 trillion bacteria, most of which inhabit the intestine where they constitute an extremely dense and diverse microbiota. This symbiotic balance that has to be established within each newborn is key to the maintenance of health and well being. Its development is markedly influenced by microbial exposure encountered very early in life. Mode of infant feeding, and the post-weaning transition to habitual diet will further shape the microbiota. Recent studies support the concept that diet should be viewed as a means to prevent potentially durable alterations of symbiosis observed in immune-mediated metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Non-digestible dietary fiber will play a major role in this context.}, } @article {pmid25615871, year = {2015}, author = {Adolfsson, L and Solymosi, K and Andersson, MX and Keresztes, Á and Uddling, J and Schoefs, B and Spetea, C}, title = {Mycorrhiza symbiosis increases the surface for sunlight capture in Medicago truncatula for better photosynthetic production.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0115314}, pmid = {25615871}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology ; Sunlight ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a prominent role in plant nutrition by supplying mineral nutrients, particularly inorganic phosphate (Pi), and also constitute an important carbon sink. AM stimulates plant growth and development, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, Medicago truncatula plants were grown with Rhizophagus irregularis BEG141 inoculum (AM), mock inoculum (control) or with P(i) fertilization. We hypothesized that AM stimulates plant growth through either modifications of leaf anatomy or photosynthetic activity per leaf area. We investigated whether these effects are shared with P(i) fertilization, and also assessed the relationship between levels of AM colonization and these effects. We found that increased P(i) supply by either mycorrhization or fertilization led to improved shoot growth associated with increased nitrogen uptake and carbon assimilation. Both mycorrhized and P(i)-fertilized plants had more and longer branches with larger and thicker leaves than the control plants, resulting in an increased photosynthetically active area. AM-specific effects were earlier appearance of the first growth axes and increased number of chloroplasts per cell section, since they were not induced by P(i) fertilization. Photosynthetic activity per leaf area remained the same regardless of type of treatment. In conclusion, the increase in growth of mycorrhized and P(i)-fertilized Medicago truncatula plants is linked to an increase in the surface for sunlight capture, hence increasing their photosynthetic production, rather than to an increase in the photosynthetic activity per leaf area.}, } @article {pmid25615559, year = {2015}, author = {Field, KJ and Leake, JR and Tille, S and Allinson, KE and Rimington, WR and Bidartondo, MI and Beerling, DJ and Cameron, DD}, title = {From mycoheterotrophy to mutualism: mycorrhizal specificity and functioning in Ophioglossum vulgatum sporophytes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1492-1502}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13263}, pmid = {25615559}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Biological Evolution ; Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Ferns/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal functioning in the fern Ophioglossum is complex and poorly understood. It is unknown whether mature O. vulgatum sporophytes form mutualistic associations with fungi of the Glomeromycota and with what specificity. Are green sporophytes able to 'repay' fungal carbon (C) invested in them by mycorrhizal partners during the initially heterotrophic gametophyte and early sporophyte stages of the lifecycle? We identified fungal partners of O. vulgatum sporophytes using molecular techniques and supplied them with (33) P-orthophosphate and O. vulgatum sporophytes with (14) CO2 . We traced the movement of fungal-acquired nutrients and plant-fixed C between symbionts and analysed natural abundance (13) C and (15) N isotope signatures to assess nutritional interactions. We found fungal specificity of O. vulgatum sporophytes towards a mycorrhizal fungus closely related to Glomus macrocarpum. Our radioisotope tracers revealed reciprocal C-for-phosphorus exchange between fern sporophytes and fungal partners, despite competition from surrounding vegetation. Monocultures of O. vulgatum were enriched in (13) C and (15) N, providing inconclusive evidence of mycoheterotrophy when experiencing competition from the surrounding plant community. We show mutualistic and specific symbiosis between a eusporangiate fern and fungi of the Glomeromycota. Our findings suggest a 'take now, pay later' strategy of mycorrhizal functioning through the lifecycle O. vulgatum, from mycoheterotrophic gametophyte to mutualistic aboveground sporophyte.}, } @article {pmid25615409, year = {2015}, author = {Walder, F and Brulé, D and Koegel, S and Wiemken, A and Boller, T and Courty, PE}, title = {Plant phosphorus acquisition in a common mycorrhizal network: regulation of phosphate transporter genes of the Pht1 family in sorghum and flax.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1632-1645}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13292}, pmid = {25615409}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Flax/*genetics/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sorghum/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In a preceding microcosm study, we found huge differences in phosphorus (P) acquisition in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and flax (Linum usitatissimum) sharing a common mycorrhizal network (CMN). Is the transcriptional regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-induced inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) transporters responsible for these differences? We characterized and analyzed the expression of Pi transporters of the Pht1 family in both plant species, and identified two new AM-inducible Pi transporters in flax. Mycorrhizal Pi acquisition was strongly affected by the combination of plant and AM fungal species. A corresponding change in the expression of two AM-inducible Pht1 transporters was noticed in both plants (SbPT9, SbPT10, LuPT5 and LuPT8), but the effect was very weak. Overall, the expression level of these genes did not explain why flax took up more Pi from the CMN than did sorghum. The post-transcriptional regulation of the transporters and their biochemical properties may be more important for their function than the fine-tuning of their gene expression.}, } @article {pmid25614557, year = {2015}, author = {Horn, F and Üzüm, Z and Möbius, N and Guthke, R and Linde, J and Hertweck, C}, title = {Draft Genome Sequences of Symbiotic and Nonsymbiotic Rhizopus microsporus Strains CBS 344.29 and ATCC 62417.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {25614557}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Specific Rhizopus microsporus pathovars harbor bacterial endosymbionts (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) for the production of a phytotoxin. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two R. microsporus strains, one symbiotic (ATCC 62417), and one endosymbiont-free (CBS 344.29). The gene predictions were supported by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. The functional annotation sets the basis for comparative analyses.}, } @article {pmid25608180, year = {2015}, author = {Gavrin, A and Jansen, V and Ivanov, S and Bisseling, T and Fedorova, E}, title = {ARP2/3-Mediated Actin Nucleation Associated With Symbiosome Membrane Is Essential for the Development of Symbiosomes in Infected Cells of Medicago truncatula Root Nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {5}, pages = {605-614}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-14-0402-R}, pmid = {25608180}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex/genetics/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Actin-Related Protein 3/genetics/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Actins/genetics/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/*ultrastructure ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Protein Transport ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in the symbiotic infected cells of root nodules are kept in membrane compartments derived from the host cell plasma membrane, forming what are known as symbiosomes. These are maintained as individual units, with mature symbiosomes having a specific radial position in the host cell cytoplasm. The mechanisms that adapt the host cell architecture to accommodate intracellular bacteria are not clear. The intracellular organization of any cell depends heavily on the actin cytoskeleton. Dynamic rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton is crucial for cytoplasm organization and intracellular trafficking of vesicles and organelles. A key component of the actin cytoskeleton rearrangement is the ARP2/3 complex, which nucleates new actin filaments and forms branched actin networks. To clarify the role of the ARP2/3 complex in the development of infected cells and symbiosomes, we analyzed the pattern of actin microfilaments and the functional role of ARP3 in Medicago truncatula root nodules. In infected cells, ARP3 protein and actin were spatially associated with maturing symbiosomes. Partial ARP3 silencing causes defects in symbiosome development; in particular, ARP3 silencing disrupts the final differentiation steps in functional maturation into nitrogen-fixing units.}, } @article {pmid25607640, year = {2015}, author = {DeSalvo, SC and Liu, Y and Choudhary, GS and Ren, D and Nangia, S and Sureshkumar, R}, title = {Signaling factor interactions with polysaccharide aggregates of bacterial biofilms.}, journal = {Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {1958-1966}, doi = {10.1021/la504721b}, pmid = {25607640}, issn = {1520-5827}, mesh = {Bacteria/*cytology/*metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Dextrans/metabolism ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/chemistry/metabolism ; *Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; *Signal Transduction ; Thermodynamics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biofilms are surface-attached colonies of bacteria embedded in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Inside the eukaryotic hosts, bacterial biofilms interact with the host cells through signaling factors (SFs). These signaling processes play important roles in the interaction between bacteria and host cells and the outcome of infections and symbiosis. However, how host immune factors diffuse through biofilms is not well understood. Here, we describe synergistic molecular dynamics and experimental approaches for studying the translocation of signaling factors through polysaccharide chain aggregates present in the extracellular matrix of bacterial biofilms. The effect of polysaccharide chain degradation on the energetics of SF-EPS interactions was examined by simulating an EPS consisting of various polysaccharide chain lengths. It is shown that the SF stabilization energy, defined as the average potential of mean force difference between the environments outside and within the matrix, increases linearly with decreasing chain length. This effect has been explained based on the changes in the polysaccharide configurations around the SF. Specifically, shorter chains are packed tightly around the SF, promoting favorable SF-EPS interactions, while longer chains are packed loosely resulting in screening of interactions with neighboring chains. We further investigated the translocation of SFs through the host cell membrane using molecular dynamics simulations. Further, simulations predict the existence of energy barriers greater than 1000 kJ mol(-1) associated with the translocation of the signaling factors necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) across the lipid bilayer. The agreement of computational and experimental findings motivates future computational studies using a more detailed description of the EPS aimed at understanding the role of the extracellular matrix on biofilm drug resistance.}, } @article {pmid25603991, year = {2015}, author = {Sainz, M and Calvo-Begueria, L and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Wienkoop, S and Abián, J and Staudinger, C and Bartesaghi, S and Radi, R and Becana, M}, title = {Leghemoglobin is nitrated in functional legume nodules in a tyrosine residue within the heme cavity by a nitrite/peroxide-dependent mechanism.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {81}, number = {5}, pages = {723-735}, pmid = {25603991}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {P 23441/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; R01 AI095173/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Heme/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Leghemoglobin/*metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Nitrogen Dioxide/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/genetics ; Peroxynitrous Acid/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*metabolism ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism ; Tyrosine/analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Protein tyrosine (Tyr) nitration is a post-translational modification yielding 3-nitrotyrosine (NO2 -Tyr). Formation of NO2 -Tyr is generally considered as a marker of nitro-oxidative stress and is involved in some human pathophysiological disorders, but has been poorly studied in plants. Leghemoglobin (Lb) is an abundant hemeprotein of legume nodules that plays an essential role as an O2 transporter. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used for a targeted search and quantification of NO2 -Tyr in Lb. For all Lbs examined, Tyr30, located in the distal heme pocket, is the major target of nitration. Lower amounts were found for NO2 -Tyr25 and NO2 -Tyr133. Nitrated Lb and other as yet unidentified nitrated proteins were also detected in nodules of plants not receiving NO3- and were found to decrease during senescence. This demonstrates formation of nitric oxide (˙NO) and NO2- by alternative means to nitrate reductase, probably via a ˙NO synthase-like enzyme, and strongly suggests that nitrated proteins perform biological functions and are not merely metabolic byproducts. In vitro assays with purified Lb revealed that Tyr nitration requires NO2- + H2 O2 and that peroxynitrite is not an efficient inducer of nitration, probably because Lb isomerizes it to NO3-. Nitrated Lb is formed via oxoferryl Lb, which generates nitrogen dioxide and tyrosyl radicals. This mechanism is distinctly different from that involved in heme nitration. Formation of NO2 -Tyr in Lb is a consequence of active metabolism in functional nodules, where Lb may act as a sink of toxic peroxynitrite and may play a protective role in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25603965, year = {2015}, author = {Kazenel, MR and Debban, CL and Ranelli, L and Hendricks, WQ and Chung, YA and Pendergast, TH and Charlton, ND and Young, CA and Rudgers, JA}, title = {A mutualistic endophyte alters the niche dimensions of its host plant.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {25603965}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Mutualisms can play important roles in influencing species coexistence and determining community composition. However, few studies have tested whether such interactions can affect species distributions by altering the niches of partner species. In subalpine meadows of the Rocky Mountains, USA, we explored whether the presence of a fungal endophyte (genus Epichloë) may shift the niche of its partner plant, marsh bluegrass (Poa leptocoma) relative to a closely related but endophyte-free grass species, nodding bluegrass (Poa reflexa). Using observations and a 3-year field experiment, we tested two questions: (i) Do P. leptocoma and P. reflexa occupy different ecological niches? and (ii) Does endophyte presence affect the relative fitness of P. leptocoma versus P. reflexa in the putative niches of these grass species? The two species were less likely to co-occur than expected by chance. Specifically, P. leptocoma grew closer to water sources and in wetter soils than P. reflexa, and also had higher root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi. Endophyte-symbiotic P. leptocoma seeds germinated with greater frequency in P. leptocoma niches relative to P. reflexa niches, whereas neither endophyte-free (experimentally removed) P. leptocoma seeds nor P. reflexa seeds showed differential germination between the two niche types. Thus, endophyte presence constrained the germination and early survival of host plants to microsites occupied by P. leptocoma. However, endophyte-symbiotic P. leptocoma ultimately showed greater growth than endophyte-free plants across all microsites, indicating a net benefit of the symbiosis at this life history stage. Differential effects of endophyte symbiosis on different host life history stages may thus contribute to niche partitioning between the two congeneric plant species. Our study therefore identifies a symbiotic relationship as a potential mechanism facilitating the coexistence of two species, suggesting that symbiont effects on host niche may have community-level consequences.}, } @article {pmid25603394, year = {2015}, author = {Carro, L and Pujic, P and Alloisio, N and Fournier, P and Boubakri, H and Hay, AE and Poly, F and François, P and Hocher, V and Mergaert, P and Balmand, S and Rey, M and Heddi, A and Normand, P}, title = {Alnus peptides modify membrane porosity and induce the release of nitrogen-rich metabolites from nitrogen-fixing Frankia.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {1723-1733}, pmid = {25603394}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Alnus/*physiology ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/drug effects/*physiology ; Defensins/metabolism ; Frankia/drug effects/*physiology ; Microarray Analysis ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/pharmacology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Porosity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal plant growth in pioneer ecosystems depends on the symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium Frankia cells that are housed in special root organs called nodules. Nitrogen fixation occurs in differentiated Frankia cells known as vesicles. Vesicles lack a pathway for assimilating ammonia beyond the glutamine stage and are supposed to transfer reduced nitrogen to the plant host cells. However, a mechanism for the transfer of nitrogen-fixation products to the plant cells remains elusive. Here, new elements for this metabolic exchange are described. We show that Alnus glutinosa nodules express defensin-like peptides, and one of these, Ag5, was found to target Frankia vesicles. In vitro and in vivo analyses showed that Ag5 induces drastic physiological changes in Frankia, including an increased permeability of vesicle membranes. A significant release of nitrogen-containing metabolites, mainly glutamine and glutamate, was found in N2-fixing cultures treated with Ag5. This work demonstrates that the Ag5 peptide is central for Frankia physiology in nodules and uncovers a novel cellular function for this large and widespread defensin peptide family.}, } @article {pmid25597676, year = {2015}, author = {Xie, P and Hao, X and Herzberg, M and Luo, Y and Nies, DH and Wei, G}, title = {Genomic analyses of metal resistance genes in three plant growth promoting bacteria of legume plants in Northwest mine tailings, China.}, journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)}, volume = {27}, number = {}, pages = {179-187}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2014.07.017}, pmid = {25597676}, issn = {1001-0742}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics/physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; China ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Medicago/growth & development/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Robinia/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/physiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To better understand the diversity of metal resistance genetic determinant from microbes that survived at metal tailings in northwest of China, a highly elevated level of heavy metal containing region, genomic analyses was conducted using genome sequence of three native metal-resistant plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). It shows that: Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 contains metal transporters from P-type ATPase, CDF (Cation Diffusion Facilitator), HupE/UreJ and CHR (chromate ion transporter) family involved in copper, zinc, nickel as well as chromate resistance and homeostasis. Meanwhile, the putative CopA/CueO system is expected to mediate copper resistance in Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 while ZntA transporter, assisted with putative CzcD, determines zinc tolerance in Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286. The greenhouse experiment provides the consistent evidence of the plant growth promoting effects of these microbes on their hosts by nitrogen fixation and/or indoleacetic acid (IAA) secretion, indicating a potential in-site phytoremediation usage in the mining tailing regions of China.}, } @article {pmid25594414, year = {2015}, author = {Hao, X and Xie, P and Zhu, YG and Taghavi, S and Wei, G and Rensing, C}, title = {Copper tolerance mechanisms of Mesorhizobium amorphae and its role in aiding phytostabilization by Robinia pseudoacacia in copper contaminated soil.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {2328-2340}, doi = {10.1021/es504956a}, pmid = {25594414}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Copper/pharmacokinetics/*pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Mesorhizobium/*drug effects/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Robinia/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Soil Pollutants/pharmacokinetics/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Tissue Distribution ; }, abstract = {The legume-rhizobium symbiosis has been proposed as an important system for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils due to its beneficial activity of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, little is known about metal resistant mechanism of rhizobia and the role of metal resistance determinants in phytoremediation. In this study, copper resistance mechanisms were investigated for a multiple metal resistant plant growth promoting rhizobium, Mesorhizobium amorphae 186. Three categories of determinants involved in copper resistance were identified through transposon mutagenesis, including genes encoding a P-type ATPase (CopA), hypothetical proteins, and other proteins (a GTP-binding protein and a ribosomal protein). Among these determinants, copA played the dominant role in copper homeostasis of M. amorphae 186. Mutagenesis of a hypothetical gene lipA in mutant MlipA exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes including sensitivity to copper, blocked symbiotic capacity and inhibited growth. In addition, the expression of cusB encoding part of an RND-type efflux system was induced by copper. To explore the possible role of copper resistance mechanism in phytoremediation of copper contaminated soil, the symbiotic nodulation and nitrogen fixation abilities were compared using a wild-type strain, a copA-defective mutant, and a lipA-defective mutant. Results showed that a copA deletion did not affect the symbiotic capacity of rhizobia under uncontaminated condition, but the protective role of copA in symbiotic processes at high copper concentration is likely concentration-dependent. In contrast, inoculation of a lipA-defective strain led to significant decreases in the functional nodule numbers, total N content, plant biomass and leghemoglobin expression level of Robinia pseudoacacia even under conditions of uncontaminated soil. Moreover, plants inoculated with lipA-defective strain accumulated much less copper than both the wild-type strain and the copA-defective strain, suggesting an important role of a healthy symbiotic relationship between legume and rhizobia in phytostabilization.}, } @article {pmid25593788, year = {2014}, author = {Gordon, JE and Christie, PJ}, title = {The Agrobacterium Ti Plasmids.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {25593788}, issn = {2165-0497}, support = {R01 GM048746/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM48746/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics ; DNA Replication ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Plant Tumor-Inducing Plasmids ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen with the capacity to deliver a segment of oncogenic DNA carried on a large plasmid called the tumor-inducing or Ti plasmid to susceptible plant cells. A. tumefaciens belongs to the class Alphaproteobacteria, whose members include other plant pathogens (Agrobacterium rhizogenes), plant and insect symbionts (Rhizobium spp. and Wolbachia spp., respectively), human pathogens (Brucella spp., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp.), and nonpathogens (Caulobacter crescentus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides). Many species of Alphaproteobacteria carry large plasmids ranging in size from ∼100 kb to nearly 2 Mb. These large replicons typically code for functions essential for cell physiology, pathogenesis, or symbiosis. Most of these elements rely on a conserved gene cassette termed repABC for replication and partitioning, and maintenance at only one or a few copies per cell. The subject of this review is the ∼200-kb Ti plasmids carried by infectious strains of A. tumefaciens. We will summarize the features of this plasmid as a representative of the repABC family of megaplasmids. We will also describe novel features of this plasmid that enable A. tumefaciens cells to incite tumor formation in plants, sense and respond to an array of plant host and bacterial signal molecules, and maintain and disseminate the plasmid among populations of agrobacteria. At the end of this review, we will describe how this natural genetic engineer has been adapted to spawn an entire industry of plant biotechnology and review its potential for use in future therapeutic applications of plant and nonplant species.}, } @article {pmid25593265, year = {2015}, author = {Lin, LC and Lin, GH and Tseng, YH and Yu, MS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio owensii GRA50-12, Isolated from Green Algae in the Intertidal Zone of Eastern Taiwan.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {25593265}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Vibrio owensii GRA50-12 was isolated from symbiotic green algae of coral. The genome contains genes encoding toxin production, virulence regulation, stress response proteins, types II, IV, and VI secretion systems, and proteins for the metabolism of aromatic compounds, which reflects its pathogenic potential and its ecological roles in the ocean.}, } @article {pmid25591467, year = {2015}, author = {Wesemann, DR}, title = {Microbes and B cell development.}, journal = {Advances in immunology}, volume = {125}, number = {}, pages = {155-178}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ai.2014.09.005}, pmid = {25591467}, issn = {1557-8445}, support = {R56 AI113217/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI089972/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI113217/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Chickens ; Gene Conversion ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Mice ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Rabbits ; Sheep ; Swine ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals and many of their chronic microbial inhabitants form relationships of symbiotic mutualism, which occurs when coexisting life-forms derive mutual benefit from stable associations. While microorganisms receive a secure habitat and constant food source from vertebrate hosts, they are required for optimal immune system development and occupy niches otherwise abused by pathogens. Microbes have also been shown to provide vertebrate hosts with metabolic capabilities that enhance energy and nutrient uptake from the diet. The immune system plays a central role in the establishment and maintenance of host-microbe homeostasis, and B lineage cells play a key role in this regulation. Here, I reviewed the structure and function of the microbiota and the known mechanisms of how nonpathogenic microbes influence B cell biology and immunoglobulin repertoire development early in life. I also discuss what is known about how B lineage cells contribute to the process of shaping the composition of commensal/mutualistic microbe membership.}, } @article {pmid25589607, year = {2015}, author = {Winkler, NS and Pandolfi, JM and Sampayo, EM}, title = {Symbiodinium identity alters the temperature-dependent settlement behaviour of Acropora millepora coral larvae before the onset of symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1801}, pages = {20142260}, pmid = {25589607}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Cues ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Hot Temperature ; Larva/physiology ; Population Dynamics ; Queensland ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The global distribution of marine species, many of which disperse during the larval stages, is influenced by ocean temperature regimes. Here, we test how temperature and the coral symbionts (Symbiodinium) affect survival, symbiont uptake, settlement success and habitat choice of Acropora millepora larvae. Experiments were conducted at Heron Island (Australia), where larvae were exposed to 22.5, 24.5, 26.5 and 28.5°C. Within each temperature treatment, larvae were offered symbionts with distinct characteristics: (i) homologous Symbiodinium type C3, (ii) regionally homologous thermo-tolerant type D1, and (iii) heterologous thermo-tolerant type C15, as well as controls of (iv) un-filtered and (v) filtered seawater. Results show that lower instead of higher temperatures adversely affected recruitment by reducing larval survival and settlement. Low temperatures also reduced recruit habitat choice and initial symbiont densities, both of which impact on post-settlement survival. At lower temperatures, larvae increasingly settle away from preferred vertical surfaces and not on crustose coralline algae (CCA). Surprisingly, substrate preference to CCA was modified by the presence of specific symbiont genotypes that were present ex-hospite (outside the coral larvae). When different symbionts were mixed, the outcomes were non-additive, indicating that symbiont interactions modify the response. We propose that the observed influence of ex-hospite symbionts on settlement behaviour may have evolved through ecological facilitation and the study highlights the importance of biological processes during coral settlement.}, } @article {pmid25589577, year = {2015}, author = {Kumar, N and Lad, G and Giuntini, E and Kaye, ME and Udomwong, P and Shamsani, NJ and Young, JP and Bailly, X}, title = {Bacterial genospecies that are not ecologically coherent: population genomics of Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {140133}, pmid = {25589577}, issn = {2046-2441}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Genetic Speciation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Biological species may remain distinct because of genetic isolation or ecological adaptation, but these two aspects do not always coincide. To establish the nature of the species boundary within a local bacterial population, we characterized a sympatric population of the bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum by genomic sequencing of 72 isolates. Although all strains have 16S rRNA typical of R. leguminosarum, they fall into five genospecies by the criterion of average nucleotide identity (ANI). Many genes, on plasmids as well as the chromosome, support this division: recombination of core genes has been largely within genospecies. Nevertheless, variation in ecological properties, including symbiotic host range and carbon-source utilization, cuts across these genospecies, so that none of these phenotypes is diagnostic of genospecies. This phenotypic variation is conferred by mobile genes. The genospecies meet the Mayr criteria for biological species in respect of their core genes, but do not correspond to coherent ecological groups, so periodic selection may not be effective in purging variation within them. The population structure is incompatible with traditional 'polyphasic taxonomy' that requires bacterial species to have both phylogenetic coherence and distinctive phenotypes. More generally, genomics has revealed that many bacterial species share adaptive modules by horizontal gene transfer, and we envisage a more consistent taxonomic framework that explicitly recognizes this. Significant phenotypes should be recognized as 'biovars' within species that are defined by core gene phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid25589417, year = {2015}, author = {Akcapinar, GB and Kappel, L and Sezerman, OU and Seidl-Seiboth, V}, title = {Molecular diversity of LysM carbohydrate-binding motifs in fungi.}, journal = {Current genetics}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, pages = {103-113}, pmid = {25589417}, issn = {1432-0983}, support = {V 263/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/metabolism ; Amidohydrolases/*genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Motifs/genetics ; Chitin/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Chitinases/chemistry/*genetics ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Fungal ; Hyphae/genetics ; Plant Proteins ; Protein Binding ; }, abstract = {LysM motifs are carbohydrate-binding modules found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They bind to N-acetylglucosamine-containing carbohydrates, such as chitin, chitio-oligosaccharides and peptidoglycan. In this review, we summarize the features of the protein architecture of LysM-containing proteins in fungi and discuss their so far known biochemical properties, transcriptional profiles and biological functions. Further, based on data from evolutionary analyses and consensus pattern profiling of fungal LysM motifs, we show that they can be classified into a fungal-specific group and a fungal/bacterial group. This facilitates the classification and selection of further LysM proteins for detailed analyses and will contribute to widening our understanding of the functional spectrum of this protein family in fungi. Fungal LysM motifs are predominantly found in subgroup C chitinases and in LysM effector proteins, which are secreted proteins with LysM motifs but no catalytic domains. In enzymes, LysM motifs mediate the attachment to insoluble carbon sources. In plants, receptors containing LysM motifs are responsible for the perception of chitin-oligosaccharides and are involved in beneficial symbiotic interactions between plants and bacteria or fungi, as well as plant defence responses. In plant pathogenic fungi, LysM effector proteins have already been shown to have important functions in the dampening of host defence responses as well as protective functions of fungal hyphae against chitinases. However, the large number and diversity of proteins with LysM motifs that are being unravelled in fungal genome sequencing projects suggest that the functional repertoire of LysM effector proteins in fungi is only partially discovered so far.}, } @article {pmid25586575, year = {2015}, author = {Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Vargas, M and Martín, M and Tejedor, C and Velázquez, E and Peix, Á}, title = {Alfalfa microsymbionts from different ITS and nodC lineages of Ensifer meliloti and Ensifer medicae symbiovar meliloti establish efficient symbiosis with alfalfa in Spanish acid soils.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {11}, pages = {4855-4865}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-6347-6}, pmid = {25586575}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Acids/analysis ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/*genetics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important crop worldwide whose cropping in acid soils is hampered by the poor nodulation and yield commonly attributed to the sensitivity of its endosymbionts to acid pH. In this work, we isolated several acid-tolerant strains from alfalfa nodules in three acid soils in northwestern Spain. After grouping by RAPD fingerprinting, most strains were identified as Ensifer meliloti and only two strains as Ensifer medicae according to their 16S-23S intergenic spacer (ITS) sequences that allowed the differentiation of two groups within each one of these species. The two ITS groups of E. meliloti and the ITS group I of E. medicae have been previously found in Medicago nodules; however, the group II of E. medicae has been only found to date in Prosopis alba nodules. The analysis of the nodC gene showed that all strains isolated in this study belong to the symbiovar meliloti, grouping with the type strains of E. meliloti or E. medicae, but some harboured nodC gene alleles different from those found to date in alfalfa nodules. The strains of E. medicae belong to the symbiovar meliloti which should be also recognised in this species, although they harboured a nodC allele phylogenetically divergent to those from E. meliloti strains. Microcosm experiments showed that inoculation of alfalfa with selected acid-tolerant strains significantly increased yields in acid soils representing a suitable agricultural practice for alfalfa cropping in these soils.}, } @article {pmid25585878, year = {2015}, author = {Rózsa, L and Apari, P and Müller, V}, title = {The microbiome mutiny hypothesis: can our microbiome turn against us when we are old or seriously ill?.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {25585878}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {*Aging ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics ; *Phenotype ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic organisms of the healthy microbiome tend to be harmless or even beneficial for the host; however, some symbionts are able to adjust their virulence in response to external stimuli. Evolutionary theory suggests that optimal virulence might increase if the mortality of the host (from unrelated causes) increases.

We hypothesize that microorganisms of the human microbiome may be capable of a coordinated phenotypic switch to higher virulence ("microbiome mutiny") in old or seriously ill people, to optimize their transmission under the conditions of increased background mortality. This proposed virulence shift might contribute to the death of old or seriously ill people even in the absence of apparent disease.

TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: Testable predictions of the hypothesis include increased expression of virulence factors in isolates of the same species of the microbiome obtained from ailing/old versus healthy/young individuals, and the existence of microbial mechanisms to assess the general condition (background mortality) of the host. Such tests are going to be important to distinguish the cases of "microbiome mutiny" from the situation where opportunistic infections or increased effective virulence arise from relaxed immune control in ailing or old individuals in the absence of changes in the symbionts/pathogens.

Elucidating this potential mechanism might open up new possibilities for the clinical management of age related health issues and critical injuries or disease. Targeted prophylaxis against the microbes capable of virulence shifts could break the harmful feedback loop between deteriorating health and the "mutiny" of the microbiome.}, } @article {pmid25584519, year = {2015}, author = {Chevignon, G and Cambier, S and Da Silva, C and Poulain, J and Drezen, JM and Huguet, E and Moreau, SJ}, title = {Transcriptomic response of Manduca sexta immune tissues to parasitization by the bracovirus associated wasp Cotesia congregata.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {86-99}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.12.008}, pmid = {25584519}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Animals ; Fat Body/immunology/metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hemocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Proteins/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Larva/immunology/parasitology/virology ; Manduca/genetics/*immunology/*parasitology/virology ; Polydnaviridae/*immunology ; *Transcriptome ; Wasps/*physiology/virology ; }, abstract = {During oviposition, Cotesia congregata parasitoid wasps inject into their host, Manduca sexta, some biological factors such as venom, ovarian fluid and a symbiotic polydnavirus (PDV) named Cotesia congregata bracovirus (CcBV). During parasitism, complex interactions occur between wasp-derived factors and host targets that lead to important modifications in host physiology. In particular, the immune response leading to wasp egg encapsulation is inhibited allowing wasp survival. To date, the regulation of host genes during the interaction had only been studied for a limited number of genes. In this study, we analysed the global impact of parasitism on host gene regulation 24 h post oviposition by high throughput 454 transcriptomic analyses of two tissues known to be involved in the host immune response (hemocytes and fat body). To identify specific effects of parasitism on host transcription at this time point, transcriptomes were obtained from non-treated and parasitized larvae, and also from larvae injected with heat-killed bacteria and double stimulated larvae that were parasitized prior to bacterial challenge. Results showed that, immune challenge by bacteria leads to induction of certain antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes in M. sexta larvae whether they were parasitized or not prior to bacterial challenge. These results show that at 24 h post oviposition pathways leading to expression of AMP genes are not all inactivated suggesting wasps are in an antiseptic environment. In contrast, at this time point genes involved in phenoloxidase activation and cellular immune responses were globally down-regulated after parasitism in accordance with the observed inhibition of wasp egg encapsulation.}, } @article {pmid25583176, year = {2015}, author = {Bonfante, P and Genre, A}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal dialogues: do you speak 'plantish' or 'fungish'?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {150-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.12.002}, pmid = {25583176}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Development/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants rely on their associated microbiota for crucial physiological activities; realization of this interaction drives research to understand inter-domain communication. This opinion article focuses on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, which involves the Glomeromycota, fungi that can form a symbiosis with most plants. Here we propose the hypothesis that the molecules involved in inter-kingdom symbiotic signaling, such as strigolactones, cutin monomers, and chitin-related molecules, also have key roles in development, originally unrelated to symbiosis. Thus, the symbiotic role of these molecules relies on the co-evolved capacity of the AM partners to perceive and interpret them as symbiotic signals.}, } @article {pmid25581852, year = {2015}, author = {Poulsen, M}, title = {Towards an integrated understanding of the consequences of fungus domestication on the fungus-growing termite gut microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {2562-2572}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12765}, pmid = {25581852}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Approximately 30 million years ago (MYA), the subfamily of higher termites Macrotermitinae domesticated a fungus, Termitomyces, as the main plant decomposer and food source for the termite host. The origin of fungiculture shifted the composition of the termite gut microbiota, and some of the functional implications of this shift have recently been established. I review reports on the composition of the Macrotermitinae gut microbiota, evidence for a subfamily core gut microbiota, and the first insight into functional complementarity between fungal and gut symbionts. In addition, I argue that we need to explore the capacities of all members of the symbiotic communities, including better solidifying Termitomyces role(s) in order to understand putative complementary gut bacterial contributions. Approaches that integrate natural history and sequencing data to elucidate symbiont functions will be powerful, particularly if executed in comparative analyses across the well-established congruent termite-fungus phylogenies. This will allow for testing if gut communities have evolved in parallel with their hosts, with implications for our general understanding of the evolution of gut symbiont communities with hosts.}, } @article {pmid25581415, year = {2015}, author = {Xie, G and Wang, Y and Wang, X and Zhao, A and Chen, T and Ni, Y and Wong, L and Zhang, H and Zhang, J and Liu, C and Liu, P and Jia, W}, title = {Profiling of serum bile acids in a healthy Chinese population using UPLC-MS/MS.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {850-859}, doi = {10.1021/pr500920q}, pmid = {25581415}, issn = {1535-3907}, support = {R01 AA020212/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Bile Acids and Salts/*blood ; Body Mass Index ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Bile acids (BAs) are a group of important physiological agents for cholesterol metabolism, intestinal nutrient absorption, and biliary secretion of lipids, toxic metabolites, and xenobiotics. Extensive research in the last two decades has unveiled new functions of BAs as signaling molecules and metabolic regulators that modulate hepatic lipid, glucose, and energy homeostasis through the activation of nuclear receptors and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling in gut-liver metabolic axis involving host-gut microbial co-metabolism. Therefore, investigation of serum BA profiles, in healthy human male and female subjects with a wide range of age and body mass index (BMI), will provide important baseline information on the BA physiology as well as metabolic homeostasis among human subjects that are regulated by two sets of genome, host genome, and symbiotic microbiome. Previous reports on age- or gender-related changes on BA profiles in animals and human showed inconsistent results, and the information acquired from various studies was highly fragmentary. Here we profiled the serum BAs in a large population of healthy participants (n = 502) and examined the impact of age, gender, and BMI on serum BA concentrations and compositions using a targeted metabonomics approach with ultraperformance liquid chromatography triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. We found that the BA profiles were dependent on gender, age, and BMI among study subjects. The total BAs were significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.05) and higher in obese females than in lean females (p < 0.05). The difference in BA profiles between male and female subjects was decreased at age of 50-70 years, while the difference in BA profiles between lean and obese increased for subjects aged 50-70 years. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the BA profiles in healthy subjects and highlights the need to take into account age, gender, and BMI differences when investigating pathophysiological changes of BAs resulting from gastrointestinal diseases.}, } @article {pmid25580981, year = {2015}, author = {Pozo, MJ and López-Ráez, JA and Azcón-Aguilar, C and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Phytohormones as integrators of environmental signals in the regulation of mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1431-1436}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13252}, pmid = {25580981}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Environment ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {For survival, plants have to efficiently adjust their phenotype to environmental challenges, finely coordinating their responses to balance growth and defence. Such phenotypic plasticity can be modulated by their associated microbiota. The widespread mycorrhizal symbioses modify plant responses to external stimuli, generally improving the resilience of the symbiotic system to environmental stresses. Phytohormones, central regulators of plant development and immunity, are instrumental in orchestrating plant responses to the fluctuating environment, but also in the regulation of mycorrhizal symbioses. Exciting advances in the molecular regulation of phytohormone signalling are providing mechanistic insights into how plants coordinate their responses to environmental cues and mycorrhizal functioning. Here, we summarize how these mechanisms permit the fine-tuning of the symbiosis according to the ever-changing environment.}, } @article {pmid25580664, year = {2015}, author = {Siddiqui, F and Champion, O and Akram, M and Studholme, D and Eqani, SA and Wren, BW and Titball, R and Bokhari, H}, title = {Molecular detection identified a type six secretion system in Campylobacter jejuni from various sources but not from human cases.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {118}, number = {5}, pages = {1191-1198}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12748}, pmid = {25580664}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Campylobacter Infections/*microbiology/*veterinary ; Campylobacter jejuni/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Cattle ; Down-Regulation ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Livestock/microbiology ; Poultry/microbiology ; Type VI Secretion Systems/*genetics/metabolism ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {AIM: To determine the presence of the T6SS in Campylobacter jejuni from diverse sources.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The recently identified type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a bacterial injection machinery that plays a role in virulence, symbiosis, bacterial interactions and environmental stress responses. This system has been recently discovered in the major enteric pathogen Camp. jejuni. In this study, we used multiplex PCR (mPCR), based on conserved genetic markers of the T6SS, to screen 366 Pakistani Camp. jejuni isolates from humans, poultry, cattle, wildlife or waste-water sources. We identified the T6SS in isolates from all of these sources except humans. The overall prevalence of the T6SS among the isolates was 17/366 (4·6%) and the T6SS positive isolates clustered into four different groups. Transcription of the T6SS genes, determined using RT-PCR, was observed in bacteria cultured at 37 or 42°C but not in 37°C cultures adjusted to pH3.

CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter jejuni isolates harbouring T6SS markers genes were identified in livestock and non-livestock sources but in this study we did not identify human diarrhoeal isolates which possessed the T6SS. We demonstrated down-regulation of T6SS in an acidic environment.

This study questions the role of the T6SS in human diarrhoeal disease. Moreover this study did not identify a clear association of Camp. jejuni isolates harbouring T6SS with any of the niches tested. Our study highlights the need to establish the role of the T6SS in environmental survival or virulence.}, } @article {pmid25580435, year = {2014}, author = {Agus, A and Massier, S and Darfeuille-Michaud, A and Billard, E and Barnich, N}, title = {Understanding host-adherent-invasive Escherichia coli interaction in Crohn's disease: opening up new therapeutic strategies.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {567929}, pmid = {25580435}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Crohn Disease/*microbiology/therapy ; Escherichia coli/pathogenicity ; Escherichia coli Infections/*microbiology/therapy ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Inflammation/*microbiology/pathology/therapy ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {A trillion of microorganisms colonize the mammalian intestine. Most of them have coevolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship and some of them have developed strategies to promote their replication in the presence of competing microbiota. Recent evidence suggests that perturbation of the microbial community favors the emergence of opportunistic pathogens, in particular adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) that can increase incidence and severity of gut inflammation in the context of Crohn's disease (CD). This review will report the importance of AIEC as triggers of intestinal inflammation, focusing on their impact on epithelial barrier function and stimulation of mucosal inflammation. Beyond manipulation of immune response, restoration of gut microbiota as a new treatment option for CD patients will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid25580026, year = {2014}, author = {Shapiro-Ilan, DI and Blackburn, D and Duncan, L and El-Borai, FE and Koppenhöfer, H and Tailliez, P and Adams, BJ}, title = {Characterization of Biocontrol Traits in Heterorhabditis floridensis: A Species with Broad Temperature Tolerance.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, pages = {336-345}, pmid = {25580026}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Biological characteristics of two strains of the entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis floridensis (332 isolated in Florida and K22 isolated in Georgia) were described. The identity of the nematode's symbiotic bacteria was elucidated and found to be Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. luminescens. Beneficial traits pertinent to biocontrol (environmental tolerance and virulence) were characterized. The range of temperature tolerance in the H. floridensis strains was broad and showed a high level of heat tolerance. The H. floridensis strains caused higher mortality or infection in G. mellonella at 30°C and 35°C compared with S. riobrave (355), a strain widely known to be heat tolerant, and the H. floridensis strains were also capable of infecting at 17°C whereas S. riobrave (355) was not. However, at higher temperatures (37°C and 39°C), though H. floridensis readily infected G. mellonella, S. riobrave strains caused higher levels of mortality. Desiccation tolerance in H. floridensis was similar to Heterorhabditis indica (Hom1) and S. riobrave (355) and superior to S. feltiae (SN). H. bacteriophora (Oswego) and S. carpocapsae (All) exhibited higher desiccation tolerance than the H. floridensis strains. The virulence of H. floridensis to four insect pests (Aethina tumida, Conotrachelus nenuphar, Diaprepes abbreviatus, and Tenebrio molitor) was determined relative to seven other nematodes: H. bacteriophora (Oswego), H. indica (Hom1), S. carpocapsae (All), S. feltiae (SN), S. glaseri (4-8 and Vs strains), and S. riobrave (355). Virulence to A. tumida was similar among the H. floridensis strains and other nematodes except S. glaseri (Vs), S. feltiae, and S. riobrave failed to cause higher mortality than the control. Only H. bacteriophora, H. indica, S. feltiae, S. riobrave, and S. glaseri (4-8) caused higher mortality than the control in C. nenuphar. All nematodes were pathogenic to D. abbreviatus though S. glaseri (4-8) and S. riobrave (355) were the most virulent. S. carpocapsae was the most virulent to T. molitor. In summary, the H. floridensis strains possess a wide niche breadth in temperature tolerance and have virulence and desiccation levels that are similar to a number of other entomopathogenic nematodes. The strains may be useful for biocontrol purposes in environments where temperature extremes occur within short durations.}, } @article {pmid25578956, year = {2015}, author = {Kåhrström, CT}, title = {Symbiosis: Sweet talking your partner.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {66-67}, pmid = {25578956}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*metabolism ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid25576460, year = {2015}, author = {Hartmann, C and Behrendt, AK and Henken, S and Wölbeling, F and Maus, UA and Hansen, G}, title = {Pneumococcal pneumonia suppresses allergy development but preserves respiratory tolerance in mice.}, journal = {Immunology letters}, volume = {164}, number = {1}, pages = {44-52}, doi = {10.1016/j.imlet.2014.12.001}, pmid = {25576460}, issn = {1879-0542}, mesh = {Allergens/immunology ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hypersensitivity/*complications/*immunology/metabolism ; *Immune Tolerance ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin E/immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/immunology ; Mice ; Ovalbumin/immunology ; Phenotype ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal/*complications/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology/mortality ; Respiratory Mucosa/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Respiratory System/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is associated with an increased risk for recurrent wheeze and asthma. Killed S. pneumoniae showed some potential as an effective immunomodulatory therapy in a murine model of asthma. Murine studies demonstrated protection against allergic asthma by symbiotic bacteria via triggering regulatory T cell response: treatment with killed S. pneumoniae resulted in suppressed levels of allergen-specific Th2 cytokines, while early immunization generated a protective Th1 response. We investigated the impact of lung infection with live S. pneumoniae on both the development and maintenance of allergic airway inflammation and respiratory tolerance in mice. BALB/c mice were infected intratracheally with S. pneumoniae either prior to or after tolerance or allergy were induced, using ovalbumin (OVA) as model allergen. Infection of mice with S. pneumoniae prior to sensitization or after manifestation of allergic airway inflammation suppressed the development of an allergic phenotype as judged by reduced eosinophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, decreased IgE serum levels and Th2 cytokines, relative to non-infected allergic control mice. In contrast, infection of mice with S. pneumoniae after manifestation of allergic airway inflammation combined with late mucosal re-challenge did not affect the allergic response. Moreover, induction and maintenance of respiratory tolerance to OVA challenge were not altered in S. pneumoniae-infected mice, demonstrating that mice remained tolerant to the model allergen and were protected from the development of allergic airway inflammation regardless of the time point of infection. Our results suggest that a bacterial infection may decrease the manifestation of an allergic phenotype not only prior to sensitization but also after manifestation of allergic airway inflammation in mice, whereas both, induction and maintenance of respiratory tolerance are not affected by pneumococcal pneumonia. These data may point to a role for undisturbed development and maintenance of mucosal tolerance for the prevention of allergic inflammation also in humans.}, } @article {pmid25575732, year = {2015}, author = {Jiang, JH and Lee, YI and Cubeta, MA and Chen, LC}, title = {Characterization and colonization of endomycorrhizal Rhizoctonia fungi in the medicinal herb Anoectochilus formosanus (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {431-445}, pmid = {25575732}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Plant Development ; Plants, Medicinal/*microbiology ; Rhizoctonia/*classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The medicinal effects and techniques for cultivating Anoectochilus formosanus are well-documented, but little is known about the mycorrhizal fungi associated with A. formosanus. Rhizoctonia (Thanatephorus) anastomosis group 6 (AG-6) was the most common species isolated from fungal pelotons in native A. formosanus and represented 67% of the sample. Rhizoctonia (Ceratobasidium) AG-G, P, and R were also isolated and represent the first occurrence in the Orchidaceae. Isolates of AG-6, AG-R, and AG-P in clade I increased seed germination 44-91% and promoted protocorm growth from phases III to VI compared to asymbiotic treatments and isolates of AG-G in clade II and Tulasnella species in clade III. All isolates in clades I to III formed fungal pelotons in tissue-cultured seedlings of A. formosanus, which exhibited significantly greater growth than nonmycorrhizal seedlings. An analysis of the relative effect of treatment ([Formula: see text]) showed that the low level of colonization ([Formula: see text]) by isolates in clade I resulted in a significant increase in seedling growth compared to isolates in clades II (0.63-0.82) and III (0.63-0.75). There was also a negative correlation (r = -0.8801) with fresh plant weight and fungal colonization. Our results suggest that isolates in clade I may represent an important group associated with native populations of A. formosanus and can vary in their ability to establish a symbiotic association with A. formosanus. The results presented here are potentially useful for advancing research on the medicinal properties, production, and conservation of A. formosanus in diverse ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25573960, year = {2015}, author = {Boon, E and Halary, S and Bapteste, E and Hijri, M}, title = {Studying genome heterogeneity within the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal cytoplasm.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {505-521}, pmid = {25573960}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Cluster Analysis ; Computer Simulation ; Cytoplasm/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Dosage ; Genetic Markers ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome Size ; Genome, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {Although heterokaryons have been reported in nature, multicellular organisms are generally assumed genetically homogeneous. Here, we investigate the case of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that form symbiosis with plant roots. The growth advantages they confer to their hosts are of great potential benefit to sustainable agricultural practices. However, measuring genetic diversity for these coenocytes is a major challenge: Within the same cytoplasm, AMF contain thousands of nuclei and show extremely high levels of genetic variation for some loci. The extent and physical location of polymorphism within and between AMF genomes is unclear. We used two complementary strategies to estimate genetic diversity in AMF, investigating polymorphism both on a genome scale and in putative single copy loci. First, we used data from whole-genome pyrosequencing of four AMF isolates to describe genetic diversity, based on a conservative network-based clustering approach. AMF isolates showed marked differences in genome-wide diversity patterns in comparison to a panel of control fungal genomes. This clustering approach further allowed us to provide conservative estimates of Rhizophagus spp. genomes sizes. Second, we designed new putative single copy genomic markers, which we investigated by massive parallel amplicon sequencing for two Rhizophagus irregularis and one Rhizophagus sp. isolates. Most loci showed high polymorphism, with up to 103 alleles per marker. This polymorphism could be distributed within or between nuclei. However, we argue that the Rhizophagus isolates under study might be heterokaryotic, at least for the putative single copy markers we studied. Considering that genetic information is the main resource for identification of AMF, we suggest that special attention is warranted for the study of these ecologically important organisms.}, } @article {pmid25573471, year = {2015}, author = {Splivallo, R and Ebeler, SE}, title = {Sulfur volatiles of microbial origin are key contributors to human-sensed truffle aroma.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {6}, pages = {2583-2592}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-6360-9}, pmid = {25573471}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*chemistry/*classification ; Freezing ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Italy ; New Zealand ; Odorants/*analysis ; Olfactometry ; Phylogeography ; Reproducibility of Results ; Thiophenes/*analysis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Truffles are symbiotic fungi in high demand for the aroma of their fruiting bodies which are colonized by a diverse microbial flora. Specific sulfur containing volatiles (thiophene derivatives) characteristic of the white truffle Tuber borchii were recently shown to be derived from the bacterial community inhabiting truffle fruiting bodies. Our aim here was to investigate whether thiophene derivatives contributed to the human-sensed aroma of T. borchii. Furthermore, we questioned whether the concentration of thiophene volatiles was affected by freezing or whether it differed in truffles from distinct geographical origins. Gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) analysis revealed that thiophene derivatives were major contributors to the aroma of T. borchii. Of four thiophene derivatives detected in this study, 3-methyl-4,5-dihydrothiophene was the most important one in terms of its contribution to the overall aroma. The relative concentration of thiophene derivatives was unaffected by freezing; however, it differed in samples collected in distinct geographical locations (Italy versus New Zealand). The causes of this variability might be differences in storage conditions and/or in bacterial community composition of the fruiting bodies; however, further work is needed to confirm these hypotheses. Overall, our results demonstrate that thiophene derivatives are major contributors to the human-sensed aroma of T. borchii.}, } @article {pmid25566274, year = {2014}, author = {Clarke, VC and Loughlin, PC and Day, DA and Smith, PM}, title = {Transport processes of the legume symbiosome membrane.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {699}, pmid = {25566274}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The symbiosome membrane (SM) is a physical barrier between the host plant and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the legume:rhizobia symbiosis, and represents a regulated interface for the movement of solutes between the symbionts that is under plant control. The primary nutrient exchange across the SM is the transport of a carbon energy source from plant to bacteroid in exchange for fixed nitrogen. At a biochemical level two channels have been implicated in movement of fixed nitrogen across the SM and a uniporter that transports monovalent dicarboxylate ions has been characterized that would transport fixed carbon. The aquaporin NOD26 may provide a channel for ammonia, but the genes encoding the other transporters have not been identified. Transport of several other solutes, including calcium and potassium, have been demonstrated in isolated symbiosomes, and genes encoding transport systems for the movement of iron, nitrate, sulfate, and zinc in nodules have been identified. However, definitively matching transport activities with these genes has proved difficult and many further transport processes are expected on the SM to facilitate the movement of nutrients between the symbionts. Recently, work detailing the SM proteome in soybean has been completed, contributing significantly to the database of known SM proteins. This represents a valuable resource for the identification of transporter protein candidates, some of which may correspond to transport processes previously described, or to novel transport systems in the symbiosis. Putative transporters identified from the proteome include homologs of transporters of sulfate, calcium, peptides, and various metal ions. Here we review current knowledge of transport processes of the SM and discuss the requirements for additional transport routes of other nutrients exchanged in the symbiosis, with a focus on transport systems identified through the soybean SM proteome.}, } @article {pmid25566253, year = {2014}, author = {Zelante, T and Iannitti, RG and Fallarino, F and Gargaro, M and De Luca, A and Moretti, S and Bartoli, A and Romani, L}, title = {Tryptophan Feeding of the IDO1-AhR Axis in Host-Microbial Symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {640}, pmid = {25566253}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {293714/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, } @article {pmid25566196, year = {2014}, author = {O'Connor, TK and Humphrey, PT and Lapoint, RT and Whiteman, NK and O'Grady, PM}, title = {Microbial interactions and the ecology and evolution of Hawaiian Drosophilidae.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {616}, pmid = {25566196}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Adaptive radiations are characterized by an increased rate of speciation and expanded range of habitats and ecological niches exploited by those species. The Hawaiian Drosophilidae is a classic adaptive radiation; a single ancestral species colonized Hawaii approximately 25 million years ago and gave rise to two monophyletic lineages, the Hawaiian Drosophila and the genus Scaptomyza. The Hawaiian Drosophila are largely saprophagous and rely on approximately 40 endemic plant families and their associated microbes to complete development. Scaptomyza are even more diverse in host breadth. While many species of Scaptomyza utilize decomposing plant substrates, some species have evolved to become herbivores, parasites on spider egg masses, and exploit microbes on living plant tissue. Understanding the origin of the ecological diversity encompassed by these nearly 700 described species has been a challenge. The central role of microbes in drosophilid ecology suggests bacterial and fungal associates may have played a role in the diversification of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae. Here we synthesize recent ecological and microbial community data from the Hawaiian Drosophilidae to examine the forces that may have led to this adaptive radiation. We propose that the evolutionary success of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae is due to a combination of factors, including adaptation to novel ecological niches facilitated by microbes.}, } @article {pmid25565449, year = {2015}, author = {Weese, DJ and Heath, KD and Dentinger, BT and Lau, JA}, title = {Long-term nitrogen addition causes the evolution of less-cooperative mutualists.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {69}, number = {3}, pages = {631-642}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12594}, pmid = {25565449}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Fertilizers ; Nitrogen/*chemistry ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Trifolium/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Human activities have altered the global nitrogen (N) cycle, and as a result, elevated N inputs are causing profound ecological changes in diverse ecosystems. The evolutionary consequences of this global change have been largely ignored even though elevated N inputs are predicted to cause mutualism breakdown and the evolution of decreased cooperation between resource mutualists. Using a long-term (22 years) N-addition experiment, we find that elevated N inputs have altered the legume-rhizobium mutualism (where rhizobial bacteria trade N in exchange for photosynthates from legumes), causing the evolution of less-mutualistic rhizobia. Plants inoculated with rhizobium strains isolated from N-fertilized treatments produced 17-30% less biomass and had reduced chlorophyll content compared to plants inoculated with strains from unfertilized control plots. Because the legume-rhizobium mutualism is the major contributor of naturally fixed N to terrestrial ecosystems, the evolution of less-cooperative rhizobia may have important environmental consequences.}, } @article {pmid25564744, year = {2015}, author = {Johnson, SN and Rasmann, S}, title = {Root-feeding insects and their interactions with organisms in the rhizosphere.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {517-535}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-020608}, pmid = {25564744}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Feeding Behavior ; *Food Chain ; Herbivory ; Insecta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Root-feeding insects are an increasingly studied group of herbivores whose impacts on plant productivity and ecosystem processes are widely recognized. Their belowground habitat has hitherto hindered our understanding of how they interact with other organisms that share the rhizosphere. A surge in research in this area has now shed light on these interactions. We review key interactions between root-feeding insects and other rhizospheric organisms, including beneficial plant microbes (mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria), antagonists/pathogens of root herbivores (arthropod predators, entomopathogenic nematodes/fungi, and bacterial pathogens), competitors, symbiotic microbes, and detritivores. Patterns for these interactions are emerging. The negative impacts of mycorrhizal fungi on root herbivores, for instance, raise the intriguing prospect that these fungi could be used for pest management. Moreover, a better understanding of symbiotic microbes in root herbivores, especially those underpinning digestion, could prove useful in industries such as biofuel production.}, } @article {pmid25564743, year = {2015}, author = {Mullins, DE}, title = {Physiology of environmental adaptations and resource acquisition in cockroaches.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {473-492}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162036}, pmid = {25564743}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Cockroaches/genetics/*physiology ; Environment ; Feeding Behavior ; Insecticide Resistance ; Reproduction ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cockroaches are a group of insects that evolved early in geological time. Because of their antiquity, they for the most part display generalized behavior and physiology and accordingly have frequently been used as model insects to examine physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved with water balance, nutrition, reproduction, genetics, and insecticide resistance. As a result, a considerable amount of information on these topics is available. However, there is much more to be learned by employing new protocols, microchemical analytical techniques, and molecular biology tools to explore many unanswered questions.}, } @article {pmid25564515, year = {2015}, author = {White, JF and Chen, Q and Torres, MS and Mattera, R and Irizarry, I and Tadych, M and Bergen, M}, title = {Collaboration between grass seedlings and rhizobacteria to scavenge organic nitrogen in soils.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {25564515}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {Plants require nitrogen (N) to make proteins, nucleic acids and other biological molecules. It is widely accepted that plants absorb inorganic forms of N to fill their needs. However, recently it has become clear that plants also have the capacity to absorb organic N from soils. In this paper we describe a new kind of symbiosis involving seed-vectored rhizobacteria and grasses that is targeted at enhancing acquisition of organic N from soils. Our proposal is based on results of experiments on seedlings of grass species Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Lolium perenne L. and Poa annua L. that suggest: (i) seed-vectored rhizobacteria colonize seedling roots and influence their development; (ii) reactive oxygen secretion by seedling roots plays a role in organic N procurement by denaturing microbial proteins in the vicinity of roots (daytime activity); and (iii) plant root and microbial proteases degrade denatured proteins prior to absorption by roots (night-time activity). This research involved the following types of studies: (i) seedling root development experiments with and without rhizobacteria on a variety of substrates in agarose media and (ii) isotopic N-tracking experiments to evaluate the absorption into seedlings of N obtained from degradation of proteins. We hypothesize that grasses, in particular, are adapted to scavenge organic N from soils through application of this 'oxidative nitrogen scavenging' symbiosis with rhizobacteria, and their soil-permeating root systems. This newly discovered symbiosis in grass species could lead to new ways to cultivate and manage grasses to enhance efficiency of N utilization and reduce applications of inorganic fertilizers.}, } @article {pmid25564362, year = {2015}, author = {Martins, PG and Junior, MA and Fracetto, GG and da Silva, ML and Vincentin, RP and de Lyra, Mdo C}, title = {Mimosa caesalpiniifolia rhizobial isolates from different origins of the Brazilian Northeast.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {197}, number = {3}, pages = {459-469}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-014-1078-8}, pmid = {25564362}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Brazil ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation from the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is one of the main sources of fixed nitrogen on land environments. Diazotrophic bacteria taxonomy has been substantially modified by the joint use of phenotypic, physiological and molecular aspects. Among these molecular tools, sequencing and genotyping of genomic regions such as 16S rDNA and repetitive conserved DNA regions have boosted the accuracy of species identification. This research is a phylogenetic study of diazotrophic bacteria from sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.), inoculated with soils from five municipalities of the Brazilian Northeast. After bacterial isolation and morphophysiological characterization, genotyping was performed using REP, ERIC and BOX oligonucleotides and 16S rDNA sequencing for genetic diversity identification. A 1.5b Kb fragment of the 16S rDNA was amplified from each isolate. Morphophysiological characterization of the 47 isolates created a dendrogram, where isolate PE-GR02 formed a monophyletic branch. The fingerprinting conducted with BOX, ERIC and REP shows distinct patterns, and their compilation created a dendrogram with diverse groups and, after blasting in GenBank, resulted in genetic identities ranging from 77 to 99 % with Burkholderia strains. The 16S rDNA phylogenetic tree constructed with these isolates and GenBank deposits of strains recommended for inoculant production confirm these isolates are distinct from the previously deposited strains, whereas isolates PE-CR02, PE-CR4, PE-CR07, PE-CR09 and PE-GE06 were the most distinct within the group. Morphophysiological characterization and BOX, ERIC and REP compilation enhanced the discrimination of the isolates, and the 16S rDNA sequences compared with GenBank confirmed the preference of Mimosa for Burkholderia diazotrophic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25563948, year = {2015}, author = {Karimi, R and Azizi, MH and Ghasemlou, M and Vaziri, M}, title = {Application of inulin in cheese as prebiotic, fat replacer and texturizer: a review.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {85-100}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.11.029}, pmid = {25563948}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Caseins/chemistry ; *Cheese ; Dietary Fats/*pharmacology ; Inulin/*pharmacology ; *Prebiotics ; Rheology ; }, abstract = {Inulin is a food ingredient that belongs to a class of carbohydrates known as fructans. Nutritionally it has functional properties and health-promoting effects that include reduced calorie value, dietary fiber and prebiotic effects. Inulin is increasingly used in industrially processed dairy and non-dairy products because it is a bulking agent for use in fat replacement, textural modification and organoleptic improvement. Addition of inulin to different kinds of cheese can be beneficial in the manufacture of a reduced- or low-fat, texturized, symbiotic product. This paper gives an overview of some aspects of the microstructural, textural, rheological, prebiotic and sensorial effects of inulin incorporated in cheese as fat replacer, prebiotic and texture modifier.}, } @article {pmid25563836, year = {2015}, author = {Schlunk, I and Krause, K and Wirth, S and Kothe, E}, title = {A transporter for abiotic stress and plant metabolite resistance in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma vaccinum.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {24}, pages = {19384-19393}, pmid = {25563836}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Tricholoma/genetics/*metabolism ; Xenobiotics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungi exposed to toxic substances including heavy metals, xenobiotics, or secondary metabolites formed by co-occurring plants or other microorganisms require a detoxification system provided by exporters of several classes of transmembrane proteins. In case of mycorrhiza, plant metabolites need to be exported at the plant interface, while the extraradical hyphae may prevent heavy metal uptake, thus acting as a biofilter to the host plant at high environmental concentrations. One major family of such transporter proteins is the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) class, a member of which, Mte1, was studied in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma vaccinum. Phylogenetic analyses placed the protein in a subgroup of basidiomycete MATE sequences. The gene mte1 was found to be induced during symbiotic interaction. It mediated detoxification of xenobiotics and metal ions such as Cu, Li, Al, and Ni, as well as secondary plant metabolites if heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, } @article {pmid25562779, year = {2015}, author = {Laffont, C and Rey, T and André, O and Novero, M and Kazmierczak, T and Debellé, F and Bonfante, P and Jacquet, C and Frugier, F}, title = {The CRE1 cytokinin pathway is differentially recruited depending on Medicago truncatula root environments and negatively regulates resistance to a pathogen.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e0116819}, pmid = {25562779}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aphanomyces/pathogenicity ; Cytokinins/genetics/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/pathogenicity ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Cytokinins are phytohormones that regulate many developmental and environmental responses. The Medicago truncatula cytokinin receptor MtCRE1 (Cytokinin Response 1) is required for the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia. As several cytokinin signaling genes are modulated in roots depending on different biotic and abiotic conditions, we assessed potential involvement of this pathway in various root environmental responses. Phenotyping of cre1 mutant roots infected by the Gigaspora margarita arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiotic fungus, the Aphanomyces euteiches root oomycete, or subjected to an abiotic stress (salt), were carried out. Detailed histological analysis and quantification of cre1 mycorrhized roots did not reveal any detrimental phenotype, suggesting that MtCRE1 does not belong to the ancestral common symbiotic pathway shared by rhizobial and AM symbioses. cre1 mutants formed an increased number of emerged lateral roots compared to wild-type plants, a phenotype which was also observed under non-stressed conditions. In response to A. euteiches, cre1 mutants showed reduced disease symptoms and an increased plant survival rate, correlated to an enhanced formation of lateral roots, a feature previously linked to Aphanomyces resistance. Overall, we showed that the cytokinin CRE1 pathway is not only required for symbiotic nodule organogenesis but also affects both root development and resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental stresses.}, } @article {pmid25561840, year = {2014}, author = {Salas-Moya, C and Mena, S and Wehrtmann, IS}, title = {Reproductive traits of the symbiotic pea crab Austinotheresangelicus (Crustacea, Pinnotheridae) living in Saccostreapalmula (Bivalvia, Ostreidae), Pacific coast of Costa Rica.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {457}, pages = {239-252}, pmid = {25561840}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Pea crabs of the family Pinnotheridae exhibit a symbiotic life style and live associated with a variety of different marine organisms, especially bivalves. Despite the fact that pea crabs can cause serious problems in bivalve aquaculture, the available information about the ecology of these crabs from Central America is extremely limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe different reproductive features of the pinnotherid crab Austinotheresangelicus associated with the oyster Saccostreapalmula in the Golfo de Nicoya, Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Monthly sampling was conducted from April to December 2012. Average carapace width (CW) of the 47 analyzed ovigerous females was 7.62 mm. The species produced on average 2677 ± 1754 recently -extruded embryos with an average volume of 0.020 ± 0.003 mm(3); embryo volume increased during embryogenesis by 21%, but did not vary significantly between developmental stages. Brood mass volume varied greatly (between 11.7 and 236.7 mm(3)), and increased significantly with female CW. Females invested on average 76.7% (minimum: 21.7%; maximum: 162.8%) of their body weight in brood production, which confirms a substantially higher energy allocation for embryo production in pinnotherid crabs compared to free-living decapods.}, } @article {pmid25561838, year = {2014}, author = {Azofeifa-Solano, JC and Elizondo-Coto, M and Wehrtmann, IS}, title = {Reproductive biology of the sea anemone shrimp Periclimenesrathbunae (Caridea, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae), from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {457}, pages = {211-225}, pmid = {25561838}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Caridean shrimps are a highly diverse group and many species form symbiotic relationships with different marine invertebrates. Periclimenesrathbunae is a brightly colored shrimp that lives predominantly in association with sea anemones. Information about the reproductive ecology of the species is scarce. Therefore, we collected 70 ovigerous females inhabiting the sun sea anemone Stichodactylahelianthus in coral reefs from the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Females produced on average 289 ± 120 embryos. The volume of recently-produced embryos was on average 0.038 mm(3), and embryo volume increased by 192% during the incubation period. The average embryo mortality during embryogenesis was 24%. The reproductive output was 0.24 ± 0.094, considerably higher than in many other pontoniine shrimps. Females carrying embryos close to hatching showed fully developed ovaries, suggesting consecutive spawning. We assume that the sheltered habitat, living on sea anemones, allows Periclimenesrathbunae to allocate more energy in embryo production than most other free-living caridean shrimps. This is the first record of Periclimenesrathbunae for Costa Rica.}, } @article {pmid25561531, year = {2015}, author = {Moran, NA and Yun, Y}, title = {Experimental replacement of an obligate insect symbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {7}, pages = {2093-2096}, pmid = {25561531}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Insecta/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis, the close association of unrelated organisms, has been pivotal in biological diversification. In the obligate symbioses found in many insect hosts, organisms that were once independent are permanently and intimately associated, resulting in expanded ecological capabilities. The primary model for this kind of symbiosis is the association between the bacterium Buchnera and the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). A longstanding obstacle to efforts to illuminate genetic changes underlying obligate symbioses has been the inability to experimentally disrupt and reconstitute symbiont-host partnerships. Our experiments show that Buchnera can be experimentally transferred between aphid matrilines and, furthermore, that Buchnera replacement has a massive effect on host fitness. Using a recipient pea aphid matriline containing Buchnera that are heat sensitive because of an allele eliminating the heat shock response of a small chaperone, we reduced native Buchnera through heat exposure and introduced a genetically distinct Buchnera from another matriline, achieving complete replacement and stable inheritance. This transfer disrupted 100 million years (∼ 1 billion generations) of continuous maternal transmission of Buchnera in its host aphids. Furthermore, aphids with the Buchnera replacement enjoyed a dramatic increase in heat tolerance, directly demonstrating a strong effect of symbiont genotype on host ecology.}, } @article {pmid25561505, year = {2015}, author = {Weston, AJ and Dunlap, WC and Beltran, VH and Starcevic, A and Hranueli, D and Ward, M and Long, PF}, title = {Proteomics links the redox state to calcium signaling during bleaching of the scleractinian coral Acropora microphthalma on exposure to high solar irradiance and thermal stress.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {585-595}, pmid = {25561505}, issn = {1535-9484}, support = {BB/H010009/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Algal Proteins/analysis ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology/radiation effects ; *Calcium Signaling ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Oxidation-Reduction ; Photosynthesis ; Proteomics/*methods ; Skin Lightening Preparations ; *Stress, Physiological ; Sunlight ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Shipboard experiments were each performed over a 2 day period to examine the proteomic response of the symbiotic coral Acropora microphthalma exposed to acute conditions of high temperature/low light or high light/low temperature stress. During these treatments, corals had noticeably bleached. The photosynthetic performance of residual algal endosymbionts was severely impaired but showed signs of recovery in both treatments by the end of the second day. Changes in the coral proteome were determined daily and, using recently available annotated genome sequences, the individual contributions of the coral host and algal endosymbionts could be extracted from these data. Quantitative changes in proteins relevant to redox state and calcium metabolism are presented. Notably, expression of common antioxidant proteins was not detected from the coral host but present in the algal endosymbiont proteome. Possible roles for elevated carbonic anhydrase in the coral host are considered: to restore intracellular pH diminished by loss of photosynthetic activity, to indirectly limit intracellular calcium influx linked with enhanced calmodulin expression to impede late-stage symbiont exocytosis, or to enhance inorganic carbon transport to improve the photosynthetic performance of algal symbionts that remain in hospite. Protein effectors of calcium-dependent exocytosis were present in both symbiotic partners. No caspase-family proteins associated with host cell apoptosis, with exception of the autophagy chaperone HSP70, were detected, suggesting that algal loss and photosynthetic dysfunction under these experimental conditions were not due to host-mediated phytosymbiont destruction. Instead, bleaching occurred by symbiont exocytosis and loss of light-harvesting pigments of algae that remain in hospite. These proteomic data are, therefore, consistent with our premise that coral endosymbionts can mediate their own retention or departure from the coral host, which may manifest as "symbiont shuffling" of Symbiodinium clades in response to environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid25561086, year = {2015}, author = {Bever, JD}, title = {Preferential allocation, physio-evolutionary feedbacks, and the stability and environmental patterns of mutualism between plants and their root symbionts.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1503-1514}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13239}, pmid = {25561086}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Environment ; *Feedback, Physiological ; Models, Biological ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Population Dynamics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The common occurrence of mutualistic interactions between plants and root symbionts is problematic. As the delivery of benefit to hosts involves costs to symbionts, symbionts that provide reduced benefit to their host are expected to increase in frequency. Plants have been shown to allocate preferentially to the most efficient symbiont and this preferential allocation may stabilize the mutualism. I construct a general model of the interactive feedbacks of host preferential allocation and the dynamics of root symbiont populations to evaluate the stability of nutritional mutualisms. Preferential allocation can promote the evolution of mutualism even when the cost to the symbiont is very large. Moreover, the physiological plasticity of preferential allocation likely leads to coexistence of beneficial and nonbeneficial symbionts. For arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which facilitate plant uptake of phosphorus (P), the model predicts greater P transfer from these fungi per unit carbon invested with decreasing concentrations of soil P and with increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 , patterns that have been observed in laboratory and field studies. This framework connects physiological plasticity in plant allocation to population processes that determine mutualism stability and, as such, represents a significant step in understanding the stability and environmental patterns in mutualism.}, } @article {pmid25560912, year = {2015}, author = {Bakshi, BR and Ziv, G and Lepech, MD}, title = {Techno-ecological synergy: a framework for sustainable engineering.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {1752-1760}, doi = {10.1021/es5041442}, pmid = {25560912}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; *Engineering ; Human Activities ; Humans ; Industry ; }, abstract = {Even though the importance of ecosystems in sustaining all human activities is well-known, methods for sustainable engineering fail to fully account for this role of nature. Most methods account for the demand for ecosystem services, but almost none account for the supply. Incomplete accounting of the very foundation of human well-being can result in perverse outcomes from decisions meant to enhance sustainability and lost opportunities for benefiting from the ability of nature to satisfy human needs in an economically and environmentally superior manner. This paper develops a framework for understanding and designing synergies between technological and ecological systems to encourage greater harmony between human activities and nature. This framework considers technological systems ranging from individual processes to supply chains and life cycles, along with corresponding ecological systems at multiple spatial scales ranging from local to global. The demand for specific ecosystem services is determined from information about emissions and resource use, while the supply is obtained from information about the capacity of relevant ecosystems. Metrics calculate the sustainability of individual ecosystem services at multiple spatial scales and help define necessary but not sufficient conditions for local and global sustainability. Efforts to reduce ecological overshoot encourage enhancement of life cycle efficiency, development of industrial symbiosis, innovative designs and policies, and ecological restoration, thus combining the best features of many existing methods. Opportunities for theoretical and applied research to make this framework practical are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid25560877, year = {2015}, author = {Xue, L and Cui, H and Buer, B and Vijayakumar, V and Delaux, PM and Junkermann, S and Bucher, M}, title = {Network of GRAS transcription factors involved in the control of arbuscule development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {167}, number = {3}, pages = {854-871}, pmid = {25560877}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Plant ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*microbiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Organ Specificity ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, in symbiosis with plants, facilitate acquisition of nutrients from the soil to their host. After penetration, intracellular hyphae form fine-branched structures in cortical cells termed arbuscules, representing the major site where bidirectional nutrient exchange takes place between the host plant and fungus. Transcriptional mechanisms underlying this cellular reprogramming are still poorly understood. GRAS proteins are an important family of transcriptional regulators in plants, named after the first three members: GIBBERELLIC ACID-INSENSITIVE, REPRESSOR of GAI, and SCARECROW. Here, we show that among 45 transcription factors up-regulated in mycorrhizal roots of the legume Lotus japonicus, expression of a unique GRAS protein particularly increases in arbuscule-containing cells under low phosphate conditions and displays a phylogenetic pattern characteristic of symbiotic genes. Allelic rad1 mutants display a strongly reduced number of arbuscules, which undergo accelerated degeneration. In further studies, two RAD1-interacting proteins were identified. One of them is the closest homolog of Medicago truncatula, REDUCED ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZATION1 (RAM1), which was reported to regulate a glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase that promotes cutin biosynthesis to enhance hyphopodia formation. As in M. truncatula, the L. japonicus ram1 mutant lines show compromised AM colonization and stunted arbuscules. Our findings provide, to our knowledge, new insight into the transcriptional program underlying the host's response to AM colonization and propose a function of GRAS transcription factors including RAD1 and RAM1 during arbuscule development.}, } @article {pmid25557323, year = {2015}, author = {Regus, JU and Gano, KA and Hollowell, AC and Sofish, V and Sachs, JL}, title = {Lotus hosts delimit the mutualism-parasitism continuum of Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {447-456}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.12579}, pmid = {25557323}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*physiology ; Genetic Fitness ; Genotype ; Lotus/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Seasons ; Symbiosis/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are modelled as evolutionarily and ecologically variable with fitness outcomes for hosts shifting on a continuum from mutualism to parasitism. In a classic example, rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen for legume hosts in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. Rhizobial infection often enhances legume growth, but hosts also incur interaction costs because of root tissues and or metabolites needed to support symbionts in planta. Rhizobia exhibit genetic variation in symbiotic effectiveness, and ecological changes in light or mineral nitrogen availability can also alter the benefits of rhizobial infection for hosts. The net effects of symbiosis thus can range from mutualistic to parasitic in a context-dependent manner. We tested the extent of the mutualism-parasitism continuum in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis and the degree to which host investment can shape its limits. We infected Lotus strigosus with sympatric Bradyrhizobium genotypes that vary in symbiotic effectiveness. Inoculations occurred under different mineral nitrogen and light regimes spanning ecologically relevant ranges. Net growth benefits of Bradyrhizobium infection varied for Lotus and were reduced or eliminated dependent on Bradyrhizobium genotype, mineral nitrogen and light availability. But we did not detect parasitism. Lotus proportionally reduced investment in Bradyrhizobium as net benefit from infection decreased. Lotus control occurred primarily after infection, via fine-scale modulation of nodule growth, as opposed to control over initial nodulation. Our results show how divestment of symbiosis by Lotus can prevent shifts to parasitism.}, } @article {pmid25557275, year = {2015}, author = {Glassman, SI and Peay, KG and Talbot, JM and Smith, DP and Chung, JA and Taylor, JW and Vilgalys, R and Bruns, TD}, title = {A continental view of pine-associated ectomycorrhizal fungal spore banks: a quiescent functional guild with a strong biogeographic pattern.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1619-1631}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13240}, pmid = {25557275}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Biological Assay ; *Ecosystem ; Forests ; *Geography ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; North America ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Regression Analysis ; Soil ; Spores, Fungal/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ecologists have long acknowledged the importance of seed banks; yet, despite the fact that many plants rely on mycorrhizal fungi for survival and growth, the structure of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal spore banks remains poorly understood. The primary goal of this study was to assess the geographic structure in pine-associated ECM fungal spore banks across the North American continent. Soils were collected from 19 plots in forests across North America. Fresh soils were pyrosequenced for fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicons. Adjacent soil cores were dried and bioassayed with pine seedlings, and colonized roots were pyrosequenced to detect resistant propagules of ECM fungi. The results showed that ECM spore banks correlated strongly with biogeographic location, but not with the identity of congeneric plant hosts. Minimal community overlap was found between resident ECM fungi vs those in spore banks, and spore bank assemblages were relatively simple and dominated by Rhizopogon, Wilcoxina, Cenococcum, Thelephora, Tuber, Laccaria and Suillus. Similar to plant seed banks, ECM fungal spore banks are, in general, depauperate, and represent a small and rare subset of the mature forest soil fungal community. Yet, they may be extremely important in fungal colonization after large-scale disturbances such as clear cuts and forest fires.}, } @article {pmid25556687, year = {2015}, author = {Addison, A and Powell, JA and Bentz, BJ and Six, DL}, title = {Integrating models to investigate critical phenological overlaps in complex ecological interactions: the mountain pine beetle-fungus symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {368}, number = {}, pages = {55-66}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.12.011}, pmid = {25556687}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*growth & development ; *Models, Biological ; Ophiostoma/growth & development ; Pinus/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The fates of individual species are often tied to synchronization of phenology, however, few methods have been developed for integrating phenological models involving linked species. In this paper, we focus on mountain pine beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae) and its two obligate mutualistic fungi, Grosmannia clavigera and Ophiostoma montium. Growth rates of all three partners are driven by temperature, and their idiosyncratic responses affect interactions at important life stage junctures. One critical phase for MPB-fungus symbiosis occurs just before dispersal of teneral (new) adult beetles, when fungi are acquired and transported in specialized structures (mycangia). Before dispersal, fungi must capture sufficient spatial resources within the tree to ensure contact with teneral adults and get packed into mycangia. Mycangial packing occurs at an unknown time during teneral feeding. We adapt thermal models predicting fungal growth and beetle development to predict overlap between the competing fungi and MPB teneral adult feeding windows and emergence. We consider a spectrum of mycangial packing strategies and describe them in terms of explicit functions with unknown parameters. Rates of growth are fixed by laboratory data, the unknown parameters describing various packing strategies, as well as the degree to which mycangial growth is slowed in woody tissues as compared to agar, are determined by maximum likelihood and two years of field observations. At the field location used, the most likely fungus acquisition strategy for MPB was packing mycangia just prior to emergence. Estimated model parameters suggested large differences in the relative growth rates of the two fungi in trees at the study site, with the most likely model estimating that G. clavigera grew approximately twenty-five times faster than O. montium under the bark, which is completely unexpected in comparison with observed fungal growth on agar.}, } @article {pmid25554641, year = {2015}, author = {Bradai, L and Neffar, S and Amrani, K and Bissati, S and Chenchouni, H}, title = {Ethnomycological survey of traditional usage and indigenous knowledge on desert truffles among the native Sahara Desert people of Algeria.}, journal = {Journal of ethnopharmacology}, volume = {162}, number = {}, pages = {31-38}, doi = {10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.031}, pmid = {25554641}, issn = {1872-7573}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Algeria ; *Ascomycota ; Humans ; Male ; *Medicine, African Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; }, abstract = {Desert truffles are edible hypogeous fungi, highly appreciated by the inhabitants of hot-desert settlements. Native Saharan people use truffles for food, promoting tourism, increasing fertility, and treatment of eye diseases and fatigue.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study consists of a cross-sectional survey focusing on the knowledge, use and ethnomycological practices of desert truffles among the native people of the Algerian Northern Sahara.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted through direct interviews with 60 truffle-hunters in the regions of Ouargla and Ghardaia.

RESULTS: Three species were harvested and consumed by the surveyed subjects: Terfezia claveryi was the most appreciated and most expensive species, followed by Terfezia areanaria moderately preferred, then Tirmania nivea the least appreciated and least expensive. Among the 60 interviewees, 90% rely on the abundance of symbiotic plants (Helianthemum lippii) to harvest truffles, 65% begin harvesting from mid-February to March, after rains of the autumn (38%) and winter (36%), particularly in the Wadi beds (37%) and Daya landscapes (32%). Interviewees harvested truffles mainly for home consumption; however 26.7% sell any harvest surplus, and of those only 15% generate significant revenue from this source, and 73% considered the sale of desert truffles to have low financial value. Desert truffles are used in traditional medicine, especially against eye infections (22%), weakness (19%) and to promote male fertility (19%). In the case of desert truffles for consumption, the surveyed population preferred to prepare the truffles with couscous and meat, or in porridge. Respondents used price as the main criterion for deciding whether to purchase desert truffles.

CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed trufflers use the knowledge passed from one generation to the next to help ensure a good harvest of truffles during each foray into the desert. Our findings highlight the various uses of truffles in the Sahara Desert, and how these relate to the lifestyle of local people.}, } @article {pmid25553815, year = {2015}, author = {Queiroga, FR and Vianna, RT and Vieira, CB and Farias, ND and Da Silva, PM}, title = {Parasites infecting the cultured oyster Crassostrea gasar (Adanson, 1757) in Northeast Brazil.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {142}, number = {6}, pages = {756-766}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182014001863}, pmid = {25553815}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; Crassostrea/*parasitology ; DNA/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Parasites/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; }, abstract = {The oyster Crassostrea gasar is a species widely used as food and a source of income for the local population of the estuaries of Northeast Brazil. Perkinsus marinus and Perkinsus olseni are deleterious parasites for oyster farming and were recently detected in Brazil. In this study, a histopathologic survey of the oyster C. gasar cultured in the estuary of the River Mamanguape (Paraíba State) was performed. Adult oysters were collected in December 2011 and March, May, August and October 2012 and processed for histology and Perkinsus sp. identification by molecular analyses. Histopathological analysis revealed the presence of parasitic organisms including viral gametocytic hypertrophy, prokaryote-like colonies, protozoans (Perkinsus sp. and Nematopsis sp.) and metazoans (Tylocephalum sp. and cestodes). Other commensal organisms were also detected (the protozoan Ancistrocoma sp. and the turbellarian Urastoma sp.). The protozoan parasite Perkinsus sp. had the highest overall prevalence among the symbiotic organisms studied (48.9%), followed by Nematopsis sp. (36.3%). The other organisms were only sporadically observed. Only the protozoan Perkinsus sp. caused alterations in the oysters' infected organs. Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of P. marinus, P. olseni and Perkinsus beihaiensis infecting the oyster C. gasar. This is the first report of P. beihaiensis in this oyster species.}, } @article {pmid25553773, year = {2015}, author = {Kaya, M and Halıcı, MG and Duman, F and Erdoğan, S and Baran, T}, title = {Characterisation of α-chitin extracted from a lichenised fungus species Xanthoria parietina.}, journal = {Natural product research}, volume = {29}, number = {13}, pages = {1280-1284}, doi = {10.1080/14786419.2014.995651}, pmid = {25553773}, issn = {1478-6427}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*chemistry ; Chitin/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations formed mainly by ascomycete fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria. The presence of chitin in the fungal cell wall has been revealed by previous studies. Considering the presence of fungi in the lichens, this work determines the presence of chitin in a cosmopolitan lichen species Xanthoria parietina. In this study, chitin was derived from a lichen species for the first time and its physicochemical properties were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis. The dry weight chitin content of X. parietina was 4.23%, and this chitin was in the α-form. The crystalline index value of the lichen chitin was calculated as 70.1%. The chitin from X. parietina had a smooth surface.}, } @article {pmid25553418, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, L and Hu, X and Yang, W and Xu, Z and Zhang, D and Gao, S}, title = {The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on sex-specific responses to Pb pollution in Populus cathayana.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {113}, number = {}, pages = {460-468}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.12.033}, pmid = {25553418}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Heavy Metal Poisoning ; Lead/*metabolism ; Metals ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Poisoning ; Populus/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Using fast-growing trees to remediate soils polluted by heavy metals (HMs) has received increasingly more attention, especially for recalcitrant Pb, as one of the most seriously toxic HMs. However, little is known about the responses of plants to a diffused level of Pb pollution, and a more combined phytoremediation technique is needed to explore. In this study, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), i.e., Funneliformis mosseae, isolated from Populus euphratica distributed in a tailing of Pb/Zn ore, was introduced to investigate its effects on sex-specific responses of P. cathayana in morphology, physiology, and Pb phytoremediation capacity, when exposed to a diffused level of Pb pollution (100mg Pb(2+) kg(-1) dry soil). Symbiosis with exotic AMF did not significantly affect growth of both sexes and biomass allocation. However, when inoculated with AMF, both sexes absorbed more P, but not N in the roots, especially when exposed to the exogenous addition of Pb. The improvement of nutrient status under such conditions might be associated with a further increase in activity of antioxidant enzymes (particularly for superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)), and the mitigation of oxidation stress induced by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also observed that exotic AMF could promote the uptake and accumulation of Pb in roots of females, but not in that of males. Therefore, under this diffused pollution level, the infected females might be more suitable for remediation of this metal than infected males, due to the higher capacity of HM accumulation without obvious negative effects on growth and physiological traits. Moreover, field surveys are needed to testify our experimental results, due to diversity of soil microbial community and complexities of their interaction.}, } @article {pmid25550509, year = {2015}, author = {Schwartzman, JA and Koch, E and Heath-Heckman, EA and Zhou, L and Kremer, N and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {The chemistry of negotiation: rhythmic, glycan-driven acidification in a symbiotic conversation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {566-571}, pmid = {25550509}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Chitin/genetics/metabolism ; DNA/genetics ; Darkness ; Decapodiformes/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Hemocytes/metabolism ; Hexosaminidases/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Luminescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Oligosaccharides/genetics/metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Glycans have emerged as critical determinants of immune maturation, microbial nutrition, and host health in diverse symbioses. In this study, we asked how cyclic delivery of a single host-derived glycan contributes to the dynamic stability of the mutualism between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its specific, bioluminescent symbiont, Vibrio fischeri. V. fischeri colonizes the crypts of a host organ that is used for behavioral light production. E. scolopes synthesizes the polymeric glycan chitin in macrophage-like immune cells called hemocytes. We show here that, just before dusk, hemocytes migrate from the vasculature into the symbiotic crypts, where they lyse and release particulate chitin, a behavior that is established only in the mature symbiosis. Diel transcriptional rhythms in both partners further indicate that the chitin is provided and metabolized only at night. A V. fischeri mutant defective in chitin catabolism was able to maintain a normal symbiont population level, but only until the symbiotic organ reached maturity (∼ 4 wk after colonization); this result provided a direct link between chitin utilization and symbiont persistence. Finally, catabolism of chitin by the symbionts was also specifically required for a periodic acidification of the adult crypts each night. This acidification, which increases the level of oxygen available to the symbionts, enhances their capacity to produce bioluminescence at night. We propose that other animal hosts may similarly regulate the activities of epithelium-associated microbial communities through the strategic provision of specific nutrients, whose catabolism modulates conditions like pH or anoxia in their symbionts' habitat.}, } @article {pmid25548731, year = {2014}, author = {Freeman, CJ and Easson, CG and Baker, DM}, title = {Metabolic diversity and niche structure in sponges from the Miskito Cays, Honduras.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e695}, pmid = {25548731}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Hosting symbionts provides many eukaryotes with access to the products of microbial metabolism that are crucial for host performance. On tropical coral reefs, many (High Microbial Abundance [HMA]) but not all (Low Microbial Abundance [LMA]) marine sponges host abundant symbiont communities. Although recent research has revealed substantial variation in these sponge-microbe associations (termed holobionts), little is known about the ecological implications of this diversity. We investigated the expansion of diverse sponge species across isotopic niche space by calculating niche size (as standard ellipse area [SEA c ]) and assessing the relative placement of common sponge species in bivariate (δ (13)C and δ (15)N) plots. Sponges for this study were collected from the relatively isolated reefs within the Miskito Cays of Honduras. These reefs support diverse communities of HMA and LMA species that together span a gradient of photosymbiont abundance, as revealed by chlorophyll a analysis. HMA sponges occupied unique niche space compared to LMA species, but the placement of some HMA sponges was driven by photosymbiont abundance. In addition, photosymbiont abundance explained a significant portion of the variation in isotope values, suggesting that access to autotrophic metabolism provided by photosymbionts is an important predictor in the location of species within isotopic space. Host identity accounted for over 70% of the variation in isotope values within the Miskito Cays and there was substantial variation in the placement of individual species within isotopic niche space, suggesting that holobiont metabolic diversity may allow taxonomically diverse sponge species to utilize unique sources of nutrients within a reef system. This study provides initial evidence that microbial symbionts allow sponges to expand into novel physiochemical niche space. This expansion may reduce competitive interactions within coral reefs and promote diversification of these communities.}, } @article {pmid25548188, year = {2015}, author = {Barott, KL and Venn, AA and Perez, SO and Tambutté, S and Tresguerres, M}, title = {Coral host cells acidify symbiotic algal microenvironment to promote photosynthesis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {607-612}, pmid = {25548188}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*metabolism/*parasitology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic dinoflagellate algae residing inside coral tissues supply the host with the majority of their energy requirements through the translocation of photosynthetically fixed carbon. The algae, in turn, rely on the host for the supply of inorganic carbon. Carbon must be concentrated as CO2 in order for photosynthesis to proceed, and here we show that the coral host plays an active role in this process. The host-derived symbiosome membrane surrounding the algae abundantly expresses vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (VHA), which acidifies the symbiosome space down to pH ∼ 4. Inhibition of VHA results in a significant decrease in average H(+) activity in the symbiosome of up to 75% and a significant reduction in O2 production rate, a measure of photosynthetic activity. These results suggest that host VHA is part of a previously unidentified carbon concentrating mechanism for algal photosynthesis and provide mechanistic evidence that coral host cells can actively modulate the physiology of their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25547834, year = {2015}, author = {Kyeong, HH and Kim, JH and Kim, HS}, title = {Design of N-acyl homoserine lactonase with high substrate specificity by a rational approach.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {11}, pages = {4735-4742}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-6304-4}, pmid = {25547834}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/*genetics/*metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Mutant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {N-Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) is a major quorum-sensing signaling molecule in many bacterial species. Quorum-quenching (QQ) enzymes, which degrade such signaling molecules, have attracted much attention as an approach to controlling and preventing bacterial virulence and pathogenesis. However, naturally occurring QQ enzymes show a broad substrate spectrum, raising the concern of unintentionally attenuating beneficial effects by symbiotic bacteria. Here we report the rational design of acyl homoserine lactonase with high substrate specificity. Through docking analysis, we identified three key residues which play a key role in the substrate preference of the enzyme. The key residues were changed in a way that increases hydrophobic contact with a substrate having a short acyl chain (C4-AHL) while generating steric clashes with that containing a long acyl chain (C12-AHL). The resulting mutants exhibited a significantly shifted preference toward a substrate with a short acyl chain. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the mutations affect the behavior of a flexible loop, allowing tighter binding of a substrate with a short acyl chain.}, } @article {pmid25545079, year = {2014}, author = {Widakowich, C}, title = {[The manic depressive disease: psychodinamic aspects and affective syntony].}, journal = {Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina)}, volume = {25}, number = {117}, pages = {338-343}, pmid = {25545079}, issn = {0327-6139}, mesh = {Bipolar Disorder/*psychology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {In a time when manic-depressive disease became bipolar disorder, and it is conceptualized and treated almost as a fully medical illness, such as epilepsy, we found worth returning to some psychodynamic aspects underlying this condition. Conventionally, we depart from the concept of melancholy, to introduce in a second time, the mania, as a liberating solution of the depression. To Abraham, mania is the liberation from suffering imposed by the reality principle For Freud, mania becomes a leak from the ego face a tyrannical superego (the encounter of ego and the ego ideal). Klein explains that the mania serves to counter the depressive position and thus avoid the guilt inside of ego. For Racamier, mania is clearly a frantic negation of the anguish and emotional suffering. Today, some authors as Chabot and Husain try to define the manic depression organization, with the help of projective tests. This personality structure would be between psychosis and borderline. An axial element of this structure is the research for an affective symbiosis with each other. These concept, strongly resemble the "syntony", from Bleuler. We trace the evolution of manic depression from a psychodynamic and structural point of view, with particular interesting in the concept of syntony.}, } @article {pmid25544496, year = {2015}, author = {Huang, W and Li, B and Zhang, C and Zhang, Z and Lei, Z and Lu, B and Zhou, B}, title = {Effect of algae growth on aerobic granulation and nutrients removal from synthetic wastewater by using sequencing batch reactors.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {179}, number = {}, pages = {187-192}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2014.12.024}, pmid = {25544496}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Batch Cell Culture Techniques/*instrumentation ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biodiversity ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Biopolymers/analysis ; *Bioreactors ; Eukaryota/*growth & development/metabolism ; Extracellular Space/chemistry ; Nitrogen/*isolation & purification ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*isolation & purification ; *Sewage ; Wastewater ; }, abstract = {The effect of algae growth on aerobic granulation and nutrients removal was studied in two identical sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Sunlight exposure promoted the growth of algae in the SBR (Rs), forming an algal-bacterial symbiosis in aerobic granules. Compared to the control SBR (Rc), Rs had a slower granulation process with granules of loose structure and smaller particle size. Moreover, the specific oxygen uptake rate was significantly decreased for the granules from Rs with secretion of 25.7% and 22.5% less proteins and polysaccharides respectively in the extracellular polymeric substances. Although little impact was observed on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, algal-bacterial symbiosis deteriorated N and P removals, about 40.7-45.4% of total N and 44% of total P in Rs in contrast to 52.9-58.3% of TN and 90% of TP in Rc, respectively. In addition, the growth of algae altered the microbial community in Rs, especially unfavorable for Nitrospiraceae and Nitrosomonadaceae.}, } @article {pmid25543258, year = {2015}, author = {Gourion, B and Berrabah, F and Ratet, P and Stacey, G}, title = {Rhizobium-legume symbioses: the crucial role of plant immunity.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {186-194}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.11.008}, pmid = {25543258}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*immunology/*microbiology ; *Plant Immunity ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {New research results have significantly revised our understanding of the rhizobium-legume infection process. For example, Nod factors (NFs), previously thought to be absolutely essential for this symbiosis, were shown to be dispensable under particular conditions. Similarly, an NF receptor, previously considered to be solely involved in symbiosis, was shown to function during plant pathogen infections. Indeed, there is a growing realization that plant innate immunity is a crucial component in the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis. We review here the factors involved in the suppression of plant immunity during rhizobium-legume symbiosis, and we attempt to place this information into context with the most recent and sometimes surprising research results.}, } @article {pmid25542630, year = {2015}, author = {Bougerol, M and Boutet, I and LeGuen, D and Jollivet, D and Tanguy, A}, title = {Transcriptomic response of the hydrothermal mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus in experimental exposure to heavy metals is modulated by the Pgm genotype and symbiont content.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {63-73}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2014.11.010}, pmid = {25542630}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Bivalvia/*classification/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects ; Genotype ; Gills/microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Hydrothermal vent mussels belonging to the genus Bathymodiolus dominate communities at hydrothermal sites of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus harbors thiotrophic and methanotrophic symbiotic bacteria in its gills and evolves in naturally highly metal contaminated environments. In the context of investigations on metal tolerance/effect in B. azoricus, we focused our work on the short-term adaptive response (15days) of mussels to different metals exposure at a molecular level using metal concentrations chosen to mimic natural situations at three vents sites. The expression of a set of 38 genes involved in different steps of the metal uptake, detoxication and various metabolisms was analysed by qPCR. Mussels were also genotyped at 10 enzyme loci to explore the relationships among natural genetic variation and gene expression. Relation between symbiont content (both sulfur-oxidizing and methanogen bacteria) and gene expression was also analysed. Our study demonstrated the influence of metal cocktail composition and time exposure on the transcriptome regulation with a specific pattern of regulation observed for the three metal cocktail tested. We also evidenced the significant influence of some specific Pgm genotype on the global gene expression in our experimental populations and a general trend of a higher gene expression in individuals carrying a high symbiont content.}, } @article {pmid25542180, year = {2015}, author = {Obre, E and Rossignol, R}, title = {Emerging concepts in bioenergetics and cancer research: metabolic flexibility, coupling, symbiosis, switch, oxidative tumors, metabolic remodeling, signaling and bioenergetic therapy.}, journal = {The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {167-181}, doi = {10.1016/j.biocel.2014.12.008}, pmid = {25542180}, issn = {1878-5875}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomedical Research ; *Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/*therapy ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The field of energy metabolism dramatically progressed in the last decade, owing to a large number of cancer studies, as well as fundamental investigations on related transcriptional networks and cellular interactions with the microenvironment. The concept of metabolic flexibility was clarified in studies showing the ability of cancer cells to remodel the biochemical pathways of energy transduction and linked anabolism in response to glucose, glutamine or oxygen deprivation. A clearer understanding of the large-scale bioenergetic impact of C-MYC, MYCN, KRAS and P53 was obtained, along with its modification during the course of tumor development. The metabolic dialog between different types of cancer cells, but also with the stroma, also complexified the understanding of bioenergetics and raised the concepts of metabolic symbiosis and reverse Warburg effect. Signaling studies revealed the role of respiratory chain-derived reactive oxygen species for metabolic remodeling and metastasis development. The discovery of oxidative tumors in human and mice models related to chemoresistance also changed the prevalent view of dysfunctional mitochondria in cancer cells. Likewise, the influence of energy metabolism-derived oncometabolites emerged as a new means of tumor genetic regulation. The knowledge obtained on the multi-site regulation of energy metabolism in tumors was translated to cancer preclinical studies, supported by genetic proof of concept studies targeting LDHA, HK2, PGAM1, or ACLY. Here, we review those different facets of metabolic remodeling in cancer, from its diversity in physiology and pathology, to the search of the genetic determinants, the microenvironmental regulators and pharmacological modulators.}, } @article {pmid25540625, year = {2014}, author = {Xie, W and Wu, Q and Wang, S and Jiao, X and Guo, L and Zhou, X and Zhang, Y}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of host-associated differentiation in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).}, journal = {Frontiers in physiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {487}, pmid = {25540625}, issn = {1664-042X}, abstract = {Host-associated differentiation is one of the driving forces behind the diversification of phytophagous insects. In this study, host induced transcriptomic differences were investigated in the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci, an invasive agricultural pest worldwide. Comparative transcriptomic analyses using coding sequence (CDS), 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) showed that sequence divergences between the original host plant, cabbage, and the derived hosts, including cotton, cucumber and tomato, were 0.11-0.14%, 0.19-0.26%, and 0.15-0.21%, respectively. In comparison to the derived hosts, 418 female and 303 male transcripts, respectively, were up-regulated in the original cabbage strain. Among them, 17 transcripts were consistently up-regulated in both female and male whiteflies originated from the cabbage host. Specifically, two ESTs annotated as Cathepsin B or Cathepsin B-like genes were significantly up-regulated in the original cabbage strain, representing a transcriptomic response to the dietary challenges imposed by the host shifting. Results from our transcriptome analysis, in conjunction with previous reports documenting the minor changes in their reproductive capacity, insecticide susceptibility, symbiotic composition and feeding behavior, suggest that the impact of host-associated differentiation in whiteflies is limited. Furthermore, it is unlikely the major factor contributing to their rapid range expansion/invasiveness.}, } @article {pmid25540386, year = {2015}, author = {Bézier, A and Thézé, J and Gavory, F and Gaillard, J and Poulain, J and Drezen, JM and Herniou, EA}, title = {The genome of the nucleopolyhedrosis-causing virus from Tipula oleracea sheds new light on the Nudiviridae family.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {89}, number = {6}, pages = {3008-3025}, pmid = {25540386}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; DNA Viruses/chemistry/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Diptera/*virology ; *Genome, Viral ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleopolyhedroviruses/chemistry/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: A large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus that produces occlusion bodies, typical of baculoviruses, has been described to infect crane fly larvae of the genus Tipula (Diptera, Tipulidae). Because of a lack of genomic data, this virus has remained unclassified. Electron microscopy of an archival virus isolated from Tipula oleracea, T. oleracea nudivirus (ToNV), showed irregularly shaped occlusion bodies measuring from 2 to 5 μm in length and 2 μm in middiameter, filled with rod-shape virions containing single nucleocapsids within a bilayer envelope. Whole-genome amplification and Roche 454 sequencing revealed a complete circular genome sequence of 145.7 kb, containing five direct repeat regions. We predicted 131 open reading frames, including a homolog of the polyhedrin gene encoding the major occlusion body protein of T. paludosa nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV). BLAST searches demonstrated that ToNV had 21 of the 37 baculovirus core genes but shared 52 genes with nudiviruses (NVs). Phylogenomic analyses indicated that ToNV clearly belongs to the Nudiviridae family but should probably be assigned to a new genus. Among nudiviruses, ToNV was most closely related to the Penaeus monodon NV and Heliothis zea NV clade but distantly related to Drosophila innubia NV, the other nudivirus infecting a Diptera. Lastly, ToNV was found to be most closely related to the nuvidirus ancestor of bracoviruses. This was also reflected in terms of gene content, as ToNV was the only known exogenous virus harboring homologs of the Cc50C22.6 and 27b (Cc50C22.7) genes found in the nudiviral genomic cluster involved in bracovirus particle production.

IMPORTANCE: The Nudiviridae is a family of arthropod dsDNA viruses from which striking cases of endogenization have been reported (i.e., symbiotic bracoviruses deriving from a nudivirus and the endogenous nudivirus of the brown planthopper). Although related to baculoviruses, relatively little is known about the genomic diversity of exogenous nudiviruses. Here, we characterized, morphologically and genetically, an archival sample of the Tipula oleracea nudivirus (ToNV), which has the particularity of forming occlusion bodies. Comparative genomic and phylogenomic analyses showed ToNV to be to date the closest known relative of the exogenous ancestor of bracoviruses and that ToNV should be assigned to a new genus. Moreover, we revised the homology relationships of nudiviral genes and identified a new set of 32 core genes for the Nudiviridae, of which 21 were also baculovirus core genes. These findings provide important insights into the evolutionary history of large arthropod dsDNA viruses.}, } @article {pmid25540337, year = {2014}, author = {Hernández-Mendoza, A and Lozano-Aguirre Beltrán, LF and Martínez-Ocampo, F and Quiroz-Castañeda, RE and Dantán-González, E}, title = {A Newly Sequenced Alcaligenes faecalis Strain: Implications for Novel Temporal Symbiotic Relationships.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {25540337}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We report here the draft genome sequence of Alcaligenes faecalis strain MOR02, a bacterium that is able to colonize nematodes in a temporary fashion and kill insects for their own benefit. The availability of the genome should enable us to explain these phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid25538686, year = {2014}, author = {Soto, W and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Microbial experimental evolution as a novel research approach in the Vibrionaceae and squid-Vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {593}, pmid = {25538686}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The Vibrionaceae are a genetically and metabolically diverse family living in aquatic habitats with a great propensity toward developing interactions with eukaryotic microbial and multicellular hosts (as either commensals, pathogens, and mutualists). The Vibrionaceae frequently possess a life history cycle where bacteria are attached to a host in one phase and then another where they are free from their host as either part of the bacterioplankton or adhered to solid substrates such as marine sediment, riverbeds, lakebeds, or floating particulate debris. These two stages in their life history exert quite distinct and separate selection pressures. When bound to solid substrates or to host cells, the Vibrionaceae can also exist as complex biofilms. The association between bioluminescent Vibrio spp. and sepiolid squids (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) is an experimentally tractable model to study bacteria and animal host interactions, since the symbionts and squid hosts can be maintained in the laboratory independently of one another. The bacteria can be grown in pure culture and the squid hosts raised gnotobiotically with sterile light organs. The partnership between free-living Vibrio symbionts and axenic squid hatchlings emerging from eggs must be renewed every generation of the cephalopod host. Thus, symbiotic bacteria and animal host can each be studied alone and together in union. Despite virtues provided by the Vibrionaceae and sepiolid squid-Vibrio symbiosis, these assets to evolutionary biology have yet to be fully utilized for microbial experimental evolution. Experimental evolution studies already completed are reviewed, along with exploratory topics for future study.}, } @article {pmid25536397, year = {2014}, author = {Djordjevic, MA and Bezos, A and Susanti, and Marmuse, L and Driguez, H and Samain, E and Vauzeilles, B and Beau, JM and Kordbacheh, F and Rolfe, BG and Schwörer, R and Daines, AM and Gresshoff, PM and Parish, CR}, title = {Lipo-chitin oligosaccharides, plant symbiosis signalling molecules that modulate mammalian angiogenesis in vitro.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e112635}, pmid = {25536397}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acetylation/drug effects ; Acylation/drug effects ; Animals ; Aorta/drug effects/physiology ; Cell Adhesion/drug effects ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Disaccharides/chemistry/pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells/cytology/drug effects ; Extracellular Matrix/drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Integrins/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Mammals/*physiology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/*drug effects ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Soybeans/*chemistry ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Lipochitin oligosaccharides (LCOs) are signaling molecules required by ecologically and agronomically important bacteria and fungi to establish symbioses with diverse land plants. In plants, oligo-chitins and LCOs can differentially interact with different lysin motif (LysM) receptors and affect innate immunity responses or symbiosis-related pathways. In animals, oligo-chitins also induce innate immunity and other physiological responses but LCO recognition has not been demonstrated. Here LCO and LCO-like compounds are shown to be biologically active in mammals in a structure dependent way through the modulation of angiogenesis, a tightly-regulated process involving the induction and growth of new blood vessels from existing vessels. The testing of 24 LCO, LCO-like or oligo-chitin compounds resulted in structure-dependent effects on angiogenesis in vitro leading to promotion, or inhibition or nil effects. Like plants, the mammalian LCO biological activity depended upon the presence and type of terminal substitutions. Un-substituted oligo-chitins of similar chain lengths were unable to modulate angiogenesis indicating that mammalian cells, like plant cells, can distinguish between LCOs and un-substituted oligo-chitins. The cellular mode-of-action of the biologically active LCOs in mammals was determined. The stimulation or inhibition of endothelial cell adhesion to vitronectin or fibronectin correlated with their pro- or anti-angiogenic activity. Importantly, novel and more easily synthesised LCO-like disaccharide molecules were also biologically active and de-acetylated chitobiose was shown to be the primary structural basis of recognition. Given this, simpler chitin disaccharides derivatives based on the structure of biologically active LCOs were synthesised and purified and these showed biological activity in mammalian cells. Since important chronic disease states are linked to either insufficient or excessive angiogenesis, LCO and LCO-like molecules may have the potential to be a new, carbohydrate-based class of therapeutics for modulating angiogenesis.}, } @article {pmid25535939, year = {2015}, author = {Krupke, A and Mohr, W and LaRoche, J and Fuchs, BM and Amann, RI and Kuypers, MM}, title = {The effect of nutrients on carbon and nitrogen fixation by the UCYN-A-haptophyte symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {1635-1647}, pmid = {25535939}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Africa, Northern ; Atlantic Ocean ; Carbon/chemistry/*metabolism ; Dust ; Ecosystem ; Haptophyta/*metabolism ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between phytoplankton and N2-fixing microorganisms play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. The abundant and widespread unicellular cyanobacteria group A (UCYN-A) has recently been found to live symbiotically with a haptophyte. Here, we investigated the effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and Saharan dust additions on nitrogen (N2) fixation and primary production by the UCYN-A-haptophyte association in the subtropical eastern North Atlantic Ocean using nifH expression analysis and stable isotope incubations combined with single-cell measurements. N2 fixation by UCYN-A was stimulated by the addition of Fe and Saharan dust, although this was not reflected in the nifH expression. CO2 fixation by the haptophyte was stimulated by the addition of ammonium nitrate as well as Fe and Saharan dust. Intriguingly, the single-cell analysis using nanometer scale secondary ion mass spectrometry indicates that the increased CO2 fixation by the haptophyte in treatments without added fixed N is likely an indirect result of the positive effect of Fe and/or P on UCYN-A N2 fixation and the transfer of N2-derived N to the haptophyte. Our results reveal a direct linkage between the marine carbon and nitrogen cycles that is fuelled by the atmospheric deposition of dust. The comparison of single-cell rates suggests a tight coupling of nitrogen and carbon transfer that stays balanced even under changing nutrient regimes. However, it appears that the transfer of carbon from the haptophyte to UCYN-A requires a transfer of nitrogen from UCYN-A. This tight coupling indicates an obligate symbiosis of this globally important diazotrophic association.}, } @article {pmid25535552, year = {2014}, author = {Shapiro, JW and Turner, PE}, title = {The impact of transmission mode on the evolution of benefits provided by microbial symbionts.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {17}, pages = {3350-3361}, pmid = {25535552}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {While past work has often examined the effects of transmission mode on virulence evolution in parasites, few studies have explored the impact of horizontal transmission on the evolution of benefits conferred by a symbiont to its host. Here, we identify three mechanisms that create a positive covariance between horizontal transmission and symbiont-provided benefits: pleiotropy within the symbiont genome, partner choice by the host, and consumption of host waste by-products by symbionts. We modify a susceptible-infected model to incorporate the details of each mechanism and examine the evolution of symbiont benefits given variation in either the immigration rate of susceptible hosts or the rate of successful vertical transmission. We find conditions for each case under which greater opportunity for horizontal transmission (higher migration rate) favors the evolution of mutualism. Further, we find the surprising result that vertical transmission can inhibit the evolution of benefits provided by symbionts to hosts when horizontal transmission and symbiont-provided benefits are positively correlated. These predictions may apply to a number of natural systems, and the results may explain why many mutualisms that rely on partner choice often lack a mechanism for vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid25535196, year = {2015}, author = {Liao, D and Chen, X and Chen, A and Wang, H and Liu, J and Liu, J and Gu, M and Sun, S and Xu, G}, title = {The characterization of six auxin-induced tomato GH3 genes uncovers a member, SlGH3.4, strongly responsive to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {4}, pages = {674-687}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu212}, pmid = {25535196}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; *Genes, Plant ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/*pharmacology ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/*genetics/microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/genetics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In plants, the GH3 gene family is widely considered to be involved in a broad range of plant physiological processes, through modulation of hormonal homeostasis. Multiple GH3 genes have been functionally characterized in several plant species; however, to date, limited works to study the GH3 genes in tomato have been reported. Here, we characterize the expression and regulatory profiles of six tomato GH3 genes, SlGH3.2, SlGH3.3, SlGH3.4, SlGH3.7, SlGH3.9 and SlGH3.15, in response to different phytohormone applications and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization. All six GH3 genes showed inducible responses to external IAA, and three members were significantly up-regulated in response to AM symbiosis. In particular, SlGH3.4, the transcripts of which were barely detectable under normal growth conditions, was strongly activated in the IAA-treated and AM fungal-colonized roots. A comparison of the SlGH3.4 expression in wild-type plants and M161, a mutant with a defect in AM symbiosis, confirmed that SlGH3.4 expression is highly correlated to mycorrhizal colonization. Histochemical staining demonstrated that a 2,258 bp SlGH3.4 promoter fragment could drive β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression strongly in root tips, steles and cortical cells of IAA-treated roots, but predominantly in the fungal-colonized cells of mycorrhizal roots. A truncated 654 bp promoter failed to direct GUS expression in IAA-treated roots, but maintained the symbiosis-induced activity in mycorrhizal roots. In summary, our results suggest that a mycorrhizal signaling pathway that is at least partially independent of the auxin signaling pathway has evolved for the co-regulation of the auxin- and mycorrhiza-activated GH3 genes in plants.}, } @article {pmid25534397, year = {2015}, author = {Peerakietkhajorn, S and Tsukada, K and Kato, Y and Matsuura, T and Watanabe, H}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria contribute to increasing the population size of a freshwater crustacean, Daphnia magna.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {364-372}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12260}, pmid = {25534397}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Betaproteobacteria ; Biota ; Comamonadaceae ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Daphnia/*microbiology/*physiology ; Fertility ; Fresh Water ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Population Density ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The filter-feeding crustacean Daphnia is a key organism in freshwater ecosystems. Here, we report the effect of symbiotic bacteria on ecologically important life history traits, such as population dynamics and longevity, in Daphnia magna. By disinfection of the daphniid embryos with glutaraldehyde, aposymbiotic daphniids were prepared and cultured under bacteria-free conditions. Removal of bacteria from the daphniids was monitored by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The population of aposymbiotic daphniids was reduced 10-folds compared with that of the control daphniids. Importantly, re-infection with symbiotic bacteria caused daphniids to regain bacteria and increase their fecundity to the level of the control daphniids, suggesting that symbiotic bacteria regulate Daphnia fecundity. To identify the species of symbiotic bacteria, 16S rRNA genes of bacteria in daphniids were sequenced. This revealed that 50% of sequences belonged to the Limnohabitans sp. of the Betaproteobacteria class and that the diversity of bacterial taxa was relatively low. These results suggested that symbiotic bacteria have a beneficial effect on D. magna, and that aposymbiotic Daphnia are useful tools in understanding the role of symbiotic bacteria in the environmental responses and evolution of their hosts.}, } @article {pmid25534372, year = {2014}, author = {Friesen, ML and von Wettberg, EJ and Badri, M and Moriuchi, KS and Barhoumi, F and Chang, PL and Cuellar-Ortiz, S and Cordeiro, MA and Vu, WT and Arraouadi, S and Djébali, N and Zribi, K and Badri, Y and Porter, SS and Aouani, ME and Cook, DR and Strauss, SY and Nuzhdin, SV}, title = {The ecological genomic basis of salinity adaptation in Tunisian Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {1160}, pmid = {25534372}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Loci/genetics ; *Genomics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Recombination, Genetic ; *Salinity ; Selection, Genetic ; Soil/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: As our world becomes warmer, agriculture is increasingly impacted by rising soil salinity and understanding plant adaptation to salt stress can help enable effective crop breeding. Salt tolerance is a complex plant phenotype and we know little about the pathways utilized by naturally tolerant plants. Legumes are important species in agricultural and natural ecosystems, since they engage in symbiotic nitrogen-fixation, but are especially vulnerable to salinity stress.

RESULTS: Our studies of the model legume Medicago truncatula in field and greenhouse settings demonstrate that Tunisian populations are locally adapted to saline soils at the metapopulation level and that saline origin genotypes are less impacted by salt than non-saline origin genotypes; these populations thus likely contain adaptively diverged alleles. Whole genome resequencing of 39 wild accessions reveals ongoing migration and candidate genomic regions that assort non-randomly with soil salinity. Consistent with natural selection acting at these sites, saline alleles are typically rare in the range-wide species' gene pool and are also typically derived relative to the sister species M. littoralis. Candidate regions for adaptation contain genes that regulate physiological acclimation to salt stress, such as abscisic acid and jasmonic acid signaling, including a novel salt-tolerance candidate orthologous to the uncharacterized gene AtCIPK21. Unexpectedly, these regions also contain biotic stress genes and flowering time pathway genes. We show that flowering time is differentiated between saline and non-saline populations and may allow salt stress escape.

CONCLUSIONS: This work nominates multiple potential pathways of adaptation to naturally stressful environments in a model legume. These candidates point to the importance of both tolerance and avoidance in natural legume populations. We have uncovered several promising targets that could be used to breed for enhanced salt tolerance in crop legumes to enhance food security in an era of increasing soil salinization.}, } @article {pmid25532597, year = {2015}, author = {Goh, YJ and Klaenhammer, TR}, title = {Genetic mechanisms of prebiotic oligosaccharide metabolism in probiotic microbes.}, journal = {Annual review of food science and technology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {137-156}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-food-022814-015706}, pmid = {25532597}, issn = {1941-1413}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus/*metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; *Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Recent insights into the relationship between the human gut and its resident microbiota have revolutionized our appreciation of this symbiosis and its impact on health and disease development. Accumulating evidence on probiotic and prebiotic interventions has demonstrated promising effects on promoting gastrointestinal health by modulating the microbiota toward the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms. However, the precise mechanisms of how prebiotic nondigestible oligosaccharides are metabolized by these beneficial microbes in vivo remain largely unknown. Genome sequencing of probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria has revealed versatile carbohydrate metabolic gene repertoires dedicated to the catabolism of various oligosaccharides. In this review, we highlight recent findings on the genetic mechanisms involved in the utilization of prebiotic fructooligosaccharides, β-galactooligosaccharides, human milk oligosaccharides, and other prebiotic candidates by these probiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid25531527, year = {2014}, author = {Pan, J and Bhardwaj, M and Nagabhyru, P and Grossman, RB and Schardl, CL}, title = {Enzymes from fungal and plant origin required for chemical diversification of insecticidal loline alkaloids in grass-Epichloë symbiota.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e115590}, pmid = {25531527}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alkaloids/*chemistry/classification/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Blotting, Southern ; Blotting, Western ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics/*metabolism ; Epichloe/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Genome, Fungal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Symbiosis ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {The lolines are a class of bioprotective alkaloids that are produced by Epichloë species, fungal endophytes of grasses. These alkaloids are saturated 1-aminopyrrolizidines with a C2 to C7 ether bridge, and are structurally differentiated by the various modifications of the 1-amino group: -NH2 (norloline), -NHCH3 (loline), -N(CH3)2 (N-methylloline), -N(CH3)Ac (N-acetylloline), -NHAc (N-acetylnorloline), and -N(CH3)CHO (N-formylloline). Other than the LolP cytochrome P450, which is required for conversion of N-methylloline to N-formylloline, the enzymatic steps for loline diversification have not yet been established. Through isotopic labeling, we determined that N-acetylnorloline is the first fully cyclized loline alkaloid, implying that deacetylation, methylation, and acetylation steps are all involved in loline alkaloid diversification. Two genes of the loline alkaloid biosynthesis (LOL) gene cluster, lolN and lolM, were predicted to encode an N-acetamidase (deacetylase) and a methyltransferase, respectively. A knockout strain lacking both lolN and lolM stopped the biosynthesis at N-acetylnorloline, and complementation with the two wild-type genes restored production of N-formylloline and N-acetylloline. These results indicated that lolN and lolM are required in the steps from N-acetylnorloline to other lolines. The function of LolM as an N-methyltransferase was confirmed by its heterologous expression in yeast resulting in conversion of norloline to loline, and of loline to N-methylloline. One of the more abundant lolines, N-acetylloline, was observed in some but not all plants with symbiotic Epichloë siegelii, and when provided with exogenous loline, asymbiotic meadow fescue (Lolium pratense) plants produced N-acetylloline, suggesting that a plant acetyltransferase catalyzes N-acetylloline formation. We conclude that although most loline alkaloid biosynthesis reactions are catalyzed by fungal enzymes, both fungal and plant enzymes are responsible for the chemical diversification steps in symbio.}, } @article {pmid25531025, year = {2015}, author = {Ramaraj, R and Tsai, DD and Chen, PH}, title = {Biomass of algae growth on natural water medium.}, journal = {Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology}, volume = {142}, number = {}, pages = {124-128}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2014.12.007}, pmid = {25531025}, issn = {1873-2682}, mesh = {*Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/chemistry/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Chlorophyll A ; Microalgae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Algae are the dominant primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Since algae are highly varied group organisms, which have important functions in ecosystem, and their biomass is an essential biological resource. Currently, algae have been applied increasingly to diverse range of biomass applications. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the ecological algae features of microalgal production by natural medium, ecological function by lab scale of the symbiotic reactor which is imitated nature ecosystem, and atmospheric CO2 absorption that was related the algal growth of biomass to understand algae in natural water body better. Consequently, this study took advantages of using the unsupplemented freshwater natural medium to produce microalgae. Algal biomass by direct measurement of total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) resulted as 0.14g/L and 0.08g/L respectively. The biomass measurements of TSS and VSS are the sensible biomass index for algae production. The laboratory results obtained in the present study proved the production of algae by the natural water medium is potentially feasible.}, } @article {pmid25530287, year = {2015}, author = {Uzum, Z and Silipo, A and Lackner, G and De Felice, A and Molinaro, A and Hertweck, C}, title = {Structure, genetics and function of an exopolysaccharide produced by a bacterium living within fungal hyphae.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {387-392}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201402488}, pmid = {25530287}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Burkholderia/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Hyphae/physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizopus/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rice seedling blight fungus Rhizopus microsporus has an unusual symbiosis with a bacterium, Burkholderia rhizoxinica, which lives within the fungal cytosol and produces a potent phytotoxin that causes severe losses in agriculture. To gain insight into symbiosis factors we investigated the endosymbiont's exopolysaccharide (EPS), a secreted matrix that plays pivotal roles in mediating cell-environment interactions. By a combination of homo- and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments, we elucidated a previously unknown EPS structure: a repeating tetrasaccharide unit bearing a nonstoichiometric acetyl group on a mannose residue. We also analyzed the EPS biosynthesis gene cluster and generated a targeted mutant to compare the phenotypes. Scanning electron microscope images revealed a reduced ability of the mutant to form extracellular polymers around cell aggregates. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the symbiont's EPS genes are retained through evolutionary processes.}, } @article {pmid25529315, year = {2015}, author = {Yang, Y and Yue, R and Sun, T and Zhang, L and Chen, W and Zeng, H and Wang, H and Shen, C}, title = {Genome-wide identification, expression analysis of GH3 family genes in Medicago truncatula under stress-related hormones and Sinorhizobium meliloti infection.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {2}, pages = {841-854}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-6311-5}, pmid = {25529315}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Exons ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Introns ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Auxin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of plant growth and development by controlling the expression of auxin response genes rapidly. As one of the major auxin early response gene families, Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) genes are involved in auxin homeostasis by conjugating excess auxins to amino acids. However, how GH3 genes function in environmental stresses and rhizobial infection responses in Medicago truncatula are largely unknown. Here, based on the latest updated M. truncatula genome, a comprehensive identification and expression profiling analysis of MtGH3 genes were performed. Our data showed that most of MtGH3 genes were expressed in tissue-specific manner and were responsive to environmental stress-related hormones. To understand the possible roles of MtGH3 genes involved in symbiosis establishment between M. truncatula and symbiotic bacteria, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to test the expressions of MtGH3 genes during the early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection. The expression levels of most MtGH3 genes were upregulated in shoots and downregulated in roots by S. meliloti infection. The differences in expression responses to S. meliloti infection between roots and shoots were in agreement with the results of free indoleacetic acid (IAA) content measurements. The identification and expression analysis of MtGH3 genes at the early phase of S. meliloti infection may help us to understand the role of GH3-mediated IAA homeostasis in the regulation of nodule formation in model legumes M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid25527715, year = {2015}, author = {Takeda, N and Handa, Y and Tsuzuki, S and Kojima, M and Sakakibara, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Gibberellins interfere with symbiosis signaling and gene expression and alter colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {167}, number = {2}, pages = {545-557}, pmid = {25527715}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Gibberellins/biosynthesis/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Hyphae/drug effects ; Lotus/drug effects/*genetics/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza is a mutualistic plant-fungus interaction that confers great advantages for plant growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi enter the host root and form symbiotic structures that facilitate nutrient supplies between the symbionts. The gibberellins (GAs) are phytohormones known to inhibit AM fungal infection. However, our transcriptome analysis and phytohormone quantification revealed GA accumulation in the roots of Lotus japonicus infected with AM fungi, suggesting that de novo GA synthesis plays a role in arbuscular mycorrhiza development. We found pleiotropic effects of GAs on the AM fungal infection. In particular, the morphology of AM fungal colonization was drastically altered by the status of GA signaling in the host root. Exogenous GA treatment inhibited AM hyphal entry into the host root and suppressed the expression of Reduced Arbuscular Mycorrhization1 (RAM1) and RAM2 homologs that function in hyphal entry and arbuscule formation. On the other hand, inhibition of GA biosynthesis or suppression of GA signaling also affected arbuscular mycorrhiza development in the host root. Low-GA conditions suppressed arbuscular mycorrhiza-induced subtilisin-like serine protease1 (SbtM1) expression that is required for AM fungal colonization and reduced hyphal branching in the host root. The reduced hyphal branching and SbtM1 expression caused by the inhibition of GA biosynthesis were recovered by GA treatment, supporting the theory that insufficient GA signaling causes the inhibitory effects on arbuscular mycorrhiza development. Most studies have focused on the negative role of GA signaling, whereas our study demonstrates that GA signaling also positively interacts with symbiotic responses and promotes AM colonization of the host root.}, } @article {pmid25527542, year = {2015}, author = {Engel, P and Vizcaino, MI and Crawford, JM}, title = {Gut symbionts from distinct hosts exhibit genotoxic activity via divergent colibactin biosynthesis pathways.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {4}, pages = {1502-1512}, pmid = {25527542}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {DP2 CA186575/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; 1DP2CA186575/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bees ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; DNA Damage/drug effects ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genomic Islands ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptides/*metabolism/toxicity ; Phylogeny ; Polyketides/*metabolism/toxicity ; Rhodobacteraceae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Secondary metabolites produced by nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) or polyketide synthase (PKS) pathways are chemical mediators of microbial interactions in diverse environments. However, little is known about their distribution, evolution, and functional roles in bacterial symbionts associated with animals. A prominent example is colibactin, a largely unknown family of secondary metabolites produced by Escherichia coli via a hybrid NRPS-PKS biosynthetic pathway that inflicts DNA damage upon eukaryotic cells and contributes to colorectal cancer and tumor formation in the mammalian gut. Thus far, homologs of this pathway have only been found in closely related Enterobacteriaceae, while a divergent variant of this gene cluster was recently discovered in a marine alphaproteobacterial Pseudovibrio strain. Herein, we sequenced the genome of Frischella perrara PEB0191, a bacterial gut symbiont of honey bees and identified a homologous colibactin biosynthetic pathway related to those found in Enterobacteriaceae. We show that the colibactin genomic island (GI) has conserved gene synteny and biosynthetic module architecture across F. perrara, Enterobacteriaceae, and the Pseudovibrio strain. Comparative metabolomics analyses of F. perrara and E. coli further reveal that these two bacteria produce related colibactin pathway-dependent metabolites. Finally, we demonstrate that F. perrara, like E. coli, causes DNA damage in eukaryotic cells in vitro in a colibactin pathway-dependent manner. Together, these results support that divergent variants of the colibactin biosynthetic pathway are widely distributed among bacterial symbionts, producing related secondary metabolites and likely endowing its producer with functional capabilities important for diverse symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid25527346, year = {2015}, author = {Kuwahara, Y and Ichiki, Y and Morita, M and Tanabe, T and Asano, Y}, title = {Chemical polymorphism in defense secretions during ontogenetic development of the millipede Niponia nodulosa.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {15-21}, pmid = {25527346}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Acetonitriles/analysis ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Arthropods/*chemistry/growth & development/*physiology ; Camphanes/analysis ; Molecular Structure ; Naphthols/analysis ; Octanols/analysis ; Phenylalanine/metabolism ; Pheromones/analysis/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {A mixture of defense compounds (benzaldehyde, benzoyl cyanide, benzoic acid, mandelonitrile, and mandelonitrile benzoate), found commonly in cyanogenic polydesmid millipedes, was identified in the non-cyanogenic millipede Niponia nodulosa. These compounds were major components in 1st-4th instars, but were absent in older instars and adults. Extracts of older instars and adults contained 1-octen-3-ol, 2-methyl-2-bornene, E-2-octen-1-ol, 2-methyl-isoborneol, and geosmin; these compounds were minor components in 1st-4th instars. This ontogenetic allomone shift may be explained by the high cost of biosynthesis of polydesmid compounds from L-phenylalanine being offset by their potency in protecting the insect during fragile and sensitive growth stages. However, as the cuticle hardens in older juveniles (5th, 6th, 7th instars) and adults, this allows for a switch in defense to using less effective and less costly volatile organic compounds (presumably microbial in origin) that are ubiquitous in the millipede's habitat or are produced by symbiotic microbes and may be readily available through food intake or aspiration.}, } @article {pmid25527092, year = {2014}, author = {Price, DR and Wilson, AC}, title = {A substrate ambiguous enzyme facilitates genome reduction in an intracellular symbiont.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {110}, pmid = {25527092}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Alcohol Oxidoreductases/biosynthesis/genetics ; Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Buchnera/*genetics ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Pantothenic Acid/biosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; beta-Alanine/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Genome evolution in intracellular microbial symbionts is characterized by gene loss, generating some of the smallest and most gene-poor genomes known. As a result of gene loss these genomes commonly contain metabolic pathways that are fragmented relative to their free-living relatives. The evolutionary retention of fragmented metabolic pathways in the gene-poor genomes of endosymbionts suggests that they are functional. However, it is not always clear how they maintain functionality. To date, the fragmented metabolic pathways of endosymbionts have been shown to maintain functionality through complementation by host genes, complementation by genes of another endosymbiont and complementation by genes in host genomes that have been horizontally acquired from a microbial source that is not the endosymbiont. Here, we demonstrate a fourth mechanism.

RESULTS: We investigate the evolutionary retention of a fragmented pathway for the essential nutrient pantothenate (vitamin B5) in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum endosymbiosis with Buchnera aphidicola. Using quantitative analysis of gene expression we present evidence for complementation of the Buchnera pantothenate biosynthesis pathway by host genes. Further, using complementation assays in an Escherichia coli mutant we demonstrate functional replacement of a pantothenate biosynthesis enzyme, 2-dehydropantoate 2-reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.169), by an endosymbiont gene, ilvC, encoding a substrate ambiguous enzyme.

CONCLUSIONS: Earlier studies have speculated that missing enzyme steps in fragmented endosymbiont metabolic pathways are completed by adaptable endosymbiont enzymes from other pathways. Here, we experimentally demonstrate completion of a fragmented endosymbiont vitamin biosynthesis pathway by recruitment of a substrate ambiguous enzyme from another pathway. In addition, this work extends host/symbiont metabolic collaboration in the aphid/Buchnera symbiosis from amino acid metabolism to include vitamin biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid25526662, year = {2014}, author = {DiSalvo, S and Brock, DA and Smith, J and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE}, title = {In the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, density, not farming status, determines predatory success on unpalatable Escherichia coli.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {328}, pmid = {25526662}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {F32 GM108414/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32GM108414/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amoeba/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Dictyostelium/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Escherichia coli/*growth & development ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum interacts with bacteria in a variety of ways. It is a predator of bacteria, can be infected or harmed by bacteria, and can form symbiotic associations with bacteria. Some clones of D. discoideum function as primitive farmers because they carry bacteria through the normally sterile D. discoideum social stage, then release them after dispersal so the bacteria can proliferate and be harvested. Some farmer-associated bacteria produce small molecules that promote host farmer growth but inhibit the growth of non-farmer competitors. To test whether the farmers' tolerance is specific or extends to other growth inhibitory bacteria, we tested whether farmer and non-farmer amoebae are differentially affected by E. coli strains of varying pathogenicity. Because the numbers of each organism may influence the outcome of amoeba-bacteria interactions, we also examined the influence of amoeba and bacteria density on the ability of D. discoideum to grow and develop on distinct bacterial strains.

RESULTS: A subset of E. coli strains did not support amoeba proliferation on rich medium, independent of whether the amoebae were farmers or non-farmers. However, amoebae could proliferate on these strains if amoebae numbers are high relative to bacteria numbers, but again there was no difference in this ability between farmer and non-farmer clones of D. discoideum.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that farmer and non-farmers did not differ in their abilities to consume novel strains of E. coli, suggesting that farmer resistance to their own carried bacteria does not extend to foreign bacteria. We see that increasing the numbers of bacteria or amoebae increases their respective likelihood of competitive victory over the other, thus showing Allee effects. We hypothesize that higher bacteria numbers may result in higher concentrations of a toxic product or in a reduction of resources critical for amoeba survival, producing an environment inhospitable to amoeba predators. Greater amoeba numbers may counter this growth inhibition, possibly through reducing bacterial numbers via increased predation rates, or by producing something that neutralizes a potentially toxic bacterial product.}, } @article {pmid25523738, year = {2014}, author = {Chidambaram, R}, title = {Dentist-nephrologist symbiosis in the dental management of chronic kidney disease patient.}, journal = {Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {955}, pmid = {25523738}, issn = {1681-7168}, mesh = {*Dental Care for Chronically Ill ; *Dentists ; *Disease Management ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*complications ; }, } @article {pmid25523554, year = {2015}, author = {Satokari, R}, title = {Contentious host-microbiota relationship in inflammatory bowel disease--can foes become friends again?.}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {34-42}, doi = {10.3109/00365521.2014.966320}, pmid = {25523554}, issn = {1502-7708}, mesh = {Homeostasis/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/*microbiology/therapy ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic debilitating disorders of unknown etiology, consisting of two main conditions, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Major advances have recently taken place in human genetic studies of IBD and over 160 risk loci for these two diseases have been uncovered. These genetic data highlight a key role for genes that code for immunological and epithelial barrier functions. Environmental factors also make substantial contributions to the pathogenesis of IBD and account for the growing incidence of the diseases around the world. Intestinal microbiota creates resistance to infection, provides nutrients, and educates the immune system and in many ways has a significant impact on human health. Aberrant microbiota composition and decreased diversity (dysbiotic microbiota) are key etiopathological events in IBD. Dysbiotic microbiota can lead to loss of normal, regulatory immune effects in the gut mucosa. This may play a central role in the development and perpetuation of chronic inflammation. Further, the expression of specific innate immune receptors that recognize microbes is altered in the IBD epithelium. Therefore, the combination of host side epithelial barrier functions and the presence of dysbiotic microbiota in the gut together promote inflammation. New therapeutic options targeting microbiota are currently considered for IBD and they may, in the future, provide means to reverse the pathogenic host-microbiota relationship into a symbiotic one. In this review, the focus is on the intestinal microbiota and host-microbe interactions in IBD.}, } @article {pmid25522604, year = {2014}, author = {Zi, XM and Gao, JY}, title = {[Effects of different fungi on symbiotic seed germination of two Dendrobium species].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {39}, number = {17}, pages = {3238-3244}, pmid = {25522604}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/*physiology ; Darkness ; Dendrobium/classification/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Germination ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Light ; Plants, Medicinal/classification/growth & development/*microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/radiation effects ; Seeds/growth & development/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium aphyllum and D. devonianum are used as traditional Chinese medicine, and became locally endangered in recent years because of over-collection. We test the effect of inoculations of endophytic fungi FDaI7 (Tulasnella sp.), FDd1 (Epulorhiza sp.) and FCb4 (Epulorhiza sp.), which isolated from D. aphyllum, D. denonianum and Cymbidium mannii, respectively, on artificial substrate in these two Dendrobium species. In the symbiotic germination experiment, FDaI7 and FDd1 were effective for protocorm formation and seedling development of D. aphyllum and D. denonianum separately. After 60 days, 14.46% of the D. aphyllum seeds grown to protocorms and 12.07% developed to seedlings inoculated only with FDaI7, while contrasted with 0 when inoculated the other two isolates and non-inoculation treatment. However, in D. denonianum, seeds only grown to protocorms and developed to seedlings when inoculated with FDd1, the percentages were 44.36% and 42.91% distinguishingly. High specificity was shown in symbiotic germination on artificial substrate of Dendrobium. Protocorms could further develop to seedlings within or without light when inoculated the compatible fungi. However, light condition (12/12 h Light/Dark) produced the normal seedlings, while dark condition (0/24 h L/D) produced the abnormal seedlings. These may suggest that the development of young seedlings require light based on the effective symbiotic fungi. These findings will aid in seedling production of simulation-forestry ecology cultivation, conservation and reintroduction of Dendrobium.}, } @article {pmid25522523, year = {2014}, author = {Xu, C and Zhang, H and Han, L and Zhai, L}, title = {Characteristic monitoring of groundwater-salt transportation and input-output in inland arid irrigation area.}, journal = {Journal of environmental biology}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {1181-1189}, pmid = {25522523}, issn = {0254-8704}, mesh = {Agricultural Irrigation ; China ; Desert Climate ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Groundwater/*chemistry ; Salinity ; Sodium Chloride/*chemistry ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The rules of microscopic water-salt transportation can be revealed and the impact on the macroscopic water and soil resources can be further predicted by selecting a typical study area and carrying out continuous monitoring. In this paper, Jingtaichuan Electrical Lifting Irrigation District in Gansu Province (hereinafter called as JingDian irrigation district (JID)) located at the inland desert region of northwest China was selected as study area. Based on the groundwater-salt transportation data of representative groundwater monitoring wells in different hydrogeological units, the groundwater-salt evolution and transportation tendency in both closed and unclosed hydrogeological units were analyzed and the quantity relative ratio relationship of regional water-salt input-excretion was calculated. The results showed that the salt brought in by artificial irrigation accounts for the highest proportion of about 63.99% and the salt carried off by the discharge of irrigation water accounts for 66.42%, namely, the water-salt evolution and transportation were mainly controlled by artificial irrigation. As the general features of regional water-salt transportation, groundwater salinity and soil salt content variation were mainly decided by the transportation of soil soluble salt which showed an obvious symbiosis gathering regularity, but the differentiation with insoluble salt components was significant in the transportation process. Besides, groundwater salinity of the unclosed hydrogeological unit presented a periodically fluctuating trend, while the groundwater salinity and soil salt content in water and salt accumulation zone of the closed hydrogeological unit showed an increasing tendency, which formed the main occurrence area of soil secondary salinization.}, } @article {pmid25522194, year = {2015}, author = {Semenova, TA and Morgado, LN and Welker, JM and Walker, MD and Smets, E and Geml, J}, title = {Long-term experimental warming alters community composition of ascomycetes in Alaskan moist and dry arctic tundra.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {424-437}, doi = {10.1111/mec.13045}, pmid = {25522194}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Alaska ; Ascomycota/*classification ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; *Global Warming ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Tundra ; }, abstract = {Arctic tundra regions have been responding to global warming with visible changes in plant community composition, including expansion of shrubs and declines in lichens and bryophytes. Even though it is well known that the majority of arctic plants are associated with their symbiotic fungi, how fungal community composition will be different with climate warming remains largely unknown. In this study, we addressed the effects of long-term (18 years) experimental warming on the community composition and taxonomic richness of soil ascomycetes in dry and moist tundra types. Using deep Ion Torrent sequencing, we quantified how OTU assemblage and richness of different orders of Ascomycota changed in response to summer warming. Experimental warming significantly altered ascomycete communities with stronger responses observed in the moist tundra compared with dry tundra. The proportion of several lichenized and moss-associated fungi decreased with warming, while the proportion of several plant and insect pathogens and saprotrophic species was higher in the warming treatment. The observed alterations in both taxonomic and ecological groups of ascomycetes are discussed in relation to previously reported warming-induced shifts in arctic plant communities, including decline in lichens and bryophytes and increase in coverage and biomass of shrubs.}, } @article {pmid25521625, year = {2015}, author = {Kim, JK and Lee, BL}, title = {Symbiotic factors in Burkholderia essential for establishing an association with the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {4-17}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21218}, pmid = {25521625}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are common in insects and intimately affect the various aspects of insect host biology. In a number of insect symbiosis models, it has been possible to elucidate the effects of the symbiont on host biology, whereas there is a limited understanding of the impact of the association on the bacterial symbiont, mainly due to the difficulty of cultivating insect symbionts in vitro. Furthermore, the molecular features that determine the establishment and persistence of the symbionts in their host (i.e., symbiotic factors) have remained elusive. However, the recently established model, the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, provides a good opportunity to study bacterial symbiotic factors at a molecular level through their cultivable symbionts. Bean bugs acquire genus Burkholderia cells from the environment and harbor them as gut symbionts in the specialized posterior midgut. The genome of the Burkholderia symbiont was sequenced, and the genomic information was used to generate genetically manipulated Burkholderia symbiont strains. Using mutant symbionts, we identified several novel symbiotic factors necessary for establishing a successful association with the host gut. In this review, these symbiotic factors are classified into three categories based on the colonization dynamics of the mutant symbiont strains: initiation, accommodation, and persistence factors. In addition, the molecular characteristics of the symbiotic factors are described. These newly identified symbiotic factors and on-going studies of the Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis are expected to contribute to the understanding of the molecular cross-talk between insects and bacterial symbionts that are of ecological and evolutionary importance.}, } @article {pmid25521478, year = {2014}, author = {Huault, E and Laffont, C and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Ratet, P and Duc, G and Frugier, F}, title = {Local and systemic regulation of plant root system architecture and symbiotic nodulation by a receptor-like kinase.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {e1004891}, pmid = {25521478}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Meristem/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*physiology ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/*physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In plants, root system architecture is determined by the activity of root apical meristems, which control the root growth rate, and by the formation of lateral roots. In legumes, an additional root lateral organ can develop: the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodule. We identified in Medicago truncatula ten allelic mutants showing a compact root architecture phenotype (cra2) independent of any major shoot phenotype, and that consisted of shorter roots, an increased number of lateral roots, and a reduced number of nodules. The CRA2 gene encodes a Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (LRR-RLK) that primarily negatively regulates lateral root formation and positively regulates symbiotic nodulation. Grafting experiments revealed that CRA2 acts through different pathways to regulate these lateral organs originating from the roots, locally controlling the lateral root development and nodule formation systemically from the shoots. The CRA2 LRR-RLK therefore integrates short- and long-distance regulations to control root system architecture under non-symbiotic and symbiotic conditions.}, } @article {pmid25521462, year = {2015}, author = {Brüssow, H}, title = {Microbiota and the human nature: know thyself.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {10-15}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12693}, pmid = {25521462}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Microbial Consortia ; *Microbiota ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis ; Twins, Monozygotic ; }, abstract = {Biology has been driven by the human desire for self-knowledge. The discovery of our intimate symbiosis with microbes raises the question about our identity. A central issue is whether the microbiome associated with humans changes our phenotype in an observable way. As we deal with a great multitude of colonizing microbes and as even monozygotic twins differ substantially for their microbiome, we might deal with a dynamic system that is highly sensitive to initial conditions for which long-term prediction are impossible according to chaos theory. The overall colonization of the human alimentary tract can be teleological rationalized by a strong antimicrobial activity in the proximal and a mutualistic but controlled relationship with the microbiome in the distal gut segments. Yet the association of a specific microbiome with physiological traits turned out to be complicated and became frequently only clear after microbiota transfer experiments into gnotobiotic mice as a reductionist approach. As pathogenic bacteria create human phenotypes by their presence, mutualistic bacteria create symptoms (phenotypes) by their absence as exemplified by lactobacilli in bacterial vaginosis.}, } @article {pmid25521069, year = {2015}, author = {Wittulsky, S and Pellegrin, C and Giannakopoulou, A and Böni, R}, title = {A snapshot of molecular plant-microbe interaction research.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {2}, pages = {468-471}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13194}, pmid = {25521069}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Epigenomics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid25520732, year = {2014}, author = {Wipf, D and Mongelard, G and van Tuinen, D and Gutierrez, L and Casieri, L}, title = {Transcriptional responses of Medicago truncatula upon sulfur deficiency stress and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {680}, pmid = {25520732}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Sulfur plays an essential role in plants' growth and development and in their response to various abiotic and biotic stresses despite its leachability and its very low abundance in the only form that plant roots can uptake (sulfate). It is part of amino acids, glutathione (GSH), thiols of proteins and peptides, membrane sulfolipids, cell walls and secondary products, so reduced availability can drastically alter plant growth and development. The nutritional benefits of symbiotic interactions can help the plant in case of S deficiency. In particular the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) interaction improves N, P, and S plant nutrition, but the mechanisms behind these exchanges are not fully known yet. Although the transcriptional changes in the leguminous model plant Medicago truncatula have been already assessed in several biotic and/or abiotic conditions, S deficiency has not been considered so far. The aim of this work is to get a first overview on S-deficiency responses in the leaf and root tissues of plants interacting with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Several hundred genes displayed significantly different transcript accumulation levels. Annotation and GO ID association were used to identify biological processes and molecular functions affected by sulfur starvation. Beside the beneficial effects of AM interaction, plants were greatly affected by the nutritional status, showing various differences in their transcriptomic footprints. Several pathways in which S plays an important role appeared to be differentially affected according to mycorrhizal status, with a generally reduced responsiveness to S deficiency in mycorrhized plants.}, } @article {pmid25517945, year = {2015}, author = {Gonzalez, AA and Agbévénou, K and Herrbach, V and Gough, C and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Abscisic acid promotes pre-emergence stages of lateral root development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e977741}, pmid = {25517945}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*drug effects/genetics/*growth & development ; Plant Development/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Roots/cytology/*growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; }, abstract = {The plant root system is important for plant anchorage and nutrition. Among the different characteristics of the root system, root branching is a major factor of plasticity and adaptation to changing environments. Indeed, many biotic and abiotic stresses, such as drought or symbiotic interactions, influence root branching. Many studies concerning root development and root branching were performed on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, but this model plant has a very simplified root structure and is not able to establish any symbiotic interactions. We have recently described 7 stages for lateral root development in the model legume Medicago truncatula and found significant differences in the tissular contribution of root cell layers to the formation of new lateral roots (LR). We have also described 2 transgenic lines expressing the DR5:GUS and DR5:VENUS-N7 reporter genes that are useful to follow LR formation at early developmental stages. Here, we describe the use of these transgenic lines to monitor LR developmental responses of M. truncatula to the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) which is a major actor of stress and symbiotic interactions. We show that ABA promotes the formation of new lateral root primordia and their development, mostly at the late, pre-emergence stage.}, } @article {pmid25517824, year = {2014}, author = {Atre, S}, title = {Private players in tuberculosis control: will negotiation help to maintain the symbiosis in the ecosystem?.}, journal = {The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease}, volume = {18}, number = {12}, pages = {1524}, doi = {10.5588/ijtld.14.0601}, pmid = {25517824}, issn = {1815-7920}, mesh = {Antitubercular Agents/economics/*therapeutic use ; Cooperative Behavior ; *Delivery of Health Care/economics/legislation & jurisprudence ; Drug Costs ; Health Policy ; Health Services Accessibility ; Humans ; India/epidemiology ; *Interdisciplinary Communication ; *Negotiating ; *Private Sector/economics/legislation & jurisprudence ; Tuberculosis/diagnosis/*drug therapy/economics/epidemiology ; }, } @article {pmid25516837, year = {2014}, author = {Lustigman, S and Melnikow, E and Anand, SB and Contreras, A and Nandi, V and Liu, J and Bell, A and Unnasch, TR and Rogers, MB and Ghedin, E}, title = {Potential involvement of Brugia malayi cysteine proteases in the maintenance of the endosymbiotic relationship with Wolbachia.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology. Drugs and drug resistance}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {267-277}, pmid = {25516837}, issn = {2211-3207}, support = {R01 AI072465/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI101372/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Brugia malayi, a parasitic nematode that causes lymphatic filariasis, harbors endosymbiotic intracellular bacteria, Wolbachia, that are required for the development and reproduction of the worm. The essential nature of this endosymbiosis led to the development of anti-Wolbachia chemotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of human filarial infections. Our study is aimed at identifying specific proteins that play a critical role in this endosymbiotic relationship leading to the identification of potential targets in the adult worms. Filarial cysteine proteases are known to be involved in molting and embryogenesis, processes shown to also be Wolbachia dependent. Based on the observation that cysteine protease transcripts are differentially regulated in response to tetracycline treatment, we focused on defining their role in symbiosis. We observe a bimodal regulation pattern of transcripts encoding cysteine proteases when in vitro tetracycline treated worms were examined. Using tetracycline-treated infertile female worms and purified embryos we established that the first peak of the bimodal pattern corresponds to embryonic transcripts while the second takes place within the hypodermis of the adult worms. Localization studies of the native proteins corresponding to Bm-cpl-3 and Bm-cpl-6 indicate that they are present in the area surrounding Wolbachia, and, in some cases, the proteins appear localized within the bacteria. Both proteins were also found in the inner bodies of microfilariae. The possible role of these cysteine proteases during development and endosymbiosis was further characterized using RNAi. Reduction in Bm-cpl-3 and Bm-cpl-6 transcript levels was accompanied by hindered microfilarial development and release, and reduced Wolbachia DNA levels, making these enzymes strong drug target candidates.}, } @article {pmid25514433, year = {2015}, author = {Hanczyc, MM and Parrilla, JM and Nicholson, A and Yanev, K and Stoy, K}, title = {Creating and maintaining chemical artificial life by robotic symbiosis.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {47-54}, doi = {10.1162/ARTL_a_00151}, pmid = {25514433}, issn = {1064-5462}, abstract = {We present a robotic platform based on the open source RepRap 3D printer that can print and maintain chemical artificial life in the form of a dynamic, chemical droplet. The robot uses computer vision, a self-organizing map, and a learning program to automatically categorize the behavior of the droplet that it creates. The robot can then use this categorization to autonomously detect the current state of the droplet and respond. The robot is programmed to visually track the droplet and either inject more chemical fuel to sustain a motile state or introduce a new chemical component that results in a state change (e.g., division). Coupling inexpensive open source hardware with sensing and feedback allows for replicable real-time manipulation and monitoring of nonequilibrium systems that would be otherwise tedious, expensive, and error-prone. This system is a first step towards the practical confluence of chemical, artificial intelligence, and robotic approaches to artificial life.}, } @article {pmid25513758, year = {2014}, author = {Smith, JE and Mowles, AK and Mehta, AK and Lynn, DG}, title = {Looked at life from both sides now.}, journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {887-902}, pmid = {25513758}, issn = {2075-1729}, abstract = {As the molecular top-down causality emerging through comparative genomics is combined with the bottom-up dynamic chemical networks of biochemistry, the molecular symbiotic relationships driving growth of the tree of life becomes strikingly apparent. These symbioses can be mutualistic or parasitic across many levels, but most foundational is the complex and intricate mutualism of nucleic acids and proteins known as the central dogma of biological information flow. This unification of digital and analog molecular information within a common chemical network enables processing of the vast amounts of information necessary for cellular life. Here we consider the molecular information pathways of these dynamic biopolymer networks from the perspective of their evolution and use that perspective to inform and constrain pathways for the construction of mutualistic polymers.}, } @article {pmid25512842, year = {2014}, author = {Simonsen, AK and Chow, T and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Reduced plant competition among kin can be explained by Jensen's inequality.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {23}, pages = {4454-4466}, pmid = {25512842}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Plants often compete with closely related individuals due to limited dispersal, leading to two commonly invoked predictions on competitive outcomes. Kin selection, from evolutionary theory, predicts that competition between relatives will likely be weaker. The niche partitioning hypothesis, from ecological theory, predicts that competition between close relatives will likely be stronger. We tested for evidence consistent with either of these predictions by growing an annual legume in kin and nonkin groups in the greenhouse. We grew plant groups in treatments of symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria differing in strain identity and composition to determine if differences in the microbial environment can facilitate or obscure plant competition patterns consistent with kin selection or niche partitioning. Nonkin groups had lower fitness than expected, based on fitness estimates of the same genotypes grown among kin. Higher fitness among kin groups was observed in mixtures of N-fixing bacteria strains compared to single inoculations of bacteria strains present in the soil, which increased fitness differences between kin and nonkin groups. Lower fitness in nonkin groups was likely caused by increased competitive asymmetry in nonkin groups due to genetic differences in plant size combined with saturating relationships with plant size and fitness- i.e. Jensen's inequality. Our study suggests that microbial soil symbionts alter competitive dynamics among kin and nonkin. Our study also suggests that kin groups can have higher fitness, as predicted by kin selection theory, through a commonly heritable trait (plant size), without requiring kin recognition mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid25506523, year = {2014}, author = {von Cräutlein, M and Korpelainen, H and Helander, M and Ohberg, A and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Development and characterization of nuclear microsatellite markers in the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae (Clavicipitaceae).}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {25506523}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite primers were developed for the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae, which is symbiotic with Festuca rubra, to study the population genetics of the species and to compare population structures between E. festucae and its host F. rubra. •

METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed 14 polymorphic markers using the unplaced genomic scaffold sequences of E. festucae from GenBank. The number of alleles per locus (A) varied from four to 16, and unbiased haploid diversity (h) was 0.717 in eight populations located in the Faroe Islands, Finland, and Spain. The Spanish populations possessed a higher number of alleles and haploid diversity (on average A = 5.1 and h = 0.591, respectively) compared to northern populations (on average A = 1.5 and h = 0.199, respectively). •

CONCLUSIONS: These polymorphic markers will be used by grass breeders for uses including the improvement of commercial turfgrass cultivars, and by population geneticists to study different species of the Epichloë genus.}, } @article {pmid25502670, year = {2014}, author = {Hurst, SG and Ghazal, S and Morris, K and Abebe-Akele, F and Thomas, WK and Badr, UM and Hussein, MA and AbouZaied, MA and Khalil, KM and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus temperata Strain Meg1, an Entomopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from Heterorhabditis megidis Nematodes.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {25502670}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Photorhabdus temperata strain Meg1 is an entomopathogenic bacterium that forms a symbiotic association with Heterorhabditis nematodes. We report here a 4.9-Mbp draft genome sequence for P. temperata strain Meg1, with a G+C content of 43.18% and containing 4,340 candidate protein-coding genes.}, } @article {pmid25500576, year = {2014}, author = {Shearer, TL and Snell, TW and Hay, ME}, title = {Gene expression of corals in response to macroalgal competitors.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e114525}, pmid = {25500576}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {G12 RR003034/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; G12-RR03034/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW007401/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; S21 MD000101/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW007401/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alveolata/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Population Dynamics ; Seaweed/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome/*physiology ; }, abstract = {As corals decline and macroalgae proliferate on coral reefs, coral-macroalgal competition becomes more frequent and ecologically important. Whether corals are damaged by these interactions depends on susceptibility of the coral and traits of macroalgal competitors. Investigating changes in gene expression of corals and their intracellular symbiotic algae, Symbiodinium, in response to contact with different macroalgae provides insight into the biological processes and cellular pathways affected by competition with macroalgae. We evaluated the gene expression profiles of coral and Symbiodinium genes from two confamilial corals, Acropora millepora and Montipora digitata, after 6 h and 48 h of contact with four common macroalgae that differ in their allelopathic potency to corals. Contacts with macroalgae affected different biological pathways in the more susceptible (A. millepora) versus the more resistant (M. digitata) coral. Genes of coral hosts and of their associated Symbiodinium also responded in species-specific and time-specific ways to each macroalga. Changes in number and expression intensity of affected genes were greater after 6 h compared to 48 h of contact and were greater following contact with Chlorodesmis fastigiata and Amphiroa crassa than following contact with Galaxaura filamentosa or Turbinaria conoides. We documented a divergence in transcriptional responses between two confamilial corals and their associated Symbiodinium, as well as a diversity of dynamic responses within each coral species with respect to the species of macroalgal competitor and the duration of exposure to that competitor. These responses included early initiation of immune processes by Montipora, which is more resistant to damage after long-term macroalgal contact. Activation of the immune response by corals that better resist algal competition is consistent with the hypothesis that some macroalgal effects on corals may be mediated by microbial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid25498849, year = {2015}, author = {Tan, HW and Heenan, PB and De Meyer, SE and Willems, A and Andrews, M}, title = {Diverse novel mesorhizobia nodulate New Zealand native Sophora species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, pages = {91-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.11.003}, pmid = {25498849}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics ; Humans ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; New Zealand ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sophora/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Forty eight rhizobial isolates from New Zealand (NZ) native Sophora spp. growing in natural ecosystems were characterised. Thirty eight isolates across five groups showed greatest similarity to Mesorhizobium ciceri LMG 14989(T) with respect to their 16S rRNA and concatenated recA, glnll and rpoB sequences. Seven isolates had a 16S rRNA sequence identical to M. amorphae ATCC 19665(T) but showed greatest similarity to M. septentrionale LMG 23930(T) on their concatenated recA, glnll and rpoB sequences. All isolates grouped closely together for their nifH, nodA and nodC sequences, clearly separate from all other rhizobia in the GenBank database. None of the type strains closest to the Sophora isolates based on 16S rRNA sequence similarity nodulated Sophora microphylla but they all nodulated their original host. Twenty one Sophora isolates selected from the different 16S rRNA groupings produced N2-fixing nodules on three Sophora spp. but none nodulated any host of the type strains for the related species. DNA hybridisations indicated that these isolates belong to novel Mesorhizobium spp. that nodulate NZ native Sophora species.}, } @article {pmid25497682, year = {2015}, author = {Prosser, RS and Lissemore, L and Shahmohamadloo, RS and Sibley, PK}, title = {Effect of biosolids-derived triclosan and triclocarban on the colonization of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {508}, number = {}, pages = {427-434}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.014}, pmid = {25497682}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Anti-Infective Agents/*toxicity ; Carbanilides/*toxicity ; Lettuce/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*toxicity ; Triclosan/*toxicity ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a symbiotic relationship with the majority of crop plants. AMF provide plants with nutrients (e.g., P), modulate the effect of metal and pathogen exposure, and increase tolerance to moisture stress. The benefits of AMF to plant growth make them important to the development of sustainable agriculture. The land application of biosolids is becoming an increasingly common practice in sustainable agriculture, as a source of nutrients. However, biosolids have been found to contain numerous pharmaceutical and personal care products including antimicrobial chemicals such as triclosan and triclocarban. The potential risks that these two compounds may pose to plant-AMF interactions are poorly understood. The current study investigated whether biosolids-derived triclosan and triclocarban affect the colonization of the roots of lettuce and corn plants by AMF. Plants were grown in soil amended with biosolids that contained increasing concentrations of triclosan (0 to 307 μg/g dw) or triclocarban (0 to 304 μg/g dw). A relationship between the concentration of triclosan or triclocarban and colonization of plants roots by AMF was not observed. The presence of biosolids did not have a significant (p>0.05) effect on percent colonization of corn roots but had a significant, positive effect (p<0.05) on lettuce roots. Biosolids-derived triclosan and triclocarban did not inhibit the colonization of crop plant roots by AMF.}, } @article {pmid25497014, year = {2015}, author = {Masalkar, PD and Roberts, DM}, title = {Glutamine synthetase isoforms in nitrogen-fixing soybean nodules: distinct oligomeric structures and thiol-based regulation.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {589}, number = {2}, pages = {215-221}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2014.11.048}, pmid = {25497014}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Disulfides/metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Isoenzymes/chemistry/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Soybeans/*enzymology ; Structural Homology, Protein ; }, abstract = {Legume root nodule glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the assimilation of ammonia produced by nitrogen fixation. Two GS isoform subtypes (GS1β and GS1γ) are present in soybean nodules. GS1γ isoforms differ from GS1β isoforms in terms of their susceptibility to reversible inhibition by intersubunit disulfide bond formation between C159 and C92 at the shared active site at subunit interfaces. Although nodule GS enzymes share 86% amino acid sequence identity, analytical ultracentrifugation experiments showed that GS1γ is a dodecamer, whereas the GS1β is a decamer. It is proposed that this difference contributes to the differential thiol sensitivity of each isoform, and that GS1γ1 may be a target of thiol-based regulation.}, } @article {pmid25496592, year = {2015}, author = {Eaton, CJ and Dupont, PY and Solomon, P and Clayton, W and Scott, B and Cox, MP}, title = {A Core Gene Set Describes the Molecular Basis of Mutualism and Antagonism in Epichloë spp.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {218-231}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-14-0293-FI}, pmid = {25496592}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Cell Wall/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Endophytes ; Epichloe/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Ergot Alkaloids/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae ; Indole Alkaloids/chemistry/metabolism ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Mycotoxins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Beneficial plant-fungal interactions play an important role in the ability of plants to survive changing environmental conditions. In contrast, phytopathogenic fungi fall at the opposite end of the symbiotic spectrum, causing reduced host growth or even death. In order to exploit beneficial interactions and prevent pathogenic ones, it is essential to understand the molecular differences underlying these alternative states. The association between the endophyte Epichloë festucae and Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) is an excellent system for studying these molecular patterns due to the existence of several fungal mutants that have an antagonistic rather than a mutualistic interaction with the host plant. By comparing gene expression in a wild-type beneficial association with three mutant antagonistic associations disrupted in key signaling genes, we identified a core set of 182 genes that show common differential expression patterns between these two states. These gene expression changes are indicative of a nutrient-starvation response, as supported by the upregulation of genes encoding degradative enzymes, transporters, and primary metabolism, and downregulation of genes encoding putative small-secreted proteins and secondary metabolism. These results suggest that disruption of a mutualistic symbiotic interaction may lead to an elevated uptake and degradation of host-derived nutrients and cell-wall components, reminiscent of phytopathogenic interactions.}, } @article {pmid25495525, year = {2014}, author = {Furnholm, TR and Tisa, LS}, title = {The ins and outs of metal homeostasis by the root nodule actinobacterium Frankia.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1092}, pmid = {25495525}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphatases/chemistry/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Frankia/*metabolism ; *Homeostasis ; Metals/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Frankia are actinobacteria that form a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing association with actinorhizal plants, and play a significant role in actinorhizal plant colonization of metal contaminated areas. Many Frankia strains are known to be resistant to several toxic metals and metalloids including Pb(2+), Al(+3), SeO2, Cu(2+), AsO4, and Zn(2+). With the availability of eight Frankia genome databases, comparative genomics approaches employing phylogeny, amino acid composition analysis, and synteny were used to identify metal homeostasis mechanisms in eight Frankia strains. Characterized genes from the literature and a meta-analysis of 18 heavy metal gene microarray studies were used for comparison.

RESULTS: Unlike most bacteria, Frankia utilize all of the essential trace elements (Ni, Co, Cu, Se, Mo, B, Zn, Fe, and Mn) and have a comparatively high percentage of metalloproteins, particularly in the more metal resistant strains. Cation diffusion facilitators, being one of the few known metal resistance mechanisms found in the Frankia genomes, were strong candidates for general divalent metal resistance in all of the Frankia strains. Gene duplication and amino acid substitutions that enhanced the metal affinity of CopA and CopCD proteins may be responsible for the copper resistance found in some Frankia strains. CopA and a new potential metal transporter, DUF347, may be involved in the particularly high lead tolerance in Frankia. Selenite resistance involved an alternate sulfur importer (CysPUWA) that prevents sulfur starvation, and reductases to produce elemental selenium. The pattern of arsenate, but not arsenite, resistance was achieved by Frankia using the novel arsenite exporter (AqpS) previously identified in the nitrogen-fixing plant symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. Based on the presence of multiple tellurite resistance factors, a new metal resistance (tellurite) was identified and confirmed in Frankia.

CONCLUSIONS: Each strain had a unique combination of metal import, binding, modification, and export genes that explain differences in patterns of metal resistance between strains. Frankia has achieved similar levels of metal and metalloid resistance as bacteria from highly metal-contaminated sites. From a bioremediation standpoint, it is important to understand mechanisms that allow the endosymbiont to survive and infect actinorhizal plants in metal contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid25495186, year = {2015}, author = {Rey, T and Chatterjee, A and Buttay, M and Toulotte, J and Schornack, S}, title = {Medicago truncatula symbiosis mutants affected in the interaction with a biotrophic root pathogen.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {206}, number = {2}, pages = {497-500}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13233}, pmid = {25495186}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Disease Resistance ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Phytophthora/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*immunology ; Plant Roots/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid25494880, year = {2015}, author = {Clemmensen, KE and Finlay, RD and Dahlberg, A and Stenlid, J and Wardle, DA and Lindahl, BD}, title = {Carbon sequestration is related to mycorrhizal fungal community shifts during long-term succession in boreal forests.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1525-1536}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13208}, pmid = {25494880}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Carbon Sequestration ; *Ecosystem ; Islands ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Sweden ; *Taiga ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Boreal forest soils store a major proportion of the global terrestrial carbon (C) and below-ground inputs contribute as much as above-ground plant litter to the total C stored in the soil. A better understanding of the dynamics and drivers of root-associated fungal communities is essential to predict long-term soil C storage and climate feedbacks in northern ecosystems. We used 454-pyrosequencing to identify fungal communities across fine-scaled soil profiles in a 5000 yr fire-driven boreal forest chronosequence, with the aim of pinpointing shifts in fungal community composition that may underlie variation in below-ground C sequestration. In early successional-stage forests, higher abundance of cord-forming ectomycorrhizal fungi (such as Cortinarius and Suillus species) was linked to rapid turnover of mycelial biomass and necromass, efficient nitrogen (N) mobilization and low C sequestration. In late successional-stage forests, cord formers declined, while ericoid mycorrhizal ascomycetes continued to dominate, potentially facilitating long-term humus build-up through production of melanized hyphae that resist decomposition. Our results suggest that cord-forming ectomycorrhizal fungi and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi play opposing roles in below-ground C storage. We postulate that, by affecting turnover and decomposition of fungal tissues, mycorrhizal fungal identity and growth form are critical determinants of C and N sequestration in boreal forests.}, } @article {pmid25493938, year = {2014}, author = {Fujise, L and Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Sasaki, K and Liao, LM and Koike, K}, title = {Moderate Thermal Stress Causes Active and Immediate Expulsion of Photosynthetically Damaged Zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium) from Corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e114321}, pmid = {25493938}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/*physiology ; Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Hot Temperature ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The foundation of coral reef biology is the symbiosis between corals and zooxanthellae (dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium). Recently, coral bleaching, which often results in mass mortality of corals and the collapse of coral reef ecosystems, has become an important issue around the world as coral reefs decrease in number year after year. To understand the mechanisms underlying coral bleaching, we maintained two species of scleractinian corals (Acroporidae) in aquaria under non-thermal stress (27°C) and moderate thermal stress conditions (30°C), and we compared the numbers and conditions of the expelled Symbiodinium from these corals. Under non-thermal stress conditions corals actively expel a degraded form of Symbiodinium, which are thought to be digested by their host coral. This response was also observed at 30°C. However, while the expulsion rates of Symbiodinium cells remained constant, the proportion of degraded cells significantly increased at 30°C. This result indicates that corals more actively digest and expel damaged Symbiodinium under thermal stress conditions, likely as a mechanism for coping with environmental change. However, the increase in digested Symbiodinium expulsion under thermal stress may not fully keep up with accumulation of the damaged cells. There are more photosynthetically damaged Symbiodinium upon prolonged exposure to thermal stress, and corals release them without digestion to prevent their accumulation. This response may be an adaptive strategy to moderate stress to ensure survival, but the accumulation of damaged Symbiodinium, which causes subsequent coral deterioration, may occur when the response cannot cope with the magnitude or duration of environmental stress, and this might be a possible mechanism underlying coral bleaching during prolonged moderate thermal stress.}, } @article {pmid25492470, year = {2014}, author = {Diédhiou, I and Tromas, A and Cissoko, M and Gray, K and Parizot, B and Crabos, A and Alloisio, N and Fournier, P and Carro, L and Svistoonoff, S and Gherbi, H and Hocher, V and Diouf, D and Laplaze, L and Champion, A}, title = {Identification of potential transcriptional regulators of actinorhizal symbioses in Casuarina glauca and Alnus glutinosa.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {342}, pmid = {25492470}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Alnus/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/metabolism ; Frankia/*genetics/metabolism ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trees belonging to the Casuarinaceae and Betulaceae families play an important ecological role and are useful tools in forestry for degraded land rehabilitation and reforestation. These functions are linked to their capacity to establish symbiotic relationships with a nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium of the genus Frankia. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the establishment of these symbioses are poorly understood. The aim of this work was to identify potential transcription factors involved in the establishment and functioning of actinorhizal symbioses.

RESULTS: We identified 202 putative transcription factors by in silico analysis in 40 families in Casuarina glauca (Casuarinaceae) and 195 in 35 families in Alnus glutinosa (Betulaceae) EST databases. Based on published transcriptome datasets and quantitative PCR analysis, we found that 39% and 26% of these transcription factors were regulated during C. glauca and A. glutinosa-Frankia interactions, respectively. Phylogenetic studies confirmed the presence of common key transcription factors such as NSP, NF-YA and ERN-related proteins involved in nodule formation in legumes, which confirm the existence of a common symbiosis signaling pathway in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses. We also identified an actinorhizal-specific transcription factor belonging to the zinc finger C1-2i subfamily we named CgZF1 in C. glauca and AgZF1 in A. glutinosa.

CONCLUSIONS: We identified putative nodulation-associated transcription factors with particular emphasis on members of the GRAS, NF-YA, ERF and C2H2 families. Interestingly, comparison of the non-legume and legume TF with signaling elements from actinorhizal species revealed a new subgroup of nodule-specific C2H2 TF that could be specifically involved in actinorhizal symbioses. In silico identification, transcript analysis, and phylogeny reconstruction of transcription factor families paves the way for the study of specific molecular regulation of symbiosis in response to Frankia infection.}, } @article {pmid25490201, year = {2014}, author = {Bauer, E and Salem, H and Marz, M and Vogel, H and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Transcriptomic immune response of the cotton stainer Dysdercus fasciatus to experimental elimination of vitamin-supplementing intestinal symbionts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e114865}, pmid = {25490201}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*physiology ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Dietary Supplements ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Insecta/*genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Vitamin B Complex ; }, abstract = {The acquisition and vertical transmission of bacterial symbionts plays an important role in insect evolution and ecology. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the stable maintenance and control of mutualistic bacteria remain poorly understood. The cotton stainer Dysdercus fasciatus harbours the actinobacterial symbionts Coriobacterium glomerans and Gordonibacter sp. in its midgut. The symbionts supplement limiting B vitamins and thereby significantly contribute to the host's fitness. In this study, we experimentally disrupted the symbionts' vertical transmission route and performed comparative transcriptomic analyses of genes expressed in the gut of aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) and control individuals to study the host immune response in presence and absence of the mutualists. Annotation of assembled cDNA reads identified a considerable number of genes involved in the innate immune system, including different protein isoforms of several immune effector proteins (specifically i-type lysozyme, defensin, hemiptericin, and pyrrhocoricin), suggesting the possibility for a highly differentiated response towards the complex resident microbial community. Gene expression analyses revealed a constitutive expression of transcripts involved in signal transduction of the main insect immune pathways, but differential expression of certain antimicrobial peptide genes. Specifically, qPCRs confirmed the significant down-regulation of c-type lysozyme and up-regulation of hemiptericin in aposymbiotic individuals. The high expression of c-type lysozyme in symbiont-containing bugs may serve to lyse symbiont cells and thereby harvest B-vitamins that are necessary for subsistence on the deficient diet of Malvales seeds. Our findings suggest a sophisticated host response to perturbation of the symbiotic gut microbiota, indicating that the innate immune system not only plays an important role in combating pathogens, but also serves as a communication interface between host and symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25486253, year = {2014}, author = {Seven, J and Polle, A}, title = {Subcellular nutrient element localization and enrichment in ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizas of field-grown beech and ash trees indicate functional differences.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e114672}, pmid = {25486253}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Fagus/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Forests ; Fraxinus/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Minerals/*analysis ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Subcellular Fractions ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizas are the chief organ for plant mineral nutrient acquisition. In temperate, mixed forests, ash roots (Fraxinus excelsior) are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) and beech roots (Fagus sylvatica) by ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM). Knowledge on the functions of different mycorrhizal species that coexist in the same environment is scarce. The concentrations of nutrient elements in plant and fungal cells can inform on nutrient accessibility and interspecific differences of mycorrhizal life forms. Here, we hypothesized that mycorrhizal fungal species exhibit interspecific differences in mineral nutrient concentrations and that the differences correlate with the mineral nutrient concentrations of their associated root cells. Abundant mycorrhizal fungal species of mature beech and ash trees in a long-term undisturbed forest ecosystem were the EcM Lactarius subdulcis, Clavulina cristata and Cenococcum geophilum and the AM Glomus sp. Mineral nutrient subcellular localization and quantities of the mycorrhizas were analysed after non-aqueous sample preparation by electron dispersive X-ray transmission electron microscopy. Cenococcum geophilum contained the highest sulphur, Clavulina cristata the highest calcium levels, and Glomus, in which cations and P were generally high, exhibited the highest potassium levels. Lactarius subdulcis-associated root cells contained the highest phosphorus levels. The root cell concentrations of K, Mg and P were unrelated to those of the associated fungal structures, whereas S and Ca showed significant correlations between fungal and plant concentrations of those elements. Our results support profound interspecific differences for mineral nutrient acquisition among mycorrhizas formed by different fungal taxa. The lack of correlation between some plant and fungal nutrient element concentrations may reflect different retention of mineral nutrients in the fungal part of the symbiosis. High mineral concentrations, especially of potassium, in Glomus sp. suggest that the well-known influence of tree species on chemical soil properties may be related to their mycorrhizal associates.}, } @article {pmid25485126, year = {2014}, author = {Dittrich, B and Matta, CF}, title = {Contributions of charge-density research to medicinal chemistry.}, journal = {IUCrJ}, volume = {1}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {457-469}, pmid = {25485126}, issn = {2052-2525}, abstract = {This article reviews efforts in accurate experimental charge-density studies with relevance to medicinal chemistry. Initially, classical charge-density studies that measure electron density distribution via least-squares refinement of aspherical-atom population parameters are summarized. Next, interaction density is discussed as an idealized situation resembling drug-receptor interactions. Scattering-factor databases play an increasing role in charge-density research, and they can be applied both to small-molecule and macromolecular structures in refinement and analysis; software development facilitates their use. Therefore combining both of these complementary branches of X-ray crystallography is recommended, and examples are given where such a combination already proved useful. On the side of the experiment, new pixel detectors are allowing rapid measurements, thereby enabling both high-throughput small-molecule studies and macromolecular structure determination to higher resolutions. Currently, the most ambitious studies compute intermolecular interaction energies of drug-receptor complexes, and it is recommended that future studies benefit from recent method developments. Selected new developments in theoretical charge-density studies are discussed with emphasis on its symbiotic relation to crystallography.}, } @article {pmid25483461, year = {2014}, author = {Phalgune, DS and Yervadekar, RC and Sharma, HJ and Dhere, RM and Parekh, SS and Chandak, AO and Safai, AA and Shewale, SD}, title = {Sero-surveillance to assess rubella susceptibility and assessment of immunogenicity and reactogenicity of rubella vaccine in Indian girls aged 18-24 years.}, journal = {Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {2813-2818}, pmid = {25483461}, issn = {2164-554X}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral/*blood ; Antibody Formation ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization Schedule ; India ; Rubella/*immunology ; Rubella Syndrome, Congenital/*prevention & control ; Rubella Vaccine/administration & dosage/*immunology ; Vaccination ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Rubella infection though a mild infection, may cause foetal death or a variety of congenital anomalies. Multiple sero-surveys confirmed that 5-10% women are unexposed to natural or vaccinated rubella virus and remain susceptible to rubella infection. The current study was conducted in 600 girls, aged 18-24 y from Symbiosis International University (SIU), Pune, India to assess their sero-status against rubella infection and to estimate the immunogenicity of rubella vaccine in achieving sero-protective antibody titres. Prior to administration of a single i.m. dose of rubella vaccine (R-vac®) to eligible participants, blood sample (pre-vaccination) was collected. During the 4-6 weeks observation period, adverse events were noted. Then, a second blood sample (post-vaccination) was collected. Significant increase was noted in sero-protection response, viz., 98.6% (post-vaccination) vis-à-vis 66.5% (pre-vaccination); Geometric mean titer (GMT) was significantly higher post-vaccination. Effective measures to introduce rubella vaccination on a larger scale need to be undertaken. An immunization policy with mandatory rubella vaccination for all girls in the reproductive age group and its inclusion in national immunization schedule is highly desirable.}, } @article {pmid25483332, year = {2014}, author = {Zhou, M and Chen, Y and Griebel, PJ and Guan, le L}, title = {Methanogen prevalence throughout the gastrointestinal tract of pre-weaned dairy calves.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {628-638}, pmid = {25483332}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biota ; Cattle ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Archaeal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Methane/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The methanogenic community throughout the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of pre-weaned calves has not been well studied. The current study firstly investigated the distribution and composition of the methanogenic community in the rumen, ileum, and colon of 3-4 week-old milk-fed dairy calves (n = 4) using 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. The occurrence of methanogens in the GIT of pre-weaned calves was further validated by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was applied to quantify the methanogenic community in the rumen, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum of 8 3-4 week old animals. Both cloning libraries and PCR-DGGE revealed that phylotypes close to Methanobrevibacter were the main taxon along the GIT in pre-weaned sucking calves. The composition and abundance of methanogens varied significantly among individual animals, suggesting that host conditions may influence the composition of the symbiotic microbiota. Segregation of methanogenic communities throughout the GIT was also observed within individual animals, suggesting possible functional differences among methanogens residing in different GIT regions. This is the first study to analyze methanogenic communities throughout the GIT of milk-fed newborn dairy calves and reveal both their diversity and abundance. The identification of methanogens in the lower GIT of pre-weaned dairy calves warrants further investigation to better define methanogen roles in GIT function and their impact on host metabolism and health.}, } @article {pmid25482918, year = {2015}, author = {Salentinig, S and Phan, S and Hawley, A and Boyd, BJ}, title = {Self-assembly structure formation during the digestion of human breast milk.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {54}, number = {5}, pages = {1600-1603}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201408320}, pmid = {25482918}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Bile Acids and Salts/chemistry ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Milk, Human/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; Scattering, Small Angle ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {An infant's complete diet, human breast milk, is the basis for its survival and development. It contains water-soluble and poorly water-soluble bioactive components, metabolic messages, and energy, all of which are made bioavailable during the digestion process in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. Reported is the first discovery of highly geometrically organized structures formed during the digestion of human breast milk under simulated in vivo conditions using small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Time of digestion, pH, and bile salt concentration were found to have symbiotic effects gradually tuning the oil-based environment inside the breast milk globules to more water-like structures with high internal surface area. The structure formation is necessarily linked to its function as carriers for poorly water-soluble molecules in the digestive tract of the infant.}, } @article {pmid25482786, year = {2015}, author = {Hashmi, U and Shafqat, S and Khan, F and Majid, M and Hussain, H and Kazi, AG and John, R and Ahmad, P}, title = {Plant exomics: concepts, applications and methodologies in crop improvement.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e976152}, pmid = {25482786}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*genetics ; Exome/*physiology ; Exons/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/trends ; }, abstract = {Molecular breeding has a crucial role in improvement of crops. Conventional breeding techniques have failed to ameliorate food production. Next generation sequencing has established new concepts of molecular breeding. Exome sequencing has proven to be a significant tool for assessing natural evolution in plants, studying host pathogen interactions and betterment of crop production as exons assist in interpretation of allelic variation with respect to their phenotype. This review covers the platforms for exome sequencing, next generation sequencing technologies that have revolutionized exome sequencing and led toward development of third generation sequencing. Also discussed in this review are the uses of these sequencing technologies to improve wheat, rice and cotton yield and how these technologies are used in exploring the biodiversity of crops, providing better understanding of plant-host pathogen interaction and assessing the process of natural evolution in crops and it also covers how exome sequencing identifies the gene pool involved in symbiotic and other co-existential systems. Furthermore, we conclude how integration of other methodologies including whole genome sequencing, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics with plant exomics covers the areas which are left untouched with exomics alone and in the end how these integration will transform the future of crops.}, } @article {pmid25481240, year = {2015}, author = {Lei, YM and Nair, L and Alegre, ML}, title = {The interplay between the intestinal microbiota and the immune system.}, journal = {Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {9-19}, pmid = {25481240}, issn = {2210-741X}, support = {P01 AI097113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI115716/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000430/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; AI097113/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*physiology ; Humans ; Immune System/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The relationship between commensal microbes and their hosts has been studied for many years. Commensal microorganisms are known to have a significant role in regulating the physiology of their hosts and preventing pathogenic infections while the hosts' immune system is important in determining the composition of the microbiota. More recently, specific effects of the intestinal microbiota on the local and distal immune systems have been uncovered with important consequences for health and disease, and alterations in intestinal microbial composition has been associated with various disease states. Here, we will review the current understanding of the microbiota/immune system crosstalk, highlight the clinical consequences of changes in the microbiota and consider how to harness this symbiotic relationship to improve public health.}, } @article {pmid25480008, year = {2015}, author = {López-Ráez, JA and Fernández, I and García, JM and Berrio, E and Bonfante, P and Walter, MH and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Differential spatio-temporal expression of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases regulates apocarotenoid fluxes during AM symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {230}, number = {}, pages = {59-69}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.10.010}, pmid = {25480008}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Dicarboxylic Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Dioxygenases/*metabolism ; Lactones/chemistry/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots ; Polyenes/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Apocarotenoids are a class of compounds that play important roles in nature. In recent years, a prominent role for these compounds in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has been shown. They are derived from carotenoids by the action of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) enzyme family. In the present study, using tomato as a model, the spatio-temporal expression pattern of the CCD genes during AM symbiosis establishment and functioning was investigated. In addition, the levels of the apocarotenoids strigolactones (SLs), C13 α-ionol and C14 mycorradicin (C13/C14) derivatives were analyzed. The results suggest an increase in SLs promoted by the presence of the AM fungus at the early stages of the interaction, which correlated with an induction of the SL biosynthesis gene SlCCD7. At later stages, induction of SlCCD7 and SlCCD1 expression in arbusculated cells promoted the production of C13/C14 apocarotenoid derivatives. We show here that the biosynthesis of apocarotenoids during AM symbiosis is finely regulated throughout the entire process at the gene expression level, and that CCD7 constitutes a key player in this regulation. Once the symbiosis is established, apocarotenoid flux would be turned towards the production of C13/C14 derivatives, thus reducing SL biosynthesis and maintaining a functional symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25479839, year = {2015}, author = {VanYperen, RD and Orton, TS and Griffitts, JS}, title = {Genetic analysis of signal integration by the Sinorhizobium meliloti sensor kinase FeuQ.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {161}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {244-253}, pmid = {25479839}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {R15 AI082504/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1R15AI082504-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Periplasm/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/chemistry/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Two-component signalling systems allow bacteria to recognize and respond to diverse environmental stimuli. Auxiliary proteins can provide an additional layer of control to these systems. The Sinorhizobium meliloti FeuPQ two-component system is required for symbiotic development and is negatively regulated by the auxiliary small periplasmic protein FeuN. This study explores the mechanistic basis of this regulation. We provide evidence that FeuN directly interacts with the sensor kinase FeuQ. Isolation and characterization of an extensive set of FeuN-insensitive and FeuN-mimicking variants of FeuQ reveal specific FeuQ residues (periplasmic and intracellular) that control the transmission of FeuN-specific signalling information. Similar analysis of the FeuN protein highlights short patches of compatibly charged residues on each protein that probably engage one another, giving rise to the downstream effects on target gene expression. The accumulated evidence suggests that the periplasmic interaction between FeuN and FeuQ introduces an intracellular conformational change in FeuQ, resulting in an increase in its ability to remove phosphate from its cognate response regulator FeuP. These observations underline the complex manner in which membrane-spanning sensor kinases interface with the extracytoplasmic environment and convert that information to changes in intracellular processes.}, } @article {pmid25478328, year = {2014}, author = {Brameyer, S and Kresovic, D and Bode, HB and Heermann, R}, title = {LuxR solos in Photorhabdus species.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {166}, pmid = {25478328}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism ; Amino Acid Motifs ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Genome, Bacterial ; Photorhabdus/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Position-Specific Scoring Matrices ; Protein Binding ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Quorum Sensing ; Repressor Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Trans-Activators/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria communicate via small diffusible molecules to mediate group-coordinated behavior, a process designated as quorum sensing. The basic molecular quorum sensing system of Gram-negative bacteria consists of a LuxI-type autoinducer synthase producing acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signaling molecules, and a LuxR-type receptor detecting the AHLs to control expression of specific genes. However, many proteobacteria possess one or more unpaired LuxR-type receptors that lack a cognate LuxI-like synthase, referred to as LuxR solos. The enteric and insect pathogenic bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus harbor an extraordinarily high number of LuxR solos, more than any other known bacteria, and all lack a LuxI-like synthase. Here, we focus on the presence and the different types of LuxR solos in the three known Photorhabdus species using bioinformatics analyses. Generally, the N-terminal signal-binding domain (SBD) of LuxR-type receptors sensing AHLs have a motif of six conserved amino acids that is important for binding and specificity of the signaling molecule. However, this motif is altered in the majority of the Photorhabdus-specific LuxR solos, suggesting the use of other signaling molecules than AHLs. Furthermore, all Photorhabdus species contain at least one LuxR solo with an intact AHL-binding motif, which might allow the ability to sense AHLs of other bacteria. Moreover, all three species have high AHL-degrading activity caused by the presence of different AHL-lactonases and AHL-acylases, revealing a high quorum quenching activity against other bacteria. However, the majority of the other LuxR solos in Photorhabdus have a N-terminal so-called PAS4-domain instead of an AHL-binding domain, containing different amino acid motifs than the AHL-sensors, which potentially allows the recognition of a highly variable range of signaling molecules that can be sensed apart from AHLs. These PAS4-LuxR solos are proposed to be involved in host sensing, and therefore in inter-kingdom signaling. Overall, Photorhabdus species are perfect model organisms to study bacterial communication via LuxR solos and their role for a symbiotic and pathogenic life style.}, } @article {pmid25477875, year = {2014}, author = {Degnan, SM}, title = {Think laterally: horizontal gene transfer from symbiotic microbes may extend the phenotype of marine sessile hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {638}, pmid = {25477875}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Since the origin of the animal kingdom, marine animals have lived in association with viruses, prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes, often as symbionts. This long and continuous interaction has provided ample opportunity not only for the evolution of intimate interactions such as sharing of metabolic pathways, but also for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of non-metazoan genes into metazoan genomes. The number of demonstrated cases of inter-kingdom HGT is currently small, such that it is not yet widely appreciated as a significant player in animal evolution. Sessile marine invertebrates that vertically inherit bacterial symbionts, that have no dedicated germ line, or that bud or excise pluripotent somatic cells during their life history may be particularly receptive to HGT from their symbionts. Closer scrutiny of the growing number of genomes being accrued for these animals may thus reveal HGT as a regular source of novel variation that can function to extend the host phenotype metabolically, morphologically, or even behaviorally. Taxonomic identification of symbionts will help to address the intriguing question of whether past HGT events may constrain contemporary symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25477868, year = {2014}, author = {Hardoim, CC and Cardinale, M and Cúcio, AC and Esteves, AI and Berg, G and Xavier, JR and Cox, CJ and Costa, R}, title = {Effects of sample handling and cultivation bias on the specificity of bacterial communities in keratose marine sponges.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {611}, pmid = {25477868}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Complex and distinct bacterial communities inhabit marine sponges and are believed to be essential to host survival, but our present-day inability to domesticate sponge symbionts in the laboratory hinders our access to the full metabolic breadth of these microbial consortia. We address bacterial cultivation bias in marine sponges using a procedure that enables direct comparison between cultivated and uncultivated symbiont community structures. Bacterial community profiling of the sympatric keratose species Sarcotragus spinosulus and Ircinia variabilis (Dictyoceratida, Irciniidae) was performed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 454-pyrosequecing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Whereas cultivation-independent methods revealed species-specific bacterial community structures in these hosts, cultivation-dependent methods resulted in equivalent community assemblages from both species. Between 15 and 18 bacterial phyla were found in S. spinosulus and I. variabilis using cultivation-independent methods. However, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria dominated the cultivation-dependent bacterial community. While cultivation-independent methods revealed about 200 and 220 operational taxonomic units (OTUs, 97% gene similarity) in S. spinosulus and I. variabilis, respectively, only 33 and 39 OTUs were found in these species via culturing. Nevertheless, around 50% of all cultured OTUs escaped detection by cultivation-independent methods, indicating that standard cultivation makes otherwise host-specific bacterial communities similar by selectively enriching for rarer and generalist symbionts. This study sheds new light on the diversity spectrum encompassed by cultivated and uncultivated sponge-associated bacteria. Moreover, it highlights the need to develop alternative culturing technologies to capture the dominant sponge symbiont fraction that currently remains recalcitrant to laboratory manipulation.}, } @article {pmid25473015, year = {2015}, author = {Cayetano, L and Rothacher, L and Simon, JC and Vorburger, C}, title = {Cheaper is not always worse: strongly protective isolates of a defensive symbiont are less costly to the aphid host.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1799}, pages = {20142333}, pmid = {25473015}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Life Cycle Stages ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Defences against parasites are typically associated with costs to the host that contribute to the maintenance of variation in resistance. This also applies to the defence provided by the facultative bacterial endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa, which protects its aphid hosts against parasitoid wasps while imposing life-history costs. To investigate the cost-benefit relationship within protected hosts, we introduced multiple isolates of H. defensa to the same genetic backgrounds of black bean aphids, Aphis fabae, and we quantified the protection against their parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum as well as the costs to the host (reduced lifespan and reproduction) in the absence of parasitoids. Surprisingly, we observed the opposite of a trade-off. Strongly protective isolates of H. defensa reduced lifespan and lifetime reproduction of unparasitized aphids to a lesser extent than weakly protective isolates. This finding has important implications for the evolution of defensive symbiosis and highlights the need for a better understanding of how strain variation in protective symbionts is maintained.}, } @article {pmid25473011, year = {2015}, author = {Konrad, M and Grasse, AV and Tragust, S and Cremer, S}, title = {Anti-pathogen protection versus survival costs mediated by an ectosymbiont in an ant host.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {282}, number = {1799}, pages = {20141976}, pmid = {25473011}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/immunology/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Grooming ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The fitness effects of symbionts on their hosts can be context-dependent, with usually benign symbionts causing detrimental effects when their hosts are stressed, or typically parasitic symbionts providing protection towards their hosts (e.g. against pathogen infection). Here, we studied the novel association between the invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus and its fungal ectosymbiont Laboulbenia formicarum for potential costs and benefits. We tested ants with different Laboulbenia levels for their survival and immunity under resource limitation and exposure to the obligate killing entomopathogen Metarhizium brunneum. While survival of L. neglectus workers under starvation was significantly decreased with increasing Laboulbenia levels, host survival under Metarhizium exposure increased with higher levels of the ectosymbiont, suggesting a symbiont-mediated anti-pathogen protection, which seems to be driven mechanistically by both improved sanitary behaviours and an upregulated immune system. Ants with high Laboulbenia levels showed significantly longer self-grooming and elevated expression of immune genes relevant for wound repair and antifungal responses (β-1,3-glucan binding protein, Prophenoloxidase), compared with ants carrying low Laboulbenia levels. This suggests that the ectosymbiont Laboulbenia formicarum weakens its ant host by either direct resource exploitation or the costs of an upregulated behavioural and immunological response, which, however, provides a prophylactic protection upon later exposure to pathogens.}, } @article {pmid25472545, year = {2015}, author = {Chan, YW and Millard, AD and Wheatley, PJ and Holmes, AB and Mohr, R and Whitworth, AL and Mann, NH and Larkum, AW and Hess, WR and Scanlan, DJ and Clokie, MR}, title = {Genomic and proteomic characterization of two novel siphovirus infecting the sedentary facultative epibiont cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {11}, pages = {4239-4252}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12735}, pmid = {25472545}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/genetics ; Exoribonucleases/*genetics ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Genomics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Proteomics ; Siphoviridae/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Synechococcus/genetics/*virology ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Acaryochloris marina is a symbiotic species of cyanobacteria that is capable of utilizing far-red light. We report the characterization of the phages A-HIS1 and A-HIS2, capable of infecting Acaryochloris. Morphological characterization of these phages places them in the family Siphoviridae. However, molecular characterization reveals that they do not show genetic similarity with any known siphoviruses. While the phages do show synteny between each other, the nucleotide identity between the phages is low at 45-67%, suggesting they diverged from each other some time ago. The greatest number of genes shared with another phage (a myovirus infecting marine Synechococcus) was four. Unlike most other cyanophages and in common with the Siphoviridae infecting Synechococcus, no photosynthesis-related genes were found in the genome. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) spacers from the host Acaryochloris had partial matches to sequences found within the phages, which is the first time CRISPRs have been reported in a cyanobacterial/cyanophage system. The phages also encode a homologue of the proteobacterial RNase T. The potential function of RNase T in the mark-up or digestion of crRNA hints at a novel mechanism for evading the host CRISPR system.}, } @article {pmid25470793, year = {2014}, author = {Santala, S and Karp, M and Santala, V}, title = {Rationally engineered synthetic coculture for improved biomass and product formation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e113786}, pmid = {25470793}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acetates/metabolism ; Acinetobacter/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Biomass ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques/methods ; Escherichia coli K12/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Luminescent Measurements ; Metabolic Engineering/methods ; Models, Biological ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In microbial ecosystems, bacteria are dependent on dynamic interspecific interactions related to carbon and energy flow. Substrates and end-metabolites are rapidly converted to other compounds, which protects the community from high concentrations of inhibitory molecules. In biotechnological applications, pure cultures are preferred because of the more straight-forward metabolic engineering and bioprocess control. However, the accumulation of unwanted side products can limit the cell growth and process efficiency. In this study, a rationally engineered coculture with a carbon channeling system was constructed using two well-characterized model strains Escherichia coli K12 and Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. The directed carbon flow resulted in efficient acetate removal, and the coculture showed symbiotic nature in terms of substrate utilization and growth. Recombinant protein production was used as a proof-of-principle example to demonstrate the coculture utility and the effects on product formation. As a result, the biomass and recombinant protein titers of E. coli were enhanced in both minimal and rich medium simple batch cocultures. Finally, harnessing both the strains to the production resulted in enhanced recombinant protein titers. The study demonstrates the potential of rationally engineered cocultures for synthetic biology applications.}, } @article {pmid25469384, year = {2014}, author = {Kennedy, DO}, title = {Polyphenols and the human brain: plant “secondary metabolite” ecologic roles and endogenous signaling functions drive benefits.}, journal = {Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {515-533}, pmid = {25469384}, issn = {2156-5376}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Brain/*drug effects/metabolism ; Cognition/drug effects ; Diet ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Phytoestrogens/pharmacology ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Polyphenols/*pharmacology ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids and other polyphenols are ubiquitous plant chemicals that fulfill a range of ecologic roles for their home plant, including protection from a range of biotic and abiotic stressors and a pivotal role in the management of pathogenic and symbiotic soil bacteria and fungi. They form a natural part of the human diet, and evidence suggests that their consumption is associated with the beneficial modulation of a number of health-related variables, including those related to cardiovascular and brain function. Over recent years, the consensus as to the mechanisms responsible for these effects in humans has shifted away from polyphenols having direct antioxidant effects and toward their modulation of cellular signal transduction pathways. To date, little consideration has been given to the question of why, rather than how, these plant-derived chemicals might exert these effects. Therefore, this review summarizes the evidence suggesting that polyphenols beneficially affect human brain function and describes the current mechanistic hypotheses explaining these effects. It then goes on to describe the ecologic roles and potential endogenous signaling functions that these ubiquitous phytochemicals play within their home plant and discusses whether these functions drive their beneficial effects in humans via a process of “cross-kingdom” signaling predicated on the many conserved similarities in plant, microbial, and human cellular signal transduction pathways.}, } @article {pmid25469019, year = {2014}, author = {de Moreno de LeBlanc, A and LeBlanc, JG}, title = {Effect of probiotic administration on the intestinal microbiota, current knowledge and potential applications.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {20}, number = {44}, pages = {16518-16528}, pmid = {25469019}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Therapy ; Feces/microbiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases/diagnosis/microbiology/*therapy ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Although it is now known that the human body is colonized by a wide variety of microbial populations in different parts (such as the mouth, pharynx and respiratory system, the skin, the gastro- and urogenital tracts), many effects of the complex interactions between the human host and microbial symbionts are still not completely understood. The dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota is considered to be one of the most important contributing factors in the development of many gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and colorectal cancer, as well as systemic diseases like obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fecal microbial transplantations appear to be promising therapies for dysbiosis-associated diseases; however, probiotic microorganisms have been growing in popularity due to increasing numbers of studies proving that certain strains present health promoting properties, among them the beneficial balance of the intestinal microbiota. Inflammatory bowel diseases and obesity are the pathologies in which there are more studies showing this beneficial association using animal models and even in human clinical trials. In this review, the association of the human gut microbiota and human health will be discussed along with the benefits that probiotics can confer on this symbiotic activity and on the prevention or treatment of associated diseases.}, } @article {pmid25468489, year = {2015}, author = {Fond, G and Boukouaci, W and Chevalier, G and Regnault, A and Eberl, G and Hamdani, N and Dickerson, F and Macgregor, A and Boyer, L and Dargel, A and Oliveira, J and Tamouza, R and Leboyer, M}, title = {The "psychomicrobiotic": Targeting microbiota in major psychiatric disorders: A systematic review.}, journal = {Pathologie-biologie}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {35-42}, doi = {10.1016/j.patbio.2014.10.003}, pmid = {25468489}, issn = {1768-3114}, mesh = {Animals ; Dietary Supplements ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods ; Dysbiosis/complications/*diet therapy/microbiology ; Humans ; Mental Disorders/complications/*diet therapy/microbiology ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; *Prebiotics/administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is increasingly considered as a symbiotic partner in the maintenance of good health. Metagenomic approaches could help to discover how the complex gut microbial ecosystem participates in the control of the host's brain development and function, and could be relevant for future therapeutic developments, such as probiotics, prebiotics and nutritional approaches for psychiatric disorders. Previous reviews focused on the effects of microbiota on the central nervous system in in vitro and animal studies. The aim of the present review is to synthetize the current data on the association between microbiota dysbiosis and onset and/or maintenance of major psychiatric disorders, and to explore potential therapeutic opportunities targeting microbiota dysbiosis in psychiatric patients.}, } @article {pmid26300574, year = {2014}, author = {Lüscher, A and Mueller-Harvey, I and Soussana, JF and Rees, RM and Peyraud, JL}, title = {Potential of legume-based grassland-livestock systems in Europe: a review.}, journal = {Grass and forage science : the journal of the British Grassland Society}, volume = {69}, number = {2}, pages = {206-228}, pmid = {26300574}, issn = {0142-5242}, abstract = {European grassland-based livestock production systems face the challenge of producing more meat and milk to meet increasing world demands and to achieve this using fewer resources. Legumes offer great potential for achieving these objectives. They have numerous features that can act together at different stages in the soil-plant-animal-atmosphere system, and these are most effective in mixed swards with a legume proportion of 30-50%. The resulting benefits include reduced dependence on fossil energy and industrial N-fertilizer, lower quantities of harmful emissions to the environment (greenhouse gases and nitrate), lower production costs, higher productivity and increased protein self-sufficiency. Some legume species offer opportunities for improving animal health with less medication, due to the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites. In addition, legumes may offer an adaptation option to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate change. Legumes generate these benefits at the level of the managed land-area unit and also at the level of the final product unit. However, legumes suffer from some limitations, and suggestions are made for future research to exploit more fully the opportunities that legumes can offer. In conclusion, the development of legume-based grassland-livestock systems undoubtedly constitutes one of the pillars for more sustainable and competitive ruminant production systems, and it can be expected that forage legumes will become more important in the future.}, } @article {pmid26380545, year = {2014}, author = {Wilson, ER and Smalling, KL and Reilly, TJ and Gray, E and Bond, L and Steele, L and Kandel, P and Chamberlin, A and Gause, J and Reynolds, N and Robertson, I and Novak, S and Feris, K and White, MM}, title = {ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF FUNGICIDES ON NONTARGET GUT FUNGI (TRICHOMYCETES) AND THEIR ASSOCIATED LARVAL BLACK FLY HOSTS.}, journal = {Journal of the American Water Resources Association}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {420-433}, pmid = {26380545}, issn = {1093-474X}, support = {P20 GM103408/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 RR016454/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Fungicides are moderately hydrophobic and have been detected in water and sediment, particularly in agricultural watersheds, but typically are not included in routine water quality monitoring efforts. This is despite their widespread use and frequent application to combat fungal pathogens. Whereas the efficacy of these compounds on fungal pathogens is well documented, little is known about their effects on nontarget fungi. This pilot study, a field survey in southwestern Idaho from April to December 2010 on four streams with varying pesticide inputs (two agricultural and two reference sites), was conducted to assess nontarget impact of fungicides on gut fungi, or trichomycetes. Tissues of larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae), hosts of gut fungi, were analyzed for pesticide accumulation. Fungicides were detected in hosts from streams within agricultural watersheds but were not detected in hosts from reference streams. Gut fungi from agricultural sites exhibited decreased percent infestation, density within the gut, and sporulation, and black fly tissues had elevated pesticide concentrations. Differences observed between the sites demonstrate a potential effect on this symbiotic system. Future research is needed to parse out the details of the complex biotic and abiotic relationships; however, these preliminary results indicate that impacts to nontarget organisms could have far-reaching consequences within aquatic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid26038670, year = {2014}, author = {Elslahi, RH and Osman, AG and Sherif, AM and Elhussein, AA}, title = {Comparative study of the fungicide Benomyl toxicity on some plant growth promoting bacteria and some fungi in pure cultures.}, journal = {Interdisciplinary toxicology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {12-16}, pmid = {26038670}, issn = {1337-6853}, abstract = {Six laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of the fungicide Benomyl on pure cultures of some plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and some fungi. The highest LD50 was recorded for Bacillus circulans and proved to be the most resistant to the fungicide, followed by Azospirillum braziliense, while Penicillium sp. was the most affected microorganism. LD50 values for the affected microorganisms were in 21-240 orders of magnitude lower in comparison with the LD50 value for Azospirillum braziliense. The results indicate a strong selectivity for Benomyl against Rhizobium meliloti and Penicillium sp. when compared to other microorganisms tested. The highest safety coefficient was recorded for Bacillus circulans followed by Azospirillum braziliense, while Rhizobium meliloti, showed the lowest safety coefficient value compared to other bacteria. The lowest toxicity index was recorded for Bacillus circulans and Azospirillum braziliense. The slope of the curves for Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium meliloti was steeper than that of the other curves, suggesting that even a slight increase of the dose of the fungicide can cause a very strong negative effect. In conclusion, Benomyl could be applied without restriction when using inocula based on growth promoting bacteria such as symbiotic nitrogen fixers (Rhizobium meliloti), non-symbiotic nitrogen fixers (Azospirillum braziliense) or potassium solibilizers (Bacillus circulans), given that the fungicide is applied within the range of the recommended field dose.}, } @article {pmid26069356, year = {2014}, author = {Trouvé, R and Drapela, T and Frank, T and Hadacek, F and Zaller, JG}, title = {Herbivory of an invasive slug in a model grassland community can be affected by earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Biology and fertility of soils}, volume = {50}, number = {1}, pages = {13-23}, pmid = {26069356}, issn = {0178-2762}, support = {P 20171/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Invasion of non-native species is among the top threats for the biodiversity and functioning of native and agricultural ecosystems worldwide. We investigated whether the herbivory of the slug Arion vulgaris (formerly Arion lusitanicus; Gastropoda), that is listed among the 100 worst alien species in Europe, is affected by soil organisms commonly present in terrestrial ecosystems (i.e. earthworms-Annelida: Lumbricidae and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-AMF, Glomerales). We hypothesized that slug herbivory would be affected by soil organisms via altered plant nutrient availability and plant quality. In a greenhouse experiment, we created a simple plant community consisting of a grass, a forb, and a legume species and inoculated these systems with either two earthworm species and/or four AMF taxa. Slugs were introduced after plants were established. Earthworms significantly reduced total slug herbivory in AMF-inoculated plant communities (P = 0.013). Across plant species, earthworms increased leaf total N and secondary metabolites, AMF decreased leaf thickness. Mycorrhizae induced a shift in slug feeding preference from non-legumes to legumes; the grass was generally avoided by slugs. AMF effects on legume herbivory can partly be explained by the AMF-induced increase in total N and decrease in C/N ratio; earthworm effects are less clear as no worm-induced alterations of legume plant chemistry were observed. The presence of earthworms increased average AMF colonization of plant roots by 140 % (P < 0.001). Total shoot mass was significantly increased by AMF (P < 0.001). These data suggest that the feeding behavior of this invasive slug is altered by a belowground control of plant chemical quality and community structure.}, } @article {pmid26034703, year = {2014}, author = {Argaw, A}, title = {Symbiotic effectiveness of inoculation with Bradyrhizobium isolates on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] genotypes with different maturities.}, journal = {SpringerPlus}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {753}, pmid = {26034703}, issn = {2193-1801}, abstract = {The influence of soybean genotypes with different maturity groups on the symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium spp under high native soil N is not well known. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of maturity time of soybean genotypes on the symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium spp. at higher soil N. Three isolates of Bradyrhizobium spp. (UK-isolate, TAL-379 isolate and local-isolate) and six soybean genotypes, three late maturing (Wogayen, TGx-1336424 and Belsa) and three medium maturing (GIZA, Afgat and Gishame) were used for greenhouse experiment. Only GIZA and TGx-1336424 were selected for field experiment. The result of the experiments showed that significantly (P < 0.05) differences in all investigated traits, except total plant tissue N, was observed in TGx-1336424 with UK-Isolate and Local-Isolate.TAL-379 inoculation performed better in all investigated traits of GIZA genotype than other inoculation treatments. N-fertilization in the greenhouse experiment significantly (P < 0.05) improved the shoot biomass of Wogayen and Belsa-95, but did not observe in GIZA and Gishame. The regression analysis obtained between nodule number and nodule dry weight with that of grain yield indicated generally higher R(2) value for late maturing than that of the medium maturing genotypes. This indicates high importance of nodulation for improving the GY of late maturing genotypes. Hence, this study proves the need for inoculation to improve the production and productivity of soybean sustainably in Ethiopia, with particularly pronounced effect on late maturing genotypes of soybean.}, } @article {pmid25928247, year = {2014}, author = {Hofferek, V and Mendrinna, A and Gaude, N and Krajinski, F and Devers, EA}, title = {MiR171h restricts root symbioses and shows like its target NSP2 a complex transcriptional regulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {199}, pmid = {25928247}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Fertilizers ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes have the unique capability to undergo root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Both types of root endosymbiosis are regulated by NSP2, which is a target of microRNA171h (miR171h). Although, recent data implies that miR171h specifically restricts arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in the root elongation zone of Medicago truncatula roots, there is limited knowledge available about the spatio-temporal regulation of miR171h expression at different physiological and symbiotic conditions.

RESULTS: We show that miR171h is functionally expressed from an unusual long primary transcript, previously predicted to encode two identical miR171h strands. Both miR171h and NSP2 transcripts display a complex regulation pattern, which involves the symbiotic status and the fertilization regime of the plant. Quantitative Real-time PCR revealed that miR171h and NSP2 transcript levels show a clear anti-correlation in all tested conditions except in mycorrhizal roots, where NSP2 transcript levels were induced despite of an increased miR171h expression. This was also supported by a clear correlation of transcript levels of NSP2 and MtPt4, a phosphate transporter specifically expressed in a functional AM symbiosis. MiR171h is strongly induced in plants growing in sufficient phosphate conditions, which we demonstrate to be independent of the CRE1 signaling pathway and which is also not required for transcriptional induction of NSP2 in mycorrhizal roots. In situ hybridization and promoter activity analysis of both genes confirmed the complex regulation involving the symbiotic status, P and N nutrition, where both genes show a mainly mutual exclusive expression pattern. Overexpression of miR171h in M. truncatula roots led to a reduction in mycorrhizal colonization and to a reduced nodulation by Sinorhizobium meliloti.

CONCLUSION: The spatio-temporal expression of miR171h and NSP2 is tightly linked to the nutritional status of the plant and, together with the results from the overexpression analysis, points to an important function of miR171h to integrate the nutrient homeostasis in order to safeguard the expression domain of NSP2 during both, arbuscular mycorrhizal and root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25927719, year = {2014}, author = {Darwell, CT and al-Beidh, S and Cook, JM}, title = {Molecular species delimitation of a symbiotic fig-pollinating wasp species complex reveals extreme deviation from reciprocal partner specificity.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {189}, pmid = {25927719}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Cytochromes b/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Ficus/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Pollination ; Sequence Alignment ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wasps/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships have contributed to major evolutionary innovations, the maintenance of fundamental ecosystem functions, and the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. However, the exact nature of host/symbiont associations, which has important consequences for their dynamics, is often poorly known due to limited understanding of symbiont taxonomy and species diversity. Among classical symbioses, figs and their pollinating wasps constitute a highly diverse keystone resource in tropical forest and savannah environments. Historically, they were considered to exemplify extreme reciprocal partner specificity (one-to-one host-symbiont species relationships), but recent work has revealed several more complex cases. However, there is a striking lack of studies with the specific aims of assessing symbiont diversity and how this varies across the geographic range of the host.

RESULTS: Here, we use molecular methods to investigate cryptic diversity in the pollinating wasps of a widespread Australian fig species. Standard barcoding genes and methods were not conclusive, but incorporation of phylogenetic analyses and a recently developed nuclear barcoding gene (ITS2), gave strong support for five pollinator species. Each pollinator species was most common in a different geographic region, emphasising the importance of wide geographic sampling to uncover diversity, and the scope for divergence in coevolutionary trajectories across the host plant range. In addition, most regions had multiple coexisting pollinators, raising the question of how they coexist in apparently similar or identical resource niches.

CONCLUSION: Our study offers a striking example of extreme deviation from reciprocal partner specificity over the full geographical range of a fig-wasp system. It also suggests that superficially identical species may be able to co-exist in a mutualistic setting albeit at different frequencies in relation to their fig host's range. We show that comprehensive sampling and molecular taxonomic techniques may be required to uncover the true structure of cryptic biodiversity underpinning intimate ecological interactions.}, } @article {pmid25804056, year = {2014}, author = {Marek-Kozaczuk, M and Wielbo, J and Pawlik, A and Skorupska, A}, title = {Nodulation competitiveness of Ensifer meliloti alfalfa nodule isolates and their potential for application as inoculants.}, journal = {Polish journal of microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {4}, pages = {375-386}, pmid = {25804056}, issn = {1733-1331}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a widely cultivated legume, which enters into nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) spp. In this study, an autochthonous rhizobial population of Ensifer sp. occupying alfalfa nodules grown in arable soil was used as the basis for selection of potential inoculants. Alfalfa nodule isolates were identified as Ensifer meliloti by partial 16S rDNA, recA, atpD and nodC nucleotide sequencing. The sampled isolates displayed different symbiotic performance and diversity in the number of plasmids and molecular weight. Isolates that were the most efficient in symbiotic nitrogen fixation were tagged with a constitutively expressed gusA gene carried by a stable plasmid vector pJBA21Tc and used in competition experiments in soil under greenhouse conditions. Two E. meliloti strains LU09 and LU12, which effectively competed with indigenous soil rhizobia, were selected. The metabolic profiles of these selected strains showed differences in the use of carbon and energy sources. In addition, the LU09 strain exhibited bacteriocin production and LU12 mineral phosphate solubilization, which are valuable traits for soil survival. These strains may be considered as potential biofertilizers for alfalfa cultivation.}, } @article {pmid25780500, year = {2014}, author = {Kelly, S and Sullivan, J and Ronson, C and Tian, R and Bräu, L and Davenport, K and Daligault, H and Erkkila, T and Goodwin, L and Gu, W and Munk, C and Teshima, H and Xu, Y and Chain, P and Woyke, T and Liolios, K and Pati, A and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of the Lotus spp. microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti strain NZP2037.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {7}, pmid = {25780500}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti strain NZP2037 was isolated in 1961 in Palmerston North, New Zealand from a Lotus divaricatus root nodule. Compared to most other M. loti strains, it has a broad host range and is one of very few M. loti strains able to form effective nodules on the agriculturally important legume Lotus pedunculatus. NZP2037 is an aerobic, Gram negative, non-spore-forming rod. This report reveals that the genome of M. loti strain NZP2037 does not harbor any plasmids and contains a single scaffold of size 7,462,792 bp which encodes 7,318 protein-coding genes and 70 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25780499, year = {2014}, author = {Kelly, S and Sullivan, J and Ronson, C and Tian, R and Bräu, L and Munk, C and Goodwin, L and Han, C and Woyke, T and Reddy, T and Huntemann, M and Pati, A and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of the Lotus spp. microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti strain R7A.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {6}, pmid = {25780499}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti strain R7A was isolated in 1993 in Lammermoor, Otago, New Zealand from a Lotus corniculatus root nodule and is a reisolate of the inoculant strain ICMP3153 (NZP2238) used at the site. R7A is an aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod. The symbiotic genes in the strain are carried on a 502-kb integrative and conjugative element known as the symbiosis island or ICEMlSym(R7A). M. loti is the microsymbiont of the model legume Lotus japonicus and strain R7A has been used extensively in studies of the plant-microbe interaction. This report reveals that the genome of M. loti strain R7A does not harbor any plasmids and contains a single scaffold of size 6,529,530 bp which encodes 6,323 protein-coding genes and 75 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25780498, year = {2014}, author = {Ardley, J and Tian, R and Howieson, J and Yates, R and Bräu, L and Han, J and Lobos, E and Huntemann, M and Chen, A and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Goodwin, L and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of the dark pink pigmented Listia bainesii microsymbiont Methylobacterium sp. WSM2598.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {5}, pmid = {25780498}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Strains of a pink-pigmented Methylobacterium sp. are effective nitrogen- (N2) fixing microsymbionts of species of the African crotalarioid genus Listia. Strain WSM2598 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod isolated in 2002 from a Listia bainesii root nodule collected at Estcourt Research Station in South Africa. Here we describe the features of Methylobacterium sp. WSM2598, together with information and annotation of a high-quality draft genome sequence. The 7,669,765 bp draft genome is arranged in 5 scaffolds of 83 contigs, contains 7,236 protein-coding genes and 18 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 G enomic E ncyclopedia for B acteria and A rchaea- R oot N odule B acteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25780497, year = {2014}, author = {Garau, G and Terpolilli, J and Hill, Y and Tian, R and Howieson, J and Bräu, L and Goodwin, L and Han, J and Reddy, T and Huntemann, M and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of Ensifer medicae Di28; an effective N2-fixing microsymbiont of Medicago murex and M. polymorpha.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {4}, pmid = {25780497}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Ensifer medicae Di28 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that can exist as a soil saprophyte or as a legume microsymbiont of Medicago spp. Di28 was isolated in 1998 from a nodule recovered from the roots of M. polymorpha growing in the south east of Sardinia (Italy). Di28 is an effective microsymbiont of the annual forage legumes M. polymorpha and M. murex and is capable of establishing a partially effective symbiotic association with the perennial M. sativa. Here we describe the features of E. medicae Di28, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 6,553,624 bp standard draft genome is arranged into 104 scaffolds of 104 contigs containing 6,394 protein-coding genes and 75 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25780496, year = {2014}, author = {Reeve, W and Sullivan, J and Ronson, C and Tian, R and Bräu, L and Davenport, K and Goodwin, L and Chain, P and Woyke, T and Lobos, E and Huntemann, M and Pati, A and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N}, title = {Genome sequence of the Lotus corniculatus microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti strain R88B.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {3}, pmid = {25780496}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti strain R88B was isolated in 1993 in the Rocklands range in Otago, New Zealand from a Lotus corniculatus root nodule. R88B is an aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod. This report reveals the genome of M. loti strain R88B contains a single scaffold of size 7,195,110 bp which encodes 6,950 protein-coding genes and 66 RNA-only encoding genes. This genome does not harbor any plasmids but contains the integrative and conjugative element ICEMlSym(R7A), also known as the R7A symbiosis island, acquired by horizontal gene transfer in the field environment from M. loti strain R7A. It also contains a mobilizable genetic element ICEMladh(R88B), that encodes a likely adhesin gene which has integrated downstream of ICEMlSym(R7A), and three acquired loci that together allow the utilization of the siderophore ferrichrome. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid26269840, year = {2013}, author = {Scheffrahn, RH}, title = {Compositermes vindai (Isoptera: Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new genus and species of soldierless termite from the Neotropics.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3652}, number = {}, pages = {381-391}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3652.3.6}, pmid = {26269840}, issn = {1175-5326}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Animals ; Body Size ; Isoptera/anatomy & histology/*classification/growth & development ; Male ; Organ Size ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The New World Anoplotermes group is a common and diverse clade of soil-dwelling soldierless termites that is undergoing needed taxonomic reclassification. Based on robust worker gut morphology centered near the enteric valve, a new genus and its singular species, Compositermes vindai, are described from collections encompassing a massive expanse of tropical America. The enteric valve armature is thought to enhance inoculation of the food stream with symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid26074729, year = {2013}, author = {Bright, M and Eichinger, I and von Salvini-Plawen, L}, title = {The metatrochophore of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent vestimentiferan (Polychaeta: Siboglinidae).}, journal = {Organisms, diversity & evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {163-188}, pmid = {26074729}, issn = {1439-6092}, abstract = {Vestimentiferans (Siboglinidae, Polychaeta) live as juveniles and adults in an obligate mutualistic association with thiotrophic bacteria. Since their development is aposymbiotic, metatrochophores of vestimentiferans from the East Pacific Rise colonizing deep-sea hydrothermal vents are infected with the specific symbiont, develop the trophosome, and reduce their digestive system. To gain insight into the anatomy and ultrastructure and to compare this stage with metatrochophores from other siboglinids, we serial sectioned and reconstructed three specimens using light and transmission electron microscopy. The metatrochophore was composed of a prostomium, a small peristomium, two chaetigers (or two chaetigers and one additional segment without chaetae), and a minute pygidium. A digestive system and an intraepidermal nervous system were developed. Larval organs such as the prototroch, the neurotroch, and an apical organ were present, along with juvenile/adult organs such as tentacles, uncini, pyriform glands, and the anlage of the nephridial organ. We propose that in vestimentiferans, the vestimentum is the head arising from the prostomium, peristomium, and the anterior part of the first chaetiger. In frenulates, in contrast, the head is composed on the one hand of the cephalic lobe arising from the prostomium and on the other of the forepart developing from the peristomium and the anterior part of the first chaetiger. In frenulates the muscular septum between the forepart and trunk develops later than the first two chaetigers. Since this septum has no counterpart in vestimentiferans, the forepart-trunk border of frenulates is not considered homologous with the vestimentum-trunk border in vestimentiferans. The obturacular region in vestimentiferans does not appear to be a body region but rather the head appendages arising from the first chaetiger. In contrast, the tentacles in frenulates are prostomial head appendages. In both taxa, the trunk is the posterior part of the first chaetiger, and the opisthosoma is the following chaetigers and the pygidium. Comparisons with other polychaetes suggest that two larval segments are autapomorphic for the monophyletic Siboglinidae.}, } @article {pmid25960690, year = {2013}, author = {Eichinger, I and Hourdez, S and Bright, M}, title = {Morphology, microanatomy and sequence data of Sclerolinum contortum (Siboglindae, Annelida) of the Gulf of Mexico.}, journal = {Organisms, diversity & evolution}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {311-329}, pmid = {25960690}, issn = {1439-6092}, abstract = {Sclerolinum is a small genus of Siboglinidae (Annelida) living in an obligate mutualistic association with thiotrophic bacteria as adults. Its taxonomic position, based on morphology, has been controversial; however, molecular data point to a sister taxa relationship with vestimentiferans. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and comparative morphology revealed that the studied population from deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps of the Gulf of Mexico belongs to Sclerolinum contortum known from the Arctic Sea. Since no anatomical and microanatomical studies have been published yet, we conducted such a study on S. contortum using serial sectioning and light and transmission electron microscopy. We show that the Sclerolinum body, divided into a head, trunk, and opisthosoma, is very similar to that of the vestimentiferans, and therefore we propose that the body regions are homologous in both taxa.}, } @article {pmid25567969, year = {2011}, author = {Denison, RF}, title = {Past evolutionary tradeoffs represent opportunities for crop genetic improvement and increased human lifespan.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {216-224}, pmid = {25567969}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {The repeated evolution of complex adaptations - crop mimicry by weeds, for example, or CO2-concentrating C4 photosynthesis - shows the power of natural selection to solve difficult problems that limited fitness in past environments. The sophistication of natural selection's innovations contrasts with the relatively simple changes (e.g., increasing the expression of existing genes) readily achievable by today's biotechnology. Mutants with greater expression of these genes arose repeatedly over the course of evolution, so their present rarity indicates rejection by natural selection. Similarly, medical interventions that simply up- or down-regulate existing physiological mechanisms presumably recreate phenotypes also rejected by past natural selection. Some tradeoffs that constrained past natural selection still apply, such as those resulting from conservation of matter. But tradeoffs between present human goals and individual fitness in past environments may represent fairly easy opportunities to achieve our goals by reversing some effects of past selection. This point is illustrated with three examples, based on tradeoffs between (i) individual-plant fitness versus whole-crop performance, (ii) the fitness of symbionts (rhizobia) versus that of their legume hosts, and (iii) human fertility versus longevity in the context of environmental cues, such as consumption of 'famine foods', that predict trends in population size.}, } @article {pmid25567945, year = {2010}, author = {Gundel, PE and Omacini, M and Sadras, VO and Ghersa, CM}, title = {The interplay between the effectiveness of the grass-endophyte mutualism and the genetic variability of the host plant.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {3}, number = {5-6}, pages = {538-546}, pmid = {25567945}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Neotyphodium endophytic fungi, the asexual state of Epichloë species, protect cool-season grasses against stresses. The outcomes of Neotyphodium-grass symbioses are agronomically relevant as they may affect the productivity of pastures. It has been suggested that the mutualism is characteristic of agronomic grasses and that differential rates of gene flow between both partners' populations are expected to disrupt the specificity of the association and, thus, the mutualism in wild grasses. We propose that compatibility is necessary but not sufficient to explain the outcomes of Neotyphodium-grass symbiosis, and advance a model that links genetic compatibility, mutualism effectiveness, and endophyte transmission efficiency. For endophytes that reproduce clonally and depend on allogamous hosts for reproduction and dissemination, we propose that this symbiosis works as an integrated entity where gene flow promotes its fitness and evolution. Compatibility between the host plant and the fungal endophyte would be high in genetically close parents; however, mutualism effectiveness and transmission efficiency would be low in fitness depressed host plants. Increasing the genetic distance of mating parents would increase mutualism effectiveness and transmission efficiency. This tendency would be broken when the genetic distance between parents is high (out-breeding depression). Our model allows for testable hypotheses that would contribute to understand the coevolutionary origin and future of the endophyte-grass mutualism.}, } @article {pmid25792767, year = {2006}, author = {Isozaki, Y}, title = {Guadalupian (Middle Permian) giant bivalve Alatoconchidae from a mid-Panthalassan paleo-atoll complex in Kyushu, Japan: A unique community associated with Tethyan fusulines and corals.}, journal = {Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and biological sciences}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {25-32}, pmid = {25792767}, issn = {0386-2208}, abstract = {Unique new fossil assemblages containing the large bivalve family Alatoconchidae are recorded from the Guadalupian (Middle Permian) shallow marine limestone in Kamura, Kyushu. The large bivalves occur in the Neoschwagerina Zone and Lepidolina Zone. This discovery establishes that the biostratigraphic range of the family Alatoconchidae extends up to the top of the Lepidolina Zone (upper Capitanian of upper Guadalupian) i.e., to the end-Guadalupian extinction level. The largest Alatoconchidae in Kamura occurs in the Neoschwagerina Zone, the size of which is up to 50 cm long and 5 cm thick. Although details are still unknown, their morphology with a wing-like side projection of their valves appears very similar to that of Alatoconchidae that includes the well-known genus Shikamaia Ozaki. The bivalve-bearing Iwato Formation was derived from a mid-oceanic shallow marine carbonate build-up formed on a mid-oceanic paleo-seamount. The close association among the Alatoconchidae, typical Tethyan fusulines (Verbeekinidae) and rugose corals (Waagenophyllidae), plus their common extinction pattern suggests that the Alatoconchidae flourished in warm, shallow (photic) marine environments in low latitude areas in Panthalassa as well as Tethys. The extra-large size and double-layered shell with a translucent outer layer composed of prismatic calcite suggests that these bivalves may have hosted abundant photosynthetic algal symbionts to support their large-body metabolism.}, } @article {pmid25575388, year = {1999}, author = {Schwarz, JA and Krupp, DA and Weis, VM}, title = {Late Larval Development and Onset of Symbiosis in the Scleractinian Coral Fungia scutaria.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {196}, number = {1}, pages = {70-79}, doi = {10.2307/1543169}, pmid = {25575388}, issn = {0006-3185}, abstract = {Many corals that harbor symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) produce offspring that initially lack zooxanthellae. This study examined late larval development and the acquisition of zooxanthellae in the scleractinian coral Fungia scutaria, which produces planula larvae that lack zooxanthellae. Larvae reared under laboratory conditions developed the ability to feed 3 days after fertilization; feeding behavior was stimulated by homogenized Artemia. Larvae began to settle and metamorphose 5 days after fertilization. In laboratory experiments, larvae acquired experimentally added zooxanthellae by ingesting them while feeding. Zooxanthellae entered the gastric cavity and were phagocytosed by endodermal cells. As early as 1 h after feeding, zooxanthellae were observed in both endodermal and ectodermal cells. Larvae were able to form an association with three genetically distinct strains of zooxanthellae. Both zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate larvae underwent metamorphosis, and azooxanthellate polyps were able to acquire zooxanthellae from the environment. Preliminary evidence suggests that the onset of symbiosis may influence larval development; in one study symbiotic larvae settled earlier than aposymbiotic larvae. Protein profiles of eggs and larvae throughout development revealed a putative yolk protein doublet that was abundant in eggs and 1-day-old larvae and was absent by day 6. This study is the first to examine the onset of symbiosis between a motile cnidarian host and its algal symbiont.}, } @article {pmid26142237, year = {1997}, author = {Heimler, A}, title = {An Oral History of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.}, journal = {Journal of genetic counseling}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {315-336}, pmid = {26142237}, issn = {1059-7700}, abstract = {Master's level genetic counselors formed a professional society in 1979, 8 years after the first master's degree training program graduation. This paper presents an oral history of the early years of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), reviews the symbiotic development and definition of a profession and a professional society, and discusses events and achievements attributed to the NSGC since its incorporation. This retrospective historical account is based on personal and collective oral history, NSGC archival material and other sources.}, } @article {pmid25578072, year = {1973}, author = {Du Brul, EL}, title = {Strange symbiosis.}, journal = {Perspectives in biology and medicine}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {558-577}, doi = {10.1353/pbm.1973.0059}, pmid = {25578072}, issn = {0031-5982}, } @article {pmid25467553, year = {2015}, author = {Gharechahi, J and Zahiri, HS and Noghabi, KA and Salekdeh, GH}, title = {In-depth diversity analysis of the bacterial community resident in the camel rumen.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {67-76}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.09.004}, pmid = {25467553}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics ; Camelus/*microbiology ; Female ; Firmicutes/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/*genetics ; Metagenome ; Molecular Typing ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The rumen compartment of the ruminant digestive tract is an enlarged fermentation chamber which houses a diverse collection of symbiotic microorganisms that provide the host animal with a remarkable ability to digest plant lignocellulosic materials. Characterization of the ruminal microbial community provides opportunities to improve animal food digestion efficiency, mitigate methane emission, and develop efficient fermentation systems to convert plant biomasses into biofuels. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing was applied in order to explore the structure of the bacterial community inhabiting the camel rumen. Using 76,333 quality-checked, chimera- and singleton-filtered reads, 4954 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified at a 97% species level sequence identity. At the phylum level, more than 96% of the reads were affiliated to OTUs belonging to Bacteroidetes (51%), Firmicutes (31%), Proteobacteria (4.8%), Spirochaetes (3.5%), Fibrobacteres (3.1%), Verrucomicrobia (2.7%), and Tenericutes (0.95%). A total of 15% of the OTUs (746) that contained representative sequences from all major taxa were shared by all animals and they were considered as candidate members of the core camel rumen microbiome. Analysis of microbial composition through the solid and liquid fractions of rumen digesta revealed differential enrichment of members of Fibrobacter, Clostridium, Ruminococcus, and Treponema in the solid fraction, as well as members of Prevotella, Verrucomicrobia, Cyanobacteria, and Succinivibrio in the liquid fraction. The results clearly showed that the camel rumen microbiome was structurally similar but compositionally distinct from that of other ruminants, such as the cow. The unique characteristic of the camel rumen microbiome that differentiated it from those of other ruminants was the significant enrichment for cellulolytic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25467196, year = {2014}, author = {Rosic, N and Kaniewska, P and Chan, CK and Ling, EY and Edwards, D and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Early transcriptional changes in the reef-building coral Acropora aspera in response to thermal and nutrient stress.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1052}, pmid = {25467196}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Coral Reefs ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Photosynthesis ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Temperature ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Changes to the environment as a result of human activities can result in a range of impacts on reef building corals that include coral bleaching (reduced concentrations of algal symbionts), decreased coral growth and calcification, and increased incidence of diseases and mortality. Understanding how elevated temperatures and nutrient concentration affect early transcriptional changes in corals and their algal endosymbionts is critically important for evaluating the responses of coral reefs to global changes happening in the environment. Here, we investigated the expression of genes in colonies of the reef-building coral Acropora aspera exposed to short-term sub-lethal levels of thermal (+6°C) and nutrient stress (ammonium-enrichment: 20 μM).

RESULTS: The RNA-Seq data provided hundreds of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) corresponding to various stress regimes, with 115 up- and 78 down-regulated genes common to all stress regimes. A list of DEGs included up-regulated coral genes like cytochrome c oxidase and NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase and up-regulated photosynthetic genes of algal origin, whereas coral GFP-like fluorescent chromoprotein and sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase showed reduced transcript levels. Taxonomic analyses of the coral holobiont disclosed the dominant presence of transcripts from coral (~70%) and Symbiodinium (~10-12%), as well as ~15-20% of unknown sequences which lacked sequence identity to known genes. Gene ontology analyses revealed enriched pathways, which led to changes in the dynamics of protein networks affecting growth, cellular processes, and energy requirement.

CONCLUSIONS: In corals with preserved symbiont physiological performance (based on Fv/Fm, photo-pigment and symbiont density), transcriptomic changes and DEGs provided important insight into early stages of the stress response in the coral holobiont. Although there were no signs of coral bleaching after exposure to short-term thermal and nutrient stress conditions, we managed to detect oxidative stress and apoptotic changes on a molecular level and provide a list of prospective stress biomarkers for both partners in symbiosis. Consequently, our findings are important for understanding and anticipating impacts of anthropogenic global climate change on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid25465219, year = {2014}, author = {Favre, P and Bapaume, L and Bossolini, E and Delorenzi, M and Falquet, L and Reinhardt, D}, title = {A novel bioinformatics pipeline to discover genes related to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis based on their evolutionary conservation pattern among higher plants.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {333}, pmid = {25465219}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Computational Biology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Magnoliopsida/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Genes involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis have been identified primarily by mutant screens, followed by identification of the mutated genes (forward genetics). In addition, a number of AM-related genes has been identified by their AM-related expression patterns, and their function has subsequently been elucidated by knock-down or knock-out approaches (reverse genetics). However, genes that are members of functionally redundant gene families, or genes that have a vital function and therefore result in lethal mutant phenotypes, are difficult to identify. If such genes are constitutively expressed and therefore escape differential expression analyses, they remain elusive. The goal of this study was to systematically search for AM-related genes with a bioinformatics strategy that is insensitive to these problems. The central element of our approach is based on the fact that many AM-related genes are conserved only among AM-competent species.

RESULTS: Our approach involves genome-wide comparisons at the proteome level of AM-competent host species with non-mycorrhizal species. Using a clustering method we first established orthologous/paralogous relationships and subsequently identified protein clusters that contain members only of the AM-competent species. Proteins of these clusters were then analyzed in an extended set of 16 plant species and ranked based on their relatedness among AM-competent monocot and dicot species, relative to non-mycorrhizal species. In addition, we combined the information on the protein-coding sequence with gene expression data and with promoter analysis. As a result we present a list of yet uncharacterized proteins that show a strongly AM-related pattern of sequence conservation, indicating that the respective genes may have been under selection for a function in AM. Among the top candidates are three genes that encode a small family of similar receptor-like kinases that are related to the S-locus receptor kinases involved in sporophytic self-incompatibility.

CONCLUSIONS: We present a new systematic strategy of gene discovery based on conservation of the protein-coding sequence that complements classical forward and reverse genetics. This strategy can be applied to diverse other biological phenomena if species with established genome sequences fall into distinguished groups that differ in a defined functional trait of interest.}, } @article {pmid25465085, year = {2014}, author = {Li, G and Lai, R and Duan, G and Lyu, LB and Zhang, ZY and Liu, H and Xiang, X}, title = {Isolation and identification of symbiotic bacteria from the skin, mouth, and rectum of wild and captive tree shrews.}, journal = {Dong wu xue yan jiu = Zoological research}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {492-499}, pmid = {25465085}, issn = {0254-5853}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Female ; Male ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tupaiidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbionts influence many aspects of their hosts' health conditions, including physiology, development, immunity, metabolism, etc. Tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) have attracted increasing attention in modeling human diseases and therapeutic responses due to their close relationship with primates. To clarify the situation of symbiotic bacteria from their body surface, oral cavity, and anus, 12 wild and 12 the third generation of captive tree shrews were examined. Based on morphological and cultural characteristics, physiological and biochemical tests, as well as the 16S rDNA full sequence analysis, 12 bacteria strains were isolated and identified from the wild tree shrews: body surface: Bacillus subtilis (detection rate 42%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25%), Staphlococcus aureus (33%), S. Epidermidis (75%), Micrococcus luteus (25%), Kurthia gibsonii (17%); oral cavity: Neisseria mucosa (58%), Streptococcus pneumonia (17%); anus: Enterococcus faecalis (17%), Lactococus lactis (33%), Escherichia coli (92%), Salmonella typhosa (17%); whereas, four were indentified from the third generation captive tree shrews: body surface: S. epidermidis (75%); oral cavity: N.mucosa (67%); anus: L. lactis (33%), E. coli (100%). These results indicate that S. epidermidis, N. mucosa, L. lactis and E. coli were major bacteria in tree shrews, whereas, S. aureus, M. luteus, K. gibsonii, E. faecalis and S. typhosa were species-specific flora. This study facilitates the future use of tree shrews as a standard experimental animal and improves our understanding of the relationship between endosymbionts and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid25462855, year = {2014}, author = {Stowe, HM and Calcatera, SM and Dimmick, MA and Andrae, JG and Duckett, SK and Pratt, SL}, title = {The bull sperm microRNAome and the effect of fescue toxicosis on sperm microRNA expression.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e113163}, pmid = {25462855}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/etiology/*genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Festuca/*toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; MicroRNAs/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Neotyphodium/pathogenicity ; Reproduction/drug effects ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; Spermatozoa/drug effects/pathology ; }, abstract = {Tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub] accounts for nearly 16 million hectares of pasture in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. due to its heat, drought, and pest resistance, conferred to the plant by its symbiotic relationship with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum. The endophyte produces ergot alkaloids that have negative effects on the growth and reproduction of animals, resulting in the syndrome known as fescue toxicosis. The objectives of our study were to identify microRNA (miRNA) present in bovine sperm and to evaluate the effects of fescue toxicosis on sperm miRNA expression. Angus bulls were assigned to treatments of either toxic or non-toxic fescue seed diets. Semen was collected and subjected to RNA isolation. Three samples from each treatment group were chosen and pooled for deep sequencing. To compare miRNA expression between treatment groups, a microarray was designed and conducted. For each of the top ten expressed miRNA, target prediction analysis was conducted using TargetScan. Gene ontology enrichment was assessed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Sequencing results elucidated the presence of 1,582 unique small RNA present in sperm. Of those sequences, 382 were known Bos taurus miRNA, 22 were known but novel to Bos taurus, and 816 were predicted candidate miRNA that did not map to any currently reported miRNA. Of the sequences chosen for microarray, twenty-two showed significant differential expression between treatment groups. Gene pathways of interest included: regulation of transcription, embryonic development (including blastocyst formation), Wnt and Hedgehog signaling, oocyte meiosis, and kinase and phosphatase activity. MicroRNA present in mature sperm appears to not only be left over from spermatogenic processes, but may actually serve important regulatory roles in fertilization and early developmental processes. Further, our results indicate the possibility that environmental changes may impact the expression of specific miRNA.}, } @article {pmid25462464, year = {2015}, author = {Barros, I and Divya, B and Martins, I and Vandeperre, F and Santos, RS and Bettencourt, R}, title = {Post-capture immune gene expression studies in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus acclimatized to atmospheric pressure.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {159-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2014.10.018}, pmid = {25462464}, issn = {1095-9947}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*immunology ; Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Bivalvia/genetics/*immunology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation/*immunology ; Gills/immunology/microbiology ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Kinetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are extreme habitats that are distributed worldwide in association with volcanic and tectonic events, resulting thus in the establishment of particular environmental conditions, in which high pressure, steep temperature gradients, and potentially toxic concentrations of sulfur, methane and heavy metals constitute driving factors for the foundation of chemosynthetic-based ecosystems. Of all the different macroorganisms found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus is the most abundant species inhabiting the vent ecosystems from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). In the present study, the effect of long term acclimatization at atmospheric pressure on host-symbiotic associations were studied in light of the ensuing physiological adaptations from which the immune and endosymbiont gene expressions were concomitantly quantified by means of real-time PCR. The expression of immune genes at 0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h, 1 week and 3 weeks post-capture acclimatization was investigated and their profiles compared across the samples tested. The gene signal distribution for host immune and bacterial genes followed phasic changes in gene expression at 24 h, 1 week and 3 weeks acclimatization when compared to other time points tested during this temporal expression study. Analyses of the bacterial gene expression also suggested that both bacterial density and activity could contribute to shaping the intricate association between endosymbionts and host immune genes whose expression patterns seem to be concomitant at 1 week acclimatization. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to assess the distribution and prevalence of endosymbiont bacteria within gill tissues confirming the gradual loss of sulfur-oxidizing (SOX) and methane-oxidizing (MOX) bacteria during acclimatization. The present study addresses the deep-sea vent mussel B. azoricus as a model organism to study how acclimatization in aquaria and the prevalence of symbiotic bacteria are driving the expression of host immune genes. Tight associations, unseen thus far, suggest that host immune and bacterial gene expression patterns reflect distinct physiological responses over the course of acclimatization under aquarium conditions.}, } @article {pmid25462192, year = {2015}, author = {Thundyil, J and Lim, KL}, title = {DAMPs and neurodegeneration.}, journal = {Ageing research reviews}, volume = {24}, number = {Pt A}, pages = {17-28}, doi = {10.1016/j.arr.2014.11.003}, pmid = {25462192}, issn = {1872-9649}, mesh = {Aging/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Animals ; Humans ; Inflammasomes/immunology/metabolism ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/immunology/*metabolism/*pathology ; }, abstract = {The concept of neuroinflammation has come a full circle; from being initially regarded as a controversial viewpoint to its present day acceptance as an integral component of neurodegenerative processes. A closer look at the etiopathogenesis of many neurodegenerative conditions will reveal a patho-symbiotic relationship between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, where the two liaise with each other to form a self-sustaining vicious cycle that facilitates neuronal demise. Here, we focus on damage associated molecular patterns or DAMPs as a potentially important nexus in the context of this lethal neuroinflammation-neurodegeneration alliance. Since their nomenclature as "DAMPs" about a decade ago, these endogenous moieties have consistently been reported as novel players in sterile (non-infective) inflammation. However, their roles in inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS), especially during chronic neurodegenerative disorders are still being actively researched. The aim of this review is to first provide a general overview of the neuroimmune response in the CNS within the purview of DAMPs, its receptors and downstream signaling. This is then followed by discussions on some of the DAMP-mediated neuroinflammatory responses involved in chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Along the way, we also highlighted some important gaps in our existing knowledge regarding the role of DAMPs in neurodegeneration, the clarification of which we believe would aid in the prospects of developing treatment or screening strategies directed at these molecules.}, } @article {pmid25461580, year = {2015}, author = {Goodhead, I and Darby, AC}, title = {Taking the pseudo out of pseudogenes.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {}, pages = {102-109}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2014.11.012}, pmid = {25461580}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {BBJ017698/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Pseudogenes ; }, abstract = {Pseudogenes are defined as fragments of once-functional genes that have been silenced by one or more nonsense, frameshift or missense mutations. Despite continuing increases in the speed of sequencing and annotating bacterial genomes, the identification and categorisation of pseudogenes remains problematic. Even when identified, pseudogenes are considered to be rare and tend to be ignored. On the contrary, pseudogenes are surprisingly prevalent and can persist for long evolutionary time periods, representing a record of once-functional genetic characteristics. Most importantly, pseudogenes provide an insight into prokaryotic evolutionary history as a record of phenotypic traits that have been lost. Focusing on the intracellular and symbiotic bacteria in which pseudogenes predominate, this review discusses the importance of identifying pseudogenes to fully understand the abilities of bacteria, and to understand prokaryotes within their evolutionary context.}, } @article {pmid25461055, year = {2015}, author = {Caro, A and Chereau, G and Briant, N and Roques, C and Freydier, R and Delpoux, S and Escalas, A and Elbaz-Poulichet, F}, title = {Contrasted responses of Ruditapes decussatus (filter and deposit feeding) and Loripes lacteus (symbiotic) exposed to polymetallic contamination (Port-Camargue, France).}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {505}, number = {}, pages = {526-534}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.001}, pmid = {25461055}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*physiology ; *Environmental Monitoring ; France ; Metallothionein/metabolism ; Metals/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; }, abstract = {The use of symbiotic bivalve species to assess the effect of anthropogenic metal pollution was rarely investigated whereas data on filter feeding bivalves are common. The aim of this study was the exposure of two bivalve species, Ruditapes decussatus and Loripes lacteus to polymetallic pollution gradient, originating from harbor activities (Port-Camargue, south of France). Both bivalves differ by their trophic status, filter and deposit feeder for Ruditapes and symbiotic for Loripes that underlies potential differences in metal sensibility. The bivalves were immerged in July (for Ruditapes during 2 and 8 days) and in August 2012 (for Loripes during 2, 6 and 8 days) in the water column of the harbor, at 3 stations according to pollution gradient. Metal concentrations (Cu, Mn, Zn) in the water column were quantified as dissolved metals (measured by ICP-MS) and as labile metals (measured by ICP-MS using DGT technique). For each exposure time, accumulation of metals in the soft tissue of bivalves ("bioaccumulation") was measured for both species. In addition, specific parameters, according to the trophic status of each bivalve, were investigated: filtering activity (specific clearance rate, SCR) for Ruditapes, and relative cell size (SSC) and genomic content (FL1) of bacterial symbionts hosted in the gills of Loripes. The SCR of Ruditapes drops from 100% (control) to 34.7% after 2 days of exposure in the less contaminated site (station 8). On the other hand, the relative cell size (SSC) and genomic content (FL1), measured by flow cytometry were not impacted by the pollution gradient. Bioaccumulation was compared for both species, showing a greater capability of Cu accumulation for Loripes without lethal effect. Mn, Fe and Zn were generally not accumulated by any of the species according to the pollution gradient. The trophic status of each species may greatly influence their respective responses to polymetallic pollution.}, } @article {pmid25460942, year = {2015}, author = {Carranca, C and Castro, IV and Figueiredo, N and Redondo, R and Rodrigues, AR and Saraiva, I and Maricato, R and Madeira, MA}, title = {Influence of tree canopy on N2 fixation by pasture legumes and soil rhizobial abundance in Mediterranean oak woodlands.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {506-507}, number = {}, pages = {86-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.111}, pmid = {25460942}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Environmental Monitoring ; Fabaceae/*growth & development ; Forestry/methods ; Forests ; Nitrogen/analysis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Quercus/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*growth & development/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic N2 fixation is of primordial significance in sustainable agro-forestry management as it allows reducing the use of mineral N in the production of mixed stands and by protecting the soils from degradation. Thereby, on a 2-year basis, N2 fixation was evaluated in four oak woodlands under Mediterranean conditions using a split-plot design and three replicates. (15)N technique was used for determination of N2 fixation rate. Variations in environmental conditions (temperature, rainfall, radiation) by the cork tree canopy as well as the age of stands and pasture management can cause great differences in vegetation growth, legume N2 fixation, and soil rhizobial abundance. In the present study, non-legumes dominated the swards, in particular beneath the tree canopy, and legumes represented only 42% of total herbage. A 2-fold biomass reduction was observed in the oldest sown pasture in relation to the medium-age sward (6 t DW ha(-1)yr(-1)). Overall, competition of pasture growth for light was negligible, but soil rhizobial abundance and symbiotic N2 fixation capacity were highly favored by this environmental factor in the spring and outside the influence of tree canopy. Nitrogen derived from the atmosphere was moderate to high (54-72%) in unsown and sown swards. Inputs of fixed N2 increased from winter to spring due to more favorable climatic conditions (temperature and light intensity) for both rhizobia and vegetation growths. Assuming a constant fixation rate at each seasonal period, N2 fixation capacity increased from about 0.10 kg N ha(-1) per day in the autumn-winter period to 0.15 kg N ha(-1) per day in spring. Belowground plant material contributed to 11% of accumulated N in pasture legumes and was not affected by canopy. Size of soil fixing bacteria contributed little to explain pasture legumes N.}, } @article {pmid25459870, year = {2015}, author = {Cho, DH and Ramanan, R and Heo, J and Lee, J and Kim, BH and Oh, HM and Kim, HS}, title = {Enhancing microalgal biomass productivity by engineering a microalgal-bacterial community.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {175}, number = {}, pages = {578-585}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.159}, pmid = {25459870}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Carbon/metabolism ; Chlorella vulgaris/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Flocculation ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids/chemistry ; Microalgae/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study demonstrates that ecologically engineered bacterial consortium could enhance microalgal biomass and lipid productivities through carbon exchange. Phycosphere bacterial diversity analysis in xenic Chlorella vulgaris (XCV) confirmed the presence of growth enhancing and inhibiting microorganisms. Co-cultivation of axenic C. vulgaris (ACV) with four different growth enhancing bacteria revealed a symbiotic relationship with each bacterium. An artificial microalgal-bacterial consortium (AMBC) constituting these four bacteria and ACV showed that the bacterial consortium exerted a statistically significant (P<0.05) growth enhancement on ACV. Moreover, AMBC had superior flocculation efficiency, lipid content and quality. Studies on carbon exchange revealed that bacteria in AMBC might utilize fixed organic carbon released by microalgae, and in return, supply inorganic and low molecular weight (LMW) organic carbon influencing algal growth and metabolism. Such exchanges, although species specific, have enormous significance in carbon cycle and can be exploitated by microalgal biotechnology industry.}, } @article {pmid25458609, year = {2014}, author = {Youseif, SH and Abd El-Megeed, FH and Ageez, A and Cocking, EC and Saleh, SA}, title = {Phylogenetic multilocus sequence analysis of native rhizobia nodulating faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Egypt.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {8}, pages = {560-569}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.10.001}, pmid = {25458609}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Egypt ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Vicia faba/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The taxonomic diversity of forty-two Rhizobium strains, isolated from nodules of faba bean grown in Egypt, was studied using 16S rRNA sequencing, multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of three chromosomal housekeeping loci and one nodulation gene (nodA). Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, most of the strains were related to Rhizobium leguminosarum, Rhizobium etli, and Rhizobium radiobacter (syn. Agrobacterium tumefaciens). A maximum likelihood (ML) tree built from the concatenated sequences of housekeeping proteins encoded by glnA, gyrB and recA, revealed the existence of three distinct genospecies (I, II and III) affiliated to the defined species within the genus Rhizobium/Agrobacterium. Seventeen strains in genospecies I could be classified as R. leguminosarum sv. viciae. Whereas, a single strain of genospecies II was linked to R. etli. Interestingly, twenty-four strains of genospecies III were identified as A. tumefaciens. Strains of R. etli and A. tumefaciens have been shown to harbor the nodA gene and formed effective symbioses with faba bean plants in Leonard jar assemblies. In the nodA tree, strains belonging to the putative genospecies were closely related to each other and were clustered tightly to R. leguminosarum sv. viciae, supporting the hypothesis that symbiotic and core genome of the species have different evolutionary histories and indicative of horizontal gene transfer among these rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid25457942, year = {2014}, author = {Menkis, A and Urbina, H and James, TY and Rosling, A}, title = {Archaeorhizomyces borealis sp. nov. and a sequence-based classification of related soil fungal species.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {118}, number = {12}, pages = {943-955}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2014.08.005}, pmid = {25457942}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pinus sylvestris/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The class Archaeorhizomycetes (Taphrinomycotina, Ascomycota) was introduced to accommodate an ancient lineage of soil-inhabiting fungi found in association with plant roots. Based on environmental sequencing data Archaeorhizomycetes may comprise a significant proportion of the total fungal community in soils. Yet the only species described and cultivated in this class is Archaeorhizomyces finlayi. In this paper, we describe a second species from a pure culture, Archaeorhizomyces borealis NS99-600(T) (=CBS138755(ExT)) based on morphological, physiological, and multi-locus molecular characterization. Archaeorhizomyces borealis was isolated from a root tip of a Pinus sylvestris seedling grown in a forest nursery in Lithuania. Analysis of Archaeorhizomycete species from environmental samples shows that it has a Eurasian distribution and is the most commonly observed species. Archaeorhizomyces borealis shows slow growth in culture and forms yellowish creamy colonies, characteristics that distinguish A. borealis from its closest relative A. finlayi. Here we also propose a sequence-based taxonomic classification of Archaeorhizomycetes and predict that approximately 500 species in this class remain to be isolated and described.}, } @article {pmid25455419, year = {2015}, author = {Kerfeld, CA and Erbilgin, O}, title = {Bacterial microcompartments and the modular construction of microbial metabolism.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {22-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2014.10.003}, pmid = {25455419}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Bacteria/*cytology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry ; *Cell Compartmentation ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Engineering ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are protein-bound organelles predicted to be present across 23 bacterial phyla. BMCs facilitate carbon fixation as well as the aerobic and anaerobic catabolism of a variety of organic compounds. These functions have been linked to ecological nutrient cycling, symbiosis, pathogenesis, and cardiovascular disease. Within bacterial cells, BMCs are metabolic modules that can be further dissociated into their constituent structural and functional protein domains. Viewing BMCs as genetic, structural, functional, and evolutionary modules provides a framework for understanding both BMC-mediated metabolism and for adapting their architectures for applications in synthetic biology.}, } @article {pmid25455039, year = {2015}, author = {Viramontes-Hörner, D and Márquez-Sandoval, F and Martín-del-Campo, F and Vizmanos-Lamotte, B and Sandoval-Rodríguez, A and Armendáriz-Borunda, J and García-Bejarano, H and Renoirte-López, K and García-García, G}, title = {Effect of a symbiotic gel (Lactobacillus acidophilus + Bifidobacterium lactis + inulin) on presence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in hemodialysis patients.}, journal = {Journal of renal nutrition : the official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {284-291}, doi = {10.1053/j.jrn.2014.09.008}, pmid = {25455039}, issn = {1532-8503}, mesh = {Adult ; Bifidobacterium ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Inflammation/epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Inulin/*administration & dosage ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Male ; Malnutrition/epidemiology/prevention & control ; Mexico/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Therapy ; Placebos ; Prebiotics/*administration & dosage ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Renal Dialysis/*adverse effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the effect of a symbiotic gel on presence and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) in hemodialysis patients.

DESIGN: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial was designed. The study was conducted at 2 public hospitals in Guadalajara, Mexico.

SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTION: Twenty-two patients were randomized to the intervention group (nutritional counseling + symbiotic gel) and 20 patients were randomized to the control group (nutritional counseling + placebo), during 2 months of follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Presence and monthly episodes of GIS were assessed by direct interview and severity by using the self-administered GIS questionnaire. Additionally, biochemical parameters, inflammatory markers, and nutritional status (dietary intake, subjective global assessment, anthropometry, and body composition) were evaluated.

RESULTS: After a 2-month treatment, intervention group had a significant reduction in prevalence and monthly episodes of vomit, heartburn, and stomachache, as well as a significant decrease in GIS severity compared with control group. Moreover, intervention group had a greater yet not significant decrease in the prevalence of malnutrition and a trend to reduce their C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor α levels compared with control group. No symbiotic-related adverse side effects were shown in these patients. Clinical studies with longer follow-up and sample size are needed to confirm these results.

CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that administration of a symbiotic gel is a safe and simple way to improve common GIS in dialysis patients.}, } @article {pmid25453133, year = {2014}, author = {Liang, Y and Tóth, K and Cao, Y and Tanaka, K and Espinoza, C and Stacey, G}, title = {Lipochitooligosaccharide recognition: an ancient story.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {2}, pages = {289-296}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12898}, pmid = {25453133}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Acylation ; Chitin/chemistry/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Peptidoglycan/chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, found in crustacean shells, insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. The action of chitin and chitin derivatives on plants has become a very interesting story of late. Chitin is a b1-4-linked polymer of N-acetyl-Dglucosamine(GlcNAc). In this unmodified form, chitooligosaccharides (degree of polymerization(dp) = 6–8)) are strong inducers of plant innate immunity. By contrast, when these chitooligosaccharides are acylated (so-called lipochitooligosaccharides, LCOs) and further modified, they can act as Nod factors, the key signaling molecules that play an important role in the initiation of the legume–rhizobium symbiosis. In a similar form, these molecules can also act as Myc factors, the key signaling molecules involved in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)symbiosis. It has been proposed that Nod factor perception might have evolved from the more ancient AM symbiosis. Increasing evidence now suggests that LCO perception might have evolved from plant innate immunity signaling. In this review, we will discuss the evolutionary origin of symbiotic LCO recognition.}, } @article {pmid25452752, year = {2014}, author = {Hamidou Soumana, I and Tchicaya, B and Simo, G and Geiger, A}, title = {Comparative gene expression of Wigglesworthia inhabiting non-infected and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense-infected Glossina palpalis gambiensis flies.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {620}, pmid = {25452752}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) that transmit trypanosomes causing human (and animal) African trypanosomiasis (HAT and AAT, respectively) harbor symbiotic microorganisms, including the obligate primary symbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidia. A relationship between Wigglesworthia and tsetse fly infection by trypanosomes has been suggested, as removal of the symbiont results in a higher susceptibility to midgut infection in adult flies. To investigate this relationship and to decipher the role of W. glossinidia in the fly's susceptibility to trypanosome infection, we challenged flies with trypanosomes and subsequently analyzed and compared the transcriptomes of W. glossinidia from susceptible and refractory tsetse flies at three time points (3, 10, and 20 days). More than 200 W. glossinidia genes were found to be differentially expressed between susceptible and refractory flies. The high specificity of these differentially expressed genes makes it possible to distinguish Wigglesworthia inhabiting these two distinct groups of flies. Furthermore, gene expression patterns were observed to evolve during the infection time course, such that very few differentially expressed genes were found in common in Wigglesworthia from the 3-, 10- and 20-day post-feeding fly samples. The overall results clearly demonstrate that the taking up of trypanosomes by flies, regardless of whether flies proceed with the developmental program of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, strongly alters gene expression in Wigglesworthia. These results therefore provide a novel framework for studies that aim to decrease or even abolish tsetse fly vector competence.}, } @article {pmid25452492, year = {2014}, author = {Harvey, PA and Wall, C and Luckey, SW and Langer, S and Leinwand, LA}, title = {The python project: a unique model for extending research opportunities to undergraduate students.}, journal = {CBE life sciences education}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {698-710}, pmid = {25452492}, issn = {1931-7913}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Boidae ; Chickens ; *Curriculum ; Educational Measurement ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Lizards ; Molecular Biology/trends ; Program Development ; Research/*education ; Science/*education ; Universities ; }, abstract = {Undergraduate science education curricula are traditionally composed of didactic instruction with a small number of laboratory courses that provide introductory training in research techniques. Research on learning methodologies suggests this model is relatively ineffective, whereas participation in independent research projects promotes enhanced knowledge acquisition and improves retention of students in science. However, availability of faculty mentors and limited departmental budgets prevent the majority of students from participating in research. A need therefore exists for this important component in undergraduate education in both small and large university settings. A course was designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage in a research project in a classroom setting. Importantly, the course collaborates with a sponsor's laboratory, producing a symbiotic relationship between the classroom and the laboratory and an evolving course curriculum. Students conduct a novel gene expression study, with their collective data being relevant to the ongoing research project in the sponsor's lab. The success of this course was assessed based on the quality of the data produced by the students, student perception data, student learning gains, and on whether the course promoted interest in and preparation for careers in science. In this paper, we describe the strategies and outcomes of this course, which represents a model for efficiently providing research opportunities to undergraduates.}, } @article {pmid25452280, year = {2015}, author = {Tai, V and James, ER and Nalepa, CA and Scheffrahn, RH and Perlman, SJ and Keeling, PJ}, title = {The role of host phylogeny varies in shaping microbial diversity in the hindguts of lower termites.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {1059-1070}, pmid = {25452280}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bacteroidetes ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; Cockroaches ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Parabasalidea/*classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tenericutes ; }, abstract = {The hindguts of lower termites and Cryptocercus cockroaches are home to a distinct community of archaea, bacteria, and protists (primarily parabasalids and some oxymonads). Within a host species, the composition of these hindgut communities appears relatively stable, but the evolutionary and ecological factors structuring community composition and stability are poorly understood, as are differential impacts of these factors on protists, bacteria, and archaea. We analyzed the microbial composition of parabasalids and bacteria in the hindguts of Cryptocercus punctulatus and 23 species spanning 4 families of lower termites by pyrosequencing variable regions of the small-subunit rRNA gene. Especially for the parabasalids, these data revealed undiscovered taxa and provided a phylogenetic basis for a more accurate understanding of diversity, diversification, and community composition. The composition of the parabasalid communities was found to be strongly structured by the phylogeny of their hosts, indicating the importance of historical effects, although exceptions were also identified. Particularly, spirotrichonymphids and trichonymphids likely were transferred between host lineages. In contrast, host phylogeny was not sufficient to explain the majority of bacterial community composition, but the compositions of the Bacteroidetes, Elusimicrobia, Tenericutes, Spirochaetes, and Synergistes were structured by host phylogeny perhaps due to their symbiotic associations with protists. All together, historical effects probably resulting from vertical inheritance have had a prominent role in structuring the hindgut communities, especially of the parabasalids, but dispersal and environmental acquisition have played a larger role in community composition than previously expected.}, } @article {pmid25451077, year = {2015}, author = {Patel, PP and Bielmyer-Fraser, GK}, title = {The influence of salinity and copper exposure on copper accumulation and physiological impairment in the sea anemone, Exaiptasia pallida.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP}, volume = {168}, number = {}, pages = {39-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.11.004}, pmid = {25451077}, issn = {1532-0456}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Copper/*adverse effects ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Glutathione Reductase/metabolism ; Salinity ; Sea Anemones/*drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/adverse effects ; }, abstract = {Copper is a common pollutant in many aquatic environments, particularly those surrounding densely populated areas with substantial anthropogenic inputs. These same areas may also experience changes in salinity due to freshwater discharge and tidal influence. Biota that inhabit near-shore coastal environments may be susceptible to both stressors. Although copper is a noted concern in marine environments, effects of copper and varying salinity on symbiotic cnidarians are only scarcely studied. The sea anemone, Exaiptasia pallida, was used to investigate effects of copper on physiological impairment (i.e. activities of anti-oxidant enzymes) at two different salinities (20 and 25ppt). E. pallida was exposed to a control and three elevated copper concentrations for up to 21d, and copper accumulation and activity of the enzymes: catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and carbonic anhydrase were measured in the anemones. Photosynthetic parameters in E. pallida's symbiotic dinoflagellate algae were also quantified. Over the course of the exposure, E. pallida accumulated copper in a concentration-dependent manner. Higher tissue copper concentrations were observed in anemones exposed to the lower salinity water (20ppt), and physiological impairment was observed as a consequence of both increased copper exposure and decreased salinity; however, changes in salinity caused a greater response than copper exposure, at the levels tested. In general, antioxidant enzyme activity increased as a consequence of decreased salinity and/or increased copper exposure. These results clearly demonstrated the influence of two local stressors, at environmentally realistic concentrations, on a sensitive cnidarian, and highlight the importance of characterizing combined exposure scenarios.}, } @article {pmid25449326, year = {2014}, author = {Hauff, B and Cervino, JM and Haslun, JA and Krucher, N and Wier, AM and Mannix, AL and Hughen, K and Strychar, KB}, title = {Genetically divergent Symbiodinium sp. display distinct molecular responses to pathogenic Vibrio and thermal stress.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {149-159}, doi = {10.3354/dao02802}, pmid = {25449326}, issn = {0177-5103}, support = {CA120019/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; *Vibrio ; }, abstract = {Global climate change and anthropogenic activities are threatening the future survival of coral reef ecosystems. The ability of reef-building zooxanthellate coral to survive these stressors may be determined through fundamental differences within their symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp.). We define the in vitro apoptotic response of 2 evolutionarily distant Symbiodinium sp., subtypes B2 and C1, to determine the synergistic effects of disease and temperature on cell viability using flow cytometry. The putative yellow band disease (YBD) consortium of Vibrio spp. bacteria and temperature (33°C) had a positive synergistic effect on C1 apoptosis, while B2 displayed increased apoptosis to elevated temperature (29 and 33°C), the Vibrio consortium, and a lone virulent strain of V. alginolyticus, but no synergistic effects. Additionally, heat shock protein 60 expression revealed differential cell-mediated temperature sensitivity between subtypes via western blotting. This result marks the first evidence of Symbiodinium sp. apoptotic variations to YBD pathogens and emphasizes the potential impact of synergistic stress on globally distributed coral-Symbiodinium symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25448893, year = {2015}, author = {Taylor, B and Adamatzky, A and Greenman, J and Ieropoulos, I}, title = {Physarum polycephalum: towards a biological controller.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {127}, number = {}, pages = {42-46}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2014.10.005}, pmid = {25448893}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Bioelectric Energy Sources/*parasitology ; Electrodes/*parasitology ; Physarum polycephalum/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial fuels cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical transducers that generate energy from the metabolism of electro-active microorganisms. The organism Physarum polycephalum is a slime mould, which has demonstrated many novel and interesting properties in the field of unconventional computation, such as route mapping between nutrient sources, maze solving and nutrient balancing. It is a motile, photosensitive and oxygen-consuming organism, and is known to be symbiotic with some, and antagonistic with other microbial species. In the context of artificial life, the slime mould would provide a biological mechanism (along with the microbial community) for controlling the performance and behaviour of artificial systems (MFCs, robots). In the experiments it was found that P. polycephalum did not generate significant amounts of power when inoculated in the anode. However, when P. polycephalum was introduced in the cathode of MFCs, a statistically significant difference in power output was observed.}, } @article {pmid25447219, year = {2015}, author = {Kopp, C and Wisztorski, M and Revel, J and Mehiri, M and Dani, V and Capron, L and Carette, D and Fournier, I and Massi, L and Mouajjah, D and Pagnotta, S and Priouzeau, F and Salzet, M and Meibom, A and Sabourault, C}, title = {MALDI-MS and NanoSIMS imaging techniques to study cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses.}, journal = {Zoology (Jena, Germany)}, volume = {118}, number = {2}, pages = {125-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.zool.2014.06.006}, pmid = {25447219}, issn = {1873-2720}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/*physiology/*ultrastructure ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; *Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cnidarian-dinoflagellate photosynthetic symbioses are fundamental to biologically diverse and productive coral reef ecosystems. The hallmark of this symbiotic relationship is the ability of dinoflagellate symbionts to supply their cnidarian host with a wide range of nutrients. Many aspects of this association nevertheless remain poorly characterized, including the exact identity of the transferred metabolic compounds, the mechanisms that control their exchange across the host-symbiont interface, and the precise subcellular fate of the translocated materials in cnidarian tissues. This lack of knowledge is mainly attributed to difficulties in investigating such metabolic interactions both in situ, i.e. on intact symbiotic associations, and at high spatial resolution. To address these issues, we illustrate the application of two in situ and high spatial resolution molecular and ion imaging techniques-matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) and the nano-scale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) ion microprobe. These imaging techniques provide important new opportunities for the detailed investigation of many aspects of cnidarian-dinoflagellate associations, including the dynamics of cellular interactions.}, } @article {pmid25445310, year = {2015}, author = {O'Donnell, K and Sink, S and Libeskind-Hadas, R and Hulcr, J and Kasson, MT and Ploetz, RC and Konkol, JL and Ploetz, JN and Carrillo, D and Campbell, A and Duncan, RE and Liyanage, PN and Eskalen, A and Na, F and Geiser, DM and Bateman, C and Freeman, S and Mendel, Z and Sharon, M and Aoki, T and Cossé, AA and Rooney, AP}, title = {Discordant phylogenies suggest repeated host shifts in the Fusarium-Euwallacea ambrosia beetle mutualism.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {277-290}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2014.10.014}, pmid = {25445310}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/classification/*genetics/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Fusarium/*classification/*genetics ; Genes, Fungal ; Genes, Insect ; Genetic Variation ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mutualism between xyleborine beetles in the genus Euwallacea (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and members of the Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) represents one of 11 known evolutionary origins of fungiculture by ambrosia beetles. Female Euwallacea beetles transport fusarial symbionts in paired mandibular mycangia from their natal gallery to woody hosts where they are cultivated in galleries as a source of food. Native to Asia, several exotic Euwallacea species were introduced into the United States and Israel within the past two decades and they now threaten urban landscapes, forests and avocado production. To assess species limits and to date the evolutionary diversification of the mutualists, we reconstructed the evolutionary histories of key representatives of the Fusarium and Euwallacea clades using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods. Twelve species-level lineages, termed AF 1-12, were identified within the monophyletic AFC and seven among the Fusarium-farming Euwallacea. Bayesian diversification-time estimates placed the origin of the Euwallacea-Fusarium mutualism near the Oligocene-Miocene boundary ∼19-24 Mya. Most Euwallacea spp. appear to be associated with one species of Fusarium, but two species farmed two closely related fusaria. Euwallacea sp. #2 in Miami-Dade County, Florida cultivated Fusarium spp. AF-6 and AF-8 on avocado, and Euwallacea sp. #4 farmed Fusarium ambrosium AF-1 and Fusarium sp. AF-11 on Chinese tea in Sri Lanka. Cophylogenetic analyses indicated that the Euwallacea and Fusarium phylogenies were largely incongruent, apparently due to the beetles switching fusarial symbionts (i.e., host shifts) at least five times during the evolution of this mutualism. Three cospeciation events between Euwallacea and their AFC symbionts were detected, but randomization tests failed to reject the null hypothesis that the putative parallel cladogenesis is a stochastic pattern. Lastly, two collections of Euwallacea sp. #2 from Miami-Dade County, Florida shared an identical cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) allele with Euwallacea validus, suggesting introgressive hybridization between these species and/or pseudogenous nature of this marker. Results of the present study highlight the importance of understanding the potential for and frequency of host-switching between Euwallacea and members of the AFC, and that these shifts may bring together more aggressive and virulent combinations of these invasive mutualists.}, } @article {pmid25444874, year = {2015}, author = {Kwak, Y and Khan, AR and Shin, JH}, title = {Genome sequence of Serratia nematodiphila DSM 21420T, a symbiotic bacterium from entomopathogenic nematode.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {193}, number = {}, pages = {1-2}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.11.002}, pmid = {25444874}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serratia/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Serratia nematodiphila DSM 21420(T) (=CGMCC 1.6853(T), DZ0503SBS1(T)), isolated from the intestine of Heterorhabditidoides chongmingensis, has been known to have symbiotic-pathogenic life cycle, on the multilateral relationships with entomopathogenic nematode and insect pest. In order to better understanding of this rare feature in Serratia species, we present here the genome sequence of S. nematodiphila DSM 21420(T) with the significance of first genome sequence in this species.}, } @article {pmid25442290, year = {2014}, author = {Frascella, A and Bettini, PP and Kolařík, M and Comparini, C and Pazzagli, L and Luti, S and Scala, F and Scala, A}, title = {Interspecific variability of class II hydrophobin GEO1 in the genus Geosmithia.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {118}, number = {11}, pages = {862-871}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2014.07.005}, pmid = {25442290}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Ascomycota/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Exons ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Introns ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {The genus Geosmithia Pitt (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) comprises cosmopolite fungi living in the galleries built by phloeophagous insects. Following the characterization in Geosmithia species 5 of the class II hydrophobin GEO1 and of the corresponding gene, the presence of the geo1 gene was investigated in 26 strains derived from different host plants and geographic locations and representing the whole phylogenetic diversity of the genus. The geo1 gene was detected in all the species tested where it maintained the general organization shown in Geosmithia species 5, comprising three exons and two introns. Size variations were found in both introns and in the first exon, the latter being due to the presence of an intragenic tandem repeat sequence corresponding to a stretch of glycine residues in the deduced proteins. At the amino acid level the deduced proteins had 44.6 % identity and no major differences in the biochemical parameters (pI, GRAVY index, hydropathy plots) were found. GEO1 release in the fungal culture medium was also assessed by turbidimetric assay and SDS-PAGE, and showed high variability between species. The phylogeny based on the geo1 sequences did not correspond to that generated from a neutral marker (ITS rDNA), suggesting that sequence similarities could be influenced by other factors than phylogenetic relatedness, such as the intimacy of the symbiosis with insect vectors. The hypothesis of a strong selection pressure on the geo1 gene was sustained by the low values (<1) of non synonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitutions ratios (Ka/Ks), which suggest that purifying selection might act on this gene. These results are compatible with either a birth-and-death evolution scenario or horizontal transfer of the gene between Geosmithia species.}, } @article {pmid25440552, year = {2015}, author = {Nicholson, AM and Gurtler, JB and Bailey, RB and Niemira, BA and Douds, DD}, title = {Influence of mycorrhizal fungi on fate of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in soil and internalization into Romaine lettuce plants.}, journal = {International journal of food microbiology}, volume = {192}, number = {}, pages = {95-102}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.10.001}, pmid = {25440552}, issn = {1879-3460}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Escherichia coli O157/*physiology ; *Food Microbiology ; Fungi/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lettuce/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Salmonella/*physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of a symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on persistence of Salmonella and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) within soil, and survival within Romaine lettuce. Romaine seedlings were grown with or without AM fungi. Soil surrounding plants was inoculated with ca. 8 log CFU/plant of either Salmonella enterica or E. coli EHEC composites. Samples (soil, root, and shoot) were analyzed on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 for Salmonella and EHEC by direct plating and selective enrichment. Twenty-four hours after inoculation, populations of Salmonella and EHEC, respectively, were 4.20 and 3.24 log CFU/root, 2.52 and 1.17 log CFU/shoot, and 5.46 and 5.17 log CFU/g soil. By selective enrichment, samples tested positive for Salmonella or EHEC at day 22 at rates of 94 and 68% (shoot), 97 and 56% (root), and 100 and 75% (soil), respectively, suggesting that Salmonella has a greater propensity for survival than EHEC. Salmonella populations in soil remained as high as 4.35 log CFU/g by day 22, while EHEC populations dropped to 1.12 log CFU/g in the same amount of time. Ninety-two percent of all Romaine leaves in our study were positive for internalized Salmonella from days 8 to 22 and remained as high as 1.26 log CFU/shoot on day 22 in AM fungi+Romaine plants. There were no differences (P>0.05) between the survival of either pathogen based on the presence or absence of mycorrhizal fungi. Results of this study suggest that AM fungi do not affect the internalization and/or survival of either S. enterica or E. coli O157:H7 in Romaine lettuce seedlings. Our results should provide Romaine lettuce farmers confidence that the presence and/or application of AM fungi to crop soil is not a contributing factor to the internalization and survival of Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7 within Romaine lettuce plants.}, } @article {pmid25438788, year = {2014}, author = {Pazzagli, L and Seidl-Seiboth, V and Barsottini, M and Vargas, WA and Scala, A and Mukherjee, PK}, title = {Cerato-platanins: elicitors and effectors.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {228}, number = {}, pages = {79-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.02.009}, pmid = {25438788}, issn = {1873-2259}, support = {T 390/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plants/*microbiology ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cerato-platanins are an interesting group of small, secreted, cysteine-rich proteins that have been implicated in virulence of certain plant pathogenic fungi. The relatively recent discovery of these proteins in plant beneficial fungi like Trichoderma spp., and their positive role in induction of defense in plants against invading pathogens has raised the question as to whether these proteins are effectors or elicitor molecules. Here we present a comprehensive review on the occurrence of these conserved proteins across the fungal kingdom, their structure-function relationships, and their physiological roles in plant pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. We also discuss the usefulness of these proteins in evolving strategies for crop protection through a transgenic approach or direct application as elicitors.}, } @article {pmid25437614, year = {2014}, author = {Liu, H and Dicksved, J and Lundh, T and Lindberg, JE}, title = {Heat Shock Proteins: Intestinal Gatekeepers that Are Influenced by Dietary Components and the Gut Microbiota.}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {187-210}, pmid = {25437614}, issn = {2076-0817}, abstract = {Trillions of microorganisms that inhabit the intestinal tract form a diverse and intricate ecosystem with a deeply embedded symbiotic relationship with their hosts. As more detailed information on gut microbiota complexity and functional diversity accumulates, we are learning more about how diet-microbiota interactions can influence the immune system within and outside the gut and host health in general. Heat shock proteins are a set of highly conserved proteins that are present in all types of cells, from microbes to mammals. These proteins carry out crucial intracellular housekeeping functions and unexpected extracellular immuno-regulatory features in order to maintain the mucosal barrier integrity and gut homeostasis. It is becoming evident that the enteric microbiota is one of the major determinants of heat shock protein production in intestinal epithelial cells. This review will focus on the interactions between diet, gut microbiota and their role for regulating heat shock protein production and, furthermore, how these interactions influence the immune system and the integrity of the mucosal barrier.}, } @article {pmid25435021, year = {2014}, author = {De Fine Licht, HH and Boomsma, JJ and Tunlid, A}, title = {Symbiotic adaptations in the fungal cultivar of leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {5675}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms6675}, pmid = {25435021}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Agaricus/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acids, Essential/metabolism ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hyphae/enzymology/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Centuries of artificial selection have dramatically improved the yield of human agriculture; however, strong directional selection also occurs in natural symbiotic interactions. Fungus-growing attine ants cultivate basidiomycete fungi for food. One cultivar lineage has evolved inflated hyphal tips (gongylidia) that grow in bundles called staphylae, to specifically feed the ants. Here we show extensive regulation and molecular signals of adaptive evolution in gene trancripts associated with gongylidia biosynthesis, morphogenesis and enzymatic plant cell wall degradation in the leaf-cutting ant cultivar Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Comparative analysis of staphylae growth morphology and transcriptome-wide expressional and nucleotide divergence indicate that gongylidia provide leaf-cutting ants with essential amino acids and plant-degrading enzymes, and that they may have done so for 20-25 million years without much evolutionary change. These molecular traits and signatures of selection imply that staphylae are highly advanced coevolutionary organs that play pivotal roles in the mutualism between leaf-cutting ants and their fungal cultivars.}, } @article {pmid25433486, year = {2014}, author = {Perry, BJ and Yost, CK}, title = {Construction of a mariner-based transposon vector for use in insertion sequence mutagenesis in selected members of the Rhizobiaceae.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {298}, pmid = {25433486}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {*DNA Transposable Elements ; Genetic Testing/methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Genetics, Microbial/*methods ; Molecular Biology/*methods ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/*methods ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Rhizobiaceae family of Gram-negative bacteria often engage in symbiosis with plants of economic importance. Historically, genetic studies to identify the function of individual genes, and characterize the biology of these bacteria have relied on the use of classical transposon mutagenesis. To increase the rate of scientific discovery in the Rhizobiaceae there is a need to adapt high-throughput genetic screens like insertion sequencing for use in this family of bacteria. Here we describe a Rhizobiaceae compatible MmeI-adapted mariner transposon that can be used with insertion sequencing for high-throughput genetic screening.

RESULTS: The newly constructed mariner transposon pSAM_Rl mutagenized R. leguminosarum, S. meliloti, and A. tumefaciens at a high frequency. In R. leguminosarum, mutant pools were generated that saturated 88% of potential mariner insertions sites in the genome. Analysis of the R. leguminosarum transposon insertion sequencing data with a previously described hidden Markov model-based method resulted in assignment of the contribution of all annotated genes in the R. leguminosarum 3841 genome for growth on a complex medium. Good concordance was observed between genes observed to be required for growth on the complex medium, and previous studies.

CONCLUSIONS: The newly described Rhizobiaceaee compatible mariner transposon insertion sequencing vector pSAM_Rl has been shown to mutagenize at a high frequency and to be an effective tool for use in high-throughput genetic screening. The construction and validation of this transposon insertion sequencing tool for use in the Rhizobiziaceae will provide an opportunity for researchers in the Rhizobiaceae community to use high-throughput genetic screening, allowing for significant increase in the rate of genetic discovery, particularly given the recent release of genome sequences from many Rhizobiaceae strains.}, } @article {pmid25433213, year = {2015}, author = {Phipps, C and Molavian, H and Kohandel, M}, title = {A microscale mathematical model for metabolic symbiosis: Investigating the effects of metabolic inhibition on ATP turnover in tumors.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {366}, number = {}, pages = {103-114}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.11.016}, pmid = {25433213}, issn = {1095-8541}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/*metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Computer Simulation ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cancer cells are notorious for their metabolic adaptations to hypoxic and acidic conditions, and especially for highly elevated glycolytic rates in tumor tissues. An end product of glycolysis is lactate, a molecule that cells can utilize instead of glucose to fuel respiration in the presence of oxygen. This could be beneficial to those cells that do not have sufficient oxygen as it conserves glucose for glycolysis. To better quantify this phenomenon we develop a diffusion-reaction mathematical model for nutrient concentrations in cancerous tissue surrounding a single cylindrical microvessel. We use our model to analyze the interdependence between cell populations' metabolic behaviors on a microscopic scale, specifically the emerging paradigm of metabolic symbiosis that exists between aerobic and glycolytic cells. The ATP turnover rates are calculated as a function of distance from the blood vessel, which exhibit a lactate-consuming population at intermediate distances from the vessel. We also consider the ramifications of the Warburg effect where cells utilize aerobic glycolysis along with this lactate-consuming respiration. We also investigate the effect of inhibiting metabolic pathways on cancer cells since insufficient ATP can trigger cell apoptosis. Effects that could be induced by metabolic inhibitors are analyzed by calculating the total ATP turnover in a unit tissue annulus in various parameter regimes that correspond to treatment conditions where specific metabolic pathways are knocked out. We conclude that therapies that target glycolysis, e.g. lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors or glycolytic enzyme inhibition, are the keys to successful metabolic repression.}, } @article {pmid25433163, year = {2015}, author = {Ribeiro, CW and Alloing, G and Mandon, K and Frendo, P}, title = {Redox regulation of differentiation in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1850}, number = {8}, pages = {1469-1478}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.11.018}, pmid = {25433163}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Cell Differentiation/*physiology ; Fabaceae/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/microbiology/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between Rhizobium bacteria and legumes leads to the formation of a new organ, the root nodule. The development of the nodule requires the differentiation of plant root cells to welcome the endosymbiotic bacterial partner. This development includes the formation of an efficient vascular tissue which allows metabolic exchanges between the root and the nodule, the formation of a barrier to oxygen diffusion necessary for the bacterial nitrogenase activity and the enlargement of cells in the infection zone to support the large bacterial population. Inside the plant cell, the bacteria differentiate into bacteroids which are able to reduce atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia needed for plant growth in exchange for carbon sources. Nodule functioning requires a tight regulation of the development of plant cells and bacteria.

SCOPE OF THE REVIEW: Nodule functioning requires a tight regulation of the development of plant cells and bacteria. The importance of redox control in nodule development and N-fixation is discussed in this review. The involvement of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the importance of the antioxidant defense are analyzed.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Plant differentiation and bacterial differentiation are controlled by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, enzymes involved in the antioxidant defense and antioxidant compounds.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The establishment and functioning of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis involve a redox control important for both the plant-bacteria crosstalk and the consideration of environmental parameters. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Redox regulation of differentiation and de-differentiation.}, } @article {pmid25432968, year = {2015}, author = {Krishnakumar, V and Kim, M and Rosen, BD and Karamycheva, S and Bidwell, SL and Tang, H and Town, CD}, title = {MTGD: The Medicago truncatula genome database.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {1}, pages = {e1}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu179}, pmid = {25432968}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Computational Biology ; *Databases, Genetic ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Internet ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; *User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula, a close relative of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), is a model legume used for studying symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhizal interactions and legume genomics. J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI; formerly TIGR) has been involved in M. truncatula genome sequencing and annotation since 2002 and has maintained a web-based resource providing data to the community for this entire period. The website (http://www.MedicagoGenome.org) has seen major updates in the past year, where it currently hosts the latest version of the genome (Mt4.0), associated data and legacy project information, presented to users via a rich set of open-source tools. A JBrowse-based genome browser interface exposes tracks for visualization. Mutant gene symbols originally assembled and curated by the Frugoli lab are now hosted at JCVI and tie into our community annotation interface, Medicago EuCAP (to be integrated soon with our implementation of WebApollo). Literature pertinent to M. truncatula is indexed and made searchable via the Textpresso search engine. The site also implements MedicMine, an instance of InterMine that offers interconnectivity with other plant 'mines' such as ThaleMine and PhytoMine, and other model organism databases (MODs). In addition to these new features, we continue to provide keyword- and locus identifier-based searches served via a Chado-backed Tripal Instance, a BLAST search interface and bulk downloads of data sets from the iPlant Data Store (iDS). Finally, we maintain an E-mail helpdesk, facilitated by a JIRA issue tracking system, where we receive and respond to questions about the website and requests for specific data sets from the community.}, } @article {pmid25432790, year = {2014}, author = {Marsh, PD and Head, DA and Devine, DA}, title = {Prospects of oral disease control in the future - an opinion.}, journal = {Journal of oral microbiology}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {26176}, pmid = {25432790}, issn = {2000-2297}, abstract = {The mouth supports a diverse microbiota which provides major benefits to the host. On occasions, this symbiotic relationship breaks down (dysbiosis), and disease can be a consequence. We argue that progress in the control of oral diseases will depend on a paradigm shift away from approaches that have proved successful in medicine for many diseases with a specific microbial aetiology. Factors that drive dysbiosis in the mouth should be identified and, where possible, negated, reduced or removed, while antimicrobial agents delivered by oral care products may function effectively, even at sub-lethal concentrations, by modulating the activity and growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria. In this way, the beneficial activities of the resident oral microbiota will be retained and the risk of dysbiosis occurring will be reduced.}, } @article {pmid25431416, year = {2014}, author = {Figueredo, MS and Tonelli, ML and Taurian, T and Angelini, J and Ibanez, F and Valetti, L and Munoz, V and Anzuay, MS and Luduena, L and Fabra, A}, title = {Interrelationships between Bacillus sp. CHEP5 and Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 in the induced systemic resistance against Sclerotium rolfsii and symbiosis on peanut plants.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {877-885}, pmid = {25431416}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Arachis/metabolism/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Bacillus/*physiology ; Biological Control Agents ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Disease Resistance ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant-growth-promoting bacteria are often used to enhance crop yield and for biological control of phytopathogens. Bacillus sp. CHEP5 is a biocontrol agent that induces systemic resistance (ISR) in Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) against Sclerotium rolfsii, the causal agent of root and stem wilt. In this work, the effect of the co-inoculation of Bacillus sp. CHEP5 and the peanut nodulating strain Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144 was studied on induction of both systemic resistance and nodulation processes. Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144 did not affect the ability of Bacillus sp. CHEP5 to protect peanut plants from S. rolfsii by ISR and the priming in challenged-plants, as evidenced by an increment in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity. Additionally, the capacity of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144 to induce nodule formation in pathogen-challenged plants was improved by the presence of Bacillus sp. CHEP5.}, } @article {pmid25431199, year = {2014}, author = {Farrar, K and Bryant, D and Cope-Selby, N}, title = {Understanding and engineering beneficial plant-microbe interactions: plant growth promotion in energy crops.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {1193-1206}, pmid = {25431199}, issn = {1467-7652}, support = {BB/E024319/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/E024319/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biofuels ; Crops, Agricultural/*growth & development ; *Genetic Engineering ; *Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant production systems globally must be optimized to produce stable high yields from limited land under changing and variable climates. Demands for food, animal feed, and feedstocks for bioenergy and biorefining applications, are increasing with population growth, urbanization and affluence. Low-input, sustainable, alternatives to petrochemical-derived fertilizers and pesticides are required to reduce input costs and maintain or increase yields, with potential biological solutions having an important role to play. In contrast to crops that have been bred for food, many bioenergy crops are largely undomesticated, and so there is an opportunity to harness beneficial plant-microbe relationships which may have been inadvertently lost through intensive crop breeding. Plant-microbe interactions span a wide range of relationships in which one or both of the organisms may have a beneficial, neutral or negative effect on the other partner. A relatively small number of beneficial plant-microbe interactions are well understood and already exploited; however, others remain understudied and represent an untapped reservoir for optimizing plant production. There may be near-term applications for bacterial strains as microbial biopesticides and biofertilizers to increase biomass yield from energy crops grown on land unsuitable for food production. Longer term aims involve the design of synthetic genetic circuits within and between the host and microbes to optimize plant production. A highly exciting prospect is that endosymbionts comprise a unique resource of reduced complexity microbial genomes with adaptive traits of great interest for a wide variety of applications.}, } @article {pmid25430691, year = {2015}, author = {Bozkurt, TO and Belhaj, K and Dagdas, YF and Chaparro-Garcia, A and Wu, CH and Cano, LM and Kamoun, S}, title = {Rerouting of plant late endocytic trafficking toward a pathogen interface.}, journal = {Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {204-226}, doi = {10.1111/tra.12245}, pmid = {25430691}, issn = {1600-0854}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Endocytosis ; Endosomes/*metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phytophthora infestans/pathogenicity ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Tobacco/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A number of plant pathogenic and symbiotic microbes produce specialized cellular structures that invade host cells where they remain enveloped by host-derived membranes. The mechanisms underlying the biogenesis and functions of host-microbe interfaces are poorly understood. Here, we show that plant late endocytic trafficking is diverted toward the extrahaustorial membrane (EHM); a host-pathogen interface that develops in plant cells invaded by Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans. A late endosome and tonoplast marker protein Rab7 GTPase RabG3c, but not a tonoplast-localized sucrose transporter, is recruited to the EHM, suggesting specific rerouting of vacuole-targeted late endosomes to a host-pathogen interface. We revealed the dynamic nature of this process by showing that, upon activation, a cell surface immune receptor traffics toward the haustorial interface. Our work provides insight into the biogenesis of the EHM and reveals dynamic processes that recruit membrane compartments and immune receptors to this host-pathogen interface.}, } @article {pmid25429862, year = {2015}, author = {König, S and Le Guyader, H and Gros, O}, title = {Thioautotrophic bacterial endosymbionts are degraded by enzymatic digestion during starvation: Case study of two lucinids Codakia orbicularis and C. orbiculata.}, journal = {Microscopy research and technique}, volume = {78}, number = {2}, pages = {173-179}, doi = {10.1002/jemt.22458}, pmid = {25429862}, issn = {1097-0029}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/physiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The Caribbean bivalves Codakia orbicularis (Linné, 1758) and C. orbiculata (Montagu, 1808) live in seagrass beds of Thalassia testudinum and harbor intracellular sulfur-oxidizing gamma-proteobacteria. These bacterial symbionts fix CO2 via the Calvin Benson cycle and provide organic compounds to the bivalve. During experimentally induced starvation, no reduced sulfur compounds and no organic particle food are available; the symbionts could be considered as the sole nutrient source of the host bivalve. A previous study has shown that the intracellular bacterial population decreased considerably during starvation and that bacterial endosymbionts were not released by the bivalves. In this study, the activity of two lysosomal marker enzymes (acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase) was detected using cytochemical experiments coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray transmission electron microscopy during sulfide and organic particle starvation. The degradation of bacterial endosymbionts began after 2 weeks of starvation in C. orbiculata and after 3 weeks in C. orbicularis. Degradation processes seem to be continuous over several months and could be responsible for the disappearance of the bacterial endosymbionts within the gills during starvation. These data suggest that the host use symbionts as a nutrient source to survive a hunger crisis. The carbon transfer from the symbionts to the host could be flexible and could consist in transfer of organic matter, "milking," under normal feeding conditions and digestion of the symbionts under starved conditions.}, } @article {pmid25427219, year = {2015}, author = {Selosse, MA}, title = {Marc-André Selosse.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {1}, pages = {32-33}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13190}, pmid = {25427219}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {France ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Mycology/*history ; }, } @article {pmid25426102, year = {2014}, author = {Abby, SS and Touchon, M and De Jode, A and Grimsley, N and Piganeau, G}, title = {Bacteria in Ostreococcus tauri cultures - friends, foes or hitchhikers?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {505}, pmid = {25426102}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {281605/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, abstract = {Marine phytoplankton produce half of the oxygen we breathe and their astounding diversity is just starting to be unraveled. Many microbial phytoplankton are thought to be phototrophic, depending solely on inorganic sources of carbon and minerals for growth rather than preying on other planktonic cells. However, there is increasing evidence that symbiotic associations, to a large extent with bacteria, are required for vitamin or nutrient uptake for many eukaryotic microalgae. Here, we use in silico approaches to look for putative symbiotic interactions by analysing the gene content of microbial communities associated with 13 different Ostreococcus tauri (Chlorophyta, Mamilleophyceae) cultures sampled from the Mediterranean Sea. While we find evidence for bacteria in all cultures, there is no ubiquitous bacterial group, and the most prevalent group, Flavobacteria, is present in 10 out of 13 cultures. Among seven of the microbiomes, we detected genes predicted to encode type 3 secretion systems (T3SS, in 6/7 microbiomes) and/or putative type 6 secretion systems (T6SS, in 4/7 microbiomes). Phylogenetic analyses show that the corresponding genes are closely related to genes of systems identified in bacterial-plant interactions, suggesting that these T3SS might be involved in cell-to-cell interactions with O. tauri.}, } @article {pmid25422918, year = {2014}, author = {Ried, MK and Antolín-Llovera, M and Parniske, M}, title = {Spontaneous symbiotic reprogramming of plant roots triggered by receptor-like kinases.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {25422918}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Epistasis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphotransferases/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/*enzymology/microbiology/*physiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis Receptor-like Kinase (SYMRK) is indispensable for the development of phosphate-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) as well as nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis, but the mechanisms that discriminate between the two distinct symbiotic developmental fates have been enigmatic. In this study, we show that upon ectopic expression, the receptor-like kinase genes Nod Factor Receptor 1 (NFR1), NFR5, and SYMRK initiate spontaneous nodule organogenesis and nodulation-related gene expression in the absence of rhizobia. Furthermore, overexpressed NFR1 or NFR5 associated with endogenous SYMRK in roots of the legume Lotus japonicus. Epistasis tests revealed that the dominant active SYMRK allele initiates signalling independently of either the NFR1 or NFR5 gene and upstream of a set of genes required for the generation or decoding of calcium-spiking in both symbioses. Only SYMRK but not NFR overexpression triggered the expression of AM-related genes, indicating that the receptors play a key role in the decision between AM- or root nodule symbiosis-development.}, } @article {pmid25422041, year = {2015}, author = {Hacquard, S and Schadt, CW}, title = {Towards a holistic understanding of the beneficial interactions across the Populus microbiome.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1424-1430}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13133}, pmid = {25422041}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Microbiota ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; Populus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Interactions between trees and microorganisms are tremendously complex and the multispecies networks resulting from these associations have consequences for plant growth and productivity. However, a more holistic view is needed to better understand trees as ecosystems and superorganisms, where many interacting species contribute to the overall stability of the system. While much progress has been made on microbial communities associated with individual tree niches and the molecular interactions between model symbiotic partners, there is still a lack of knowledge of the multi-component interactions necessary for holistic ecosystem-level understanding. We review recent studies in Populus to emphasize the importance of such holistic efforts across the leaf, stem and rooting zones, and discuss prospects for future research in these important ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25421912, year = {2015}, author = {Werner, GDA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Partner selection in the mycorrhizal mutualism.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1437-1442}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13113}, pmid = {25421912}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Partner selection in the mycorrhizal symbiosis is thought to be a key factor stabilising the mutualism. Both plant hosts and mycorrhizal fungi have been shown to preferentially allocate resources to higher quality partners. This can help maintain underground cooperation, although it is likely that different plant species vary in the spatial precision with which they can select partners. Partner selection in the mycorrhizal symbiosis is presumably context-dependent and can be mediated by factors like (relative) resource abundance and resource fluctuations, competition among mycorrhizas, arrival order and cultivation history. Such factors complicate our current understanding of the importance of partner selection and its effectiveness in stimulating mutualistic cooperation.}, } @article {pmid25421409, year = {2015}, author = {Bernays, S and Seeley, J and Rhodes, T and Mupambireyi, Z}, title = {What am I 'living' with? Growing up with HIV in Uganda and Zimbabwe.}, journal = {Sociology of health & illness}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {270-283}, doi = {10.1111/1467-9566.12189}, pmid = {25421409}, issn = {1467-9566}, support = {MC_UP_A910_1114/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; G0300400/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use ; Child ; *Child Development ; Female ; Focus Groups ; HIV Infections/drug therapy/*psychology ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Medication Adherence/psychology ; Self Concept ; Uganda ; Zimbabwe ; }, abstract = {As paediatric HIV treatment has become increasingly available across the world, the global perinatally infected cohort is ageing. However, we know surprisingly little about what it is like to grow up with HIV in resource-stretched settings. We draw on findings from a prospective, qualitative study with HIV-positive children, their carers and healthcare workers from four clinics in Uganda and Zimbabwe to examine children's experiences of living with HIV on treatment. We consider how the HIV experience is made in a symbiotic relationship between children, carers and healthcare workers and shaped by broader discourses. Despite the radical development in prognosis for children, their experience of HIV is largely constructed in relation to a language of 'sickness' through the promotion of medicalised talk and the recounting of past illness stories. This narrow narrative framework both reflects and reproduces core dimensions of the lived experience of growing up with HIV, which emphasises an absence of resilient healthiness in the face of ongoing vulnerability and risk. The challenges that children encounter in articulating alternative narratives that prioritise the relative buoyancy of their health is indicative of the broader uncertainty that exists around the future for these children at this point in the epidemic.}, } @article {pmid25420869, year = {2014}, author = {Mostafavi, M and Lewis, JC and Saini, T and Bustamante, JA and Gao, IT and Tran, TT and King, SN and Huang, Z and Chen, JC}, title = {Analysis of a taurine-dependent promoter in Sinorhizobium meliloti that offers tight modulation of gene expression.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {295}, pmid = {25420869}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {T34 GM008574/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T34-GM008574/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25-GM048972/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM048972/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC3 GM096943/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM059298/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC3GM096943/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25-GM059298/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Artificial Gene Fusion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetics, Microbial/methods ; Glucuronidase/analysis/genetics ; Molecular Biology/methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/*drug effects ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Taurine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Genetic models have been developed in divergent branches of the class Alphaproteobacteria to help answer a wide spectrum of questions regarding bacterial physiology. For example, Sinorhizobium meliloti serves as a useful representative for investigating rhizobia-plant symbiosis and nitrogen fixation, Caulobacter crescentus for studying cell cycle regulation and organelle biogenesis, and Zymomonas mobilis for assessing the potentials of metabolic engineering and biofuel production. A tightly regulated promoter that enables titratable expression of a cloned gene in these different models is highly desirable, as it can facilitate observation of phenotypes that would otherwise be obfuscated by leaky expression.

RESULTS: We compared the functionality of four promoter regions in S. meliloti (P(araA), P(tauA), P(rhaR), and P(melA)) by constructing strains carrying fusions to the uidA reporter in their genomes and measuring beta-glucuronidase activities when they were induced by arabinose, taurine, rhamnose, or melibiose. P(tauA) was chosen for further study because it, and, to a lesser extent, P(melA), exhibited characteristics suitable for efficient modulation of gene expression. The levels of expression from P(tauA) depended on the concentrations of taurine, in both complex and defined media, in S. meliloti as well as C. crescentus and Z. mobilis. Moreover, our analysis indicated that TauR, TauC, and TauY are each necessary for taurine catabolism and substantiated their designated roles as a transcriptional activator, the permease component of an ABC transporter, and a major subunit of the taurine dehydrogenase, respectively. Finally, we demonstrated that P(tauA) can be used to deplete essential cellular factors in S. meliloti, such as the PleC histidine kinase and TatB, a component of the twin-arginine transport machinery.

CONCLUSIONS: The P(tauA) promoter of S. meliloti can control gene expression with a relatively inexpensive and permeable inducer, taurine, in diverse alpha-proteobacteria. Regulated expression of the same gene in different hosts can be achieved by placing both tauR and P(tauA) on appropriate vectors, thus facilitating inspection of conservation of gene function across species.}, } @article {pmid25420724, year = {2015}, author = {Karavolos, MH}, title = {Host microbe interactions: a licence to interfere?.}, journal = {Current pharmaceutical biotechnology}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {87-93}, doi = {10.2174/1389201015666141122205132}, pmid = {25420724}, issn = {1873-4316}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/pathogenicity ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Hormones/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Quorum Sensing ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Through many millennia of continuous evolution hosts and microorganisms have developed sophisticated and sometimes extremely complex mechanisms of coexisting through symbiosis and mutualism. It is now known that in humans, the population of commensal bacteria on or inside the body significantly outnumbers the host cells. Despite their numerical superiority, microorganisms have adjusted their physiological clocks to benefit themselves and at the same time their host through the maintenance of a healthy state. This very fine and multifaceted balance can be disrupted occasionally through the introduction of pathogens in the commensal bacterial population. The equilibrium is then perturbed to promote dysbiosis and the onset of disease. Through myriads of interactions within their host milieu, bacterial pathogens have developed mechanisms to sense bacterial or host-derived signalling molecules and adjust their physiology accordingly to favour their survival and propagation within their host. At the same time, the host has evolved systems to interfere with bacterial signalling in such a way as to support pathogen clearing and re-establishment of the balance. An example of a captivating interaction is the one involving the catecholamine hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. This article will summarise the major findings involving host pathogen communication through bacterial or host-derived molecules and discuss ways to take advantage of our potential to interfere with this intricate signalling to profit the host and prolong a healthy life.}, } @article {pmid25416287, year = {2015}, author = {Soyano, T and Shimoda, Y and Hayashi, M}, title = {NODULE INCEPTION antagonistically regulates gene expression with nitrate in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {56}, number = {2}, pages = {368-376}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu168}, pmid = {25416287}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Consensus Sequence/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/drug effects/*genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrates/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding/drug effects ; Rhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Legumes produce root nodules as symbiotic organs where nitrogen-fixing bacteria are accommodated. Lotus japonicus NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is an essential factor that specifically and positively regulates nodulation processes, and has evolved from a member of the NIN-like proteins, of which Arabidopsis homologs target nitrate-responsive elements (NREs), and activate gene expression in response to nitrate. It is therefore assumed that the NIN-mediated transcriptional network overlaps with those regulated by NLPs, because of their common DNA-binding RWP-RK domains. However, nodulation is inhibited in the presence of nitrate, and involvement of NIN in nitrate responses has remained largely unknown. Here we determined a consensus of NIN-binding nucleotide sequences (NBSs) by in vitro experiments, and revealed that the sequence pattern was very similar to those of NREs. Chromatin immunoprecitiation (ChIP)-PCR analyses showed that NIN targeted NREs in L. japonicus nitrate-inducible gene promoters, including LjNIR1, LjNRT2.1 and LjNRT2.2. Affinities of NIN binding to the NREs were comparable with that to NBS-yB1a, an NBS on the symbiotic LjNF-YB1 promoter, indicating that NREs are potential targets of NIN. However, rhizobial infection did not activate LjNIR1, LjNRT2.1 and LjNRT2.2. NIN ectopic expression interfered with nitrate-dependent activation of these genes. Nitrate treatment followed by NIN activation down-regulated expression of symbiotic NIN target genes. Our results showed that NIN and nitrate antagonistically regulate expression of genes that are activated by nitrate and NIN, respectively. We propose that this antagonistic relationship prevents inappropriate activation of genes in response to nitrate and rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid25414918, year = {2014}, author = {Bucher, M and Hause, B and Krajinski, F and Küster, H}, title = {Through the doors of perception to function in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {4}, pages = {833-840}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12862}, pmid = {25414918}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Cells/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The formation of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is initiated by the bidirectional exchange of diffusible molecules. While strigolactone hormones, secreted from plant roots,stimulate hyphal branching and fungal metabolism, fungal short-chain chitin oligomers as well assulfated and nonsulfated lipochitooligosaccharides (s/nsMyc-LCOs) elicit pre-symbiosis responses in the host. Fungal LCO signals are structurally related to rhizobial Nod-factor LCOs. Genome-wide expression studies demonstrated that defined sets of genes were induced by Nod-, sMyc- and nsMyc-LCOs, indicating LCO-specific perception in the pre-symbiosis phase. During hyphopodium formation and the subsequent root colonization, cross-talk between plant roots and AM fungi also involves phytohormones. Notably, gibberellins control arbuscule formation via DELLA proteins, which themselves serve as positive regulators of arbuscule formation. The establishment of arbuscules is accompanied by a substantial transcriptional and post-transcriptional reprogramming of host roots, ultimately defining the unique protein composition of arbuscule-containing cells. Based on cellular expression profiles, key check points of AM development as well as candidate genes encoding transcriptional regulators and regulatory microRNAs were identified. Detailed functional analyses of promoters specified short motifs sufficient for cell-autonomous gene regulation in cells harboring arbuscules, and suggested simultaneous, multi-level regulation of the mycorrhizal phosphate uptake pathway by integrating AM symbiosis and phosphate starvation response signaling.}, } @article {pmid25414720, year = {2014}, author = {Nakamura, H and Asami, T}, title = {Target sites for chemical regulation of strigolactone signaling.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {623}, pmid = {25414720}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Demands for plant growth regulators (PGRs; chemicals that control plant growth) are increasing globally, especially in developing countries. Both positive and negative PGRs are widely used to enhance crop production and to suppress unwanted shoot growth, respectively. Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional molecules that function as phytohormones, inhibiting shoot branching and also functioning in the rhizospheric communication with symbiotic fungi and parasitic weeds. Therefore, it is anticipated that chemicals that regulate the functions of SLs will be widely used in agricultural applications. Although the SL biosynthetic pathway is not fully understood, it has been demonstrated that β-carotene isomerases, carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs), and a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase are involved in strigolactone biosynthesis. A CCD inhibitor, abamine, which is also an inhibitor of abscisic acid biosynthesis, reduces the levels of SL in several plant species and reduces the germination rate of Orobanche minor seeds grown with tobacco. On the basis of the structure of abamine, several chemicals have been designed to specifically inhibit CCDs during SL synthesis. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase is another target enzyme in the development of SL biosynthesis inhibitors, and the triazole-derived TIS series of chemicals is known to include SL biosynthesis inhibitors, although their target enzyme has not been identified. Recently, DWARF14 (D14) has been shown to be a receptor for SLs, and the D-ring moiety of SL is essential for its recognition by D14. A variety of SL agonists are currently under development and most agonists commonly contain the D-ring or a D-ring-like moiety. Several research groups have also resolved the crystal structure of D14 in the last two years. It is expected that this information on the D14 structure will be invaluable not only for developing SL agonists with novel structures but also in the design of inhibitors of SL receptors.}, } @article {pmid25414718, year = {2014}, author = {Lionetti, V and Métraux, JP}, title = {Plant cell wall in pathogenesis, parasitism and symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {612}, pmid = {25414718}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid25414716, year = {2014}, author = {Drogue, B and Sanguin, H and Chamam, A and Mozar, M and Llauro, C and Panaud, O and Prigent-Combaret, C and Picault, N and Wisniewski-Dyé, F}, title = {Plant root transcriptome profiling reveals a strain-dependent response during Azospirillum-rice cooperation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {607}, pmid = {25414716}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cooperation involving Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria results in improvements of plant growth and health. While pathogenic and symbiotic interactions are known to induce transcriptional changes for genes related to plant defense and development, little is known about the impact of phytostimulating rhizobacteria on plant gene expression. This study aims at identifying genes significantly regulated in rice roots upon Azospirillum inoculation, considering possible favored interaction between a strain and its original host cultivar. Genome-wide analyzes of Oryza sativa japonica cultivars Cigalon and Nipponbare were performed, by using microarrays, seven days post-inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum 4B (isolated from Cigalon) or Azospirillum sp. B510 (isolated from Nipponbare) and compared to the respective non-inoculated condition. A total of 7384 genes were significantly regulated, which represent about 16% of total rice genes. A set of 34 genes is regulated by both Azospirillum strains in both cultivars, including a gene orthologous to PR10 of Brachypodium, and these could represent plant markers of Azospirillum-rice interactions. The results highlight a strain-dependent response of rice, with 83% of the differentially expressed genes being classified as combination-specific. Whatever the combination, most of the differentially expressed genes are involved in primary metabolism, transport, regulation of transcription and protein fate. When considering genes involved in response to stress and plant defense, it appears that strain B510, a strain displaying endophytic properties, leads to the repression of a wider set of genes than strain 4B. Individual genotypic variations could be the most important driving force of rice roots gene expression upon Azospirillum inoculation. Strain-dependent transcriptional changes observed for genes related to auxin and ethylene signaling highlight the complexity of hormone signaling networks in the Azospirillum-rice cooperation.}, } @article {pmid25414524, year = {2014}, author = {Soo, P and Todd, PA}, title = {The behaviour of giant clams (Bivalvia: Cardiidae: Tridacninae).}, journal = {Marine biology}, volume = {161}, number = {12}, pages = {2699-2717}, pmid = {25414524}, issn = {0025-3162}, abstract = {Giant clams, the largest living bivalves, live in close association with coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. These iconic invertebrates perform numerous important ecological roles as well as serve as flagship species-drawing attention to the ongoing destruction of coral reefs and their associated biodiversity. To date, no review of giant clams has focussed on their behaviour, yet this component of their autecology is critical to their life history and hence conservation. Almost 100 articles published between 1865 and 2014 include behavioural observations, and these have been collated and synthesised into five sections: spawning, locomotion, feeding, anti-predation, and stress responses. Even though the exact cues for spawning in the wild have yet to be elucidated, giant clams appear to display diel and lunar periodicities in reproduction, and for some species, peak breeding seasons have been established. Perhaps surprisingly, giant clams have considerable mobility, ranging from swimming and gliding as larvae to crawling in juveniles and adults. Chemotaxis and geotaxis have been established, but giant clams are not phototactic. At least one species exhibits clumping behaviour, which may enhance physical stabilisation, facilitate reproduction, or provide protection from predators. Giant clams undergo several shifts in their mode of acquiring nutrition; starting with a lecithotrophic and planktotrophic diet as larvae, switching to pedal feeding after metamorphosis followed by the transition to a dual mode of filter feeding and phototrophy once symbiosis with zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.) is established. Because of their shell weight and/or byssal attachment, adult giant clams are unable to escape rapidly from threats using locomotion. Instead, they exhibit a suite of visually mediated anti-predation behaviours that include sudden contraction of the mantle, valve adduction, and squirting of water. Knowledge on the behaviour of giant clams will benefit conservation and restocking efforts and help fine-tune mariculture techniques. Understanding the repertoire of giant clam behaviours will also facilitate the prediction of threshold levels for sustainable exploitation as well as recovery rates of depleted clam populations.}, } @article {pmid25413288, year = {2015}, author = {Muñoz, V and Ibáñez, F and Tordable, M and Megías, M and Fabra, A}, title = {Role of reactive oxygen species generation and Nod factors during the early symbiotic interaction between bradyrhizobia and peanut, a legume infected by crack entry.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {118}, number = {1}, pages = {182-192}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12669}, pmid = {25413288}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Arachis/enzymology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Roots/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: We evaluated whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the plant antioxidant system are involved in the symbiotic interaction between bradyrhizobia and legumes infected by crack entry, without intracellular infection threads (IT) formation, such as Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut). The role of bradyrhizobial Nod factors (NF) in modulating the plants' oxidative burst was also analysed.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Histochemical and quantitative procedures were used to detect ROS levels in inoculated and in NF-treated peanut roots. Increase in root H2O2 production was determined at 10 min postinoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144 or after NF addition. ROS production was modulated by NF. From 15 to 30 min postinoculation, the compatibility of Bradyrhizobium sp.-peanut interaction depends mostly on the H2O2 detoxification via catalase.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated for the first time that the early events of the symbiotic interaction in legumes invaded by crack entry trigger an increase in ROS production (represented exclusively by a higher H2O2 content) in which NADPH-oxidase seems not to be involved. NF modulate this response by enhancing the plant antioxidant machinery, contributing to the creation of adequate conditions for symbiosis development.

Our data provide new insights into the mechanism involves in the symbiotic interaction that establish legumes infected by crack entry and suggest that ROS response shows differences compared with legumes invaded by IT formation.}, } @article {pmid25411845, year = {2014}, author = {Dettmann, A and Heilig, Y and Valerius, O and Ludwig, S and Seiler, S}, title = {Fungal communication requires the MAK-2 pathway elements STE-20 and RAS-2, the NRC-1 adapter STE-50 and the MAP kinase scaffold HAM-5.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e1004762}, pmid = {25411845}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {P01 GM068087/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Communication/genetics ; Cell Membrane/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Histidine Kinase ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/genetics ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Neurospora crassa/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/*genetics ; ras Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Intercellular communication is critical for the survival of unicellular organisms as well as for the development and function of multicellular tissues. Cell-to-cell signaling is also required to develop the interconnected mycelial network characteristic of filamentous fungi and is a prerequisite for symbiotic and pathogenic host colonization achieved by molds. Somatic cell-cell communication and subsequent cell fusion is governed by the MAK-2 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in the filamentous ascomycete model Neurospora crassa, yet the composition and mode of regulation of the MAK-2 pathway are currently unclear. In order to identify additional components involved in MAK-2 signaling we performed affinity purification experiments coupled to mass spectrometry with strains expressing functional GFP-fusion proteins of the MAPK cascade. This approach identified STE-50 as a regulatory subunit of the Ste11p homolog NRC-1 and HAM-5 as cell-communication-specific scaffold protein of the MAPK cascade. Moreover, we defined a network of proteins consisting of two Ste20-related kinases, the small GTPase RAS-2 and the adenylate cyclase capping protein CAP-1 that function upstream of the MAK-2 pathway and whose signals converge on the NRC-1/STE-50 MAP3K complex and the HAM-5 scaffold. Finally, our data suggest an involvement of the striatin interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex, the casein kinase 2 heterodimer, the phospholipid flippase modulators YPK-1 and NRC-2 and motor protein-dependent vesicle trafficking in the regulation of MAK-2 pathway activity and function. Taken together, these data will have significant implications for our mechanistic understanding of MAPK signaling and for homotypic cell-cell communication in fungi and higher eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid25411842, year = {2014}, author = {Vargas-Asensio, G and Pinto-Tomas, A and Rivera, B and Hernandez, M and Hernandez, C and Soto-Montero, S and Murillo, C and Sherman, DH and Tamayo-Castillo, G}, title = {Uncovering the cultivable microbial diversity of costa rican beetles and its ability to break down plant cell wall components.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e113303}, pmid = {25411842}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {U01 TW007404/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/enzymology/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteria, Aerobic/*classification/enzymology/isolation & purification ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Coleoptera/anatomy & histology/classification/*microbiology ; Costa Rica ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; Fungi/*classification/enzymology/isolation & purification ; Intestines/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Cells/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Coleopterans are the most diverse insect order described to date. These organisms have acquired an array of survival mechanisms through their evolution, including highly efficient digestive systems. Therefore, the coleopteran intestinal microbiota constitutes an important source of novel plant cell wall-degrading enzymes with potential biotechnological applications. We isolated and described the cultivable fungi, actinomycetes and aerobic eubacteria associated with the gut of larvae and adults from six different beetle families colonizing decomposing logs in protected Costa Rican ecosystems. We obtained 611 isolates and performed phylogenetic analyses using the ITS region (fungi) and 16S rDNA (bacteria). The majority of fungal isolates belonged to the order Hypocreales (26% of 169 total), while the majority of actinomycetes belonged to the genus Streptomyces (86% of 241 total). Finally, we isolated 201 bacteria spanning 19 different families belonging into four phyla: Firmicutes, α, β and γ-proteobacteria. Subsequently, we focused on microbes isolated from Passalid beetles to test their ability to degrade plant cell wall polymers. Highest scores in these assays were achieved by a fungal isolate (Anthostomella sp.), two Streptomyces and one Bacillus bacterial isolates. Our study demonstrates that Costa Rican beetles harbor several types of cultivable microbes, some of which may be involved in symbiotic relationships that enable the insect to digest complex polymers such as lignocellulose.}, } @article {pmid25409145, year = {2014}, author = {Kernbauer, E and Ding, Y and Cadwell, K}, title = {An enteric virus can replace the beneficial function of commensal bacteria.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {516}, number = {7529}, pages = {94-98}, pmid = {25409145}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {J 3435/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P30 CA016087/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK093668/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30CA016087/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/*immunology ; Citrobacter rodentium/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/immunology ; Enterovirus/immunology/*physiology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; Interferon Type I/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/drug effects/*immunology/*virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Norovirus/immunology/physiology ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microbial communities have profound effects on host physiology. Whereas the symbiotic contribution of commensal bacteria is well established, the role of eukaryotic viruses that are present in the gastrointestinal tract under homeostatic conditions is undefined. Here we demonstrate that a common enteric RNA virus can replace the beneficial function of commensal bacteria in the intestine. Murine norovirus (MNV) infection of germ-free or antibiotic-treated mice restored intestinal morphology and lymphocyte function without inducing overt inflammation and disease. The presence of MNV also suppressed an expansion of group 2 innate lymphoid cells observed in the absence of bacteria, and induced transcriptional changes in the intestine associated with immune development and type I interferon (IFN) signalling. Consistent with this observation, the IFN-α receptor was essential for the ability of MNV to compensate for bacterial depletion. Importantly, MNV infection offset the deleterious effect of treatment with antibiotics in models of intestinal injury and pathogenic bacterial infection. These data indicate that eukaryotic viruses have the capacity to support intestinal homeostasis and shape mucosal immunity, similarly to commensal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25408777, year = {2014}, author = {Ondrey, JM and Visick, KL}, title = {Engineering Vibrio fischeri for Inducible Gene Expression.}, journal = {The open microbiology journal}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {122-129}, pmid = {25408777}, issn = {1874-2858}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri serves as a model organism for a variety of natural phenomena, including symbiotic host colonization. The ease with which the V. fischeri genome can be manipulated contributes greatly to our ability to identify the factors involved in these phenomena. Here, we have adapted genetic tools for use in V. fischeri to promote our ability to conditionally control the expression of genes of interest. Specifically, we modified the commonly used mini-Tn5 transposon to contain an outward-facing, LacI-repressible/IPTG-inducible promoter, and inserted the lacI gene into the V. fischeri chromosome. Used together, these tools permit the identification and induction of genes that control specific phenotypes. To validate this approach, we identified IPTG-controllable motility mutants. We anticipate that the ability to randomly insert an inducible promoter into the genome of V. fischeri will advance our understanding of various aspects of the physiology of this microbe.}, } @article {pmid25408690, year = {2014}, author = {Kuo, A and Kohler, A and Martin, FM and Grigoriev, IV}, title = {Expanding genomics of mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {582}, pmid = {25408690}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The mycorrhizal symbiosis between soil fungi and plant roots is a ubiquitous mutualism that plays key roles in plant nutrition, soil health, and carbon cycling. The symbiosis evolved repeatedly and independently as multiple morphotypes [e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), ectomycorrhizal (ECM)] in multiple fungal clades (e.g., phyla Glomeromycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). The accessibility and cultivability of many mycorrhizal partners make them ideal models for symbiosis studies. Alongside molecular, physiological, and ecological investigations, sequencing led to the first three mycorrhizal fungal genomes, representing two morphotypes and three phyla. The genome of the ECM basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor showed that the mycorrhizal lifestyle can evolve through loss of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) and expansion of lineage-specific gene families such as short secreted protein (SSP) effectors. The genome of the ECM ascomycete Tuber melanosporum showed that the ECM type can evolve without expansion of families as in Laccaria, and thus a different set of symbiosis genes. The genome of the AM glomeromycete Rhizophagus irregularis showed that despite enormous phylogenetic distance and morphological difference from the other two fungi, symbiosis can involve similar solutions as symbiosis-induced SSPs and loss of PCWDEs. The three genomes provide a solid base for addressing fundamental questions about the nature and role of a vital mutualism.}, } @article {pmid25408687, year = {2014}, author = {Newell, PD and Chaston, JM and Wang, Y and Winans, NJ and Sannino, DR and Wong, AC and Dobson, AJ and Kagle, J and Douglas, AE}, title = {In vivo function and comparative genomic analyses of the Drosophila gut microbiota identify candidate symbiosis factors.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {576}, pmid = {25408687}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {F32 GM099374/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is often characterized by co-evolutionary changes in the genomes of the partners involved. An understanding of these changes can provide insight into the nature of the relationship, including the mechanisms that initiate and maintain an association between organisms. In this study we examined the genome sequences of bacteria isolated from the Drosophila melanogaster gut with the objective of identifying genes that are important for function in the host. We compared microbiota isolates with con-specific or closely related bacterial species isolated from non-fly environments. First the phenotype of germ-free Drosophila (axenic flies) was compared to that of flies colonized with specific bacteria (gnotobiotic flies) as a measure of symbiotic function. Non-fly isolates were functionally distinct from bacteria isolated from flies, conferring slower development and an altered nutrient profile in the host, traits known to be microbiota-dependent. Comparative genomic methods were next employed to identify putative symbiosis factors: genes found in bacteria that restore microbiota-dependent traits to gnotobiotic flies, but absent from those that do not. Factors identified include riboflavin synthesis and stress resistance. We also used a phylogenomic approach to identify protein coding genes for which fly-isolate sequences were more similar to each other than to other sequences, reasoning that these genes may have a shared function unique to the fly environment. This method identified genes in Acetobacter species that cluster in two distinct genomic loci: one predicted to be involved in oxidative stress detoxification and another encoding an efflux pump. In summary, we leveraged genomic and in vivo functional comparisons to identify candidate traits that distinguish symbiotic bacteria. These candidates can serve as the basis for further work investigating the genetic requirements of bacteria for function and persistence in the Drosophila gut.}, } @article {pmid25407899, year = {2015}, author = {Chaib De Mares, M and Hess, J and Floudas, D and Lipzen, A and Choi, C and Kennedy, M and Grigoriev, IV and Pringle, A}, title = {Horizontal transfer of carbohydrate metabolism genes into ectomycorrhizal Amanita.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1552-1564}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13140}, pmid = {25407899}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amanita/enzymology/*genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*genetics ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Fungal ; Models, Molecular ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Physical Chromosome Mapping ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The genus Amanita encompasses both symbiotic, ectomycorrhizal fungi and asymbiotic litter decomposers; all species are derived from asymbiotic ancestors. Symbiotic species are no longer able to degrade plant cell walls. The carbohydrate esterases family 1 (CE1s) is a diverse group of enzymes involved in carbon metabolism, including decomposition and carbon storage. CE1 genes of the ectomycorrhizal A. muscaria appear diverged from all other fungal homologues, and more similar to CE1s of bacteria, suggesting a horizontal gene transfer (HGT) event. In order to test whether AmanitaCE1s were acquired horizontally, we built a phylogeny of CE1s collected from across the tree of life, and describe the evolution of CE1 genes among Amanita and relevant lineages of bacteria. CE1s of symbiotic Amanita were very different from CE1s of asymbiotic Amanita, and are more similar to bacterial CE1s. The protein structure of one CE1 gene of A. muscaria matched a depolymerase that degrades the carbon storage molecule poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Asymbiotic Amanita do not carry sequence or structural homologues of these genes. The CE1s acquired through HGT may enable novel metabolisms, or play roles in signaling or defense. This is the first evidence for the horizontal transfer of carbohydrate metabolism genes into ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid25406691, year = {2014}, author = {Hooper, SL and Burstein, HJ}, title = {Minimization of extracellular space as a driving force in prokaryote association and the origin of eukaryotes.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {24}, pmid = {25406691}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {Biofilms ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryotic Cells/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Models, Biological ; Prokaryotic Cells/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Internalization-based hypotheses of eukaryotic origin require close physical association of host and symbiont. Prior hypotheses of how these associations arose include chance, specific metabolic couplings between partners, and prey-predator/parasite interactions. Since these hypotheses were proposed, it has become apparent that mixed-species, close-association assemblages (biofilms) are widespread and predominant components of prokaryotic ecology. Which forces drove prokaryotes to evolve the ability to form these assemblages are uncertain. Bacteria and archaea have also been found to form membrane-lined interconnections (nanotubes) through which proteins and RNA pass. These observations, combined with the structure of the nuclear envelope and an energetic benefit of close association (see below), lead us to propose a novel hypothesis of the driving force underlying prokaryotic close association and the origin of eukaryotes.

RESULTS: Respiratory proton transport does not alter external pH when external volume is effectively infinite. Close physical association decreases external volume. For small external volumes, proton transport decreases external pH, resulting in each transported proton increasing proton motor force to a greater extent. We calculate here that in biofilms this effect could substantially decrease how many protons need to be transported to achieve a given proton motor force. Based as it is solely on geometry, this energetic benefit would occur for all prokaryotes using proton-based respiration.

CONCLUSIONS: This benefit may be a driving force in biofilm formation. Under this hypothesis a very wide range of prokaryotic species combinations could serve as eukaryotic progenitors. We use this observation and the discovery of prokaryotic nanotubes to propose that eukaryotes arose from physically distinct, functionally specialized (energy factory, protein factory, DNA repository/RNA factory), obligatorily symbiotic prokaryotes in which the protein factory and DNA repository/RNA factory cells were coupled by nanotubes and the protein factory ultimately internalized the other two. This hypothesis naturally explains many aspects of eukaryotic physiology, including the nuclear envelope being a folded single membrane repeatedly pierced by membrane-bound tubules (the nuclear pores), suggests that species analogous or homologous to eukaryotic progenitors are likely unculturable as monocultures, and makes a large number of testable predictions.

REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Purificación López-García and Toni Gabaldón.}, } @article {pmid25406380, year = {2014}, author = {Aylward, FO and Suen, G and Biedermann, PH and Adams, AS and Scott, JJ and Malfatti, SA and Glavina del Rio, T and Tringe, SG and Poulsen, M and Raffa, KF and Klepzig, KD and Currie, CR}, title = {Convergent bacterial microbiotas in the fungal agricultural systems of insects.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {e02077}, pmid = {25406380}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; Fungi/classification/*physiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The ability to cultivate food is an innovation that has produced some of the most successful ecological strategies on the planet. Although most well recognized in humans, where agriculture represents a defining feature of civilization, species of ants, beetles, and termites have also independently evolved symbioses with fungi that they cultivate for food. Despite occurring across divergent insect and fungal lineages, the fungivorous niches of these insects are remarkably similar, indicating convergent evolution toward this successful ecological strategy. Here, we characterize the microbiota of ants, beetles, and termites engaged in nutritional symbioses with fungi to define the bacterial groups associated with these prominent herbivores and forest pests. Using culture-independent techniques and the in silico reconstruction of 37 composite genomes of dominant community members, we demonstrate that different insect-fungal symbioses that collectively shape ecosystems worldwide have highly similar bacterial microbiotas comprised primarily of the genera Enterobacter, Rahnella, and Pseudomonas. Although these symbioses span three orders of insects and two phyla of fungi, we show that they are associated with bacteria sharing high whole-genome nucleotide identity. Due to the fine-scale correspondence of the bacterial microbiotas of insects engaged in fungal symbioses, our findings indicate that this represents an example of convergence of entire host-microbe complexes.

IMPORTANCE: The cultivation of fungi for food is a behavior that has evolved independently in ants, beetles, and termites and has enabled many species of these insects to become ecologically important and widely distributed herbivores and forest pests. Although the primary fungal cultivars of these insects have been studied for decades, comparatively little is known of their bacterial microbiota. In this study, we show that diverse fungus-growing insects are associated with a common bacterial community composed of the same dominant members. Furthermore, by demonstrating that many of these bacteria have high whole-genome similarity across distantly related insect hosts that reside thousands of miles apart, we show that these bacteria are an important and underappreciated feature of diverse fungus-growing insects. Because of the similarities in the agricultural lifestyles of these insects, this is an example of convergence between both the life histories of the host insects and their symbiotic microbiota.}, } @article {pmid25404340, year = {2014}, author = {Brooks, JF and Gyllborg, MC and Cronin, DC and Quillin, SJ and Mallama, CA and Foxall, R and Whistler, C and Goodman, AL and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Global discovery of colonization determinants in the squid symbiont Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {48}, pages = {17284-17289}, pmid = {25404340}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {GM08061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM079300/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008061/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM086262/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK089121/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK089121/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biofilms ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animal epithelial tissue becomes reproducibly colonized by specific environmental bacteria. The bacteria (microbiota) perform critical functions for the host's tissue development, immune system development, and nutrition; yet the processes by which bacterial diversity in the environment is selected to assemble the correct communities in the host are unclear. To understand the molecular determinants of microbiota selection, we examined colonization of a simplified model in which the light organ of Euprymna scolopes squid is colonized exclusively by Vibrio fischeri bacteria. We applied high-throughput insertion sequencing to identify which bacterial genes are required during host colonization. A library of over 41,000 unique transposon insertions was analyzed before and after colonization of 1,500 squid hatchlings. Mutants that were reproducibly depleted following squid colonization represented 380 genes, including 37 that encode known colonization factors. Validation of select mutants in defined competitions against the wild-type strain identified nine mutants that exhibited a reproducible colonization defect. Some of the colonization factors identified included genes predicted to influence copper regulation and secretion. Other mutants exhibited defects in biofilm development, which is required for aggregation in host mucus and initiation of colonization. Biofilm formation in culture and in vivo was abolished in a strain lacking the cytoplasmic chaperone DnaJ, suggesting an important role for protein quality control during the elaboration of bacterial biofilm in the context of an intact host immune system. Overall these data suggest that cellular stress responses and biofilm regulation are critical processes underlying the reproducible colonization of animal hosts by specific microbial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25404119, year = {2015}, author = {Romani, L and Zelante, T and Palmieri, M and Napolioni, V and Picciolini, M and Velardi, A and Aversa, F and Puccetti, P}, title = {The cross-talk between opportunistic fungi and the mammalian host via microbiota's metabolism.}, journal = {Seminars in immunopathology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {163-171}, pmid = {25404119}, issn = {1863-2300}, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi/*immunology/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism ; Metabolome ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/*immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An increased understanding of the importance of microbiota in shaping the host's immune and metabolic activities has rendered fungal interactions with their hosts more complex than previously appreciated. It is now clear that a three-way interaction between host, fungi, and microbiota dictates the types of host-fungus relationship. Indeed, microbial dysbiosis predisposes to a variety of chronic fungal infections and diseases at local and distant sites. By correlating changes in metabolite profiles with microbiota metagenomic composition, we have defined a functional node whereby certain bacteria species contribute to host-fungal symbiosis and mucosal homeostasis. A tryptophan catabolic pathway is exploited by commensal lactobacilli and the mammalian host to increase fitness in response to Candida albicans by inducing resistance and tolerance mechanisms of antifungal immunity. Much like lactobacilli in the gut, Firmicutes change significantly in the airways during aspergillosis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor has a pivotal role in connecting tryptophan catabolism by microbial communities and the host's own pathway of tryptophan degradation through the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1. These data suggest that the study of the human microbiota in the trans-omics era, with a focus on metagenomics and metabonomics, is providing novel insights into the regulation of host immune responsiveness to fungi.}, } @article {pmid25404117, year = {2015}, author = {Ohtani, N}, title = {Microbiome and cancer.}, journal = {Seminars in immunopathology}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {65-72}, pmid = {25404117}, issn = {1863-2300}, mesh = {Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Neoplasms/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The human intestine is believed to contain approximately 100 trillion intestinal (gut) microbiota, comprising about 500-1000 different species. These intestinal microbiota exist in a symbiotic relationship with their host, by metabolizing compounds that the host is unable to utilize and controlling the immune balance of the host's body. However, the composition of the intestinal microbiota is known to vary, depending on diet, nutrition status, and other factors. The recently developed meta-omics microbial data and the technical progress for the metabolome analysis provide a substantial understanding of the role of intestinal microbes and their metabolism. Interestingly, accumulating evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiota contributes to the onset of colorectal cancer, not only via the pro-carcinogenic activities of specific pathogens but also via the influence of the bacterial metabolites. Moreover, since the gut microbial metabolites circulate in the host's body, it has been increasingly recognized that the intestinal microbiota are involved in the pathogenesis of diseases not only in the intestine but also in the organs located distant from the intestine. We recently found that metabolites from obesity-induced intestinal microbiota promoted liver cancer, and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism. In this review, I first summarize the general understanding on the carcinogenic process by bacterial metabolites, and then discuss on the association between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer. In the last part, I will introduce our recent findings on liver cancer promotion by a metabolite of the obesity-induced intestinal microbiota.}, } @article {pmid25403559, year = {2014}, author = {Ben-Yosef, M and Pasternak, Z and Jurkevitch, E and Yuval, B}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria enable olive flies (Bactrocera oleae) to exploit intractable sources of nitrogen.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {2695-2705}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.12527}, pmid = {25403559}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Erwinia/*metabolism ; Female ; Fertility/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tephritidae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Urea/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Insects are often associated with symbiotic micro-organisms, which allow them to utilize nutritionally marginal diets. Adult fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) associate with extracellular bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) that inhabit their digestive tract. These flies obtain nutrients by foraging for plant exudates, honeydew and bird droppings scattered on leaves and fruit—a nutritional niche which offers ample amounts of carbohydrates, but low quantities of available nitrogen. We identified the bacteria resident in the gut of the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae)—a worldwide pest of olives and examined their contribution to nitrogen metabolism in the adult insect. By suppressing bacteria in the gut and monitoring female fecundity, we demonstrate that bacteria contribute essential amino acids and metabolize urea into an available nitrogen source for the fly, thus significantly elevating egg production. In an ecological context, bacteria were found to be beneficial to females subsisting on bird droppings, but not on honeydew—two natural food sources. We suggest that a main gut bacterium (Candidatus Erwinia dacicola) forms an inseparable, essential part of this fly's nutritional ecology. The evolution of this symbiosis has allowed adult flies to utilize food substrates which are low or imbalanced in assimilable nitrogen and thereby to overcome the nitrogen limitations of their natural diet.}, } @article {pmid25401182, year = {2014}, author = {Holt, AL and Vahidinia, S and Gagnon, YL and Morse, DE and Sweeney, AM}, title = {Photosymbiotic giant clams are transformers of solar flux.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {11}, number = {101}, pages = {20140678}, pmid = {25401182}, issn = {1742-5662}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Bivalvia/anatomy & histology/physiology ; *Light ; *Microalgae/cytology/physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {'Giant' tridacnid clams have evolved a three-dimensional, spatially efficient, photodamage-preventing system for photosymbiosis. We discovered that the mantle tissue of giant clams, which harbours symbiotic nutrition-providing microalgae, contains a layer of iridescent cells called iridocytes that serve to distribute photosynthetically productive wavelengths by lateral and forward-scattering of light into the tissue while back-reflecting non-productive wavelengths with a Bragg mirror. The wavelength- and angle-dependent scattering from the iridocytes is geometrically coupled to the vertically pillared microalgae, resulting in an even re-distribution of the incoming light along the sides of the pillars, thus enabling photosynthesis deep in the tissue. There is a physical analogy between the evolved function of the clam system and an electric transformer, which changes energy flux per area in a system while conserving total energy. At incident light levels found on shallow coral reefs, this arrangement may allow algae within the clam system to both efficiently use all incident solar energy and avoid the photodamage and efficiency losses due to non-photochemical quenching that occur in the reef-building coral photosymbiosis. Both intra-tissue radiometry and multiscale optical modelling support our interpretation of the system's photophysics. This highly evolved 'three-dimensional' biophotonic system suggests a strategy for more efficient, damage-resistant photovoltaic materials and more spatially efficient solar production of algal biofuels, foods and chemicals.}, } @article {pmid25401092, year = {2014}, author = {Stilling, RM and Bordenstein, SR and Dinan, TG and Cryan, JF}, title = {Friends with social benefits: host-microbe interactions as a driver of brain evolution and development?.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {147}, pmid = {25401092}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {R01 GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Behavior ; *Biological Evolution ; Brain/*physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The tight association of the human body with trillions of colonizing microbes that we observe today is the result of a long evolutionary history. Only very recently have we started to understand how this symbiosis also affects brain function and behavior. In this hypothesis and theory article, we propose how host-microbe associations potentially influenced mammalian brain evolution and development. In particular, we explore the integration of human brain development with evolution, symbiosis, and RNA biology, which together represent a "social triangle" that drives human social behavior and cognition. We argue that, in order to understand how inter-kingdom communication can affect brain adaptation and plasticity, it is inevitable to consider epigenetic mechanisms as important mediators of genome-microbiome interactions on an individual as well as a transgenerational time scale. Finally, we unite these interpretations with the hologenome theory of evolution. Taken together, we propose a tighter integration of neuroscience fields with host-associated microbiology by taking an evolutionary perspective.}, } @article {pmid25400995, year = {2014}, author = {Zhong, W and Zhou, Z}, title = {Alterations of the gut microbiome and metabolome in alcoholic liver disease.}, journal = {World journal of gastrointestinal pathophysiology}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {514-522}, pmid = {25400995}, issn = {2150-5330}, abstract = {Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of liver diseases and liver-related death worldwide. The gut is a habitat for billions of microorganisms which promotes metabolism and digestion in their symbiotic relationship with the host. Alterations of gut microbiome by alcohol consumption are referred to bacterial overgrowth, release of bacteria-derived products, and/or changed microbiota equilibrium. Alcohol consumption also perturbs the function of gastrointestinal mucosa and elicits a pathophysiological condition. These adverse effects caused by alcohol may ultimately result in a broad change of gastrointestinal luminal metabolites such as bile acids, short chain fatty acids, and branched chain amino acids. Gut microbiota alterations, metabolic changes produced in a dysbiotic intestinal environment, and the host factors are all critical contributors to the development and progression of alcoholic liver disease. This review summarizes recent findings of how alcohol-induced alterations of gut microbiota and metabolome, and discusses the mechanistic link between gastrointestinal dyshomeostasis and alcoholic liver injury.}, } @article {pmid25400622, year = {2014}, author = {Davidson, SK and Dulla, GF and Go, RA and Stahl, DA and Pinel, N}, title = {Earthworm symbiont Verminephrobacter eiseniae mediates natural transformation within host egg capsules using type IV pili.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {546}, pmid = {25400622}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The dense microbial communities commonly associated with plants and animals should offer many opportunities for horizontal gene transfer through described mechanisms of DNA exchange including natural transformation (NT). However, studies of the significance of NT have focused primarily on pathogens. The study presented here demonstrates highly efficient DNA exchange by NT in a common symbiont of earthworms. The obligate bacterial symbiont Verminephrobacter eiseniae is a member of a microbial consortium of the earthworm Eisenia fetida that is transmitted into the egg capsules to colonize the embryonic worms. In the study presented here, by testing for transformants under different conditions in culture, we demonstrate that V. eiseniae can incorporate free DNA from the environment, that competency is regulated by environmental factors, and that it is sequence specific. Mutations in the type IV pili of V. eiseniae resulted in loss of DNA uptake, implicating the type IV pilus (TFP) apparatus in DNA uptake. Furthermore, injection of DNA carrying antibiotic-resistance genes into egg capsules resulted in transformants within the capsule, demonstrating the relevance of DNA uptake within the earthworm system. The ability to take up species-specific DNA from the environment may explain the maintenance of the relatively large, intact genome of this long-associated obligate symbiont, and provides a mechanism for acquisition of foreign genes within the earthworm system.}, } @article {pmid25400449, year = {2014}, author = {Chen, WX and Ren, LH and Shi, RH}, title = {Enteric microbiota leads to new therapeutic strategies for ulcerative colitis.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {20}, number = {42}, pages = {15657-15663}, pmid = {25400449}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Biological Therapy/methods ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis/microbiology/*therapy ; Diet ; Dysbiosis ; Feces/microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestines/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a leading form of inflammatory bowel disease that involves chronic relapsing or progressive inflammation. As a significant proportion of UC patients treated with conventional therapies do not achieve remission, there is a pressing need for the development of more effective therapies. The human gut contains a large, diverse, and dynamic population of microorganisms, collectively referred to as the enteric microbiota. There is a symbiotic relationship between the human host and the enteric microbiota, which provides nutrition, protection against pathogenic organisms, and promotes immune homeostasis. An imbalance of the normal enteric microbiota composition (termed dysbiosis) underlies the pathogenesis of UC. A reduction of enteric microbiota diversity has been observed in UC patients, mainly affecting the butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which can repress pro-inflammatory cytokines. Many studies have shown that enteric microbiota plays an important role in anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities, which can benefit UC patients. Therefore, manipulation of the dysbiosis is an attractive approach for UC therapy. Various therapies targeting a restoration of the enteric microbiota have shown efficacy in treating patients with active and chronic forms of UC. Such therapies include fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, helminth therapy, and dietary polyphenols, all of which can alter the abundance and composition of the enteric microbiota. Although there have been many large, randomized controlled clinical trials assessing these treatments, the effectiveness and safety of these bacteria-driven therapies need further evaluation. This review focuses on the important role that the enteric microbiota plays in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and discusses new therapeutic strategies targeting the enteric microbiota for UC.}, } @article {pmid25400446, year = {2014}, author = {Gómez-Hurtado, I and Such, J and Sanz, Y and Francés, R}, title = {Gut microbiota-related complications in cirrhosis.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {20}, number = {42}, pages = {15624-15631}, pmid = {25400446}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacterial Translocation ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/microbiology ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/microbiology/psychology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/microbiology/physiopathology ; Intestines/drug effects/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Liver/drug effects/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology/physiopathology ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Peritonitis/microbiology ; Prognosis ; Splanchnic Circulation ; Vasodilation ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota plays an important role in cirrhosis. The liver is constantly challenged with commensal bacteria and their products arriving through the portal vein in the so-called gut-liver axis. Bacterial translocation from the intestinal lumen through the intestinal wall and to mesenteric lymph nodes is facilitated by intestinal bacterial overgrowth, impairment in the permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and deficiencies in local host immune defences. Deranged clearance of endogenous bacteria from portal and systemic circulation turns the gut into the major source of bacterial-related complications. Liver function may therefore be affected by alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and a role for commensal flora has been evidenced in the pathogenesis of several complications arising in end-stage liver disease such as hepatic encephalopathy, splanchnic arterial vasodilatation and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The use of antibiotics is the main therapeutic pipeline in the management of these bacteria-related complications. However, other strategies aimed at preserving intestinal homeostasis through the use of pre-, pro- or symbiotic formulations are being studied in the last years. In this review, the role of intestinal microbiota in the development of the most frequent complications arising in cirrhosis and the different clinical and experimental studies conducted to prevent or improve these complications by modifying the gut microbiota composition are summarized.}, } @article {pmid25399831, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, X and Dong, W and Sun, J and Feng, F and Deng, Y and He, Z and Oldroyd, GE and Wang, E}, title = {The receptor kinase CERK1 has dual functions in symbiosis and immunity signalling.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {258-267}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12723}, pmid = {25399831}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Immunity/physiology ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbiotic interactions between mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobial bacteria and their legume hosts involves a common symbiosis signalling pathway. This signalling pathway is activated by Nod factors produced by rhizobia and these are recognised by the Nod factor receptors NFR1/LYK3 and NFR5/NFP. Mycorrhizal fungi produce lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) similar to Nod factors, as well as short-chain chitin oligomers (CO4/5), implying commonalities in signalling during mycorrhizal and rhizobial associations. Here we show that NFR1/LYK3, but not NFR5/NFP, is required for the establishment of the mycorrhizal interaction in legumes. NFR1/LYK3 is necessary for the recognition of mycorrhizal fungi and the activation of the symbiosis signalling pathway leading to induction of calcium oscillations and gene expression. Chitin oligosaccharides also act as microbe associated molecular patterns that promote plant immunity via similar LysM receptor-like kinases. CERK1 in rice has the highest homology to NFR1 and we show that this gene is also necessary for the establishment of the mycorrhizal interaction as well as for resistance to the rice blast fungus. Our results demonstrate that NFR1/LYK3/OsCERK1 represents a common receptor for chitooligosaccharide-based signals produced by mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobial bacteria (in legumes) and fungal pathogens. It would appear that mycorrhizal recognition has been conserved in multiple receptors across plant species, but additional diversification in certain plant species has defined other signals that this class of receptors can perceive.}, } @article {pmid25397675, year = {2014}, author = {Chaiyasen, A and Young, JP and Teaumroong, N and Gavinlertvatana, P and Lumyong, S}, title = {Characterization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus communities of Aquilaria crassna and Tectona grandis roots and soils in Thailand plantations.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e112591}, pmid = {25397675}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Base Sequence ; Cluster Analysis ; Lamiaceae/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Thailand ; Thymelaeaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lec. and Tectona grandis Linn.f. are sources of resin-suffused agarwood and teak timber, respectively. This study investigated arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus community structure in roots and rhizosphere soils of A. crassna and T. grandis from plantations in Thailand to understand whether AM fungal communities present in roots and rhizosphere soils vary with host plant species and study sites. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism complemented with clone libraries revealed that AM fungal community composition in A. crassna and T. grandis were similar. A total of 38 distinct terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) were found, 31 of which were shared between A. crassna and T. grandis. AM fungal communities in T. grandis samples from different sites were similar, as were those in A. crassna. The estimated average minimum numbers of AM fungal taxa per sample in roots and soils of T. grandis were at least 1.89 vs. 2.55, respectively, and those of A. crassna were 2.85 vs. 2.33 respectively. The TRFs were attributed to Claroideoglomeraceae, Diversisporaceae, Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae. The Glomeraceae were found to be common in all study sites. Specific AM taxa in roots and soils of T. grandis and A. crassna were not affected by host plant species and sample source (root vs. soil) but affected by collecting site. Future inoculum production and utilization efforts can be directed toward the identified symbiotic associates of these valuable tree species to enhance reforestation efforts.}, } @article {pmid25396733, year = {2014}, author = {McLean, AH and Godfray, HC}, title = {An experimental test of whether the defensive phenotype of an aphid facultative symbiont can respond to selection within a host lineage.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e111601}, pmid = {25396733}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*parasitology ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {An experiment was conducted to test whether parasitoid resistance within a single clonal line of pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) might increase after exposure to the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi. Any change in resistance was expected to occur through an increase in the density of protective symbiotic bacteria rather than genetic change within the aphid or the bacterial symbiont. Six aphid lineages were exposed to high parasitoid attack rates over nine generations, each line being propagated from individuals that had survived attack; a further six lineages were maintained without parasitoids as a control. At the end of the experiment the strength of resistance of aphids from treatment and control lines were compared. No differences in resistance were found.}, } @article {pmid25393119, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, E and Lin, Y and Kerney, R and Blumenberg, L and Bishop, C}, title = {Phylogenetic analysis of algal symbionts associated with four North American amphibian egg masses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {e108915}, pmid = {25393119}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ambystoma/*physiology ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; North America ; Ovum/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Ranidae/*physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Volvocida/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Egg masses of the yellow-spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum form an association with the green alga "Oophila amblystomatis" (Lambert ex Wille), which, in addition to growing within individual egg capsules, has recently been reported to invade embryonic tissues and cells. The binomial O. amblystomatis refers to the algae that occur in A. maculatum egg capsules, but it is unknown whether this population of symbionts constitutes one or several different algal taxa. Moreover, it is unknown whether egg masses across the geographic range of A. maculatum, or other amphibians, associate with one or multiple algal taxa. To address these questions, we conducted a phylogeographic study of algae sampled from egg capsules of A. maculatum, its allopatric congener A. gracile, and two frogs: Lithobates sylvatica and L. aurora. All of these North American amphibians form associations with algae in their egg capsules. We sampled algae from egg capsules of these four amphibians from localities across North America, established representative algal cultures, and amplified and sequenced a region of 18S rDNA for phylogenetic analysis. Our combined analysis shows that symbiotic algae found in egg masses of four North American amphibians are closely related to each other, and form a well-supported clade that also contains three strains of free-living chlamydomonads. We designate this group as the 'Oophila' clade, within which the symbiotic algae are further divided into four distinct subclades. Phylogenies of the host amphibians and their algal symbionts are only partially congruent, suggesting that host-switching and co-speciation both play roles in their associations. We also established conditions for isolating and rearing algal symbionts from amphibian egg capsules, which should facilitate further study of these egg mass specialist algae.}, } @article {pmid25391317, year = {2014}, author = {Umesaki, Y}, title = {Use of gnotobiotic mice to identify and characterize key microbes responsible for the development of the intestinal immune system.}, journal = {Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and biological sciences}, volume = {90}, number = {9}, pages = {313-332}, pmid = {25391317}, issn = {1349-2896}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Cell Adhesion ; Clostridium/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/cytology ; Fucosyltransferases/metabolism ; Germ-Free Life/*physiology ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/immunology ; Intestine, Small/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, SCID ; Models, Animal ; Protein Binding ; Th17 Cells/cytology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between intestinal microbiota and the host animal plays an important role in the homeostasis of host physiology. Since the first production of germ-free rodents in 1945, it has become increasingly clear that the intestinal immune system and the biochemical characteristics of epithelial cells differ greatly between conventional and germ-free rodents. However, questions remain about the types of microbes involved and the precise mechanism by which these microbes affect the host physiology. Here, we review experiments designed to answer these questions with the use of gnotobiotic mice. We have determined suitable biochemical and immunological markers for monitoring microbial effects in these mice. Using these markers, we have found clear differences in epithelial cell glycolipid biosynthesis and intraepithelial lymphocyte dynamics between germ-free and conventional mice. Furthermore, we have identified a key microbe that activates the mucosal immune system in the small intestine. This indigenous bacteria, called segmented filamentous bacteria, is a key symbiont in the host-microbiota interplay, including Th17 cell-inducing activity.}, } @article {pmid25390190, year = {2015}, author = {D'Apuzzo, E and Valkov, VT and Parlati, A and Omrane, S and Barbulova, A and Sainz, MM and Lentini, M and Esposito, S and Rogato, A and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {PII Overexpression in Lotus japonicus Affects Nodule Activity in Permissive Low-Nitrogen Conditions and Increases Nodule Numbers in High Nitrogen Treated Plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {432-442}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-14-0285-R}, pmid = {25390190}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Lotus/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; PII Nitrogen Regulatory Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Photoperiod ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {We report here the first characterization of a GLNB1 gene coding for the PII protein in leguminous plants. The main purpose of this work was the investigation of the possible roles played by this multifunctional protein in nodulation pathways. The Lotus japonicus LjGLB1 gene shows a significant transcriptional regulation during the light-dark cycle and different nitrogen availability, conditions that strongly affect nodule formation, development, and functioning. We also report analysis of the spatial profile of expression of LjGLB1 in root and nodule tissues and of the protein's subcellular localization. Transgenic L. japonicus lines overexpressing the PII protein were obtained and tested for the analysis of the symbiotic responses in different conditions. The uncoupling of PII from its native regulation affects nitrogenase activity and nodule polyamine content. Furthermore, our results suggest the involvement of PII in the signaling of the nitrogen nutritional status affecting the legumes' predisposition for nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid25390189, year = {2015}, author = {Liu, Z and Li, Y and Ma, L and Wei, H and Zhang, J and He, X and Tian, C}, title = {Coordinated regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soybean MAPK pathway genes improved mycorrhizal soybean drought tolerance.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {408-419}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-14-0251-R}, pmid = {25390189}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics/physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Soybean Proteins/*genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play important roles in the stress response in both plants and microorganisms. The mycorrhizal symbiosis established between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants can enhance plant drought tolerance, which might be closely related to the fungal MAPK response and the molecular dialogue between fungal and soybean MAPK cascades. To verify the above hypothesis, germinal Glomus intraradices (syn. Rhizophagus irregularis) spores and potted experiments were conducted. The results showed that AMF GiMAPKs with high homology with MAPKs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae had different gene expression patterns under different conditions (nitrogen starvation, abscisic acid treatment, and drought). Drought stress upregulated the levels of fungi and soybean MAPK transcripts in mycorrhizal soybean roots, indicating the possibility of a molecular dialogue between the two symbiotic sides of symbiosis and suggesting that they might cooperate to regulate the mycorrhizal soybean drought-stress response. Meanwhile, the changes in hydrogen peroxide, soluble sugar, and proline levels in mycorrhizal soybean as well as in the accelerated exchange of carbon and nitrogen in the symbionts were contributable to drought adaptation of the host plants. Thus, it can be preliminarily inferred that the interactions of MAPK signals on both sides, symbiotic fungus and plant, might regulate the response of symbiosis and, thus, improve the resistance of mycorrhizal soybean to drought stress.}, } @article {pmid25389420, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, F and Vicente, J and Hill, RT}, title = {Temporal changes in the diazotrophic bacterial communities associated with Caribbean sponges Ircinia stroblina and Mycale laxissima.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {561}, pmid = {25389420}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Sponges that harbor microalgal or, cyanobacterial symbionts may benefit from photosynthetically derived carbohydrates, which are rich in carbon but devoid of nitrogen, and may therefore encounter nitrogen limitation. Diazotrophic communities associated with two Caribbean sponges, Ircinia strobilina and Mycale laxissima were studied in a time series during which three individuals of each sponge were collected in four time points (5:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 5:00 PM, 10:00 PM). nifH genes were successfully amplified from the corresponding gDNA and cDNA pools and sequenced by high throughput 454 amplicon sequencing. In both sponges, over half the nifH transcripts were classified as from cyanobacteria and the remainder from heterotrophic bacteria. We found various groups of bacteria actively expressing the nifH gene during the entire day-night cycle, an indication that the nitrogen fixation potential was fully exploited by different nitrogen fixing bacteria groups associated with their hosts. This study showed for the first time the dynamic changes in the activity of the diazotrophic bacterial communities in marine sponges. Our study expands understanding of the diazotrophic groups that contribute to the fixed nitrogen pool in the benthic community. Sponge bacterial community-associated diazotrophy may have an important impact on the nitrogen biogeochemical cycle in the coral reef ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid25389417, year = {2014}, author = {Parris, DJ and Ganesh, S and Edgcomb, VP and DeLong, EF and Stewart, FJ}, title = {Microbial eukaryote diversity in the marine oxygen minimum zone off northern Chile.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {543}, pmid = {25389417}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Molecular surveys are revealing diverse eukaryotic assemblages in oxygen-limited ocean waters. These communities may play pivotal ecological roles through autotrophy, feeding, and a wide range of symbiotic associations with prokaryotes. We used 18S rRNA gene sequencing to provide the first snapshot of pelagic microeukaryotic community structure in two cellular size fractions (0.2-1.6 μm, >1.6 μm) from seven depths through the anoxic oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) off northern Chile. Sequencing of >154,000 amplicons revealed contrasting patterns of phylogenetic diversity across size fractions and depths. Protist and total eukaryote diversity in the >1.6 μm fraction peaked at the chlorophyll maximum in the upper photic zone before declining by ~50% in the OMZ. In contrast, diversity in the 0.2-1.6 μm fraction, though also elevated in the upper photic zone, increased four-fold from the lower oxycline to a maximum at the anoxic OMZ core. Dinoflagellates of the Dinophyceae and endosymbiotic Syndiniales clades dominated the protist assemblage at all depths (~40-70% of sequences). Other protist groups varied with depth, with the anoxic zone community of the larger size fraction enriched in euglenozoan flagellates and acantharean radiolarians (up to 18 and 40% of all sequences, respectively). The OMZ 0.2-1.6 μm fraction was dominated (11-99%) by Syndiniales, which exhibited depth-specific variation in composition and total richness despite uniform oxygen conditions. Metazoan sequences, though confined primarily to the 1.6 μm fraction above the OMZ, were also detected within the anoxic zone where groups such as copepods increased in abundance relative to the oxycline and upper OMZ. These data, compared to those from other low-oxygen sites, reveal variation in OMZ microeukaryote composition, helping to identify clades with potential adaptations to oxygen-depletion.}, } @article {pmid25388748, year = {2015}, author = {Otti, O}, title = {Genitalia-associated microbes in insects.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {325-339}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12183}, pmid = {25388748}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Female ; Genitalia/microbiology ; Insecta/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; Reproduction ; }, abstract = {In sexual reproduction different types of symbiotic relationships between insects and microbes have become established. For example, some bacteria have evolved almost exclusive vertical transmission and even define the compatibility of insect mating partners. Many strictly sexually transmitted diseases have also been described in insects. Apart from such rather specific relationships the role of opportunistic infections in the reproductive process has been widely neglected. Opportunistic microbes transmitted passively during mating might impose an energetic cost, as the immune system will need to be alert and will use resources to fight potential intruders. Through mating wounds and contaminated reproductive organs opportunistic microbes might be transferred to mating partners and even enter the body cavity. Females as the "receiving" sex are particularly likely to have evolved adaptations to avoid or reduce opportunistic infections. Males of several species show highly complex seminal fluids, which as well as containing components that influence a males' fertilization success, also possess antimicrobial substances. The role of antimicrobials in the reproductive process is not well understood. Some evidence hints at the protection of sperm against microbes, indicating a role for natural selection in shaping the evolution of reproductive traits. By highlighting the potential importance of microbes in sexual selection and their role in reproduction in general I will make a case for studies in sexual selection, especially the ones investigating postcopulatory processes, that should incorporate environmental, as well as genotypic variation, in reproductive traits.}, } @article {pmid25387864, year = {2014}, author = {De Freece, C and Damiani, C and Valzano, M and D'Amelio, S and Cappelli, A and Ricci, I and Favia, G}, title = {Detection and isolation of the α-proteobacterium Asaia in Culex mosquitoes.}, journal = {Medical and veterinary entomology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {438-442}, doi = {10.1111/mve.12045}, pmid = {25387864}, issn = {1365-2915}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Culex/*microbiology ; Female ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Phylogeny ; Pupa/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Investigations of microbiota within mosquitoes continue to widen the spectrum of possible symbiont-based applications against vector-borne diseases. In this context, α-proteobacteria of the genus Asaia (Rhodospirillales: Acetobacteraceae) are emerging as possible endosymbiotic candidates, particularly in paratransgenic approaches aimed at interrupting pathogen transmission. Previous studies have shown that Asaia spp. distribution among Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes displayed positive rates of infection in isolated midguts, salivary glands and reproductive tissues. Similarly, Asaia has been detected in Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) and Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) (Diptera: Culicidae) populations. Within the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae), Asaia infection is still largely unexplored. Here, we summarize a preliminary survey of laboratory-reared Cx. pipiens complex and field-collected Culex quinquefasciatus for the presence of Asaia spp., and present the first identification of Asaia in some of the members of the Cx. pipiens complex and the first description in West African populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus.}, } @article {pmid25386723, year = {2015}, author = {Slippers, B and Hurley, BP and Wingfield, MJ}, title = {Sirex woodwasp: a model for evolving management paradigms of invasive forest pests.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {601-619}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021118}, pmid = {25386723}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; *Food Chain ; Forestry ; *Insect Control ; Introduced Species ; Pinus/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tylenchoidea/*physiology ; Wasps/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The Sirex woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, and its fungal mutualist, Amylostereum areolatum, together constitute one of the most damaging invasive pests of pine. Despite a century of research and well-established management programs, control remains unpredictable and spread continues to new areas. Variable success in managing this pest has been influenced by complex invasion patterns, the multilayered nature of biological interactions, the varying local ecologies, and microevolutionary population processes in both the biocontrol organisms and in the wasps. Recent research findings are challenging the historical perspectives on methods to manage the Sirex woodwasp, calling for management programs to incorporate the variable local dynamics affecting this pest complex. In this regard, the Sirex woodwasp provides a superb model to illustrate the need for a different approach to develop efficient and sustainable management tools to deal with the growing and global nature of pest invasions in forests and plantations.}, } @article {pmid25385796, year = {2015}, author = {Casadevall, A and Pirofski, LA}, title = {What is a host? Incorporating the microbiota into the damage-response framework.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {2-7}, pmid = {25385796}, issn = {1098-5522}, support = {R01 AG045044/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001073/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Communicable Diseases/*immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since proof of the germ theory of disease in the late 19th century, a major focus of the fields of microbiology and infectious diseases has been to seek differences between pathogenic and nonpathogenic microbes and the role that the host plays in microbial pathogenesis. Remarkably, despite the increasing recognition that host immunity plays a role in microbial pathogenesis, there has been little discussion about what constitutes a host. Historically, hosts have been viewed in the context of their fitness or immunological status and characterized by adjectives such as immune, immunocompetent, immunosuppressed, immunocompromised, or immunologically impaired. However, in recent years it has become apparent that the microbiota has profound effects on host homeostasis and susceptibility to microbial diseases in addition to its effects on host immunity. This raises the question of how to incorporate the microbiota into defining a host. This definitional problem is further complicated because neither host nor microbial properties are adequate to predict the outcome of host-microbe interaction because this outcome exhibits emergent properties. In this essay, we revisit the damage-response framework (DRF) of microbial pathogenesis and demonstrate how it can incorporate the rapidly accumulating information being generated by the microbiome revolution. We use the tenets of the DRF to put forth the following definition of a host: a host is an entity that houses an associated microbiome/microbiota and interacts with microbes such that the outcome results in damage, benefit, or indifference, thus resulting in the states of symbiosis, colonization, commensalism, latency, and disease.}, } @article {pmid25385629, year = {2014}, author = {O'Connor, RM and Fung, JM and Sharp, KH and Benner, JS and McClung, C and Cushing, S and Lamkin, ER and Fomenkov, AI and Henrissat, B and Londer, YY and Scholz, MB and Posfai, J and Malfatti, S and Tringe, SG and Woyke, T and Malmstrom, RR and Coleman-Derr, D and Altamia, MA and Dedrick, S and Kaluziak, ST and Haygood, MG and Distel, DL}, title = {Gill bacteria enable a novel digestive strategy in a wood-feeding mollusk.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {47}, pages = {E5096-104}, pmid = {25385629}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; 1U01TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; *Digestion ; *Feeding Behavior ; Gills/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mollusca/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Wood ; }, abstract = {Bacteria play many important roles in animal digestive systems, including the provision of enzymes critical to digestion. Typically, complex communities of bacteria reside in the gut lumen in direct contact with the ingested materials they help to digest. Here, we demonstrate a previously undescribed digestive strategy in the wood-eating marine bivalve Bankia setacea, wherein digestive bacteria are housed in a location remote from the gut. These bivalves, commonly known as shipworms, lack a resident microbiota in the gut compartment where wood is digested but harbor endosymbiotic bacteria within specialized cells in their gills. We show that this comparatively simple bacterial community produces wood-degrading enzymes that are selectively translocated from gill to gut. These enzymes, which include just a small subset of the predicted wood-degrading enzymes encoded in the endosymbiont genomes, accumulate in the gut to the near exclusion of other endosymbiont-made proteins. This strategy of remote enzyme production provides the shipworm with a mechanism to capture liberated sugars from wood without competition from an endogenous gut microbiota. Because only those proteins required for wood digestion are translocated to the gut, this newly described system reveals which of many possible enzymes and enzyme combinations are minimally required for wood degradation. Thus, although it has historically had negative impacts on human welfare, the shipworm digestive process now has the potential to have a positive impact on industries that convert wood and other plant biomass to renewable fuels, fine chemicals, food, feeds, textiles, and paper products.}, } @article {pmid25385615, year = {2014}, author = {Jani, AJ and Briggs, CJ}, title = {The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis disturbs the frog skin microbiome during a natural epidemic and experimental infection.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {47}, pages = {E5049-58}, pmid = {25385615}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Chytridiomycota/*pathogenicity ; Disease Outbreaks ; *Microbiota ; Mycoses/epidemiology/microbiology ; Ranidae/*microbiology ; Skin/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbial communities may interact with infectious pathogens sharing a common host. The microbiome may limit pathogen infection or, conversely, an invading pathogen can disturb the microbiome. Documentation of such relationships during naturally occurring disease outbreaks is rare, and identifying causal links from field observations is difficult. This study documented the effects of an amphibian skin pathogen of global conservation concern [the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)] on the skin-associated bacterial microbiome of the endangered frog, Rana sierrae, using a combination of population surveys and laboratory experiments. We examined covariation of pathogen infection and bacterial microbiome composition in wild frogs, demonstrating a strong and consistent correlation between Bd infection load and bacterial community composition in multiple R. sierrae populations. Despite the correlation between Bd infection load and bacterial community composition, we observed 100% mortality of postmetamorphic frogs during a Bd epizootic, suggesting that the relationship between Bd and bacterial communities was not linked to variation in resistance to mortal disease and that Bd infection altered bacterial communities. In a controlled experiment, Bd infection significantly altered the R. sierrae microbiome, demonstrating a causal relationship. The response of microbial communities to Bd infection was remarkably consistent: Several bacterial taxa showed the same response to Bd infection across multiple field populations and the laboratory experiment, indicating a somewhat predictable interaction between Bd and the microbiome. The laboratory experiment demonstrates that Bd infection causes changes to amphibian skin bacterial communities, whereas the laboratory and field results together strongly support Bd disturbance as a driver of bacterial community change during natural disease dynamics.}, } @article {pmid25383649, year = {2016}, author = {Rai, M and Agarkar, G}, title = {Plant-fungal interactions: What triggers the fungi to switch among lifestyles?.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {428-438}, doi = {10.3109/1040841X.2014.958052}, pmid = {25383649}, issn = {1549-7828}, mesh = {Endophytes/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Up till now various plant-fungal interactions have been extensively studied in the form of mycorrhizal, parasitic or endophytic lifestyles. Many of those interactions are beneficial to the host plants and a few are detrimental. Several investigations have pointed towards the interconversion of one fungal lifestyle into another while interact the plant system meaning endophyte may become parasite or vice versa. In such case, it is necessary to realize whether these different lifestyles are interconnected at some points either by physiological, biochemical or molecular routes and to identify the factors that trigger the change in fungal lifestyle, which is entirely different than earlier one and affects the host plant significantly. This review highlights the possible mechanisms of switching among the lifestyles of fungi based on recent findings and discusses the factors affecting plant fungal interactions. It also underlines the need for studying this important facet of plant-fungal interactions in depth which may in future help to fetch more advantages and to avoid the severe consequences in agriculture and other related fields.}, } @article {pmid25382699, year = {2015}, author = {Reeder, WH and Sanck, J and Hirst, M and Dawson, SC and Wolfe, GV}, title = {The Food Web of Boiling Springs Lake Appears Dominated by the Heterolobosean Tetramitus thermacidophilus Strain BSL.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {374-390}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12193}, pmid = {25382699}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {*Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Eukaryota/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Food Chain ; Hot Springs/*parasitology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lakes/*parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {We studied the protist grazers of Boiling Springs Lake (BSL), an acid geothermal feature in Lassen Volcanic National Park, using a combination of culture and genetic approaches. The major predator in BSL is a vahlkampfiid ameba closely related (95% 18S+ITS rRNA identity) to Tetramitus thermacidophilus, a heterolobose ameboflagellate recently isolated from volcanic geothermal acidic sites in Europe and Russia, as well as an uncultured heterolobosean from the nearby Iron Mountain acid mine drainage site. Tetramitus thermacidophilus strain BSL is capable of surviving the physical extremes of BSL, with optimal growth at 38-50 °C and pH 2-5. This bacterivore also ingested conidiospores of the ascomycete Phialophora sp., but ultrastructural observations reveal the latter may not be readily digested, and conidia were not separable from the ameoboflagellate culture, suggesting a possible symbiosis. DGGE fingerprint transects studies showed the organism is restricted to near-lake environs, and we detected an average of ~500 viable cysts/cm(3) sediment on the shoreline. Other grazing protists were isolated from lakeshore environments, including the lobose amebae Acanthamoeba sp. and Hartmannella sp., and the kinetoplastid flagellate Bodo sp., but none could tolerate both low pH and high temperature. These appear to be restricted to cooler near lake geothermal features, which also contain other potential grazer morphotypes observed but not successfully cultured, including ciliates, euglenids, testate amebae, and possible cercozoans. We compare the food web of BSL with other acidic or geothermal sites, and discuss the impact of protists in this unique environment.}, } @article {pmid25382143, year = {2014}, author = {Horton, MW and Bodenhausen, N and Beilsmith, K and Meng, D and Muegge, BD and Subramanian, S and Vetter, MM and Vilhjálmsson, BJ and Nordborg, M and Gordon, JI and Bergelson, J}, title = {Genome-wide association study of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf microbial community.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {5320}, pmid = {25382143}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {UL1 TR000430/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM083068/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM083068/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM057994/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM057994/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Genetic Loci/genetics ; Genome, Microbial/*genetics ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Identifying the factors that influence the outcome of host-microbial interactions is critical to protecting biodiversity, minimizing agricultural losses and improving human health. A few genes that determine symbiosis or resistance to infectious disease have been identified in model species, but a comprehensive examination of how a host genotype influences the structure of its microbial community is lacking. Here we report the results of a field experiment with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the fungi and bacteria that colonize its leaves and the host loci that influence the microbe numbers. The composition of this community differs among accessions of A. thaliana. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest that plant loci responsible for defense and cell wall integrity affect variation in this community. Furthermore, species richness in the bacterial community is shaped by host genetic variation, notably at loci that also influence the reproduction of viruses, trichome branching and morphogenesis.}, } @article {pmid25382141, year = {2015}, author = {Lubens, P}, title = {Journalists and public health professionals: challenges of a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Disaster medicine and public health preparedness}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {59-63}, doi = {10.1017/dmp.2014.127}, pmid = {25382141}, issn = {1938-744X}, mesh = {Disaster Planning/*organization & administration ; Epidemics ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/*epidemiology ; Humans ; *Information Dissemination ; Journalism, Medical/*standards ; Mass Media/standards ; Perception ; *Public Health ; Public Opinion ; United States ; }, abstract = {Journalists and health professionals share a symbiotic relationship during a disease outbreak as both professions play an important role in informing the public's perceptions and the decisions of policy makers. Although critics in the United States have focused on US reporters and media outlets whose coverage has been sensationalist and alarmist, the discussion in this article is based on the ideal--gold standard--for US journalists. Journalists perform three primary functions during times of health crises: disseminating accurate information to the public, medical professionals, and policy makers; acting as the go-between for the public and decision makers and health and science experts; and monitoring the performance of institutions responsible for the public health response. A journalist's goal is to responsibly inform the public in order to optimize the public health goals of prevention while minimizing panic. The struggle to strike a balance between humanizing a story and protecting the dignity of patients while also capturing the severity of an epidemic is harder in the era of the 24-7 news cycle. Journalists grapple with dueling pressures: confirming that their information is correct while meeting the demand for rapid updates. Just as health care professionals triage patients, journalists triage information. The challenge going forward will be how to get ahead of the story from the onset, racing against the pace of digital dissemination of misinformation by continuing to refine the media-science relationship.}, } @article {pmid25377353, year = {2015}, author = {Delgadillo, J and Lafuente, A and Doukkali, B and Redondo-Gómez, S and Mateos-Naranjo, E and Caviedes, MA and Pajuelo, E and Rodríguez-Llorente, ID}, title = {Improving legume nodulation and Cu rhizostabilization using a genetically modified rhizobia.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {36}, number = {9-12}, pages = {1237-1245}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2014.983990}, pmid = {25377353}, issn = {0959-3330}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Copper ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*genetics ; *Soil Pollutants ; }, abstract = {The rhizobia-legume interaction has been proposed as an interesting and appropriate tool for rhizostabilization of soils contaminated with heavy metals. One of the main requirements to use this symbiosis is the availability of tolerant and symbiotically effective rhizobia. The aim of this work was to improve the symbiotic properties of the arsenic-resistant wild-type strain Ensifer medicae MA11 in Cu-contaminated substrates. The copAB genes from a Cu-resistant Pseudomonas fluorescens strain were expressed in E. medicae MA11 under the control of the nifH promoter. The resulting strain E. medicae MA11-copAB was able to alleviate the toxic effect of Cu in Medicago truncatula. At 300 µM Cu, root and shoot dry matter production, nitrogen content, number of nodules and photosynthetic rate were significantly reduced in plants inoculated with the wild-type strain. However, these parameters were not altered in plants inoculated with the genetically modified strain. Moreover, nodules elicited by this strain were able to accumulate twofold the Cu measured in nodules formed by the wild-type strain. In addition, the engineered E. medicae strain increased Cu accumulation in roots and decreased the content in shoots. Thus, E. medicae MA11-copAB increased the capacity of M. truncatula to rhizostabilize Cu, decreasing the translocation factor and avoiding metal entry into the food chain. The plasmid containing the nifH promoter-copAB construct could be a useful biotool for Cu rhizostabilization using legumes, since it can be transferred to different rhizobia microsymbionts of authoctonous legumes growing in Cu-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid25376850, year = {2015}, author = {Jiao, YS and Yan, H and Ji, ZJ and Liu, YH and Sui, XH and Zhang, XX and Wang, ET and Chen, WX and Chen, WF}, title = {Phyllobacterium sophorae sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from root nodules of Sophora flavescens.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {399-406}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.067017-0}, pmid = {25376850}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phyllobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sophora/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Ubiquinone/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Two novel Gram-stain-negative strains (CCBAU 03422(T) and CCBAU 03415) isolated from root nodules of Sophora flavescens were classified phylogenetically into the genus Phyllobacterium based on the comparative analysis of 16S rRNA and atpD genes. They showed 99.8 % rRNA gene sequence similarities to Phyllobacterium brassicacearum LMG 22836(T), and strain CCBAU 03422(T) showed 91.2 and 88.6 % atpD gene sequence similarities to strains Phyllobacterium endophyticum LMG 26470(T) and Phyllobacterium brassicacearum LMG 22836(T), respectively. Strain CCBAU 03422(T) contained Q-10 as its major quinone and showed a cellular fatty acid profile, carbon source utilization and other phenotypic characteristics differing from type strains of related species. DNA-DNA relatedness (lower than 48.8 %) further confirmed the differences between the novel strains and the type strains of related species. Strain CCBAU 03422(T) could nodulate and fix nitrogen effectively on its original host plant, Sophora flavescens. Based upon the results mentioned above, a novel species named Phyllobacterium sophorae is proposed and the type strain is CCBAU 03422(T) (= A-6-3(T) = LMG 27899(T) = HAMBI 3508(T)).}, } @article {pmid25376234, year = {2014}, author = {De Vooght, L and Caljon, G and De Ridder, K and Van Den Abbeele, J}, title = {Delivery of a functional anti-trypanosome Nanobody in different tsetse fly tissues via a bacterial symbiont, Sodalis glossinidius.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {156}, pmid = {25376234}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Single-Domain Antibodies/*biosynthesis/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Trypanosoma ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sodalis glossinidius, a vertically transmitted microbial symbiont of the tsetse fly, is currently considered as a potential delivery system for anti-trypanosomal components that reduce or eliminate the capability of the tsetse fly host to transmit parasitic trypanosomes, an approach also known as paratransgenesis. An essential step in developing paratransgenic tsetse is the stable colonization of adult flies and their progeny with recombinant Sodalis bacteria, expressing trypanocidal effector molecules in tissues where the parasite resides.

RESULTS: In this study, Sodalis was tested for its ability to deliver functional anti-trypanosome nanobodies (Nbs) in Glossina morsitans morsitans. We characterized the in vitro and in vivo stability of recombinant Sodalis (recSodalis) expressing a potent trypanolytic nanobody, i.e. Nb_An46. We show that recSodalis is competitive with WT Sodalis in in vivo conditions and that tsetse flies transiently cleared of their endogenous WT Sodalis population can be successfully repopulated with recSodalis at high densities. In addition, vertical transmission to the offspring was observed. Finally, we demonstrated that recSodalis expressed significant levels (ng range) of functional Nb_An46 in different tsetse fly tissues, including the midgut where an important developmental stage of the trypanosome parasite occurs.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the proof-of-concept that the Sodalis symbiont can be genetically engineered to express and release significant amounts of functional anti-trypanosome Nbs in different tissues of the tsetse fly. The application of this innovative concept of using pathogen-targeting nanobodies delivered by insect symbiotic bacteria could be extended to other vector-pathogen systems.}, } @article {pmid25374886, year = {2014}, author = {McCulley, RL and Bush, LP and Carlisle, AE and Ji, H and Nelson, JA}, title = {Warming reduces tall fescue abundance but stimulates toxic alkaloid concentrations in transition zone pastures of the U.S.}, journal = {Frontiers in chemistry}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {88}, pmid = {25374886}, issn = {2296-2646}, abstract = {Tall fescue pastures cover extensive acreage in the eastern half of the United States and contribute to important ecosystem services, including the provisioning of forage for grazing livestock. Yet little is known concerning how these pastures will respond to climate change. Tall fescue's ability to persist and provide forage under a warmer and wetter environment, as is predicted for much of this region as a result of climate change, will likely depend on a symbiotic relationship the plant can form with the fungal endophyte, Epichloë coenophiala. While this symbiosis can confer environmental stress tolerance to the plant, the endophyte also produces alkaloids toxic to insects (e.g., lolines) and mammals (ergots; which can cause "fescue toxicosis" in grazing animals). The negative animal health and economic consequences of fescue toxicosis make understanding the response of the tall fescue symbiosis to climate change critical for the region. We experimentally increased temperature (+3°C) and growing season precipitation (+30% of the long-term mean) from 2009-2013 in a mixed species pasture, that included a tall fescue population that was 40% endophyte-infected. Warming reduced the relative abundance of tall fescue within the plant community, and additional precipitation did not ameliorate this effect. Warming did not alter the incidence of endophyte infection within the tall fescue population; however, warming significantly increased concentrations of ergot alkaloids (by 30-40%) in fall-harvested endophyte-infected individuals. Warming alone did not affect loline alkaloid concentrations, but when combined with additional precipitation, levels increased in fall-harvested material. Although future warming may reduce the dominance of tall fescue in eastern U.S. pastures and have limited effect on the incidence of endophyte infection, persisting endophyte-infected tall fescue will have higher concentrations of toxic alkaloids which may exacerbate fescue toxicosis.}, } @article {pmid25374774, year = {2014}, author = {Asakura, T and Sakata, K and Yoshida, S and Date, Y and Kikuchi, J}, title = {Noninvasive analysis of metabolic changes following nutrient input into diverse fish species, as investigated by metabolic and microbial profiling approaches.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e550}, pmid = {25374774}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {An NMR-based metabolomic approach in aquatic ecosystems is valuable for studying the environmental effects of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals on fish. This technique has also contributed to new information in numerous research areas, such as basic physiology and development, disease, and water pollution. We evaluated the microbial diversity in various fish species collected from Japan's coastal waters using next-generation sequencing, followed by evaluation of the effects of feed type on co-metabolic modulations in fish-microbial symbiotic ecosystems in laboratory-scale experiments. Intestinal bacteria of fish in their natural environment were characterized (using 16S rRNA genes) for trophic level using pyrosequencing and noninvasive sampling procedures developed to study the metabolism of intestinal symbiotic ecosystems in fish reared in their environment. Metabolites in feces were compared, and intestinal contents and feed were annotated based on HSQC and TOCSY using SpinAssign and network analysis. Feces were characterized by species and varied greatly depending on the feeding types. In addition, feces samples demonstrated a response to changes in the time series of feeding. The potential of this approach as a non-invasive inspection technique in aquaculture is suggested.}, } @article {pmid25374146, year = {2014}, author = {Beltran-Garcia, MJ and White, JF and Prado, FM and Prieto, KR and Yamaguchi, LF and Torres, MS and Kato, MJ and Medeiros, MH and Di Mascio, P}, title = {Nitrogen acquisition in Agave tequilana from degradation of endophytic bacteria.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {6938}, pmid = {25374146}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agave/*metabolism/microbiology ; Ammonium Chloride/metabolism ; Bacillus/*metabolism ; Bacterial Load ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Deoxyribonucleosides/metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Microbial Viability ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pheophytins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants form symbiotic associations with endophytic bacteria within tissues of leaves, stems, and roots. It is unclear whether or how plants obtain nitrogen from these endophytic bacteria. Here we present evidence showing nitrogen flow from endophytic bacteria to plants in a process that appears to involve oxidative degradation of bacteria. In our experiments we employed Agave tequilana and its seed-transmitted endophyte Bacillus tequilensis to elucidate organic nitrogen transfer from (15)N-labeled bacteria to plants. Bacillus tequilensis cells grown in a minimal medium with (15)NH4Cl as the nitrogen source were watered onto plants growing in sand. We traced incorporation of (15)N into tryptophan, deoxynucleosides and pheophytin derived from chlorophyll a. Probes for hydrogen peroxide show its presence during degradation of bacteria in plant tissues, supporting involvement of reactive oxygen in the degradation process. In another experiment to assess nitrogen absorbed as a result of endophytic colonization of plants we demonstrated that endophytic bacteria potentially transfer more nitrogen to plants and stimulate greater biomass in plants than heat-killed bacteria that do not colonize plants but instead degrade in the soil. Findings presented here support the hypothesis that some plants under nutrient limitation may degrade and obtain nitrogen from endophytic microbes.}, } @article {pmid25374023, year = {2014}, author = {Yang, DH and Zhang, YY and DU, PC and Xu, L and Wang, HY and Han, N and Chen, C and Gao, ZC}, title = {Rapid Identification of Bacterial Species Associated with Bronchiectasis via Metagenomic Approach.}, journal = {Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {898-901}, doi = {10.3967/bes2014.126}, pmid = {25374023}, issn = {0895-3988}, mesh = {Bronchiectasis/*microbiology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry/*microbiology ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Metagenome/*genetics ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Pseudomonas Infections/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disorder and a number of bacterial pathogens are involved. However, 30%-40% of sputum and purulent samples in good quality failed to grow any pathogenic bacteria, making it difficult to confirm the pathogen. In this study, we collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from a bronchiectasis patient undergoing acute exacerbation, and sent for 16S rDNA pyrosequencing by a 454 GS Junior machine. Metagenomic analysis showed the composition of bacterial community in sample was complex. More than a half of reads (51.3%) were from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This result was corresponding with the culture result but came out 2 d earlier, which is meaningful for early diagnosis and treatment. The detection with 16S rDNA pyrosequencing technology is more sensitive and rapid than routine culture, and can detect the co-infection or symbiosis in airway, giving us a novel and convenient approach to perform rapid diagnosis.}, } @article {pmid25372347, year = {2014}, author = {Villanueva, MA and Arzápalo-Castañeda, G and Castillo-Medina, RE}, title = {The actin cytoskeleton organization and disorganization properties of the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium kawagutii in culture.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {11}, pages = {767-775}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2014-0325}, pmid = {25372347}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Actin Cytoskeleton/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Actins/analysis ; Cytoplasm/ultrastructure ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Freeze Fracturing ; Phalloidine/analogs & derivatives ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {The actin cytoskeleton organization in symbiotic marine dinoflagellates is largely undescribed; most likely, due to their intense pigment autofluorescence and cell walls that block fluorescent probe access. Using a freeze-fracture and fixation procedure, we observed the actin cytoskeleton of Symbiodinium kawagutii cultured in vitro with fluorescently labeled phalloidin and by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies specific for actin. The cytoskeleton appeared as an organized network with interconnected cortical and cytoplasmic thick filaments, along with some intertwined fine filaments. It showed a grid-type, reticular pattern organized in a lattice-like structure within the cell and throughout the cytoplasm. This organization was similar when the observations were done with either fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin or anti-actin, although the latter showed a more evenly distributed fluorescence characteristic of nonpolymerized actin. The network organization collapsed upon treatment with latrunculin, resulting in bright foci and diffuse fluorescence. A similar effect was obtained upon butanedione monoxime treatment, except that no bright foci were observed. We have been able to successfully visualize the actin cytoskeleton of S. kawagutii cells using fluorescence-based procedures. This is the first report on the visualization of the organization of the actin cytoskeleton under various conditions in these walled, highly autofluorescent cells.}, } @article {pmid25371499, year = {2015}, author = {De Cuyper, C and Fromentin, J and Yocgo, RE and De Keyser, A and Guillotin, B and Kunert, K and Boyer, FD and Goormachtig, S}, title = {From lateral root density to nodule number, the strigolactone analogue GR24 shapes the root architecture of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {137-146}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eru404}, pmid = {25371499}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the rhizosphere, strigolactones not only act as crucial signalling molecules in the communication of plants with parasitic weeds and arbuscular mycorrhiza, but they also play a key role in regulating different aspects of the root system. Here we investigated how strigolactones influence the root architecture of Medicago truncatula. We provide evidence that addition of the synthetic strigolactone analogue GR24 has an inhibitory effect on the lateral root density. Moreover, treatment with GR24 of Sinorhizobium meliloti-inoculated M. truncatula plants affects the nodule number both positively and negatively, depending on the concentration. Plants treated with 0.1 µM GR24 had a slightly increased number of nodules, whereas concentrations of 2 and 5 µM strongly reduced it. This effect was independent of the autoregulation of nodulation mechanism that is controlled by SUPER NUMERIC NODULE. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GR24 controls the nodule number through crosstalk with SICKLE-dependent ethylene signalling. Additionally, because the expression of the nodulation marker EARLY NODULATION11 was strongly reduced in GR24-treated plants, we concluded that strigolactones influence nodulation at a very early stage of the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid25370750, year = {2015}, author = {Lunak, ZR and Noel, KD}, title = {A quinol oxidase, encoded by cyoABCD, is utilized to adapt to lower O2 concentrations in Rhizobium etli CFN42.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {161}, number = {Pt 1}, pages = {203-212}, pmid = {25370750}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {R15 GM087699/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1 R15 GM087699-01A1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Enzyme Activation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hypoxia/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics/*metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria have branched aerobic respiratory chains that terminate at different terminal oxidases. These terminal oxidases have varying properties such as their affinity for oxygen, transcriptional regulation and proton pumping ability. The focus of this study was a quinol oxidase encoded by cyoABCD. Although this oxidase (Cyo) is widespread among bacteria, not much is known about its role in the cell, particularly in bacteria that contain both cytochrome c oxidases and quinol oxidases. Using Rhizobium etli CFN42 as a model organism, a cyo mutant was analysed for its ability to grow in batch cultures at high (21 % O2) and low (1 and 0.1 % O2) ambient oxygen concentrations. In comparison with other oxidase mutants, the cyo mutant had a significantly longer lag phase under low-oxygen conditions. Using a cyo :: lacZ transcriptional fusion, it was shown that cyo expression in the wild type peaks between 1 and 2.5 % O2. In addition, it was shown with quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR that cyoB is upregulated approximately fivefold in 1 % O2 compared with fully aerobic (21 % O2) conditions. Analysis of the cyo mutant during symbiosis with Phaseolous vulgaris indicated that Cyo is utilized during early development of the symbiosis. Although it is commonly thought that Cyo is utilized only at higher oxygen concentrations, the results from this study indicate that Cyo is important for adaptation to and sustained growth under low oxygen.}, } @article {pmid25370493, year = {2014}, author = {Tian, RM and Wang, Y and Bougouffa, S and Gao, ZM and Cai, L and Zhang, WP and Bajic, V and Qian, PY}, title = {Effect of copper treatment on the composition and function of the bacterial community in the sponge Haliclona cymaeformis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {e01980}, pmid = {25370493}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*drug effects/genetics ; Bacteriophages/*classification/genetics ; Biota/*drug effects ; Cluster Analysis ; Copper/*toxicity ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Haliclona/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Marine sponges are the most primitive metazoan and host symbiotic microorganisms. They are crucial components of the marine ecological system and play an essential role in pelagic processes. Copper pollution is currently a widespread problem and poses a threat to marine organisms. Here, we examined the effects of copper treatment on the composition of the sponge-associated bacterial community and the genetic features that facilitate the survival of enriched bacteria under copper stress. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the sponge Haliclona cymaeformis harbored symbiotic sulfur-oxidizing Ectothiorhodospiraceae and photosynthetic Cyanobacteria as dominant species. However, these autotrophic bacteria decreased substantially after treatment with a high copper concentration, which enriched for a heterotrophic-bacterium-dominated community. Metagenomic comparison revealed a varied profile of functional genes and enriched functions, including bacterial motility and chemotaxis, extracellular polysaccharide and capsule synthesis, virulence-associated genes, and genes involved in cell signaling and regulation, suggesting short-period mechanisms of the enriched bacterial community for surviving copper stress in the microenvironment of the sponge. Microscopic observation and comparison revealed dynamic bacterial aggregation within the matrix and lysis of sponge cells. The bacteriophage community was also enriched, and the complete genome of a dominant phage was determined, implying that a lytic phage cycle was stimulated by the high copper concentration. This study demonstrated a copper-induced shift in the composition of functional genes of the sponge-associated bacterial community, revealing the selective effect of copper treatment on the functions of the bacterial community in the microenvironment of the sponge.

IMPORTANCE: This study determined the bacterial community structure of the common sponge Haliclona cymaeformis and examined the effect of copper treatment on the community structure and functional gene composition, revealing that copper treatment had a selective effect on the functions of the bacterial community in the sponge. These findings suggest that copper pollution has an ecological impact on the sponge symbiont. The analysis showed that the untreated sponges hosted symbiotic autotrophic bacteria as dominant species, and the high-concentration copper treatment enriched for a heterotrophic bacterial community with enrichment for genes important for bacterial motility, supplementary cellular components, signaling and regulation, and virulence. Microscopic observation showed obvious bacterial aggregation and a reduction of sponge cell numbers in treated sponges, which suggested the formation of aggregates to reduce the copper concentration. The enrichment for functions of directional bacterial movement and supplementary cellular components and the formation of bacterial aggregates and phage enrichment are novel findings in sponge studies.}, } @article {pmid25368626, year = {2014}, author = {Augé, RM and Toler, HD and Saxton, AM}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and osmotic adjustment in response to NaCl stress: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {562}, pmid = {25368626}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can enhance plant resistance to NaCl stress in several ways. Two fundamental roles involve osmotic and ionic adjustment. By stimulating accumulation of solutes, the symbiosis can help plants sustain optimal water balance and diminish Na(+) toxicity. The size of the AM effect on osmolytes has varied widely and is unpredictable. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the size of the AM effect on 22 plant solute characteristics after exposure to NaCl and to examine how experimental conditions have influenced the AM effect. Viewed across studies, AM symbioses have had marked effects on plant K(+), increasing root and shoot K(+) concentrations by an average of 47 and 42%, respectively, and root and shoot K(+)/Na(+) ratios by 47 and 58%, respectively. Among organic solutes, soluble carbohydrates have been most impacted, with AM-induced increases of 28 and 19% in shoots and roots. The symbiosis has had no consistent effect on several characteristics, including root glycine betaine concentration, root or shoot Cl(-) concentrations, leaf Ψπ, or shoot proline or polyamine concentrations. The AM effect has been very small for shoot Ca(++) concentration and root concentrations of Na(+), Mg(++) and proline. Interpretations about AM-conferred benefits regarding these compounds may be best gauged within the context of the individual studies. Shoot and root K(+)/Na(+) ratios and root proline concentration showed significant between-study heterogeneity, and we examined nine moderator variables to explore what might explain the differences in mycorrhizal effects on these parameters. Moderators with significant impacts included AM taxa, host type, presence or absence of AM growth promotion, stress severity, and whether NaCl constituted part or all of the experimental saline stress treatment. Meta-regression of shoot K(+)/Na(+) ratio showed a positive response to root colonization, and root K(+)/Na(+) ratio a negative response to time of exposure to NaCl.}, } @article {pmid25368078, year = {2014}, author = {Pistone, D and Bione, A and Epis, S and Pajoro, M and Gaiarsa, S and Bandi, C and Sassera, D}, title = {Presence of Wolbachia in three hymenopteran species: Diprion pini (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), Neodiprion sertifer (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), and Dahlbominus fuscipennis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {147}, pmid = {25368078}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Hymenoptera/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Italy ; Male ; Mosaicism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Characteristics ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Sawflies are important pests of various plant species. Diprion pini (L.) and Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) are two of the most important sawfly pests in Italy, and both species are parasitized by the hymenopteran parasitoid Dahlbominus fuscipennis (Zetterstedt). Bacterial endosymbionts are currently studied for their high potential in strategies of biocontrol in a number of insect species. In this study, we investigated the presence of symbiotic bacteria (Wolbachia and Cardinium) in the three species of hymenoptera mentioned earlier, both in wild and laboratory populations. Although all samples were negative for the presence of Cardinium, 100% prevalence for Wolbachia was detected, as all examined individuals resulted to be PCR positive. Furthermore, 16S rDNA and ftsZ gene sequencing indicated that all individuals from the three hymenopteran species are infected by a single Wolbachia strain. Additionally, we report the presence of gynandromorphic individuals in D. pini, both in wild and laboratory-reared populations. Heat treatments on D. pini colonies removed the Wolbachia symbionts, but they also prevented the development of adults.}, } @article {pmid25367611, year = {2014}, author = {Antolín-Llovera, M and Petutsching, EK and Ried, MK and Lipka, V and Nürnberger, T and Robatzek, S and Parniske, M}, title = {Knowing your friends and foes--plant receptor-like kinases as initiators of symbiosis or defence.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {4}, pages = {791-802}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13117}, pmid = {25367611}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; Endocytosis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid ; Rhizobium ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The decision between defence and symbiosis signalling in plants involves alternative and modular plasma membrane-localized receptor complexes. A critical step in their activation is ligand-induced homo- or hetero-oligomerization of leucine-rich repeat (LRR)- and/or lysin motif (LysM) receptor-like kinases (RLKs). In defence signalling, receptor complexes form upon binding of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including the bacterial flagellin-derived peptide flg22, or chitin. Similar mechanisms are likely to operate during the perception of microbial symbiont-derived (lipo)-chitooligosaccharides. The structurally related chitin-oligomer ligands chitooctaose and chitotetraose trigger defence and symbiosis signalling, respectively, and their discrimination involves closely related, if not identical, LysM-RLKs. This illustrates the demand for and the challenges imposed on decision mechanisms that ensure appropriate signal initiation. Appropriate signalling critically depends on abundance and localization of RLKs at the cell surface. This is regulated by internalization, which also provides a mechanism for the removal of activated signalling RLKs. Abundance of the malectin-like domain (MLD)-LRR-RLK Symbiosis Receptor-like Kinase (SYMRK) is additionally controlled by cleavage of its modular ectodomain, which generates a truncated and rapidly degraded RLK fragment. This review explores LRR- and LysM-mediated signalling, the involvement of MLD-LRR-RLKs in symbiosis and defence, and the role of endocytosis in RLK function.}, } @article {pmid25366855, year = {2014}, author = {Alford, ÉR and Lindblom, SD and Pittarello, M and Freeman, JL and Fakra, SC and Marcus, MA and Broeckling, C and Pilon-Smits, EA and Paschke, MW}, title = {Roles of rhizobial symbionts in selenium hyperaccumulation in Astragalus (Fabaceae).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {101}, number = {11}, pages = {1895-1905}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1400223}, pmid = {25366855}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Biomass ; Cysteine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Organoselenium Compounds/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Selenium/*metabolism ; Soil ; *Symbiosis ; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Are there dimensions of symbiotic root interactions that are overlooked because plant mineral nutrition is the foundation and, perhaps too often, the sole explanation through which we view these relationships? In this paper we investigate how the root nodule symbiosis in selenium (Se) hyperaccumulator and nonaccumulator Astragalus species influences plant selenium (Se) accumulation.

METHODS: In greenhouse studies, Se was added to nodulated and nonnodulated hyperaccumulator and nonaccumulator Astragalus plants, followed by investigation of nitrogen (N)-Se relationships. Selenium speciation was also investigated, using x-ray microprobe analysis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

KEY RESULTS: Nodulation enhanced biomass production and Se to S ratio in both hyperaccumulator and nonaccumulator plants. The hyperaccumulator contained more Se when nodulated, while the nonaccumulator contained less S when nodulated. Shoot [Se] was positively correlated with shoot N in Se-hyperaccumulator species, but not in nonhyperaccumulator species. The x-ray microprobe analysis showed that hyperaccumulators contain significantly higher amounts of organic Se than nonhyperaccumulators. LC-MS of A. bisulcatus leaves revealed that nodulated plants contained more γ-glutamyl-methylselenocysteine (γ-Glu-MeSeCys) than nonnodulated plants, while MeSeCys levels were similar.

CONCLUSIONS: Root nodule mutualism positively affects Se hyperaccumulation in Astragalus. The microbial N supply particularly appears to contribute glutamate for the formation of γ-Glu-MeSeCys. Our results provide insight into the significance of symbiotic interactions in plant adaptation to edaphic conditions. Specifically, our findings illustrate that the importance of these relationships are not limited to alleviating macronutrient deficiencies.}, } @article {pmid25366850, year = {2014}, author = {Sanders, WB}, title = {Complete life cycle of the lichen fungus Calopadia puiggarii (Pilocarpaceae, Ascomycetes) documented in situ: propagule dispersal, establishment of symbiosis, thallus development, and formation of sexual and asexual reproductive structures.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {101}, number = {11}, pages = {1836-1848}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1400272}, pmid = {25366850}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Ascomycota/cytology/growth & development/*physiology ; Genotype ; Lichens/cytology/*microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Spores, Fungal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The life histories of lichen fungi are not well known and cannot be readily studied in laboratory culture. This work documents in situ the complete life cycle of the widespread crustose lichen Calopadia puiggarii, which reproduces sexually and asexually on the surfaces of leaves.

METHODS: Plastic cover slips held in a mesh frame were placed over leaves in the field and successively removed for microphotography of colonizing lichens.

KEY RESULTS: Macroconidia produced within campylidia encircled photobiont cells and codispersed with them, a feature not reported previously for C. puiggarii. Dispersed macroconidia readily germinated and lichenized the photobionts. Algal cells were often dislodged from the encircling macroconidia, providing a likely source for the free-living populations observed. Aposymbiotically dispersed ascospores germinated and lichenized nearby algal cells soon after dispersal. Thallus areolae merged readily in early development, although adjacent mature thalli were often separated by growth inhibition zones. Pycnidia are reported for the first time in Calopadia; their pyriform microconidia probably function as male gametes (spermatia). Pycnidia, apothecia, and campylidia began development similarly as darkly pigmented primordia on the fungal prothallus.

CONCLUSIONS: Abundant dispersal of ascospores, conidia, and photobionts allows C. puiggarii to quickly colonize leaves with the dual advantages of sexual and asexual reproduction, and with the added convenience of having its algal partner on hand. Fusions and prothallic capture of additional algae provide many opportunities for multiple mycobiont and photobiont genotypes to be combined in a single thallus, but the outcomes of such events remain to be explored.}, } @article {pmid25366746, year = {2014}, author = {Barros-Carvalho, GA and Paschoal, AR and Marcelino-Guimarães, FC and Hungria, M}, title = {Prediction of potential novel microRNAs in soybean when in symbiosis.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular research : GMR}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {8519-8529}, doi = {10.4238/2014.October.20.28}, pmid = {25366746}, issn = {1676-5680}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs/chemistry/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/genetics ; Soybeans/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecules, noncoding proteins that are involved in many biological processes, especially in plants; among these processes is nodulation in the legume. Biological nitrogen fixation is a key process, with critical importance to the soybean crop. This study aimed to identify the potential of novel miRNAs to act during the root nodulation process. We utilized a set of transcripts that were differentially expressed in soybean roots 10 days after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which were obtained in a previous study, and performed a set of computational analyses that led us to select new miRNAs potentially involved in nodulation. Among these analyses, the set of transcripts were submitted to an in silico annotation of noncoding RNAs, including a search of similarity against miRNA public databases, ab initio tools for miRNA identification, structural search against miRNA families, prediction of the secondary structure of miRNA precursors, and prediction of the sequences of mature miRNAs. Subsequently, we applied filter procedures based on miRNA selections described in the literature (e.g., free energy value). In the next step, a manual curation inspection of the annotation was performed and the top candidates were selected and used for prediction of potential target genes, which were later checked manually in the database of the soybean genome. This prediction led us to the identification of 9 potential new miRNAs; among these, 4 were conserved in other plants. Moreover, we predicted their target genes might play important roles in the regulation of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid25366130, year = {2015}, author = {Varga, S and Finozzi, C and Vestberg, M and Kytöviita, MM}, title = {Arctic arbuscular mycorrhizal spore community and viability after storage in cold conditions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {335-343}, pmid = {25366130}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; Biomass ; *Cold Temperature ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form probably the most widespread symbiosis on earth and are found across all ecosystems including the Arctic regions. In the Arctic, the prevalent harsh cold conditions experienced by both host plants and fungi may have selected for AMF species with long-surviving spores, the principal means for dispersal and survival. However, basic knowledge about their viability is lacking. AMF spore assembly from two Arctic sites was examined in soil samples collected across an 11-year period and stored at -20 °C for up to 10 years. AMF spore viability and ability to colonize plants were investigated in the greenhouse using Plantago lanceolata. It was predicted that Arctic AMF spores would survive in cold conditions for several years, with an expected decrease in viability over time as suggested by other experiments with temperate material. Results show that even though the two study sites differed in AMF spore density, the relative abundance of spore morphotypes was rather similar across sites and years. Furthermore, spore viability over time was site-dependent as it decreased only in one site. Although spores were viable, only a very small proportion of hosts and roots became colonized in the greenhouse even 21 months after inoculation. Taken together, these results suggest a certain site-dependent variability in AMF spore communities and the ability of Arctic AMF spores to remain viable after a long-term storage in cold conditions. The lack of host colonization in the greenhouse may be related to the inability to overcome spore dormancy under these conditions.}, } @article {pmid25362486, year = {2014}, author = {Zhou, X and Wang, B and Pan, Q and Zhang, J and Kumar, S and Sun, X and Liu, Z and Pan, H and Lin, Y and Liu, G and Zhan, W and Li, M and Ren, B and Ma, X and Ruan, H and Cheng, C and Wang, D and Shi, F and Hui, Y and Tao, Y and Zhang, C and Zhu, P and Xiang, Z and Jiang, W and Chang, J and Wang, H and Cao, Z and Jiang, Z and Li, B and Yang, G and Roos, C and Garber, PA and Bruford, MW and Li, R and Li, M}, title = {Whole-genome sequencing of the snub-nosed monkey provides insights into folivory and evolutionary history.}, journal = {Nature genetics}, volume = {46}, number = {12}, pages = {1303-1310}, pmid = {25362486}, issn = {1546-1718}, support = {R01 HG002096/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; HG002096-12/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Cellulose/chemistry ; Colobinae/*genetics ; *Diet ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genetic Variation ; Genome ; Geography ; Herbivory/*genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Metagenome ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Ribonucleases/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Xenobiotics/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Colobines are a unique group of Old World monkeys that principally eat leaves and seeds rather than fruits and insects. We report the sequencing at 146× coverage, de novo assembly and analyses of the genome of a male golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) and resequencing at 30× coverage of three related species (Rhinopithecus bieti, Rhinopithecus brelichi and Rhinopithecus strykeri). Comparative analyses showed that Asian colobines have an enhanced ability to derive energy from fatty acids and to degrade xenobiotics. We found evidence for functional evolution in the colobine RNASE1 gene, encoding a key secretory RNase that digests the high concentrations of bacterial RNA derived from symbiotic microflora. Demographic reconstructions indicated that the profile of ancient effective population sizes for R. roxellana more closely resembles that of giant panda rather than its congeners. These findings offer new insights into the dietary adaptations and evolutionary history of colobine primates.}, } @article {pmid25360754, year = {2014}, author = {Nguyen, TT and Yoon, S and Yang, Y and Lee, HB and Oh, S and Jeong, MH and Kim, JJ and Yee, ST and Crişan, F and Moon, C and Lee, KY and Kim, KK and Hur, JS and Kim, H}, title = {Lichen secondary metabolites in Flavocetraria cucullata exhibit anti-cancer effects on human cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis and suppression of tumorigenic potentials.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e111575}, pmid = {25360754}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Annexin A5/metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Benzofurans/pharmacology ; Carcinogenesis/drug effects/*pathology ; Cell Adhesion/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Nucleus/drug effects/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; G1 Phase/drug effects ; Humans ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms which produce distinct secondary metabolic products. In the present study, we tested the cytotoxic activity of 17 lichen species against several human cancer cells and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-cancer activity. We found that among 17 lichens species, F. cucullata exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity in several human cancer cells. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that the acetone extract of F. cucullata contains usnic acid, salazinic acid, Squamatic acid, Baeomycesic acid, d-protolichesterinic acid, and lichesterinic acid as subcomponents. MTT assay showed that cancer cell lines were more vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of the extract than non-cancer cell lines. Furthermore, among the identified subcomponents, usnic acid treatment had a similar cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines but with lower potency than the extract. At a lethal dose, treatment with the extract or with usnic acid greatly increased the apoptotic cell population and specifically activated the apoptotic signaling pathway; however, using sub-lethal doses, extract and usnic acid treatment decreased cancer cell motility and inhibited in vitro and in vivo tumorigenic potentials. In these cells, we observed significantly reduced levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and phosphor-Akt, while phosphor-c-Jun and phosphor-ERK1/2 levels were only marginally affected. Overall, the anti-cancer activity of the extract is more potent than that of usnic acid alone. Taken together, F. cucullata and its subcomponent, usnic acid together with additional component, exert anti-cancer effects on human cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis and the inhibition of EMT.}, } @article {pmid25360420, year = {2014}, author = {Vitetta, L and Hall, S and Linnane, AW}, title = {Live probiotic cultures and the gastrointestinal tract: symbiotic preservation of tolerance whilst attenuating pathogenicity.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {143}, pmid = {25360420}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; *Probiotics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria comprise the earliest form of independent life on this planet. Bacterial development has included co-operative symbiosis with plants (e.g., Leguminosae family and nitrogen fixing bacteria in soil) and animals (e.g., the gut microbiome). A fusion event of two prokaryotes evolutionarily gave rise to the eukaryote cell in which mitochondria may be envisaged as a genetically functional mosaic, a relic from one of the prokaryote cells. The discovery of bacterial inhibitors such chloramphenicol and others has been exploited to highlight mitochondria as arising from a bacterial progenitor. As such the evolution of human life has been complexly connected to bacterial activity. This is embodied, by the appearance of mitochondria in eukaryotes (alphaproteobacteria contribution), a significant endosymbiotic evolutionary event. During the twentieth century there was an increasing dependency on anti-microbials as mainline therapy against bacterial infections. It is only comparatively recently that the essential roles played by the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome in animal health and development has been recognized as opposed to the GIT microbiome being a toxic collection of micro-organisms. It is now well-documented that the GIT microbiome is comprised of a complex cohort of commensal and potentially pathogenic bacteria. Microbial interactions in the GIT provide the necessary cues for the development of regulated signals [in part by reactive oxygen species (ROS)] that promote immunological tolerance, metabolic regulation and stability, and other factors, which may then help control local and extra-intestinal end organ (e.g., kidneys) physiology. Pharmacobiotics, the administration of live probiotic cultures is an exciting growth area of potential therapeutics, developing together with an increased scientific understanding of GIT microbiome symbiosis in health and disease. Hence probiotic bacteria may provide a therapeutic connect with the GIT microbiome that can rescue mitochondrial dysfunction by linking a biologically plausible cellular signaling program (ROS reliant) between the human host and its microbiome cohort for a continued co-operative symbiosis that maintains homeostasis favorable to both.}, } @article {pmid25360267, year = {2014}, author = {Burdfield-Steel, ER and Shuker, DM}, title = {The evolutionary ecology of the Lygaeidae.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {11}, pages = {2278-2301}, pmid = {25360267}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The Lygaeidae (sensu lato) are a highly successful family of true bugs found worldwide, yet many aspects of their ecology and evolution remain obscure or unknown. While a few species have attracted considerable attention as model species for the study of insect physiology, it is only relatively recently that biologists have begun to explore aspects of their behavior, life history evolution, and patterns of intra- and interspecific ecological interactions across more species. As a result though, a range of new phenotypes and opportunities for addressing current questions in evolutionary ecology has been uncovered. For example, researchers have revealed hitherto unexpectedly rich patterns of bacterial symbiosis, begun to explore the evolutionary function of the family's complex genitalia, and also found evidence of parthenogenesis. Here we review our current understanding of the biology and ecology of the group as a whole, focusing on several of the best-studied characteristics of the group, including aposematism (i.e., the evolution of warning coloration), chemical communication, sexual selection (especially, postcopulatory sexual selection), sexual conflict, and patterns of host-endosymbiont coevolution. Importantly, many of these aspects of lygaeid biology are likely to interact, offering new avenues for research, for instance into how the evolution of aposematism influences sexual selection. With the growing availability of genomic tools for previously "non-model" organisms, combined with the relative ease of keeping many of the polyphagous species in the laboratory, we argue that these bugs offer many opportunities for behavioral and evolutionary ecologists.}, } @article {pmid25357125, year = {2014}, author = {Xu, P and Liu, Y and Graham, RI and Wilson, K and Wu, K}, title = {Densovirus is a mutualistic symbiont of a global crop pest (Helicoverpa armigera) and protects against a baculovirus and Bt biopesticide.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {e1004490}, pmid = {25357125}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/adverse effects ; Baculoviridae/*physiology ; Densovirus/*physiology ; Female ; Larva ; Male ; Moths/drug effects/*virology ; Nucleopolyhedroviruses/*physiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; Viral Load ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic associations between symbiotic bacteria and their hosts are common within insect systems. However, viruses are often considered as pathogens even though some have been reported to be beneficial to their hosts. Herein, we report a novel densovirus, Helicoverpa armigera densovirus-1 (HaDNV-1) that appears to be beneficial to its host. HaDNV-1 was found to be widespread in wild populations of H. armigera adults (>67% prevalence between 2008 and 2012). In wild larval populations, there was a clear negative interaction between HaDNV-1 and H. armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaNPV), a baculovirus that is widely used as a biopesticide. Laboratory bioassays revealed that larvae hosting HaDNV-1 had significantly enhanced resistance to HaNPV (and lower viral loads), and that resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin was also higher at low doses. Laboratory assays indicated that the virus was mainly distributed in the fat body, and could be both horizontally- and vertically-transmitted, though the former occurred only at large challenge doses. Densovirus-positive individuals developed more quickly and had higher fecundity than uninfected insects. We found no evidence for a negative effect of HaDNV-1 infection on H. armigera fitness-related traits, strongly suggesting a mutualistic interaction between the cotton bollworm and its densovirus.}, } @article {pmid25355477, year = {2014}, author = {Simonsen, AK and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Standing genetic variation in host preference for mutualist microbial symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1797}, pages = {}, pmid = {25355477}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Genetic Variation ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Selection, Genetic ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Many models of mutualisms show that mutualisms are unstable if hosts lack mechanisms enabling preferential associations with mutualistic symbiotic partners over exploitative partners. Despite the theoretical importance of mutualism-stabilizing mechanisms, we have little empirical evidence to infer their evolutionary dynamics in response to exploitation by non-beneficial partners. Using a model mutualism-the interaction between legumes and nitrogen-fixing soil symbionts-we tested for quantitative genetic variation in plant responses to mutualistic and exploitative symbiotic rhizobia in controlled greenhouse conditions. We found significant broad-sense heritability in a legume host's preferential association with mutualistic over exploitative symbionts and selection to reduce frequency of associations with exploitative partners. We failed to detect evidence that selection will favour the loss of mutualism-stabilizing mechanisms in the absence of exploitation, as we found no evidence for a fitness cost to the host trait or indirect selection on genetically correlated traits. Our results show that genetic variation in the ability to preferentially reduce associations with an exploitative partner exists within mutualisms and is under selection, indicating that micro-evolutionary responses in mutualism-stabilizing traits in the face of rapidly evolving mutualistic and exploitative symbiotic bacteria can occur in natural host populations.}, } @article {pmid25355435, year = {2014}, author = {Silipo, A and Vitiello, G and Gully, D and Sturiale, L and Chaintreuil, C and Fardoux, J and Gargani, D and Lee, HI and Kulkarni, G and Busset, N and Marchetti, R and Palmigiano, A and Moll, H and Engel, R and Lanzetta, R and Paduano, L and Parrilli, M and Chang, WS and Holst, O and Newman, DK and Garozzo, D and D'Errico, G and Giraud, E and Molinaro, A}, title = {Covalently linked hopanoid-lipid A improves outer-membrane resistance of a Bradyrhizobium symbiont of legumes.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {5106}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms6106}, pmid = {25355435}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Lipid A/chemistry/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; Triterpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are major components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and are essential for their growth and survival. They act as a structural barrier and play an important role in the interaction with eukaryotic hosts. Here we demonstrate that a photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strain, symbiont of Aeschynomene legumes, synthesizes a unique LPS bearing a hopanoid covalently attached to lipid A. Biophysical analyses of reconstituted liposomes indicate that this hopanoid-lipid A structure reinforces the stability and rigidity of the outer membrane. In addition, the bacterium produces other hopanoid molecules not linked to LPS. A hopanoid-deficient strain, lacking a squalene hopene cyclase, displays increased sensitivity to stressful conditions and reduced ability to survive intracellularly in the host plant. This unusual combination of hopanoid and LPS molecules may represent an adaptation to optimize bacterial survival in both free-living and symbiotic states.}, } @article {pmid25354059, year = {2014}, author = {March-Rosselló, GA and Eiros-Bouza, JM}, title = {[How to fight parasitic infectious diseases with bacteria. The case of Wolbachia pipientis].}, journal = {Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social}, volume = {52}, number = {6}, pages = {654-659}, pmid = {25354059}, issn = {2448-5667}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; Filariasis/microbiology/*prevention & control/transmission ; Humans ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {In Nature, no individual can live in isolation; hence, living organisms are forced to interact with each other. This necessity has led many organisms to establish heterogeneous relations to enhance their ability to adapt to the environment, thus acquiring evolutionary advantages. These relationships are sometimes so intense, that on the long term the organisms may lose their individual identity. An example of these associations is the endosymbiotic ones, where eukaryote organisms generally harbor different prokaryote organisms. The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis is a species described by Hertig and Wolbach in 1924. This microorganism can be isolated in a large variety of eukaryote organisms, with which it maintains different links. Until now, this species has only been described with 11 serogroups numbered from A to K within the Wolbachia genus. This work is intended to illustrate the relationship of Wolbachia pipientis with human pathogenic filaria and with arthropods, as well as to describe the implications of this bacterium in the treatment of filariasis. Finally, this work tries to describe recent studies that have targeted the use of artificially-created Wolbachia pipientis virulent strains that, once inoculated in infectious diseases-transmitting vectors, develop negative effects within them in order to, in this way, erradicate mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases for which no treatment is available at the moment or the prevention of its transmissibility has not been achieved.}, } @article {pmid25352858, year = {2014}, author = {Veliz-Vallejos, DF and van Noorden, GE and Yuan, M and Mathesius, U}, title = {A Sinorhizobium meliloti-specific N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum-sensing signal increases nodule numbers in Medicago truncatula independent of autoregulation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {551}, pmid = {25352858}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) act as quorum sensing signals that regulate cell-density dependent behaviors in many gram-negative bacteria, in particular those important for plant-microbe interactions. AHLs can also be recognized by plants, and this may influence their interactions with bacteria. Here we tested whether the exposure to AHLs affects the nodule-forming symbiosis between legume hosts and rhizobia. We treated roots of the model legume, Medicago truncatula, with a range of AHLs either from its specific symbiont, Sinorhizobium meliloti, or from the potential pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Agrobacterium vitis. We found increased numbers of nodules formed on root systems treated with the S. meliloti-specific AHL, 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone, at a concentration of 1 μM, while the other AHLs did not result in significant changes to nodule numbers. We did not find any evidence for altered nodule invasion by the rhizobia. Quantification of flavonoids that could act as nod gene inducers in S. meliloti did not show any correlation with increased nodule numbers. The effects of AHLs were specific for an increase in nodule numbers, but not lateral root numbers or root length. Increased nodule numbers following 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone treatment were under control of autoregulation of nodulation and were still observed in the autoregulation mutant, sunn4 (super numeric nodules4). However, increases in nodule numbers by 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone were not found in the ethylene-insensitive sickle mutant. A comparison between M. truncatula with M. sativa (alfalfa) and Trifolium repens (white clover) showed that the observed effects of AHLs on nodule numbers were specific to M. truncatula, despite M. sativa nodulating with the same symbiont. We conclude that plant perception of the S. meliloti-specific 3-oxo-C14-homoserine lactone influences nodule numbers in M. truncatula via an ethylene-dependent, but autoregulation-independent mechanism.}, } @article {pmid25352857, year = {2014}, author = {Tamayo, E and Gómez-Gallego, T and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Ferrol, N}, title = {Genome-wide analysis of copper, iron and zinc transporters in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {547}, pmid = {25352857}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), belonging to the Glomeromycota, are soil microorganisms that establish mutualistic symbioses with the majority of higher plants. The efficient uptake of low mobility mineral nutrients by the fungal symbiont and their further transfer to the plant is a major feature of this symbiosis. Besides improving plant mineral nutrition, AMF can alleviate heavy metal toxicity to their host plants and are able to tolerate high metal concentrations in the soil. Nevertheless, we are far from understanding the key molecular determinants of metal homeostasis in these organisms. To get some insights into these mechanisms, a genome-wide analysis of Cu, Fe and Zn transporters was undertaken, making use of the recently published whole genome of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis. This in silico analysis allowed identification of 30 open reading frames in the R. irregularis genome, which potentially encode metal transporters. Phylogenetic comparisons with the genomes of a set of reference fungi showed an expansion of some metal transporter families. Analysis of the published transcriptomic profiles of R. irregularis revealed that a set of genes were up-regulated in mycorrhizal roots compared to germinated spores and extraradical mycelium, which suggests that metals are important for plant colonization.}, } @article {pmid25351493, year = {2014}, author = {Moling, S and Pietraszewska-Bogiel, A and Postma, M and Fedorova, E and Hink, MA and Limpens, E and Gadella, TW and Bisseling, T}, title = {Nod factor receptors form heteromeric complexes and are essential for intracellular infection in medicago nodules.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {4188-4199}, pmid = {25351493}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Multimerization ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial Nod factors are the key signaling molecules in the legume-rhizobium nodule symbiosis. In this study, the role of the Nod factor receptors NOD FACTOR PERCEPTION (NFP) and LYSIN MOTIF RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE3 (LYK3) in establishing the symbiotic interface in root nodules was investigated. It was found that inside Medicago truncatula nodules, NFP and LYK3 localize at the cell periphery in a narrow zone of about two cell layers at the nodule apex. This restricted accumulation is narrower than the region of promoter activity/mRNA accumulation and might serve to prevent the induction of defense-like responses and/or to restrict the rhizobium release to precise cell layers. The distal cell layer where the receptors accumulate at the cell periphery is part of the meristem, and the proximal layer is part of the infection zone. In these layers, the receptors can most likely perceive the bacterial Nod factors to regulate the formation of symbiotic interface. Furthermore, our Förster resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy analysis indicates that NFP and LYK3 form heteromeric complexes at the cell periphery in M. truncatula nodules.}, } @article {pmid25351224, year = {2014}, author = {Ji, H and Li, H and He, Y and Hou, B}, title = {[Study of association between Parvimonas micra and pulp dominant pathogens in the infected root canals with chronic periradicular periodontitis].}, journal = {Zhonghua kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Zhonghua kouqiang yixue zazhi = Chinese journal of stomatology}, volume = {49}, number = {8}, pages = {495-499}, pmid = {25351224}, issn = {1002-0098}, mesh = {Chronic Periodontitis ; DNA, Bacterial ; Dental Pulp Cavity/*microbiology ; Enterococcus faecalis/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Periapical Periodontitis/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas endodontalis/isolation & purification ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/isolation & purification ; Root Canal Therapy ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of Parvimonas micra (Pm) and the associations between Pm and pulp dominant pathogens in order to reflect the colonization of Pm in the infected root canals with chronic periradicular periodontitis.

METHODS: A total of 120 teeth diagnosed as chronic periradicular periodontitis from 104 patients were included into the study. The teeth were allocated into untreated (primary infectious) and root-canal- treated (secondary infectious) groups with 60 in either group. Samples were collected from the root canals using sterile files and paper points, and subsequent extraction of bacterial DNA was undertaken. The Pm 16S rDNA level was evaluated using 16S rDNA PCR. The prevalence of Pm in chronic periradicular periodontitis was determined accordingly. Then, the associations of Pm and Enterococcus faecalis (Ef), Porphyromonas endodontalis (Pe) as well as Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were analysed.

RESULTS: Pm was detected in 40% (24/60) of the samples from the primary infectious group, 5% (3/60) from the secondary infectious group. The prevalences of Pm from the two groups were different significantly (χ² = 21.06, P < 0.05). Significant correlations (untreated group OR = 5.98, root-canal-treated group OR = 33.50) between Pm and Pe were identified in both groups, while the correlations between Pm and Pg as well as Ef were not of significance, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: A significantly higher relevance ratio of Pm was estimated in the primary infectious group than the secondary infectious one. Pm and Pe were correlated significantly in the infected root canals, suggesting a symbiotic relation between these two bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25349287, year = {2015}, author = {Cannon, SB and McKain, MR and Harkess, A and Nelson, MN and Dash, S and Deyholos, MK and Peng, Y and Joyce, B and Stewart, CN and Rolf, M and Kutchan, T and Tan, X and Chen, C and Zhang, Y and Carpenter, E and Wong, GK and Doyle, JJ and Leebens-Mack, J}, title = {Multiple polyploidy events in the early radiation of nodulating and nonnodulating legumes.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {193-210}, pmid = {25349287}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {R01 DA025197/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; NIH 1R01DA025197-02/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; Genome, Plant ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Tetraploidy ; }, abstract = {Unresolved questions about evolution of the large and diverse legume family include the timing of polyploidy (whole-genome duplication; WGDs) relative to the origin of the major lineages within the Fabaceae and to the origin of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Previous work has established that a WGD affects most lineages in the Papilionoideae and occurred sometime after the divergence of the papilionoid and mimosoid clades, but the exact timing has been unknown. The history of WGD has also not been established for legume lineages outside the Papilionoideae. We investigated the presence and timing of WGDs in the legumes by querying thousands of phylogenetic trees constructed from transcriptome and genome data from 20 diverse legumes and 17 outgroup species. The timing of duplications in the gene trees indicates that the papilionoid WGD occurred in the common ancestor of all papilionoids. The earliest diverging lineages of the Papilionoideae include both nodulating taxa, such as the genistoids (e.g., lupin), dalbergioids (e.g., peanut), phaseoloids (e.g., beans), and galegoids (=Hologalegina, e.g., clovers), and clades with nonnodulating taxa including Xanthocercis and Cladrastis (evaluated in this study). We also found evidence for several independent WGDs near the base of other major legume lineages, including the Mimosoideae-Cassiinae-Caesalpinieae (MCC), Detarieae, and Cercideae clades. Nodulation is found in the MCC and papilionoid clades, both of which experienced ancestral WGDs. However, there are numerous nonnodulating lineages in both clades, making it unclear whether the phylogenetic distribution of nodulation is due to independent gains or a single origin followed by multiple losses.}, } @article {pmid25348817, year = {2014}, author = {Graham, ER and McKie-Krisberg, ZM and Sanders, RW}, title = {Photosynthetic carbon from algal symbionts peaks during the latter stages of embryonic development in the salamander Ambystoma maculatum.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {764}, pmid = {25348817}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Ambystoma/embryology/*metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*metabolism ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: It was recently discovered that symbiotic algae in the eggs of the salamander Ambystoma maculatum translocate fixed carbon from photosynthesis to developing embryos. Fixed carbon translocation was shown in embryos at one time point during development, however, it was unknown if fixed carbon translocation occurs throughout all developmental stages.

FINDINGS: In this study, fixed carbon translocation was measured in salamander eggs at six time points over the latter half of development. Fixed carbon translocation did not occur until the middle tailbud portion of development (stages 26-30), and translocation was measured in 20% or less of eggs sampled. Peak carbon translocation occurred during the late tailbud phase of development (stages 31-35), where as much as 87% of eggs sampled showed translocation, and average percent translocation was 6.5%. During the final stages of development, fixed carbon translocation declined, and translocation was not detected in embryos five days prior to hatching.

CONCLUSIONS: The onset of fixed carbon translocation from Oophila to A. maculatum embryos during the second half of embryonic development is likely due to the corresponding settlement and concentration of Oophila in the inner egg envelope. In addition, carbon translocation ceases in late stage embryos as the inner egg envelope thins and ruptures in preparation for hatching.}, } @article {pmid25348325, year = {2014}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Symbiotic Chlorella variabilis incubated under constant dark conditions for 24 hours loses the ability to avoid digestion by host lysosomal enzymes in digestive vacuoles of host ciliate Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {3}, pages = {946-955}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12448}, pmid = {25348325}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Chlorella/*metabolism/*parasitology ; *Darkness ; Diuron/pharmacology ; Lysosomes/*enzymology/metabolism ; Maltose/pharmacology ; Paramecium/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/drug effects/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis between symbiotic Chlorella and alga-free Paramecium bursaria cells can be induced by mixing them. To establish the endosymbiosis, algae must acquire temporary resistance to the host lysosomal enzymes in the digestive vacuoles (DVs). When symbiotic algae isolated from the alga-bearing paramecia are kept under a constant dark conditions for 24 h before mixing with the alga-free paramecia, almost all algae are digested in the host DVs. To examine the cause of algal acquisition to the host lysosomal enzymes, the isolated algae were kept under a constant light conditions with or without a photosynthesis inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea for 24 h, and were mixed with alga-free paramecia. Unexpectedly, most of the algae were not digested in the DVs irrespective of the presence of the inhibitor. Addition of 1 mM maltose, a main photosynthetic product of the symbiotic algae or of a supernatant of the isolated algae kept for 24 h under a constant light conditions, did not rescue the algal digestion in the DVs. These observations reveal that unknown factors induced by light are a prerequisite for algal resistance to the host lysosomal enzymes.}, } @article {pmid25348061, year = {2014}, author = {Payvandi, S and Daly, KR and Zygalakis, KC and Roose, T}, title = {Mathematical modelling of the Phloem: the importance of diffusion on sugar transport at osmotic equilibrium.}, journal = {Bulletin of mathematical biology}, volume = {76}, number = {11}, pages = {2834-2865}, doi = {10.1007/s11538-014-0035-7}, pmid = {25348061}, issn = {1522-9602}, support = {BB/I024283/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J000868/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport, Active ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Diffusion ; Mathematical Concepts ; *Models, Biological ; Osmosis ; Phloem/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants rely on the conducting vessels of the phloem to transport the products of photosynthesis from the leaves to the roots, or to any other organs, for growth, metabolism, and storage. Transport within the phloem is due to an osmotically-generated pressure gradient and is hence inherently nonlinear. Since convection dominates over diffusion in the main bulk flow, the effects of diffusive transport have generally been neglected by previous authors. However, diffusion is important due to boundary layers that form at the ends of the phloem, and at the leaf-stem and stem-root boundaries. We present a mathematical model of transport which includes the effects of diffusion. We solve the system analytically in the limit of high Münch number which corresponds to osmotic equilibrium and numerically for all parameter values. We find that the bulk solution is dependent on the diffusion-dominated boundary layers. Hence, even for large Péclet number, it is not always correct to neglect diffusion. We consider the cases of passive and active sugar loading and unloading. We show that for active unloading, the solutions diverge with increasing Péclet. For passive unloading, the convergence of the solutions is dependent on the magnitude of loading. Diffusion also permits the modelling of an axial efflux of sugar in the root zone which may be important for the growing root tip and for promoting symbiotic biological interactions in the soil. Therefore, diffusion is an essential mechanism for transport in the phloem and must be included to accurately predict flow.}, } @article {pmid25347521, year = {2014}, author = {Kubota, T and Iwai, T and Sakai, K and Gonoi, T and Kobayashi, J}, title = {Amphidinins C-F, amphidinolide Q analogues from marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {16}, number = {21}, pages = {5624-5627}, doi = {10.1021/ol502685z}, pmid = {25347521}, issn = {1523-7052}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Macrolides/*chemical synthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Marine Toxins/*chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Polyketides/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {Four new polyketides, amphidinins C-F (1-4), have been isolated from the culture broth of symbiotic dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp. The analysis of their spectral data revealed that amphidinins C-F (1-4) were 4,5-seco-analogues of amphidinolide Q (5). The absolute configurations of the new compounds were elucidated by the combination of J-based configuration analysis, modified Mosher's method, and chemical derivatization. Amphidinins D (2) and F (4) are the first glycosides related to amphidinolides. Amphidinins C-F (1-4) showed antimicrobial activity against bacteria and/or fungi.}, } @article {pmid25347276, year = {2014}, author = {Sulieman, S and Tran, LS}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume nodules: metabolism and regulatory mechanisms.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {19389-19393}, pmid = {25347276}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The special issue "Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Nodules: Metabolism and Regulatory Mechanisms" aims to investigate the physiological and biochemical advances in the symbiotic process with an emphasis on nodule establishment, development and functioning. The original research articles included in this issue provide important information regarding novel aspects of nodule metabolism and various regulatory pathways, which could have important future implications. This issue also included one review article that highlights the importance of using legume trees in the production of renewable biofuels.}, } @article {pmid25346728, year = {2014}, author = {Burgsdorf, I and Erwin, PM and López-Legentil, S and Cerrano, C and Haber, M and Frenk, S and Steindler, L}, title = {Biogeography rather than association with cyanobacteria structures symbiotic microbial communities in the marine sponge Petrosia ficiformis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {529}, pmid = {25346728}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The sponge Petrosia ficiformis is ubiquitous in the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean, hosting a diverse assemblage of bacteria, including, in illuminated sites, cyanobacteria. Two closely related sponge color morphs have been described, one inside caves and at their entrance (white/pink), and one on the rocky cliffs (violet). The presence of the different morphs and their ubiquity in the Mediterranean (from North-West to South-East) provides an opportunity to examine which factors mostly affect the associated microbial communities in this species: (i) presence of phototrophic symbionts or (ii) biogeography. 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing data of the microbial communities revealed that Chloroflexi, Gammaproteobacteria, and Acidobacteria dominated the bacterial communities of all sponges analyzed. Chlorophyll a content, TEM observations and DNA sequence data confirmed the presence of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus feldmannii in violet and pink morphs of P. ficiformis and their absence in white color morphs. Rather than cyanobacterial symbionts (i.e., color morphs) accounting for variability in microbial symbiont communities, a biogeographic trend was observed between P. ficiformis collected in Israel and Italy. Analyses of partial 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene sequences revealed consistent genetic divergence between the violet and pink-white morphotypes of P. ficiformis. Overall, data indicated that microbial symbiont communities were more similar in genetically distinct P. ficiformis from the same location, than genetically similar P. ficiformis from distant locations.}, } @article {pmid25346536, year = {2015}, author = {Lace, B and Genre, A and Woo, S and Faccio, A and Lorito, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {Gate crashing arbuscular mycorrhizas: in vivo imaging shows the extensive colonization of both symbionts by Trichoderma atroviride.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {64-77}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12221}, pmid = {25346536}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Fungi/chemistry/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/chemistry/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting fungi include strains of Trichoderma species that are used in biocontrol, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, that enhance plant nutrition and stress resistance. The concurrent interaction of plants with these two groups of fungi affects crop performance but has only been occasionally studied so far. Using in vivo imaging of green fluorescent protein-tagged lines, we investigated the cellular interactions occurring between Trichoderma atroviride PKI1, Medicago truncatula and two Gigaspora species under in vitro culture conditions. Trichoderma atroviride did not activate symbiotic-like responses in the plant cells, such as nuclear calcium spiking or cytoplasmic aggregations at hyphal contact sites. Furthermore, T. atroviride parasitized G. gigantea and G. margarita hyphae through localized wall breaking and degradation - although this was not associated with significant chitin lysis nor the upregulation of two major chitinase genes. Trichoderma atroviride colonized broad areas of the root epidermis, in association with localized cell death. The infection of both symbionts was also observed when T. atroviride was applied to a pre-established AM symbiosis. We conclude that - although this triple interaction is known to improve plant growth in agricultural environments - in vitro culture demonstrate a particularly aggressive mycoparasitic and plant-colonizing behaviour of a biocontrol strain of Trichoderma.}, } @article {pmid25346285, year = {2014}, author = {Ruiz-Ramos, DV and Baums, IB}, title = {Microsatellite abundance across the Anthozoa and Hydrozoa in the phylum Cnidaria.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {939}, pmid = {25346285}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hydrozoa/classification/*genetics/physiology ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microsatellite loci have high mutation rates and thus are indicative of mutational processes within the genome. By concentrating on the symbiotic and aposymbiotic cnidarians, we investigated if microsatellite abundances follow a phylogenetic or ecological pattern. Individuals from eight species were shotgun sequenced using 454 GS-FLX Titanium technology. Sequences from the three available cnidarian genomes (Nematostella vectensis, Hydra magnipapillata and Acropora digitifera) were added to the analysis for a total of eleven species representing two classes, three subclasses and eight orders within the phylum Cnidaria.

RESULTS: Trinucleotide and tetranucleotide repeats were the most abundant motifs, followed by hexa- and dinucleotides. Pentanucleotides were the least abundant motif in the data set. Hierarchical clustering and log likelihood ratio tests revealed a weak relationship between phylogeny and microsatellite content. Further, comparisons between cnidaria harboring intracellular dinoflagellates and those that do not, show microsatellite coverage is higher in the latter group.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support previous studies that found tri- and tetranucleotides to be the most abundant motifs in invertebrates. Differences in microsatellite coverage and composition between symbiotic and non-symbiotic cnidaria suggest the presence/absence of dinoflagellates might place restrictions on the host genome.}, } @article {pmid25345989, year = {2015}, author = {Desirò, A and Faccio, A and Kaech, A and Bidartondo, MI and Bonfante, P}, title = {Endogone, one of the oldest plant-associated fungi, host unique Mollicutes-related endobacteria.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1464-1472}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13136}, pmid = {25345989}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cytoplasm/microbiology ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/physiology/ultrastructure ; Fungi/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Tenericutes/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Glomeromycota have been considered the most ancient group of fungi capable of positively interacting with plants for many years. Recently, other basal fungi, the Endogone Mucoromycotina fungi, have been identified as novel plant symbionts, challenging the paradigm of Glomeromycota as the unique ancestral symbionts of land plants. Glomeromycota are known to host endobacteria and recent evidences show that also some Mucoromycotina contain endobacteria. In order to examine similarities between basal groups of plant-associated fungi, we tested whether Endogone contained endobacteria. Twenty-nine Endogone were investigated in order to identify Mollicutes-related endobacteria (Mre). Fruiting bodies were processed for transmission electron microscopy and molecularly investigated using fungal and Mre-specific primers. We demonstrate that Mre are present inside 13 out of 29 Endogone: endobacteria are directly embedded in the fungal cytoplasm and their 16S rDNA sequences cluster together with the ones retrieved from Glomeromycota, forming, however, a separate new clade. Our findings provide new insights on the evolutionary relations between Glomeromycota, Mucoromycotina and endobacteria, raising new questions on the role of these still enigmatic microbes in the ecology, evolution and diversification of their fungal hosts during the history of plant-fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25343511, year = {2015}, author = {Rosic, N and Ling, EY and Chan, CK and Lee, HC and Kaniewska, P and Edwards, D and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Unfolding the secrets of coral-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {844-856}, pmid = {25343511}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genome, Protozoan ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium form a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with reef-building corals. Here we applied massively parallel Illumina sequencing to assess genetic similarity and diversity among four phylogenetically diverse dinoflagellate clades (A, B, C and D) that are commonly associated with corals. We obtained more than 30,000 predicted genes for each Symbiodinium clade, with a majority of the aligned transcripts corresponding to sequence data sets of symbiotic dinoflagellates and <2% of sequences having bacterial or other foreign origin. We report 1053 genes, orthologous among four Symbiodinium clades, that share a high level of sequence identity to known proteins from the SwissProt (SP) database. Approximately 80% of the transcripts aligning to the 1053 SP genes were unique to Symbiodinium species and did not align to other dinoflagellates and unrelated eukaryotic transcriptomes/genomes. Six pathways were common to all four Symbiodinium clades including the phosphatidylinositol signaling system and inositol phosphate metabolism pathways. The list of Symbiodinium transcripts common to all four clades included conserved genes such as heat shock proteins (Hsp70 and Hsp90), calmodulin, actin and tubulin, several ribosomal, photosynthetic and cytochrome genes and chloroplast-based heme-containing cytochrome P450, involved in the biosynthesis of xanthophylls. Antioxidant genes, which are important in stress responses, were also preserved, as were a number of calcium-dependent and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases that may play a role in the establishment of symbiosis. Our findings disclose new knowledge about the genetic uniqueness of symbiotic dinoflagellates and provide a list of homologous genes important for the foundation of coral-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25342691, year = {2014}, author = {Chauhan, A and Wafula, D and Lewis, DE and Pathak, A}, title = {Metagenomic assessment of the eastern oyster-associated microbiota.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {25342691}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Bacteria associated with the Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) native to Apalachicola Bay, FL, were investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon metagenomic sequencing which revealed that the oyster microbiome was predominated by Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria. We also found that the oyster tissues were predominated by the pathogenic and symbiotic Photobacterium spp. (formerly known as Vibrio damselae).}, } @article {pmid25342549, year = {2014}, author = {Dmytrenko, O and Russell, SL and Loo, WT and Fontanez, KM and Liao, L and Roeselers, G and Sharma, R and Stewart, FJ and Newton, IL and Woyke, T and Wu, D and Lang, JM and Eisen, JA and Cavanaugh, CM}, title = {The genome of the intracellular bacterium of the coastal bivalve, Solemya velum: a blueprint for thriving in and out of symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {924}, pmid = {25342549}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Composition/genetics ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Intracellular Space/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbioses between chemoautotrophic bacteria and marine invertebrates are rare examples of living systems that are virtually independent of photosynthetic primary production. These associations have evolved multiple times in marine habitats, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents and reducing sediments, characterized by steep gradients of oxygen and reduced chemicals. Due to difficulties associated with maintaining these symbioses in the laboratory and culturing the symbiotic bacteria, studies of chemosynthetic symbioses rely heavily on culture independent methods. The symbiosis between the coastal bivalve, Solemya velum, and its intracellular symbiont is a model for chemosynthetic symbioses given its accessibility in intertidal environments and the ability to maintain it under laboratory conditions. To better understand this symbiosis, the genome of the S. velum endosymbiont was sequenced.

RESULTS: Relative to the genomes of obligate symbiotic bacteria, which commonly undergo erosion and reduction, the S. velum symbiont genome was large (2.7 Mb), GC-rich (51%), and contained a large number (78) of mobile genetic elements. Comparative genomics identified sets of genes specific to the chemosynthetic lifestyle and necessary to sustain the symbiosis. In addition, a number of inferred metabolic pathways and cellular processes, including heterotrophy, branched electron transport, and motility, suggested that besides the ability to function as an endosymbiont, the bacterium may have the capacity to live outside the host.

CONCLUSIONS: The physiological dexterity indicated by the genome substantially improves our understanding of the genetic and metabolic capabilities of the S. velum symbiont and the breadth of niches the partners may inhabit during their lifecycle.}, } @article {pmid25341398, year = {2015}, author = {Alcántara, C and Fernández, C and García-Encina, PA and Muñoz, R}, title = {Mixotrophic metabolism of Chlorella sorokiniana and algal-bacterial consortia under extended dark-light periods and nutrient starvation.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {99}, number = {5}, pages = {2393-2404}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-6125-5}, pmid = {25341398}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; Chlorella/*metabolism ; *Darkness ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Light ; *Microbial Consortia ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microalgae harbor a not fully exploited industrial and environmental potential due to their high metabolic plasticity. In this context, a better understanding of the metabolism of microalgae and microalgal-bacterial consortia under stress conditions is essential to optimize any waste-to-value approach for their mass cultivation. This work constitutes a fundamental study of the mixotrophic metabolism under stress conditions of an axenic culture of Chlorella sorokiniana and a microalgal-bacterial consortium using carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous mass balances. The hydrolysis of glucose into volatile fatty acids (VFA) during dark periods occurred only in microalgal-bacterial cultures and resulted in organic carbon removals in the subsequent illuminated periods higher than in C. sorokiniana cultures, which highlighted the symbiotic role of bacterial metabolism. Acetic acid was preferentially assimilated over glucose and inorganic carbon by C. sorokiniana and by the microalgal-bacterial consortium during light periods. N-NH4 (+) and P-PO4 (-3) removals in the light stages decreased at decreasing duration of the dark stages, which suggested that N and P assimilation in microalgal-bacterial cultures was proportional to the carbon available as VFA to produce new biomass. Unlike microalgal-bacterial cultures, C. sorokiniana released P-PO4 (-3) under anaerobic conditions, but this excretion was not related to polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation. Finally, while no changes were observed in the carbohydrate, lipid and protein content during repeated extended dark-light periods, nutrient deprivation boosted both C-acetate and C-glucose assimilation and resulted in significantly high biomass productivities and carbohydrate contents in both C. sorokiniana and the microalgal-bacterial cultures.}, } @article {pmid25341109, year = {2015}, author = {Douglas, AE}, title = {Multiorganismal insects: diversity and function of resident microorganisms.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {17-34}, pmid = {25341109}, issn = {1545-4487}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Insecta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; }, abstract = {All insects are colonized by microorganisms on the insect exoskeleton, in the gut and hemocoel, and within insect cells. The insect microbiota is generally different from microorganisms in the external environment, including ingested food. Specifically, certain microbial taxa are favored by the conditions and resources in the insect habitat, by their tolerance of insect immunity, and by specific mechanisms for their transmission. The resident microorganisms can promote insect fitness by contributing to nutrition, especially by providing essential amino acids, B vitamins, and, for fungal partners, sterols. Some microorganisms protect their insect hosts against pathogens, parasitoids, and other parasites by synthesizing specific toxins or modifying the insect immune system. Priorities for future research include elucidation of microbial contributions to detoxification, especially of plant allelochemicals in phytophagous insects, and resistance to pathogens; as well as their role in among-insect communication; and the potential value of manipulation of the microbiota to control insect pests.}, } @article {pmid25341102, year = {2015}, author = {Scharf, ME}, title = {Termites as targets and models for biotechnology.}, journal = {Annual review of entomology}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {77-102}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-020902}, pmid = {25341102}, issn = {1545-4487}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Insect Control/*methods ; Isoptera/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Termites have many unique evolutionary adaptations associated with their eusocial lifestyles. Recent omics research has created a wealth of new information in numerous areas of termite biology (e.g., caste polyphenism, lignocellulose digestion, and microbial symbiosis) with wide-ranging applications in diverse biotechnological niches. Termite biotechnology falls into two categories: (a) termite-targeted biotechnology for pest management purposes, and (b) termite-modeled biotechnology for use in various industrial applications. The first category includes several candidate termiticidal modes of action such as RNA interference, digestive inhibition, pathogen enhancement, antimicrobials, endocrine disruption, and primer pheromone mimicry. In the second category, termite digestomes are deep resources for host and symbiont lignocellulases and other enzymes with applications in a variety of biomass, industrial, and processing applications. Moving forward, one of the most important approaches for accelerating advances in both termite-targeted and termite-modeled biotechnology will be to consider host and symbiont together as a single functional unit.}, } @article {pmid25339956, year = {2014}, author = {Brucklacher-Waldert, V and Carr, EJ and Linterman, MA and Veldhoen, M}, title = {Cellular Plasticity of CD4+ T Cells in the Intestine.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {488}, pmid = {25339956}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {BBS/E/B/000C0407/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/B/000C0409/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Barrier sites such as the gastrointestinal tract are in constant contact with the environment, which contains both beneficial and harmful components. The immune system at the epithelia must make the distinction between these components to balance tolerance, protection, and immunopathology. This is achieved via multifaceted immune recognition, highly organized lymphoid structures, and the interaction of many types of immune cells. The adaptive immune response in the gut is orchestrated by CD4(+) helper T (Th) cells, which are integral to gut immunity. In recent years, it has become apparent that the functional identity of these Th cells is not as fixed as initially thought. Plasticity in differentiated T cell subsets has now been firmly established, in both health and disease. The gut, in particular, utilizes CD4(+) T cell plasticity to mold CD4(+) T cell phenotypes to maintain its finely poised balance of tolerance and inflammation and to encourage biodiversity within the enteric microbiome. In this review, we will discuss intestinal helper T cell plasticity and our current understanding of its mechanisms, including our growing knowledge of an evolutionarily ancient symbiosis between microbiota and malleable CD4(+) T cell effectors.}, } @article {pmid25339726, year = {2014}, author = {Salem, H and Bauer, E and Strauss, AS and Vogel, H and Marz, M and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Vitamin supplementation by gut symbionts ensures metabolic homeostasis in an insect host.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1796}, pages = {20141838}, pmid = {25339726}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/metabolism/*physiology ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; Heteroptera/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Vitamin B Complex/biosynthesis ; Vitamins/*metabolism ; Xenopus laevis ; }, abstract = {Despite the demonstrated functional importance of gut microbes, our understanding of how animals regulate their metabolism in response to nutritionally beneficial symbionts remains limited. Here, we elucidate the functional importance of the African cotton stainer's (Dysdercus fasciatus) association with two actinobacterial gut symbionts and subsequently examine the insect's transcriptional response following symbiont elimination. In line with bioassays demonstrating the symbionts' contribution towards host fitness through the supplementation of B vitamins, comparative transcriptomic analyses of genes involved in import and processing of B vitamins revealed an upregulation of gene expression in aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) compared with symbiotic individuals; an expression pattern that is indicative of B vitamin deficiency in animals. Normal expression levels of these genes, however, can be restored by either artificial supplementation of B vitamins into the insect's diet or reinfection with the actinobacterial symbionts. Furthermore, the functional characterization of the differentially expressed thiamine transporter 2 through heterologous expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes confirms its role in cellular uptake of vitamin B1. These findings demonstrate that despite an extracellular localization, beneficial gut microbes can be integral to the host's metabolic homeostasis, reminiscent of bacteriome-localized intracellular mutualists.}, } @article {pmid25339529, year = {2015}, author = {Yu, F and Han, F and Cui, Z}, title = {Assessment of life cycle environmental benefits of an industrial symbiosis cluster in China.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {5511-5518}, pmid = {25339529}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; Conservation of Energy Resources/methods/*statistics & numerical data ; *Environment ; Environmental Pollution/prevention & control/*statistics & numerical data ; Industrial Waste/*statistics & numerical data ; Industry/economics/*methods ; Models, Theoretical ; Recycling/*methods/statistics & numerical data ; }, abstract = {Reusing industrial waste may have impressive potential environmental benefits, especially in terms of the total life cycle, and life cycle assessment (LCA) has been proved to be an effective method to evaluate industrial symbiosis (IS). Circular economy and IS have been developed for decades and have been successful in China. However, very few studies about the environmental benefit assessment of IS applied by LCA in China have been conducted. In the current article, LCA was used to evaluate the environmental benefits and costs of IS, compared with a no-IS scenario for four environmental impact categories. The results showed that four environmental benefits were avoided by the 11 symbiosis performances, namely, 41.6 thousand TJ of primary energy, 4.47 million t CO2e of greenhouse gasses, 19.7 thousand t SO2e of acidification, and 81.1 t PO4(3+)e of eutrophication. Among these IS performances, the comprehensive utilization of red mud produced the most visible benefit. The results also present that energy conservation was the distinctive feature of IS in China.}, } @article {pmid25339525, year = {2015}, author = {Ullah, A and Mushtaq, H and Ali, H and Munis, MF and Javed, MT and Chaudhary, HJ}, title = {Diazotrophs-assisted phytoremediation of heavy metals: a novel approach.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {2505-2514}, pmid = {25339525}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals, which have severe toxic effects on plants, animals, and human health, are serious pollutants of the modern world. Remediation of heavy metal pollution is utmost necessary. Among different approaches used for such remediation, phytoremediation is an emerging technology. Research is in progress to enhance the efficiency of this plant-based technology. In this regard, the role of rhizospheric and symbiotic microorganisms is important. It was assessed by enumeration of data from the current studies that efficiency of phytoremediation can be enhanced by assisting with diazotrophs. These bacteria are very beneficial because they bring metals to more bioavailable form by the processes of methylation, chelation, leaching, and redox reactions and the production of siderophores. Diazotrophs also posses growth-promoting traits including nitrogen fixation, phosphorous solubilization, phytohormones synthesis, siderophore production, and synthesis of ACC-deaminase which may facilitate plant growth and increase plant biomass, in turn facilitating phytoremediation technology. Thus, the aim of this review is to highlight the potential of diazotrophs in assisting phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils. The novel current assessment of literature suggests the winning combination of diazotroph with phytoremediation technology.}, } @article {pmid25339289, year = {2015}, author = {Shrestha, G and St Clair, LL and O'Neill, KL}, title = {The immunostimulating role of lichen polysaccharides: a review.}, journal = {Phytotherapy research : PTR}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {317-322}, doi = {10.1002/ptr.5251}, pmid = {25339289}, issn = {1099-1573}, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Dendritic Cells/drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/immunology ; Interleukin-12/immunology ; Interleukin-1beta/immunology ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Macrophages/drug effects ; Nitric Oxide/immunology ; Polysaccharides/*pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology ; }, abstract = {The immune system has capacity to suppress the development or progression of various malignancies including cancer. Research on the immunomodulating properties of polysaccharides obtained from plants, microorganisms, marine organisms, and fungi is growing rapidly. Among the various potential sources, lichens, symbiotic systems involving a fungus and an alga and/or a cyanobacterium, show promise as a potential source of immunomodulating compounds. It is well known that lichens produce an abundance of structurally diverse polysaccharides. However, only a limited number of studies have explored the immunostimulating properties of lichen polysaccharides. Published studies have shown that some lichen polysaccharides enhance production of nitrous oxide (NO) by macrophages and also alter the production levels of various proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-12, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-α/β) by macrophages and dendritic cells. Although there are only a limited number of studies examining the role of lichen polysaccharides, all results suggest that lichen polysaccharides can induce immunomodulatory responses in macrophages and dendritic cells. Thus, a detailed evaluation of immunomodulatory capacity of lichen polysaccharides could provide a unique opportunity for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents.}, } @article {pmid25338391, year = {2014}, author = {Li, X and Peng, XW and Wu, SL and Li, ZR and Feng, HM and Jiang, ZP}, title = {[Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae on growth, heavy metal uptake and accumulation of Zenia insignis Chun seedlings].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {3142-3148}, pmid = {25338391}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fabaceae/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To solve the trace metal pollution of a Pd/Zn mine in Hunan province, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus mosseae (Gm) and Glomus intraradices (Gi), on the growth, heavy metal uptake and accumulation of Zenia insignis Chun, the pioneer plant there. The results showed that symbiotic associations were successfully established between the two isolates and Z. insignis in heavy metal contaminated soil. AM fungi improved P absorption, biomass and changed heavy metal uptake and distribution of Z. insignis. AM fungi-inoculated plants had significantly lower Fe, Cu, Zn, Pd concentrations and higher Fe, Cu, Zn, Pd accumulation than non-inoculated plants. However, Gm and Gi showed different mycorrhizal effects on the distribution of heavy metal in hosts, depending on the species of heavy metal. Gi-inoculated Z. insignis showed significantly lower TF values of Fe, Zn, Pd than Gm and non-inoculated plants, while both strains had no effect on TF value of Cu, which indicated that Gi enhanced trace metal accumulation in root system, playing a filtering/sequestering role in the presence of trace metals. The overall results demonstrated that AM fungi had positive effect on Z. insignis in enhancing the ability to adapt the heavy metal contaminated soil and played potential role in the revegetation of heavy metal contaminated soil. But in practical application, the combination of AM, hosts and heavy metal should be considered.}, } @article {pmid25338390, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, WZ and Wang, FY and Li, S and Liu, XQ}, title = {[Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis influences the biological effects of nano-ZnO on maize].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {35}, number = {8}, pages = {3135-3141}, pmid = {25338390}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biomass ; Metal Nanoparticles/toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Zinc Oxide/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) can be taken up and accumulated in plants, then enter human bodies via food chain, and thus cause potential health risk. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic symbioses with the majority of higher plants in terrestrial ecosystems, and potentially influence the biological effects of ENPs. The present greenhouse pot culture experiment studied the effects of inoculation with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Acaulospora mellea on growth and nutritional status of maize under different nano-ZnO levels (0, 500, 1 000, 2000 and 3 000 mg x kg(-1)) artificially added into soil. Results showed that with the increasing nano-ZnO levels in soil, mycorrhizal colonization rate and biomass of maize plants showed a decreasing trend, total root length, total surface area and total volume reduced, while Zn concentration and uptake in plants gradually increased, and P, N, K, Fe, and Cu uptake in shoots all decreased. Compared with the controls, arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation improved the growth and P, N and K nutrition of maize, enhanced total root length, total surface area and total volume, and increased Zn allocation to roots when nano-ZnO was added. Our results firstly show that nano-ZnO in soil induces toxicity to arbuscular mycorrhizae, while arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation can alleviate its toxicity and play a protective role in plants.}, } @article {pmid25338146, year = {2015}, author = {Plett, JM and Tisserant, E and Brun, A and Morin, E and Grigoriev, IV and Kuo, A and Martin, F and Kohler, A}, title = {The Mutualist Laccaria bicolor Expresses a Core Gene Regulon During the Colonization of Diverse Host Plants and a Variable Regulon to Counteract Host-Specific Defenses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {261-273}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-14-0129-FI}, pmid = {25338146}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Laccaria/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/genetics/physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Populus/cytology/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Pseudotsuga/cytology/genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Regulon/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The coordinated transcriptomic responses of both mutualistic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and their hosts during the establishment of symbiosis are not well-understood. This study characterizes the transcriptomic alterations of the ECM fungus Laccaria bicolor during different colonization stages on two hosts (Populus trichocarpa and Pseudotsuga menziesii) and compares this to the transcriptomic variations of P. trichocarpa across the same time-points. A large number of L. bicolor genes (≥ 8,000) were significantly regulated at the transcriptional level in at least one stage of colonization. From our data, we identify 1,249 genes that we hypothesize is the 'core' gene regulon necessary for the mutualistic interaction between L. bicolor and its host plants. We further identify a group of 1,210 genes that are regulated in a host-specific manner. This variable regulon encodes a number of genes coding for proteases and xenobiotic efflux transporters that we hypothesize act to counter chemical-based defenses simultaneously activated at the transcriptomic level in P. trichocarpa. The transcriptional response of the host plant P. trichocarpa consisted of differential waves of gene regulation related to signaling perception and transduction, defense response, and the induction of nutrient transfer in P. trichocarpa tissues. This study, therefore, gives fresh insight into the shifting transcriptomic landscape in both the colonizing fungus and its host and the different strategies employed by both partners in orchestrating a mutualistic interaction.}, } @article {pmid25338133, year = {2015}, author = {Andrade Becheleni, EM and Borba, RP and Seckler, MM and Ferreira Rocha, SD}, title = {Water recovery from saline streams produced by electrodialysis.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {36}, number = {1-4}, pages = {386-394}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2014.978898}, pmid = {25338133}, issn = {0959-3330}, mesh = {Conservation of Energy Resources/*methods ; Dialysis/*instrumentation/methods ; Electrochemistry/*instrumentation/methods ; Equipment Design ; Equipment Failure Analysis ; Salts/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Water/*chemistry ; Water Purification/*instrumentation/methods ; }, abstract = {Advances in technologies to enable water reuse in industry have been the objective of many research efforts, mainly due to the need to reduce the use of natural resources and due to factors related to their availability. This paper evaluates the crystallization of salts from petrochemical saline waste to achieve zero water discharge by the recovery of water and dissolved salts as a solid mixture. In line with process symbiosis, the recovered water should be suitable for use as cooling water in heat exchangers. Vacuum evaporative crystallization, at the batch scale, was used to remove the salts present in the concentrated stream from reverse electrodialysis of pretreated wastewater by a biological process. The partition of organic compounds in the feed solution between the condensate and the mother liquor was obtained from measurements of the total organic carbon and total nitrogen in the solutions. The solid phases formed experimentally are compared with those predicted by chemical modelling by PHREEQC. The recovered water presented almost 50 times less total dissolved solids than the feed stream (from 2100 to 44 mg/L). Calcium sulphate hydrate, calcium sulphate and sodium chloride were the majority crystalline phases formed, in accordance with the modelling by PHREEQC.}, } @article {pmid25337777, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, Y and Gao, SL and Zhang, SY and Liang, ZY and Yu, WQ and Liang, TB}, title = {Six cases of severe acute pancreatitis complicated with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus enteritis.}, journal = {Shock (Augusta, Ga.)}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {400-406}, doi = {10.1097/SHK.0000000000000237}, pmid = {25337777}, issn = {1540-0514}, mesh = {Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Diarrhea/etiology ; Enteritis/*complications/diagnostic imaging/microbiology ; Female ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/*complications/diagnostic imaging/microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/methods ; Middle Aged ; Opportunistic Infections/*complications/diagnostic imaging/microbiology ; Pancreatitis/*complications/diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci/*pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the clinical manifestations and possible mechanisms of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)-induced severe enteritis and extraenteric disseminations.

METHODS: In six patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) complicated with acute infectious diarrhea, VRE was confirmed by bacterial genotyping, minimum inhibitory concentration testing, and empiric linezolid treatment. Samples collected from stools and peripancreatic effusions were used to compare the genotypes of VRE by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing and to validate the suspected extraenteric disseminations caused by VRE. To further elucidate the mechanisms of VRE-inflicted enteric mucosal injury, in vitro infection of human intestinal Caco-2 cell line with VRE was performed followed by inflammatory cytokine assays and morphological characterization by electron microscopy.

RESULTS: All six VRE strains isolated from stool samples caused severe enteritis in SAP patients. The same strains further inflicted significant damage and induced inflammatory reactions in Caco-2 cells. Homologous assays demonstrated high homology between samples from stool and peripancreatic effusions in two patients, indicating the occurrence of extraenteric disseminations.

CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in drug resistance and virulence of enterococci, part of the symbiotic bacteria, during the course of SAP may cause inflammatory injuries to enteric epithelium, resulting in enteritis and extraenteric disseminations.}, } @article {pmid25336755, year = {2014}, author = {Pankey, MS and Minin, VN and Imholte, GC and Suchard, MA and Oakley, TH}, title = {Predictable transcriptome evolution in the convergent and complex bioluminescent organs of squid.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {44}, pages = {E4736-42}, pmid = {25336755}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI107034/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01-AI107034/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/genetics/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Despite contingency in life's history, the similarity of evolutionarily convergent traits may represent predictable solutions to common conditions. However, the extent to which overall gene expression levels (transcriptomes) underlying convergent traits are themselves convergent remains largely unexplored. Here, we show strong statistical support for convergent evolutionary origins and massively parallel evolution of the entire transcriptomes in symbiotic bioluminescent organs (bacterial photophores) from two divergent squid species. The gene expression similarities are so strong that regression models of one species' photophore can predict organ identity of a distantly related photophore from gene expression levels alone. Our results point to widespread parallel changes in gene expression evolution associated with convergent origins of complex organs. Therefore, predictable solutions may drive not only the evolution of novel, complex organs but also the evolution of overall gene expression levels that underlie them.}, } @article {pmid25336586, year = {2014}, author = {Chillón, I and Molina-Sánchez, MD and Fedorova, O and García-Rodríguez, FM and Martínez-Abarca, F and Toro, N}, title = {In vitro characterization of the splicing efficiency and fidelity of the RmInt1 group II intron as a means of controlling the dispersion of its host mobile element.}, journal = {RNA (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {20}, number = {12}, pages = {2000-2010}, pmid = {25336586}, issn = {1469-9001}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Exons/genetics ; Introns/*genetics ; Mutation ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; RNA Precursors/chemistry/*genetics ; RNA Splicing/*genetics ; RNA, Catalytic/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; }, abstract = {Group II introns are catalytic RNAs that are excised from their precursors in a protein-dependent manner in vivo. Certain group II introns can also react in a protein-independent manner under nonphysiological conditions in vitro. The efficiency and fidelity of the splicing reaction is crucial, to guarantee the correct formation and expression of the protein-coding mRNA. RmInt1 is an efficient mobile intron found within the ISRm2011-2 insertion sequence in the symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. The RmInt1 intron self-splices in vitro, but this reaction generates side products due to a predicted cryptic IBS1* sequence within the 3' exon. We engineered an RmInt1 intron lacking the cryptic IBS1* sequence, which improved the fidelity of the splicing reaction. However, atypical circular forms of similar electrophoretic mobility to the lariat intron were nevertheless observed. We analyzed a run of four cytidine residues at the 3' splice site potentially responsible for a lack of fidelity at this site leading to the formation of circular intron forms. We showed that mutations of residues base-pairing in the tertiary EBS3-IBS3 interaction increased the efficiency and fidelity of the splicing reaction. Our results indicate that RmInt1 has developed strategies for decreasing its splicing efficiency and fidelity. RmInt1 makes use of unproductive splicing reactions to limit the transposition of the insertion sequence into which it inserts itself in its natural context, thereby preventing potentially harmful dispersion of ISRm2011-2 throughout the genome of its host.}, } @article {pmid25336406, year = {2015}, author = {Qi, Y and Teng, Z and Gao, L and Wu, S and Huang, J and Ye, G and Fang, Q}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of an endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia chilonis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reveals genes involved in successful parasitism.}, journal = {Archives of insect biochemistry and physiology}, volume = {88}, number = {4}, pages = {203-221}, doi = {10.1002/arch.21214}, pmid = {25336406}, issn = {1520-6327}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics ; Polydnaviridae ; Receptors, Odorant/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Wasps/*genetics/virology ; }, abstract = {For successful parasitization, parasitiods usually depend on the chemosensory cues for the selection of hosts, as well as a variety of virulence factors introduced into their hosts to overcome host immunity and prevent rejection of progeny development. In bracovirus-carrying wasps, the symbiotic polydnaviruses act in manipulating development and immunity of hosts. The endoparasitoid Cotesia chilonis carrying bracovirus as a key host immunosuppressive factor is a superior endoparasitoid of rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. So far, genomic information for C. chilonis is not available and transcriptomic data may provide valuable resources for global studying on physiological processes of C. chilonis, including chemosensation and parasitism at molecular level. Here, we performed RNA-seq to characterize the transcriptome of C. chilonis adults. We obtained 27,717,892 reads, assembled into 38,318 unigenes with a mean size of 690 bp. Approximately, 62.1% of the unigenes were annotated using NCBI databases. A large number of chemoreception-related genes encoding proteins including odorant receptors, gustatory receptors, odorant-binding proteins, chemosensory proteins, transient receptor potential ion channels, and sensory neuron membrane proteins were identified in silico. Totally, 72 transcripts possessing high identities with the bracovirus-related genes were identified. We investigated the mRNA expression levels of several transcripts at different developmental stages (including egg, larva, pupae, and adult) by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The results revealed that some genes had adult-specific expression, indicating their potential significance for mating and parasitism. Overall, these results provide comprehensive insights into transcriptomic data of a polydnavirus-carrying parasitoid of a rice pest.}, } @article {pmid25335508, year = {2014}, author = {Tacchi, L and Musharrafieh, R and Larragoite, ET and Crossey, K and Erhardt, EB and Martin, SAM and LaPatra, SE and Salinas, I}, title = {Nasal immunity is an ancient arm of the mucosal immune system of vertebrates.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {5205}, pmid = {25335508}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {P20 GM103452/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The mucosal surfaces of all vertebrates have been exposed to similar evolutionary pressures for millions of years. In terrestrial vertebrates such as birds and mammals, the nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) represents a first line of immune defence. Here we propose that NALT is an ancient arm of the mucosal immune system not restricted to terrestrial vertebrates. We find that NALT is present in rainbow trout and that it resembles other teleost mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. Trout NALT consists of diffuse lymphoid cells and lacks tonsils and adenoids. The predominant B-cell subset found in trout NALT are IgT(+) B cells, similar to skin and gut. The trout olfactory organ is colonized by abundant symbiotic bacteria, which are coated by trout secretory immunoglobulin. Trout NALT is capable of mounting strong anti-viral immune responses following nasal delivery of a live attenuated viral vaccine. Our results open up a new tool for the control of aquatic infectious diseases via nasal vaccination.}, } @article {pmid25333642, year = {2014}, author = {Mouammine, A and Lanois, A and Pagès, S and Lafay, B and Molle, V and Canova, M and Girard, PA and Duvic, B and Givaudan, A and Gaudriault, S}, title = {Ail and PagC-related proteins in the entomopathogenic bacteria of Photorhabdus genus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e110060}, pmid = {25333642}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Magnesium Sulfate/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/classification/drug effects/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Among pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae, the proteins of the Ail/OmpX/PagC family form a steadily growing family of outer membrane proteins with diverse biological properties, potentially involved in virulence such as human serum resistance, adhesion and entry into eukaryotic culture cells. We studied the proteins Ail/OmpX/PagC in the bacterial Photorhabdus genus. The Photorhabdus bacteria form symbiotic complexes with nematodes of Heterorhabditis species, associations which are pathogenic to insect larvae. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that in Photorhabdus asymbiotica and Photorhabdus luminescens only Ail and PagC proteins are encoded. The genomic analysis revealed that the Photorhabdus ail and pagC genes were present in a unique copy, except two ail paralogs from P. luminescens. These genes, referred to as ail1Pl and ail2Pl, probably resulted from a recent tandem duplication. Surprisingly, only ail1Pl expression was directly controlled by PhoPQ and low external Mg2+ conditions. In P. luminescens, the magnesium-sensing two-component regulatory system PhoPQ regulates the outer membrane barrier and is required for pathogenicity against insects. In order to characterize Ail functions in Photorhabdus, we showed that only ail2Pl and pagCPl had the ability, when expressed into Escherichia coli, to confer resistance to complement in human serum. However no effect in resistance to antimicrobial peptides was found. Thus, the role of Ail and PagC proteins in Photorhabdus life cycle is discussed.}, } @article {pmid25331462, year = {2014}, author = {Aschenbrenner, IA and Cardinale, M and Berg, G and Grube, M}, title = {Microbial cargo: do bacteria on symbiotic propagules reinforce the microbiome of lichens?.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3743-3752}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12658}, pmid = {25331462}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {I 882/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development ; Austria ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Fungi/genetics/growth & development ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {According to recent research, bacteria contribute as recurrent associates to the lichen symbiosis. Yet, the variation of the microbiomes within species and across geographically separated populations remained largely elusive. As a quite common dispersal mode, lichens evolved vertical transmission of both fungal and algal partners in specifically designed mitotic propagules. Bacteria, if co-transmitted with these symbiotic propagules, could contribute to a geographical structure of lichen-associated microbiomes. The lung lichen was sampled from three localities in eastern Austria to analyse their associated bacterial communities by bar-coded pyrosequencing, network analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. For the first time, bacteria were documented to colonize symbiotic propagules of lichens developed for short-distance transmission of the symbionts. The propagules share the overall bacterial community structure with the thalli at class level, except for filamentous Cyanobacteria (Nostocophycideae), and with Alphaproteobacteria as predominant group. All three sampling sites share a core fraction of the microbiome. Bacterial communities of lichen thalli from the same sampling site showed higher similarity than those of distant populations. This variation and the potential co-dispersal of a microbiome fraction with structures of the host organism contribute new aspects to the 'everything is everywhere' hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid25330795, year = {2014}, author = {Topper, TP and Holmer, LE and Caron, JB}, title = {Brachiopods hitching a ride: an early case of commensalism in the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {6704}, pmid = {25330795}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Invertebrates/*physiology ; Mollusca/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological interactions, including symbiotic associations such as mutualism, parasitism and commensalism are crucial factors in generating evolutionary novelties and strategies. Direct examples of species interactions in the fossil record generally involve organisms attached to sessile organisms in an epibiont or macroboring relationship. Here we provide support for an intimate ecological association between a calcareous brachiopod (Nisusia) and the stem group mollusc Wiwaxia from the Burgess Shale. Brachiopod specimens are fixed to Wiwaxia scleritomes, the latter showing no signs of decay and disarticulation, suggesting a live association. We interpret this association as the oldest unambiguous example of a facultative ectosymbiosis between a sessile organism and a mobile benthic animal in the fossil record. The potential evolutionary advantage of this association is discussed, brachiopods benefiting from ease of attachment, increased food supply, avoidance of turbid benthic conditions, biofoul and possible protection from predators, suggesting commensalism (benefiting the symbiont with no impact for the host). While Cambrian brachiopods are relatively common epibionts, in particular on sponges, the association of Nisusia with the motile Wiwaxia is rare for a brachiopod species, fossil or living, and suggests that symbiotic associations were already well established and diversified by the "middle" (Series 3, Stage 5) Cambrian.}, } @article {pmid25330073, year = {2014}, author = {Tsubaki, R and Kato, M}, title = {A novel filtering mutualism between a sponge host and its endosymbiotic bivalves.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e108885}, pmid = {25330073}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia/metabolism ; Fluorescent Dyes/metabolism ; Groundwater ; Host Specificity ; Movement ; *Porifera/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges, porous filter-feeding organisms consisting of vast canal systems, provide unique substrates for diverse symbiotic organisms. The Spongia (Spongia) sp. massive sponge is obligately inhabited by the host-specific endosymbiotic bivalve Vulsella vulsella, which benefits from this symbiosis by receiving protection from predators. However, whether the host sponge gains any benefit from this association is unclear. Considering that the bivalves exhale filtered water into the sponge body rather than the ambient environment, the sponge is hypothesized to utilize water exhaled by the bivalves to circulate water around its body more efficiently. We tested this hypothesis by observing the sponge aquiferous structure and comparing the pumping rates of sponges and bivalves. Observations of water currents and the sponge aquiferous structure revealed that the sponge had a unique canal system enabling it to inhale water exhaled from bivalves, indicating that the host sponge adapted morphologically to receive water from the bivalves. In addition, the volume of water circulating in the sponge body was dramatically increased by the water exhaled from bivalves. Therefore, this sponge-bivalve association can be regarded as a novel mutualism in which two filter-feeding symbionts promote mutual filtering rates. This symbiotic association should be called a "filtering mutualism".}, } @article {pmid25329881, year = {2014}, author = {Ivanov, S and Harrison, MJ}, title = {A set of fluorescent protein-based markers expressed from constitutive and arbuscular mycorrhiza-inducible promoters to label organelles, membranes and cytoskeletal elements in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {80}, number = {6}, pages = {1151-1163}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12706}, pmid = {25329881}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cytoskeleton/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hyphae/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Microtubules/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Organelles/metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; trans-Golgi Network/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is widely used for analyses of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and nodulation. To complement the genetic and genomic resources that exist for this species, we generated fluorescent protein fusions that label the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi network, plasma membrane, apoplast, late endosome/multivesicular bodies (MVB), transitory late endosome/ tonoplast, tonoplast, plastids, mitochondria, peroxisomes, autophagosomes, plasmodesmata, actin, microtubules, periarbuscular membrane (PAM) and periarbuscular apoplastic space (PAS) and expressed them from the constitutive AtUBQ10 promoter and the AM symbiosis-specific MtBCP1 promoter. All marker constructs showed the expected expression patterns and sub-cellular locations in M. truncatula root cells. As a demonstration of their utility, we used several markers to investigate AM symbiosis where root cells undergo major cellular alterations to accommodate their fungal endosymbiont. We demonstrate that changes in the position and size of the nuclei occur prior to hyphal entry into the cortical cells and do not require DELLA signaling. Changes in the cytoskeleton, tonoplast and plastids also occur in the colonized cells and in contrast to previous studies, we show that stromulated plastids are abundant in cells with developing and mature arbuscules, while lens-shaped plastids occur in cells with degenerating arbuscules. Arbuscule development and secretion of the PAM creates a periarbuscular apoplastic compartment which has been assumed to be continuous with apoplast of the cell. However, fluorescent markers secreted to the periarbuscular apoplast challenge this assumption. This marker resource will facilitate cell biology studies of AM symbiosis, as well as other aspects of legume biology.}, } @article {pmid25327887, year = {2014}, author = {Toju, H and Guimarães, PR and Olesen, JM and Thompson, JN}, title = {Assembly of complex plant-fungus networks.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {5273}, pmid = {25327887}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; DNA/chemistry ; *Ecosystem ; Forests ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Japan ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Species in ecological communities build complex webs of interaction. Although revealing the architecture of these networks is fundamental to understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics in nature, it has been difficult to characterize the structure of most species-rich ecological systems. By overcoming this limitation through next-generation sequencing technology, we herein uncover the network architecture of below-ground plant-fungus symbioses, which are ubiquitous to terrestrial ecosystems. The examined symbiotic network of a temperate forest in Japan includes 33 plant species and 387 functionally and phylogenetically diverse fungal taxa, and the overall network architecture differs fundamentally from that of other ecological networks. In contrast to results for other ecological networks and theoretical predictions for symbiotic networks, the plant-fungus network shows moderate or relatively low levels of interaction specialization and modularity and an unusual pattern of 'nested' network architecture. These results suggest that species-rich ecological networks are more architecturally diverse than previously recognized.}, } @article {pmid25325380, year = {2015}, author = {Morrow, KM and Bourne, DG and Humphrey, C and Botté, ES and Laffy, P and Zaneveld, J and Uthicke, S and Fabricius, KE and Webster, NS}, title = {Natural volcanic CO2 seeps reveal future trajectories for host-microbial associations in corals and sponges.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {894-908}, pmid = {25325380}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*analysis/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Seawater/chemistry/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Volcanic Eruptions/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are rapidly rising causing an increase in the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in the ocean and a reduction in pH known as ocean acidification (OA). Natural volcanic seeps in Papua New Guinea expel 99% pure CO2 and thereby offer a unique opportunity to explore the effects of OA in situ. The corals Acropora millepora and Porites cylindrica were less abundant and hosted significantly different microbial communities at the CO2 seep than at nearby control sites <500 m away. A primary driver of microbial differences in A. millepora was a 50% reduction of symbiotic Endozoicomonas. This loss of symbiotic taxa from corals at the CO2 seep highlights a potential hurdle for corals to overcome if they are to adapt to and survive OA. In contrast, the two sponges Coelocarteria singaporensis and Cinachyra sp. were ∼ 40-fold more abundant at the seep and hosted a significantly higher relative abundance of Synechococcus than sponges at control sites. The increase in photosynthetic microbes at the seep potentially provides these species with a nutritional benefit and enhanced scope for growth under future climate scenarios (thus, flexibility in symbiosis may lead to a larger niche breadth). The microbial community in the apparently pCO2-sensitive sponge species S. massa was not significantly different between sites. These data show that responses to elevated pCO2 are species-specific and that the stability and flexibility of microbial partnerships may have an important role in shaping and contributing to the fitness and success of some hosts.}, } @article {pmid25324998, year = {2014}, author = {Kang, YK}, title = {Diminutive and Small Colorectal Polyps: The Pathologist's Perspective.}, journal = {Clinical endoscopy}, volume = {47}, number = {5}, pages = {404-408}, pmid = {25324998}, issn = {2234-2400}, abstract = {Recent progress in advanced endoscopic imaging and electronic chromoendoscopy allows the real-time endoscopic estimation of the histologic type of polyps, mainly for the differentiation of adenomas from hyperplastic polyps. Accordingly, a "resect-and-discard" strategy applied to diminutive colorectal polyps is now one of the emerging issues among gastroenterologists. The strategy has a practical advantage in terms of the potential cost savings. However, it has a number of limitations in the medical, academic, and legal aspects. The major pitfalls include the endoscopic investigation of colorectal polyps with a wide variety of histogenetic origins, including serrated polyps, and the lack of a standardized method for polyp size measurement. Another issue is the importance of the pathologic diagnosis for legal purposes and medical research. Moreover, it is not certain whether the implementation of the strategy has economic benefit in countries with an undervalued reimbursement system for pathologic examination. There is no doubt that a highly confident optical diagnosis of polyp type is a novel valuable tool. It can provide a more steady symbiosis between gastroenterologists and pathologists to allow a more evident diagnosis and management of patients with colorectal polyps.}, } @article {pmid25324861, year = {2014}, author = {Runtsch, MC and Round, JL and O'Connell, RM}, title = {MicroRNAs and the regulation of intestinal homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {347}, pmid = {25324861}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {The mammalian intestinal tract is a unique site in which a large portion of our immune system and the 10(14) commensal organisms that make up the microbiota reside in intimate contact with each other. Despite the potential for inflammatory immune responses, this complex interface contains host immune cells and epithelial cells interacting with the microbiota in a manner that promotes symbiosis. Due to the complexity of the cell types and microorganisms involved, this process requires elaborate regulatory mechanisms to ensure mutualism and prevent disease. While many studies have described critical roles for protein regulators of intestinal homeostasis, recent reports indicate that non-coding RNAs are also major contributors to optimal host-commensal interactions. In particular, there is emerging evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) have evolved to fine tune host gene expression networks and signaling pathways that modulate cellular physiology in the intestinal tract. Here, we review our present knowledge of the influence miRNAs have on both immune and epithelial cell biology in the mammalian intestines and the impact this has on the microbiota. We also discuss a need for further studies to decipher the functions of specific miRNAs within the gut to better understand cellular mechanisms that promote intestinal homeostasis and to identify potential molecular targets underlying diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.}, } @article {pmid25324833, year = {2014}, author = {Bailly, X and Laguerre, L and Correc, G and Dupont, S and Kurth, T and Pfannkuchen, A and Entzeroth, R and Probert, I and Vinogradov, S and Lechauve, C and Garet-Delmas, MJ and Reichert, H and Hartenstein, V}, title = {The chimerical and multifaceted marine acoel Symsagittifera roscoffensis: from photosymbiosis to brain regeneration.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {498}, pmid = {25324833}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 NS054814/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {A remarkable example of biological engineering is the capability of some marine animals to take advantage of photosynthesis by hosting symbiotic algae. This capacity, referred to as photosymbiosis, is based on structural and functional complexes that involve two distantly unrelated organisms. These stable photosymbiotic associations between metazoans and photosynthetic protists play fundamental roles in marine ecology as exemplified by reef communities and their vulnerability to global changes threats. Here we introduce a photosymbiotic tidal acoel flatworm, Symsagittifera roscoffensis, and its obligatory green algal photosymbiont, Tetraselmis convolutae (Lack of the algal partner invariably results in acoel lethality emphasizing the mandatory nature of the photosymbiotic algae for the animal's survival). Together they form a composite photosymbiotic unit, which can be reared in controlled conditions that provide easy access to key life-cycle events ranging from early embryogenesis through the induction of photosymbiosis in aposymbiotic juveniles to the emergence of a functional "solar-powered" mature stage. Since it is possible to grow both algae and host under precisely controlled culture conditions, it is now possible to design a range of new experimental protocols that address the mechanisms and evolution of photosymbiosis. S. roscoffensis thus represents an emerging model system with experimental advantages that complement those of other photosymbiotic species, in particular corals. The basal taxonomic position of S. roscoffensis (and acoels in general) also makes it a relevant model for evolutionary studies of development, stem cell biology and regeneration. Finally, it's autotrophic lifestyle and lack of calcification make S. roscoffensis a favorable system to study the role of symbiosis in the response of marine organisms to climate change (e.g., ocean warming and acidification). In this article we summarize the state of knowledge of the biology of S. roscoffensis and its algal partner from studies dating back over a century, and provide an overview of ongoing research efforts that take advantage of this unique system.}, } @article {pmid25324799, year = {2014}, author = {Cowley, SJ}, title = {Linguistic embodiment and verbal constraints: human cognition and the scales of time.}, journal = {Frontiers in psychology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {1085}, pmid = {25324799}, issn = {1664-1078}, abstract = {USING RADICAL EMBODIED COGNITIVE SCIENCE, THE PAPER OFFERS THE HYPOTHESIS THAT LANGUAGE IS SYMBIOTIC: its agent-environment dynamics arise as linguistic embodiment is managed under verbal constraints. As a result, co-action grants human agents the ability to use a unique form of phenomenal experience. In defense of the hypothesis, I stress how linguistic embodiment enacts thinking: accordingly, I present auditory and acoustic evidence from 750 ms of mother-daughter talk, first, in fine detail and, then, in narrative mode. As the parties attune, they use a dynamic field to co-embody speech with experience of wordings. The latter arise in making and tracking phonetic gestures that, crucially, mesh use of artifice, cultural products and impersonal experience. As observers, living human beings gain dispositions to display and use social subjectivity. Far from using brains to "process" verbal content, linguistic symbiosis grants access to diachronic resources. On this distributed-ecological view, language can thus be redefined as: "activity in which wordings play a part."}, } @article {pmid25324310, year = {2014}, author = {Tourasse, NJ and Stabell, FB and Kolstø, AB}, title = {Survey of chimeric IStron elements in bacterial genomes: multiple molecular symbioses between group I intron ribozymes and DNA transposons.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {42}, number = {20}, pages = {12333-12351}, pmid = {25324310}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {*DNA Transposable Elements ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Introns ; RNA Splicing ; *RNA, Catalytic ; }, abstract = {IStrons are chimeric genetic elements composed of a group I intron associated with an insertion sequence (IS). The group I intron is a catalytic RNA providing the IStron with self-splicing ability, which renders IStron insertions harmless to the host genome. The IS element is a DNA transposon conferring mobility, and thus allowing the IStron to spread in genomes. IStrons are therefore a striking example of a molecular symbiosis between unrelated genetic elements endowed with different functions. In this study, we have conducted the first comprehensive survey of IStrons in sequenced genomes that provides insights into the distribution, diversity, origin and evolution of IStrons. We show that IStrons have a restricted phylogenetic distribution limited to two bacterial phyla, the Firmicutes and the Fusobacteria. Nevertheless, diverse IStrons representing two major groups targeting different insertion site motifs were identified. This taken with the finding that while the intron components of all IStrons belong to the same structural class, they are fused to different IS families, indicates that multiple intron-IS symbioses have occurred during evolution. In addition, introns and IS elements related to those that were at the origin of IStrons were also identified.}, } @article {pmid25323862, year = {2015}, author = {Gemperline, E and Jayaraman, D and Maeda, J and Ané, JM and Li, L}, title = {Multifaceted investigation of metabolites during nitrogen fixation in Medicago via high resolution MALDI-MS imaging and ESI-MS.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {149-158}, pmid = {25323862}, issn = {1879-1123}, support = {S10 RR029531/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; S10RR029531/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Medicago/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Metabolome/physiology ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/*methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; }, abstract = {Legumes have developed the unique ability to establish a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. This interaction results in the formation of root nodules in which rhizobia thrive and reduce atmospheric dinitrogen into plant-usable ammonium through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Owing to the availability of genetic information for both of the symbiotic partners, the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti association is an excellent model for examining the BNF process. Although metabolites are important in this symbiotic association, few studies have investigated the array of metabolites that influence this process. Of these studies, most target only a few specific metabolites, the roles of which are either well known or are part of a well-characterized metabolic pathway. Here, we used a multifaceted mass spectrometric (MS) approach to detect and identify the key metabolites that are present during BNF using the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti association as the model system. High mass accuracy and high resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) Orbitrap instruments were used in this study and provide complementary results for more in-depth characterization of the nitrogen-fixation process. We used well-characterized plant and bacterial mutants to highlight differences between the metabolites that are present in functional versus nonfunctional nodules. Our study highlights the benefits of using a combination of mass spectrometric techniques to detect differences in metabolite composition and the distributions of these metabolites in plant biology.}, } @article {pmid25323622, year = {2015}, author = {Kumar, S and Kumari, R and Pandey, R}, title = {New insight-guided approaches to detect, cure, prevent and eliminate malaria.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {252}, number = {3}, pages = {717-753}, pmid = {25323622}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Artemisinins/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Culicidae/parasitology ; *Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; *Disease Eradication ; Drug Resistance/drug effects ; Humans ; Malaria/diagnosis/drug therapy/*prevention & control/*therapy ; }, abstract = {New challenges posed by the development of resistance against artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as well as previous first-line therapies, and the continuing absence of vaccine, have given impetus to research in all areas of malaria control. This review portrays the ongoing progress in several directions of malaria research. The variants of RTS,S and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) are being developed and test adapted as multicomponent and multistage malaria control vaccines, while many other vaccine candidates and methodologies to produce antigens are under experimentation. To track and prevent the spread of artemisinin resistance from Southeast Asia to other parts of the world, rolling circle-enhanced enzyme activity detection (REEAD), a time- and cost-effective malaria diagnosis in field conditions, and a DNA marker associated with artemisinin resistance have become available. Novel mosquito repellents and mosquito trapping and killing techniques much more effective than the prevalent ones are undergoing field testing. Mosquito lines stably infected with their symbiotic wild-type or genetically engineered bacteria that kill sympatric malaria parasites are being constructed and field tested for stopping malaria transmission. A complementary approach being pursued is the addition of ivermectin-like drug molecules to ACTs to cure malaria and kill mosquitoes. Experiments are in progress to eradicate malaria mosquito by making it genetically male sterile. High-throughput screening procedures are being developed and used to discover molecules that possess long in vivo half life and are active against liver and blood stages for the fast cure of malaria symptoms caused by simple or relapsing and drug-sensitive and drug-resistant types of varied malaria parasites, can stop gametocytogenesis and sporogony and could be given in one dose. Target-based antimalarial drug designing has begun. Some of the putative next-generation antimalarials that possess in their scaffold structure several of the desired properties of malaria cure and control are exemplified by OZ439, NITD609, ELQ300 and tafenoquine that are already undergoing clinical trials, and decoquinate, usnic acid, torin-2, ferroquine, WEHI-916, MMV396749 and benzothiophene-type N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) inhibitors, which are candidates for future clinical usage. Among these, NITD609, ELQ300, decoquinate, usnic acid, torin-2 and NMT inhibitors not only cure simple malaria and are prophylactic against simple malaria, but they also cure relapsing malaria.}, } @article {pmid25318900, year = {2014}, author = {Bayer, K and Moitinho-Silva, L and Brümmer, F and Cannistraci, CV and Ravasi, T and Hentschel, U}, title = {GeoChip-based insights into the microbial functional gene repertoire of marine sponges (high microbial abundance, low microbial abundance) and seawater.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {3}, pages = {832-843}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12441}, pmid = {25318900}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Archaea/*genetics ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Denitrification ; Indian Ocean ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The GeoChip 4.2 gene array was employed to interrogate the microbial functional gene repertoire of sponges and seawater collected from the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Complementary amplicon sequencing confirmed the microbial community composition characteristic of high microbial abundance (HMA) and low microbial abundance (LMA) sponges. By use of GeoChip, altogether 20,273 probes encoding for 627 functional genes and representing 16 gene categories were identified. Minimum curvilinear embedding analyses revealed a clear separation between the samples. The HMA/LMA dichotomy was stronger than any possible geographic pattern, which is shown here for the first time on the level of functional genes. However, upon inspection of individual genes, very few specific differences were discernible. Differences were related to microbial ammonia oxidation, ammonification, and archaeal autotrophic carbon fixation (higher gene abundance in sponges over seawater) as well as denitrification and radiation-stress-related genes (lower gene abundance in sponges over seawater). Except for few documented specific differences the functional gene repertoire between the different sources appeared largely similar. This study expands previous reports in that functional gene convergence is not only reported between HMA and LMA sponges but also between sponges and seawater.}, } @article {pmid25316778, year = {2014}, author = {Ausubel, FM}, title = {Twists and turns: my career path and concerns about the future.}, journal = {Genetics}, volume = {198}, number = {2}, pages = {431-434}, pmid = {25316778}, issn = {1943-2631}, support = {P30 DK040561/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Awards and Prizes ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Molecular Biology/history ; Plant Immunity/*genetics ; United States ; }, abstract = {THE Genetics Society of America's Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal is awarded to an individual GSA member for lifetime achievement in the field of genetics. The 2014 recipient is Frederick Ausubel, whose 40-year career has centered on host-microbe interactions and host innate immunity. He is widely recognized as a key scientist responsible for establishing the modern postrecombinant DNA field of host-microbe interactions using simple nonvertebrate hosts. He has used genetic approaches to conduct pioneering work that spawned six related areas of research: the evolution and regulation of Rhizobium genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation; the regulation of Rhizobium genes by two-component regulatory systems involving histidine kinases; the establishment of Arabidopsis thaliana as a worldwide model system; the identification of a large family of plant disease resistance genes; the identification of so-called multi-host bacterial pathogens; and the demonstration that Caenorhabditis elegans has an evolutionarily conserved innate immune system that shares features of both plant and mammalian immunity.}, } @article {pmid25315832, year = {2015}, author = {Bakhoum, N and Galiana, A and Le Roux, C and Kane, A and Duponnois, R and Ndoye, F and Fall, D and Noba, K and Sylla, SN and Diouf, D}, title = {Phylogeny of nodulation genes and symbiotic diversity of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. and A. seyal (Del.) Mesorhizobium strains from different regions of Senegal.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {69}, number = {3}, pages = {641-651}, pmid = {25315832}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Acyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Senegal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal are small, deciduous legume trees, most highly valued for nitrogen fixation and for the production of gum arabic, a commodity of international trade since ancient times. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by legumes represents the main natural input of atmospheric N2 into ecosystems which may ultimately benefit all organisms. We analyzed the nod and nif symbiotic genes and symbiotic properties of root-nodulating bacteria isolated from A. senegal and A. seyal in Senegal. The symbiotic genes of rhizobial strains from the two Acacia species were closed to those of Mesorhizobium plurifarium and grouped separately in the phylogenetic trees. Phylogeny of rhizobial nitrogen fixation gene nifH was similar to those of nodulation genes (nodA and nodC). All A. senegal rhizobial strains showed identical nodA, nodC, and nifH gene sequences. By contrast, A. seyal rhizobial strains exhibited different symbiotic gene sequences. Efficiency tests demonstrated that inoculation of both Acacia species significantly affected nodulation, total dry weight, acetylene reduction activity (ARA), and specific acetylene reduction activity (SARA) of plants. However, these cross-inoculation tests did not show any specificity of Mesorhizobium strains toward a given Acacia host species in terms of infectivity and efficiency as stated by principal component analysis (PCA). This study demonstrates that large-scale inoculation of A. senegal and A. seyal in the framework of reafforestation programs requires a preliminary step of rhizobial strain selection for both Acacia species.}, } @article {pmid25314408, year = {2014}, author = {de Oliveira, MM and Dickman, R}, title = {Phase diagram of the symbiotic two-species contact process.}, journal = {Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {90}, number = {3}, pages = {032120}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.90.032120}, pmid = {25314408}, issn = {1550-2376}, mesh = {Diffusion ; *Models, Theoretical ; Monte Carlo Method ; Probability ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We study the two-species symbiotic contact process, recently proposed by de Oliveira, Santos, and Dickman [Phys. Rev. E 86, 011121 (2012)]. In this model, each site of a lattice may be vacant or host single individuals of species A and/or B. Individuals at sites with both species present interact in a symbiotic manner, having a reduced death rate μ<1. Otherwise, the dynamics follows the rules of the basic contact process, with individuals reproducing to vacant neighbor sites at rate λ and dying at a rate of unity. We determine the full phase diagram in the λ-μ plane in one and two dimensions by means of exact numerical quasistationary distributions, cluster approximations, and Monte Carlo simulations. We also study the effects of asymmetric creation rates and diffusion of individuals. In two dimensions, for sufficiently strong symbiosis (i.e., small μ), the absorbing-state phase transition becomes discontinuous for diffusion rates D within a certain range. We report preliminary results on the critical surface and tricritical line in the λ-μ-D space. Our results raise the possibility that strongly symbiotic associations of mobile species may be vulnerable to sudden extinction under increasingly adverse conditions.}, } @article {pmid25314131, year = {2014}, author = {Scott, A and Hardefeldt, JM and Hall, KC}, title = {Asexual propagation of sea anemones that host anemonefishes: implications for the marine ornamental aquarium trade and restocking programs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e109566}, pmid = {25314131}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquaculture/*methods ; Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Coral Reefs ; Eating ; Female ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Regeneration ; Reproduction, Asexual ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Anemonefishes and their host sea anemones form an iconic symbiotic association in reef environments, and are highly sought after in the marine aquarium trade. This study examines asexual propagation as a method for culturing a geographically widespread and commonly traded species of host sea anemone, Entacmaea quadricolor. Two experiments were done: the first to establish whether size or colour morph influenced survival after cutting into halves or quarters; and the second to see whether feeding was needed to maximise survival and growth after cutting. Survival rates were high in both experiments, with 89.3 and 93.8% of the anemones cut in half, and 62.5 and 80.4% cut in quarters surviving in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Anemones that were cut in half were larger in size, and healed and grew quicker than those cut in quarters. However, even though survival was lower when the individuals were cut in quarters, this treatment produced the greatest number of anemones. Feeding increased oral disc diameter growth and reduced wet weight loss, but did not significantly influence pedal disc diameter. Given that the anemones took up to 56 d to form an off-centre mouth, it is highly likely that feeding may have produced greater effect if the experiment was run for longer. This low technology method of propagation could be used to produce individuals throughout the year and the anemones could then be used to supply the aquarium trade or restock depleted habitats, thus supporting biodiversity conservation in coral reef areas.}, } @article {pmid25313047, year = {2014}, author = {Lindsay, KJ and Du, J and Sloat, SR and Contreras, L and Linton, JD and Turner, SJ and Sadilek, M and Satrústegui, J and Hurley, JB}, title = {Pyruvate kinase and aspartate-glutamate carrier distributions reveal key metabolic links between neurons and glia in retina.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {43}, pages = {15579-15584}, pmid = {25313047}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 EY006641/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; F32 EY006641/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; EY1730/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; EY06641/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 EY001730/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY017863/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; EY023346/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 EY023346/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK017047/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems, Acidic/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antiporters/*metabolism ; Aspartic Acid/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Cells, Cultured ; Ependymoglial Cells/metabolism/radiation effects ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glutamine/metabolism ; Glycolysis ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Isoenzymes/metabolism ; Lactose/metabolism ; Light ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Neuroglia/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Oxidation-Reduction/radiation effects ; Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate/metabolism/radiation effects ; Pyruvate Kinase/*metabolism ; Retinal Neurons/*metabolism/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between neurons and glia must adapt to structures, functions, and metabolic roles of the tissues they are in. We show here that Müller glia in retinas have specific enzyme deficiencies that can enhance their ability to synthesize Gln. The metabolic cost of these deficiencies is that they impair the Müller cell's ability to metabolize Glc. We show here that the cells can compensate for this deficiency by using metabolites produced by neurons. Müller glia are deficient for pyruvate kinase (PK) and for aspartate/glutamate carrier 1 (AGC1), a key component of the malate-aspartate shuttle. In contrast, photoreceptor neurons express AGC1 and the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase, which is commonly associated with aerobic glycolysis in tumors, proliferating cells, and some other cell types. Our findings reveal a previously unidentified type of metabolic relationship between neurons and glia. Müller glia compensate for their unique metabolic adaptations by using lactate and aspartate from neurons as surrogates for their missing PK and AGC1.}, } @article {pmid25311577, year = {2015}, author = {Mao, L and Franke, J}, title = {Symbiosis, dysbiosis, and rebiosis-the value of metaproteomics in human microbiome monitoring.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {15}, number = {5-6}, pages = {1142-1151}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201400329}, pmid = {25311577}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Biomarkers/analysis ; *Dysbiosis ; Humans ; Metagenomics/*methods ; *Microbiota ; Proteomics/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {As just one species in the larger ecosystem, the health and disease status of human beings is highly dependent on other biological species in their environment, both inside and outside of the human body. Since proteins are the major functional building blocks of the biological world, most homeostasis regulations are realized at the protein level. Diagnosis-oriented monitoring of cross-species proteostasis will constitute a solid basis for next-generation preventive medicine. After a brief review of the history and state-of-the-art of metaproteomics in the field of environmental health research, focus of this perspective article will be put on the role of cross-species joint efforts in symbiosis, dysbiosis, and rebiosis of the human gut during human development, pathogenesis, and aging. The distinctive merit of metaproteomics on health state monitoring will be given special attention. Questions to be addressed include: How this microbial ecosystems in and around humans beings coevolve and stabilize during human development and aging? How the grade of microbial virulence is controlled at the community level? What happens upon temporary or ultimate homeostasis breakdown? How metaproteomics will affect next-generation diagnostics and preventive medicine? As an increasing amount of data becomes available, researchers need to become ever more hypothesis-oriented, so as not to be lost in sea of data, but instead efficiently extract the insights from "Big data." Future directions of metaproteomic research and its integration with other "omics" will be suggested, including the sophisticated use of systems biological approaches such as predictive modeling and simulations, in order to truly serve next-generation medicine.}, } @article {pmid25309990, year = {2014}, author = {Lane, MD and Seelig, B}, title = {Advances in the directed evolution of proteins.}, journal = {Current opinion in chemical biology}, volume = {22}, number = {}, pages = {129-136}, pmid = {25309990}, issn = {1879-0402}, support = {R01 GM108703/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008244/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM108703/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Directed Molecular Evolution/*methods ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Engineering/*methods ; Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Natural evolution has produced a great diversity of proteins that can be harnessed for numerous applications in biotechnology and pharmaceutical science. Commonly, specific applications require proteins to be tailored by protein engineering. Directed evolution is a type of protein engineering that yields proteins with the desired properties under well-defined conditions and in a practical time frame. While directed evolution has been employed for decades, recent creative developments enable the generation of proteins with previously inaccessible properties. Novel selection strategies, faster techniques, the inclusion of unnatural amino acids or modifications, and the symbiosis of rational design approaches and directed evolution continue to advance protein engineering.}, } @article {pmid25309571, year = {2014}, author = {Stergiopoulos, I and Gordon, TR}, title = {Cryptic fungal infections: the hidden agenda of plant pathogens.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {506}, pmid = {25309571}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid25309561, year = {2014}, author = {Carbonnel, S and Gutjahr, C}, title = {Control of arbuscular mycorrhiza development by nutrient signals.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {462}, pmid = {25309561}, issn = {1664-462X}, } @article {pmid25309530, year = {2014}, author = {Garcia, JR and Gerardo, NM}, title = {The symbiont side of symbiosis: do microbes really benefit?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {510}, pmid = {25309530}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Microbial associations are integral to all eukaryotes. Mutualism, the interaction of two species for the benefit of both, is an important aspect of microbial associations, with evidence that multicellular organisms in particular benefit from microbes. However, the microbe's perspective has largely been ignored, and it is unknown whether most microbial symbionts benefit from their associations with hosts. It has been presumed that microbial symbionts receive host-derived nutrients or a competition-free environment with reduced predation, but there have been few empirical tests, or even critical assessments, of these assumptions. We evaluate these hypotheses based on available evidence, which indicate reduced competition and predation are not universal benefits for symbionts. Some symbionts do receive nutrients from their host, but this has not always been linked to a corresponding increase in symbiont fitness. We recommend experiments to test symbiont fitness using current experimental systems of symbiosis and detail considerations for other systems. Incorporating symbiont fitness into symbiosis research will provide insight into the evolution of mutualistic interactions and cooperation in general.}, } @article {pmid25309519, year = {2014}, author = {Mejía, LC and Herre, EA and Sparks, JP and Winter, K and García, MN and Van Bael, SA and Stitt, J and Shi, Z and Zhang, Y and Guiltinan, MJ and Maximova, SN}, title = {Pervasive effects of a dominant foliar endophytic fungus on host genetic and phenotypic expression in a tropical tree.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {479}, pmid = {25309519}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {It is increasingly recognized that macro-organisms (corals, insects, plants, vertebrates) consist of both host tissues and multiple microbial symbionts that play essential roles in their host's ecological and evolutionary success. Consequently, identifying benefits and costs of symbioses, as well as mechanisms underlying them are research priorities. All plants surveyed under natural conditions harbor foliar endophytic fungi (FEF) in their leaf tissues, often at high densities. Despite producing no visible effects on their hosts, experiments have nonetheless shown that FEF reduce pathogen and herbivore damage. Here, combining results from three genomic, and two physiological experiments, we demonstrate pervasive genetic and phenotypic effects of the apparently asymptomatic endophytes on their hosts. Specifically, inoculation of endophyte-free (E-) Theobroma cacao leaves with Colletotrichum tropicale (E+), the dominant FEF species in healthy T. cacao, induces consistent changes in the expression of hundreds of host genes, including many with known defensive functions. Further, E+ plants exhibited increased lignin and cellulose content, reduced maximum rates of photosynthesis (Amax), and enrichment of nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 isotopes. These phenotypic changes observed in E+ plants correspond to changes in expression of specific functional genes in related pathways. Moreover, a cacao gene (Tc00g04254) highly up-regulated by C. tropicale also confers resistance to pathogen damage in the absence of endophytes or their products in host tissues. Thus, the benefits of increased pathogen resistance in E+ plants are derived in part from up-regulation of intrinsic host defense responses, and appear to be offset by potential costs including reduced photosynthesis, altered host nitrogen metabolism, and endophyte heterotrophy of host tissues. Similar effects are likely in most plant-endophyte interactions, and should be recognized in the design and interpretation of genetic and phenotypic studies of plants.}, } @article {pmid25307784, year = {2015}, author = {De Coninck, B and Timmermans, P and Vos, C and Cammue, BP and Kazan, K}, title = {What lies beneath: belowground defense strategies in plants.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {91-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.09.007}, pmid = {25307784}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Oomycetes/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens result worldwide in significant yield losses in economically important crops. In contrast to foliar diseases, relatively little is known about the nature of root defenses against these pathogens. This review summarizes the current knowledge on root infection strategies, root-specific preformed barriers, pathogen recognition, and defense signaling. Studies reviewed here suggest that many commonalities as well as differences exist in defense strategies employed by roots and foliar tissues during pathogen attack. Importantly, in addition to pathogens, plant roots interact with a plethora of non-pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms. Therefore, a good understanding of how plant roots interact with the microbiome would be particularly important to engineer resistance to root pathogens without negatively altering root-beneficial microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid25307134, year = {2015}, author = {Fernández, E}, title = {[Authors-reviewers and editors, parasitism or symbiosis?].}, journal = {Gaceta sanitaria}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {154}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaceta.2014.09.002}, pmid = {25307134}, issn = {1578-1283}, mesh = {Authorship ; Humans ; *Peer Review, Research ; Periodicals as Topic ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid25306530, year = {2014}, author = {Zimorski, V and Ku, C and Martin, WF and Gould, SB}, title = {Endosymbiotic theory for organelle origins.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {}, pages = {38-48}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2014.09.008}, pmid = {25306530}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {232975/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/physiology ; Eukaryotic Cells/physiology ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Organelles/*metabolism ; Prokaryotic Cells/physiology ; Protein Transport ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic theory goes back over 100 years. It explains the similarity of chloroplasts and mitochondria to free-living prokaryotes by suggesting that the organelles arose from prokaryotes through (endo)symbiosis. Gene trees provide important evidence in favour of symbiotic theory at a coarse-grained level, but the finer we get into the details of branches in trees containing dozens or hundreds of taxa, the more equivocal evidence for endosymbiotic events sometimes becomes. It seems that either the interpretation of some endosymbiotic events are wrong, or something is wrong with the interpretations of some gene trees having many leaves. There is a need for evidence that is independent of gene trees and that can help outline the course of symbiosis in eukaryote evolution. Protein import is the strongest evidence we have for the single origin of chloroplasts and mitochondria. It is probably also the strongest evidence we have to sort out the number and nature of secondary endosymbiotic events that have occurred in evolution involving the red plastid lineage. If we relax our interpretation of individual gene trees, endosymbiotic theory can tell us a lot.}, } @article {pmid25305639, year = {2014}, author = {Hyde, ER and Luk, B and Cron, S and Kusic, L and McCue, T and Bauch, T and Kaplan, H and Tribble, G and Petrosino, JF and Bryan, NS}, title = {Characterization of the rat oral microbiome and the effects of dietary nitrate.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {249-257}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.09.017}, pmid = {25305639}, issn = {1873-4596}, support = {T32 GM008231/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Diet ; Humans ; Male ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Molecular Typing ; Nitrates/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Oxides/blood ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rats, Wistar ; Tongue/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway to nitric oxide (NO) production is a symbiotic pathway in mammals that is dependent on nitrate reducing oral commensal bacteria. Studies suggest that by contributing NO to the mammalian host, the oral microbiome helps maintain cardiovascular health. To begin to understand how changes in oral microbiota affect physiological functions such as blood pressure, we have characterized the Wistar rat nitrate reducing oral microbiome. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis we compare the native Wistar rat tongue microbiome to that of healthy humans and to that of rats with sodium nitrate and chlorhexidine mouthwash treatments. We demonstrate that the rat tongue microbiome is less diverse than the human tongue microbiome, but that the physiological activity is comparable, as sodium nitrate supplementation significantly lowered diastolic blood pressure in Wistar rats and also lowers blood pressure (diastolic and systolic) in humans. We also show for the first time that sodium nitrate supplementation alters the abundance of specific bacterial species on the tongue. Our results suggest that the changes in oral nitrate reducing bacteria may affect nitric oxide availability and physiological functions such as blood pressure. Understanding individual changes in human oral microbiome may offer novel dietary approaches to restore NO availability and blood pressure.}, } @article {pmid25305474, year = {2014}, author = {Redinbo, MR}, title = {The microbiota, chemical symbiosis, and human disease.}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology}, volume = {426}, number = {23}, pages = {3877-3891}, pmid = {25305474}, issn = {1089-8638}, support = {R01 CA098468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Diseases/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Lung/*microbiology ; Lung Diseases/microbiology ; Metabolic Diseases/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Nasal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Sinusitis/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Our understanding of mammalian-microbial mutualism has expanded by combing microbial sequencing with evolving molecular and cellular methods, as well as unique model systems. Here, the recent literature linking the microbiota to diseases of three of the key mammalian mucosal epithelial compartments-nasal, lung, and gastrointestinal tract-is reviewed with a focus on new knowledge about the taxa, species, proteins, and chemistry that promote health and impact progression toward disease. The information presented is further organized by specific diseases now associated with the microbiota: Staphylococcus aureus infection and rhinosinusitis in the nasal-sinus mucosa, as well as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and asthma in the pulmonary tissues. For the vast and microbially dynamic gastrointestinal compartment, several disorders are considered, including obesity, atherosclerosis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, drug toxicity, and even autism. Our appreciation of the chemical symbiosis ongoing between human systems and the microbiota continues to grow and suggests new opportunities for modulating this symbiosis using designed interventions.}, } @article {pmid25304318, year = {2014}, author = {Saha, S and Dutta, A and Bhattacharya, A and DasGupta, M}, title = {Intracellular catalytic domain of symbiosis receptor kinase hyperactivates spontaneous nodulation in absence of rhizobia.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {166}, number = {4}, pages = {1699-1708}, pmid = {25304318}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Arachis/enzymology/genetics ; Catalytic Domain ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SYMRK), a member of the Nod factor signaling pathway, is indispensible for both nodule organogenesis and intracellular colonization of symbionts in rhizobia-legume symbiosis. Here, we show that the intracellular kinase domain of a SYMRK (SYMRK-kd) but not its inactive or full-length version leads to hyperactivation of the nodule organogenic program in Medicago truncatula TR25 (symrk knockout mutant) in the absence of rhizobia. Spontaneous nodulation in TR25/SYMRK-kd was 6-fold higher than rhizobia-induced nodulation in TR25/SYMRK roots. The merged clusters of spontaneous nodules indicated that TR25 roots in the presence of SYMRK-kd have overcome the control over both nodule numbers and their spatial position. In the presence of rhizobia, SYMRK-kd could rescue the epidermal infection processes in TR25, but colonization of symbionts in the nodule interior was significantly compromised. In summary, ligand-independent deregulated activation of SYMRK hyperactivates nodule organogenesis in the absence of rhizobia, but its ectodomain is required for proper symbiont colonization.}, } @article {pmid25303686, year = {2014}, author = {Wooldridge, SA}, title = {Assessing coral health and resilience in a warming ocean: why looks can be deceptive.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {36}, number = {11}, pages = {1041-1049}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201400074}, pmid = {25303686}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecology ; Eutrophication ; Geologic Sediments ; *Global Warming ; Oceans and Seas ; Oxygen Consumption/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {In this paper I challenge the notion that a healthy and resilient coral is (in all cases) a fast-growing coral, and by inference, that a reef characterised by a fast trajectory toward high coral cover is necessarily a healthy and resilient reef. Instead, I explain how emerging evidence links fast skeletal extension rates with elevated coral-algae (symbiotic) respiration rates, most-often mediated by nutrient-enlarged symbiont populations and/or rising sea temperatures. Elevated respiration rates can act to reduce the autotrophic capacity (photosynthesis:respiration ratio) of the symbiosis. This restricts the capacity of the coral host to build and maintain sufficient energy reserves (e.g. lipids) needed to sustain essential homeostatic functions, including sexual reproduction and biophysical stress resistance. Moreover, it explains the somewhat paradoxical scenario, whereby at the ecological instant before the reef-building capacity of the symbiosis is lost, a reef can look visually at its best and be accreting CaCO(3) at its maximum.}, } @article {pmid25303335, year = {2015}, author = {Becker, Y and Eaton, CJ and Brasell, E and May, KJ and Becker, M and Hassing, B and Cartwright, GM and Reinhold, L and Scott, B}, title = {The Fungal Cell-Wall Integrity MAPK Cascade Is Crucial for Hyphal Network Formation and Maintenance of Restrictive Growth of Epichloë festucae in Symbiosis With Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {69-85}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-14-0183-R}, pmid = {25303335}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {2 P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial ; Epichloe/enzymology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Reporter ; Hyphae ; Lolium/*microbiology ; *MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloë festucae is a mutualistic symbiont that systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of Lolium perenne leaves to form a highly structured and interconnected hyphal network. In an Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA forward genetic screen, we identified a mutant TM1066 that had a severe host interaction phenotype, causing stunting and premature senescence of the host. Molecular analysis revealed that the mutation responsible for this phenotype was in the cell-wall integrity (CWI) mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), mkkA. Mutants generated by targeted deletion of the mkkA or the downstream mpkA kinase recapitulated the phenotypes observed for TM1066. Both mutants were defective in hyphal cell–cell fusion, formed intrahyphal hyphae, had enhanced conidiation, and showed microcyclic conidiation. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy analysis of leaf tissue showed that mutant hyphae were more abundant than the wild type in the intercellular spaces and colonized the vascular bundles. Hyphal branches failed to fuse but, instead, grew past one another to form bundles of convoluted hyphae. Mutant hyphae showed increased fluorescence with AF488-WGA, indicative of increased accessibility of chitin, a hypothesis supported by changes in the cell-wall ultrastructure. These results show that the CWI MAPK pathway is a key signaling pathway for controlling the mutualistic symbiotic interaction between E. festucae and L. perenne.}, } @article {pmid25301497, year = {2015}, author = {Parker, MA}, title = {The spread of Bradyrhizobium lineages across host legume clades: from Abarema to Zygia.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {69}, number = {3}, pages = {630-640}, pmid = {25301497}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genomic Islands ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To analyze macroevolutionary patterns in host use by Bradyrhizobium root-nodule bacteria, 420 strains from 75 legume host genera (sampled in 25 countries) were characterized for portions of six housekeeping genes and the nifD locus in the symbiosis island chromosomal region. Most Bradyrhizobium clades utilized very divergent sets of legume hosts. This suggests that Bradyrhizobium spread across the major legume lineages early in its evolution, with only a few derived clades subsequently developing a narrower pattern of host use. Significant modularity existed in the network structure of recent host jumps (inferred from cases where closely related strain pairs were found on different legume taxa). This implies that recent host switching has occurred most often within particular subgroups of legumes. Nevertheless, the observed link structure would allow a bacterial lineage to reach almost any of the 75 legume host genera in a relatively small number of steps. However, permutation tests also showed that symbionts from certain host plant clades were significantly more similar than would be the case if bacteria were distributed at random on the trees. Related legumes thus harbored related sets of symbionts in some cases, indicating some degree of phylogenetic conservatism in partner selection.}, } @article {pmid25299364, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, X and Reed, JL}, title = {Adaptive evolution of synthetic cooperating communities improves growth performance.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e108297}, pmid = {25299364}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Coculture Techniques/methods ; Culture Media/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/*growth & development/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Leucine/metabolism ; Microbial Interactions/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Physiological Phenomena/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between organisms are important for human health and biotechnological applications. Microbial mutualism is a widespread phenomenon and is important in maintaining natural microbial communities. Although cooperative interactions are prevalent in nature, little is known about the processes that allow their initial establishment, govern population dynamics and affect evolutionary processes. To investigate cooperative interactions between bacteria, we constructed, characterized, and adaptively evolved a synthetic community comprised of leucine and lysine Escherichia coli auxotrophs. The co-culture can grow in glucose minimal medium only if the two auxotrophs exchange essential metabolites - lysine and leucine (or its precursors). Our experiments showed that a viable co-culture using these two auxotrophs could be established and adaptively evolved to increase growth rates (by ∼3 fold) and optical densities. While independently evolved co-cultures achieved similar improvements in growth, they took different evolutionary trajectories leading to different community compositions. Experiments with individual isolates from these evolved co-cultures showed that changes in both the leucine and lysine auxotrophs improved growth of the co-culture. Interestingly, while evolved isolates increased growth of co-cultures, they exhibited decreased growth in mono-culture (in the presence of leucine or lysine). A genome-scale metabolic model of the co-culture was also constructed and used to investigate the effects of amino acid (leucine or lysine) release and uptake rates on growth and composition of the co-culture. When the metabolic model was constrained by the estimated leucine and lysine release rates, the model predictions agreed well with experimental growth rates and composition measurements. While this study and others have focused on cooperative interactions amongst community members, the adaptive evolution of communities with other types of interactions (e.g., commensalism, ammensalism or parasitism) would also be of interest.}, } @article {pmid25299108, year = {2014}, author = {Su, LJ and Liu, H and Li, Y and Zhang, HF and Chen, M and Gao, XH and Wang, FQ and Song, AD}, title = {Cellulolytic activity and structure of symbiotic bacteria in locust guts.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular research : GMR}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {7926-7936}, doi = {10.4238/2014.September.29.6}, pmid = {25299108}, issn = {1676-5680}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; DNA Primers ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Grasshoppers/*microbiology ; Hydrolysis ; Native Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Locusts are able to digest the cellulose of Gramineae plants, resulting in their being considered as major crop pests. To illustrate the mechanism involved in cellulose digestion, the cellulolytic activity and zymography in the gut contents of 16 locust species were determined using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate. The diversity of gut symbiotic bacteria was studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results showed that high CMC activity was present in Acrididae gut fluid (mean 356.4 U/g proteins). Of the 5 locust species, Oxya chinensis had the highest diversity of intestinal symbiotic bacteria, characterized by the DGGE profile containing more than 20 bands of 16S rRNA. Klebsiella pneumoniae, in the gut of Locusta migratoria manilensis, was identified as the most abundant symbiotic bacterium by DNA sequencing, with a relative abundance of 19.74%. In comparison, Methylobacterium sp was the most dominant species in the Atractomorpha sinensis gut, with a relative abundance of 29.04%. The results indicated that the cellulolytic enzymes and gut microbial communities probably reflected their phylogenetic relationship with different locust species and associated feeding strategies.}, } @article {pmid25298030, year = {2015}, author = {Werner, GDA and Kiers, ET}, title = {Order of arrival structures arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {4}, pages = {1515-1524}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13092}, pmid = {25298030}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Desiccation ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Introduced Species ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Development ; Species Specificity ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Priority effects - the impact of a species' arrival on subsequent community development - have been shown to influence species composition in many organisms. Whether priority effects among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) structure fungal root communities is not well understood. Here, we investigated whether priority effects influence the success of two closely related AMF species (Rhizophagus irregularis and Glomus aggregatum), hypothesizing that a resident AMF suppresses invader success, this effect is time-dependent and a resident will experience reduced growth when invaded. We performed two glasshouse experiments using modified pots, which permitted direct inoculation of resident and invading AMF on the roots. We quantified intraradical AMF abundances using quantitative PCR and visual colonization percentages. We found that both fungi suppressed the invading species and that this effect was strongly dependent on the time lag between inoculations. In contrast to our expectations, neither resident AMF was negatively affected by invasion. We show that order of arrival can influence the abundance of AMF species colonizing a host. These priority effects can have important implications for AMF ecology and the use of fungal inocula in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid25295497, year = {2014}, author = {Seyedsayamdost, MR and Wang, R and Kolter, R and Clardy, J}, title = {Hybrid biosynthesis of roseobacticides from algal and bacterial precursor molecules.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {136}, number = {43}, pages = {15150-15153}, pmid = {25295497}, issn = {1520-5126}, support = {R01 GM082137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K99 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM82137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Haptophyta/*physiology ; Rhodobacteraceae/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Toxins, Biological/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Roseobacticides regulate the symbiotic relationship between a marine bacterium (Phaeobacter inhibens) and a marine microalga (Emiliania huxleyi). This relationship can be mutualistic, when the algal host provides food for the bacteria and the bacteria produce growth hormones and antibiotics for the algae, or parasitic, when the algae senesce and release p-coumaric acid. The released p-coumaric acid causes the bacteria to synthesize roseobacticides, which are nM-μM toxins for the algae. We examined the biosynthesis of roseobacticides and report that all roseobacticide precursors play critical roles during the mutualist phase of the symbiosis. Roseobacticides are biosynthesized from the algal growth promoter, the major food molecule provided by the algal cells, and the algal senescence signal that initiates the mutualist-to-parasite switch. Thus, molecules that are beneficial during mutualism are diverted to the synthesis of toxins during parasitism. A plausible mechanism for assembling roseobacticides from these molecules is proposed.}, } @article {pmid25294010, year = {2014}, author = {Verástegui-Valdés, MM and Zhang, YJ and Rivera-Orduña, FN and Cheng, HP and Sui, XH and Wang, ET}, title = {Microsymbionts of Phaseolus vulgaris in acid and alkaline soils of Mexico.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {8}, pages = {605-612}, pmid = {25294010}, issn = {1618-0984}, support = {SC3 GM081147/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SGM081147//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Rhizobium/classification/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In order to investigate bean-nodulating rhizobia in different types of soil, 41 nodule isolates from acid and alkaline soils in Mexico were characterized. Based upon the phylogenetic studies of 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII, recA, rpoB, gyrB, nifH and nodC genes, the isolates originating from acid soils were identified as the phaseoli symbiovar of the Rhizobium leguminosarum-like group and Rhizobium grahamii, whereas the isolates from alkaline soils were defined as Ensifer americanum sv. mediterranense and Rhizobium radiobacter. The isolates of "R. leguminosarum" and E. americanum harbored nodC and nifH genes, but the symbiotic genes were not detected in the four isolates of the other two species. It was the first time that "R. leguminosarum" and E. americanum have been reported as bean-nodulating bacteria in Mexico. The high similarity of symbiotic genes in the Rhizobium and Ensifer populations showed that these genes had the same origin and have diversified recently in different rhizobial species. Phenotypic characterization revealed that the "R. leguminosarum" population was more adapted to the acid and low salinity conditions, while the E. americanum population preferred alkaline conditions. The findings of this study have improved the knowledge of the diversity, geographic distribution and evolution of bean-nodulating rhizobia in Mexico.}, } @article {pmid25293963, year = {2014}, author = {Charpentier, M and Sun, J and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Abscisic acid promotion of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization requires a component of the PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A complex.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {166}, number = {4}, pages = {2077-2090}, pmid = {25293963}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism ; Calcium Signaling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Protein Phosphatase 2/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes can establish intracellular interactions with symbiotic microbes to enhance their fitness, including the interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungi colonize root epidermal cells to gain access to the root cortex, and this requires the recognition by the host plant of fungus-made mycorrhizal factors. Genetic dissection has revealed the symbiosis signaling pathway that allows the recognition of AM fungi, but the downstream processes that are required to promote fungal infection are poorly understood. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been shown to promote arbuscule formation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we show that ABA modulates the establishment of the AM symbiosis in Medicago truncatula by promoting fungal colonization at low concentrations and impairing it at high concentrations. We show that the positive regulation of AM colonization via ABA requires a PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A (PP2A) holoenzyme subunit, PP2AB'1. Mutations in PP2AB'1 cause reduced levels of AM colonization that cannot be rescued with permissive ABA application. The action of PP2AB'1 in response to ABA is unlinked to the generation of calcium oscillations, as the pp2aB'1 mutant displays a normal calcium response. This contrasts with the application of high concentrations of ABA that impairs mycorrhizal factor-induced calcium oscillations, suggesting different modes of action of ABA on the AM symbiosis. Our work reveals that ABA functions at multiple levels to regulate the AM symbiosis and that a PP2A phosphatase is required for the ABA promotion of AM colonization.}, } @article {pmid25293935, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, Y and Wang, Z and Amyot, L and Tian, L and Xu, Z and Gruber, MY and Hannoufa, A}, title = {Ectopic expression of miR156 represses nodulation and causes morphological and developmental changes in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {290}, number = {2}, pages = {471-484}, pmid = {25293935}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Biofuels ; Flowers/genetics/growth & development ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Enhancement ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development ; MicroRNAs/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics/growth & development ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Plant/biosynthesis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The effects of microRNA156 overexpression on general plant architecture, branching, flowering time and nodulation were investigated in the model legume, Lotus japonicus. We cloned an miR156 homolog, LjmiR156a, from L. japonicus, and investigated its SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) genes and its biological function at enhancing vegetative biomass yield, extending flowering time, and its impact on nodulation. Thirteen potential targets for LjmiR156 were identified in vitro and their expression profiles were determined in aerial and underground parts of mature plants, including genes coding for eight SPLs, one WD-40, one RNA-directed DNA polymerase, two transport proteins, and one histidine-phosphotransfer protein. Two SPL and one WD-40 cleavage targets for LjmiR156-TC70253, AU089191, and TC57859-were identified. Transgenic plants with ectopic expression of LjmiR156a showed enhanced branching, dramatically delayed flowering, underdeveloped roots, and reduced nodulation. We also examined the transcript levels of key genes involved in nodule organogenesis and infection thread formation to determine the role of miR156 in regulating symbiosis. Overexpression of LjmiR156a led to repression of several nodulation genes during the early stages of root development such as three ENOD genes, SymPK, POLLUX, CYCLOPS, Cerberus, and Nsp1, and the stimulation of NFR1. Our results show that miR156 regulates vegetative biomass yield, flowering time and nodulation by silencing downstream target SPLs and other genes, suggesting that the miR156 regulatory network could be modified in forage legumes (such as alfalfa and trefoils) and in leafy vegetables (like lettuce and spinach) to positively impact economically valuable crop species.}, } @article {pmid25291135, year = {2014}, author = {Walker, A}, title = {Intestinal colonization and programming of the intestinal immune response.}, journal = {Journal of clinical gastroenterology}, volume = {48 Suppl 1}, number = {0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2013}, pages = {S8-11}, pmid = {25291135}, issn = {1539-2031}, support = {R01 HD012437/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK040561/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R37 HD012437/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P01 DK033506/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD059126/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Dysbiosis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Initial bacterial colonization of the gut is a vital component of the development of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly mucosal immune protection, during the neonatal period. Newborn infants in their protected intrauterine environment are suddenly thrust into a highly contaminated extrauterine state. Although mucosal host defenses have developed in utero during fetal maturation because of the stimulation of ingested trophic factors in amniotic fluid, actual active protection only occurs when colonizing bacteria stimulate the gut mucosal barrier. Colonization evolves over a period of about 1 year and is dependent on the mode of delivery, use of perinatal antibiotics, age at birth, and infant feeding. A fully colonized gut consists of 10(14) bacteria, establishes a symbiotic relationship with the host and insures normal development and immune homeostasis. Colonizing bacteria can also affect the epithelial mucosal barrier and the innate and adaptive immune systems. Disruption of normal colonization, dysbiosis, is associated with increased expression of disease. Evidence exists that the use of probiotics with dysbiosis may prevent disease expression.}, } @article {pmid25289176, year = {2014}, author = {McKeon, CS and Moore, JM}, title = {Species and size diversity in protective services offered by coral guard-crabs.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e574}, pmid = {25289176}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Coral guard-crabs in the genus Trapezia are well-documented defenders of their pocilloporid coral hosts against coral predators such as the Crown-of-Thorns seastar (Acanthaster planci complex). The objectives of this study were to examine the protective services of six species of Trapezia against corallivory, and the extent of functional diversity among these Trapezia species. Studies conducted in Mo'orea, French Polynesia showed the Trapezia-coral mutualism protected the host corals from multiple predators through functional diversity in the assemblage of crab symbionts. Species differed in their defensive efficacy, but species within similar size classes shared similar abilities. Smaller-size Trapezia species, which were previously thought to be ineffective guards, play important defensive roles against small corallivores. We also measured the benefits of this mutualism to corals in the midst of an Acanthaster outbreak that reduced the live coral cover on the fore reef to less than 4%. The mutualism may positively affect the reef coral demography and potential for recovery during adverse predation events through shelter of multiple species of small corals near the host coral. Our results show that while functional diversity is supported within the genus, some Trapezia species may be functionally equivalent within the same size class, decreasing the threat of gaps in coral protection caused by absence or replacement of any single Trapezia species.}, } @article {pmid25288547, year = {2014}, author = {He, L and Yang, H and Yu, Z and Tang, J and Xu, L and Chen, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phylogenetic groups differ in affecting host plants along heavy metal levels.}, journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {2034-2040}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2014.07.013}, pmid = {25288547}, issn = {1001-0742}, mesh = {Biomass ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*classification ; *Phylogeny ; Plants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important components of soil microbial communities, and play important role in plant growth. However, the effects of AMF phylogenetic groups (Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae) on host plant under various heavy metal levels are not clear. Here we conducted a meta-analysis to compare symbiotic relationship between AMF phylogenetic groups (Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae) and host plant functional groups (herbs vs. trees, and non-legumes vs. legumes) at three heavy metal levels. In the meta-analysis, we calculate the effect size (ln(RR)) by taking the natural logarithm of the response ratio of inoculated to non-inoculated shoot biomass from each study. We found that the effect size of Glomeraceae increased, but the effect size of non-Glomeraceae decreased under high level of heavy metal compared to low level. According to the effect size, both Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae promoted host plant growth, but had different effects under various heavy metal levels. Glomeraceae provided more benefit to host plants than non-Glomeraceae did under heavy metal condition, while non-Glomeraceae provided more benefit to host plants than Glomeraceae did under no heavy metal. AMF phylogenetic groups also differed in promoting plant functional groups under various heavy metal levels. Interacting with Glomeraceae, herbs and legumes grew better than trees and non-legumes did under high heavy metal level, while trees and legumes grew better than herbs and non-legumes did under medium heavy metal level. Interacting with non-Glomeraceae, herbs and legumes grew better than trees and non-legumes did under no heavy metal. We suggested that the combination of legume with Glomeraceae could be a useful way in the remediation of heavy metal polluted environment.}, } @article {pmid25288135, year = {2014}, author = {Dinan, TG and Borre, YE and Cryan, JF}, title = {Genomics of schizophrenia: time to consider the gut microbiome?.}, journal = {Molecular psychiatry}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {1252-1257}, pmid = {25288135}, issn = {1476-5578}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*genetics/*physiology ; Schizophrenia/*genetics/*microbiology/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Research into the genomics of schizophrenia promises much, but so far is resplendent with failures to replicate, and has yielded little of therapeutic potential. Within our bodies resides a dynamic population of gut microbes forming a symbiotic superorganism comprising a myriad of bacteria of approximately 10(14) cells, containing 100 times the number of genes of the human genome and weighing approximately the same as the human brain. Recent preclinical investigations indicate that these microbes majorly impact on cognitive function and fundamental behavior patterns, such as social interaction and stress management. We are pivotally dependent on the neuroactive substances produced by such bacteria. The biological diversity of this ecosystem is established in the initial months of life and is highly impacted upon by environmental factors. To date, this vast quantity of DNA has been largely ignored in schizophrenia research. Perhaps it is time to reconsider this omission.}, } @article {pmid25288117, year = {2014}, author = {Nave, KA and Werner, HB}, title = {Myelination of the nervous system: mechanisms and functions.}, journal = {Annual review of cell and developmental biology}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {503-533}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100913-013101}, pmid = {25288117}, issn = {1530-8995}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Axons/physiology ; Central Nervous System/metabolism ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/metabolism/pathology ; Cytoskeleton/ultrastructure ; Demyelinating Diseases/metabolism/pathology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukoencephalopathies/metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; Myelin Proteins/physiology ; Myelin Sheath/*physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Oligodendroglia/physiology ; Peripheral Nervous System/metabolism ; Schwann Cells/physiology ; Synaptic Transmission/physiology ; }, abstract = {Myelination of axons in the nervous system of vertebrates enables fast, saltatory impulse propagation, one of the best-understood concepts in neurophysiology. However, it took a long while to recognize the mechanistic complexity both of myelination by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells and of their cellular interactions. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of myelin biogenesis, its lifelong plasticity, and the reciprocal interactions of myelinating glia with the axons they ensheath. In the central nervous system, myelination is also stimulated by axonal activity and astrocytes, whereas myelin clearance involves microglia/macrophages. Once myelinated, the long-term integrity of axons depends on glial supply of metabolites and neurotrophic factors. The relevance of this axoglial symbiosis is illustrated in normal brain aging and human myelin diseases, which can be studied in corresponding mouse models. Thus, myelinating cells serve a key role in preserving the connectivity and functions of a healthy nervous system.}, } @article {pmid25287045, year = {2015}, author = {Zheng, H and Mao, Y and Teng, J and Zhu, Q and Ling, J and Zhong, Z}, title = {Flagellar-dependent motility in Mesorhizobium tianshanense is involved in the early stage of plant host interaction: study of an flgE mutant.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {219-227}, pmid = {25287045}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biofilms ; Flagella/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Bacterial motility is most likely a critical factor for rhizobium to chemotactically colonize on the root surface prior to infecting leguminous plant hosts. Several studies of the rhizobium flagellar filament have been reported, but little is known about the rhizobium flagellum hook. To investigate the roles of the hook protein in flagellum synthesis in Mesorhizobium tianshanense, the hook protein-encoding gene flgE of M. tianshanense was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed pronounced similarities in Domain 1 and lower similarities in Domain 2, which are supposed to be related to hook structure assembly and antigenic diversity, respectively. The level of transcription of flgE increased along with the cell growth and reached its maximum at the middle log phase. Disruption of the flgE gene caused a flagellar-less phenotype, thereby causing complete loss of swimming ability, modified nutrient-related swarming ability and biofilm formation. Moreover, the absence of flagellar caused decreased bacterial attachment on the root hair, suggesting that flagellar is involved in the early stage of symbiosis process.}, } @article {pmid25286839, year = {2014}, author = {Terwilliger, TC and Bricogne, G}, title = {Continuous mutual improvement of macromolecular structure models in the PDB and of X-ray crystallographic software: the dual role of deposited experimental data.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section D, Biological crystallography}, volume = {70}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {2533-2543}, pmid = {25286839}, issn = {1399-0047}, support = {P01 GM063210/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Algorithms ; Computational Biology/methods ; *Crystallography, X-Ray ; *Databases, Protein ; *Models, Molecular ; Proteins/chemistry ; *Software ; }, abstract = {Accurate crystal structures of macromolecules are of high importance in the biological and biomedical fields. Models of crystal structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) are in general of very high quality as deposited. However, methods for obtaining the best model of a macromolecular structure from a given set of experimental X-ray data continue to progress at a rapid pace, making it possible to improve most PDB entries after their deposition by re-analyzing the original deposited data with more recent software. This possibility represents a very significant departure from the situation that prevailed when the PDB was created, when it was envisioned as a cumulative repository of static contents. A radical paradigm shift for the PDB is therefore proposed, away from the static archive model towards a much more dynamic body of continuously improving results in symbiosis with continuously improving methods and software. These simultaneous improvements in methods and final results are made possible by the current deposition of processed crystallographic data (structure-factor amplitudes) and will be supported further by the deposition of raw data (diffraction images). It is argued that it is both desirable and feasible to carry out small-scale and large-scale efforts to make this paradigm shift a reality. Small-scale efforts would focus on optimizing structures that are of interest to specific investigators. Large-scale efforts would undertake a systematic re-optimization of all of the structures in the PDB, or alternatively the redetermination of groups of structures that are either related to or focused on specific questions. All of the resulting structures should be made generally available, along with the precursor entries, with various views of the structures being made available depending on the types of questions that users are interested in answering.}, } @article {pmid25286543, year = {2014}, author = {Kataeva, LV and Karpukhina, NF and Stepanova, KB and Kolotova, ON}, title = {[Microsymbiocenosis of Codiella mollusks as a basis for symbiotic relations in the parasite-host system in opisthorchiasis].}, journal = {Meditsinskaia parazitologiia i parazitarnye bolezni}, volume = {}, number = {3}, pages = {13-16}, pmid = {25286543}, issn = {0025-8326}, mesh = {Aeromonas/physiology ; Animals ; Disease Reservoirs ; Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; Gastropoda/microbiology/*parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; Opisthorchiasis/transmission ; Opisthorchis/*physiology ; Rivers/microbiology/parasitology ; Siberia ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The purpose of the first step of microparasitocenosis investigation was to study the microbiocenosis of the first intermediate hosts of O. felineus--prosobranch gastropods of the genus Codiella, as well as their habitats. Materials were collected in the Iryum River of the Ob-Irtysh basin. The microflora of mollusks, water, and soil from their habitats was examined. The predominant flora was Aeromonas species in the biocenosis of mollusks and Enterobacteriaceae in the microbiocenosis of the water basin and soil. Examination of the microbial communities in the mollusks and their habitats showed that the range of microbial populations of mollusks was wider in species composition as compared to the microbiocenosis of soil and water.}, } @article {pmid25286506, year = {2014}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Sgibnev, AV and Cherkasov, SV}, title = {[The role of pro- and antioxidants of microorganisms in regulation of symbiosis homeostasis mechanisms (on the model of human vaginal biotope)].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {3}, pages = {9-15}, pmid = {25286506}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Catalase/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus plantarum/growth & development/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; Vagina/metabolism/*microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the production of bacterial pro- and antioxidants in vaginal biotope and analysis of their role in regulation of symbiosis homeostasis mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydrogen peroxide, catalase inhibitors and antioxidant production in bacteria isolated from 63 women with vaginal eubiosis and 53--with dysbiosis were studied. Production of pro- and antioxidants was regulated by lactate, volatile fatty acids, polyamines and Lactobacillus plantarum and Corynebacterium minutissimum polysaccharides, metabolite bactericidity of peroxide producing lactobacilli was enhanced by addition of iron (II) ions.

RESULT: A high level of pro- and antioxidant production was noted for eubiosis state, and their ratio was close to 1, for biotopes with dysbiosis a multiple predominance of microbial antioxidant levels over pro-oxidants was characteristic. Peroxide producing symbionts are an important component of system of generation of hydroxyl radicals that are highly effective wide specter disinfectants.

CONCLUSION: Maintenance of balance of pro- and antioxidant production by symbionts determined vaginal biotope symbiosis homeostasis. The detected high biocidic activity of hydroxyl radicals that are formed from hydrogen peroxide of normoflora through the creation of optimal conditions for their generation by selection of the respective concentrations of iron (II) ions and H2O2 opens perspective of development of novel disinfection methods.}, } @article {pmid25285597, year = {2014}, author = {McMullen, JG and Stock, SP}, title = {In vivo and in vitro rearing of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae).}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {91}, pages = {52096}, pmid = {25285597}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Agar ; Animals ; Parasitology/*methods ; Rhabditida/*growth & development ; Rhabditoidea/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) have a mutualistic partnership with Gram-negative Gamma-Proteobacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae. Xenorhabdus bacteria are associated with steinernematids nematodes while Photorhabdus are symbionts of heterorhabditids. Together nematodes and bacteria form a potent insecticidal complex that kills a wide range of insect species in an intimate and specific partnership. Herein, we demonstrate in vivo and in vitro techniques commonly used in the rearing of these nematodes under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, these techniques represent key steps for the successful establishment of EPN cultures and also form the basis for other bioassays that utilize these organisms for research. The production of aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) nematodes is often critical for an in-depth and multifaceted approach to the study of symbiosis. This protocol does not require the addition of antibiotics and can be accomplished in a short amount of time with standard laboratory equipment. Nematodes produced in this manner are relatively robust, although their survivorship in storage may vary depending on the species used. The techniques detailed in this presentation correspond to those described by various authors and refined by P. Stock's Laboratory, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ, USA). These techniques are distinct from the body of techniques that are used in the mass production of these organisms for pest management purposes.}, } @article {pmid25284612, year = {2015}, author = {Rostás, M and Cripps, MG and Silcock, P}, title = {Aboveground endophyte affects root volatile emission and host plant selection of a belowground insect.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {177}, number = {2}, pages = {487-497}, pmid = {25284612}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/drug effects/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Festuca/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Herbivory/drug effects ; Larva/drug effects/physiology ; Lolium/*metabolism/microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Smell ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Plants emit specific blends of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that serve as multitrophic, multifunctional signals. Fungi colonizing aboveground (AG) or belowground (BG) plant structures can modify VOC patterns, thereby altering the information content for AG insects. Whether AG microbes affect the emission of root volatiles and thus influence soil insect behaviour is unknown. The endophytic fungus Neotyphodium uncinatum colonizes the aerial parts of the grass hybrid Festuca pratensis × Lolium perenne and is responsible for the presence of insect-toxic loline alkaloids in shoots and roots. We investigated whether endophyte symbiosis had an effect on the volatile emission of grass roots and if the root herbivore Costelytra zealandica was able to recognize endophyte-infected plants by olfaction. In BG olfactometer assays, larvae of C. zealandica were more strongly attracted to roots of uninfected than endophyte-harbouring grasses. Combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry revealed that endophyte-infected roots emitted less VOCs and more CO2. Our results demonstrate that symbiotic fungi in plants may influence soil insect distribution by changing their behaviour towards root volatiles. The well-known defensive mutualism between grasses and Neotyphodium endophytes could thus go beyond bioactive alkaloids and also confer protection by being chemically less apparent for soil herbivores.}, } @article {pmid25283938, year = {2014}, author = {Utz, LR and Farias, AC and Freitas, EC and de Araújo, GO}, title = {Description of Epistylis riograndensis n.sp. (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) found in an artificial lake in Southern Brazil.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3869}, number = {5}, pages = {557-564}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3869.5.5}, pmid = {25283938}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Brazil ; Ciliophora/*classification/genetics/growth & development ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Lakes/parasitology ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Epistylis riograndensis n. sp., a freshwater peritrich hosting symbiotic algae in its cytoplasm, was collected from an artificial lake, in a Botanical garden in Southern Brazil. Its detailed morphology was investigated using live and silver-stained specimens. The colonial sessile E. riograndensis has elongate zooids measuring, on average, 162 μm in length and 45 μm in width. A single contractile vacuole located near the infundibulum and a C-shaped macronucleus located transversely in the adoral half of the cell were also observed. The oral infraciliature revealed in silver-stained specimens was typical of peritrich ciliates. Three infundibular polykineties consisting of 3 rows of kinetosomes were observed. Molecular analyses of 18s rDNA placed E. riograndensis among other Epistylis species in the Order Vorticellida.}, } @article {pmid25283783, year = {2014}, author = {Moore, W and Robertson, JA}, title = {Explosive adaptive radiation and extreme phenotypic diversity within ant-nest beetles.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {24}, number = {20}, pages = {2435-2439}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.022}, pmid = {25283783}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Coleoptera/*anatomy & histology/genetics/*physiology ; Fossils ; Nesting Behavior ; }, abstract = {Ant-nest beetles (Paussus) are the quintessential Trojan horses of the insect world. They hack the complex communication system of ants, allowing them to blend into the ant society and be treated as royalty, all the while preying upon the ants and the ants' brood and duping the ants into rearing their young. Here we present results of the first molecular-based phylogeny of ant-nest beetles, which reveals that this symbiosis has produced one of the most stunning examples of rapid adaptive radiation documented to date. The most recent ancestor of a Paussus clade endemic to Madagascar is only 2.6 million years old. This species gave rise to a remarkably phenotypically diverse clade of 86 extant species with a net diversification interval of 0.38-0.81 million years, a rate of radiation faster than classic textbook examples of large, recent, rapid radiations such as Anolis lizards on Caribbean islands, cichlids of the East African Great Lakes, finches on the Galápagos Islands, and Drosophila and tetragnathid spiders on the Hawaiian Islands. In order for Paussus to adapt to a new host ant species, the beetle's ability to perceive, deceive, and communicate with the new host must evolve quickly and in synchrony in both the larval and adult life stages, resulting in unusually strong selective pressure levied by their host ants. Data on host associations suggest that the history of host shifts may help explain both the striking phenotypic diversity within the Malagasy radiation and the evolution of phenotypically similar yet distantly related species in Madagascar and Africa.}, } @article {pmid25283477, year = {2014}, author = {Teamtisong, K and Songwattana, P and Noisangiam, R and Piromyou, P and Boonkerd, N and Tittabutr, P and Minamisawa, K and Nantagij, A and Okazaki, S and Abe, M and Uchiumi, T and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Divergent nod-containing Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 with a megaplasmid and its host range.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {370-376}, pmid = {25283477}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Blotting, Southern ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Host Specificity ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Microscopy ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Plasmids ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9, a non-photosynthetic bacterial strain originally isolated from the root nodules of the legume Aeschynomene americana, is a divergent nod-containing strain. It exhibits a broad host range, being able to colonize and efficiently nodulate the roots of most plants from the Dalbergioid, Millettioid, and Robinioid tribes (7 species of Papilionoideae). In all cases, nodulation was determinate. The morphology and size of DOA9 bacteroids isolated from the nodules of various species of Papilionoideae were indistinguishable from the free-living form. However, they were spherical in Arachis hypogaea nodules. GusA-tagged DOA9 also colonized rice roots as endophytes. Since broad-host-range legume symbionts often carry multiple replicons in their genome, we analyzed the replicons for symbiosis genes by electrophoresis. DOA9 carried two replicons, a chromosome (cDOA9) and single megaplasmid (pDOA9) larger than 352 kb. The genes for nodulation (nodA, B, C) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) were localized on the megaplasmid. Southern blot hybridization revealed two copies of nodA on the megaplasmid, single copies of nodB and C on the megaplasmid, and one copy each of nifH on the chromosome and megaplasmid. These results suggested that Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 may have the unusual combination of a broad host range, bacteroid differentiation, and symbiosis-mediating replicons.}, } @article {pmid25278474, year = {2014}, author = {Grover, R and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Maguer, JF and Ezzat, L and Fine, M}, title = {Nitrogen fixation in the mucus of Red Sea corals.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 22}, pages = {3962-3963}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.111591}, pmid = {25278474}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Indian Ocean ; Mucus ; Nitrogen/*analysis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals are essential constituents of tropical reef ecological diversity. They live in close association with diazotrophs [dinitrogen (N2)-fixing microbes], which can fix high rates of N2. Whether corals benefit from this extrinsic nitrogen source is still under debate. Until now, N2 fixation rates have been indirectly estimated using the acetylene reduction assay, which does not permit assessment of the amount of nitrogen incorporated into the different compartments of the coral holobiont. In the present study, the (15)N2 technique was applied for the first time on three Red Sea coral species. Significant (15)N enrichment was measured in particles released by corals to the surrounding seawater. N2 fixation rates were species specific and as high as 1.6-2 ng N day(-1) l(-1). However, no significant enrichment was measured in the symbiotic dinoflagellates or the coral host tissues, suggesting that corals do not benefit from diazotrophic N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid25276348, year = {2014}, author = {Li, FW and Pryer, KM}, title = {Crowdfunding the Azolla fern genome project: a grassroots approach.}, journal = {GigaScience}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {25276348}, issn = {2047-217X}, abstract = {Much of science progresses within the tight boundaries of what is often seen as a "black box". Though familiar to funding agencies, researchers and the academic journals they publish in, it is an entity that outsiders rarely get to peek into. Crowdfunding is a novel means that allows the public to participate in, as well as to support and witness advancements in science. Here we describe our recent crowdfunding efforts to sequence the Azolla genome, a little fern with massive green potential. Crowdfunding is a worthy platform not only for obtaining seed money for exploratory research, but also for engaging directly with the general public as a rewarding form of outreach.}, } @article {pmid25275632, year = {2014}, author = {Linneman, J and Paulus, D and Lim-Fong, G and Lopanik, NB}, title = {Latitudinal variation of a defensive symbiosis in the Bugula neritina (Bryozoa) sibling species complex.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e108783}, pmid = {25275632}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Base Sequence ; Bryozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Genetic Markers ; *Geography ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; North America ; Reproducibility of Results ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic relationships are beneficial for both partners and are often studied within a single environment. However, when the range of the partners is large, geographical differences in selective pressure may shift the relationship outcome from positive to negative. The marine bryozoan Bugula neritina is a colonial invertebrate common in temperate waters worldwide. It is the source of bioactive polyketide metabolites, the bryostatins. Evidence suggests that an uncultured vertically transmitted symbiont, "Candidatus Endobugula sertula", hosted by B. neritina produces the bryostatins, which protect the vulnerable larvae from predation. Studies of B. neritina along the North American Atlantic coast revealed a complex of two morphologically similar sibling species separated by an apparent biogeographic barrier: the Type S sibling species was found below Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, while Type N was found above. Interestingly, the Type N colonies lack "Ca. Endobugula sertula" and, subsequently, defensive bryostatins; their documented northern distribution was consistent with traditional biogeographical paradigms of latitudinal variation in predation pressure. Upon further sampling of B. neritina populations, we found that both host types occur in wider distribution, with Type N colonies living south of Cape Hatteras, and Type S to the north. Distribution of the symbiont, however, was not restricted to Type S hosts. Genetic and microscopic evidence demonstrates the presence of the symbiont in some Type N colonies, and larvae from these colonies are endowed with defensive bryostatins and contain "Ca. Endobugula sertula". Molecular analysis of the symbiont from Type N colonies suggests an evolutionarily recent acquisition, which is remarkable for a symbiont thought to be transmitted only vertically. Furthermore, most Type S colonies found at higher latitudes lack the symbiont, suggesting that this host-symbiont relationship is more flexible than previously thought. Our data suggest that the symbiont, but not the host, is restricted by biogeographical boundaries.}, } @article {pmid25274985, year = {2014}, author = {Hok, S and Allasia, V and Andrio, E and Naessens, E and Ribes, E and Panabières, F and Attard, A and Ris, N and Clément, M and Barlet, X and Marco, Y and Grill, E and Eichmann, R and Weis, C and Hückelhoven, R and Ammon, A and Ludwig-Müller, J and Voll, LM and Keller, H}, title = {The receptor kinase IMPAIRED OOMYCETE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 attenuates abscisic acid responses in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {166}, number = {3}, pages = {1506-1518}, pmid = {25274985}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Germination/drug effects ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mutation ; Oomycetes/pathogenicity ; Peronospora/pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {In plants, membrane-bound receptor kinases are essential for developmental processes, immune responses to pathogens and the establishment of symbiosis. We previously identified the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) receptor kinase IMPAIRED OOMYCETE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (IOS1) as required for successful infection with the downy mildew pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. We report here that IOS1 is also required for full susceptibility of Arabidopsis to unrelated (hemi)biotrophic filamentous oomycete and fungal pathogens. Impaired susceptibility in the absence of IOS1 appeared to be independent of plant defense mechanism. Instead, we found that ios1-1 plants were hypersensitive to the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), displaying enhanced ABA-mediated inhibition of seed germination, root elongation, and stomatal opening. These findings suggest that IOS1 negatively regulates ABA signaling in Arabidopsis. The expression of ABA-sensitive COLD REGULATED and RESISTANCE TO DESICCATION genes was diminished in Arabidopsis during infection. This effect on ABA signaling was alleviated in the ios1-1 mutant background. Accordingly, ABA-insensitive and ABA-hypersensitive mutants were more susceptible and resistant to oomycete infection, respectively, showing that the intensity of ABA signaling affects the outcome of downy mildew disease. Taken together, our findings suggest that filamentous (hemi)biotrophs attenuate ABA signaling in Arabidopsis during the infection process and that IOS1 participates in this pathogen-mediated reprogramming of the host.}, } @article {pmid25274297, year = {2014}, author = {Pickard, JM and Maurice, CF and Kinnebrew, MA and Abt, MC and Schenten, D and Golovkina, TV and Bogatyrev, SR and Ismagilov, RF and Pamer, EG and Turnbaugh, PJ and Chervonsky, AV}, title = {Rapid fucosylation of intestinal epithelium sustains host-commensal symbiosis in sickness.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {514}, number = {7524}, pages = {638-641}, pmid = {25274297}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {UL1 TR000430/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK042086/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P50 GM068763/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI090084/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI96706/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R41 AI096706/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007090/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI42135/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI065382/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA008748/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; DK42086/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI095706/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI042135/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007739/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anorexia/complications/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Citrobacter rodentium/immunology ; Dendritic Cells/immunology/metabolism ; *Disease ; Eating ; Epithelium/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Female ; Fucose/*metabolism ; Fucosyltransferases/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glycosylation ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunity, Innate ; Interleukins/biosynthesis/immunology ; Intestine, Small/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Ligands ; Male ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Mice ; Microbiota/physiology ; Protective Factors ; *Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptors/agonists/immunology/metabolism ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {Systemic infection induces conserved physiological responses that include both resistance and 'tolerance of infection' mechanisms. Temporary anorexia associated with an infection is often beneficial, reallocating energy from food foraging towards resistance to infection or depriving pathogens of nutrients. However, it imposes a stress on intestinal commensals, as they also experience reduced substrate availability; this affects host fitness owing to the loss of caloric intake and colonization resistance (protection from additional infections). We hypothesized that the host might utilize internal resources to support the gut microbiota during the acute phase of the disease. Here we show that systemic exposure to Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands causes rapid α(1,2)-fucosylation of small intestine epithelial cells (IECs) in mice, which requires the sensing of TLR agonists, as well as the production of interleukin (IL)-23 by dendritic cells, activation of innate lymphoid cells and expression of fucosyltransferase 2 (Fut2) by IL-22-stimulated IECs. Fucosylated proteins are shed into the lumen and fucose is liberated and metabolized by the gut microbiota, as shown by reporter bacteria and community-wide analysis of microbial gene expression. Fucose affects the expression of microbial metabolic pathways and reduces the expression of bacterial virulence genes. It also improves host tolerance of the mild pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. Thus, rapid IEC fucosylation appears to be a protective mechanism that utilizes the host's resources to maintain host-microbial interactions during pathogen-induced stress.}, } @article {pmid25272809, year = {2014}, author = {Xiong, F and Chen, Y and Zhang, S and You, F and Zhou, H and Xu, K}, title = {[Genetic diversity and phylogeny of soybean rhizobia isolated from the Hilly area of Central Sichuan in China].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {54}, number = {6}, pages = {616-623}, pmid = {25272809}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; China ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizobium ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We investigated the genetic diversity and phylogeny of 28 rhizobial isolates from root nodules of soybean growing in the Hilly Area of Central Sichuan in China.

METHODS: We used 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP and phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA, glnII and symbiotic genes (nodC).

RESULTS: Five 16S rDNA genotypes among the isolates were distinguished with restriction endonucleases Hae III, Hinf I, Msp I and Taq I. In the 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP analysis, all the isolates are divided into Bradyrhizobium group and Sinonrhizobium group at the 83% level, and Sinonrhizobium strains accounted for 75% of the isolates. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rDNA, glnII and nodC show that 4 representative strains SCAUs1, SCAUs2, SCAUs7 and SCAUs4 were closely related to S. fredii USDA205(T) while the other 2 representative strains SCAUs3 and SCAUs5 were closely related to B. yuanmingense CCBAU10071(T) and B. diazoefficiens USDA110(T). The 16S rDNA, glnII and nodC sequence similarity of 4 Sinonrhizobium representative strains were 98.3% - 99.9%, 98.2% - 100% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Soybean rhizobia isolated from the Hilly Area of Central Sichuan in China has rich genetic diversity, S. fredii was the predominant genus.}, } @article {pmid25271287, year = {2014}, author = {Bennett, GM and McCutcheon, JP and MacDonald, BR and Romanovicz, D and Moran, NA}, title = {Differential genome evolution between companion symbionts in an insect-bacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {e01697-14}, pmid = {25271287}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1K 12 GM00708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*genetics/growth & development ; DNA Replication ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/growth & development ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Obligate symbioses with bacteria allow insects to feed on otherwise unsuitable diets. Some symbionts have extremely reduced genomes and have lost many genes considered to be essential in other bacteria. To understand how symbiont genome degeneration proceeds, we compared the genomes of symbionts in two leafhopper species, Homalodisca vitripennis (glassy-winged sharpshooter [GWSS]) and Graphocephala atropunctata (blue-green sharpshooter [BGSS]) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Each host species is associated with the anciently acquired "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" (Bacteroidetes) and the more recently acquired "Candidatus Baumannia cicadellinicola" (Gammaproteobacteria). BGSS "Ca. Baumannia" retains 89 genes that are absent from GWSS "Ca. Baumannia"; these underlie central cellular functions, including cell envelope biogenesis, cellular replication, and stress response. In contrast, "Ca. Sulcia" strains differ by only a few genes. Although GWSS "Ca. Baumannia" cells are spherical or pleomorphic (a convergent trait of obligate symbionts), electron microscopy reveals that BGSS "Ca. Baumannia" maintains a rod shape, possibly due to its retention of genes involved in cell envelope biogenesis and integrity. Phylogenomic results suggest that "Ca. Baumannia" is derived from the clade consisting of Sodalis and relatives, a group that has evolved symbiotic associations with numerous insect hosts. Finally, the rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions are higher in "Ca. Baumannia" than in "Ca. Sulcia," which may be due to a lower mutation rate in the latter. Taken together, our results suggest that the two "Ca. Baumannia" genomes represent different stages of genome reduction in which many essential functions are being lost and likely compensated by hosts. "Ca. Sulcia" exhibits much greater genome stability and slower sequence evolution, although the mechanisms underlying these differences are poorly understood.

IMPORTANCE: In obligate animal-bacterial symbioses, bacteria experience extreme patterns of genome evolution, including massive gene loss and rapid evolution. However, little is known about this process, particularly in systems with complementary bacterial partners. To understand whether genome evolution impacts symbiont types equally and whether lineages follow the same evolutionary path, we sequenced the genomes of two coresident symbiotic bacteria from a plant sap-feeding insect and compared them to the symbionts from a related host species. We found that the older symbiont has a highly reduced genome with low rates of mutation and gene loss. In contrast, the younger symbiont has a larger genome that exhibits higher mutation rates and varies dramatically in the retention of genes related to cell wall biogenesis, cellular replication, and stress response. We conclude that while symbiotic bacteria evolve toward tiny genomes, this process is shaped by different selection intensities that may reflect the different ages and metabolic roles of symbiont types.}, } @article {pmid25269606, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, DY and Shin, DH and Jung, S and Lee, JS and Cho, HY and Bae, KS and Sung, CK and Rhee, YH and Son, KH and Park, HY}, title = {Biocatalytic properties and substrate-binding ability of a modular GH10 β-1,4-xylanase from an insect-symbiotic bacterium, Streptomyces mexicanus HY-14.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {52}, number = {10}, pages = {863-870}, pmid = {25269606}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Glucuronates/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Insecta/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Mutant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Deletion ; Streptomyces/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; Xylans/*metabolism ; Xylose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The gene (1350-bp) encoding a modular β-1,4-xylanase (XylU), which consists of an N-terminal catalytic GH10 domain and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module 2 (CBM 2), from Streptomyces mexicanus HY-14 was cloned and functionally characterized. The purified His-tagged recombinant enzyme (rXylU, 44.0 kDa) was capable of efficiently hydrolyze diverse xylosidic compounds, p-nitrophenyl-cellobioside, and p-nitrophenyl-xylopyranoside when incubated at pH 5.5 and 65°C. Especially, the specific activities (649.8 U/mg and 587.0 U/mg, respectively) of rXylU toward oat spelts xylan and beechwood xylan were relatively higher than those (<500.0 U/mg) of many other GH10 homologs toward the same substrates. The results of enzymatic degradation of birchwood xylan and xylooligosaccharides (xylotriose to xylohexaose) revealed that rXylU preferentially hydrolyzed the substrates to xylobiose (>75%) as the primary degradation product. Moreover, a small amount (4%<) of xylose was detected as the degradation product of the evaluated xylosidic substrates, indicating that rXylU was a peculiar GH10 β-1,4-xylanase with substrate specificity, which was different from its retaining homologs. A significant reduction of the binding ability of rXylU caused by deletion of the C-terminal CBM 2 to various insoluble substrates strongly suggested that the additional domain might considerably contribute to the enzyme-substrate interaction.}, } @article {pmid25268738, year = {2014}, author = {Marczak, M and Matysiak, P and Kutkowska, J and Skorupska, A}, title = {PssP2 is a polysaccharide co-polymerase involved in exopolysaccharide chain-length determination in Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e109106}, pmid = {25268738}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Glycosyltransferases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*enzymology/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Production of extracellular polysaccharides is a complex process engaging proteins localized in different subcellular compartments, yet communicating with each other or even directly interacting in multicomponent complexes. Proteins involved in polymerization and transport of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in Rhizobium leguminosarum are encoded within the chromosomal Pss-I cluster. However, genes implicated in polysaccharide synthesis are common in rhizobia, with several homologues of pss genes identified in other regions of the R. leguminosarum genome. One such region is chromosomally located Pss-II encoding proteins homologous to known components of the Wzx/Wzy-dependent polysaccharide synthesis and transport systems. The pssP2 gene encodes a protein similar to polysaccharide co-polymerases involved in determination of the length of polysaccharide chains in capsule and O-antigen biosynthesis. In this work, a mutant with a disrupted pssP2 gene was constructed and its capabilities to produce EPS and enter into a symbiotic relationship with clover were studied. The pssP2 mutant, while not altered in lipopolysaccharide (LPS), displayed changes in molecular mass distribution profile of EPS. Lack of the full-length PssP2 protein resulted in a reduction of high molecular weight EPS, yet polymerized to a longer length than in the RtTA1 wild type. The mutant strain was also more efficient in symbiotic performance. The functional interrelation between PssP2 and proteins encoded within the Pss-I region was further supported by data from bacterial two-hybrid assays providing evidence for PssP2 interactions with PssT polymerase, as well as glycosyltransferase PssC. A possible role for PssP2 in a complex involved in EPS chain-length determination is discussed.}, } @article {pmid25268072, year = {2014}, author = {Requena, N and Fischer, R}, title = {Breaking down walls to live in harmony.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e04603}, pmid = {25268072}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Burkholderia/*metabolism ; Macrolides/*metabolism ; Rhizopus/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some of the proteins and enzymes that allow bacteria to enter living fungal cells and cause rice seedling blight have been identified.}, } @article {pmid25266732, year = {2014}, author = {Nechitaylo, TY and Westermann, M and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Cultivation reveals physiological diversity among defensive 'Streptomyces philanthi' symbionts of beewolf digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {202}, pmid = {25266732}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/microbiology ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Streptomyces/*classification/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: 'Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi' is a monophyletic clade of formerly uncultured bacterial symbionts in solitary digger wasps of the genera Philanthus, Philanthinus and Trachypus (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae). These bacteria grow in female-specific antennal reservoirs and - after transmission to the cocoon - produce antibiotics protecting the host larvae from fungal infection. However, the symbionts' refractoriness to cultivation has thus far hampered detailed in vitro studies on their physiology and on the evolutionary changes in metabolic versatility in response to the host environment.

RESULTS: Here we isolated in axenic culture 22 'Streptomyces philanthi' biovars from different host species. Sequencing of gyrB revealed no heterogeneity among isolates within host individuals, suggesting low levels of (micro)diversity or even clonality of the symbionts in individual beewolf antennae. Surprisingly, however, isolates from different host species differed strongly in their physiology. All biovars from the Eurasian/African Philanthus and the South American Trachypus host species had high nutritional demands and were susceptible to most antibiotics tested, suggesting a tight association with the hosts. By contrast, biovars isolated from the genus Philanthinus and the monophyletic North American Philanthus clade were metabolically versatile and showed broad antibiotic resistance. Concordantly, recent horizontal symbiont transfer events - reflected in different symbiont strains infecting the same host species - have been described only among North American Philanthus species, altogether indicative of facultative symbionts potentially capable of a free-living lifestyle. Phylogenetic analyses reveal a strong correlation between symbiont metabolic versatility and host phylogeny, suggesting that the host environment differentially affects the symbionts' evolutionary fate. Although opportunistic bacteria were occasionally isolated from the antennae of different host species, only filamentous Actinobacteria (genera Streptomyces, Amycolatopsis and Nocardia) could replace 'S. philanthi' in the antennal gland reservoirs.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that closely related bacteria from a monophyletic clade of symbionts can experience very different evolutionary trajectories in response to the symbiotic lifestyle, which is reflected in different degrees of metabolic versatility and host-dependency. We propose that the host-provided environment could be an important factor in shaping the degenerative metabolic evolution in the symbionts and deciding whether they evolve into obligate symbionts or remain facultative and capable of a host-independent lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid25264268, year = {2014}, author = {McGillen, JB and Kelly, CJ and Martínez-González, A and Martin, NK and Gaffney, EA and Maini, PK and Pérez-García, VM}, title = {Glucose-lactate metabolic cooperation in cancer: insights from a spatial mathematical model and implications for targeted therapy.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {361}, number = {}, pages = {190-203}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.09.018}, pmid = {25264268}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Glioblastoma/*metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {A recent study has hypothesised a glucose-lactate metabolic symbiosis between adjacent hypoxic and oxygenated regions of a developing tumour, and proposed a treatment strategy to target this symbiosis. However, in vivo experimental support remains inconclusive. Here we develop a minimal spatial mathematical model of glucose-lactate metabolism to examine, in principle, whether metabolic symbiosis is plausible in human tumours, and to assess the potential impact of inhibiting it. We find that symbiosis is a robust feature of our model system-although on the length scale at which oxygen supply is diffusion-limited, its occurrence requires very high cellular metabolic activity-and that necrosis in the tumour core is reduced in the presence of symbiosis. Upon simulating therapeutic inhibition of lactate uptake, we predict that targeted treatment increases the extent of tissue oxygenation without increasing core necrosis. The oxygenation effect is correlated strongly with the extent of wild-type hypoxia and only weakly with wild-type symbiotic behaviour, and therefore may be promising for radiosensitisation of hypoxic, lactate-consuming tumours even if they do not exhibit a spatially well-defined symbiosis. Finally, we conduct in vitro experiments on the U87 glioblastoma cell line to facilitate preliminary speculation as to where highly malignant tumours might fall in our parameter space, and find that these experiments suggest a weakly symbiotic regime for U87 cells, thus raising the new question of what relationship might exist between symbiosis and tumour malignancy.}, } @article {pmid25263107, year = {2014}, author = {Brokate-Llanos, AM and Garzón, A and Muñoz, MJ}, title = {Escherichia coli carbon source metabolism affects longevity of its predator Caenorhabditis elegans.}, journal = {Mechanisms of ageing and development}, volume = {141-142}, number = {}, pages = {22-25}, doi = {10.1016/j.mad.2014.09.001}, pmid = {25263107}, issn = {1872-6216}, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*physiology ; Carbohydrates/*pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/*metabolism ; Longevity/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nutrition is probably the most determinant factor affecting aging. Microorganisms of the intestinal flora lay in the interface between available nutrients and nutrients that are finally absorbed by multicellular organisms. They participate in the processing and transformation of these nutrients in a symbiotic or commensalistic relationship. In addition, they can also be pathogens. Alive Escherichia coli OP50 are usually used to culture the bacteriovorus nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we report a beneficial effect of low concentration of saccharides on the longevity of C. elegans. This effect is only observed when the bacterium can metabolize the sugar, suggesting that physiological changes in the bacterium feeding on the saccharides are the cause of this beneficial effect.}, } @article {pmid25262213, year = {2014}, author = {Magouliotis, DE and Tasiopoulou, VS and Molyvdas, PA and Gourgoulianis, KI and Hatzoglou, C and Zarogiannis, SG}, title = {Airways microbiota: Hidden Trojan horses in asbestos exposed individuals?.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {83}, number = {5}, pages = {537-540}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2014.09.006}, pmid = {25262213}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Asbestos/*toxicity ; Cholesterol/chemistry ; Cytotoxins/chemistry ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/microbiology ; Humans ; Lung/drug effects/*microbiology ; Lung Neoplasms/*microbiology/*physiopathology ; Mesothelioma/*microbiology/*physiopathology ; Mesothelioma, Malignant ; Microbiota ; Models, Biological ; Pleura/drug effects/microbiology ; Pleural Neoplasms/microbiology/physiopathology ; Prognosis ; Streptococcus intermedius ; Streptococcus mitis ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; }, abstract = {Malignant pleura mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare type of cancer with devastating prognosis, which develops in the pleural cavity from transformed mesothelium. MPM has been directly associated with asbestos exposure however there are aspects of the pathophysiology involved in the translocation of asbestos fibers in the pleura that remain unclear. Here, we propose and discuss that certain proteins secreted by airways symbiotic microbiota create membrane pores to the airway epithelial cells, through which asbestos fibers can penetrate the lung parenchyma and reach the sub-pleural areas. We evaluate this hypothesis using data from the published literature regarding the airways microbiota toxins such as cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs).}, } @article {pmid25260351, year = {2015}, author = {Raudaskoski, M and Kothe, E}, title = {Novel findings on the role of signal exchange in arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {243-252}, pmid = {25260351}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The availability of genome sequences from both arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi and their hosts has, together with elegant biochemical and molecular biological analyses, provided new information on signal exchange between the partners in mycorrhizal associations. The progress in understanding cellular processes has been more rapid in arbuscular than ectomycorrhizal symbiosis due to its similarities of early processes with Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. In ectomycorrhiza, the role of auxin and ethylene produced by both fungus and host plant is becoming understood at the molecular level, although the actual ligands and receptors leading to ectomycorrhizal symbiosis have not yet been discovered. For both systems, the functions of small effector proteins secreted from the respective fungus and taken up into the plant cell may be pivotal in understanding the attenuation of host defense. We review the subject by comparing cross-talk between fungal and plant partners during formation and establishment of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25259690, year = {2014}, author = {Hoffmann, M and Coy, MR and Kingdom Gibbard, HN and Pelz-Stelinski, KS}, title = {Wolbachia infection density in populations of the Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {1215-1222}, doi = {10.1603/EN14193}, pmid = {25259690}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Citrus/growth & development ; Female ; Florida ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationships between bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (order Rickettsiales) and their arthropod hosts are diverse and can range from mutualism to parasitism. Whereas effects of Wolbachia on host biology are well investigated, little is known about diversity and abundance of Wolbachia in their natural hosts. The phloem-feeding Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is naturally infected with Wolbachia (wDi). In the current study, we calculated the within-host density of Wolbachia in Florida D. citri populations using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for detection of the Wolbachia outer surface protein gene, wsp. Gene quantities were normalized to the D. citri wingless gene (Wg) to estimate Wolbachia abundance in individual D. citri. Using this method, significant geographic differences in Wolbachia densities were detected among Florida D. citri populations, with higher infection levels occurring in male versus female hosts.}, } @article {pmid25257233, year = {2015}, author = {Garrett, JR}, title = {Two Agendas for Bioethics: Critique and Integration.}, journal = {Bioethics}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {440-447}, doi = {10.1111/bioe.12116}, pmid = {25257233}, issn = {1467-8519}, support = {R21HG006613/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bioethics/*trends ; Concept Formation ; *Dissent and Disputes ; Ethical Theory ; Ethicists ; Humans ; Problem Solving ; Social Values ; }, abstract = {Many bioethicists view the primary task of bioethics as 'value clarification'. In this article, I argue that the field must embrace two more ambitious agendas that go beyond mere clarification. The first agenda, critique, involves unmasking, interrogating, and challenging the presuppositions that underlie bioethical discourse. These largely unarticulated premises establish the boundaries within which problems can be conceptualized and solutions can be imagined. The function of critique, then, is not merely to clarify these premises but to challenge them and the boundaries they define. The second agenda, integration, involves honoring and unifying what is right in competing values. Integration is the morally ideal response to value conflict, offering the potential for transcending win/lose outcomes. The function of integration, then, is to envision actions or policies that not only resolve conflicts, but that do so by jointly realizing many genuine values in deep and compelling ways. My argument proceeds in stages. After critically examining the role and dominant status of value clarification in bioethical discourse, I describe the nature and value of the two agendas, identify concrete examples of where each has been and could be successful, and explain why a critical integrative bioethics--one that appreciates the joint necessity and symbiotic potential of the two agendas--is crucial to the future of the field. The ultimate goal of all of this is to offer a more compelling vision for how bioethics might conduct itself within the larger intellectual and social world it seeks to understand and serve.}, } @article {pmid25255987, year = {2015}, author = {Ferrier-Pagès, C and Reynaud, S and Béraud, E and Rottier, C and Menu, D and Duong, G and Gévaert, F}, title = {Photophysiology and daily primary production of a temperate symbiotic gorgonian.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {123}, number = {1}, pages = {95-104}, pmid = {25255987}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Mediterranean Sea ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Xanthophylls/physiology ; }, abstract = {Gorgonians are one of the most important benthic components of tropical and temperate areas, and play a fundamental role as ecosystem engineers. Although global warming and pollution increasingly threaten them, the acquisition of nutrients, which is a key process in fitness and stress resistance, has been poorly investigated in such species. This study has thus used an advanced in situ incubation chamber for the first time with gorgonians, to assess the daily acquisition of nutrients and the photophysiology of the Mediterranean symbiotic species, Eunicella singularis. The xanthophyll cycle was assessed in parallel. This work has revealed that E. singularis presents a different functioning than the Mediterranean symbiotic corals. This gorgonian indeed relies on both autotrophy and heterotrophy in summer to optimize its energetic budget, while corals mainly shift to autotrophy for their respiratory needs and tissue growth. In addition, although E. singularis lives in the same depths/locations, and harbours the same symbiont genotype than the corals, the photosynthetic performances of their respective symbionts are significantly different. Indeed, E. singularis acquired 2-3 times less autotrophic carbon from its symbionts than corals, but maintained a positive carbon budget by reducing respiration rates, and by presenting maximal photosynthetic rates throughout the day, suggesting a very efficient light utilization. Almost no photoinhibition was observed under very high light levels, because of the induction of a xanthophyll photoprotection process. These results help understanding why gorgonians often dominate many benthic ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25255855, year = {2014}, author = {López-García, Á and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Barea, JM}, title = {The interactions between plant life form and fungal traits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi determine the symbiotic community.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {1075-1086}, pmid = {25255855}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Asteraceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Biomass ; Climate ; Ecosystem ; *Environment ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Fungi/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; *Phenotype ; Plant Development ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have traditionally been considered generalist symbionts. However, an increasing number of studies are pointing out the selectivity potential of plant hosts. Plant life form, determined by plant life history traits, seems to drive the AM fungal community composition. The AM fungi also exhibit a wide diversity of functional traits known to be responsible for their distribution in natural ecosystems. However, little is known about the role of plant and fungal traits driving the resultant symbiotic assemblages. With the aim of testing the feedback relationship between plant and fungal traits on the resulting AM fungal community, we inoculated three different plant life forms, i.e. annual herbs, perennial herbs and perennial semi-woody plants, with AM fungal communities sampled in different seasons. We hypothesized that the annual climate variation will induce changes in the mean traits of the AM fungal communities present in the soil throughout the year. Furthermore, the association of plants with different life forms with AM fungi with contrasting life history traits will show certain preferences according to reciprocal traits of the plants and fungi. We found changes in the AM fungal community throughout the year, which were differentially disrupted by disturbance and altered by plant growth form and plant biomass. Both plant and fungal traits clearly contributed to the resultant AM fungal communities. The revealed process can have implications for the functioning of ecosystems since changes in dominant plant life forms or climatic variables could influence the traits of AM fungal communities in soil and hence ecosystem processes.}, } @article {pmid25253811, year = {2014}, author = {Zbib, N and Repussard, C and Tardieu, D and Priymenko, N and Domange, C and Guerre, P}, title = {Ergovaline in tall fescue and its effect on health, milk quality, biochemical parameters, oxidative status, and drug metabolizing enzymes of lactating ewes.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {92}, number = {11}, pages = {5112-5123}, doi = {10.2527/jas.2014-8106}, pmid = {25253811}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*adverse effects/microbiology ; Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A/metabolism ; Diet/adverse effects/*veterinary ; Endophytes/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Epichloe/metabolism ; Ergotamines/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Female ; Festuca/metabolism/microbiology ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism ; Inactivation, Metabolic/*drug effects ; Lactation/drug effects/*physiology ; Milk/*drug effects ; Mycoses/metabolism/physiopathology/veterinary ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Prolactin/metabolism ; Sheep/*physiology ; Sheep Diseases/metabolism/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Ergovaline (EV) produced by symbiotic association of Epichloë coenophiala with tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) causes toxicoses in livestock. In this study, 16 lactating ewes (BW 76.0 ± 0.6 kg) were used to determine the effects of feeding endophyte-infected (FE+) or endophyte free (FE-) tall fescue hay on animal health and performances and to investigate the putative mechanisms of action of EV. The mean EV concentrations in FE+ and FE- diets were 497 ± 52 and <5 µg/kg DM, respectively. Decreased hay consumption and BW were observed in the FE+ group. Prolactin (PRL) concentrations decreased (P < 0.02) in the FE+ group from d 3 to 28 of the study compared to the FE- group, but no consequences were observed on milk quantity or quality. Skin temperature and the thermocirculation index were lower (P < 0.05) in the FE+ than in the FE- group from d 3 to 7, but this effect disappeared from d 14 to 28. Hematocrit, mineral and biochemical, and enzymatic analyses of plasma revealed no differences between the 2 groups. Measurement of oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activities revealed a decrease in the activities of plasma catalase (P < 0.05), kidney glutathione reductase and peroxidase and in kidney total glutathione and malondialdehyde contents (P < 0.02) in ewes fed FE+. Hepatic flavin monooxygenase enzyme activities decreased (P < 0.01) in ewes fed FE+, except for a marked increase in the demethylation of erythromycin. This activity is linked to cytochrome P4503A content and is known to be involved in ergot alkaloid metabolism. Glutathione S-transferase activity in the kidneys decreased (P < 0.02) in the FE+ group, whereas no difference was observed in uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase activity in the liver or kidneys. The reversibility of the effect of FE+ hay on skin temperature and the increase in erythromycin N-demethylase activity may contribute to the relative resistance of ewes to EV toxicity.}, } @article {pmid25253585, year = {2014}, author = {Romón, P and De Beer, ZW and Fernández, M and Diez, J and Wingfield, BD and Wingfield, MJ}, title = {Ophiostomatoid fungi including two new fungal species associated with pine root-feeding beetles in northern Spain.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {106}, number = {6}, pages = {1167-1184}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-014-0286-1}, pmid = {25253585}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; Calmodulin/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Ophiostomatales/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/parasitology ; Plant Roots/parasitology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; Tubulin/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many bark beetles live in a symbiosis with ophiostomatoid fungi but very little is known regarding these fungi in Spain. In this study, we considered the fungi associated with nine bark beetle species and one weevil infesting two native tree species (Pinus sylvestris and Pinus nigra) and one non-native (Pinus radiata) in Cantabria (Northern Spain). This included examination of 239 bark beetles or their galleries. Isolations yielded a total of 110 cultures that included 11 fungal species (five species of Leptographium sensu lato including Leptographium absconditum sp. nov., five species of Ophiostoma sensu lato including Ophiostoma cantabriense sp. nov, and one species of Graphilbum). The most commonly encountered fungal associates of the bark beetles were Grosmannia olivacea, Leptographium procerum, and Ophiostoma canum. The aggressiveness of the collected fungal species was evaluated using inoculations on two-year-old P. radiata seedlings. Leptographium wingfieldii, Leptographium guttulatum, and Ophiostoma ips were the only species capable of causing significant lesions.}, } @article {pmid25253057, year = {2015}, author = {Grison, CM and Mazel, M and Sellini, A and Escande, V and Biton, J and Grison, C}, title = {The leguminous species Anthyllis vulneraria as a Zn-hyperaccumulator and eco-Zn catalyst resources.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {5667-5676}, pmid = {25253057}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Catalysis ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; France ; Green Chemistry Technology/*methods ; Mining/*methods ; Polarography ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Zinc/*pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {Anthyllis vulneraria was highlighted here as a Zn-hyperaccumulator for the development of a pilot phytoextraction process in the mine site of Les Avinières in the district of Saint-Laurent-Le-Minier. A. vulneraria appeared to hyperaccumulate the highest concentration of Zn in shoots with a better metal selectivity relative to Cd and Pb than the reference Zn-hyperaccumulator Noccea caerulescens. A bigger biomass production associated to a higher Zn concentration conducted A. vulneraria to the highest total zinc gain per hectare per year. As a legume, A. vulneraria was infected by rhizobia symbionts. Inoculation of A. vulneraria seeds showed a positive impact on Zn hyperaccumulation. A large-scale culture process of symbiotic rhizobia of A. vulneraria was investigated and optimized to allow large-scale inoculation process. Contaminated shoots of A. vulneraria were not considered as wastes and were recovered as Eco-Zn catalyst in particular, examples of organic synthesis, electrophilic aromatic substitution. Eco-Zn catalyst was much more efficient than conventional catalysts and allowed greener chemical processes.}, } @article {pmid25252248, year = {2015}, author = {Lafuente, A and Pérez-Palacios, P and Doukkali, B and Molina-Sánchez, MD and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Caviedes, MA and Rodríguez-Llorente, ID and Pajuelo, E}, title = {Unraveling the effect of arsenic on the model Medicago-Ensifer interaction: a transcriptomic meta-analysis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {1}, pages = {255-272}, doi = {10.1111/nph.13009}, pmid = {25252248}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arsenic/*toxicity ; Arsenites/toxicity ; Cluster Analysis ; Down-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; Up-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genetic regulation underlying the effect of arsenic (As(III)) on the model symbiosis Medicago-Ensifer was investigated using a combination of physiological (split-roots), microscopy and genetic (microarrays, qRT-PCR and composite plants) tools. Nodulation was very sensitive to As(III) (median inhibitory dose (ID50) = 20 μM). The effect on root elongation and on nodulation was local (nonsystemic). A battery of stress (salt, drought, heat shock, metals, etc.)-related genes were induced. Glutathione played a pivotal role in tolerance/detoxification, together with secondary metabolites ((iso)flavonoids and phenylpropanoids). However, antioxidant enzymes were not activated. Concerning the symbiotic interaction, molecular evidence suggesting that rhizobia alleviate As stress is for the first time provided. Chalcone synthase (which is involved in the first step of the legume-rhizobia cross-talk) was strongly enhanced, suggesting that the plants are biased to establish symbiotic interactions under As(III) stress. In contrast, 13 subsequent nodulation genes (involved in nodulation factors (Nod factors) perception, infection, thread initiation and progression, and nodule morphogenesis) were repressed. Overexpression of the ethylene responsive factor ERN in composite plants reduced root stress and partially restored nodulation, whereas overexpression of the early nodulin ENOD12 enhanced nodulation both in the presence and, particularly, in the absence of As, without affecting root elongation. Several transcription factors were identified, which could be additional targets for genetic engineering aiming to improve nodulation and/or alleviate root stress induced by this toxic.}, } @article {pmid25250218, year = {2014}, author = {Buckley, HL and Rafat, A and Ridden, JD and Cruickshank, RH and Ridgway, HJ and Paterson, AM}, title = {Phylogenetic congruence of lichenised fungi and algae is affected by spatial scale and taxonomic diversity.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e573}, pmid = {25250218}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {The role of species' interactions in structuring biological communities remains unclear. Mutualistic symbioses, involving close positive interactions between two distinct organismal lineages, provide an excellent means to explore the roles of both evolutionary and ecological processes in determining how positive interactions affect community structure. In this study, we investigate patterns of co-diversification between fungi and algae for a range of New Zealand lichens at the community, genus, and species levels and explore explanations for possible patterns related to spatial scale and pattern, taxonomic diversity of the lichens considered, and the level sampling replication. We assembled six independent datasets to compare patterns in phylogenetic congruence with varied spatial extent of sampling, taxonomic diversity and level of specimen replication. For each dataset, we used the DNA sequences from the ITS regions of both the fungal and algal genomes from lichen specimens to produce genetic distance matrices. Phylogenetic congruence between fungi and algae was quantified using distance-based redundancy analysis and we used geographic distance matrices in Moran's eigenvector mapping and variance partitioning to evaluate the effects of spatial variation on the quantification of phylogenetic congruence. Phylogenetic congruence was highly significant for all datasets and a large proportion of variance in both algal and fungal genetic distances was explained by partner genetic variation. Spatial variables, primarily at large and intermediate scales, were also important for explaining genetic diversity patterns in all datasets. Interestingly, spatial structuring was stronger for fungal than algal genetic variation. As the spatial extent of the samples increased, so too did the proportion of explained variation that was shared between the spatial variables and the partners' genetic variation. Different lichen taxa showed some variation in their phylogenetic congruence and spatial genetic patterns and where greater sample replication was used, the amount of variation explained by partner genetic variation increased. Our results suggest that the phylogenetic congruence pattern, at least at small spatial scales, is likely due to reciprocal co-adaptation or co-dispersal. However, the detection of these patterns varies among different lichen taxa, across spatial scales and with different levels of sample replication. This work provides insight into the complexities faced in determining how evolutionary and ecological processes may interact to generate diversity in symbiotic association patterns at the population and community levels. Further, it highlights the critical importance of considering sample replication, taxonomic diversity and spatial scale in designing studies of co-diversification.}, } @article {pmid25250210, year = {2014}, author = {Horwitz, R and Borell, EM and Fine, M and Shaked, Y}, title = {Trace element profiles of the sea anemone Anemonia viridis living nearby a natural CO2 vent.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e538}, pmid = {25250210}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) is not an isolated threat, but acts in concert with other impacts on ecosystems and species. Coastal marine invertebrates will have to face the synergistic interactions of OA with other global and local stressors. One local factor, common in coastal environments, is trace element contamination. CO2 vent sites are extensively studied in the context of OA and are often considered analogous to the oceans in the next few decades. The CO2 vent found at Levante Bay (Vulcano, NE Sicily, Italy) also releases high concentrations of trace elements to its surrounding seawater, and is therefore a unique site to examine the effects of long-term exposure of nearby organisms to high pCO2 and trace element enrichment in situ. The sea anemone Anemonia viridis is prevalent next to the Vulcano vent and does not show signs of trace element poisoning/stress. The aim of our study was to compare A. viridis trace element profiles and compartmentalization between high pCO2 and control environments. Rather than examining whole anemone tissue, we analyzed two different body compartments-the pedal disc and the tentacles, and also examined the distribution of trace elements in the tentacles between the animal and the symbiotic algae. We found dramatic changes in trace element tissue concentrations between the high pCO2/high trace element and control sites, with strong accumulation of iron, lead, copper and cobalt, but decreased concentrations of cadmium, zinc and arsenic proximate to the vent. The pedal disc contained substantially more trace elements than the anemone's tentacles, suggesting the pedal disc may serve as a detoxification/storage site for excess trace elements. Within the tentacles, the various trace elements displayed different partitioning patterns between animal tissue and algal symbionts. At both sites iron was found primarily in the algae, whereas cadmium, zinc and arsenic were primarily found in the animal tissue. Our data suggests that A. viridis regulates its internal trace element concentrations by compartmentalization and excretion and that these features contribute to its resilience and potential success at the trace element-rich high pCO2 vent.}, } @article {pmid25248950, year = {2014}, author = {Formey, D and Sallet, E and Lelandais-Brière, C and Ben, C and Bustos-Sanmamed, P and Niebel, A and Frugier, F and Combier, JP and Debellé, F and Hartmann, C and Poulain, J and Gavory, F and Wincker, P and Roux, C and Gentzbittel, L and Gouzy, J and Crespi, M}, title = {The small RNA diversity from Medicago truncatula roots under biotic interactions evidences the environmental plasticity of the miRNAome.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {457}, pmid = {25248950}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Conserved Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Plant Roots/*genetics/metabolism ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legume roots show a remarkable plasticity to adapt their architecture to biotic and abiotic constraints, including symbiotic interactions. However, global analysis of miRNA regulation in roots is limited, and a global view of the evolution of miRNA-mediated diversification in different ecotypes is lacking.

RESULTS: In the model legume Medicago truncatula, we analyze the small RNA transcriptome of roots submitted to symbiotic and pathogenic interactions. Genome mapping and a computational pipeline identify 416 miRNA candidates, including known and novel variants of 78 miRNA families present in miRBase. Stringent criteria of pre-miRNA prediction yield 52 new mtr-miRNAs, including 27 miRtrons. Analyzing miRNA precursor polymorphisms in 26 M. truncatula ecotypes identifies higher sequence polymorphism in conserved rather than Medicago-specific miRNA precursors. An average of 19 targets, mainly involved in environmental responses and signalling, is predicted per novel miRNA. We identify miRNAs responsive to bacterial and fungal pathogens or symbionts as well as their related Nod and Myc-LCO symbiotic signals. Network analyses reveal modules of new and conserved co-expressed miRNAs that regulate distinct sets of targets, highlighting potential miRNA-regulated biological pathways relevant to pathogenic and symbiotic interactions.

CONCLUSIONS: We identify 52 novel genuine miRNAs and large plasticity of the root miRNAome in response to the environment, and also in response to purified Myc/Nod signaling molecules. The new miRNAs identified and their sequence variation across M. truncatula ecotypes may be crucial to understand the adaptation of root growth to the soil environment, notably in the agriculturally important legume crops.}, } @article {pmid25248027, year = {2014}, author = {Dirren, S and Salcher, MM and Blom, JF and Schweikert, M and Posch, T}, title = {Ménage-à-trois: the amoeba Nuclearia sp. from Lake Zurich with its ecto- and endosymbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {165}, number = {5}, pages = {745-758}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2014.08.004}, pmid = {25248027}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Amoeba/classification/cytology/*isolation & purification/*microbiology ; Betaproteobacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genes, rRNA ; Lakes/parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Switzerland ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We present a fascinating triad relationship between a eukaryotic amoeba and its two bacterial symbionts. The morphological characteristics of the amoeba allowed for a confident assignment to the genus Nuclearia (Opisthokonta, Nucleariidae), but species identification resulted in an ambiguous result. Sequence analysis indicated an affiliation to the species N. thermophila, however, several morphological features contradict the original description. Amoebal isolates were cultured for several years with their preferred food source, the microcystin-producing harmful cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens. Symbioses of the amoeba with ecto- and endosymbiotic bacteria were maintained over this period. Several thousand cells of the ectosymbiont are regularly arranged inside a layer of extracellular polymeric substances produced by the amoeba. The ectosymbiont was identified as Paucibacter toxinivorans (Betaproteobacteria), which was originally isolated by enrichment with microcystins. We found indications that our isolated ectosymbiont indeed contributed to toxin-degradation. The endosymbiont (Gammaproteobacteria, 15-20 bacteria per amoeba) is enclosed in symbiosomes inside the host cytoplasm and represents probably an obligate symbiont. We propose the name "Candidatus Endonucleariobacter rarus" for this bacterium that was neither found free-living nor in a symbiotic association. Nucleariidae are uniquely suited model organisms to study the basic principles of symbioses between opisthokonts and prokaryotes.}, } @article {pmid25247059, year = {2014}, author = {Hasselquist, NJ and Högberg, P}, title = {Dosage and duration effects of nitrogen additions on ectomycorrhizal sporocarp production and functioning: an example from two N-limited boreal forests.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {15}, pages = {3015-3026}, pmid = {25247059}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Although it is well known that nitrogen (N) additions strongly affect ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal community composition, less is known about how different N application rates and duration of N additions affect the functional role EM fungi play in the forest N cycle.We measured EM sporocarp abundance and species richness as well as determined the δ (15)N in EM sporocarps and tree foliage in two Pinus sylvestris forests characterized by short- and long-term N addition histories and multiple N addition treatments. After 20 and 39 years of N additions, two of the long-term N addition treatments were terminated, thereby providing a unique opportunity to examine the temporal recovery of EM sporocarps after cessation of high N loading.In general, increasing N availability significantly reduced EM sporocarp production, species richness, and the amount of N retained in EM sporocarps. However, these general responses were strongly dependent on the application rate and duration of N additions. The annual addition of 20 kg·N·ha(-1) for the past 6 years resulted in a slight increase in the production and retention of N in EM sporocarps, whereas the addition of 100 kg·N·ha(-1)·yr(-1) during the same period nearly eliminated EM sporocarps. In contrast, long-term additions of N at rates of ca. 35 or 70 kg·N·ha(-1)·yr(-1) for the past 40 years did not eliminate tree carbon allocation to EM sporocarps, although there was a decrease in the abundance and a shift in the dominant EM sporocarp taxa. Despite no immediate recovery, EM sporocarp abundance and species richness approached those of the control 20 years after terminating N additions in the most heavily fertilized treatment, suggesting a recovery of carbon allocation to EM sporocarps after cessation of high N loading.Our results provide evidence for a tight coupling between tree carbon allocation to and N retention in EM sporocarps and moreover highlight the potential use of δ (15)N in EM sporocarps as a relative index of EM fungal sink strength for N. However, nitrogen additions at high dosage rates or over long time periods appear to disrupt this feedback, which could have important ramifications on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in these forested ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25246578, year = {2014}, author = {Soyano, T and Hirakawa, H and Sato, S and Hayashi, M and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Nodule Inception creates a long-distance negative feedback loop involved in homeostatic regulation of nodule organ production.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {40}, pages = {14607-14612}, pmid = {25246578}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Feedback, Physiological ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Autoregulatory negative-feedback loops play important roles in fine-balancing tissue and organ development. Such loops are composed of short-range intercellular signaling pathways via cell-cell communications. On the other hand, leguminous plants use a long-distance negative-feedback system involving root-shoot communication to control the number of root nodules, root lateral organs that harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as rhizobia. This feedback system, known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON), consists of two long-distance mobile signals: root-derived and shoot-derived signals. Two Lotus japonicus CLAVATA3/endosperm surrounding region (CLE)-related small peptides, CLE root signal1 (CLE-RS1) and CLE-RS2, function as root-derived signals and are perceived by a shoot-acting AON factor, the hypernodulation aberrant root formation1 (HAR1) receptor protein, an ortholog of Arabidopsis CLAVATA1, which is responsible for shoot apical meristem homeostasis. This peptide-receptor interaction is necessary for systemic suppression of nodulation. How the onset of nodulation activates AON and how optimal nodule numbers are maintained remain unknown, however. Here we show that an RWP-RK-containing transcription factor, nodule inception (NIN), which induces nodule-like structures without rhizobial infection when expressed ectopically, directly targets CLE-RS1 and CLE-RS2. Roots constitutively expressing NIN systemically repress activation of endogenous NIN expression in untransformed roots of the same plant in a HAR1-dependent manner, leading to systemic suppression of nodulation and down-regulation of CLE expression. Our findings provide, to our knowledge, the first molecular evidence of a long-distance autoregulatory negative-feedback loop that homeostatically regulates nodule organ formation.}, } @article {pmid25246537, year = {2014}, author = {Poulsen, M and Hu, H and Li, C and Chen, Z and Xu, L and Otani, S and Nygaard, S and Nobre, T and Klaubauf, S and Schindler, PM and Hauser, F and Pan, H and Yang, Z and Sonnenberg, AS and de Beer, ZW and Zhang, Y and Wingfield, MJ and Grimmelikhuijzen, CJ and de Vries, RP and Korb, J and Aanen, DK and Wang, J and Boomsma, JJ and Zhang, G}, title = {Complementary symbiont contributions to plant decomposition in a fungus-farming termite.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {40}, pages = {14500-14505}, pmid = {25246537}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Digestive System/metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Isoptera/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Male ; Metagenome/genetics ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/physiology ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Termites normally rely on gut symbionts to decompose organic matter but the Macrotermitinae domesticated Termitomyces fungi to produce their own food. This transition was accompanied by a shift in the composition of the gut microbiota, but the complementary roles of these bacteria in the symbiosis have remained enigmatic. We obtained high-quality annotated draft genomes of the termite Macrotermes natalensis, its Termitomyces symbiont, and gut metagenomes from workers, soldiers, and a queen. We show that members from 111 of the 128 known glycoside hydrolase families are represented in the symbiosis, that Termitomyces has the genomic capacity to handle complex carbohydrates, and that worker gut microbes primarily contribute enzymes for final digestion of oligosaccharides. This apparent division of labor is consistent with the Macrotermes gut microbes being most important during the second passage of comb material through the termite gut, after a first gut passage where the crude plant substrate is inoculated with Termitomyces asexual spores so that initial fungal growth and polysaccharide decomposition can proceed with high efficiency. Complex conversion of biomass in termite mounds thus appears to be mainly accomplished by complementary cooperation between a domesticated fungal monoculture and a specialized bacterial community. In sharp contrast, the gut microbiota of the queen had highly reduced plant decomposition potential, suggesting that mature reproductives digest fungal material provided by workers rather than plant substrate.}, } @article {pmid25245262, year = {2014}, author = {Keller, KR}, title = {Mutualistic rhizobia reduce plant diversity and alter community composition.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {1101-1109}, pmid = {25245262}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Chamaecrista/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Environment ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/growth & development/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic interactions can be just as important to community dynamics as antagonistic species interactions like competition and predation. Because of their large effects on both abiotic and biotic environmental variables, resource mutualisms, in particular, have the potential to influence plant communities. Moreover, the effects of resource mutualists such as nitrogen-fixing rhizobia on diversity and community composition may be more pronounced in nutrient-limited environments. I experimentally manipulated the presence of rhizobia across a nitrogen gradient in early assembling mesocosm communities with identical starting species composition to test how the classic mutualism between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and their legume host influence diversity and community composition. After harvest, I assessed changes in α-diversity, community composition, β-diversity, and ecosystem properties such as inorganic nitrogen availability and productivity as a result of rhizobia and nitrogen availability. The presence of rhizobia decreased plant community diversity, increased community convergence (reduced β-diversity), altered plant community composition, and increased total community productivity. These community-level effects resulted from rhizobia increasing the competitive dominance of their legume host Chamaecrista fasciculata. Moreover, different non-leguminous species responded both negatively and positively to the presence of rhizobia, indicating that rhizobia are driving both inhibitory and potentially facilitative effects in communities. These findings expand our understanding of plant communities by incorporating the effects of positive symbiotic interactions on plant diversity and composition. In particular, rhizobia that specialize on dominant plants may serve as keystone mutualists in terrestrial plant communities, reducing diversity by more than 40%.}, } @article {pmid25244617, year = {2014}, author = {Nadyeina, O and Dymytrova, L and Naumovych, A and Postoyalkin, S and Werth, S and Cheenacharoen, S and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Microclimatic differentiation of gene pools in the Lobaria pulmonaria symbiosis in a primeval forest landscape.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {21}, pages = {5164-5178}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12928}, pmid = {25244617}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Altitude ; Bayes Theorem ; Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/genetics ; Fagus ; Forests ; Fungi/genetics ; *Gene Pool ; Genetic Variation ; Lichens/*genetics ; *Microclimate ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Models, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Ukraine ; }, abstract = {Population genetics of the tree-colonizing lichen Lobaria pulmonaria were studied in the largest primeval beech forest of Europe, covering 10 000 ha. During an intensive survey of the area, we collected 1522 thallus fragments originating from 483 trees, which were genotyped with eight mycobiont- and 14 photobiont-specific microsatellite markers. The mycobiont and photobiont of L. pulmonaria were found to consist of two distinct gene pools, which are co-existing within small areas of 3-180 ha in a homogeneous beech forest. The small-scale distribution pattern of the symbiotic gene pools show habitat partitioning of lineages associated with either floodplains or mountain forests. Using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), we dated the divergence of the two fungal gene pools of L. pulmonaria as the Early Pleistocene. Both fungal gene pools survived the Pleistocene glacial cycles in the Carpathians, although possibly in climatically different refugia. Fungal diversification prior to these cycles and the selection of photobionts with different altitudinal distributions explain the current sympatric, but ecologically differentiated habitat partitioning of L. pulmonaria. In addition, the habitat preferences of the mycobiont are determined by other factors and are rather independent of those of the photobiont at the landscape level. The distinct gene pools should be considered evolutionarily significant units and deserve specific conservation priorities in the future, for example gene pool A, which is a Pliocene relict.}, } @article {pmid25244509, year = {2014}, author = {Vitetta, L and Manuel, R and Zhou, JY and Linnane, AW and Hall, S and Coulson, S}, title = {The overarching influence of the gut microbiome on end-organ function: the role of live probiotic cultures.}, journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {954-989}, pmid = {25244509}, issn = {1424-8247}, abstract = {At the time of birth, humans experience an induced pro-inflammatory beneficial event. The mediators of this encouraged activity, is a fleet of bacteria that assault all mucosal surfaces as well as the skin. Thus initiating effects that eventually provide the infant with immune tissue maturation. These effects occur beneath an emergent immune system surveillance and antigenic tolerance capability radar. Over time, continuous and regulated interactions with environmental as well as commensal microbial, viral, and other antigens lead to an adapted and maintained symbiotic state of tolerance, especially in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) the organ site of the largest microbial biomass. However, the perplexing and much debated surprise has been that all microbes need not be targeted for destruction. The advent of sophisticated genomic techniques has led to microbiome studies that have begun to clarify the critical and important biochemical activities that commensal bacteria provide to ensure continued GIT homeostasis. Until recently, the GIT and its associated micro-biometabolome was a neglected factor in chronic disease development and end organ function. A systematic underestimation has been to undervalue the contribution of a persistent GIT dysbiotic (a gut barrier associated abnormality) state. Dysbiosis provides a plausible clue as to the origin of systemic metabolic disorders encountered in clinical practice that may explain the epidemic of chronic diseases. Here we further build a hypothesis that posits the role that subtle adverse responses by the GIT microbiome may have in chronic diseases. Environmentally/nutritionally/and gut derived triggers can maintain microbiome perturbations that drive an abnormal overload of dysbiosis. Live probiotic cultures with specific metabolic properties may assist the GIT microbiota and reduce the local metabolic dysfunctions. As such the effect may translate to a useful clinical treatment approach for patients diagnosed with a metabolic disease for end organs such as the kidney and liver. A profile emerges that shows that bacteria are diverse, abundant, and ubiquitous and have significantly influenced the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.}, } @article {pmid25243129, year = {2014}, author = {Ordögh, L and Vörös, A and Nagy, I and Kondorosi, E and Kereszt, A}, title = {Symbiotic plant peptides eliminate Candida albicans both in vitro and in an epithelial infection model and inhibit the proliferation of immortalized human cells.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {320796}, pmid = {25243129}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Candida albicans/cytology/*drug effects ; Candidiasis/*microbiology/pathology ; Cations/pharmacology ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Membrane Permeability/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/*microbiology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Peptides/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The increasing number of multidrug-resistant microbes now emerging necessitates the identification of novel antimicrobial agents. Plants produce a great variety of antimicrobial peptides including hundreds of small, nodule-specific cysteine-rich NCR peptides that, in the legume Medicago truncatula, govern the differentiation of endosymbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria and, in vitro, can display potent antibacterial activities. In this study, the potential candidacidal activity of 19 NCR peptides was investigated. Cationic NCR peptides having an isoelectric point above 9 were efficient in killing Candida albicans, one of the most common fungal pathogens of humans. None of the tested NCR peptides were toxic for immortalized human epithelial cells at concentrations that effectively killed the fungus; however, at higher concentrations, some of them inhibited the division of the cells. Furthermore, the cationic peptides successfully inhibited C. albicans induced human epithelial cell death in an in vitro coculture model. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of cationic NCR peptides in the treatment of candidiasis.}, } @article {pmid25242050, year = {2014}, author = {Bonfante, P}, title = {The endless tale of endobacteria: a conversation with Paola Bonfante.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {744-746}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.08.008}, pmid = {25242050}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {January 1974: In the dark of the electron microscope room, Paola Bonfante started up and looked again at the greenish screen; she was indeed looking at a round body very similar to a bacterium. Unexpectedly, this faint body was inside the cytoplasm of a mycorrhizal symbiotic fungus, which was inside the root cells of a plant.}, } @article {pmid25242028, year = {2014}, author = {Vigneron, A and Masson, F and Vallier, A and Balmand, S and Rey, M and Vincent-Monégat, C and Aksoy, E and Aubailly-Giraud, E and Zaidman-Rémy, A and Heddi, A}, title = {Insects recycle endosymbionts when the benefit is over.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {24}, number = {19}, pages = {2267-2273}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.065}, pmid = {25242028}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex I/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Female ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pupa/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations are widespread in nature and represent a driving force in evolution. They are known to impact fitness, and thereby shape the host phenotype. Insects subsisting on nutritionally poor substrates have evolved mutualistic relationships with intracellular symbiotic bacteria (endosymbionts) that supply them with metabolic components lacking in their diet. In many species, endosymbionts are hosted within specialized host cells, called the bacteriocytes, and transmitted vertically across host generations. How hosts balance the costs and benefits of having endosymbionts, and whether and how they adjust symbiont load to their physiological needs, remains largely unexplored. By investigating the cereal weevil Sitophilus association with the Sodalis pierantonius endosymbiont, we discover that endosymbiont populations intensively multiply in young adults, before being rapidly eliminated within few days. We show that young adults strongly depend on endosymbionts and that endosymbiont proliferation after metamorphosis matches a drastic host physiological need for the tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe) amino acids to rapidly build their protective exoskeleton. Tyr and Phe are precursors of the dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) molecule that is an essential component for the cuticle synthesis. Once the cuticle is achieved, DOPA reaches high amounts in insects, which triggers endosymbiont elimination. This elimination relies on apoptosis and autophagy activation, allowing digestion and recycling of the endosymbiont material. Thus, the weevil-endosymbiont association reveals an adaptive interplay between metabolic and cellular functions that minimizes the cost of symbiosis and speeds up the exoskeleton formation during a critical phase when emerging adults are especially vulnerable.}, } @article {pmid25240795, year = {2015}, author = {Gresshoff, PM and Hayashi, S and Biswas, B and Mirzaei, S and Indrasumunar, A and Reid, D and Samuel, S and Tollenaere, A and van Hameren, B and Hastwell, A and Scott, P and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {The value of biodiversity in legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodulation for biofuel and food production.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {172}, number = {}, pages = {128-136}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2014.05.013}, pmid = {25240795}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Agriculture ; Biodiversity ; *Biofuels ; Genetic Variation ; Millettia/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Much of modern agriculture is based on immense populations of genetically identical or near-identical varieties, called cultivars. However, advancement of knowledge, and thus experimental utility, is found through biodiversity, whether naturally-found or induced by the experimenter. Globally we are confronted by ever-growing food and energy challenges. Here we demonstrate how such biodiversity from the food legume crop soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) and the bioenergy legume tree Pongamia (Millettia) pinnata is a great value. Legume plants are diverse and are represented by over 18,000 species on this planet. Some, such as soybean, pea and medics are used as food and animal feed crops. Others serve as ornamental (e.g., wisteria), timber (e.g., acacia/wattle) or biofuel (e.g., Pongamia pinnata) resources. Most legumes develop root organs (nodules) after microsymbiont induction that serve as their habitat for biological nitrogen fixation. Through this, nitrogen fertiliser demand is reduced by the efficient symbiosis between soil Rhizobium-type bacteria and the appropriate legume partner. Mechanistic research into the genetics, biochemistry and physiology of legumes is thus strategically essential for future global agriculture. Here we demonstrate how molecular plant science analysis of the genetics of an established food crop (soybean) and an emerging biofuel P. pinnata feedstock contributes to their utility by sustainable production aided by symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid25240322, year = {2014}, author = {Goicoechea, N and Baslam, M and Erice, G and Irigoyen, JJ}, title = {Increased photosynthetic acclimation in alfalfa associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and cultivated in greenhouse under elevated CO2.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {18}, pages = {1774-1781}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2014.07.027}, pmid = {25240322}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/*analysis ; Medicago sativa/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) can exhibit photosynthetic down-regulation when grown in greenhouse conditions under elevated atmospheric CO2. This forage legume can establish a double symbiosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which may increase the carbon sink effect of roots. Our aim was to assess whether the association of alfalfa with AMF can avoid, diminish or delay the photosynthetic acclimation observed in previous studies performed with nodulated plants. The results, however, showed that mycorrhizal (M) alfalfa at the end of their vegetative period had lower carbon (C) discrimination than non-mycorrhizal (NM) controls, indicating photosynthetic acclimation under ECO2 in plants associated with AMF. Decreased C discrimination was due to the acclimation of conductance, since the amount of Rubisco and the expression of genes codifying both large and small subunits of Rubisco were similar or slightly higher in M than in NM plants. Moreover, M alfalfa accumulated a greater amount of soluble sugars in leaves than NM plants, thus favoring a down-regulation effect on photosynthetic rates. The enhanced contents of sugars in leaves coincided with a reduced percentage of arbuscules in roots, suggesting decreased sink of carbohydrates from shoots to roots in M plants. The shorter life cycle of alfalfa associated with AMF in comparison with the NM controls may also be related to the accelerated photosynthetic acclimation in M plants. Further research is needed to clarify to what extent this behavior could be extrapolated to alfalfa cultivated in the field and subjected to periodic cutting of shoots under climatic change scenarios.}, } @article {pmid25239902, year = {2014}, author = {Corby-Harris, V and Snyder, LA and Schwan, MR and Maes, P and McFrederick, QS and Anderson, KE}, title = {Origin and effect of Alpha 2.2 Acetobacteraceae in honey bee larvae and description of Parasaccharibacter apium gen. nov., sp. nov.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {24}, pages = {7460-7472}, pmid = {25239902}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bees/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Larva/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The honey bee hive environment contains a rich microbial community that differs according to niche. Acetobacteraceae Alpha 2.2 (Alpha 2.2) bacteria are present in the food stores, the forager crop, and larvae but at negligible levels in the nurse and forager midgut and hindgut. We first sought to determine the source of Alpha 2.2 in young larvae by assaying the diversity of microbes in nurse crops, hypopharyngeal glands (HGs), and royal jelly (RJ). Amplicon-based pyrosequencing showed that Alpha 2.2 bacteria occupy each of these environments along with a variety of other bacteria, including Lactobacillus kunkeei. RJ and the crop contained fewer bacteria than the HGs, suggesting that these tissues are rather selective environments. Phylogenetic analyses showed that honey bee-derived Alpha 2.2 bacteria are specific to bees that "nurse" the hive's developing brood with HG secretions and are distinct from the Saccharibacter-type bacteria found in bees that provision their young differently, such as with a pollen ball coated in crop-derived contents. Acetobacteraceae can form symbiotic relationships with insects, so we next tested whether Alpha 2.2 increased larval fitness. We cultured 44 Alpha 2.2 strains from young larvae that grouped into nine distinct clades. Three isolates from these nine clades flourished in royal jelly, and one isolate increased larval survival in vitro. We conclude that Alpha 2.2 bacteria are not gut bacteria but are prolific in the crop-HG-RJ-larva niche, passed to the developing brood through nurse worker feeding behavior. We propose the name Parasaccharibacter apium for this bacterial symbiont of bees in the genus Apis.}, } @article {pmid25239777, year = {2014}, author = {Behm, JE and Geurts, R and Kiers, ET}, title = {Parasponia: a novel system for studying mutualism stability.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {757-763}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.08.007}, pmid = {25239777}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding how mutualistic interactions are stabilized in the presence of cheaters is a major question in evolutionary biology. The legume-rhizobia mutualism has become a model system for studying how plants control cheating partners. However, the generality and evolutionary origins of these control mechanisms are intensely debated. In this Opinion article, we argue that a novel system--the Parasponia-rhizobia mutualism--will significantly advance research in mutualism stability. Parasponia is the only non-legume lineage to have evolved a rhizobial symbiosis, which provides an evolutionary replicate to test how rhizobial exploitation is controlled. Evidence also suggests that this symbiosis is young. This allows studies at an earlier evolutionary stage in mutualisms, so the origin of control mechanisms can be better understood.}, } @article {pmid25239707, year = {2015}, author = {Gorelova, O and Baulina, O and Solovchenko, A and Selyakh, I and Chivkunova, O and Semenova, L and Scherbakov, P and Burakova, O and Lobakova, E}, title = {Coordinated rearrangements of assimilatory and storage cell compartments in a nitrogen-starving symbiotic chlorophyte cultivated under high light.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {197}, number = {2}, pages = {181-195}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-014-1036-5}, pmid = {25239707}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Carbon/analysis/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Chlorophyll/analysis/metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*physiology/*radiation effects/ultrastructure ; *Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; Thylakoids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A quantitative micromorphometric study of the cell compartment rearrangements was performed in a symbiotic chlorophyte Desmodesmus sp. 3Dp86E-1 grown on nitrogen (N) replete or N-free medium under 480 μmol PAR quanta m(-2) s(-1). The changes in the chloroplast, intraplastidial, and cytoplasmic inclusions induced by high light (HL) and N starvation were similar to those characteristic of free-living chlorophytes. The N-sufficient culture responded to HL by a transient swelling of the thylakoid lumen and a decline in photosynthetic efficiency followed by its recovery. In the N-starving cells, a more rapid expansion and thylakoid swelling occurred along with the irreversible decline in the photosynthetic efficiency. Differential induction of starch grains, oil bodies, and cell wall polysaccharides depending on the stress exposure and type was recorded. Tight relationships between the changes in the assimilatory and storage compartments in the stressed Desmodesmus sp. cells were revealed.}, } @article {pmid25239593, year = {2015}, author = {Buscot, F}, title = {Implication of evolution and diversity in arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {172}, number = {}, pages = {55-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2014.08.013}, pmid = {25239593}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Being highly sensitive to ecological variations, symbiotic associations should inherently have a limited occurrence in nature. To circumvent this sensitivity and reach their universal distribution, symbioses used three strategies during their evolution, which all generated high biodiversity levels: (i) specialization to a specific environment, (ii) protection of one partner via its internalization into the other, (iii) frequent partner exchange. Mycorrhizal associations follow the 3rd strategy, but also present traits of internalization. As most ancient type, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) formed by a monophyletic fungal group with reduced species richness did constantly support the mineral nutrition of terrestrial plants and enabled their ecological radiation and actual biodiversity level. In contrast ectomycorrhiza (EM) evolved later and independently within different taxa of fungi able to degrade complex organic plant residues, and the diversity levels of EM fungal and tree partners are balanced. Despite their different origins and diversity levels, AM and EM fungi display similar patterns of diversity dynamics in ecosystems. At each time or succession interval, a few dominant and many rare fungi are recruited by plants roots from a wide reservoir of propagules. However, the dominant fungal partners are frequently replaced in relation to changes in the vegetation or ecological conditions. While the initial establishment of AM and EM fungal communities corresponds to a neutral recruitment, their further succession is rather driven by niche differentiation dynamics.}, } @article {pmid25236855, year = {2014}, author = {Sasaki, T and Suzaki, T and Soyano, T and Kojima, M and Sakakibara, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Shoot-derived cytokinins systemically regulate root nodulation.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {4983}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms5983}, pmid = {25236855}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Ligands ; Lotus/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptides/chemistry ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) in root nodules to obtain nitrogen. Legumes control nodule number through long-distance communication between roots and shoots, maintaining the proper symbiotic balance. Rhizobial infection triggers the production of mobile CLE-RS1/2 peptides in Lotus japonicus roots; the perception of the signal by receptor kinase HAR1 in shoots presumably induces the production of an unidentified shoot-derived inhibitor (SDI) that translocates to roots and blocks further nodule development. Here we show that, CLE-RS1/2-HAR1 signalling activates the production of shoot-derived cytokinins, which have an SDI-like capacity to systemically suppress nodulation. In addition, we show that LjIPT3 is involved in nodulation-related cytokinin production in shoots. The expression of LjIPT3 is activated in an HAR1-dependent manner. We further demonstrate shoot-to-root long-distance transport of cytokinin in L. japonicus seedlings. These findings add essential components to our understanding of how legumes control nodulation to balance nutritional requirements and energy status.}, } @article {pmid25232535, year = {2014}, author = {Serrato, RV}, title = {Lipopolysaccharides in diazotrophic bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {119}, pmid = {25232535}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Endophytes/physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobiaceae/physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a process in which the atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is transformed into ammonia (NH3) by a select group of nitrogen-fixing organisms, or diazotrophic bacteria. In order to furnish the biologically useful nitrogen to plants, these bacteria must be in constant molecular communication with their host plants. Some of these molecular plant-microbe interactions are very specific, resulting in a symbiotic relationship between the diazotroph and the host. Others are found between associative diazotrophs and plants, resulting in plant infection and colonization of internal tissues. Independent of the type of ecological interaction, glycans, and glycoconjugates produced by these bacteria play an important role in the molecular communication prior and during colonization. Even though exopolysaccharides (EPS) and lipochitooligosaccharides (LCO) produced by diazotrophic bacteria and released onto the environment have their importance in the microbe-plant interaction, it is the lipopolysaccharides (LPS), anchored on the external membrane of these bacteria, that mediates the direct contact of the diazotroph with the host cells. These molecules are extremely variable among the several species of nitrogen fixing-bacteria, and there are evidences of the mechanisms of infection being closely related to their structure.}, } @article {pmid25232361, year = {2014}, author = {Tanaka, K and Choi, J and Cao, Y and Stacey, G}, title = {Extracellular ATP acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) signal in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {446}, pmid = {25232361}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {As sessile organisms, plants have evolved effective mechanisms to protect themselves from environmental stresses. Damaged (i.e., wounded) plants recognize a variety of endogenous molecules as danger signals, referred to as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). ATP is among the molecules that are released by cell damage, and recent evidence suggests that ATP can serve as a DAMP. Although little studied in plants, extracellular ATP is well known for its signaling roles in animals, including acting as a DAMP during the inflammatory response and wound healing. If ATP acts outside the cell, then it is reasonable to expect that it is recognized by a plasma membrane-localized receptor. Recently, DORN1, a lectin receptor kinase, was shown to recognize extracellular ATP in Arabidopsis. DORN1 is the founding member of a new purinoceptor subfamily, P2K (P2 receptor kinase), which is plant-specific. P2K1 (DORN1) is required for ATP-induced cellular responses (e.g., cytosolic Ca(2+) elevation, MAPK phosphorylation, and gene expression). Genetic analysis of loss-of-function mutants and overexpression lines showed that P2K1 participates in the plant wound response, consistent with the role of ATP as a DAMP. In this review, we summarize past research on the roles and mechanisms of extracellular ATP signaling in plants, and discuss the direction of future research on extracellular ATP as a DAMP signal.}, } @article {pmid25232358, year = {2014}, author = {Belmondo, S and Fiorilli, V and Pérez-Tienda, J and Ferrol, N and Marmeisse, R and Lanfranco, L}, title = {A dipeptide transporter from the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis is upregulated in the intraradical phase.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {436}, pmid = {25232358}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form an ancient and widespread mutualistic symbiosis with plants, are a crucial but still enigmatic component of the plant micro biome. Nutrient exchange has probably been at the heart of the success of this plant-fungus interaction since the earliest days of plants on land. To characterize genes from the fungal partner involved in nutrient exchange, and presumably important for the functioning of the AM symbiosis, genome-wide transcriptomic data obtained from the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis were exploited. A gene sequence, showing amino acid sequence and transmembrane domains profile similar to members of the PTR2 family of fungal oligopeptide transporters, was identified and called RiPTR2. The functional properties of RiPTR2 were investigated by means of heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in either one or both of its di/tripeptide transporter genes PTR2 and DAL5. These assays showed that RiPTR2 can transport dipeptides such as Ala-Leu, Ala-Tyr or Tyr-Ala. From the gene expression analyses it seems that RiPTR2 responds to different environmental clues when the fungus grows inside the root and in the extraradical phase.}, } @article {pmid25231970, year = {2014}, author = {Miyata, K and Kozaki, T and Kouzai, Y and Ozawa, K and Ishii, K and Asamizu, E and Okabe, Y and Umehara, Y and Miyamoto, A and Kobae, Y and Akiyama, K and Kaku, H and Nishizawa, Y and Shibuya, N and Nakagawa, T}, title = {The bifunctional plant receptor, OsCERK1, regulates both chitin-triggered immunity and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {11}, pages = {1864-1872}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu129}, pmid = {25231970}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Chitin/immunology/*metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/immunology/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants are constantly exposed to threats from pathogenic microbes and thus developed an innate immune system to protect themselves. On the other hand, many plants also have the ability to establish endosymbiosis with beneficial microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or rhizobial bacteria, which improves the growth of host plants. How plants evolved these systems managing such opposite plant-microbe interactions is unclear. We show here that knockout (KO) mutants of OsCERK1, a rice receptor kinase essential for chitin signaling, were impaired not only for chitin-triggered defense responses but also for AM symbiosis, indicating the bifunctionality of OsCERK1 in defense and symbiosis. On the other hand, a KO mutant of OsCEBiP, which forms a receptor complex with OsCERK1 and is essential for chitin-triggered immunity, established mycorrhizal symbiosis normally. Therefore, OsCERK1 but not chitin-triggered immunity is required for AM symbiosis. Furthermore, experiments with chimeric receptors showed that the kinase domains of OsCERK1 and homologs from non-leguminous, mycorrhizal plants could trigger nodulation signaling in legume-rhizobium interactions as the kinase domain of Nod factor receptor1 (NFR1), which is essential for triggering the nodulation program in leguminous plants, did. Because leguminous plants are believed to have developed the rhizobial symbiosis on the basis of AM symbiosis, our results suggest that the symbiotic function of ancestral CERK1 in AM symbiosis enabled the molecular evolution to leguminous NFR1 and resulted in the establishment of legume-rhizobia symbiosis. These results also suggest that OsCERK1 and homologs serve as a molecular switch that activates defense or symbiotic responses depending on the infecting microbes.}, } @article {pmid25230474, year = {2014}, author = {Menge, DN and Lichstein, JW and Angeles-Pérez, G}, title = {Nitrogen fixation strategies can explain the latitudinal shift in nitrogen-fixing tree abundance.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {2236-2245}, doi = {10.1890/13-2124.1}, pmid = {25230474}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Demography ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Soil ; Trees/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The rarity of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing trees in higher-latitude compared to lower-latitude forests is paradoxical because higher-latitude soils are relatively N poor. Using national-scale forest inventories from the United States and Mexico, we show that the latitudinal abundance distribution of N-fixing trees (more than 10 times less abundant poleward of 35 degrees N) coincides with a latitudinal transition in symbiotic N-fixation type: rhizobial N-fixing trees (which are typically facultative, regulating fixation to meet nutritional demand) dominate equatorward of 35 degrees N, whereas actinorhizal N-fixing trees (typically obligate, maintaining fixation regardless of soil nutrition) dominate to the north. We then use theoretical and statistical models to show that a latitudinal shift in N-fixation strategy (facultative vs. obligate) near 35 degrees N can explain the observed change in N-fixing tree abundance, even if N availability is lower at higher latitudes, because facultative fixation leads to much higher landscape-scale N-fixing tree abundance than obligate fixation.}, } @article {pmid25230098, year = {2015}, author = {Field, KJ and Rimington, WR and Bidartondo, MI and Allinson, KE and Beerling, DJ and Cameron, DD and Duckett, JG and Leake, JR and Pressel, S}, title = {First evidence of mutualism between ancient plant lineages (Haplomitriopsida liverworts) and Mucoromycotina fungi and its response to simulated Palaeozoic changes in atmospheric CO2.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {205}, number = {2}, pages = {743-756}, pmid = {25230098}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Atmosphere ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide ; Embryophyta ; Fungi/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Hepatophyta/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The discovery that Mucoromycotina, an ancient and partially saprotrophic fungal lineage, associates with the basal liverwort lineage Haplomitriopsida casts doubt on the widely held view that Glomeromycota formed the sole ancestral plant-fungus symbiosis. Whether this association is mutualistic, and how its functioning was affected by the fall in atmospheric CO2 concentration that followed plant terrestrialization in the Palaeozoic, remains unknown. We measured carbon-for-nutrient exchanges between Haplomitriopsida liverworts and Mucoromycotina fungi under simulated mid-Palaeozoic (1500 ppm) and near-contemporary (440 ppm) CO2 concentrations using isotope tracers, and analysed cytological differences in plant-fungal interactions. Concomitantly, we cultured both partners axenically, resynthesized the associations in vitro, and characterized their cytology. We demonstrate that liverwort-Mucoromycotina symbiosis is mutualistic and mycorrhiza-like, but differs from liverwort-Glomeromycota symbiosis in maintaining functional efficiency of carbon-for-nutrient exchange between partners across CO2 concentrations. Inoculation of axenic plants with Mucoromycotina caused major cytological changes affecting the anatomy of plant tissues, similar to that observed in wild-collected plants colonized by Mucoromycotina fungi. By demonstrating reciprocal exchange of carbon for nutrients between partners, our results provide support for Mucoromycotina establishing the earliest mutualistic symbiosis with land plants. As symbiotic functional efficiency was not compromised by reduced CO2 , we suggest that other factors led to the modern predominance of the Glomeromycota symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25229561, year = {2014}, author = {Saito, AC and Ogura, T and Fujiwara, K and Murata, S and Nomura, SM}, title = {Introducing micrometer-sized artificial objects into live cells: a method for cell-giant unilamellar vesicle electrofusion.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e106853}, pmid = {25229561}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Flow Cytometry ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Nanostructures/chemistry ; Unilamellar Liposomes/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Here, we report a method for introducing large objects of up to a micrometer in diameter into cultured mammalian cells by electrofusion of giant unilamellar vesicles. We prepared GUVs containing various artificial objects using a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion centrifugation method. GUVs and dispersed HeLa cells were exposed to an alternating current (AC) field to induce a linear cell-GUV alignment, and then a direct current (DC) pulse was applied to facilitate transient electrofusion. With uniformly sized fluorescent beads as size indexes, we successfully and efficiently introduced beads of 1 µm in diameter into living cells along with a plasmid mammalian expression vector. Our electrofusion did not affect cell viability. After the electrofusion, cells proliferated normally until confluence was reached, and the introduced fluorescent beads were inherited during cell division. Analysis by both confocal microscopy and flow cytometry supported these findings. As an alternative approach, we also introduced a designed nanostructure (DNA origami) into live cells. The results we report here represent a milestone for designing artificial symbiosis of functionally active objects (such as micro-machines) in living cells. Moreover, our technique can be used for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and cell manipulation.}, } @article {pmid25229122, year = {2014}, author = {Wagaman, AS and Coburn, A and Brand-Thomas, I and Dash, B and Jaswal, SS}, title = {A comprehensive database of verified experimental data on protein folding kinetics.}, journal = {Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {1808-1812}, pmid = {25229122}, issn = {1469-896X}, mesh = {*Databases, Protein ; Kinetics ; *Protein Folding ; Proteins/*chemistry ; Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {Insights into protein folding rely increasingly on the synergy between experimental and theoretical approaches. Developing successful computational models requires access to experimental data of sufficient quantity and high quality. We compiled folding rate constants for what initially appeared to be 184 proteins from 15 published collections/web databases. To generate the highest confidence in the dataset, we verified the reported lnkf value and exact experimental construct and conditions from the original experimental report(s). The resulting comprehensive database of 126 verified entries, ACPro, will serve as a freely accessible resource (https://www.ats.amherst.edu/protein/) for the protein folding community to enable confident testing of predictive models. In addition, we provide a streamlined submission form for researchers to add new folding kinetics results, requiring specification of all the relevant experimental information according to the standards proposed in 2005 by the protein folding consortium organized by Plaxco. As the number and diversity of proteins whose folding kinetics are studied expands, our curated database will enable efficient and confident incorporation of new experimental results into a standardized collection. This database will support a more robust symbiosis between experiment and theory, leading ultimately to more rapid and accurate insights into protein folding, stability, and dynamics.}, } @article {pmid25227989, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, F and Pita, L and Erwin, PM and Abaid, S and López-Legentil, S and Hill, RT}, title = {Symbiotic archaea in marine sponges show stability and host specificity in community structure and ammonia oxidation functionality.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {3}, pages = {699-707}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12427}, pmid = {25227989}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Animals ; Archaea/*classification/genetics ; Archaeal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Caribbean Region ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Host Specificity ; Mediterranean Sea ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/classification/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {Archaea associated with marine sponges are active and influence the nitrogen metabolism of sponges. However, we know little about their occurrence, specificity, and persistence. We aimed to elucidate the relative importance of host specificity and biogeographic background in shaping the symbiotic archaeal communities. We investigated these communities in sympatric sponges from the Mediterranean (Ircinia fasciculata and Ircinia oros, sampled in summer and winter) and from the Caribbean (Ircinia strobilina and Mycale laxissima). PCR cloning and sequencing of archaeal 16S rRNA and amoA genes showed that the archaeal community composition and structure were different from that in seawater and varied among sponge species. We found that the communities were dominated by ammonia-oxidizing archaea closely related to Nitrosopumilus. The community in M. laxissima differed from that in Ircinia spp., including the sympatric sponge I. strobilina; yet, geographical clusters within Ircinia spp. were observed. Whereas archaeal phylotypes in Ircinia spp. were persistent and belong to 'sponge-enriched' clusters, archaea in M. laxissima were closely related with those from diverse habitats (i.e. seawater and sediments). For all four sponge species, the expression of the archaeal amoA gene was confirmed. Our results indicate that host-specific processes, such as host ecological strategy and evolutionary history, control the sponge-archaeal communities.}, } @article {pmid25227589, year = {2014}, author = {García, AN and Ayub, ND and Fox, AR and Gómez, MC and Diéguez, MJ and Pagano, EM and Berini, CA and Muschietti, JP and Soto, G}, title = {Alfalfa snakin-1 prevents fungal colonization and probably coevolved with rhizobia.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {248}, pmid = {25227589}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Gene Expression ; Medicago sativa/*immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The production of antimicrobial peptides is a common defense strategy of living cells against a wide range of pathogens. Plant snakin peptides inhibit bacterial and fungal growth at extremely low concentrations. However, little is known of their molecular and ecological characteristics, including origin, evolutionary equivalence, specific functions and activity against beneficial microbes. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize snakin-1 from alfalfa (MsSN1).

RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis showed complete congruence between snakin-1 and plant trees. The antimicrobial activity of MsSN1 against bacterial and fungal pathogens of alfalfa was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Transgenic alfalfa overexpressing MsSN1 showed increased antimicrobial activity against virulent fungal strains. However, MsSN1 did not affect nitrogen-fixing bacterial strains only when these had an alfalfa origin.

CONCLUSIONS: The results reported here suggest that snakin peptides have important and ancestral roles in land plant innate immunity. Our data indicate a coevolutionary process, in which alfalfa exerts a selection pressure for resistance to MsSN1 on rhizobial bacteria. The increased antimicrobial activity against virulent fungal strains without altering the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis observed in MsSN1-overexpressing alfalfa transgenic plants opens the way to the production of effective legume transgenic cultivars for biotic stress resistance.}, } @article {pmid25226164, year = {2014}, author = {Shen, C and Yue, R and Yang, Y and Zhang, L and Sun, T and Xu, L and Tie, S and Wang, H}, title = {Genome-wide identification and expression profiling analysis of the Aux/IAA gene family in Medicago truncatula during the early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e107495}, pmid = {25226164}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Chromosome Mapping ; Cluster Analysis ; Exons ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Introns ; Medicago truncatula/classification/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; Nuclear Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/metabolism ; Position-Specific Scoring Matrices ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Auxin/indoleacetic acid (Aux/IAA) genes, coding a family of short-lived nuclear proteins, play key roles in wide variety of plant developmental processes, including root system regulation and responses to environmental stimulus. However, how they function in auxin signaling pathway and symbiosis with rhizobial in Medicago truncatula are largely unknown. The present study aims at gaining deeper insight on distinctive expression and function features of Aux/IAA family genes in Medicago truncatula during nodule formation.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using the latest updated draft of the full Medicago truncatula genome, a comprehensive identification and analysis of IAA genes were performed. The data indicated that MtIAA family genes are distributed in all the M. truncatula chromosomes except chromosome 6. Most of MtIAA genes are responsive to exogenous auxin and express in tissues-specific manner. To understand the biological functions of MtIAA genes involved in nodule formation, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to test the expression profiling of MtIAA genes during the early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti (S. meliloti) infection. The expression patterns of most MtIAA genes were down-regulated in roots and up-regulated in shoots by S. meliloti infection. The differences in expression responses between roots and shoots caused by S. meliloti infection were alleviated by 1-NOA application.

CONCLUSION: The genome-wide identification, evolution and expression pattern analysis of MtIAA genes were performed in this study. The data helps us to understand the roles of MtIAA-mediated auxin signaling in nodule formation during the early phase of S. meliloti infection.}, } @article {pmid25226029, year = {2014}, author = {Bombar, D and Heller, P and Sanchez-Baracaldo, P and Carter, BJ and Zehr, JP}, title = {Comparative genomics reveals surprising divergence of two closely related strains of uncultivated UCYN-A cyanobacteria.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {2530-2542}, pmid = {25226029}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Marine planktonic cyanobacteria capable of fixing molecular nitrogen (termed 'diazotrophs') are key in biogeochemical cycling, and the nitrogen fixed is one of the major external sources of nitrogen to the open ocean. Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (UCYN-A) is a diazotrophic cyanobacterium known for its widespread geographic distribution in tropical and subtropical oligotrophic oceans, unusually reduced genome and symbiosis with a single-celled prymnesiophyte alga. Recently a novel strain of this organism was also detected in coastal waters sampled from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography pier. We analyzed the metagenome of this UCYN-A2 population by concentrating cells by flow cytometry. Phylogenomic analysis provided strong bootstrap support for the monophyly of UCYN-A (here called UCYN-A1) and UCYN-A2 within the marine Crocosphaera sp. and Cyanothece sp. clade. UCYN-A2 shares 1159 of the 1200 UCYN-A1 protein-coding genes (96.6%) with high synteny, yet the average amino-acid sequence identity between these orthologs is only 86%. UCYN-A2 lacks the same major pathways and proteins that are absent in UCYN-A1, suggesting that both strains can be grouped at the same functional and ecological level. Our results suggest that UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 had a common ancestor and diverged after genome reduction. These two variants may reflect adaptation of the host to different niches, which could be coastal and open ocean habitats.}, } @article {pmid25223023, year = {2014}, author = {Nie, G and Chen, WM and Wei, GH}, title = {[Genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from shrubby and herbaceous legumes in Shenmu arid area, Shaanxi, China].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {1674-1680}, pmid = {25223023}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant ; Caragana ; China ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Medicago sativa ; *Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume, with a strong resistance to the adverse environmental conditions, is one of pioneer plants in the desert region and plays an important role in the protection of the ecological environment. In this study, the symbiosis of rhizobia associating with shrubby and herbaceous legumes in Shenmu area, Shaanxi, China was characterized by the 16S rRNA PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis of involved genes. A total of 55 strains were isolated and purified, including 30 strains from the shrubby legume Amorpha fruticosa and Caragana microphylla, and 25 strains from herbaceous plants Astragalus adsurgens, Medicago sativa and Astragalus melilotoides. Results showed that there were 11 16S rRNA genotypes. The strains isolated from herbaceous legumes belonged to five genus including Mesorhizobium, Ensifer, Rhizobium, Phyllobacterium and Agrobacterium, which were very close related to M. huakuii, M. mediterraneum, M. robiniae, E. fredii, E. meliloti, R. indigoferae, R. radiobacter, P. ifriqiyense and Ag. tumefaciens through the phylogenetic analysis. The strains isolated from shrubby legumes belonged to Mesorhizobium, and they were very close related to M. huakuii and M. mediterraneum which were shared simultaneously by shrubby and herbaceous legumes. All of these indicated the choice of rhizobia by the two types of legumes in the arid area was different, and it might depend on the species of host plant and environmental factors.}, } @article {pmid25221545, year = {2014}, author = {Larrainzar, E and Gil-Quintana, E and Seminario, A and Arrese-Igor, C and González, EM}, title = {Nodule carbohydrate catabolism is enhanced in the Medicago truncatula A17-Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419 symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {447}, pmid = {25221545}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic association between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti is a well-established model system in the legume-Rhizobium community. Despite its wide use, the symbiotic efficiency of this model has been recently questioned and an alternative microsymbiont, S. medicae, has been proposed. However, little is known about the physiological mechanisms behind the higher symbiotic efficiency of S. medicae WSM419. In the present study, we inoculated M. truncatula Jemalong A17 with either S. medicae WSM419 or S. meliloti 2011 and compared plant growth, photosynthesis, N2-fixation rates, and plant nodule carbon and nitrogen metabolic activities in the two systems. M. truncatula plants in symbiosis with S. medicae showed increased biomass and photosynthesis rates per plant. Plants grown in symbiosis with S. medicae WSM419 also showed higher N2-fixation rates, which were correlated with a larger nodule biomass, while nodule number was similar in both systems. In terms of plant nodule metabolism, M. truncatula-S. medicae WSM419 nodules showed increased sucrose-catabolic activity, mostly associated with sucrose synthase, accompanied by a reduced starch content, whereas nitrogen-assimilation activities were comparable to those measured in nodules infected with S. meliloti 2011. Taken together, these results suggest that S. medicae WSM419 is able to enhance plant carbon catabolism in M. truncatula nodules, which allows for the maintaining of high symbiotic N2-fixation rates, better growth and improved general plant performance.}, } @article {pmid25220497, year = {2014}, author = {López-Gómez, M and Cobos-Porras, L and Hidalgo-Castellanos, J and Lluch, C}, title = {Occurrence of polyamines in root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris in symbiosis with Rhizobium tropici in response to salt stress.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {32-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.08.017}, pmid = {25220497}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Cadaverine/*analogs & derivatives/analysis/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Polyamines/analysis/*metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Putrescine/analysis/metabolism ; Rhizobium tropici/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Salinity ; Salt Tolerance/physiology ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Spermidine/analysis/metabolism ; Spermine/analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polyamines (PAs) are low molecular weight aliphatic compounds that have been shown to be an important part of plant responses to salt stress. For that reason in this work we have investigated the involvement of PAs in the response to salt stress in root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris in symbiosis with Rhizobium tropici. The level and variety of PAs was higher in nodules, compared to leaves and roots, and in addition to the common PAs (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) we found homospermidine (Homspd) as the most abundant polyamine in nodules. UPLC-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 4-aminobutylcadaverine (4-ABcad), only described in nodules of Vigna angularis before. Indeed, the analysis of different nodular fractions revealed higher level of 4-ABcad, as well as Homspd, in bacteroids which indicate the production of these PAs by the bacteria in symbiosis. The genes involved in PAs biosynthesis in nodules displayed an induction under salt stress conditions which was not consistent with the decline of free PAs levels, probably due to the nitrogen limitations provoked by the nitrogenase activity depletion and/or the conversion of free PAs to theirs soluble conjugated forms, that seems to be one of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of PAs levels. On the contrary, cadaverine (Cad) and 4-ABcad concentrations augmented by the salinity, which might be due to their involvement in the response of bacteroids to hyper-osmotic conditions. In conclusion, the results shown in this work suggest the alteration of the bacteroidal metabolism towards the production of uncommon PAs such as 4-ABcad in the response to salt stress in legume root nodules.}, } @article {pmid25220228, year = {2014}, author = {Bourlioux, P and Megerlin, F and Corthier, G and Gobert, JG and Butel, MJ}, title = {[Why could gut microbiota become a medication?].}, journal = {Annales pharmaceutiques francaises}, volume = {72}, number = {5}, pages = {325-329}, doi = {10.1016/j.pharma.2014.03.005}, pmid = {25220228}, issn = {0003-4509}, mesh = {*Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Feces/*microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota (or gut flora) is a set of bacteria living in symbiosis with the host. Strictly associated with the intestinal tract and interacting with it, the gut microbiota is not a tissue nor an organ, but a supra-organism. A disruption of dialogue between bacteria and human cells is a risk factor or a possible cause of various diseases. The restoration of this dialogue, thanks to the transfer of the gut microbiota of a healthy individual to a patient whose balance of gut flora has been broken, is a new therapeutic approach. If its exact effect still eludes scientific understanding, its clinical benefit is well established for an indication, and is recently being tested for many others. The proven contribution of gut microbiota in the human physiological balance calls for intensifying research throughout the world about the state of knowledge and technologies, as well as on the legal and ethical dimension of fecal microbiota transfer. This didactic paper updates the questions in relation with this therapeutic act.}, } @article {pmid25218927, year = {2014}, author = {McKellar, L and Charlick, S and Warland, J and Birbeck, D}, title = {Access, boundaries and confidence: The ABC of facilitating continuity of care experience in midwifery education.}, journal = {Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {e61-6}, doi = {10.1016/j.wombi.2014.08.005}, pmid = {25218927}, issn = {1878-1799}, mesh = {Adult ; Australia ; *Continuity of Patient Care ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Learning ; Maternal-Child Nursing/education/methods ; Midwifery/*education ; Nursing Education Research ; Perinatal Care/methods ; Pregnancy ; Problem-Based Learning/*methods ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: To register as a midwife in Australia, students must complete minimum requirements of clinical experiences throughout their programme. This includes following women through their childbirth journey in order to gain continuity of care experience. Research suggests that women and students find the continuity of care experience (COCE) valuable. Nevertheless, students cite difficulty in achieving these experiences. Aim This project sought to explore the challenges and identify supportive strategies for midwifery students undertaking the COCE.

METHODS: This project adopted an action research approach incorporating the four stages of planning, action, observation and reflection. This paper specifically reports the findings from the planning stage in which a focus group with education providers, facilitator and students was conducted and a survey with students (n=69) was undertaken. Key themes were identified through thematic analysis and a number of actions were proposed.

FINDINGS: Three main themes, 'access', 'boundaries' and 'confidence' were identified as challenges for students undertaking the COCE. Students raised concern regarding lack of access to women for COCE. They identified a need to establish clear professional and personal boundaries in managing the COCE. Students also highlighted the significance of confidence on the success of their experience. Throughout the study students identified strategies that could assist in the COCE.

CONCLUSION: There is a need for clarity and support around the COCE for all stakeholders. Placing the COCE within a Service Learning model is one response that ensures that this experience is understood as being symbiotic for women and students and enables supportive actions to be developed and implemented.}, } @article {pmid25218643, year = {2015}, author = {Holden, WM and Reinert, LK and Hanlon, SM and Parris, MJ and Rollins-Smith, LA}, title = {Development of antimicrobial peptide defenses of southern leopard frogs, Rana sphenocephala, against the pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {48}, number = {1}, pages = {65-75}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2014.09.003}, pmid = {25218643}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*immunology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*immunology ; Chytridiomycota/*immunology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Norepinephrine/pharmacology ; Ranidae/*immunology ; Skin/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Amphibian species face the growing threat of extinction due to the emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes the disease chytridiomycosis. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced in granular glands of the skin are an important defense against this pathogen. Little is known about the ontogeny of AMP production or the impact of AMPs on potentially beneficial symbiotic skin bacteria. We show here that Rana (Lithobates) sphenocephala produces a mixture of four AMPs with activity against B. dendrobatidis, and we report the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of synthesized replicates of these four AMPs tested against B. dendrobatidis. Using mass spectrometry and protein quantification assays, we observed that R. sphenocephala does not secrete a mature suite of AMPs until approximately 12 weeks post-metamorphosis, and geographically disparate populations produce a different suite of peptides. Use of norepinephrine to induce maximal secretion significantly reduced levels of culturable skin bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25217716, year = {2014}, author = {Vardien, W and Mesjasz-Przybylowicz, J and Przybylowicz, WJ and Wang, Y and Steenkamp, ET and Valentine, AJ}, title = {Nodules from Fynbos legume Virgilia divaricata have high functional plasticity under variable P supply levels.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {18}, pages = {1732-1739}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2014.08.005}, pmid = {25217716}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes have the unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) via symbiotic bacteria in their nodules but depend heavily on phosphorus (P), which affects nodulation, and the carbon costs and energy costs of N2 fixation. Consequently, legumes growing in nutrient-poor ecosystems (e.g., sandstone-derived soils) have to enhance P recycling and/or acquisition in order to maintain N2 fixation. In this study, we investigated the flexibility of P recycling and distribution within the nodules and their effect on N nutrition in Virgilia divaricata Adamson, Fabaceae, an indigenous legume in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Specifically, we assessed tissue elemental localization using micro-particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), measured N fixation using nutrient concentrations derived from inductively coupled mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS), calculated nutrient costs, and determined P recycling from enzyme activity assays. Morphological and physiological features characteristic of adaptation to P deprivation were observed for V. divaricata. Decreased plant growth and nodule production with parallel increased root:shoot ratios are some of the plastic features exhibited in response to P deficiency. Plants resupplied with P resembled those supplied with optimal P levels in terms of growth and nutrient acquisition. Under low P conditions, plants maintained an increase in N2-fixing efficiency despite lower levels of orthophosphate (Pi) in the nodules. This can be attributed to two factors: (i) an increase in Fe concentration under low P, and (ii) greater APase activity in both the roots and nodules under low P. These findings suggest that V. divaricata is well adapted to acquire N under P deficiency, owing to the plasticity of its nodule physiology.}, } @article {pmid25217511, year = {2014}, author = {Gavrin, A and Kaiser, BN and Geiger, D and Tyerman, SD and Wen, Z and Bisseling, T and Fedorova, EE}, title = {Adjustment of host cells for accommodation of symbiotic bacteria: vacuole defunctionalization, HOPS suppression, and TIP1g retargeting in Medicago.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {3809-3822}, pmid = {25217511}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Acids/metabolism ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; Multiprotein Complexes/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Transport ; RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Staining and Labeling ; *Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In legume-rhizobia symbioses, the bacteria in infected cells are enclosed in a plant membrane, forming organelle-like compartments called symbiosomes. Symbiosomes remain as individual units and avoid fusion with lytic vacuoles of host cells. We observed changes in the vacuole volume of infected cells and thus hypothesized that microsymbionts may cause modifications in vacuole formation or function. To examine this, we quantified the volumes and surface areas of plant cells, vacuoles, and symbiosomes in root nodules of Medicago truncatula and analyzed the expression and localization of VPS11 and VPS39, members of the HOPS vacuole-tethering complex. During the maturation of symbiosomes to become N2-fixing organelles, a developmental switch occurs and changes in vacuole features are induced. For example, we found that expression of VPS11 and VPS39 in infected cells is suppressed and host cell vacuoles contract, permitting the expansion of symbiosomes. Trafficking of tonoplast-targeted proteins in infected symbiotic cells is also altered, as shown by retargeting of the aquaporin TIP1g from the tonoplast membrane to the symbiosome membrane. This retargeting appears to be essential for the maturation of symbiosomes. We propose that these alterations in the function of the vacuole are key events in the adaptation of the plant cell to host intracellular symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25217340, year = {2014}, author = {Bellezza, I and Peirce, MJ and Minelli, A}, title = {Cyclic dipeptides: from bugs to brain.}, journal = {Trends in molecular medicine}, volume = {20}, number = {10}, pages = {551-558}, doi = {10.1016/j.molmed.2014.08.003}, pmid = {25217340}, issn = {1471-499X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Brain/*metabolism ; Central Nervous System/metabolism ; Dipeptides/chemistry/pharmacology/*physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*metabolism/pathology ; Microbiota/physiology ; Neuroglia/*metabolism/pathology ; Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Piperazines/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {Cyclic dipeptides (CDPs) are a group of hormone-like molecules that are evolutionarily conserved from bacteria to humans. In bacteria, CDPs are used in quorum sensing (QS) to communicate information about population size and to regulate a behavioural switch from symbiosis with their host to virulence. In mammals, CDPs have been shown to act on glial cells (macrophage-like cells) to control a conceptually homologous behavioural switch between homeostatic and inflammatory modes, with implications for the control of neurodegenerative disease. Here we argue that, because of their capacity to regulate inflammation via glial cells and induce a protective response in neuronal cells, CDPs have potential therapeutic utility in an array of inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid25216248, year = {2014}, author = {Diaz-Real, J and Serrano, D and Pérez-Tris, J and Fernández-González, S and Bermejo, A and Calleja, JA and De la Puente, J and De Palacio, D and Martínez, JL and Moreno-Opo, R and Ponce, C and Frías, Ó and Tella, JL and Møller, AP and Figuerola, J and Pap, PL and Kovács, I and Vágási, CI and Meléndez, L and Blanco, G and Aguilera, E and Senar, JC and Galván, I and Atiénzar, F and Barba, E and Cantó, JL and Cortés, V and Monrós, JS and Piculo, R and Vögeli, M and Borràs, A and Navarro, C and Mestre, A and Jovani, R}, title = {Repeatability of feather mite prevalence and intensity in passerine birds.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e107341}, pmid = {25216248}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bird Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Ecosystem ; Feathers/*parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Mite Infestations/*epidemiology ; Mites/pathogenicity ; Passeriformes/parasitology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding why host species differ so much in symbiont loads and how this depends on ecological host and symbiont traits is a major issue in the ecology of symbiosis. A first step in this inquiry is to know whether observed differences among host species are species-specific traits or more related with host-symbiont environmental conditions. Here we analysed the repeatability (R) of the intensity and the prevalence of feather mites to partition within- and among-host species variance components. We compiled the largest dataset so far available: 119 Paleartic passerine bird species, 75,944 individual birds, ca. 1.8 million mites, seven countries, 23 study years. Several analyses and approaches were made to estimate R and adjusted repeatability (R(adj)) after controlling for potential confounding factors (breeding period, weather, habitat, spatial autocorrelation and researcher identity). The prevalence of feather mites was moderately repeatable (R = 0.26-0.53; R(adj) = 0.32-0.57); smaller values were found for intensity (R = 0.19-0.30; R(adj)= 0.18-0.30). These moderate repeatabilities show that prevalence and intensity of feather mites differ among species, but also that the high variation within species leads to considerable overlap among bird species. Differences in the prevalence and intensity of feather mites within bird species were small among habitats, suggesting that local factors are playing a secondary role. However, effects of local climatic conditions were partially observed for intensity.}, } @article {pmid25215482, year = {2014}, author = {Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Genomic and cellular complexity from symbiotic simplicity.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {158}, number = {6}, pages = {1236-1237}, pmid = {25215482}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01 GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The more that biologists study symbiotic microorganisms and their vast influence on animals, the more nature's networkism unfolds in a continuum at different biological scales. In this issue, Van Leuven et al. illuminate how a stable and longstanding animal-microbe mutualism increased its intergenomic network without gaining any new genomes.}, } @article {pmid25214634, year = {2014}, author = {Goto, Y and Obata, T and Kunisawa, J and Sato, S and Ivanov, II and Lamichhane, A and Takeyama, N and Kamioka, M and Sakamoto, M and Matsuki, T and Setoyama, H and Imaoka, A and Uematsu, S and Akira, S and Domino, SE and Kulig, P and Becher, B and Renauld, JC and Sasakawa, C and Umesaki, Y and Benno, Y and Kiyono, H}, title = {Innate lymphoid cells regulate intestinal epithelial cell glycosylation.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {345}, number = {6202}, pages = {1254009}, pmid = {25214634}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {R01 DK098378/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01DK098378/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fucose/*metabolism ; Fucosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Germ-Free Life ; Glycosylation ; Goblet Cells/enzymology/immunology/microbiology ; Ileum/enzymology/immunology/microbiology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Interleukins/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/enzymology/*immunology/microbiology ; Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paneth Cells/enzymology/immunology/microbiology ; Salmonella Infections/*immunology/microbiology ; *Salmonella typhimurium ; }, abstract = {Fucosylation of intestinal epithelial cells, catalyzed by fucosyltransferase 2 (Fut2), is a major glycosylation mechanism of host-microbiota symbiosis. Commensal bacteria induce epithelial fucosylation, and epithelial fucose is used as a dietary carbohydrate by many of these bacteria. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the induction of epithelial fucosylation are unknown. Here, we show that type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) induced intestinal epithelial Fut2 expression and fucosylation in mice. This induction required the cytokines interleukin-22 and lymphotoxin in a commensal bacteria-dependent and -independent manner, respectively. Disruption of intestinal fucosylation led to increased susceptibility to infection by Salmonella typhimurium. Our data reveal a role for ILC3 in shaping the gut microenvironment through the regulation of epithelial glycosylation.}, } @article {pmid25214186, year = {2014}, author = {Bengtson, S and Ivarsson, M and Astolfo, A and Belivanova, V and Broman, C and Marone, F and Stampanoni, M}, title = {Deep-biosphere consortium of fungi and prokaryotes in Eocene subseafloor basalts.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {489-496}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12100}, pmid = {25214186}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Fungi/*isolation & purification ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Hyphae/isolation & purification ; *Prokaryotic Cells ; *Silicates ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The deep biosphere of the subseafloor crust is believed to contain a significant part of Earth's biomass, but because of the difficulties of directly observing the living organisms, its composition and ecology are poorly known. We report here a consortium of fossilized prokaryotic and eukaryotic micro-organisms, occupying cavities in deep-drilled vesicular basalt from the Emperor Seamounts, Pacific Ocean, 67.5 m below seafloor (mbsf). Fungal hyphae provide the framework on which prokaryote-like organisms are suspended like cobwebs and iron-oxidizing bacteria form microstromatolites (Frutexites). The spatial inter-relationships show that the organisms were living at the same time in an integrated fashion, suggesting symbiotic interdependence. The community is contemporaneous with secondary mineralizations of calcite partly filling the cavities. The fungal hyphae frequently extend into the calcite, indicating that they were able to bore into the substrate through mineral dissolution. A symbiotic relationship with chemoautotrophs, as inferred for the observed consortium, may be a pre-requisite for the eukaryotic colonization of crustal rocks. Fossils thus open a window to the extant as well as the ancient deep biosphere.}, } @article {pmid25213693, year = {2014}, author = {Boyd, BM and Allen, JM and de Crécy-Lagard, V and Reed, DL}, title = {Genome sequence of Candidatus Riesia pediculischaeffi, endosymbiont of chimpanzee lice, and genomic comparison of recently acquired endosymbionts from human and chimpanzee lice.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {4}, number = {11}, pages = {2189-2195}, pmid = {25213693}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {R01 GM070641/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM70641/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/pathogenicity ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Deletion ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics ; Humans ; Pan troglodytes/parasitology ; Pantothenic Acid/biosynthesis/genetics ; Phthiraptera/microbiology/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Thiamine/biosynthesis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The obligate-heritable endosymbionts of insects possess some of the smallest known bacterial genomes. This is likely due to loss of genomic material during symbiosis. The mode and rate of this erosion may change over evolutionary time: faster in newly formed associations and slower in long-established ones. The endosymbionts of human and anthropoid primate lice present a unique opportunity to study genome erosion in newly established (or young) symbionts. This is because we have a detailed phylogenetic history of these endosymbionts with divergence dates for closely related species. This allows for genome evolution to be studied in detail and rates of change to be estimated in a phylogenetic framework. Here, we sequenced the genome of the chimpanzee louse endosymbiont (Candidatus Riesia pediculischaeffi) and compared it with the closely related genome of the human body louse endosymbiont. From this comparison, we found evidence for recent genome erosion leading to gene loss in these endosymbionts. Although gene loss was detected, it was not significantly greater than in older endosymbionts from aphids and ants. Additionally, we searched for genes associated with B-vitamin synthesis in the two louse endosymbiont genomes because these endosymbionts are believed to synthesize essential B vitamins absent in the louse's diet. All of the expected genes were present, except those involved in thiamin synthesis. We failed to find genes encoding for proteins involved in the biosynthesis of thiamin or any complete exogenous means of salvaging thiamin, suggesting there is an undescribed mechanism for the salvage of thiamin. Finally, genes encoding for the pantothenate de novo biosynthesis pathway were located on a plasmid in both taxa along with a heat shock protein. Movement of these genes onto a plasmid may be functionally and evolutionarily significant, potentially increasing production and guarding against the deleterious effects of mutation. These data add to a growing resource of obligate endosymbiont genomes and to our understanding of the rate and mode of genome erosion in obligate animal-associated bacteria. Ultimately sequencing additional louse p-endosymbiont genomes will provide a model system for studying genome evolution in obligate host associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25213550, year = {2015}, author = {McCuaig, B and Dufour, SC and Raguso, RA and Bhatt, AP and Marino, P}, title = {Structural changes in plastids of developing Splachnum ampullaceum sporophytes and relationship to odour production.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {466-473}, pmid = {25213550}, issn = {1438-8677}, support = {P20 RR016461/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR-P20 RR 016461/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alcohols/analysis ; Bryopsida/chemistry/*growth & development ; Cresols/analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Odorants/analysis ; Plastids/*chemistry/ultrastructure ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Many mosses of the family Splachnaceae are entomophilous and rely on flies for spore dispersal. Splachnum ampullaceum produces a yellow- or pink-coloured hypophysis that releases volatile compounds, attracting flies to the mature moss. The biosynthetic sources of the visual and aromatic cues within the hypophysis have not been identified, and may be either symbiotic cyanobacteria or chromoplasts that break down lipids into volatile compounds. Here, we used transmission electron microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate the sources of these attractants, focusing on different tissues and stages of maturation. Microscopy revealed an abundance of plastids within the hypophysis, while no symbiotic bacteria were observed. During plant maturation, plastids differentiated from amyloplasts with large starch granules to photosynthetic chloroplasts and finally to chromoplasts with lipid accumulations. We used GC-MS to identify over 50 volatile organic compounds from mature sporophytes including short-chain oxygenated compounds, unsaturated irregular terpenoids, fatty acid-derived 6- and 8-carbon alcohols and ketones, and the aromatic compounds acetophenone and p-cresol. The hypophysis showed localised production of pungent volatiles, mainly short-chain fermentation compounds and p-cresol. Some of these volatiles have been shown to be produced from lipid oxidase degradation of linolenic acid within chromoplasts. However, other compounds (such as cyclohexanecarboxylic acid esters) may have a microbial origin. Further investigation is necessary to identify the origin of fly attractants in these mosses.}, } @article {pmid25212734, year = {2014}, author = {Despras, G and Alix, A and Urban, D and Vauzeilles, B and Beau, JM}, title = {From chitin to bioactive chitooligosaccharides and conjugates: access to lipochitooligosaccharides and the TMG-chitotriomycin.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {53}, number = {44}, pages = {11912-11916}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201406802}, pmid = {25212734}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chitin/*chemistry ; Glycosylation ; Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry ; Sugar Alcohols/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The direct and chemoselective N-transacylation of peracetylated chitooligosaccharides (COSs), readily obtained from chitin, to give per-N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives offers an attractive route to size-defined COSs and derived glycoconjugates. It involves the use of various acceptor building blocks and trifluoromethyl oxazoline dimer donors prepared with efficiency and highly reactive in 1,2-trans glycosylation reactions. This method was applied to the preparation of the important symbiotic glycolipids which are highly active on plants and to the TMG-chitotriomycin, a potent and specific inhibitor of insect, fungal, and bacterial N-acetylglucosaminidases.}, } @article {pmid25211602, year = {2015}, author = {Thorley, RM and Taylor, LL and Banwart, SA and Leake, JR and Beerling, DJ}, title = {The role of forest trees and their mycorrhizal fungi in carbonate rock weathering and its significance for global carbon cycling.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {38}, number = {9}, pages = {1947-1961}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12444}, pmid = {25211602}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Carbon Cycle ; *Carbonates ; *Forests ; Magnoliopsida ; Minerals ; *Mycorrhizae ; Soil ; Trees/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {On million-year timescales, carbonate rock weathering exerts no net effect on atmospheric CO2 concentration. However, on timescales of decades-to-centuries, it can contribute to sequestration of anthropogenic CO2 and increase land-ocean alkalinity flux, counteracting ocean acidification. Historical evidence indicates this flux is sensitive to land use change, and recent experimental evidence suggests that trees and their associated soil microbial communities are major drivers of continental mineral weathering. Here, we review key physical and chemical mechanisms by which the symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi of forest tree roots potentially enhance carbonate rock weathering. Evidence from our ongoing field study at the UK's national pinetum confirms increased weathering of carbonate rocks by a wide range of gymnosperm and angiosperm tree species that form arbuscular (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal partnerships. We demonstrate that calcite-containing rock grains under EM tree species weather significantly faster than those under AM trees, an effect linked to greater soil acidification by EM trees. Weathering and corresponding alkalinity export are likely to increase with rising atmospheric CO2 and associated climate change. Our analyses suggest that strategic planting of fast-growing EM angiosperm taxa on calcite- and dolomite-rich terrain might accelerate the transient sink for atmospheric CO2 and slow rates of ocean acidification.}, } @article {pmid25209494, year = {2014}, author = {Hirooka, K}, title = {Transcriptional response machineries of Bacillus subtilis conducive to plant growth promotion.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {78}, number = {9}, pages = {1471-1484}, doi = {10.1080/09168451.2014.943689}, pmid = {25209494}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Bacillus subtilis/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Flavonoids/chemistry/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding/genetics ; *Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacillus subtilis collectively inhabits the rhizosphere, where it contributes to the promotion of plant growth, although it does not have a direct symbiotic relationship to plants as observed in the case of rhizobia between leguminous plants. As rhizobia sense the flavonoids released from their host roots through the NodD transcriptional factor, which triggers transcription of the nod genes involved in the symbiotic processes, we supposed that B. subtilis utilizes certain flavonoids as signaling molecules to perceive and adapt to the rhizospheric environment that it is in. Our approaches to identify the flavonoid-responsive transcriptional regulatory system from B. subtilis resulted in the findings that three transcriptional factors (LmrA/QdoR, YetL, and Fur) are responsive to flavonoids, with the modes of action being different from each other. We also revealed a unique regulatory system by two transcriptional factors, YcnK and CsoR, for copper homeostasis in B. subtilis. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of these regulatory systems with the relevant information and discuss their physiological significances in the mutually beneficial interaction between B. subtilis and plants, considering the possibility of their application for plant cultivation.}, } @article {pmid25205796, year = {2014}, author = {Zilli, JE and Baraúna, AC and da Silva, K and De Meyer, SE and Farias, ENC and Kaminski, PE and da Costa, IB and Ardley, JK and Willems, A and Camacho, NN and Dourado, FDS and O'Hara, G}, title = {Bradyrhizobium neotropicale sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules of Centrolobium paraense.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 12}, pages = {3950-3957}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.065458-0}, pmid = {25205796}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule bacteria were isolated from Centrolobium paraense Tul. grown in soils from the Amazon region, State of Roraima (Brazil). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of seven strains (BR 10247(T), BR 10296, BR 10297, BR 10298, BR 10299, BR 10300 and BR 10301) placed them in the genus Bradyrhizobium with the closest neighbours being the type strains of Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri (98.8 % similarity), Bradyrhizobium icense (98.8 %), Bradyrhizobium lablabi (98.7 %), Bradyrhizobium jicamae (98.6 %), Bradyrhizobium elkanii (98.6 %), Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi (98.6 %) and Bradyrhizobium retamae (98.3 %). This high similarity, however, was not confirmed by the intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) 16S-23S rRNA region sequence analysis nor by multi-locus sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analyses of five housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) revealed Bradyrhizobium iriomotense EK05(T) (= LMG 24129(T)) to be the most closely related type strain (95.7 % sequence similarity or less). Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles [major components being C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (18 : 1ω6c/18 : 1ω7c)], DNA G+C content, slow growth rate and carbon compound utilization patterns, supported the placement of the novel strains in the genus Bradyrhizobium. Results of DNA-DNA relatedness studies and physiological data (especially carbon source utilization) differentiated the strains from the closest recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Symbiosis-related genes for nodulation (nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) placed the novel species in a new branch within the genus Bradyrhizobium. Based on the current data, these seven strains represent a novel species for which the name Bradyrhizobium neotropicale sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BR 10247(T) (= HAMBI 3599(T)).}, } @article {pmid25205353, year = {2014}, author = {Bosch, TC and Adamska, M and Augustin, R and Domazet-Loso, T and Foret, S and Fraune, S and Funayama, N and Grasis, J and Hamada, M and Hatta, M and Hobmayer, B and Kawai, K and Klimovich, A and Manuel, M and Shinzato, C and Technau, U and Yum, S and Miller, DJ}, title = {How do environmental factors influence life cycles and development? An experimental framework for early-diverging metazoans.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {36}, number = {12}, pages = {1185-1194}, pmid = {25205353}, issn = {1521-1878}, support = {F32 AI098418/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Cnidaria/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Extinction, Biological ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene-Environment Interaction ; Life Cycle Stages/*genetics ; Metamorphosis, Biological/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Ecological developmental biology (eco-devo) explores the mechanistic relationships between the processes of individual development and environmental factors. Recent studies imply that some of these relationships have deep evolutionary origins, and may even pre-date the divergences of the simplest extant animals, including cnidarians and sponges. Development of these early diverging metazoans is often sensitive to environmental factors, and these interactions occur in the context of conserved signaling pathways and mechanisms of tissue homeostasis whose detailed molecular logic remain elusive. Efficient methods for transgenesis in cnidarians together with the ease of experimental manipulation in cnidarians and sponges make them ideal models for understanding causal relationships between environmental factors and developmental mechanisms. Here, we identify major questions at the interface between animal evolution and development and outline a road map for research aimed at identifying the mechanisms that link environmental factors to developmental mechanisms in early diverging metazoans. Also watch the Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid25205333, year = {2014}, author = {Abdalla, MA and Matasyoh, JC}, title = {Endophytes as producers of peptides: an overview about the recently discovered peptides from endophytic microbes.}, journal = {Natural products and bioprospecting}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {257-270}, pmid = {25205333}, issn = {2192-2195}, abstract = {An endophyte is a fungus or bacterium that lives within a plant in a symbiotic relationship. Extensive colonization of the plant tissue by endophytes creates a barrier effect, where they outcompete and prevent pathogenic organisms from taking hold. This happens by producing secondary metabolites that inhibit the growth of the competitors or pathogens. In this way they play a very important role in the plant defence mechanisms. The metabolites produced by these endophytes fall within a wide range of classes of compounds that include peptides which are the focus of this review. Peptides are increasingly being selected for drug development because they are specific for their targets and have a higher degree of interactions. There have been quite a number of endophytic peptides reported in the recent past indicating that endophytes can be used for the production of peptide based drugs. Molecular screening for NRPS, which shows peptide producing capability, has also shown that endophytes are potential producers of peptides. The presence of NRPS also offers the possibility of genetic modifications which may generate peptides with high pharmacological activities. This review, therefore, aims to show the current status of peptides isolated from endophytic bacteria and fungi in the recent decade. Endophytes as potential sources of peptides according to NRPS studies will also be discussed.}, } @article {pmid25205092, year = {2014}, author = {Cameron, EA and Kwiatkowski, KJ and Lee, BH and Hamaker, BR and Koropatkin, NM and Martens, EC}, title = {Multifunctional nutrient-binding proteins adapt human symbiotic bacteria for glycan competition in the gut by separately promoting enhanced sensing and catalysis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {e01441-14}, pmid = {25205092}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM07544/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007544/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteroides/genetics/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Catalysis ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Germ-Free Life ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Starch/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: To compete for the dynamic stream of nutrients flowing into their ecosystem, colonic bacteria must respond rapidly to new resources and then catabolize them efficiently once they are detected. The Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron starch utilization system (Sus) is a model for nutrient acquisition by symbiotic gut bacteria, which harbor thousands of related Sus-like systems. Structural investigation of the four Sus outer membrane proteins (SusD, -E, -F, and -G) revealed that they contain a total of eight starch-binding sites that we demonstrated, using genetic and biochemical approaches, to play distinct roles in starch metabolism in vitro and in vivo in gnotobiotic mice. SusD, whose homologs are abundant in the human microbiome, is critical for the initial sensing of available starch, allowing sus transcriptional activation at much lower concentrations than without this function. In contrast, seven additional binding sites across SusE, -F, and -G are dispensable for sus activation. However, they optimize the rate of growth on starch in a manner dependent on the expression of the bacterial polysaccharide capsule, suggesting that they have evolved to offset the diffusion barrier created by this structure. These findings demonstrate how proteins with similar biochemical behavior can serve orthogonal functions during different stages of cellular adaptation to nutrients. Finally, we demonstrated in gnotobiotic mice fed a starch-rich diet that the Sus binding sites confer a competitive advantage to B. thetaiotaomicron in vivo in a manner that is dependent on other colonizing microbes. This study reveals how numerically dominant families of carbohydrate-binding proteins in the human microbiome fulfill separate and sometimes cooperative roles to optimize gut commensal bacteria for nutrient acquisition.

IMPORTANCE: Our intestinal tract harbors trillions of symbiotic microbes. A critical function contributed by this microbial community is the ability to degrade most of the complex carbohydrates in our diet, which not only change from meal to meal but also cannot be digested by our own bodies. A numerically abundant group of gut bacteria called the Bacteroidetes plays a prominent role in carbohydrate digestion in humans and other animals. Currently, the mechanisms that allow this bacterial group to rapidly respond to available carbohydrates and then digest them efficiently are unclear. Here, we present novel functions for four carbohydrate-binding proteins present in one member of the Bacteroidetes, revealing that these proteins serve unique and separable roles in either initial nutrient sensing or subsequent digestion. Because the protein families investigated are numerous in other gut bacteria colonizing nearly all humans and animals, our findings are fundamentally important to understanding how symbiotic microbes assist human digestion.}, } @article {pmid25204516, year = {2014}, author = {Kreisinger, J and Cížková, D and Vohánka, J and Piálek, J}, title = {Gastrointestinal microbiota of wild and inbred individuals of two house mouse subspecies assessed using high-throughput parallel pyrosequencing.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {20}, pages = {5048-5060}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12909}, pmid = {25204516}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Metagenome ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The effects of gastrointestinal tract microbiota (GTM) on host physiology and health have been the subject of considerable interest in recent years. While a variety of captive bred species have been used in experiments, the extent to which GTM of captive and/or inbred individuals resembles natural composition and variation in wild populations is poorly understood. Using 454 pyrosequencing, we performed 16S rDNA GTM barcoding for 30 wild house mice (Mus musculus) and wild-derived inbred strain mice belonging to two subspecies (M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus). Sequenced individuals were selected according to a 2 × 2 experimental design: wild (14) vs. inbred origin (16) and M. m. musculus (15) vs. M. m. domesticus (15). We compared alpha diversity (i.e. number of operational taxonomic units - OTUs), beta diversity (i.e. interindividual variability) and microbiota composition across the four groups. We found no difference between M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus subspecies, suggesting low effect of genetic differentiation between these two subspecies on GTM structure. Both inbred and wild populations showed the same level of microbial alpha and beta diversity; however, we found strong differentiation in microbiota composition between wild and inbred populations. Relative abundance of ~ 16% of OTUs differed significantly between wild and inbred individuals. As laboratory mice represent the most abundant model for studying the effects of gut microbiota on host metabolism, immunity and neurology, we suggest that the distinctness of laboratory-kept mouse microbiota, which differs from wild mouse microbiota, needs to be considered in future biomedical research.}, } @article {pmid25202638, year = {2014}, author = {Grubisha, LC and Brewer, JD and Dowie, NJ and Miller, SL and Trowbridge, SM and Klooster, MR}, title = {Microsatellite primers for the fungi Rhizopogon kretzerae and R. salebrosus (Rhizopogonaceae) from 454 shotgun pyrosequencing.}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {2}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {25202638}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Rhizopogon kretzerae and R. salebrosus (Rhizopogonaceae) are ectomycorrhizal fungi symbiotic with pines and the mycoheterotrophic plant Pterospora andromedea (Ericaceae). Microsatellite loci will allow population genetic study of fungal hosts to P. andromedea. •

METHODS AND RESULTS: Shotgun pyrosequencing of R. kretzerae DNA resulted in primer development of 23 perfect microsatellite loci and screened across two populations each for R. kretzerae and R. salebrosus. Twelve loci were polymorphic in R. kretzerae populations, and 11 loci cross-amplified in R. salebrosus populations. For R. kretzerae and R. salebrosus, number of alleles was one to eight and one to nine, respectively, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.00-0.57 and 0.00-0.70, respectively. •

CONCLUSIONS: These are the first microsatellite loci developed for any species within Rhizopogon subgenus Amylopogon. These microsatellite loci will be used in conservation genetic studies of rare to endangered eastern populations and to compare plant and fungal population genetic structure at different hierarchical levels.}, } @article {pmid25202306, year = {2014}, author = {Parkinson, JE and Baums, IB}, title = {The extended phenotypes of marine symbioses: ecological and evolutionary consequences of intraspecific genetic diversity in coral-algal associations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {445}, pmid = {25202306}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Reef-building corals owe much of their success to a symbiosis with dinoflagellate microalgae in the genus Symbiodinium. In this association, the performance of each organism is tied to that of its partner, and together the partners form a holobiont that can be subject to selection. Climate change affects coral reefs, which are declining globally as a result. Yet the extent to which coral holobionts will be able to acclimate or evolve to handle climate change and other stressors remains unclear. Selection acts on individuals and evidence from terrestrial systems demonstrates that intraspecific genetic diversity plays a significant role in symbiosis ecology and evolution. However, we have a limited understanding of the effects of such diversity in corals. As molecular methods have advanced, so too has our recognition of the taxonomic and functional diversity of holobiont partners. Resolving the major components of the holobiont to the level of the individual will help us assess the importance of intraspecific diversity and partner interactions in coral-algal symbioses. Here, we hypothesize that unique combinations of coral and algal individuals yield functional diversity that affects not only the ecology and evolution of the coral holobiont, but associated communities as well. Our synthesis is derived from reviewing existing evidence and presenting novel data. By incorporating the effects of holobiont extended phenotypes into predictive models, we may refine our understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of corals and reef communities responding to climate change.}, } @article {pmid25202301, year = {2014}, author = {Roth, MS}, title = {The engine of the reef: photobiology of the coral-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {422}, pmid = {25202301}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems thrive in tropical oligotrophic oceans because of the relationship between corals and endosymbiotic dinoflagellate algae called Symbiodinium. Symbiodinium convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into organic carbon and oxygen to fuel coral growth and calcification, creating habitat for these diverse and productive ecosystems. Light is thus a key regulating factor shaping the productivity, physiology, and ecology of the coral holobiont. Similar to all oxygenic photoautotrophs, Symbiodinium must safely harvest sunlight for photosynthesis and dissipate excess energy to prevent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by environmental stressors such as those associated with global climate change, and ultimately leads to breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis known as coral bleaching. Recently, large-scale coral bleaching events have become pervasive and frequent threatening and endangering coral reefs. Because the coral-algal symbiosis is the biological engine producing the reef, the future of coral reef ecosystems depends on the ecophysiology of the symbiosis. This review examines the photobiology of the coral-algal symbiosis with particular focus on the photophysiological responses and timescales of corals and Symbiodinium. Additionally, this review summarizes the light environment and its dynamics, the vulnerability of the symbiosis to oxidative stress, the abiotic and biotic factors influencing photosynthesis, the diversity of the coral-algal symbiosis, and recent advances in the field. Studies integrating physiology with the developing "omics" fields will provide new insights into the coral-algal symbiosis. Greater physiological and ecological understanding of the coral-algal symbiosis is needed for protection and conservation of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid25201548, year = {2014}, author = {López-Leal, G and Tabche, ML and Castillo-Ramírez, S and Mendoza-Vargas, A and Ramírez-Romero, MA and Dávila, G}, title = {RNA-Seq analysis of the multipartite genome of Rhizobium etli CE3 shows different replicon contributions under heat and saline shock.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {770}, pmid = {25201548}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Heat-Shock Response/genetics ; *Hot Temperature ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nucleotide Motifs ; Plasmids/genetics ; Position-Specific Scoring Matrices ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics ; *Replicon ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/metabolism ; *Salinity ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Regulation of transcription is essential for any organism and Rhizobium etli (a multi-replicon, nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium) is no exception. This bacterium is commonly found in the rhizosphere (free-living) or inside of root-nodules of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in a symbiotic relationship. Abiotic stresses, such as high soil temperatures and salinity, compromise the genetic stability of R. etli and therefore its symbiotic interaction with P. vulgaris. However, it is still unclear which genes are up- or down-regulated to cope with these stress conditions. The aim of this study was to identify the genes and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that are differentially expressed under heat and saline shock, as well as the promoter regions of the up-regulated loci.

RESULTS: Analysing the heat and saline shock responses of R. etli CE3 through RNA-Seq, we identified 756 and 392 differentially expressed genes, respectively, and 106 were up-regulated under both conditions. Notably, the set of genes over-expressed under either condition was preferentially encoded on plasmids, although this observation was more significant for the heat shock response. In contrast, during either saline shock or heat shock, the down-regulated genes were principally chromosomally encoded. Our functional analysis shows that genes encoding chaperone proteins were up-regulated during the heat shock response, whereas genes involved in the metabolism of compatible solutes were up-regulated following saline shock. Furthermore, we identified thirteen and nine ncRNAs that were differentially expressed under heat and saline shock, respectively, as well as eleven ncRNAs that had not been previously identified. Finally, using an in silico analysis, we studied the promoter motifs in all of the non-coding regions associated with the genes and ncRNAs up-regulated under both conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the replicon contribution is different for different stress responses and that the heat shock response is more complex than the saline shock response. In general, this work exemplifies how strategies that not only consider differentially regulated genes but also regulatory elements of the stress response provide a more comprehensive view of bacterial gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid25201300, year = {2015}, author = {Hungria, M and Nakatani, AS and Souza, RA and Sei, FB and de Oliveira Chueire, LM and Arias, CA}, title = {Impact of the ahas transgene for herbicides resistance on biological nitrogen fixation and yield of soybean.}, journal = {Transgenic research}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {155-165}, pmid = {25201300}, issn = {1573-9368}, mesh = {Brazil ; Herbicide Resistance/*genetics ; Herbicides/chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics/growth & development ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development ; Transgenes ; }, abstract = {Studies on the effects of transgenes in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and the associated use of specific herbicides on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) are still few, although it is important to ensure minimal impacts on benefits provided by the root-nodule symbiosis. Cultivance CV127 transgenic soybean is a cultivar containing the ahas gene, which confers resistance to herbicides of the imidazolinone group. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the ahas transgene and of imidazolinone herbicide on BNF parameters and soybean yield. A large-scale set of field experiments was conducted, for three cropping seasons, at nine sites in Brazil, with a total of 20 trials. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block with four replicates and the following treatments: (T1) near isogenic transgenic soybean (Cultivance CV127) + herbicide of the imidazolinone group (imazapyr); (T2) near isogenic transgenic soybean + conventional herbicides; and (T3) parental conventional soybean (Conquista) + conventional herbicides; in addition, two commercial cultivars were included, Monsoy 8001 (M-SOY 8001) (T4), and Coodetec 217 (CD 217) (T5). At the R2 growth stage, plants were collected and BNF parameters evaluated. In general, there were no effects on BNF parameters due to the transgenic trait or associated with the specific herbicide. Similarly, at the final harvest, no grain-yield effects were detected related to the ahas gene or to the specific herbicide. However, clear effects on BNF and grain yield were attributed to location and cropping season.}, } @article {pmid25199248, year = {2014}, author = {Xu, K and Zhang, X and Chen, Y and Gu, F and Zhou, D and Tang, C}, title = {[Symbiotic efficiency and genetic diversity of the rhizobia isolated from Leucaena leucocephala in Liangshan Prefecture].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {54}, number = {5}, pages = {498-508}, pmid = {25199248}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the symbiotic efficiency and genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from Leucaena leucocephala in Liangshan Prefecture of SichuanProvince.

METHODS: We studied genetic diversity of these isolates with 16S rRNA RFLP, BOX-PCR and AFLP fingerprinting, and constructed phylogenetic tree based on the concatenated sequences of the four housekeeping genes 16S rRNA, recA, atpD and glnII. The nodulation ability and the symbiotic efficiency of the isolates were tested by plant inoculation assay on their original host plant.

RESULTS: Genetic diversity and phylogenetic tree indicate that 26 isolates were assigned as Sinorhizobium, 3 Bradyrhizobium, 3 Rhizobium and 1 Mesorhizobium. SCAU203 might represent a new Rhizobium group, SCAU211 might represent a new Bradyrhizobium group, the other three representative strains were located in three phylogenic branches and closely related to S. americanum, M. plurifarium and R. huautlense, respectively. In the nodulation and symbiotic efficiency assay, only 2 of the 20 isolates promoted the growth of L. leucocephala, but 3 isolates had a growth slowing effect on the host, while the other isolates (84%) were ineffective on symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

CONCLUSION: The majority of rhizobia isolated from L. leucocephala in Liangshan Prefecture were ineffective on symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid25198727, year = {2014}, author = {Sethi, A and Delatte, J and Foil, L and Husseneder, C}, title = {Protozoacidal Trojan-Horse: use of a ligand-lytic peptide for selective destruction of symbiotic protozoa within termite guts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {e106199}, pmid = {25198727}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Intestines/*parasitology ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Ligands ; Peptides/*pharmacology ; Pest Control, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For novel biotechnology-based termite control, we developed a cellulose bait containing freeze-dried genetically engineered yeast which expresses a protozoacidal lytic peptide attached to a protozoa-recognizing ligand. The yeast acts as a 'Trojan-Horse' that kills the cellulose-digesting protozoa in the termite gut, which leads to the death of termites, presumably due to inefficient cellulose digestion. The ligand targets the lytic peptide specifically to protozoa, thereby increasing its protozoacidal efficiency while protecting non-target organisms. After ingestion of the bait, the yeast propagates in the termite's gut and is spread throughout the termite colony via social interactions. This novel paratransgenesis-based strategy could be a good supplement for current termite control using fortified biological control agents in addition to chemical insecticides. Moreover, this ligand-lytic peptide system could be used for drug development to selectively target disease-causing protozoa in humans or other vertebrates.}, } @article {pmid25197490, year = {2014}, author = {Reeve, W and Parker, M and Tian, R and Goodwin, L and Teshima, H and Tapia, R and Han, C and Han, J and Liolios, K and Huntemann, M and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N}, title = {Genome sequence of Microvirga lupini strain LUT6(T), a novel Lupinus alphaproteobacterial microsymbiont from Texas.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {1159-1167}, pmid = {25197490}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Microvirga lupini LUT6(T) is an aerobic, non-motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that can exist as a soil saprophyte or as a legume microsymbiont of Lupinus texensis. LUT6(T) was isolated in 2006 from a nodule recovered from the roots of the annual L. texensis growing in Travis Co., Texas. LUT6(T) forms a highly specific nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with endemic L. texensis and no other Lupinus species can form an effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with this isolate. Here we describe the features of M. lupini LUT6(T), together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 9,633,614 bp improved high quality draft genome is arranged into 160 scaffolds of 1,366 contigs containing 10,864 protein-coding genes and 87 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of 20 rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of a DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Project.}, } @article {pmid25197461, year = {2014}, author = {Moulin, L and Klonowska, A and Caroline, B and Booth, K and Vriezen, JA and Melkonian, R and James, EK and Young, JP and Bena, G and Hauser, L and Land, M and Kyrpides, N and Bruce, D and Chain, P and Copeland, A and Pitluck, S and Woyke, T and Lizotte-Waniewski, M and Bristow, J and Riley, M}, title = {Complete Genome sequence of Burkholderia phymatum STM815(T), a broad host range and efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Mimosa species.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {763-774}, pmid = {25197461}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Burkholderia phymatum is a soil bacterium able to develop a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with species of the legume genus Mimosa, and is frequently found associated specifically with Mimosa pudica. The type strain of the species, STM 815(T), was isolated from a root nodule in French Guiana in 2000. The strain is an aerobic, motile, non-spore forming, Gram-negative rod, and is a highly competitive strain for nodulation compared to other Mimosa symbionts, as it also nodulates a broad range of other legume genera and species. The 8,676,562 bp genome is composed of two chromosomes (3,479,187 and 2,697,374 bp), a megaplasmid (1,904,893 bp) and a plasmid hosting the symbiotic functions (595,108 bp).}, } @article {pmid25197447, year = {2014}, author = {Reeve, W and Ballard, R and Drew, E and Tian, R and Bräu, L and Goodwin, L and Huntemann, M and Han, J and Tatiparthi, R and Chen, A and Mavrommatis, K and Markowitz, V and Palaniappan, K and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N}, title = {Genome sequence of the Medicago-nodulating Ensifer meliloti commercial inoculant strain RRI128.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {602-613}, pmid = {25197447}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Ensifer meliloti strain RRI128 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod. RRI128 was isolated from a nodule recovered from the roots of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) grown in the greenhouse and inoculated with soil collected from Victoria, Australia. The strain is used in commercial inoculants in Australia. RRI128 nodulates and forms an effective symbiosis with a diverse range of lucerne cultivars (Medicago sativa) and several species of annual medic (M. truncatula, Medicago littoralis and Medicago tornata), but forms an ineffective symbiosis with Medicago polymorpha. Here we describe the features of E. meliloti strain RRI128, together with genome sequence information and annotation. The 6,900,273 bp draft genome is arranged into 156 scaffolds of 157 contigs, contains 6,683 protein-coding genes and 87 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of 100 rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25197442, year = {2014}, author = {Walker, R and Watkin, E and Tian, R and Bräu, L and O'Hara, G and Goodwin, L and Han, J and Reddy, T and Huntemann, M and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of the acid-tolerant Burkholderia sp. strain WSM2232 from Karijini National Park, Australia.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {1168-1180}, pmid = {25197442}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Burkholderia sp. strain WSM2232 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming acid-tolerant rod that was trapped in 2001 from acidic soil collected from Karijini National Park (Australia) using Gastrolobium capitatum as a host. WSM2232 was effective in nitrogen fixation with G. capitatum but subsequently lost symbiotic competence during long-term storage. Here we describe the features of Burkholderia sp. strain WSM2232, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 7,208,311 bp standard-draft genome is arranged into 72 scaffolds of 72 contigs containing 6,322 protein-coding genes and 61 RNA-only encoding genes. The loss of symbiotic capability can now be attributed to the loss of nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes from the genome. This rhizobial genome is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25197440, year = {2014}, author = {Walker, R and Watkin, E and Tian, R and Bräu, L and O'Hara, G and Goodwin, L and Han, J and Lobos, E and Huntemann, M and Pati, A and Woyke, T and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of the acid-tolerant Burkholderia sp. strain WSM2230 from Karijini National Park, Australia.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {551-561}, pmid = {25197440}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Burkholderia sp. strain WSM2230 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming acid-tolerant rod isolated from acidic soil collected in 2001 from Karijini National Park, Western Australia, using Kennedia coccinea (Coral Vine) as a host. WSM2230 was initially effective in nitrogen-fixation with K. coccinea, but subsequently lost symbiotic competence. Here we describe the features of Burkholderia sp. strain WSM2230, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 6,309,801 bp high-quality-draft genome is arranged into 33 scaffolds of 33 contigs containing 5,590 protein-coding genes and 63 RNA-only encoding genes. The genome sequence of WSM2230 failed to identify nodulation genes and provides an explanation for the observed failure of the laboratory grown strain to nodulate. The genome of this strain is one of 100 sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project.}, } @article {pmid25197439, year = {2014}, author = {Reeve, W and Ardley, J and Tian, R and De Meyer, S and Terpolilli, J and Melino, V and Tiwari, R and Yates, R and O'Hara, G and Howieson, J and Ninawi, M and Zhang, X and Bruce, D and Detter, C and Tapia, R and Han, C and Wei, CL and Huntemann, M and Han, J and Chen, IM and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Szeto, E and Ivanova, N and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Goodwin, L and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N}, title = {Genome sequence of the Listia angolensis microsymbiont Microvirga lotononidis strain WSM3557(T.).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {540-550}, pmid = {25197439}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Microvirga lotononidis is a recently described species of root-nodule bacteria that is an effective nitrogen- (N2) fixing microsymbiont of the symbiotically specific African legume Listia angolensis (Welw. ex Bak.) B.-E. van Wyk & Boatwr. M. lotononidis possesses several properties that are unusual in root-nodule bacteria, including pigmentation and the ability to grow at temperatures of up to 45°C. Strain WSM3557(T) is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod isolated from a L. angolensis root nodule collected in Chipata, Zambia in 1963. This is the first report of a complete genome sequence for the genus Microvirga. Here we describe the features of Microvirga lotononidis strain WSM3557(T), together with genome sequence information and annotation. The 7,082,538 high-quality-draft genome is arranged in 18 scaffolds of 104 contigs, contains 6,956 protein-coding genes and 84 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of 20 rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Program.}, } @article {pmid25197438, year = {2014}, author = {Terpolilli, J and Rui, T and Yates, R and Howieson, J and Poole, P and Munk, C and Tapia, R and Han, C and Markowitz, V and Tatiparthi, R and Mavrommatis, K and Ivanova, N and Pati, A and Goodwin, L and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N and Reeve, W}, title = {Genome sequence of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv trifolii strain WSM1689, the microsymbiont of the one flowered clover Trifolium uniflorum.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {527-539}, pmid = {25197438}, issn = {1944-3277}, support = {BB/C517025/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/C517025/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/F013159/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii is a soil-inhabiting bacterium that has the capacity to be an effective N2-fixing microsymbiont of Trifolium (clover) species. R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain WSM1689 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from a root nodule of Trifolium uniflorum collected on the edge of a valley 6 km from Eggares on the Greek Island of Naxos. Although WSM1689 is capable of highly effective N2-fixation with T. uniflorum, it is either unable to nodulate or unable to fix N2 with a wide range of both perennial and annual clovers originating from Europe, North America and Africa. WSM1689 therefore possesses a very narrow host range for effective N2 fixation and can thus play a valuable role in determining the geographic and phenological barriers to symbiotic performance in the genus Trifolium. Here we describe the features of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain WSM1689, together with the complete genome sequence and its annotation. The 6,903,379 bp genome contains 6,709 protein-coding genes and 89 RNA-only encoding genes. This multipartite genome contains six distinct replicons; a chromosome of size 4,854,518 bp and five plasmids of size 667,306, 518,052, 341,391, 262,704 and 259,408 bp. This rhizobial genome is one of 20 sequenced as part of a DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Program.}, } @article {pmid25197432, year = {2014}, author = {Nandasena, K and Yates, R and Tiwari, R and O'Hara, G and Howieson, J and Ninawi, M and Chertkov, O and Detter, C and Tapia, R and Han, S and Woyke, T and Pitluck, S and Nolan, M and Land, M and Liolios, K and Pati, A and Copeland, A and Kyrpides, N and Ivanova, N and Goodwin, L and Meenakshi, U and Reeve, W}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae type strain (WSM1271(T)).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {462-472}, pmid = {25197432}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae strain WSM1271(T) was isolated from root nodules of the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus growing in the Mediterranean basin. Previous studies have shown this aerobic, motile, Gram negative, non-spore-forming rod preferably nodulates B. pelecinus - a legume with many beneficial agronomic attributes for sustainable agriculture in Australia. We describe the genome of Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae strain WSM1271(T) consisting of a 6,264,489 bp chromosome and a 425,539 bp plasmid that together encode 6,470 protein-coding genes and 61 RNA-only encoding genes.}, } @article {pmid25196731, year = {2014}, author = {Zhukova, NV}, title = {Lipids and fatty acids of nudibranch mollusks: potential sources of bioactive compounds.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {4578-4592}, pmid = {25196731}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Biological Factors ; Ceramides/chemistry ; Fatty Acids/*chemistry ; Gastropoda/*chemistry ; Lipids/*chemistry ; Phospholipids ; Sterols/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The molecular diversity of chemical compounds found in marine animals offers a good chance for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds of unique structures and diverse biological activities. Nudibranch mollusks, which are not protected by a shell and produce chemicals for various ecological uses, including defense against predators, have attracted great interest for their lipid composition. Lipid analysis of eight nudibranch species revealed dominant phospholipids, sterols and monoalkyldiacylglycerols. Among polar lipids, 1-alkenyl-2-acyl glycerophospholipids (plasmalogens) and ceramide-aminoethyl phosphonates were found in the mollusks. The fatty acid compositions of the nudibranchs differed greatly from those of other marine gastropods and exhibited a wide diversity: very long chain fatty acids known as demospongic acids, a series of non-methylene-interrupted fatty acids, including unusual 21:2∆7,13, and an abundance of various odd and branched fatty acids typical of bacteria. Symbiotic bacteria revealed in some species of nudibranchs participate presumably in the production of some compounds serving as a chemical defense for the mollusks. The unique fatty acid composition of the nudibranchs is determined by food supply, inherent biosynthetic activities and intracellular symbiotic microorganisms. The potential of nudibranchs as a source of biologically active lipids and fatty acids is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid25195876, year = {2016}, author = {Olofsson, TC and Butler, È and Markowicz, P and Lindholm, C and Larsson, L and Vásquez, A}, title = {Lactic acid bacterial symbionts in honeybees - an unknown key to honey's antimicrobial and therapeutic activities.}, journal = {International wound journal}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {668-679}, pmid = {25195876}, issn = {1742-481X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bees ; *Honey ; Lactic Acid ; Lactobacillales ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; }, abstract = {Could honeybees' most valuable contribution to mankind besides pollination services be alternative tools against infections? Today, due to the emerging antibiotic-resistant pathogens, we are facing a new era of searching for alternative tools against infections. Natural products such as honey have been applied against human's infections for millennia without sufficient scientific evidence. A unique lactic acid bacterial (LAB) microbiota was discovered by us, which is in symbiosis with honeybees and present in large amounts in fresh honey across the world. This work investigates if the LAB symbionts are the source to the unknown factors contributing to honey's properties. Hence, we tested the LAB against severe wound pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) among others. We demonstrate a strong antimicrobial activity from each symbiont and a synergistic effect, which counteracted all the tested pathogens. The mechanisms of action are partly shown by elucidating the production of active compounds such as proteins, fatty acids, anaesthetics, organic acids, volatiles and hydrogen peroxide. We show that the symbionts produce a myriad of active compounds that remain in variable amounts in mature honey. Further studies are now required to investigate if these symbionts have a potential in clinical applications as alternative tools against topical human and animal infections.}, } @article {pmid25194922, year = {2014}, author = {Li, D and Aaskov, J}, title = {Sub-genomic RNA of defective interfering (D.I.) dengue viral particles is replicated in the same manner as full length genomes.}, journal = {Virology}, volume = {468-470}, number = {}, pages = {248-255}, doi = {10.1016/j.virol.2014.08.013}, pmid = {25194922}, issn = {1096-0341}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line ; Culicidae/cytology ; *Defective Viruses ; Dengue Virus/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/*physiology ; Genome, Viral/*physiology ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; RNA, Viral/genetics/*metabolism ; Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {The predicted secondary structure of sub-genomic RNA in dengue virus defective interfering (D.I.) particles from patients, or generated in vitro, resembled that of the 3' and 5' regions of wild type dengue virus (DENV) genomes. While these structures in the sub-genomic RNA were found to be essential for its replication, their nucleotide sequences were not, so long as any new sequences maintained wild type RNA secondary structure. These observations suggested that these sub-genomic fragments of RNA from dengue viruses were replicated in the same manner as the full length genomes of their wild type, "helper", viruses and that they probably represent the smallest fragments of DENV RNA that can be replicated during a natural infection. While D.I. particles containing sub-genomic RNA are completely parasitic, the relationship between wild type and D.I. DENV may be symbiotic, with the D.I. particles enhancing the transmission of infectious DENV.}, } @article {pmid25194867, year = {2014}, author = {Fehér, J and Kovács, I and Pacella, E and Radák, Z}, title = {[Correlation of the microbiota and intestinal mucosa in the pathophysiology and treatment of irritable bowel, irritable eye, and irritable mind syndrome].}, journal = {Orvosi hetilap}, volume = {155}, number = {37}, pages = {1454-1460}, doi = {10.1556/OH.2014.29987}, pmid = {25194867}, issn = {0030-6002}, mesh = {Affective Symptoms/physiopathology/therapy ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Eye Diseases/immunology/*physiopathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*physiopathology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/immunology/*physiopathology/*therapy ; *Irritable Mood ; *Microbiota ; Mood Disorders/immunology/*physiopathology/*therapy ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Accumulating clinical evidence supports co-morbidity of irritable bowel, irritable eye and irritable mind symptoms. Furthermore, perturbation of the microbiota-host symbiosis (dysbiosis) is considered a common pathogenic mechanism connecting gastrointestinal, ocular and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Consequently, maintaining or restoring microbiota-host symbiosis represents a new approach to treat these symptoms or to prevent their relapses. Current treatment approach assigned a primary role to live probiotics alone or in combination with prebiotics to enhance colonization of beneficial bacteria and to strengthen the symbiosis. However, several papers showed major benefits of heat-killed probiotics as compared to their live counterparts on both intestinal and systemic symptoms. Recently, in addition to killing probiotics, in a proof of concept study lysates (fragments) of probiotics in combination with vitamins A, B, D and omega 3 fatty acids were successfully tested. These findings suggested a conceptual change in the approach addressed to both the microbiota and host as targets for intervention.}, } @article {pmid25193628, year = {2014}, author = {Dubreuil, G and Deleury, E and Crochard, D and Simon, JC and Coustau, C}, title = {Diversification of MIF immune regulators in aphids: link with agonistic and antagonistic interactions.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {762}, pmid = {25193628}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome, Insect ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Immunomodulation/drug effects/*genetics ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors/agonists/antagonists & inhibitors/classification/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The widespread use of genome sequencing provided evidences for the high degree of conservation in innate immunity signalling pathways across animal phyla. However, the functioning and evolutionary history of immune-related genes remains unknown for most invertebrate species. A striking observation coming from the analysis of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum genome is the absence of important conserved genes known to be involved in the antimicrobial responses of other insects. This reduction in antibacterial immune defences is thought to be related to their long-term association with beneficial symbiotic bacteria and to facilitate symbiont maintenance. An additional possibility to avoid elimination of mutualistic symbionts is a fine-tuning of the host immune response. To explore this hypothesis we investigated the existence and potential involvement of immune regulators in aphid agonistic and antagonistic interactions.

RESULTS: In contrast to the limited antibacterial arsenal, we showed that the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum expresses 5 members of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factors (ApMIF), known to be key regulators of the innate immune response. In silico searches for MIF members in insect genomes followed by phylogenetic reconstruction suggest that evolution of MIF genes in hemipteran species has been shaped both by differential losses and serial duplications, raising the question of the functional importance of these genes in aphid immune responses. Expression analyses of ApMIFs revealed reduced expression levels in the presence, or during the establishment of secondary symbionts. By contrast, ApMIFs expression levels significantly increased upon challenge with a parasitoid or a Gram-negative bacteria. This increased expression in the presence of a pathogen/parasitoid was reduced or missing, in the presence of facultative symbiotic bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: This work provides evidence that while aphid's antibacterial arsenal is reduced, other immune genes widely absent from insect genomes are present, diversified and differentially regulated during antagonistic or agonistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid25191338, year = {2014}, author = {Gilbert, SF}, title = {A holobiont birth narrative: the epigenetic transmission of the human microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {282}, pmid = {25191338}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {This essay plans to explore, expand, and re-tell the human birth narrative. Usually, human birth narratives focus on the origins of a new individual, focusing on the mother and fetus. This essay discusses birth as the origin of a new community. For not only is the eukaryotic body being reproduced, but so also are the bodies of its symbiotic microbes and so is the set of relationships between these organic components. Several parts of the new narrative are surprising: (1) bacterial symbionts might cause some of the characteristics of pregnancy and prepare a symbiotic community for transfer; (2) the first bacterial colonizers of the mammalian organism my enter the fetus prior to the lysing of the amniotic membrane and birth; (3) the same signals that often cause immunological attack against a microbe may serve under these conditions to signal homeostatic stability between symbiont and host; and (4) the mother may actively provide substances that promote the growth and settlement of helpful bacteria. The birth of the holobiont exemplifies principles of co-evolution, co-development, niche construction, and scaffolding. Birth is nothing less than the passage from one set of symbiotic relationships to another.}, } @article {pmid25191321, year = {2014}, author = {Pernice, M and Levy, O}, title = {Novel tools integrating metabolic and gene function to study the impact of the environment on coral symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {448}, pmid = {25191321}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) inhabiting coral endodermal tissues are well known for their role as keystone symbiotic partners, providing corals with enormous amounts of energy acquired via photosynthesis and the absorption of dissolved nutrients. In the past few decades, corals reefs worldwide have been increasingly affected by coral bleaching (i.e., the breakdown of the symbiosis between corals and their dinoflagellate symbionts), which carries important socio-economic implications. Consequently, the number of studies focusing on the molecular and cellular processes underlying this biological phenomenon has grown rapidly, and symbiosis is now widely recognized as a major topic in coral biology. However, obtaining a clear image of the interplay between the environment and this mutualistic symbiosis remains challenging. Here, we review the potential of recent technological advances in molecular biology and approaches using stable isotopes to fill critical knowledge gaps regarding coral symbiotic function. Finally, we emphasize that the largest opportunity to achieve the full potential in this field arises from the integration of these technological advances.}, } @article {pmid25191317, year = {2014}, author = {Loudon, AH and Holland, JA and Umile, TP and Burzynski, EA and Minbiole, KP and Harris, RN}, title = {Interactions between amphibians' symbiotic bacteria cause the production of emergent anti-fungal metabolites.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {441}, pmid = {25191317}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Amphibians possess beneficial skin bacteria that protect against the disease chytridiomycosis by producing secondary metabolites that inhibit the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Metabolite production may be a mechanism of competition between bacterial species that results in host protection as a by-product. We expect that some co-cultures of bacterial species or strains will result in greater Bd inhibition than mono-cultures. To test this, we cultured four bacterial isolates (Bacillus sp., Janthinobacterium sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Chitinophaga arvensicola) from red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) and cultured isolates both alone and together to collect their cell-free supernatants (CFS). We challenged Bd with CFSs from four bacterial species in varying combinations. This resulted in three experimental treatments: (1) CFSs of single isolates; (2) combined CFSs of two isolates; and (3) CFSs from co-cultures. Pair-wise combinations of four bacterial isolates CFSs were assayed against Bd and revealed additive Bd inhibition in 42.2% of trials, synergistic inhibition in 42.2% and no effect in 16.6% of trials. When bacteria isolates were grown in co-cultures, complete Bd inhibition was generally observed, and synergistic inhibition occurred in four out of six trials. A metabolite profile of the most potent co-culture, Bacillus sp. and Chitinophaga arvensicola, was determined with LC-MS and compared with the profiles of each isolate in mono-culture. Emergent metabolites appearing in the co-culture were inhibitory to Bd, and the most potent inhibitor was identified as tryptophol. Thus mono-cultures of bacteria cultured from red-backed salamanders interacted synergistically and additively to inhibit Bd, and such bacteria produced emergent metabolites when cultured together, with even greater pathogen inhibition. Knowledge of how bacterial species interact to inhibit Bd can be used to select probiotics to provide amphibians with protection against Bd.}, } @article {pmid25190600, year = {2015}, author = {Sabatino, A and Regolisti, G and Brusasco, I and Cabassi, A and Morabito, S and Fiaccadori, E}, title = {Alterations of intestinal barrier and microbiota in chronic kidney disease.}, journal = {Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {924-933}, doi = {10.1093/ndt/gfu287}, pmid = {25190600}, issn = {1460-2385}, mesh = {Cardiovascular Diseases/*etiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology/*pathology ; *Microbiota ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*complications/microbiology/pathology ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have highlighted the close relationship between the kidney and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract--frequently referred to as the kidney--gut axis--in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this regard, two important pathophysiological concepts have evolved: (i) production and accumulation of toxic end-products derived from increased bacterial fermentation of protein and other nitrogen-containing substances in the GI tract, (ii) translocation of endotoxins and live bacteria from gut lumen into the bloodstream, due to damage of the intestinal epithelial barrier and quantitative/qualitative alterations of the intestinal microbiota associated with the uraemic milieu. In both cases, these gut-centred alterations may have relevant systemic consequences in CKD patients, since they are able to trigger chronic inflammation, increase cardiovascular risk and worsen uraemic toxicity. The present review is thus focused on the kidney-gut axis in CKD, with special attention to the alterations of the intestinal barrier and the local microbiota (i.e. the collection of microorganisms living in a symbiotic coexistence with their host in the intestinal lumen) and their relationships to inflammation and uraemic toxicity in CKD. Moreover, we will summarize the most important clinical data suggesting the potential for nutritional modulation of gut-related inflammation and intestinal production of noxious by-products contributing to uraemic toxicity in CKD patients.}, } @article {pmid25188365, year = {2014}, author = {Teichert, I and Steffens, EK and Schnaß, N and Fränzel, B and Krisp, C and Wolters, DA and Kück, U}, title = {PRO40 is a scaffold protein of the cell wall integrity pathway, linking the MAP kinase module to the upstream activator protein kinase C.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {e1004582}, pmid = {25188365}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/physiology ; Protein Kinase C/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are crucial signaling instruments in eukaryotes. Most ascomycetes possess three MAPK modules that are involved in key developmental processes like sexual propagation or pathogenesis. However, the regulation of these modules by adapters or scaffolds is largely unknown. Here, we studied the function of the cell wall integrity (CWI) MAPK module in the model fungus Sordaria macrospora. Using a forward genetic approach, we found that sterile mutant pro30 has a mutated mik1 gene that encodes the MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) of the proposed CWI pathway. We generated single deletion mutants lacking MAPKKK MIK1, MAPK kinase (MAPKK) MEK1, or MAPK MAK1 and found them all to be sterile, cell fusion-deficient and highly impaired in vegetative growth and cell wall stress response. By searching for MEK1 interaction partners via tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identified previously characterized developmental protein PRO40 as a MEK1 interaction partner. Although fungal PRO40 homologs have been implicated in diverse developmental processes, their molecular function is currently unknown. Extensive affinity purification, mass spectrometry, and yeast two-hybrid experiments showed that PRO40 is able to bind MIK1, MEK1, and the upstream activator protein kinase C (PKC1). We further found that the PRO40 N-terminal disordered region and the central region encompassing a WW interaction domain are sufficient to govern interaction with MEK1. Most importantly, time- and stress-dependent phosphorylation studies showed that PRO40 is required for MAK1 activity. The sum of our results implies that PRO40 is a scaffold protein for the CWI pathway, linking the MAPK module to the upstream activator PKC1. Our data provide important insights into the mechanistic role of a protein that has been implicated in sexual and asexual development, cell fusion, symbiosis, and pathogenicity in different fungal systems.}, } @article {pmid25186788, year = {2014}, author = {Liao, HL and Chen, Y and Bruns, TD and Peay, KG and Taylor, JW and Branco, S and Talbot, JM and Vilgalys, R}, title = {Metatranscriptomic analysis of ectomycorrhizal roots reveals genes associated with Piloderma-Pinus symbiosis: improved methodologies for assessing gene expression in situ.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3730-3742}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12619}, pmid = {25186788}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Complementary ; Ecosystem ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression ; *Genes, Fungal ; Genes, rRNA ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi form symbiotic associations with plant roots that regulate nutrient exchange between forest plants and soil. Environmental metagenomics approaches that employ next-generation sequencing show great promise for studying EM symbioses; however, metatranscriptomic studies have been constrained by the inherent difficulties associated with isolation and sequencing of RNA from mycorrhizae. Here we apply an optimized method for combined DNA/RNA extraction using field-collected EM fungal-pine root clusters, together with protocols for taxonomic identification of expressed ribosomal RNA, and inference of EM function based on plant and fungal metatranscriptomics. We used transcribed portions of ribosomal RNA genes to identify several transcriptionally dominant fungal taxa associated with loblolly pine including Amphinema, Russula and Piloderma spp. One taxon, Piloderma croceum, has a publically available genome that allowed us to identify patterns of gene content and transcript abundance. Over 1500 abundantly expressed Piloderma genes were detected from mycorrhizal roots, including genes for protein metabolism, cell signalling, electron transport, terpene synthesis and other extracellular activities. In contrast, Piloderma gene encoding an ammonia transporter showed highest transcript abundance in soil samples. Our methodology highlights the potential of metatranscriptomics to identify genes associated with symbiosis and ecosystem function using field-collected samples.}, } @article {pmid25186648, year = {2015}, author = {Janoušková, M and Püschel, D and Hujslová, M and Slavíková, R and Jansa, J}, title = {Quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal DNA in roots: how important is material preservation?.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {205-214}, pmid = {25186648}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Medicago truncatula/chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*genetics ; Plant Roots/chemistry/growth & development/microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; }, abstract = {Monitoring populations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in roots is a pre-requisite for improving our understanding of AMF ecology and functioning of the symbiosis in natural conditions. Among other approaches, quantification of fungal DNA in plant tissues by quantitative real-time PCR is one of the advanced techniques with a great potential to process large numbers of samples and to deliver truly quantitative information. Its application potential would greatly increase if the samples could be preserved by drying, but little is currently known about the feasibility and reliability of fungal DNA quantification from dry plant material. We addressed this question by comparing quantification results based on dry root material to those obtained from deep-frozen roots of Medicago truncatula colonized with Rhizophagus sp. The fungal DNA was well conserved in the dry root samples with overall fungal DNA levels in the extracts comparable with those determined in extracts of frozen roots. There was, however, no correlation between the quantitative data sets obtained from the two types of material, and data from dry roots were more variable. Based on these results, we recommend dry material for qualitative screenings but advocate using frozen root materials if precise quantification of fungal DNA is required.}, } @article {pmid25186254, year = {2015}, author = {Narihiro, T and Nobu, MK and Kim, NK and Kamagata, Y and Liu, WT}, title = {The nexus of syntrophy-associated microbiota in anaerobic digestion revealed by long-term enrichment and community survey.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {1707-1720}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12616}, pmid = {25186254}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Acetates/metabolism ; Actinobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Benzoates/metabolism ; Butyrates/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Chloroflexi/genetics/metabolism ; Euryarchaeota/metabolism ; Formates/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; Propionates/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sewage/*microbiology ; Water Purification/*methods ; }, abstract = {Anaerobic digestion (AD) processes are known to effectively convert organic waste to CO2 and CH4 , but much of the microbial ecology remains unclear. Specifically, we have limited insights into symbiotic syntroph and methanogen ('syntrophy') acid degradation, although they are essential for preventing process deterioration. Also, we often observed many uncharacterized or uncultivated organisms, but poorly understood their role(s) in relation to syntrophy. To define syntrophy-associated populations, this study enriched methanogenic communities with propionate, butyrate, benzoate, acetate, formate and H2 from two different inocula over 3 years. 16S pyrotag analysis revealed core populations of known syntrophs (six clades) and methanogens (nine clades) associated with acid degradation, and evidence for substrate- and/or inoculum-dependent specificity in syntrophic partnerships. Based on comprehensive re-evaluation of publically available microbial community data for AD, the known syntrophs and methanogens identified were clearly representatives of the AD-associated syntrophs and methanogens. In addition, uncultivated clades related to Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi were ubiquitously found in AD and enrichments. These organisms may be universally involved in AD syntrophic degradation, but only represented <23% of the yet-to-be-cultivated organisms (89 of 390 clades). Thus, the contribution of these uncultured organisms in AD remains unclear and warrants further investigation.}, } @article {pmid25185494, year = {2015}, author = {Jebara, SH and Saadani, O and Fatnassi, IC and Chiboub, M and Abdelkrim, S and Jebara, M}, title = {Inoculation of Lens culinaris with Pb-resistant bacteria shows potential for phytostabilization.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {2537-2545}, pmid = {25185494}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Lead/analysis/*metabolism ; Lens Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metals, Heavy/analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Pseudomonas/genetics/metabolism ; Rahnella/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phytoremediation comprises a set of plant and microbe-based technologies for remediation of soil heavy metal contamination. In this work, four Pb-resistant bacteria (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Rahnella aquatilis, and two Pseudomonas sp.) were selected among a collection of isolates from root nodule of Lens culinaris. They had a high degree of bioaccumulation ability in nutrient medium containing 2 mM Pb, and the maximum Pb accumulation of whole cell was found after 48-h incubation. These Pb-resistant bacteria synthesized plant growth promoting substances such as indole acetic acid and siderophore. The presence of the Pb resistance genes (pbrA) in these bacteria has been confirmed by PCR. L. culinaris cultivated in two experimental soils with different levels of contamination showed that Pb contamination affected plant growth; therefore, it's co-inoculation with the consortium of Pb-resistant bacteria improved plant biomass. The present study demonstrated that lentil accumulated Pb primarily in their roots and poorly in their shoots; in addition, it's co-inoculation in moderately Pb-contaminated soil induced a reduction in Pb accumulation in roots and shoots by 22 and 80 %, respectively. Whereas in highly Pb-contaminated soil, we registered a diminution in concentration of Pb in shoots (66 %) and an augmentation in roots (21 %). The contamination of soil by Pb caused an oxidative stress in lentil plant, inducing modulation in antioxidant enzymes activities, essentially in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (GPOX) activities which were more pronounced in lentil cultivated in highly Pb-contaminated soil, in addition, co-inoculation enhanced these activities, suggesting the protective role of enzymatic antioxidant against Pb-induced plant stress.Thus, the present study demonstrated that co-inoculation of lentil with A. tumefaciens, R. aquatilis, and Pseudomonas sp. formed a symbiotic system useful for phytostabilization of highly and moderately Pb-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid25184774, year = {2014}, author = {Flesch, AG and Poziomyck, AK and Damin, DC}, title = {The therapeutic use of symbiotics.}, journal = {Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD = Brazilian archives of digestive surgery}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {206-209}, pmid = {25184774}, issn = {2317-6326}, mesh = {Humans ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Functional foods are health promoters and their use is associated with reduced risk of chronic degenerative and non-transmissible diseases. Examples are symbiotic. The association of one (or more) probiotic with a one (or more) prebiotic is called symbiotic, being the prebiotics complementary and probiotics synergistic, thus presenting a multiplicative factor on their individual actions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the evidences on the benefits of the use of symbiotics in the treatment of clinical and surgical situations.

METHODS: The headings symbiotic, probiotic and prebiotic were searched in Pubmed/Medline in the last 15 years, and were selected 25 articles, used for database.

RESULTS: The use of symbiotic may promote an increase in the number of bifidobacteria, glycemic control, reduction of blood cholesterol, balancing the intestinal flora which aids in reducing constipation and/or diarrhea, improves intestinal permeability and stimulation of the immune system. Clinical indications for these products has been expanded, in order to maximize the individual's physiological functions to provide greater. So, with the high interest in the clinical and nutritional control of disease, many studies have been conducted demonstrating the effectiveness of using symbiotic in improving and/or preventing various and/or symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.

CONCLUSION: Symbiotic behave differently and positively in various pathological situations.}, } @article {pmid25182414, year = {2014}, author = {Moebius, N and Üzüm, Z and Dijksterhuis, J and Lackner, G and Hertweck, C}, title = {Active invasion of bacteria into living fungal cells.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e03007}, pmid = {25182414}, issn = {2050-084X}, mesh = {Burkholderia/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Chitinases/metabolism ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Macrolides/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mutation ; Oryza/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Proteome/metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Rhizopus/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rice seedling blight fungus Rhizopus microsporus and its endosymbiont Burkholderia rhizoxinica form an unusual, highly specific alliance to produce the highly potent antimitotic phytotoxin rhizoxin. Yet, it has remained a riddle how bacteria invade the fungal cells. Genome mining for potential symbiosis factors and functional analyses revealed that a type 2 secretion system (T2SS) of the bacterial endosymbiont is required for the formation of the endosymbiosis. Comparative proteome analyses show that the T2SS releases chitinolytic enzymes (chitinase, chitosanase) and chitin-binding proteins. The genes responsible for chitinolytic proteins and T2SS components are highly expressed during infection. Through targeted gene knock-outs, sporulation assays and microscopic investigations we found that chitinase is essential for bacteria to enter hyphae. Unprecedented snapshots of the traceless bacterial intrusion were obtained using cryo-electron microscopy. Beyond unveiling the pivotal role of chitinolytic enzymes in the active invasion of a fungus by bacteria, these findings grant unprecedented insight into the fungal cell wall penetration and symbiosis formation.}, } @article {pmid25182324, year = {2014}, author = {Touret, F and Guiguen, F and Terzian, C}, title = {Wolbachia influences the maternal transmission of the gypsy endogenous retrovirus in Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {e01529-14}, pmid = {25182324}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*microbiology/*virology ; Endogenous Retroviruses/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Oocytes/microbiology/virology ; Retroelements ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Virus Replication ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are present in most insects and are maternally transmitted through the germline. Moreover, these intracellular bacteria exert antiviral activity against insect RNA viruses, as in Drosophila melanogaster, which could explain the prevalence of Wolbachia bacteria in natural populations. Wolbachia is maternally transmitted in D. melanogaster through a mechanism that involves distribution at the posterior pole of mature oocytes and then incorporation into the pole cells of the embryos. In parallel, maternal transmission of several endogenous retroviruses is well documented in D. melanogaster. Notably, gypsy retrovirus is expressed in permissive follicle cells and transferred to the oocyte and then to the offspring by integrating into their genomes. Here, we show that the presence of Wolbachia wMel reduces the rate of gypsy insertion into the ovo gene. However, the presence of Wolbachia does not modify the expression levels of gypsy RNA and envelope glycoprotein from either permissive or restrictive ovaries. Moreover, Wolbachia affects the pattern of distribution of the retroviral particles and the gypsy envelope protein in permissive follicle cells. Altogether, our results enlarge the knowledge of the antiviral activity of Wolbachia to include reducing the maternal transmission of endogenous retroviruses in D. melanogaster.

IMPORTANCE: Animals have established complex relationships with bacteria and viruses that spread horizontally among individuals or are vertically transmitted, i.e., from parents to offspring. It is well established that members of the genus Wolbachia, maternally inherited symbiotic bacteria present mainly in arthropods, reduce the replication of several RNA viruses transmitted horizontally. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that Wolbachia diminishes the maternal transmission of gypsy, an endogenous retrovirus in Drosophila melanogaster. We hypothesize that gypsy cannot efficiently integrate into the germ cells of offspring during embryonic development in the presence of Wolbachia because both are competitors for localization to the posterior pole of the egg. More generally, it would be of interest to analyze the influence of Wolbachia on vertically transmitted exogenous viruses, such as some arboviruses.}, } @article {pmid25182128, year = {2014}, author = {Song, Z and Shen, P and Ma, T and Jiang, C and Zhao, H and Wu, B}, title = {Isolation and characterization of a gene associated with sulfate assimilation in Sinorhizobium fredii WGF03.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {3027-3035}, pmid = {25182128}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {DNA Transposable Elements ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sulfur is an essential element for rhizobia, such as sulfated modified Nod factors and nitrogenase. To investigate the role of sulfur metabolism in Rhizobium-Soybean symbiosis, a transponson random insertional mutants' library was constructed and a sulfur assimilation-related gene was isolated and characterized. A mutant strain unable to utilized sulfate was screened from 11,000 random insertional mutants of Sinorhizobium fredii WGF03. Sequencing analysis showed that a sulfate assimilation-related gene (cysDN) was inserted by the Tn transponson. Mutants inactivated in cysD and cysN (SMcysDF and SMcysNF) were constructed by homologous recombination using the suicide plasmid pK18mob. The mutants SMcysDF and SMcysNF could no longer utilize sulfate as sulfur source. Phenotype analysis revealed that mutation of cysDN had multiple effects on S. fredii WGF03. Root hair deformation assay showed that the activity of Nod factors secreted by mutants SMcysDR and SMcysNR elicited minimal hair initiation only. Soybean plant tests indicated that the mutant strains delayed 1-2 days to nodulate and exhibited lower nodulation efficiency and symbiotic efficiency than the wild-type strain. The complementary strain of cysD and cysN (HcysDF and HcysNF) could restore the nodulation efficiency.}, } @article {pmid25181446, year = {2014}, author = {Roberts, RG}, title = {Symbiosis plasmids bring their own mutagen to the wedding party.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e1001943}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.1001943}, pmid = {25181446}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Cupriavidus/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Plasmids/*metabolism ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*genetics ; }, } @article {pmid25181317, year = {2014}, author = {Remigi, P and Capela, D and Clerissi, C and Tasse, L and Torchet, R and Bouchez, O and Batut, J and Cruveiller, S and Rocha, EP and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Transient hypermutagenesis accelerates the evolution of legume endosymbionts following horizontal gene transfer.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {e1001942}, pmid = {25181317}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Cupriavidus/*genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Mimosa/microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Plasmids/*metabolism ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important mode of adaptation and diversification of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and a major event underlying the emergence of bacterial pathogens and mutualists. Yet it remains unclear how complex phenotypic traits such as the ability to fix nitrogen with legumes have successfully spread over large phylogenetic distances. Here we show, using experimental evolution coupled with whole genome sequencing, that co-transfer of imuABC error-prone DNA polymerase genes with key symbiotic genes accelerates the evolution of a soil bacterium into a legume symbiont. Following introduction of the symbiotic plasmid of Cupriavidus taiwanensis, the Mimosa symbiont, into pathogenic Ralstonia solanacearum we challenged transconjugants to become Mimosa symbionts through serial plant-bacteria co-cultures. We demonstrate that a mutagenesis imuABC cassette encoded on the C. taiwanensis symbiotic plasmid triggered a transient hypermutability stage in R. solanacearum transconjugants that occurred before the cells entered the plant. The generated burst in genetic diversity accelerated symbiotic adaptation of the recipient genome under plant selection pressure, presumably by improving the exploration of the fitness landscape. Finally, we show that plasmid imuABC cassettes are over-represented in rhizobial lineages harboring symbiotic plasmids. Our findings shed light on a mechanism that may have facilitated the dissemination of symbiotic competency among α- and β-proteobacteria in natura and provide evidence for the positive role of environment-induced mutagenesis in the acquisition of a complex lifestyle trait. We speculate that co-transfer of complex phenotypic traits with mutagenesis determinants might frequently enhance the ecological success of HGT.}, } @article {pmid25178787, year = {2014}, author = {Watson, J and Degnan, B and Degnan, S and Krömer, JO}, title = {Determining the biomass composition of a sponge holobiont for flux analysis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1191}, number = {}, pages = {107-125}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-1170-7_7}, pmid = {25178787}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Bisbenzimidazole ; DNA/*analysis ; Fluorometry/methods ; Metabolic Flux Analysis/*methods ; *Models, Biological ; Porifera/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Proteins/analysis ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The first step on the path of flux analysis of a new organism with little available literature is the determination of the biomass composition. Once the content of the macromolecular components (protein, RNA, DNA, carbohydrates, lipids) and their composition is known, this composition can be converted into a biomass equation. The biomass equation is an important part of metabolic flux analysis. This equation provides the information about the precursor and energy needs for growth. In many experiments the determination of the growth rate is the simplest flux to be determined, yet this rate determines the net fluxes of a whole range of anabolic pathways in the system and often is used as the objective function in FBA analysis. The challenge for the scientist is to create a biomass equation that represents the organisms of choice under the conditions studied. This chapter outlines basic protocols that can be applied to the quantification of the macromolecular components, using the marine demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica as a case study. As is true for all other sponges and indeed marine animals, A. queenslandica is a holobiont, comprising an animal host plus symbiotic and other associated microbial cells. We show how this complexity can be overcome by developing a fast, yet robust, method for biomass quantification of sponges using the displacement volume. The analytical protocols we describe herein are widely applicable not only to other organisms sampled from complex environments but also to cell cultures. The second part of the chapter highlights the procedures needed to convert a macromolecular composition into a biomass equation.}, } @article {pmid25175626, year = {2014}, author = {Van Leuven, JT and Meister, RC and Simon, C and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Sympatric speciation in a bacterial endosymbiont results in two genomes with the functionality of one.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {158}, number = {6}, pages = {1270-1280}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2014.07.047}, pmid = {25175626}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {P20RR017670/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/cytology/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pseudogenes ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms that become evolutionarily stable give rise to organismal interdependencies. Some insects have developed intracellular associations with communities of bacteria, where the interdependencies are manifest in patterns of complementary gene loss and retention among members of the symbiosis. Here, using comparative genomics and microscopy, we show that a three-member symbiotic community has become a four-way assemblage through a novel bacterial lineage-splitting event. In some but not all cicada species of the genus Tettigades, the endosymbiont Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola has split into two new cytologically distinct but metabolically interdependent species. Although these new bacterial genomes are partitioned into discrete cell types, the intergenome patterns of gene loss and retention are almost perfectly complementary. These results defy easy classification: they show genomic patterns consistent with those observed after both speciation and whole-genome duplication. We suggest that our results highlight the potential power of nonadaptive forces in shaping organismal complexity.}, } @article {pmid25174959, year = {2014}, author = {Zhao, X and Zhang, J and Chen, C and Yang, J and Zhu, H and Liu, M and Lv, F}, title = {Deep sequencing-based comparative transcriptional profiles of Cymbidium hybridum roots in response to mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal beneficial fungi.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {747}, pmid = {25174959}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Fungi ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Mycorrhizae ; Orchidaceae/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*microbiology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Orchidaceae is one of the largest families in the plant kingdom and orchid mycorrhizae (OM) are indispensable in the life cycle of all orchids under natural conditions. In spite of this, little is known concerning the mechanisms underlying orchid- mycorrhizal fungi interactions. Our previous work demonstrated that the non-mycorrhizal fungus Umbelopsis nana ZH3A-3 could improve the symbiotic effects of orchid mycorrhizal fungus Epulorhiza repens ML01 by co-cultivation with Cymbidium hybridum plantlets. Thus, we investigated the C. hybridum transcript profile associated with different beneficial fungi.

RESULTS: More than 54,993,972 clean reads were obtained from un-normalized cDNA library prepared from fungal- and mock- treated Cymbidium roots at four time points using RNA-seq technology. These reads were assembled into 16,798 unique transcripts, with a mean length of 1127 bp. A total of 10,971 (65.31%) sequences were annotated based on BLASTX results and over ninety percent of which were assigned to plant origin. The digital gene expression profiles in Cymbidium root at 15 days post inoculation revealed that 1674, 845 and 1743 genes were sigificantly regulated in response to ML01, ZH3A-3 and ML01+ ZH3A-3 treatments, respectively. Twenty-six genes in different regulation patterns were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Our analysis showed that general defense responses were co- induced by three treatments, including cell wall modification, reactive oxygen species detoxification, secondary biosynthesis and hormone balance. Genes involved in phosphate transport and root morphogenesis were also detected to be up-regulated collectively. Among the OM specifically induced transcripts, genes related to signaling, protein metabolism and processing, defense, transport and auxin response were identifed. Aside from these orchid transcripts, some putative fungal genes were also identified in symbiotic roots related to plant cell wall degradation, remodeling the fungal cell wall and nutrient transport.

CONCLUSION: The orchid root transcriptome will facilitate our understanding of orchid-associated biological mechanism. The comparative expression profiling revealed that the transcriptional reprogramming by OM symbiosis generally overlapped that of arbuscular mycorrhizas and ectomycorrhizas. The molecular basis of OM formation and function will improve our knowledge of plant-mycorrhzial fungi interactions, and their effects on plant and fungal growth, development and differentiation.}, } @article {pmid25174424, year = {2015}, author = {Zribi, K and Nouairi, I and Slama, I and Talbi-Zribi, O and Mhadhbi, H}, title = {Medicago sativa--Sinorhizobium meliloti Symbiosis Promotes the Bioaccumulation of Zinc in Nodulated Roots.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {17}, number = {1-6}, pages = {49-55}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2013.828017}, pmid = {25174424}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Biomass ; Medicago sativa/*metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Zinc/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In this study we investigated effects of Zn supply on germination, growth, inorganic solutes (Zn, Ca, Fe, and Mg) partitioning and nodulation of Medicago sativa This plant was cultivated with and without Zn (2 mM). Treatments were plants without (control) and with Zn tolerant strain (S532), Zn intolerant strain (S112) and 2 mM urea nitrogen fertilisation. Results showed that M. sativa germinates at rates of 50% at 2 mM Zn. For plants given nitrogen fertilisation, Zn increased plant biomass production. When grown with symbionts, Zn supply had no effect on nodulation. Moreover, plants with S112 showed a decrease of shoot and roots biomasses. However, in symbiosis with S532, an increase of roots biomass was observed. Plants in symbiosis with S. meliloti accumulated more Zn in their roots than nitrogen fertilised plants. Zn supply results in an increase of Ca concentration in roots of fertilised nitrogen plants. However, under Zn supply, Fe concentration decreased in roots and increased in nodules of plants with S112. Zn supply showed contrasting effects on Mg concentrations for plants with nitrogen fertilisation (increase) and plants with S112 (decrease). The capacity of M. sativa to accumulate Zn in their nodulated roots encouraged its use in phytostabilisation processes.}, } @article {pmid25173929, year = {2014}, author = {Tsukagoshi, H and Nakamura, A and Ishida, T and Otagiri, M and Moriya, S and Samejima, M and Igarashi, K and Kitamoto, K and Arioka, M}, title = {The GH26 β-mannanase RsMan26H from a symbiotic protist of the termite Reticulitermes speratus is an endo-processive mannobiohydrolase: heterologous expression and characterization.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {452}, number = {3}, pages = {520-525}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.08.103}, pmid = {25173929}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression ; Isoptera/physiology ; Kinetics ; Mannans/*chemistry/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry/metabolism ; Parabasalidea/*chemistry/enzymology ; Pichia/genetics/metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*chemistry/metabolism ; Protozoan Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; beta-Mannosidase/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic protists in the gut of termites are prominent natural resources for enzymes involved in lignocellulose degradation. Here we report expression, purification, and biochemical characterization of a glycoside hydrolase family 26 mannanase RsMan26H from the symbiotic protist of the lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus. Biochemical analysis of RsMan26H demonstrates that this enzyme is an endo-processive mannobiohydrolase producing mannobiose from oligo- and polysaccharides, followed by a minor accumulation of oligosaccharides larger than mannobiose. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the unique mannobiohydrolase enzyme from the eukaryotic origin.}, } @article {pmid25173823, year = {2014}, author = {Veneault-Fourrey, C and Commun, C and Kohler, A and Morin, E and Balestrini, R and Plett, J and Danchin, E and Coutinho, P and Wiebenga, A and de Vries, RP and Henrissat, B and Martin, F}, title = {Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of Laccaria bicolor CAZome reveals insights into polysaccharides remodelling during symbiosis establishment.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {72}, number = {}, pages = {168-181}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2014.08.007}, pmid = {25173823}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {*Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genomics ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Laccaria/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Populus/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi, living in soil forests, are required microorganisms to sustain tree growth and productivity. The establishment of mutualistic interaction with roots to form ectomycorrhiza (ECM) is not well known at the molecular level. In particular, how fungal and plant cell walls are rearranged to establish a fully functional ectomycorrhiza is poorly understood. Nevertheless, it is likely that Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZyme) produced by the fungus participate in this process. Genome-wide transcriptome profiling during ECM development was used to examine how the CAZome of Laccaria bicolor is regulated during symbiosis establishment. CAZymes active on fungal cell wall were upregulated during ECM development in particular after 4weeks of contact when the hyphae are surrounding the root cells and start to colonize the apoplast. We demonstrated that one expansin-like protein, whose expression is specific to symbiotic tissues, localizes within fungal cell wall. Whereas L. bicolor genome contained a constricted repertoire of CAZymes active on cellulose and hemicellulose, these CAZymes were expressed during the first steps of root cells colonization. L. bicolor retained the ability to use homogalacturonan, a pectin-derived substrate, as carbon source. CAZymes likely involved in pectin hydrolysis were mainly expressed at the stage of a fully mature ECM. All together, our data suggest an active remodelling of fungal cell wall with a possible involvement of expansin during ECM development. By contrast, a soft remodelling of the plant cell wall likely occurs through the loosening of the cellulose microfibrils by AA9 or GH12 CAZymes and middle lamella smooth remodelling through pectin (homogalacturonan) hydrolysis likely by GH28, GH12 CAZymes.}, } @article {pmid25172851, year = {2014}, author = {Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Soler, JJ and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Martín-Platero, AM and Méndez, M and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Ananou, S and Valdivia, E and Martínez-Bueno, M}, title = {Environmental factors shape the community of symbionts in the hoopoe uropygial gland more than genetic factors.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {21}, pages = {6714-6723}, pmid = {25172851}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; *Biota ; Birds/*microbiology/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Exploring processes of coevolution of microorganisms and their hosts is a new imperative for life sciences. If bacteria protect hosts against pathogens, mechanisms facilitating the intergenerational transmission of such bacteria will be strongly selected by evolution. By disentangling the diversity of bacterial strains from the uropygium of hoopoes (Upupa epops) due to genetic relatedness or to a common environment, we explored the importance of horizontal (from the environment) and vertical (from parents) acquisition of antimicrobial-producing symbionts in this species. For this purpose, we compared bacterial communities among individuals in nonmanipulated nests; we also performed a cross-fostering experiment using recently hatched nestlings before uropygial gland development and some nestlings that were reared outside hoopoe nests. The capacity of individuals to acquire microbial symbionts horizontally during their development was supported by our results, since cross-fostered nestlings share bacterial strains with foster siblings and nestlings that were not in contact with hoopoe adults or nests also developed the symbiosis. Moreover, nestlings could change some bacterial strains over the course of their stay in the nest, and adult females changed their bacterial community in different years. However, a low rate of vertical transmission was inferred, since genetic siblings reared in different nests shared more bacterial strains than they shared with unrelated nestlings raised in different nests. In conclusion, hoopoes are able to incorporate new symbionts from the environment during the development of the uropygium, which could be a selective advantage if strains with higher antimicrobial capacity are incorporated into the gland and could aid hosts in fighting against pathogenic and disease-causing microbes.}, } @article {pmid25172352, year = {2014}, author = {Asgari, S}, title = {Epigenetic modifications underlying symbiont-host interactions.}, journal = {Advances in genetics}, volume = {86}, number = {}, pages = {253-276}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-800222-3.00010-3}, pmid = {25172352}, issn = {0065-2660}, mesh = {Animals ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Plants/genetics ; Selection, Genetic/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The development, existence, and functioning of numerous animals and plants depend on their symbiotic interactions with other organisms, mainly microorganisms. In return, the symbionts benefit from safe habitats and nutrient-rich environments provided by their hosts. In these interactions, genetic changes in either of the partners may provide fitness advantages and become subjects to natural selection. Recent findings suggest that epigenetic changes, heritable or within the organism's life time, in either of the partners play significant roles in the establishment of symbiotic relationships. In this review, a variety of epigenetic effects underlying the most common host-symbiont interactions will be examined to determine to what extent these effects are shared in various interactions and how the epigenetic pathways could possibly be manipulated to benefit the interacting symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25171331, year = {2015}, author = {Endo, A and Watanabe, T and Ogata, N and Nozawa, T and Aikawa, C and Arakawa, S and Maruyama, F and Izumi, Y and Nakagawa, I}, title = {Comparative genome analysis and identification of competitive and cooperative interactions in a polymicrobial disease.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {629-642}, pmid = {25171331}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteroidetes/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Periodontitis/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Treponema denticola/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Polymicrobial diseases are caused by combinations of multiple bacteria, which can lead to not only mild but also life-threatening illnesses. Periodontitis represents a polymicrobial disease; Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, called 'the red complex', have been recognized as the causative agents of periodontitis. Although molecular interactions among the three species could be responsible for progression of periodontitis, the relevant genetic mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we uncovered novel interactions in comparative genome analysis among the red complex species. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) of T. forsythia might attack the restriction modification system of P. gingivalis, and possibly work as a defense system against DNA invasion from P. gingivalis. On the other hand, gene deficiencies were mutually compensated in metabolic pathways when the genes of all the three species were taken into account, suggesting that there are cooperative relationships among the three species. This notion was supported by the observation that each of the three species had its own virulence factors, which might facilitate persistence and manifestations of virulence of the three species. Here, we propose new mechanisms of bacterial symbiosis in periodontitis; these mechanisms consist of competitive and cooperative interactions. Our results might shed light on the pathogenesis of periodontitis and of other polymicrobial diseases.}, } @article {pmid25171330, year = {2015}, author = {Tianero, MD and Kwan, JC and Wyche, TP and Presson, AP and Koch, M and Barrows, LR and Bugni, TS and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Species specificity of symbiosis and secondary metabolism in ascidians.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {615-628}, pmid = {25171330}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {UL1 RR025764/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 8UL1TR000105/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001067/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000105/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; GM107557/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; California ; Florida ; Pacific Ocean ; *Secondary Metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ascidians contain abundant, diverse secondary metabolites, which are thought to serve a defensive role and which have been applied to drug discovery. It is known that bacteria in symbiosis with ascidians produce several of these metabolites, but very little is known about factors governing these 'chemical symbioses'. To examine this phenomenon across a wide geographical and species scale, we performed bacterial and chemical analyses of 32 different ascidians, mostly from the didemnid family from Florida, Southern California and a broad expanse of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Bacterial diversity analysis showed that ascidian microbiomes are highly diverse, and this diversity does not correlate with geographical location or latitude. Within a subset of species, ascidian microbiomes are also stable over time (R=-0.037, P-value=0.499). Ascidian microbiomes and metabolomes contain species-specific and location-specific components. Location-specific bacteria are found in low abundance in the ascidians and mostly represent strains that are widespread. Location-specific metabolites consist largely of lipids, which may reflect differences in water temperature. By contrast, species-specific bacteria are mostly abundant sequenced components of the microbiomes and include secondary metabolite producers as major components. Species-specific chemicals are dominated by secondary metabolites. Together with previous analyses that focused on single ascidian species or symbiont type, these results reveal fundamental properties of secondary metabolic symbiosis. Different ascidian species have established associations with many different bacterial symbionts, including those known to produce toxic chemicals. This implies a strong selection for this property and the independent origin of secondary metabolite-based associations in different ascidian species. The analysis here streamlines the connection of secondary metabolite to producing bacterium, enabling further biological and biotechnological studies.}, } @article {pmid25170981, year = {2014}, author = {Rocha, RJ and Silva, AM and Fernandes, MH and Cruz, IC and Rosa, R and Calado, R}, title = {Contrasting light spectra constrain the macro and microstructures of scleractinian corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e105863}, pmid = {25170981}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Dinoflagellida/physiology/*radiation effects ; Ecosystem ; *Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {The morphological plasticity of scleractinian corals can be influenced by numerous factors in their natural environment. However, it is difficult to identify in situ the relative influence of a single biotic or abiotic factor, due to potential interactions between them. Light is considered as a major factor affecting coral skeleton morphology, due to their symbiotic relation with photosynthetic zooxanthellae. Nonetheless, most studies addressing the importance of light on coral morphological plasticity have focused on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intensity, with the effect of light spectra remaining largely unknown. The present study evaluated how different light spectra affect the skeleton macro- and microstructures in two coral species (Acropora formosa sensu Veron (2000) and Stylophora pistillata) maintained under controlled laboratory conditions. We tested the effect of three light treatments with the same PAR but with a distinct spectral emission: 1) T5 fluorescent lamps with blue emission; 2) Light Emitting Diodes (LED) with predominantly blue emission; and 3) Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) with full spectra emission. To exclude potential bias generated by genetic variability, the experiment was performed with clonal fragments for both species. After 6 months of experiment, it was possible to detect in coral fragments of both species exposed to different light spectra significant differences in morphometry (e.g., distance among corallites, corallite diameter, and theca thickness), as well as in the organization of their skeleton microstructure. The variability found in the skeleton macro- and microstructures of clonal organisms points to the potential pitfalls associated with the exclusive use of morphometry on coral taxonomy. Moreover, the identification of a single factor influencing the morphology of coral skeletons is relevant for coral aquaculture and can allow the optimization of reef restoration efforts.}, } @article {pmid25169622, year = {2014}, author = {Hayward, J and Horton, TR}, title = {Phylogenetic trait conservation in the partner choice of a group of ectomycorrhizal trees.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {4886-4898}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12903}, pmid = {25169622}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Nyctaginaceae/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological interactions are frequently conserved across evolutionary time. In the case of mutualisms, these conserved interactions may play a large role in structuring mutualist communities. We hypothesized that phylogenetic trait conservation could play a key role in determining patterns of association in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, a globally important trophic mutualism. We used the association between members of the pantropical plant tribe Pisonieae and its fungal mutualist partners as a model system to test the prediction that Pisonieae-associating ectomycorrhizal fungi will be more closely related than expected by chance, reflecting a conserved trait. We tested this prediction using previously published and newly generated sequences in a Bayesian framework incorporating phylogenetic uncertainty. We report that phylogenetic trait conservation does exist in this association. We generated a five-marker phylogeny of members of the Pisonieae and used this phylogeny in a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock analysis. We established that the most recent common ancestors of Pisonieae species and Pisonieae-associating fungi sharing phylogenetic conservation of their patterns of ectomycorrhizal association occurred no more recently than 14.2 Ma. We therefore suggest that phylogenetic trait conservation in the Pisonieae ectomycorrhizal mutualism association represents an inherited syndrome which has existed for at least 14 Myr.}, } @article {pmid25168677, year = {2014}, author = {Suh, DH and Kim, HS and Kim, B and Song, YS}, title = {Metabolic orchestration between cancer cells and tumor microenvironment as a co-evolutionary source of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer: a therapeutic implication.}, journal = {Biochemical pharmacology}, volume = {92}, number = {1}, pages = {43-54}, doi = {10.1016/j.bcp.2014.08.011}, pmid = {25168677}, issn = {1873-2968}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Biological Evolution ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/*genetics ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*drug therapy/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Our group reported a significant association between hexokinase II overexpression and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer, suggesting that aerobic glycolysis in the so-called Warburg effect might contribute to cancer progression. However, a growing body of evidence indicates contradictory findings with regard to the Warburg effect, such as high mitochondrial activity in highly invasive tumors and low ATP contribution of glycolysis in ovarian cancer. As a solution for the dilemma of the Warburg effect, the "reverse Warburg effect" was proposed in which aerobic glycolysis might occur in the stromal compartment of the tumor rather than in the cancer cells, indicating that the glycolytic tumor stroma feed the cancer cells through a type of symbiotic relationship. The reverse Warburg effect acting on the relationship between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts has evolved into dynamic interplay between cancer cells and multiple tumor stromal compartments, including cancer-associated fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells, adipocytes, and tumor-associated macrophages. Peritoneal cavities including ascites and the omentum also form a unique environment that is highly receptive for carcinomatosis in the advanced stages of ovarian cancer. The complicated but ingeniously orchestrated stroma-mediated cancer metabolism in ovarian cancer provides great heterogeneity in tumors with chemoresistance, which makes the disease thus far difficult to cure by single stromal-targeting agents. This review will discuss the experimental and clinical evidence of the cross-talk between cancer cells and various components of tumor stroma in terms of heterogeneous chemoresistance with focal points for therapeutic intervention in ovarian cancer.}, } @article {pmid25166872, year = {2014}, author = {Pérez-Montaño, F and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Del Cerro, P and Baena-Ropero, I and López-Baena, FJ and Ollero, FJ and Bellogín, R and Lloret, J and Espuny, R}, title = {The symbiotic biofilm of Sinorhizobium fredii SMH12, necessary for successful colonization and symbiosis of Glycine max cv Osumi, is regulated by Quorum Sensing systems and inducing flavonoids via NodD1.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e105901}, pmid = {25166872}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Flavonoids/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Quorum Sensing ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial surface components, especially exopolysaccharides, in combination with bacterial Quorum Sensing signals are crucial for the formation of biofilms in most species studied so far. Biofilm formation allows soil bacteria to colonize their surrounding habitat and survive common environmental stresses such as desiccation and nutrient limitation. This mode of life is often essential for survival in bacteria of the genera Mesorhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Rhizobium. The role of biofilm formation in symbiosis has been investigated in detail for Sinorhizobium meliloti and Bradyrhizobium japonicum. However, for S. fredii this process has not been studied. In this work we have demonstrated that biofilm formation is crucial for an optimal root colonization and symbiosis between S. fredii SMH12 and Glycine max cv Osumi. In this bacterium, nod-gene inducing flavonoids and the NodD1 protein are required for the transition of the biofilm structure from monolayer to microcolony. Quorum Sensing systems are also required for the full development of both types of biofilms. In fact, both the nodD1 mutant and the lactonase strain (the lactonase enzyme prevents AHL accumulation) are defective in soybean root colonization. The impairment of the lactonase strain in its colonization ability leads to a decrease in the symbiotic parameters. Interestingly, NodD1 together with flavonoids activates certain quorum sensing systems implicit in the development of the symbiotic biofilm. Thus, S. fredii SMH12 by means of a unique key molecule, the flavonoid, efficiently forms biofilm, colonizes the legume roots and activates the synthesis of Nod factors, required for successfully symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25165722, year = {2014}, author = {Huang, X and Weng, P and Zhang, H and Lu, Y}, title = {Remodeling intestinal flora with sleeve gastrectomy in diabetic rats.}, journal = {Journal of diabetes research}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {196312}, pmid = {25165722}, issn = {2314-6753}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Biomarkers/blood ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood/microbiology/*surgery ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Gastrectomy ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Male ; Rats ; Ribotyping ; Time Factors ; Weight Loss ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: As a complicated symbiotic system, intestinal flora is reported closely related to the development of type 2 diabetes recently. Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the approaches of bariatric surgery and could improve blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes patients. This study was to explore the relationship between remodeled intestinal flora and glucose metabolism in diabetic rats.

METHODS: 20 male diabetic rats were operated; 10 of them underwent sleeve gastrectomy, and 10 of them underwent sham operation. Meanwhile 10 male normal rats underwent sleeve gastrectomy as control. The animals' weight and FBG had been measured. The composition changes of intestinal flora were detected by 16S rDNA sequence analysis.

RESULTS: In diabetic rats, weight and fasting blood glucose decreased significantly after sleeve gastrectomy. However, there was no significant change for weight and blood glucose in normal rats after operation. The intestinal flora of diabetic rats reduced in the proportion of Firmicutes and increased in the proportion of Bacteroidetes after sleeve gastrectomy.

CONCLUSION: The change of dominant microorganisms in intestinal flora might play an important role in the glucose metabolism.}, } @article {pmid25163502, year = {2014}, author = {Chassaing, B and Kumar, M and Baker, MT and Singh, V and Vijay-Kumar, M}, title = {Mammalian gut immunity.}, journal = {Biomedical journal}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {246-258}, pmid = {25163502}, issn = {2320-2890}, support = {K01 DK083275/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK097865/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R03 DK094864/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology ; Homeostasis/*immunology ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Mammals/*immunology ; Metabolic Diseases/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestinal tract is the largest immune organ in the body and comprises cells from non-hemopoietic (epithelia, Paneth cells, goblet cells) and hemopoietic (macrophages, dendritic cells, T-cells) origin, and is also a dwelling for trillions of microbes collectively known as the microbiota. The homeostasis of this large microbial biomass is prerequisite to maintain host health by maximizing beneficial symbiotic relationships and minimizing the risks of living in such close proximity. Both microbiota and host immune system communicate with each other to mutually maintain homeostasis in what could be called a "love-hate relationship." Further, the host innate and adaptive immune arms of the immune system cooperate and compensate each other to maintain the equilibrium of a highly complex gut ecosystem in a stable and stringent fashion. Any imbalance due to innate or adaptive immune deficiency or aberrant immune response may lead to dysbiosis and low-grade to robust gut inflammation, finally resulting in metabolic diseases.}, } @article {pmid25163130, year = {2014}, author = {Shantz, AA and Burkepile, DE}, title = {Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {7}, pages = {1995-2005}, doi = {10.1890/13-1407.1}, pmid = {25163130}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*growth & development/physiology ; Eutrophication ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Phosphorus/*pharmacology ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Human-mediated increases in nutrient availability alter patterns of primary production, impact species diversity, and threaten ecosystem function. Nutrients can also alter community structure by disrupting the relationships between nutrient-sharing mutualists that form the foundation of communities. Given their oligotrophic nature and the dependence of reef-building corals on symbiotic relationships, coral reefs may be particularly vulnerable to excess nutrients. However, individual studies suggest complex, even contradictory, relationships among nutrient availability, coral physiology, and coral growth. Here, we used meta-analysis to establish general patterns of the impact of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on coral growth and photobiology. Overall, we found that over a wide range of concentrations, N reduced coral calcification 11%, on average, but enhanced metrics of coral photobiology, such as photosynthetic rate. In contrast, P enrichment increased average calcification rates by 9%, likely through direct impacts on the calcification process, but minimally impacted coral photobiology. There were few synergistic impacts of combined N and P on corals, as the nutrients impact corals via different pathways. Additionally, the response of corals to increasing nutrient availability was context dependent, varying with coral taxa and morphology, enrichment source, and nutrient identity. For example, naturally occurring enrichment from fish excretion increased coral growth, while human-mediated enrichment tended to decrease coral growth. Understanding the nuances of the relationship between nutrients and corals may allow for more targeted remediation strategies and suggest how other global change drivers such as overfishing and climate change will shape how nutrient availability impacts corals.}, } @article {pmid25163124, year = {2014}, author = {Rudgers, JA and Kivlin, SN and Whitney, KD and Price, MV and Waser, NM and Harte, J}, title = {Responses of high-altitude graminoids and soil fungi to 20 years of experimental warming.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {7}, pages = {1918-1928}, doi = {10.1890/13-1454.1}, pmid = {25163124}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {*Altitude ; Biodiversity ; Colorado ; Environmental Monitoring ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; Plants/*classification ; Population Dynamics ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {High-elevation ecosystems are expected to be particularly sensitive to climate warming because cold temperatures constrain biological processes. Deeper understanding of the consequences of climate change will come from studies that consider not only the direct effects of temperature on individual species, but also the indirect effects of altered species interactions. Here we show that 20 years of experimental warming has changed the species composition of graminoid (grass and sedge) assemblages in a subalpine meadow of the Rocky Mountains, USA, by increasing the frequency of sedges and reducing the frequency of grasses. Because sedges typically have weak interactions with mycorrhizal fungi relative to grasses, lowered abundances of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or other root-inhabiting fungi could underlie warming-induced shifts in plant species composition. However, warming increased root colonization by AM fungi for two grass species, possibly because AM fungi can enhance plant water uptake when soils are dried by experimental warming. Warming had no effect on AM fungal colonization of three other graminoids. Increased AM fungal colonization of the dominant shrub Artemisia tridentata provided further grounds for rejecting the hypothesis that reduced AM fungi caused the shift from grasses to sedges. Non-AM fungi (including dark septate endophytes) also showed general increases with warming. Our results demonstrate that lumping grasses and sedges when characterizing plant community responses can mask significant shifts in the responses of primary producers, and their symbiotic fungi, to climate change.}, } @article {pmid25162317, year = {2014}, author = {Schweiger, R and Baier, MC and Müller, C}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza-induced shifts in foliar metabolism and photosynthesis mirror the developmental stage of the symbiosis and are only partly driven by improved phosphate uptake.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {1403-1412}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-14-0126-R}, pmid = {25162317}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Fertilizers ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Metabolome ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism/pharmacology ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plantago/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Soil ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants, the plant delivers photoassimilates to the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), whereas the mycosymbiont contributes, in addition to other beneficial effects, to phosphate (PO4(3-)) uptake from the soil. Thereby, the additional fungal carbon (C) sink strength in roots and improved plant PO4(3-) nutrition may influence aboveground traits. We investigated how the foliar metabolome of Plantago major is affected along with the development of root symbiosis, whether the photosynthetic performance is affected by AM, and whether these effects are mediated by improved PO4(3-) nutrition. Therefore, we studied PO4(3-)-limited and PO4(3-)-supplemented controls in comparison with mycorrhizal plants at 20, 30, and 62 days postinoculation with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis. Foliar metabolome modifications were determined by the developmental stage of symbiosis, with changes becoming more pronounced over time. In a well-established stage of mature mutualism, about 60% of the metabolic changes and an increase in foliar CO2 assimilation were unrelated to the significantly increased foliar phosphorus (P) content. We propose a framework relating the time-dependent metabolic changes to the shifts in C costs and P benefits for the plant. Besides P-mediated effects, the strong fungal C sink activity may drive the changes in the leaf traits.}, } @article {pmid25160925, year = {2015}, author = {Azevedo-Martins, AC and Machado, AC and Klein, CC and Ciapina, L and Gonzaga, L and Vasconcelos, AT and Sagot, MF and DE Souza, W and Einicker-Lamas, M and Galina, A and Motta, MC}, title = {Mitochondrial respiration and genomic analysis provide insight into the influence of the symbiotic bacterium on host trypanosomatid oxygen consumption.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {142}, number = {2}, pages = {352-362}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182014001139}, pmid = {25160925}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Electron Transport/genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trypanosomatina/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Certain trypanosomatids co-evolve with an endosymbiotic bacterium in a mutualistic relationship that is characterized by intense metabolic exchanges. Symbionts were able to respire for up to 4 h after isolation from Angomonas deanei. FCCP (carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone) similarly increased respiration in wild-type and aposymbiotic protozoa, though a higher maximal O2 consumption capacity was observed in the symbiont-containing cells. Rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, did not affect A. deanei respiration, whereas TTFA (thenoyltrifluoroacetone), a complex II activity inhibitor, completely blocked respiration in both strains. Antimycin A and cyanide, inhibitors of complexes III and IV, respectively, abolished O2 consumption, but the aposymbiotic protozoa were more sensitive to both compounds. Oligomycin did not affect cell respiration, whereas carboxyatractyloside (CAT), an inhibitor of the ADP-ATP translocator, slightly reduced O2 consumption. In the A. deanei genome, sequences encoding most proteins of the respiratory chain are present. The symbiont genome lost part of the electron transport system (ETS), but complex I, a cytochrome d oxidase, and FoF1-ATP synthase remain. In conclusion, this work suggests that the symbiont influences the mitochondrial respiration of the host protozoan.}, } @article {pmid25156344, year = {2014}, author = {Lipuma, J and Cinege, G and Bodogai, M and Oláh, B and Kiers, A and Endre, G and Dupont, L and Dusha, I}, title = {A vapBC-type toxin-antitoxin module of Sinorhizobium meliloti influences symbiotic efficiency and nodule senescence of Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3714-3729}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12608}, pmid = {25156344}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Antitoxins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Operon ; Phenotype ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti carries a large number of toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules both on the chromosome and megaplasmids. One of them, the vapBC-5 module that belongs to the type II systems was characterized here. It encodes an active toxin vapC-5, and was shown to be controlled negatively by the complex of its own proteins. Different mutants of the vapBC-5 genes exhibited diverse effects on symbiotic efficiency during interaction with the host plant Medicago sativa. The absence of the entire vapBC-5 region had no influence on nodule formation and nitrogen fixation properties. The strain carrying an insertion in the antitoxin gene showed a reduced nitrogen fixation capacity resulting in a lower plant yield. In contrast, when the toxin gene was mutated, the strain developed more efficient symbiosis with the host plant. The nitrogen fixing root nodules had a delayed senescent phenotype and contained elevated level of plant-derived molecules characteristic of later steps of nodule development. The longer bacteroid viability and abundance of active nitrogen fixing zone resulted in increased production of plant material. These data indicate that modification of the toxin/antitoxin production may influence bacteroid metabolism and may have an impact on the adaptation to changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid25156206, year = {2014}, author = {Guefrachi, I and Nagymihaly, M and Pislariu, CI and Van de Velde, W and Ratet, P and Mars, M and Udvardi, MK and Kondorosi, E and Mergaert, P and Alunni, B}, title = {Extreme specificity of NCR gene expression in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {712}, pmid = {25156206}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Aging/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Peptides/*genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes form root nodules to house nitrogen fixing bacteria of the rhizobium family. The rhizobia are located intracellularly in the symbiotic nodule cells. In the legume Medicago truncatula these cells produce high amounts of Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptides which induce differentiation of the rhizobia into enlarged, polyploid and non-cultivable bacterial cells. NCRs are similar to innate immunity antimicrobial peptides. The NCR gene family is extremely large in Medicago with about 600 genes.

RESULTS: Here we used the Medicago truncatula Gene Expression Atlas (MtGEA) and other published microarray data to analyze the expression of 334 NCR genes in 267 different experimental conditions. We find that all but five of these genes are expressed in nodules but in no other plant organ or in response to any other biotic interaction or abiotic stress tested. During symbiosis, none of the genes are induced by Nod factors. The NCR genes are activated in successive waves during nodule organogenesis, correlated with bacterial infection of the nodule cells and with a specific spatial localization of their transcripts from the apical to the proximal nodule zones. However, NCR expression is not associated with nodule senescence. According to their Shannon entropy, a measure expressing tissue specificity of gene expression, the NCR genes are among the most specifically expressed genes in M. truncatula. Moreover, when activated in nodules, their expression level is among the highest of all genes.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data show that the NCR gene expression is subject to an extreme tight regulation and is only activated during nodule organogenesis in the polyploid symbiotic cells.}, } @article {pmid25156176, year = {2014}, author = {Lema, KA and Bourne, DG and Willis, BL}, title = {Onset and establishment of diazotrophs and other bacterial associates in the early life history stages of the coral Acropora millepora.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {4682-4695}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12899}, pmid = {25156176}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Life Cycle Stages ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Early establishment of coral-microbial symbioses is fundamental to the fitness of corals, but comparatively little is known about the onset and succession of bacterial communities in their early life history stages. In this study, bacterial associates of the coral Acropora millepora were characterized throughout the first year of life, from larvae and 1-week-old juveniles reared in laboratory conditions in the absence of the dinoflagellate endosymbiont Symbiodinium to field-outplanted juveniles with established Symbiodinium symbioses, and sampled at 2 weeks and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Using an amplicon pyrosequencing approach, the diversity of both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and of bacterial communities overall was assessed through analysis of nifH and 16S rRNA genes, respectively. The consistent presence of sequences affiliated with diazotrophs of the order Rhizobiales (23-58% of retrieved nifH sequences; 2-12% of 16S rRNA sequences), across all samples from larvae to 12-month-old coral juveniles, highlights the likely functional importance of this nitrogen-fixing order to the coral holobiont. Dominance of Roseobacter-affiliated sequences (>55% of retrieved 16S rRNA sequences) in larvae and 1-week-old juveniles, and the consistent presence of sequences related to Oceanospirillales and Altermonadales throughout all early life history stages, signifies their potential importance as coral associates. Increased diversity of bacterial communities once juveniles were transferred to the field, particularly of Cyanobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria, demonstrates horizontal (environmental) uptake of coral-associated bacterial communities. Although overall bacterial communities were dynamic, bacteria with likely important functional roles remain stable throughout early life stages of Acropora millepora.}, } @article {pmid25155714, year = {2014}, author = {Santos, SR}, title = {Expanding the population genetic perspective of cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {4185-4187}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12865}, pmid = {25155714}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Genetics, Population ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The modern synthesis was a seminal period in the biological sciences, establishing many of the core principles of evolutionary biology that we know today. Significant catalysts were the contributions of R.A. Fisher, J.B.S. Haldane and Sewall Wright (and others) developing the theoretical underpinning of population genetics, thus demonstrating adaptive evolution resulted from the interplay of forces such as natural selection and mutation within groups of individuals occupying the same space and time (i.e. a population). Given its importance, it is surprising that detailed population genetic data remain lacking for numerous organisms vital to many ecosystems. For example, the coral reef ecosystem is well recognized for its high biodiversity and productivity, numerous ecological services and significant economic and societal values (Moberg & Folke 1999;Cinner 2014). Many coral reef invertebrates form symbiotic relationships with single-celled dinoflagellates within the genus Symbiodinium Freudenthal (Taylor 1974), with hosts providing these (typically) intracellular symbionts with by-products of metabolism and in turn receiving photosynthetically fixed carbon capable of meeting hosts' respiratory demands (Falkowski et al. 1984; Muscatine et al. 1984). Unfortunately, the health and integrity of the coral reef ecosystem has been significantly and negatively impacted by onslaughts like anthropogenic eutrophication and disease in addition to global climate change, with increased incidences of 'bleaching' events (characterized as the loss of photosynthetic pigments from the algal cell or massive reduction of Symbiodinium density from hosts' tissue) and host mortality leading to staggering declines in geographic coverage (Bruno & Selig 2007) that have raised questions on the viability of this ecosystem as we know it (Bellwood et al. 2004; Parmesan 2006). One avenue towards anticipating the future of the coral reef ecosystem is by developing a broader and deeper understanding of the current genotypic diversity encompassed within and between populations of their keystone species, the scleractinian corals and dinoflagellate symbionts, as they potentially possess functional variation (either singularly or in combination) that may come under selection due to the ongoing and rapid environmental changes they are experiencing. However, such studies, especially for members of the genus Symbiodinium, are sparse. In this issue, Baums et al. (2014) provide a significant contribution by documenting the range-wide population genetics of Symbiodinium 'fitti' (Fig.1) in the context of complementary data from its host, the endangered Caribbean elkhorn coral Acropora palmata (Fig. 2). Notable results of this study include a single S. 'fitti' genotype typically dominates an individual A. palmata colony both spatially and temporally, gene flow among coral host populations is a magnitude higher to that of its symbiont populations, and the partners possess disparate patterns of genetic differentiation across the Greater Caribbean. The implications of such findings are discussed herein.}, } @article {pmid25155616, year = {2015}, author = {Garg, N and Pandey, R}, title = {Effectiveness of native and exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on nutrient uptake and ion homeostasis in salt-stressed Cajanus cajan L. (Millsp.) genotypes.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {165-180}, pmid = {25155616}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cajanus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Calcium/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Ions/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Potassium/metabolism ; Salinity ; Sodium Chloride/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Soil salinity is an increasing problem worldwide, restricting plant growth and production. Research findings show that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have the potential to reduce negative effects of salinity. However, plant growth responses to AM fungi vary as a result of genetic variation in mycorrhizal colonization and plant growth responsiveness. Thus, profitable use of AM requires selection of a suitable combination of host plant and fungal partner. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to compare effectiveness of a native AM fungal inoculum sourced from saline soil and two single exotic isolates, Funneliformis mossseae and Rhizophagus irregularis (single or dual mix), on Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. genotypes (Paras and Pusa 2002) under salt stress (0-100 mM NaCl). While salinity reduced plant biomass and disturbed ionic status in both genotypes, Pusa 2002 was more salt tolerant and ensured higher AM fungal colonization, plant biomass and nutrient content with favourable ion status under salinity. Although all AM fungi reduced negative effects of salt stress, R. irregularis (alone or in combination with F. mosseae) displayed highest efficiency under salinity, resulting in highest biomass, yield, nutrient uptake and improved membrane stability with favourable K(+)/Na(+) and Ca(2+)/Na(+) ratios in the host plant. Higher effectiveness of R. irregularis correlated with higher root colonization, indicating that the symbiosis formed by R. irregularis had more stable viability and efficiency under salt stress. These findings enhance understanding of the functional diversity of AM fungi in ameliorating plant salt stress tolerance and suggest the potential use of R. irregularis for increasing Cajanus cajan productivity in saline soils.}, } @article {pmid25154732, year = {2014}, author = {Sørensen, KK and Simonsen, JB and Maolanon, NN and Stougaard, J and Jensen, KJ}, title = {Chemically synthesized 58-mer LysM domain binds lipochitin oligosaccharide.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {15}, number = {14}, pages = {2097-2105}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201402125}, pmid = {25154732}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology/physiology ; Microarray Analysis ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recognition of carbohydrates by proteins is a ubiquitous biochemical process. In legume-rhizobium symbiosis, lipochitin oligosaccharides, also referred to as nodulation (nod) factors, function as primary rhizobial signal molecules to trigger root nodule development. Perception of these signal molecules is receptor mediated, and nod factor receptor 5 (NFR5) from the model legume Lotus japonicus is predicted to contain three LysM domain binding sites. Here we studied the interactions between nod factor and each of the three NFR5 LysM domains, which were chemically synthesized. LysM domain variants (up to 58 amino acids) designed to optimize solubility were chemically assembled by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) with microwave heating. Their interaction with nod factors and chitin oligosaccharides was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. LysM2 showed a change in folding upon nod factor binding, thus providing direct evidence that the LysM domain of NFR5 recognizes lipochitin oligosaccharides. These results clearly show that the L. japonicus LysM2 domain binds to the nod factor from Mesorhizobium loti, thereby causing a conformational change in the LysM2 domain. The preferential affinity for nod factors over chitin oligosaccharides was demonstrated by a newly developed glycan microarray. Besides the biological implications, our approach shows that carbohydrate binding to a small protein domain can be detected by CD spectroscopy.}, } @article {pmid25154643, year = {2014}, author = {Bender, SF and Valadares, RBDS and Taudiere, A}, title = {Mycorrhizas: dynamic and complex networks of power and influence.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {15-18}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12991}, pmid = {25154643}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Food Chain ; *Food Supply ; Genome, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid25153989, year = {2014}, author = {Fornasero, LV and Del Papa, MF and López, JL and Albicoro, FJ and Zabala, JM and Toniutti, MA and Pensiero, JF and Lagares, A}, title = {Phenotypic, molecular and symbiotic characterization of the rhizobial symbionts of Desmanthus paspalaceus (Lindm.) Burkart that grow in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e104636}, pmid = {25153989}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Argentina ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Desmanthus paspalaceus (Lindm.) Burkart belongs to the D. virgatus complex, subfamily Mimosoidae. The known potential as livestock fodder of several of these legumes prompted us to undertake a phenotypic, molecular, and symbiotic characterization of the D. paspalaceus symbionts in the Santa Fe province, Argentina. The rhizobia collected--containing isolates with different abiotic-stress tolerances--showed a remarkable genetic diversity by PCR fingerprinting, with 11 different amplification profiles present among 20 isolates. In selected isolates 16S-rDNA sequencing detected mesorhizobia (60%) and rhizobia (40%) within the collection, in contrast to the genus of the original inoculant strain CB3126--previously isolated from Leucaena leucocephala--that we typified here through its 16S rDNA as Sinorhizobium terangae. The results revealed the establishment by diverse bacterial genera--rhizobia, sinorhizobia, and mesorhizobia--of full N2-fixing symbiotic associations with D. paspalaceus. This diversity was paralleled by the presence of at least two different nodC allelic variants. The identical nodC alleles of the Mesorhizobia sp. 10.L.4.2 and 10.L.5.3 notably failed to group within any of the currently described rhizo-/brady-/azorhizobial nodC clades. Interestingly, the nodC from S. terangae CB3126 clustered close to homologs from common bean nodulating rhizobia, but not with the nodC from S. terangae WSM1721 that nodulates Acacia. No previous data were available on nod-gene phylogeny for Desmanthus symbionts. A field assay indicated that inoculation of D. paspalaceus with the local Rhizobium sp. 10L.11.4 produced higher aerial-plant dry weights compared to S. teranga CB3126-inoculated plants. Neither the mesorhizobia 10.L.4.2 or 10.L.5.3 nor the rhizobium 10L.11.4 induced root nodules in L. leucocephala or P. vulgaris. The results show that some of the local isolates have remarkable tolerances to several abiotic stresses including acidity, salt, and temperature; while exhibiting prominent N2 fixation; thus indicating suitability as candidates for inoculation of D. paspalaceus.}, } @article {pmid25152723, year = {2014}, author = {Vandierendonck, A}, title = {Symbiosis of executive and selective attention in working memory.}, journal = {Frontiers in human neuroscience}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {588}, pmid = {25152723}, issn = {1662-5161}, abstract = {The notion of working memory (WM) was introduced to account for the usage of short-term memory resources by other cognitive tasks such as reasoning, mental arithmetic, language comprehension, and many others. This collaboration between memory and other cognitive tasks can only be achieved by a dedicated WM system that controls task coordination. To that end, WM models include executive control. Nevertheless, other attention control systems may be involved in coordination of memory and cognitive tasks calling on memory resources. The present paper briefly reviews the evidence concerning the role of selective attention in WM activities. A model is proposed in which selective attention control is directly linked to the executive control part of the WM system. The model assumes that apart from storage of declarative information, the system also includes an executive WM module that represents the current task set. Control processes are automatically triggered when particular conditions in these modules are met. As each task set represents the parameter settings and the actions needed to achieve the task goal, it will depend on the specific settings and actions whether selective attention control will have to be shared among the active tasks. Only when such sharing is required, task performance will be affected by the capacity limits of the control system involved.}, } @article {pmid25149086, year = {2014}, author = {Pohjanen, J and Koskimäki, JJ and Sutela, S and Ardanov, P and Suorsa, M and Niemi, K and Sarjala, T and Häggman, H and Pirttilä, AM}, title = {Interaction with ectomycorrhizal fungi and endophytic Methylobacterium affects nutrient uptake and growth of pine seedlings in vitro.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {34}, number = {9}, pages = {993-1005}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpu062}, pmid = {25149086}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Methylobacterium/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Pinus sylvestris/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tissues of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) contain several endophytic microorganisms of which Methylobacterium extorquens DSM13060 is a dominant species throughout the year. Similar to other endophytic bacteria, M. extorquens is able to colonize host plant tissues without causing any symptoms of disease. In addition to endophytic bacteria, plants associate simultaneously with a diverse set of microorganisms. Furthermore, plant-colonizing microorganisms interact with each other in a species- or strain-specific manner. Several studies on beneficial microorganisms interacting with plants have been carried out, but few deal with interactions between different symbiotic organisms and specifically, how these interactions affect the growth and development of the host plant. Our aim was to study how the pine endophyte M. extorquens DSM13060 affects pine seedlings and how the co-inoculation with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi [Suillus variegatus (SV) or Pisolithus tinctorius (PT)] alters the response of Scots pine. We determined the growth, polyamine and nutrient contents of inoculated and non-inoculated Scots pine seedlings in vitro. Our results show that M. extorquens is able to improve the growth of seedlings at the same level as the ECM fungi SV and PT do. The effect of co-inoculation using different symbiotic organisms was seen in terms of changes in growth and nutrient uptake. Inoculation using M. extorquens together with ECM fungi improved the growth of the host plant even more than single ECM inoculation. Symbiotic organisms also had a strong effect on the potassium content of the seedling. The results indicate that interaction between endophyte and ECM fungus is species dependent, leading to increased or decreased nutrient content and growth of pine seedlings.}, } @article {pmid25148481, year = {2015}, author = {Gruber-Dorninger, C and Pester, M and Kitzinger, K and Savio, DF and Loy, A and Rattei, T and Wagner, M and Daims, H}, title = {Functionally relevant diversity of closely related Nitrospira in activated sludge.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {643-655}, pmid = {25148481}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {294343/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; P 25231/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Nitrification ; Nitrite Reductases/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sewage/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrospira are chemolithoautotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria that catalyze the second step of nitrification in most oxic habitats and are important for excess nitrogen removal from sewage in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To date, little is known about their diversity and ecological niche partitioning within complex communities. In this study, the fine-scale community structure and function of Nitrospira was analyzed in two full-scale WWTPs as model ecosystems. In Nitrospira-specific 16S rRNA clone libraries retrieved from each plant, closely related phylogenetic clusters (16S rRNA identities between clusters ranged from 95.8% to 99.6%) within Nitrospira lineages I and II were found. Newly designed probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allowed the specific detection of several of these clusters, whose coexistence in the WWTPs was shown for prolonged periods of several years. In situ ecophysiological analyses based on FISH, relative abundance and spatial arrangement quantification, as well as microautoradiography revealed functional differences of these Nitrospira clusters regarding the preferred nitrite concentration, the utilization of formate as substrate and the spatial coaggregation with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria as symbiotic partners. Amplicon pyrosequencing of the nxrB gene, which encodes subunit beta of nitrite oxidoreductase of Nitrospira, revealed in one of the WWTPs as many as 121 species-level nxrB operational taxonomic units with highly uneven relative abundances in the amplicon library. These results show a previously unrecognized high diversity of Nitrospira in engineered systems, which is at least partially linked to niche differentiation and may have important implications for process stability.}, } @article {pmid25148082, year = {2014}, author = {Leonhardt, SD and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Microbial communities of three sympatric Australian stingless bee species.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e105718}, pmid = {25148082}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Bees/*microbiology ; *Lactobacillus/classification/physiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbionts of insects have received increasing attention due to their prominent role in nutrient acquisition and defense. In social bees, symbiotic bacteria can maintain colony homeostasis and fitness, and the loss or alteration of the bacterial community may be associated with the ongoing bee decline observed worldwide. However, analyses of microbiota associated with bees have been largely confined to the social honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus spec.), revealing--among other taxa--host-specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB, genus Lactobacillus) that are not found in solitary bees. Here, we characterized the microbiota of three Australian stingless bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) of two phylogenetically distant genera (Tetragonula and Austroplebeia). Besides common plant bacteria, we find LAB in all three species, showing that LAB are shared by honeybees, bumblebees and stingless bees across geographical regions. However, while LAB of the honeybee-associated Firm4-5 clusters were present in Tetragonula, they were lacking in Austroplebeia. Instead, we found a novel clade of likely host-specific LAB in all three Australian stingless bee species which forms a sister clade to a large cluster of Halictidae-associated lactobacilli. Our findings indicate both a phylogenetic and geographical signal of host-specific LAB in stingless bees and highlight stingless bees as an interesting group to investigate the evolutionary history of the bee-LAB association.}, } @article {pmid25146649, year = {2014}, author = {Grant, JR and Katz, LA}, title = {Phylogenomic study indicates widespread lateral gene transfer in Entamoeba and suggests a past intimate relationship with parabasalids.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {2350-2360}, pmid = {25146649}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R15 GM097722/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R15GM097722-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; Entamoeba/*classification/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome ; Parabasalidea/*classification/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Lateral gene transfer (LGT) has impacted the evolutionary history of eukaryotes, though to a lesser extent than in bacteria and archaea. Detecting LGT and distinguishing it from single gene tree artifacts is difficult, particularly when considering very ancient events (i.e., over hundreds of millions of years). Here, we use two independent lines of evidence--a taxon-rich phylogenetic approach and an assessment of the patterns of gene presence/absence--to evaluate the extent of LGT in the parasitic amoebozoan genus Entamoeba. Previous work has suggested that a number of genes in the genome of Entamoeba spp. were acquired by LGT. Our approach, using an automated phylogenomic pipeline to build taxon-rich gene trees, suggests that LGT is more extensive than previously thought. Our analyses reveal that genes have frequently entered the Entamoeba genome via nonvertical events, including at least 116 genes acquired directly from bacteria or archaea, plus an additional 22 genes in which Entamoeba plus one other eukaryote are nested among bacteria and/or archaea. These genes may make good candidates for novel therapeutics, as drugs targeting these genes are less likely to impact the human host. Although we recognize the challenges of inferring intradomain transfers given systematic errors in gene trees, we find 109 genes supporting LGT from a eukaryote to Entamoeba spp., and 178 genes unique to Entamoeba spp. and one other eukaryotic taxon (i.e., presence/absence data). Inspection of these intradomain LGTs provide evidence of a common sister relationship between genes of Entamoeba (Amoebozoa) and parabasalids (Excavata). We speculate that this indicates a past close relationship (e.g., symbiosis) between ancestors of these extant lineages.}, } @article {pmid25146136, year = {2014}, author = {Davis, J and Hill, RT}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Hawaiian Sea Slug Symbiont Vibrio sp. Strain ER1A.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {25146136}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio are prevalent in the marine environment and are known for forming symbiotic relationships with hosts. Vibrio sp. strain ER1A is a dominant symbiont of the Hawaiian sea slug, Elysia rufescens. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Vibrio sp. ER1A.}, } @article {pmid25146134, year = {2014}, author = {Foray, V and Grigorescu, AS and Sabri, A and Haubruge, E and Lognay, G and Francis, F and Fauconnier, ML and Hance, T and Thonart, P}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence of Serratia symbiotica Strain CWBI-2.3T, a Free-Living Symbiont of the Black Bean Aphid Aphis fabae.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {25146134}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The gammaproteobacterium Serratia symbiotica is one of the major secondary symbionts found in aphids. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of S. symbiotica strain CWBI-2.3(T), previously isolated from the black bean aphid Aphis fabae. The 3.58-Mb genome sequence might provide new insights to understand the evolution of insect-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25142903, year = {2014}, author = {Chagnon, PL and Bainard, LD}, title = {Is root DNA a reliable proxy to assess arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure?.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {9}, pages = {619-624}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2014-0235}, pmid = {25142903}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Biomass ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread plant symbionts that extensively colonize both soil and roots. Given their influence on ecosystem processes, such as plant growth, soil carbon storage, and nutrient cycling, there is great interest in understanding the drivers of their community structure. AM fungal communities are increasingly characterized by selectively amplifying their DNA from plant roots, thus assuming that AM fungal community structure within roots provides a reliable portrait of the total (i.e., soil + roots) community. Through numerical simulations, we test this assumption using published data. We show that community structure and diversity is well preserved when analyzing only a subset of the community biomass (i.e., roots or soil), provided that the community shows a typical skewed abundance distribution, with few very dominant species and a high prevalence of rare species. Given that this community structure has been shown to be common in natural AM fungal communities, the present work would suggest that characterizing AM fungal communities using only roots or soil can provide a reliable portrait of the overall community. However, we show through additional analyses that the proportion of sample biomass used for molecular methods must be over a minimal threshold to properly characterize the community. Using published molecular data sets, we validate those results, which suggest that typical molecular protocols using low amounts of biomass may strongly influence AM fungal community characterization. Finally, we also discuss other assumptions implied by the molecular analysis of AM fungal communities, and point out urgent knowledge gaps.}, } @article {pmid25142549, year = {2014}, author = {Wentrup, C and Wendeberg, A and Schimak, M and Borowski, C and Dubilier, N}, title = {Forever competent: deep-sea bivalves are colonized by their chemosynthetic symbionts throughout their lifetime.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3699-3713}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12597}, pmid = {25142549}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Bivalvia/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Gills/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bivalves at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps host chemosynthetic bacteria intracellularly in gill cells. In bivalves, the gills grow continuously throughout their lifetime by forming new filaments. We examined how newly developed gill tissues are colonized in bivalves with horizontal and vertical symbiont transmission (Bathymodiolus mussels versus a vesicoymid clam) using fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy. Symbiont colonization was similar in mussels and clams and was independent of the transmission modes. Symbionts were absent in the growth zones of the gills, indicating that symbionts colonize newly formed gill filaments de novo after they are formed and that gill colonization is a continuous process throughout the host's lifetime. Symbiont abundance and distribution suggested that colonization is shaped by the developmental stage of host cells. Self-infection, in which new gill cells are colonized by symbionts from ontogenetically older gill tissues, may also play a role. In mussels, symbiont infection led to changes in gill cell structure similar to those described from other epithelial cells infected by intracellular pathogens, such as the loss of microvilli. A better understanding of the factors that affect symbiont colonization of bivalve gills could provide new insights into interactions between intracellular bacteria and epithelial tissues.}, } @article {pmid25136339, year = {2014}, author = {Cunning, R and Baker, AC}, title = {Not just who, but how many: the importance of partner abundance in reef coral symbioses.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {400}, pmid = {25136339}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The performance and function of reef corals depends on the genetic identity of their symbiotic algal partners, with some symbionts providing greater benefits (e.g., photosynthate, thermotolerance) than others. However, these interaction outcomes may also depend on partner abundance, with differences in the total number of symbionts changing the net benefit to the coral host, depending on the particular environmental conditions. We suggest that symbiont abundance is a fundamental aspect of the dynamic interface between reef corals and the abiotic environment that ultimately determines the benefits, costs, and functional responses of these symbioses. This density-dependent framework suggests that corals may regulate the size of their symbiont pool to match microhabitat-specific optima, which may contribute to the high spatiotemporal variability in symbiont abundance observed within and among colonies and reefs. Differences in symbiont standing stock may subsequently explain variation in energetics, growth, reproduction, and stress susceptibility, and may mediate the impacts of environmental change on these outcomes. However, the importance of symbiont abundance has received relatively little recognition, possibly because commonly-used metrics based on surface area (e.g., symbiont cells cm(-2)) may be only weakly linked to biological phenomena and are difficult to compare across studies. We suggest that normalizing symbionts to biological host parameters, such as units of protein or numbers of host cells, will more clearly elucidate the functional role of symbiont abundance in reef coral symbioses. In this article, we generate testable hypotheses regarding the importance of symbiont abundance by first discussing different metrics and their potential links to symbiosis performance and breakdown, and then describing how natural variability and dynamics of symbiont communities may help explain ecological patterns on coral reefs and predict responses to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid25135943, year = {2014}, author = {Liu, Y and He, G and Xu, H and Han, X and Jones, G and Rossiter, SJ and Zhang, S}, title = {Adaptive functional diversification of lysozyme in insectivorous bats.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {11}, pages = {2829-2835}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msu240}, pmid = {25135943}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Chickens/metabolism ; Chiroptera/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Chitin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Chitinases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Enzyme Assays ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Duplication ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Variation ; Insecta ; Isoenzymes/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Muramidase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Tongue/enzymology ; }, abstract = {The role of gene duplication in generating new genes and novel functions is well recognized and is exemplified by the digestion-related protein lysozyme. In ruminants, duplicated chicken-type lysozymes facilitate the degradation of symbiotic bacteria in the foregut. Chicken-type lysozyme has also been reported to show chitinase-like activity, yet no study has examined the molecular evolution of lysozymes in species that specialize on eating insects. Insectivorous bats number over 900 species, and lysozyme expression in the mouths of some of these species is associated with the ingestion of insect cuticle, suggesting a chitinase role. Here, we show that chicken-type lysozyme has undergone multiple duplication events in a major family of insect-eating bats (Vespertilionidae) and that new duplicates have undergone molecular adaptation. Examination of duplicates from two insectivorous bats-Pipistrellus abramus and Scotophilus kuhlii-indicated that the new copy was highly expressed in the tongue, whereas the other one was less tissue-specific. Functional assays applied to pipistrelle lysozymes confirmed that, of the two copies, the tongue duplicate was more efficient at breaking down glycol chitin, a chitin derivative. These results suggest that the evolution of lysozymes in vespertilionid bats has likely been driven in part by natural selection for insectivory.}, } @article {pmid25133890, year = {2014}, author = {López, Z and Cárdenas, L and González, MT}, title = {Metazoan symbionts of the yellow clam, Mesodesma donacium (Bivalvia), in southern Chile: geographical variations.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {100}, number = {6}, pages = {797-804}, doi = {10.1645/13-301.1}, pmid = {25133890}, issn = {1937-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*parasitology/physiology ; Chile ; Copepoda/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trematoda/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Turbellaria/classification/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mesodesma donacium is a dominant species on sandy beaches along the Chilean coast. However, the only previous parasite records for this species were obtained for the northern Chilean coast (20° S-33° S), which dealt with cestodes, polychaetes, and copepods. In this study, the symbiotic fauna of M. donacium in its southern distributional range is reported, and the geographical variations in the occurrence of this fauna are evaluated. A total of 565 individuals of M. donacium were captured by local fishermen from 5 localities: Mehuín (MEH) (39° 26' S), Carelmapu (CAR) (41° 44' S), Ancud (ANC) (41° 53' S), Cucao (CUC) (42° 35' S), and Quellón (QUE) (43° 24' S), covering a total distance of 450 km. To collect metazoan symbionts, the valves, mantle, gills, gonad, and digestive gland of each specimen of yellow clam were examined, and symbiont identifications were made via morphological and genetic analyses. The prevalence and mean intensity of infestation were calculated for each symbiotic species. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the differences in symbiotic load between localities. Seven metazoan symbiotic species were recorded. The most abundant species were Paranthessius mesodesmatis, Monorchiidae gen. sp., and Paravortex sp. The copepod P. mesodesmatis and metacercaria Monorchiidae gen. sp. showed a high prevalence in all localities, but their intensity of infection varied among localities. The turbellarian Paravortex sp. was most frequently associated with ANC and CUC. The digenean Sanguinicolidae gen. sp. was recorded only at CAR, and the polychaete Spionidae gen. sp. was recorded only at MEH. In its southern distributional range, M. donacium was characterized by an absence of cestodes. This absence can be explained by the absence of the definitive host. The local environmental conditions in the southern range of the host could explain the differences in symbiotic composition among localities.}, } @article {pmid25133584, year = {2014}, author = {Nunoura, T and Takaki, Y and Kazama, H and Kakuta, J and Shimamura, S and Makita, H and Hirai, M and Miyazaki, M and Takai, K}, title = {Physiological and genomic features of a novel sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium belonging to a previously uncultivated symbiotic lineage isolated from a hydrothermal vent.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e104959}, pmid = {25133584}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; Chemotaxis ; Energy Metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; Phylogeny ; Ribosome Subunits, Small, Bacterial/genetics ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Strain Hiromi 1, a sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium was isolated from a hydrothermal vent chimney in the Okinawa Trough and represents a novel genus that may include a phylogenetic group found as endosymbionts of deep-sea gastropods. The SSU rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Hiromi 1 and the gastropod endosymbionts was approximately 97%. The strain was shown to grow both chemolithoautotrophically and chemolithoheterotrophically with an energy metabolism of sulfur oxidation and O2 or nitrate reduction. Under chemolithoheterotrophic growth conditions, the strain utilized organic acids and proteinaceous compounds as the carbon and/or nitrogen sources but not the energy source. Various sugars did not support growth as a sole carbon source. The observation of chemolithoheterotrophy in this strain is in line with metagenomic analyses of endosymbionts suggesting the occurrence of chemolithoheterotrophy in gammaproteobacterial symbionts. Chemolithoheterotrophy and the presence of homologous genes for virulence- and quorum sensing-related functions suggest that the sulfur-oxidizing chomolithotrophic microbes seek animal bodies and microbial biofilm formation to obtain supplemental organic carbons in hydrothermal ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25133394, year = {2014}, author = {Tett, AJ and Karunakaran, R and Poole, PS}, title = {Characterisation of SalRAB a salicylic acid inducible positively regulated efflux system of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae 3841.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e103647}, pmid = {25133394}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {BBS/E/J/000C0642/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/F004753/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Operon ; Peas/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Salicylic acid is an important signalling molecule in plant-microbe defence and symbiosis. We analysed the transcriptional responses of the nitrogen fixing plant symbiont, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae 3841 to salicylic acid. Two MFS-type multicomponent efflux systems were induced in response to salicylic acid, rmrAB and the hitherto undescribed system salRAB. Based on sequence similarity salA and salB encode a membrane fusion and inner membrane protein respectively. salAB are positively regulated by the LysR regulator SalR. Disruption of salA significantly increased the sensitivity of the mutant to salicylic acid, while disruption of rmrA did not. A salA/rmrA double mutation did not have increased sensitivity relative to the salA mutant. Pea plants nodulated by salA or rmrA strains did not have altered nodule number or nitrogen fixation rates, consistent with weak expression of salA in the rhizosphere and in nodule bacteria. However, BLAST analysis revealed seventeen putative efflux systems in Rlv3841 and several of these were highly differentially expressed during rhizosphere colonisation, host infection and bacteroid differentiation. This suggests they have an integral role in symbiosis with host plants.}, } @article {pmid25132534, year = {2014}, author = {Granquist, EG and Kristiansson, M and Lindgren, PE and Matussek, A and Nødtvedt, A and Okstad, W and Stuen, S}, title = {Evaluation of microbial communities and symbionts in Ixodes ricinus and ungulate hosts (Cervus elaphus and Ovis aries) from shared habitats on the west coast of Norway.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {780-784}, doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.05.005}, pmid = {25132534}, issn = {1877-9603}, mesh = {Anaplasma phagocytophilum/physiology ; Animals ; Arachnid Vectors/*microbiology ; Borrelia/genetics/isolation & purification ; Coinfection ; Deer ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Humans ; Ixodes/*microbiology ; Male ; Norway/epidemiology ; Nymph ; Rickettsia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Tick-Borne Diseases/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Wolbachia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Recent reports suggest a potential for transmission of a newly discovered rickettsial endosymbiont, Midichloria mitochondrii, to animals and humans from feeding ticks (Ixodes ricinus). Using molecular methods; I. ricinus, sheep and red deer in Anaplasma phagocytophilum-endemic areas of Norway, were examined to see if they were infected by M. mitochondrii or related organisms like Wolbachia pipientis and Rickettsia spp. A total of 532 ticks collected from pastures, 76 blood samples from grazing lambs and 12 organ samples from hunted deer, were analyzed during the study. All larval pools, 60.4% pooled nymphs and 35.1% of adult ticks were positive for M. mitochondrii. There was a significant difference between geographical areas in the prevalence of M. mitochondrii infection among nymphs. A total of 2.2% pooled nymphs and 5.3% adult ticks were positive for A. phagocytophilum. Eleven percent of pooled nymphs were positive for Borrelia spp, 2.2% of pooled nymphs and 3.5% of adult ticks were positive for Rickettsia spp. and none of the ticks were positive for W. pipientis. The prevalence of A. phagocytophilum infection was 54% and 75% in grazing lambs and deer, respectively. No animals were positive for Borrelia spp., M. mitochondrii, Rickettsia spp. or W. pipientis. The reported findings suggest that M. mitochondrii is widespread in tick populations at different geographical sites, and may appear in co-infection with A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in ticks.}, } @article {pmid25132489, year = {2014}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Tolosano, M and Volpe, V and Kopriva, S and Bonfante, P}, title = {Identification and functional characterization of a sulfate transporter induced by both sulfur starvation and mycorrhiza formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {3}, pages = {609-619}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12949}, pmid = {25132489}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sulfur/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) are one of the most widespread symbioses in the world. They allow plants to receive mineral nutrients from the symbiotic fungus which in turn gets back up to 20% of plant carbon and completes its life cycle. Especially in low-nutrient conditions, AM fungi are capable of significantly improving plant phosphate and nitrogen acquisition, but fewer data are available about sulfur (S) nutrition. We focused on S metabolism in Lotus japonicus upon mycorrhizal colonization under sulfur starvation or repletion. We investigated both tissue sulfate concentrations and S-related gene expression, at cell-type or whole-organ level. Gene expression and sulfate tissue concentration showed that Rhizophagus irregularis colonization can improve plant S nutritional status under S starvation. A group 1 sulfate transporter, LjSultr1;2, induced by both S starvation and mycorrhiza formation, was identified. Its transcript was localized in arbuscule-containing cells, which was confirmed with a promoter-GUS assay, and its function was verified through phenotyping of TILLING mutants in nonmycorrhizal seedlings. LjSultr1;2 thus appears to encode a key protein involved in plant sulfate uptake. In contrast to phosphate transporters, a single gene, LjSultr1;2, seems to mediate both direct and symbiotic pathways of S uptake in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid25131400, year = {2014}, author = {Hodge, A}, title = {Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic material substrates.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {89}, number = {}, pages = {47-99}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-800259-9.00002-0}, pmid = {25131400}, issn = {0065-2164}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fungi/growth & development/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Organic Chemicals/*metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations are widespread and form between ca. two-thirds of all land plants and fungi in the phylum Glomeromycota. The association is a mutualistic symbiosis with the fungi enhancing nutrient capture for the plant while obtaining carbon in return. Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) lack any substantial saprophytic capability they do preferentially associate with various organic substrates and respond by hyphal proliferation, indicating the fungus derives a benefit from the organic substrate. AMF may also enhance decomposition of the organic material. The benefit to the host plant of this hyphal proliferation is not always apparent, particularly regarding nitrogen (N) transfer, and there may be circumstances under which both symbionts compete for the N released given both have a large demand for N. The results of various studies examining AMF responses to organic substrates and the interactions with other members of the soil community will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid25130294, year = {2015}, author = {Parrot, D and Peresse, T and Hitti, E and Carrie, D and Grube, M and Tomasi, S}, title = {Qualitative and spatial metabolite profiling of lichens by a LC-MS approach combined with optimised extraction.}, journal = {Phytochemical analysis : PCA}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {23-33}, doi = {10.1002/pca.2532}, pmid = {25130294}, issn = {1099-1565}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Lichens/chemistry/*metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts/*chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Lichens are self-sustaining partnerships comprising fungi as shape-forming partners for their enclosed symbiotic algae. They produce a tremendous diversity of metabolites (1050 metabolites described so far).

OBJECTIVES: A comparison of metabolic profiles in nine lichen species belonging to three genera (Lichina, Collema and Roccella) by using an optimised extraction protocol, determination of the fragmentation pathway and the in situ localisation for major compounds in Roccella species.

METHODS: Chemical analysis was performed using a complementary study combining a Taguchi experimental design with qualitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry techniques.

RESULTS: Optimal conditions to obtain the best total extraction yield were determined as follows: mortar grinding to a fine powder, two successive extractions, solid:liquid ratio (2:60) and 700 rpm stirring. Qualitative analysis of the metabolite profiling of these nine species extracted with the optimised method was corroborated using MS and MS/MS approaches. Nine main compounds were identified: 1 β-orcinol, 2 orsellinic acid, 3 putative choline sulphate, 4 roccellic acid, 5 montagnetol, 6 lecanoric acid, 7 erythrin, 8 lepraric acid and 9 acetylportentol, and several other compounds were reported. Identification was performed using the m/z ratio, fragmentation pathway and/or after isolation by NMR analysis. The variation of the metabolite profile in differently organised parts of two Roccella species suggests a specific role of major compounds in developmental stages of this symbiotic association.

CONCLUSION: Metabolic profiles represent specific chemical species and depend on the extraction conditions, the kind of the photobiont partner and the in situ localisation of major compounds.}, } @article {pmid25128982, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, KM and Nasir, A and Hwang, K and Caetano-Anollés, G}, title = {A tree of cellular life inferred from a genomic census of molecular functions.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {79}, number = {5-6}, pages = {240-262}, pmid = {25128982}, issn = {1432-1432}, mesh = {Archaea/*chemistry/classification/cytology ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*chemistry/classification/metabolism ; Gene Ontology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Origin of Life ; Phylogeny ; Prokaryotic Cells/*chemistry/classification/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics/metabolism ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Phylogenomics aims to describe evolutionary relatedness between organisms by analyzing genomic data. The common practice is to produce phylogenomic trees from molecular information in the sequence, order, and content of genes in genomes. These phylogenies describe the evolution of life and become valuable tools for taxonomy. The recent availability of structural and functional data for hundreds of genomes now offers the opportunity to study evolution using more deep, conserved, and reliable sets of molecular features. Here, we reconstruct trees of life from the functions of proteins. We start by inferring rooted phylogenomic trees and networks of organisms directly from Gene Ontology annotations. Phylogenies and networks yield novel insights into the emergence and evolution of cellular life. The ancestor of Archaea originated earlier than the ancestors of Bacteria and Eukarya and was thermophilic. In contrast, basal bacterial lineages were non-thermophilic. A close relationship between Plants and Metazoa was also identified that disagrees with the traditional Fungi-Metazoa grouping. While measures of evolutionary reticulation were minimum in Eukarya and maximum in Bacteria, the massive role of horizontal gene transfer in microbes did not materialize in phylogenomic networks. Phylogenies and networks also showed that the best reconstructions were recovered when problematic taxa (i.e., parasitic/symbiotic organisms) and horizontally transferred characters were excluded from analysis. Our results indicate that functionomic data represent a useful addition to the set of molecular characters used for tree reconstruction and that trees of cellular life carry in deep branches considerable predictive power to explain the evolution of living organisms.}, } @article {pmid25126953, year = {2014}, author = {Cardoso, C and Charnikhova, T and Jamil, M and Delaux, PM and Verstappen, F and Amini, M and Lauressergues, D and Ruyter-Spira, C and Bouwmeester, H}, title = {Differential activity of Striga hermonthica seed germination stimulants and Gigaspora rosea hyphal branching factors in rice and their contribution to underground communication.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e104201}, pmid = {25126953}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Germination ; *Glomeromycota ; Mutation ; *Oryza ; Plant Roots/chemistry/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Seeds ; *Striga ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) trigger germination of parasitic plant seeds and hyphal branching of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. There is extensive structural variation in SLs and plants usually produce blends of different SLs. The structural variation among natural SLs has been shown to impact their biological activity as hyphal branching and parasitic plant seed germination stimulants. In this study, rice root exudates were fractioned by HPLC. The resulting fractions were analyzed by MRM-LC-MS to investigate the presence of SLs and tested using bioassays to assess their Striga hermonthica seed germination and Gigaspora rosea hyphal branching stimulatory activities. A substantial number of active fractions were revealed often with very different effect on seed germination and hyphal branching. Fractions containing (-)-orobanchol and ent-2'-epi-5-deoxystrigol contributed little to the induction of S. hermonthica seed germination but strongly stimulated AM fungal hyphal branching. Three SLs in one fraction, putative methoxy-5-deoxystrigol isomers, had moderate seed germination and hyphal branching inducing activity. Two fractions contained strong germination stimulants but displayed only modest hyphal branching activity. We provide evidence that these stimulants are likely SLs although no SL-representative masses could be detected using MRM-LC-MS. Our results show that seed germination and hyphal branching are induced to very different extents by the various SLs (or other stimulants) present in rice root exudates. We propose that the development of rice varieties with different SL composition is a promising strategy to reduce parasitic plant infestation while maintaining symbiosis with AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid25126756, year = {2015}, author = {Doxey, AC and Kurtz, DA and Lynch, MD and Sauder, LA and Neufeld, JD}, title = {Aquatic metagenomes implicate Thaumarchaeota in global cobalamin production.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {461-471}, pmid = {25126756}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Archaea/*genetics/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Genes, Archaeal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Archaeal ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Vitamin B 12/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is a complex metabolite and essential cofactor required by many branches of life, including most eukaryotic phytoplankton. Algae and other cobalamin auxotrophs rely on environmental cobalamin supplied from a relatively small set of cobalamin-producing prokaryotic taxa. Although several Bacteria have been implicated in cobalamin biosynthesis and associated with algal symbiosis, the involvement of Archaea in cobalamin production is poorly understood, especially with respect to the Thaumarchaeota. Based on the detection of cobalamin synthesis genes in available thaumarchaeotal genomes, we hypothesized that Thaumarchaeota, which are ubiquitous and abundant in aquatic environments, have an important role in cobalamin biosynthesis within global aquatic ecosystems. To test this hypothesis, we examined cobalamin synthesis genes across sequenced thaumarchaeotal genomes and 430 metagenomes from a diverse range of marine, freshwater and hypersaline environments. Our analysis demonstrates that all available thaumarchaeotal genomes possess cobalamin synthesis genes, predominantly from the anaerobic pathway, suggesting widespread genetic capacity for cobalamin synthesis. Furthermore, although bacterial cobalamin genes dominated most surface marine metagenomes, thaumarchaeotal cobalamin genes dominated metagenomes from polar marine environments, increased with depth in marine water columns, and displayed seasonality, with increased winter abundance observed in time-series datasets (e.g., L4 surface water in the English Channel). Our results also suggest niche partitioning between thaumarchaeotal and cyanobacterial ribosomal and cobalamin synthesis genes across all metagenomic datasets analyzed. These results provide strong evidence for specific biogeographical distributions of thaumarchaeotal cobalamin genes, expanding our understanding of the global biogeochemical roles played by Thaumarchaeota in aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid25126558, year = {2014}, author = {Baviera, G and Leoni, MC and Capra, L and Cipriani, F and Longo, G and Maiello, N and Ricci, G and Galli, E}, title = {Microbiota in healthy skin and in atopic eczema.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {436921}, pmid = {25126558}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/biosynthesis ; Dermatitis, Atopic/etiology/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; MEDLINE ; *Microbiota ; Skin/*microbiology/pathology ; Staphylococcus/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The Italian interest group (IG) on atopic eczema and urticaria is member of the Italian Society of Allergology and Immunology. The aim of our IG is to provide a platform for scientists, clinicians, and experts. In this review we discuss the role of skin microbiota not only in healthy skin but also in skin suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD). A Medline and Embase search was conducted for studies evaluating the role of skin microbiota. We examine microbiota composition and its development within days after birth; we describe the role of specific groups of microorganisms that colonize distinct anatomical niches and the biology and clinical relevance of antimicrobial peptides expressed in the skin. Specific AD disease states are characterized by concurrent and anticorrelated shifts in microbial diversity and proportion of Staphylococcus. These organisms may protect the host, defining them not as simple symbiotic microbes but rather as mutualistic microbes. These findings reveal links between microbial communities and inflammatory diseases such as AD and provide novel insights into global shifts of bacteria relevant to disease progression and treatment. This review also highlights recent observations on the importance of innate immune systems and the relationship with normal skin microflora for the maintenance of healthy skin.}, } @article {pmid25125646, year = {2014}, author = {Neave, MJ and Michell, CT and Apprill, A and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Whole-genome sequences of three symbiotic endozoicomonas strains.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {25125646}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Members of the genus Endozoicomonas associate with a wide range of marine organisms. Here, we report on the whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation of three Endozoicomonas type strains. These data will assist in exploring interactions between Endozoicomonas organisms and their hosts, and it will aid in the assembly of genomes from uncultivated Endozoicomonas spp.}, } @article {pmid25125504, year = {2014}, author = {Robbins, NE and Trontin, C and Duan, L and Dinneny, JR}, title = {Beyond the barrier: communication in the root through the endodermis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {166}, number = {2}, pages = {551-559}, pmid = {25125504}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; Fungi/physiology ; Morphogenesis ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {The root endodermis is characterized by the Casparian strip and by the suberin lamellae, two hydrophobic barriers that restrict the free diffusion of molecules between the inner cell layers of the root and the outer environment. The presence of these barriers and the position of the endodermis between the inner and outer parts of the root require that communication between these two domains acts through the endodermis. Recent work on hormone signaling, propagation of calcium waves, and plant-fungal symbiosis has provided evidence in support of the hypothesis that the endodermis acts as a signaling center. The endodermis is also a unique mechanical barrier to organogenesis, which must be overcome through chemical and mechanical cross talk between cell layers to allow for development of new lateral organs while maintaining its barrier functions. In this review, we discuss recent findings regarding these two important aspects of the endodermis.}, } @article {pmid25124464, year = {2014}, author = {Selosse, MA and Bessis, A and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Microbial priming of plant and animal immunity: symbionts as developmental signals.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {607-613}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2014.07.003}, pmid = {25124464}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Immunity ; Microbiota/*immunology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The functional similarity between root and gut microbiota, both contributing to the nutrition and protection of the host, is often overlooked. A central mechanism for efficient protection against pathogens is defense priming, the preconditioning of immunity induced by microbial colonization after germination or birth. Microbiota have been recruited several times in evolution as developmental signals for immunity maturation. Because there is no evidence that microbial signals are more relevant than endogenous ones, we propose a neutral scenario for the evolution of this dependency: any hypothetic endogenous signal can be lost because microbial colonization, reliably occurring at germination or birth, can substitute for it, and without either positive selection or the acquisition of new functions. Dependency of development on symbiotic signals can thus evolve by contingent irreversibility.}, } @article {pmid25124146, year = {2014}, author = {Põlme, S and Bahram, M and Kõljalg, U and Tedersoo, L}, title = {Global biogeography of Alnus-associated Frankia actinobacteria.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {4}, pages = {979-988}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12962}, pmid = {25124146}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Alnus/genetics/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Frankia/classification/*genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Macroecological patterns of microbes have received relatively little attention until recently. This study aimed to disentangle the determinants of the global biogeographic community of Alnus-associated actinobacteria belonging to the Frankia alni complex. By determining a global sequence similarity threshold for the nitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene, we separated Frankia into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and tested the relative effects of Alnus phylogeny, geographic relatedness, and climatic and edaphic variables on community composition at the global scale. Based on the optimal nifH gene sequence similarity threshold of 99.3%, we distinguished 43 Frankia OTUs from root systems of 22 Alnus species on four continents. Host phylogeny was the main determinant of Frankia OTU-based community composition, but there was no effect on the phylogenetic structure of Frankia. Biogeographic analyses revealed the strongest cross-continental links over the Beringian land bridge. Despite the facultative symbiotic nature of Frankia, phylogenetic relations among Alnus species play a prominent role in structuring root-associated Frankia communities and their biogeographic patterns. Our results suggest that Alnus species exert strong phylogenetically determined selection pressure on compatible Actinobacteria.}, } @article {pmid25124056, year = {2014}, author = {Huang, YC and Fan, R and Grusak, MA and Sherrier, JD and Huang, CP}, title = {Effects of nano-ZnO on the agronomically relevant Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {497-498}, number = {}, pages = {78-90}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.07.100}, pmid = {25124056}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Fabaceae/*drug effects/physiology ; Nanoparticles/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Rhizobium/*drug effects ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis ; Zinc Oxide/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The impact of nano-ZnO (nZnO) on Rhizobium-legume symbiosis was studied with garden pea and its compatible bacterial partner Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841. Exposure of peas to nZnO had no impact on germination, but significantly affected root length. Chronic exposure of plant to nZnO impacted its development by decreasing the number of the first- and the second-order lateral roots, stem length, leaf surface area, and transpiration. The effect of nZnO dissolution on phytotoxicity was also examined. Results showed that Zn(2+) had negative impact on plant development. Exposure of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 to nZnO brought about morphological changes by rendering the microbial cells toward round shape and damaging the bacterial surface. Furthermore, the presence of nZnO in the rhizosphere affected root nodulation, delayed the onset of nitrogen fixation, and caused early senescence of nodules. Attachment of nanoparticles on the root surface and dissolution of Zn(2+) are important factors affecting the phytotocity of nZnO. Hence, the presence of nZnO in the environment is potentially hazardous to the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis system.}, } @article {pmid25123757, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, JJ and Yu, T and Lou, K and Mao, PH and Wang, ET and Chen, WF and Chen, WX}, title = {Genotypic alteration and competitive nodulation of Mesorhizobium muleiense against exotic chickpea rhizobia in alkaline soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {520-524}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.07.004}, pmid = {25123757}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {China ; Cicer/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Ecosystem ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/*growth & development ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium muleiense, Mesorhizobium mediterraneum and Mesorhizobium ciceri are chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rhizobia that share a high similarity of the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH, but they have different geographic distributions. M. muleiense has been isolated and found only in alkaline soils of Xinjiang, China, whereas the other two strains have been found in the Mediterranean and India. To investigate the species stability of M. muleiense during natural evolution and its capability of competitive nodulation against the other two exotic species, re-sampling of nodules in the field and competition experiments between the three species were conducted. The results showed that the predominant microsymbiont associated with chickpea grown in Xinjiang was still M. muleiense, but the predominant genotypes of M. muleiense had changed significantly during the four years since a previous survey. The data also showed that M. mediterraneum and M. ciceri were more competitive than the residential strain of M. muleiense CCBAU 83963(T) in sterilized vermiculite or soils from Xinjiang. However, in non-sterilized soils, M. muleiense was the predominant nodule occupier. These results indicated that natural or adapting evolution of M. muleiense was occurring in fields subjected to changing environmental factors. In addition, the biogeography and symbiotic associations of rhizobia with their host legumes were also influenced by biological factors in the soil, such as indigenous rhizobia and other organisms.}, } @article {pmid25123622, year = {2014}, author = {Connolly, M and Sweet, L and Campbell, D}, title = {What is the impact of longitudinal rural medical student clerkships on clinical supervisors and hospitals?.}, journal = {The Australian journal of rural health}, volume = {22}, number = {4}, pages = {179-188}, doi = {10.1111/ajr.12097}, pmid = {25123622}, issn = {1440-1584}, mesh = {*Clinical Clerkship ; *Hospitals, Rural ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Longitudinal Studies ; *Medical Staff, Hospital ; Victoria ; Workforce ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Studies have investigated the impact of medical students undertaking longitudinal clerkships in General Practices; however, little is known about the impact of students' longitudinal clerkships on clinical supervisors in the hospital environment. This research aimed to explore the educational impacts and benefits gained from supervisory responsibilities in a rural hospital context.

DESIGN: We assessed the impact of longitudinal clerkships using individual and group-structured interviews. The responses were thematically analysed by the researchers.

SETTING: Two rural hospitals in Victoria, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen senior medical and nursing staff at two rural hospitals who supervised year four medical students in a longitudinal clinical program.

RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified three major themes: changes to the supervisor, change in the hospital learning culture and student usefulness. Doctors and nurses who undertook student supervisory responsibilities reported a sense of personal change, including increased reflective practice, improved value of professional identity and increased enthusiasm for interprofessional learning. Supervisors updated their clinical skills and became proactive in seeking out learning opportunities for students. Hospitals became more vibrant learning environments and interprofessional education enhanced teamwork. Patient care increased, knowledge gaps filled and hospital governance, policy and procedures challenged.

CONCLUSION: The benefits of longitudinal clerkship in the rural hospital setting provided symbiotic relationships between hospitals, students, patients and educations provider. The interprofessional approach towards clinical supervision enhanced supervisor learning and generated an understanding among professional groups of each other's clinical skills, roles and values, and raised an awareness of the importance of working collaboratively for better patient outcomes and addressing future workforce shortages.}, } @article {pmid25120558, year = {2014}, author = {Dittami, SM and Barbeyron, T and Boyen, C and Cambefort, J and Collet, G and Delage, L and Gobet, A and Groisillier, A and Leblanc, C and Michel, G and Scornet, D and Siegel, A and Tapia, JE and Tonon, T}, title = {Genome and metabolic network of "Candidatus Phaeomarinobacter ectocarpi" Ec32, a new candidate genus of Alphaproteobacteria frequently associated with brown algae.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {241}, pmid = {25120558}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Rhizobiales and related orders of Alphaproteobacteria comprise several genera of nodule-inducing symbiotic bacteria associated with plant roots. Here we describe the genome and the metabolic network of "Candidatus Phaeomarinobacter ectocarpi" Ec32, a member of a new candidate genus closely related to Rhizobiales and found in association with cultures of the filamentous brown algal model Ectocarpus. The "Ca. P. ectocarpi" genome encodes numerous metabolic pathways that may be relevant for this bacterium to interact with algae. Notably, it possesses a large set of glycoside hydrolases and transporters, which may serve to process and assimilate algal metabolites. It also harbors several proteins likely to be involved in the synthesis of algal hormones such as auxins and cytokinins, as well as the vitamins pyridoxine, biotin, and thiamine. As of today, "Ca. P. ectocarpi" has not been successfully cultured, and identical 16S rDNA sequences have been found exclusively associated with Ectocarpus. However, related sequences (≥97% identity) have also been detected free-living and in a Fucus vesiculosus microbiome barcoding project, indicating that the candidate genus "Phaeomarinobacter" may comprise several species, which may colonize different niches.}, } @article {pmid25120544, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, T and Liu, G and Wang, R}, title = {The Intercellular Metabolic Interplay between Tumor and Immune Cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {358}, pmid = {25120544}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Functional and effective immune response requires a metabolic rewiring of immune cells to meet their energetic and anabolic demands. Beyond this, the availability of extracellular and intracellular metabolites may serve as metabolic signals interconnecting with cellular signaling events to influence cellular fate and immunological function. As such, tumor microenvironment represents a dramatic example of metabolic derangement, where the highly metabolic demanding tumor cells may compromise the function of some immune cells by competing nutrients (a form of intercellular competition), meanwhile may support the function of other immune cells by forming a metabolic symbiosis (a form of intercellular collaboration). It has been well known that tumor cells harness immune system through information exchanges that are largely attributed to soluble protein factors and intercellular junctions. In this review, we will discuss recent advance on tumor metabolism and immune metabolism, as well as provide examples of metabolic communications between tumor cells and immune system, which may represent a novel mechanism of conveying tumor-immune privilege.}, } @article {pmid25120539, year = {2014}, author = {Spasova, DS and Surh, CD}, title = {Blowing on embers: commensal microbiota and our immune system.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {318}, pmid = {25120539}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Vertebrates have co-evolved with microorganisms resulting in a symbiotic relationship, which plays an important role in health and disease. Skin and mucosal surfaces are colonized with a diverse population of commensal microbiota, over 1000 species, outnumbering the host cells by 10-fold. In the past 40 years, studies have built on the idea that commensal microbiota is in constant contact with the host immune system and thus influence immune function. Recent studies, focusing on mutualism in the gut, have shown that commensal microbiota seems to play a critical role in the development and homeostasis of the host immune system. In particular, the gut microbiota appears to direct the organization and maturation of lymphoid tissues and acts both locally and systemically to regulate the recruitment, differentiation, and function of innate and adaptive immune cells. While the pace of research in the area of the mucosal-immune interface has certainly intensified over the last 10 years, we are still in the early days of this field. Illuminating the mechanisms of how gut microbes shape host immunity will enhance our understanding of the causes of immune-mediated pathologies and improve the design of next-generation vaccines. This review discusses the recent advances in this field, focusing on the close relationship between the adaptive immune system and commensal microbiota, a constant and abundant source of foreign antigens.}, } @article {pmid25119819, year = {2016}, author = {Ferreira, T and van Reenen, CA and Tailliez, P and Pagès, S and Malan, AP and Dicks, LM}, title = {First report of the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus indica associated with the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema yirgalemense.}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {108-112}, doi = {10.1017/S0022149X14000583}, pmid = {25119819}, issn = {1475-2697}, mesh = {Animals ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Moths/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Rhabditida/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema yirgalemense is considered a promising agent in the biocontrol of insects. However, little is known about the bacteria living in symbiosis with the nematode. In this study, we have identified the only available bacterial strain (157-C) isolated from S. yirgalemense, as a member of the species Xenorhabdus indica. Identification was based on 16S rDNA, recA, dnaN, gltX, gyrB and infB gene sequence analyses. The relatedness of strain 157-C to the type strain of X. indica (DSM 17 382) was confirmed with DNA-DNA hybridization. The phenotypic characteristics of strain 157-C are similar to those described for the type strain of X. indica. This is the first report associating X. indica with S. yirgalemense.}, } @article {pmid25119449, year = {2014}, author = {Howe, PL and Reichelt-Brushett, AJ and Clark, MW}, title = {Effects of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn on asexual reproduction and early development of the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {1593-1606}, pmid = {25119449}, issn = {1573-3017}, mesh = {Animals ; Cadmium/toxicity ; Cobalt/toxicity ; Copper/toxicity ; Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; Nickel/toxicity ; Reproduction, Asexual/*drug effects ; Sea Anemones/*drug effects/physiology ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; Zinc/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Currently few studies present sub-lethal toxicity data for tropical marine species, and there are no routine toxicity tests using marine cnidarians. The symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella has been identified as a useful species for ecotoxicological risk assessment, and would provide a tropical marine cnidarian representative. Chronic sub-lethal toxicity tests assessing the effects of 28-day trace metal exposure on asexual reproduction in A. pulchella were investigated, and concentration-dependant reductions in the number of offspring that were produced were evident for all metal exposures. Metal concentration estimates causing 50% reductions in the numbers of asexually-reproduced juveniles after 28-day exposures (28-day effect concentrations 50%: EC50s) were 14 µg/L for copper, 63 µg/L for zinc, 107 µg/L for cobalt, 145 µg/L for cadmium, and 369 µg/L for nickel. Slightly higher 28-day EC50s of 16 µg/L for copper, 192 µg/L for zinc, 172 µg/L for cobalt, 185 µg/L for cadmium, and 404 µg/L for nickel exposures and were estimated based on reductions in the total number of live developed and undeveloped offspring. These sensitive and chronic sub-lethal toxicity estimates help fill the knowledge gap related to metal effects on cnidarians over longer exposure periods, and this newly-developed bioassay may provide a much needed tool for ecotoxicological risk assessment relevant to tropical marine environments.}, } @article {pmid25119373, year = {2014}, author = {Tabenski, L and Maisch, T and Santarelli, F and Hiller, KA and Schmalz, G}, title = {Individual growth detection of bacterial species in an in vitro oral polymicrobial biofilm model.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {196}, number = {11}, pages = {819-828}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-014-1021-z}, pmid = {25119373}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Actinomyces/growth & development/*physiology ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods/standards ; *Biofilms ; Enterococcus faecalis/growth & development/*physiology ; Fusobacterium/growth & development/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mouth/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Most in vitro studies on the antibacterial effects of antiseptics have used planktonic bacteria in monocultures. However, this study design does not reflect the in vivo situation in oral cavities harboring different bacterial species that live in symbiotic relationships in biofilms. The aim of this study was to establish a simple in vitro polymicrobial model consisting of only three bacterial strains of different phases of oral biofilm formation to simulate in vivo oral conditions. Therefore, we studied the biofilm formation of Actinomyces naeslundii (An), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), and Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) on 96-well tissue culture plates under static anaerobic conditions using artificial saliva according to the method established by Pratten et al. that was supplemented with 1 g l(-1) sucrose. Growth was separately determined for each bacterial strain after incubation periods of up to 72 h by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and live/dead staining. Presence of an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was visualized by Concanavalin A staining. Increasing incubation times of up to 72 h showed adhesion and propagation of the bacterial strains with artificial saliva formulation. An and Ef had significantly higher growth rates than Fn. Live/dead staining showed a median of 49.9 % (range 46.0-53.0 %) of living bacteria after 72 h of incubation, and 3D fluorescence microscopy showed a three-dimensional structure containing EPS. An in vitro oral polymicrobial biofilm model was established to better simulate oral conditions and had the advantage of providing the well-controlled experimental conditions of in vitro testing.}, } @article {pmid25117687, year = {2014}, author = {Montemurno, E and Cosola, C and Dalfino, G and Daidone, G and De Angelis, M and Gobbetti, M and Gesualdo, L}, title = {What would you like to eat, Mr CKD Microbiota? A Mediterranean Diet, please!.}, journal = {Kidney & blood pressure research}, volume = {39}, number = {2-3}, pages = {114-123}, doi = {10.1159/000355785}, pmid = {25117687}, issn = {1423-0143}, mesh = {*Diet, Mediterranean ; Humans ; Intestine, Large/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*diet therapy/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In this review we elucidate the role of gut microbiota as the plausible missing link between food and health, focusing on chronic kidney disease (CKD). Microbiota, the microbial community harboured in the large intestine, is considered a symbiotic "supplementary organ". It contributes to digestion, mainly through two catabolic pathways: saccharolytic (fermentation) or proteolytic (putrefaction). It also interacts with host influencing immunity, metabolism, and health status. It is believed that a balanced healthy microbiota is primarily saccharolytic and diet has a deep effect on its composition. Mediterranean Diet, UNESCO "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity", prevents cardiovascular and metabolic systemic diseases, thanks to the high supply of fibres and antioxidants. Mediterranean Diet also favours the prevalence of saccharolytic species, while Western Diet promotes the shift towards a proteolytic profile (dysbiosis). Emerging evidences highlight the association between a wide range of diseases and dysbiosis. In CKD a vicious circle exists, in which proteolytic-derived microbial metabolites (p-cresol and indoxyl sulphate), represent the main circulating uremic toxins: their accumulation worsens dysbiosis and promotes CKD progression. Gut microbiota shaping through non-pharmacologic nutritional treatments, based on Mediterranean Diet, represents an innovative approach in CKD, potentially restoring microbiota balance, ameliorating CKD conditions and slowing down disease progression.}, } @article {pmid25115770, year = {2014}, author = {Dohra, H and Tanaka, K and Suzuki, T and Fujishima, M and Suzuki, H}, title = {Draft genome sequences of three Holospora species (Holospora obtusa, Holospora undulata, and Holospora elegans), endonuclear symbiotic bacteria of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {359}, number = {1}, pages = {16-18}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12577}, pmid = {25115770}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/microbiology ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Holosporaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paramecium caudatum/*microbiology ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {We present draft genome sequences of three Holospora species, hosted by the ciliate Paramecium caudatum; that is, the macronucleus-specific H. obtusa and the micronucleus-specific H. undulata and H. elegans. We investigate functions of orthologous core genes conserved across the three Holospora species, which may be essential for the infection and survival in the host nucleus.}, } @article {pmid25115011, year = {2014}, author = {Santos-Garcia, D and Latorre, A and Moya, A and Gibbs, G and Hartung, V and Dettner, K and Kuechler, SM and Silva, FJ}, title = {Small but powerful, the primary endosymbiont of moss bugs, Candidatus Evansia muelleri, holds a reduced genome with large biosynthetic capabilities.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1875-1893}, pmid = {25115011}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Rearrangement ; Halomonadaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Moss bugs (Coleorrhyncha: Peloridiidae) are members of the order Hemiptera, and like many hemipterans, they have symbiotic associations with intracellular bacteria to fulfill nutritional requirements resulting from their unbalanced diet. The primary endosymbiont of the moss bugs, Candidatus Evansia muelleri, is phylogenetically related to Candidatus Carsonella ruddii and Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum, primary endosymbionts of psyllids and whiteflies, respectively. In this work, we report the genome of Candidatus Evansia muelleri Xc1 from Xenophyes cascus, which is the only obligate endosymbiont present in the association. This endosymbiont possesses an extremely reduced genome similar to Carsonella and Portiera. It has crossed the borderline to be considered as an autonomous cell, requiring the support of the insect host for some housekeeping cell functions. Interestingly, in spite of its small genome size, Evansia maintains enriched amino acid (complete or partial pathways for ten essential and six nonessential amino acids) and sulfur metabolisms, probably related to the poor diet of the insect, based on bryophytes, which contains very low levels of nitrogenous and sulfur compounds. Several facts, including the congruence of host (moss bugs, whiteflies, and psyllids) and endosymbiont phylogenies and the retention of the same ribosomal RNA operon during genome reduction in Evansia, Portiera, and Carsonella, suggest the existence of an ancient endosymbiotic Halomonadaceae clade associated with Hemiptera. Three possible scenarios for the origin of these three primary endosymbiont genera are proposed and discussed.}, } @article {pmid25113465, year = {2014}, author = {Soyano, T and Hayashi, M}, title = {Transcriptional networks leading to symbiotic nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {146-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.07.010}, pmid = {25113465}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria leading to root nodules is a relatively recent evolutionary innovation and limited to a distinct order of land plants. It has long been a mystery how plants have invented this complex trait. However, recent advances in molecular genetics of model legumes has elucidated genes involved in the development of root nodules, providing insights into this process. Here we discuss how the de novo assembly of transcriptional networks may account for the predisposition to nodulate. Transcriptional networks and modes of gene regulation from the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, nitrate responses and aspects of lateral root development have likely all contributed to the emergence and development of root nodules.}, } @article {pmid25113243, year = {2014}, author = {Bragina, A and Oberauner-Wappis, L and Zachow, C and Halwachs, B and Thallinger, GG and Müller, H and Berg, G}, title = {The Sphagnum microbiome supports bog ecosystem functioning under extreme conditions.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {4498-4510}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12885}, pmid = {25113243}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; *Metagenome ; Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sphagnopsida/genetics/*microbiology ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Sphagnum-dominated bogs represent a unique yet widely distributed type of terrestrial ecosystem and strongly contribute to global biosphere functioning. Sphagnum is colonized by highly diverse microbial communities, but less is known about their function. We identified a high functional diversity within the Sphagnum microbiome applying an Illumina-based metagenomic approach followed by de novo assembly and MG-RAST annotation. An interenvironmental comparison revealed that the Sphagnum microbiome harbours specific genetic features that distinguish it significantly from microbiomes of higher plants and peat soils. The differential traits especially support ecosystem functioning by a symbiotic lifestyle under poikilohydric and ombrotrophic conditions. To realise a plasticity-stability balance, we found abundant subsystems responsible to cope with oxidative and drought stresses, to exchange (mobile) genetic elements, and genes that encode for resistance to detrimental environmental factors, repair and self-controlling mechanisms. Multiple microbe-microbe and plant-microbe interactions were also found to play a crucial role as indicated by diverse genes necessary for biofilm formation, interaction via quorum sensing and nutrient exchange. A high proportion of genes involved in nitrogen cycle and recycling of organic material supported the role of bacteria for nutrient supply. 16S rDNA analysis indicated a higher structural diversity than that which had been previously detected using PCR-dependent techniques. Altogether, the diverse Sphagnum microbiome has the ability to support the life of the host plant and the entire ecosystem under changing environmental conditions. Beyond this, the moss microbiome presents a promising bio-resource for environmental biotechnology - with respect to novel enzymes or stress-protecting bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25113146, year = {2014}, author = {Rodríguez-Gil, JL and Brain, R and Baxter, L and Ruffell, S and McConkey, B and Solomon, K and Hanson, M}, title = {Optimization of culturing conditions for toxicity testing with the alga Oophila sp. (Chlorophyceae), an amphibian endosymbiont.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {2566-2575}, doi = {10.1002/etc.2711}, pmid = {25113146}, issn = {1552-8618}, mesh = {Ambystoma ; Animals ; Chlorophyta/classification/*drug effects ; Culture Media/chemistry ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Geography ; Herbicides/*analysis ; Likelihood Functions ; Phylogeny ; Plants ; Risk Assessment ; *Toxicity Tests ; Urodela ; }, abstract = {Eggs of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) have a symbiotic relationship with green algae. It has been suggested that contaminants that are preferentially toxic to algae, such as herbicides, may impair the symbiont and, hence, indirectly affect the development of the salamander embryo. To enable testing under near-standard conditions for first-tier toxicity screening, the authors isolated the alga from field-collected eggs and identified conditions providing exponential growth rates in the apparent asexual phase of the alga. This approach provided a uniform, single-species culture, facilitating assessment of common toxicity end points and comparison of sensitivity relative to other species. Sequencing of the 18s ribosomal DNA indicated that the isolated alga is closely related to the recently described Oophila amblystomatis but is more similar to other known Chlamydomonas species, suggesting possible biogeographical variability in the genetic identity of the algal symbiont. After a tiered approach to culturing method refinement, a modified Bristol's media with 1 mM NH4 (+) as nitrogen source was found to provide suitable conditions for toxicity testing at 18 °C and 200 µmol m(-2) s(-1) photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on a 24-h light cycle. The validity of the approach was demonstrated with Zn(2+) as a reference toxicant. Overall, the present study shows that screening for direct effects of contaminants on the algal symbiont without the presence of the host salamander is possible under certain laboratory conditions.}, } @article {pmid25112498, year = {2014}, author = {Yamashiro, H and Isomura, N and Sakai, K}, title = {Bloom of the cyanobacterium Moorea bouillonii on the gorgonian coral Annella reticulata in Japan.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {6032}, pmid = {25112498}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Crustacea/microbiology ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Japan ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral populations are in decline due to environmental changes and biological attacks by predators and infectious diseases. Here, we report a localized bloom of the benthic filamentous cyanobacterium Moorea bouillonii (formerly Lyngbya bouillonii) observed exclusively on the gorgonian (sea fan) coral Annella reticulata at around 20 m depth in Japan. The degree of infection has reached 26% among different sizes of Annella colonies. Thick and continuous growth of Moorea may be sustained partly by symbiotic alpheid shrimp, which affix Moorea filaments to gorgonian corals for use as food and shelter. Most filaments get entangled on the coral colony, some penetrate into the stem of the coral with a swollen end like a root hair, which appears to function as an anchor in Annella. In addition to the cyanobacterium-shrimp interaction, the new trait of anchoring by the cyanobacterium into gorgonian coral may contribute to persistence of this bloom.}, } @article {pmid25112373, year = {2014}, author = {Verma, RK and Prabh, ND and Sankararamakrishnan, R}, title = {New subfamilies of major intrinsic proteins in fungi suggest novel transport properties in fungal channels: implications for the host-fungal interactions.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {173}, pmid = {25112373}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aquaporins (AQPs) and aquaglyceroporins (AQGPs) belong to the superfamily of Major Intrinsic Proteins (MIPs) and are involved in the transport of water and neutral solutes across the membranes. MIP channels play significant role in plant-fungi symbiotic relationship and are believed to be important in host-pathogen interactions in human fungal diseases. In plants, at least five major MIP subfamilies have been identified. Fungal MIP subfamilies include orthodox aquaporins and five subgroups within aquaglyceroporins. XIP subfamily is common to both plants and fungi. In this study, we have investigated the extent of diversity in fungal MIPs and explored further evolutionary relationships with the plant MIP counterparts.

RESULTS: We have extensively analyzed the available fungal genomes and examined nearly 400 fungal MIPs. Phylogenetic analysis and homology modeling exhibit the existence of a new MIP cluster distinct from any of the known fungal MIP subfamilies. All members of this cluster are found in microsporidia which are unicellular fungal parasites. Members of this family are small in size, charged and have hydrophobic residues in the aromatic/arginine selectivity filter and these features are shared by small and basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs), one of the plant MIP subfamilies. We have also found two new subfamilies (δ and γ2) within the AQGP group. Fungal AQGPs are the most diverse and possess the largest number of subgroups. We have also identified distinguishing features in loops E and D in the newly identified subfamilies indicating their possible role in channel transport and gating.

CONCLUSIONS: Fungal SIP-like MIP family is distinct from any of the known fungal MIP families including orthodox aquaporins and aquaglyceroporins. After XIPs, this is the second MIP subfamily from fungi that may have possible evolutionary link with a plant MIP subfamily. AQGPs in fungi are more diverse and possess the largest number of subgroups. The aromatic/arginine selectivity filter of SIP-like fungal MIPs and the δ AQGPs are unique, hydrophobic in nature and are likely to transport novel hydrophobic solutes. They can be attractive targets for developing anti-fungal drugs. The evolutionary pattern shared with their plant counterparts indicates possible involvement of new fungal MIPs in plant-fungi symbiosis and host-pathogen interactions.}, } @article {pmid25112358, year = {2014}, author = {Marin, I}, title = {The first record of an association between a pontoniine shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae) and a thalassematid spoon worm (Echiura: Thalassematidae), with the description of a new shrimp species.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3847}, number = {4}, pages = {557-566}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3847.4.5}, pmid = {25112358}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Animals ; Body Size ; Female ; Male ; Organ Size ; Palaemonidae/anatomy & histology/*classification/growth & development/physiology ; Polychaeta/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A new pontoniine shrimp species, Eupontonia nudirostris sp. nov. (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae), was found in association with the thalassematid spoon worm Listriolobus sp. (Echiura: Thalassematidae) in the mangrove littoral of Dam Bay of Tre Island, Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam. This is the first record of an association between symbiotic pontoniine shrimp and spoon worm as their host. The new shrimp species clearly differs from other representatives of the genus Eupontonia Bruce, 1971 by the unarmed rostrum with a blunt tip and the reduced antennal tooth on the carapace, which can be considered as an adaptation to symbiotic lifestyle inside cramped burrows of the host. A revised key to the genus Eupontonia Bruce, 1971 is presented.}, } @article {pmid25110292, year = {2014}, author = {O'Callaghan, KM and Zenner, AN and Hartley, CJ and Griffin, CT}, title = {Interference competition in entomopathogenic nematodes: male Steinernema kill members of their own and other species.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {44}, number = {13}, pages = {1009-1017}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.07.004}, pmid = {25110292}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Aggression ; Animals ; Competitive Behavior ; Female ; Larva/*parasitology ; Male ; Moths/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Rhabditida/*physiology ; }, abstract = {There is evidence of competition within and between helminth species, but the mechanisms involved are not well described. In interference competition, organisms prevent each other from using the contested resource through direct negative interactions, either chemical or physical. Steinernema spp. are entomopathogenic nematodes; they enter a living insect host which they kill and consume with the aid of symbiotic bacteria. Several studies have demonstrated intra- and interspecific competition in Steinernema, mediated by a scramble for resources and by incompatibility of the bacterial symbiont. Here we describe a mechanism by which male Steinernema may compete directly for resources, both food (host) and females, by physically injuring or killing members of another species as well as males of their own species. A series of experiments was conducted in hanging drops of insect haemolymph. Males of each of four species (Steinernemalongicaudum, Steinernemacarpocapsae, Steinernemakraussei and Steinernemafeltiae), representing three of the five phylogenetic clades of the genus, killed each other. Within 48h, up to 86% of pairs included at least one dead male, compared with negligible mortality in single male controls. There was evidence of intraspecific difference: one strain of S. feltiae (4CFMO) killed while another (UK76) did not. Males also killed both females and males of other Steinernema spp. There was evidence of a hierarchy of killing, with highest mortality due to S. longicaudum followed by S. carpocapsae, S. kraussei and S. feltiae. Wax moth larvae were co-infected with members of two Steinernema spp. to confirm that killing also takes place in the natural environment of an insect cadaver. When insects were co-infected with one infective juvenile of each species, S. longicaudum males killed both S. feltiae UK76 and Steinernema hermaphroditum. Wax moths co-infected with larger, equal numbers of S. longicaudum and S. feltiae UK76 produced mainly S. longicaudum progeny, as expected based on hanging drop experiments.}, } @article {pmid25109706, year = {2014}, author = {Tarnita, CE and Palmer, TM and Pringle, RM}, title = {Colonisation and competition dynamics can explain incomplete sterilisation parasitism in ant-plant symbioses.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {1290-1298}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12336}, pmid = {25109706}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Acacia/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Kenya ; Models, Biological ; Population Density ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/physiology ; }, abstract = {Sterilisation of parasites prevents host reproduction, thereby diverting host resources to their own benefit. Previous theory predicts that parasites should evolve maximum virulence, yet hosts are often incompletely sterilised. Whereas prior attempts to resolve this paradox have sought evolutionary explanations, we present theory and experiments showing that incomplete sterilisation can arise from ecologically driven fluctuations in parasite load. The African ant-plant Acacia drepanolobium reproduced more when occupied by small colonies of the sterilising symbiont Crematogaster nigriceps. In nature, small colonies result from interference competition between ant colonies; these territorial conflicts thus provide intermittent windows of opportunity for host reproduction. Our mean-field model shows that numerical insufficiency of parasites can produce partial sterilisation of host populations, creating the appearance of reduced virulence even if ants have evolved to sterilise completely. This general framework helps explain both the apparent ubiquity of partial sterilisation parasitism and the ability of these symbiotic associations to persist.}, } @article {pmid25108727, year = {2014}, author = {Hu, J and Wang, L and Zhang, S and Wang, Y and Jin, F and Fu, X and Li, H}, title = {Universally improving effect of mixed electron donors on the CO2 fixing efficiency of non-photosynthetic microbial communities from marine environments.}, journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {1709-1716}, doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2014.06.011}, pmid = {25108727}, issn = {1001-0742}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; *Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; *Oceans and Seas ; Seawater ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The universality of improved CO2 fixing upon the addition of mixed electron donors (MEDs) composed of Na2S, NO2(-), and S2O3(2-) to non-photosynthetic microbial communities (NPMCs) obtained from 12 locations in four oceans of the world was validated. The CO2 fixing efficiencies of NPMCs were universally enhanced by MED compared with those obtained using H2 alone as electron donor, with average increase of about 276%. An increase in microbial inoculation concentration could increase the net amount of CO2 fixing to 853.34 mg/L in the presence of MED. NO2(-) and S2O3(2-) may play the roles of both electron acceptor and electron donor under aerobic conditions, which may improve the energy utilization efficiency of NPMC and enhance the CO2 fixation efficiency. The sequence determination of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) from 150 bacteria of NPMC showed that more than 50% of the bacteria were symbiotic and there were many heterotrophic bacteria such as Vibrio natriegens. These results indicate that NPMC acts as a symbiotic CO2 fixing system. The interaction between autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria may be a crucial factor supporting ladder utilization and recycling of energy/carbon source.}, } @article {pmid25108053, year = {2014}, author = {Pigeault, R and Braquart-Varnier, C and Marcadé, I and Mappa, G and Mottin, E and Sicard, M}, title = {Modulation of host immunity and reproduction by horizontally acquired Wolbachia.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {70}, number = {}, pages = {125-133}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.07.005}, pmid = {25108053}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Isopoda/immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Phagocytosis/physiology ; Reproduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/immunology/physiology ; Wolbachia/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The Wolbachia are symbiotic bacteria vertically transmitted from one host generation to another. However, a growing amount of data shows that horizontal transfers of Wolbachia also frequently occur within and between host species. The consequences of the arrival of new symbionts on host physiology can be studied by their experimental introduction in asymbiotic hosts. After experimental transfers of the eight major isopod Wolbachia strains in the isopod Porcellio dilatatus only two of them (wCon and wDil) were found to (1) have no pathogenic effect on the host and (2) be able to pass vertically to the host offspring. In the present work, we studied the influence of these two strains, able to complete an horizontal transfer, on immunity and reproduction of P. dilatatus at two stages of the transfer: (1) in recipient hosts that encounter the symbionts: to test the influence of symbiont when acquired during host life and (2) in vertically infected offspring: to test the influence of a symbiotic interaction occurring all lifelong. The impact of Wolbachia varied depending on the stage: there were clearer effects in vertically infected individuals than in those that acquired the symbionts during their lives. Moreover, the two Wolbachia strains showed contrasted effects: the strain wCon tended to reduce the reproductive investment but to maintain or increase immune parameters whilst wDil had positive effects on reproductive investment but decreased the investment in some immune parameters. These results suggest that horizontally acquisition of Wolbachia can influence the balance between host immune and reproductive traits.}, } @article {pmid25107690, year = {2015}, author = {Koopmans, M and van Rijswijk, P and Boschker, HT and Marco, H and Martens, D and Wijffels, RH}, title = {Seasonal variation of Fatty acids and stable carbon isotopes in sponges as indicators for nutrition: biomarkers in sponges identified.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {43-54}, pmid = {25107690}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {*Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Biomarkers/*analysis ; Carbon Isotopes/*analysis ; Fatty Acids/*analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Netherlands ; Porifera/*chemistry/physiology ; *Seasons ; Spain ; }, abstract = {To get a better understanding of sponge feeding biology and efficiencies, the fatty acid (FA) composition and (13)C natural abundance of sponges and of suspended particulate matter (SPM) from surrounding seawater was studied in different seasons at three locations. Haliclona oculata and Haliclona xena from the Oosterschelde, the Netherlands, Halichondria panicea and H. xena from Lake Veere, the Netherlands, and Aplysina aerophoba and Dysidea avara from the Mediterranean, Spain, were studied. Several FA biomarkers for different algal groups, bacteria and sponge biomass were identified in all sponges. The FA concentration variation in sponges was related to changes in fatty acid concentration in SPM. Stable carbon isotopic ratios (δ(13)C) in sponge specific FAs showed very limited seasonal variation at all sites. Algal FAs in sponges were mainly acquired from the SPM through active filtration in all seasons. At the two sites in the Netherlands only in May (spring), the sponge specific FAs had similar δ(13)C ratios as algal FAs, suggesting that sponges were mainly growing during spring and probably summer. During autumn and winter, they were still actively filtering, but the food collected during this period had little effect on sponge δ(13)C values suggesting limited incorporation of filtered material into the sponge body. The sponge A. aerophoba relied mostly on the symbiotic bacteria. In conclusion, fatty acid composition in combination with stable carbon isotope analysis can be used to analyze the food source of sponges.}, } @article {pmid25105803, year = {2014}, author = {Marchetti, M and Jauneau, A and Capela, D and Remigi, P and Gris, C and Batut, J and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Shaping bacterial symbiosis with legumes by experimental evolution.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {9}, pages = {956-964}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-14-0083-R}, pmid = {25105803}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Cupriavidus/genetics ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Leghemoglobin/analysis/metabolism ; Mimosa/cytology/immunology/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; *Plant Immunity ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/immunology/microbiology ; Plasmids/genetics ; Ralstonia solanacearum/*genetics/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/analysis/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legumes have appeared after the emergence of legumes on earth, approximately 70 to 130 million years ago. Since then, symbiotic proficiency has spread to distant genera of α- and β-proteobacteria, via horizontal transfer of essential symbiotic genes and subsequent recipient genome remodeling under plant selection pressure. To tentatively replay rhizobium evolution in laboratory conditions, we previously transferred the symbiotic plasmid of the Mimosa symbiont Cupriavidus taiwanensis in the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, and selected spontaneous nodulating variants of the chimeric Ralstonia sp. using Mimosa pudica as a trap. Here, we pursued the evolution experiment by submitting two of the rhizobial drafts to serial ex planta-in planta (M. pudica) passages that may mimic alternating of saprophytic and symbiotic lives of rhizobia. Phenotyping 16 cycle-evolved clones showed strong and parallel evolution of several symbiotic traits (i.e., nodulation competitiveness, intracellular infection, and bacteroid persistence). Simultaneously, plant defense reactions decreased within nodules, suggesting that the expression of symbiotic competence requires the capacity to limit plant immunity. Nitrogen fixation was not acquired in the frame of this evolutionarily short experiment, likely due to the still poor persistence of final clones within nodules compared with the reference rhizobium C. taiwanensis. Our results highlight the potential of experimental evolution in improving symbiotic proficiency and for the elucidation of relationship between symbiotic capacities and elicitation of immune responses.}, } @article {pmid25103476, year = {2014}, author = {Li, H and Zhang, Y and Xie, X and Ma, H and Zhao, C and Zhao, G and She, X}, title = {Bioinspired total synthesis of gymnothelignan N.}, journal = {Organic letters}, volume = {16}, number = {17}, pages = {4440-4443}, doi = {10.1021/ol501960j}, pmid = {25103476}, issn = {1523-7052}, mesh = {Aldehydes ; Furans ; Lignans/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Saururaceae/chemistry ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {Bioinspired total synthesis of gymnothelignan N was accomplished in 13 steps and 6.7% overall yield. The synthesis features a syn Evans aldol reaction, an intramolecular hydrogenative dehydration reaction, and a phenol oxidative dearomatization/Friedel-Crafts reaction, which provides a new plausible biosynthetic pathway for the gymnothelignans and other symbiotic members. Meanwhile, another tetrahydrofuran-type lignan beilschmin A was also synthesized.}, } @article {pmid25103145, year = {2014}, author = {Austin, AT and Vivanco, L and González-Arzac, A and Pérez, LI}, title = {There's no place like home? An exploration of the mechanisms behind plant litter-decomposer affinity in terrestrial ecosystems.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12959}, pmid = {25103145}, issn = {1469-8137}, abstract = {Litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems is an important first step for carbon and nutrient cycling, as senescent plant material is degraded and consequently incorporated, along with microbial products, into soil organic matter. The identification of litter affinity effects, whereby decomposition is accelerated in its home environment (home-field advantage, HFA), highlights the importance of plant-soil interactions that have consequences for biogeochemical cycling. While not universal, these affinity effects have been identified in a range of ecosystems, particularly in forests without disturbance. The optimization of the local decomposer community to degrade a particular combination of litter traits is the most oft-cited explanation for HFA effects, but the ways in which this specialized community can develop are only beginning to be understood. We explore ways in which HFA, or more broadly litter affinity effects, could arise in terrestrial ecosystems. Plant-herbivore interactions, microbial symbiosis, legacies from phyllosphere communities and attractors of specific soil fauna could contribute to spatially defined affinity effects for litter decomposition. Pyrosequencing soil communities and functional linkages of soil fauna provide great promise in advancing our mechanistic understanding of these interactions, and could lead to a greater appreciation of the role of litter-decomposer affinity in the maintenance of soil functional diversity.}, } @article {pmid25102427, year = {2014}, author = {Michalik, A and Jankowska, W and Kot, M and Gołas, A and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Symbiosis in the green leafhopper, Cicadella viridis (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). Association in statu nascendi?.}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {579-587}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2014.07.005}, pmid = {25102427}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Hemiptera/classification/*microbiology/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Ovary/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The green leafhopper, Cicadella viridis lives in symbiotic association with microorganisms. The ultrastructural and molecular analyses have shown that in the body of the C. viridis two types of bacteriocyte endosymbionts are present. An amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed that large, pleomorphic bacteria display a high similarity (94-100%) to the endosymbiont 'Candidatus Sulcia muelleri' (phylum Bacteroidetes), whereas long, rod-shaped microorganisms are closely related to the γ-proteobacterial symbiont Sodalis (97-99% similarity). Both endosymbionts may be harbored in their own bacteriocytes as well as may co-reside in the same bacteriocytes. The ultrastructural observations have revealed that the Sodalis-like bacteria harboring the same bacteriocytes as bacterium Sulcia may invade the cells of the latter. Bacteria Sulcia and Sodalis-like endosymbionts are transovarially transmitted from one generation to the next. However, Sodalis-like endosymbionts do not invade the ovaries individually, but only inside Sulcia cells. Apart from bacteriocyte endosymbionts, in the body of C. viridis small, rod-shaped bacteria have been detected, and have been identified as being closely related to γ-proteobacterial microorganism Pectobacterium (98-99% similarity). The latter are present in the sheath cells of the bacteriomes containing bacterium Sulcia as well as in fat body cells.}, } @article {pmid25101899, year = {2014}, author = {Masiulionis, VE and Rabeling, C and De Fine Licht, HH and Schultz, T and Bacci, M and Bezerra, CM and Pagnocca, FC}, title = {A Brazilian population of the asexual fungus-growing ant Mycocepurus smithii (Formicidae, Myrmicinae, Attini) cultivates fungal symbionts with gongylidia-like structures.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {e103800}, pmid = {25101899}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agaricales/cytology/genetics/*growth & development ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Bayes Theorem ; *Behavior, Animal ; Likelihood Functions ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction, Asexual ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Attine ants cultivate fungi as their most important food source and in turn the fungus is nourished, protected against harmful microorganisms, and dispersed by the ants. This symbiosis evolved approximately 50-60 million years ago in the late Paleocene or early Eocene, and since its origin attine ants have acquired a variety of fungal mutualists in the Leucocoprineae and the distantly related Pterulaceae. The most specialized symbiotic interaction is referred to as "higher agriculture" and includes leafcutter ant agriculture in which the ants cultivate the single species Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Higher agriculture fungal cultivars are characterized by specialized hyphal tip swellings, so-called gongylidia, which are considered a unique, derived morphological adaptation of higher attine fungi thought to be absent in lower attine fungi. Rare reports of gongylidia-like structures in fungus gardens of lower attines exist, but it was never tested whether these represent rare switches of lower attines to L. gonglyphorus cultivars or whether lower attine cultivars occasionally produce gongylidia. Here we describe the occurrence of gongylidia-like structures in fungus gardens of the asexual lower attine ant Mycocepurus smithii. To test whether M. smithii cultivates leafcutter ant fungi or whether lower attine cultivars produce gongylidia, we identified the M. smithii fungus utilizing molecular and morphological methods. Results shows that the gongylidia-like structures of M. smithii gardens are morphologically similar to gongylidia of higher attine fungus gardens and can only be distinguished by their slightly smaller size. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the fungal ITS sequence indicates that the gongylidia-bearing M. smithii cultivar belongs to the so-called "Clade 1"of lower Attini cultivars. Given that M. smithii is capable of cultivating a morphologically and genetically diverse array of fungal symbionts, we discuss whether asexuality of the ant host maybe correlated with low partner fidelity and active symbiont choice between fungus and ant mutualists.}, } @article {pmid25101249, year = {2014}, author = {Fernandez y Mostajo, M and van der Reijden, WA and Buijs, MJ and Beertsen, W and Van der Weijden, F and Crielaard, W and Zaura, E}, title = {Effect of an oxygenating agent on oral bacteria in vitro and on dental plaque composition in healthy young adults.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {95}, pmid = {25101249}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Bacteria/classification/drug effects/genetics ; Dental Plaque/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Metagenome ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbiota ; Mouth/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Mouthwashes/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Oral Hygiene ; Oxidants/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Pilot Projects ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Oral bacteria live in symbiosis with the host. Therefore, when mouthwashes are indicated, selective inhibition of taxa contributing to disease is preferred instead of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. The potential selectivity of an oxygenating mouthwash, Ardox-X® (AX), has not been assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial potential of AX and the effects of a twice-daily oral rinse on dental plaque composition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In vitro, 16 oral bacterial strains were tested using agar diffusion susceptibility, minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration tests. A pilot clinical study was performed with 25 healthy volunteers. Clinical assessments and microbiological sampling of supragingival plaque were performed at 1 month before the experiment (Pre-exp), at the start of the experiment (Baseline) and after the one-week experimental period (Post-exp). During the experiment individuals used AX mouthwash twice daily in absence of other oral hygiene measures. The microbiological composition of plaque was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

RESULTS: AX showed high inter-species variation in microbial growth inhibition. The tested Prevotella strains and Fusobacterium nucleatum showed the highest sensitivity, while streptococci and Lactobacillus acidophilus were most resistant to AX. Plaque scores at Pre-exp and Baseline visits did not differ significantly (p = 0.193), nor did the microbial composition of plaque. During a period of 7-days non-brushing but twice daily rinsing plaque scores increased from 2.21 (0.31) at Baseline to 2.43 (0.39) Post-exp. A significant microbial shift in composition was observed: genus Streptococcus and Veillonella increased while Corynebacterium, Haemophilus, Leptotrichia, Cardiobacterium and Capnocytophaga decreased (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSION: AX has the potential for selective inhibition of oral bacteria. The shift in oral microbiome after 1 week of rinsing deserves further research.}, } @article {pmid25101226, year = {2014}, author = {Chandler, JA and James, PM and Jospin, G and Lang, JM}, title = {The bacterial communities of Drosophila suzukii collected from undamaged cherries.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e474}, pmid = {25101226}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Drosophila suzukii is an introduced pest insect that feeds on undamaged, attached fruit. This diet is distinct from the fallen, discomposing fruits utilized by most other species of Drosophila. Since the bacterial microbiota of Drosophila, and of many other animals, is affected by diet, we hypothesized that the bacteria associated with D. suzukii are distinct from that of other Drosophila. Using 16S rDNA PCR and Illumina sequencing, we characterized the bacterial communities of larval and adult D. suzukii collected from undamaged, attached cherries in California, USA. We find that the bacterial communities associated with these samples of D. suzukii contain a high frequency of Tatumella. Gluconobacter and Acetobacter, two taxa with known associations with Drosophila, were also found, although at lower frequency than Tatumella in four of the five samples examined. Sampling D. suzukii from different locations and/or while feeding on different fruits is needed to determine the generality of the results determined by these samples. Nevertheless this is, to our knowledge, the first study characterizing the bacterial communities of this ecologically unique and economically important species of Drosophila.}, } @article {pmid25101099, year = {2014}, author = {Kiirika, LM and Schmitz, U and Colditz, F}, title = {The alternative Medicago truncatula defense proteome of ROS-defective transgenic roots during early microbial infection.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {341}, pmid = {25101099}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {ROP-type GTPases of plants function as molecular switches within elementary signal transduction pathways such as the regulation of ROS synthesis via activation of NADPH oxidases (RBOH-respiratory burst oxidase homolog in plants). Previously, we reported that silencing of the Medicago truncatula GTPase MtROP9 led to reduced ROS production and suppressed induction of ROS-related enzymes in transgenic roots (MtROP9i) infected with pathogenic (Aphanomyces euteiches) and symbiotic microorganisms (Glomus intraradices, Sinorhizobium meliloti). While fungal infections were enhanced, S. meliloti infection was drastically impaired. In this study, we investigate the temporal proteome response of M. truncatula MtROP9i transgenic roots during the same microbial interactions under conditions of deprived potential to synthesize ROS. In comparison with control roots (Mtvector), we present a comprehensive proteomic analysis using sensitive MS protein identification. For four early infection time-points (1, 3, 5, 24 hpi), 733 spots were found to be different in abundance: 213 spots comprising 984 proteins (607 unique) were identified after S. meliloti infection, 230 spots comprising 796 proteins (580 unique) after G. intraradices infection, and 290 spots comprising 1240 proteins (828 unique) after A. euteiches infection. Data evaluation by GelMap in combination with a heatmap tool allowed recognition of key proteome changes during microbial interactions under conditions of hampered ROS synthesis. Overall, the number of induced proteins in MtROP9i was low as compared with controls, indicating a dual function of ROS in defense signaling as well as alternative response patterns activated during microbial infection. Qualitative analysis of induced proteins showed that enzymes linked to ROS production and scavenging were highly induced in control roots, while in MtROP9i the majority of proteins were involved in alternative defense pathways such as cell wall and protein degradation.}, } @article {pmid25101097, year = {2014}, author = {Garcia, K and Zimmermann, SD}, title = {The role of mycorrhizal associations in plant potassium nutrition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {337}, pmid = {25101097}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Potassium (K(+)) is one of the most abundant elements of soil composition but it's very low availability limits plant growth and productivity of ecosystems. Because this cation participates in many biological processes, its constitutive uptake from soil solution is crucial for the plant cell machinery. Thus, the understanding of strategies responsible of K(+) nutrition is a major issue in plant science. Mycorrhizal associations occurring between roots and hyphae of underground fungi improve hydro-mineral nutrition of the majority of terrestrial plants. The contribution of this mutualistic symbiosis to the enhancement of plant K(+) nutrition is not well understood and poorly studied so far. This mini-review examines the current knowledge about the impact of both arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal symbioses on the transfer of K(+) from the soil to the plants. A model summarizing plant and fungal transport systems identified and hypothetically involved in K(+) transport is proposed. In addition, some data related to benefits for plants provided by the improvement of K(+) nutrition thanks to mycorrhizal symbioses are presented.}, } @article {pmid25101069, year = {2014}, author = {Coats, VC and Rumpho, ME}, title = {The rhizosphere microbiota of plant invaders: an overview of recent advances in the microbiomics of invasive plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {368}, pmid = {25101069}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants in terrestrial systems have evolved in direct association with microbes functioning as both agonists and antagonists of plant fitness and adaptability. As such, investigations that segregate plants and microbes provide only a limited scope of the biotic interactions that dictate plant community structure and composition in natural systems. Invasive plants provide an excellent working model to compare and contrast the effects of microbial communities associated with natural plant populations on plant fitness, adaptation, and fecundity. The last decade of DNA sequencing technology advancements opened the door to microbial community analysis, which has led to an increased awareness of the importance of an organism's microbiome and the disease states associated with microbiome shifts. Employing microbiome analysis to study the symbiotic networks associated with invasive plants will help us to understand what microorganisms contribute to plant fitness in natural systems, how different soil microbial communities impact plant fitness and adaptability, specificity of host-microbe interactions in natural plant populations, and the selective pressures that dictate the structure of above-ground and below-ground biotic communities. This review discusses recent advances in invasive plant biology that have resulted from microbiome analyses as well as the microbial factors that direct plant fitness and adaptability in natural systems.}, } @article {pmid25099991, year = {2015}, author = {Silverstein, RN and Cunning, R and Baker, AC}, title = {Change in algal symbiont communities after bleaching, not prior heat exposure, increases heat tolerance of reef corals.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {236-249}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12706}, pmid = {25099991}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Fluorometry ; *Hot Temperature ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic organisms can be particularly susceptible to climate change stress, as their survivorship is often limited by the most vulnerable partner. However, symbiotic plasticity can also help organisms in changing environments by expanding their realized niche space. Coral-algal (Symbiodinium spp.) symbiosis exemplifies this dichotomy: the partnership is highly susceptible to 'bleaching' (stress-induced symbiosis breakdown), but stress-tolerant symbionts can also sometimes mitigate bleaching. Here, we investigate the role of diverse and mutable symbiotic partnerships in increasing corals' ability to thrive in high temperature conditions. We conducted repeat bleaching and recovery experiments on the coral Montastraea cavernosa, and used quantitative PCR and chlorophyll fluorometry to assess the structure and function of Symbiodinium communities within coral hosts. During an initial heat exposure (32 °C for 10 days), corals hosting only stress-sensitive symbionts (Symbiodinium C3) bleached, but recovered (at either 24 °C or 29 °C) with predominantly (>90%) stress-tolerant symbionts (Symbiodinium D1a), which were not detected before bleaching (either due to absence or extreme low abundance). When a second heat stress (also 32 °C for 10 days) was applied 3 months later, corals that previously bleached and were now dominated by D1a Symbiodinium experienced less photodamage and symbiont loss compared to control corals that had not been previously bleached, and were therefore still dominated by Symbiodinium C3. Additional corals that were initially bleached without heat by a herbicide (DCMU, at 24 °C) also recovered predominantly with D1a symbionts, and similarly lost fewer symbionts during subsequent thermal stress. Increased thermotolerance was also not observed in C3-dominated corals that were acclimated for 3 months to warmer temperatures (29 °C) before heat stress. These findings indicate that increased thermotolerance post-bleaching resulted from symbiont community composition changes, not prior heat exposure. Moreover, initially undetectable D1a symbionts became dominant only after bleaching, and were critical to corals' resilience after stress and resistance to future stress.}, } @article {pmid25099747, year = {2014}, author = {Russolillo, N and Ferrero, A and Vigano', L and Langella, S and Briozzo, A and Ferlini, M and Migliardi, M and Capussotti, L}, title = {Impact of perioperative symbiotic therapy on infectious morbidity after Hpb Surgery in jaundiced patients: a randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {Updates in surgery}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {203-210}, pmid = {25099747}, issn = {2038-3312}, mesh = {Aged ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Period ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Sepsis/prevention & control ; Surgical Wound Infection/*prevention & control ; }, abstract = {This study aimed at evaluating whether the administration of symbiotic therapy in jaundiced patients could reduce their postoperative infectious complications. The study was conducted between November 2008 and February 2011. Jaundiced patients scheduled for elective extrahepatic bile duct resection without liver cirrhosis, intestinal malabsorption or intolerance to symbiotic therapy were randomly assigned to receive [Group A] or not [Group B] symbiotics perioperatively. The primary endpoint was the infectious morbidity rate. Forty patients were included in the analysis (20 in each group). The patients in Group B presented a higher overall morbidity (70 vs 50%) and infectious morbidity rate (50 vs 25%), but the differences were not significant. Eleven patients in Group A (Group ndA) and 13 in Group B (Group ndB) did not receive preoperative biliary drainage. The results of the two groups were comparable. Infectious complications were higher in Group B [5 (34%) vs 0, p = 0.030], while the prevalence of natural killer (NK) cells was higher in Group ndA the day before surgery (17% ± 5.1 vs 10% ± 5.3, p < 0.01) and on post-operative day (POD) 7 (13.1% ± 4.1 vs 7.7% ± 3.4, p < 0.01). The rates of lymph node colonization were similar. The symbiotic therapy failed to reduce the rate of infectious morbidity in jaundiced patients. Further studies investigating the place of symbiotic in no-drainage patients are required.}, } @article {pmid25097747, year = {2014}, author = {Kianercy, A and Veltri, R and Pienta, KJ}, title = {Critical transitions in a game theoretic model of tumour metabolism.}, journal = {Interface focus}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {20140014}, pmid = {25097747}, issn = {2042-8898}, abstract = {Tumour proliferation is promoted by an intratumoral metabolic symbiosis in which lactate from stromal cells fuels energy generation in the oxygenated domain of the tumour. Furthermore, empirical data show that tumour cells adopt an intermediate metabolic state between lactate respiration and glycolysis. This study models the metabolic symbiosis in the tumour through the formalism of evolutionary game theory. Our game model of metabolic symbiosis in cancer considers two types of tumour cells, hypoxic and oxygenated, while glucose and lactate are considered as the two main sources of energy within the tumour. The model confirms the presence of multiple intermediate stable states and hybrid energy strategies in the tumour. It predicts that nonlinear interaction between two subpopulations leads to tumour metabolic critical transitions and that tumours can obtain different intermediate states between glycolysis and respiration which can be regulated by the genomic mutation rate. The model can apply in the epithelial-stromal metabolic decoupling therapy.}, } @article {pmid25097072, year = {2014}, author = {Patiño-Ruiz, JD and Schausberger, P}, title = {Spider mites adaptively learn recognizing mycorrhiza-induced changes in host plant volatiles.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {455-463}, pmid = {25097072}, issn = {1572-9702}, mesh = {Animals ; Choice Behavior ; Female ; Linear Models ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Olfactometry ; Phaseolus/chemistry/*parasitology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tetranychidae/*physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic root micro-organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi commonly change morphological, physiological and biochemical traits of their host plants and may thus influence the interaction of aboveground plant parts with herbivores and their natural enemies. While quite a few studies tested the effects of mycorrhiza on life history traits, such as growth, development and reproduction, of aboveground herbivores, information on possible effects of mycorrhiza on host plant choice of herbivores via constitutive and/or induced plant volatiles is lacking. Here we assessed whether symbiosis of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae with common bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris influences the response of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae to volatiles of plants that were clean or infested with spider mites. Mycorrhiza-naïve and -experienced spider mites, reared on mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal bean plants for several days before the experiments, were subjected to Y-tube olfactometer choice tests. Experienced but not naïve spider mites distinguished between constitutive volatiles of clean non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants, preferring the latter. Neither naïve nor experienced spider mites distinguished between spider mite-induced volatiles of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Learning the odor of clean mycorrhizal plants, resulting in a subsequent preference for these odors, is adaptive because mycorrhizal plants are more favorable host plants for fitness of the spider mites than are non-mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid25096975, year = {2014}, author = {Etemadi, M and Gutjahr, C and Couzigou, JM and Zouine, M and Lauressergues, D and Timmers, A and Audran, C and Bouzayen, M and Bécard, G and Combier, JP}, title = {Auxin perception is required for arbuscule development in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {166}, number = {1}, pages = {281-292}, pmid = {25096975}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Magnoliopsida/metabolism/*microbiology ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most land plant species live in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi differentiate essential functional structures called arbuscules in root cortical cells from which mineral nutrients are released to the plant. We investigated the role of microRNA393 (miR393), an miRNA that targets several auxin receptors, in arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonization. Expression of the precursors of the miR393 was down-regulated during mycorrhization in three different plant species: Solanum lycopersicum, Medicago truncatula, and Oryza sativa. Treatment of S. lycopersicum, M. truncatula, and O. sativa roots with concentrations of synthetic auxin analogs that did not affect root development stimulated mycorrhization, particularly arbuscule formation. DR5-GUS, a reporter for auxin response, was preferentially expressed in root cells containing arbuscules. Finally, overexpression of miR393 in root tissues resulted in down-regulation of auxin receptor genes (transport inhibitor response1 and auxin-related F box) and underdeveloped arbuscules in all three plant species. These results support the conclusion that miR393 is a negative regulator of arbuscule formation by hampering auxin perception in arbuscule-containing cells.}, } @article {pmid25091826, year = {2014}, author = {Montanini, B and Chen, PY and Morselli, M and Jaroszewicz, A and Lopez, D and Martin, F and Ottonello, S and Pellegrini, M}, title = {Non-exhaustive DNA methylation-mediated transposon silencing in the black truffle genome, a complex fungal genome with massive repeat element content.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {411}, pmid = {25091826}, issn = {1474-760X}, support = {T32 HG002536/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*growth & development ; Azacitidine/pharmacology ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; *DNA Methylation/drug effects ; *DNA Transposable Elements/drug effects ; DNA, Fungal/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Genes, Fungal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We investigated how an extremely transposon element (TE)-rich organism such as the plant-symbiotic ascomycete truffle Tuber melanosporum exploits DNA methylation to cope with the more than 45,000 repeated elements that populate its genome.

RESULTS: Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing performed on different developmental stages reveals a high fraction of methylated cytosines with a strong preference for CpG sites. The methylation pattern is highly similar among samples and selectively targets TEs rather than genes. A marked trend toward hypomethylation is observed for TEs located within a 1 kb distance from expressed genes, rather than segregated in TE-rich regions of the genome. Approximately 300 hypomethylated or unmethylated TEs are transcriptionally active, with higher expression levels in free-living mycelium compared to fruitbody. Indeed, multiple TE-enriched, copy number variant regions bearing a significant fraction of hypomethylated and expressed TEs are found almost exclusively in free-living mycelium. A reduction of DNA methylation, restricted to non-CpG sites and accompanied by an increase in TE expression, is observed upon treatment of free-living mycelia with 5-azacytidine.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidence derived from analysis of the T. melanosporum methylome indicates that a non-exhaustive, partly reversible, methylation process operates in truffles. This allows for the existence of hypomethylated, transcriptionally active TEs that are associated with copy number variant regions of the genome. Non-exhaustive TE methylation may reflect a role of active TEs in promoting genome plasticity and the ability to adapt to sudden environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid25088944, year = {2014}, author = {Tian, RM and Wang, Y and Bougouffa, S and Gao, ZM and Cai, L and Bajic, V and Qian, PY}, title = {Genomic analysis reveals versatile heterotrophic capacity of a potentially symbiotic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium in sponge.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {11}, pages = {3548-3561}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12586}, pmid = {25088944}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Heterotrophic Processes/*genetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sulfur-reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) play essential roles in marine sponges. However, the detailed characteristics and physiology of the bacteria are largely unknown. Here, we present and analyse the first genome of sponge-associated SOB using a recently developed metagenomic binning strategy. The loss of transposase and virulence-associated genes and the maintenance of the ancient polyphosphate glucokinase gene suggested a stabilized SOB genome that might have coevolved with the ancient host during establishment of their association. Exclusive distribution in sponge, bacterial detoxification for the host (sulfide oxidation) and the enrichment for symbiotic characteristics (genes-encoding ankyrin) in the SOB genome supported the bacterial role as an intercellular symbiont. Despite possessing complete autotrophic sulfur oxidation pathways, the bacterium developed a much more versatile capacity for carbohydrate uptake and metabolism, in comparison with its closest relatives (Thioalkalivibrio) and to other representative autotrophs from the same order (Chromatiales). The ability to perform both autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism likely results from the unstable supply of reduced sulfur in the sponge and is considered critical for the sponge-SOB consortium. Our study provides insights into SOB of sponge-specific clade with thioautotrophic and versatile heterotrophic metabolism relevant to its roles in the micro-environment of the sponge body.}, } @article {pmid25088593, year = {2014}, author = {Henmi, Y and Itani, G}, title = {Burrow utilization in the goby Eutaeniichthys gilli associated with the mud shrimp Upogebia yokoyai.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {31}, number = {8}, pages = {523-528}, doi = {10.2108/zs140055}, pmid = {25088593}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Fishes/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We investigated the estuarine goby's (Eutaeniichthys gilli) utilization of mud shrimp (Upogebia yokoyai) burrows in laboratory experiments at Kochi, Japan. The goby utilized the shrimp burrow in the presence of the host, without predators, when the mud surface was covered with water. The goby spent one quarter to half the time in shrimp burrows in experimental tanks. The goby frequently entered and exited the shrimp burrows, with bout durations of several seconds to several minutes. The goby also utilized vacant artificial burrows in much the same manner. It is suggested that E. gilli feeds on small-sized crustaceans and other organic matter on the mud surface frequently utilizing shrimp burrows for possible predator avoidance even when no predator is present. Repeated evolution of burrow utilization in the North Pacific bay gobies in both the East and West Pacific would correlate with burrow commensalism in E. gilli, which is the most proximal outgroup of the bay gobies.}, } @article {pmid25088483, year = {2014}, author = {Büntgen, U and Egli, S}, title = {Breaking new ground at the interface of dendroecology and mycology.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {19}, number = {10}, pages = {613-614}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.07.001}, pmid = {25088483}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Ascomycota/physiology ; Ecology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Trees/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Wood/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {New insight on the mycorrhizal fungus-host association, expected to emerge from combining dendrochronology, wood anatomy and mycology, may help to understanding better and disentangle biotic, abiotic, and combined edaphic factors of the mutualistic relation between ectomycorrhizal fungi and their perennial partners.}, } @article {pmid25087110, year = {2014}, author = {Hayashi, M and Parniske, M}, title = {Symbiosis and pathogenesis: what determines the difference?.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {v-vi}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.07.008}, pmid = {25087110}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid25086977, year = {2014}, author = {Carey, HV and Duddleston, KN}, title = {Animal-microbial symbioses in changing environments.}, journal = {Journal of thermal biology}, volume = {44}, number = {}, pages = {78-84}, pmid = {25086977}, issn = {0306-4565}, support = {R15 GM098938/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R15GM098938-01A1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Circadian Rhythm ; *Environment ; Intestines/microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The environments in which animals have evolved and live have profound effects on all aspects of their biology. Predictable rhythmic changes in the physical environment are arguably among the most important forces shaping the evolution of behavior and physiology of animals, and to anticipate and prepare for these predictable changes, animals have evolved biological clocks. Unpredictable changes in the physical environment have important impacts on animal biology as well. The ability of animals to cope with and survive unpredictable perturbations depends on phenotypic plasticity and/or microevolution. From the time metazoans first evolved from their protistan ancestors they have lived in close association with a diverse array of microbes that have influenced, in some way, all aspects of the evolution of animal structure, function and behavior. Yet, few studies have addressed whether daily or seasonal rhythms may affect, or be affected by, an animal's microbial symbionts. This survey highlights how biologists interested in the ecological and evolutionary physiology of animals whose lifestyles are influenced by environmental cycles may benefit from considering whether symbiotic microbes have shaped the features they study.}, } @article {pmid25086822, year = {2014}, author = {Gomes, DF and da Silva Batista, JS and Rolla, AA and da Silva, LP and Bloch, C and Galli-Terasawa, LV and Hungria, M}, title = {Proteomic analysis of free-living Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens: highlighting potential determinants of a successful symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {643}, pmid = {25086822}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Genistein/pharmacology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Proteomics/*methods ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Strain CPAC 7 (=SEMIA 5080) was recently reclassified into the new species Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens; due to its outstanding efficiency in fixing nitrogen, it has been used in commercial inoculants for application to crops of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in Brazil and other South American countries. Although the efficiency of B. diazoefficiens inoculant strains is well recognized, few data on their protein expression are available.

RESULTS: We provided a two-dimensional proteomic reference map of CPAC 7 obtained under free-living conditions, with the successful identification of 115 spots, representing 95 different proteins. The results highlighted the expression of molecular determinants potentially related to symbiosis establishment (e.g. inositol monophosphatase, IMPase), fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) (e.g. NifH) and defenses against stresses (e.g. chaperones). By using bioinformatic tools, it was possible to attribute probable functions to ten hypothetical proteins. For another ten proteins classified as "NO related COG" group, we analyzed by RT-qPCR the relative expression of their coding-genes in response to the nodulation-gene inducer genistein. Six of these genes were up-regulated, including blr0227, which may be related to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis and competitiveness for nodulation.

CONCLUSIONS: The proteomic map contributed to the identification of several proteins of B. diazoefficiens under free-living conditions and our approach-combining bioinformatics and gene-expression assays-resulted in new information about unknown genes that might play important roles in the establishment of the symbiosis with soybean.}, } @article {pmid25085491, year = {2014}, author = {Yao, Y and Wang, R and Lu, JK and Sui, XH and Wang, ET and Chen, WX}, title = {Genetic diversity and evolution of Bradyrhizobium populations nodulating Erythrophleum fordii, an evergreen tree indigenous to the southern subtropical region of China.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {19}, pages = {6184-6194}, pmid = {25085491}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {The nodulation of Erythrophleum fordii has been recorded recently, but its microsymbionts have never been studied. To investigate the diversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with this leguminous evergreen tree, root nodules were collected from the southern subtropical region of China. A total of 166 bacterial isolates were obtained from the nodules and characterized. In a PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of ribosomal intergenic sequences, the isolates were classified into 22 types within the genus Bradyrhizobium. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, ribosomal intergenic spacer (IGS), and the housekeeping genes recA and glnII classified the isolates into four groups: the Bradyrhizobium elkanii and Bradyrhizobium pachyrhizi groups, comprising the dominant symbionts, Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, and an unclassified group comprising the minor symbionts. The nodC and nifH phylogenetic trees defined five or six lineages among the isolates, which was largely consistent with the definition of genomic species. The phylogenetic results and evolutionary analysis demonstrated that mutation and vertical transmission of genes were the principal processes for the divergent evolution of Bradyrhizobium species associated with E. fordii, while lateral transfer and recombination of housekeeping and symbiotic genes were rare. The distribution of the dominant rhizobial populations was affected by soil pH and effective phosphorus. This is the first report to characterize E. fordii rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid25085218, year = {2015}, author = {Zou, YN and Huang, YM and Wu, QS and He, XH}, title = {Mycorrhiza-induced lower oxidative burst is related with higher antioxidant enzyme activities, net H2O2 effluxes, and Ca2+ influxes in trifoliate orange roots under drought stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {143-152}, pmid = {25085218}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Citrus/enzymology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Droughts ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Respiratory Burst ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mechanisms of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM)-induced lower oxidative burst of host plants under drought stress (DS) are not elucidated. A noninvasive microtest technology (NMT) was used to investigate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae on net fluxes of root hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and calcium ions (Ca2+) in 5-month-old Poncirus trifoliata, in combination with catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities as well as tissue superoxide radical (O2•-) and H2O2 concentrations under DS and well-watered (WW) conditions. A 2-month DS (55% maximum water holding capacity of growth substrates) significantly inhibited AM fungal root colonization, while AM symbiosis significantly increased plant biomass production, irrespective of water status. F. mosseae inoculation generally increased SOD and CAT activity but decreased O2•- and H2O2 concentrations in leaves and roots under WW and DS. Compared with non-AM seedlings, roots of AM seedlings had significantly higher net H2O2 effluxes and net Ca2+ influxes, especially in the meristem zone, but lower net H2O2 efflux in the elongation zone. Net Ca2+ influxes into roots were significantly positively correlated with root net H2O2 effluxes but negatively with root H2O2 concentrations. Results from this study suggest that AM-induced lower oxidative burst is related with higher antioxidant enzyme activities, root net H2O2 effluxes, and Ca2+ influxes under WW and DS.}, } @article {pmid25085217, year = {2015}, author = {Deepika, S and Kothamasi, D}, title = {Soil moisture--a regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community assembly and symbiotic phosphorus uptake.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {67-75}, pmid = {25085217}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; India ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/*chemistry ; Sorghum/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Multiple species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can colonize roots of an individual plant species but factors which determine the selection of a particular AMF species in a plant root are largely unknown. The present work analysed the effects of drought, flooding and optimal soil moisture (15-20 %) on AMF community composition and structure in Sorghum vulgare roots, using PCR-RFLP. Rhizophagus irregularis (isolate BEG 21), and rhizosphere soil (mixed inoculum) of Heteropogon contortus, a perennial C4 grass, collected from the semi-arid Delhi ridge, were used as AMF inocula. Soil moisture functioned as an abiotic filter and affected AMF community assembly inside plant roots by regulating AMF colonization and phylotype diversity. Roots of plants in flooded soils had lowest AMF diversity whilst root AMF diversity was highest under the soil moisture regime of 15-20 %. Although plant biomass was not affected, root P uptake was significantly influenced by soil moisture. Plants colonized with R. irregularis or mixed AMF inoculum showed higher root P uptake than non-mycorrhizal plants in drought and control treatments. No differences in root P levels were found in the flooded treatment between plants colonized with R. irregularis and non-mycorrhizal plants, whilst under the same treatment, root P uptake was lower in plants colonized with mixed AMF inoculum than in non-mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid25083931, year = {2015}, author = {Youssef, NH and Rinke, C and Stepanauskas, R and Farag, I and Woyke, T and Elshahed, MS}, title = {Insights into the metabolism, lifestyle and putative evolutionary history of the novel archaeal phylum 'Diapherotrites'.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {447-460}, pmid = {25083931}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Archaea/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The archaeal phylum 'Diapherotrites' was recently proposed based on phylogenomic analysis of genomes recovered from an underground water seep in an abandoned gold mine (Homestake mine in Lead, SD, USA). Here we present a detailed analysis of the metabolic capabilities and genomic features of three single amplified genomes (SAGs) belonging to the 'Diapherotrites'. The most complete of the SAGs, Candidatus 'Iainarchaeum andersonii' (Cand. IA), had a small genome (∼1.24 Mb), short average gene length (822 bp), one ribosomal RNA operon, high coding density (∼90.4%), high percentage of overlapping genes (27.6%) and low incidence of gene duplication (2.16%). Cand. IA genome possesses limited catabolic capacities that, nevertheless, could theoretically support a free-living lifestyle by channeling a narrow range of substrates such as ribose, polyhydroxybutyrate and several amino acids to acetyl-coenzyme A. On the other hand, Cand. IA possesses relatively well-developed anabolic capabilities, although it remains auxotrophic for several amino acids and cofactors. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the majority of Cand. IA anabolic genes were acquired from bacterial donors via horizontal gene transfer. We thus propose that members of the 'Diapherotrites' have evolved from an obligate symbiotic ancestor by acquiring anabolic genes from bacteria that enabled independent biosynthesis of biological molecules previously acquired from symbiotic hosts. 'Diapherotrites' 16S rRNA genes exhibit multiple mismatches with the majority of archaeal 16S rRNA primers, a fact that could be responsible for their observed rarity in amplicon-generated data sets. The limited substrate range, complex growth requirements and slow growth rate predicted could be responsible for its refraction to isolation.}, } @article {pmid25083930, year = {2015}, author = {Kostovcik, M and Bateman, CC and Kolarik, M and Stelinski, LL and Jordal, BH and Hulcr, J}, title = {The ambrosia symbiosis is specific in some species and promiscuous in others: evidence from community pyrosequencing.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {126-138}, pmid = {25083930}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Florida ; Fungi/classification/*genetics ; Genetic Markers/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are increasingly seen as dynamic ecosystems with multiple associates and varying fidelity. Symbiont specificity remains elusive in one of the most ecologically successful and economically damaging eukaryotic symbioses: the ambrosia symbiosis of wood-boring beetles and fungi. We used multiplexed pyrosequencing of amplified internal transcribed spacer II (ITS2) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) libraries to document the communities of fungal associates and symbionts inside the mycangia (fungus transfer organ) of three ambrosia beetle species, Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus ferrugineus and Xylosandrus crassiusculus. We processed 93 beetle samples from 5 locations across Florida, including reference communities. Fungal communities within mycangia included 14-20 fungus species, many more than reported by culture-based studies. We recovered previously known nutritional symbionts as members of the core community. We also detected several other fungal taxa that are equally frequent but whose function is unknown and many other transient species. The composition of fungal assemblages was significantly correlated with beetle species but not with locality. The type of mycangium appears to determine specificity: two Xyleborus with mandibular mycangia had multiple dominant associates with even abundances; Xylosandrus crassiusculus (mesonotal mycangium) communities were dominated by a single symbiont, Ambrosiella sp. Beetle mycangia also carried many fungi from the environment, including plant pathogens and endophytes. The ITS2 marker proved useful for ecological analyses, but the taxonomic resolution was limited to fungal genus or family, particularly in Ophiostomatales, which are under-represented in our amplicons as well as in public databases. This initial analysis of three beetle species suggests that each clade of ambrosia beetles and each mycangium type may support a functionally and taxonomically distinct symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25082950, year = {2014}, author = {Vargas, WA and Mukherjee, PK and Laughlin, D and Wiest, A and Moran-Diez, ME and Kenerley, CM}, title = {Role of gliotoxin in the symbiotic and pathogenic interactions of Trichoderma virens.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {160}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {2319-2330}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.079210-0}, pmid = {25082950}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/growth & development ; Gliotoxin/*metabolism ; Gossypium/*microbiology ; Lepidoptera/microbiology ; Microbial Interactions ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Oxidative Stress ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Pythium/growth & development ; Rhizoctonia/growth & development ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Survival Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Using a gene disruption strategy, we generated mutants in the gliP locus of the plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma virens that were no longer capable of producing gliotoxin. Phenotypic assays demonstrated that the gliP-disrupted mutants grew faster, were more sensitive to oxidative stress and exhibited a sparse colony edge compared with the WT strain. In a plate confrontation assay, the mutants deficient in gliotoxin production were ineffective as mycoparasites against the oomycete, Pythium ultimum, and the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, but retained mycoparasitic ability against Rhizoctonia solani. Biocontrol assays in soil showed that the mutants were incapable of protecting cotton seedlings from attack by P. ultimum, against which the WT strain was highly effective. The mutants, however, were as effective as the WT strain in protecting cotton seedlings against R. solani. Loss of gliotoxin production also resulted in a reduced ability of the mutants to attack the sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum compared with the WT. The addition of exogenous gliotoxin to the sclerotia colonized by the mutants partially restored their degradative abilities. Interestingly, as in Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human pathogen, gliotoxin was found to be involved in pathogenicity of T. virens against larvae of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella. The loss of gliotoxin production in T. virens was restored by complementation with the gliP gene from A. fumigatus. We have, thus, demonstrated that the putative gliP cluster of T. virens is responsible for the biosynthesis of gliotoxin, and gliotoxin is involved in mycoparasitism and biocontrol properties of this plant-beneficial fungus.}, } @article {pmid25082700, year = {2014}, author = {, }, title = {Novae. Fermi establishes classical novae as a distinct class of gamma-ray sources.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {345}, number = {6196}, pages = {554-558}, doi = {10.1126/science.1253947}, pmid = {25082700}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {A classical nova results from runaway thermonuclear explosions on the surface of a white dwarf that accretes matter from a low-mass main-sequence stellar companion. In 2012 and 2013, three novae were detected in γ rays and stood in contrast to the first γ-ray-detected nova V407 Cygni 2010, which belongs to a rare class of symbiotic binary systems. Despite likely differences in the compositions and masses of their white dwarf progenitors, the three classical novae are similarly characterized as soft-spectrum transient γ-ray sources detected over 2- to 3-week durations. The γ-ray detections point to unexpected high-energy particle acceleration processes linked to the mass ejection from thermonuclear explosions in an unanticipated class of Galactic γ-ray sources.}, } @article {pmid25081255, year = {2014}, author = {Liu, Y and Yi, Z and Zeng, R}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of a Symbiotic Bacterium, Rhizobium vignae CCBAU 05176T.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {25081255}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {The Rhizobium vignae strain CCBAU 05176(T) was isolated from a root nodule of Astragalus dahuricus grown in Hebei Province, China. It grows on yeast mannitol agar (YMA) supplemented with 0 to 2% (wt/vol) NaCl. We report the annotated genome sequence of this strain in a 6.34-Mb scaffold.}, } @article {pmid25080346, year = {2014}, author = {Russell, CW and Poliakov, A and Haribal, M and Jander, G and van Wijk, KJ and Douglas, AE}, title = {Matching the supply of bacterial nutrients to the nutritional demand of the animal host.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1791}, pages = {20141163}, pmid = {25080346}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Essential/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Buchnera/*metabolism ; Diet ; Methionine/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Nymph/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; *Proteome ; }, abstract = {Various animals derive nutrients from symbiotic microorganisms with much-reduced genomes, but it is unknown whether, and how, the supply of these nutrients is regulated. Here, we demonstrate that the production of essential amino acids (EAAs) by the bacterium Buchnera aphidicola in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum is elevated when aphids are reared on diets from which that EAA are omitted, demonstrating that Buchnera scale EAA production to host demand. Quantitative proteomics of bacteriocytes (host cells bearing Buchnera) revealed that these metabolic changes are not accompanied by significant change in Buchnera or host proteins, suggesting that EAA production is regulated post-translationally. Bacteriocytes in aphids reared on diet lacking the EAA methionine had elevated concentrations of both methionine and the precursor cystathionine, indicating that methionine production is promoted by precursor supply and is not subject to feedback inhibition by methionine. Furthermore, methionine production by isolated Buchnera increased with increasing cystathionine concentration. We propose that Buchnera metabolism is poised for EAA production at certain maximal rates, and the realized release rate is determined by precursor supply from the host. The incidence of host regulation of symbiont nutritional function via supply of key nutritional inputs in other symbioses remains to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid25080195, year = {2014}, author = {de Freitas Pereira, M and Betancourth, BM and Teixeira, JA and Zubieta, MP and de Queiroz, MV and Kasuya, MC and Costa, MD and de Araújo, EF}, title = {In vitro Scleroderma laeve and Eucalyptus grandis mycorrhization and analysis of atp6, 17S rDNA, and ras gene expression during ectomycorrhizal formation.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {54}, number = {12}, pages = {1358-1366}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201400253}, pmid = {25080195}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/*metabolism ; Eucalyptus/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Genes, Fungal ; *Genes, ras ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The interaction between fungi and plants that form ectomycorrhizae (ECM) promotes alterations in the gene expression profiles of both organisms. Fungal genes expression related to metabolism were evaluated at the pre-symbiotic stage and during the ECM development between Scleroderma laeve and Eucalyptus grandis. Partial sequences of ATP synthase (atp6), translation elongation factor (ef1α), the RAS protein (ras), and the 17S rDNA genes were isolated. The expression of the atp6 and 17S rDNA genes during the pre-symbiotic stage showed an approximately threefold increase compared to the control. During ECM development, the expression of the 17S rDNA gene showed a 4.4-fold increase after 3 days of contact, while the expression of the atp6 gene increased 7.23-fold by the 15th day, suggesting that protein synthesis and respiratory chain activities are increased during the formation of the mantle and the Hartig net. The ras gene transcripts were only detected by RT-PCR 30 days after fungus-plant contact, suggesting that RAS-mediated signal transduction pathways are functional during the establishment of symbiosis. The present study demonstrates that alterations in gene expression occur in response to stimuli released by the plant during ECM association and increases the understanding of the association between S. laeve and E. grandis.}, } @article {pmid25079497, year = {2014}, author = {Patiño-Navarrete, R and Piulachs, MD and Belles, X and Moya, A and Latorre, A and Peretó, J}, title = {The cockroach Blattella germanica obtains nitrogen from uric acid through a metabolic pathway shared with its bacterial endosymbiont.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {}, pmid = {25079497}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis/genetics ; Animals ; Bacteroidetes/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Blattellidae/*genetics/*metabolism ; Dietary Proteins ; Fat Body/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome, Insect ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Uric Acid/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Uric acid stored in the fat body of cockroaches is a nitrogen reservoir mobilized in times of scarcity. The discovery of urease in Blattabacterium cuenoti, the primary endosymbiont of cockroaches, suggests that the endosymbiont may participate in cockroach nitrogen economy. However, bacterial urease may only be one piece in the entire nitrogen recycling process from insect uric acid. Thus, in addition to the uricolytic pathway to urea, there must be glutamine synthetase assimilating the released ammonia by the urease reaction to enable the stored nitrogen to be metabolically usable. None of the Blattabacterium genomes sequenced to date possess genes encoding for those enzymes. To test the host's contribution to the process, we have sequenced and analysed Blattella germanica transcriptomes from the fat body. We identified transcripts corresponding to all genes necessary for the synthesis of uric acid and its catabolism to urea, as well as for the synthesis of glutamine, asparagine, proline and glycine, i.e. the amino acids required by the endosymbiont. We also explored the changes in gene expression with different dietary protein levels. It appears that the ability to use uric acid as a nitrogen reservoir emerged in cockroaches after its age-old symbiotic association with bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25076943, year = {2014}, author = {Bistolas, KS and Sakamoto, RI and Fernandes, JA and Goffredi, SK}, title = {Symbiont polyphyly, co-evolution, and necessity in pentatomid stinkbugs from Costa Rica.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {349}, pmid = {25076943}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Interdomain symbioses with bacteria allow insects to take advantage of underutilized niches and provide the foundation for their evolutionary success in neotropical ecosystems. The gut microbiota of 13 micro-allopatric tropical pentatomid species, from a Costa Rican lowland rainforest, was characterized and compared with insect and host plant phylogenies. Like other families within the Pentatomomorpha, these insects (within seven genera-Antiteuchus, Arvelius, Edessa, Euschistus, Loxa, Mormidea, and Sibaria) house near-monocultures of gamma-proteobacteria in midgut crypts, comprising three distinct lineages within the family Enterobacteriaceae. Identity of the dominant bacteria (78-100% of the recovered 16S rRNA genes) was partially congruent with insect phylogeny, at the level of subfamily and tribe, with bacteria closely related to Erwinia observed in six species of the subfamily Pentatominae, and bacteria in a novel clade of Enterobacteriaceae for seven species within the subfamilies Edessinae and Discocephalinae. Symbiont replacement (i.e., bacterial "contamination" from the environment) may occur during maternal transmission by smearing of bacteria onto the egg surfaces during oviposition. This transmission strategy was experimentally confirmed for Sibaria englemani, and suspected for four species from two subfamilies, based on observation of egg probing by nymphs. Symbiont-deprived S. englemani, acquired via egg surface sterilization, exhibited significantly extended second instars (9.1 days compared with 7.9 days for symbiotic nymphs; p = 0.0001, Wilcoxon's rank with Bonferroni correction), slower linearized growth rates (p = 0.005, Welch 2-sample t-test), and qualitative differences in ceca morphology, including increased translucency of crypts, elongation of extracellular cavities, and distribution of symbionts, compared to symbiotic nymphs. Combined, these results suggest a role of the symbiont in host development, the reliable transference of symbionts via egg surfaces, and a suggestion of co-evolution between symbiont and tropical pentatomid host insects.}, } @article {pmid25073416, year = {2014}, author = {Meng, X and Yan, D and Long, X and Wang, C and Liu, Z and Rengel, Z}, title = {Colonization by endophytic Ochrobactrum anthropi Mn1 promotes growth of Jerusalem artichoke.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {601-610}, pmid = {25073416}, issn = {1751-7915}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Helianthus/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Ochrobactrum anthropi/classification/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The Ochrobactrum anthropi Mn1 strain, taxonomically identified using 16S ribosomal DNA sequence, was isolated from roots of Jerusalem artichoke. Its endophytic colonization was investigated microscopically using green fluorescent protein introduced by vector pHC60. The strain entered Jerusalem artichoke tissues through the root, and was localized in the roots and stems. The plant growth-promoting (PGP) effects of O. anthropi Mn1 were assessed in greenhouse as well as field trials with different nitrogen supplies. Only under moderate to ample nitrogen supply, could O. anthropi Mn1 promoted growth of host plant. The PGP effects of the strain were symbiotic nitrogen fixation, root morphological optimization and enhanced nutrient uptake. We hypothesize that the symbiotic interspecies interaction might be quorum sensing related.}, } @article {pmid25072922, year = {2014}, author = {Kumar, S and Kim, Y}, title = {Point mutagenesis reveals that a coiled-coil motif of CrV1 is required for entry to hemocytes to suppress cellular immune responses.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology}, volume = {177}, number = {}, pages = {27-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.07.017}, pmid = {25072922}, issn = {1531-4332}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs/*genetics/*immunology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Hemocytes/immunology/*virology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Immunity, Cellular/*immunology ; Larva/immunology/virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis/*genetics/immunology ; Point Mutation/*genetics/immunology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics/immunology ; RNA Interference/immunology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sf9 Cells ; Viral Proteins/genetics ; Wasps/immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {Various immunosuppressive factors are derived from polydnaviruses (PDVs) mutually symbiotic to some ichneumonid and braconid wasps. CrV1 was originally identified from a PDV called Cotesia rubecula bracovirus. CrV1 orthologs are reported in other Cotesia-associated PDVs, but not clearly understood in their physiological functions. This study determined a function of CrV1 encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). CpBV-CrV1 is the largest molecule among the known CrV1s and is predicted to possess three coiled-coil motifs. It was constitutively expressed in parasitized host, Plutella xylostella. In vivo transient expression of CpBV-CrV1 significantly impaired hemocyte nodule formation. However, its specific RNA interference significantly recovered the immune response. Two point mutations (Ala→Pro at 192nd and 196th positions) were designed to remove the main coiled-coil motif of CpBV-CrV1. When CpBV-CrV1 and the mutant CpBV-CrV1 were expressed in Sf9 cells, their proteins were synthesized and secreted into each culture medium. When each culture medium was overlaid on hemocytes of nonparasitized P. xylostella, an immunofluorescence assay showed that CpBV-CrV1 entered the hemocytes, but the mutant protein did not. The entered CpBV-CrV1 significantly inhibited hemocyte-spreading behavior by preventing F-actin formation. These results indicate that CpBV-CrV1 is an immunosuppressive factor of CpBV, in which its coiled-coil motif is essential.}, } @article {pmid25072413, year = {2015}, author = {Grube, M and Cernava, T and Soh, J and Fuchs, S and Aschenbrenner, I and Lassek, C and Wegner, U and Becher, D and Riedel, K and Sensen, CW and Berg, G}, title = {Exploring functional contexts of symbiotic sustain within lichen-associated bacteria by comparative omics.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {412-424}, pmid = {25072413}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {I 882/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Photosynthesis ; Proteome ; Proteomics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbioses represent a frequent and successful lifestyle on earth and lichens are one of their classic examples. Recently, bacterial communities were identified as stable, specific and structurally integrated partners of the lichen symbiosis, but their role has remained largely elusive in comparison to the well-known functions of the fungal and algal partners. We have explored the metabolic potentials of the microbiome using the lung lichen Lobaria pulmonaria as the model. Metagenomic and proteomic data were comparatively assessed and visualized by Voronoi treemaps. The study was complemented with molecular, microscopic and physiological assays. We have found that more than 800 bacterial species have the ability to contribute multiple aspects to the symbiotic system, including essential functions such as (i) nutrient supply, especially nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur, (ii) resistance against biotic stress factors (that is, pathogen defense), (iii) resistance against abiotic factors, (iv) support of photosynthesis by provision of vitamin B12, (v) fungal and algal growth support by provision of hormones, (vi) detoxification of metabolites, and (vii) degradation of older parts of the lichen thallus. Our findings showed the potential of lichen-associated bacteria to interact with the fungal as well as algal partner to support health, growth and fitness of their hosts. We developed a model of the symbiosis depicting the functional multi-player network of the participants, and argue that the strategy of functional diversification in lichens supports the longevity and persistence of lichens under extreme and changing ecological conditions.}, } @article {pmid25072318, year = {2014}, author = {Bolnick, DI and Snowberg, LK and Hirsch, PE and Lauber, CL and Org, E and Parks, B and Lusis, AJ and Knight, R and Caporaso, JG and Svanbäck, R}, title = {Individual diet has sex-dependent effects on vertebrate gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {4500}, pmid = {25072318}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {T32 HD007228/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; HL28481/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 HL028481/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HL30568/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 HL030568/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI_/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers/genetics ; *Diet ; Dysbiosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Perches/*microbiology ; *Phenotype ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Factors ; Smegmamorpha/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Vertebrates harbour diverse communities of symbiotic gut microbes. Host diet is known to alter microbiota composition, implying that dietary treatments might alleviate diseases arising from altered microbial composition ('dysbiosis'). However, it remains unclear whether diet effects are general or depend on host genotype. Here we show that gut microbiota composition depends on interactions between host diet and sex within populations of wild and laboratory fish, laboratory mice and humans. Within each of two natural fish populations (threespine stickleback and Eurasian perch), among-individual diet variation is correlated with individual differences in gut microbiota. However, these diet-microbiota associations are sex dependent. We document similar sex-specific diet-microbiota correlations in humans. Experimental diet manipulations in laboratory stickleback and mice confirmed that diet affects microbiota differently in males versus females. The prevalence of such genotype by environment (sex by diet) interactions implies that therapies to treat dysbiosis might have sex-specific effects.}, } @article {pmid25071808, year = {2014}, author = {Afonso-Grunz, F and Molina, C and Hoffmeier, K and Rycak, L and Kudapa, H and Varshney, RK and Drevon, JJ and Winter, P and Kahl, G}, title = {Genome-based analysis of the transcriptome from mature chickpea root nodules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {325}, pmid = {25071808}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in root nodules of grain legumes such as chickpea is a highly complex process that drastically affects the gene expression patterns of both the prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic interacting cells. A successfully established symbiotic relationship requires mutual signaling mechanisms and a continuous adaptation of the metabolism of the involved cells to varying environmental conditions. Although some of these processes are well understood today many of the molecular mechanisms underlying SNF, especially in chickpea, remain unclear. Here, we reannotated our previously published transcriptome data generated by deepSuperSAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) to the recently published draft genome of chickpea to assess the root- and nodule-specific transcriptomes of the eukaryotic host cells. The identified gene expression patterns comprise up to 71 significantly differentially expressed genes and the expression of twenty of these was validated by quantitative real-time PCR with the tissues from five independent biological replicates. Many of the differentially expressed transcripts were found to encode proteins implicated in sugar metabolism, antioxidant defense as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses of the host cells, and some of them were already known to contribute to SNF in other legumes. The differentially expressed genes identified in this study represent candidates that can be used for further characterization of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying SNF in chickpea.}, } @article {pmid25071748, year = {2014}, author = {Shinzato, C and Mungpakdee, S and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E}, title = {A genomic approach to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis: studies of Acropora digitifera and Symbiodinium minutum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {336}, pmid = {25071748}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Far more intimate knowledge of scleractinian coral biology is essential in order to understand how diverse coral-symbiont endosymbioses have been established. In particular, molecular and cellular mechanisms enabling the establishment and maintenance of obligate endosymbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates require further clarification. By extension, such understanding may also shed light upon environmental conditions that promote the collapse of this mutualism. Genomic data undergird studies of all symbiotic processes. Here we review recent genomic data derived from the scleractinian coral, Acropora digitifera, and the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium minutum. We discuss Acropora genes involved in calcification, embryonic development, innate immunity, apoptosis, autophagy, UV resistance, fluorescence, photoreceptors, circadian clocks, etc. We also detail gene loss in amino acid metabolism that may explain at least part of the Acropora stress-response. Characteristic features of the Symbiodinium genome are also reviewed, focusing on the expansion of certain gene families, the molecular basis for permanently condensed chromatin, unique spliceosomal splicing, and unusual gene arrangement. Salient features of the Symbiodinium plastid and mitochondrial genomes are also illuminated. Although many questions regarding these interdependent genomes remain, we summarize information necessary for future studies of coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25071739, year = {2014}, author = {Maróti, G and Kondorosi, E}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium-legume symbiosis: are polyploidy and host peptide-governed symbiont differentiation general principles of endosymbiosis?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {326}, pmid = {25071739}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between rhizobia soil bacteria and legumes is facultative and initiated by nitrogen starvation of the host plant. Exchange of signal molecules between the partners leads to the formation of root nodules where bacteria are converted to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. In this mutualistic symbiosis, the bacteria provide nitrogen sources for plant growth in return for photosynthates from the host. Depending on the host plant the symbiotic fate of bacteria can either be reversible or irreversible. In Medicago plants the bacteria undergo a host-directed multistep differentiation process culminating in the formation of elongated and branched polyploid bacteria with definitive loss of cell division ability. The plant factors are nodule-specific symbiotic peptides. About 500 of them are cysteine-rich NCR peptides produced in the infected plant cells. NCRs are targeted to the endosymbionts and the concerted action of different sets of peptides governs different stages of endosymbiont maturation. This review focuses on symbiotic plant cell development and terminal bacteroid differentiation and demonstrates the crucial roles of symbiotic peptides by showing an example of multi-target mechanism exerted by one of these symbiotic peptides.}, } @article {pmid25071729, year = {2014}, author = {Zchori-Fein, E and Lahav, T and Freilich, S}, title = {Variations in the identity and complexity of endosymbiont combinations in whitefly hosts.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {310}, pmid = {25071729}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The target of natural selection is suggested to be the holobiont - the organism together with its associated symbiotic microorganisms. The well-defined endosymbiotic communities of insects make them a useful model for exploring the role of symbiotic interactions in shaping the functional repertoire of plants and animals. Here, we studied the variations in the symbiotic communities of the sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) by compiling a dataset of over 2000 individuals derived from several independent screenings. The secondary endosymbionts harbored by each individual were clustered into entities termed Facultative Endosymbiont Combinations (FECs), each representing a natural assemblage of co-occurring bacterial genera. The association of FECs with whitefly individuals stratified the otherwise homogeneous population into holobiont units. We both identified bacterial assemblages that are specific to whitefly groups sharing unique genetic backgrounds, and characterized the FEC variations within these groups. The analysis revealed that FEC complexity is positively correlated with both distance from the equator and specificity of the genetic clade of the host insect. These findings highlight the importance of symbiotic combinations in shaping the distribution patterns of B. tabaci and possibly other insect species.}, } @article {pmid25071405, year = {2014}, author = {Granada, CE and Strochein, M and Vargas, LK and Bruxel, M and de Sá, EL and Passaglia, LM}, title = {Genetic diversity and symbiotic compatibility among rhizobial strains and Desmodium incanum and Lotus spp. plants.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {396-405}, pmid = {25071405}, issn = {1415-4757}, abstract = {This work aimed to evaluate the symbiotic compatibility and nodulation efficiency of rhizobia isolated from Desmodium incanum, Lotus corniculatus, L. subbiflorus, L. uliginosus and L. glaber plants by cross-inoculation. Twelve reference strains and 21 native isolates of rhizobia were genetically analyzed by the BOX-PCR technique, which showed a high genetic diversity among the rhizobia studied. The isolates were also characterized based on their production of indolic compounds and siderophores, as well as on their tolerance to salinity. Fifteen of the 33 rhizobia analyzed were able to produce indolic compounds, whereas 13 produced siderophores. All the tested rhizobia were sensitive to high salinity, although some were able to grow in solutions of up to 2% NaCl. Most of the native rhizobia isolated from L. uliginosus were able to induce nodulation in all plant species studied. In a greenhouse experiment using both D. incanum and L. corniculatus plants, the rhizobia isolate UFRGS Lu2 promoted the greatest plant growth. The results demonstrate that there are native rhizobia in the soils of southern Brazil that have low host specificity and are able to induce nodulation and form active nodules in several plant species.}, } @article {pmid25071377, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, H and You, YH and Yoon, H and Seo, Y and Kim, YE and Choo, YS and Lee, IJ and Shin, JH and Kim, JG}, title = {Culturable fungal endophytes isolated from the roots of coastal plants inhabiting korean East coast.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {100-108}, pmid = {25071377}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Twelve plant species were collected from the east coast of Korea to identify culturable endophytes present in their roots. The fungal internal transcribe spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8SrRNA-ITS2) was used as a DNA barcode for identification of fungi. A total of 194 fungal strains were identified and categorized into 31 genera. The genus Penicillium accounted for the largest number of strains, followed by the genus Aspergillus. Furthermore, using 5 statistical methods, the diversity indices of the fungi were calculated at the genus level. After comprehensive evaluation, the endophytic fungal group from Phragmites australis ranked highest in diversity analyses. Several strains responsible for plant growth and survival (Penicillium citrinum, P. funiculosum, P. janthinellum, P. restrictum, and P. simplicissimum), were also identified. This study provides basic data on the sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between coastal plants and fungi.}, } @article {pmid25070023, year = {2014}, author = {Nasto, MK and Alvarez-Clare, S and Lekberg, Y and Sullivan, BW and Townsend, AR and Cleveland, CC}, title = {Interactions among nitrogen fixation and soil phosphorus acquisition strategies in lowland tropical rain forests.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {1282-1289}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12335}, pmid = {25070023}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Costa Rica ; *Forests ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*enzymology/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/*chemistry ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Paradoxically, symbiotic dinitrogen (N2) fixers are abundant in nitrogen (N)-rich, phosphorus (P)-poor lowland tropical rain forests. One hypothesis to explain this pattern states that N2 fixers have an advantage in acquiring soil P by producing more N-rich enzymes (phosphatases) that mineralise organic P than non-N2 fixers. We assessed soil and root phosphatase activity between fixers and non-fixers in two lowland tropical rain forest sites, but also addressed the hypothesis that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation (another P acquisition strategy) is greater on fixers than non-fixers. Root phosphatase activity and AM colonisation were higher for fixers than non-fixers, and strong correlations between AM colonisation and N2 fixation at both sites suggest that the N-P interactions mediated by fixers may generally apply across tropical forests. We suggest that phosphatase enzymes and AM fungi enhance the capacity of N2 fixers to acquire soil P, thus contributing to their high abundance in tropical forests.}, } @article {pmid25066654, year = {2014}, author = {Cruz-Mora, J and Martínez-Hernández, NE and Martín del Campo-López, F and Viramontes-Hörner, D and Vizmanos-Lamotte, B and Muñoz-Valle, JF and García-García, G and Parra-Rojas, I and Castro-Alarcón, N}, title = {Effects of a symbiotic on gut microbiota in Mexican patients with end-stage renal disease.}, journal = {Journal of renal nutrition : the official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {330-335}, doi = {10.1053/j.jrn.2014.05.006}, pmid = {25066654}, issn = {1532-8503}, mesh = {Adult ; Bifidobacterium ; Counseling ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Inulin/administration & dosage ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/microbiology/*therapy ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Male ; Mexico ; *Microbiota ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Renal Dialysis ; *Synbiotics ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Gut microbiota provides beneficial effects under physiological conditions, but is able to contribute to inflammatory diseases in susceptible individuals. Thus, we designed this study to test whether additional intake of symbiotic gel affects specific modifications of gut microbiota in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

METHODS: Eighteen patients with ESRD diagnosis with renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis) were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: (1) test group (nutritional counseling + symbiotic) and (2) control group (nutritional counseling + placebo). Clinical history and the evaluation of Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale were performed. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction from fecal samples. All subjects were followed for 2 months.

RESULTS: Bifidobacterial counts were higher in the second samples (mean: 5.5 ± 1.72 log10 cells/g) than in first samples (4.2 ± 0.88 log 10 cells/g) in the patients of the test group (P = .0344). Also, lactobacilli counts had a little decrease in the test group (2.3 ± 0.75 to 2.0 ± 0.88 log 10 cells/g) and the control group (2.2 ± 0.90 to 1.8 ± 1.33 log 10 cells/g), between the first and the second samples. Gastrointestinal symptoms scores (scale 8-40) were reduced in the test group (start 12 [10-14] and end 9 [8-10]) compared with control group (start 11 [8-21] and end 11 [9-15]).

CONCLUSIONS: Short-term symbiotic treatment in patients with ESRD can lead to the increase of Bifidobacterium counts, maintaining the intestinal microbial balance.}, } @article {pmid25066219, year = {2014}, author = {Dani, V and Ganot, P and Priouzeau, F and Furla, P and Sabourault, C}, title = {Are Niemann-Pick type C proteins key players in cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbioses?.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {4527-4540}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12876}, pmid = {25066219}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; *Dinoflagellida ; Gene Duplication ; Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones, and the unicellular algae Symbiodinium is regulated by yet poorly understood cellular mechanisms, despite the ecological importance of coral reefs. These mechanisms, including host-symbiont recognition and metabolic exchange, control symbiosis stability under normal conditions, but also lead to symbiosis breakdown (bleaching) during stress. This study describes the repertoire of the sterol-trafficking proteins Niemann-Pick type C (NPC1 and NPC2) in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. We found one NPC1 gene in contrast to the two genes (NPC1 and NPC1L1) present in vertebrate genomes. While only one NPC2 gene is present in many metazoans, this gene has been duplicated in cnidarians, and we detected four NPC2 genes in A. viridis. However, only one gene (AvNPC2-d) was upregulated in symbiotic relative to aposymbiotic sea anemones and displayed higher expression in the gastrodermis (symbiont-containing tissue) than in the epidermis. We performed immunolabelling experiments on tentacle cross sections and demonstrated that the AvNPC2-d protein was closely associated with symbiosomes. In addition, AvNPC1 and AvNPC2-d gene expression was strongly downregulated during stress. These data suggest that AvNPC2-d is involved in both the stability and dysfunction of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses.}, } @article {pmid25066007, year = {2014}, author = {Otani, S and Mikaelyan, A and Nobre, T and Hansen, LH and Koné, NA and Sørensen, SJ and Aanen, DK and Boomsma, JJ and Brune, A and Poulsen, M}, title = {Identifying the core microbial community in the gut of fungus-growing termites.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {18}, pages = {4631-4644}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12874}, pmid = {25066007}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gut microbes play a crucial role in decomposing lignocellulose to fuel termite societies, with protists in the lower termites and prokaryotes in the higher termites providing these services. However, a single basal subfamily of the higher termites, the Macrotermitinae, also domesticated a plant biomass-degrading fungus (Termitomyces), and how this symbiont acquisition has affected the fungus-growing termite gut microbiota has remained unclear. The objective of our study was to compare the intestinal bacterial communities of five genera (nine species) of fungus-growing termites to establish whether or not an ancestral core microbiota has been maintained and characterizes extant lineages. Using 454-pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we show that gut communities have representatives of 26 bacterial phyla and are dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, Proteobacteria and Synergistetes. A set of 42 genus-level taxa was present in all termite species and accounted for 56-68% of the species-specific reads. Gut communities of termites from the same genus were more similar than distantly related species, suggesting that phylogenetic ancestry matters, possibly in connection with specific termite genus-level ecological niches. Finally, we show that gut communities of fungus-growing termites are similar to cockroaches, both at the bacterial phylum level and in a comparison of the core Macrotermitinae taxa abundances with representative cockroach, lower termite and higher nonfungus-growing termites. These results suggest that the obligate association with Termitomyces has forced the bacterial gut communities of the fungus-growing termites towards a relatively uniform composition with higher similarity to their omnivorous relatives than to more closely related termites.}, } @article {pmid25065623, year = {2014}, author = {Venkatesh, M and Mukherjee, S and Wang, H and Li, H and Sun, K and Benechet, AP and Qiu, Z and Maher, L and Redinbo, MR and Phillips, RS and Fleet, JC and Kortagere, S and Mukherjee, P and Fasano, A and Le Ven, J and Nicholson, JK and Dumas, ME and Khanna, KM and Mani, S}, title = {Symbiotic bacterial metabolites regulate gastrointestinal barrier function via the xenobiotic sensor PXR and Toll-like receptor 4.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {296-310}, pmid = {25065623}, issn = {1097-4180}, support = {P30CA013330/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI097375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI097375/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA013330/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adherens Junctions/genetics/immunology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology ; Antibodies/immunology ; CD3 Complex/immunology ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cell Line ; Female ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Indoles ; Indomethacin/pharmacology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microbiota/immunology ; Pregnane X Receptor ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Receptors, Steroid/genetics/*immunology ; Reperfusion Injury/immunology ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; Tight Junctions/genetics/*immunology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/*immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Intestinal microbial metabolites are conjectured to affect mucosal integrity through an incompletely characterized mechanism. Here we showed that microbial-specific indoles regulated intestinal barrier function through the xenobiotic sensor, pregnane X receptor (PXR). Indole 3-propionic acid (IPA), in the context of indole, is a ligand for PXR in vivo, and IPA downregulated enterocyte TNF-α while it upregulated junctional protein-coding mRNAs. PXR-deficient (Nr1i2(-/-)) mice showed a distinctly "leaky" gut physiology coupled with upregulation of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. These defects in the epithelial barrier were corrected in Nr1i2(-/-)Tlr4(-/-) mice. Our results demonstrate that a direct chemical communication between the intestinal symbionts and PXR regulates mucosal integrity through a pathway that involves luminal sensing and signaling by TLR4.}, } @article {pmid25062362, year = {2014}, author = {Schoenebeck, JJ and Ostrander, EA}, title = {Insights into morphology and disease from the dog genome project.}, journal = {Annual review of cell and developmental biology}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {535-560}, pmid = {25062362}, issn = {1530-8995}, support = {BBS/E/D/20211553/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; ZIA HG200377-02//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size/genetics ; Bone Neoplasms/genetics/veterinary ; Breeding ; Chromosome Mapping ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dog Diseases/genetics ; Dogs/anatomy & histology/classification/*genetics ; Extremities/anatomy & histology ; *Genome ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Glycoproteins/genetics/physiology ; HMGA2 Protein/genetics/physiology ; Hair/anatomy & histology ; Heart Diseases/genetics/veterinary ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics/physiology ; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary/genetics/veterinary ; Osteosarcoma/genetics/veterinary ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Selection, Genetic ; Skin/anatomy & histology ; Skull/anatomy & histology ; Smad2 Protein/genetics/physiology ; Species Specificity ; Tail/anatomy & histology ; }, abstract = {Although most modern dog breeds are less than 200 years old, the symbiosis between man and dog is ancient. Since prehistoric times, repeated selection events have transformed the wolf into man's guardians, laborers, athletes, and companions. The rapid transformation from pack predator to loyal companion is a feat that is arguably unique among domesticated animals. How this transformation came to pass remained a biological mystery until recently: Within the past decade, the deployment of genomic approaches to study population structure, detect signatures of selection, and identify genetic variants that underlie canine phenotypes is ushering into focus novel biological mechanisms that make dogs remarkable. Ironically, the very practices responsible for breed formation also spurned morbidity; today, many diseases are correlated with breed identity. In this review, we discuss man's best friend in the context of a genetic model to understand paradigms of heritable phenotypes, both desirable and disadvantageous.}, } @article {pmid25062354, year = {2014}, author = {Caspi-Fluger, A and Inbar, M and Steinberg, S and Friedmann, Y and Freund, M and Mozes-Daube, N and Zchori-Fein, E}, title = {Characterization of the symbiont Rickettsia in the mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Miridae).}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {104}, number = {6}, pages = {681-688}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485314000492}, pmid = {25062354}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rickettsia/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Miridae) is an omnivorous insect used for biological control. Augmentative release and conservation of N. tenuis have been used for pest control in tomato crops. Intracellular bacterial symbionts of arthropods are common in nature and have diverse effects on their hosts; in some cases they can dramatically affect biological control. Fingerprinting methods showed that the symbiotic complex associated with N. tenuis includes Wolbachia and Rickettsia. Rickettsia of N. tenuis was further characterized by sequencing the 16S rRNA and gltA bacterial genes, measuring its amount in different developmental stages of the insect by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and localizing the bacteria in the insect's body by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The Rickettsia in N. tenuis exhibited 99 and 96% similarity of both sequenced genes to Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia reported from Bemisia tabaci, respectively. The highest amount of Rickettsia was measured in the 5th instar and adult, and the symbionts could be detected in the host gut and ovaries. Although the role played by Rickettsia in the biology of N. tenuis is currently unknown, their high amount in the adults and localization in the gut suggest that they may have a nutritional role in this insect.}, } @article {pmid25061385, year = {2014}, author = {Hirose, E and Iskandar, BH and Wardiatno, Y}, title = {Photosymbiotic ascidians from Pari Island (Thousand Islands, Indonesia).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {422}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {25061385}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Photosymbiotic ascidian fauna were surveyed in the subtidal zone off Pari Island in the Thousand Islands (Java Sea, Indonesia). Nine species were recorded: Didemnum molle, Trididemnum miniatum, Lissoclinum patella, L. punctatum, L. timorense, Diplosoma gumavirens, D. simile, D. simileguwa, and D. virens. All of these species have been previously recorded in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Diplosoma gumavirens and D. simileguwa were originally described from the Ryukyu Archipelago in 2009 and 2005, respectively, and all of the observed species are potentially widely distributed in Indo-West Pacific coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid25060609, year = {2014}, author = {White, JF and Torres, MS and Sullivan, RF and Jabbour, RE and Chen, Q and Tadych, M and Irizarry, I and Bergen, MS and Havkin-Frenkel, D and Belanger, FC}, title = {Occurrence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as a systemic endophyte of vanilla orchids.}, journal = {Microscopy research and technique}, volume = {77}, number = {11}, pages = {874-885}, doi = {10.1002/jemt.22410}, pmid = {25060609}, issn = {1097-0029}, mesh = {Bacillus/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Meristem/microbiology ; Microscopy ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Plant Stomata/microbiology ; Vanilla/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {We report the occurrence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in vanilla orchids (Vanilla phaeantha) and cultivated hybrid vanilla (V. planifolia × V. pompona) as a systemic bacterial endophyte. We determined with light microscopy and isolations that tissues of V. phaeantha and the cultivated hybrid were infected by a bacterial endophyte and that shoot meristems and stomatal areas of stems and leaves were densely colonized. We identified the endophyte as B. amyloliquefaciens using DNA sequence data. Since additional endophyte-free plants and seed of this orchid were not available, additional studies were performed on surrogate hosts Amaranthus caudatus, Ipomoea tricolor, and I. purpurea. Plants of A. caudatus inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens demonstrated intracellular colonization of guard cells and other epidermal cells, confirming the pattern observed in the orchids. Isolations and histological studies suggest that the bacterium may penetrate deeply into developing plant tissues in shoot meristems, forming endospores in maturing tissues. B. amyloliquefaciens produced fungal inhibitors in culture. In controlled experiments using morning glory seedlings we showed that the bacterium promoted seedling growth and reduced seedling necrosis due to pathogens. We detected the gene for phosphopantetheinyl transferase (sfp), an enzyme in the pathway for production of antifungal lipopeptides, and purified the lipopeptide "surfactin" from cultures of the bacterium. We hypothesize that B. amyloliquefaciens is a robust endophyte and defensive mutualist of vanilla orchids. Whether the symbiosis between this bacterium and its hosts can be managed to protect vanilla crops from diseases is a question that should be evaluated in future research.}, } @article {pmid25060311, year = {2015}, author = {Li, W and Cui, Z and Han, F}, title = {Methods for assessing the energy-saving efficiency of industrial symbiosis in industrial parks.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {275-285}, pmid = {25060311}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {China ; Cities ; *Conservation of Energy Resources/economics/methods ; *Cooperative Behavior ; *Energy-Generating Resources/economics ; *Industry/economics ; *Models, Theoretical ; }, abstract = {The available energy resources are being depleted worldwide. Industrial symbiosis (IS) provides a promising approach for increasing the efficiency of energy utilization, with numerous studies reporting the superiority of this technology. However, studies quantifying the energy-saving efficiency of IS remain insufficient. This paper proposes an index system for the quantitative evaluation of the energy-saving efficiency of IS. Both energy-saving and financial indexes were selected, the former include the IS energy-saving index, the contribution rate of energy saved through IS, fractional energy savings, and cut rate of energy consumption per total output value; and the latter include the IS investment payback period, IS input-output ratio, net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR) of IS. The proposed methods were applied to a case study on the XF Industrial Park (XF IP), in the city of Liaocheng in Shandong Province of China. Three energy-saving channels using IS were found in the XF IP: (a) utilizing the energy of high-temperature materials among industrial processes, (b) recovering waste heat and steam between different processes, and (c) saving energy by sharing infrastructures. The results showed that the energy efficiency index of IS was 0.326, accounting for 34.6% of the comprehensive energy-saving index in 2011, and the fractional energy-savings were 12.42%. The index of energy consumption per total industrial output value varied from 90.9 tce/MRMB to 51.6 tce/MRMB. Thus, the cut rate of energy consumption per total industrial output value was 43.42%. The average values of the IS input-output ratio was 406.2 RMB/tce, 57.2% lower than the price of standard coal. Static investment payback period in the XF IP was 8.5 months, indicating that the XF IP began to earn profit 8.5 months after the construction of all IS modes. The NVP and IRR of each IS mode in the XF IP were greater than zero, with average values equal to 1,789.96 MRMB and 140.96%, respectively. The computation result for each indicator revealed that IS could lead to the use of energy with high efficiency and lighten the financial burden of enterprises in the XF IP. And the proposed index system may help IPs and EIPs to make strategic decisions when designing IS modes.}, } @article {pmid25059584, year = {2014}, author = {Hayashi, M and Shiro, S and Kanamori, H and Mori-Hosokawa, S and Sasaki-Yamagata, H and Sayama, T and Nishioka, M and Takahashi, M and Ishimoto, M and Katayose, Y and Kaga, A and Harada, K and Kouchi, H and Saeki, Y and Umehara, Y}, title = {A thaumatin-like protein, Rj4, controls nodule symbiotic specificity in soybean.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {9}, pages = {1679-1689}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu099}, pmid = {25059584}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Chromosome Mapping ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Loci/genetics ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*genetics/physiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybeans exhibit a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with soil bacteria of the genera Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer/Sinorhizobium in a unique organ, the root nodule. It is well known that nodulation of soybean is controlled by several host genes referred to as Rj (rj) genes. Among these genes, a dominant allele, Rj4, restricts nodulation with specific bacterial strains such as B. elkanii USDA61 and B. japonicum Is-34. These incompatible strains fail to invade the host epidermal cells as revealed by observations using DsRed-labeled bacteria. Here, we describe the molecular identification of the Rj4 gene by using map-based cloning with several mapping populations. The Rj4 gene encoded a thaumatin-like protein (TLP) that belongs to pathogenesis-related (PR) protein family 5. In rj4/rj4 genotype soybeans and wild soybeans, we found six missense mutations and two consecutive amino acid deletions in the rj4 gene as compared with the Rj4 allele. We also found, using hairy root transformation, that the rj4/rj4 genotype soybeans were fully complemented by the expression of the Rj4 gene. Whereas the expression of many TLPs and other PR proteins is induced by biotic/abiotic stress, Rj4 gene expression appears to be constitutive in roots including root nodules.}, } @article {pmid25059557, year = {2014}, author = {Ott, BM and Cruciger, M and Dacks, AM and Rio, RV}, title = {Hitchhiking of host biology by beneficial symbionts enhances transmission.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {5825}, pmid = {25059557}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aeromonas/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Behavior, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*transmission/veterinary ; Leeches/microbiology/*physiology ; Mucus/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Transmission plays a key role in the evolution of symbiosis. Mixed mode transmission combines horizontal and vertical mechanisms for symbiont acquisition. However, features that enable mixed transmission are poorly understood. Here, we determine the mechanistic basis for the recruitment of the beneficial bacterium, Aeromonas veronii by the leech, Hirudo verbana. We demonstrate that host mucosal secretions complement imperfect symbiont vertical transmission. First, we show that the A. veronii population within secretions originates from the host digestive tract and proliferates synchronously with shedding frequency, demonstrating the coupling of partner biology. Furthermore, leeches are attracted to these castings with oral contact proving sufficient for symbiont transmission. Leech attraction to mucus is not affected by the symbiont state of either the host or mucus, suggesting that A. veronii exploits preexisting host behavior and physiological traits. A dual transmission mode, integrating multiple layers of host contributions, may prove evolutionarily advantageous for a wide range of symbioses. Using such a strategy, host infection is ensured, while also providing access to a higher genetic diversity of symbionts. Countless host-associated microbes exhibit mixed mode transmission, supporting the use of the leech symbiosis as a model for enhancing our understanding of the specificity, establishment and persistence of microbiotas.}, } @article {pmid25059495, year = {2015}, author = {Pathak, M and Verma, M and Srivastava, M and Misra-Bhattacharya, S}, title = {Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi elicits a T helper type 17-mediated pro-inflammatory immune response through Wolbachia surface protein.}, journal = {Immunology}, volume = {144}, number = {2}, pages = {231-244}, pmid = {25059495}, issn = {1365-2567}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*pharmacology ; Brugia malayi/*immunology/*microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Filariasis/immunology/*microbiology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-10/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-2/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4/biosynthesis ; Larva ; Lymph Nodes/immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/pharmacology ; Spleen/immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; Th17 Cells/*immunology ; Th2 Cells/immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis ; Wolbachia/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium of the filarial nematode Brugia malayi. The symbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and its filarial host is dependent on interactions between the proteins of both organisms. However, little is known about Wolbachia proteins that are involved in the inflammatory pathology of the host during lymphatic filariasis. In the present study, we cloned, expressed and purified Wolbachia surface protein (r-wsp) from Wolbachia and administered it to mice, either alone or in combination with infective larvae of B. malayi (Bm-L3) and monitored the developing immune response in infected animals. Our results show that spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes of mice immunized with either r-wsp or infected with Bm-L3 show increased percentages of CD4(+) T helper type 17 (Th17) cells and Th1 cytokines like interferon-γ and interleukin-2 (IL-2) along with decreased percentages of regulatory T cells, Th2 cytokines like IL-4 and IL-10 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) levels in culture supernatants of splenocytes. These observations were stronger in mice immunized with r-wsp alone. Interestingly, when mice were first immunized with r-wsp and subsequently infected with Bm-L3, percentages of CD4(+) Th17 cells and Th1 cytokines increased even further while that of regulatory T cells, Th2 cytokines and TGF-β levels decreased. These results for the first time show that r-wsp acts synergistically with Bm-L3 in promoting a pro-inflammatory response by increasing Th17 cells and at the same time diminishes host immunological tolerance by decreasing regulatory T cells and TGF-β secretion.}, } @article {pmid25058852, year = {2015}, author = {Degnan, SM}, title = {The surprisingly complex immune gene repertoire of a simple sponge, exemplified by the NLR genes: a capacity for specificity?.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {269-274}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2014.07.012}, pmid = {25058852}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunologic Memory ; Porifera/*genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology ; }, abstract = {Most bacteria are not pathogenic to animals, and may instead serve beneficial functions. The requisite need for animals to differentiate between microbial friend and foe is likely borne from a deep evolutionary imperative to recognise self from non-self, a service ably provided by the innate immune system. Recent findings from an ancient lineage of simple animals - marine sponges - have revealed an unexpectedly large and diverse suite of genes belonging to one family of pattern recognition receptors, namely the NLR genes. Because NLRs can recognise a broad spectrum of microbial ligands, they may play a critical role in mediating the animal-bacterial crosstalk needed for sophisticated discrimination between microbes of various relationships. The building blocks for an advanced NLR-based immune specificity encoded in the genome of the coral reef sponge Amphimedon queenslandica may provide a specialisation and diversity of responses that equals, or even exceeds, that of vertebrate NLRs.}, } @article {pmid25058323, year = {2014}, author = {Hu, S and Guo, Z and Li, T and Carpenter, EJ and Liu, S and Lin, S}, title = {Detecting in situ copepod diet diversity using molecular technique: development of a copepod/symbiotic ciliate-excluding eukaryote-inclusive PCR protocol.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {e103528}, pmid = {25058323}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ciliophora/classification/*genetics ; Copepoda/classification/*genetics/parasitology ; DNA Primers/*analysis ; DNA, Algal/*analysis ; *Feeding Behavior ; Genetic Variation ; Likelihood Functions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Zooplankton/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Knowledge of in situ copepod diet diversity is crucial for accurately describing pelagic food web structure but is challenging to achieve due to lack of an easily applicable methodology. To enable analysis with whole copepod-derived DNAs, we developed a copepod-excluding 18S rDNA-based PCR protocol. Although it is effective in depressing amplification of copepod 18S rDNA, its applicability to detect diverse eukaryotes in both mono- and mixed-species has not been demonstrated. Besides, the protocol suffers from the problem that sequences from symbiotic ciliates are overrepresented in the retrieved 18S rDNA libraries. In this study, we designed a blocking primer to make a combined primer set (copepod/symbiotic ciliate-excluding eukaryote-common: CEEC) to depress PCR amplification of symbiotic ciliate sequences while maximizing the range of eukaryotes amplified. We firstly examined the specificity and efficacy of CEEC by PCR-amplifying DNAs from 16 copepod species, 37 representative organisms that are potential prey of copepods and a natural microplankton sample, and then evaluated the efficiency in reconstructing diet composition by detecting the food of both lab-reared and field-collected copepods. Our results showed that the CEEC primer set can successfully amplify 18S rDNA from a wide range of isolated species and mixed-species samples while depressing amplification of that from copepod and targeted symbiotic ciliate, indicating the universality of CEEC in specifically detecting prey of copepods. All the predetermined food offered to copepods in the laboratory were successfully retrieved, suggesting that the CEEC-based protocol can accurately reconstruct the diets of copepods without interference of copepods and their associated ciliates present in the DNA samples. Our initial application to analyzing the food composition of field-collected copepods uncovered diverse prey species, including those currently known, and those that are unsuspected, as copepod prey. While testing is required, this protocol provides a useful strategy for depicting in situ dietary composition of copepods.}, } @article {pmid25058318, year = {2014}, author = {Moree, WJ and McConnell, OJ and Nguyen, DD and Sanchez, LM and Yang, YL and Zhao, X and Liu, WT and Boudreau, PD and Srinivasan, J and Atencio, L and Ballesteros, J and Gavilán, RG and Torres-Mendoza, D and Guzmán, HM and Gerwick, WH and Gutiérrez, M and Dorrestein, PC}, title = {Microbiota of healthy corals are active against fungi in a light-dependent manner.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {2300-2308}, pmid = {25058318}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {S10RR029121/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; K12 GM068524/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW006634/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; AI095125/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; TW006634/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR029121/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Fungi/*drug effects ; *Light ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pseudoalteromonas/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are intricate ecosystems that harbor diverse organisms, including 25% of all marine fish. Healthy corals exhibit a complex symbiosis between coral polyps, endosymbiotic alga, and an array of microorganisms, called the coral holobiont. Secretion of specialized metabolites by coral microbiota is thought to contribute to the defense of this sessile organism against harmful biotic and abiotic factors. While few causative agents of coral diseases have been unequivocally identified, fungi have been implicated in the massive destruction of some soft corals worldwide. Because corals are nocturnal feeders, they may be more vulnerable to fungal infection at night, and we hypothesized that the coral microbiota would have the capability to enhance their defenses against fungi in the dark. A Pseudoalteromonas sp. isolated from a healthy octocoral displayed light-dependent antifungal properties when grown adjacent to Penicillium citrinum (P. citrinum) isolated from a diseased Gorgonian octocoral. Microbial MALDI-imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) coupled with molecular network analyses revealed that Pseudoalteromonas produced higher levels of antifungal polyketide alteramides in the dark than in the light. The alteramides were inactivated by light through a photoinduced intramolecular cyclization. Further NMR studies led to a revision of the stereochemical structure of the alteramides. Alteramide A exhibited antifungal properties and elicited changes in fungal metabolite distributions of mycotoxin citrinin and citrinadins. These data support the hypothesis that coral microbiota use abiotic factors such as light to regulate the production of metabolites with specialized functions to combat opportunistic pathogens at night.}, } @article {pmid25056315, year = {2014}, author = {Lehmann, R and Machné, R and Herzel, H}, title = {The structural code of cyanobacterial genomes.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {42}, number = {14}, pages = {8873-8883}, pmid = {25056315}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry ; DNA, Superhelical/chemistry ; *Genome, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {A periodic bias in nucleotide frequency with a period of about 11 bp is characteristic for bacterial genomes. This signal is commonly interpreted to relate to the helical pitch of negatively supercoiled DNA. Functions in supercoiling-dependent RNA transcription or as a 'structural code' for DNA packaging have been suggested. Cyanobacterial genomes showed especially strong periodic signals and, on the other hand, DNA supercoiling and supercoiling-dependent transcription are highly dynamic and underlie circadian rhythms of these phototrophic bacteria. Focusing on this phylum and dinucleotides, we find that a minimal motif of AT-tracts (AT2) yields the strongest signal. Strong genome-wide periodicity is ancestral to a clade of unicellular and polyploid species but lost upon morphological transitions into two baeocyte-forming and a symbiotic species. The signal is intermediate in heterocystous species and weak in monoploid picocyanobacteria. A pronounced 'structural code' may support efficient nucleoid condensation and segregation in polyploid cells. The major source of the AT2 signal are protein-coding regions, where it is encoded preferentially in the first and third codon positions. The signal shows only few relations to supercoiling-dependent and diurnal RNA transcription in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Strong and specific signals in two distinct transposons suggest roles in transposase transcription and transpososome formation.}, } @article {pmid25055883, year = {2014}, author = {Qi, B and Yang, Y and Yin, Y and Xu, M and Li, H}, title = {De novo sequencing, assembly, and analysis of the Taxodium 'Zhongshansa' roots and shoots transcriptome in response to short-term waterlogging.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {201}, pmid = {25055883}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Floods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Taxodium/*metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Taxodium is renowned for its strong tolerance to waterlogging stress, thus it has great ecological and economic potential. However, the scant genomic resources in genus Taxodium have greatly hindered further exploration of its underlying flood-tolerance mechanism. Taxodium 'Zhongshansa' is an interspecies hybrid of T. distichum and T. mucronatum, and has been widely planted in southeastern China. To understand the genetic basis of its flood tolerance, we analyzed the transcriptomes of Taxodium 'Zhongshansa' roots and shoots in response to short-term waterlogging.

RESULTS: RNA-seq was used to analyze genome-wide transcriptome changes of Taxodium 'Zhongshansa 406' clone root and shoot treated with 1 h of soil-waterlogging stress. After de novo assembly, 108,692 unigenes were achieved, and 70,260 (64.64%) of them were annotated. There were 2090 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in roots and 394 in shoots, with 174 shared by both of them, indicating that the aerial parts were also affected. Under waterlogging stress, the primary reaction of hypoxic-treated root was to activate the antioxidative defense system to prevent cells experiencing reactive oxygen species (ROS) poisoning. As respiration was inhibited and ATP decreased, another quick coping mechanism was repressing the energy-consuming biosynthetic processes through the whole plant. The glycolysis and fermentation pathway was activated to maintain ATP production in the hypoxic root. Constantly, the demand for carbohydrates increased, and carbohydrate metabolism were accumulated in the root as well as the shoot, possibly indicating that systemic communications between waterlogged and non-waterlogged tissues facilated survival. Amino acid metabolism was also greatly influenced, with down-regulation of genes involvedin serine degradation and up-regulation of aspartic acid degradation. Additionally, a non-symbiotic hemoglobin class 1 gene was up-regulated, which may also help the ATP production. Moreover, the gene expression pattern of 5 unigenes involving in the glycolysis pathway revealed by qRT-PCR confirmed the RNA-Seq data.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ROS detoxification and energy maintenance were the primary coping mechanisms of 'Zhongshansa' in surviving oxygen deficiency, which may be responsible for its remarkable waterlogging tolerance. Our study not only provided the first large-scale assessment of genomic resources of Taxodium but also guidelines for probing the molecular mechanism underlying 'Zhongshansa' waterlogging tolerance.}, } @article {pmid25053814, year = {2014}, author = {Kwong, WK and Engel, P and Koch, H and Moran, NA}, title = {Genomics and host specialization of honey bee and bumble bee gut symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {31}, pages = {11509-11514}, pmid = {25053814}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genes, Insect/genetics ; *Genomics ; Host Specificity/*genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Gilliamella apicola and Snodgrassella alvi are dominant members of the honey bee (Apis spp.) and bumble bee (Bombus spp.) gut microbiota. We generated complete genomes of the type strains G. apicola wkB1(T) and S. alvi wkB2(T) (isolated from Apis), as well as draft genomes for four other strains from Bombus. G. apicola and S. alvi were found to occupy very different metabolic niches: The former is a saccharolytic fermenter, whereas the latter is an oxidizer of carboxylic acids. Together, they may form a syntrophic network for partitioning of metabolic resources. Both species possessed numerous genes [type 6 secretion systems, repeats in toxin (RTX) toxins, RHS proteins, adhesins, and type IV pili] that likely mediate cell-cell interactions and gut colonization. Variation in these genes could account for the host fidelity of strains observed in previous phylogenetic studies. Here, we also show the first experimental evidence, to our knowledge, for this specificity in vivo: Strains of S. alvi were able to colonize their native bee host but not bees of another genus. Consistent with specific, long-term host association, comparative genomic analysis revealed a deep divergence and little or no gene flow between Apis and Bombus gut symbionts. However, within a host type (Apis or Bombus), we detected signs of horizontal gene transfer between G. apicola and S. alvi, demonstrating the importance of the broader gut community in shaping the evolution of any one member. Our results show that host specificity is likely driven by multiple factors, including direct host-microbe interactions, microbe-microbe interactions, and social transmission.}, } @article {pmid25053143, year = {2014}, author = {Rahmad, N and Al-Obaidi, JR and Nor Rashid, NM and Zean, NB and Mohd Yusoff, MH and Shaharuddin, NS and Mohd Jamil, NA and Mohd Saleh, N}, title = {Comparative proteomic analysis of different developmental stages of the edible mushroom Termitomyces heimii.}, journal = {Biological research}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {30}, pmid = {25053143}, issn = {0717-6287}, mesh = {Chemical Precipitation ; Databases, Protein ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Proteome/*isolation & purification ; Termitomyces/*chemistry/*growth & development ; Two-Dimensional Difference Gel Electrophoresis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Termitomyces heimii is a basidiomycete fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with termites, and it is an edible mushroom with a unique flavour and texture. T. heimii is also one of the most difficult mushrooms to cultivate throughout the world. Little is known about the growth and development of these mushrooms, and the available information is insufficient or poor. The purpose of this study was to provide a base of knowledge regarding the biological processes involved in the development of T. heimii. The proteomic method of 2 dimensional difference gel electrophoresis 2D-DIGE was used to determine and examine the protein profiles of each developmental stage (mycelium, primordium and fruiting body). Total proteins were extracted by TCA-acetone precipitation.

RESULTS: A total of 271 protein spots were detected by electrophoresis covering pH 3-10 and 10-250 kDa. Selected protein spots were subjected to mass spectrometric analyses with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI TOF/TOF). Nineteen protein spots were identified based on peptide mass fingerprinting by matching peptide fragments to the NCBI non-redundant database using MASCOT software. The 19 protein spots were categorised into four major groups through KEGG pathway analysis, as follows: carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and response to environmental stress.

CONCLUSIONS: The results from our study show that there is a clear correlation between the changes in protein expression that occur during different developmental stages. Enzymes related to cell wall synthesis were most highly expressed during fruiting body formation compared to the mycelium and primordial stages. Moreover, enzymes involved in cell wall component degradation were up-regulated in the earlier stages of mushroom development.}, } @article {pmid25052953, year = {2014}, author = {Zhao, L and Fan, M and Zhang, D and Yang, R and Zhang, F and Xu, L and Wei, X and Shen, Y and Wei, G}, title = {Distribution and diversity of rhizobia associated with wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.) in Northwest China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {6}, pages = {449-456}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.05.011}, pmid = {25052953}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; China ; Environment ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Genomics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A total of 155 nodule isolates that originated from seven sites in Northwest China were characterized by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene and sequence analysis of multiple core genes (16S rRNA, recA, atpD, and glnII) in order to investigate the diversity and biogeography of Glycine soja-nodulating rhizobia. Among the isolates, 80 were Ensifer fredii, 19 were Ensifer morelense, 49 were Rhizobium radiobacter, and 7 were putative novel Rhizobium species. The phylogenies of E. fredii and E. morelense isolates in a concatenate tree (assembly of all housekeeping genes) were generally consistent with those in individual gene trees. However, incongruence was found in the phylogenies of the different genes of Rhizobium isolates, indicating that lateral transfer or recombination possibly occurred in these gene loci. Despite their species identity, all the isolates in this study formed a single lineage related to E. fredii in nodAand nifH gene phylogenies, which also indicated that the symbiotic genes were laterally transferred between different species. Biogeographic patterns were found at the species and strain genomic type levels, as revealed by BOXA1R fingerprinting, demonstrating that the evolution of rhizobial populations in different geographic locations was related to soil types, altitude and spatial effects. This study is the first to report that E. morelense, R. radiobacter, and Rhizobium sp. are microsymbionts of G. soja, as well as showing that the diversity of G. soja rhizobia is enhanced and new rhizobia have evolved in Northwest China.}, } @article {pmid25052910, year = {2014}, author = {Ferguson, BJ and Mathesius, U}, title = {Phytohormone regulation of legume-rhizobia interactions.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {770-790}, pmid = {25052910}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen fixing bacteria called rhizobia leads to the formation of root nodules. Nodules are highly organized root organs that form in response to Nod factors produced by rhizobia, and they provide rhizobia with a specialized niche to optimize nutrient exchange and nitrogen fixation. Nodule development and invasion by rhizobia is locally controlled by feedback between rhizobia and the plant host. In addition, the total number of nodules on a root system is controlled by a systemic mechanism termed 'autoregulation of nodulation'. Both the local and the systemic control of nodulation are regulated by phytohormones. There are two mechanisms by which phytohormone signalling is altered during nodulation: through direct synthesis by rhizobia and through indirect manipulation of the phytohormone balance in the plant, triggered by bacterial Nod factors. Recent genetic and physiological evidence points to a crucial role of Nod factor-induced changes in the host phytohormone balance as a prerequisite for successful nodule formation. Phytohormones synthesized by rhizobia enhance symbiosis effectiveness but do not appear to be necessary for nodule formation. This review provides an overview of recent advances in our understanding of the roles and interactions of phytohormones and signalling peptides in the regulation of nodule infection, initiation, positioning, development, and autoregulation. Future challenges remain to unify hormone-related findings across different legumes and to test whether hormone perception, response, or transport differences among different legumes could explain the variety of nodules types and the predisposition for nodule formation in this plant family. In addition, the molecular studies carried out under controlled conditions will need to be extended into the field to test whether and how phytohormone contributions by host and rhizobial partners affect the long term fitness of the host and the survival and competition of rhizobia in the soil. It also will be interesting to explore the interaction of hormonal signalling pathways between rhizobia and plant pathogens.}, } @article {pmid25052023, year = {2014}, author = {Afkhami, ME and McIntyre, PJ and Strauss, SY}, title = {Mutualist-mediated effects on species' range limits across large geographic scales.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {1265-1273}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12332}, pmid = {25052023}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {California ; *Climate Change ; Droughts ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Poaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the processes determining species range limits is central to predicting species distributions under climate change. Projected future ranges are extrapolated from distribution models based on climate layers, and few models incorporate the effects of biotic interactions on species' distributions. Here, we show that a positive species interaction ameliorates abiotic stress, and has a profound effect on a species' range limits. Combining field surveys of 92 populations, 10 common garden experiments throughout the range, species distribution models and greenhouse experiments, we show that mutualistic fungal endophytes ameliorate drought stress and broaden the geographic range of their native grass host Bromus laevipes by thousands of square kilometres (~ 20% larger) into drier habitats. Range differentiation between fungal-associated and fungal-free grasses was comparable to species-level range divergence of congeners, indicating large impacts on range limits. Positive biotic interactions may be underappreciated in determining species' ranges and species' responses to future climates across large geographic scales.}, } @article {pmid25052021, year = {2014}, author = {Arif, C and Daniels, C and Bayer, T and Banguera-Hinestroza, E and Barbrook, A and Howe, CJ and LaJeunesse, TC and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Assessing Symbiodinium diversity in scleractinian corals via next-generation sequencing-based genotyping of the ITS2 rDNA region.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {4418-4433}, pmid = {25052021}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The persistence of coral reef ecosystems relies on the symbiotic relationship between scleractinian corals and intracellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Genetic evidence indicates that these symbionts are biologically diverse and exhibit discrete patterns of environmental and host distribution. This makes the assessment of Symbiodinium diversity critical to understanding the symbiosis ecology of corals. Here, we applied pyrosequencing to the elucidation of Symbiodinium diversity via analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region, a multicopy genetic marker commonly used to analyse Symbiodinium diversity. Replicated data generated from isoclonal Symbiodinium cultures showed that all genomes contained numerous, yet mostly rare, ITS2 sequence variants. Pyrosequencing data were consistent with more traditional denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approaches to the screening of ITS2 PCR amplifications, where the most common sequences appeared as the most intense bands. Further, we developed an operational taxonomic unit (OTU)-based pipeline for Symbiodinium ITS2 diversity typing to provisionally resolve ecologically discrete entities from intragenomic variation. A genetic distance cut-off of 0.03 collapsed intragenomic ITS2 variants of isoclonal cultures into single OTUs. When applied to the analysis of field-collected coral samples, our analyses confirm that much of the commonly observed Symbiodinium ITS2 diversity can be attributed to intragenomic variation. We conclude that by analysing Symbiodinium populations in an OTU-based framework, we can improve objectivity, comparability and simplicity when assessing ITS2 diversity in field-based studies.}, } @article {pmid25048541, year = {2014}, author = {Hanson, NW and Konwar, KM and Hawley, AK and Altman, T and Karp, PD and Hallam, SJ}, title = {Metabolic pathways for the whole community.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {619}, pmid = {25048541}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {R01 GM075742/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Genomics/*methods ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A convergence of high-throughput sequencing and computational power is transforming biology into information science. Despite these technological advances, converting bits and bytes of sequence information into meaningful insights remains a challenging enterprise. Biological systems operate on multiple hierarchical levels from genomes to biomes. Holistic understanding of biological systems requires agile software tools that permit comparative analyses across multiple information levels (DNA, RNA, protein, and metabolites) to identify emergent properties, diagnose system states, or predict responses to environmental change.

RESULTS: Here we adopt the MetaPathways annotation and analysis pipeline and Pathway Tools to construct environmental pathway/genome databases (ePGDBs) that describe microbial community metabolism using MetaCyc, a highly curated database of metabolic pathways and components covering all domains of life. We evaluate Pathway Tools' performance on three datasets with different complexity and coding potential, including simulated metagenomes, a symbiotic system, and the Hawaii Ocean Time-series. We define accuracy and sensitivity relationships between read length, coverage and pathway recovery and evaluate the impact of taxonomic pruning on ePGDB construction and interpretation. Resulting ePGDBs provide interactive metabolic maps, predict emergent metabolic pathways associated with biosynthesis and energy production and differentiate between genomic potential and phenotypic expression across defined environmental gradients.

CONCLUSIONS: This multi-tiered analysis provides the user community with specific operating guidelines, performance metrics and prediction hazards for more reliable ePGDB construction and interpretation. Moreover, it demonstrates the power of Pathway Tools in predicting metabolic interactions in natural and engineered ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid25048158, year = {2014}, author = {Li, Y and Lai, YM and Lu, Y and Yang, YL and Chen, S}, title = {Analysis of the biosynthesis of antibacterial cyclic dipeptides in Nocardiopsis alba.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {196}, number = {11}, pages = {765-774}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-014-1015-x}, pmid = {25048158}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/genetics/*physiology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Dipeptides/*biosynthesis/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Osmoregulation ; Plasmids/genetics ; Sequence Deletion ; }, abstract = {Nocardiopsis alba is frequently isolated from environment and has recently been suggested as a casual symbiotic actinobacterium of diverse invertebrates. Using activity-guided fractionation, we purified two antibacterial cyclic dipeptides, cyclo(ΔPhe-ΔLeu) (albonoursin) and cyclo(ΔmTyr-ΔLeu), from a culture of Nocardiopsis alba ATCC BAA-2165. Analysis of N. alba genome revealed genetic information similar to albonoursin biosynthetic gene cluster, albABC. An albABC gene deletion mutant of N. alba was generated. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the mutant could not produce the cyclic dipeptides. Cyclic dipeptide production in the mutant was restored by genetic complementation with the albABC cloned in a native plasmid of Nocardiopsis. β-Glucuronidase reporter assays with a second mutant construct, in which albABC promoter is transcriptionally fused to the reporting gene gusA, indicated that albABC gene expression was subject to osmoregulation. The system presented will be used to study the metabolic and genetic control of cyclic dipeptide biosynthesis in Nocardiopsis.}, } @article {pmid25047647, year = {2014}, author = {Weng, LC and Pasaribu, B and Lin, IP and Tsai, CH and Chen, CS and Jiang, PL}, title = {Nitrogen deprivation induces lipid droplet accumulation and alters fatty acid metabolism in symbiotic dinoflagellates isolated from Aiptasia pulchella.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {5777}, pmid = {25047647}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Culture Media ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/*metabolism ; Lipid Droplets ; Lipid Metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Pigmentation ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The stability of cnidarian-dinoflagellate (genus Symbiodinium spp.) endosymbioses depends on the regulation of nutrient transport between Symbiodinium populations and their hosts. Previously, we successfully induced the production of lipid droplets in the free-living cultured Symbiodinium (clade B) under the nitrogen-deprivation condition for 5 days. Therefore, the present study aimed at understanding the disruption of the endosymbiotic relationship between the cnidarians and dinoflagellates by nitrogen deprivation using Aiptasia pulchella as an example. Transmission electron micrographs revealed the formation of lipid droplets induced by nitrogen deprivation, and the lipid analyses further showed that polyunsaturated fatty acids were drastically enriched in Symbiodinium after 30 days of nitrogen deprivation, although these were unaffected after 5 days of nitrogen starvation. The present study also suggested that the host provided nitrogen to the symbiotic cells during short-term environmental stress. However, the relationship started to deteriorate after 30 days. These findings provide a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of the symbiotic relationship between the symbiotic dinoflagellates in terms of the nitrogen source, which might provide more information for the explanation of the regulatory mechanism underlying endosymbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid25046729, year = {2014}, author = {Slatko, BE and Luck, AN and Dobson, SL and Foster, JM}, title = {Wolbachia endosymbionts and human disease control.}, journal = {Molecular and biochemical parasitology}, volume = {195}, number = {2}, pages = {88-95}, doi = {10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.07.004}, pmid = {25046729}, issn = {1872-9428}, mesh = {Animals ; Filariasis/drug therapy/*parasitology ; Filarioidea/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Humans ; Nematoda/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Nematode Infections/drug therapy/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most human filarial nematode parasites and arthropods are hosts for a bacterial endosymbiont, Wolbachia. In filaria, Wolbachia are required for normal development, fertility and survival, whereas in arthropods, they are largely parasitic and can influence development and reproduction, but are generally not required for host survival. Due to their obligate nature in filarial parasites, Wolbachia have been a target for drug discovery initiatives using several approaches including diversity and focused library screening and genomic sequence analysis. In vitro and in vivo anti-Wolbachia antibiotic treatments have been shown to have adulticidal activity, a long sought goal of filarial parasite drug discovery. In mosquitoes, it has been shown that the presence of Wolbachia can inhibit the transmission of certain viruses, such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, West Nile, as well as the infectivity of the malaria-causing protozoan, Plasmodium and filarial nematodes. Furthermore, Wolbachia can cause a form of conditional sterility that can be used to suppress populations of mosquitoes and additional medically important insects. Thus Wolbachia, a pandemic endosymbiont offers great potential for elimination of a wide-variety of devastating human diseases.}, } @article {pmid25043484, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, Y and Telesford, KM and Ochoa-Repáraz, J and Haque-Begum, S and Christy, M and Kasper, EJ and Wang, L and Wu, Y and Robson, SC and Kasper, DL and Kasper, LH}, title = {An intestinal commensal symbiosis factor controls neuroinflammation via TLR2-mediated CD39 signalling.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {4432}, pmid = {25043484}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {R56 AI098282/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R41 AI110170/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA164225/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; 1R41 AI110170-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI099300/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K08 DK092281/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1R56 AI098282-01A1/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK103723/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI090959/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 HL087203/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antigens, CD/genetics/*metabolism ; Apyrase/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteroides fragilis/physiology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/*etiology ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation/*metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The mammalian immune system constitutively senses vast quantities of commensal bacteria and their products through pattern recognition receptors, yet excessive immune reactivity is prevented under homeostasis. The intestinal microbiome can influence host susceptibility to extra-intestinal autoimmune disorders. Here we report that polysaccharide A (PSA), a symbiosis factor for the human intestinal commensal Bacteroides fragilis, protects against central nervous system demyelination and inflammation during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis, through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). TLR2 mediates tissue-specific expansion of a critical regulatory CD39(+) CD4 T-cell subset by PSA. Ablation of CD39 signalling abrogates PSA control of EAE manifestations and inflammatory cytokine responses. Further, CD39 confers immune-regulatory phenotypes to total CD4 T cells and Foxp3(+) CD4 Tregs. Importantly, CD39-deficient CD4 T cells show an enhanced capability to drive EAE progression. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism by which an intestinal symbiont product modulates CNS-targeted demyelination.}, } @article {pmid25041857, year = {2014}, author = {Duron, O}, title = {Arsenophonus insect symbionts are commonly infected with APSE, a bacteriophage involved in protective symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {184-194}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12381}, pmid = {25041857}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae/*virology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Insecta/*microbiology/virology ; Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects commonly have intimate associations with maternally inherited bacterial symbionts. While many inherited symbionts are not essential for host survival, they often act as conditional mutualists, conferring protection against certain environmental stresses. The defensive symbiont Hamiltonella defensa which protects aphids against attacks by parasitoid wasps is one of these conditional mutualists. The protection afforded by Hamiltonella depends on the presence of a lysogenic bacteriophage, called APSE, encoding homologs of toxins that are suspected to target wasp cells. In this study, an important diversity of APSE variants is reported from another heritable symbiont, Arsenophonus, which is exceptionally widespread in insects. APSE was found in association with two-thirds of the Arsenophonus strains examined and from a variety of insect groups such as aphids, white flies, parasitoid wasps, triatomine bugs, louse flies, and bat flies. No APSE was, however, found from Arsenophonus relatives such as the recently described Aschnera chinzeii and ALO-3 endosymbionts. Phylogenetic investigations revealed that APSE has a long evolutionary history in heritable symbionts, being secondarily acquired by Hamiltonella through lateral transfer from Arsenophonus. Overall, this highlights the role of lateral transfer as a major evolutionary process shaping the emergence of defensive symbiosis in heritable bacteria.}, } @article {pmid25041533, year = {2014}, author = {Veesenmeyer, JL and Andersen, AW and Lu, X and Hussa, EA and Murfin, KE and Chaston, JM and Dillman, AR and Wassarman, KM and Sternberg, PW and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {NilD CRISPR RNA contributes to Xenorhabdus nematophila colonization of symbiotic host nematodes.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {93}, number = {5}, pages = {1026-1042}, pmid = {25041533}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {T32 GM007616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM059776/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM07616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1F32AI084441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AI084441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; *Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Intestines/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhabditida/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila is a mutualist of entomopathogenic Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes and facilitates infection of insect hosts. X. nematophila colonizes the intestine of S. carpocapsae which carries it between insects. In the X. nematophila colonization-defective mutant nilD6::Tn5, the transposon is inserted in a region lacking obvious coding potential. We demonstrate that the transposon disrupts expression of a single CRISPR RNA, NilD RNA. A variant NilD RNA also is expressed by X. nematophila strains from S. anatoliense and S. websteri nematodes. Only nilD from the S. carpocapsae strain of X. nematophila rescued the colonization defect of the nilD6::Tn5 mutant, and this mutant was defective in colonizing all three nematode host species. NilD expression depends on the presence of the associated Cas6e but not Cas3, components of the Type I-E CRISPR-associated machinery. While cas6e deletion in the complemented strain abolished nematode colonization, its disruption in the wild-type parent did not. Likewise, nilD deletion in the parental strain did not impact colonization of the nematode, revealing that the requirement for NilD is evident only in certain genetic backgrounds. Our data demonstrate that NilD RNA is conditionally necessary for mutualistic host colonization and suggest that it functions to regulate endogenous gene expression.}, } @article {pmid25041241, year = {2014}, author = {Maherali, H}, title = {Is there an association between root architecture and mycorrhizal growth response?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {192-200}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12927}, pmid = {25041241}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and plants is evolutionarily widespread. The response of plant growth to inoculation by these fungi (mycorrhizal growth response; MGR) is highly variable, ranging from positive to negative. Some of this variation is hypothesized to be associated with root structure and function. Specifically, species with a coarse root architecture, and thus a limited intrinsic capacity to absorb soil nutrients, are expected to derive the greatest growth benefit from inoculation with AM fungi. To test this hypothesis, previously published literature and phylogenetic information were combined in a meta-analysis to examine the magnitude and direction of relationships among several root architectural traits and MGR. Published studies differed in the magnitude and direction of relationships between root architecture and MGR. However, when combined, the overall relationship between MGR and allocation to roots, root diameter, root hair length and root hair density did not differ significantly from zero. These findings indicate that possessing coarse roots is not necessarily a predictor of plant growth response to AM fungal colonization. Root architecture is therefore unlikely to limit the evolution of variation in MGR.}, } @article {pmid25040855, year = {2014}, author = {Kohl, KD and Weiss, RB and Cox, J and Dale, C and Dearing, MD}, title = {Gut microbes of mammalian herbivores facilitate intake of plant toxins.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {1238-1246}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12329}, pmid = {25040855}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet/veterinary ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Herbivory ; Larrea/*chemistry ; Microbiota ; Sigmodontinae/*microbiology/physiology ; Toxins, Biological/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The foraging ecology of mammalian herbivores is strongly shaped by plant secondary compounds (PSCs) that defend plants against herbivory. Conventional wisdom holds that gut microbes facilitate the ingestion of toxic plants; however, this notion lacks empirical evidence. We investigated the gut microbiota of desert woodrats (Neotoma lepida), some populations of which specialise on highly toxic creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). Here, we demonstrate that gut microbes are crucial in allowing herbivores to consume toxic plants. Creosote toxins altered the population structure of the gut microbiome to facilitate an increase in abundance of genes that metabolise toxic compounds. In addition, woodrats were unable to consume creosote toxins after the microbiota was disrupted with antibiotics. Last, ingestion of toxins by naïve hosts was increased through microbial transplants from experienced donors. These results demonstrate that microbes can enhance the ability of hosts to consume PSCs and therefore expand the dietary niche breadth of mammalian herbivores.}, } @article {pmid25040127, year = {2014}, author = {Ferguson, BJ and Li, D and Hastwell, AH and Reid, DE and Li, Y and Jackson, SA and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {The soybean (Glycine max) nodulation-suppressive CLE peptide, GmRIC1, functions interspecifically in common white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but not in a supernodulating line mutated in the receptor PvNARK.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {1085-1097}, doi = {10.1111/pbi.12216}, pmid = {25040127}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genomics ; *Homeostasis ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Peptides/*genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume plants regulate the number of nitrogen-fixing root nodules they form via a process called the Autoregulation of Nodulation (AON). Despite being one of the most economically important and abundantly consumed legumes, little is known about the AON pathway of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). We used comparative- and functional-genomic approaches to identify central components in the AON pathway of common bean. This includes identifying PvNARK, which encodes a LRR receptor kinase that acts to regulate root nodule numbers. A novel, truncated version of the gene was identified directly upstream of PvNARK, similar to Medicago truncatula, but not seen in Lotus japonicus or soybean. Two mutant alleles of PvNARK were identified that cause a classic shoot-controlled and nitrate-tolerant supernodulation phenotype. Homeologous over-expression of the nodulation-suppressive CLE peptide-encoding soybean gene, GmRIC1, abolished nodulation in wild-type bean, but had no discernible effect on PvNARK-mutant plants. This demonstrates that soybean GmRIC1 can function interspecifically in bean, acting in a PvNARK-dependent manner. Identification of bean PvRIC1, PvRIC2 and PvNIC1, orthologues of the soybean nodulation-suppressive CLE peptides, revealed a high degree of conservation, particularly in the CLE domain. Overall, our work identified four new components of bean nodulation control and a truncated copy of PvNARK, discovered the mutation responsible for two supernodulating bean mutants and demonstrated that soybean GmRIC1 can function in the AON pathway of bean.}, } @article {pmid25039900, year = {2014}, author = {Kikuchi, Y and Hijikata, N and Yokoyama, K and Ohtomo, R and Handa, Y and Kawaguchi, M and Saito, K and Ezawa, T}, title = {Polyphosphate accumulation is driven by transcriptome alterations that lead to near-synchronous and near-equivalent uptake of inorganic cations in an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {3}, pages = {638-649}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12937}, pmid = {25039900}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cations/metabolism ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Polyphosphates/*metabolism ; RNA, Fungal/genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi accumulate a massive amount of phosphate as polyphosphate to deliver to the host, but the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the dynamics of cationic components during polyphosphate accumulation were investigated in conjunction with transcriptome analysis. Rhizophagus sp. HR1 was grown with Lotus japonicus under phosphorus-deficient conditions, and extraradical mycelia were harvested after phosphate application at prescribed intervals. Levels of polyphosphate, inorganic cations and amino acids were measured, and RNA-Seq was performed on the Illumina platform. Phosphate application triggered not only polyphosphate accumulation but also near-synchronous and near-equivalent uptake of Na(+) , K(+) , Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) , whereas no distinct changes in the levels of amino acids were observed. During polyphosphate accumulation, the genes responsible for mineral uptake, phosphate and nitrogen metabolism and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis were up-regulated. The results suggest that inorganic cations play a major role in neutralizing the negative charge of polyphosphate, and these processes are achieved by the orchestrated regulation of gene expression. Our findings provide, for the first time, a global picture of the cellular response to increased phosphate availability, which is the initial process of nutrient delivery in the associations.}, } @article {pmid25039790, year = {2014}, author = {Iffis, B and St-Arnaud, M and Hijri, M}, title = {Bacteria associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within roots of plants growing in a soil highly contaminated with aliphatic and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {358}, number = {1}, pages = {44-54}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12533}, pmid = {25039790}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*growth & development ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Hydrocarbons ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Petroleum ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Ribotyping ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants ; Solidago/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belong to phylum Glomeromycota, an early divergent fungal lineage forming symbiosis with plant roots. Many reports have documented that bacteria are intimately associated with AMF mycelia in the soil. However, the role of these bacteria remains unclear and their diversity within intraradical AMF structures has yet to be explored. We aim to assess the bacterial communities associated within intraradical propagules (vesicles and intraradical spores) harvested from roots of plant growing in the sediments of an extremely petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted basin. Solidago rugosa roots were sampled, surface-sterilized, and microdissected. Eleven propagules were randomly collected and individually subjected to whole-genome amplification, followed by PCRs, cloning, and sequencing targeting fungal and bacterial rDNA. Ribotyping of the 11 propagules showed that at least five different AMF OTUs could be present in S. rugosa roots, while 16S rRNA ribotyping of six of the 11 different propagules showed a surprisingly high bacterial richness associated with the AMF within plant roots. Most dominant bacterial OTUs belonged to Sphingomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., Massilia sp., and Methylobacterium sp. This study provides the first evidence of the bacterial diversity associated with AMF propagules within the roots of plants growing in extremely petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted conditions.}, } @article {pmid25039752, year = {2014}, author = {Porter, SS and Simms, EL}, title = {Selection for cheating across disparate environments in the legume-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {1121-1129}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12318}, pmid = {25039752}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Environment ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Models, Biological ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The primary dilemma in evolutionarily stable mutualisms is that natural selection for cheating could overwhelm selection for cooperation. Cheating need not entail parasitism; selection favours cheating as a quantitative trait whenever less-cooperative partners are more fit than more-cooperative partners. Mutualisms might be stabilised by mechanisms that direct benefits to more-cooperative individuals, which counter selection for cheating; however, empirical evidence that natural selection favours cheating in mutualisms is sparse. We measured selection on cheating in single-partner pairings of wild legume and rhizobium lineages, which prevented legume choice. Across contrasting environments, selection consistently favoured cheating by rhizobia, but did not favour legumes that provided less benefit to rhizobium partners. This is the first simultaneous measurement of selection on cheating across both host and symbiont lineages from a natural population. We empirically confirm selection for cheating as a source of antagonistic coevolutionary pressure in mutualism and a biological dilemma for models of cooperation.}, } @article {pmid25039581, year = {2014}, author = {Dreier, A and Loh, W and Blumenberg, M and Thiel, V and Hause-Reitner, D and Hoppert, M}, title = {The isotopic biosignatures of photo- vs. thiotrophic bivalves: are they preserved in fossil shells?.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {12}, number = {5}, pages = {406-423}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12093}, pmid = {25039581}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Animal Shells/chemistry ; Animals ; Bivalvia/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; *Fossils ; *Light ; Lipids/analysis ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Species Specificity ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; Sulfur Isotopes/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiont-bearing and non-symbiotic marine bivalves were used as model organisms to establish biosignatures for the detection of distinctive symbioses in ancient bivalves. For this purpose, the isotopic composition of lipids (δ13C) and bulk organic shell matrix (δ13C, δ34S, δ15N) from shells of several thiotrophic, phototrophic, or non-symbiotic bivalves were compared (phototrophic: Fragum fragum, Fragum unedo, Tridacna maxima; thiotrophic: Codakia tigerina, Fimbria fimbriata, Anodontia sp.; non-symbiotic: Tapes dorsatus, Vasticardium vertebratum, Scutarcopagia sp.). ∆13C values of bulk organic shell matrices, most likely representing mainly original shell protein/chitin biomass, were depleted in thio- and phototrophic bivalves compared to non-symbiotic bivalves. As the bulk organic shell matrix also showed a major depletion of δ15N (down to -2.2 ‰) for thiotrophic bivalves, combined δ13C and δ15N values are useful to differentiate between thio-, phototrophic, and non-symbiotic lifestyles. However, the use of these isotopic signatures for the study of ancient bivalves is limited by the preservation of the bulk organic shell matrix in fossils. Substantial alteration was clearly shown by detailed microscopic analyses of fossil (late Pleistocene) T. maxima and Trachycardium lacunosum shell, demonstrating a severe loss of quantity and quality of bulk organic shell matrix with time. Likewise, the composition and δ13C-values of lipids from empty shells indicated that a large part of these compounds derived from prokaryotic decomposers. The use of lipids from ancient shells for the reconstruction of the bivalve's life style therefore appears to be restricted.}, } @article {pmid25039211, year = {2014}, author = {Färber, L and Sølhaug, KA and Esseen, PA and Bilger, W and Gauslaa, Y}, title = {Sunscreening fungal pigments influence the vertical gradient of pendulous lichens in boreal forest canopies.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {6}, pages = {1464-1471}, doi = {10.1890/13-2319.1}, pmid = {25039211}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lichens/*physiology ; Norway ; Pigments, Biological/*physiology ; Sunlight ; Sweden ; Trees/*physiology ; Water ; }, abstract = {Pendulous lichens dominate canopies of boreal forests, with dark Bryoria species in the upper canopy vs. light Alectoria and Usnea species in lower canopy. These genera offer important ecosystem services such as winter forage for reindeer and caribou. The mechanism behind this niche separation is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that species-specific sunscreening fungal pigments protect underlying symbiotic algae differently against high light, and thus shape the vertical canopy gradient of epiphytes. Three pale species with the reflecting pigment usnic acid (Alectoria sarmentosa, Usnea dasypoga, U. longissima) and three with dark, absorbing melanins (Bryoria capillaris, B. fremontii, B. fuscescens) were compared. We subjected the lichens to desiccation stress with and without light, and assessed their performance with chlorophyll fluorescence. Desiccation alone only affected U. longissima. By contrast, light in combination with desiccation caused photoinhibitory damage in all species. Usnic lichens were significantly more susceptible to light during desiccation than melanic ones. Thus, melanin is a more efficient light-screening pigment than usnic acid. Thereby, the vertical gradient of pendulous lichens in forest canopies is consistent with a shift in type and functioning of sunscreening pigments, from high-light-tolerant Bryoria in the upper to susceptible Alectoria and Usnea in the lower canopy.}, } @article {pmid25038936, year = {2014}, author = {Klose, CS and Diefenbach, A}, title = {Transcription factors controlling innate lymphoid cell fate decisions.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {381}, number = {}, pages = {215-255}, doi = {10.1007/82_2014_381}, pmid = {25038936}, issn = {0070-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Differentiation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Lymphocytes/*cytology/*metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The mucosal epithelium is in direct contact with symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, the mucosal surface is the principal portal of entry for invading pathogens and immune cells accumulated in the intestine to prevent infections. In addition to these conventional immune system functions, it has become clear that immune cells during steady-state continuously integrate microbial and nutrient-derived signals from the environment to support organ homeostasis. A major role in both processes is played by a recently discovered group of lymphocytes referred to as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) that are specifically enriched at mucosal surfaces but are rather rare in secondary lymphoid organs. In analogy to the dichotomy between CD8 and CD4 T cells, we propose to classify ILCs into interleukin-7 receptor α-negative cytotoxic ILCs and IL-7Rα(+) helper-like ILCs. Dysregulated immune responses triggered by the various ILC subsets have been linked to inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis and airway hyperresponsiveness. Here, we will review recent progress in determining the transcriptional and developmental programs that control ILC fate decisions.}, } @article {pmid25038796, year = {2014}, author = {Kucho, K and Yamanaka, T and Sasakawa, H and Mansour, SR and Uchiumi, T}, title = {Different dynamics of genome content shuffling among host-specificity groups of the symbiotic actinobacterium Frankia.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {609}, pmid = {25038796}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; DNA/chemistry/metabolism ; DNA Gyrase/genetics/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Frankia/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Frankia is a genus of soil actinobacteria forming nitrogen-fixing root-nodule symbiotic relationships with non-leguminous woody plant species, collectively called actinorhizals, from eight dicotyledonous families. Frankia strains are classified into four host-specificity groups (HSGs), each of which exhibits a distinct host range. Genome sizes of representative strains of Alnus, Casuarina, and Elaeagnus HSGs are highly diverged and are positively correlated with the size of their host ranges.

RESULTS: The content and size of 12 Frankia genomes were investigated by in silico comparative genome hybridization and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, respectively. Data were collected from four query strains of each HSG and compared with those of reference strains possessing completely sequenced genomes. The degree of difference in genome content between query and reference strains varied depending on HSG. Elaeagnus query strains were missing the greatest number (22-32%) of genes compared with the corresponding reference genome; Casuarina query strains lacked the fewest (0-4%), with Alnus query strains intermediate (14-18%). In spite of the remarkable gene loss, genome sizes of Alnus and Elaeagnus query strains were larger than would be expected based on total length of the absent genes. In contrast, Casuarina query strains had smaller genomes than expected.

CONCLUSIONS: The positive correlation between genome size and host range held true across all investigated strains, supporting the hypothesis that size and genome content differences are responsible for observed diversity in host plants and host plant biogeography among Frankia strains. In addition, our results suggest that different dynamics of shuffling of genome content have contributed to these symbiotic and biogeographic adaptations. Elaeagnus strains, and to a lesser extent Alnus strains, have gained and lost many genes to adapt to a wide range of environments and host plants. Conversely, rather than acquiring new genes, Casuarina strains have discarded genes to reduce genome size, suggesting an evolutionary orientation towards existence as specialist symbionts.}, } @article {pmid25038101, year = {2014}, author = {Itoh, H and Aita, M and Nagayama, A and Meng, XY and Kamagata, Y and Navarro, R and Hori, T and Ohgiya, S and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Evidence of environmental and vertical transmission of Burkholderia symbionts in the oriental chinch bug, Cavelerius saccharivorus (Heteroptera: Blissidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {19}, pages = {5974-5983}, pmid = {25038101}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Environment ; Female ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The vertical transmission of symbiotic microorganisms is omnipresent in insects, while the evolutionary process remains totally unclear. The oriental chinch bug, Cavelerius saccharivorus (Heteroptera: Blissidae), is a serious sugarcane pest, in which symbiotic bacteria densely populate the lumen of the numerous tubule-like midgut crypts that the chinch bug develops. Cloning and sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that the crypts were dominated by a specific group of bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia of the Betaproteobacteria. The Burkholderia sequences were distributed into three distinct clades: the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), the plant-associated beneficial and environmental (PBE) group, and the stinkbug-associated beneficial and environmental group (SBE). Diagnostic PCR revealed that only one of the three groups of Burkholderia was present in ∼89% of the chinch bug field populations tested, while infections with multiple Burkholderia groups within one insect were observed in only ∼10%. Deep sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed that the Burkholderia bacteria specifically colonized the crypts and were dominated by one of three Burkholderia groups. The lack of phylogenetic congruence between the symbiont and the host population strongly suggested host-symbiont promiscuity, which is probably caused by environmental acquisition of the symbionts by some hosts. Meanwhile, inspections of eggs and hatchlings by diagnostic PCR and egg surface sterilization demonstrated that almost 30% of the hatchlings vertically acquire symbiotic Burkholderia via symbiont-contaminated egg surfaces. The mixed strategy of symbiont transmission found in the oriental chinch bug might be an intermediate stage in evolution from environmental acquisition to strict vertical transmission in insects.}, } @article {pmid25038065, year = {2014}, author = {Schleicher, TR and VerBerkmoes, NC and Shah, M and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Colonization state influences the hemocyte proteome in a beneficial squid-Vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {2673-2686}, pmid = {25038065}, issn = {1535-9484}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/drug effects/physiology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hemocytes/*metabolism ; Proteome/*analysis ; Proteomics/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri form a highly specific beneficial light organ symbiosis. Not only does the host have to select V. fischeri from the environment, but it must also prevent subsequent colonization by non-symbiotic microorganisms. Host macrophage-like hemocytes are believed to play a role in mediating the symbiosis with V. fischeri. Previous studies have shown that the colonization state of the light organ influences the host's hemocyte response to the symbiont. To further understand the molecular mechanisms behind this process, we used two quantitative mass-spectrometry-based proteomic techniques, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) and label-free spectral counting, to compare and quantify the adult hemocyte proteomes from colonized (sym) and uncolonized (antibiotic-treated/cured) squid. Overall, iTRAQ allowed for the quantification of 1,024 proteins with two or more peptides. Thirty-seven unique proteins were determined to be significantly different between sym and cured hemocytes (p value < 0.05), with 20 more abundant proteins and 17 less abundant in sym hemocytes. The label-free approach resulted in 1,241 proteins that were identified in all replicates. Of 185 unique proteins present at significantly different amounts in sym hemocytes (as determined by spectral counting), 92 were more abundant and 93 were less abundant. Comparisons between iTRAQ and spectral counting revealed that 30 of the 37 proteins quantified via iTRAQ exhibited trends similar to those identified by the label-free method. Both proteomic techniques mutually identified 16 proteins that were significantly different between the two groups of hemocytes (p value < 0.05). The presence of V. fischeri in the host light organ influenced the abundance of proteins associated with the cytoskeleton, adhesion, lysosomes, proteolysis, and the innate immune response. These data provide evidence that colonization by V. fischeri alters the hemocyte proteome and reveals proteins that may be important for maintaining host-symbiont specificity.}, } @article {pmid25037210, year = {2014}, author = {Kapulnik, Y and Koltai, H}, title = {Strigolactone involvement in root development, response to abiotic stress, and interactions with the biotic soil environment.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {166}, number = {2}, pages = {560-569}, pmid = {25037210}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Soil ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones, recently discovered as plant hormones, regulate the development of different plant parts. In the root, they regulate root architecture and affect root hair length and density. Their biosynthesis and exudation increase under low phosphate levels, and they are associated with root responses to these conditions. Their signaling pathway in the plant includes protein interactions and ubiquitin-dependent repressor degradation. In the root, they lead to changes in actin architecture and dynamics as well as localization of the PIN-FORMED auxin transporter in the plasma membrane. Strigolactones are also involved with communication in the rhizosphere. They are necessary for germination of parasitic plant seeds, they enhance hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomus and Gigaspora spp., and they promote rhizobial symbiosis. This review focuses on the role played by strigolactones in root development, their response to nutrient deficiency, and their involvement with plant interactions in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid25036899, year = {2014}, author = {Liang, C and Wang, J and Zhao, J and Tian, J and Liao, H}, title = {Control of phosphate homeostasis through gene regulation in crops.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {59-66}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.06.009}, pmid = {25036899}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/physiology ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Homeostasis/genetics/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Development/physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is an essential yet frequently deficient element in plants. Maintenance of phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is crucial for crop production. In comparison with the model plant Arabidopsis, crops face wider ranges and larger fluctuations in P supply from the soil environment, and thus develop more complicated strategies to improve Pi acquisition and utilization efficiency. Undergirding these strategies, there are numerous genes involved in alternative metabolism pathways that are regulated by complex Pi signaling networks. In this review, we intend to summarize the recent advances in crops on control of Pi homeostasis through gene regulation from Pi acquisition and mobilization within plants, as well as activation of rhizosphere P and P uptake through symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid25033924, year = {2015}, author = {Hu, Y and Wu, S and Sun, Y and Li, T and Zhang, X and Chen, C and Lin, G and Chen, B}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can mitigate the negative effects of night warming on physiological traits of Medicago truncatula L.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {131-142}, pmid = {25033924}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Climate Change ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glucosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sucrose/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Elevated night temperature, one of the main climate warming scenarios, can have profound effects on plant growth and metabolism. However, little attention has been paid to the potential role of mycorrhizal associations in plant responses to night warming, although it is well known that symbiotic fungi can protect host plants against various environmental stresses. In the present study, physiological traits of Medicago truncatula L. in association with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis were investigated under simulated night warming. A constant increase in night temperature of 1.53 °C significantly reduced plant shoot and root biomass, flower and seed number, leaf sugar concentration, and shoot Zn and root P concentrations. However, the AM association essentially mitigated these negative effects of night warming by improving plant growth, especially through increased root biomass, root to shoot ratio, and shoot Zn and root P concentrations. A significant interaction was observed between R. irregularis inoculation and night warming in influencing both root sucrose concentration and expression of sucrose synthase (SusS) genes, suggesting that AM symbiosis and increased night temperature jointly regulated plant sugar metabolism. Night warming stimulated AM fungal colonization but did not influence arbuscule abundance, symbiosis-related plant or fungal gene expression, or growth of extraradical mycelium, indicating little effect of night warming on the development or functioning of AM symbiosis. These findings highlight the importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis in assisting plant resilience to climate warming.}, } @article {pmid25032823, year = {2014}, author = {Delaux, PM and Varala, K and Edger, PP and Coruzzi, GM and Pires, JC and Ané, JM}, title = {Comparative phylogenomics uncovers the impact of symbiotic associations on host genome evolution.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e1004487}, pmid = {25032823}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses between eukaryotes and beneficial microorganisms of their microbiome play an essential role in nutrition, protection against disease, and development of the host. However, the impact of beneficial symbionts on the evolution of host genomes remains poorly characterized. Here we used the independent loss of the most widespread plant-microbe symbiosis, arbuscular mycorrhization (AM), as a model to address this question. Using a large phenotypic approach and phylogenetic analyses, we present evidence that loss of AM symbiosis correlates with the loss of many symbiotic genes in the Arabidopsis lineage (Brassicales). Then, by analyzing the genome and/or transcriptomes of nine other phylogenetically divergent non-host plants, we show that this correlation occurred in a convergent manner in four additional plant lineages, demonstrating the existence of an evolutionary pattern specific to symbiotic genes. Finally, we use a global comparative phylogenomic approach to track this evolutionary pattern among land plants. Based on this approach, we identify a set of 174 highly conserved genes and demonstrate enrichment in symbiosis-related genes. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that beneficial symbionts maintain purifying selection on host gene networks during the evolution of entire lineages.}, } @article {pmid25031424, year = {2014}, author = {Reddy, MS and Prasanna, L and Marmeisse, R and Fraissinet-Tachet, L}, title = {Differential expression of metallothioneins in response to heavy metals and their involvement in metal tolerance in the symbiotic basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {160}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {2235-2242}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.080218-0}, pmid = {25031424}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {*Drug Tolerance ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Laccaria/*drug effects/genetics/physiology ; Metallothionein/genetics/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism/toxicity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidative Stress ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Cysteine-rich peptides such as metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification in many eukaryotes. We report the characterization and expression of two MT genes, LbMT1 and LbMT2 from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor under metal stress conditions. LbMT1 and LbMT2 differ with respect to the length of the encoded peptides (58 versus 37 aa, respectively) and also by their expression patterns in response to metals. The expression levels of both LbMT1 and LbMT2 increased as a function of increased external Cu concentration, the expression levels for LbMT2 were always significantly higher compared with those of LbMT1. Only LbMT1, but not LbMT2, responded to Cd supply in the range of 25-100 µM while Zn did not affect the transcription of either LbMT1 or LbMT2. Both genes also responded to oxidative stress, but to a lesser extent compared to their responses to either Cu or Cd stress. Heterologous complementation assays in metal-sensitive yeast mutants indicated that both LbMT1 and LbMT2 encode peptides capable of conferring higher tolerance to both Cu and Cd. The present study identified LbMTs as potential determinants of the response of this mycorrhizal fungus to Cu and Cd stress.}, } @article {pmid25028969, year = {2014}, author = {Šustr, V and Chroňáková, A and Semanová, S and Tajovský, K and Šimek, M}, title = {Methane production and methanogenic Archaea in the digestive tracts of millipedes (Diplopoda).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {e102659}, pmid = {25028969}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; *Biodiversity ; Czech Republic ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Euryarchaeota/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Feces/chemistry ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Methane/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Romania ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Slovakia ; }, abstract = {Methane production by intestinal methanogenic Archaea and their community structure were compared among phylogenetic lineages of millipedes. Tropical and temperate millipedes of 35 species and 17 families were investigated. Species that emitted methane were mostly in the juliform orders Julida, Spirobolida, and Spirostreptida. The irregular phylogenetic distribution of methane production correlated with the presence of the methanogen-specific mcrA gene. The study brings the first detailed survey of methanogens' diversity in the digestive tract of millipedes. Sequences related to Methanosarcinales, Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales and some unclassified Archaea were detected using molecular profiling (DGGE). The differences in substrate preferences of the main lineages of methanogenic Archaea found in different millipede orders indicate that the composition of methanogen communities may reflect the differences in available substrates for methanogenesis or the presence of symbiotic protozoa in the digestive tract. We conclude that differences in methane production in the millipede gut reflect differences in the activity and proliferation of intestinal methanogens rather than an absolute inability of some millipede taxa to host methanogens. This inference was supported by the general presence of methanogenic activity in millipede faecal pellets and the presence of the 16S rRNA gene of methanogens in all tested taxa in the two main groups of millipedes, the Helminthophora and the Pentazonia.}, } @article {pmid25028741, year = {2014}, author = {Harris, R and Raphael, P and Harris, SW}, title = {Thermal capsulorrhaphy: a modified technique for breast pocket revision.}, journal = {Aesthetic surgery journal}, volume = {34}, number = {7}, pages = {1041-1049}, doi = {10.1177/1090820X14542650}, pmid = {25028741}, issn = {1527-330X}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Breast Implantation/*adverse effects/instrumentation ; Breast Implants ; *Electrocoagulation/adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Implant Capsular Contracture/diagnosis/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; *Suture Techniques/adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Scant attention has been paid to breast capsule revision after augmentation mammaplasty. Dissatisfaction with traditional techniques prompted the senior authors to develop a thermal capsulorrhaphy (TC) technique to obliterate excess breast pocket space using ball cautery followed by barbed suture closure.

OBJECTIVES: The authors propose a new periprosthetic technique for pocket closure, present a corresponding guide for surgical and postoperative management, and provide results of their retrospective review.

METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for all patients who underwent TC after cosmetic augmentation mammaplasty during a 5-year period, for whom clinical photographs were available from at least 1 year postoperatively. Operating details and complications were documented. Outcomes were rated a success, partial success, or failure, based on analysis of the photographs.

RESULTS: Of the 157 TC cases (41 unilateral, 58 bilateral) with a mean follow-up of 2 years, 141 (90%) outcomes were successful, 4 (2%) were partially successful, and 12 (8%) had failed. There were 16 complications: 10 over- or undercorrections and 1 episode each of hematoma, capsular contracture, slight deformity, nipple sensitivity, exposed suture knot, and suture abscess.

CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of TC derives from the symbiosis of stitches and heat: capsulorrhaphy reinforces apposition of the damaged walls, and cautery contracts and thickens the capsule, thus reducing dead space and improving suture purchase. Initially popularized in shoulder surgery, TC is even better suited for breast pocket closure due to superior visibility and maneuverability, more aggressive practices, and the lack of similar complications. Postoperative stabilization and guideline compliance are essential to successful revision.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.}, } @article {pmid25027439, year = {2014}, author = {Herren, JK and Paredes, JC and Schüpfer, F and Arafah, K and Bulet, P and Lemaitre, B}, title = {Insect endosymbiont proliferation is limited by lipid availability.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e02964}, pmid = {25027439}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {339970/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; R01 GM084947/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01-GM084947/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Load ; Biological Transport ; Diglycerides/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/chemistry/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Fertility/physiology ; Gene Expression ; Hemolymph/chemistry/metabolism/*microbiology ; Insect Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Lipoproteins/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Longevity/physiology ; Male ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism ; Spiroplasma/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Spiroplasma poulsonii is a maternally transmitted bacterial endosymbiont that is naturally associated with Drosophila melanogaster. S. poulsonii resides extracellularly in the hemolymph, where it must acquire metabolites to sustain proliferation. In this study, we find that Spiroplasma proliferation specifically depletes host hemolymph diacylglyceride, the major lipid class transported by the lipoprotein, Lpp. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Lpp expression, which reduces the amount of circulating lipids, inhibits Spiroplasma proliferation demonstrating that bacterial proliferation requires hemolymph-lipids. Altogether, our study shows that an insect endosymbiont acquires specific lipidic metabolites from the transport lipoproteins in the hemolymph of its host. In addition, we show that the proliferation of this endosymbiont is limited by the availability of hemolymph lipids. This feature could limit endosymbiont over-proliferation under conditions of host nutrient limitation as lipid availability is strongly influenced by the nutritional state.}, } @article {pmid25026064, year = {2014}, author = {Martens, EC and Kelly, AG and Tauzin, AS and Brumer, H}, title = {The devil lies in the details: how variations in polysaccharide fine-structure impact the physiology and evolution of gut microbes.}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology}, volume = {426}, number = {23}, pages = {3851-3865}, pmid = {25026064}, issn = {1089-8638}, support = {K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM099513/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Diet/*methods ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Polysaccharides/*chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The critical importance of gastrointestinal microbes to digestion of dietary fiber in humans and other mammals has been appreciated for decades. Symbiotic microorganisms expand mammalian digestive physiology by providing an armament of diverse polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, which are largely absent in mammalian genomes. By out-sourcing this aspect of digestive physiology to our gut microbes, we maximize our ability to adapt to different carbohydrate nutrients on timescales as short as several hours due to the ability of the gut microbial community to rapidly alter its physiology from meal to meal. Because of their ability to pick up new traits by lateral gene transfer, our gut microbes also enable adaption over time periods as long as centuries and millennia by adjusting their gene content to reflect cultural dietary trends. Despite a vast amount of sequence-based insight into the metabolic potential of gut microbes, the specific mechanisms by which symbiotic gut microorganisms recognize and attack complex carbohydrates remain largely undefined. Here, we review the recent literature on this topic and posit that numerous, subtle variations in polysaccharides diversify the spectrum of available nutrient niches, each of which may be best filled by a subset of microorganisms that possess the corresponding proteins to recognize and degrade different carbohydrates. Understanding these relationships at precise mechanistic levels will be essential to obtain a complete understanding of the forces shaping gut microbial ecology and genomic evolution, as well as devising strategies to intentionally manipulate the composition and physiology of the gut microbial community to improve health.}, } @article {pmid25024677, year = {2014}, author = {Taran, NY and Gonchar, OM and Lopatko, KG and Batsmanova, LM and Patyka, MV and Volkogon, MV}, title = {The effect of colloidal solution of molybdenum nanoparticles on the microbial composition in rhizosphere of Cicer arietinum L.}, journal = {Nanoscale research letters}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {289}, pmid = {25024677}, issn = {1931-7573}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The use of colloidal solutions of metals as micronutrients enhances plant resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions and ensures high yields of food crops due to the active penetration of nanoelements into the plant cells. Microbiological examination of rhizosphere soil have revealed that combined use of colloidal solution of nanoparticles of molybdenum (CSNM, 8 mg/l), and microbial preparation for pre-sowing inoculation of chickpea seeds stimulates the development of 'agronomically valuable' microflora. It was shown that combined seed treatment with colloidal solution of Mo nanoparticles with microbial preparation have stimulated nodule formation per plant by four times compared to controls. Single treatment with CSNM increased the number of nodules by two times, while the treatment of microbial preparation have not significantly affected the number of nodules per plant.

PACS: Colloids, 82.70.Dd; Ecology, 87.23.-n.}, } @article {pmid25024222, year = {2014}, author = {Licandro-Seraut, H and Scornec, H and Pédron, T and Cavin, JF and Sansonetti, PJ}, title = {Functional genomics of Lactobacillus casei establishment in the gut.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {30}, pages = {E3101-9}, pmid = {25024222}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genomics ; Ileum/*microbiology ; *Lacticaseibacillus casei/genetics/metabolism ; Mutagenesis ; *Mutation ; Rabbits ; }, abstract = {Although the composition of the gut microbiota and its symbiotic contribution to key host physiological functions are well established, little is known as yet about the bacterial factors that account for this symbiosis. We selected Lactobacillus casei as a model microorganism to proceed to genomewide identification of the functions required for a symbiont to establish colonization in the gut. As a result of our recent development of a transposon-mutagenesis tool that overcomes the barrier that had prevented L. casei random mutagenesis, we developed a signature-tagged mutagenesis approach combining whole-genome reverse genetics using a set of tagged transposons and in vivo screening using the rabbit ligated ileal loop model. After sequencing transposon insertion sites in 9,250 random mutants, we assembled a library of 1,110 independent mutants, all disrupted in a different gene, that provides a representative view of the L. casei genome. By determining the relative quantity of each of the 1,110 mutants before and after the in vivo challenge, we identified a core of 47 L. casei genes necessary for its establishment in the gut. They are involved in housekeeping functions, metabolism (sugar, amino acids), cell wall biogenesis, and adaptation to environment. Hence we provide what is, to our knowledge, the first global functional genomics analysis of L. casei symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25023655, year = {2014}, author = {Geng, Y and Liu, Z and Xue, B and Dong, H and Fujita, T and Chiu, A}, title = {Emergy-based assessment on industrial symbiosis: a case of Shenyang Economic and Technological Development Zone.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {21}, number = {23}, pages = {13572-13587}, pmid = {25023655}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Humans ; Industry/*economics/statistics & numerical data ; Systems Theory ; Thermodynamics ; }, abstract = {Industrial symbiosis is the sharing of services, utility, and by-product resources among industries. This is usually made in order to add value, reduce costs, and improve the environment, and therefore has been taken as an effective approach for developing an eco-industrial park, improving resource efficiency, and reducing pollutant emission. Most conventional evaluation approaches ignored the contribution of natural ecosystem to the development of industrial symbiosis and cannot reveal the interrelations between economic development and environmental protection, leading to a need of an innovative evaluation method. Under such a circumstance, we present an emergy analysis-based evaluation method by employing a case study at Shenyang Economic and Technological Development Zone (SETDZ). Specific emergy indicators on industrial symbiosis, including emergy savings and emdollar value of total emergy savings, were developed so that the holistic picture of industrial symbiosis can be presented. Research results show that nonrenewable inputs, imported resource inputs, and associated services could be saved by 89.3, 32.51, and 15.7 %, and the ratio of emergy savings to emergy of the total energy used would be about 25.58 %, and the ratio of the emdollar value of total emergy savings to the total gross regional product (GRP) of SETDZ would be 34.38 % through the implementation of industrial symbiosis. In general, research results indicate that industrial symbiosis could effectively reduce material and energy consumption and improve the overall eco-efficiency. Such a method can provide policy insights to industrial park managers so that they can raise appropriate strategies on developing eco-industrial parks. Useful strategies include identifying more potential industrial symbiosis opportunities, optimizing energy structure, increasing industrial efficiency, recovering local ecosystems, and improving public and industrial awareness of eco-industrial park policies.}, } @article {pmid25023325, year = {2014}, author = {Wen, Z and Wu, M and Lin, Y and Yang, L and Lin, J and Cen, P}, title = {Artificial symbiosis for acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation from alkali extracted deshelled corn cobs by co-culture of Clostridium beijerinckii and Clostridium cellulovorans.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {92}, pmid = {25023325}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {1-Butanol/*metabolism ; Acetone/*metabolism ; Clostridium beijerinckii/growth & development/*metabolism ; Clostridium cellulovorans/growth & development/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Ethanol/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology/*methods ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Butanol is an industrial commodity and also considered to be a more promising gasoline substitute compared to ethanol. Renewed attention has been paid to solvents (acetone, butanol and ethanol) production from the renewable and inexpensive substrates, for example, lignocellulose, on account of the depletion of oil resources, increasing gasoline prices and deteriorating environment. Limited to current tools for genetic manipulation, it is difficult to develop a genetically engineered microorganism with combined ability of lignocellulose utilization and solvents production. Mixed culture of cellulolytic microorganisms and solventogenic bacteria provides a more convenient and feasible approach for ABE fermentation due to the potential for synergistic utilization of the metabolic pathways of two organisms. But few bacteria pairs succeeded in producing biobutanol of high titer or high productivity without adding butyrate. The aim of this work was to use Clostridium cellulovorans 743B to saccharify lignocellulose and produce butyric acid, instead of adding cellulase and butyric acid to the medium, so that the soluble sugars and butyric acid generated can be subsequently utilized by Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 to produce butanol in one pot reaction.

RESULTS: A stable artificial symbiotic system was constructed by co-culturing a celluloytic, anaerobic, butyrate-producing mesophile (C. cellulovorans 743B) and a non-celluloytic, solventogenic bacterium (C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052) to produce solvents by consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) with alkali extracted deshelled corn cobs (AECC), a low-cost renewable feedstock, as the sole carbon source. Under optimized conditions, the co-culture degraded 68.6 g/L AECC and produced 11.8 g/L solvents (2.64 g/L acetone, 8.30 g/L butanol and 0.87 g/L ethanol) in less than 80 h. Besides, a real-time PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence was performed to study the dynamics of the abundance of each strain during the co-culturing process, which figured out the roles of each strain at different periods in the symbiosis.

CONCLUSION: Our work illustrated the great potential of artificial symbiosis in biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass by CBP. The dynamics of the abundance of C. beijerinckii and C. cellulovorans revealed mechanisms of cooperation and competition between the two strains during the co-culture process.}, } @article {pmid25019379, year = {2014}, author = {Navarro, A and Fos, S and Laguna, E and Durán, D and Rey, L and Rubio-Sanz, L and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T}, title = {Conservation of endangered Lupinus mariae-josephae in its natural habitat by inoculation with selected, native Bradyrhizobium strains.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {e102205}, pmid = {25019379}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Conservation of Natural Resources/*methods ; *Ecosystem ; *Endangered Species ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Seeds/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lupinus mariae-josephae is a recently discovered endemism that is only found in alkaline-limed soils, a unique habitat for lupines, from a small area in Valencia region (Spain). In these soils, L. mariae-josephae grows in just a few defined patches, and previous conservation efforts directed towards controlled plant reproduction have been unsuccessful. We have previously shown that L. mariae-josephae plants establish a specific root nodule symbiosis with bradyrhizobia present in those soils, and we reasoned that the paucity of these bacteria in soils might contribute to the lack of success in reproducing plants for conservation purposes. Greenhouse experiments using L. mariae-josephae trap-plants showed the absence or near absence of L. mariae-josephae-nodulating bacteria in "terra rossa" soils of Valencia outside of L. mariae-josephae plant patches, and in other "terra rossa" or alkaline red soils of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands outside of the Valencia L. mariae-josephae endemism region. Among the bradyrhizobia able to establish an efficient symbiosis with L. mariae-josephae plants, two strains, LmjC and LmjM3 were selected as inoculum for seed coating. Two planting experiments were carried out in consecutive years under natural conditions in areas with edapho-climatic characteristics identical to those sustaining natural L. mariae-josephae populations, and successful reproduction of the plant was achieved. Interestingly, the successful reproductive cycle was absolutely dependent on seedling inoculation with effective bradyrhizobia, and optimal performance was observed in plants inoculated with LmjC, a strain that had previously shown the most efficient behavior under controlled conditions. Our results define conditions for L. mariae-josephae conservation and for extension to alkaline-limed soil habitats, where no other known lupine can thrive.}, } @article {pmid25019059, year = {2014}, author = {Schwartz, B and Yehuda-Shnaidman, E}, title = {Putative role of adipose tissue in growth and metabolism of colon cancer cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in oncology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {164}, pmid = {25019059}, issn = {2234-943X}, abstract = {Newly emerging data highlight obesity as an important risk factor for developing certain types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Although evidence supports a link between the two, the mechanisms responsible for this relationship have not yet been fully elucidated. Hypertrophied and dysfunctional adipose tissue of the obese state is characterized by low-grade inflammation. Adipokines and cytokines secreted from adipocytes, together with the abundant availability of lipids from adipocytes in the tumor microenvironment, promote adhesion, migration, and invasion of tumor cells and support tumor progression and uncontrolled growth. One of the predisposed targets of the deleterious effects exerted by secretions from adipose tissue in obesity is the activities associated with the cellular mitochondria. Mitochondrial oxidative metabolism plays a key role in meeting cells' energetic demands by oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). Here we discuss: (a) the dynamic relationship between glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and OxPhos; (b) the evidence for impaired OxPhos (i.e., mitochondrial dysfunction) in colon cancer; (c) the mechanisms by which mitochondrial dysfunction can predispose to cancer. We propose that impaired OxPhos increases susceptibility to colon cancer since OxPhos is sensitive to a large number of factors that are intrinsic to the host (e.g., inflammation). Given that adipocytes are a major source of adipokines and energy for the cancer cell, understanding the mechanisms of metabolic symbiosis between cancer cells and adipocytes should reveal new therapeutic possibilities.}, } @article {pmid25018750, year = {2014}, author = {Soucy, SM and Fullmer, MS and Papke, RT and Gogarten, JP}, title = {Inteins as indicators of gene flow in the halobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {299}, pmid = {25018750}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {This research uses inteins, a type of mobile genetic element, to infer patterns of gene transfer within the Halobacteria. We surveyed 118 genomes representing 26 genera of Halobacteria for intein sequences. We then used the presence-absence profile, sequence similarity and phylogenies from the inteins recovered to explore how intein distribution can provide insight on the dynamics of gene flow between closely related and divergent organisms. We identified 24 proteins in the Halobacteria that have been invaded by inteins at some point in their evolutionary history, including two proteins not previously reported to contain an intein. Furthermore, the size of an intein is used as a heuristic for the phase of the intein's life cycle. Larger size inteins are assumed to be the canonical two domain inteins, consisting of self-splicing and homing endonuclease domains (HEN); smaller sizes are assumed to have lost the HEN domain. For many halobacterial groups the consensus phylogenetic signal derived from intein sequences is compatible with vertical inheritance or with a strong gene transfer bias creating these clusters. Regardless, the coexistence of intein-free and intein-containing alleles reveal ongoing transfer and loss of inteins within these groups. Inteins were frequently shared with other Euryarchaeota and among the Bacteria, with members of the Cyanobacteria (Cyanothece, Anabaena), Bacteriodetes (Salinibacter), Betaproteobacteria (Delftia, Acidovorax), Firmicutes (Halanaerobium), Actinobacteria (Longispora), and Deinococcus-Thermus-group.}, } @article {pmid25017466, year = {2014}, author = {Kawamoto, S and Maruya, M and Kato, LM and Suda, W and Atarashi, K and Doi, Y and Tsutsui, Y and Qin, H and Honda, K and Okada, T and Hattori, M and Fagarasan, S}, title = {Foxp3(+) T cells regulate immunoglobulin a selection and facilitate diversification of bacterial species responsible for immune homeostasis.}, journal = {Immunity}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {152-165}, doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2014.05.016}, pmid = {25017466}, issn = {1097-4180}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Germ-Free Life ; Germinal Center/immunology ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Immune Tolerance/immunology ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, SCID/microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Peyer's Patches/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Foxp3(+) T cells play a critical role for the maintenance of immune tolerance. Here we show that in mice, Foxp3(+) T cells contributed to diversification of gut microbiota, particularly of species belonging to Firmicutes. The control of indigenous bacteria by Foxp3(+) T cells involved regulatory functions both outside and inside germinal centers (GCs), consisting of suppression of inflammation and regulation of immunoglobulin A (IgA) selection in Peyer's patches, respectively. Diversified and selected IgAs contributed to maintenance of diversified and balanced microbiota, which in turn facilitated the expansion of Foxp3(+) T cells, induction of GCs, and IgA responses in the gut through a symbiotic regulatory loop. Thus, the adaptive immune system, through cellular and molecular components that are required for immune tolerance and through the diversification as well as selection of antibody repertoire, mediates host-microbial symbiosis by controlling the richness and balance of bacterial communities required for homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid25017154, year = {2014}, author = {Koltai, H}, title = {Implications of non-specific strigolactone signaling in the rhizosphere.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {225}, number = {}, pages = {9-14}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.04.019}, pmid = {25017154}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Orobanche/growth & development ; Plant Development ; *Plant Diseases ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; *Rhizosphere ; Signal Transduction ; Striga/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones produced by various plant species are involved in the development of different plant parts. They are also exuded by plant roots to the rhizosphere, where they are involved in the induction of seed germination of the parasitic plants Striga and Orobanche, hyphal branching of the symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and the symbiotic interaction with Rhizobium. In the present discussion paper, the essentialness of strigolactones as communication signals in these plant interactions is discussed in view of the existence of other plant-derived substances that are able to promote these plant interactions. In addition, the importance of strigolactones for determination of interaction specificity is discussed based on current knowledge on strigolactone composition, perception and delivery. The different activities of strigolactones in plant development and in the rhizosphere suggest their possible use in agriculture. However, despite efforts made in this direction, there is no current, practical implementation. Possible reasons for the encountered difficulties and suggested solutions to promote strigolactone use in agriculture are discussed.}, } @article {pmid25016555, year = {2015}, author = {Zhang, X and Ren, BH and Wu, SL and Sun, YQ and Lin, G and Chen, BD}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis influences arsenic accumulation and speciation in Medicago truncatula L. in arsenic-contaminated soil.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {119}, number = {}, pages = {224-230}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.06.042}, pmid = {25016555}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Arsenic/analysis/*metabolism/*pharmacokinetics ; Arsenites/metabolism ; Biomass ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Plant Shoots/chemistry ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In two pot experiments, wild type and a non-mycorrhizal mutant (TR25:3-1) of Medicago truncatula were grown in arsenic (As)-contaminated soil to investigate the influences of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on As accumulation and speciation in host plants. The results indicated that the plant biomass of M. truncatula was dramatically increased by AM symbiosis. Mycorrhizal colonization significantly increased phosphorus concentrations and decreased As concentrations in plants. Moreover, mycorrhizal colonization generally increased the percentage of arsenite in total As both in shoots and roots, while dimethylarsenic acid (DMA) was only detected in shoots of mycorrhizal plants. The results suggested that AMF are most likely to get involved in the methylating of inorganic As into less toxic organic DMA and also in the reduction of arsenate to arsenite. The study allowed a deeper insight into the As detoxification mechanisms in AM associations. By using the mutant M. truncatula, we demonstrated the importance of AMF in plant As tolerance under natural conditions.}, } @article {pmid25016412, year = {2014}, author = {Gust, KA and Najar, FZ and Habib, T and Lotufo, GR and Piggot, AM and Fouke, BW and Laird, JG and Wilbanks, MS and Rawat, A and Indest, KJ and Roe, BA and Perkins, EJ}, title = {Coral-zooxanthellae meta-transcriptomics reveals integrated response to pollutant stress.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {591}, pmid = {25016412}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome/*drug effects ; Triazines/*pharmacology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Corals represent symbiotic meta-organisms that require harmonization among the coral animal, photosynthetic zooxanthellae and associated microbes to survive environmental stresses. We investigated integrated-responses among coral and zooxanthellae in the scleractinian coral Acropora formosa in response to an emerging marine pollutant, the munitions constituent, 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5 triazine (RDX; 5 day exposures to 0 (control), 0.5, 0.9, 1.8, 3.7, and 7.2 mg/L, measured in seawater).

RESULTS: RDX accumulated readily in coral soft tissues with bioconcentration factors ranging from 1.1 to 1.5. Next-generation sequencing of a normalized meta-transcriptomic library developed for the eukaryotic components of the A. formosa coral holobiont was leveraged to conduct microarray-based global transcript expression analysis of integrated coral/zooxanthellae responses to the RDX exposure. Total differentially expressed transcripts (DET) increased with increasing RDX exposure concentrations as did the proportion of zooxanthellae DET relative to the coral animal. Transcriptional responses in the coral demonstrated higher sensitivity to RDX compared to zooxanthellae where increased expression of gene transcripts coding xenobiotic detoxification mechanisms (i.e. cytochrome P450 and UDP glucuronosyltransferase 2 family) were initiated at the lowest exposure concentration. Increased expression of these detoxification mechanisms was sustained at higher RDX concentrations as well as production of a physical barrier to exposure through a 40% increase in mucocyte density at the maximum RDX exposure. At and above the 1.8 mg/L exposure concentration, DET coding for genes involved in central energy metabolism, including photosynthesis, glycolysis and electron-transport functions, were decreased in zooxanthellae although preliminary data indicated that zooxanthellae densities were not affected. In contrast, significantly increased transcript expression for genes involved in cellular energy production including glycolysis and electron-transport pathways was observed in the coral animal.

CONCLUSIONS: Transcriptional network analysis for central energy metabolism demonstrated highly correlated responses to RDX among the coral animal and zooxanthellae indicative of potential compensatory responses to lost photosynthetic potential within the holobiont. These observations underscore the potential for complex integrated responses to RDX exposure among species comprising the coral holobiont and highlight the need to understand holobiont-species interactions to accurately assess pollutant impacts.}, } @article {pmid25016011, year = {2014}, author = {Miadlikowska, J and Richardson, D and Magain, N and Ball, B and Anderson, F and Cameron, R and Lendemer, J and Truong, C and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Phylogenetic placement, species delimitation, and cyanobiont identity of endangered aquatic Peltigera species (lichen-forming Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {101}, number = {7}, pages = {1141-1156}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1400267}, pmid = {25016011}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {• Premise of this study: Aquatic cyanolichens from the genus Peltigera section Hydrothyriae are subject to anthropogenic threats and, therefore, are considered endangered. In this study we addressed the phylogenetic placement of section Hydrothyriae within Peltigera. We delimited species within the section and identified their symbiotic cyanobacteria.• Methods: Species delimitation and population structure were explored using monophyly as a grouping criterion (RAxML) and Structurama based on three protein-coding genes in combination with two nuclear ribosomal loci. The 16S and rbcLX sequences for the cyanobionts were analyzed in the broad phylogenetic context of free-living and symbiotic cyanobacteria.• Key results: We confirm with high confidence the placement of section Hydrothyriae within the monophyletic genus Peltigera; however, its phylogenetic position within the genus remains unsettled. We recovered three distinct monophyletic groups corresponding to three species: P. hydrothyria, P. gowardii s.s., and P. aquatica Miadl. & Lendemer, the latter being formally introduced here. Each species was associated with an exclusive set of Nostoc haplotypes.• Conclusions: The ITS region alone provides sufficient genetic information to distinguish the three morphologically cryptic species within section Hydrothyriae. Section Hydrothyriae seems to be associated with a monophyletic lineage of Nostoc, that has not been found in symbiotic association with other members of Peltigera. Capsosira lowei should be transferred to the genus Nostoc. Potential threats to P. aquatica should be re-examined based on the recognition of two aquatic species in western North America.}, } @article {pmid25016008, year = {2014}, author = {Werth, S and Sork, VL}, title = {Ecological specialization in Trebouxia (Trebouxiophyceae) photobionts of Ramalina menziesii (Ramalinaceae) across six range-covering ecoregions of western North America.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {101}, number = {7}, pages = {1127-1140}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1400025}, pmid = {25016008}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {• Premise of the study: Many lichens exhibit extensive ranges spanning several ecoregions. It has been hypothesized that this wide ecological amplitude is facilitated by fungal association with locally adapted photobiont strains.• Methods: We studied the identity and geographic distribution of photobionts of the widely distributed North American lichen Ramalina menziesii based on rbcL (chloroplast DNA) and nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequences. To test for ecological specialization, we associate photobiont genotypes with local climate and phorophyte.• Key results: Of the photobiont lineages of R. menziesii, 94% belong to a clade including Trebouxia decolorans. The remaining are related to T. jamesii. The photobionts showed (1) significant structure according to ecoregion and phorophyte species and (2) genetic associations with phorophyte species and climate.• Conclusions: Geography, climate, and ecological specialization shape genetic differentiation of lichen photobionts. One great advantage of independent dispersal of the fungus is symbiotic association with locally adapted photobiont strains.}, } @article {pmid25015890, year = {2014}, author = {Dykstra, HR and Weldon, SR and Martinez, AJ and White, JA and Hopper, KR and Heimpel, GE and Asplen, MK and Oliver, KM}, title = {Factors limiting the spread of the protective symbiont Hamiltonella defensa in Aphis craccivora Aphids.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {18}, pages = {5818-5827}, pmid = {25015890}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacteriophages/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Viral/chemistry/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/growth & development/*isolation & purification/*physiology/virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; North America ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects are associated with heritable symbionts that mediate ecological interactions, including host protection against natural enemies. The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, is a polyphagous pest that harbors Hamiltonella defensa, which defends against parasitic wasps. Despite this protective benefit, this symbiont occurs only at intermediate frequencies in field populations. To identify factors constraining H. defensa invasion in Ap. craccivora, we estimated symbiont transmission rates, performed fitness assays, and measured infection dynamics in population cages to evaluate effects of infection. Similar to results with the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, we found no consistent costs to infection using component fitness assays, but we did identify clear costs to infection in population cages when no enemies were present. Maternal transmission rates of H. defensa in Ap. craccivora were high (ca. 99%) but not perfect. Transmission failures and infection costs likely limit the spread of protective H. defensa in Ap. craccivora. We also characterized several parameters of H. defensa infection potentially relevant to the protective phenotype. We confirmed the presence of H. defensa in aphid hemolymph, where it potentially interacts with endoparasites, and performed real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to estimate symbiont and phage abundance during aphid development. We also examined strain variation of H. defensa and its bacteriophage at multiple loci, and despite our lines being collected in different regions of North America, they were infected with a nearly identical strains of H. defensa and APSE4 phage. The limited strain diversity observed for these defensive elements may result in relatively static protection profile for this defensive symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid25014744, year = {2014}, author = {de Morais Sato, P and da Rocha Pereira, P and de Carvalho Stelmo, I and Unsain, RF and Ulian, MD and Sabatini, F and Martins, PA and Scagliusi, FB}, title = {Eating practices and habitus in mothers. A Brazilian population-based survey.}, journal = {Appetite}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {16-28}, doi = {10.1016/j.appet.2014.07.002}, pmid = {25014744}, issn = {1095-8304}, mesh = {Adult ; Brazil ; Cluster Analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; *Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Food Preferences ; Health Behavior ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Mothers/*education ; *Nutrition Surveys ; Pilot Projects ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with mothers living in the city of Santos, Brazil, in order to investigate their eating practices, and the interface between those practices and the concept of habitus. From a cluster analysis of the scores for dietary pattern and for food preparation and consumption, the mothers were categorised into five clusters of eating practices: practical mothers (19.8%), symbiotic mothers (3.2%), health-conscious hedonists (17.3%), traditionalists (34.6%), and family cooks (25.1%). To access the habitus of the eating-practice clusters, the following variables were compared: location of residence, profession, socioeconomic status, weight-loss practices, risk behaviours for eating disorders, disordered eating attitudes, body dissatisfaction, and cultural and technological consumption. For all the groups, the observed eating practices were permeated by responsibility for the family's diet, but with different manifestations. For symbiotic mothers, practical mothers, and family cooks, the primary function of their relation with food was to nourish their families, with little expression of their own tastes and preferences. The traditionalists and the health-conscious hedonists, on the other hand, manifested their role as mothers by providing food considered 'nutritionally proper' to their family members. Furthermore, aspects of contemporary lifestyles, such as little time for food, individualisation of meals, and consumption of processed foods, were found to coexist with the valorisation and maintenance of the traditional meals within some groups. The variety of eating practices could not be understood as a linear association between economic and cultural capitals; however, eating practices seemed to interact with those capitals, composing a habitus.}, } @article {pmid25014649, year = {2014}, author = {Chavez-Dozal, AA and Gorman, C and Lostroh, CP and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Gene-swapping mediates host specificity among symbiotic bacteria in a beneficial symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {e101691}, pmid = {25014649}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T34 GM007667/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM0007667-34/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC1AI081659-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 3SC1AI081659-02S1/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation/genetics ; Host Specificity/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Environmentally acquired beneficial associations are comprised of a wide variety of symbiotic species that vary both genetically and phenotypically, and therefore have differential colonization abilities, even when symbionts are of the same species. Strain variation is common among conspecific hosts, where subtle differences can lead to competitive exclusion between closely related strains. One example where symbiont specificity is observed is in the sepiolid squid-Vibrio mutualism, where competitive dominance exists among V. fischeri isolates due to subtle genetic differences between strains. Although key symbiotic loci are responsible for the establishment of this association, the genetic mechanisms that dictate strain specificity are not fully understood. We examined several symbiotic loci (lux-bioluminescence, pil = pili, and msh-mannose sensitive hemagglutinin) from mutualistic V. fischeri strains isolated from two geographically distinct squid host species (Euprymna tasmanica-Australia and E. scolopes-Hawaii) to determine whether slight genetic differences regulated host specificity. Through colonization studies performed in naïve squid hatchlings from both hosts, we found that all loci examined are important for specificity and host recognition. Complementation of null mutations in non-native V. fischeri with loci from the native V. fischeri caused a gain in fitness, resulting in competitive dominance in the non-native host. The competitive ability of these symbiotic loci depended upon the locus tested and the specific squid species in which colonization was measured. Our results demonstrate that multiple bacterial genetic elements can determine V. fischeri strain specificity between two closely related squid hosts, indicating how important genetic variation is for regulating conspecific beneficial interactions that are acquired from the environment.}, } @article {pmid25013231, year = {2014}, author = {da Silva, K and De Meyer, SE and Rouws, LFM and Farias, ENC and Dos Santos, MAO and O'Hara, G and Ardley, JK and Willems, A and Pitard, RM and Zilli, JE}, title = {Bradyrhizobium ingae sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules of Inga laurina grown in Cerrado soil.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {3395-3401}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.063727-0}, pmid = {25013231}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root-nodule bacteria were isolated from Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd. growing in the Cerrado Amazon region, State of Roraima, Brazil. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of six strains (BR 10250(T), BR 10248, BR 10249, BR 10251, BR 10252 and BR 10253) showed low similarities with currently described species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences of five housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) revealed Bradyrhizobium iriomotense EK05(T) to be the closest type strain (97.4% sequence similarity or less). Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles [with the major components C16:0 and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω6c/C18:1ω7c)], the slow growth rate and carbon compound utilization patterns supported the assignment of our strains to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Results from DNA-DNA hybridizations and physiological traits differentiated our strains from the closest related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium with validly published names. Sequences of symbiosis-related genes for nodulation (nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) grouped together with those of B. iriomotense EK05(T) and Bradyrhizobium sp. strains BR 6610 (used as a commercial inoculant for Inga marginata in Brazil) and TUXTLAS-10 (previously observed in Central America). Based on these data, the six strains represent a novel species, for which the name Bradyrhizobium ingae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BR 10250(T) (= HAMBI 3600(T)).}, } @article {pmid25012904, year = {2015}, author = {Giannone, RJ and Wurch, LL and Heimerl, T and Martin, S and Yang, Z and Huber, H and Rachel, R and Hettich, RL and Podar, M}, title = {Life on the edge: functional genomic response of Ignicoccus hospitalis to the presence of Nanoarchaeum equitans.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {101-114}, pmid = {25012904}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Desulfurococcaceae/growth & development/*physiology ; Gene Expression ; Genome, Archaeal ; *Microbial Interactions ; Nanoarchaeota/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {The marine hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Ignicoccus hospitalis supports the propagation on its surface of Nanoarchaeum equitans, an evolutionarily enigmatic archaeon that resembles highly derived parasitic and symbiotic bacteria. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable this interarchaea relationship and the intimate physiologic consequences to I. hospitalis are unknown. Here, we used concerted proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to probe into the functional genomic response of I. hospitalis as N. equitans multiplies on its surface. The expression of over 97% of the genes was detected at mRNA level and over 80% of the predicted proteins were identified and their relative abundance measured by proteomics. These indicate that little, if any, of the host genomic information is silenced during growth in the laboratory. The primary response to N. equitans was at the membrane level, with increases in relative abundance of most protein complexes involved in energy generation as well as that of several transporters and proteins involved in cellular membrane stabilization. Similar upregulation was observed for genes and proteins involved in key metabolic steps controlling nitrogen and carbon metabolism, although the overall biosynthetic pathways were marginally impacted. Proliferation of N. equitans resulted, however, in selective downregulation of genes coding for transcription factors and replication and cell cycle control proteins as I. hospitalis shifted its physiology from its own cellular growth to that of its ectosymbiont/parasite. The combination of these multiomic approaches provided an unprecedented level of detail regarding the dynamics of this interspecies interaction, which is especially pertinent as these organisms are not genetically tractable.}, } @article {pmid25012903, year = {2014}, author = {Hansen, AK and Degnan, PH}, title = {Widespread expression of conserved small RNAs in small symbiont genomes.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {2490-2502}, pmid = {25012903}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Buchnera/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA ; RNA, Small Untranslated/chemistry/*metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome architecture of a microbe markedly changes when it transitions from a free-living lifestyle to an obligate symbiotic association within eukaryotic cells. These symbiont genomes experience numerous rearrangements and massive gene loss, which is expected to radically alter gene regulatory networks compared with those of free-living relatives. As such, it remains unclear whether and how these small symbiont genomes regulate gene expression. Here, using a label-free mass-spec quantification approach we found that differential protein regulation occurs in Buchnera, a model symbiont with a reduced genome, when it transitions between two distinct life stages. However, differential mRNA expression could not be detected between Buchnera life stages, despite the presence of a small number of putative transcriptional regulators. Instead a comparative analysis of small RNA expression profiles among five divergent Buchnera lineages, spanning a variety of Buchnera life stages, reveals 140 novel intergenic and antisense small RNAs and 517 untranslated regions that were significantly expressed, some of which have been conserved for ∼65 million years. In addition, the majority of these small RNAs exhibit both sequence covariation and thermodynamic stability, indicators of a potential structural RNA role. Together, these data suggest that gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level may be important in Buchnera. This is the first study to empirically identify Buchnera small RNAs, and we propose that these novel small RNAs may facilitate post-transcriptional regulation through translational inhibition/activation, and/or transcript stability. Ultimately, post-transcriptional regulation may shape metabolic complementation between Buchnera and its aphid host, thus impacting the animal's ecology and evolution.}, } @article {pmid25012689, year = {2014}, author = {Arcuri, SL and Pagnocca, FC and Melo, WG and Nagamoto, NS and Komura, DL and Rodrigues, A}, title = {Yeasts found on an ephemeral reproductive caste of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {106}, number = {3}, pages = {475-487}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-014-0216-2}, pmid = {25012689}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Hydrolases/analysis ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology ; Integumentary System/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Yeasts/*classification/enzymology/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Winged males of leaf-cutting ants are considered an ephemeral reproductive caste only produced before the mating flight season. Although much is known about the yeast diversity found in fungus gardens of attine ants, no study has focused on the yeasts associated with males of leaf-cutting ants. Here, we surveyed the yeasts on the integuments of males of Atta sexdens rubropilosa and assessed their potential role in the attine ant-microbe symbiosis. Using culture-dependent techniques, we found yeasts to be abundant on the integuments of males (54.5 %, n = 200 alates). A total of 242 yeast strains were obtained representing six orders, ten genera and 25 species. Strains of Aureobasidium, Cryptococcus, Hannaella and Rhodotorula were prevalent on the integuments and likely originated from the fungus garden of the parental nest or from the soil. The majority of strains (87.1 %) produced at least one of the evaluated enzymes: pectinase, polygalacturonase, cellulase, xylanase, ligninases and lipase. Aureobasidium pullulans accounted for the highest number of strains that produced all enzymes. In addition, yeasts showed the ability to assimilate the resulting oligosaccharides, supporting observations of other studies that yeasts may be involved in the plant biomass metabolism in the fungus gardens. Because winged males harbor several yeasts with putative functional roles, these fungi may take part and be beneficial in the microbial consortia of the new incipient nest.}, } @article {pmid25010449, year = {2014}, author = {Karlsson, FH and Nookaew, I and Nielsen, J}, title = {Metagenomic data utilization and analysis (MEDUSA) and construction of a global gut microbial gene catalogue.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {10}, number = {7}, pages = {e1003706}, pmid = {25010449}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {*Databases, Genetic ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genome, Archaeal/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Humans ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Racial Groups ; }, abstract = {Metagenomic sequencing has contributed important new knowledge about the microbes that live in a symbiotic relationship with humans. With modern sequencing technology it is possible to generate large numbers of sequencing reads from a metagenome but analysis of the data is challenging. Here we present the bioinformatics pipeline MEDUSA that facilitates analysis of metagenomic reads at the gene and taxonomic level. We also constructed a global human gut microbial gene catalogue by combining data from 4 studies spanning 3 continents. Using MEDUSA we mapped 782 gut metagenomes to the global gene catalogue and a catalogue of sequenced microbial species. Hereby we find that all studies share about half a million genes and that on average 300,000 genes are shared by half the studied subjects. The gene richness is higher in the European studies compared to Chinese and American and this is also reflected in the species richness. Even though it is possible to identify common species and a core set of genes, we find that there are large variations in abundance of species and genes.}, } @article {pmid25009539, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, H and Tomasch, J and Jarek, M and Wagner-Döbler, I}, title = {A dual-species co-cultivation system to study the interactions between Roseobacters and dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {311}, pmid = {25009539}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Some microalgae in nature live in symbiosis with microorganisms that can enhance or inhibit growth, thus influencing the dynamics of phytoplankton blooms. In spite of the great ecological importance of these interactions, very few defined laboratory systems are available to study them in detail. Here we present a co-cultivation system consisting of the toxic phototrophic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and the photoheterotrophic alphaproteobacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae. In a mineral medium lacking a carbon source, vitamins for the bacterium and the essential vitamin B12 for the dinoflagellate, growth dynamics reproducibly went from a mutualistic phase, where both algae and bacteria grow, to a pathogenic phase, where the algae are killed by the bacteria. The data show a "Jekyll and Hyde" lifestyle that had been proposed but not previously demonstrated. We used RNAseq and microarray analysis to determine which genes of D. shibae are transcribed and differentially expressed in a light dependent way at an early time-point of the co-culture when the bacterium grows very slowly. Enrichment of bacterial mRNA for transcriptome analysis was optimized, but none of the available methods proved capable of removing dinoflagellate ribosomal RNA completely. RNAseq showed that a phasin encoding gene (phaP1) which is part of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) metabolism operon represented approximately 10% of all transcripts. Five genes for aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis were down-regulated in the light, indicating that the photosynthesis apparatus was functional. A betaine-choline-carnitine-transporter (BCCT) that may be used for dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) uptake was the highest up-regulated gene in the light. The data suggest that at this early mutualistic phase of the symbiosis, PHA degradation might be the main carbon and energy source of D. shibae, supplemented in the light by degradation of DMSP and aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid25009537, year = {2014}, author = {Gehring, CA and Mueller, RC and Haskins, KE and Rubow, TK and Whitham, TG}, title = {Convergence in mycorrhizal fungal communities due to drought, plant competition, parasitism, and susceptibility to herbivory: consequences for fungi and host plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {306}, pmid = {25009537}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants and mycorrhizal fungi influence each other's abundance, diversity, and distribution. How other biotic interactions affect the mycorrhizal symbiosis is less well understood. Likewise, we know little about the effects of climate change on the fungal component of the symbiosis or its function. We synthesized our long-term studies on the influence of plant parasites, insect herbivores, competing trees, and drought on the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities associated with a foundation tree species of the southwestern United States, pinyon pine (Pinus edulis), and described how these changes feed back to affect host plant performance. We found that drought and all three of the biotic interactions studied resulted in similar shifts in ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition, demonstrating a convergence of the community towards dominance by a few closely related fungal taxa. Ectomycorrhizal fungi responded similarly to each of these stressors resulting in a predictable trajectory of community disassembly, consistent with ecological theory. Although we predicted that the fungal communities associated with trees stressed by drought, herbivory, competition, and parasitism would be poor mutualists, we found the opposite pattern in field studies. Our results suggest that climate change and the increased importance of herbivores, competitors, and parasites that can be associated with it, may ultimately lead to reductions in ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity, but that the remaining fungal community may be beneficial to host trees under the current climate and the warmer, drier climate predicted for the future.}, } @article {pmid25009060, year = {2014}, author = {Bingham, BL and Dimond, JL and Muller-Parker, G}, title = {Symbiotic state influences life-history strategy of a clonal cnidarian.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1789}, pages = {20140548}, pmid = {25009060}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Body Weight ; Chlorophyta/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Gonads ; Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; Pacific Ocean ; Reproduction ; Sea Anemones/growth & development/*physiology ; Seasons ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Washington ; }, abstract = {Along the North American Pacific coast, the common intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima engages in facultative, flexible symbioses with Symbiodinium muscatinei (a dinoflagellate) and Elliptochloris marina (a chlorophyte). Determining how symbiotic state affects host fitness is essential to understanding the ecological significance of engaging in such flexible relationships with diverse symbionts. Fitness consequences of hosting S. muscatinei, E. marina or negligible numbers of either symbiont (aposymbiosis) were investigated by measuring growth, cloning by fission and gonad development after 8.5-11 months of sustained exposure to high, moderate or low irradiance under seasonal environmental conditions. Both symbiotic state and irradiance affected host fitness, leading to divergent life-history strategies. Moderate and high irradiances led to a greater level of gonad development in individuals hosting E. marina, while high irradiance and high summer temperature promoted cloning in individuals hosting S. muscatinei and reduced fitness of aposymbiotic anemones. Associating with S. muscatinei may contribute to the success of A. elegantissima as a spatial competitor on the high shore: (i) by offsetting the costs of living under high temperature and irradiance conditions, and (ii) by promoting a high fission rate and clonal expansion. Our results suggest that basic life-history characteristics of a clonal cnidarian can be affected by the identity of the endosymbionts it hosts.}, } @article {pmid25008210, year = {2015}, author = {Briccoli Bati, C and Santilli, E and Lombardo, L}, title = {Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and on micronutrient and macronutrient uptake and allocation in olive plantlets growing under high total Mn levels.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {97-108}, pmid = {25008210}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Manganese/analysis/*metabolism ; Micronutrients/analysis/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Olea/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The reported work was designed to increase knowledge about the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the phytoavailability and allocation of some of the principal macroelements and microelements in young potted olive plants growing in a soil presenting high levels of manganese (Mn), taken from an experimental olive field. A greenhouse trial was performed using self-rooted cuttings of Ascolana tenera, Nocellara del Belice and Carolea cultivars inoculated or not with two mycorrhizal inocula (commercial vs native). Molecular characterization of the indigenous AMF indicated that the species found in the experimental soil were different from those present in the commercial inoculum. The important incidence of AMF on P uptake was confirmed with generally double the concentration in mycorrhizal olive plants as compared to non-mycorrhizal controls, irrespective of genotype and inocula. Furthermore, apart from promoting plant growth (from 1.7- to 5-fold), the symbiosis reduced Mn concentrations from 43 to 83%. The observed differences depended on the cultivar and the inoculum, with native AMF being more effective probably as a result of their adaptation to the experimental soil. No clear direct relationship was found between AMF inoculation and other elements analysed.}, } @article {pmid25007439, year = {2014}, author = {Patyka, VP and Ovsiienko, OL and Kalinichenko, AV}, title = {[Sinorhizobium meliloti strains screening for efficient bactarization of Melilotus albus Medik].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {76}, number = {3}, pages = {18-23}, pmid = {25007439}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Biomass ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Disaccharides/metabolism ; Enzyme Assays ; Mannitol/metabolism ; Melilotus/*microbiology ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sorbitol/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The data presents about analytical selection of root nodule bacteria of Melilotus to obtain bacterial fertilizer under sweet clover, presowing inoculation of it seeds and form a legume-rhizobial effective symbiosis. From natural melilot population a number of new strains had been allocated, inoculation of them was contributed to an increase of height. biomass Melilotus albus Medik., and nitrogenase activity in comparison to the influence of the existing production strains. The identification of most effective strains Sinorhizobium meliloti had been determined.}, } @article {pmid25007073, year = {2014}, author = {Kendra, PE and Montgomery, WS and Niogret, J and Pruett, GE and Mayfield, AE and MacKenzie, M and Deyrup, MA and Bauchan, GR and Ploetz, RC and Epsky, ND}, title = {North American Lauraceae: terpenoid emissions, relative attraction and boring preferences of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (coleoptera: curculionidae: scolytinae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {7}, pages = {e102086}, pmid = {25007073}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Lauraceae/*chemistry/classification/*parasitology ; Pheromones/isolation & purification ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Smell ; Terpenes/*isolation & purification ; United States ; Weevils/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The invasive redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is the primary vector of Raffaelea lauricola, a symbiotic fungus and the etiologic agent of laurel wilt. This lethal disease has caused severe mortality of redbay (Persea borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris) trees in the southeastern USA, threatens avocado (P. americana) production in Florida, and has potential to impact additional New World species. To date, all North American hosts of X. glabratus and suscepts of laurel wilt are members of the family Lauraceae. This comparative study combined field tests and laboratory bioassays to evaluate attraction and boring preferences of female X. glabratus using freshly-cut bolts from nine species of Lauraceae: avocado (one cultivar of each botanical race), redbay, swampbay, silkbay (Persea humilis), California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), and lancewood (Nectandra coriacea). In addition, volatile collections and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were conducted to quantify terpenoid emissions from test bolts, and electroantennography (EAG) was performed to measure olfactory responses of X. glabratus to terpenoids identified by GC-MS. Significant differences were observed among treatments in both field and laboratory tests. Silkbay and camphor tree attracted the highest numbers of the beetle in the field, and lancewood and spicebush the lowest, whereas boring activity was greatest on silkbay, bay laurel, swampbay, and redbay, and lowest on lancewood, spicebush, and camphor tree. The Guatemalan cultivar of avocado was more attractive than those of the other races, but boring response among the three was equivalent. The results suggest that camphor tree may contain a chemical deterrent to boring, and that different cues are associated with host location and host acceptance. Emissions of α-cubebene, α-copaene, α-humulene, and calamenene were positively correlated with attraction, and EAG analyses confirmed chemoreception of terpenoids by antennal receptors of X. glabratus.}, } @article {pmid25005713, year = {2014}, author = {Zaller, JG and Heigl, F and Ruess, L and Grabmaier, A}, title = {Glyphosate herbicide affects belowground interactions between earthworms and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in a model ecosystem.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {5634}, pmid = {25005713}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Animals ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*drug effects ; Glycine/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives ; Herbicides/*adverse effects ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Oligochaeta/*drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Herbicides containing glyphosate are widely used in agriculture and private gardens, however, surprisingly little is known on potential side effects on non-target soil organisms. In a greenhouse experiment with white clover we investigated, to what extent a globally-used glyphosate herbicide affects interactions between essential soil organisms such as earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We found that herbicides significantly decreased root mycorrhization, soil AMF spore biomass, vesicles and propagules. Herbicide application and earthworms increased soil hyphal biomass and tended to reduce soil water infiltration after a simulated heavy rainfall. Herbicide application in interaction with AMF led to slightly heavier but less active earthworms. Leaching of glyphosate after a simulated rainfall was substantial and altered by earthworms and AMF. These sizeable changes provide impetus for more general attention to side-effects of glyphosate-based herbicides on key soil organisms and their associated ecosystem services.}, } @article {pmid25005495, year = {2014}, author = {Rogel, MA and Bustos, P and Santamaría, RI and González, V and Romero, D and Cevallos, MÁ and Lozano, L and Castro-Mondragón, J and Martínez-Romero, J and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Genomic basis of symbiovar mimosae in Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {575}, pmid = {25005495}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Mimosa/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/classification/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiosis genes (nod and nif) involved in nodulation and nitrogen fixation in legumes are plasmid-borne in Rhizobium. Rhizobial symbiotic variants (symbiovars) with distinct host specificity would depend on the type of symbiosis plasmid. In Rhizobium etli or in Rhizobium phaseoli, symbiovar phaseoli strains have the capacity to form nodules in Phaseolus vulgaris while symbiovar mimosae confers a broad host range including different mimosa trees.

RESULTS: We report on the genome of R. etli symbiovar mimosae strain Mim1 and its comparison to that from R. etli symbiovar phaseoli strain CFN42. Differences were found in plasmids especially in the symbiosis plasmid, not only in nod gene sequences but in nod gene content. Differences in Nod factors deduced from the presence of nod genes, in secretion systems or ACC-deaminase could help explain the distinct host specificity. Genes involved in P. vulgaris exudate uptake were not found in symbiovar mimosae but hup genes (involved in hydrogen uptake) were found. Plasmid pRetCFN42a was partially contained in Mim1 and a plasmid (pRetMim1c) was found only in Mim1. Chromids were well conserved.

CONCLUSIONS: The genomic differences between the two symbiovars, mimosae and phaseoli may explain different host specificity. With the genomic analysis presented, the term symbiovar is validated. Furthermore, our data support that the generalist symbiovar mimosae may be older than the specialist symbiovar phaseoli.}, } @article {pmid25004995, year = {2014}, author = {Bracewell, RR and Six, DL}, title = {Broadscale specificity in a bark beetle-fungal symbiosis: a spatio-temporal analysis of the mycangial fungi of the western pine beetle.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {68}, number = {4}, pages = {859-870}, pmid = {25004995}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Body Size ; British Columbia ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Northwestern United States ; Ophiostomatales/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Southwestern United States ; Species Specificity ; Weevils/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Whether and how mutualisms are maintained through ecological and evolutionary time is a seldom studied aspect of bark beetle-fungal symbioses. All bark beetles are associated with fungi and some species have evolved structures for transporting their symbiotic partners. However, the fungal assemblages and specificity in these symbioses are not well known. To determine the distribution of fungi associated with the mycangia of the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis), we collected beetles from across the insect's geographic range including multiple genetically distinct populations. Two fungi, Entomocorticium sp. B and Ceratocystiopsis brevicomi, were isolated from the mycangia of beetles from all locations. Repeated sampling at two sites in Montana found that Entomocorticium sp. B was the most prevalent fungus throughout the beetle's flight season, and that females carrying that fungus were on average larger than females carrying C. brevicomi. We present evidence that throughout the flight season, over broad geographic distances, and among genetically distinct populations of beetle, the western pine beetle is associated with the same two species of fungi. In addition, we provide evidence that one fungal species is associated with larger adult beetles and therefore might provide greater benefit during beetle development. The importance and maintenance of this bark beetle-fungus interaction is discussed.}, } @article {pmid25003187, year = {2014}, author = {Becker, A and Overlöper, A and Schlüter, JP and Reinkensmeier, J and Robledo, M and Giegerich, R and Narberhaus, F and Evguenieva-Hackenberg, E}, title = {Riboregulation in plant-associated α-proteobacteria.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {550-562}, pmid = {25003187}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Pairing ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Multigene Family ; Plants/microbiology ; RNA Stability ; RNA, Antisense/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Bacterial/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Untranslated/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic α-rhizobia Sinorhizobium meliloti, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Rhizobium etli and the related plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens are important model organisms for studying plant-microbe interactions. These metabolically versatile soil bacteria are characterized by complex lifestyles and large genomes. Here we summarize the recent knowledge on their small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) including conservation, function, and interaction of the sRNAs with the RNA chaperone Hfq. In each of these organisms, an inventory of hundreds of cis- and trans-encoded sRNAs with regulatory potential was uncovered by high-throughput approaches and used for the construction of 39 sRNA family models. Genome-wide analyses of hfq mutants and co-immunoprecipitation with tagged Hfq revealed a major impact of the RNA chaperone on the physiology of plant-associated α-proteobacteria including symbiosis and virulence. Highly conserved members of the SmelC411 family are the AbcR sRNAs, which predominantly regulate ABC transport systems. AbcR1 of A. tumefaciens controls the uptake of the plant-generated signaling molecule GABA and is a central regulator of nutrient uptake systems. It has similar functions in S. meliloti and the human pathogen Brucella abortus. As RNA degradation is an important process in RNA-based gene regulation, a short overview on ribonucleases in plant-associated α-proteobacteria concludes this review.}, } @article {pmid25002473, year = {2014}, author = {Krol, E and Becker, A}, title = {Rhizobial homologs of the fatty acid transporter FadL facilitate perception of long-chain acyl-homoserine lactone signals.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {29}, pages = {10702-10707}, pmid = {25002473}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oleic Acid/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Quorum Sensing/drug effects/genetics ; *Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) using N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signal molecules is a common strategy used by diverse Gram-negative bacteria. A widespread mechanism of AHL sensing involves binding of these molecules by cytosolic LuxR-type transcriptional regulators, which requires uptake of external AHLs. The outer membrane is supposed to be an efficient barrier for diffusion of long-chain AHLs. Here we report evidence that in Sinorhizobium meliloti, sensing of AHLs with acyl chains composed of 14 or more carbons is facilitated by the outer membrane protein FadLSm, a homolog of the Escherichia coli FadLEc long-chain fatty acid transporter. The effect of fadLSm on AHL sensing was more prominent for longer and more hydrophobic signal molecules. Using reporter gene fusions to QS target genes, we found that fadLSm increased AHL sensitivity and accelerated the course of QS. In contrast to FadLEc, FadLSm did not support uptake of oleic acid, but did contribute to growth on palmitoleic acid. FadLSm homologs from related symbiotic α-rhizobia and the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens differed in their ability to facilitate long-chain AHL sensing or to support growth on oleic acid. FadLAt was found to be ineffective toward long-chain AHLs. We obtained evidence that the predicted extracellular loop 5 of FadLSm and further α-rhizobial FadL proteins contains determinants of specificity to long-chain AHLs. Replacement of a part of loop 5 by the corresponding region from α-rhizobial FadL proteins transferred sensitivity for long-chain AHLs to FadLAt.}, } @article {pmid25002434, year = {2014}, author = {Perrineau, MM and Le Roux, C and Galiana, A and Faye, A and Duponnois, R and Goh, D and Prin, Y and Béna, G}, title = {Differing courses of genetic evolution of Bradyrhizobium inoculants as revealed by long-term molecular tracing in Acacia mangium plantations.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {18}, pages = {5709-5716}, pmid = {25002434}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Agriculture/methods ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Variation ; Malaysia ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Senegal ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Introducing nitrogen-fixing bacteria as an inoculum in association with legume crops is a common practice in agriculture. However, the question of the evolution of these introduced microorganisms remains crucial, both in terms of microbial ecology and agronomy. We explored this question by analyzing the genetic and symbiotic evolution of two Bradyrhizobium strains inoculated on Acacia mangium in Malaysia and Senegal 15 and 5 years, respectively, after their introduction. Based on typing of several loci, we showed that these two strains, although closely related and originally sampled in Australia, evolved differently. One strain was recovered in soil with the same five loci as the original isolate, whereas the symbiotic cluster of the other strain was detected with no trace of the three housekeeping genes of the original inoculum. Moreover, the nitrogen fixation efficiency was variable among these isolates (either recombinant or not), with significantly high, low, or similar efficiencies compared to the two original strains and no significant difference between recombinant and nonrecombinant isolates. These data suggested that 15 years after their introduction, nitrogen-fixing bacteria remain in the soil but that closely related inoculant strains may not evolve in the same way, either genetically or symbiotically. In a context of increasing agronomical use of microbial inoculants (for biological control, nitrogen fixation, or plant growth promotion), this result feeds the debate on the consequences associated with such practices.}, } @article {pmid25002426, year = {2014}, author = {Mora, Y and Díaz, R and Vargas-Lagunas, C and Peralta, H and Guerrero, G and Aguilar, A and Encarnación, S and Girard, L and Mora, J}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains isolated from common bean seeds: phylogeny, physiology, and genome analysis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {18}, pages = {5644-5654}, pmid = {25002426}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification/*metabolism/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial bacteria are commonly found in soil but also establish symbiotic relationships with legumes, inhabiting the root nodules, where they fix nitrogen. Endophytic rhizobia have also been reported in the roots and stems of legumes and other plants. We isolated several rhizobial strains from the nodules of noninoculated bean plants and looked for their provenance in the interiors of the seeds. Nine isolates were obtained, covering most known bean symbiont species, which belong to the Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium groups. The strains showed several large plasmids, except for a Sinorhizobium americanum isolate. Two strains, one Rhizobium phaseoli and one S. americanum strain, were thoroughly characterized. Optimal symbiotic performance was observed for both of these strains. The S. americanum strain showed biotin prototrophy when subcultured, as well as high pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, both of which are key factors in maintaining optimal growth. The R. phaseoli strain was a biotin auxotroph, did not grow when subcultured, accumulated a large amount of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, and exhibited low PDH activity. The physiology and genomes of these strains showed features that may have resulted from their lifestyle inside the seeds: stress sensitivity, a ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) complex, a homocitrate synthase (usually present only in free-living diazotrophs), a hydrogenase uptake cluster, and the presence of prophages. We propose that colonization by rhizobia and their presence in Phaseolus seeds may be part of a persistence mechanism that helps to retain and disperse rhizobial strains.}, } @article {pmid25002423, year = {2014}, author = {Krysciak, D and Grote, J and Rodriguez Orbegoso, M and Utpatel, C and Förstner, KU and Li, L and Schmeisser, C and Krishnan, HB and Streit, WR}, title = {RNA sequencing analysis of the broad-host-range strain Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234 identifies a large set of genes linked to quorum sensing-dependent regulation in the background of a traI and ngrI deletion mutant.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {18}, pages = {5655-5671}, pmid = {25002423}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; Flagella/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Host Specificity ; Ligases/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Quorum Sensing ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sequence Deletion ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234 has an exceptionally wide host range, as it forms nitrogen-fixing nodules with more legumes than any other known microsymbiont. Within its 6.9-Mbp genome, it encodes two N-acyl-homoserine-lactone synthase genes (i.e., traI and ngrI) involved in the biosynthesis of two distinct autoinducer I-type molecules. Here, we report on the construction of an NGR234-ΔtraI and an NGR234-ΔngrI mutant and their genome-wide transcriptome analysis. A high-resolution RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of early-stationary-phase cultures in the NGR234-ΔtraI background suggested that up to 316 genes were differentially expressed in the NGR234-ΔtraI mutant versus the parent strain. Similarly, in the background of NGR234-ΔngrI 466 differentially regulated genes were identified. Accordingly, a common set of 186 genes was regulated by the TraI/R and NgrI/R regulon. Coregulated genes included 42 flagellar biosynthesis genes and 22 genes linked to exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis. Among the genes and open reading frames (ORFs) that were differentially regulated in NGR234-ΔtraI were those linked to replication of the pNGR234a symbiotic plasmid and cytochrome c oxidases. Biotin and pyrroloquinoline quinone biosynthesis genes were differentially expressed in the NGR234-ΔngrI mutant as well as the entire cluster of 21 genes linked to assembly of the NGR234 type III secretion system (T3SS-II). Further, we also discovered that genes responsible for rhizopine catabolism in NGR234 were strongly repressed in the presence of high levels of N-acyl-homoserine-lactones. Together with nodulation assays, the RNA-seq-based findings suggested that quorum sensing (QS)-dependent gene regulation appears to be of higher relevance during nonsymbiotic growth rather than for life within root nodules.}, } @article {pmid25002372, year = {2014}, author = {Passos, F and Astals, S and Ferrer, I}, title = {Anaerobic digestion of microalgal biomass after ultrasound pretreatment.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {2098-2103}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2014.06.004}, pmid = {25002372}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Hydrolysis ; Kinetics ; Methane/*metabolism ; Microalgae/*chemistry ; Models, Theoretical ; Organic Chemicals/*chemistry ; *Ultrasonography ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Wastewater/analysis ; }, abstract = {High rate algal ponds are an economic and sustainable alternative for wastewater treatment, where microalgae and bacteria grow in symbiosis removing organic matter and nutrients. Microalgal biomass produced in these systems can be valorised through anaerobic digestion. However, microalgae anaerobic biodegradability is limited by the complex cell wall structure and therefore a pretreatment step may be required to improve the methane yield. In this study, ultrasound pretreatment at a range of applied specific energy (16-67 MJ/kg TS) was investigated prior to microalgae anaerobic digestion. Experiments showed how organic matter solubilisation (16-100%), hydrolysis rate (25-56%) and methane yield (6-33%) were improved as the pretreatment intensity increased. Mathematical modelling revealed that ultrasonication had a higher effect on the methane yield than on the hydrolysis rate. A preliminary energy assessment indicated that the methane yield increase was not high enough as to compensate the electricity requirement of ultrasonication without biomass dewatering (8% VS).}, } @article {pmid25002092, year = {2014}, author = {White, BA and Lamed, R and Bayer, EA and Flint, HJ}, title = {Biomass utilization by gut microbiomes.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {279-296}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155618}, pmid = {25002092}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Mammals rely entirely on symbiotic microorganisms within their digestive tract to gain energy from plant biomass that is resistant to mammalian digestive enzymes. Especially in herbivorous animals, specialized organs (the rumen, cecum, and colon) have evolved that allow highly efficient fermentation of ingested plant biomass by complex anaerobic microbial communities. We consider here the two most intensively studied, representative gut microbial communities involved in degradation of plant fiber: those of the rumen and the human large intestine. These communities are dominated by bacteria belonging to the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla. In Firmicutes, degradative capacity is largely restricted to the cell surface and involves elaborate cellulosome complexes in specialized cellulolytic species. By contrast, in the Bacteroidetes, utilization of soluble polysaccharides, encoded by gene clusters (PULs), entails outer membrane binding proteins, and degradation is largely periplasmic or intracellular. Biomass degradation involves complex interplay between these distinct groups of bacteria as well as (in the rumen) eukaryotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid25002086, year = {2014}, author = {Galán, JE and Lara-Tejero, M and Marlovits, TC and Wagner, S}, title = {Bacterial type III secretion systems: specialized nanomachines for protein delivery into target cells.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {415-438}, pmid = {25002086}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {AI055472/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI055472/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Humans ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {One of the most exciting developments in the field of bacterial pathogenesis in recent years is the discovery that many pathogens utilize complex nanomachines to deliver bacterially encoded effector proteins into target eukaryotic cells. These effector proteins modulate a variety of cellular functions for the pathogen's benefit. One of these protein-delivery machines is the type III secretion system (T3SS). T3SSs are widespread in nature and are encoded not only by bacteria pathogenic to vertebrates or plants but also by bacteria that are symbiotic to plants or insects. A central component of T3SSs is the needle complex, a supramolecular structure that mediates the passage of the secreted proteins across the bacterial envelope. Working in conjunction with several cytoplasmic components, the needle complex engages specific substrates in sequential order, moves them across the bacterial envelope, and ultimately delivers them into eukaryotic cells. The central role of T3SSs in pathogenesis makes them great targets for novel antimicrobial strategies.}, } @article {pmid24999350, year = {2014}, author = {Soen, Y}, title = {Environmental disruption of host-microbe co-adaptation as a potential driving force in evolution.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {168}, pmid = {24999350}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {The microbiome is known to have a profound effect on the development, physiology and health of its host. Whether and how it also contributes to evolutionary diversification of the host is, however, unclear. Here we hypothesize that disruption of the microbiome by new stressful environments interferes with host-microbe co-adaptation, contributes to host destabilization, and can drive irreversible changes in the host prior to its genetic adaptation. This hypothesis is based on three presumptions: (1) the microbiome consists of heritable partners which contribute to the stability (canalization) of host development and physiology in frequently encountered environments, (2) upon encountering a stressful new environment, the microbiome adapts much faster than the host, and (3) this differential response disrupts cooperation, contributes to host destabilization and promotes reciprocal changes in the host and its microbiome. This dynamic imbalance relaxes as the host and its microbiome establish a new equilibrium state in which they are adapted to one another and to the altered environment. Over long time in this new environment, the changes in the microbiome contribute to the canalization of the altered state. This scenario supports stability of the adapted patterns, while promoting variability which may be beneficial in new stressful conditions, thus allowing the organism to balance stability and flexibility based on contextual demand. Additionally, interaction between heritable microbial and epigenetic/physiological changes can promote new outcomes which persist over a wide range of timescales. A sufficiently persistent stress can further induce irreversible changes in the microbiome which may permanently alter the organism prior to genetic changes in the host. Epigenetic and microbial changes therefore provide a potential infrastructure for causal links between immediate responses to new environments and longer-term establishment of evolutionary adaptations.}, } @article {pmid24998786, year = {2014}, author = {Boscaro, V and Carducci, D and Barbieri, G and Senra, MV and Andreoli, I and Erra, F and Petroni, G and Verni, F and Fokin, SI}, title = {Focusing on genera to improve species identification: revised systematics of the ciliate Spirostomum.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {165}, number = {4}, pages = {527-541}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2014.05.004}, pmid = {24998786}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Ciliophora/*classification/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Although many papers dealing with the description of new ciliate taxa are published each year, species taxonomy and identification in most groups of the phylum Ciliophora remain confused. This is largely due to a scarcity of surveys on the systematics of immediately higher levels (genera and families) providing data for old and new species together. Spirostomum is a common and distinctive inhabitant of fresh- and brackish water environments, including artificial and eutrophic ones, and is a good model for applied ecology and symbiosis research. Despite this, only 3 of the numerous species are commonly cited, and no studies have yet confirmed their monophyly, with the consequence that reproducibility of the results may be flawed. In this paper we present morphological and molecular data for 30 Spirostomum populations representing 6 different morphospecies, some of which were collected in previously unreported countries. We performed a detailed revision of Spirostomum systematics combining literature surveys, new data on hundreds of organisms and statistical and phylogenetic analyses; our results provide insights on the evolution, ecology and distribution of known morphospecies and a novel one: Spirostomum subtilis sp. n. We also offer tools for quick species identification.}, } @article {pmid24997625, year = {2014}, author = {Fernández, I and Merlos, M and López-Ráez, JA and Martínez-Medina, A and Ferrol, N and Azcón, C and Bonfante, P and Flors, V and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Defense related phytohormones regulation in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses depends on the partner genotypes.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {40}, number = {7}, pages = {791-803}, pmid = {24997625}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyclopentanes/analysis ; Genotype ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Oxylipins/analysis ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/analysis ; Soybeans/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Up-Regulation ; Zea mays/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses are mutualistic associations between soil fungi and most vascular plants. Modulation of the hormonal and transcriptional profiles, including changes related to defense signalling, has been reported in many host plants during AM symbioses. These changes have been often related to the improved stress tolerance common in mycorrhizal plants. However, results on the alterations in phytohormones content and their role on the symbiosis are controversial. Here, an integrative analysis of the response of phylogenetically diverse plants (i.e., tomato, soybean, and maize) to two mycorrhizal fungi -Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis- was performed. The analysis of the defense-related hormones salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and jasmonates, and the expression of marker genes of the pathways they regulate, revealed significant changes in the roots of mycorrhizal plants. These changes depended on both the plant and the AM fungus (AMF) involved. However, general trends can be identified: roots associated with the most effective colonizer R. irregularis showed fewer changes in these defense-related traits, while the colonization by F. mosseae led to significant modifications in all plants tested. The up-regulation of the jasmonate pathway by F. mosseae was found to be highly conserved among the different plant species, suggesting an important role of jasmonates during this AM interaction. Our study evidences a strong influence of the AMF genotype on the modulation of host defense signalling, and offers hints on the role of these changes in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24997434, year = {2014}, author = {You, H and Lee, WJ and Lee, WJ}, title = {Homeostasis between gut-associated microorganisms and the immune system in Drosophila.}, journal = {Current opinion in immunology}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {48-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.coi.2014.06.006}, pmid = {24997434}, issn = {1879-0372}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/microbiology ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Uracil/immunology ; }, abstract = {The metabolic activities of a given gut bacterium or gut commensal community fluctuate in a manner largely depending on the physicochemical parameters within the gut niche. Recognition of the bacterial metabolic status in situ, by a sensing of the gut metabolites as a signature of a specific bacterial metabolic activity, has been suggested to be a highly beneficial means for the host to maintain gut-microbe homeostasis. Recently, analysis of Drosophila gut immunity revealed that bacterial-derived uracil and uracil-modulated intestinal reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation play a pivotal role in diverse aspects of host-microbe interactions, such as pathogen clearance, commensal protection, intestinal cell regeneration, colitogenesis, and possibly also interorgan immunological communication. A deeper understanding of the role of uracil in Drosophila immunity will provide additional insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying host-microbe symbiosis and dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24996184, year = {2014}, author = {Paul, A and Samaddar, S and Bhattacharya, A and Banerjee, A and Das, A and Chakrabarti, S and DasGupta, M}, title = {Gatekeeper tyrosine phosphorylation is autoinhibitory for Symbiosis Receptor Kinase.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {588}, number = {17}, pages = {2881-2889}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2014.06.056}, pmid = {24996184}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Amino Acid Substitution ; Arachis/enzymology ; Catalytic Domain ; Models, Molecular ; Mutation ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/*antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are distinguished by having a tyrosine in the 'gatekeeper' position. Previously we reported Symbiosis Receptor Kinase from Arachis hypogaea (AhSYMRK) to autophosphorylate on the gatekeeper tyrosine (Y670), though this phosphorylation was not necessary for the kinase activity. Here we report that recombinant catalytic domain of AhSYMRK with a phosphomimic substitution in the gatekeeper position (Y670E) is catalytically almost inactive and is conformationally quite distinct from the corresponding native enzyme. Additionally, we show that gatekeeper-phosphorylated AhSYMRK polypeptides are inactive and depletion of this inactive form leads to activation of intramolecular autophosphorylation of AhSYMRK. Together, our results suggest gatekeeper tyrosine autophosphorylation to be autoinhibitory for AhSYMRK.}, } @article {pmid24996031, year = {2014}, author = {Suzaki, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Root nodulation: a developmental program involving cell fate conversion triggered by symbiotic bacterial infection.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {16-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.06.002}, pmid = {24996031}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Cytokinins/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Root nodulation is a unique developmental process that predominantly occurs in leguminous plants. In this process, signaling initiated by symbiotic bacterial infection alters the fate of differentiated cortical cells and causes formation of new organs. Two qualitatively different regulatory events, namely bacterial infection and nodule organogenesis, need to be coordinated in the epidermis and cortical cells to establish proper nodule formation. Recent studies have determined the tissue-specific requirements of known symbiotic genes and also detailed a direct molecular link between the two regulatory pathways. Additionally, the detailed function of cytokinin signaling has been identified and the downstream genes have been isolated, providing greater understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid24995875, year = {2014}, author = {McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {The importance of microbes in animal development: lessons from the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {177-194}, pmid = {24995875}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Decapodiformes/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrio/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Developmental biology is among the many subdisciplines of the life sciences being transformed by our increasing awareness of the role of coevolved microbial symbionts in health and disease. Most symbioses are horizontally acquired, i.e., they begin anew each generation. In such associations, the embryonic period prepares the animal to engage with the coevolved partner(s) with fidelity following birth or hatching. Once interactions are underway, the microbial partners drive maturation of tissues that are either directly associated with or distant from the symbiont populations. Animal alliances often involve complex microbial communities, such as those in the vertebrate gastrointestinal tract. A series of simpler-model systems is providing insight into the basic rules and principles that govern the establishment and maintenance of stable animal-microbe partnerships. This review focuses on what biologists have learned about the developmental trajectory of horizontally acquired symbioses through the study of the binary squid-vibrio model.}, } @article {pmid24995872, year = {2014}, author = {Moran, NA and Bennett, GM}, title = {The tiniest tiny genomes.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {195-215}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-091213-112901}, pmid = {24995872}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Insecta/microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Starting in 2006, surprisingly tiny genomes have been discovered from numerous bacterial symbionts of insect hosts. Despite their size, each retains some genes that enable provisioning of limiting nutrients or other capabilities required by hosts. Genome sequence analyses show that genome reduction is an ongoing process, resulting in a continuum of sizes, with the smallest genome currently known at 112 kilobases. Genome reduction is typical in host-restricted symbionts and pathogens, but the tiniest genomes are restricted to symbionts required by hosts and restricted to specialized host cells, resulting from long coevolution with hosts. Genes are lost in all functional categories, but core genes for central informational processes, including genes encoding ribosomal proteins, are mostly retained, whereas genes underlying production of cell envelope components are especially depleted. Thus, these entities retain cell-like properties but are heavily dependent on coadaptation of hosts, which continuously evolve to support the symbionts upon which they depend.}, } @article {pmid24995510, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, Z and Liu, Q and Hendrickson, WA}, title = {Crystal structures of apparent saccharide sensors from histidine kinase receptors prevalent in a human gut symbiont.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {281}, number = {18}, pages = {4263-4279}, pmid = {24995510}, issn = {1742-4658}, support = {R37 GM034102/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM107462/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM034102/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM107462/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM034102/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry ; Bacteroides ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Histidine Kinase ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Monosaccharides/chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Protein Kinases/*chemistry ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The adult human gut is a complicated ecosystem in which host-bacterium symbiosis plays an important role. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron is a predominant member of the gut microflora, providing the human digestive tract with a large number of glycolytic enzymes. Expression of many of these enzymes appears to be controlled by histidine kinase receptors that are fused into unusual hybrid two-component systems that share homologous periplasmic sensor domains. These sensor domains belong to the third most populated (HK3) family based on a previous unpublished bioinformatics analysis of predicted histidine kinase sensors. Here, we present the crystal structures of two sensor domains representative of the HK3 family. Each sensor is folded into three domains: two-seven-bladed β-propeller domains and one β-sandwich domain. Both sensors form dimers in crystals, and one sensor appears to be physiologically relevant. The folding characteristics in the individual domains, the domain organization, and the oligomeric architecture are all unique to HK3 sensors. Sequence analysis of the HK3 sensors indicates that these sensor domains are shared among other signaling molecules, implying combinatorial molecular evolution.

DATABASE: The structural data for the crystallographic results for HK3 BT4673S and HK3 BT3049S have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession numbers 3OTT and 3V9F, respectively.

STRUCTURED DIGITAL ABSTRACT: HK3BT3049S and HK3BT3049S bind by x-ray crystallography (View interaction) HK3BT3049S and HK3BT3049S bind by molecular sieving (View interaction) HK3BT3049S and HK3BT3049S bind by cosedimentation through density gradient (View interaction) HK3BT4673s and HK3BT4673s bind by cosedimentation through density gradient (View interaction) HK3BT4673s and HK3BT4673s bind by molecular sieving (View interaction).}, } @article {pmid24994654, year = {2014}, author = {Hom, EF and Murray, AW}, title = {Plant-fungal ecology. Niche engineering demonstrates a latent capacity for fungal-algal mutualism.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {345}, number = {6192}, pages = {94-98}, pmid = {24994654}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {P50 GM068763/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P50-GM068763/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aspergillus nidulans/genetics/physiology ; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii/classification/metabolism/*microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Genetic Engineering ; Glucose/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics/physiology ; Neurospora crassa/genetics/physiology ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/classification/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses shape the evolution of species and ecosystems and catalyze the emergence of biological complexity, yet how such symbioses first form is unclear. We show that an obligate mutualism between the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii--two model eukaryotes with very different life histories--can arise spontaneously in an environment requiring reciprocal carbon and nitrogen exchange. This capacity for mutualism is phylogenetically broad, extending to other Chlamydomonas and fungal species. Furthermore, we witnessed the spontaneous association of Chlamydomonas algal cells physically interacting with filamentous fungi. These observations demonstrate that under specific conditions, environmental change induces free-living species to become obligate mutualists and establishes a set of experimentally tractable, phylogenetically related, synthetic systems for studying the evolution of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24992538, year = {2014}, author = {Huang, EL and Aylward, FO and Kim, YM and Webb-Robertson, BJ and Nicora, CD and Hu, Z and Metz, TO and Lipton, MS and Smith, RD and Currie, CR and Burnum-Johnson, KE}, title = {The fungus gardens of leaf-cutter ants undergo a distinct physiological transition during biomass degradation.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {389-395}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12163}, pmid = {24992538}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Biomass ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Cytosol/chemistry ; Fungi/metabolism/*physiology ; Metabolome ; Proteome/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutter ants are dominant herbivores in ecosystems throughout the Neotropics that feed on fungus gardens cultivated on fresh foliar biomass. Although recent investigations have shed light on how plant biomass is degraded in fungus gardens, the cycling of nutrients that takes place in these specialized microbial ecosystems is still not well understood. Here, using metabolomic and metaproteomic techniques, we examine the dynamics of nutrient turnover in these gardens. Our results reveal that numerous free amino acids and sugars are depleted throughout the process of biomass degradation, indicating that easily accessible nutrients from plant material are readily consumed by microbes in these ecosystems. Accumulation of cellobiose and lignin derivatives near the end of the degradation process is consistent with previous characterization of lignocellulases produced by the fungal cultivar of the ants. Our results also suggest that ureides may be an important source of nitrogen in fungus gardens, especially during nitrogen-limiting conditions. No free arginine was detected in our metabolomic experiments despite evidence that the host ants cannot produce this amino acid, suggesting that biosynthesis of this metabolite may be tightly regulated in fungus gardens. These results provide new insights into microbial community-level processes that underlie this important ant-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24992537, year = {2014}, author = {Lagkouvardos, I and Shen, J and Horn, M}, title = {Improved axenization method reveals complexity of symbiotic associations between bacteria and acanthamoebae.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {383-388}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12162}, pmid = {24992537}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {281633/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Microbiological Techniques ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria associated with free-living amoebae have attracted considerable attention because of their role in human disease and as models for studying endosymbiosis. However, the identification and analysis of such novel associations are hindered by the limitations of methods for isolation and axenization of amoebae. Here, we replaced the heat-inactivated Escherichia coli, which is typically used as food source during axenization, with a live E. coli tolC knockout mutant strain hypersensitive to antibiotics. Together with the addition of otherwise sublethal amounts of ampicillin, this approach tripled the success rate and reduced the time required for axenization by at least 3 days. Using this method for two environmental samples, 10 Acanthamoeba strains were isolated, seven of which contained bacterial symbionts. In three cases, amoebae harbouring two phylogenetically distinct symbionts were recovered, supporting a more widespread occurrence of multi-partner symbiotic associations among free-living amoebae.}, } @article {pmid24992535, year = {2014}, author = {Eichinger, I and Schmitz-Esser, S and Schmid, M and Fisher, CR and Bright, M}, title = {Symbiont-driven sulfur crystal formation in a thiotrophic symbiosis from deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {364-372}, pmid = {24992535}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Cluster Analysis ; Crystallization ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The siboglinid tubeworm Sclerolinum contortum symbiosis inhabits sulfidic sediments at deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. A single symbiont phylotype in the symbiont-housing organ is inferred from phylogenetic analyses of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene and fluorescent in situ hybridization. The phylotype we studied here, and a previous study from an arctic hydrocarbon seep population, reveal identical 16S rRNA symbiont gene sequences. While sulfide is apparently the energy source for the symbionts (and ultimately the gutless host), both partners also have to cope with its toxicity. This study demonstrates abundant large sulfur crystals restricted to the trophosome area. Based on Raman microspectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, these crystals have the same S8 sulfur configuration as the recently described small sulfur vesicles formed in the symbionts. The crystals reside adjacent to the symbionts in the trophosome. This suggests that their formation is either extra- or intracellular in symbionts. We propose that formation of these crystals provides both energy-storage compounds for the symbionts and serves the symbiosis by removing excess toxic sulfide from host tissues. This symbiont-mediated sulfide detoxification may have been crucial for the establishment of thiotrophic symbiosis and continues to remain an important function of the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid24992531, year = {2014}, author = {Hendry, TA and Dunlap, PV}, title = {Phylogenetic divergence between the obligate luminous symbionts of flashlight fishes demonstrates specificity of bacteria to host genera.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {331-338}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12135}, pmid = {24992531}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chordata/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Host Specificity ; Luminescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrionaceae/*classification/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The luminous bacterial symbionts of anomalopid flashlight fishes, which appear to be obligately dependent on their hosts for growth, share several evolutionary patterns with unrelated obligate bacteria. However, only one flashlight fish symbiont species has been characterized in detail, and it is therefore not known if the bacteria from other anomalopid species are highly divergent (a pattern common to obligate symbionts). Unlike most obligate symbionts, the bacteria symbiotic with anomalopids are extracellular and spend time outside their hosts in the environment, from which they are thought to colonize new host generations. Environmental acquisition might decrease the likelihood of bacterial divergence between host species. We used phylogenetic analysis to determine the relatedness of symbionts from different anomalopid host species. The symbionts of hosts in the genus Photoblepharon were resolved as a new species, for which we propose the name 'Candidatus Photodesmus blepharus'. Furthermore, different genera of anomalopids were found to harbour different species of bacteria, even when the hosts overlapped in geographic range. This finding suggests that the divergence between bacterial species is not the result of geographic isolation. The specificity of symbionts to host genera is consistent with obligate dependence on the host and has implications for symbiont transmission.}, } @article {pmid24992004, year = {2014}, author = {Nessner, CE and Andersen, JJ and Renshaw, MA and Giresi, MM and Light, JE}, title = {Characterization of 17 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in the mammal chewing louse Geomydoecus ewingi (Insecta: Phthiraptera) for population genetic analyses.}, journal = {The Journal of parasitology}, volume = {100}, number = {6}, pages = {873-877}, doi = {10.1645/13-415.1}, pmid = {24992004}, issn = {1937-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Genotyping Techniques/veterinary ; Gophers/*parasitology ; Ischnocera/classification/*genetics ; Lice Infestations/parasitology/*veterinary ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; Rodent Diseases/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {We report 17 novel microsatellite loci in the parasitic chewing louse Geomydoecus ewingi, a common parasite of the pocket gopher, Geomys breviceps . Thirty-three G. ewingi individuals from 1 geographic locality and 3 pocket gopher hosts (populations) were genotyped at each locus. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 13. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.182 to 0.788. Four to 6 loci per louse population fell outside of Hardy-Weinberg expectations (HWE) and examination of population structure also revealed substantial homozygote excess as well as significant structure among louse populations. These findings are likely the consequence of biological characteristics of the lice (low dispersal abilities, population bottlenecks, etc.), which can result in inbreeding. Notably, when all louse individuals were analyzed together as 1 population, a Wahlund effect was detected, supporting that louse populations are restricted to 1 host individual. The microsatellite markers characterized in this study will be useful in future studies exploring the population dynamics in host-parasite systems, potentially yielding a better understanding of the processes underlying symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid24990039, year = {2014}, author = {Grajales, A and Rodríguez, E}, title = {Morphological revision of the genus Aiptasia and the family Aiptasiidae (Cnidaria, Actiniaria, Metridioidea).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3826}, number = {1}, pages = {55-100}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3826.1.2}, pmid = {24990039}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Sea Anemones/*anatomy & histology/*classification ; }, abstract = {Sea anemones of the genus Aiptasia Gosse, 1858 are conspicuous members of shallow-water environments worldwide and serve as a model system for studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. However, to date there have been no comprehensive analyses investigating the systematics of the group. In addition, previously published phylogenetic studies of sea anemones have shown that the genus is not monophyletic. Herein we revise the genus Aiptasia and the family Aiptasiidae Carlgren, 1924 using newly-collected material. We find that the formerly-named A. pallida (Agassiz in Verrill, 1864) (now Exaiptasia pallida comb. nov.) encompasses a single, widespread species from the tropics and subtropics; we erect a new genus, Exaiptasia gen. nov., for this species primarily based on cnidae, mode of asexual reproduction and symbionts. We also find morphological evidence that supports splitting A. mutabilis into two species: A. couchii (Cocks, 1851) and A. mutabilis. In addition, we find Bellactis Dube, 1983 (formerly placed within Sagartiidae Gosse, 1858) and Laviactis gen. nov. (formerly known Ragactis Andres, 1883, whose familial placement was previously uncertain) belonging within Aiptasiidae. Aiptasiidae is a morphologically homogeneous family whose members (those species in genera Aiptasia, Aiptasiogeton Schmidt, 1972, Bartholomea Duchassaing de Fombressin & Michelotti, 1864, Bellactis, Exaiptasia gen. nov., and Laviactis gen. nov.) are characterized by ectodermal longitudinal muscles in the distal column, rows of cinclides in mid-column, microbasic b-mastigophores in the column, and acontia with basitrichs and microbasic p-amastigophores.}, } @article {pmid24987690, year = {2014}, author = {Libault, M}, title = {The carbon-nitrogen balance of the nodule and its regulation under elevated carbon dioxide concentration.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {507946}, pmid = {24987690}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; *Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes have developed a unique way to interact with bacteria: in addition to preventing infection from pathogenic bacteria like any other plant, legumes also developed a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with one gender of soil bacteria: rhizobium. This interaction leads to the development of a new root organ, the nodule, where the differentiated bacteria fix for the plant the atmospheric dinitrogen (atmN2). In exchange, the symbiont will benefit from a permanent source of carbon compounds, products of the photosynthesis. The substantial amounts of fixed carbon dioxide dedicated to the symbiont imposed to the plant a tight regulation of the nodulation process to balance carbon and nitrogen incomes and outcomes. Climate change including the increase of the concentration of the atmospheric carbon dioxide is going to modify the rates of plant photosynthesis, the balance between nitrogen and carbon, and, as a consequence, the regulatory mechanisms of the nodulation process. This review focuses on the regulatory mechanisms controlling carbon/nitrogen balances in the context of legume nodulation and discusses how the change in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration could affect nodulation efficiency.}, } @article {pmid24985194, year = {2014}, author = {Xu, L and Zhang, Y and Wang, L and Chen, W and Wei, G}, title = {Diversity of endophytic bacteria associated with nodules of two indigenous legumes at different altitudes of the Qilian Mountains in China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {6}, pages = {457-465}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.05.009}, pmid = {24985194}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Altitude ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; China ; Endophytes/*classification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A total of 201 endophytic root nodule-associated bacteria collected from two legumes indigenous to different Qilian Mountain altitudes (Hexi Corridor) were characterized through 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR clustering. The isolates phylogenetically belonged to 35 species in the Phyllobacterium, Ensifer, Rhizobium, Microvirga, Sphingomonas, Paracoccus, Mycobacterium, Paenibacillus, Cohnella, Sporosarcina, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Brevibacterium, Xenophilus, Erwinia, Leclercia, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas genera. Phylogenetic nodA sequence analysis showed higher similarity to Sinorhizobium meliloti with strains related to the Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, and Acinetobacter genera. Sequence analysis of the nifH gene revealed that the strains belonging to Xenophilus, Acinetobacter, Phyllobacterium, and Rhizobium had genes similar to those of Mesorhizobium and Sinorhizobium. The results indicated that horizontal gene transfer could have occurred between rhizobia and non-rhizobial endophytes. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that altitude and host plant species contributed more to the bacterial endosymbiont separation than other ecological factors. This study provided valuable information on the interactions between symbiotic bacteria, non-symbiotic bacteria and their habitats, and thus provided knowledge on their genetic diversity and ecology.}, } @article {pmid24985193, year = {2014}, author = {Chen, JY and Gu, J and Wang, ET and Ma, XX and Kang, ST and Huang, LZ and Cao, XP and Li, LB and Wu, YL}, title = {Wild peanut Arachis duranensis are nodulated by diverse and novel Bradyrhizobium species in acid soils.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {7}, pages = {525-532}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.05.004}, pmid = {24985193}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aiming at learning the microsymbionts of Arachis duranensis, a diploid ancestor of cultivated peanut, genetic and symbiotic characterization of 32 isolates from root nodules of this plant grown in its new habitat Guangzhou was performed. Based upon the phylogeny of 16S rRNA, atpD and recA genes, diverse bacteria belonging to Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium iriomotense and four new lineages of Bradyrhizobium (19 isolates), Rhizobium/Agrobacterium (9 isolates), Herbaspirillum (2 isolates) and Burkholderia (2 isolates) were defined. In the nodulation test on peanut, only the bradyrhizobial strains were able to induce effective nodules. Phylogeny of nodC divided the Bradyrhizobium isolates into four lineages corresponding to the grouping results in phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping genes, suggesting that this symbiosis gene was mainly maintained by vertical gene transfer. These results demonstrate that A. duranensis is a promiscuous host preferred the Bradyrhizobium species with different symbiotic gene background as microsymbionts, and that it might have selected some native rhizobia, especially the novel lineages Bradyrhizobium sp. I and sp. II, in its new habitat Guangzhou. These findings formed a basis for further study on adaptation and evolution of symbiosis between the introduced legumes and the indigenous rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid24984513, year = {2014}, author = {Li, YJ and Liu, ZL and He, XY and Tian, CJ}, title = {[Metabolism and interaction of C and N in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {903-910}, pmid = {24984513}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is the symbiont formed by the host plant and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The transfer and metabolism of C and N in the symbiosis plays an important role in keeping nutrient balance and resource reallocation between the host plant and the fungi. The carbohydrates produced by plant photosynthesis are transferred to the fungi, where they are metabolized as materials and energy used for fungal spore germination, mycelium growth and uptake of nitrogen and other nutrients. At the same time, N is transferred and reallocated from the fungi to the host plant, where the final released ammonium is used for plant growth. Accordingly, we reviewed the current progress in C and N transfer and metabolism in the AM symbiosis, and the crosstalk between them as well as some key issues to elucidate the mechanism of the interaction between C and N transport in the symbiosis, so as to provide the theory foundation for the application of AM in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid24982177, year = {2014}, author = {Nikoh, N and Hosokawa, T and Moriyama, M and Oshima, K and Hattori, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Evolutionary origin of insect-Wolbachia nutritional mutualism.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {28}, pages = {10257-10262}, pmid = {24982177}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Bedbugs/metabolism/microbiology ; Biotin/biosynthesis/genetics ; Feeding Behavior/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vitamin B Complex/biosynthesis/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Obligate insect-bacterium nutritional mutualism is among the most sophisticated forms of symbiosis, wherein the host and the symbiont are integrated into a coherent biological entity and unable to survive without the partnership. Originally, however, such obligate symbiotic bacteria must have been derived from free-living bacteria. How highly specialized obligate mutualisms have arisen from less specialized associations is of interest. Here we address this evolutionary issue by focusing on an exceptional insect-Wolbachia nutritional mutualism. Although Wolbachia endosymbionts are ubiquitously found in diverse insects and generally regarded as facultative/parasitic associates for their insect hosts, a Wolbachia strain associated with the bedbug Cimex lectularius, designated as wCle, was shown to be essential for host's growth and reproduction via provisioning of B vitamins. We determined the 1,250,060-bp genome of wCle, which was generally similar to the genomes of insect-associated facultative Wolbachia strains, except for the presence of an operon encoding the complete biotin synthetic pathway that was acquired via lateral gene transfer presumably from a coinfecting endosymbiont Cardinium or Rickettsia. Nutritional and physiological experiments, in which wCle-infected and wCle-cured bedbugs of the same genetic background were fed on B-vitamin-manipulated blood meals via an artificial feeding system, demonstrated that wCle certainly synthesizes biotin, and the wCle-provisioned biotin significantly contributes to the host fitness. These findings strongly suggest that acquisition of a single gene cluster consisting of biotin synthesis genes underlies the bedbug-Wolbachia nutritional mutualism, uncovering an evolutionary transition from facultative symbiosis to obligate mutualism facilitated by lateral gene transfer in an endosymbiont lineage.}, } @article {pmid24981923, year = {2014}, author = {Seto, Y and Yamaguchi, S}, title = {Strigolactone biosynthesis and perception.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {21}, number = {}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.06.001}, pmid = {24981923}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Furans/*metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis/genetics/physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena/genetics ; Pyrans/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that regulate shoot branching as well as known as root-derived signals for parasitic and symbiotic interactions. Since the first discovery of a naturally occurring SL, strigol, more than 40 years ago, the biosynthetic pathway has remained elusive. Recently, it was partially uncovered through the functional analysis of some biosynthetic components that were discovered from genetic studies using SL-deficient mutants. In addition, a perception component was also characterized through genetic and biochemical studies of a rice SL-insensitive mutant, dwarf14. In this review, we describe new findings on SL biosynthesis and focus on a recently identified SL precursor, carlactone. We also describe the perception mechanisms by an α/β-fold hydrolase family protein.}, } @article {pmid24981058, year = {2014}, author = {Tedersoo, L and Bahram, M and Ryberg, M and Otsing, E and Kõljalg, U and Abarenkov, K}, title = {Global biogeography of the ectomycorrhizal /sebacina lineage (Fungi, Sebacinales) as revealed from comparative phylogenetic analyses.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {16}, pages = {4168-4183}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12849}, pmid = {24981058}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Compared with plants and animals, large-scale biogeographic patterns of microbes including fungi are poorly understood. By the use of a comparative phylogenetic approach and ancestral state reconstructions, we addressed the global biogeography, rate of evolution and evolutionary origin of the widely distributed ectomycorrhizal (EcM) /sebacina lineage that forms a large proportion of the Sebacinales order. We downloaded all publicly available internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and metadata and supplemented sequence information from three genes to construct dated phylogenies and test biogeographic hypotheses. The /sebacina lineage evolved 45-57 Myr ago that groups it with relatively young EcM taxa in other studies. The most parsimonious origin for /sebacina is inferred to be North American temperate coniferous forests. Among biogeographic traits, region and biome exhibited stronger phylogenetic signal than host family. Consistent with the resource availability (environmental energy) hypothesis, the ITS region is evolving at a faster rate in tropical than nontropical regions. Most biogeographic regions exhibited substantial phylogenetic clustering suggesting a strong impact of dispersal limitation over a large geographic scale. In northern Holarctic regions, however, phylogenetic distances and phylogenetic grouping of isolates indicate multiple recent dispersal events.}, } @article {pmid24978701, year = {2014}, author = {Li, T and Blande, JD and Gundel, PE and Helander, M and Saikkonen, K}, title = {Epichloë endophytes alter inducible indirect defences in host grasses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e101331}, pmid = {24978701}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/drug effects/*pathogenicity ; Ascomycota/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Endophytes/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Poaceae/*microbiology/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Epichloë endophytes are common symbionts living asymptomatically in pooid grasses and may provide chemical defences against herbivorous insects. While the mechanisms underlying these fungal defences have been well studied, it remains unknown whether endophyte presence affects the host's own defences. We addressed this issue by examining variation in the impact of Epichloë on constitutive and herbivore-induced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), a well-known indirect plant defence, between two grass species, Schedonorus phoenix (ex. Festuca arundinacea; tall fescue) and Festuca pratensis (meadow fescue). We found that feeding by a generalist aphid species, Rhopalosiphum padi, induced VOC emissions by uninfected plants of both grass species but to varying extents, while mechanical wounding failed to do so in both species after one day of damage. Interestingly, regardless of damage treatment, Epichloë uncinata-infected F. pratensis emitted significantly lower quantities of VOCs than their uninfected counterparts. In contrast, Epichloë coenophiala-infected S. phoenix did not differ from their uninfected counterparts in constitutive VOC emissions but tended to increase VOC emissions under intense aphid feeding. A multivariate analysis showed that endophyte status imposed stronger differences in VOC profiles of F. pratensis than damage treatment, while the reverse was true for S. phoenix. Additionally, both endophytes inhibited R. padi population growth as measured by aphid dry biomass, with the inhibition appearing greater in E. uncinata-infected F. pratensis. Our results suggest, not only that Epichloë endophytes may play important roles in mediating host VOC responses to herbivory, but also that the magnitude and direction of such responses may vary with the identity of the Epichloë-grass symbiosis. Whether Epichloë-mediated host VOC responses will eventually translate into effects on higher trophic levels merits future investigation.}, } @article {pmid24977409, year = {2014}, author = {Lu, M and Wang, X and Sun, G and Qin, B and Xiao, J and Yan, S and Pan, Y and Wang, Y}, title = {Fine structure of Tibetan kefir grains and their yeast distribution, diversity, and shift.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e101387}, pmid = {24977409}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Benzothiazoles ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cultured Milk Products/*microbiology ; Diamines ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organic Chemicals/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Quinolines ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Staining and Labeling ; Tibet ; Yeasts/*physiology/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Tibetan kefir grains (TKGs), a kind of natural starter for fermented milk in Tibet, China, host various microorganisms of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and occasionally acetic acid bacteria in a polysaccharide/protein matrix. In the present study, the fine structure of TKGs was studied to shed light on this unusual symbiosis with stereomicroscopy and thin sections. The results reveal that TKGs consist of numerous small grain units, which are characterized by a hollow globular structure with a diameter between 2.0 and 9.0 mm and a wall thickness of approximately 200 µm. A polyhedron-like net structure, formed mainly by the bacteria, was observed in the wall of the grain units, which has not been reported previously to our knowledge. Towards the inside of the grain unit, the polyhedron-like net structures became gradually larger in diameter and fewer in number. Such fine structures may play a crucial role in the stability of the grains. Subsequently, the distribution, diversity, and shift of yeasts in TKGs were investigated based on thin section, scanning electron microscopy, cloning and sequencing of D1/D2 of the 26S rRNA gene, real-time quantitative PCR, and in situ hybridization with specific fluorescence-labeled oligonucleotide probes. These show that (i) yeasts appear to localize on the outer surface of the grains and grow normally together to form colonies embedded in the bacterial community; (ii) the diversity of yeasts is relatively low on genus level with three dominant species--Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Yarrowia lipolytica; (iii) S. cerevisiae is the stable predominant yeast species, while the composition of Kluyveromyces and Yarrowia are subject to change over time. Our results indicate that TKGs are relatively stable in structure, and culture conditions to some extent shape the microbial community and interaction in kefir grains. These findings pave the way for further study of the specific symbiotic associations between S. cerevisiae and Lactobacillus bacteria in TKGs.}, } @article {pmid24976896, year = {2013}, author = {Reeve, W and Nandasena, K and Yates, R and Tiwari, R and O'Hara, G and Ninawi, M and Gu, W and Goodwin, L and Detter, C and Tapia, R and Han, C and Copeland, A and Liolios, K and Chen, A and Markowitz, V and Pati, A and Mavromatis, K and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N and Ivanova, N and Howieson, J}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Mesorhizobium australicum type strain (WSM2073(T)).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {410-419}, pmid = {24976896}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium australicum strain WSM2073(T) was isolated from root nodules on the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus growing in Australia in 2000. This aerobic, motile, gram negative, non-spore-forming rod is poorly effective in N2 fixation on B. pelecinus and has gained the ability to nodulate B. pelecinus following in situ lateral transfer of a symbiosis island from the original inoculant strain for this legume, Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271. We describe that the genome size of M. australicum strain WSM2073(T) is 6,200,534 bp encoding 6,013 protein-coding genes and 67 RNA-only encoding genes. This genome does not contain any plasmids but has a 455.7 kb genomic island from Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271 that has been integrated into a phenylalanine-tRNA gene.}, } @article {pmid24976889, year = {2013}, author = {Galardini, M and Bazzicalupo, M and Biondi, E and Brambilla, E and Brilli, M and Bruce, D and Chain, P and Chen, A and Daligault, H and Davenport, KW and Deshpande, S and Detter, JC and Goodwin, LA and Han, C and Han, J and Huntemann, M and Ivanova, N and Klenk, HP and Kyrpides, NC and Markowitz, V and Mavrommatis, K and Mocali, S and Nolan, M and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Pini, F and Pitluck, S and Spini, G and Szeto, E and Teshima, H and Woyke, T and Mengoni, A}, title = {Permanent draft genome sequences of the symbiotic nitrogen fixing Ensifer meliloti strains BO21CC and AK58.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {325-333}, pmid = {24976889}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Ensifer (syn. Sinorhizobium) meliloti is an important symbiotic bacterial species that fixes nitrogen. Strains BO21CC and AK58 were previously investigated for their substrate utilization and their plant-growth promoting abilities showing interesting features. Here, we describe the complete genome sequence and annotation of these strains. BO21CC and AK58 genomes are 6,985,065 and 6,974,333 bp long with 6,746 and 6,992 genes predicted, respectively.}, } @article {pmid24976886, year = {2013}, author = {Reeve, W and Nandasena, K and Yates, R and Tiwari, R and O'Hara, G and Ninawi, M and Chertkov, O and Goodwin, L and Bruce, D and Detter, C and Tapia, R and Han, S and Woyke, T and Pitluck, S and Nolan, M and Land, M and Copeland, A and Liolios, K and Pati, A and Mavromatis, K and Markowitz, V and Kyrpides, N and Ivanova, N and Goodwin, L and Meenakshi, U and Howieson, J}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Mesorhizobium opportunistum type strain WSM2075(T.).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {294-303}, pmid = {24976886}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium opportunistum strain WSM2075(T) was isolated in Western Australia in 2000 from root nodules of the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus that had been inoculated with M. ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271. WSM2075(T) is an aerobic, motile, Gram negative, non-spore-forming rod that has gained the ability to nodulate B. pelecinus but is completely ineffective in N2 fixation with this host. This report reveals that the genome of M. opportunistum strain WSM2075(T) contains a chromosome of size 6,884,444 bp, encoding 6,685 protein-coding genes and 62 RNA-only encoding genes. The genome contains no plasmids, but does harbor a 455.7 kb genomic island from Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271 that has been integrated into a phenylalanine-tRNA gene.}, } @article {pmid24976884, year = {2013}, author = {Reeve, W and Terpolilli, J and Melino, V and Ardley, J and Tian, R and De Meyer, S and Tiwari, R and Yates, R and O'Hara, G and Howieson, J and Ninawi, M and Teshima, H and Bruce, D and Detter, C and Tapia, R and Han, C and Wei, CL and Huntemann, M and Han, J and Chen, IM and Mavrommatis, K and Markowitz, V and Ivanova, N and Ovchinnikova, G and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Goodwin, L and Peters, L and Woyke, T and Kyrpides, N}, title = {Genome sequence of the lupin-nodulating Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM1417.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {273-282}, pmid = {24976884}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM1417 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen (N2) fixing root nodule of Lupinus sp. collected in Papudo, Chile, in 1995. However, this microsymbiont is a poorly effective N2 fixer with the legume host Lupinus angustifolius L.; a lupin species of considerable economic importance in both Chile and Australia. The symbiosis formed with L. angustifolius produces less than half of the dry matter achieved by the symbioses with commercial inoculant strains such as Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM471. Therefore, WSM1417 is an important candidate strain with which to investigate the genetics of effective N2 fixation in the lupin-bradyrhizobia symbioses. Here we describe the features of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain WSM1417, together with genome sequence information and annotation. The 8,048,963 bp high-quality-draft genome is arranged in a single scaffold of 2 contigs, contains 7,695 protein-coding genes and 77 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of 20 rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Program.}, } @article {pmid24975554, year = {2014}, author = {Gu, M and Liu, W and Meng, Q and Zhang, W and Chen, A and Sun, S and Xu, G}, title = {Identification of microRNAs in six solanaceous plants and their potential link with phosphate and mycorrhizal signaling.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {12}, pages = {1164-1178}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12233}, pmid = {24975554}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/microbiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*genetics ; Solanaceae/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Solanum melongena/genetics/microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/genetics/microbiology ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {To date, only a limited number of solanaceous miRNAs have been deposited in the miRNA database. Here, genome-wide bioinformatic identification of miRNAs was performed in six solanaceous plants (potato, tomato, tobacco, eggplant, pepper, and petunia). A total of 2,239 miRNAs were identified following a range of criteria, of which 982 were from potato, 496 from tomato, 655 from tobacco, 46 from eggplant, 45 were from pepper, and 15 from petunia. The sizes of miRNA families and miRNA precursor length differ in all the species. Accordingly, 620 targets were predicted, which could be functionally classified as transcription factors, metabolic enzymes, RNA and protein processing proteins, and other proteins for plant growth and development. We also showed evidence for miRNA clusters and sense and antisense miRNAs. Additionally, five Pi starvation- and one arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM)-related cis-elements were found widely distributed in the putative promoter regions of the miRNA genes. Selected miRNAs were classified into three groups based on the presence or absence of P1BS and MYCS cis-elements, and their expression in response to Pi starvation and AM symbiosis was validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). These results show that conserved miRNAs exist in solanaceous species and they might play pivotal roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses.}, } @article {pmid24975457, year = {2014}, author = {Larrainzar, E and Gil-Quintana, E and Arrese-Igor, C and González, EM and Marino, D}, title = {Split-root systems applied to the study of the legume-rhizobial symbiosis: what have we learned?.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {12}, pages = {1118-1124}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12231}, pmid = {24975457}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Split-root system (SRS) approaches allow the differential treatment of separate and independent root systems, while sharing a common aerial part. As such, SRS is a useful tool for the discrimination of systemic (shoot origin) versus local (root/nodule origin) regulation mechanisms. This type of approach is particularly useful when studying the complex regulatory mechanisms governing the symbiosis established between legumes and Rhizobium bacteria. The current work provides an overview of the main insights gained from the application of SRS approaches to understand how nodule number (nodulation autoregulation) and nitrogen fixation are controlled both under non-stressful conditions and in response to a variety of stresses. Nodule number appears to be mainly controlled at the systemic level through a signal which is produced by nodule/root tissue, translocated to the shoot, and transmitted back to the root system, involving shoot Leu-rich repeat receptor-like kinases. In contrast, both local and systemic mechanisms have been shown to operate for the regulation of nitrogenase activity in nodules. Under drought and heavy metal stress, the regulation is mostly local, whereas the application of exogenous nitrogen seems to exert a regulation of nitrogen fixation both at the local and systemic levels.}, } @article {pmid24975397, year = {2014}, author = {Bolnick, DI and Snowberg, LK and Caporaso, JG and Lauber, C and Knight, R and Stutz, WE}, title = {Major Histocompatibility Complex class IIb polymorphism influences gut microbiota composition and diversity.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {19}, pages = {4831-4845}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12846}, pmid = {24975397}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; British Columbia ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, MHC Class II/*genetics ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Lakes ; *Microbiota ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Smegmamorpha/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Animals harbour diverse communities of symbiotic bacteria, which differ dramatically among host individuals. This heterogeneity poses an immunological challenge: distinguishing between mutualistic and pathogenic members of diverse and host-specific microbial communities. We propose that Major Histocompatibility class II (MHC) genotypes contribute to recognition and regulation of gut microbes, and thus, MHC polymorphism contributes to microbial variation among hosts. Here, we show that MHC IIb polymorphism is associated with among-individual variation in gut microbiota within a single wild vertebrate population of a small fish, the threespine stickleback. We sampled stickleback from Cedar Lake, on Vancouver Island, and used next-generation sequencing to genotype the sticklebacks' gut microbiota (16S sequencing) and their MHC class IIb exon 2 sequences. The presence of certain MHC motifs was associated with altered relative abundance (increase or decrease) of some microbial Families. The effect sizes are modest and entail a minority of microbial taxa, but these results represent the first indication that MHC genotype may affect gut microbiota composition in natural populations (MHC-microbe associations have also been found in a few studies of lab mice). Surprisingly, these MHC effects were frequently sex-dependent. Finally, hosts with more diverse MHC motifs had less diverse gut microbiota. One implication is that MHC might influence the efficacy of therapeutic strategies to treat dysbiosis-associated disease, including the outcome of microbial transplants between healthy and diseased patients. We also speculate that macroparasite-driven selection on MHC has the potential to indirectly alter the host gut microbiota, and vice versa.}, } @article {pmid24975027, year = {2014}, author = {Roberty, S and Bailleul, B and Berne, N and Franck, F and Cardol, P}, title = {PSI Mehler reaction is the main alternative photosynthetic electron pathway in Symbiodinium sp., symbiotic dinoflagellates of cnidarians.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {204}, number = {1}, pages = {81-91}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12903}, pmid = {24975027}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cnidaria/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/physiology ; Electron Transport ; Light ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/chemistry/*metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic organisms have developed various photoprotective mechanisms to cope with exposure to high light intensities. In photosynthetic dinoflagellates that live in symbiosis with cnidarians, the nature and relative amplitude of these regulatory mechanisms are a matter of debate. In our study, the amplitude of photosynthetic alternative electron flows (AEF) to oxygen (chlororespiration, Mehler reaction), the mitochondrial respiration and the Photosystem I (PSI) cyclic electron flow were investigated in strains belonging to three clades (A1, B1 and F1) of Symbiodinium. Cultured Symbiodinium strains were maintained under identical environmental conditions, and measurements of oxygen evolution, fluorescence emission and absorption changes at specific wavelengths were used to evaluate PSI and PSII electron transfer rates (ETR). A light- and O2 -dependent ETR was observed in all strains. This electron transfer chain involves PSII and PSI and is insensitive to inhibitors of mitochondrial activity and carbon fixation. We demonstrate that in all strains, the Mehler reaction responsible for photoreduction of oxygen by the PSI under high light, is the main AEF at the onset and at the steady state of photosynthesis. This sustained photosynthetic AEF under high light intensities acts as a photoprotective mechanism and leads to an increase of the ATP/NADPH ratio.}, } @article {pmid24973582, year = {2014}, author = {Nasopoulou, C and Pohjanen, J and Koskimäki, JJ and Zabetakis, I and Pirttilä, AM}, title = {Localization of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) and Methylobacterium extorquens genes of strawberry flavor biosynthesis in strawberry tissue by in situ hybridization.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {13}, pages = {1099-1105}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2014.03.018}, pmid = {24973582}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Alcohol Dehydrogenase/genetics/*metabolism ; Aldehydes/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Endophytes ; Fragaria/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Fruit/genetics/metabolism ; Furans/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; In Situ Hybridization/*methods ; Methanol/metabolism ; Methylobacterium extorquens/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Strawberry flavor is one of the most popular fruit flavors worldwide, with numerous applications in the food industry. In addition, the biosynthetic origin of the most important strawberry flavor components, such as 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furan-3-one (DMHF), is a challenging research area. DMHF's precursor, 2-hydroxy-propanal (or lactaldehyde), is biosynthesized by the endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens (M. extorquens). In particular, the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes of M. extorquens are involved in the biogenesis of DMHF precursors since they have the capacity to oxidize the strawberry-derived 1,2-propanediol to lactaldehyde. In this study, the expression of the endophytic ADH and the plant DMHF biosynthesis genes was examined in the tissues of raw and ripe strawberry receptacles by in situ hybridization. The presence of endophytic bacteria was studied in the same tissues by probes targeting bacterial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid. Hybridization signals of probes specific for endophytic ADH and plant DMHF biosynthesis genes, as well as bacteria-specific probes, were detected in the same locations. The probes were localized near the plasma membranes or intercellular spaces of cortical and vascular tissues of the receptacle, and intracellularly in the tissues of achenes. By localizing the expression of the endophytic methanol ADH and plant DMHF biosynthesis genes to the same tissues, we have reinforced our original hypothesis that an intimate symbiotic relationship between strawberry and endophytic cells exists and leads to the biosynthesis of DMHF.}, } @article {pmid24973072, year = {2014}, author = {Hansen, H and Bjelland, AM and Ronessen, M and Robertsen, E and Willassen, NP}, title = {LitR is a repressor of syp genes and has a temperature-sensitive regulatory effect on biofilm formation and colony morphology in Vibrio (Aliivibrio) salmonicida.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {17}, pages = {5530-5541}, pmid = {24973072}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Aliivibrio Infections/microbiology/veterinary ; Aliivibrio salmonicida/genetics/growth & development/*physiology/radiation effects ; Animals ; Biofilms/*growth & development/radiation effects ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Fish Diseases/microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hemorrhagic Septicemia/microbiology/veterinary ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/biosynthesis ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Salmo salar ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Vibrio (Aliivibrio) salmonicida is the etiological agent of cold water vibriosis, a disease in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that is kept under control due to an effective vaccine. A seawater temperature below 12°C is normally required for disease development. Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-regulated communication system that bacteria use to coordinate activities involved in colonization and pathogenesis, and we have previously shown that inactivation of the QS master regulator LitR attenuates the V. salmonicida strain LFI1238 in a fish model. We show here that strain LFI1238 and a panel of naturally occurring V. salmonicida strains are poor biofilm producers. Inactivation of litR in the LFI1238 strain enhances medium- and temperature-dependent adhesion, rugose colony morphology, and biofilm formation. Chemical treatment and electron microscopy of the biofilm identified an extracellular matrix consisting mainly of a fibrous network, proteins, and polysaccharides. Further, by microarray analysis of planktonic and biofilm cells, we identified a number of genes regulated by LitR and, among these, were homologues of the Vibrio fischeri symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) genes. The syp genes were regulated by LitR in both planktonic and biofilm lifestyle analyses. Disruption of syp genes in the V. salmonicida ΔlitR mutant alleviated adhesion, rugose colony morphology, and biofilm formation. Hence, LitR is a repressor of syp transcription that is necessary for expression of the phenotypes examined. The regulatory effect of LitR on colony morphology and biofilm formation is temperature sensitive and weak or absent at temperatures above the bacterium's upper threshold for pathogenicity.}, } @article {pmid24972629, year = {2014}, author = {Zuleta, LF and Cunha, Cde O and de Carvalho, FM and Ciapina, LP and Souza, RC and Mercante, FM and de Faria, SM and Baldani, JI and Straliotto, R and Hungria, M and de Vasconcelos, AT}, title = {The complete genome of Burkholderia phenoliruptrix strain BR3459a, a symbiont of Mimosa flocculosa: highlighting the coexistence of symbiotic and pathogenic genes.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {535}, pmid = {24972629}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Burkholderia/*genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Synteny ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Burkholderia species play an important ecological role related to xenobiosis, the promotion of plant growth, the biocontrol of agricultural diseases, and symbiotic and non-symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation. Here, we highlight our study as providing the first complete genome of a symbiotic strain of B. phenoliruptrix, BR3459a (=CLA1), which was originally isolated in Brazil from nodules of Mimosa flocculosa and is effective in fixing nitrogen in association with this leguminous species.

RESULTS: Genomic comparisons with other pathogenic and non-pathogenic Burkholderia strains grouped B. phenoliruptrix BR3459a with plant-associated beneficial and environmental species, although it shares a high percentage of its gene repertoire with species of the B. cepacia complex (Bcc) and "pseudomallei" group. The genomic analyses showed that the bce genes involved in exopolysaccharide production are clustered together in the same genomic region, constituting part of the Group III cluster of non-pathogenic bacteria. Regarding environmental stresses, we highlight genes that might be relevant in responses to osmotic, heat, cold and general stresses. Furthermore, a number of particularly interesting genes involved in the machinery of the T1SS, T2SS, T3SS, T4ASS and T6SS secretion systems were identified. The xenobiotic properties of strain BR3459a were also investigated, and some enzymes involved in the degradation of styrene, nitrotoluene, dioxin, chlorocyclohexane, chlorobenzene and caprolactam were identified. The genomic analyses also revealed a large number of antibiotic-related genes, the most important of which were correlated with streptomycin and novobiocin. The symbiotic plasmid showed high sequence identity with the symbiotic plasmid of B. phymatum. Additionally, comparative analysis of 545 housekeeping genes among pathogenic and non-pathogenic Burkholderia species strongly supports the definition of a new genus for the second branch, which would include BR3459a.

CONCLUSIONS: The analyses of B. phenoliruptrix BR3459a showed key property of fixing nitrogen that together with genes for high tolerance to environmental stresses might explain a successful strategy of symbiosis in the tropics. The strain also harbours interesting sets of genes with biotechnological potential. However, the resemblance of certain genes to those of pathogenic Burkholderia raise concerns about large-scale applications in agriculture or for bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid24972305, year = {2014}, author = {Yang, B and Ma, HY and Wang, XM and Jia, Y and Hu, J and Li, X and Dai, CC}, title = {Improvement of nitrogen accumulation and metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by the endophyte Phomopsis liquidambari.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {172-182}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2014.06.002}, pmid = {24972305}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The fungal endophyte Phomopsis liquidambari can enhance nitrogen (N) uptake and metabolism of rice plants under hydroponic conditions. To investigate the effects of P. liquidambari on N accumulation and metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under field conditions during the entire growing season (S1, the seedling stage; S2, the tillering stage; S3, the heading stage; S4, the ripening stage), we utilized pot experiments to examine metabolic and physiological levels in both shoot and root tissues of rice, with endophyte (E+) and without endophyte (E-), in response to three different N levels. We found that under low-N treatment, P. liquidambari symbiosis increased the rice yield and N use efficiency by 12% and by 11.59%, respectively; that the total N contents in E+ rice plants at the four growth stages were separately increased by 29.05%, 14.65%, 21.06% and 18.38%, respectively; and that the activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase in E+ rice roots and shoots were significantly increased by fungal infection during the S1 to S3 stages. Moreover, P. liquidambari significantly increased the free NH4(+), NO3(-), amino acid and soluble protein contents in infected rice tissues under low-N treatment during the S1 to S3 stages. The obtained results offer novel data concerning the systemic changes induced by P. liquidambari in rice during the entire growth period and confirm the hypothesis that the rice-P. liquidambari interaction improved the N accumulation and metabolism of rice plants, consequently increasing rice N utilization in nutrient-limited soil.}, } @article {pmid24971344, year = {2014}, author = {Chiu, CC and Ching, YH and Wang, YC and Liu, JY and Li, YP and Huang, YT and Chuang, HL}, title = {Monocolonization of germ-free mice with Bacteroides fragilis protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {675786}, pmid = {24971344}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Acute Disease ; Animals ; Bacteroides fragilis/*growth & development ; Blood Cell Count ; Colitis/blood/*microbiology/pathology/*prevention & control ; Colon/metabolism/pathology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Dextran Sulfate ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Germ-Free Life ; Inflammation/pathology ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Ulcerative colitis is inflammatory conditions of the colon caused by interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Previous studies indicated that the gut microflora may be involved in the colonic inflammation. Bacteroides fragilis (BF) is a Gram-negative anaerobe belonging to the colonic symbiotic. We aimed to investigate the protective role of BF in a colitis model induced in germ-free (GF) mice by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). GF C57BL/6JNarl mice were colonized with BF for 28 days before acute colitis was induced by DSS. BF colonization significantly increased animal survival by 40%, with less reduction in colon length, and decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells (macrophages and neutrophils) in colon mucosa following challenge with DSS. In addition, BF could enhance the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory-related cytokine such as interleukin 10 (IL-10) with polymorphism cytokine IL-17 and diminish that of proinflammatory-related tumor necrosis factor α with inducible nitric oxide synthase in the ulcerated colon. Myeloperoxidase activity was also decreased in BF-DSS mice. Taking these together, the BF colonization significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by suppressing the activity of inflammatory-related molecules and inducing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. BF may play an important role in maintaining intestinal immune system homeostasis and regulate inflammatory responses.}, } @article {pmid24969302, year = {2014}, author = {Yu, X and Cloutier, S and Tambong, JT and Bromfield, ESP}, title = {Bradyrhizobium ottawaense sp. nov., a symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacterium from root nodules of soybeans in Canada.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 9}, pages = {3202-3207}, pmid = {24969302}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Canada ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sixteen strains of symbiotic bacteria from root nodules of Glycine max grown in Ottawa, Canada, were previously characterized and placed in a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To verify their taxonomic status, these strains were further characterized using a polyphasic approach. All strains possessed identical 16S rRNA gene sequences that were 99.79 % similar to the closest relative, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense LMG 18230(T). Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated atpD, glnII, recA, gyrB, rpoB and dnaK genes divided the 16 strains into three multilocus sequence types that were placed in a highly supported lineage distinct from named species of the genus Bradyrhizobium consistent with results of DNA-DNA hybridization. Based on analysis of symbiosis gene sequences (nodC and nifH), all novel strains were placed in a phylogenetic group with five species of the genus Bradyrhizobium that nodulate soybeans. The combination of phenotypic characteristics from several tests including carbon and nitrogen source utilization and antibiotic resistance could be used to differentiate representative strains from recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Novel strain OO99(T) elicits effective nodules on Glycine max, Glycine soja and Macroptilium atropurpureum, partially effective nodules on Desmodium canadense and Vigna unguiculata, and ineffective nodules on Amphicarpaea bracteata and Phaseolus vulgaris. Based on the data presented, we conclude that our strains represent a novel species for which the name Bradyrhizobium ottawaense sp. nov. is proposed, with OO99(T) (= LMG 26739(T) = HAMBI 3284(T)) as the type strain. The DNA G+C content is 62.6 mol%.}, } @article {pmid24968106, year = {2014}, author = {Ma, X and Zhou, W and Fu, Z and Cheng, Y and Min, M and Liu, Y and Zhang, Y and Chen, P and Ruan, R}, title = {Effect of wastewater-borne bacteria on algal growth and nutrients removal in wastewater-based algae cultivation system.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {167}, number = {}, pages = {8-13}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2014.05.087}, pmid = {24968106}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Cell Culture Techniques/*methods ; Chlorella/*growth & development ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen/*isolation & purification ; Phosphorus/*isolation & purification ; Wastewater/*microbiology ; *Water Microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Centrate, a type of nutrient-rich municipal wastewater was used to determine the effect of wastewater-borne bacteria on algal growth and nutrients removal efficiency in this study. The characteristics of algal and bacterial growth profiles, wastewater nutrient removal and effect of initial algal inoculums were systematically examined. The results showed that initial algal concentration had apparent effect on bacterial growth, and the presence of bacteria had a significant influence on algal growth pattern, suggesting symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria at the initial stage of algae cultivation. The maximum algal biomass of 2.01 g/L with 0.1g/L initial algal inoculums concentration can be obtained during algae cultivation in raw centrate medium. The synergistic effect of centrate-borne bacteria and microalgae on algae growth and nutrient removal performance at initial fast growth stage has great potential to be applied to pilot-scale wastewater-based algae wastewater system cultivated in continuous or semi-continuous mode.}, } @article {pmid24967086, year = {2014}, author = {Cardini, U and Bednarz, VN and Foster, RA and Wild, C}, title = {Benthic N2 fixation in coral reefs and the potential effects of human-induced environmental change.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {1706-1727}, pmid = {24967086}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Tropical coral reefs are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems, despite being surrounded by ocean waters where nutrients are in short supply. Benthic dinitrogen (N2) fixation is a significant internal source of "new" nitrogen (N) in reef ecosystems, but related information appears to be sparse. Here, we review the current state (and gaps) of knowledge on N2 fixation associated with coral reef organisms and their ecosystems. By summarizing the existing literature, we show that benthic N2 fixation is an omnipresent process in tropical reef environments. Highest N2 fixation rates are detected in reef-associated cyanobacterial mats and sea grass meadows, clearly showing the significance of these functional groups, if present, to the input of new N in reef ecosystems. Nonetheless, key benthic organisms such as hard corals also importantly contribute to benthic N2 fixation in the reef. Given the usually high coral coverage of healthy reef systems, these results indicate that benthic symbiotic associations may be more important than previously thought. In fact, mutualisms between carbon (C) and N2 fixers have likely evolved that may enable reef communities to mitigate N limitation. We then explore the potential effects of the increasing human interferences on the process of benthic reef N2 fixation via changes in diazotrophic populations, enzymatic activities, or availability of benthic substrates favorable to these microorganisms. Current knowledge indicates positive effects of ocean acidification, warming, and deoxygenation and negative effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on the amount of N fixed in coral reefs. Eutrophication may either boost or suppress N2 fixation, depending on the nutrient becoming limiting. As N2 fixation appears to play a fundamental role in nutrient-limited reef ecosystems, these assumptions need to be expanded and confirmed by future research efforts addressing the knowledge gaps identified in this review.}, } @article {pmid24966520, year = {2014}, author = {Zuppa, A and Costantini, S and Costantini, M}, title = {Comparative sequence analysis of bacterial symbionts from the marine sponges Geodia cydonium and Ircinia muscarum.}, journal = {Bioinformation}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {196-200}, pmid = {24966520}, issn = {0973-2063}, abstract = {Marine sponges (Porifera) live in a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms, primarily bacteria. Recently, several studies indicated that sponges are the most prolific source of biologically-active compounds produced by symbiotic microorganisms rather than by the sponges themselves. In the present study we characterized the bacterial symbionts from two Demospongiae, Ircinia muscarum and Geodia cydonium. We amplified 16S rRNA by PCR, using specific bacterial-primers. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of nine bacterial clones from I. muscarum and ten from G. cydonium. In particular, I. muscarum resulted enriched in Bacillus species and G. cydonium in Proteobacterium species. Since these bacteria were able to produce secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological and biopharmaceutical applications, we hypothesized that I. muscarum and G. cydonium could be a considered as a "gold mine" of natural products.}, } @article {pmid24963388, year = {2014}, author = {Augustinos, AA and Asimakopoulou, AK and Moraiti, CA and Mavragani-Tsipidou, P and Papadopoulos, NT and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Microsatellite and Wolbachia analysis in Rhagoletis cerasi natural populations: population structuring and multiple infections.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {10}, pages = {1943-1962}, pmid = {24963388}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of sweet and sour cherries in Europe and parts of Asia. Despite its economic significance, there is a lack of studies on the genetic structure of R. cerasi populations. Elucidating the genetic structure of insects of economic importance is crucial for developing phenological-predictive models and environmental friendly control methods. All natural populations of R. cerasi have been found to harbor the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, which widely affects multiple biological traits contributing to the evolution of its hosts, and has been suggested as a tool for the biological control of insect pests and disease vectors. In the current study, the analysis of 18 R. cerasi populations collected in Greece, Germany, and Russia using 13 microsatellite markers revealed structuring of R. cerasi natural populations, even at close geographic range. We also analyzed the Wolbachia infection status of these populations using 16S rRNA-, MLST- and wsp-based approaches. All 244 individuals screened were positive for Wolbachia. Our results suggest the fixation of the wCer1 strain in Greece while wCer2, wCer4, wCer5, and probably other uncharacterized strains were also detected in multiply infected individuals. The role of Wolbachia and its potential extended phenotypes needs a thorough investigation in R. cerasi. Our data suggest an involvement of this symbiont in the observed restriction in the gene flow in addition to a number of different ecological factors.}, } @article {pmid24960170, year = {2014}, author = {Talà, A and Delle Side, D and Buccolieri, G and Tredici, SM and Velardi, L and Paladini, F and De Stefano, M and Nassisi, V and Alifano, P}, title = {Exposure to static magnetic field stimulates quorum sensing circuit in luminescent Vibrio strains of the Harveyi clade.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e100825}, pmid = {24960170}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial ; Luminescent Measurements ; *Magnetic Fields ; Mutation ; *Quorum Sensing ; Vibrio/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In this study, the evidence of electron-dense magnetic inclusions with polyhedral shape in the cytoplasm of Harveyi clade Vibrio strain PS1, a bioluminescent bacterium living in symbiosis with marine organisms, led us to investigate the behavior of this bacterium under exposure to static magnetic fields ranging between 20 and 2000 Gauss. When compared to sham-exposed, the light emission of magnetic field-exposed bacteria growing on solid medium at 18°C ±0.1°C was increased up to two-fold as a function of dose and growth phase. Stimulation of bioluminescence by magnetic field was more pronounced during the post-exponential growth and stationary phase, and was lost when bacteria were grown in the presence of the iron chelator deferoxamine, which caused disassembly of the magnetic inclusions suggesting their involvement in magnetic response. As in luminescent Vibrio spp. bioluminescence is regulated by quorum sensing, possible effects of magnetic field exposure on quorum sensing were investigated. Measurement of mRNA levels by reverse transcriptase real time-PCR demonstrated that luxR regulatory gene and luxCDABE operon coding for luciferase and fatty acid reductase complex were significantly up-regulated in magnetic field-exposed bacteria. In contrast, genes coding for a type III secretion system, whose expression was negatively affected by LuxR, were down-regulated. Up-regulation of luxR paralleled with down-regulation of small RNAs that mediate destabilization of luxR mRNA in quorum sensing signaling pathways. The results of experiments with the well-studied Vibrio campbellii strain BB120 (originally classified as Vibrio harveyi) and derivative mutants unable to synthesize autoinducers suggest that the effects of magnetic fields on quorum sensing may be mediated by AI-2, the interspecies quorum sensing signal molecule.}, } @article {pmid24958607, year = {2014}, author = {Durán, D and Rey, L and Navarro, A and Busquets, A and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T}, title = {Bradyrhizobium valentinum sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules of Lupinus mariae-josephae, a lupine endemic of basic-lime soils in Eastern Spain.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {336-341}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.05.002}, pmid = {24958607}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytosol/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Proteome/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Spain ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {Bacterial strains isolated from nitrogen-fixing nodules of Lupinus mariae-josephae have been characterized following genetic, phenotypic and symbiotic approaches. Analysis of 16S rRNA genes placed them in a group together with Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76(T), B. pachyrhizi PAC48(T), B. jicamae PAC68(T), 'B. retamae' Ro19(T) and B. lablabi CCBAU 23086(T) with over 99.0% identity. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated housekeeping genes, recA, atpD and glnII, suggested that L. mariae-josephae strains represent a new Bradyrhizobium species, closely related to B. lablabi CCBAU 23086(T), B. jicamae PAC68(T) and 'B. retamae' Ro19(T) with 92.1, 91.9 and 90.8% identity, respectively. These results are consistent with overall genomic identities calculated as Average Nucleotide Identity (ANIm) using draft genomic sequences obtained for relevant strains. While L. mariae-josephae strains LmjM3(T)/LmjM6 exhibited a 99.2% ANIm value, they were significantly distant (<93% ANIm) from type strains of their closest species ('B. retamae' Ro19(T), B. lablabi CCBAU 23086(T) and B. jicamae PAC68(T)). Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (WC-MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis of proteomic patterns of the same strains was consistent with these results. The symbiosis-related genes nodC, nodA and nifH genes from strains nodulating L. mariae-josephae were phylogenetically related to those from 'B. retamae' Ro19(T), but divergent from those of strains that nodulate other lupine species. Based on genetic, genomic, proteomic and phenotypic data presented in this study, L. mariae-josephae nodulating strains LmjM3(T), LmjM6 and LmjM2 should be grouped within a new species for which the name Bradyrhizobium valentinum sp. nov. is proposed (type strain LmjM3(T)=CECT 8364(T), LMG 2761(T)).}, } @article {pmid24958536, year = {2014}, author = {Xu, Z and Ban, Y and Li, Z and Chen, H and Yang, R and Tang, M}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a role in protecting roots of Sophora viciifolia Hance. from Pb damage associated with increased phytochelatin synthase gene expression.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {21}, number = {22}, pages = {12671-12683}, pmid = {24958536}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Aminoacyltransferases/*genetics ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lead/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Sophora/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the expressions of the dominant plant-related genes under heavy metal (HM) stress is important for developing strategies to reclaim polluted sites. In this study, we cloned full-length cDNAs of phytochelatin synthase gene (PCS1) and Actin of Sophora viciifolia Hance., a predominant plant in Qiandongshan lead and zinc mine, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Consequently, we studied the response of SvPCS1 to Funneliformis mosseae inoculation under lead stress (0, 50, and 200 μM Pb(NO3)2) at different durations (1, 3, and 7 days) using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain-reaction (qRT-PCR) technique. The Pb concentrations and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were also measured to assay Pb toxicity to Sophora viciifolia. We found that Pb concentrations in roots increased with increasing Pb application and the durations; the F v /F m , F v /F o , qP, and Y(II) decreased; NPQ rose with increasing Pb concentrations; mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviated the Pb toxicity to plants; and SvPCS1 was constitutively expressed in the roots. It was also found that F. mosseae inoculation could promote the expression of SvPCS1 with the concentration ≤ 200 μM at the exposure time shorter than 7 days.}, } @article {pmid24956966, year = {2014}, author = {Borre, YE and O'Keeffe, GW and Clarke, G and Stanton, C and Dinan, TG and Cryan, JF}, title = {Microbiota and neurodevelopmental windows: implications for brain disorders.}, journal = {Trends in molecular medicine}, volume = {20}, number = {9}, pages = {509-518}, doi = {10.1016/j.molmed.2014.05.002}, pmid = {24956966}, issn = {1471-499X}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Aging ; Animals ; Autistic Disorder/etiology ; Brain/*growth & development ; Brain Diseases/etiology ; Central Nervous System Diseases/*etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Mucosa/embryology/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota is essential to human health, playing a major role in the bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. The microbiota undergoes a vigorous process of development throughout the lifespan and establishes its symbiotic rapport with the host early in life. Early life perturbations of the developing gut microbiota can impact neurodevelopment and potentially lead to adverse mental health outcomes later in life. This review compares the parallel early development of the intestinal microbiota and the nervous system. The concept of parallel and interacting microbial-neural critical windows opens new avenues for developing novel microbiota-modulating based therapeutic interventions in early life to combat neurodevelopmental deficits and brain disorders.}, } @article {pmid24955378, year = {2014}, author = {Lange, K and Papp, JC and Sinsheimer, JS and Sobel, EM}, title = {Next Generation Statistical Genetics: Modeling, Penalization, and Optimization in High-Dimensional Data.}, journal = {Annual review of statistics and its application}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {279-300}, pmid = {24955378}, issn = {2326-8298}, support = {R01 GM053275/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HG006139/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM103774/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR025521/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Statistical genetics is undergoing the same transition to big data that all branches of applied statistics are experiencing. With the advent of inexpensive DNA sequencing, the transition is only accelerating. This brief review highlights some modern techniques with recent successes in statistical genetics. These include: (a) lasso penalized regression and association mapping, (b) ethnic admixture estimation, (c) matrix completion for genotype and sequence data, (d) the fused lasso and copy number variation, (e) haplotyping, (f) estimation of relatedness, (g) variance components models, and (h) rare variant testing. For more than a century, genetics has been both a driver and beneficiary of statistical theory and practice. This symbiotic relationship will persist for the foreseeable future.}, } @article {pmid24952318, year = {2014}, author = {Servín-Garcidueñas, LE and Zayas-Del Moral, A and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Rogel, MA and Delgado-Salinas, A and Sánchez, F and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Symbiont shift towards Rhizobium nodulation in a group of phylogenetically related Phaseolus species.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.06.006}, pmid = {24952318}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mexico ; Phaseolus/classification/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bean plants from the Phaseolus genus are widely consumed and represent a nitrogen source for human nutrition. They provide biological fertilization by establishing root nodule symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. To establish a successful interaction, bean plants and their symbiotic bacteria need to synchronize a proper molecular crosstalk. Within the Phaseolus genus, P. vulgaris has been the prominent species to study nodulation with Rhizobium symbionts. However the Phaseolus genus comprises diverse species whose symbionts have not been analyzed. Here we identified and studied nodule bacteria from representative Phaseolus species not previously analyzed and from all the described wild species related to P. vulgaris. We found Bradyrhizobium in nodules from most species representing all Phaseolus clades except in five phylogenetically related species from the P. vulgaris clade. Therefore we propose that Bradyrhizobium nodulation is common in Phaseolus and that there was a symbiont preference shift to Rhizobium nodulation in few related species. This work sets the basis to further study the genetic basis of this symbiont substitution.}, } @article {pmid24951786, year = {2014}, author = {Tang, G and Wang, Y and Luo, L}, title = {Transcriptional regulator LsrB of Sinorhizobium meliloti positively regulates the expression of genes involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {17}, pages = {5265-5273}, pmid = {24951786}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; DNA, Bacterial/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipopolysaccharides/*biosynthesis ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Operon ; Protein Binding ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate/toxicity ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcription Initiation Site ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia induce nitrogen-fixing nodules on host legumes, which is important in agriculture and ecology. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by rhizobia is required for infection or bacteroid survival in host cells. Genes required for LPS biosynthesis have been identified in several Rhizobium species. However, the regulation of their expression is not well understood. Here, Sinorhizobium meliloti LsrB, a member of the LysR family of transcriptional regulators, was found to be involved in LPS biosynthesis by positively regulating the expression of the lrp3-lpsCDE operon. An lsrB in-frame deletion mutant displayed growth deficiency, sensitivity to the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate, and acidic pH compared to the parent strain. This mutant produced slightly less LPS due to lower expression of the lrp3 operon. Analysis of the transcriptional start sites of the lrp3 and lpsCDE gene suggested that they constitute one operon. The expression of lsrB was positively autoregulated. The promoter region of lrp3 was specifically precipitated by anti-LsrB antibodies in vivo. The promoter DNA fragment containing TN11A motifs was bound by the purified LsrB protein in vitro. These new findings suggest that S. meliloti LsrB is associated with LPS biosynthesis, which is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation on some ecotypes of alfalfa plants.}, } @article {pmid24951564, year = {2014}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A and Latorre, A}, title = {Settling down: the genome of Serratia symbiotica from the aphid Cinara tujafilina zooms in on the process of accommodation to a cooperative intracellular life.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1683-1698}, pmid = {24951564}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Buchnera/classification/genetics/physiology ; Gene Rearrangement ; *Phylogeny ; Serratia/classification/*genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Particularly interesting cases of mutualistic endosymbioses come from the establishment of co-obligate associations of more than one species of endosymbiotic bacteria. Throughout symbiotic accommodation from a free-living bacterium, passing through a facultative stage and ending as an obligate intracellular one, the symbiont experiences massive genomic losses and phenotypic adjustments. Here, we scrutinized the changes in the coevolution of Serratia symbiotica and Buchnera aphidicola endosymbionts in aphids, paying particular attention to the transformations undergone by S. symbiotica to become an obligate endosymbiont. Although it is already known that S. symbiotica is facultative in Acyrthosiphon pisum, in Cinara cedri it has established a co-obligate endosymbiotic consortium along with B. aphidicola to fulfill the aphid's nutritional requirements. The state of this association in C. tujafilina, an aphid belonging to the same subfamily (Lachninae) that C. cedri, remained unknown. Here, we report the genome of S. symbiotica strain SCt-VLC from the aphid C. tujafilina. While being phylogenetically and genomically very closely related to the facultative endosymbiont S. symbiotica from the aphid A. pisum, it shows a variety of metabolic, genetic, and architectural features, which point toward this endosymbiont being one step closer to an obligate intracellular one. We also describe in depth the process of genome rearrangements suffered by S. symbiotica and the role mobile elements play in gene inactivations. Finally, we postulate the supply to the host of the essential riboflavin (vitamin B2) as key to the establishment of S. symbiotica as a co-obligate endosymbiont in the aphids belonging to the subfamily Lachninane.}, } @article {pmid24951273, year = {2015}, author = {Bernard, F and Brulle, F and Dumez, S and Lemiere, S and Platel, A and Nesslany, F and Cuny, D and Deram, A and Vandenbulcke, F}, title = {Antioxidant responses of Annelids, Brassicaceae and Fabaceae to pollutants: a review.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {114}, number = {}, pages = {273-303}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.04.024}, pmid = {24951273}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Brassica/drug effects/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Brassicaceae/*drug effects/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*drug effects/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Oligochaeta/*drug effects/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Trifolium/drug effects/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pollutants, such as Metal Trace Elements (MTEs) and organic compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides), can impact DNA structure of living organisms and thus generate damage. For instance, cadmium is a well-known genotoxic and mechanisms explaining its clastogenicity are mainly indirect: inhibition of DNA repair mechanisms and/or induction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Animal or vegetal cells use antioxidant defense systems to protect themselves against ROS produced during oxidative stress. Because tolerance of organisms depends, at least partially, on their ability to cope with ROS, the mechanisms of production and management of ROS were investigated a lot in Ecotoxicology as markers of biotic and abiotic stress. This was mainly done through the measurement of enzyme activities The present Review focuses on 3 test species living in close contact with soil that are often used in soil ecotoxicology: the worm Eisenia fetida, and two plant species, Trifolium repens (white clover) and Brassica oleracea (cabbage). E. fetida is a soil-dwelling organism commonly used for biomonitoring. T. repens is a symbiotic plant species which forms root nodule with soil bacteria, while B. oleracea is a non-symbiotic plant. In literature, some oxidative stress enzyme activities have already been measured in those species but such analyses do not allow distinction between individual enzyme involvements in oxidative stress. Gene expression studies would allow this distinction at the transcriptomic level. A literature review and a data search in molecular database were carried out on the basis of keywords in Scopus, in PubMed and in Genbank™ for each species. Molecular data regarding E. fetida were already available in databases, but a lack of data regarding oxidative stress related genes was observed for T. repens and B. oleracea. By exploiting the conservation observed between species and using molecular biology techniques, we partially cloned missing candidates involved in oxidative stress and in metal detoxification in E. fetida, T. repens and B. oleracea.}, } @article {pmid24950292, year = {2014}, author = {Dobson, NC and De Grave, S and Johnson, ML}, title = {Linking eye design with host symbiont relationships in pontoniine shrimps (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e99505}, pmid = {24950292}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/physiology ; Ecology ; Eye/*anatomy & histology ; Ocular Physiological Phenomena ; Palaemonidae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is prevalent in the marine environment with many studies examining the effects of such interactions between host and symbiont. Pontoniine shrimps are a group whose ecology is characterised by symbiotic interactions. This investigation examines the gross morphology of Pontoniinae compound eyes and superficial optical parameters with reference to their symbiotic relationship or lifestyle category; free-living, ectosymbiont, endosymbiont (bivalves) or endosymbiont (non-bivalves). The eye morphologies of free-living and ectosymbiotic species are very similar, yet differ from both forms of endosymbiotic species. Endosymbionts have significantly smaller and simpler eyes with larger facets and bigger interommatidial angles and eye parameters for increased sensitivity levels. However bivalve endosymbionts form an intermediary group between non-bivalve endosymbionts and ectosymbionts as a result of their more active lifestyle. The accessory eye or "nebenauge", although of uncertain function, commonly occurs in free-living Pontoniinae species but rarely in endosymbionts apart from in more primitive species. The variation in morphology reflects tensions between functional requirements and ecological pressures that have strongly influenced eye design in Pontoniinae.}, } @article {pmid24949275, year = {2014}, author = {Brenna, A and Montanini, B and Muggiano, E and Proietto, M and Filetici, P and Ottonello, S and Ballario, P}, title = {Integrative gene transfer in the truffle Tuber borchii by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation.}, journal = {AMB Express}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {43}, pmid = {24949275}, issn = {2191-0855}, abstract = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is a powerful tool for reverse genetics and functional genomic analysis in a wide variety of plants and fungi. Tuber spp. are ecologically important and gastronomically prized fungi ("truffles") with a cryptic life cycle, a subterranean habitat and a symbiotic, but also facultative saprophytic lifestyle. The genome of a representative member of this group of fungi has recently been sequenced. However, because of their poor genetic tractability, including transformation, truffles have so far eluded in-depth functional genomic investigations. Here we report that A. tumefaciens can infect Tuber borchii mycelia, thereby conveying its transfer DNA with the production of stably integrated transformants. We constructed two new binary plasmids (pABr1 and pABr3) and tested them as improved transformation vectors using the green fluorescent protein as reporter gene and hygromycin phosphotransferase as selection marker. Transformants were stable for at least 12 months of in vitro culture propagation and, as revealed by TAIL- PCR analysis, integration sites appear to be heterogeneous, with a preference for repeat element-containing genome sites.}, } @article {pmid24948758, year = {2014}, author = {Takeshita, K and Shibata, TF and Nikoh, N and Nishiyama, T and Hasebe, M and Fukatsu, T and Shigenobu, S and Kikuchi, Y}, title = {Whole-Genome Sequence of Burkholderia sp. Strain RPE67, a Bacterial Gut Symbiont of the Bean Bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {24948758}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Burkholderia sp. strain RPE67 is a bacterial symbiont isolated from a field-collected bean bug, Riptortus pedestris. To understand the genetic basis of the insect-microbe symbiosis, we performed whole-genome sequencing of the Burkholderia strain, revealing an 8.69-Mb genome consisting of three chromosomes and three plasmids.}, } @article {pmid24948393, year = {2014}, author = {Österman, J and Marsh, J and Laine, PK and Zeng, Z and Alatalo, E and Sullivan, JT and Young, JP and Thomas-Oates, J and Paulin, L and Lindström, K}, title = {Genome sequencing of two Neorhizobium galegae strains reveals a noeT gene responsible for the unusual acetylation of the nodulation factors.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {500}, pmid = {24948393}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Acetylation ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Gene Order ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lipopolysaccharides/biosynthesis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The species Neorhizobium galegae comprises two symbiovars that induce nodules on Galega plants. Strains of both symbiovars, orientalis and officinalis, induce nodules on the same plant species, but fix nitrogen only in their own host species. The mechanism behind this strict host specificity is not yet known. In this study, genome sequences of representatives of the two symbiovars were produced, providing new material for studying properties of N. galegae, with a special interest in genomic differences that may play a role in host specificity.

RESULTS: The genome sequences confirmed that the two representative strains are much alike at a whole-genome level. Analysis of orthologous genes showed that N. galegae has a higher number of orthologs shared with Rhizobium than with Agrobacterium. The symbiosis plasmid of strain HAMBI 1141 was shown to transfer by conjugation under optimal conditions. In addition, both sequenced strains have an acetyltransferase gene which was shown to modify the Nod factor on the residue adjacent to the non-reducing-terminal residue. The working hypothesis that this gene is of major importance in directing host specificity of N. galegae could not, however, be confirmed.

CONCLUSIONS: Strains of N. galegae have many genes differentiating them from strains of Agrobacterium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium. However, the mechanism behind their ecological difference is not evident. Although the final determinant for the strict host specificity of N. galegae remains to be identified, the gene responsible for the species-specific acetylation of the Nod factors was identified in this study. We propose the name noeT for this gene to reflect its role in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24947137, year = {2014}, author = {Nasr Esfahani, M and Sulieman, S and Schulze, J and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, K and Shinozaki, K and Tran, LS}, title = {Mechanisms of physiological adjustment of N2 fixation in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) during early stages of water deficit: single or multi-factor controls.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {79}, number = {6}, pages = {964-980}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12599}, pmid = {24947137}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Cell Respiration ; Cicer/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Droughts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Malates/metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Leaves/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Drought negatively impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea), thereby limiting yield potential. Understanding how drought affects chickpea nodulation will enable the development of strategies to biotechnologically engineer chickpea varieties with enhanced SNF under drought conditions. By analyzing carbon and nitrogen metabolism, we studied the mechanisms of physiological adjustment of nitrogen fixation in chickpea plants nodulated with Mesorhizobium ciceri during both drought stress and subsequent recovery. The nitrogenase activity, levels of several key carbon (in nodules) and nitrogen (in both nodules and leaves) metabolites and antioxidant compounds, as well as the activity of related nodule enzymes were examined in M. ciceri-inoculated chickpea plants under early drought stress and subsequent recovery. Results indicated that drought reduced nitrogenase activity, and that this was associated with a reduced expression of the nifK gene. Furthermore, drought stress promoted an accumulation of amino acids, mainly asparagine in nodules (but not in leaves), and caused a cell redox imbalance in nodules. An accumulation of organic acids, especially malate, in nodules, which coincided with the decline of nodulated root respiration, was also observed under drought stress. Taken together, our findings indicate that reduced nitrogenase activity occurring at early stages of drought stress involves, at least, the inhibition of respiration, nitrogen accumulation and an imbalance in cell redox status in nodules. The results of this study demonstrate the potential that the genetic engineering-based improvement of SNF efficiency could be applied to reduce the impact of drought on the productivity of chickpea, and perhaps other legume crops.}, } @article {pmid24946512, year = {2014}, author = {Tupanceski, N and Kiprijanovska, D}, title = {Medicine, law and human rights - a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Medicine and law}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {40-63}, pmid = {24946512}, issn = {0723-1393}, mesh = {Bioethical Issues ; Delivery of Health Care/*legislation & jurisprudence ; *Ethics, Medical ; Human Rights/*legislation & jurisprudence ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Law and medicine are separate professions, and attorneys and physicians often see their professions in conflict. There are, however, more similarities than differences between the two professions. And there are areas of mutual concern and overlap that demand the application of both legal and medical knowledge for the good of the society. In the new categorical system of values, which is substantially influenced by the so-called modern or aggressive medicine, clever physicians, researchers, and technicians discover newer and better ways to do things. Often, what science and technology make possible soon becomes permissible and, eventually, normal and expected. Given the rapid advances in technology and medical technology in particular, it is clear that without the reasonable restraints imposed by philosophical but also, legal critique, medicine and its practitioners may unintentionally convert science and medical method into a muddled philosophy of human life'. Against this background, this paper will handle the questions posed by the extent and protection of human rights and freedoms in terms of application of new biomedical techniques and technologies of treatment toward the development of International human rights law. It also discusses the compatibility of domestic medical law with the normative system of international human rights.}, } @article {pmid24946511, year = {2014}, author = {Owusu-Dapaa, E}, title = {The historical development of health care law and bioethics in England and Wales: a symbiotic relationship?.}, journal = {Medicine and law}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {22-39}, pmid = {24946511}, issn = {0723-1393}, mesh = {Bioethics/*history/trends ; Delivery of Health Care/*history/legislation & jurisprudence ; England ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Terminology as Topic ; Wales ; }, abstract = {The paper explores the backward and forward linkage between HCL and bioethics. Indeed, the relationship between the two is so close that it can be considered one of symbiosis. This is particularly the case when an account is taken of how HCL and bioethics positively benefitted from each other in diverse ways during their development into their present status as discrete disciplines. In the first place, the aftermath of the Second World War, such as the Nuremberg trial and unprecedented medical experiment scandals in the 1960s/70s fuelled the increasing participation of lay scholars in exploring and critiquing medical ethics which culminated in the emergence ofbioethics.2 This in turn facilitated the evolution of HCL as a discipline, since academic lawyers involved in early bioethical discourse developed interest in exploring the interface between law and bioethics at the same time that society was waking up to the ethical implications of medical advances. As HCL emerged as a discrete discipline, it consolidated the status of bioethics as a field of inquiry by projecting the relevance of the latter in adjudication of novel cases with significant slippery moral undertones. Thus, the chicken and egg paradox finds a perfect reflection in the emergence of health care law and bioethics in England and Wales.}, } @article {pmid24944838, year = {2014}, author = {Kooliyottil, R and Inman, F and Mandjiny, S and Holmes, L}, title = {Physiological Constants of the Entomopathogenic Bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila Determined by Microbial Growth Kinetics.}, journal = {ISRN microbiology}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {834054}, pmid = {24944838}, issn = {2090-7478}, abstract = {Xenorhabdus nematophila, an entomopathogenic bacterium that symbiotically associates with the entomoparasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, was studied to determine its physiological parameters of glucose utilization. X. nematophila was cultured in chemically defined media containing various concentrations of glucose under optimal conditions utilizing a two-liter fermentation system. Specific growth rates were obtained from each glucose batch. Specific growth rates and their associated glucose concentrations were used to determine physiological parameters. These parameters include the bacterium's substrate utilization constant (K s) and its maximum specific growth rate (μ max). The bacteria exhibited a K s value of 2.02 mg/L suggesting that X. nematophila has a high affinity for glucose. The μ max of Xenorhabdus was determined to be 1.03 h(-1). Further research is needed to determine if microbial affinities to different substrates have any influence on biological relationships (symbiosis, pathogenicity, parasitism, etc.) between prokaryotes and higher organisms.}, } @article {pmid24944337, year = {2014}, author = {Olofsson, TC and Alsterfjord, M and Nilson, B and Butler, È and Vásquez, A}, title = {Lactobacillus apinorum sp. nov., Lactobacillus mellifer sp. nov., Lactobacillus mellis sp. nov., Lactobacillus melliventris sp. nov., Lactobacillus kimbladii sp. nov., Lactobacillus helsingborgensis sp. nov. and Lactobacillus kullabergensis sp. nov., isolated from the honey stomach of the honeybee Apis mellifera.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 9}, pages = {3109-3119}, pmid = {24944337}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bees/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Honey ; Lactobacillus/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Peptidoglycan/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {We previously discovered a symbiotic lactic acid bacterial (LAB) microbiota in the honey stomach of the honeybee Apis mellifera. The microbiota was composed of several phylotypes of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and phenotypic and genetic characteristics revealed that the phylotypes isolated represent seven novel species. One grouped with Lactobacillus kunkeei and the others belong to the Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subgroups of Lactobacillus. We propose the names Lactobacillus apinorum sp. nov., Lactobacillus mellifer sp. nov., Lactobacillus mellis sp. nov., Lactobacillus melliventris sp. nov., Lactobacillus kimbladii sp. nov., Lactobacillus helsingborgensis sp. nov. and Lactobacillus kullabergensis sp. nov. for these novel species, with the respective type strains being Fhon13N(T) (= DSM 26257(T) = CCUG 63287(T)), Bin4N(T) (= DSM 26254(T) = CCUG 63291(T)), Hon2N(T) (= DSM 26255(T) = CCUG 63289(T)), Hma8N(T) (= DSM 26256(T) = CCUG 63629(T)), Hma2N(T) (= DSM 26263(T) = CCUG 63633(T)), Bma5N(T) (= DSM 26265(T) = CCUG 63301(T)) and Biut2N(T) (= DSM 26262(T) = CCUG 63631(T)).}, } @article {pmid24943582, year = {2014}, author = {Weng, C and Payne, PR and Velez, M and Johnson, SB and Bakken, S}, title = {Towards symbiosis in knowledge representation and natural language processing for structuring clinical practice guidelines.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {201}, number = {}, pages = {461-469}, pmid = {24943582}, issn = {1879-8365}, support = {R01 HS022961/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States ; R01 LM009886/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; R01LM009886/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; UL1TR000040/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000040/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 LM010815/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; R01LM010815/LM/NLM NIH HHS/United States ; R01HS022961/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Database Management Systems ; Databases, Factual/*standards ; Information Storage and Retrieval/*methods ; *Knowledge Bases ; *Natural Language Processing ; New York ; *Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Semantics ; *Vocabulary, Controlled ; }, abstract = {The successful adoption by clinicians of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) contained in clinical information systems requires efficient translation of free-text guidelines into computable formats. Natural language processing (NLP) has the potential to improve the efficiency of such translation. However, it is laborious to develop NLP to structure free-text CPGs using existing formal knowledge representations (KR). In response to this challenge, this vision paper discusses the value and feasibility of supporting symbiosis in text-based knowledge acquisition (KA) and KR. We compare two ontologies: (1) an ontology manually created by domain experts for CPG eligibility criteria and (2) an upper-level ontology derived from a semantic pattern-based approach for automatic KA from CPG eligibility criteria text. Then we discuss the strengths and limitations of interweaving KA and NLP for KR purposes and important considerations for achieving the symbiosis of KR and NLP for structuring CPGs to achieve evidence-based clinical practice.}, } @article {pmid24942683, year = {2014}, author = {Gutzeit, C and Magri, G and Cerutti, A}, title = {Intestinal IgA production and its role in host-microbe interaction.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {260}, number = {1}, pages = {76-85}, pmid = {24942683}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {R01 AI57653/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AI095613/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AI061093/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 096187//PHS HHS/United States ; U01 AI95613/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AI61093/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI057653/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibody Formation/*immunology ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Complex and diverse communities of bacteria establish mutualistic and symbiotic relationships with the gut after birth. The intestinal immune system responds to bacterial colonization by acquiring a state of hypo-responsiveness against commensals and active readiness against pathogens. The resulting homeostatic balance involves a continuous dialog between the microbiota and lymphocytes with the intermediation of epithelial and dendritic cells. This dialog causes massive production of immunoglobulin A (IgA), a non-inflammatory antibody specialized in mucosal protection. Here, we discuss recent advances on the regulation of intestinal IgA responses and their role in host-microbe interaction.}, } @article {pmid24942153, year = {2014}, author = {Labbé, J and Uehling, J and Payen, T and Plett, J}, title = {Fungal biology: compiling genomes and exploiting them.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {203}, number = {2}, pages = {359-361}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12891}, pmid = {24942153}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Fungi/*genetics/pathogenicity ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics/methods/trends ; Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24942152, year = {2014}, author = {Kuyper, TW and Kiers, ET}, title = {The danger of mycorrhizal traps?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {203}, number = {2}, pages = {352-354}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12883}, pmid = {24942152}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Forests ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24942001, year = {2014}, author = {Nikolov, LA and Tomlinson, PB and Manickam, S and Endress, PK and Kramer, EM and Davis, CC}, title = {Holoparasitic Rafflesiaceae possess the most reduced endophytes and yet give rise to the world's largest flowers.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {114}, number = {2}, pages = {233-242}, pmid = {24942001}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Endophytes/cytology/*physiology ; Flowers/*anatomy & histology ; Magnoliopsida/*anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Species in the holoparasitic plant family Rafflesiaceae exhibit one of the most highly modified vegetative bodies in flowering plants. Apart from the flower shoot and associated bracts, the parasite is a mycelium-like endophyte living inside their grapevine hosts. This study provides a comprehensive treatment of the endophytic vegetative body for all three genera of Rafflesiaceae (Rafflesia, Rhizanthes and Sapria), and reports on the cytology and development of the endophyte, including its structural connection to the host, shedding light on the poorly understood nature of this symbiosis.

METHODS: Serial sectioning and staining with non-specific dyes, periodic-Schiff's reagent and aniline blue were employed in order to characterize the structure of the endophyte across a phylogenetically diverse sampling.

KEY RESULTS: A previously identified difference in the nuclear size between Rafflesiaceae endophytes and their hosts was used to investigate the morphology and development of the endophytic body. The endophytes generally comprise uniseriate filaments oriented radially within the host root. The emergence of the parasite from the host during floral development is arrested in some cases by an apparent host response, but otherwise vegetative growth does not appear to elicit suppression by the host.

CONCLUSIONS: Rafflesiaceae produce greatly reduced and modified vegetative bodies even when compared with the other holoparasitic angiosperms once grouped with Rafflesiaceae, which possess some vegetative differentiation. Based on previous studies of seeds together with these findings, it is concluded that the endophyte probably develops directly from a proembryo, and not from an embryo proper. Similarly, the flowering shoot arises directly from the undifferentiated endophyte. These filaments produce a protocorm in which a shoot apex originates endogenously by formation of a secondary morphological surface. This degree of modification to the vegetative body is exceptional within angiosperms and warrants additional investigation. Furthermore, the study highlights a mechanical isolation mechanism by which the host may defend itself from the parasite.}, } @article {pmid24941262, year = {2014}, author = {Daskin, JH and Bell, SC and Schwarzkopf, L and Alford, RA}, title = {Cool temperatures reduce antifungal activity of symbiotic bacteria of threatened amphibians--implications for disease management and patterns of decline.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e100378}, pmid = {24941262}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/physiology ; Animals ; Antibiosis ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Anura/*microbiology ; Australia ; Bacillus/physiology ; Betaproteobacteria/physiology ; Chytridiomycota/*drug effects/growth & development/pathogenicity ; Cold Temperature ; Endangered Species ; Flavobacteriaceae/physiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/physiology ; Mycoses/microbiology/prevention & control/*veterinary ; Skin/drug effects/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a widespread disease of amphibians responsible for population declines and extinctions. Some bacteria from amphibians' skins produce antimicrobial substances active against Bd. Supplementing populations of these cutaneous antifungal bacteria might help manage chytridiomycosis in wild amphibians. However, the activity of protective bacteria may depend upon environmental conditions. Biocontrol of Bd in nature thus requires knowledge of how environmental conditions affect their anti-Bd activity. For example, Bd-driven amphibian declines have often occurred at temperatures below Bd's optimum range. It is possible these declines occurred due to reduced anti-Bd activity of bacterial symbionts at cool temperatures. Better understanding of the effects of temperature on chytridiomycosis development could also improve risk evaluation for amphibian populations yet to encounter Bd. We characterized, at a range of temperatures approximating natural seasonal variation, the anti-Bd activity of bacterial symbionts from the skins of three species of rainforest tree frogs (Litoria nannotis, Litoria rheocola, and Litoria serrata). All three species declined during chytridiomycosis outbreaks in the late 1980s and early 1990s and have subsequently recovered to differing extents. We collected anti-Bd bacterial symbionts from frogs and cultured the bacteria at constant temperatures from 8 °C to 33 °C. Using a spectrophotometric assay, we monitored Bd growth in cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from each temperature treatment. CFSs from 11 of 24 bacteria showed reduced anti-Bd activity in vitro when they were produced at cool temperatures similar to those encountered by the host species during population declines. Reduced anti-Bd activity of metabolites produced at low temperatures may, therefore, partially explain the association between Bd-driven declines and cool temperatures. We show that to avoid inconsistent antifungal activity, bacteria evaluated for use in chytridiomycosis biocontrol should be tested over a range of environmental temperatures spanning those likely to be encountered in the field.}, } @article {pmid24939689, year = {2014}, author = {Balogh, EP and Mosolygó, T and Tiricz, H and Szabó, AM and Karai, A and Kerekes, F and Virók, DP and Kondorosi, E and Burián, K}, title = {Anti-chlamydial effect of plant peptides.}, journal = {Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, pages = {229-239}, doi = {10.1556/AMicr.61.2014.2.12}, pmid = {24939689}, issn = {1217-8950}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemical synthesis/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Chaperonin 60/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Chlamydia trachomatis/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/chemical synthesis/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; }, abstract = {Even in asymptomatic cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, the aim of the antibiotic strategy is eradication of the pathogen so as to avoid the severe late sequelae, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal infertility. Although first-line antimicrobial agents have been demonstrated to be predominantly successful in the treatment of C. trachomatis infection, treatment failures have been observed in some cases. Rich source of antimicrobial peptides was recently discovered in Medicago species, which act in plants as differentiation factors of the endosymbiotic bacterium partner. Several of these symbiotic plant peptides have proved to be potent killers of various bacteria in vitro. We show here that 7 of 11 peptides tested exhibited antimicrobial activity against C. trachomatis D, and that the killing activity of these peptides is most likely due to their interaction with specific bacterial targets.}, } @article {pmid24939560, year = {2014}, author = {Elisabeth, NH and Caro, A and Césaire, T and Mansot, JL and Escalas, A and Sylvestre, MN and Jean-Louis, P and Gros, O}, title = {Comparative modifications in bacterial gill-endosymbiotic populations of the two bivalves Codakia orbiculata and Lucina pensylvanica during bacterial loss and reacquisition.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {89}, number = {3}, pages = {646-658}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12366}, pmid = {24939560}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Gills/chemistry/microbiology ; Sulfur/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Until now, the culture of sulphur-oxidizing bacterial symbionts associated with marine invertebrates remains impossible. Therefore, few studies focused on symbiont's physiology under stress conditions. In this study, we carried out a comparative experiment based on two different species of lucinid bivalves (Codakia orbiculata and Lucina pensylvanica) under comparable stress factors. The bivalves were starved for 6 months in sulphide-free filtered seawater. For C. orbiculata only, starved individuals were then put back to the field, in natural sediment. We used in situ hybridization, flow cytometry and X-ray fluorescence to characterize the symbiont population hosted in the gills of both species. In L. pensylvanica, no decrease in symbiont abundance was observed throughout the starvation experiment, whereas elemental sulphur slowly decreased to zero after 3 months of starvation. Conversely, in C. orbiculata, symbiont abundance within bacteriocytes decreased rapidly and sulphur from symbionts disappeared during the first weeks of the experiment. The modifications of the cellular characteristics (SSC--relative cell size and FL1--genomic content) of the symbiotic populations along starvation were not comparable between species. Return to the sediment of starved C. orbiculata individuals led to a rapid (2-4 weeks) recovery of symbiotic cellular characteristics, comparable with unstressed symbionts. These results suggest that endosymbiotic population regulation is host-species-dependent in lucinids.}, } @article {pmid24939058, year = {2014}, author = {Fumeaux, C and Radhakrishnan, SK and Ardissone, S and Théraulaz, L and Frandi, A and Martins, D and Nesper, J and Abel, S and Jenal, U and Viollier, PH}, title = {Cell cycle transition from S-phase to G1 in Caulobacter is mediated by ancestral virulence regulators.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {4081}, pmid = {24939058}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Caulobacter/*physiology ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; Dimerization ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; G1 Phase/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics/*physiology ; Immunoblotting ; *Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; S Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; beta-Galactosidase ; }, abstract = {Zinc-finger domain transcriptional regulators regulate a myriad of functions in eukaryotes. Interestingly, ancestral versions (MucR) from Alpha-proteobacteria control bacterial virulence/symbiosis. Whether virulence regulators can also control cell cycle transcription is unknown. Here we report that MucR proteins implement a hitherto elusive primordial S→G1 transcriptional switch. After charting G1-specific promoters in the cell cycle model Caulobacter crescentus by comparative ChIP-seq, we use one such promoter as genetic proxy to unearth two MucR paralogs, MucR1/2, as constituents of a quadripartite and homeostatic regulatory module directing the S→G1 transcriptional switch. Surprisingly, MucR orthologues that regulate virulence and symbiosis gene transcription in Brucella, Agrobacterium or Sinorhizobium support this S→G1 switch in Caulobacter. Pan-genomic ChIP-seq analyses in Sinorhizobium and Caulobacter show that this module indeed targets orthologous genes. We propose that MucR proteins and possibly other virulence regulators primarily control bacterial cell cycle (G1-phase) transcription, rendering expression of target (virulence) genes periodic and in tune with the cell cycle.}, } @article {pmid24938834, year = {2014}, author = {Hiltbrunner, E and Aerts, R and Bühlmann, T and Huss-Danell, K and Magnusson, B and Myrold, DD and Reed, SC and Sigurdsson, BD and Körner, C}, title = {Ecological consequences of the expansion of N2-fixing plants in cold biomes.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {176}, number = {1}, pages = {11-24}, pmid = {24938834}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Alnus/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; *Cold Climate ; *Ecosystem ; *Introduced Species ; Lupinus/growth & development/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Water Cycle ; }, abstract = {Research in warm-climate biomes has shown that invasion by symbiotic dinitrogen (N2)-fixing plants can transform ecosystems in ways analogous to the transformations observed as a consequence of anthropogenic, atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition: declines in biodiversity, soil acidification, and alterations to carbon and nutrient cycling, including increased N losses through nitrate leaching and emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). Here, we used literature review and case study approaches to assess the evidence for similar transformations in cold-climate ecosystems of the boreal, subarctic and upper montane-temperate life zones. Our assessment focuses on the plant genera Lupinus and Alnus, which have become invasive largely as a consequence of deliberate introductions and/or reduced land management. These cold biomes are commonly located in remote areas with low anthropogenic N inputs, and the environmental impacts of N2-fixer invasion appear to be as severe as those from anthropogenic N deposition in highly N polluted areas. Hence, inputs of N from N2 fixation can affect ecosystems as dramatically or even more strongly than N inputs from atmospheric deposition, and biomes in cold climates represent no exception with regard to the risk of being invaded by N2-fixing species. In particular, the cold biomes studied here show both a strong potential to be transformed by N2-fixing plants and a rapid subsequent saturation in the ecosystem's capacity to retain N. Therefore, analogous to increases in N deposition, N2-fixing plant invasions must be deemed significant threats to biodiversity and to environmental quality.}, } @article {pmid24938768, year = {2014}, author = {Bianco, L}, title = {Rhizobial infection in Adesmia bicolor (Fabaceae) roots.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {196}, number = {9}, pages = {675-679}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-014-1004-0}, pmid = {24938768}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The native legume Adesmia bicolor shows nitrogen fixation efficiency via symbiosis with soil rhizobia. The infection mechanism by means of which rhizobia infect their roots has not been fully elucidated to date. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify the infection mechanism in Adesmia bicolor roots. To this end, inoculated roots were processed following conventional methods as part of our root anatomy study, and the shape and distribution of root nodules were analyzed as well. Neither root hairs nor infection threads were observed in the root system, whereas infection sites-later forming nodules-were observed in the longitudinal sections. Nodules were found to form between the main root and the lateral roots. It can be concluded that in Adesmia bicolor, a bacterial crack entry infection mechanism prevails and that such mechanism could be an adaptive strategy of this species which is typical of arid environments.}, } @article {pmid24937261, year = {2014}, author = {Ayayee, P and Rosa, C and Ferry, JG and Felton, G and Saunders, M and Hoover, K}, title = {Gut microbes contribute to nitrogen provisioning in a wood-feeding cerambycid.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {903-912}, doi = {10.1603/EN14045}, pmid = {24937261}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Larva/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Xylophagous insects often thrive on nutritionally suboptimal diets through symbiotic associations with microbes that supplement their nutritional requirements, particularly nitrogen. The wood-feeding cerambycid Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) feeds on living, healthy host trees and harbors a diverse gut microbial community. We investigated gut microbial contributions to larval nitrogen requirements through nitrogen fixing and recycling (urea hydrolysis) processes, using a combination of molecular, biochemical, and stable isotope approaches. Genes and transcripts of conserved regions of the urease operon (ureC) and nitrogen fixing (nif) regulon (nifH) were detected in A. glabripennis eggs and larvae from naturally infested logs and from larvae reared on artificial diet. Significant nitrogen fixation and recycling were documented in larvae using (15)N2 gas and (15)N-urea, respectively. Subsequent (15)N-routing of incorporated recycled nitrogen into larval essential and nonessential amino acids was shown for (15)N-urea diet-fed larvae. Results from this study show significant gut microbial contributions to this insect's metabolic nitrogen utilization through nitrogenous waste product recycling and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24936202, year = {2014}, author = {Coleman-Derr, D and Tringe, SG}, title = {Building the crops of tomorrow: advantages of symbiont-based approaches to improving abiotic stress tolerance.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {283}, pmid = {24936202}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The exponential growth in world population is feeding a steadily increasing global need for arable farmland, a resource that is already in high demand. This trend has led to increased farming on subprime arid and semi-arid lands, where limited availability of water and a host of environmental stresses often severely reduce crop productivity. The conventional approach to mitigating the abiotic stresses associated with arid climes is to breed for stress-tolerant cultivars, a time and labor intensive venture that often neglects the complex ecological context of the soil environment in which the crop is grown. In recent years, studies have attempted to identify microbial symbionts capable of conferring the same stress-tolerance to their plant hosts, and new developments in genomic technologies have greatly facilitated such research. Here, we highlight many of the advantages of these symbiont-based approaches and argue in favor of the broader recognition of crop species as ecological niches for a diverse community of microorganisms that function in concert with their plant hosts and each other to thrive under fluctuating environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid24934080, year = {2014}, author = {Liu, J and Yang, S and Zheng, Q and Zhu, H}, title = {Identification of a dominant gene in Medicago truncatula that restricts nodulation by Sinorhizobium meliloti strain Rm41.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {167}, pmid = {24934080}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; *Genes, Dominant ; *Genes, Plant ; Genetic Loci ; Genetic Variation ; INDEL Mutation/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leguminous plants are able to form a root nodule symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria called rhizobia. This symbiotic association shows a high level of specificity. Beyond the specificity for the legume family, individual legume species/genotypes can only interact with certain restricted group of bacterial species or strains. Specificity in this system is regulated by complex signal exchange between the two symbiotic partners and thus multiple genetic mechanisms could be involved in the recognition process. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms controlling symbiotic specificity could enable genetic improvement of legume nitrogen fixation, and may also reveal the possible mechanisms that restrict root nodule symbiosis in non-legumes.

RESULTS: We screened a core collection of Medicago truncatula genotypes with several strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti and identified a naturally occurring dominant gene that restricts nodulation by S. meliloti Rm41. We named this gene as Mt-NS1 (for M.truncatulanodulation specificity 1). We have mapped the Mt-NS1 locus within a small genomic region on M. truncatula chromosome 8. The data reported here will facilitate positional cloning of the Mt-NS1 gene.

CONCLUSIONS: Evolution of symbiosis specificity involves both rhizobial and host genes. From the bacterial side, specificity determinants include Nod factors, surface polysaccharides, and secreted proteins. However, we know relatively less from the host side. We recently demonstrated that a component of this specificity in soybeans is defined by plant NBS-LRR resistance (R) genes that recognize effector proteins delivered by the type III secretion system (T3SS) of the rhizobial symbionts. However, the lack of a T3SS in many sequenced S. meliloti strains raises the question of how the specificity is regulated in the Medicago-Sinorhizobium system beyond Nod-factor perception. Thus, cloning and characterization of Mt-NS1 will add a new dimension to our knowledge about the genetic control of nodulation specificity in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24933896, year = {2014}, author = {Noori, AS and Maivan, HZ and Alaie, E}, title = {Leucanthemum vulgare lam. germination, growth and mycorrhizal symbiosis under crude oil contamination.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {16}, number = {7-12}, pages = {962-970}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2013.810577}, pmid = {24933896}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Asteraceae/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Fungi/*physiology ; Germination ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Petroleum ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Seeds/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Oil contamination of soil limits plants' access to water and nutrients. Leucanthemum vulgare colonized by mycorrhizae could provide an effective tool in remedying oil contamination. Seeds of L. vulgare were planted in pots containing soil mixed with petroleum at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/w and propagules of mycorrhizal fungi. Plants were grown under ambient conditions for 16 weeks. Seed germination data were collected weekly for three weeks. Mycorrhizal percentage, spore counts, length and weight of roots and shoots were determined after harvesting. Results showed significant differences in seed germination rates between oil-treated, mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. The overall germination rate was greater at 7.5% w/w crude oil contamination (p = 0.05) in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal pots with significant differences between their respective Root:Shoot ratios (both length and weight). Results of this research showed L. vulgare could be germinated and grown in crude oil contaminated soils and could be used to augment plant establishment as part of phytoremediation practices.}, } @article {pmid24933888, year = {2014}, author = {de Melo, RW and Schneider, J and de Souza, CE and Sousa, SC and Guimarães, GL and de Souza, MF}, title = {Phytoprotective effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species against arsenic toxicity in tropical leguminous species.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {16}, number = {7-12}, pages = {840-858}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2013.856852}, pmid = {24933888}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Arsenic/analysis/metabolism/*toxicity ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/analysis/metabolism/toxicity ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improve the tolerance of hosting plants to arsenic (As) in contaminated soils. This work assessed the phytoprotective effect of Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora morrowiae, Gigaspora gigantea, and Acaulospora sp. on four leguminous species (Acacia mangium, Crotalaria juncea, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, and Stizolobium aterrimum) in an As-contaminated soil from a gold mining area. AMF root colonization, biomass production, As and P accumulation, as well as arsenic translocation index (TI) from roots to shoots were measured. The AMF phytoprotective effect was assessed by the P/As ratio and the activity of plant antioxidant enzymes. The AMF colonization ranged from 24 to 28%. In general, all leguminous species had low As TI when inoculated with AMF species. Inoculation of C. juncea with Acaulospora sp. improved significantly As accumulation in roots, and decreased the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), highlighting its phytoprotective effect and the potential use of this symbiosis for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils. However, S. aterrimum has also shown a potential for phytoremediation irrespectively of AMF inoculation. APX was a good indicator of the phytoprotective effect against As contamination in C. juncea and A. mangium. In general P/As ratio in shoots was the best indicator of the phytoprotective effect of all AMF species in all plant species.}, } @article {pmid24933827, year = {2014}, author = {Treu, R and Karst, J and Randall, M and Pec, GJ and Cigan, PW and Simard, SW and Cooke, JE and Erbilgin, N and Cahill, JF}, title = {Decline of ectomycorrhizal fungi following a mountain pine beetle epidemic.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {95}, number = {4}, pages = {1096-1103}, doi = {10.1890/13-1233.1}, pmid = {24933827}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Alberta ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Population Dynamics ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Forest die-off caused by mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosa) is rapidly transforming western North American landscapes. The rapid and widespread death of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) will likely have cascading effects on biodiversity. One group particularly prone to such declines associated with MPB are ectomycorrhizal fungi, symbiotic organisms that can depend on pine for their survival, and are critical for stand regeneration. We evaluated the indirect effects of MPB on above- (community composition of epigeous sporocarps) and belowground (hyphal abundance) occurrences of ectomycorrhizal fungi across 11 forest stands. Along a gradient of mortality (0-82% pine killed), macromycete community composition changed; this shift was driven by a decrease in the species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Both the proportion of species that were ectomycorrhizal and hyphal length in the soil declined with increased MPB-caused pine mortality; < 10% of sporocarp species were ectomycorrhizal in stands with high pine mortality compared with > 70% in stands without MPB attacks. The rapid range expansion of a native insect results not only in the widespread mortality of an ecologically and economically important pine species, but the effect of MPB may also be exacerbated by the concomitant decline of fungi crucial for recovery of these forests.}, } @article {pmid24933275, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, Y and Tretter, ED and Johnson, EM and Kandel, P and Lichtwardt, RW and Novak, SJ and Smith, JF and White, MM}, title = {Using a five-gene phylogeny to test morphology-based hypotheses of Smittium and allies, endosymbiotic gut fungi (Harpellales) associated with arthropods.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {23-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.008}, pmid = {24933275}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Fungi/*classification/genetics ; Genes, Fungal ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Models, Genetic ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Smittium, one of the first described genera of gut fungi, is part of a larger group of endosymbiotic microorganisms (Harpellales) that live predominantly in the digestive tracts of aquatic insects. As a diverse and species-rich taxon, Smittium has helped to advance our understanding of the gut fungi, in part due to the relative success of attempts to culture species of Smittium as compared to other members of Harpellales. Approximately 40% of the 81 known species of Smittium have been cultured. This is the first Smittium multigene dataset and phylogenetic analysis, using the 18S and 28S rRNA genes, as well as RPB1, RPB2, and MCM7 translated protein sequences. Several well-supported clades were recovered within Smittium. One includes the epitype S. mucronatum (the "True Smittium" clade), and another contains many species including S. simulii and S. orthocladii (the "Parasmittium" clade). Ancestral states were reconstructed for holdfast shape, thallus branching type, as well as asexual (trichospore) and sexual (zygospore) spore morphology. Two of these characters, holdfast shape and trichospore morphology, supported the split of the two main clades revealed by the molecular phylogeny, suggesting these are natural clades and these traits may have evolutionary and perhaps ecological significance.}, } @article {pmid24931309, year = {2014}, author = {Laranjo, M and Alexandre, A and Oliveira, S}, title = {Genes commonly involved in acid tolerance are not overexpressed in the plant microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 upon acidic shock.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {98}, number = {16}, pages = {7137-7147}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-5875-4}, pmid = {24931309}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Acids/*toxicity ; *Drug Tolerance ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mesorhizobium/*drug effects/*genetics ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are legume bacterial symbionts that fix nitrogen in the root nodules of plants. The aim of the present study was to investigate the global transcriptional response of rhizobia upon an acidic shock. Changes in the transcriptome of cells of Mesorhizobium loti strain MAFF303099 upon an acidic shock at pH 3 for 30 min were analysed. From a total of 7,231 protein-coding genes, 433 were found to be differentially expressed upon acidic shock, of which 322 were overexpressed. Although most of the overexpressed genes encode hypothetical proteins, the two most represented Cluster of Orthologous Group (COG) categories are 'defence mechanisms' and 'transcription'. Differentially expressed genes are dispersed throughout the chromosome, with the exception of the symbiosis island, where most genes remain unchanged. A significant number of transcriptional regulators and ABC transporter genes are overexpressed. No overexpression of genes typically associated to acid tolerance in rhizobia, such as act and exo genes, was detected. Overall, this study suggests a transcriptional response to acidic shock of M. loti distinct from other rhizobia. Additional studies are in course to explore the role of some of the highly overexpressed genes and to further elucidate the molecular bases of acid stress response.}, } @article {pmid24930743, year = {2014}, author = {Laloum, T and Baudin, M and Frances, L and Lepage, A and Billault-Penneteau, B and Cerri, MR and Ariel, F and Jardinaud, MF and Gamas, P and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Niebel, A}, title = {Two CCAAT-box-binding transcription factors redundantly regulate early steps of the legume-rhizobia endosymbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {79}, number = {5}, pages = {757-768}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12587}, pmid = {24930743}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Microdissection ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Plant/chemistry/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {During endosymbiotic interactions between legume plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, successful root infection by bacteria and nodule organogenesis requires the perception and transduction of bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharidic signal called Nod factor (NF). NF perception in legume roots leads to the activation of an early signaling pathway and of a set of symbiotic genes which is controlled by specific early transcription factors (TFs) including CYCLOPS/IPD3, NSP1, NSP2, ERN1 and NIN. In this study, we bring convincing evidence that the Medicago truncatula CCAAT-box-binding NF-YA1 TF, previously associated with later stages of rhizobial infection and nodule meristem formation is, together with its closest homolog NF-YA2, also an essential positive regulator of the NF-signaling pathway. Here we show that NF-YA1 and NF-YA2 are both expressed in epidermal cells responding to NFs and their knock-down by reverse genetic approaches severely affects the NF-induced expression of symbiotic genes and rhizobial infection. Further over-expression, transactivation and ChIP-PCR approaches indicate that NF-YA1 and NF-YA2 function, at least in part, via the direct activation of ERN1. We thus propose a model in which NF-YA1 and NF-YA2 appear as early symbiotic regulators acting downstream of DMI3 and NIN and possibly within the same regulatory complexes as NSP1/2 to directly activate the expression of ERN1.}, } @article {pmid24929941, year = {2014}, author = {Thiele, T and Kost, C and Roces, F and Wirth, R}, title = {Foraging leaf-cutting ants learn to reject Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera plants that emit herbivore-induced volatiles.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, pages = {617-620}, pmid = {24929941}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; Feeding Behavior ; Herbivory ; Oxylipins/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; Vitis/chemistry/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; *Volatile Organic Compounds ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants (LCAs) are dominant herbivores of the Neotropics, as well as economically important pests. Their foraging ecology and patterns/mechanisms of food selection have received considerable attention. Recently, it has been documented that LCAs exhibit a delayed rejection of previously accepted food plants following treatment with a fungicide that makes the plants unsuitable as substrate for their symbiotic fungus. Here, we investigated whether LCAs similarly reject plants with induced chemical defenses, by combining analysis of volatile emissions with dual-choice bioassays that used LCA subcolonies (Atta sexdens L.). On seven consecutive days, foraging ants were given the choice between leaf disks from untreated control plants and test plants of Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera L. treated with the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) to mimic herbivore attack. Chemical analysis revealed the emission of a characteristic set of herbivore-induced volatile organic compounds (VOC) from JA-induced plants. Dual-choice experiments indicated that workers did not show any preference initially, but that they avoided JA-treated plants from day five onwards. Our finding that A. sexdens foragers learn to avoid VOC-emitting plants, which are likely detrimental to their symbiotic fungus, represents the first evidence for avoidance learning in attine ants toward plants with induced defenses.}, } @article {pmid24929306, year = {2014}, author = {Kulkarni, AN and Kadam, AA and Kachole, MS and Govindwar, SP}, title = {Lichen Permelia perlata: a novel system for biodegradation and detoxification of disperse dye Solvent Red 24.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {276}, number = {}, pages = {461-468}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.05.055}, pmid = {24929306}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Color ; Coloring Agents/*metabolism/toxicity ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lichens/*metabolism ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Lichen is a self-supporting symbiotic association of fungi and algae which was not yet explored for its bioremediation potential. Lichen Permelia perlata showed potential of decolorization and biodegradation of Solvent Red 24 (SR24). Optimum pH and temperature for decolorization was found to be 8 and 50°C, respectively. Induction in the activity of laccase in P. perlata during biodegradation of SR24 showed their involvement. HPTLC, FTIR and GC-HRMS analysis confirmed biodegradation of SR24 in to metabolites such as naphthalen-1-yldiazene, naphthalene, 1-(2-methylphenyl)-2-phenyldiazene and diphenyldiazene. Phytotoxicity and genotoxicity analysis revealed the reduction in toxicity of SR24 after its biodegradation.}, } @article {pmid24928883, year = {2014}, author = {Ardita, CS and Mercante, JW and Kwon, YM and Luo, L and Crawford, ME and Powell, DN and Jones, RM and Neish, AS}, title = {Epithelial adhesion mediated by pilin SpaC is required for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG-induced cellular responses.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {16}, pages = {5068-5077}, pmid = {24928883}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01AL64462//PHS HHS/United States ; K12 GM000680/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K12GM000680/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Fimbriae, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/genetics/*physiology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a widely used probiotic, and the strain's salutary effects on the intestine have been extensively documented. We previously reported that strain GG can modulate inflammatory signaling, as well as epithelial migration and proliferation, by activating NADPH oxidase 1-catalyzed generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, how strain GG induces these responses is unknown. Here, we report that strain GG's probiotic benefits are dependent on the bacterial-epithelial interaction mediated by the SpaC pilin subunit. By comparing strain GG to an isogenic mutant that lacks SpaC (strain GGΩspaC), we establish that SpaC is necessary for strain GG to adhere to gut mucosa, that SpaC contributes to strain GG-induced epithelial generation of ROS, and that SpaC plays a role in strain GG's capacity to stimulate extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling in enterocytes. In addition, we show that SpaC is required for strain GG-mediated stimulation of cell proliferation and protection against radiologically inflicted intestinal injury. The identification of a critical surface protein required for strain GG to mediate its probiotic influence advances our understanding of the molecular basis for the symbiotic relationship between some commensal bacteria of the gut lumen and enterocytes. Further insights into this relationship are critical for the development of novel approaches to treat intestinal diseases.}, } @article {pmid24928870, year = {2014}, author = {Bao, Z and Okubo, T and Kubota, K and Kasahara, Y and Tsurumaru, H and Anda, M and Ikeda, S and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Metaproteomic identification of diazotrophic methanotrophs and their localization in root tissues of field-grown rice plants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {16}, pages = {5043-5052}, pmid = {24928870}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Autotrophic Processes ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Methane/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Oryza/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; *Proteomics ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {In a previous study by our group, CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation were simultaneously activated in the roots of wild-type rice plants in a paddy field with no N input; both processes are likely controlled by a rice gene for microbial symbiosis. The present study examined which microorganisms in rice roots were responsible for CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation under the field conditions. Metaproteomic analysis of root-associated bacteria from field-grown rice (Oryza sativa Nipponbare) revealed that nitrogenase complex-containing nitrogenase reductase (NifH) and the alpha subunit (NifD) and beta subunit (NifK) of dinitrogenase were mainly derived from type II methanotrophic bacteria of the family Methylocystaceae, including Methylosinus spp. Minor nitrogenase proteins such as Methylocella, Bradyrhizobium, Rhodopseudomonas, and Anaeromyxobacter were also detected. Methane monooxygenase proteins (PmoCBA and MmoXYZCBG) were detected in the same bacterial group of the Methylocystaceae. Because these results indicated that Methylocystaceae members mediate both CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation, we examined their localization in rice tissues by using catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH). The methanotrophs were localized around the epidermal cells and vascular cylinder in the root tissues of the field-grown rice plants. Our metaproteomics and CARD-FISH results suggest that CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation are performed mainly by type II methanotrophs of the Methylocystaceae, including Methylosinus spp., inhabiting the vascular bundles and epidermal cells of rice roots.}, } @article {pmid24926297, year = {2014}, author = {Balestrini, R and Bonfante, P}, title = {Cell wall remodeling in mycorrhizal symbiosis: a way towards biotrophism.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {237}, pmid = {24926297}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Cell walls are deeply involved in the molecular talk between partners during plant and microbe interactions, and their role in mycorrhizae, i.e., the widespread symbiotic associations established between plant roots and soil fungi, has been investigated extensively. All mycorrhizal interactions achieve full symbiotic functionality through the development of an extensive contact surface between the plant and fungal cells, where signals and nutrients are exchanged. The exchange of molecules between the fungal and the plant cytoplasm takes place both through their plasma membranes and their cell walls; a functional compartment, known as the symbiotic interface, is thus defined. Among all the symbiotic interfaces, the complex intracellular interface of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has received a great deal of attention since its first description. Here, in fact, the host plasma membrane invaginates and proliferates around all the developing intracellular fungal structures, and cell wall material is laid down between this membrane and the fungal cell surface. By contrast, in ectomycorrhizae (ECM), where the fungus grows outside and between the root cells, plant and fungal cell walls are always in direct contact and form the interface between the two partners. The organization and composition of cell walls within the interface compartment is a topic that has attracted widespread attention, both in ecto- and endomycorrhizae. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the current knowledge on this topic by integrating morphological observations, which have illustrated cell wall features during mycorrhizal interactions, with the current data produced by genomic and transcriptomic approaches.}, } @article {pmid24925269, year = {2014}, author = {Abdallah, C and Valot, B and Guillier, C and Mounier, A and Balliau, T and Zivy, M and van Tuinen, D and Renaut, J and Wipf, D and Dumas-Gaudot, E and Recorbet, G}, title = {The membrane proteome of Medicago truncatula roots displays qualitative and quantitative changes in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {108}, number = {}, pages = {354-368}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2014.05.028}, pmid = {24925269}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Biological Transport, Active/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Proteome/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis that associates roots of most land plants with soil-borne fungi (Glomeromycota), is characterized by reciprocal nutritional benefits. Fungal colonization of plant roots induces massive changes in cortical cells where the fungus differentiates an arbuscule, which drives proliferation of the plasma membrane. Despite the recognized importance of membrane proteins in sustaining AM symbiosis, the root microsomal proteome elicited upon mycorrhiza still remains to be explored. In this study, we first examined the qualitative composition of the root membrane proteome of Medicago truncatula after microsome enrichment and subsequent in depth analysis by GeLC-MS/MS. The results obtained highlighted the identification of 1226 root membrane protein candidates whose cellular and functional classifications predispose plastids and protein synthesis as prevalent organelle and function, respectively. Changes at the protein abundance level between the membrane proteomes of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots were further monitored by spectral counting, which retrieved a total of 96 proteins that displayed a differential accumulation upon AM symbiosis. Besides the canonical markers of the periarbuscular membrane, new candidates supporting the importance of membrane trafficking events during mycorrhiza establishment/functioning were identified, including flotillin-like proteins. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000875.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: During arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, one of the most widespread mutualistic associations in nature, the endomembrane system of plant roots is believed to undergo qualitative and quantitative changes in order to sustain both the accommodation process of the AM fungus within cortical cells and the exchange of nutrients between symbionts. Large-scale GeLC-MS/MS proteomic analysis of the membrane fractions from mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots of M. truncatula coupled to spectral counting retrieved around one hundred proteins that displayed changes in abundance upon mycorrhizal establishment. The symbiosis-related membrane proteins that were identified mostly function in signaling/membrane trafficking and nutrient uptake regulation. Besides extending the coverage of the root membrane proteome of M. truncatula, new candidates involved in the symbiotic program emerged from the current study, which pointed out a dynamic reorganization of microsomal proteins during the accommodation of AM fungi within cortical cells.}, } @article {pmid24923322, year = {2014}, author = {Hess, J and Skrede, I and Wolfe, BE and LaButti, K and Ohm, RA and Grigoriev, IV and Pringle, A}, title = {Transposable element dynamics among asymbiotic and ectomycorrhizal Amanita fungi.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1564-1578}, pmid = {24923322}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amanita/*genetics ; Biota/*genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Transposable elements (TEs) are ubiquitous inhabitants of eukaryotic genomes and their proliferation and dispersal shape genome architectures and diversity. Nevertheless, TE dynamics are often explored for one species at a time and are rarely considered in ecological contexts. Recent work with plant pathogens suggests a link between symbiosis and TE abundance. The genomes of pathogenic fungi appear to house an increased abundance of TEs, and TEs are frequently associated with the genes involved in symbiosis. To investigate whether this pattern is general, and relevant to mutualistic plant-fungal symbioses, we sequenced the genomes of related asymbiotic (AS) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Amanita fungi. Using methods developed to interrogate both assembled and unassembled sequences, we characterized and quantified TEs across three AS and three ECM species, including the AS outgroup Volvariella volvacea. The ECM genomes are characterized by abundant numbers of TEs, an especially prominent feature of unassembled sequencing libraries. Increased TE activity in ECM species is also supported by phylogenetic analysis of the three most abundant TE superfamilies; phylogenies revealed many radiations within contemporary ECM species. However, the AS species Amanita thiersii also houses extensive amplifications of elements, highlighting the influence of additional evolutionary parameters on TE abundance. Our analyses provide further evidence for a link between symbiotic associations among plants and fungi, and increased TE activity, while highlighting the importance individual species' natural histories may have in shaping genome architecture.}, } @article {pmid24922578, year = {2014}, author = {Maekawa, T and Krauss, JL and Abe, T and Jotwani, R and Triantafilou, M and Triantafilou, K and Hashim, A and Hoch, S and Curtis, MA and Nussbaum, G and Lambris, JD and Hajishengallis, G}, title = {Porphyromonas gingivalis manipulates complement and TLR signaling to uncouple bacterial clearance from inflammation and promote dysbiosis.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {768-778}, pmid = {24922578}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 DE015254/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; AI068730/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DE021685/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; DE015254/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; G0900408/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 DE021685/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; MR/J011118/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; P01 AI068730/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidaceae Infections/immunology ; Complement System Proteins/immunology ; Dysbiosis/immunology/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics/metabolism ; Neutrophils/immunology/microbiology ; Periodontitis/immunology/*microbiology ; Phagocytosis ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Certain low-abundance bacterial species, such as the periodontitis-associated oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, can subvert host immunity to remodel a normally symbiotic microbiota into a dysbiotic, disease-provoking state. However, such pathogens also exploit inflammation to thrive in dysbiotic conditions. How these bacteria evade immunity while maintaining inflammation is unclear. As previously reported, P. gingivalis remodels the oral microbiota into a dysbiotic state by exploiting complement. Now we show that in neutrophils P. gingivalis disarms a host-protective TLR2-MyD88 pathway via proteasomal degradation of MyD88, whereas it activates an alternate TLR2-Mal-PI3K pathway. This alternate TLR2-Mal-PI3K pathway blocks phagocytosis, provides "bystander" protection to otherwise susceptible bacteria, and promotes dysbiotic inflammation in vivo. This mechanism to disengage bacterial clearance from inflammation required an intimate crosstalk between TLR2 and the complement receptor C5aR and can contribute to the persistence of microbial communities that drive dysbiotic diseases.}, } @article {pmid24922556, year = {2014}, author = {Evangelisti, E and Rey, T and Schornack, S}, title = {Cross-interference of plant development and plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {118-126}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.05.014}, pmid = {24922556}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant roots are host to a multitude of filamentous microorganisms. Among these, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide benefits to plants, while pathogens trigger diseases resulting in significant crop yield losses. It is therefore imperative to study processes which allow plants to discriminate detrimental and beneficial interactions in order to protect crops from diseases while retaining the ability for sustainable bio-fertilisation strategies. Accumulating evidence suggests that some symbiosis processes also affect plant-pathogen interactions. A large part of this overlap likely constitutes plant developmental processes. Moreover, microbes utilise effector proteins to interfere with plant development. Here we list relevant recent findings on how plant-microbe interactions intersect with plant development and highlight future research leads.}, } @article {pmid24920536, year = {2014}, author = {Wu, SL and Chen, BD and Sun, YQ and Ren, BH and Zhang, X and Wang, YS}, title = {Chromium resistance of dandelion (Taraxacum platypecidum Diels.) and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [Linn.] Pers.) is enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhiza in Cr(VI)-contaminated soils.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {33}, number = {9}, pages = {2105-2113}, doi = {10.1002/etc.2661}, pmid = {24920536}, issn = {1552-8618}, mesh = {Biological Availability ; Chromium/analysis/*metabolism ; Cynodon/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/*physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Taraxacum/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {In a greenhouse pot experiment, dandelion (Taraxacum platypecidum Diels.) and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon[Linn.] Pers.), inoculated with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis, were grown in chromium (Cr)-amended soils (0 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg Cr[VI]) to test whether arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can improve Cr tolerance in different plant species. The experimental results indicated that the dry weights of both plant species were dramatically increased by AM symbiosis. Mycorrhizal colonization increased plant P concentrations and decreased Cr concentrations and Cr translocation from roots to shoots for dandelion; in contrast, mycorrhizal colonization decreased plant Cr concentrations without improvement of P nutrition in bermudagrass. Chromium speciation analysis revealed that AM symbiosis potentially altered Cr species and bioavailability in the rhizosphere. The study confirmed the protective effects of AMF on host plants under Cr contaminations.}, } @article {pmid24920529, year = {2014}, author = {Moitinho-Silva, L and Seridi, L and Ryu, T and Voolstra, CR and Ravasi, T and Hentschel, U}, title = {Revealing microbial functional activities in the Red Sea sponge Stylissa carteri by metatranscriptomics.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3683-3698}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12533}, pmid = {24920529}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Archaea/*genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coral Reefs ; Indian Ocean ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Synechococcus/genetics/physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Sponges are important components of marine benthic environments and are associated with microbial symbionts that carry out ecologically relevant functions. Stylissa carteri is an abundant, low-microbial abundance species in the Red Sea. We aimed to achieve the functional and taxonomic characterization of the most actively expressed prokaryotic genes in S. carteri. Prokaryotic mRNA was enriched from sponge total RNA, sequenced using Illumina HiSeq technology and annotated using the metagenomics Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (MG-RAST) pipeline. We detected high expression of archaeal ammonia oxidation and photosynthetic carbon fixation by members of the genus Synechococcus. Functions related to stress response and membrane transporters were among the most highly expressed by S. carteri symbionts. Unexpectedly, gene functions related to methylotrophy were highly expressed by gammaproteobacterial symbionts. The presence of seawater-derived microbes is indicated by the phylogenetic proximity of organic carbon transporters to orthologues of members from the SAR11 clade. In summary, we revealed the most expressed functions of the S. carteri-associated microbial community and linked them to the dominant taxonomic members of the microbiome. This work demonstrates the applicability of metatranscriptomics to explore poorly characterized symbiotic consortia and expands our knowledge of the ecologically relevant functions carried out by coral reef sponge symbionts.}, } @article {pmid24920334, year = {2014}, author = {Kazan, K and Lyons, R}, title = {Intervention of Phytohormone Pathways by Pathogen Effectors.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {2285-2309}, pmid = {24920334}, issn = {1532-298X}, abstract = {The constant struggle between plants and microbes has driven the evolution of multiple defense strategies in the host as well as offense strategies in the pathogen. To defend themselves from pathogen attack, plants often rely on elaborate signaling networks regulated by phytohormones. In turn, pathogens have adopted innovative strategies to manipulate phytohormone-regulated defenses. Tactics frequently employed by plant pathogens involve hijacking, evading, or disrupting hormone signaling pathways and/or crosstalk. As reviewed here, this is achieved mechanistically via pathogen-derived molecules known as effectors, which target phytohormone receptors, transcriptional activators and repressors, and other components of phytohormone signaling in the host plant. Herbivores and sap-sucking insects employ obligate pathogens such as viruses, phytoplasma, or symbiotic bacteria to intervene with phytohormone-regulated defenses. Overall, an improved understanding of phytohormone intervention strategies employed by pests and pathogens during their interactions with plants will ultimately lead to the development of new crop protection strategies.}, } @article {pmid24918768, year = {2014}, author = {Doré, J and Marmeisse, R and Combier, JP and Gay, G}, title = {A fungal conserved gene from the basidiomycete Hebeloma cylindrosporum is essential for efficient ectomycorrhiza formation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {10}, pages = {1059-1069}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-14-0087-R}, pmid = {24918768}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hebeloma/*genetics/physiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Multigene Family ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mycelium ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology/ultrastructure ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/microbiology/ultrastructure ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We used Agrobacterium-mediated insertional mutagenesis to identify genes in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum that are essential for efficient mycorrhiza formation. One of the mutants presented a dramatically reduced ability to form ectomycorrhizas when grown in the presence of Pinus pinaster. It failed to form mycorrhizas in the presence of glucose at 0.5 g liter(-1), a condition favorable for mycorrhiza formation by the wild-type strain. However, it formed few mycorrhizas when glucose was replaced by fructose or when glucose concentration was increased to 1 g liter(-1). Scanning electron microscopy examination of these mycorrhizas revealed that this mutant was unable to differentiate true fungal sheath and Hartig net. Molecular analyses showed that the single-copy disrupting T-DNA was integrated 6,884 bp downstream from the start codon, of an open reading frame potentially encoding a 3,096-amino-acid-long protein. This gene, which we named HcMycE1, has orthologs in numerous fungi as well as different other eukaryotic microorganisms. RNAi inactivation of HcMycE1 in the wild-type strain also led to a mycorrhizal defect, demonstrating that the nonmycorrhizal phenotype of the mutant was due to mutagenic T-DNA integration in HcMycE1. In the wild-type strain colonizing P. pinaster roots, HcMycE1 was transiently upregulated before symbiotic structure differentiation. Together with the inability of the mutant to differentiate these structures, this suggests that HcMycE1 plays a crucial role upstream of the fungal sheath and Hartig net differentiation. This study provides the first characterization of a fungal mutant altered in mycorrhizal ability.}, } @article {pmid24917869, year = {2014}, author = {Rich, MK and Schorderet, M and Reinhardt, D}, title = {The role of the cell wall compartment in mutualistic symbioses of plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {238}, pmid = {24917869}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plants engage in mutualistic interactions with microbes that improve their mineral nutrient supply. The most wide-spread symbiotic association is arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), in which fungi of the order Glomeromycota invade roots and colonize the cellular lumen of cortical cells. The establishment of this interaction requires a dedicated molecular-genetic program and a cellular machinery of the plant host. This program is partially shared with the root nodule symbiosis (RNS), which involves prokaryotic partners collectively referred to as rhizobia. Both, AM and RNS are endosymbioses that involve intracellular accommodation of the microbial partner in the cells of the plant host. Since plant cells are surrounded by sturdy cell walls, root penetration and cell invasion requires mechanisms to overcome this barrier while maintaining the cytoplasm of the two partners separate during development of the symbiotic association. Here, we discuss the diverse functions of the cell wall compartment in establishment and functioning of plant symbioses with the emphasis on AM and RNS, and we describe the stages of the AM association between the model organisms Petunia hybrida and Rhizophagus irregularis.}, } @article {pmid24916161, year = {2014}, author = {Berrabah, F and Bourcy, M and Eschstruth, A and Cayrel, A and Guefrachi, I and Mergaert, P and Wen, J and Jean, V and Mysore, KS and Gourion, B and Ratet, P}, title = {A nonRD receptor-like kinase prevents nodule early senescence and defense-like reactions during symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {203}, number = {4}, pages = {1305-1314}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12881}, pmid = {24916161}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and legumes establish symbiotic interactions leading to the production of root nodules, in which bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant's benefit. This symbiosis is efficient because of the high rhizobia population within nodules. Here, we investigated how legumes accommodate such bacterial colonization. We used a reverse genetic approach to identify a Medicago truncatula gene, SymCRK, which encodes a cysteine-rich receptor-like kinase that is required for rhizobia maintenance within the plant cells, and performed detailed phenotypic analyses of the corresponding mutant. The Medicago truncatula symCRK mutant developed nonfunctional and necrotic nodules. A nonarginine asparate (nonRD) motif, typical of receptors involved in innate immunity, is present in the SymCRK kinase domain. Similar to the dnf2 mutant, bacteroid differentiation defect, defense-like reactions and early senescence were observed in the symCRK nodules. However, the dnf2 and symCRK nodules differ by their degree of colonization, which is higher in symCRK. Furthermore, in contrast to dnf2, symCRK is not a conditional mutant. These results suggest that in M. truncatula at least two genes are involved in the symbiotic control of immunity. Furthermore, phenotype differences between the two mutants suggest that two distinct molecular mechanisms control suppression of plant immunity during nodulation.}, } @article {pmid24914929, year = {2014}, author = {Schmid, RB and Lehman, RM and Lundgren, JG}, title = {Sex-specific interactions of microbial symbioses on cricket dietary selection.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {896-902}, doi = {10.1603/EN13311}, pmid = {24914929}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gryllidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Seeds ; Sex Characteristics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nutrients found in prey and nonprey foods, and relative digestibility of these foods, has a major influence on diet selection by omnivorous insects. Many insects have developed symbiotic relationships with gut bacteria to help with extracting nutrition from nonprey diets. Gryllus pennsylvanicus (Burmeister) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) was assigned to one of two treatment groups, antibiotic-treated and nonantibiotic-treated, and consumption of seeds (nonprey) and eggs (prey) were measured. Male crickets administered antibiotics consumed more seeds and greater seed weight, while antibiotic-fed female crickets consumed fewer seeds and less seed weight, relative to the untreated male and female crickets, respectively. Both male and female antibiotic-treated crickets consumed similar weight of eggs as nonantibiotic-treated male and female crickets, respectively. These results provide evidence that gut symbionts influence diet selection of male and female G. pennsylvanicus differently. This sex-specific dietary selection may be because of the fact that male and female crickets have different nutritional requirements.}, } @article {pmid24914799, year = {2014}, author = {Dufour, SC and Laurich, JR and Batstone, RT and McCuaig, B and Elliott, A and Poduska, KM}, title = {Magnetosome-containing bacteria living as symbionts of bivalves.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {2453-2462}, pmid = {24914799}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/classification/isolation & purification/*ultrastructure ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Gills/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Magnetosomes/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria containing magnetosomes (protein-bound nanoparticles of magnetite or greigite) are common to many sedimentary habitats, but have never been found before to live within another organism. Here, we show that octahedral inclusions in the extracellular symbionts of the marine bivalve Thyasira cf. gouldi contain iron, can exhibit magnetic contrast and are most likely magnetosomes. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis, T. cf. gouldi symbionts group with symbiotic and free-living sulfur-oxidizing, chemolithoautotrophic gammaproteobacteria, including the symbionts of other thyasirids. T. cf. gouldi symbionts occur both among the microvilli of gill epithelial cells and in sediments surrounding the bivalves, and are therefore facultative. We propose that free-living T. cf. gouldi symbionts use magnetotaxis as a means of locating the oxic-anoxic interface, an optimal microhabitat for chemolithoautotrophy. T. cf. gouldi could acquire their symbionts from near-burrow sediments (where oxic-anoxic interfaces likely develop due to the host's bioirrigating behavior) using their superextensile feet, which could transfer symbionts to gill surfaces upon retraction into the mantle cavity. Once associated with their host, however, symbionts need not maintain structures for magnetotaxis as the host makes oxygen and reduced sulfur available via bioirrigation and sulfur-mining behaviors. Indeed, we show that within the host, symbionts lose the integrity of their magnetosome chain (and possibly their flagellum). Symbionts are eventually endocytosed and digested in host epithelial cells, and magnetosomes accumulate in host cytoplasm. Both host and symbiont behaviors appear important to symbiosis establishment in thyasirids.}, } @article {pmid24914677, year = {2014}, author = {Yuyama, I and Higuchi, T}, title = {Comparing the effects of symbiotic algae (Symbiodinium) clades C1 and D on early growth stages of Acropora tenuis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e98999}, pmid = {24914677}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/cytology/enzymology/growth & development/*physiology ; Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology ; Catalase/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals switch endosymbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium during their early growth stages and during bleaching events. Clade C Symbiodinium algae are dominant in corals, although other clades - including A and D - have also been commonly detected in juvenile Acroporid corals. Previous studies have been reported that only molecular data of Symbiodinium clade were identified within field corals. In this study, we inoculated aposymbiotic juvenile polyps with cultures of clades C1 and D Symbiodinium algae, and investigated the different effect of these two clades of Symbiodinium on juvenile polyps. Our results showed that clade C1 algae did not grow, while clade D algae grew rapidly during the first 2 months after inoculation. Polyps associated with clade C1 algae exhibited bright green fluorescence across the body and tentacles after inoculation. The growth rate of polyp skeletons was lower in polyps associated with clade C1 algae than those associated with clade D algae. On the other hand, antioxidant activity (catalase) of corals was not significantly different between corals with clade C1 and clade D algae. Our results suggested that clade D Symbiodinium algae easily form symbiotic relationships with corals and that these algae could contribute to coral growth in early symbiosis stages.}, } @article {pmid24914318, year = {2014}, author = {Moyat, M and Velin, D}, title = {Immune responses to Helicobacter pylori infection.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {20}, number = {19}, pages = {5583-5593}, pmid = {24914318}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Gastritis/immunology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections/*immunology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin A/immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/immunology ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Peptic Ulcer/immunology/microbiology ; Stomach/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most common infections in human beings worldwide. H. pylori express lipopolysaccharides and flagellin that do not activate efficiently Toll-like receptors and express dedicated effectors, such as γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, vacuolating cytotoxin (vacA), arginase, that actively induce tolerogenic signals. In this perspective, H. pylori can be considered as a commensal bacteria belonging to the stomach microbiota. However, when present in the stomach, H. pylori reduce the overall diversity of the gastric microbiota and promote gastric inflammation by inducing Nod1-dependent pro-inflammatory program and by activating neutrophils through the production of a neutrophil activating protein. The maintenance of a chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa and the direct action of virulence factors (vacA and cytotoxin-associated gene A) confer pro-carcinogenic activities to H. pylori. Hence, H. pylori cannot be considered as symbiotic bacteria but rather as part of the pathobiont. The development of a H. pylori vaccine will bring health benefits for individuals infected with antibiotic resistant H. pylori strains and population of underdeveloped countries.}, } @article {pmid24914208, year = {2014}, author = {Ido, K and Nield, J and Fukao, Y and Nishimura, T and Sato, F and Ifuku, K}, title = {Cross-linking evidence for multiple interactions of the PsbP and PsbQ proteins in a higher plant photosystem II supercomplex.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {289}, number = {29}, pages = {20150-20157}, pmid = {24914208}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Protein Subunits ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Spinacia oleracea/genetics/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {The extrinsic subunits of membrane-bound photosystem II (PSII) maintain an essential role in optimizing the water-splitting reaction of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), even though they have undergone drastic change during the evolution of oxyphototrophs from symbiotic cyanobacteria to chloroplasts. Two specific extrinsic proteins, PsbP and PsbQ, bind to the lumenal surface of PSII in green plants and maintain OEC conformation and stabilize overall enzymatic function; however, their precise location has not been fully resolved. In this study, PSII-enriched membranes, isolated from spinach, were subjected to chemical cross-linking combined with release-reconstitution experiments. We observed direct interactions between PsbP and PsbE, as well as with PsbR. Intriguingly, PsbP and PsbQ were further linked to the CP26 and CP43 light-harvesting proteins. In addition, two cross-linked sites, between PsbP and PsbR, and that of PsbP and CP26, were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. These data were used to estimate the binding topology and location of PsbP, and the putative positioning of PsbQ and PsbR on the lumenal surface of the PSII. Our model gives new insights into the organization of PSII extrinsic subunits in higher plants and their function in stabilizing the OEC of the PSII supercomplex.}, } @article {pmid24912610, year = {2014}, author = {Werner, GD and Cornwell, WK and Sprent, JI and Kattge, J and Kiers, ET}, title = {A single evolutionary innovation drives the deep evolution of symbiotic N2-fixation in angiosperms.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {4087}, pmid = {24912610}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {335542/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Magnoliopsida ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations occur in every habitat on earth, but we know very little about their evolutionary histories. Current models of trait evolution cannot adequately reconstruct the deep history of symbiotic innovation, because they assume homogenous evolutionary processes across millions of years. Here we use a recently developed, heterogeneous and quantitative phylogenetic framework to study the origin of the symbiosis between angiosperms and nitrogen-fixing (N2) bacterial symbionts housed in nodules. We compile the largest database of global nodulating plant species and reconstruct the symbiosis' evolution. We identify a single, cryptic evolutionary innovation driving symbiotic N2-fixation evolution, followed by multiple gains and losses of the symbiosis, and the subsequent emergence of 'stable fixers' (clades extremely unlikely to lose the symbiosis). Originating over 100 MYA, this innovation suggests deep homology in symbiotic N2-fixation. Identifying cryptic innovations on the tree of life is key to understanding the evolution of complex traits, including symbiotic partnerships.}, } @article {pmid24912209, year = {2014}, author = {Hao, X and Taghavi, S and Xie, P and Orbach, MJ and Alwathnani, HA and Rensing, C and Wei, G}, title = {Phytoremediation of heavy and transition metals aided by legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {179-202}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2013.773273}, pmid = {24912209}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Fabaceae/cytology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Metals/*metabolism/toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes are important for nitrogen cycling in the environment and agriculture due to the ability of nitrogen fixation by rhizobia. In this review, we introduce an important and potential role of legume-rhizobia symbiosis in aiding phytoremediation of some metal contaminated soils as various legumes have been found to be the dominant plant species in metal contaminated areas. Resistant rhizobia used for phytoremediation could act on metals directly by chelation, precipitation, transformation, biosorption and accumulation. Moreover, the plant growth promoting (PGP) traits of rhizobia including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, siderophore release, and production of ACC deaminase and the volatile compounds of acetoin and 2, 3-butanediol may facilitate legume growth while lessening metal toxicity. The benefits of using legumes inoculated with naturally resistant rhizobia or recombinant rhizobia with enhanced resistance, as well as co-inoculation with other plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are discussed. However, the legume-rhizobia symbiosis appears to be sensitive to metals, and the effect of metal toxicity on the interaction between legumes and rhizobia is not clear. Therefore, to obtain the maximum benefits from legumes assisted by rhizobia for phytoremediation of metals, it is critical to have a good understanding of interactions between PGP traits, the symbiotic plant-rhizobia relationship and metals.}, } @article {pmid24911583, year = {2014}, author = {Gibson, MK and Pesesky, MW and Dantas, G}, title = {The yin and yang of bacterial resilience in the human gut microbiota.}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology}, volume = {426}, number = {23}, pages = {3866-3876}, pmid = {24911583}, issn = {1089-8638}, support = {DP2 DK098089/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099538/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM099538/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DP2DK098089/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human gut is home to trillions of microbes that form a symbiotic relationship with the human host. During health, the intestinal microbiota provides many benefits to the host and is generally resistant to colonization by new species; however, disruption of this complex community can lead to pathogen invasion, inflammation, and disease. Restoration and maintenance of a healthy gut microbiota composition requires effective therapies to reduce and prevent colonization of harmful bacteria (pathogens) while simultaneously promoting growth of beneficial bacteria (probiotics). Here we review the mechanisms by which the host modulates the gut community composition during health and disease, and we discuss prospects for antibiotic and probiotic therapy for restoration of a healthy intestinal community following disruption.}, } @article {pmid24910088, year = {2014}, author = {D'Souza, G and Waschina, S and Pande, S and Bohl, K and Kaleta, C and Kost, C}, title = {Less is more: selective advantages can explain the prevalent loss of biosynthetic genes in bacteria.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {9}, pages = {2559-2570}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12468}, pmid = {24910088}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/*genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Escherichia coli/*genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genes, Essential ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bacteria that have adapted to nutrient-rich, stable environments are typically characterized by reduced genomes. The loss of biosynthetic genes frequently renders these lineages auxotroph, hinging their survival on an environmental uptake of certain metabolites. The evolutionary forces that drive this genome degradation, however, remain elusive. Our analysis of 949 metabolic networks revealed auxotrophies are likely highly prevalent in both symbiotic and free-living bacteria. To unravel whether selective advantages can account for the rampant loss of anabolic genes, we systematically determined the fitness consequences that result from deleting conditionally essential biosynthetic genes from the genomes of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baylyi in the presence of the focal nutrient. Pairwise competition experiments with each of 20 mutants auxotrophic for different amino acids, vitamins, and nucleobases against the prototrophic wild type unveiled a pronounced, concentration-dependent growth advantage of around 13% for virtually all mutants tested. Individually deleting different genes from the same biosynthesis pathway entailed gene-specific fitness consequences and loss of the same biosynthetic genes from the genomes of E. coli and A. baylyi differentially affected the fitness of the resulting auxotrophic mutants. Taken together, our findings suggest adaptive benefits could drive the loss of conditionally essential biosynthetic genes.}, } @article {pmid24909843, year = {2014}, author = {Wyatt, GA and Kiers, ET and Gardner, A and West, SA}, title = {A biological market analysis of the plant-mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {9}, pages = {2603-2618}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12466}, pmid = {24909843}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Models, Theoretical ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {It has been argued that cooperative behavior in the plant-mycorrhizal mutualism resembles trade in a market economy and can be understood using economic tools. Here, we assess the validity of this "biological market" analogy by investigating whether a market mechanism--that is, competition between partners over the price at which they provide goods--could be the outcome of natural selection. Then, we consider the conditions under which this market mechanism is sufficient to maintain mutualistic trade. We find that: (i) as in a market, individuals are favored to divide resources among trading partners in direct relation to the relative amount of resources received, termed linear proportional discrimination; (ii) mutualistic trade is more likely to be favored when individuals are able to interact with more partners of both species, and when there is a greater relative difference between the species in their ability to directly acquire different resources; (iii) if trade is favored, then either one or both species is favored to give up acquiring one resource directly, and vice versa. We then formulate testable predictions as to how environmental changes and coevolved responses of plants and mycorrhizal fungi will influence plant fitness (crop yields) in agricultural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid24909808, year = {2014}, author = {Ianiro, G and Bibbò, S and Gasbarrini, A and Cammarota, G}, title = {Therapeutic modulation of gut microbiota: current clinical applications and future perspectives.}, journal = {Current drug targets}, volume = {15}, number = {8}, pages = {762-770}, doi = {10.2174/1389450115666140606111402}, pmid = {24909808}, issn = {1873-5592}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Autistic Disorder/microbiology/therapy ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Digestive System Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/microbiology/therapy ; Feces/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/microbiology/therapy ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Obesity/microbiology/therapy ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Human beings and gut microbiota are in a symbiotic relationship, and the hypothesis of a "super organism" composed of the human organism and microbes has been recently proposed. The gut microbiota fulfills important metabolic and immunological tasks, and the impairment of its composition might alter homeostasis and lead to the development of microbiota-related diseases. The most common illnesses associated with alterations of the gut microbiota include inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteric infections, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal functional diseases, colorectal cancer, metabolic syndrome and obesity, liver diseases, allergic diseases, and neurological diseases such as autism. In theory, every disease associated with the impairment of intestinal microflora might benefit from the therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota. A number of attempts to manipulate the microbiota have not produced identical results for every disease. Although antibiotics and probiotics have been available for a long time, the so-called fecal microbiota transplantation, which is a very old remedy, was only recently re-evaluated as a promising therapeutic approach for microbiota impairment. A comprehensive understanding of the gut microbiota composition, in states of both health and various diseases, is needed for the development of future approaches for microbiota modulation and for developing targeted therapies. In this review, we describe the role of the microbiota in several diseases and the related treatment options that are currently available.}, } @article {pmid24909707, year = {2014}, author = {Baums, IB and Devlin-Durante, MK and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {New insights into the dynamics between reef corals and their associated dinoflagellate endosymbionts from population genetic studies.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {4203-4215}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12788}, pmid = {24909707}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Caribbean Region ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Gene Flow ; *Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbioses between reef-building corals and micro-algae form the basis of coral reef ecosystems, yet recent environmental changes threaten their survival. Diversity in host-symbiont pairings on the sub-species level could be an unrecognized source of functional variation in response to stress. The Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, associates predominantly with one symbiont species (Symbiodinium 'fitti'), facilitating investigations of individual-level (genotype) interactions. Individual genotypes of both host and symbiont were resolved across the entire species' range. Most colonies of a particular animal genotype were dominated by one symbiont genotype (or strain) that may persist in the host for decades or more. While Symbiodinium are primarily clonal, the occurrence of recombinant genotypes indicates sexual recombination is the source of this genetic variation, and some evidence suggests this happens within the host. When these data are examined at spatial scales spanning the entire distribution of A. palmata, gene flow among animal populations was an order of magnitude greater than among populations of the symbiont. This suggests that independent micro-evolutionary processes created dissimilar population genetic structures between host and symbiont. The lower effective dispersal exhibited by the dinoflagellate raises questions regarding the extent to which populations of host and symbiont can co-evolve during times of rapid and substantial climate change. However, these findings also support a growing body of evidence, suggesting that genotype-by-genotype interactions may provide significant physiological variation, influencing the adaptive potential of symbiotic reef corals to severe selection.}, } @article {pmid24907201, year = {2014}, author = {Fischer, AH and Mozzherin, D and Eren, AM and Lans, KD and Wilson, N and Cosentino, C and Smith, J}, title = {SeaBase: a multispecies transcriptomic resource and platform for gene network inference.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {54}, number = {2}, pages = {250-263}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icu065}, pmid = {24907201}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*genetics ; *Databases as Topic ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genomics ; Humans ; Sea Anemones/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Marine and aquatic animals are extraordinarily useful as models for identifying mechanisms of development and evolution, regeneration, resistance to cancer, longevity and symbiosis, among many other areas of research. This is due to the great diversity of these organisms and their wide-ranging capabilities. Genomics tools are essential for taking advantage of these "free lessons" of nature. However, genomics and transcriptomics are challenging in emerging model systems. Here, we present SeaBase, a tool for helping to meet these needs. Specifically, SeaBase provides a platform for sharing and searching transcriptome data. More importantly, SeaBase will support a growing number of tools for inferring gene network mechanisms. The first dataset available on SeaBase is a developmental transcriptomic profile of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (Anthozoa, Cnidaria). Additional datasets are currently being prepared and we are aiming to expand SeaBase to include user-supplied data for any number of marine and aquatic organisms, thereby supporting many potentially new models for gene network studies. SeaBase can be accessed online at: http://seabase.core.cli.mbl.edu.}, } @article {pmid24906411, year = {2015}, author = {Niones, JT and Takemoto, D}, title = {VibA, a homologue of a transcription factor for fungal heterokaryon incompatibility, is involved in antifungal compound production in the plant-symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Eukaryotic cell}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {13-24}, pmid = {24906411}, issn = {1535-9786}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Epichloe/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycotoxins/*biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic association of epichloae endophytes (Epichloë/Neotyphodium species) with cool-season grasses of the subfamily Pooideae confers bioprotective benefits to the host plants against abiotic and biotic stresses. While the production of fungal bioprotective metabolites is a well-studied mechanism of host protection from insect herbivory, little is known about the antibiosis mechanism against grass pathogens by the mutualistic endophyte. In this study, an Epichloë festucae mutant defective in antimicrobial substance production was isolated by a mutagenesis approach. In an isolated mutant that had lost antifungal activity, the exogenous DNA fragment was integrated into the promoter region of the vibA gene, encoding a homologue of the transcription factor VIB-1. VIB-1 in Neurospora crassa is a regulator of genes essential in vegetative incompatibility and promotion of cell death. Here we show that deletion of the vibA gene severely affected the antifungal activity of the mutant against the test pathogen Drechslera erythrospila. Further analyses showed that overexpressing vibA enhanced the antifungal activity of the wild-type isolate against test pathogens. Transformants overexpressing vibA showed an inhibitory activity on test pathogens that the wild-type isolate could not. Moreover, overexpressing vibA in a nonantifungal E. festucae wild-type Fl1 isolate enabled the transformant to inhibit the mycelial and spore germination of D. erythrospila. These results demonstrate that enhanced expression of vibA is sufficient for a nonantifungal isolate to obtain antifungal activity, implicating the critical role of VibA in antifungal compound production by epichloae endophytes.}, } @article {pmid24906389, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, S and Hao, B and Li, J and Gu, H and Peng, J and Xie, F and Zhao, X and Frech, C and Chen, N and Ma, B and Li, Y}, title = {Whole-genome sequencing of Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R provides molecular insights into host specificity and symbiosis island dynamics.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {440}, pmid = {24906389}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Evidence based on genomic sequences is urgently needed to confirm the phylogenetic relationship between Mesorhizobium strain MAFF303099 and M. huakuii. To define underlying causes for the rather striking difference in host specificity between M. huakuii strain 7653R and MAFF303099, several probable determinants also require comparison at the genomic level. An improved understanding of mobile genetic elements that can be integrated into the main chromosomes of Mesorhizobium to form genomic islands would enrich our knowledge of how genome dynamics may contribute to Mesorhizobium evolution in general.

RESULTS: In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of 7653R and compared it with five other Mesorhizobium genomes. Genomes of 7653R and MAFF303099 were found to share a large set of orthologs and, most importantly, a conserved chromosomal backbone and even larger perfectly conserved synteny blocks. We also identified candidate molecular differences responsible for the different host specificities of these two strains. Finally, we reconstructed an ancestral Mesorhizobium genomic island that has evolved into diverse forms in different Mesorhizobium species.

CONCLUSIONS: Our ortholog and synteny analyses firmly establish MAFF303099 as a strain of M. huakuii. Differences in nodulation factors and secretion systems T3SS, T4SS, and T6SS may be responsible for the unique host specificities of 7653R and MAFF303099 strains. The plasmids of 7653R may have arisen by excision of the original genomic island from the 7653R chromosome.}, } @article {pmid24905482, year = {2014}, author = {Macintyre, L and Zhang, T and Viegelmann, C and Martinez, IJ and Cheng, C and Dowdells, C and Abdelmohsen, UR and Gernert, C and Hentschel, U and Edrada-Ebel, R}, title = {Metabolomic tools for secondary metabolite discovery from marine microbial symbionts.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {3416-3448}, pmid = {24905482}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Principal Component Analysis ; Scotland ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine invertebrate-associated symbiotic bacteria produce a plethora of novel secondary metabolites which may be structurally unique with interesting pharmacological properties. Selection of strains usually relies on literature searching, genetic screening and bioactivity results, often without considering the chemical novelty and abundance of secondary metabolites being produced by the microorganism until the time-consuming bioassay-guided isolation stages. To fast track the selection process, metabolomic tools were used to aid strain selection by investigating differences in the chemical profiles of 77 bacterial extracts isolated from cold water marine invertebrates from Orkney, Scotland using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Following mass spectrometric analysis and dereplication using an Excel macro developed in-house, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to differentiate the bacterial strains based on their chemical profiles. NMR 1H and correlation spectroscopy (COSY) were also employed to obtain a chemical fingerprint of each bacterial strain and to confirm the presence of functional groups and spin systems. These results were then combined with taxonomic identification and bioassay screening data to identify three bacterial strains, namely Bacillus sp. 4117, Rhodococcus sp. ZS402 and Vibrio splendidus strain LGP32, to prioritize for scale-up based on their chemically interesting secondary metabolomes, established through dereplication and interesting bioactivities, determined from bioassay screening.}, } @article {pmid24904932, year = {2014}, author = {Chi, J and Parrow, MW and Dunthorn, M}, title = {Cryptic sex in Symbiodinium (Alveolata, Dinoflagellata) is supported by an inventory of meiotic genes.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {322-327}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12110}, pmid = {24904932}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Alveolata/cytology/*genetics/*physiology ; Computational Biology/methods ; *Genes, Protozoan ; *Meiosis ; Recombination, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Symbiodinium encompasses a diverse clade of dinoflagellates that are ecologically important as symbionts of corals and other marine organisms. Despite decades of study, cytological evidence of sex (karyogamy and meiosis) has not been demonstrated in Symbiodinium, although molecular population genetic patterns support the occurrence of sexual recombination. Here, we provide additional support for sex in Symbiodinium by uncovering six meiosis-specific and 25 meiosis-related genes in three published genomes. Cryptic sex may be occurring in Symbiodinium's seldom-seen free-living state while being inactive in the symbiotic state.}, } @article {pmid24904595, year = {2014}, author = {Santos, RL}, title = {Pathobiology of salmonella, intestinal microbiota, and the host innate immune response.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {252}, pmid = {24904595}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Salmonella is a relevant pathogen under a clinical and public health perspective. Therefore, there has been a significant scientific effort to learn about pathogenic determinants of this pathogen. The clinical relevance of the disease, associated with the molecular tools available to study Salmonella as well as suitable animal models for salmonellosis, have provided optimal conditions to drive the scientific community to generate a large expansion of our knowledge about the pathogenesis of Salmonella-induced enterocolitis that took place during the past two decades. This research effort has also generated a wealth of information on the host immune mechanisms that complements gaps in the fundamental research in this area. This review focus on how the interaction between Salmonella, the microbiota and intestinal innate immunity leads to disease manifestation. As a highly successful enteropathogen, Salmonella actively elicits a robust acute intestinal inflammatory response from the host, which could theoretically lead to the pathogen demise. However, Salmonella has evolved redundant molecular machineries that renders this pathogen highly adapted to the inflamed intestinal environment, in which Salmonella is capable of outcompete resident commensal organisms. The adaptation of Salmonella to the inflamed intestinal lumen associated with the massive inflammatory response that leads to diarrhea, generate perfect conditions for transmission of the pathogen. These conditions illustrate the complexity of the co-evolution and ecology of the pathogen, commensals, and the host.}, } @article {pmid24904010, year = {2014}, author = {Ogier, JC and Pagès, S and Bisch, G and Chiapello, H and Médigue, C and Rouy, Z and Teyssier, C and Vincent, S and Tailliez, P and Givaudan, A and Gaudriault, S}, title = {Attenuated virulence and genomic reductive evolution in the entomopathogenic bacterial symbiont species, Xenorhabdus poinarii.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {1495-1513}, pmid = {24904010}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Deletion ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; Nematoda/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/*pathogenicity/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus are symbionts of soil entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Steinernema. This symbiotic association constitutes an insecticidal complex active against a wide range of insect pests. Unlike other Xenorhabdus species, Xenorhabdus poinarii is avirulent when injected into insects in the absence of its nematode host. We sequenced the genome of the X. poinarii strain G6 and the closely related but virulent X. doucetiae strain FRM16. G6 had a smaller genome (500-700 kb smaller) than virulent Xenorhabdus strains and lacked genes encoding potential virulence factors (hemolysins, type 5 secretion systems, enzymes involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, and toxin-antitoxin systems). The genomes of all the X. poinarii strains analyzed here had a similar small size. We did not observe the accumulation of pseudogenes, insertion sequences or decrease in coding density usually seen as a sign of genomic erosion driven by genetic drift in host-adapted bacteria. Instead, genome reduction of X. poinarii seems to have been mediated by the excision of genomic blocks from the flexible genome, as reported for the genomes of attenuated free pathogenic bacteria and some facultative mutualistic bacteria growing exclusively within hosts. This evolutionary pathway probably reflects the adaptation of X. poinarii to specific host.}, } @article {pmid24903867, year = {2014}, author = {Pedersen, TB and Kot, WP and Hansen, LH and Sørensen, SJ and Broadbent, JR and Vogensen, FK and Ardö, Y}, title = {Genome Sequence of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris Strain T26, Isolated from Mesophilic Undefined Cheese Starter.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {24903867}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Leuconostoc is the main group of heterofermentative bacteria found in mesophilic dairy starters. They grow in close symbiosis with the Lactococcus population and are able to degrade citrate. Here we present a draft genome sequence of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris strain T26.}, } @article {pmid24903279, year = {2015}, author = {Splivallo, R and Deveau, A and Valdez, N and Kirchhoff, N and Frey-Klett, P and Karlovsky, P}, title = {Bacteria associated with truffle-fruiting bodies contribute to truffle aroma.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {2647-2660}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12521}, pmid = {24903279}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Ascomycota/*metabolism ; Betaproteobacteria/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*metabolism ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Odorants ; Symbiosis ; Thiophenes/*metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Truffles, symbiotic fungi renown for the captivating aroma of their fruiting bodies, are colonized by a complex bacterial community of unknown function. We characterized the bacterial community of the white truffle Tuber borchii and tested the involvement of its microbiome in the production of sulphur-containing volatiles. We found that sulphur-containing volatiles such as thiophene derivatives, characteristic of T. borchii fruiting bodies, resulted from the biotransformation of non-volatile precursor(s) into volatile compounds by bacteria. The bacterial community of T. borchii was dominated by α- and β-Proteobacteria. Interestingly, all bacteria phyla/classes tested in this study were able to produce thiophene volatiles from T. borchii fruiting body extract, irrespective of their isolation source (truffle or other sources). This indicates that the ability to produce thiophene volatiles might be widespread among bacteria and possibly linked to primary metabolism. Treatment of fruiting bodies with antibacterial agents fully suppressed the production of thiophene volatiles while fungicides had no inhibitory effect. This suggests that during the sexual stage of truffles, thiophene volatiles are exclusively synthesized by bacteria and not by the truffle. At this stage, the origin of thiophenes precursor in T. borchii remains elusive and the involvement of yeasts or other bacteria cannot be excluded.}, } @article {pmid24902979, year = {2015}, author = {Pernice, M and Dunn, SR and Tonk, L and Dove, S and Domart-Coulon, I and Hoppe, P and Schintlmeister, A and Wagner, M and Meibom, A}, title = {A nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry study of dinoflagellate functional diversity in reef-building corals.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {3570-3580}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12518}, pmid = {24902979}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {294343/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Nutritional interactions between corals and symbiotic dinoflagellate algae lie at the heart of the structural foundation of coral reefs. Whilst the genetic diversity of Symbiodinium has attracted particular interest because of its contribution to the sensitivity of corals to environmental changes and bleaching (i.e. disruption of coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis), very little is known about the in hospite metabolic capabilities of different Symbiodinium types. Using a combination of stable isotopic labelling and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we investigated the ability of the intact symbiosis between the reef-building coral Isopora palifera, and Symbiodinium C or D types, to assimilate dissolved inorganic carbon (via photosynthesis) and nitrogen (as ammonium). Our results indicate that Symbiodinium types from two clades naturally associated with I. palifera possess different metabolic capabilities. The Symbiodinium C type fixed and passed significantly more carbon and nitrogen to its coral host than the D type. This study provides further insights into the metabolic plasticity among different Symbiodinium types in hospite and strengthens the evidence that the more temperature-tolerant Symbiodinium D type may be less metabolically beneficial for its coral host under non-stressful conditions.}, } @article {pmid24899551, year = {2014}, author = {Kobae, Y and Fujiwara, T}, title = {Earliest colonization events of Rhizophagus irregularis in rice roots occur preferentially in previously uncolonized cells.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {8}, pages = {1497-1510}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu081}, pmid = {24899551}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Glomeromycota/cytology/growth & development/*physiology ; Hyphae ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/growth & development/*physiology ; Oryza/cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form a symbiotic association with several plant species. An arbuscule, a finely branched structure of AM fungi, is formed in root cells and plays essential roles in resource exchange. Because arbuscules are ephemeral, host cells containing collapsed arbuscules can be recolonized, and a wide region of roots can be continuously colonized by AM fungi, suggesting that repetitive recolonization in root cells is required for continuous mycorrhization. However, recolonization frequency has not been quantified because of the lack of appropriate markers for visualization of the cellular processes after arbuscule collapse; therefore, the nature of the colonization sequence remains uncertain. Here we observed that a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged secretory carrier membrane protein (SCAMP) of rice was expressed even in cells with collapsed arbuscules, allowing live imaging coupled with GFP-SCAMP to evaluate the colonization and recolonization sequences. The average lifetime of intact arbuscules was 1-2 d. Cells with collapsed arbuscules were rarely recolonized and formed a new arbuscule during the observation period of 5 d, whereas de novo colonization occurred even in close proximity to cells containing collapsed arbuscules and contributed to the expansion of the colonized region. Colonization spread into an uncolonized region of roots but sparsely into a previously colonized region having no metabolically active arbuscule but several intercellular hyphae. Therefore, we propose that a previously colonized region tends to be intolerant to new colonization in rice roots. Our observations highlight the overlooked negative impact of the degeneration stage of arbuscules in the colonization sequence.}, } @article {pmid24899389, year = {2014}, author = {Wopereis, H and Oozeer, R and Knipping, K and Belzer, C and Knol, J}, title = {The first thousand days - intestinal microbiology of early life: establishing a symbiosis.}, journal = {Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology}, volume = {25}, number = {5}, pages = {428-438}, doi = {10.1111/pai.12232}, pmid = {24899389}, issn = {1399-3038}, mesh = {Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/immunology/microbiology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The development of the intestinal microbiota in the first years of life is a dynamic process significantly influenced by early-life nutrition. Pioneer bacteria colonizing the infant intestinal tract and the gradual diversification to a stable climax ecosystem plays a crucial role in establishing host-microbe interactions essential for optimal symbiosis. This colonization process and establishment of symbiosis may profoundly influence health throughout life. Recent developments in microbiologic cultivation-independent methods allow a detailed view of the key players and factors involved in this process and may further elucidate their roles in a healthy gut and immune maturation. Aberrant patterns may lead to identifying key microbial signatures involved in developing immunologic diseases into adulthood, such as asthma and atopic diseases. The central role of early-life nutrition in the developmental human microbiota, immunity, and metabolism offers promising strategies for prevention and treatment of such diseases. This review provides an overview of the development of the intestinal microbiota, its bidirectional relationship with the immune system, and its role in impacting health and disease, with emphasis on allergy, in early life.}, } @article {pmid24897173, year = {2014}, author = {Litwinowicz, A and Blaszkowska, J}, title = {Preventing infective complications following leech therapy: elimination of symbiotic Aeromonas spp. from the intestine of Hirudo verbana using antibiotic feeding.}, journal = {Surgical infections}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {757-762}, pmid = {24897173}, issn = {1557-8674}, mesh = {Aeromonas/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Diet/methods ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Leeches/*microbiology ; Leeching/*adverse effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hirudotherapy is often used successfully in modern medicine, especially in plastic and reconstructive surgery. However, Aeromonas infections are the most common complications of post-operative leech application. Hence, prophylactic antibiotic administration is recommended before and during leech therapy. It has been confirmed that patient safety and achieving the desired therapeutic effect depend mainly on the microbiologic purity of the animals used. The aims of this study were to find a safe and practical way to eradicate symbiotic Aeromonas spp. occuring in the intestine of Hirudo verbana.

METHODS: Leeches were fed artificially with 1.5 mL of sterile defibrinated sheep blood supplemented with ciprofloxacin (CIP) or cefotaxime (CTX), at bacteriostatic concentrations of 0.2 mcg/mL or 1.5 mcg/mL, and bactericidal concentrations of 20 mcg/mL or 50 mcg/mL, respectively. Bacteria were isolated from the leech intestines before and after feeding at different time intervals: 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d.

RESULTS: Biochemical identification of bacterial isolates from water samples and intestines of H. verbana using the API-NE20 test showed that A. veronii biovar sobria was predominant. Bacteria belonging to the genus Aeromonas were detected in all control leeches. The results showed that optimum eradication of bacteria from leech intestines was obtained using 20 mcg/mL of CIP and 50 mcg/mL of CTX, which decreased the number of Aeromonas spp. to undetectable levels for two weeks after feeding in all treated leeches. A statistically significant reduction in the number of bacterial colonies (p<0.0001) was observed in leeches treated with bacteriostatic concentrations of CIP or CTX; no bacterial growth was found on the plates after only seven days of feeding with antibiotics. All water samples in which the leeches were kept before treatment were contaminated with Aeromonas spp., whereas these samples were negative after antibiotic feeding of animals.

CONCLUSIONS: All leeches were ready to take a blood meal after treatment, suggesting the possibility of using ciprofloxacin-treated or cefotaxime-treated leeches instead of chemoprophylaxis in patients undergoing hirudotherapy.}, } @article {pmid24895680, year = {2014}, author = {Chen, X and Song, F and Liu, F and Tian, C and Liu, S and Xu, H and Zhu, X}, title = {Effect of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and physiology of maize at ambient and low temperature regimes.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {956141}, pmid = {24895680}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {Cold Temperature ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Temperature ; Zea mays/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The effect of four different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth and lipid peroxidation, soluble sugar, proline contents, and antioxidant enzymes activities of Zea mays L. was studied in pot culture subjected to two temperature regimes. Maize plants were grown in pots filled with a mixture of sandy and black soil for 5 weeks, and then half of the plants were exposed to low temperature for 1 week while the rest of the plants were grown under ambient temperature and severed as control. Different AMF resulted in different root colonization and low temperature significantly decreased AM colonization. Low temperature remarkably decreased plant height and total dry weight but increased root dry weight and root-shoot ratio. The AM plants had higher proline content compared with the non-AM plants. The maize plants inoculated with Glomus etunicatum and G. intraradices had higher malondialdehyde and soluble sugar contents under low temperature condition. The activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase of AM inoculated maize were higher than those of non-AM ones. Low temperature noticeably decreased the activities of CAT. The results suggest that low temperature adversely affects maize physiology and AM symbiosis can improve maize seedlings tolerance to low temperature stress.}, } @article {pmid24891730, year = {2014}, author = {Salunkhe, RC and Narkhede, KP and Shouche, YS}, title = {Distribution and evolutionary impact of wolbachia on butterfly hosts.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {54}, number = {3}, pages = {249-254}, pmid = {24891730}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Wolbachia are maternally inherited endosymbiotic alpha-proteobacteria found in terrestrial arthropods and filarial nematodes. They are transmitted vertically through host cytoplasm and alter host biology by inducing various reproductive alterations, like feminization, parthenogenesis, male killing (MK) and cytoplasmic incompatibility. In butterflies, some effects especially MK and sperm-egg incompatibility are well established. All these effects skew the sex ratio towards female and subsequently favor the vertical transmission of Wolbachia. Some of the insects are also infected with multiple Wolbachia strains which may results in some complex phenomenon. In the present review the potential of Wolbachia for promoting evolutionary changes in its hosts with emphasis on recent advances in interactions of butterfly-Wolbachia is discussed. In addition to this, strain diversity of Wolbachia and its effects on various butterfly hosts are also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid24891422, year = {2014}, author = {Tretter, ED and Johnson, EM and Benny, GL and Lichtwardt, RW and Wang, Y and Kandel, P and Novak, SJ and Smith, JF and White, MM}, title = {An eight-gene molecular phylogeny of the Kickxellomycotina, including the first phylogenetic placement of Asellariales.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {106}, number = {5}, pages = {912-935}, doi = {10.3852/13-253}, pmid = {24891422}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spores, Fungal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Kickxellomycotina is a recently described subphylum encompassing four zygomycete orders (Asellariales, Dimargaritales, Harpellales, Kickxellales). These fungi are united by the formation of disciform septal pores containing lenticular plugs. Morphological diversification and life history evolution has made the relationships within and among the four orders difficult to resolve on those grounds alone. Here we infer the phylogeny of the Kickxellomycotina based on an eight-gene supermatrix including both ribosomal rDNA (18S, 28S, 5.8S) and protein sequences (MCM7, TSR1, RPB1, RPB2, β-tubulin). The results of this study demonstrate that Kickxellomycotina is monophyletic and related to members of the Zoopagomycotina. Eight unique clades are distinguished in the Kickxellomycotina, including the four defined orders (Asellariales, Dimargaritales, Harpellales, Kickxellales) as well as four genera previously placed within two of these orders (Barbatospora, Orphella, Ramicandelaber, Spiromyces). Dimargaritales and Ramicandelaber are the earliest diverging members of the subphylum, although the relationship between these taxa remains uncertain. The remaining six clades form a monophyletic group, with Barbatospora diverging first. The next split divides the remaining members of the subphylum into two subclades: (i) Asellariales and Harpellales and (ii) Kickxellales, Orphella and Spiromyces. Estimation of ancestral states for four potentially informative morphological and ecological characters reveals that arthropod endosymbiosis might have been an important factor in the early evolution of the Kickxellomycotina.}, } @article {pmid24890575, year = {2015}, author = {Soper, FM and Boutton, TW and Sparks, JP}, title = {Investigating patterns of symbiotic nitrogen fixation during vegetation change from grassland to woodland using fine scale δ(15) N measurements.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {89-100}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12373}, pmid = {24890575}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Climate ; Ecosystem ; Forests ; Grassland ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Prosopis/*metabolism ; Seasons ; Soil/chemistry ; Trees ; Xylem/metabolism ; Zanthoxylum/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in woody plants is often investigated using foliar measurements of δ(15) N and is of particular interest in ecosystems experiencing increases in BNF due to woody plant encroachment. We sampled δ(15) N along the entire N uptake pathway including soil solution, xylem sap and foliage to (1) test assumptions inherent to the use of foliar δ(15) N as a proxy for BNF; (2) determine whether seasonal divergences occur between δ(15) Nxylem sap and δ(15) Nsoil inorganic N that could be used to infer variation in BNF; and (3) assess patterns of δ(15) N with tree age as indicators of shifting BNF or N cycling. Measurements of woody N-fixing Prosopis glandulosa and paired reference non-fixing Zanthoxylum fagara at three seasonal time points showed that δ(15) Nsoil inorganic N varied temporally and spatially between species. Fractionation between xylem and foliar δ(15) N was consistently opposite in direction between species and varied on average by 2.4‰. Accounting for these sources of variation caused percent nitrogen derived from fixation values for Prosopis to vary by up to ∼70%. Soil-xylem δ(15) N separation varied temporally and increased with Prosopis age, suggesting seasonal variation in N cycling and BNF and potential long-term increases in BNF not apparent through foliar sampling alone.}, } @article {pmid24888981, year = {2014}, author = {Torres, MJ and Rubia, MI and de la Peña, TC and Pueyo, JJ and Bedmar, EJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {Genetic basis for denitrification in Ensifer meliloti.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {142}, pmid = {24888981}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Denitrification ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Denitrification is defined as the dissimilatory reduction of nitrate or nitrite to nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), or dinitrogen gas (N2). N2O is a powerful atmospheric greenhouse gas and cause of ozone layer depletion. Legume crops might contribute to N2O production by providing nitrogen-rich residues for decomposition or by associating with rhizobia that are able to denitrify under free-living and symbiotic conditions. However, there are limited direct empirical data concerning N2O production by endosymbiotic bacteria associated with legume crops. Analysis of the Ensifer meliloti 1021 genome sequence revealed the presence of the napEFDABC, nirK, norECBQD and nosRZDFYLX denitrification genes. It was recently reported that this bacterium is able to grow using nitrate respiration when cells are incubated with an initial O2 concentration of 2%; however, these cells were unable to use nitrate respiration when initially incubated anoxically. The involvement of the nap, nirK, nor and nos genes in E. meliloti denitrification has not been reported.

RESULTS: E. meliloti nap, nirK and norC mutant strains exhibited defects in their ability to grow using nitrate as a respiratory substrate. However, E meliloti nosZ was not essential for growth under these conditions. The E. meliloti napA, nirK, norC and nosZ genes encode corresponding nitrate, nitrite, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide reductases, respectively. The NorC component of the E. meliloti nitric oxide reductase has been identified as a c-type cytochrome that is 16 kDa in size. Herein, we also show that maximal expression of the E. meliloti napA, nirK, norC and nosZ genes occurred when cells were initially incubated anoxically with nitrate.

CONCLUSION: The E. meliloti napA, nirK, norC and nosZ genes are involved in nitrate respiration and in the expression of denitrification enzymes in this bacterium. Our findings expand the short list of rhizobia for which denitrification gene function has been demonstrated. The inability of E. meliloti to grow when cells are initially subjected to anoxic conditions is not attributable to defects in the expression of the napA, nirK, norC and nosZ denitrification genes.}, } @article {pmid24888481, year = {2014}, author = {Siqueira, AF and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Souza, RC and Rodrigues, EP and Almeida, LG and Barcellos, FG and Batista, JS and Nakatani, AS and Martínez-Romero, E and Vasconcelos, AT and Hungria, M}, title = {Comparative genomics of Bradyrhizobium japonicum CPAC 15 and Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens CPAC 7: elite model strains for understanding symbiotic performance with soybean.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {420}, pmid = {24888481}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic ; Soybeans/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis can be highly efficient in fixing nitrogen, but few genomic sequences of elite inoculant strains are available. Here we contribute with information on the genomes of two commercial strains that are broadly applied to soybean crops in the tropics. B. japonicum CPAC 15 (=SEMIA 5079) is outstanding in its saprophytic capacity and competitiveness, whereas B. diazoefficiens CPAC 7 (=SEMIA 5080) is known for its high efficiency in fixing nitrogen. Both are well adapted to tropical soils. The genomes of CPAC 15 and CPAC 7 were compared to each other and also to those of B. japonicum USDA 6T and B. diazoefficiens USDA 110T.

RESULTS: Differences in genome size were found between species, with B. japonicum having larger genomes than B. diazoefficiens. Although most of the four genomes were syntenic, genome rearrangements within and between species were observed, including events in the symbiosis island. In addition to the symbiotic region, several genomic islands were identified. Altogether, these features must confer high genomic plasticity that might explain adaptation and differences in symbiotic performance. It was not possible to attribute known functions to half of the predicted genes. About 10% of the genomes was composed of exclusive genes of each strain, but up to 98% of them were of unknown function or coded for mobile genetic elements. In CPAC 15, more genes were associated with secondary metabolites, nutrient transport, iron-acquisition and IAA metabolism, potentially correlated with higher saprophytic capacity and competitiveness than seen with CPAC 7. In CPAC 7, more genes were related to the metabolism of amino acids and hydrogen uptake, potentially correlated with higher efficiency of nitrogen fixation than seen with CPAC 15.

CONCLUSIONS: Several differences and similarities detected between the two elite soybean-inoculant strains and between the two species of Bradyrhizobium provide new insights into adaptation to tropical soils, efficiency of N2 fixation, nodulation and competitiveness.}, } @article {pmid24888347, year = {2014}, author = {Wewer, V and Brands, M and Dörmann, P}, title = {Fatty acid synthesis and lipid metabolism in the obligate biotrophic fungus Rhizophagus irregularis during mycorrhization of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {79}, number = {3}, pages = {398-412}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12566}, pmid = {24888347}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Fatty Acids/*biosynthesis ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza formation with fungi of the Glomeromycota represents a widespread symbiotic interaction of vascular plants. Different signaling events and metabolic adaptations are required for the close interaction between the two partners. Membrane lipid synthesis is a prerequisite for symbiosis, and membrane properties depend on lipid composition. Lipid profiling was performed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to study the role of triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, phospholipids, galactolipids, sterols and sphingolipids during the colonization of Lotus japonicus roots with Rhizophagus irregularis (syn. Glomus intraradices). Mycorrhization leads to an increased phosphate supply and suppresses the increase in galactolipids commonly observed in phosphate-deprived plants. In addition to free sterols and sterol esters, R. irregularis contains sterol glucosides and acylated sterol glucosides. Glycosylated sphingolipids (glucosylceramide, dihexosylceramide) and inositolphosphorylceramide were detected in the fungus. Lyso-phosphatidylcholine, a lipid previously implicated in mycorrhiza signaling, is present in low amounts in mock-infected and mycorrhized roots. The composition of fungal phospholipids changes after mycorrhization because molecular species with palmitvaccenic (di-16:1) or tetracosenoic (24:1) acyl groups decrease in intraradical mycelium. This adaptation of lipid metabolism during intraradical growth is likely a prerequisite for symbiosis, achieving functional compatibility between the fungal and the periarbuscular membrane. Data mining in genomic and transcript databases revealed the presence of genes encoding enzymes of lipid biosynthesis in R. irregularis. However, no gene encoding multidomain fatty acid de novo synthase was detected in the genome sequence of this obligate biotrophic fungus.}, } @article {pmid24886084, year = {2014}, author = {Gillman, JD and Stacey, MG and Cui, Y and Berg, HR and Stacey, G}, title = {Deletions of the SACPD-C locus elevate seed stearic acid levels but also result in fatty acid and morphological alterations in nitrogen fixing nodules.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {143}, pmid = {24886084}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromosome Segregation ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Crosses, Genetic ; Ethyl Methanesulfonate ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; *Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Loci ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neutron Diffraction ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*anatomy & histology/metabolism ; Seeds/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybean Oil ; Soybeans/genetics ; Stearic Acids/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Soybean (Glycine max) seeds are the primary source of edible oil in the United States. Despite its widespread utility, soybean oil is oxidatively unstable. Until recently, the majority of soybean oil underwent chemical hydrogenation, a process which also generates trans fats. An alternative to chemical hydrogenation is genetic modification of seed oil through identification and introgression of mutant alleles. One target for improvement is the elevation of a saturated fat with no negative cardiovascular impacts, stearic acid, which typically constitutes a minute portion of seed oil (~3%).

RESULTS: We examined radiation induced soybean mutants with moderately increased stearic acid (10-15% of seed oil, ~3-5 X the levels in wild-type soybean seeds) via comparative whole genome hybridization and genetic analysis. The deletion of one SACPD isoform encoding gene (SACPD-C) was perfectly correlated with moderate elevation of seed stearic acid content. However, SACPD-C deletion lines were also found to have altered nodule fatty acid composition and grossly altered morphology. Despite these defects, overall nodule accumulation and nitrogen fixation were unaffected, at least under laboratory conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Although no yield penalty has been reported for moderate elevated seed stearic acid content in soybean seeds, our results demonstrate that genetic alteration of seed traits can have unforeseen pleiotropic consequences. We have identified a role for fatty acid biosynthesis, and SACPD activity in particular, in the establishment and maintenance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24885832, year = {2014}, author = {Riesgo, A and Peterson, K and Richardson, C and Heist, T and Strehlow, B and McCauley, M and Cotman, C and Hill, M and Hill, A}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis of differential host gene expression upon uptake of symbionts: a case study with Symbiodinium and the major bioeroding sponge Cliona varians.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {376}, pmid = {24885832}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Porifera/*genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We have a limited understanding of genomic interactions that occur among partners for many symbioses. One of the most important symbioses in tropical reef habitats involves Symbiodinium. Most work examining Symbiodinium-host interactions involves cnidarian partners. To fully and broadly understand the conditions that permit Symbiodinium to procure intracellular residency, we must explore hosts from different taxa to help uncover universal cellular and genetic strategies for invading and persisting in host cells. Here, we present data from gene expression analyses involving the bioeroding sponge Cliona varians that harbors Clade G Symbiodinium.

RESULTS: Patterns of differential gene expression from distinct symbiont states ("normal", "reinfected", and "aposymbiotic") of the sponge host are presented based on two comparative approaches (transcriptome sequencing and suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH)). Transcriptomic profiles were different when reinfected tissue was compared to normal and aposymbiotic tissue. We characterized a set of 40 genes drawn from a pool of differentially expressed genes in "reinfected" tissue compared to "aposymbiotic" tissue via SSH. As proof of concept, we determined whether some of the differentially expressed genes identified above could be monitored in sponges grown under ecologically realistic field conditions. We allowed aposymbiotic sponge tissue to become re-populated by natural pools of Symbiodinium in shallow water flats in the Florida Keys, and we analyzed gene expression profiles for two genes found to be increased in expression in "reinfected" tissue in both the transcriptome and via SSH. These experiments highlighted the experimental tractability of C. varians to explore with precision the genetic events that occur upon establishment of the symbiosis. We briefly discuss lab- and field-based experimental approaches that promise to offer insights into the co-opted genetic networks that may modulate uptake and regulation of Symbiondinium populations in hospite.

CONCLUSIONS: This work provides a sponge transcriptome, and a database of putative genes and genetic pathways that may be involved in Symbiodinium interactions. The relative patterns of gene expression observed in these experiments will need to be evaluated on a gene-by-gene basis in controlled and natural re-infection experiments. We argue that sponges offer particularly useful characteristics for discerning essential dimensions of the Symbiodinium niche.}, } @article {pmid24884866, year = {2014}, author = {Tagliavia, M and Messina, E and Manachini, B and Cappello, S and Quatrini, P}, title = {The gut microbiota of larvae of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliver (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {136}, pmid = {24884866}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biota ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytosol/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Italy ; Larva/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sicily ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the major pests of palms. The larvae bore into the palm trunk and feed on the palm tender tissues and sap, leading the host tree to death. The gut microbiota of insects plays a remarkable role in the host life and understanding the relationship dynamics between insects and their microbiota may improve the biological control of insect pests. The purpose of this study was to analyse the diversity of the gut microbiota of field-caught RPW larvae sampled in Sicily (Italy).

RESULTS: The 16S rRNA gene-based Temporal Thermal Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TTGE) of the gut microbiota of RPW field-trapped larvae revealed low bacterial diversity and stability of the community over seasons and among pools of larvae from different host trees. Pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3 region confirmed low complexity and assigned 98% of the 75,564 reads to only three phyla: Proteobacteria (64.7%) Bacteroidetes (23.6%) and Firmicutes (9.6%) and three main families [Enterobacteriaceae (61.5%), Porphyromonadaceae (22.1%) and Streptococcaceae (8.9%)]. More than half of the reads could be classified at the genus level and eight bacterial genera were detected in the larval RPW gut at an abundance ≥1%: Dysgonomonas (21.8%), Lactococcus (8.9%), Salmonella (6.8%), Enterobacter (3.8%), Budvicia (2.8%), Entomoplasma (1.4%), Bacteroides (1.3%) and Comamonas (1%). High abundance of Enterobacteriaceae was also detected by culturing under aerobic conditions. Unexpectedly, acetic acid bacteria (AAB), that are known to establish symbiotic associations with insects relying on sugar-based diets, were not detected.

CONCLUSIONS: The RPW gut microbiota is composed mainly of facultative and obligate anaerobic bacteria with a fermentative metabolism. These bacteria are supposedly responsible for palm tissue fermentation in the tunnels where RPW larvae thrive and might have a key role in the insect nutrition, and other functions that need to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid24883254, year = {2014}, author = {Pochon, X and Putnam, HM and Gates, RD}, title = {Multi-gene analysis of Symbiodinium dinoflagellates: a perspective on rarity, symbiosis, and evolution.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e394}, pmid = {24883254}, issn = {2167-8359}, abstract = {Symbiodinium, a large group of dinoflagellates, live in symbiosis with marine protists, invertebrate metazoans, and free-living in the environment. Symbiodinium are functionally variable and play critical energetic roles in symbiosis. Our knowledge of Symbiodinium has been historically constrained by the limited number of molecular markers available to study evolution in the genus. Here we compare six functional genes, representing three cellular compartments, in the nine known Symbiodinium lineages. Despite striking similarities among the single gene phylogenies from distinct organelles, none were evolutionarily identical. A fully concatenated reconstruction, however, yielded a well-resolved topology identical to the current benchmark nr28S gene. Evolutionary rates differed among cellular compartments and clades, a pattern largely driven by higher rates of evolution in the chloroplast genes of Symbiodinium clades D2 and I. The rapid rates of evolution observed amongst these relatively uncommon Symbiodinium lineages in the functionally critical chloroplast may translate into potential innovation for the symbiosis. The multi-gene analysis highlights the potential power of assessing genome-wide evolutionary patterns using recent advances in sequencing technology and emphasizes the importance of integrating ecological data with more comprehensive sampling of free-living and symbiotic Symbiodinium in assessing the evolutionary adaptation of this enigmatic dinoflagellate.}, } @article {pmid24882813, year = {2014}, author = {Lamm, E}, title = {The genome as a developmental organ.}, journal = {The Journal of physiology}, volume = {592}, number = {11}, pages = {2283-2293}, pmid = {24882813}, issn = {1469-7793}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/*physiology ; *Genome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This paper applies the conceptual toolkit of Evolutionary Developmental Biology (evo-devo) to the evolution of the genome and the role of the genome in organism development. This challenges both the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis, the dominant view in evolutionary theory for much of the 20th century, and the typically unreflective analysis of heredity by evo-devo. First, the history of the marginalization of applying system-thinking to the genome is described. Next, the suggested framework is presented. Finally, its application to the evolution of genome modularity, the evolution of induced mutations, the junk DNA versus ENCODE debate, the role of drift in genome evolution, and the relationship between genome dynamics and symbiosis with microorganisms are briefly discussed.}, } @article {pmid24881086, year = {2014}, author = {Mungpakdee, S and Shinzato, C and Takeuchi, T and Kawashima, T and Koyanagi, R and Hisata, K and Tanaka, M and Goto, H and Fujie, M and Lin, S and Satoh, N and Shoguchi, E}, title = {Massive gene transfer and extensive RNA editing of a symbiotic dinoflagellate plastid genome.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {1408-1422}, pmid = {24881086}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry/*cytology/*genetics ; Genes, Protozoan ; Genome, Plastid ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plastids/*genetics ; Protein Conformation ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; *RNA Editing ; RNA, Protozoan/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Genome sequencing of Symbiodinium minutum revealed that 95 of 109 plastid-associated genes have been transferred to the nuclear genome and subsequently expanded by gene duplication. Only 14 genes remain in plastids and occur as DNA minicircles. Each minicircle (1.8-3.3 kb) contains one gene and a conserved noncoding region containing putative promoters and RNA-binding sites. Nine types of RNA editing, including a novel G/U type, were discovered in minicircle transcripts but not in genes transferred to the nucleus. In contrast to DNA editing sites in dinoflagellate mitochondria, which tend to be highly conserved across all taxa, editing sites employed in DNA minicircles are highly variable from species to species. Editing is crucial for core photosystem protein function. It restores evolutionarily conserved amino acids and increases peptidyl hydropathy. It also increases protein plasticity necessary to initiate photosystem complex assembly.}, } @article {pmid24880023, year = {2015}, author = {Tauber, AI}, title = {Reconceiving autoimmunity: An overview.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {375}, number = {}, pages = {52-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.05.029}, pmid = {24880023}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases/*immunology ; Autoimmunity/*immunology ; Ecology ; Humans ; Immune System/immunology ; Immunity/*immunology ; *Models, Biological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Three interconnected positions are advocated: (1) although serving as a useful model, the immune self does not exist as such; (2) instead of a self/nonself demarcation, the immune system 'sees' itself, i.e., it does not ignore the 'self' or attack the 'other;' but exhibits a spectrum of responses, which when viewed from outside the system appear as discrimination of 'self' and 'nonself' based on certain criteria of reactivity. When immune reactions are conceived in terms of normal physiology and open exchange with the environment, where borders dividing host and foreign are elusive and changing, host defense is only part of the immune system's functions, which actually comprise two basic tasks: protection, i.e., to preserve host integrity, and maintenance of organismic identity. And thus (3) if the spectrum of immunity is enlarged, differentiating low reactive 'autoimmune' reactions from activated immune responses against the 'other' is only a matter of degree. Simply, all immunity is 'autoimmunity,' and the pathologic state of immunity directed at normal constituents of the organism is a particular case of dis-regulation, which appropriately is designated, autoimmune. Other uses of 'autoimmunity' and its congeners function as the semantic remnants of Burnet's original self/nonself theory and should be replaced. A new nomenclature is proposed, concinnity, which more accurately designates the physiology of the animal's ordinary housekeeping economy mediated by the immune system than 'autoimmunity' when used to describe such normal functions.}, } @article {pmid24879450, year = {2014}, author = {Rovenich, H and Boshoven, JC and Thomma, BP}, title = {Filamentous pathogen effector functions: of pathogens, hosts and microbiomes.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {96-103}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.05.001}, pmid = {24879450}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Microbiota ; Plant Diseases/*immunology ; *Plant Immunity ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms play essential roles in almost every environment on earth. For instance, microbes decompose organic material, or establish symbiotic relationships that range from pathogenic to mutualistic. Symbiotic relationships have been particularly well studied for microbial plant pathogens and have emphasized the role of effectors; secreted molecules that support host colonization. Most effectors characterized thus far play roles in deregulation of host immunity. Arguably, however, pathogens not only deal with immune responses during host colonization, but also encounter other microbes including competitors, (myco)parasites and even potential co-operators. Thus, part of the effector catalog may target microbiome co-inhabitants rather than host physiology.}, } @article {pmid24878777, year = {2014}, author = {Nedosyko, AM and Young, JE and Edwards, JW and Burke da Silva, K}, title = {Searching for a toxic key to unlock the mystery of anemonefish and anemone symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e98449}, pmid = {24878777}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Anemone/*physiology ; Animals ; Artemia/physiology ; Hemolysis/physiology ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/*physiopathology ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Twenty-six species of anemonefish of the genera Amphiprion and monospecific Premnas, use only 10 species of anemones as hosts in the wild (Families: Actiniidae, Stichodactylidae and Thalassianthidae). Of these 10 anemone species some are used by multiple species of anemonefish while others have only a single anemonefish symbiont. Past studies have explored the different patterns of usage between anemonefish species and anemone species; however the evolution of this relationship remains unknown and has been little studied over the past decade. Here we reopen the case, comparing the toxicity of crude venoms obtained from anemones that host anemonefish as a way to investigate why some anemone species are used as a host more than others. Specifically, for each anemone species we investigated acute toxicity using Artemia francisca (LC50), haemolytic toxicity using ovine erythrocytes (EC50) and neurotoxicity using shore crabs (Ozius truncatus). We found that haemolytic and neurotoxic activity varied among host anemone species. Generally anemone species that displayed greater haemolytic activity also displayed high neurotoxic activity and tend to be more toxic on average as indicated by acute lethality analysis. An overall venom toxicity ranking for each anemone species was compared with the number of anemonefish species that are known to associate with each anemone species in the wild. Interestingly, anemones with intermediate toxicity had the highest number of anemonefish associates, whereas anemones with either very low or very high toxicity had the fewest anemonefish associates. These data demonstrate that variation in toxicity among host anemone species may be important in the establishment and maintenance of anemonefish anemone symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24878599, year = {2014}, author = {Antwis, RE and Garcia, G and Fidgett, AL and Preziosi, RF}, title = {Tagging frogs with passive integrated transponders causes disruption of the cutaneous bacterial community and proliferation of opportunistic fungi.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {15}, pages = {4779-4784}, pmid = {24878599}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis/radiation effects ; Anura/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*radiation effects ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena/radiation effects ; Chytridiomycota/*growth & development/radiation effects ; Female ; Male ; Mycoses/microbiology/*veterinary ; Radio Waves/*adverse effects ; Skin/microbiology/*radiation effects ; Symbiosis/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacterial communities play a key role in protecting amphibians from infectious diseases including chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Events that lead to the disruption of the bacterial community may have implications for the susceptibility of amphibians to such diseases. Amphibians are often marked both in the wild and in captivity for a variety of reasons, and although existing literature indicates that marking techniques have few negative effects, the response of cutaneous microbial communities has not yet been investigated. Here we determine the effects of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging on culturable cutaneous microbial communities of captive Morelet's tree frogs (Agalychnis moreletii) and assess the isolated bacterial strains for anti-B. dendrobatidis activity in vitro. We find that PIT tagging causes a major disruption to the bacterial community associated with the skin of frogs (∼12-fold increase in abundance), as well as a concurrent proliferation in resident fungi (up to ∼200-fold increase). Handling also caused a disruption the bacterial community, although to a lesser extent than PIT tagging. However, the effects of both tagging and handling were temporary, and after 2 weeks, the bacterial communities were similar to their original compositions. We also identify two bacterial strains that inhibit B. dendrobatidis, one of which increased in abundance on PIT-tagged frogs at 1 day postmarking, while the other was unaffected. These results show that PIT tagging has previously unobserved consequences for cutaneous microbial communities of frogs and may be particularly relevant for studies that intend to use PIT tagging to identify individuals involved in trials to develop probiotic treatments.}, } @article {pmid24877713, year = {2014}, author = {Olafsdottir, A and Thorlacius, GE and Omarsdottir, S and Olafsdottir, ES and Vikingsson, A and Freysdottir, J and Hardardottir, I}, title = {A heteroglycan from the cyanobacterium Nostoc commune modulates LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine secretion by THP-1 monocytes through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt.}, journal = {Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {1451-1457}, doi = {10.1016/j.phymed.2014.04.023}, pmid = {24877713}, issn = {1618-095X}, mesh = {Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Interleukin-8/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/*drug effects ; Monocytes/*drug effects ; Nostoc commune/*chemistry ; Phosphorylation ; Polysaccharides/*pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/*metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) have been consumed as food and used in folk medicine since ancient times to alleviate a variety of diseases. Cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc have been shown to produce complex exopolysaccharides with antioxidant and antiviral activity. Furthermore, Nostoc sp. are common in cyanolichen symbiosis and lichen polysaccharides are known to have immunomodulating effects. Nc-5-s is a heteroglycan isolated from free-living colonies of Nostoc commune and its structure has been characterized in detail. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Nc-5-s on the inflammatory response of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human THP-1 monocytes and how the effects are mediated. THP-1 monocytes primed with interferon-γ and stimulated with LPS in the presence of Nc-5-s secreted less of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 and more of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 than THP-1 monocytes stimulated without Nc-5-s. In contrast, Nc-5-s increased LPS-induced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-8. Nc-5-s decreased LPS-induced phosphorylation of the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and Akt kinase, but did not affect phosphorylation of the p38 kinase, activation of the nuclear factor kappa B pathway, nor DNA binding of c-fos. These results show that Nc-5-s has anti-inflammatory effects on IL-6 and IL-10 secretion by THP-1 monocytes, but its effects are pro-inflammatory when it comes to TNF-α and IL-8. Furthermore, they show that the effects of Nc-5-s may be mediated through the ERK1/2 pathway and/or the Akt/phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway and their downstream effectors. The ability of Nc-5-s to decrease IL-6 secretion, increase IL-10 secretion and moderate ERK1/2 activation indicates a potential for its development as an anti-inflammatory agent.}, } @article {pmid24877189, year = {2014}, author = {Gubbins, PO and Micek, ST and Badowski, M and Cheng, J and Gallagher, J and Johnson, SG and Karnes, JH and Lyons, K and Moore, KG and Strnad, K}, title = {Innovation in clinical pharmacy practice and opportunities for academic--practice partnership.}, journal = {Pharmacotherapy}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {e45-54}, doi = {10.1002/phar.1427}, pmid = {24877189}, issn = {1875-9114}, mesh = {*Cooperative Behavior ; *Diffusion of Innovation ; *Education, Pharmacy/organization & administration/standards/trends ; *Interdisciplinary Communication ; Pharmacists/standards ; Pharmacy Service, Hospital/*organization & administration/standards/trends ; Professional Competence ; Program Development ; Program Evaluation ; United States ; }, abstract = {Clinical pharmacy has a rich history of advancing practice through innovation. These innovations helped to mold clinical pharmacy into a patient-centered discipline recognized for its contributions to improving medication therapy outcomes. However, innovations in clinical pharmacy practice have now waned. In our view, the growth of academic–practice partnerships could reverse this trend and stimulate innovation among the next generation of pioneering clinical pharmacists. Although collaboration facilitates innovation,academic institutions and health care systems/organizations are not taking full advantage of this opportunity. The academic–practice partnership can be optimized by making both partners accountable for the desired outcomes of their collaboration, fostering symbiotic relationships that promote value-added clinical pharmacy services and emphasizing continuous quality improvement in the delivery of these services. Optimizing academic–practice collaboration on a broader scale requires both partners to adopt a culture that provides for dedicated time to pursue innovation, establishes mechanisms to incubate ideas, recognizes where motivation and vision align, and supports the purpose of the partnership. With appropriate leadership and support, a shift in current professional education and training practices, and a commitment to cultivate future innovators, the academic–practice partnership can develop new and innovative practice advancements that will improve patient outcomes.}, } @article {pmid24875767, year = {2014}, author = {Jayaraman, D and Gilroy, S and Ané, JM}, title = {Staying in touch: mechanical signals in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {104-109}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.05.003}, pmid = {24875767}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Mechanotransduction, Cellular ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mechanical stimulations play a significant role in the day to day existence of plants. Plants exhibit varied responses depending on the nature and intensity of these stimuli. In this review, we present recent literature on the responses of plants to mechanical stimuli, focusing primarily on those exerted during plant-microbe interactions. We discuss how microbes are able to apply mechanical stimuli on plants and how some plant responses to pathogenic and symbiotic microbes present striking similarities with responses to mechanical stimuli applied, for instance, using micro-needles. We hypothesize that appropriate responses of plants to pathogenic and symbiotic microbes may require a tight integration of both chemical and mechanical stimulations exerted by these microbes.}, } @article {pmid24874152, year = {2014}, author = {Li, T and Xiao, JH and Wu, YQ and Huang, DW}, title = {Diversity of bacterial symbionts in populations of Sitobion miscanthi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in China.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {605-611}, doi = {10.1603/EN13229}, pmid = {24874152}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; China ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Aphids are a group of insects frequently associated with bacterial symbionts. Although Chinese aphids harbor a high level of species diversity, the associations between Chinese aphids and bacterial symbionts are less known. In this study, we uncovered the diversity of bacterial symbionts in a Chinese widespread aphid, Sitobion miscanthi (Takahashi). In this study, we detected the aphid obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, and two secondary symbionts, Hamiltonella defensa and Regiella insecticola, with the diagnostic polymerase chain reaction method in S. miscanthi samples. In addition, symbiotic species of Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Pseudomonas, and the family Enterobacteriaceae were also found. Geographically, sporadic occurrences were detected for H. defensa and R. insecticola. Moreover, the infection rates of them vary widely among the infected populations: H. defensa (5.26-95.2%) and R. insecticola (5.26-46.7%). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the strain of B. aphidicola mirrored the history and divergence of S. miscanthi; however, the H. defensa and R. insecticola strains were probably experienced horizontal transmission among S. miscanthi and its distantly related species.}, } @article {pmid24872581, year = {2014}, author = {Chevignon, G and Thézé, J and Cambier, S and Poulain, J and Da Silva, C and Bézier, A and Musset, K and Moreau, SJ and Drezen, JM and Huguet, E}, title = {Functional annotation of Cotesia congregata bracovirus: identification of viral genes expressed in parasitized host immune tissues.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {88}, number = {16}, pages = {8795-8812}, pmid = {24872581}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Genes, Viral/*genetics ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Manduca/genetics/virology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Wasps/*genetics/*virology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Bracoviruses (BVs) from the Polydnaviridae family are symbiotic viruses used as biological weapons by parasitoid wasps to manipulate lepidopteran host physiology and induce parasitism success. BV particles are produced by wasp ovaries and injected along with the eggs into the caterpillar host body, where viral gene expression is necessary for wasp development. Recent sequencing of the proviral genome of Cotesia congregata BV (CcBV) identified 222 predicted virulence genes present on 35 proviral segments integrated into the wasp genome. To date, the expressions of only a few selected candidate virulence genes have been studied in the caterpillar host, and we lacked a global vision of viral gene expression. In this study, a large-scale transcriptomic analysis by 454 sequencing of two immune tissues (fat body and hemocytes) of parasitized Manduca sexta caterpillar hosts allowed the detection of expression of 88 CcBV genes expressed 24 h after the onset of parasitism. We linked the expression profiles of these genes to several factors, showing that different regulatory mechanisms control viral gene expression in the host. These factors include the presence of signal peptides in encoded proteins, diversification of promoter regions, and, more surprisingly, gene position on the proviral genome. Indeed, most genes for which expression could be detected are localized in particular proviral regions globally producing higher numbers of circles. Moreover, this polydnavirus (PDV) transcriptomic analysis also reveals that a majority of CcBV genes possess at least one intron and an arthropod transcription start site, consistent with an insect origin of these virulence genes.

IMPORTANCE: Bracoviruses (BVs) are symbiotic polydnaviruses used by parasitoid wasps to manipulate lepidopteran host physiology, ensuring wasp offspring survival. To date, the expressions of only a few selected candidate BV virulence genes have been studied in caterpillar hosts. We performed a large-scale analysis of BV gene expression in two immune tissues of Manduca sexta caterpillars parasitized by Cotesia congregata wasps. Genes for which expression could be detected corresponded to genes localized in particular regions of the viral genome globally producing higher numbers of circles. Our study thus brings an original global vision of viral gene expression and paves the way to the determination of the regulatory mechanisms enabling the expression of BV genes in targeted organisms, such as major insect pests. In addition, we identify sequence features suggesting that most BV virulence genes were acquired from insect genomes.}, } @article {pmid24871839, year = {2014}, author = {Vicente, CS and Monniot, F}, title = {The ascidian-associated mysid Corellamysis eltanina gen.nov., sp.nov. (Mysida, Mysidae, Heteromysinae): a new symbiotic relationship from the Southern Ocean.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3780}, number = {}, pages = {323-346}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3780.2.6}, pmid = {24871839}, issn = {1175-5326}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology ; Animals ; Crustacea/anatomy & histology/classification/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Male ; Oceans and Seas ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A new mysid species representing a new genus is described based on specimens collected in the 1968 cruise of the U.S. Navy Ship Eltanin from the Macquarie Island region (Southern Ocean). The new mysid, Corellamysis eltanina, is characterized by the globular eyes lacking definite eyestalks, the seven and eighth thoracic endopods specialized as gnathopods forming a strong subchela, and by the armature and shape of the uropod endopod and telson. Corellamysis eltanina lives only in the branchial sacs of the ascidian Corella brewinae suggesting an obligate endocommensal symbiotic association. Therefore, this is the first known report of a mysid living symbiotically with a benthic tunicate, as well as the first report of a mysid symbiosis from the Southern Ocean. The distribution and habitats of known symbiont mysids are reviewed. An update of identification key to world genera and subgenera of Heteromysinae is suggested.}, } @article {pmid24871595, year = {2014}, author = {Valle, LG and Rossi, W and Santamaria, S}, title = {Orphella intropus (Kickxellomycotina), a new insect endosymbiont with an unusual perforating holdfast system and other trichomycetes from Italy.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {106}, number = {3}, pages = {589-606}, doi = {10.3852/13-349}, pmid = {24871595}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/physiology ; Insecta/*microbiology/physiology ; Italy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {New data about trichomycetes (arthropod gut endosymbionts) from northern Italy (Piedmont [Piemonte] region) are reported, including the description of two new species of Harpellales: Glotzia distorta from mayfly nymphs and Orphella intropus from stonefly nymphs. The latter species is characterized by a cellular bulbous holdfast that perforates the gut lining of its host. Sixteen additional geographical records for Italy are provided, including from the Harpellales, Harpellomyces eccentricus, Graminella bulbosa, Orphella catalaunica, Pennella grassei, Smittium perforatum, Sm. elongatum, Stachylina nana, St. jujuyensis, St penetralis and Tectimyces leptophlebiidarum, and from the Amoebidiales, Paramoebidium chattoni, P. corpulentum, P. curvum, P. ecdyonuridae, P. hamatum and P. inflexum. We provide an emendation of Pennella grassei, a rare, incompletely described and poorly illustrated species that was recovered from Italy nearly 50 y after its last citation from France.}, } @article {pmid24871104, year = {2015}, author = {Montagna, M and Gómez-Zurita, J and Giorgi, A and Epis, S and Lozzia, G and Bandi, C}, title = {Metamicrobiomics in herbivore beetles of the genus Cryptocephalus (Chrysomelidae): toward the understanding of ecological determinants in insect symbiosis.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {340-352}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12143}, pmid = {24871104}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Cryptocephalus marginellus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) complex is composed by six species that are supposed to have originated by events of allo- or parapatric speciation. In the present study we investigated the alternative hypotheses that the bacterial communities associated with six populations of this species complex are shaped by environmental factors, or reflect the proposed pattern of speciation. The microbiota associated with the six populations, from five species of the complex, have been characterized through 16S rRNA pyrotag sequencing. Based on a 97% sequence similarity threshold, data were clustered into 381 OTUs, which were analyzed using a variety of diversity indices. The microbiota of C. acquitanus and C. marginellus (Calanques) were the most diverse (over 100 OTUs), while that from C. zoiai yielded less bacterial diversity (45 OTUs). Taxonomic assignment revealed Proteobacteria, Tenericutes and Firmicutes as the dominant components of these beetles' microbiota. The most abundant genera were Ralstonia, Sphingomonas, Rickettsia, and Pseudomonas. Different strains of Rickettsia were detected in C. eridani and C. renatae. The analysis of β-diversity revealed high OTU turnover among the populations of C. marginellus complex, with only few shared species. Hierarchical clustering taking into account relative abundances of OTUs does not match the phylogeny of the beetles, therefore we hypothesize that factors other than phylogenetic constraints play a role in shaping the insects' microbiota. Environmental factors that could potentially affect the composition of bacterial communities were tested by fitting them on the results of a multi-dimensional scaling analysis. No significant correlations were observed towards the geographic distances or the host plants, while the composition of the microbiota appeared associated with altitude. The metabolic profiles of the microbiotas associated with each population were inferred from bacterial taxonomy, and interestingly, the obtained clustering pattern was consistent with the host phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid24864468, year = {2014}, author = {Chikhacheva, EA and Seliverstov, PV and Sitkin, SI and Dobritsa, VP and Radchenko, VG}, title = {[Tactics for the correction of intestinal microbiocenotic disorders in the combination therapy of patients with chronic liver diseases].}, journal = {Terapevticheskii arkhiv}, volume = {86}, number = {4}, pages = {52-57}, pmid = {24864468}, issn = {0040-3660}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/growth & development ; Dysbiosis/*drug therapy/etiology/*microbiology ; Enterococcus faecium/growth & development ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines/drug effects/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/growth & development ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/*drug therapy/*microbiology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the symbiotic Linex used in the combination therapy of liver cirrhosis (LC).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-four patients with LC, including 44 who received additionally the symbiotic Linex and 30 who had conventional therapy, were examined. All the patients underwent clinical and biochemical blood tests, abdominal ultrasonography, fecal test for bacteria, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the blood composition of microbial markers, number connecting test, and quality-of-life assessment (SF-36).

RESULTS: The symbiotic-treated patients showed a significant improvement in biochemical parameters (decreases in transaminase activities, bilirubin levels, hepatic protein-synthetic function--there were elevations in the concentrations of total protein from 74.0 +/- 0.50 to 78.1 +/- 0.80 g/l (p < 0.05) and albumin from 30.6 +/- 1.7 to 35.5 +/- 1.6 g/l (p < 0.05). There were also increases in the count of bifidobacteria from 8.7 +/- 0.1 to 9.1 +/- 0.1 Ig CFU/g (p < 0.05), lactobacilli from 5.0 +/- 0.2 to 5.2 +/- 0.2 Ig CFU/g (p < 0.05) and in the total count of Escherichia coli from 7.6 +/- 0.3 to 7.9 +/- 0.3 Ig CFU/g (p < 0.05); a tendency for normalization of microbial markers was revealed by mass spectrometry; the manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy were alleviated (the number connecting test showed a reduction from 51.0 +/- 3.58 to 29.7 +/- 4.10 sec (p < 0.05)), and the quality of life improved.

CONCLUSION: By normalizing enteric microbiocenosis, the symbiotic Linex positively affects the course and prognosis of LC and it is both a symptomatic and pathogenetic agent for the treatment of patients.}, } @article {pmid24864264, year = {2014}, author = {Nouioui, I and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Fernandez, MP and Boudabous, A and Normand, P and Gtari, M}, title = {Absence of cospeciation between the uncultured Frankia microsymbionts and the disjunct actinorhizal Coriaria species.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {924235}, pmid = {24864264}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Frankia/*physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coriaria is an actinorhizal plant that forms root nodules in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria of the genus Frankia. This symbiotic association has drawn interest because of the disjunct geographical distribution of Coriaria in four separate areas of the world and in the context of evolutionary relationships between host plants and their uncultured microsymbionts. The evolution of Frankia-Coriaria symbioses was examined from a phylogenetic viewpoint using multiple genetic markers in both bacteria and host-plant partners. Total DNA extracted from root nodules collected from five species: C. myrtifolia, C. arborea, C. nepalensis, C. japonica, and C. microphylla, growing in the Mediterranean area (Morocco and France), New Zealand, Pakistan, Japan, and Mexico, respectively, was used to amplify glnA gene (glutamine synthetase), dnaA gene (chromosome replication initiator), and the nif DK IGS (intergenic spacer between nifD and nifK genes) in Frankia and the matK gene (chloroplast-encoded maturase K) and the intergenic transcribed spacers (18S rRNA-ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2-28S rRNA) in Coriaria species. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the radiations of Frankia strains and Coriaria species are not congruent. The lack of cospeciation between the two symbiotic partners may be explained by host shift at high taxonomic rank together with wind dispersal and/or survival in nonhost rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid24863571, year = {2014}, author = {Prada, C and McIlroy, SE and Beltrán, DM and Valint, DJ and Ford, SA and Hellberg, ME and Coffroth, MA}, title = {Cryptic diversity hides host and habitat specialization in a gorgonian-algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {13}, pages = {3330-3340}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12808}, pmid = {24863571}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Caribbean Region ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Ecosystem ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Shallow water anthozoans, the major builders of modern coral reefs, enhance their metabolic and calcification rates with algal symbionts. Controversy exists over whether these anthozoan-algae associations are flexible over the lifetimes of individual hosts, promoting acclimative plasticity, or are closely linked, such that hosts and symbionts co-evolve across generations. Given the diversity of algal symbionts and the morphological plasticity of many host species, cryptic variation within either partner could potentially confound studies of anthozoan-algal associations. Here, we used ribosomal, organelle and nuclear sequences, along with microsatellite variation, to study the relationship between lineages of a common Caribbean gorgonian and its algal symbionts. The gorgonian Eunicea flexuosa is a broadcast spawner, composed of two recently diverged, genetically distinct lineages largely segregated by depth. We sampled colonies of the two lineages across depth gradients at three Caribbean locations. We find that each host lineage is associated with a unique Symbiodinium B1/184 phylotype. This relationship between host and symbiont is maintained when host colonies are reciprocally transplanted, although cases of within phylotype switching were also observed. Even when the phylotypes of both partners are present at intermediate depths, the specificity between host and symbiont lineages remained absolute. Unrecognized cryptic diversity may mask host-symbiont specificity and change the inference of evolutionary processes in mutualistic associations. Symbiotic specificity thus likely contributes to the ecological divergence of the two partners, generating species diversity within coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid24863547, year = {2015}, author = {Mouton, L and Gnankiné, O and Henri, H and Terraz, G and Ketoh, G and Martin, T and Fleury, F and Vavre, F}, title = {Detection of genetically isolated entities within the Mediterranean species of Bemisia tabaci: new insights into the systematics of this worldwide pest.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {71}, number = {3}, pages = {452-458}, doi = {10.1002/ps.3834}, pmid = {24863547}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Africa, Western ; Animals ; Female ; Gene Flow ; Genotype ; Hemiptera/*classification/*genetics ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The taxonomy of the species complex Bemisia tabaci, a serious agricultural pest worldwide, is not well resolved yet, even though species delimitation is critical for designing effective control strategies. Based on a threshold of 3.5% mitochondrial (mtCOI) sequence divergence, recent studies have identified 28 putative species. Among them, mitochondrial variability associated with particular symbiotic compositions (=cytotypes) can be observed, as in MED, which raises the question of whether it is a single or a complex of biological species.

RESULTS: Using microsatellites, an investigation was made of the genetic relatedness of Q1 and ASL cytotypes that belong to MED. Samples of the two cytotypes were collected in West Africa where they live in sympatry on the same hosts. Genotyping revealed a high level of differentiation, without evidence of gene flow. Moreover, they differed highly in frequencies of resistance alleles to insecticides, which were much higher in Q1 than in ASL.

CONCLUSION: Q1 and ASL are sufficiently reproductively isolated for the introgression of neutral alleles to be prevented, suggesting that they are actually different species. This indicates that nuclear genetic differentiation must be investigated within groups with less than 3.5% mtCOI divergence in order to elucidate the taxonomy of B. tabaci at a finer level. Overall, these data provide important information for pest management.}, } @article {pmid24863476, year = {2014}, author = {Machingambi, NM and Roux, J and Dreyer, LL and Roets, F}, title = {Bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), their phoretic mites (Acari) and associated Geosmithia species (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) from Virgilia trees in South Africa.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {118}, number = {5-6}, pages = {472-483}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2014.03.006}, pmid = {24863476}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Acari/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Fabaceae/*parasitology ; Hypocreales/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; South Africa ; Trees/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Bark and ambrosia beetles are ecologically and economically important phloeophagous insects that often have complex symbiotic relationships with fungi and mites. These systems are greatly understudied in Africa. In the present study we identified bark and ambrosia beetles, their phoretic mites and their main fungal associates from native Virgilia trees in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. In addition, we tested the ability of mites to feed on the associated fungi. Four species of scolytine beetles were collected from various Virgilia hosts and from across the CFR. All were consistently associated with various Geosmithia species, fungi known from phloeophagous beetles in many parts of the world, but not yet reported as Scolytinae associates in South Africa. Four beetle species, a single mite species and five Geosmithia species were recovered. The beetles, Hapalogenius fuscipennis, Cryphalini sp. 1, and Scolytoplatypus fasciatus were associated with a single species of Elattoma phoretic mite that commonly carried spores of Geosmithia species. Liparthrum sp. 1 did not carry phoretic mites. Similar to European studies, Geosmithia associates of beetles from Virgilia were constant over extended geographic ranges, and species that share the same host plant individual had similar Geosmithia communities. Phoretic mites were unable to feed on their Geosmithia associates, but were observed to feed on bark beetle larvae within tunnels. This study forms the first African-centred base for ongoing global studies on the associations between arthropods and Geosmithia species. It strengthens hypotheses that the association between Scolytinae beetles and dry-spored Geosmithia species may be more ubiquitous than commonly recognised.}, } @article {pmid24862224, year = {2014}, author = {Ishitani, Y and Ujiié, Y and Takishita, K}, title = {Uncovering sibling species in Radiolaria: evidence for ecological partitioning in a marine planktonic protist.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {78}, number = {}, pages = {215-222}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.021}, pmid = {24862224}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Environment ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Variation ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Plankton/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Reproductive Isolation ; Rhizaria/*classification/cytology/genetics ; }, abstract = {Phylogeography of unicellular plankton, as representative pelagic organisms, is fundamental to understanding their evolution in the ocean. Historically, these microplankton were believed to have cosmopolitan distributions achieved through passive transport and little potential for speciation because of a lack of geographic barriers in the oceans. Recent phylogeographic studies of these microplankton, however, have often revealed high diversity and fine-scale geographic distributions. These apparent contradictions may result from poor knowledge of the spatial distributions of pelagic microplankton in the water column. More information about both geographic and vertical distributions of pelagic populations could reveal the dispersal pathways, gene flow, and resulting diversifications in the open ocean. Here we demonstrate that two genetic types of the radiolarian morphospecies Spongotrochus glacialis with morphological differences are vertically segregated into the upper and lower surface waters within the pycnocline of the North Pacific Subtropical Water. This vertically separated distribution of two sister species is associated with distinct ecological partitioning. These two species could survive on different food resources from their respective environments: one in oligotrophic surface waters by using nutrients from symbionts, and the other at greater depths by depending on both heterotrophic and symbiotic nutrition. Moreover, molecular divergence-time estimates suggest that the two species diverged during the period of oligotrophic surface-water development in the Pacific Ocean. Our findings suggest that genetic isolation in the vertical dimension occurs through ecological partitioning even in the absence of physical barriers in the pelagic oceans.}, } @article {pmid24862195, year = {2014}, author = {Santos, CA and Nobre, B and Lopes da Silva, T and Pinheiro, HM and Reis, A}, title = {Dual-mode cultivation of Chlorella protothecoides applying inter-reactors gas transfer improves microalgae biodiesel production.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {184}, number = {}, pages = {74-83}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.05.012}, pmid = {24862195}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {*Biofuels ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Chlorella/growth & development/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/biosynthesis ; Gases ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Lipids/*biosynthesis ; Microalgae/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chlorella protothecoides, a lipid-producing microalga, was grown heterotrophically and autotrophically in separate reactors, the off-gases exiting the former being used to aerate the latter. Autotrophic biomass productivity with the two-reactor association, 0.0249gL(-1)h(-1), was 2.2-fold the value obtained in a control autotrophic culture, aerated with ambient air. Fatty acid productivity was 1.7-fold the control value. C. protothecoides heterotrophic biomass productivity was 0.229gL(-1)h(-1). This biomass' fatty acid content was 34.5% (w/w) with a profile suitable for biodiesel production, according to European Standards. The carbon dioxide fixed by the autotrophic biomass was 45mgCO2L(-1)h(-1) in the symbiotic arrangement, 2.1 times the control reactor value. The avoided CO2 atmospheric emission represented 30% of the CO2 produced in the heterotrophic stage, while the released O2 represented 49% of the oxygen demand in that stage. Thus, an increased efficiency in the glucose carbon source use and a higher environmental sustainability were achieved in microalgal biodiesel production using the proposed assembly.}, } @article {pmid24862156, year = {2014}, author = {Pernice, M and Simpson, SJ and Ponton, F}, title = {Towards an integrated understanding of gut microbiota using insects as model systems.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {69}, number = {}, pages = {12-18}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.05.016}, pmid = {24862156}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Microbial Consortia ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metazoans form symbioses with microorganisms that synthesize essential nutritional compounds and increase their efficiency to digest and absorb nutrients. Despite the growing awareness that microbes within the gut play key roles in metabolism, health and development of metazoans, symbiotic relationships within the gut are far from fully understood. Insects, which generally harbor a lower microbial diversity than vertebrates, have recently emerged as potential model systems to study these interactions. In this review, we give a brief overview of the characteristics of the gut microbiota in insects in terms of low diversity but high variability at intra- and interspecific levels and we investigate some of the ecological and methodological factors that might explain such variability. We then emphasize how studies integrating an array of techniques and disciplines have the potential to provide new understanding of the biology of this micro eco-system.}, } @article {pmid24861346, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, DY and Shin, DH and Jung, S and Kim, H and Lee, JS and Cho, HY and Bae, KS and Sung, CK and Rhee, YH and Son, KH and Park, HY}, title = {Novel alkali-tolerant GH10 endo-β-1,4-xylanase with broad substrate specificity from Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum HY-17, a gut bacterium of the mole cricket Gryllotalpa orientalis.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {943-953}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1405.05032}, pmid = {24861346}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/classification/*enzymology/*genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gryllidae/*microbiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The XylH gene (1,167-bp) encoding a novel hemicellulase (41,584 Da) was identified from the genome of Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum HY-17, a gastrointestinal bacterium of Gryllotalpa orientalis. The enzyme consisted of a single catalytic domain, which is 74% identical to that of an endo-β-1,4-xylanase (GH10) from Isoptericola variabilis 225. Unlike other endo-β- 1,4-xylanases from invertebrate-symbiotic bacteria, rXylH was an alkali-tolerant multifunctional enzyme possessing endo-β-1,4-xylanase activity together with β-1,3/β-1,4- glucanase activity, which exhibited its highest xylanolytic activity at pH 9.0 and 60°C, and was relatively stable within a broad pH range of 5.0-10.0. The susceptibilities of different xylosebased polysaccharides to the XylH were assessed to be as follows: oat spelts xylan > beechwood xylan > birchwood xylan > wheat arabinoxylan. rXylH was also able to readily cleave p-nitrophenyl (pNP) cellobioside and pNP-xylopyranoside, but did not hydrolyze other pNP-sugar derivatives, xylobiose, or hexose-based materials. Enzymatic hydrolysis of birchwood xylan resulted in the product composition of xylobiose (71.2%) and xylotriose (28.8%) as end products.}, } @article {pmid24860570, year = {2014}, author = {Muraille, E}, title = {Generation of individual diversity: a too neglected fundamental property of adaptive immune system.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {208}, pmid = {24860570}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The fitness gains resulting from development of the adaptive immune system (AIS) during evolution are still the subject of hot debate. A large random repertoire of antigenic receptors is costly to develop and could be the source of autoimmune reactions. And yet, despite their drawbacks, AIS-like systems seem to have been independently acquired in several phyla of metazoans with very different anatomies, longevities, and lifestyles. This article is a speculative attempt to explore the selective pressures, which favored this striking convergent evolution. It is well known that the AIS enables an organism to produce a specific immune response against all natural or artificial antigenic structures. However, it is frequently neglected that this response is highly variable among individuals. In practice, each individual possesses a "private" adaptive immune repertoire. This individualization of immune defenses implies that invasion and escape immune mechanisms developed by pathogens will certainly not always be successful as the specific targets and organization of the immune response are somewhat unpredictable. In a population, where individuals display heterogeneous immune responses to infection, the probability that a pathogen is able to infect all individuals could be reduced compared to a homogeneous population. This suggests that the individual diversity of the immune repertoire is not a by-product of the AIS but of its fundamental properties and could be in part responsible for repeated selection and conservation of the AIS during metazoan evolution. The capacity of the AIS to improve the management of cooperative or parasitic symbiotic relationships at the individual level could be a secondary development due to its progressive integration into the innate immune system. This hypothesis constitutes a new scenario for AIS emergence and explains the selection of MHC restriction and MHC diversification.}, } @article {pmid24860563, year = {2014}, author = {Luter, HM and Gibb, K and Webster, NS}, title = {Eutrophication has no short-term effect on the Cymbastela stipitata holobiont.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {216}, pmid = {24860563}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Levels of nitrogen in coastal areas have been rapidly increasing due to accumulative inputs of sewage and terrigenous sediments carrying fertilizers. Sponges have an immense filtering capacity and may be directly impacted (positively or negatively) by elevated concentrations of nitrogen. Sponges also host a wide diversity of microbes involved in nitrogen metabolism, yet little is known about the effects of nitrogen loading on these symbiotic partnerships. Manipulative experiments were undertaken to examine the potential effects of excess nitrogen (up to 240 μM) on microbial symbiosis in the abundant sponge species Cymbastela stipitata. Microbial composition and activity were examined using 454-pyrotag sequencing of DNA- and RNA-derived samples. Despite the high levels of nitrogen exposure (up to 124-fold above ambient), sponges appeared visibly unaffected at all treatment concentrations. At the phylum level, the microbial community was consistent between all sponge samples regardless of nitrogen treatment, with Cyanobacteria and Thaumarchaeota being the dominant taxa. Higher microbial diversity was observed at the operational taxonomic units (OTU) level (97% sequence similarity), with only 40% of OTUs shared between samples from all treatments. However, a single cyanobacterial OTU dominated the community of all individuals (average 73.5%) and this OTU did not vary with nitrogen treatment. The conserved microbial community in all sponges irrespective of nitrogen treatment highlights the stability of the sponge-microbe relationship and indicates that the holobiont is resistant to short pulses of nitrogen at levels mimicking sewage effluent.}, } @article {pmid24860552, year = {2014}, author = {Maltz, MA and Bomar, L and Lapierre, P and Morrison, HG and McClure, EA and Sogin, ML and Graf, J}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of the medicinal leech gut microbiota.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {151}, pmid = {24860552}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM095390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {There are trillions of microbes found throughout the human body and they exceed the number of eukaryotic cells by 10-fold. Metagenomic studies have revealed that the majority of these microbes are found within the gut, playing an important role in the host's digestion and nutrition. The complexity of the animal digestive tract, unculturable microbes, and the lack of genetic tools for most culturable microbes make it challenging to explore the nature of these microbial interactions within this niche. The medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, has been shown to be a useful tool in overcoming these challenges, due to the simplicity of the microbiome and the availability of genetic tools for one of the two dominant gut symbionts, Aeromonas veronii. In this study, we utilize 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to further explore the microbial composition of the leech digestive tract, confirming the dominance of two taxa, the Rikenella-like bacterium and A. veronii. The deep sequencing approach revealed the presence of additional members of the microbial community that suggests the presence of a moderately complex microbial community with a richness of 36 taxa. The presence of a Proteus strain as a newly identified resident in the leech crop was confirmed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The metagenome of this community was also pyrosequenced and the contigs were binned into the following taxonomic groups: Rikenella-like (3.1 MB), Aeromonas (4.5 MB), Proteus (2.9 MB), Clostridium (1.8 MB), Eryspelothrix (0.96 MB), Desulfovibrio (0.14 MB), and Fusobacterium (0.27 MB). Functional analyses on the leech gut symbionts were explored using the metagenomic data and MG-RAST. A comparison of the COG and KEGG categories of the leech gut metagenome to that of other animal digestive-tract microbiomes revealed that the leech digestive tract had a similar metabolic potential to the human digestive tract, supporting the usefulness of this system as a model for studying digestive-tract microbiomes. This study lays the foundation for more detailed metatranscriptomic studies and the investigation of symbiont population dynamics.}, } @article {pmid24860281, year = {2014}, author = {Nissen, L and Sgorbati, B and Biavati, B and Belibasakis, GN}, title = {Lactobacillus salivarius and L. gasseri down-regulate Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans exotoxins expression.}, journal = {Annals of microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {611-617}, pmid = {24860281}, issn = {1590-4261}, abstract = {Beneficial microbes, such as lactobacilli establish a symbiosis with the host and confer health-associated effects, by limiting the growth of indigenous pathogens and challenging microbes introduced by altered foods. Nevertheless, there is scarce information on the effects of beneficial microbes on the virulence properties of bacterial species associated with oral diseases, such as periodontitis. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a Gram-negative species highly implicated in the etiology of localized aggressive periodontitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lactobacilli on the expression of the two major virulence factors of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Lactobacillus salivarius and L. gasseri were selected as beneficial species. The gene expressions of leukotoxin (LtxA) and cytolethal distending toxin (CdtB) by A. actinomycetemcomitans were analyzed in response to challenge by lactobacilli cell-free supernatants. Neither lactobacilli affected the growth, but strongly attenuated the expressions of both CdtB and LtxA in the two A. actinomycetemcomitans strains tested. This reduction of the expression of these two exotoxins was time-dependent. These fundamental findings may indicate that lactobacilli can reduce the virulence of putative opportunistic oral pathogens, and may provide insights to future therapeutic approaches for the respective diseases.}, } @article {pmid24859293, year = {2014}, author = {Sebastiana, M and Vieira, B and Lino-Neto, T and Monteiro, F and Figueiredo, A and Sousa, L and Pais, MS and Tavares, R and Paulo, OS}, title = {Oak root response to ectomycorrhizal symbiosis establishment: RNA-Seq derived transcript identification and expression profiling.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e98376}, pmid = {24859293}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Flavonoids/biosynthesis/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Quercus/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is essential for the life and health of trees in temperate and boreal forests where it plays a major role in nutrient cycling and in functioning of the forest ecosystem. Trees with ectomycorrhizal root tips are more tolerant to environmental stresses, such as drought, and biotic stresses such as root pathogens. Detailed information on these molecular processes is essential for the understanding of symbiotic tissue development in order to optimize the benefits of this natural phenomenon. Next generation sequencing tools allow the analysis of non model ectomycorrhizal plant-fungal interactions that can contribute to find the "symbiosis toolkits" and better define the role of each partner in the mutualistic interaction. By using 454 pyrosequencing we compared ectomycorrhizal cork oak roots with non-symbiotic roots. From the two cDNA libraries sequenced, over 2 million reads were obtained that generated 19,552 cork oak root unique transcripts. A total of 2238 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed when ECM roots were compared with non-symbiotic roots. Identification of up- and down-regulated gens in ectomycorrhizal roots lead to a number of insights into the molecular mechanisms governing this important symbiosis. In cork oak roots, ectomycorrhizal colonization resulted in extensive cell wall remodelling, activation of the secretory pathway, alterations in flavonoid biosynthesis, and expression of genes involved in the recognition of fungal effectors. In addition, we identified genes with putative roles in symbiotic processes such as nutrient exchange with the fungal partner, lateral root formation or root hair decay. These findings provide a global overview of the transcriptome of an ectomycorrhizal host root, and constitute a foundation for future studies on the molecular events controlling this important symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24858701, year = {2014}, author = {Gardères, J and Henry, J and Bernay, B and Ritter, A and Zatylny-Gaudin, C and Wiens, M and Müller, WE and Le Pennec, G}, title = {Cellular effects of bacterial N-3-Oxo-dodecanoyl-L-Homoserine lactone on the sponge Suberites domuncula (Olivi, 1792): insights into an intimate inter-kingdom dialogue.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e97662}, pmid = {24858701}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Endocytosis/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Homoserine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology ; Immunity, Innate/drug effects ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Porifera/cytology/*drug effects/immunology/*microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges and bacteria have lived together in complex consortia for 700 million years. As filter feeders, sponges prey on bacteria. Nevertheless, some bacteria are associated with sponges in symbiotic relationships. To enable this association, sponges and bacteria are likely to have developed molecular communication systems. These may include molecules such as N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones, produced by Gram-negative bacteria also within sponges. In this study, we examined the role of N-3-oxododecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL) on the expression of immune and apoptotic genes of the host sponge Suberites domuncula. This molecule seemed to inhibit the sponge innate immune system through a decrease of the expression of genes coding for proteins sensing the bacterial membrane: a Toll-Like Receptor and a Toll-like Receptor Associated Factor 6 and for an anti-bacterial perforin-like molecule. The expression of the pro-apoptotic caspase-like 3/7 gene decreased as well, whereas the level of mRNA of anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 Homolog Proteins did not change. Then, we demonstrated the differential expression of proteins in presence of this 3-oxo-C12-HSL using 3D sponge cell cultures. Proteins involved in the first steps of the endocytosis process were highlighted using the 2D electrophoresis protein separation and the MALDI-TOF/TOF protein characterization: α and β subunits of the lysosomal ATPase, a cognin, cofilins-related proteins and cytoskeleton proteins actin, α tubulin and α actinin. The genetic expression of some of these proteins was subsequently followed. We propose that the 3-oxo-C12-HSL may participate in the tolerance of the sponge apoptotic and immune systems towards the presence of bacteria. Besides, the sponge may sense the 3-oxo-C12-HSL as a molecular evidence of the bacterial presence and/or density in order to regulate the populations of symbiotic bacteria in the sponge. This study is the first report of a bacterial secreted molecule acting on sponge cells and regulating the symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid24855002, year = {2014}, author = {Plottel, CS}, title = {From the guest editor: beyond symbiosis: a cancer-centric view of the microbiome.}, journal = {Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.)}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {167-169}, doi = {10.1097/PPO.0000000000000054}, pmid = {24855002}, issn = {1540-336X}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; Neoplasms/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24853646, year = {2014}, author = {Gutjahr, C}, title = {Phytohormone signaling in arbuscular mycorhiza development.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {20}, number = {}, pages = {26-34}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2014.04.003}, pmid = {24853646}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To establish arbuscular mycorhiza (AM) symbiosis glomeromycotan fungi colonize the interior of roots. This process is associated with developmental changes of root cells as well as fungal hyphae. The formation of fungal colonization-structures and the extent of root colonization are largely under plant control, depending on environmental conditions and the resulting physiological state of the host. Phytohormone signaling pathways are currently emerging as important regulators of AM development. Root exuded strigolactones activate AM fungi before colonization and a host strigolactone receptor component is required for AM development. Auxin quantitatively influences AM colonization and might perform an additional cell-autonomous function in the promotion of arbuscule development. Gibberellin signaling inhibits AM and conversely DELLA proteins are required for AM formation. Given the importance of phytohormone signaling in plant developmental responses to the environment it can be predicted that elucidating how phytohormones regulate AM development will provide a lead into understanding how plants orchestrate AM symbiosis with their physiological needs under changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid24853112, year = {2014}, author = {Choi, YJ and Aliota, MT and Mayhew, GF and Erickson, SM and Christensen, BM}, title = {Dual RNA-seq of parasite and host reveals gene expression dynamics during filarial worm-mosquito interactions.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e2905}, pmid = {24853112}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R01 AI019769/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI019769/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI019769/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/*genetics/metabolism/*parasitology ; Animals ; Brugia malayi/*genetics/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Environment ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Male ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Parasite biology, by its very nature, cannot be understood without integrating it with that of the host, nor can the host response be adequately explained without considering the activity of the parasite. However, due to experimental limitations, molecular studies of parasite-host systems have been predominantly one-sided investigations focusing on either of the partners involved. Here, we conducted a dual RNA-seq time course analysis of filarial worm parasite and host mosquito to better understand the parasite processes underlying development in and interaction with the host tissue, from the establishment of infection to the development of infective-stage larva.

Using the Brugia malayi-Aedes aegypti system, we report parasite gene transcription dynamics, which exhibited a highly ordered developmental program consisting of a series of cyclical and state-transitioning temporal patterns. In addition, we contextualized these parasite data in relation to the concurrent dynamics of the host transcriptome. Comparative analyses using uninfected tissues and different host strains revealed the influence of parasite development on host gene transcription as well as the influence of the host environment on parasite gene transcription. We also critically evaluated the life-cycle transcriptome of B. malayi by comparing developmental stages in the mosquito relative to those in the mammalian host, providing insight into gene expression changes underpinning the mosquito-borne parasitic lifestyle of this heteroxenous parasite.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The data presented herein provide the research community with information to design wet lab experiments and select candidates for future study to more fully dissect the whole set of molecular interactions of both organisms in this mosquito-filarial worm symbiotic relationship. Furthermore, characterization of the transcriptional program over the complete life cycle of the parasite, including stages within the mosquito, could help devise novel targets for control strategies.}, } @article {pmid24850853, year = {2014}, author = {Suzaki, T and Ito, M and Yoro, E and Sato, S and Hirakawa, H and Takeda, N and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Endoreduplication-mediated initiation of symbiotic organ development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {141}, number = {12}, pages = {2441-2445}, doi = {10.1242/dev.107946}, pmid = {24850853}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Bacteria ; Cell Lineage ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/genetics/*physiology ; Endoreduplication/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Histidine Kinase ; Lotus/*embryology/microbiology/*physiology ; Meristem/embryology/microbiology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Epidermis/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many leguminous plants have a unique ability to reset and alter the fate of differentiated root cortical cells to form new organs of nitrogen-fixing root nodules during legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. Recent genetic studies on the role of cytokinin signaling reveal that activation of cytokinin signaling is crucial to the nodule organogenesis process. However, the genetic mechanism underlying the initiation of nodule organogenesis is poorly understood due to the low number of genes that have been identified. Here, we have identified a novel nodulation-deficient mutant named vagrant infection thread 1 (vag1) after suppressor mutant screening of spontaneous nodule formation 2, a cytokinin receptor gain-of-function mutant in Lotus japonicus. The VAG1 gene encodes a protein that is putatively orthologous to Arabidopsis ROOT HAIRLESS 1/HYPOCOTYL 7, a component of the plant DNA topoisomerase VI that is involved in the control of endoreduplication. Nodule phenotype of the vag1 mutant shows that VAG1 is required for the ploidy-dependent cell growth of rhizobial-infected cells. Furthermore, VAG1 mediates the onset of endoreduplication in cortical cells during early nodule development, which may be essential for the initiation of cortical cell proliferation that leads to nodule primordium formation. In addition, cortical infection is severely impaired in the vag1 mutants, whereas the epidermal infection threads formation is normal. This suggests that the VAG1-mediated endoreduplication of cortical cells may be required for the guidance of symbiotic bacteria to host meristematic cells.}, } @article {pmid24848943, year = {2014}, author = {Schweiger, R and Baier, MC and Persicke, M and Müller, C}, title = {High specificity in plant leaf metabolic responses to arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {3886}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms4886}, pmid = {24848943}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; Linear Models ; *Metabolome ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The chemical composition of plants (phytometabolome) is dynamic and modified by environmental factors. Understanding its modulation allows to improve crop quality and decode mechanisms underlying plant-pest interactions. Many studies that investigate metabolic responses to the environment focus on single model species and/or few target metabolites. However, comparative studies using environmental metabolomics are needed to evaluate commonalities of chemical responses to certain challenges. We assessed the specificity of foliar metabolic responses of five plant species to the widespread, ancient symbiosis with a generalist arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. Here we show that plant species share a large 'core metabolome' but nevertheless the phytometabolomes are modulated highly species/taxon-specifically. Such a low conservation of responses across species highlights the importance to consider plant metabolic prerequisites and the long time of specific plant-fungus coevolution. Thus, the transferability of findings regarding phytometabolome modulation by an identical AM symbiont is severely limited even between closely related species.}, } @article {pmid24847956, year = {2014}, author = {Dworkin, J}, title = {The medium is the message: interspecies and interkingdom signaling by peptidoglycan and related bacterial glycans.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {137-154}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-091213-112844}, pmid = {24847956}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {R01 GM83168/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacterial Infections/*metabolism/microbiology ; Humans ; Peptidoglycan/chemistry/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Peptidoglycan serves as a key structure of the bacterial cell by determining cell shape and providing resistance to internal turgor pressure. However, in addition to these essential and well-studied functions, bacterial signaling by peptidoglycan fragments, or muropeptides, has been demonstrated by recent work. Actively growing bacteria release muropeptides as a consequence of cell wall remodeling during elongation and division. Therefore, the presence of muropeptide synthesis is indicative of growth-promoting conditions and may serve as a broadly conserved signal for nongrowing cells to reinitiate growth. In addition, muropeptides serve as signals between bacteria and eukaryotic organisms during both pathogenic and symbiotic interactions. The increasingly appreciated role of the microbiota in metazoan organisms suggests that muropeptide signaling likely has important implications for homeostatic mammalian physiology.}, } @article {pmid24847735, year = {2014}, author = {Bolnick, DI and Snowberg, LK and Hirsch, PE and Lauber, CL and Knight, R and Caporaso, JG and Svanbäck, R}, title = {Individuals' diet diversity influences gut microbial diversity in two freshwater fish (threespine stickleback and Eurasian perch).}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {979-987}, pmid = {24847735}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {/HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Body Size ; Diet/*veterinary ; Female ; Fresh Water ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Male ; Perches/*microbiology ; Smegmamorpha/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Vertebrates' diets profoundly influence the composition of symbiotic gut microbial communities. Studies documenting diet-microbiota associations typically focus on univariate or categorical diet variables. However, in nature individuals often consume diverse combinations of foods. If diet components act independently, each providing distinct microbial colonists or nutrients, we expect a positive relationship between diet diversity and microbial diversity. We tested this prediction within each of two fish species (stickleback and perch), in which individuals vary in their propensity to eat littoral or pelagic invertebrates or mixtures of both prey. Unexpectedly, in most cases individuals with more generalised diets had less diverse microbiota than dietary specialists, in both natural and laboratory populations. This negative association between diet diversity and microbial diversity was small but significant, and most apparent after accounting for complex interactions between sex, size and diet. Our results suggest that multiple diet components can interact non-additively to influence gut microbial diversity.}, } @article {pmid24847068, year = {2014}, author = {Plett, JM and Daguerre, Y and Wittulsky, S and Vayssières, A and Deveau, A and Melton, SJ and Kohler, A and Morrell-Falvey, JL and Brun, A and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Martin, F}, title = {Effector MiSSP7 of the mutualistic fungus Laccaria bicolor stabilizes the Populus JAZ6 protein and represses jasmonic acid (JA) responsive genes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {22}, pages = {8299-8304}, pmid = {24847068}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Laccaria/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Populus/*genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi, such as Laccaria bicolor, support forest growth and sustainability by providing growth-limiting nutrients to their plant host through a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with host roots. We have previously shown that the effector protein MiSSP7 (Mycorrhiza-induced Small Secreted Protein 7) encoded by L. bicolor is necessary for the establishment of symbiosis with host trees, although the mechanistic reasoning behind this role was unknown. We demonstrate here that MiSSP7 interacts with the host protein PtJAZ6, a negative regulator of jasmonic acid (JA)-induced gene regulation in Populus. As with other characterized JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins, PtJAZ6 interacts with PtCOI1 in the presence of the JA mimic coronatine, and PtJAZ6 is degraded in plant tissues after JA treatment. The association between MiSSP7 and PtJAZ6 is able to protect PtJAZ6 from this JA-induced degradation. Furthermore, MiSSP7 is able to block--or mitigate--the impact of JA on L. bicolor colonization of host roots. We show that the loss of MiSSP7 production by L. bicolor can be complemented by transgenically varying the transcription of PtJAZ6 or through inhibition of JA-induced gene regulation. We conclude that L. bicolor, in contrast to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biotrophic pathogens, promotes mutualism by blocking JA action through the interaction of MiSSP7 with PtJAZ6.}, } @article {pmid24846780, year = {2015}, author = {Mastore, M and Arizza, V and Manachini, B and Brivio, MF}, title = {Modulation of immune responses of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Insecta: Coleoptera) induced by the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (Nematoda: Rhabditida).}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {748-760}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12141}, pmid = {24846780}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Coleoptera/*immunology/*parasitology ; Enzyme Precursors/metabolism ; Hemocytes/physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*immunology ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Larva/immunology/parasitology ; Rhabditida/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Aim of this study was to investigate relationships between the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) and the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae (EPN); particularly, the work was focused on the immune response of the insect host in naive larvae and after infection with the EPN. Two main immunological processes have been addressed: the activity and modulation of host prophenoloxidase-phenoloxidase (proPO) system, involved in melanization of not-self and hemocytes recognition processes responsible for not-self encapsulation. Moreover, immune depressive and immune evasive strategies of the parasite have been investigated. Our results suggest that RPW possess an efficient immune system, however in the early phase of infection, S. carpocapsae induces a strong inhibition of the host proPO system. In addition, host cell-mediated mechanisms of encapsulation, are completely avoided by the parasite, the elusive strategies of S. carpocapsae seem to be related to the structure of its body-surface, since induced alterations of the parasite cuticle resulted in the loss of its mimetic properties. S. carpocapsae before the release of its symbiotic bacteria, depress and elude RPW immune defenses, with the aim to arrange a favorable environment for its bacteria responsible of the septicemic death of the insect target.}, } @article {pmid24845644, year = {2014}, author = {Thomas, L and Kendrick, GA and Kennington, WJ and Richards, ZT and Stat, M}, title = {Exploring Symbiodinium diversity and host specificity in Acropora corals from geographical extremes of Western Australia with 454 amplicon pyrosequencing.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {3113-3126}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12801}, pmid = {24845644}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals have demonstrated the ability to shuffle their endosymbiotic dinoflagellate communities (genus Symbiodinium) during periods of acute environmental stress. This has been proposed as a mechanism of acclimation, which would be increased by a diverse and flexible association with Symbiodinium. Conventional molecular techniques used to evaluate Symbiodinium diversity are unable to identify genetic lineages present at background levels below 10%. Next generation sequencing (NGS) offers a solution to this problem and can resolve microorganism diversity at much finer scales. Here we apply NGS to evaluate Symbiodinium diversity and host specificity in Acropora corals from contrasting regions of Western Australia. The application of 454 pyrosequencing allowed for detection of Symbiodinium operational taxonomic units (OTUs) occurring at frequencies as low as 0.001%, offering a 10,000-fold increase in sensitivity compared to traditional methods. All coral species from both regions were overwhelmingly dominated by a single clade C OTU (accounting for 98% of all recovered sequences). Only 8.5% of colonies associated with multiple clades (clades C and D, or C and G), suggesting a high level of symbiont specificity in Acropora assemblages in Western Australia. While only 40% of the OTUs were shared between regions, the dominance of a single OTU resulted in no significant difference in Symbiodinium community structure, demonstrating that the coral-algal symbiosis can remain stable across more than 15° of latitude and a range of sea surface temperature profiles. This study validates the use of NGS platforms as tools for providing fine-scale estimates of Symbiodinium diversity and can offer critical insight into the flexibility of the coral-algal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24845514, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, DH and Kaashyap, M and Rathore, A and Das, RR and Parupalli, S and Upadhyaya, HD and Gopalakrishnan, S and Gaur, PM and Singh, S and Kaur, J and Yasin, M and Varshney, RK}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of Mesorhizobium in chickpea.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {513-517}, pmid = {24845514}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Cicer/genetics/*microbiology ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry ; Genetic Variation ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Population Dynamics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Crop domestication, in general, has reduced genetic diversity in cultivated gene pool of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) as compared with wild species (C. reticulatum, C. bijugum). To explore impact of domestication on symbiosis, 10 accessions of chickpeas, including 4 accessions of C. arietinum, and 3 accessions of each of C. reticulatum and C. bijugum species, were selected and DNAs were extracted from their nodules. To distinguish chickpea symbiont, preliminary sequences analysis was attempted with 9 genes (16S rRNA, atpD, dnaJ, glnA, gyrB, nifH, nifK, nodD and recA) of which 3 genes (gyrB, nifK and nodD) were selected based on sufficient sequence diversity for further phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence diversity for 3 genes demonstrated that sequences from C. reticulatum were more diverse. Nodule occupancy by dominant symbiont also indicated that C. reticulatum (60 percent) could have more various symbionts than cultivated chickpea (80 percent). The study demonstrated that wild chickpeas (C. reticulatum) could be used for selecting more diverse symbionts in the field conditions and it implies that chickpea domestication affected symbiosis negatively in addition to reducing genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid24845011, year = {2014}, author = {Moscatiello, R and Sello, S and Novero, M and Negro, A and Bonfante, P and Navazio, L}, title = {The intracellular delivery of TAT-aequorin reveals calcium-mediated sensing of environmental and symbiotic signals by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {203}, number = {3}, pages = {1012-1020}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12849}, pmid = {24845011}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Aequorin/*metabolism ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Endocytosis/drug effects ; Environment ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Hyphae/drug effects/metabolism ; Immunoblotting ; Intracellular Space/drug effects/metabolism ; Lactones/pharmacology ; Luminescent Measurements ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Peptides/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is an ecologically relevant symbiosis between most land plants and Glomeromycota fungi. The peculiar traits of AM fungi have so far limited traditional approaches such as genetic transformation. The aim of this work was to investigate whether the protein transduction domain of the HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (TAT) protein, previously shown to act as a potent nanocarrier for macromolecule delivery in both animal and plant cells, may translocate protein cargoes into AM fungi. We evaluated the internalization into germinated spores of Gigaspora margarita of two recombinant TAT fusion proteins consisting of either a fluorescent (GFP) or a luminescent (aequorin) reporter linked to the TAT peptide. Both TAT-fused proteins were found to enter AM fungal mycelia after a short incubation period (5-10 min). Ca2+ measurements in G. margarita mycelia pre-incubated with TAT-aequorin demonstrated the occurrence of changes in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in response to relevant stimuli, such as touch, cold, salinity, and strigolactones, symbiosis-related plant signals. These data indicate that the cell-penetrating properties of the TAT peptide can be used as an effective strategy for intracellularly delivering proteins of interest and shed new light on Ca2+ homeostasis and signalling in AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid24843146, year = {2014}, author = {Sullivan, BW and Smith, WK and Townsend, AR and Nasto, MK and Reed, SC and Chazdon, RL and Cleveland, CC}, title = {Spatially robust estimates of biological nitrogen (N) fixation imply substantial human alteration of the tropical N cycle.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {22}, pages = {8101-8106}, pmid = {24843146}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biomass ; Costa Rica ; *Ecosystem ; Environment ; Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Human Activities ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; *Trees ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the largest natural source of exogenous nitrogen (N) to unmanaged ecosystems and also the primary baseline against which anthropogenic changes to the N cycle are measured. Rates of BNF in tropical rainforest are thought to be among the highest on Earth, but they are notoriously difficult to quantify and are based on little empirical data. We adapted a sampling strategy from community ecology to generate spatial estimates of symbiotic and free-living BNF in secondary and primary forest sites that span a typical range of tropical forest legume abundance. Although total BNF was higher in secondary than primary forest, overall rates were roughly five times lower than previous estimates for the tropical forest biome. We found strong correlations between symbiotic BNF and legume abundance, but we also show that spatially free-living BNF often exceeds symbiotic inputs. Our results suggest that BNF in tropical forest has been overestimated, and our data are consistent with a recent top-down estimate of global BNF that implied but did not measure low tropical BNF rates. Finally, comparing tropical BNF within the historical area of tropical rainforest with current anthropogenic N inputs indicates that humans have already at least doubled reactive N inputs to the tropical forest biome, a far greater change than previously thought. Because N inputs are increasing faster in the tropics than anywhere on Earth, both the proportion and the effects of human N enrichment are likely to grow in the future.}, } @article {pmid24842809, year = {2014}, author = {Kukutla, P and Lindberg, BG and Pei, D and Rayl, M and Yu, W and Steritz, M and Faye, I and Xu, J}, title = {Insights from the genome annotation of Elizabethkingia anophelis from the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e97715}, pmid = {24842809}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {SC1 AI112786/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM092789/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC2GM092789/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC1AI112786/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Fungal/genetics ; Flavobacteriaceae/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Terpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Elizabethkingia anophelis is a dominant bacterial species in the gut ecosystem of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae. We recently sequenced the genomes of two strains of E. anophelis, R26T and Ag1, isolated from different strains of A. gambiae. The two bacterial strains are identical with a few exceptions. Phylogenetically, Elizabethkingia is closer to Chryseobacterium and Riemerella than to Flavobacterium. In line with other Bacteroidetes known to utilize various polymers in their ecological niches, the E. anophelis genome contains numerous TonB dependent transporters with various substrate specificities. In addition, several genes belonging to the polysaccharide utilization system and the glycoside hydrolase family were identified that could potentially be of benefit for the mosquito carbohydrate metabolism. In agreement with previous reports of broad antibiotic resistance in E. anophelis, a large number of genes encoding efflux pumps and β-lactamases are present in the genome. The component genes of resistance-nodulation-division type efflux pumps were found to be syntenic and conserved in different taxa of Bacteroidetes. The bacterium also displays hemolytic activity and encodes several hemolysins that may participate in the digestion of erythrocytes in the mosquito gut. At the same time, the OxyR regulon and antioxidant genes could provide defense against the oxidative stress that is associated with blood digestion. The genome annotation and comparative genomic analysis revealed functional characteristics associated with the symbiotic relationship with the mosquito host.}, } @article {pmid24840397, year = {2014}, author = {Willinger, MG and Zhang, W and Bondarchuk, O and Shaikhutdinov, S and Freund, HJ and Schlögl, R}, title = {A case of strong metal-support interactions: combining advanced microscopy and model systems to elucidate the atomic structure of interfaces.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {53}, number = {23}, pages = {5998-6001}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201400290}, pmid = {24840397}, issn = {1521-3773}, abstract = {A symbiosis of advanced scanning probe and electron microscopy and a well-defined model system may provide a detailed picture of interfaces on nanostructured catalytic systems. This was demonstrated for Pt nanoparticles supported on iron oxide thin films which undergo encapsulation by supporting oxide as a result of strong metal-support interactions.}, } @article {pmid24839164, year = {2014}, author = {Stasiak, G and Mazur, A and Wielbo, J and Marczak, M and Zebracki, K and Koper, P and Skorupska, A}, title = {Functional relationships between plasmids and their significance for metabolism and symbiotic performance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii.}, journal = {Journal of applied genetics}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {515-527}, pmid = {24839164}, issn = {2190-3883}, mesh = {Cell Movement/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Seeds/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trifolium/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 (RtTA1) is a soil bacterium establishing a highly specific symbiotic relationship with clover, which is based on the exchange of molecular signals between the host plant and the microsymbiont. The RtTA1 genome is large and multipartite, composed of a chromosome and four plasmids, which comprise approximately 65 % and 35 % of the total genome, respectively. Extrachromosomal replicons were previously shown to confer significant metabolic versatility to bacteria, which is important for their adaptation in the soil and nodulation competitiveness. To investigate the contribution of individual RtTA1 plasmids to the overall cell phenotype, metabolic properties and symbiotic performance, a transposon-based elimination strategy was employed. RtTA1 derivatives cured of pRleTA1b or pRleTA1d and deleted in pRleTA1a were obtained. In contrast to the in silico predictions of pRleTA1b and pRleTA1d, which were described as chromid-like replicons, both appeared to be completely curable. On the other hand, for pRleTA1a (symbiotic plasmid) and pRleTA1c, which were proposed to be unessential for RtTA1 viability, it was not possible to eliminate them at all (pRleTA1c) or entirely (pRleTA1a). Analyses of the phenotypic traits of the RtTA1 derivatives obtained revealed the functional significance of individual plasmids and their indispensability for growth, certain metabolic pathways, production of surface polysaccharides, autoaggregation, biofilm formation, motility and symbiotic performance. Moreover, the results allow us to suggest broad functional cooperation among the plasmids in shaping the phenotypic properties and symbiotic capabilities of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid24838876, year = {2014}, author = {Waite, AJ and Shou, W}, title = {Constructing synthetic microbial communities to explore the ecology and evolution of symbiosis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1151}, number = {}, pages = {27-38}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-0554-6_2}, pmid = {24838876}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {1 DP2OD006498-01/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology/*methods ; }, abstract = {Synthetically engineered microbial communities based on model organisms provide a simplified model of their naturally occurring counterparts while still retaining essential features of living organisms. The degree of control afforded by this approach has been critical in understanding how similar types of natural communities might have persisted and evolved. Here, we first discuss important considerations when designing a synthetically engineered system. Then, we describe the steps required to create a two-partner cooperative system based on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, } @article {pmid24836179, year = {2014}, author = {Iwai, T and Kubota, T and Kobayashi, J}, title = {Absolute configuration of amphidinin A.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {77}, number = {6}, pages = {1541-1544}, doi = {10.1021/np5003065}, pmid = {24836179}, issn = {1520-6025}, mesh = {Dinoflagellida/chemistry ; Furans/*chemistry ; Marine Biology ; Molecular Structure ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Polyketides/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Stereoisomerism ; }, abstract = {The absolute configurations at six stereogenic centers in amphidinin A (1), a cytotoxic linear polyketide isolated from a symbiotic marine dinoflagellate, Amphidinium sp., were elucidated to be 2R, 4R, 6S, 9R 11R, and 12S by the combination of J-based configuration analysis, modified Mosher's method, and density-functional theory calculations.}, } @article {pmid24834338, year = {2014}, author = {Blaser, WJ and Shanungu, GK and Edwards, PJ and Olde Venterink, H}, title = {Woody encroachment reduces nutrient limitation and promotes soil carbon sequestration.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {8}, pages = {1423-1438}, pmid = {24834338}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {During the past century, the biomass of woody species has increased in many grassland and savanna ecosystems. As many of these species fix nitrogen symbiotically, they may alter not only soil nitrogen (N) conditions but also those of phosphorus (P). We studied the N-fixing shrub Dichrostachys cinerea in a mesic savanna in Zambia, quantifying its effects upon pools of soil N, P, and carbon (C), and availabilities of N and P. We also evaluated whether these effects induced feedbacks upon the growth of understory vegetation and encroaching shrubs. Dichrostachys cinerea shrubs increased total N and P pools, as well as resin-adsorbed N and soil extractable P in the top 10-cm soil. Shrubs and understory grasses differed in their foliar N and P concentrations along gradients of increasing encroachment, suggesting that they obtained these nutrients in different ways. Thus, grasses probably obtained them mainly from the surface upper soil layers, whereas the shrubs may acquire N through symbiotic fixation and probably obtain some of their P from deeper soil layers. The storage of soil C increased significantly under D. cinerea and was apparently not limited by shortages of either N or P. We conclude that the shrub D. cinerea does not create a negative feedback loop by inducing P-limiting conditions, probably because it can obtain P from deeper soil layers. Furthermore, C sequestration is not limited by a shortage of N, so that mesic savanna encroached by this species could represent a C sink for several decades. We studied the effects of woody encroachment on soil N, P, and C pools, and availabilities of N and P to Dichrostachys cinerea shrubs and to the understory vegetation. Both N and P pools in the soil increased along gradients of shrub age and cover, suggesting that N fixation by D. cinerea did not reduce the P supply. This in turn suggests that continued growth and carbon sequestration in this mesic savanna ecosystems are unlikely to be constrained by nutrient limitation and could represent a C sink for several decades.}, } @article {pmid24831020, year = {2015}, author = {Augé, RM and Toler, HD and Saxton, AM}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alters stomatal conductance of host plants more under drought than under amply watered conditions: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {13-24}, pmid = {24831020}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plant Stomata/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Stomata regulate rates of carbon assimilation and water loss. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses often modify stomatal behavior and therefore play pivotal roles in plant productivity. The size of the AM effect on stomatal conductance to water vapor (g s) has varied widely, has not always been apparent, and is unpredictable. We conducted a meta-analysis of 460 studies to determine the size of the AM effect under ample watering and drought and to examine how experimental conditions have influenced the AM effect. Across all host and symbiont combinations under all soil moisture conditions, AM plants have shown 24 % higher g s than nonmycorrhizal (NM) controls. The promotion of g s has been over twice as great during moderate drought than under amply watered conditions. The AM influence on g s has been even more pronounced under severe drought, with over four times the promotion observed with ample water. Members of the Claroideoglomeraceae, Glomeraceae, and other AM families stimulated g s by about the same average amount. Colonization by native AM fungi has produced the largest promotion. Among single-AM symbionts, Glomus deserticola, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Funneliformis mosseae have had the largest average effects on g s across studies. Dicotyledonous hosts, especially legumes, have been slightly more responsive to AM symbiosis than monocotyledonous hosts, and C3 plants have shown over twice the AM-induced promotion of C4 plants. The extent of root colonization is important, with heavily colonized plants showing ×10 the g s promotion of lightly colonized plants. AM promotion of g s has been larger in growth chambers and in the field than in greenhouse studies, almost ×3 as large when plants were grown under high light than low light, and ×2.5 as large in purely mineral soils than in soils having an organic component. When AM plants have been compared with NM controls given NM pot culture, they have shown only half the promotion of g s as NM plants not given anything at inoculation to control for associated soil organisms. The AM effect has been much greater when AM plants were larger or had more phosphorus than NM controls. These findings should assist in further investigations of predictions and mechanisms of the AM influence on host g s .}, } @article {pmid24827552, year = {2014}, author = {Stauffer, E and Maizel, A}, title = {Post-transcriptional regulation in root development.}, journal = {Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. RNA}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {679-696}, doi = {10.1002/wrna.1239}, pmid = {24827552}, issn = {1757-7012}, mesh = {Alternative Splicing/genetics ; Arabidopsis/*embryology/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; Plant Roots/*embryology/*genetics ; RNA Editing/genetics ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plants constantly adapt their root system to the changing environmental conditions. This developmental plasticity is underpinned by changes in the profile of the mRNA expressed. Here we review how post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression control root development and growth. In particular we focus on the role of small RNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation processes. Small RNAs play an important role in fine tuning gene expression during root formation and patterning, development of lateral organs and symbiosis, nutrient homeostasis, and other stress-related responses. We also highlight the impact of alternative splicing on root development and the establishment of symbiotic structures as well as the emerging role of long noncoding RNAs in root physiology.}, } @article {pmid24825573, year = {2014}, author = {White, JF and Torres, MS and Somu, MP and Johnson, H and Irizarry, I and Chen, Q and Zhang, N and Walsh, E and Tadych, M and Bergen, M}, title = {Hydrogen peroxide staining to visualize intracellular bacterial infections of seedling root cells.}, journal = {Microscopy research and technique}, volume = {77}, number = {8}, pages = {566-573}, doi = {10.1002/jemt.22375}, pmid = {24825573}, issn = {1097-0029}, mesh = {Burkholderia gladioli/*ultrastructure ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*chemistry ; Panicum/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Roots/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Seedlings/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Staining and Labeling/methods ; }, abstract = {Visualization of bacteria in living plant cells and tissues is often problematic due to lack of stains that pass through living plant cell membranes and selectively stain bacterial cells. In this article, we report the use of 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrachloride (DAB) to stain hydrogen peroxide associated with bacterial invasion of eukaryotic cells. Tissues were counterstained with aniline blue/lactophenol to stain protein in bacterial cells. Using this staining method to visualize intracellular bacterial (Burkholderia gladioli) colonization of seedling roots of switch grass (Panicum virgatum), we compared bacterial free seedling roots and those inoculated with the bacterium. To further assess application of the technique in multiple species of vascular plants, we examined vascular plants for seedling root colonization by naturally occurring seed-transmitted bacteria. Colonization by bacteria was only observed to occur within epidermal (including root hairs) and cortical cells of root tissues, suggesting that bacteria may not be penetrating deeply into root tissues. DAB/peroxidase with counter stain aniline blue/lactophenol was effective in penetration of root cells to selectively stain bacteria. Furthermore, this stain combination permitted the visualization of the bacterial lysis process. Before any evidence of H2 O2 staining, intracellular bacteria were seen to stain blue for protein content with aniline blue/lactophenol. After H2 O2 staining became evident, bacteria were often swollen, without internal staining by aniline blue/lactophenol; this suggests loss of protein content. This staining method was effective for seedling root tissues; however, it was not effective at staining bacteria in shoot tissues due to poor penetration.}, } @article {pmid24824794, year = {2014}, author = {Yamashita, H and Suzuki, G and Kai, S and Hayashibara, T and Koike, K}, title = {Establishment of coral-algal symbiosis requires attraction and selection.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e97003}, pmid = {24824794}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Coral reef ecosystems are based on coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis. During the initiation of symbiosis, majority of corals acquire their own zooxanthellae (specifically from the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium) from surrounding environments. The mechanisms underlying the initial establishment of symbiosis have attracted much interest, and numerous field and laboratory experiments have been conducted to elucidate this establishment. However, it is still unclear whether the host corals selectively or randomly acquire their symbionts from surrounding environments. To address this issue, we initially compared genetic compositions of Symbiodinium within naturally settled about 2-week-old Acropora coral juveniles (recruits) and those in the adjacent seawater as the potential symbiont source. We then performed infection tests using several types of Symbiodinium culture strains and apo-symbiotic (does not have Symbiodinium cells yet) Acropora coral larvae. Our field observations indicated apparent preference toward specific Symbiodinium genotypes (A1 and D1-4) within the recruits, despite a rich abundance of other Symbiodinium in the environmental population pool. Laboratory experiments were in accordance with this field observation: Symbiodinium strains of type A1 and D1-4 showed higher infection rates for Acropora larvae than other genotype strains, even when supplied at lower cell densities. Subsequent attraction tests revealed that three Symbiodinium strains were attracted toward Acropora larvae, and within them, only A1 and D1-4 strains were acquired by the larvae. Another three strains did not intrinsically approach to the larvae. These findings suggest the initial establishment of corals-Symbiodinium symbiosis is not random, and the infection mechanism appeared to comprise two steps: initial attraction step and subsequent selective uptake by the coral.}, } @article {pmid24824576, year = {2014}, author = {Franklin, O and Näsholm, T and Högberg, P and Högberg, MN}, title = {Forests trapped in nitrogen limitation--an ecological market perspective on ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {203}, number = {2}, pages = {657-666}, pmid = {24824576}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {610028/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Ecology ; Feedback, Physiological ; *Forests ; Models, Theoretical ; *Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is omnipresent in boreal forests, where it is assumed to benefit plant growth. However, experiments show inconsistent benefits for plants and volatility of individual partnerships, which calls for a re-evaluation of the presumed role of this symbiosis. We reconcile these inconsistencies by developing a model that demonstrates how mycorrhizal networking and market mechanisms shape the strategies of individual plants and fungi to promote symbiotic stability at the ecosystem level. The model predicts that plants switch abruptly from a mixed strategy with both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots to a purely mycorrhizal strategy as soil nitrogen availability declines, in agreement with the frequency distribution of ectomycorrhizal colonization intensity across a wide-ranging data set. In line with observations in field-scale isotope labeling experiments, the model explains why ectomycorrhizal symbiosis does not alleviate plant nitrogen limitation. Instead, market mechanisms may generate self-stabilization of the mycorrhizal strategy via nitrogen depletion feedback, even if plant growth is ultimately reduced. We suggest that this feedback mechanism maintains the strong nitrogen limitation ubiquitous in boreal forests. The mechanism may also have the capacity to eliminate or even reverse the expected positive effect of rising CO2 on tree growth in strongly nitrogen-limited boreal forests.}, } @article {pmid24822056, year = {2014}, author = {Heyn, H}, title = {A symbiotic liaison between the genetic and epigenetic code.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {113}, pmid = {24822056}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {With rapid advances in sequencing technologies, we are undergoing a paradigm shift from hypothesis- to data-driven research. Genome-wide profiling efforts have given informative insights into biological processes; however, considering the wealth of variation, the major challenge still remains in their meaningful interpretation. In particular sequence variation in non-coding contexts is often challenging to interpret. Here, data integration approaches for the identification of functional genetic variability represent a possible solution. Exemplary, functional linkage analysis integrating genotype and expression data determined regulatory quantitative trait loci and proposed causal relationships. In addition to gene expression, epigenetic regulation and specifically DNA methylation was established as highly valuable surrogate mark for functional variance of the genetic code. Epigenetic modification has served as powerful mediator trait to elucidate mechanisms forming phenotypes in health and disease. Particularly, integrative studies of genetic and DNA methylation data have been able to guide interpretation strategies of risk genotypes, but also proved their value for physiological traits, such as natural human variation and aging. This Review seeks to illustrate the power of data integration in the genomic era exemplified by DNA methylation quantitative trait loci. However, the model is further extendable to virtually all traceable molecular traits.}, } @article {pmid24821201, year = {2014}, author = {Dibra, D and Mishra, L and Li, S}, title = {Molecular mechanisms of oncogene-induced inflammation and inflammation-sustained oncogene activation in gastrointestinal tumors: an under-appreciated symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1846}, number = {1}, pages = {152-160}, pmid = {24821201}, issn = {0006-3002}, support = {P30 CA016672/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P01 CA130821/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA120895/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA023146/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA142855/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; 7P01CA130821/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*genetics/immunology/*pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Inflammation/*genetics ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/pathology ; Oncogenes/*physiology ; Permeability ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; }, abstract = {Inflammation plays an integral part in tumor initiation. Specifically, patients with colitis, pancreatitis, or hepatitis have an increased susceptibility to cancer. The activation, mutation, and overexpression of oncogenes have been well documented in cell proliferation and transformation. Recently, oncogenes were found to also regulate the inflammatory milieu in tumors. Similarly, the inflammatory milieu can promote oncogene activation. In this review, we summarize advances of the symbiotic relationship oncogene activation and inflammation in gastrointestinal tumors such as colorectal, hepatic, and pancreatic tumors. NF-κB and STAT3 are the two most common pathways that are deregulated via these oncogenes. Understanding these interactions may yield effective therapeutic strategies for tumor prevention and treatment.}, } @article {pmid24821064, year = {2014}, author = {Zhao, Z and Han, F and He, Y and Yang, S and Hua, L and Wu, J and Zhan, W}, title = {Stromal-epithelial metabolic coupling in gastric cancer: stromal MCT4 and mitochondrial TOMM20 as poor prognostic factors.}, journal = {European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology}, volume = {40}, number = {10}, pages = {1361-1368}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejso.2014.04.005}, pmid = {24821064}, issn = {1532-2157}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma/*metabolism/pathology ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa/*metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/*metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Stromal Cells ; Tumor Burden ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To explore metabolic symbiosis in gastric cancer and its relationship with cancer prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MCT4 and TOMM20 expression in 113 gastric cancer patient specimens. The correlations of MCT4 and TOMM20 expression with gastric cancer clinicopathological features and survival were studied.

RESULTS: Stromal MCT4 expression was closely associated with the pathological (p) TNM stage and TOMM20 expression. We also assessed the predictive value of epithelial MCT4 expression. However, no correlation with patient clinical outcome was evident. TOMM20 expression was closely associated with tumor size and stromal MCT4 expression. Further, stromal MCT4 and mitochondrial TOMM20 were positively correlated, and Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high stromal MCT4 expression and high mitochondrial TOMM20 expression were associated with reduced overall survival and disease-free survival. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that stromal MCT4 expression and mitochondrial TOMM20 expression were independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings directly support the existence of metabolic symbiosis in gastric cancer. Stromal MCT4 and mitochondrial TOMM20 could be promising biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. These proteins might also serve as novel therapeutic targets in gastric cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid24817085, year = {2015}, author = {Kurtböke, DI and French, JR and Hayes, RA and Quinn, RJ}, title = {Eco-taxonomic insights into actinomycete symbionts of termites for discovery of novel bioactive compounds.}, journal = {Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology}, volume = {147}, number = {}, pages = {111-135}, doi = {10.1007/10_2014_270}, pmid = {24817085}, issn = {0724-6145}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/*physiology ; Animals ; Biological Products/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Drug Discovery ; *Ecosystem ; Genetic Enhancement/*methods ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Termites play a major role in foraging and degradation of plant biomass as well as cultivating bioactive microorganisms for their defense. Current advances in "omics" sciences are revealing insights into function-related presence of these symbionts, and their related biosynthetic activities and genes identified in gut symbiotic bacteria might offer a significant potential for biotechnology and biodiscovery. Actinomycetes have been the major producers of bioactive compounds with an extraordinary range of biological activities. These metabolites have been in use as anticancer agents, immune suppressants, and most notably, as antibiotics. Insect-associated actinomycetes have also been reported to produce a range of antibiotics such as dentigerumycin and mycangimycin. Advances in genomics targeting a single species of the unculturable microbial members are currently aiding an improved understanding of the symbiotic interrelationships among the gut microorganisms as well as revealing the taxonomical identity and functions of the complex multilayered symbiotic actinofloral layers. If combined with target-directed approaches, these molecular advances can provide guidance towards the design of highly selective culturing methods to generate further information related to the physiology and growth requirements of these bioactive actinomycetes associated with the termite guts. This chapter provides an overview on the termite gut symbiotic actinoflora in the light of current advances in the "omics" science, with examples of their detection and selective isolation from the guts of the Sunshine Coast regional termite Coptotermes lacteus in Queensland, Australia.}, } @article {pmid24816618, year = {2014}, author = {Santos, CA and Reis, A}, title = {Microalgal symbiosis in biotechnology.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {98}, number = {13}, pages = {5839-5846}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-5764-x}, pmid = {24816618}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Biofuels ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Coculture Techniques/methods ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Microalgae/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This review provides an analysis of recent published work on interactions between microorganisms, especially the ones involving mainly nutrient exchanges and at least with one microalga species. Examples of microbial partners are given, with a remark to the potential application of cultures of an autotroph and a heterotroph, which grow simultaneously, taking advantage of the complementary metabolisms. These are particularly interesting, either due to economic or sustainable aspects, and some applications have already reached the commercial stage of development. The added advantages of these symbiotic cultures are biomass, lipid, and other products productivity enhancement a better utilization of resources and the reduction or even elimination of process residues (including carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases) to conduct an increasingly greener biotechnology. Among the several symbiotic partners referred, the microalgae and yeast cultures are the most used. The interaction between these two microorganisms shows how to enhance the lipid production for biodiesel purposes compared with separated (stand-alone) cultures.}, } @article {pmid24816108, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, KC and Lyu, SY and Liu, YC and Chang, CY and Wu, CJ and Li, TL}, title = {Insights into the binding specificity and catalytic mechanism of N-acetylhexosamine 1-phosphate kinases through multiple reaction complexes.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section D, Biological crystallography}, volume = {70}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {1401-1410}, doi = {10.1107/S1399004714004209}, pmid = {24816108}, issn = {1399-0047}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/metabolism ; Adenosine Diphosphate/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Bifidobacterium/*enzymology/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Magnesium/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Phosphotransferases/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Utilization of N-acetylhexosamine in bifidobacteria requires the specific lacto-N-biose/galacto-N-biose pathway, a pathway differing from the Leloir pathway while establishing symbiosis between humans and bifidobacteria. The gene lnpB in the pathway encodes a novel hexosamine kinase NahK, which catalyzes the formation of N-acetylhexosamine 1-phosphate (GlcNAc-1P/GalNAc-1P). In this report, seven three-dimensional structures of NahK in complex with GlcNAc, GalNAc, GlcNAc-1P, GlcNAc/AMPPNP and GlcNAc-1P/ADP from both Bifidobacterium longum (JCM1217) and B. infantis (ATCC15697) were solved at resolutions of 1.5-2.2 Å. NahK is a monomer in solution, and its polypeptide folds in a crescent-like architecture subdivided into two domains by a deep cleft. The NahK structures presented here represent the first multiple reaction complexes of the enzyme. This structural information reveals the molecular basis for the recognition of the given substrates and products, GlcNAc/GalNAc, GlcNAc-1P/GalNAc-1P, ATP/ADP and Mg(2+), and provides insights into the catalytic mechanism, enabling NahK and mutants thereof to form a choice of biocatalysts for enzymatic and chemoenzymatic synthesis of carbohydrates.}, } @article {pmid24815324, year = {2015}, author = {Truong, HN and Thalineau, E and Bonneau, L and Fournier, C and Potin, S and Balzergue, S and VAN Tuinen, D and Jeandroz, S and Morandi, D}, title = {The Medicago truncatula hypermycorrhizal B9 mutant displays an altered response to phosphate and is more susceptible to Aphanomyces euteiches.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {73-88}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12370}, pmid = {24815324}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Anthocyanins/metabolism ; Aphanomyces/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/immunology/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Inorganic phosphate (Pi) plays a key role in the development of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, which is favoured when Pi is limiting in the environment. We have characterized the Medicago truncatula hypermycorrhizal B9 mutant for its response to limiting (P/10) and replete (P2) Pi. On P2, mycorrhization was significantly higher in B9 plants than in wild-type (WT). The B9 mutant displayed hallmarks of Pi-limited plants, including higher levels of anthocyanins and lower concentrations of Pi in shoots than WT plants. Transcriptome analyses of roots of WT and B9 plants cultivated on P2 or on P/10 confirmed the Pi-limited profile of the mutant on P2 and highlighted its altered response to Pi on P/10. Furthermore, the B9 mutant displayed a higher expression of defence/stress-related genes and was more susceptible to infection by the root oomycete pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches than WT plants. We propose that the hypermycorrhizal phenotype of the B9 mutant is linked to its Pi-limited status favouring AM symbiosis in contrast to WT plants in Pi-replete conditions, and discuss the possible links between the altered response of the B9 mutant to Pi, mycorrhization and infection by A. euteiches.}, } @article {pmid24814787, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, JK and Kwon, JY and Kim, SK and Han, SH and Won, YJ and Lee, JH and Kim, CH and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Purine biosynthesis, biofilm formation, and persistence of an insect-microbe gut symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {14}, pages = {4374-4382}, pmid = {24814787}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biofilms ; Burkholderia/genetics/metabolism ; Cyclic GMP/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/growth & development ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mutation ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Purines/*biosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiotic system is an experimental model system for studying the molecular mechanisms of an insect-microbe gut symbiosis. When the symbiotic midgut of Riptortus pedestris was investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy, the lumens of the midgut crypts that harbor colonizing Burkholderia symbionts were occupied by an extracellular matrix consisting of polysaccharides. This observation prompted us to search for symbiont genes involved in the induction of biofilm formation and to examine whether the biofilms are necessary for the symbiont to establish a successful symbiotic association with the host. To answer these questions, we focused on purN and purT, which independently catalyze the same step of bacterial purine biosynthesis. When we disrupted purN and purT in the Burkholderia symbiont, the ΔpurN and ΔpurT mutants grew normally, and only the ΔpurT mutant failed to form biofilms. Notably, the ΔpurT mutant exhibited a significantly lower level of cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP) than the wild type and the ΔpurN mutant, suggesting involvement of the secondary messenger c-di-GMP in the defect of biofilm formation in the ΔpurT mutant, which might operate via impaired purine biosynthesis. The host insects infected with the ΔpurT mutant exhibited a lower infection density, slower growth, and lighter body weight than the host insects infected with the wild type and the ΔpurN mutant. These results show that the function of purT of the gut symbiont is important for the persistence of the insect gut symbiont, suggesting the intricate biological relevance of purine biosynthesis, biofilm formation, and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24814784, year = {2014}, author = {Bianco, C and Senatore, B and Arbucci, S and Pieraccini, G and Defez, R}, title = {Modulation of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis in bacteroids within Medicago sativa nodules.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {14}, pages = {4286-4293}, pmid = {24814784}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Reporter ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To evaluate the dose-response effects of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on Medicago plant growth and dry weight production, we increased the synthesis of IAA in both free-living and symbiosis-stage rhizobial bacteroids during Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. For this purpose, site-directed mutagenesis was applied to modify an 85-bp promoter sequence, driving the expression of iaaM and tms2 genes for IAA biosynthesis. A positive correlation was found between the higher expression of IAA biosynthetic genes in free-living bacteria and the increased production of IAA under both free-living and symbiotic conditions. Plants nodulated by RD65 and RD66 strains, synthetizing the highest IAA concentration, showed a significant (up to 73%) increase in the shoot fresh weight and upregulation of nitrogenase gene, nifH, compared to plants nodulated by the wild-type strain. When these plants were analyzed by confocal microscopy, using an anti-IAA antibody, the strongest signal was observed in bacteroids of Medicago sativa RD66 (Ms-RD66) plants, even when they were located in the senescent nodule zone. We show here a simple system to modulate endogenous IAA biosynthesis in bacteria nodulating legumes suitable to investigate which is the maximum level of IAA biosynthesis, resulting in the maximal increase of plant growth.}, } @article {pmid24814756, year = {2014}, author = {Hardoim, CC and Costa, R}, title = {Temporal dynamics of prokaryotic communities in the marine sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {3097-3112}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12789}, pmid = {24814756}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/genetics ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Archaeal/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In spite of their putative relevance to host functioning, in-depth knowledge of sponge microbiome stability over time is scarce. This study tackles the temporal maintenance of bacterial and archaeal assemblages in the model host Sarcotragus spinosulus along three successive years. Prokaryotic communities were profiled by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and 454-pyrosequencing of S. spinosulus-derived 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Prevailing bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Poribacteria, PAUC34f, Chloroflexi and Bacteroidetes, with Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi and Poribacteria showing different abundances over the years. At the approximate species level (operational taxonomic units, OTUs, defined at 97% sequence similarity), no major changes in bacterial richness and composition were found through time. Nearly 50% of all detected bacterial symbionts (96 in 205 OTUs) were recovered from all sampling years, whereas a taxonomically equivalent community of less dominant bacteria characterized the transient sponge microbiota. Despite the evidence for temporal symbiont maintenance, an intriguing cumulative degree of variation between individuals was unravelled, with all the surveyed sponge specimens sharing only 27 bacterial OTUs. Archaeal communities were dominated by one single symbiont of the candidate genus Nitrosopumilus (Thaumarchaeota), known for its ability to aerobically oxidize ammonia to nitrite. Only few bacterial ammonia oxidizers consistently occurred in S. spinosulus across the years as documented by PCR-DGGE fingerprinting. In conclusion, prokaryotic symbionts of S. spinosulus display a state of dynamic stability shaped by the interplay between the maintenance of dominant players and turnover of less prevalent community members, in time and across host individuals, with no apparent consequences to holobiont functioning.}, } @article {pmid24810363, year = {2014}, author = {Zhao, L and Mota, M and Vieira, P and Butcher, RA and Sun, J}, title = {Interspecific communication between pinewood nematode, its insect vector, and associated microbes.}, journal = {Trends in parasitology}, volume = {30}, number = {6}, pages = {299-308}, doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2014.04.007}, pmid = {24810363}, issn = {1471-5007}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Nematoda/*microbiology/*physiology ; Pinus/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Pine wilt disease (PWD) is perhaps the most serious threat to pine forests worldwide. The causative agent of PWD, the pinewood nematode (PWN), engages in a symbiotic partnership with its insect vector, the Monochamus beetle, as well as associated bacteria and ophiostomatoid fungi, in order to successfully infect and kill its host pine tree. This review focuses on the interspecific communication between PWN and its associated partners, and the potential role of this communication in promoting pathogenicity and invasiveness of PWN. We describe the chemical and molecular signals positively influencing the survival, reproduction, and spread of PWN. Knowledge of these signals could potentially be used to interfere with the proliferation and dispersal of PWN.}, } @article {pmid24808372, year = {2014}, author = {Massot, B and Michel, ML and Diem, S and Ohnmacht, C and Latour, S and Dy, M and Eberl, G and Leite-de-Moraes, MC}, title = {TLR-induced cytokines promote effective proinflammatory natural Th17 cell responses.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {192}, number = {12}, pages = {5635-5642}, doi = {10.4049/jimmunol.1302089}, pmid = {24808372}, issn = {1550-6606}, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/adverse effects/pharmacology ; Aminoquinolines/adverse effects/pharmacology ; Animals ; Cytokines/genetics/*immunology ; Imiquimod ; Inflammation/chemically induced/genetics/immunology ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/genetics/immunology ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein ; Psoriasis/chemically induced/genetics/*immunology/pathology ; Th17 Cells/*immunology/pathology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Naive CD4 lymphocytes undergo a polarization process in the periphery to become induced Th17 (iTh17) cells. Using retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt)-gfp mice, we found that RORγt and the transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) are valuable new markers to identify the recently described natural Th17 (nTh17) cell population. nTh17 cells are thymically committed to promptly produce large amounts of IL-17 and IL-22. In this study, we show that, in addition to responding to TCR cross-linking, nTh17 cells secrete IL-17 and IL-22 when stimulated with IL-23 plus IL-1β, either in recombinant form or in supernatants from TLR4-activated dendritic cells. This innate-like ability of RORγt(+) nTh17 cells to respond to TLR4-induced cytokines was not shared by iTh17 cells. The other distinct properties of RORγt(+) nTh17 cells are their high expression of PLZF and their absence from lamina propria; iTh17 cells are found therein. RORγt(+) nTh17 cells are present in the thymus of germ-free RORγt-gfp and IL-6(-/-) RORΓ: t-gfp mice, indicating that these cells do not require symbiotic microbiota or IL-6 for their generation. Finally, we found that PLZF(+)RORγt(+) nTh17 cells represent one of the primary IL-17-producing innate-like T cell populations in a TLR7 imiquimod model of psoriasis-like disorder, indicating their involvement in this kind of lesion. Collectively, our results reveal RORγt and PLZF as characteristic markers for identifying nTh17 cells and demonstrate one of their novel properties: the ability to respond promptly to TLR-dependent proinflammatory stimuli without TCR engagement, placing them as members of the innate-like T cell family.}, } @article {pmid24807746, year = {2014}, author = {Solovchenko, A and Gorelova, O and Selyakh, I and Semenova, L and Chivkunova, O and Baulina, O and Lobakova, E}, title = {Desmodesmus sp. 3Dp86E-1-a novel symbiotic chlorophyte capable of growth on pure CO2.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {495-501}, pmid = {24807746}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*physiology ; Animals ; Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Hydrozoa/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oceans and Seas ; Russia ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A novel chlorophyte Desmodesmus sp. 3Dp86E-1 isolated from a White Sea hydroid Dynamena pumila was cultivated at CO2 levels from atmospheric (the 'low-CO2' conditions) to pure carbon dioxide (the 5, 20, and 100 % CO2 conditions) under high (480 μE/(m(2) s) PAR) light. After 7 days of cultivation, the '100 % CO2' (but not 5 or 20 % CO2) cells possessed ca. four times higher chlorophyll content per dry weight (DW) unit than the low-CO2 culture. The rate of CO2 fixation under 100 % CO2 comprised ca. 1.5 L/day per L culture volume. After a lag period which depended on the CO2 level, biomass accumulation and volumetric fatty acid (FA) content of the Desmodesmus sp. 3Dp86E-1 bubbled with CO2-enriched gas mixtures increased and was comparable to that of the culture continuously bubbled with air. Under the low-to-moderate CO2 conditions, the FA percentage of the algal cells increased (to 40 % DW) whereas under high-CO2 conditions, FA percentage did not exceed 15 % DW. A strong increase in oleate (18:1) proportion of total FA at the expense of linolenate (18:3) was recorded in the '100 % CO2' cells. Electron microscopy and pulse-amplitude-modulated chlorophyll fluorescence investigation revealed no damage to or significant downregulation of the photosynthetic apparatus in '100 % CO2' cells grown at the high-PAR irradiance. Possible mechanisms of high-CO2 tolerance of Desmodesmus sp. 3Dp86E-1 are discussed in view of its symbiotic origin and possible application for CO2 biomitigation.}, } @article {pmid24807261, year = {2014}, author = {Kremer, N and Schwartzman, J and Augustin, R and Zhou, L and Ruby, EG and Hourdez, S and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {The dual nature of haemocyanin in the establishment and persistence of the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1785}, pages = {20140504}, pmid = {24807261}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {OD 011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI 50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Hawaii ; Hemocyanins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Protein Isoforms/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We identified and sequenced from the squid Euprymna scolopes two isoforms of haemocyanin that share the common structural/physiological characteristics of haemocyanin from a closely related cephalopod, Sepia officinalis, including a pronounced Bohr effect. We examined the potential roles for haemocyanin in the animal's symbiosis with the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Our data demonstrate that, as in other cephalopods, the haemocyanin is primarily synthesized in the gills. It transits through the general circulation into other tissues and is exported into crypt spaces that support the bacterial partner, which requires oxygen for its bioluminescence. We showed that the gradient of pH between the circulating haemolymph and the matrix of the crypt spaces in adult squid favours offloading of oxygen from the haemocyanin to the symbionts. Haemocyanin is also localized to the apical surfaces and associated mucus of a juvenile-specific epithelium on which the symbionts gather, and where their specificity is determined during the recruitment into the association. The haemocyanin has an antimicrobial activity, which may be involved in this enrichment of V. fischeri during symbiont initiation. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the haemocyanin plays a role in shaping two stages of the squid-vibrio partnership.}, } @article {pmid24807259, year = {2014}, author = {Pringle, EG}, title = {Harnessing ant defence at fruits reduces bruchid seed predation in a symbiotic ant-plant mutualism.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1785}, pages = {20140474}, pmid = {24807259}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Cordia/*growth & development ; Herbivory ; Mexico ; Plant Stems/growth & development ; Seeds/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In horizontally transmitted mutualisms, mutualists disperse separately and reassemble in each generation with partners genetically unrelated to those in the previous generation. Because of this, there should be no selection on either partner to enhance the other's reproductive output directly. In symbiotic ant-plant mutualisms, myrmecophytic plants host defensive ant colonies, and ants defend the plants from herbivores. Plants and ants disperse separately, and, although ant defence can indirectly increase plant reproduction by reducing folivory, it is unclear whether ants can also directly increase plant reproduction by defending seeds. The neotropical tree Cordia alliodora hosts colonies of Azteca pittieri ants. The trees produce domatia where ants nest at stem nodes and also at the node between the peduncle and the rachides of the infloresence. Unlike the stem domatia, these reproductive domatia senesce after the tree fruits each year. In this study, I show that the tree's resident ant colony moves into these ephemeral reproductive domatia, where they tend honeydew-producing scale insects and patrol the nearby developing fruits. The presence of ants significantly reduced pre-dispersal seed predation by Amblycerus bruchid beetles, thereby directly increasing plant reproductive output.}, } @article {pmid24807248, year = {2014}, author = {Moné, Y and Monnin, D and Kremer, N}, title = {The oxidative environment: a mediator of interspecies communication that drives symbiosis evolution.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1785}, pages = {20133112}, pmid = {24807248}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Environment ; Models, Biological ; *Oxidation-Reduction ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions are ubiquitous in nature and play a major role in driving the evolution of life. Interactions between partners are often mediated by shared signalling pathways, which strongly influence both partners' biology and the evolution of the association in various environments. As an example of 'common language', the regulation of the oxidative environment plays an important role in driving the evolution of symbiotic associations. Such processes have been occurring for billions of years, including the increase in Earth's atmospheric oxygen and the subsequent evolution of mitochondria. The effect of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (RONS) has been characterized functionally, but the molecular dialogue between partners has not been integrated within a broader evolutionary context yet. Given the pleiotropic role of RONS in cell-cell communication, development and immunity, but also their associated physiological costs, we discuss here how their regulation can influence the establishment, the maintenance and the breakdown of various symbiotic associations. By synthesizing recent developments in redox biology, we aim to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the influence of such mediators of interspecies communication on the evolution and stability of symbioses, which in turn can shape ecosystems and play a role in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid24805961, year = {2014}, author = {Fagervold, SK and Romano, C and Kalenitchenko, D and Borowski, C and Nunes-Jorge, A and Martin, D and Galand, PE}, title = {Microbial communities in sunken wood are structured by wood-boring bivalves and location in a submarine canyon.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e96248}, pmid = {24805961}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Wood ; }, abstract = {The cornerstones of sunken wood ecosystems are microorganisms involved in cellulose degradation. These can either be free-living microorganisms in the wood matrix or symbiotic bacteria associated with wood-boring bivalves such as emblematic species of Xylophaga, the most common deep-sea woodborer. Here we use experimentally submerged pine wood, placed in and outside the Mediterranean submarine Blanes Canyon, to compare the microbial communities on the wood, in fecal pellets of Xylophaga spp. and associated with the gills of these animals. Analyses based on tag pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene showed that sunken wood contained three distinct microbial communities. Wood and pellet communities were different from each other suggesting that Xylophaga spp. create new microbial niches by excreting fecal pellets into their burrows. In turn, gills of Xylophaga spp. contain potential bacterial symbionts, as illustrated by the presence of sequences closely related to symbiotic bacteria found in other wood eating marine invertebrates. Finally, we found that sunken wood communities inside the canyon were different and more diverse than the ones outside the canyon. This finding extends to the microbial world the view that submarine canyons are sites of diverse marine life.}, } @article {pmid24805253, year = {2014}, author = {Higgins, BT and VanderGheynst, JS}, title = {Effects of Escherichia coli on mixotrophic growth of Chlorella minutissima and production of biofuel precursors.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e96807}, pmid = {24805253}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biofuels/*microbiology ; *Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; Chlorella/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Escherichia coli/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Glucose/biosynthesis ; Humans ; Starch/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Chlorella minutissima was co-cultured with Escherichia coli in airlift reactors under mixotrophic conditions (glucose, glycerol, and acetate substrates) to determine possible effects of bacterial contamination on algal biofuel production. It was hypothesized that E. coli would compete with C. minutissima for nutrients, displacing algal biomass. However, C. minutissima grew more rapidly and to higher densities in the presence of E. coli, suggesting a symbiotic relationship between the organisms. At an initial 1% substrate concentration, the co-culture produced 200-587% more algal biomass than the axenic C. minutissima cultures. Co-cultures grown on 1% substrate consumed 23-737% more of the available carbon substrate than the sum of substrate consumed by E. coli and C. minutissima alone. At 1% substrate, total lipid and starch productivity were elevated in co-cultures compared to axenic cultures indicating that bacterial contamination was not detrimental to the production of biofuel precursors in this specific case. Bio-fouling of the reactors observed in co-cultures and acid formation in all mixotrophic cultures, however, could present challenges for scale-up.}, } @article {pmid24804793, year = {2014}, author = {Mascher, M and Gerlach, N and Gahrtz, M and Bucher, M and Scholz, U and Dresselhaus, T}, title = {Sequence and ionomic analysis of divergent strains of maize inbred line B73 with an altered growth phenotype.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e96782}, pmid = {24804793}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/pathogenicity ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Zea mays/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Maize (Zea mays) is the most widely grown crop species in the world and a classical model organism for plant research. The completion of a high-quality reference genome sequence and the advent of high-throughput sequencing have greatly empowered re-sequencing studies in maize. In this study, plants of maize inbred line B73 descended from two different sets of seed material grown for several generations either in the field or in the greenhouse were found to show a different growth phenotype and ionome under phosphate starvation conditions and moreover a different responsiveness towards mycorrhizal fungi of the species Glomus intraradices (syn: Rhizophagus irregularis). Whole genome re-sequencing of individuals from both sets and comparison to the B73 reference sequence revealed three cryptic introgressions on chromosomes 1, 5 and 10 in the line grown in the greenhouse summing up to a total of 5,257 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Transcriptome sequencing of three individuals from each set lent further support to the location of the introgression intervals and confirmed them to be fixed in all sequenced individuals. Moreover, we identified >120 genes differentially expressed between the two B73 lines. We thus have found a nearly-isogenic line (NIL) of maize inbred line B73 that is characterized by an altered growth phenotype under phosphate starvation conditions and an improved responsiveness towards symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. Through next-generation sequencing of the genomes and transcriptomes we were able to delineate exact introgression intervals. Putative de novo mutations appeared approximately uniformly distributed along the ten maize chromosomes mainly representing G:C -> A:T transitions. The plant material described in this study will be a valuable tool both for functional studies of genes differentially expressed in both B73 lines and for research on growth behavior especially in response to symbiosis between maize and mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid24804722, year = {2014}, author = {Degli Esposti, M and Chouaia, B and Comandatore, F and Crotti, E and Sassera, D and Lievens, PM and Daffonchio, D and Bandi, C}, title = {Evolution of mitochondria reconstructed from the energy metabolism of living bacteria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e96566}, pmid = {24804722}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Mitochondria/genetics/*metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {The ancestors of mitochondria, or proto-mitochondria, played a crucial role in the evolution of eukaryotic cells and derived from symbiotic α-proteobacteria which merged with other microorganisms - the basis of the widely accepted endosymbiotic theory. However, the identity and relatives of proto-mitochondria remain elusive. Here we show that methylotrophic α-proteobacteria could be the closest living models for mitochondrial ancestors. We reached this conclusion after reconstructing the possible evolutionary pathways of the bioenergy systems of proto-mitochondria with a genomic survey of extant α-proteobacteria. Results obtained with complementary molecular and genetic analyses of diverse bioenergetic proteins converge in indicating the pathway stemming from methylotrophic bacteria as the most probable route of mitochondrial evolution. Contrary to other α-proteobacteria, methylotrophs show transition forms for the bioenergetic systems analysed. Our approach of focusing on these bioenergetic systems overcomes the phylogenetic impasse that has previously complicated the search for mitochondrial ancestors. Moreover, our results provide a new perspective for experimentally re-evolving mitochondria from extant bacteria and in the future produce synthetic mitochondria.}, } @article {pmid24804101, year = {2014}, author = {Kudryavtseva, NN and Sof'in, AV and Bobylev, GS and Sorokin, EM}, title = {A comparative study of phase States of the peribacteroid membrane from yellow lupin and broad bean nodules.}, journal = {Biochemistry research international}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {527393}, pmid = {24804101}, issn = {2090-2247}, abstract = {A comparative study of the lipid bilayer phase status and structure of the outer membrane of free-living Bradyrhizobium strain 359a (Nod(+)Fix(+)) and 400 (Nod(+)FixL) or Rhizobium leguminosarum 97 (Nod(+)Fix(+), effective) and 87 (Nod(+)FixL, ineffective) has been carried out. Also, the effect of the symbiotic pair combination on the lipid bilayer structure of the bacteroid outer membrane and peribacteroid membrane, isolated from the nodules of Lupinus luteus L. or Vicia faba L., has been studied. As a result, it is shown that the lipid bilayer status of the bacteroid outer membrane is mainly determined by microsymbiont, but not the host plant. In the contrast, the lipid bilayer status of the peribacteroid membrane and, as a consequence, its properties depend on interaction of both symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid24803469, year = {2014}, author = {Seal, JN and Schiøtt, M and Mueller, UG}, title = {Ant-fungus species combinations engineer physiological activity of fungus gardens.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 14}, pages = {2540-2547}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.098483}, pmid = {24803469}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Amylases/metabolism ; Animals ; Ants/*enzymology ; Biological Evolution ; Cellulases/metabolism ; Fungi/*enzymology/metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; Polygalacturonase/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungus-gardening insects are among the most complex organisms because of their extensive co-evolutionary histories with obligate fungal symbionts and other microbes. Some fungus-gardening insect lineages share fungal symbionts with other members of their lineage and thus exhibit diffuse co-evolutionary relationships, while others exhibit little or no symbiont sharing, resulting in host-fungus fidelity. The mechanisms that maintain this symbiont fidelity are currently unknown. Prior work suggested that derived leaf-cutting ants in the genus Atta interact synergistically with leaf-cutter fungi (Attamyces) by exhibiting higher fungal growth rates and enzymatic activities than when growing a fungus from the sister-clade to Attamyces (so-called 'Trachymyces'), grown primarily by the non-leaf cutting Trachymyrmex ants that form, correspondingly, the sister-clade to leaf-cutting ants. To elucidate the enzymatic bases of host-fungus specialization in leaf-cutting ants, we conducted a reciprocal fungus-switch experiment between the ant Atta texana and the ant Trachymyrmex arizonensis and report measured enzymatic activities of switched and sham-switched fungus gardens to digest starch, pectin, xylan, cellulose and casein. Gardens exhibited higher amylase and pectinase activities when A. texana ants cultivated Attamyces compared with Trachymyces fungi, consistent with enzymatic specialization. In contrast, gardens showed comparable amylase and pectinase activities when T. arizonensis cultivated either fungal species. Although gardens of leaf-cutting ants are not known to be significant metabolizers of cellulose, T. arizonensis were able to maintain gardens with significant cellulase activity when growing either fungal species. In contrast to carbohydrate metabolism, protease activity was significantly higher in Attamyces than in Trachymyces, regardless of the ant host. Activity of some enzymes employed by this symbiosis therefore arises from complex interactions between the ant host and the fungal symbiont.}, } @article {pmid24802938, year = {2014}, author = {Sigurbjörnsdóttir, MA and Heiðmarsson, S and Jónsdóttir, AR and Vilhelmsson, O}, title = {Novel bacteria associated with Arctic seashore lichens have potential roles in nutrient scavenging.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {5}, pages = {307-317}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2013-0888}, pmid = {24802938}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Iceland ; Lichens/*classification/genetics/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While generally described as a bipartite mutualistic association between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria, lichens also host diverse and heretofore little explored communities of nonphototrophic endolichenic bacteria. The composition and possible roles of these bacterial communities in the lichen symbiotic association constitute an emerging field of research. Saxicolous (rock-dwelling) seashore lichens present an unusual environment, characterized by rapid fluctuations in temperature, salinity, exposure to solar radiation, etc. The present study focuses on the bacterial biota associated with 4 species of crustose, halophilic, saxicolous seashore lichens found in northern Iceland. A denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis based characterization of the composition of the lichen-associated microbiotas indicated that they are markedly lichen-species-specific and clearly distinguishable from the environmental microbiota represented by control sampling. A collection of bacterial strains was investigated and partially identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. The strains were found to belong to 7 classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Actinobacteria, Flavobacteria, Cytophagia, Sphingobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria. Several isolates display only a modest level of similarity to their nearest relatives found in GenBank, suggesting that they comprise previously undescribed taxa. Selected strains were tested for inorganic phosphate solubilization and biodegradation of several biopolymers, such as barley β-glucan, xylan, chitosan, and lignin. The results support a nutrient-scavenging role of the associate microbiota in the seashore lichen symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid24802887, year = {2014}, author = {Heath-Heckman, EA and Gillette, AA and Augustin, R and Gillette, MX and Goldman, WE and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Shaping the microenvironment: evidence for the influence of a host galaxin on symbiont acquisition and maintenance in the squid-Vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3669-3682}, pmid = {24802887}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T-32GM07215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01-AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01-RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Decapodiformes/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Epithelium/chemistry ; Mucus/chemistry ; Peptides/pharmacology ; Proteins/analysis/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Most bacterial species make transitions between habitats, such as switching from free living to symbiotic niches. We provide evidence that a galaxin protein, EsGal1, of the squid Euprymna scolopes participates in both: (i) selection of the specific partner Vibrio fischeri from the bacterioplankton during symbiosis onset and, (ii) modulation of V. fischeri growth in symbiotic maintenance. We identified two galaxins in transcriptomic databases and showed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction that one (esgal1) was dominant in the light organ. Further, esgal1 expression was upregulated by symbiosis, a response that was partially achieved with exposure to symbiont cell-envelope molecules. Confocal immunocytochemistry of juvenile animals localized EsGal1 to the apical surfaces of light-organ epithelia and surrounding mucus, the environment in which V. fischeri cells aggregate before migration into the organ. Growth assays revealed that one repeat of EsGal1 arrested growth of Gram-positive bacterial cells, which represent the cell type first 'winnowed' during initial selection of the symbiont. The EsGal1-derived peptide also significantly decreased the growth rate of V. fischeri in culture. Further, when animals were exposed to an anti-EsGal1 antibody, symbiont population growth was significantly increased. These data provide a window into how hosts select symbionts from a rich environment and govern their growth in symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24799707, year = {2014}, author = {Watanabe, K and Yukuhiro, F and Matsuura, Y and Fukatsu, T and Noda, H}, title = {Intrasperm vertical symbiont transmission.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {20}, pages = {7433-7437}, pmid = {24799707}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Nucleus/*microbiology ; Cytoplasm/metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Likelihood Functions ; Male ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; Rickettsia/*physiology ; Rickettsia Infections/*transmission ; Spermatozoa/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are commonly associated with cells and tissues of diverse animals and other organisms, which affect hosts' biology in a variety of ways. Most of these symbionts are present in the cytoplasm of host cells and maternally transmitted through host generations. The paucity of paternal symbiont transmission is likely relevant to the extremely streamlined sperm structure: the head consisting of condensed nucleus and the tail made of microtubule bundles, without the symbiont-harboring cytoplasm that is discarded in the process of spermatogenesis. Here, we report a previously unknown mechanism of paternal symbiont transmission via an intrasperm passage. In the leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps, a facultative Rickettsia symbiont was found not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nucleus of host cells. In male insects, strikingly, most sperm heads contained multiple intranuclear Rickettsia cells. The Rickettsia infection scarcely affected the host fitness including normal sperm functioning. Mating experiments revealed both maternal and paternal transmission of the Rickettsia symbiont through host generations. When cultured with mosquito and silkworm cell lines, the Rickettsia symbiont was preferentially localized within the insect cell nuclei, indicating that the Rickettsia symbiont itself must have a mechanism for targeting nucleus. The mechanisms underlying the sperm head infection without disturbing sperm functioning are, although currently unknown, of both basic and applied interest.}, } @article {pmid24798201, year = {2014}, author = {Mason, CJ and Couture, JJ and Raffa, KF}, title = {Plant-associated bacteria degrade defense chemicals and reduce their adverse effects on an insect defoliator.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {175}, number = {3}, pages = {901-910}, pmid = {24798201}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Glycosides/metabolism ; *Herbivory ; Insecta/*physiology ; Larva/*physiology ; Moths/growth & development/*physiology ; Phenols/metabolism ; Physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phytophagous insects must contend with numerous secondary defense compounds that can adversely affect their growth and development. The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a polyphagous herbivore that encounters an extensive range of hosts and chemicals. We used this folivore and a primary component of aspen chemical defenses, namely, phenolic glycosides, to investigate if bacteria detoxify phytochemicals and benefit larvae. We conducted insect bioassays using bacteria enriched from environmental samples, analyses of the microbial community in the midguts of bioassay larvae, and in vitro phenolic glycoside metabolism assays. Inoculation with bacteria enhanced larval growth in the presence, but not absence, of phenolic glycosides in the artificial diet. This effect of bacteria on growth was observed only in larvae administered bacteria from aspen foliage. The resulting midgut community composition varied among the bacterial treatments. When phenolic glycosides were included in diet, the composition of midguts in larvae fed aspen bacteria was significantly altered. Phenolic glycosides increased population responses by bacteria that we found able to metabolize these compounds in liquid growth cultures. Several aspects of these results suggest that vectoring or pairwise symbiosis models are inadequate for understanding microbial mediation of plant-herbivore interactions in some systems. First, bacteria that most benefitted larvae were initially foliar residents, suggesting that toxin-degrading abilities of phyllosphere inhabitants indirectly benefit herbivores upon ingestion. Second, assays with single bacteria did not confer the benefits to larvae obtained with consortia, suggesting multi- and inter-microbial interactions are also involved. Our results show that bacteria mediate insect interactions with plant defenses but that these interactions are community specific and highly complex.}, } @article {pmid24797909, year = {2014}, author = {Chen, W and Li, X and Tian, L and Wu, P and Li, M and Jiang, H and Chen, Y and Wu, G}, title = {Knockdown of LjALD1, AGD2-like defense response protein 1, influences plant growth and nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {11}, pages = {1034-1041}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12211}, pmid = {24797909}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/enzymology/genetics/*growth & development/*physiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {The discovery of the enzyme L,L-diaminopimelate aminotransferase (LL-DAP-AT, EC 2.6.1.83) uncovered a unique step in the L-lysine biosynthesis pathway in plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, LL-DAP-AT has been shown to play a key role in plant-pathogen interactions by regulation of the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway. Here, a full-length cDNA of LL-DAP-AT named as LjALD1 from Lotus japonicus (Regel) Larsen was isolated. The deduced amino acid sequence shares 67% identity with the Arabidopsis aminotransferase AGD2-LIKE DEFENSE RESPONSE PROTEIN1 (AtALD1) and is predicted to contain the same key elements: a conserved aminotransferase domain and a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate cofactor binding site. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that LjALD1 was expressed in all L. japonicus tissues tested, being strongest in nodules. Expression was induced in roots that had been infected with the symbiotic rhizobium Mesorhizobium loti or treated with SA agonist benzo-(1, 2, 3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid. LjALD1 Knockdown exhibited a lower SA content, an increased number of infection threads and nodules, and a slight reduction in nodule size. In addition, compared with wild-type, root growth was increased and shoot growth was suppressed in LjALD1 RNAi plant lines. These results indicate that LjALD1 may play important roles in plant development and nodulation via SA signaling in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid24797097, year = {2014}, author = {Mathew, M and Lopanik, NB}, title = {Host differentially expressed genes during association with its defensive endosymbiont.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {226}, number = {2}, pages = {152-163}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv226n2p152}, pmid = {24797097}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Actins/genetics ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bryostatins/genetics/metabolism ; Bryozoa/*genetics/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualism, a beneficial relationship between two species, often requires intimate interaction between the host and symbiont to establish and maintain the partnership. The colonial marine bryozoan Bugula neritina harbors an as yet uncultured endosymbiont, "Candidatus Endobugula sertula," throughout its life stages. The bacterial symbiont is the putative source of bioactive complex polyketide metabolites, the bryostatins, which chemically defend B. neritina larvae from predation. Despite the presence of "Ca. Endobugula sertula" in all life stages of the host, deterrent bryostatins appear to be concentrated in reproductive portions of the host colony, suggesting an interaction between the two partners to coordinate production and distribution of the metabolites within the colony. In this study, we identified host genes that were differentially expressed in control colonies and in colonies cured of the symbiont. Genes that code for products similar to glycosyl hydrolase family 9 and family 20 proteins, actin, and a Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor were significantly downregulated (more than twice) in antibiotic-cured non-reproductive zooids compared to control symbiotic ones. Differential expression of these genes leads us to hypothesize that the host B. neritina may regulate the distribution of the symbiont within the colony via mechanisms of biofilm degradation and actin rearrangement, and consequently, influences bryostatin localization to bestow symbiont-associated protection to larvae developing in the reproductive zooids.}, } @article {pmid24795748, year = {2014}, author = {Shoaie, S and Nielsen, J}, title = {Elucidating the interactions between the human gut microbiota and its host through metabolic modeling.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {86}, pmid = {24795748}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Increased understanding of the interactions between the gut microbiota, diet and environmental effects may allow us to design efficient treatment strategies for addressing global health problems. Existence of symbiotic microorganisms in the human gut provides different functions for the host such as conversion of nutrients, training of the immune system, and resistance to pathogens. The gut microbiome also plays an influential role in maintaining human health, and it is a potential target for prevention and treatment of common disorders including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Due to the extreme complexity of such disorders, it is necessary to develop mathematical models for deciphering the role of its individual elements as well as the entire system and such models may assist in better understanding of the interactions between the bacteria in the human gut and the host by use of genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs). Recently, GEMs have been employed to explore the interactions between predominant bacteria in the gut ecosystems. Additionally, these models enabled analysis of the contribution of each species to the overall metabolism of the microbiota through the integration of omics data. The outcome of these studies can be used for proposing optimal conditions for desired microbiome phenotypes. Here, we review the recent progress and challenges for elucidating the interactions between the human gut microbiota and host through metabolic modeling. We discuss how these models may provide scaffolds for analyzing high-throughput data, developing probiotics and prebiotics, evaluating the effects of probiotics and prebiotics and eventually designing clinical interventions.}, } @article {pmid24789988, year = {2014}, author = {Yamamoto, S and Suzuki, K and Araki, Y and Mochihara, H and Hosokawa, T and Kubota, H and Chiba, Y and Rubaba, O and Tashiro, Y and Futamata, H}, title = {Dynamics of different bacterial communities are capable of generating sustainable electricity from microbial fuel cells with organic waste.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {145-153}, pmid = {24789988}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bioelectric Energy Sources/*microbiology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Electricity ; Electrochemistry ; Electrodes/microbiology ; Geobacter/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Medical Waste Disposal ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The relationship between the bacterial communities in anolyte and anode biofilms and the electrochemical properties of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was investigated when a complex organic waste-decomposing solution was continuously supplied to MFCs as an electron donor. The current density increased gradually and was maintained at approximately 100 to 150 mA m(-2). Polarization curve analyses revealed that the maximum power density was 7.4 W m(-3) with an internal resistance of 110 Ω. Bacterial community structures in the organic waste-decomposing solution and MFCs differed from each other. Clonal analyses targeting 16S rRNA genes indicated that bacterial communities in the biofilms on MFCs developed to specific communities dominated by novel Geobacter. Multidimensional scaling analyses based on DGGE profiles revealed that bacterial communities in the organic waste-decomposing solution fluctuated and had no dynamic equilibrium. Bacterial communities on the anolyte in MFCs had a dynamic equilibrium with fluctuations, while those of the biofilm converged to the Geobacter-dominated structure. These bacterial community dynamics of MFCs differed from those of control-MFCs under open circuit conditions. These results suggested that bacterial communities in the anolyte and biofilm have a gentle symbiotic system through electron flow, which resulted in the advance of current density from complex organic waste.}, } @article {pmid24788884, year = {2014}, author = {Cappelli, A and Ulissi, U and Valzano, M and Damiani, C and Epis, S and Gabrielli, MG and Conti, S and Polonelli, L and Bandi, C and Favia, G and Ricci, I}, title = {A Wickerhamomyces anomalus killer strain in the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e95988}, pmid = {24788884}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Female ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Malaria/transmission ; Mycotoxins/metabolism ; Saccharomycetales/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus has been investigated for several years for its wide biotechnological potential, especially for applications in the food industry. Specifically, the antimicrobial activity of this yeast, associated with the production of Killer Toxins (KTs), has attracted a great deal of attention. The strains of W. anomalus able to produce KTs, called "killer" yeasts, have been shown to be highly competitive in the environment. Different W. anomalus strains have been isolated from diverse habitats and recently even from insects. In the malaria mosquito vector Anopheles stephensi these yeasts have been detected in the midgut and gonads. Here we show that the strain of W. anomalus isolated from An. stephensi, namely WaF17.12, is a killer yeast able to produce a KT in a cell-free medium (in vitro) as well as in the mosquito body (in vivo). We showed a constant production of WaF17.12-KT over time, after stimulation of toxin secretion in yeast cultures and reintroduction of the activated cells into the mosquito through the diet. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of WaF17.12-KT has been demonstrated in vitro against sensitive microbes, showing that strain WaF17.12 releases a functional toxin. The mosquito-associated yeast WaF17.12 thus possesses an antimicrobial activity, which makes this yeast worthy of further investigations, in view of its potential as an agent for the symbiotic control of malaria.}, } @article {pmid24788869, year = {2014}, author = {Kwan, JC and Tianero, MD and Donia, MS and Wyche, TP and Bugni, TS and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Host control of symbiont natural product chemistry in cryptic populations of the tunicate Lissoclinum patella.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e95850}, pmid = {24788869}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Biological Products/*chemistry/metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mitochondria/enzymology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Natural products (secondary metabolites) found in marine invertebrates are often thought to be produced by resident symbiotic bacteria, and these products appear to play a major role in the symbiotic interaction of bacteria and their hosts. In these animals, there is extensive variation, both in chemistry and in the symbiotic bacteria that produce them. Here, we sought to answer the question of what factors underlie chemical variation in the ocean. As a model, we investigated the colonial tunicate Lissoclinum patella because of its rich and varied chemistry and its broad geographic range. We sequenced mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COXI) genes, and found that animals classified as L. patella fall into three phylogenetic groups that may encompass several cryptic species. The presence of individual natural products followed the phylogenetic relationship of the host animals, even though the compounds are produced by symbiotic bacteria that do not follow host phylogeny. In sum, we show that cryptic populations of animals underlie the observed chemical diversity, suggesting that the host controls selection for particular secondary metabolite pathways. These results imply novel approaches to obtain chemical diversity from the oceans, and also demonstrate that the diversity of marine natural products may be greatly impacted by cryptic local extinctions.}, } @article {pmid24787289, year = {2014}, author = {Lindner, D}, title = {Animal models and the tumor microenvironment: studies of tumor-host symbiosis.}, journal = {Seminars in oncology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {146-155}, pmid = {24787289}, issn = {1532-8708}, support = {P30 CA043703/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30CA043703/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acidosis/metabolism ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Apolipoprotein A-I/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Thrombospondin 1/metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {The contributions of murine models to elucidation of processes central to tumor growth are reviewed. Localized acidosis, increased interstitial pressure, perturbations in structure and function of the extracellular matrix, hypoxia, angiogenesis, and co-optation of the immune response are all phenomena that promote tumor survival and metastasis. The use of animal models is critical to understanding the pathophysiology of these processes and the development of more effective cancer therapies.}, } @article {pmid24787049, year = {2014}, author = {Fellbaum, CR and Mensah, JA and Cloos, AJ and Strahan, GE and Pfeffer, PE and Kiers, ET and Bücking, H}, title = {Fungal nutrient allocation in common mycorrhizal networks is regulated by the carbon source strength of individual host plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {203}, number = {2}, pages = {646-656}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12827}, pmid = {24787049}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Cation Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the soil simultaneously provide multiple host plants with nutrients, but the mechanisms by which the nutrient transport to individual host plants within one CMN is controlled are unknown. Using radioactive and stable isotopes, we followed the transport of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in the CMNs of two fungal species to plants that differed in their carbon (C) source strength, and correlated the transport to the expression of mycorrhiza-inducible plant P (MtPt4) and ammonium (1723.m00046) transporters in mycorrhizal roots. AM fungi discriminated between host plants that shared a CMN and preferentially allocated nutrients to high-quality (nonshaded) hosts. However, the fungus also supplied low-quality (shaded) hosts with nutrients and maintained a high colonization rate in these plants. Fungal P transport was correlated to the expression of MtPt4. The expression of the putative ammonium transporter 1723.m00046 was dependent on the fungal nutrient supply and was induced when the CMN had access to N. Biological market theory has emerged as a tool with which the strategic investment of competing partners in trading networks can be studied. Our work demonstrates how fungal partners are able to retain bargaining power, despite being obligately dependent on their hosts.}, } @article {pmid24786955, year = {2014}, author = {Ghazal, S and Hurst, SG and Morris, K and Abebe-Akele, F and Thomas, WK and Badr, UM and Hussein, MA and Abouzaied, MA and Khalil, KM and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens Strain BA1, an Entomopathogenic Bacterium Isolated from Nematodes Found in Egypt.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {24786955}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens strain BA1 is an entomopathogenic bacterium that forms a symbiotic association with Heterorhabditis nematodes. We report here a 5.0-Mbp draft genome sequence for P. luminscens strain BA1, with a G+C content of 42.46% and 4,250 candidate protein-coding genes.}, } @article {pmid24786641, year = {2014}, author = {Torres-Quesada, O and Reinkensmeier, J and Schlüter, JP and Robledo, M and Peregrina, A and Giegerich, R and Toro, N and Becker, A and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Genome-wide profiling of Hfq-binding RNAs uncovers extensive post-transcriptional rewiring of major stress response and symbiotic regulons in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {11}, number = {5}, pages = {563-579}, pmid = {24786641}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Base Pairing ; Binding Sites ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host Factor 1 Protein/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; *RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The RNA chaperone Hfq is a global post-transcriptional regulator in bacteria. Here, we used RNAseq to analyze RNA populations from the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti that were co-immunoprecipitated (CoIP-RNA) with a FLAG-tagged Hfq in five growth/stress conditions. Hfq-bound transcripts (1315) were largely identified in stressed bacteria and derived from small RNAs (sRNAs), both trans-encoded (6.4%) and antisense (asRNAs; 6.3%), and mRNAs (86%). Pull-down with Hfq recovered a small proportion of annotated S. meliloti sRNAs (14% of trans-sRNAs and 2% of asRNAs) suggesting a discrete impact of this protein in sRNA pathways. Nonetheless, Hfq selectively stabilized CoIP-enriched sRNAs, anticipating that these interactions are functionally significant. Transcription of 26 Hfq-bound sRNAs was predicted to occur from promoters recognized by the major stress σ factors σ(E2) or σ(H1/2). Recovery rates of sRNAs in each of the CoIP-RNA libraries suggest a large impact of Hfq-assisted riboregulation in S. meliloti osmoadaptation. Hfq directly targeted 18% of the predicted S. meliloti mRNAs, which encode functionally diverse proteins involved in transport and metabolism, σ(E2)-dependent stress responses, quorum sensing, flagella biosynthesis, ribosome, and membrane assembly or symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Canonical targeting of the 5' regions of two of the ABC transporter mRNAs by the homologous Hfq-binding AbcR1 and AbcR2 sRNAs leading to inhibition of protein synthesis was confirmed in vivo. We therefore provide a comprehensive resource for the systems-level deciphering of hitherto unexplored S. meliloti stress and symbiotic post-transcriptional regulons and the identification of Hfq-dependent sRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs.}, } @article {pmid24786478, year = {2014}, author = {Martín-Vivaldi, M and Soler, JJ and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Arco, L and Martín-Platero, AM and Martínez-Bueno, M and Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Valdivia, E}, title = {Special structures of hoopoe eggshells enhance the adhesion of symbiont-carrying uropygial secretion that increase hatching success.}, journal = {The Journal of animal ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {6}, pages = {1289-1301}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.12243}, pmid = {24786478}, issn = {1365-2656}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Bacteria, Aerobic/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Bacterial Adhesion ; Birds/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/physiology ; Bodily Secretions/*microbiology ; Egg Shell/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification/physiology ; Enterococcus/isolation & purification/physiology ; Exocrine Glands/metabolism/microbiology ; Female ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Ovum/*microbiology/physiology ; Spain ; Staphylococcus/isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals live in a bacterial world, and detecting and exploring adaptations favouring mutualistic relationships with antibiotic-producing bacteria as a strategy to fight pathogens are of prime importance for evolutionary ecologists. Uropygial secretion of European hoopoes (Upupa epops, Linnaeus) contains antimicrobials from mutualistic bacteria that may be used to prevent embryo infection. Here, we investigated the microscopic structure of hoopoe eggshells looking for special features favouring the adhesion of antimicrobial uropygial secretions. We impeded female access to the uropygial gland and compared microscopic characteristics of eggshells, bacterial loads of eggs and of uropygial secretion, and hatching success of experimental and control females. Then, we explored the link between microbiological characteristics of uropygial secretion and these of eggs of hoopoes, as well as possible fitness benefits. The microscopic study revealed special structures in hoopoes' eggshells (crypts). The experimental prevention of females' gland access demonstrated that crypts are filled with uropygial secretion and that symbiotic enterococci bacteria on the eggshells come, at least partially, from those in the female's uropygial gland. Moreover, the experiment resulted in a higher permeability of eggshells by several groups of bacteria and in elimination of the positive relationships detected for control nests between hatching success and density of symbiotic bacteria, either in the uropygial secretion of females or on the eggshell. The findings of specialized crypts on the eggshells of hoopoes, and of video-recorded females smearing secretion containing symbiotic bacteria at a high density onto the eggshells strongly support a link between secretion and bacteria on eggs. Moreover, the detected associations between bacteria and hatching success suggest that crypts enhancing the adhesion of symbiont-carrying uropygial secretion likely protect embryos against infections.}, } @article {pmid24786096, year = {2014}, author = {Biswas, B and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {The role of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in sustainable production of biofuels.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {7380-7397}, pmid = {24786096}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Biofuels/*analysis ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {With the ever-increasing population of the world (expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050), and altered life style, comes an increased demand for food, fuel and fiber. However, scarcity of land, water and energy accompanied by climate change means that to produce enough to meet the demands is getting increasingly challenging. Today we must use every avenue from science and technology available to address these challenges. The natural process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, whereby plants such as legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia, usable by plants can have a substantial impact as it is found in nature, has low environmental and economic costs and is broadly established. Here we look at the importance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the production of biofuel feedstocks; how this process can address major challenges, how improving nitrogen fixation is essential, and what we can do about it.}, } @article {pmid24786094, year = {2014}, author = {Siczek, A and Lipiec, J and Wielbo, J and Kidaj, D and Szarlip, P}, title = {Symbiotic activity of pea (Pisum sativum) after application of Nod factors under field conditions.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {7344-7351}, pmid = {24786094}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Peas/enzymology/growth & development/*physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/chemistry/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/growth & development/*physiology ; Seeds/growth & development/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Growth and symbiotic activity of legumes are mediated by Nod factors (LCO, lipo-chitooligosaccharides). To assess the effects of application of Nod factors on symbiotic activity and yield of pea, a two-year field experiment was conducted on a Haplic Luvisol developed from loess. Nod factors were isolated from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strain GR09. Pea seeds were treated with the Nod factors (10[-11] M) or water (control) before planting. Symbiotic activity was evaluated by measurements of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay), nodule number and mass, and top growth by shoot mass, leaf area, and seed and protein yield. Nod factors generally improved pea yield and nitrogenase activity in the relatively dry growing season 2012, but not in the wet growing season in 2013 due to different weather conditions.}, } @article {pmid24782890, year = {2014}, author = {Heath, KD and Nuismer, SL}, title = {Connecting functional and statistical definitions of genotype by genotype interactions in coevolutionary studies.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {77}, pmid = {24782890}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Predicting how species interactions evolve requires that we understand the mechanistic basis of coevolution, and thus the functional genotype-by-genotype interactions (G × G) that drive reciprocal natural selection. Theory on host-parasite coevolution provides testable hypotheses for empiricists, but depends upon models of functional G × G that remain loosely tethered to the molecular details of any particular system. In practice, reciprocal cross-infection studies are often used to partition the variation in infection or fitness in a population that is attributable to G × G (statistical G × G). Here we use simulations to demonstrate that within-population statistical G × G likely tells us little about the existence of coevolution, its strength, or the genetic basis of functional G × G. Combined with studies of multiple populations or points in time, mapping and molecular techniques can bridge the gap between natural variation and mechanistic models of coevolution, while model-based statistics can formally confront coevolutionary models with cross-infection data. Together these approaches provide a robust framework for inferring the infection genetics underlying statistical G × G, helping unravel the genetic basis of coevolution.}, } @article {pmid24782852, year = {2014}, author = {Webster, NS}, title = {Cooperation, communication, and co-evolution: grand challenges in microbial symbiosis research.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {164}, pmid = {24782852}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid24782501, year = {2014}, author = {Mc Cargo, PD and Iannone, LJ and Vignale, MV and Schardl, CL and Rossi, MS}, title = {Species diversity of Epichloë symbiotic with two grasses from southern Argentinean Patagonia.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {106}, number = {2}, pages = {339-352}, doi = {10.3852/106.2.339}, pmid = {24782501}, issn = {0027-5514}, support = {P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Epichloe/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neotyphodium/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this work we performed morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses (based on sequences of calmodulin M [calM], translation-elongation factor 1-α [tefA] and β-tubulin [tubB] genes) to characterize the diversity of Epichloë endophytes in Bromus setifolius and Phleum alpinum. The phylogenies obtained from the three genes were congruent and allowed differentiation of three lineages of endophytes that also presented morphological differences. One lineage corresponds to the previously described species Epichloë tembladerae, which is present in a wide range of native grasses from Argentina including B. setifolius and P. alpinum. Another genotype isolated only from B. setifolius is a non-hybrid endophyte, a rare condition for the South American Epichloë endophytes. Isolates of this genotype, described herein as a new variety, Epichloë typhina var. aonikenkana, presented waxy colonies at maturity and a low production of conidia. The third lineage, exclusively found in isolates from P. alpinum, is a hybrid between E. typhina and a common ancestor of E. amarillans and E. baconii. Isolates of this lineage produce abundant conidia that are variable in shape and size. Based on its unique phylogenetic position and morphology, we propose the new species, Epichloë cabralii for this lineage. The new combinations Epichloë tembladerae and E. pampeana also are proposed for the previously described Neotyphodium tembladerae and Neotyphodium pampeanum species.}, } @article {pmid24782078, year = {2014}, author = {Baxter, L and Brain, R and Rodriguez-Gil, JL and Hosmer, A and Solomon, K and Hanson, M}, title = {Response of the green alga Oophila sp., a salamander endosymbiont, to a PSII-inhibitor under laboratory conditions.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {33}, number = {8}, pages = {1858-1864}, doi = {10.1002/etc.2629}, pmid = {24782078}, issn = {1552-8618}, mesh = {*Ambystoma/growth & development ; Animals ; Atrazine/toxicity ; Chlorophyta/*drug effects/physiology ; Ecotoxicology/*methods ; Enzyme Inhibitors/*toxicity ; Herbicides/toxicity ; *Laboratories ; Ovum/growth & development ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*antagonists & inhibitors ; *Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; }, abstract = {In a rare example of autotroph-vertebrate endosymbiosis, eggs of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) are colonized by a green alga (Oophila sp.) that significantly enhances salamander development. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential for impacts to the salamander embryo when growth of the algae is impaired by exposure to herbicides. To further investigate this relationship, the authors characterized the response of the symbiotic algae (Oophila sp.) alone to the photosystem II (PSII) inhibitor atrazine under controlled laboratory conditions. After extraction of the alga from A. maculatum eggs and optimization of culturing conditions, 4 toxicity assays (96 h each) were conducted. Recovery of the algal population was also assessed after a further 96 h in untreated media. Average median effective concentration (EC50) values of 123 µg L(-1) (PSII yield), 169 µg L(-1) (optical density), and 299 µg L(-1) (growth rate) were obtained after the 96-h exposure. Full recovery of exposed algal populations after 96 h in untreated media was observed for all endpoints, except for optical density at the greatest concentration tested (300 µg L(-1)). Our results show that, under laboratory conditions, Oophila sp. is generally less sensitive to atrazine than standard test species. Although conditions of growth in standard toxicity tests are not identical to those in the natural environment, these results provide an understanding of the tolerance of this alga to PSII inhibitors as compared with other species.}, } @article {pmid24781142, year = {2014}, author = {Singh, S and Shrivastava, AK and Singh, VK}, title = {Arsenic and cadmium are inhibitors of cyanobacterial dinitrogenase reductase (nifH1) gene.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {571-580}, pmid = {24781142}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Anabaena/*enzymology/genetics ; Arsenic/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/*genetics ; Cadmium/*pharmacology ; Dinitrogenase Reductase/biosynthesis/chemistry/*genetics ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Models, Molecular ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Structural Homology, Protein ; }, abstract = {The enzyme nitrogenase complex is a key component conferring nitrogen fixation in all known diazotrophs. This study for the first time examines the impact of As, Na, Cd, Cu and butachlor on component II (dinitrogenase reductase, nifH1) of nitrogenase from diazotrophic cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120 using in silico and wet lab approaches. The nifH1 of Anabaena is a glycine-rich stable protein having DNA-binding properties and shows close similarity with free living compared with symbiotic diazotrophs. Phylogenetic tree revealed an adverse effect of the selected stresses on close homologs across the diazotroph community. The protein interaction network demonstrated the presence of nirA, glnA, glnB, alr4255 and alr2485 proteins besides nif proteins, suggesting their involvement in nitrogen fixation along with nifH1. Homology modelling and docking under As, Na, Cd, Cu and butachlor revealed an interaction between stressors and nifH1 protein which was further validated by a transcript of the gene through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Presence of binding sites for As, Na, Cd and Cu on oxyR promoter attested their adverse affects on nifH1. Maximum down-regulation of nifH1 in Cd and As followed by salt, copper and butachlor revealed that arsenic and cadmium were most potential inhibitors of nitrogenase of diazotrophic community, which might negatively affect crop yield.}, } @article {pmid24781115, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, E and Yu, N and Bano, SA and Liu, C and Miller, AJ and Cousins, D and Zhang, X and Ratet, P and Tadege, M and Mysore, KS and Downie, JA and Murray, JD and Oldroyd, GE and Schultze, M}, title = {A H+-ATPase That Energizes Nutrient Uptake during Mycorrhizal Symbioses in Rice and Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {1818-1830}, pmid = {24781115}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {BBS/E/C/00004166/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000C0652/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/E001408/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000C0651/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/G023832/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/C/00004967/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Most plant species form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which facilitate the uptake of mineral nutrients such as phosphate from the soil. Several transporters, particularly proton-coupled phosphate transporters, have been identified on both the plant and fungal membranes and contribute to delivering phosphate from fungi to plants. The mechanism of nutrient exchange has been studied in plants during mycorrhizal colonization, but the source of the electrochemical proton gradient that drives nutrient exchange is not known. Here, we show that plasma membrane H[+]-ATPases that are specifically induced in arbuscule-containing cells are required for enhanced proton pumping activity in membrane vesicles from AM-colonized roots of rice (Oryza sativa) and Medicago truncatula. Mutation of the H[+]-ATPases reduced arbuscule size and impaired nutrient uptake by the host plant through the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Overexpression of the H[+]-ATPase Os-HA1 increased both phosphate uptake and the plasma membrane potential, suggesting that this H[+]-ATPase plays a key role in energizing the periarbuscular membrane, thereby facilitating nutrient exchange in arbusculated plant cells.}, } @article {pmid24781114, year = {2014}, author = {Krajinski, F and Courty, PE and Sieh, D and Franken, P and Zhang, H and Bucher, M and Gerlach, N and Kryvoruchko, I and Zoeller, D and Udvardi, M and Hause, B}, title = {The H+-ATPase HA1 of Medicago truncatula Is Essential for Phosphate Transport and Plant Growth during Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {26}, number = {4}, pages = {1808-1817}, pmid = {24781114}, issn = {1532-298X}, abstract = {A key feature of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is improved phosphorus nutrition of the host plant via the mycorrhizal pathway, i.e., the fungal uptake of Pi from the soil and its release from arbuscules within root cells. Efficient transport of Pi from the fungus to plant cells is thought to require a proton gradient across the periarbuscular membrane (PAM) that separates fungal arbuscules from the host cell cytoplasm. Previous studies showed that the H[+]-ATPase gene HA1 is expressed specifically in arbuscule-containing root cells of Medicago truncatula. We isolated a ha1-2 mutant of M. truncatula and found it to be impaired in the development of arbuscules but not in root colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis hyphae. Artificial microRNA silencing of HA1 recapitulated this phenotype, resulting in small and truncated arbuscules. Unlike the wild type, the ha1-2 mutant failed to show a positive growth response to mycorrhizal colonization under Pi-limiting conditions. Uptake experiments confirmed that ha1-2 mutants are unable to take up phosphate via the mycorrhizal pathway. Increased pH in the apoplast of abnormal arbuscule-containing cells of the ha1-2 mutant compared with the wild type suggests that HA1 is crucial for building a proton gradient across the PAM and therefore is indispensible for the transfer of Pi from the fungus to the plant.}, } @article {pmid24779997, year = {2014}, author = {Matsubayashi, Y}, title = {Posttranslationally modified small-peptide signals in plants.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {385-413}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120122}, pmid = {24779997}, issn = {1545-2123}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Cell-to-cell signaling is essential for many processes in plant growth and development, including coordination of cellular responses to developmental and environmental cues. Cumulative studies have demonstrated that peptide signaling plays a greater-than-anticipated role in such intercellular communication. Some peptides act as signals during plant growth and development, whereas others are involved in defense responses or symbiosis. Peptides secreted as signals often undergo posttranslational modification and proteolytic processing to generate smaller peptides composed of approximately 10 amino acid residues. Such posttranslationally modified small-peptide signals constitute one of the largest groups of secreted peptide signals in plants. The location of the modification group incorporated into the peptides by specific modification enzymes and the peptide chain length defined by the processing enzymes are critical for biological function and receptor interaction. This review covers 20 years of research into posttranslationally modified small-peptide signals in plants.}, } @article {pmid24778630, year = {2014}, author = {Bright, M and Espada-Hinojosa, S and Lagkouvardos, I and Volland, JM}, title = {The giant ciliate Zoothamnium niveum and its thiotrophic epibiont Candidatus Thiobios zoothamnicoli: a model system to study interspecies cooperation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {145}, pmid = {24778630}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {P 24565/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between chemoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing (thiotrophic) bacteria and protists or animals are among the most diverse and prevalent in the ocean. They are extremely difficult to maintain in aquaria and no thiotrophic symbiosis involving an animal host has ever been successfully cultivated. In contrast, we have cultivated the giant ciliate Zoothamnium niveum and its obligate ectosymbiont Candidatus Thiobios zoothamnicoli in small flow-through aquaria. This review provides an overview of the host and the symbiont and their phylogenetic relationships. We summarize our knowledge on the ecology, geographic distribution and life cycle of the host, on the vertical transmission of the symbiont, and on the cultivation of this symbiosis. We then discuss the benefits and costs involved in this cooperation compared with other thiotrophic symbioses and outline our view on the evolution and persistence of this byproduct mutualism.}, } @article {pmid24777596, year = {2014}, author = {Fracchia, S and Aranda-Rickert, A and Flachsland, E and Terada, G and Sede, S}, title = {Mycorrhizal compatibility and symbiotic reproduction of Gavilea australis, an endangered terrestrial orchid from south Patagonia.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {627-634}, pmid = {24777596}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Argentina ; Chile ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; *Endangered Species ; Germination/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Seeds/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Gavilea australis is a terrestrial orchid endemic from insular south Argentina and Chile. Meeting aspects of mycorrhizal fungi identity and compatibility in this orchid species is essential for propagation and conservation purposes. These knowledge represent also a first approach to elucidate the mycorrhizal specificity of this species. In order to evaluate both the mycorrhizal compatibility and the symbiotic seed germination of G. australis, we isolated and identified its root endophytic fungal strains as well as those from two sympatric species: Gavilea lutea and Codonorchis lessonii. In addition, we tested two other strains isolated from allopatric terrestrial orchid species from central Argentina. All fungal strains formed coilings and pelotons inside protocorms and promoted, at varying degrees, seed germination, and protocorm development until seedlings had two to three leaves. These results suggest a low mycorrhizal specificity of G. australis and contribute to a better knowledge of the biology of this orchid as well as of other sympatric Patagonian orchid species, all of them currently under serious risk of extinction.}, } @article {pmid24777532, year = {2014}, author = {Obata, Y and Furusawa, Y and Endo, TA and Sharif, J and Takahashi, D and Atarashi, K and Nakayama, M and Onawa, S and Fujimura, Y and Takahashi, M and Ikawa, T and Otsubo, T and Kawamura, YI and Dohi, T and Tajima, S and Masumoto, H and Ohara, O and Honda, K and Hori, S and Ohno, H and Koseki, H and Hase, K}, title = {The epigenetic regulator Uhrf1 facilitates the proliferation and maturation of colonic regulatory T cells.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {571-579}, pmid = {24777532}, issn = {1529-2916}, mesh = {Adoptive Transfer ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Clostridium/immunology ; Colitis/genetics/*immunology ; Colon/*immunology/microbiology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/*genetics ; DNA Methylation ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Interleukin-2 ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microbiota/immunology ; Nuclear Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*immunology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Symbiosis/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Intestinal regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are necessary for the suppression of excessive immune responses to commensal bacteria. However, the molecular machinery that controls the homeostasis of intestinal Treg cells has remained largely unknown. Here we report that colonization of germ-free mice with gut microbiota upregulated expression of the DNA-methylation adaptor Uhrf1 in Treg cells. Mice with T cell-specific deficiency in Uhrf1 (Uhrf1(fl/fl)Cd4-Cre mice) showed defective proliferation and functional maturation of colonic Treg cells. Uhrf1 deficiency resulted in derepression of the gene (Cdkn1a) that encodes the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 due to hypomethylation of its promoter region, which resulted in cell-cycle arrest of Treg cells. As a consequence, Uhrf1(fl/fl)Cd4-Cre mice spontaneously developed severe colitis. Thus, Uhrf1-dependent epigenetic silencing of Cdkn1a was required for the maintenance of gut immunological homeostasis. This mechanism enforces symbiotic host-microbe interactions without an inflammatory response.}, } @article {pmid24777121, year = {2014}, author = {Atsatt, PR and Whiteside, MD}, title = {Novel symbiotic protoplasts formed by endophytic fungi explain their hidden existence, lifestyle switching, and diversity within the plant kingdom.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e95266}, pmid = {24777121}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Ascomycota/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Biodiversity ; Endophytes/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Life Style ; Microscopy, Electron ; Plants/*microbiology ; Protoplasts/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diverse fungi live all or part of their life cycle inside plants as asymptomatic endophytes. While endophytic fungi are increasingly recognized as significant components of plant fitness, it is unclear how they interact with plant cells; why they occur throughout the fungal kingdom; and why they are associated with most fungal lifestyles. Here we evaluate the diversity of endophytic fungi that are able to form novel protoplasts called mycosomes. We found that mycosomes cultured from plants and phylogenetically diverse endophytic fungi have common morphological characteristics, express similar developmental patterns, and can revert back to the free-living walled state. Observed with electron microscopy, mycosome ontogeny within Aureobasidium pullulans may involve two organelles: double membrane-bounded promycosome organelles (PMOs) that form mycosomes, and multivesicular bodies that may form plastid-infecting vesicles. Cultured mycosomes also contain a double membrane-bounded organelle, which may be homologous to the A. pullulans PMO. The mycosome PMO is often expressed as a vacuole-like organelle, which alternatively may contain a lipoid body or a starch grain. Mycosome reversion to walled cells occurs within the PMO, and by budding from lipid or starch-containing mycosomes. Mycosomes discovered in chicken egg yolk provided a plant-independent source for analysis: they formed typical protoplast stages, contained fungal ITS sequences and reverted to walled cells, suggesting mycosome symbiosis with animals as well as plants. Our results suggest that diverse endophytic fungi express a novel protoplast phase that can explain their hidden existence, lifestyle switching, and diversity within the plant kingdom. Importantly, our findings outline "what, where, when and how", opening the way for cell and organelle-specific tests using in situ DNA hybridization and fluorescent labels. We discuss developmental, ecological and evolutionary contexts that provide a robust framework for continued tests of the mycosome phase hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid24776651, year = {2014}, author = {Tasiemski, A and Jung, S and Boidin-Wichlacz, C and Jollivet, D and Cuvillier-Hot, V and Pradillon, F and Vetriani, C and Hecht, O and Sönnichsen, FD and Gelhaus, C and Hung, CW and Tholey, A and Leippe, M and Grötzinger, J and Gaill, F}, title = {Characterization and function of the first antibiotic isolated from a vent organism: the extremophile metazoan Alvinella pompejana.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e95737}, pmid = {24776651}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polychaeta/*chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; }, abstract = {The emblematic hydrothermal worm Alvinella pompejana is one of the most thermo tolerant animal known on Earth. It relies on a symbiotic association offering a unique opportunity to discover biochemical adaptations that allow animals to thrive in such a hostile habitat. Here, by studying the Pompeii worm, we report on the discovery of the first antibiotic peptide from a deep-sea organism, namely alvinellacin. After purification and peptide sequencing, both the gene and the peptide tertiary structures were elucidated. As epibionts are not cultivated so far and because of lethal decompression effects upon Alvinella sampling, we developed shipboard biological assays to demonstrate that in addition to act in the first line of defense against microbial invasion, alvinellacin shapes and controls the worm's epibiotic microflora. Our results provide insights into the nature of an abyssal antimicrobial peptide (AMP) and into the manner in which an extremophile eukaryote uses it to interact with the particular microbial community of the hydrothermal vent ecosystem. Unlike earlier studies done on hydrothermal vents that all focused on the microbial side of the symbiosis, our work gives a view of this interaction from the host side.}, } @article {pmid24772115, year = {2014}, author = {Griffis, AH and Groves, NR and Zhou, X and Meier, I}, title = {Nuclei in motion: movement and positioning of plant nuclei in development, signaling, symbiosis, and disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {129}, pmid = {24772115}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {While textbook figures imply nuclei as resting spheres at the center of idealized cells, this picture fits few real situations. Plant nuclei come in many shapes and sizes, and can be actively transported within the cell. In several contexts, this nuclear movement is tightly coupled to a developmental program, the response to an abiotic signal, or a cellular reprogramming during either mutualistic or parasitic plant-microbe interactions. While many such phenomena have been observed and carefully described, the underlying molecular mechanism and the functional significance of the nuclear movement are typically unknown. Here, we survey recent as well as older literature to provide a concise starting point for applying contemporary molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches to this fascinating, yet poorly understood phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid24772084, year = {2014}, author = {Kosmidis, S and Missirlis, F and Botella, JA and Schneuwly, S and Rouault, TA and Skoulakis, EM}, title = {Behavioral decline and premature lethality upon pan-neuronal ferritin overexpression in Drosophila infected with a virulent form of Wolbachia.}, journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {66}, pmid = {24772084}, issn = {1663-9812}, abstract = {Iron is required for organismal growth. Therefore, limiting iron availability may be a key part of the host's innate immune response to various pathogens, for example, in Drosophila infected with Zygomycetes. One way the host can transiently reduce iron bioavailability is by ferritin overexpression. To study the effects of neuronal-specific ferritin overexpression on survival and neurodegeneration we generated flies simultaneously over-expressing transgenes for both ferritin subunits in all neurons. We used two independent recombinant chromosomes bearing UAS-Fer1HCH, UAS-Fer2LCH transgenes and obtained qualitatively different levels of late-onset behavioral and lifespan declines. We subsequently discovered that one parental strain had been infected with a virulent form of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, causing widespread neuronal apoptosis and premature death. This phenotype was exacerbated by ferritin overexpression and was curable by antibiotic treatment. Neuronal ferritin overexpression in uninfected flies did not cause evident neurodegeneration but resulted in a late-onset behavioral decline, as previously reported for ferritin overexpression in glia. The results suggest that ferritin overexpression in the central nervous system of flies is tolerated well in young individuals with adverse manifestations appearing only late in life or under unrelated pathophysiological conditions.}, } @article {pmid24769535, year = {2014}, author = {O'Rourke, JA and Bolon, YT and Bucciarelli, B and Vance, CP}, title = {Legume genomics: understanding biology through DNA and RNA sequencing.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {113}, number = {7}, pages = {1107-1120}, pmid = {24769535}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*genetics ; *Genome, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lupinus/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Soybeans/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The legume family (Leguminosae) consists of approx. 17 000 species. A few of these species, including, but not limited to, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cicer arietinum and Cajanus cajan, are important dietary components, providing protein for approx. 300 million people worldwide. Additional species, including soybean (Glycine max) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa), are important crops utilized mainly in animal feed. In addition, legumes are important contributors to biological nitrogen, forming symbiotic relationships with rhizobia to fix atmospheric N2 and providing up to 30 % of available nitrogen for the next season of crops. The application of high-throughput genomic technologies including genome sequencing projects, genome re-sequencing (DNA-seq) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) by the legume research community has provided major insights into genome evolution, genomic architecture and domestication.

SCOPE AND CONCLUSIONS: This review presents an overview of the current state of legume genomics and explores the role that next-generation sequencing technologies play in advancing legume genomics. The adoption of next-generation sequencing and implementation of associated bioinformatic tools has allowed researchers to turn each species of interest into their own model organism. To illustrate the power of next-generation sequencing, an in-depth overview of the transcriptomes of both soybean and white lupin (Lupinus albus) is provided. The soybean transcriptome focuses on analysing seed development in two near-isogenic lines, examining the role of transporters, oil biosynthesis and nitrogen utilization. The white lupin transcriptome analysis examines how phosphate deficiency alters gene expression patterns, inducing the formation of cluster roots. Such studies illustrate the power of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analyses in elucidating the gene networks underlying biological processes.}, } @article {pmid24769135, year = {2014}, author = {Vullo, D and Flemetakis, E and Scozzafava, A and Capasso, C and Supuran, CT}, title = {Anion inhibition studies of two α-carbonic anhydrases from Lotus japonicus, LjCAA1 and LjCAA2.}, journal = {Journal of inorganic biochemistry}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {67-72}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2014.03.014}, pmid = {24769135}, issn = {1873-3344}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Anions ; Arsenicals/chemistry ; Boronic Acids/chemistry ; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/*chemistry ; Carbonic Anhydrases/*chemistry ; Conserved Sequence ; Ditiocarb/chemistry ; Kinetics ; Lotus/*enzymology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry ; Sulfonic Acids/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The model organism for the investigation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes Lotus japonicus encodes two carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) belonging to the α-class, LjCAA1 and LjCAA2. Here we report the kinetic characterization and inhibition of these two CAs with inorganic and complex anions and other molecules interacting with zinc proteins, such as sulfamide, sulfamic acid, and phenylboronic/arsonic acids. LjCAA1 showed a high catalytic activity for the CO2 hydration reaction, with a k(cat) of 7.4∗10(5) s(-1) and a k(cat)/K(m) of 9.6∗10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and was inhibited in the low micromolar range by N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamide, sulfamic acid, phenylboronic/arsonic acid (K(I)s of 4-62 μM). LjCAA2 showed a moderate catalytic activity for the physiologic reaction, with a k(cat) of 4.0∗10(5) s(-1) and a k(cat)/K(m) of 4.9∗10(7) M(-1) s(-1). The same anions mentioned above for the inhibition of LjCAA1 showed the best activity against LjCAA2 (K(I)s of 7-29 μM). Nitrate and nitrite, anions involved in nitrogen fixation, showed lower affinity for the two enzymes, with inhibition constants in the range of 3.7-7.0 mM. Halides and sulfate also behaved in a distinct manner towards the two enzymes investigated here. As LjCAA1/2 participate in the pH regulation processes and CO2 metabolism within the nitrogen-fixing nodules of the plant, our studies may shed some light regarding these complex biochemical processes.}, } @article {pmid24768838, year = {2014}, author = {Chopra, SS and Khanna, V}, title = {Understanding resilience in industrial symbiosis networks: insights from network analysis.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {86-94}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.12.038}, pmid = {24768838}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {*Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Denmark ; Industrial Waste ; *Industry ; }, abstract = {Industrial symbiotic networks are based on the principles of ecological systems where waste equals food, to develop synergistic networks. For example, industrial symbiosis (IS) at Kalundborg, Denmark, creates an exchange network of waste, water, and energy among companies based on contractual dependency. Since most of the industrial symbiotic networks are based on ad-hoc opportunities rather than strategic planning, gaining insight into disruptive scenarios is pivotal for understanding the balance of resilience and sustainability and developing heuristics for designing resilient IS networks. The present work focuses on understanding resilience as an emergent property of an IS network via a network-based approach with application to the Kalundborg Industrial Symbiosis (KIS). Results from network metrics and simulated disruptive scenarios reveal Asnaes power plant as the most critical node in the system. We also observe a decrease in the vulnerability of nodes and reduction in single points of failure in the system, suggesting an increase in the overall resilience of the KIS system from 1960 to 2010. Based on our findings, we recommend design strategies, such as increasing diversity, redundancy, and multi-functionality to ensure flexibility and plasticity, to develop resilient and sustainable industrial symbiotic networks.}, } @article {pmid24768607, year = {2014}, author = {Olar, A and He, D and Florentin, D and Ding, Y and Wheeler, T and Ayala, G}, title = {Biological correlates of prostate cancer perineural invasion diameter.}, journal = {Human pathology}, volume = {45}, number = {7}, pages = {1365-1369}, pmid = {24768607}, issn = {1532-8392}, support = {U54CA126568/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA125123/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA058204/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR026442/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U54 CA126568/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA140734/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Apoptosis ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/*pathology ; Peripheral Nerves/metabolism/*pathology ; Prostate/metabolism/*pathology/surgery ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Perineural invasion is a symbiotic relationship between cancer cells and nerves and is most frequently seen in "neurotropic" cancers such as prostate cancer. It results in increased perineural space cancer cell growth and decreased apoptosis and induces nerve growth. Tissue microarrays were constructed from 640 radical prostatectomy specimens with prostate cancer. The perineural diameter was measured as previously described. Multiple biomarkers have been previously performed on this tissue microarray cohort, and all data were kept in the same database. The biomarker results database was queried for correlations between perineural invasion diameter and tissue biomarkers. Increased perineural invasion diameter correlated with increased proliferation of prostate cancer cells and with apoptosis. It also correlated with proteins involved in survival pathways such as nuclear factor κB, c-Myc, phosphorylated AKT, and its downstream effector FHKR, but not with GSK. Unlike nerve density, it did not correlate with decreased PTEN expression. Increased perineural invasion diameter was associated with higher levels of hormonal receptors such as androgen receptor, but not estrogen receptor. Also associated with perineural invasion diameter were coregulators and corepressors including SRC1 and TIF2. Perineural invasion diameter had the strongest correlation with tumor volume (ρ = 0.579, P = .000), not identified with nerve density. These data demonstrate that perineural invasion has the same biologic correlations as neural density. However, we found a distinct and very strong correlation with increased tumor volume. These data confirm that perineural invasion is the ultimate and most successful interaction between cancer cells and nerve fibers, resulting in increased tumor growth.}, } @article {pmid24767513, year = {2014}, author = {Tang, H and Krishnakumar, V and Bidwell, S and Rosen, B and Chan, A and Zhou, S and Gentzbittel, L and Childs, KL and Yandell, M and Gundlach, H and Mayer, KF and Schwartz, DC and Town, CD}, title = {An improved genome release (version Mt4.0) for the model legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {312}, pmid = {24767513}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial ; *Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Medicago truncatula, a close relative of alfalfa, is a preeminent model for studying nitrogen fixation, symbiosis, and legume genomics. The Medicago sequencing project began in 2003 with the goal to decipher sequences originated from the euchromatic portion of the genome. The initial sequencing approach was based on a BAC tiling path, culminating in a BAC-based assembly (Mt3.5) as well as an in-depth analysis of the genome published in 2011.

RESULTS: Here we describe a further improved and refined version of the M. truncatula genome (Mt4.0) based on de novo whole genome shotgun assembly of a majority of Illumina and 454 reads using ALLPATHS-LG. The ALLPATHS-LG scaffolds were anchored onto the pseudomolecules on the basis of alignments to both the optical map and the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) map. The Mt4.0 pseudomolecules encompass ~360 Mb of actual sequences spanning 390 Mb of which ~330 Mb align perfectly with the optical map, presenting a drastic improvement over the BAC-based Mt3.5 which only contained 70% sequences (~250 Mb) of the current version. Most of the sequences and genes that previously resided on the unanchored portion of Mt3.5 have now been incorporated into the Mt4.0 pseudomolecules, with the exception of ~28 Mb of unplaced sequences. With regard to gene annotation, the genome has been re-annotated through our gene prediction pipeline, which integrates EST, RNA-seq, protein and gene prediction evidences. A total of 50,894 genes (31,661 high confidence and 19,233 low confidence) are included in Mt4.0 which overlapped with ~82% of the gene loci annotated in Mt3.5. Of the remaining genes, 14% of the Mt3.5 genes have been deprecated to an "unsupported" status and 4% are absent from the Mt4.0 predictions.

CONCLUSIONS: Mt4.0 and its associated resources, such as genome browsers, BLAST-able datasets and gene information pages, can be found on the JCVI Medicago web site (http://www.jcvi.org/medicago). The assembly and annotation has been deposited in GenBank (BioProject: PRJNA10791). The heavily curated chromosomal sequences and associated gene models of Medicago will serve as a better reference for legume biology and comparative genomics.}, } @article {pmid24767424, year = {2014}, author = {Clarke, DJ}, title = {The genetic basis of the symbiosis between Photorhabdus and its invertebrate hosts.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {88}, number = {}, pages = {1-29}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-800260-5.00001-2}, pmid = {24767424}, issn = {0065-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/pathogenicity/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus is a pathogen of insects that also maintains a mutualistic association with nematodes from the family Heterorhabditis. Photorhabdus colonizes the gut of the infective juvenile (IJ) stage of the nematode. The IJ infects an insect and regurgitates the bacteria and the bacteria reproduce to kill the insect. The nematodes feed on the resulting bacterial biomass until a new generation of IJs emerges from the insect cadaver. Therefore, during its life cycle, Photorhabdus must (1) kill the insect host, (2) support nematode growth and development, and (3) be able to colonize the new generation of IJs. In this review, functional genomic studies that have been aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning each of these roles will be discussed. These studies have begun to reveal that distinct gene sets may be required for each of these interactions, suggesting that there is only a minimal genetic overlap between pathogenicity and mutualism in Photorhabdus.}, } @article {pmid24767111, year = {2014}, author = {Palma, F and López-Gómez, M and Tejera, NA and Lluch, C}, title = {Involvement of abscisic acid in the response of Medicago sativa plants in symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti to salinity.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {223}, number = {}, pages = {16-24}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.02.005}, pmid = {24767111}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*pharmacology ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; Biomass ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Shoots/drug effects ; Polyamines/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/enzymology ; *Salinity ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Legumes are classified as salt-sensitive crops with their productivity particularly affected by salinity. Abcisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in the response to environmental stresses as signal molecule which led us to study its role in the response of nitrogen fixation and antioxidant metabolism in root nodules of Medicago sativa under salt stress conditions. Adult plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti were treated with 1 μM and 10 μM ABA two days before 200 mM salt addition. Exogenous ABA together with the salt treatment provoked a strong induction of the ABA content in the nodular tissue which alleviated the inhibition induced by salinity in the plant growth and nitrogen fixation. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were induced by ABA pre-treatments under salt stress conditions which together with the reduction of the lipid peroxidation, suggest a role for ABA as signal molecule in the activation of the nodular antioxidant metabolism. Interaction between ABA and polyamines (PAs), described as anti-stress molecules, was studied being detected an induction of the common polyamines spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) levels by ABA under salt stress conditions. In conclusion, ABA pre-treatment improved the nitrogen fixation capacity under salt stress conditions by the induction of the nodular antioxidant defenses which may be mediated by the common PAs Spd and Spm that seems to be involved in the anti-stress response induced by ABA.}, } @article {pmid24766546, year = {2014}, author = {Black, CK and Mihai, DM and Washington, I}, title = {The photosynthetic eukaryote Nannochloris eukaryotum as an intracellular machine to control and expand functionality of human cells.}, journal = {Nano letters}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {2720-2725}, doi = {10.1021/nl500655h}, pmid = {24766546}, issn = {1530-6992}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation/physiology ; Chlorophyta/chemistry/*physiology ; Humans ; *Nanomedicine ; *Photosynthesis ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To construct an intracellular machine, we sought a symbiotic relationship between a photosynthetic green alga and human cells. Human cells selectively take up the minimal eukaryote Nannochloris eukaryotum and the resulting symbionts are able to survive and proliferate. Host cells can utilize N. eukaryotum's photosynthetic apparatus for survival, and expression of cellular vascular endothelial growth factor can be controlled with input of photonic energy. This seemingly rare spontaneous association provides an opportunity to fabricate light-controlled, intracellular machines.}, } @article {pmid24766052, year = {2016}, author = {Qin, X}, title = {Chronic pulmonary pseudomonal infection in patients with cystic fibrosis: A model for early phase symbiotic evolution.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {144-157}, doi = {10.3109/1040841X.2014.907235}, pmid = {24766052}, issn = {1549-7828}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Coinfection ; Cystic Fibrosis/*complications ; Disease Susceptibility ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/drug therapy/*etiology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Pseudomonas Infections/drug therapy/*etiology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Gain of "antimicrobial resistance" and "adaptive virulence" has been the dominant view of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) in cystic fibrosis (CF) in the progressively damaged host airway over the course of this chronic infection. However, the pathogenic effects of CF airway-adapted Pa strains are notably reduced. We propose that CF Pa and other bacterial cohabitants undergo host adaptation which resembles the changes found in bacterial symbionts in animal hosts. Development of clonally selected and intraspecific isogenic Pa strains which display divergent colony morphology, growth rate, auxotrophy, and antibiotic susceptibility in vitro suggests an adaptive sequence of infective exploitation-parasitism-symbiotic evolution driven by host defenses. Most importantly, the emergence of CF pseudomonal auxotrophy is frequently associated with a few specific amino acids. The selective retention or loss of specific amino acid biosynthesis in CF-adapted Pa reflects bacterium-host symbiosis and coevolution during chronic infection, not nutrient availability. This principle also argues against the long-standing concept of dietary availability leading to evolution of essential amino acid requirements in humans. A novel model of pseudomonal adaptation through multicellular bacterial syntrophy is proposed to explain early events in bacterial gene decay and decreased (not increased) virulence due to symbiotic response to host defense.}, } @article {pmid24765659, year = {2014}, author = {Oliveira, V and Gomes, NCM and Almeida, A and Silva, AMS and Simões, MMQ and Smalla, K and Cunha, Â}, title = {Hydrocarbon contamination and plant species determine the phylogenetic and functional diversity of endophytic degrading bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1392-1404}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12559}, pmid = {24765659}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Dioxygenases/genetics ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry/microbiology ; Hydrocarbons/*analysis ; Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Salt marsh sediments are sinks for various anthropogenic contaminants, giving rise to significant environmental concern. The process of salt marsh plant survival in such environment is very intriguing and at the same time poorly understood. The plant–microbe interactions may play a key role in the process of environment and in planta detoxification.In this study, a combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent molecular approaches [enrichment cultures, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), DNA sequencing] were used to investigate the effect of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) contamination on the structure and function[polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dioxygenase genes] of endophytic bacterial communities of salt marsh plant species (Halimione portulacoides and Sarcocornia perennis)in the estuarine system Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). Pseudomonads dominated the cultivable fraction of the endophytic communities in the enrichment cultures. In a set of fifty isolates tested, nine were positive for genes encoding for PAH dioxygenases (nahAc)and four were positive for plasmid carrying genes encoding PAH degradation enzymes(nahAc). Interestingly, these plasmids were only detected in isolates from most severely PH-polluted sites. The results revealed site-specific effects on endophytic communities,related to the level of PH contamination in the sediment, and plant-species-specific ‘imprints’ in community structure and in genes encoding for PAH dioxygenases. These results suggest a potential ecological role of bacterial plant symbiosis in the process of plant colonization in urban estuarine areas exposed to PH contamination.}, } @article {pmid24764459, year = {2014}, author = {Weyenberg, G and Huggins, PM and Schardl, CL and Howe, DK and Yoshida, R}, title = {kdetrees: Non-parametric estimation of phylogenetic tree distributions.}, journal = {Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)}, volume = {30}, number = {16}, pages = {2280-2287}, pmid = {24764459}, issn = {1367-4811}, support = {R01 GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Algorithms ; Apicomplexa/genetics ; Epichloe/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Software ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; }, abstract = {MOTIVATION: Although the majority of gene histories found in a clade of organisms are expected to be generated by a common process (e.g. the coalescent process), it is well known that numerous other coexisting processes (e.g. horizontal gene transfers, gene duplication and subsequent neofunctionalization) will cause some genes to exhibit a history distinct from those of the majority of genes. Such 'outlying' gene trees are considered to be biologically interesting, and identifying these genes has become an important problem in phylogenetics.

RESULTS: We propose and implement kdetrees, a non-parametric method for estimating distributions of phylogenetic trees, with the goal of identifying trees that are significantly different from the rest of the trees in the sample. Our method compares favorably with a similar recently published method, featuring an improvement of one polynomial order of computational complexity (to quadratic in the number of trees analyzed), with simulation studies suggesting only a small penalty to classification accuracy. Application of kdetrees to a set of Apicomplexa genes identified several unreliable sequence alignments that had escaped previous detection, as well as a gene independently reported as a possible case of horizontal gene transfer. We also analyze a set of Epichloë genes, fungi symbiotic with grasses, successfully identifying a contrived instance of paralogy.

Our method for estimating tree distributions and identifying outlying trees is implemented as the R package kdetrees and is available for download from CRAN.}, } @article {pmid24763283, year = {2014}, author = {Brelsfoard, C and Tsiamis, G and Falchetto, M and Gomulski, LM and Telleria, E and Alam, U and Doudoumis, V and Scolari, F and Benoit, JB and Swain, M and Takac, P and Malacrida, AR and Bourtzis, K and Aksoy, S}, title = {Presence of extensive Wolbachia symbiont insertions discovered in the genome of its host Glossina morsitans morsitans.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e2728}, pmid = {24763283}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Blotting, Southern ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Insect ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Mutagenesis, Insertional ; *Recombination, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tsetse Flies/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are the cyclical vectors of Trypanosoma spp., which are unicellular parasites responsible for multiple diseases, including nagana in livestock and sleeping sickness in humans in Africa. Glossina species, including Glossina morsitans morsitans (Gmm), for which the Whole Genome Sequence (WGS) is now available, have established symbiotic associations with three endosymbionts: Wigglesworthia glossinidia, Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia pipientis (Wolbachia). The presence of Wolbachia in both natural and laboratory populations of Glossina species, including the presence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events in a laboratory colony of Gmm, has already been shown. We herein report on the draft genome sequence of the cytoplasmic Wolbachia endosymbiont (cytWol) associated with Gmm. By in silico and molecular and cytogenetic analysis, we discovered and validated the presence of multiple insertions of Wolbachia (chrWol) in the host Gmm genome. We identified at least two large insertions of chrWol, 527,507 and 484,123 bp in size, from Gmm WGS data. Southern hybridizations confirmed the presence of Wolbachia insertions in Gmm genome, and FISH revealed multiple insertions located on the two sex chromosomes (X and Y), as well as on the supernumerary B-chromosomes. We compare the chrWol insertions to the cytWol draft genome in an attempt to clarify the evolutionary history of the HGT events. We discuss our findings in light of the evolution of Wolbachia infections in the tsetse fly and their potential impacts on the control of tsetse populations and trypanosomiasis.}, } @article {pmid24762136, year = {2014}, author = {Emerich, DW and Krishnan, HB}, title = {Symbiosomes: temporary moonlighting organelles.}, journal = {The Biochemical journal}, volume = {460}, number = {1}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1042/BJ20130271}, pmid = {24762136}, issn = {1470-8728}, mesh = {Flavonoids/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Organelles/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosomes are a unique structural entity that performs the role of biological nitrogen fixation, an energy-demanding process that is the primary entryway of fixed nitrogen into the biosphere. Symbiosomes result from the infection of specific rhizobial strains into the roots of an appropriate leguminous host plant forming an organ referred to as a nodule. Within the infected plant cells of the nodule, the rhizobia are encased within membrane-bounded structures that develop into symbiosomes. Mature symbiosomes create an environment that allows the rhizobia to differentiate into a nitrogen-fixing form called bacteroids. The bacteroids are surrounded by the symbiosome space, which is populated by proteins from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic symbionts, suggesting this space is the quintessential component of symbiosis: an inter-kingdom environment with the single purpose of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Proteins associated with the symbiosome membrane are largely plant-derived proteins and are non-metabolic in nature. The proteins of the symbiosome space are mostly derived from the bacteroid with annotated functions of carbon metabolism, whereas relatively few are involved in nitrogen metabolism. An appreciable portion of both the eukaryotic and prokaryotic proteins in the symbiosome are also 'moonlighting' proteins, which are defined as proteins that perform roles unrelated to their annotated activities when found in an unexpected physiological environment. The essential functions of symbiotic nitrogen fixation of the symbiosome are performed by co-operative interactions of proteins from both symbionts some of which may be performing unexpected roles.}, } @article {pmid24761991, year = {2014}, author = {Thompson, A and Carter, BJ and Turk-Kubo, K and Malfatti, F and Azam, F and Zehr, JP}, title = {Genetic diversity of the unicellular nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria UCYN-A and its prymnesiophyte host.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {3238-3249}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12490}, pmid = {24761991}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*classification/enzymology/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Haptophyta/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes and photosynthetic eukaryotes are an integral part of biological nitrogen fixation at a global scale. One of these partnerships involves the cyanobacterium UCYN-A, which has been found in partnership with an uncultivated unicellular prymnesiophyte alga in open-ocean and coastal environments. Phylogenetic analysis of the UCYN-A nitrogenase gene (nifH) showed that the UCYN-A lineage is represented by three distinct clades, referred to herein as UCYN-A1, UCYN-A2 and UCYN-A3, which appear to have overlapping and distinct geographic distributions. The relevance of UCYN-A's genetic diversity to its symbiosis and ecology was explored through combining flow cytometric cell sorting and molecular techniques to determine the host identity, nifH expression patterns and host cell size of one newly discovered clade, UCYN-A2, at a coastal site. UCYN-A2 nifH expression peaked during daylight hours, which is consistent with expression patterns of the UCYN-A1 clade in the open ocean. However, the cell size of the UCYN-A2 host was significantly larger than UCYN-A1 and host, suggesting adaptation to different environmental conditions. Like the UCYN-A1 host, the UCYN-A2 host was closely related to the genus Braarudosphaera; however, the UCYN-A1 and UCYN-A2 host rRNA sequences clustered into two distinct clades suggesting co-evolution of symbiont and host.}, } @article {pmid24760407, year = {2014}, author = {Perotto, S and Rodda, M and Benetti, A and Sillo, F and Ercole, E and Rodda, M and Girlanda, M and Murat, C and Balestrini, R}, title = {Gene expression in mycorrhizal orchid protocorms suggests a friendly plant-fungus relationship.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {239}, number = {6}, pages = {1337-1349}, pmid = {24760407}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Fungal ; RNA, Plant ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Orchids fully depend on symbiotic interactions with specific soil fungi for seed germination and early development. Germinated seeds give rise to a protocorm, a heterotrophic organ that acquires nutrients, including organic carbon, from the mycorrhizal partner. It has long been debated if this interaction is mutualistic or antagonistic. To investigate the molecular bases of the orchid response to mycorrhizal invasion, we developed a symbiotic in vitro system between Serapias vomeracea, a Mediterranean green meadow orchid, and the rhizoctonia-like fungus Tulasnella calospora. 454 pyrosequencing was used to generate an inventory of plant and fungal genes expressed in mycorrhizal protocorms, and plant genes could be reliably identified with a customized bioinformatic pipeline. A small panel of plant genes was selected and expression was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal protocorm tissues. Among these genes were some markers of mutualistic (e.g. nodulins) as well as antagonistic (e.g. pathogenesis-related and wound/stress-induced) genes. None of the pathogenesis or wound/stress-related genes were significantly up-regulated in mycorrhizal tissues, suggesting that fungal colonization does not trigger strong plant defence responses. In addition, the highest expression fold change in mycorrhizal tissues was found for a nodulin-like gene similar to the plastocyanin domain-containing ENOD55. Another nodulin-like gene significantly more expressed in the symbiotic tissues of mycorrhizal protocorms was similar to a sugar transporter of the SWEET family. Two genes coding for mannose-binding lectins were significantly up-regulated in the presence of the mycorrhizal fungus, but their role in the symbiosis is unclear.}, } @article {pmid24756908, year = {2014}, author = {Ahnia, H and Boulila, F and Boulila, A and Boucheffa, K and Durán, D and Bourebaba, Y and Salmi, A and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Rey, L}, title = {Cytisus villosus from Northeastern Algeria is nodulated by genetically diverse Bradyrhizobium strains.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {105}, number = {6}, pages = {1121-1129}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-014-0173-9}, pmid = {24756908}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Algeria ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytisus/*microbiology/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Lupinus/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Spartium/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fifty-one rhizobial strains isolated from root nodules of Cytisus villosus growing in Northeastern Algeria were characterized by genomic and phenotypic analyses. Isolates were grouped into sixteen different patterns by PCR-RAPD. The phylogenetic status of one representative isolate from each pattern was examined by multilocus sequence analyses of four housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, glnII, recA, and atpD) and one symbiotic gene (nodC). Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that all the isolates belonged to the genus Bradyrhizobium. Phylogenetic analyses based on individual or concatenated genes glnII, recA, and atpD indicated that strains cluster in three distinct groups. Ten out of the sixteen strains grouped together with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, while a second group of four clustered with Bradyrhizobium canariense. The third group, represented by isolates CTS8 and CTS57, differed significantly from all other bradyrhizobia known to nodulate members of the Genisteae tribe. In contrast with core genes, sequences of the nodC symbiotic gene from all the examined strains form a homogeneous group within the genistearum symbiovar of Bradyrhizobium. All strains tested nodulated Lupinus angustifolius, Lupinus luteus, and Spartium junceum but not Glycine max. From these results, it is concluded that C. villosus CTS8 and CTS57 strains represent a new lineage within the Bradyrhizobium genus.}, } @article {pmid24754352, year = {2014}, author = {Irar, S and González, EM and Arrese-Igor, C and Marino, D}, title = {A proteomic approach reveals new actors of nodule response to drought in split-root grown pea plants.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {152}, number = {4}, pages = {634-645}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12214}, pmid = {24754352}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Droughts ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genotype ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; *Proteomics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Drought is considered the more harmful abiotic stress resulting in crops yield loss. Legumes in symbiosis with rhizobia are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Biological nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a very sensitive process to drought and limits legumes agricultural productivity. Several factors are known to regulate SNF including oxygen availability to bacteroids, carbon and nitrogen metabolisms; but the signaling pathways leading to SNF inhibition are largely unknown. In this work, we have performed a proteomic approach of pea plants grown in split-root system where one half of the root was well-irrigated and the other was subjected to drought. Water stress locally provoked nodule water potential decrease that led to SNF local inhibition. The proteomic approach revealed 11 and 7 nodule proteins regulated by drought encoded by Pisum sativum and Rhizobium leguminosarum genomes respectively. Among these 18 proteins, 3 proteins related to flavonoid metabolism, 2 to sulfur metabolism and 3 RNA-binding proteins were identified. These proteins could be molecular targets for future studies focused on the improvement of legumes tolerance to drought. Moreover, this work also provides new hints for the deciphering of SNF regulation machinery in nodules.}, } @article {pmid24750488, year = {2014}, author = {Dittmer, J and Beltran-Bech, S and Lesobre, J and Raimond, M and Johnson, M and Bouchon, D}, title = {Host tissues as microhabitats for Wolbachia and quantitative insights into the bacterial community in terrestrial isopods.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {2619-2635}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12760}, pmid = {24750488}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Load ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; Genetics, Population ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Animal-bacterial symbioses are highly dynamic in terms of multipartite interactions, both between the host and its symbionts as well as between the different bacteria constituting the symbiotic community. These interactions will be reflected by the titres of the individual bacterial taxa, for example via host regulation of bacterial loads or competition for resources between symbionts. Moreover, different host tissues represent heterogeneous microhabitats for bacteria, meaning that host-associated bacteria might establish tissue-specific bacterial communities. Wolbachia are widespread endosymbiotic bacteria, infecting a large number of arthropods and filarial nematodes. However, relatively little is known regarding direct interactions between Wolbachia and other bacteria. This study represents the first quantitative investigation of tissue-specific Wolbachia-microbiota interactions in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare. To this end, we obtained a more complete picture of the Wolbachia distribution patterns across all major host tissues, integrating all three feminizing Wolbachia strains (wVulM, wVulC, wVulP) identified to date in this host. Interestingly, the different Wolbachia strains exhibited strain-specific tissue distribution patterns, with wVulM reaching lower titres in most tissues. These patterns were consistent across different host genetic backgrounds and might reflect different co-evolutionary histories between the Wolbachia strains and A. vulgare. Moreover, Wolbachia-infected females carried higher total bacterial loads in several, but not all, tissues, irrespective of the Wolbachia strain. Taken together, this quantitative approach indicates that Wolbachia is part of a potentially more diverse bacterial community, as exemplified by the presence of highly abundant bacterial taxa in the midgut caeca of several A. vulgare populations.}, } @article {pmid24748382, year = {2014}, author = {Pielström, S and Roces, F}, title = {Soil moisture and excavation behaviour in the Chaco leaf-cutting ant (Atta vollenweideri): digging performance and prevention of water inflow into the nest.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e95658}, pmid = {24748382}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Nesting Behavior ; *Soil ; }, abstract = {The Chaco leaf-cutting ant Atta vollenweideri is native to the clay-heavy soils of the Gran Chaco region in South America. Because of seasonal floods, colonies are regularly exposed to varying moisture across the soil profile, a factor that not only strongly influences workers' digging performance during nest building, but also determines the suitability of the soil for the rearing of the colony's symbiotic fungus. In this study, we investigated the effects of varying soil moisture on behaviours associated with underground nest building in A. vollenweideri. This was done in a series of laboratory experiments using standardised, plastic clay-water mixtures with gravimetric water contents ranging from relatively brittle material to mixtures close to the liquid limit. Our experiments showed that preference and group-level digging rate increased with increasing water content, but then dropped considerably for extremely moist materials. The production of vibrational recruitment signals during digging showed, on the contrary, a slightly negative linear correlation with soil moisture. Workers formed and carried clay pellets at higher rates in moist clay, even at the highest water content tested. Hence, their weak preference and low group-level excavation rate observed for that mixture cannot be explained by any inability to work with the material. More likely, extremely high moistures may indicate locations unsuitable for nest building. To test this hypothesis, we simulated a situation in which workers excavated an upward tunnel below accumulated surface water. The ants stopped digging about 12 mm below the interface soil/water, a behaviour representing a possible adaptation to the threat of water inflow field colonies are exposed to while digging under seasonally flooded soils. Possible roles of soil water in the temporal and spatial pattern of nest growth are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24747127, year = {2014}, author = {Parker, MA and Rousteau, A}, title = {Mosaic origins of Bradyrhizobium legume symbionts on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {110-115}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.04.011}, pmid = {24747127}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Guadeloupe ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {To analyze geographic affinities of Bradyrhizobium sp. symbionts associated with the diverse legume flora on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, 39 isolates from 18 legume genera were compared to a reference set of 269 Bradyrhizobium strains from North America, Central America, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. A multilocus sequence analysis (4192 bp) showed that nucleotide diversity in Guadeloupe equaled or exceeded that found in all other regional Bradyrhizobium populations examined. Bayesian phylogenetic tree analysis grouped the Guadeloupe Bradyrhizobium strains into clades with at least 20 distinct sets of non-Guadeloupe relatives, implying that the island was colonized numerous times from multiple source regions. However, for 18% of the Guadeloupe isolates, inferred geographic affinities for the nifD locus, in the symbiosis island region of the Bradyrhizobium chromosome, conflicted with the source region deduced from a tree based on six concatenated housekeeping genes. Geographic mosaic ancestry was therefore evident among Guadeloupe bradyrhizobia. Horizontal gene transfer subsequent to island colonization appears to have generated strains that carry combinations of genes from disparate source regions.}, } @article {pmid24744322, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, SD and Barbe, V and Garel, M and Zhang, WJ and Chen, H and Santini, CL and Murat, D and Jing, H and Zhao, Y and Lajus, A and Martini, S and Pradel, N and Tamburini, C and Wu, LF}, title = {Genome Sequence of Luminous Piezophile Photobacterium phosphoreum ANT-2200.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {24744322}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Photobacterium thrive worldwide in oceans and show substantially varied lifestyles, including free-living, commensal, pathogenic, symbiotic, and piezophilic. Here, we present the genome sequence of a luminous, piezophilic Photobacterium phosphoreum strain, ANT-2200, isolated from a water column at 2,200 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the first genomic sequence of the P. phosphoreum group. An analysis of the sequence provides insight into the adaptation of bacteria to the deep-sea habitat.}, } @article {pmid24744057, year = {2014}, author = {Fukui, S}, title = {Evolution of symbiosis with resource allocation from fecundity to survival.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {437-446}, pmid = {24744057}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; Fertility/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Survival Analysis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is one of the most fundamental relationships between or among organisms and includes parasitism (which has negative effects on the fitness of the interacting partner), commensalism (no effect), and mutualism (positive effects). The effects of these interactions are usually assumed to influence a single component of a species' fitness, either survival or fecundity, even though in reality the interaction can simultaneously affect both of these components. I used a dual lattice model to investigate the process of evolution of mutualistic symbiosis in the presence of interactive effects on both survival and fecundity. I demonstrate that a positive effect on survival and a negative effect on fecundity are key to the establishment of mutualism. Furthermore, both the parasitic and the mutualistic behaviour must carry large costs for mutualism to evolve. This helps develop a new understanding of symbiosis as a function of resource allocation, in which resources are shifted from fecundity to survival. The simultaneous establishment of mutualism from parasitism never occurs in two species, but can do so in one of the species as long as the partner still behaves parasitically. This suggests that one of the altruistic behaviours in a mutualistic unit consisting of two species must originate as a parasitic behaviour.}, } @article {pmid24744018, year = {2014}, author = {Silva, FV and De Meyer, SE and Simões-Araújo, JL and Barbé, TDC and Xavier, GR and O'Hara, G and Ardley, JK and Rumjanek, NG and Willems, A and Zilli, JE}, title = {Bradyrhizobium manausense sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules of Vigna unguiculata grown in Brazilian Amazonian rainforest soils.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 7}, pages = {2358-2363}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.061259-0}, pmid = {24744018}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Root nodule bacteria were trapped within cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in soils with different cultivation histories collected from the Amazonian rainforest in northern Brazil. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of six strains (BR 3351(T), BR 3307, BR 3310, BR 3315, BR 3323 BR and BR 3361) isolated from cowpea nodules showed that they formed a distinct group within the genus Bradyrhizobium, which was separate from previously identified type strains. Phylogenetic analyses of three housekeeping genes (glnII, recA and rpoB) revealed that Bradyrhizobium huanghuaihaiense CCBAU 23303(T) was the most closely related type strain (96% sequence similarity or lower). Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acid profiles (predominant fatty acids being C16 : 0 and summed feature 8), the slow growth rate and carbon compound utilization patterns supported the assignment of the strains to the genus Bradyrhizobium. The results of DNA-DNA hybridizations, antibiotic resistance and physiological tests differentiated these novel strains from the most closely related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium with validly published names. Symbiosis-related genes for nodulation (nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) grouped the novel strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium together with Bradyrhizobium iriomotense strain EK05(T), with 94% and 96% sequence similarity, respectively. Based on these data, these six strains represent a novel species for which the name Brabyrhizobium manausense sp. nov. (BR 3351(T) = HAMBI 3596(T)), is proposed.}, } @article {pmid24740715, year = {2015}, author = {Jebara, SH and Abdelkerim, S and Fatnassi, IC and Chiboub, M and Saadani, O and Jebara, M}, title = {Identification of effective Pb resistant bacteria isolated from Lens culinaris growing in lead contaminated soils.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {3}, pages = {346-353}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201300874}, pmid = {24740715}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/*drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Hydroponics ; Lead/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Lens Plant/enzymology/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Peroxidases/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/enzymology/microbiology ; Pseudomonas/isolation & purification ; Rahnella/isolation & purification ; Rhizobium/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/enzymology/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Soil bacteria are a new phytoremediation system for the removal of heavy metals from soils. In this study, fifteen soil bacteria were isolated from root nodules of lentil growing in heavy metals contaminated soils, particularly by lead. Molecular characterization of the collection showed a large diversity, including Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Rahnella aquatilis, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium sp. These soil bacteria had a wide range of tolerance to heavy metals. Among them, strains of A. tumefaciens and R. aquatilis tolerated up to 3.35 mM Pb; whereas Pseudomonas tolerated up to 3.24 mM Pb. The inoculation of lentil grown hydroponically with inoculums formed by these efficient and Pb resistant bacteria enhanced plant biomass. The treatment of this symbiosis by 1 mM Pb for 10 days or by 2 mM Pb for 3 days demonstrated that lentil had Pb accumulation capacity and can be considered a Pb accumulator plant, elsewhere, roots accumulated more Pb than shoots, and the inoculation decreased the Pb up take by the plants, suggesting that this symbiosis should be investigated for use in phytostabilization of Pb-contaminated soils. At the same time, a modulation in the antioxidant enzyme activity and a specific duration was required for the induction of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) response and to adapt to Pb stress. These results suggested that these enzymes may be involved in the main mechanism of antioxidative defense in lentil exposed to Pb oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid24740592, year = {2015}, author = {Mandal, A and Patra, A and Mandal, S and Roy, S and Mahapatra, SD and Mahapatra, TD and Paul, T and Das, K and Mondal, KC and Nandi, DK}, title = {Therapeutic potential of different commercially available synbiotic on acetaminophen-induced uremic rats.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental nephrology}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {168-177}, pmid = {24740592}, issn = {1437-7799}, mesh = {Acetaminophen ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Catalase/metabolism ; Creatinine/blood ; DNA Fragmentation ; Feces/*microbiology ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Kidney Glomerulus/metabolism/*pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Necrosis/pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Synbiotics/*administration & dosage ; Urea/blood ; Uremia/blood/chemically induced/*drug therapy/*pathology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Currently kidney disease appears a foremost problem across the world. Acetaminophen is a commonly used antipyretic agent, which in high doses, causes uremia and used for experimentally induction of kidney disease. Bacteriotherapy affords a promising approach to mitigate uremic toxins by ingestion of urease positive bacteria, probiotics and symbiotic able to catabolize uremic solutes within the gut. The present study evaluates the effect of seven commercial symbiotic on kidney disease.

METHODS: Fifty-four albino male rats were randomly divided into nine groups. Control group (Group-I) received distilled water interperitoneally for 7 days. Positive control group (Group-II) received 500 mg/kg acetaminophen interperitoneally for 7 days. Commercially available seven symbiotic combinations at a dose of 10(9)cells/day for 3 weeks was administered to the tested groups (Group III-IX) after receiving 500 mg/kg/day acetaminophen interperitoneally for 7 days. Blood, kidney, liver and stool samples were collected after scarification for biochemical tests and DNA fragmentation assay of kidney tissue, kidney histological studies. Limited fecal analysis was conducted.

RESULT: Blood urea nitrogen and toxicity indicators were increased, and antioxidant enzymes were decreased in Group-II. Blood urea nitrogen, toxicity indicators, glomerular necrosis, DNA damage of kidney tissue were reduced, and antioxidant enzymes were increased significantly in the treated Groups IV and IX (p < 0.05) in response to Group-II. Number of pathogenic bacteria decreased in synbiotic treated groups than Group I and II.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that some of commercial symbiotic combination can reduce the sever effect of kidney disease.}, } @article {pmid24740320, year = {2014}, author = {Abd-Alla, MH and Bashandy, SR and Bagy, MK and El-enany, AW}, title = {Rhizobium tibeticum activated with a mixture of flavonoids alleviates nickel toxicity in symbiosis with fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.).}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {946-959}, pmid = {24740320}, issn = {1573-3017}, mesh = {Apigenin/*pharmacology ; Flavonoids/analysis ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/metabolism ; Hesperidin/*pharmacology ; Nickel/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/metabolism ; Plant Exudates/chemistry ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Random Allocation ; Rhizobium/*drug effects/growth & development ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Trigonella/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study is to explore the response of an activated Rhizobium tibeticum inoculum with a mixture of hesperetin (H) and apigenin (A) to improve the growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) grown under nickel (Ni) stress. Three different sets of fenugreek seed treatments were conducted, in order to investigate the activated R. tibeticum pre-incubation effects on nodulation, nitrogen fixation and growth of fenugreek under Ni stress. Group (I): uninoculated seeds with R. tibeticum, group (II): inoculated seeds with uninduced R. tibeticum group (III): inoculated seeds with induced R. tibeticum. The present study revealed that Ni induced deleterious effects on rhizobial growth, nod gene expression, nodulation, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and glutamine synthetase activities, total flavonoids content and nitrogen fixation, while the inoculation with an activated R. tibeticum significantly improved these values compared with plants inoculated with uninduced R. tibeticum. PAL activity of roots plants inoculated with induced R. tibeticum and grown hydroponically at 75 and 100 mg L(-1) Ni and was significantly increased compared with plants receiving uninduced R. tibeticum. The total number and fresh mass of nodules, nitrogenase activity of plants inoculated with induced cells grown in soil treated up to 200 mg kg(-1) Ni were significantly increased compared with plants inoculated with uninduced cells. Plants inoculated with induced R. tibeticum dispalyed a significant increase in the dry mass compared with those treated with uninduced R. tibeticum. Activation of R. tibeticum inoculum with a mixture of hesperetin and apigenin has been proven to be practically important in enhancing nodule formation, nitrogen fixation and growth of fenugreek grown in Ni contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid24739623, year = {2014}, author = {Giovannoni, SJ and Cameron Thrash, J and Temperton, B}, title = {Implications of streamlining theory for microbial ecology.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {1553-1565}, pmid = {24739623}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/growth & development ; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Drift ; *Genome Size ; Genome, Archaeal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Whether a small cell, a small genome or a minimal set of chemical reactions with self-replicating properties, simplicity is beguiling. As Leonardo da Vinci reportedly said, 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication'. Two diverging views of simplicity have emerged in accounts of symbiotic and commensal bacteria and cosmopolitan free-living bacteria with small genomes. The small genomes of obligate insect endosymbionts have been attributed to genetic drift caused by small effective population sizes (Ne). In contrast, streamlining theory attributes small cells and genomes to selection for efficient use of nutrients in populations where Ne is large and nutrients limit growth. Regardless of the cause of genome reduction, lost coding potential eventually dictates loss of function. Consequences of reductive evolution in streamlined organisms include atypical patterns of prototrophy and the absence of common regulatory systems, which have been linked to difficulty in culturing these cells. Recent evidence from metagenomics suggests that streamlining is commonplace, may broadly explain the phenomenon of the uncultured microbial majority, and might also explain the highly interdependent (connected) behavior of many microbial ecosystems. Streamlining theory is belied by the observation that many successful bacteria are large cells with complex genomes. To fully appreciate streamlining, we must look to the life histories and adaptive strategies of cells, which impose minimum requirements for complexity that vary with niche.}, } @article {pmid24739197, year = {2014}, author = {Oudman, T and Onrust, J and de Fouw, J and Spaans, B and Piersma, T and van Gils, JA}, title = {Digestive capacity and toxicity cause mixed diets in red knots that maximize energy intake rate.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {183}, number = {5}, pages = {650-659}, doi = {10.1086/675759}, pmid = {24739197}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animal Shells ; Animals ; *Bacterial Toxins ; Bivalvia ; Charadriiformes/*physiology ; *Diet ; *Digestive System Physiological Phenomena ; Gastropoda ; Mauritania ; Predatory Behavior ; Salinity ; }, abstract = {Among energy-maximizing animals, preferences for different prey can be explained by ranking the prey according to their energetic content. However, diet choice also depends on characteristics of the predator, such as the need to ingest necessary nutrients and the constraints imposed by digestion and toxins in food. In combination, these factors can lead to mixed diets in which the energetically most profitable food is not eaten exclusively even when it is abundant. We studied diet choice in red knots (Calidris canutus canutus) feeding on mollusks at a West African wintering site. At this site, the birds fed primarily on two species of bivalves, a thick-shelled one (Dosinia isocardia) that imposed a digestive constraint and a thin-shelled one (Loripes lucinalis) that imposed a toxin constraint. The latter species is toxic due to its symbiotic association with sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. We estimated experimentally the parameters of a linear programming model that includes both digestive and toxin constraints, leading to the prediction that red knots should eat a mixture of both mollusk species to maximize energy intake. The model correctly predicted the preferences of the captive birds, which depended on the digestive quality and toxicity of their previous diet. At our study site, energy-maximizing red knots appear to select a mixed diet as a result of the simultaneous effects of digestive and toxin constraints.}, } @article {pmid24739023, year = {2014}, author = {Mauchline, TH and Hayat, R and Roberts, R and Powers, SJ and Hirsch, PR}, title = {Assessment of core and accessory genetic variation in Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii strains from diverse locations and host plants using PCR-based methods.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {238-246}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12270}, pmid = {24739023}, issn = {1472-765X}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Base Sequence ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Molecular Typing ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between Rhizobium leguminosarum and host legumes is recognized as a key part of sustainable agriculture. A culture collection containing rhizobia isolated from legumes of economic importance in the UK and worldwide, maintained at Rothamsted Research for many years, provided material for this study. We aimed to develop and validate efficient molecular diagnostics to investigate whether the host plant or geographical location had a greater influence on the genetic diversity of rhizobial isolates, and the extent to which the core bacterial genome and the accessory symbiosis genes located on plasmids were affected. To achieve this, core housekeeping genes and those involved in symbiosis interactions were sequenced and compared with genome-sequenced strains in the public domain. Results showed that some Rh. leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii strains nodulating clovers and Rh. leguminosarum sv. viciae strains nodulating peas and vicias shared identical housekeeping genes, clover nodule isolates from the same location could have divergent symbiosis genes, and others isolated on different continents could be very similar. This illustrates the likely co-migration of rhizobia and their legume hosts when crops are planted in new areas and indicates that selective pressure may arise from both local conditions and crop host genotypes.

The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between Rhizobium leguminosarum and host legumes has been recognized as a key part of sustainable agriculture for many years; this study provides new tools to study rhizobial biogeography which will be invaluable for extending the cultivation of legumes and indicating whether or not inoculation is necessary.}, } @article {pmid24737795, year = {2014}, author = {Pereira, AL and Vasconcelos, V}, title = {Classification and phylogeny of the cyanobiont Anabaena azollae Strasburger: an answered question?.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {1830-1840}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.059238-0}, pmid = {24737795}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Anabaena/*classification/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ferns/microbiology ; Phycocyanin/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis Azolla-Anabaena azollae, with a worldwide distribution in pantropical and temperate regions, is one of the most studied, because of its potential application as a biofertilizer, especially in rice fields, but also as an animal food and in phytoremediation. The cyanobiont is a filamentous, heterocystic cyanobacterium that inhabits the foliar cavities of the pteridophyte and the indusium on the megasporocarp (female reproductive structure). The classification and phylogeny of the cyanobiont is very controversial: from its morphology, it has been named Nostoc azollae, Anabaena azollae, Anabaena variabilis status azollae and recently Trichormus azollae, but, from its 16S rRNA gene sequence, it has been assigned to Nostoc and/or Anabaena, and from its phycocyanin gene sequence, it has been assigned as non-Nostoc and non-Anabaena. The literature also points to a possible co-evolution between the cyanobiont and the Azolla host, since dendrograms and phylogenetic trees of fatty acids, short tandemly repeated repetitive (STRR) analysis and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of nif genes and the 16S rRNA gene give a two-cluster association that matches the two-section ranking of the host (Azolla). Another controversy surrounds the possible existence of more than one genus or more than one species strain. The use of freshly isolated or cultured cyanobionts is an additional problem, since their morphology and protein profiles are different. This review gives an overview of how morphological, chemical and genetic analyses influence the classification and phylogeny of the cyanobiont and future research.}, } @article {pmid24736593, year = {2014}, author = {Rípodas, C and Clúa, J and Battaglia, M and Baudin, M and Niebel, A and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, F}, title = {Transcriptional regulators of legume-rhizobia symbiosis: nuclear factors Ys and GRAS are two for tango.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e28847}, pmid = {24736593}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor/physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcription Factors/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Transcription factors are DNA binding proteins that regulate gene expression. The nitrogen fixing symbiosis established between legume plants and soil bacteria is a complex interaction, in which plants need to integrate signals derived from the symbiont and the surrounding environment to initiate the developmental program of nodule organogenesis and the infection process. Several transcription factors that play critical roles in these processes have been reported in the past decade, including proteins of the GRAS and NF-Y families. Recently, we reported the characterization of a new GRAS domain containing-protein that interacts with a member of the C subunit of the NF-Y family, which plays an important role in nodule development and the progression of bacterial infection during the symbiotic interaction. The connection between transcription factors of these families highlights the significance of multimeric complexes in the fabulous capacity of plants to integrate and respond to multiple environmental stimuli.}, } @article {pmid24736154, year = {2014}, author = {Gilbert, SF}, title = {Symbiosis as the way of eukaryotic life: the dependent co-origination of the body.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {201-209}, pmid = {24736154}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Microbiota/immunology ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Molecular analyses of symbiotic relationships are challenging our biological definitions of individuality and supplanting them with a new notion of normal part-whole relationships. This new notion is that of a 'holobiont', a consortium of organisms that becomes a functionally integrated 'whole'. This holobiont includes the zoological organism (the 'animal') as well as its persistent microbial symbionts. This new individuality is seen on anatomical and physiological levels, where a diversity of symbionts form a new 'organ system' within the zoological organism and become integrated into its metabolism and development. Moreover, as in normal development, there are reciprocal interactions between the 'host' organism and its symbionts that alter gene expression in both sets of cells. The immune system, instead of being seen as functioning solely to keep microbes out of the body, is also found to develop, in part, in dialogue with symbionts. Moreover, the immune system is actively involved in the colonization of the zoological organism, functioning as a mechanism for integrating microbes into the animal-cell community. Symbionts have also been found to constitute a second mode of genetic inheritance, providing selectable genetic variation for natural selection. We develop, grow and evolve as multi-genomic consortia/teams/ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid24735869, year = {2014}, author = {Douglas, AE}, title = {The molecular basis of bacterial-insect symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology}, volume = {426}, number = {23}, pages = {3830-3837}, pmid = {24735869}, issn = {1089-8638}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development/immunology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Immunity, Innate ; Insecta/immunology/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects provide experimentally tractable and cost-effective model systems to investigate the molecular basis of animal-bacterial interactions. Recent research is revealing the central role of the insect innate immune system, especially anti-microbial peptides and reactive oxygen species, in regulating the abundance and composition of the microbiota in various insects, including Drosophila and the mosquitoes Aedes and Anopheles. Interactions between the immune system and microbiota are, however, bidirectional with evidence that members of the resident microbiota can promote immune function, conferring resistance to pathogens and parasites by both activation of immune effectors and production of toxins. Antagonistic and mutualistic interactions among bacteria have also been implicated as determinants of the microbiota composition, including exclusion of pathogens, but the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Some bacteria are crucial for insect nutrition, through provisioning of specific nutrients (e.g., B vitamins, essential amino acids) and modulation of the insect nutritional sensing and signaling pathways (e.g., insulin signaling) that regulate nutrient allocation, especially to lipid and other energy reserves. A key challenge for future research is to identify the molecular interaction between specific bacterial effectors and animal receptors, as well as to determine how these interactions translate into microbiota-dependent signaling, metabolism, and immune function in the host.}, } @article {pmid24734220, year = {2014}, author = {De Paepe, M and Leclerc, M and Tinsley, CR and Petit, MA}, title = {Bacteriophages: an underestimated role in human and animal health?.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {39}, pmid = {24734220}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/growth & development/*physiology ; Dysbiosis ; *Ecosystem ; *Health ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Metagenomic approaches applied to viruses have highlighted their prevalence in almost all microbial ecosystems investigated. In all ecosystems, notably those associated with humans or animals, the viral fraction is dominated by bacteriophages. Whether they contribute to dysbiosis, i.e., the departure from microbiota composition in symbiosis at equilibrium and entry into a state favoring human or animal disease is unknown at present. This review summarizes what has been learnt on phages associated with human and animal microbiota, and focuses on examples illustrating the several ways by which phages may contribute to a shift to pathogenesis, either by modifying population equilibrium, by horizontal transfer, or by modulating immunity.}, } @article {pmid24734179, year = {2014}, author = {Wright, SD and Wadsworth, AM}, title = {Gray and green revisited: a multidisciplinary perspective of gardens, gardening, and the aging process.}, journal = {Journal of aging research}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {283682}, pmid = {24734179}, issn = {2090-2204}, abstract = {Over fourteen years ago, the concept of "gray and green" was first introduced by Wright and Lund (2000) to represent a new awareness and a call for increased scholarship at the intersection of environmental issues and the aging process. This review paper revisits that concept with a fresh perspective on the specific role of gardens and gardening in the aging experience. As example, gardening is one of the most popular home-based leisure activities in the US and represents an important activity in the lives of older adults in a variety of residential settings. Yet, there has been a lack of any comprehensive and multidisciplinary (science and humanities) examination of the nexus between gardening and the aging experience, and in particular with research connections to stewardship and caring. In this paper, we review contemporary articles demonstrating the multidisciplinarity of gardening and the aging process. First, we will focus on the beneficial psychological effects resulting from the cultivation of caring, including personal contentment and artistic expression. Second, we will focus on stewardship and how gardening increases health, community awareness, and a connection to future generations. On the surface, this may demonstrate a separation between the humanities and science, but we will clarify a symbiotic relationship between the two disciplines in our conclusion.}, } @article {pmid24734029, year = {2014}, author = {Lund, MB and Kjeldsen, KU and Schramm, A}, title = {The earthworm-Verminephrobacter symbiosis: an emerging experimental system to study extracellular symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {128}, pmid = {24734029}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Lumbricidae) harbor extracellular species-specific bacterial symbionts of the genus Verminephrobacter (Betaproteobacteria) in their nephridia. The symbionts have a beneficial effect on host reproduction and likely live on their host's waste products. They are vertically transmitted and presumably associated with earthworms already at the origin of Lumbricidae 62-136 million years ago. The Verminephrobacter genomes carry signs of bottleneck-induced genetic drift, such as accelerated evolutionary rates, low codon usage bias, and extensive genome shuffling, which are characteristic of vertically transmitted intracellular symbionts. However, the Verminephrobacter genomes lack AT bias, size reduction, and pseudogenization, which are also common genomic hallmarks of vertically transmitted, intracellular symbionts. We propose that the opportunity for genetic mixing during part of the host-symbiont life cycle is the key to evade drift-induced genome erosion. Furthermore, we suggest the earthworm-Verminephrobacter association as a new experimental system for investigating host-microbe interactions, and especially for understanding genome evolution of vertically transmitted symbionts in the presence of genetic mixing.}, } @article {pmid24733936, year = {2014}, author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Roeser-Mueller, K and Koehler, S and Peterson, A and Nechitaylo, TY and Stubblefield, JW and Herzner, G and Seger, J and Strohm, E}, title = {Partner choice and fidelity stabilize coevolution in a Cretaceous-age defensive symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {17}, pages = {6359-6364}, pmid = {24733936}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; Phylogeny ; Streptomyces/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Time Factors ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many insects rely on symbiotic microbes for survival, growth, or reproduction. Over evolutionary timescales, the association with intracellular symbionts is stabilized by partner fidelity through strictly vertical symbiont transmission, resulting in congruent host and symbiont phylogenies. However, little is known about how symbioses with extracellular symbionts, representing the majority of insect-associated microorganisms, evolve and remain stable despite opportunities for horizontal exchange and de novo acquisition of symbionts from the environment. Here we demonstrate that host control over symbiont transmission (partner choice) reinforces partner fidelity between solitary wasps and antibiotic-producing bacteria and thereby stabilizes this Cretaceous-age defensive mutualism. Phylogenetic analyses show that three genera of beewolf wasps (Philanthus, Trachypus, and Philanthinus) cultivate a distinct clade of Streptomyces bacteria for protection against pathogenic fungi. The symbionts were acquired from a soil-dwelling ancestor at least 68 million years ago, and vertical transmission via the brood cell and the cocoon surface resulted in host-symbiont codiversification. However, the external mode of transmission also provides opportunities for horizontal transfer, and beewolf species have indeed exchanged symbiont strains, possibly through predation or nest reuse. Experimental infection with nonnative bacteria reveals that--despite successful colonization of the antennal gland reservoirs--transmission to the cocoon is selectively blocked. Thus, partner choice can play an important role even in predominantly vertically transmitted symbioses by stabilizing the cooperative association over evolutionary timescales.}, } @article {pmid24733893, year = {2014}, author = {Lee, SG and Krishnan, HB and Jez, JM}, title = {Structural basis for regulation of rhizobial nodulation and symbiosis gene expression by the regulatory protein NolR.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {17}, pages = {6509-6514}, pmid = {24733893}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Calorimetry ; DNA, Bacterial/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutamine/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutant Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Operator Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Thermodynamics ; Titrimetry ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between rhizobial microbes and host plants involves the coordinated expression of multiple genes, which leads to nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. As part of the transcriptional machinery for nodulation and symbiosis across a range of Rhizobium, NolR serves as a global regulatory protein. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structures of NolR in the unliganded form and complexed with two different 22-base pair (bp) double-stranded operator sequences (oligos AT and AA). Structural and biochemical analysis of NolR reveals protein-DNA interactions with an asymmetric operator site and defines a mechanism for conformational switching of a key residue (Gln56) to accommodate variation in target DNA sequences from diverse rhizobial genes for nodulation and symbiosis. This conformational switching alters the energetic contributions to DNA binding without changes in affinity for the target sequence. Two possible models for the role of NolR in the regulation of different nodulation and symbiosis genes are proposed. To our knowledge, these studies provide the first structural insight on the regulation of genes involved in the agriculturally and ecologically important symbiosis of microbes and plants that leads to nodule formation and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24733403, year = {2014}, author = {Franchini, P and Fruciano, C and Frickey, T and Jones, JC and Meyer, A}, title = {The gut microbial community of Midas cichlid fish in repeatedly evolved limnetic-benthic species pairs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e95027}, pmid = {24733403}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Cichlids/*microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Geography ; Lakes ; Nicaragua ; Principal Component Analysis ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Gut bacterial communities are now known to influence a range of fitness related aspects of organisms. But how different the microbial community is in closely related species, and if these differences can be interpreted as adaptive is still unclear. In this study we compared microbial communities in two sets of closely related sympatric crater lake cichlid fish species pairs that show similar adaptations along the limnetic-benthic axis. The gut microbial community composition differs in the species pair inhabiting the older of two crater lakes. One major difference, relative to other fish, is that in these cichlids that live in hypersaline crater lakes, the microbial community is largely made up of Oceanospirillales (52.28%) which are halotolerant or halophilic bacteria. This analysis opens up further avenues to identify candidate symbiotic or co-evolved bacteria playing a role in adaptation to similar diets and life-styles or even have a role in speciation. Future functional and phylosymbiotic analyses might help to address these issues.}, } @article {pmid24732106, year = {2014}, author = {Putignani, L and Del Chierico, F and Petrucca, A and Vernocchi, P and Dallapiccola, B}, title = {The human gut microbiota: a dynamic interplay with the host from birth to senescence settled during childhood.}, journal = {Pediatric research}, volume = {76}, number = {1}, pages = {2-10}, doi = {10.1038/pr.2014.49}, pmid = {24732106}, issn = {1530-0447}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology ; Genomics ; Humans ; Immune System ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Metabolomics ; *Microbiota ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics ; Proteomics ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {The microbiota "organ" is the central bioreactor of the gastrointestinal tract, populated by a total of 10(14) bacteria and characterized by a genomic content (microbiome), which represents more than 100 times the human genome. The microbiota plays an important role in child health by acting as a barrier against pathogens and their invasion with a highly dynamic modality, exerting metabolic multistep functions and stimulating the development of the host immune system, through well-organized programming, which influences all of the growth and aging processes. The advent of "omics" technologies (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics), characterized by complex technological platforms and advanced analytical and computational procedures, has opened new avenues to the knowledge of the gut microbiota ecosystem, clarifying some aspects on the establishment of microbial communities that constitute it, their modulation and active interaction with external stimuli as well as food, within the host genetic variability. With a huge interdisciplinary effort and an interface work between basic, translational, and clinical research, microbiologists, specialists in "-omics" disciplines, and clinicians are now clarifying the role of the microbiota in the programming process of several gut-related diseases, from the physiological symbiosis to the microbial dysbiosis stage, through an integrated systems biology approach.}, } @article {pmid24731986, year = {2014}, author = {Brasseur, C and Bauwens, J and Tarayre, C and Mattéotti, C and Thonart, P and Destain, J and Francis, F and Haubruge, E and Portetelle, D and Vandenbol, M and Focant, JF and De Pauw, E}, title = {MALDI-TOF MS analysis of cellodextrins and xylo-oligosaccharides produced by hindgut homogenates of Reticulitermes santonensis.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {4578-4594}, pmid = {24731986}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/chemistry ; Cellulose/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Complex Mixtures/chemistry ; Dextrins/*chemistry ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Insect Proteins/chemistry ; Intestines/*chemistry/enzymology ; Isoptera/*chemistry/enzymology ; Oligosaccharides/*chemistry ; Trichoderma/chemistry/enzymology ; Xylans/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Hindgut homogenates of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis were incubated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), crystalline celluloses or xylan substrates. Hydrolysates were analyzed with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The method was first set up using acid hydrolysis analysis to characterize non-enzymatic profiles. Commercial enzymes of Trichoderma reesei or T. longibrachiatum were also tested to validate the enzymatic hydrolysis analysis. For CMC hydrolysis, data processing and visual display were optimized to obtain comprehensive profiles and allow rapid comparison and evaluation of enzymatic selectivity, according to the number of substituents of each hydrolysis product. Oligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization (DPs) ranging from three to 12 were measured from CMC and the enzymatic selectivity was demonstrated. Neutral and acidic xylo-oligosaccharides with DPs ranging from three to 11 were measured from xylan substrate. These results are of interest for lignocellulose biomass valorization and demonstrated the potential of termites and their symbiotic microbiota as a source of interesting enzymes for oligosaccharides production.}, } @article {pmid24731505, year = {2014}, author = {Williams, TJ and Cavicchioli, R}, title = {Marine metaproteomics: deciphering the microbial metabolic food web.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {248-260}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2014.03.004}, pmid = {24731505}, issn = {1878-4380}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Food Chain ; *Metabolism ; Proteome/*analysis ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metaproteomics can be applied to marine systems to discover metabolic processes in the ocean. This review describes current breakthroughs regarding marine microbes in the areas of microbial procurement of nutrients, important and previously unrecognized metabolic processes, functional roles for proteins with previously unknown functions, and intricate networks of metabolic interactions between symbiotic microbes and their hosts. By recognizing that metaproteomics empowers our understanding of the roles that marine microbes play in global biogeochemical cycles, the achievements to date from this advancing field highlight the enormous potential that the future holds.}, } @article {pmid24731122, year = {2014}, author = {Susoy, V and Herrmann, M}, title = {Preferential host switching and codivergence shaped radiation of bark beetle symbionts, nematodes of Micoletzkya (Nematoda: Diplogastridae).}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {889-898}, doi = {10.1111/jeb.12367}, pmid = {24731122}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Coleoptera/genetics/*parasitology ; *Host Specificity ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nematoda/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Host-symbiont systems are of particular interest to evolutionary biology because they allow testable inferences of diversification processes while also providing both a historical basis and an ecological context for studies of adaptation. Our investigations of bark beetle symbionts, predatory nematodes of the genus Micoletzkya, have revealed remarkable diversity of the group along with a high level of host specificity. Cophylogenetic analyses suggest that evolution of the nematodes was largely influenced by the evolutionary history of beetles. The diversification of the symbionts, however, could not be attributed to parallel divergence alone; our results indicate that adaptive radiation of the nematodes was shaped by preferential host shifts among closely related beetles along with codivergence. Whereas ecological and geographic isolation have played a major role in the diversification of Micoletzkya at shallow phylogenetic depths, adaptations towards related hosts have played a role in shaping cophylogenetic structure at a larger evolutionary scale.}, } @article {pmid24728757, year = {2014}, author = {Lange, L and Grell, MN}, title = {The prominent role of fungi and fungal enzymes in the ant-fungus biomass conversion symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {98}, number = {11}, pages = {4839-4851}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-5708-5}, pmid = {24728757}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Agaricales/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/*physiology ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Molecular studies have added significantly to understanding of the role of fungi and fungal enzymes in the efficient biomass conversion, which takes place in the fungus garden of leaf-cutting ants. It is now clear that the fungal symbiont expresses the full spectrum of genes for degrading cellulose and other plant cell wall polysaccharides. Since the start of the genomics era, numerous interesting studies have especially focused on evolutionary, molecular, and organismal aspects of the biological and biochemical functions of the symbiosis between leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp. and Acromyrmex spp.) and their fungal symbiont Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Macroscopic observations of the fungus-farming ant colony inherently depict the ants as the leading part of the symbiosis (the myrmicocentric approach, overshadowing the mycocentric aspects). However, at the molecular level, it is fungal enzymes that enable the ants to access the nutrition embedded in recalcitrant plant biomass. Our hypothesis is that the evolutionary events that established fungus-farming practice were predisposed by a fascinating fungal evolution toward increasing attractiveness to ants. This resulted in the ants allowing the fungus to grow in the nests and began to supply plant materials for more fungal growth. Molecular studies also confirm that specialized fungal structures, the gongylidia, with high levels of proteins and rich blend of enzymes, are essential for symbiosis. Harvested and used as ant feed, the gongylidia are the key factor for sustaining the highly complex leaf-cutting ant colony. This microbial upgrade of fresh leaves to protein-enriched animal feed can serve as inspiration for modern biorefinery technology.}, } @article {pmid24728599, year = {2014}, author = {Gao, S and Romdhane, SB and Beullens, S and Kaever, V and Lambrichts, I and Fauvart, M and Michiels, J}, title = {Genomic analysis of cyclic-di-GMP-related genes in rhizobial type strains and functional analysis in Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {98}, number = {10}, pages = {4589-4602}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-014-5722-7}, pmid = {24728599}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Computational Biology ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that can fix nitrogen in symbiosis with leguminous plants or exist free living in the rhizosphere. Crucial to their complex lifestyle is the ability to sense and respond to diverse environmental stimuli, requiring elaborate signaling pathways. In the majority of bacteria, the nucleotide-based second messenger cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is involved in signal transduction. Surprisingly, little is known about the importance of c-di-GMP signaling in rhizobia. We have analyzed the genome sequences of six well-studied type species (Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Mesorhizobium loti, Rhizobium etli, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Sinorhizobium fredii, and Sinorhizobium meliloti) for proteins possibly involved in c-di-GMP signaling based on the presence of four domains: GGDEF (diguanylate cyclase), EAL and HD-GYP (phosphodiesterase), and PilZ (c-di-GMP sensor). We find that rhizobia possess a high number of these proteins. Conservation analysis suggests that c-di-GMP signaling proteins modulate species-specific pathways rather than ancient rhizobia-specific processes. Two hybrid GGDEF-EAL proteins were selected for functional analysis, R. etli RHE_PD00105 (CdgA) and RHE_PD00137 (CdgB). Expression of cdgA and cdgB is repressed by the alarmone (p)ppGpp. cdgB is significantly expressed on plant roots and free living. Mutation of cdgA, cdgB, or both does not affect plant root colonization, nitrogen fixation capacity, biofilm formation, motility, and exopolysaccharide production. However, heterologous expression of the individual GGDEF and EAL domains of each protein in Escherichia coli strongly suggests that CdgA and CdgB are bifunctional proteins, possessing both diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities. Taken together, our results provide a platform for future studies of c-di-GMP signaling in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid24728373, year = {2014}, author = {Quigley, KM and Davies, SW and Kenkel, CD and Willis, BL and Matz, MV and Bay, LK}, title = {Deep-sequencing method for quantifying background abundances of symbiodinium types: exploring the rare symbiodinium biosphere in reef-building corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e94297}, pmid = {24728373}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Base Sequence ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Haplotypes/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/*methods ; Limit of Detection ; Palau ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The capacity of reef-building corals to associate with environmentally-appropriate types of endosymbionts from the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium contributes significantly to their success at local scales. Additionally, some corals are able to acclimatize to environmental perturbations by shuffling the relative proportions of different Symbiodinium types hosted. Understanding the dynamics of these symbioses requires a sensitive and quantitative method of Symbiodinium genotyping. Electrophoresis methods, still widely utilized for this purpose, are predominantly qualitative and cannot guarantee detection of a background type below 10% of the total Symbiodinium population. Here, the relative abundances of four Symbiodinium types (A13, C1, C3, and D1) in mixed samples of known composition were quantified using deep sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS-2) by means of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using Roche 454. In samples dominated by each of the four Symbiodinium types tested, background levels of the other three types were detected when present at 5%, 1%, and 0.1% levels, and their relative abundances were quantified with high (A13, C1, D1) to variable (C3) accuracy. The potential of this deep sequencing method for resolving fine-scale genetic diversity within a symbiont type was further demonstrated in a natural symbiosis using ITS-1, and uncovered reef-specific differences in the composition of Symbiodinium microadriaticum in two species of acroporid corals (Acropora digitifera and A. hyacinthus) from Palau. The ability of deep sequencing of the ITS locus (1 and 2) to detect and quantify low-abundant Symbiodinium types, as well as finer-scale diversity below the type level, will enable more robust quantification of local genetic diversity in Symbiodinium populations. This method will help to elucidate the role that background types have in maximizing coral fitness across diverse environments and in response to environmental change.}, } @article {pmid24728233, year = {2014}, author = {Wendling, CC and Batista, FM and Wegner, KM}, title = {Persistence, seasonal dynamics and pathogenic potential of Vibrio communities from Pacific oyster hemolymph.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e94256}, pmid = {24728233}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Crassostrea/*microbiology ; Female ; Hemolymph/*microbiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Probability ; *Seasons ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Vibrio/*pathogenicity ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Vibrio occur at a continuum from free-living to symbiotic life forms, including opportunists and pathogens, that can contribute to severe diseases, for instance summer mortality events of Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas. While most studies focused on Vibrio isolated from moribund oysters during mortality outbreaks, investigations of the Vibrio community in healthy oysters are rare. Therefore, we characterized the persistence, diversity, seasonal dynamics, and pathogenicity of the Vibrio community isolated from healthy Pacific oysters. In a reciprocal transplant experiment we repeatedly sampled hemolymph from adult Pacific oysters to differentiate population from site-specific effects during six months of in situ incubation in the field. We characterized virulence phenotypes and genomic diversity based on multilocus sequence typing in a total of 70 Vibrio strains. Based on controlled infection experiments we could show that strains with the ability to colonize healthy adult oysters can also have the potential to induce high mortality rates on larvae. Diversity and abundance of Vibrio varied significantly over time with highest values during and after spawning season. Vibrio communities from transplanted and stationary oysters converged over time, indicating that communities were not population specific, but rather assemble from the surrounding environment forming communities, some of which can persist over longer periods.}, } @article {pmid24727788, year = {2014}, author = {Lazali, M and Drevon, JJ}, title = {The nodule conductance to O2 diffusion increases with phytase activity in N2-fixing Phaseolus vulgaris L.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {80}, number = {}, pages = {53-59}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2014.03.023}, pmid = {24727788}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {6-Phytase/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {To understand the relationship between phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) and respiration for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legume nodules, six recombinant inbred lines of common bean (RIL Phaseolus vulgaris L.), contrasting in PUE for SNF, were inoculated with Rhizobium tropici CIAT899, and grown under hydroaeroponic culture with sufficient versus deficient P supply (250 versus 75 μmol P plant(-1) week(-1)). At the flowering stage, the biomass of plants and phytase activity in nodules were analyzed after measuring O2 uptake by nodulated roots. Our results show that the P-deficiency significantly increased the phytase activity in nodules of all RILs though with highest extent for RILs 147, 29 and 83 (ca 45%). This increase in phytase activity was associated with an increase in nodule respiration (ca 22%) and in use of the rhizobial symbiosis (ca 21%). A significant correlation was found under P-deficiency between nodule O2 permeability and phytase activity in nodules for RILs 104, 34 and 115. This observation is to our knowledge the first description of a correlation between O2 permeability and phytase activity of a legume nodule. It is concluded that the variation of phytase activity in nodules can increase the internal utilization of P and might be involved in the regulation of nodule permeability for the respiration linked with SNF and the adaptation to P-deficiency.}, } @article {pmid24727277, year = {2014}, author = {Matsuura, Y and Hosokawa, T and Serracin, M and Tulgetske, GM and Miller, TA and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Bacterial symbionts of a devastating coffee plant pest, the stinkbug Antestiopsis thunbergii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {12}, pages = {3769-3775}, pmid = {24727277}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coffea/*parasitology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Stinkbugs of the genus Antestiopsis, so-called antestia bugs or variegated coffee bugs, are notorious pests of coffee plants in Africa. We investigated the symbiotic bacteria associated with Antestiopsis thunbergii, a major coffee plant pest in Rwanda. PCR, cloning, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of bacterial genes identified four distinct bacterial lineages associated with A. thunbergii: a gammaproteobacterial gut symbiont and symbionts representing the genera Sodalis, Spiroplasma, and Rickettsia. In situ hybridization showed that the gut symbiont densely occupied the lumen of midgut crypts, whereas the Sodalis symbiont, the Spiroplasma symbiont, and the Rickettsia symbiont sparsely and sporadically infected various cells and tissues. Diagnostic PCR survey of 154 A. thunbergii individuals collected at 8 localities in Rwanda revealed high infection frequencies (100% for the gut symbiont, 51.3% for the Sodalis symbiont, 52.6% for the Spiroplasma symbiont, and 24.0% for the Rickettsia symbiont). These results suggest that the gut symbiont is the primary symbiotic associate of obligate nature for A. thunbergii, whereas the Sodalis symbiont, the Spiroplasma symbiont, and the Rickettsia symbiont are the secondary symbiotic associates of facultative nature. We observed high coinfection frequencies, i.e., 7.8% of individuals with quadruple infection with all the symbionts, 32.5% with triple infections with the gut symbiont and two of the secondary symbionts, and 39.6% with double infections with the gut symbiont and any of the three secondary symbionts, which were statistically not different from the expected coinfection frequencies and probably reflected random associations. The knowledge of symbiotic microbiota in A. thunbergii will provide useful background information for controlling this devastating coffee plant pest.}, } @article {pmid24723933, year = {2014}, author = {Tampakaki, AP}, title = {Commonalities and differences of T3SSs in rhizobia and plant pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {114}, pmid = {24723933}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Plant pathogenic bacteria and rhizobia infect higher plants albeit the interactions with their hosts are principally distinct and lead to completely different phenotypic outcomes, either pathogenic or mutualistic, respectively. Bacterial protein delivery to plant host plays an essential role in determining the phenotypic outcome of plant-bacteria interactions. The involvement of type III secretion systems (T3SSs) in mediating animal- and plant-pathogen interactions was discovered in the mid-80's and is now recognized as a multiprotein nanomachine dedicated to trans-kingdom movement of effector proteins. The discovery of T3SS in bacteria with symbiotic lifestyles broadened its role beyond virulence. In most T3SS-positive bacterial pathogens, virulence is largely dependent on functional T3SSs, while in rhizobia the system is dispensable for nodulation and can affect positively or negatively the mutualistic associations with their hosts. This review focuses on recent comparative genome analyses in plant pathogens and rhizobia that uncovered similarities and variations among T3SSs in their genetic organization, regulatory networks and type III secreted proteins and discusses the evolutionary adaptations of T3SSs and type III secreted proteins that might account for the distinguishable phenotypes and host range characteristics of plant pathogens and symbionts.}, } @article {pmid24722550, year = {2014}, author = {Yoro, E and Suzaki, T and Toyokura, K and Miyazawa, H and Fukaki, H and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {A Positive Regulator of Nodule Organogenesis, NODULE INCEPTION, Acts as a Negative Regulator of Rhizobial Infection in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {165}, number = {2}, pages = {747-758}, pmid = {24722550}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis occurs in specialized root organs called nodules. To establish the symbiosis, two major genetically controlled events, rhizobial infection and organogenesis, must occur. For a successful symbiosis, it is essential that the two phenomena proceed simultaneously in different root tissues. Although several symbiotic genes have been identified during genetic screenings of nonsymbiotic mutants, most of the mutants harbor defects in both infection and organogenesis pathways, leading to experimental difficulty in investigating the molecular genetic relationships between the pathways. In this study, we isolated a novel nonnodulation mutant, daphne, in Lotus japonicus that shows complete loss of nodulation but a dramatically increased numbers of infection threads. Characterization of the locus responsible for these phenotypes revealed a chromosomal translocation upstream of NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) in daphne. Genetic analysis using a known nin mutant revealed that daphne is a novel nin mutant allele. Although the daphne mutant showed reduced induction of NIN after rhizobial infection, the spatial expression pattern of NIN in epidermal cells was broader than that in the wild type. Overexpression of NIN strongly suppressed hyperinfection in daphne, and daphne phenotypes were partially rescued by cortical expression of NIN. These observations suggested that the daphne mutation enhanced the role of NIN in the infection pathway due to a specific loss of the role of NIN in nodule organogenesis. Based on these results, we provide evidence that the bifunctional transcription factor NIN negatively regulates infection but positively regulates nodule organogenesis during the course of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24721391, year = {2014}, author = {Kanazawa, A and Blanchard, GJ and Szabó, M and Ralph, PJ and Kramer, DM}, title = {The site of regulation of light capture in Symbiodinium: does the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein detach to regulate light capture?.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1837}, number = {8}, pages = {1227-1234}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2014.03.019}, pmid = {24721391}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Carotenoids/chemistry/*genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/growth & development ; Energy Transfer ; Fluorescence ; Kinetics ; Light ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/chemistry/*genetics ; Photosynthesis/*genetics ; Photosystem II Protein Complex ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates from the genus Symbiodinium form symbiotic associations with cnidarians including corals and anemones. The photosynthetic apparatuses of these dinoflagellates possess a unique photosynthetic antenna system incorporating the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP). It has been proposed that the appearance of a PCP-specific 77K fluorescence emission band around 672-675 nm indicates that high light treatment results in PCP dissociation from intrinsic membrane antenna complexes, blocking excitation transfer to the intrinsic membrane-bound antenna complexes, chlorophyll a-chlorophyll c2-peridinin-protein-complex (acpPC) and associated photosystems (Reynolds et al., 2008 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:13674-13678).We have tested this model using time-resolved fluorescence decay kinetics in conjunction with global fitting to compare the time-evolution of the PCP spectral bands before and after high light exposure. Our results show that no long-lived PCP fluorescence emission components appear either before or after high light treatment, indicating that the efficiency of excitation transfer from PCP to membrane antenna systems remains efficient and rapid even after exposure to high light. The apparent increased relative emission at around 675nm was, instead, caused by strong preferential exciton quenching of the membrane antenna complexes associated with acpPC and reaction centers. This strong non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is consistent with the activation of xanthophyll-associated quenching mechanisms and the generally-observed avoidance in nature of long-lived photoexcited states that can lead to oxidative damage. The acpPC component appears to be the most strongly quenched under high light exposure suggesting that it houses the photoprotective exciton quencher.}, } @article {pmid24719210, year = {2014}, author = {Kessler, M and Güdel, R and Salazar, L and Homeier, J and Kluge, J}, title = {Impact of mycorrhization on the abundance, growth and leaf nutrient status of ferns along a tropical elevational gradient.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {175}, number = {3}, pages = {887-900}, pmid = {24719210}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Ferns/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Leaves/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Tropical Climate ; Water ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi are crucial for the ecological success of land plants, providing their hosts with nutrients in exchange for organic C. However, not all plants are mycorrhizal, especially ferns, of which about one-third of the species lack this symbiosis. Because the mycorrhizal status is evolutionarily ancestral, this lack of mycorrhizae must have ecological advantages, but what these advantages are and how they affect the competitive ability of non-mycorrhizal plants under natural conditions is currently unknown. To address this uncertainty, we studied terrestrial fern assemblages and species abundances as well as their mycorrhization status, leaf nutrient concentration and relative annual growth along an elevational gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes (500-4,000 m). We surveyed the mycorrhizal status of 375 root samples belonging to 85 species, and found mycorrhizae in 89% of the samples. The degree of mycorrhization decreased with elevation but was unrelated to soil nutrients. Species with mycorrhizae were significantly more abundant than non-mycorrhizal species, but non-mycorrhizal species had significantly higher relative growth and concentrations of leaf N, P, Mg, and Ca. Our study thus shows that despite lower abundances, non-mycorrhizal fern species did not appear to be limited in their growth or nutrient supply relative to mycorrhizal ones. As a basis for future studies, we hypothesize that non-mycorrhizal fern species may be favoured in special microhabitats of the forest understory with high soil nutrient or water availability, or that the ecological benefit of mycorrhizae is not related to nutrient uptake but rather to, for example, pathogen resistance.}, } @article {pmid24718900, year = {2014}, author = {Slatni, T and Ben Salah, I and Kouas, S and Abdelly, C}, title = {The role of nodules in the tolerance of common bean to iron deficiency.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {127}, number = {3}, pages = {455-465}, pmid = {24718900}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Absorption, Physiological ; Acids/metabolism ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Iron Deficiencies ; Kinetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Phaseolus/enzymology/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Iron is vital for the establishment and function of symbiotic root nodules of legumes. Although abundant in the environment, Fe is often a limiting nutrient for plant growth due to its low solubility and availability in some soils. We have studied the mechanism of iron uptake in the root nodules of common bean to evaluate the role of nodules in physiological responses to iron deficiency. Based on experiments using full or partial submergence of nodulated roots in the nutrient solution, our results show that the nodules were affected only slightly under iron deficiency, especially when the nodules were submerged in nutrient solution in the tolerant cultivar. In addition, fully submerged root nodules showed enhanced acidification of the nutrient solution and showed higher ferric chelate reductase activity than that of partially submerged roots in plants cultivated under Fe deficiency. The main results obtained in this work suggest that in addition to preferential Fe allocation from the root system to the nodules, this symbiotic organ probably develops some mechanisms to respond to iron deficiency. These mechanisms were implied especially in nodule Fe absorption efficiency and in the ability of this organ to take up Fe directly from the medium.}, } @article {pmid24716625, year = {2014}, author = {Medeiros-Silva, M and Franck, WL and Borba, MP and Pizzato, SB and Strodtman, KN and Emerich, DW and Stacey, G and Polacco, JC and Carlini, CR}, title = {Soybean ureases, but not that of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, are involved in the process of soybean root nodulation.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {62}, number = {16}, pages = {3517-3524}, doi = {10.1021/jf5000612}, pmid = {24716625}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/microbiology ; Soybeans/*enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Urease/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ureases are abundant in plants, bacteria, and in the soil, but their role in signaling between soybean and soil microorganisms has not been investigated. The bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean roots. Here, we evaluated the role(s) of ureases in the process of soybean nodulation. Chemotaxis assays demonstrated that soybean and jack bean ureases were more chemotactic toward bacterial cells than the corresponding plant lectins. The eu1-a,eu4 soybean, deficient in urease isoforms, formed fewer but larger nodules than the wild-type, regardless of the bacterial urease phenotype. Leghemoglobin production in wild-type plants was higher and peaked earlier than in urease-deficient plants. Inhibition of urease activity in wild-type plants did not result in the alterations seen in mutated plants. We conclude that soybean urease(s) play(s) a role in the soybean-B. japonicum symbiosis, which is independent of its ureolytic activity. Bacterial urease does not play a role in nodulation.}, } @article {pmid24712882, year = {2014}, author = {Horn, K and Parker, IM and Malek, W and Rodríguez-Echeverría, S and Parker, MA}, title = {Disparate origins of Bradyrhizobium symbionts for invasive populations of Cytisus scoparius (Leguminosae) in North America.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {89}, number = {1}, pages = {89-98}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12335}, pmid = {24712882}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Cytisus/*microbiology ; Europe ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Essential ; Genomic Islands ; Introduced Species ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; United States ; }, abstract = {To identify the geographic origin of nodule bacteria associated with invasion of the European legume Cytisus scoparius in the United States, isolates from 15 sites in six states were compared to > 200 Bradyrhizobium strains from indigenous legumes in the U.S., Mexico, Europe (six countries), Morocco, and Australia. Portions of five housekeeping loci (2849 bp) were sequenced, along with the nifD locus in the symbiosis island (SI) portion of the Bradyrhizobium chromosome. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis showed that North American C. scoparius symbionts had highly heterogeneous ancestry. Some were grouped into three distinct clades of European C. scoparius symbionts. One isolate had both housekeeping and SI genes belonging to a Bradyrhizobium clade from native legumes in western North America. Two other clades had mosaic ancestry: sequences for nifD as well as two other SI genes (nifH, nodC) were highly similar or identical to a C. scoparius strain from Spain, while their housekeeping loci belonged to American Bradyrhizobium clades. Thus, it appears that bacteria ancestrally associated with other North American legumes have evolved to utilize C. scoparius, by acquiring SI-region genes from European C. scoparius symbionts. Inoculation assays indicated that North American isolates were as competent as European strains in promoting plant growth, consistent with the findings on symbiont ancestry.}, } @article {pmid24711066, year = {2014}, author = {Kopecký, J and Nesvorná, M and Hubert, J}, title = {Bartonella-like bacteria carried by domestic mite species.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {21-32}, pmid = {24711066}, issn = {1572-9702}, mesh = {Animals ; Bartonella/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Mites/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are carried by haematophagous mites, ticks, fleas and flies, and attack the erythrocytes of mammals. Here we describe a Bartonella-like clade, a distinct group related to Bartonellaceae, in stored-product mites (Acari: Astigmata) and a predatory mite Cheyletus eruditus (Acari: Prostigmata) based on the analysis of cloned 16S rRNA gene sequences. By using the clade-specific primers, closely related Bartonella-like 16S rRNA sequences were amplified from both laboratory colonies and field strains of three synanthropic mite species (Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and a predatory mite. Altogether, sequences of Bartonella-like bacteria were found in 11 strains, but were not detected in Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus and two strains of L. destructor. All obtained sequences formed a separate cluster branching as a sister group to Bartonellaceae and related to other separate clusters comprising uncultured bacterial clones from human skin and hemipteran insects (Nysius plebeius and Nysius sp.). The classification of sequences into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed a difference between A. siro and T. putrescentiae suggesting that the Bartonella-like bacteria are different in these two mite species. However, species specific sequences in separate OTUs were observed also for C. eruditus. Possible symbiotic interactions between Bartonella-like bacteria and their mite hosts are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24709748, year = {2014}, author = {Pánková, H and Raabová, J and Münzbergová, Z}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis and local adaptation in Aster amellus: a field transplant experiment.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e93967}, pmid = {24709748}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Aster Plant/*physiology ; Czech Republic ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Roots ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many plant populations have adapted to local soil conditions. However, the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is often overlooked in this context. Only a few studies have used reciprocal transplant experiments to study the relationships between soil conditions, mycorrhizal colonisation and plant growth. Furthermore, most of the studies were conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions. However, long-term field experiments can provide more realistic insights into this issue. We conducted a five-year field reciprocal transplant experiment to study the relationships between soil conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth in the obligate mycotrophic herb Aster amellus. We conducted this study in two regions in the Czech Republic that differ significantly in their soil nutrient content, namely Czech Karst (region K) and Ceske Stredohori (region S). Plants that originated from region S had significantly higher mycorrhizal colonisation than plants from region K, indicating that the percentage of mycorrhizal colonisation has a genetic basis. We found no evidence of local adaptation in Aster amellus. Instead, plants from region S outperformed the plants from region K in both target regions. Similarly, plants from region S showed more mycorrhizal colonisation in all cases, which was likely driven by the lower nutrient content in the soil from that region. Thus, plant aboveground biomass and mycorrhizal colonisation exhibited corresponding differences between the two target regions and regions of origin. Higher mycorrhizal colonisation in the plants from region with lower soil nutrient content (region S) in both target regions indicates that mycorrhizal colonisation is an adaptive trait. However, lower aboveground biomass in the plants with lower mycorrhizal colonisation suggests that the plants from region K are in fact maladapted by their low inherent mycorrhizal colonization. We conclude that including mycorrhizal symbiosis in local adaptation studies may increase our understanding of the mechanisms by which plants adapt to their environment.}, } @article {pmid24708070, year = {2015}, author = {Kumar, A and Dames, JF and Gupta, A and Sharma, S and Gilbert, JA and Ahmad, P}, title = {Current developments in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi research and its role in salinity stress alleviation: a biotechnological perspective.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {461-474}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2014.899964}, pmid = {24708070}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {Biotechnology ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/metabolism ; Salinity ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form widespread symbiotic associations with 80% of known land plants. They play a major role in plant nutrition, growth, water absorption, nutrient cycling and protection from pathogens, and as a result, contribute to ecosystem processes. Salinity stress conditions undoubtedly limit plant productivity and, therefore, the role of AMF as a biological tool for improving plant salt stress tolerance, is gaining economic importance worldwide. However, this approach requires a better understanding of how plants and AMF intimately interact with each other in saline environments and how this interaction leads to physiological changes in plants. This knowledge is important to develop sustainable strategies for successful utilization of AMF to improve plant health under a variety of stress conditions. Recent advances in the field of molecular biology, "omics" technology and advanced microscopy can provide new insight about these mechanisms of interaction between AMF and plants, as well as other microbes. This review mainly discusses the effect of salinity on AMF and plants, and role of AMF in alleviation of salinity stress including insight on methods for AMF identification. The focus remains on latest advancements in mycorrhizal research that can potentially offer an integrative understanding of the role of AMF in salinity tolerance and sustainable crop production.}, } @article {pmid24707045, year = {2014}, author = {Chiasson, DM and Loughlin, PC and Mazurkiewicz, D and Mohammadidehcheshmeh, M and Fedorova, EE and Okamoto, M and McLean, E and Glass, AD and Smith, SE and Bisseling, T and Tyerman, SD and Day, DA and Kaiser, BN}, title = {Soybean SAT1 (Symbiotic Ammonium Transporter 1) encodes a bHLH transcription factor involved in nodule growth and NH4+ transport.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {13}, pages = {4814-4819}, pmid = {24707045}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cation Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; DNA, Plant/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Protein Binding ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Soybean Proteins/*metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Glycine max symbiotic ammonium transporter 1 was first documented as a putative ammonium (NH4(+)) channel localized to the symbiosome membrane of soybean root nodules. We show that Glycine max symbiotic ammonium transporter 1 is actually a membrane-localized basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) DNA-binding transcription factor now renamed Glycine max bHLH membrane 1 (GmbHLHm1). In yeast, GmbHLHm1 enters the nucleus and transcriptionally activates a unique plasma membrane NH4(+) channel Saccharomyces cerevisiae ammonium facilitator 1. Ammonium facilitator 1 homologs are present in soybean and other plant species, where they often share chromosomal microsynteny with bHLHm1 loci. GmbHLHm1 is important to the soybean rhizobium symbiosis because loss of activity results in a reduction of nodule fitness and growth. Transcriptional changes in nodules highlight downstream signaling pathways involving circadian clock regulation, nutrient transport, hormone signaling, and cell wall modification. Collectively, these results show that GmbHLHm1 influences nodule development and activity and is linked to a novel mechanism for NH4(+) transport common to both yeast and plants.}, } @article {pmid24706863, year = {2014}, author = {Farkas, A and Maróti, G and Durgő, H and Györgypál, Z and Lima, RM and Medzihradszky, KF and Kereszt, A and Mergaert, P and Kondorosi, É}, title = {Medicago truncatula symbiotic peptide NCR247 contributes to bacteroid differentiation through multiple mechanisms.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {14}, pages = {5183-5188}, pmid = {24706863}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peptides/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry ; Protein Binding ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between rhizobia soil bacteria and legume plants results in the formation of root nodules where plant cells are fully packed with nitrogen fixing bacteria. In the host cells, the bacteria adapt to the intracellular environment and gain the ability for nitrogen fixation. Depending on the host plants, the symbiotic fate of bacteria can be either reversible or irreversible. In Medicago and related legume species, the bacteria undergo a host-directed multistep differentiation process culminating in the formation of elongated and branched polyploid bacteria with definitive loss of cell division ability. The plant factors are nodule-specific symbiotic peptides. Approximately 600 of them are nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides produced in the rhizobium-infected plant cells. NCRs are targeted to the endosymbionts, and concerted action of different sets of peptides governs different stages of endosymbiont maturation, whereas the symbiotic function of individual NCRs is unknown. This study focused on NCR247, a cationic peptide exhibiting in vitro antimicrobial activities. We show that NCR247 acts in those nodule cells where bacterial cell division is arrested and cell elongation begins. NCR247 penetrates the bacteria and forms complexes with many bacterial proteins. Interaction with FtsZ required for septum formation is one of the host interventions for inhibiting bacterial cell division. Complex formation with the ribosomal proteins affects translation and contributes to altered proteome and physiology of the endosymbiont. Binding to the chaperone GroEL amplifies the NCR247-modulated biological processes. We show that GroEL1 of Sinorhizobium meliloti is required for efficient infection, terminal differentiation, and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24706718, year = {2014}, author = {Bourion, V and Martin, C and de Larambergue, H and Jacquin, F and Aubert, G and Martin-Magniette, ML and Balzergue, S and Lescure, G and Citerne, S and Lepetit, M and Munier-Jolain, N and Salon, C and Duc, G}, title = {Unexpectedly low nitrogen acquisition and absence of root architecture adaptation to nitrate supply in a Medicago truncatula highly branched root mutant.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {65}, number = {9}, pages = {2365-2380}, pmid = {24706718}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To complement N2 fixation through symbiosis, legumes can efficiently acquire soil mineral N through adapted root architecture. However, root architecture adaptation to mineral N availability has been little studied in legumes. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of nitrate availability on root architecture in Medicago truncatula and assessed the N-uptake potential of a new highly branched root mutant, TR185. The effects of varying nitrate supply on both root architecture and N uptake were characterized in the mutant and in the wild type. Surprisingly, the root architecture of the mutant was not modified by variation in nitrate supply. Moreover, despite its highly branched root architecture, TR185 had a permanently N-starved phenotype. A transcriptome analysis was performed to identify genes differentially expressed between the two genotypes. This analysis revealed differential responses related to the nitrate acquisition pathway and confirmed that N starvation occurred in TR185. Changes in amino acid content and expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway were associated with differences in root architecture between the mutant and the wild type.}, } @article {pmid24706597, year = {2014}, author = {Terraz, G and Gueguen, G and Arnó, J and Fleury, F and Mouton, L}, title = {Nuclear and cytoplasmic differentiation among Mediterranean populations of Bemisia tabaci: testing the biological relevance of cytotypes.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {70}, number = {10}, pages = {1503-1513}, doi = {10.1002/ps.3792}, pmid = {24706597}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Europe ; Hemiptera/*classification/*genetics/microbiology ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; *Phylogeography ; *Reproductive Isolation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The taxonomy of the species complex Bemisia tabaci is still an unresolved issue. Recently, phylogenetic analysis based on mtCOI identified 31 cryptic species. However, mitochondrial diversity is observed within these species, associated with distinct symbiotic bacterial communities forming associations, which here are called cytotypes. The authors investigated the biological significance of two cytotypes (Q1 and Q2) belonging to the Mediterranean species, which have only been found in allopatry in the Western Mediterranean to date. Sampling was done over a few years in Western Europe, and sympatric situations were found that allowed their reproductive compatibility to be tested in the field with the use of microsatellites.

RESULTS: The field survey indicated that, in spite of its recent introduction, Q2 is well established in France and Spain, where it coexists with Q1. Microsatellite data showed that, in allopatry, Q1 and Q2 are highly differentiated, while there is little or no genetic differentiation when they coexist in sympatry, suggesting a high rate of hybridisation. Crossing experiments in the lab confirmed their interfertility.

CONCLUSION: Q1 and Q2 hybridise, which confirms that they belong to the same species, in spite of the high degree of genetic differentiation at both the cytoplasmic and nuclear levels, and also suggests that their symbiotic bacteria do not prevent hybridisation.}, } @article {pmid24706387, year = {2014}, author = {Maor-Landaw, K and Karako-Lampert, S and Waldman Ben-Asher, H and Goffredo, S and Falini, G and Dubinsky, Z and Levy, O}, title = {Gene expression profiles during short-term heat stress in the red sea coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {20}, number = {10}, pages = {3026-3035}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12592}, pmid = {24706387}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*physiology ; *Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation ; Gene Expression ; Heat-Shock Response/*physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; *Unfolded Protein Response ; }, abstract = {During the past several decades, corals worldwide have been affected by severe bleaching events leading to wide-spread coral mortality triggered by global warming. The symbiotic Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata from the Gulf of Eilat is considered an opportunistic 'r' strategist. It can thrive in relatively unstable environments and is considered a stress-tolerant species. Here, we used a S. pistillata custom microarray to examine gene expression patterns and cellular pathways during short-term (13-day) heat stress. The results allowed us to identify a two-step reaction to heat stress, which intensified significantly as the temperature was raised to a 32 °C threshold, beyond which, coping strategies failed at 34 °C. We identified potential 'early warning genes' and 'severe heat-related genes'. Our findings suggest that during short-term heat stress, S. pistillata may divert cellular energy into mechanisms such as the ER-unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER-associated degradation (ERAD) at the expense of growth and biomineralization processes in an effort to survive and subsequently recover from the stress. We suggest a mechanistic theory for the heat stress responses that may explain the success of some species which can thrive under a wider range of temperatures relative to others.}, } @article {pmid24705871, year = {2014}, author = {Ahmed, M and Stal, LJ and Hasnain, S}, title = {Biofilm formation and indole-3-acetic acid production by two rhizospheric unicellular cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {24}, number = {8}, pages = {1015-1025}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1310.10099}, pmid = {24705871}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Biofilms/*growth & development ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Cyanobacteria/*growth & development/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Light ; Oryza/microbiology ; Peas/microbiology ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Seedlings/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms that live in the rhizosphere play a pivotal role in the functioning and maintenance of soil ecosystems. The study of rhizospheric cyanobacteria has been hampered by the difficulty to culture and maintain them in the laboratory. The present work investigated the production of the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and the potential of biofilm formation on the rhizoplane of pea plants by two cyanobacterial strains, isolated from rice rhizosphere. The unicellular cyanobacteria Chroococcidiopsis sp. MMG-5 and Synechocystis sp. MMG-8 that were isolated from a rice rhizosphere, were investigated. Production of IAA by Chroococcidiopsis sp. MMG-5 and Synechocystis sp. MMG-8 was measured under experimental conditions (pH and light). The bioactivity of the cyanobacterial auxin was demonstrated through the alteration of the rooting pattern of Pisum sativum seedlings. The increase in the concentration of L-tryptophan and the time that this amino acid was present in the medium resulted in a significant enhancement of the synthesis of IAA (r > 0.900 at p = 0.01). There was also a significant correlation between the concentration of IAA in the supernatant of the cyanobacteria cultures and the root length and number of the pea seedlings. Observations made by confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed the presence of cyanobacteria on the surface of the roots and also provided evidence for the penetration of the cyanobacteria in the endorhizosphere. We show that the synthesis of IAA by Chroococcidiopsis sp. MMG-5 and Synechocystis sp. MMG-8 occurs under different environmental conditions and that the auxin is important for the development of the seedling roots and for establishing an intimate symbiosis between cyanobacteria and host plants.}, } @article {pmid24705501, year = {2014}, author = {Liu, L and Herfindal, L and Jokela, J and Shishido, TK and Wahlsten, M and Døskeland, SO and Sivonen, K}, title = {Cyanobacteria from terrestrial and marine sources contain apoptogens able to overcome chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia cells.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {2036-2053}, pmid = {24705501}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyanobacteria/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Fibroblasts/drug effects/metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/*drug therapy/pathology ; Rats ; }, abstract = {In this study, we investigated forty cyanobacterial isolates from biofilms, gastropods, brackish water and symbiotic lichen habitats. Their aqueous and organic extracts were used to screen for apoptosis-inducing activity against acute myeloid leukemia cells. A total of 28 extracts showed cytotoxicity against rat acute myeloid leukemia (IPC-81) cells. The design of the screen made it possible to eliminate known toxins, such as microcystins and nodularin, or known metabolites with anti-leukemic activity, such as adenosine and its analogs. A cytotoxicity test on human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) fibroblasts indicated that 21 of the 28 extracts containing anti-acute myeloid leukemia (AML) activity showed selectivity in favor of leukemia cells. Extracts L26-O and L30-O were able to partly overcome the chemotherapy resistance induced by the oncogenic protein Bcl-2, whereas extract L1-O overcame protection from the deletion of the tumor suppressor protein p53. In conclusion, cyanobacteria are a prolific resource for anti-leukemia compounds that have potential for pharmaceutical applications. Based on the variety of cellular responses, we also conclude that the different anti-leukemic compounds in the cyanobacterial extracts target different elements of the death machinery of mammalian cells.}, } @article {pmid24705023, year = {2014}, author = {Nagae, M and Takeda, N and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Common symbiosis genes CERBERUS and NSP1 provide additional insight into the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal and root nodule symbioses in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e28544}, pmid = {24705023}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Lotus/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) and root nodule symbiosis (RNS) share several common symbiotic components, and many of the common symbiosis mutants block the entry of symbionts into the roots. We recently reported that CERBERUS (an E3 ubiquitin ligase) and NSP1 (a GRAS family transcription factor), required for RNS, also modulate AMS development in Lotus japonicus. The novel common symbiosis mutants, cerberus and nsp1, have low colonization of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, caused by a defect in internal hyphal elongation and by a decreased fungal entry into the roots, respectively. Here, we showed that CERBERUS was induced at the sites of symbiotic fungal or bacterial infection. NSP1 has been implicated in a strigolactone biosynthesis gene DWARF27 expression. Nevertheless, in nsp1, DWARF27 was induced by inoculation with AM fungi, implying the existence of a NSP1-independent regulatory mechanism of strigolactone biosynthesis during AMS establishment. These results support functional analysis of CERBERUS and NSP1, and also contribute to elucidation of common mechanisms in AMS and RNS.}, } @article {pmid24704731, year = {2014}, author = {Herrera-Martínez, A and Ruiz-Medrano, R and Galván-Gordillo, SV and Toscano Morales, R and Gómez-Silva, L and Valdés, M and Hinojosa-Moya, J and Xoconostle-Cázares, B}, title = {A 2-component system is involved in the early stages of the Pisolithus tinctorius-Pinus greggii symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e28604}, pmid = {24704731}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Histidine Kinase ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology ; Pinus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Exudates/*metabolism ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Salicylanilides ; Symbiosis ; Zeatin/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis results in profound morphological and physiological modifications in both plant and fungus. This in turn is the product of differential gene expression in both co-symbionts, giving rise to specialized cell types capable of performing novel functions. During the precolonization stage, chemical signals from root exudates are sensed by the ectomycorrizal fungus, and vice versa, which are in principle responsible for the observed change in the developmental symbionts program. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in the signaling and recognition between ectomycorrhizal fungi and their host plants. In the present work, we characterized a novel lactone, termed pinelactone, and identified a gene encoding for a histidine kinase in Pisolithus tictorius, which function is proposed to be the perception of the aforementioned metabolites. In this study, the use of closantel, a specific inhibitor of histidine kinase phosphorylation, affected the capacity for fungal colonization in the symbiosis between Pisolithus tinctorius and Pinus greggii, indicating that a 2-component system (TCS) may operate in the early events of plant-fungus interaction. Indeed, the metabolites induced the accumulation of Pisolithus tinctorius mRNA for a putative histidine kinase (termed Pthik1). Of note, Pthik1 was able to partially complement a S. cerevisiae histidine kinase mutant, demonstrating its role in the response to the presence of the aforementioned metabolites. Our results indicate a role of a 2-component pathway in the early stages of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis before colonization. Furthermore, a novel lactone from Pinus greggii root exudates may activate a signal transduction pathway that contributes to the establishment of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24704661, year = {2014}, author = {Yoon, IS}, title = {The narrative structure of the unconsciousness in The Story of Sim Cheong.}, journal = {Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine}, volume = {22}, number = {3}, pages = {443-451}, doi = {10.3233/THC-140802}, pmid = {24704661}, issn = {1878-7401}, mesh = {Humans ; Incest/*psychology ; *Literature ; Republic of Korea ; Unconsciousness/*psychology ; }, abstract = {The narrative structure of The Story of Sim Cheong^1 exists on two levels: the narrative structure of the surface and the narrative structure of the unconscious ness in my terminology. The former is deduced from the content of the work corresponding to the concept of objective physical reality, and the other to the concept of psychic reality according to Freud. I see that the heroine Cheong was in an incestuous love relationship with her blind father nicknamed Sim Bongsa - Sim being his family name, Bongsa meaning the blind person - at the unconscious level. Their relationship became an incestuous symbiosis in which they are indispensable to each other. However, there is a break-up of their intimate relationship between father and daughter due to her abandonment by her father. This abandonment results in turn by her abandoning him; there is a mutual abandonment between the father and the daughter. A psychoanalytic study leads us to discover the narrative structure of the unconsciousness of The Story of Sim Cheong: being abandoned by her father and abandoning him from the perspective of the daughter.}, } @article {pmid24703617, year = {2014}, author = {Moon-van der Staay, SY and van der Staay, GW and Michalowski, T and Jouany, JP and Pristas, P and Javorský, P and Kišidayová, S and Varadyova, Z and McEwan, NR and Newbold, CJ and van Alen, T and de Graaf, R and Schmid, M and Huynen, MA and Hackstein, JH}, title = {The symbiotic intestinal ciliates and the evolution of their hosts.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {166-173}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2014.01.004}, pmid = {24703617}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Ciliophora/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Feces/parasitology ; Intestines/*parasitology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Rumen/parasitology ; Ruminants/*classification/genetics/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {The evolution of sophisticated differentiations of the gastro-intestinal tract enabled herbivorous mammals to digest dietary cellulose and hemicellulose with the aid of a complex anaerobic microbiota. Distinctive symbiotic ciliates, which are unique to this habitat, are the largest representatives of this microbial community. Analyses of a total of 484 different 18S rRNA genes show that extremely complex, but related ciliate communities can occur in the rumen of cattle, sheep, goats and red deer (301 sequences). The communities in the hindgut of equids (Equus caballus, Equus quagga), and elephants (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africanus; 162 sequences), which are clearly distinct from the ruminant ciliate biota, exhibit a much higher diversity than anticipated on the basis of their morphology. All these ciliates from the gastro-intestinal tract constitute a monophyletic group, which consists of two major taxa, i.e. Vestibuliferida and Entodiniomorphida. The ciliates from the evolutionarily older hindgut fermenters exhibit a clustering that is specific for higher taxa of their hosts, as extant species of horse and zebra on the one hand, and Africa and Indian elephant on the other hand, share related ciliates. The evolutionary younger ruminants altogether share the various entodiniomorphs and the vestibuliferids from ruminants.}, } @article {pmid24700539, year = {2015}, author = {Hirose, E}, title = {Ascidian photosymbiosis: diversity of cyanobacterial transmission during embryogenesis.}, journal = {Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000)}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {121-131}, doi = {10.1002/dvg.22778}, pmid = {24700539}, issn = {1526-968X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; *Embryonic Development ; Larva ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*embryology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Some tropical ascidians of the family Didemnidae invariably harbor cyanobacterial cells in the common cloacal cavities and/or tunic. This is the only lifelong, obligate photosymbiosis reported in chordates. Photosymbionts are transferred from the maternal colony to embryos or prehatching larvae brooded in the colonies. Here we review the diversity of modes of cyanobacterial transmission to shed a light on the evolutionary history of ascidian photosymbiosis. Ascidian species exhibit several modes of cyanobacterial transmission. In Diplosoma species, the mode is constrained phylogenetically; all photosymbiotic Diplosoma have the same mode of transmission using a unique organ known as the rastrum. In other photosymbiotic species, the mode is constrained by the distribution pattern of photosymbionts in the host colony. Species of different genera have similar modes of transmission wherein they harbor cyanobacterial cells at similar sites within colonies. Accordingly, host species of distinct lineages likely acquired similar modes of transmission convergently. Why obligate photosymbiosis was established exclusively in these didemnid ascidians remains uncertain. Ascidian photosymbiosis is discussed from the viewpoint of evolution and diversification of vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid24697073, year = {2013}, author = {Chai, HN and Wu, HY and Du, YZ}, title = {[Detection and analysis of symbiotic bacteria, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, in striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)].}, journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {3517-3522}, pmid = {24697073}, issn = {1001-9332}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Genes, Bacterial ; Lepidoptera/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*classification/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {In this study, 23S rDNA from Arsenophonus and wsp gene from Wolbachia were amplified by PCR method using specific primers to study their symbiosis in Chilo suppressalis from 20 locations of China. The results indicated that Arsenophonus and Wolbachia infection rates differed widely in C. suppressalis populations. The infection rates of Arsenophonus ranged from 5.0% to 50.0% in five geographical populations from Harbin, Huishui, Jilin, Nanyang, and Yangzhou. Wolbachia ranged from 25.0% to 40.0% in three geographical populations from Hanzhong, Nanning, and Yangzhou. Their symbiosis was not observed in C. suppressalis of other locations. The sequences of 23S rDNA gene which named csArs were exactly the same in the five populations. However, the sequences of wsp from the three strains of Wolbachia showed wChisup1 belonged to supergroup A, wChisup5 and wChisup6 belonged to supergroup B. The results showed the strains of Arsenophonus from C. suppressalis of the five different locations were identical, whereas the strains of Wolbachia were phylogenetically diverse. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that 23S rDNA and wsp sequences found in C. suppressalis were exactly the same with or very closely related to relevant sequences in other species.}, } @article {pmid24695521, year = {2014}, author = {Peng, J and Hao, B and Liu, L and Wang, S and Ma, B and Yang, Y and Xie, F and Li, Y}, title = {RNA-Seq and microarrays analyses reveal global differential transcriptomes of Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R between bacteroids and free-living cells.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e93626}, pmid = {24695521}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; *Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; *Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R occurs either in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with its host plant, Astragalus sinicus, or free-living in the soil. The M. huakuii 7653R genome has recently been sequenced. To better understand the complex biochemical and developmental changes that occur in 7653R during bacteroid development, RNA-Seq and Microarrays were used to investigate the differential transcriptomes of 7653R bacteroids and free-living cells. The two approaches identified several thousand differentially expressed genes. The most prominent up-regulation occurred in the symbiosis plasmids, meanwhile gene expression is concentrated to a set of genes (clusters) in bacteroids to fulfill corresponding functional requirements. The results suggested that the main energy metabolism is active while fatty acid metabolism is inactive in bacteroid and that most of genes relevant to cell cycle are down-regulated accordingly. For a global analysis, we reconstructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for 7653R and integrated gene expression data into the network using Cytoscape. A highly inter-connected subnetwork, with function enrichment for nitrogen fixation, was found, and a set of hubs and previously uncharacterized genes participating in nitrogen fixation were identified. The results described here provide a broader biological landscape and novel insights that elucidate rhizobial bacteroid differentiation, nitrogen fixation and related novel gene functions.}, } @article {pmid24694601, year = {2014}, author = {Kobayashi, H and Fujii-Muramatsu, R and Noda, H and Takeishi, K}, title = {Construction of an expressible BAC library of the unculturable insect microorganism, stink bug Plautia stali symbiont, for the search of biologically active and useful symbiont products.}, journal = {Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {528-533}, doi = {10.1248/bpb.b13-00688}, pmid = {24694601}, issn = {1347-5215}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial/*genetics ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Library ; Genetic Vectors/genetics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {While gene products and metabolites of insect symbiotic bacteria may act as useful resources for insect-microbe studies and medicinal use, it is usually difficult to obtain the insect symbionts to some extent in quantity because most of them are unculturable. In this study, the possibility of using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries as a heterologous gene expression tool for the discovery of novel symbiont metabolites was evaluated. A BAC library was constructed from the symbiont purified from the posterior midgut cecum of the stink bug Plautia stali. The BAC library, which consisted of 513 clones with an average insert size of 41 kb, represented greater than five-fold coverage of the genome. The ability of the BAC clones to express plural genes from large-sized insert DNA in Escherichia coli was examined by the growth of BAC-transformed leu operon-deficient DH10B cells on M9 minimal medium supplemented with glucose. Two BAC clones complemented leucine deficiency in DH10B cells; the clones contained the leu operon of the symbiont chromosome. The P. stali symbiont genes introduced into the BAC vector are functional in E. coli, and these genes are expressed in an operon unit. BAC libraries can be used to generate gene product- and metabolite-libraries, facilitating to characterize potential metabolites of the P. stali symbiont.}, } @article {pmid24692632, year = {2014}, author = {Gao, ZM and Wang, Y and Tian, RM and Wong, YH and Batang, ZB and Al-Suwailem, AM and Bajic, VB and Qian, PY}, title = {Symbiotic adaptation drives genome streamlining of the cyanobacterial sponge symbiont "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum".}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {e00079-14}, pmid = {24692632}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Porifera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Synechococcus/*genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {"Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum" is a cyanobacterial symbiont widely distributed in sponges, but its functions at the genome level remain unknown. Here, we obtained the draft genome (1.66 Mbp, 90% estimated genome recovery) of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" strain SH4 inhabiting the Red Sea sponge Carteriospongia foliascens. Phylogenomic analysis revealed a high dissimilarity between SH4 and free-living cyanobacterial strains. Essential functions, such as photosynthesis, the citric acid cycle, and DNA replication, were detected in SH4. Eukaryoticlike domains that play important roles in sponge-symbiont interactions were identified exclusively in the symbiont. However, SH4 could not biosynthesize methionine and polyamines and had lost partial genes encoding low-molecular-weight peptides of the photosynthesis complex, antioxidant enzymes, DNA repair enzymes, and proteins involved in resistance to environmental toxins and in biosynthesis of capsular and extracellular polysaccharides. These genetic modifications imply that "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" SH4 represents a low-light-adapted cyanobacterial symbiont and has undergone genome streamlining to adapt to the sponge's mild intercellular environment. IMPORTANCE Although the diversity of sponge-associated microbes has been widely studied, genome-level research on sponge symbionts and their symbiotic mechanisms is rare because they are unculturable. "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum" is a widely distributed uncultivated cyanobacterial sponge symbiont. The genome of this symbiont will help to characterize its evolutionary relationship and functional dissimilarity to closely related free-living cyanobacterial strains. Knowledge of its adaptive mechanism to the sponge host also depends on the genome-level research. The data presented here provided an alternative strategy to obtain the draft genome of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" strain SH4 and provide insight into its evolutionary and functional features.}, } @article {pmid24691447, year = {2014}, author = {Fujita, H and Aoki, S and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Evolutionary dynamics of nitrogen fixation in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e93670}, pmid = {24691447}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobiaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The stabilization of host-symbiont mutualism against the emergence of parasitic individuals is pivotal to the evolution of cooperation. One of the most famous symbioses occurs between legumes and their colonizing rhizobia, in which rhizobia extract nutrients (or benefits) from legume plants while supplying them with nitrogen resources produced by nitrogen fixation (or costs). Natural environments, however, are widely populated by ineffective rhizobia that extract benefits without paying costs and thus proliferate more efficiently than nitrogen-fixing cooperators. How and why this mutualism becomes stabilized and evolutionarily persists has been extensively discussed. To better understand the evolutionary dynamics of this symbiosis system, we construct a simple model based on the continuous snowdrift game with multiple interacting players. We investigate the model using adaptive dynamics and numerical simulations. We find that symbiotic evolution depends on the cost-benefit balance, and that cheaters widely emerge when the cost and benefit are similar in strength. In this scenario, the persistence of the symbiotic system is compatible with the presence of cheaters. This result suggests that the symbiotic relationship is robust to the emergence of cheaters, and may explain the prevalence of cheating rhizobia in nature. In addition, various stabilizing mechanisms, such as partner fidelity feedback, partner choice, and host sanction, can reinforce the symbiotic relationship by affecting the fitness of symbionts in various ways. This result suggests that the symbiotic relationship is cooperatively stabilized by various mechanisms. In addition, mixed nodule populations are thought to encourage cheater emergence, but our model predicts that, in certain situations, cheaters can disappear from such populations. These findings provide a theoretical basis of the evolutionary dynamics of legume-rhizobia symbioses, which is extendable to other single-host, multiple-colonizer systems.}, } @article {pmid24689981, year = {2014}, author = {Parker, BJ and Garcia, JR and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Genetic variation in resistance and fecundity tolerance in a natural host-pathogen interaction.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {8}, pages = {2421-2429}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12418}, pmid = {24689981}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/microbiology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Fertility/*genetics ; Fungi/*pathogenicity ; Genetic Fitness ; *Genetic Variation ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Individuals vary in their ability to defend against pathogens. Determining how natural selection maintains this variation is often difficult, in part because there are multiple ways that organisms defend themselves against pathogens. One important distinction is between mechanisms of resistance that fight off infection, and mechanisms of tolerance that limit the impact of infection on host fitness without influencing pathogen growth. Theory predicts variation among genotypes in resistance, but not necessarily in tolerance. Here, we study variation among pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genotypes in defense against the fungal pathogen Pandora neoaphidis. It has been well established that pea aphids can harbor symbiotic bacteria that protect them from fungal pathogens. However, it is unclear whether aphid genotypes vary in defense against Pandora in the absence of protective symbionts. We therefore measured resistance and tolerance to fungal infection in aphid lines collected without symbionts, and found variation among lines in survival and in the percent of individuals that formed a sporulating cadaver. We also found evidence of variation in tolerance to the effects of pathogen infection on host fecundity, but no variation in tolerance of pathogen-induced mortality. We discuss these findings in light of theoretical predictions about host-pathogen coevolution.}, } @article {pmid24688847, year = {2014}, author = {Jernigan, KK and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Ankyrin domains across the Tree of Life.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e264}, pmid = {24688847}, issn = {2167-8359}, support = {F32 GM100778/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD007043/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Ankyrin (ANK) repeats are one of the most common amino acid sequence motifs that mediate interactions between proteins of myriad sizes, shapes and functions. We assess their widespread abundance in Bacteria and Archaea for the first time and demonstrate in Bacteria that lifestyle, rather than phylogenetic history, is a predictor of ANK repeat abundance. Unrelated organisms that forge facultative and obligate symbioses with eukaryotes show enrichment for ANK repeats in comparison to free-living bacteria. The reduced genomes of obligate intracellular bacteria remarkably contain a higher fraction of ANK repeat proteins than other lifestyles, and the number of ANK repeats in each protein is augmented in comparison to other bacteria. Taken together, these results reevaluate the concept that ANK repeats are signature features of eukaryotic proteins and support the hypothesis that intracellular bacteria broadly employ ANK repeats for structure-function relationships with the eukaryotic host cell.}, } @article {pmid24688382, year = {2014}, author = {Bompadre, MJ and Pérgola, M and Fernández Bidondo, L and Colombo, RP and Silvani, VA and Pardo, AG and Ocampo, JA and Godeas, AM}, title = {Evaluation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi capacity to alleviate abiotic stress of olive (Olea europaea L.) plants at different transplant conditions.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {378950}, pmid = {24688382}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Ascorbate Peroxidases/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Fungi/physiology ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Olea/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The capacity of roots to sense soil physicochemical parameters plays an essential role in maintaining plant nutritional and developmental functions under abiotic stress. These conditions generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant tissues causing oxidation of proteins and lipids among others. Some plants have developed adaptive mechanisms to counteract such adverse conditions such as symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF enhance plant growth and improve transplant survival by protecting host plants against environmental stresses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alleviation of transplanting stress by two strains of Rhizophagus irregularis (GC2 and GA5) in olive. Our results show that olive plants have an additional energetic expense in growth due to an adaptative response to the growing stage and to the mycorrhizal colonization at the first transplant. However, at the second transplant the coinoculation improves olive plant growth and protects against oxidative stress followed by the GA5-inoculation. In conclusion, a combination of two AMF strains at the beginning of olive propagation produces vigorous plants successfully protected in field cultivation even with an additional cost at the beginning of growth.}, } @article {pmid24688055, year = {2014}, author = {Cardoso-Gustavson, P and Campbell, LM and Mazzoni-Viveiros, SC and de Barros, F}, title = {Floral colleters in Pleurothallidinae (Epidendroideae: Orchidaceae).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {101}, number = {4}, pages = {587-597}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1400012}, pmid = {24688055}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Flowers/*anatomy & histology/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Meristem/anatomy & histology/growth & development/physiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Orchidaceae/*anatomy & histology/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Mucilage/metabolism ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The term colleter is applied to trichomes or emergences positioned close to developing vegetative and floral meristems that secrete a sticky, mucilaginous, and/or lipophilic exudate. Several ecological functions are attributed to these glands, but none are exclusive to colleters. Patterns of morphology and distribution of colleters may be valuable for systematics and phylogeny, especially concerning problematic and large groups such as the subtribe Pleurothallidinae, and are also essential to understand the evolution of these glands in Orchidaceae as a whole.

METHODS: We used scanning electron and light microscopy to examine the structure and occurrence of trichomes on bracts and sepals and in the invaginations of the external ovary wall (IEOW) in flowers in several developmental stages from species in seven genera.

KEY RESULTS: The exudate was composed of polysaccharides, lipophilic, and phenolic compounds. Colleters were secretory only during the development of floral organs, except for the glands in the IEOW that were also active in flowers at anthesis. After the secretory phase, fungal hyphae were found penetrating senescent trichomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Trichome-like colleters seem to be a widespread character in Epidendroideae, and digitiform colleters are possibly the common type in this subfamily. Mucilage from IEOW colleters may aid in the establishment of symbiotic fungi necessary for seed germination. The presence of colleters in the IEOW may be a case of homeoheterotopy, in which extrafloral nectaries that produce simple sugar-based secretions (as in other orchid species) have changed to glands that produce secretions with complex polysaccharides, as in Pleurothallidinae.}, } @article {pmid24687978, year = {2014}, author = {Rogers, C and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Synthetic biology approaches to engineering the nitrogen symbiosis in cereals.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {65}, number = {8}, pages = {1939-1946}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eru098}, pmid = {24687978}, issn = {1460-2431}, support = {BB/K003712/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/genetics/*physiology ; Edible Grain/genetics/*physiology ; Fabaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Genetic Engineering ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen is abundant in the earth's atmosphere but, unlike carbon, cannot be directly assimilated by plants. The limitation this places on plant productivity has been circumvented in contemporary agriculture through the production and application of chemical fertilizers. The chemical reduction of nitrogen for this purpose consumes large amounts of energy and the reactive nitrogen released into the environment as a result of fertilizer application leads to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as widespread eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. The environmental impacts are intensified by injudicious use of fertilizers in many parts of the world. Simultaneously, limitations in the production and supply of chemical fertilizers in other regions are leading to low agricultural productivity and malnutrition. Nitrogen can be directly fixed from the atmosphere by some bacteria and Archaea, which possess the enzyme nitrogenase. Some plant species, most notably legumes, have evolved close symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Engineering cereal crops with the capability to fix their own nitrogen could one day address the problems created by the over- and under-use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture. This could be achieved either by expression of a functional nitrogenase enzyme in the cells of the cereal crop or through transferring the capability to form a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. While potentially transformative, these biotechnological approaches are challenging; however, with recent advances in synthetic biology they are viable long-term goals. This review discusses the possibility of these biotechnological solutions to the nitrogen problem, focusing on engineering the nitrogen symbiosis in cereals.}, } @article {pmid24687355, year = {2013}, author = {López-Velázquez, G and Díaz-García, L and Anzo, A and Parra-Ortiz, M and Llamosas-Gallardo, B and Ortiz-Hernández, AA and Mancilla-Ramírez, J and Cruz-Rubio, JM and Gutiérrez-Castrellón, P}, title = {Safety of a dual potential prebiotic system from Mexican agave "Metlin® and Metlos®", incorporated to an infant formula for term newborn babies: a randomized controlled trial.}, journal = {Revista de investigacion clinica; organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion}, volume = {65}, number = {6}, pages = {483-490}, pmid = {24687355}, issn = {0034-8376}, mesh = {*Agave ; Body Height/drug effects ; Body Weight/drug effects ; Defecation/drug effects ; Diarrhea, Infantile/chemically induced ; Female ; Flatulence/chemically induced ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fructans/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*chemically induced ; Growth Disorders/*chemically induced ; Humans ; Infant Food/*adverse effects ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Milk, Human ; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/pharmacology ; Prebiotics/*adverse effects ; Vomiting/chemically induced ; Weight Gain/drug effects ; }, abstract = {RATIONALE: Infant formulae are being supplemented with probiotics, prebiotics, or symbiotic despite uncertainties regarding their efficacy. Mexican agave is an interesting source of fructans with particular features and with potential prebiotic effects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: RCT in 600 healthy term babies (20 ± 7 days), allocated to receive standard infant formula (control) or infant formula added with a dual prebiotic system "Metlin® and Metlos®", from Mexican agave. Primary outcomes include stools frequency, stools consistency, gastrointestinal intolerance (frequency of abdominal distension, flatulency, regurgitations, vomiting). Secondary outcomes include changes on weight and height along the study and frequency of dermatologic problems (eczema).

RESULTS: In 66,120 days of total follow-up, there were no differences on the frequency of stools passage (Human Milk: 3.8 ± 2.4 evacuations per day; Pro + Metlin + Metlos 3.6 ± 2.0; Pro + Metlin 3.6 ± 2; only Pro 3.4 ± 2.3¸ only formula 3.4 ± 2.0; p NS). Consistency of stools was similar between human milk and prebiotics supplemented groups. Also the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms was significantly low between these groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Fructans derivate from agave and added to infant formula are safe and well tolerated by Mexican healthy term babies.}, } @article {pmid24686938, year = {2014}, author = {Kiers, ET and Denison, RF}, title = {Inclusive fitness in agriculture.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {369}, number = {1642}, pages = {20130367}, pmid = {24686938}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Breeding/*methods ; Crops, Agricultural/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; Humans ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics/physiology ; *Selection, Genetic ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Trade-offs between individual fitness and the collective performance of crop and below-ground symbiont communities are common in agriculture. Plant competitiveness for light and soil resources is key to individual fitness, but higher investments in stems and roots by a plant community to compete for those resources ultimately reduce crop yields. Similarly, rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi may increase their individual fitness by diverting resources to their own reproduction, even if they could have benefited collectively by providing their shared crop host with more nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Past selection for inclusive fitness (benefits to others, weighted by their relatedness) is unlikely to have favoured community performance over individual fitness. The limited evidence for kin recognition in plants and microbes changes this conclusion only slightly. We therefore argue that there is still ample opportunity for human-imposed selection to improve cooperation among crop plants and their symbionts so that they use limited resources more efficiently. This evolutionarily informed approach will require a better understanding of how interactions among crops, and interactions with their symbionts, affected their inclusive fitness in the past and what that implies for current interactions.}, } @article {pmid24685499, year = {2014}, author = {Sadowska-Deś, AD and Dal Grande, F and Lumbsch, HT and Beck, A and Otte, J and Hur, JS and Kim, JA and Schmitt, I}, title = {Integrating coalescent and phylogenetic approaches to delimit species in the lichen photobiont Trebouxia.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {202-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.03.020}, pmid = {24685499}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*classification/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Lichens/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Reproduction, Asexual ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The accurate assessment of species boundaries in symbiotic systems is a prerequisite for the study of speciation, co-evolution and selectivity. Many studies have shown the high genetic diversity of green algae from the genus Trebouxia, the most common photobiont of lichen-forming fungi. However, the phylogenetic relationships, and the amount of cryptic diversity of these algae are still poorly understood, and an adequate species concept for trebouxiophycean algae is still missing. In this study we used a multifaceted approach based on coalescence (GMYC, STEM) and phylogenetic relationships to assess species boundaries in the trebouxioid photobionts of the lichen-forming fungus Lasallia pustulata. We further investigated whether putative species of Trebouxia found in L. pustulata are shared with other lichen-forming fungi. We found that L. pustulata is associated with at least five species of Trebouxia and most of them are shared with other lichen-forming fungi, showing different patterns of species-to-species and species-to-community interactions. We also show that one of the putative Trebouxia species is found exclusively in association with L. pustulata and is restricted to thalli from localities with Mediterranean microclimate. We suggest that the species delimitation method presented in this study is a promising tool to address species boundaries within the heterogeneous genus Trebouxia.}, } @article {pmid24685292, year = {2014}, author = {Smith, SM}, title = {Q&A: What are strigolactones and why are they important to plants and soil microbes?.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {19}, pmid = {24685292}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Plant Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Plant Weeds/drug effects/physiology ; Plants/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {What are strigolactones? Strigolactones are signaling compounds made by plants. They have two main functions: first, as endogenous hormones to control plant development, and second as components of root exudates to promote symbiotic interactions between plants and soil microbes. Some plants that are parasitic on other plants have established a third function, which is to stimulate germination of their seeds when in close proximity to the roots of a suitable host plant. It is this third function that led to the original discovery and naming of strigolactones.}, } @article {pmid24683464, year = {2014}, author = {Polin, S and Simon, JC and Outreman, Y}, title = {An ecological cost associated with protective symbionts of aphids.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {826-830}, pmid = {24683464}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Beneficial symbioses are widespread and diverse in the functions they provide to the host ranging from nutrition to protection. However, these partnerships with symbionts can be costly for the host. Such costs, so called "direct costs", arise from a trade-off between allocating resources to symbiosis and other functions such as reproduction or growth. Ecological costs may also exist when symbiosis negatively affects the interactions between the host and other organisms in the environment. Although ecological costs can deeply impact the evolution of symbiosis, they have received little attention. The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum benefits a strong protection against its main parasitoids from protective bacterial symbionts. The ecological cost of symbiont-mediated resistance to parasitism in aphids was here investigated by analyzing aphid behavior in the presence of predatory ladybirds. We showed that aphids harboring protective symbionts expressed less defensive behaviors, thus suffering a higher predation than symbiont-free aphids. Consequently, our study indicates that this underlined ecological cost may affect both the coevolutionary processes between symbiotic partners and the prevalence of such beneficial bacterial symbionts in host natural populations.}, } @article {pmid24682869, year = {2014}, author = {Maspoli, A and Wenner, N and Mislin, GL and Reimmann, C}, title = {Functional analysis of pyochelin-/enantiopyochelin-related genes from a pathogenicity island of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14.}, journal = {Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {559-573}, doi = {10.1007/s10534-014-9729-4}, pmid = {24682869}, issn = {1572-8773}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Conserved Sequence ; Environmental Microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; *Genomic Islands ; Humans ; Lyases/genetics ; Phenols/*metabolism ; Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/enzymology/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Serine O-Acetyltransferase/genetics ; Thiazoles/*metabolism ; Thiolester Hydrolases/genetics ; }, abstract = {Genomic islands are foreign DNA blocks inserted in so-called regions of genomic plasticity (RGP). Depending on their gene content, they are classified as pathogenicity, symbiosis, metabolic, fitness or resistance islands, although a detailed functional analysis is often lacking. Here we focused on a 34-kb pathogenicity island of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 (PA14GI-6), which is inserted at RGP5 and carries genes related to those for pyochelin/enantiopyochelin biosynthesis. These enantiomeric siderophores of P. aeruginosa and certain strains of Pseudomonas protegens are assembled by a thiotemplate mechanism from salicylate and two molecules of cysteine. The biochemical function of several proteins encoded by PA14GI-6 was investigated by a series of complementation analyses using mutants affected in potential homologs. We found that PA14_54940 codes for a bifunctional salicylate synthase/salicyl-AMP ligase (for generation and activation of salicylate), that PA14_54930 specifies a dihydroaeruginoic acid (Dha) synthetase (for coupling salicylate with a cysteine-derived thiazoline ring), that PA14_54910 produces a type II thioesterase (for quality control), and that PA14_54880 encodes a serine O-acetyltransferase (for increased cysteine availability). The structure of the PA14GI-6-specified metabolite was determined by mass spectrometry, thin-layer chromatography, and HPLC as (R)-Dha, an iron chelator with antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activity. The conservation of this genomic island in many clinical and environmental P. aeruginosa isolates of different geographical origin suggests that the ability for Dha production may confer a selective advantage to its host.}, } @article {pmid24682158, year = {2014}, author = {Chouaia, B and Gaiarsa, S and Crotti, E and Comandatore, F and Degli Esposti, M and Ricci, I and Alma, A and Favia, G and Bandi, C and Daffonchio, D}, title = {Acetic acid bacteria genomes reveal functional traits for adaptation to life in insect guts.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {912-920}, pmid = {24682158}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics ; Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/*physiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) live in sugar rich environments, including food matrices, plant tissues, and the gut of sugar-feeding insects. By comparing the newly sequenced genomes of Asaia platycodi and Saccharibacter sp., symbionts of Anopheles stephensi and Apis mellifera, respectively, with those of 14 other AAB, we provide a genomic view of the evolutionary pattern of this bacterial group and clues on traits that explain the success of AAB as insect symbionts. A specific pre-adaptive trait, cytochrome bo3 ubiquinol oxidase, appears ancestral in AAB and shows a phylogeny that is congruent with that of the genomes. The functional properties of this terminal oxidase might have allowed AAB to adapt to the diverse oxygen levels of arthropod guts.}, } @article {pmid24681630, year = {2014}, author = {Onodera, K and Konishi, Y and Taguchi, T and Kiyoto, S and Tominaga, A}, title = {Peridinin from the marine symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp., regulates eosinophilia in mice.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {1773-1787}, pmid = {24681630}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Carotenoids/administration & dosage/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Dinoflagellida/chemistry ; Eosinophilia/*drug therapy ; Eosinophils/*drug effects/metabolism ; Female ; Inflammation/drug therapy/pathology ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Mice, Transgenic ; Phaeophyta/chemistry ; Xanthophylls/administration & dosage/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Peridinin and fucoxanthin, which are natural carotenoids isolated from a symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp., and a brown alga, Petalonia fascia, respectively, were compared for inhibitory effects on delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice. The number of eosinophils at the site of inflammation and in peripheral blood was compared for the administration of peridinin and fucoxanthin applied by painting and intraperitoneally. Peridinin, but not the structurally-related fucoxanthin, significantly suppressed the number of eosinophils in both the ear lobe and peripheral blood. Furthermore, peridinin applied topically, but not administered intraperitoneally, suppressed the level of eotaxin in the ears of sensitized mice. Fucoxanthin weakly suppressed the concentration of eotaxin in ears only by intraperitoneal administration. Although both carotenoids inhibited the migration of eosinophils toward eotaxin, the inhibitory effect of peridinin was higher than that of fucoxanthin. Peridinin may be a potential agent for suppressing allergic inflammatory responses, such as atopic dermatitis, in which eosinophils play a major role in the increase of inflammation.}, } @article {pmid24680914, year = {2014}, author = {Hultgren, KM and Hurt, C and Anker, A}, title = {Phylogenetic relationships within the snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Decapoda: Alpheidae).}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {116-125}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.03.008}, pmid = {24680914}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Decapoda/anatomy & histology/classification/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus (Alpheidae) is one of the most speciose decapod genera, with over 160 described species worldwide. Most species live in symbiotic relationships with other marine organisms, such as sponges, corals and crinoids, and some sponge-dwelling species have a highly organized, social structure. The present study is the first worldwide molecular phylogenetic analysis of Synalpheus, based on >2,200 bp of sequence data from two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and two nuclear (PEPCK and 18S) loci. Our molecular data show strong support for monophyly of three out of six traditionally recognized morphology-based species groups: the S. brevicarpus, S. comatularum and S. gambarelloides groups. The remaining three species groups (S. paulsoni, S. neomeris and S. coutierei groups) are non-monophyletic in their current composition and will need to be either abandoned or taxonomically redefined. We also identified potential cryptic species of Synalpheus in our dataset, using intraspecific and interspecific sequence variation in COI from the taxonomically well-studied S. gambarelloides group to establish a genetic divergence threshold. We then used both genetic divergence and tree-based criteria (reciprocal monophyly) to identify potential cryptic species in the remaining taxa of the genus. Our results suggest the presence of multiple cryptic lineages in Synalpheus, underlining the need for more integrative taxonomic studies-including morphological, ecological, molecular, and color pattern data-in this biologically interesting genus.}, } @article {pmid24679531, year = {2014}, author = {Belkaid, Y and Hand, TW}, title = {Role of the microbiota in immunity and inflammation.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {157}, number = {1}, pages = {121-141}, pmid = {24679531}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {ZIA AI001115-04//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; ZIA AI001115-05//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi/classification/physiology ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Inflammation/*immunology ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The microbiota plays a fundamental role on the induction, training, and function of the host immune system. In return, the immune system has largely evolved as a means to maintain the symbiotic relationship of the host with these highly diverse and evolving microbes. When operating optimally, this immune system-microbiota alliance allows the induction of protective responses to pathogens and the maintenance of regulatory pathways involved in the maintenance of tolerance to innocuous antigens. However, in high-income countries, overuse of antibiotics, changes in diet, and elimination of constitutive partners, such as nematodes, may have selected for a microbiota that lack the resilience and diversity required to establish balanced immune responses. This phenomenon is proposed to account for some of the dramatic rise in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders in parts of the world where our symbiotic relationship with the microbiota has been the most affected.}, } @article {pmid24678760, year = {2014}, author = {Nikoopour, E and Singh, B}, title = {Reciprocity in microbiome and immune system interactions and its implications in disease and health.}, journal = {Inflammation & allergy drug targets}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {94-104}, doi = {10.2174/1871528113666140330201056}, pmid = {24678760}, issn = {2212-4055}, mesh = {Animals ; Communicable Diseases/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Disease Susceptibility ; *Health Status ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune System/drug effects/*immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Immune System Diseases/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use ; Microbiota/drug effects/*immunology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Th17 Cells/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Adaptation of the whole microbial normal flora residing in a host to its natural habitat over an evolutionary peroid has resulted in peaceful coexistence with mutual benefits for both microbiota and host in steady state. This symbiotic relationship between host and microbiota has a significant impact on shaping the immune response in the host to achieve an immune tolerance to microbiota but retaining the ability to respond to invading pathogens. Perturbation of this balance by manipulation of microbial communities in the host can lead to immune dysregulation and susceptibility to diseases. By studying the host in the absence of microbiota or with alteration of microbiota the complexity of microbial impact on the immune system can be resolved. Conversely, the study of microbiota in the absence of immune system factors can show how the immune system contributes to preservation of the host-microbiota balance. The absence of molecules involved in innate or adaptive immunity in knockout models can perturb the balance between host and microbiota further adding to more immune dysregulation. A better understanding of Microbiome-immune system interaction provides a new opportunity to identify biomarkers and drug targets. This will allow the development of new therapeutic agents for modulating the immune system to improve health with little or no toxicity. The study of interplay between host and microbiota has a promising role in the design of therapeutic interventions for immunopathological diseases arising from imbalanced host and microbiota interactions.}, } @article {pmid24676219, year = {2014}, author = {Pyles, RB and Vincent, KL and Baum, MM and Elsom, B and Miller, AL and Maxwell, C and Eaves-Pyles, TD and Li, G and Popov, VL and Nusbaum, RJ and Ferguson, MR}, title = {Cultivated vaginal microbiomes alter HIV-1 infection and antiretroviral efficacy in colonized epithelial multilayer cultures.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e93419}, pmid = {24676219}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {UL1TR000071/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI100744/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000071/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AI036211/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI100744/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents/pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Cytokines/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/*microbiology/virology ; Female ; HIV-1/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mucous Membrane/drug effects/*microbiology/virology ; Vagina/microbiology/virology ; Virus Replication/drug effects ; }, abstract = {There is a pressing need for modeling of the symbiotic and at times dysbiotic relationship established between bacterial microbiomes and human mucosal surfaces. In particular clinical studies have indicated that the complex vaginal microbiome (VMB) contributes to the protection against sexually-transmitted pathogens including the life-threatening human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). The human microbiome project has substantially increased our understanding of the complex bacterial communities in the vagina however, as is the case for most microbiomes, very few of the community member species have been successfully cultivated in the laboratory limiting the types of studies that can be completed. A genetically controlled ex vivo model system is critically needed to study the complex interactions and associated molecular dialog. We present the first vaginal mucosal culture model that supports colonization by both healthy and dysbiotic VMB from vaginal swabs collected from routine gynecological patients. The immortalized vaginal epithelial cells used in the model and VMB cryopreservation methods provide the opportunity to reproducibly create replicates for lab-based evaluations of this important mucosal/bacterial community interface. The culture system also contains HIV-1 susceptible cells allowing us to study the impact of representative microbiomes on replication. Our results show that our culture system supports stable and reproducible colonization by VMB representing distinct community state types and that the selected representatives have significantly different effects on the replication of HIV-1. Further, we show the utility of the system to predict unwanted alterations in efficacy or bacterial community profiles following topical application of a front line antiretroviral.}, } @article {pmid24675169, year = {2013}, author = {Picossi, S and Flores, E and Ekman, M}, title = {Diverse roles of the GlcP glucose permease in free-living and symbiotic cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e27416}, pmid = {24675169}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Chemotaxis/drug effects ; Evolution, Molecular ; Glucose/pharmacology ; Nostoc/cytology/drug effects/*enzymology/growth & development ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Certain cyanobacteria can form symbiotic associations with plants, where the symbiont supplies the plant partner with nitrogen and in return obtains sugars. We recently showed that in the symbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme, a glucose specific permease, GlcP, is necessary for the symbiosis to be formed. Results presented here from growth yield measurements of mutant strains with inactivated or overexpressing sugar transporters suggest that GlcP could be induced by a symbiosis specific substance. We also discuss that the transporter may have a role other than nutritional once the symbiosis is established, i.e., during infection, and more specifically in the chemotaxis of the symbiont. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the distribution of GlcP among cyanobacteria is likely influenced by horizontal gene transfer, but also that it is not correlated with symbiotic competence. Instead, regulatory patterns of the transporter in Nostoc punctiforme likely constitute symbiosis specific adaptations.}, } @article {pmid24673996, year = {2015}, author = {Pal'ove-Balang, P and García-Calderón, M and Pérez-Delgado, CM and Pavlovkin, J and Betti, M and Márquez, AJ}, title = {A Lotus japonicus mutant defective in nitrate uptake is also affected in the nitrate response to nodulation.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {16-25}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12169}, pmid = {24673996}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Chlorates/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Drug Resistance ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A chlorate-resistant mutant (Ljclo1) of the model legume Lotus japonicus was identified that showed normal levels of nitrate reductase enzyme activity but had decreased uptake of nitrate, as determined from nitrate depletion and electrophysiological measurements. The data suggest that the mutant could be affected specifically in the low-affinity but not in the high-affinity nitrate transport system, and also showed decreased uptake of chlorate. Back-crosses of the mutant plant to the wild type indicated that it is affected in a single Mendelian recessive trait. Thus, the mutation produced in Ljclo1 may be related to some of the low-affinity nitrate transporters or to a regulatory mechanism associated with nitrate/chlorate uptake. Both size and chlorophyll content in young leaves of the mutant plants were significantly reduced compared to the wild type. In addition, nodulation performance of the mutant plants was similar to the wild type in the absence of any exogenous nitrate. However, the nodule:root biomass ratio in mutant plants was considerably reduced in the presence of 1-2 mm nitrate. The levels of several transcripts for nitrate transport and assimilation genes were determined for the wild type and mutant plants and were slightly different. The results suggest interdependence between nitrate uptake, plant growth and nodulation in Ljclo1 mutant plants.}, } @article {pmid24673777, year = {2014}, author = {Sork, VL and Werth, S}, title = {Phylogeography of Ramalina menziesii, a widely distributed lichen-forming fungus in western North America.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {9}, pages = {2326-2339}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12735}, pmid = {24673777}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Flow ; *Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Models, Genetic ; North America ; *Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The complex topography and climate history of western North America offer a setting where lineage formation, accumulation and migration have led to elevated inter- and intraspecific biodiversity in many taxa. Here, we study Ramalina menziesii, an epiphytic lichenized fungus with a range encompassing major ecosystems from Baja California to Alaska to explore the predictions of two hypotheses: (i) that the widespread distribution of R. menziesii is due to a single migration episode from a single lineage and (ii) that the widespread distribution is due to the formation and persistence of multiple lineages structured throughout the species' range. To obtain evidence for these predictions, we first construct a phylogenetic tree and identify multiple lineages structured throughout the species' range--some ancient ones that are localized and other more recent lineages that are widely distributed. Second, we use an isolation with migration model to show that sets of ecoregion populations diverged from each other at different times, demonstrating the importance of historical and current barriers to gene flow. Third, we estimated migration rates among ecoregions and find that Baja California populations are relatively isolated, that inland California ecoregion populations do not send out emigrants and that migration out of California coastal and Pacific Northwest populations into inland California ecoregions is high. Such intraspecific geographical patterns of population persistence and dispersal both contribute to the wide range of this genetically diverse lichen fungus and provide insight into the evolutionary processes that enhance species diversity of the California Floristic Province.}, } @article {pmid24673766, year = {2014}, author = {Hayashi, S and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Mechanistic action of gibberellins in legume nodulation.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {10}, pages = {971-978}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12201}, pmid = {24673766}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*physiology ; Gibberellins/*physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; }, abstract = {Legume plants are capable of entering into a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. This results in the formation of novel organs on their roots, called nodules, in which the bacteria capture atmospheric nitrogen and provide it as ammonium to the host plant. Complex molecular and physiological changes are involved in the formation and establishment of such nodules. Several phytohormones are known to play key roles in this process. Gibberellins (gibberellic acids; GAs), a class of phytohormones known to be involved in a wide range of biological processes (i.e., cell elongation, germination) are reported to be involved in the formation and maturation of legume nodules, highlighted by recent transcriptional analyses of early soybean symbiotic steps. Here, we summarize what is currently known about GAs in legume nodulation and propose a model of GA action during nodule development. Results from a wide range of studies, including GA application, mutant phenotyping, and gene expression studies, indicate that GAs are required at different stages, with an optimum, tightly regulated level being key to achieve successful nodulation. Gibberellic acids appear to be required at two distinct stages of nodulation: (i) early stages of rhizobia infection and nodule primordium establishment; and (ii) later stages of nodule maturation.}, } @article {pmid24671082, year = {2014}, author = {Stursová, M and Snajdr, J and Cajthaml, T and Bárta, J and Santrůčková, H and Baldrian, P}, title = {When the forest dies: the response of forest soil fungi to a bark beetle-induced tree dieback.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {1920-1931}, pmid = {24671082}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; *Forests ; Fungi/*classification/isolation & purification ; Picea ; *Soil Microbiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Coniferous forests cover extensive areas of the boreal and temperate zones. Owing to their primary production and C storage, they have an important role in the global carbon balance. Forest disturbances such as forest fires, windthrows or insect pest outbreaks have a substantial effect on the functioning of these ecosystems. Recent decades have seen an increase in the areas affected by disturbances in both North America and Europe, with indications that this increase is due to both local human activity and global climate change. Here we examine the structural and functional response of the litter and soil microbial community in a Picea abies forest to tree dieback following an invasion of the bark beetle Ips typographus, with a specific focus on the fungal community. The insect-induced disturbance rapidly and profoundly changed vegetation and nutrient availability by killing spruce trees so that the readily available root exudates were replaced by more recalcitrant, polymeric plant biomass components. Owing to the dramatic decrease in photosynthesis, the rate of decomposition processes in the ecosystem decreased as soon as the one-time litter input had been processed. The fungal community showed profound changes, including a decrease in biomass (2.5-fold in the litter and 12-fold in the soil) together with the disappearance of fungi symbiotic with tree roots and a relative increase in saprotrophic taxa. Within the latter group, successive changes reflected the changing availability of needle litter and woody debris. Bacterial biomass appeared to be either unaffected or increased after the disturbance, resulting in a substantial increase in the bacterial/fungal biomass ratio.}, } @article {pmid24670812, year = {2014}, author = {Hyde, ER and Andrade, F and Vaksman, Z and Parthasarathy, K and Jiang, H and Parthasarathy, DK and Torregrossa, AC and Tribble, G and Kaplan, HB and Petrosino, JF and Bryan, NS}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of nitrate-reducing bacteria in the oral cavity: implications for nitric oxide homeostasis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e88645}, pmid = {24670812}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 DE021394/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008231/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 HG004973/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; Biofilms/growth & development ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Microbial Consortia ; Microbiota/genetics ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The microbiota of the human lower intestinal tract helps maintain healthy host physiology, for example through nutrient acquisition and bile acid recycling, but specific positive contributions of the oral microbiota to host health are not well established. Nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis is crucial to mammalian physiology. The recently described entero-salivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway has been shown to provide bioactive NO from dietary nitrate sources. Interestingly, this pathway is dependent upon oral nitrate-reducing bacteria, since humans lack this enzyme activity. This pathway appears to represent a newly recognized symbiosis between oral nitrate-reducing bacteria and their human hosts in which the bacteria provide nitrite and nitric oxide from nitrate reduction. Here we measure the nitrate-reducing capacity of tongue-scraping samples from six healthy human volunteers, and analyze metagenomes of the bacterial communities to identify bacteria contributing to nitrate reduction. We identified 14 candidate species, seven of which were not previously believed to contribute to nitrate reduction. We cultivated isolates of four candidate species in single- and mixed-species biofilms, revealing that they have substantial nitrate- and nitrite-reduction capabilities. Colonization by specific oral bacteria may thus contribute to host NO homeostasis by providing nitrite and nitric oxide. Conversely, the lack of specific nitrate-reducing communities may disrupt the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway and lead to a state of NO insufficiency. These findings may also provide mechanistic evidence for the oral systemic link. Our results provide a possible new therapeutic target and paradigm for NO restoration in humans by specific oral bacteria.}, } @article {pmid24667652, year = {2014}, author = {Stefanelli, M and Vichi, S and Stipa, G and Funari, E and Testai, E and Scardala, S and Manganelli, M}, title = {Survival, growth and toxicity of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 in experimental conditions mimicking some features of the human gastro-intestinal environment.}, journal = {Chemico-biological interactions}, volume = {215}, number = {}, pages = {54-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbi.2014.03.006}, pmid = {24667652}, issn = {1872-7786}, mesh = {Culture Media/chemistry ; Darkness ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Leucine/metabolism ; Microcystis/*growth & development/metabolism/physiology/radiation effects ; Survival Analysis ; Temperature ; Toxins, Biological/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cyanotoxins (CTX) are widely produced by several cyanobacteria (CB), increasingly spreading in most water bodies and terrestrial habitats, and represent a risk for human health. CB are prokaryotes, and although mostly autotrophic, several examples of heterotrophy in symbiotic relationship with different organisms have been described. In addition to the known routes of exposure, it has been hypothesized that CB might 'colonize' human intestine with relevant implications for human health. Colonization is a complex process and requires specific features of the possible invaders. Still, a short-term persistence as living and toxin-producing organisms within the intestinal lumen of the host could represent an 'internal' source of exposure to CTX. In this work we ran microcosm experiments (4-18days), looking at Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 resistance and cyanotoxin-producing capabilities in darkness, 37°C, pH 2, and subsequent recovery in a rich medium, in darkness, 37°C, in the presence of enteric bacteria, mimicking few important features of the gastrointestinal environment. We measured cyanobacterial populations and growth, microcystin (MC) production and the presence of mcyB gene. M. aeruginosa could grow in the dark at 37°C up to 17days, and survive at pH 2 at a rate between 30% and 70%, depending on the age and toxicity of the starting culture. Cell lysis resulted in a substantial amounts of MC released, not degraded at gastric pH. Following the acidic passage, still in the dark at 37°C, M. aeruginosa restarted to grow within 24h for the next 3-4days, independently on the presence of intestinal bacteria, maintaining the MC cell quota and mcyB gene. Our results show new features of CB: a significant resistance of M. aeruginosa in conditions far from its optimal one, that is an environment mimicking some of the important characteristics of human gastrointestinal tract, suggesting the possibility of an internal source of exposure to CTX, with implications for the risk assessment.}, } @article {pmid24666280, year = {2014}, author = {Campbell, AS and Dong, C and Meng, F and Hardinger, J and Perhinschi, G and Wu, N and Dinu, CZ}, title = {Enzyme catalytic efficiency: a function of bio-nano interface reactions.}, journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {5393-5403}, doi = {10.1021/am500773g}, pmid = {24666280}, issn = {1944-8252}, mesh = {Biocatalysis ; Chloride Peroxidase/*chemistry ; Enzymes, Immobilized/chemistry ; Glucose Oxidase/*chemistry ; Kinetics ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanotubes, Carbon/*chemistry ; Peroxidase/*chemistry ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry ; Soybeans/enzymology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; }, abstract = {Biocatalyst immobilization onto carbon-based nanosupports has been implemented in a variety of applications ranging from biosensing to biotransformation and from decontamination to energy storage. However, retaining enzyme functionality at carbon-based nanosupports was challenged by the non-specific attachment of the enzyme as well as by the enzyme-enzyme interactions at this interface shown to lead to loss of enzyme activity. Herein, we present a systematic study of the interplay reactions that take place upon immobilization of three pure enzymes namely soybean peroxidase, chloroperoxidase, and glucose oxidase at carbon-based nanosupport interfaces. The immobilization conditions involved both single and multipoint single-type enzyme attachment onto single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide nanomaterials with properties determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our analysis showed that the different surface properties of the enzymes as determined by their molecular mapping and size work synergistically with the carbon-based nanosupports physico-chemical properties (i.e., surface chemistry, charge and aspect ratios) to influence enzyme catalytic behavior and activity at nanointerfaces. Knowledge gained from these studies can be used to optimize enzyme-nanosupport symbiotic reactions to provide robust enzyme-based systems with optimum functionality to be used for fermentation, biosensors, or biofuel applications.}, } @article {pmid24665099, year = {2014}, author = {Farmer, AD and Randall, HA and Aziz, Q}, title = {It's a gut feeling: how the gut microbiota affects the state of mind.}, journal = {The Journal of physiology}, volume = {592}, number = {14}, pages = {2981-2988}, pmid = {24665099}, issn = {1469-7793}, support = {G0600965/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Emotions/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Common human experience shows that stress and anxiety may modulate gut function. Such observations have been combined with an increasing evidence base that has culminated in the concept of the brain-gut axis. Nevertheless, it has not been until recently that the gut and its attendant components have been considered to influence higher cerebral function and behaviour per se. Moreover, the proposal that the gut and the bacteria contained therein (collectively referred to as the microbiota) can modulate mood and behaviours, has an increasing body of supporting evidence, albeit largely derived from animal studies. The gut microbiota is a dynamic and diverse ecosystem and forms a symbiotic relationship with the host. Herein we describe the components of the gut microbiota and mechanisms by which it can influence neural development, complex behaviours and nociception. Furthermore, we propose the novel concept of a 'state of gut' rather than a state of mind, particularly in relation to functional bowel disorders. Finally, we address the exciting possibility that the gut microbiota may offer a novel area of therapeutic intervention across a diverse array of both affective and gastrointestinal disorders.}, } @article {pmid24664579, year = {2014}, author = {Durán, D and Rey, L and Mayo, J and Zúñiga-Dávila, D and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Martínez-Romero, E and Ormeño-Orrillo, E}, title = {Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri sp. nov. and Bradyrhizobium icense sp. nov., nitrogen-fixing rhizobial symbionts of Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in Peru.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {2072-2078}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.060426-0}, pmid = {24664579}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Peru ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A group of strains isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus lunatus (Lima bean) in Peru were characterized by genotypic, genomic and phenotypic methods. All strains possessed identical 16S rRNA gene sequences that were 99.9% identical to that of Bradyrhizobium lablabi CCBAU 23086(T). Despite having identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, the Phaseolus lunatus strains could be divided into two clades by sequence analysis of recA, atpD, glnII, dnaK and gyrB genes. The genome sequence of a representative of each clade was obtained and compared to the genomes of closely related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Average nucleotide identity values below the species circumscription threshold were obtained when comparing the two clades to each other (88.6%) and with all type strains of the genus Bradyrhizobium (≤92.9%). Phenotypes distinguishing both clades from all described and closely related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium were found. On the basis of the results obtained, two novel species, Bradyrhizobium paxllaeri sp. nov. (type strain LMTR 21(T) = DSM 18454(T) = HAMBI 2911(T)) and Bradyrhizobium icense sp. nov. (type strain LMTR 13(T) = HAMBI 3584(T) = CECT 8509(T) = CNPSo 2583(T)), are proposed to accommodate the uncovered clades of Phaseolus lunatus bradyrhizobia. These species share highly related but distinct nifH and nodC symbiosis genes.}, } @article {pmid24662147, year = {2014}, author = {Patel, SJ and Padilla-Benavides, T and Collins, JM and Argüello, JM}, title = {Functional diversity of five homologous Cu+-ATPases present in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {160}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {1237-1251}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.079137-0}, pmid = {24662147}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphatases/genetics/*metabolism ; Cation Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Copper-Transporting ATPases ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Metals/metabolism/toxicity ; Nitroso Compounds/metabolism/toxicity ; Oxidants/metabolism/toxicity ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*enzymology/genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Copper is an important element in host-microbe interactions, acting both as a catalyst in enzymes and as a potential toxin. Cu(+)-ATPases drive cytoplasmic Cu(+) efflux and protect bacteria against metal overload. Many pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria contain multiple Cu(+)-ATPase genes within particular genetic environments, suggesting alternative roles for each resulting protein. This hypothesis was tested by characterizing five homologous Cu(+)-ATPases present in the symbiotic organism Sinorhizobium meliloti. Mutation of each gene led to different phenotypes and abnormal nodule development in the alfalfa host. Distinct responses were detected in free-living S. meliloti mutant strains exposed to metal and redox stresses. Differential gene expression was detected under Cu(+), oxygen or nitrosative stress. These observations suggest that CopA1a maintains the cytoplasmic Cu(+) quota and its expression is controlled by Cu(+) levels. CopA1b is also regulated by Cu(+) concentrations and is required during symbiosis for bacteroid maturation. CopA2-like proteins, FixI1 and FixI2, are necessary for the assembly of two different cytochrome c oxidases at different stages of bacterial life. CopA3 is a phylogenetically distinct Cu(+)-ATPase that does not contribute to Cu(+) tolerance. It is regulated by redox stress and required during symbiosis. We postulated a model where non-redundant homologous Cu(+)-ATPases, operating under distinct regulation, transport Cu(+) to different target proteins.}, } @article {pmid24661810, year = {2014}, author = {Yoon, HJ and Hossain, MS and Held, M and Hou, H and Kehl, M and Tromas, A and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Andersen, SU and Stougaard, J and Ross, L and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Lotus japonicus SUNERGOS1 encodes a predicted subunit A of a DNA topoisomerase VI that is required for nodule differentiation and accommodation of rhizobial infection.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {78}, number = {5}, pages = {811-821}, pmid = {24661810}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Lotus/*enzymology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic mutant of Lotus japonicus, called sunergos1-1 (suner1-1), originated from a har1-1 suppressor screen. suner1-1 supports epidermal infection by Mesorhizobium loti and initiates cell divisions for organogenesis of nodule primordia. However, these processes appear to be temporarily stalled early during symbiotic interaction, leading to a low nodule number phenotype. This defect is ephemeral and near wild-type nodule numbers are reached by suner1-1 at a later point after infection. Using an approach that combined map-based cloning and next-generation sequencing we have identified the causative mutation and show that the suner1-1 phenotype is determined by a weak recessive allele, with the corresponding wild-type SUNER1 locus encoding a predicted subunit A of a DNA topoisomerase VI. Our data suggest that at least one function of SUNER1 during symbiosis is to participate in endoreduplication, which is an essential step during normal differentiation of functional, nitrogen-fixing nodules.}, } @article {pmid24659291, year = {2014}, author = {Sidorova, KK and Shumnyi, VK}, title = {Symbiotic mutants of pea (Pisum sativum L.), an important genetic source for selection for increased nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {454}, number = {}, pages = {59-61}, doi = {10.1134/S0012496614010190}, pmid = {24659291}, issn = {1608-3105}, mesh = {*Mutation ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/*genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, } @article {pmid24658574, year = {2014}, author = {Liew, YJ and Aranda, M and Carr, A and Baumgarten, S and Zoccola, D and Tambutté, S and Allemand, D and Micklem, G and Voolstra, CR}, title = {Identification of microRNAs in the coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e91101}, pmid = {24658574}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome ; Likelihood Functions ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are major contributors to marine biodiversity. However, they are in rapid decline due to global environmental changes such as rising sea surface temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses have broadened our understanding of coral biology, but a study of the microRNA (miRNA) repertoire of corals is missing. miRNAs constitute a class of small non-coding RNAs of ∼22 nt in size that play crucial roles in development, metabolism, and stress response in plants and animals alike. In this study, we examined the coral Stylophora pistillata for the presence of miRNAs and the corresponding core protein machinery required for their processing and function. Based on small RNA sequencing, we present evidence for 31 bona fide microRNAs, 5 of which (miR-100, miR-2022, miR-2023, miR-2030, and miR-2036) are conserved in other metazoans. Homologues of Argonaute, Piwi, Dicer, Drosha, Pasha, and HEN1 were identified in the transcriptome of S. pistillata based on strong sequence conservation with known RNAi proteins, with additional support derived from phylogenetic trees. Examination of putative miRNA gene targets indicates potential roles in development, metabolism, immunity, and biomineralisation for several of the microRNAs. Here, we present first evidence of a functional RNAi machinery and five conserved miRNAs in S. pistillata, implying that miRNAs play a role in organismal biology of scleractinian corals. Analysis of predicted miRNA target genes in S. pistillata suggests potential roles of miRNAs in symbiosis and coral calcification. Given the importance of miRNAs in regulating gene expression in other metazoans, further expression analyses of small non-coding RNAs in transcriptional studies of corals should be informative about miRNA-affected processes and pathways.}, } @article {pmid24658402, year = {2014}, author = {Batstone, RT and Laurich, JR and Salvo, F and Dufour, SC}, title = {Divergent chemosymbiosis-related characters in Thyasira cf. gouldi (Bivalvia: Thyasiridae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e92856}, pmid = {24658402}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics ; Canada ; Cluster Analysis ; Geography ; Gills/anatomy & histology/ultrastructure ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Spatial Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Within the marine bivalve family Thyasiridae, some species have bacterial chemosymbionts associated with gill epithelial cells while other species are asymbiotic. Although the abundance of symbionts in a particular thyasirid species may vary, the structure of their gills (i.e., their frontal-abfrontal thickening) does not. We examined gill structure in a species tentatively identified as Thyasira gouldi from a Northwest Atlantic fjord (Bonne Bay, Newfoundland) and found remarkable differences among specimens. Some individuals had thickened gill filaments with abundant symbionts, while others had thin filaments and lacked symbionts. We could differentiate symbiotic and asymbiotic specimens based on the size and outline of their shell as well as 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and CO1 sequences. The wide morphological, genetic and symbiosis-related disparity described herein suggests that chemosymbiosis may influence host divergence, and that Thyasira gouldi forms a cryptic species complex.}, } @article {pmid24658108, year = {2014}, author = {Wijgerde, T and van Melis, A and Silva, CI and Leal, MC and Vogels, L and Mutter, C and Osinga, R}, title = {Red light represses the photophysiology of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e92781}, pmid = {24658108}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology/*radiation effects ; *Light ; Phenotype ; Photosynthesis/*physiology/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Light spectrum plays a key role in the biology of symbiotic corals, with blue light resulting in higher coral growth, zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll a content and photosynthesis rates as compared to red light. However, it is still unclear whether these physiological processes are blue-enhanced or red-repressed. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of blue and red light on the health, zooxanthellae density, photophysiology and colouration of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata over 6 weeks. Coral fragments were exposed to blue, red, and combined 50/50% blue red light, at two irradiance levels (128 and 256 μmol m(-2) s(-1)). Light spectrum affected the health/survival, zooxanthellae density, and NDVI (a proxy for chlorophyll a content) of S. pistillata. Blue light resulted in highest survival rates, whereas red light resulted in low survival at 256 μmol m(-2) s(-1). Blue light also resulted in higher zooxanthellae densities compared to red light at 256 μmol m(-2) s(-1), and a higher NDVI compared to red and combined blue red light. Overall, our results suggest that red light negatively affects the health, survival, symbiont density and NDVI of S. pistillata, with a dominance of red over blue light for NDVI.}, } @article {pmid24657863, year = {2014}, author = {Webb, BA and Hildreth, S and Helm, RF and Scharf, BE}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti chemoreceptor McpU mediates chemotaxis toward host plant exudates through direct proline sensing.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {11}, pages = {3404-3415}, pmid = {24657863}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Chemotactic Factors/*metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Kinetics ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Plant Exudates/*chemistry ; Proline/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial chemotaxis is an important attribute that aids in establishing symbiosis between rhizobia and their legume hosts. Plant roots and seeds exude a spectrum of molecules into the soil to attract their bacterial symbionts. The alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti possesses eight chemoreceptors to sense its environment and mediate chemotaxis toward its host. The methyl accepting chemotaxis protein McpU is one of the more abundant S. meliloti chemoreceptors and an important sensor for the potent attractant proline. We established a dominant role of McpU in sensing molecules exuded by alfalfa seeds. Mass spectrometry analysis determined that a single germinating seed exudes 3.72 nmol of proline, producing a millimolar concentration near the seed surface which can be detected by the chemosensory system of S. meliloti. Complementation analysis of the mcpU deletion strain verified McpU as the key proline sensor. A structure-based homology search identified tandem Cache (calcium channels and chemotaxis receptors) domains in the periplasmic region of McpU. Conserved residues Asp-155 and Asp-182 of the N-terminal Cache domain were determined to be important for proline sensing by evaluating mutant strains in capillary and swim plate assays. Differential scanning fluorimetry revealed interaction of the isolated periplasmic region of McpU (McpU40-284) with proline and the importance of Asp-182 in this interaction. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we determined that proline binds with a Kd (dissociation constant) of 104 μM to McpU40-284, while binding was abolished when Asp-182 was substituted by Glu. Our results show that McpU is mediating chemotaxis toward host plants by direct proline sensing.}, } @article {pmid24657604, year = {2014}, author = {Hewitt, DK and Mills, G and Hayes, F and Wilkinson, S and Davies, W}, title = {Highlighting the threat from current and near-future ozone pollution to clover in pasture.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {189}, number = {}, pages = {111-117}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2014.02.033}, pmid = {24657604}, issn = {1873-6424}, mesh = {Air Pollutants/*toxicity ; Biomass ; Ozone/*toxicity ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; Trifolium/growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {Globally, the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, contained within specialised organs called root nodules, is thought to add at least 30 Tg N annually to agricultural land. The growth and functioning of a modern white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Crusader) and red clover (T. pratense cv. Merviot) cultivar were investigated in current and future ozone scenarios in solardomes. Both cultivars developed leaf injury and had significant reductions in root biomass and root nodule number in response to ozone, with Crusader also displaying a reduced size and mass of nodules. In-situ measurements of N-fixation in Crusader by acetylene reduction assay revealed reduced N-fixation rates in a future scenario with an increased background and moderate peaks of ozone. The implications for the sustainability of temperate pasture are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24656333, year = {2014}, author = {Corrêa, A and Cruz, C and Pérez-Tienda, J and Ferrol, N}, title = {Shedding light onto nutrient responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants: nutrient interactions may lead to unpredicted outcomes of the symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {221-222}, number = {}, pages = {29-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.01.009}, pmid = {24656333}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/*microbiology/*physiology ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The role and importance of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) in plant nitrogen (N) nutrition is uncertain. We propose that this be clarified by using more integrative experimental designs, with the use of a gradient of N supply and the quantification of an extensive array of plant nutrient contents. Using such an experimental design, we investigated AM effects on plant N nutrition, whether the mycorrhizal N response (MNR) determines the mycorrhizal growth response (MGR), and how MNR influences plants' C economy. Oryza sativa plants were inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis or Funneliformis mossae. AM effects were studied along a gradient of N supplies. Biomass, photosynthesis, nutrient and starch contents, mycorrhizal colonization and OsPT11 gene expression were measured. C investment in fungal growth was estimated. Results showed that, in rice, MGR was dependent on AM nutrient uptake effects, namely on the synergy between N and Zn, and not on C expenditure. The supply of C to the fungus was dependent on the plant's nutrient demand, indicated by high shoot C/N or low %N. We conclude that one of the real reasons for the negative MGR of rice, Zn deficiency of AMF plants, would have remained hidden without an experimental design allowing the observation of plants' response to AM along gradients of nutrient concentrations. Adopting more integrative and comprehensive experimental approaches in mycorrhizal studies seems therefore essential if we are to achieve a true understanding of AM function, namely of the mechanisms of C/N exchange regulation in AM.}, } @article {pmid24655934, year = {2014}, author = {Zouari, I and Salvioli, A and Chialva, M and Novero, M and Miozzi, L and Tenore, GC and Bagnaresi, P and Bonfante, P}, title = {From root to fruit: RNA-Seq analysis shows that arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis may affect tomato fruit metabolism.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {221}, pmid = {24655934}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Fruit/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) establishes a beneficial symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The formation of the mycorrhizal association in the roots leads to plant-wide modulation of gene expression. To understand the systemic effect of the fungal symbiosis on the tomato fruit, we used RNA-Seq to perform global transcriptome profiling on Moneymaker tomato fruits at the turning ripening stage.

RESULTS: Fruits were collected at 55 days after flowering, from plants colonized with Funneliformis mosseae and from control plants, which were fertilized to avoid responses related to nutrient deficiency. Transcriptome analysis identified 712 genes that are differentially expressed in fruits from mycorrhizal and control plants. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of these genes showed 81 overrepresented functional GO classes. Up-regulated GO classes include photosynthesis, stress response, transport, amino acid synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism functions, suggesting a general impact of fungal symbiosis on primary metabolisms and, particularly, on mineral nutrition. Down-regulated GO classes include cell wall, metabolism and ethylene response pathways. Quantitative RT-PCR validated the RNA-Seq results for 12 genes out of 14 when tested at three fruit ripening stages, mature green, breaker and turning. Quantification of fruit nutraceutical and mineral contents produced values consistent with the expression changes observed by RNA-Seq analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: This RNA-Seq profiling produced a novel data set that explores the intersection of mycorrhization and fruit development. We found that the fruits of mycorrhizal plants show two transcriptomic "signatures": genes characteristic of a climacteric fleshy fruit, and genes characteristic of mycorrhizal status, like phosphate and sulphate transporters. Moreover, mycorrhizal plants under low nutrient conditions produce fruits with a nutrient content similar to those from non-mycorrhizal plants under high nutrient conditions, indicating that AM fungi can help replace exogenous fertilizer for fruit crops.}, } @article {pmid24655129, year = {2014}, author = {Nadvorny, D and da Silva, JB and Lins, RD}, title = {Anionic form of usnic acid promotes lamellar to nonlamellar transition in DPPC and DOPC membranes.}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry. B}, volume = {118}, number = {14}, pages = {3881-3886}, doi = {10.1021/jp412176f}, pmid = {24655129}, issn = {1520-5207}, mesh = {1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/*chemistry ; Anions/chemistry ; Benzofurans/*chemistry ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Liposomes/*chemistry ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Phosphatidylcholines/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Usnic acid is a secondary metabolite found in several species of lichens, organisms resulting from the symbiosis between fungi and algae. This compound has been extensively studied because of its pharmacological properties. Despite its potential medicinal importance, it exhibits a high degree of toxicity. The confinement of the usnic acid within liposomes has been investigated as a possibility to reduce its toxicity. In this work, we characterize the interaction of usnic acid in its neutral and anionic states (usniate) with DPPC and DOPC by means of molecular dynamics simulations. A lamellar to nonlamellar transition is observed for both membranes upon contact with usniate within 100 ns time scale. The transition suggests the formation of a liposome-like structure encapsulating the metabolyte. Furthermore, such process occurs at a significantly shorter time frame for DOPC.}, } @article {pmid24654931, year = {2014}, author = {Bitterlich, M and Krügel, U and Boldt-Burisch, K and Franken, P and Kühn, C}, title = {The sucrose transporter SlSUT2 from tomato interacts with brassinosteroid functioning and affects arbuscular mycorrhiza formation.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {78}, number = {5}, pages = {877-889}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12515}, pmid = {24654931}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal plants benefit from the fungal partners by getting better access to soil nutrients. In exchange, the plant supplies carbohydrates to the fungus. The additional carbohydrate demand in mycorrhizal plants was shown to be balanced partially by higher CO2 assimilation and increased C metabolism in shoots and roots. In order to test the role of sucrose transport for fungal development in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tomato, transgenic plants with down-regulated expression of three sucrose transporter genes were analysed. Plants that carried an antisense construct of SlSUT2 (SlSUT2as) repeatedly exhibited increased mycorrhizal colonization and the positive effect of plants to mycorrhiza was abolished. Grafting experiments between transgenic and wild-type rootstocks and scions indicated that mainly the root-specific function of SlSUT2 has an impact on colonization of tomato roots with the AM fungus. Localization of SISUT2 to the periarbuscular membrane indicates a role in back transport of sucrose from the periarbuscular matrix into the plant cell thereby affecting hyphal development. Screening of an expression library for SlSUT2-interacting proteins revealed interactions with candidates involved in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling or biosynthesis. Interaction of these candidates with SlSUT2 was confirmed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Tomato mutants defective in BR biosynthesis were analysed with respect to mycorrhizal symbiosis and showed indeed decreased mycorrhization. This finding suggests that BRs affect mycorrhizal infection and colonization. If the inhibitory effect of SlSUT2 on mycorrhizal growth involves components of BR synthesis and of the BR signaling pathway is discussed.}, } @article {pmid24651035, year = {2014}, author = {Barshis, DJ and Ladner, JT and Oliver, TA and Palumbi, SR}, title = {Lineage-specific transcriptional profiles of Symbiodinium spp. unaltered by heat stress in a coral host.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {1343-1352}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msu107}, pmid = {24651035}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Protozoan ; Hot Temperature ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium form an endosymbiosis with reef building corals, in which photosynthetically derived nutrients comprise the majority of the coral energy budget. An extraordinary amount of functional and genetic diversity is contained within the coral-associated Symbiodinium, with some phylotypes (i.e., genotypic groupings), conferring enhanced stress tolerance to host corals. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have enabled transcriptome-wide profiling of the stress response of the cnidarian coral host; however, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular response to stress of coral-associated Symbiodinium, as well as differences among physiologically susceptible and tolerant types, remains largely unexplored. Here, we examine the transcriptome-wide response to heat stress via RNA-Seq of two types of Symbiodinium, the putatively thermotolerant type D2 and the more susceptible type C3K, resident within the same coral host species, Acropora hyacinthus. Contrary to previous findings with coral hosts, we find no detectable change in gene expression across the dinoflagellate transcriptome after 3 days of elevated thermal exposure, despite physical evidence of symbiosis breakdown. However, hundreds of genes identified as orthologs between the C and D types exhibited significant expression differences within treatments (i.e., attributable solely to type, not heat exposure). These include many genes related to known thermotolerance mechanisms including heat shock proteins and chloroplast membrane components. Additionally, both the between-treatment similarities and between-type differences remained pervasive after 12-18 months of common garden acclimation and in mixed Symbiodinium assemblages within the same coral host colony.}, } @article {pmid24650698, year = {2014}, author = {Kapil, V and Weitzberg, E and Lundberg, JO and Ahluwalia, A}, title = {Clinical evidence demonstrating the utility of inorganic nitrate in cardiovascular health.}, journal = {Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {45-57}, doi = {10.1016/j.niox.2014.03.162}, pmid = {24650698}, issn = {1089-8611}, support = {SP/08/006/25110/BHF_/British Heart Foundation/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases/diet therapy/metabolism ; Cardiovascular System/*metabolism ; *Health ; Humans ; Nitrates/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The discovery of nitric oxide and its role in almost every facet of human biology opened a new avenue for treatment through manipulation of its canonical signaling and by attempts to augment endogenous nitric oxide generation through provision of substrate and co-factors to the endothelial nitric oxide synthase complex. This has been particularly so in the cardiovascular system and it is well recognized that there is reduced bioavailable nitric oxide in patients with both cardiovascular risk factors and manifest vascular disease. However, these attempts have failed to deliver the expected benefits of such an approach. Recently, an alternative pathway for nitric oxide synthesis has been elucidated that can produce authentic nitric oxide from the 1 electron reduction of inorganic nitrite. Furthermore, it has long been known that symbiotic, facultative, oral microflora can facilitate the reduction of inorganic nitrate, that is ingested in the average diet in millimolar amounts, to inorganic nitrite itself. Thus, there exists an alternative reductive pathway from nitrate, via nitrite as an intermediate, to nitric oxide that provides a novel pathway that may be amenable to therapeutic manipulation. As such, various research groups have explored the utility of manipulation of this nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in situations in which nitric oxide is known to have a prominent role. Animal and early-phase human studies of both inorganic nitrite and nitrate supplementation have shown beneficial effects in blood pressure control, platelet function, vascular health and exercise capacity. This review considers in detail the pathways of inorganic nitrate bioactivation and the evidence of clinical utility to date on the cardiovascular system.}, } @article {pmid24648208, year = {2014}, author = {Tung, CH and Cheng, YR and Lin, CY and Ho, JS and Kuo, CH and Yu, JK and Su, YH}, title = {A new copepod with transformed body plan and unique phylogenetic position parasitic in the acorn worm Ptychodera flava.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {226}, number = {1}, pages = {69-80}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv226n1p69}, pmid = {24648208}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*parasitology ; Copepoda/*anatomy & histology/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Female ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic copepods compose one-third of the known copepod species and are associated with a wide range of animal groups. Two parasitic copepods endoparasitic in acorn worms (Hemichordata), Ive balanoglossi and Ubius hilli, collected in the Mediterranean Sea and Australian waters, respectively, were described a century ago. Here we report a new parasitic copepod species, Ive ptychoderae sp. nov., found in Ptychodera flava, a widespread acorn worm in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and an emerging organism for developmental and evolutionary studies. The female of I. ptychoderae is characterized by having a reduced maxilliped and five pairs of annular swellings along the body that are morphologically similar but distinguishable from those in the two previously described parasitic copepods in acorn worms. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rDNA sequence shows that I. ptychoderae may belong to Poecilostomatoida but represent a new family, which we name Iveidae fam. nov. Ive ptychoderae is commonly found in the acorn worm population with an average prevalence of 42% during the collecting period. The infection of the parasite induces the formation of cysts and causes localized lesions of the host tissues, suggesting that it may have negative effects on its host. Interestingly, most cysts contain a single female with one or multiple male copepods, suggesting that their sex determination may be controlled by environmental conditions. The relationships between the parasitic copepods and acorn worms thus provide a platform for understanding physiological and ecological influences and coevolution between parasites and hosts.}, } @article {pmid24648207, year = {2014}, author = {Koropatnick, T and Goodson, MS and Heath-Heckman, EA and McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Identifying the cellular mechanisms of symbiont-induced epithelial morphogenesis in the squid-Vibrio association.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {226}, number = {1}, pages = {56-68}, pmid = {24648207}, issn = {1939-8697}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01-AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T-32 GM07215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Decapodiformes/*cytology/enzymology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Epithelial Cells/*cytology/enzymology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Morphogenesis/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminous marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri provides a unique opportunity to study epithelial morphogenesis. Shortly after hatching, the squid host harvests bacteria from the seawater using currents created by two elaborate fields of ciliated epithelia on the surface of the juvenile light organ. After light organ colonization, the symbiont population signals the gradual loss of the ciliated epithelia through apoptosis of the cells, which culminates in the complete regression of these tissues. Whereas aspects of this process have been studied at the morphological, biochemical, and molecular levels, no in-depth analysis of the cellular events has been reported. Here we describe the cellular structure of the epithelial field and present evidence that the symbiosis-induced regression occurs in two steps. Using confocal microscopic analyses, we observed an initial epithelial remodeling, which serves to disable the function of the harvesting apparatus, followed by a protracted regression involving actin rearrangements and epithelial cell extrusion. We identified a metal-dependent gelatinolytic activity in the symbiont-induced morphogenic epithelial fields, suggesting the involvement of Zn-dependent matrix metalloproteinase(s) (MMP) in light organ morphogenesis. These data show that the bacterial symbionts not only induce apoptosis of the field, but also change the form, function, and biochemistry of the cells as part of the morphogenic program.}, } @article {pmid24645920, year = {2014}, author = {Lunn, JE and Delorge, I and Figueroa, CM and Van Dijck, P and Stitt, M}, title = {Trehalose metabolism in plants.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {544-567}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12509}, pmid = {24645920}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Insecta ; Plant Development ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Starch/biosynthesis ; Stress, Physiological ; Sucrose/metabolism ; Sugar Phosphates/metabolism ; Trehalose/analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Trehalose is a quantitatively important compatible solute and stress protectant in many organisms, including green algae and primitive plants. These functions have largely been replaced by sucrose in vascular plants, and trehalose metabolism has taken on new roles. Trehalose is a potential signal metabolite in plant interactions with pathogenic or symbiotic micro-organisms and herbivorous insects. It is also implicated in responses to cold and salinity, and in regulation of stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency. In plants, as in other eukaryotes and many prokaryotes, trehalose is synthesized via a phosphorylated intermediate, trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P). A meta-analysis revealed that the levels of Tre6P change in parallel with sucrose, which is the major product of photosynthesis and the main transport sugar in plants. We propose the existence of a bi-directional network, in which Tre6P is a signal of sucrose availability and acts to maintain sucrose concentrations within an appropriate range. Tre6P influences the relative amounts of sucrose and starch that accumulate in leaves during the day, and regulates the rate of starch degradation at night to match the demand for sucrose. Mutants in Tre6P metabolism have highly pleiotropic phenotypes, showing defects in embryogenesis, leaf growth, flowering, inflorescence branching and seed set. It has been proposed that Tre6P influences plant growth and development via inhibition of the SNF1-related protein kinase (SnRK1). However, current models conflict with some experimental data, and do not completely explain the pleiotropic phenotypes exhibited by mutants in Tre6P metabolism. Additional explanations for the diverse effects of alterations in Tre6P metabolism are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24645786, year = {2014}, author = {Bronstein, JL and Armbruster, WS and Thompson, JN}, title = {Understanding evolution and the complexity of species interactions using orchids as a model system.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {373-375}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12707}, pmid = {24645786}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; *Orchidaceae ; }, } @article {pmid24643472, year = {2014}, author = {Kalia, V and Sharma, G and Shapiro-Ilan, DI and Ganguly, S}, title = {Biocontrol Potential of Steinernema thermophilum and Its Symbiont Xenorhabdus indica Against Lepidopteran Pests: Virulence to Egg and Larval Stages.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {46}, number = {1}, pages = {18-26}, pmid = {24643472}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Under laboratory conditions, the biocontrol potential of Steinernema thermophilum was tested against eggs and larval stages of two important lepidopteran insect pests, Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura (polyphagous pests), as well as Galleria mellonella (used as a model host). In terms of host susceptibility of lepidopteran larvae to S. thermophilum, based on the LC50 36 hr after treatment, G. mellonella (LC50 = 16.28 IJ/larva) was found to be more susceptible than S. litura (LC50 = 85 IJ/larva), whereas neither host was found to be significantly different from H. armigera (LC50 = 54.68 IJ/larva). In addition to virulence to the larval stages, ovicidal activity up to 84% was observed at 200 IJ/50 and 100 eggs of H. armigera and S. litura, respectively. To our knowledge this is the first report of entomopathogenic nematode pathogenicity to lepidopteran eggs. Production of infective juvenile (IJ) nematodes/insect larva was also measured and found to be positively correlated with rate of IJ for H. armigera (r = 0.990), S. litura (r = 0.892), as well as G. mellonella (r = 0.834). Both Phase I and Phase II of symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus indica were tested separately against neonates of H. armigera and S. litura by feeding assays and found to be virulent to the target pests; phase variation did not affect the level of virulence. Thus S. thermophilum as well as the nematode's symbiotic bacteria applied separately have the potential to be developed as biocontrol agents for key lepidopteran pests.}, } @article {pmid24643131, year = {2014}, author = {Wong, J and Piceno, YM and DeSantis, TZ and Pahl, M and Andersen, GL and Vaziri, ND}, title = {Expansion of urease- and uricase-containing, indole- and p-cresol-forming and contraction of short-chain fatty acid-producing intestinal microbiota in ESRD.}, journal = {American journal of nephrology}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {230-237}, pmid = {24643131}, issn = {1421-9670}, support = {UL1 TR000153/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Ammonia/chemistry ; Cresols/*chemistry ; Diet ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/*chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Indican/chemistry ; Indoles/*chemistry ; Inflammation ; Intestines/microbiology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*metabolism/microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota ; Middle Aged ; Sulfuric Acid Esters/chemistry ; Urate Oxidase/*biosynthesis ; Urea/chemistry ; Urease/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Intestinal microbiome constitutes a symbiotic ecosystem that is essential for health, and changes in its composition/function cause various illnesses. Biochemical milieu shapes the structure and function of the microbiome. Recently, we found marked differences in the abundance of numerous bacterial taxa between ESRD and healthy individuals. Influx of urea and uric acid and dietary restriction of fruits and vegetables to prevent hyperkalemia alter ESRD patients' intestinal milieu. We hypothesized that relative abundances of bacteria possessing urease, uricase, and p-cresol- and indole-producing enzymes is increased, while abundance of bacteria containing enzymes converting dietary fiber to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) is reduced in ESRD.

METHODS: Reference sets of bacteria containing genes of interest were compiled to family, and sets of intestinal bacterial families showing differential abundances between 12 healthy and 24 ESRD individuals enrolled in our original study were compiled. Overlap between sets was assessed using hypergeometric distribution tests.

RESULTS: Among 19 microbial families that were dominant in ESRD patients, 12 possessed urease, 5 possessed uricase, and 4 possessed indole and p-cresol-forming enzymes. Among 4 microbial families that were diminished in ESRD patients, 2 possessed butyrate-forming enzymes. Probabilities of these overlapping distributions were <0.05.

CONCLUSIONS: ESRD patients exhibited significant expansion of bacterial families possessing urease, uricase, and indole and p-cresol forming enzymes, and contraction of families possessing butyrate-forming enzymes. Given the deleterious effects of indoxyl sulfate, p-cresol sulfate, and urea-derived ammonia, and beneficial actions of SCFA, these changes in intestinal microbial metabolism contribute to uremic toxicity and inflammation.}, } @article {pmid24642495, year = {2014}, author = {Miller, TE and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Niche differentiation in the dynamics of host-symbiont interactions: symbiont prevalence as a coexistence problem.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {183}, number = {4}, pages = {506-518}, doi = {10.1086/675394}, pmid = {24642495}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Poaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Heritable symbioses can have important ecological effects and have triggered important evolutionary innovations. Current predictions for long-term symbiont prevalence are based on their fitness benefits and vertical transmission rates but ignore nonlinear competitive feedbacks among symbiotic and symbiont-free hosts. We hypothesized that such feedbacks function as stabilizing mechanisms, promoting coexistence of host types and maintaining intermediate symbiont frequency at the population scale. Using a model grass/endophyte symbiosis, we manipulated competition within and between endophyte-symbiotic (E+) and endophyte-free (E-) hosts and fit competition models to experimental data. We show for the first time that symbiont-structured competition can generate stable coexistence of E+ and E- hosts, even under perfect vertical transmission. Niche differentiation was the key to coexistence, causing hosts of each type to limit themselves more strongly than each other. These results establish roles for nonlinear competitive dynamics and niche differentiation in the ecology and evolution of heritable symbionts.}, } @article {pmid24641813, year = {2014}, author = {Ehinger, M and Mohr, TJ and Starcevich, JB and Sachs, JL and Porter, SS and Simms, EL}, title = {Specialization-generalization trade-off in a Bradyrhizobium symbiosis with wild legume hosts.}, journal = {BMC ecology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {8}, pmid = {24641813}, issn = {1472-6785}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; California ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Genetic Fitness ; Genotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Specialized interactions help structure communities, but persistence of specialized organisms is puzzling because a generalist can occupy more environments and partake in more beneficial interactions. The "Jack-of-all-trades is a master of none" hypothesis asserts that specialists persist because the fitness of a generalist utilizing a particular habitat is lower than that of a specialist adapted to that habitat. Yet, there are many reasons to expect that mutualists will generalize on partners.Plant-soil feedbacks help to structure plant and microbial communities, but how frequently are soil-based symbiotic mutualistic interactions sufficiently specialized to influence species distributions and community composition? To address this question, we quantified realized partner richness and phylogenetic breadth of four wild-grown native legumes (Lupinus bicolor, L. arboreus, Acmispon strigosus and A. heermannii) and performed inoculation trials to test the ability of two hosts (L. bicolor and A. strigosus) to nodulate (fundamental partner richness), benefit from (response specificity), and provide benefit to (effect specificity) 31 Bradyrhizobium genotypes.

RESULTS: In the wild, each Lupinus species hosted a broader genetic range of Bradyrhizobium than did either Acmispon species, suggesting that Acmispon species are more specialized. In the greenhouse, however, L. bicolor and A. strigosus did not differ in fundamental association specificity: all inoculated genotypes nodulated both hosts. Nevertheless, A. strigosus exhibited more specificity, i.e., greater variation in its response to, and effect on, Bradyrhizobium genotypes. Lupinus bicolor benefited from a broader range of genotypes but averaged less benefit from each. Both hosts obtained more fitness benefit from symbionts isolated from conspecific hosts; those symbionts in turn gained greater fitness benefit from hosts of the same species from which they were isolated.

CONCLUSIONS: This study affirmed two important tenets of evolutionary theory. First, as predicted by the Jack-of-all-trades is a master of none hypothesis, specialist A. strigosus obtained greater benefit from its beneficial symbionts than did generalist L. bicolor. Second, as predicted by coevolutionary theory, each test species performed better with partner genotypes isolated from conspecifics. Finally, positive fitness feedback between the tested hosts and symbionts suggests that positive plant-soil feedback could contribute to their patchy distributions in this system.}, } @article {pmid24640259, year = {2013}, author = {Soren, KR and Padaria, JC and Singh, A}, title = {Isolation and characterization of symbiotically defective pyrimidine and amino acid auxotroph of Mesorhizobium ciceri in chickpea.}, journal = {Journal of environmental biology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {793-797}, pmid = {24640259}, issn = {0254-8704}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*metabolism/physiology ; Pyrimidines/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Transposon Tn5 induced, four Mesorhizobium ciceri auxotroph were isolated and characterized. Unlike its wild type parent (TL 620), all four mutants were found defective for amino acid and pyramiding biosynthesis. The auxotroph mutants were characterized and found TL130 as cytosine and uracil, TL 196 for guanine, cytocine, uracil and riboflavin, TL 141 as serine and TL 38 as argentine defective. Symbiotic characterization of these mutants revealed phenotypic deformities and deficiencies in biological nitrogen fixation. All the four auxotrophic mutants were characterized as nod+/fix+ nature with reduced nitrogenase activity of 42.2, 26.3 and 17.13% respectively as compared to the wild type which is further supported by sub cellular examination of the nodules section by TEM study.}, } @article {pmid24639514, year = {2014}, author = {Kotula, JW and Kerns, SJ and Shaket, LA and Siraj, L and Collins, JJ and Way, JC and Silver, PA}, title = {Programmable bacteria detect and record an environmental signal in the mammalian gut.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {13}, pages = {4838-4843}, pmid = {24639514}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Escherichia coli/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*microbiology ; *Genetic Engineering ; Humans ; Mammals/*microbiology ; Mice ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Tetracyclines/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gut is a dynamic community of symbiotic microbes that interact with the host to impact health, disease, and metabolism. We constructed engineered bacteria that survive in the mammalian gut and sense, remember, and report on their experiences. Based on previous genetic memory systems, we constructed a two-part system with a "trigger element" in which the lambda Cro gene is transcribed from a tetracycline-inducible promoter, and a "memory element" derived from the cI/Cro region of phage lambda. The memory element has an extremely stable cI state and a Cro state that is stable for many cell divisions. When Escherichia coli bearing the memory system are administered to mice treated with anhydrotetracycline, the recovered bacteria all have switched to the Cro state, whereas those administered to untreated mice remain in the cI state. The trigger and memory elements were transferred from E. coli K12 to a newly isolated murine E. coli strain; the stability and switching properties of the memory element were essentially identical in vitro and during passage through mice, but the engineered murine E. coli was more stably established in the mouse gut. This work lays a foundation for the use of synthetic genetic circuits as monitoring systems in complex, ill-defined environments, and may lead to the development of living diagnostics and therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid24639507, year = {2014}, author = {Wagg, C and Bender, SF and Widmer, F and van der Heijden, MG}, title = {Soil biodiversity and soil community composition determine ecosystem multifunctionality.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {14}, pages = {5266-5270}, pmid = {24639507}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; *Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Biodiversity loss has become a global concern as evidence accumulates that it will negatively affect ecosystem services on which society depends. So far, most studies have focused on the ecological consequences of above-ground biodiversity loss; yet a large part of Earth's biodiversity is literally hidden below ground. Whether reductions of biodiversity in soil communities below ground have consequences for the overall performance of an ecosystem remains unresolved. It is important to investigate this in view of recent observations that soil biodiversity is declining and that soil communities are changing upon land use intensification. We established soil communities differing in composition and diversity and tested their impact on eight ecosystem functions in model grassland communities. We show that soil biodiversity loss and simplification of soil community composition impair multiple ecosystem functions, including plant diversity, decomposition, nutrient retention, and nutrient cycling. The average response of all measured ecosystem functions (ecosystem multifunctionality) exhibited a strong positive linear relationship to indicators of soil biodiversity, suggesting that soil community composition is a key factor in regulating ecosystem functioning. Our results indicate that changes in soil communities and the loss of soil biodiversity threaten ecosystem multifunctionality and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid24639336, year = {2014}, author = {Paparella, C and Savatin, DV and Marti, L and De Lorenzo, G and Ferrari, S}, title = {The Arabidopsis LYSIN MOTIF-CONTAINING RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE3 regulates the cross talk between immunity and abscisic acid responses.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {165}, number = {1}, pages = {262-276}, pmid = {24639336}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/*enzymology/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Botrytis/drug effects/physiology ; Cell Membrane/drug effects/metabolism ; Disease Resistance/immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Oligosaccharides/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; *Plant Immunity/drug effects ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; *Receptor Cross-Talk/drug effects ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Transmembrane receptor-like kinases characterized by the presence of one or more lysin motif (LysM) domains in the extracytoplasmic portion (LysM-containing receptor-like kinases [LYKs]) mediate recognition of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms in plants. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome encodes five putative LYKs; among them, AtLYK1/CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE1 is required for response to chitin and peptidoglycan, and AtLYK4 contributes to chitin perception. More recently, AtLYK3 has been shown to be required for full repression, mediated by Nod factors, of Arabidopsis innate immune responses. In this work, we show that AtLYK3 also negatively regulates basal expression of defense genes and resistance to Botrytis cinerea and Pectobacterium carotovorum infection. Enhanced resistance of atlyk3 mutants requires PHYTOALEXIN-DEFICIENT3, which is crucial for camalexin biosynthesis. The expression of AtLYK3 is strongly repressed by elicitors and fungal infection and is induced by the hormone abscisic acid (ABA), which has a negative impact on resistance against B. cinerea and P. carotovorum. Plants lacking a functional AtLYK3 also show reduced physiological responses to ABA and are partially resistant to ABA-induced inhibition of PHYTOALEXIN-DEFICIENT3 expression. These results indicate that AtLYK3 is important for the cross talk between signaling pathways activated by ABA and pathogens.}, } @article {pmid24637633, year = {2014}, author = {Koorem, K and Gazol, A and Öpik, M and Moora, M and Saks, Ü and Uibopuu, A and Sõber, V and Zobel, M}, title = {Soil nutrient content influences the abundance of soil microbes but not plant biomass at the small-scale.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e91998}, pmid = {24637633}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Estonia ; Forests ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Seasons ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Small-scale heterogeneity of abiotic and biotic factors is expected to play a crucial role in species coexistence. It is known that plants are able to concentrate their root biomass into areas with high nutrient content and also acquire nutrients via symbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. At the same time, little is known about the small-scale distribution of soil nutrients, microbes and plant biomass occurring in the same area. We examined small-scale temporal and spatial variation as well as covariation of soil nutrients, microbial biomass (using soil fatty acid biomarker content) and above- and belowground biomass of herbaceous plants in a natural herb-rich boreonemoral spruce forest. The abundance of AM fungi and bacteria decreased during the plant growing season while soil nutrient content rather increased. The abundance of all microbes studied also varied in space and was affected by soil nutrient content. In particular, the abundance of AM fungi was negatively related to soil phosphorus and positively influenced by soil nitrogen content. Neither shoot nor root biomass of herbaceous plants showed any significant relationship with variation in soil nutrient content or the abundance of soil microbes. Our study suggests that plants can compensate for low soil phosphorus concentration via interactions with soil microbes, most probably due to a more efficient symbiosis with AM fungi. This compensation results in relatively constant plant biomass despite variation in soil phosphorous content and in the abundance of AM fungi. Hence, it is crucial to consider both soil nutrient content and the abundance of soil microbes when exploring the mechanisms driving vegetation patterns.}, } @article {pmid24637602, year = {2014}, author = {Neish, AS and Jones, RM}, title = {Redox signaling mediates symbiosis between the gut microbiota and the intestine.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {250-253}, pmid = {24637602}, issn = {1949-0984}, support = {R01DK071604/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK071604/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The microbiota that populates the intestinal tract affects many physiological processes, such as cell proliferation, epithelial barrier function, and immune responses. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the microbiota influences these events remain unknown. It was recently reported by our research group that specific taxa of intestinal bacteria induce the rapid and transient enzymatic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within enterocytes. Whereas NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) catalyzed ROS generation in response to microbial perception by bone marrow-derived phagocytes is well-studied, the function of ROS generated by Nox1 in enterocytes in response to microbial signals is not fully understood. It is established that ROS can act as signaling molecules in diverse transduction pathways by the rapid and transient oxidation of oxidant-sensitive thiol groups harbored within sensor regulatory proteins. Because commensal-bacterial-stimulated ROS generation in enterocytes has been shown to induce a wide range of physiological processes, in our recent manuscript, we proposed a paradigm wherein the influence of the microbiota on intestinal physiology is mediated in part by redox-dependant signaling.}, } @article {pmid24636895, year = {2014}, author = {Tsang, LM and Chu, KH and Nozawa, Y and Chan, BK}, title = {Morphological and host specificity evolution in coral symbiont barnacles (Balanomorpha: Pyrgomatidae) inferred from a multi-locus phylogeny.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {11-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2014.03.002}, pmid = {24636895}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Genetic Loci ; Host Specificity ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Thoracica/anatomy & histology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Coral-inhabiting barnacles (Thoracica: Pyrgomatidae) are obligatory symbionts of scleractinian and fire corals. We attempted to reconstruct the phylogeny of coral-inhabiting barnacles using a multi-locus approach (mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA, and nuclear EF1, H3 and RP gene sequences, total 3532bp), which recovered a paraphyletic pattern. The fire-coral inhabiting barnacle Wanella milleporae occupied a basal position with respect to the other coral inhabiting barnacles. Pyrgomatids along with the coral-inhabiting archaeobalanid Armatobalanus nested within the same clade and this clade was subdivided into two major lineages: Armatobalanus+Cantellius with species proposed to be the ancestral stock of extant coral barnacles, and the other comprising the remaining genera studied. Ancestral state reconstruction (ASR) suggested multiple independent fusions and separations of shell plates and opercular valves in coral barnacle evolution, which counters the traditional hypothesis founded on a scheme of morphological similarities. Most of the coral barnacles are restricted to one or two coral host families only, suggesting a trend toward narrow host range and more specific adaptation. Furthermore, there is a close linkage between coral host usage and phylogenetic relationships with sister taxa usually being found on the same coral host family. This suggests that symbiotic relationships in coral-inhabiting barnacles are phylogenetically conserved and that host associated specialization plays an important role in their diversification.}, } @article {pmid24636469, year = {2014}, author = {Guido, A and Mastandrea, A and Rosso, A and Sanfilippo, R and Tosti, F and Riding, R and Russo, F}, title = {Commensal symbiosis between agglutinated polychaetes and sulfate-reducing bacteria.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {265-275}, doi = {10.1111/gbi.12084}, pmid = {24636469}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Caves/microbiology ; Mediterranean Sea ; Polychaeta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Sicily ; Sulfates/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pendant bioconstructions occur within submerged caves in the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area in SE Sicily, Italy. These rigid structures, here termed biostalactites, were synsedimentarily lithified by clotted-peloidal microbial carbonate that has a high bacterial lipid biomarker content with abundant compounds derived from sulfate-reducing bacteria. The main framework builders are polychaete serpulid worms, mainly Protula with subordinate Semivermilia and Josephella. These polychaetes have lamellar and/or fibrillar wall structure. In contrast, small agglutinated terebellid tubes, which are a minor component of the biostalactites, are discontinuous and irregular with a peloidal micritic microfabric. The peloids, formed by bacterial sulfate reduction, appear to have been utilized by terebellids to construct tubes in an environment where other particulate sediment is scarce. We suggest that the bacteria obtained food from the worms in the form of fecal material and/or from the decaying tissue of surrounding organisms and that the worms obtained peloidal micrite with which to construct their tubes, either as grains and/or as tube encompassing biofilm. Peloidal worm tubes have rarely been reported in the recent but closely resemble examples in the geological record that extend back at least to the early Carboniferous. This suggests a long-lived commensal relationship between some polychaete worms and heterotrophic, especially sulfate-reducing, bacteria.}, } @article {pmid24636230, year = {2014}, author = {El Sayed, SM and Mohamed, WG and Seddik, MA and Ahmed, AS and Mahmoud, AG and Amer, WH and Helmy Nabo, MM and Hamed, AR and Ahmed, NS and Abd-Allah, AA}, title = {Safety and outcome of treatment of metastatic melanoma using 3-bromopyruvate: a concise literature review and case study.}, journal = {Chinese journal of cancer}, volume = {33}, number = {7}, pages = {356-364}, pmid = {24636230}, issn = {1000-467X}, mesh = {Acetaminophen/*therapeutic use ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; *Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; Glutathione ; Glycolysis ; Hexokinase ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Lactic Acid ; Lung Neoplasms/*secondary ; Male ; Melanoma/*drug therapy ; Necrosis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Pleural Neoplasms/*secondary ; *Prognosis ; Pyruvates/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; *Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {3-Bromopyruvate (3BP) is a new, promising anticancer alkylating agent with several notable functions. In addition to inhibiting key glycolysis enzymes including hexokinase II and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 3BP also selectively inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, angiogenesis, and energy production in cancer cells. Moreover, 3BP induces hydrogen peroxide generation in cancer cells (oxidative stress effect) and competes with the LDH substrates pyruvate and lactate. There is only one published human clinical study showing that 3BP was effective in treating fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. LDH is a good measure for tumor evaluation and predicts the outcome of treatment better than the presence of a residual tumor mass. According to the Warburg effect, LDH is responsible for lactate synthesis, which facilitates cancer cell survival, progression, aggressiveness, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Lactate produced through LDH activity fuels aerobic cell populations inside tumors via metabolic symbiosis. In melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, 3BP induced necrotic cell death in sensitive cells, whereas high glutathione (GSH) content made other melanoma cells resistant to 3BP. Concurrent use of a GSH depletor with 3BP killed resistant melanoma cells. Survival of melanoma patients was inversely associated with high serum LDH levels, which was reported to be highly predictive of melanoma treatment in randomized clinical trials. Here, we report a 28-year-old man presented with stage IV metastatic melanoma affecting the back, left pleura, and lung. The disease caused total destruction of the left lung and a high serum LDH level (4,283 U/L). After ethics committee approval and written patient consent, the patient received 3BP intravenous infusions (1-2.2 mg/kg), but the anticancer effect was minimal as indicated by a high serum LDH level. This may have been due to high tumor GSH content. On combining oral paracetamol, which depletes tumor GSH, with 3BP treatment, serum LDH level dropped maximally. Although a slow intravenous infusion of 3BP appeared to have minimal cytotoxicity, its anticancer efficacy via this delivery method was low. This was possibly due to high tumor GSH content, which was increased after concurrent use of the GSH depletor paracetamol. If the anticancer effectiveness of 3BP is less than expected, the combination with paracetamol may be needed to sensitize cancer cells to 3BP-induced effects.}, } @article {pmid24634728, year = {2014}, author = {Borell, EM and Steinke, M and Horwitz, R and Fine, M}, title = {Increasing pCO2 correlates with low concentrations of intracellular dimethylsulfoniopropionate in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {441-449}, pmid = {24634728}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Marine anthozoans maintain a mutualistic symbiosis with dinoflagellates that are prolific producers of the algal secondary metabolite dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), the precursor of the climate-cooling trace gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Surprisingly, little is known about the physiological role of DMSP in anthozoans and the environmental factors that regulate its production. Here, we assessed the potential functional role of DMSP as an antioxidant and determined how future increases in seawater pCO2 may affect DMSP concentrations in the anemone Anemonia viridis along a natural pCO2 gradient at the island of Vulcano, Italy. There was no significant difference in zooxanthellae genotype and characteristics (density of zooxanthellae, and chlorophyll a) as well as protein concentrations between anemones from three stations along the gradient, V1 (3232 μatm CO2), V2 (682 μatm) and control (463 μatm), which indicated that A. viridis can acclimate to various seawater pCO2. In contrast, DMSP concentrations in anemones from stations V1 (33.23 ± 8.30 fmol cell(-1)) and V2 (34.78 ± 8.69 fmol cell(-1)) were about 35% lower than concentrations in tentacles from the control station (51.85 ± 12.96 fmol cell(-1)). Furthermore, low tissue concentrations of DMSP coincided with low activities of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Superoxide dismutase activity for both host (7.84 ± 1.37 U·mg(-1) protein) and zooxanthellae (2.84 ± 0.41 U·mg(-1) protein) at V1 was 40% lower than at the control station (host: 13.19 ± 1.42; zooxanthellae: 4.72 ± 0.57 U·mg(-1) protein). Our results provide insight into coastal DMSP production under predicted environmental change and support the function of DMSP as an antioxidant in symbiotic anthozoans.}, } @article {pmid24632747, year = {2014}, author = {Berrabah, F and Bourcy, M and Cayrel, A and Eschstruth, A and Mondy, S and Ratet, P and Gourion, B}, title = {Growth conditions determine the DNF2 requirement for symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e91866}, pmid = {24632747}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Knockout Techniques ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and legumes are able to interact in a symbiotic way leading to the development of root nodules. Within nodules, rhizobia fix nitrogen for the benefit of the plant. These interactions are efficient because spectacularly high densities of nitrogen fixing rhizobia are maintained in the plant cells. DNF2, a Medicago truncatula gene has been described as required for nitrogen fixation, bacteroid's persistence and to prevent defense-like reactions in the nodules. This manuscript shows that a Rhizobium mutant unable to differentiate is not sufficient to trigger defense-like reactions in this organ. Furthermore, we show that the requirement of DNF2 for effective symbiosis can be overcome by permissive growth conditions. The dnf2 knockout mutants grown in vitro on agarose or Phytagel as gelling agents are able to produce nodules fixing nitrogen with the same efficiency as the wild-type. However, when agarose medium is supplemented with the plant defense elicitor ulvan, the dnf2 mutant recovers the fix- phenotype. Together, our data show that plant growth conditions impact the gene requirement for symbiotic nitrogen fixation and suggest that they influence the symbiotic suppression of defense reactions in nodules.}, } @article {pmid24632350, year = {2014}, author = {Grosskopf, T and Soyer, OS}, title = {Synthetic microbial communities.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {18}, number = {100}, pages = {72-77}, pmid = {24632350}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {BB/K003240/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/K003240/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Microbial Consortia ; *Microbial Interactions ; Synthetic Biology ; }, abstract = {While natural microbial communities are composed of a mix of microbes with often unknown functions, the construction of synthetic microbial communities allows for the generation of defined systems with reduced complexity. Used in a top-down approach, synthetic communities serve as model systems to ask questions about the performance and stability of microbial communities. In a second, bottom-up approach, synthetic microbial communities are used to study which conditions are necessary to generate interaction patterns like symbiosis or competition, and how higher order community structure can emerge from these. Besides their obvious value as model systems to understand the structure, function and evolution of microbial communities as complex dynamical systems, synthetic communities can also open up new avenues for biotechnological applications.}, } @article {pmid24632260, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, XX and Guo, HJ and Wang, R and Sui, XH and Zhang, YM and Wang, ET and Tian, CF and Chen, WX}, title = {Genetic divergence of bradyrhizobium strains nodulating soybeans as revealed by multilocus sequence analysis of genes inside and outside the symbiosis island.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {10}, pages = {3181-3190}, pmid = {24632260}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genomic Islands ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Bradyrhizobium has been considered to be a taxonomically difficult group. In this study, phylogenetics and evolutionary genetics analyses were used to investigate divergence levels among Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating soybeans in China. Eleven genospecies were identified by sequence analysis of three phylogenetic and taxonomic markers (SMc00019, thrA, and truA). This was also supported by analyses of eight genes outside the symbiosis island ("off-island" genes; SMc00019, thrA, truA, fabB, glyA, phyR, exoN, and hsfA). However, seven genes inside the symbiosis island ("island" genes; nifA, nifH, nodC, nodV, fixA, trpD, and rhcC2) showed contrasting lower levels of nucleotide diversity and recombination rates than did off-island genes. Island genes had significantly incongruent gene phylogenies compared to the species tree. Four phylogenetic clusters were observed in island genes, and the epidemic cluster IV (harbored by Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, Bradyrhizobium huanghuaihaiense, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense, Bradyrhizobium daqingense, Bradyrhizobium sp. I, Bradyrhizobium sp. III, and Bradyrhizobium sp. IV) was not found in Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, Bradyrhizobium sp. II, or Bradyrhizobium elkanii. The gene flow level of island genes among genospecies is discussed in the context of the divergence level of off-island genes.}, } @article {pmid24629416, year = {2014}, author = {Filker, S and Kaiser, M and Rosselló-Móra, R and Dunthorn, M and Lax, G and Stoeck, T}, title = {"Candidatus Haloectosymbiotes riaformosensis" (Halobacteriaceae), an archaeal ectosymbiont of the hypersaline ciliate Platynematum salinarum.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {244-251}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2014.01.001}, pmid = {24629416}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Archaeal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Halobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligohymenophorea/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The novel ciliate Platynematum salinarum (Scuticociliatia) was isolated only recently from a thalassohaline solar saltern pond (12%) in Portugal. Scanning electron microscopy showed numerous bacterial-shaped cells covering the complete surface of the ciliate. The rod-shaped epibionts were identified and characterized following the "Full-Cycle rRNA Approach". The almost full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence was obtained using archaeal-specific primers and two species-specific probes were designed for fluorescence in situ hybridization. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the epibiotic cells showed 87% sequence identity with the type strain sequence of the closest characterized species Halolamina pelagica. Phylogenetic reconstructions affiliated the novel organism to the genus Halolamina (Halobacteria, Archaea). Attempts to isolate the epibionts failed and, therefore, growth experiments incorporating the antibiotic anisomycin were conducted in order to investigate the potential symbiotic relationship between P. salinarum and the epibionts. The results suggested an obligate symbiosis between the two organisms and revealed the first symbiotic representative of the Halobacteria. Based on the phylogenetic analyses and growth experiments we propose the classification of this novel organism in a new genus, with the taxon name "Candidatus Haloectosymbiotes riaformosensis".}, } @article {pmid24628935, year = {2014}, author = {Russell, JA and Dubilier, N and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Nature's microbiome: introduction.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1225-1237}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12676}, pmid = {24628935}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Environment ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24626229, year = {2014}, author = {Pérez-Mendoza, D and Aragón, IM and Prada-Ramírez, HA and Romero-Jiménez, L and Ramos, C and Gallegos, MT and Sanjuán, J}, title = {Responses to elevated c-di-GMP levels in mutualistic and pathogenic plant-interacting bacteria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e91645}, pmid = {24626229}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alginates/chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Benzenesulfonates/chemistry ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Cellulose/chemistry ; Cyclic GMP/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology ; Mutation ; Olea/microbiology ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Despite a recent burst of research, knowledge on c-di-GMP signaling pathways remains largely fragmentary and molecular mechanisms of regulation and even c-di-GMP targets are yet unknown for most bacteria. Besides genomics or bioinformatics, accompanying alternative approaches are necessary to reveal c-di-GMP regulation in bacteria with complex lifestyles. We have approached this study by artificially altering the c-di-GMP economy of diverse pathogenic and mutualistic plant-interacting bacteria and examining the effects on the interaction with their respective host plants. Phytopathogenic Pseudomonas and symbiotic Rhizobium strains with enhanced levels of intracellular c-di-GMP displayed common free-living responses: reduction of motility, increased production of extracellular polysaccharides and enhanced biofilm formation. Regarding the interaction with the host plants, P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi cells containing high c-di-GMP levels formed larger knots on olive plants which, however, displayed reduced necrosis. In contrast, development of disease symptoms in P. syringae-tomato or P. syringae-bean interactions did not seem significantly affected by high c-di-GMP. On the other hand, increasing c-di-GMP levels in symbiotic R. etli and R. leguminosarum strains favoured the early stages of the interaction since enhanced adhesion to plant roots, but decreased symbiotic efficiency as plant growth and nitrogen contents were reduced. Our results remark the importance of c-di-GMP economy for plant-interacting bacteria and show the usefulness of our approach to reveal particular stages during plant-bacteria associations which are sensitive to changes in c-di-GMP levels.}, } @article {pmid24625648, year = {2014}, author = {Gibbin, EM and Putnam, HM and Davy, SK and Gates, RD}, title = {Intracellular pH and its response to CO2-driven seawater acidification in symbiotic versus non-symbiotic coral cells.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 11}, pages = {1963-1969}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.099549}, pmid = {24625648}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Acidosis ; Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Photosynthesis ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Regulating intracellular pH (pHi) is critical for optimising the metabolic activity of corals, yet the mechanisms involved in pH regulation and the buffering capacity within coral cells are not well understood. Our study investigated how the presence of symbiotic dinoflagellates affects the response of pHi to PCO2-driven seawater acidification in cells isolated from Pocillopora damicornis. Using the fluorescent dye BCECF-AM, in conjunction with confocal microscopy, we simultaneously characterised the pHi response in host coral cells and their dinoflagellate symbionts, in symbiotic and non-symbiotic states under saturating light, with and without the photosynthetic inhibitor DCMU. Each treatment was run under control (pH 7.8) and CO2-acidified seawater conditions (decreasing pH from 7.8 to 6.8). After 105 min of CO2 addition, by which time the external pH (pHe) had declined to 6.8, the dinoflagellate symbionts had increased their pHi by 0.5 pH units above control levels when in the absence of DCMU. In contrast, in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic host coral cells, 15 min of CO2 addition (0.2 pH unit drop in pHe) led to cytoplasmic acidosis equivalent to 0.3-0.4 pH units irrespective of whether DCMU was present. Despite further seawater acidification over the duration of the experiment, the pHi of non-symbiotic coral cells did not change, though in host cells containing a symbiont cell the pHi recovered to control levels when photsynthesis was not inhibited. This recovery was negated when cells were incubated with DCMU. Our results reveal that photosynthetic activity of the endosymbiont is tightly coupled with the ability of the host cell to recover from cellular acidosis after exposure to high CO2/low pH.}, } @article {pmid24624128, year = {2014}, author = {Bapteste, E}, title = {The origins of microbial adaptations: how introgressive descent, egalitarian evolutionary transitions and expanded kin selection shape the network of life.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {83}, pmid = {24624128}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid24622961, year = {2014}, author = {Szafranski, KM and Gaudron, SM and Duperron, S}, title = {Direct evidence for maternal inheritance of bacterial symbionts in small deep-sea clams (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae).}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {373-383}, pmid = {24622961}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Germ Cells/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Gonads/microbiology/ultrastructure ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oceans and Seas ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial symbiont transmission is a key step in the renewal of the symbiotic interaction at each host generation, and different modes of transmission can be distinguished. Vesicomyidae are chemosynthetic bivalves from reducing habitats that rely on symbiosis with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, in which two studies suggesting vertical transmission of symbionts have been published, both limited by the imaging techniques used. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that bacterial symbionts of Isorropodon bigoti, a gonochoristic Vesicomyidae from the Guiness cold seep site, occur intracellularly within female gametes at all stages of gametogenesis from germ cells to mature oocytes and in early postlarval stage. Symbionts are completely absent from the male gonad and gametes. This study confirms the transovarial transmission of symbionts in Vesicomyidae and extends it to the smaller species for which no data were previously available.}, } @article {pmid24618254, year = {2014}, author = {Elhenawy, W and Debelyy, MO and Feldman, MF}, title = {Preferential packing of acidic glycosidases and proteases into Bacteroides outer membrane vesicles.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {e00909-14}, pmid = {24618254}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacteroides/chemistry/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Cell Membrane/chemistry/*enzymology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*analysis ; Humans ; Peptide Hydrolases/*analysis ; Proteome/analysis ; Secretory Vesicles/chemistry/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) are spherical membranous structures released from the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria. OMV have been proposed to play several different roles during both pathogenesis and symbiosis. Despite the fact that OMV were described several decades ago, their biogenesis is a poorly characterized process. Whether OMV are produced by an active mechanism or by passive disintegration of the OM is a still matter of controversy. Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron are important members of the human microbiota. In this work, we determined and compared the protein compositions of OM and OMV from B. fragilis and B. thetaiotaomicron. SDS-PAGE analysis of both fractions revealed dramatically different protein profiles. Proteomic analysis of OM and OMV in B. fragilis identified more than 40 proteins found exclusively in OMV and more than 30 proteins detectable only in the OM. The OMV-specific proteome showed a high prevalence of glycosidases and proteases, some of which were shown to be active in vitro. Similar results were obtained for B. thetaiotaomicron. Most of the OMV-exclusive proteins were acidic. Based on these results, we propose that these species possess machinery devoted to selectively pack acidic proteins into the OMV. These OMV equipped with hydrolytic enzymes could help in securing nutrients for the benefit of the whole bacterial community present in the microbiota, uncovering a novel function for bacterial OMV. IMPORTANCE The members of genus Bacteroides are key players in the symbiosis between the human host and the gut microbiota. It is known for its ability to degrade a wide variety of glycans that are not substrates for human glycosidases. The cleaved glycans can be utilized by Bacteroides and other microbiota members, resulting in the production of short-chain fatty acids that are beneficial for the host. Although members of the genus Bacteroides are known to secrete different hydrolases, their secretion pathways remain uncharacterized. In this article, we show that B. fragilis and B. thetaiotaomicron preferentially pack a large number of hydrolases in outer membrane vesicles (OMV). Most of these hydrolases are acidic and were detected exclusively in OMV. This suggests the presence of a molecular mechanism in Bacteroides responsible for the selection of OMV proteins based on their charge. We propose that OMV contribute to the establishment and balance of the gut microbiota.}, } @article {pmid24618087, year = {2014}, author = {Chen, A and Chen, X and Wang, H and Liao, D and Gu, M and Qu, H and Sun, S and Xu, G}, title = {Genome-wide investigation and expression analysis suggest diverse roles and genetic redundancy of Pht1 family genes in response to Pi deficiency in tomato.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {61}, pmid = {24618087}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphates/deficiency/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major nutrient stresses limiting plant growth. The uptake of P by plants is well considered to be mediated by a number of high-affinity phosphate (Pi) transporters belonging to the Pht1 family. Although the Pht1 genes have been extensively identified in several plant species, there is a lack of systematic analysis of the Pht1 gene family in any solanaceous species thus far.

RESULTS: Here, we report the genome-wide analysis, phylogenetic evolution and expression patterns of the Pht1 genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). A total of eight putative Pht1 genes (LePT1 to 8), distributed on three chromosomes (3, 6 and 9), were identified through extensive searches of the released tomato genome sequence database. Chromosomal organization and phylogenetic tree analysis suggested that the six Pht1 paralogues, LePT1/3, LePT2/6 and LePT4/5, which were assigned into three pairs with very close physical distance, were produced from recent tandem duplication events that occurred after Solanaceae splitting with other dicot families. Expression analysis of these Pht1 members revealed that except LePT8, of which the transcript was undetectable in all tissues, the other seven paralogues showed differential but partial-overlapping expression patterns. LePT1 and LePT7 were ubiquitously expressed in all tissues examined, and their transcripts were induced abundantly in response to Pi starvation; LePT2 and LePT6, the two paralogues harboring identical coding sequence, were predominantly expressed in Pi-deficient roots; LePT3, LePT4 and LePT5 were strongly activated in the roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under low-P, but not high-P condition. Histochemical analysis revealed that a 1250-bp LePT3 promoter fragment and a 471-bp LePT5 promoter fragment containing the two elements, MYCS and P1BS, were sufficient to direct the GUS reporter expression in mycorrhizal roots and were limited to distinct cells harboring AM fungal structures. Additionally, the four paralogues, LePT1, LePT2, LePT6 and LePT7, were very significantly down-regulated in the mycorrhizal roots under low Pi supply condition.

CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from this study provide new insights into the evolutionary expansion, functional divergence and genetic redundancy of the Pht1 genes in response to Pi deficiency and mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato.}, } @article {pmid24617641, year = {2014}, author = {Cárdenas, CA and Bell, JJ and Davy, SK and Hoggard, M and Taylor, MW}, title = {Influence of environmental variation on symbiotic bacterial communities of two temperate sponges.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {3}, pages = {516-527}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12317}, pmid = {24617641}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges are an important component of temperate subtidal marine ecosystems, with a range of important functional roles and extensive symbiotic relationships with microorganisms. However, much remains unknown about their relationships with these symbiotic microorganisms, and specifically, the role that these symbionts play in sponge physiology, feeding and adaptation to local environmental conditions. Changes in environmental factors may alter relationships between sponges and their symbionts, which could conceivably influence the abundance and distribution patterns of some temperate sponge species. Here, we analyzed the effect of transplantation of sponges between different habitats to test the effect of changes in environmental conditions on the stability of the bacterial communities in specimens of Tethya bergquistae and Ecionemia alata, based on pyrosequencing of amplified 16S rRNA genes. Bacterial communities differed markedly between the two host species. While some morphological changes were observed in transplanted sponges, transplantation had little overall effect on sponge-associated bacterial communities at either phylum or 97%-OTU level. Our results show the importance of host species and also the stability of sponge-associated bacterial communities under environmental variation.}, } @article {pmid24617254, year = {2013}, author = {Feng, J and Zhang, W and Song, C}, title = {[Progress in endogenous plasmid curing of bacteria--a review].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {53}, number = {11}, pages = {1142-1148}, pmid = {24617254}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Molecular Biology ; *Plasmids ; }, abstract = {To investigate the functions of the bacteria endogenous plasmid, which include bacterial drug resistance, symbiosis, capsular formation and heavy metal resistance, the endogenous plasmid needs to be cured first. We reviewed physical, chemical and molecular biological methods of endogenous plasmid curing, clarified the curing principles. The prospective of research on plasmid curing was also discussed, based on our own studies.}, } @article {pmid24616886, year = {2014}, author = {Gkouskou, KK and Deligianni, C and Tsatsanis, C and Eliopoulos, AG}, title = {The gut microbiota in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {28}, pmid = {24616886}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*microbiology ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {The intestine and the intestinal immune system have evolved through a symbiotic homeostasis under which a highly diverse microbial flora is maintained in the gastrointestinal tract while pathogenic bacteria are recognized and eliminated. Disruption of the balance between the immune system and the gut microbiota results in the development of multiple pathologies in humans. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been associated with alterations in the composition of intestinal flora but whether these changes are causal or result of inflammation is still under dispute. Various chemical and genetic models of IBD have been developed and utilized to elucidate the complex relationship between intestinal epithelium, immune system and the gut microbiota. In this review we describe some of the most commonly used mouse models of colitis and Crohn's disease (CD) and summarize the current knowledge of how changes in microbiota composition may affect intestinal disease pathogenesis. The pursuit of gut-microbiota interactions will no doubt continue to provide invaluable insight into the complex biology of IBD.}, } @article {pmid24616268, year = {2014}, author = {Inada, N and Ueda, T}, title = {Membrane trafficking pathways and their roles in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {672-686}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu046}, pmid = {24616268}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Endocytosis ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Intracellular Membranes/*metabolism ; Protein Transport ; *Secretory Pathway ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Membrane trafficking functions in the delivery of proteins that are newly synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to their final destinations, such as the plasma membrane (PM) and the vacuole, and in the internalization of extracellular components or PM-associated proteins for recycling or degradative regulation. These trafficking pathways play pivotal roles in the rapid responses to environmental stimuli such as challenges by microorganisms. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of plant membrane trafficking and its roles in plant-microbe interactions. Although there is little information regarding the mechanism of pathogenic modulation of plant membrane trafficking thus far, recent research has identified many membrane trafficking factors as possible targets of microbial modulation.}, } @article {pmid24613869, year = {2014}, author = {Trevisan, S and Manoli, A and Quaggiotti, S}, title = {NO signaling is a key component of the root growth response to nitrate in Zea mays L.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e28290}, pmid = {24613869}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Nitrates/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; Zea mays/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Roots are considered to be a vital organ system of plants due to their involvement in water and nutrient uptake, anchorage, propagation, storage functions, secondary metabolite (including hormones) biosynthesis, and accumulation. Crops are strongly dependent on the availability of nitrogen in soil and on the efficiency of nitrogen utilization for biomass production and yield. However, knowledge about molecular responses to nitrogen fluctuations mainly derives from the study of model species. Nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed to be implicated in plant adaptation to environment, but its exact role in the response of plants to nutritional stress is still under evaluation. Recently a novel role for NO production and scavenging, thanks to the coordinate spatio-temporal expression of nitrate reductase and non-symbiotic hemoglobins, in the maize root response to nitrate has been postulated. This control of NO homeostasis is preferentially accomplished by the cells of the root transition zone (TZ) which seem to represent the most nitrate responsive portion of maize root. The TZ is already known to function as a sensory center able to gather information from the external environment and to re-elaborate them in an adequate response. These results indicate that it could play a central role also for nitrate sensing by roots. A lot of work is still needed to identify and characterize other upstream and downstream signals involved in the "nitrate-NO" pathway, leading to root architecture adjustments and finally to stress adaptation.}, } @article {pmid24613596, year = {2014}, author = {Aguilar-Trigueros, CA and Powell, JR and Anderson, IC and Antonovics, J and Rillig, MC}, title = {Ecological understanding of root-infecting fungi using trait-based approaches.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {19}, number = {7}, pages = {432-438}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2014.02.006}, pmid = {24613596}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Classification schemes have been popular to tame the diversity of root-infecting fungi. However, the usefulness of these schemes is limited to descriptive purposes. We propose that a shift to a multidimensional trait-based approach to disentangle the saprotrophic-symbiotic continuum will provide a better framework to understand fungal evolutionary ecology. Trait information reflecting the separation of root-infecting fungi from free-living soil relatives will help to understand the evolutionary process of symbiosis, the role that species interactions play in maintaining their large diversity in soil and in planta, and their contributions at the ecosystem level. Methodological advances in several areas such as microscopy, plant immunology, and metatranscriptomics represent emerging opportunities to populate trait databases.}, } @article {pmid24612930, year = {2014}, author = {Imbs, AB and Yakovleva, IM and Dautova, TN and Bui, LH and Jones, P}, title = {Diversity of fatty acid composition of symbiotic dinoflagellates in corals: evidence for the transfer of host PUFAs to the symbionts.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {101}, number = {}, pages = {76-82}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.02.012}, pmid = {24612930}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry/growth & development ; Dinoflagellida/*chemistry/growth & development ; Fatty Acids/*analysis/chemistry ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/analysis/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Vietnam ; }, abstract = {High diversity of fatty acid (FA) composition of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the Symbiodinium group (zooxanthellae) isolated from different cnidarian groups has been found. To explain this diversity, FA composition of the total lipids of pure symbiont fractions (SF) and host cell tissue fractions (HF) isolated from one hydrocoral, two soft coral, and seven hard coral species inhabiting the shallow waters of the South China Sea (Vietnam) were compared. Symbiodinium phylogenetic clade designation for each SF was also determined, however, the relationship between the clade designation and FA composition of Symbiodinium was not found. The profiles of marker polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) of symbionts (18:4n-3, 18:5n-3, 20:5n-3) did not depend on taxonomic designation of the host and reflected only a specimen-specific diversity of the SF lipids. Several FAs such as 20:0, C24 PUFAs, 22:5n-6, and 18:2n-7 concentrated in HF lipids but were also found in SF lipids. For ten cnidarian species studied, the principal components analysis of total FAs (27 variables) of the symbiotic fractions was performed. The clear division of the symbiotic dinoflagellates according to the host systematic identity was found on a subclass level. This division was mainly caused by the FAs specific for the host lipids of each cnidarian subclasses such as hard corals, soft corals, and hydrocorals. Thus, the coral hosts affect the FA profile of their symbionts and cause the diversity of FA composition of Symbiodinium. The transfer of FAs from the coral host to their symbiotic dinoflagellates and modulation of PUFA biosynthesis in symbionts by the host are considered as possible reasons of the diversity studied.}, } @article {pmid24612690, year = {2014}, author = {Kodama, Y and Suzuki, H and Dohra, H and Sugii, M and Kitazume, T and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Fujishima, M}, title = {Comparison of gene expression of Paramecium bursaria with and without Chlorella variabilis symbionts.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {183}, pmid = {24612690}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Ciliophora/*genetics ; Computational Biology/methods ; *Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glutathione Transferase/genetics ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Open Reading Frames ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ciliate Paramecium bursaria harbors several hundred cells of the green-alga Chlorella sp. in their cytoplasm. Irrespective of the mutual relation between P. bursaria and the symbiotic algae, both cells retain the ability to grow without the partner. They can easily reestablish endosymbiosis when put in contact with each other. Consequently, P. bursaria is an excellent model for studying cell-cell interaction and the evolution of eukaryotic cells through secondary endosymbiosis between different protists. Despite the importance of this organism, no genomic resources have been identified for P. bursaria to date. This investigation compared gene expressions through RNA-Seq analysis and de novo transcriptome assembly of symbiont-free and symbiont-bearing host cells.

RESULTS: To expedite the process of gene discovery related to the endosymbiosis, we have undertaken Illumina deep sequencing of mRNAs prepared from symbiont-bearing and symbiont-free P. bursaria cells. We assembled the reads de novo to build the transcriptome. Sequencing using Illumina HiSeq2000 platform yielded 232.3 million paired-end sequence reads. Clean reads filtered from the raw reads were assembled into 68,175 contig sequences. Of these, 10,557 representative sequences were retained after removing Chlorella sequences and lowly expressed sequences. Nearly 90% of these transcript sequences were annotated by similarity search against protein databases. We identified differentially expressed genes in the symbiont-bearing P. bursaria cells relative to the symbiont-free cells, including heat shock 70 kDa protein and glutathione S-transferase.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported comprehensive sequence resource of Paramecium - Chlorella endosymbiosis. Results provide some keys for the elucidation of secondary endosymbiosis in P. bursaria. We identified P. bursaria genes that are differentially expressed in symbiont-bearing and symbiont-free conditions.}, } @article {pmid24612351, year = {2014}, author = {Wu, J and Ma, F and Wang, L and Yang, J and Huang, X and An, G and Liu, S}, title = {Seedling performance of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex. Steudel in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {116}, number = {6}, pages = {1593-1606}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12486}, pmid = {24612351}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Germination ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Poaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Seedlings/*growth & development/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus-plant symbiosis may induce morphological, physiological and/or biochemical changes in the host plants. This study was performed to investigate the effects of AM fungi on Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex. Steudel.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Funnelliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis were chosen as inocula, and detailed attributes related to seedling performance (from seed to five-leaf stage), rhizospheric conditions and micro-organisms were measured and compared. Both of the chosen AM fungal inocula accelerated seed germination and enhanced growth and development, especially in the underground tissues, of seedlings. Specifically, AM fungal colonization improved the photosynthetic efficiency, rhizospheric soil respiration and absorption of certain nutrients in Ph. australis seedlings as well as the rhizospheric microbial metabolic activity and richness in different extents. However, the decreased metabolic diversity suggested that the effects of AM fungi on rhizospheric microbial communities are specific and selective.

CONCLUSIONS: As a whole, F. mosseae showed greater improvements in the performance of Ph. australis seedlings than R. irregularis. In addition, the potential applications of AM fungi as a 'bio-accelerator', 'biofortifier', and 'bio-enhancer' in phyto-rhizoremediation have been discussed.

The main findings could preliminarily reveal the mechanisms behind AM fungus-plant symbioses and could be referred to when optimizing combined phyto-rhizoremediation before practical applications take place.}, } @article {pmid24612325, year = {2014}, author = {Krupke, A and Lavik, G and Halm, H and Fuchs, BM and Amann, RI and Kuypers, MM}, title = {Distribution of a consortium between unicellular algae and the N2 fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A in the North Atlantic Ocean.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {3153-3167}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12431}, pmid = {24612325}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Atlantic Ocean ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Haptophyta/genetics/*isolation & purification ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Microbial Consortia ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The globally abundant, uncultured unicellular cyanobacterium UCYN-A was recently discovered living in association with a eukaryotic cell closely related to a prymnesiophyte. Here, we established a double CAtalysed Reporter Deposition-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (CARD-FISH) approach to identify both partners and provided quantitative information on their distribution and abundance across distinct water masses along a transect in the North Atlantic Ocean. The N2 fixation activity coincided with the detection of UCYN-A cells and was only observed in oligotrophic (< 0.067 NO3(-) μM and < 0.04 PO4(3-) μM) and warm (> 18°C) surface waters. Parallel 16S ribosomal RNA gene analyses among unicellular diazotrophs indicated that only UCYN-A cells were present. UCYN-A cells were associated with an algal partner or non-associated using the double CARD-FISH approach. We demonstrated that UCYN-A cells living in association with Haptophyta were the dominant form (87.0 ± 6.1%), whereas non-associated UCYN-A cells represented only a minor fraction (5.2 ± 3.9%). Interestingly, UCYN-A cells were also detected living in association with unknown single-celled eukaryotes in small amounts (7.8 ± 5.2%), presumably Alveolata. The proposed ecological niche of UCYN-A as an oligotrophic, mesophilic and obligate symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microorganism is evident for the North Atlantic Ocean.}, } @article {pmid24612310, year = {2014}, author = {Clements, KD and Angert, ER and Montgomery, WL and Choat, JH}, title = {Intestinal microbiota in fishes: what's known and what's not.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {1891-1898}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12699}, pmid = {24612310}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Digestion ; Fishes/*microbiology/physiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {High-throughput sequencing approaches have enabled characterizations of the community composition of numerous gut microbial communities, which in turn has enhanced interest in their diversity and functional relationships in different groups of vertebrates. Although fishes represent the greatest taxonomic and ecological diversity of vertebrates, our understanding of their gut microbiota and its functional significance has lagged well behind that of terrestrial vertebrates. In order to highlight emerging issues, we provide an overview of research on fish gut microbiotas and the biology of their hosts. We conclude that microbial community composition must be viewed within an informed context of host ecology and physiology, and that this is of particular importance with respect to research planning and sampling design.}, } @article {pmid24611988, year = {2014}, author = {Jansa, J and Erb, A and Oberholzer, HR and Smilauer, P and Egli, S}, title = {Soil and geography are more important determinants of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal communities than management practices in Swiss agricultural soils.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {2118-2135}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12706}, pmid = {24611988}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Altitude ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Geography ; Microbial Consortia ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Onions/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Switzerland ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous soil fungi, forming mutualistic symbiosis with a majority of terrestrial plant species. They are abundant in nearly all soils, less diverse than soil prokaryotes and other intensively studied soil organisms and thus are promising candidates for universal indicators of land management legacies and soil quality degradation. However, insufficient data on how the composition of indigenous AMF varies along soil and landscape gradients have hampered the definition of baselines and effect thresholds to date. Here, indigenous AMF communities in 154 agricultural soils collected across Switzerland were profiled by quantitative real-time PCR with taxon-specific markers for six widespread AMF species. To identify the key determinants of AMF community composition, the profiles were related to soil properties, land management and site geography. Our results indicate a number of well-supported dependencies between abundances of certain AMF taxa and soil properties such as pH, soil fertility and texture, and a surprising lack of effect of available soil phosphorus on the AMF community profiles. Site geography, especially the altitude and large geographical distance, strongly affected AMF communities. Unexpected was the apparent lack of a strong land management effect on the AMF communities as compared to the other predictors, which could be due to the rarity of highly intensive and unsustainable land management in Swiss agriculture. In spite of the extensive coverage of large geographical and soil gradients, we did not identify any taxon suitable as an indicator of land use among the six taxa we studied.}, } @article {pmid24610838, year = {2014}, author = {Rosas-Pérez, T and Rosenblueth, M and Rincón-Rosales, R and Mora, J and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Genome sequence of "Candidatus Walczuchella monophlebidarum" the flavobacterial endosymbiont of Llaveia axin axin (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae).}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {714-726}, pmid = {24610838}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Flavobacterium/classification/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidae) constitute a very diverse group of sap-feeding insects with a large diversity of symbiotic associations with bacteria. Here, we present the complete genome sequence, metabolic reconstruction, and comparative genomics of the flavobacterial endosymbiont of the giant scale insect Llaveia axin axin. The gene repertoire of its 309,299 bp genome was similar to that of other flavobacterial insect endosymbionts though not syntenic. According to its genetic content, essential amino acid biosynthesis is likely to be the flavobacterial endosymbiont's principal contribution to the symbiotic association with its insect host. We also report the presence of a γ-proteobacterial symbiont that may be involved in waste nitrogen recycling and also has amino acid biosynthetic capabilities that may provide metabolic precursors to the flavobacterial endosymbiont. We propose "Candidatus Walczuchella monophlebidarum" as the name of the flavobacterial endosymbiont of insects from the Monophlebidae family.}, } @article {pmid24609105, year = {2014}, author = {Jossart, Q and Wattier, RA and Kastally, C and Aron, S and David, B and De Ridder, C and Rigaud, T}, title = {Genetic evidence confirms polygamous mating system in a crustacean parasite with multiple hosts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e90680}, pmid = {24609105}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Crustacea/genetics/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mating systems are diverse in animals, notably in crustaceans, but can be inferred from a limited set of parameters. Baeza and Thiel (2007) proposed a model predicting mating systems of symbiotic crustaceans with three host characteristics and the risk of predation. These authors proposed five mating systems, ranging from monogamy to polygynandry (where multiple mating occurs for both genders). Using microsatellite loci, we tested the putatively mating system of the ectoparasite crab Dissodactylus primitivus. We determined the mating frequencies of males and females, parentage assignment (COLONY & GERUD software) as well as the contents of female spermathecae. Our results are globally consistent with the model of Baeza and Thiel and showed, together with previous aquarium experiments, that this ectoparasite evolved a polygamous mating system where males and females move between hosts for mate search. Parentage analyses revealed that polyandry is frequent and concerns more than 60% of clutches, with clutches being fertilized by up to 6 different fathers. Polygyny is supported by the detection of eight males having sired two different broods. We also detected a significant paternity skew in 92% of the multipaternal broods. Moreover, this skew is probably higher than the estimation from the brood because additional alleles were detected in most of spermathecae. This high skew could be explained by several factors as sperm competition or cryptic female choice. Our genetic data, combined with previous anatomic analyses, provide consistent arguments to suggest sperm precedence in D. primitivus.}, } @article {pmid24608923, year = {2014}, author = {Nouri, E and Breuillin-Sessoms, F and Feller, U and Reinhardt, D}, title = {Phosphorus and nitrogen regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Petunia hybrida.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {e90841}, pmid = {24608923}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrates/*physiology ; Petunia/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phosphates/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential nutrient elements that are needed by plants in large amounts. The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis between plants and soil fungi improves phosphorus and nitrogen acquisition under limiting conditions. On the other hand, these nutrients influence root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi and symbiotic functioning. This represents a feedback mechanism that allows plants to control the fungal symbiont depending on nutrient requirements and supply. Elevated phosphorus supply has previously been shown to exert strong inhibition of arbuscular mycorrhizal development. Here, we address to what extent inhibition by phosphorus is influenced by other nutritional pathways in the interaction between Petunia hybrida and R. irregularis. We show that phosphorus and nitrogen are the major nutritional determinants of the interaction. Interestingly, the symbiosis-promoting effect of nitrogen starvation dominantly overruled the suppressive effect of high phosphorus nutrition onto arbuscular mycorrhiza, suggesting that plants promote the symbiosis as long as they are limited by one of the two major nutrients. Our results also show that in a given pair of symbiotic partners (Petunia hybrida and R. irregularis), the entire range from mutually symbiotic to parasitic can be observed depending on the nutritional conditions. Taken together, these results reveal complex nutritional feedback mechanisms in the control of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid24607711, year = {2014}, author = {Maynaud, G and Brunel, B and Yashiro, E and Mergeay, M and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Le Quéré, A}, title = {CadA of Mesorhizobium metallidurans isolated from a zinc-rich mining soil is a P(IB-2)-type ATPase involved in cadmium and zinc resistance.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {165}, number = {3}, pages = {175-189}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2014.02.001}, pmid = {24607711}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphatases/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Reporter ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/analysis ; Mesorhizobium/*enzymology/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Binding ; Sequence Alignment ; *Soil Microbiology ; Zinc/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium metallidurans STM 2683(T) is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that nodulates Anthyllis vulneraria in mine tailings highly contaminated in zinc, lead and cadmium. To study the mechanisms whereby this bacterium copes with metals, we functionally screened a cosmid genomic library of M. metallidurans for zinc or cadmium tolerance. A cosmid clone harbored a gene encoding P(IB)-type ATPase homologous to CadA that leads to cadmium and zinc resistance in Escherichia coli. The CadA protein structure presents one duplication of the two N-terminal metal binding domains (i.e. a heavy metal-associated domain followed by a histidine-rich domain) which allows specific binding to zinc and cadmium cations. A cadA-deleted strain of M. metallidurans failed to grow at high zinc concentrations (2 mM) and its growth was delayed at lower zinc concentrations. Expression studies using a transcriptional fusion of cadA promoter to gfp showed that cadA is specifically induced in a dose-dependent manner by zinc and cadmium in M. metallidurans in vitro conditions and into A. vulneraria nodules after Zn stress. Metal induction sensitivity was increased in the strain where cadA gene was deleted. This study identified cadA as a first mesorhizobial resistance determinant involved in detoxification of cadmium and zinc and which confers upon M. metallidurans greater capacity for coping with high zinc concentrations. This improves the knowledge of this bacterium for potential use as a symbiotic inoculant of Anthyllis in phytostabilization strategies of metal-rich sites.}, } @article {pmid24607355, year = {2014}, author = {Zhou, Y and Bradshaw, RE and Johnson, RD and Hume, DE and Simpson, WR and Schmid, J}, title = {Detection and quantification of three distinct Neotyphodium lolii endophytes in Lolium perenne by real time PCR of secondary metabolite genes.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {118}, number = {3}, pages = {316-324}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2014.01.003}, pmid = {24607355}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Colony Count, Microbial ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Neotyphodium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; New Zealand ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; }, abstract = {Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is a widely used pasture grass, which is frequently infected by Neotyphodium lolii endophytes that enhance grass performance but can produce alkaloids inducing toxicosis in livestock. Several selected endophyte strains with reduced livestock toxicity, but that confer insect resistance, are now in common use. Little is known regarding the survival and persistence of these endophytes when in competition with common toxic endophytes. This is mainly because there are currently no assays available to easily and reliably quantify different endophytes in pastures or in batches of seeds infected with multiple strains. We developed real time PCR assays, based on secondary metabolite genes known to differ between N. lolii endophyte strains, to quantify two selected endophytes, AR1 and AR37, and a common toxic ecotype used in New Zealand. A duplex PCR allowed assessment of endophyte:grass DNA ratios with high sensitivity, specificity and precision. Endophyte specific primers/probes could detect contamination of AR37 seeds with other endophytes down to a level of 3-25%. We demonstrated that it is possible to quantify different endophyte strains simultaneously using multiplex PCR. This method has potential applications in management of endophytes in pastures and in fundamental research into this important plant-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24606389, year = {2014}, author = {Fitzpatrick, BM and Allison, AL}, title = {Similarity and differentiation between bacteria associated with skin of salamanders (Plethodon jordani) and free-living assemblages.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {3}, pages = {482-494}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12314}, pmid = {24606389}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Skin/*microbiology ; Urodela/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {All animals and plants have intimate associations with microbes. Opinion has shifted from viewing microbes primarily as pathogens to the idea that healthy animals and plants carry specialized communities of coevolving microorganisms. However, the generality of this proposition is unknown because surveys rarely compare host-associated microbes with samples from relevant microhabitats. Symbiotic communities might be assembled from local environments with little evolutionary specialization. We evaluated the specificity of bacteria associated with salamander skin in comparison with surfaces in their immediate environments using 16S rRNA sequences. Host-associated and free-living samples were significantly different. However, relative abundances were strongly correlated; the most abundant taxa on salamander skin were also most abundant on moist debris on the forest floor. Thus, although bacterial assemblages on salamander skin are statistically differentiated from those on inanimate surfaces, they are not entirely 'distinct'. Candidate salamander specialists were few in number and occurred at low relative abundances. Within some OTUs, differences in allele frequency suggested genetic specialization at finer levels. Although host-associated and free-living assemblages were similar, a range of more or less specialized symbiotes was evident and bacteria on salamander skin were often specific genotypes of OTUs commonly found on other moist surfaces in the environment.}, } @article {pmid24605683, year = {2013}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Kremleva, EA and Sgibnev, AV and Cherkasov, SV}, title = {[Role of dominant microflora in mechanisms of woman vaginal biotope protection].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {6}, pages = {100-104}, pmid = {24605683}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*metabolism ; Bacteria/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Vagina/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Detection of properties of the dominant microsymbiont emerging in the course of interaction of associative symbiosis components and ensuring protection of vaginal mucosa from seeding by pathogens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: H202-producing Lactobacillus spp., Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and primary epitheliocytes from lower reproductive tract of women were used. The ability of Lactobacillus spp. to influence changes of synthesis of catalase inhibitors by corynebacteria, bactericidal activity of lysozyme, lactoferrin and thrombocyte antimicrobial protein, antimicrobial activity of primary vaginal epitheliocytes was evaluated. Changes of antagonistic and growth properties oflactobacilli during interaction with secretory products of Corynebacterium spp., S. aureus, E. coli and vaginal epitheliocytes were also studied.

RESULTS: Exometabolites of both epitheliocytes and corynebacteria were revealed to stimulate in most cases lactobacilli biomass growth and Sincreased their antagonistic activity against S. aureus u E. coli. Metabolites of H202-producing lactobacilli increased synthesis of antimicrobial substances by epitheliocytes and potentiated bactericidity of natural resistance factors. Under the influence of lactobacilli metabolites an increase of production of catalase inhibitors by corynebacteria was revealed.

CONCLUSION: Symbiotic interrelations of dominant microorganisms with host organism and associants under the condition of associative symbiosis leading to stimulation of production and potentiating of the effect of antibacterial protection factors are the basis for colonization resistance of vaginal biotope.}, } @article {pmid24605248, year = {2013}, author = {Anstett, DN and O'Brien, H and Larsen, EW and McMullin, RT and Fortin, MJ}, title = {Dispersal analysis of three Peltigera species based on landscape genetics data.}, journal = {Mycology}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {187-195}, pmid = {24605248}, issn = {2150-1203}, abstract = {Lichens can either disperse sexually through fungal spores or asexually through vegetative propagules and fragmentation. Understanding how genetic variation in lichens is distributed across a landscape can be useful to infer dispersal and establishment events in space and time as well as the conditions needed for this establishment. Most studies have sampled lichens across large spatial distances on the order of hundreds of kilometers, while here we sequence the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) for 113 samples of three Peltigera species sampling at a variety of small spatial scales. The maximum distance between sampled lichens was 3.7 km and minimum distance was approximately 20 cm. We find significant amounts of genetic diversity across all three species. For P. praetextata, two out of the three most common ITS genotypes exhibit spatial autocorrelation supporting short-range dispersal. Using rarefaction we estimate that all ITS genotypes in our sampling area have been found for P. praetextata and P. evansiana, but not P. canina. Comparing our results with other ITS data in the literature provides evidence for global dispersal for at least one sequence followed by the evolution of endemic haplotypes with wide dispersal and rare haplotypes with more local dispersal.}, } @article {pmid24605109, year = {2014}, author = {Fitzpatrick, BM}, title = {Symbiote transmission and maintenance of extra-genomic associations.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {46}, pmid = {24605109}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotes can be transmitted from parents to offspring or horizontally from unrelated hosts or the environment. A key question is whether symbiote transmission is similar enough to Mendelian gene transmission to generate and maintain coevolutionary associations between host and symbiote genes. Recent papers come to opposite conclusions, with some suggesting that any horizontal transmission eliminates genetic association. These studies are hard to compare owing to arbitrary differences in modeling approach, parameter values, and assumptions about selection. I show that associations between host and symbiote genes (extra-genomic associations) can be described by the same dynamic model as conventional linkage disequilibria between genes in the same genome. Thus, covariance between host and symbiote genomes depends on population history, geographic structure, selection, and co-transmission rate, just as covariance between genes within a genome. The conclusion that horizontal transmission rapidly erodes extra-genomic associations is equivalent to the conclusion that recombination rapidly erodes associations between genes within a genome. The conclusion is correct in the absence of population structure or selection. However, population structure can maintain spatial associations between host and symbiote traits, and non-additive selection (interspecific epistasis) can generate covariances between host and symbiote genotypes. These results can also be applied to cultural or other non-genetic traits. This work contributes to a growing consensus that genomic, symbiotic, and gene-culture evolution can be analyzed under a common theoretical framework. In terms of coevolutionary potential, symbiotes can be viewed as lying on a continuum between the intimacy of genes and the indifference of casually co-occurring species.}, } @article {pmid24603978, year = {2014}, author = {Tan, KH and Seers, CA and Dashper, SG and Mitchell, HL and Pyke, JS and Meuric, V and Slakeski, N and Cleal, SM and Chambers, JL and McConville, MJ and Reynolds, EC}, title = {Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola exhibit metabolic symbioses.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {e1003955}, pmid = {24603978}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Coculture Techniques ; Coinfection ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; Treponema denticola/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola are strongly associated with chronic periodontitis. These bacteria have been co-localized in subgingival plaque and demonstrated to exhibit symbiosis in growth in vitro and synergistic virulence upon co-infection in animal models of disease. Here we show that during continuous co-culture a P. gingivalis:T. denticola cell ratio of 6∶1 was maintained with a respective increase of 54% and 30% in cell numbers when compared with mono-culture. Co-culture caused significant changes in global gene expression in both species with altered expression of 184 T. denticola and 134 P. gingivalis genes. P. gingivalis genes encoding a predicted thiamine biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated whilst genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis were down-regulated. T. denticola genes encoding virulence factors including dentilisin and glycine catabolic pathways were significantly up-regulated during co-culture. Metabolic labeling using 13C-glycine showed that T. denticola rapidly metabolized this amino acid resulting in the production of acetate and lactate. P. gingivalis may be an important source of free glycine for T. denticola as mono-cultures of P. gingivalis and T. denticola were found to produce and consume free glycine, respectively; free glycine production by P. gingivalis was stimulated by T. denticola conditioned medium and glycine supplementation of T. denticola medium increased final cell density 1.7-fold. Collectively these data show P. gingivalis and T. denticola respond metabolically to the presence of each other with T. denticola displaying responses that help explain enhanced virulence of co-infections.}, } @article {pmid24601835, year = {2015}, author = {Dunn, MF}, title = {Key roles of microsymbiont amino acid metabolism in rhizobia-legume interactions.}, journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {411-451}, doi = {10.3109/1040841X.2013.856854}, pmid = {24601835}, issn = {1549-7828}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Biological Transport, Active/physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are bacteria in the α-proteobacterial genera Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Azorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium that reduce (fix) atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with a compatible host plant. In free-living and/or symbiotically associated rhizobia, amino acids may, in addition to their incorporation into proteins, serve as carbon, nitrogen or sulfur sources, signals of cellular nitrogen status and precursors of important metabolites. Depending on the rhizobia-host plant combination, microsymbiont amino acid metabolism (biosynthesis, transport and/or degradation) is often crucial to the establishment and maintenance of an effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis and is intimately interconnected with the metabolism of the plant. This review summarizes past findings and current research directions in rhizobial amino acid metabolism and evaluates the genetic, biochemical and genome expression studies from which these are derived. Specific sections deal with the regulation of rhizobial amino acid metabolism, amino acid transport, and finally the symbiotic roles of individual amino acids in different plant-rhizobia combinations.}, } @article {pmid24599506, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, P and Peng, P and Wang, L and Kang, Y}, title = {G-scores: a method for identifying disease-causing pathogens with application to lower respiratory tract infections.}, journal = {Statistics in medicine}, volume = {33}, number = {16}, pages = {2814-2829}, doi = {10.1002/sim.6129}, pmid = {24599506}, issn = {1097-0258}, mesh = {Bacteria/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Confidence Intervals ; Humans ; Markov Chains ; *Models, Statistical ; Respiratory Tract Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Sputum/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are well known for the lack of a good diagnostic method. The main difficulty lies in the fact that there are a variety of pathogens causing LRTIs, and their management and treatment are quite different. The development of quantitative real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (qrt-LAMP) made it possible to rapidly amplify and quantify multiple pathogens simultaneously. The question that remains to be answered is how accurate and reliable is this method? More importantly, how are qrt-LAMP measurements utilized to inform/suggest medical decisions? When does a pathogen start to grow out of control and cause infection? Answers to these questions are crucial to advise treatment guidance for LRTIs and also helpful to design phase I/II trials or adaptive treatment strategies. In this article, our main contributions include the following two aspects. First, we utilize zero-inflated mixture models to provide statistical evidence for the validity of qrt-LAMP being used in detecting pathogens for LRTIs without the presence of a gold standard test. Our results on qrt-LAMP suggest that it provides reliable measurements on pathogens of interest. Second, we propose a novel statistical approach to identify disease-causing pathogens, that is, distinguish the pathogens that colonize without causing problems from those that rapidly grow and cause infection. We achieve this by combining information from absolute quantities of pathogens and their symbiosis information to form G-scores. Change-point detection methods are utilized on these G-scores to detect the three phases of bacterial growth-lag phase, log phase, and stationary phase.}, } @article {pmid24598598, year = {2014}, author = {Taylor, CM and Coffey, PL and DeLay, BD and Dively, GP}, title = {The importance of gut symbionts in the development of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e90312}, pmid = {24598598}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Female ; Fertility ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Movement ; Nymph/microbiology/physiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; Pantoea/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), has become a severe agricultural pest and nuisance problem since its introduction in the U.S. Research is being conducted to understand its biology and to find management solutions. Its symbiotic relationship with gut symbionts is one aspect of its biology that is not understood. In the family Pentatomidae, the reliance on gut symbionts for successful development seems to vary depending on the species of stink bug. This research assessed the role of gut symbionts in the development, survivorship, and fecundity of H. halys. We compared various fitness parameters of nymphs and adults reared from surface sterilized and untreated egg masses during two consecutive generations under laboratory conditions. Results provided direct evidence that H. halys is negatively impacted by the prevention of vertical transmission of its gut symbionts and that this impact is significant in the first generation and manifests dramatically in the subsequent generation. Developmental time and survivorship of treated cohorts in the first generation were significantly affected during third instar development through to the adult stage. Adults from the sterilized treatment group exhibited longer pre-oviposition periods, produced fewer egg masses, had significantly smaller clutch sizes, and the hatch rate and survivorship of those eggs were significantly reduced. Observations following hatch of surface sterilized eggs also revealed significant effects on wandering behavior of the first instars. The second generation progeny from adults of the sterilized cohorts showed significantly lower survival to adulthood, averaging only 0.3% compared to 20.8% for the control cohorts. Taken together, results demonstrate that H. halys is heavily impacted by deprival of its gut symbionts. Given the economic status of this invasive pest, further investigations may lead to management tactics that disrupt this close symbiotic relationship in the biology of H. halys.}, } @article {pmid24597227, year = {2013}, author = {Zhao, L and Lu, M and Niu, H and Fang, G and Zhang, S and Sun, J}, title = {A native fungal symbiont facilitates the prevalence and development of an invasive pathogen-native vector symbiosis.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {12}, pages = {2817-2826}, doi = {10.1890/12-2229.1}, pmid = {24597227}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Nematoda ; Pinus/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Invasive pathogen-insect symbioses have been extensively studied in many different ecological niches. Whether the damage of symbioses in different introduced regions might be influenced by other microorganisms has, however, received little attention. Eight years of field data showed that the varied levels of the nematode and beetle populations and infested trees of the invasive Bursaphelenchus xylophilus--Monochamus alternatus symbiosis were correlated with patterns in the isolation frequencies of ophiostomatoid fungi at six sites, while the laboratory experiments showed that the nematode produced greater numbers of offspring with a female-biased sex ratio and developed faster in the presence of one native symbiotic ophiostomatoid fungus, Sporothrix sp. 1. Diacetone alcohol (DAA) from xylem inoculated with Sporothrix sp. 1 induced B. xylophilus to produce greater numbers of offspring. Its presence also significantly increased the growth and survival rate of M. alternatus, and possibly explains the prevalence of the nematode-vector symbiosis when Sporothrix sp. 1 was dominant in the fungal communities. Studying the means by which multispecies interactions contributed to biogeographical dynamics allowed us to better understand the varied levels of damage caused by biological invasion across the invaded range.}, } @article {pmid24597224, year = {2013}, author = {Björk, JR and Díez-Vives, C and Coma, R and Ribes, M and Montoya, JM}, title = {Specificity and temporal dynamics of complex bacteria--sponge symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {12}, pages = {2781-2791}, doi = {10.1890/13-0557.1}, pmid = {24597224}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Ecosystem ; Mediterranean Sea ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Microbes are known to form intricate and intimate relationships with most animal and plant taxa. Microbe--host symbiotic associations are poorly explored in comparison with other species interaction networks. The current paradigm on symbiosis research stems from species-poor systems where pairwise and reciprocally specialized interactions between a single microbe and a single host that coevolve are the norm. These symbioses involving just a few species are fascinating in their own right, but more diverse and complex host-associated microbial communities are increasingly found, with new emerging questions that require new paradigms and approaches. Here we adopt an intermediate complexity approach to study the specificity, phylogenetic community structure, and temporal variability of the subset of the most abundant bacteria associated with different sponge host species with diverse eco-evolutionary characteristics. We do so by using a monthly resolved annual temporal series of host-associated and free-living bacteria. Bacteria are very abundant and diverse within marine sponges, and these symbiotic interactions are hypothesized to have a very ancient origin. We show that host-bacteria reciprocal specialization depends on the temporal scale and level of taxonomic aggregation considered. Sponge hosts with similar eco-evolutionary characteristics (e.g., volume of tissue corresponding to microbes, water filtering rates, and microbial transmission type) have similar bacterial phylogenetic community structure when looking at interactions aggregated over time. In general, sponge hosts hypothesized to form more intricate relationships with bacteria show a remarkably persistent bacterial community over time. Other hosts, however, show a large turnover similar to that observed for free-living bacterioplankton. Our study highlights the importance of exploring temporal variability in host--microbe interaction networks if we aim to determine how specific and persistent these poorly explored but extremely common interactions are.}, } @article {pmid24596150, year = {2014}, author = {Brennan, CA and Hunt, JR and Kremer, N and Krasity, BC and Apicella, MA and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {A model symbiosis reveals a role for sheathed-flagellum rotation in the release of immunogenic lipopolysaccharide.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {e01579}, pmid = {24596150}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008692/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/immunology/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/growth & development/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Flagella/immunology/*metabolism ; Genotype ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipopolysaccharides/immunology/*metabolism ; Morphogenesis ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Vibrio cholerae/genetics/immunology/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Bacterial flagella mediate host-microbe interactions through tissue tropism during colonization, as well as by activating immune responses. The flagellar shaft of some bacteria, including several human pathogens, is encased in a membranous sheath of unknown function. While it has been hypothesized that the sheath may allow these bacteria to evade host responses to the immunogenic flagellin subunit, this unusual structural feature has remained an enigma. Here we demonstrate that the rotation of the sheathed flagellum in both the mutualist Vibrio fischeri and the pathogen Vibrio cholerae promotes release of a potent bacteria-derived immunogen, lipopolysaccharide, found in the flagellar sheath. We further present a new role for the flagellar sheath in triggering, rather than circumventing, host immune responses in the model squid-vibrio symbiosis. Such an observation not only has implications for the study of bacterial pathogens with sheathed flagella, but also raises important biophysical questions of sheathed-flagellum function. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01579.001.}, } @article {pmid24595907, year = {2014}, author = {Le Roux, C and Muller, F and Bouvet, JM and Dreyfus, B and Béna, G and Galiana, A and Bâ, AM}, title = {Genetic diversity patterns and functional traits of Bradyrhizobium strains associated with Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. in Caribbean islands and Amazonian forest (French Guiana).}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {329-338}, pmid = {24595907}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Forests ; French Guiana ; *Genetic Variation ; *Phylogeny ; Pterocarpus/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; West Indies ; }, abstract = {Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. is a legume tree native to the Caribbean islands and South America growing as a dominant species in swamp forests. To analyze (i) the genetic diversity and (ii) the symbiotic properties of its associated nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, root nodules were collected from P. officinalis distributed in 16 forest sites of the Caribbean islands and French Guiana. The sequencing of the 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region (ITS) showed that all bacteria belonged to the Bradyrhizobium genus. Bacteria isolated from insular zones showed very close sequence homologies with Bradyrhizobium genospecies V belonging to the Bradyrhizobium japonicum super-clade. By contrast, bacteria isolated from continental region displayed a larger genetic diversity and belonged to B. elkanii super-clade. Two strains from Puerto Rico and one from French Guiana were not related to any known sequence and could be defined as a new genospecies. Inoculation experiments did not show any host specificity of the Bradyrhizobium strains tested in terms of infectivity. However, homologous Bradyrhizobium sp. strain-P. officinalis provenance associations were more efficient in terms of nodule production, N acquisition, and growth than heterologous ones. The dominant status of P. officinalis in the islands may explain the lower bacterial diversity compared to that found in the continent where P. officinalis is associated with other leguminous tree species. The specificity in efficiency found between Bradyrhizobium strains and host tree provenances could be due to a coevolution process between both partners and needs to be taken in consideration in the framework of rehabilitation plantation programs.}, } @article {pmid24595111, year = {2014}, author = {Saia, S and Amato, G and Frenda, AS and Giambalvo, D and Ruisi, P}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae on biomass production and nitrogen fixation of berseem clover plants subjected to water stress.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e90738}, pmid = {24595111}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Biomass ; Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Rain ; Sicily ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Temperature ; Trifolium/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Several studies, performed mainly in pots, have shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can mitigate the negative effects of water stress on plant growth. No information is available about the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on berseem clover growth and nitrogen (N) fixation under conditions of water shortage. A field experiment was conducted in a hilly area of inner Sicily, Italy, to determine whether symbiosis with AM fungi can mitigate the detrimental effects of drought stress (which in the Mediterranean often occurs during the late period of the growing season) on forage yield and symbiotic N2 fixation of berseem clover. Soil was either left under water stress (i.e., rain-fed conditions) or the crop was well-watered. Mycorrhization treatments consisted of inoculation of berseem clover seeds with arbuscular mycorrhizal spores or suppression of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by means of fungicide treatments. Nitrogen biological fixation was assessed using the 15N-isotope dilution technique. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis was able to mitigate the negative effect of water stress on berseem clover grown in a typical semiarid Mediterranean environment. In fact, under water stress conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis resulted in increases in total biomass, N content, and N fixation, whereas no effect of crop mycorrhization was observed in the well-watered treatment.}, } @article {pmid24594762, year = {2014}, author = {Sun, Z and Blanchard, JL}, title = {Strong genome-wide selection early in the evolution of Prochlorococcus resulted in a reduced genome through the loss of a large number of small effect genes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e88837}, pmid = {24594762}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Prochlorococcus/classification/*genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The smallest genomes of any photosynthetic organisms are found in a group of free-living marine cyanobacteria, Prochlorococcus. To determine the underlying evolutionary mechanisms, we developed a new method to reconstruct the steps leading to the Prochlorococcus genome reduction using 12 Prochlorococcus and 6 marine Synechococcus genomes. Our results reveal that small genome sizes within Prochlorococcus were largely determined shortly after the split of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus (an early big shrink) and thus for the first time decouple the genome reduction from Prochlorococcus diversification. A maximum likelihood approach was then used to estimate changes of nucleotide substitution rate and selection strength along Prochlorococcus evolution in a phylogenetic framework. Strong genome wide purifying selection was associated with the loss of many genes in the early evolutionary stage. The deleted genes were distributed around the genome, participated in many different functional categories and in general had been under relaxed selection pressure. We propose that shortly after Prochlorococcus diverged from its common ancestor with marine Synechococcus, its population size increased quickly thus increasing efficacy of selection. Due to limited nutrients and a relatively constant environment, selection favored a streamlined genome for maximum economy. Strong genome wide selection subsequently caused the loss of genes with small functional effect including the loss of some DNA repair genes. In summary, genome reduction in Prochlorococcus resulted in genome features that are similar to symbiotic bacteria and pathogens, however, the small genome sizes resulted from an increase in genome wide selection rather than a consequence of a reduced ecological niche or relaxed selection due to genetic drift.}, } @article {pmid24594623, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, Y and Tian, RM and Gao, ZM and Bougouffa, S and Qian, PY}, title = {Optimal eukaryotic 18S and universal 16S/18S ribosomal RNA primers and their application in a study of symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e90053}, pmid = {24594623}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA Primers ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/*genetics ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene primers that feature a wide coverage are critical in detecting the composition of eukaryotic microscopic organisms in ecosystems. Here, we predicted 18S rRNA primers based on consecutive conserved sites and evaluated their coverage efficiency and scope of application to different eukaryotic groups. After evaluation, eight of them were considered as qualified 18S primers based on coverage rate. Next, we examined common conserved regions in prokaryotic 16S and eukaryotic 18S rRNA sequences to design 16S/18S universal primers. Three 16S/18S candidate primers, U515, U1390 and U1492, were then considered to be suitable for simultaneous amplification of the rRNA sequences in three domains. Eukaryotic 18S and prokaryotic 16S rRNA genes in a sponge were amplified simultaneously using universal primers U515 and U1390, and the subsequent sorting of pyrosequenced reads revealed some distinctive communities in different parts of the sample. The real difference in biodiversity between prokaryotic and eukaryotic symbionts could be discerned as the dissimilarity between OTUs was increased from 0.005 to 0.1. A network of the communities in external and internal parts of the sponge illustrated the co-variation of some unique microbes in certain parts of the sponge, suggesting that the universal primers are useful in simultaneous detection of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid24594394, year = {2014}, author = {García-Sánchez, M and Palma, JM and Ocampo, JA and García-Romera, I and Aranda, E}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviate oxidative stress induced by ADOR and enhance antioxidant responses of tomato plants.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {6}, pages = {421-428}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.10.023}, pmid = {24594394}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Catalase/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Olea/*chemistry ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The behaviour of tomato plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi grown in the presence of aqueous extracts from dry olive residue (ADOR) was studied in order to understand how this symbiotic relationship helps plants to cope with oxidative stress caused by ADOR. The influence of AM symbiosis on plant growth and other physiological parameters was also studied. Tomato plants were inoculated with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae and were grown in the presence of ADOR bioremediated and non-bioremediated by Coriolopsis floccosa and Penicillium chrysogenum-10. The antioxidant response as well as parameters of oxidative damage were examined in roots and leaves. The data showed a significant increase in the biomass of AM plant growth in the presence of ADOR, regardless of whether it was bioremediated. The establishment and development of the symbiosis were negatively affected after plants were exposed to ADOR. No differences were observed in the relative water content (RWC) or PS II efficiency between non-AM and AM plants. The increase in the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST; EC 2.5.1.18) were simultaneous to the reduction of MDA levels and H2O2 content in AM root growth in the presence of ADOR. Similar H2O2 levels were observed among non-AM and AM plants, although only AM plants showed reduced lipid peroxidation content, probably due to the involvement of antioxidant enzymes. The results highlight how the application of both bioremediated ADOR and AM fungi can alleviate the oxidative stress conditions, improving the growth and development of tomato plants.}, } @article {pmid24594392, year = {2014}, author = {Sulieman, S and Schulze, J and Tran, LS}, title = {N-feedback regulation is synchronized with nodule carbon alteration in Medicago truncatula under excessive nitrate or low phosphorus conditions.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {6}, pages = {407-410}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.12.006}, pmid = {24594392}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Asparagine/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Feedback, Physiological ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hydroponics ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/microbiology/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/*metabolism ; Phloem/enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Succinic Acid/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the higher nodule amino acid content induced under certain treatments may play a role in the N-feedback regulation of nitrogenase (EC 1.18.6.1) activity by restricting the carbon supply to the functioning nodules. Growing Medicago truncatula plants under sub-optimal phosphorus conditions or upon exposure to large supply of nitrate caused significant asparagine accumulation in nodules of the treated plants. In addition, there was a remarkable decline in the nodule succinate content under phosphorus deprivation while malate was tended to increase. Interestingly, the relative share of succinate in the symbiotic tissues was totally inhibited, i.e. reached zero, by excessive nitrate application. These results provide evidence that succinate might be greatly affected by asparagine content of the nodule fraction, thereby restricting cellular carbon supply to the functioning bacteroids which leads to down-regulation of nodule metabolism and nitrogenase activity.}, } @article {pmid24594301, year = {2014}, author = {Correa, CC and Ballard, JW}, title = {What can symbiont titres tell us about co-evolution of Wolbachia and their host?.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {118}, number = {}, pages = {20-27}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2014.02.009}, pmid = {24594301}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Drosophila/*microbiology ; Female ; Gonads/microbiology ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Male ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {There is a long-standing prediction that associations with vertically transmitted symbionts evolve towards maximisation of host reproductive success, eventually leading to mutualist symbiosis and coadaptation. Under this scenario, the regulation of symbiont titres in host tissues would be expected to be greater when partners have coevolved for a long time than when they have recently met. Wolbachia pipientis, a common vertically transmitted symbiont of invertebrates, often has the capacity to spread through the host population without being beneficial to the hosts, by means of reducing the hatch rate in crosses between uninfected females and infected males. This manipulation, namely cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), may exert strong selection on the accuracy of infection transmission from mother to offspring, and therefore, on regulation of symbiont titres in the ova. Here, we examined the symbiont density dynamics in gonads of Drosophila simulans infected with the wMa strain of Wolbachia, known to cause mild CI and likely to be the oldest Wolbachia infection known to this fly species. Further, we compared these results with those obtained for the more recent association between D. simulans and the potent CI-inducer wHa (Correa and Ballard, 2012). We aimed to determine if the regulation of Wolbachia density in fly gonads is greater in the older association, as would be predicted solely by gradual coadaptation, or if the selection exerted by CI on reproductive fitness could also play a role, therefore showing tighter regulation on flies with the stronger CI-inducing strain. We observed that Wolbachia density in gonads of wMa infected flies changed with laboratory adaptation and were disturbed by environmental challenges, which contrasted with the stability of ovarian wHa density to the same treatments. Our observations are in line with the prediction that selection on reproductive fitness influences the evolution symbiont density regulation in Drosophila, and may provide insights into the evolutionary processes involved in the maintenance or loss of Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid24594266, year = {2014}, author = {Petroutsos, D and Amiar, S and Abida, H and Dolch, LJ and Bastien, O and Rébeillé, F and Jouhet, J and Falconet, D and Block, MA and McFadden, GI and Bowler, C and Botté, C and Maréchal, E}, title = {Evolution of galactoglycerolipid biosynthetic pathways--from cyanobacteria to primary plastids and from primary to secondary plastids.}, journal = {Progress in lipid research}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {68-85}, doi = {10.1016/j.plipres.2014.02.001}, pmid = {24594266}, issn = {1873-2194}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyanobacteria/cytology/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Galactolipids/*biosynthesis ; Humans ; Plastids/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Photosynthetic membranes have a unique lipid composition that has been remarkably well conserved from cyanobacteria to chloroplasts. These membranes are characterized by a very high content in galactoglycerolipids, i.e., mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG and DGDG, respectively). Galactoglycerolipids make up the bulk of the lipid matrix in which photosynthetic complexes are embedded. They are also known to fulfill specific functions, such as stabilizing photosystems, being a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids for various purposes and, in some eukaryotes, being exported to other subcellular compartments. The conservation of MGDG and DGDG suggests that selection pressures might have conserved the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis, but this does not appear to be the case. Important evolutionary transitions comprise primary endosymbiosis (from a symbiotic cyanobacterium to a primary chloroplast) and secondary endosymbiosis (from a symbiotic unicellular algal eukaryote to a secondary plastid). In this review, we compare biosynthetic pathways based on available molecular and biochemical data, highlighting enzymatic reactions that have been conserved and others that have diverged or been lost, as well as the emergence of parallel and alternative biosynthetic systems originating from other metabolic pathways. Questions for future research are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid24593245, year = {2014}, author = {Santos, MR and Marques, AT and Becker, JD and Moreira, LM}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti EmrR regulator is required for efficient colonization of Medicago sativa root nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {388-399}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-13-0284-R}, pmid = {24593245}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Adhesion/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Movement ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti must adapt to diverse conditions encountered during its symbiosis with leguminous plants. We characterized a new symbiotically relevant gene, emrR (SMc03169), whose product belongs to the TetR family of repressors and is divergently transcribed from emrAB genes encoding a putative major facilitator superfamily-type efflux pump. An emrR deletion mutant produced more succinoglycan, displayed increased cell-wall permeability, and exhibited higher tolerance to heat shock. It also showed lower tolerance to acidic conditions, a reduced production of siderophores, and lower motility and biofilm formation. The simultaneous deletion of emrA and emrR genes restored the mentioned traits to the wild-type phenotype, except for survival under heat shock, which was lower than that displayed by the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the ΔemrR mutant as well as the double ΔemrAR mutant was impaired in symbiosis with Medicago sativa; it formed fewer nodules and competed poorly with the wild-type strain for nodule colonization. Expression profiling of the ΔemrR mutant showed decreased expression of genes involved in Nod-factor and rhizobactin biosynthesis and in stress responses. Expression of genes directing the biosynthesis of succinoglycan and other polysaccharides were increased. EmrR may therefore be involved in a regulatory network targeting membrane and cell wall modifications in preparation for colonization of root hairs during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24593244, year = {2014}, author = {Bárzana, G and Aroca, R and Bienert, GP and Chaumont, F and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {New insights into the regulation of aquaporins by the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in maize plants under drought stress and possible implications for plant performance.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {349-363}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-13-0268-R}, pmid = {24593244}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Aquaporins/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Water/metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The relationship between modulation by arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) of aquaporin expression in the host plant and changes in root hydraulic conductance, plant water status, and performance under stressful conditions is not well known. This investigation aimed to elucidate how the AM symbiosis modulates the expression of the whole set of aquaporin genes in maize plants under different growing and drought stress conditions, as well as to characterize some of these aquaporins in order to shed further light on the molecules that may be involved in the mycorrhizal responses to drought. The AM symbiosis regulated a wide number of aquaporins in the host plant, comprising members of the different aquaporin subfamilies. The regulation of these genes depends on the watering conditions and the severity of the drought stress imposed. Some of these aquaporins can transport water and also other molecules which are of physiological importance for plant performance. AM plants grew and developed better than non-AM plants under the different conditions assayed. Thus, for the first time, this study relates the well-known better performance of AM plants under drought stress to not only the water movement in their tissues but also the mobilization of N compounds, glycerol, signaling molecules, or metalloids with a role in abiotic stress tolerance. Future studies should elucidate the specific function of each aquaporin isoform regulated by the AM symbiosis in order to shed further light on how the symbiosis alters the plant fitness under stressful conditions.}, } @article {pmid24592938, year = {2014}, author = {Walsh, H and Cheng, J and Guo, M}, title = {Effects of carbonation on probiotic survivability, physicochemical, and sensory properties of milk-based symbiotic beverages.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {79}, number = {4}, pages = {M604-13}, doi = {10.1111/1750-3841.12381}, pmid = {24592938}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Animals ; Bifidobacterium/*drug effects ; Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Carbonated Beverages/*analysis/microbiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Inulin ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/*drug effects ; Milk/*microbiology ; Milk Proteins ; Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; Synbiotics ; Taste ; Viscosity ; Whey Proteins ; Yogurt/*analysis/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Drinkable yogurt is a popular beverage in the United States and there may be a niche for carbonated drinkable yogurt in the functional foods market. Pomegranate (P) and vanilla (V) yogurt beverages were formulated, containing inulin as a prebiotic, along with probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium, to produce symbiotic products. These beverages were stabilized with high-methoxyl pectin and whey protein concentrate and compared to samples with approximately 2 volumes of added carbon dioxide (CO2). Samples were stored in sealed glass bottles at 4 °C for 9 wk for evaluation of physicochemical and functional properties. Trials were carried out in triplicate and 3 replicates from each trial were analyzed. Physicochemical attributes were analyzed using standard AOAC methods. Survivability of the probiotics and changes in pH and viscosity were measured weekly. Chemical composition of the carbonated beverages was: protein: 1.58 ± 0.05%, 1.59 ± 0.06%, fat: 1.24 ± 0.2%, 1.18 ± 0.11%, total solids: 14.78 ± 0.11%, 14.93 ± 0.05%, ash: 0.49 ± 0.02%, 0.46 ± 0.03%, and carbohydrate (by difference): 11.47 ± 0.12%, 11.69 ± 0.14% for P and V, respectively. Both L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium were stable and remained above 10(6) CFU/g for both flavors of beverage both with and without carbonation. The new manufacturing technology for these prototypes may have potential for commercialization of carbonated symbiotic milk-based beverages.}, } @article {pmid24592323, year = {2014}, author = {Pfefferle, PI and Renz, H}, title = {The mucosal microbiome in shaping health and disease.}, journal = {F1000prime reports}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {11}, pmid = {24592323}, issn = {2051-7599}, abstract = {More than 300 years after Antonie van Leeuwenhoek gave the first description of microbes that colonize human body surfaces, the re-discovery of this multifaceted microbial world within our bodies has challenged our principal view on microbes. Novel sequencing techniques provide a plethora of (meta)genomic data, which elucidate the unique properties of mircobiota in different subjects. Moreover, the variety of metabolic and immunologic interactions between the mircobiota and the host's epithelial surfaces has challenged the paradigm of a unidirectional interplay between a given pathogen and the host's immune defense. The newly discovered mechanisms that underlie the symbiosis between the host, specific colonizers, and the mircobiota as a whole indicate that this colonization is more than a friendly coexistence. In fact, it represents a complex ecosystem with implications for the human metabolic homeostasis and immune tolerance. The resilience of the mircobiota and the capability to maintain a well-established equilibrium between symbionts and potential pathogens seem to be determining factors in shaping health or disease.}, } @article {pmid24592271, year = {2014}, author = {González-Guerrero, M and Matthiadis, A and Sáez, Á and Long, TA}, title = {Fixating on metals: new insights into the role of metals in nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {45}, pmid = {24592271}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is one of the most promising and immediate alternatives to the overuse of polluting nitrogen fertilizers for improving plant nutrition. At the core of this process are a number of metalloproteins that catalyze and provide energy for the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, eliminate free radicals produced by this process, and create the microaerobic conditions required by these reactions. In legumes, metal cofactors are provided to endosymbiotic rhizobia within root nodule cortical cells. However, low metal bioavailability is prevalent in most soils types, resulting in widespread plant metal deficiency and decreased nitrogen fixation capabilities. As a result, renewed efforts have been undertaken to identify the mechanisms governing metal delivery from soil to the rhizobia, and to determine how metals are used in the nodule and how they are recycled once the nodule is no longer functional. This effort is being aided by improved legume molecular biology tools (genome projects, mutant collections, and transformation methods), in addition to state-of-the-art metal visualization systems.}, } @article {pmid24590859, year = {2014}, author = {Daulatzai, MA}, title = {Chronic functional bowel syndrome enhances gut-brain axis dysfunction, neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment, and vulnerability to dementia.}, journal = {Neurochemical research}, volume = {39}, number = {4}, pages = {624-644}, pmid = {24590859}, issn = {1573-6903}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/pathology/*physiopathology ; Cognition Disorders/etiology/*physiopathology/psychology ; Dementia/etiology/*physiopathology/psychology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation/etiology/physiopathology/psychology ; Inflammation Mediators/*physiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications/*physiopathology/psychology ; }, abstract = {The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder world wide that lasts for decades. The human gut harbors a diverse population of microbial organisms which is symbiotic and important for well being. However, studies on conventional, germ-free, and obese animals have shown that alteration in normal commensal gut microbiota and an increase in pathogenic microbiota-termed "dysbiosis", impact gut function, homeostasis, and health. Diarrhea, constipation, visceral hypersensitivity, and abdominal pain arise in IBS from the gut-induced dysfunctional metabolic, immune, and neuro-immune communication. Dysbiosis in IBS is associated with gut inflammation. Gut-related inflammation is pivotal in promoting endotoxemia, systemic inflammation, and neuroinflammation. A significant proportion of IBS patients chronically consume alcohol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and fatty diet; they may also suffer from co-morbid respiratory, neuromuscular, psychological, sleep, and neurological disorders. The above pathophysiological substrate is underpinned by dysbiosis, and dysfunctional bidirectional "Gut-Brain Axis" pathways. Pathogenic gut microbiota-related systemic inflammation (due to increased lipopolysaccharide and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and barrier dysfunction), may trigger neuroinflammation enhancing dysfunctional brain regions including hippocampus and cerebellum. These as well as dysfunctional vago-vagal gut-brain axis may promote cognitive impairment. Indeed, inflammation is characteristic of a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases that manifest demntia. It is argued that an awareness of pathophysiological impact of IBS and implementation of appropriate therapeutic measures may prevent cognitive impairment and minimize vulnerability to dementia.}, } @article {pmid24590127, year = {2014}, author = {Delmotte, N and Mondy, S and Alunni, B and Fardoux, J and Chaintreuil, C and Vorholt, JA and Giraud, E and Gourion, B}, title = {A proteomic approach of bradyrhizobium/aeschynomene root and stem symbioses reveals the importance of the fixA locus for symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {3660-3670}, pmid = {24590127}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mutation ; Photosynthesis/genetics/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology/*physiology ; Proteomics/methods ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria that are able to form symbiosis with plant hosts of the legume family. These associations result in the formation of organs, called nodules in which bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen to the benefit of the plant. Most of our knowledge on the metabolism and the physiology of the bacteria during symbiosis derives from studying roots nodules of terrestrial plants. Here we used a proteomics approach to investigate the bacterial physiology of photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS278 during the symbiotic process with the semi aquatical plant Aeschynomene indica that forms root and stem nodules. We analyzed the proteomes of bacteria extracted from each type of nodule. First, we analyzed the bacteroid proteome at two different time points and found only minor variation between the bacterial proteomes of 2-week- and 3-week-old nodules. High conservation of the bacteroid proteome was also found when comparing stem nodules and root nodules. Among the stem nodule specific proteins were those related to the phototrophic ability of Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS278. Furthermore, we compared our data with those obtained during an extensive genetic screen previously published. The symbiotic role of four candidate genes which corresponding proteins were found massively produced in the nodules but not identified during this screening was examined. Mutant analysis suggested that in addition to the EtfAB system, the fixA locus is required for symbiotic efficiency.}, } @article {pmid24587715, year = {2014}, author = {Nair, DN and Padmavathy, S}, title = {Impact of endophytic microorganisms on plants, environment and humans.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2014}, number = {}, pages = {250693}, pmid = {24587715}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Enterobacter/*physiology ; Humans ; Mitosporic Fungi/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytes are microorganisms (bacteria or fungi or actinomycetes) that dwell within robust plant tissues by having a symbiotic association. They are ubiquitously associated with almost all plants studied till date. Some commonly found endophytes are those belonging to the genera Enterobacter sp., Colletotrichum sp., Phomopsis sp., Phyllosticta sp., Cladosporium sp., and so forth. Endophytic population is greatly affected by climatic conditions and location where the host plant grows. They produce a wide range of compounds useful for plants for their growth, protection to environmental conditions, and sustainability, in favour of a good dwelling place within the hosts. They protect plants from herbivory by producing certain compounds which will prevent animals from further grazing on the same plant and sometimes act as biocontrol agents. A large amount of bioactive compounds produced by them not only are useful for plants but also are of economical importance to humans. They serve as antibiotics, drugs or medicines, or the compounds of high relevance in research or as compounds useful to food industry. They are also found to have some important role in nutrient cycling, biodegradation, and bioremediation. In this review, we have tried to comprehend different roles of endophytes in plants and their significance and impacts on man and environment.}, } @article {pmid24587277, year = {2014}, author = {Vinn, O and Mõtus, MA}, title = {Endobiotic rugosan symbionts in stromatoporoids from the Sheinwoodian (Silurian) of Baltica.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e90197}, pmid = {24587277}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Estonia ; Geological Phenomena ; *Invertebrates ; Paleontology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A paleoecological study of stromatoporoid endobionts was carried out to discern the relationships between symbiotic rugosans and their stromatoporoid hosts. The earliest endobiotic rugosan symbiont Palaeophyllum sp. in Baltica has only been found in the stromatoporoid Ecclimadictyon astrolaxum from Saaremaa, Estonia. The rugosans are vertically oriented inside the stromatoporoid skeleton. Numerous rugosans have their corallites open at the upper, external surface of stromatoporoids, but many are completely embedded within the stromatoporoids. Stromatoporoid hosts were presumably beneficial for rugosans as elevated substrates on a sea floor that offered a higher tier for feeding. Relative substrate stability in the hydrodynamically active shallow waters may have also been beneficial for the rugosans.}, } @article {pmid24587091, year = {2014}, author = {Magain, N and Sérusiaux, E}, title = {Do photobiont switch and cephalodia emancipation act as evolutionary drivers in the lichen symbiosis? A case study in the Pannariaceae (Peltigerales).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e89876}, pmid = {24587091}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Lichens/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Madagascar ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nostoc/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Reunion ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Thailand ; }, abstract = {Lichen symbioses in the Pannariaceae associate an ascomycete and either cyanobacteria alone (usually Nostoc; bipartite thalli) or green algae and cyanobacteria (cyanobacteria being located in dedicated structures called cephalodia; tripartite thalli) as photosynthetic partners (photobionts). In bipartite thalli, cyanobacteria can either be restricted to a well-delimited layer within the thallus ('pannarioid' thalli) or spread over the thallus that becomes gelatinous when wet ('collematoid' thalli). We studied the collematoid genera Kroswia and Physma and an undescribed tripartite species along with representatives of the pannarioid genera Fuscopannaria, Pannaria and Parmeliella. Molecular inferences from 4 loci for the fungus and 1 locus for the photobiont and statistical analyses within a phylogenetic framework support the following: (a) several switches from pannarioid to collematoid thalli occured and are correlated with photobiont switches; the collematoid genus Kroswia is nested within the pannarioid genus Fuscopannaria and the collematoid genus Physma is sister to the pannarioid Parmeliella mariana group; (b) Nostoc associated with collematoid thalli in the Pannariaceae are related to that of the Collemataceae (which contains only collematoid thalli), and never associated with pannarioid thalli; Nostoc associated with pannarioid thalli also associate in other families with similar morphology; (c) ancestors of several lineages in the Pannariaceae developed tripartite thalli, bipartite thalli probably resulting from cephalodia emancipation from tripartite thalli which eventually evolved and diverged, as suggested by the same Nostoc present in the collematoid genus Physma and in the cephalodia of a closely related tripartite species; Photobiont switches and cephalodia emancipation followed by divergence are thus suspected to act as evolutionary drivers in the family Pannariaceae.}, } @article {pmid24585837, year = {2014}, author = {Held, M and Hou, H and Miri, M and Huynh, C and Ross, L and Hossain, MS and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Perry, J and Wang, TL and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Lotus japonicus cytokinin receptors work partially redundantly to mediate nodule formation.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {678-694}, pmid = {24585837}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000150/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/F010591/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/B/02401/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Alleles ; Arabidopsis/drug effects/growth & development ; Cytokinins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Lotus/drug effects/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Mutation/genetics ; Organogenesis/drug effects/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*growth & development/microbiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Previous analysis of the Lotus histidine kinase1 (Lhk1) cytokinin receptor gene has shown that it is required and also sufficient for nodule formation in Lotus japonicus. The L. japonicus mutant carrying the loss-of-function lhk1-1 allele is hyperinfected by its symbiotic partner, Mesorhizobium loti, in the initial absence of nodule organogenesis. At a later time point following bacterial infection, lhk1-1 develops a limited number of nodules, suggesting the presence of an Lhk1-independent mechanism. We have tested a hypothesis that other cytokinin receptors function in at least a partially redundant manner with LHK1 to mediate nodule organogenesis in L. japonicus. We show here that L. japonicus contains a small family of four cytokinin receptor genes, which all respond to M. loti infection. We show that within the root cortex, LHK1 performs an essential role but also works partially redundantly with LHK1A and LHK3 to mediate cell divisions for nodule primordium formation. The LHK1 receptor is also presumed to partake in mediating a feedback mechanism that negatively regulates bacterial infections at the root epidermis. Interestingly, the Arabidopsis thaliana AHK4 receptor gene can functionally replace Lhk1 in mediating nodule organogenesis, indicating that the ability to perform this developmental process is not determined by unique, legume-specific properties of LHK1.}, } @article {pmid24585376, year = {2014}, author = {Lu, JK and Dou, YJ and Zhu, YJ and Wang, SK and Sui, XH and Kang, LH}, title = {Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense sp. nov., an effective symbiotic bacterium isolated from Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. nodules.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {1900-1905}, pmid = {24585376}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/chemistry ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Three slow-growing rhizobial strains, designated RITF806(T), RITF807 and RITF211, isolated from root nodules of Acacia melanoxylon grown in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi Province, China, had been previously defined, based on amplified 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis, as a novel group within the genus Bradyrhizobium. To clarify their taxonomic position, these strains were further analysed and compared with reference strains of related bacteria using a polyphasic approach. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates formed a group that was closely related to 'Bradyrhizobium rifense' CTAW71, with a similarity value of 99.9%. In phylogenetic analyses of the housekeeping and symbiotic gene sequences, the three strains formed a distinct lineage within the genus Bradyrhizobium, which was consistent with the results of DNA-DNA hybridization. In analyses of cellular fatty acids and phenotypic features, some differences were found between the novel group and related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, indicating that these three strains constituted a novel group distinct from any recognized species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Based on the data obtained in this study, we conclude that our strains represent a novel species of the genus Bradyrhizobium, for which the name Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense sp. nov. is proposed, with RITF806(T) (= CCBAU 101088(T) = JCM 19881(T)) as the type strain. The DNA G+C content of strain RITF806(T) is 64.6 mol% (T(m)).}, } @article {pmid24585054, year = {2014}, author = {Bondy-Denomy, J and Davidson, AR}, title = {When a virus is not a parasite: the beneficial effects of prophages on bacterial fitness.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {52}, number = {3}, pages = {235-242}, pmid = {24585054}, issn = {1976-3794}, support = {MOP-130482//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; XNE86943//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*virology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Prophages/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most organisms on the planet have viruses that infect them. Viral infection may lead to cell death, or to a symbiotic relationship where the genomes of both virus and host replicate together. In the symbiotic state, both virus and cell potentially experience increased fitness as a result of the other. The viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages (or phages), well exemplify the symbiotic relationships that can develop between viruses and their host. In this review, we will discuss the many ways that prophages, which are phage genomes integrated into the genomes of their hosts, influence bacterial behavior and virulence.}, } @article {pmid24584781, year = {2014}, author = {Kariman, K and Barker, SJ and Finnegan, PM and Tibbett, M}, title = {Ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can induce tolerance to toxic pulses of phosphorus in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) seedlings.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {501-509}, pmid = {24584781}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Drug Tolerance ; Eucalyptus/chemistry/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism/*toxicity ; Plant Development/drug effects ; Plant Diseases/chemically induced/prevention & control ; Plant Shoots/chemistry/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Seedlings/chemistry/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In common with many plants native to low P soils, jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) develops toxicity symptoms upon exposure to elevated phosphorus (P). Jarrah plants can establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations, along with a non-colonizing symbiosis described recently. AM colonization is known to influence the pattern of expression of genes required for P uptake of host plants and our aim was to investigate this phenomenon in relation to P sensitivity. Therefore, we examined the effect on hosts of the presence of AM and ECM fungi in combination with toxic pulses of P and assessed possible correlations between the induced tolerance and the shoot P concentration. The P transport dynamics of AM (Rhizophagus irregularis and Scutellospora calospora), ECM (Scleroderma sp.), non-colonizing symbiosis (Austroboletus occidentalis), dual mycorrhizal (R. irregularis and Scleroderma sp.), and non-mycorrhizal (NM) seedlings were monitored following two pulses of P. The ECM and A. occidentalis associations significantly enhanced the shoot P content of jarrah plants growing under P-deficient conditions. In addition, S. calospora, A. occidentalis, and Scleroderma sp. all stimulated plant growth significantly. All inoculated plants had significantly lower phytotoxicity symptoms compared to NM controls 7 days after addition of an elevated P dose (30 mg P kg(-1) soil). Following exposure to toxicity-inducing levels of P, the shoot P concentration was significantly lower in R. irregularis-inoculated and dually inoculated plants compared to NM controls. Although all inoculated plants had reduced toxicity symptoms and there was a positive linear relationship between rank and shoot P concentration, the protective effect was not necessarily explained by the type of fungal association or the extent of mycorrhizal colonization.}, } @article {pmid24584416, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, M and Liu, N and Qian, C and Wang, Q and Wang, Q and Long, Y and Huang, Y and Zhou, Z and Yan, X}, title = {Phylogenetic and functional analysis of gut microbiota of a fungus-growing higher termite: Bacteroidetes from higher termites are a rich source of β-glucosidase genes.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {416-425}, pmid = {24584416}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/enzymology/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; beta-Glucosidase/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing termites, their symbiotic fungi, and microbiota inhibiting their intestinal tract comprise a highly efficient cellulose-hydrolyzing system; however, little is known about the role of gut microbiota in this system. Twelve fosmid clones with β-glucosidase activity were previously obtained by functionally screening a metagenomic library of a fungus-growing termite, Macrotermes annandalei. Ten contigs containing putative β-glucosidase genes (bgl1-10) were assembled by sequencing data of these fosmid clones. All these contigs were binned to Bacteroidetes, and all these β-glucosidase genes were phylogenetically closed to those from Bacteroides or Dysgonomonas. Six out of 10 β-glucosidase genes had predicted signal peptides, indicating a transmembrane capability of these enzymes to mediate cellulose hydrolysis within the gut of the termites. To confirm the activities of these β-glucosidase genes, three genes (bgl5, bgl7, and bgl9) were successfully expressed and purified. The optimal temperature and pH of these enzymes largely resembled the environment of the host's gut. The gut microbiota composition of the fungus-growing termite was also determined by 454 pyrosequencing, showing that Bacteroidetes was the most dominant phylum. The diversity and the enzyme properties of β-glucosidases revealed in this study suggested that Bacteroidetes as the major member in fungus-growing termites contributed to cello-oligomer degradation in cellulose-hydrolyzing process and represented a rich source for β-glucosidase genes.}, } @article {pmid24582507, year = {2014}, author = {Riah, N and Béna, G and Djekoun, A and Heulin, K and de Lajudie, P and Laguerre, G}, title = {Genotypic and symbiotic diversity of Rhizobium populations associated with cultivated lentil and pea in sub-humid and semi-arid regions of Eastern Algeria.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {368-375}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.12.008}, pmid = {24582507}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Algeria ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/chemistry/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; Lens Plant/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peas/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genetic structure of rhizobia nodulating pea and lentil in Algeria, Northern Africa was determined. A total of 237 isolates were obtained from root nodules collected on lentil (Lens culinaris), proteaginous and forage pea (Pisum sativum) growing in two eco-climatic zones, sub-humid and semi-arid, in Eastern Algeria. They were characterised by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic region (IGS), and the nodD-F symbiotic region. The combination of these haplotypes allowed the isolates to be clustered into 26 distinct genotypes, and all isolates were classified as Rhizobium leguminosarum. Symbiotic marker variation (nodD-F) was low but with the predominance of one nod haplotype (g), which had been recovered previously at a high frequency in Europe. Sequence analysis of the IGS further confirmed its high variability in the studied strains. An AMOVA analysis showed highly significant differentiation in the IGS haplotype distribution between populations from both eco-climatic zones. This differentiation was reflected by differences in dominant genotype frequencies. Conversely, no host plant effect was detected. The nodD gene sequence-based phylogeny suggested that symbiotic gene diversity in pea and lentil nodulating rhizobial populations in Algeria was low compared to that reported elsewhere in the world.}, } @article {pmid24580814, year = {2014}, author = {Sánchez-Pardo, B and Zornoza, P}, title = {Mitigation of Cu stress by legume-Rhizobium symbiosis in white lupin and soybean plants.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {1-5}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.01.016}, pmid = {24580814}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Copper/*toxicity ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Lupinus/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soybeans/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effect of Bradyrhizobium-legume symbiosis on plant growth, toxicological variables and Cu bioaccumulation was studied in white lupin and soybean plants treated with 1.6, 48, 96 and 192 μM Cu. In both species, those plants grown in the presence of root nodule-forming symbiotic Bradyrhizobium showed less root and shoot growth reduction, plus greater translocation of Cu to the shoot, than those grown without symbiotic Bradyrhizobium. The effective added concentrations of Cu that reduced shoot and root dry weight by 50% (EC50), and the critical toxic concentration that caused a 10% reduction in plant growth (CTC10%), were higher in plants grown with symbiotic Bradyrhizobium, and were in general higher in the roots whether the plants were grown with or without these bacteria. The production of malondialdehyde and total thiols was stimulated by Cu excess in the shoots and roots of white lupin grown with or without symbiotic Bradyrhizobium, but mainly in those without the symbionts. In contrast, in soybean, the increases in malondialdehyde and total thiols associated with rising Cu concentration were a little higher (1.2-5.0 and 1.0-1.6 times respectively) in plants grown with symbiotic Bradyrhizobium than without. Finally, the organ most sensitive to Cu excess was generally the shoot, both in white lupin and soybean grown with or without symbiotic Bradyrhizobium. Further, Bradyrhizobium-legume symbiosis appears to increase the tolerance to Cu excess in both legumes, but mainly in white lupin; plant growth was less reduced and CTC10% and EC50 values increased compared to plants grown without symbiotic Bradyrhizobium. Bradyrhizobium N2 fixation in both legumes would therefore seem to increase the phytoremediation potential of these plants when growing on Cu-contaminated sites.}, } @article {pmid24580106, year = {2014}, author = {Karpinets, TV and Park, BH and Syed, MH and Klotz, MG and Uberbacher, EC}, title = {Metabolic environments and genomic features associated with pathogenic and mutualistic interactions between bacteria and plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {664-677}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-13-0368-R}, pmid = {24580106}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Biomarkers ; Computer Simulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Genomic characteristics discriminating parasitic and mutualistic relationship of bacterial symbionts with plants are poorly understood. This study comparatively analyzed the genomes of 54 mutualists and pathogens to discover genomic markers associated with the different phenotypes. Using metabolic network models, we predict external environments associated with free-living and symbiotic lifestyles and quantify dependences of symbionts on the host in terms of the consumed metabolites. We show that specific differences between the phenotypes are pronounced at the levels of metabolic enzymes, especially carbohydrate active, and protein functions. Overall, biosynthetic functions are enriched and more diverse in plant mutualists whereas processes and functions involved in degradation and host invasion are enriched and more diverse in pathogens. A distinctive characteristic of plant pathogens is a putative novel secretion system with a circadian rhythm regulator. A specific marker of plant mutualists is the co-residence of genes encoding nitrogenase and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO). We predict that RuBisCO is likely used in a putative metabolic pathway to supplement carbon obtained heterotrophically with low-cost assimilation of carbon from CO2. We validate results of the comparative analysis by predicting correct phenotype, pathogenic or mutualistic, for 20 symbionts in an independent set of 30 pathogens, mutualists, and commensals.}, } @article {pmid24577449, year = {2014}, author = {Wong, AC and Dobson, AJ and Douglas, AE}, title = {Gut microbiota dictates the metabolic response of Drosophila to diet.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 11}, pages = {1894-1901}, pmid = {24577449}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Body Size/physiology ; Diet ; Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism ; Dietary Fats/metabolism ; Dietary Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Vitamin B Complex ; }, abstract = {Animal nutrition is profoundly influenced by the gut microbiota, but knowledge of the scope and core mechanisms of the underlying animal-microbiota interactions is fragmentary. To investigate the nutritional traits shaped by the gut microbiota of Drosophila, we determined the microbiota-dependent response of multiple metabolic and performance indices to systematically varied diet composition. Diet-dependent differences between Drosophila bearing its unmanipulated microbiota (conventional flies) and experimentally deprived of its microbiota (axenic flies) revealed evidence for: microbial sparing of dietary B vitamins, especially riboflavin, on low-yeast diets; microbial promotion of protein nutrition, particularly in females; and microbiota-mediated suppression of lipid/carbohydrate storage, especially on high sugar diets. The microbiota also sets the relationship between energy storage and body mass, indicative of microbial modulation of the host signaling networks that coordinate metabolism with body size. This analysis identifies the multiple impacts of the microbiota on the metabolism of Drosophila, and demonstrates that the significance of these different interactions varies with diet composition and host sex.}, } @article {pmid24575107, year = {2014}, author = {Egan, F and Barret, M and O'Gara, F}, title = {The SPI-1-like Type III secretion system: more roles than you think.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {34}, pmid = {24575107}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a protein delivery system which is involved in a wide spectrum of interactions, from mutualism to pathogenesis, between Gram negative bacteria and various eukaryotes, including plants, fungi, protozoa and mammals. Various phylogenetic families of the T3SS have been described, including the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 1 family (SPI-1). The SPI-1 T3SS was initially associated with the virulence of enteric pathogens, but is actually found in a diverse array of bacterial species, where it can play roles in processes as different as symbiotic interactions with insects and colonization of plants. We review the multiple roles of the SPI-1 T3SS and discuss both how these discoveries are changing our perception of the SPI-1 family and what impacts this has on our understanding of the specialization of the T3SS in general.}, } @article {pmid24574795, year = {2014}, author = {Hold, GL and Smith, M and Grange, C and Watt, ER and El-Omar, EM and Mukhopadhya, I}, title = {Role of the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis: what have we learnt in the past 10 years?.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {1192-1210}, pmid = {24574795}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/drug effects/growth & development/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics/immunology/*microbiology/therapy ; Crohn Disease/genetics/immunology/*microbiology/therapy ; Dysbiosis ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Immunity, Mucosal/genetics ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Our understanding of the microbial involvement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis has increased exponentially over the past decade. The development of newer molecular tools for the global assessment of the gut microbiome and the identification of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 in 2001 and other susceptibility genes for Crohn's disease in particular has led to better understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of IBD. The microbial studies have elaborated the normal composition of the gut microbiome and its perturbations in the setting of IBD. This altered microbiome or "dysbiosis" is a key player in the protracted course of inflammation in IBD. Numerous genome-wide association studies have identified further genes involved in gastrointestinal innate immunity (including polymorphisms in genes involved in autophagy: ATG16L1 and IGRM), which have helped elucidate the relationship of the local innate immunity with the adjacent luminal bacteria. These developments have also spurred the search for specific pathogens which may have a role in the metamorphosis of the gut microbiome from a symbiotic entity to a putative pathogenic one. Here we review advances in our understanding of microbial involvement in IBD pathogenesis over the past 10 years and offer insight into how this will shape our therapeutic management of the disease in the coming years.}, } @article {pmid24573843, year = {2014}, author = {Regus, JU and Gano, KA and Hollowell, AC and Sachs, JL}, title = {Efficiency of partner choice and sanctions in Lotus is not altered by nitrogen fertilization.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1781}, pages = {20132587}, pmid = {24573843}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Bacterial Load ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Lotus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/*analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic hosts must exhibit control mechanisms to select against ineffective bacterial symbionts. Hosts can minimize infection by less-effective symbionts (partner choice) and can divest of uncooperative bacteria after infection (sanctions). Yet, such host-control traits are predicted to be context dependent, especially if they are costly for hosts to express or maintain. Legumes form symbiosis with rhizobia that vary in symbiotic effectiveness (nitrogen fixation) and can enforce partner choice as well as sanctions. In nature, legumes acquire fixed nitrogen from both rhizobia and soils, and nitrogen deposition is rapidly enriching soils globally. If soil nitrogen is abundant, we predict host control to be downregulated, potentially allowing invasion of ineffective symbionts. We experimentally manipulated soil nitrogen to examine context dependence in host control. We co-inoculated Lotus strigosus from nitrogen depauperate soils with pairs of Bradyrhizobium strains that vary in symbiotic effectiveness and fertilized plants with either zero nitrogen or growth maximizing nitrogen. We found efficient partner choice and sanctions regardless of nitrogen fertilization, symbiotic partner combination or growth season. Strikingly, host control was efficient even when L. strigosus gained no significant benefit from rhizobial infection, suggesting that these traits are resilient to short-term changes in extrinsic nitrogen, whether natural or anthropogenic.}, } @article {pmid24573214, year = {2014}, author = {Fors, Y and Grudd, H and Rindby, A and Jalilehvand, F and Sandström, M and Cato, I and Bornmalm, L}, title = {Sulfur and iron accumulation in three marine-archaeological shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea: the Ghost, the Crown and the Sword.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {4222}, pmid = {24573214}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {P41 GM103393/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41GM103393/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Iron/*chemistry ; *Seawater ; Sulfur/*chemistry ; Wood/*chemistry/microbiology ; X-Ray Diffraction ; }, abstract = {Sulfur and iron concentrations in wood from three 17(th) century shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea, the Ghost wreck, the Crown and the Sword, were obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning. In near anaerobic environments symbiotic microorganisms degrade waterlogged wood, reduce sulfate and promote accumulation of low-valent sulfur compounds, as previously found for the famous wrecks of the Vasa and Mary Rose. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analyses of Ghost wreck wood show that organic thiols and disulfides dominate, together with elemental sulfur probably generated by sulfur-oxidizing Beggiatoa bacteria. Iron sulfides were not detected, consistent with the relatively low iron concentration in the wood. In a museum climate with high atmospheric humidity oxidation processes, especially of iron sulfides formed in the presence of corroding iron, may induce post-conservation wood degradation. Subject to more general confirmation by further analyses no severe conservation concerns are expected for the Ghost wreck wood.}, } @article {pmid24571730, year = {2014}, author = {Arthikala, MK and Sánchez-López, R and Nava, N and Santana, O and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C}, title = {RbohB, a Phaseolus vulgaris NADPH oxidase gene, enhances symbiosome number, bacteroid size, and nitrogen fixation in nodules and impairs mycorrhizal colonization.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {3}, pages = {886-900}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12714}, pmid = {24571730}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cloning, Molecular ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; NADPH Oxidases/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by respiratory burst oxidative homologs (Rbohs) are involved in numerous plant cell signaling processes, and have critical roles in the symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Previously, down-regulation of RbohB in Phaseolus vulgaris was shown to suppress ROS production and abolish Rhizobium infection thread (IT) progression, but also to enhance arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization. Thus, Rbohs function both as positive and negative regulators. Here, we assessed the effect of enhancing ROS concentrations, by overexpressing PvRbohB, on the P. vulgaris--rhizobia and P. vulgaris--AMF symbioses. We estimated superoxide concentrations in hairy roots overexpressing PvRbohB, determined the status of early and late events of both Rhizobium and AMF interactions in symbiont-inoculated roots, and analyzed the nodule ultrastructure of transgenic plants overexpressing PvRbohB. Overexpression of PvRbohB significantly enhanced ROS production, the formation of ITs, nodule biomass, and nitrogen-fixing activity, and increased the density of symbiosomes in nodules, and the density and size of bacteroides in symbiosomes. Furthermore, PvCAT, early nodulin, PvSS1, and PvGOGAT transcript abundances were elevated in these nodules. By contrast, mycorrhizal colonization was reduced in roots that overexpressed RbohB. Overexpression of PvRbohB augmented nodule efficiency by enhancing nitrogen fixation and delaying nodule senescence, but impaired AMF colonization.}, } @article {pmid24571357, year = {2014}, author = {Chujo, T and Scott, B}, title = {Histone H3K9 and H3K27 methylation regulates fungal alkaloid biosynthesis in a fungal endophyte-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {92}, number = {2}, pages = {413-434}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.12567}, pmid = {24571357}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*biosynthesis ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics/*physiology ; Epichloe/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Histones/*metabolism ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Lysine/metabolism ; Methylation ; Methyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Epichloё festucae is a filamentous fungus that forms a mutually beneficial symbiotic association with Lolium perenne. This endophyte synthesizes bioprotective lolitrems (ltm) and ergot alkaloids (eas) in planta but the mechanisms regulating expression of the corresponding subtelomeric gene clusters are not known. We show here that the status of histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K9me3/H3K27me3) at these alkaloid gene loci are critical determinants of transcriptional activity. Using ChIP-qPCR we found that levels of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 were reduced at these loci in plant infected tissue compared to axenic culture. Deletion of E. festucae genes encoding the H3K9- (ClrD) or H3K27- (EzhB) methyltransferases led to derepression of ltm and eas gene expression under non-symbiotic culture conditions and a further enhancement of expression in the double deletion mutant. These changes in gene expression were matched by corresponding reductions in H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 marks. Both methyltransferases are also important for the symbiotic interaction between E. festucae and L. perenne. Our results show that the state of H3K9 and H3K27 trimethylation of E. festucae chromatin is an important regulatory layer controlling symbiosis-specific expression of alkaloid bioprotective metabolites and the ability of this symbiont to form a mutualistic interaction with its host.}, } @article {pmid24570006, year = {2014}, author = {Tsukagoshi, H and Nakamura, A and Ishida, T and Touhara, KK and Otagiri, M and Moriya, S and Samejima, M and Igarashi, K and Fushinobu, S and Kitamoto, K and Arioka, M}, title = {Structural and biochemical analyses of glycoside hydrolase family 26 β-mannanase from a symbiotic protist of the termite Reticulitermes speratus.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {289}, number = {15}, pages = {10843-10852}, pmid = {24570006}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Catalysis ; Catalytic Domain ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Eukaryota/enzymology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Intestines/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Mannans/*metabolism ; Mannose/metabolism ; Mannosidases/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Substrate Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; beta-Mannosidase/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Termites and their symbiotic protists have established a prominent dual lignocellulolytic system, which can be applied to the biorefinery process. One of the major components of lignocellulose from conifers is glucomannan, which comprises a heterogeneous combination of β-1,4-linked mannose and glucose. Mannanases are known to hydrolyze the internal linkage of the glucomannan backbone, but the specific mechanism by which they recognize and accommodate heteropolysaccharides is currently unclear. Here, we report biochemical and structural analyses of glycoside hydrolase family 26 mannanase C (RsMan26C) from a symbiotic protist of the termite Reticulitermes speratus. RsMan26C was characterized based on its catalytic efficiency toward glucomannan, compared with pure mannan. The crystal structure of RsMan26C complexed with gluco-manno-oligosaccharide(s) explained its specificities for glucose and mannose at subsites -5 and -2, respectively, in addition to accommodation of both glucose and mannose at subsites -3 and -4. RsMan26C has a long open cleft with a hydrophobic platform of Trp(94) at subsite -5, facilitating enzyme binding to polysaccharides. Notably, a unique oxidized Met(85) specifically interacts with the equatorial O-2 of glucose at subsite -3. Our results collectively indicate that specific recognition and accommodation of glucose at the distal negative subsites confers efficient degradation of the heteropolysaccharide by mannanase.}, } @article {pmid25202529, year = {2013}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Beck, A and Singh, G and Schmitt, I}, title = {Microsatellite primers in the lichen symbiotic alga Trebouxia decolorans (Trebouxiophyceae).}, journal = {Applications in plant sciences}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {25202529}, issn = {2168-0450}, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the symbiotic green alga Trebouxia decolorans to study fine-scale population structure and clonal diversity. •

METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Illumina pyrosequencing, 20 microsatellite primer sets were developed for T. decolorans. The primer sets were tested on 43 individuals sampled from four subpopulations in Germany. The primers amplified di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide repeats with three to 15 alleles per locus, and the unbiased haploid diversity per locus ranged from 0.636 to 0.821. •

CONCLUSIONS: The identified microsatellite markers will be useful to study the genetic diversity, dispersal, and reproductive mode of this common lichen photobiont.}, } @article {pmid25431759, year = {2013}, author = {Gopalasubramaniam, SK and Kondapalli, KC and Millán-Pacheco, C and Pastor, N and Stemmler, TL and Moran, JF and Arredondo-Peter, R}, title = {Soybean dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (ferric leghemoglobin reductase 2) interacts with and reduces ferric rice non-symbiotic hemoglobin 1.}, journal = {Sciencejet}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {25431759}, issn = {2278-3393}, support = {R01 DK068139/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Ferrous oxygenated hemoglobins (Hb[2+]O2) autoxidize to ferric Hb[3+], but Hb[3+] is reduced to Hb[2+] by enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. We characterized the interaction between the soybean ferric leghemoglobin reductase 2 (FLbR2) and ferric rice non-symbiotic Hb1 (Hb1[3+]). Spectroscopic analysis showed that FLbR2 reduces Hb1[3+]. Analysis by tryptophan fluorescence quenching showed that FLbR2 interacts with Hb1[3+], however the use of ITC and IEF techniques revealed that this interaction is weak. In silico modeling showed that predicted FLbR2 and native Hb1[3+] interact at the FAD-binding domain of FLbR2 and the CD-loop and helix F of Hb1[3+].}, } @article {pmid25340192, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, IH and Sikorski, A and O'Reilly, M and Boxshall, GA}, title = {Copepods associated with polychaete worms in European seas.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3651}, number = {}, pages = {1-62}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3651.1.1}, pmid = {25340192}, issn = {1175-5326}, mesh = {Animals ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/*classification/physiology ; Europe ; Female ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/classification/*parasitology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Descriptions are given of 18 species of copepods that live in symbiotic association with polychaete worms in European Seas. Three new genera and six new species of the family Clausiidae Giesbrecht, 1895 are described: Boreoclausia rectan. gen. et n. sp. is described from Galathowenia fragilis (Nilson & Holthe, 1985), Boreoclausia holmesi n. gen. et n. sp.is described from Myriochele danielsseni Hansen, 1879, Sheaderia bifida n. gen. et n. sp. from Euclymene oerstedii (Claparède, 1863), Vivgottoia garwoodi n. gen. et n. sp., was found inside the tail fragment of a terebellid host (probably Phisidia aurea Southward, 1956), Rhodinicola tenuis n. sp. from an unknown host, and R. similis n. sp., from Rhodine gracilor (Tauber, 1879). In addition, four other clausiid species, Clausia lubbockii Claparède, 1863, Mesnilia cluthae (T. and A.Scott, 1896), Rhodinicola gibbosus Bresciani, 1964 and R. rugosum (Giesbrecht, 1895), are redescribed in detail on the basis of newly collected material. The previously-unknown hosts of C. lubbockii were found to be species of the spionid polychaete genus Dipolydora Verrill, 1881. Clausia uniseta Bocquet & Stock, 1960 were recognized as a junior subjective synonym of C. lubbockii, and Mesnilia martinensis Canu, 1898 was recognized as a junior subjective synonym of M. cluthae. The sole species of the monotypic family Anomoclausiidae Gotto, 1964, Anomoclausia indrehusae Gotto, 1964, is redescribed based on new material. The host of A. indrehusae, reported here for the first time, is the spionid Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata (Okuda, 1937). Four new species of the family Nereicolidae Claus, 1875 are described, three belonging to the genus Anomopsyllus Sars, 1921: Anomopsyllus bifurcus n. sp. from Notomastus latericeus M. Sars, 1851, A. geminus n. sp. from Ampharete lindstroemi Malmgren, 1867, and A. hamiltonae n. sp., from Mugga wahrbergi Eliasson, 1955. The fourth new species is Vectoriella gabesensis n. sp., both sexes of which are described from the paraonid Aricidea catherinae Laubier, 1967 collected in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tunisia. Another nereicolid, Sigecheres brittae Bresciani, 1964 is redescribed based on new material collected from the type host Sige fusigera Malmgren, 1865. It is recognized as a junior subjective synonym of Nereicola concinna T. Scott, 1902 and the valid name of this taxon becomes Sigecheres concinna (T. Scott, 1902) new combination. A new species of the family Spiophanicolidae Ho, 1984, Spiophanicola atlanticus n. sp., is described based on European material. Previously European material of Spiophanicola Ho, 1984 has been reported as S. spinulosus Ho, 1984, but based on consistent differences between the Californian S. spinulosus and material from Norway and the British Isles, there is sufficient justification to establish a new species for the European material. Finally one new genus and species is described which cannot be placed, with confidence, in any existing family. This new parasite, Notomasticola frondosus n. gen. et n. sp., is based on material from two hosts, a spionid (Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata) and a capitellid (Notomastus latericeus). It is highly derived and may represent a terminal branch within an existing family. The cluster of families using polychaetes as hosts is in need of revision based on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis.}, } @article {pmid25288888, year = {2013}, author = {Torres, AR and Rodrigues, EP and Batista, JS and Gomes, DF and Hungria, M}, title = {Proteomic Analysis of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Roots Inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum Strain CPAC 15.}, journal = {Proteomics insights}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {7-11}, pmid = {25288888}, issn = {1178-6418}, abstract = {This research intended to analyze the expression pattern of proteins in roots of the Brazilian soybean cultivar Conquista when inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum CPAC 15, a strain broadly used in commercial inoculants in Brazil. At ten days after bacterial inoculation, whole-cell proteins were extracted from roots and separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis. Comparative analysis revealed significant changes in the intensity of 37 spots due to the inoculation (17 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated proteins), identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-TOF. Identified proteins were associated with COG functional categories of information storage and processing, cellular processes and signaling, metabolism, and also in the "poorly characterized" and "not in COG" categories. Among the up-regulated proteins, we identified sucrose synthase (nodulin-100), β-tubulin, rubisco activase, glutathione-S-transferase, a putative heat-shock 70-kDa protein, pyridine nucleotide-disulphideoxidoreductase and a putative transposase. Proteomic analysis allowed for the identification of some putative symbiotic functions and confirmed the main biological processes triggered in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with soybean.}, } @article {pmid25277569, year = {2013}, author = {Kumar, GP and Carpenter, JM}, title = {A taxonomic review of the genus Antodynerus de Saussure, 1855 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from the Indian subcontinent.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3731}, number = {}, pages = {267-278}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3731.2.7}, pmid = {25277569}, issn = {1175-5326}, mesh = {Animals ; Demography ; Female ; India ; Male ; Species Specificity ; Wasps/*anatomy & histology/*classification ; }, abstract = {The genus Antodynerus de Saussure, 1855 is reviewed from the Indian subcontinent. Three species with one additional subspecies are present, namely Antodynerus flavescens flavescens (Fabricius, 1775), A. f. karachiensis Giordani Soika, 1970, A. limbatus (de Saussure, 1852), and A. punctatipennis (de Saussure, 1853). The parasitic association of strepsipteran insects and the symbiotic association of mites are reported for the first time in the genus Antodynerus. The distribution of A. f. flavescens (Fabricius) and A. limbatus (de Saussure) in the Indian states is augmented. The latter species is newly recorded from China (Tibet). A key to species of the Indian subcontinent is provided.}, } @article {pmid25023877, year = {2013}, author = {Porcar, M and Latorre, A and Moya, A}, title = {What Symbionts Teach us about Modularity.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {14}, pmid = {25023877}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {The main goal of Synthetic Biology (SB) is to apply engineering principles to biotechnology in order to make life easier to engineer. These engineering principles include modularity: decoupling of complex systems into smaller, orthogonal sub-systems that can be used in a range of different applications. The successful use of modules in engineering is expected to be reproduced in synthetic biological systems. But the difficulties experienced up to date with SB approaches question the short-term feasibility of designing life. Considering the "engineerable" nature of life, here we discuss the existence of modularity in natural living systems, particularly in symbiotic interactions, and compare the behavior of such systems, with those of engineered modules. We conclude that not only is modularity present but it is also common among living structures, and that symbioses are a new example of module-like sub-systems having high similarity with modularly designed ones. However, we also detect and stress fundamental differences between man-made and biological modules. Both similarities and differences should be taken into account in order to adapt SB design to biological laws.}, } @article {pmid24957995, year = {2013}, author = {Obata, T and Fernie, AR and Nunes-Nesi, A}, title = {The central carbon and energy metabolism of marine diatoms.}, journal = {Metabolites}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {325-346}, pmid = {24957995}, issn = {2218-1989}, abstract = {Diatoms are heterokont algae derived from a secondary symbiotic event in which a eukaryotic host cell acquired an eukaryotic red alga as plastid. The multiple endosymbiosis and horizontal gene transfer processes provide diatoms unusual opportunities for gene mixing to establish distinctive biosynthetic pathways and metabolic control structures. Diatoms are also known to have significant impact on global ecosystems as one of the most dominant phytoplankton species in the contemporary ocean. As such their metabolism and growth regulating factors have been of particular interest for many years. The publication of the genomic sequences of two independent species of diatoms and the advent of an enhanced experimental toolbox for molecular biological investigations have afforded far greater opportunities than were previously apparent for these species and re-invigorated studies regarding the central carbon metabolism of diatoms. In this review we discuss distinctive features of the central carbon metabolism of diatoms and its response to forthcoming environmental changes and recent advances facilitating the possibility of industrial use of diatoms for oil production. Although the operation and importance of several key pathways of diatom metabolism have already been demonstrated and determined, we will also highlight other potentially important pathways wherein this has yet to be achieved.}, } @article {pmid24832808, year = {2013}, author = {Selbmann, L and Grube, M and Onofri, S and Isola, D and Zucconi, L}, title = {Antarctic epilithic lichens as niches for black meristematic fungi.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {784-797}, pmid = {24832808}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Sixteen epilithic lichen samples (13 species), collected from seven locations in Northern and Southern Victoria Land in Antarctica, were investigated for the presence of black fungi. Thirteen fungal strains isolated were studied by both morphological and molecular methods. Nuclear ribosomal 18S gene sequences were used together with the most similar published and unpublished sequences of fungi from other sources, to reconstruct an ML tree. Most of the studied fungi could be grouped together with described or still unnamed rock-inhabiting species in lichen dominated Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities. At the edge of life, epilithic lichens withdraw inside the airspaces of rocks to find conditions still compatible with life; this study provides evidence, for the first time, that the same microbes associated to epilithic thalli also have the same fate and chose endolithic life. These results support the concept of lichens being complex symbiotic systems, which offer attractive and sheltered habitats for other microbes.}, } @article {pmid24765235, year = {2013}, author = {Roy, RD}, title = {Quinine, mosquitoes and empire: reassembling malaria in British India, 1890-1910.}, journal = {South Asian history and culture}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {65-86}, pmid = {24765235}, issn = {1947-2498}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {The drug quinine figured as an object of enforced consumption in British India between the late 1890s and the 1910s, when the corresponding diagnostic category malaria itself was redefined as a mosquito-borne fever disease. This article details an overlapping milieu in which quinine, mosquitoes and malaria emerged as intrinsic components of shared and symbiotic histories. It combines insights from new imperial histories, constructivism in the histories of medicine and literature about non-humans in science studies to examine the ways in which histories of insects, drugs, disease and empire interacted and shaped one another. Firstly, it locates the production of historical intimacies between quinine, malaria and mosquitoes within the exigencies and apparatuses of imperial rule. In so doing, it explores the intersections between the worlds of colonial governance, medical knowledge, vernacular markets and pharmaceutical business. Secondly, it outlines ways to narrate characteristics and enabling properties of non-humans (such as quinines and mosquitoes) while retaining a constructivist critique of scientism and empire. Thirdly, it shows how empire itself was reshaped and reinforced while occasioning the proliferation of categories and entities like malaria, quinine and mosquitoes.}, } @article {pmid24730141, year = {2013}, author = {Pisarek, I and Grata, K}, title = {The influence of the organic matter of sewage sediments on biological activity of microorganisms which carry out the transformations of carbon and nitrogen compounds.}, journal = {Polish journal of microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {4}, pages = {445-452}, pmid = {24730141}, issn = {1733-1331}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Carbon/chemistry/*metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Manure ; Nitrogen Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sewage/*chemistry ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Soil microorganisms play an important role in the organic matter transformation process. The soil microorganisms also are in symbiotic relationship with plants. At the same time, soil microorganisms are sensitive to both anthropogenic and natural habitat changes. Particular characteristics of organic matter (the C:N relation, pH, the content the content of assimilated nutrients, the xenobiotics etc.) modify the biotic conditions of the soils. This particularly concerns the microorganisms which carry out the changes in the mineral and organic nitrogen compounds and the transformation of the external organic matter. The first aim of this work was to assess the influence of the sewage sediments and the manure on the phytosanitary potential of the soil environment. The second aim of this article was to estimate the number and activity of microorganisms which carry out the transformation of carbon and nitrogen compounds. This work showed the stimulating effect of the external organic matter both on the number and on the activity of most of the physiological groups. The manure mainly stimulated ammonificators, amylolitic microorganisms and Azotobacter sp. The sewage sediments mainly stimulated ammonificators, nitrifiers of I phase and cellulolytic microorganisms. The statistically significant impact of the physio-chemical soil habitat on the biological activity of the analyzed groups of microbes was also noted.}, } @article {pmid24665373, year = {2013}, author = {Moresco, EM and Brandl, K}, title = {Linking membrane trafficking and intestinal homeostasis.}, journal = {Tissue barriers}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {e23119}, pmid = {24665373}, issn = {2168-8362}, abstract = {A major challenge for the human body is to maintain symbiotic relationships with bacterial communities that colonize their intestines. Although several molecules important for intestinal homeostasis have been discovered, the vast array still needs to be identified. We approached this task using a forward genetic approach, which revealed several molecules essential for intestinal homeostasis. One recently identified molecule is Ypt1p-interacting protein 1 domain family, member 6 (Yipf6). Mice with a null mutation in Yipf6 are hypersensitive to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis and develop spontaneous intestinal inflammation. Members of the Yip1 family are believed to be involved in ER to Golgi membrane transport. In this review we summarize recent advances in the understanding of genes involved in intestinal homeostasis with a specific focus on the Yip family members. We speculate on how deficiency or dysfunction of Yip molecules may dysregulate intestinal homeostasis leading to pathogenic states.}, } @article {pmid24704847, year = {2012}, author = {Black, M and Moolhuijzen, P and Chapman, B and Barrero, R and Howieson, J and Hungria, M and Bellgard, M}, title = {The genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation: comparative genomics of 14 rhizobia strains by resolution of protein clusters.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {138-166}, pmid = {24704847}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen fixing bacteria is critical for agriculture, as it may have profound impacts on lowering costs for farmers, on land sustainability, on soil quality, and on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, despite the importance of the symbioses to the global nitrogen cycling balance, very few rhizobial genomes have been sequenced so far, although there are some ongoing efforts in sequencing elite strains. In this study, the genomes of fourteen selected strains of the order Rhizobiales, all previously fully sequenced and annotated, were compared to assess differences between the strains and to investigate the feasibility of defining a core 'symbiome'-the essential genes required by all rhizobia for nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Comparison of these whole genomes has revealed valuable information, such as several events of lateral gene transfer, particularly in the symbiotic plasmids and genomic islands that have contributed to a better understanding of the evolution of contrasting symbioses. Unique genes were also identified, as well as omissions of symbiotic genes that were expected to be found. Protein comparisons have also allowed the identification of a variety of similarities and differences in several groups of genes, including those involved in nodulation, nitrogen fixation, production of exopolysaccharides, Type I to Type VI secretion systems, among others, and identifying some key genes that could be related to host specificity and/or a better saprophytic ability. However, while several significant differences in the type and number of proteins were observed, the evidence presented suggests no simple core symbiome exists. A more abstract systems biology concept of nitrogen fixing symbiosis may be required. The results have also highlighted that comparative genomics represents a valuable tool for capturing specificities and generalities of each genome.}, } @article {pmid24710303, year = {2011}, author = {Pini, F and Galardini, M and Bazzicalupo, M and Mengoni, A}, title = {Plant-bacteria association and symbiosis: are there common genomic traits in alphaproteobacteria?.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {1017-1032}, pmid = {24710303}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Alphaproteobacteria show a great versatility in adapting to a broad range of environments and lifestyles, with the association between bacteria and plants as one of the most intriguing, spanning from relatively unspecific nonsymbiotic association (as rhizospheric or endophytic strains) to the highly species-specific interaction of rhizobia. To shed some light on possible common genetic features in such a heterogeneous set of plant associations, the genomes of 92 Alphaproteobacteria strains were analyzed with a fuzzy orthologs-species detection approach. This showed that the different habitats and lifestyles of plant-associated bacteria (soil, plant colonizers, symbiont) are partially reflected by the trend to have larger genomes with respect to nonplant-associated species. A relatively large set of genes specific to symbiotic bacteria (73 orthologous groups) was found, with a remarkable presence of regulators, sugar transporters, metabolic enzymes, nodulation genes and several genes with unknown function that could be good candidates for further characterization. Interestingly, 15 orthologous groupspresent in all plant-associated bacteria (symbiotic and nonsymbiotic), but absent in nonplant-associated bacteria, were also found, whose functions were mainly related to regulation of gene expression and electron transport. Two of these orthologous groups were also detected in fully sequenced plant-associated Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Overall these results lead us to hypothesize that plant-bacteria associations, though quite variable, are partially supported by a conserved set of unsuspected gene functions.}, } @article {pmid24710291, year = {2011}, author = {Kaneko, T and Maita, H and Hirakawa, H and Uchiike, N and Minamisawa, K and Watanabe, A and Sato, S}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of the Soybean Symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum Strain USDA6T.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {763-787}, pmid = {24710291}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of the soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain USDA6T was determined. The genome of USDA6T is a single circular chromosome of 9,207,384 bp. The genome size is similar to that of the genome of another soybean symbiont, B. japonicum USDA110 (9,105,828 bp). Comparison of the whole-genome sequences of USDA6T and USDA110 showed colinearity of major regions in the two genomes, although a large inversion exists between them. A significantly high level of sequence conservation was detected in three regions on each genome. The gene constitution and nucleotide sequence features in these three regions indicate that they may have been derived from a symbiosis island. An ancestral, large symbiosis island, approximately 860 kb in total size, appears to have been split into these three regions by unknown large-scale genome rearrangements. The two integration events responsible for this appear to have taken place independently, but through comparable mechanisms, in both genomes.}, } @article {pmid24704842, year = {2011}, author = {Mornico, D and Miché, L and Béna, G and Nouwen, N and Verméglio, A and Vallenet, D and Smith, AA and Giraud, E and Médigue, C and Moulin, L}, title = {Comparative genomics of aeschynomene symbionts: insights into the ecological lifestyle of nod-independent photosynthetic bradyrhizobia.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {35-61}, pmid = {24704842}, issn = {2073-4425}, abstract = {Tropical aquatic species of the legume genus Aeschynomene are stem- and root-nodulated by bradyrhizobia strains that exhibit atypical features such as photosynthetic capacities or the use of a nod gene-dependent (ND) or a nod gene-independent (NI) pathway to enter into symbiosis with legumes. In this study we used a comparative genomics approach on nine Aeschynomene symbionts representative of their phylogenetic diversity. We produced draft genomes of bradyrhizobial strains representing different phenotypes: five NI photosynthetic strains (STM3809, ORS375, STM3847, STM4509 and STM4523) in addition to the previously sequenced ORS278 and BTAi1 genomes, one photosynthetic strain ORS285 hosting both ND and NI symbiotic systems, and one NI non-photosynthetic strain (STM3843). Comparative genomics allowed us to infer the core, pan and dispensable genomes of Aeschynomene bradyrhizobia, and to detect specific genes and their location in Genomic Islands (GI). Specific gene sets linked to photosynthetic and NI/ND abilities were identified, and are currently being studied in functional analyses.}, } @article {pmid24842134, year = {2009}, author = {}, title = {World Gastroenterology Organisation practice guideline: Probiotics and prebiotics.}, journal = {Arab journal of gastroenterology : the official publication of the Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {33-42}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajg.2009.03.001}, pmid = {24842134}, issn = {1687-1979}, abstract = {The human gut harbors dense and diverse microbial communities which have an impact on host's health. The symbiotic relationship between gut microbial communities and host can be optimized by pharmacological or nutritional intervention on the intestinal ecosystem using probiotics or prebiotics. Worldwide research on the use of prebiotics and probiotics in human and animal health has accelerated in recent years. However, there is lack of information about the practical use of probiotics and prebiotics in Medicine. A major area for medical applications has been the prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Recently, a group of international experts appointed by the World Gastroenterology Organization prepared a practical guideline on the current indications of probiotics and prebiotics in Gastroenterology. The full text of the guideline is published in the current issue of our Journal. The document underscores strain-specificity of the clinical effects, and provides precise information on which specific probiotic strains or prebiotic compounds are useful for what particular clinical indications (see Table 3).}, } @article {pmid25307091, year = {2008}, author = {Shinotsuka, CR and Alexandre, MR and David, CM}, title = {Enteral nutritional therapy with pre, pro and symbiotic and gastrointestinal tract and inferior airway colonization in mechanically ventilated patients.}, journal = {Revista Brasileira de terapia intensiva}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {241-248}, pmid = {25307091}, issn = {0103-507X}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is the main cause of death in the intensive care unit. New preventive measures for nosocomial infections have been researched, such as pre, pro and symbiotic usage, due to its immunoregulatory properties. The objective was to evaluate the effect of administration of pre, pro and symbiotic on gastrointestinal and inferior airway colonization and on nosocomial infections, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia.

METHODS: Patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit at Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho between November 2004 and September 2006 and mechanically ventilated were randomized in one of four groups: control (n = 16), prebiotic (n = 10), probiotic (n = 12) or symbiotic (n = 11). Treatment was administered for fourteen days. Outcomes measured were: a) Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and trachea; b) incidence of nosocomial infections, particularly ventilator associated pneumonia; c) duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, duration of hospitalization, mortality rates, and d) development of organ dysfunction.

RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were evaluated. intensive care unit's mortality was 34% and in-hospital mortality was 53%, APACHE II median was 20 (13 -25). The groups were matched at admission. There was no difference between the groups in relation to the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia or nosocomial infection. There was a non-significant increase in the proportion of enterobacteria in the trachea at the seventh day in the pre and probiotic groups compared to control. There was a non-significant decrease in the number of bacteria found in the stomach in the pre, pro and symbiotic group at day 7. No significant difference, in regards to the remaining measured parameters, could be found.

CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic therapy was not efficient in the prevention of nosocomial infection but there was a tendency to reduction in tracheal colonization by non-fermenting bacteria.}, } @article {pmid24941061, year = {2006}, author = {Tényi, T and Somogyi, A and Hamvas, E and Herold, R and Vörös, V and Trixler, M}, title = {Coexistence of folie communiquée and folie simultanée.}, journal = {International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {220-222}, doi = {10.1080/13651500600579365}, pmid = {24941061}, issn = {1365-1501}, abstract = {Objective. The authors report a case during which they observed serious subtypes of induced delusional psychosis (folie communiquée and folie simultanée) without any common genetic background or premorbid psychosis in the case of the secondary patient. Method. The clinical phenomenology of the case is described. Results. Mild intellectual disability and environmental-psychological factors (social isolation and the symbiotic-like interpersonal relatedness) play an essential aetiological role in the case of the secondary recipient patient. Conclusion. The authors emphasize the importance of subclassification of induced delusional psychosis for further aetiological and clinical research.}, } @article {pmid24599369, year = {2002}, author = {Facelli, E and Facelli, JM}, title = {Soil phosphorus heterogeneity and mycorrhizal symbiosis regulate plant intra-specific competition and size distribution.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {133}, number = {1}, pages = {54-61}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-002-1022-5}, pmid = {24599369}, issn = {0029-8549}, abstract = {We investigated the interactive effects of soil phosphorus (P) heterogeneity, plant density and mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant growth and size variability of Trifolium subterraneum. We set up mesocosms (trays 49×49 cm and 12 cm deep) with the same amount of available P, but distributed either homogeneously or heterogeneously, in randomly arranged cells (7×7 cm each) with high or low available P. The trays were planted with either 1 or 4 seedlings of T. subterraneum per cell. Half of the trays were inoculated with spores of the mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita. We harvested the plants when leaves just started to overlap, 8 weeks after planting. Plants growing in high P cells had the lowest percentage infection, but the highest mean shoot and root biomass and root length. The mean size of the plants in each cell was determined mainly by local P concentration. However, in plants growing in high density, low P cells, ca. 20% of the variability in plant biomass was explained by the number of adjacent cells with high P. Patchy trays had the highest total shoot biomass, independently of mycorrhizal infection or plant density. Inoculated trays (M) had higher total shoot biomass and relative competition intensity (measured as reduction in plant biomass due to increased density) than non-inoculated trays (NM). Plant density reduced the plant response to mycorrhizal infection, and its effect was independent of P distribution. All populations growing in patchy trays, and low density mycorrhizal ones, had the highest plant-size inequality, presumably because patchy distribution of P and mycorrhizal infection increased competitive asymmetry. We conclude that mycorrhizal symbiosis has the potential to strongly influence plant population structure when soil nutrient distribution is heterogeneous because it promotes pre-emption of limiting resources.}, } @article {pmid24923611, year = {1983}, author = {Hilldén, NO}, title = {Cleaning behaviour of the goldsinny (Pisces, Labridae) in Swedish waters.}, journal = {Behavioural processes}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {87-90}, doi = {10.1016/0376-6357(83)90046-3}, pmid = {24923611}, issn = {0376-6357}, abstract = {The goldsinny, Ctenolabrus rupestris , on the Swedish west-coast has been shown to be a facultative cleaner with the ballan wrasse, Labrus berggylta , as the cleanee. Twenty-four cleanings were observed during 1975 to 1981. The cleaning pattern of the symbiosis is described and the low rate of cleaners within the species is discussed.}, } @article {pmid25290228, year = {1982}, author = {Baldwin, WM}, title = {The symbiosis of immunocompetent and endothelial cells.}, journal = {Immunology today}, volume = {3}, number = {10}, pages = {267-269}, doi = {10.1016/0167-5699(82)90081-0}, pmid = {25290228}, issn = {0167-5699}, } @article {pmid24569801, year = {2014}, author = {Randall, TD and Mebius, RE}, title = {The development and function of mucosal lymphoid tissues: a balancing act with micro-organisms.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {455-466}, pmid = {24569801}, issn = {1935-3456}, support = {R01 AI100127/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI097357/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI100127/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL069409/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI097357/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; HL069409/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antigens/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/physiology ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/immunology ; Infections ; Inflammation ; Lymphoid Tissue/cytology/embryology/*immunology/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Mucous Membrane/embryology/*immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Organogenesis ; }, abstract = {Mucosal surfaces are constantly exposed to environmental antigens, colonized by commensal organisms and used by pathogens as points of entry. As a result, the immune system has devoted the bulk of its resources to mucosal sites to maintain symbiosis with commensal organisms, prevent pathogen entry, and avoid unnecessary inflammatory responses to innocuous antigens. These functions are facilitated by a variety of mucosal lymphoid organs that develop during embryogenesis in the absence of microbial stimulation as well as ectopic lymphoid tissues that develop in adults following microbial exposure or inflammation. Each of these lymphoid organs samples antigens from different mucosal sites and contributes to immune homeostasis, commensal containment, and immunity to pathogens. Here we discuss the mechanisms, mostly based on mouse studies, that control the development of mucosal lymphoid organs and how the various lymphoid tissues cooperate to maintain the integrity of the mucosal barrier.}, } @article {pmid24569615, year = {2014}, author = {Garza-Cuartero, L and Garcia-Campos, A and Zintl, A and Chryssafidis, A and O'Sullivan, J and Sekiya, M and Mulcahy, G}, title = {The worm turns: trematodes steering the course of co-infections.}, journal = {Veterinary pathology}, volume = {51}, number = {2}, pages = {385-392}, doi = {10.1177/0300985813519655}, pmid = {24569615}, issn = {1544-2217}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Coinfection ; Fasciola hepatica/immunology/*physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Microbiota ; *Systems Biology ; Trematoda/immunology/*physiology ; Trematode Infections/diagnosis/immunology/*parasitology/prevention & control ; }, abstract = {A reductionist approach to the study of infection does not lend itself to an appraisal of the interactions that occur between 2 or more organisms that infect a host simultaneously. In reality, hosts are subject to multiple simultaneous influences from multiple pathogens along the spectrum from symbiotic microflora to virulent pathogen. In this review, we draw from our own work on Fasciola hepatica and that of others studying helminth co-infection to give examples of how such interactions can influence not only the outcome of infection but also its diagnosis and control. The new tools of systems biology, including both the "omics" approaches and mathematical biology, have significant promise in unraveling the as yet largely unexplored complexities of co-infection.}, } @article {pmid24568029, year = {2013}, author = {Guerrero, R and Margulis, L and Berlanga, M}, title = {Symbiogenesis: the holobiont as a unit of evolution.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {133-143}, doi = {10.2436/20.1501.01.188}, pmid = {24568029}, issn = {1139-6709}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Insecta/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiogenesis is the result of the permanent coexistence of various bionts to form the holobiont (namely, the host and its microbiota). The holobiome is the sum total of the component genomes in a eukaryotic organism; it comprises the genome of an individual member of a given taxon (the host genome) and the microbiome (the genomes of the symbiotic microbiota). The latter is made up of the genes of a variety of microbial communities that persist over time and are not eliminated by natural selection. Therefore, the holobiome can also be considered as the genomic reflection of the complex network of symbiotic interactions that link an individual member of a given taxon with its associated microbiome. Eukaryotic individuals can be analyzed as coevolved, tightly integrated, prokaryotic communities; in this view, natural selection acts on the holobiont as if it were an integrated unit. The best studied holobionts are those that emerged from symbioses involving insects. The presence of symbiotic associations throughout most of the evolutionary history of insects suggests that they were a driving force in the diversification of this group. Support for the evolutionary importance of symbiogenesis comes from the observation that the gradual passage from an ancestral to a descendant species by the accumulation of random mutations has not been demonstrated in the field, nor in the laboratory, nor in the fossil record. Instead, symbiogenesis expands the view of the point-mutation-only as the unique mechanisms of evolution and offers an explanation for the discontinuities in the fossil record ("punctuated equilibrium"). As such, it challenges conventional paradigms in biology. This review describes the relationships between xylophagous insects and their microbiota in an attempt to understand the characteristics that have determined bacterial fidelity over generations and throughout evolutionary history.}, } @article {pmid24566629, year = {2014}, author = {Falsetta, ML and Klein, MI and Colonne, PM and Scott-Anne, K and Gregoire, S and Pai, CH and Gonzalez-Begne, M and Watson, G and Krysan, DJ and Bowen, WH and Koo, H}, title = {Symbiotic relationship between Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans synergizes virulence of plaque biofilms in vivo.}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {82}, number = {5}, pages = {1968-1981}, pmid = {24566629}, issn = {1098-5522}, support = {R90 DE022529/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; T90 DE021985/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; T90DE021985/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biofilms ; Candida albicans/*physiology ; *Coculture Techniques ; Dental Caries/microbiology ; Dental Plaque/microbiology ; Rats ; Streptococcus mutans/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Streptococcus mutans is often cited as the main bacterial pathogen in dental caries, particularly in early-childhood caries (ECC). S. mutans may not act alone; Candida albicans cells are frequently detected along with heavy infection by S. mutans in plaque biofilms from ECC-affected children. It remains to be elucidated whether this association is involved in the enhancement of biofilm virulence. We showed that the ability of these organisms together to form biofilms is enhanced in vitro and in vivo. The presence of C. albicans augments the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), such that cospecies biofilms accrue more biomass and harbor more viable S. mutans cells than single-species biofilms. The resulting 3-dimensional biofilm architecture displays sizeable S. mutans microcolonies surrounded by fungal cells, which are enmeshed in a dense EPS-rich matrix. Using a rodent model, we explored the implications of this cross-kingdom interaction for the pathogenesis of dental caries. Coinfected animals displayed higher levels of infection and microbial carriage within plaque biofilms than animals infected with either species alone. Furthermore, coinfection synergistically enhanced biofilm virulence, leading to aggressive onset of the disease with rampant carious lesions. Our in vitro data also revealed that glucosyltransferase-derived EPS is a key mediator of cospecies biofilm development and that coexistence with C. albicans induces the expression of virulence genes in S. mutans (e.g., gtfB, fabM). We also found that Candida-derived β1,3-glucans contribute to the EPS matrix structure, while fungal mannan and β-glucan provide sites for GtfB binding and activity. Altogether, we demonstrate a novel mutualistic bacterium-fungus relationship that occurs at a clinically relevant site to amplify the severity of a ubiquitous infectious disease.}, } @article {pmid24563718, year = {2013}, author = {Rodríguez-Alonso, G and Arredondo-Peter, R}, title = {Variability of non-symbiotic and truncated hemoglobin genes from the genome of cultivated monocots.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {6}, number = {6}, pages = {e27496}, pmid = {24563718}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Non-symbiotic (nsHb) and truncated (tHb) hemoglobins (Hbs) have been detected in a variety of land plants. The evolution of land plant nsHbs and tHbs at the protein level is well documented; however, little is known about the evolution of genes coding for these proteins. For example, the variability of the land plant nshb and thb genes is not known. Here, we report the variability of the nshb and thb genes from the genome of the cultivated monocots Brachypodium distachyon, Hordeum vulgare (barley), Oryza glaberrima (rice), O. rufipogon (rice), O. sativa (rice) var indica, O. sativa (rice) var japonica, Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Setaria italica (foxtail millet), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Triticum aestivum (wheat), and Zea mays ssp. mays (maize) using sequence comparison and computational methods. Our results revealed that in cultivated monocots variability is higher in nshbs than in thbs, and suggest that major substitution events that occurred during the evolution of the cultivated monocot hbs were A→G and T→C transitions and that these genes evolved under the effect of neutral selection.}, } @article {pmid24563211, year = {2014}, author = {Zi, XM and Sheng, CL and Goodale, UM and Shao, SC and Gao, JY}, title = {In situ seed baiting to isolate germination-enhancing fungi for an epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium aphyllum (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {7}, pages = {487-499}, pmid = {24563211}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; China ; Dendrobium/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; *Germination ; Seeds/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Orchid conservation efforts, using seeds and species-specific fungi that support seed germination, require the isolation, identification, and germination enhancement testing of symbiotic fungi. However, few studies have focused on developing such techniques for the epiphytes that constitute the majority of orchids. In this study, conducted in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan, China, we used seeds of Dendrobium aphyllum, a locally endangered and medicinally valuable epiphytic orchid, to attract germination promoting fungi. Of the two fungi isolated from seed baiting, Tulasnella spp. and Trichoderma spp., Tulasnella, enhanced seed germination by 13.6 %, protocorm formation by 85.7 %, and seedling development by 45.2 % (all P < 0.0001). Epulorhiza, another seed germination promoting fungi isolated from Cymbidium mannii, also enhanced seed germination (6.5 %; P < 0.05) and protocorm formation (20.3 %; P < 0.0001), but Trichoderma suppressed seed germination by 26.4 % (P < 0.0001). Tulasnella was the only treatment that produced seedlings. Light increased seed imbibition, protocorm formation, and two-leaved seed development of Tulasnella inoculated seeds (P < 0.0001). Because the germination stage success was not dependent on fungi, we recommend that Tulasnella be introduced for facilitating D. aphyllum seed germination at the protocorm formation stage and that light be provided for increasing germination as well as further seedling development. Our findings suggest that in situ seed baiting can be used to isolate seed germination-enhancing fungi for the development of seedling production for conservation and reintroduction efforts of epiphytic orchids such as D. aphyllum.}, } @article {pmid24560584, year = {2014}, author = {López de Toro Martín-Consuegra, I and Sanchez-Casado, M and Pérez-Pedrero Sánchez-Belmonte, MJ and López-Reina Torrijos, P and Sánchez-Rodriguez, P and Raigal-Caño, A and Heredero-Galvez, E and Zubigaray, SB and Arrese-Cosculluela, MÁ}, title = {[The influence of symbiotics in multi-organ failure: randomised trial].}, journal = {Medicina clinica}, volume = {143}, number = {4}, pages = {143-149}, doi = {10.1016/j.medcli.2013.09.046}, pmid = {24560584}, issn = {1578-8989}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Animals ; Bifidobacterium ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Critical Care/methods ; Critical Illness/therapy ; Dietary Fiber ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Lactobacillus ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure/microbiology/*therapy ; Parenteral Nutrition ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Respiration, Artificial ; Streptococcus thermophilus ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the administration of symbiotic preparations in patients with multi-organ failure (MOF) diminishes the evolution of the failure, the inflammatory response generated, the colonization pattern and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) infectious illness.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Randomized and controlled trial. All patients with MOF were included. Neutropenia and acute pancreatitis patients were excluded. A symbiotic (Simbiotic Drink) was administered via enteral feeding during the first 7 days. Variables of interest were: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score evolution, systemic concentrations of lactate, fibrinogen and D-dimer; skin and mucosa colonization and infectious disease register.

RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included; 46 in the symbiotic group (SG) and 43 in the control group (CG). There were 68.5% males, with a median age of 69 years. There were no significant differences in the patients' fundamental characteristics (medical history, age, reason for admission, severity scores), nor in the length of ICU stay or in mortality. Comparing the SG with the CG, there were lower lactate levels on the second day, more fibrinogen levels on the days 5 and 7, and lower D-dimer levels on the day 7. Eight hundred and ninety-five cultures were performed for colonization assessment, with isolation of 528 microorganisms. No differences in microbiological resistance were found; there were more colonization in the SG by Candida in mucous membranes after the third day; this situation resolved after stopping symbiotic administration. Twenty-two patients suffered an infectious disease in ICU, 14 in SG (42.4%) and 19 in CG (57.6%). Although no differences were found in the microbiological pattern, there was a predominance of Candida spp. over other microorganisms (4 vs. 0 cases).

CONCLUSIONS: The symbiotic preparation Simbiotic Drink, administered in MOF, results in differences to improve the early lactate levels and late fibrinogen/D-dimer levels as well as mucosa colonization by Candida. There were no differences in the ICU evolution.}, } @article {pmid24559214, year = {2014}, author = {Li, Z and Czarnecki, O and Chourey, K and Yang, J and Tuskan, GA and Hurst, GB and Pan, C and Chen, JG}, title = {Strigolactone-regulated proteins revealed by iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {1359-1372}, doi = {10.1021/pr400925t}, pmid = {24559214}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi/drug effects/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination/drug effects ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Proteomics/instrumentation/methods ; Seedlings/*drug effects/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Seeds/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a new class of plant hormones. In addition to acting as a key inhibitor of shoot branching, SLs stimulate seed germination of root parasitic plants and promote hyphal branching and root colonization of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. They also regulate many other aspects of plant growth and development. At the transcription level, SL-regulated genes have been reported. However, nothing is known about the proteome regulated by this new class of plant hormones. A quantitative proteomics approach using an isobaric chemical labeling reagent, iTRAQ, to identify the proteome regulated by SLs in Arabidopsis seedlings is presented. It was found that SLs regulate the expression of about three dozen proteins that have not been previously assigned to SL pathways. These findings provide a new tool to investigate the molecular mechanism of action of SLs.}, } @article {pmid24556951, year = {2014}, author = {Luo, L and Lu, D}, title = {Immunosuppression during Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e28197}, pmid = {24556951}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*immunology ; *Plant Immunity ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium infects host legumes to elicit new plant organs, nodules where dinitrogen is fixed as ammonia that can be directly utilized by plants. The nodulation factor (NF) produced by Rhizobium is one of the determinant signals for rhizobial infection and nodule development. Recently, it was found to suppress the innate immunity on host and nonhost plants as well as its analogs, chitins. Therefore, NF can be recognized as a microbe/pathogen-associated molecular pattern (M/PAMP) like chitin to induce the M/PAMP triggered susceptibility (M/PTS) of host plants to rhizobia. Whether the NF signaling pathway is directly associated with the innate immunity is not clear till now. In fact, other MAMPs such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), exopolysaccharide (EPS) and cyclic-β-glucan, together with type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors are also required for rhizobial infection or survival in leguminous nodule cells. Interestingly, most of them play similarly negative roles in the innate immunity of host plants, though their signaling is not completely elucidated. Taken together, we believe that the local immunosuppression on host plants induced by Rhizobium is essential for the establishment of their symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24556327, year = {2014}, author = {Wibberg, D and Tejerizo, GT and Del Papa, MF and Martini, C and Pühler, A and Lagares, A and Schlüter, A and Pistorio, M}, title = {Genome sequence of the acid-tolerant strain Rhizobium sp. LPU83.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {40-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.02.008}, pmid = {24556327}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Acids/metabolism ; *Genome, Bacterial ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are important members of the soil microbiome since they enter into nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with different legume host plants. Rhizobium sp. LPU83 is an acid-tolerant Rhizobium strain featuring a broad-host-range. However, it is ineffective in nitrogen fixation. Here, the improved draft genome sequence of this strain is reported. Genome sequence information provides the basis for analysis of its acid tolerance, symbiotic properties and taxonomic classification.}, } @article {pmid24555554, year = {2014}, author = {Mendelsohn, R}, title = {Five types of "couple object-relations" seen in couple therapy: implications for theory and practice.}, journal = {Psychoanalytic review}, volume = {101}, number = {1}, pages = {95-128}, doi = {10.1521/prev.2014.101.1.95}, pmid = {24555554}, issn = {1943-3301}, mesh = {Adult ; Couples Therapy/*methods ; Defense Mechanisms ; Dependency, Psychological ; Female ; Humans ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Object Attachment ; Personality Development ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic ; Siblings/psychology ; Spouses/*psychology ; *Transference, Psychology ; }, abstract = {The author suggests that there are five types of couples seen in couple therapy. Based on the object relations of each, these are parasitic, symbiotic, narcissistic, sibling, and oedipal. Furthermore, each of these couple object-relations corresponds to the developmental level of a couple, and the couple's developmental level can be, and often is, of more primitive object relations than the actual developmental level of either member of the couple alone (that is, the couple is often greater than the sum of its parts; Mendelsohn, 2009). In addition, every couple-relationship is infused with projective identification (Mendelsohn, 2009), but each is also characterized by its own complex of character defenses, so that every couple-relationship presents with a particular of kind transference and a corresponding countertransference. Some of the theoretical and treatment implications of these transference and countertransference matrices are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24555320, year = {2013}, author = {Perakis, SS and Sinkhorn, ER and Catricala, CE and Bullen, TD and Fitzpatrick, JA and Hynicka, JD and Cromack, K}, title = {Forest calcium depletion and biotic retention along a soil nitrogen gradient.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {1947-1961}, doi = {10.1890/12-2204.1}, pmid = {24555320}, issn = {1051-0761}, mesh = {Biomass ; Calcium/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Nitrogen/*chemistry ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {High nitrogen (N) accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems can shift patterns of nutrient limitation and deficiency beyond N toward other nutrients, most notably phosphorus (P) and base cations (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and potassium [K]). We examined how naturally high N accumulation from a legacy of symbiotic N fixation shaped P and base cation cycling across a gradient of nine temperate conifer forests in the Oregon Coast Range. We were particularly interested in whether long-term legacies of symbiotic N fixation promoted coupled N and organic P accumulation in soils, and whether biotic demands by non-fixing vegetation could conserve ecosystem base cations as N accumulated. Total soil N (0-100 cm) pools increased nearly threefold across the N gradient, leading to increased nitrate leaching, declines in soil pH from 5.8 to 4.2, 10-fold declines in soil exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K, and increased mobilization of aluminum. These results suggest that long-term N enrichment had acidified soils and depleted much of the readily weatherable base cation pool. Soil organic P increased with both soil N and C across the gradient, but soil inorganic P, biomass P, and P leaching loss did not vary with N, implying that historic symbiotic N fixation promoted soil organic P accumulation and P sufficiency for non-fixers. Even though soil pools of Ca, Mg, and K all declined as soil N increased, only Ca declined in biomass pools, suggesting the emergence of Ca deficiency at high N. Biotic conservation and tight recycling of Ca increased in response to whole-ecosystem Ca depletion, as indicated by preferential accumulation of Ca in biomass and surface soil. Our findings support a hierarchical model of coupled N-Ca cycling under long-term soil N enrichment, whereby ecosystem-level N saturation and nitrate leaching deplete readily available soil Ca, stimulating biotic Ca conservation as overall supply diminishes. We conclude that a legacy of biological N fixation can increase N and P accumulation in soil organic matter to the point that neither nutrient is limiting to subsequent non-fixers, while also resulting in natural N saturation that intensifies base cation depletion and deficiency.}, } @article {pmid24554779, year = {2014}, author = {Campisano, A and Ometto, L and Compant, S and Pancher, M and Antonielli, L and Yousaf, S and Varotto, C and Anfora, G and Pertot, I and Sessitsch, A and Rota-Stabelli, O}, title = {Interkingdom transfer of the acne-causing agent, Propionibacterium acnes, from human to grapevine.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {5}, pages = {1059-1065}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msu075}, pmid = {24554779}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Acne Vulgaris/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Phylogeny ; Propionibacterium acnes/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vitis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Here, we report the surprising and, to our knowledge, unique example of horizontal interkingdom transfer of a human opportunistic pathogen (Propionibacterium acnes) to a crop plant (the domesticated grapevine Vitis vinifera L.). Humans, like most organisms, have established a long-lasting cohabitation with a variety of microbes, including pathogens and gut-associated bacteria. Studies which have investigated the dynamics of such associations revealed numerous cases of bacterial host switches from domestic animals to humans. Much less is, however, known about the exchange of microbial symbionts between humans and plants. Fluorescent in situ hybridization localized P. acnes in the bark, in xylem fibers, and, more interestingly, inside pith tissues. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses suggest that the establishment of the grapevine-associated P. acnes as obligate endophyte is compatible with a recent transfer event, likely during the Neolithic, when grapevine was domesticated.}, } @article {pmid24553847, year = {2014}, author = {Calvo-Polanco, M and Molina, S and Zamarreño, AM and García-Mina, JM and Aroca, R}, title = {The symbiosis with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis drives root water transport in flooded tomato plants.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {5}, pages = {1017-1029}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu035}, pmid = {24553847}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Aquaporins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Floods ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serine/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {It is known that the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within the plant roots enhances the tolerance of the host plant to different environmental stresses, although the positive effect of the fungi in plants under waterlogged conditions has not been well studied. Tolerance of plants to flooding can be achieved through different molecular, physiological and anatomical adaptations, which will affect their water uptake capacity and therefore their root hydraulic properties. Here, we investigated the root hydraulic properties under non-flooded and flooded conditions in non-mycorrhizal tomato plants and plants inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Only flooded mycorrhizal plants increased their root hydraulic conductivity, and this effect was correlated with a higher expression of the plant aquaporin SlPIP1;7 and the fungal aquaporin GintAQP1. There was also a higher abundance of the PIP2 protein phoshorylated at Ser280 in mycorrhizal flooded plants. The role of plant hormones (ethylene, ABA and IAA) in root hydraulic properties was also taken into consideration, and it was concluded that, in mycorrhizal flooded plants, ethylene has a secondary role regulating root hydraulic conductivity whereas IAA may be the key hormone that allows the enhancement of root hydraulic conductivity in mycorrhizal plants under low oxygen conditions.}, } @article {pmid24552661, year = {2014}, author = {Zimmermann, J and Lott, C and Weber, M and Ramette, A and Bright, M and Dubilier, N and Petersen, JM}, title = {Dual symbiosis with co-occurring sulfur-oxidizing symbionts in vestimentiferan tubeworms from a Mediterranean hydrothermal vent.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {3638-3656}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12427}, pmid = {24552661}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Carbon Cycle ; Ecosystem ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Genes, rRNA ; Genetic Variation ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mediterranean Sea ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/classification/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sulfur/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vestimentiferan Tws colonize hydrothermal vents and cold seeps worldwide. They lack a digestive system and gain nutrition from endosymbiotic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. It is currently assumed that vestimentiferan Tws harbour only a single endosymbiont type. A few studies found indications for additional symbionts, but conclusive evidence for a multiple symbiosis is still missing. We investigated Tws from Marsili Seamount, a hydrothermal vent in the Mediterranean Sea. Molecular and morphological analyses identified the Tws as Lamellibrachia anaximandri. 16S ribosomal RNA clone libraries revealed two distinct gammaproteobacterial phylotypes that were closely related to sequences from other Lamellibrachia symbionts. Catalysed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization with specific probes showed that these sequences are from two distinct symbionts. We also found two variants of key genes for sulfur oxidation and carbon fixation, suggesting that both symbiont types are autotrophic sulfur oxidizers. Our results therefore show that vestimentiferans can host multiple co-occurring symbiont types. Statistical analyses of vestimentiferan symbiont diversity revealed that host genus, habitat type, water depth and geographic region together accounted for 27% of genetic diversity, but only water depth had a significant effect on its own. Phylogenetic analyses showed a clear grouping of sequences according to depth, thus confirming the important role water depth played in shaping vestimentiferan symbiont diversity.}, } @article {pmid24550732, year = {2014}, author = {Harumoto, T and Anbutsu, H and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Male-killing Spiroplasma induces sex-specific cell death via host apoptotic pathway.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {e1003956}, pmid = {24550732}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/microbiology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Spiroplasma ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some symbiotic bacteria cause remarkable reproductive phenotypes like cytoplasmic incompatibility and male-killing in their host insects. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these symbiont-induced reproductive pathologies are of great interest but poorly understood. In this study, Drosophila melanogaster and its native Spiroplasma symbiont strain MSRO were investigated as to how the host's molecular, cellular and morphogenetic pathways are involved in the symbiont-induced male-killing during embryogenesis. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) staining, anti-cleaved-Caspase-3 antibody staining, and apoptosis-deficient mutant analysis unequivocally demonstrated that the host's apoptotic pathway is involved in Spiroplasma-induced male-specific embryonic cell death. Double-staining with TUNEL and an antibody recognizing epidermal marker showed that embryonic epithelium is the main target of Spiroplasma-induced male-specific apoptosis. Immunostaining with antibodies against markers of differentiated and precursor neural cells visualized severe neural defects specifically in Spiroplasma-infected male embryos as reported in previous studies. However, few TUNEL signals were detected in the degenerate nervous tissues of male embryos, and the Spiroplasma-induced neural defects in male embryos were not suppressed in an apoptosis-deficient host mutant. These results suggest the possibility that the apoptosis-dependent epidermal cell death and the apoptosis-independent neural malformation may represent different mechanisms underlying the Spiroplasma-induced male-killing. Despite the male-specific progressive embryonic abnormality, Spiroplasma titers remained almost constant throughout the observed stages of embryonic development and across male and female embryos. Strikingly, a few Spiroplasma-infected embryos exhibited gynandromorphism, wherein apoptotic cell death was restricted to male cells. These observations suggest that neither quantity nor proliferation of Spiroplasma cells but some Spiroplasma-derived factor(s) may be responsible for the expression of the male-killing phenotype.}, } @article {pmid24548064, year = {2014}, author = {Tschaplinski, TJ and Plett, JM and Engle, NL and Deveau, A and Cushman, KC and Martin, MZ and Doktycz, MJ and Tuskan, GA and Brun, A and Kohler, A and Martin, F}, title = {Populus trichocarpa and Populus deltoides exhibit different metabolomic responses to colonization by the symbiotic fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {546-556}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-13-0286-R}, pmid = {24548064}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Benzoates/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Hyphae ; Laccaria/*physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metabolomics ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Populus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Within boreal and temperate forest ecosystems, the majority of trees and shrubs form beneficial relationships with mutualistic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that support plant health through increased access to nutrients as well as aiding in stress and pest tolerance. The intimate interaction between fungal hyphae and plant roots results in a new symbiotic "organ" called the ECM root tip. Little is understood concerning the metabolic reprogramming that favors the formation of this hybrid tissue in compatible interactions and what prevents the formation of ECM root tips in incompatible interactions. We show here that the metabolic changes during favorable colonization between the ECM fungus Laccaria bicolor and its compatible host, Populus trichocarpa, are characterized by shifts in aromatic acid, organic acid, and fatty acid metabolism. We demonstrate that this extensive metabolic reprogramming is repressed in incompatible interactions and that more defensive compounds are produced or retained. We also demonstrate that L. bicolor can metabolize a number of secreted defensive compounds and that the degradation of some of these compounds produces immune response metabolites (e.g., salicylic acid from salicin). Therefore, our results suggest that the metabolic responsiveness of plant roots to L. bicolor is a determinant factor in fungus-host interactions.}, } @article {pmid24547923, year = {2014}, author = {Fernandes, NM and da Silva Neto, ID and Schrago, CG}, title = {Morphology and phylogenetic position of an unusual Stentor polymorphus (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea) without symbiotic algae.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {305-312}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12108}, pmid = {24547923}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Brazil ; Ciliophora/*classification/*cytology/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organelles/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {We investigated the live morphology, infraciliature, and small subunit rRNA gene sequences of an unusual population of Stentor polymorphus without symbiotic algae that was isolated from the southeastern region of Brazil. The morphological and molecular data confirmed the identity of this strain as S. polymorphus. The Brazilian S. polymorphus organism is 850-2,000 μm in length in vivo and has colorless cortical granules, a moniliform macronucleus with 6-12 nodules, somatic ciliature composed of 50-60 kineties, a single contractile vacuole located to the left of the cytostome, and a conspicuous oral pouch, and it does not build a lorica. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, the Brazilian S. polymorphus was located within a cluster consisting of four other S. polymorphus sequences, with high support values using both the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood algorithms. Our study presents the first report of a S. polymorphus population without its symbionts under natural conditions. On the basis of our findings, we propose that the presence or absence of symbiotic algae should not be used as a taxonomic character for the identification of Stentor species.}, } @article {pmid24535875, year = {2014}, author = {Costa, FM and Schiavo, JA and Brasil, MS and Leite, J and Xavier, GR and Fernandes, PI}, title = {Phenotypic and molecular fingerprinting of fast growing rhizobia of field-grown pigeonpea from the eastern edge of the Brazilian Pantanal.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular research : GMR}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {469-482}, doi = {10.4238/2014.January.21.16}, pmid = {24535875}, issn = {1676-5680}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Brazil ; Cajanus/*microbiology ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Phenotype ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity of rhizobial isolates obtained from root nodules of pigeonpea plants grown at the eastern edge of the Brazilian Pantanal. The bacterial isolates were isolated from root nodules from field-growing pigeonpea grown in two rural settlements of the Aquidauana municipality. The bacterial isolates were characterized phenotypically by means of cultural characterization, intrinsic antibiotic resistance (IAR), salt and high incubation temperature tolerance, and amylolytic and cellulolytic activities. The molecular characterization of the bacterial isolates was carried out using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and Box-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. In addition, the symbiotic performance of selected rhizobial isolates was evaluated in a greenhouse experiment using sterile substrate. The phenotypic characterization revealed that the bacterial strains obtained from pigeonpea root nodules presented characteristics that are uncommon among rhizobial isolates, indicating the presence of new species nodulating the pigeonpea plants in the Brazilian Pantanal. The molecular fingerprinting of these bacterial isolates also showed a highly diverse collection, with both techniques revealing less than 25% similarity among bacterial isolates. The evaluation of symbiotic performance also indicated the presence of microorganisms with high potential to increase the growth and nitrogen content at the shoots of pigeonpea plants. The results obtained in this study indicate the presence of a highly diversified rhizobial community nodulating the pigeonpea at the eastern edge of the Brazilian Pantanal.}, } @article {pmid24535090, year = {2014}, author = {Soni, SK and Singh, R and Singh, M and Awasthi, A and Wasnik, K and Kalra, A}, title = {Pretreatment of Cr(VI)-amended soil with chromate-reducing rhizobacteria decreases plant toxicity and increases the yield of Pisum sativum.}, journal = {Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology}, volume = {66}, number = {4}, pages = {616-627}, doi = {10.1007/s00244-014-0003-0}, pmid = {24535090}, issn = {1432-0703}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chromates/metabolism ; Chromium/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/*methods ; Peas/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Pot culture experiments were performed under controlled greenhouse conditions to investigate whether four Cr(VI)-reducing bacterial strains (SUCR44, SUCR140, SUCR186, and SUCR188) were able to decrease Cr toxicity to Pisum sativum plants in artificially Cr(VI)-contaminated soil. The effect of pretreatment of soil with chromate-reducing bacteria on plant growth, chromate uptake, bioaccumulation, nodulation, and population of Rhizobium was found to be directly influenced by the time interval between bacterial treatment and seed sowing. Pretreatment of soil with SUCR140 (Microbacterium sp.) 15 days before sowing (T+15) showed a maximum increase in growth and biomass in terms of root length (93 %), plant height (94 %), dry root biomass (99 %), and dry shoot biomass (99 %). Coinoculation of Rhizobium with SUCR140 further improved the aforementioned parameter. Compared with the control, coinoculation of SUCR140+R showed a 117, 116, 136, and 128 % increase, respectively, in root length, plant height, dry root biomass, and dry shoot biomass. The bioavailability of Cr(VI) decreased significantly in soil (61 %) and in uptake (36 %) in SUCR140-treated plants; the effects of Rhizobium, however, either alone or in the presence of SUCR140, were not significant. The populations of Rhizobium (126 %) in soil and nodulation (146 %) in P. sativum improved in the presence of SUCR140 resulting in greater nitrogen (54 %) concentration in the plants. This study shows the usefulness of efficient Cr(VI)-reducing bacterial strain SUCR140 in improving yields probably through decreased Cr toxicity and improved symbiotic relationship of the plants with Rhizobium. Further decrease in the translocation of Cr(VI) through improved nodulation by Rhizobium in the presence of efficient Cr-reducing bacterial strains could also decrease the accumulation of Cr in shoots.}, } @article {pmid24533832, year = {2014}, author = {Risser, DD and Chew, WG and Meeks, JC}, title = {Genetic characterization of the hmp locus, a chemotaxis-like gene cluster that regulates hormogonium development and motility in Nostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {92}, number = {2}, pages = {222-233}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.12552}, pmid = {24533832}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Loci ; *Locomotion ; *Multigene Family ; Nostoc/*genetics/physiology ; Protein Transport ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Filamentous cyanobacteria are capable of gliding motility, but the mechanism of motility is not well defined. Here we present a detailed characterization of the hmp locus from Nostoc punctiforme, which encodes chemotaxis-like proteins. Deletions of hmpB, C, D and E abolished differentiation of hormogonia under standard growth conditions, but, upon addition of a symbiotic partner exudate, the mutant strains differentiated hormogonium-like filaments that lacked motility and failed to secrete hormogonium specific polysaccharide. The hmp locus is expressed as two transcripts, one originating 5' of hmpA and encompassing the entire hmp locus, and the other 5' of hmpB and encompassing hmpBCDE. The CheA-like HmpE donates phosphate to its own C-terminal receiver domain, and to the CheY-like HmpB, but not to the PatA family CheY-like HmpA. A GFP-tagged variant of each hmp locus protein localized to a ring adjacent to the septum on each end of the rod-shaped cell. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that PilA localizes to a ring at the junction between cells. The phenotype of the deletion strains, and the localization of the Hmp proteins and the putative PilA protein to rings at the cell junctions are consistent with the hypothesis that these proteins are part of the junctional pore complex observed in a number of filamentous cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid24532077, year = {2014}, author = {Zhao, XL and Yang, JZ and Liu, S and Chen, CL and Zhu, HY and Cao, JX}, title = {The colonization patterns of different fungi on roots of Cymbidium hybridum plantlets and their respective inoculation effects on growth and nutrient uptake of orchid plantlets.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {7}, pages = {1993-2003}, pmid = {24532077}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizoctonia/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cymbidium hybridum is one of the most popular pot orchids and cut flowers worldwide. However, the long vegetative growth period and the discordant blooming retarded its mass production. The mixotrophic nutritional mode of some chlorophyllous Cymbidium suggested the essential role of mycorrhizal fungi in the growth of adult green orchids. Here 34 root-associated endophytes were obtained from wild and cultivated Cymbidium and eight strains exhibited obvious growth-promoting effects on the C. hybridum plantlets with increasing root number, root diameter or new bud initiation. Among these, three isolates CL01, ZH3A-3 and CY5-1 with distinct cultural traits and colonization patterns showed better growth-promoting effects. Internal transcribed spacer sequence analyses and morphological observation revealed isolate CL01 belonged to Tulasnella-like Rhizoctonia, ZH3A-3, Umbelopsis nana and CY5-1, Scytalidium lignicola. Microscopic study showed isolate CL01 formed typical orchid mycorrhiza and isolate CY5-1 formed pseudo-mycorrhiza with orchid, whereas hyphae of isolate ZH3A-3 aggregated in the host velamen cells at regular intervals and caused the hypertrophied nucleus and aggregated cytoplasm of neighboring host cell. These three isolates significantly enhanced the increased percentage of total fresh weight of plantlets compared with un-inoculated control (83, 99 and 75%, respectively). In addition, isolate CL01 increased the N, P, Zn, Cu, Fe contents and ZH3A-3 significantly improved K, Ca, Cu, Mn contents of the symbiotic plantlets compared with control. These results suggested that the mass production of C. hybridum and related orchids could be improved by different beneficial fungi from its parents.}, } @article {pmid24531169, year = {2014}, author = {Koide, M and Higa, F and Tateyama, M and Cash, HL and Hokama, A and Fujita, J}, title = {Role of Brevundimonas vesicularis in supporting the growth of Legionella in nutrient-poor environments.}, journal = {The new microbiologica}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {33-39}, pmid = {24531169}, issn = {1121-7138}, mesh = {Caulobacteraceae/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Culture Media/analysis/metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fresh Water/*microbiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Legionella/*growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; Legionellosis/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In 1986, we encountered the first case of Legionella micdadei pneumonia in Japan. In the follow-up study to determine the infection route of L. micdadei, we isolated Brevundimonas vesicularis from the shower hose of the patient�s home. This motivated us to explore the symbiosis between B. vesicularis and Legionella in this study. B. vesicularis type strain, B. vesicularis Kobe strain, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 type strain, and L. micdadei Kobe strain were used. B. vesicularis was inoculated into 0.01 M phosphate buffer solution containing artificial sand, and varying concentrations of glucose at 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%. Legionella was added to the cultures after ten days of incubation, and Legionella viable counts were monitored over time. After three days of incubation, Legionella counts increased approximately twofold in flasks containing 0.001% glucose, but Legionella counts decreased in both B. vesicularis inoculated and non-inoculated flasks containing higher concentrations of glucose. The counts were significantly higher in flasks inoculated with B. vesicularis than in non-inoculated flasks throughout the experiments. Under the nutrient-poor conditions, the presence of B. vesicularis was found to aid a further increase in Legionella counts. Further research is necessary to understand the symbiotic conditions most supporting the growth of L. micdadei.}, } @article {pmid24528861, year = {2014}, author = {Singh, S and Katzer, K and Lambert, J and Cerri, M and Parniske, M}, title = {CYCLOPS, a DNA-binding transcriptional activator, orchestrates symbiotic root nodule development.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {139-152}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2014.01.011}, pmid = {24528861}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor/metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism ; DNA/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Phosphorylation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*physiology ; Protein Binding ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Serine/metabolism ; Tobacco/physiology ; Trans-Activators/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Nuclear calcium oscillations are a hallmark of symbiotically stimulated plant root cells. Activation of the central nuclear decoder, calcium- and calmodulin-dependent kinase (CCaMK), triggers the entire symbiotic program including root nodule organogenesis, but the mechanism of signal transduction by CCaMK was unknown. We show that CYCLOPS, a direct phosphorylation substrate of CCaMK, is a DNA-binding transcriptional activator. Two phosphorylated serine residues within the N-terminal negative regulatory domain of CYCLOPS are necessary for its activity. CYCLOPS binds DNA in a sequence-specific and phosphorylation-dependent manner and transactivates the NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) gene. A phosphomimetic version of CYCLOPS was sufficient to trigger root nodule organogenesis in the absence of rhizobia and CCaMK. CYCLOPS thus induces a transcriptional activation cascade, in which NIN and a heterotrimeric NF-Y complex act in hierarchical succession to initiate symbiotic root nodule development.}, } @article {pmid24528556, year = {2014}, author = {Duncan, RP and Husnik, F and Van Leuven, JT and Gilbert, DG and Dávalos, LM and McCutcheon, JP and Wilson, ACC}, title = {Dynamic recruitment of amino acid transporters to the insect/symbiont interface.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1608-1623}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12627}, pmid = {24528556}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/*genetics ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; *Gene Duplication ; Hemiptera/genetics/*microbiology ; Insect Proteins/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is well known to influence bacterial symbiont genome evolution and has recently been shown to shape eukaryotic host genomes. Intriguing patterns of host genome evolution, including remarkable numbers of gene duplications, have been observed in the pea aphid, a sap-feeding insect that relies on a bacterial endosymbiont for amino acid provisioning. Previously, we proposed that gene duplication has been important for the evolution of symbiosis based on aphid-specific gene duplication in amino acid transporters (AATs), with some paralogs highly expressed in the cells housing symbionts (bacteriocytes). Here, we use a comparative approach to test the role of gene duplication in enabling recruitment of AATs to bacteriocytes. Using genomic and transcriptomic data, we annotate AATs from sap-feeding and non sap-feeding insects and find that, like aphids, AAT gene families have undergone independent large-scale gene duplications in three of four additional sap-feeding insects. RNA-seq differential expression data indicate that, like aphids, the sap-feeding citrus mealybug possesses several lineage-specific bacteriocyte-enriched paralogs. Further, differential expression data combined with quantitative PCR support independent evolution of bacteriocyte enrichment in sap-feeding insect AATs. Although these data indicate that gene duplication is not necessary to initiate host/symbiont amino acid exchange, they support a role for gene duplication in enabling AATs to mediate novel host/symbiont interactions broadly in the sap-feeding suborder Sternorrhyncha. In combination with recent studies on other symbiotic systems, gene duplication is emerging as a general pattern in host genome evolution.}, } @article {pmid24527680, year = {2014}, author = {Pierre, O and Hopkins, J and Combier, M and Baldacci, F and Engler, G and Brouquisse, R and Hérouart, D and Boncompagni, E}, title = {Involvement of papain and legumain proteinase in the senescence process of Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {3}, pages = {849-863}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12717}, pmid = {24527680}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Cathepsin L/metabolism ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/*metabolism ; Darkness ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/genetics ; Papain/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; Proteolysis/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Vacuoles/drug effects/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between legumes and Rhizobiaceae leads to the formation of new root organs called nodules. Within the nodule, Rhizobiaceae differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. However, this symbiotic interaction is time-limited as a result of the initiation of a senescence process, leading to a complete degradation of bacteroids and host plant cells. The increase in proteolytic activity is one of the key features of this process. In this study, we analysed the involvement of two different classes of cysteine proteinases, MtCP6 and MtVPE, in the senescence process of Medicago truncatula nodules. Spatiotemporal expression of MtCP6 and MtVPE was investigated using promoter- β-glucuronidase fusions. Corresponding gene inductions were observed during both developmental and stress-induced nodule senescence. Both MtCP6 and MtVPE proteolytic activities were increased during stress-induced senescence. Down-regulation of both proteinases mediated by RNAi in the senescence zone delayed nodule senescence and increased nitrogen fixation, while their early expression promoted nodule senescence. Using green fluorescent protein fusions, in vivo confocal imaging showed that both proteinases accumulated in the vacuole of uninfected cells or the symbiosomes of infected cells. These data enlighten the crucial role of MtCP6 and MtVPE in the onset of nodule senescence.}, } @article {pmid24526722, year = {2014}, author = {Hambleton, EA and Guse, A and Pringle, JR}, title = {Similar specificities of symbiont uptake by adults and larvae in an anemone model system for coral biology.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {217}, number = {Pt 9}, pages = {1613-1619}, pmid = {24526722}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; 5 T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; *Cytophagocytosis ; *Dinoflagellida ; Larva/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals depend for much of their energy on photosynthesis by symbiotic dinoflagellate algae (genus Symbiodinium) that live within their gastrodermal cells. However, the cellular mechanisms underpinning this ecologically critical symbiosis, including those governing the specificity of symbiont uptake by the host, remain poorly understood, in part because of the difficulties of working with corals in the laboratory. Here, we used the small symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia as an experimentally tractable model system to analyze the specificity and timing of symbiosis onset in larval and adult animals under controlled laboratory conditions. Using four clonal, axenic Symbiodinium strains, we found no difference in uptake specificity between larvae (even when very young) and adults. Although both compatible and incompatible algal strains were found within the larval guts, only the former appeared to be internalized by gastrodermal cells, and they (but not incompatible algae) proliferated rapidly within the larvae in the absence of detectable exchange with other larvae. Older larvae showed reduced ingestion of both compatible and incompatible algae, and the addition of food failed to promote the uptake of an incompatible algal strain. Thus, Aiptasia adults and larvae appear to have similar mechanisms for discriminating between compatible and incompatible dinoflagellate types prior to phagocytosis by host gastrodermal cells. Whether a particular algal strain is compatible or incompatible appears to be stable during years of axenic culture in the absence of a host. These studies provide a foundation for future analyses of the mechanisms of symbiont-uptake specificity in this emerging model system.}, } @article {pmid24525754, year = {2014}, author = {Dichosa, AE and Daughton, AR and Reitenga, KG and Fitzsimons, MS and Han, CS}, title = {Capturing and cultivating single bacterial cells in gel microdroplets to obtain near-complete genomes.}, journal = {Nature protocols}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {608-621}, pmid = {24525754}, issn = {1750-2799}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Gels ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Humans ; Mouth/microbiology ; Single-Cell Analysis/*methods ; }, abstract = {Assembling a complete genome from a single bacterial cell, termed single-cell genomics, is challenging with current technologies. Recovery rates of complete genomes from fragmented assemblies of single-cell templates significantly vary. Although increasing the amount of genomic template material by standard cultivation improves recovery, most bacteria are unfortunately not amenable to traditional cultivation, possibly owing to the lack of unidentified, yet necessary, growth signals and/or specific symbiotic influences. To overcome this limitation, we adopted and modified the method of cocultivation of single-captured bacterial cells in gel microdroplets (GMDs) to improve full genomic sequence recovery. By completing multiple genomes of two novel species derived from single cells, we demonstrated its efficacy on diverse bacterial species using human oral and gut microbiome samples. Here we describe a detailed protocol for capturing single bacterial cells, cocultivating them in medium and isolating microcolonies in GMDs with flow cytometry. Beginning with preliminary studies, obtaining GMDs with single microcolonies for whole-genome amplification may take ∼4 weeks.}, } @article {pmid24524558, year = {2014}, author = {Lwin, SM and Kimber, I and McFadden, JP}, title = {Acne, quorum sensing and danger.}, journal = {Clinical and experimental dermatology}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {162-167}, doi = {10.1111/ced.12252}, pmid = {24524558}, issn = {1365-2230}, mesh = {Acne Vulgaris/immunology/*microbiology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Humans ; Propionibacterium acnes/immunology/*physiology ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Toll-Like Receptors/immunology ; }, abstract = {Propionibacterium acnes is a ubiquitous skin commensal bacterium, which is normally well tolerated by the immune system in healthy human skin. However, there is increasing evidence to suggest a pivotal role for P. acnes in the inflammatory process underlying the acne pathogenesis. With its features of inflammation and pustulation, acne vulgaris resembles the skin's normal reaction to bacterial pathogens. P. acnes flourishes when sebum production increases in the follicles. Bacteria may undergo behavioural changes based on the surrounding bacterial population, a process called quorum sensing (QS). Evidence from in vitro studies suggests that QS enables P. acnes to upregulate its hydrolysis of sebum triglycerides by its bacterial lipases, secreting free fatty acids (FFAs) such as oleic, palmitic and lauric acids. These FFAs act as danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and activate Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4, leading to selective T-helper (Th)-driven immunity, with subsequent expression of Th1/Th17-associated inflammatory cytokines. To our knowledge, there is currently no explanation as to what determines the shift of recognition by the immune system of P. acnes from being symbiotic to pathogenic. We present a novel hypothesis based on the essence of QS and DAMPs. P. acnes sends no or only 'safety' signals when present in 'controlled' quantities under commensal conditions, but becomes pathogenic and sends 'danger' signals via QS in the form of excess FFA production, which stimulates TLR2 and TLR4 as the bacterial population flourishes.}, } @article {pmid24523468, year = {2014}, author = {Parobek, CM and Jiang, LY and Patel, JC and Alvarez-Martínez, MJ and Miro, JM and Worodria, W and Andama, A and Fong, S and Huang, L and Meshnick, SR and Taylor, SM and Juliano, JJ}, title = {Multilocus microsatellite genotyping array for investigation of genetic epidemiology of Pneumocystis jirovecii.}, journal = {Journal of clinical microbiology}, volume = {52}, number = {5}, pages = {1391-1399}, pmid = {24523468}, issn = {1098-660X}, support = {K08 AI100924/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AI50410/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 HL098964/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; ULTR000083//PHS HHS/United States ; K24 HL087713/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI089819/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007092/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL090335/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008719/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 AI050410/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Dihydropteroate Synthase/genetics ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; Genetic Loci/*genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; Molecular Epidemiology/methods ; Mutation/genetics ; Pneumocystis carinii/*genetics ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Spain/epidemiology ; Uganda/epidemiology ; United States/epidemiology ; }, abstract = {Pneumocystis jirovecii is a symbiotic respiratory fungus that causes pneumonia (PcP) in immunosuppressed patients. Because P. jirovecii cannot be reliably cultured in vitro, it has proven difficult to study and gaps in our understanding of the organism persist. The release of a draft genome for the organism opens the door for the development of new genotyping approaches for studying its molecular epidemiology and global population structure. We identified and validated 8 putatively neutral microsatellite markers and 1 microsatellite marker linked to the dihydropteroate synthase gene (dhps), the enzymatic target of sulfa drugs used for PcP prevention and treatment. Using these tools, we analyzed P. jirovecii isolates from HIV-infected patients from three geographically distant populations: Uganda, the United States, and Spain. Among the 8 neutral markers, we observed high levels of allelic heterozygosity (average He, 0.586 to 0.842). Consistent with past reports, we observed limited global population structuring, with only the Ugandan isolates showing minor differentiation from the other two populations. In Ugandan isolates that harbored mutations in dhps, the microsatellite locus linked to dhps demonstrated a depressed He, consistent with positive directional selection for sulfa resistance mutations. Using a subset of these microsatellites, analyses of individual and paired samples from infections in San Francisco, CA, showed reliable typeability within a single infection and high discriminatory power between infections. These features suggest that this novel microsatellite typing approach will be an effective tool for molecular-epidemiological investigations into P. jirovecii population structure, transmission, and drug resistance.}, } @article {pmid24522842, year = {2014}, author = {Pacioni, G and Leonardi, M and Di Carlo, P and Ranalli, D and Zinni, A and De Laurentiis, G}, title = {Instrumental monitoring of the birth and development of truffles in a Tuber melanosporum orchard.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S65-72}, doi = {10.1007/s00572-014-0561-z}, pmid = {24522842}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agriculture/methods ; Ascomycota/*growth & development ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; Climate ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiotic plants, soil suitability, temperature, and humidity are, by general consensus, considered decisive factors in truffle production. However, experimental approaches to define the environmental conditions that stimulate formation of truffle primordia and promote their growth to maturity have been lacking. By analysis of data of many atmospheric and soil parameters collected since 2009 within a Tuber melanosporum orchard, the trends of metabolic activity, detected as CO2 production in the soil, have been identified as the most reliable parameter to indicate the 'birth' of the truffle primordia. They seem to be produced when mycelial activity is intense and undergoes water stress, after which it resumes. About 6-18 days after recovery of metabolic activity, we could collect primordia of T. melanosporum. Many die or develop too early and consequently rot or are eaten by insect larvae. These events occur several times during summer and autumn, those that 'sprout' in late summer or later grow steadily and reach maturity. Using a particular ground-penetrating radar (GPR) setup to discriminate truffles, we could identify individual truffles in the soil after they have enlarged to at least 6 mm in diameter and follow their growth in volume and diameter over time. These two instrumental methods (CO2 sensor and GPR), although yet to be improved, open new important perspectives to better understand truffle biology and manage truffle orchards to support the newly acquired demonstration of the fundamental role of host plants for the nutrient transfer to the ectomycorrhiza-mycelium-fruiting body complex of T. melanosporum.}, } @article {pmid24522262, year = {2014}, author = {Grant, MA and Kazamia, E and Cicuta, P and Smith, AG}, title = {Direct exchange of vitamin B12 is demonstrated by modelling the growth dynamics of algal-bacterial cocultures.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {1418-1427}, pmid = {24522262}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {BB/I013164/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Ecosystem ; Fresh Water/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*metabolism ; Models, Statistical ; Symbiosis ; Vitamin B 12/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The growth dynamics of populations of interacting species in the aquatic environment is of great importance, both for understanding natural ecosystems and in efforts to cultivate these organisms for industrial purposes. Here we consider a simple two-species system wherein the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti supplies vitamin B12 (cobalamin) to the freshwater green alga Lobomonas rostrata, which requires this organic micronutrient for growth. In return, the bacterium receives photosynthate from the alga. Mathematical models are developed that describe minimally the interdependence between the two organisms, and that fit the experimental observations of the consortium. These models enable us to distinguish between different mechanisms of nutrient exchange between the organisms, and provide strong evidence that, rather than undergoing simple lysis and release of nutrients into the medium, M. loti regulates the levels of cobalamin it produces, resulting in a true mutualism with L. rostrata. Over half of all microalgae are dependent on an exogenous source of cobalamin for growth, and this vitamin is synthesised only by bacteria; it is very likely that similar symbiotic interactions underpin algal productivity more generally.}, } @article {pmid24521569, year = {2014}, author = {Tsutsui, Y and Maeto, K and Hamaguchi, K and Isaki, Y and Takami, Y and Naito, T and Miura, K}, title = {Apomictic parthenogenesis in a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis, uncommon in the haplodiploid order Hymenoptera.}, journal = {Bulletin of entomological research}, volume = {104}, number = {3}, pages = {307-313}, doi = {10.1017/S0007485314000017}, pmid = {24521569}, issn = {1475-2670}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Genotype ; Japan ; Larva/parasitology/physiology ; Meiosis ; Microsatellite Repeats ; *Parthenogenesis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproduction ; Species Specificity ; Spodoptera/growth & development/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Although apomixis is the most common form of parthenogenesis in diplodiploid arthropods, it is uncommon in the haplodiploid insect order Hymenoptera. We found a new type of spontaneous apomixis in the Hymenoptera, completely lacking meiosis and the expulsion of polar bodies in egg maturation division, on the thelytokous strain of a parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Braconidae, Euphorinae) on pest lepidopteran larvae Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Noctuidae). The absence of the meiotic process was consistent with a non-segregation pattern in the offspring of heterozygous females, and no positive evidence was obtained for the induction of thelytoky by any bacterial symbionts. We discuss the conditions that enable the occurrence of such rare cases of apomictic thelytoky in the Hymenoptera, suggesting the significance of fixed heterosis caused by hybridization or polyploidization, symbiosis with bacterial agents, and occasional sex. Our finding will encourage further genetic studies on parasitoid wasps to use asexual lines more wisely for biological control.}, } @article {pmid24521100, year = {2014}, author = {Lee, HI and In, YH and Jeong, SY and Jeon, JM and Noh, JG and So, JS and Chang, WS}, title = {Inactivation of the lpcC gene alters surface-related properties and symbiotic capability of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {9-16}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12232}, pmid = {24521100}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; *Biofilms ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Bacterial ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; O Antigens/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; Surface Properties ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: We investigated the role of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum lpcC gene, encoding a mannosyl transferase, involved in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. The inactivation of the lpcC gene considerably altered the LPS structure and the cell surface properties. LPS analysis showed that the lpcC mutant JS715 had an abnormal LPS structure deficient in O-antigen. The cell surface hydrophobicity increased approximately threefold in JS715 compared to the wild type. The increased cell surface hydrophobicity is likely to be related with cell aggregation in the mutant culture. For the growth comparison, JS715 showed slower growth rate than the wild type. The motility of JS715 decreased in soft agar plates, but it showed enhanced biofilm-forming ability. Interestingly, JS715 was not able to nodulate the host legume soybean (Glycine max). This study shows not only that lpcC is involved in the biosynthesis of O-antigen in the B. japonicum LPS, but also that inactivation of the lpcC gene affects symbiotic capability of B. japonicum and surface-related properties such as cell hydrophobicity, biofilm formation and motility.

This study demonstrates the role of the B. japonicum lpcC in nodulation with soybean and importance of cell surface hydrophobicity. The results also highlight that intact LPS is required for successful symbiosis between B. japonicum and soybeans. Our findings not only support previous studies emphasizing the necessity of LPS on the interaction between the two symbiotic partners, but also contribute to a better understanding of the symbiotic mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid24520401, year = {2014}, author = {Dumont, E and Jokipii-Lukkari, S and Parkash, V and Vuosku, J and Sundström, R and Nymalm, Y and Sutela, S and Taskinen, K and Kallio, PT and Salminen, TA and Häggman, H}, title = {Evolution, three-dimensional model and localization of truncated hemoglobin PttTrHb of hybrid aspen.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e88573}, pmid = {24520401}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Heme/chemistry/metabolism ; *Hybridization, Genetic ; *Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Stems/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Populus/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Transport ; RNA Interference ; Sequence Alignment ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Truncated Hemoglobins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Thus far, research on plant hemoglobins (Hbs) has mainly concentrated on symbiotic and non-symbiotic Hbs, and information on truncated Hbs (TrHbs) is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the origin, structure and localization of the truncated Hb (PttTrHb) of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × tremuloides Michx.), the model system of tree biology. Additionally, we studied the PttTrHb expression in relation to non-symbiotic class1 Hb gene (PttHb1) using RNAi-silenced hybrid aspen lines. Both the phylogenetic analysis and the three-dimensional (3D) model of PttTrHb supported the view that plant TrHbs evolved vertically from a bacterial TrHb. The 3D model suggested that PttTrHb adopts a 2-on-2 sandwich of α-helices and has a Bacillus subtilis -like ligand-binding pocket in which E11Gln and B10Tyr form hydrogen bonds to a ligand. However, due to differences in tunnel cavity and gate residue (E7Ala), it might not show similar ligand-binding kinetics as in Bs-HbO (E7Thr). The immunolocalization showed that PttTrHb protein was present in roots, stems as well as leaves of in vitro -grown hybrid aspens. In mature organs, PttTrHb was predominantly found in the vascular bundles and specifically at the site of lateral root formation, overlapping consistently with areas of nitric oxide (NO) production in plants. Furthermore, the NO donor sodium nitroprusside treatment increased the amount of PttTrHb in stems. The observed PttTrHb localization suggests that PttTrHb plays a role in the NO metabolism.}, } @article {pmid24517908, year = {2014}, author = {Arp, A and Munyaneza, JE and Crosslin, JM and Trumble, J and Bextine, B}, title = {A global comparison of Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) microbial communities.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {344-352}, doi = {10.1603/EN13256}, pmid = {24517908}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animal Distribution/*physiology ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biota ; Haplotypes ; Hemiptera/genetics/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; New Zealand ; Nicaragua ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {The potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli Sulc) is an economically important insect pest of solanaceous crops such as potato, tomato, pepper, and tobacco. Historically, the potato psyllid's range included central United States, Mexico, and California; more recently, populations of this insect have been reported in Central America, the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand. Like most phytophagous insects, potato psyllids require symbiotic bacteria to compensate for nutritional deficiencies in their diet. Potato psyllids harbor the primary symbiont, Candidatus Carsonella ruddii, and may also harbor many secondary symbionts such as Wolbachia sp., Sodalis sp., Pseudomonas sp., and others. These secondary symbionts can have an effect on reproduction, nutrition, immune response, and resistances to heat or pesticides. To identify regional differences in potato psyllid bacterial symbionts, 454 pyrosequencing was performed using generic 16S rRNA gene primers. Analysis was performed using the Qiime 1.6.0 software suite, ARB Silva, and R. Operational taxonomic units were then grouped at 97% identity. Representative sequences were classified to genus using the ARB SILVA database. Potato psyllids collected in California contained a less diverse microbial community than those collected in the central United States and Central America. The crop variety, collection year, and haplotype did not seem to affect the microbial community in potato psyllids. The primary difference between psyllids in different regions was the presence and overall bacterial community composition of Candidatus Carsonella ruddii and Wolbachia.}, } @article {pmid24516778, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, K and Karin, M}, title = {Common flora and intestine: A carcinogenic marriage.}, journal = {Cellular logistics}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {e24975}, pmid = {24516778}, issn = {2159-2780}, support = {P01 DK035108/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI043477/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Commensal microflora engages in a symbiotic relationship with their host, and plays an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Pathogenic bacteria promote chronic intestinal inflammation and accelerate tumorigenesis. In sporadic CRC, loss of an effective epithelial barrier occurs at early stage of CRC development. As a result, non-pathogenic bacteria and/or their products infiltrate tumor stroma, drive "tumor-elicited inflammation" and promote CRC progression by activating tumor-associated myeloid and immune cells that produce IL-23 and IL-17. In this article we will summarize the recent advances in understanding the relationship between gut flora and CRC.}, } @article {pmid24513137, year = {2014}, author = {Ali, S and Duan, J and Charles, TC and Glick, BR}, title = {A bioinformatics approach to the determination of genes involved in endophytic behavior in Burkholderia spp.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {343}, number = {}, pages = {193-198}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.10.007}, pmid = {24513137}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; Biopolymers/metabolism ; Burkholderia/*genetics ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The vast majority of plants harbor endophytic bacteria that colonize a portion of the plant's interior tissues without harming the plant. Like plant pathogens, endophytes gain entry into their plants hosts through various mechanisms. Bacterial endophytes display a broad range of symbiotic interactions with their host plants. The molecular bases of these plant-endophyte interactions are currently not fully understood. In the present study, a set of genes possibly responsible for endophytic behavior for genus Burkholderia was predicted and then compared and contrasted with a number (nine endophytes from different genera) of endophytes by comparative genome analysis. The nine endophytes included Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, Burkholderia spp. strain JK006, Azospirillum lipoferum 4B, Enterobacter cloacae ENHKU01, Klebsiella pneumoniae 342, Pseudomonas putida W619, Enterobacter spp. 638, Azoarcus spp. BH72, and Serratia proteamaculans 568. From the genomes of the analyzed bacterial strains, a set of bacterial genes orthologs was identified that are predicted to be involved in determining the endophytic behavior of Burkholderia spp. The genes and their possible functions were then investigated to establish a potential connection between their presence and the role they play in bacterial endophytic behavior. Nearly all of the genes identified by this bioinformatics procedure encode function previously suggested in other studies to be involved in endophytic behavior.}, } @article {pmid24512693, year = {2014}, author = {Khan, NA and Siddiqui, R}, title = {Predator vs aliens: bacteria interactions with Acanthamoeba.}, journal = {Parasitology}, volume = {141}, number = {7}, pages = {869-874}, doi = {10.1017/S003118201300231X}, pmid = {24512693}, issn = {1469-8161}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {By interactions with other microbes, free-living amoebae play a significant role in microbiology, environmental biology, physiology, cellular interactions, ecology and evolution. Here, we discuss astonishing interactions of bacteria and amoebae, in the light of evolution and functional aspects impacting human health. In favourable environmental conditions, the interaction of Acanthamoeba with non-virulent bacteria results in lysis of the bacteria. However, the interaction with weak-virulent bacteria results in a symbiotic relationship or amoebal lysis may occur. The microbial survival of amoebae in harsh environments, ability to interact with bacteria, and their ability to aid transmission to susceptible hosts is of great concern to human, animal and ecosystem health.}, } @article {pmid24512041, year = {2014}, author = {Lee, R and Lai, H and Malik, SB and Saldarriaga, JF and Keeling, PJ and Slamovits, CH}, title = {Analysis of EST data of the marine protist Oxyrrhis marina, an emerging model for alveolate biology and evolution.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {122}, pmid = {24512041}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Repair/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics ; *Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Library ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Protozoan ; Meiosis/genetics ; *Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Retroelements ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The alveolates include a large number of important lineages of protists and algae, among which are three major eukaryotic groups: ciliates, apicomplexans and dinoflagellates. Collectively alveolates are present in virtually every environment and include a vast diversity of cell shapes, molecular and cellular features and feeding modes including lifestyles such as phototrophy, phagotrophy/predation and intracellular parasitism, in addition to a variety of symbiotic associations. Oxyrrhis marina is a well-known model for heterotrophic protist biology, and is now emerging as a useful organism to explore the many changes that occurred during the origin and diversification of dinoflagellates by virtue of its phylogenetic position at the base of the dinoflagellate tree.

RESULTS: We have generated and analysed expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences from the alveolate Oxyrrhis marina in order to shed light on the evolution of a number of dinoflagellate characteristics, especially regarding the emergence of highly unusual genomic features. We found that O. marina harbours extensive gene redundancy, indicating high rates of gene duplication and transcription from multiple genomic loci. In addition, we observed a correlation between expression level and copy number in several genes, suggesting that copy number may contribute to determining transcript levels for some genes. Finally, we analyze the genes and predicted products of the recently discovered Dinoflagellate Viral Nuclear Protein, and several cases of horizontally acquired genes.

CONCLUSION: The dataset presented here has proven very valuable for studying this important group of protists. Our analysis indicates that gene redundancy is a pervasive feature of dinoflagellate genomes, thus the mechanisms involved in its generation must have arisen early in the evolution of the group.}, } @article {pmid24511631, year = {2014}, author = {Domart-Coulon, I and Stolarski, J and Brahmi, C and Gutner-Hoch, E and Janiszewska, K and Shemesh, A and Meibom, A}, title = {Simultaneous extension of both basic microstructural components in scleractinian coral skeleton during night and daytime, visualized by in situ 86Sr pulse labeling.}, journal = {Journal of structural biology}, volume = {185}, number = {1}, pages = {79-88}, pmid = {24511631}, issn = {1095-8657}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Skeleton ; Strontium Isotopes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Using in situ (12 h) pulse-labeling of scleractinian coral aragonitic skeleton with stable 86Sr isotope, the diel pattern of skeletal extension was investigated in the massive Porites lobata species, grown at 5 m depth in the Gulf of Eilat. Several microstructural aspects of coral biomineralization were elucidated, among which the most significant is simultaneous extension of the two basic microstructural components Rapid Accretion Deposits (RAD; also called Centers of Calcification) and Thickening Deposits (TD; also called fibers), both at night and during daytime. Increased thickness of the 86Sr-labeled growth-front in the RADs compared to the adjacent TDs revealed that in this species RADs extend on average twice as fast as TDs. At the level of the individual corallite, skeletal extension is spatially highly heterogeneous, with sporadic slowing or cessation depending on growth directions and skeletal structure morphology. Daytime photosynthesis by symbiotic dinoflagellates is widely acknowledged to substantially increase calcification rates at the colony and the corallite level in reef-building corals. However, in our study, the average night-time extension rate (visualized in three successive 12 h pulses) was similar to the average daytime extension (visualized in the initial 12 h pulse), in all growth directions and skeletal structures. This research provides a platform for further investigations into the temporal calibration of coral skeletal extension via cyclic growth increment deposition, which is a hallmark of coral biomineralization.}, } @article {pmid24511102, year = {2014}, author = {Schwebke, JR and Muzny, CA and Josey, WE}, title = {Role of Gardnerella vaginalis in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis: a conceptual model.}, journal = {The Journal of infectious diseases}, volume = {210}, number = {3}, pages = {338-343}, doi = {10.1093/infdis/jiu089}, pmid = {24511102}, issn = {1537-6613}, mesh = {Cell Adhesion ; Female ; Gardnerella vaginalis/*physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology/*pathology ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Vaginosis, Bacterial/*microbiology/*pathology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge and is associated with important public health complications such as preterm birth and acquisition or transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections. Continued controversy concerning the pathogenesis of BV has led to a lack of progress in prevention and management of this infection.

METHODS: Development of a conceptual model for the pathogenesis of BV based on review of past and current research.

RESULTS: Our model suggests that BV is initiated by the sexual transmission of Gardnerella vaginalis, which has the appropriate virulence factors to adhere to host epithelium, create a biofilm community, and successfully compete with lactobacilli for dominance in the vaginal environment. The genetic diversity of G. vaginalis may result in virulent and avirulent strains. Symbiotic relationships with normally dormant vaginal anaerobes lead to increases in the latter which contribute to the symptoms of BV.

CONCLUSIONS: G. vaginalis is the pathogen responsible for the initiation of BV. Future research should focus on preventing its transmission and improved therapeutics for the biofilm infection that is caused by this pathogen and host anaerobes.}, } @article {pmid24509921, year = {2014}, author = {Zatakia, HM and Nelson, CE and Syed, UJ and Scharf, BE}, title = {ExpR coordinates the expression of symbiotically important, bundle-forming Flp pili with quorum sensing in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {8}, pages = {2429-2439}, pmid = {24509921}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis ; Fimbriae, Bacterial/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Quorum Sensing ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/physiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Type IVb pili in enteropathogenic bacteria function as a host colonization factor by mediating tight adherence to host cells, but their role in bacterium-plant symbiosis is currently unknown. The genome of the symbiotic soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti contains two clusters encoding proteins for type IVb pili of the Flp (fimbrial low-molecular-weight protein) subfamily. To establish the role of Flp pili in the symbiotic interaction of S. meliloti and its host, Medicago sativa, we deleted pilA1, which encodes the putative pilin subunit in the chromosomal flp-1 cluster and conducted competitive nodulation assays. The pilA1 deletion strain formed 27% fewer nodules than the wild type. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of bundle-forming pili protruding from the polar and lateral region of S. meliloti wild-type cells. The putative pilus assembly ATPase CpaE1 fused to mCherry showed a predominantly unilateral localization. Transcriptional reporter gene assays demonstrated that expression of pilA1 peaks in early stationary phase and is repressed by the quorum-sensing regulator ExpR, which also controls production of exopolysaccharides and motility. Binding of acyl homoserine lactone-activated ExpR to the pilA1 promoter was confirmed with electrophoretic mobility shift assays. A 17-bp consensus sequence for ExpR binding was identified within the 28-bp protected region by DNase I footprinting analyses. Our results show that Flp pili are important for efficient symbiosis of S. meliloti with its plant host. The temporal inverse regulation of exopolysaccharides and pili by ExpR enables S. meliloti to achieve a coordinated expression of cellular processes during early stages of host interaction.}, } @article {pmid24509077, year = {2014}, author = {Roberts, AE and Boylen, CW and Nierzwicki-Bauer, SA}, title = {Effects of lead accumulation on the Azolla caroliniana-Anabaena association.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {102}, number = {}, pages = {100-104}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.01.019}, pmid = {24509077}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Anabaena/*drug effects/*physiology ; Carotenoids/analysis/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/analysis/metabolism ; Ferns/chemistry/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Minerals/analysis ; Organometallic Compounds/*metabolism/*toxicity ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The effect of lead accumulation on photopigment production, mineral nutrition, and Anabaena vegetative cell size and heterocyst formation in Azolla caroliniana was investigated. Plants were exposed to 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 mg L(-1) lead acetate for ten days. Lead accumulation increased when plants were treated with higher lead concentrations. Results revealed a statistically significant decline in total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in 5, 10, and 20 mg Pb L(-1) treatment groups as compared to plants with 0 or 1 mg Pb L(-1) treatments. No statistically significant change in anthocyanin production was observed. Calcium, magnesium, and zinc concentrations in plants decreased in increasing treatment groups, whereas sodium and potassium concentrations increased. Nitrogen and carbon were also found to decrease in plant tissue. Anabaena vegetative cells decreased in size and heterocyst frequency declined rapidly in a Pb dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that, while A. caroliniana removes lead from aqueous solution, the heavy metal causes physiological and biochemical changes by impairing photosynthesis, changing mineral nutrition, and impeding the growth and formation of heterocysts of the symbiotic cyanobacteria that live within leaf cavities of the fronds.}, } @article {pmid24508172, year = {2014}, author = {Antolín-Llovera, M and Ried, MK and Parniske, M}, title = {Cleavage of the SYMBIOSIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE ectodomain promotes complex formation with Nod factor receptor 5.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {422-427}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2013.12.053}, pmid = {24508172}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Extracellular Space/metabolism ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants form root symbioses with fungi and bacteria to improve their nutrient supply. SYMBIOSIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SYMRK) is required for phosphate-acquiring arbuscular mycorrhiza, as well as for the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis of legumes and actinorhizal plants, but its precise function was completely unclear. Here we show that the extracytoplasmic region of SYMRK, which comprises three leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and a malectin-like domain (MLD) related to a carbohydrate-binding protein from Xenopus laevis, is cleaved to release the MLD in the absence of symbiotic stimulation. A conserved sequence motif--GDPC--that connects the MLD to the LRRs is required for MLD release. We discovered that Nod factor receptor 5 (NFR5) forms a complex with the SYMRK version that remains after MLD release (SYMRK-ΔMLD). SYMRK-ΔMLD outcompeted full-length SYMRK for NFR5 interaction, indicating that the MLD negatively interferes with complex formation. SYMRK-ΔMLD is present at lower amounts than MLD, suggesting rapid degradation after MLD release. A deletion of the entire extracytoplasmic region increased protein abundance, suggesting that the LRR region promotes degradation. Curiously, this deletion led to excessive infection thread formation, highlighting the importance of fine-tuned regulation of SYMRK by its ectodomain.}, } @article {pmid24508015, year = {2014}, author = {Sorek, M and Díaz-Almeyda, EM and Medina, M and Levy, O}, title = {Circadian clocks in symbiotic corals: the duet between Symbiodinium algae and their coral host.}, journal = {Marine genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {47-57}, doi = {10.1016/j.margen.2014.01.003}, pmid = {24508015}, issn = {1876-7478}, mesh = {Alveolata/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Calcification, Physiologic/physiology ; Cell Division/physiology ; Cell Movement/physiology ; Circadian Clocks/*physiology ; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Reproduction/physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {To date, the association and synchronization between two organismal circadian clocks ticking in parallel as part of a meta-organism (termed a symbiotic association), have rarely been investigated. Reef-building corals exhibit complex rhythmic responses to diurnal, lunar, and annual changes. Understanding circadian, circatidal, and annual regulation in reef-building corals is complicated by the presence of photosynthetic endosymbionts, which have a profound physiochemical influence on the intracellular environment. How corals tune their animal-based clock machinery to respond to external cues while simultaneously responding to internal physiological changes imposed by the symbiont, is not clear. There is insufficient molecular or physiological evidence of the existence of a circadian pacemaker that controls the metabolism, photosynthesis, synchronized mass spawning, and calcification processes in symbiotic corals. In this review, we present current knowledge regarding the animal pacemaker and the symbiotic-algal pacemaker. We examine the evidence from behavioral, physiological, molecular, and evolutionary perspectives. We explain why symbiotic corals are an interesting model with which to study the complexities and evolution of the metazoan circadian clock. We also provide evidence of why the chronobiology of corals is fundamental and extremely important for explaining the biology, physiology, and metabolism of coral reefs. A deeper understanding of these complex issues can help explain coral mass spawning, one of the earth's greatest and most mysterious behavioral phenomena.}, } @article {pmid24506063, year = {2014}, author = {Lemma, A}, title = {The body of the analyst and the analytic setting: reflections on the embodied setting and the symbiotic transference.}, journal = {The International journal of psycho-analysis}, volume = {95}, number = {2}, pages = {225-244}, doi = {10.1111/1745-8315.12147}, pmid = {24506063}, issn = {1745-8315}, mesh = {Countertransference ; *Human Body ; Humans ; *Professional-Patient Relations ; *Psychoanalytic Therapy ; *Transference, Psychology ; Unconscious, Psychology ; }, abstract = {In this paper the author questions whether the body of the analyst may be helpfully conceptualized as an embodied feature of the setting and suggests that this may be especially helpful for understanding patients who develop a symbiotic transference and for whom any variance in the analyst's body is felt to be profoundly destabilizing. In such cases the patient needs to relate to the body of the analyst concretely and exclusively as a setting 'constant' and its meaning for the patient may thus remain inaccessible to analysis for a long time. When the separateness of the body of the analyst reaches the patient's awareness because of changes in the analyst's appearance or bodily state, it then mobilizes primitive anxieties in the patient. It is only when the body of the analyst can become a dynamic variable between them (i.e., part of the process) that it can be used by the patient to further the exploration of their own mind.}, } @article {pmid24504482, year = {2014}, author = {McFall-Ngai, M}, title = {Divining the essence of symbiosis: insights from the squid-vibrio model.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {e1001783}, pmid = {24504482}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Decapodiformes/cytology/*microbiology ; Epithelium/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; Vibrio/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biology has a big elephant in the room. Researchers are learning that microorganisms are critical for every aspect of the biosphere's health. Even at the scale of our own bodies, we are discovering the unexpected necessity and daunting complexity of our microbial partners. How can we gain an understanding of the form and function of these "ecosystems" that are an individual animal? This essay explores how development of experimental model systems reveals basic principles that underpin the essence of symbiosis and, more specifically, how one symbiosis, the squid-vibrio association, provides insight into the persistent microbial colonization of animal epithelial surfaces.}, } @article {pmid24503187, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, DZ and Zhang, H and Zhang, Y and Zhang, SF}, title = {Marine dinoflagellate proteomics: current status and future perspectives.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {105}, number = {}, pages = {121-132}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2014.01.026}, pmid = {24503187}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/genetics/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Dinoflagellates are not only the important primary producers and an essential component of the food chain in the marine ecosystem, but also the major causative species resulting in harmful algal blooms (HABs) and various shellfish poisonings. Although much work has been devoted to the dinoflagellates, our understanding of them is still extremely limited owing to their unusual features. Proteomics, a large-scale study of the structure and function of proteins in complex biological samples, has been introduced to the study of marine dinoflagellates and has shown its powerful potential with regard to revealing their physiological and metabolic characteristics. However, the application of proteomic approaches to unsequenced dinoflagellates is still in its infancy and faces considerable challenges. This review summarizes recent progress in marine dinoflagellate proteomics and discusses the limitations and prospects for this approach to their study.

SCIENTIFIC QUESTION: The dinoflagellates are the major causative agent responsible for harmful algal blooms and paralytic shellfish poisoning around the world. However, our understanding of them is still extremely limited owing to their unusual features, such as large genome size and permanently condensed chromosomes, which impedes the monitoring, mitigation and prevention of HABs.

TECHNICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Proteomics, a large-scale study of the structure and function of proteins in complex biological samples, has been introduced to the study of marine dinoflagellates and has shown its powerful potential with regard to revealing their physiological and metabolic characteristics.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This review summarizes recent progress in marine dinoflagellate proteomics with regard to methodology, cell growth, toxin biosynthesis, environmental stress, cell wall and surface, and symbiosis, and discusses the limitations and prospects for this approach to dinoflagellate study. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics of non-model organisms.}, } @article {pmid24501650, year = {2013}, author = {Riedel, T and Fiebig, A and Petersen, J and Gronow, S and Kyrpides, NC and Göker, M and Klenk, HP}, title = {Genome sequence of the Litoreibacter arenae type strain (DSM 19593(T)), a member of the Roseobacter clade isolated from sea sand.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {117-127}, pmid = {24501650}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Litoreibacter arenae Kim et al. 2012 is a member of the genomically well-characterized Rhodobacteraceae clade within the Roseobacter clade. Representatives of this clade are known to be metabolically versatile and involved in marine carbon-producing and biogeochemical processes. They form a physiologically heterogeneous group of Alphaproteobacteria and were mostly found in coastal or polar waters, especially in symbiosis with algae, in microbial mats, in sediments or together with invertebrates and vertebrates. Here we describe the features of L. arenae DSM 19593(T), including novel aspects of its phenotype, together with the draft genome sequence and annotation. The 3,690,113 bp long genome consists of 17 scaffolds with 3,601 protein-coding and 56 RNA genes. This genome was sequenced as part of the activities of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 51 funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).}, } @article {pmid24501625, year = {2013}, author = {Riedel, T and Teshima, H and Petersen, J and Fiebig, A and Davenport, K and Daligault, H and Erkkila, T and Gu, W and Munk, C and Xu, Y and Chen, A and Pati, A and Ivanova, N and Goodwin, LA and Chain, P and Detter, JC and Rohde, M and Gronow, S and Kyrpides, NC and Woyke, T and Göker, M and Brinkhoff, T and Klenk, HP}, title = {Genome sequence of the Leisingera aquimarina type strain (DSM 24565(T)), a member of the marine Roseobacter clade rich in extrachromosomal elements.}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {389-402}, pmid = {24501625}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Leisingera aquimarina Vandecandelaere et al. 2008 is a member of the genomically well characterized Roseobacter clade within the family Rhodobacteraceae. Representatives of the marine Roseobacter clade are metabolically versatile and involved in carbon fixation and biogeochemical processes. They form a physiologically heterogeneous group, found predominantly in coastal or polar waters, especially in symbiosis with algae, in microbial mats, in sediments or associated with invertebrates. Here we describe the features of L. aquimarina DSM 24565(T) together with the permanent-draft genome sequence and annotation. The 5,344,253 bp long genome consists of one chromosome and an unusually high number of seven extrachromosomal elements and contains 5,129 protein-coding and 89 RNA genes. It was sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute Community Sequencing Program 2010 and of the activities of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 51 funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).}, } @article {pmid24501121, year = {2014}, author = {De Nisco, NJ and Abo, RP and Wu, CM and Penterman, J and Walker, GC}, title = {Global analysis of cell cycle gene expression of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {9}, pages = {3217-3224}, pmid = {24501121}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA014051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; GM31010/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA14051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES002109/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*genetics ; Cell Cycle/genetics/*physiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics/*physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polyploidy ; Regulon/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In α-proteobacteria, strict regulation of cell cycle progression is necessary for the specific cellular differentiation required for adaptation to diverse environmental niches. The symbiotic lifestyle of Sinorhizobium meliloti requires a drastic cellular differentiation that includes genome amplification. To achieve polyploidy, the S. meliloti cell cycle program must be altered to uncouple DNA replication from cell division. In the α-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus, cell cycle-regulated transcription plays an important role in the control of cell cycle progression but this has not been demonstrated in other α-proteobacteria. Here we describe a robust method for synchronizing cell growth that enabled global analysis of S. meliloti cell cycle-regulated gene expression. This analysis identified 462 genes with cell cycle-regulated transcripts, including several key cell cycle regulators, and genes involved in motility, attachment, and cell division. Only 28% of the 462 S. meliloti cell cycle-regulated genes were also transcriptionally cell cycle-regulated in C. crescentus. Furthermore, CtrA- and DnaA-binding motif analysis revealed little overlap between the cell cycle-dependent regulons of CtrA and DnaA in S. meliloti and C. crescentus. The predicted S. meliloti cell cycle regulon of CtrA, but not that of DnaA, was strongly conserved in more closely related α-proteobacteria with similar ecological niches as S. meliloti, suggesting that the CtrA cell cycle regulatory network may control functions of central importance to the specific lifestyles of α-proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid24501120, year = {2014}, author = {Penterman, J and Abo, RP and De Nisco, NJ and Arnold, MF and Longhi, R and Zanda, M and Walker, GC}, title = {Host plant peptides elicit a transcriptional response to control the Sinorhizobium meliloti cell cycle during symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {9}, pages = {3561-3566}, pmid = {24501120}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA014051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30-CA14051/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES002109/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; GM31010/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Cycle/*physiology ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*metabolism ; Microarray Analysis ; Models, Biological ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti establishes a chronic intracellular infection during the symbiosis with its legume hosts. Within specialized host cells, S. meliloti differentiates into highly polyploid, enlarged nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. This differentiation is driven by host cells through the production of defensin-like peptides called "nodule-specific cysteine-rich" (NCR) peptides. Recent research has shown that synthesized NCR peptides exhibit antimicrobial activity at high concentrations but cause bacterial endoreduplication at sublethal concentrations. We leveraged synchronized S. meliloti populations to determine how treatment with a sublethal NCR peptide affects the cell cycle and physiology of bacteria at the molecular level. We found that at sublethal levels a representative NCR peptide specifically blocks cell division and antagonizes Z-ring function. Gene-expression profiling revealed that the cell division block was produced, in part, through the substantial transcriptional response elicited by sublethal NCR treatment that affected ∼15% of the genome. Expression of critical cell-cycle regulators, including ctrA, and cell division genes, including genes required for Z-ring function, were greatly attenuated in NCR-treated cells. In addition, our experiments identified important symbiosis functions and stress responses that are induced by sublethal levels of NCR peptides and other antimicrobial peptides. Several of these stress-response pathways also are found in related α-proteobacterial pathogens and might be used by S. meliloti to sense host cues during infection. Our data suggest a model in which, in addition to provoking stress responses, NCR peptides target intracellular regulatory pathways to drive S. meliloti endoreduplication and differentiation during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24500618, year = {2014}, author = {Schulz, F and Lagkouvardos, I and Wascher, F and Aistleitner, K and Kostanjšek, R and Horn, M}, title = {Life in an unusual intracellular niche: a bacterial symbiont infecting the nucleus of amoebae.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {1634-1644}, pmid = {24500618}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {281633/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/microbiology ; Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cell Nucleus/*microbiology ; Hartmannella/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Host Specificity ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Amoebae serve as hosts for various intracellular bacteria, including human pathogens. These microbes are able to overcome amoebal defense mechanisms and successfully establish a niche for replication, which is usually the cytoplasm. Here, we report on the discovery of a bacterial symbiont that is located inside the nucleus of its Hartmannella sp. host. This symbiont, tentatively named 'Candidatus Nucleicultrix amoebiphila', is only moderately related to known bacteria (∼90% 16S and 23S rRNA sequence similarity) and member of a novel clade of protist symbionts affiliated with the Rickettsiales and Rhodospirillales. Screening of 16S rRNA amplicon data sets revealed a broad distribution of these bacteria in freshwater and soil habitats. 'Candidatus Nucleicultrix amoebiphila' traffics within 6 h post infection to the host nucleus. Maximum infection levels are reached after 96-120 h, at which time point the nucleus is pronouncedly enlarged and filled with bacteria. Transmission of the symbionts occurs vertically upon host cell division but may also occur horizontally through host cell lysis. Although we observed no impact on the fitness of the original Hartmannella sp. host, the bacteria are rather lytic for Acanthamoeba castellanii. Intranuclear symbiosis is an exceptional phenomenon, and amoebae represent an ideal model system to further investigate evolution and underlying molecular mechanisms of these unique microbial associations.}, } @article {pmid24499619, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, LM and Liu, JN and Liu, Z and Yu, ZJ and Xu, SQ and Yang, XH and Li, T and Li, SS and Guo, LD and Liu, JZ}, title = {Microbial communities and symbionts in the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) from north China.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {310}, pmid = {24499619}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biota ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Coxiella/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Female ; Ixodidae/*microbiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Close relationships between ticks and microbial communities are important for tick fitness and pathogen colonization and transmission. Haemaphysalis longicornis, distributed widely in China, can carry and transmit various pathogens and pose serious damages to public health and economics. However, little is known about the broader array of microbial communities and symbionts in H. longicornis under natural conditions. In the present study, we investigated the composition of bacterial communities associated with H. longicornis and evaluated the putative symbionts.

METHODS: The eubacterial 16S rRNA gene clone libraries of H. longicornis were constructed and analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing. In addition, diagnostic PCR was performed to assess the prevalence, vertical transmission and infection sites of the symbionts in H. longicornis.

RESULTS: Vertically-transmitted symbionts, potential pathogens and allochthonous nonpathogenic bacteria were identified from the field-collected H. longicornis. Three types of symbionts (Coxiella-like, Arsenophonus-like and Rickettsia-like symbionts) were identified in a single host simultaneously. A series of analyses revealed the vertical transmission, prevalence, and infection sites of these symbionts. However, only Coxiella-like bacteria were transmitted stably in the laboratory-reared ticks. In addition, we identified a novel Coxiella-like agent with 95.31% sequence similarity to the taxon described previously.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that natural H. longicornis harboured a diverse array of microbial communities. Three types of symbionts were identified in a single host simultaneously. Moreover, high prevalence, vertical transmission and the infection sites supported an obligate symbiotic association between Coxiella symbiont and its host. The role of Coxiella symbiont in the host fitness and the interaction among microbial communities remained to be elucidated. Our investigation of microbial communities in the ticks revealed the complexity of ecological interactions between host and microbe and provided insight for the biological control of ticks.}, } @article {pmid24498739, year = {2013}, author = {Mech, AM and Asaro, C and Cram, MM and Coyle, DR and Gullan, PJ and Cook, LG and Gandhi, KJ}, title = {Matsucoccus macrocicatrices (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae): first report, distribution, and association with symptomatic eastern white pine in the southeastern United States.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {106}, number = {6}, pages = {2391-2398}, doi = {10.1603/ec13251}, pmid = {24498739}, issn = {0022-0493}, mesh = {Animals ; Appalachian Region ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Food Chain ; Forestry ; Fungi/classification/*physiology ; Genes, Insect ; Geography ; Hemiptera/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pinus/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics/metabolism ; Southeastern United States ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We provide the first report of Matsucoccus macrocicatrices Richards (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae) feeding and reproducing on eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L., in the southeastern United States. Until now, M. macrocicatrices had been reported only from the Canadian Atlantic Maritimes, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Entomological holdings of 27 major museums in eastern North America have no historical records for M. macrocicatrices from the southeastern region. However, our field surveys and molecular analyses (DNA barcoding) have resulted in the collection and positive identification of M. macrocicatrices in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia In addition to the new geographic range, M. macrocicatrices is also being associated with dieback and mortality of all diameter classes of P. strobus leading to concern about a potential shift from its historically nonpestiferous presence on the host tree. On P. strobus, M. macrocicatrices was found embedded in cankers or present on top of the bark with necrotic tissue under their feeding area, indicating that they may be creating wounds for opportunistic pathogenic fungi to infest. Further, we found M. macrocicatrices living outside of the epiphytic mats of its symbiotic fungus, Septobasidium pinicola Snell. This study shows that M. macrocicatrices is now widespread in the southeastern United States, with implications for the future survival and regeneration of P. strobus in eastern North America.}, } @article {pmid24497994, year = {2014}, author = {Hall, SL and McCulley, RL and Barney, RJ and Phillips, TD}, title = {Does fungal endophyte infection improve tall fescue's growth response to fire and water limitation?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e86904}, pmid = {24497994}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*growth & development/physiology ; Environment, Controlled ; Festuca/*growth & development/microbiology ; *Fires ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Neotyphodium/*growth & development/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Poaceae/growth & development ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Invasive species may owe some of their success in competing and co-existing with native species to microbial symbioses they are capable of forming. Tall fescue is a cool-season, non-native, invasive grass capable of co-existing with native warm-season grasses in North American grasslands that frequently experience fire, drought, and cold winters, conditions to which the native species should be better-adapted than tall fescue. We hypothesized that tall fescue's ability to form a symbiosis with Neotyphodium coenophialum, an aboveground fungal endophyte, may enhance its environmental stress tolerance and persistence in these environments. We used a greenhouse experiment to examine the effects of endophyte infection (E+ vs. E-), prescribed fire (1 burn vs. 2 burn vs. unburned control), and watering regime (dry vs. wet) on tall fescue growth. We assessed treatment effects for growth rates and the following response variables: total tiller length, number of tillers recruited during the experiment, number of reproductive tillers, tiller biomass, root biomass, and total biomass. Water regime significantly affected all response variables, with less growth and lower growth rates observed under the dry water regime compared to the wet. The burn treatments significantly affected total tiller length, number of reproductive tillers, total tiller biomass, and total biomass, but treatment differences were not consistent across parameters. Overall, fire seemed to enhance growth. Endophyte status significantly affected total tiller length and tiller biomass, but the effect was opposite what we predicted (E->E+). The results from our experiment indicated that tall fescue was relatively tolerant of fire, even when combined with dry conditions, and that the fungal endophyte symbiosis was not important in governing this ecological ability. The persistence of tall fescue in native grassland ecosystems may be linked to other endophyte-conferred abilities not measured here (e.g., herbivory release) or may not be related to this plant-microbial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24496029, year = {2014}, author = {Babu, AG and Shea, PJ and Oh, BT}, title = {Trichoderma sp. PDR1-7 promotes Pinus sylvestris reforestation of lead-contaminated mine tailing sites.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {476-477}, number = {}, pages = {561-567}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.119}, pmid = {24496029}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Forestry ; Lead/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; *Mining ; Pinus sylvestris/microbiology/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism/toxicity ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Vegetation is critical to stabilize and remediate mine tailing sites, but plant growth is often poor due to toxicity from heavy metal(loid)s (HMs). A non-symbiotic endophytic fungus, Trichoderma sp. PDR1-7, isolated from Pb-contaminated mine tailing soil, exhibited both high tolerance to HMs and desirable plant growth-promoting characteristics. PDR1-7 promoted HM solubilization in mine tailing soil and removed significant amounts of Pb and other HMs from liquid media containing single and multiple metals. Pb removal efficiency increased with initial pH from 4 to 6 and with Pb concentration from 100 to 125 mg L(-1). Inoculating soil with PDR1-7 significantly increased nutrient availability and seedling growth, chlorophyll and protein contents, as well as antioxidative enzyme (superoxide dismutase) activity. A decrease in malondialdehyde indicated less oxidative stress. HM concentrations were much higher in Pinus sylvestris roots when PDR1-7 was present. These observations suggest the utility of Trichoderma sp. PDR1-7 for pine reforestation and phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated mine soil.}, } @article {pmid24495115, year = {2014}, author = {Kaneko, D and Igarashi, T and Aoyama, K}, title = {Reduction of the off-flavor volatile generated by the yogurt starter culture including Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in soymilk.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {62}, number = {7}, pages = {1658-1663}, doi = {10.1021/jf404567e}, pmid = {24495115}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Lactobacillus delbrueckii/*metabolism ; Milk/metabolism/microbiology ; Soy Milk/chemistry/*metabolism ; Streptococcus thermophilus/*metabolism ; Taste ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/*metabolism ; Yogurt/analysis/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus establish a symbiotic relationship in milk; however, S. thermophilus predominantly grows in soymilk. This study determined that excess diacetyl was notably generated mainly by S. thermophilus in soymilk, and this flavor compound created an unpleasant odor in fermented soymilk. The addition of l-valine to soymilk reduced the amount of diacetyl and increased the levels of acetoin during fermentation by S. thermophilus . In addition, it was found that the expression of the ilvC gene was repressed and that of the als and aldB genes was stimulated in S. thermophilus by l-valine. Sensory evaluations with the triangle difference test and a preference test showed that the soymilk fermented with l-valine was significantly preferred compared with that without l-valine. In this study, we successfully controlled the metabolic flux of S. thermophilus in soymilk and produced more favorable fermented soymilk without the use of genetically modified lactic acid bacteria strains.}, } @article {pmid24494738, year = {2014}, author = {Brouwer, P and Bräutigam, A and Külahoglu, C and Tazelaar, AOE and Kurz, S and Nierop, KGJ and van der Werf, A and Weber, APM and Schluepmann, H}, title = {Azolla domestication towards a biobased economy?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {3}, pages = {1069-1082}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12708}, pmid = {24494738}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis/growth & development/metabolism ; Cotyledon/growth & development ; Crops, Agricultural/*economics/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Cryopreservation ; Databases, Genetic ; Desiccation ; Ferns/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Fertilization ; Freezing ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics ; Germination ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organogenesis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Spores/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Due to its phenomenal growth requiring neither nitrogen fertilizer nor arable land and its biomass composition, the mosquito fern Azolla is a candidate crop to yield food, fuels and chemicals sustainably. To advance Azolla domestication, we research its dissemination, storage and transcriptome. Methods for dissemination, cross-fertilization and cryopreservation of the symbiosis Azolla filiculoides-Nostoc azollae are tested based on the fern spores. To study molecular processes in Azolla including spore induction, a database of 37 649 unigenes from RNAseq of microsporocarps, megasporocarps and sporophytes was assembled, then validated. Spores obtained year-round germinated in vitro within 26 d. In vitro fertilization rates reached 25%. Cryopreservation permitted storage for at least 7 months. The unigene database entirely covered central metabolism and to a large degree covered cellular processes and regulatory networks. Analysis of genes engaged in transition to sexual reproduction revealed a FLOWERING LOCUS T-like protein in ferns with special features induced in sporulating Azolla fronds. Although domestication of a fern-cyanobacteria symbiosis may seem a daunting task, we conclude that the time is ripe and that results generated will serve to more widely access biochemicals in fern biomass for a biobased economy.}, } @article {pmid24494717, year = {2014}, author = {Kuga, Y and Sakamoto, N and Yurimoto, H}, title = {Stable isotope cellular imaging reveals that both live and degenerating fungal pelotons transfer carbon and nitrogen to orchid protocorms.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {594-605}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12700}, pmid = {24494717}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/metabolism ; Hyphae/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Orchidaceae/*metabolism ; Plant Structures/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to elucidate the transfer of nutrient elements in orchid symbiotic protocorms at the cellular level by imaging of stable isotope tracers. We address the long-standing question of whether nutrients move by transport across the symbiotic interface or solely by lysis of fungal pelotons. [U-(13) C]glucose and (15) NH4 (15) NO3 were added to Ceratobasidium sp. hyphae extending from symbiotic protocorms of Spiranthes sinensis. Isotope images were taken from resin-embedded sections of protocorms using ultra-high spatial resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Analyses of regions of interest were conducted on isotope ratio images for fungal and host structures. Amyloplasts adjacent to young pelotons showed elevated (13) C/(12) C, which indicated that fungal carbon (C) was transferred from live hyphae. Senescent pelotons and their surrounding host cytoplasm showed significantly higher isotope ratios than young pelotons and surrounding host cytoplasm. These results indicate an inflow of C to senescent hyphae, which was then transferred to the host. The findings of this study provide some support for each of the two contradictory hypotheses concerning nutrient exchange in the symbiotic protocorm: the interface between the symbionts is involved before fungal senescence, and peloton degradation also releases a significant amount of C and nitrogen to host cells.}, } @article {pmid24494229, year = {2013}, author = {Mao, G and Turner, M and Yu, O and Subramanian, S}, title = {miR393 and miR164 influence indeterminate but not determinate nodule development.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {doi: 10.4161/psb.26753}, pmid = {24494229}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*metabolism ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*metabolism ; Soybeans/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The roles of auxin in the regulation of symbiotic legume nodule formation are unclear. We recently showed that enhanced sensitivity to auxin resulting from overexpression of miR160 inhibits determinate nodule formation in soybean. We examined the roles of miR393 and miR164 in soybean (that forms determinate nodules) and Medicago truncatula (that forms indeterminate nodules). Our results together with previous studies suggest that indeterminate nodule formation requires a higher, but narrow window of auxin sensitivity and that miR164 regulation is not crucial for determinate nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid24492707, year = {2014}, author = {Douglas, AE}, title = {Symbiosis as a general principle in eukaryotic evolution.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {24492707}, issn = {1943-0264}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01GM095372-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Eukaryota/genetics/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/*physiology ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotes have evolved and diversified in the context of persistent colonization by non-pathogenic microorganisms. Various resident microorganisms provide a metabolic capability absent from the host, resulting in increased ecological amplitude and often evolutionary diversification of the host. Some microorganisms confer primary metabolic pathways, such as photosynthesis and cellulose degradation, and others expand the repertoire of secondary metabolism, including the synthesis of toxins that confer protection against natural enemies. A further route by which microorganisms affect host fitness arises from their modulation of the eukaryotic-signaling networks that regulate growth, development, behavior, and other functions. These effects are not necessarily based on interactions beneficial to the host, but can be a consequence of either eukaryotic utilization of microbial products as cues or host-microbial conflict. By these routes, eukaryote-microbial interactions play an integral role in the function and evolutionary diversification of eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid24492255, year = {2014}, author = {Kojima, T and Saito, K and Oba, H and Yoshida, Y and Terasawa, J and Umehara, Y and Suganuma, N and Kawaguchi, M and Ohtomo, R}, title = {Isolation and phenotypic characterization of Lotus japonicus mutants specifically defective in arbuscular mycorrhizal formation.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {5}, pages = {928-941}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu024}, pmid = {24492255}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Ethyl Methanesulfonate/toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Hyphae/genetics/physiology ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis/drug effects ; Mutagens/toxicity ; *Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several symbiotic mutants of legume plants defective in nodulation have also been shown to be mutants related to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. The origin of the AM symbiosis can be traced back to the early land plants. It has therefore been postulated that the older system of AM symbiosis was partially incorporated into the newer system of legume-rhizobium symbiosis. To unravel the genetic basis of the establishment of AM symbiosis, we screened about 34,000 plants derived from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized Lotus japonicus seeds by microscopic observation. As a result, three lines (ME778, ME966 and ME2329) were isolated as AM-specific mutants that exhibit clear AM-defective phenotypes but form normal effective root nodules with rhizobial infection. In the ME2329 mutant, AM fungi spread their hyphae into the intercellular space of the cortex and formed trunk hyphae in the cortical cells, but the development of fine branches in the arbuscules was arrested. The ME2329 mutant carried a nonsense mutation in the STR-homolog gene, implying that the line may be an str mutant in L. japonicus. On the ME778 and ME966 mutant roots, the entry of AM fungal hyphae was blocked between two adjacent epidermal cells. Occasionally, hyphal colonization accompanied by arbuscules was observed in the two mutants. The genes responsible for the ME778 and ME966 mutants were independently located on chromosome 2. These results suggest that the ME778 and ME966 lines are symbiotic mutants involved in the early stage of AM formation in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid24489745, year = {2014}, author = {Toju, H and Sato, H and Tanabe, AS}, title = {Diversity and spatial structure of belowground plant-fungal symbiosis in a mixed subtropical forest of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e86566}, pmid = {24489745}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Fagaceae/microbiology ; *Forests ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Plant-mycorrhizal fungal interactions are ubiquitous in forest ecosystems. While ectomycorrhizal plants and their fungi generally dominate temperate forests, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is common in the tropics. In subtropical regions, however, ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants co-occur at comparable abundances in single forests, presumably generating complex community structures of root-associated fungi. To reveal root-associated fungal community structure in a mixed forest of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants, we conducted a massively-parallel pyrosequencing analysis, targeting fungi in the roots of 36 plant species that co-occur in a subtropical forest. In total, 580 fungal operational taxonomic units were detected, of which 132 and 58 were probably ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal, respectively. As expected, the composition of fungal symbionts differed between fagaceous (ectomycorrhizal) and non-fagaceous (possibly arbuscular mycorrhizal) plants. However, non-fagaceous plants were associated with not only arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but also several clades of ectomycorrhizal (e.g., Russula) and root-endophytic ascomycete fungi. Many of the ectomycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi were detected from both fagaceous and non-fagaceous plants in the community. Interestingly, ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were concurrently detected from tiny root fragments of non-fagaceous plants. The plant-fungal associations in the forest were spatially structured, and non-fagaceous plant roots hosted ectomycorrhizal fungi more often in the proximity of ectomycorrhizal plant roots. Overall, this study suggests that belowground plant-fungal symbiosis in subtropical forests is complex in that it includes "non-typical" plant-fungal combinations (e.g., ectomycorrhizal fungi on possibly arbuscular mycorrhizal plants) that do not fall within the conventional classification of mycorrhizal symbioses, and in that associations with multiple functional (or phylogenetic) groups of fungi are ubiquitous among plants. Moreover, ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of fagaceous plants may "invade" the roots of neighboring non-fagaceous plants, potentially influencing the interactions between non-fagaceous plants and their arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungal symbionts at a fine spatial scale.}, } @article {pmid24488227, year = {2014}, author = {Aschehoug, ET and Callaway, RM and Newcombe, G and Tharayil, N and Chen, S}, title = {Fungal endophyte increases the allelopathic effects of an invasive forb.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {175}, number = {1}, pages = {285-291}, pmid = {24488227}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {*Allelopathy ; Alternaria/physiology ; Centaurea/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Introduced Species ; Poaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic plant symbionts can have powerful effects on the way their hosts interact with pathogens, competitors, and consumers. The presence of endophytes in plants can alter food webs, community composition and ecosystem processes, suggesting that endophyte-plant symbioses may represent unique forms of extended phenotypes. We tested the impact of the fungal endophyte Alternaria alternata (phylotype CID 120) on the allelopathic effect of the invasive forb Centaurea stoebe when in competition with the North American native bunchgrass Koeleria macrantha in a greenhouse competition experiment. The allelopathic effect of C. stoebe on K. macrantha when infected with the fungal endophyte was more than twice that of endophyte-free C. stoebe. However, this allelopathic effect was a small part of the very large competitive effect of C. stoebe on K. macrantha in all treatments, likely because of the priority effects in our experimental design. To our knowledge, these results are the first experimental evidence for a symbiotic relationship between plants and fungal endophytes affecting allelopathic interactions between competing plants, and thus provide insight into the mechanisms by which fungal endophytes may increase the competitive ability of their hosts.}, } @article {pmid24488109, year = {2014}, author = {Perrine-Walker, FM and Lartaud, M and Kouchi, H and Ridge, RW}, title = {Microtubule array formation during root hair infection thread initiation and elongation in the Mesorhizobium-Lotus symbiosis.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {251}, number = {5}, pages = {1099-1111}, pmid = {24488109}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Active Transport, Cell Nucleus/*drug effects ; Arabidopsis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Herbicides/pharmacology ; Lotus/genetics/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development ; Microtubules/drug effects/*metabolism ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds/pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tubulin/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Tubulin Modulators/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Nuclear migration during infection thread (IT) development in root hairs is essential for legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. However, little is known about the relationships between IT formation, nuclear migration, and microtubule dynamics. To this aim, we used transgenic Lotus japonicus expressing a fusion of the green fluorescent protein and tubulin-α6 from Arabidopsis thaliana to visualize in vivo dynamics of cortical microtubules (CMT) and endoplasmic microtubules (EMTs) in root hairs in the presence or absence of Mesorhizobium loti inoculation. We also examined the effect of microtubule-depolymerizing herbicide, cremart, on IT initiation and growth, since cremart is known to inhibit nuclear migration. In live imaging studies of M. loti-treated L. japonicus root hairs, EMTs were found in deformed, curled, and infected root hairs. The continuous reorganization of the EMT array linked to the nucleus appeared to be essential for the reorientation, curling, and IT initiation and the growth of zone II root hairs which are susceptible to rhizobial infection. During IT initiation, the EMTs appeared to be linked to the root hair surface surrounding the M. loti microcolonies. During IT growth, EMTs dissociated from the curled root hair tip, remained linked to the nucleus, and appeared to surround the IT tip. Lack or disorganized EMT arrays that were no longer linked to the nucleus were observed only in infection-aborted root hairs. Cremart affected IT formation and nodulation in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that the microtubule (MT) organization and successive nuclear migration are essential for successful nodulation in L. japonicus by M. loti.}, } @article {pmid24487819, year = {2014}, author = {Brune, A}, title = {Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in termite guts.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {168-180}, pmid = {24487819}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofuels ; Carbon/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Isoptera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Their ability to degrade lignocellulose gives termites an important place in the carbon cycle. This ability relies on their partnership with a diverse community of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic gut symbionts, which break down the plant fibre and ferment the products to acetate and variable amounts of methane, with hydrogen as a central intermediate. In addition, termites rely on the biosynthetic capacities of their gut microbiota as a nutritional resource. The mineralization of humus components in the guts of soil-feeding species also contributes to nitrogen cycling in tropical soils. Lastly, the high efficiency of their minute intestinal bioreactors makes termites promising models for the industrial conversion of lignocellulose into microbial products and the production of biofuels.}, } @article {pmid24486763, year = {2014}, author = {Leiva-Eriksson, N and Pin, PA and Kraft, T and Dohm, JC and Minoche, AE and Himmelbauer, H and Bülow, L}, title = {Differential expression patterns of non-symbiotic hemoglobins in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris).}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {4}, pages = {834-844}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcu027}, pmid = {24486763}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Beta vulgaris/*genetics/physiology ; Flowers/genetics/physiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photoperiod ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Sequence Alignment ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Biennial sugar beet (Beta vulgaris spp. vulgaris) is a Caryophyllidae that has adapted its growth cycle to the seasonal temperature and daylength variation of temperate regions. This is the first time a holistic study of the expression pattern of non-symbiotic hemoglobins (nsHbs) is being carried out in a member of this group and under two essential environmental conditions for flowering, namely vernalization and length of photoperiod. BvHb genes were identified by sequence homology searches against the latest draft of the sugar beet genome. Three nsHb genes (BvHb1.1, BvHb1.2 and BvHb2) and one truncated Hb gene (BvHb3) were found in the genome of sugar beet. Gene expression profiling of the nsHb genes was carried out by quantitative PCR in different organs and developmental stages, as well as during vernalization and under different photoperiods. BvHb1.1 and BvHb2 showed differential expression during vernalization as well as during long and short days. The high expression of BvHb2 indicates that it has an active role in the cell, maybe even taking over some BvHb1.2 functions, except during germination where BvHb1.2 together with BvHb1.1-both Class 1 nsHbs-are highly expressed. The unprecedented finding of a leader peptide at the N-terminus of BvHb1.1, for the first time in an nsHb from higher plants, together with its observed expression indicate that it may have a very specific role due to its suggested location in chloroplasts. Our findings open up new possibilities for research, breeding and engineering since Hbs could be more involved in plant development than previously was anticipated.}, } @article {pmid24484964, year = {2014}, author = {Chungopast, S and Thapanapongworakul, P and Matsuura, H and Van Dao, T and Asahi, T and Tada, K and Tajima, S and Nomura, M}, title = {Glutamine synthetase I-deficiency in Mesorhizobium loti differentially affects nodule development and activity in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {5}, pages = {104-108}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.10.015}, pmid = {24484964}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/deficiency/*genetics ; Lotus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this study, we focused on the effect of glutamine synthetase (GSI) activity in Mesorhizobium loti on the symbiosis between the host plant, Lotus japonicus, and the bacteroids. We used a signature-tagged mutant of M. loti (STM30) with a transposon inserted into the GSI (mll0343) gene. The L. japonicus plants inoculated with STM30 had significantly more nodules, and the occurrence of senesced nodules was much higher than in plants inoculated with the wild-type. The acetylene reduction activity (ARA) per nodule inoculated with STM30 was lowered compared to the control. Also, the concentration of chlorophyll, glutamine, and asparagine in leaves of STM30-infected plants was found to be reduced. Taken together, these data demonstrate that a GSI deficiency in M. loti differentially affects legume-rhizobia symbiosis by modifying nodule development and metabolic processes.}, } @article {pmid24484951, year = {2014}, author = {Füzy, A and Bothe, H and Molnár, E and Biró, B}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis effects on growth of chalk false-brome (Brachypodium pinnatum) are dependent on the environmental light regime.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {5}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.11.002}, pmid = {24484951}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Biomass ; Brachypodium/growth & development/*microbiology/*radiation effects ; Environment ; Hungary ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/radiation effects ; Photometry ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/radiation effects ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Stress, Physiological/radiation effects ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; }, abstract = {AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) colonization of the grass chalk false-brome (Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P. B.) was studied in selected habitats under spatially different light regimes: (a) shade condition under oak trees, (b) half shade in a shrubby area and (c) full-sun conditions on unshaded grassland. This study assessed the variations in AMF colonization of the grass dependent on the light supply in field habitats. Soil, root and shoot samples were collected four times during the vegetation period (in June, July, September and October). Root colonization, root and shoot biomass as well as soil water content were determined. The highest rate of AMF colonization was detected in June under half-sun and full-sun conditions, where about 50% of the roots were colonized. The average amount of arbuscules was less than 20% in the roots at the three sites, with the highest number of arbuscules in June, under half-sun and full-sun conditions, however, not under the trees. Overall, best mycorrhizal colonization occurred during summer, and its rate decreased in autumn. This tendency inversely correlated with the amount of precipitation, and thus with the water content of soils. The high colonization rate of the examined root samples, and also its seasonal fluctuation, might reflect the importance of the symbiosis where inorganic nutrients and water are the growth-limiting factors. The marginal AMF colonization of chalk false-brome under shade conditions indicates that plants do not use AMF under all stress conditions. When low light limits photosynthesis and thus growth of the plants, they dispense with the colonization of AMF in order to save the expenditure of organic carbon.}, } @article {pmid24483983, year = {2014}, author = {Tumas, R and Zamberlan, P and Lopes Cardoso, A}, title = {Use of a symbiotic supplement in a child with short bowel Syndrome; a case report.}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {215-220}, doi = {10.3305/nh.2014.29.1.6888}, pmid = {24483983}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Child ; Colostomy ; *Dietary Supplements ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Nutrition Therapy ; Nutritional Support ; Short Bowel Syndrome/*diet therapy ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The short bowel syndrome (SBS) is due to loss of bowel after surgery. Characterized by generalized nutrients malabsorption, its signs and symptoms include electrolyte imbalance, deficiency of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that can lead to death. Parenteral and enteral nutrition have a key role in its treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical course of a patient with SBS during continuous use of enteral nutrition supplemented with symbiotic.

CASE REPORT: A seven-year-old male underwent an emergency laparotomy at 18 months old with a massive bowel resection, remaining about 20 cm of the small intestine and the entire colon. He was dependent of exclusive parenteral nutrition for over a year, leading to the occurrence of numerous infectious complications. Due to complications caused by prolonged use of central venous access, was unable to continue to receive the parenteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition by a nasogastric tube and supplemental symbiotic was the nutritional therapy option for him. The assessment of the volume of losses by the colostomy was measured daily.

RESULTS: There was a significant reduction of losses by colostomy, especially in the first days after introduction of the enteral nutrition plus symbiotic supplementation, as well as significant decrease in gas production.

CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of evidence for a formal recommendation on the use of symbiotic for SBS patients, its use in the nutritional therapy of this patient resulted in reduced electrolyte loss electrolyte and consequent improvement of his clinical and nutritional condition.}, } @article {pmid24483147, year = {2014}, author = {Roux, B and Rodde, N and Jardinaud, MF and Timmers, T and Sauviac, L and Cottret, L and Carrère, S and Sallet, E and Courcelle, E and Moreau, S and Debellé, F and Capela, D and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Gouzy, J and Bruand, C and Gamas, P}, title = {An integrated analysis of plant and bacterial gene expression in symbiotic root nodules using laser-capture microdissection coupled to RNA sequencing.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {77}, number = {6}, pages = {817-837}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12442}, pmid = {24483147}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Laser Capture Microdissection/*methods ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics ; Meristem/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/*methods ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/cytology/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium-induced root nodules are specialized organs for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Indeterminate-type nodules are formed from an apical meristem and exhibit a spatial zonation which corresponds to successive developmental stages. To get a dynamic and integrated view of plant and bacterial gene expression associated with nodule development, we used a sensitive and comprehensive approach based upon oriented high-depth RNA sequencing coupled to laser microdissection of nodule regions. This study, focused on the association between the model legume Medicago truncatula and its symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, led to the production of 942 million sequencing read pairs that were unambiguously mapped on plant and bacterial genomes. Bioinformatic and statistical analyses enabled in-depth comparison, at a whole-genome level, of gene expression in specific nodule zones. Previously characterized symbiotic genes displayed the expected spatial pattern of expression, thus validating the robustness of our approach. We illustrate the use of this resource by examining gene expression associated with three essential elements of nodule development, namely meristem activity, cell differentiation and selected signaling processes related to bacterial Nod factors and redox status. We found that transcription factor genes essential for the control of the root apical meristem were also expressed in the nodule meristem, while the plant mRNAs most enriched in nodules compared with roots were mostly associated with zones comprising both plant and bacterial partners. The data, accessible on a dedicated website, represent a rich resource for microbiologists and plant biologists to address a variety of questions of both fundamental and applied interest.}, } @article {pmid24481477, year = {2014}, author = {Gholami, A and De Geyter, N and Pollier, J and Goormachtig, S and Goossens, A}, title = {Natural product biosynthesis in Medicago species.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {356-380}, doi = {10.1039/c3np70104b}, pmid = {24481477}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Biological Products/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Flavonoids/chemistry/metabolism ; Medicago/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Saponins/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The genus Medicago, a member of the legume (Fabaceae) family, comprises 87 species of flowering plants, including the forage crop M. sativa (alfalfa) and the model legume M. truncatula (barrel medic). Medicago species synthesize a variety of bioactive natural products that are used to engage into symbiotic interactions but also serve to deter pathogens and herbivores. For humans, these bioactive natural products often possess promising pharmaceutical properties. In this review, we focus on the two most interesting and well characterized secondary metabolite classes found in Medicago species, the triterpene saponins and the flavonoids, with a detailed overview of their biosynthesis, regulation, and profiling methods. Furthermore, their biological role within the plant as well as their potential utility for human health or other applications is discussed. Finally, we give an overview of the advances made in metabolic engineering in Medicago species and how the development of novel molecular and omics toolkits can influence a better understanding of this genus in terms of specialized metabolism and chemistry. Throughout, we critically analyze the current bottlenecks and speculate on future directions and opportunities for research and exploitation of Medicago metabolism.}, } @article {pmid24480589, year = {2014}, author = {Arumugam, S and Hoerauf, A and Pfarr, KM}, title = {Localization of a filarial phosphate permease that is up-regulated in response to depletion of essential Wolbachia endobacteria.}, journal = {Experimental parasitology}, volume = {138}, number = {}, pages = {30-39}, doi = {10.1016/j.exppara.2014.01.006}, pmid = {24480589}, issn = {1090-2449}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Antibody Specificity ; Blotting, Western ; Doxycycline/pharmacology ; Female ; Filarioidea/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Humans ; Immune Sera/immunology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-5/deficiency ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Onchocerca volvulus/drug effects/*enzymology/microbiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/immunology/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Wolbachia/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia of filarial nematodes are essential, obligate endobacteria. When depleted by doxycycline worm embryogenesis, larval development and worm survival are inhibited. The molecular basis governing the endosymbiosis between Wolbachia and their filarial host is still being deciphered. In rodent filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis, a nematode encoded phosphate permease gene (Ls-ppe-1) was up-regulated at the mRNA level in response to Wolbachia depletion and this gene promises to have an important role in Wolbachia-nematode endosymbiosis. To further characterize this gene, the regulation of phosphate permease during Wolbachia depletion was studied at the protein level in L. sigmodontis and in the human filaria Onchocerca volvulus. And the localization of phosphate permease (PPE) and Wolbachia in L. sigmodontis and O. volvulus was investigated in untreated and antibiotic treated worms. Depletion of Wolbachia by tetracycline (Tet) resulted in up-regulation of Ls-ppe-1 in L. sigmodontis. On day 36 of Tet treatment, compared to controls (Con), >98% of Wolbachia were depleted with a 3-fold increase in mRNA levels of Ls-ppe-1. Anti-Ls-PPE serum used in Western blots showed up-regulation of Ls-PPE at the protein level in Tet worms on day 15 and 36 of treatment. Immunohistology revealed the localization of Wolbachia and Ls-PPE in the embryos, microfilariae and hypodermis of L. sigmodontis female worms and up-regulation of Ls-PPE in response to Wolbachia depletion. Expression of O. volvulus phosphate permease (Ov-PPE) studied using anti-Ov-PPE serum, showed up-regulation of Ov-PPE at the protein level in doxycycline treated Wolbachia depleted O. volvulus worms and immunohistology revealed localization of Ov-PPE and Wolbachia and up-regulation of Ov-PPE in the hypodermis and embryos of doxycycline treated worms. Ls-PPE and Ov-PPE are upregulated upon Wolbachia depletion in same tissues and regions where Wolbachia are located in untreated worms, reinforcing a link between Wolbachia and this nematode encoded protein. The function of nematode phosphate permease in the endosymbiosis is unknown but could involve transportation of phosphate to Wolbachia, which encode all the genes necessary for de novo nucleotide biosynthesis. Electron microscopic localization of PPE and Wolbachia and RNAi mediated knock-down of PPE in filarial nematodes will bring further insights to the functions of PPE in the Wolbachia-nematode symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24478780, year = {2013}, author = {Binder, A and Parniske, M}, title = {Analysis of the Lotus japonicus nuclear pore NUP107-160 subcomplex reveals pronounced structural plasticity and functional redundancy.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {552}, pmid = {24478780}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mutations in the Lotus japonicus nucleoporin genes, NUP85, NUP133, and NENA (SEH1), lead to defects in plant-microbe symbiotic signaling. The homologous proteins in yeast and vertebrates are part of the conserved NUP84/NUP107-160 subcomplex, which is an essential component of the nuclear pore scaffold and has a pivotal role in nuclear pore complex (NPC) assembly. Loss and down-regulation of NUP84/NUP107-160 members has previously been correlated with a variety of growth and molecular defects, however, in L. japonicus only surprisingly specific phenotypes have been reported. We investigated whether Lotus nup85, nup133, and nena mutants exhibit general defects in NPC composition and distribution. Whole mount immunolocalization confirmed a typical nucleoporin-like localization for NUP133, which was unchanged in the nup85-1 mutant. Severe NPC clustering and aberrations in the nuclear envelope have been reported for Saccharomyces cerevisiae nup85 and nup133 mutants. However, upon transmission electron microscopy analysis of L. japonicus nup85, nup133 and nena, we detected only a slight reduction in the average distances between neighboring NPCs in nup133. Using quantitative immunodetection on protein-blots we observed that loss of individual nucleoporins affected the protein levels of other NUP107-160 complex members. Unlike the single mutants, nup85/nup133 double mutants exhibited severe temperature dependent growth and developmental defects, suggesting that the loss of more than one NUP107-160 member affects basal functions of the NPC.}, } @article {pmid24478297, year = {2014}, author = {McFrederick, QS and Mueller, UG and James, RR}, title = {Interactions between fungi and bacteria influence microbial community structure in the Megachile rotundata larval gut.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1779}, pages = {20132653}, pmid = {24478297}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Bees/drug effects/*microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva/drug effects/microbiology ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Recent declines in bee populations coupled with advances in DNA-sequencing technology have sparked a renaissance in studies of bee-associated microbes. Megachile rotundata is an important field crop pollinator, but is stricken by chalkbrood, a disease caused by the fungus Ascosphaera aggregata. To test the hypothesis that some gut microbes directly or indirectly affect the growth of others, we applied four treatments to the pollen provisions of M. rotundata eggs and young larvae: antibacterials, antifungals, A. aggregata spores and a no-treatment control. We allowed the larvae to develop, and then used 454 pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR (for A. aggregata) to investigate fungal and bacterial communities in the larval gut. Antifungals lowered A. aggregata abundance but increased the diversity of surviving fungi. This suggests that A. aggregata inhibits the growth of other fungi in the gut through chemical or competitive interaction. Bacterial richness decreased under the antifungal treatment, suggesting that changes in the fungal community caused changes in the bacterial community. We found no evidence that bacteria affect fungal communities. Lactobacillus kunkeei clade bacteria were common members of the larval gut microbiota and exhibited antibiotic resistance. Further research is needed to determine the effect of gut microbes on M. rotundata health.}, } @article {pmid24478208, year = {2014}, author = {Mnasri, B and Liu, TY and Saidi, S and Chen, WF and Chen, WX and Zhang, XX and Mhamdi, R}, title = {Rhizobium azibense sp. nov., a nitrogen fixing bacterium isolated from root-nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {1501-1506}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.058651-0}, pmid = {24478208}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {Three microbial strains isolated from common beans, 23C2T (Tunisia), Gr42 (Spain) and IE4868 (Mexico), which have been identified previously as representing a genomic group closely related to Rhizobium gallicum, are further studied here. Their 16S rRNA genes showed 98.5-99% similarity with Rhizobium loessense CCBAU 7190BT, R. gallicum R602spT, Rhizobium mongolense USDA 1844T and Rhizobium yanglingense CCBAU 71623T. Phylogenetic analysis based on recA, atpD, dnaK and thrC sequences showed that the novel strains were closely related and could be distinguished from the four type strains of the closely related species. Strains 23C2T, Gr42 and IE4868 could be also differentiated from their closest phylogenetic neighbours by their phenotypic and physiological properties and their fatty acid contents. All three strains harboured symbiotic genes specific to biovar gallicum. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain 23C2T and the type strains of R. loessense, R. mongolense, R. gallicum and R. yanglingense ranged from 58.1 to 61.5%. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 23C2T was 59.52%. On the basis of these data, strains 23C2T, Gr42 and IE4868 were considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium for which the name Rhizobium azibense is proposed. Strain 23C2T (=CCBAU 101087T=HAMBI3541T) was designated as the type strain.}, } @article {pmid24475285, year = {2014}, author = {Jiang, PL and Pasaribu, B and Chen, CS}, title = {Nitrogen-deprivation elevates lipid levels in Symbiodinium spp. by lipid droplet accumulation: morphological and compositional analyses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e87416}, pmid = {24475285}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*physiology ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Boron Compounds ; Cell Proliferation ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Cholesterol Esters/metabolism ; Cnidaria/*microbiology ; Cytosol/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*growth & development/ultrastructure ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lipid Metabolism/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Nitrogen/deficiency ; Oligonucleotides/genetics ; Rosaniline Dyes ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Triglycerides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Stable cnidarian-dinoflagellate (genus Symbiodinium) endosymbioses depend on the regulation of nutrient transport between Symbiodinium populations and their hosts. It has been previously shown that the host cytosol is a nitrogen-deficient environment for the intracellular Symbiodinium and may act to limit growth rates of symbionts during the symbiotic association. This study aimed to investigate the cell proliferation, as well as ultrastructural and lipid compositional changes, in free-living Symbiodinium spp. (clade B) upon nitrogen (N)-deprivation. The cell proliferation of the N-deprived cells decreased significantly. Furthermore, staining with a fluorescent probe, boron dipyrromethane 493/503 (BODIPY 493/503), indicated that lipid contents progressively accumulated in the N-deprived cells. Lipid analyses further showed that both triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol ester (CE) were drastically enriched, with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; i.e., docosahexaenoic acid, heneicosapentaenoic acid, and oleic acid) became more abundant. Ultrastructural examinations showed that the increase in concentration of these lipid species was due to the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs), a cellular feature that have previously shown to be pivotal in the maintenance of intact endosymbioses. Integrity of these stable LDs was maintained via electronegative repulsion and steric hindrance possibly provided by their surface proteins. Proteomic analyses of these LDs identified proteins putatively involved in lipid metabolism, signaling, stress response and energy metabolism. These results suggest that LDs production may be an adaptive response that enables Symbiodinium to maintain sufficient cellular energy stores for survival under the N-deprived conditions in the host cytoplasm.}, } @article {pmid24473252, year = {2014}, author = {Jensen, H and Roos, S and Jonsson, H and Rud, I and Grimmer, S and van Pijkeren, JP and Britton, RA and Axelsson, L}, title = {Role of Lactobacillus reuteri cell and mucus-binding protein A (CmbA) in adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells and mucus in vitro.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {160}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {671-681}, pmid = {24473252}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {U19 AI090872/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Aminoacyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/genetics/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/*microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Humans ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri/*physiology ; Mucus/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lactobacillus reuteri, a symbiotic inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals, is marketed as a probiotic. The ability to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells and mucus is an interesting property with regard to probiotic features such as colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and interaction with the host. Here, we present a study performed to elucidate the role of sortase (SrtA), four putative sortase-dependent proteins (SDPs), and one C-terminal membrane-anchored cell surface protein of Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 in adhesion to Caco-2 cells and mucus in vitro. This included mutagenesis of the genes encoding these proteins and complementation of mutants. A null mutation in hmpref0536_10255 encoding srtA resulted in significantly reduced adhesion to Caco-2 cells and mucus, indicating involvement of SDPs in adhesion. Evaluation of the bacterial adhesion revealed that of the five putative surface protein mutants tested, only a null mutation in the hmpref0536_10633 gene, encoding a putative SDP with an LPxTG motif, resulted in a significant loss of adhesion to both Caco-2 cells and mucus. Complementation with the functional gene on a plasmid restored adhesion to Caco-2 cells. However, complete restoration of adhesion to mucus was not achieved. Overexpression of hmpref0536_10633 in strain ATCC PTA 6475 resulted in an increased adhesion to Caco-2 cells and mucus compared with the WT strain. We conclude from these results that, among the putative surface proteins tested, the protein encoded by hmpref0536_10633 plays a critical role in binding of Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 to Caco-2 cells and mucus. Based on this, we propose that this LPxTG motif containing protein should be referred to as cell and mucus binding protein A (CmbA).}, } @article {pmid24472200, year = {2014}, author = {De Clerck, C and Tsuchida, T and Massart, S and Lepoivre, P and Francis, F and Jijakli, MH}, title = {Combination of genomic and proteomic approaches to characterize the symbiotic population of the banana aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {29-36}, doi = {10.1603/EN13107}, pmid = {24472200}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Babuvirus/genetics ; Buchnera/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/genetics ; Genomics ; Musa ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wolbachia/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Aphids are known to live in symbiosis with specific bacteria called endosymbionts that have positive or negative impacts on their hosts. In this study, six banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel) strains from various geographical origins (Gabon, Madagascar, and Burundi) were screened to determine their symbiotic content, using complementary genomic (16S rDNA sequencing and specific polymerase chain reaction) and proteomic (two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis coupled with protein identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) approaches. Despite the geographical heterogeneity, the combined methods allowed us to identify the same two symbionts in the six aphids strains tested: Buchnera aphidicola and Wolbachia. Although B. aphidicola is found in almost all aphid species, the systematic presence of Wolbachia in banana aphids is particularly interesting, as this bacterium usually has a low prevalence in aphid species. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Wolbachia sp. strain found in P. nigronervosa was very similar to the strain present in aphids of the genus Cinara, known to have developed a strong and long-term symbiotic association with Wolbachia. The high level of asexual reproduction in P. nigronervosa could be linked to the presence of Wolbachia, but its prevalence also suggests that this symbiotic bacterium could play a more essential role in its aphid host.}, } @article {pmid24471423, year = {2014}, author = {Larrainzar, E and Molenaar, JA and Wienkoop, S and Gil-Quintana, E and Alibert, B and Limami, AM and Arrese-Igor, C and González, EM}, title = {Drought stress provokes the down-regulation of methionine and ethylene biosynthesis pathways in Medicago truncatula roots and nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {37}, number = {9}, pages = {2051-2063}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12285}, pmid = {24471423}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Down-Regulation/*genetics ; *Droughts ; Ethylenes/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Methionine/*biosynthesis ; Methionine Adenosyltransferase/metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Sulfates/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Water ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is one of the first physiological processes inhibited in legume plants under water-deficit conditions. Despite the progress made in the last decades, the molecular mechanisms behind this regulation are not fully understood yet. Recent proteomic work carried out in the model legume Medicago truncatula provided the first indications of a possible involvement of nodule methionine (Met) biosynthesis and related pathways in response to water-deficit conditions. To better understand this involvement, the drought-induced changes in expression and content of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of Met, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and ethylene in M. truncatula root and nodules were analyzed using targeted approaches. Nitrogen-fixing plants were subjected to a progressive water deficit and a subsequent recovery period. Besides the physiological characterization of the plants, the content of total sulphur, sulphate and main S-containing metabolites was measured. Results presented here show that S availability is not a limiting factor in the drought-induced decline of nitrogen fixation rates in M. truncatula plants and provide evidences for a down-regulation of the Met and ethylene biosynthesis pathways in roots and nodules in response to water-deficit conditions.}, } @article {pmid24470637, year = {2014}, author = {Denancé, N and Szurek, B and Noël, LD}, title = {Emerging functions of nodulin-like proteins in non-nodulating plant species.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {3}, pages = {469-474}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct198}, pmid = {24470637}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Oryza/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant genes whose expression is induced in legumes by Rhizobium bacteria upon nodulation were initially referred to as nodulins. Several of them play a key role in the establishment of symbiosis. Yet, nodulin-like proteins are also found in non-nodulating plant species such as Arabidopsis, rice, maize or poplar. For instance, 132 are predicted in the Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 genome. Recent studies now highlight the importance of nodulin-like proteins for the transport of nutrients, solutes, amino acids or hormones and for major aspects of plant development. Interestingly, nodulin-like activities at the plant-microbe interface are also important for pathogens to enhance their fitness during host colonization. This work presents a genomic and functional overview of nodulin-like proteins in non-leguminous plant species, with a particular focus on Arabidopsis and rice.}, } @article {pmid24469788, year = {2014}, author = {Liu, B and Fischer, C and Bonet, JA and Olivera, A and Inchusta, A and Colinas, C}, title = {Pattern of Tuber melanosporum extramatrical mycelium expansion over a 20-year chronosequence in Quercus ilex-truffle orchards.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S47-54}, pmid = {24469788}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Ascomycota/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Mycelium/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Quercus/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Successful cultivation of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) requires a long-term investment and the maintenance of the symbiosis throughout its preproductive and productive years. Monitoring the symbiosis over time is challenging, as it requires methods that can detect the belowground proliferation of the fungus associated with its host tree. In this study, we used a chronosequence design to study the expansion pattern of this fungus as the host tree grows. We hypothesize that this expansion can be estimated by monitoring T. melanosporum DNA from soil beneath host trees of different ages (3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 20 years old) and at different distances from the trunk of the trees (40, 100, and 200 cm). We also wished to evaluate the presences of Tuber brumale and Tuber indicum, potentially problematic truffle species, in these plantations. To detect the mycelium of T. melanosporum in these soils, we extracted DNA and performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Tuber species-specific primers, and to estimate DNA amount, we measured relative band intensities from the amplicons in agarose gels. Both age and distance were related to T. melanosporum DNA quantity, which was more abundant in the oldest age classes, reaching a plateau in 5-7 years. At 40 cm from the tree, there were no differences in T. melanosporum DNA amounts in orchards of different ages, but at 100 and 200 cm, younger orchards had less T. melanosporum DNA. We did not detect DNA from T. brumale or T. indicum in any of our samples.}, } @article {pmid24468555, year = {2013}, author = {Olatinwo, R and Allison, J and Meeker, J and Johnson, W and Streett, D and Aime, MC and Carlton, C}, title = {Detection and identification of Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae) in the mycangia of Sirex nigricornis (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in central Louisiana.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {1246-1256}, doi = {10.1603/EN13103}, pmid = {24468555}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Female ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The woodwasp Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) has become established in North America. A primary tactic for the management of S. noctilio in the southern hemisphere has been the development of a biological control agent, Deladenus siricidicola Bedding. This nematode has a bicyclic life cycle including a mycetophagous free-living and parasitic cycle. During oviposition, female Sirex woodwasps inject a symbiotic fungus. Because D. siricidicola only develops well on Amylostereum areolatum (Chaillet ex Fries) Boidin (Russulales: Amylostereaceae) and North American woodwasps were thought to all have Amylostereum chailletii (Persoon) Boidin as their fungal symbiont, the risk of unintended impacts from D. siricidicola in North America was considered low. Specific polymerase chain reaction primers were designed to amplify the intergenic spacer region of Amylostereum symbionts in a population of the native woodwasp Sirex nigricornis F. located in central Louisiana (i.e., well outside the known distribution of S. noctilio); identity of the symbiont was confirmed by phylogenetic analyses. Overall, 95 out of 100 fungal isolates obtained from the mycangia of S. nigricornis were identified as Amylostereum species. Contrary to expectations, 60% were identified as A. chailletii (N = 60), while 35% were identified as A. areolatum (N = 35). The remaining 5% of these isolates (N = 5) were identified as Bipolaris papendorfii (Aa) Alcorn, Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl, Penicillium marneffei Segretain, Scytalidium cuboideum (Sacc. & Ellis) Sigler & Kang, and Hyphopichia heimii (Pignal) Kurtzman based on sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The five non-Amylostereum isolates were likely contaminants during mycangia-spore extraction process. This study confirms the presence of A. areolatum in a population of the native woodwasp S. nigricornis well outside the known distribution of S. noctilio.}, } @article {pmid24465207, year = {2014}, author = {Kundu, P and Ling, TW and Korecka, A and Li, Y and D'Arienzo, R and Bunte, RM and Berger, T and Arulampalam, V and Chambon, P and Mak, TW and Wahli, W and Pettersson, S}, title = {Absence of intestinal PPARγ aggravates acute infectious colitis in mice through a lipocalin-2-dependent pathway.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {e1003887}, pmid = {24465207}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Acute Disease ; Acute-Phase Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Colitis/genetics/*immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Humans ; *Immune Evasion ; Lipocalin-2 ; Lipocalins/genetics/*immunology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/genetics/immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Oncogene Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; PPAR gamma/genetics/*immunology ; Salmonella Infections/genetics/*immunology/pathology ; Salmonella typhimurium/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {To be able to colonize its host, invading Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium must disrupt and severely affect host-microbiome homeostasis. Here we report that S. Typhimurium induces acute infectious colitis by inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Interestingly, this PPARγ down-regulation by S. Typhimurium is independent of TLR-4 signaling but triggers a marked elevation of host innate immune response genes, including that encoding the antimicrobial peptide lipocalin-2 (Lcn2). Accumulation of Lcn2 stabilizes the metalloproteinase MMP-9 via extracellular binding, which further aggravates the colitis. Remarkably, when exposed to S. Typhimurium, Lcn2-null mice exhibited a drastic reduction of the colitis and remained protected even at later stages of infection. Our data suggest a mechanism in which S. Typhimurium hijacks the control of host immune response genes such as those encoding PPARγ and Lcn2 to acquire residence in a host, which by evolution has established a symbiotic relation with its microbiome community to prevent pathogen invasion.}, } @article {pmid24463012, year = {2014}, author = {Cass, BN and Mozes-Daube, N and Iasur-Kruh, L and Bondy, EC and Kelly, SE and Hunter, MS and Zchori-Fein, E}, title = {Bacterial endosymbionts in field-collected samples of Trialeurodes sp. nr. abutiloneus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {165}, number = {2}, pages = {77-81}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2014.01.005}, pmid = {24463012}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gossypium/parasitology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {Facultative bacterial endosymbionts are common, influential associates of arthropods, yet their movement among host species has not been well documented. Plant-mediated transmission of Rickettsia has been shown for the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Bemisia tabaci in USA cotton fields harbors the secondary symbionts Rickettsia and Hamiltonella, and co-occurs with Trialeurodes sp. nr. abutiloneus whiteflies. To determine whether symbionts may be shared, the microbial diversity of these whiteflies on cotton across the USA was analyzed. Trialeurodes sp. nr. abutiloneus bore Portiera, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia. No Rickettsia or Hamiltonella were detected. These results provide no evidence for horizontal transmission of symbionts between these whitefly genera.}, } @article {pmid24461714, year = {2014}, author = {Rodríguez-Echeverría, S and Moreno, S and Bedmar, EJ}, title = {Genetic diversity of root nodulating bacteria associated with Retama sphaerocarpa in sites with different soil and environmental conditions.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {4}, pages = {305-310}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.11.003}, pmid = {24461714}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity of root nodulating bacteria isolated from Retama sphaerocarpa was studied using BOX-A1R PCR and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA region, as well as the housekeeping genes atpD, glnII and recA. A total of 193 isolates were obtained from eight different sites with different soil and environmental conditions in the Iberian Peninsula. These isolates corresponded to 31 different strains that successfully nodulated R. sphaerocarpa seedlings in reinoculation trials. About one-third of the strains clustered with B. canariense or B. cytisi within Bradyrhizobium group I. The remaining strains clustered with B. elkanii/B. pachyrhizi within Bradyrhizobium group II or in separate clades that could represent new lineages. Based on the 16S rRNA and combined atpD+glnII+recA sequences, two to three lineages of root nodulating bacteria were found at each sampling site, except for Collado Garcia where five species were detected. B. canariense and B. elkanii/B. pachyrhizi were the most abundant species, whereas the least abundant were those related to B. retamae and a putative new lineage. B. canariense was found only in soils with neutral and acid pH, whereas B. retamae was the dominant species in alkaline soils.}, } @article {pmid24460699, year = {2014}, author = {Jeong, HJ and Lee, SY and Kang, NS and Yoo, YD and Lim, AS and Lee, MJ and Kim, HS and Yih, W and Yamashita, H and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Genetics and morphology characterize the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium voratum, n. sp., (Dinophyceae) as the sole representative of Symbiodinium Clade E.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {61}, number = {1}, pages = {75-94}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12088}, pmid = {24460699}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Alveolata/*classification/cytology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Animals ; California ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytochromes b/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, rRNA ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organelles/ultrastructure ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S ; Seawater/parasitology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium are ubiquitous in shallow marine habitats where they commonly exist in symbiosis with cnidarians. Attempts to culture them often retrieve isolates that may not be symbiotic, but instead exist as free-living species. In particular, cultures of Symbiodinium clade E obtained from temperate environments were recently shown to feed phagotrophically on bacteria and microalgae. Genetic, behavioral, and morphological evidence indicate that strains of clade E obtained from the northwestern, southwestern, and northeastern temperate Pacific Ocean as well as the Mediterranean Sea constitute a single species: Symbiodinium voratum n. sp. Chloroplast ribosomal 23S and mitochondrial cytochrome b nucleotide sequences were the same for all isolates. The D1/D2 domains of nuclear ribosomal DNA were identical among Western Pacific strains, but single nucleotide substitutions differentiated isolates from California (USA) and Spain. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that S. voratum is well-separated evolutionarily from other Symbiodinium spp. The motile, or mastigote, cells from different cultures were morphologically similar when observed using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy; and the first complete Kofoidian plate formula for a Symbiodinium sp. was characterized. As the largest of known Symbiodinium spp., the average coccoid cell diameters measured among cultured isolates ranged between 12.2 (± 0.2 SE) and 13.3 (± 0.2 SE) μm. Unique among species in the genus, a high proportion (approximately 10-20%) of cells remain motile in culture during the dark cycle. Although S. voratum occurs on surfaces of various substrates and is potentially common in the plankton of coastal areas, it may be incapable of forming stable mutualistic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid24460534, year = {2014}, author = {Kupper, M and Gupta, SK and Feldhaar, H and Gross, R}, title = {Versatile roles of the chaperonin GroEL in microorganism-insect interactions.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {353}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12390}, pmid = {24460534}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Chaperonin 60/genetics/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Insecta/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The chaperonin 60 (Cpn60) is present in all three kingdoms of life and is one of the most conserved proteins in living organisms. The Escherichia coli Cpn60 (GroEL) is the best studied representative of the huge Cpn60 family. It is an essential protein because in conjunction with the chaperonin 10 (Cpn10 or GroES) it forms a protein-folding machine required for correct folding of many proteins and for recycling of misfolded proteins. As many other chaperones, GroEL and GroES are also known as heat-shock proteins (HSPs), since heat stress leads to a strong induction of their expression, a measure to counteract the increase in misfolded proteins as a result of a high nonphysiological temperature. A large amount of literature is available which is dedicated to the elucidation of how protein folding is assisted by this molecular chaperone. However, apart from this primary task, additional so-called 'moonlighting' functions of GroEL proteins unrelated to their folding activity have emerged in the past years. In fact, it becomes apparent that GroEL proteins have diverse functions in particular in mutualistic and pathogenic microorganism-host interactions. In this brief review, we describe some of these recent findings focusing on the importance of GroEL for microorganism-insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid24459830, year = {2013}, author = {Yadav, A and Singh, AL and Rai, GK and Singh, M}, title = {Assessment of molecular diversity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rhizobia and structural analysis of 16S rDNA sequences from Mesorhizobium ciceri.}, journal = {Polish journal of microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {3}, pages = {253-262}, pmid = {24459830}, issn = {1733-1331}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Cicer/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/*genetics ; Mesorhizobium/chemistry/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/*genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Molecular diversity studies of 19 rhizobia isolates from chickpea were conducted using simple sequence repeats (SSR) and 16S rDNA-RFLP markers. Phenotypic characterization with special reference to salinity and pH tolerance was performed. These isolates were identified as different strains of Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Agrobacterium. Twenty SSR loci of Mesorhizobium ciceri, distributed across the other rhizobial genome, clearly differentiated 19 rhizobial isolates. Analogous clustering supported the results of 16S rDNA sequence-based phylogeny. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences from M. ciceri strains revealed that nucleotide variables (signature sites) were located at 20 different positions; most of them were present in the first 820 bp region from 5' terminal. Interestingly, 14 signature sites were located in two main regions, the variable region V1 (nt 527-584), and variable region V2 (nt 754-813). The secondary structure and minimal free energy were determined in these two regions. These results will be useful in characterizing the micro-evolutionary mechanisms of species formation and increase understanding of the symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid24455959, year = {2013}, author = {Li, SP and Bi, YL and Kong, WP and Wang, J and Yu, HY}, title = {[Effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on environmental phytoremediation in coal mine areas].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {4455-4459}, pmid = {24455959}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Coal ; Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry ; Glycoproteins/chemistry ; Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To resolve the key environmental problems in coal mine areas of environmental phytoremediation, symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Amorpha fruticosa was investigated. Effects of AMF on the root growth of Amorpha fruticosa and degenerated soil in coal mining subsidence area were studied. Results showed that after 5 months inoculation, AMF improved the shoot and root growth of Amorpha fruticosa. After inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) for 5 months, the inoculation significantly increased root colonization of Amorpha fruticosa. Total glomalin and easily extractable glomalin were increased significantly in the incubated soil. The content of phosphorus and organic matter were increased in the rhizosphere soil. Population of microorganism increased obviously. All the above results show that their ecological effects are significantly improved. AM would promote rhizosphere soil that will help the sustainability of ecological systems in mining area. It is really of great significance to keep the ecological system stability.}, } @article {pmid24455958, year = {2013}, author = {Zhao, RX and Guo, W and Fu, RY and Zhao, WJ and Guo, JY and Bi, N and Zhang, J}, title = {[Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the vegetation restoration of different types of coal mine spoil banks].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {4447-4454}, pmid = {24455958}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {*Coal ; Ecosystem ; *Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; Metals, Heavy/analysis ; Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis ; Zea mays/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus etunicatum (GE) and Glomus versiforme (GV) on the plant growth, nutrient uptake, C: N: P stoichiometric, uptake of heavy metals by maize (Zea mays L.) grown in three types of coal mine spoil banks. The aim was to provide a technical basis for the revegetation of coal mine spoil banks in grassland ecosystem. The results indicated that the symbiotic associations were successfully established between two isolates and maize grown in the three substrates, with an average mycorrhizal colonization rate ranging from 36% to 54%. The colonization of two AM fungi significantly increased the dry weight of maize grown in recent discharged and weathered coal mine spoils and GE increased those grown in weathered coal mine spoil. Inoculation with AM fungi promoted the uptake of N, P and K by maize to varying degrees. In addition, inoculation with GE and GV also decreased C: N: P ratios, supporting the growth rate hypothesis, and had significantly differences on concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in shoots and roots of maize. The results indicated that GE and GV had different mycorrhizal effects on maize in the three types of substrates. GV was more suitable for the revegetation of recent discharged coal mine spoil and weathered coal mine spoil, while GE was more suitable for the revegetation of spontaneous combusted coal mine spoil. The experiment demonstrates that AM fungi have a potential role for maize to enhance the ability to adapt the composite adversity of different types of coal mine spoil and play a positive role in the revegetation of different coal mine spoil banks. Further field experiments should be conducted to evaluate the practical effects of AM fungi on the vegetation restoration of different types of coal mine spoil under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid24455932, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, Y and Zhang, CH and Wang, S and Shen, LY and Ge, Y}, title = {[Accumulation and transformation of different arsenic species in nonaxenic Dunaliella salina].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {34}, number = {11}, pages = {4257-4265}, pmid = {24455932}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Arsenic/*chemistry ; Bacillus/genetics/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Algae and bacteria are usually symbiotic in the environment. The algae-bacteria consortia have a good prospect in the remediation of polluted environment. In this study, we isolated a bacterium from nonaxenic Dunaliella salina and identified it as Bacillus solisalsi using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The uptake, adsorption and transformation of As by the nonaxenic D. salina and the concentration and speciation of As in the culture solution were determined after 13 days exposure to various concentrations of As(III) and As(V). The results showed that D. salina had a high As tolerance. When the algae was exposed to 250 micromol x L(-1) and 500 micromol x L(-1) arsenite, As accumulations were 3.78 g x kg(-1) and 4.56 g x kg(-1), respectively, but the As removal from the solution was 7.9% - 8.3%. B. solisalsi did not show a strong ability to clean up As either (6.1%-19.9% removal rate). The consortia of D. salina and B. solisalsi showed a higher As removal ability. Moreover, 0.99-2.79 g x kg(-1) and 1.22-3.46 g x kg(-1) As were absorbed when exposed to 25-100 micromol x L(-1) and 25-500 micromol x L(-1) As(III) and As(V), respectively. More than 54.3% of As were taken away by the consortia from the solution under the exposure of 25-100 micromol x L(-1) As(III) and As(V). Various pathways of As detoxification were identified for the nonaxenic D. salina: As(III) oxidation, As(V) reduction, As(III) methylation, and efflux of As from cells.}, } @article {pmid24454815, year = {2014}, author = {Shinzato, C and Inoue, M and Kusakabe, M}, title = {A snapshot of a coral "holobiont": a transcriptome assembly of the scleractinian coral, porites, captures a wide variety of genes from both the host and symbiotic zooxanthellae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e85182}, pmid = {24454815}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Massive scleractinian corals of the genus Porites are important reef builders in the Indo-Pacific, and they are more resistant to thermal stress than other stony corals, such as the genus Acropora. Because coral health and survival largely depend on the interaction between a coral host and its symbionts, it is important to understand the molecular interactions of an entire "coral holobiont". We simultaneously sequenced transcriptomes of Porites australiensis and its symbionts using the Illumina Hiseq2000 platform. We obtained 14.3 Gbp of sequencing data and assembled it into 74,997 contigs (average: 1,263 bp, N50 size: 2,037 bp). We successfully distinguished contigs originating from the host (Porites) and the symbiont (Symbiodinium) by aligning nucleotide sequences with the decoded Acropora digitifera and Symbiodinium minutum genomes. In contrast to previous coral transcriptome studies, at least 35% of the sequences were found to have originated from the symbionts, indicating that it is possible to analyze both host and symbiont transcriptomes simultaneously. Conserved protein domain and KEGG analyses showed that the dataset contains broad gene repertoires of both Porites and Symbiodinium. Effective utilization of sequence reads revealed that the polymorphism rate in P. australiensis is 1.0% and identified the major symbiotic Symbiodinium as Type C15. Analyses of amino acid biosynthetic pathways suggested that this Porites holobiont is probably able to synthesize most of the common amino acids and that Symbiodinium is potentially able to provide essential amino acids to its host. We believe this to be the first molecular evidence of complementarity in amino acid metabolism between coral hosts and their symbionts. We successfully assembled genes originating from both the host coral and the symbiotic Symbiodinium to create a snapshot of the coral holobiont transcriptome. This dataset will facilitate a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms of coral symbioses and stress responses.}, } @article {pmid24454772, year = {2014}, author = {Nir, O and Gruber, DF and Shemesh, E and Glasser, E and Tchernov, D}, title = {Seasonal mesophotic coral bleaching of Stylophora pistillata in the Northern Red Sea.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e84968}, pmid = {24454772}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Seasons ; Seawater ; Seaweed/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching occurs when environmental stress induces breakdown of the coral-algae symbiosis and the host initiates algae expulsion. Two types of coral bleaching had been thoroughly discussed in the scientific literature; the first is primarily associated with mass coral bleaching events; the second is a seasonal loss of algae and/or pigments. Here, we describe a phenomenon that has been witnessed for repeated summers in the mesophotic zone (40-63 m) in the northern Red Sea: seasonal bleaching and recovery of several hermatypic coral species. In this study, we followed the recurring bleaching process of the common coral Stylophora pistillata. Bleaching occurred from April to September with a 66% decline in chlorophyll a concentration, while recovery began in October. Using aquarium and transplantation experiments, we explored environmental factors such as temperature, photon flux density and heterotrophic food availability. Our experiments and observations did not yield one single factor, alone, responsible for the seasonal bleaching. The dinoflagellate symbionts (of the genus Symbiodinium) in shallow (5 m) Stylophora pistillata were found to have a net photosynthetic rate of 56.98-92.19 µmol O2 cm(-2) day(-1). However, those from mesophotic depth (60 m) during months when they are not bleached are net consumers of oxygen having a net photosynthetic rate between -12.86 - (-10.24) µmol O2 cm(-2) day(-1). But during months when these mesophotic corals are partially-bleached, they yielded higher net production, between -2.83-0.76 µmol O2 cm(-2) day(-1). This study opens research questions as to why mesophotic zooxanthellae are more successfully meeting the corals metabolic requirements when Chl a concentration decreases by over 60% during summer and early fall.}, } @article {pmid24452239, year = {2014}, author = {Sela, DA and Mills, DA}, title = {The marriage of nutrigenomics with the microbiome: the case of infant-associated bifidobacteria and milk.}, journal = {The American journal of clinical nutrition}, volume = {99}, number = {3}, pages = {697S-703S}, pmid = {24452239}, issn = {1938-3207}, support = {R01 AT007079/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bifidobacterium/*growth & development/metabolism ; Biomedical Research/trends ; *Child Development ; *Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; *Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/growth & development/*microbiology ; Milk ; *Milk, Human ; Nutrigenomics/methods/trends ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Broadly, nutrigenomics examines the association of exogenous nutrients and molecular responses to maintain homeostasis in an individual. Phenotypic expression profiling, often transcriptomics, has been applied to identify markers and metabolic consequences of suboptimal diet, lifestyle, or both. The decade after the Human Genome Project has been marked with advances in high-throughput analysis of biological polymers and metabolites, prompting a rapid increase in characterization of the profound nature by which our symbiotic microbiota influences human physiology. Although the technology is widely accessible to assess microbiome composition, genetic potential, and global function, nutrigenomics studies often exclude the microbial contribution to host responses to ingested nutritive molecules. Perhaps a hallmark of coevolution, milk provides a dramatic example of a diet that promotes a particular microbial community structure, because the lower infant gastrointestinal tract is often dominated by bifidobacteria that flourish on milk glycans. Systems-level approaches should continue to be applied to examine the microbial communities in the context of their host's dietary habits and metabolic status. In addition, studies of isolated microbiota species should be encouraged to inform clinical studies and interventions as well as community studies. Whereas nutrigenomics research is beginning to account for resident microbiota, the need remains to consistently consider our microscopic partners in the human holobiont.}, } @article {pmid24451132, year = {2014}, author = {Dean, JM and Mescher, MC and De Moraes, CM}, title = {Plant dependence on rhizobia for nitrogen influences induced plant defenses and herbivore performance.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {1466-1480}, pmid = {24451132}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Lepidoptera/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soybeans/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic rhizobia induce many changes in legumes that could affect aboveground interactions with herbivores. We explored how changing the intensity of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, as modulated by soil nitrogen (N) levels, influenced the interaction between soybean (Glycine max) and herbivores of different feeding guilds. When we employed a range of fertilizer applications to manipulate soil N, plants primarily dependent on rhizobia for N exhibited increased root nodulation and higher levels of foliar ureides than plants given N fertilizer; yet all treatments maintained similar total N levels. Soybean podworm (Helicoverpa zea) larvae grew best on plants with the highest levels of rhizobia but, somewhat surprisingly, preferred to feed on high-N-fertilized plants when given a choice. Induction of the defense signaling compound jasmonic acid (JA) by H. zea feeding damage was highest in plants primarily dependent on rhizobia. Differences in rhizobial dependency on soybean did not appear to affect interactions with the phloem-feeding soybean aphid (Aphis glycines). Overall, our results suggest that rhizobia association can affect plant nutritional quality and the induction of defense signaling pathways and that these effects may influence herbivore feeding preferences and performance-though such effects may vary considerably for different classes of herbivores.}, } @article {pmid24450109, year = {2013}, author = {Kang, D}, title = {[Molecular tests of mitochondrial genome].}, journal = {Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology}, volume = {61}, number = {11}, pages = {1035-1043}, pmid = {24450109}, issn = {0047-1860}, mesh = {Aging ; Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*genetics/metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; *Pathology, Molecular/methods ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are considered to have originated from the symbiotic invasion of bacteria with aerobic ATP production into pro-eukaryotic cells about two billion years ago. For this evolutionary reason, mitochondria have maintained their own genome. Mitochondrial DNA is circular and is inherited maternally. Thus, mitochondrial DNA has characteristics different from nuclear DNA. Human mitochondrial DNA is small, about 16.5kbp in length, and encodes only two rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and 13 proteins. However, the mitochondrial genome is essential for normal integrity of the mitochondrial electron transfer system (or respiratory chain). The electron transfer system is not only responsible for about 90% of cellular ATP production but is also closely linked to the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleic acids. In addition, its lack of integrity can cause overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, mutations of the mitochondrial genome are currently believed to be involved in many common diseases as well as classical mitochondrial neuromyopathies. Accordingly, more researchers have begun to take an interest in the association of mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms with aging and common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and so on.}, } @article {pmid24445053, year = {2014}, author = {Cho, E and Kwon, C and Lee, S and Tahir, MN and Park, S and Jung, S}, title = {Biotinylation of the rhizobial cyclic β-glucans and succinoglycans crucial for symbiosis with legumes.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {389}, number = {}, pages = {141-146}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2013.12.015}, pmid = {24445053}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Amination ; Azides/metabolism ; *Biotinylation ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; beta-Glucans/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The cyclic β-glucans and succinoglycans produced by rhizobia are required for nodulation during symbiosis with legume hosts. However, only gene deletion analyses have been used to investigate their biological importance. For future studies on the physiological activity of those during symbiosis, biochemical methods need to be developed with separate carbohydrate compounds. Here, we isolated and purified rhizobial cellular carbohydrates using various chromatographic methods. Purified cyclic β-glucans, cyclosophoraoses, were monofunctionalized with biotin using the following three steps: tosylation, azidation, and amination. The mono-6-amino-cyclosophoraoses were linked with biotinamidohexanoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. Succinoglycans and monomers were tagged with biotinamidocaproyl hydrazide at the reducing sugar via reductive amination. The resulting biotinylated rhizobial carbohydrates were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The resulting neoglycoconjugates can be used as solid probes to study putative plant receptors and for non-invasive imaging for in vivo tracing.}, } @article {pmid24444030, year = {2014}, author = {Mayer, VE and Frederickson, ME and McKey, D and Blatrix, R}, title = {Current issues in the evolutionary ecology of ant-plant symbioses.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {3}, pages = {749-764}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12690}, pmid = {24444030}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; *Ecosystem ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ant-plant symbioses involve plants that provide hollow structures specialized for housing ants and often food to ants. In return, the inhabiting ants protect plants against herbivores and sometimes provide them with nutrients. Here, we review recent advances in ant-plant symbioses, focusing on three areas. First, the nutritional ecology of plant-ants, which is based not only on plant-derived food rewards, but also on inputs from other symbiotic partners, in particular fungi and possibly bacteria. Food and protection are the most important 'currencies' exchanged between partners and they drive the nature and evolution of the relationships. Secondly, studies of conflict and cooperation in ant-plant symbioses have contributed key insights into the evolution and maintenance of mutualism, particularly how partner-mediated feedbacks affect the specificity and stability of mutualisms. There is little evidence that mutualistic ants or plants are under selection to cheat, but the costs and benefits of ant-plant interactions do vary with environmental factors, making them vulnerable to natural or anthropogenic environmental change. Thus, thirdly, ant-plant symbioses should be considered good models for investigating the effects of global change on the outcome of mutualistic interactions.}, } @article {pmid24443895, year = {2014}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Beck, A and Cornejo, C and Singh, G and Cheenacharoen, S and Nelsen, MP and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Molecular phylogeny and symbiotic selectivity of the green algal genus Dictyochloropsis s.l. (Trebouxiophyceae): a polyphyletic and widespread group forming photobiont-mediated guilds in the lichen family Lobariaceae.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {455-470}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12678}, pmid = {24443895}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota ; *Biological Evolution ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; DNA, Algal/*analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Europe ; *Fungi ; Genetic Variation ; Lichens/*genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Photosynthesis ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Dictyochloropsis s.l. is an ecologically important, common but little-studied genus of green algae. Here, we examined the diversity and host selectivity of algae attributed to this genus at both species-to-species and species-to-community levels. We conducted a molecular investigation of 15 cultured strains and several lichen photobionts, using 18S rRNA, rbcL and ITS sequence data. We further used seven alga-specific microsatellite markers to study algal sharing among fungi of the family Lobariaceae in two populations in Madeira and Taiwan (454 lichens). We found that the genus Dictyochloropsis s.l. is polyphyletic. Dictyochloropsis clade 1 comprises only free-living algae whereas Dictyochloropsis clade 2 includes lichenized algae as well as free-living algae. Fungal selectivity towards algae belonging to Dictyochloropsis clade 2 is high. Selectivity varies geographically, with photobionts being restricted to a single region. Finally, we showed that Dictyochloropsis clade 2 individuals are shared among different fungal hosts in communities of lichens of the Lobariaceae. As for other green algal lineages, there is a high amount of cryptic diversity in Dictyochloropsis. Furthermore, co-evolution between Dictyochloropsis clade 2 algae and representatives of the Lobariaceae is manifested at the community level, with several unrelated fungal species being horizontally connected by shared photobiont clones.}, } @article {pmid24441161, year = {2014}, author = {Bao, Z and Watanabe, A and Sasaki, K and Okubo, T and Tokida, T and Liu, D and Ikeda, S and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Asakawa, S and Sato, T and Mitsui, H and Minamisawa, K}, title = {A rice gene for microbial symbiosis, Oryza sativa CCaMK, reduces CH4 flux in a paddy field with low nitrogen input.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {6}, pages = {1995-2003}, pmid = {24441161}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Bacterial ; Methane/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oryza/*microbiology ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants have mutualistic symbiotic relationships with rhizobia and fungi by the common symbiosis pathway, of which Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (encoded by CCaMK) is a central component. Although Oryza sativa CCaMK (OsCCaMK) is required for fungal accommodation in rice roots, little is known about the role of OsCCaMK in rice symbiosis with bacteria. Here, we report the effect of a Tos17-induced OsCCaMK mutant (NE1115) on CH4 flux in low-nitrogen (LN) and standard-nitrogen (SN) paddy fields compared with wild-type (WT) Nipponbare. The growth of NE1115 was significantly decreased compared with that of the WT, especially in the LN field. The CH4 flux of NE1115 in the LN field was significantly greater (156 to 407% in 2011 and 170 to 816% in 2012) than that of the WT, although no difference was observed in the SN field. The copy number of pmoA (encodes methane monooxygenase in methanotrophs) was significantly higher in the roots and rhizosphere soil of the WT than in those of NE1115. However, the mcrA (encodes methyl coenzyme M reductase in methanogens) copy number did not differ between the WT and NE1115. These results were supported by a (13)C-labeled CH4-feeding experiment. In addition, the natural abundance of (15)N in WT shoots (3.05‰) was significantly lower than in NE1115 shoots (3.45‰), suggesting greater N2 fixation in the WT because of dilution with atmospheric N2 (0.00‰). Thus, CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation were simultaneously activated in the root zone of WT rice in the LN field and both processes are likely controlled by OsCCaMK.}, } @article {pmid24440671, year = {2014}, author = {Schnabl, B and Brenner, DA}, title = {Interactions between the intestinal microbiome and liver diseases.}, journal = {Gastroenterology}, volume = {146}, number = {6}, pages = {1513-1524}, pmid = {24440671}, issn = {1528-0012}, support = {R01 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; P42 ES010337/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AA021856/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; K08 DK081830/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P50 AA011999/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; 2 P42 ES010337/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism ; Dysbiosis ; Fatty Liver/metabolism/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism/microbiology ; Liver Diseases/metabolism/*microbiology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/metabolism/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {The human intestine harbors a diverse community of microbes that promote metabolism and digestion in their symbiotic relationship with the host. Disturbance of its homeostasis can result in disease. We review factors that disrupt intestinal homeostasis and contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, and cirrhosis. Liver disease has long been associated with qualitative and quantitative (overgrowth) dysbiotic changes in the intestinal microbiota. Extrinsic factors, such as the Western diet and alcohol, contribute to these changes. Dysbiosis results in intestinal inflammation, a breakdown of the intestinal barrier, and translocation of microbial products in animal models. However, the contribution of the intestinal microbiome to liver disease goes beyond simple translocation of bacterial products that promote hepatic injury and inflammation. Microbial metabolites produced in a dysbiotic intestinal environment and host factors are equally important in the pathogenesis of liver disease. We review how the combination of liver insult and disruptions in intestinal homeostasis contribute to liver disease.}, } @article {pmid24439373, year = {2014}, author = {An, D and Oh, SF and Olszak, T and Neves, JF and Avci, FY and Erturk-Hasdemir, D and Lu, X and Zeissig, S and Blumberg, RS and Kasper, DL}, title = {Sphingolipids from a symbiotic microbe regulate homeostasis of host intestinal natural killer T cells.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {156}, number = {1-2}, pages = {123-133}, pmid = {24439373}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R37 DK044319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK088199/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK44319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK051362/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK044319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; AI007061/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DK53056/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK51362/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007061/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK053056/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; AI090102/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DK88199/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI090102/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bacteroides fragilis/*metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Colitis/chemically induced/*immunology/prevention & control ; Colon/growth & development/microbiology ; Glycosphingolipids/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Natural Killer T-Cells/cytology/*immunology ; Oxazolone ; }, abstract = {Coevolution of beneficial microorganisms with the mammalian intestine fundamentally shapes mammalian physiology. Here, we report that the intestinal microbe Bacteroides fragilis modifies the homeostasis of host invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells by supplementing the host's endogenous lipid antigen milieu with unique inhibitory sphingolipids. The process occurs early in life and effectively impedes iNKT cell proliferation during neonatal development. Consequently, total colonic iNKT cell numbers are restricted into adulthood, and hosts are protected against experimental iNKT cell-mediated, oxazolone-induced colitis. In studies with neonatal mice lacking access to bacterial sphingolipids, we found that treatment with B. fragilis glycosphingolipids-exemplified by an isolated peak (MW = 717.6) called GSL-Bf717-reduces colonic iNKT cell numbers and confers protection against oxazolone-induced colitis in adulthood. Our results suggest that the distinctive inhibitory capacity of GSL-Bf717 and similar molecules may prove useful in the treatment of autoimmune and allergic disorders in which iNKT cell activation is destructive.}, } @article {pmid24438664, year = {2014}, author = {Bourlioux, P}, title = {[Current view on gut microbiota].}, journal = {Annales pharmaceutiques francaises}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {15-21}, doi = {10.1016/j.pharma.2013.09.001}, pmid = {24438664}, issn = {0003-4509}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; Complementary Therapies ; Environmental Pollutants/pharmacokinetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/microbiology/therapy ; Intestines/embryology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mammals/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Symbiosis ; Xenobiotics/pharmacokinetics ; }, abstract = {Gut microbiota is more and more important since metagenomic research have brought new knowledge on this topic especially for human health. Firstly, gut microbiota is a key element for our organism he lives in symbiosis with. Secondly, it interacts favorably with many physiological functions of our organism. Thirdly, at the opposite, it can be an active participant in intestinal pathologies linked to a dysbiosis mainly in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis but also in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and more prudently in autism and behavioral disorders. In order to keep a good health, it is essential to protect our gut microbiota as soon as our young age and maintain it healthy. Face to a more and more important number of publications for treating certain digestive diseases with fecal microbial transplantation, it needs to be very careful and recommend further studies in order to assess risks and define standardized protocols. Gut microbiota metabolic capacities towards xenobiotics need to be developed, and we must take an interest in the modifications they induce on medicinal molecules. On the other hand, it is essential to study the potent effects of pesticides and other pollutants on microbiota functions.}, } @article {pmid24438332, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, YY and Liu, B and Zhang, XY and Zhou, QM and Zhang, T and Li, H and Yu, YF and Zhang, XL and Hao, XY and Wang, M and Wang, L and Wei, JC}, title = {Genome characteristics reveal the impact of lichenization on lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum Hedwig (Verrucariales, Ascomycota).}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {34}, pmid = {24438332}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/*genetics ; Chlorophyta/metabolism/microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Droughts ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Genome, Fungal ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; RNA Splicing ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichen is a classic mutualistic organism and the lichenization is one of the fungal symbioses. The lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum is living in symbiosis with the green alga Diplosphaera chodatii Bialsuknia as a lichen in the arid regions.

RESULTS: 454 and Illumina technologies were used to sequence the genome of E. pusillum. A total of 9,285 genes were annotated in the 37.5 Mb genome of E. pusillum. Analyses of the genes provided direct molecular evidence for certain natural characteristics, such as homothallic reproduction and drought-tolerance. Comparative genomics analysis indicated that the expansion and contraction of some protein families in the E. pusillum genome reflect the specific relationship with its photosynthetic partner (D. chodatii). Co-culture experiments using the lichen-forming fungus E. pusillum and its algal partner allowed the functional identification of genes involved in the nitrogen and carbon transfer between both symbionts, and three lectins without signal peptide domains were found to be essential for the symbiotic recognition in the lichen; interestingly, the ratio of the biomass of both lichen-forming fungus and its photosynthetic partner and their contact time were found to be important for the interaction between these two symbionts.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study lays a genomic analysis of the lichen-forming fungus E. pusillum for demonstrating its general biological features and the traits of the interaction between this fungus and its photosynthetic partner D. chodatii, and will provide research basis for investigating the nature of its drought resistance and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24437401, year = {2014}, author = {Neish, AS}, title = {Mucosal immunity and the microbiome.}, journal = {Annals of the American Thoracic Society}, volume = {11 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S28-32}, pmid = {24437401}, issn = {2325-6621}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; Inflammation/immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Mucous Membrane/*immunology ; }, abstract = {By definition, the mucosal immune system is responsible for interfacing with the outside world, specifically responding to external threats, of which pathogenic microbes represent a primary challenge. However, it has become apparent that the human host possesses a numerically vast and taxonomically diverse resident microbiota, predominantly in the gut, and also in the airway, genitourinary tract, and skin. The microbiota is generally considered symbiotic, and has been implicated in the regulation of cellular growth, restitution after injury, maintenance of barrier function, and importantly, in the induction, development, and modulation of immune responses. The mucosal immune system uses diverse mechanisms that protect the host from overt pathogens, but necessarily has coevolved to monitor, nurture, and exploit the normal microbiota. As a whole, mucosal immunity encompasses adaptive immune regulation that can involve systemic processes, local tissue-based innate and inflammatory events, intrinsic defenses, and highly conserved cell autonomous cytoprotective responses. Interestingly, specific taxa within the normal microbiota have been implicated in roles shaping specific adaptive, innate, and cell autonomous responses. Taken together, the normal microbiota exerts profound effects on the mucosal immune system, and likely plays key roles in human physiology and disease.}, } @article {pmid24435877, year = {2014}, author = {Mansour, SR and Oshone, R and Hurst, SG and Morris, K and Thomas, WK and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Frankia sp. Strain CcI6, a Salt-Tolerant Nitrogen-Fixing Actinobacterium Isolated from the Root Nodule of Casuarina cunninghamiana.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {24435877}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Members of the actinomycete genus Frankia form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with 8 different families of actinorhizal plants. We report a 5.57-Mbp draft genome sequence for Frankia sp. strain CcI6, a salt-tolerant nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from root nodules of Casurina cunninghamiana grown in Egyptian soils.}, } @article {pmid24434551, year = {2014}, author = {Seto, Y and Sado, A and Asami, K and Hanada, A and Umehara, M and Akiyama, K and Yamaguchi, S}, title = {Carlactone is an endogenous biosynthetic precursor for strigolactones.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {4}, pages = {1640-1645}, pmid = {24434551}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Oryza/metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of terpenoid plant hormones that regulate shoot branching as well as being known as root-derived signals for symbiosis and parasitism. SL has tricyclic-lactone (ABC-ring) and methyl butenolide (D-ring), and they are connected through an enol ether bridge. Recently, a putative biosynthetic intermediate called carlactone (CL), of which carbon skeleton is in part similar to those of SLs, was identified by biochemical analysis of three biosynthetic enzymes, DWARF27, CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE 7 (CCD7), and CCD8 in vitro. However, CL has never been identified from plant tissues, and the conversion of CL to SLs has not been proven in vivo. To address these questions, we chemically synthesized (13)C-labeled CL. We show that (13)C-labeled CL is converted to (-)-[(13)C]-2'-epi-5-deoxystrigol ((-)-2'-epi-5DS) and [(13)C]-orobanchol, endogenous SLs in rice, in the dwarf10 mutant, which is defective in CCD8. In addition, we successfully identified endogenous CL by using liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry in rice and Arabidopsis. Furthermore, we determined the absolute stereochemistry of endogenous CL to be (11R)-configuration, which is the same as that of (-)-2'-epi-5DS at the corresponding position. Feeding experiments showed that only the (11R)-isomer of CL, but not the (11S)-isomer, was converted to (-)-2'-epi-5DS in vivo. Taken together, our data provide conclusive evidence that CL is an endogenous SL precursor that is stereospecifically recognized in the biosynthesis pathway.}, } @article {pmid24433672, year = {2014}, author = {Verstraete, B and Peeters, C and van Wyk, B and Smets, E and Dessein, S and Vandamme, P}, title = {Intraspecific variation in Burkholderia caledonica: Europe vs. Africa and soil vs. endophytic isolates.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {194-199}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.12.001}, pmid = {24433672}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Africa South of the Sahara ; Burkholderia/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Endophytes/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Europe ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeography ; Rubiaceae/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The best-known interaction between bacteria and plants is the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, but other bacteria-plant interactions exist, such as between Burkholderia and Rubiaceae (coffee family). A number of bacterial endophytes in Rubiaceae are closely related to the soil bacterium Burkholderia caledonica. This intriguing observation is explored by investigating isolates from different geographic regions (Western Europe vs. sub-Saharan Africa) and from different niches (free-living bacteria in soil vs. endophytic bacteria in host plants). The multilocus sequence analysis shows five clades, of which clade 1 with two basal isolates deviates from the rest and is therefore not considered further. All other isolates belong to the species B. caledonica, but two genetically different groups are identified. Group A holds only European isolates and group B holds isolates from Africa, with the exception of one European isolate. Although the European and African isolates are considered one species, some degree of genetic differentiation is evident. Endophytic isolates of B. caledonica are found in certain members of African Rubiaceae, but only in group B. Within this group, the endophytes cannot be distinguished from the soil isolates, which indicates a possible exchange of bacteria between soil and host plant.}, } @article {pmid24433571, year = {2013}, author = {Gugerli, F and Brandl, R and Castagneyrol, B and Franc, A and Jactel, H and Koelewijn, HP and Martin, F and Peter, M and Pritsch, K and Schröder, H and Smulders, MJ and Kremer, A and Ziegenhagen, B and , }, title = {Community genetics in the time of next-generation molecular technologies.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {3198-3207}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12300}, pmid = {24433571}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biota ; Ecology/methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Insecta/*genetics ; Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plants/*genetics/microbiology ; Proteomics ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the interactions of co-occurring species within and across trophic levels provides key information needed for understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that underlie biological diversity. As genetics has only recently been integrated into the study of community-level interactions, the time is right for a critical evaluation of potential new, gene-based approaches to studying communities. Next-generation molecular techniques, used in parallel with field-based observations and manipulative experiments across spatio-temporal gradients, are key to expanding our understanding of community-level processes. Here, we introduce a variety of '-omics' tools, with recent studies of plant-insect herbivores and of ectomycorrhizal systems providing detailed examples of how next-generation approaches can revolutionize our understanding of interspecific interactions. We suggest ways that novel technologies may convert community genetics from a field that relies on correlative inference to one that reveals causal mechanisms of genetic co-variation and adaptations within communities.}, } @article {pmid24428169, year = {2014}, author = {Simonsen, AK and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Herbivory eliminates fitness costs of mutualism exploiters.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {2}, pages = {651-661}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12668}, pmid = {24428169}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Genetic Fitness ; *Herbivory ; *Insecta ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A common empirical observation in mutualistic interactions is the persistence of variation in partner quality and, in particular, the persistence of exploitative phenotypes. For mutualisms between hosts and symbionts, most mutualism theory assumes that exploiters always impose fitness costs on their host. We exposed legume hosts to mutualistic (nitrogen-fixing) and exploitative (non-nitrogen-fixing) symbiotic rhizobia in field conditions, and manipulated the presence or absence of insect herbivory to determine if the costly fitness effects of exploitative rhizobia are context-dependent. Exploitative rhizobia predictably reduced host fitness when herbivores were excluded. However, insects caused greater damage on hosts associating with mutualistic rhizobia, as a consequence of feeding preferences related to leaf nitrogen content, resulting in the elimination of fitness costs imposed on hosts by exploitative rhizobia. Our experiment shows that herbivory is potentially an important factor in influencing the evolutionary dynamic between legumes and rhizobia. Partner choice and host sanctioning are theoretically predicted to stabilize mutualisms by reducing the frequency of exploitative symbionts. We argue that herbivore pressure may actually weaken selection on choice and sanction mechanisms, thus providing one explanation of why host-based discrimination mechanisms may not be completely effective in eliminating nonbeneficial partners.}, } @article {pmid24424321, year = {2014}, author = {Battaglia, M and Rípodas, C and Clúa, J and Baudin, M and Aguilar, OM and Niebel, A and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {A nuclear factor Y interacting protein of the GRAS family is required for nodule organogenesis, infection thread progression, and lateral root growth.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {164}, number = {3}, pages = {1430-1442}, pmid = {24424321}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {CCAAT-Binding Factor/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; *Organogenesis ; Phaseolus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/*growth & development/microbiology ; Protein Binding ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {A C subunit of the heterotrimeric nuclear factor Y (NF-YC1) was shown to play a key role in nodule organogenesis and bacterial infection during the nitrogen fixing symbiosis established between common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Rhizobium etli. To identify other proteins involved in this process, we used the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid system to screen for NF-YC1-interacting proteins. One of the positive clones encodes a member of the Phytochrome A Signal Transduction1 subfamily of GRAS (for Gibberellic Acid-Insensitive (GAI), Repressor of GAI, and Scarecrow) transcription factors. The protein, named Scarecrow-like13 Involved in Nodulation (SIN1), localizes both to the nucleus and the cytoplasm, but in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana cells, bimolecular fluorescence complementation suggested that the interaction with NF-YC1 takes place predominantly in the nucleus. SIN1 is expressed in aerial and root tissues, with higher levels in roots and nodules. Posttranscriptional gene silencing of SIN1 using RNA interference (RNAi) showed that the product of this gene is involved in lateral root elongation. However, root cell organization, density of lateral roots, and the length of root hairs were not affected by SIN1 RNAi. In addition, the expression of the RNAi of SIN1 led to a marked reduction in the number and size of nodules formed upon inoculation with R. etli and affected the progression of infection threads toward the nodule primordia. Expression of NF-YA1 and the G2/M transition cell cycle genes Cyclin B and Cell Division Cycle2 was reduced in SIN1 RNAi roots. These data suggest that SIN1 plays a role in lateral root elongation and the establishment of root symbiosis in common bean.}, } @article {pmid24421210, year = {2014}, author = {Rimer, J and Cohen, IR and Friedman, N}, title = {Do all creatures possess an acquired immune system of some sort?.}, journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {273-281}, doi = {10.1002/bies.201300124}, pmid = {24421210}, issn = {1521-1878}, mesh = {*Adaptive Immunity/immunology ; Animals ; Humans ; Immune System/physiology ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Species Specificity ; Vertebrates/immunology ; }, abstract = {Recent findings have provided evidence for the existence of non-vertebrate acquired immunity. We survey these findings and propose that all living organisms must express both innate and acquired immunity. This is opposed to the paradigm that only vertebrates manifest the two forms of immune mechanism; other species are thought to use innate immunity alone. We suggest new definitions of innate and acquired immunity, based on whether immune recognition molecules are encoded in the inherited genome or are generated through somatic processes. We reason that both forms of immunity are similarly ancient, and have co-evolved in response to lifestyle, cost-benefit tradeoffs and symbiosis versus parasitism. However, different species have evolved different immune solutions that are not necessarily genetically related, but serve a similar general function - allowing individuals to learn from their own immune experience; survival of species is contingent on the acquired immune experience of its individuals.}, } @article {pmid24418930, year = {2014}, author = {Ye, L and Zheng, X and Zheng, H}, title = {Effect of sypQ gene on poly-N-acetylglucosamine biosynthesis in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its role in infection process.}, journal = {Glycobiology}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {351-358}, doi = {10.1093/glycob/cwu001}, pmid = {24418930}, issn = {1460-2423}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*biosynthesis/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Vaccines/immunology ; *Genes, Bacterial/genetics/physiology ; Perciformes/microbiology ; Vibrio Infections/immunology/metabolism/prevention & control ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus/*genetics/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The syp locus includes four genes encoding putative regulators, six genes encoding glycosyltransferases, two encoding export proteins, and six other genes encoding unidentified functional proteins associated with biofilm formation and symbiotic colonization. However, the individual functions of the respective genes remain unclear. Amino acid alignment indicates that sypQ is presumably involved in biosynthesizing poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG), which is proposed to be a critical virulence factor in pathogen infection and is regarded as a target for protective immunity against a variety of Gram-negative/positive pathogens. However, no evidence showing that Vibrio parahaemolyticus also produces PNAG has been reported. Herein, the V. parahaemolyticus is confirmed to possess potential for producing PNAG for the first time. Our results indicated that gene sypQ is associated with PNAG biosynthesis and PNAG is involved in pathogen colonization. We propose that the function of pgaC in Escherichia coli could be taken over by sypQ from V. parahaemolyticus. We also tested whether PNAG can be used as a target against V. parahaemolyticus when it infects Pseudosciaena crocea. Our results showed that PNAG isolated from V. parahaemolyticus is an effective agent for decreasing V. parahaemolyticus invasion, implying that PNAG could be used to develop an effective vaccine against V. parahaemolyticus infection.}, } @article {pmid24416427, year = {2014}, author = {Antwis, RE and Haworth, RL and Engelmoer, DJ and Ogilvy, V and Fidgett, AL and Preziosi, RF}, title = {Ex situ diet influences the bacterial community associated with the skin of red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e85563}, pmid = {24416427}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Carotenoids/pharmacology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Diet ; *Microbiota ; Pigmentation ; Skin/drug effects/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Amphibians support symbiotic bacterial communities on their skin that protect against a range of infectious pathogens, including the amphibian chytrid fungus. The conditions under which amphibians are maintained in captivity (e.g. diet, substrate, enrichment) in ex situ conservation programmes may affect the composition of the bacterial community. In addition, ex situ amphibian populations may support different bacterial communities in comparison to in situ populations of the same species. This could have implications for the suitability of populations intended for reintroduction, as well as the success of probiotic bacterial inoculations intended to provide amphibians with a bacterial community that resists invasion by the chytrid fungus. We aimed to investigate the effect of a carotenoid-enriched diet on the culturable bacterial community associated with captive red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas) and make comparisons to bacteria isolated from a wild population from the Chiquibul Rainforest in Belize. We successfully showed carotenoid availability influences the overall community composition, species richness and abundance of the bacterial community associated with the skin of captive frogs, with A. callidryas fed a carotenoid-enriched diet supporting a greater species richness and abundance of bacteria than those fed a carotenoid-free diet. Our results suggest that availability of carotenoids in the diet of captive frogs is likely to be beneficial for the bacterial community associated with the skin. We also found wild A. callidryas hosted more than double the number of different bacterial species than captive frogs with very little commonality between species. This suggests frogs in captivity may support a reduced and diverged bacterial community in comparison to wild populations of the same species, which could have particular relevance for ex situ conservation projects.}, } @article {pmid24416172, year = {2014}, author = {Angus, AA and Agapakis, CM and Fong, S and Yerrapragada, S and Estrada-de los Santos, P and Yang, P and Song, N and Kano, S and Caballero-Mellado, J and de Faria, SM and Dakora, FD and Weinstock, G and Hirsch, AM}, title = {Plant-associated symbiotic Burkholderia species lack hallmark strategies required in mammalian pathogenesis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e83779}, pmid = {24416172}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; Burkholderia/genetics/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Burkholderia Infections/*microbiology ; Caenorhabditis elegans/microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Flagella/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Loci ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mammals/*microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {Burkholderia is a diverse and dynamic genus, containing pathogenic species as well as species that form complex interactions with plants. Pathogenic strains, such as B. pseudomallei and B. mallei, can cause serious disease in mammals, while other Burkholderia strains are opportunistic pathogens, infecting humans or animals with a compromised immune system. Although some of the opportunistic Burkholderia pathogens are known to promote plant growth and even fix nitrogen, the risk of infection to infants, the elderly, and people who are immunocompromised has not only resulted in a restriction on their use, but has also limited the application of non-pathogenic, symbiotic species, several of which nodulate legume roots or have positive effects on plant growth. However, recent phylogenetic analyses have demonstrated that Burkholderia species separate into distinct lineages, suggesting the possibility for safe use of certain symbiotic species in agricultural contexts. A number of environmental strains that promote plant growth or degrade xenobiotics are also included in the symbiotic lineage. Many of these species have the potential to enhance agriculture in areas where fertilizers are not readily available and may serve in the future as inocula for crops growing in soils impacted by climate change. Here we address the pathogenic potential of several of the symbiotic Burkholderia strains using bioinformatics and functional tests. A series of infection experiments using Caenorhabditis elegans and HeLa cells, as well as genomic characterization of pathogenic loci, show that the risk of opportunistic infection by symbiotic strains such as B. tuberum is extremely low.}, } @article {pmid24415700, year = {2013}, author = {Zhang, P}, title = {[Social network analysis of animal behavioral ecology: a cross-discipline approach].}, journal = {Dong wu xue yan jiu = Zoological research}, volume = {34}, number = {6}, pages = {651-665}, pmid = {24415700}, issn = {0254-5853}, mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal ; Colobinae/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Social network analysis (SNA) is a framework used to study the structure of societies. As an umbrella term that encompasses various tools of graph theory and mathematical models to visualize networks, SNA allows researchers to detect and quantify patterns in social networks. Within SNA, individuals are not independent, but are symbiotic or linked with one another in a network. Given its powerful analytical tools, SNA is capable of addressing a range of animal behaviors, and has accordingly become increasingly popular in behavioral ecology studies examining such notions as mate choice/sexual selection, cooperation, information flow and disease transition, behavioral strategies of individuals, fitness consequences of sociality and network stability. Nevertheless, SNA it relatively underutilized among Chinese behavioral ecologists. This study aims at highlighting the benefits of SNA in studying animal behaviors in order to promote greater utilization of SNA within Chinese studies. By first introducing social network theory and demonstrating how social networks can influence individual and collective behaviors, this paper provide a prospective overview of SNA's general utilization for the study of animal behavioral ecology as well as promising directions in the overall use of SNA.}, } @article {pmid24412431, year = {2014}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Alors, D and Divakar, PK and Bálint, M and Crespo, A and Schmitt, I}, title = {Insights into intrathalline genetic diversity of the cosmopolitan lichen symbiotic green alga Trebouxia decolorans Ahmadjian using microsatellite markers.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {72}, number = {}, pages = {54-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2013.12.010}, pmid = {24412431}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Genetic Variation ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Trebouxia decolorans is a widespread and common symbiotic green alga that is found in association with different species of lichen-forming fungi. By applying T. decolorans-specific microsatellite markers, we investigated the within-thallus diversity of T. decolorans in thalli of Xanthoria parietina and Anaptychia ciliaris. We found several algal strains in most of the thalli of both hosts. High genetic differentiation among thalli suggests that algal diversity is generated de novo via mutation in both fungal hosts. Rarefied allelic richness of the algae was higher in thalli of X. parietina. Our results indicate that in X. parietina intrathalline algal diversity is additionally created by environmental uptake of algae either at the start of the symbiotic association or during the lifetime of the thallus. This study indicates that promiscuous host-symbiont associations in lichen symbioses with Trebouxia spp. may be more common than currently recognized.}, } @article {pmid24409319, year = {2014}, author = {Li, HH and Huang, ZY and Ye, SP and Lu, CY and Cheng, PC and Chen, SH and Chen, CS}, title = {Membrane labeling of coral gastrodermal cells by biotinylation: the proteomic identification of surface proteins involving cnidaria-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e85119}, pmid = {24409319}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/parasitology/*physiology ; Biotinylation ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; Proteome/metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Staining and Labeling ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The cellular and molecular-scale processes underlying the stability of coral-Symbiodinium endosymbioses remain unclear despite decades of investigation. As the coral gastroderm is the only tissue layer characterized by this unique symbiotic association, the membranes of these symbiotic gastrodermal cells (SGCs) may play important roles in the initiation and maintenance of the endosymbiosis. In order to elucidate the interactions between the endosymbiotic dinoflagellates and their coral hosts, a thorough characterization of SGC membranes is therefore required. Cell surface proteins of isolated SGCs were biotinylated herein by a cell impermeant agent, biotin-XX sulfosuccinimidyl ester. The in situ distribution of these biotinylated proteins was uncovered by both fluorescence and transmission electron microscopic imaging of proteins bound to Alexa Fluor® 488-conjugated streptavidin. The identity of these proteins was then determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Nineteen (19) proteins were identified, and they are known to be involved in the molecular chaperone/stress response, cytoskeletal remodeling, and energy metabolism. These results not only reveal the molecular characters of the host SGC membrane, but also provide critical insight into understanding the possible role of host membranes in this ecologically important endosymbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid24409313, year = {2014}, author = {Ye, W and Shen, CH and Lin, Y and Chen, PJ and Xu, X and Oelmüller, R and Yeh, KW and Lai, Z}, title = {Growth promotion-related miRNAs in Oncidium orchid roots colonized by the endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {e84920}, pmid = {24409313}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Orchidaceae/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Plant ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, colonizes the roots of a wide range of host plants and establishes various benefits for the plants. In this work, we describe miRNAs which are upregulated in Oncidium orchid roots after colonization by the fungus. Growth promotion and vigorous root development were observed in Oncidium hybrid orchid, while seedlings were colonized by P. indica. We performed a genome-wide expression profiling of small RNAs in Oncidium orchid roots either colonized or not-colonized by P. indica. After sequencing, 24,570,250 and 24744,141 clean reads were obtained from two libraries. 13,736 from 17,036,953 unique sequences showed homology to either 86 miRNA families described in 41 plant species, or to 46 potential novel miRNAs, or to 51 corresponding miRNA precursors. The predicted target genes of these miRNAs are mainly involved in auxin signal perception and transduction, transcription, development and plant defense. The expression analysis of miRNAs and target genes demonstrated the regulatory functions they may participate in. This study revealed that growth stimulation of the Oncidium orchid after colonization by P. indica includes an intricate network of miRNAs and their targets. The symbiotic function of P. indica on Oncidium orchid resembles previous findings on Chinese cabbage. This is the first study on growth regulation and development of Oncidium orchid by miRNAs induced by the symbiotic fungus P. indica.}, } @article {pmid24409191, year = {2013}, author = {Willmann, M and Gerlach, N and Buer, B and Polatajko, A and Nagy, R and Koebke, E and Jansa, J and Flisch, R and Bucher, M}, title = {Mycorrhizal phosphate uptake pathway in maize: vital for growth and cob development on nutrient poor agricultural and greenhouse soils.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {533}, pmid = {24409191}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutually beneficial symbiosis with plant roots providing predominantly phosphorus in the form of orthophosphate (Pi) in exchange for plant carbohydrates on low P soils. The goal of this work was to generate molecular-genetic evidence in support of a major impact of the mycorrhizal Pi uptake (MPU) pathway on the productivity of the major crop plant maize under field and controlled conditions. Here we show, that a loss-of-function mutation in the mycorrhiza-specific Pi transporter gene Pht1;6 correlates with a dramatic reduction of above-ground biomass and cob production in agro-ecosystems with low P soils. In parallel mutant pht1;6 plants exhibited an altered fingerprint of chemical elements in shoots dependent on soil P availability. In controlled environments mycorrhiza development was impaired in mutant plants when grown alone. The presence of neighboring mycorrhizal nurse plants enhanced the reduced mycorrhiza formation in pht1;6 roots. Uptake of (33)P-labeled orthophosphate via the MPU pathway was strongly impaired in colonized mutant plants. Moreover, repression of the MPU pathway resulted in a redirection of Pi to neighboring plants. In line with previous results, our data highlight the relevance of the MPU pathway in Pi allocation within plant communities and in particular the role of Pht1;6 for the establishment of symbiotic Pi uptake and for maize productivity and nutritional value in low-input agricultural systems. In a first attempt to identify cellular pathways which are affected by Pht1;6 activity, gene expression profiling via RNA-Seq was performed and revealed a set of maize genes involved in cellular signaling which exhibited differential regulation in mycorrhizal pht1;6 and control plants. The RNA data provided support for the hypothesis that fungal supply of Pi and/or Pi transport across Pht1;6 affects cell wall biosynthesis and hormone metabolism in colonized root cells.}, } @article {pmid24409180, year = {2013}, author = {Lipinski, S and Rosenstiel, P}, title = {Debug Your Bugs - How NLRs Shape Intestinal Host-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {479}, pmid = {24409180}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The host's ability to discriminate friend and foe and to establish a precise homeostasis with its associated microbiota is crucial for its survival and fitness. Among the mediators of intestinal host-microbe interactions, NOD-like receptor (NLR) proteins take center stage. They are present in the epithelial lining and innate immune cells that constantly monitor microbial activities at the intestinal barrier. Dysfunctional NLRs predispose to intestinal inflammation as well as sensitization to extra-intestinal immune-mediated diseases and are linked to the alteration of microbial communities. Here, we review advances in our understanding of their reciprocal relationship in the regulation of intestinal homeostasis and implications for intestinal health.}, } @article {pmid24407854, year = {2014}, author = {Oakeson, KF and Gil, R and Clayton, AL and Dunn, DM and von Niederhausern, AC and Hamil, C and Aoyagi, A and Duval, B and Baca, A and Silva, FJ and Vallier, A and Jackson, DG and Latorre, A and Weiss, RB and Heddi, A and Moya, A and Dale, C}, title = {Genome degeneration and adaptation in a nascent stage of symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {76-93}, pmid = {24407854}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007464/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Coleoptera/microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between animals and microbes are ubiquitous in nature, with an estimated 15% of all insect species harboring intracellular bacterial symbionts. Most bacterial symbionts share many genomic features including small genomes, nucleotide composition bias, high coding density, and a paucity of mobile DNA, consistent with long-term host association. In this study, we focus on the early stages of genome degeneration in a recently derived insect-bacterial mutualistic intracellular association. We present the complete genome sequence and annotation of Sitophilus oryzae primary endosymbiont (SOPE). We also present the finished genome sequence and annotation of strain HS, a close free-living relative of SOPE and other insect symbionts of the Sodalis-allied clade, whose gene inventory is expected to closely resemble the putative ancestor of this group. Structural, functional, and evolutionary analyses indicate that SOPE has undergone extensive adaptation toward an insect-associated lifestyle in a very short time period. The genome of SOPE is large in size when compared with many ancient bacterial symbionts; however, almost half of the protein-coding genes in SOPE are pseudogenes. There is also evidence for relaxed selection on the remaining intact protein-coding genes. Comparative analyses of the whole-genome sequence of strain HS and SOPE highlight numerous genomic rearrangements, duplications, and deletions facilitated by a recent expansion of insertions sequence elements, some of which appear to have catalyzed adaptive changes. Functional metabolic predictions suggest that SOPE has lost the ability to synthesize several essential amino acids and vitamins. Analyses of the bacterial cell envelope and genes encoding secretion systems suggest that these structures and elements have become simplified in the transition to a mutualistic association.}, } @article {pmid24407511, year = {2014}, author = {Maougal, RT and Bargaz, A and Sahel, C and Amenc, L and Djekoun, A and Plassard, C and Drevon, JJ}, title = {Localization of the Bacillus subtilis beta-propeller phytase transcripts in nodulated roots of Phaseolus vulgaris supplied with phytate.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {239}, number = {4}, pages = {901-908}, pmid = {24407511}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {6-Phytase/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacillus subtilis/*enzymology/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/cytology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Phytic Acid/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soil organic phosphorus (Po) such as phytate, which comprises up to 80 % of total Po, must be hydrolyzed by specific enzymes called phytases to be used by plants. In contrast to plants, bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, have the ability to use phytate as the sole source of P due to the excretion of a beta-propeller phytase (BPP). In order to assess whether the B. subtilis BPP could make P available from phytate for the benefit of a nodulated legume, the P-sensitive recombinant inbred line RIL147 of Phaseolus vulgaris was grown under hydroaeroponic conditions with either 12.5 μM phytate (C6H18O24P6) or 75 μmol Pi (K2HPO4), and inoculated with Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 alone, or co-inoculated with both B. subtilis DSM 10 and CIAT899. The in situ RT-PCR of BPP genes displayed the most intense fluorescent BPP signal on root tips. Some BPP signal was found inside the root cortex and the endorhizosphere of the root tip, suggesting endophytic bacteria expressing BPP. However, the co-inoculation with B. subtilis was associated with a decrease in plant P content, nodulation and the subsequent plant growth. Such a competitive effect of B. subtilis on P acquisition from phytate in symbiotic nitrogen fixation might be circumvented if the rate of inoculation were reasoned in order to avoid the inhibition of nodulation by excess B. subtilis proliferation. It is concluded that B. subtilis BPP gene is expressed in P. vulgaris rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid24405035, year = {2014}, author = {Yurgel, SN and Rice, J and Domreis, E and Lynch, J and Sa, N and Qamar, Z and Rajamani, S and Gao, M and Roje, S and Bauer, WD}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti flavin secretion and bacteria-host interaction: role of the bifunctional RibBA protein.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {437-445}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-13-0338-R}, pmid = {24405035}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; GTP Cyclohydrolase/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Intramolecular Transferases/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Recombinant Proteins ; Riboflavin/analysis/*metabolism ; Sequence Deletion ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti, the nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont of Medicago spp. and other legumes, secretes a considerable amount of riboflavin. This precursor of the cofactors flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide is a bioactive molecule that has a beneficial effect on plant growth. The ribBA gene of S. meliloti codes for a putative bifunctional enzyme with dihydroxybutanone phosphate synthase and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cyclohydrolase II activities, catalyzing the initial steps of the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway. We show here that an in-frame deletion of ribBA does not cause riboflavin auxotrophy or affect the ability of S. meliloti to establish an effective symbiosis with the host plant but does affect the ability of the bacteria to secrete flavins, colonize host-plant roots, and compete for nodulation. A strain missing the RibBA protein retains considerable GTP cyclohydrolase II activity. Based on these results, we hypothesize that S. meliloti has two partly interchangeable modules for biosynthesis of riboflavin, one fulfilling the internal need for flavins in bacterial metabolism and the other producing riboflavin for secretion. Our data also indicate that bacteria-derived flavins play a role in communication between rhizobia and the legume host and that the RibBA protein is important in this communication process even though it is not essential for riboflavin biosynthesis and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24401035, year = {2014}, author = {Villa, JA and Ray, EE and Barney, BM}, title = {Azotobacter vinelandii siderophore can provide nitrogen to support the culture of the green algae Neochloris oleoabundans and Scenedesmus sp. BA032.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {351}, number = {1}, pages = {70-77}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12347}, pmid = {24401035}, issn = {1574-6968}, abstract = {Microalgae are viewed as a potential future agricultural and biofuel feedstock and also provide an ideal biological means of carbon sequestration based on rapid growth rates and high biomass yields. Any potential improvement using high-yield microalgae to fix carbon will require additional fertilizer inputs to provide the necessary nitrogen required for protein and nucleotide biosynthesis. The free-living diazotroph Azotobacter vinelandii can fix nitrogen under aerobic conditions in the presence of reduced carbon sources such as sucrose or glycerol and is also known to produce a variety of siderophores to scavenge different metals from the environment. In this study, we identified two strains of green algae, Neochloris oleoabundans and Scenedesmus sp. BA032, that are able to utilize the A. vinelandii siderophore azotobactin as a source of nitrogen to support growth. When grown in a co-culture, S. sp. BA032 and N. oleoabundans obtained the nitrogen required for growth through the association with A. vinelandii. These results, indicating a commensalistic relationship, provide a proof of concept for developing a mutualistic or symbiotic relationship between these two species using siderophores as a nitrogen shuttle and might further indicate an additional fate of siderophores in the environment.}, } @article {pmid24400939, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, J and Tóth, K and Tanaka, K and Nguyen, CT and Yan, Z and Brechenmacher, L and Dahmen, J and Chen, M and Thelen, JJ and Qiu, L and Stacey, G}, title = {A soybean acyl carrier protein, GmACP, is important for root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {5}, pages = {415-423}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-13-0269-R}, pmid = {24400939}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Acyl Carrier Protein/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Palmitic Acid/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Stearic Acids/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes (members of family Fabaceae) establish a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (rhizobia) to overcome nitrogen source limitation. Single root hair epidermal cells serve as the entry point for bacteria to infect the host root, leading to development of a new organ, the nodule, which the bacteria colonize. In the present study, the putative role of a soybean acyl carrier protein (ACP), GmACP (Glyma18g47950), was examined in nodulation. ACP represent an essential cofactor protein in fatty acid biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analysis of plant ACP protein sequences showed that GmACP was classified in a legume-specific clade. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that GmACP was expressed in all soybean tissues but showed higher transcript accumulation in nodule tissue. RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of GmACP resulted in a significant reduction in nodule numbers on soybean transgenic roots. Fluorescent protein-labeled GmACP was localized to plastids in planta, the site of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. Analysis of the fatty acid content of root tissue silenced for GmACP expression, as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, showed an approximately 22% reduction, specifically in palmitic and stearic acid. Taken together, our data provide evidence that GmACP plays an important role in nodulation.}, } @article {pmid24400903, year = {2014}, author = {De Mita, S and Streng, A and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {Evolution of a symbiotic receptor through gene duplications in the legume-rhizobium mutualism.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {3}, pages = {961-972}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12549}, pmid = {24400903}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Conserved Sequence ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Gene Duplication ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Lipopolysaccharides/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia co-opted pre-existing endomycorrhizal features. In particular, both symbionts release lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) that are recognized by LysM-type receptor kinases. We investigated the evolutionary history of rhizobial LCO receptor genes MtLYK3-LjNFR1 to gain insight into the evolutionary origin of the rhizobial symbiosis. We performed a phylogenetic analysis integrating gene copies from nonlegumes and legumes, including the non-nodulating, phylogenetically basal legume Cercis chinensis. Signatures of differentiation between copies were investigated through patterns of molecular evolution. We show that two rounds of duplication preceded the evolution of the rhizobial symbiosis in legumes. Molecular evolution patterns indicate that the resulting three paralogous gene copies experienced different selective constraints. In particular, one copy maintained the ancestral function, and another specialized into perception of rhizobial LCOs. It has been suggested that legume LCO receptors evolved from a putative ancestral defense-related chitin receptor through the acquisition of two kinase motifs. However, the phylogenetic analysis shows that these domains are actually ancestral, suggesting that this scenario is unlikely. Our study underlines the evolutionary significance of gene duplication and subsequent neofunctionalization in MtLYK3-LjNFR1 genes. We hypothesize that their ancestor was more likely a mycorrhizal LCO receptor, than a defense-related receptor kinase.}, } @article {pmid24397934, year = {2014}, author = {Brum, FL and Catta-Preta, CM and de Souza, W and Schenkman, S and Elias, MC and Motta, MC}, title = {Structural characterization of the cell division cycle in Strigomonas culicis, an endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatid.}, journal = {Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {228-237}, doi = {10.1017/S1431927613013925}, pmid = {24397934}, issn = {1435-8115}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Cell Cycle/physiology ; Cell Division/physiology ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis/chemistry ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Organelles/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trypanosomatina/chemistry/cytology/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigomonas culicis (previously referred to as Blastocrithidia culicis) is a monoxenic trypanosomatid harboring a symbiotic bacterium, which maintains an obligatory relationship with the host protozoan. Investigations of the cell cycle in symbiont harboring trypanosomatids suggest that the bacterium divides in coordination with other host cell structures, particularly the nucleus. In this study we used light and electron microscopy followed by three-dimensional reconstruction to characterize the symbiont division during the cell cycle of S. culicis. We observed that during this process, the symbiotic bacterium presents different forms and is found at different positions in relationship to the host cell structures. At the G1/S phase of the protozoan cell cycle, the endosymbiont exhibits a constricted form that appears to elongate, resulting in the bacterium division, which occurs before kinetoplast and nucleus segregation. During cytokinesis, the symbionts are positioned close to each nucleus to ensure that each daughter cell will inherit a single copy of the bacterium. These observations indicated that the association of the bacterium with the protozoan nucleus coordinates the cell cycle in both organisms.}, } @article {pmid24397311, year = {2014}, author = {Althabegoiti, MJ and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Lozano, L and Torres Tejerizo, G and Rogel, MA and Mora, J and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Characterization of Rhizobium grahamii extrachromosomal replicons and their transfer among rhizobia.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {6}, pmid = {24397311}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Extrachromosomal Inheritance ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plasmids ; Rhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobium grahamii belongs to a new phylogenetic group of rhizobia together with Rhizobium mesoamericanum and other species. R. grahamii has a broad-host-range that includes Leucaena leucocephala and Phaseolus vulgaris, although it is a poor competitor for P. vulgaris nodulation in the presence of Rhizobium etli or Rhizobium phaseoli strains. This work analyzed the genome sequence and transfer properties of R. grahamii plasmids.

RESULTS: Genome sequence was obtained from R. grahamii CCGE502 type strain isolated from Dalea leporina in Mexico. The CCGE502 genome comprises one chromosome and two extrachromosomal replicons (ERs), pRgrCCGE502a and pRgrCCGE502b. Additionally, a plasmid integrated in the CCGE502 chromosome was found. The genomic comparison of ERs from this group showed that gene content is more variable than average nucleotide identity (ANI). Well conserved nod and nif genes were found in R. grahamii and R. mesoamericanum with some differences. R. phaseoli Ch24-10 genes expressed in bacterial cells in roots were found to be conserved in pRgrCCGE502b. Regarding conjugative transfer we were unable to transfer the R. grahamii CCGE502 symbiotic plasmid and its megaplasmid to other rhizobial hosts but we could transfer the symbiotic plasmid to Agrobacterium tumefaciens with transfer dependent on homoserine lactones.

CONCLUSION: Variable degrees of nucleotide identity and gene content conservation were found among the different R. grahamii CCGE502 replicons in comparison to R. mesoamericanum genomes. The extrachromosomal replicons from R. grahamii were more similar to those found in phylogenetically related Rhizobium species. However, limited similarities of R. grahamii CCGE502 symbiotic plasmid and megaplasmid were observed in other more distant Rhizobium species. The set of conserved genes in R. grahamii comprises some of those that are highly expressed in R. phaseoli on plant roots, suggesting that they play an important role in root colonization.}, } @article {pmid24392789, year = {2014}, author = {Dupont, S and Carre-Mlouka, A and Domart-Coulon, I and Vacelet, J and Bourguet-Kondracki, ML}, title = {Exploring cultivable Bacteria from the prokaryotic community associated with the carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma hypogea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {160-174}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12279}, pmid = {24392789}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Combining culture-dependent and independent approaches, we investigated for the first time the cultivable fraction of the prokaryotic community associated with the carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma hypogea. The heterotrophic prokaryotes isolated from this tiny sponge were compared between specimens freshly collected from cave and maintained in aquarium. Overall, 67 isolates obtained in pure culture were phylogenetically affiliated to the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. This cultivable diversity was lower than the prokaryotic diversity obtained by previous pyrosequencing study and comparable to that of another Mediterranean demosponge, the filter-feeding Phorbas tenacior. Furthermore, using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we visualized bacterial and archaeal cells, confirming the presence of both prokaryotes in A. hypogea tissue. Approximately 16% of the bacterial isolates tested positive for chitinolytic activity, suggesting potential microbial involvement in the digestion processes of crustacean prey by this carnivorous sponge. Additionally, 6% and 16% of bacterial isolates revealed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, respectively. One Streptomyces sp. S1CA strain was identified as a promising candidate for the production of antimicrobial and antioxidant secondary metabolites as well as chitinolytic enzymes. Implications in the context of the sponge biology and prey-feeding strategy are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24390311, year = {2014}, author = {Hoenger, A}, title = {High-resolution cryo-electron microscopy on macromolecular complexes and cell organelles.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {251}, number = {2}, pages = {417-427}, pmid = {24390311}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetulus ; Cryoelectron Microscopy/*methods ; Giardia/ultrastructure ; Macromolecular Substances/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; Organelles/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Cryo-electron microscopy techniques and computational 3-D reconstruction of macromolecular assemblies are tightly linked tools in modern structural biology. This symbiosis has produced vast amounts of detailed information on the structure and function of biological macromolecules. Typically, one of two fundamentally different strategies is used depending on the specimens and their environment. A: 3-D reconstruction based on repetitive and structurally identical unit cells that allow for averaging, and B: tomographic 3-D reconstructions where tilt-series between approximately ± 60 and ± 70° at small angular increments are collected from highly complex and flexible structures that are beyond averaging procedures, at least during the first round of 3-D reconstruction. Strategies of group A are averaging-based procedures and collect large number of 2-D projections at different angles that are computationally aligned, averaged together, and back-projected in 3-D space to reach a most complete 3-D dataset with high resolution, today often down to atomic detail. Evidently, success relies on structurally repetitive particles and an aligning procedure that unambiguously determines the angular relationship of all 2-D projections with respect to each other. The alignment procedure of small particles may rely on their packing into a regular array such as a 2-D crystal, an icosahedral (viral) particle, or a helical assembly. Critically important for cryo-methods, each particle will only be exposed once to the electron beam, making these procedures optimal for highest-resolution studies where beam-induced damage is a significant concern. In contrast, tomographic 3-D reconstruction procedures (group B) do not rely on averaging, but collect an entire dataset from the very same structure of interest. Data acquisition requires collecting a large series of tilted projections at angular increments of 1-2° or less and a tilt range of ± 60° or more. Accordingly, tomographic data collection exposes its specimens to a large electron dose, which is particularly problematic for frozen-hydrated samples. Currently, cryo-electron tomography is a rapidly emerging technology, on one end driven by the newest developments of hardware such as super-stabile microscopy stages as well as the latest generation of direct electron detectors and cameras. On the other end, success also strongly depends on new software developments on all kinds of fronts such as tilt-series alignment and back-projection procedures that are all adapted to the very low-dose and therefore very noisy primary data. Here, we will review the status quo of cryo-electron microscopy and discuss the future of cellular cryo-electron tomography from data collection to data analysis, CTF-correction of tilt-series, post-tomographic sub-volume averaging, and 3-D particle classification. We will also discuss the pros and cons of plunge freezing of cellular specimens to vitrified sectioning procedures and their suitability for post-tomographic volume averaging despite multiple artifacts that may distort specimens to some degree.}, } @article {pmid24390091, year = {2013}, author = {Chung, SH and Rosa, C and Hoover, K and Luthe, DS and Felton, GW}, title = {Colorado potato beetle manipulates plant defenses in local and systemic leaves.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e27592}, pmid = {24390091}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Coleoptera/drug effects/*physiology ; Colorado ; Larva/drug effects/physiology ; *Plant Immunity/drug effects ; Plant Leaves/*parasitology ; Solanum tuberosum/*immunology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Herbivore microbial associates can affect diverse interactions between plants and insect herbivores. Some insect symbionts enable herbivores to expand host plant range or to facilitate host plant use by modifying plant physiology. However, little attention has been paid to the role of herbivore-associated microbes in manipulating plant defenses. We have recently shown that Colorado potato beetle secrete the symbiotic bacteria to suppress plant defenses. The bacteria in oral secretions from the beetle hijack defense signaling pathways of host plants and the suppression of induced plant defenses benefits the beetle's performance. While the defense suppression by the beetle-associated bacteria has been investigated in local damaged leaves, little is known about the effects of the symbiotic bacteria on the manipulation of plant defenses in systemic undamaged leaves. Here, we demonstrate that the symbiotic bacteria suppress plant defenses in both local and systemic tissues when plants are attacked by antibiotic-untreated larvae.}, } @article {pmid24389412, year = {2014}, author = {Kakoi, K and Yamaura, M and Kamiharai, T and Tamari, D and Abe, M and Uchiumi, T and Kucho, K}, title = {Isolation of mutants of the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {31-37}, pmid = {24389412}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Frankia/*genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Hyphae/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Uracil/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Frankia is a nitrogen (N)-fixing multicellular actinomycete which establishes root-nodule symbiosis with actinorhizal plants. Several aspects of Frankia N fixation and symbiosis are distinct, but genes involved in the specific features are largely unknown because of the lack of an efficient mutant screening method. In this study, we isolated mutants of Frankia sp. strain CcI3 using hyphae fragments mutagenized by chemical mutagens. Firstly, we isolated uracil auxotrophs as gain-of-function mutants resistant to 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA). We obtained seven 5-FOA resistant mutants, all of which required uracil for growth. Five strains carried a frame shift mutation in orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase gene and two carried an amino acid substitution in the orotate phosphoribosyltransferase gene. Secondly, we isolated mutants showing loss-of-function phenotypes. Mutagenized hyphae were fragmented by ultrasound and allowed to multiply at their tips. Hyphae were fragmented again and short fragments were enriched by filtration through 5 μm pores filters. Next-generation and Sanger sequencing revealed that colonies formed from the short hyphae fragments consisted of cells with an identical genotype. From the mutagenized colony population, we isolated three pigmentation mutants and a mutant with reduced N-fixation activity. These results indicate that our procedure is useful for the isolation of loss-of-function mutants using hyphae of Frankia.}, } @article {pmid24388962, year = {2014}, author = {Sudová, R and Pánková, H and Rydlová, J and Münzbergová, Z and Suda, J}, title = {Intraspecific ploidy variation: A hidden, minor player in plant-soil-mycorrhizal fungi interactions.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {101}, number = {1}, pages = {26-33}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1300262}, pmid = {24388962}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Aster Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Biomass ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Mycelium/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; *Ploidies ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Genome duplication and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis are ubiquitous in angiosperms. While the significance of each of these phenomena separately has been intensively studied, their interaction remains to be understood.

METHODS: Three diploid and three hexaploid populations of Aster amellus (Asteraceae) were characterized in terms of the soil conditions in situ and mycorrhizal root colonization. In a greenhouse experiment, the effects of ploidy level, substrate conditions, and AM fungi on plant performance were then separated by growing noninoculated plants or plants inoculated with AM fungi in substrates native to either the diploids or hexaploids.

KEY RESULTS: The diploids inhabited nutritionally richer sites but did not differ from hexaploid plants in the level of mycorrhizal root colonization in situ. In the experiment, hexaploids generally performed better than the diploids. This intercytotype growth difference was enhanced by soil fertility, with hexaploids benefiting more from nutritionally richer substrate than the diploids. AM inoculation was crucial for plant growth and phosphorus uptake. The interaction between ploidy level and AM inoculation significantly influenced only dry mass of roots, phosphorus concentrations in shoot biomass, and the length of the extraradical mycelium in the nonsterile substrates.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the idea that polyploidy can affect the mycorrhizal growth response of host plants. Nevertheless, the effects of the interaction between ploidy and inoculation were weaker than the main effects of these factors.}, } @article {pmid24388247, year = {2013}, author = {Santa Rosa, B and Corte-Real, F and Vieira, DN}, title = {[Respecting minors' autonomy in child custody cases].}, journal = {Acta medica portuguesa}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {637-643}, pmid = {24388247}, issn = {1646-0758}, mesh = {Child ; Child Abuse, Sexual/prevention & control ; *Child Custody/legislation & jurisprudence/trends ; Forecasting ; Humans ; *Minors ; Parents ; *Personal Autonomy ; }, abstract = {Child custody decisions are among the most difficult for judges to make. The possibility of child abuse allegations or parents' deviant/ psychopathologic behaviours within this context, make the decision further complicated. Based on jurisprudence the listening of children opinion is a way to protect their best interest. In fact children have the right to express an opinion in all matters affecting their life. It should be given proper consideration to children opinion according with his/her age and maturity. Nonetheless custody disputes are emotionally draining issues. Asking the child to express an opinion during a public hearing, most likely in the presence of both parents, its not recommended because this is a potential stressful experience. Child interviews should take place in a proper environment and be set to their age. Medicine and Psychology have an important role in assessing children cognitive, emotional and volitional abilities, which is essential to properly account their opinions according to autonomy degree. This essay analyses the contribution of medico-legal and/or psychological exams to respect the autonomy of the child in cases of regulation of parental responsibilities. The conclusion is the need to establish a symbiotic relationship between the medical and legal perspectives of the (open) concept of child's best interests.}, } @article {pmid24388148, year = {2014}, author = {Nikoletopoulou, V and Kyriakakis, E and Tavernarakis, N}, title = {Cellular and molecular longevity pathways: the old and the new.}, journal = {Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {212-223}, doi = {10.1016/j.tem.2013.12.003}, pmid = {24388148}, issn = {1879-3061}, mesh = {Aging/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; Longevity/genetics/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Human lifespan has been increasing steadily during modern times, mainly due to medical advancements that combat infant mortality and various life-threatening diseases. However, this gratifying longevity rise is accompanied by growing incidences of devastating age-related pathologies. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie aging and regulate longevity is of utmost relevance towards offsetting the impact of age-associated disorders and increasing the quality of life for the elderly. Several evolutionarily conserved pathways that modulate lifespan have been identified in organisms ranging from yeast to primates. Here we survey recent findings highlighting the interplay of various genetic, epigenetic, and cell-specific factors, and also symbiotic relationships, as longevity determinants. We further discuss outstanding matters within the framework of emerging, integrative views of aging.}, } @article {pmid24387000, year = {2014}, author = {Nanjareddy, K and Blanco, L and Arthikala, MK and Affantrange, XA and Sánchez, F and Lara, M}, title = {Nitrate regulates rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbiosis in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {281-298}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12156}, pmid = {24387000}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Biomass ; Cell Size/drug effects ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Nitrates/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/genetics ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phaseolus/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development ; Rhizobium/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-limited conditions are considered to be a prerequisite for legume-rhizobial symbiosis, but the effects of nitrate-rich conditions on symbiotic status remain poorly understood. We addressed this issue by examining rhizobial (Rhizobim tropici) and arbusclar mycorrhizal (Glomus intraradices) symbiosis in Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Negro Jamapa under nitrate pre-incubation and continuous nitrate conditions. Our results indicate that nitrate pre-incubation, independent of the concentration, did not affect nodule development. However, the continuous supply of nitrate at high concentrations impaired nodule maturation and nodule numbers. Low nitrate conditions, in addition to positively regulating nodule number, biomass, and nitrogenase activity, also extended the span of nitrogen-fixing activity. By contrast, for arbuscular mycorrhizae, continuous 10 and 50 mmol/L nitrate increased the percent root length colonization, concomitantly reduced arbuscule size, and enhanced ammonia transport without affecting phosphate transport. Therefore, in this manuscript, we have proposed the importance of nitrate as a positive regulator in promoting both rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbiosis in the common bean.}, } @article {pmid24386977, year = {2014}, author = {Schmitz, AM and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Signaling events during initiation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {250-261}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.12155}, pmid = {24386977}, issn = {1744-7909}, mesh = {Chitin/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Under nutrient-limiting conditions, plants will enter into symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi for the enhancement of mineral nutrient acquisition from the surrounding soil. AM fungi live in close, intracellular association with plant roots where they transfer phosphate and nitrogen to the plant in exchange for carbon. They are obligate fungi, relying on their host as their only carbon source. Much has been discovered in the last decade concerning the signaling events during initiation of the AM symbiosis, including the identification of signaling molecules generated by both partners. This signaling occurs through symbiosis-specific gene products in the host plant, which are indispensable for normal AM development. At the same time, plants have adapted complex mechanisms for avoiding infection by pathogenic fungi, including an innate immune response to general microbial molecules, such as chitin present in fungal cell walls. How it is that AM fungal colonization is maintained without eliciting a defensive response from the host is still uncertain. In this review, we present a summary of the molecular signals and their elicited responses during initiation of the AM symbiosis, including plant immune responses and their suppression.}, } @article {pmid24386399, year = {2013}, author = {Thorpe, AS and Perakis, S and Catricala, C and Kaye, TN}, title = {Nutrient limitation of native and invasive N2-fixing plants in northwest prairies.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e84593}, pmid = {24386399}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Grassland ; *Introduced Species ; Lupinus/*physiology ; Micronutrients/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Oregon ; Vicia sativa/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nutrient rich conditions often promote plant invasions, yet additions of non-nitrogen (N) nutrients may provide a novel approach for conserving native symbiotic N-fixing plants in otherwise N-limited ecosystems. Lupinus oreganus is a threatened N-fixing plant endemic to prairies in western Oregon and southwest Washington (USA). We tested the effect of non-N fertilizers on the growth, reproduction, tissue N content, and stable isotope δ(15)N composition of Lupinus at three sites that differed in soil phosphorus (P) and N availability. We also examined changes in other Fabaceae (primarily Vicia sativa and V. hirsuta) and cover of all plant species. Variation in background soil P and N availability shaped patterns of nutrient limitation across sites. Where soil P and N were low, P additions increased Lupinus tissue N and altered foliar δ(15)N, suggesting P limitation of N fixation. Where soil P was low but N was high, P addition stimulated growth and reproduction in Lupinus. At a third site, with higher soil P, only micro- and macronutrient fertilization without N and P increased Lupinus growth and tissue N. Lupinus foliar δ(15)N averaged -0.010‰ across all treatments and varied little with tissue N, suggesting consistent use of fixed N. In contrast, foliar δ(15)N of Vicia spp. shifted towards 0‰ as tissue N increased, suggesting that conditions fostering N fixation may benefit these exotic species. Fertilization increased cover, N fixation, and tissue N of non-target, exotic Fabaceae, but overall plant community structure shifted at only one site, and only after the dominant Lupinus was excluded from analyses. Our finding that non-N fertilization increased the performance of Lupinus with few community effects suggests a potential strategy to aid populations of threatened legume species. The increase in exotic Fabaceae species that occurred with fertilization further suggests that monitoring and adaptive management should accompany any large scale applications.}, } @article {pmid24386304, year = {2013}, author = {Park, SY and Jeong, MH and Wang, HY and Kim, JA and Yu, NH and Kim, S and Cheong, YH and Kang, S and Lee, YH and Hur, JS}, title = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of the lichen fungus, Umbilicaria muehlenbergii.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e83896}, pmid = {24386304}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics ; Ascomycota/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Genetic Engineering/*methods ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; *Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Transformation-mediated mutagenesis in both targeted and random manners has been widely applied to decipher gene function in diverse fungi. However, a transformation system has not yet been established for lichen fungi, severely limiting our ability to study their biology and mechanism underpinning symbiosis via gene manipulation. Here, we report the first successful transformation of the lichen fungus, Umbilicaria muehlenbergii, via the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. We generated a total of 918 transformants employing a binary vector that carries the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene as a selection marker and the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene for labeling transformants. Randomly selected transformants appeared mitotically stable, based on their maintenance of hygromycin B resistance after five generations of growth without selection. Genomic Southern blot showed that 88% of 784 transformants contained a single T-DNA insert in their genome. A number of putative mutants affected in colony color, size, and/or morphology were found among these transformants, supporting the utility of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) for random insertional mutagenesis of U. muehlenbergii. This ATMT approach potentially offers a systematic gene functional study with genome sequences of U. muehlenbergii that is currently underway.}, } @article {pmid24385901, year = {2013}, author = {Hamilton, PT and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Host defense via symbiosis in Drosophila.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e1003808}, pmid = {24385901}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Aedes/microbiology ; Animals ; Disease Vectors ; Drosophila melanogaster/*immunology/*microbiology ; Female ; Male ; Spiroplasma/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, } @article {pmid24384788, year = {2014}, author = {Rubini, A and Riccioni, C and Belfiori, B and Paolocci, F}, title = {Impact of the competition between mating types on the cultivation of Tuber melanosporum: Romeo and Juliet and the matter of space and time.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S19-27}, pmid = {24384788}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Ascomycota/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/growth & development/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Reproduction/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Major breakthroughs in our understanding of the life cycles of the symbiotic ascomycetes belonging to the genus Tuber have occurred over the last several years. A number of Tuber species produce edible fruiting bodies, known as truffles, that are marketed worldwide. A better understanding of the basic biological characteristics of Tuber spp. is likely to have tremendous practical relevance for their cultivation. Tuber melanosporum produces the most valuable black truffles and its genome has been recently sequenced. This species is now serving as a model for studying the biology of truffles. Here, we review recent progress in the understanding of sexual reproduction modalities in T. melanosporum. The practical relevance of these findings is outlined. In particular, the discoveries that T. melanosporum is heterothallic and that strains of different mating types compete to persist on the roots of host plants suggest that the spatial and temporal distributional patterns of strains of different mating types are key determinants of truffle fructification. The spatial segregation of the two mating types in areas where T. melanosporum occurs likely limits truffle production. Thus, host plant inoculation techniques and agronomic practices that might be pursued to manage T. melanosporum orchards with a balanced presence of the two mating partners are described.}, } @article {pmid24384031, year = {2014}, author = {Garcia, JR and Laughton, AM and Malik, Z and Parker, BJ and Trincot, C and S L Chiang, S and Chung, E and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Partner associations across sympatric broad-headed bug species and their environmentally acquired bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1333-1347}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12655}, pmid = {24384031}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Burkholderia/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Sympatry ; }, abstract = {Many organisms have intimate associations with beneficial microbes acquired from the environment. These host-symbiont associations can be specific and stable, but they are prone to lower partner specificity and more partner-switching than vertically transmitted mutualisms. To investigate partner specificity in an environmentally acquired insect symbiosis, we used 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequencing to survey the bacterial population in the bacteria-harbouring organ (crypts) of 49 individuals across four sympatric broad-headed bug species (Alydus calcaratus, A. conspersus, A. tomentosus and Megalotomus quinquespinosus). Similar to other insect-bacteria associations, Burkholderia spp. were the most common residents of the crypts in all four insect species (77.2% of recovered sequences). Burkholderia presence was associated with prolonged survival to adulthood in A. tomentosus, suggesting a beneficial role of these specialized associations. Burkholderia were also found in environmental reservoirs in the insects' habitat, which may facilitate acquisition by insects by increasing Burkholderia-insect encounters. Symbiont establishment could also be facilitated by resistance to insect defences; zone of inhibition assays demonstrated that Burkholderia and other bacteria isolated from crypts are resistant to insect defences that limit growth of Escherichia coli. Alternatively, the insects' defences may not efficiently kill a broad range of bacteria. Although the symbiosis is targeted to Burkholderia, the insects' crypts housed other bacteria, including non-Burkholderiaceae species. There is no significant effect of host insect species on Burkholderia distribution, suggesting a lack of strong partner specificity at finer scales. The presence of frequent partner-switching between sympatric insects and their symbionts likely prevents tight co-evolutionary dynamics.}, } @article {pmid24383716, year = {2014}, author = {Burke, GR and Strand, MR}, title = {Systematic analysis of a wasp parasitism arsenal.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {890-901}, pmid = {24383716}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {F32 AI096552/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; S10 RR028859/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Larva/virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Ovary/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Polydnaviridae ; Proteome/*analysis ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Wasp Venoms/*analysis/genetics ; Wasps/genetics/metabolism/*virology ; }, abstract = {Parasitoid wasps are among the most diverse insects on earth with many species causing major mortality in host populations. Parasitoids introduce a variety of factors into hosts to promote parasitism, including symbiotic viruses, venom, teratocytes and wasp larvae. Polydnavirus-carrying wasps use viruses to globally suppress host immunity and prevent rejection of developing parasites. Although prior results provide detailed insights into the genes viruses deliver to hosts, little is known about other products. RNAseq and proteomics were used to characterize the proteins secreted by venom glands, teratocytes and larvae from Microplitis demolitor, which carries M. demolitor bracovirus (MdBV). These data revealed that venom glands and teratocytes secrete large amounts of a small number of products relative to ovaries and larvae. Venom and teratocyte products exhibited almost no overlap with one another or MdBV genes, which suggested that M. demolitor effector molecules are functionally partitioned according to their source. This finding was well illustrated in the case of MdBV and teratocytes. Many viral proteins have immunosuppressive functions that include disruption of antimicrobial peptide production, yet this study showed that teratocytes express high levels of the antimicrobial peptide hymenoptaecin, which likely compensates for MdBV-mediated immunosuppression. A second key finding was the prevalence of duplications among genes encoding venom and teratocyte molecules. Several of these gene families share similarities with proteins from other species, while also showing specificity of expression in venom glands or teratocytes. Overall, these results provide the first comprehensive analysis of the proteins a polydnavirus-carrying wasp introduces into its host.}, } @article {pmid24383411, year = {2014}, author = {Plett, JM and Khachane, A and Ouassou, M and Sundberg, B and Kohler, A and Martin, F}, title = {Ethylene and jasmonic acid act as negative modulators during mutualistic symbiosis between Laccaria bicolor and Populus roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {1}, pages = {270-286}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12655}, pmid = {24383411}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Cyclic/metabolism ; Cell Wall/drug effects/metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Cyclopentanes/*pharmacology ; Ethylenes/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/genetics ; Laccaria/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/physiology ; Oxylipins/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Populus/drug effects/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The plant hormones ethylene, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid have interconnecting roles during the response of plant tissues to mutualistic and pathogenic symbionts. We used morphological studies of transgenic- or hormone-treated Populus roots as well as whole-genome oligoarrays to examine how these hormones affect root colonization by the mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor S238N. We found that genes regulated by ethylene, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid were regulated in the late stages of the interaction between L. bicolor and poplar. Both ethylene and jasmonic acid treatments were found to impede fungal colonization of roots, and this effect was correlated to an increase in the expression of certain transcription factors (e.g. ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR1) and a decrease in the expression of genes associated with microbial perception and cell wall modification. Further, we found that ethylene and jasmonic acid showed extensive transcriptional cross-talk, cross-talk that was opposed by salicylic acid signaling. We conclude that ethylene and jasmonic acid pathways are induced late in the colonization of root tissues in order to limit fungal growth within roots. This induction is probably an adaptive response by the plant such that its growth and vigor are not compromised by the fungus.}, } @article {pmid24382700, year = {2014}, author = {Peccoud, J and Bonhomme, J and Mahéo, F and de la Huerta, M and Cosson, O and Simon, JC}, title = {Inheritance patterns of secondary symbionts during sexual reproduction of pea aphid biotypes.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {291-300}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12083}, pmid = {24382700}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/*physiology ; Female ; Genotyping Techniques ; Hybridization, Genetic ; *Inheritance Patterns ; Male ; Reproduction/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Herbivorous insects frequently harbor bacterial symbionts that affect their ecology and evolution. Aphids host the obligatory endosymbiont Buchnera, which is required for reproduction, together with facultative symbionts whose frequencies vary across aphid populations. These maternally transmitted secondary symbionts have been particularly studied in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, which harbors at least 8 distinct bacterial species (not counting Buchnera) having environmentally dependent effects on host fitness. In particular, these symbiont species are associated with pea aphid populations feeding on specific plants. Although they are maternally inherited, these bacteria are occasionally transferred across insect lineages. One mechanism of such nonmaternal transfer is paternal transmission to the progeny during sexual reproduction. To date, transmission of secondary symbionts during sexual reproduction of aphids has been investigated in only a handful of aphid lineages and 3 symbiont species. To better characterize this process, we investigated inheritance patterns of 7 symbiont species during sexual reproduction of pea aphids through a crossing experiment involving 49 clones belonging to 9 host-specialized biotypes, and 117 crosses. Symbiont species in the progeny were detected with diagnostic qualitative PCR at the fundatrix stage hatching from eggs and in later parthenogenetic generations. We found no confirmed case of paternal transmission of symbionts to the progeny, and we observed that maternal transmission of a particular symbiont species (Serratia symbiotica) was quite inefficient. We discuss these observations in respect to the ecology of the pea aphid.}, } @article {pmid24382270, year = {2014}, author = {Botnen, S and Vik, U and Carlsen, T and Eidesen, PB and Davey, ML and Kauserud, H}, title = {Low host specificity of root-associated fungi at an Arctic site.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {975-985}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12646}, pmid = {24382270}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/growth & development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polygonaceae/microbiology ; Rosaceae/microbiology ; Salix/microbiology ; Svalbard ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In High Arctic ecosystems, plant growth and reproduction are limited by low soil moisture and nutrient availability, low soil and air temperatures, and a short growing season. Mycorrhizal associations facilitate plant nutrient acquisition and water uptake and may therefore be particularly ecologically important in nutrition-poor and dry environments, such as parts of the Arctic. Similarly, endophytic root associates are thought to play a protective role, increasing plants' stress tolerance, and likely have an important ecosystem function. Despite the importance of these root-associated fungi, little is known about their host specificity in the Arctic. We investigated the host specificity of root-associated fungi in the common, widely distributed arctic plant species Bistorta vivipara, Salix polaris and Dryas octopetala in the High Arctic archipelago Svalbard. High-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) amplified from whole root systems generated no evidence of host specificity and no spatial autocorrelation within two 3 m × 3 m sample plots. The lack of spatial structure at small spatial scales indicates that Common Mycelial Networks (CMNs) are rare in marginal arctic environments. Moreover, no significant differences in fungal OTU richness were observed across the three plant species, although their root system characteristics (size, biomass) differed considerably. Reasons for lack of host specificity could be that association with generalist fungi may allow arctic plants to more rapidly and easily colonize newly available habitats, and it may be favourable to establish symbiotic relationships with fungi possessing different physiological attributes.}, } @article {pmid24379359, year = {2014}, author = {Lefebre, MD and Galán, JE}, title = {The inner rod protein controls substrate switching and needle length in a Salmonella type III secretion system.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {2}, pages = {817-822}, pmid = {24379359}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI030492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI30492/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/*physiology ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; *Models, Molecular ; *Protein Conformation ; Salmonella typhimurium/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Type III secretion machines are essential for the biology of many bacteria that are pathogenic or symbiotic for animals, plants, or insects. They exert their function by delivering bacterial effector proteins into target eukaryotic cells. The core component of these machines is the needle complex, a multiprotein structure that spans the bacterial envelope and serves as a conduit for proteins that transit this secretion pathway. The needle complex is composed of a multiring base embedded in the bacterial envelope and a filament-like structure, the needle, that projects from the bacterial surface and is linked to the base by the inner rod. Assembly of the needle complex proceeds in a step-wise fashion that is initiated by the assembly of the base and is followed by the export of the building subunits for the needle and inner rod substructures. Once assembled, the needle complex reprograms its specificity and becomes competent for the secretion of effector proteins. Here through genetic, biochemical, and electron microscopy analyses of the Salmonella inner rod protein subunit PrgJ we present evidence that the assembly of the inner rod dictates the timing of substrate switching and needle length. Furthermore, the identification of mutations in PrgJ that specifically alter the hierarchy of protein secretion provides additional support for a complex role of the inner rod substructure in type III secretion.}, } @article {pmid24378220, year = {2014}, author = {Méndez, C and Baginsky, C and Hedden, P and Gong, F and Carú, M and Rojas, MC}, title = {Gibberellin oxidase activities in Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {98}, number = {}, pages = {101-109}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.11.013}, pmid = {24378220}, issn = {1873-3700}, support = {BBS/E/C/00004951/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; P19317/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/*metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Gibberellins/biosynthesis/chemistry/metabolism ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/*metabolism ; Molecular Conformation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids isolated from root nodules of soybean (Glycine max.) plants converted the gibberellin (GA) precursor [(14)C1]GA12 into several products identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as [(14)C1]GA24, [(14)C1]GA9, [(14)C1]GA15, GA9 17-nor-16-one and unidentified products. The oxidation of GA12, catalyzed by the GA 20-oxidase, was present in symbiotic bacteroids from plants around flowering, but not in bacteroids from plants at either an early vegetative stage or at late growth stages. Expression of cps and ks genes, involved in ent-kaurene biosynthesis, was also demonstrated in bacteroids from soybean plants around flowering. Earlier precursors of the GA pathway, ent-[(14)C1]kaurenoic acid or [(14)C4]GA12-aldehyde, were efficiently utilized by B. japonicum bacteroids to give labelled GA9 plus intermediates partially oxidized at C-20, as well as GA9 17-nor-16-one and an unidentified product. No 3β or 13-hydroxylated [(14)C]GAs were detected in any of the incubations. Moreover the C19-GAs [(14)C1]GA4 or [(14)C1]GA20 were recovered unconverted upon incubation with the bacteroids which supports the absence of GA 3β-hydroxylase activity in B. japonicum. The bacterial 20-oxidase utilized the 13-hydroxylated substrates [(14)C1]GA53, [(14)C1]GA44 or [(14)C1]GA19, although with less efficiency than [(14)C1]GA12 to give [(14)C1]GA20 as final product, while the 3β-hydroxylated substrate [(14)C1]GA14 was converted to [(14)C1]GA4 to a very small extent. Endogenous GA9 and GA24 were identified by GC-MS in methanolic nodule extracts. These results suggest that B. japonicum bacteroids would synthesize GA9 under the symbiotic conditions present in soybean root nodules.}, } @article {pmid24376525, year = {2013}, author = {Augustin, JO and Groenewald, JZ and Nascimento, RJ and Mizubuti, ES and Barreto, RW and Elliot, SL and Evans, HC}, title = {Yet more "weeds" in the garden: fungal novelties from nests of leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e82265}, pmid = {24376525}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Fungi/classification/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Nesting Behavior ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/*parasitology ; Spores, Fungal/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic relationships modulate the evolution of living organisms in all levels of biological organization. A notable example of symbiosis is that of attine ants (Attini; Formicidae: Hymenoptera) and their fungal cultivars (Lepiotaceae and Pterulaceae; Agaricales: Basidiomycota). In recent years, this mutualism has emerged as a model system for studying coevolution, speciation, and multitrophic interactions. Ubiquitous in this ant-fungal symbiosis is the "weedy" fungus Escovopsis (Hypocreales: Ascomycota), known only as a mycoparasite of attine fungal gardens. Despite interest in its biology, ecology and molecular phylogeny--noting, especially, the high genetic diversity encountered--which has led to a steady flow of publications over the past decade, only two species of Escovopsis have formally been described.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We sampled from fungal gardens and garden waste (middens) of nests of the leaf-cutting ant genus Acromyrmex in a remnant of subtropical Atlantic rainforest in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In culture, distinct morphotypes of Escovopsis sensu lato were recognized. Using both morphological and molecular analyses, three new species of Escovopsis were identified. These are described and illustrated herein--E. lentecrescens, E. microspora, and E. moelleri--together with a re-description of the genus and the type species, E. weberi. The new genus Escovopsioides is erected for a fourth morphotype. We identify, for the first time, a mechanism for horizontal transmission via middens.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study makes a start at assigning names and formal descriptions to these specific fungal parasites of attine nests. Based on the results of this exploratory and geographically-restricted survey, we expect there to be many more species of the genus Escovopsis and its relatives associated with nests of both the lower and higher Attini throughout their neotropical range, as suggested in previous studies.}, } @article {pmid24373721, year = {2014}, author = {Wade, TK and Le Quéré, A and Laguerre, G and N'zoué, A and Ndione, JA and Dorego, F and Sadio, O and Ndoye, I and Neyra, M}, title = {Eco-geographical diversity of cowpea bradyrhizobia in Senegal is marked by dominance of two genetic types.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {129-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.10.002}, pmid = {24373721}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biota ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/physiology ; Culture Media/chemistry ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Osmotic Pressure ; Phylogeography ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Senegal ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity of native cowpea rhizobia originating from 60 sites across four eco-geographic zones in Senegal was studied. More than 300 cowpea nodules were analyzed by PCR-RFLP of the 16S-23S rDNA InterGenic Spacer region (IGS). Alignments of IGS sequences indicated that all genotypes were grouping within the Bradyrhizobium genus. The geographical distribution showed that apart from five IGS types, the others were specifically found in only one region. The diversity was significantly higher in the Senegal River valley zone, which presents lower mean annual rainfalls and slightly alkaline soils. Interestingly, two IGS types dominated the Senegalese rhizobial collection, one IGS type (VI) was found on more than half of the nodules collected in the northern Senegal River valley while another IGS type (I) was recovered from the great majority of nodules in the three other regions sampled. Two representative strains from each of these two dominant types were isolated and further analyzed. Multi Locus Sequence Analyses using 6 housekeeping genes indicate that they belong to a new Bradyrhizobium species closely related to B. yuanmingense. Phylogenetic analyses of 2 symbiotic genes nodC and nifH show that they are clustered with B. arachidis. Physiological tests on these strains have shown that under laboratory conditions, the growth of the IGS type VI strains was slightly less affected by a higher osmotic strength in the medium and to alkaline pH, which corroborates the soil physico-chemical parameters.}, } @article {pmid24373154, year = {2014}, author = {Kohl, KD and Miller, AW and Marvin, JE and Mackie, R and Dearing, MD}, title = {Herbivorous rodents (Neotoma spp.) harbour abundant and active foregut microbiota.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {9}, pages = {2869-2878}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12376}, pmid = {24373154}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/chemistry ; Feces/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Transit ; *Herbivory ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sigmodontinae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic gut microbes have facilitated the success of herbivorous mammals, which are generally grouped into foregut- and hindgut-fermenters. However, rodents are primarily herbivorous and exhibit a variety of gastrointestinal anatomies. Most rodents house microbes in hindgut chambers, such as the caecum and colon. Some rodents also exhibit stomach segmentation with a foregut chamber proximal to the stomach. For over a century, scientists have hypothesized that this foregut chamber houses a microbial community, yet this has never been explicitly examined. We investigated the capacity of each of the gut regions to house microbes by measuring size, pH, bacterial cell density, concentrations of microbial metabolites and digesta transit time in woodrats (Neotoma spp.). We also compared microbial communities across gut chambers, as well as faeces, using 16S rRNA sequencing. This allowed us to test the appropriateness of using faeces as a proxy for microbial communities of other gut chambers. We found that woodrats house foregut microbial communities with similar density and volatile fatty acid concentrations to rumen ecosystems. Resident microbial communities varied between gut chambers, and faecal bacterial communities were significantly different from caecal and colonic communities. The foregut microbiota may provide a number of physiological services to the host.}, } @article {pmid24372606, year = {2014}, author = {Jasmin, JN and Zeyl, C}, title = {Rapid evolution of cheating mitochondrial genomes in small yeast populations.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {1}, pages = {269-275}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12228}, pmid = {24372606}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Cell Respiration/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Mutation ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Outcrossed sex exposes genes to competition with their homologues, allowing alleles that transmit more often than their competitors to spread despite organismal fitness costs. Mitochondrial populations in species with biparental inheritance are thought to be especially susceptible to such cheaters because they lack strict transmission rules like meiosis or maternal inheritance. Yet the interaction between mutation and natural selection in the evolution of cheating mitochondrial genomes has not been tested experimentally. Using yeast experimental populations, we show that although cheaters were rare in a large sample of spontaneous respiratory-deficient mitochondrial mutations (petites), cheaters evolve under experimentally enforced outcrossing even when mutation supply and selection are restricted by repeatedly bottlenecking populations.}, } @article {pmid24372150, year = {2014}, author = {Foster, C and Portman, N and Chen, M and Šlapeta, J}, title = {Increased growth and pigment content of Chromera velia in mixotrophic culture.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {121-128}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12275}, pmid = {24372150}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Alveolata/*growth & development/isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {The alveolate microalga Chromera velia is an evolutionarily significant organism, representing the closest photosynthetic relative of the parasitic Apicomplexa. Chromera velia has been detected in and isolated from several stony corals and can be readily cultured in vitro under strictly autotrophic conditions. However, little is known about the ecology of this organism in the coral holobiont, an environment in which it could potentially access abundant organic carbon sources. To understand the response of C. velia to ecologically relevant organic compounds in vitro, we tested a mixotrophic culture strategy by supplementing inorganic f-medium with sugars, sugar-alcohols, organic acids and amino acids. For 15 of the 18 tested growth media, culture growth rate was significantly higher than that of strictly autotrophic cultures, and in three of these, a significant increase in maximum culture density was observed. In cultures supplemented with glutamate or glycine, the chlorophyll content per cell was up to 11-fold higher than cultures grown in standard inorganic media. Together, the in vitro culture growth and pigment responses demonstrate an ability to respond to nutritional resources when available. We propose that C. velia is a facultative opportunist in environments similarly enriched in such organic compounds, such as the coral holobiont.}, } @article {pmid24372067, year = {2013}, author = {Goodman, G and Bercovich, D}, title = {Electromagnetic induction between axons and their schwann cell myelin-protein sheaths.}, journal = {Journal of integrative neuroscience}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {475-489}, doi = {10.1142/S0219635213500295}, pmid = {24372067}, issn = {0219-6352}, mesh = {Action Potentials ; Animals ; Axons/*physiology ; *Electromagnetic Phenomena ; Models, Biological ; Myelin Sheath/*physiology ; Neural Conduction/*physiology ; Neuroglia/*physiology ; Schwann Cells/*cytology ; }, abstract = {Two concepts have long dominated vertebrate nerve electrophysiology: (a) Schwann cell-formed myelin sheaths separated by minute non-myelinated nodal gaps and spiraling around axons of peripheral motor nerves reduce current leakage during propagation of trains of axon action potentials; (b) "jumping" by action potentials between successive nodes greatly increases signal conduction velocity. Long-held and more recent assumptions and issues underlying those concepts have been obscured by research emphasis on axon-sheath biochemical symbiosis and nerve regeneration. We hypothesize: mutual electromagnetic induction in the axon-glial sheath association, is fundamental in signal conduction in peripheral and central myelinated axons, explains the g-ratio and is relevant to animal navigation.}, } @article {pmid24370634, year = {2014}, author = {Limami, AM and Diab, H and Lothier, J}, title = {Nitrogen metabolism in plants under low oxygen stress.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {239}, number = {3}, pages = {531-541}, pmid = {24370634}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*physiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {More frequent flooding and waterlogging events due to more heavy precipitation are expected worldwide in the context of climate change. Accordingly, adaptation of plants to oxygen limitation at both cellular and whole plant levels should be investigated thoroughly, that derived knowledge could be taken into account in breeding programs and agronomical practices for saving plant fitness, growth and development even when oxygen availability is low. In the present review, we highlight current knowledge on essential aspects of low oxygen stress-induced changes in nitrogen metabolism. The involvement of two possible pathways for NO production either via the reaction catalyzed by nitrate reductase or at Complex III or IV of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, thus contributing to ATP synthesis via the so-called nitrite-NO respiration, is discussed. NO is proposed to be scavenged by non-symbiotic hemoglobin (Hb) in a Hb/NO cycle, in which NAD(P)H is oxidized for the conversion of NO into NO3(-). The investigation of an additional adaptation to the decrease in oxygen availability via transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of amino acid synthesis pathways, using publicly available transcriptome and translatome data for Arabidopsis thaliana and rice is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid24369773, year = {2013}, author = {Russo, G and Spinella, S and Sciacca, E and Bonfante, P and Genre, A}, title = {Automated analysis of calcium spiking profiles with CaSA software: two case studies from root-microbe symbioses.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {224}, pmid = {24369773}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Automation ; *Calcium Signaling/drug effects ; Culture Media ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Software ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Repeated oscillations in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration, known as Ca2+ spiking signals, have been described in plants for a limited number of cellular responses to biotic or abiotic stimuli and most notably the common symbiotic signaling pathway (CSSP) which mediates the recognition by their plant hosts of two endosymbiotic microbes, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nitrogen fixing rhizobia. The detailed analysis of the complexity and variability of the Ca2+ spiking patterns which have been revealed in recent studies requires both extensive datasets and sophisticated statistical tools.

RESULTS: As a contribution, we have developed automated Ca2+ spiking analysis (CaSA) software that performs i) automated peak detection, ii) statistical analyses based on the detected peaks, iii) autocorrelation analysis of peak-to-peak intervals to highlight major traits in the spiking pattern.We have evaluated CaSA in two experimental studies. In the first, CaSA highlighted unpredicted differences in the spiking patterns induced in Medicago truncatula root epidermal cells by exudates of the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita as a function of the phosphate concentration in the growth medium of both host and fungus. In the second study we compared the spiking patterns triggered by either AM fungal or rhizobial symbiotic signals. CaSA revealed the existence of different patterns in signal periodicity, which are thought to contribute to the so-called Ca2+ signature.

CONCLUSIONS: We therefore propose CaSA as a useful tool for characterizing oscillatory biological phenomena such as Ca2+ spiking.}, } @article {pmid24368786, year = {2013}, author = {Miller, JB and Pratap, A and Miyahara, A and Zhou, L and Bornemann, S and Morris, RJ and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase is negatively and positively regulated by calcium, providing a mechanism for decoding calcium responses during symbiosis signaling.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {25}, number = {12}, pages = {5053-5066}, pmid = {24368786}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {BBS/E/J/000C0631/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000CA336/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/F017294/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbiotic associations in plants requires calcium oscillations that must be decoded to invoke downstream developmental programs. In animal systems, comparable calcium oscillations are decoded by calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinases, but symbiotic signaling involves a calcium/CaM-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) that is unique to plants. CCaMK differs from the animal CaM kinases by its dual ability to bind free calcium, via calcium binding EF-hand domains on the protein, or to bind calcium complexed with CaM, via a CaM binding domain. In this study, we dissect this dual regulation of CCaMK by calcium. We find that calcium binding to the EF-hand domains promotes autophosphorylation, which negatively regulates CCaMK by stabilizing the inactive state of the protein. By contrast, calcium-dependent CaM binding overrides the effects of autophosphorylation and activates the protein. The differential calcium binding affinities of the EF-hand domains compared with those of CaM suggest that CCaMK is maintained in the inactive state at basal calcium concentrations and is activated via CaM binding during calcium oscillations. This work provides a model for decoding calcium oscillations that uses differential calcium binding affinities to create a robust molecular switch that is responsive to calcium concentrations associated with both the basal state and with oscillations.}, } @article {pmid24368779, year = {2014}, author = {Lehnert, EM and Mouchka, ME and Burriesci, MS and Gallo, ND and Schwarz, JA and Pringle, JR}, title = {Extensive differences in gene expression between symbiotic and aposymbiotic cnidarians.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {277-295}, pmid = {24368779}, issn = {2160-1836}, support = {K22 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs provide habitats for a disproportionate number of marine species relative to the small area of the oceans that they occupy. The mutualism between the cnidarian animal hosts and their intracellular dinoflagellate symbionts provides the nutritional foundation for coral growth and formation of reef structures, because algal photosynthesis can provide >90% of the total energy of the host. Disruption of this symbiosis ("coral bleaching") is occurring on a large scale due primarily to anthropogenic factors and poses a major threat to the future of coral reefs. Despite the importance of this symbiosis, the cellular mechanisms involved in its establishment, maintenance, and breakdown remain largely unknown. We report our continued development of genomic tools to study these mechanisms in Aiptasia, a small sea anemone with great promise as a model system for studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Specifically, we have generated de novo assemblies of the transcriptomes of both a clonal line of symbiotic anemones and their endogenous dinoflagellate symbionts. We then compared transcript abundances in animals with and without dinoflagellates. This analysis identified >900 differentially expressed genes and allowed us to generate testable hypotheses about the cellular functions affected by symbiosis establishment. The differentially regulated transcripts include >60 encoding proteins that may play roles in transporting various nutrients between the symbiotic partners; many more encoding proteins functioning in several metabolic pathways, providing clues regarding how the transported nutrients may be used by the partners; and several encoding proteins that may be involved in host recognition and tolerance of the dinoflagellate.}, } @article {pmid24367072, year = {2014}, author = {Price, DR and Feng, H and Baker, JD and Bavan, S and Luetje, CW and Wilson, AC}, title = {Aphid amino acid transporter regulates glutamine supply to intracellular bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {111}, number = {1}, pages = {320-325}, pmid = {24367072}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 DC011091/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; DC011091/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/*metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Buchnera/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glutamine/*metabolism ; Hemolymph/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insect Proteins/*metabolism ; Oocytes/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics/physiology ; Xenopus laevis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic associations have played a major role in evolution. However, the molecular basis for the biochemical interdependence of these associations remains poorly understood. The aphid-Buchnera endosymbiosis provides a powerful system to elucidate how these symbioses are regulated. In aphids, the supply of essential amino acids depends on an ancient nutritional symbiotic association with the gamma-proteobacterium Buchnera aphidicola. Buchnera cells are densely packed in specialized aphid bacteriocyte cells. Here we confirm that five putative amino acid transporters are highly expressed and/or highly enriched in Acyrthosiphon pisum bacteriocyte tissues. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, two bacteriocyte amino acid transporters displayed significant levels of glutamine uptake, with transporter ACYPI001018, LOC100159667 (named here as Acyrthosiphon pisum glutamine transporter 1, ApGLNT1) functioning as the most active glutamine transporter. Transporter ApGLNT1 has narrow substrate selectivity, with high glutamine and low arginine transport capacity. Notably, ApGLNT1 has high binding affinity for arginine, and arginine acts as a competitive inhibitor for glutamine transport. Using immunocytochemistry, we show that ApGLNT1 is localized predominantly to the bacteriocyte plasma membrane, a location consistent with the transport of glutamine from A. pisum hemolymph to the bacteriocyte cytoplasm. On the basis of functional transport data and localization, we propose a substrate feedback inhibition model in which the accumulation of the essential amino acid arginine in A. pisum hemolymph reduces the transport of the precursor glutamine into bacteriocytes, thereby regulating amino acid biosynthesis in the bacteriocyte. Structural similarities in the arrangement of hosts and symbionts across endosymbiotic systems suggest that substrate feedback inhibition may be mechanistically important in other endosymbioses.}, } @article {pmid24367021, year = {2014}, author = {Lei, L and Chen, L and Shi, X and Li, Y and Wang, J and Chen, D and Xie, F and Li, Y}, title = {A nodule-specific lipid transfer protein AsE246 participates in transport of plant-synthesized lipids to symbiosome membrane and is essential for nodule organogenesis in Chinese milk vetch.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {164}, number = {2}, pages = {1045-1058}, pmid = {24367021}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/*metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Biological Transport ; Carrier Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; China ; Diglycerides/metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Intracellular Membranes/metabolism ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/metabolism ; Organ Specificity ; *Organogenesis ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Transport ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia in legume root nodules fix nitrogen in symbiosomes, organelle-like structures in which a membrane from the host plant surrounds the symbiotic bacteria. However, the components that transport plant-synthesized lipids to the symbiosome membrane remain unknown. This study identified and functionally characterized the Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus) lipid transfer protein AsE246, which is specifically expressed in nodules. It was found that AsE246 can bind lipids in vitro. More importantly, AsE246 can bind the plant-synthesized membrane lipid digalactosyldiacylglycerol in vivo. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed that AsE246 and digalactosyldiacylglycerol localize in the symbiosome membrane and are present in infection threads. Overexpression of AsE246 resulted in increased nodule numbers; knockdown of AsE246 resulted in reduced nodule numbers, decreased lipids contents in nodules, diminished nitrogen fixation activity, and abnormal development of symbiosomes. AsE246 knockdown also resulted in fewer infection threads, nodule primordia, and nodules, while AsE246 overexpression resulted in more infection threads and nodule primordia, suggesting that AsE246 affects nodule organogenesis associated with infection thread formation. Taken together, these results indicate that AsE246 contributes to lipids transport to the symbiosome membrane, and this transport is required for effective legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24364337, year = {2013}, author = {Li, SY and Hao, CB and Wang, LH and Lü, Z and Zhang, LN and Liu, Y and Feng, CP}, title = {[Microeukaryotic biodiversity in the waste ore samples surrounding an acid mine drainage lake].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {34}, number = {10}, pages = {4105-4111}, pmid = {24364337}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Acids/analysis ; Animals ; Arthropods/classification ; Ascomycota/classification ; Basidiomycota/classification ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Glomeromycota/classification ; Lakes/*chemistry ; Metals, Heavy/*analysis ; *Mining ; Plants ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The abandoned mineral samples were collected in an acid mine drainage area in Anhui Province. Molecular ecological methods were used to construct 18S rDNA clone libraries after analyzing the main physicochemical parameters, and then the microeukaryotic diversity and community structure in the acid mine drainage area were studied. The results showed that the region was strongly acidic (pH <3), and the concentrations of Fe, SO2-(4), P, NO-(3) -N showed the same trend, all higher in the bare waste ore samples PD and 1 M than in the vegetation covered samples LW and XC. Four eukaryotic phyla were detected in the abandoned mineral samples: Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Glomeromycota and Arthropoda. Glomeromycota can form an absolute symbiotic relationship with the plant, and it was a key factor for early plant to adapt the terrestrial environment. The biodiversity of the vegetation covered samples LW and XC, which contained Glomeromycota, was much higher than that of the bare abandoned rock samples PD and 1 M. Moreover, many sequences in the libraries were closely related to some isolated strains, which are tolerant to low pH and heavy metals, such as Penicillium purpurogenum, Chaetothyriales sp. and Staninwardia suttonii.}, } @article {pmid24363055, year = {2014}, author = {Cloutier-Hurteau, B and Turmel, MC and Mercier, C and Courchesne, F}, title = {The sequestration of trace elements by willow (Salix purpurea)--which soil properties favor uptake and accumulation?.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {4759-4771}, pmid = {24363055}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Salix/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Trace Elements/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The effect of soil properties on trace element (TE) extraction by the Fish Creek willow cultivar was assessed in a 4-month greenhouse experiment with two contrasted soils and two mycorrhizal treatments (Rhizophagus irregularis and natives). Aboveground tissues represented more than 82 % of the willow biomass and were the major sink for TE. Cadmium and Zn were concentrated in leaves, while As, Cu, Ni, and Pb were mostly found in roots. Willow bioconcentration ratios were below 0.20 for As, Cu, Ni, and Pb and reached 10.0 for Cd and 1.97 for Zn. More significant differences in willow biomass, TE concentrations, and contents were recorded between soil types than between mycorrhizal treatments. A slight significant increase in Cu extraction by willow in symbiosis with Rhizophagus irregularis was observed and was linked to increased shoot biomass. Significant regression models between TE in willow and soil properties were found in leaves (As, Ni), shoots (As, Cd, Cu, Ni), and roots (As, Cu, Pb). Most of the explanation was shared between soil water-soluble TE and fertility variables, indicating that TE phytoextraction is related to soil properties. Managing interactions between TE and major nutrients in soil appeared as a key to improve TE phytoextraction by willows.}, } @article {pmid24361921, year = {2014}, author = {Prasad, SV and Hepat, R and Kim, Y}, title = {Selectivity of a translation-inhibitory factor, CpBV15β, in host mRNAs and subsequent alterations in host development and immunity.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {152-162}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2013.12.001}, pmid = {24361921}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {5' Untranslated Regions/genetics ; Animals ; Arginine Kinase/genetics ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Extracts ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metamorphosis, Biological/genetics ; Moths/virology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Protein Biosynthesis/genetics ; Proteomics ; Rabbits ; Reticulocytes/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity/genetics ; Viral Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Wasps/genetics/*immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {An endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, parasitizes young larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Its symbiotic virus, C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), has been shown to play a crucial role in inducing physiological changes in the parasitized host. A viral gene, CpBV15β, exhibits a specific translational control against host mRNAs by sequestering a eukaryotic translation initiation factor, eIF4A. Inhibitory target mRNAs have high thermal stability (>≈9 kcal/mol) of their secondary structures in 5'UTR. To determine the specificity of translational control in terms of 5'UTR complexity, this study screened target/nontarget mRNAs of CpBV15β using a proteomics approach through an in vivo transient expression technique. A proteomics analysis of host plasma proteins showed that 12.9% (23/178) spots disappeared along with the expression of CpBV15β. A total of ten spots were chosen, in which five spots ('target') were disappeared by expression of CpBV15β and the other five ('nontarget') were insensitive to expression of CpBV15β, and further analyzed by a tandem mass spectroscopy. The predicted genes of target spots had much greater complexity (-12.3 to -25.2 kcal/mol) of their 5'UTR in terms of thermal stability compared to those (-3.70 to -9.00 kcal/mol) of nontarget spots. 5'UTRs of one target gene (arginine kinase:Px-AK) and one nontarget gene (imaginal disc growth factor:Px-IDGF) were cloned and used for in vitro translation (IVT) assay using rabbit reticulocyte lysate. IVT assay clearly showed that mRNA of Px-IDGF was translated in the presence of CpBV15β, but mRNA of Px-AK was not. Physiological significance of these two genes was compared in immune and development processes of P. xylostella by specific RNA interference (RNAi). Under these RNAi conditions, suppression of Px-AK exhibited much more significant adverse effects on larval immunity and larva-to-pupa metamorphosis compared to the effect of suppression of Px-IDGF. These results support the hypothesis that 5'UTR complexity is a molecular motif to discriminate host mRNAs by CpBV15β for its host translational control and suggest that this discrimination would be required for altering host physiology to accomplish a successful parasitism of the wasp host, C. plutellae.}, } @article {pmid24361513, year = {2014}, author = {Hashmi, MZ and Naveedullah, and Shen, H and Zhu, S and Yu, C and Shen, C}, title = {Growth, bioluminescence and shoal behavior hormetic responses to inorganic and/or organic chemicals: a review.}, journal = {Environment international}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {28-39}, doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2013.11.018}, pmid = {24361513}, issn = {1873-6750}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; *Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hormesis/*physiology ; Humans ; Luminescence ; Organic Chemicals/pharmacology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena/drug effects ; }, abstract = {A biphasic dose response, termed hormesis, is characterized by beneficial effects of a chemical at a low dose and harmful effects at a high dose. This biphasic dose response phenomenon has the potential to strongly alter toxicology in a broad range. The present review focuses on the progress of research into hormetic responses in terms of growth (in plants, birds, algae and humans), bioluminescence, and shoal behavior as end points. The paper describes how both inorganic and organic chemicals at a low dose show stimulatory responses while at higher doses are inhibitory. The article highlights how factors such as symbiosis, density-dependent factors, time, and contrasting environmental factors (availability of nutrients, temperature, light, etc.) affect both the range and amplitude of hormetic responses. Furthermore, the possible underlying mechanisms are also discussed and we suggest that, for every end point, different hormetic mechanisms may exist. The occurrences of varying interacting receptor systems or receptor systems affecting the assessment of hormesis for each endpoint are discussed. The present review suggests that a hormetic model should be adopted for toxicological evaluations instead of the older threshold and linear non-threshold models.}, } @article {pmid24361504, year = {2014}, author = {Pérez-Tienda, J and Corrêa, A and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Ferrol, N}, title = {Transcriptional regulation of host NH4[+] transporters and GS/GOGAT pathway in arbuscular mycorrhizal rice roots.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {75}, number = {}, pages = {1-8}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.11.029}, pmid = {24361504}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Cation Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota ; Glutamate Synthase/genetics/metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a key role in the nutrition of many land plants. AM roots have two pathways for nutrient uptake, directly through the root epidermis and root hairs and via AM fungal hyphae into root cortical cells, where arbuscules or hyphal coils provide symbiotic interfaces. Recent studies demonstrated that the AM symbiosis modifies the expression of plant transporter genes and that NH4[+] is the main form of N transported in the symbiosis. The aim of the present work was to get insights into the mycorrhizal N uptake pathway in Oryza sativa by analysing the expression of genes encoding ammonium transporters (AMTs), glutamine synthase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in roots colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and grown under two N regimes. We found that the AM symbiosis down-regulated OsAMT1;1 and OsAMT1;3 expression at low-N, but not at high-N conditions, and induced, independently of the N status of the plant, a strong up-regulation of OsAMT3;1 expression. The AM-inducible NH4[+] transporter OsAMT3;1 belongs to the family 2 of plant AMTs and is phylogenetically related to the AM-inducible AMTs of other plant species. Moreover, for the first time we provide evidence of the specific induction of a GOGAT gene upon colonization with an AM fungus. These data suggest that OsAMT3;1 is likely involved in the mycorrhizal N uptake pathway in rice roots and that OsGOGAT2 plays a role in the assimilation of the NH4[+] supplied via the OsAMT3;1 AM-inducible transporter.}, } @article {pmid24358175, year = {2013}, author = {Belfiori, B and Riccioni, C and Paolocci, F and Rubini, A}, title = {Mating type locus of Chinese black truffles reveals heterothallism and the presence of cryptic species within the T. indicum species complex.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e82353}, pmid = {24358175}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; DNA, Fungal/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Tuber spp. are filamentous ascomycetes which establish symbiosis with the roots of trees and shrub species. By virtue of this symbiosis they produce hypogeous ascocarps, known as truffles. Filamentous ascomycetes can reproduce by homothallism or heterothallism depending on the structure and organization of their mating type locus. The first mating type locus in a truffle species has been recently characterized in Tuber melanosporum and it has been shown that this fungus, endemic in Europe, is heterothallic. The availability of sequence information for T. melanosporum mating type genes is seminal to cloning their orthologs from other Tuber species and assessing their reproductive mode. Here we report on the organization of the mating type region in T. indicum, the black truffle species present in Asia, which is the closest relative to T. melanosporum and is characterized by an high level of morphological and genetic variability. The present study shows that T. indicum is also heterothallic. Examination of Asiatic black truffles belonging to different genetic classes, sorted according to the sequence polymorphism of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA region, has revealed sequence variations and rearrangements in both coding and non-coding regions of the mating type locus, to suggest the existence of cryptic species within the T. indicum complex. The presence of transposable elements within or linked to the mating type region suggests a role of these elements in generating the genotypic diversity present among T. indicum strains. Overall, comparative analyses of the mating type locus have thus allowed us to tackle taxonomical and phylogenetic issues within black truffles and make inferences about the evolution of T. melanosporum-T. indicum lineage. Our results are not only of fundamental but also of applied relevance as T. indicum produces edible fruit bodies that are imported also into Europe and thus may represent a biological threat for T. melanosporum.}, } @article {pmid24355423, year = {2014}, author = {Mathew, G and Thambi, M and Unnikrishnan, MK}, title = {A multimodal Darwinian strategy for alleviating the atherosclerosis pandemic.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {82}, number = {2}, pages = {159-162}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2013.11.025}, pmid = {24355423}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis/*therapy ; Biological Evolution ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Intestines/parasitology ; Mast Cells/cytology ; Metformin/chemistry ; Models, Theoretical ; Signal Transduction ; Vitamin D/metabolism ; Vitamin D Deficiency/complications ; }, abstract = {The conflict between our 'primitive' genes and 'modern' lifestyle probably lies at the root of several disorders that afflict modern man. Atherosclerosis, which is relatively unknown among contemporary hunter-gatherer populations, has reached pandemic proportions in recent times. Being an evolutionary problem with several inter-related pathologies, current therapeutic strategy for treating atherosclerosis has inherent limitations. Reviewing evolution-linked risk factors suggests that there are four aspects to the etiology of atherosclerosis namely, decreased intestinal parasitism, oversensitivity of evolutionarily redundant mast cells, chronic underactivation of AMPK (cellular energy sensor) and a deficiency of vitamin D. A combination of these four causes appear to have precipitated the atherosclerosis pandemic in modern times. Man and worms co-existed symbiotically in the past. Massive de-worming campaigns could have disrupted this symbiosis, increasing nutritional availability to man (pro-obesity) at the cost of decreased immunotolerance (pro-atherogenicity). A reduction in helminth-induced chronic TH2 activation could also have enhanced TH1 polarization, eventually disrupting the reciprocal regulation of TH1/TH2 balance and resulting in atherosclerosis. The riddance of helminth infestations may have rendered mast cells immunologically redundant, making them oversensitive to inflammatory stimuli, thereby playing a pro-atherogenic role. AMPK activation exerts pleiotropic anti-atherogenic effects, such as suppression of fatty acid, cholesterol, protein synthesis, reduction of vascular smooth muscle proliferation, etc. As energy deficit is the chief stimulus for AMPK activation, the over-nourished modern man appears to be suffering from chronic underactivation of AMPK, legitimising the unrivalled supremacy of metformin, the oldest prescribed antidiabetic drug. The fact that humans evolved in the sunny tropics suggests that humans are selected for high vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency is now linked to several conditions including increased risk of CV disorders, diabetes, etc. The manifold decrease in vitamin D levels in modern man justifies a need for supplementation. We therefore hypothesize that a judicious combination of mast cell stabilization, AMPK activation, vitamin D supplementation, and moderation in hygiene practices could be an evolution-based multimodal strategy for both preventing and mitigating the pandemic of atherosclerosis.}, } @article {pmid24351937, year = {2014}, author = {Bender, SF and Plantenga, F and Neftel, A and Jocher, M and Oberholzer, HR and Köhl, L and Giles, M and Daniell, TJ and van der Heijden, MG}, title = {Symbiotic relationships between soil fungi and plants reduce N2O emissions from soil.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {1336-1345}, pmid = {24351937}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Biomass ; Denitrification/genetics ; Gene Dosage ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Nitrous Oxide/*analysis ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {N2O is a potent greenhouse gas involved in the destruction of the protective ozone layer in the stratosphere and contributing to global warming. The ecological processes regulating its emissions from soil are still poorly understood. Here, we show that the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a dominant group of soil fungi, which form symbiotic associations with the majority of land plants and which influence a range of important ecosystem functions, can induce a reduction in N2O emissions from soil. To test for a functional relationship between AMF and N2O emissions, we manipulated the abundance of AMF in two independent greenhouse experiments using two different approaches (sterilized and re-inoculated soil and non-mycorrhizal tomato mutants) and two different soils. N2O emissions were increased by 42 and 33% in microcosms with reduced AMF abundance compared to microcosms with a well-established AMF community, suggesting that AMF regulate N2O emissions. This could partly be explained by increased N immobilization into microbial or plant biomass, reduced concentrations of mineral soil N as a substrate for N2O emission and altered water relations. Moreover, the abundance of key genes responsible for N2O production (nirK) was negatively and for N2O consumption (nosZ) positively correlated to AMF abundance, indicating that the regulation of N2O emissions is transmitted by AMF-induced changes in the soil microbial community. Our results suggest that the disruption of the AMF symbiosis through intensification of agricultural practices may further contribute to increased N2O emissions.}, } @article {pmid24351744, year = {2013}, author = {Molloy, J and Allen, K and Collier, F and Tang, ML and Ward, AC and Vuillermin, P}, title = {The potential link between gut microbiota and IgE-mediated food allergy in early life.}, journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {7235-7256}, pmid = {24351744}, issn = {1660-4601}, mesh = {Child ; Child, Preschool ; Food Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/immunology/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/*immunology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {There has been a dramatic rise in the prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergy over recent decades, particularly among infants and young children. The cause of this increase is unknown but one putative factor is a change in the composition, richness and balance of the microbiota that colonize the human gut during early infancy. The coevolution of the human gastrointestinal tract and commensal microbiota has resulted in a symbiotic relationship in which gut microbiota play a vital role in early life immune development and function, as well as maintenance of gut wall epithelial integrity. Since IgE mediated food allergy is associated with immune dysregulation and impaired gut epithelial integrity there is substantial interest in the potential link between gut microbiota and food allergy. Although the exact link between gut microbiota and food allergy is yet to be established in humans, recent experimental evidence suggests that specific patterns of gut microbiota colonization may influence the risk and manifestations of food allergy. An understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota and food allergy has the potential to inform both the prevention and treatment of food allergy. In this paper we review the theory and evidence linking gut microbiota and IgE-mediated food allergy in early life. We then consider the implications and challenges for future research, including the techniques of measuring and analyzing gut microbiota, and the types of studies required to advance knowledge in the field.}, } @article {pmid24350862, year = {2014}, author = {Molesini, B and Cecconi, D and Pii, Y and Pandolfini, T}, title = {Local and systemic proteomic changes in medicago truncatula at an early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {408-421}, doi = {10.1021/pr4009942}, pmid = {24350862}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Proteome ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic association with N-fixing bacteria facilitates the growth of leguminous plants under nitrogen-limiting conditions. The establishment of the symbiosis requires signal exchange between the host and the bacterium, which leads to the formation of root nodules, inside which bacteria are hosted. The formation of nodules is controlled through local and systemic mechanisms, which involves root-shoot communication. Our study was aimed at investigating the proteomic changes occurring in shoots and concomitantly in roots of Medicago truncatula at an early stage of Sinorhizobium meliloti infection. The principal systemic effects consisted in alteration of chloroplast proteins, induction of proteins responsive to biotic stress, and changes in proteins involved in hormonal signaling and metabolism. The most relevant local effect was the induction of proteins involved in the utilization of photosynthates and C-consuming processes (such as sucrose synthase and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase). In addition, some redox enzymes such as peroxiredoxin and ascorbate peroxidase showed an altered abundance. The analysis of local and systemic proteome changes suggests the occurrence of a stress response in the shoots and the precocious alteration of energy metabolism in roots and shoots. Furthermore, our data indicate the possibility that ABA and ethylene participate in the communicative network between root and shoot in the control of rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid24350573, year = {2014}, author = {Jing, X and Wong, AC and Chaston, JM and Colvin, J and McKenzie, CL and Douglas, AE}, title = {The bacterial communities in plant phloem-sap-feeding insects.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1433-1444}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12637}, pmid = {24350573}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Feeding Behavior ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phloem ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The resident microbiota of animals represents an important contribution to the global microbial diversity, but it is poorly known in many animals. This study investigated the bacterial diversity in plant phloem-sap-feeding whiteflies, aphids and psyllids by pyrosequencing bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. After correction for sequencing error, just 3-7 bacterial operational taxonomic units were recovered from each insect sample sequenced to sufficient depth for saturation of rarefaction curves. Most samples were dominated by primary and secondary symbionts, which are localized to insect cells or the body cavity, indicative of a dearth of bacterial colonists of the gut lumen. Diversity indices of the bacterial communities (Shannon's index: 0.40-1.46, Simpson's index: 0.15-0.74) did not differ significantly between laboratory and field samples of the phloem-feeding insects, but were significantly lower than in drosophilid flies quantified by the same methods. Both the low bacterial content of the phloem sap diet and biological processes in the insect may contribute to the apparently low bacterial diversity in these phloem-feeding insects.}, } @article {pmid24349398, year = {2013}, author = {Urbanczyk, H and Urbanczyk, Y and Hayashi, T and Ogura, Y}, title = {Diversification of two lineages of symbiotic Photobacterium.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e82917}, pmid = {24349398}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial/*physiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Photobacterium/classification/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Understanding of processes driving bacterial speciation requires examination of closely related, recently diversified lineages. To gain an insight into diversification of bacteria, we conducted comparative genomic analysis of two lineages of bioluminescent symbionts, Photobacterium leiognathi and 'P. mandapamensis'. The two lineages are evolutionary and ecologically closely related. Based on the methods used in bacterial taxonomy for classification of new species (DNA-DNA hybridization and ANI), genetic relatedness of the two lineages is at a cut-off point for species delineation. In this study, we obtained the whole genome sequence of a representative P. leiognathi strain lrivu.4.1, and compared it to the whole genome sequence of 'P. mandapamensis' svers.1.1. Results of the comparative genomic analysis suggest that P. leiognathi has a more plastic genome and acquired genes horizontally more frequently than 'P. mandapamensis'. We predict that different rates of recombination and gene acquisition contributed to diversification of the two lineages. Analysis of lineage-specific sequences in 25 strains of P. leiognathi and 'P. mandapamensis' found no evidence that bioluminescent symbioses with specific host animals have played a role in diversification of the two lineages.}, } @article {pmid24349319, year = {2013}, author = {Nakabachi, A and Nikoh, N and Oshima, K and Inoue, H and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y and Miyagishima, SY and Hattori, M and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Horizontal gene acquisition of Liberibacter plant pathogens from a bacteriome-confined endosymbiont of their psyllid vector.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e82612}, pmid = {24349319}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acid Transport Systems/chemistry/genetics ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Order ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobiaceae/classification/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {he Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri is a notorious agricultural pest that transmits the phloem-inhabiting alphaproteobacterial 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' and allied plant pathogens, which cause the devastating citrus disease called Huanglongbing or greening disease. D. citri harbors two distinct bacterial mutualists in the symbiotic organ called bacteriome: the betaproteobacterium 'Candidatus Profftella armatura' in the syncytial cytoplasm at the center of the bacteriome, and the gammaproteobacterium 'Candidatus Carsonella ruddii' in uninucleate bacteriocytes. Here we report that a putative amino acid transporter LysE of Profftella forms a highly supported clade with proteins of L. asiaticus, L. americanus, and L. solanacearum. L. crescens, the most basal Liberibacter lineage currently known, lacked the corresponding gene. The Profftella-Liberibacter subclade of LysE formed a clade with proteins from betaproteobacteria of the order Burkholderiales, to which Profftella belongs. This phylogenetic pattern favors the hypothesis that the Liberibacter lineage acquired the gene from the Profftella lineage via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) after L. crescens diverged from other Liberibacter lineages. K A/K S analyses further supported the hypothesis that the genes encoded in the Liberibacter genomes are functional. These findings highlight the possible evolutionary importance of HGT between plant pathogens and their insect vector's symbionts that are confined in the symbiotic organ and seemingly sequestered from external microbial populations.}, } @article {pmid24348509, year = {2013}, author = {Kumar, S and Jones, M and Koutsovoulos, G and Clarke, M and Blaxter, M}, title = {Blobology: exploring raw genome data for contaminants, symbionts and parasites using taxon-annotated GC-coverage plots.}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {237}, pmid = {24348509}, issn = {1664-8021}, abstract = {Generating the raw data for a de novo genome assembly project for a target eukaryotic species is relatively easy. This democratization of access to large-scale data has allowed many research teams to plan to assemble the genomes of non-model organisms. These new genome targets are very different from the traditional, inbred, laboratory-reared model organisms. They are often small, and cannot be isolated free of their environment - whether ingested food, the surrounding host organism of parasites, or commensal and symbiotic organisms attached to or within the individuals sampled. Preparation of pure DNA originating from a single species can be technically impossible, but assembly of mixed-organism DNA can be difficult, as most genome assemblers perform poorly when faced with multiple genomes in different stoichiometries. This class of problem is common in metagenomic datasets that deliberately try to capture all the genomes present in an environment, but replicon assembly is not often the goal of such programs. Here we present an approach to extracting, from mixed DNA sequence data, subsets that correspond to single species' genomes and thus improving genome assembly. We use both numerical (proportion of GC bases and read coverage) and biological (best-matching sequence in annotated databases) indicators to aid partitioning of draft assembly contigs, and the reads that contribute to those contigs, into distinct bins that can then be subjected to rigorous, optimized assembly, through the use of taxon-annotated GC-coverage plots (TAGC plots). We also present Blobsplorer, a tool that aids exploration and selection of subsets from TAGC-annotated data. Partitioning the data in this way can rescue poorly assembled genomes, and reveal unexpected symbionts and commensals in eukaryotic genome projects. The TAGC plot pipeline script is available from https://github.com/blaxterlab/blobology, and the Blobsplorer tool from https://github.com/mojones/Blobsplorer.}, } @article {pmid24348467, year = {2013}, author = {Norsworthy, AN and Visick, KL}, title = {Gimme shelter: how Vibrio fischeri successfully navigates an animal's multiple environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {356}, pmid = {24348467}, issn = {1664-302X}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Bacteria successfully colonize distinct niches because they can sense and appropriately respond to a variety of environmental signals. Of particular interest is how a bacterium negotiates the multiple, complex environments posed during successful infection of an animal host. One tractable model system to study how a bacterium manages a host's multiple environments is the symbiotic relationship between the marine bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, and its squid host, Euprymna scolopes. V. fischeri encounters many different host surroundings ranging from initial contact with the squid to ultimate colonization of a specialized organ known as the light organ. For example, upon recognition of the squid, V. fischeri forms a biofilm aggregate outside the light organ that is required for efficient colonization. The bacteria then disperse from this biofilm to enter the organ, where they are exposed to nitric oxide, a molecule that can act as both a signal and an antimicrobial. After successfully managing this potentially hostile environment, V. fischeri cells finally establish their niche in the deep crypts of the light organ where the bacteria bioluminesce in a pheromone-dependent fashion, a phenotype that E. scolopes utilizes for anti-predation purposes. The mechanism by which V. fischeri manages these environments to outcompete all other bacterial species for colonization of E. scolopes is an important and intriguing question that will permit valuable insights into how a bacterium successfully associates with a host. This review focuses on specific molecular pathways that allow V. fischeri to establish this exquisite bacteria-host interaction.}, } @article {pmid24345405, year = {2014}, author = {Le Clec'h, W and Raimond, M and Bouchon, D and Sicard, M}, title = {Strength of the pathogenicity caused by feminizing Wolbachia after transfer in a new host: strain or dose effect?.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {18-26}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2013.12.003}, pmid = {24345405}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Isopoda/*microbiology ; Sex Determination Processes ; Virulence ; Wolbachia/*pathogenicity/physiology ; }, abstract = {The alphaproteobacteria Wolbachia pipientis are among the most common and widespread symbionts in the animal world. Their vertical transmission mode is predicted to favour genotypes with low virulence. On the contrary, horizontal transfers of Wolbachia from one host to another have been shown to possibly increase the symbiont virulence. This situation has been previously described when two feminizing Wolbachia strains, wVulC and wVulM, from the ovaries of the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare were introduced into another woodlouse named Porcellio dilatatus. These two Wolbachia strains induced severe symptoms and eventually caused the death of the recipient host. However, symptoms and death appeared sooner with wVulC than with wVulM. To know whether this difference was due to variation in the dose of infection or a difference in virulence between the two Wolbachia strains, we performed controlled and gradual doses of injection with wVulC and wVulM in P. dilatatus. We showed that the two strains differed intrinsically in their virulence against P. dilatatus and that their virulence is related to the injection dose. Moreover, we showed that wVulC reached higher concentrations in the recipient host than wVulM suggesting a potential link between the bacterial titers and the levels of virulence. We also addressed the impact of the tissue source of the Wolbachia used for the transinfection and demonstrated that Wolbachia transinfected via hemolymph colonized the body of the recipient more quickly and caused accelerated symptoms compared to Wolbachia introduced via a crushed ovaries suspension.}, } @article {pmid24345261, year = {2014}, author = {Anderson, IC and Genney, DR and Alexander, IJ}, title = {Fine-scale diversity and distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungal mycelium in a Scots pine forest.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {4}, pages = {1423-1430}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12637}, pmid = {24345261}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Mycelium/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology/*physiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Scotland ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; Trees/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mycelium is a key component of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, yet we know little regarding the fine-scale diversity and distribution of mycelium in ECM fungal communities. We collected four 20 × 20 × 2-cm(3) (800-cm(3)) slices of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest soil and divided each into 100 2 × 2 × 2-cm(3) (8-cm(3)) cubes. The presence of mycelium of ECM fungi was determined using an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) database terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) approach. As expected, many more ECM fungi were detected as mycelium than as ectomycorrhizas in a cube or slice. More surprisingly, up to one-quarter of the 43 species previously detected as ectomycorrhizas over an area of 400 m(2) could be detected in a single 8-cm(3) cube, and up to three-quarters in a single 800-cm(3) slice. ECM mycelium frequency decreased markedly with depth and there were distinct 'hotspots' of mycelium in the moss/F1 layer. Our data demonstrate a high diversity of ECM mycelium in a small (8-cm(3)) volume of substrate, and indicate that the spatial scale at which ECM species are distributed as mycelium may be very different from the spatial scale at which they are distributed as tips.}, } @article {pmid24343842, year = {2014}, author = {Stella, JS and Munday, PL and Walker, SP and Pratchett, MS and Jones, GP}, title = {From cooperation to combat: adverse effect of thermal stress in a symbiotic coral-crustacean community.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {174}, number = {4}, pages = {1187-1195}, pmid = {24343842}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Australia ; Climate Change ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Female ; Fertility ; Male ; Population Dynamics ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Although mutualisms are ubiquitous in nature, our understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on these important ecological interactions is deficient. Here, we report on a thermal stress-related shift from cooperation to antagonism between members of a mutualistic coral-dwelling community. Increased mortality of coral-defending crustacean symbionts Trapezia cymodoce (coral crab) and Alpheus lottini (snapping shrimp) was observed in response to experimentally elevated temperatures and reduced coral-host (Pocillopora damicornis) condition. However, strong differential numerical effects occurred among crustaceans as a function of species and sex, with shrimp (75%), and female crabs (55%), exhibiting the fastest and greatest declines in numbers. These declines were due to forceful eviction from the coral-host by male crabs. Furthermore, surviving female crabs were impacted by a dramatic decline (85%) in egg production, which could have deleterious consequences for population sustainability. Our results suggest that elevated temperature switches the fundamental nature of this interaction from cooperation to competition, leading to asymmetrical effects on species and/or sexes. Our study illustrates the importance of evaluating not only individual responses to climate change, but also potentially fragile interactions within and among susceptible species.}, } @article {pmid24343576, year = {2014}, author = {Yu, N and Luo, D and Zhang, X and Liu, J and Wang, W and Jin, Y and Dong, W and Liu, J and Liu, H and Yang, W and Zeng, L and Li, Q and He, Z and Oldroyd, GE and Wang, E}, title = {A DELLA protein complex controls the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in plants.}, journal = {Cell research}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {130-133}, pmid = {24343576}, issn = {1748-7838}, mesh = {Gibberellins/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24343243, year = {2014}, author = {Jackson, DJ and Wörheide, G}, title = {Symbiophagy and biomineralization in the "living fossil" Astrosclera willeyana.}, journal = {Autophagy}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {408-415}, pmid = {24343243}, issn = {1554-8635}, mesh = {Animals ; Autophagy/*genetics/physiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Calcification, Physiologic/genetics/*physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/*metabolism ; Porifera/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Representatives of all major metazoan lineages form biominerals. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this widespread and evolutionarily ancient ability are gradually being revealed for some lineages. However, until a wider range of metazoan biomineralization strategies are understood, the true diversity, and therefore the evolutionary origins of this process, will remain unknown. We have previously shown that the coralline demosponge, Astrosclera willeyana, in some way employs its endobiotic bacterial community to form its highly calcified skeleton. Here, using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we show that an ortholog of ATG8 (most likely a GABARAPL2/GATE-16 ortholog) is expressed in cells that construct the individual skeletal elements of the sponge. In TEM sections sponge cells can be observed to contain extensive populations of bacteria, and frequently possesses double-membrane structures which we interpret to be autophagosomes. In combination with our previous work, these findings support the hypothesis that the host sponge actively degrades a proportion of its bacterial community using an autophagy pathway, and uses the prokaryotic organic remains as a framework upon which calcification of the sponge skeleton is initiated.}, } @article {pmid24341217, year = {2013}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Sgibnev, AV}, title = {[Effect of metabolites of H2O2-producing lactobacilli on functional activity of lysozyme].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {60-64}, pmid = {24341217}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Cell Survival ; Escherichia coli/growth & development/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Lactobacillus/enzymology/*metabolism ; Muramidase/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the effect of metabolites of H2O2-producing lactobacilli on enzymatic and bactericidal activity of lysozyme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 9 H2O2-producing vaginal lactobacilli, Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665, Escherichia coli State Institute of Standardization and Control No 240367, Lactobacillus acidophilus Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis No 37 were used. Ability of lactobacilli to produce H2O2 was evaluated by oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine by peroxidase. Lysozyme was modified by mixing with equal volumes of lactobacilli metabolites, metabolites of H2O2-producing vaginal lactobacilli previously treated with catalase were used in control. Lysozyme enzymatic activity was determined by speed of M. luteus lysis, bactericidal--by survivability of E. coli in Endo medium and L. acidophilus--in MRS medium.

RESULTS: Decrease of enzymatic activity of lysozyme due to its contact with H2O2-producing lactobacilli metabolites was detected. This effect is accompanied by growth of bactericidal activity of lysozyme against E. coli and decrease against L. acidophilus. The degree of changes of enzymatic and bactericidal activity of lysozyme by lactobacilli metabolites depended on concentration of hydrogen peroxide in them.

CONCLUSION: Modification of lysozyme by H2O2-producing lactobacilli metabolites resulting in opposite changes of its activity against autochthonous and allchthonous bacteria is one of the mechanisms of formation of stable microbial biocenosis in human organism.}, } @article {pmid24340184, year = {2013}, author = {Hopkins, SR and Wyderko, JA and Sheehy, RR and Belden, LK and Wojdak, JM}, title = {Parasite predators exhibit a rapid numerical response to increased parasite abundance and reduce transmission to hosts.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {3}, number = {13}, pages = {4427-4438}, pmid = {24340184}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Predators of parasites have recently gained attention as important parts of food webs and ecosystems. In aquatic systems, many taxa consume free-living stages of parasites, and can thus reduce parasite transmission to hosts. However, the importance of the functional and numerical responses of parasite predators to disease dynamics is not well understood. We collected host-parasite-predator cooccurrence data from the field, and then experimentally manipulated predator abundance, parasite abundance, and the presence of alternative prey to determine the consequences for parasite transmission. The parasite predator of interest was a ubiquitous symbiotic oligochaete of mollusks, Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei, which inhabits host shells and consumes larval trematode parasites. Predators exhibited a rapid numerical response, where predator populations increased or decreased by as much as 60% in just 5 days, depending on the parasite:predator ratio. Furthermore, snail infection decreased substantially with increasing parasite predator densities, where the highest predator densities reduced infection by up to 89%. Predators of parasites can play an important role in regulating parasite transmission, even when infection risk is high, and especially when predators can rapidly respond numerically to resource pulses. We suggest that these types of interactions might have cascading effects on entire disease systems, and emphasize the importance of considering disease dynamics at the community level.}, } @article {pmid24340100, year = {2013}, author = {Shabani, F and Kumar, L}, title = {Risk levels of invasive Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. in areas suitable for date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivation under various climate change projections.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e83404}, pmid = {24340100}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Algorithms ; Arecaceae/*microbiology ; Climate ; Climate Change ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Forecasting ; Fusarium/*pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Risk ; Software ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Global climate model outputs involve uncertainties in prediction, which could be reduced by identifying agreements between the output results of different models, covering all assumptions included in each. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. is an invasive pathogen that poses risk to date palm cultivation, among other crops. Therefore, in this study, the future distribution of invasive Fusarium oxysporum f.sp., confirmed by CSIRO-Mk3.0 (CS) and MIROC-H (MR) GCMs, was modeled and combined with the future distribution of date palm predicted by the same GCMs, to identify areas suitable for date palm cultivation with different risk levels of invasive Fusarium oxysporum f.sp., for 2030, 2050, 2070 and 2100. Results showed that 40%, 37%, 33% and 28% areas projected to become highly conducive to date palm are under high risk of its lethal fungus, compared with 37%, 39%, 43% and 42% under low risk, for the chosen years respectively. Our study also indicates that areas with marginal risk will be limited to 231, 212, 186 and 172 million hectares by 2030, 2050, 2070 and 2100. The study further demonstrates that CLIMEX outputs refined by a combination of different GCMs results of different species that have symbiosis or parasite relationship, ensure that the predictions become robust, rather than producing hypothetical findings, limited purely to publication.}, } @article {pmid24338856, year = {2014}, author = {Takasuka, TE and Bianchetti, CM and Tobimatsu, Y and Bergeman, LF and Ralph, J and Fox, BG}, title = {Structure-guided analysis of catalytic specificity of the abundantly secreted chitosanase SACTE_5457 from Streptomyces sp. SirexAA-E.}, journal = {Proteins}, volume = {82}, number = {7}, pages = {1245-1257}, doi = {10.1002/prot.24491}, pmid = {24338856}, issn = {1097-0134}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; *Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Sequence Alignment ; Streptomyces/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {SACTE_5457 is secreted by Streptomyces sp. SirexAA-E, a highly cellulolytic actinobacterium isolated from a symbiotic community composed of insects, fungi, and bacteria. Here we report the 1.84 Å resolution crystal structure and functional characterization of SACTE_5457. This enzyme is a member of the glycosyl hydrolase family 46 and is composed of two α-helical domains that are connected by an α-helical linker. The catalytic residues (Glu74 and Asp92) are separated by 10.3 Å, matching the distance predicted for an inverting hydrolysis reaction. Normal mode analysis suggests that the connecting α-helix is flexible and allows the domain motion needed to place active site residues into an appropriate configuration for catalysis. SACTE_5457 does not react with chitin, but hydrolyzes chitosan substrates with an ∼4-fold improvement in k(cat)/K(M) as the percentage of acetylation and the molecular weights decrease. Analysis of the time dependence of product formation shows that oligosaccharides with degree of polymerization <4 are not hydrolyzed. By combining the results of substrate docking to the X-ray structure and end-product analysis, we deduce that SACTE_5457 preferentially binds substrates spanning the -2 to +2 sugar binding subsites, and that steric hindrance prevents binding of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the +2 subsite and may weakly interfere with binding of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the +1 subsites. A proposal for how these constraints account for the observed product distributions is provided.}, } @article {pmid24338046, year = {2014}, author = {Desai, S and Naik, D and Cumming, JR}, title = {The influence of phosphorus availability and Laccaria bicolor symbiosis on phosphate acquisition, antioxidant enzyme activity, and rhizospheric carbon flux in Populus tremuloides.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {369-382}, pmid = {24338046}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Carbon Cycle/*physiology ; Laccaria/*physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Populus/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many forest tree species are dependent on their symbiotic interaction with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi for phosphorus (P) uptake from forest soils where P availability is often limited. The ECM fungal association benefits the host plant under P limitation through enhanced soil exploration and increased P acquisition by mycorrhizas. To study the P starvation response (PSR) and its modification by ECM fungi in Populus tremuloides, a comparison was made between nonmycorrhizal (NM) and mycorrhizal with Laccaria bicolor (Myc) seedlings grown under different concentrations of phosphate (Pi) in sand culture. Although differences in growth between NM and Myc plants were small, Myc plants were more effective at acquiring P from low Pi treatments, with significantly lower k m values for root and leaf P accumulation. Pi limitation significantly increased the activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol-dependent peroxidase in leaves and roots to greater extents in NM than Myc P. tremuloides. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity also increased in NM plants under P limitation, but was unchanged in Myc plants. Formate, citrate, malonate, lactate, malate, and oxalate and total organic carbon exudation by roots was stimulated by P limitation to a greater extent in NM than Myc plants. Colonization by L. bicolor reduced the solution Pi concentration thresholds where PSR physiological changes occurred, indicating that enhanced Pi acquisition by P. tremuloides colonized by L. bicolor altered host P homeostasis and plant stress responses to P limitation. Understanding these plant-symbiont interactions facilitates the selection of more P-efficient forest trees and strategies for tree plantation production on marginal soils.}, } @article {pmid24337802, year = {2014}, author = {Perrine-Walker, FM and Kouchi, H and Ridge, RW}, title = {Endoplasmic reticulum-targeted GFP reveals ER remodeling in Mesorhizobium-treated Lotus japonicus root hairs during root hair curling and infection thread formation.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {251}, number = {4}, pages = {817-826}, pmid = {24337802}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Endoplasmic Reticulum/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the model legume Lotus japonicus was visualized using green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused with the KDEL sequence to investigate the changes in the root hair cortical ER in the presence or absence of Mesorhizobium loti using live fluorescence imaging. Uninoculated root hairs displayed dynamic forms of ER, ranging from a highly condensed form to an open reticulum. In the presence of M. loti, a highly dynamic condensed form of the ER linked with the nucleus was found in deformed, curled, and infected root hairs, similar to that in uninoculated and inoculated growing zone I and II root hairs. An open reticulum was primarily found in mature inoculated zone III root hairs, similar to that found in inactive deformed/curled root hairs and infected root hairs with aborted infection threads. Co-imaging of GFP-labeled ER with light transmission demonstrated a correlation between the mobility of the ER and other organelles and the directionality of the cytoplasmic streaming in root hairs in the early stages of infection thread formation and growth. ER remodeling in root hair cells is discussed in terms of possible biological significance during root hair growth, deformation/curling, and infection in the Mesorhizobium-L. japonicus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24337719, year = {2014}, author = {Raffa, KF}, title = {Terpenes tell different tales at different scales: glimpses into the Chemical Ecology of conifer - bark beetle - microbial interactions.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {1-20}, pmid = {24337719}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Ecology/*methods ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Terpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chemical signaling mediates nearly all aspects of species interactions. Our knowledge of these signals has progressed dramatically, and now includes good characterizations of the bioactivities, modes of action, biosynthesis, and genetic programming of numerous compounds affecting a wide range of species. A major challenge now is to integrate this information so as to better understand actual selective pressures under natural conditions, make meaningful predictions about how organisms and ecosystems will respond to a changing environment, and provide useful guidance to managers who must contend with difficult trade-offs among competing socioeconomic values. One approach is to place stronger emphasis on cross-scale interactions, an understanding of which can help us better connect pattern with process, and improve our ability to make mechanistically grounded predictions over large areas and time frames. The opportunity to achieve such progress has been heightened by the rapid development of new scientific and technological tools. There are significant difficulties, however: Attempts to extend arrays of lower-scale processes into higher scale functioning can generate overly diffuse patterns. Conversely, attempts to infer process from pattern can miss critically important lower-scale drivers in systems where their biological and statistical significance is negated after critical thresholds are breached. Chemical signaling in bark beetle - conifer interactions has been explored for several decades, including by the two pioneers after whom this award is named. The strong knowledge base developed by many researchers, the importance of bark beetles in ecosystem functioning, and the socioeconomic challenges they pose, establish these insects as an ideal model for studying chemical signaling within a cross-scale context. This report describes our recent work at three levels of scale: interactions of bacteria with host plant compounds and symbiotic fungi (tree level, biochemical time), relationships among inducible and constitutive defenses, population dynamics, and plastic host-selection behavior (stand level, ecological time), and climate-driven range expansion of a native eruptive species into semi-naïve and potentially naïve habitats (geographical level, evolutionary time). I approach this problem by focusing primarily on one chemical group, terpenes, by emphasizing the curvilinear and threshold-structured basis of most underlying relationships, and by focusing on the system's feedback structure, which can either buffer or amplify relationships across scales.}, } @article {pmid24337710, year = {2014}, author = {Wurzburger, N and Miniat, CF}, title = {Drought enhances symbiotic dinitrogen fixation and competitive ability of a temperate forest tree.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {174}, number = {4}, pages = {1117-1126}, pmid = {24337710}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Acer/growth & development ; Biomass ; *Droughts ; *Ecosystem ; Liriodendron/growth & development ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Quercus/growth & development ; Robinia/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Trees/physiology ; Water ; Xylem ; }, abstract = {General circulation models project more intense and frequent droughts over the next century, but many questions remain about how terrestrial ecosystems will respond. Of particular importance, is to understand how drought will alter the species composition of regenerating temperate forests wherein symbiotic dinitrogen (N2)-fixing plants play a critical role. In experimental mesocosms we manipulated soil moisture to study the effect of drought on the physiology, growth and competitive interactions of four co-occurring North American tree species, one of which (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a symbiotic N2-fixer. We hypothesized that drought would reduce growth by decreasing stomatal conductance, hydraulic conductance and increasing the water use efficiency of species with larger diameter xylem vessel elements (Quercus rubra, R. pseudoacacia) relative to those with smaller elements (Acer rubrum and Liriodendron tulipifera). We further hypothesized that N2 fixation by R. pseudoacacia would decline with drought, reducing its competitive ability. Under drought, growth declined across all species; but, growth and physiological responses did not correspond to species' hydraulic architecture. Drought triggered an 80% increase in nodule biomass and N accrual for R. pseudoacacia, improving its growth relative to other species. These results suggest that drought intensified soil N deficiency and that R. pseudoacacia's ability to fix N2 facilitated competition with non-fixing species when both water and N were limiting. Under scenarios of moderate drought, N2 fixation may alleviate the N constraints resulting from low soil moisture and improve competitive ability of N2-fixing species, and as a result, supply more new N to the ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid24336878, year = {2014}, author = {Tanifuji, G and Onodera, NT and Moore, CE and Archibald, JM}, title = {Reduced nuclear genomes maintain high gene transcription levels.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {31}, number = {3}, pages = {625-635}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/mst254}, pmid = {24336878}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/*genetics ; Cryptophyta/*genetics ; Eukaryota/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome Size/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Reductive genome evolution is seen in organisms living in close association with each other, such as in endosymbiosis, symbiosis, and parasitism. The reduced genomes of endosymbionts and parasites often exhibit similar features such as high gene densities and A+T compositional bias. Little is known about how the regulation of gene expression has been affected in organisms with highly compacted genomes. We studied gene transcription patterns in "nucleomorph" genomes, which are relic nuclear genomes of algal endosymbionts found in cryptophytes and chlorarachniophytes. We examined nuclear and nucleomorph gene transcription patterns using RNA-Seq transcriptome and genome mapping analyses in representatives of both lineages. In all four examined genomes, the most highly transcribed nucleomorph gene category was found to be plastid-associated genes. Remarkably, only 0.49-3.37% of the nucleomorph genomes of these organisms did not have any mRNA counterpart in our RNA-Seq data sets, and nucleomorph genes show equal or higher levels of transcription than their counterparts in the nuclear genomes. We hypothesize that elevated levels of nucleomorph gene transcription may serve to counteract the degradation or modification of protein function due to the loss of interacting proteins in the nucleomorph and nucleomorph-associated subcellular compartments.}, } @article {pmid24336215, year = {2013}, author = {Zhou, F and Lin, Q and Zhu, L and Ren, Y and Zhou, K and Shabek, N and Wu, F and Mao, H and Dong, W and Gan, L and Ma, W and Gao, H and Chen, J and Yang, C and Wang, D and Tan, J and Zhang, X and Guo, X and Wang, J and Jiang, L and Liu, X and Chen, W and Chu, J and Yan, C and Ueno, K and Ito, S and Asami, T and Cheng, Z and Wang, J and Lei, C and Zhai, H and Wu, C and Wang, H and Zheng, N and Wan, J}, title = {D14-SCF(D3)-dependent degradation of D53 regulates strigolactone signalling.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {504}, number = {7480}, pages = {406-410}, pmid = {24336215}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {R01 CA107134/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; Oryza/genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; *Proteolysis ; SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), a newly discovered class of carotenoid-derived phytohormones, are essential for developmental processes that shape plant architecture and interactions with parasitic weeds and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Despite the rapid progress in elucidating the SL biosynthetic pathway, the perception and signalling mechanisms of SL remain poorly understood. Here we show that DWARF 53 (D53) acts as a repressor of SL signalling and that SLs induce its degradation. We find that the rice (Oryza sativa) d53 mutant, which produces an exaggerated number of tillers compared to wild-type plants, is caused by a gain-of-function mutation and is insensitive to exogenous SL treatment. The D53 gene product shares predicted features with the class I Clp ATPase proteins and can form a complex with the α/β hydrolase protein DWARF 14 (D14) and the F-box protein DWARF 3 (D3), two previously identified signalling components potentially responsible for SL perception. We demonstrate that, in a D14- and D3-dependent manner, SLs induce D53 degradation by the proteasome and abrogate its activity in promoting axillary bud outgrowth. Our combined genetic and biochemical data reveal that D53 acts as a repressor of the SL signalling pathway, whose hormone-induced degradation represents a key molecular link between SL perception and responses.}, } @article {pmid24334669, year = {2014}, author = {Behie, SW and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Ubiquity of insect-derived nitrogen transfer to plants by endophytic insect-pathogenic fungi: an additional branch of the soil nitrogen cycle.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {5}, pages = {1553-1560}, pmid = {24334669}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Beauveria/*metabolism/physiology ; Chordata/*metabolism/physiology ; Cordyceps/*metabolism/physiology ; Endophytes/metabolism/physiology ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Isotope Labeling ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Poaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The study of symbiotic nitrogen transfer in soil has largely focused on nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Vascular plants can lose a substantial amount of their nitrogen through insect herbivory. Previously, we showed that plants were able to reacquire nitrogen from insects through a partnership with the endophytic, insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii. That is, the endophytic capability and insect pathogenicity of M. robertsii are coupled so that the fungus acts as a conduit to provide insect-derived nitrogen to plant hosts. Here, we assess the ubiquity of this nitrogen transfer in five Metarhizium species representing those with broad (M. robertsii, M. brunneum, and M. guizhouense) and narrower insect host ranges (M. acridum and M. flavoviride), as well as the insect-pathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium lecanii. Insects were injected with (15)N-labeled nitrogen, and we tracked the incorporation of (15)N into two dicots, haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and soybean (Glycine max), and two monocots, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), in the presence of these fungi in soil microcosms. All Metarhizium species and B. bassiana but not L. lecanii showed the capacity to transfer nitrogen to plants, although to various degrees. Endophytic association by these fungi increased overall plant productivity. We also showed that in the field, where microbial competition is potentially high, M. robertsii was able to transfer insect-derived nitrogen to plants. Metarhizium spp. and B. bassiana have a worldwide distribution with high soil abundance and may play an important role in the ecological cycling of insect nitrogen back to plant communities.}, } @article {pmid24331601, year = {2013}, author = {Bauwens, J and Millet, C and Tarayre, C and Brasseur, C and Destain, J and Vandenbol, M and Thonart, P and Portetelle, D and De Pauw, E and Haubruge, E and Francis, F}, title = {Symbiont diversity in Reticulitermes santonensis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): investigation strategy through proteomics.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {882-887}, doi = {10.1603/EN13112}, pmid = {24331601}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota/genetics/isolation & purification ; France ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Fungi/genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Proteome ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; *Symbiosis ; Yeasts/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The complex microbial community living in the hindgut of lower termites includes prokaryotes, flagellates, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. Many microorganisms are found in the termite gut, but only a few are thought to be involved in symbiotic association to participate in cellulose digestion. Proteomics provides analyses from both taxonomical and functional perspectives. We aimed to identify symbiont diversity in the gut of Reticulitermes santonensis (Feytaud), via complementary electrospray ionization associated to ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis associated to matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. One specific challenge to the study of lower termites is the relatively few data available on abundant symbiotic flagellates. Analysis based on LC-MS/MS revealed few protein families showing assignments to eukaryotes and the taxonomic origin of highly represented actins could not be established. Tubulins proved to be the most suitable protein family with which to identify flagellate populations from hindgut samples using LC-MS/MS, compared with other protein families, although this method targeted few prokaryotes in our assay. Similarly, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis associated to matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry did not succeed in identifying flagellate populations, but did permit the identification of most of the prokaryotic components of the symbiotic system. Finally, fungi and yeasts were identified by both methods. Owing to the lack of sequenced genes in flagellates, targeting tubulins for LC-MS/MS could allow fingerprints of flagellate populations to be established. Experimental and technical improvements might increase the efficiency of identification of prokaryotic populations in the near future, based on metaproteomic development.}, } @article {pmid24331598, year = {2013}, author = {Woodbury, N and Gries, G}, title = {How firebrats (Thysanura: Lepismatidae) detect and nutritionally benefit from their microbial symbionts Enterobacter cloacae and Mycotypha microspora.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {42}, number = {5}, pages = {860-867}, doi = {10.1603/EN13104}, pmid = {24331598}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacter cloacae/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Insecta/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mucorales/*physiology ; Nymph/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The phylogenetically ancient firebrats, Thermobia domestica (Packard) (Thysanura: Lepismatidae), lack any form of long-distance communication, yet are able to locate mates in sustained hot and humid microhabitats, typically within human habitations where they feed on dried goods, including cellulosic substrates. We have recently shown that firebrats aggregate in response to two symbiotic microorganisms in their feces, the bacterium Enterobacter cloacae and the fungus Mycotypha microspora. Our objectives were to determine how firebrats detect M. microspora and E. cloacae, and whether these microbial symbionts nutritionally benefit firebrats. Applied to a glass surface in bioassays, E. cloacae as well as the isolated exopolysaccharide of E. cloacae induced arrestment of firebrats, whereas M. microspora induced arrestment only in the presence of cellulosic substrate. When M. microspora and E. cloacae were grown aerobically on cellulose agar, only M. microspora yielded zones of clearing indicative of enzymatic cellulose degradation. Firebrats also arrested in response to d-glucose, which is a constituent of the exopolysaccharide and which is produced by the cellulase of M. microspora during cellulose degradation. First- to third-instar nymphs of firebrats that were fed E. cloacae, M. microspora, or a nutrient-rich diet developed equally well. By consuming E. cloacae and M. microspora, and by spreading them through feces, firebrats appear able to occupy nutrient-poor habitats that otherwise would not support development of their offspring.}, } @article {pmid24331432, year = {2014}, author = {Jourand, P and Hannibal, L and Majorel, C and Mengant, S and Ducousso, M and Lebrun, M}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal Pisolithus albus inoculation of Acacia spirorbis and Eucalyptus globulus grown in ultramafic topsoil enhances plant growth and mineral nutrition while limits metal uptake.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {2}, pages = {164-172}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.10.011}, pmid = {24331432}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Acacia/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Adaptation, Biological ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Eucalyptus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxalic Acid/analysis ; Plant Exudates/chemistry ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Sulfhydryl Compounds/analysis ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) isolates of Pisolithus albus (Cooke and Massee) from nickel-rich ultramafic topsoils in New Caledonia were inoculated onto Acacia spirorbis Labill. (an endemic Fabaceae) and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (used as a Myrtaceae plant host model). The aim of the study was to analyze the growth of symbiotic ECM plants growing on the ultramafic substrate that is characterized by high and toxic metal concentrations i.e. Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni, deficient concentrations of plant essential nutrients such as N, P, K, and that presents an unbalanced Ca/Mg ratio (1/19). ECM inoculation was successful with a plant level of root mycorrhization up to 6.7%. ECM symbiosis enhanced plant growth as indicated by significant increases in shoot and root biomass. Presence of ECM enhanced uptake of major elements that are deficient in ultramafic substrates; in particular P, K and Ca. On the contrary, the ECM symbioses strongly reduced transfer to plants of element in excess in soils; in particular all metals. ECM-inoculated plants released metal complexing molecules as free thiols and oxalic acid mostly at lower concentrations than in controls. Data showed that ECM symbiosis helped plant growth by supplying uptake of deficient elements while acting as a protective barrier to toxic metals, in particular for plants growing on ultramafic substrate with extreme soil conditions. Isolation of indigenous and stress-adapted beneficial ECM fungi could serve as a potential tool for inoculation of ECM endemic plants for the successful restoration of ultramafic ecosystems degraded by mining activities.}, } @article {pmid24330969, year = {2013}, author = {Forterre, P}, title = {[The great virus comeback].}, journal = {Biologie aujourd'hui}, volume = {207}, number = {3}, pages = {153-168}, doi = {10.1051/jbio/2013018}, pmid = {24330969}, issn = {2105-0686}, mesh = {Archaeal Viruses/classification/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA Viruses ; Humans ; RNA Viruses ; Virion ; Virology/trends ; Virus Diseases ; Virus Physiological Phenomena ; *Viruses/classification/genetics ; }, abstract = {Viruses have been considered for a long time as by-products of biological evolution. This view is changing now as a result of several recent discoveries. Viral ecologists have shown that viral particles are the most abundant biological entities on our planet, whereas metagenomic analyses have revealed an unexpected abundance and diversity of viral genes in the biosphere. Comparative genomics have highlighted the uniqueness of viral sequences, in contradiction with the traditional view of viruses as pickpockets of cellular genes. On the contrary, cellular genomes, especially eukaryotic ones, turned out to be full of genes derived from viruses or related elements (plasmids, transposons, retroelements and so on). The discovery of unusual viruses infecting archaea has shown that the viral world is much more diverse than previously thought, ruining the traditional dichotomy between bacteriophages and viruses. Finally, the discovery of giant viruses has blurred the traditional image of viruses as small entities. Furthermore, essential clues on virus history have been obtained in the last ten years. In particular, structural analyses of capsid proteins have uncovered deeply rooted homologies between viruses infecting different cellular domains, suggesting that viruses originated before the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). These studies have shown that several lineages of viruses originated independently, i.e., viruses are polyphyletic. From the time of LUCA, viruses have coevolved with their hosts, and viral lineages can be viewed as lianas wrapping around the trunk, branches and leaves of the tree of life. Although viruses are very diverse, with genomes encoding from one to more than one thousand proteins, they can all be simply defined as organisms producing virions. Virions themselves can be defined as infectious particles made of at least one protein associated with the viral nucleic acid, endowed with the capability to protect the viral genome and ensure its delivery to the infected cell. These definitions, which clearly distinguish viruses from plasmids, suggest that infectious RNA molecules that only encode an RNA replicase presently classified among viruses by the ICTV (International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses) into families of Endornaviridae and Hypoviridae are in fact RNA plasmids. Since a viral genome should encode for at least one structural protein, these definitions also imply that viruses originated after the emergence of the ribosome in an RNA-protein cellular world. Although virions are the hallmarks of viruses, viruses and virions should not be confused. The infection transforms the ribocell (cell encoding ribosomes and dividing by binary fission) into a virocell (cell producing virions) or ribovirocell (cell that produces virions but can still divide by binary fission). In the ribovirocell, two different organisms, defined by their distinct evolutionary histories, coexist in symbiosis in the same cell. The virocells or ribovirocells are the living forms of the virus, which can be in fine considered to be a living organism. In the virocell, the metabolism is reorganized for the production of virions, while the ability to capture and store free energy is retained, as in other cellular organisms. In the virocell, viral genomes replicate, recombine and evolve, leading to the emergence of new viral proteins and potentially novel functions. Some of these new functions can be later on transferred to the cell, explaining how viruses can play a major (often underestimated) role in the evolution of cellular organisms. The virocell concept thus helps to understand recent hypotheses suggesting that viruses played a critical role in major evolutionary transitions, such as the origin of DNA genomes or else the origin of the eukaryotic nucleus. Finally, it is more and more recognized that viruses are the major source of variation and selection in living organisms (both viruses and cells), the two pillars of darwinism. One can thus conclude that the continuous interaction between viruses and cells, all along the history of life, has been, and still is, a major engine of biological evolution.}, } @article {pmid24330701, year = {2013}, author = {Bazzocchi, C and Mariconti, M and Sassera, D and Rinaldi, L and Martin, E and Cringoli, G and Urbanelli, S and Genchi, C and Bandi, C and Epis, S}, title = {Molecular and serological evidence for the circulation of the tick symbiont Midichloria (Rickettsiales: Midichloriaceae) in different mammalian species.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {350}, pmid = {24330701}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Italy ; Ixodidae/*microbiology ; Mammals/blood/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Midichloriaceae is a novel family of the order Rickettsiales, that encompasses intracellular bacteria associated with hard ticks (Ixodidae) and other arthropods. The most intensively investigated member of this family is Midichloria mitochondrii, a symbiotic bacterium of the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus, characterized by the capacity of multiplying inside the mitochondria. A recent study suggested that these bacteria might be inoculated into the human host during the tick bite. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential infectivity of Midichloria bacteria for non-human animals exposed to the risk of tick bite.

METHODS: Blood from horses, cattle, sheep and dogs exposed to the risk of tick bite was included in this study. DNAs were extracted, and amplified using 16S ribosomal RNA primers conserved in the Midichloria genus. Furthermore, sera from dogs exposed to the risk of tick bite were analyzed in order to evaluate the presence of antibodies against the recombinant flagellar protein (rFliD) from M. mitochondrii using an ELISA test.

RESULTS: Here we present two lines of evidence that support the possibility that bacteria from the genus Midichloria are inoculated into vertebrate hosts during a tick bite: (i) a direct evidence, i.e. the detection of circulating DNA from bacteria related with M. mitochondrii, in the blood of vertebrates exposed to tick parasitism; (ii) a further indirect evidence, i.e. the presence of antibodies against an antigen from M. mitochondrii in dogs exposed to the risk of tick bite. It is interesting to note that variability was detected in the Midichloria gene sequences recovered from positive animals, and that some of these sequences were identical to those generated from tick-associated Midichloria.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, and on the overall information so far published on the genus Midichloria, we suggest that these bacteria are likely to represent a novel group of vector-borne agents, with the potential of infecting mammalian hosts. Whether inoculation of Midichloria bacteria could cause a true infection and pathological alteration in mammalian hosts is still to be determined. Surely, results emphasize the relevance of Midichloria bacteria in investigations on tick immunology and tick-bite markers.}, } @article {pmid24330608, year = {2013}, author = {Xu, J and Strange, JP and Welker, DL and James, RR}, title = {Detoxification and stress response genes expressed in a western North American bumble bee, Bombus huntii (Hymenoptera: Apidae).}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {874}, pmid = {24330608}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Genes, Insect ; Inactivation, Metabolic/*genetics ; Life Cycle Stages/genetics ; Male ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Hunt bumble bee (Bombus huntii Greene, Hymenoptera: Apidae) is a holometabolous, social insect important as a pollinator in natural and agricultural ecosystems in western North America. Bumble bees spend a significant amount of time foraging on a wide variety of flowering plants, and this activity exposes them to both plant toxins and pesticides, posing a threat to individual and colony survival. Little is known about what detoxification pathways are active in bumble bees, how the expression of detoxification genes changes across life stages, or how the number of detoxification genes expressed in B. huntii compares to other insects.

RESULTS: We found B. huntii expressed at least 584 genes associated with detoxification and stress responses. The expression levels of some of these genes, such as those encoding the cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and glycosidases, vary among different life stages to a greater extent than do other genes. We also found that the number of P450s, GSTs and esterase genes expressed by B. huntii is similar to the number of these genes found in the genomes of other bees, namely Bombus terrestris, Bombus impatiens, Apis mellifera and Megachile rotundata, but many fewer than are found in the fly Drosophila melanogaster.

CONCLUSIONS: Bombus huntii has transcripts for a large number of detoxification and stress related proteins, including oxidation and reduction enzymes, conjugation enzymes, hydrolytic enzymes, ABC transporters, cadherins, and heat shock proteins. The diversity of genes expressed within some detoxification pathways varies among the life stages and castes, and we typically identified more genes in the adult females than in larvae, pupae, or adult males, for most pathways. Meanwhile, we found the numbers of detoxification and stress genes expressed by B. huntii to be more similar to other bees than to the fruit fly. The low number of detoxification genes, first noted in the honey bee, appears to be a common phenomenon among bees, and perhaps results from their symbiotic relationship with plants. Many flowering plants benefit from pollinators, and thus offer these insects rewards (such as nectar) rather than defensive plant toxins.}, } @article {pmid24330316, year = {2014}, author = {Thonar, C and Frossard, E and Smilauer, P and Jansa, J}, title = {Competition and facilitation in synthetic communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {733-746}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12625}, pmid = {24330316}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Biomass ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*microbiology ; Microbial Consortia ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species cocolonizing the same host plant are still little understood in spite of major ecological significance of mycorrhizal symbiosis and widespread occurrence of these fungi in communities rather than alone. Furthermore, shifting the composition of AMF communities has demonstrated consequences for the provision of symbiotic benefits to the host as well as for the qualities of ecosystem services. Therefore, here we addressed the nature and strength of interactions between three different AMF species in all possible two-species combinations on a gradient of inoculation densities. Fungal communities were established in pots with Medicago truncatula plants, and their composition was assessed with taxon-specific real-time PCR markers. Nature of interactions between the fungi was varying from competition to facilitation and was influenced by both the identity and relative abundance of the coinoculated fungi. Plants coinoculated with Claroideoglomus and Rhizophagus grew bigger and contained more phosphorus than with any of these two fungi separately, although these fungi obviously competed for root colonization. On the other hand, plants coinoculated with Gigaspora and Rhizophagus, which facilitated each other's root colonization, grew smaller than with any of these fungi separately. Our results point to as yet little understood complexity of interactions in plant-associated symbiotic fungal communities, which, depending on their composition, can induce significant changes in plant host growth and/or phosphorus acquisition in either direction.}, } @article {pmid24329948, year = {2014}, author = {Hayashi, T and Shimoda, Y and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Hayashi, M}, title = {Rhizobial infection does not require cortical expression of upstream common symbiosis genes responsible for the induction of Ca(2+) spiking.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {146-159}, pmid = {24329948}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; Cell Division ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Lotus/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation ; Nucleotide Motifs ; Organ Specificity ; Phenotype ; Plant Epidermis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {For the establishment of an effective root nodule symbiosis, a coordinated regulation of the infection processes between the epidermis and cortex is required. However, it remains unclear whether the symbiotic genes identified so far are involved in epidermal and/or cortical infection, e.g. epidermal and cortical infection thread formation or cortical cell division. To analyze the symbiotic gene requirements of the infection process, we have developed an epidermis-specific expression system (pEpi expression system) and examined the symbiotic genes NFR1, NFR5, NUP85, NUP133, CASTOR, POLLUX, CCaMK, CYCLOPS, NSP1 and NSP2 for involvement in the infection process in the epidermis and cortex. Our study shows that expression of the upstream common symbiosis genes CASTOR, POLLUX, NUP85 and NUP133 in the epidermis is sufficient to induce formation of infection threads and cortical cell division, leading to the development of fully effective nodules. Our system also shows a requirement of CCaMK, CYCLOPS, NSP1 and NSP2 for the entire nodulation process, and the different contributions of NFR1 and NFR5 to cortical infection thread formation. Based on these analyses using the pEpi expression system, we propose a functional model of symbiotic genes for epidermal and cortical infection.}, } @article {pmid24328376, year = {2014}, author = {Alvarado, I and Abel-Santos, E}, title = {How enteric pathogens know they hit the sweet spot.}, journal = {Future microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {13-16}, pmid = {24328376}, issn = {1746-0921}, support = {R01 AI109139/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*drug effects ; Clostridioides difficile/*physiology ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/*microbiology ; Female ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Male ; Salmonella Infections/*microbiology ; Salmonella typhimurium/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ng KM, Ferreyra JA, Higginbottom SK et al. Microbiota-liberated host sugars facilitate post-antibiotic expansion of enteric pathogens. Nature 502(7469), 96-99 (2013). The human gut microbiota is a complex system of commensal microorganisms required for normal host physiology. Disruption of this protective barrier by antibiotics creates opportunities for enteric pathogens to establish infections. Although the correlation between the use of antibiotics and enteric infections have been known for some time, the specific signals that allow enteric pathogens to recognize a susceptible host have not been determined. In a recent article, Ng et al. demonstrated that the expansion of both Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium difficile infections is enhanced by the availability of host-specific sugars liberated from the intestinal mucus by commensal bacteria. These results show how antibiotic removal of specific species from the gut microbiome allows symbiotic functions to be hijacked by pathogenic species.}, } @article {pmid24328342, year = {2014}, author = {Abucayon, E and Ke, N and Cornut, R and Patelunas, A and Miller, D and Nishiguchi, MK and Zoski, CG}, title = {Investigating catalase activity through hydrogen peroxide decomposition by bacteria biofilms in real time using scanning electrochemical microscopy.}, journal = {Analytical chemistry}, volume = {86}, number = {1}, pages = {498-505}, doi = {10.1021/ac402475m}, pmid = {24328342}, issn = {1520-6882}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/chemistry/*enzymology ; *Biofilms ; Catalase/analysis/*metabolism ; *Computer Systems ; Enzyme Activation/physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry/*metabolism ; Microscopy, Electrochemical, Scanning/*methods ; }, abstract = {Catalase activity through hydrogen peroxide decomposition in a 1 mM bulk solution above Vibrio fischeri (γ-Protebacteria-Vibrionaceae) bacterial biofilms of either symbiotic or free-living strains was studied in real time by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The catalase activity, in units of micromoles hydrogen peroxide decomposed per minute over a period of 348 s, was found to vary with incubation time of each biofilm in correlation with the corresponding growth curve of bacteria in liquid culture. Average catalase activity for the same incubation times ranging from 1 to 12 h was found to be 0.28 ± 0.07 μmol H2O2/min for the symbiotic biofilms and 0.31 ± 0.07 μmol H2O2/min for the free-living biofilms, suggesting similar catalase activity. Calculations based on Comsol Multiphysics simulations in fitting experimental biofilm data indicated that approximately (3 ± 1) × 10(6) molecules of hydrogen peroxide were decomposed by a single bacterium per second, signifying the presence of a highly active catalase. A 2-fold enhancement in catalase activity was found for both free-living and symbiotic biofilms in response to external hydrogen peroxide concentrations as low as 1 nM in the growth media, implying a similar mechanism in responding to oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid24326907, year = {2013}, author = {Vik, U and Logares, R and Blaalid, R and Halvorsen, R and Carlsen, T and Bakke, I and Kolstø, AB and Økstad, OA and Kauserud, H}, title = {Different bacterial communities in ectomycorrhizae and surrounding soil.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {3471}, pmid = {24326907}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {*Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several eukaryotic symbioses have shown to host a rich diversity of prokaryotes that interact with their hosts. Here, we study bacterial communities associated with ectomycorrhizal root systems of Bistorta vivipara compared to bacterial communities in bulk soil using pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. A high richness of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) was found in plant roots (3,571 OTUs) and surrounding soil (3,476 OTUs). The community composition differed markedly between these two environments. Actinobacteria, Armatimonadetes, Chloroflexi and OTUs unclassified at phylum level were significantly more abundant in plant roots than in soil. A large proportion of the OTUs, especially those in plant roots, presented low similarity to Sanger 16S rRNA reference sequences, suggesting novel bacterial diversity in ectomycorrhizae. Furthermore, the bacterial communities of the plant roots were spatially structured up to a distance of 60 cm, which may be explained by bacteria using fungal hyphae as a transport vector. The analyzed ectomycorrhizae presents a distinct microbiome, which likely influence the functioning of the plant-fungus symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24325588, year = {2013}, author = {Junttila, S and Laiho, A and Gyenesei, A and Rudd, S}, title = {Whole transcriptome characterization of the effects of dehydration and rehydration on Cladonia rangiferina, the grey reindeer lichen.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {870}, pmid = {24325588}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; Dehydration/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Lichens/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are symbiotic organisms with a fungal and an algal or a cyanobacterial partner. Lichens inhabit some of the harshest climates on earth and most lichen species are desiccation-tolerant. Lichen desiccation-tolerance has been studied at the biochemical level and through proteomics, but the underlying molecular genetic mechanisms remain largely unexplored. The objective of our study was to examine the effects of dehydration and rehydration on the gene expression of Cladonia rangiferina.

RESULTS: Samples of C. rangiferina were collected at several time points during both the dehydration and rehydration process and the gene expression intensities were measured using a custom DNA microarray. Several genes, which were differentially expressed in one or more time points, were identified. The microarray results were validated using qRT-PCR analysis. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed transcripts was also performed to identify the Gene Ontology terms most associated with the rehydration and dehydration process.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data identify differential expression patterns for hundreds of genes that are modulated during dehydration and rehydration in Cladonia rangiferina. These dehydration and rehydration events clearly differ from each other at the molecular level and the largest changes to gene expression are observed within minutes following rehydration. Distinct changes are observed during the earliest stage of rehydration and the mechanisms not appear to be shared with the later stages of wetting or with drying. Several of the most differentially expressed genes are similar to genes identified in previous studies that have investigated the molecular mechanisms of other desiccation-tolerant organisms. We present here the first microarray experiment for any lichen species and have for the first time studied the genetic mechanisms behind lichen desiccation-tolerance at the whole transcriptome level.}, } @article {pmid24325323, year = {2014}, author = {Trabal Fernández, N and Mazón-Suástegui, JM and Vázquez-Juárez, R and Ascencio-Valle, F and Romero, J}, title = {Changes in the composition and diversity of the bacterial microbiota associated with oysters (Crassostrea corteziensis, Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea sikamea) during commercial production.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {88}, number = {1}, pages = {69-83}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12270}, pmid = {24325323}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Crassostrea/classification/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Microbiota ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Shellfish/classification/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The resident microbiota of three oyster species (Crassostrea corteziensis, Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea sikamea) was characterised using a high-throughput sequencing approach (pyrosequencing) that was based on the V3-V5 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. We analysed the changes in the bacterial community beginning with the postlarvae produced in a hatchery, which were later planted at two grow-out cultivation sites until they reached the adult stage. DNA samples from the oysters were amplified, and 31 008 sequences belonging to 13 phyla (including Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes) and 243 genera were generated. Considering all life stages, Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum, but it showed variations at the genus level between the postlarvae and the adult oysters. Bacteroidetes was the second most common phylum, but it was found in higher abundance in the postlarvae than in adults. The relative abundance showed that the microbiota that was associated with the postlarvae and adults differed substantially, and higher diversity and richness were evident in the postlarvae in comparison with adults of the same species. The site of rearing influenced the bacterial community composition of C. corteziensis and C. sikamea adults. The bacterial groups that were found in these oysters were complex and metabolically versatile, making it difficult to understand the host-bacteria symbiotic relationships; therefore, the physiological and ecological significances of the resident microbiota remain uncertain.}, } @article {pmid24325235, year = {2014}, author = {Moreau, S and Fromentin, J and Vailleau, F and Vernié, T and Huguet, S and Balzergue, S and Frugier, F and Gamas, P and Jardinaud, MF}, title = {The symbiotic transcription factor MtEFD and cytokinins are positively acting in the Medicago truncatula and Ralstonia solanacearum pathogenic interaction.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {4}, pages = {1343-1357}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12636}, pmid = {24325235}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Ralstonia solanacearum/growth & development/*pathogenicity ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {• A plant-microbe dual biological system was set up involving the model legume Medicago truncatula and two bacteria, the soil-borne root pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum and the beneficial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. • Comparison of transcriptomes under symbiotic and pathogenic conditions highlighted the transcription factor MtEFD (Ethylene response Factor required for nodule Differentiation) as being upregulated in both interactions, together with a set of cytokinin-related transcripts involved in metabolism, signaling and response. MtRR4 (Response Regulator), a cytokinin primary response gene negatively regulating cytokinin signaling and known as a target of MtEFD in nodulation processes, was retrieved in this set of transcripts. • Refined studies of MtEFD and MtRR4 expression during M. truncatula and R. solanacearum interaction indicated differential kinetics of induction and requirement of central regulators of bacterial pathogenicity, HrpG and HrpB. Similar to MtRR4, MtEFD upregulation during the pathogenic interaction was dependent on cytokinin perception mediated by the MtCRE1 (Cytokinin REsponse 1) receptor. • The use of M. truncatula efd-1 and cre1-1 mutants evidenced MtEFD and cytokinin perception as positive factors for bacterial wilt development. These factors therefore play an important role in both root nodulation and root disease development.}, } @article {pmid24324722, year = {2013}, author = {Hagino, K and Onuma, R and Kawachi, M and Horiguchi, T}, title = {Discovery of an endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A in Braarudosphaera bigelowii (Prymnesiophyceae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e81749}, pmid = {24324722}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Haptophyta/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Likelihood Functions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Spores/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Braarudosphaera bigelowii (Prymnesiophyceae) is a coastal coccolithophore with a long fossil record, extending back to the late Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma). A recent study revealed close phylogenetic relationships between B. bigelowii, Chrysochromulina parkeae (Prymnesiophyceae), and a prymnesiophyte that forms a symbiotic association with the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A. In order to further examine these relationships, we conducted transmission electron microscopic and molecular phylogenetic studies of B. bigelowii. TEM studies showed that, in addition to organelles, such as the nucleus, chloroplasts and mitochondria, B. bigelowii contains one or two spheroid bodies with internal lamellae. In the 18S rDNA tree of the Prymnesiophyceae, C. parkeae fell within the B. bigelowii clade, and was close to B. bigelowii Genotype III (99.89% similarity). Plastid 16S rDNA sequences obtained from B. bigelowii were close to the unidentified sequences from the oligotrophic SE Pacific Ocean (e.g. HM133411) (99.86% similarity). Bacterial16S rDNA sequences obtained from B. bigelowii were identical to the UCYN-A sequence AY621693 from Arabian Sea, and fell in the UCYN-A clade. From these results, we suggest that; 1) C. parkeae is the alternate life cycle stage of B. bigelowii sensu stricto or that of a sibling species of B. bigelowii, and 2) the spheroid body of B. bigelowii originated from endosymbiosis of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium UCYN-A.}, } @article {pmid24324714, year = {2013}, author = {Tchioffo, MT and Boissière, A and Churcher, TS and Abate, L and Gimonneau, G and Nsango, SE and Awono-Ambéné, PH and Christen, R and Berry, A and Morlais, I}, title = {Modulation of malaria infection in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes exposed to natural midgut bacteria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e81663}, pmid = {24324714}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {MR/K010174/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Cameroon ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oocysts/metabolism ; Plasmodium falciparum/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {The development of Plasmodium falciparum within the Anopheles gambiae mosquito relies on complex vector-parasite interactions, however the resident midgut microbiota also plays an important role in mediating parasite infection. In natural conditions, the mosquito microbial flora is diverse, composed of commensal and symbiotic bacteria. We report here the isolation of culturable midgut bacteria from mosquitoes collected in the field in Cameroon and their identification based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We next measured the effect of selected natural bacterial isolates on Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence and intensity over multiple infectious feedings and found that the bacteria significantly reduced the prevalence and intensity of infection. These results contrast with our previous study where the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae positively correlated with P. falciparum infection (Boissière et al. 2012). The oral infection of bacteria probably led to the disruption of the gut homeostasis and activated immune responses, and this pinpoints the importance of studying microbe-parasite interactions in natural conditions. Our results indicate that the effect of bacterial exposure on P. falciparum infection varies with factors from the parasite and the human host and calls for deeper dissection of these parameters for accurate interpretation of bacterial exposure results in laboratory settings.}, } @article {pmid24324632, year = {2013}, author = {Kwan, JC and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Bacterial endosymbiosis in a chordate host: long-term co-evolution and conservation of secondary metabolism.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e80822}, pmid = {24324632}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA, Intergenic ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Pseudogenes ; Secondary Metabolism/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Intracellular symbiosis is known to be widespread in insects, but there are few described examples in other types of host. These symbionts carry out useful activities such as synthesizing nutrients and conferring resistance against adverse events such as parasitism. Such symbionts persist through host speciation events, being passed down through vertical transmission. Due to various evolutionary forces, symbionts go through a process of genome reduction, eventually resulting in tiny genomes where only those genes essential to immediate survival and those beneficial to the host remain. In the marine environment, invertebrates such as tunicates are known to harbor complex microbiomes implicated in the production of natural products that are toxic and probably serve a defensive function. Here, we show that the intracellular symbiont Candidatus Endolissoclinum faulkneri is a long-standing symbiont of the tunicate Lissoclinum patella, that has persisted through cryptic speciation of the host. In contrast to the known examples of insect symbionts, which tend to be either relatively recent or ancient relationships, the genome of Ca. E. faulkneri has a very low coding density but very few recognizable pseudogenes. The almost complete degradation of intergenic regions and stable gene inventory of extant strains of Ca. E. faulkneri show that further degradation and deletion is happening very slowly. This is a novel stage of genome reduction and provides insight into how tiny genomes are formed. The ptz pathway, which produces the defensive patellazoles, is shown to date to before the divergence of Ca. E. faulkneri strains, reinforcing its importance in this symbiotic relationship. Lastly, as in insects we show that stable symbionts can be lost, as we describe an L. patella animal where Ca. E. faulkneri is displaced by a likely intracellular pathogen. Our results suggest that intracellular symbionts may be an important source of ecologically significant natural products in animals.}, } @article {pmid24324575, year = {2013}, author = {Downs, CA and McDougall, KE and Woodley, CM and Fauth, JE and Richmond, RH and Kushmaro, A and Gibb, SW and Loya, Y and Ostrander, GK and Kramarsky-Winter, E}, title = {Heat-stress and light-stress induce different cellular pathologies in the symbiotic dinoflagellate during coral bleaching.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e77173}, pmid = {24324575}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*radiation effects ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/*radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Gene Expression ; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Intracellular Membranes/*radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Photolysis ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching is a significant contributor to the worldwide degradation of coral reefs and is indicative of the termination of symbiosis between the coral host and its symbiotic algae (dinoflagellate; Symbiodinium sp. complex), usually by expulsion or xenophagy (symbiophagy) of its dinoflagellates. Herein, we provide evidence that during the earliest stages of environmentally induced bleaching, heat stress and light stress generate distinctly different pathomorphological changes in the chloroplasts, while a combined heat- and light-stress exposure induces both pathomorphologies; suggesting that these stressors act on the dinoflagellate by different mechanisms. Within the first 48 hours of a heat stress (32°C) under low-light conditions, heat stress induced decomposition of thylakoid structures before observation of extensive oxidative damage; thus it is the disorganization of the thylakoids that creates the conditions allowing photo-oxidative-stress. Conversely, during the first 48 hours of a light stress (2007 µmoles m(-2) s(-1) PAR) at 25°C, condensation or fusion of multiple thylakoid lamellae occurred coincidently with levels of oxidative damage products, implying that photo-oxidative stress causes the structural membrane damage within the chloroplasts. Exposure to combined heat- and light-stresses induced both pathomorphologies, confirming that these stressors acted on the dinoflagellate via different mechanisms. Within 72 hours of exposure to heat and/or light stresses, homeostatic processes (e.g., heat-shock protein and anti-oxidant enzyme response) were evident in the remaining intact dinoflagellates, regardless of the initiating stressor. Understanding the sequence of events during bleaching when triggered by different environmental stressors is important for predicting both severity and consequences of coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid24320607, year = {2014}, author = {Walker, JKM and Cohen, H and Higgins, LM and Kennedy, PG}, title = {Testing the link between community structure and function for ectomycorrhizal fungi involved in a global tripartite symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {202}, number = {1}, pages = {287-296}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12638}, pmid = {24320607}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; Alnus/enzymology/*microbiology/physiology ; Frankia/*physiology ; Leucyl Aminopeptidase/metabolism ; Meristem/enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pseudotsuga/microbiology/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Alnus trees associate with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria and, although their ECM fungal communities are uncommonly host specific and species poor, it is unclear whether the functioning of Alnus ECM fungal symbionts differs from that of other ECM hosts. We used exoenzyme root tip assays and molecular identification to test whether ECM fungi on Alnus rubra differed in their ability to access organic phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) when compared with ECM fungi on the non-Frankia host Pseudotsuga menziesii. At the community level, potential acid phosphatase (AP) activity of ECM fungal root tips from A. rubra was significantly higher than that from P. menziesii, whereas potential leucine aminopeptidase (LA) activity was significantly lower for A. rubra root tips at one of the two sites. At the individual species level, there was no clear relationship between ECM fungal relative root tip abundance and relative AP or LA enzyme activities on either host. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that ECM fungal communities associated with Alnus trees have enhanced organic P acquisition abilities relative to non-Frankia ECM hosts. This shift, in combination with the chemical conditions present in Alnus forest soils, may drive the atypical structure of Alnus ECM fungal communities.}, } @article {pmid24319482, year = {2013}, author = {Loetz, C and Müller, J and Frick, E and Petersen, Y and Hvidt, NC and Mauer, C}, title = {Attachment theory and spirituality: two threads converging in palliative care?.}, journal = {Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM}, volume = {2013}, number = {}, pages = {740291}, pmid = {24319482}, issn = {1741-427X}, abstract = {The aim of this paper is to discuss and explore the interrelation between two concepts, attachment theory and the concept of spirituality, which are important to palliative care and to founding a multivariate understanding of the patient's needs and challenges. Both concepts have been treated by research in diverse and multiform ways, but little effort has yet been made to integrate them into one theoretical framework in reference to the palliative context. In this paper, we begin an attempt to close this scientific gap theoretically. Following the lines of thought in this paper, we assume that spirituality can be conceptualized as an adequate response of a person's attachment pattern to the peculiarity of the palliative situation. Spirituality can be seen both as a recourse to securely based relationships and as an attempt to explore the ultimate unknown, the mystery of one's own death. Thus, spirituality in the palliative context corresponds to the task of attachment behavior: to transcend symbiosis while continuing bonds and thus to explore the unknown environment independently and without fear. Spiritual activity is interpreted as a human attachment behavior option that receives special quality and importance in the terminal stage of life. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed in the final section of the paper.}, } @article {pmid24319357, year = {2013}, author = {Geetha, SJ and Joshi, SJ}, title = {Engineering rhizobial bioinoculants: a strategy to improve iron nutrition.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2013}, number = {}, pages = {315890}, pmid = {24319357}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Genetic Enhancement/*methods ; Iron/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Recombinant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Under field conditions, inoculated rhizobial strains are at a survival disadvantage as compared to indigenous strains. In order to out-compete native rhizobia it is not only important to develop strong nodulation efficiency but also increase their competence in the soil and rhizosphere. Competitive survival of the inoculated strain may be improved by employing strain selection and by genetic engineering of superior nitrogen fixing strains. Iron sufficiency is an important factor determining the survival and nodulation by rhizobia in soil. Siderophores, a class of ferric specific ligands that are involved in receptor specific iron transport into bacteria, constitute an important part of iron acquisition systems in rhizobia and have been shown to play a role in symbiosis as well as in saprophytic survival. Soils predominantly have iron bound to hydroxamate siderophores, a pool that is largely unavailable to catecholate-utilizing rhizobia. Outer membrane receptors for uptake of ferric hydroxamates include FhuA and FegA which are specific for ferrichrome siderophore. Increase in nodule occupancy and enhanced plant growth of the fegA and fhuA expressing engineered bioinoculants rhizobial strain have been reported. Engineering rhizobia for developing effective bioinoculants with improved ability to utilize heterologous siderophores could provide them with better iron acquisition ability and consequently, rhizospheric stability.}, } @article {pmid24319255, year = {2014}, author = {Laporte, P and Lepage, A and Fournier, J and Catrice, O and Moreau, S and Jardinaud, MF and Mun, JH and Larrainzar, E and Cook, DR and Gamas, P and Niebel, A}, title = {The CCAAT box-binding transcription factor NF-YA1 controls rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {481-494}, pmid = {24319255}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between legume plants and soil rhizobia culminates in the formation of a novel root organ, the 'nodule', containing bacteria differentiated as facultative nitrogen-fixing organelles. MtNF-YA1 is a Medicago truncatula CCAAT box-binding transcription factor (TF), formerly called HAP2-1, highly expressed in mature nodules and required for nodule meristem function and persistence. Here a role for MtNF-YA1 during early nodule development is demonstrated. Detailed expression analysis based on RNA sequencing, quantitiative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), as well as promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions reveal that MtNF-YA1 is first induced at the onset of symbiotic development during preparation for, and initiation and progression of, symbiotic infection. Moreover, using a new knock-out mutant, Mtnf-ya1-1, it is shown that MtNF-YA1 controls infection thread (IT) progression from initial root infection through colonization of nodule tissues. Extensive confocal and electronic microscopic observations suggest that the bulbous and erratic IT growth phenotypes observed in Mtnf-ya1-1 could be a consequence of the fact that walls of ITs in this mutant are thinner and less coherent than in the wild type. It is proposed that MtNF-YA1 controls rhizobial infection progression by regulating the formation and the wall of ITs.}, } @article {pmid24317432, year = {2013}, author = {Janczarek, M and Rachwał, K}, title = {Mutation in the pssA gene involved in exopolysaccharide synthesis leads to several physiological and symbiotic defects in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {23711-23735}, pmid = {24317432}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Detergents/pharmacology ; Ethanol/pharmacology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Glycosyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Medicago/microbiology ; Metabolome ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mutagenesis ; Phenotype ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii 24.2 secretes large amounts of acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS), which plays a crucial role in establishment of effective symbiosis with clover. The biosynthesis of this heteropolymer is conducted by a multi-enzymatic complex located in the bacterial inner membrane. PssA protein, responsible for the addition of glucose-1-phosphate to a polyprenyl phosphate carrier, is involved in the first step of EPS synthesis. In this work, we characterize R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain Rt270 containing a mini-Tn5 transposon insertion located in the 3'-end of the pssA gene. It has been established that a mutation in this gene causes a pleiotropic effect in rhizobial cells. This is confirmed by the phenotype of the mutant strain Rt270, which exhibits several physiological and symbiotic defects such as a deficiency in EPS synthesis, decreased motility and utilization of some nutrients, decreased sensitivity to several antibiotics, an altered extracellular protein profile, and failed host plant infection. The data of this study indicate that the protein product of the pssA gene is not only involved in EPS synthesis, but also required for proper functioning of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii cells.}, } @article {pmid24317400, year = {2014}, author = {Milunovic, B and diCenzo, GC and Morton, RA and Finan, TM}, title = {Cell growth inhibition upon deletion of four toxin-antitoxin loci from the megaplasmids of Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {196}, number = {4}, pages = {811-824}, pmid = {24317400}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Microbial Viability ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plasmids ; *Sequence Deletion ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Toxin and antitoxin (TA) gene pairs are addiction systems that are present in many microbial genomes. Sinorhizobium meliloti is an N2-fixing bacterial symbiont of alfalfa and other leguminous plants, and its genome consists of three large replicons, a circular chromosome (3.7 Mb) and the megaplasmids pSymA (1.4 Mb) and pSymB (1.7 Mb). S. meliloti carries 211 predicted type II TA genes, each encoding a toxin or an antitoxin. We constructed defined deletion strains that collectively removed the entire pSymA and pSymB megaplasmids except for their oriV regions. Of approximately 100 TA genes on pSymA and pSymB, we identified four whose loss was associated with cell death or stasis unless copies of the genes were supplied in trans. Orthologs of three of these loci have been characterized in other organisms (relB/E [sma0471/sma0473], Fic [DOC] [sma2105], and VapC [PIN] [orf2230/sma2231]), and this report contains the first experimental proof that RES/Xre (smb21127/smb21128) loci can function as a TA system. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis did not reveal transcriptional differences between the TA systems to account for why deletion of the four "active" systems resulted in cell toxicity. These data suggest that severe cell growth phenotypes result from the loss of a few TA systems and that loss of most TA systems may result in more subtle phenotypes. These four TA systems do not appear to play a direct role in the S. meliloti-alfalfa symbiosis, as strains lacking these TA systems had a symbiotic N2 fixation phenotype that was indistinguishable from the wild type.}, } @article {pmid24317084, year = {2014}, author = {Guo, HJ and Wang, ET and Zhang, XX and Li, QQ and Zhang, YM and Tian, CF and Chen, WX}, title = {Replicon-dependent differentiation of symbiosis-related genes in Sinorhizobium strains nodulating Glycine max.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {4}, pages = {1245-1255}, pmid = {24317084}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Recombination, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/*genetics/*physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In order to investigate the genetic differentiation of Sinorhizobium strains nodulating Glycine max and related microevolutionary mechanisms, three housekeeping genes (SMc00019, truA, and thrA) and 16 symbiosis-related genes on the chromosome (7 genes), pSymA (6 genes), and pSymB (3 genes) were analyzed. Five distinct species were identified among the test strains by calculating the average nucleotide identity (ANI) of SMc00019-truA-thrA: Sinorhizobium fredii, Sinorhizobium sojae, Sinorhizobium sp. I, Sinorhizobium sp. II, and Sinorhizobium sp. III. These species assignments were also supported by population genetics and phylogenetic analyses of housekeeping genes and symbiosis-related genes on the chromosome and pSymB. Different levels of genetic differentiation were observed among these species or different replicons. S. sojae was the most divergent from the other test species and was characterized by its low intraspecies diversity and limited geographic distribution. Intergenic recombination dominated the evolution of 19 genes from different replicons. Intraspecies recombination happened frequently in housekeeping genes and symbiosis-related genes on the chromosome and pSymB, whereas pSymA genes showed a clear pattern of lateral-transfer events between different species. Moreover, pSymA genes were characterized by a lower level of polymorphism and recombination than those on the chromosome and pSymB. Taken together, genes from different replicons of rhizobia might be involved in the establishment of symbiosis with legumes, but these symbiosis-related genes might have evolved differently according to their corresponding replicons.}, } @article {pmid24312542, year = {2013}, author = {Nahon, S and Richoux, NB and Kolasinski, J and Desmalades, M and Ferrier Pages, C and Lecellier, G and Planes, S and Berteaux Lecellier, V}, title = {Spatial and temporal variations in stable carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) isotopic composition of symbiotic scleractinian corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e81247}, pmid = {24312542}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/physiology ; Carbon Isotopes/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Seasons ; *Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tropical scleractinian corals are considered autotrophic as they rely mainly on photosynthesis-derived nutrients transferred from their photosymbionts. Corals are also able to capture and ingest suspended particulate organic matter, so heterotrophy can be an important supplementary trophic pathway to optimize coral fitness. The aim of this in situ study was to elucidate the trophic status of 10 coral species under contrasted environmental conditions in a French Polynesian lagoon. Carbon (δ(13)C) and nitrogen (δ(15)N) isotopic compositions of coral host tissues and photosymbionts were determined at 3 different fringing reefs during wet and dry seasons. Our results highlighted spatial variability in stable isotopic compositions of both coral host tissues and photosymbionts. Samples from the site with higher level of suspended particulate matter were (13)C-depleted and (15)N-enriched relative to corals and photosymbionts from less turbid sites. However, differences in both δ(13)C and δ(15)N between coral host tissues and their photosymbionts (Δ(host-photosymbionts 13)C and Δ(host-photosymbionts 15)N) were small (0.27 ± 0.76‰ and 1.40 ± 0.90‰, respectively) and similar at all sites, thus indicating no general increases in the heterotrophic pathway. Depleted δ(13)C and enriched δ(15)N values of coral host tissues measured at the most turbid site were explained by changes in isotopic composition of the inorganic nutrients taken up by photosymbionts and also by changes in rate of isotopic fractionation with environmental conditions. Our results also highlighted a lack of significant temporal variations in δ(13)C and δ(15)N values of coral host and photosymbiont tissues and in Δ(host-photosymbionts 13)C and Δ(host-photosymbionts 15)N values. This temporal stability indicated that corals remained principally autotrophic even during the wet season when photosymbiont densities were lower and the concentrations of phytoplankton were higher. Increased coral heterotrophy with higher food availability thus appears to be species-specific.}, } @article {pmid24312538, year = {2013}, author = {Lou, J and Cao, Y and Sun, P and Zheng, P}, title = {The effects of operational conditions on the respiration rate of Tubificidae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e81219}, pmid = {24312538}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Hot Temperature ; Oligochaeta/*metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption/*physiology ; *Sewage ; *Wastewater ; Water Purification/methods ; }, abstract = {Tubificidae is often used in the wastewater treatment systems to minimize the sludge production because it can be fed on the activated sludge. The process conditions have effect on the growth, reproduction, and sludge reduction efficiency of Tubificidae. The effects of the water quality, density of worms, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on the respiration rate of Tubificidae were investigated to determine the optimal conditions for the growth and metabolism of the worms and reveal the mechanisms involving the efficient sludge reduction in terms of these conditions. It was observed that the respiration rate was highest in the water discharged from an ecosystem that included symbiotic Tubificidae and microbes and was lowest in distilled water. Considering density of the worms, the highest rate was 81.72±5.12 mg O2/g(dry weight)·h·L with 0.25 g (wet weight) of worms in 1 L test flask. The maximum Tubificidae respiration rate was observed at a pH of 8.0±0.05, a rate that was more than twice as high as those observed at other pH values. The respiration rate increased in the temperature range of ∼8°C-22°C, whereas the rate declined in the temperature range of ∼22°C-30°C. The respiration rate of Tubificidae was very high for DO range of ∼3.5-4.5 mg/L, and the rates were relatively low for out of this DO range. The results of this study revealed the process conditions which influenced the growth, and reproduction of Tubificidae and sludge reduction at a microscopic level, which could be a theoretical basis for the cultivation and application of Tubificidae in wastewater treatment plants.}, } @article {pmid24312210, year = {2013}, author = {Pita, L and Erwin, PM and Turon, X and López-Legentil, S}, title = {Till death do us part: stable sponge-bacteria associations under thermal and food shortage stresses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e80307}, pmid = {24312210}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Environment ; Porifera/*microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Seawater/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Sporadic mass mortality events of Mediterranean sponges following periods of anomalously high temperatures or longer than usual stratification of the seawater column (i.e. low food availability) suggest that these animals are sensitive to environmental stresses. The Mediterranean sponges Ircinia fasciculata and I. oros harbor distinct, species-specific bacterial communities that are highly stable over time and space but little is known about how anomalous environmental conditions affect the structure of the resident bacterial communities. Here, we monitored the bacterial communities in I. fasciculata (largely affected by mass mortalities) and I. oros (overall unaffected) maintained in aquaria during 3 weeks under 4 treatments that mimicked realistic stress pressures: control conditions (13°C, unfiltered seawater), low food availability (13°C, 0.1 µm-filtered seawater), elevated temperatures (25°C, unfiltered seawater), and a combination of the 2 stressors (25°C, 0.1 µm-filtered seawater). Bacterial community structure was assessed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As I. fasciculata harbors cyanobacteria, we also measured chlorophyll a (chl a) levels in this species. Multivariate analysis revealed no significant differences in bacterial T-RFLP profiles among treatments for either host sponge species, indicating no effect of high temperatures and food shortage on symbiont community structure. In I. fasciculata, chl a content did not significantly differ among treatments although TEM micrographs revealed some cyanobacteria cells undergoing degradation when exposed to both elevated temperature and food shortage conditions. Arguably, longer-term treatments (months) could have eventually affected bacterial community structure. However, we evidenced no appreciable decay of the symbiotic community in response to medium-term (3 weeks) environmental anomalies purported to cause the recurrent sponge mortality episodes. Thus, changes in symbiont structure are not likely the proximate cause for these reported mortality events.}, } @article {pmid24311973, year = {2013}, author = {Xia, Z and Zhai, H and Lü, S and Wu, H and Zhang, Y}, title = {Recent achievement in gene cloning and functional genomics in soybean.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2013}, number = {}, pages = {281367}, pmid = {24311973}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {*Cloning, Molecular ; Disease Resistance/*physiology ; Genes, Plant/*physiology ; *Genomics ; Photoperiod ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Soybean is a model plant for photoperiodism as well as for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, a rather low efficiency in soybean transformation hampers functional analysis of genes isolated from soybean. In comparison, rapid development and progress in flowering time and photoperiodic response have been achieved in Arabidopsis and rice. As the soybean genomic information has been released since 2008, gene cloning and functional genomic studies have been revived as indicated by successfully characterizing genes involved in maturity and nematode resistance. Here, we review some major achievements in the cloning of some important genes and some specific features at genetic or genomic levels revealed by the analysis of functional genomics of soybean.}, } @article {pmid24311578, year = {2013}, author = {Ruszkowski, M and Szpotkowski, K and Sikorski, M and Jaskolski, M}, title = {The landscape of cytokinin binding by a plant nodulin.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section D, Biological crystallography}, volume = {69}, number = {Pt 12}, pages = {2365-2380}, pmid = {24311578}, issn = {1399-0047}, support = {P41 RR001081/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cytokinins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/chemistry/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Multimerization ; }, abstract = {Nodulation is an extraordinary symbiotic interaction between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) that assimilate atmospheric nitrogen (in root nodules) and convert it into compounds suitable for the plant host. A class of plant hormones called cytokinins are involved in the nodulation process. In the model legume Medicago truncatula, nodulin 13 (MtN13), which belongs to the pathogenesis-related proteins of class 10 (PR-10), is expressed in the outer cortex of the nodules. In general, PR-10 proteins are small and monomeric and have a characteristic fold with an internal hydrophobic cavity formed between a seven-stranded antiparallel β-sheet and a C-terminal α-helix. Previously, some PR-10 proteins not related to nodulation were found to bind cytokinins such as trans-zeatin. Here, four crystal structures of the MtN13 protein are reported in complexes with several cytokinins, namely trans-zeatin, N6-isopentenyladenine, kinetin and N6-benzyladenine. All four phytohormones are bound in the hydrophobic cavity in the same manner and have excellent definition in the electron-density maps. The binding of the cytokinins appears to be strong and specific and is reinforced by several hydrogen bonds. Although the binding stoichiometry is 1:1, the complex is actually dimeric, with a cytokinin molecule bound in each subunit. The ligand-binding site in each cavity is formed with the participation of a loop element from the other subunit, which plugs the only entrance to the cavity. Interestingly, a homodimer of MtN13 is also formed in solution, as confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).}, } @article {pmid24310930, year = {2014}, author = {Valadares, RB and Perotto, S and Santos, EC and Lambais, MR}, title = {Proteome changes in Oncidium sphacelatum (Orchidaceae) at different trophic stages of symbiotic germination.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {349-360}, pmid = {24310930}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Germination/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Mycorrhizae ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Proteome ; Proteomics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses between plants and fungi are a widespread phenomenon in nature. Particularly in orchids, association with symbiotic fungi is required for seed germination and seedling development. During the initial stages of symbiotic germination, before the onset of photosynthesis, orchid protocorms are fully mycoheterotrophic. The molecular mechanisms involved in orchid symbiotic germination and development are largely unknown, but it is likely that changes in plant energy metabolism and defense-related responses play a central role in these processes. We have used 2D-LC-MS/MS coupled to isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantification to identify proteins with differential accumulation in Oncidium sphacelatum at different stages of mycorrhizal protocorm development (achlorophyllous and green protocorms) after seed inoculation with a Ceratobasidium sp. isolate. We identified and quantified 88 proteins, including proteins putatively involved in energy metabolism, cell rescue and defense, molecular signaling, and secondary metabolism. Quantitative analysis showed that the expected changes in carbon metabolism in green protocorms were accompanied by enhanced accumulation of proteins involved in the modulation of reactive oxygen species homeostasis, defense-related responses, and phytoalexins and carotenoid biosynthesis. Our results suggest profound metabolic changes in orchid protocorms during the switch from the fully mycoheterotrophic to the photosynthetic stage. Part of these changes may be also related to the obligatory nature of the interaction with the endomycorrhizal fungus.}, } @article {pmid24310121, year = {2013}, author = {Lakshmanan, V and Bais, HP}, title = {Factors other than root secreted malic acid that contributes toward Bacillus subtilis FB17 colonization on Arabidopsis roots.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e27277}, pmid = {24310121}, issn = {1559-2324}, support = {P20 GM103446/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacillus subtilis/*growth & development ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Malates/*metabolism ; Organic Anion Transporters/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Bacillus subtilis FB17 (hereafter FB17) induces resistance against broad pathogen including Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (PstDC3000). The extent of plant protection by FB17 depends on establishment of root colonization followed by biofilm formation. The general convention dictates that beneficial rhizobacterium may suppress the root innate immune system to establish a robust colonization. However, it is still not well understood which genetic targets FB17 affects in plants to facilitate a symbiotic association. Our recent study, involving whole transcriptome analysis of Arabdiopsis thaliana roots treated with FB17 post 24 h of treatment showed totally 279 genes that were significantly up- or/ downregulated. Further, we found that the mutants for upregulated and downregulated genes post-FB17 colonization showed a differential phenotype for FB17 root colonization. Interestingly, plants mutated in the FB17-responsive genes showed increased Aluminum activated malate transporter (ALMT1) expression under foliar pathogen PstDC3000, infections, indicating the independent functionality of ALMT1 for bacterial recruitment. Taken together this, present study suggests that the establishment of interaction between the plant host and PGPR is a complex phenomenon which is regulated by multiple genetic components.}, } @article {pmid24307674, year = {2014}, author = {Zapalski, MK}, title = {Evidence of photosymbiosis in Palaeozoic tabulate corals.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {281}, number = {1775}, pages = {20132663}, pmid = {24307674}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Alveolata/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs form the most diverse of all marine ecosystems on the Earth. Corals are among their main components and owe their bioconstructing abilities to a symbiosis with algae (Symbiodinium). The coral-algae symbiosis had been traced back to the Triassic (ca 240 Ma). Modern reef-building corals (Scleractinia) appeared after the Permian-Triassic crisis; in the Palaeozoic, some of the main reef constructors were extinct tabulate corals. The calcium carbonate secreted by extant photosymbiotic corals bears characteristic isotope (C and O) signatures. The analysis of tabulate corals belonging to four orders (Favositida, Heliolitida, Syringoporida and Auloporida) from Silurian to Permian strata of Europe and Africa shows these characteristic carbon and oxygen stable isotope signatures. The δ(18)O to δ(13)C ratios in recent photosymbiotic scleractinians are very similar to those of Palaeozoic tabulates, thus providing strong evidence of such symbioses as early as the Middle Silurian (ca 430 Ma). Corals in Palaeozoic reefs used the same cellular mechanisms for carbonate secretion as recent reefs, and thus contributed to reef formation.}, } @article {pmid24304674, year = {2014}, author = {Andrade-Domínguez, A and Salazar, E and Vargas-Lagunas, Mdel C and Kolter, R and Encarnación, S}, title = {Eco-evolutionary feedbacks drive species interactions.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {1041-1054}, pmid = {24304674}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; *Ecosystem ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Models, Biological ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the biosphere, many species live in close proximity and can thus interact in many different ways. Such interactions are dynamic and fall along a continuum between antagonism and cooperation. Because interspecies interactions are the key to understanding biological communities, it is important to know how species interactions arise and evolve. Here, we show that the feedback between ecological and evolutionary processes has a fundamental role in the emergence and dynamics of species interaction. Using a two-species artificial community, we demonstrate that ecological processes and rapid evolution interact to influence the dynamics of the symbiosis between a eukaryote (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and a bacterium (Rhizobium etli). The simplicity of our experimental design enables an explicit statement of causality. The niche-constructing activities of the fungus were the key ecological process: it allowed the establishment of a commensal relationship that switched to ammensalism and provided the selective conditions necessary for the adaptive evolution of the bacteria. In this latter state, the bacterial population radiates into more than five genotypes that vary with respect to nutrient transport, metabolic strategies and global regulation. Evolutionary diversification of the bacterial populations has strong effects on the community; the nature of interaction subsequently switches from ammensalism to antagonism where bacteria promote yeast extinction. Our results demonstrate the importance of the evolution-to-ecology pathway in the persistence of interactions and the stability of communities. Thus, eco-evolutionary dynamics have the potential to transform the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Our results suggest that these dynamics should be considered to improve our understanding of beneficial and detrimental host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid24300696, year = {2013}, author = {Shao, Y and Arias-Cordero, EM and Boland, W}, title = {Identification of metabolically active bacteria in the gut of the generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA stable isotope probing using 13C-glucose.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {81}, pages = {e50734}, pmid = {24300696}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification ; Glucose/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Spodoptera/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Guts of most insects are inhabited by complex communities of symbiotic nonpathogenic bacteria. Within such microbial communities it is possible to identify commensal or mutualistic bacteria species. The latter ones, have been observed to serve multiple functions to the insect, i.e. helping in insect reproduction(1), boosting the immune response(2), pheromone production(3), as well as nutrition, including the synthesis of essential amino acids(4,) among others. Due to the importance of these associations, many efforts have been made to characterize the communities down to the individual members. However, most of these efforts were either based on cultivation methods or relied on the generation of 16S rRNA gene fragments which were sequenced for final identification. Unfortunately, these approaches only identified the bacterial species present in the gut and provided no information on the metabolic activity of the microorganisms. To characterize the metabolically active bacterial species in the gut of an insect, we used stable isotope probing (SIP) in vivo employing (13)C-glucose as a universal substrate. This is a promising culture-free technique that allows the linkage of microbial phylogenies to their particular metabolic activity. This is possible by tracking stable, isotope labeled atoms from substrates into microbial biomarkers, such as DNA and RNA(5). The incorporation of (13)C isotopes into DNA increases the density of the labeled DNA compared to the unlabeled ((12)C) one. In the end, the (13)C-labeled DNA or RNA is separated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation from the (12)C-unlabeled similar one(6). Subsequent molecular analysis of the separated nucleic acid isotopomers provides the connection between metabolic activity and identity of the species. Here, we present the protocol used to characterize the metabolically active bacteria in the gut of a generalist insect (our model system), Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The phylogenetic analysis of the DNA was done using pyrosequencing, which allowed high resolution and precision in the identification of insect gut bacterial community. As main substrate, (13)C-labeled glucose was used in the experiments. The substrate was fed to the insects using an artificial diet.}, } @article {pmid24297892, year = {2013}, author = {Floss, DS and Levy, JG and Lévesque-Tremblay, V and Pumplin, N and Harrison, MJ}, title = {DELLA proteins regulate arbuscule formation in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {51}, pages = {E5025-34}, pmid = {24297892}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; *Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most flowering plants are able to form endosymbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In this mutualistic association, the fungus colonizes the root cortex and establishes elaborately branched hyphae, called arbuscules, within the cortical cells. Arbuscule development requires the cellular reorganization of both symbionts, and the resulting symbiotic interface functions in nutrient exchange. A plant symbiosis signaling pathway controls the development of the symbiosis. Several components of the pathway have been identified, but transcriptional regulators that control downstream pathways for arbuscule formation are still unknown. Here we show that DELLA proteins, which are repressors of gibberellic acid (GA) signaling and function at the nexus of several signaling pathways, are required for arbuscule formation. Arbuscule formation is severely impaired in a Medicago truncatula Mtdella1/Mtdella2 double mutant; GA treatment of wild-type roots phenocopies the della double mutant, and a dominant DELLA protein (della1-Δ18) enables arbuscule formation in the presence of GA. Ectopic expression of della1-Δ18 suggests that DELLA activity in the vascular tissue and endodermis is sufficient to enable arbuscule formation in the inner cortical cells. In addition, expression of della1-Δ18 restores arbuscule formation in the symbiosis signaling pathway mutant cyclops/ipd3, indicating an intersection between DELLA and symbiosis signaling for arbuscule formation. GA signaling also influences arbuscule formation in monocots, and a Green Revolution wheat variety carrying dominant DELLA alleles shows enhanced colonization but a limited growth response to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24296898, year = {2013}, author = {Subramoniam, T}, title = {Origin and occurrence of sexual and mating systems in Crustacea: a progression towards communal living and eusociality.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {951-969}, pmid = {24296898}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Crustacea/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Reproduction ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Crustaceans are known for their unrivalled diversity of sexual systems, as well as peculiar mating associations to achieve maximum mating success and fertilization accomplishment. Although sexes are separate in most species, various types of hermaphroditism characterize these predominantly aquatic arthropods. A low operational sex ratio between female and male, together with temporally limited receptivity of females towards males, imposes restrictions on the structuring of mating systems in crustaceans. The basic mating systems consist of monogamy, polygamy, mate guarding and pure searching. Understandably, ecological influences may also play a determinative role in the evolution of such sexual and mating systems in crustaceans. An important outcome of the crustacean sexual biology is the development of complex social structures in many aquatic species, in much the same way insects have established them in terrestrial conditions. In addition, groups like isopods and certain families of brachyuran crabs have shown terrestrial adaptation, exhibiting peculiar reproductive modes, sometimes reminiscent of their terrestrial counterparts, insects. Many caridean shrimps, living in symbiotic relationship with other marine invertebrates in the coral reef habitats, have reached pinnacle of complexity in sexuality and peculiar mating behaviours, resulting in communal living and establishing advanced social systems, such as eusociality.}, } @article {pmid24296570, year = {2013}, author = {Sapp, J and Fox, GE}, title = {The singular quest for a universal tree of life.}, journal = {Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR}, volume = {77}, number = {4}, pages = {541-550}, pmid = {24296570}, issn = {1098-5557}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Carl Woese developed a unique research program, based on rRNA, for discerning bacterial relationships and constructing a universal tree of life. Woese's interest in the evolution of the genetic code led to him to investigate the deep roots of evolution, develop the concept of the progenote, and conceive of the Archaea. In so doing, he and his colleagues at the University of Illinois in Urbana revolutionized microbiology and brought the classification of microbes into an evolutionary framework. Woese also provided definitive evidence for the role of symbiosis in the evolution of the eukaryotic cell while underscoring the importance of lateral gene transfer in microbial evolution. Woese and colleagues' proposal of three fundamental domains of life was brought forward in direct conflict with the prokaryote-eukaryote dichotomy. Together with several colleagues and associates, he brought together diverse evidence to support the rRNA evidence for the fundamentally tripartite nature of life. This paper aims to provide insight into his accomplishments, how he achieved them, and his place in the history of biology.}, } @article {pmid24294261, year = {2013}, author = {Silva, RF and Lupatini, M and Trindade, L and Antoniolli, ZI and Steffen, RB and Andreazza, R}, title = {Copper resistance of different ectomycorrhizal fungi such as Pisolithus microcarpus, Pisolithus sp., Scleroderma sp. and Suillus sp.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {613-627}, pmid = {24294261}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*drug effects ; Copper/*toxicity ; Culture Media/chemistry ; *Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Environments contaminated with heavy metals negatively impact the living organisms. Ectomycorrhizal fungi have shown important role in these impacted sites. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the copper-resistance of ectomycorrhizal fungi isolates Pisolithus microcarpus - UFSC-Pt116; Pisolithus sp. - UFSC-PT24, Suillus sp. - UFSM RA 2.8 and Scleroderma sp. - UFSC-Sc124 to different copper doses in solid and liquid media. The copper doses tested were: 0.00, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25 mmol L(-1) in the solid medium and 0.00, 0.32, 0.64 and 0.96 mmol L(-1) in the liquid medium. Copper was amended as copper sulphate in order to supplement the culture medium MNM at pH 4.8, with seven replicates to each fungus-dose combination. The fungal isolates were incubated for 30 days at 28 °C. UFSC-Pt116 showed high copper-resistance such as accessed by CL50 determinations (concentration to reduce 50% of the growth) as while as UFSC-PT24 displayed copper-resistance mechanism at 0.50 mmol L(-1) in solid medium. The UFSC-PT24 and UFSC-Sc124 isolates have increased copper-resistance in liquid medium. The higher production of extracellular pigment was detected in UFSC-Pt116 cultures. The UFSC-Pt116 and UFSC-PT24 isolates showed higher resistance for copper and produced higher mycelium biomass than the other isolates. In this way, the isolates UFSG-Pt116 and UFSC-PT24 can be important candidates to survive in copper-contaminated areas, and can show important role in plants symbiosis in these contaminated sites.}, } @article {pmid24294233, year = {2013}, author = {Oliveira, RP and Casazza, AA and Aliakbarian, B and Perego, P and Converti, A and Oliveira, MN}, title = {Influence of fructooligosaccharides on the fermentation profile and viable counts in a symbiotic low fat milk.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {431-434}, pmid = {24294233}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bifidobacterium/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactobacillus/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Milk/chemistry/*microbiology ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; *Prebiotics ; Streptococcus thermophilus/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {This study evaluated the effects of prebiotics on fermentation profile and growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium lactis in co-cultures with Streptococcus thermophilus. Acidification rate and viability were positively influenced by the co-culture with B. lactis and by both inulin or oligofructose in low fat milk.}, } @article {pmid24294220, year = {2013}, author = {de Oliveira Leite, AM and Miguel, MA and Peixoto, RS and Rosado, AS and Silva, JT and Paschoalin, VM}, title = {Microbiological, technological and therapeutic properties of kefir: a natural probiotic beverage.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {341-349}, pmid = {24294220}, issn = {1678-4405}, mesh = {Beverages/*microbiology ; Brazil ; Cultured Milk Products/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Kefir is a fermented milk beverage produced by the action of bacteria and yeasts that exist in symbiotic association in kefir grains. The artisanal production of the kefir is based on the tradition of the peoples of Caucasus, which has spread to other parts of the world, from the late 19(th) century, and nowadays integrates its nutritional and therapeutic indications to the everyday food choices of several populations. The large number of microorganisms present in kefir and their microbial interactions, the possible bioactive compounds resulting of microbial metabolism, and the benefits associated with the use this beverage confers kefir the status of a natural probiotic, designated as the 21(th) century yoghurt. Several studies have shown that kefir and its constituents have antimicrobial, antitumor, anticarcinogenic and immunomodulatory activity and also improve lactose digestion, among others. This review includes data on the technological aspects, the main beneficial effects on human health of kefir and its microbiological composition. Generally, kefir grains contain a relatively stable and specific microbiota enclosed in a matrix of polysaccharides and proteins. Microbial interactions in kefir are complex due to the composition of kefir grains, which seems to differ among different studies, although some predominant Lactobacillus species are always present. Besides, the specific populations of individual grains seem to contribute to the particular sensory characteristics present in fermented beverages. This review also includes new electron microscopy data on the distribution of microorganisms within different Brazilian kefir grains, which showed a relative change in its distribution according to grain origin.}, } @article {pmid24293321, year = {2015}, author = {Wang, XM and Yang, B and Wang, HW and Yang, T and Ren, CG and Zheng, HL and Dai, CC}, title = {Consequences of antagonistic interactions between endophytic fungus and bacterium on plant growth and defense responses in Atractylodes lancea.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {5}, pages = {659-670}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201300601}, pmid = {24293321}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/growth & development/*physiology ; Acremonium/*physiology ; Atractylodes/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Endophytes/growth & development/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Development ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many studies have examined pair-wise interactions between plants and endophytes, while overlooking the interplays among multiple endosymbionts and their combined impacts on hosts. In this study, Atractylodes lancea plantlets were inoculated with endophytic fungus Acremonium strictum AL16, or endophytic bacterium Acinetobacter sp., or both, to investigate the impacts of the three-way symbiosis on the host. Our results showed that defense-related responses of the co-inoculated plantlets were delayed and weakened relative to plantlets with single inoculants, but no detrimental effects on phyto-physiology (growth, photosynthesis) were observed after combined inoculations. Quantitative PCR analysis verified a decrease in AL16 colonization density within plants after co-inoculation with the endobacteria. An in vitro assay was then performed to elucidate the suppressed plant defense responses and reduced fungal colonization by dual inoculation. The data showed that the presence of Acinetobacter sp. reduced AL16 colony diameter and spore germination rate without negatively affecting fungal morphology. Additionally, direct hyphal attachment of the bacterium to AL16 in vitro was visualized by scanning electronic microscopy. Therefore, we propose that a balanced and compatible symbiosis might require constraints conferred by the antagonistic endophyte Acinetobacter sp. on the fungus AL16 in the tripartite endophytic bacterium-fungus-plant system.}, } @article {pmid24293220, year = {2014}, author = {Dam, S and Dyrlund, TF and Ussatjuk, A and Jochimsen, B and Nielsen, K and Goffard, N and Ventosa, M and Lorentzen, A and Gupta, V and Andersen, SU and Enghild, JJ and Ronson, CW and Roepstorff, P and Stougaard, J}, title = {Proteome reference maps of the Lotus japonicus nodule and root.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {14}, number = {2-3}, pages = {230-240}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201300353}, pmid = {24293220}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/chemistry/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*analysis/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Proteome/analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume symbiosis with rhizobia results in the formation of a specialized organ, the root nodule, where atmospheric dinitrogen is reduced to ammonia. In Lotus japonicus (Lotus), several genes involved in nodule development or nodule function have been defined using biochemistry, genetic approaches, and high-throughput transcriptomics. We have employed proteomics to further understand nodule development. Two developmental stages representing nodules prior to nitrogen fixation (white) and mature nitrogen fixing nodules (red) were compared with roots. In addition, the proteome of a spontaneous nodule formation mutant (snf1) was determined. From nodules and roots, 780 and 790 protein spots from 2D gels were identified and approximately 45% of the corresponding unique gene accessions were common. Including a previous proteomics set from Lotus pod and seed, the common gene accessions were decreased to 7%. Interestingly, an indication of more pronounced PTMs in nodules than in roots was determined. Between the two nodule developmental stages, higher levels of pathogen-related 10 proteins, HSPs, and proteins involved in redox processes were found in white nodules, suggesting a higher stress level at this developmental stage. In contrast, protein spots corresponding to nodulins such as leghemoglobin, asparagine synthetase, sucrose synthase, and glutamine synthetase were prevalent in red nodules. The distinct biochemical state of nodules was further highlighted by the conspicuous presence of several nitrilases, ascorbate metabolic enzymes, and putative rhizobial effectors.}, } @article {pmid24292378, year = {2014}, author = {Safronova, VI and Kimeklis, AK and Chizhevskaya, EP and Belimov, AA and Andronov, EE and Pinaev, AG and Pukhaev, AR and Popov, KP and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {Genetic diversity of rhizobia isolated from nodules of the relic species Vavilovia formosa (Stev.) Fed.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {105}, number = {2}, pages = {389-399}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-013-0089-9}, pmid = {24292378}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobiaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phyllobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Russia ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Sixteen bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of Vavilovia formosa plants originated from the North Ossetian State Natural Reserve (Caucasus, Russia). Phylogenetic analysis of these strains was performed using partial 16S rRNA gene and internally transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The results showed that the isolates belong to three families of root nodule bacteria. Twelve of them were related to the genus Rhizobium (family Rhizobiaceae) but four strains can be most probably identified as Phyllobacterium-related (family Phyllobacteriaceae), Bosea- and Rhodopseudomonas-related (family Bradyrhizobiaceae). Amplified fragment length polymorphism clustering was congruent with ITS phylogeny but displayed more variability for Rhizobium isolates, which formed a single group at the level of 30 % similarity. We expect that the isolates obtained can belong to new taxa at genus, species or subspecies levels. The results of PCR amplification of the nodulation genes nodC and nodX showed their presence in all Rhizobium isolates and one Rhodopseudomonas-related isolate. The nodC gene sequences of V. formosa isolates were closely related to those of the species Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae but formed separate clusters and did not intermingle with any reference strains. The presence of the nodX gene, which is necessary for nodulation of Afghan peas (Pisum sativum L.) originated from the Middle East, allows the speculation that these wild-type pea cultivars may be the closest existing relatives of V. formosa. Thus, the studies of genetic diversity and symbiotic genes of V. formosa microsymbionts provide the primary information about their phylogeny and contribute to the conservation of this relict leguminous species.}, } @article {pmid24291672, year = {2014}, author = {Weintraub, PG and Hoch, H and Mühlethaler, R and Zchori-Fein, E}, title = {Synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography as a tool for in situ elucidation of insect bacteriomes.}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {183-186}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2013.11.002}, pmid = {24291672}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Microbiota ; *Synchrotrons ; X-Ray Microtomography/*methods ; }, abstract = {Obligate bacterial endosymbionts are common, influential associates of arthropods, and are often found in specific organs termed bacteriomes. Three dimensional images of bacteriomes of the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) were reconstructed from synchrotron-based X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT). Results show that bilateral bacteriomes are located between the first and second abdominal tergites, are mushroom-shaped and consist two different types of tissue. Fluorescence in situ hybridization reveals that the primary bacterial symbiont Sulcia muelleri is in the 'cap' part of the of organ. The technique allows a noninvasive, in situ, means of visualizing bacteriomes and will facilitate understanding their form and function.}, } @article {pmid24290641, year = {2014}, author = {Marsh, AJ and O'Sullivan, O and Hill, C and Ross, RP and Cotter, PD}, title = {Sequence-based analysis of the bacterial and fungal compositions of multiple kombucha (tea fungus) samples.}, journal = {Food microbiology}, volume = {38}, number = {}, pages = {171-178}, doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2013.09.003}, pmid = {24290641}, issn = {1095-9998}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tea/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Kombucha is a sweetened tea beverage that, as a consequence of fermentation, contains ethanol, carbon dioxide, a high concentration of acid (gluconic, acetic and lactic) as well as a number of other metabolites and is thought to contain a number of health-promoting components. The sucrose-tea solution is fermented by a symbiosis of bacteria and yeast embedded within a cellulosic pellicle, which forms a floating mat in the tea, and generates a new layer with each successful fermentation. The specific identity of the microbial populations present has been the focus of attention but, to date, the majority of studies have relied on culture-based analyses. To gain a more comprehensive insight into the kombucha microbiota we have carried out the first culture-independent, high-throughput sequencing analysis of the bacterial and fungal populations of 5 distinct pellicles as well as the resultant fermented kombucha at two time points. Following the analysis it was established that the major bacterial genus present was Gluconacetobacter, present at >85% in most samples, with only trace populations of Acetobacter detected (<2%). A prominent Lactobacillus population was also identified (up to 30%), with a number of sub-dominant genera, not previously associated with kombucha, also being revealed. The yeast populations were found to be dominated by Zygosaccharomyces at >95% in the fermented beverage, with a greater fungal diversity present in the cellulosic pellicle, including numerous species not identified in kombucha previously. Ultimately, this study represents the most accurate description of the microbiology of kombucha to date.}, } @article {pmid24287661, year = {2013}, author = {Zhong, C and Mansour, S and Nambiar-Veetil, M and Bogusz, D and Franche, C}, title = {Casuarina glauca: a model tree for basic research in actinorhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {815-823}, pmid = {24287661}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics ; Australia ; Culture Media ; Fabaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Frankia/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Transformation, Genetic ; Trees/*genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Casuarina glauca is a fast-growing multipurpose tree belonging to the Casuarinaceae family and native to Australia. It requires limited use of chemical fertilizers due to the symbiotic association with the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia and with mycorrhizal fungi, which help improve phosphorous and water uptake by the root system. C. glauca can grow in difficult sites, colonize eroded lands and improve their fertility, thereby enabling the subsequent growth of more demanding plant species. As a result, this tree is increasingly used for reforestation and reclamation of degraded lands in tropical and subtropical areas such as China and Egypt. Many tools have been developed in recent years to explore the molecular basis of the interaction between Frankia and C. glauca. These tools include in vitro culture of the host and genetic transformation with Agrobacterium, genome sequencing of Frankia and related studies, isolation of plant symbiotic genes combined with functional analyses (including knock-down expression based on RNA interference), and transcriptome analyses of roots inoculated with Frankia or Rhizophagus irregularis. These efforts have been fruitful since recent results established that many common molecular mechanisms regulate the nodulation process in actinorhizal plants and legumes, thus providing new insights into the evolution of nitrogen-fixing symbioses.}, } @article {pmid24287657, year = {2013}, author = {Bhattacharya, S and Sen, A and Thakur, S and Tisa, LS}, title = {Characterization of haemoglobin from actinorhizal plants--an in silico approach.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {777-787}, pmid = {24287657}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Alnus/*chemistry/microbiology/physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Computer Simulation ; Fagaceae/*chemistry/microbiology/physiology ; Frankia/physiology ; Hemoglobins/*chemistry/classification ; Leghemoglobin/chemistry ; Lupinus/chemistry ; *Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Root Nodules, Plant/*chemistry/microbiology/physiology ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant haemoglobins (Hbs), found in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic plants, are heme proteins and members of the globin superfamily. Hb genes of actinorhizal Fagales mostly belong to the non-symbiotic type of haemoglobin; however, along with the non-symbiotic Hb, Casuarina sp. posses a symbiotic one (symCgHb), which is expressed specifically in infected cells of nodules. A thorough sequence analysis of 26 plant Hb proteins, currently available in public domain, revealed a consensus motif of 29 amino acids. This motif is present in all the members of symbiotic class II Hbs including symCgHb and non-symbiotic Class II Hbs, but is totally absent in Class I symbiotic and non-symbiotic Hbs. Further, we constructed 3D structures of Hb proteins from Alnus and Casuarina through homology modelling and peeped into their structural properties. Structure-based studies revealed that the Casuarina symbiotic haemoglobin protein shows distinct stereochemical properties from that of the other Casuarina and Alnus Hb proteins. It also showed considerable structural similarities with leghemoglobin structure from yellow lupin (pdb id 1GDI). Therefore, sequence and structure analyses point to the fact that symCgHb protein shows significant resemblance to symbiotic haemoglobin found in legumes and may thus eventually play a similar role in shielding the nitrogenase from oxygen as seen in the case of leghemoglobin.}, } @article {pmid24287654, year = {2013}, author = {Karthikeyan, A and Chandrasekaran, K and Geetha, M and Kalaiselvi, R}, title = {Growth response of Casuarina equisetifolia Forst. rooted stem cuttings to Frankia in nursery and field conditions.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {741-747}, pmid = {24287654}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Fagaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Frankia/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Stems/*growth & development/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Casuarina equisetifolia Forst. is a tree crop that provides fuel wood, land reclamation, dune stabilization, and scaffolding for construction, shelter belts, and pulp and paper production. C. equisetifolia fixes atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with Frankia, a soil bacterium of the actinobacteria group. The roots of C. equisetifolia produce root nodules where the bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient for all plant metabolic activities. However, rooted stem cuttings of elite clones of C. equisetifolia by vegetative propagation is being planted by the farmers of Pondicherry as costeffective method. As the vegetative propagation method uses inert material (vermiculite) for rooting there is no chance for Frankia association. Therefore after planting of these stocks the farmers are applying 150 kg of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP)/acre/year. To overcome this fertilizer usage, the Frankia-inoculated rooted stem cuttings were propagated under nursery conditions and transplanted in the nutrient-deficient soils of Karaikal, Pondicherry (India), in this study. Under nursery experiments the growth and biomass of C. equisetifolia rooted stem cuttings inoculated with Frankia showed 3 times higher growth and biomass than uninoculated control. These stocks were transplanted and monitored for their growth and survival for 1 year in the nutrient-deficient farm land. The results showed that the rooted stem cuttings of C. equisetifolia significantly improved growth in height (8.8 m), stem girth (9.6 cm) and tissue nitrogen content (3.3 mg g-1) than uninoculated controls. The soil nutrient status was also improved due to inoculation of Frankia.}, } @article {pmid24287649, year = {2013}, author = {Richau, KH and Kudahettige, RL and Pujic, P and Kudahettige, NP and Sellstedt, A}, title = {Structural and gene expression analyses of uptake hydrogenases and other proteins involved in nitrogenase protection in Frankia.}, journal = {Journal of biosciences}, volume = {38}, number = {4}, pages = {703-712}, pmid = {24287649}, issn = {0973-7138}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Frankia/enzymology/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hemoglobins/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Hydrogenase/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Intramolecular Transferases/genetics/metabolism ; Isoenzymes/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nitrogenase/*genetics/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; Protein Subunits/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The actinorhizal bacterium Frankia expresses nitrogenase and can therefore convert molecular nitrogen into ammonia and the by-product hydrogen. However, nitrogenase is inhibited by oxygen. Consequently, Frankia and its actinorhizal hosts have developed various mechanisms for excluding oxygen from their nitrogen-containing compartments. These include the expression of oxygen-scavenging uptake hydrogenases, the formation of hopanoid-rich vesicles, enclosed by multi-layered hopanoid structures, the lignification of hyphal cell walls, and the production of haemoglobins in the symbiotic nodule. In this work, we analysed the expression and structure of the so-called uptake hydrogenase (Hup), which catalyses the in vivo dissociation of hydrogen to recycle the energy locked up in this 'waste' product. Two uptake hydrogenase syntons have been identified in Frankia: synton 1 is expressed under freeliving conditions while synton 2 is expressed during symbiosis. We used qPCR to determine synton 1 hup gene expression in two Frankia strains under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We also predicted the 3D structures of the Hup protein subunits based on multiple sequence alignments and remote homology modelling. Finally, we performed BLAST searches of genome and protein databases to identify genes that may contribute to the protection of nitrogenase against oxygen in the two Frankia strains. Our results show that in Frankia strain ACN14a, the expression patterns of the large (HupL1) and small (HupS1) uptake hydrogenase subunits depend on the abundance of oxygen in the external environment. Structural models of the membrane-bound hydrogenase subunits of ACN14a showed that both subunits resemble the structures of known [NiFe] hydrogenases (Volbeda et al. 1995), but contain fewer cysteine residues than the uptake hydrogenase of the Frankia DC12 and Eu1c strains. Moreover, we show that all of the investigated Frankia strains have two squalene hopane cyclase genes (shc1 and shc2). The only exceptions were CcI3 and the symbiont of Datisca glomerata, which possess shc1 but not shc2. Four truncated haemoglobin genes were identified in Frankia ACN14a and Eu1f, three in CcI3, two in EANpec1 and one in the Datisca glomerata symbiont (Dg).}, } @article {pmid24287607, year = {2014}, author = {Vicente-Sánchez, J and Nicolás, E and Pedrero, F and Alarcón, JJ and Maestre-Valero, JF and Fernández, F}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviates detrimental effects of saline reclaimed water in lettuce plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {5}, pages = {339-348}, pmid = {24287607}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chlorophyll/chemistry ; Ions/chemistry ; Lettuce/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Micronutrients/chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; *Salinity ; *Symbiosis ; Water/*chemistry ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The present study evaluated the effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum sp. nova) on the physiological performance and production of lettuce plants grown under greenhouse conditions and supplied with reclaimed water (RW; urban-treated wastewater with high electrical conductivity; 4.19 dS m(-1)). Four treatments, fresh water, fresh water plus AMF inoculation, RW and RW plus AMF inoculation, were applied and their effects, over time, analyzed. Root mycorrhizal colonization, plant biomass, leaf-ion content, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis were assessed. Overall, our results highlight the significance of the AMF in alleviation of salt stress and their beneficial effects on plant growth and productivity. Inoculated plants increased the ability to acquire N, Ca, and K from both non-saline and saline media. Moreover, mycorrhization significantly reduced Na plant uptake. Under RW conditions, inoculated plants also showed a better performance of physiological parameters such as net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency than non-mycorrhizal plants. Additionally, the high concentration of nutrients already dissolved in reclaimed water suggested that adjustments in the calculation of the fertigation should be conducted by farmers. Finally, this experiment has proved that mycorrhization could be a suitable way to induce salt stress resistance in iceberg lettuce crops as plants supplied with reclaimed water satisfied minimum legal commercial size thresholds. Moreover, the maximum values of Escherichia coli in the reclaimed water were close to but never exceeded the international thresholds established (Spanish Royal Decree 1620/2007; Italian Decree, 2003) and hence lettuces were apt for sale.}, } @article {pmid24286170, year = {2014}, author = {Hu, Y and Łukasik, P and Moreau, CS and Russell, JA}, title = {Correlates of gut community composition across an ant species (Cephalotes varians) elucidate causes and consequences of symbiotic variability.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1284-1300}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12607}, pmid = {24286170}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diet ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Environment ; Florida ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect guts are often colonized by multispecies microbial communities that play integral roles in nutrition, digestion and defence. Community composition can differ across host species with increasing dietary and genetic divergence, yet gut microbiota can also vary between conspecific hosts and across an individual's lifespan. Through exploration of such intraspecific variation and its correlates, molecular profiling of microbial communities can generate and test hypotheses on the causes and consequences of symbioses. In this study, we used 454 pyrosequencing and TRFLP to achieve these goals in an herbivorous ant, Cephalotes varians, exploring variation in bacterial communities across colonies, populations and workers reared on different diets. C. varians bacterial communities were dominated by 16 core species present in over two-thirds of the sampled colonies. Core species comprised multiple genotypes, or strains and hailed from ant-specific clades containing relatives from other Cephalotes species. Yet three were detected in environmental samples, suggesting the potential for environmental acquisition. In spite of their prevalence and long-standing relationships with Cephalotes ants, the relative abundance and genotypic composition of core species varied across colonies. Diet-induced plasticity is a likely cause, but only pollen-based diets had consistent effects, altering the abundance of two types of bacteria. Additional factors, such as host age, genetics, chance or natural selection, must therefore shape natural variation. Future studies on these possibilities and on bacterial contributions to the use of pollen, a widespread food source across Cephalotes, will be important steps in developing C. varians as a model for studying widespread social insect-bacteria symbioses.}, } @article {pmid24285753, year = {2014}, author = {Chen, Y and Chen, W and Li, X and Jiang, H and Wu, P and Xia, K and Yang, Y and Wu, G}, title = {Knockdown of LjIPT3 influences nodule development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {183-193}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct171}, pmid = {24285753}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Lotus/*genetics/*growth & development ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; Plant Development/genetics ; Plant Leaves/genetics/growth & development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Cytokinins play important roles in legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Here we report isolation of six genes encoding isopentenyl transferase (IPT) from Lotus japonicus, which catalyze the rate-limiting step of cytokinin biosynthesis. The LjIPT3 gene was found to be up-regulated in infected roots and mature nodules. Histochemical analysis demonstrated expression of Pro(LjIPT3):GUS (β-glucuronidase) in vegetative and reproductive organs, and was especially high in the vascular bundles of roots. When inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099, LjIPT3 was undetectable in the nodule primordia and developing nodules, and later it was expressed only in the vascular bundles of mature nodules. In addition, knockdown of LjIPT3 (LjIPT3i) by RNA interference reduced levels of endogenous cytokinins, affected plant development and accelerated Chl degradation during dark-induced leaf senescence. Compared with the wild type, LjIPT3i plants produced fewer infection threads and nodules. In addition, expression of downstream nodulation-related transcription factor genes LjNSP1, LjNSP2 and LjNIN decreased dramatically in LjIPT3i plants. These results suggest that LjIPT3 regulates the CRE1-dependent cytokinin pathway, affecting nodule initiation and thereby influencing the number of infection threads and nodules. Detection of nitrogenase activity and observation of nodule structure showed that endogenous cytokinins are required for full development of the infected cells in mature nodules by preventing early senescence. Therefore, our results indicate that the LjIPT3 gene product is required for nodule initiation and development, and does not appear to be involved in early infection events.}, } @article {pmid24285361, year = {2014}, author = {Cerqueda-García, D and Martínez-Castilla, LP and Falcón, LI and Delaye, L}, title = {Metabolic analysis of Chlorobium chlorochromatii CaD3 reveals clues of the symbiosis in 'Chlorochromatium aggregatum'.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {991-998}, pmid = {24285361}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Alanine Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Bacteria/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chlorobium/*physiology ; Ketoglutaric Acids/metabolism ; *Metabolome ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic association occurs in 'Chlorochromatium aggregatum', a phototrophic consortium integrated by two species of phylogenetically distant bacteria composed by the green-sulfur Chlorobium chlorochromatii CaD3 epibiont that surrounds a central β-proteobacterium. The non-motile chlorobia can perform nitrogen and carbon fixation, using sulfide as electron donors for anoxygenic photosynthesis. The consortium can move due to the flagella present in the central β-protobacterium. Although Chl. chlorochromatii CaD3 is never found as free-living bacteria in nature, previous transcriptomic and proteomic studies have revealed that there are differential transcription patterns between the symbiotic and free-living status of Chl. chlorocromatii CaD3 when grown in laboratory conditions. The differences occur mainly in genes encoding the enzymatic reactions involved in nitrogen and amino acid metabolism. We performed a metabolic reconstruction of Chl. chlorochromatii CaD3 and an in silico analysis of its amino acid metabolism using an elementary flux modes approach (EFM). Our study suggests that in symbiosis, Chl. chlorochromatii CaD3 is under limited nitrogen conditions where the GS/GOGAT (glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthetase) pathway is actively assimilating ammonia obtained via N2 fixation. In contrast, when free-living, Chl. chlorochromatii CaD3 is in a condition of nitrogen excess and ammonia is assimilated by the alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) pathway. We postulate that 'Chlorochromatium aggregatum' originated from a parasitic interaction where the N2 fixation capacity of the chlorobia would be enhanced by injection of 2-oxoglutarate from the β-proteobacterium via the periplasm. This consortium would have the advantage of motility, which is fundamental to a phototrophic bacterium, and the syntrophy of nitrogen and carbon sources.}, } @article {pmid24284171, year = {2013}, author = {Goldstein, AS}, title = {A symbiotic relationship between epithelial and stromal stem cells.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {51}, pages = {20356-20357}, pmid = {24284171}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Hedgehog Proteins/*metabolism ; Male ; *Models, Biological ; Prostate/*metabolism ; Regeneration/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; Stem Cells/*metabolism ; }, } @article {pmid24283939, year = {2014}, author = {Sugawara, M and Sadowsky, MJ}, title = {Enhanced nodulation and nodule development by nolR mutants of Sinorhizobium medicae on specific Medicago host genotypes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {328-335}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-13-0312-R}, pmid = {24283939}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Genotype ; Medicago/*genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium/*classification/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The nolR gene encodes a negatively acting, transcriptional regulatory protein of core Nod-factor biosynthetic genes in the sinorhizobia. Although previous reports showed that nolR modulates Nod-factor production and enhances nodulation speed of Sinorhizobium meliloti on alfalfa, there have been no reports for the symbiotic function of this gene in the S. medicae-Medicago truncatula symbiosis. Here, we constructed an nolR mutant of S. medicae WSM419 and evaluated mutant and wild-type strains for their nodulation ability, competitiveness, host specificity, and density-dependent nodulation phenotypes. When the mutant was inoculated at low and medium population densities, it showed enhanced nodule formation during the initial stages of nodulation. Results of quantitative competitive nodulation assays indicated that an nolR mutant had 2.3-fold greater competitiveness for nodulation on M. truncatula 'A17' than did the wild-type strain. Moreover, the nodulation phenotype of the nolR mutant differed among Medicago genotypes and showed significantly enhanced nodule development on M. tricycla. Taken together, these results indicated that mutation of nolR in S. medicae positively influenced nodule initiation, competitive nodulation, and nodule development at later nodulation stages. This may allow nolR mutants of S. medicae to have a selective advantage under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid24281732, year = {2014}, author = {Cregut, M and Durand, MJ and Thouand, G}, title = {The diversity and functions of choline sulphatases in microorganisms.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {350-357}, pmid = {24281732}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Archaea/enzymology/*genetics ; Ecology ; Fungi/enzymology/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Operon ; Rhizobiaceae/enzymology/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Sulfatases/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Choline sulphates have two putative roles in microorganisms: as a reservoir of C, N and S and as osmoprotectants. Although there is no established connection to date regarding the relative distribution of these two functions in microbial communities, this information is crucial in determining the role of choline sulphate in soils, particularly in cultivated soils where S is limiting. Therefore, in order to establish such a connection, the diversity of choline sulphatase (betC) genes was investigated in this study using numerous fully sequenced microbes available in GenBank. Our genomic analyses revealed unequivocally that the betICBA operon is restricted to Rhizobiaceae family members, which live under symbiotic conditions that prevent elemental depletion. Together with the uniform genetic organisation of the betICBA operon in Rhizobiaceae, BetC appears to be both utilised for osmoprotection or S replenishment. In contrast, betC in a wide variety of free-living microbes (including fungi, archaea and bacteria) was found in a cassette encoding only BetC and a choline sulphate transporter, a configuration that appears to be responsible for fulfilling elemental S requirements. Lastly, the relatively high number of BetC sequences available allowed the identification of a specific signature sequence that discriminates between these two functions and also globally defines some conserved motifs in microbial choline sulphatases. Due to the widespread presence of BetC in microbes and the wide repartition of the betC cassette system, the potential importance of choline sulphatase in global S recycling requires further clarification.}, } @article {pmid24281049, year = {2013}, author = {Lake, JA and Sinsheimer, JS}, title = {The deep roots of the rings of life.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {2440-2448}, pmid = {24281049}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R01 GM086887/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM086887/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Aminohydrolases/genetics ; Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA Topoisomerase IV/genetics ; Eukaryota/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Flow ; Genome/genetics ; INDEL Mutation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Origin of Life ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Reconstructing early evolutionary events like the origins of informational and operational genes, membranes, and photophosphorylation is difficult because early evolutionary events can be masked by subsequent gene flows. Furthermore, as evolution progresses through both Darwinian survival of the fittest (tree-like evolution) and symbiotic/endosymbiotic cooperation (ring-like evolution), trees alone are not adequate to represent Earth's evolutionary history. Here, we reconstruct and root the New Rings of Life and use it as a framework for interpreting early events in the evolution of life. Unlike the three-domain hypothesis, the rings do not fit all life into one of three immutable categories, but rather accommodate new gene flows as novel organisms are discovered. A draft of the Rooted Rings of Life is reconstructed by analyzing the phylogenetic distributions of indels (insertions/deletions) and genes coding for fundamental molecular processes. Their phylogenetic distributions are inconsistent with all trees. Hypergeometric distribution analyses of them strongly localize the root of the rings to a segment of the deepest ring (P < 10(-21) and P < 10(-194)), and whole-genome analyses independently confirm the topology of the rooted rings (P < 7.1 × 10(-6)). The rings identify several large gene flows, including a flow of a thousand genes into the Halobacteria and the Eubacteria, the related photocyte flow, the flow of genes into the last common ancestor of the eocytes and the eukaryotes, and the informational and operational gene flows into the eukaryotes. The rooted rings also chronologically order steps in the evolution of extant taxa, that is, phototrophy evolved from Halobacteria (photophosphorylation) → Heliobacteria (photosynthesis) → Cyanobacteria (oxygenic photosynthesis).}, } @article {pmid24279702, year = {2014}, author = {Garcia, K and Delteil, A and Conéjéro, G and Becquer, A and Plassard, C and Sentenac, H and Zimmermann, S}, title = {Potassium nutrition of ectomycorrhizal Pinus pinaster: overexpression of the Hebeloma cylindrosporum HcTrk1 transporter affects the translocation of both K(+) and phosphorus in the host plant.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {3}, pages = {951-960}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12603}, pmid = {24279702}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Transport/drug effects ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Hebeloma/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects ; Hyphae/drug effects/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phosphorus/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Pinus/drug effects/*metabolism/microbiology ; Potassium/*metabolism/pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Sodium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal associations are known to improve the hydro-mineral nutrition of their host plants. However, the importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis for plant potassium nutrition has so far been poorly studied. We therefore investigated the impact of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum on the potassium nutrition of Pinus pinaster and examined the involvement of the fungal potassium transporter HcTrk1. HcTrk1 transcripts and proteins were localized in ectomycorrhizas using in situ hybridization and EGFP translational fusion constructs. Importantly, an overexpression strategy was performed on a H. cylindrosporum endogenous gene in order to dissect the role of this transporter. The potassium nutrition of mycorrhizal pine plants was significantly improved under potassium-limiting conditions. Fungal strains overexpressing HcTrk1 reduced the translocation of potassium and phosphorus from the roots to the shoots of inoculated plants in mycorrhizal experiments. Furthermore, expression of HcTrk1 and the phosphate transporter HcPT1.1 were reciprocally linked to the external inorganic phosphate and potassium availability. The development of these approaches provides a deeper insight into the role of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis on host plant K(+) nutrition and in particular, the K(+) transporter HcTrk1. The work augments our knowledge of the link between potassium and phosphorus nutrition via the mycorrhizal pathway.}, } @article {pmid24279681, year = {2014}, author = {Kariman, K and Barker, SJ and Jost, R and Finnegan, PM and Tibbett, M}, title = {A novel plant-fungus symbiosis benefits the host without forming mycorrhizal structures.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {4}, pages = {1413-1422}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12600}, pmid = {24279681}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cell Compartmentation ; Eucalyptus/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphorus Isotopes ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {• Most terrestrial plants form mutually beneficial symbioses with specific soil-borne fungi known as mycorrhiza. In a typical mycorrhizal association, fungal hyphae colonize plant roots, explore the soil beyond the rhizosphere and provide host plants with nutrients that might be chemically or physically inaccessible to root systems. • Here, we combined nutritional, radioisotopic ((33)P) and genetic approaches to describe a plant growth promoting symbiosis between the basidiomycete fungus Austroboletus occidentalis and jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), which has quite different characteristics. • We show that the fungal partner does not colonize plant roots; hyphae are localized to the rhizosphere soil and vicinity and consequently do not transfer nutrients located beyond the rhizosphere. Transcript profiling of two high-affinity phosphate (Pi) transporter genes (EmPHT1;1 and EmPHT1;2) and hyphal-mediated (33)Pi uptake suggest that the Pi uptake shifts from an epidermal to a hyphal pathway in ectomycorrhizal plants (Scleroderma sp.), similar to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses, whereas A. occidentalis benefits its host indirectly. The enhanced rhizosphere carboxylates are linked to growth and nutritional benefits in the novel symbiosis. • This work is a starting point for detailed mechanistic studies on other basidiomycete-woody plant relationships, where a continuum between heterotrophic rhizosphere fungi and plant beneficial symbioses is likely to exist.}, } @article {pmid24277808, year = {2013}, author = {Tisserant, E and Malbreil, M and Kuo, A and Kohler, A and Symeonidi, A and Balestrini, R and Charron, P and Duensing, N and Frei dit Frey, N and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V and Gilbert, LB and Handa, Y and Herr, JR and Hijri, M and Koul, R and Kawaguchi, M and Krajinski, F and Lammers, PJ and Masclaux, FG and Murat, C and Morin, E and Ndikumana, S and Pagni, M and Petitpierre, D and Requena, N and Rosikiewicz, P and Riley, R and Saito, K and San Clemente, H and Shapiro, H and van Tuinen, D and Bécard, G and Bonfante, P and Paszkowski, U and Shachar-Hill, YY and Tuskan, GA and Young, JP and Sanders, IR and Henrissat, B and Rensing, SA and Grigoriev, IV and Corradi, N and Roux, C and Martin, F}, title = {Genome of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus provides insight into the oldest plant symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {50}, pages = {20117-20122}, pmid = {24277808}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plants/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis involving Glomeromycota, a distinctive phylum of early diverging Fungi, is widely hypothesized to have promoted the evolution of land plants during the middle Paleozoic. These arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) perform vital functions in the phosphorus cycle that are fundamental to sustainable crop plant productivity. The unusual biological features of AMF have long fascinated evolutionary biologists. The coenocytic hyphae host a community of hundreds of nuclei and reproduce clonally through large multinucleated spores. It has been suggested that the AMF maintain a stable assemblage of several different genomes during the life cycle, but this genomic organization has been questioned. Here we introduce the 153-Mb haploid genome of Rhizophagus irregularis and its repertoire of 28,232 genes. The observed low level of genome polymorphism (0.43 SNP per kb) is not consistent with the occurrence of multiple, highly diverged genomes. The expansion of mating-related genes suggests the existence of cryptic sex-related processes. A comparison of gene categories confirms that R. irregularis is close to the Mucoromycotina. The AMF obligate biotrophy is not explained by genome erosion or any related loss of metabolic complexity in central metabolism, but is marked by a lack of genes encoding plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and of genes involved in toxin and thiamine synthesis. A battery of mycorrhiza-induced secreted proteins is expressed in symbiotic tissues. The present comprehensive repertoire of R. irregularis genes provides a basis for future research on symbiosis-related mechanisms in Glomeromycota.}, } @article {pmid24277295, year = {2014}, author = {Leducq, JB}, title = {Ecological genomics of adaptation and speciation in fungi.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {781}, number = {}, pages = {49-72}, doi = {10.1007/978-94-007-7347-9_4}, pmid = {24277295}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*physiology ; *Ecosystem ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/*physiology ; *Gene-Environment Interaction ; Genome, Fungal/*physiology ; Humans ; *Metagenomics ; Quantitative Trait Loci/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi play a central role in both ecosystems and human societies. This is in part because they have adopted a large diversity of life history traits to conquer a wide variety of ecological niches. Here, I review recent fungal genomics studies that explored the molecular origins and the adaptive significance of this diversity. First, macro-ecological genomics studies revealed that fungal genomes were highly remodelled during their evolution. This remodelling, in terms of genome organization and size, occurred through the proliferation of non-coding elements, gene compaction, gene loss and the expansion of large families of adaptive genes. These features vary greatly among fungal clades, and are correlated with different life history traits such as multicellularity, pathogenicity, symbiosis, and sexual reproduction. Second, micro-ecological genomics studies, based on population genomics, experimental evolution and quantitative trait loci approaches, have allowed a deeper exploration of early evolutionary steps of the above adaptations. Fungi, and especially budding yeasts, were used intensively to characterize early mutations and chromosomal rearrangements that underlie the acquisition of new adaptive traits allowing them to conquer new ecological niches and potentially leading to speciation. By uncovering the ecological factors and genomic modifications that underline adaptation, these studies showed that Fungi are powerful models for ecological genomics (eco-genomics), and that this approach, so far mainly developed in a few model species, should be expanded to the whole kingdom.}, } @article {pmid24275705, year = {2013}, author = {Verstraete, B and Janssens, S and Lemaire, B and Smets, E and Dessein, S}, title = {Phylogenetic lineages in Vanguerieae (Rubiaceae) associated with Burkholderia bacteria in sub-Saharan Africa.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {100}, number = {12}, pages = {2380-2387}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1300303}, pmid = {24275705}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Africa South of the Sahara ; *Burkholderia/classification ; DNA, Plant ; *Endophytes/classification ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Rubiaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: It is well known that mutualistic bacteria can provide substantial benefits to their host plants. However, 'how,' 'why,' and the possible applications of such an interaction are only second to the questions 'who is involved?', and 'where does it occur?'. In the coffee family (Rubiaceae), certain species closely interact with endophytic leaf bacteria that are freely distributed among the mesophyll cells. This type of interaction was recently discovered in South Africa. Our aim is to document the bacterial diversity associated with Rubiaceae ('who') and to establish the geographic range of the interaction ('where').

METHODS: Representatives of the Vanguerieae tribe in Rubiaceae were investigated for the presence of endophytes with special emphasis on the distributional range of the plant-bacteria association by collecting specimens from different African regions.

KEY RESULTS: The interaction is found in five genera and is restricted to three major host lineages. The endophytic bacteria belong to the genus Burkholderia and are part of the plant-associated beneficial and environmental group. Some endophytes are similar to B. caledonica, B. graminis, B. phenoliruptrix or B. phytofirmans, while others are classified in OTUs that show no similarity with any previously described Burkholderia species of bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: The association is not obligate from the bacterial point of view and is considered a loose and recent interaction, which is demonstrated by the fact that there is no evidence for coevolution. The geographical distribution of the association is restricted by the distributional range of the host plants covering the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.}, } @article {pmid24274471, year = {2014}, author = {Hamilton, PT and Leong, JS and Koop, BF and Perlman, SJ}, title = {Transcriptional responses in a Drosophila defensive symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1558-1570}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12603}, pmid = {24274471}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/metabolism ; Drosophila/genetics/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Bacterial ; Nematoda/*pathogenicity ; Spiroplasma/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Inherited symbionts are ubiquitous in insects and can have important consequences for the fitness of their hosts. Many inherited symbionts defend their hosts against parasites or other natural enemies; however, the means by which most symbionts confer protection is virtually unknown. We examine the mechanisms of defence in a recently discovered case of symbiont-mediated protection, where the bacterial symbiont Spiroplasma defends the fly Drosophila neotestacea from a virulent nematode parasite, Howardula aoronymphium. Using quantitative PCR of Spiroplasma infection intensities and whole transcriptome sequencing, we attempt to distinguish between the following modes of defence: symbiont-parasite competition, host immune priming and the production of toxic factors by Spiroplasma. Our findings do not support a model of exploitative competition between Howardula and Spiroplasma to mediate defence, nor do we find strong support for host immune priming during Spiroplasma infection. Interestingly, we recovered sequence for putative toxins encoded by Spiroplasma, including a novel putative ribosome-inactivating protein, transcripts of which are up-regulated in response to nematode exposure. Protection via the production of toxins may be a widely used and important mechanism in heritable defensive symbioses in insects.}, } @article {pmid24273337, year = {2013}, author = {Jesovnik, A and Sosa-Calvo, J and Lopes, CT and Vasconcelos, HL and Schultz, TR}, title = {Nest architecture, fungus gardens, queen, males and larvae of the fungus-growing ant Mycetagroicus inflatus Brandão & Mayhé-Nunes.}, journal = {Insectes sociaux}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {531-542}, pmid = {24273337}, issn = {0020-1812}, abstract = {All known fungus-growing ants (tribe Attini) are obligately symbiotic with their cultivated fungi. The fungal cultivars of "lower" attine ants are facultative symbionts, capable of living apart from ants, whereas the fungal cultivars of "higher" attine ants, including leaf-cutting genera Atta and Acromyrmex, are highly specialized, obligate symbionts. Since higher attine ants and fungi are derived from lower attine ants and fungi, understanding the evolutionary transition from lower to higher attine agriculture requires understanding the historical sequence of change in both ants and fungi. The biology of the poorly known ant genus Mycetagroicus is of special interest in this regard because it occupies a phylogenetic position intermediate between lower and higher ant agriculture. Here, based on the excavations of four nests in Pará, Brazil, we report the first biological data for the recently described species Mycetagroicus inflatus, including the first descriptions of Mycetagroicus males and larvae. Like M. cerradensis, the only other species in the genus for which nesting biology is known, the garden chambers of M.inflatus are unusually deep and the garden is most likely relocated vertically in rainy and dry seasons. Due to the proximity of nests to the Araguaia River, it is likely that even the uppermost chambers and nest entrances of M. inflatus are submerged during the rainy season. Most remarkably, all three examined colonies of M. inflatus cultivate the same fungal species as their congener, M. cerradensis, over 1,000 km away, raising the possibility of long-term symbiont fidelity spanning speciation events within the genus.}, } @article {pmid24271733, year = {2014}, author = {Guo, W and Zhao, R and Fu, R and Bi, N and Wang, L and Zhao, W and Guo, J and Zhang, J}, title = {Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to the development of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in three types of coal mine spoils.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {3592-3603}, pmid = {24271733}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Coal Mining ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Industrial Waste ; Metals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Zea mays/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Coal mine spoils are usually unfavorable for plant growth and have different properties according to dumping years, weathering degree, and the occurrence of spontaneous combustion. The establishment of plant cover in mine spoils can be facilitated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the importance of AMF in plant adaptation to different mine spoils and the potential role of AMF for revegetation practices. We investigated the effects of Glomus aggregatum, Rhizophagus intraradices (syn. Glomus intraradices), and Funneliformis mosseae (syn. Glomus mosseae) on the growth, nutritional status, and metal uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in recent discharged (S1), weathered (S2), and spontaneous combusted (S3) coal mine spoils. Symbiotic associations were successfully established between AMF and maize in three substrates. Mycorrhizal colonization effectively promoted plant growth by significantly increasing the uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), adjusting C:N:P stoichiometry and alleviating toxic effects of heavy metals. G. aggregatum, R. intraradices, and F. mosseae exhibited different mycorrhizal effects in response to mine spoil types. F. mosseae was the most effective in the development of maize in S1 and may be the most appropriate for revegetation of this substrate, while R. intraradices played the most beneficial role in S2 and S3. Our results suggest that inoculation with AMF can enhance plant adaptation to different types of coal mine spoils and play a positive role in the revegetation of coal mine spoil banks.}, } @article {pmid24270631, year = {2013}, author = {Suzuki, W and Konishi, M and Yanagisawa, S}, title = {The evolutionary events necessary for the emergence of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes may involve a loss of nitrate responsiveness of the NIN transcription factor.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {24270631}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is a key regulator of the symbiotic nitrogen fixation pathway in legumes including Lotus japonicus. NIN-like proteins (NLPs), which are presumably present in all land plants, were recently identified as key transcription factors in nitrate signaling and responses in Arabidopsis thaliana, a non-leguminous plant. Here we show that both NIN and NLP1 of L. japonicus (LjNLP1) can bind to the nitrate-responsive cis-element (NRE) and promote transcription from an NRE-containing promoter as did the NLPs of A. thaliana (AtNLPs). However, differing from LjNLP1 and the AtNLPs that are activated by nitrate signaling through their N-terminal regions, the N-terminal region of NIN did not respond to nitrate. Thus, in the course of the evolution of NIN into a transcription factor that functions in nodulation in legumes, some mutations might arise that converted it to a nitrate-insensitive transcription factor. Because nodule formation is induced under nitrogen-deficient conditions, we speculate that the loss of the nitrate-responsiveness of NIN may be one of the evolutionary events necessary for the emergence of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes.}, } @article {pmid24270627, year = {2013}, author = {Gobbato, E and Wang, E and Higgins, G and Bano, SA and Henry, C and Schultze, M and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {RAM1 and RAM2 function and expression during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and Aphanomyces euteiches colonization.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {}, pmid = {24270627}, issn = {1559-2324}, support = {BB/E001408/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/E003850/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Aphanomyces/genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of the symbiotic interaction between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi requires a very tight molecular dialogue. Most of the known plant genes necessary for this process are also required for nodulation in legume plants and only very recently genes specifically required for AM symbiosis have been described. Among them we identified RAM (Reduced Arbuscular Mycorrhization)1 and RAM2, a GRAS transcription factor and a GPAT respectively, which are critical for the induction of hyphopodia formation in AM fungi. RAM2 function is also required for appressoria formation by the pathogen Phytophtora palmivora. Here we investigated the activity of RAM1 and RAM2 promoters during mycorrhization and the role of RAM1 and RAM2 during infection by the root pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. pRAM1 is activated without cell type specificity before hyphopodia formation, while pRAM2 is specifically active in arbusculated cells providing evidence for a potential function of cutin momomers in the regulation of arbuscule formation. Furthermore, consistent with what we observed with Phytophtora, RAM2 but not RAM 1 is required during Aphanomyces euteiches infection.}, } @article {pmid24268094, year = {2014}, author = {Cobo-Díaz, JF and Martínez-Hidalgo, P and Fernández-González, AJ and Martínez-Molina, E and Toro, N and Velázquez, E and Fernández-López, M}, title = {The endemic Genista versicolor from Sierra Nevada National Park in Spain is nodulated by putative new Bradyrhizobium species and a novel symbiovar (sierranevadense).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {177-185}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.09.008}, pmid = {24268094}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Genista/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genista versicolor is an endemic legume from Sierra Nevada National Park which constitutes one of the UNESCO-recognized Biosphere Reserves. In the present study, a collection of strains nodulating this legume was analysed in characteristic soils of this ecosystem. Most strains nodulating G. versicolor belonged to rrs group I within the genus Bradyrhizobium and only one strain, named GV137, belonged to rrs group II from which only a single species, B. retamae, has been described in Europe to date. Strain GV137, and some strains from rrs group I, belonged to putative new species of Bradyrhizobium, although most strains from group I belonged to B. canariense, according to the ITS fragment and atpD gene analysis. This result contrasted with those obtained in Genista tinctoria in Northeast Europe whose endosymbionts were identified as B. japonicum. The analysis of the symbiotic nodC and nifH genes carried by G. versicolor-nodulating strains showed that most of them belonged to symbiovar genistearum, as did those isolated from G. tinctoria. Nevertheless, strain GV137, belonging to rrs group II, formed a divergent lineage that constituted a novel symbiovar within the genus Bradyrhizobium for which the name sierranevadense is proposed. This finding showed that the Genisteae are not restrictive legumes only nodulated by symbiovar genistearum, since Genista is a promiscuous legume nodulated by at least two symbiovars of Bradyrhizobium, as occurs in Retama species.}, } @article {pmid24267588, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, Z and Müller, J and Li, T and Alvey, RM and Vogl, K and Frigaard, NU and Rockwell, NC and Boyd, ES and Tomsho, LP and Schuster, SC and Henke, P and Rohde, M and Overmann, J and Bryant, DA}, title = {Genomic analysis reveals key aspects of prokaryotic symbiosis in the phototrophic consortium "Chlorochromatium aggregatum".}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {R127}, pmid = {24267588}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: 'Chlorochromatium aggregatum' is a phototrophic consortium, a symbiosis that may represent the highest degree of mutual interdependence between two unrelated bacteria not associated with a eukaryotic host. 'Chlorochromatium aggregatum' is a motile, barrel-shaped aggregate formed from a single cell of 'Candidatus Symbiobacter mobilis", a polarly flagellated, non-pigmented, heterotrophic bacterium, which is surrounded by approximately 15 epibiont cells of Chlorobium chlorochromatii, a non-motile photolithoautotrophic green sulfur bacterium.

RESULTS: We analyzed the complete genome sequences of both organisms to understand the basis for this symbiosis. Chl. chlorochromatii has acquired relatively few symbiosis-specific genes; most acquired genes are predicted to modify the cell wall or function in cell-cell adhesion. In striking contrast, 'Ca. S. mobilis' appears to have undergone massive gene loss, is probably no longer capable of independent growth, and thus may only reproduce when consortia divide. A detailed model for the energetic and metabolic bases of the dependency of 'Ca. S. mobilis' on Chl. chlorochromatii is described.

CONCLUSIONS: Genomic analyses suggest that three types of interactions lead to a highly sophisticated relationship between these two organisms. Firstly, extensive metabolic exchange, involving carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur sources as well as vitamins, occurs from the epibiont to the central bacterium. Secondly, 'Ca. S. mobilis' can sense and move towards light and sulfide, resources that only directly benefit the epibiont. Thirdly, electron cycling mechanisms, particularly those mediated by quinones and potentially involving shared protonmotive force, could provide an important basis for energy exchange in this and other symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid24267445, year = {2014}, author = {Esfahani, MN and Sulieman, S and Schulze, J and Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, K and Shinozaki, K and Tran, LS}, title = {Approaches for enhancement of N2 fixation efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under limiting nitrogen conditions.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {387-397}, doi = {10.1111/pbi.12146}, pmid = {24267445}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cicer/enzymology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Malates/metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/enzymology/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Sucrose/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important pulse crop in many countries in the world. The symbioses between chickpea and Mesorhizobia, which fix N2 inside the root nodules, are of particular importance for chickpea's productivity. With the aim of enhancing symbiotic efficiency in chickpea, we compared the symbiotic efficiency of C-15, Ch-191 and CP-36 strains of Mesorhizobium ciceri in association with the local elite chickpea cultivar 'Bivanij' as well as studied the mechanism underlying the improvement of N2 fixation efficiency. Our data revealed that C-15 strain manifested the most efficient N2 fixation in comparison with Ch-191 or CP-36. This finding was supported by higher plant productivity and expression levels of the nifHDK genes in C-15 nodules. Nodule specific activity was significantly higher in C-15 combination, partially as a result of higher electron allocation to N2 versus H[+]. Interestingly, a striking difference in nodule carbon and nitrogen composition was observed. Sucrose cleavage enzymes displayed comparatively lower activity in nodules established by either Ch-191 or CP-36. Organic acid formation, particularly that of malate, was remarkably higher in nodules induced by C-15 strain. As a result, the best symbiotic efficiency observed with C-15-induced nodules was reflected in a higher concentration of the total and several major amino metabolites, namely asparagine, glutamine, glutamate and aspartate. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that the improved efficiency in chickpea symbiotic system, established with C-15, was associated with the enhanced capacity of organic acid formation and the activities of the key enzymes connected to the nodule carbon and nitrogen metabolism.}, } @article {pmid24265835, year = {2013}, author = {Alex, A and Silva, V and Vasconcelos, V and Antunes, A}, title = {Evidence of unique and generalist microbes in distantly related sympatric intertidal marine sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e80653}, pmid = {24265835}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Sympatry ; }, abstract = {The diversity and specificity of microbial communities in marine environments is a key aspect of the ecology and evolution of both the eukaryotic hosts and their associated prokaryotes. Marine sponges harbor phylogenetically diverse and complex microbial lineages. Here, we investigated the sponge bacterial community and distribution patterns of microbes in three sympatric intertidal marine demosponges, Hymeniacidon perlevis, Ophlitaspongia papilla and Polymastia penicillus, from the Atlantic coast of Portugal using classical isolation techniques and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. Microbial composition assessment, with nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences (ca. 1400 bp) from the isolates (n = 31) and partial sequences (ca. 280 bp) from clone libraries (n = 349), revealed diverse bacterial communities and other sponge-associated microbes. The majority of the bacterial isolates were members of the order Vibrionales and other symbiotic bacteria like Pseudovibrio ascidiaceiocola, Roseobacter sp., Hahellaceae sp. and Cobetia sp. Extended analyses using ecological metrics comprising 142 OTUs supported the clear differentiation of bacterial community profiles among the sponge hosts and their ambient seawater. Phylogenetic analyses were insightful in defining clades representing shared bacterial communities, particularly between H. perlevis and the geographically distantly-related H. heliophila, but also among other sponges. Furthermore, we also observed three distinct and unique bacterial groups, Betaproteobactria (~81%), Spirochaetes (~7%) and Chloroflexi (~3%), which are strictly maintained in low-microbial-abundance host species O. papilla and P. penicillus. Our study revealed the largely generalist nature of microbial associations among these co-occurring intertidal marine sponges.}, } @article {pmid24265491, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, EK and Park, YM and Lee, OY and Lee, WJ}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum Strain WJL, a Drosophila Gut Symbiont.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {24265491}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Lactobacillus plantarum strain WJL, a member of the symbiotic gut bacteria, was isolated from the intestine of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of L. plantarum WJL.}, } @article {pmid24265489, year = {2013}, author = {Crook, MB and Mitra, S and Ané, JM and Sadowsky, MJ and Gyaneshwar, P}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of the Sesbania Symbiont and Rice Growth-Promoting Endophyte Rhizobium sp. Strain IRBG74.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {6}, pages = {}, pmid = {24265489}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Rhizobium sp. strain IRBG74 is the first known nitrogen-fixing symbiont in the Agrobacterium/Rhizobium clade that nodulates the aquatic legume Sesbania sp. and is also a growth-promoting endophyte of wetland rice. Here, we present the sequence of the IRBG74 genome, which is composed of a circular chromosome, a linear chromosome, and a symbiotic plasmid, pIRBG74a.}, } @article {pmid24265348, year = {2014}, author = {Jin, CW and Ye, YQ and Zheng, SJ}, title = {An underground tale: contribution of microbial activity to plant iron acquisition via ecological processes.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {113}, number = {1}, pages = {7-18}, pmid = {24265348}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Iron/*metabolism/pharmacokinetics ; Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Siderophores ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Iron (Fe) deficiency in crops is a worldwide agricultural problem. Plants have evolved several strategies to enhance Fe acquisition, but increasing evidence has shown that the intrinsic plant-based strategies alone are insufficient to avoid Fe deficiency in Fe-limited soils. Soil micro-organisms also play a critical role in plant Fe acquisition; however, the mechanisms behind their promotion of Fe acquisition remain largely unknown.

SCOPE: This review focuses on the possible mechanisms underlying the promotion of plant Fe acquisition by soil micro-organisms.

CONCLUSIONS: Fe-deficiency-induced root exudates alter the microbial community in the rhizosphere by modifying the physicochemical properties of soil, and/or by their antimicrobial and/or growth-promoting effects. The altered microbial community may in turn benefit plant Fe acquisition via production of siderophores and protons, both of which improve Fe bioavailability in soil, and via hormone generation that triggers the enhancement of Fe uptake capacity in plants. In addition, symbiotic interactions between micro-organisms and host plants could also enhance plant Fe acquisition, possibly including: rhizobium nodulation enhancing plant Fe uptake capacity and mycorrhizal fungal infection enhancing root length and the nutrient acquisition area of the root system, as well as increasing the production of Fe(3+) chelators and protons.}, } @article {pmid24261819, year = {2014}, author = {Dong, QL and Lin, TY and Xing, XY and Chen, B and Han, Y}, title = {Identification of a symbiotic fungus from blue-green alga and its extracellular polysaccharide.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {303-310}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12192}, pmid = {24261819}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; China ; *Cyanobacteria ; Fungal Polysaccharides/*chemistry ; Hypocreales/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: A previously unknown symbiotic fungus DT06 has been isolated from the single-celled blue-green alga Chroococcus sp. The sequences of ITS1, 5.8S rDNA and ITS2 regions of DT06 have a high similarity with that of Simplicillium (98%), which is closely related to Simplicillium lanosoniveum based on further phylogenetic analysis. However, DT06 produces unusual exocellular crystals with its conidium size twice that of S. lanosoniveum. Hence, DT06 is proposed to be a varietas of S. lanosoniveum and named as S. lanosoniveum var. Tianjinienss. Dong. (Type specimen was deposited at China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center, Number: CGMCC4460.). The striking character of DT06 is its massive production of a unique extracellular polysaccharide, which is composed of glucose and galactose and linked by 1-4 and 1-6 glycoside bonds according to UV, IR and NMR analysis. Therefore, DT06 may represent a new source of bioactive products, and also, its unusual symbiotic partnership with blue-green algae provides a model for investigating the interaction between photoautotrophic and heterotrophic micro-organisms in aquatic ecosystems.

A novel fungus (Simplicillium) symbiotic with a single-celled blue-green alga Chroococcus sp. and its major primary metabolite have been isolated and identified. These findings broaden the scope of symbiotic fungi and provide a unique extracellular polysaccharide with potential applications in food industry.}, } @article {pmid24261591, year = {2014}, author = {Lucey, KS and Leadbetter, JR}, title = {Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase and other meta-cleavage catabolic pathway genes in the 'anaerobic' termite gut spirochete Treponema primitia.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1531-1543}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12598}, pmid = {24261591}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Treponema/*enzymology/genetics ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms have evolved a spectacular diversity of metabolisms, some of which allow them to overcome environmental constraints, utilize abundant but inaccessible resources and drive nutrient cycling in various ecosystems. The termite hindgut microbial community is optimized to metabolize wood, and in recent years, the in situ physiological and ecological functions of community members have been researched. Spirochetes are abundant in the termite gut, and herein, putative aromatic meta-cleavage pathway genes typical of aerobic pseudomonads were located in genomes of homoacetogenic termite hindgut 'anaerobes', Treponema primitia str. ZAS-1 and ZAS-2. Phylogenetic analyses suggest the T. primitia catechol 2,3-dioxygenase and several other essential meta-pathway genes were acquired from an α-proteobacterium in the distant past to augment several genes T. primitia acquired from anaerobic firmicutes that do not directly catabolize aromatics but can contribute to the final pathway steps. Further, transcripts for each meta-pathway gene were expressed in strictly anaerobic cultures of T. primitia str. ZAS-2 indicative of constitutive pathway expression. Also, the addition of catechol + O(2) to T. primitia liquid cultures resulted in the transient accumulation of trace amounts of the yellow ring cleavage product, hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. This is the first evidence of aromatic ring cleavage in the phylum (division) Spirochetes. Results also support a possible role for T. primitia in termite hindgut O(2) /lignin aromatic monomer metabolism. Potential O(2) -dependent yet nonrespiratory microbial metabolisms have heretofore been overlooked and warrant further investigation. These metabolisms could describe the degradation of plant-derived and other aromatics in microoxic environments and contribute significantly to carbon turnover.}, } @article {pmid24260833, year = {2013}, author = {Hassan, MI and Fouda, MA and Hammad, KM and Hasaballah, AI}, title = {Effects of midgut bacteria and two protease inhibitors on the transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti by the mosquito vector, Culex pipiens.}, journal = {Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {547-553}, doi = {10.12816/0006411}, pmid = {24260833}, issn = {1110-0583}, mesh = {Animals ; Culex/*drug effects/microbiology ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Edetic Acid/*pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Leucine/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Wuchereria bancrofti/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Laboratory investigations were carried out to study the effect of two protease inhibitors on the transmission of W. bancrofti filarial by Culex pipiens and to study the susceptibility interaction between filaria and protease inhibitors. The results obtained revealed that, infection rates were variable among untreated and treated symbiotic and aposymbiotic Cx. pipiens females resulted from third instar larvae treated with E-64 and EDTA. The survival rate was variable among untreated and treated symbiotic and aposymbiotic females resulted from third instar larvae treated with E-64 and EDTA. Protease inhibitor (E-64) caused inhibition of the parasite development and transmission by means of ceasing catalytic activity- responsible for parasite migration-caused by parasitic larval stages inside the mosquito vector.}, } @article {pmid24260832, year = {2013}, author = {Fouda, MA and Hassan, MI and Hammad, KM and Hasaballah, AI}, title = {Effects of midgut bacteria and two protease inhibitors on the reproductive potential and midgut enzymes of Culex pipiens infected with Wuchereria bancrofti.}, journal = {Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {537-546}, doi = {10.12816/0006410}, pmid = {24260832}, issn = {1110-0583}, mesh = {Animals ; Culex/*microbiology/physiology ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Edetic Acid/*pharmacology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*enzymology/microbiology ; Larva ; Leucine/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Reproduction ; Wuchereria bancrofti/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Laboratory investigations were carried out to asses the effect of some proteases inhibitors on the reproductive potential of Culex pipiens females resulted from larvae treated with different protease inhibitors. The fecundity and engorgement of symbiotic and aposymbiotic C. pipiens females were significantly reduced. The blood meal digestion period increased significantly. On the other hand, enzyme band with molecular weight of 40 KDa which may be cysteine protease was detected in untreated symbiotic and aposymbiotic female midguts. The results may explain that the absence of this enzyme bands in treated female midguts may be due to the inhibition caused by (E-64) a cysteine protease inhibitor.}, } @article {pmid24260300, year = {2013}, author = {Klein, CC and Alves, JM and Serrano, MG and Buck, GA and Vasconcelos, AT and Sagot, MF and Teixeira, MM and Camargo, EP and Motta, MC}, title = {Biosynthesis of vitamins and cofactors in bacterium-harbouring trypanosomatids depends on the symbiotic association as revealed by genomic analyses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e79786}, pmid = {24260300}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Factors/*biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Genome, Protozoan/genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Trypanosoma/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Vitamins/*biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Some non-pathogenic trypanosomatids maintain a mutualistic relationship with a betaproteobacterium of the Alcaligenaceae family. Intensive nutritional exchanges have been reported between the two partners, indicating that these protozoa are excellent biological models to study metabolic co-evolution. We previously sequenced and herein investigate the entire genomes of five trypanosomatids which harbor a symbiotic bacterium (SHTs for Symbiont-Haboring Trypanosomatids) and the respective bacteria (TPEs for Trypanosomatid Proteobacterial Endosymbiont), as well as two trypanosomatids without symbionts (RTs for Regular Trypanosomatids), for the presence of genes of the classical pathways for vitamin biosynthesis. Our data show that genes for the biosynthetic pathways of thiamine, biotin, and nicotinic acid are absent from all trypanosomatid genomes. This is in agreement with the absolute growth requirement for these vitamins in all protozoa of the family. Also absent from the genomes of RTs are the genes for the synthesis of pantothenic acid, folic acid, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. This is also in agreement with the available data showing that RTs are auxotrophic for these essential vitamins. On the other hand, SHTs are autotrophic for such vitamins. Indeed, all the genes of the corresponding biosynthetic pathways were identified, most of them in the symbiont genomes, while a few genes, mostly of eukaryotic origin, were found in the host genomes. The only exceptions to the latter are: the gene coding for the enzyme ketopantoate reductase (EC:1.1.1.169) which is related instead to the Firmicutes bacteria; and two other genes, one involved in the salvage pathway of pantothenic acid and the other in the synthesis of ubiquinone, that are related to Gammaproteobacteria. Their presence in trypanosomatids may result from lateral gene transfer. Taken together, our results reinforce the idea that the low nutritional requirement of SHTs is associated with the presence of the symbiotic bacterium, which contains most genes for vitamin production.}, } @article {pmid24260298, year = {2013}, author = {Johansson, H and Dhaygude, K and Lindström, S and Helanterä, H and Sundström, L and Trontti, K}, title = {A metatranscriptomic approach to the identification of microbiota associated with the ant Formica exsecta.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e79777}, pmid = {24260298}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics/*microbiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Social Behavior ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Social insects live in cooperative colonies, often in high densities and with closely related individuals, and interact using social contact behaviours. Compared to solitary insects, social insects have evolved multi-level immunity that includes immune responses common to holometabolous insects, and social immunity, which is exclusive to social taxa. This suggests that social insects may be subject to high pathogen pressure, yet relatively little is known about the range of symbiotic and pathogenic microbial communities that associate with social insects. In this study we examined transcriptome data generated from the ant Formica exsecta for sequences identifying as microbes (or other organisms potentially of non-ant origin). Sequences showing homology to two viruses and several other potentially or obligate intracellular organisms, such as Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Entomoplasmatales and Microsporidia, were present in the transcriptome data. These homologous sequence matches correspond to genera/species that have previously been associated with a variety of insects, including social insects. There were also sequences with identity to several other microbes such as common moulds and soil bacteria. We conclude that this sequence data provides a starting point for a deeper understanding of the biological interactions between a species of ant and the micro- and macrobiotic communities that it potentially encounters.}, } @article {pmid24256552, year = {2014}, author = {Laurent, J and Venn, A and Tambutté, É and Ganot, P and Allemand, D and Tambutté, S}, title = {Regulation of intracellular pH in cnidarians: response to acidosis in Anemonia viridis.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {281}, number = {3}, pages = {683-695}, doi = {10.1111/febs.12614}, pmid = {24256552}, issn = {1742-4658}, mesh = {Acid-Base Equilibrium ; *Allostasis ; Alveolata/*physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cation Transport Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Databases, Protein ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intracellular Fluid/metabolism ; Ion Transport ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Protein Isoforms/chemistry/metabolism ; Salinity ; Sea Anemones/parasitology/*physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) is a fundamental aspect of cell physiology that has received little attention in studies of the phylum Cnidaria, which includes ecologically important sea anemones and reef-building corals. Like all organisms, cnidarians must maintain pH homeostasis to counterbalance reductions in pHi, which can arise because of changes in either intrinsic or extrinsic parameters. Corals and sea anemones face natural daily changes in internal fluids, where the extracellular pH can range from 8.9 during the day to 7.4 at night. Furthermore, cnidarians are likely to experience future CO2-driven declines in seawater pH, a process known as ocean acidification. Here, we carried out the first mechanistic investigation to determine how cnidarian pHi regulation responds to decreases in extracellular and intracellular pH. Using the anemone Anemonia viridis, we employed confocal live cell imaging and a pH-sensitive dye to track the dynamics of pHi after intracellular acidosis induced by acute exposure to decreases in seawater pH and NH4Cl prepulses. The investigation was conducted on cells that contained intracellular symbiotic algae (Symbiodinium sp.) and on symbiont-free endoderm cells. Experiments using inhibitors and Na[+]-free seawater indicate a potential role of Na[+]/H[+] plasma membrane exchangers (NHEs) in mediating pHi recovery following intracellular acidosis in both cell types. We also measured the buffering capacity of cells, and obtained values between 20.8 and 43.8 mM per pH unit, which are comparable to those in other invertebrates. Our findings provide the first steps towards a better understanding of acid-base regulation in these basal metazoans, for which information on cell physiology is extremely limited.}, } @article {pmid24256411, year = {2013}, author = {Penttinen, P and Räsänen, LA and Lortet, G and Lindström, K}, title = {Stable isotope labelling reveals that NaCl stress decreases the production of Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) arboris lipochitooligosaccharide signalling molecules.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {349}, number = {2}, pages = {117-126}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12303}, pmid = {24256411}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Isotope Labeling ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics ; Salt Tolerance/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/*metabolism/pharmacology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) arboris is a symbiont of salt-tolerant leguminous trees in the genera Acacia and Prosopis that are utilized in the prevention of soil erosion and desertification and in phytoremediation of salinized soil. Signalling between the plant and the rhizobia is essential for the formation of effective symbiosis that increases the success of reclaiming saline sites. We assessed the effect of salt stress on the growth and the production of lipochitooligosaccharide signalling molecules (LCOs) of S. arboris HAMBI 2361, an LCO-overproducing derivative of the S. arboris type strain HAMBI 1552. The strain tolerated NaCl up to 750 mM. To obtain both qualitative and quantitative information on the LCO production under salt stress, we devised a method where LCOs were differentially labelled by stable isotopes of nitrogen, (14)N and (15)N, and analysed by mass spectrometry. Under control conditions, the strain produced altogether 27 structural LCO variants. In 380 mM NaCl, 13 LCO variants were produced in detectable amounts, and six of these were reliably quantified, ranging from one-tenth to one-third of the non-stressed one.}, } @article {pmid24252486, year = {2014}, author = {Bourtzis, K and Dobson, SL and Xi, Z and Rasgon, JL and Calvitti, M and Moreira, LA and Bossin, HC and Moretti, R and Baton, LA and Hughes, GL and Mavingui, P and Gilles, JR}, title = {Harnessing mosquito-Wolbachia symbiosis for vector and disease control.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {132 Suppl}, number = {}, pages = {S150-63}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.11.004}, pmid = {24252486}, issn = {1873-6254}, mesh = {Aedes/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Insect Vectors ; Mosquito Control/*methods ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mosquito species, members of the genera Aedes, Anopheles and Culex, are the major vectors of human pathogens including protozoa (Plasmodium sp.), filariae and of a variety of viruses (causing dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, West Nile). There is lack of efficient methods and tools to treat many of the diseases caused by these major human pathogens, since no efficient vaccines or drugs are available; even in malaria where insecticide use and drug therapies have reduced incidence, 219 million cases still occurred in 2010. Therefore efforts are currently focused on the control of vector populations. Insecticides alone are insufficient to control mosquito populations since reduced susceptibility and even resistance is being observed more and more frequently. There is also increased concern about the toxic effects of insecticides on non-target (even beneficial) insect populations, on humans and the environment. During recent years, the role of symbionts in the biology, ecology and evolution of insect species has been well-documented and has led to suggestions that they could potentially be used as tools to control pests and therefore diseases. Wolbachia is perhaps the most renowned insect symbiont, mainly due to its ability to manipulate insect reproduction and to interfere with major human pathogens thus providing new avenues for pest control. We herein present recent achievements in the field of mosquito-Wolbachia symbiosis with an emphasis on Aedes albopictus. We also discuss how Wolbachia symbiosis can be harnessed for vector control as well as the potential to combine the sterile insect technique and Wolbachia-based approaches for the enhancement of population suppression programs.}, } @article {pmid24249726, year = {2014}, author = {Boyer, FD and de Saint Germain, A and Pouvreau, JB and Clavé, G and Pillot, JP and Roux, A and Rasmussen, A and Depuydt, S and Lauressergues, D and Frei Dit Frey, N and Heugebaert, TS and Stevens, CV and Geelen, D and Goormachtig, S and Rameau, C}, title = {New strigolactone analogs as plant hormones with low activities in the rhizosphere.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {675-690}, doi = {10.1093/mp/sst163}, pmid = {24249726}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are known not only as plant hormones, but also as rhizosphere signals for establishing symbiotic and parasitic interactions. The design of new specific SL analogs is a challenging goal in understanding the basic plant biology and is also useful to control plant architectures without favoring the development of parasitic plants. Two different molecules (23 (3'-methyl-GR24), 31 (thia-3'-methyl-debranone-like molecule)) already described, and a new one (AR36), for which the synthesis is presented, are biologically compared with the well-known GR24 and the recently identified CISA-1. These different structures emphasize the wide range of parts attached to the D-ring for the bioactivity as a plant hormone. These new compounds possess a common dimethylbutenolide motif but their structure varies in the ABC part of the molecules: 23 has the same ABC part as GR24, while 31 and AR36 carry, respectively, an aromatic ring and an acyclic carbon chain. Detailed information is given for the bioactivity of such derivatives in strigolactone synthesis or in perception mutant plants (pea rms1 and rms4, Arabidopsis max2 and, max4) for different hormonal functions along with their action in the rhizosphere on arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphal growth and parasitic weed germination.}, } @article {pmid24248063, year = {2013}, author = {Um, S and Fraimout, A and Sapountzis, P and Oh, DC and Poulsen, M}, title = {The fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis harbors bacillaene-producing Bacillus sp. that inhibit potentially antagonistic fungi.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {3250}, pmid = {24248063}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/chemistry/classification/*genetics ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Polyenes/*chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The ancient fungus-growing termite (Mactrotermitinae) symbiosis involves the obligate association between a lineage of higher termites and basidiomycete Termitomyces cultivar fungi. Our investigation of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis shows that Bacillus strains from M. natalensis colonies produce a single major antibiotic, bacillaene A (1), which selectively inhibits known and putatively antagonistic fungi of Termitomyces. Comparative analyses of the genomes of symbiotic Bacillus strains revealed that they are phylogenetically closely related to Bacillus subtilis, their genomes have high homology with more than 90% of ORFs being 100% identical, and the sequence identities across the biosynthetic gene cluster for bacillaene are higher between termite-associated strains than to the cluster previously reported in B. subtilis. Our findings suggest that this lineage of antibiotic-producing Bacillus may be a defensive symbiont involved in the protection of the fungus-growing termite cultivar.}, } @article {pmid24246975, year = {2013}, author = {Mondot, S and de Wouters, T and Doré, J and Lepage, P}, title = {The human gut microbiome and its dysfunctions.}, journal = {Digestive diseases (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {31}, number = {3-4}, pages = {278-285}, doi = {10.1159/000354678}, pmid = {24246975}, issn = {1421-9875}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/*pathology ; Humans ; Microbiota/*physiology ; Obesity/microbiology/pathology ; }, abstract = {The human gastrointestinal tract hosts more than 100 trillion bacteria and archaea, which together make up the gut microbiota. The amount of bacteria in the human gut outnumbers human cells by a factor of 10, but some finely tuned mechanisms allow these microorganisms to colonize and survive within the host in a mutual relationship. The human gut microbiota co-evolved with humans to achieve a symbiotic relationship leading to physiological homeostasis. The microbiota provides crucial functions that human cannot exert themselves while the human host provides a nutrient-rich environment. Chaotic in the early stages of life, the assembly of the human gut microbiota remains globally stable over time in healthy conditions and absence of perturbation. Following perturbation, such as antibiotic treatment, bacteria will recolonize the niches with a composition and diversity similar to the basal level since the ecosystem is highly resilient. Yet, recurrent perturbations lead to a decrease in resilience capacity of the gut microbiome. Shifts in the bacterial composition and diversity of the human gut microbiota have been associated with intestinal dysfunctions such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. More than specific bacteria, a general destructuration of the ecosystem seems to be involved in these pathologies. Application of metagenomics to this environment may help in deciphering key functions and correlation networks specifically involved in health maintenance. In term, fecal transplant and synthetic microbiome transplant might be promising therapies for dysbiosis-associated diseases.}, } @article {pmid24246754, year = {2014}, author = {Calonne, M and Fontaine, J and Debiane, D and Laruelle, F and Grandmougin-Ferjani, A and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal Rhizophagus irregularis activates storage lipid biosynthesis to cope with the benzo[a]pyrene oxidative stress.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {97}, number = {}, pages = {30-37}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.10.014}, pmid = {24246754}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Benzo(a)pyrene/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Fungi/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/metabolism ; Lipase/*metabolism ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*metabolism ; Sterols/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The phytoremediation assisted by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could constitute an ecological and economic method to restore polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) polluted soils. Unfortunately, little is known about the PAH impact on the beneficial symbiotic AMF. Using radiolabelling experiments, our work aims to understand how benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a representative of high molecular weight PAH, acts on the AMF lipid metabolism. Our results showed decreases in the sterol precursors as well as in total phospholipid quantities, in link with the [1-(14)C]acetate incorporation decreases in these lipids. Interestingly, a concomitant increase of [1-(14)C]acetate incorporation by 29.5% into phosphatidylcholine with its content decrease in Rhizophagus irregularis extraradical mycelium was observed, suggesting a membrane regeneration. A second concomitant increase (estimated to 69%) of [1-(14)C]acetate incorporation into triacylglycerols (TAG) with the content decrease was also observed. This suggests a fungal TAG biosynthesis activation probably to offset the decrease in storage lipid content when the fungus was grown under B[a]P pollution. In addition, our findings showed that lipase activity was induced by more than 3 fold in the presence of B[a]P in comparison to the control indicating that the drop in TAG content could be a consequence of their active degradation. Taken together, our data suggest the involvement of the fungal TAG metabolism to cope B[a]P toxicity through two means: (i) by providing carbon skeletons and energy necessary for membrane regeneration and/or for B[a]P translocation and degradation as well as (ii) by activating the phosphatidic acid and hexose metabolisms which may be involved in cellular stress defence.}, } @article {pmid24246127, year = {2014}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Borucki, W}, title = {Localization of hydrogen peroxide accumulation and diamine oxidase activity in pea root nodules under aluminum stress.}, journal = {Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)}, volume = {57}, number = {}, pages = {13-22}, doi = {10.1016/j.micron.2013.09.007}, pmid = {24246127}, issn = {1878-4291}, mesh = {Aluminum/*pharmacology ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)/chemistry/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/chemistry/metabolism ; Cerium/chemistry ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hydroxides/chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Peas/*chemistry ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Aluminum (Al) is one of the environmental stressors that induces formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and H2O2-generated apoplast diamine oxidase (DAO) activity were detected cytochemically via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in pea (Pisum sativum L.) root nodules exposed to high (50 μM AlCl3, for 2 and 24h) Al stress. The nodules were shown to respond to Al stress by disturbances in infection thread (IT) growth, bacteria endocytosis, premature degeneration of bacteroidal tissue and generation of H2O2 in nodule apoplast. Large amounts of peroxide were found at the same sites as high DAO activity under Al stress, suggesting that DAO is a major source of Al-induced peroxide accumulation in the nodules. Peroxide distribution and DAO activity in the nodules of both control plants and Al-treated ones were typically found in the plant cell walls, intercellular spaces and infection threads. However, 2 h Al treatment increased DAO activity and peroxide accumulation in the nodule apoplast and bacteria within threads. A prolonged Al treatment (24 h) increased the H2O2 content and DAO activity in the nodule apoplast, especially in the thread walls, matrix and bacteria within infection threads. In addition to ITs, prematurely degenerated bacteroids, which occurred in response to Al, were associated with intense staining for H2O2 and DAO activity. These results suggest the involvement of DAO in the production of a large amount of H2O2 in the nodule apoplast under Al stress. The role of reactive oxygen species in pea-Rhizobium symbiosis under Al stress is discussed.}, } @article {pmid24244267, year = {2013}, author = {Shelef, O and Helman, Y and Friedman, AL and Behar, A and Rachmilevitch, S}, title = {Tri-party underground symbiosis between a weevil, bacteria and a desert plant.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e76588}, pmid = {24244267}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Desert Climate ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; Salsola/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Weevils/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Inhabitants of arid ecosystems face severe nitrogen and water limitations. Inventive adaptations by organisms occupying such habitats are essential for survival. This study describes a tri-party symbiotic interaction between a plant (Salsola inermis), a beetle (Conorhynchus pistor), and a bacterium (Klebsiella pneumonia). The weevil survives by living within a mud structure affixed to the plant roots, thus benefiting from increased carbon and water, and refuge from predators and parasites. Active nitrogen-fixing bacteria harbored within the weevil's gut mediate this interaction, by supplying nitrogen to the system, which eventually promotes seed development. We studied the correlation between the weevil's existence and (i) root carbon and nitrogen content, (ii) soil water content and (iii) seed weight. Roots hosting weevils contained more nitrogen, heavier seeds and less carbon. In addition, water content was higher around the roots than in open spaces a short distance from the plant stem. Bacterial studies and nitrogen-fixation analyses, including molecular and chemical assays, indicated atmospheric nitrogen fixation in the larval stage and identified the bacterium. The coexistence of weevil and bacterial behavior coinciding with the plant's life cycle was revealed here by a long period of field observations. Out of over 60,000 known weevils, this is the only report of a weevil living most of its life underground without harming plants. The unique tri-party interaction described herein shows the important ecological role of desert plant roots and provides an example of a sustainable consortium of living organisms coping with the challenging desert environment.}, } @article {pmid24243963, year = {2013}, author = {Dimond, JL and Pineda, RR and Ramos-Ascherl, Z and Bingham, BL}, title = {Relationships between host and symbiont cell cycles in sea anemones and their symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {225}, number = {2}, pages = {102-112}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv225n2p102}, pmid = {24243963}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Belize ; Cell Cycle ; Dinoflagellida/*cytology/*physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Phylogeny ; Sea Anemones/*cytology/*physiology ; Seasons ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The processes by which cnidarians and their algal endosymbionts achieve balanced growth and biomass could include coordination of host and symbiont cell cycles. We evaluated this theory with natural populations of sea anemones hosting symbiotic dinoflagellates, focusing on the temperate sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima symbiotic with Symbiodinium muscatinei in Washington State, USA, and the tropical anemone Stichodactyla helianthus associating with unknown Symbiodinium spp. in Belize. By extruding symbiont-containing gastrodermal cells from the relatively large tentacles of these species and using nuclear staining and flow cytometry, we selectively analyzed cell cycle distributions of the symbionts and the host gastrodermal cells that house them. We found no indications of diel synchrony in host and symbiont G2/M phases, and we observed evidence of diel periodicity only in Symbiodinium spp. associated with S. helianthus but not in the anemone itself. Seasonally, S. muscatinei showed considerable G2/M phase variability among samples collected quarterly over an annual period, while the G2/M phase of its host varied much less. Within samples taken at different times of the year, correlations between host and symbiont G2/M phases ranged from very weakly to very strongly positive, with significant correlations in only half of the samples (two of four A. elegantissima samples and one of two S. helianthus samples). Overall, the G2/M phase relationships across species and sampling periods were positive. Thus, while we found no evidence of close cell cycle coupling, our results suggest a loose, positive relationship between cell cycle processes of the symbiotic partners.}, } @article {pmid24238742, year = {2014}, author = {Howe, PL and Reichelt-Brushett, AJ and Clark, MW}, title = {Development of a chronic, early life-stage sub-lethal toxicity test and recovery assessment for the tropical zooxanthellate sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {100}, number = {}, pages = {138-147}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.10.024}, pmid = {24238742}, issn = {1090-2414}, mesh = {Animals ; Cadmium/toxicity ; Copper/toxicity ; Ecotoxicology/*methods ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Sea Anemones/*drug effects ; *Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Trace Elements/toxicity ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*toxicity ; Zinc/toxicity ; }, abstract = {There is an urgent need to identify additional tropical marine species and develop sensitive sub-lethal and chronic toxicity test methods for routine ecotoxicology. The tropical symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella is a suitable species for use in ecotoxicology and here we have assessed the effects of trace metal exposures on the development of asexually produced A. pulchella pedal lacerates to a juvenile stage. Concentrations of 55 µg/L for cadmium, 262 µg/L for cobalt, 5 µg/L for copper, and 269 µg/L for zinc were estimated to inhibit normal development by 50 percent after 8-d exposures, and are among the most sensitive available toxicity estimates for marine organisms. This work illustrates the potential value of this species and sub-lethal toxicological endpoint for routine ecotoxicology in tropical marine environments.}, } @article {pmid24237389, year = {2014}, author = {Liao, L and Wankel, SD and Wu, M and Cavanaugh, CM and Girguis, PR}, title = {Characterizing the plasticity of nitrogen metabolism by the host and symbionts of the hydrothermal vent chemoautotrophic symbioses Ridgeia piscesae.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1544-1557}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12460}, pmid = {24237389}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/blood ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; *Hydrothermal Vents ; Nitrate Reductase/genetics ; Nitrates/blood ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Phenotype ; Polychaeta/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chemoautotrophic symbionts of deep sea hydrothermal vent tubeworms are known to provide their hosts with all their primary nutrition. While studies have examined how chemoautotrophic symbionts provide the association with nitrogen, fewer have examined if symbiont nitrogen metabolism varies as a function of environmental conditions. Ridgeia piscesae tubeworms flourish at Northeastern Pacific vents, occupy a range of microhabitats, and exhibit a high degree of morphological plasticity [e.g. long-skinny (LS) and short-fat (SF) phenotypes] that may relate to environmental conditions. This plasticity affords an opportunity to examine whether symbiont nitrogen metabolism varies among host phenotypes. LS and SF R. piscesae were recovered from the Axial and Main Endeavour Field hydrothermal vents. Nitrate and ammonium were quantified in Ridgeia blood, and the expression of key nitrogen metabolism genes, as well as stable nitrogen isotope ratios, was quantified in host branchial plume and symbiont-containing tissues. Nitrate and ammonium were abundant in the blood of both phenotypes though environmental ammonium concentrations were, paradoxically, lowest among individuals with the highest blood ammonium. Assimilatory nitrate reductase transcripts were always below detection, though in both LS and SF R. piscesae symbionts, we observed elevated expression of dissimilatory nitrate reductase genes, as well as symbiont and host ammonium assimilation genes. Site-specific differences in expression, along with tissue stable isotope analyses, suggest that LS and SF Ridgeia symbionts are engaged in both dissimilatory nitrate reduction and ammonia assimilation to varying degrees. As such, it appears that environmental conditions -not host phenotype-primarily dictates symbiont nitrogen metabolism.}, } @article {pmid24237245, year = {2014}, author = {Arrighi, JF and Chaintreuil, C and Cartieaux, F and Cardi, C and Rodier-Goud, M and Brown, SC and Boursot, M and D'Hont, A and Dreyfus, B and Giraud, E}, title = {Radiation of the Nod-independent Aeschynomene relies on multiple allopolyploid speciation events.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {4}, pages = {1457-1468}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12594}, pmid = {24237245}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Crosses, Genetic ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Diploidy ; Ecotype ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; *Genetic Speciation ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Genotype ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Mitosis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Polyploidy ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {• The semi-aquatic legumes belonging to the genus Aeschynomene constitute a premium system for investigating the origin and evolution of unusual symbiotic features such as stem nodulation and the presence of a Nod-independent infection process. This latter apparently arose in a single Aeschynomene lineage. But how this unique Nod-independent group then radiated is not yet known. • We have investigated the role of polyploidy in Aeschynomene speciation via a case study of the pantropical A. indica and then extended the analysis to the other Nod-independent species. For this, we combined SSR genotyping, genome characterization through flow cytometry, chromosome counting, FISH and GISH experiments, molecular phylogenies using ITS and single nuclear gene sequences, and artificial hybridizations. • These analyses demonstrate the existence of an A. indica polyploid species complex comprising A. evenia (C. Wright) (2n = 2x = 20), A. indica L. s.s. (2n = 4x = 40) and a new hexaploid form (2n = 6x = 60). This latter contains the two genomes present in the tetraploid (A. evenia and A. scabra) and another unidentified genome. Two other species, A. pratensis and A. virginica, are also shown to be of allopolyploid origin. • This work reveals multiple hybridization/polyploidization events, thus highlighting a prominent role of allopolyploidy in the radiation of the Nod-independent Aeschynomene.}, } @article {pmid24236847, year = {2014}, author = {Yong, X and Chen, Y and Liu, W and Xu, L and Zhou, J and Wang, S and Chen, P and Ouyang, P and Zheng, T}, title = {Enhanced cadmium resistance and accumulation in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 expressing the phytochelatin synthase gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {3}, pages = {255-261}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12185}, pmid = {24236847}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Aminoacyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Pseudomonas putida/*genetics/*metabolism ; Schizosaccharomyces/*genetics ; Seeds/growth & development/microbiology ; Triticum/growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Phytochelatins (PCs) are cysteine-rich peptides with high binding affinity for toxic metals. Expressing the PC synthase gene (PCS) in plant growth-promoting bacteria may enhance its metal resistance and accumulation, consequently increasing phytoremediation efficiency in heavy metal pollution. In this study, PCS from Schizosaccharomyces pombe was cloned and expressed in Pseudomonas putida KT2440, which was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR through an increase in SpPCS mRNA expression level when induced by 20 μmol of CdCl2 in the transformed Ps. putida cells. The recombined strain KT2440-SpPCS exhibited enhanced Cd, Ag and Hg resistance. Compared with the original strain, KT2440-SpPCS also displayed a threefold to fivefold increase in Cd accumulation (14·32 μmol g(-1) to 17·38 μmol g(-1) ; dry weight) when grown in 30 and 50 μmol CdCl2 , along with an increase in nonprotein thiols. Further experiments showed significantly enhanced germination rates and growth of wheat seeds in 0·1 mmol to 1·0 mmol Cd when inoculated with KT2440-SpPCS. This study shows potential use of Ps. putida KT2440-SpPCS in plants to construct a symbiotic system for an enhanced phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated environments.

The symbiotic system of using plant growth-promoting bacteria Pseudomonas putida to express phytochelatin synthase gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe together in plants resulted in high heavy metal resistance and high accumulation capacity, suggesting potential enhancement in phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated environments.}, } @article {pmid24233285, year = {2014}, author = {Brady, CM and Asplen, MK and Desneux, N and Heimpel, GE and Hopper, KR and Linnen, CR and Oliver, KM and Wulff, JA and White, JA}, title = {Worldwide populations of the aphid Aphis craccivora are infected with diverse facultative bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {67}, number = {1}, pages = {195-204}, pmid = {24233285}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Haplotypes ; Medicago sativa ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Robinia ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Facultative bacterial endosymbionts can play an important role in the evolutionary trajectory of their hosts. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are infected with a wide variety of facultative endosymbionts that can confer ecologically relevant traits, which in turn may drive microevolutionary processes in a dynamic selective environment. However, relatively little is known about how symbiont diversity is structured in most aphid species. Here, we investigate facultative symbiont species richness and prevalence among world-wide populations of the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch. We surveyed 44 populations of A. craccivora, and detected 11 strains of facultative symbiotic bacteria, representing six genera. There were two significant associations between facultative symbiont and aphid food plant: the symbiont Arsenophonus was found at high prevalence in A. craccivora populations collected from Robinia sp. (locust), whereas the symbiont Hamiltonella was almost exclusively found in A. craccivora populations from Medicago sativa (alfalfa). Aphids collected from these two food plants also had divergent mitochondrial haplotypes, potentially indicating the formation of specialized aphid lineages associated with food plant (host-associated differentiation). The role of facultative symbionts in this process remains to be determined. Overall, observed facultative symbiont prevalence in A. craccivora was lower than that of some other well-studied aphids (e.g., Aphis fabae and Acyrthosiphon pisum), possibly as a consequence of A. craccivora's almost purely parthenogenetic life history. Finally, most (70 %) of the surveyed populations were polymorphic for facultative symbiont infection, indicating that even when symbiont prevalence is relatively low, symbiont-associated phenotypic variation may allow population-level evolutionary responses to local selection.}, } @article {pmid24231662, year = {2014}, author = {Ramezani, A and Raj, DS}, title = {The gut microbiome, kidney disease, and targeted interventions.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {657-670}, pmid = {24231662}, issn = {1533-3450}, support = {1U01DK099924-01/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK099924/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1U01DK099914-01/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U01 DK099914/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK073665/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01DK073665-01A1/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Atherosclerosis/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/etiology ; Insulin Resistance ; *Microbiota ; Obesity/microbiology ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human gut harbors >100 trillion microbial cells, which influence the nutrition, metabolism, physiology, and immune function of the host. Here, we review the quantitative and qualitative changes in gut microbiota of patients with CKD that lead to disturbance of this symbiotic relationship, how this may contribute to the progression of CKD, and targeted interventions to re-establish symbiosis. Endotoxin derived from gut bacteria incites a powerful inflammatory response in the host organism. Furthermore, protein fermentation by gut microbiota generates myriad toxic metabolites, including p-cresol and indoxyl sulfate. Disruption of gut barrier function in CKD allows translocation of endotoxin and bacterial metabolites to the systemic circulation, which contributes to uremic toxicity, inflammation, progression of CKD, and associated cardiovascular disease. Several targeted interventions that aim to re-establish intestinal symbiosis, neutralize bacterial endotoxins, or adsorb gut-derived uremic toxins have been developed. Indeed, animal and human studies suggest that prebiotics and probiotics may have therapeutic roles in maintaining a metabolically-balanced gut microbiota and reducing progression of CKD and uremia-associated complications. We propose that further research should focus on using this highly efficient metabolic machinery to alleviate uremic symptoms.}, } @article {pmid24228596, year = {2013}, author = {Zeng, Y and Guo, LP and Chen, BD and Hao, ZP and Wang, JY and Huang, LQ and Yang, G and Cui, XM and Yang, L and Wu, ZX and Chen, ML and Zhang, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis for sustainable cultivation of Chinese medicinal plants: a promising research direction.}, journal = {The American journal of Chinese medicine}, volume = {41}, number = {6}, pages = {1199-1221}, doi = {10.1142/S0192415X1350081X}, pmid = {24228596}, issn = {1793-6853}, mesh = {China ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) are symbiotic systems in nature and have great significance in promoting the growth and stress resistance of medicinal plants. During our literature search from the Chinese Scientific Information Database (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, CNKI) we obtained 65 articles with "AM fungi" and "medicinal plant" as the key words, which indicates that in China, research efforts on these topics have been increasing. The main purposes of this review are to discuss the effects of mycorrhiza on the active ingredients of Chinese medicinal plants in comparison with results obtained in other plants in studies conducted by the international research community, and to introduce works published in Chinese journals to international colleagues.}, } @article {pmid24228227, year = {2013}, author = {Barr, JJ and Youle, M and Rohwer, F}, title = {Innate and acquired bacteriophage-mediated immunity.}, journal = {Bacteriophage}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {e25857}, pmid = {24228227}, issn = {2159-7073}, abstract = {We recently described a novel, non-host-derived, phage-mediated immunity active at mucosal surfaces, the main site of pathogen entry in metazoans. In that work, we showed that phage T4 adheres to mucus glycoproteins via immunoglobulin-like domains displayed on its capsid. This adherence positions the phage in mucus surfaces where they are more likely to encounter and kill bacteria, thereby benefiting both the phage and its metazoan host. We presented this phage-metazoan symbiosis based on an exclusively lytic model of phage infection. Here we extend our bacteriophage adherence to mucus (BAM) model to consider the undoubtedly more complex dynamics in vivo. We hypothesize how mucus-adherent phages, both lytic and temperate, might impact the commensal microbiota as well as protect the metazoan epithelium from bacterial invasion. We suggest that BAM may provide both an innate and an acquired antimicrobial immunity.}, } @article {pmid24228068, year = {2013}, author = {Bergin, IL and Witzmann, FA}, title = {Nanoparticle toxicity by the gastrointestinal route: evidence and knowledge gaps.}, journal = {International journal of biomedical nanoscience and nanotechnology}, volume = {3}, number = {1-2}, pages = {}, pmid = {24228068}, issn = {1756-0799}, support = {R01 GM085218/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RC2 ES018810/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The increasing interest in nanoparticles for advanced technologies, consumer products, and biomedical applications has led to great excitement about potential benefits but also concern over the potential for adverse human health effects. The gastrointestinal tract represents a likely route of entry for many nanomaterials, both directly through intentional ingestion or indirectly via nanoparticle dissolution from food containers or by secondary ingestion of inhaled particles. Additionally, increased utilisation of nanoparticles may lead to increased environmental contamination and unintentional ingestion via water, food animals, or fish. The gastrointestinal tract is a site of complex, symbiotic interactions between host cells and the resident microbiome. Accordingly, evaluation of nanoparticles must take into consideration not only absorption and extraintestinal organ accumulation but also the potential for altered gut microbes and the effects of this perturbation on the host. The existing literature was evaluated for evidence of toxicity based on these considerations. Focus was placed on three categories of nanomaterials: nanometals and metal oxides, carbon-based nanoparticles, and polymer/dendrimers with emphasis on those particles of greatest relevance to gastrointestinal exposures.}, } @article {pmid24227446, year = {2014}, author = {Fusconi, A}, title = {Regulation of root morphogenesis in arbuscular mycorrhizae: what role do fungal exudates, phosphate, sugars and hormones play in lateral root formation?.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {113}, number = {1}, pages = {19-33}, pmid = {24227446}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/metabolism/microbiology ; Biological Availability ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Exudates and Transudates/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphates/*metabolism/pharmacokinetics ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AMs) form a widespread root-fungus symbiosis that improves plant phosphate (Pi) acquisition and modifies the physiology and development of host plants. Increased branching is recognized as a general feature of AM roots, and has been interpreted as a means of increasing suitable sites for colonization. Fungal exudates, which are involved in the dialogue between AM fungi and their host during the pre-colonization phase, play a well-documented role in lateral root (LR) formation. In addition, the increased Pi content of AM plants, in relation to Pi-starved controls, as well as changes in the delivery of carbohydrates to the roots and modulation of phytohormone concentration, transport and sensitivity, are probably involved in increasing root system branching.

SCOPE: This review discusses the possible causes of increased branching in AM plants. The differential root responses to Pi, sugars and hormones of potential AM host species are also highlighted and discussed in comparison with those of the non-host Arabidopsis thaliana.

CONCLUSIONS: Fungal exudates are probably the main compounds regulating AM root morphogenesis during the first colonization steps, while a complex network of interactions governs root development in established AMs. Colonization and high Pi act synergistically to increase root branching, and sugar transport towards the arbusculated cells may contribute to LR formation. In addition, AM colonization and high Pi generally increase auxin and cytokinin and decrease ethylene and strigolactone levels. With the exception of cytokinins, which seem to regulate mainly the root:shoot biomass ratio, these hormones play a leading role in governing root morphogenesis, with strigolactones and ethylene blocking LR formation in the non-colonized, Pi-starved plants, and auxin inducing them in colonized plants, or in plants grown under high Pi conditions.}, } @article {pmid24225886, year = {2014}, author = {Goffredi, SK and Yi, H and Zhang, Q and Klann, JE and Struve, IA and Vrijenhoek, RC and Brown, CT}, title = {Genomic versatility and functional variation between two dominant heterotrophic symbionts of deep-sea Osedax worms.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {908-924}, pmid = {24225886}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {R01 HG007513/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Carbon Radioisotopes/analysis ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An unusual symbiosis, first observed at ~3000 m depth in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, involves gutless marine polychaetes of the genus Osedax and intracellular endosymbionts belonging to the order Oceanospirillales. Ecologically, these worms and their microbial symbionts have a substantial role in the cycling of carbon from deep-sea whale fall carcasses. Microheterogeneity exists among the Osedax symbionts examined so far, and in the present study the genomes of the two dominant symbionts, Rs1 and Rs2, were sequenced. The genomes revealed heterotrophic versatility in carbon, phosphate and iron uptake, strategies for intracellular survival, evidence for an independent existence, and numerous potential virulence capabilities. The presence of specific permeases and peptidases (of glycine, proline and hydroxyproline), and numerous peptide transporters, suggests the use of degraded proteins, likely originating from collagenous bone matter, by the Osedax symbionts. (13)C tracer experiments confirmed the assimilation of glycine/proline, as well as monosaccharides, by Osedax. The Rs1 and Rs2 symbionts are genomically distinct in carbon and sulfur metabolism, respiration, and cell wall composition, among others. Differences between Rs1 and Rs2 and phylogenetic analysis of chemotaxis-related genes within individuals of symbiont Rs1 revealed the influence of the relative age of the whale fall environment and support possible local niche adaptation of 'free-living' lifestages. Future genomic examinations of other horizontally-propogated intracellular symbionts will likely enhance our understanding of the contribution of intraspecific symbiont diversity to the ecological diversification of the intact association, as well as the maintenance of host diversity.}, } @article {pmid24225224, year = {2013}, author = {Takeshima, K and Hidaka, T and Wei, M and Yokoyama, T and Minamisawa, K and Mitsui, H and Itakura, M and Kaneko, T and Tabata, S and Saeki, K and Oomori, H and Tajima, S and Uchiumi, T and Abe, M and Tokuji, Y and Ohwada, T}, title = {Involvement of a novel genistein-inducible multidrug efflux pump of Bradyrhizobium japonicum early in the interaction with Glycine max (L.) Merr.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {414-421}, pmid = {24225224}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genistein/*metabolism ; Isoflavones/metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The early molecular dialogue between soybean and the bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum is crucial for triggering their symbiotic interaction. Here we found a single large genomic locus that is widely separated from the symbiosis island and was conspicuously induced within minutes after the addition of genistein. This locus (named BjG30) contains genes for the multidrug efflux pump, TetR family transcriptional regulator, and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) metabolism. The induction of BjG30 by genistein was competitively inhibited by daidzein, although both genistein and daidzein are soybean-derived inducers of nodulation (nod) genes. Such a differential expression pattern is also observed in some legume-derived flavonoids, which structurally differ in the hydroxy/deoxy group at the 5-position. In addition, not only did the induction start far in advance of nodW and nodD1 after the addition of genistein, but the levels showed distinct concentration dependence, indicating that the induction pattern of BjG30 is completely different from that of nod genes. The deletion of genes encoding either the multidrug efflux pump or PHB metabolism, especially the former, resulted in defective nodulation performance and nitrogen-fixing capability. Taken together, these results indicate that BjG30, and especially its multidrug efflux pump, may play a key role in the early stage of symbiosis by balancing the dual functions of genistein as both a nod gene inducer and toxicant.}, } @article {pmid24224534, year = {2014}, author = {Rossbach, S and Kunze, K and Albert, S and Zehner, S and Göttfert, M}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti EmrAB efflux system is regulated by flavonoids through a TetR-like regulator (EmrR).}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {379-387}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-13-0282-R}, pmid = {24224534}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial ; Flavonoids ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Luteolin ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti ; }, abstract = {The divergently oriented Sinorhizobium meliloti emrAB (SMc03168 and SMc03167) and emrR (SMc03169) genes are predicted to encode an efflux system of the major facilitator superfamily and a TetR-like transcriptional regulator, respectively. The transcription of the emrA gene was found to be inducible by flavonoids, including luteolin and apigenin, which are known inducers of the nodulation genes in S. meliloti. Interestingly, quercetin, which does not induce nodulation genes, was also a potent inducer of emrA, indicating that NodD is not directly involved in regulation of emrA. The likely regulator of emrAB is EmrR, which binds to palindrome-like sequences in the intergenic region. Several modifications of the palindromes, including an increase of the spacing between the two half sites, prevented binding of EmrR. Binding was also impaired by the presence of luteolin. Mutations in emrA had no obvious effect on symbiosis. This was in contrast to the emrR mutant, which exhibited a symbiotic deficiency with Medicago sativa. Conserved binding sites for TetR-like regulators within the intergenic regions between the emrAB and emrR genes were identified in many symbiotic and pathogenic members of the order Rhizobiales.}, } @article {pmid24217032, year = {2013}, author = {Walker, WA}, title = {Initial intestinal colonization in the human infant and immune homeostasis.}, journal = {Annals of nutrition & metabolism}, volume = {63 Suppl 2}, number = {}, pages = {8-15}, doi = {10.1159/000354907}, pmid = {24217032}, issn = {1421-9697}, support = {P30 DK040561/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Asthma ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bifidobacterium/growth & development ; Female ; Fermentation ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunity/*physiology ; Infant Formula ; *Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/embryology/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/growth & development ; Microbiota/physiology ; Milk, Human ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism ; Prebiotics ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {The paradigm of disease burden in the developed world has changed drastically in the last few decades from predominately infections to immune-mediated diseases (autoimmunity and allergy) because of alterations in the Western lifestyle (improved sanitation, immunizations, antibiotic usage and altered dietary intake). A diverse balanced microbiota is necessary for the development of an appropriate innate and adaptive immune response. There is strong evidence that disruption of the normal colonization process can lead to alterations in the important symbiotic relationship that is necessary for immune homeostasis. For example, infants born by cesarean section or receiving excessive perinatal antibiotics have inadequate initial colonization and aberrant mucosal immune function. As a result, later in childhood, they express an increased incidence in asthma and autoimmune diseases (e.g. celiac disease). An important component of initial colonization is the infant's diet. Breast milk contains a variety of nondigestible oligosaccharides which function as prebiotics preferentially stimulating proliferation of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, important health-promoting bacteria, and cause fermentation of the oligosaccharides into short-chain fatty acids. In the absence of breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, formula containing pre- and probiotics may overcome an initial inadequate colonization process and help establish a normal mucosal immune system.}, } @article {pmid24223958, year = {2013}, author = {Toki, W and Takahashi, Y and Togashi, K}, title = {Fungal garden making inside bamboos by a non-social fungus-growing beetle.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e79515}, pmid = {24223958}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; Female ; Larva/physiology ; Oviposition ; Ovum/microbiology ; Saccharomycetales/*cytology ; Sasa/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In fungus-growing mutualism, it is indispensable for host animals to establish gardens of the symbiotic fungus as rapidly as possible. How to establish fungal gardens has been well-documented in social fungus-farming insects, whereas poorly documented in non-social fungus-farming insects. Here we report that the non-social, fungus-growing lizard beetle Doubledaya bucculenta (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languriinae) transmits the symbiotic yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus from the ovipositor-associated mycangium into bamboo internode cavities and disperses the yeast in the cavities to make gardens. Microbial isolation and cryo-scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that W. anomalus was constantly located on the posterior ends of eggs, where larvae came out, and on the inner openings of oviposition holes. Direct observation of oviposition behavior inside internodes revealed that the distal parts of ovipositors showed a peristaltic movement when they were in contact with the posterior ends of eggs. Rearing experiments showed that W. anomalus was spread much more rapidly and widely on culture media and internodes in the presence of the larvae than in the absence. These results suggest that the ovipositors play a critical role in vertical transmission of W. anomalus and that the larvae contribute actively to the garden establishment, providing a novel case of fungal garden founding in non-social insect-fungus mutualism.}, } @article {pmid24223906, year = {2013}, author = {Pettay, DT and Lajeunesse, TC}, title = {Long-range dispersal and high-latitude environments influence the population structure of a "stress-tolerant" dinoflagellate endosymbiont.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e79208}, pmid = {24223906}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {S11 ES011181/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; ES11181/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development/parasitology ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; *Ecosystem ; *Environment ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Geography ; Host-Parasite Interactions/radiation effects ; Larva/growth & development/parasitology ; Light ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Population Dynamics ; Seasons ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {The migration and dispersal of stress-tolerant symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) may influence the response of symbiotic reef-building corals to a warming climate. We analyzed the genetic structure of the stress-tolerant endosymbiont, Symbiodinium glynni nomen nudum (ITS2 - D1), obtained from Pocillopora colonies that dominate eastern Pacific coral communities. Eleven microsatellite loci identified genotypically diverse populations with minimal genetic subdivision throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific, encompassing 1000's of square kilometers from mainland Mexico to the Galapagos Islands. The lack of population differentiation over these distances corresponds with extensive regional host connectivity and indicates that Pocillopora larvae, which maternally inherit their symbionts, aid in the dispersal of this symbiont. In contrast to its host, however, subtropical populations of S. glynni in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) were strongly differentiated from populations in tropical eastern Pacific. Selection pressures related to large seasonal fluctuations in temperature and irradiance likely explain this abrupt genetic discontinuity. We infer that S. glynni genotypes harbored by host larvae arriving from more southern locations are rapidly replaced by genotypes adapted to more temperate environments. The strong population structure of S. glynni corresponds with fluctuating environmental conditions and suggests that these genetically diverse populations have the potential to evolve rapidly to changing environments and reveals the importance of environmental extremes in driving microbial eukaryote (e.g., plankton) speciation in marine ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid24223521, year = {2013}, author = {Pringle, EG and Akçay, E and Raab, TK and Dirzo, R and Gordon, DM}, title = {Water stress strengthens mutualism among ants, trees, and scale insects.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {e1001705}, pmid = {24223521}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cordia/parasitology/*physiology ; Costa Rica ; *Dehydration ; Hemiptera/*physiology ; Herbivory ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Mexico ; Models, Biological ; Nicaragua ; Rain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Abiotic environmental variables strongly affect the outcomes of species interactions. For example, mutualistic interactions between species are often stronger when resources are limited. The effect might be indirect: water stress on plants can lead to carbon stress, which could alter carbon-mediated plant mutualisms. In mutualistic ant-plant symbioses, plants host ant colonies that defend them against herbivores. Here we show that the partners' investments in a widespread ant-plant symbiosis increase with water stress across 26 sites along a Mesoamerican precipitation gradient. At lower precipitation levels, Cordia alliodora trees invest more carbon in Azteca ants via phloem-feeding scale insects that provide the ants with sugars, and the ants provide better defense of the carbon-producing leaves. Under water stress, the trees have smaller carbon pools. A model of the carbon trade-offs for the mutualistic partners shows that the observed strategies can arise from the carbon costs of rare but extreme events of herbivory in the rainy season. Thus, water limitation, together with the risk of herbivory, increases the strength of a carbon-based mutualism.}, } @article {pmid24222213, year = {2014}, author = {Lin, HY and Chen, JC and Wei, MJ and Lien, YC and Li, HH and Ko, SS and Liu, ZH and Fang, SC}, title = {Genome-wide annotation, expression profiling, and protein interaction studies of the core cell-cycle genes in Phalaenopsis aphrodite.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {84}, number = {1-2}, pages = {203-226}, pmid = {24222213}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Genome, Plant/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Orchidaceae/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Orchidaceae is one of the most abundant and diverse families in the plant kingdom and its unique developmental patterns have drawn the attention of many evolutionary biologists. Particular areas of interest have included the co-evolution of pollinators and distinct floral structures, and symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal flora. However, comprehensive studies to decipher the molecular basis of growth and development in orchids remain scarce. Cell proliferation governed by cell-cycle regulation is fundamental to growth and development of the plant body. We took advantage of recently released transcriptome information to systematically isolate and annotate the core cell-cycle regulators in the moth orchid Phalaenopsis aphrodite. Our data verified that Phalaenopsis cyclin-dependent kinase A (CDKA) is an evolutionarily conserved CDK. Expression profiling studies suggested that core cell-cycle genes functioning during the G1/S, S, and G2/M stages were preferentially enriched in the meristematic tissues that have high proliferation activity. In addition, subcellular localization and pairwise interaction analyses of various combinations of CDKs and cyclins, and of E2 promoter-binding factors and dimerization partners confirmed interactions of the functional units. Furthermore, our data showed that expression of the core cell-cycle genes was coordinately regulated during pollination-induced reproductive development. The data obtained establish a fundamental framework for study of the cell-cycle machinery in Phalaenopsis orchids.}, } @article {pmid24221581, year = {2013}, author = {Figuerola, B and Núñez-Pons, L and Moles, J and Avila, C}, title = {Feeding repellence in Antarctic bryozoans.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {100}, number = {11}, pages = {1069-1081}, pmid = {24221581}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Amphipoda/metabolism ; Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; Bryozoa/*chemistry/*physiology ; *Food Chain ; Predatory Behavior ; Starfish/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Antarctic sea star Odontaster validus and the amphipod Cheirimedon femoratus are important predators in benthic communities. Some bryozoans are part of the diet of the asteroid and represent both potential host biosubstrata and prey for this omnivorous lysianassid amphipod. In response to such ecological pressure, bryozoans are expected to develop strategies to deter potential predators, ranging from physical to chemical mechanisms. However, the chemical ecology of Antarctic bryozoans has been scarcely studied. In this study we evaluated the presence of defenses against predation in selected species of Antarctic bryozoans. The sympatric omnivorous consumers O. validus and C. femoratus were selected to perform feeding assays with 16 ether extracts (EE) and 16 butanol extracts (BE) obtained from 16 samples that belonged to 13 different bryozoan species. Most species (9) were active (12 EE and 1 BE) in sea star bioassays. Only 1 BE displayed repellence, indicating that repellents against the sea star are mainly lipophilic. Repellence toward C. femoratus was found in all species in different extracts (10 EE and 12 BE), suggesting that defenses against the amphipod might be both lipophilic and hydrophilic. Interspecific and intraspecific variability of bioactivity was occasionally detected, suggesting possible environmental inductive responses, symbiotic associations, and/or genetic variability. Multivariate analysis revealed similarities among species in relation to bioactivities of EE and/or BE. These findings support the hypothesis that, while in some cases alternative chemical or physical mechanisms may also provide protection, repellent compounds play an important role in Antarctic bryozoans as defenses against predators.}, } @article {pmid24220653, year = {2014}, author = {Manoli, A and Begheldo, M and Genre, A and Lanfranco, L and Trevisan, S and Quaggiotti, S}, title = {NO homeostasis is a key regulator of early nitrate perception and root elongation in maize.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {185-200}, pmid = {24220653}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/pharmacology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/genetics ; Homeostasis ; Models, Biological ; Nitrate Reductase/*genetics ; Nitrates/*pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Seedlings/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Soil/chemistry ; Zea mays/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Crop plant development is strongly dependent on nitrogen availability in the soil and on the efficiency of its recruitment by roots. For this reason, the understanding of the molecular events underlying root adaptation to nitrogen fluctuations is a primary goal to develop biotechnological tools for sustainable agriculture. However, knowledge about molecular responses to nitrogen availability is derived mainly from the study of model species. Nitric oxide (NO) has been recently proposed to be implicated in plant responses to environmental stresses, but its exact role in the response of plants to nutritional stress is still under evaluation. In this work, the role of NO production by maize roots after nitrate perception was investigated by focusing on the regulation of transcription of genes involved in NO homeostasis and by measuring NO production in roots. Moreover, its involvement in the root growth response to nitrate was also investigated. The results provide evidence that NO is produced by nitrate reductase as an early response to nitrate supply and that the coordinated induction of non-symbiotic haemoglobins (nsHbs) could finely regulate the NO steady state. This mechanism seems to be implicated on the modulation of the root elongation in response to nitrate perception. Moreover, an improved agar-plate system for growing maize seedlings was developed. This system, which allows localized treatments to be performed on specific root portions, gave the opportunity to discern between localized and systemic effects of nitrate supply to roots.}, } @article {pmid24218592, year = {2013}, author = {Theis, KR and Venkataraman, A and Dycus, JA and Koonter, KD and Schmitt-Matzen, EN and Wagner, AP and Holekamp, KE and Schmidt, TM}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria appear to mediate hyena social odors.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {49}, pages = {19832-19837}, pmid = {24218592}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {T32 HL007749/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Animal Communication ; Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Female ; Fermentation ; Hyaenidae/*microbiology/physiology ; Kenya ; Male ; Microbiota/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Odorants ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Scent Glands/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {All animals harbor beneficial microbes. One way these microbes can benefit their animal hosts is by increasing the diversity and efficacy of communication signals available to the hosts. The fermentation hypothesis for mammalian chemical communication posits that bacteria in the scent glands of mammals generate odorous metabolites used by their hosts for communication and that variation in host chemical signals is a product of underlying variation in the bacterial communities inhabiting the scent glands. An effective test of this hypothesis would require accurate surveys of the bacterial communities in mammals' scent glands and complementary data on the odorant profiles of scent secretions--both of which have been historically lacking. Here we use next-generation sequencing to survey deeply the bacterial communities in the scent glands of wild spotted and striped hyenas. We show that these communities are dominated by fermentative bacteria and that the structures of these communities covary with the volatile fatty acid profiles of scent secretions in both hyena species. The bacterial and volatile fatty acid profiles of secretions differ between spotted and striped hyenas, and both profiles vary with sex and reproductive state among spotted hyenas within a single social group. Our results strongly support the fermentation hypothesis for chemical communication, suggesting that symbiotic bacteria underlie species-specific odors in both spotted and striped hyenas and further underlie sex and reproductive state-specific odors among spotted hyenas. We anticipate that the fermentation hypothesis for chemical communication will prove broadly applicable among scent-marking mammals as others use the technical and analytical approaches used here.}, } @article {pmid24214946, year = {2014}, author = {Arnold, MF and Caro-Hernandez, P and Tan, K and Runti, G and Wehmeier, S and Scocchi, M and Doerrler, WT and Walker, GC and Ferguson, GP}, title = {Enteric YaiW is a surface-exposed outer membrane lipoprotein that affects sensitivity to an antimicrobial peptide.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {196}, number = {2}, pages = {436-444}, pmid = {24214946}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; G0501107/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/D000564/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; GM31030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*metabolism ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Brucella abortus/genetics ; Escherichia coli/*drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Genes, Suppressor ; Lipoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Salmonella typhimurium/*drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transferases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {yaiW is a previously uncharacterized gene found in enteric bacteria that is of particular interest because it is located adjacent to the sbmA gene, whose bacA ortholog is required for Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis and Brucella abortus pathogenesis. We show that yaiW is cotranscribed with sbmA in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and Typhimurium strains. We present evidence that the YaiW is a palmitate-modified surface exposed outer membrane lipoprotein. Since BacA function affects the very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) modification of S. meliloti and B. abortus lipid A, we tested whether SbmA function might affect either the fatty acid modification of the YaiW lipoprotein or the fatty acid modification of enteric lipid A but found that it did not. Interestingly, we did observe that E. coli SbmA suppresses deficiencies in the VLCFA modification of the lipopolysaccharide of an S. meliloti bacA mutant despite the absence of VLCFA in E. coli. Finally, we found that both YaiW and SbmA positively affect the uptake of proline-rich Bac7 peptides, suggesting a possible connection between their cellular functions.}, } @article {pmid24214681, year = {2014}, author = {Hu, X and Wang, C and Wang, L and Zhang, R and Chen, H}, title = {Influence of temperature, pH and metal ions on guaiacol oxidation of purified laccase from Leptographium qinlingensis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {1285-1290}, pmid = {24214681}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Animals ; Chemical Precipitation ; China ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Enzyme Inhibitors/metabolism ; Enzyme Stability ; Guaiacol/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ions/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Laccase/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Metals/metabolism ; Ophiostomatales/*enzymology/growth & development ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Temperature ; Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The bark beetle Dendroctonus armandi is able to kill living Pinus armandi and has caused serious damage to pine forest in Northern China. As the most important symbiotic fungus of D. armandi, Leptographium qinlingensis plays an important role in the invasion process of the bark beetle. The laccase secreted by it are involved in lignin degradation to provide utilizable nutrition for D. armandi, and catalyze some biochemical reactions, causing the damages of tree tissue. In present study, the extracellular laccase of L. qinlingensis was purified by using the ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose (DE-52) column chromatography. Furthermore, the effects of temperature, pH value and metal ions on it were investigated and characterized. The purified enzyme exerted its optimal activity with guaiacol. The catalytic efficiencies K(m) and V(max) determined for substrate guaiacol were 15.4 μM and 372.9 IU mg[-1], respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for the purified enzyme was 4.4 and 45 °C, respectively, with the highest enzyme specific activity of 7,000 IU mg[-1]. Moreover, the metal ions, Co[2+], Mn[2+], Ca[2+], Mg[2+], Fe[2+] and Cd[2+], especially Hg[2+], showed significantly inhibition effects on its activity. To understand the characteristics of this laccase might provide an opportunity and theoretical basis to promote integrated pest management of D. armandi.}, } @article {pmid24211424, year = {2014}, author = {Navarro, PD and McMullen, JG and Stock, SP}, title = {Interactions between the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis sonorensis (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae) and the saprobic fungus Fusarium oxysporum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales).}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {115}, number = {}, pages = {41-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2013.10.018}, pmid = {24211424}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Aging ; Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Moths/parasitology ; Rhabditoidea/*parasitology/*pathogenicity ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {In this study, we assessed the effect of the saprobic fungus, Fusarium oxysporum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) on the fitness of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis sonorensis (Caborca strain). Sand column assays were considered to evaluate the effect of fungal mycelia on infective juvenile (IJ) movement and host access. Additionally, we investigated the effect of fungal spores on the nematodes' ability to search for a host, its virulence, penetration efficiency and reproduction. Three application timings were considered to assess interactions between the fungus and the nematodes. In vitro assays were also considered to determine the effect of fungal extracts on the nematode's symbiotic bacteria. Our observations indicate that presence and age of fungal mycelia significantly affect IJ movement in the sand columns and their ability to establish in the host. These results were also reflected in a reduced insect mortality. In particular, treatments with the 15 days old mycelia showed a significant reduction in insect mortality and penetration efficiency. Presence of fungal spores also impacted nematode virulence and reproduction. In particular, two of the application timings tested (simultaneous [EPN and fungal spores applied at the same time] and alternate I [EPN applied first, fungus applied 24h later]) resulted in antagonistic interactions. Moreover, IJ progeny was reduced to half in the simultaneous application. In vitro assays revealed that fungal extracts at the highest concentration tested (10mg/ml) inhibited the growth of the symbiotic bacteria. Overall, these results suggest that saprobic fungi may play an important role in regulating. EPN populations in the soil, and that they may be one of the factors that impact nematode survival in the soil and their access to insect hosts.}, } @article {pmid24211069, year = {2014}, author = {Banerjee, S and Yuan, X and Germida, JJ and Vujanovic, V}, title = {Gene expression patterns in wheat coleorhiza under cold- and biological stratification.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {169}, number = {7-8}, pages = {616-622}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2013.09.016}, pmid = {24211069}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Cold Temperature ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Seeds/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Triticum/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study assessed germination of wheat seeds under cold and biological stratification and determined the expression level of gibberellins (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) genes in coleorhiza. Both cold and biological stratification significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the rate and efficacy of germination. The spatial distance between the fungal endophyte and the seed can be a determining factor of biological stratification as seeds in direct contact with fungal endophyte showed the highest rate and efficacy of germination. Consistently high expression of GA3ox2 gene was found in wheat coleorhiza throughout the tested period of germination. The expression of ABA biosynthesis gene, TaNCED, was substantially higher in cold stratification seeds, reflecting the role of abscisic acid in stress-adaptation. Overall, this study provides molecular evidence of the importance of coleorhiza in germinating wheat seeds, in addition to reporting that the spatial distance between symbiotic partners may be a critical factor driving mycovitality.}, } @article {pmid24210739, year = {2014}, author = {Subtil, A and Collingro, A and Horn, M}, title = {Tracing the primordial Chlamydiae: extinct parasites of plants?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {36-43}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2013.10.005}, pmid = {24210739}, issn = {1878-4372}, support = {281633/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biological Evolution ; Chlamydia/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Host Specificity ; Plants/*microbiology ; Plastids ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria found as symbionts and pathogens in a wide range of eukaryotes, including protists, invertebrates, and vertebrates. It was recently proposed that an ancient chlamydial symbiont facilitated the establishment of primary plastids in a tripartite symbiosis with cyanobacteria and early eukaryotes. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding of the lifestyle and the evolutionary history of extant Chlamydiae. We reconstruct and describe key features of the ancient chlamydial symbiont. We propose that it was already adapted to an intracellular lifestyle before the emergence of Archaeplastida, and that several observations are compatible with an essential contribution of Chlamydiae to the evolution of algae and plants.}, } @article {pmid24206353, year = {2013}, author = {Damasceno, R and Roggia, I and Pereira, C and de Sá, E}, title = {Rhizobia survival in seeds coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun nanofibres.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {11}, pages = {716-719}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2013-0508}, pmid = {24206353}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; *Nanofibers/chemistry ; *Polyvinyl Alcohol/chemistry ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Seeds/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The electrospinning technique of rhizobia immobilization in nanofibres is an innovative and promising alternative for reducing the harmful effects of environmental stress on bacteria strains in a possible inoculant nanotechnology product for use in agriculture. The use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) shows up as an effective polymer in cell encapsulation because of its physical characteristics, such as viscosity and power of scattering. The aim of these studies has been to evaluate the survival of rhizobia incorporated in PVA nanofibres, which were applied to soybean seed and then subjected to different storage times and exposure to fungicide. The maintenance of the symbiotic characteristics of the incorporated bacterial strains was also evaluated, noting the formation of nodules in the soybean seedlings. No significant differences in the cell survival at 0 h and after 24 h of storage were observed. After 48 h, a significant difference in the bacterial cell concentration of the seeds affixed with PVA nanofibres was observed. Exposure to the fungicide decreased the viability of the bacteria strains even when coated with the nanofibres. A larger number of nodules formed in soybean seedlings from seeds inoculated with rhizobia incorporated in PVA nanofibres than from seeds inoculated with rhizobia without PVA. Thus, the electrospinning technique is a great alternative to the usual protector inoculants because of its unprecedented capacity to control the release of bacteria.}, } @article {pmid24205987, year = {2013}, author = {Kafil, M and Bandani, AR and Kaltenpoth, M and Goldansaz, SH and Alavi, SM}, title = {Role of symbiotic bacteria in the growth and development of the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {99}, pmid = {24205987}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Diet ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hemiptera/drug effects/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Nymph/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Ovum/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), is the most important pest of wheat and barley in wide areas of the world. Different aspects of the insect's life history have been studied, but to date nothing is known about their microbial symbionts. Here, the contribution of symbiotic bacteria to the fitness of the bug was investigated by combining two different approaches to manipulate the host's microbial community: the supplementation of antibiotics into the insects' diet and egg surface sterilization. First, bacteria cultured from gut homogenates were subjected to antibiotic screening tests using 20 different antibiotics. Norfloxacin was the most effective antibiotic, with the greatest inhibition zone among all antibiotics tested. Feeding norfloxacin to adult E. integriceps individuals significantly impaired growth and development of the offspring in a dose-dependent manner, i.e., higher antibiotic doses increased the negative effects on nymphal growth and development. Total developmental time from first nymphal instars to adult emergence in control animals was 30.1 days, but when adults had been offered diets with 10, 20, and 30 µg antibiotic per mg diet, the offspring's developmental time was prolonged to 32.8, 34.0, and 34.8 days, respectively. In the highest two doses of norfloxacin, all of the nymphs died before reaching the fifth nymphal instar. Similar results as for the antibiotic treatment were obtained when egg surface sterilization was used to manipulate the microbial community of E. integriceps. These results indicate that bacterial symbionts play a crucial role in the successful development of the host.}, } @article {pmid24205188, year = {2013}, author = {Keller, A and Grimmer, G and Steffan-Dewenter, I}, title = {Diverse microbiota identified in whole intact nest chambers of the red mason bee Osmia bicornis (Linnaeus 1758).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e78296}, pmid = {24205188}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Bees/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecology ; Environment ; Female ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Pollen/microbiology ; Population ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbial activity is known to have profound impact on bee ecology and physiology, both by beneficial and pathogenic effects. Most information about such associations is available for colony-building organisms, and especially the honey bee. There, active manipulations through worker bees result in a restricted diversity of microbes present within the colony environment. Microbial diversity in solitary bee nests remains unstudied, although their larvae face a very different situation compared with social bees by growing up in isolated compartments. Here, we assessed the microbiota present in nests and pre-adults of Osmia bicornis, the red mason bee, by culture-independent pyrosequencing. We found high bacterial diversity not comparable with honey bee colonies. We identified a variety of bacteria potentially with positive or negative interactions for bee larvae. However, most of the other diverse bacteria present in the nests seem to originate from environmental sources through incorporated nest building material and stored pollen. This diversity of microorganisms may cause severe larval mortality and require specific physiological or symbiotic adaptations against microbial threats. They may however also profit from such a diverse environment through gain of mutualistic partners. We conclude that further studies of microbiota interaction in solitary bees will improve the understanding of fitness components and populations dynamics.}, } @article {pmid24204799, year = {2013}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Balmand, S and Latorre, A and Heddi, A and Moya, A and Gil, R}, title = {How does Tremblaya princeps get essential proteins from its nested partner Moranella endobia in the Mealybug Planoccocus citri?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e77307}, pmid = {24204799}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics/metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Planococcus Insect/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Transport ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects maintain intracellular mutualistic symbiosis with a wide range of bacteria which are considered essential for their survival (primary or P-endosymbiont) and typically suffer drastic genome degradation. Progressive loss of P-endosymbiont metabolic capabilities could lead to the recruitment of co-existent facultative endosymbiont (secondary or S-endosymbiont), thus adding more complexity to the symbiotic system. Planococcus citri, among other mealybug species, harbors an unconventional nested endosymbiotic system where every Tremblaya princeps cell (β-proteobacterium) harbors many Moranella endobia cells (γ-proteobacterium). In this system, T. princeps possess one of the smallest prokaryote genome known so far. This extreme genome reduction suggests the supply of many metabolites and essential gene products by M. endobia. Although sporadic cell lysis is plausible, the bacterial participation on the regulation of the predicted molecular exchange (at least to some extent) cannot be excluded. Although the comprehensive analysis of the protein translocation ability of M. endobia PCVAL rules out the existence of specific mechanisms for the exportation of proteins from M. endobia to T. princeps, immunolocation of two M. endobia proteins points towards a non-massive but controlled protein provision. We propose a sporadic pattern for the predicted protein exportation events, which could be putatively controlled by the host and/or mediated by local osmotic stress.}, } @article {pmid24201132, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, JK and Han, SH and Kim, CH and Jo, YH and Futahashi, R and Kikuchi, Y and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Molting-associated suppression of symbiont population and up-regulation of antimicrobial activity in the midgut symbiotic organ of the Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiosis.}, journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {10-14}, doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2013.10.010}, pmid = {24201132}, issn = {1879-0089}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Burkholderia Infections/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Hemiptera/*physiology ; Immunity ; *Molting/immunology ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation/immunology ; }, abstract = {The majority of insects possess symbiotic bacteria. Since symbiont titers can affect host phenotypes of biological importance, host insects are expected to evolve some mechanisms for regulating symbiont population. Here we report that, in the Riptortus-Burkholderia gut symbiosis, titers of the beneficial symbiont transiently decrease at the pre-molt stages in host development. This molting-associated suppression of the symbiont population is coincident with the increase of antimicrobial activity in the symbiotic midgut, which is observed in both symbiotic and aposymbiotic insects. Two genes, pyrrhocoricin-like antimicrobial peptide and c-type lysozyme, exhibit significantly increased expression in the symbiotic midgut at the pre-molt stages. These results suggest that the molting-associated up-regulation of antimicrobial activity in the symbiotic midgut represents a physiological mechanism of the host insect to regulate symbiosis, which is presumably for defending molting insects against injury and infection and/or for allocating symbiont-derived energy and resources to host molting.}, } @article {pmid24198820, year = {2013}, author = {Groß, F and Durner, J and Gaupels, F}, title = {Nitric oxide, antioxidants and prooxidants in plant defence responses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {419}, pmid = {24198820}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In plant cells the free radical nitric oxide (NO) interacts both with anti- as well as prooxidants. This review provides a short survey of the central roles of ascorbate and glutathione-the latter alone or in conjunction with S-nitrosoglutathione reductase-in controlling NO bioavailability. Other major topics include the regulation of antioxidant enzymes by NO and the interplay between NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under stress conditions NO regulates antioxidant enzymes at the level of activity and gene expression, which can cause either enhancement or reduction of the cellular redox status. For instance chronic NO production during salt stress induced the antioxidant system thereby increasing salt tolerance in various plants. In contrast, rapid NO accumulation in response to strong stress stimuli was occasionally linked to inhibition of antioxidant enzymes and a subsequent rise in hydrogen peroxide levels. Moreover, during incompatible Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae interactions ROS burst and cell death progression were shown to be terminated by S-nitrosylation-triggered inhibition of NADPH oxidases, further highlighting the multiple roles of NO during redox-signaling. In chemical reactions between NO and ROS reactive nitrogen species (RNS) arise with characteristics different from their precursors. Recently, peroxynitrite formed by the reaction of NO with superoxide has attracted much attention. We will describe putative functions of this molecule and other NO derivatives in plant cells. Non-symbiotic hemoglobins (nsHb) were proposed to act in NO degradation. Additionally, like other oxidases nsHb is also capable of catalyzing protein nitration through a nitrite- and hydrogen peroxide-dependent process. The physiological significance of the described findings under abiotic and biotic stress conditions will be discussed with a special emphasis on pathogen-induced programmed cell death (PCD).}, } @article {pmid24198665, year = {2013}, author = {Lee, EH and Eo, JK and Ka, KH and Eom, AH}, title = {Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their roles in ecosystems.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {121-125}, pmid = {24198665}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have mutualistic relationships with more than 80% of terrestrial plant species. This symbiotic relationship is ancient and would have had important roles in establishment of plants on land. Despite their abundance and wide range of relationship with plant species, AMF have shown low species diversity. However, molecular studies have suggested that diversity of these fungi may be much higher, and genetic variation of AMF is very high within a species and even within a single spore. Despite low diversity and lack of host specificity, various functions have been associated with plant growth responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization. In addition, different community composition of AMF affects plants differently, and plays a potential role in ecosystem variability and productivity. AMF have high functional diversity because different combinations of host plants and AMF have different effects on the various aspects of symbiosis. Consequently, recent studies have focused on the different functions of AMF according to their genetic resource and their roles in ecosystem functioning. This review summarizes taxonomic, genetic, and functional diversities of AMF and their roles in natural ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid24197786, year = {2014}, author = {de Oliveira-Longatti, SM and Marra, LM and Lima Soares, B and Bomfeti, CA and da Silva, K and Avelar Ferreira, PA and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Bacteria isolated from soils of the western Amazon and from rehabilitated bauxite-mining areas have potential as plant growth promoters.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {4}, pages = {1239-1250}, pmid = {24197786}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Aluminum Compounds/metabolism ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Microbial Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Development ; Plants/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Several processes that promote plant growth were investigated in endophytic and symbiotic bacteria isolated from cowpea and siratro nodules and also in bacterial strains recommended for the inoculation of cowpea beans. The processes verified in 31 strains were: antagonism against phytopathogenic fungi, free-living biological nitrogen fixation, solubilization of insoluble phosphates and indole acetic acid (IAA) production. The resistance to antibiotics was also assessed. Sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene was performed and the strains were identified as belonging to different genera. Eight strains, including some identified as Burkholderia fungorum, fixed nitrogen in the free-living state. Eighteen strains exhibited potential to solubilize calcium phosphate, and 13 strains could solubilize aluminum phosphate. High levels of IAA production were recorded with L-tryptophan addition for the strain UFLA04-321 (42.3 μg mL[-1]). Strains highly efficient in symbiosis with cowpea bean, including strains already approved as inoculants showed the ability to perform other processes that promote plant growth. Besides, these strains exhibited resistance to several antibiotics. The ability of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria to perform other processes and their adaptation to environmental conditions add value to these strains, which could lead to improved inoculants for plant growth and environmental quality.}, } @article {pmid24197419, year = {2014}, author = {Saravesi, K and Ruotsalainen, AL and Cahill, JF}, title = {Contrasting impacts of defoliation on root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi of Medicago sativa.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {239-245}, pmid = {24197419}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*growth & development ; Endophytes/*growth & development ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Medicago sativa/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Individual plants typically interact with multiple mutualists and enemies simultaneously. Plant roots encounter both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi, while the leaves are exposed to herbivores. AMF are usually beneficial symbionts, while the functional role of DSE is largely unknown. Leaf herbivory may have a negative effect on root symbiotic fungi due to decreased carbon availability. However, evidence for this is ambiguous and no inoculation-based experiment on joint effects of herbivory on AM and DSE has been done to date. We investigated how artificial defoliation impacts root colonization by AM (Glomus intraradices) and DSE (Phialocephala fortinii) fungi and growth of Medicago sativa host in a factorial laboratory experiment. Defoliation affected fungi differentially, causing a decrease in arbuscular colonization and a slight increase in DSE-type colonization. However, the presence of one fungal species had no effect on colonization by the other or on plant growth. Defoliation reduced plant biomass, with this effect independent of the fungal treatments. Inoculation by either fungal species reduced root/shoot ratios, with this effect independent of the defoliation treatments. These results suggest AM colonization is limited by host carbon availability, while DSE may benefit from root dieback or exudation associated with defoliation. Reductions in root allocation associated with fungal inoculation combined with a lack of effect of fungi on plant biomass suggest DSE and AMF may be functional equivalent to the plant within this study. Combined, our results indicate different controls of colonization, but no apparent functional consequences between AM and DSE association in plant roots in this experimental setup.}, } @article {pmid24196581, year = {2013}, author = {Aserse, AA and Räsänen, LA and Aseffa, F and Hailemariam, A and Lindström, K}, title = {Diversity of sporadic symbionts and nonsymbiotic endophytic bacteria isolated from nodules of woody, shrub, and food legumes in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {97}, number = {23}, pages = {10117-10134}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-013-5248-4}, pmid = {24196581}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Ethiopia ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; Wood/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fifty-five bacterial isolates were obtained from surface-sterilized nodules of woody and shrub legumes growing in Ethiopia: Crotalaria spp., Indigofera spp., and Erythrina brucei, and the food legumes soybean and common bean. Based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the majority of the isolates were identified as Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the genera Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Burkholderia, Cronobacter, Enterobacter, Mesorhizobium, Novosphingobium, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Rahnella, Rhizobium, Serratia, and Variovorax. Seven isolates were Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Planomicrobium, and Rhodococcus. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting showed that each strain was genetically distinct. According to phylogenetic analysis of recA, glnII, rpoB, and 16S rRNA gene sequences, Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, and Agrobacterium were further classified into six different genospecies: Agrobacterium spp., Agrobacterium radiobacter, Rhizobium sp., Rhizobium phaseoli, Mesorhizobium sp., and putative new Rhizobium species. The strains from R. phaseoli, Rhizobium sp. IAR30, and Mesorhizobium sp. ERR6 induced nodules on their host plants. The other strains did not form nodules on their original host. Nine endophytic bacterial strains representing seven genera, Agrobacterium, Burkholderia, Paenibacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Serratia, were found to colonize nodules of Crotalaria incana and common bean on co-inoculation with symbiotic rhizobia. Four endophytic Rhizobium and two Agrobacterium strains had identical nifH gene sequences with symbiotic Rhizobium strains, suggesting horizontal gene transfer. Most symbiotic and nonsymbiotic endophytic bacteria showed plant growth-promoting properties in vitro, which indicate their potential role in the promotion of plant growth when colonizing plant roots and the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid24195717, year = {2013}, author = {Woolfall, K and Frith, L and Gamble, C and Young, B}, title = {How experience makes a difference: practitioners' views on the use of deferred consent in paediatric and neonatal emergency care trials.}, journal = {BMC medical ethics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {45}, pmid = {24195717}, issn = {1472-6939}, support = {08/13/47/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clinical Trials as Topic/*ethics ; Decision Making/*ethics ; Electronic Mail ; Emergency Medical Services/*ethics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nurses/*statistics & numerical data ; Parental Consent/*ethics/*legislation & jurisprudence ; Physicians/*statistics & numerical data ; Professional-Family Relations/*ethics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In 2008 UK legislation was amended to enable the use of deferred consent for paediatric emergency care (EC) trials in recognition of the practical and ethical difficulties of obtaining prospective consent in an emergency situation. However, ambiguity about how to make deferred consent acceptable to parents, children and practitioners remains. In particular, little is known about practitioners' views and experiences of seeking deferred consent in this setting.

METHODS: As part of a wider study investigating consent methods in paediatric emergency care trials (called CONNECT), a 20 item online questionnaire was sent by email inviting practitioners (doctors and nurses) who were involved in talking with families about children's and young people's (aged 0-16 years) participation in UK EC trials. To ensure those with and without experience of deferred consent were included, practitioners were sampled using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data, whilst the constant comparative method was used to analyse qualitative data. Elements of a symbiotic empirical ethics approach was used to integrate empirical evidence and bioethical literature to explore the data and draw practice orientated conclusions.

RESULTS: Views on deferred consent differed depending upon whether or not practitioners were experienced in this consent method. Practitioners who had no experience of deferred consent reported negative perceptions of this consent method; these practitioners were concerned about the impact that deferred consent would have upon the parent-practitioner relationship. In contrast, practitioners experienced in deferred consent described how families had been receptive to the consent method, if conducted sensitively and in a time appropriate manner. Experienced practitioners also described how deferred consent had improved recruitment, parental decision-making capacity and parent-practitioner relationships in the emergency care setting.

CONCLUSIONS: The views of practitioners with first-hand experience of deferred consent should be considered in the design and ethical review of future paediatric EC trials; the design and ethical review of such trials should not solely be informed by the beliefs of those without experience of using deferred consent. Further research involving parents and children is required to inform practitioner training and normative guidance on the use and appropriateness of deferred consent in emergency settings.}, } @article {pmid24195062, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, J and Weiss, BL and Aksoy, S}, title = {Tsetse fly microbiota: form and function.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {69}, pmid = {24195062}, issn = {2235-2988}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies are the primary vectors of African trypanosomes, which cause Human and Animal African trypanosomiasis in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. These flies have also established symbiotic associations with bacterial and viral microorganisms. Laboratory-reared tsetse flies harbor up to four vertically transmitted organisms-obligate Wigglesworthia, commensal Sodalis, parasitic Wolbachia and Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus (SGHV). Field-captured tsetse can harbor these symbionts as well as environmentally acquired commensal bacteria. This microbial community influences several aspects of tsetse's physiology, including nutrition, fecundity and vector competence. This review provides a detailed description of tsetse's microbiome, and describes the physiology underlying host-microbe, and microbe-microbe, interactions that occur in this fly.}, } @article {pmid24194742, year = {2013}, author = {Balzergue, C and Chabaud, M and Barker, DG and Bécard, G and Rochange, SF}, title = {High phosphate reduces host ability to develop arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis without affecting root calcium spiking responses to the fungus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {426}, pmid = {24194742}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis associates soil fungi with the roots of the majority of plants species and represents a major source of soil phosphorus acquisition. Mycorrhizal interactions begin with an exchange of molecular signals between the two partners. A root signaling pathway is recruited, for which the perception of fungal signals triggers oscillations of intracellular calcium concentration. High phosphate availability is known to inhibit the establishment and/or persistence of this symbiosis, thereby favoring the direct, non-symbiotic uptake of phosphorus by the root system. In this study, Medicago truncatula plants were used to investigate the effects of phosphate supply on the early stages of the interaction. When plants were supplied with high phosphate fungal attachment to the roots was drastically reduced. An experimental system was designed to individually study the effects of phosphate supply on the fungus, on the roots, and on root exudates. These experiments revealed that the most important effects of high phosphate supply were on the roots themselves, which became unable to host mycorrhizal fungi even when these had been appropriately stimulated. The ability of the roots to perceive their fungal partner was then investigated by monitoring nuclear calcium spiking in response to fungal signals. This response did not appear to be affected by high phosphate supply. In conclusion, high levels of phosphate predominantly impact the plant host, but apparently not in its ability to perceive the fungal partner.}, } @article {pmid24193254, year = {2013}, author = {Roux, S and Enault, F and Bronner, G and Vaulot, D and Forterre, P and Krupovic, M}, title = {Chimeric viruses blur the borders between the major groups of eukaryotic single-stranded DNA viruses.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {2700}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms3700}, pmid = {24193254}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Capsid Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Viruses/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Single-Stranded/genetics ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Library ; Genome, Viral ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; RNA Viruses/*classification/genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Metagenomic studies have uncovered an astonishing diversity of ssDNA viruses encoding replication proteins (Reps) related to those of eukaryotic Circoviridae, Geminiviridae or Nanoviridae; however, exact evolutionary relationships among these viruses remain obscure. Recently, a unique chimeric virus (CHIV) genome, which has apparently emerged via recombination between ssRNA and ssDNA viruses, has been discovered. Here we report on the assembly of 13 new CHIV genomes recovered from various environments. Our results indicate a single event of capsid protein (CP) gene capture from an RNA virus in the history of this virus group. The domestication of the CP gene was followed by an unprecedented recurrent replacement of the Rep genes in CHIVs with distant counterparts from diverse ssDNA viruses. We suggest that parasitic and symbiotic interactions between unicellular eukaryotes were central for the emergence of CHIVs and that such turbulent evolution was primarily dictated by incongruence between the CP and Rep proteins.}, } @article {pmid24193043, year = {2016}, author = {Polat, Z and Aydın, E and Türkez, H and Aslan, A}, title = {In vitro risk assessment of usnic acid.}, journal = {Toxicology and industrial health}, volume = {32}, number = {3}, pages = {468-475}, doi = {10.1177/0748233713504811}, pmid = {24193043}, issn = {1477-0393}, mesh = {Adult ; Benzofurans/*toxicity ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromosome Aberrations/*drug effects ; DNA Damage/*drug effects ; Humans ; Lichens ; Lymphocytes/*drug effects ; Micronucleus Tests ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Turkey ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of fungi and algae and are very common in Turkey. Lichen secondary metabolites are mainly phenolic compounds produced by fungal partner of lichen symbiosis. Usnic acid (UA) is one of the most common lichen metabolites, and it was reported that to be effective for a wide range of pharmacological purposes including antiviral, antitumor, and antiprotozoal. However, there are limited data on the genotoxic and antioxidant effects of UA in cultured human peripheral blood cells. Therefore, the aim of this thesis study was to investigate the genetic and oxidative effects of UA in cultured human blood cells (n = 5). The UA was added into culture tubes at various concentrations (0-200 μg/ml). Chromosomal aberrations (CA) and micronuclei (MN) tests were performed for genotoxic damage influences estimation. In addition, biochemical parameters (total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS)) were examined to determine oxidative effects. In our in vitro test systems, it was observed that UA had no mutagenic effects on human lymphocytes. Furthermore, our results indicated that low concentrations (1 and 5 μg/ml) of UA caused increases of TAC levels in cultured human blood cells. And, the TOS levels were not changed (p > 0.05) when all the concentrations (except for 200 μg/ml) of UA were applied. In conclusion, UA can be a new resource of therapeutics as recognized in this study with their nonmutagenic and antioxidant features.}, } @article {pmid24191970, year = {2014}, author = {Studer, SV and Schwartzman, JA and Ho, JS and Geske, GD and Blackwell, HE and Ruby, EG}, title = {Non-native acylated homoserine lactones reveal that LuxIR quorum sensing promotes symbiont stability.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {2623-2634}, pmid = {24191970}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {R01 GM109403/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM07215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI063326/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Luminescence ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics ; Repressor Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Time Factors ; Trans-Activators/*genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing, a group behaviour coordinated by a diffusible pheromone signal and a cognate receptor, is typical of bacteria that form symbioses with plants and animals. LuxIR-type N-acyl L-homoserine (AHL) quorum sensing is common in Gram-negative Proteobacteria, and many members of this group have additional quorum-sensing networks. The bioluminescent symbiont Vibrio fischeri encodes two AHL signal synthases: AinS and LuxI. AinS-dependent quorum sensing converges with LuxI-dependent quorum sensing at the LuxR regulatory element. Both AinS- and LuxI-mediated signalling are required for efficient and persistent colonization of the squid host, Euprymna scolopes. The basis of the mutualism is symbiont bioluminescence, which is regulated by both LuxI- and AinS-dependent quorum sensing, and is essential for maintaining a colonization of the host. Here, we used chemical and genetic approaches to probe the dynamics of LuxI- and AinS-mediated regulation of bioluminescence during symbiosis. We demonstrate that both native AHLs and non-native AHL analogues can be used to non-invasively and specifically modulate induction of symbiotic bioluminescence via LuxI-dependent quorum sensing. Our data suggest that the first day of colonization, during which symbiont bioluminescence is induced by LuxIR, is a critical period that determines the stability of the V. fischeri population once symbiosis is established.}, } @article {pmid24189345, year = {2013}, author = {Casella, TM and Eparvier, V and Mandavid, H and Bendelac, A and Odonne, G and Dayan, L and Duplais, C and Espindola, LS and Stien, D}, title = {Antimicrobial and cytotoxic secondary metabolites from tropical leaf endophytes: Isolation of antibacterial agent pyrrocidine C from Lewia infectoria SNB-GTC2402.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {370-377}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.10.004}, pmid = {24189345}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Ascomycota ; Candida albicans/drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Endophytes/*chemistry ; Fluorenes/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Plant Leaves ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Because of the symbiotic nature of endophytes, this survey aims to investigate the probability of discovering antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities in leaf endophytic microbes. We isolated 138 cultivable microbes (121 fungi, 3 bacteria and 14 unidentified or unknown microbes) from 24 plant species, a significant relative proportion of which exhibited antifungal and cytotoxic potential against Candida albicans ATCC 10213 and the human cell lines KB (uterine cervical carcinoma), MDA-MB-435 (melanoma), and MRC5 (normal human lung fibroblasts). Three active fungal extracts were fractionated, resulting in the isolation of eight compounds. Seven had been described in the literature including the following: acremonisol A, semicochliodinol A, cochliodinol, griseofulvin, pyrenocin A, novae zelandin A and alterperylenol. A previously unreported compound named pyrrocidine C was isolated from Lewia infectoria SNB-GTC2402 and identified by spectroscopic analysis. As in pyrrocidines A and B, this compound is a cis-substituted decahydrofluorene with a quaternary carbon at C-5 and opposite stereochemistry at C-8 corresponding to C-6 of pyrrocidines A and B.}, } @article {pmid24189276, year = {2013}, author = {Moreira, C and Vasconcelos, V and Antunes, A}, title = {Phylogeny and biogeography of cyanobacteria and their produced toxins.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {4350-4369}, pmid = {24189276}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Toxins, Biological/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phylogeny is an evolutionary reconstruction of the past relationships of DNA or protein sequences and it can further be used as a tool to assess population structuring, genetic diversity and biogeographic patterns. In the microbial world, the concept that everything is everywhere is widely accepted. However, it is much debated whether microbes are easily dispersed globally or whether they, like many macro-organisms, have historical biogeographies. Biogeography can be defined as the science that documents the spatial and temporal distribution of a given taxa in the environment at local, regional and continental scales. Speciation, extinction and dispersal are proposed to explain the generation of biogeographic patterns. Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that inhabit a wide range of ecological niches and are well known for their toxic secondary metabolite production. Knowledge of the evolution and dispersal of these microorganisms is still limited, and further research to understand such topics is imperative. Here, we provide a compilation of the most relevant information regarding these issues to better understand the present state of the art as a platform for future studies, and we highlight examples of both phylogenetic and biogeographic studies in non-symbiotic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.}, } @article {pmid24188239, year = {2013}, author = {Sassera, D and Epis, S and Pajoro, M and Bandi, C}, title = {Microbial symbiosis and the control of vector-borne pathogens in tsetse flies, human lice, and triatomine bugs.}, journal = {Pathogens and global health}, volume = {107}, number = {6}, pages = {285-292}, pmid = {24188239}, issn = {2047-7732}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Phthiraptera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Triatominae/*microbiology ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a widespread biological phenomenon, and is particularly common in arthropods. Bloodsucking insects are among the organisms that rely on beneficial bacterial symbionts to complement their unbalanced diet. This review is focused on describing symbiosis, and possible strategies for the symbiont-based control of insects and insect-borne diseases, in three bloodsucking insects of medical importance: the flies of the genus Glossina, the lice of the genus Pediculus, and triatomine bugs of the subfamily Triatominae. Glossina flies are vector of Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness and other pathologies. They are also associated with two distinct bacterial symbionts, the primary symbiont Wigglesworthia spp., and the secondary, culturable symbiont Sodalis glossinidius. The primary symbiont of human lice, Riesia pediculicola, has been shown to be fundamental for the host, due to its capacity to synthesize B-group vitamins. An antisymbiotic approach, with antibiotic treatment targeted on the lice symbionts, could represent an alternative strategy to control these ectoparasites. In the case of triatominae bugs, the genetic modification of their symbiotic Rhodococcus bacteria, for production of anti-Trypanosoma molecules, is an example of paratransgenesis, i.e. the use of symbiotic microorganism engineered in order to reduce the vector competence of the insect host.}, } @article {pmid24184953, year = {2014}, author = {Furihata, S and Tanaka, K and Ryuda, M and Ochiai, M and Matsumoto, H and Csikos, G and Hayakawa, Y}, title = {Immunoevasive protein (IEP)-containing surface layer covering polydnavirus particles is essential for viral infection.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {115}, number = {}, pages = {26-32}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2013.10.013}, pmid = {24184953}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Insect Proteins/immunology/metabolism ; Polydnaviridae/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virion/immunology/metabolism ; Wasps/immunology/metabolism/*virology ; }, abstract = {Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are unique symbiotic viruses associated with parasitoid wasps: PDV particles are injected into lepidopteran hosts along with the wasp eggs and express genes that interfere with aspects of host physiology such as immune defenses and development. Recent comparative genomic studies of PDVs have significantly improved our understanding of their origin as well as the genome organization. However, the structural features of functional PDV particles remain ambiguous. To clear up the structure of Cotesia kariyai PDV (CkPDV) particles, we focused on immunoevasive protein (IEP), which is a mediator of immunoevasion by the wasp from the encapsulation reaction of the host insect's hemocytes, because it has been demonstrated to be present on the surface of the virus particle. We discovered that IEP tends to polymerize and constitutes a previously unidentified thin surface layer covering CkPDV particles. This outermost surface layer looked fragile and was easily removed from CkPVD particles by mechanical stressors such as shaking, which prevented CkPDV from expressing the encoded genes in the host target tissues such as fat body or hemocytes. Furthermore, we detected IEP homologue gene expression in the wasp's venom reservoirs, implying IEP has another unknown biological function in the wasp or parasitized hosts. Taken together, the present results demonstrated that female C. kariyai wasps produce the fragile thin layer partly composed of IEP to cover the outer surfaces of CkPDV particles; otherwise, they cannot function as infectious agents in the wasp's host. The fact that IEP family proteins are expressed in both venom reservoirs and oviducts suggests an intimate relationship between both tissues in the development of the parasitism strategy of the wasp.}, } @article {pmid24184089, year = {2013}, author = {Wibberg, D and Blom, J and Rückert, C and Winkler, A and Albersmeier, A and Pühler, A and Schlüter, A and Scharf, BE}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti RU11/001, a model organism for flagellum structure, motility and chemotaxis.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {168}, number = {4}, pages = {731-733}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2013.10.015}, pmid = {24184089}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chemotaxis/genetics ; Flagella/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plasmids ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti of the order Rhizobiales is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium nodulating plants of the genera Medicago, Trigonella and Melilotus and hence is of great agricultural importance. In its free-living state it is motile and capable of modulating its movement patterns in response to chemical attractants. Here, the draft genome consisting of a circular chromosome, the megaplasmids pSymA and pSymB and three accessory plasmids of Sinorhizobium meliloti RU11/001, a model organism for flagellum structure, motility and chemotaxis, is reported.}, } @article {pmid24183896, year = {2014}, author = {Armas-Capote, N and Pérez-Yépez, J and Martínez-Hidalgo, P and Garzón-Machado, V and Del Arco-Aguilar, M and Velázquez, E and León-Barrios, M}, title = {Core and symbiotic genes reveal nine Mesorhizobium genospecies and three symbiotic lineages among the rhizobia nodulating Cicer canariense in its natural habitat (La Palma, Canary Islands).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {140-148}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.08.004}, pmid = {24183896}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Biota ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, rRNA ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Ribotyping ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; }, abstract = {Cicer canariense is a threatened perennial wild chickpea endemic to the Canary Islands. In this study, rhizobia that nodulate this species in its natural habitats on La Palma (Canary Islands) were characterised. The genetic diversity and phylogeny were estimated by RAPD profiles, 16S-RFLP analysis and sequencing of the rrs, recA, glnII and nodC genes. 16S-RFLP grouped the isolates within the Mesorhizobium genus and distinguished nine different ribotypes. Four branches included minority ribotypes (3-5 isolates), whereas another five contained the predominant ribotypes that clustered with reference strains of M. tianshanense/M. gobiense/M. metallidurans, M. caraganae, M. opportunistum, M. ciceri and M. tamadayense. The sequences confirmed the RFLP groupings but resolved additional internal divergence within the M. caraganae group and outlined several potential novel species. The RAPD profiles showed a high diversity at the infraspecific level, except in the M. ciceri group. The nodC phylogeny resolved three symbiotic lineages. A small group of isolates had sequences identical to those of symbiovar ciceri and were only detected in M. ciceri isolates. Another group of sequences represented a novel symbiotic lineage that was associated with two particular chromosomal backgrounds. However, nodC sequences closely related to symbiovar loti predominated in most isolates, and they were detected in several chromosomal backgrounds corresponding to up to nine Mesorhizobium lineages. The results indicated that C. canariense is a promiscuous legume that can be nodulated by several rhizobial species and symbiotypes, which means it will be important to determine the combination of core and symbiotic genes that produce the most effective symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24179178, year = {2014}, author = {Radl, V and Simões-Araújo, JL and Leite, J and Passos, SR and Martins, LMV and Xavier, GR and Rumjanek, NG and Baldani, JI and Zilli, JE}, title = {Microvirga vignae sp. nov., a root nodule symbiotic bacterium isolated from cowpea grown in semi-arid Brazil.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {Pt 3}, pages = {725-730}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.053082-0}, pmid = {24179178}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Methylobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of eight strains (BR 3299(T), BR 3296, BR 10192, BR 10193, BR 10194, BR 10195, BR 10196 and BR 10197) isolated from nodules of cowpea collected from a semi-arid region of Brazil showed 97 % similarity to sequences of recently described rhizobial species of the genus Microvirga. Phylogenetic analyses of four housekeeping genes (gyrB, recA, dnaK and rpoB), DNA-DNA relatedness and AFLP further indicated that these strains belong to a novel species within the genus Microvirga. Our data support the hypothesis that genes related to nitrogen fixation were obtained via horizontal gene transfer, as sequences of nifH genes were very similar to those found in members of the genera Rhizobium and Mesorhizobium, which are not immediate relatives of the genus Microvirga, as shown by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Phenotypic traits, such as host range and carbon utilization, differentiate the novel strains from the most closely related species, Microvirga lotononidis, Microvirga zambiensis and Microvirga lupini. Therefore, these symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria are proposed to be representatives of a novel species, for which the name Microvirga vignae sp. nov. is suggested. The type strain is BR3299(T) (= HAMBI 3457(T)).}, } @article {pmid24171309, year = {2013}, author = {Ushakova, NA and Laktionov, KS and Kozlova, AA and Ratnikova, IA and Gavrilova, NN}, title = {[Special effects of a complex probiotic containing cellulolytic bacteria Cellulomonas on actively growing rabbits].}, journal = {Izvestiia Akademii nauk. Seriia biologicheskaia}, volume = {}, number = {3}, pages = {292-298}, pmid = {24171309}, issn = {1026-3470}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/chemistry ; Beta vulgaris/chemistry/microbiology ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Cellulomonas/*chemistry ; Cellulose/chemistry ; Digestion/*drug effects ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage ; Rabbits ; }, abstract = {It was shown that the association of probiotic bacteria of the genuses Bacillus and Cellulomonas form biolayers on the surface of beet marc particles. The positive effect of a fodder additive that contained the biolayer on the basis of a phytomatrix on the growth and development of young rabbits was shown. Feeding of animals with a mixed fodder that contained 0.1% preparation resulted in stimulation of digestion of all components of the food. Among other components of the mixed fodder, cellulose was digested most effectively. An increase in the biomass of symbiotic bacteria and enzymatic activity in the blindgut chymus was also observed. The positive nitrogen balance demonstrated an increase in the nitrogen content in animals and a decrease of its losses with excretion. The mechanism of response of the rabbit's organism to introduction of the complex probiotic preparation into the digestive tract is discussed.}, } @article {pmid24170172, year = {2013}, author = {Nguyen, KH and Chollet-Krugler, M and Gouault, N and Tomasi, S}, title = {UV-protectant metabolites from lichens and their symbiotic partners.}, journal = {Natural product reports}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {1490-1508}, doi = {10.1039/c3np70064j}, pmid = {24170172}, issn = {1460-4752}, mesh = {Anthraquinones/metabolism ; *Lichens/chemistry/metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols/metabolism ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Lichens are structurally complex symbiotic organisms that are exposed to a wide variety of external conditions (extreme temperatures, desiccation, UV radiation, etc.). These poikilohydric organisms have developed various mechanisms of photoprotection, such as light scattering, radiation screening, thermal dissipation, activation of antioxidant defense and macromolecules and membrane repair. These unique organisms produce a vast array of compounds, with more than 1000 secondary metabolites known. An important protective mechanism of lichens is the production of UV screening compounds, such as phenolic compounds (depsidones, depsides, diphenyl ethers), anthraquinones, xanthones or shikimic acid derivatives (calycin, mycosporines, scytonemin). Due to the harmful effects of the UVA wavelengths of sunlight, the search for new sunscreens remains important. We herein propose a review that focuses on the UV protectants from lichens and their symbiotic partners (lichenized fungi, green alga, cyanobacteria). In fact, lichens produce unique and/or efficient UV filters such as depsidones (lobaric acid, pannarin, etc.), depsides (atranorin, gyrophoric acid, etc.), diphenyl ethers (epiphorellic acids, buellin), bisxanthones (secalonic acids, etc.), mycosporines and MAAs, scytonemin along with classical pigments (melanin, carotenoids). We propose to classify these compounds with regard to their chemical structures and review the physicochemical properties that act as UV filters. While the most abundant lichen polyfunctionalized aromatic compounds, belonging to orsellinic derivatives, are UVB screens, these organisms produce strong UVA filters, e.g., calycin (pulvinic acid derivatives), bisxanthones (secalonic acids), scytonemin or mycosporines and MAAs with the latter ones exhibiting attractive properties as photoprotectants.}, } @article {pmid24168410, year = {2013}, author = {Reynolds, LA and Finlay, BB}, title = {A case for antibiotic perturbation of the microbiota leading to allergy development.}, journal = {Expert review of clinical immunology}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {1019-1030}, doi = {10.1586/1744666X.2013.851603}, pmid = {24168410}, issn = {1744-8409}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Bacterial Infections/complications/*drug therapy ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Humans ; Hygiene Hypothesis ; Hypersensitivity/*etiology/prevention & control ; Immunity, Mucosal/drug effects ; Intestines/drug effects/*immunology/microbiology ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The use of antibiotics to treat pathogenic bacterial infections has been one of the greatest contributions to human health, yet antibiotic use also perturbs the communities of commensal and symbiotic bacteria that reside in the intestine of mammals. The microbiota are critical for normal immune development and for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and disruption of the microbiota has been linked to the emergence of allergic disease both in humans and in animal models. The evidence and mechanisms for antibiotic-mediated disruptions leading to the onset of allergic disease at mucosal surfaces is discussed, as well as the future challenges for the field. A more complete understanding of the mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota modulate allergic disease development will allow for interventions to counter the potentially adverse effects of antibiotic treatment on the microbiota.}, } @article {pmid24167248, year = {2013}, author = {Boscaro, V and Felletti, M and Vannini, C and Ackerman, MS and Chain, PS and Malfatti, S and Vergez, LM and Shin, M and Doak, TG and Lynch, M and Petroni, G}, title = {Polynucleobacter necessarius, a model for genome reduction in both free-living and symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {46}, pages = {18590-18595}, pmid = {24167248}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Burkholderiaceae/*genetics ; Computational Biology ; Euplotes/*microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {We present the complete genomic sequence of the essential symbiont Polynucleobacter necessarius (Betaproteobacteria), which is a valuable case study for several reasons. First, it is hosted by a ciliated protist, Euplotes; bacterial symbionts of ciliates are still poorly known because of a lack of extensive molecular data. Second, the single species P. necessarius contains both symbiotic and free-living strains, allowing for a comparison between closely related organisms with different ecologies. Third, free-living P. necessarius strains are exceptional by themselves because of their small genome size, reduced metabolic flexibility, and high worldwide abundance in freshwater systems. We provide a comparative analysis of P. necessarius metabolism and explore the peculiar features of a genome reduction that occurred on an already streamlined genome. We compare this unusual system with current hypotheses for genome erosion in symbionts and free-living bacteria, propose modifications to the presently accepted model, and discuss the potential consequences of translesion DNA polymerase loss.}, } @article {pmid24167113, year = {2014}, author = {Vorburger, C}, title = {The evolutionary ecology of symbiont-conferred resistance to parasitoids in aphids.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {251-264}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12067}, pmid = {24167113}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*parasitology/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Communicable Disease Control ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids may harbor a wide variety of facultative bacterial endosymbionts. These symbionts are transmitted maternally with high fidelity and they show horizontal transmission as well, albeit at rates too low to enable infectious spread. Such symbionts need to provide a net fitness benefit to their hosts to persist and spread. Several symbionts have achieved this by evolving the ability to protect their hosts against parasitoids. Reviewing empirical work and some models, I explore the evolutionary ecology of symbiont-conferred resistance to parasitoids in order to understand how defensive symbiont frequencies are maintained at the intermediate levels observed in aphid populations. I further show that defensive symbionts alter the reciprocal selection between aphids and parasitoids by augmenting the heritable variation for resistance, by increasing the genetic specificity of the host-parasitoid interaction, and by inducing environment-dependent trade-offs. These effects are conducive to very dynamic, symbiont-mediated coevolution that is driven by frequency-dependent selection. Finally I argue that defensive symbionts represent a problem for biological control of pest aphids, and I propose to mitigate this problem by exploiting the parasitoids' demonstrated ability to rapidly evolve counteradaptations to symbiont-conferred resistance.}, } @article {pmid24166440, year = {2013}, author = {Iantcheva, A and Mysore, KS and Ratet, P}, title = {Transformation of leguminous plants to study symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {The International journal of developmental biology}, volume = {57}, number = {6-8}, pages = {577-586}, doi = {10.1387/ijdb.130239pr}, pmid = {24166440}, issn = {1696-3547}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*metabolism ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; *Genetic Techniques ; Mutagenesis ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/methods ; Peas/genetics ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics ; Regeneration ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Soybeans/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Legume plants are important in agriculture because they represent an important source of protein for human and animal consumption. This high protein content results from their capacity to use atmospheric nitrogen for their nutrition as a consequence of their symbiotic interaction with rhizobia. Understanding this interaction at the molecular level is a prerequisite for its better use in agriculture and for the long term objective of its transfer to other crops. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a tool of choice for studying this interaction and for unraveling the function of the different genes discovered through classical genetic approaches. However, legume plants are often recalcitrant to regeneration and transformation. This paper describes the technology developments (regeneration, transformation, insertion mutagenesis) related to Agrobacterium transformations that were established in the legume plants, as well as different examples of the technology developments or gene discoveries resulting from these studies.}, } @article {pmid24164597, year = {2014}, author = {Li, X and Lei, M and Yan, Z and Wang, Q and Chen, A and Sun, J and Luo, D and Wang, Y}, title = {The REL3-mediated TAS3 ta-siRNA pathway integrates auxin and ethylene signaling to regulate nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {201}, number = {2}, pages = {531-544}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12550}, pmid = {24164597}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The ta-siRNA pathway is required for lateral organ development, including leaf patterning, flower differentiation and lateral root growth. Legumes can develop novel lateral root organs--nodules--resulting from symbiotic interactions with rhizobia. However, ta-siRNA regulation in nodule formation remains unknown. To explore ta-siRNA regulation in nodule formation, we investigated the roles of REL3, a key component of TAS3 ta-siRNA biogenesis, during nodulation in Lotus japonicus. We characterized the symbiotic phenotypes of the TAS3 ta-siRNA defective rel3 mutant, and analyzed the responses of the rel3 mutant to auxin and ethylene in order to gain insight into TAS3 ta-siRNA regulation of nodulation. The rel3 mutant produced fewer pink nitrogen-fixing nodules, with substantially decreased infection frequency and nodule initiation. Moreover, the rel3 mutant was more resistant than wild-type to 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) in root growth, and exhibited insensitivity to auxins but greater sensitivity to auxin transport inhibitors during nodulation. Furthermore, the rel3 mutant has enhanced root-specific ethylene sensitivity and altered responses to ethylene during nodulation; the low-nodulating phenotype of the rel3 mutant can be restored by ethylene synthesis inhibitor L-α-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl)-glycine (AVG) or action inhibitor Ag(+). The REL3-mediated TAS3 ta-siRNA pathway regulates nodulation by integrating ethylene and auxin signaling.}, } @article {pmid24160697, year = {2014}, author = {Mani, S and Boelsterli, UA and Redinbo, MR}, title = {Understanding and modulating mammalian-microbial communication for improved human health.}, journal = {Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {559-580}, pmid = {24160697}, issn = {1545-4304}, support = {CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA98468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA098468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; Camptothecin/administration & dosage/adverse effects/analogs & derivatives ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enteritis/chemically induced/drug therapy ; Eosinophilia/chemically induced/drug therapy ; Gastritis/chemically induced/drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Glucuronidase/pharmacology ; Humans ; Irinotecan ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; *Mammals ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {The fact that the bacteria in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract play a symbiotic role was noted as early as 1885, well before we began to manage microbial infections using antibiotics. However, even with the first antimicrobial compounds used in humans, the sulfa drugs, microbes were recognized to be critically involved in the biotransformation of these therapeutics. Thus, the roles played by the microbiota in physiology and in the management of human health have long been appreciated. Detailed examinations of GI symbiotic bacteria that started in the early 2000s and the first phases of the Human Microbiome Project that were completed in 2012 have ushered in an exciting period of granularity with respect to the ecology, genetics, and chemistry of the mammalian-microbial axes of communication. Here we review aspects of the biochemical pathways at play between commensal GI bacteria and several mammalian systems, including both local-epithelia and nonlocal responses impacting inflammation, immunology, metabolism, and neurobiology. Finally, we discuss how the microbial biotransformation of therapeutic compounds, such as anticancer or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can be modulated to reduce toxicity and potentially improve therapeutic efficacy.}, } @article {pmid24158697, year = {2014}, author = {Murata, H and Yamada, A and Yokota, S and Maruyama, T and Endo, N and Yamamoto, K and Ohira, T and Neda, H}, title = {Root endophyte symbiosis in vitro between the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Tricholoma matsutake and the arbuscular mycorrhizal plant Prunus speciosa.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {315-321}, pmid = {24158697}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Prunus/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tricholoma/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We previously reported that Tricholoma matsutake and Tricholoma fulvocastaneum, ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes that associate with Pinaceae and Fagaceae, respectively, in the Northern Hemisphere, could interact in vitro as a root endophyte of somatic plants of Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae), which naturally harbors arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in South America, to form a characteristic rhizospheric colony or "shiro". We questioned whether this phenomenon could have occurred because of plant-microbe interactions between geographically separated species that never encounter one another in nature. In the present study, we document that these fungi formed root endophyte interactions and shiro within 140 days of inoculation with somatic plants of Prunus speciosa (=Cerasus speciosa, Rosaceae), a wild cherry tree that naturally harbors arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Japan. Compared with C. odorata, infected P. speciosa plants had less mycelial sheath surrounding the exodermis, and the older the roots, especially main roots, the more hyphae penetrated. In addition, a large number of juvenile roots were not associated with hyphae. We concluded that such root endophyte interactions were not events isolated to the interactions between exotic plants and microbes but could occur generally in vitro. Our pure culture system with a somatic plant allowed these fungi to express symbiosis-related phenotypes that varied with the plant host; these traits are innately programmed but suppressed in nature and could be useful in genetic analyses of plant-fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24157521, year = {2014}, author = {Peyer, SM and Pankey, MS and Oakley, TH and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Eye-specification genes in the bacterial light organ of the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes, and their expression in response to symbiont cues.}, journal = {Mechanisms of development}, volume = {131}, number = {}, pages = {111-126}, pmid = {24157521}, issn = {1872-6356}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI-50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Decapodiformes/embryology/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; Embryonic Development/*genetics ; Eye/*growth & development ; Light ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The squid Euprymna scolopes has evolved independent sets of tissues capable of light detection, including a complex eye and a photophore or 'light organ', which houses the luminous bacterial symbiont Vibrio fischeri. As the eye and light organ originate from different embryonic tissues, we examined whether the eye-specification genes, pax6, eya, six, and dac, are shared by these two organs, and if so, whether they are regulated in the light organ by symbiosis. We obtained sequences of the four genes with PCR, confirmed orthology with phylogenetic analysis, and determined that each was expressed in the eye and light organ. With in situ hybridization (ISH), we localized the gene transcripts in developing embryos, comparing the patterns of expression in the two organs. The four transcripts localized to similar tissues, including those associated with the visual system ∼1/4 into embryogenesis (Naef stage 18) and the light organ ∼3/4 into embryogenesis (Naef stage 26). We used ISH and quantitative real-time PCR to examine transcript expression and differential regulation in postembryonic light organs in response to the following colonization conditions: wild-type, luminescent V. fischeri; a mutant strain defective in light production; and as a control, no symbiont. In ISH experiments light organs showed down regulation of the pax6, eya, and six transcripts in response to wild-type V. fischeri. Mutant strains also induced down regulation of the pax6 and eya transcripts, but not of the six transcript. Thus, luminescence was required for down regulation of the six transcript. We discuss these results in the context of symbiont-induced light-organ development. Our study indicates that the eye-specification genes are expressed in light-interacting tissues independent of their embryonic origin and are capable of responding to bacterial cues. These results offer evidence for evolutionary tinkering or the recruitment of eye development genes for use in a light-sensing photophore.}, } @article {pmid24157054, year = {2014}, author = {Laranjo, M and Alexandre, A and Oliveira, S}, title = {Legume growth-promoting rhizobia: an overview on the Mesorhizobium genus.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {169}, number = {1}, pages = {2-17}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2013.09.012}, pmid = {24157054}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; *Plant Development ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The need for sustainable agricultural practices is revitalizing the interest in biological nitrogen fixation and rhizobia-legumes symbioses, particularly those involving economically important legume crops in terms of food and forage. The genus Mesorhizobium includes species with high geographical dispersion and able to nodulate a wide variety of legumes, including important crop species, like chickpea or biserrula. Some cases of legume-mesorhizobia inoculant introduction represent exceptional opportunities to study the rhizobia genomes evolution and the evolutionary relationships among species. Complete genome sequences revealed that mesorhizobia typically harbour chromosomal symbiosis islands. The phylogenies of symbiosis genes, such as nodC, are not congruent with the phylogenies based on core genes, reflecting rhizobial host range, rather than species affiliation. This agrees with studies showing that Mesorhizobium species are able to exchange symbiosis genes through lateral transfer of chromosomal symbiosis islands, thus acquiring the ability to nodulate new hosts. Phylogenetic analyses of the Mesorhizobium genus based on core and accessory genes reveal complex evolutionary relationships and a high genomic plasticity, rendering the Mesorhizobium genus as a good model to investigate rhizobia genome evolution and adaptation to different host plants. Further investigation of symbiosis genes as well as stress response genes will certainly contribute to understand mesorhizobia-legume symbiosis and to develop more effective mesorhizobia inoculants.}, } @article {pmid24152561, year = {2013}, author = {Monroig, Ó and Tocher, DR and Navarro, JC}, title = {Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in marine invertebrates: recent advances in molecular mechanisms.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {3998-4018}, pmid = {24152561}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*metabolism ; Cephalopoda/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/*biosynthesis ; Humans ; Invertebrates/*metabolism ; Mollusca/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Virtually all polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) originate from primary producers but can be modified by bioconversions as they pass up the food chain in a process termed trophic upgrading. Therefore, although the main primary producers of PUFA in the marine environment are microalgae, higher trophic levels have metabolic pathways that can produce novel and unique PUFA. However, little is known about the pathways of PUFA biosynthesis and metabolism in the levels between primary producers and fish that are largely filled by invertebrates. It has become increasingly apparent that, in addition to trophic upgrading, de novo synthesis of PUFA is possible in some lower animals. The unequivocal identification of PUFA biosynthetic pathways in many invertebrates is complicated by the presence of other organisms within them. These organisms include bacteria and algae with PUFA biosynthesis pathways, and range from intestinal flora to symbiotic relationships that can involve PUFA translocation to host organisms. This emphasizes the importance of studying biosynthetic pathways at a molecular level, and the continual expansion of genomic resources and advances in molecular analysis is facilitating this. The present paper highlights recent research into the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of PUFA biosynthesis in marine invertebrates, particularly focusing on cephalopod molluscs.}, } @article {pmid24152321, year = {2014}, author = {Martinez, AJ and Weldon, SR and Oliver, KM}, title = {Effects of parasitism on aphid nutritional and protective symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1594-1607}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12550}, pmid = {24152321}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics ; Bacteriophages/physiology ; Buchnera/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology/virology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Symbiosis ; *Wasps ; }, abstract = {Insects often carry heritable symbionts that negotiate interactions with food plants or natural enemies. All pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, require infection with the nutritional symbiont Buchnera, and many are also infected with Hamiltonella, which protects against the parasitoid Aphidius ervi. Hamiltonella-based protection requires bacteriophages called APSEs with protection levels varying by strain and associated APSE. Endoparasitoids, including A. ervi, may benefit from protecting the nutritional symbiosis and suppressing the protective one, while the aphid and its heritable symbionts have aligned interests when attacked by the wasp. We investigated the effects of parasitism on the abundance of aphid nutritional and protective symbionts. First, we determined strength of protection associated with multiple symbiont strains and aphid genotypes as these likely impact symbiont responses. Unexpectedly, some A. pisum genotypes cured of facultative symbionts were resistant to parasitism and resistant aphid lines carried Hamiltonella strains that conferred no additional protection. Susceptible aphid clones carried protective strains. qPCR estimates show that parasitism significantly influenced both Buchnera and Hamiltonella titres, with multiple factors contributing to variation. In susceptible lines, parasitism led to increases in Buchnera near the time of larval wasp emergence consistent with parasite manipulation, but effects were variable in resistant lines. Parasitism also resulted in increases in APSE and subsequent decreases in Hamiltonella, and we discuss how this response may relate to the protective phenotype. In summary, we show that parasitism alters the within-host ecology of both nutritional and protective symbioses with effects likely significant for all players in this antagonistic interaction.}, } @article {pmid24152202, year = {2013}, author = {Brígido, C and Nascimento, FX and Duan, J and Glick, BR and Oliveira, S}, title = {Expression of an exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase gene in Mesorhizobium spp. reduces the negative effects of salt stress in chickpea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {349}, number = {1}, pages = {46-53}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12294}, pmid = {24152202}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*genetics ; Cicer/*drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Salts/*toxicity ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Our goal was to study the symbiotic performance of two Mesorhizobium ciceri strains, transformed with an exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase gene (acdS), in chickpea plants under salinity stress. The EE-7 (salt-sensitive) and G-55 (salt-tolerant) M. ciceri strains were transformed with an acdS gene present on plasmid pRKACC. Salinity significantly reduced the overall growth of plants inoculated with either wild-type strains. Although the growth of plants inoculated with either salt-sensitive or salt-tolerant strain was reduced under salinity, the salt-tolerant strain showed a higher ability to nodulate chickpea under salt stress compared with the salt-sensitive strain. The shoot dry weight was significantly higher in plants inoculated with the acdS-transformed salt-sensitive strain compared with the plants inoculated with the native strain in the presence of salt. The negative effects of salt stress were also reduced in nodulation when using acdS-transformed strains in comparison with the wild-type strains. Interestingly, by expressing the exogenous acdS gene, the salt-sensitive strain was able to induce nodules in the same extent as the salt-tolerant strain. Although preliminary, these results suggest that genetic modification of a Mesorhizobium strain can improve its symbiotic performance under salt stress and indicate that ACC deaminase can play an important role in facilitating plant-rhizobium interaction under salinity conditions.}, } @article {pmid24152038, year = {2013}, author = {Piao, MZ and Shen, L and Wang, FW}, title = {A new trichothecene from Myrothecium roridum QDFE005, a symbiotic fungus isolated from Mactra chinensis.}, journal = {Journal of Asian natural products research}, volume = {15}, number = {12}, pages = {1284-1289}, doi = {10.1080/10286020.2013.841141}, pmid = {24152038}, issn = {1477-2213}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Hypocreales/*chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Trichothecenes/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {A new trichothecene, 12'-episatratoxin H (1), together with three known analogs: roridin A (2), 16-hydroxyroridin E (3), and roridin E (4), was isolated from the culture broth of the symbiotic fungus Myrothecium roridum QDFE005, which was isolated from Mactra chinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) techniques. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the human tumor cell lines KB and HepG2 with IC50 values of 1.42 and 2.27 μM, respectively.}, } @article {pmid24152017, year = {2014}, author = {Ojeda, DI and Dhillon, B and Tsui, CK and Hamelin, RC}, title = {Single-nucleotide polymorphism discovery in Leptographium longiclavatum, a mountain pine beetle-associated symbiotic fungus, using whole-genome resequencing.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {401-410}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.12191}, pmid = {24152017}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genotyping Techniques/*methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycological Typing Techniques/*methods ; Ophiostomatales/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Weevils/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are rapidly becoming the standard markers in population genomics studies; however, their use in nonmodel organisms is limited due to the lack of cost-effective approaches to uncover genome-wide variation, and the large number of individuals needed in the screening process to reduce ascertainment bias. To discover SNPs for population genomics studies in the fungal symbionts of the mountain pine beetle (MPB), we developed a road map to discover SNPs and to produce a genotyping platform. We undertook a whole-genome sequencing approach of Leptographium longiclavatum in combination with available genomics resources of another MPB symbiont, Grosmannia clavigera. We sequenced 71 individuals pooled into four groups using the Illumina sequencing technology. We generated between 27 and 30 million reads of 75 bp that resulted in a total of 1, 181 contigs longer than 2 kb and an assembled genome size of 28.9 Mb (N50 = 48 kb, average depth = 125x). A total of 9052 proteins were annotated, and between 9531 and 17,266 SNPs were identified in the four pools. A subset of 206 genes (containing 574 SNPs, 11% false positives) was used to develop a genotyping platform for this species. Using this roadmap, we developed a genotyping assay with a total of 147 SNPs located in 121 genes using the Illumina(®) Sequenom iPLEX Gold. Our preliminary genotyping (success rate = 85%) of 304 individuals from 36 populations supports the utility of this approach for population genomics studies in other MPB fungal symbionts and other fungal nonmodel species.}, } @article {pmid24151778, year = {2013}, author = {Marsh, SE and Poulsen, M and Gorosito, NB and Pinto-Tomás, A and Masiulionis, VE and Currie, CR}, title = {Association between Pseudonocardia symbionts and Atta leaf-cutting ants suggested by improved isolation methods.}, journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {17-25}, doi = {10.2436/20.1501.01.176}, pmid = {24151778}, issn = {1139-6709}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; Cell Culture Techniques/*methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants associate with multiple symbiotic microbes, including Actinobacteria for production of antibiotics. The best studied of these bacteria are within the genus Pseudonocardia, which in most fungus-growing ants are conspicuously visible on the external cuticle of workers. However, given that fungus-growing ants in the genus Atta do not carry visible Actinobacteria on their cuticle, it is unclear if this genus engages in the symbiosis with Pseudonocardia. Here we explore whether improving culturing techniques can allow for successful isolation of Pseudonocardia from Atta cephalotes leaf-cutting ants. We obtained Pseudonocardia from 9 of 11 isolation method/colony component combinations from all 5 colonies intensively sampled. The most efficient technique was bead-beating workers in phosphate buffer solution, then plating the suspension on carboxymethylcellulose medium. Placing these strains in a fungus-growing ant-associated Pseudonocardia phylogeny revealed that while some strains grouped with clades of Pseudonocardia associated with other genera of fungus-growing ants, a large portion of the isolates fell into two novel phylogenetic clades previously not identified from this ant-microbe symbiosis. Our findings suggest that Pseudonocardia may be associated with Atta fungus-growing ants, potentially internalized, and that localizing the symbiont and exploring its role is necessary to shed further light on the association.}, } @article {pmid24151304, year = {2013}, author = {Marino, D and Damiani, I and Gucciardo, S and Mijangos, I and Pauly, N and Puppo, A}, title = {Inhibition of nitrogen fixation in symbiotic Medicago truncatula upon Cd exposure is a local process involving leghaemoglobin.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {18}, pages = {5651-5660}, pmid = {24151304}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Cadmium/metabolism/*toxicity ; Leghemoglobin/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*drug effects/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*drug effects ; Plant Components, Aerial/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/*drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Leguminous biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is very sensitive to environmental fluctuations. It is still contentious how BNF is regulated under stress conditions. The local or systemic control of BNF and the role played by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in such regulation have still not been elucidated completely. Cadmium, which belongs to the so-called heavy metals, is one of the most toxic substances released into the environment. The mechanisms involved in Cd toxicity are still not completely understood but the overproduction of ROS is one of its characteristic symptoms. In this work, we used a split-root system approach to study nodule BNF and the antioxidant machinery's response to the application of a mild Cd treatment on one side of a nodulated Medicago truncatula root system. Cd induced the majority of nodule antioxidants without generating any oxidative damage. Cd treatment also provoked BNF inhibition exclusively in nodules directly exposed to Cd, without provoking any effect on plant shoot biomass or chlorophyll content. The overall data suggest that the decline in BNF was not due to a generalized breakdown of the plant but to control exerted through leghaemoglobin/oxygen availability, affecting nitrogenase function.}, } @article {pmid24148670, year = {2013}, author = {Butler, È and Alsterfjord, M and Olofsson, TC and Karlsson, C and Malmström, J and Vásquez, A}, title = {Proteins of novel lactic acid bacteria from Apis mellifera mellifera: an insight into the production of known extra-cellular proteins during microbial stress.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {235}, pmid = {24148670}, issn = {1471-2180}, support = {BB/I000100/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Bees/microbiology ; Bifidobacterium/*chemistry/*isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Lactobacillus/*chemistry/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Proteome/*analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been considered a beneficial bacterial group, found as part of the microbiota of diverse hosts, including humans and various animals. However, the mechanisms of how hosts and LAB interact are still poorly understood. Previous work demonstrates that 13 species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium from the honey crop in bees function symbiotically with the honeybee. They protect each other, their hosts, and the surrounding environment against severe bee pathogens, bacteria, and yeasts. Therefore, we hypothesized that these LAB under stress, i.e. in their natural niche in the honey crop, are likely to produce bioactive substances with antimicrobial activity.

RESULTS: The genomic analysis of the LAB demonstrated varying genome sizes ranging from 1.5 to 2.2 mega-base pairs (Mbps) which points out a clear difference within the protein gene content, as well as specialized functions in the honeybee microbiota and their adaptation to their host. We demonstrate a clear variation between the secreted proteins of the symbiotic LAB when subjected to microbial stressors. We have identified that 10 of the 13 LAB produced extra-cellular proteins of known or unknown function in which some are arranged in interesting putative operons that may be involved in antimicrobial action, host interaction, or biofilm formation. The most common known extra-cellular proteins secreted were enzymes, DNA chaperones, S-layer proteins, bacteriocins, and lysozymes. A new bacteriocin may have been identified in one of the LAB symbionts while many proteins with unknown functions were produced which must be investigated further.

CONCLUSIONS: The 13 LAB symbionts likely play different roles in their natural environment defending their niche and their host and participating in the honeybee's food production. These roles are partly played through producing extracellular proteins on exposure to microbial stressors widely found in natural occurring flowers. Many of these secreted proteins may have a putative antimicrobial function. In the future, understanding these processes in this complicated environment may lead to novel applications of honey crop LAB proteins.}, } @article {pmid24148318, year = {2014}, author = {Herrbach, V and Remblière, C and Gough, C and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Lateral root formation and patterning in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {3-4}, pages = {301-310}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.09.006}, pmid = {24148318}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Cell Division ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The plant root system is crucial for anchorage and nutrition, and has a major role in plant adaptation, as well as in interactions with soil micro-organisms. Despite the agronomical and ecological importance of legume plants, whose roots can interact symbiotically with soil bacteria called rhizobia that fix atmospheric dinitrogen, and the evidence that lateral root (LR) development programmes are intercepted and influenced by symbiotic organisms, very little is known concerning the cellular and molecular events governing LR development in legumes. To better understand the interconnections between LR formation and symbiotic processes triggered by rhizobia or symbiotic molecules such as lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), we first need a detailed description of LR development mechanisms in legumes. Using thin sections, we have described the cellular events leading to the formation of a new LR primordium (LRP) in Medicago truncatula, and divided them into seven stages prior to LR emergence. To monitor auxin accumulation we generated transgenic DR5:GUS and DR5:VENUS-N7 reporter lines of M. truncatula, and used them to analyze early stages of LR development. Interesting differences were observed for LR ontogeny compared to Arabidopsis thaliana. Notably, we observed endodermal and cortical contributions to LRP formation, and the associated DR5:GUS expression profile indicated that endodermal and cortical cell divisions were correlated with auxin accumulation. As described for A. thaliana, we observed a preferential zone for LR initiation at 4.45 mm from the root tip. Finally, we studied LR emergence and showed that a significant proportion of new LRP do not emerge straight away and could thus be an additional source of root plasticity. Our results shed new light on the patterning and early development of LRs in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid24146831, year = {2013}, author = {Han, AW and Sandy, M and Fishman, B and Trindade-Silva, AE and Soares, CA and Distel, DL and Butler, A and Haygood, MG}, title = {Turnerbactin, a novel triscatecholate siderophore from the shipworm endosymbiont Teredinibacter turnerae T7901.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e76151}, pmid = {24146831}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; 1U01TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Benzoates/chemistry/metabolism ; Bivalvia/metabolism/*microbiology ; Catechols/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Gills/metabolism/microbiology ; Hydroxybenzoates/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Iron/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Oligopeptides/*biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Peptide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Siderophores/*biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Shipworms are marine bivalve mollusks (Family Teredinidae) that use wood for shelter and food. They harbor a group of closely related, yet phylogenetically distinct, bacterial endosymbionts in bacteriocytes located in the gills. This endosymbiotic community is believed to support the host's nutrition in multiple ways, through the production of cellulolytic enzymes and the fixation of nitrogen. The genome of the shipworm endosymbiont Teredinibacter turnerae T7901 was recently sequenced and in addition to the potential for cellulolytic enzymes and diazotrophy, the genome also revealed a rich potential for secondary metabolites. With nine distinct biosynthetic gene clusters, nearly 7% of the genome is dedicated to secondary metabolites. Bioinformatic analyses predict that one of the gene clusters is responsible for the production of a catecholate siderophore. Here we describe this gene cluster in detail and present the siderophore product from this cluster. Genes similar to the entCEBA genes of enterobactin biosynthesis involved in the production and activation of dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) are present in this cluster, as well as a two-module non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). A novel triscatecholate siderophore, turnerbactin, was isolated from the supernatant of iron-limited T. turnerae T7901 cultures. Turnerbactin is a trimer of N-(2,3-DHB)-L-Orn-L-Ser with the three monomeric units linked by Ser ester linkages. A monomer, dimer, dehydrated dimer, and dehydrated trimer of 2,3-DHB-L-Orn-L-Ser were also found in the supernatant. A link between the gene cluster and siderophore product was made by constructing a NRPS mutant, TtAH03. Siderophores could not be detected in cultures of TtAH03 by HPLC analysis and Fe-binding activity of culture supernatant was significantly reduced. Regulation of the pathway by iron is supported by identification of putative Fur box sequences and observation of increased Fe-binding activity under iron restriction. Evidence of a turnerbactin fragment was found in shipworm extracts, suggesting the production of turnerbactin in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24142428, year = {2014}, author = {Tan, H and Deng, Q and Cao, L}, title = {Ruminant feces harbor diverse uncultured symbiotic actinobacteria.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {1093-1100}, pmid = {24142428}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; *Biota ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cattle ; Cluster Analysis ; Culture Media/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Feces/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sheep ; }, abstract = {To isolate actinobacteria from ruminant feces and elucidate their correlations with ruminants, the actinobacterial community in sheep (Ovis aries) and cattle (Bos taurus) feces was determined by cultivation and clone library methods. Most of actinobacteria isolated belonged to Streptomyces, Amycolatopsis, Micromonospora, and Cellulosimicrobium genera. The strains showed above 99 % similarity with the type strains, respectively. All the strains isolated could grow on media containing pectin, cellulose, or xylan as the sole carbon sources. However, most antibacterial and antifungal activities were found in Streptomyces species. Clone library analysis revealed that the genera Mycobacterium, Aeromicrobium, Rhodococcus, Cellulomonas were present in cattle and sheep feces. In contrast, the 16S rRNA genes showed less than 98 % similarity with the type strains. The analysis of actinobacterial community in ruminant feces by clone library and cultivation yielded a total of 10 actinobacterial genera and three uncultured actinobacterial taxa. The ruminant feces harbored diverse actinobacterial community. Ruminants may represent an underexplored reservoir of novel actinomycetes of potential interest for probiotics and drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid24142247, year = {2014}, author = {Hershey, DM and Lu, X and Zi, J and Peters, RJ}, title = {Functional conservation of the capacity for ent-kaurene biosynthesis and an associated operon in certain rhizobia.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {196}, number = {1}, pages = {100-106}, pmid = {24142247}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Diterpenes, Kaurane/*biosynthesis ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/*metabolism ; *Operon ; Polyisoprenyl Phosphates/metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Bacterial interactions with plants are accompanied by complex signal exchange processes. Previously, the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic (rhizo)bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum was found to carry adjacent genes encoding two sequentially acting diterpene cyclases that together transform geranylgeranyl diphosphate to ent-kaurene, the olefin precursor to the gibberellin plant hormones. Species from the three other major genera of rhizobia were found to have homologous terpene synthase genes. Cloning and functional characterization of a representative set of these enzymes confirmed the capacity of each genus to produce ent-kaurene. Moreover, comparison of their genomic context revealed that these diterpene synthases are found in a conserved operon which includes an adjacent isoprenyl diphosphate synthase, shown here to produce the geranylgeranyl diphosphate precursor, providing a critical link to central metabolism. In addition, the rest of the operon consists of enzymatic genes that presumably lead to a more elaborated diterpenoid, although the production of gibberellins was not observed. Nevertheless, it has previously been shown that the operon is selectively expressed during nodulation, and the scattered distribution of the operon via independent horizontal gene transfer within the symbiotic plasmid or genomic island shown here suggests that such diterpenoid production may modulate the interaction of these particular symbionts with their host plants.}, } @article {pmid24141879, year = {2013}, author = {Jones, RM and Luo, L and Ardita, CS and Richardson, AN and Kwon, YM and Mercante, JW and Alam, A and Gates, CL and Wu, H and Swanson, PA and Lambeth, JD and Denning, PW and Neish, AS}, title = {Symbiotic lactobacilli stimulate gut epithelial proliferation via Nox-mediated generation of reactive oxygen species.}, journal = {The EMBO journal}, volume = {32}, number = {23}, pages = {3017-3028}, pmid = {24141879}, issn = {1460-2075}, support = {K01 DK081481/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01HD059122/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD059122/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK071604/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK098391/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K01DK081481/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DK007771/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI064462/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK071604/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007610/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; *Cell Proliferation ; Drosophila/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Histones/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/*cytology/microbiology ; Lactobacillus/pathogenicity ; Larva/*cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Mice ; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases/*metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 1 ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phosphorylation ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stem Cells/*cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The resident prokaryotic microbiota of the metazoan gut elicits profound effects on the growth and development of the intestine. However, the molecular mechanisms of symbiotic prokaryotic-eukaryotic cross-talk in the gut are largely unknown. It is increasingly recognized that physiologically generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as signalling secondary messengers that influence cellular proliferation and differentiation in a variety of biological systems. Here, we report that commensal bacteria, particularly members of the genus Lactobacillus, can stimulate NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1)-dependent ROS generation and consequent cellular proliferation in intestinal stem cells upon initial ingestion into the murine or Drosophila intestine. Our data identify and highlight a highly conserved mechanism that symbiotic microorganisms utilize in eukaryotic growth and development. Additionally, the work suggests that specific redox-mediated functions may be assigned to specific bacterial taxa and may contribute to the identification of microbes with probiotic potential.}, } @article {pmid24141132, year = {2014}, author = {Zeng, WL and Li, WK and Han, H and Tao, YY and Yang, L and Wang, ZT and Chen, KX}, title = {Microbial biotransformation of gentiopicroside by the endophytic fungus Penicillium crustosum 2T01Y01.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {184-192}, pmid = {24141132}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biotransformation ; Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Dendrobium/microbiology ; Endophytes/metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides/*metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Penicillium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are symbiotic with plants and possess multienzyme systems showing promising metabolite potency with region selectivity and stereoselectivity. The aim of this study was to use these special microorganisms as an in vitro model to mimic the potential mammalian metabolites of a natural iridoid gentiopicroside (GPS, compound 1). The fungi isolated from a medicinal plant, Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl., were screened for their biotransformation abilities with GPS as the substrate, and one strain with high converting potency was identified as Penicillium crustosum 2T01Y01 on the basis of the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA region. Upon the optimized incubation of P. crustosum 2T01Y01 with the substrate, seven deglycosylated metabolites were detected by ultraperformance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS). Preparative-scale biotransformation with whole cells of the endophytic fungus resulted in the production of five metabolites, including three novel ones, 5α-(hydroxymethyl)-6β-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1(8H)-one (compound 2), (Z)-4-(1-hydroxybut-3-en-2-yl)-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one (compound 3), and (E)-4-(1-hydroxybut-3-en-2-yl)-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one (compound 4), along with two known ones, 5α-(hydroxymethyl)-6β-methyl-1H,3H-5,6-dihydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1(3H)-one (compound 5) and 5α-(hydroxymethyl)-6α-methyl-5,6-dihydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-1(3H)-one (compound 6), aided by nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectral analyses. The other two metabolites were tentatively identified by online UPLC/Q-TOF MS as 5-hydroxymethyl-5,6-dihydroisochromen-1-one (compound 7) and 5-hydroxymethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroisochromen-1-one (compound 8), and compound 8 is a new metabolite. To test the metabolic mechanism, the β-glucosidase activity of the fungus P. crustosum 2T01Y01 was assayed with ρ-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside as a probe substrate, and the pathway of GPS biotransformation by strain 2T01Y01 is proposed. In addition, the hepatoprotective activities of GPS and metabolite compounds 2, 5, and 6 against human hepatocyte line HL-7702 injury induced by hydrogen peroxide were evaluated.}, } @article {pmid24139145, year = {2013}, author = {Narasimhan, R and Wang, G and Li, M and Roth, M and Welti, R and Wang, X}, title = {Differential changes in galactolipid and phospholipid species in soybean leaves and roots under nitrogen deficiency and after nodulation.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {81-91}, pmid = {24139145}, issn = {1873-3700}, support = {P20 GM103418/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20 RR016475/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; P20RR16475/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*chemistry/metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/metabolism ; Galactolipids/*analysis/metabolism ; Galactosyltransferases/metabolism ; Glycolipids/analysis/metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*analysis/metabolism ; Phosphates/deficiency/metabolism ; Phospholipids/*analysis/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/metabolism ; Plastids/metabolism ; Soybeans/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The availability of nitrogen (N) to plants has a profound impact on carbohydrate and protein metabolism, but little is known about its effect on membrane lipid species. This study examines the changes in galactolipid and phospholipid species in soybean as affected by the availability of N, either supplied to soil or obtained through Bradyrhizobium japonicum nodulation. When N was limited in soil, the content of galactolipids, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacyglycerol (DGDG), decreased drastically in leaves, while a smaller decrease of DGDG was observed in roots. In both leaves and roots, the overall content of different phospholipid classes was largely unchanged by N limitation, although some individual phospholipid molecular species did display significant changes. Nodulation with Bradyrhizobium of soybean grown in N-deficient soil resulted in a large increase in levels of plastidic lipid classes, MGDG, DGDG, and phosphatidylglycerol, along with smaller increases in non-plastidic phospholipids in leaves. Nodulation also led to higher levels of phospholipids in roots without changes in root levels of MGDG and DGDG. Overall, N availability alters lipid content more in leaves than roots and more in galactolipids than phospholipids. Increased N availability leads to increased galactolipid accumulation in leaves, regardless of whether N is supplied from the soil or symbiotic fixation.}, } @article {pmid24138171, year = {2014}, author = {Skariyachan, S and G Rao, A and Patil, MR and Saikia, B and Bharadwaj Kn, V and Rao Gs, J}, title = {Antimicrobial potential of metabolites extracted from bacterial symbionts associated with marine sponges in coastal area of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere, India.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {3}, pages = {231-241}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12178}, pmid = {24138171}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; India ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Pseudomonas/*chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Salmonella typhi/drug effects ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Marine coastal areas of India have vast diversity of sponges which harbours many endosymbiotic bacteria which are the source of many potential antimicrobial metabolites. This study focuses the screening and characterization of drug-producing bacteria symbiotically which are associated with marine sponges collected from Gulf of Mannar, South Coast India. Six different sponges were collected and they were identified on the basis of their morphology. The drug-producing isolates were screened by agar overlay method towards various clinical strains. The secondary metabolites were characterized and were found to be quinones, alkaloids, flavanoids and flavonyl glycosides. The metabolites showed significant inhibitory properties against clinical strains that were further identified as chromophoric and fluorophoric in nature. Ethyl acetate extracts of chromophore and floureophore substances showed significant inhibitory properties against Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Salmonella typhi respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of theses isolates revealed that chomophore-producing strain were closely related to Pseudomonas spp. RHLB12, isolated from Callyspongia spp. and floureophore-producing bacteria was related to Bacillus licheniformis T6-1 which was isolated from Haliclona spp. Hence, our study demonstrated that antimicrobial metabolites extracted from symbiotic bacteria associated with marine sponges have high therapeutic potential against many bacterial pathogens including multidrug-resistant strains.

This is the first study demonstrating antimicrobial potential of flurophoric and chromophoric metabolites extracted from bacterial biosymbionts associated with marine sponges. Our study has significant scope as Indian coastal area especially harbours vast varieties of sponges with novel secondary metabolites-producing organisms. The natural metabolites extracted from sponge-derived bacteria pave novel therapeutic remedy against various pathogens when most of them are emerged as extreme drug resistant superbugs.}, } @article {pmid24137962, year = {2013}, author = {Parfenov, AI}, title = {[Crohn's disease: on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of description].}, journal = {Terapevticheskii arkhiv}, volume = {85}, number = {8}, pages = {35-42}, pmid = {24137962}, issn = {0040-3660}, mesh = {Anniversaries and Special Events ; *Crohn Disease/classification/diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; }, abstract = {In 1932, Burrill Bernard Crohn, Leon Ginzburg, and Gordon Oppenheimer published the paper "Regional ileitis: a pathological and clinical entity" first describing terminal ileitis that took further its name from B. Crohn. Crohn's disease (CD) is a recurring systemic inflammatory disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) with extraintestinal manifestations and systemic immune disorders. Its etiology is unknown; the pathogenesis is associated with congenital impairments in the intestinal barrier and immune response to diversified symbiotic bacteria. The classification and the specific features of the natural history of CD are presented; the possibilities of new methods for its diagnosis and treatment are shown. Its new treatment goals are formulated; these are to achieve complete recovery of the involved bowel wall; to use confocal endoscopy, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and the biomarkers C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin, and lactoferritin. Algorithms for CD diagnosis and treatment using anticytokine agents and mesenchymal stromal stem cells are given.}, } @article {pmid24137737, year = {2013}, author = {Voolstra, CR}, title = {A journey into the wild of the cnidarian model system Aiptasia and its symbionts.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {17}, pages = {4366-4368}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12464}, pmid = {24137737}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Genetics, Population ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The existence of coral reef ecosystems relies critically on the mutualistic relationship between calcifying cnidarians and photosynthetic, dinoflagellate endosymbionts in the genus Symbiodinium. Reef-corals have declined globally due to anthropogenic stressors, for example, rising sea-surface temperatures and pollution that often disrupt these symbiotic relationships (known as coral bleaching), exacerbating mass mortality and the spread of disease. This threatens one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems providing habitats to millions of species and supporting an estimated 500 million people globally (Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2007). Our understanding of cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbioses has improved notably with the recent application of genomic and transcriptomic tools (e.g. Voolstra et al. 2009; Bayer et al. 2012; Davy et al. 2012), but a model system that allows for easy manipulation in a laboratory environment is needed to decipher underlying cellular mechanisms important to the functioning of these symbioses. To this end, the sea anemone Aiptasia, otherwise known as a ‘pest’ to aquarium hobbyists, is emerging as such a model system (Schoenberg & Trench 1980; Sunagawa et al. 2009; Lehnert et al. 2012). Aiptasia is easy to grow in culture and, in contrast to its stony relatives, can be maintained aposymbiotically (i.e. dinoflagellate free) with regular feeding. However, we lack basic information on the natural distribution and genetic diversity of these anemones and their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates. These data are essential for placing the significance of this model system into an ecological context. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Thornhill et al. (2013) are the first to present genetic evidence on the global distribution, diversity and population structure of Aiptasia and its associated Symbiodinium spp. By integrating analyses of the host and symbiont, this research concludes that the current Aitpasia taxonomy probably needs revision and that two distinct Aiptasia lineages are prevalent that have probably been spread through human activity. One lineage engages in a specific symbiosis with Symbiodinium minutum throughout the tropics, whereas a second, local Aiptasia sp. population in Florida appears more flexible in partnering with more than one symbiont. The existence of symbiont-specific and symbiont-flexible Aiptasia lineages can greatly complement laboratory-based experiments looking into mechanisms of symbiont selectivity. In a broader context, the study by Thornhill et al. (2013) should inspire more studies to target the natural environment of model systems in a global context targeting all participating member species when establishing ecological and genetic baselines.}, } @article {pmid24137540, year = {2013}, author = {Di Rienzi, SC and Sharon, I and Wrighton, KC and Koren, O and Hug, LA and Thomas, BC and Goodrich, JK and Bell, JT and Spector, TD and Banfield, JF and Ley, RE}, title = {The human gut and groundwater harbor non-photosynthetic bacteria belonging to a new candidate phylum sibling to Cyanobacteria.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {e01102}, pmid = {24137540}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {R01 AI092531/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK093595/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Cyanobacteria/*classification/genetics ; Fermentation ; Genes, Bacterial ; Groundwater/*microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Light ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria were responsible for the oxygenation of the ancient atmosphere; however, the evolution of this phylum is enigmatic, as relatives have not been characterized. Here we use whole genome reconstruction of human fecal and subsurface aquifer metagenomic samples to obtain complete genomes for members of a new candidate phylum sibling to Cyanobacteria, for which we propose the designation 'Melainabacteria'. Metabolic analysis suggests that the ancestors to both lineages were non-photosynthetic, anaerobic, motile, and obligately fermentative. Cyanobacterial light sensing may have been facilitated by regulators present in the ancestor of these lineages. The subsurface organism has the capacity for nitrogen fixation using a nitrogenase distinct from that in Cyanobacteria, suggesting nitrogen fixation evolved separately in the two lineages. We hypothesize that Cyanobacteria split from Melainabacteria prior or due to the acquisition of oxygenic photosynthesis. Melainabacteria remained in anoxic zones and differentiated by niche adaptation, including for symbiosis in the mammalian gut. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01102.001.}, } @article {pmid24136374, year = {2014}, author = {Doubková, P and Sudová, R}, title = {Nickel tolerance of serpentine and non-serpentine Knautia arvensis plants as affected by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {209-217}, pmid = {24136374}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Dipsacaceae/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nickel/*pharmacology ; Plants/*drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Serpentine soils have naturally elevated concentrations of certain heavy metals, including nickel. This study addressed the role of plant origin (serpentine vs. non-serpentine) and symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant Ni tolerance. A semi-hydroponic experiment involving three levels of Ni and serpentine and non-serpentine AMF isolates and populations of a model plant species (Knautia arvensis) revealed considerable negative effects of elevated Ni availability on both plant and fungal performance. Plant growth response to Ni was independent of edaphic origin; however, higher Ni tolerance of serpentine plants was indicated by a smaller decline in the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and restricted root-to-shoot Ni translocation. Serpentine plants also retained relatively more Mg in their roots, resulting in a higher shoot Ca/Mg ratio. AMF inoculation, especially with the non-serpentine isolate, further aggravated Ni toxicity to host plants. Therefore, AMF do not appear to be involved in Ni tolerance of serpentine K. arvensis plants.}, } @article {pmid24134732, year = {2014}, author = {Thornhill, DJ and Lewis, AM and Wham, DC and LaJeunesse, TC}, title = {Host-specialist lineages dominate the adaptive radiation of reef coral endosymbionts.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {2}, pages = {352-367}, doi = {10.1111/evo.12270}, pmid = {24134732}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; *Coral Reefs ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Speciation ; Host Specificity ; Microsatellite Repeats ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bursts in species diversification are well documented among animals and plants, yet few studies have assessed recent adaptive radiations of eukaryotic microbes. Consequently, we examined the radiation of the most ecologically dominant group of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates found in reef-building corals, Symbiodinium Clade C, using nuclear ribosomal (ITS2), chloroplast (psbA(ncr)), and multilocus microsatellite genotyping. Through a hierarchical analysis of high-resolution genetic data, we assessed whether ecologically distinct Symbiodinium, differentiated by seemingly equivocal rDNA sequence differences, are independent species lineages. We also considered the role of host specificity in Symbiodinium speciation and the correspondence between endosymbiont diversification and Caribbean paleo-history. According to phylogenetic, biological, and ecological species concepts, Symbiodinium Clade C comprises many distinct species. Although regional factors contributed to population-genetic structuring of these lineages, Symbiodinium diversification was mainly driven by host specialization. By combining patterns of the endosymbiont's host specificity, water depth distribution, and phylogeography with paleo-historical signals of climate change, we inferred that present-day species diversity on Atlantic coral reefs stemmed mostly from a post-Miocene adaptive radiation. Host-generalist progenitors spread, specialized, and diversified during the ensuing epochs of prolonged global cooling and change in reef-faunal assemblages. Our evolutionary reconstruction thus suggests that Symbiodinium undergoes "boom and bust" phases in diversification and extinction during major climate shifts.}, } @article {pmid24133498, year = {2013}, author = {Frendo, P and Matamoros, MA and Alloing, G and Becana, M}, title = {Thiol-based redox signaling in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {376}, pmid = {24133498}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In nitrogen poor soils legumes establish a symbiotic interaction with rhizobia that results in the formation of root nodules. These are unique plant organs where bacteria differentiate into bacteroids, which express the nitrogenase enzyme complex that reduces atmospheric N 2 to ammonia. Nodule metabolism requires a tight control of the concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) so that they can perform useful signaling roles while avoiding nitro-oxidative damage. In nodules a thiol-dependent regulatory network that senses, transmits and responds to redox changes is starting to be elucidated. A combination of enzymatic, immunological, pharmacological and molecular analyses has allowed us to conclude that glutathione and its legume-specific homolog, homoglutathione, are abundant in meristematic and infected cells, that their spatio-temporally distribution is correlated with the corresponding (homo)glutathione synthetase activities, and that they are crucial for nodule development and function. Glutathione is at high concentrations in the bacteroids and at moderate amounts in the mitochondria, cytosol and nuclei. Less information is available on other components of the network. The expression of multiple isoforms of glutathione peroxidases, peroxiredoxins, thioredoxins, glutaredoxins and NADPH-thioredoxin reductases has been detected in nodule cells using antibodies and proteomics. Peroxiredoxins and thioredoxins are essential to regulate and in some cases to detoxify RONS in nodules. Further research is necessary to clarify the regulation of the expression and activity of thiol redox-active proteins in response to abiotic, biotic and developmental cues, their interactions with downstream targets by disulfide-exchange reactions, and their participation in signaling cascades. The availability of mutants and transgenic lines will be crucial to facilitate systematic investigations into the function of the various proteins in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24132513, year = {2014}, author = {Gao, C and Ren, X and Mason, AS and Liu, H and Xiao, M and Li, J and Fu, D}, title = {Horizontal gene transfer in plants.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {23-29}, pmid = {24132513}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Fungi/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Insecta/genetics ; Plants/*genetics/microbiology/parasitology/virology ; Plastids/genetics ; Viruses/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) describes the transmission of genetic material across species boundaries. HGT often occurs in microbic and eukaryotic genomes. However, the pathways by which HGTs occur in multicellular eukaryotes, especially in plants, are not well understood. We systematically summarized more than ten possible pathways for HGT. The intimate contact which frequently occurs in parasitism, symbiosis, pathogen, epiphyte, entophyte, and grafting interactions could promote HGTs between two species. Besides these direct transfer methods, genes can be exchanged with a vector as a bridge: possible vectors include pollen, fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, plasmids, transposons, and insects. HGT, especially when involving horizontal transfer of transposable elements, is recognized as a significant force propelling genomic variation and biological innovation, playing an important functional and evolutionary role in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes. We proposed possible mechanisms by which HGTs can occur, which is useful in understanding the genetic information exchange among distant species or distant cellular components.}, } @article {pmid24132111, year = {2013}, author = {Schwabe, RF and Jobin, C}, title = {The microbiome and cancer.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Cancer}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {800-812}, pmid = {24132111}, issn = {1474-1768}, support = {R01 DK073338/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA020211/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK047700/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U54 CA163111/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U54CA163111/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK073338/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK076920/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01AA020211/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK076920/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK047700/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Carcinogenesis ; Diet ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immune System ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Mutagens ; Neoplasms/etiology/*metabolism/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Symbiosis ; Virulence Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbiota and host form a complex 'super-organism' in which symbiotic relationships confer benefits to the host in many key aspects of life. However, defects in the regulatory circuits of the host that control bacterial sensing and homeostasis, or alterations of the microbiome, through environmental changes (infection, diet or lifestyle), may disturb this symbiotic relationship and promote disease. Increasing evidence indicates a key role for the bacterial microbiota in carcinogenesis. In this Opinion article, we discuss links between the bacterial microbiota and cancer, with a particular focus on immune responses, dysbiosis, genotoxicity, metabolism and strategies to target the microbiome for cancer prevention.}, } @article {pmid24132077, year = {2014}, author = {Zhang, Z and Geng, J and Tang, X and Fan, H and Xu, J and Wen, X and Ma, ZS and Shi, P}, title = {Spatial heterogeneity and co-occurrence patterns of human mucosal-associated intestinal microbiota.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {881-893}, pmid = {24132077}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Adult ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Male ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Middle Aged ; *Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Human gut microbiota shows high inter-subject variations, but the actual spatial distribution and co-occurrence patterns of gut mucosa microbiota that occur within a healthy human instestinal tract remain poorly understood. In this study, we illustrated a model of this mucosa bacterial communities' biogeography, based on the largest data set so far, obtained via 454-pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S rDNAs associated with 77 matched biopsy tissue samples taken from terminal ileum, ileocecal valve, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum of 11 healthy adult subjects. Borrowing from macro-ecology, we used both Taylor's power law analysis and phylogeny-based beta-diversity metrics to uncover a highly heterogeneous distribution pattern of mucosa microbial inhabitants along the length of the intestinal tract. We then developed a spatial dispersion model with an R-squared value greater than 0.950 to map out the gut mucosa-associated flora's non-linear spatial distribution pattern for 51.60% of the 188 most abundant gut bacterial species. Furthermore, spatial co-occurring network analysis of mucosa microbial inhabitants together with occupancy (that is habitat generalists, specialists and opportunist) analyses implies that ecological relationships (both oppositional and symbiotic) between mucosa microbial inhabitants may be important contributors to the observed spatial heterogeneity of mucosa microbiota along the human intestine and may even potentially be associated with mutual cooperation within and functional stability of the gut ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid24131983, year = {2013}, author = {Nakamura, H and Xue, YL and Miyakawa, T and Hou, F and Qin, HM and Fukui, K and Shi, X and Ito, E and Ito, S and Park, SH and Miyauchi, Y and Asano, A and Totsuka, N and Ueda, T and Tanokura, M and Asami, T}, title = {Molecular mechanism of strigolactone perception by DWARF14.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {2613}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms3613}, pmid = {24131983}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gibberellins/chemistry/metabolism ; Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Oryza/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Signal Transduction ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are phytohormones that inhibit shoot branching and function in the rhizospheric communication with symbiotic fungi and parasitic weeds. An α/β-hydrolase protein, DWARF14 (D14), has been recognized to be an essential component of plant SL signalling, although its precise function remains unknown. Here we present the SL-dependent interaction of D14 with a gibberellin signalling repressor SLR1 and a possible mechanism of phytohormone perception in D14-mediated SL signalling. D14 functions as a cleavage enzyme of SLs, and the cleavage reaction induces the interaction with SLR1. The crystal structure of D14 shows that 5-hydroxy-3-methylbutenolide (D-OH), which is a reaction product of SLs, is trapped in the catalytic cavity of D14 to form an altered surface. The D14 residues recognizing D-OH are critical for the SL-dependent D14-SLR1 interaction. These results provide new insight into crosstalk between gibberellin and SL signalling pathways.}, } @article {pmid24130563, year = {2013}, author = {Boscari, A and Meilhoc, E and Castella, C and Bruand, C and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Which role for nitric oxide in symbiotic N2-fixing nodules: toxic by-product or useful signaling/metabolic intermediate?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {384}, pmid = {24130563}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The interaction between legumes and rhizobia leads to the establishment of a symbiotic relationship characterized by the formation of new organs called nodules, in which bacteria have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) via the nitrogenase activity. Significant nitric oxide (NO) production was evidenced in the N2-fixing nodules suggesting that it may impact the symbiotic process. Indeed, NO was shown to be a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase activity and symbiotic N2 fixation. It has also been shown that NO production is increased in hypoxic nodules and this production was supposed to be linked - via a nitrate/NO respiration process - with improved capacity of the nodules to maintain their energy status under hypoxic conditions. Other data suggest that NO might be a developmental signal involved in the induction of nodule senescence. Hence, the questions were raised of the toxic effects versus signaling/metabolic functions of NO, and of the regulation of NO levels compatible with nitrogenase activity. The present review analyses the different roles of NO in functioning nodules, and discusses the role of plant and bacterial (flavo)hemoglobins in the control of NO level in nodules.}, } @article {pmid24130559, year = {2013}, author = {Eri, R and Chieppa, M}, title = {Messages from the Inside. The Dynamic Environment that Favors Intestinal Homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {323}, pmid = {24130559}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {An organism is defined as "an individual living thing capable of responding to stimuli, growing, reproducing, and maintaining homeostasis." Early during evolution multicellular organisms explored the advantages of a symbiotic life. Mammals harbor a complex aggregate of microorganisms (called microbiota) that includes bacteria, fungi, and archaea. Some of these bacteria have already defined beneficial roles for the human host that include the ability to break down nutrients that could not otherwise be digested, preventing the growth of harmful species, as well as the ability to produce vitamins or hormones. It is intuitive that along the evolutionary path several mechanisms favored bacteria that provided advantages to the host which, in return, avoided launching an aggressive immunological response against them. The intestinal immunological response does not ignore the lumenal content, on the contrary, immune surveillance is favored by continuous antigen sampling. Some intestinal epithelial cells (ECs) are crucial during the sampling process, others actively participate in the defense mechanism. In essence the epithelium acts as a traffic light, communicating to the inside world whether conditions are safe or dangerous, and thus influencing immunological response. In this review we will discuss the dynamic factors that act on the intestinal ECs and how they directly or indirectly influence immune cells during states of health and disease.}, } @article {pmid24127069, year = {2014}, author = {Vizcaino, MI and Guo, X and Crawford, JM}, title = {Merging chemical ecology with bacterial genome mining for secondary metabolite discovery.}, journal = {Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {285-299}, pmid = {24127069}, issn = {1476-5535}, support = {DP2 CA186575/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM097096/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1DP2CA186575/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R00-GM097096/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biological Products/chemistry/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The integration of chemical ecology and bacterial genome mining can enhance the discovery of structurally diverse natural products in functional contexts. By examining bacterial secondary metabolism in the framework of its ecological niche, insights into the upregulation of orphan biosynthetic pathways and the enhancement of the enzyme substrate supply can be obtained, leading to the discovery of new secondary metabolic pathways that would otherwise be silent or undetected under typical laboratory cultivation conditions. Access to these new natural products (i.e., the chemotypes) facilitates experimental genotype-to-phenotype linkages. Here, we describe certain functional natural products produced by Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria with experimentally linked biosynthetic gene clusters as illustrative examples of the synergy between chemical ecology and bacterial genome mining in connecting genotypes to phenotypes through chemotype characterization. These Gammaproteobacteria share a mutualistic relationship with nematodes and a pathogenic relationship with insects and, in select cases, humans. The natural products encoded by these bacteria distinguish their interactions with their animal hosts and other microorganisms in their multipartite symbiotic lifestyles. Though both genera have similar lifestyles, their genetic, chemical, and physiological attributes are distinct. Both undergo phenotypic variation and produce a profuse number of bioactive secondary metabolites. We provide further detail in the context of regulation, production, processing, and function for these genetically encoded small molecules with respect to their roles in mutualism and pathogenicity. These collective insights more widely promote the discovery of atypical orphan biosynthetic pathways encoding novel small molecules in symbiotic systems, which could open up new avenues for investigating and exploiting microbial chemical signaling in host-bacteria interactions.}, } @article {pmid24125840, year = {2013}, author = {Quiñones, MA and Ruiz-Díez, B and Fajardo, S and López-Berdonces, MA and Higueras, PL and Fernández-Pascual, M}, title = {Lupinus albus plants acquire mercury tolerance when inoculated with an Hg-resistant Bradyrhizobium strain.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {73}, number = {}, pages = {168-175}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.09.015}, pmid = {24125840}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*physiology ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Lupinus/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Mercury/*metabolism ; Mining ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development ; Soil ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Spain ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One strain of Bradyrhizobium canariense (L-7AH) was selected for its metal-resistance and ability to nodulate white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) plants, from a collection of rhizobial strains previously created from soils of the Almadén mining district (Spain) with varying levels of Hg contamination. Plants were inoculated with either strain L-7AH (Hg-tolerant) or L-3 (Hg-sensitive, used as control), and watered with nutrient solutions supplemented with various concentrations (0-200 μM) of HgCl2 in a growth chamber. L. albus inoculated with L-7AH were able to nodulate even at the highest concentration of Hg while those inoculated with L-3 had virtually no nodules at Hg concentrations above 25 μM. Plants inoculated with L-7AH, but not those with the control strain, were able to accumulate large amounts of Hg in their roots and nodules. Nodulation with L-7AH allowed plants to maintain constant levels of both chlorophylls and carotenoids in their leaves and a high photosynthetic efficiency, whereas in those inoculated with L-3 both pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency decreased significantly as Hg concentration increased. Nitrogenase activity of plants nodulated with L-7AH remained fairly constant at all concentrations of Hg used. Results suggest that this symbiotic pair may be used for rhizoremediation of Hg-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid24125659, year = {2013}, author = {El Khalloufi, F and Oufdou, K and Lahrouni, M and Faghire, M and Peix, A and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Vasconcelos, V and Oudra, B}, title = {Physiological and antioxidant responses of Medicago sativa-rhizobia symbiosis to cyanobacterial toxins (Microcystins) exposure.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {167-177}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.10.003}, pmid = {24125659}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Marine Toxins ; Medicago sativa/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Microcystins/*toxicity ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/*drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Toxic cyanobacteria in freshwaters can induce potent harmful effects on growth and development of plants irrigated with contaminated water. In this study, the effect of cyanobacteria extract containing Microcystins (MC) on Medicago sativa-rhizobia symbiosis was investigated in order to explore plants response through biomass production, photosynthetic pigment and antioxidant enzymes analysis: Peroxidase (POD), Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and Catalase (CAT). Alfalfa plants were inoculated with two endosymbiotic rhizobial strains: RhOL1 (MC less sensitive strain) and RhOL3 (MC more sensitive strain), to evaluate the rhizobial contribution on the plant response cultured under cyanobacterial toxins stress. The two rhizobia strains were identified as Ensifer meliloti by sequence analysis of their rrs and atpD genes. The chronic exposure to MC extract showed shoot, root and nodules dry weight decrease, in both symbiosis cultures. The rate of decline in plants inoculated with RhOL3 was higher than that in symbiosis with RhOL1 mainly at 20 μg L(-1) of MC. Cyanotoxins also reduced photosynthetic pigment content and generated an oxidative stress observed at cellular level. POD, PPO and CAT activities were significantly increased in leaves, roots and nodules of alfalfa plants exposed to MC. These enzyme activities were higher in plants inoculated with RhOL3 especially when alfalfa plants were exposed to 20 μg L(-1) of MC. The present paper reports new scientific finding related to the behavior of rhizobia-M. sativa associations to MC (Microcystins) for later recommendation concerning the possible use of these symbiosis face to crops exposure to MC contaminated water irrigation.}, } @article {pmid24124112, year = {2013}, author = {Fiore, CL and Jarett, JK and Lesser, MP}, title = {Symbiotic prokaryotic communities from different populations of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {938-952}, pmid = {24124112}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Bacteria/*classification/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biota ; Caribbean Region ; Cluster Analysis ; *Symbiosis ; Xestospongia/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The prokaryotic community composition of the ecologically dominant sponge, Xestospongia muta, and the variability of this community across in different populations of sponges from the Caribbean and Bahamas were quantified using 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The symbiotic prokaryotic communities of X. muta were significantly different than the surrounding bacterioplankton communities while an analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) of the sponge prokaryotic symbionts from three geographically distant sites showed that both symbiont and bacterioplankton populations were significantly different between locations. Comparisons of individual sponges based on the UniFrac P-test also revealed significant differences in community composition between individual sponges. The sponges harbored a variety of phylum level operational taxonomic units (OTUs) common to many sponges, including Cyanobacteria, Poribacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes, but four additional symbiotic phyla, previously not reported for this sponge, were observed. Additionally, a diverse archaeal community was also recovered from X. muta including sequences representing the phyla Euryarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota. These results have important ecological implications for the understanding of host-microbe associations, and provide a foundation for future studies addressing the functional roles these symbiotic prokaryotes have in the biology of the host sponge and the nutrient biogeochemistry of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid24123989, year = {2014}, author = {King, JH and Mahadi, NM and Bong, CF and Ong, KH and Hassan, O}, title = {Bacterial microbiome of Coptotermes curvignathus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) reflects the coevolution of species and dietary pattern.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {584-596}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.12061}, pmid = {24123989}, issn = {1744-7917}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Diet ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Isoptera/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren is capable of feeding on living trees. This ability is attributed to their effective digestive system that is furnished by the termite's own cellulolytic enzymes and cooperative enzymes produced by their gut microbes. In this study, the identity of an array of diverse microbes residing in the gut of C. curvignathus was revealed by sequencing the near-full-length 16S rRNA genes. A total of 154 bacterial phylotypes were found. The Bacteroidetes was the most abundant phylum and accounted for about 65% of the gut microbial profile. This is followed by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Spirochetes, Proteobacteria, TM7, Deferribacteres, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Termite Group 1. Based on the phylogenetic study, this symbiosis can be a result of long coevolution of gut enterotypes with the phylogenic distribution, strong selection pressure in the gut, and other speculative pressures that determine bacterial biome to follow. The phylogenetic distribution of cloned rRNA genes in the bacterial domain that was considerably different from other termite reflects the strong selection pressures in the gut where a proportional composition of gut microbiome of C. curvignathus has established. The selection pressures could be linked to the unique diet preference of C. curvignathus that profoundly feeds on living trees. The delicate gut microbiome composition may provide available nutrients to the host as well as potential protection against opportunistic pathogen.}, } @article {pmid24121837, year = {2013}, author = {Jones, KM and Mendis, HC and Queiroux, C}, title = {Single-plant, sterile microcosms for nodulation and growth of the legume plant Medicago truncatula with the rhizobial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {80}, pages = {}, pmid = {24121837}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Tissue Culture Techniques/methods ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial bacteria form symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of compatible host legume plants. One of the most well-developed model systems for studying these interactions is the plant Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong A17 and the rhizobial bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. Repeated imaging of plant roots and scoring of symbiotic phenotypes requires methods that are non-destructive to either plants or bacteria. The symbiotic phenotypes of some plant and bacterial mutants become apparent after relatively short periods of growth, and do not require long-term observation of the host/symbiont interaction. However, subtle differences in symbiotic efficiency and nodule senescence phenotypes that are not apparent in the early stages of the nodulation process require relatively long growth periods before they can be scored. Several methods have been developed for long-term growth and observation of this host/symbiont pair. However, many of these methods require repeated watering, which increases the possibility of contamination by other microbes. Other methods require a relatively large space for growth of large numbers of plants. The method described here, symbiotic growth of M. truncatula/S. meliloti in sterile, single-plant microcosms, has several advantages. Plants in these microcosms have sufficient moisture and nutrients to ensure that watering is not required for up to 9 weeks, preventing cross-contamination during watering. This allows phenotypes to be quantified that might be missed in short-term growth systems, such as subtle delays in nodule development and early nodule senescence. Also, the roots and nodules in the microcosm are easily viewed through the plate lid, so up-rooting of the plants for observation is not required.}, } @article {pmid24121556, year = {2013}, author = {Pratheepa, V and Vasconcelos, V}, title = {Microbial diversity associated with tetrodotoxin production in marine organisms.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and pharmacology}, volume = {36}, number = {3}, pages = {1046-1054}, doi = {10.1016/j.etap.2013.08.013}, pmid = {24121556}, issn = {1872-7077}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; Fishes ; Gastropoda ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Tetrodotoxin/*metabolism ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Tetrodotoxin (TTX), is a potent neurotoxin found in genetically diversed organisms. Many TTX producing microorganism have also been isolated from TTX bearing animals. The TTX producing microbes found in four different phylum (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes), the Proteobacteria are the dominating one. In most of the cases, TTX producing microbes are found in the intestine of the TTX producing vector indicating the origin of TTX through food chain. This paper reviews the TTX and its analogs and the geographic distribution of TTX in symbiotic microorganism and its production.}, } @article {pmid24121293, year = {2014}, author = {Laparre, J and Malbreil, M and Letisse, F and Portais, JC and Roux, C and Bécard, G and Puech-Pagès, V}, title = {Combining metabolomics and gene expression analysis reveals that propionyl- and butyryl-carnitines are involved in late stages of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {554-566}, doi = {10.1093/mp/sst136}, pmid = {24121293}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Carnitine/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Glomeromycota/genetics/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a widespread mutualistic association between soil fungi (Glomeromycota) and the roots of most plant species. AM fungi are obligate biotrophs whose development is partially under the control of their plant host. We explored the possibility to combine metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches to find putative mycorrhiza-associated metabolites regulating AM fungal development. Methanol extracts of Medicago truncatula roots colonized or not with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis were analyzed and compared by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-TOF), and multivariate statistical discrimination. We detected 71 mycorrhiza-associated analytes exclusively present or at least 10-fold more abundant in mycorrhizal roots. To identify among these analytes those that could regulate AM fungal development, we fractionated by preparative and semi-preparative HPLC the mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal root extracts and established how the 71 analytes were distributed among the fractions. Then we tested the activity of the fractions on germinating spores of R. irregularis by quantifying the expression of 96 genes known for their diverse in planta expression patterns. These investigations reveal that propionyl- and butyryl-carnitines accumulated in mycorrhizal roots. The results suggest that these two molecules regulate fungal gene expression in planta and represent interesting candidates for further biological characterization.}, } @article {pmid24120527, year = {2013}, author = {Ghabooli, M and Khatabi, B and Ahmadi, FS and Sepehri, M and Mirzaei, M and Amirkhani, A and Jorrín-Novo, JV and Salekdeh, GH}, title = {Proteomics study reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying water stress tolerance induced by Piriformospora indica in barley.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {289-301}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2013.09.017}, pmid = {24120527}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Energy Metabolism/physiology ; Hordeum/*metabolism/microbiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Piriformospora indica is a mutualistic root endophytic fungus, which transfers several benefits to hosts including enhance plant growth and increase yield under both normal and stress conditions. It has been shown that P. indica root-colonization enhances water stress tolerance based on general and non-specific plant-species mechanism. To better understand the molecular mechanism of P. indica-mediated drought stress tolerance, we designed a set of comparative experiments to study the impact of P. indica on barely plants cultivar "Golden Promise" grown under different drought levels [Filed capacity (F.C.) and 25% F.C.]. P. indica enhanced root and shoot biomass of colonized plants under both well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Proteome analysis of P. indica-colonized barley leaves under well-treated and water-deficit conditions resulted in detection of 726 reproducibly protein spots. Mass spectrometry analysis resulted in the identification of 45 differentially accumulated proteins involved in photosynthesis, reactive oxygen scavenging, metabolisms, signal transduction, and plant defense responses. Interestingly, P. indica increased the level of proteins involved in photosynthesis, antioxidative defense system and energy transport. We propose that P. indica-mediated drought stress tolerance in barely is through photosynthesis stimulation, energy releasing and enhanced antioxidative capacity in colonized plants.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Plant mutualistic symbionts offer long-term abiotic stress tolerance through the host adaptation to environmental stress. There have been a few published proteomic studies of plant symbionts to drought, and this is thought to be the first proteomic analysis, demonstrating the impact of endophyte on barley plant under drought stress. For some of identified proteins like TCTP and PCNA, a connection to physiological function in plants is novel, and can be the best candidates for sources of drought tolerance in future studies.}, } @article {pmid24120031, year = {2013}, author = {Wachholz, PA and Villas Boas, PJ and Vidal, EI}, title = {Effects of symbiotic food consumption in diabetic patients.}, journal = {Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {1082}, doi = {10.1016/j.clnu.2013.07.015}, pmid = {24120031}, issn = {1532-1983}, mesh = {Diabetes Mellitus/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Synbiotics ; }, } @article {pmid24119340, year = {2013}, author = {Carpenter, KJ and Weber, PK and Davisson, ML and Pett-Ridge, J and Haverty, MI and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Correlated SEM, FIB-SEM, TEM, and NanoSIMS imaging of microbes from the hindgut of a lower termite: methods for in situ functional and ecological studies of uncultivable microbes.}, journal = {Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada}, volume = {19}, number = {6}, pages = {1490-1501}, doi = {10.1017/S1431927613013482}, pmid = {24119340}, issn = {1435-8115}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Carbon Isotopes/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Eukaryota/metabolism/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Isotope Labeling ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microscopy, Electron ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The hindguts of lower termites harbor highly diverse, endemic communities of symbiotic protists, bacteria, and archaea essential to the termite's ability to digest wood. Despite over a century of experimental studies, ecological roles of many of these microbes are unknown, partly because almost none can be cultivated. Many of the protists associate with bacterial symbionts, but hypotheses for their respective roles in nutrient exchange are based on genomes of only two such bacteria. To show how the ecological roles of protists and nutrient transfer with symbiotic bacteria can be elucidated by direct imaging, we combined stable isotope labeling (13C-cellulose) of live termites with analysis of fixed hindgut microbes using correlated scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), transmission electron microscopy, and high resolution imaging mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). We developed methods to prepare whole labeled cells on solid substrates, whole labeled cells milled with a FIB-SEM instrument to reveal cell interiors, and ultramicrotome sections of labeled cells for NanoSIMS imaging of 13C enrichment in protists and associated bacteria. Our results show these methods have the potential to provide direct evidence for nutrient flow and suggest the oxymonad protist Oxymonas dimorpha phagocytoses and enzymatically degrades ingested wood fragments, and may transfer carbon derived from this to its surface bacterial symbionts.}, } @article {pmid24119289, year = {2013}, author = {Domonkos, A and Horvath, B and Marsh, JF and Halasz, G and Ayaydin, F and Oldroyd, GE and Kalo, P}, title = {The identification of novel loci required for appropriate nodule development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {157}, pmid = {24119289}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The formation of functional symbiotic nodules is the result of a coordinated developmental program between legumes and rhizobial bacteria. Genetic analyses in legumes have been used to dissect the signaling processes required for establishing the legume-rhizobial endosymbiotic association. Compared to the early events of the symbiotic interaction, less attention has been paid to plant loci required for rhizobial colonization and the functioning of the nodule. Here we describe the identification and characterization of a number of new genetic loci in Medicago truncatula that are required for the development of effective nitrogen fixing nodules.

RESULTS: Approximately 38,000 EMS and fast neutron mutagenized Medicago truncatula seedlings were screened for defects in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Mutant plants impaired in nodule development and efficient nitrogen fixation were selected for further genetic and phenotypic analysis. Nine mutants completely lacking in nodule formation (Nod-) represented six complementation groups of which two novel loci have been identified. Eight mutants with ineffective nodules (Fix-) represented seven complementation groups, out of which five were new monogenic loci. The Fix- M. truncatula mutants showed symptoms of nitrogen deficiency and developed small white nodules. Microscopic analysis of Fix- nodules revealed that the mutants have defects in the release of rhizobia from infection threads, differentiation of rhizobia and maintenance of persistence of bacteria in nodule cells. Additionally, we monitored the transcriptional activity of symbiosis specific genes to define what transcriptional stage of the symbiotic process is blocked in each of the Fix- mutants. Based on the phenotypic and gene expression analysis a functional hierarchy of the FIX genes is proposed.

CONCLUSIONS: The new symbiotic loci of M. truncatula isolated in this study provide the foundation for further characterization of the mechanisms underpinning nodulation, in particular the later stages associated with bacterial release and nodule function.}, } @article {pmid24119060, year = {2014}, author = {Bröderbauer, D and Ulrich, S and Weber, A}, title = {Adaptations for insect-trapping in brood-site pollinated Colocasia (Araceae).}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {659-668}, pmid = {24119060}, issn = {1438-8677}, support = {P 20666/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Araceae/anatomy & histology/cytology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; China ; Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Hot Temperature ; Inflorescence/physiology ; Insecta/*physiology ; Pollination/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The Araceae include both taxa with rewarding and deceptive trap pollination systems. Here we report on a genus in which rewarding and imprisonment of the pollinators co-occur. We studied the pollination of four species of Colocasia in Southwest China and investigated the morpho-anatomical adaptations of the spathe related to the attraction and capture of pollinators. All four species were pollinated by drosophilid flies of the genus Colocasiomyia. The flies are temporally arrested within the inflorescence and departure is only possible after pollen release. Trapping of the flies is accomplished by the closure of the spathe during anthesis. Moreover, in two species the spathe is covered with papillate epidermal cells known to form slippery surfaces in deceptive traps of Araceae. However, in Colocasia the papillae proved not slippery for the flies. The morpho-anatomical properties of the spathe epidermis indicate that it is an elaborate osmophore and serves for the emission of odours only. Despite its similarity to deceptive traps of other aroids, Colocasia and Colocasiomyia have a close symbiotic relationship, as the attracted flies use the inflorescence as a site for mating and breeding. The trap mechanism has presumably evolved independently in Colocasia and is supposed to facilitate more efficient pollen export.}, } @article {pmid24118864, year = {2014}, author = {Hendry, TA and de Wet, JR and Dunlap, PV}, title = {Genomic signatures of obligate host dependence in the luminous bacterial symbiont of a vertebrate.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {8}, pages = {2611-2622}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12302}, pmid = {24118864}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Fishes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Luminescence ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; Vibrionaceae/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The majority of bacteria engaged in bioluminescent symbiosis are environmentally acquired and facultatively symbiotic. A few enigmatic bioluminescent symbionts have not been successfully cultured, which has led to speculation that they may be obligately dependent on their hosts. Here, we report the draft genome of the uncultured luminous symbiont of an anomalopid flashlight fish, 'Candidatus Photodesmus katoptron'. The genome of the anomalopid symbiont is reduced by 80% compared with close relatives and lacks almost all genes necessary for amino acid synthesis and for metabolism of energy sources other than glucose, supporting obligate dependence on the host for growth. 'Candidatus Photodesmus katoptron' is the first described obligate mutualistic symbiont of a vertebrate. Unlike most other obligate mutualists, the anomalopid symbiont genome has retained complete pathways for chemotaxis and motility as well as most genes involved in cell wall production, consistent with the hypothesis that these bacteria may be transmitted environmentally during an extra-host phase.}, } @article {pmid24118832, year = {2014}, author = {Xia, Y and Kong, YH and Seviour, R and Forster, RJ and Kisidayova, S and McAllister, TA}, title = {Fluorescence in situ hybridization probing of protozoal Entodinium spp. and their methanogenic colonizers in the rumen of cattle fed alfalfa hay or triticale straw.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {116}, number = {1}, pages = {14-22}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12356}, pmid = {24118832}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Euryarchaeota ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Medicago sativa ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; *Rumen/parasitology ; Triticale ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To develop and test a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) based technique and to identify and quantify simultaneously those methanogenic populations colonizing Entodinium spp. in the rumen of cows fed different forages.

METHODS AND RESULTS: New FISH probes targeting protozoal Entodinium spp. were designed and used together with FISH probes for methanogens in the cow rumen. The composition and relative abundance of methanogenic populations colonizing Entodinium simplex-, E. caudaum- and Entodinium furca-related populations were similar. Methanogens including Methanobrevibacter thaueri, Methanobrevibacter millerae and Methanobrevibacter smithii, and members of Methanomicrobium and Methanosphaera were generally the predominant colonizers of protozoa, regardless of the forage fed to cattle. Individual animals appeared to differ in which ruminal methanogenic populations colonized each of the individual Entodinium spp.

CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous FISH probing is shown here to be a reliable and effective approach to investigate the dynamics of symbiotic relationships between ruminal protozoa and methanogens at a single cell level. Phylogenetically closely related Entodinium spp. were colonized by similar methanogenic populations regardless of the forage fed.

This is the first report of the methanogenic archaeal populations that specifically colonize Entodinium spp. as identified using simultaneous FISH probing.}, } @article {pmid24118768, year = {2014}, author = {Pilhofer, M and Aistleitner, K and Ladinsky, MS and König, L and Horn, M and Jensen, GJ}, title = {Architecture and host interface of environmental chlamydiae revealed by electron cryotomography.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {417-429}, pmid = {24118768}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {/HHMI_/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; 281633/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Acanthamoeba castellanii/microbiology ; Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Chlamydiales/*ultrastructure ; Cryoultramicrotomy/*methods ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Chlamydiae comprise important pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria that alternate between morphologically and physiologically different life stages during their developmental cycle. Using electron cryotomography, we characterize the ultrastructure of the developmental stages of three environmental chlamydiae: Parachlamydia acanthamoebae, Protochlamydia amoebophila and Simkania negevensis. We show that chemical fixation and dehydration alter the cell shape of Parachlamydia and that the crescent body is not a developmental stage, but an artefact of conventional electron microscopy. We further reveal type III secretion systems of environmental chlamydiae at macromolecular resolution and find support for a chlamydial needle-tip protein. Imaging bacteria inside their host cells by cryotomography for the first time, we observe marked differences in inclusion morphology and development as well as host organelle recruitment between the three chlamydial organisms, with Simkania inclusions being tightly enveloped by the host endoplasmic reticulum. The study demonstrates the power of electron cryotomography to reveal structural details of bacteria-host interactions that are not accessible using traditional methods.}, } @article {pmid24118448, year = {2014}, author = {Leal, MC and Nejstgaard, JC and Calado, R and Thompson, ME and Frischer, ME}, title = {Molecular assessment of heterotrophy and prey digestion in zooxanthellate cnidarians.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {3838-3848}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12496}, pmid = {24118448}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; DNA/analysis ; *Digestion ; *Food Chain ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Predatory Behavior ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Zooxanthellate cnidarians are trophically complex, relying on both autotrophy and heterotrophy. Although several aspects of heterotrophy have been studied in these organisms, information linking prey capture with digestion is still missing. We used prey-specific PCR-based tools to assess feeding and prey digestion of two zooxanthellate cnidarians - the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia sp. and the scleractinian coral Oculina arbuscula. Prey DNA disappeared rapidly for the initial 1-3 days, whereas complete digestion of prey DNA required up to 10 days in O. arbuscula and 5 or 6 days in Aiptasia sp. depending on prey species. These digestion times are considerably longer than previously reported from microscopy-based examination of zooxanthellate cnidarians and prey DNA breakdown in other marine invertebrates, but similar to prey DNA breakdown reported from terrestrial invertebrates such as heteroptera and spiders. Deprivation of external prey induced increased digestion rates during the first days after feeding in O. arbuscula, but after 6 days of digestion, there were no differences in the remaining prey levels in fed and unfed corals. This study indicates that prey digestion by symbiotic corals may be slower than previously reported and varies with the type of prey, the cnidarian species and its feeding history. These observations have important implications for bioenergetic and trophodynamic studies on zooxanthellate cnidarians.}, } @article {pmid24118423, year = {2013}, author = {Sainz, M and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Ramos, J and Mulet, JM and James, EK and Bhattacharjee, U and Petrich, JW and Becana, M}, title = {Plant hemoglobins may be maintained in functional form by reduced flavins in the nuclei, and confer differential tolerance to nitro-oxidative stress.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {76}, number = {5}, pages = {875-887}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12340}, pmid = {24118423}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; Flavins/*metabolism ; Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; Lotus/metabolism ; *Oxidative Stress ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The heme of bacteria, plant and animal hemoglobins (Hbs) must be in the ferrous state to bind O(2) and other physiological ligands. Here we have characterized the full set of non-symbiotic (class 1 and 2) and 'truncated' (class 3) Hbs of Lotus japonicus. Class 1 Hbs are hexacoordinate, but class 2 and 3 Hbs are pentacoordinate. Three of the globins, Glb1-1, Glb2 and Glb3-1, are nodule-enhanced proteins. The O(2) affinity of Glb1-1 (50 pm) was the highest known for any Hb, and the protein may function as an O(2) scavenger. The five globins were reduced by free flavins, which transfer electrons from NAD(P)H to the heme iron under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Class 1 Hbs were reduced at very fast rates by FAD, class 2 Hbs at slower rates by both FMN and FAD, and class 3 Hbs at intermediate rates by FMN. The members of the three globin classes were immunolocalized predominantly in the nuclei. Flavins were quantified in legume nodules and nuclei, and their concentrations were sufficient to maintain Hbs in their functional state. All Hbs, except Glb1-1, were expressed in a flavohemoglobin-deficient yeast mutant and found to confer tolerance to oxidative stress induced by methyl viologen, copper or low temperature, indicating an anti-oxidative role for the hemes. However, only Glb1-2 and Glb2 afforded protection against nitrosative stress induced by S-nitrosoglutathione. Because this compound is specifically involved in transnitrosylation reactions with thiol groups, our results suggest a contribution of the single cysteine residues of both proteins in the stress response.}, } @article {pmid24118244, year = {2013}, author = {Lankau, RA and Nodurft, RN}, title = {An exotic invader drives the evolution of plant traits that determine mycorrhizal fungal diversity in a native competitor.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {21}, pages = {5472-5485}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12484}, pmid = {24118244}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Brassicaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Introduced Species ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Urticaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between land plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is one of the most widespread and ancient mutualisms on the planet. However, relatively little is known about the evolution of these symbiotic plant-fungal interactions in natural communities. In this study, we investigated the symbiotic AMF communities of populations of the native plant species Pilea pumila (Urticaceae) with varying histories of coexistence with a nonmycorrhizal invasive species, Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae), known to affect mycorrhizal communities. We found that native populations of P. pumila with a long history of coexistence with the invasive species developed more diverse symbiotic AMF communities. This effect was strongest when A. petiolata plants were actively growing with the natives, and in soils with the longest history of A. petiolata growth. These results suggest that despite the ancient and widespread nature of the plant-AMF symbiosis, the plant traits responsible for symbiotic preferences can, nevertheless, evolve rapidly in response to environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid24118200, year = {2014}, author = {Koch, EJ and Miyashiro, T and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {Features governing symbiont persistence in the squid-vibrio association.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1624-1634}, pmid = {24118200}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K99 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; OD11024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animal Structures/growth & development/microbiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/growth & development/*microbiology ; Light ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Experimental studies of the interaction between host and symbiont in a maturing symbiotic organ have presented a challenge for most animal-bacterial associations. Advances in the rearing of the host squid Euprymna scolopes have enabled us to explore the relationship between a defect in symbiont light production and late-stage development (e.g. symbiont persistence and tissue morphogenesis) by experimental colonization with specific strains of the symbiont Vibrio fischeri. During the first 4 weeks postinoculation of juvenile squid, the population of wild-type V. fischeri increased 100-fold; in contrast, a strain defective in light production (Δlux) colonized normally the first day, but exhibited an exponential decline to undetectable levels over subsequent weeks. Co-colonization of organs by both strains affected neither the trajectory of colonization by wild type nor the decline of Δlux levels. Uninfected animals retained the ability to be colonized for at least 2 weeks posthatch. However, once colonized by the wild-type strain for 5 days, a subsequent experimentally induced loss of the symbionts could not be followed by a successful recolonization, indicating the host's entry into a refractory state. However, animals colonized by the Δlux before the loss of their symbionts were receptive to recolonization. Analyses of animals colonized with either a wild-type or a Δlux strain revealed slight, if any, differences in the developmental regression of the ciliated light-organ tissues that facilitate the colonization process. Thus, some other feature(s) of the Δlux strain's defect also may be responsible for its inability to persist, and its failure to induce a refractory state in the host.}, } @article {pmid24118111, year = {2013}, author = {Early, AM and Clark, AG}, title = {Monophyly of Wolbachia pipientis genomes within Drosophila melanogaster: geographic structuring, titre variation and host effects across five populations.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {5765-5778}, pmid = {24118111}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {R01 AI064950/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI064950/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetics, Population ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Haplotypes ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is one of the most widely studied endosymbionts today, yet we know little about its short-term adaptation and evolution. Here, using a set of 91 inbred Drosophila melanogaster lines from five populations, we explore patterns of diversity and recent evolution in the Wolbachia strain wMel. Within the D. melanogaster lines, we identify six major mitochondrial clades and four wMel clades. Concordant with past studies, the Wolbachia haplotypes contain an overall low level of nucleotide diversity, yet they still display geographic structuring. Using Bayesian analysis informed with demographic estimates of colonization times, we estimate that all extant D. melanogaster mitochondrial haplotypes coalesce to a Wolbachia-infected ancestor approximately 2200 years ago. Finally, we measure wMel titre within the infected flies and find that titre varies across populations, an effect attributable to host genetic factors. This demonstration of local phenotypic divergence suggests that intraspecific host genetic variation plays a key role in shaping this model symbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid24118006, year = {2014}, author = {Hebelstrup, KH and Shah, JK and Simpson, C and Schjoerring, JK and Mandon, J and Cristescu, SM and Harren, FJ and Christiansen, MW and Mur, LA and Igamberdiev, AU}, title = {An assessment of the biotechnological use of hemoglobin modulation in cereals.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {150}, number = {4}, pages = {593-603}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12115}, pmid = {24118006}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Ascomycota/physiology ; Biotechnology/methods ; Blotting, Western ; Edible Grain/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Endosperm/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/*genetics/metabolism ; Hordeum/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Non-symbiotic hemoglobin (nsHb) genes are ubiquitous in plants, but their biological functions have mostly been studied in model plant species rather than in crops. nsHb influences cell signaling and metabolism by modulating the levels of nitric oxide (NO). Class 1 nsHb is upregulated under hypoxia and is involved in various biotic and abiotic stress responses. Ectopic overexpression of nsHb in Arabidopsis thaliana accelerates development, whilst targeted overexpression in seeds can increase seed yield. Such observations suggest that manipulating nsHb could be a valid biotechnological target. We studied the effects of overexpression of class 1 nsHb in the monocotyledonous crop plant barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Golden Promise). nsHb was shown to be involved in NO metabolism in barley, as ectopic overexpression reduced the amount of NO released during hypoxia. Further, as in Arabidopsis, nsHb overexpression compromised basal resistance toward pathogens in barley. However, unlike Arabidopsis, nsHb ectopic overexpression delayed growth and development in barley, and seed specific overexpression reduced seed yield. Thus, nsHb overexpression in barley does not seem to be an efficient strategy for increasing yield in cereal crops. These findings highlight the necessity for using actual crop plants rather than laboratory model plants when assessing the effects of biotechnological approaches to crop improvement.}, } @article {pmid24116017, year = {2013}, author = {Niemann, H and Linke, P and Knittel, K and MacPherson, E and Boetius, A and Brückmann, W and Larvik, G and Wallmann, K and Schacht, U and Omoregie, E and Hilton, D and Brown, K and Rehder, G}, title = {Methane-carbon flow into the benthic food web at cold seeps--a case study from the Costa Rica subduction zone.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e74894}, pmid = {24116017}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anomura/microbiology ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Costa Rica ; Ecosystem ; *Food Chain ; Methane/*metabolism ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Seawater/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cold seep ecosystems can support enormous biomasses of free-living and symbiotic chemoautotrophic organisms that get their energy from the oxidation of methane or sulfide. Most of this biomass derives from animals that are associated with bacterial symbionts, which are able to metabolize the chemical resources provided by the seeping fluids. Often these systems also harbor dense accumulations of non-symbiotic megafauna, which can be relevant in exporting chemosynthetically fixed carbon from seeps to the surrounding deep sea. Here we investigated the carbon sources of lithodid crabs (Paralomis sp.) feeding on thiotrophic bacterial mats at an active mud volcano at the Costa Rica subduction zone. To evaluate the dietary carbon source of the crabs, we compared the microbial community in stomach contents with surface sediments covered by microbial mats. The stomach content analyses revealed a dominance of epsilonproteobacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences related to the free-living and epibiotic sulfur oxidiser Sulfurovum sp. We also found Sulfurovum sp. as well as members of the genera Arcobacter and Sulfurimonas in mat-covered surface sediments where Epsilonproteobacteria were highly abundant constituting 10% of total cells. Furthermore, we detected substantial amounts of bacterial fatty acids such as i-C15∶0 and C17∶1ω6c with stable carbon isotope compositions as low as -53‰ in the stomach and muscle tissue. These results indicate that the white microbial mats at Mound 12 are comprised of Epsilonproteobacteria and that microbial mat-derived carbon provides an important contribution to the crab's nutrition. In addition, our lipid analyses also suggest that the crabs feed on other (13)C-depleted organic matter sources, possibly symbiotic megafauna as well as on photosynthetic carbon sources such as sedimentary detritus.}, } @article {pmid24115208, year = {2015}, author = {Chen, W and Sun, L and Lu, J and Bi, L and Wang, E and Wei, G}, title = {Diverse nodule bacteria were associated with Astragalus species in arid region of northwestern China.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {121-128}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201300209}, pmid = {24115208}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Astragalus Plant/*microbiology ; China ; Endophytes/classification/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, rRNA ; Genetic Variation ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The legume species of Astragalus as traditional Chinese medicine source and environmental protection plants showed an extensive distribution in the arid region of northwestern China. However, few rhizobia associating with Astragalus have been investigated in this region so far. In this study, 78 endophytic bacteria were isolated from root nodules of 12 Astragalus species and characterized by the PCR-RFLP of 16S rRNA gene and symbiotic genes together with the phylogenetic analysis. Results showed that the majority (53%) of isolates are non-nodulating Agrobacterium sp. and the rest are Mesorhizobium genomic species (41%), Ensifer spp. and Rhizobium gallicum (6%), respectively. Mesorhizobium genomic species are broadly distributed in the Astragalus symbioses and most of them share similar symbiotic genes. It seems that horizontal gene transfer occurred frequently among different genomic species independent of their original hosts and sites. Astragalus adsurgens is nodulated by a widely range of rhizobial species in the nodulation test, revealing that it could play an important role in diversification of Astragalus symbionts and that might be a reason for its wide adaptation to diverse environments.}, } @article {pmid24113907, year = {2014}, author = {Evelin, H and Kapoor, R}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis modulates antioxidant response in salt-stressed Trigonella foenum-graecum plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {197-208}, pmid = {24113907}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/microbiology/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Trigonella/enzymology/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {An experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of Glomus intraradices colonization on the activity of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (PX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR)] and the accumulation of nonenzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, glutathione, and carotenoids) in roots and leaves of fenugreek plants subjected to varying degrees of salinity (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl) at two time intervals (1 and 14 days after saline treatment, DAT). The antioxidative capacity was correlated with oxidative damage in the same tissue. Under salt stress, lipid peroxidation and H2O2 concentration increased with increasing severity and duration of salt stress (DoS). However, the extent of oxidative damage in mycorrhizal plants was less compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. The study reveals that mycorrhiza-mediated attenuation of oxidative stress in fenugreek plants is due to enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and higher concentrations of antioxidant molecules. However, the significant effect of G. intraradices colonization on individual antioxidant molecules and enzymes varied with plant tissue, salinity level, and DoS. The significant effect of G. intraradices colonization on antioxidative enzymes was more evident at 1DAT in both leaves and roots, while the concentrations of antioxidant molecules were significantly influenced at 14DAT. It is proposed that AM symbiosis can improve antioxidative defense systems of plants through higher SOD activity in M plants, facilitating rapid dismutation of O2 (-) to H2O2, and subsequent prevention of H2O2 build-up by higher activities of CAT, APX, and PX. The potential of G. intraradices to ameliorate oxidative stress generated in fenugreek plants by salinity was more evident at higher intensities of salt stress.}, } @article {pmid24113821, year = {2014}, author = {Li, X and Zhao, J and Walk, TC and Liao, H}, title = {Characterization of soybean β-expansin genes and their expression responses to symbiosis, nutrient deficiency, and hormone treatment.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {98}, number = {6}, pages = {2805-2817}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-013-5240-z}, pmid = {24113821}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Cytokinins/metabolism ; Food ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Order ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*biosynthesis/*genetics ; Response Elements ; Rhizobium/growth & development ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Soybeans/genetics/*physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Expansins are plant cell wall-loosening proteins encoded by a superfamily of genes including α-expansin, β-expansin, expansin-like A, and expansin-like B proteins. They play a variety of biological roles during plant growth and development. Expansin genes have been reported in many plant species, and results primarily from graminaceous members indicate that β-expansins are more abundant in monocots than in dicots. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] is an important legume crop. This work identified nine β-expansin gene family members in soybean (GmEXPBs) that were divided into two distinct classes based on phylogeny and gene structure, with divergence between the two groups occurring more in introns than in exons. A total of 887 hormone-responsive and environmental stress-related putative cis-elements from 188 families were found in the 2-kb upstream region of GmEXPBs. Variations in number and type of cis-elements associated with each gene indicate that the function of these genes is differentially regulated by these signals. Expression analysis confirmed that the family members were ubiquitously, yet differentially expressed in soybean. Responsiveness to nutrient deficiency stresses and regulation by auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) and cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine) varied among GmEXPBs. In addition, most β-expansin genes were associated with symbiosis of soybean inoculated with Rhizobium or abuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Taken together, these results systematically investigate the characteristics of the entire GmEXPB family in soybean and comprise the first report analyzing the relationship of GmEXPBs with rhizobial or AMF symbiosis. This information is a valuable step in the process of understanding the expansin protein functions in soybean and opens avenues for continued researches.}, } @article {pmid24113192, year = {2013}, author = {Plate, L and Marletta, MA}, title = {Nitric oxide-sensing H-NOX proteins govern bacterial communal behavior.}, journal = {Trends in biochemical sciences}, volume = {38}, number = {11}, pages = {566-575}, pmid = {24113192}, issn = {0968-0004}, support = {R01 GM070671/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM066698/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Heme/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Heme-nitric oxide/oxygen binding (H-NOX) domains function as sensors for the gaseous signaling agent nitric oxide (NO) in eukaryotes and bacteria. Mammalian NO signaling is well characterized and involves the H-NOX domain of soluble guanylate cyclase. In bacteria, H-NOX proteins interact with bacterial signaling proteins in two-component signaling systems or in cyclic-di-GMP metabolism. Characterization of several downstream signaling processes has shown that bacterial H-NOX proteins share a common role in controlling important bacterial communal behaviors in response to NO. The H-NOX pathways regulate motility, biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and symbiosis. Here, we review the latest structural and mechanistic studies that have elucidated how H-NOX domains selectively bind NO and transduce ligand binding into conformational changes that modulate activity of signaling partners. Furthermore, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the physiological function and biochemical details of the H-NOX signaling pathways.}, } @article {pmid24113116, year = {2013}, author = {Asemi, Z and Esmaillzadeh, A}, title = {Effects of symbiotic food consumption in diabetic patients: reply to Wachholz PA et al.}, journal = {Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)}, volume = {32}, number = {6}, pages = {1081}, doi = {10.1016/j.clnu.2013.07.016}, pmid = {24113116}, issn = {1532-1983}, mesh = {Diabetes Mellitus/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Synbiotics ; }, } @article {pmid24112811, year = {2014}, author = {Torres-Vera, R and García, JM and Pozo, MJ and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Do strigolactones contribute to plant defence?.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {211-216}, pmid = {24112811}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Primers ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plants/*immunology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are multifunctional molecules involved in several processes outside and within the plant. As signalling molecules in the rhizosphere, they favour the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, but they also act as host detection cues for root parasitic plants. As phytohormones, they are involved in the regulation of plant architecture, adventitious rooting, secondary growth and reproductive development, and novel roles are emerging continuously. In the present study, the possible involvement of strigolactones in plant defence responses was investigated. For this purpose, the resistance/susceptibility of the strigolactone-deficient tomato mutant Slccd8 against the foliar fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata was assessed. Slccd8 was more susceptible to both pathogens, pointing to a new role for strigolactones in plant defence. A reduction in the content of the defence-related hormones jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and abscisic acid was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in the Slccd8 mutant, suggesting that hormone homeostasis is altered in the mutant. Moreover, the expression level of the jasmonate-dependent gene PinII, involved in the resistance of tomato to B. cinerea, was lower than in the corresponding wild-type. We propose here that strigolactones play a role in the regulation of plant defences through their interaction with other defence-related hormones, especially with the jasmonic acid signalling pathway.}, } @article {pmid24112555, year = {2013}, author = {Kartzinel, TR and Trapnell, DW and Shefferson, RP}, title = {Highly diverse and spatially heterogeneous mycorrhizal symbiosis in a rare epiphyte is unrelated to broad biogeographic or environmental features.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {5949-5961}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12536}, pmid = {24112555}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/genetics ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Costa Rica ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions are common in nature. In dynamic or degraded environments, the ability to associate with multiple partners (i.e. broad specificity) may enable species to persist through fluctuations in the availability of any particular partner. Understanding how species interactions vary across landscapes is necessary to anticipate direct and indirect consequences of environmental degradation on species conservation. We asked whether mycorrhizal symbiosis by populations of a rare epiphytic orchid (Epidendrum firmum) is related to geographic or environmental heterogeneity. The latter would suggest that interactions are governed by environmental conditions rather than historic isolation of populations and/or mycorrhizal fungi. We used DNA-based methods to identify mycorrhizal fungi from eleven E. firmum populations in Costa Rica. We used molecular and phylogenetic analyses to compare associations. Epidendrum firmum exhibited broad specificity, associating with diverse mycorrhizal fungi, including six Tulasnellaceae molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), five Sebacinales MOTUs and others. Notably, diverse mycorrhizal symbioses formed in disturbed pasture and roadside habitats. Mycorrhizal fungi exhibited significant similarity within populations (spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation) and significant differences among populations (phylogenetic community dissimilarity). However, mycorrhizal symbioses were not significantly associated with biogeographic or environmental features. Such unexpected heterogeneity among populations may result from complex combinations of fine-scale environmental factors and macro-evolutionary patterns of change in mycorrhizal specificity. Thus, E. firmum exhibits broad specificity and the potential for opportunistic associations with diverse fungi. We suggest that these characteristics could confer symbiotic assurance when mycorrhizal fungi are stochastically available, which may be crucial in dynamic or disturbed habitats such as tropical forest canopies.}, } @article {pmid24112432, year = {2014}, author = {Leal, MC and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Calado, R and Thompson, ME and Frischer, ME and Nejstgaard, JC}, title = {Coral feeding on microalgae assessed with molecular trophic markers.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {3870-3876}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12486}, pmid = {24112432}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Food Chain ; *Herbivory ; Microalgae/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Herbivory in corals, especially for symbiotic species, remains controversial. To investigate the capacity of scleractinian and soft corals to capture microalgae, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments offering five algal species: the cryptophyte Rhodomonas marina, the haptophytes Isochrysis galbana and Phaeocystis globosa, and the diatoms Conticribra weissflogii and Thalassiosira pseudonana. Coral species included the symbiotic soft corals Heteroxenia fuscescens and Sinularia flexibilis, the asymbiotic scleractinian coral Tubastrea coccinea, and the symbiotic scleractinian corals Stylophora pistillata, Pavona cactus and Oculina arbuscula. Herbivory was assessed by end-point PCR amplification of algae-specific 18S rRNA gene fragments purified from coral tissue genomic DNA extracts. The ability to capture microalgae varied with coral and algal species and could not be explained by prey size or taxonomy. Herbivory was not detected in S. flexibilis and S. pistillata. P. globosa was the only algal prey that was never captured by any coral. Although predation defence mechanisms have been shown for Phaeocystis spp. against many potential predators, this study is the first to suggest this for corals. This study provides new insights into herbivory in symbiotic corals and suggests that corals may be selective herbivorous feeders.}, } @article {pmid24104173, year = {2013}, author = {Capmany, J and Li, G and Lim, C and Yao, J}, title = {Microwave Photonics: current challenges towards widespread application.}, journal = {Optics express}, volume = {21}, number = {19}, pages = {22862-22867}, doi = {10.1364/OE.21.022862}, pmid = {24104173}, issn = {1094-4087}, abstract = {Microwave Photonics, a symbiotic field of research that brings together the worlds of optics and radio frequency is currently facing several challenges in its transition from a niche to a truly widespread technology essential to support the ever-increasing values for speed, bandwidth, processing capability and dynamic range that will be required in next generation hybrid access networks. We outline these challenges, which are the subject of the contributions to this focus issue.}, } @article {pmid24103110, year = {2014}, author = {Kikuchi, Y and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Live imaging of symbiosis: spatiotemporal infection dynamics of a GFP-labelled Burkholderia symbiont in the bean bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1445-1456}, pmid = {24103110}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/genetics/*growth & development ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Genetic Fitness ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Nymph/microbiology ; Organisms, Genetically Modified ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects possess endosymbiotic bacteria inside their body, wherein intimate interactions occur between the partners. While recent technological advancements have deepened our understanding of metabolic and evolutionary features of the symbiont genomes, molecular mechanisms underpinning the intimate interactions remain difficult to approach because the insect symbionts are generally uncultivable. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris is associated with the betaproteobacterial Burkholderia symbiont in a posterior region of the midgut, which develops numerous crypts harbouring the symbiont extracellularly. Distinct from other insect symbiotic systems, R. pedestris acquires the Burkholderia symbiont not by vertical transmission but from the environment every generation. By making use of the cultivability and the genetic tractability of the symbiont, we constructed a transgenic Burkholderia strain labelled with green fluorescent protein (GFP), which enabled detailed observation of spatiotemporal dynamics and the colonization process of the symbiont in freshly prepared specimens. The symbiont live imaging revealed that, at the second instar, colonization of the symbiotic midgut M4 region started around 6 h after inoculation (hai). By 24 hai, the symbiont cells appeared in the main tract and also in several crypts of the M4. By 48 hai, most of the crypts were colonized by the symbiont cells. By 72 hai, all the crypts were filled up with the symbiont cells and the symbiont localization pattern continued during the subsequent nymphal development. Quantitative PCR of the symbiont confirmed the infection dynamics quantitatively. These results highlight the stinkbug-Burkholderia gut symbiosis as an unprecedented model for comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms underpinning insect symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24102980, year = {2014}, author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Steiger, S}, title = {Unearthing carrion beetles' microbiome: characterization of bacterial and fungal hindgut communities across the Silphidae.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1251-1267}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12469}, pmid = {24102980}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Coleoptera/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Female ; Fungi/*classification/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Carrion beetles (Coleoptera, Silphidae) are well known for their behaviour of exploiting vertebrate carcasses for nutrition. While species in the subfamily Silphinae feed on large carcasses and on larvae of competing scavengers, the Nicrophorinae are unique in monopolizing, burying and defending small carrion, and providing extensive biparental care. As a first step towards investigating whether microbial symbionts may aid in carcass utilization or defence, we characterized the microbial hindgut communities of six Nicrophorinae (Nicrophorus spp.) and two Silphinae species (Oiceoptoma noveboracense and Necrophila americana) by deep ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. Across all species, bacteria in the family Xanthomonadaceae, related to Ignatzschineriao larvae, were consistently common, and several other taxa were present in lower abundance (Enterobacteriales, Burkholderiales, Bacilli, Clostridiales and Bacteroidales). Additionally, the Nicrophorinae showed high numbers of unusual Clostridiales, while the Silphinae were characterized by Flavobacteriales and Rhizobiales (Bartonella sp.). In addition to the complex community of bacterial symbionts, each species of carrion beetle harboured a diversity of ascomycetous yeasts closely related to Yarrowia lipolytica. Despite the high degree of consistency in microbial communities across the Silphidae--specifically within the Nicrophorinae--both the fungal symbiont phylogeny and distance-based bacterial community clustering showed higher congruence with sampling locality than host phylogeny. Thus, despite the possibility for vertical transmission via anal secretions, the distinct hindgut microbiota of the Silphidae appears to be shaped by frequent horizontal exchange or environmental uptake of symbionts. The microbial community profiles, together with information on host ecology and the metabolic potential of related microorganisms, allow us to propose hypotheses on putative roles of the symbionts in carcass degradation, detoxification and defence.}, } @article {pmid24102776, year = {2013}, author = {Jia, S and Zhang, X and Zhang, G and Yin, A and Zhang, S and Li, F and Wang, L and Zhao, D and Yun, Q and Tala, and Wang, J and Sun, G and Baabdullah, M and Yu, X and Hu, S and Al-Mssallem, IS and Yu, J}, title = {Seasonally variable intestinal metagenomes of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {3020-3029}, pmid = {24102776}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Euryarchaeota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Lactococcus lactis/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Larva/microbiology ; Metagenome/*genetics ; Phoeniceae/metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Weevils/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbes residing in the red palm weevil (RPW, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) larva consume tender interior fibrous tissues of date palm trunks. The understanding of such microbiota at molecular level provides vital clues for the biological control of this devastating pest. Using pyrosequencing and shotgun strategy, we first study taxonomic profiles of the microbiota sampled at different months (March, July and November), and then confirm the impact of high-temperature stress on the microbial populations based on data from 16S rRNA amplicons using both field and laboratory samples. We further identify Klebsiella pneumoniae in November and Lactococcus lactis in July as the dominant species of the microbiota. We find that the RPW gut microbiota degrades polysaccharides and sucrose with hydrolases and that different active bacterial species in November and July are responsible for the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and the host. Our results provide vital information for pest control and cellulolytic bacterial species characterization.}, } @article {pmid24101998, year = {2013}, author = {Toju, H and Sato, H and Yamamoto, S and Kadowaki, K and Tanabe, AS and Yazawa, S and Nishimura, O and Agata, K}, title = {How are plant and fungal communities linked to each other in belowground ecosystems? A massively parallel pyrosequencing analysis of the association specificity of root-associated fungi and their host plants.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {3}, number = {9}, pages = {3112-3124}, pmid = {24101998}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In natural forests, hundreds of fungal species colonize plant roots. The preference or specificity for partners in these symbiotic relationships is a key to understanding how the community structures of root-associated fungi and their host plants influence each other. In an oak-dominated forest in Japan, we investigated the root-associated fungal community based on a pyrosequencing analysis of the roots of 33 plant species. Of the 387 fungal taxa observed, 153 (39.5%) were identified on at least two plant species. Although many mycorrhizal and root-endophytic fungi are shared between the plant species, the five most common plant species in the community had specificity in their association with fungal taxa. Likewise, fungi displayed remarkable variation in their association specificity for plants even within the same phylogenetic or ecological groups. For example, some fungi in the ectomycorrhizal family Russulaceae were detected almost exclusively on specific oak (Quercus) species, whereas other Russulaceae fungi were found even on "non-ectomycorrhizal" plants (e.g., Lyonia and Ilex). Putatively endophytic ascomycetes in the orders Helotiales and Chaetothyriales also displayed variation in their association specificity and many of them were shared among plant species as major symbionts. These results suggest that the entire structure of belowground plant-fungal associations is described neither by the random sharing of hosts/symbionts nor by complete compartmentalization by mycorrhizal type. Rather, the colonization of multiple types of mycorrhizal fungi on the same plant species and the prevalence of diverse root-endophytic fungi may be important features of belowground linkage between plant and fungal communities.}, } @article {pmid24100385, year = {2014}, author = {Kato, LM and Kawamoto, S and Maruya, M and Fagarasan, S}, title = {Gut TFH and IgA: key players for regulation of bacterial communities and immune homeostasis.}, journal = {Immunology and cell biology}, volume = {92}, number = {1}, pages = {49-56}, doi = {10.1038/icb.2013.54}, pmid = {24100385}, issn = {1440-1711}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A/*immunology ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The main function of the immune system is to protect the host against pathogens. However, unlike the systemic immune system, the gut immune system does not eliminate, but instead nourishes complex bacterial communities and establishes advanced symbiotic relationships. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant antibody isotype in mammals, produced mainly in the gut. The primary function of IgA is to maintain homeostasis at mucosal surfaces, and studies in mice have demonstrated that IgA diversification has an essential role in the regulation of gut microbiota. Dynamic diversification and constant adaptation of IgA responses to local microbiota require expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase by B cells and control from T follicular helper and Foxp3(+) T cells in germinal centers (GCs). We discuss the finely tuned regulatory mechanisms for IgA synthesis in GCs of Peyer's patches and emphasize the roles of CD4(+) T cells for IgA selection and the maintenance of appropriate gut microbial communities required for immune homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid24099804, year = {2013}, author = {Gomez, D and Sunyer, JO and Salinas, I}, title = {The mucosal immune system of fish: the evolution of tolerating commensals while fighting pathogens.}, journal = {Fish & shellfish immunology}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {1729-1739}, pmid = {24099804}, issn = {1095-9947}, support = {P20 GM103452/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM085207/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM085207-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P20GM103452/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fishes/*immunology ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Mammals/*immunology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Vaccines/immunology/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The field of mucosal immunology research has grown fast over the past few years, and our understanding on how mucosal surfaces respond to complex antigenic cocktails is expanding tremendously. With the advent of new molecular sequencing techniques, it is easier to understand how the immune system of vertebrates is, to a great extent, orchestrated by the complex microbial communities that live in symbiosis with their hosts. The commensal microbiota is now seen as the "extended self" by many scientists. Similarly, fish immunologist are devoting important research efforts to the field of mucosal immunity and commensals. Recent breakthroughs on our understanding of mucosal immune responses in teleost fish open up the potential of teleosts as animal research models for the study of human mucosal diseases. Additionally, this new knowledge places immunologists in a better position to specifically target the fish mucosal immune system while rationally designing mucosal vaccines and other immunotherapies. In this review, an updated view on how teleost skin, gills and gut immune cells and molecules, function in response to pathogens and commensals is provided. Finally, some of the future avenues that the field of fish mucosal immunity may follow in the next years are highlighted.}, } @article {pmid24099088, year = {2013}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Parniske, M}, title = {Cell and developmental biology of arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.}, journal = {Annual review of cell and developmental biology}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {593-617}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-cellbio-101512-122413}, pmid = {24099088}, issn = {1530-8995}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The default mineral nutrient acquisition strategy of land plants is the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi. Research into the cell and developmental biology of AM revealed fascinating insights into the plasticity of plant cell development and of interorganismic communication. It is driven by the prospect of increased exploitation of AM benefits for sustainable agriculture. The plant cell developmental program for intracellular accommodation of AM fungi is activated by a genetically defined signaling pathway involving calcium spiking in the nucleus as second messenger. Calcium spiking is triggered by chitooligosaccharides released by AM fungi that are probably perceived via LysM domain receptor kinases. Fungal infection and calcium spiking are spatiotemporally coordinated, and only cells committed to accommodating the fungus undergo high-frequency spiking. Delivery of mineral nutrients by AM fungi occurs at tree-shaped hyphal structures, the arbuscules, in plant cortical cells. Nutrients are taken up at a plant-derived periarbuscular membrane, which surrounds fungal hyphae and carries a specific transporter composition that is of direct importance for symbiotic efficiency. An elegant study has unveiled a new and unexpected mechanism for specific protein localization to the periarbuscular membrane, which relies on the timing of gene expression to synchronize protein biosynthesis with a redirection of secretion. The control of AM development by phytohormones is currently subject to active investigation and has led to the rediscovery of strigolactones. Nearly all tested phytohormones regulate AM development, and major insights into the mechanisms of this regulation are expected in the near future.}, } @article {pmid24098768, year = {2013}, author = {Slapeta, J and Linares, MC}, title = {Combined amplicon pyrosequencing assays reveal presence of the apicomplexan "type-N" (cf. Gemmocystis cylindrus) and Chromera velia on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e76095}, pmid = {24098768}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alveolata/*genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*parasitology ; Apicomplexa/*genetics/physiology ; Australia ; Base Sequence ; *Coral Reefs ; Likelihood Functions ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pacific Ocean ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The coral is predominantly composed of the metabolically dependent coral host and the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. The system as a whole interacts with symbiotic eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. Gemmocystiscylindrus (cf. "type-N" symbiont) belonging to the obligatory parasitic phylum Apicomplexa (Alveolata) is ubiquitous in the Caribbean coral, but its presence in the Great Barrier Reef coral has yet to be documented. Approaches allowing identification of the healthy community from the pathogenic or saprobic organisms are needed for sustainable coral reef monitoring.

We investigated the diversity of eukaryotes associated with a common reef-building corals from the southern Great Barrier Reef. We used three tag encoded 454 amplicon pyrosequencing assays targeting eukaryote small-subunit rRNA gene to demonstrate the presence of the apicomplexan type-N and a photosynthetic sister species to Apicomplexa-Chromeravelia. Amplicon pyrosequencing revealed presence of the small-subunit rRNA genes of known eukaryotic pathogens (Cryptosporidium and Cryptococcus). We therefore conducted bacterial tag encoded amplicon pyrosequencing assay for small-subunit rRNA gene to support effluent exposure of the coral. Bacteria of faecal origin (Enterobacteriales) formed 41% of total sequences in contrast to 0-2% of the coral-associated bacterial communities with and without C. velia, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first time apicomplexan type-N has been detected in the Great Barrier Reef. Eukaryote tag encoded amplicon pyrosequencing assays demonstrate presence of apicomplexan type-N and C. Velia in total coral DNA. The data highlight the need for combined approaches for eukaryotic diversity studies coupled with bacterial community assessment to achieve a more realistic goals of defining the holobiont community and assessing coral disease. With increasing evidence of Apicomplexa in coral reef environments, it is important not only to understand the evolution of these organisms but also identify their potential as pathogens.}, } @article {pmid24098533, year = {2013}, author = {Donati, AJ and Lee, HI and Leveau, JH and Chang, WS}, title = {Effects of indole-3-acetic acid on the transcriptional activities and stress tolerance of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e76559}, pmid = {24098533}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Indoleacetic Acids/*pharmacology ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/biosynthesis/genetics ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcription, Genetic/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {A genome-wide transcriptional profile of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, the nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont of the soybean plant, revealed differential expression of approximately 15% of the genome after a 1 mM treatment with the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). A total of 1,323 genes were differentially expressed (619 up-regulated and 704 down-regulated) at a two-fold cut off with q value ≤ 0.05. General stress response genes were induced, such as those involved in response to heat, cold, oxidative, osmotic, and desiccation stresses and in exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis. This suggests that IAA is effective in activating a generalized stress response in B. japonicum. The transcriptional data were corroborated by the finding that stress tolerance of B. japonicum in cell viability assays was enhanced when pre-treated with 1 mM IAA compared to controls. The IAA treatment also stimulated biofilm formation and EPS production by B. japonicum, especially acidic sugar components in the total EPS. The IAA pre-treatment did not influence the nodulation ability of B. japonicum. The data provide a comprehensive overview of the potential transcriptional responses of the symbiotic bacterium when exposed to the ubiquitous hormone of its plant host.}, } @article {pmid24098345, year = {2013}, author = {Margaret, I and Lucas, MM and Acosta-Jurado, S and Buendía-Clavería, AM and Fedorova, E and Hidalgo, Á and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Rodriguez-Navarro, DN and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Vinardell, JM}, title = {The Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 lipopolysaccharide is not only relevant at early soybean nodulation stages but also for symbiosome stability in mature nodules.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e74717}, pmid = {24098345}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Mutation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {In this work we have characterised the Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 greA lpsB lpsCDE genetic region and analysed for the first time the symbiotic performance of Sinorhizobium fredii lps mutants on soybean. The organization of the S. fredii HH103 greA, lpsB, and lpsCDE genes was equal to that of Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. S. fredii HH103 greA, lpsB, and lpsE mutant derivatives produced altered LPS profiles that were characteristic of the gene mutated. In addition, S. fredii HH103 greA mutants showed a reduction in bacterial mobility and an increase of auto-agglutination in liquid cultures. RT-PCR and qPCR experiments demonstrated that the HH103 greA gene has a positive effect on the transcription of lpsB. Soybean plants inoculated with HH103 greA, lpsB or lpsE mutants formed numerous ineffective pseudonodules and showed severe symptoms of nitrogen starvation. However, HH103 greA and lps mutants were also able to induce the formation of a reduced number of soybean nodules of normal external morphology, allowing the possibility of studying the importance of bacterial LPS in later stages of the S. fredii HH103-soybean symbiosis. The infected cells of these nodules showed signs of early termination of symbiosis and lytical clearance of bacteroids. These cells also had very thick walls and accumulation of phenolic-like compounds, pointing to induced defense reactions. Our results show the importance of bacterial LPS in later stages of the S. fredii HH103-soybean symbiosis and their role in preventing host cell defense reactions. S. fredii HH103 lpsB mutants also showed reduced nodulation with Vigna unguiculata, although the symbiotic impairment was less pronounced than in soybean.}, } @article {pmid24098303, year = {2013}, author = {Mohd-Radzman, NA and Djordjevic, MA and Imin, N}, title = {Nitrogen modulation of legume root architecture signaling pathways involves phytohormones and small regulatory molecules.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {385}, pmid = {24098303}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitrogen, particularly nitrate is an important yield determinant for crops. However, current agricultural practice with excessive fertilizer usage has detrimental effects on the environment. Therefore, legumes have been suggested as a sustainable alternative for replenishing soil nitrogen. Legumes can uniquely form nitrogen-fixing nodules through symbiotic interaction with specialized soil bacteria. Legumes possess a highly plastic root system which modulates its architecture according to the nitrogen availability in the soil. Understanding how legumes regulate root development in response to nitrogen availability is an important step to improving root architecture. The nitrogen-mediated root development pathway starts with sensing soil nitrogen level followed by subsequent signal transduction pathways involving phytohormones, microRNAs and regulatory peptides that collectively modulate the growth and shape of the root system. This review focuses on the current understanding of nitrogen-mediated legume root architecture including local and systemic regulations by different N-sources and the modulations by phytohormones and small regulatory molecules.}, } @article {pmid24097942, year = {2013}, author = {Ray, VA and Eddy, JL and Hussa, EA and Misale, M and Visick, KL}, title = {The syp enhancer sequence plays a key role in transcriptional activation by the σ54-dependent response regulator SypG and in biofilm formation and host colonization by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {23}, pages = {5402-5412}, pmid = {24097942}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA Polymerase Sigma 54/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/*physiology ; Transcriptional Activation/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri is a complex process that requires multiple regulators. One such regulator, the NtrC-like response regulator SypG, controls biofilm formation and host colonization by V. fischeri via its impact on transcription of the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus. SypG is predicted to activate syp transcription by binding to the syp enhancer (SE), a conserved sequence located upstream of four syp promoters. In this study, we performed an in-depth analysis of the sequences necessary for SypG to promote syp transcription and biofilm formation. We found that the SE sequence is necessary for SypG-mediated syp transcription, identified individual bases necessary for efficient activation, and determined that SypG is able to bind to syp promoter regions. We also identified SE sequences outside the syp locus and established that SypG recognizes these sequences as well. Finally, deletion of the SE sequence upstream of sypA led to defects in both biofilm formation and host colonization that could be restored by reintroducing the SE sequence into its native location in the chromosome. This work thus fills in critical gaps in knowledge of the Syp regulatory circuit by demonstrating a role for the SE sequence in SypG-dependent control of biofilm formation and host colonization and by identifying new putative regulon members. It may also provide useful insights into other bacteria, such as Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, that have syp-like loci and conserved SE sequences.}, } @article {pmid24092791, year = {2013}, author = {Bomar, L and Stephens, WZ and Nelson, MC and Velle, K and Guillemin, K and Graf, J}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Aeromonas veronii Hm21, a Symbiotic Isolate from the Medicinal Leech Digestive Tract.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {5}, pages = {}, pmid = {24092791}, issn = {2169-8287}, support = {R01 GM095385/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Aeromonas veronii strain Hm21 was isolated from the digestive tract of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana and has been used to identify genes that are important for host colonization. This species is also a symbiont in the gut of zebrafish and is a pathogen of mammals and fish. We present here a 4.68-Mbp draft genome sequence for Hm21.}, } @article {pmid24091812, year = {2014}, author = {Webster, JD and Dunstan, RW}, title = {Whole-slide imaging and automated image analysis: considerations and opportunities in the practice of pathology.}, journal = {Veterinary pathology}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {211-223}, doi = {10.1177/0300985813503570}, pmid = {24091812}, issn = {1544-2217}, mesh = {Animals ; Automation ; Databases, Factual ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; Mice ; Pathology, Veterinary/*methods ; Software ; Telepathology/methods ; }, abstract = {Digital pathology, the practice of pathology using digitized images of pathologic specimens, has been transformed in recent years by the development of whole-slide imaging systems, which allow for the evaluation and interpretation of digital images of entire histologic sections. Applications of whole-slide imaging include rapid transmission of pathologic data for consultations and collaborations, standardization and distribution of pathologic materials for education, tissue specimen archiving, and image analysis of histologic specimens. Histologic image analysis allows for the acquisition of objective measurements of histomorphologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical properties of tissue sections, increasing both the quantity and quality of data obtained from histologic assessments. Currently, numerous histologic image analysis software solutions are commercially available. Choosing the appropriate solution is dependent on considerations of the investigative question, computer programming and image analysis expertise, and cost. However, all studies using histologic image analysis require careful consideration of preanalytical variables, such as tissue collection, fixation, and processing, and experimental design, including sample selection, controls, reference standards, and the variables being measured. The fields of digital pathology and histologic image analysis are continuing to evolve, and their potential impact on pathology is still growing. These methodologies will increasingly transform the practice of pathology, allowing it to mature toward a quantitative science. However, this maturation requires pathologists to be at the forefront of the process, ensuring their appropriate application and the validity of their results. Therefore, histologic image analysis and the field of pathology should co-evolve, creating a symbiotic relationship that results in high-quality reproducible, objective data.}, } @article {pmid24088627, year = {2014}, author = {Kim, JK and Jang, HA and Won, YJ and Kikuchi, Y and Heum Han, S and Kim, CH and Nikoh, N and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Purine biosynthesis-deficient Burkholderia mutants are incapable of symbiotic accommodation in the stinkbug.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {552-563}, pmid = {24088627}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofilms ; Burkholderia/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Genes, Insect ; Heteroptera/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Purines/*biosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiotic system represents a promising experimental model to study the molecular mechanisms involved in insect-bacterium symbiosis due to the availability of genetically manipulated Burkholderia symbiont. Using transposon mutagenesis screening, we found a symbiosis-deficient mutant that was able to colonize the host insect but failed to induce normal development of host's symbiotic organ. The disrupted gene was identified as purL involved in purine biosynthesis. In vitro growth impairment of the purL mutant and its growth dependency on adenine and adenosine confirmed the functional disruption of the purine synthesis gene. The purL mutant also showed defects in biofilm formation, and this defect was not rescued by supplementation of purine derivatives. When inoculated to host insects, the purL mutant was initially able to colonize the symbiotic organ but failed to attain a normal infection density. The low level of infection density of the purL mutant attenuated the development of the host's symbiotic organ at early instar stages and reduced the host's fitness throughout the nymphal stages. Another symbiont mutant-deficient in a purine biosynthesis gene, purM, showed phenotypes similar to those of the purL mutant both in vitro and in vivo, confirming that the purL phenotypes are due to disrupted purine biosynthesis. These results demonstrate that the purine biosynthesis genes of the Burkholderia symbiont are critical for the successful accommodation of symbiont within the host, thereby facilitating the development of the host's symbiotic organ and enhancing the host's fitness values.}, } @article {pmid24086741, year = {2013}, author = {Yang, W and Zheng, Y and Gao, C and He, X and Ding, Q and Kim, Y and Rui, Y and Wang, S and Guo, LD}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community response to warming and grazing differs between soil and roots on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e76447}, pmid = {24086741}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Altitude ; Analysis of Variance ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; Biota/*physiology ; *Global Warming ; *Herbivory ; Hot Temperature ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Population Dynamics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Spores, Fungal/physiology ; Tibet ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with most plant species in terrestrial ecosystems, and are affected by environmental variations. To reveal the impact of disturbance on an AM fungal community under future global warming, we examined the abundance and community composition of AM fungi in both soil and mixed roots in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. Warming and grazing had no significant effect on AM root colonization, spore density and extraradical hyphal density. A total of 65 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of AM fungi were identified from soil and roots using molecular techniques. AM fungal OTU richness was higher in soil (54 OTUs) than in roots (34 OTUs), and some AM fungi that differed between soil and roots, showed significantly biased occurrence to warming or grazing. Warming and grazing did not significantly affect AM fungal OTU richness in soil, but warming with grazing significantly increased AM fungal OTU richness in roots compared to the grazing-only treatment. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that the AM fungal community composition was significantly different between soil and roots, and was significantly affected by grazing in roots, whereas in soil it was significantly affected by warming and plant species richness. The results suggest that the AM fungal community responds differently to warming and grazing in soil compared with roots. This study provides insights into the role of AM fungi under global environmental change scenarios in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.}, } @article {pmid24086432, year = {2013}, author = {Nars, A and Lafitte, C and Chabaud, M and Drouillard, S and Mélida, H and Danoun, S and Le Costaouëc, T and Rey, T and Benedetti, J and Bulone, V and Barker, DG and Bono, JJ and Dumas, B and Jacquet, C and Heux, L and Fliegmann, J and Bottin, A}, title = {Aphanomyces euteiches cell wall fractions containing novel glucan-chitosaccharides induce defense genes and nuclear calcium oscillations in the plant host Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e75039}, pmid = {24086432}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/metabolism ; Aphanomyces/*cytology ; Calcium Signaling/*drug effects/genetics ; Cell Nucleus/drug effects/metabolism ; Cell Wall/*chemistry ; Chitin/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Chromatography, Gel ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant ; Glucans/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Models, Molecular ; Plant Epidermis/cytology/drug effects ; Plant Roots/cytology/drug effects ; }, abstract = {N-acetylglucosamine-based saccharides (chitosaccharides) are components of microbial cell walls and act as molecular signals during host-microbe interactions. In the legume plant Medicago truncatula, the perception of lipochitooligosaccharide signals produced by symbiotic rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi involves the Nod Factor Perception (NFP) lysin motif receptor-like protein and leads to the activation of the so-called common symbiotic pathway. In rice and Arabidopsis, lysin motif receptors are involved in the perception of chitooligosaccharides released by pathogenic fungi, resulting in the activation of plant immunity. Here we report the structural characterization of atypical chitosaccharides from the oomycete pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches, and their biological activity on the host Medicago truncatula. Using a combination of biochemical and biophysical approaches, we show that these chitosaccharides are linked to β-1,6-glucans, and contain a β-(1,3;1,4)-glucan backbone whose β-1,3-linked glucose units are substituted on their C-6 carbon by either glucose or N-acetylglucosamine residues. This is the first description of this type of structural motif in eukaryotic cell walls. Glucan-chitosaccharide fractions of A. euteiches induced the expression of defense marker genes in Medicago truncatula seedlings independently from the presence of a functional Nod Factor Perception protein. Furthermore, one of the glucan-chitosaccharide fractions elicited calcium oscillations in the nucleus of root cells. In contrast to the asymmetric oscillatory calcium spiking induced by symbiotic lipochitooligosaccharides, this response depends neither on the Nod Factor Perception protein nor on the common symbiotic pathway. These findings open new perspectives in oomycete cell wall biology and elicitor recognition and signaling in legumes.}, } @article {pmid24086270, year = {2013}, author = {Hoffman, MT and Gunatilaka, MK and Wijeratne, K and Gunatilaka, L and Arnold, AE}, title = {Endohyphal bacterium enhances production of indole-3-acetic acid by a foliar fungal endophyte.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e73132}, pmid = {24086270}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Xylariales/classification/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Numerous plant pathogens, rhizosphere symbionts, and endophytic bacteria and yeasts produce the important phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), often with profound effects on host plants. However, to date IAA production has not been documented among foliar endophytes -- the diverse guild of primarily filamentous Ascomycota that live within healthy, above-ground tissues of all plant species studied thus far. Recently bacteria that live within hyphae of endophytes (endohyphal bacteria) have been detected, but their effects have not been studied previously. Here we show not only that IAA is produced in vitro by a foliar endophyte (here identified as Pestalotiopsis aff. neglecta, Xylariales), but that IAA production is enhanced significantly when the endophyte hosts an endohyphal bacterium (here identified as Luteibacter sp., Xanthomonadales). Both the endophyte and the endophyte/bacterium complex appear to rely on an L-tryptophan dependent pathway for IAA synthesis. The bacterium can be isolated from the fungus when the symbiotic complex is cultivated at 36°C. In pure culture the bacterium does not produce IAA. Culture filtrate from the endophyte-bacterium complex significantly enhances growth of tomato in vitro relative to controls and to filtrate from the endophyte alone. Together these results speak to a facultative symbiosis between an endophyte and endohyphal bacterium that strongly influences IAA production, providing a new framework in which to explore endophyte-plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid24083789, year = {2013}, author = {Pejin, B and Jovanović, KK and Mojović, M and Savić, AG}, title = {New and highly potent antitumor natural products from marine-derived fungi: covering the period from 2003 to 2012.}, journal = {Current topics in medicinal chemistry}, volume = {13}, number = {21}, pages = {2745-2766}, doi = {10.2174/15680266113136660197}, pmid = {24083789}, issn = {1873-4294}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Aquatic Organisms ; Biological Products/chemistry ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Fungi/*chemistry ; Humans ; Indole Alkaloids/pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; }, abstract = {This review covers the 2003-2012 literature data published for antitumor natural products from marine-derived fungi. The focus is on new and highly potent cytotoxic compounds, together with details related to the relevant fungal species. It describes 22 promising bioactives, originating mainly from symbiotic fungi. The chemical structures of all highlighted organic molecules are briefly discussed.}, } @article {pmid24082124, year = {2013}, author = {Okazaki, S and Kaneko, T and Sato, S and Saeki, K}, title = {Hijacking of leguminous nodulation signaling by the rhizobial type III secretion system.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {42}, pages = {17131-17136}, pmid = {24082124}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacterial Secretion Systems/*physiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Rhizome/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Root-nodule symbiosis between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) involves molecular communication between the two partners. Key components for the establishment of symbiosis are rhizobium-derived lipochitooligosaccharides (Nod factors; NFs) and their leguminous receptors (NFRs) that initiate nodule development and bacterial entry. Here we demonstrate that the soybean microsymbiont Bradyrhizobium elkanii uses the type III secretion system (T3SS), which is known for its delivery of virulence factors by pathogenic bacteria, to promote symbiosis. Intriguingly, wild-type B. elkanii, but not the T3SS-deficient mutant, was able to form nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean nfr mutant En1282. Furthermore, even the NF-deficient B. elkanii mutant induced nodules unless T3SS genes were mutated. Transcriptional analysis revealed that expression of the soybean nodulation-specific genes ENOD40 and NIN was increased in the roots of En1282 inoculated with B. elkanii but not with its T3SS mutant, suggesting that T3SS activates host nodulation signaling by bypassing NF recognition. Root-hair curling and infection threads were not observed in the roots of En1282 inoculated with B. elkanii, indicating that T3SS is involved in crack entry or intercellular infection. These findings suggest that B. elkanii has adopted a pathogenic system for activating host symbiosis signaling to promote its infection.}, } @article {pmid24082011, year = {2013}, author = {Sinharoy, S and Torres-Jerez, I and Bandyopadhyay, K and Kereszt, A and Pislariu, CI and Nakashima, J and Benedito, VA and Kondorosi, E and Udvardi, MK}, title = {The C2H2 transcription factor regulator of symbiosome differentiation represses transcription of the secretory pathway gene VAMP721a and promotes symbiosome development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {3584-3601}, pmid = {24082011}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cell Differentiation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Secretory Pathway ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Transcription factors (TFs) are thought to regulate many aspects of nodule and symbiosis development in legumes, although few TFs have been characterized functionally. Here, we describe regulator of symbiosome differentiation (RSD) of Medicago truncatula, a member of the Cysteine-2/Histidine-2 (C2H2) family of plant TFs that is required for normal symbiosome differentiation during nodule development. RSD is expressed in a nodule-specific manner, with maximal transcript levels in the bacterial invasion zone. A tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) retrotransposon (Tnt1) insertion rsd mutant produced nodules that were unable to fix nitrogen and that contained incompletely differentiated symbiosomes and bacteroids. RSD protein was localized to the nucleus, consistent with a role of the protein in transcriptional regulation. RSD acted as a transcriptional repressor in a heterologous yeast assay. Transcriptome analysis of an rsd mutant identified 11 genes as potential targets of RSD repression. RSD interacted physically with the promoter of one of these genes, VAMP721a, which encodes vesicle-associated membrane protein 721a. Thus, RSD may influence symbiosome development in part by repressing transcription of VAMP721a and modifying vesicle trafficking in nodule cells. This establishes RSD as a TF implicated directly in symbiosome and bacteroid differentiation and a transcriptional regulator of secretory pathway genes in plants.}, } @article {pmid24078609, year = {2013}, author = {Lehman, AP and Long, SR}, title = {Exopolysaccharides from Sinorhizobium meliloti can protect against H2O2-dependent damage.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {23}, pages = {5362-5369}, pmid = {24078609}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*pharmacology ; Iron/metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti requires exopolysaccharides in order to form a successful nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Medicago species. Additionally, during early stages of symbiosis, S. meliloti is presented with an oxidative burst that must be overcome. Levels of production of the exopolysaccharides succinoglycan (EPS-I) and galactoglucan (EPS-II) were found to correlate positively with survival in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). H2O2 damage is dependent on the presence of iron and is mitigated when EPS-I and EPS-II mutants are cocultured with cells expressing either exopolysaccharide. Purified EPS-I is able to decrease in vitro levels of H2O2, and this activity is specific to the symbiotically active low-molecular-weight form of EPS-I. This suggests a potential protective function of exopolysaccharides against H2O2 during early symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24076512, year = {2013}, author = {Bianucci, E and Furlan, A and Rivadeneira, J and Sobrino-Plata, J and Carpena-Ruiz, RO and Tordable, Mdel C and Fabra, A and Hernández, LE and Castro, S}, title = {Influence of cadmium on the symbiotic interaction established between peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and sensitive or tolerant bradyrhizobial strains.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {130}, number = {}, pages = {126-134}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.08.056}, pmid = {24076512}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Arachis/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Oxidative Stress ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/drug effects/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Heavy metals in soil are known to affect rhizobia-legume interaction reducing not only rhizobia viability, but also nitrogen fixation. In this work, we have compared the response of the symbiotic interaction established between the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and a sensitive (Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144) or a tolerant (Bradyrhizobium sp. NLH25) strain to Cd under exposure to this metal. The addition of 10 μM Cd reduced nodulation and nitrogen content in both symbiotic associations, being the interaction established with the sensitive strain more affected than that with the tolerant one. Plants inoculated with the sensitive strain accumulated more Cd than those inoculated with the tolerant strain. Nodules showed an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production when exposed to Cd. The histological structure of the nodules exposed to Cd revealed a deposit of unknown material on the cortex and a significant reduction in the infection zone diameter in both strains, and a greater number of uninfected cells in those nodules occupied by the sensitive strain. In conclusion, Cd negatively impacts on peanut-bradyrhizobia interaction, irrespective of the tolerance of the strains to this metal. However, the inoculation of peanut with Bradyrhizobium sp. NLH25 results in a better symbiotic interaction suggesting that the tolerance observed in this strain could limit Cd accumulation by the plant.}, } @article {pmid24073263, year = {2013}, author = {Mialet, B and Majdi, N and Tackx, M and Azémar, F and Buffan-Dubau, E}, title = {Selective feeding of bdelloid rotifers in river biofilms.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e75352}, pmid = {24073263}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Animal Feed ; Animals ; Bacteriochlorophylls/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Diatoms/*physiology ; France ; Pigments, Biological/*analysis ; Rotifera/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; beta Carotene/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In situ pigment contents of biofilm-dwelling bdelloid rotifers of the Garonne River (France) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared with pigment composition of surrounding biofilm microphytobenthic communities. Among pigments that were detected in rotifers, the presence of carotenoids fucoxanthin and myxoxanthophyll showed that the rotifers fed on diatoms and cyanobacteria. Unexpectedly, while diatoms strongly dominated microphytobenthic communities in terms of biomass, HPLC results hinted that rotifers selectively ingested benthic filamentous cyanobacteria. In doing so, rotifers could daily remove a substantial fraction (up to 28%) of this cyanobacterial biomass. The possibility that the rotifers hosted symbiotic myxoxanthophyll-containing cyanobacteria was examined by localisation of chlorophyll fluorescence within rotifers using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). CLSM results showed an even distribution of quasi-circular fluorescent objects (FO) throughout rotifer bodies, whereas myxoxanthophyll is a biomarker pigment of filamentous cyanobacteria, so the hypothesis was rejected. Our results also suggest that rotifers converted β-carotene (provided by ingested algae) into echinenone, a photoprotective pigment. This study, which is the first one to detail in situ pigment contents of rotifers, clearly shows that the role of cyanobacteria as a food source for meiobenthic invertebrates has been underestimated so far, and deserves urgent consideration.}, } @article {pmid24072759, year = {2013}, author = {Franco, MC and Golowczyc, MA and De Antoni, GL and Pérez, PF and Humen, M and Serradell, MLA}, title = {Administration of kefir-fermented milk protects mice against Giardia intestinalis infection.}, journal = {Journal of medical microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {Pt 12}, pages = {1815-1822}, doi = {10.1099/jmm.0.068064-0}, pmid = {24072759}, issn = {1473-5644}, mesh = {Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Chemokines/immunology/metabolism ; Cultured Milk Products/*immunology/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/immunology ; Female ; Fermentation/*immunology ; Genes, MHC Class II/immunology ; Giardia lamblia/*immunology/metabolism ; Giardiasis/*immunology/metabolism/*prevention & control ; Immunoglobulin A/immunology/metabolism ; Inflammation/immunology/metabolism/prevention & control ; Interferon-gamma/immunology/metabolism ; Intestine, Small/immunology/metabolism ; Mast Cells/immunology/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Milk/*immunology/metabolism ; Mucous Membrane/immunology/metabolism ; Peyer's Patches/immunology/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Giardiasis, caused by the protozoan Giardia intestinalis, is one of the most common intestinal diseases worldwide and constitutes an important problem for the public health systems of various countries. Kefir is a probiotic drink obtained by fermenting milk with 'kefir grains', which consist mainly of bacteria and yeasts that coexist in a complex symbiotic association. In this work, we studied the ability of kefir to protect mice from G. intestinalis infection, and characterized the host immune response to this probiotic in the context of the intestinal infection. Six- to 8-week-old C75BL/6 mice were separated into four groups: controls, kefir mice (receiving 1 : 100 dilution of kefir in drinking water for 14 days), Giardia mice (infected orally with 4×10(7) trophozoites of G. intestinalis at day 7) and Giardia-kefir mice (kefir-treated G. intestinalis-infected mice), and killed at 2 or 7 days post-infection. Kefir administration was able to significantly reduce the intensity of Giardia infection at 7 days post-infection. An increase in the percentage of CD4(+) T cells at 2 days post-infection was observed in the Peyer's patches (PP) of mice belonging to the Giardia group compared with the control and kefir groups, while the percentage of CD4(+) T cells in PP in the Giardia-kefir group was similar to that of controls. At 2 days post-infection, a reduction in the percentage of B220-positive major histocompatibility complex class II medium cells in PP was observed in infected mice compared with the other groups. At 7 days post-infection, Giardia-infected mice showed a reduction in RcFcε-positive cells compared with the control group, suggesting a downregulation of the inflammatory response. However, the percentages of RcFcε-positive cells did not differ from controls in the kefir and Giardia-kefir groups. An increase in IgA-positive cells was observed in the lamina propria of the kefir group compared with controls at 2 days post-infection. Interestingly, the diminished number of IgA-positive cells registered in the Giardia group at 7 days post-infection was restored by kefir feeding, although the increase in IgA-positive cells was no longer observed in the kefir group at that time. No significant differences in CXCL10 expression were registered between groups, in concordance with the absence of inflammation in small-intestinal tissue. Interestingly, a slight reduction in CCL20 expression was observed in the Giardia group, suggesting that G. intestinalis might downregulate its expression as a way of evading the inflammatory immune response. On the other hand, a trend towards an increase in TNF-α expression was observed in the kefir group, while the Giardia-kefir group showed a significant increase in TNF-α expression. Moreover, kefir-receiving mice (kefir and Giardia-kefir groups) showed an increase in the expression of IFN-γ, the most relevant Th1 cytokine, at 2 days post-infection. Our results demonstrate that feeding mice with kefir reduces G. intestinalis infection and promotes the activation of different mechanisms of humoral and cellular immunity that are downregulated by parasitic infection, thus contributing to protection.}, } @article {pmid24072440, year = {2014}, author = {Farrell, KJ and Creed, RP and Brown, BL}, title = {Preventing overexploitation in a mutualism: partner regulation in the crayfish-branchiobdellid symbiosis.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {174}, number = {2}, pages = {501-510}, pmid = {24072440}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*physiology ; Astacoidea/*physiology ; Bacteria ; Body Size ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Gills/microbiology ; *Grooming ; Hemolymph/chemistry ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Motor Activity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {For a symbiosis to be a mutualism, benefits received must exceed costs incurred for both partners. Partners can prevent costly overexploitation through behaviors that moderate interactions with the other symbiont. In a symbiosis between crayfish and branchiobdellidan annelids, the worms can increase crayfish survival and growth by removing fouling material from the gills. However, overexploitation by the worms is possible and results in damage to host gills. We used behavioral observations to assess the degree to which two species of crayfish (Cambarus chasmodactylus and Orconectes cristavarius) use grooming to moderate their interaction with branchiobdellids. We found that grooming could effectively reduce worm numbers, and the proportion of total grooming directed at worms differed between crayfish species and as a function of worm number. O. cristavarius increased grooming in response to the addition of a single worm, while C. chasmodactylus only increased grooming in response to ten worms. These differences in the number of worms that trigger grooming behavior reflect differences between crayfish species in field settings. We also assessed whether antibacterial compounds in circulating crayfish hemolymph could limit bacterial gill fouling. O. cristavarius hemolymph inhibited some test bacteria more effectively than C. chasmodactylus did. Differences in the antibacterial properties of crayfish hemolymph may therefore help explain differences in both worm-directed grooming and worm loads in the field. We conclude that crayfish can use grooming to reduce worm numbers, which could lower the potential for gill damage, and that the level of grooming varies between crayfish species.}, } @article {pmid24072193, year = {2014}, author = {Maffei, G and Miozzi, L and Fiorilli, V and Novero, M and Lanfranco, L and Accotto, GP}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis attenuates symptom severity and reduces virus concentration in tomato infected by Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {179-186}, pmid = {24072193}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Begomovirus/*growth & development/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/physiology/*virology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is considered a natural instrument to improve plant health and productivity since mycorrhizal plants often show higher tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the impact of the AM symbiosis on infection by viral pathogens is still largely uncertain and little explored. In the present study, tomato plants were grown under controlled conditions and inoculated with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae. Once the mycorrhizal colonization had developed, plants were inoculated with the Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV), a geminivirus causing one of the most serious viral diseases of tomatoes in Mediterranean areas. Biological conditions consisted of control plants (C), TYLCSV-infected plants (V), mycorrhizal plants (M), and TYLCSV-infected mycorrhizal plants (MV). At the time of analysis, the level of mycorrhiza development and the expression profiles of mycorrhiza-responsive selected genes were not significantly modified by virus infection, thus indicating that the AM symbiosis was unaffected by the presence and spread of the virus. Viral symptoms were milder, and both shoot and root concentrations of viral DNA were lower in MV plants than in V plants. Overall F. mosseae colonization appears to exert a beneficial effect on tomato plants in attenuating the disease caused by TYLCSV.}, } @article {pmid24059551, year = {2013}, author = {Faa, G and Gerosa, C and Fanni, D and Nemolato, S and van Eyken, P and Fanos, V}, title = {Factors influencing the development of a personal tailored microbiota in the neonate, with particular emphasis on antibiotic therapy.}, journal = {The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians}, volume = {26 Suppl 2}, number = {}, pages = {35-43}, doi = {10.3109/14767058.2013.829700}, pmid = {24059551}, issn = {1476-4954}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Biological Evolution ; Child Development/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Individuality ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Microbiota/*drug effects/*physiology ; Parturition/physiology ; }, abstract = {In recent years, it has been clearly evidenced that most cells in a human being are not human: they are microbial, represented by more than 1000 microbial species. The vast majority of microbial species give rise to symbiotic host-bacterial interactions that are fundamental for human health. The complex of these microbial communities has been defined as microbiota or microbiome. These bacterial communities, forged over millennia of co-evolution with humans, are at the basis of a partnership with the developing human newborn, which is based on reciprocal molecular exchanges and cross-talking. Recent data on the role of the human microbiota in newborns and children clearly indicate that microbes have a potential importance to pediatrics, contributing to host nutrition, developmental regulation of intestinal angiogenesis, protection from pathogens, and development of the immune system. This review is aimed at reporting the most recent data on the knowledge of microbiota origin and development in the human newborn, and on the multiple factors influencing development and maturation of our microbiota, including the use and abuse of antibiotic therapies.}, } @article {pmid24066024, year = {2013}, author = {Kumar, A and Patil, D and Rajamohanan, PR and Ahmad, A}, title = {Isolation, purification and characterization of vinblastine and vincristine from endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum isolated from Catharanthus roseus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e71805}, pmid = {24066024}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Catharanthus/*microbiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Fusarium/*chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Vinblastine/*chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Vincristine/*chemistry/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi reside in a symbiotic fashion inside their host plants, mimic their chemistry and interestingly, produce the same natural products as their hosts and are thus being screened for the production of valuable compounds like taxol, camptothecin, podophyllotoxin, etc. Vinblastine and vincristine are excellent anti-cancer drugs but their current production using plants is non-abundant and expensive. In order to make these drugs readily available to the patients at affordable prices, we isolated the endophytic fungi from Catharanthus roseus plant and found a fungus AA-CRL-6 which produces vinblastine and vincristine in appreciable amounts. These drugs were purified by TLC and HPLC and characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, ESI-MS, MS/MS and (1)H NMR. One liter of culture filtrate yielded 76 µg and 67 µg of vinblastine and vincristine respectively. This endophytic fungal strain was identified as Fusarium oxysporum based upon its cultural and morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis.}, } @article {pmid24065976, year = {2013}, author = {Silva, L and Carvalho, H}, title = {Possible role of glutamine synthetase in the NO signaling response in root nodules by contributing to the antioxidant defenses.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {372}, pmid = {24065976}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is emerging as an important regulatory player in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. The occurrence of NO during several steps of the symbiotic interaction suggests an important, but yet unknown, signaling role of this molecule for root nodule formation and functioning. The identification of the molecular targets of NO is key for the assembly of the signal transduction cascade that will ultimately help to unravel NO function. We have recently shown that the key nitrogen assimilatory enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) is a molecular target of NO in root nodules of Medicago truncatula, being post-translationally regulated by tyrosine nitration in relation to nitrogen fixation. In functional nodules of M. truncatula NO formation has been located in the bacteroid containing cells of the fixation zone, where the ammonium generated by bacterial nitrogenase is released to the plant cytosol and assimilated into the organic pools by plant GS. We propose that the NO-mediated GS post-translational inactivation is connected to nitrogenase inhibition induced by NO and is related to metabolite channeling to boost the nodule antioxidant defenses. Glutamate, a substrate for GS activity is also the precursor for the synthesis of glutathione (GSH), which is highly abundant in root nodules of several plant species and known to play a major role in the antioxidant defense participating in the ascorbate/GSH cycle. Existing evidence suggests that upon NO-mediated GS inhibition, glutamate could be channeled for the synthesis of GSH. According to this hypothesis, GS would be involved in the NO-signaling responses in root nodules and the NO-signaling events would meet the nodule metabolic pathways to provide an adaptive response to the inhibition of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by reactive nitrogen species.}, } @article {pmid24065525, year = {2013}, author = {Jamali, S and Banihashemi, Z}, title = {Species-specific ITS primers for the identification of Picoa juniperi and Picoa lefebvrei and using nested-PCR for detection of P. juniperi in planta.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {40}, number = {10}, pages = {5701-5712}, pmid = {24065525}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Cistaceae/*microbiology ; DNA Primers/*metabolism ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/*metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Desert truffles, hypogeous Pezizales (Ascomycota), are difficult to identify due to evolutionary convergence of morphological characters among taxa that share a similar habitat and mode of spore dispersal. Also, during their symbiotic phase, these are barely distinguishable morphologically, and molecular probes are needed for their identification. We have developed a PCR-based method for the identification of Picoa juniperi and Picoa lefebvrei based on internal transcribed spacers of rDNA. Two PCR primers specific for P. lefebvrei (FLE/RLE) and two specific for P. juniperi (FJU/RJU) were designed. A collection of samples from different geographical areas representing diversity of these species were examined for unique regions of internal transcribed spacers 1, 2 and 5.8S gene of rDNA (ITS) compared to other closely related species. Annealing temperatures and extension times were optimized for each set of primers for maximum specificity and efficiency. They proved to be efficient to specifically detect the presence of P. juniperi and P. lefebvrei by PCR and neither set amplified purified DNA from other truffle species as well as some ascomycetous fungi. The partial small subunit of ribosomal DNA genes of P. juniperi were amplified with the genomic DNA extracted from Helianthemum ledifolium var. ledifolium roots by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the universal fungal primer pair ITS1/ITS4 and specific primer pair FTC/RTC, which was designed based on internal transcribed spacer 1, 2 and 5.8S gene of rDNA sequences of P juniperi. The nested-PCR was sensitive enough to re-amplify the direct-PCR product, resulting in a DNA fragment of 426 bp. The efficacy of nested-PCR showed that it could re-amplify the direct-PCR product and detect 200 fg genomic DNA.}, } @article {pmid24063274, year = {2013}, author = {Bergmann, MS}, title = {The woman I love and the woman I cannot live without.}, journal = {Psychoanalytic review}, volume = {100}, number = {5}, pages = {769-774}, doi = {10.1521/prev.2013.100.5.769}, pmid = {24063274}, issn = {1943-3301}, mesh = {*Conflict, Psychological ; *Dependency, Psychological ; Extramarital Relations/*psychology ; Female ; Guilt ; Humans ; Individuation ; *Interpersonal Relations ; *Love ; Middle Aged ; Mother-Child Relations/psychology ; *Psychoanalytic Interpretation ; Spouses/psychology ; Women ; }, abstract = {The relationship between love and the symbiotic phase of childhood is explored from a new angle in terms of a conflict between "the woman I love" and "the woman I cannot live without." Love requires dependency, but it can also lead to giving up independent existence; then it becomes inimical to the relationship.}, } @article {pmid24062758, year = {2013}, author = {Brear, EM and Day, DA and Smith, PM}, title = {Iron: an essential micronutrient for the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {359}, pmid = {24062758}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes, which develop a symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, have an increased demand for iron. Iron is required for the synthesis of iron-containing proteins in the host, including the highly abundant leghemoglobin, and in bacteroids for nitrogenase and cytochromes of the electron transport chain. Deficiencies in iron can affect initiation and development of the nodule. Within root cells, iron is chelated with organic acids such as citrate and nicotianamine and distributed to other parts of the plant. Transport to the nitrogen-fixing bacteroids in infected cells of nodules is more complicated. Formation of the symbiosis results in bacteroids internalized within root cortical cells of the legume where they are surrounded by a plant-derived membrane termed the symbiosome membrane (SM). This membrane forms an interface that regulates nutrient supply to the bacteroid. Consequently, iron must cross this membrane before being supplied to the bacteroid. Iron is transported across the SM as both ferric and ferrous iron. However, uptake of Fe(II) by both the symbiosome and bacteroid is faster than Fe(III) uptake. Members of more than one protein family may be responsible for Fe(II) transport across the SM. The only Fe(II) transporter in nodules characterized to date is GmDMT1 (Glycine max divalent metal transporter 1), which is located on the SM in soybean. Like the root plasma membrane, the SM has ferric iron reductase activity. The protein responsible has not been identified but is predicted to reduce ferric iron accumulated in the symbiosome space prior to uptake by the bacteroid. With the recent publication of a number of legume genomes including Medicago truncatula and G. max, a large number of additional candidate transport proteins have been identified. Members of the NRAMP (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein), YSL (yellow stripe-like), VIT (vacuolar iron transporter), and ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-like protein) transport families show enhanced expression in nodules and are expected to play a role in the transport of iron and other metals across symbiotic membranes.}, } @article {pmid24062644, year = {2013}, author = {Bhattacharjee, S and Lukiw, WJ}, title = {Alzheimer's disease and the microbiome.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular neuroscience}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {153}, pmid = {24062644}, issn = {1662-5102}, support = {R01 AG018031/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG038834/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, } @article {pmid24060115, year = {2013}, author = {Thompson, A and Bench, S and Carter, B and Zehr, J}, title = {Coupling FACS and genomic methods for the characterization of uncultivated symbionts.}, journal = {Methods in enzymology}, volume = {531}, number = {}, pages = {45-60}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-407863-5.00003-4}, pmid = {24060115}, issn = {1557-7988}, mesh = {Ecology ; *Flow Cytometry ; Genome, Bacterial ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Metagenomics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between microbes are likely widespread and functionally relevant in diverse biological systems; however, they are difficult to discover. Most microbes remain uncultivated, symbioses can be relatively rare or dynamic, and intercellular connections can be delicate. Thus, traditional methods such as microscopy are inadequate for efficient discovery and precise characterization of novel interactions, their metabolic basis, and the species involved. High-throughput metagenomic sequencing of entire microbial communities has revolutionized the field of microbial ecology; however, genomic signals from symbionts can get buried in sequences from abundant organisms and evidence for direct links between microbial species cannot be gained from bulk samples. Thus, a specialized approach to the characterization of symbioses between naturally occurring microbes is required. This chapter presents methods for combining fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate and separate uncultivated symbionts with molecular biology techniques for DNA amplification in order to characterize uncultivated symbionts through genomic and metagenomic techniques.}, } @article {pmid24060114, year = {2013}, author = {Trembath-Reichert, E and Green-Saxena, A and Orphan, VJ}, title = {Whole cell immunomagnetic enrichment of environmental microbial consortia using rRNA-targeted Magneto-FISH.}, journal = {Methods in enzymology}, volume = {531}, number = {}, pages = {21-44}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-407863-5.00002-2}, pmid = {24060114}, issn = {1557-7988}, support = {5 T32 GM07616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/classification/genetics ; DNA, Archaeal/classification/*genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/*methods ; Metagenomics ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Magneto-FISH, in combination with metagenomic techniques, explores the middle ground between single-cell analysis and complex community characterization in bulk samples to better understand microbial partnerships and their roles in ecosystems. The Magneto-FISH method combines the selectivity of catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) with immunomagnetic capture to provide targeted molecular and metagenomic analysis of co-associated microorganisms in the environment. This method was originally developed by Pernthaler et al. (Pernthaler et al., 2008; Pernthaler & Orphan, 2010). It led to the discovery of new bacterial groups associated with anaerobic methane-oxidizing (ANME-2) archaea in methane seeps, as well as provided insight into their physiological potential using metagenomics. Here, we demonstrate the utility of this method for capturing aggregated consortia using a series of nested oligonucleotide probes of differing specificity designed to target either the ANME archaea or their Deltaproteobacteria partner, combined with 16S rRNA and mcrA analysis. This chapter outlines a modified Magneto-FISH protocol for large- and small-volume samples and evaluates the strengths and limitations of this method predominantly focusing on (1) the relationship between FISH probe specificity and sample selectivity, (2) means of improving DNA yield from paraformaldehyde-fixed samples, and (3) suggestions for adapting the Magneto-FISH method for other microbial systems, including potential for single-cell recovery.}, } @article {pmid24059806, year = {2014}, author = {Naito, Y and Marotta, F and Kantah, MK and Zerbinati, N and Kushugulova, A and Zhumadilov, Z and Illuzzi, N and Sapienza, C and Takadanohara, H and Kobayashi, R and Catanzaro, R}, title = {Gut-targeted immunonutrition boosting natural killer cell activity using Saccharomyces boulardii lysates in immuno-compromised healthy elderly subjects.}, journal = {Rejuvenation research}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {184-187}, pmid = {24059806}, issn = {1557-8577}, mesh = {Aged ; Aging/drug effects/immunology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/drug effects ; *Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*immunology ; *Health ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host/*drug effects ; Immunologic Factors/*pharmacology ; Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects/*immunology ; Male ; Saccharomyces/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to assess the immunomodulatory effect of KC-1317 (a symbiotic mixture containing Saccharomyces boulardii lysate in a cranberry, colostrum-derived lactoferrin, fragaria, and lactose mixture) supplementation in immune-compromised but otherwise healthy elderly subjects. A liquid formulation of KC-1317 was administered in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) fashion to healthy volunteers (65-79 years) previously selected for low natural killer (NK) cell activity, and this parameter was checked at the completion of the study. A significant improvement in NK cell activity of KC-1317 consumers was observed as compared to placebo at the end of 2 months. Although preliminary, these beneficial immune-modulatory effects of KC-1317 in aged individuals might indicate its employment within a wider age-management strategy.}, } @article {pmid24058172, year = {2013}, author = {Ellerbeck, M and Schüßler, A and Brucker, D and Dafinger, C and Loos, F and Brachmann, A}, title = {Characterization of three ammonium transporters of the glomeromycotan fungus Geosiphon pyriformis.}, journal = {Eukaryotic cell}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {1554-1562}, pmid = {24058172}, issn = {1535-9786}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Cation Transport Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*metabolism ; Intracellular Membranes/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Members of the Glomeromycota form the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis. They supply plants with inorganic nutrients, including nitrogen, from the soil. To gain insight into transporters potentially facilitating nitrogen transport processes, ammonium transporters (AMTs) of Geosiphon pyriformis, a glomeromycotan fungus forming a symbiosis with cyanobacteria, were studied. Three AMT genes were identified, and all three were expressed in the symbiotic stage. The localization and functional characterization of the proteins in a heterologous yeast system revealed distinct characteristics for each of them. AMT1 of G. pyriformis (GpAMT1) and GpAMT2 were both plasma membrane localized, but only GpAMT1 transported ammonium. Neither protein transported the ammonium analogue methylammonium. Unexpectedly, GpAMT3 was localized in the vacuolar membrane, and it has as-yet-unknown transport characteristics. An unusual cysteine residue in the AMT signature of GpAMT2 and GpAMT3 was identified, and the corresponding residue was demonstrated to play an important role in ammonium transport. Surprisingly, each of the three AMTs of G. pyriformis had very distinct features. The localization of an AMT in the yeast vacuolar membrane is novel, as is the described amino acid residue that clearly influences ammonium transport. The AMT characteristics might reflect adaptations to the lifestyle of glomeromycotan fungi.}, } @article {pmid24057134, year = {2013}, author = {Thomanek, H and Schenk, ST and Stein, E and Kogel, KH and Schikora, A and Maison, W}, title = {Modified N-acyl-homoserine lactones as chemical probes for the elucidation of plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Organic & biomolecular chemistry}, volume = {11}, number = {40}, pages = {6994-7003}, doi = {10.1039/c3ob41215f}, pmid = {24057134}, issn = {1477-0539}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/chemical synthesis/*chemistry ; Biosensing Techniques ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Molecular Structure ; Plants/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Gram-negative bacteria often use N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signal molecules to monitor their local population densities and to regulate gene-expression in a process called "Quorum Sensing" (QS). This cell-to-cell communication allows bacteria to adapt to environmental changes and to behave as multicellular communities. QS plays a key role in both bacterial virulence towards the host and symbiotic interactions with other organisms. Plants also perceive AHLs and respond to them with changes in gene expression or modifications in development. Herein, we report the synthesis of new AHL-derivatives for the investigation and identification of AHL-interacting proteins. We show that our new compounds are still recognised by different bacteria and that a novel biotin-tagged-AHL derivative interacts with a bacterial AHL receptor.}, } @article {pmid24056927, year = {2013}, author = {David, R}, title = {Symbiosis: non-legumes answer the rhizobial call.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {740-741}, pmid = {24056927}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*immunology/*microbiology ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*immunology ; }, } @article {pmid24056637, year = {2013}, author = {Zielazinski, EL and González-Guerrero, M and Subramanian, P and Stemmler, TL and Argüello, JM and Rosenzweig, AC}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti Nia is a P(1B-5)-ATPase expressed in the nodule during plant symbiosis and is involved in Ni and Fe transport.}, journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, volume = {5}, number = {12}, pages = {1614-1623}, pmid = {24056637}, issn = {1756-591X}, support = {DK068139/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM58518/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA060553/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM058518/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 5T32 GM008382/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK068139/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008382/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphatases/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Gene Expression ; Iron/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Nickel/*metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The P1B-ATPases are a ubiquitous family of metal transporters. These transporters are classified into subfamilies on the basis of substrate specificity, which is conferred by conserved amino acids in the last three transmembrane domains. Five subfamilies have been identified to date, and representative members of four (P1B-1 to P1B-4) have been studied. The fifth family (P1B-5), of which some members contain a C-terminal hemerythrin (Hr) domain, is less well characterized. The S. meliloti Sma1163 gene encodes for a P1B-5-ATPase, denoted Nia (Nickel-iron ATPase), that is induced by exogenous Fe(2+) and Ni(2+). The nia mutant accumulates nickel and iron, suggesting a possible role in detoxification of these two elements under free-living conditions, as well as in symbiosis, when the highest expression levels are measured. This function is supported by an inhibitory effect of Fe(2+) and Ni(2+) on the pNPPase activity, and by the ability of Nia to bind Fe(2+) in the transmembrane domain. Optical and X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies of the isolated Hr domain confirm the presence of a dinuclear iron center and suggest that this domain might function as an iron sensor.}, } @article {pmid24055446, year = {2014}, author = {Mittal, R and Coopersmith, CM}, title = {Redefining the gut as the motor of critical illness.}, journal = {Trends in molecular medicine}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {214-223}, pmid = {24055446}, issn = {1471-499X}, support = {GM095442/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM072808/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM095442/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM072808/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM104323/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM104323/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Critical Illness/*epidemiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Lymphatic Vessels/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Sepsis/epidemiology/*microbiology/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {The gut is hypothesized to play a central role in the progression of sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Critical illness alters gut integrity by increasing epithelial apoptosis and permeability and by decreasing epithelial proliferation and mucus integrity. Additionally, toxic gut-derived lymph induces distant organ injury. Although the endogenous microflora ordinarily exist in a symbiotic relationship with the gut epithelium, severe physiological insults alter this relationship, leading to induction of virulence factors in the microbiome, which, in turn, can perpetuate or worsen critical illness. This review highlights newly discovered ways in which the gut acts as the motor that perpetuates the systemic inflammatory response in critical illness.}, } @article {pmid24055419, year = {2013}, author = {Verma, M and Lal, D and Saxena, A and Anand, S and Kaur, J and Kaur, J and Lal, R}, title = {Understanding alternative fluxes/effluxes through comparative metabolic pathway analysis of phylum actinobacteria using a simplified approach.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {531}, number = {2}, pages = {306-317}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2013.08.076}, pmid = {24055419}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/metabolism ; Actinobacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*genetics ; Citric Acid Cycle/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Comprehension ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Glycolysis/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Models, Biological ; Pentose Phosphate Pathway/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pyruvic Acid/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Actinobacteria are known for their diverse metabolism and physiology. Some are dreadful human pathogens whereas some constitute the natural flora for human gut. Therefore, the understanding of metabolic pathways is a key feature for targeting the pathogenic bacteria without disturbing the symbiotic ones. A big challenge faced today is multiple drug resistance by Mycobacterium and other pathogens that utilize alternative fluxes/effluxes. With the availability of genome sequence, it is now feasible to conduct the comparative in silico analysis. Here we present a simplified approach to compare metabolic pathways so that the species specific enzyme may be traced and engineered for future therapeutics. The analyses of four key carbohydrate metabolic pathways, i.e., glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, tri carboxylic acid cycle and pentose phosphate pathway suggest the presence of alternative fluxes. It was found that the upper pathway of glycolysis was highly variable in the actinobacterial genomes whereas lower glycolytic pathway was highly conserved. Likewise, pentose phosphate pathway was well conserved in contradiction to TCA cycle, which was found to be incomplete in majority of actinobacteria. The clustering based on presence and absence of genes of these metabolic pathways clearly revealed that members of different genera shared identical pathways and, therefore, provided an easy method to identify the metabolic similarities/differences between pathogenic and symbiotic organisms. The analyses could identify isoenzymes and some key enzymes that were found to be missing in some pathogenic actinobacteria. The present work defines a simple approach to explore the effluxes in four metabolic pathways within the phylum actinobacteria. The analysis clearly reflects that actinobacteria exhibit diverse routes for metabolizing substrates. The pathway comparison can help in finding the enzymes that can be used as drug targets for pathogens without effecting symbiotic organisms within the same host. This may help to prevail over the multiple drug resistance, for designing broad spectrum drugs, in food industries and other clinical research areas.}, } @article {pmid24055138, year = {2013}, author = {Duhamel, M and Vandenkoornhuyse, P}, title = {Sustainable agriculture: possible trajectories from mutualistic symbiosis and plant neodomestication.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {597-600}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2013.08.010}, pmid = {24055138}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Breeding ; Crops, Agricultural/cytology/*microbiology/physiology ; Food Supply ; Humans ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Food demand will increase concomitantly with human population. Food production therefore needs to be high enough and, at the same time, minimize damage to the environment. This equation cannot be solved with current strategies. Based on recent findings, new trajectories for agriculture and plant breeding which take into account the belowground compartment and evolution of mutualistic strategy, are proposed in this opinion article. In this context, we argue that plant breeders have the opportunity to make use of native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in an innovative ecologically intensive agriculture.}, } @article {pmid24054801, year = {2013}, author = {Vinogradov, SN and Bailly, X and Smith, DR and Tinajero-Trejo, M and Poole, RK and Hoogewijs, D}, title = {Microbial eukaryote globins.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {391-446}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-407693-8.00009-1}, pmid = {24054801}, issn = {2162-5468}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Eukaryota/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Globins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A bioinformatics survey of about 120 protist and 240 fungal genomes and transcriptomes revealed a broad array of globins, representing five of the eight subfamilies identified in bacteria. Most conspicuous is the absence of protoglobins and globin-coupled sensors, except for a two-domain globin in Leishmanias, that comprises a nucleotidyl cyclase domain, and the virtual absence of truncated group 3 globins. In contrast to bacteria, co-occurrence of more than two globin subfamilies appears to be rare in protists. Although globins were lacking in the Apicomplexa and the Microsporidia intracellular pathogens, they occurred in the pathogenic Trypanosomatidae, Stramenopiles and certain fungi. Flavohaemoglobins (FHbs) and related single-domain globins occur across the protist groups. Fungi are unique in having FHbs co-occurring with sensor single-domain globins (SSDgbs). Obligately biotrophic fungi covered in our analysis lack globins. Furthermore, SSDgbs occur only in a heterolobosean amoeba, Naegleria and the stramenopile Hyphochytrium. Of the three subfamilies of truncated Mb-fold globins, TrHb1s appear to be the most widespread, occurring as multiple copies in chlorophyte and ciliophora genomes, many as multidomain proteins. Although the ciliates appear to have only TrHb1s, the chlorophytes have Mb-like globins and TrHb2s, both closely related to the corresponding plant globins. The presently available number of protist genomes is inadequate to provide a definitive census of their globins. Bayesian molecular analyses of single-domain 3/3 Mb-fold globins suggest a close relationship of chlorophyte and haptophyte globins, including choanoflagellate and Capsaspora globins to land plant symbiotic and non-symbiotic haemoglobins and to vertebrate neuroglobins.}, } @article {pmid24054695, year = {2014}, author = {Shamseldin, A and Moawad, H and Abd El-Rahim, WM and Sadowsky, MJ}, title = {Near-full length sequencing of 16S rDNA and RFLP indicates that Rhizobium etli is the dominant species nodulating Egyptian winter Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.).}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {37}, number = {2}, pages = {121-128}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.08.002}, pmid = {24054695}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Egypt ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium etli/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Trifolium/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Egyptian winter Berseem clover (EWBC) is one of the main important forage legume crops in Egypt that is used for animal feeding in winter and it occupies about 2.5 million feddans (Feddan=4200m(2)) in winter agricultural rotation systems. Forty-eight rhizobial isolates that nodulated this legume host from different geographical regions within Egypt were isolated. RFLP analyses of 16S rDNA (1.5kb) and whole ribosomal DNA (5kb), the sequencing of 16S rDNA, and the sequencing of nodC, nifH and house keeping genes were used to identify these isolates. The RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA (1.5kb) among 15 representative strains with three enzymes generated two genotypes. The largest genotype was similar to Rhizobium etli CFN42T (93.33%) except for strain 902 that failed to re-nodulate EWBC. RFLP analysis of complete ribosomal DNA (5kb) produced five genotypes. The majority of tested strains shared the genotype with R. etli CFN42T (53.33%). Only one strain (1002) shared the genotype with Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii 3023. The other four strains were comprised of two unique genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences revealed that seven representative strains could be divided into two genetic clusters sharing the ancestral clad with R. etli CFN42T. A phylogenetic tree based on nodC gene sequence confirmed that all the examined strains shared the genetic lineage with R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii WSM1325. The phylogenetic trees of house keeping genes are supported strongly the identification of majority of strains as a novel symbiovar of R. etli with new lineages.}, } @article {pmid24053607, year = {2013}, author = {Ioannidis, P and Johnston, KL and Riley, DR and Kumar, N and White, JR and Olarte, KT and Ott, S and Tallon, LJ and Foster, JM and Taylor, MJ and Dunning Hotopp, JC}, title = {Extensively duplicated and transcriptionally active recent lateral gene transfer from a bacterial Wolbachia endosymbiont to its host filarial nematode Brugia malayi.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {639}, pmid = {24053607}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {DP2 OD007372/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; 1-DP2-OD007372/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brugia malayi/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Helminth ; Open Reading Frames ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wolbachia/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected tropical disease afflicting more than 120 million people, while another 1.3 billion people are at risk of infection. The nematode worm Brugia malayi is one of the causative agents of the disease and exists in a mutualistic symbiosis with Wolbachia bacteria. Since extensive lateral gene transfer occurs frequently between Wolbachia and its hosts, we sought to measure the extent of such LGT in B. malayi by whole genome sequencing of Wolbachia-depleted worms.

RESULTS: A considerable fraction (at least 115.4-kbp, or 10.6%) of the 1.08-Mbp Wolbachia wBm genome has been transferred to its nematode host and retains high levels of similarity, including 227 wBm genes and gene fragments. Complete open reading frames were transferred for 32 of these genes, meaning they have the potential to produce functional proteins. Moreover, four transfers have evidence of life stage-specific regulation of transcription at levels similar to other nematode transcripts, strengthening the possibility that they are functional.

CONCLUSIONS: There is extensive and ongoing transfer of Wolbachia DNA to the worm genome and some transfers are transcribed in a stage-specific manner at biologically relevant levels.}, } @article {pmid24051445, year = {2014}, author = {Romero, E and Ruiz, MC}, title = {Proposal of an agent-based analytical model to convert industrial areas in industrial eco-systems.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {468-469}, number = {}, pages = {394-405}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.08.049}, pmid = {24051445}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Architecture ; Computer Simulation ; Conservation of Natural Resources/*methods/trends ; Cooperative Behavior ; Databases, Factual ; *Ecosystem ; Game Theory ; Humans ; *Industry ; *Models, Theoretical ; Systems Theory ; }, abstract = {The transformation of industrial areas towards greater sustainability results from a strategic objective to address the effects of economic and environmental crisis. Such transformation, however, requires methodologies and tools that support and facilitate the process. This paper proposes an analytical model that favours the redesign of industrial areas based on sustainable strategies for eco-industrial parks. The proposed model is enhanced by the definition of building blocks of an agent-based modelling method. The methodology that was followed favours the detailed description of the objectives of the system, with individual elements and adaptation to the surrounding environment, amongst other features. The proposed model integrates a knowledge database that supports the process of identification of cooperative strategies such as material exchange networks in industrial areas. The underlying theory for the assessment of cooperative interactions is game theory, which supports the resolution of problems with strategic choices. This work covers the stage of analytical model formulation that is essential for advancement towards the inference process based on simulation models.}, } @article {pmid24050702, year = {2014}, author = {Engelmoer, DJP and Behm, JE and Toby Kiers, E}, title = {Intense competition between arbuscular mycorrhizal mutualists in an in vitro root microbiome negatively affects total fungal abundance.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1584-1593}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12451}, pmid = {24050702}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Biomass ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/chemistry ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The root microbiome is composed of an incredibly diverse microbial community that provides services to the plant. A major question in rhizosphere research is how species in root microbiome communities interact with each other and their host. In the nutrient mutualism between host plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), competition often leads to certain species dominating host colonization, with the outcome being dependent on environmental conditions. In the past, it has been difficult to quantify the abundance of closely related species and track competitive interactions in different regions of the rhizosphere, specifically within and outside the host. Here, we used an artificial root system (in vitro root organ cultures) to investigate intraradical (within the root) and extraradical (outside the root) competitive interactions between two closely related AMF species, Rhizophagus irregularis and Glomus aggregatum, under different phosphorus availabilities. We found that competitive interactions between AMF species reduced overall fungal abundance. R. irregularis was consistently the most abundant symbiont for both intraradical and extraradical colonization. Competition was the most intense for resources within the host, where both species negatively affected each other's abundance. We found the investment ratio (i.e. extraradical abundance/intraradical abundance) shifted for both species depending on whether competitors were present or not. Phosphorus availability did not change the outcome of these interactions. Our results suggest that studies on competitive interactions should focus on intraradical colonization dynamics and consider how changes in investment ratio are mediated by fungal species interactions.}, } @article {pmid24048157, year = {2013}, author = {Chouvenc, T and Efstathion, CA and Elliott, ML and Su, NY}, title = {Extended disease resistance emerging from the faecal nest of a subterranean termite.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1770}, pages = {20131885}, pmid = {24048157}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Feces/microbiology ; Florida ; Fungi/*drug effects ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Social insects nesting in soil environments are in constant contact with entomopathogens but have evolved a range of defence mechanisms, resulting in both individual and social immunity that reduce the chance for epizootics in the colony, as in the case of subterranean termites. Coptotermes formosanus uses its faeces as building material for its nest structure that result into a 'carton material', and here, we report that the faecal nest supports the growth of Actinobacteria which provide another level of protection to the social group against entomopathogens. A Streptomyces species with in vivo antimicrobial activity against fungal entomopathogens was isolated from the nest material of multiple termite colonies. Termite groups were exposed to Metarhizium anisopliae, a fungal entomopathogen, during their foraging activity and the presence of Streptomyces within the nest structure provided a significant survival benefit to the termites. Therefore, this report describes a non-nutritional exosymbiosis in a termite, in the form of a defensive mutualism which has emerged from the use of faecal material in the nesting structure of Coptotermes. The association with an Actinobacteria community in the termite faecal material provides an extended disease resistance to the termite group as another level of defence, in addition to their individual and social immunity.}, } @article {pmid24048154, year = {2013}, author = {Lorion, J and Kiel, S and Faure, B and Kawato, M and Ho, SY and Marshall, B and Tsuchida, S and Miyazaki, J and Fujiwara, Y}, title = {Adaptive radiation of chemosymbiotic deep-sea mussels.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1770}, pages = {20131243}, pmid = {24048154}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Body Size ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Speciation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mytilidae/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Adaptive radiations present fascinating opportunities for studying the evolutionary process. Most cases come from isolated lakes or islands, where unoccupied ecological space is filled through novel adaptations. Here, we describe an unusual example of an adaptive radiation: symbiotic mussels that colonized island-like chemosynthetic environments such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and sunken organic substrates on the vast deep-sea floor. Our time-calibrated molecular phylogeny suggests that the group originated and acquired sulfur-oxidizing symbionts in the Late Cretaceous, possibly while inhabiting organic substrates and long before its major radiation in the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene. The first appearance of intracellular and methanotrophic symbionts was detected only after this major radiation. Thus, contrary to expectations, the major radiation may have not been triggered by the evolution of novel types of symbioses. We hypothesize that environmental factors, such as increased habitat availability and/or increased dispersal capabilities, sparked the radiation. Intracellular and methanotrophic symbionts were acquired in several independent lineages and marked the onset of a second wave of diversification at vents and seeps. Changes in habitat type resulted in adaptive trends in shell lengths (related to the availability of space and energy, and physiological trade-offs) and in the successive colonization of greater water depths.}, } @article {pmid24047645, year = {2013}, author = {Vahabi, K and Camehl, I and Sherameti, I and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Growth of Arabidopsis seedlings on high fungal doses of Piriformospora indica has little effect on plant performance, stress, and defense gene expression in spite of elevated jasmonic acid and jasmonic acid-isoleucine levels in the roots.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e26301}, pmid = {24047645}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Anthocyanins/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/*genetics/immunology/microbiology/*physiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Electron Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glucuronidase/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Isoleucine/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycelium/growth & development ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/*growth & development ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica colonizes the roots of many plant species including Arabidopsis and promotes their performance, biomass, and seed production as well as resistance against biotic and abiotic stress. Imbalances in the symbiotic interaction such as uncontrolled fungal growth result in the loss of benefits for the plants and activation of defense responses against the microbe. We exposed Arabidopsis seedlings to a dense hyphal lawn of P. indica. The seedlings continue to grow, accumulate normal amounts of chlorophyll, and the photosynthetic parameters demonstrate that they perform well. In spite of high fungal doses around the roots, the fungal material inside the roots was not significantly higher when compared with roots that live in a beneficial symbiosis with P. indica. Fifteen defense- and stress-related genes including PR2, PR3, PAL2, and ERF1 are only moderately upregulated in the roots on the fungal lawn, and the seedlings did not accumulate H2O2/radical oxygen species. However, accumulation of anthocyanin in P. indica-exposed seedlings indicates stress symptoms. Furthermore, the jasmonic acid (JA) and jasmonic acid-isoleucine (JA-Ile) levels were increased in the roots, and consequently PDF1.2 and a newly characterized gene for a 2-oxoglurate and Fe2+ -dependent oxygenase were upregulated more than 7-fold on the dense fungal lawn, in a JAR1- and EIN3-dependent manner. We conclude that growth of A. thaliana seedlings on high fungal doses of P. indica has little effect on the overall performance of the plants although elevated JA and JA-Ile levels in the roots induce a mild stress or defense response.}, } @article {pmid24045779, year = {2013}, author = {Fisher, TE and Molskness, TA and Villeda, A and Zelinski, MB and Stouffer, RL and Xu, J}, title = {Vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin production by primate follicles during culture is a function of growth rate, gonadotrophin exposure and oxygen milieu.}, journal = {Human reproduction (Oxford, England)}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {3263-3270}, pmid = {24045779}, issn = {1460-2350}, support = {HD-00668/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; TW/HD-00668/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; U54-HD018185/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; U42 OD010426/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; U54 RR024347/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 8P51OD011092/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; K12 HD043488/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; HD058294/PL1-EB008542/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; 2K12HD043488/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Angiopoietin-1/biosynthesis ; Angiopoietin-2/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin/pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/pharmacology ; Macaca mulatta ; Ovarian Follicle/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; Oxygen/*pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {STUDY QUESTION: What is the time course of production of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), angiopoietin (ANGPT)-1 and ANGPT-2 by primate follicles during encapsulated three-dimensional culture, and what conditions affect their production?

SUMMARY ANSWER: Primate follicles produce VEGF-A and ANGPT-2 in vitro, particularly after developing to the antral stage, with VEGF production influenced by FSH concentration and O(2) tension.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Folliculogenesis, i.e. the development of primordial follicles into mature, antral follicles, requires the creation of a vascular network in the follicle wall via a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenic factors including VEGFs and ANGPTs have documented roles in angiogenesis. However, direct studies on the production and regulation of angiogenic factors by individual, growing follicles are limited.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Ovaries (n = 9 pairs) were obtained from rhesus macaques during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (cycle days 1-4). Secondary (125-225 µm) follicles were isolated mechanically, encapsulated into alginate (0.25% w/v) and cultured for 40 days.

MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Individual follicles were cultured in a 5 or 20% O(2) environment in alpha minimum essential medium supplemented with recombinant human (h) FSH. Half of the follicles had recombinant hLH added to the media from Days 30 to 40. Follicle diameters were measured weekly. Follicles were categorized at Week 5 as no-grow (NG; <250 μm in diameter), slow-grow (SG; 251-499 μm) and fast-grow (FG; >500 μm). VEGF-A, ANGPT-1 and -2 concentrations in media were measured by ELISA.

VEGF concentrations were low throughout the culture for NG follicles. SG and FG follicles had detectable VEGF concentrations at Week 2, which continued to rise throughout culture. VEGF concentrations were distinct (P < 0.05) among all three follicle categories during Weeks 4 and 5. VEGF concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in SG follicles in the presence of high/mid-dose FSH at 5% O(2). In contrast, there were no dose-dependent differences in VEGF production for FG follicles based on FSH concentrations or O(2) tension. At Week 5, follicles that produced metaphase II oocytes, following exposure to an ovulatory hCG dose, secreted higher concentrations of VEGF than those containing germinal vesicle-intact oocytes. Media concentrations of ANGPT-1 were low throughout culture for all three follicle categories. ANGPT-2 concentrations were low throughout culture for NG follicles. In contrast, ANGPT-2 concentrations of SG and FG follicles continued to rise from Weeks 1 to 4. During Weeks 2-4, ANGPT-2 concentrations in FG follicles were significantly higher than those of SG and NG follicles (P < 0.05).

This study reports VEGF-A, ANGPT-1 and -2 production by in vitro-developed individual primate (macaque) follicles, that is limited to the interval from the secondary to small antral stage. After VEGF and ANGPT-1 assays, the limited remaining samples did not allow assessment of the independent effects of gonadotrophin and O(2) on the ANGPT-2 production by cultured follicles. Findings await translation to human follicles.

The above findings provide novel information on the process of primate follicle maturation. We hypothesize that a symbiotic relationship between elevated concentrations of ANGPT-2 and VEGF allows FG antral follicles to excel in follicle maturation, e.g. by promoting its vascularization. Elevated ANGPT-2 may also offer possible insight into future oocyte quality as early as Week 2, compared with Week 4 for VEGF and follicle size.

The study was funded by the following grants: NIH U54 RR024347/HD058294/PL1-EB008542 (Oncofertility Consortium), NIH U54-HD018185 (SCCPIR), NIH ORWH/NICHD 2K12HD043488 (BIRCWH), NIH FIC TW/HD-00668, ONPRC 8P51OD011092. There are no conflicts of interest to declare.}, } @article {pmid24045199, year = {2013}, author = {Tong, S and Zhang, B and Feng, C and Zhao, Y and Chen, N and Hao, C and Pu, J and Zhao, L}, title = {Characteristics of heterotrophic/biofilm-electrode autotrophic denitrification for nitrate removal from groundwater.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {148}, number = {}, pages = {121-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2013.08.146}, pmid = {24045199}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; *Autotrophic Processes ; Bacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Denitrification ; Electricity ; Electrodes ; Groundwater/*chemistry ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; Nitrates/*isolation & purification ; Nitrites/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A heterotrophic/biofilm-electrode autotrophic denitrification reactor (HAD-BER) was developed to improve denitrification efficiency and reduce the consumption of organic carbon source. Maximum nitrate removal efficiency of 99.9% was gained under the optimum current density of 200 mA/m(2). The number of heterotrophic denitrification bacteria (HDB) 2.0 × 10(5) and hydrogen autotrophic denitrification bacteria (ADB) 2.0 × 10(3) in per milliliter biofilm solution were observed by the most probable number (MPN) culture, demonstrating that HDB and ADB coexist in the HAD-BER. The inorganic carbon source for autotrophic denitrification was supplied by the dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) evolved from the heterotrophic denitrification process, indicating that there was synergistic interaction between the HDB and ADB, i.e., the organic carbon source used for denitrification could be decreased in the HAD-BER. Therefore, the developed HAD-BER would be a promising approach for nitrate removal from groundwater.}, } @article {pmid24044653, year = {2014}, author = {Flot, JF and Bauermeister, J and Brad, T and Hillebrand-Voiculescu, A and Sarbu, SM and Dattagupta, S}, title = {Niphargus-Thiothrix associations may be widespread in sulphidic groundwater ecosystems: evidence from southeastern Romania.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1405-1417}, pmid = {24044653}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amphipoda/*microbiology ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Groundwater/*chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Romania ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sulfur/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Thiothrix/*classification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Niphargus is a speciose amphipod genus found in groundwater habitats across Europe. Three Niphargus species living in the sulphidic Frasassi caves in Italy harbour sulphur-oxidizing Thiothrix bacterial ectosymbionts. These three species are distantly related, implying that the ability to form ectosymbioses with Thiothrix may be common among Niphargus. Therefore, Niphargus-Thiothrix associations may also be found in sulphidic aquifers other than Frasassi. In this study, we examined this possibility by analysing niphargids of the genera Niphargus and Pontoniphargus collected from the partly sulphidic aquifers of the Southern Dobrogea region of Romania, which are accessible through springs, wells and Movile Cave. Molecular and morphological analyses revealed seven niphargid species in this region. Five of these species occurred occasionally or exclusively in sulphidic locations, whereas the remaining two were restricted to nonsulphidic areas. Thiothrix were detected by PCR on all seven Dobrogean niphargid species and observed using microscopy to be predominantly attached to their hosts' appendages. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the Thiothrix epibionts fell into two main clades, one of which (herein named T4) occurred solely on niphargids collected in sulphidic locations. The other Thiothrix clade was present on niphargids from both sulphidic and nonsulphidic areas and indistinguishable from the T3 ectosymbiont clade previously identified on Frasassi-dwelling Niphargus. Although niphargids from Frasassi and Southern Dobrogea are not closely related, the patterns of their association with Thiothrix are remarkably alike. The finding of similar Niphargus-Thiothrix associations in aquifers located 1200 km apart suggests that they may be widespread in European groundwater ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid24039923, year = {2013}, author = {Pitzschke, A}, title = {Tropaeolum tops tobacco - simple and efficient transgene expression in the order Brassicales.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e73355}, pmid = {24039923}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {V 167/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics ; Arabidopsis/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics ; Tobacco/genetics ; *Transformation, Genetic ; Transgenes ; Tropaeolum/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Transient expression systems are valuable tools in molecular biology. Agrobacterial infiltration of leaves is well-established in tobacco, but has led to limited success in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. An efficient expression system combining the advantages of Arabidopsis (well-characterised) and the simplicity of leaf infiltration is desirable. Here, I describe Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Tropaeolummajus (nasturtium, order Brassicales) as a remarkably simple, cheap and highly efficient transient expression system. It provides the Arabidopsis community with a tool to study subcellular localisation, protein-protein interactions and reporter gene activities (e.g. luciferase, β-glucuronidase) in a genetic background that is closely related to their primary model organism. Unlike Arabidopsis, Tropaeolum is capable of engaging in endomycorrhizal associations and is therefore relevant also to symbiosis research. RNAi-based approaches are more likely to succeed than in the distantly-related Nicotiana transformation system. Tropaeolummajus was voted the "medicinal plant of the year 2013". Conquering this plant for genetic manipulations harbours potential for biotechnological and pharmacological applications.}, } @article {pmid24039537, year = {2013}, author = {Taylor, JD and Glover, EA}, title = {New lucinid bivalves from shallow and deeper water of the Indian and West Pacific Oceans (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Lucinidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {326}, pages = {69-90}, pmid = {24039537}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Four new species and a new genus of lucinid bivalves are described from shallow and deeper waters in the Indian and West Pacific Oceans. The new genus Scabrilucina (subfamily Lucininae) includes the little-known Scabrilucina victorialis (Melvill, 1899) from the Arabian Sea and Scabrilucina vitrea (Deshayes, 1844) from the Andaman Sea as well as a new species Scabrilucina melvilli from the Torres Strait off northeastern Australia. Ferrocina brunei new species (Lucininae) was recovered from 60 m near oil drilling activities off Borneo; its anatomy confirmed the presence of symbiotic bacteria. Two unusual deeper water species of Leucosphaerinae are described, both species included in on-going molecular analyses; Gonimyrtea ferruginea from 400-650 m in the southwest Pacific and Myrtina reflexa from 200-825 m off Zanzibar and Madagascar.}, } @article {pmid24038695, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, JK and Kim, NH and Jang, HA and Kikuchi, Y and Kim, CH and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Specific midgut region controlling the symbiont population in an insect-microbe gut symbiotic association.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {23}, pages = {7229-7233}, pmid = {24038695}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/growth & development/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Microbial Viability ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insects possess symbiotic bacteria that affect the biology of the host. The level of the symbiont population in the host is a pivotal factor that modulates the biological outcome of the symbiotic association. Hence, the symbiont population should be maintained at a proper level by the host's control mechanisms. Several mechanisms for controlling intracellular symbionts of insects have been reported, while mechanisms for controlling extracellular gut symbionts of insects are poorly understood. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris harbors a betaproteobacterial extracellular symbiont of the genus Burkholderia in the midgut symbiotic organ designated the M4 region. We found that the M4B region, which is directly connected to the M4 region, also harbors Burkholderia symbiont cells, but the symbionts therein are mostly dead. A series of experiments demonstrated that the M4B region exhibits antimicrobial activity, and the antimicrobial activity is specifically potent against the Burkholderia symbiont but not the cultured Burkholderia and other bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of the M4B region was detected in symbiotic host insects, reaching its highest point at the fifth instar, but not in aposymbiotic host insects, which suggests the possibility of symbiont-mediated induction of the antimicrobial activity. This antimicrobial activity was not associated with upregulation of antimicrobial peptides of the host. Based on these results, we propose that the M4B region is a specialized gut region of R. pedestris that plays a critical role in controlling the population of the Burkholderia gut symbiont. The molecular basis of the antimicrobial activity is of great interest and deserves future study.}, } @article {pmid24038694, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, D and Xue, H and Wang, Y and Yin, R and Xie, F and Luo, L}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti ntrX gene is involved in succinoglycan production, motility, and symbiotic nodulation on alfalfa.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {23}, pages = {7150-7159}, pmid = {24038694}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Gene Knockout Techniques ; *Locomotion ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia establish a symbiotic relationship with their host legumes to induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. This process is regulated by many rhizobium regulators, including some two-component regulatory systems (TCSs). NtrY/NtrX, a TCS that was first identified in Azorhizobium caulinodans, is required for free-living nitrogen metabolism and symbiotic nodulation on Sesbania rostrata. However, its functions in a typical rhizobium such as Sinorhizobium meliloti remain unclear. Here we found that the S. meliloti response regulator NtrX but not the histidine kinase NtrY is involved in the regulation of exopolysaccharide production, motility, and symbiosis with alfalfa. A plasmid insertion mutant of ntrX formed mucous colonies, which overproduced succinoglycan, an exopolysaccharide, by upregulating its biosynthesis genes. This mutant also exhibited motility defects due to reduced flagella and decreased expression of flagellins and regulatory genes. The regulation is independent of the known regulatory systems of ExoR/ExoS/ChvI, EmmABC, and ExpR. Alfalfa plants inoculated with the ntrX mutant were small and displayed symptoms of nitrogen starvation. Interestingly, the deletion mutant of ntrY showed a phenotype similar to that of the parent strain. These findings demonstrate that the S. meliloti NtrX is a new regulator of succinoglycan production and motility that is not genetically coupled with NtrY.}, } @article {pmid24037658, year = {2013}, author = {Masciarelli, O and Urbani, L and Reinoso, H and Luna, V}, title = {Alternative mechanism for the evaluation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production by Azospirillum brasilense strains and its effects on the germination and growth of maize seedlings.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {51}, number = {5}, pages = {590-597}, pmid = {24037658}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Azospirillum brasilense/*metabolism ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Germination/*drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Plant Development/*drug effects ; Seedlings/drug effects/microbiology ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; Zea mays/*drug effects/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {We evaluated the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by Azospirillum brasilense strains in vitro (cell culture supernatants) and in vivo (stems and roots of maize seedlings) to clarify the role of this phytohormone as a signaling and effector molecule in the symbiotic interaction between maize and A. brasilense. The three strains all showed IAA production when cultured in NFb medium supplemented with 100 μg/ml L-tryptophan. The level of IAA production was 41.5 μg/ml for Yu62, 12.9 μg/ml for Az39, and 0.15 μg/ml for ipdC-. The release of IAA into culture medium by the bacteria appeared to be the main activator of the early growth promotion observed in the inoculated maize seedlings. The application of supernatants with different IAA contents caused significant differences in the seedling growth. This observation provides the basis for novel technological tools for effective quality control procedures on inoculants. The approach described can be incorporated into different inoculation methods, including line sowing, downspout, and foliar techniques, and increase the sustainability of symbiotic plant-bacteria systems.}, } @article {pmid24037375, year = {2013}, author = {Batterman, SA and Hedin, LO and van Breugel, M and Ransijn, J and Craven, DJ and Hall, JS}, title = {Key role of symbiotic dinitrogen fixation in tropical forest secondary succession.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {502}, number = {7470}, pages = {224-227}, pmid = {24037375}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Panama ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trees/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Forests contribute a significant portion of the land carbon sink, but their ability to sequester CO2 may be constrained by nitrogen, a major plant-limiting nutrient. Many tropical forests possess tree species capable of fixing atmospheric dinitrogen (N2), but it is unclear whether this functional group can supply the nitrogen needed as forests recover from disturbance or previous land use, or expand in response to rising CO2 (refs 6, 8). Here we identify a powerful feedback mechanism in which N2 fixation can overcome ecosystem-scale deficiencies in nitrogen that emerge during periods of rapid biomass accumulation in tropical forests. Over a 300-year chronosequence in Panama, N2-fixing tree species accumulated carbon up to nine times faster per individual than their non-fixing neighbours (greatest difference in youngest forests), and showed species-specific differences in the amount and timing of fixation. As a result of fast growth and high fixation, fixers provided a large fraction of the nitrogen needed to support net forest growth (50,000 kg carbon per hectare) in the first 12 years. A key element of ecosystem functional diversity was ensured by the presence of different N2-fixing tree species across the entire forest age sequence. These findings show that symbiotic N2 fixation can have a central role in nitrogen cycling during tropical forest stand development, with potentially important implications for the ability of tropical forests to sequester CO2.}, } @article {pmid24037186, year = {2014}, author = {García Ramos, M and Banaszak, AT}, title = {Symbiotic association between symbiodinium and the gastropod Strombus gigas: larval acquisition of symbionts.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {193-201}, pmid = {24037186}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Gastropoda/*parasitology/*physiology ; Larva/parasitology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The importance of the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. was studied in the early life stages of the gastropod Strombus gigas. This dinoflagellate was not found in the eggs or the gelatinous mass surrounding the eggs of the mollusk; therefore, Symbiodinium is not inherited directly. To determine whether the planktonic veligers can acquire these algae from the environment, they were exposed to freshly isolated Symbiodinium from adult S. gigas (homologous). The optimal stage for Symbiodinium inoculation was found at 48 h post-hatching. Survival and growth rates of veligers and juveniles were higher when inoculated with freshly isolated Symbiodinium in conjunction with daily feeding of Isochrysis spp. Veligers inoculated with Symbiodinium freshly isolated from three host species elicited distinct responses: (1) veligers did not take up Symbiodinium isolated from the hydrozoan Millepora alcicornis suggesting that there is discrimination on contact prior to ingestion, (2) veligers did take up Symbiodinium isolated from the anemone Bartholomea annulata, but the algae did not persist in the host tissue suggesting that selection against this type took place after ingestion or that the algae did not divide in the host, and (3) veligers did take up Symbiodinium isolated from Pterogorgia anceps where it persisted and was associated with metamorphosis of the larvae. In contrast, the Symbiodinium freshly isolated from S. gigas were not associated with metamorphosis and required an inducer such as the red alga Laurencia poitei. These data present a significant advancement for the establishment of a new approach in the aquaculture of this important but declining Caribbean species.}, } @article {pmid24035831, year = {2013}, author = {Germond, A and Kunihiro, T and Inouhe, M and Nakajima, T}, title = {Physiological changes of a green alga (Micractinium sp.) involved in an early-stage of association with Tetrahymena thermophila during 5-year microcosm culture.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {114}, number = {3}, pages = {164-171}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.08.005}, pmid = {24035831}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Biological Evolution ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/physiology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Escherichia coli ; Longevity/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tetrahymena thermophila/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbioses between phototrophic algae and heterotrophic organisms are an important symbiotic association in that this association connects photo- and heterotrophic metabolism, and therefore, affects energy/matter pathways and cycling in the ecosystem. However, little is known about the early processes of evolution of an endosymbiotic association between previously non-associated organisms. In previous studies, we analyzed an early process of the evolution of an endosymbiotic association between an alga and a ciliate by using a long-term culture of an experimental model ecosystem (CET microcosm) composed of a green alga (Micractinium sp.), a bacterium (Escherichia coli), and a ciliate (Tetrahymena thermophila). The results revealed that an algal type, isolated from 5-year cultures of the microcosm, prolonged the longevity of the ancestral and derived clones of T. thermophila in the absence of bacteria, suggesting that a cooperative algal phenotype that benefited the ciliate had evolved in the microcosm. Here, we investigated the physiological changes of the derived Micractinium clones that benefited Tetrahymena, focusing on the release of carbohydrates by and abundance of photopigments in the ancestral and 2 derived algal clones (SC10-2 and SC9-1) isolated from inside Tetrahymena cells. Analyses using HPLC revealed that the algal isolates released glycerol and sucrose at higher concentrations per cell and also contained higher levels of photopigments per cell at pH 7.2, in comparison with the ancestral strain. These phenotypic characters were considered responsible for the increased longevity of Tetrahymena cells, and thus supported the cooperator alga hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid24035739, year = {2013}, author = {Miyawaki, K and Tabata, R and Sawa, S}, title = {Evolutionarily conserved CLE peptide signaling in plant development, symbiosis, and parasitism.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {598-606}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2013.08.008}, pmid = {24035739}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Animals ; Arabidopsis/genetics/growth & development/parasitology/physiology ; Fabaceae/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Nematoda/physiology ; Peptides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/*genetics/microbiology/parasitology ; Poaceae/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Small polypeptides are widely used as signaling molecules in cell-to-cell communication in animals and plants. The CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) gene family is composed of numerous genes that contain conserved CLE domains in various plant species and plant-parasitic nematodes. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of CLE signaling during stem cell maintenance in Arabidopsis and grasses. We also summarize the roles of CLE signaling in the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis and infection by plant-parasitic nematodes. CLE signaling is important for diverse aspects of cell-to-cell signaling and long-distance communication, which are critical for survival, and the basic components of the CLE signaling pathway are evolutionarily conserved in both plants and animals.}, } @article {pmid24035647, year = {2013}, author = {Brucker, RM and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {The capacious hologenome.}, journal = {Zoology (Jena, Germany)}, volume = {116}, number = {5}, pages = {260-261}, doi = {10.1016/j.zool.2013.08.003}, pmid = {24035647}, issn = {1873-2720}, mesh = {Animals ; *Genome ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Blending disciplines can be transformative in science, yet interdisciplinary mergers should not escape healthy skepticism. Indeed, the history of biology shows us that debates about the relative importance of nuclear genetics vs. microbial symbiosis in eukaryotic biology are among the most engaging. Today's technology may help resolve this century old debate as it illuminates the interwoven genomics and functions of symbionts with their host genome. Thus, we can now assert that all subdisciplines of zoology require microbiology. Although controversial to some, the evidence from studies of host-associated microbial communities indicates that metazoans are hologenomes - interconnected compositions of animal and microbes.}, } @article {pmid24035519, year = {2014}, author = {Lazali, M and Bargaz, A and Carlsson, G and Ounane, SM and Drevon, JJ}, title = {Discrimination against 15N among recombinant inbred lines of Phaseolus vulgaris L. contrasting in phosphorus use efficiency for nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {171}, number = {3-4}, pages = {199-204}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.07.009}, pmid = {24035519}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Nitrogen Isotopes/*metabolism ; Phaseolus/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Although isotopic discrimination processes during nitrogen (N) transformations influence the outcome of (15)N based quantification of N2 fixation in legumes, little attention has been given to the effects of genotypic variability and environmental constraints such as phosphorus (P) deficiency, on discrimination against (15)N during N2 fixation. In this study, six Phaseolus vulgaris recombinant inbred lines (RILs), i.e. RILs 115, 104, 34 (P deficiency tolerant) and 147, 83, 70 (P deficiency sensitive), were inoculated with Rhizobium tropici CIAT899, and hydroaeroponically grown with P-sufficient (250 μmol P plant(-1) week(-1)) versus P-deficient (75 μmol P plant(-1) week(-1)) supply. Two harvests were done at 15 (before nodule functioning) and 42 (flowering stage) days after transplanting. Nodulation, plant biomass, P and N contents, and the ratios of (15)N over total N content ((15)N/Nt) for shoots, roots and nodules were determined. The results showed lower (15)N/Nt in shoots than in roots, both being much lower than in nodules. P deficiency caused a larger decrease in (15)N/Nt in shoots (-0.18%) than in nodules (-0.11%) for all of the genotypes, and the decrease in shoots was greatest for RILs 34 (-0.33%) and 104 (-0.25%). Nodule (15)N/Nt was significantly related to both the quantity of N2 fixed (R(2)=0.96***) and the P content of nodules (R(2)=0.66*). We conclude that the discrimination against (15)N in the legume N2-fixing symbiosis of common bean with R. tropici CIAT899 is affected by P nutrition and plant genotype, and that the (15)N/Nt in nodules may be used to screen for genotypic variation in P use efficiency for N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid24033808, year = {2013}, author = {Pandya, M and Kumar, GN and Rajkumar, S}, title = {Invasion of rhizobial infection thread by non-rhizobia for colonization of Vigna radiata root nodules.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {348}, number = {1}, pages = {58-65}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12245}, pmid = {24033808}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/*growth & development ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*growth & development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Legumes develop symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium by a complex exchange of signals. Despite the high specificity between symbiotic partners, the presence of non-rhizobial bacteria in root nodules has been reported. To investigate how these rhizobacteria enter root nodules, fluorescently tagged Pseudomonas fluorescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae were co-inoculated with host-nodulating Ensifer adhaerens to Vigna radiata seedlings and root hair infection was monitored using confocal microscopy at 5 days post inoculation. Pseudomonas fluorescens and K. pneumoniae invaded the root hair only when co-inoculated with E. adhaerens. Recovery of inoculated tagged strains and confirmation through CLSM and 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed that the test rhizobacteria occupied nodules. We hereby report with the help of confocal microscopy that rhizobacteria migrate along the length of host-nodulating rhizobial strain and become localized in root nodules. We further report isolation of eight non-rhizobial bacterial genera, predominantly Bacillus spp. and Paenibacillus spp., from nodules of field-grown V. radiata.}, } @article {pmid24031066, year = {2013}, author = {Fine, M and Sabbah, S and Shashar, N and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Light from down under.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 23}, pages = {4341-4346}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.025106}, pmid = {24031066}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Light ; Nematoda/physiology ; Particle Size ; *Photosynthesis ; Silicon Dioxide/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral-algae symbiosis is a key feature of tropical corals and is highly dependent on the efficiency with which solar energy is attenuated by the coral. Scleractinian corals are among the most efficient light collectors in nature because of the modulation of the internal light field in the coral skeleton. Interestingly, coral skeleton particles composing the sandy bottoms in reef margins sustain these optical characteristics. In the present study, we examined two free-living coral species - Heterocyathus aequicostatus (Caryophyllidae) and Heteropsammia cochlea (Dendrophylliidae) - common on biogenic coarse carbonate sand of the Great Barrier Reef but absent from fine sand at the same depth. In coarse carbonate sand, light penetrates a few millimeters below the surface and propagates along horizontal distances of a few centimeters. In fine sand, almost all of the light is reflected back to the water column. For photosynthetic sand-dwelling organisms such as the studied species, with over one-third of their surface area facing the substrate, light flux to their underside may be beneficial. A correlation was found between the diameter of these corals and the distance that light may travel in the sand under the coral. Laboratory and field measurements show that the symbiotic algae on the underside of the corallites are photosynthetically active even when the coral is partially buried, implying sufficient light penetration. Other organisms in the study site, such as fungid corals and foraminiferans, with different morphologies, have different light-trapping strategies but are also photosynthesizing on their underside. The importance of the substrate type to the performance of the three main partners of the symbiosis (coral, endosymbiotic algae and a sipunculan worm) is highlighted, and is a striking example of co-evolution.}, } @article {pmid24031050, year = {2013}, author = {Hongo, Y and Nakamura, Y and Shimamura, S and Takaki, Y and Uematsu, K and Toyofuku, T and Hirayama, H and Takai, K and Nakazawa, M and Maruyama, T and Yoshida, T}, title = {Exclusive localization of carbonic anhydrase in bacteriocytes of the deep-sea clam Calyptogena okutanii with thioautotrophic symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 23}, pages = {4403-4414}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.092809}, pmid = {24031050}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bivalvia/cytology/*enzymology/microbiology ; Carbonic Anhydrases/*analysis/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gills/enzymology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea Calyptogena clams harbor thioautotrophic intracellular symbiotic bacteria in their gill epithelial cells. The symbiont fixes CO2 to synthesize organic compounds. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) from the host catalyzes the reaction CO2 + H2O ↔ HCO3(-) + H(+), and is assumed to facilitate inorganic carbon (Ci) uptake and transport to the symbiont. However, the localization of CA in gill tissue remains unknown. We therefore analyzed mRNA sequences, proteins and CA activity in Calyptogena okutanii using expression sequence tag, SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. We found that acetazolamide-sensitive soluble CA was abundantly expressed in the gill tissue of C. okutanii, and the enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography. Mouse monoclonal antibodies against the CA of C. okutanii were used in western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining of the gill tissues of C. okutanii, which showed that CA was exclusively localized in the symbiont-harboring cells (bacteriocytes) in gill epithelial cells. Western blot analysis and measurement of activity showed that CA was abundantly (26-72% of total soluble protein) detected in the gill tissues of not only Calyptogena clams but also deep-sea Bathymodiolus mussels that harbor thioautotrophic or methanotrophic symbiotic bacteria, but was not detected in a non-symbiotic mussel, Mytilus sp. The present study showed that CA is abundant in the gill tissues of deep-sea symbiotic bivalves and specifically localizes in the cytoplasm of bacteriocytes of C. okutanii. This indicates that the Ci supply process to symbionts in the vacuole (symbiosome) in bacteriocytes is essential for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24030598, year = {2014}, author = {Lizé, A and McKay, R and Lewis, Z}, title = {Kin recognition in Drosophila: the importance of ecology and gut microbiota.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {469-477}, pmid = {24030598}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Ecology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Microbiota/physiology ; Recognition, Psychology ; Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology ; }, abstract = {The animal gut commonly contains a large reservoir of symbiotic microbes. Although these microbes have obvious functions in digestion and immune defence, gut microbes can also affect behaviour. Here, we explore whether gut microbiota has a role in kin recognition. We assessed whether relatedness, familiarity and food eaten during development altered copulation investment in three species of Drosophila with diverse ecologies. We found that a monandrous species exhibited true kin recognition, whereas familiarity determined kin recognition in a species living in dense aggregations. Finally, in a food generalist species, food eaten during development masked kin recognition. The effect of food type on copulation duration, in addition to the removal of this effect via antibiotic treatment, suggests the influence of bacteria associated with the gut. Our results provide the first evidence that varied ecologically determined mechanisms of kin recognition occur in Drosophila, and that gut bacteria are likely to have a key role in these mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid24030554, year = {2013}, author = {Aoki, S and Ito, M and Iwasaki, W}, title = {From β- to α-proteobacteria: the origin and evolution of rhizobial nodulation genes nodIJ.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {2494-2508}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/mst153}, pmid = {24030554}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/*genetics ; Adaptation, Biological ; Alphaproteobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Base Composition ; Betaproteobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Duplication ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mimosa/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although many α- and some β-proteobacterial species are symbiotic with legumes, the evolutionary origin of nitrogen-fixing nodulation remains unclear. We examined α- and β-proteobacteria whose genomes were sequenced using large-scale phylogenetic profiling and revealed the evolutionary origin of two nodulation genes. These genes, nodI and nodJ (nodIJ), play key roles in the secretion of Nod factors, which are recognized by legumes during nodulation. We found that only the nodulating β-proteobacteria, including the novel strains isolated in this study, possess both nodIJ and their paralogous genes (DRA-ATPase/permease genes). Contrary to the widely accepted scenario of the α-proteobacterial origin of rhizobia, our exhaustive phylogenetic analysis showed that the entire nodIJ clade is included in the clade of Burkholderiaceae DRA-ATPase/permease genes, that is, the nodIJ genes originated from gene duplication in a lineage of the β-proteobacterial family. After duplication, the evolutionary rates of nodIJ were significantly accelerated relative to those of homologous genes, which is consistent with their novel function in nodulation. The likelihood analyses suggest that this accelerated evolution is not associated with changes in either nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution rates or transition/transversion rates, but rather, in the GC content. Although the low GC content of the nodulation genes has been assumed to reflect past horizontal transfer events from donor rhizobial genomes with low GC content, no rhizobial genome with such low GC content has yet been found. Our results encourage a reconsideration of the origin of nodulation and suggest new perspectives on the role of the GC content of bacterial genes in functional adaptation.}, } @article {pmid24028530, year = {2013}, author = {Pieczynska, MD and de Visser, JA and Korona, R}, title = {Incidence of symbiotic dsRNA 'killer' viruses in wild and domesticated yeast.}, journal = {FEMS yeast research}, volume = {13}, number = {8}, pages = {856-859}, doi = {10.1111/1567-1364.12086}, pmid = {24028530}, issn = {1567-1364}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; RNA Viruses/*physiology ; Saccharomyces/classification/*genetics/*virology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/classification/genetics/virology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Viruses are found in almost all organisms and physical habitats. One interesting example is the yeast viral 'killer system'. The virus provides the host with a toxin directed against strains that do not carry it, while the yeast cell enables its propagation. Although yeast viruses are believed to be common, they have been actually described only for a limited number of yeast isolates. We surveyed 136 Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. paradoxus strains of known origin and phylogenetic relatedness. Of these, 14 (c. 10%) were infected by killer viruses of one of the three types: K1, K2 or K28. As many as 34 strains (c. 25%) were not sensitive to at least one type of the killer toxin. In most cases, resistance did not disappear after attempts to cure the host strains from their viruses, suggesting that it was encoded in the host's genome. In terms of phylogeny, killer strains appear to be more related to each other than to nonkiller ones. No such tendency is observed for the phenotype of toxin resistance. Our results suggest that even if the killer toxins are not always present, they do play significant role in yeast ecology and evolution.}, } @article {pmid24026443, year = {2013}, author = {Caulier, G and Flammang, P and Gerbaux, P and Eeckhaut, I}, title = {When a repellent becomes an attractant: harmful saponins are kairomones attracting the symbiotic Harlequin crab.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {2639}, pmid = {24026443}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Brachyura/*physiology ; Chemotaxis/physiology ; Female ; Male ; Pheromones/*chemistry ; Saponins/*chemistry ; Sea Cucumbers/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine organisms have developed a high diversity of chemical defences in order to avoid predators and parasites. In sea cucumbers, saponins function as repellents and many species produce these cytotoxic secondary metabolites. Nonetheless, they are colonized by numerous symbiotic organisms amongst which the Harlequin crab, Lissocarcinus orbicularis, is one of the most familiar in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. We here identify for the first time the nature of the molecules secreted by sea cucumbers and attracting the symbionts: saponins are the kairomones recognized by the crabs and insuring the symbiosis. The success of this symbiosis would be due to the ability that crabs showed during evolution to bypass the sea cucumber chemical defences, their repellents becoming powerful attractants. This study therefore highlights the complexity of chemical communication in the marine environment.}, } @article {pmid24026354, year = {2013}, author = {Yagame, T and Funabiki, E and Nagasawa, E and Fukiharu, T and Iwase, K}, title = {Identification and symbiotic ability of Psathyrellaceae fungi isolated from a photosynthetic orchid, Cremastra appendiculata (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {100}, number = {9}, pages = {1823-1830}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1300099}, pmid = {24026354}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Agaricales/*classification/cytology/genetics/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Hyphae ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/cytology/genetics/physiology ; Orchidaceae/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizome/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Seedlings/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Photosynthetic orchids found in highly shaded forests are often mixotrophic, receiving part of their carbon energy via ectomycorrhizal fungi that had originally received carbohydrate from trees. A photosynthetic orchid, Cremastra appendiculata, is also found under highly shaded forest, but our preliminary data suggested that its associated fungi were not ectomycorrhizal. We tested whether their relation is an unusual example of a mixotrophic orchid associating with saprotrophic fungi by direct detection of fungal DNAs in conjunction with isolation of the fungus in pure culture and experimental inoculation of orchid seeds with the fungus. •

METHODS: For isolated mycobionts of C. appendiculata plants, two regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU), were sequenced, and fruiting bodies of the one isolate, SI1-1 were induced. In addition, two fungal isolates, SI1-1 and KI1-1, were grown in symbiotic cultures with C. appendiculata to verify their status as mycobionts. •

KEY RESULTS: In phylogenetic analyses, all isolates clustered with fungi belonging to Coprinellus in Psathyrellaceae of Agaricales. Phylogenetic analyses of these DNA sequences showed that five fungal isolates from C. appendiculata, including SI1-1 and two mycobionts isolated from the mycoheterotrophic orchid Epipogium roseum, have very similar ITS sequences. Isolate SI1-1 was identified as Coprinellus domesticus based on the morphological characteristics of the fruiting body. Isolates SI1-1 and KI1-1 induced seed germination of C. appendiculata as mycobionts. •

CONCLUSIONS: This report is the first of a mycorrhizal symbiosis between a fungus in Psathyrellaceae and a photosynthetic orchid, revealing a new pathway to full mycoheterotrophy and contributing to our understanding of the evolution of mycoheterotrophy.}, } @article {pmid24025149, year = {2013}, author = {Shelomi, M and Lo, WS and Kimsey, LS and Kuo, CH}, title = {Analysis of the gut microbiota of walking sticks (Phasmatodea).}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {368}, pmid = {24025149}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Animals ; Fat Body/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Microbiota/*genetics ; Parthenogenesis ; *Phylogeny ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; Spiroplasma/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Little is known about the Phasmatodea gut microbial community, including whether phasmids have symbiotic bacteria aiding in their digestion. While symbionts are near ubiquitous in herbivorous insects, the Phasmatodea's distinctively thin body shape precludes the gut enlargements needed for microbial fermentation. High-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the entire microbiota of the fat bodies, salivary glands, and anterior and posterior midguts of two species of walking stick.

RESULTS: Most bacterial sequences belonged to a strain of Spiroplasma (Tenericutes) found primarily in the posterior midgut of the parthenogenetic species Ramulus artemis (Phasmatidae). Beyond this, no significant differences were found between the R. artemis midgut sections or between that species and Peruphasma schultei (Pseudophasmatidae). Histological analysis further indicated a lack of bacteriocytes.

CONCLUSIONS: Phasmids are unlikely to depend on bacteria for digestion, suggesting they produce enzymes endogenously that most other herbivorous insects obtain from symbionts. This conclusion matches predictions based on phasmid anatomy. The role of Spiroplasma in insects warrants further study.}, } @article {pmid24024639, year = {2013}, author = {Kondorosi, E and Mergaert, P and Kereszt, A}, title = {A paradigm for endosymbiotic life: cell differentiation of Rhizobium bacteria provoked by host plant factors.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {611-628}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155630}, pmid = {24024639}, issn = {1545-3251}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between Rhizobium bacteria and legumes leads to the formation of the root nodule. The endosymbiotic bacteria reside in polyploid host cells as membrane-surrounded vesicles where they reduce atmospheric nitrogen to support plant growth by supplying ammonia in exchange for carbon sources and energy. The morphology and physiology of endosymbionts, despite their common function, are highly divergent in different hosts. In galegoid plants, the endosymbionts are terminally differentiated, uncultivable polyploid cells, with remarkably elongated and even branched Y-shaped cells. Bacteroid differentiation is controlled by host peptides, many of which have antibacterial activity and require the bacterial function of BacA. Although the precise and combined action of several hundred host peptides and BacA has yet to be discovered, similarities, especially to certain insect-bacterium symbioses involving likewise host peptides for manipulation of endosymbionts, suggest convergent evolution. Rhizobium-legume symbiosis provides a rich source of information for understanding host-controlled endosymbiotic life in eukaryotic cells.}, } @article {pmid24023808, year = {2013}, author = {Ross, EM and Moate, PJ and Marett, LC and Cocks, BG and Hayes, BJ}, title = {Metagenomic predictions: from microbiome to complex health and environmental phenotypes in humans and cattle.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {e73056}, pmid = {24023808}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Environment ; *Health ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; *Metagenomics ; Methane/biosynthesis ; Microbiota/*genetics ; *Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Mammals have a large cohort of endo- and ecto- symbiotic microorganisms (the microbiome) that potentially influence host phenotypes. There have been numerous exploratory studies of these symbiotic organisms in humans and other animals, often with the aim of relating the microbiome to a complex phenotype such as body mass index (BMI) or disease state. Here, we describe an efficient methodology for predicting complex traits from quantitative microbiome profiles. The method was demonstrated by predicting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) status and BMI from human microbiome data, and enteric greenhouse gas production from dairy cattle rumen microbiome profiles. The method uses unassembled massively parallel sequencing (MPS) data to form metagenomic relationship matrices (analogous to genomic relationship matrices used in genomic predictions) to predict IBD, BMI and methane production phenotypes with useful accuracies (r = 0.423, 0.422 and 0.466 respectively). Our results show that microbiome profiles derived from MPS can be used to predict complex phenotypes of the host. Although the number of biological replicates used here limits the accuracy that can be achieved, preliminary results suggest this approach may surpass current prediction accuracies that are based on the host genome. This is especially likely for traits that are largely influenced by the gut microbiota, for example digestive tract disorders or metabolic functions such as enteric methane production in cattle.}, } @article {pmid24019991, year = {2013}, author = {Fiebig, A and Pradella, S and Petersen, J and Michael, V and Päuker, O and Rohde, M and Göker, M and Klenk, HP and Wagner-Döbler, I}, title = {Genome of the marine alphaproteobacterium Hoeflea phototrophica type strain (DFL-43(T)).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {440-448}, pmid = {24019991}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Hoeflea phototrophica Biebl et al. 2006 is a member of the family Phyllobacteriaceae in the order Rhizobiales, which is thus far only partially characterized at the genome level. This marine bacterium contains the photosynthesis reaction-center genes pufL and pufM and is of interest because it lives in close association with toxic dinoflagellates such as Prorocentrum lima. The 4,467,792 bp genome (permanent draft sequence) with its 4,296 protein-coding and 69 RNA genes is a part of the Marine Microbial Initiative.}, } @article {pmid24019989, year = {2013}, author = {Fiebig, A and Pradella, S and Petersen, J and Päuker, O and Michael, V and Lünsdorf, H and Göker, M and Klenk, HP and Wagner-Döbler, I}, title = {Genome of the R-body producing marine alphaproteobacterium Labrenzia alexandrii type strain (DFL-11(T)).}, journal = {Standards in genomic sciences}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {413-426}, pmid = {24019989}, issn = {1944-3277}, abstract = {Labrenzia alexandrii Biebl et al. 2007 is a marine member of the family Rhodobacteraceae in the order Rhodobacterales, which has thus far only partially been characterized at the genome level. The bacterium is of interest because it lives in close association with the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium lusitanicum. Ultrastructural analysis reveals R-bodies within the bacterial cells, which are primarily known from obligate endosymbionts that trigger "killing traits" in ciliates (Paramecium spp.). Genomic traits of L. alexandrii DFL-11(T) are in accordance with these findings, as they include the reb genes putatively involved in R-body synthesis. Analysis of the two extrachromosomal elements suggests a role in heavy-metal resistance and exopolysaccharide formation, respectively. The 5,461,856 bp long genome with its 5,071 protein-coding and 73 RNA genes consists of one chromosome and two plasmids, and has been sequenced in the context of the Marine Microbial Initiative.}, } @article {pmid24019482, year = {2013}, author = {Adams, RM and Liberti, J and Illum, AA and Jones, TH and Nash, DR and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Chemically armed mercenary ants protect fungus-farming societies.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {39}, pages = {15752-15757}, pmid = {24019482}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Predatory Behavior ; Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The ants are extraordinary in having evolved many lineages that exploit closely related ant societies as social parasites, but social parasitism by distantly related ants is rare. Here we document the interaction dynamics among a Sericomyrmex fungus-growing ant host, a permanently associated parasitic guest ant of the genus Megalomyrmex, and a raiding agro-predator of the genus Gnamptogenys. We show experimentally that the guest ants protect their host colonies against agro-predator raids using alkaloid venom that is much more potent than the biting defenses of the host ants. Relatively few guest ants are sufficient to kill raiders that invariably exterminate host nests without a cohabiting guest ant colony. We also show that the odor of guest ants discourages raider scouts from recruiting nestmates to host colonies. Our results imply that Sericomyrmex fungus-growers obtain a net benefit from their costly guest ants behaving as a functional soldier caste to meet lethal threats from agro-predator raiders. The fundamentally different life histories of the agro-predators and guest ants appear to facilitate their coexistence in a negative frequency-dependent manner. Because a guest ant colony is committed for life to a single host colony, the guests would harm their own interests by not defending the host that they continue to exploit. This conditional mutualism is analogous to chronic sickle cell anemia enhancing the resistance to malaria and to episodes in human history when mercenary city defenders offered either net benefits or imposed net costs, depending on the level of threat from invading armies.}, } @article {pmid24019469, year = {2013}, author = {Chung, SH and Rosa, C and Scully, ED and Peiffer, M and Tooker, JF and Hoover, K and Luthe, DS and Felton, GW}, title = {Herbivore exploits orally secreted bacteria to suppress plant defenses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {39}, pages = {15728-15733}, pmid = {24019469}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/*immunology/ultrastructure ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Coleoptera/drug effects/*microbiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Flagellin/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Herbivory/drug effects/*physiology ; Larva/drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*immunology/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mouth/*microbiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; *Plant Immunity/drug effects/genetics ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Induced plant defenses in response to herbivore attack are modulated by cross-talk between jasmonic acid (JA)- and salicylic acid (SA)-signaling pathways. Oral secretions from some insect herbivores contain effectors that overcome these antiherbivore defenses. Herbivores possess diverse microbes in their digestive systems and these microbial symbionts can modify plant-insect interactions; however, the specific role of herbivore-associated microbes in manipulating plant defenses remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larvae exploit bacteria in their oral secretions to suppress antiherbivore defenses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We found that antibiotic-untreated larvae decreased production of JA and JA-responsive antiherbivore defenses, but increased SA accumulation and SA-responsive gene expression. Beetles benefit from down-regulating plant defenses by exhibiting enhanced larval growth. In SA-deficient plants, suppression was not observed, indicating that suppression of JA-regulated defenses depends on the SA-signaling pathway. Applying bacteria isolated from larval oral secretions to wounded plants confirmed that three microbial symbionts belonging to the genera Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter are responsible for defense suppression. Additionally, reinoculation of these bacteria to antibiotic-treated larvae restored their ability to suppress defenses. Flagellin isolated from Pseudomonas sp. was associated with defense suppression. Our findings show that the herbivore exploits symbiotic bacteria as a decoy to deceive plants into incorrectly perceiving the threat as microbial. By interfering with the normal perception of herbivory, beetles can evade antiherbivore defenses of its host.}, } @article {pmid24016735, year = {2013}, author = {Pérez-Oseguera, A and Cevallos, MA}, title = {RepA and RepB exert plasmid incompatibility repressing the transcription of the repABC operon.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {70}, number = {3}, pages = {362-376}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2013.08.001}, pmid = {24016735}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Adenosine Diphosphate/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphatases/*genetics/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; *Operon ; *Plasmids ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium etli CFN42 has a multipartite genome composed of one chromosome and six large plasmids with low copy numbers, all belonging to the repABC plasmid family. All elements essential for replication and segregation of these plasmids are encoded within the repABC operon. RepA and RepB direct plasmid segregation and are involved in the transcriptional regulation of the operon, and RepC is the initiator protein of the plasmid. Here we show that in addition to RepA (repressor) and RepB (corepressor), full transcriptional repression of the operon located in the symbiotic plasmid (pRetCFN42d) of this strain requires parS, the centromere-like sequence, and the operator sequence. However, the co-expression of RepA and RepB is sufficient to induce the displacement of the parental plasmid. RepA is a Walker-type ATPase that self associates in vivo and in vitro and binds specifically to the operator region in its RepA-ADP form. In contrast, RepA-ATP is capable of binding to non-specific DNA. RepA and RepB form high molecular weight DNA-protein complexes in the presence of ATP and ADP. RepA carrying ATP-pocket motif mutations induce full repression of the repABC operon without the participation of RepB and parS. These mutants specifically bind the operator sequence in their ATP or ADP bound forms. In addition, their expression in trans exerts plasmid incompatibility against the parental plasmid. RepA and RepB expressed in trans induce plasmid incompatibility because of their ability to repress the repABC operon and not only by their capacity to distort the plasmid segregation process.}, } @article {pmid24015904, year = {2013}, author = {Nagabhyru, P and Dinkins, RD and Wood, CL and Bacon, CW and Schardl, CL}, title = {Tall fescue endophyte effects on tolerance to water-deficit stress.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {127}, pmid = {24015904}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Dehydration ; Festuca/*metabolism/*physiology ; Fructose/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Sugar Alcohols/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Trehalose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The endophytic fungus, Neotyphodium coenophialum, can enhance drought tolerance of its host grass, tall fescue. To investigate endophyte effects on plant responses to acute water deficit stress, we did comprehensive profiling of plant metabolite levels in both shoot and root tissues of genetically identical clone pairs of tall fescue with endophyte (E+) and without endophyte (E-) in response to direct water deficit stress. The E- clones were generated by treating E+ plants with fungicide and selectively propagating single tillers. In time course studies on the E+ and E- clones, water was withheld from 0 to 5 days, during which levels of free sugars, sugar alcohols, and amino acids were determined, as were levels of some major fungal metabolites.

RESULTS: After 2-3 days of withholding water, survival and tillering of re-watered plants was significantly greater for E+ than E- clones. Within two to three days of withholding water, significant endophyte effects on metabolites manifested as higher levels of free glucose, fructose, trehalose, sugar alcohols, proline and glutamic acid in shoots and roots. The fungal metabolites, mannitol and loline alkaloids, also significantly increased with water deficit.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that symbiotic N. coenophialum aids in survival and recovery of tall fescue plants from water deficit, and acts in part by inducing rapid accumulation of these compatible solutes soon after imposition of stress.}, } @article {pmid24015743, year = {2013}, author = {Thoms, L and Parmar, K and Williamson, T}, title = {A symbiotic approach to mentoring future academics.}, journal = {The clinical teacher}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {337-338}, doi = {10.1111/tct.12042}, pmid = {24015743}, issn = {1743-498X}, mesh = {Education, Medical/methods ; Humans ; Mentors/*education ; Students, Medical/psychology ; }, } @article {pmid24012363, year = {2013}, author = {Mullally, A and Ebert, BL}, title = {Sinister symbiosis: pathological hematopoietic-stromal interactions in CML.}, journal = {Cell stem cell}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {257-258}, pmid = {24012363}, issn = {1875-9777}, support = {R01 HL082945/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bone Marrow/*physiology ; Humans ; Leukemia/*physiopathology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*physiology ; Myeloproliferative Disorders/*physiopathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/*physiology ; Primary Myelofibrosis/*physiopathology ; *Stem Cell Niche ; }, abstract = {The impact of myeloid malignancies on the nonhematopoietic components of the bone marrow remains poorly understood. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Schepers et al. (2013) describe how malignant myeloid cells alter the endosteal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche, resulting in the expansion of osteoblastic lineage cells that preferentially support malignant HSCs.}, } @article {pmid24011346, year = {2013}, author = {Petersen, LM and Tisa, LS}, title = {Friend or foe? A review of the mechanisms that drive Serratia towards diverse lifestyles.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {9}, pages = {627-640}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2013-0343}, pmid = {24011346}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Invertebrates/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Serratia/chemistry/enzymology/*physiology ; Serratia Infections/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Found widespread around the globe, Serratia are Gram-negative bacteria capable of thriving in a diverse number of environments that include water, soil, and the digestive tracts of various animals. Known for their ability to produce a myriad of extracellular enzymes, these bacteria also produce various secondary metabolites that directly contribute to their survival. While the effects Serratia species have on other organisms range from parasitic to symbiotic, what these bacteria have in common is their ability to resist attack, respond appropriately to environmental conditions, and outcompete other microorganisms when colonizing their respective niche. This review highlights the mechanisms utilized by Serratia species that drive their ubiquitous nature, with emphasis on the latest findings. Also discussed is how secreted compounds drive these bacteria towards pathogenic, mutualistic, and antagonistic associations.}, } @article {pmid24009760, year = {2013}, author = {ter Braak, B and Laughton, AM and Altincicek, B and Parker, BJ and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Exposure to bacterial signals does not alter pea aphids' survival upon a second challenge or investment in production of winged offspring.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e73600}, pmid = {24009760}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*physiology ; Escherichia coli/immunology ; Female ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Micrococcus luteus/immunology ; *Reproduction, Asexual ; Symbiosis/genetics/*immunology ; Wings, Animal ; }, abstract = {Pea aphids have an obligate nutritional symbiosis with the bacteria Buchneraaphidicola and frequently also harbor one or more facultative symbionts. Aphids are also susceptible to bacterial pathogen infections, and it has been suggested that aphids have a limited immune response towards such pathogen infections compared to other, more well-studied insects. However, aphids do possess at least some of the genes known to be involved in bacterial immune responses in other insects, and immune-competent hemocytes. One possibility is that immune priming with microbial elicitors could stimulate immune protection against subsequent bacterial infections, as has been observed in several other insect systems. To address this hypothesis we challenged aphids with bacterial immune elicitors twenty-four hours prior to live bacterial pathogen infections and then compared their survival rates to aphids that were not pre-exposed to bacterial signals. Using two aphid genotypes, we found no evidence for immune protection conferred by immune priming during infections with either Serratia marcescens or with Escherichia coli. Immune priming was not altered by the presence of facultative, beneficial symbionts in the aphids. In the absence of inducible immune protection, aphids may allocate energy towards other defense traits, including production of offspring with wings that could escape deteriorating conditions. To test this, we monitored the ratio of winged to unwinged offspring produced by adult mothers of a single clone that had been exposed to bacterial immune elicitors, to live E. coli infections or to no challenge. We found no correlation between immune challenge and winged offspring production, suggesting that this mechanism of defense, which functions upon exposure to fungal pathogens, is not central to aphid responses to bacterial infections.}, } @article {pmid24009681, year = {2013}, author = {Demina, IV and Persson, T and Santos, P and Plaszczyca, M and Pawlowski, K}, title = {Comparison of the nodule vs. root transcriptome of the actinorhizal plant Datisca glomerata: actinorhizal nodules contain a specific class of defensins.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e72442}, pmid = {24009681}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Computational Biology ; Defensins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Library ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Thiamine/biosynthesis ; Tracheophyta/*genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Actinorhizal root nodule symbioses are very diverse, and the symbiosis of Datisca glomerata has previously been shown to have many unusual aspects. In order to gain molecular information on the infection mechanism, nodule development and nodule metabolism, we compared the transcriptomes of D. glomerata roots and nodules. Root and nodule libraries representing the 3'-ends of cDNAs were subjected to high-throughput parallel 454 sequencing. To identify the corresponding genes and to improve the assembly, Illumina sequencing of the nodule transcriptome was performed as well. The evaluation revealed 406 differentially regulated genes, 295 of which (72.7%) could be assigned a function based on homology. Analysis of the nodule transcriptome showed that genes encoding components of the common symbiosis signaling pathway were present in nodules of D. glomerata, which in combination with the previously established function of SymRK in D. glomerata nodulation suggests that this pathway is also active in actinorhizal Cucurbitales. Furthermore, comparison of the D. glomerata nodule transcriptome with nodule transcriptomes from actinorhizal Fagales revealed a new subgroup of nodule-specific defensins that might play a role specific to actinorhizal symbioses. The D. glomerata members of this defensin subgroup contain an acidic C-terminal domain that was never found in plant defensins before.}, } @article {pmid24009198, year = {2013}, author = {Zhang, FS and Lv, YL and Zhao, Y and Guo, SX}, title = {Promoting role of an endophyte on the growth and contents of kinsenosides and flavonoids of Anoectochilus formosanus Hayata, a rare and threatened medicinal Orchidaceae plant.}, journal = {Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {785-792}, pmid = {24009198}, issn = {1862-1783}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives ; Animals ; Biomass ; Dendrobium/metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Anoectochilus formosanus, commonly known as "Jewel Orchid", is a Chinese folk medicine used to treat hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. The existence of A. formosanus is currently threatened by habitat loss, human and animal consumption, etc. The highly potent medicinal activity of A. formosanus is due to its secondary metabolites, especially kinsenosides and flavonoids. This orchid also has a unique mycorrhizal relationship. Most adult orchids rely on endophytes for mineral nutrition and have complex interactions with them, which are related to plant growth, yield and changes in secondary metabolites. This study investigated the promoting role of F-23 fungus (genus Mycena) on the biomass and contents of kinsenosides and flavonoids of A. formosanus in pot culture. The following were observed after 10 weeks of symbiotic cultivation: increased shoot height, shoot dry weight, and leaf numbers by 16.6%, 31.3%, and 22.5%, respectively; increased contents of kinsenosides, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside by 85.5%, 226.1%, and 196.0%, respectively; some hyphae in epidermal cells dyed red and/or reddish brown by safranine; and, significantly reduced number of starch grains in cortical cells. Moreover, F-23 fungus significantly improved the kinsenoside and flavonoid contents of A. formosanus. These findings supported the reports that endophytes can alter the production of secondary metabolites in their plant hosts, although further physiological, genetic and ecological analyses are warranted.}, } @article {pmid24008584, year = {2013}, author = {Li, QG and Zhang, L and Li, C and Dunwell, JM and Zhang, YM}, title = {Comparative genomics suggests that an ancestral polyploidy event leads to enhanced root nodule symbiosis in the Papilionoideae.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {12}, pages = {2602-2611}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/mst152}, pmid = {24008584}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/classification/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Duplication ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Ontology ; Genes, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism ; *Polyploidy ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is one of the most efficient biological systems for nitrogen fixation and it occurs in 90% of genera in the Papilionoideae, the largest subfamily of legumes. Most papilionoid species show evidence of a polyploidy event that occurred approximately 58 Ma. Although polyploidy is considered to be an important evolutionary force in plants, the role of this papilionoid polyploidy event, especially its association with RNS, is not understood. In this study, we explored this role using an integrated comparative genomic approach and conducted gene expression comparisons and gene ontology enrichment analyses. The results show the following: 1) Approximately a quarter of the papilionoid-polyploidy-derived duplicate genes are retained; 2) there is a striking divergence in the level of expression of gene duplicate pairs derived from the polyploidy event; and 3) the retained duplicates are frequently involved in the processes crucial for RNS establishment, such as symbiotic signaling, nodule organogenesis, rhizobial infection, and nutrient exchange and transport. Thus, we conclude that the papilionoid polyploidy event might have further refined RNS and induced a more robust and enhanced symbiotic system. This conclusion partly explains the widespread occurrence of the Papilionoideae.}, } @article {pmid24008326, year = {2014}, author = {Green-Saxena, A and Dekas, AE and Dalleska, NF and Orphan, VJ}, title = {Nitrate-based niche differentiation by distinct sulfate-reducing bacteria involved in the anaerobic oxidation of methane.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {150-163}, pmid = {24008326}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Archaea/classification/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Deltaproteobacteria/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Ecosystem ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Methane/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Diverse associations between methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacterial groups (SRB) often co-occur in marine methane seeps; however, the ecophysiology of these different symbiotic associations has not been examined. Here, we applied a combination of molecular, geochemical and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) coupled to nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (FISH-NanoSIMS) analyses of in situ seep sediments and methane-amended sediment incubations from diverse locations (Eel River Basin, Hydrate Ridge and Costa Rican Margin seeps) to investigate the distribution and physiology of a newly identified subgroup of the Desulfobulbaceae (seepDBB) found in consortia with ANME-2c archaea, and compared these with the more commonly observed associations between the same ANME partner and the Desulfobacteraceae (DSS). FISH analyses revealed aggregates of seepDBB cells in association with ANME-2 from both environmental samples and laboratory incubations that are distinct in their structure relative to co-occurring ANME/DSS consortia. ANME/seepDBB aggregates were most abundant in shallow sediment depths below sulfide-oxidizing microbial mats. Depth profiles of ANME/seepDBB aggregate abundance revealed a positive correlation with elevated porewater nitrate relative to ANME/DSS aggregates in all seep sites examined. This relationship with nitrate was supported by sediment microcosm experiments, in which the abundance of ANME/seepDBB was greater in nitrate-amended incubations relative to the unamended control. FISH-NanoSIMS additionally revealed significantly higher (15)N-nitrate incorporation levels in individual aggregates of ANME/seepDBB relative to ANME/DSS aggregates from the same incubation. These combined results suggest that nitrate is a geochemical effector of ANME/seepDBB aggregate distribution, and provides a unique niche for these consortia through their utilization of a greater range of nitrogen substrates than the ANME/DSS.}, } @article {pmid24006423, year = {2013}, author = {Dong, S and Tian, Z and Chen, PJ and Senthil Kumar, R and Shen, CH and Cai, D and Oelmüllar, R and Yeh, KW}, title = {The maturation zone is an important target of Piriformospora indica in Chinese cabbage roots.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {14}, pages = {4529-4540}, pmid = {24006423}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Biomass ; Brassica/genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology ; China ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Databases, Genetic ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic symbiont Piriformospora indica exhibits a great potential in agriculture. The interaction between P. indica and Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris cv. Chinensis) results in growth and biomass promotion of the host plant and in particular in root hair development. The resulting highly bushy root phenotype of colonized Chinese cabbage seedlings differs substantially from reports of other plant species, which prompted the more detailed study of this symbiosis. A large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST) data set was obtained from a double-subtractive EST library, by subtracting the cDNAs of Chinese cabbage root tissue and of P. indica mycelium from those of P. indica-colonized root tissue. The analysis revealed ~700 unique genes rooted in 141 clusters and 559 singles. A total of 66% of the sequences could be annotated in the NCBI GenBank. Genes which are stimulated by P. indica are involved in various types of transport, carbohydrate metabolism, auxin signalling, cell wall metabolism, and root development, including the root hair-forming phosphoinositide phosphatase 4. For 20 key genes, induction by fungal colonization was confirmed kinetically during the interaction by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Moreover, the auxin concentration increases transiently after exposure of the roots to P. indica. Microscopic analyses demonstrated that the development of the root maturation zone is the major target of P. indica in Chinese cabbage. Taken together, the symbiotic interaction between Chinese cabbage and P. indica is a novel model to study root growth promotion which, in turn, is important for agriculture and plant biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid24005637, year = {2013}, author = {Burcelin, R and Chabo, C and Blasco-Baque, V and Sérino, M and Amar, J}, title = {[Intestinal microbiota and novel therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of metabolic diseases].}, journal = {Medecine sciences : M/S}, volume = {29}, number = {8-9}, pages = {800-806}, doi = {10.1051/medsci/2013298021}, pmid = {24005637}, issn = {0767-0974}, mesh = {Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics/microbiology/therapy ; Diet ; Energy Metabolism/physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Metabolic Diseases/genetics/*microbiology/*therapy ; Metagenome/*genetics/*physiology ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Obesity/genetics/microbiology/therapy ; }, abstract = {A new organ has emerged over the course of the last century: the intestinal microbiota. It is characterized by numerous functions provided by several billions of bacteria inhabiting and living in harmony in the lumen and in the mucosal layer of the intestinal epithelium. More than 4 million genes composed by more than 1 500 species interact with each other, with the host and the environment to set up a mutualistic ecological group. A nutritional stress will modify the terms of the symbiosis between the host and the microbiota for the control of energy homeostasis. It is now thought that the pandemic of diabetes and obesity, not being due to the sole variations of our genome, would be due to changes in our metagenome: our intestinal bacteria. This organ which genomic varies on an everyday basis is inherited from our mother and the closed environment at birth. The corresponding diversity, the rapid evolution of gene expression, its influence on metabolism, as well as the very recent discovery of the existence of an tissue microbiota within the host, open new therapeutic pharmacological and nutritional opportunities as well as the identification of very accurate biomarkers constituting a personalized metagenomic identity card. Hence, individualized medicine foresees its origin within the metagenome.}, } @article {pmid24004255, year = {2013}, author = {Marsh, AJ and O'Sullivan, O and Hill, C and Ross, RP and Cotter, PD}, title = {Sequence-based analysis of the microbial composition of water kefir from multiple sources.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {348}, number = {1}, pages = {79-85}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12248}, pmid = {24004255}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Canada ; Cultured Milk Products/*microbiology ; Fungi/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; United Kingdom ; United States ; }, abstract = {Water kefir is a water-sucrose-based beverage, fermented by a symbiosis of bacteria and yeast to produce a final product that is lightly carbonated, acidic and that has a low alcohol percentage. The microorganisms present in water kefir are introduced via water kefir grains, which consist of a polysaccharide matrix in which the microorganisms are embedded. We aimed to provide a comprehensive sequencing-based analysis of the bacterial population of water kefir beverages and grains, while providing an initial insight into the corresponding fungal population. To facilitate this objective, four water kefirs were sourced from the UK, Canada and the United States. Culture-independent, high-throughput, sequencing-based analyses revealed that the bacterial fraction of each water kefir and grain was dominated by Zymomonas, an ethanol-producing bacterium, which has not previously been detected at such a scale. The other genera detected were representatives of the lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria. Our analysis of the fungal component established that it was comprised of the genera Dekkera, Hanseniaspora, Saccharomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Torulaspora and Lachancea. This information will assist in the ultimate identification of the microorganisms responsible for the potentially health-promoting attributes of these beverages.}, } @article {pmid24001254, year = {2013}, author = {Kisiala, A and Laffont, C and Emery, RJ and Frugier, F}, title = {Bioactive cytokinins are selectively secreted by Sinorhizobium meliloti nodulating and nonnodulating strains.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {1225-1231}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-13-0054-R}, pmid = {24001254}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid ; Cytokinins/analysis/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/analysis/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Bacteria present in the rhizosphere of plants often synthesize phytohormones, and these signals can consequently affect root system development. In legumes, plants adapt to nitrogen starvation by forming lateral roots as well as a new organ, the root nodule, following a symbiotic interaction with bacteria collectively referred to as rhizobia. As cytokinin (CK) phytohormones were shown to be necessary and sufficient to induce root nodule organogenesis, the relevance of CK production by symbiotic rhizobia was questioned. In this study, we analyzed quantitatively, by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the production of 25 forms of CK in nine rhizobia strains belonging to four different species. All bacterial strains were able to synthesize a mix of CK, and bioactive forms of CK, such as iP, were notably found to be secreted in bacterial culture supernatants. Use of a mutant affected in extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production revealed a negative correlation of EPS production with the ability to secrete CK. In addition, analysis of a nonnodulating Sinorhizobium meliloti strain revealed a similar pattern of CK production and secretion when compared with a related nodulating strain. This indicates that bacterially produced CK are not sufficient to induce symbiotic nodulation.}, } @article {pmid24001090, year = {2013}, author = {Xiao, JH and Qi, Y and Xiong, Q}, title = {Nucleosides, a valuable chemical marker for quality control in traditional Chinese medicine Cordyceps.}, journal = {Recent patents on biotechnology}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {153-166}, doi = {10.2174/1872208311307020007}, pmid = {24001090}, issn = {2212-4012}, mesh = {Biomarkers/analysis ; Cordyceps ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/*standards ; Nucleosides/*analysis ; Patents as Topic ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/*standards ; Quality Control ; }, abstract = {Cordyceps, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is an endoparasitic and/or symbiotic macrofungus in the body of insect and other arthropod, and has received increasing attention worldwide due to its rarity and outstanding curative effects for different diseases. Recent years, however, the counterfeits and mimics of Cordyceps are frequently found in markets because of its scarce in nature and high in price. Therefore, quality control of Cordyceps and its bioproducts is very important to ensure their safety and efficacy. Nucleoside is recognized as a major active component of Cordyceps, and even is used as chemical marker for quality control of Cordyceps. In this present review, recent studies and associated patents, with regard to the chemical marker nucleosides for quality control of Cordyceps and its bioproducts, including nucleoside components, pharmacological activities, and analytical methods were reviewed and discussed thereof. Also, developing trends in the field have been appraised.}, } @article {pmid23999966, year = {2013}, author = {Giddings, LA and Newman, DJ}, title = {Microbial natural products: molecular blueprints for antitumor drugs.}, journal = {Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {11}, pages = {1181-1210}, pmid = {23999966}, issn = {1476-5535}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*chemistry/metabolism ; Biological Products/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Drug Design ; Genomics ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Microbes from two of the three domains of life, the Prokarya, and Eukarya, continue to serve as rich sources of structurally complex chemical scaffolds that have proven to be essential for the development of anticancer therapeutics. This review describes only a handful of exemplary natural products and their derivatives as well as those that have served as elegant blueprints for the development of novel synthetic structures that are either currently in use or in clinical or preclinical trials together with some of their earlier analogs in some cases whose failure to proceed aided in the derivation of later compounds. In every case, a microbe has been either identified as the producer of secondary metabolites or speculated to be involved in the production via symbiotic associations. Finally, rapidly evolving next-generation sequencing technologies have led to the increasing availability of microbial genomes. Relevant examples of genome mining and genetic manipulation are discussed, demonstrating that we have only barely scratched the surface with regards to harnessing the potential of microbes as sources of new pharmaceutical leads/agents or biological probes.}, } @article {pmid23998652, year = {2013}, author = {Tanaka, A and Cartwright, GM and Saikia, S and Kayano, Y and Takemoto, D and Kato, M and Tsuge, T and Scott, B}, title = {ProA, a transcriptional regulator of fungal fruiting body development, regulates leaf hyphal network development in the Epichloë festucae-Lolium perenne symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {90}, number = {3}, pages = {551-568}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.12385}, pmid = {23998652}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Epichloe/classification/growth & development/*metabolism/physiology ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal ; Hyphae/*growth & development ; Lolium/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Transcription factors containing a Zn(II)2 Cys6 binuclear cluster DNA-binding domain are unique to fungi and are key regulators of fungal growth and development. The C6-Zn transcription factor, Pro1, in Sordaria macrospora is crucial for maturation of sexual fruiting bodies. In a forward genetic screen to identify Epichloë festucae symbiosis genes we identified a mutant with an insertion in proA. Plants infected with the proA mutant underwent premature senescence. Hyphae of ΔproA had a proliferative pattern of growth within the leaves of Lolium perenne. Targeted deletion of proA recapitulated this phenotype and introduction of a wild-type gene complemented the mutation. ΔproA was defective in hyphal fusion. qPCR analysis of E. festucae homologues of S. macrospora genes differentially expressed in Δpro1 identified esdC, encoding a glycogen-binding protein, as a target of ProA. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis identified two binding sites for ProA in the intergenic region of esdC and a divergently transcribed gene, EF320. Both esdC and EF320 are highly expressed in a wild-type E. festucae-grass association but downregulated in a proA-mutant association. These results show that ProA is a key regulator of in planta specific growth of E. festucae, and therefore crucial for maintaining a mutualistic symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid23996311, year = {2013}, author = {Yarce, JC and Lee, HK and Tadege, M and Ratet, P and Mysore, KS}, title = {Forward genetics screening of Medicago truncatula Tnt1 insertion lines.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1069}, number = {}, pages = {93-100}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-62703-613-9_8}, pmid = {23996311}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; *Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Retroelements ; Rhizobiaceae/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A large population of Medicago truncatula insertion lines has been generated using the Tnt1 retrotransposon. More than 21,000 insertion lines have been generated, representing more than 500,000 insertion events. This mutant population is being used by the legume research community to screen for various different mutants using a forward genetics approach. Some of the phenotypes that have been screened using this population include developmentally abnormal phenotypes in leaves, stem, flowers, and roots. In addition to these, mutants with defects in symbiosis with Rhizobium and mycorrhiza, mutants with altered nonhost resistance against Asian Soybean Rust and switch grass rust pathogens, mutants with altered lignin content, mutants with altered cell wall structure, etc. have been identified. Here, we describe the high throughput methodology that is being used to identify these M. truncatula mutants.}, } @article {pmid23996013, year = {2013}, author = {Iwamori, M and Iwamori, Y and Adachi, S and Nomura, T}, title = {Changes in bacterial glycolipids as an index of intestinal lactobacilli and epithelial glycolipids in the digestive tracts of mice after administration of penicillin and streptomycin.}, journal = {Glycoconjugate journal}, volume = {30}, number = {9}, pages = {889-897}, pmid = {23996013}, issn = {1573-4986}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Glycolipids/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/drug effects/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Mice ; Organ Specificity ; Penicillins/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Staphylococcus/drug effects/immunology/pathogenicity ; Stomach/microbiology ; Streptomycin/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The major lipid constituent of symbiotic gram-positive bacteria in animals are phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin and dihexaosyl diglycerides (DH-DG), whose hydrophobic structures are characteristic of the environments, and the carbohydrate structures of DH-DGs are bacterial species-characteristic. Immunization of rabbits with intestinal lactobacilli generated antibodies against DH-DGs and their modified structures, among which Galα1-6-substituted DH-DG, i.e., Lactobacillus tetrahexaosyl diglyceride (LacTetH-DG), reacted with antibodies more intensely than DH-DG. Whereas, from the 16S-rRNA sequence, the intestinal lactobacilli in murine digestive tracts were revealed to be L. johnsonii, in which LacTetH-DG is present at the concentration of 2.2 ng per 1 × 10(6) cells. To obtain more accurate estimates of intestinal lactobacilli in several regions of the digestive tract of mice, LacTetH-DG was detected by TLC-immunostaining with anti-Lactobacillus antisera, being found in the stomach, cecum and colon of normal breeding mice, 1.0 × 10(9), 3.5 × 10(9) and 7.4 × 10(9) cells, respectively. Administration of penicillin and streptomycin for 6 days resulted in a reduction in the number of intestinal lactobacilli, the levels being 0 %, 30 % and 4 % of the control ones in the stomach, cecum and colon, respectively, which was associated with the accumulation of the contents in the tracts from the stomach to the cecum and with diarrhea. In addition, a reduced amount of fucosyl GA1 (FGA1) and a compensatory increase in GA1 due to the reduced activity of α1,2-fucosyltransferase in the small intestine and the enhanced discharge of FGA1 into the contents occurred in mice, probably due to the altered population of bacteria caused by administration of penicillin and streptomycin.}, } @article {pmid23995935, year = {2013}, author = {Tiricz, H and Szucs, A and Farkas, A and Pap, B and Lima, RM and Maróti, G and Kondorosi, É and Kereszt, A}, title = {Antimicrobial nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides induce membrane depolarization-associated changes in the transcriptome of Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {21}, pages = {6737-6746}, pmid = {23995935}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Propidium ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing alpha- and betaproteobacteria, collectively called rhizobia, which provide combined nitrogen to support plant growth. Members of the inverted repeat-lacking clade of legumes impose terminal differentiation on their endosymbiotic bacterium partners with the help of the nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptide family composed of close to 600 members. Among the few tested NCR peptides, cationic ones had antirhizobial activity measured by reduction or elimination of the CFU and uptake of the membrane-impermeable dye propidium iodide. Here, the antimicrobial spectrum of two of these peptides, NCR247 and NCR335, was investigated, and their effect on the transcriptome of the natural target Sinorhizobium meliloti was characterized. Both peptides were able to kill quickly a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria; however, their spectra were only partially overlapping, and differences were found also in their efficacy on given strains, indicating that the actions of NCR247 and NCR335 might be similar though not identical. Treatment of S. meliloti cultures with either peptide resulted in a quick downregulation of genes involved in basic cellular functions, such as transcription-translation and energy production, as well as upregulation of genes involved in stress and oxidative stress responses and membrane transport. Similar changes provoked mainly in Gram-positive bacteria by antimicrobial agents were coupled with the destruction of membrane potential, indicating that it might also be a common step in the bactericidal actions of NCR247 and NCR335.}, } @article {pmid23993843, year = {2013}, author = {Henry, LM and Peccoud, J and Simon, JC and Hadfield, JD and Maiden, MJ and Ferrari, J and Godfray, HC}, title = {Horizontally transmitted symbionts and host colonization of ecological niches.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {23}, number = {17}, pages = {1713-1717}, pmid = {23993843}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {087622//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Facultative or "secondary" symbionts are common in eukaryotes, particularly insects. While not essential for host survival, they often provide significant fitness benefits. It has been hypothesized that secondary symbionts form a "horizontal gene pool" shuttling adaptive genes among host lineages in an analogous manner to plasmids and other mobile genetic elements in bacteria. However, we do not know whether the distributions of symbionts across host populations reflect random acquisitions followed by vertical inheritance or whether the associations have occurred repeatedly in a manner consistent with a dynamic horizontal gene pool. Here we explore these questions using the phylogenetic and ecological distributions of secondary symbionts carried by 1,104 pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum. We find that not only is horizontal transfer common, but it is also associated with aphid lineages colonizing new ecological niches, including novel plant species and climatic regions. Moreover, aphids that share the same ecologies worldwide have independently acquired related symbiont genotypes, suggesting significant involvement of symbionts in their host's adaptation to different niches. We conclude that the secondary symbiont community forms a horizontal gene pool that influences the adaptation and distribution of their insect hosts. These findings highlight the importance of symbiotic microorganisms in the radiation of eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid23993531, year = {2013}, author = {Silva, LR and Pereira, MJ and Azevedo, J and Mulas, R and Velazquez, E and González-Andrés, F and Valentão, P and Andrade, PB}, title = {Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum enhances the organic and fatty acids content of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seeds.}, journal = {Food chemistry}, volume = {141}, number = {4}, pages = {3636-3648}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.06.045}, pmid = {23993531}, issn = {1873-7072}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/*physiology ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Seeds/metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is one of the most important food crops for human and animal consumption, providing oil and protein at relatively low cost. The least expensive source of nitrogen for soybean is the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by the symbiotic association with soil bacteria, belonging mainly to the genus Bradyrhizobium. This study was conducted to assess the effect of the inoculation of G. max with Bradyrhizobium japonicum on the metabolite profile and antioxidant potential of its seeds. Phenolic compounds, sterols, triterpenes, organic acids, fatty acids and volatiles profiles were characterised by different chromatographic techniques. The antioxidant activity was evaluated against DPPH, superoxide and nitric oxide radicals. Inoculation with B. japonicum induced changes in the profiles of primary and secondary metabolites of G. max seeds, without affecting their antioxidant capacity. The increase of organic and fatty acids and volatiles suggest a positive effect of the inoculation process. These findings indicate that the inoculation with nodulating B. japonicum is a beneficial agricultural practice, increasing the content of bioactive metabolites in G. max seeds owing to the establishment of symbiosis between plant and microorganism, with direct effects on seed quality.}, } @article {pmid23993483, year = {2013}, author = {Rock, CD}, title = {Trans-acting small interfering RNA4: key to nutraceutical synthesis in grape development?.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {601-610}, pmid = {23993483}, issn = {1878-4372}, support = {R21 GM077245/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM077245/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {DNA Shuffling ; Dietary Supplements ; Fruit/chemistry/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Engineering ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Polyphenols/*biosynthesis ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/*genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Vitis/chemistry/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {The facility and versatility of microRNAs (miRNAs) to evolve and change likely underlies how they have become dominant constituents of eukaryotic genomes. In this opinion article I propose that trans-acting small interfering RNA gene 4 (TAS4) evolution may be important for biosynthesis of polyphenolics, arbuscular symbiosis, and bacterial pathogen etiologies. Expression-based and phylogenetic evidence shows that TAS4 targets two novel grape (Vitis vinifera L.) MYB transcription factors (VvMYBA6, VvMYBA7) that spawn phased small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) which probably function in nutraceutical bioflavonoid biosynthesis and fruit development. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms of TAS4 control of plant development and integration into biotic and abiotic stress- and nutrient-signaling regulatory networks has applicability to molecular breeding and the development of strategies for engineering healthier foods.}, } @article {pmid23992772, year = {2013}, author = {Yost, DM and Wang, LH and Fan, TY and Chen, CS and Lee, RW and Sogin, E and Gates, RD}, title = {Diversity in skeletal architecture influences biological heterogeneity and Symbiodinium habitat in corals.}, journal = {Zoology (Jena, Germany)}, volume = {116}, number = {5}, pages = {262-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.zool.2013.06.001}, pmid = {23992772}, issn = {1873-2720}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*anatomy & histology/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals vary in response to rapid shifts in the marine environment and changes in reef community structure post-disturbance reveal a clear relationship between coral performance and morphology. With exceptions, massive corals are thought to be more tolerant and branching corals more vulnerable to changing environmental conditions, notably thermal stress. The typical responses of massive and branching coral taxa, respectively, are well documented; however, the biological and functional characteristics that underpin this variation are not well understood. We address this gap by comparing multiple biological attributes that are correlated with skeletal architecture in two perforate (having porous skeletal matrices with intercalating tissues) and two imperforate coral species (Montipora aequituberculata, Porites lobata, Pocillopora damicornis, and Seriatopora hystrix) representing three morphotypes. Our results reveal inherent biological heterogeneity among corals and the potential for perforate skeletons to create complex, three-dimensional internal habitats that impact the dynamics of the symbiosis. Patterns of tissue thickness are correlated with the concentration of symbionts within narrow regions of tissue in imperforate corals versus broad distribution throughout the larger tissue area in perforate corals. Attributes of the perforate and environmentally tolerant P. lobata were notable, with tissues ∼5 times thicker than in the sensitive, imperforate species P. damicornis and S. hystrix. Additionally, P. lobata had the lowest baseline levels of superoxide and Symbiodinium that provisioned high levels of energy. Given our observations, we hypothesize that the complexity of the visually obscured internal environment has an impact on host-symbiont dynamics and ultimately on survival, warranting further scientific investigation.}, } @article {pmid23991417, year = {2013}, author = {Scaldaferri, F and Gerardi, V and Lopetuso, LR and Del Zompo, F and Mangiola, F and Boškoski, I and Bruno, G and Petito, V and Laterza, L and Cammarota, G and Gaetani, E and Sgambato, A and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {Gut microbial flora, prebiotics, and probiotics in IBD: their current usage and utility.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2013}, number = {}, pages = {435268}, pmid = {23991417}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*diet therapy/immunology/*microbiology ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Microbial Interactions/*immunology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Prebiotics/*microbiology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, whose major forms are represented by Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Their etiology is still unclear, although several factors have been identified as major determinants for induction or relapses. Among these, the role of the "forgotten organ", gut microbiota, has become more appreciated in recent years. The delicate symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the host appears to be lost in IBD. In this perspective, several studies have been conducted to assess the role of prebiotics and probiotics in gut microbiota modulation. This is a minireview aimed to address in an easy format (simple questions-simple answers) some common issues about the theme. An update on the role of selected constituents of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD is presented together with the analysis of the efficacy of gut microbiota modulation by prebiotics and probiotics administration in the management of IBD.}, } @article {pmid23991166, year = {2013}, author = {Fiore, CL and Baker, DM and Lesser, MP}, title = {Nitrogen biogeochemistry in the Caribbean sponge, Xestospongia muta: a source or sink of dissolved inorganic nitrogen?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e72961}, pmid = {23991166}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Flow Cytometry ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Porifera/*metabolism ; Solubility ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sponges have long been known to be ecologically important members of the benthic fauna on coral reefs. Recently, it has been shown that sponges are also important contributors to the nitrogen biogeochemistry of coral reefs. The studies that have been done show that most sponges are net sources of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; NH4 (+) and NO3 (-)) and that nitrification, mediated by their symbiotic prokaryotes, is the primary process involved in supplying DIN to adjacent reefs.

A natural experiment was conducted with the Caribbean sponge Xestospongia muta from three different locations (Florida Keys, USA; Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas and Little Cayman, Cayman Islands). The DIN fluxes of sponges were studied using nutrient analysis, stable isotope ratios, and isotope tracer experiments. Results showed that the fluxes of DIN were variable between locations and that X. muta can be either a source or sink of DIN. Stable isotope values of sponge and symbiotic bacterial fractions indicate that the prokaryotic community is capable of taking up both NH4 (+) and NO3 (-) while the differences in δ (15)N between the sponge and bacterial fractions from the NH4 (+) tracer experiment suggest that there is translocation of labeled N from the symbiotic bacteria to the host.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Nitrogen cycling in X. muta appears to be more complex than previous studies have shown and our results suggest that anaerobic processes such as denitrification or anammox occur in these sponges in addition to aerobic nitrification. Furthermore, the metabolism of this sponge and its prokaryotic symbionts may have a significant impact on the nitrogen biogeochemistry on Caribbean coral reefs by releasing large amounts of DIN, including higher NH4 (+) concentrations that previously reported.}, } @article {pmid23991051, year = {2013}, author = {Vojvodic, S and Rehan, SM and Anderson, KE}, title = {Microbial gut diversity of Africanized and European honey bee larval instars.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e72106}, pmid = {23991051}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/genetics/physiology ; Africa ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bees/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Europe ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Lactobacillus/genetics/physiology ; Larva/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neisseriaceae/genetics/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The first step in understanding gut microbial ecology is determining the presence and potential niche breadth of associated microbes. While the core gut bacteria of adult honey bees is becoming increasingly apparent, there is very little and inconsistent information concerning symbiotic bacterial communities in honey bee larvae. The larval gut is the target of highly pathogenic bacteria and fungi, highlighting the need to understand interactions between typical larval gut flora, nutrition and disease progression. Here we show that the larval gut is colonized by a handful of bacterial groups previously described from guts of adult honey bees or other pollinators. First and second larval instars contained almost exclusively Alpha 2.2, a core Acetobacteraceae, while later instars were dominated by one of two very different Lactobacillus spp., depending on the sampled site. Royal jelly inhibition assays revealed that of seven bacteria occurring in larvae, only one Neisseriaceae and one Lactobacillus sp. were inhibited. We found both core and environmentally vectored bacteria with putatively beneficial functions. Our results suggest that early inoculation by Acetobacteraceae may be important for microbial succession in larvae. This assay is a starting point for more sophisticated in vitro models of nutrition and disease resistance in honey bee larvae.}, } @article {pmid23990841, year = {2013}, author = {Shenderov, BA}, title = {Metabiotics: novel idea or natural development of probiotic conception.}, journal = {Microbial ecology in health and disease}, volume = {24}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {23990841}, issn = {0891-060X}, abstract = {Traditionally, probiotics on the base of live microorganisms are considered to be both beneficial and safe. Unfortunately, their effects may have short-term success or are absent or uncertain. Some symbiotic (probiotic) microorganisms with known beneficial health affects may cause opportunistic infections, increase incidence of allergic sensitization and autoimmune disorders, produce microecological imbalance, modify gene expression, transfer antibiotic resistant and virulence genes, cause disorders in epigenome and genome integrity, induce chromosomal DNA damage, and activate signaling pathways associated with cancer and other chronic diseases. The commercially available probiotics should be considered as a first generation means of correcting microecological disorders. Further, their development will include the selection of natural metabiotics and/or working out the synthetic (or semi-synthetic) metabiotics that will be analogies or improved copies of natural bioactives, produced by symbiotic (probiotic) microorganisms. Metabiotics are the structural components of probiotic microorganisms and/or their metabolites and/or signaling molecules with a determined (known) chemical structure that can optimize host-specific physiological functions, regulator, metabolic and/or behavior reactions connected with the activity of host indigenous microbiota. Metabiotics have some advantages because of their exact chemical structure, well dosed, very safe and long shelf-life. Thus, now metabiotics should not consider myth; they are the result of the natural evolution of probiotic conception.}, } @article {pmid23986805, year = {2013}, author = {Decelle, J}, title = {New perspectives on the functioning and evolution of photosymbiosis in plankton: Mutualism or parasitism?.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {e24560}, pmid = {23986805}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Photosymbiosis is common and widely distributed in plankton and is considered to be beneficial for both partners (mutualism). Such intimate associations involving heterotrophic hosts and microalgal symbionts have been extensively studied in coral reefs, but in the planktonic realm, the ecology and evolution of photosymbioses remain poorly understood. Acantharia (Radiolaria) are ubiquitous and abundant heterotrophic marine protists, many of which host endosymbiotic microalgae. Two types of photosymbiosis involving acantharians have recently been described using molecular techniques: one found in a single acantharian species involving multiple microalgal partners (dinoflagellates and haptophytes), and the other observed in more than 25 acantharian species exclusively living with the haptophyte Phaeocystis. Contrary to most benthic and terrestrial mutualistic symbioses, these symbiotic associations share the common feature of involving symbionts that are abundant in their free-living stage. We propose a hypothetical framework that may explain this original mode of symbiosis, and discuss the ecological and evolutionary implications. We suggest that photosymbiosis in Acantharia, and probably in other planktonic hosts, may not be a mutualistic relationship but rather an "inverted parasitism," from which only hosts seem to benefit by sequestrating and exploiting microalgal cells. The relatively small population size of microalgae in hospite would prevent reciprocal evolution that can select uncooperative symbionts, therefore making this horizontally-transmitted association stable over evolutionary time. The more we learn about the diversity of life and the structure of genomes, the more it appears that much of the evolution of biodiversity is about the manipulation of other species-to gain resources and, in turn, to avoid being manipulated (John Thompson, 1999).}, } @article {pmid23984800, year = {2015}, author = {Khan, AL and Hussain, J and Al-Harrasi, A and Al-Rawahi, A and Lee, IJ}, title = {Endophytic fungi: resource for gibberellins and crop abiotic stress resistance.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {62-74}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2013.800018}, pmid = {23984800}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {*Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/microbiology ; Endophytes/*metabolism/physiology ; Fungi/*metabolism/physiology ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The beneficial effects of endophytes on plant growth are important for agricultural ecosystems because they reduce the need for fertilizers and decrease soil and water pollution while compensating for environmental perturbations. Endophytic fungi are a novel source of bioactive secondary metabolites; moreover, recently they have been found to produce physiologically active gibberellins as well. The symbiosis of gibberellins producing endophytic fungi with crops can be a promising strategy to overcome the adverse effects of abiotic stresses. The association of such endophytes has not only increased plant biomass but also ameliorated plant-growth during extreme environmental conditions. Endophytic fungi represent a trove of unexplored biodiversity and a frequently overlooked component of crop ecology. The present review describes the role of gibberellins producing endophytic fungi, suggests putative mechanisms involved in plant endophyte stress interactions and discusses future prospects in this field.}, } @article {pmid23984533, year = {2013}, author = {Zhao, MM and Zhang, G and Zhang, DW and Guo, SX}, title = {[Molecular cloning and characterization of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase gene (DoSAMDC1) in Dendrobium officinale].}, journal = {Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica}, volume = {48}, number = {6}, pages = {946-952}, pmid = {23984533}, issn = {0513-4870}, mesh = {Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Basidiomycota/physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Dendrobium/enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; Germination ; *Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Seeds/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {S-Adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) is a key enzyme in the polyamines biosynthesis, thus is essential for basic physiological and biochemical processes in plant. In the present study, a full length cDNA of DoSAMDC1 gene was obtained from symbiotic germinated seeds of an endangered medicinal orchid species Dendrobium officinale, using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR technique for the first time. The full length cDNA was 1 979 bp, with three open reading frames, i.e. tiny-uORF, small-uORF and main ORF (mORF). The mORF was deduced to encode a 368 amino acid (aa) protein with a molecular mass of 40.7 kD and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.2. The deduced DoSAMDC1 protein, without signal peptide, had two highly conserved function domains (proenzyme cleavage site and PEST domain) and a 22-aa transmembrane domain (89-110). Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic relationship analyses revealed DoSAMDC1 had a higher level of sequence similarity to monocot SAMDCs than those of dicot. Expression patterns using qRT-PCR analyses showed that DoSAMDC1 transcripts were expressed constitutively without significant change in the five tissues (not infected with fungi). While in the symbiotic germinated seeds, the expression level was enhanced by 2.74 fold over that in the none-germinated seeds, indicating possible involvement of the gene in symbiotic seed germination of D. officinale.}, } @article {pmid23980812, year = {2014}, author = {Nguyen, MTHD and Liu, M and Thomas, T}, title = {Ankyrin-repeat proteins from sponge symbionts modulate amoebal phagocytosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1635-1645}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12384}, pmid = {23980812}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/physiology ; Animals ; *Ankyrin Repeat ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phagocytosis ; Phagosomes/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria-eukaryote symbiosis occurs in all stages of evolution, from simple amoebae to mammals, and from facultative to obligate associations. Sponges are ancient metazoans that form intimate symbiotic interactions with complex communities of bacteria. The basic nutritional requirements of the sponge are in part satisfied by the phagocytosis of bacterial food particles from the surrounding water. How bacterial symbionts, which are permanently associated with the sponge, survive in the presence of phagocytic cells is largely unknown. Here, we present the discovery of a genomic fragment from an uncultured gamma-proteobacterial sponge symbiont that encodes for four proteins, whose closest known relatives are found in a sponge genome. Through recombinant approaches, we show that these four eukaryotic-like, ankyrin-repeat proteins (ARP) when expressed in Eschericha coli can modulate phagocytosis of amoebal cells and lead to accumulation of bacteria in the phagosome. Mechanistically, two ARPs appear to interfere with phagosome development in a similar way to reduced vacuole acidification, by blocking the fusion of the early phagosome with the lysosome and its digestive enzymes. Our results show that ARP from sponge symbionts can function to interfere with phagocytosis, and we postulate that this might be one mechanism by which symbionts can escape digestion in a sponge host.}, } @article {pmid23980764, year = {2013}, author = {Thornhill, DJ and Xiang, Y and Pettay, DT and Zhong, M and Santos, SR}, title = {Population genetic data of a model symbiotic cnidarian system reveal remarkable symbiotic specificity and vectored introductions across ocean basins.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {17}, pages = {4499-4515}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12416}, pmid = {23980764}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Florida ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Likelihood Functions ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sea Anemones/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Aiptasia-Symbiodinium symbiosis is a promising model for experimental studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate associations, yet relatively little is known regarding the genetic diversity of either symbiotic partner. To address this, we collected Aiptasia from 16 localities throughout the world and examined the genetic diversity of both anemones and their endosymbionts. Based on newly developed SCAR markers, Aiptasia consisted of two genetically distinct populations: one Aiptasia lineage from Florida and a second network of Aiptasia genotypes found at other localities. These populations did not conform to the distributions of described Aiptasia species, suggesting that taxonomic re-evaluation is needed in the light of molecular genetics. Associations with Symbiodinium further demonstrated the distinctions among Aiptasia populations. According to 18S RFLP, ITS2-DGGE and microsatellite flanker region sequencing, Florida anemones engaged in diverse symbioses predominantly with members of Symbiodinium Clades A and B, but also C, whereas anemones from elsewhere harboured only S. minutum within Clade B. Symbiodinium minutum apparently does not form a stable symbiosis with other hosts, which implies a highly specific symbiosis. Fine-scale differences among S. minutum populations were quantified using six microsatellite loci. Populations of S. minutum had low genotypic diversity and high clonality (R = 0.14). Furthermore, minimal population structure was observed among regions and ocean basins, due to allele and genotype sharing. The lack of genetic structure and low genotypic diversity suggest recent vectoring of Aiptasia and S. minutum across localities. This first ever molecular-genetic study of a globally distributed cnidarian and its Symbiodinium assemblages reveals host-symbiont specificity and widely distributed populations in an important model system.}, } @article {pmid23980625, year = {2013}, author = {Yan, Z and Hossain, MS and Wang, J and Valdés-López, O and Liang, Y and Libault, M and Qiu, L and Stacey, G}, title = {miR172 regulates soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {12}, pages = {1371-1377}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-13-0111-R}, pmid = {23980625}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/genetics ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/genetics/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/anatomy & histology/*genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in the control of gene expression and regulate plant developmental processes. miRNA 172 (miR172) is a conserved miRNA in plants reported to control the expression of genes involved in developmental phase transition, floral organ identity, and flowering time. However, the specific role of miR172 in legume nodulation is undefined. Ectopic expression of soybean miR172 resulted in an increase in nodule numbers in transgenic roots and an increase in the expression of both symbiotic leghemoglobin and nonsymbiotic hemoglobin. These nodules showed higher levels of nitrogenase activity. Further analysis revealed a complex regulatory circuit in which miR156 regulates miR172 expression and controls the level of an AP2 transcription factor. The latter, either directly or indirectly, controls the expression of nonsymbiotic hemoglobin, which is essential for regulating the levels of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid23979430, year = {2013}, author = {Kåhrström, CT}, title = {Symbiosis: breaking the ice with your host.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {663}, pmid = {23979430}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23979010, year = {2014}, author = {Yamaguchi, H and Nakayama, T and Hongoh, Y and Kawachi, M and Inouye, I}, title = {Molecular diversity of endosymbiotic Nephroselmis (Nephroselmidophyceae) in Hatena arenicola (Katablepharidophycota).}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {127}, number = {2}, pages = {241-247}, pmid = {23979010}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/physiology ; DNA, Plant/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Eukaryota/*genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hatena arenicola (Katablepharidophycota) is a single-celled eukaryote that temporarily possesses a chlorophyte alga of the genus Nephroselmis as an intracellular symbiont. In the present study, we investigated the molecular diversity of the endosymbiont Nephroselmis in a natural population of the host H. arenicola. We sequenced the host's 18S rRNA gene and the endosymbiont's plastid-encoded 16S rRNA gene. The results indicated that almost identical strains of the host harbored at least three distinct strains of the algal endosymbiont affiliated to the clade Nephroselmis rotunda. This finding supports our previous hypothesis that H. arenicola and its symbiotic alga are in an early stage of secondary endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23973745, year = {2013}, author = {Aboshi, T and Shimizu, N and Nakajima, Y and Honda, Y and Kuwahara, Y and Amano, H and Mori, N}, title = {Biosynthesis of linoleic acid in Tyrophagus mites (Acarina: Acaridae).}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {43}, number = {11}, pages = {991-996}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.08.002}, pmid = {23973745}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Acaridae/chemistry/*metabolism ; Animals ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Linoleic Acid/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; }, abstract = {We report here that Tyrophagus similis and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Astigmata: Acaridae) have the ability to biosynthesize linoleic acid [(9Z, 12Z)-9, 12-octadecadienoic acid] via a Δ12-desaturation step, although animals in general and vertebrates in particular appear to lack this ability. When the mites were fed on dried yeast enriched with d31-hexadecanoic acid (16:0), d27-octadecadienoic acid (18:2), produced from d31-hexadecanoic acid through elongation and desaturation reactions, was identified as a major fatty acid component of phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) in the mites. The double bond position of d27-octadecadienoic acid (18:2) of PCs and PEs was determined to be 9 and 12, respectively by dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) derivatization. Furthermore, the GC/MS retention time of methyl 9, 12-octadecadienoate obtained from mite extracts agreed well with those of authentic linoleic acid methyl ester. It is still unclear whether the mites themselves or symbiotic microorganisms are responsible for inserting a double bond into the Δ12 position of octadecanoic acid. However, we present here the unique metabolism of fatty acids in the mites.}, } @article {pmid23969064, year = {2013}, author = {Dohra, H and Suzuki, H and Suzuki, T and Tanaka, K and Fujishima, M}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Holospora undulata Strain HU1, a Micronucleus-Specific Symbiont of the Ciliate Paramecium caudatum.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {23969064}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Holospora undulata is a micronucleus-specific symbiont of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum. We report here the draft genome sequence of H. undulata strain HU1. This genome information will contribute to the study of symbiosis between H. undulata and the host P. caudatum.}, } @article {pmid23969031, year = {2013}, author = {Roth, T and Foley, J and Worth, J and Piovia-Scott, J and Pope, K and Lawler, S}, title = {Bacterial flora on Cascades frogs in the Klamath mountains of California.}, journal = {Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases}, volume = {36}, number = {6}, pages = {591-598}, doi = {10.1016/j.cimid.2013.07.002}, pmid = {23969031}, issn = {1878-1667}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; California ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Ranidae/*microbiology ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Amphibians are experiencing global declines due in part to the infectious disease chytridiomycosis. Some symbiotic bacteria residents on frog skin have been shown to inhibit the growth of Batrachochytrium dendrobatitis (Bd) but few studies have attempted to fully describe the resident bacterial flora of frog skin. We cultured and sequenced 130 bacterial isolates from frogs collected from the California Klamath Range, recovering predominantly Gram-negative bacteria from 20 higher order taxa and 31 genera. There were also a large number of unclassifiable isolates. Forty-three isolates were assessed for their ability to inhibit the growth of Bd in vitro; of these, two had strong and three had slight anti-Bd activity. We suggest that many bacterial species may play a secondary role in Bd resistance, acting synergistically with inhibitory species. Future research is required in order to characterize these interactions. Understanding the relationships between bacterial strains may be important in predicting and managing the effects of future anti-Bd treatments such as antimicrobial compounds or probiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23968645, year = {2013}, author = {Hanshew, AS and Mason, CJ and Raffa, KF and Currie, CR}, title = {Minimization of chloroplast contamination in 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing of insect herbivore bacterial communities.}, journal = {Journal of microbiological methods}, volume = {95}, number = {2}, pages = {149-155}, pmid = {23968645}, issn = {1872-8359}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM07215-37/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Chloroplast/*isolation & purification ; Herbivory ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; }, abstract = {Chloroplast sequence contamination in 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S) analyses can be particularly problematic when sampling microbial communities in plants and folivorous arthropods. We previously encountered high levels of plastid contamination in herbivorous insect samples when we used the predominant 454 pyrosequencing 16S methodologies described in the literature. 799F, a primer previously found to exclude chloroplast sequences, was modified to enhance its efficacy, and we describe, in detail, our methodology throughout amplicon pyrosequencing. Thirteen versions of 799F were assessed for the exclusion of chloroplast sequences from our samples. We found that a shift in the mismatch between 799F and chloroplast 16S resulted in significant reduction of chloroplast reads. Our results also indicate that amplifying sequences from environmental samples in a two-step PCR process, with the addition of the multiplex identifiers and 454 adapters in a second round of PCR, further improved primer specificity. Primers that included 3' phosphorothioate bonds, which were designed to block primer degradation, did not amplify consistently across samples. The different forward primers do not appear to bias the bacterial communities detected. We provide a methodological framework for reducing chloroplast reads in high-throughput sequencing data sets that can be applied to a number of environmental samples and sequencing techniques.}, } @article {pmid23967407, year = {2013}, author = {Baluška, F and Mancuso, S}, title = {Microorganism and filamentous fungi drive evolution of plant synapses.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {44}, pmid = {23967407}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development ; *Biological Evolution ; Fungi/*growth & development/physiology ; Plants/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Synapses ; }, abstract = {In the course of plant evolution, there is an obvious trend toward an increased complexity of plant bodies, as well as an increased sophistication of plant behavior and communication. Phenotypic plasticity of plants is based on the polar auxin transport machinery that is directly linked with plant sensory systems impinging on plant behavior and adaptive responses. Similar to the emergence and evolution of eukaryotic cells, evolution of land plants was also shaped and driven by infective and symbiotic microorganisms. These microorganisms are the driving force behind the evolution of plant synapses and other neuronal aspects of higher plants; this is especially pronounced in the root apices. Plant synapses allow synaptic cell-cell communication and coordination in plants, as well as sensory-motor integration in root apices searching for water and mineral nutrition. These neuronal aspects of higher plants are closely linked with their unique ability to adapt to environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid23967363, year = {2013}, author = {Medlock, J and Atkins, KE and Thomas, DN and Aksoy, S and Galvani, AP}, title = {Evaluating paratransgenesis as a potential control strategy for African trypanosomiasis.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e2374}, pmid = {23967363}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; GM070694/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 GM070694/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Communicable Disease Control/*methods ; Enterobacteriaceae/*growth & development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Interactions ; Models, Theoretical ; Trypanosomiasis, African/*epidemiology/*prevention & control/transmission ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Wolbachia/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Genetic-modification strategies are currently being developed to reduce the transmission of vector-borne diseases, including African trypanosomiasis. For tsetse, the vector of African trypanosomiasis, a paratransgenic strategy is being considered: this approach involves modification of the commensal symbiotic bacteria Sodalis to express trypanosome-resistance-conferring products. Modified Sodalis can then be driven into the tsetse population by cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) from Wolbachia bacteria. To evaluate the effectiveness of this paratransgenic strategy in controlling African trypanosomiasis, we developed a three-species mathematical model of trypanosomiasis transmission among tsetse, humans, and animal reservoir hosts. Using empirical estimates of CI parameters, we found that paratransgenic tsetse have the potential to eliminate trypanosomiasis, provided that any extra mortality caused by Wolbachia colonization is low, that the paratransgene is effective at protecting against trypanosome transmission, and that the target tsetse species comprises a large majority of the tsetse population in the release location.}, } @article {pmid23967335, year = {2013}, author = {Zhao, MM and Zhang, G and Zhang, DW and Hsiao, YY and Guo, SX}, title = {ESTs analysis reveals putative genes involved in symbiotic seed germination in Dendrobium officinale.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e72705}, pmid = {23967335}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Computational Biology/methods ; Dendrobium/*genetics/*growth & development ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Library ; *Genes, Plant ; Germination/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Seeds ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Dendrobiumofficinale (Orchidaceae) is one of the world's most endangered plants with great medicinal value. In nature, D. officinale seeds must establish symbiotic relationships with fungi to germinate. However, the molecular events involved in the interaction between fungus and plant during this process are poorly understood. To isolate the genes involved in symbiotic germination, a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library of symbiotically germinated D. officinale seeds was constructed. From this library, 1437 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were clustered to 1074 Unigenes (including 902 singletons and 172 contigs), which were searched against the NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein database (E-value cutoff, e(-5)). Based on sequence similarity with known proteins, 579 differentially expressed genes in D. officinale were identified and classified into different functional categories by Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. The expression levels of 15 selected genes emblematic of symbiotic germination were confirmed via real-time quantitative PCR. These genes were classified into various categories, including defense and stress response, metabolism, transcriptional regulation, transport process and signal transduction pathways. All transcripts were upregulated in the symbiotically germinated seeds (SGS). The functions of these genes in symbiotic germination were predicted. Furthermore, two fungus-induced calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), which were upregulated 6.76- and 26.69-fold in SGS compared with un-germinated seeds (UGS), were cloned from D. officinale and characterized for the first time. This study provides the first global overview of genes putatively involved in D. officinale symbiotic seed germination and provides a foundation for further functional research regarding symbiotic relationships in orchids.}, } @article {pmid23967301, year = {2013}, author = {Burns, JH and Gregg, TM and Takabayashi, M}, title = {Does coral disease affect symbiodinium? Investigating the impacts of growth anomaly on symbiont photophysiology.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e72466}, pmid = {23967301}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development ; Circadian Rhythm ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*metabolism ; Genotype ; *Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Growth anomaly (GA) is a commonly observed coral disease that impairs biological functions of the affected tissue. GA is prevalent at Wai 'ōpae tide pools, southeast Hawai 'i Island. Here two distinct forms of this disease, Type A and Type B, affect the coral, Montiporacapitata. While the effects of GA on biology and ecology of the coral host are beginning to be understood, the impact of this disease on the photophysiology of the dinoflagellate symbiont, Symbiodinium spp., has not been investigated. The GA clearly alters coral tissue structure and skeletal morphology and density. These tissue and skeletal changes are likely to modify not only the light micro-environment of the coral tissue, which has a direct impact on the photosynthetic potential of Symbiodinium spp., but also the physiological interactions within the symbiosis. This study utilized Pulse amplitude modulation fluorometry (PAM) to characterize the photophysiology of healthy and GA-affected M. capitata tissue. Overall, endosymbionts within GA-affected tissue exhibit reduced photochemical efficiency. Values of both Fv/Fm and ΔF/ Fm' were significantly lower (p<0.01) in GA tissue compared to healthy and unaffected tissues. Tracking the photophysiology of symbionts over a diurnal time period enabled a comparison of symbiont responses to photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) among tissue conditions. Symbionts within GA tissue exhibited the lowest values of ΔF/Fm' as well as the highest pressure over photosystem II (p<0.01). This study provides evidence that the symbionts within GA-affected tissue are photochemically compromised compared to those residing in healthy tissue.}, } @article {pmid23966402, year = {2013}, author = {Ito, J and Watanabe, S and Hiratsuka, T and Kuse, K and Odahara, Y and Ochi, H and Kawamura, M and Nishigaki, K}, title = {Refrex-1, a soluble restriction factor against feline endogenous and exogenous retroviruses.}, journal = {Journal of virology}, volume = {87}, number = {22}, pages = {12029-12040}, pmid = {23966402}, issn = {1098-5514}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/*pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Cats ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Gene Products, env/*pharmacology/*physiology ; Genes, env/*physiology ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Leukemia Virus, Feline/*pathogenicity ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Fragments/*pharmacology/*physiology ; Proviruses/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Virus/genetics/*metabolism ; Retroviridae Infections/*prevention & control/veterinary/virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Tumor Virus Infections/*prevention & control/veterinary/virology ; Viral Interference ; Virus Replication ; }, abstract = {The host defense against viral infection is acquired during the coevolution or symbiosis of the host and pathogen. Several cellular factors that restrict retroviral infection have been identified in the hosts. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a gammaretrovirus that is classified into several receptor interference groups, including a novel FeLV-subgroup D (FeLV-D) that we recently identified. FeLV-D is generated by transduction of the env gene of feline endogenous gammaretrovirus of the domestic cat (ERV-DCs) into FeLV. Some ERV-DCs are replication competent viruses which are present and hereditary in cats. We report here the determination of new viral receptor interference groups and the discovery of a soluble antiretroviral factor, termed Refrex-1. Detailed analysis of FeLV-D strains and ERV-DCs showed two receptor interference groups that are distinct from other FeLV subgroups, and Refrex-1 specifically inhibited one of them. Refrex-1 is characterized as a truncated envelope protein of ERV-DC and includes the N-terminal region of surface unit, which is a putative receptor-binding domain, but lacks the transmembrane region. Refrex-1 is efficiently secreted from the cells and appears to cause receptor interference extracellularly. Two variants of Refrex-1 encoded by provirus loci, ERV-DC7 and DC16, are expressed in a broad range of feline tissues. The host retains Refrex-1 as an antiretroviral factor, which may potentially prevent reemergence of the ERVs and the emergence of novel ERV-related viruses in cats. Refrex-1 may have been acquired during endogenization of ERV-DCs and may play an important role in retroviral restriction and antiviral defense in cats.}, } @article {pmid23966358, year = {2014}, author = {Fang, JK and Schönberg, CH and Mello-Athayde, MA and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, S}, title = {Effects of ocean warming and acidification on the energy budget of an excavating sponge.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {20}, number = {4}, pages = {1043-1054}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12369}, pmid = {23966358}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide ; Coral Reefs ; *Energy Metabolism ; Mitotic Index ; Models, Biological ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis ; Porifera/*physiology ; Seawater/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Recent research efforts have demonstrated increased bioerosion rates under experimentally elevated partial pressures of seawater carbon dioxide (pCO2) with or without increased temperatures, which may lead to net erosion on coral reefs in the future. However, this conclusion clearly depends on the ability of the investigated bioeroding organisms to survive and grow in the warmer and more acidic future environments, which remains unexplored. The excavating sponge Cliona orientalis Thiele, is a widely distributed bioeroding organism and symbiotic with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. Using C. orientalis, an energy budget model was developed to calculate amounts of carbon directed into metabolic maintenance and growth. This model was tested under a range of CO2 emission scenarios (temperature + pCO2) appropriate to an Austral early summer. Under a pre-industrial scenario, present day (control) scenario, or B1 future scenario (associated with reducing the rate of CO2 emissions over the next few decades), C. orientalis maintained a positive energy budget, where metabolic demand was likely satisfied by autotrophic carbon provided by Symbiodinium and heterotrophic carbon via filter-feeding, suggesting sustainability. Under B1, C. orientalis likely benefited by a greater supply of photosynthetic products from its symbionts, which increased by up to 56% per unit area, and displayed an improved condition with up to 52% increased surplus carbon available for growth. Under an A1FI future scenario (associated with 'business-as-usual' CO2 emissions) bleached C. orientalis experienced the highest metabolic demand, but carbon acquired was insufficient to maintain the sponge, as indicated by a negative energy budget. These metabolic considerations suggest that previous observations of increased bioerosion under A1FI by C. orientalis may not last through the height of future A1FI summers, and survival of individual sponges may be dependent on the energy reserves (biomass) they have accumulated through the rest of the year.}, } @article {pmid23966036, year = {2013}, author = {Lipowicz, B and Hanekop, N and Schmitt, L and Proksch, P}, title = {An aeroplysinin-1 specific nitrile hydratase isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina cavernicola.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {3046-3067}, pmid = {23966036}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Acetonitriles/*metabolism ; Animals ; Cobalt/chemistry ; Cyclohexenes/*metabolism ; Hydro-Lyases/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Manganese/chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mediterranean Sea ; Nickel/chemistry ; Porifera/*chemistry ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {A nitrile hydratase (NHase) that specifically accepts the nitrile aeroplysinin-1 (1) as a substrate and converts it into the dienone amide verongiaquinol (7) was isolated, partially purified and characterized from the Mediterranean sponge Aplysina cavernicola; although it is currently not known whether the enzyme is of sponge origin or produced by its symbiotic microorganisms. The formation of aeroplysinin-1 and of the corresponding dienone amide is part of the chemical defence system of A. cavernicola. The latter two compounds that show strong antibiotic activity originate from brominated isoxazoline alkaloids that are thought to protect the sponges from invasion of bacterial pathogens. The sponge was shown to contain at least two NHases as two excised protein bands from a non denaturating Blue Native gel showed nitrile hydratase activity, which was not observed for control samples. The enzymes were shown to be manganese dependent, although cobalt and nickel ions were also able to recover the activity of the nitrile hydratases. The temperature and pH optimum of the studied enzymes were found at 41 °C and pH 7.8. The enzymes showed high substrate specificity towards the physiological substrate aeroplysinin-1 (1) since none of the substrate analogues that were prepared either by partial or by total synthesis were converted in an in vitro assay. Moreover de-novo sequencing by mass spectrometry was employed to obtain information about the primary structure of the studied NHases, which did not reveal any homology to known NHases.}, } @article {pmid23965976, year = {2013}, author = {Zarkani, AA and Stein, E and Röhrich, CR and Schikora, M and Evguenieva-Hackenberg, E and Degenkolb, T and Vilcinskas, A and Klug, G and Kogel, KH and Schikora, A}, title = {Homoserine lactones influence the reaction of plants to rhizobia.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {17122-17146}, pmid = {23965976}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Disease Resistance ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas syringae/physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial quorum sensing molecules not only grant the communication within bacterial communities, but also influence eukaryotic hosts. N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) produced by pathogenic or beneficial bacteria were shown to induce diverse reactions in animals and plants. In plants, the reaction to AHLs depends on the length of the lipid side chain. Here we investigated the impact of two bacteria on Arabidopsis thaliana, which usually enter a close symbiosis with plants from the Fabaceae (legumes) family and produce a long-chain AHL (Sinorhizobium meliloti) or a short-chain AHL (Rhizobium etli). We demonstrate that, similarly to the reaction to pure AHL molecules, the impact, which the inoculation with rhizosphere bacteria has on plants, depends on the type of the produced AHL. The inoculation with oxo-C14-HSL-producing S. meliloti strains enhanced plant resistance towards pathogenic bacteria, whereas the inoculation with an AttM lactonase-expressing S. meliloti strain did not. Inoculation with the oxo-C8-HSL-producing R. etli had no impact on the resistance, which is in agreement with our previous hypothesis. In addition, plants seem to influence the availability of AHLs in the rhizosphere. Taken together, this report provides new insights in the role of N-acyl-homoserine lactones in the inter-kingdom communication at the root surface.}, } @article {pmid23965960, year = {2013}, author = {Verma, SC and Miyashiro, T}, title = {Quorum sensing in the squid-Vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {16386-16401}, pmid = {23965960}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {R00 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 4R00GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/physiology ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Quorum sensing is an intercellular form of communication that bacteria use to coordinate group behaviors such as biofilm formation and the production of antibiotics and virulence factors. The term quorum sensing was originally coined to describe the mechanism underlying the onset of luminescence production in cultures of the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Luminescence and, more generally, quorum sensing are important for V. fischeri to form a mutualistic symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. The symbiosis is established when V. fischeri cells migrate via flagella-based motility from the surrounding seawater into a specialized structure injuvenile squid called the light organ. The cells grow to high cell densities within the light organ where the infection persists over the lifetime of the animal. A hallmark of a successful symbiosis is the luminescence produced by V. fischeri that camouflages the squid at night by eliminating its shadow within the water column. While the regulatory networks governing quorum sensing are critical for properly regulating V. fischeri luminescence within the squid light organ, they also regulate luminescence-independent processes during symbiosis. In this review, we discuss the quorum-sensing network of V. fischeri and highlight its impact at various stages during host colonization.}, } @article {pmid23964970, year = {2013}, author = {Ismail, Y and McCormick, S and Hijri, M}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus irregulare, controls the mycotoxin production of Fusarium sambucinum in the pathogenesis of potato.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {348}, number = {1}, pages = {46-51}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12236}, pmid = {23964970}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Fusarium/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Mycotoxins/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Tubers/microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/*microbiology ; Trichothecenes/metabolism ; Virulence Factors/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Trichothecenes are an important family of mycotoxins produced by several species of the genus Fusarium. These fungi cause serious disease on infected plants and postharvest storage of crops, and the toxins can cause health problems for humans and animals. Unfortunately, there are few methods for controlling mycotoxin production by fungal pathogens, and most rely on chemicals, creating therefore subsequent problems of chemical resistance. We tested the impact of the symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus irregulare on a trichothecene-producing strain of Fusarium sambucinum isolated from naturally infected potato plants. Using dual in vitro cultures, we showed that G. irregulare inhibited the growth of F. sambucinum and significantly reduced the production of the trichothecene 4, 15-diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Furthermore, using G. irregulare-colonized potato plants infected with F. sambucinum, we found that the G. irregulare treatment inhibited the production of DAS in roots and tubers. Thus, in addition to the known beneficial effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant growth, we found that G. irregulare controlled the growth of a virulent fungal pathogen and reduced production of a mycotoxin. This previously undescribed, biological control of Fusarium mycotoxin production by G. irregulare has potential implications for improved potato crop production and food safety.}, } @article {pmid23963908, year = {2013}, author = {Gordon, BR and Leggat, W and Motti, CA}, title = {Extraction protocol for nontargeted NMR and LC-MS metabolomics-based analysis of hard coral and their algal symbionts.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1055}, number = {}, pages = {129-147}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-62703-577-4_10}, pmid = {23963908}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/chemistry/metabolism/physiology ; Chromatography, Liquid/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/*methods ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Metabolomics and in particular, nontargeted metabolomics, has become a popular technique for the study of biological samples as it provides considerable amounts of information on extractable metabolites and is ideal for studying the metabolic response of an organism to stressors in its environment. One such organism, the symbiotic hard coral, presents its own complexity when considering a metabolomics approach in that it forms intricate associations with an array of symbiotic macro- and microbiota. While not discounting the importance of these many associations to the function of the coral holobiont, the coral-Symbiodinium relationship has been the most studied to date and as such, is the primary focus of this extraction protocol. This protocol provides details for the sample collection, extraction, and measurement of hard coral holobiont metabolites using both (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Using this nontargeted metabolomics approach, the holobiont metabolism can be investigated for perturbations resulting from either (1) natural or anthropogenic environmental challenges, (2) the controlled application of stressors, and (3) differences between phenotypes or species. Consequently, this protocol will benefit both environmental and natural products based research of hard coral and their algal symbionts. Every effort has been made to provide the reader with all the details required to perform this protocol, including many of the costly and time consuming "pitfalls" or "traps" that were discovered during its development. As a result, this protocol can be confidently accomplished by those with less experience in the extraction and analysis of symbiotic hard coral, requiring minimal user input whilst ensuring reproducible and reliable results using readily available lab ware and reagents.}, } @article {pmid23963492, year = {2013}, author = {Angelini, J and Silvina, G and Taurian, T and Ibáñez, F and Tonelli, ML and Valetti, L and Anzuay, MS and Ludueña, L and Muñoz, V and Fabra, A}, title = {The effects of pesticides on bacterial nitrogen fixers in peanut-growing area.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {195}, number = {10-11}, pages = {683-692}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-013-0919-1}, pmid = {23963492}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Arachis/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/drug effects/genetics ; Fungicides, Industrial/*pharmacology ; Glycine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Pesticides/*pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {In the peanut production, the applications of herbicides and fungicides are a common practice. In this work, studies done under field conditions demonstrated that pesticides affected negatively the number and nitrogenase activity of diazotrophic populations of soil. Agrochemical effects were not transient, since these parameters were not recovered to pre-treatment levels even 1 year after pesticides application. Results obtained from greenhouse experiments revealed that the addition of herbicide or fungicides diminished the free-living diazotrophs number reaching levels found in soil amended with the pesticides and that the number of symbiotic diazotrophs was not affected by the insecticide assayed. The soil nitrogenase activity was not affected by fungicides and glyphosate. The effect of pesticides on the nitrogen-fixing bacteria diversity was evaluated both in field and greenhouse experiments. Analysis of clone libraries generated from the amplification of soil nifH gene showed a diminution in the genetic diversity of this bacterial community.}, } @article {pmid23962798, year = {2013}, author = {Meilhoc, E and Blanquet, P and Cam, Y and Bruand, C}, title = {Control of NO level in rhizobium-legume root nodules: not only a plant globin story.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {doi: 10.4161/psb.25923}, pmid = {23962798}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Hemeproteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule which plays both regulatory and defense roles in animals and plants. In the symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia, NO has been shown to be involved in bacterial infection and nodule development steps as well as in mature nodule functioning. We recently showed that an increase in NO level inside Medicago truncatula root nodules also could trigger premature nodule senescence. Here we discuss the importance of the bacterial Sinorhizobium meliloti flavohemoglobin to finely tune the NO level inside nodules and further, we demonstrate that S. meliloti possesses at least two non redundant ways to control NO and that both systems are necessary to maintain efficient nitrogen fixing activity.}, } @article {pmid23962520, year = {2013}, author = {Samaddar, S and Dutta, A and Sinharoy, S and Paul, A and Bhattacharya, A and Saha, S and Chien, KY and Goshe, MB and DasGupta, M}, title = {Autophosphorylation of gatekeeper tyrosine by symbiosis receptor kinase.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {587}, number = {18}, pages = {2972-2979}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2013.07.050}, pmid = {23962520}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Arachis/genetics/*metabolism ; Catalytic Domain ; Cell Line ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mutation ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tyrosine/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) share their evolutionary origin with animal interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)/Pelle family of soluble kinases and are distinguished by having tyrosine as 'gatekeeper'. This position is adjacent to the hinge region and is hidden in a hydrophobic pocket of the catalytic cleft of protein kinases and is therefore least probable to be a target for any modification. This communication illustrates the accessibility of the gatekeeper site (Y670) towards both autophosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the recombinant cytoplasmic domain of symbiosis receptor kinase from Arachis hypogaea (AhSYMRK). Autophosphorylation on gatekeeper tyrosine was detected prior to extraction but never under in vitro conditions. We hypothesize gatekeeper phosphorylation to be associated with synthesis/maturation of AhSYMRK and this phenomenon may be prevalent among RLKs.}, } @article {pmid23962004, year = {2013}, author = {Owen, JL and Mohamadzadeh, M}, title = {Microbial activation of gut dendritic cells and the control of mucosal immunity.}, journal = {Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research}, volume = {33}, number = {11}, pages = {619-631}, pmid = {23962004}, issn = {1557-7465}, support = {1R01AI098833-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 RR029890/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dendritic Cells/cytology/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Current data support a role for gut colonization in maintaining balanced mucosal and systemic immune responses and have suggested aberrant innate immune recognition of enteric bacteria as an initiator of the adaptive immune damage associated with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). In fact, data from human studies and experimental mouse models have implicated transformation of the gut microbiota from a beneficial symbiotic state to one of imbalance or "dysbiosis" in the pathogenesis of several autoinflammatory diseases, including allergic skin and respiratory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, and colorectal cancer. The host has evolved to co-exist and maintain a mutualistic relationship with the commensal microbes of the gut, and it is the function of the host innate immune system to initiate and maintain this homeostasis, while retaining the ability to respond appropriately to pathogenic organisms. In this review, we discuss the molecular and cellular interactions of the mucosal immune system that decide this delicate balance of mutualism. Furthermore, we will highlight the role of dendritic cells in preserving this precarious balance and how gene products of commensal microbes may play an integral role in re-establishing this balance once it has gone awry.}, } @article {pmid23961805, year = {2014}, author = {Hopkins, J and Pierre, O and Kazmierczak, T and Gruber, V and Frugier, F and Clement, M and Frendo, P and Herouart, D and Boncompagni, E}, title = {MtZR1, a PRAF protein, is involved in the development of roots and symbiotic root nodules in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {658-669}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12185}, pmid = {23961805}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cytosol/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Meristem/genetics ; *Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Vascular Bundle/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Transport ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {PRAF proteins are present in all plants, but their functions remain unclear. We investigated the role of one member of the PRAF family, MtZR1, on the development of roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules in Medicago truncatula. We found that MtZR1 was expressed in all M. truncatula organs. Spatiotemporal analysis showed that MtZR1 expression in M. truncatula roots was mostly limited to the root meristem and the vascular bundles of mature nodules. MtZR1 expression in root nodules was down-regulated in response to various abiotic stresses known to affect nitrogen fixation efficiency. The down-regulation of MtZR1 expression by RNA interference in transgenic roots decreased root growth and impaired nodule development and function. MtZR1 overexpression resulted in longer roots and significant changes to nodule development. Our data thus indicate that MtZR1 is involved in the development of roots and nodules. To our knowledge, this work provides the first in vivo experimental evidence of a biological role for a typical PRAF protein in plants.}, } @article {pmid23961302, year = {2013}, author = {Wellensiek, BP and Ramakrishnan, R and Bashyal, BP and Eason, Y and Gunatilaka, AA and Ahmad, N}, title = {Inhibition of HIV-1 Replication by Secondary Metabolites From Endophytic Fungi of Desert Plants.}, journal = {The open virology journal}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {72-80}, pmid = {23961302}, issn = {1874-3579}, abstract = {Most antiretroviral drugs currently in use to treat an HIV-1 infection are chemically synthesized and lead to the development of viral resistance, as well as cause severe toxicities. However, a largely unexplored source for HIV-1 drug discovery is endophytic fungi that live in a symbiotic relationship with plants. These fungi produce biologically active secondary metabolites, which are natural products that are beneficial to the host. We prepared several hundred extracts from endophytic fungi of desert plants and evaluated the inhibitory effects on HIV-1 replication of those extracts that showed less than 30% cytotoxicity in T-lymphocytes. Those extracts that inhibited viral replication were fractionated in order to isolate the compounds responsible for activity. Multiple rounds of fractionation and antiviral evaluation lead to the identification of four compounds, which almost completely impede HIV-1 replication. These studies demonstrate that metabolites from endophytic fungi of desert plants can serve as a viable source for identifying potent inhibitors of HIV-1 replication.}, } @article {pmid23961206, year = {2012}, author = {Ahemad, M and Khan, MS}, title = {Alleviation of fungicide-induced phytotoxicity in greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] using fungicide-tolerant and plant growth promoting Pseudomonas strain.}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {451-459}, pmid = {23961206}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {This study was designed to explore beneficial plant-associated rhizobacteria exhibiting substantial tolerance against fungicide tebuconazole vis-à-vis synthesizing plant growth regulators under fungicide stressed soils and to evaluate further these multifaceted rhizobacteria for protection and growth promotion of greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] plants against phytotoxicity of tebuconazole. Tebuconazole-tolerant and plant growth promoting bacterial strain PS1 was isolated from mustard (Brassica compestris) rhizosphere and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa following 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The P. aeruginosa strain PS1 solubilized phosphate significantly and produced indole acetic acid, siderophores, exo-polysaccharides, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia even under tebuconazole stress. Generally, tebuconazole at the recommended, two and three times the recommended field rate adversely affected the growth, symbiosis, grain yield and nutrient uptake in greengram in a concentration dependent manner. In contrast, the P. aeruginosa strain PS1 along with tebuconazole significantly, increased the growth parameters of the greengram plants. The inoculant strain PS1 increased appreciably root nitrogen, shoot nitrogen, root phosphorus, shoot phosphorus, and seed yield of greengram plants at all tested concentrations of tebuconazole when compared to the uninoculated plants treated with tebuconazole. The results suggested that the P. aeruginosa strain PS1, exhibiting novel plant growth regulating physiological features, can be applied as an eco-friendly and plant growth catalyzing bio-inoculant to ameliorate the performance of greengram in fungicide stressed soils.}, } @article {pmid23960254, year = {2013}, author = {Comandatore, F and Sassera, D and Montagna, M and Kumar, S and Koutsovoulos, G and Thomas, G and Repton, C and Babayan, SA and Gray, N and Cordaux, R and Darby, A and Makepeace, B and Blaxter, M}, title = {Phylogenomics and analysis of shared genes suggest a single transition to mutualism in Wolbachia of nematodes.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {1668-1674}, pmid = {23960254}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {095831//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wolbachia/*genetics/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia, endosymbiotic bacteria of the order Rickettsiales, are widespread in arthropods but also present in nematodes. In arthropods, A and B supergroup Wolbachia are generally associated with distortion of host reproduction. In filarial nematodes, including some human parasites, multiple lines of experimental evidence indicate that C and D supergroup Wolbachia are essential for the survival of the host, and here the symbiotic relationship is considered mutualistic. The origin of this mutualistic endosymbiosis is of interest for both basic and applied reasons: How does a parasite become a mutualist? Could intervention in the mutualism aid in treatment of human disease? Correct rooting and high-quality resolution of Wolbachia relationships are required to resolve this question. However, because of the large genetic distance between Wolbachia and the nearest outgroups, and the limited number of genomes so far available for large-scale analyses, current phylogenies do not provide robust answers. We therefore sequenced the genome of the D supergroup Wolbachia endosymbiont of Litomosoides sigmodontis, revisited the selection of loci for phylogenomic analyses, and performed a phylogenomic analysis including available complete genomes (from isolates in supergroups A, B, C, and D). Using 90 orthologous genes with reliable phylogenetic signals, we obtained a robust phylogenetic reconstruction, including a highly supported root to the Wolbachia phylogeny between a (A + B) clade and a (C + D) clade. Although we currently lack data from several Wolbachia supergroups, notably F, our analysis supports a model wherein the putatively mutualist endosymbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and nematodes originated from a single transition event.}, } @article {pmid23957633, year = {2014}, author = {Moitinho-Silva, L and Bayer, K and Cannistraci, CV and Giles, EC and Ryu, T and Seridi, L and Ravasi, T and Hentschel, U}, title = {Specificity and transcriptional activity of microbiota associated with low and high microbial abundance sponges from the Red Sea.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1348-1363}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12365}, pmid = {23957633}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Indian Ocean ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are generally classified as high microbial abundance (HMA) and low microbial abundance (LMA) species. Here, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was applied to investigate the diversity, specificity and transcriptional activity of microbes associated with an LMA sponge (Stylissa carteri), an HMA sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria) and sea water collected from the central Saudi Arabia coast of the Red Sea. Altogether, 887 068 denoised sequences were obtained, of which 806 661 sequences remained after quality control. This resulted in 1477 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that were assigned to 27 microbial phyla. The microbial composition of S. carteri was more similar to that of sea water than to that of X. testudinaria, which is consistent with the observation that the sequence data set of S. carteri contained many more possibly sea water sequences (~24%) than the X. testudinaria data set (~6%). The most abundant OTUs were shared between all three sources (S. carteri, X. testudinaria, sea water), while rare OTUs were unique to any given source. Despite this high degree of overlap, each sponge species contained its own specific microbiota. The X. testudinaria-specific bacterial taxa were similar to those already described for this species. A set of S. carteri-specific bacterial taxa related to Proteobacteria and Nitrospira was identified, which are likely permanently associated with S. carteri. The transcriptional activity of sponge-associated microorganisms correlated well with their abundance. Quantitative PCR revealed the presence of Poribacteria, representing typical sponge symbionts, in both sponge species and in sea water; however, low transcriptional activity in sea water suggested that Poribacteria are not active outside the host context.}, } @article {pmid23957168, year = {2013}, author = {Horokhovs'kyĭ, IeIu and Ieshchenko, IuV and Bovt, VD and Ieshchenko, VA and Iurchuk, IIe}, title = {[Functional state of the ileum, cationic peptids and zinc content in the Paneth cells of the rats following lincomycin, indomethacin and methotrexate andministration].}, journal = {Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1994)}, volume = {59}, number = {3}, pages = {78-88}, pmid = {23957168}, issn = {2522-9028}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibiosis/drug effects ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/antagonists & inhibitors/biosynthesis ; Bacterial Translocation/drug effects ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects/physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects/physiology ; Ileum/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Indomethacin/*pharmacology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Lincomycin/*pharmacology ; Male ; Methotrexate/*pharmacology ; Paneth Cells/*drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Permeability/drug effects ; Rats ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the paper the relation between the changes of a functional condition of ileum, composition of its microflora and secretory activity of Paneth cells has been investigated. Administration of lincomycin led to a reduction of total of symbiotic bacteria and appearance of opportunistic microflora. Statistically insignificant changes of speed of transit of intestinal contents and damage of barrier function of an intestinal epithelium were noted. The intestinal epithelium was characterized by signs of inflammation. Administration of indomethacin and methotrexate led to significant changes of a functional state of a small intestine of rats. The speed of transit of intestinal contents following indomethacin administration increased by 30%, and, on the contrary, decreased by 90% following administration of methotrexate. The ability of epithelium of ileum to adsorb vital dye in both cases increased (by 32 and 51%, respectively) indicating the damage of barrier function. Thus there were significant changes in structure of microflora of ileum: reduction of quantity symbiotic and emergence of opportunistic microflora, a translocation of bacteria to a mucous wall. It was concluded that animal of all three experimental groups had a reduction of the contents of cationic proteins and zinc in the secretory granules of Paneth cells. These results can testify that balance changes between simbiotic and opportunistic microflora are a factor which has an impact on intestine damage and also causes activation of secretory function of Paneth cells.}, } @article {pmid23956051, year = {2013}, author = {Moe, LA}, title = {Amino acids in the rhizosphere: from plants to microbes.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {100}, number = {9}, pages = {1692-1705}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1300033}, pmid = {23956051}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Often referred to as the "building blocks of proteins", the 20 canonical proteinogenic amino acids are ubiquitous in biological systems as the functional units in proteins. Sometimes overlooked are their varying additional roles that include serving as metabolic intermediaries, playing structural roles in bioactive natural products, acting as cosubstrates in enzymatic transformations, and as key regulators of cellular physiology. Amino acids can also serve as biological sources of both carbon and nitrogen and are found in the rhizosphere as a result of lysis or cellular efflux from plants and microbes and proteolysis of existing peptides. While both plants and microbes apparently prefer to take up nitrogen in its inorganic form, their ability to take up and use amino acids may confer a selective advantage in certain environments where organic nitrogen is abundant. Further, certain amino acids (e.g., glutamate and proline) and their betaines (e.g., glycine betaine) serve as compatible solutes necessary for osmoregulation in plants and microbes and can undergo rapid cellular flux. This ability is of particular importance in an ecological niche such as the rhizosphere, which is prone to significant variations in solute concentrations. Amino acids are also shown to alter key phenotypes related to plant root growth and microbial colonization, symbiotic interactions, and pathogenesis in the rhizosphere. This review will focus on the sources, transport mechanisms, and potential roles of the 20 canonical proteinogenic amino acids in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid23955264, year = {2014}, author = {Rincón, A and Santamaría, BP and Ocaña, L and Verdú, M}, title = {Structure and phylogenetic diversity of post-fire ectomycorrhizal communities of maritime pine.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {131-141}, pmid = {23955264}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Biota ; Carbon/analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; *Fires ; Genes, rRNA ; Iron/analysis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Organic Chemicals/analysis ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Environmental disturbances define the diversity and assemblage of species, affecting the functioning of ecosystems. Fire is a major disturbance of Mediterranean pine forests. Pines are highly dependent on the ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal symbiosis, which is critical for tree recruitment under primary succession. To determine the effects of time since fire on the structure and recovery of EM fungal communities, we surveyed the young Pinus pinaster regenerate in three sites differing in the elapsed time after the last fire event. Pine roots were collected, and EM fungi characterized by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) regions of the nuclear ribosomal (nr)-DNA. The effects of the elapsed time after fire on the EM community structure (richness, presence/absence of fungi, phylogenetic diversity) and on soil properties were analysed.Fungal richness decreased with the elapsed time since the fire; although, the phylogenetic diversity of the EM community increased. Soil properties were different depending on the elapsed time after fire and particularly, the organic matter, carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, nitrogen and iron significantly correlated with the assemblage of fungal species. Ascomycetes, particularly Tuberaceae and Pezizales, were significantly over-represented on saplings in the burned site. On seedlings, a significant over-representation of Rhizopogonaceae and Atheliaceae was observed in the most recently burned site, while other fungi (i.e. Cortinariaceae) were significantly under-represented. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that fire can act as a selective agent by printing a phylogenetic signal on the EM fungal communities associated with naturally regenerated pines, pointing out to some groups as potential fire-adapted fungi.}, } @article {pmid23955152, year = {2013}, author = {Lee, SM and Donaldson, GP and Mikulski, Z and Boyajian, S and Ley, K and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Bacterial colonization factors control specificity and stability of the gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {501}, number = {7467}, pages = {426-429}, pmid = {23955152}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {GM007616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P01 DK091222/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DK083633/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bacteroides/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Colon/microbiology ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Germ-Free Life ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Male ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Mice ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Mammals harbour a complex gut microbiome, comprising bacteria that confer immunological, metabolic and neurological benefits. Despite advances in sequence-based microbial profiling and myriad studies defining microbiome composition during health and disease, little is known about the molecular processes used by symbiotic bacteria to stably colonize the gastrointestinal tract. We sought to define how mammals assemble and maintain the Bacteroides, one of the most numerically prominent genera of the human microbiome. Here we find that, whereas the gut normally contains hundreds of bacterial species, germ-free mice mono-associated with a single Bacteroides species are resistant to colonization by the same, but not different, species. To identify bacterial mechanisms for species-specific saturable colonization, we devised an in vivo genetic screen and discovered a unique class of polysaccharide utilization loci that is conserved among intestinal Bacteroides. We named this genetic locus the commensal colonization factors (ccf). Deletion of the ccf genes in the model symbiont, Bacteroides fragilis, results in colonization defects in mice and reduced horizontal transmission. The ccf genes of B. fragilis are upregulated during gut colonization, preferentially at the colonic surface. When we visualize microbial biogeography within the colon, B. fragilis penetrates the colonic mucus and resides deep within crypt channels, whereas ccf mutants are defective in crypt association. Notably, the CCF system is required for B. fragilis colonization following microbiome disruption with Citrobacter rodentium infection or antibiotic treatment, suggesting that the niche within colonic crypts represents a reservoir for bacteria to maintain long-term colonization. These findings reveal that intestinal Bacteroides have evolved species-specific physical interactions with the host that mediate stable and resilient gut colonization, and the CCF system represents a novel molecular mechanism for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23954159, year = {2013}, author = {Kostic, AD and Chun, E and Robertson, L and Glickman, JN and Gallini, CA and Michaud, M and Clancy, TE and Chung, DC and Lochhead, P and Hold, GL and El-Omar, EM and Brenner, D and Fuchs, CS and Meyerson, M and Garrett, WS}, title = {Fusobacterium nucleatum potentiates intestinal tumorigenesis and modulates the tumor-immune microenvironment.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {207-215}, pmid = {23954159}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01CA154426/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK043351/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; U54HG003067/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; K08 AI078942/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P50CA127003/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA154426/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; RC2CA148317/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 ES016645/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA127003/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CAF/10/15/CSO_/Chief Scientist Office/United Kingdom ; U54 HG003067/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; RC2 CA148317/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; K08AI078942/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K24 DK098311/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adenoma/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis/*immunology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; Cytokines/biosynthesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/*immunology/*pathogenicity ; Humans ; Leukocytes/immunology ; Mice ; }, abstract = {Increasing evidence links the gut microbiota with colorectal cancer. Metagenomic analyses indicate that symbiotic Fusobacterium spp. are associated with human colorectal carcinoma, but whether this is an indirect or causal link remains unclear. We find that Fusobacterium spp. are enriched in human colonic adenomas relative to surrounding tissues and in stool samples from colorectal adenoma and carcinoma patients compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model of intestinal tumorigenesis, Fusobacterium nucleatum increases tumor multiplicity and selectively recruits tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells, which can promote tumor progression. Tumors from Apc(Min/+) mice exposed to F. nucleatum exhibit a proinflammatory expression signature that is shared with human fusobacteria-positive colorectal carcinomas. However, unlike other bacteria linked to colorectal carcinoma, F. nucleatum does not exacerbate colitis, enteritis, or inflammation-associated intestinal carcinogenesis. Collectively, these data suggest that, through recruitment of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, fusobacteria generate a proinflammatory microenvironment that is conducive for colorectal neoplasia progression.}, } @article {pmid23954157, year = {2013}, author = {Kremer, N and Philipp, EE and Carpentier, MC and Brennan, CA and Kraemer, L and Altura, MA and Augustin, R and Häsler, R and Heath-Heckman, EA and Peyer, SM and Schwartzman, J and Rader, BA and Ruby, EG and Rosenstiel, P and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Initial symbiont contact orchestrates host-organ-wide transcriptional changes that prime tissue colonization.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {183-194}, pmid = {23954157}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Chemotactic Factors/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; Chitinases/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; Disaccharides/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mucus/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Upon transit to colonization sites, bacteria often experience critical priming that prepares them for subsequent, specific interactions with the host; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly described. During initiation of the symbiosis between the bacterium Vibrio fischeri and its squid host, which can be observed directly and in real time, approximately five V. fischeri cells aggregate along the mucociliary membranes of a superficial epithelium prior to entering host tissues. Here, we show that these few early host-associated symbionts specifically induce robust changes in host gene expression that are critical to subsequent colonization steps. This exquisitely sensitive response to the host's specific symbiotic partner includes the upregulation of a host endochitinase, whose activity hydrolyzes polymeric chitin in the mucus into chitobiose, thereby priming the symbiont and also producing a chemoattractant gradient that promotes V. fischeri migration into host tissues. Thus, the host responds transcriptionally upon initial symbiont contact, which facilitates subsequent colonization.}, } @article {pmid23954151, year = {2013}, author = {Wernegreen, JJ}, title = {First impressions in a glowing host-microbe partnership.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {121-123}, pmid = {23954151}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {R01 GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite the clear significance of beneficial animal-microbe associations, mechanisms underlying their initiation and establishment are rarely understood. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Kremer et al. (2013) reveal that first contact within the squid-vibrio symbiosis triggers profound molecular and chemical changes that are crucial for bacterial colonization.}, } @article {pmid23952239, year = {2014}, author = {Goffredi, SK and Gregory, A and Jones, WJ and Morella, NM and Sakamoto, RI}, title = {Ontogenetic variation in epibiont community structure in the deep-sea yeti crab, Kiwa puravida: convergence among crustaceans.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1457-1472}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12439}, pmid = {23952239}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anomura/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Costa Rica ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Microbiota ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Ovum/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent investigations have demonstrated that unusually 'hairy' yeti crabs within the family Kiwaidae associate with two predominant filamentous bacterial families, the Epsilon and Gammaproteobacteria. These analyses, however, were based on samples collected from a single body region, the setae of pereopods. To more thoroughly investigate the microbiome associated with Kiwa puravida, a yeti crab species from Costa Rica, we utilized barcoded 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing, as well as microscopy and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results indicate that, indeed, the bacterial community on the pereopods is far less diverse than on the rest of the body (Shannon indices ranged from 1.30-2.02 and 2.22-2.66, respectively). Similarly, the bacterial communities associated with juveniles and adults were more complex than previously recognized, with as many as 46 bacterial families represented. Ontogenetic differences in the microbial community, from egg to juvenile to adult, included a dramatic under-representation of the Helicobacteraceae and higher abundances of both Thiotrichaceae and Methylococcaceae for the eggs, which paralleled patterns observed in another bacteria-crustacean symbiosis. The degree to which abiotic and biotic feedbacks influence the bacterial community on the crabs is still not known, but predictions suggest that both the local environment and host-derived factors influence the establishment and maintenance of microbes associated with the surfaces of aquatic animals.}, } @article {pmid23951056, year = {2013}, author = {Hobbs, JP and Frisch, AJ and Ford, BM and Thums, M and Saenz-Agudelo, P and Furby, KA and Berumen, ML}, title = {Taxonomic, spatial and temporal patterns of bleaching in anemones inhabited by anemonefishes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e70966}, pmid = {23951056}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Anemone/*classification/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Fishes/physiology ; Global Warming ; Indian Ocean ; Pacific Ocean ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rising sea temperatures are causing significant destruction to coral reef ecosystems due to coral mortality from thermally-induced bleaching (loss of symbiotic algae and/or their photosynthetic pigments). Although bleaching has been intensively studied in corals, little is known about the causes and consequences of bleaching in other tropical symbiotic organisms.

This study used underwater visual surveys to investigate bleaching in the 10 species of anemones that host anemonefishes. Bleaching was confirmed in seven anemone species (with anecdotal reports of bleaching in the other three species) at 10 of 19 survey locations spanning the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, indicating that anemone bleaching is taxonomically and geographically widespread. In total, bleaching was observed in 490 of the 13,896 surveyed anemones (3.5%); however, this percentage was much higher (19-100%) during five major bleaching events that were associated with periods of elevated water temperatures and coral bleaching. There was considerable spatial variation in anemone bleaching during most of these events, suggesting that certain sites and deeper waters might act as refuges. Susceptibility to bleaching varied between species, and in some species, bleaching caused reductions in size and abundance.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Anemones are long-lived with low natural mortality, which makes them particularly vulnerable to predicted increases in severity and frequency of bleaching events. Population viability will be severely compromised if anemones and their symbionts cannot acclimate or adapt to rising sea temperatures. Anemone bleaching also has negative effects to other species, particularly those that have an obligate relationship with anemones. These effects include reductions in abundance and reproductive output of anemonefishes. Therefore, the future of these iconic and commercially valuable coral reef fishes is inextricably linked to the ability of host anemones to cope with rising sea temperatures associated with climate change.}, } @article {pmid23950975, year = {2013}, author = {Ceballos, I and Ruiz, M and Fernández, C and Peña, R and Rodríguez, A and Sanders, IR}, title = {The in vitro mass-produced model mycorrhizal fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, significantly increases yields of the globally important food security crop cassava.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e70633}, pmid = {23950975}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agriculture/economics/methods ; Analysis of Variance ; Biomass ; Colombia ; Fertilizers/economics ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Manihot/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is formed between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant roots. The fungi provide the plant with inorganic phosphate (P). The symbiosis can result in increased plant growth. Although most global food crops naturally form this symbiosis, very few studies have shown that their practical application can lead to large-scale increases in food production. Application of AMF to crops in the tropics is potentially effective for improving yields. However, a main problem of using AMF on a large-scale is producing cheap inoculum in a clean sterile carrier and sufficiently concentrated to cheaply transport. Recently, mass-produced in vitro inoculum of the model mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis became available, potentially making its use viable in tropical agriculture. One of the most globally important food plants in the tropics is cassava. We evaluated the effect of in vitro mass-produced R. irregularis inoculum on the yield of cassava crops at two locations in Colombia. A significant effect of R. irregularis inoculation on yield occurred at both sites. At one site, yield increases were observed irrespective of P fertilization. At the other site, inoculation with AMF and 50% of the normally applied P gave the highest yield. Despite that AMF inoculation resulted in greater food production, economic analyses revealed that AMF inoculation did not give greater return on investment than with conventional cultivation. However, the amount of AMF inoculum used was double the recommended dose and was calculated with European, not Colombian, inoculum prices. R. irregularis can also be manipulated genetically in vitro, leading to improved plant growth. We conclude that application of in vitro R. irregularis is currently a way of increasing cassava yields, that there is a strong potential for it to be economically profitable and that there is enormous potential to improve this efficiency further in the future.}, } @article {pmid23948093, year = {2013}, author = {Carvalho, LF and Rocha, C and Fleming, A and Veiga-Pires, C and Aníbal, J}, title = {Interception of nutrient rich submarine groundwater discharge seepage on European temperate beaches by the acoel flatworm, Symsagittifera roscoffensis.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {75}, number = {1-2}, pages = {150-156}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.07.045}, pmid = {23948093}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Bathing Beaches ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Environmental Monitoring ; Europe ; Groundwater/*chemistry ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/analysis/metabolism ; Platyhelminths/*physiology ; Seawater/chemistry ; Water Movements ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) occurs in intertidal areas, representing a largely unquantified source of solute fluxes to adjacent coastal zones, with nitrogen being constantly the keynote chemical of concern. In Olhos de Água SGD is present as groundwater springs or merely sub-aerial runoff. The occurrence of the flatworm Symsagittifera roscoffensis is described for the first time in Olhos de Água in connection to seepage flows. To assess the impact of this symbiotic flatworm on the nitrogen associated to groundwater discharge flow at the beach, nitrate uptake experiments were conducted in laboratory microcosms. Our results show that S. roscoffensis actively uptakes nitrate at different rates depending on light availability, with rates ≈ 10 times higher than that of its symbiotic microalgae alone. This supports the hypothesis that S. roscoffensis could be an important in situ nitrate interceptor, potentially playing a biological role on the transformation of groundwater-borne nitrate loads at the land-ocean boundary.}, } @article {pmid23947358, year = {2013}, author = {Wilks, J and Beilinson, H and Golovkina, TV}, title = {Dual role of commensal bacteria in viral infections.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {255}, number = {1}, pages = {222-229}, pmid = {23947358}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {AI090084/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK042086/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI090084/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA014599/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30CA014599/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI090084/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Metagenome ; *Symbiosis ; Virus Diseases/*immunology/*virology ; Virus Replication ; Viruses/*immunology ; }, abstract = {With our abilities to culture and sequence the commensal bacteria that dwell on and within a host, we can now study the host in its entirety, as a supraorganism that must be navigated by the pathogen invader. At present, the majority of studies have focused on the interaction between the host's microbiota and bacterial pathogens. This is not unwarranted, given that bacterial pathogens must compete with commensal organisms for the limited territory afforded by the host. However, viral pathogens also enter the host through surfaces coated with microbial life and encounter an immune system shaped by this symbiotic community. Therefore, we believe that the microbiota cannot be ignored when examining the interplay between the host and viral pathogens. Here, we review work that details mechanisms by which the microbiota either promotes or inhibits viral replication and virally induced pathogenesis. The impact of the microbitota on viral infection promises to be a new and exciting avenue of investigation, which will ultimately lead to better treatments and preventions of virally induced disease.}, } @article {pmid23942749, year = {2014}, author = {Campagnac, E and Khasa, DP}, title = {Relationship between genetic variability in Rhizophagus irregularis and tolerance to saline conditions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {121-129}, pmid = {23942749}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Drug Tolerance ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Hyphae/drug effects/growth & development ; *Osmotic Pressure ; Salts/*metabolism ; Spores, Fungal/drug effects/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Reclamation of saline soils produced by extraction of bitumen from oil sands is challenging. The main objective of this study was to select a salt-tolerant arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal isolate that could, in the future, be used to pre-inoculate plants used in reclamation of saline substrates produced by oil sand industry. To achieve this, the effects of NaCl, Na(2)SO(4), and saline release water from composite tailings (CT) on hyphal growth of two AM fungal isolates from non-saline (Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 181602, Rhizophagus sp. DAOM 227023) and three isolates of R. irregularis isolated from saline or sodic soils (DAOM 234181, DAOM241558, and DAOM241559) were tested in vitro. Pre-symbiotic hyphal growth of the five isolates, in absence of a host plant, decreased with increasing salt stress and no spores germinated in CT. The symbiotic extraradical phase of the four isolates of R. irregularis developed well in saline media compared to the Rhizophagus sp. Nevertheless, fungal development of the four R. irregularis isolates differed in saline media indicating phenotypic variations between isolates.}, } @article {pmid23941657, year = {2013}, author = {Lopetuso, LR and Scaldaferri, F and Petito, V and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {Commensal Clostridia: leading players in the maintenance of gut homeostasis.}, journal = {Gut pathogens}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {23941657}, issn = {1757-4749}, abstract = {The gastrointestinal tract is a complex and dynamic network where an intricate and mutualistic symbiosis modulates the relationship between the host and the microbiota in order to establish and ensure gut homeostasis. Commensal Clostridia consist of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes and make up a substantial part of the total bacteria in the gut microbiota. They start to colonize the intestine of breastfed infants during the first month of life and populate a specific region in the intestinal mucosa in close relationship with intestinal cells. This position allows them to participate as crucial factors in modulating physiologic, metabolic and immune processes in the gut during the entire lifespan, by interacting with the other resident microbe populations, but also by providing specific and essential functions. This review focus on what is currently known regarding the role of commensal Clostridia in the maintenance of overall gut function, as well as touch on their potential contribution in the unfavorable alteration of microbiota composition (dysbiosis) that has been implicated in several gastrointestinal disorders. Commensal Clostridia are strongly involved in the maintenance of overall gut function. This leads to important translational implications in regard to the prevention and treatment of dysbiosis, to drug efficacy and toxicity, and to the development of therapies that may modulate the composition of the microflora, capitalizing on the key role of commensal Clostridia, with the end goal of promoting gut health.}, } @article {pmid23938758, year = {2013}, author = {Herniou, EA and Huguet, E and Thézé, J and Bézier, A and Periquet, G and Drezen, JM}, title = {When parasitic wasps hijacked viruses: genomic and functional evolution of polydnaviruses.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {368}, number = {1626}, pages = {20130051}, pmid = {23938758}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Wasps/*genetics/*virology ; }, abstract = {The Polydnaviridae (PDV), including the Bracovirus (BV) and Ichnovirus genera, originated from the integration of unrelated viruses in the genomes of two parasitoid wasp lineages, in a remarkable example of convergent evolution. Functionally active PDVs represent the most compelling evolutionary success among endogenous viral elements (EVEs). BV evolved from the domestication by braconid wasps of a nudivirus 100 Ma. The nudivirus genome has become an EVE involved in BV particle production but is not encapsidated. Instead, BV genomes have co-opted virulence genes, used by the wasps to control the immunity and development of their hosts. Gene transfers and duplications have shaped BV genomes, now encoding hundreds of genes. Phylogenomic studies suggest that BVs contribute largely to wasp diversification and adaptation to their hosts. A genome evolution model explains how multidirectional wasp adaptation to different host species could have fostered PDV genome extension. Integrative studies linking ecological data on the wasp to genomic analyses should provide new insights into the adaptive role of particular BV genes. Forthcoming genomic advances should also indicate if the associations between endoparasitoid wasps and symbiotic viruses evolved because of their particularly intimate interactions with their hosts, or if similar domesticated EVEs could be uncovered in other parasites.}, } @article {pmid23937227, year = {2014}, author = {Ma, Y and He, J and Ma, C and Luo, J and Li, H and Liu, T and Polle, A and Peng, C and Luo, ZB}, title = {Ectomycorrhizas with Paxillus involutus enhance cadmium uptake and tolerance in Populus × canescens.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {627-642}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12183}, pmid = {23937227}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Cadmium/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Meristem/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxidative Stress/genetics ; Plant Bark/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Populus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Proline/metabolism ; Protons ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism ; Superoxides/metabolism ; Wood/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizas (EMs), which are symbiotic organs formed between tree roots and certain fungi, can mediate cadmium (Cd) tolerance of host plants, but the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. To investigate EMs mediated Cd tolerance in woody plants, Populus × canescens was inoculated with Paxillus involutus (strain MAJ) to establish mycorrhizal roots. Mycorrhizal poplars and non-mycorrhizal controls were exposed to 0 or 50 μM CdSO4 . EMs displayed higher net Cd(2+) influx than non-mycorrhizal roots. Net Cd(2+) influx was coupled with net H(+) efflux and inactivation of plasma membrane (PM) H(+) -ATPases reduced Cd(2+) uptake of EMs less than of non-mycorrhizal roots. Consistent with higher Cd(2+) uptake in EMs, in most cases, transcript levels of genes involved in Cd(2+) uptake, transport and detoxification processes were increased in EMs compared to non-mycorrhizal roots. Higher CO2 assimilation, improved nutrient and carbohydrate status, and alleviated oxidative stress were found in mycorrhizal compared to non-mycorrhizal poplars despite higher Cd(2+) accumulation. These results indicate that mycorrhizas increase Cd(2+) uptake, probably by an enlarged root volume and overexpression of genes involved in Cd(2+) uptake and transport, and concurrently enhance Po. × canescens Cd tolerance by increased detoxification, improved nutrient and carbohydrate status and defence preparedness.}, } @article {pmid23936444, year = {2013}, author = {Li, Y and Tian, CF and Chen, WF and Wang, L and Sui, XH and Chen, WX}, title = {High-resolution transcriptomic analyses of Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 bacteroids in determinate nodules of Vigna unguiculata and indeterminate nodules of Leucaena leucocephala.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e70531}, pmid = {23936444}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biomarkers/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium/*genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiosis is a model system for studying mutualistic interactions between bacteria and eukaryotes. Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 is distinguished by its ability to form either indeterminate nodules or determinate nodules with diverse legumes. Here, we presented a high-resolution RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis of NGR234 bacteroids in indeterminate nodules of Leucaena leucocephala and determinate nodules of Vigna unguiculata. In contrast to exponentially growing free-living bacteria, non-growing bacteroids from both legumes recruited several common cellular functions such as cbb3 oxidase, thiamine biosynthesis, nitrate reduction pathway (NO-producing), succinate metabolism, PHB (poly-3-hydroxybutyrate) biosynthesis and phosphate/phosphonate transporters. However, different transcription profiles between bacteroids from two legumes were also uncovered for genes involved in the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, T3SS (type three secretion system) and effector proteins, cytochrome bd ubiquinol oxidase, PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone), cytochrome c550, pseudoazurin, biotin, phasins and glycolate oxidase, and in the metabolism of glutamate and phenylalanine. Noteworthy were the distinct expression patterns of genes encoding phasins, which are thought to be involved in regulating the surface/volume ratio of PHB granules. These patterns are in good agreement with the observed granule size difference between bacteroids from L. leucocephala and V. unguiculata.}, } @article {pmid23935854, year = {2013}, author = {Blatrix, R and Debaud, S and Salas-Lopez, A and Born, C and Benoit, L and McKey, DB and Attéké, C and Djiéto-Lordon, C}, title = {Repeated evolution of fungal cultivar specificity in independently evolved ant-plant-fungus symbioses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e68101}, pmid = {23935854}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Africa ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Ascomycota/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Fungal/classification/*genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/classification/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/classification/*genetics ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Some tropical plant species possess hollow structures (domatia) occupied by ants that protect the plant and in some cases also provide it with nutrients. Most plant-ants tend patches of chaetothyrialean fungi within domatia. In a few systems it has been shown that the ants manure the fungal patches and use them as a food source, indicating agricultural practices. However, the identity of these fungi has been investigated only in a few samples. To examine the specificity and constancy of ant-plant-fungus interactions we characterised the content of fungal patches in an extensive sampling of three ant-plant symbioses (Petalomyrmex phylax/Leonardoxa africana subsp. africana, Aphomomyrmex afer/Leonardoxa africana subsp. letouzeyi and Tetraponera aethiops/Barteria fistulosa) by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacers of ribosomal DNA. For each system the content of fungal patches was constant over individuals and populations. Each symbiosis was associated with a specific, dominant, primary fungal taxon, and to a lesser extent, with one or two specific secondary taxa, all of the order Chaetothyriales. A single fungal patch sometimes contained both a primary and a secondary taxon. In one system, two founding queens were found with the primary fungal taxon only, one that was shown in a previous study to be consumed preferentially. Because the different ant-plant symbioses studied have evolved independently, the high specificity and constancy we observed in the composition of the fungal patches have evolved repeatedly. Specificity and constancy also characterize other cases of agriculture by insects.}, } @article {pmid23935051, year = {2013}, author = {García Angulo, VA and Bonomi, HR and Posadas, DM and Serer, MI and Torres, AG and Zorreguieta, Á and Goldbaum, FA}, title = {Identification and characterization of RibN, a novel family of riboflavin transporters from Rhizobium leguminosarum and other proteobacteria.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {20}, pages = {4611-4619}, pmid = {23935051}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*metabolism ; Riboflavin/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are symbiotic bacteria able to invade and colonize the roots of legume plants, inducing the formation of nodules, where bacteria reduce atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3). Riboflavin availability influences the capacity of rhizobia to survive in the rhizosphere and to colonize roots. In this study, we identified the RL1692 gene of Rhizobium leguminosarum downstream of a flavin mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitch. RL1692 encodes a putative transmembrane permease with two EamA domains. The presence of an FMN riboswitch regulating a transmembrane protein is usually observed in riboflavin transporters, suggesting that RL1692 may be involved in riboflavin uptake. The product of RL1692, which we named RibN, is conserved in members of the alpha-, beta-, and gammaproteobacteria and shares no significant identity with any riboflavin transporter previously identified. In this work, we show that RibN is localized in the membrane cellular fraction and its expression is downregulated by riboflavin. By heterologous expression in a Brucella abortus mutant auxotrophic for riboflavin, we demonstrate that RibN possesses flavin transport activity. Similarly, we also demonstrate that RibN orthologues from Ochrobactrum anthropi and Vibrio cholerae (which lacks the FMN riboswitch) are able to transport riboflavin. An R. leguminosarum ribN null mutant exhibited lower nodule occupancy levels in pea plants during symbiosis assays. Thus, we propose that RibN and its homologues belong to a novel family of riboflavin transporters. This work provides the first experimental description of riboflavin transporters in Gram-negative bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23935046, year = {2013}, author = {Hernández-Tamayo, R and Sohlenkamp, C and Puente, JL and Brom, S and Romero, D}, title = {Characterization of IntA, a bidirectional site-specific recombinase required for conjugative transfer of the symbiotic plasmid of Rhizobium etli CFN42.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {20}, pages = {4668-4677}, pmid = {23935046}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*physiology ; Inverted Repeat Sequences ; Plasmids/*physiology ; Protein Binding ; Recombinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium etli/*enzymology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Site-specific recombination occurs at short specific sequences, mediated by the cognate recombinases. IntA is a recombinase from Rhizobium etli CFN42 and belongs to the tyrosine recombinase family. It allows cointegration of plasmid p42a and the symbiotic plasmid via site-specific recombination between attachment regions (attA and attD) located in each replicon. Cointegration is needed for conjugative transfer of the symbiotic plasmid. To characterize this system, two plasmids harboring the corresponding attachment sites and intA were constructed. Introduction of these plasmids into R. etli revealed IntA-dependent recombination events occurring at high frequency. Interestingly, IntA promotes not only integration, but also excision events, albeit at a lower frequency. Thus, R. etli IntA appears to be a bidirectional recombinase. IntA was purified and used to set up electrophoretic mobility shift assays with linear fragments containing attA and attD. IntA-dependent retarded complexes were observed only with fragments containing either attA or attD. Specific retarded complexes, as well as normal in vivo recombination abilities, were seen even in derivatives harboring only a minimal attachment region (comprising the 5-bp central region flanked by 9- to 11-bp inverted repeats). DNase I-footprinting assays with IntA revealed specific protection of these zones. Mutations that disrupt the integrity of the 9- to 11-bp inverted repeats abolish both specific binding and recombination ability, while mutations in the 5-bp central region severely reduce both binding and recombination. These results show that IntA is a bidirectional recombinase that binds to att regions without requiring neighboring sequences as enhancers of recombination.}, } @article {pmid23934501, year = {2013}, author = {Rubio-Sanz, L and Prieto, RI and Imperial, J and Palacios, JM and Brito, B}, title = {Functional and expression analysis of the metal-inducible dmeRF system from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {20}, pages = {6414-6422}, pmid = {23934501}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Cobalt/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Nickel/*metabolism ; *Operon ; Peas/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A gene encoding a homolog to the cation diffusion facilitator protein DmeF from Cupriavidus metallidurans has been identified in the genome of Rhizobium leguminosarum UPM791. The R. leguminosarum dmeF gene is located downstream of an open reading frame (designated dmeR) encoding a protein homologous to the nickel- and cobalt-responsive transcriptional regulator RcnR from Escherichia coli. Analysis of gene expression showed that the R. leguminosarum dmeRF genes are organized as a transcriptional unit whose expression is strongly induced by nickel and cobalt ions, likely by alleviating the repressor activity of DmeR on dmeRF transcription. An R. leguminosarum dmeRF mutant strain displayed increased sensitivity to Co(II) and Ni(II), whereas no alterations of its resistance to Cd(II), Cu(II), or Zn(II) were observed. A decrease of symbiotic performance was observed when pea plants inoculated with an R. leguminosarum dmeRF deletion mutant strain were grown in the presence of high concentrations of nickel and cobalt. The same mutant induced significantly lower activity levels of NiFe hydrogenase in microaerobic cultures. These results indicate that the R. leguminosarum DmeRF system is a metal-responsive efflux mechanism acting as a key element for metal homeostasis in R. leguminosarum under free-living and symbiotic conditions. The presence of similar dmeRF gene clusters in other Rhizobiaceae suggests that the dmeRF system is a conserved mechanism for metal tolerance in legume endosymbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23934307, year = {2013}, author = {Okamoto, S and Shinohara, H and Mori, T and Matsubayashi, Y and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Root-derived CLE glycopeptides control nodulation by direct binding to HAR1 receptor kinase.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {2191}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms3191}, pmid = {23934307}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics ; Arabidopsis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycopeptides/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants establish a symbiosis with rhizobia to enable nitrogen fixation in root nodules under the control of the presumed root-to-shoot-to-root negative feedback called autoregulation of nodulation. In Lotus japonicus, autoregulation is mediated by CLE-RS genes that are specifically expressed in the root, and the receptor kinase HAR1 that functions in the shoot. However, the mature functional structures of CLE-RS gene products and the molecular nature of CLE-RS/HAR1 signalling governed by these spatially distant components remain elusive. Here we show that CLE-RS2 is a post-translationally arabinosylated glycopeptide derived from the CLE domain. Chemically synthesized CLE-RS glycopeptides cause significant suppression of nodulation and directly bind to HAR1 in an arabinose-chain and sequence-dependent manner. In addition, CLE-RS2 glycopeptide specifically produced in the root is found in xylem sap collected from the shoot. We propose that CLE-RS glycopeptides are the long sought mobile signals responsible for the initial step of autoregulation of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid23934282, year = {2013}, author = {Hawkins, TD and Bradley, BJ and Davy, SK}, title = {Nitric oxide mediates coral bleaching through an apoptotic-like cell death pathway: evidence from a model sea anemone-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology}, volume = {27}, number = {12}, pages = {4790-4798}, doi = {10.1096/fj.13-235051}, pmid = {23934282}, issn = {1530-6860}, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Caspases/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis/metabolism ; S-Nitrosoglutathione/pharmacology ; Sea Anemones/*metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching (involving the loss of symbiotic algae from the cnidarian host) is a major threat to coral reefs and appears to be mediated at the cellular level by nitric oxide (NO). In this study, we examined the specific role of NO in bleaching using the sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella, a model system for the study of corals. Exposure of A. pulchella to high-temperature shock (26-33°C over <1 h) or an NO donor (S-nitrosoglutathione) resulted in significant increases in host caspase-like enzyme activity. These responses were reflected in the intensities of bleaching, which were significantly higher in heat- or NO-treated specimens than in controls maintained in seawater at 26°C. Notably, the inhibition of caspase-like activity prevented bleaching even in the presence of an NO donor or at elevated temperature. The additional use of an NO scavenger controlled for effects mediated by agents other than NO. We also exposed A. pulchella to a more ecologically relevant treatment (an increase from 26 to 33°C over 6-7 d). Again, host NO synthesis correlated with the activation of caspase-like enzyme activity. Therefore, we conclude that NO's involvement in cnidarian bleaching arises through the regulation of host apoptotic pathways.}, } @article {pmid23933654, year = {2013}, author = {Soto, G and Fox, AR and Ayub, ND}, title = {Exploring the intrinsic limits of nitrogenase transfer from bacteria to eukaryotes.}, journal = {Journal of molecular evolution}, volume = {77}, number = {1-2}, pages = {3-7}, pmid = {23933654}, issn = {1432-1432}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Eukaryota/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago sativa/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nitrogenase/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation is widespread among the Eubacteria and Archae domains but completely absent in eukaryotes. The lack of lateral transfer of nitrogen-fixation genes from prokaryotes to eukaryotes has been partially attributed to the physiological requirements necessary for the function of the nitrogenase complex. However, symbiotic bacterial nitrogenase activity is protected by the nodule, a plant structure whose organogenesis can be trigged in the absence of bacteria. To explore the intrinsic potentiality of this plant organ, we generated rhizobium-independent nodules in alfalfa by overexpressing the MsDMI3 kinase lacking the autoinhibitory domain. These transgenic nodules showed similar levels of leghemoglobin, free oxygen, ATP, and NADPH to those of efficient Sinorhizobium meliloti B399-infected nodules, suggesting that the rhizobium-independent nodules can provide an optimal microenvironment for nitrogenase activity. Finally, we discuss the intrinsic evolutionary constraints on transfer of nitrogen-fixation genes between bacteria and eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid23933452, year = {2014}, author = {Fan, R and Huang, YC and Grusak, MA and Huang, CP and Sherrier, DJ}, title = {Effects of nano-TiO2 on the agronomically-relevant Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {466-467}, number = {}, pages = {503-512}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.07.032}, pmid = {23933452}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoparticles/*toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Peas/*drug effects/physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*drug effects/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Titanium/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The impact of nano-TiO2 on Rhizobium-legume symbiosis was studied using garden peas and the compatible bacterial partner Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841. Exposure to nano-TiO2 did not affect the germination of peas grown aseptically, nor did it impact the gross root structure. However, nano-TiO2 exposure did impact plant development by decreasing the number of secondary lateral roots. Cultured R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 was also impacted by exposure to nano-TiO2, resulting in morphological changes to the bacterial cells. Moreover, the interaction between these two organisms was disrupted by nano-TiO2 exposure, such that root nodule development and the subsequent onset of nitrogen fixation were delayed. Further, the polysaccharide composition of the walls of infected cells of nodules was altered, suggesting that the exposure induced a systemic response in host plants. Therefore, nano-TiO2 contamination in the environment is potentially hazardous to the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis system.}, } @article {pmid23932253, year = {2013}, author = {Pey, A and Catanéo, J and Forcioli, D and Merle, PL and Furla, P}, title = {Thermal threshold and sensitivity of the only symbiotic Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis by morphometric and genotypic analyses.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {336}, number = {7}, pages = {331-341}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2013.06.008}, pmid = {23932253}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*anatomy & histology/genetics/*physiology ; Climate Change ; Dinoflagellida ; Genotype ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Necrosis ; Seawater ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The only symbiotic Mediterranean gorgonian, Eunicella singularis, has faced several mortality events connected to abnormal high temperatures. Since thermotolerance data remain scarce, heat-induced necrosis was monitored in aquarium by morphometric analysis. Gorgonian tips were sampled at two sites: Medes (Spain) and Riou (France) Islands, and at two depths: -15 m and-35 m. Although coming from contrasting thermal regimes, seawater above 28 °C led to rapid and complete tissue necrosis for all four populations. However, at 27 °C, the time length leading to 50% tissue necrosis allowed us to classify samples within three classes of thermal sensitivity. Irrespectively of the depth, Medes specimens were either very sensitive or resistant, while Riou fragments presented a medium sensitivity. Microsatellite analysis revealed that host and symbiont were genetically differentiated between sites, but not between depths. Finally, these genetic differentiations were not directly correlated to a specific thermal sensitivity whose molecular bases remain to be discovered.}, } @article {pmid23931116, year = {2013}, author = {Honegger, R and Axe, L and Edwards, D}, title = {Bacterial epibionts and endolichenic actinobacteria and fungi in the Lower Devonian lichen Chlorolichenomycites salopensis.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {117}, number = {7-8}, pages = {512-518}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2013.05.003}, pmid = {23931116}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*isolation & purification/physiology/ultrastructure ; Biodiversity ; Chlorophyta/*microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Fossils ; Fungi/*isolation & purification/physiology/ultrastructure ; Lichens/*microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The charcoalified fragment of the dorsiventrally organized, internally stratified presumed green algal lichen Chlorolichenomycites salopensis from the Lower Devonian Lochkovian strata in the Welsh Borderland carries bacterial colonies on the upper surface, i.e. the cortex, and actinobacterial filaments in the medulla underneath the photobiont layer. Moreover relatively thin hyphae of presumed endolichenic fungi were found. As in extant lichens, which are best regarded as consortia with an unknown number of participants, this internally stratified, fossil thallus fragment of a presumed green algal lichen harbours a diverse microbial community.}, } @article {pmid23928417, year = {2013}, author = {Valle, LG}, title = {Consolidating the legacy of J.-F. Manier: new species and records of trichomycetes from France.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {105}, number = {6}, pages = {1607-1617}, doi = {10.3852/13-129}, pmid = {23928417}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; France ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {New data about trichomycetes (arthropod-gut endosymbionts) from southern France is documented, including the description of two Harpellales, Legeriosimilis cebennensis from mayfly nymphs (Heptageniidae) and Smittium manierei from Chironomidae larvae. New geographical records from France are provided, including Bojamyces transfuga, Genistellospora homothallica, Lancisporomyces vernalis, Legeriomyces rarus, Orphella catalaunica, O. helicospora, Stachylina pedifer, Smittium hecatei, S. pseudodimorphum and Tectimyces leptophlebiidarum. Most of these records include species with a Mediterranean distribution, reported before from neighboring countries, and a few others are subcosmopolitan.}, } @article {pmid23928415, year = {2013}, author = {Freeman, S and Sharon, M and Maymon, M and Mendel, Z and Protasov, A and Aoki, T and Eskalen, A and O'Donnell, K}, title = {Fusarium euwallaceae sp. nov.--a symbiotic fungus of Euwallacea sp., an invasive ambrosia beetle in Israel and California.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {105}, number = {6}, pages = {1595-1606}, doi = {10.3852/13-066}, pmid = {23928415}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; California ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Fusarium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Israel ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Persea/microbiology/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/*parasitology ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The invasive Asian ambrosia beetle Euwallacea sp. (Coleoptera, Scolytinae, Xyleborini) and a novel Fusarium sp. that it farms in its galleries as a source of nutrition causes serious damage to more than 20 species of live trees and pose a serious threat to avocado production (Persea americana) in Israel and California. Adult female beetles are equipped with mandibular mycangia in which its fungal symbiont is transported within and from the natal galleries. Damage caused to the xylem is associated with disease symptoms that include sugar or gum exudates, dieback, wilt and ultimately host tree mortality. In 2012 the beetle was recorded on more than 200 and 20 different urban landscape species in southern California and Israel respectively. Euwallacea sp. and its symbiont are closely related to the tea shot-hole borer (E. fornicatus) and its obligate symbiont, F. ambrosium occurring in Sri Lanka and India. To distinguish these beetles, hereafter the unnamed xyleborine in Israel and California will be referred to as Euwallacea sp. IS/CA. Both fusaria exhibit distinctive ecologies and produce clavate macroconidia, which we think might represent an adaption to the species-specific beetle partner. Both fusaria comprise a genealogically exclusive lineage within Clade 3 of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) that can be differentiated with arbitrarily primed PCR. Currently these fusaria can be distinguished only phenotypically by the abundant production of blue to brownish macroconidia in the symbiont of Euwallacea sp. IS/CA and their rarity or absence in F. ambrosium. We speculate that obligate symbiosis of Euwallacea and Fusarium, might have driven ecological speciation in these mutualists. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to describe and illustrate the novel, economically destructive avocado pathogen as Fusarium euwallaceae sp. nov. S. Freeman et al.}, } @article {pmid23927408, year = {2013}, author = {Woodhams, DC and Brucker, RM}, title = {Disease defence through generations: leaf-cutter ants and their symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {16}, pages = {4141-4143}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12431}, pmid = {23927408}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial ecology of animals is taking on significance in the modern dialogue for the biology of species. Similar to a nuclear genome, the entire bacterial assemblage maintains an ancestral signal of the host's evolution leading to cophylogeny between the host and the microbes they harbour (Brucker & Bordenstein 2012b). The stability of such associations is of great interest as they provide a means for species to acquire new traits and genetic diversity that their own genomes lack (McFall-Ngai et al. 2013). The role of gut microbiota, for example, in host health and nutrition is widely recognized and a shared characteristic among animals. The role of bacteria colonizing the outside surfaces of animals is less well understood, but rather than random colonization, these microbes on skin, cuticles, scales and feathers in many cases provide benefits to the host. The symbiosis of leaf-cutter ants, their fungus gardens and their microbiota is a fascinating and complex system. Whether culture-independent bacterial diversity on the cuticle of leaf-cutter ants is high or highly constrained by subcuticular gland secretions is one prominent question. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Andersen et al. (2013) show that leaf-cutting ants, Acromyrmex echinatior, maintain a dominant and colony-specific bacterium called Pseudonocardia on their cuticles (the laterocervical plates in particular). This bacterium is involved in protecting the ants and their fungal gardens from disease. Other fungus-gardening attine species as well as soil and vegetation can harbour Pseudonocardia. However, it was previously unknown how stable the bacterial strain-ant colony association was through the lifetime of the colony.}, } @article {pmid23927052, year = {2014}, author = {Vallino, M and Fiorilli, V and Bonfante, P}, title = {Rice flooding negatively impacts root branching and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, but not fungal viability.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {557-572}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12177}, pmid = {23927052}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; *Microbial Viability ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development ; Oryza/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism/microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Rice is mostly cultivated in wetlands, where arbuscular mycorrhization (AM) is reported to decrease. The mechanisms regulating such events are largely unknown. Rice uninoculated and inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis were grown in dry and flooded conditions, allowing also for the transfer of plants from one water regime to the other. Roots were sampled at different times, from 7 to 35 d post-inoculation (dpi). The morphological and molecular parameters (root branching, aerenchyma formation, mycorrhizal colonization, AM marker gene expression) were evaluated. Root branching was more pronounced in dry conditions, and such phenotype was enhanced by the fungus. In wetlands, the colonization level was comparable till 21 dpi, when the mycorrhization then decreased, paralleled by an increase in aerenchyma. Expression of the fungal transporters was comparable under the two conditions. The root apparatus, when shifted from one water regime to the other, rapidly adapted to the new condition, revealing a marked plasticity. The reversibility of the AM rice symbiosis was also mirrored by expression changes of plant marker genes. The results demonstrate that the water regime is the driving force that regulates AM colonization under flooding conditions, by directly influencing root architecture and anatomy, but without impacting the basic AM functionality.}, } @article {pmid23926148, year = {2013}, author = {Hackett, SC and Karley, AJ and Bennett, AE}, title = {Unpredicted impacts of insect endosymbionts on interactions between soil organisms, plants and aphids.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1768}, pages = {20131275}, pmid = {23926148}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Fertility ; Herbivory ; *Soil Microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecologically significant symbiotic associations are frequently studied in isolation, but such studies of two-way interactions cannot always predict the responses of organisms in a community setting. To explore this issue, we adopt a community approach to examine the role of plant-microbial and insect-microbial symbioses in modulating a plant-herbivore interaction. Potato plants were grown under glass in controlled conditions and subjected to feeding from the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae. By comparing plant growth in sterile, uncultivated and cultivated soils and the performance of M. euphorbiae clones with and without the facultative endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa, we provide evidence for complex indirect interactions between insect- and plant-microbial systems. Plant biomass responded positively to the live soil treatments, on average increasing by 15% relative to sterile soil, while aphid feeding produced shifts (increases in stem biomass and reductions in stolon biomass) in plant resource allocation irrespective of soil treatment. Aphid fecundity also responded to soil treatment with aphids on sterile soil exhibiting higher fecundities than those in the uncultivated treatment. The relative allocation of biomass to roots was reduced in the presence of aphids harbouring H. defensa compared with plants inoculated with H. defensa-free aphids and aphid-free control plants. This study provides evidence for the potential of plant and insect symbionts to shift the dynamics of plant-herbivore interactions.}, } @article {pmid23926062, year = {2013}, author = {Takeda, N and Tsuzuki, S and Suzaki, T and Parniske, M and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {CERBERUS and NSP1 of Lotus japonicus are common symbiosis genes that modulate arbuscular mycorrhiza development.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {54}, number = {10}, pages = {1711-1723}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct114}, pmid = {23926062}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hyphae/growth & development/physiology ; Lotus/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) and root nodule symbiosis (RNS) are mutualistic plant-microbe interactions that confer nutritional benefits to both partners. Leguminous plants possess a common genetic system for intracellular symbiosis with AM fungi and with rhizobia. Here we show that CERBERUS and NSP1, which respectively encode an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a GRAS transcriptional regulator and which have previously only been implicated in RNS, are involved in AM fungal infection in Lotus japonicus. Hyphal elongation along the longitudinal axis of the root was reduced in the cerberus mutant, giving rise to a lower colonization level. Knockout of NSP1 decreased the frequency of plants colonized by AM fungi or rhizobia. CERBERUS and NSP1 showed different patterns of expression in response to infection with symbiotic microbes. A low constitutive level of CERBERUS expression was observed in the root and an increased level of NSP1 expression was detected in arbuscule-containing cells. Induction of AM marker gene was triggered in both cerberus and nsp1 mutants by infection with symbiotic microbes; however, the mutants showed a weaker induction of marker gene expression than the wild type, mirroring their lower level of colonization. The common symbiosis genes are believed to act in an early signaling pathway for recognition of symbionts and for triggering early symbiotic responses. Our quantitative analysis of symbiotic phenotypes revealed developmental defects of the novel common symbiosis mutants in both symbioses, which demonstrates that common symbiosis mechanisms also contribute to a range of functions at later or different stages of symbiont infection.}, } @article {pmid23925788, year = {2013}, author = {Beaudet, D and Terrat, Y and Halary, S and de la Providencia, IE and Hijri, M}, title = {Mitochondrial genome rearrangements in glomus species triggered by homologous recombination between distinct mtDNA haplotypes.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {1628-1643}, pmid = {23925788}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {DNA, Intergenic ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Haplotypes ; Homologous Recombination/genetics ; Mycorrhizae ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Comparative mitochondrial genomics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide new avenues to overcome long-lasting obstacles that have hampered studies aimed at understanding the community structure, diversity, and evolution of these multinucleated and genetically polymorphic organisms.AMF mitochondrial (mt) genomes are homogeneous within isolates, and their intergenic regions harbor numerous mobile elements that have rapidly diverged, including homing endonuclease genes, small inverted repeats, and plasmid-related DNA polymerase genes (dpo), making them suitable targets for the development of reliable strain-specific markers. However, these elements may also lead to genome rearrangements through homologous recombination, although this has never previously been reported in this group of obligate symbiotic fungi. To investigate whether such rearrangements are present and caused by mobile elements in AMF, the mitochondrial genomes from two Glomeraceae members (i.e., Glomus cerebriforme and Glomus sp.) with substantial mtDNA synteny divergence,were sequenced and compared with available glomeromycotan mitochondrial genomes. We used an extensive nucleotide/protein similarity network-based approach to investigated podiversity in AMF as well as in other organisms for which sequences are publicly available. We provide strong evidence of dpo-induced inter-haplotype recombination, leading to a reshuffled mitochondrial genome in Glomus sp. These findings raise questions as to whether AMF single spore cultivations artificially underestimate mtDNA genetic diversity.We assessed potential dpo dispersal mechanisms in AMF and inferred a robust phylogenetic relationship with plant mitochondrial plasmids. Along with other indirect evidence, our analyses indicate that members of the Glomeromycota phylum are potential donors of mitochondrial plasmids to plants.}, } @article {pmid23925243, year = {2013}, author = {Prokopenko, MG and Hirst, MB and De Brabandere, L and Lawrence, DJ and Berelson, WM and Granger, J and Chang, BX and Dawson, S and Crane, EJ and Chong, L and Thamdrup, B and Townsend-Small, A and Sigman, DM}, title = {Nitrogen losses in anoxic marine sediments driven by Thioploca-anammox bacterial consortia.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {500}, number = {7461}, pages = {194-198}, pmid = {23925243}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Thiotrichaceae/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ninety per cent of marine organic matter burial occurs in continental margin sediments, where a substantial fraction of organic carbon escapes oxidation and enters long-term geologic storage within sedimentary rocks. In such environments, microbial metabolism is limited by the diffusive supply of electron acceptors. One strategy to optimize energy yields in a resource-limited habitat is symbiotic metabolite exchange among microbial associations. Thermodynamic and geochemical considerations indicate that microbial co-metabolisms are likely to play a critical part in sedimentary organic carbon cycling. Yet only one association, between methanotrophic archaea and sulphate-reducing bacteria, has been demonstrated in marine sediments in situ, and little is known of the role of microbial symbiotic interactions in other sedimentary biogeochemical cycles. Here we report in situ molecular and incubation-based evidence for a novel symbiotic consortium between two chemolithotrophic bacteria--anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria and the nitrate-sequestering sulphur-oxidizing Thioploca species--in anoxic sediments of the Soledad basin at the Mexican Pacific margin. A mass balance of benthic solute fluxes and the corresponding nitrogen isotope composition of nitrate and ammonium fluxes indicate that anammox bacteria rely on Thioploca species for the supply of metabolic substrates and account for about 57 ± 21 per cent of the total benthic N2 production. We show that Thioploca-anammox symbiosis intensifies benthic fixed nitrogen losses in anoxic sediments, bypassing diffusion-imposed limitations by efficiently coupling the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles.}, } @article {pmid23924784, year = {2014}, author = {Nakagawa, S and Shimamura, S and Takaki, Y and Suzuki, Y and Murakami, S and Watanabe, T and Fujiyoshi, S and Mino, S and Sawabe, T and Maeda, T and Makita, H and Nemoto, S and Nishimura, S and Watanabe, H and Watsuji, TO and Takai, K}, title = {Allying with armored snails: the complete genome of gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {40-51}, pmid = {23924784}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Isotopes/metabolism ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Flagella/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; Snails/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea vents harbor dense populations of various animals that have their specific symbiotic bacteria. Scaly-foot gastropods, which are snails with mineralized scales covering the sides of its foot, have a gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont in their enlarged esophageal glands and diverse epibionts on the surface of their scales. In this study, we report the complete genome sequencing of gammaproteobacterial endosymbiont. The endosymbiont genome displays features consistent with ongoing genome reduction such as large proportions of pseudogenes and insertion elements. The genome encodes functions commonly found in deep-sea vent chemoautotrophs such as sulfur oxidation and carbon fixation. Stable carbon isotope ((13)C)-labeling experiments confirmed the endosymbiont chemoautotrophy. The genome also includes an intact hydrogenase gene cluster that potentially has been horizontally transferred from phylogenetically distant bacteria. Notable findings include the presence and transcription of genes for flagellar assembly, through which proteins are potentially exported from bacterium to the host. Symbionts of snail individuals exhibited extreme genetic homogeneity, showing only two synonymous changes in 19 different genes (13 810 positions in total) determined for 32 individual gastropods collected from a single colony at one time. The extremely low genetic individuality in endosymbionts probably reflects that the stringent symbiont selection by host prevents the random genetic drift in the small population of horizontally transmitted symbiont. This study is the first complete genome analysis of gastropod endosymbiont and offers an opportunity to study genome evolution in a recently evolved endosymbiont.}, } @article {pmid23924780, year = {2013}, author = {Desai, MS and Assig, K and Dattagupta, S}, title = {Nitrogen fixation in distinct microbial niches within a chemoautotrophy-driven cave ecosystem.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {2411-2423}, pmid = {23924780}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Amphipoda/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms ; Caves/*microbiology ; *Chemoautotrophic Growth ; *Ecosystem ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Italy ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microbial sulfur and carbon cycles in ecosystems driven by chemoautotrophy-present at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and sulfidic caves-have been studied to some extent, yet little is known about nitrogen fixation in these systems. Using a comprehensive approach comprising of (15)N2 isotope labeling, acetylene reduction assay and nitrogenase gene expression analyses, we investigated nitrogen fixation in the sulfide-rich, chemoautotrophy-based Frasassi cave ecosystem (Italy). Nitrogen fixation was examined in three different microbial niches within the cave waters: (1) symbiotic bacterial community of Niphargus amphipods, (2) Beggiatoa-dominated biofilms, which occur at the sulfide-oxygen interface, and (3) sulfidic sediment. We found evidence for nitrogen fixation in all the three niches, and the nitrogenase gene (homologs of nifH) expression data clearly show niche differentiation of diazotrophic Proteobacteria within the water streams. The nifH transcript originated from the symbiotic community of Niphargus amphipods might belong to the Thiothrix ectosymbionts. Two abundantly expressed nifH genes in the Beggiatoa-dominated biofilms are closely related to those from Beggiatoa- and Desulfovibrio-related bacteria. These two diazotrophs were consistently found in Beggiatoa-dominated biofilms collected at various time points, thus illustrating species-specific associations of the diazotrophs in biofilm formation, and micron-scale niche partitioning of sulfur-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing bacteria driven by steep redox gradients within the biofilm. Finally, putative heterotrophs (Geobacter, Azoarcus and Desulfovibrio related) were the active diazotrophs in the sulfidic sediment. Our study is the first to shed light on nitrogen fixation in permanently dark caves and suggests that diazotrophy may be widespread in chemosynthetic communities.}, } @article {pmid23924712, year = {2013}, author = {Masai, M and Arakawa, M and Iwaya, K and Aoki, T and Nakagawa, T and Ayabe, S and Uchiyama, H}, title = {Discriminative phytoalexin accumulation in Lotus japonicus against symbiotic and non-symbiotic microorganisms and related chemical signals.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {77}, number = {8}, pages = {1773-1775}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.130209}, pmid = {23924712}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Flagellin/chemistry/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/genetics ; Sesquiterpenes/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Phytoalexins ; }, abstract = {The phytoalexin response of Lotus japonicus seedlings to selected microbes and chemical signals was analyzed. The symbiotic rhizobium induced vestitol production weakly, while non-symbiotic rhizobia and potential pathogens led to increases in its accumulation. Whereas chitin-related molecules were ineffective, a flagellin-derived peptide not of symbiont origin induced phytoalexin production, indicating discriminative antibiotic production by the plant host.}, } @article {pmid23922211, year = {2014}, author = {Bucci, C and Tremolaterra, F and Gallotta, S and Fortunato, A and Cappello, C and Ciacci, C and Iovino, P}, title = {A pilot study on the effect of a symbiotic mixture in irritable bowel syndrome: an open-label, partially controlled, 6-month extension of a previously published trial.}, journal = {Techniques in coloproctology}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {345-353}, pmid = {23922211}, issn = {1128-045X}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Flatulence/*therapy ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In recent years, the efficacy of probiotics has received considerable attention in the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this regard, a symbiotic mixture (Probinul(®)) has shown beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to extend the previously published 4-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of this symbiotic mixture.

METHODS: This is an open-label prospective, partially controlled, 6-month extension period pilot study in which patients continued to receive the symbiotic mixture (Group 1) or were switched from placebo to symbiotic mixture (Group 2) using cyclic administration (last 2 weeks/month). The primary endpoints were the overall satisfactory relief of bloating and flatulence (assessed as proportions of responders). The secondary endpoints were evaluation of the symptom severity scores (bloating, flatulence, pain and urgency) and bowel function scores (frequency, consistency and incomplete evacuation).

RESULTS: Twenty-six IBS patients completed the 6-month extension period (13 patients in Group 1 and 13 patients in Group 2). In the per-protocol analysis, the proportions of responders across time were not significantly different in the groups but in Group 2, there was an increased percentage of responders for flatulence (p = 0.07). In addition, the score of flatulence was reduced significantly during the 6-month treatment period in Group 2 (p < 0.05), while no other significant differences were detected.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with this symbiotic mixture was associated with persistence of relief from flatulence or new reduction in flatulence in the present 6-month long extension study. These results need to be more comprehensively assessed in large, long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled studies.}, } @article {pmid23919238, year = {2014}, author = {Vijayendra, SV and Shamala, TR}, title = {Film forming microbial biopolymers for commercial applications--a review.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {338-357}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2013.798254}, pmid = {23919238}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {*Anti-Infective Agents ; *Biopolymers ; Fermentation ; Food Packaging ; *Lactic Acid ; Polyesters ; *Polyhydroxyalkanoates ; *Polymers ; *Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms synthesize intracellular, structural and extracellular polymers also referred to as biopolymers for their function and survival. These biopolymers play specific roles as energy reserve materials, protective agents, aid in cell functioning, the establishment of symbiosis, osmotic adaptation and support the microbial genera to function, adapt, multiply and survive efficiently under changing environmental conditions. Viscosifying, gelling and film forming properties of these have been exploited for specific significant applications in food and allied industries. Intensive research activities and recent achievements in relevant and important research fields of global interest regarding film forming microbial biopolymers is the subject of this review. Microbial polymers such as pullulan, kefiran, bacterial cellulose (BC), gellan and levan are placed under the category of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and have several other functional properties including film formation, which can be used for various applications in food and allied industries. In addition to EPS, innumerable bacterial genera are found to synthesis carbon energy reserves in their cells known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), microbial polyesters, which can be extruded into films with excellent moisture and oxygen barrier properties. Blow moldable biopolymers like PHA along with polylactic acid (PLA) synthesized chemically in vitro using lactic acid (LA), which is produced by LA bacteria through fermentation, are projected as biodegradable polymers of the future for packaging applications. Designing and creating of new property based on requirements through controlled synthesis can lead to improvement in properties of existing polysaccharides and create novel biopolymers of great commercial interest and value for wider applications. Incorporation of antimicrobials such as bacteriocins or silver and copper nanoparticles can enhance the functionality of polymer films especially in food packaging applications either in the form of coatings or wrappings. Use of EPS in combinations to obtain desired properties can be evaluated to increase the application range. Controlled release of active compounds, bioactive protection and resistance to water can be investigated while developing new technologies to improve the film properties of active packaging and coatings. An holistic approach may be adopted in developing an economical and biodegradable packaging material with acceptable properties. An interdisciplinary approach with new innovations can lead to the development of new composites of these biopolymers to enhance the application range. This current review focuses on linking and consolidation of recent research activities on the production and applications of film forming microbial polymers like EPS, PHA and PLA for commercial applications.}, } @article {pmid23918788, year = {2013}, author = {James, ER and Tai, V and Scheffrahn, RH and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Trichonympha burlesquei n. sp. from Reticulitermes virginicus and evidence against a cosmopolitan distribution of Trichonympha agilis in many termite hosts.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {Pt 10}, pages = {3873-3876}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.054874-0}, pmid = {23918788}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Protozoan ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Hypermastigia/*classification/isolation & purification ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Historically, symbiotic protists in termite hindguts have been considered to be the same species if they are morphologically similar, even if they are found in different host species. For example, the first-described hindgut and hypermastigote parabasalian, Trichonympha agilis (Leidy, 1877) has since been documented in six species of Reticulitermes, in addition to the original discovery in Reticulitermes flavipes. Here we revisit one of these, Reticulitermes virginicus, using molecular phylogenetic analysis from single-cell isolates and show that the Trichonympha in R. virginicus is distinct from isolates in the type host and describe this novel species as Trichonympha burlesquei n. sp. We also show the molecular diversity of Trichonympha from the type host R. flavipes is greater than supposed, itself probably representing more than one species. All of this is consistent with recent data suggesting a major underestimate of termite symbiont diversity.}, } @article {pmid23918389, year = {2013}, author = {Lahrmann, U and Ding, Y and Banhara, A and Rath, M and Hajirezaei, MR and Döhlemann, S and von Wirén, N and Parniske, M and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Host-related metabolic cues affect colonization strategies of a root endophyte.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {34}, pages = {13965-13970}, pmid = {23918389}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*microbiology ; Basidiomycota/metabolism/*physiology ; Cation Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/*physiology ; Hordeum/*microbiology ; Microarray Analysis ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mechanisms underpinning broad compatibility in root symbiosis are largely unexplored. The generalist root endophyte Piriformospora indica establishes long-lasting interactions with morphologically and biochemically different hosts, stimulating their growth, alleviating salt stress, and inducing local and systemic resistance to pathogens. Cytological studies and global investigations of fungal transcriptional responses to colonization of barley and Arabidopsis at different symbiotic stages identified host-dependent colonization strategies and host-specifically induced effector candidates. Here, we show that in Arabidopsis, P. indica establishes and maintains biotrophic nutrition within living epidermal cells, whereas in barley the symbiont undergoes a nutritional switch to saprotrophy that is associated with the production of secondary thinner hyphae in dead cortex cells. Consistent with a diversified trophic behavior and with the occurrence of nitrogen deficiency at the onset of saprotrophy in barley, fungal genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes and nutrient transporters were highly induced in this host but not in Arabidopsis. Silencing of the high-affinity ammonium transporter PiAMT1 gene, whose transcripts are accumulating during nitrogen starvation and in barley, resulted in enhanced colonization of this host, whereas it had no effect on the colonization of Arabidopsis. Increased levels of free amino acids and reduced enzymatic activity for the cell-death marker VPE (vacuolar-processing enzyme) in colonized barley roots coincided with an extended biotrophic lifestyle of P. indica upon silencing of PiAMT1. This suggests that PiAmt1 functions as a nitrogen sensor mediating the signal that triggers the in planta activation of the saprotrophic program. Thus, host-related metabolic cues affect the expression of P. indica's alternative lifestyles.}, } @article {pmid23918181, year = {2013}, author = {Sanchez-Palencia, E and Françoise, JP}, title = {Structural instability and emergence of the biodiversity.}, journal = {Acta biotheoretica}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {397-412}, doi = {10.1007/s10441-013-9193-5}, pmid = {23918181}, issn = {1572-8358}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Models, Theoretical ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {In the framework of population dynamics, we start from the logistic equation describing the evolution of one species with limited food supply. A split device allows us to consider the population as two sub-populations x and y evolving analogously. The dynamical system has a one-parameter family of equilibria which is structurally unstable. Then small perturbations of the system (describing functional or ethological differentiations between the sub-species) lead in general to a new system involving a fast and a slow dynamics with a finite number of equilibria. In simple situations where the differentiation is clearly either an advantage or an inconvenience for one of the subspecies, the stable equilibrium amounts to extinction of the disadvantaged subspecies (elementary Darwinism). Oppositely more complex differentiations (involving both advantages and inconveniences) often lead to stable equilibria with well-defined non zero proportions of the sub-populations (preservation of the biodiversity). Other examples are concerned with symbiosis-like differentiations, leading to preservation, whereas the opposite case (mutual nuisances) has an unstable equilibrium and lead to extinction of one or the other subspecies according to the initial conditions. The case of a scission into three subspecies is more rich in consequences. In certain cases, predator-prey relations lead to auto-organization phenomena with stable diversity-preserving diversity. Cases of instability are also possible, leading to orbits tending towards a poly-cycle.This implies some kind of pseudo-extinction: this amounts to "pseudo-periodic-like" orbits with "pseudo-periods" larger and larger, tending to infinity; each pseudo-period contains parts where one of the sub-populations practically vanish. Other non-linear perturbations lead to stable orbits.}, } @article {pmid23917611, year = {2014}, author = {Jayne, B and Quigley, M}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza on growth and reproductive response of plants under water deficit: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {109-119}, pmid = {23917611}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Desiccation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Development ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Reproduction ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite a large body of literature that describes the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on plant response to water deficit, reviews of these works have been mainly in narrative form, and it is therefore difficult to quantify the magnitude of the effect. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the effect of mycorrhizal colonization on growth and yield of plants exposed to water deficit stress. Data were compared in the context of annual vs. perennial plants, herbaceous vs. woody plants, field vs. greenhouse conditions, degree of stress, functional group, regions of plant growth, and mycorrhizal and host species. We found that, in terms of biomass measurements, mycorrhizal plants have better growth and reproductive response under water stress compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. When variables such as habit, life cycle, or water stress level are considered, differences in mycorrhizal effect on plant growth between variables are observed. While growth of both annual and perennial plants is improved by symbiosis, perennials respond more favorably to colonization than annuals. Overall, our meta-analysis reveals a quantifiable corroboration of the commonly held view that, under water-deficit conditions, plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi have better growth and reproductive response than those that are not.}, } @article {pmid23917163, year = {2013}, author = {Cairo, JP and Oliveira, LC and Uchima, CA and Alvarez, TM and Citadini, AP and Cota, J and Leonardo, FC and Costa-Leonardo, AM and Carazzolle, MF and Costa, FF and Pereira, GA and Squina, FM}, title = {Deciphering the synergism of endogenous glycoside hydrolase families 1 and 9 from Coptotermes gestroi.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {43}, number = {10}, pages = {970-981}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.07.007}, pmid = {23917163}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolases/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Isoptera/*enzymology ; Kinetics ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Termites can degrade up to 90% of the lignocellulose they ingest using a repertoire of endogenous and symbiotic degrading enzymes. Termites have been shown to secrete two main glycoside hydrolases, which are GH1 (EC 3.2.1.21) and GH9 (EC 3.2.1.4) members. However, the molecular mechanism for lignocellulose degradation by these enzymes remains poorly understood. The present study was conducted to understand the synergistic relationship between GH9 (CgEG1) and GH1 (CgBG1) from Coptotermes gestroi, which is considered the major urban pest of São Paulo State in Brazil. The goal of this work was to decipher the mode of operation of CgEG1 and CgBG1 through a comprehensive biochemical analysis and molecular docking studies. There was outstanding degree of synergy in degrading glucose polymers for the production of glucose as a result of the endo-β-1,4-glucosidase and exo-β-1,4-glucosidase degradation capability of CgEG1 in concert with the high catalytic performance of CgBG1, which rapidly converts the oligomers into glucose. Our data not only provide an increased comprehension regarding the synergistic mechanism of these two enzymes for cellulose saccharification but also give insight about the role of these two enzymes in termite biology, which can provide the foundation for the development of a number of important applied research topics, such as the control of termites as pests as well as the development of technologies for lignocellulose-to-bioproduct applications.}, } @article {pmid23916201, year = {2013}, author = {Duponnois, R and Ramanankierana, H and Hafidi, M and Baohanta, R and Baudoin, E and Thioulouse, J and Sanguin, H and Bâ, A and Galiana, A and Bally, R and Lebrun, M and Prin, Y}, title = {[Native plant resources to optimize the performances of forest rehabilitation in Mediterranean and tropical environment: some examples of nursing plant species that improve the soil mycorrhizal potential].}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {336}, number = {5-6}, pages = {265-272}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2013.04.015}, pmid = {23916201}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Droughts ; Ecology ; Efficiency ; Environment ; Mediterranean Region ; Morocco ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Trees ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {The overexploitation of natural resources, resulting in an increased need for arable lands by local populations, causes a serious dysfunction in the soil's biological functioning (mineral deficiency, salt stress, etc.). This dysfunction, worsened by the climatic conditions (drought), requires the implementation of ecological engineering strategies allowing the rehabilitation of degraded areas through the restoration of essential ecological services. The first symptoms of weathering processes of soil quality in tropical and Mediterranean environments result in an alteration of the plant cover structure with, in particular, the pauperization of plant species diversity and abundance. This degradation is accompanied by a weakening of soils and an increase of the impact of erosion on the surface layer resulting in reduced fertility of soils in terms of their physicochemical characteristics as well as their biological ones (e.g., soil microbes). Among the microbial components particularly sensitive to erosion, symbiotic microorganisms (rhizobia, Frankia, mycorrhizal fungi) are known to be key components in the main terrestrial biogeochemical cycles (C, N and P). Many studies have shown the importance of the management of these symbiotic microorganisms in rehabilitation and revegetation strategies of degraded environments, but also in improving the productivity of agrosystems. In particular, the selection of symbionts and their inoculation into the soil were strongly encouraged in recent decades. These inoculants were selected not only for their impact on the plant, but also for their ability to persist in the soil at the expense of the residual native microflora. The performance of this technique was thus evaluated on the plant cover, but its impact on soil microbial characteristics was totally ignored. The role of microbial diversity on productivity and stability (resistance, resilience, etc.) of eco- and agrosystems has been identified relatively recently and has led to a questioning of the conceptual bases of controlled inoculation in sustainable land management. It has been suggested that the environmental characteristics of the area to rehabilitate should be taken into account, and more particularly its degradation level in relation to the threshold of ecological resilience. This consideration should lead to the optimization of the cultural practices to either (i) restore the original properties of an ecosystem in case of slightly degraded environments or (ii) transform an ecosystem in case of highly degraded soils (e.g., mine soils). In this chapter, we discuss, through various examples of experiments conducted in tropical and Mediterranean areas, the performance of different strategies to manage the microbial potential in soils (inoculation of exotic vs. native species, inoculation or controlled management potential microbial stratum via aboveground vegetation, etc.) based on the level of environmental degradation.}, } @article {pmid23915131, year = {2013}, author = {Venturi, V and Fuqua, C}, title = {Chemical signaling between plants and plant-pathogenic bacteria.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {51}, number = {}, pages = {17-37}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-082712-102239}, pmid = {23915131}, issn = {1545-2107}, support = {R01 GM080546/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM092660/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM092660/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM080546/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*chemistry/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Diketopiperazines/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lactones/metabolism ; Phenols/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/immunology/*microbiology ; Plants/*chemistry/immunology/*microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; Repressor Proteins/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Trans-Activators/metabolism ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Studies of chemical signaling between plants and bacteria in the past have been largely confined to two models: the rhizobial-legume symbiotic association and pathogenesis between agrobacteria and their host plants. Recent studies are beginning to provide evidence that many plant-associated bacteria undergo chemical signaling with the plant host via low-molecular-weight compounds. Plant-produced compounds interact with bacterial regulatory proteins that then affect gene expression. Similarly, bacterial quorum-sensing signals result in a range of functional responses in plants. This review attempts to highlight current knowledge in chemical signaling that takes place between pathogenic bacteria and plants. This chemical communication between plant and bacteria, also referred to as interkingdom signaling, will likely become a major research field in the future, as it allows the design of specific strategies to create plants that are resistant to plant pathogens.}, } @article {pmid23914989, year = {2013}, author = {Yuan, JB and Zhang, XJ and Liu, CZ and Wei, JK and Li, FH and Xiang, JH}, title = {Horizontally transferred genes in the genome of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {165}, pmid = {23914989}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Fungi/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome ; Introns ; Penaeidae/classification/*genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In recent years, as the development of next-generation sequencing technology, a growing number of genes have been reported as being horizontally transferred from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, most of them involving arthropods. As a member of the phylum Arthropoda, the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei has to adapt to the complex water environments with various symbiotic or parasitic microorganisms, which provide a platform for horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

RESULTS: In this study, we analyzed the genome-wide HGT events in L. vannamei. Through homology search and phylogenetic analysis, followed by experimental PCR confirmation, 14 genes with HGT event were identified: 12 of them were transferred from bacteria and two from fungi. Structure analysis of these genes showed that the introns of the two fungi-originated genes were substituted by shrimp DNA fragment, two genes transferred from bacteria had shrimp specific introns inserted in them. Furthermore, around other three bacteria-originated genes, there were three large DNA segments inserted into the shrimp genome. One segment was a transposon that fully transferred, and the other two segments contained only coding regions of bacteria. Functional prediction of these 14 genes showed that 6 of them might be related to energy metabolism, and 4 others related to defense of the organism.

CONCLUSIONS: HGT events from bacteria or fungi were happened in the genome of L. vannamei, and these horizontally transferred genes can be transcribed in shrimp. This is the first time to report the existence of horizontally transferred genes in shrimp. Importantly, most of these genes are exposed to a negative selection pressure and appeared to be functional.}, } @article {pmid23914548, year = {2013}, author = {Guo, W and Zhao, RX and Zhao, WJ and Fu, RY and Guo, JY and Zhang, J}, title = {[Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and rare earth elements uptake of soybean grown in rare earth mine tailings].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {34}, number = {5}, pages = {1915-1921}, pmid = {23914548}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/*methods ; Metals, Rare Earth/analysis/*metabolism ; Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus versiforme on the plant growth, nutrient uptake, C: N: P stoichiometric, uptake of heavy metals and rare earth elements by soybean (Glycine max) grown in rare earth mine tailings. The aim was to provide a basis for the revegetation of rare earth mine tailings. The results indicated that soybean had a high mycorrhizal colonization and symbiotic associations were successfully established with G. versiforme, with an average rate of approximately 67%. The colonization of G. versiforme significantly promoted the growth of soybean, increased P, K contents, and decreased C: N: P ratios, supporting the growth rate hypothesis. Inoculation with G. versiforme significantly decreased shoots and roots La, Ce, Pr and Nd concentrations of soybean compared to the control treatment. However, inoculation with G. versiforme had no significant effect on the heavy metal concentrations, except for significantly decreased shoot Fe and Cr concentrations and increased root Cd concentrations. The experiment demonstrates that AM fungi have a potential role for soybean to adapt the composite adversity of rare earth tailings and play a positive role in revegetation of rare earth mine tailings. Further studies on the role of AM fungi under natural conditions should be conducted.}, } @article {pmid23913848, year = {2013}, author = {Cabreiro, F and Gems, D}, title = {Worms need microbes too: microbiota, health and aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.}, journal = {EMBO molecular medicine}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {1300-1310}, pmid = {23913848}, issn = {1757-4684}, support = {098565//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbiota ; Models, Animal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many animal species live in close association with commensal and symbiotic microbes (microbiota). Recent studies have revealed that the status of gastrointestinal tract microbiota can influence nutrition-related syndromes such as obesity and type-2 diabetes, and perhaps aging. These morbidities have a profound impact in terms of individual suffering, and are an increasing economic burden to modern societies. Several theories have been proposed for the influence of microbiota on host metabolism, but these largely remain to be proven. In this article we discuss how microbiota may be manipulated (via pharmacology, diet, or gene manipulation) in order to alter metabolism, immunity, health and aging in the host. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in combination with one microbial species is an excellent, defined model system to investigate the mechanisms of host-microbiota interactions, particularly given the combined power of worm and microbial genetics. We also discuss the multifaceted nature of the worm-microbe relationship, which likely encompasses predation, commensalism, pathogenicity and necromeny.}, } @article {pmid23912161, year = {2013}, author = {Frendo, P and Baldacci-Cresp, F and Benyamina, SM and Puppo, A}, title = {Glutathione and plant response to the biotic environment.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {724-730}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2013.07.035}, pmid = {23912161}, issn = {1873-4596}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Environment ; Glutathione/*immunology ; Plant Immunity/*immunology ; Plants/*immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Glutathione (GSH) is a major antioxidant molecule in plants. It is involved in regulating plant development and responses to the abiotic and biotic environment. In recent years, numerous reports have clarified the molecular processes involving GSH in plant-microbe interactions. In this review, we summarize recent studies, highlighting the roles of GSH in interactions between plants and microbes, whether pathogenic or beneficial to plants.}, } @article {pmid23912150, year = {2013}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Synchronous induction of detachment and reattachment of symbiotic Chlorella spp. from the cell cortex of the host Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {164}, number = {5}, pages = {660-672}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2013.07.001}, pmid = {23912150}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Cell Adhesion ; Centrifugation ; Chlorella/*physiology ; Paramecium/cytology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Paramecium bursaria harbor several hundred symbiotic Chlorella spp. Each alga is enclosed in a perialgal vacuole membrane, which can attach to the host cell cortex. How the perialgal vacuole attaches beneath the host cell cortex remains unknown. High-speed centrifugation (> 1000×g) for 1min induces rapid detachment of the algae from the host cell cortex and concentrates the algae to the posterior half of the host cell. Simultaneously, most of the host acidosomes and lysosomes accumulate in the anterior half of the host cell. Both the detached algae and the dislocated acidic vesicles recover their original positions by host cyclosis within 10min after centrifugation. These recoveries were inhibited if the host cytoplasmic streaming was arrested by nocodazole. Endosymbiotic algae during the early reinfection process also show the capability of desorption after centrifugation. These results demonstrate that adhesion of the perialgal vacuole beneath the host cell cortex is repeatedly inducible, and that host cytoplasmic streaming facilitates recovery of the algal attachment. This study is the first report to illuminate the mechanism of the induction to desorb for symbiotic algae and acidic vesicles, and will contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of algal and organelle arrangements in Paramecium.}, } @article {pmid23909720, year = {2013}, author = {Pini, F and Frage, B and Ferri, L and De Nisco, NJ and Mohapatra, SS and Taddei, L and Fioravanti, A and Dewitte, F and Galardini, M and Brilli, M and Villeret, V and Bazzicalupo, M and Mengoni, A and Walker, GC and Becker, A and Biondi, EG}, title = {The DivJ, CbrA and PleC system controls DivK phosphorylation and symbiosis in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {90}, number = {1}, pages = {54-71}, pmid = {23909720}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM31010/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Phosphorylation ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium that invades the root nodules it induces on Medicago sativa, whereupon it undergoes an alteration of its cell cycle and differentiates into nitrogen-fixing, elongated and polyploid bacteroid with higher membrane permeability. In Caulobacter crescentus, a related alphaproteobacterium, the principal cell cycle regulator, CtrA, is inhibited by the phosphorylated response regulator DivK. The phosphorylation of DivK depends on the histidine kinase DivJ, while PleC is the principal phosphatase for DivK. Despite the importance of the DivJ in C. crescentus, the mechanistic role of this kinase has never been elucidated in other Alphaproteobacteria. We show here that the histidine kinases DivJ together with CbrA and PleC participate in a complex phosphorylation system of the essential response regulator DivK in S. meliloti. In particular, DivJ and CbrA are involved in DivK phosphorylation and in turn CtrA inactivation, thereby controlling correct cell cycle progression and the integrity of the cell envelope. In contrast, the essential PleC presumably acts as a phosphatase of DivK. Interestingly, we found that a DivJ mutant is able to elicit nodules and enter plant cells, but fails to establish an effective symbiosis suggesting that proper envelope and/or low CtrA levels are required for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23909277, year = {2013}, author = {Vinale, F and Nigro, M and Sivasithamparam, K and Flematti, G and Ghisalberti, EL and Ruocco, M and Varlese, R and Marra, R and Lanzuise, S and Eid, A and Woo, SL and Lorito, M}, title = {Harzianic acid: a novel siderophore from Trichoderma harzianum.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {347}, number = {2}, pages = {123-129}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12231}, pmid = {23909277}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/metabolism ; Hydroxybutyrates/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/growth & development ; Pyrroles/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Siderophores/*metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Trichoderma/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Agriculture-relevant microorganisms are considered to produce secondary metabolites during processes of competition with other micro- and macro-organisms, symbiosis, parasitism or pathogenesis. Many different strains of the genus Trichoderma, in addition to a direct activity against phytopathogens, are well-known producers of secondary metabolites and compounds that substantially affect the metabolism of the host plant. Harzianic acid is a Trichoderma secondary metabolite, showing antifungal and plant growth promotion activities. This report demonstrates the ability of this tetramic acid to bind with a good affinity essential metals such as Fe(3+) , which may represent a mechanism of iron solubilisation that significantly alters nutrient availability in the soil environment for other microorganisms and the host plant.}, } @article {pmid23907990, year = {2013}, author = {Brennan, CA and Mandel, MJ and Gyllborg, MC and Thomasgard, KA and Ruby, EG}, title = {Genetic determinants of swimming motility in the squid light-organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {576-594}, pmid = {23907990}, issn = {2045-8827}, support = {T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM07215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Chemotaxis ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Flagella/genetics/physiology ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Locomotion ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial flagellar motility is a complex cellular behavior required for the colonization of the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, by the beneficial bioluminescent symbiont Vibrio fischeri. We characterized the basis of this behavior by performing (i) a forward genetic screen to identify mutants defective in soft-agar motility, as well as (ii) a transcriptional analysis to determine the genes that are expressed downstream of the flagellar master regulator FlrA. Mutants with severe defects in soft-agar motility were identified due to insertions in genes with putative roles in flagellar motility and in genes that were unexpected, including those predicted to encode hypothetical proteins and cell division-related proteins. Analysis of mutants for their ability to enter into a productive symbiosis indicated that flagellar motility mutants are deficient, while chemotaxis mutants are able to colonize a subset of juvenile squid to light-producing levels. Thirty-three genes required for normal motility in soft agar were also downregulated in the absence of FlrA, suggesting they belong to the flagellar regulon of V. fischeri. Mutagenesis of putative paralogs of the flagellar motility genes motA, motB, and fliL revealed that motA1, motB1, and both fliL1 and fliL2, but not motA2 and motB2, likely contribute to soft-agar motility. Using these complementary approaches, we have characterized the genetic basis of flagellar motility in V. fischeri and furthered our understanding of the roles of flagellar motility and chemotaxis in colonization of the juvenile squid, including identifying 11 novel mutants unable to enter into a productive light-organ symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23903986, year = {2013}, author = {Pereira, Lde O and Maretti-Mira, AC and Rodrigues, KM and Lima, RB and Oliveira-Neto, MP and Cupolillo, E and Pirmez, C and de Oliveira, MP}, title = {Severity of tegumentary leishmaniasis is not exclusively associated with Leishmania RNA virus 1 infection in Brazil.}, journal = {Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz}, volume = {108}, number = {5}, pages = {665-667}, pmid = {23903986}, issn = {1678-8060}, mesh = {Brazil ; Female ; Humans ; Leishmania braziliensis/*virology ; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/*parasitology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Viruses/classification/*genetics ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Severity of Illness Index ; }, abstract = {Leishmania RNA virus (LRV) has been shown to be a symbiotic component of Leishmania parasites in South America. Nested retro-transcription polymerase chain reaction was employed to investigate LRV1 presence in leishmaniasis lesions from Brazil. In endemic areas of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), no LRV1 infection was observed even with mucosal involvement. LRV1 was only detected in Leishmania (V.) guyanensis cutaneous lesions from the northern region, which were obtained from patients presenting with disease reactivation after clinical cure of their primary lesions. Our results indicated that the severity of leishmaniasis in some areas of RJ, where Leishmania (V.) brazi-liensis is the primary etiological agent, was not associated with Leishmania LRV1 infection.}, } @article {pmid23903045, year = {2013}, author = {Bogino, PC and Oliva, Mde L and Sorroche, FG and Giordano, W}, title = {The role of bacterial biofilms and surface components in plant-bacterial associations.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {15838-15859}, pmid = {23903045}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Adhesion ; *Biofilms ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The role of bacterial surface components in combination with bacterial functional signals in the process of biofilm formation has been increasingly studied in recent years. Plants support a diverse array of bacteria on or in their roots, transport vessels, stems, and leaves. These plant-associated bacteria have important effects on plant health and productivity. Biofilm formation on plants is associated with symbiotic and pathogenic responses, but how plants regulate such associations is unclear. Certain bacteria in biofilm matrices have been found to induce plant growth and to protect plants from phytopathogens (a process termed biocontrol), whereas others are involved in pathogenesis. In this review, we systematically describe the various components and mechanisms involved in bacterial biofilm formation and attachment to plant surfaces and the relationships of these mechanisms to bacterial activity and survival.}, } @article {pmid23902518, year = {2013}, author = {Shah, F and Rineau, F and Canbäck, B and Johansson, T and Tunlid, A}, title = {The molecular components of the extracellular protein-degradation pathways of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {200}, number = {3}, pages = {875-887}, pmid = {23902518}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Endopeptidases/metabolism ; Exopeptidases/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Polymers ; Proteins/*metabolism ; Proteolysis ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Proteins contribute to a major part of the organic nitrogen (N) in forest soils. This N is mobilized and becomes available to trees as a result of the depolymerizing activities of symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi. The mechanisms by which these fungi depolymerize proteins and assimilate the released N are poorly characterized. Biochemical analysis and transcriptome profiling were performed to examine the proteolytic machinery and the uptake system of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Paxillus involutus during the assimilation of organic N from various protein sources and extracts of organic matter. All substrates induced secretion of peptidase activity with an acidic pH optimum, mostly contributed by aspartic peptidases. The peptidase activity was transiently repressed by ammonium. Transcriptional analysis revealed a large number of extracellular endo- and exopeptidases. The expression levels of these peptidases were regulated in parallel with transporters and enzymes involved in the assimilation and metabolism of the released peptides and amino acids. For the first time the molecular components of the protein degradation pathways of an ectomycorrhizal fungus are described. The data suggest that the transcripts encoding these components are regulated in response to the chemical properties and the availability of the protein substrates.}, } @article {pmid23902262, year = {2013}, author = {Carlier, AL and Omasits, U and Ahrens, CH and Eberl, L}, title = {Proteomics analysis of Psychotria leaf nodule symbiosis: improved genome annotation and metabolic predictions.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {11}, pages = {1325-1333}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-13-0152-R}, pmid = {23902262}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Cyclitols/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Proteomics ; Pseudogenes ; Psychotria/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several plant species of the genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) harbor Burkholderia sp. bacteria within specialized leaf nodules. The bacteria are transmitted vertically between plant generations and have not yet been cultured outside of their host. This symbiosis is considered to be obligatory because plants devoid of symbionts fail to develop into mature individuals. The genome of 'Candidatus Burkholderia kirkii' has been sequenced recently and has revealed evidence of reductive genome evolution, as shown by the proliferation of insertion sequences and the presence of numerous pseudogenes. We employed shotgun proteomics to investigate the expression of 'Ca. B. kirkii' proteins in the leaf nodule. Drawing from this dataset and refined comparative genomics analyses, we designed a new pseudogene prediction algorithm and improved the genome annotation. We also found conclusive evidence that nodule bacteria allocate vast resources to synthesis of secondary metabolites, possibly of the C7N aminocyclitol family. Expression of a putative 2-epi-5-valiolone synthase, a key enzyme of the C7N aminocyclitol synthesis, is high in the nodule population but downregulated in bacteria residing in the shoot apex, suggesting that production of secondary metabolites is particularly important in the leaf nodule.}, } @article {pmid23900801, year = {2013}, author = {König, H and Li, L and Fröhlich, J}, title = {The cellulolytic system of the termite gut.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {97}, number = {18}, pages = {7943-7962}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-013-5119-z}, pmid = {23900801}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Isoptera/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The demand for the usage of natural renewable polymeric material is increasing in order to satisfy the future needs for energy and chemical precursors. Important steps in the hydrolysis of polymeric material and bioconversion can be performed by microorganisms. Over about 150 million years, termites have optimized their intestinal polysaccharide-degrading symbiosis. In the ecosystem of the "termite gut," polysaccharides are degraded from lignocellulose, such as cellulose and hemicelluloses, in 1 day, while lignin is only weakly attacked. The understanding of the principles of cellulose degradation in this natural polymer-degrading ecosystem could be helpful for the improvement of the biotechnological hydrolysis and conversion of cellulose, e.g., in the case of biogas production from natural renewable plant material in biogas plants. This review focuses on the present knowledge of the cellulose degradation in the termite gut.}, } @article {pmid23899369, year = {2013}, author = {Andersen, SB and Hansen, LH and Sapountzis, P and Sørensen, SJ and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Specificity and stability of the Acromyrmex-Pseudonocardia symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {16}, pages = {4307-4321}, pmid = {23899369}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; Ants/genetics/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Panama ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The stability of mutualistic interactions is likely to be affected by the genetic diversity of symbionts that compete for the same functional niche. Fungus-growing (attine) ants have multiple complex symbioses and thus provide ample opportunities to address questions of symbiont specificity and diversity. Among the partners are Actinobacteria of the genus Pseudonocardia that are maintained on the ant cuticle to produce antibiotics, primarily against a fungal parasite of the mutualistic gardens. The symbiosis has been assumed to be a hallmark of evolutionary stability, but this notion has been challenged by culturing and sequencing data indicating an unpredictably high diversity. We used 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA to estimate the diversity of the cuticular bacterial community of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior and other fungus-growing ants from Gamboa, Panama. Both field and laboratory samples of the same colonies were collected, the latter after colonies had been kept under laboratory conditions for up to 10 years. We show that bacterial communities are highly colony-specific and stable over time. The majority of colonies (25/26) had a single dominant Pseudonocardia strain, and only two strains were found in the Gamboa population across 17 years, confirming an earlier study. The microbial community on newly hatched ants consisted almost exclusively of a single strain of Pseudonocardia while other Actinobacteria were identified on older, foraging ants in varying but usually much lower abundances. These findings are consistent with recent theory predicting that mixtures of antibiotic-producing bacteria can remain mutualistic when dominated by a single vertically transmitted and resource-demanding strain.}, } @article {pmid23898997, year = {2013}, author = {Guerrouj, K and Pérez-Valera, E and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and Missbah El Idrissi, M}, title = {Ensifer meliloti is the preferred symbiont of Medicago arborea in eastern Morocco soils.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {8}, pages = {540-548}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2013-0268}, pmid = {23898997}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Morocco ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polyphasic characterization of 61 bacteria isolated from root nodules of Medicago arborea (Medic tree) plants growing in 4 arid soils of the arid eastern area of Morocco was studied. All the isolates characterized were fast growers. The phenotypic, symbiotic, and cultural characteristics analyzed allowed the description of a broad physiological diversity among the isolates. The results obtained suggest that the phenotype of these rhizobia might have evolved to adapt to the local conditions. The genetic characterization consisted of an analysis of the rep-PCR (repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction) fingerprints and a PCR-based RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of the 16S rDNA patterns. The diversity of the isolates was investigated by rep-PCR, giving a similarity of 62%, delineated into 3 clusters, 4 groups, and 6 subclusters. This wide diversity was also observed by a phenotypic approach, where the carbohydrate assimilation test was the most discriminating. The results show a relationship between rep-PCR fingerprinting and sugar assimilation, which are complementary in diversity investigation. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence from representative strains of each soil showed they are closely related to members of the genus Ensifer of the family Rhizobiaceae within the Alphaproteobacteria and shows the highest similitude values (99.93%/100%) with Ensifer meliloti LMG 6133(T) (X67222). Sequencing of the symbiotic nodC gene from 7 representative strains revealed they had 94.89% identity with the nodC sequence of the type strain E. meliloti LMG 6133(T) (EF428922). Therefore, the 61 M. arborea isolates from the 4 different soils have the same phylogenetic affiliation, which proves the restricted host specificity among M. arborea species.}, } @article {pmid23898917, year = {2013}, author = {Tatsukami, Y and Nambu, M and Morisaka, H and Kuroda, K and Ueda, M}, title = {Disclosure of the differences of Mesorhizobium loti under the free-living and symbiotic conditions by comparative proteome analysis without bacteroid isolation.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {180}, pmid = {23898917}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/*microbiology/physiology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mesorhizobium/*chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Proteome/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobia are symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria that show a symbiotic relationship with their host legume. Rhizobia have 2 different physiological conditions: a free-living condition in soil, and a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing condition in the nodule. The lifestyle of rhizobia remains largely unknown, although genome and transcriptome analyses have been carried out. To clarify the lifestyle of bacteria, proteome analysis is necessary because the protein profile directly reflects in vivo reactions of the organisms. In proteome analysis, high separation performance is required to analyze complex biological samples. Therefore, we used a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system, equipped with a long monolithic silica capillary column, which is superior to conventional columns. In this study, we compared the protein profile of Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 under free-living condition to that of symbiotic conditions by using small amounts of crude extracts.

RESULT: We identified 1,533 and 847 proteins for M. loti under free-living and symbiotic conditions, respectively. Pathway analysis by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that many of the enzymes involved in the central carbon metabolic pathway were commonly detected under both conditions. The proteins encoded in the symbiosis island, the transmissible chromosomal region that includes the genes that are highly upregulated under the symbiotic condition, were uniquely detected under the symbiotic condition. The features of the symbiotic condition that have been reported by transcriptome analysis were confirmed at the protein level by proteome analysis. In addition, the genes of the proteins involved in cell surface structure were repressed under the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing condition. Furthermore, farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) was found to be biosynthesized only in rhizobia under the symbiotic condition.

CONCLUSION: The obtained protein profile appeared to reflect the difference in phenotypes under the free-living and symbiotic conditions. In addition, KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the cell surface structure of rhizobia was largely different under each condition, and surprisingly, rhizobia might provided FPP to the host as a source of secondary metabolism. M. loti changed its metabolism and cell surface structure in accordance with the surrounding conditions.}, } @article {pmid23898207, year = {2013}, author = {Stallforth, P and Brock, DA and Cantley, AM and Tian, X and Queller, DC and Strassmann, JE and Clardy, J}, title = {A bacterial symbiont is converted from an inedible producer of beneficial molecules into food by a single mutation in the gacA gene.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {36}, pages = {14528-14533}, pmid = {23898207}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Benzopyrans/chemistry/metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Codon, Nonsense ; Dictyostelium/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Genes, Regulator/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; *Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Pyrrolnitrin/chemistry/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Spores, Protozoan/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Stable multipartite mutualistic associations require that all partners benefit. We show that a single mutational step is sufficient to turn a symbiotic bacterium from an inedible but host-beneficial secondary metabolite producer into a host food source. The bacteria's host is a "farmer" clone of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum that carries and disperses bacteria during its spore stage. Associated with the farmer are two strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, only one of which serves as a food source. The other strain produces diffusible small molecules: pyrrolnitrin, a known antifungal agent, and a chromene that potently enhances the farmer's spore production and depresses a nonfarmer's spore production. Genome sequence and phylogenetic analyses identify a derived point mutation in the food strain that generates a premature stop codon in a global activator (gacA), encoding the response regulator of a two-component regulatory system. Generation of a knockout mutant of this regulatory gene in the nonfood bacterial strain altered its secondary metabolite profile to match that of the food strain, and also, independently, converted it into a food source. These results suggest that a single mutation in an inedible ancestral strain that served a protective role converted it to a "domesticated" food source.}, } @article {pmid23896976, year = {2013}, author = {Latif, S and Khan, S and Naveed, M and Mustafa, G and Bashir, T and Mumtaz, AS}, title = {The diversity of Rhizobia, Sinorhizobia and novel non-Rhizobial Paenibacillus nodulating wild herbaceous legumes.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {195}, number = {9}, pages = {647-653}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-013-0914-6}, pmid = {23896976}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Paenibacillus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The objective of the present study was to isolate and characterize nodulating bacteria associated with wild legumes. For this purpose, we recovered twenty isolates from root nodules of five wild legume species: Melilotus alles, Melilotus officinalis, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and Medicago sp. Most of the isolates were morphologically analogous with only few exceptions in colony shape, appearance and incubation time. All isolates were Gram negative except T.P2-4. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA showed genetic variation among isolates. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed these isolates as Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium and Paenibacillus. Each of these was also screened for nod D and nod F genes with marked variation at these loci; however, the nucleotide sequence analysis confirmed the presence of nod genes. The assignment of strains to their hosts revealed a unique symbiotic association of Paenibacillus sp. nodulating T .pratense which is being reported here for the first time.}, } @article {pmid23896605, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, ZL and Li, YJ and Hou, HY and Zhu, XC and Rai, V and He, XY and Tian, CJ}, title = {Differences in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-improved rice resistance to low temperature at two N levels: aspects of N and C metabolism on the plant side.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {71}, number = {}, pages = {87-95}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.07.002}, pmid = {23896605}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {We performed an experiment to determine how N and C metabolism is involved in the low-temperature tolerance of mycorrhizal rice (Oryza sativa) at different N levels and examined the possible signaling molecules involved in the stress response of mycorrhizal rice. Pot cultures were performed, and mycorrhizal rice growth was evaluated based on treatments at two temperatures (15 °C and 25 °C) and two N levels (20 mg pot(-1) and 50 mg pot(-1)). The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization of rice resulted in different responses of the plants to low and high N levels. The mycorrhizal rice with the low N supplementation had more positive feedback from the symbiotic AMF, as indicated by accelerated N and C metabolism of rice possibly involving jasmonic acid (JA) and the up-regulation of enzyme activities for N and C metabolism. Furthermore, the response of the mycorrhizal rice plants to low temperature was associated with P uptake and nitric oxide (NO).}, } @article {pmid23896568, year = {2013}, author = {Sotgia, F and Martinez-Outschoorn, UE and Lisanti, MP}, title = {Cancer metabolism: new validated targets for drug discovery.}, journal = {Oncotarget}, volume = {4}, number = {8}, pages = {1309-1316}, pmid = {23896568}, issn = {1949-2553}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Drug Discovery ; Fibroblasts/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Recent studies in cancer metabolism directly implicate catabolic fibroblasts as a new rich source of i) energy and ii) biomass, for the growth and survival of anabolic cancer cells. Conversely, anabolic cancer cells upregulate oxidative mitochondrial metabolism, to take advantage of the abundant fibroblast fuel supply. This simple model of "metabolic-symbiosis" has now been independently validated in several different types of human cancers, including breast, ovarian, and prostate tumors. Biomarkers of metabolic-symbiosis are excellent predictors of tumor recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, as well as poor patient survival. New pre-clinical models of metabolic-symbiosis have been generated and they genetically validate that catabolic fibroblasts promote tumor growth and metastasis. Over 30 different stable lines of catabolic fibroblasts and >10 different lines of anabolic cancer cells have been created and are well-characterized. For example, catabolic fibroblasts harboring ATG16L1 increase tumor cell metastasis by >11.5-fold, despite the fact that genetically identical cancer cells were used. Taken together, these studies provide >40 novel validated targets, for new drug discovery and anti-cancer therapy. Since anabolic cancer cells amplify their capacity for oxidative mitochondrial metabolism, we should consider therapeutically targeting mitochondrial biogenesis and OXPHOS in epithelial cancer cells. As metabolic-symbiosis promotes drug-resistance and may represent the escape mechanism during anti-angiogenic therapy, new drugs targeting metabolic-symbiosis may also be effective in cancer patients with recurrent and advanced metastatic disease.}, } @article {pmid23895430, year = {2013}, author = {Castellazzi, AM and Valsecchi, C and Caimmi, S and Licari, A and Marseglia, A and Leoni, MC and Caimmi, D and Miraglia del Giudice, M and Leonardi, S and La Rosa, M and Marseglia, GL}, title = {Probiotics and food allergy.}, journal = {Italian journal of pediatrics}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {47}, pmid = {23895430}, issn = {1824-7288}, mesh = {Biomarkers/blood ; Child ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Food Hypersensitivity/*diet therapy/*immunology/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Immunologic Factors/blood ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {The exact prevalence of food allergy in the general population is unknown, but almost 12% of pediatric population refers a suspicion of food allergy. IgE mediated reactions to food are actually the best-characterized types of allergy, and they might be particularly harmful especially in children. According to the "hygiene hypothesis" low or no exposure to exogenous antigens in early life may increase the risk of allergic diseases by both delaying the development of the immune tolerance and limiting the Th2/Th1 switch. The critical role of intestinal microbiota in the development of immune tolerance improved recently the interest on probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acid, folate and vitamins, which seem to have positive effects on the immune functions.Probiotics consist in bacteria or yeast, able to re-colonize and restore microflora symbiosis in intestinal tract. One of the most important characteristics of probiotics is their safety for human health. Thanks to their ability to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells and to modulate and stabilize the composition of gut microflora, probiotics bacteria may play an important role in the regulation of intestinal and systemic immunity. They actually seem capable of restoring the intestinal microbic equilibrium and modulating the activation of immune cells.Several studies have been recently conducted on the role of probiotics in preventing and/or treating allergic disorders, but the results are often quite contradictory, probably because of the heterogeneity of strains, the duration of therapy and the doses administered to patients. Therefore, new studies are needed in order to clarify the functions and the utility of probiotics in food allergies and ion other types of allergic disorders.}, } @article {pmid23894287, year = {2013}, author = {Baquiran, JP and Thater, B and Sedky, S and De Ley, P and Crowley, D and Orwin, PM}, title = {Culture-independent investigation of the microbiome associated with the nematode Acrobeloides maximus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e67425}, pmid = {23894287}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Coculture Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Nematoda/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Soil ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbioses between metazoans and microbes are widespread and vital to many ecosystems. Recent work with several nematode species has suggested that strong associations with microbial symbionts may also be common among members of this phylu. In this work we explore possible symbiosis between bacteria and the free living soil bacteriovorous nematode Acrobeloides maximus.

METHODOLOGY: We used a soil microcosm approach to expose A. maximus populations grown monoxenically on RFP labeled Escherichia coli in a soil slurry. Worms were recovered by density gradient separation and examined using both culture-independent and isolation methods. A 16S rRNA gene survey of the worm-associated bacteria was compared to the soil and to a similar analysis using Caenorhabditis elegans N2. Recovered A. maximus populations were maintained on cholesterol agar and sampled to examine the population dynamics of the microbiome.

RESULTS: A consistent core microbiome was extracted from A. maximus that differed from those in the bulk soil or the C. elegans associated set. Three genera, Ochrobactrum, Pedobacter, and Chitinophaga, were identified at high levels only in the A. maximus populations, which were less diverse than the assemblage associated with C. elegans. Putative symbiont populations were maintained for at least 4 months post inoculation, although the levels decreased as the culture aged. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes specific for Ochrobactrum and Pedobacter stained bacterial cells in formaldehyde fixed nematode guts.

CONCLUSIONS: Three microorganisms were repeatedly observed in association with Acrobeloides maximus when recovered from soil microcosms. We isolated several Ochrobactrum sp. and Pedobacter sp., and demonstrated that they inhabit the nematode gut by FISH. Although their role in A. maximus is not resolved, we propose possible mutualistic roles for these bacteria in protection of the host against pathogens and facilitating enzymatic digestion of other ingested bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23893528, year = {2013}, author = {Fang, JK and Mello-Athayde, MA and Schönberg, CH and Kline, DI and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, S}, title = {Sponge biomass and bioerosion rates increase under ocean warming and acidification.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {3581-3591}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12334}, pmid = {23893528}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; *Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Population Dynamics ; Porifera/*physiology ; Seawater/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The combination of ocean warming and acidification as a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered to be a significant threat to calcifying organisms and their activities on coral reefs. How these global changes impact the important roles of decalcifying organisms (bioeroders) in the regulation of carbonate budgets, however, is less understood. To address this important question, the effects of a range of past, present and future CO2 emission scenarios (temperature + acidification) on the excavating sponge Cliona orientalis Thiele, 1900 were explored over 12 weeks in early summer on the southern Great Barrier Reef. C. orientalis is a widely distributed bioeroder on many reefs, and hosts symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. Our results showed that biomass production and bioerosion rates of C. orientalis were similar under a pre-industrial scenario and a present day (control) scenario. Symbiodinium population density in the sponge tissue was the highest under the pre-industrial scenario, and decreased towards the two future scenarios with sponge replicates under the 'business-as-usual' CO2 emission scenario exhibiting strong bleaching. Despite these changes, biomass production and the ability of the sponge to erode coral carbonate materials both increased under the future scenarios. Our study suggests that C. orientalis will likely grow faster and have higher bioerosion rates in a high CO2 future than at present, even with significant bleaching. Assuming that our findings hold for excavating sponges in general, increased sponge biomass coupled with accelerated bioerosion may push coral reefs towards net erosion and negative carbonate budgets in the future.}, } @article {pmid23893078, year = {2013}, author = {Cartwright, GM and Scott, B}, title = {Redox regulation of an AP-1-like transcription factor, YapA, in the fungal symbiont Epichloe festucae.}, journal = {Eukaryotic cell}, volume = {12}, number = {10}, pages = {1335-1348}, pmid = {23893078}, issn = {1535-9786}, support = {P20 RR016481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 2 P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Catalase/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Diamide/pharmacology ; Epichloe/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidants/pharmacology ; *Oxidation-Reduction ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Spores, Fungal/drug effects/metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1/chemistry/*metabolism ; Vitamin K 3/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {One of the central regulators of oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is Yap1, a bZIP transcription factor of the AP-1 family. In unstressed cells, Yap1 is reduced and cytoplasmic, but in response to oxidative stress, it becomes oxidized and accumulates in the nucleus. To date, there have been no reports on the role of AP-1-like transcription factors in symbiotic fungi. An ortholog of Yap1, named YapA, was identified in the genome of the grass symbiont Epichloë festucae and shown to complement an S. cerevisiae Δyap1 mutant. Hyphae of the E. festucae ΔyapA strain were sensitive to menadione and diamide but resistant to H2O2, KO2, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH). In contrast, conidia of the ΔyapA strain were very sensitive to H2O2 and failed to germinate. Using a PcatA-eGFP degron-tagged reporter, YapA was shown to be required for expression of a spore-specific catalase gene, catA. Although YapA-EGFP localized to the nucleus in response to host reactive oxygen species during seedling infection, there was no difference in whole-plant and cellular phenotypes of plants infected with the ΔyapA strain compared to the wild-type strain. Homologs of the S. cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe redox-sensing proteins (Gpx3 and Tpx1, respectively) did not act as redox sensors for YapA in E. festucae. In response to oxidative stress, YapA-EGFP localized to the nuclei of E. festucae ΔgpxC, ΔtpxA, and ΔgpxC ΔtpxA cells to the same degree as that in wild-type cells. These results show that E. festucae has a robust system for countering oxidative stress in culture and in planta but that Gpx3- or Tpx1-like thiol peroxidases are dispensable for activation of YapA.}, } @article {pmid23892755, year = {2013}, author = {Russell, CW and Bouvaine, S and Newell, PD and Douglas, AE}, title = {Shared metabolic pathways in a coevolved insect-bacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {19}, pages = {6117-6123}, pmid = {23892755}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Buchnera/metabolism/*physiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic bacterium Buchnera aphidicola lacks key genes in the biosynthesis of five essential amino acids (EAAs), and yet its animal hosts (aphids) depend on the symbiosis for the synthesis of these EAAs (isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, and valine). We tested the hypothesis, derived from genome annotation, that the missing Buchnera reactions are mediated by host enzymes, with the exchange of metabolic intermediates between the partners. The specialized host cells bearing Buchnera were separated into a Buchnera fraction and a Buchnera-free host cell fraction (HF). Addition of HF to isolated Buchnera preparations significantly increased the production of leucine and phenylalanine, and recombinant enzymes mediating the final reactions in branched-chain amino acid and phenylalanine synthesis rescued the production of these EAAs by Buchnera preparations without HF. The likely precursors for the missing proximal reactions in isoleucine and methionine synthesis were identified, and they differed from predictions based on genome annotations: synthesis of 2-oxobutanoate, the aphid-derived precursor of isoleucine synthesis, was stimulated by homoserine and not threonine via threonine dehydratase, and production of the homocysteine precursor of methionine was driven by cystathionine, not cysteine, via reversal of the transsulfuration pathway. The evolution of shared metabolic pathways in this symbiosis can be attributed to host compensation for genomic deterioration in the symbiont, involving changes in host gene expression networks to recruit specific enzymes to the host cell.}, } @article {pmid23890184, year = {2013}, author = {Sadarangani, V and Datta, S and Arunachalam, M}, title = {New players in the same old game: a system level in silico study to predict type III secretion system and effector proteins in bacterial genomes reveals common themes in T3SS mediated pathogenesis.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {297}, pmid = {23890184}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; *Computer Simulation ; Databases, Protein ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Type III secretion system (T3SS) plays an important role in virulence or symbiosis of many pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria [CHM 2:291-294, 2007; Physiology (Bethesda) 20:326-339, 2005]. T3SS acts like a tunnel between a bacterium and its host through which the bacterium injects 'effector' proteins into the latter [Nature 444:567-573, 2006; COSB 18:258-266, 2008]. The effectors spatially and temporally modify the host signalling pathways [FEMS Microbiol Rev 35:1100-1125, 2011; Cell Host Microbe5:571-579, 2009]. In spite its crucial role in host-pathogen interaction, the study of T3SS and the associated effectors has been limited to a few bacteria [Cell Microbiol 13:1858-1869, 2011; Nat Rev Microbiol 6:11-16, 2008; Mol Microbiol 80:1420-1438, 2011]. Before one set out to perform systematic experimental studies on an unknown set of bacteria it would be beneficial to identify the potential candidates by developing an in silico screening algorithm. A system level study would also be advantageous over traditional laboratory methods to extract an overriding theme for host-pathogen interaction, if any, from the vast resources of data generated by sequencing multiple bacterial genomes.

RESULTS: We have developed an in silico protocol in which the most conserved set of T3SS proteins was used as the query against the entire bacterial database with increasingly stringent search parameters. It enabled us to identify several uncharacterized T3SS positive bacteria. We adopted a similar strategy to predict the presence of the already known effectors in the newly identified T3SS positive bacteria. The huge resources of biochemical data [FEMS Microbiol Rev 35:1100-1125, 2011; Cell Host Microbe 5:571-579, 2009; BMC Bioinformatics 7(11):S4, 2010] on the T3SS effectors enabled us to search for the common theme in T3SS mediated pathogenesis. We identified few cellular signalling networks in the host, which are manipulated by most of the T3SS containing pathogens. We went on to look for correlation, if any, between the biological quirks of a particular class of bacteria with the effectors they harbour. We could pin point few effectors, which were enriched in certain classes of bacteria.

CONCLUSION: The current study would open up new avenues to explore many uncharacterized T3SS positive bacteria. The experimental validation of the predictions from this study will unravel a generalized mechanism for T3SS positive bacterial infection into host cell.}, } @article {pmid23890004, year = {2013}, author = {Fewer, DP and Wahlsten, M and Österholm, J and Jokela, J and Rouhiainen, L and Kaasalainen, U and Rikkinen, J and Sivonen, K}, title = {The genetic basis for O-acetylation of the microcystin toxin in cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Chemistry & biology}, volume = {20}, number = {7}, pages = {861-869}, doi = {10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.04.020}, pmid = {23890004}, issn = {1879-1301}, mesh = {Acetylation ; Acetyltransferases/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Coenzyme A/metabolism ; Microcystins/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Nostoc/*genetics/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Microcystins are a family of cyclic peptide toxins produced by cyanobacteria. They are responsible for the toxicosis and death of wild and domestic animals throughout the world. They display extensive variation in amino acid composition and functional group chemistry. O-acetylated microcystins are frequently produced by free-living and symbiotic strains of the genus Nostoc. Here, we show that the production of acetylated microcystins is catalyzed by an acetyl-coenzyme A-dependent O-acetyltransferase (McyL) encoded in the 57 kb microcystin synthetase gene cluster of Nostoc sp. 152. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that McyL belongs to a family of enzymes that inactivate antibiotics through O-acetylation. The McyL enzyme has a relaxed substrate specificity, allowing the preparation of semisynthetic microcystins. This study sheds light on the evolutionary origins and genetic diversity of an important class of enzymes involved in antibiotic resistance.}, } @article {pmid23889801, year = {2013}, author = {Dunlap, WC and Starcevic, A and Baranasic, D and Diminic, J and Zucko, J and Gacesa, R and van Oppen, MJ and Hranueli, D and Cullum, J and Long, PF}, title = {KEGG orthology-based annotation of the predicted proteome of Acropora digitifera: ZoophyteBase - an open access and searchable database of a coral genome.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {509}, pmid = {23889801}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {BB/H010009/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Access to Information ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Coral Reefs ; *Data Mining ; *Databases, Genetic ; Internet ; Molecular Sequence Annotation/*methods ; Proteomics/*methods ; *Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Contemporary coral reef research has firmly established that a genomic approach is urgently needed to better understand the effects of anthropogenic environmental stress and global climate change on coral holobiont interactions. Here we present KEGG orthology-based annotation of the complete genome sequence of the scleractinian coral Acropora digitifera and provide the first comprehensive view of the genome of a reef-building coral by applying advanced bioinformatics.

DESCRIPTION: Sequences from the KEGG database of protein function were used to construct hidden Markov models. These models were used to search the predicted proteome of A. digitifera to establish complete genomic annotation. The annotated dataset is published in ZoophyteBase, an open access format with different options for searching the data. A particularly useful feature is the ability to use a Google-like search engine that links query words to protein attributes. We present features of the annotation that underpin the molecular structure of key processes of coral physiology that include (1) regulatory proteins of symbiosis, (2) planula and early developmental proteins, (3) neural messengers, receptors and sensory proteins, (4) calcification and Ca2+-signalling proteins, (5) plant-derived proteins, (6) proteins of nitrogen metabolism, (7) DNA repair proteins, (8) stress response proteins, (9) antioxidant and redox-protective proteins, (10) proteins of cellular apoptosis, (11) microbial symbioses and pathogenicity proteins, (12) proteins of viral pathogenicity, (13) toxins and venom, (14) proteins of the chemical defensome and (15) coral epigenetics.

CONCLUSIONS: We advocate that providing annotation in an open-access searchable database available to the public domain will give an unprecedented foundation to interrogate the fundamental molecular structure and interactions of coral symbiosis and allow critical questions to be addressed at the genomic level based on combined aspects of evolutionary, developmental, metabolic, and environmental perspectives.}, } @article {pmid23889706, year = {2014}, author = {Hubbard, M and Germida, JJ and Vujanovic, V}, title = {Fungal endophytes enhance wheat heat and drought tolerance in terms of grain yield and second-generation seed viability.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {116}, number = {1}, pages = {109-122}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12311}, pmid = {23889706}, issn = {1365-2672}, abstract = {AIMS: We evaluated the impact of fungal endophyte symbiosis on the growth, ecophysiological and reproductive success of wheat exposed to heat and drought.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The resistance of pot-grown wheat to heat or drought stress was measured by quantifying efficiency of photosystem II (Fv /Fm), plant height, average seed weight (ASW), total seed weight (TSW), water-use efficiency (WUE) as well as time to 50% germination and percentage germination of second-generation seeds produced under heat stress, drought stress or well-watered conditions. The endophytic fungi tested increased wheat tolerance for drought and heat. Endophyte SMCD 2206 was the most beneficial, followed by SMCD 2210 and 2215. Surprisingly, second-generation seeds produced by drought-stressed wheat colonized by SMCD 2206, 2210 or 2215 had decreased WUE relative to those produced by endophyte-free, drought-stressed plants. However, these seeds germinated more rapidly than those produced by endophyte-free, stressed parental plants.

CONCLUSIONS: The tested consortium of endophytes has the potential to improve wheat adaptation to heat and drought.

The capacity of endophytes to increase wheat tolerance for abiotic stress and to improved germination in endophyte-free second-generation seeds arising from stressed plants could be applicable to agriculture. The mechanisms by which intergenerational endophyte-mediated affects occurs warrant further research.}, } @article {pmid23885259, year = {2013}, author = {Lamers, LP and Govers, LL and Janssen, IC and Geurts, JJ and Van der Welle, ME and Van Katwijk, MM and Van der Heide, T and Roelofs, JG and Smolders, AJ}, title = {Sulfide as a soil phytotoxin-a review.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {268}, pmid = {23885259}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In wetland soils and underwater sediments of marine, brackish and freshwater systems, the strong phytotoxin sulfide may accumulate as a result of microbial reduction of sulfate during anaerobiosis, its level depending on prevailing edaphic conditions. In this review, we compare an extensive body of literature on phytotoxic effects of this reduced sulfur compound in different ecosystem types, and review the effects of sulfide at multiple ecosystem levels: the ecophysiological functioning of individual plants, plant-microbe associations, and community effects including competition and facilitation interactions. Recent publications on multi-species interactions in the rhizosphere show even more complex mechanisms explaining sulfide resistance. It is concluded that sulfide is a potent phytotoxin, profoundly affecting plant fitness and ecosystem functioning in the full range of wetland types including coastal systems, and at several levels. Traditional toxicity testing including hydroponic approaches generally neglect rhizospheric effects, which makes it difficult to extrapolate results to real ecosystem processes. To explain the differential effects of sulfide at the different organizational levels, profound knowledge about the biogeochemical, plant physiological and ecological rhizosphere processes is vital. This information is even more important, as anthropogenic inputs of sulfur into freshwater ecosystems and organic loads into freshwater and marine systems are still much higher than natural levels, and are steeply increasing in Asia. In addition, higher temperatures as a result of global climate change may lead to higher sulfide production rates in shallow waters.}, } @article {pmid23883684, year = {2013}, author = {Lu, D and Tang, G and Wang, D and Luo, L}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti LysR family transcriptional factor LsrB is involved in regulation of glutathione biosynthesis.}, journal = {Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica}, volume = {45}, number = {10}, pages = {882-888}, doi = {10.1093/abbs/gmt083}, pmid = {23883684}, issn = {1745-7270}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase/*genetics ; Glutathione/*biosynthesis ; Glutathione Synthase/*genetics ; Medicago sativa/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Glutathione, a key antioxidant in Sinorhizobium meliloti, is required for the development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) nitrogen-fixing nodules. This tripeptide can be synthesized by both γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (GshA) and glutathione synthetase (GshB) in Escherichia coli and S. meliloti. Genetic evidence has indicated that the null mutant of S. meliloti gshA or gshB1 does not establish efficient symbiosis on alfalfa. However, the transcriptional regulation of gshA and gshB has not been well understood. Here, S. meliloti LsrB, a member of LysR family transcriptional factors, was found to positively regulate glutathione biosynthesis by activating the transcription of gshA and gshB1 under both free-living and symbiotic conditions. The decrease in glutathione production in the lsrB in-frame deletion mutant (lsrB1-2) was determined by using quadrupole time-of-flight liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The expression of gshA and gshB1 was correspondingly reduced in the mutant under free-living and symbiotic conditions by analyses of real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and promoter-GUS fusions. Interestingly, LsrB positively regulated the transcription of oxyR, which encodes another member of LysR family regulators and responds to oxidative stresses in S. meliloti. The oxyR null mutant produced less glutathione, in which the transcription of gshA was consistently down-regulated. These findings demonstrate that glutathione biosynthesis is positively regulated by both LsrB and OxyR in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid23882940, year = {2013}, author = {Provorov, NA and Zhukov, VA and Kurchak, ON and Onishchuk, OP and Andronov, EE and Borisov, AIu and Chizhevskaia, EP and Naumkina, TS and Ovtsyna, AO and Vorob'ev, NI and Simarov, BV and Tikhonovich, IA}, title = {[Comigration of root nodule bacteria and bean plants to new habitats: coevolution mechanisms and practical importance (review)].}, journal = {Prikladnaia biokhimiia i mikrobiologiia}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {229-235}, doi = {10.7868/s0555109913030148}, pmid = {23882940}, issn = {0555-1099}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The review summarizes the results of studies on the comigration of tubercular bacteria and bean plants to new habitats, which is often accompanied by a decrease in the symbiosis efficiency due to a loss of the diversity of genes responsible for the interaction. This migration may lead to a rise in new symbionts as a result of gene transfers from initial symbionts to local bacteria. It was demonstrated that typically new symbionts lack an ability for N2 fixation but are highly competitive, blocking the inoculation of bean cultures by industrial strains. The design of coadapted systems of recognition and signal interaction of partners is a perspective approach to ensure competitive advantages of efficient rhizobia strains introduced into agrocenoses, together with host plants, over inactive local strains.}, } @article {pmid23882027, year = {2013}, author = {Kumar, D and Yadav, AK and Kadimi, PK and Nagaraj, SH and Grimmond, SM and Dash, D}, title = {Proteogenomic analysis of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 using GenoSuite, an automated multi-algorithmic pipeline.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {3388-3397}, pmid = {23882027}, issn = {1535-9484}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/*methods/statistics & numerical data ; Mass Spectrometry ; Operon ; Proteomics/*methods/statistics & numerical data ; *Software ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {We present GenoSuite, an integrated proteogenomic pipeline to validate, refine and discover protein coding genes using high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS) data from prokaryotes. To demonstrate the effectiveness of GenoSuite, we analyzed proteomics data of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (USDA110), a model organism to study agriculturally important rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Our analysis confirmed 31% of known genes, refined 49 gene models for their translation initiation site (TIS) and discovered 59 novel protein coding genes. Notably, a novel protein which redefined the boundary of a crucial cytochrome P450 system related operon was discovered, known to be highly expressed in the anaerobic symbiotic bacteroids. A focused analysis on N-terminally acetylated peptides indicated downstream TIS for gene blr0594. Finally, ortho-proteogenomic analysis revealed three novel genes in recently sequenced B. japonicum USDA6(T) genome. The discovery of large number of missing genes and correction of gene models have expanded the proteomic landscape of B. japonicum and presents an unparalleled utility of proteogenomic analyses and versatility of GenoSuite for annotating prokaryotic genomes including pathogens.}, } @article {pmid23881056, year = {2013}, author = {Mika, N and Zorn, H and Rühl, M}, title = {Insect-derived enzymes: a treasure for industrial biotechnology and food biotechnology.}, journal = {Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {1-17}, doi = {10.1007/10_2013_204}, pmid = {23881056}, issn = {0724-6145}, mesh = {Animals ; Biotechnology/*methods ; *Enzyme Therapy ; Enzymes/*chemistry ; Food Technology/*methods ; Industry/*methods ; Insecta/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on earth, colonizing almost every ecological niche of the planet. To survive in various and sometimes extreme habitats, insects have established diverse biological and chemical systems. Core components of these systems are enzymes that enable the insects to feed on diverse nutrient sources. The enzymes are produced by either the insects themselves (homologous) or by symbiotic organisms located in the insects' bodies or in their nests (heterologous). The use of these insect-associated enzymes for applications in the fields of food biotechnology and industrial (white) biotechnology is gaining more and more interest. Prominent examples of insect-derived enzymes include peptidases, amylases, lipases, and β-D-glucosidases. Highly potent peptidases for the degradation of gluten, a storage protein that can cause intestinal disorders, may be received from grain pests. Several insects, such as bark and ambrosia beetles and termites, are able to feed on wood. In the field of white biotechnology, their cellulolytic enzyme systems of mainly endo-1,4-β-D-glucanases and β-D-glucosidases can be employed for saccharification of the most prominent polymer on earth-cellulose.}, } @article {pmid23880111, year = {2013}, author = {Scheler, C and Durner, J and Astier, J}, title = {Nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in plant biotic interactions.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {534-539}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2013.06.020}, pmid = {23880111}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Disease Resistance ; *Herbivory ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/immunology/*microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important signaling molecules in plants. Recent progress has been made in defining their role during plant biotic interactions. Over the last decade, their function in disease resistance has been highlighted and focused a lot of investigations. Moreover, NO and ROS have recently emerged as important players of defense responses after herbivore attacks. Besides their role in plant adaptive response development, NO and ROS have been demonstrated to be involved in symbiotic interactions between plants and microorganisms. Here we review recent data concerning these three sides of NO and ROS functions in plant biotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid23879229, year = {2013}, author = {Chaintreuil, C and Arrighi, JF and Giraud, E and Miché, L and Moulin, L and Dreyfus, B and Munive-Hernández, JA and Villegas-Hernandez, Mdel C and Béna, G}, title = {Evolution of symbiosis in the legume genus Aeschynomene.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {200}, number = {4}, pages = {1247-1259}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12424}, pmid = {23879229}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Fabaceae/*genetics/*physiology ; Introns/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes in the genus Aeschynomene form nitrogen-fixing root nodules in association with Bradyrhizobium strains. Several aquatic and subaquatic species have the additional capacity to form stem nodules, and some of them can symbiotically interact with specific strains that do not produce the common Nod factors synthesized by all other rhizobia. The question of the emergence and evolution of these nodulation characters has been the subject of recent debate. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis of 38 different Aeschynomene species. The phylogeny was reconstructed with both the chloroplast DNA trnL intron and the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS/5.8S region. We also tested 28 Aeschynomene species for their capacity to form root and stem nodules by inoculating different rhizobial strains, including nodABC-containing strains (ORS285, USDA110) and a nodABC-lacking strain (ORS278). Maximum likelihood analyses resolved four distinct phylogenetic groups of Aeschynomene. We found that stem nodulation may have evolved several times in the genus, and that all Aeschynomene species using a Nod-independent symbiotic process clustered in the same clade. The phylogenetic approach suggested that Nod-independent nodulation has evolved once in this genus, and should be considered as a derived character, and this result is discussed with regard to previous experimental studies.}, } @article {pmid23876292, year = {2013}, author = {Krug, PJ and Vendetti, JE and Rodriguez, AK and Retana, JN and Hirano, YM and Trowbridge, CD}, title = {Integrative species delimitation in photosynthetic sea slugs reveals twenty candidate species in three nominal taxa studied for drug discovery, plastid symbiosis or biological control.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {69}, number = {3}, pages = {1101-1119}, pmid = {23876292}, issn = {1095-9513}, support = {R25 GM061331/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM 61331/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Control Agents ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Chlorophyta ; Chloroplasts/*genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Drug Discovery ; Gastropoda/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Haplotypes ; Models, Genetic ; *Photosynthesis ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {DNA barcoding can highlight taxa in which conventional taxonomy underestimates species richness, identifying mitochondrial lineages that may correspond to unrecognized species. However, key assumptions of barcoding remain untested for many groups of soft-bodied marine invertebrates with poorly resolved taxonomy. Here, we applied an integrative approach for species delimitation to herbivorous sea slugs in clade Sacoglossa, in which unrecognized diversity may complicate studies of drug discovery, plastid endosymbiosis, and biological control. Using the mitochondrial barcoding COI gene and the nuclear histone 3 gene, we tested the hypothesis that three widely distributed "species" each comprised a complex of independently evolving lineages. Morphological and reproductive characters were then used to evaluate whether each lineage was distinguishable as a candidate species. The "circumtropical" Elysia ornata comprised a Caribbean species and four Indo-Pacific candidate species that are potential sources of kahalalides, anti-cancer compounds. The "monotypic" and highly photosynthetic Plakobranchus ocellatus, used for over 60 years to study chloroplast symbiosis, comprised 10 candidate species. Finally, six candidate species were distinguished in the Elysia tomentosa complex, including potential biological control agents for invasive green algae (Caulerpa spp.). We show that a candidate species approach developed for vertebrates effectively categorizes cryptic diversity in marine invertebrates, and that integrating threshold COI distances with non-molecular character data can delimit species even when common assumptions of DNA barcoding are violated.}, } @article {pmid23876276, year = {2013}, author = {Spagnoletti, FN and Fernandez di Pardo, A and Tobar Gómez, NE and Chiocchio, VM}, title = {[Arbuscular mycorrhizae and Rhizobium: a dual symbiosis of interest].}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {131-132}, doi = {10.1016/s0325-7541(13)70012-9}, pmid = {23876276}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23876075, year = {2013}, author = {del Valle, H and Healy, S}, title = {Humanitarian agencies and authoritarian states: a symbiotic relationship?.}, journal = {Disasters}, volume = {37 Suppl 2}, number = {}, pages = {S188-201}, doi = {10.1111/disa.12021}, pmid = {23876075}, issn = {1467-7717}, mesh = {*Altruism ; Authoritarianism ; Humans ; *Interinstitutional Relations ; *International Agencies ; *State Government ; Turkmenistan ; Uzbekistan ; }, abstract = {The relationship between humanitarian agencies and authoritarian states is of growing concern to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), given the recurring difficulties experienced in negotiating access and implementing operations in such contexts. The effort to negotiate and gain approval from states to operate on their territory prompts reflection on the sources of legitimacy for action. Drawing on direct field examples in two countries only very rarely examined--Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan--this paper explores MSF's attempts to offer live-saving medical care there. It shows that successful access negotiations hinged heavily on demonstrating added value (medical relevance) while simultaneously building relationships with authorities, identifying possible allies within health ministries, and hoping that such measures could promote a level of acceptance or trust needed to operate. It is clear that the operational space achieved is bound to remain limited and fragile, and that many compromises have to be considered and judged against ethical principles and the overall impact of the intervention.}, } @article {pmid23874975, year = {2013}, author = {Bai, X and Adams, BJ and Ciche, TA and Clifton, S and Gaugler, R and Kim, KS and Spieth, J and Sternberg, PW and Wilson, RK and Grewal, PS}, title = {A lover and a fighter: the genome sequence of an entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e69618}, pmid = {23874975}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Gene Library ; Genome/*genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; *Photorhabdus ; Phylogeny ; Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Rhabditoidea/*genetics/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Heterorhabditis bacteriophora are entomopathogenic nematodes that have evolved a mutualism with Photorhabdus luminescens bacteria to function as highly virulent insect pathogens. The nematode provides a safe harbor for intestinal symbionts in soil and delivers the symbiotic bacteria into the insect blood. The symbiont provides virulence and toxins, metabolites essential for nematode reproduction, and antibiotic preservation of the insect cadaver. Approximately half of the 21,250 putative protein coding genes identified in the 77 Mbp high quality draft H. bacteriophora genome sequence were novel proteins of unknown function lacking homologs in Caenorhabditis elegans or any other sequenced organisms. Similarly, 317 of the 603 predicted secreted proteins are novel with unknown function in addition to 19 putative peptidases, 9 peptidase inhibitors and 7 C-type lectins that may function in interactions with insect hosts or bacterial symbionts. The 134 proteins contained mariner transposase domains, of which there are none in C. elegans, suggesting an invasion and expansion of mariner transposons in H. bacteriophora. Fewer Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Orthologies in almost all metabolic categories were detected in the genome compared with 9 other sequenced nematode genomes, which may reflect dependence on the symbiont or insect host for these functions. The H. bacteriophora genome sequence will greatly facilitate genetics, genomics and evolutionary studies to gain fundamental knowledge of nematode parasitism and mutualism. It also elevates the utility of H. bacteriophora as a bridge species between vertebrate parasitic nematodes and the C. elegans model.}, } @article {pmid23874908, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, N and Zhang, L and Zhou, H and Zhang, M and Yan, X and Wang, Q and Long, Y and Xie, L and Wang, S and Huang, Y and Zhou, Z}, title = {Metagenomic insights into metabolic capacities of the gut microbiota in a fungus-cultivating termite (Odontotermes yunnanensis).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e69184}, pmid = {23874908}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoptera/metabolism/*physiology ; *Metagenomics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Macrotermitinae (fungus-cultivating termites) are major decomposers in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia and Africa. They have specifically evolved mutualistic associations with both a Termitomyces fungi on the nest and a gut microbiota, providing a model system for probing host-microbe interactions. Yet the symbiotic roles of gut microbes residing in its major feeding caste remain largely undefined. Here, by pyrosequencing the whole gut metagenome of adult workers of a fungus-cultivating termite (Odontotermes yunnanensis), we showed that it did harbor a broad set of genes or gene modules encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) relevant to plant fiber degradation, particularly debranching enzymes and oligosaccharide-processing enzymes. Besides, it also contained a considerable number of genes encoding chitinases and glycoprotein oligosaccharide-processing enzymes for fungal cell wall degradation. To investigate the metabolic divergence of higher termites of different feeding guilds, a SEED subsystem-based gene-centric comparative analysis of the data with that of a previously sequenced wood-feeding Nasutitermes hindgut microbiome was also attempted, revealing that SEED classifications of nitrogen metabolism, and motility and chemotaxis were significantly overrepresented in the wood-feeder hindgut metagenome, while Bacteroidales conjugative transposons and subsystems related to central aromatic compounds metabolism were apparently overrepresented here. This work fills up our gaps in understanding the functional capacities of fungus-cultivating termite gut microbiota, especially their roles in the symbiotic digestion of lignocelluloses and utilization of fungal biomass, both of which greatly add to existing understandings of this peculiar symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23874611, year = {2013}, author = {Beukes, CW and Venter, SN and Law, IJ and Phalane, FL and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {South african papilionoid legumes are nodulated by diverse burkholderia with unique nodulation and nitrogen-fixation Loci.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e68406}, pmid = {23874611}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/*genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genetic Loci ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; South Africa ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The root-nodule bacteria of legumes endemic to the Cape Floristic Region are largely understudied, even though recent reports suggest the occurrence of nodulating Burkholderia species unique to the region. In this study, we considered the diversity and evolution of nodulating Burkholderia associated with the endemic papilionoid tribes Hypocalypteae and Podalyrieae. We identified distinct groups from verified rhizobial isolates by phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and recA housekeeping gene regions. In order to gain insight into the evolution of the nodulation and diazotrophy of these rhizobia we analysed the genes encoding NifH and NodA. The majority of these 69 isolates appeared to be unique, potentially representing novel species. Evidence of horizontal gene transfer determining the symbiotic ability of these Cape Floristic Region isolates indicate evolutionary origins distinct from those of nodulating Burkholderia from elsewhere in the world. Overall, our findings suggest that Burkholderia species associated with fynbos legumes are highly diverse and their symbiotic abilities have unique ancestries. It is therefore possible that the evolution of these bacteria is closely linked to the diversification and establishment of legumes characteristic of the Cape Floristic Region.}, } @article {pmid23874344, year = {2013}, author = {Rafiqi, M and Jelonek, L and Akum, NF and Zhang, F and Kogel, KH}, title = {Effector candidates in the secretome of Piriformospora indica, a ubiquitous plant-associated fungus.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {228}, pmid = {23874344}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {One of the emerging systems in plant-microbe interaction is the study of proteins, referred to as effectors, secreted by microbes in order to modulate host cells function and structure and to promote microbial growth on plant tissue. Current knowledge on fungal effectors derives mainly from biotrophic and hemibiotrophic plant fungal pathogens that have a limited host range. Here, we focus on effectors of Piriformospora indica, a soil borne endophyte forming intimate associations with roots of a wide range of plant species. Complete genome sequencing provides an opportunity to investigate the role of effectors during the interaction of this mutualistic fungus with plants. We describe in silico analyses to predict effectors of P. indica and we explore effector features considered here to mine a high priority protein list for functional analysis.}, } @article {pmid23874333, year = {2013}, author = {Corthésy, B}, title = {Multi-faceted functions of secretory IgA at mucosal surfaces.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {185}, pmid = {23874333}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {Secretory IgA (SIgA) plays an important role in the protection and homeostatic regulation of intestinal, respiratory, and urogenital mucosal epithelia separating the outside environment from the inside of the body. This primary function of SIgA is referred to as immune exclusion, a process that limits the access of numerous microorganisms and mucosal antigens to these thin and vulnerable mucosal barriers. SIgA has been shown to be involved in avoiding opportunistic pathogens to enter and disseminate in the systemic compartment, as well as tightly controlling the necessary symbiotic relationship existing between commensals and the host. Clearance by peristalsis appears thus as one of the numerous mechanisms whereby SIgA fulfills its function at mucosal surfaces. Sampling of antigen-SIgA complexes by microfold (M) cells, intimate contact occurring with Peyer's patch dendritic cells (DC), down-regulation of inflammatory processes, modulation of epithelial, and DC responsiveness are some of the recently identified processes to which the contribution of SIgA has been underscored. This review aims at presenting, with emphasis at the biochemical level, how the molecular complexity of SIgA can serve these multiple and non-redundant modes of action.}, } @article {pmid23871297, year = {2013}, author = {Gubry-Rangin, C and Béna, G and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Brunel, B}, title = {Definition and evolution of a new symbiovar, sv. rigiduloides, among Ensifer meliloti efficiently nodulating Medicago species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {7}, pages = {490-496}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.06.004}, pmid = {23871297}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding functional diversity is one of the main goals of microbial ecology, and definition of new bacterial ecotypes contributes significantly to this objective. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria provide a good system for investigation of ecotypes/biovars/symbiovars, as they present different specific associations with several host plants. This specific symbiosis is reflected both in the nodulation and fixation efficiency and in genetic characters of the bacteria, and several biovars have already been described in the bacterial species Ensifer meliloti. In the present study, the species affiliation of E. meliloti strains trapped from nodules sampled from Medicago rigiduloïdes roots was analyzed using housekeeping recA genes and DNA-DNA hybridization. The genetic diversity of these isolates was also investigated using several symbiotic markers: nodulation (nodA, nodB, nodC) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) genes, as well as the performance of phenotypic tests of nodulation capacity and nitrogen fixation efficiency. These analyses led to the proposal of a new bacterial symbiovar, E. meliloti sv. rigiduloides, that fixed nitrogen efficiently on M. rigiduloïdes, but not on Medicago truncatula. Using phylogenetic reconstructions, including the different described symbiovars, several hypotheses of lateral gene transfer and gene loss are proposed to explain the emergence of symbiovars within this species. The widespread geographical distribution of this symbiovar around the Mediterranean Basin, in contrast to restriction of M. rigiduloïdes to Eastern European countries, suggests that these isolates might also be associated with other plant species. The description of a new symbiovar within E. meliloti confirms the need for accurate bacterial ecological classification, especially for analysis of bacterial populations.}, } @article {pmid23870305, year = {2013}, author = {Gerardo, NM}, title = {The give and take of host-microbe symbioses.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {1-3}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2013.07.001}, pmid = {23870305}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Hemiptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Studying the association between mealybugs and two bacterial symbionts, Husnik et al. (2013) demonstrated that both integration of metabolic pathways across the partners' genomes and horizontal gene transfer from diverse bacteria into the insect host genome are integral to symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23870051, year = {2014}, author = {Varga, S and Kytöviita, MM}, title = {Variable mycorrhizal benefits on the reproductive output of Geranium sylvaticum, with special emphasis on the intermediate phenotype.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {306-314}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12050}, pmid = {23870051}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*Flowers ; Fruit ; Fungi ; *Geranium/growth & development/microbiology ; *Hermaphroditic Organisms ; *Mycorrhizae ; *Phenotype ; Pollen ; Reproduction ; *Seeds ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In several gynodioecious species, intermediate sex between female and hermaphrodite has been reported, but few studies have investigated fitness parameters of this intermediate phenotype. Here, we examined the interactions between plant sex and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species affecting the reproductive output of Geranium sylvaticum, a sexually polymorphic plant species with frequent intermediate sexes between females and hermaphrodites, using a common garden experiment. Flowering phenology, AM colonisation levels and several plant vegetative and reproductive parameters, including seed and pollen production, were measured. Differences among sexes were detected in flowering, fruit set, pollen production and floral size. The two AM species used in the present work had different effects on plant fitness parameters. One AM species increased female fitness through increasing seed number and seed mass, while the other species reduced seed mass in all sexes investigated. AM fungi did not affect intermediate and hermaphrodite pollen content in anthers. The three sexes in G. sylvaticum did not differ in their reproductive output in terms of total seed production, but hermaphrodites had potentially larger fathering ability than intermediates due to higher anther number. The ultimate female function--seed production--did not differ among the sexes, but one of the AM fungi used potentially decreased host plant fitness. In addition, in the intermediate sex, mycorrhizal symbiosis functioned similarly in females as in hermaphrodites.}, } @article {pmid23869591, year = {2013}, author = {Routray, P and Miller, JB and Du, L and Oldroyd, G and Poovaiah, BW}, title = {Phosphorylation of S344 in the calmodulin-binding domain negatively affects CCaMK function during bacterial and fungal symbioses.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {287-296}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12288}, pmid = {23869591}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Calcium/physiology ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*physiology ; Calmodulin/physiology ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Calcium and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) plays a critical role in the signaling pathway that establishes root nodule symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Calcium-dependent autophosphorylation is central to the regulation of CCaMK, and this has been shown to promote calmodulin binding. Here, we report a regulatory mechanism of Medicago truncatula CCaMK (MtCCaMK) through autophosphorylation of S344 in the calmodulin-binding/autoinhibitory domain. The phospho-ablative mutation S344A did not have significant effect on its kinase activities, and supports root nodule symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, indicating that phosphorylation at this position is not required for establishment of symbioses. The phospho-mimic mutation S344D show drastically reduced calmodulin-stimulated substrate phosphorylation, and this coincides with a compromised interaction with calmodulin and its interacting partner, IPD3. Functional complementation tests revealed that the S344D mutation blocked root nodule symbiosis and reduced the mycorrhizal association. Furthermore, S344D was shown to suppress the spontaneous nodulation associated with a gain-of-function mutant of MtCCaMK (T271A), revealing that phosphorylation at S344 of MtCCaMK is adequate for shutting down its activity, and is epistatic over previously identified T271 autophosphorylation. These results reveal a mechanism that enables CCaMK to 'turn off' its function through autophosphorylation.}, } @article {pmid23869579, year = {2013}, author = {Feng, Y and Cui, X and He, S and Dong, G and Chen, M and Wang, J and Lin, X}, title = {The role of metal nanoparticles in influencing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi effects on plant growth.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {47}, number = {16}, pages = {9496-9504}, doi = {10.1021/es402109n}, pmid = {23869579}, issn = {1520-5851}, mesh = {Biomass ; Ferric Compounds/toxicity ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry ; Glycoproteins/chemistry ; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Silver/toxicity ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Trifolium/*drug effects/growth & development ; }, abstract = {A knowledge gap still remains concerning the in situ influences of nanoparticles on plant systems, partly due to the absence of soil microorganisms. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form a mutualistic symbiosis with the roots of over 90% of land plants. This investigation sought to reveal the responses of mycorrhizal clover (Trifolium repens) to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) along a concentration gradient of each. FeONPs at 3.2 mg/kg significantly reduced mycorrhizal clover biomass by 34% by significantly reducing the glomalin content and root nutrient acquisition of AMF. In contrast, no negative effects of AgNPs at concentrations over 0.1 mg/kg were observed; however, AgNPs at 0.01 mg/kg inhibited mycorrhizal clover growth. In response to the elevated AgNPs content, the ability of AMF to alleviate AgNPs stress (via increased growth and ecological behaviors) was enhanced, which decreased Ag content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in plants. These results were further supported by X-ray microcomputed tomography. Our findings suggest that in soil ecosystem, the influence of nanometals on plant systems would be more complicated than expected, and more attention should be focused on plant responses in combination with those of soil microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid23869210, year = {2013}, author = {Torres-Quesada, O and Millán, V and Nisa-Martínez, R and Bardou, F and Crespi, M and Toro, N and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI}, title = {Independent activity of the homologous small regulatory RNAs AbcR1 and AbcR2 in the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e68147}, pmid = {23869210}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; RNA Stability ; RNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Small Untranslated/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti expresses a plethora of small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) whose function is mostly unknown. Here, we have functionally characterized two tandemly encoded S. meliloti Rm1021 sRNAs that are similar in sequence and structure. Homologous sRNAs (designated AbcR1 and AbcR2) have been shown to regulate several ABC transporters in the related α-proteobacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Brucella abortus. In Rm1021, AbcR1 and AbcR2 exhibit divergent unlinked regulation and are stabilized by the RNA chaperone Hfq. AbcR1 is transcribed in actively dividing bacteria, either in culture, rhizosphere or within the invasion zone of mature alfalfa nodules. Conversely, AbcR2 expression is induced upon entry into stationary phase and under abiotic stress. Only deletion of AbcR1 resulted into a discrete growth delay in rich medium, but both are dispensable for symbiosis. Periplasmic proteome profiling revealed down-regulation of the branched-chain amino acid binding protein LivK by AbcR1, but not by AbcR2. A double-plasmid reporter assay confirmed the predicted specific targeting of the 5'-untranslated region of the livK mRNA by AbcR1 in vivo. Our findings provide evidences of independent regulatory functions of these sRNAs, probably to fine-tune nutrient uptake in free-living and undifferentiated symbiotic rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid23866840, year = {2013}, author = {Leal, MC and Calado, R and Sheridan, C and Alimonti, A and Osinga, R}, title = {Coral aquaculture to support drug discovery.}, journal = {Trends in biotechnology}, volume = {31}, number = {10}, pages = {555-561}, doi = {10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.06.004}, pmid = {23866840}, issn = {1879-3096}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*growth & development ; Aquaculture/*methods ; Biological Products/*isolation & purification ; Biotechnology/methods ; Drug Discovery/*methods ; }, abstract = {Marine natural products (NP) are unanimously acknowledged as the 'blue gold' in the urgent quest for new pharmaceuticals. Although corals are among the marine organisms with the greatest diversity of secondary metabolites, growing evidence suggest that their symbiotic bacteria produce most of these bioactive metabolites. The ex hospite culture of coral symbiotic microbiota is extremely challenging and only limited examples of successful culture exist today. By contrast, in toto aquaculture of corals is a commonly applied technology to produce corals for aquaria. Here, we suggest that coral aquaculture could as well be a viable and economically feasible option to produce the biomass required to execute the first steps of the NP-based drug discovery pipeline.}, } @article {pmid23866621, year = {2013}, author = {Provorov, NA and Chuklina, E and Vorob'ev, NI and Onishchuk, OP and Simarov, BV}, title = {[Factor analysis of interactions between alfalfa nodule bacteria (Sinorhizobium meliloti) genes that regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {448-453}, doi = {10.7868/s0016675813030156}, pmid = {23866621}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Nitrogenase/genetics ; PII Nitrogen Regulatory Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Factor analysis has been conducted for the data on the interaction between the genes of the root nodule bacteria (rhizobia), which influence the efficiency of symbiosis with leguminous plants, including dctA (encoding succinate permease), dctBD (activating the dctA gene due to binding its enhancer in the presence of succinate), rpoN (activating the promoters of dctA and nitrogenase genes nifHDK), and nifA (activating the nitrogenase genes due to binding their enhancers). The analysis of the alfalfa rhizobia (Sinorhizobium meliloti) recombinants that contain additional copies ofthese genes suggested the antagonistic (epistatic) interaction between nifA and rpoN. It may be associated either with the competition for C compounds imported into the nodules between the energy production and nitrogen assimilation processes or with the competition for redox potentials between the oxidative phosphorylation and nitrogen fixation processes. Since the phenotypic effects of the studied genes depend on the activity of nitrogen export into the aerial parts of plants, we suppose that its accumulation in bacteroids impairs the activation of the nifHDK genes by the NifA protein due to its interaction with the GlnB protein (the nitrogen metabolism regulator) or with the FixLJ and ActSR proteins (the redox potential regulators).}, } @article {pmid23865748, year = {2013}, author = {Rodriguez-Lanetty, M and Granados-Cifuentes, C and Barberan, A and Bellantuono, AJ and Bastidas, C}, title = {Ecological Inferences from a deep screening of the Complex Bacterial Consortia associated with the coral, Porites astreoides.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {16}, pages = {4349-4362}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12392}, pmid = {23865748}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Caribbean Region ; Coral Reefs ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The functional role of the bacterial organisms in the reef ecosystem and their contribution to the coral well-being remain largely unclear. The first step in addressing this gap of knowledge relies on in-depth characterization of the coral microbial community and its changes in diversity across coral species, space and time. In this study, we focused on the exploration of microbial community assemblages associated with an ecologically important Caribbean scleractinian coral, Porites astreoides, using Illumina high-throughput sequencing of the V5 fragment of 16S rRNA gene. We collected data from a large set of biological replicates, allowing us to detect patterns of geographical structure and resolve co-occurrence patterns using network analyses. The taxonomic analysis of the resolved diversity showed consistent and dominant presence of two OTUs affiliated with the order Oceanospirillales, which corroborates a specific pattern of bacterial association emerging for this coral species and for many other corals within the genus Porites. We argue that this specific association might indicate a symbiotic association with the adult coral partner. Furthermore, we identified a highly diverse rare bacterial 'biosphere' (725 OTUs) also living along with the dominant bacterial symbionts, but the assemblage of this biosphere is significantly structured along the geographical scale. We further discuss that some of these rare bacterial members show significant association with other members of the community reflecting the complexity of the networked consortia within the coral holobiont.}, } @article {pmid23864561, year = {2013}, author = {Summers, MM and Katz, S and Allen, EE and Rouse, GW}, title = {Association of rhizobia with a marine polychaete.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {492-498}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12043}, pmid = {23864561}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; California ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {We report the presence of Mesorhizobium, a genus best known for its nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with terrestrial legumes, associated with the marine polychaete Meganerilla bactericola (Annelida: Nerillidae). Abundant epibionts were previously described as coating the exterior of M. bactericola, which is found within the anoxic sulfide-oxidizing microbial mats of the Santa Barbara Basin, California, USA. 16S rRNA investigation of the bacterial community associated with this polychaete discovered the presence of bacteria belonging to Mesorhizobium. We identified these bacteria using phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA and three additional functional genes, nifH, atpD and recA, and group-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).}, } @article {pmid23861038, year = {2013}, author = {Lammel, DR and Cruz, LM and Carrer, H and Cardoso, EJ}, title = {Diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of beta-rhizobia isolated from sub-tropical legumes of a Brazilian Araucaria Forest.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {2335-2342}, pmid = {23861038}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Brazil ; Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Genotype ; Mimosa/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Proteobacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {While the occurrence of Betaproteobacteria occupying the nodules of tropical legumes has been shown, little is known about subtropical areas. Araucaria Forest is a subtropical endangered ecosystem, and a better understanding of the legume-rhizobial symbionts may allow their use in land reclamation. The 16S rRNA gene of bacteria isolated from nine leguminous species was sequenced and their nodulation tested in Mimosa scabrella and Phaseolus vulgaris. 196 isolates were identified as eight genotypes: Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Bradyrhizobium sp1-2, Rhizobium, and Burkholderia sp1-3. The majority of the isolates from native plants (87 %) were taxonomically related to β-rhizobia, namely Burkholderia, however the legumes Galactia crassifolia and Collea speciosa were nodulated by both α and β-rhizobia, and Acacia dealbata, an exotic plant, only by α-rhizobia. The nifH genes of some isolates were sequenced and N-fixing potential shown by the acetylene reduction test. Most of the isolates nodulated the test plants, some were effective in M. scabrella, but all presented low efficiency in the exotic promiscuous legume P. vulgaris. Pantoea and Pseudomonas did not nodulate and probably are endophytic bacteria. The presented data shows diversity of α, β and γ-Proteobacteria in nodules of subtropical legumes, and suggests host specificity with β-rhizobia. Potential isolates were found for M. scabrella, indicating that a high N-fixing strain may be further inoculated in plants for use in reforestation.}, } @article {pmid23860382, year = {2013}, author = {Lisanti, MP and Martinez-Outschoorn, UE and Sotgia, F}, title = {Oncogenes induce the cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype: metabolic symbiosis and "fibroblast addiction" are new therapeutic targets for drug discovery.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {12}, number = {17}, pages = {2723-2732}, pmid = {23860382}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {*Drug Discovery ; Fibroblasts/drug effects/*metabolism/*pathology ; Humans ; *Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplasms/drug therapy/*metabolism/*pathology ; Oncogenes/*genetics ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Metabolic coupling, between mitochondria in cancer cells and catabolism in stromal fibroblasts, promotes tumor growth, recurrence, metastasis, and predicts anticancer drug resistance. Catabolic fibroblasts donate the necessary fuels (such as L-lactate, ketones, glutamine, other amino acids, and fatty acids) to anabolic cancer cells, to metabolize via their TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). This provides a simple mechanism by which metabolic energy and biomass are transferred from the host microenvironment to cancer cells. Recently, we showed that catabolic metabolism and "glycolytic reprogramming" in the tumor microenvironment are orchestrated by oncogene activation and inflammation, which originates in epithelial cancer cells. Oncogenes drive the onset of the cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype in adjacent normal fibroblasts via paracrine oxidative stress. This oncogene-induced transition to malignancy is "mirrored" by a loss of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and an increase in MCT4 in adjacent stromal fibroblasts, functionally reflecting catabolic metabolism in the tumor microenvironment. Virtually identical findings were obtained using BRCA1-deficient breast and ovarian cancer cells. Thus, oncogene activation (RAS, NFkB, TGF-β) and/or tumor suppressor loss (BRCA1) have similar functional effects on adjacent stromal fibroblasts, initiating "metabolic symbiosis" and the cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype. New therapeutic strategies that metabolically uncouple oxidative cancer cells from their glycolytic stroma or modulate oxidative stress could be used to target this lethal subtype of cancers. Targeting "fibroblast addiction" in primary and metastatic tumor cells may expose a critical Achilles' heel, leading to disease regression in both sporadic and familial cancers.}, } @article {pmid23860378, year = {2013}, author = {Martinez-Outschoorn, UE and Curry, JM and Ko, YH and Lin, Z and Tuluc, M and Cognetti, D and Birbe, RC and Pribitkin, E and Bombonati, A and Pestell, RG and Howell, A and Sotgia, F and Lisanti, MP}, title = {Oncogenes and inflammation rewire host energy metabolism in the tumor microenvironment: RAS and NFκB target stromal MCT4.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {12}, number = {16}, pages = {2580-2597}, pmid = {23860378}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {Acetylcysteine/pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Caveolin 1/metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Discovery ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/*physiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Turnover/drug effects ; *Models, Biological ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/*metabolism ; Oncogene Proteins/metabolism ; Oncogenes/genetics/*physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; Tumor Microenvironment/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Here, we developed a model system to evaluate the metabolic effects of oncogene(s) on the host microenvironment. A matched set of "normal" and oncogenically transformed epithelial cell lines were co-cultured with human fibroblasts, to determine the "bystander" effects of oncogenes on stromal cells. ROS production and glucose uptake were measured by FACS analysis. In addition, expression of a panel of metabolic protein biomarkers (Caveolin-1, MCT1, and MCT4) was analyzed in parallel. Interestingly, oncogene activation in cancer cells was sufficient to induce the metabolic reprogramming of cancer-associated fibroblasts toward glycolysis, via oxidative stress. Evidence for "metabolic symbiosis" between oxidative cancer cells and glycolytic fibroblasts was provided by MCT1/4 immunostaining. As such, oncogenes drive the establishment of a stromal-epithelial "lactate-shuttle", to fuel the anabolic growth of cancer cells. Similar results were obtained with two divergent oncogenes (RAS and NFκB), indicating that ROS production and inflammation metabolically converge on the tumor stroma, driving glycolysis and upregulation of MCT4. These findings make stromal MCT4 an attractive target for new drug discovery, as MCT4 is a shared endpoint for the metabolic effects of many oncogenic stimuli. Thus, diverse oncogenes stimulate a common metabolic response in the tumor stroma. Conversely, we also show that fibroblasts protect cancer cells against oncogenic stress and senescence by reducing ROS production in tumor cells. Ras-transformed cells were also able to metabolically reprogram normal adjacent epithelia, indicating that cancer cells can use either fibroblasts or epithelial cells as "partners" for metabolic symbiosis. The antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) selectively halted mitochondrial biogenesis in Ras-transformed cells, but not in normal epithelia. NAC also blocked stromal induction of MCT4, indicating that NAC effectively functions as an "MCT4 inhibitor". Taken together, our data provide new strategies for achieving more effective anticancer therapy. We conclude that oncogenes enable cancer cells to behave as selfish "metabolic parasites", like foreign organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses). Thus, we should consider treating cancer like an infectious disease, with new classes of metabolically targeted "antibiotics" to selectively starve cancer cells. Our results provide new support for the "seed and soil" hypothesis, which was first proposed in 1889 by the English surgeon, Stephen Paget.}, } @article {pmid23859595, year = {2013}, author = {Hurt, C and Silliman, K and Anker, A and Knowlton, N}, title = {Ecological speciation in anemone-associated snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus species complex).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {17}, pages = {4532-4548}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12398}, pmid = {23859595}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; Caribbean Region ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Decapoda/*classification/genetics ; Ecosystem ; *Gene Flow ; *Genetic Speciation ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; Reproductive Isolation ; *Sea Anemones ; Selection, Genetic ; Species Specificity ; Sympatry ; }, abstract = {Divergent natural selection driven by competition for limited resources can promote speciation, even in the presence of gene flow. Reproductive isolation is more likely to result from divergent selection when the partitioned resource is closely linked to mating. Obligate symbiosis and host fidelity (mating on or near the host) can provide this link, creating ideal conditions for speciation in the absence of physical barriers to dispersal. Symbiotic organisms often experience competition for hosts, and host fidelity ensures that divergent selection for a specific host or host habitat can lead to speciation and strengthen pre-existing reproductive barriers. Here, we present evidence that diversification of a sympatric species complex occurred despite the potential for gene flow and that partitioning of host resources (both by species and by host habitat) has contributed to this diversification. Four species of snapping shrimps (Alpheus armatus, A. immaculatus, A. polystictus and A. roquensis) are distributed mainly sympatrically in the Caribbean, while the fifth species (A. rudolphi) is restricted to Brazil. All five species are obligate commensals of sea anemones with a high degree of fidelity and ecological specificity for host species and habitat. We analysed sequence data from 10 nuclear genes and the mitochondrial COI gene in 11-16 individuals from each of the Caribbean taxa and from the only available specimen of the Brazilian taxon. Phylogenetic analyses support morphology-based species assignments and a well-supported Caribbean clade. The Brazilian A. rudolphi is recovered as an outgroup to the Caribbean taxa. Isolation-migration coalescent analysis provides evidence for historical gene flow among sympatric sister species. Our data suggest that both selection for a novel host and selection for host microhabitat may have promoted diversification of this complex despite gene flow.}, } @article {pmid23857509, year = {2013}, author = {Spence, E and Bryan, SJ and Lisfi, M and Cullum, J and Dunlap, WC and Shick, JM and Mullineaux, CW and Long, PF}, title = {2-epi-5-epi-Valiolone synthase activity is essential for maintaining phycobilisome composition in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 when grown in the presence of a carbon source.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {116}, number = {1}, pages = {33-43}, pmid = {23857509}, issn = {1573-5079}, support = {BB/H010009/2//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Absorption ; Anabaena variabilis/drug effects/*enzymology/genetics/*growth & development ; Carbon/*pharmacology ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Inositol/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Lyases/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mutation/genetics ; Phycobilisomes/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Sugar Phosphates/analysis/chemistry ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {The cyclase 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase (EVS) is reported to be a key enzyme for biosynthesis of the mycosporine-like amino acid shinorine in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413. Subsequently, we demonstrated that an in-frame complete deletion of the EVS gene had little effect on in vivo production of shinorine. Complete segregation of the EVS gene deletion mutant proved difficult and was achieved only when the mutant was grown in the dark and in a medium supplemented with fructose. The segregated mutant showed a striking colour change from native blue-green to pale yellow-green, corresponding to substantial loss of the photosynthetic pigment phycocyanin, as evinced by combinations of absorbance and emission spectra. Transcriptional analysis of the mutant grown in the presence of fructose under dark or light conditions revealed downregulation of the cpcA gene that encodes the alpha subunit of phycocyanin, whereas the gene encoding nblA, a protease chaperone essential for phycobilisome degradation, was not expressed. We propose that the substrate of EVS (sedoheptulose 7-phosphate) or possibly lack of its EVS-downstream products, represses transcription of cpcA to exert a hitherto unknown control over photosynthesis in this cyanobacterium. The significance of this finding is enhanced by phylogenetic analyses revealing horizontal gene transfer of the EVS gene of cyanobacteria to fungi and dinoflagellates. It is also conceivable that the EVS gene has been transferred from dinoflagellates, as evident in the host genome of symbiotic corals. A role of EVS in regulating sedoheptulose 7-phosphate concentrations in the photophysiology of coral symbiosis is yet to be determined.}, } @article {pmid23857360, year = {2013}, author = {Bassa, C and Etemadi, M and Combier, JP and Bouzayen, M and Audran-Delalande, C}, title = {Sl-IAA27 gene expression is induced during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato and in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {doi: 10.4161/psb.25637}, pmid = {23857360}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Aux/IAA genes play a pivotal role in auxin transcriptional regulation. Their functions were mainly studied in Arabidopsis through analysis of gain-of-function mutants. In the tomato, the Solanaceae reference species, different studies on Sl-IAA down-regulated lines showed specific role for Sl-IAA genes. Our recent work revealed that the Sl-IAA 27 gene displays a distinct behavior compared with most Aux/IAA genes, being down-regulated by auxin. Interestingly, the silencing of Sl-IAA27 leads to altered chlorophyll accumulation in leaves, reduced fertilization, altered fruit development and altered root formation. Here we report that IAA27 could be a key auxin signaling gene involved in AM in tomato and also in Medicago model plant. Indeed both Sl-IAA27 and its closest homolog in Medicago truncatula, Mt-IAA27, are overexpressed in mycorrhized roots. These data are in line with the putative role of auxin in arbuscular mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid23857181, year = {2013}, author = {Sluka, P and Davis, ID}, title = {Cell mates: paracrine and stromal targets for prostate cancer therapy.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Urology}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {441-451}, pmid = {23857181}, issn = {1759-4820}, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*administration & dosage ; Drug Delivery Systems/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; *Paracrine Communication/drug effects/physiology ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*pathology ; Stromal Cells/drug effects/*pathology/physiology ; }, abstract = {After many years of limited treatment options for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), multiple systemic therapies are now available, providing patients with significant improvements in survival, symptom control and bone health. Most of the recent advances in this area have been based on better understanding of mCRPC biology, particularly with respect to the key role of androgen receptor signalling. However, most therapies are targeted towards the malignant epithelial cell component of the cancer and it should not be forgotten that cancer cells exist in close and symbiotic relationships with other components of the tumour. Paracrine and stromal signals are often critical to the growth of the cancer and represent new potential therapeutic targets that are separate from the malignant epithelial cells. The stroma produces numerous growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor family members, platelet-derived growth factors and fibroblast growth factors, which are all critical for tumour growth. Targeting prostate-cancer-associated fibroblasts in order to destroy the physical and functional scaffold of a cancer is also a logical approach. The interaction between prostate cancer and the immune system remains an active topic of basic and clinical research, with cytokines, chemokines and growth factors being potential targets for therapy. The biology of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and of circulating tumour cells might also provide insight into new therapeutic targets.}, } @article {pmid23856962, year = {2013}, author = {Molloy, S}, title = {Symbiosis: a symbiotic mosaic.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {8}, pages = {510}, pmid = {23856962}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Hemiptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23855505, year = {2013}, author = {Diaz, MA and Bik, EM and Carlin, KP and Venn-Watson, SK and Jensen, ED and Jones, SE and Gaston, EP and Relman, DA and Versalovic, J}, title = {Identification of Lactobacillus strains with probiotic features from the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {115}, number = {4}, pages = {1037-1051}, pmid = {23855505}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Animals ; Bottle-Nosed Dolphin/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Probiotics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factors/biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: In order to develop complementary health management strategies for marine mammals, we used culture-based and culture-independent approaches to identify gastrointestinal lactobacilli of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We screened 307 bacterial isolates from oral and rectal swabs, milk and gastric fluid, collected from 38 dolphins in the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, for potentially beneficial features. We focused our search on lactobacilli and evaluated their ability to modulate TNF secretion by host cells and inhibit growth of pathogens. We recovered Lactobacillus salivarius strains which secreted factors that stimulated TNF production by human monocytoid cells. These Lact. salivarius isolates inhibited growth of selected marine mammal and human bacterial pathogens. In addition, we identified a novel Lactobacillus species by culture and direct sequencing with 96·3% 16S rDNA sequence similarity to Lactobacillus ceti.

CONCLUSIONS: Dolphin-derived Lact. salivarius isolates possess features making them candidate probiotics for clinical studies in marine mammals.

This is the first study to isolate lactobacilli from dolphins, including a novel Lactobacillus species and a new strain of Lact. salivarius, with potential for veterinary probiotic applications. The isolation and identification of novel Lactobacillus spp. and other indigenous microbes from bottlenose dolphins will enable the study of the biology of symbiotic members of the dolphin microbiota and facilitate the understanding of the microbiomes of these unique animals.}, } @article {pmid23852683, year = {2013}, author = {Magno Falcão, LF and Fuzii, HT and Feio Libonati, RM and de Souza Aarão, TL and Moura Guimarães, AG and Martins, LC and Simões Quaresma, JA}, title = {Environmental impact and seroepidemiology of HTLV in two communities in the eastern Brazilian amazon.}, journal = {Journal of medical virology}, volume = {85}, number = {9}, pages = {1585-1590}, doi = {10.1002/jmv.23620}, pmid = {23852683}, issn = {1096-9071}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral/*blood ; Brazil/epidemiology ; Deltaretrovirus Infections/*epidemiology ; *Environment ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to detect antibodies for human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) in subjects residing in two communities located in the eastern Brazilian Amazon and on the shores of the Tucuruí hydroelectric power plant. A total of 657 serum samples were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with an anti-HTLV antibody (Symbiosis™, São Paulo, Brazil), demonstrating a virus prevalence of 4.7%. Most individuals with HTLV were aged over 30 years (P = 0.013), were unmarried (P = 0.019), resided in the area for more than 10 years (P = 0.001), had a low level of education (P = 0.015), and had a family income of up to $305 (100%). In contrast, there was no significant association between infection and sex, city of birth, haemotransfusion, or previous surgery. The prevalence observed in these communities suggests that the residents should be concerned about HTLV infection, and that some areas may become endemic for HTLV.}, } @article {pmid23851635, year = {2013}, author = {Halabi, T}, title = {Landau and Lifshitz' formulation of Le Chatelier's principle: an insight into symbiosis?.}, journal = {Acta biotheoretica}, volume = {61}, number = {4}, pages = {521-523}, doi = {10.1007/s10441-013-9185-5}, pmid = {23851635}, issn = {1572-8358}, mesh = {Genetic Variation/*genetics ; *Models, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A correspondence allows application of Landau and Lifshitz' formulation of Le Chatelier's principle from statistical physics to a simple 2-D model of biological symbiosis. The insight: symbionts stabilize the occupation of narrow peaks on fitness landscape.}, } @article {pmid23850842, year = {2013}, author = {Li, L and Liu, J and Xu, A and Wang, T and Chen, J and Zhu, X}, title = {Molecular characterization of a trisegmented chrysovirus isolated from the radish Raphanus sativus.}, journal = {Virus research}, volume = {176}, number = {1-2}, pages = {169-178}, doi = {10.1016/j.virusres.2013.06.004}, pmid = {23850842}, issn = {1872-7492}, mesh = {Cloning, Molecular ; Cluster Analysis ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; RNA Viruses/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Raphanus/*virology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Proteins/genetics ; Virion/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is cultivated worldwide and is of agronomic importance. dsRNAs associated with partitiviruses were previously found in many R. sativus varieties. In this study, three large dsRNAs from radish were cloned using a modified single primer amplification technique. These three dsRNAs-of lengths 3638, 3517 and 3299 bp-shared conserved untranslated terminal regions, and each contained a major open reading frame putatively encoding the chrysoviral replicase, capsid protein and protease respectively. Isometric virus-like particles (VLP), approximately 45nm in diameter, were isolated from the infected radish plants. Northern blotting indicated that these dsRNAs were encapsidated in the VLP. The virus containing these dsRNA genome segments was named Raphanus sativus chrysovirus 1 (RasCV1). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that RasCV1 is a new species of the Chrysoviridae family and forms a plant taxon with another putative plant chrysovirus, Anthurium mosaic-associated virus (AmaCV). Furthermore, no fungal mycelia were observed in radish leaf tissues stained with trypan blue. These results indicated that RasCV1 is most likely a plant chrysovirus rather than a chrysovirus in symbiotic fungi. An exhaustive BLAST analysis of RasCV1 and AmaCV revealed that chrysovirus-like viruses might widely exist in eudicot and monocot plants and that endogenization of chrysovirus segments into plant genome might have ever happened.}, } @article {pmid23850603, year = {2013}, author = {Garcia, K and Haider, MZ and Delteil, A and Corratgé-Faillie, C and Conéjero, G and Tatry, MV and Becquer, A and Amenc, L and Sentenac, H and Plassard, C and Zimmermann, S}, title = {Promoter-dependent expression of the fungal transporter HcPT1.1 under Pi shortage and its spatial localization in ectomycorrhiza.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {58-59}, number = {}, pages = {53-61}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2013.06.007}, pmid = {23850603}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hebeloma/genetics/metabolism ; Hyphae/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Pinus/microbiology/physiology ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Transport ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal exchange of nutrients between fungi and host plants involves a specialization and polarization of the fungal plasma membrane adapted for the uptake from the soil and for secretion of nutrient ions towards root cells. In addition to the current progress in identification of membrane transport systems of both symbiotic partners, data concerning the transcriptional and translational regulation of these proteins are needed to elucidate their role for symbiotic functions. To answer whether the formerly described Pi-dependent expression of the phosphate transporter HcPT1.1 from Hebeloma cylindrosporum is the result of its promoter activity, we introduced promoter-EGFP fusion constructs in the fungus by Agrotransformation. Indeed, HcPT1.1 expression in pure fungal cultures quantified and visualized by EGFP under control of the HcPT1.1 promoter was dependent on external Pi concentrations, low Pi stimulating the expression. Furthermore, to study expression and localization of the phosphate transporter HcPT1.1 in symbiotic conditions, presence of transcripts and proteins was analyzed by the in situ hybridization technique as well as by immunostaining of proteins. In ectomycorrhiza, expression of the phosphate transporter was clearly enhanced by Pi-shortage indicating its role in Pi nutrition in the symbiotic association. Transcripts were detected in external hyphae and in the hyphal mantle, proteins in addition also within the Hartig net. Exploiting the transformable fungus H. cylindrosporum, Pi-dependent expression of the fungal transporter HcPT1.1 as result from its promoter activity as well as transcript and protein localization in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis are shown.}, } @article {pmid23850284, year = {2013}, author = {Shoguchi, E and Shinzato, C and Kawashima, T and Gyoja, F and Mungpakdee, S and Koyanagi, R and Takeuchi, T and Hisata, K and Tanaka, M and Fujiwara, M and Hamada, M and Seidi, A and Fujie, M and Usami, T and Goto, H and Yamasaki, S and Arakaki, N and Suzuki, Y and Sugano, S and Toyoda, A and Kuroki, Y and Fujiyama, A and Medina, M and Coffroth, MA and Bhattacharya, D and Satoh, N}, title = {Draft assembly of the Symbiodinium minutum nuclear genome reveals dinoflagellate gene structure.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {1399-1408}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2013.05.062}, pmid = {23850284}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Chromatin/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Gene Duplication ; *Genome ; Introns ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Small Nuclear ; Spliceosomes/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dinoflagellates are known for their capacity to form harmful blooms (e.g., "red tides") and as symbiotic, photosynthetic partners for corals. These unicellular eukaryotes have permanently condensed, liquid-crystalline chromosomes and immense nuclear genome sizes, often several times the size of the human genome. Here we describe the first draft assembly of a dinoflagellate nuclear genome, providing insights into its genome organization and gene inventory.

RESULTS: Sequencing reads from Symbiodinium minutum were assembled into 616 Mbp gene-rich DNA regions that represented roughly half of the estimated 1,500 Mbp genome of this species. The assembly encoded ∼42,000 protein-coding genes, consistent with previous dinoflagellate gene number estimates using transcriptomic data. The Symbiodinium genome contains duplicated genes for regulator of chromosome condensation proteins, nearly one-third of which have eukaryotic orthologs, whereas the remainder have most likely been acquired through bacterial horizontal gene transfers. Symbiodinium genes are enriched in spliceosomal introns (mean = 18.6 introns/gene). Donor and acceptor splice sites are unique, with 5' sites utilizing not only GT but also GC and GA, whereas at 3' sites, a conserved G is present after AG. All spliceosomal snRNA genes (U1-U6) are clustered in the genome. Surprisingly, the Symbiodinium genome displays unidirectionally aligned genes throughout the genome, forming a cluster-like gene arrangement.

CONCLUSIONS: We show here that a dinoflagellate genome exhibits unique and divergent characteristics when compared to those of other eukaryotes. Our data elucidate the organization and gene inventory of dinoflagellates and lay the foundation for future studies of this remarkable group of eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid23850282, year = {2013}, author = {Nakabachi, A and Ueoka, R and Oshima, K and Teta, R and Mangoni, A and Gurgui, M and Oldham, NJ and van Echten-Deckert, G and Okamura, K and Yamamoto, K and Inoue, H and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y and Miyagishima, SY and Hattori, M and Piel, J and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Defensive bacteriome symbiont with a drastically reduced genome.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {23}, number = {15}, pages = {1478-1484}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.027}, pmid = {23850282}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/toxicity ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Line/drug effects ; Citrus ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polyketides/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Rats ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Toxicity Tests ; }, abstract = {Diverse insect species harbor symbiotic bacteria, which play important roles such as provisioning nutrients and providing defense against natural enemies [1-6]. Whereas nutritional symbioses are often indispensable for both partners, defensive symbioses tend to be of a facultative nature [1-12]. The Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri is a notorious agricultural pest that transmits Liberibacter spp. (Alphaproteobacteria), causing the devastating citrus greening disease or Huanglongbing [13, 14]. In a symbiotic organ called the bacteriome, D. citri harbors two distinct intracellular symbionts: a putative nutrition provider, Carsonella_DC (Gammaproteobacteria), and an unnamed betaproteobacterium with unknown function [15], for which we propose the name "Candidatus Profftella armatura." Here we report that Profftella is a defensive symbiont presumably of an obligate nature with an extremely streamlined genome. The genomes of Profftella and Carsonella_DC were drastically reduced to 464,857 bp and 174,014 bp, respectively, suggesting their ancient and mutually indispensible association with the host. Strikingly, 15% of the small Profftella genome encoded horizontally acquired genes for synthesizing a novel polyketide toxin. The toxin was extracted, pharmacologically and structurally characterized, and designated diaphorin. The presence of Profftella and its diaphorin-biosynthetic genes was perfectly conserved in the world's D. citri populations.}, } @article {pmid23850222, year = {2013}, author = {Gough, C and Jacquet, C}, title = {Nod factor perception protein carries weight in biotic interactions.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {18}, number = {10}, pages = {566-574}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2013.06.001}, pmid = {23850222}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Immunity/immunology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant plasma membrane-bound receptors with extracellular lysin motif (LysM) domains participate in interactions with microorganisms. In Medicago truncatula, the LysM receptor-like kinase gene nodulation (Nod) factor perception (NFP) is a key gene that controls the perception of rhizobial lipochitooligosaccharide (LCO) Nod factors for the establishment of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. In this article, we review recent data that have refined our understanding of this function and that have revealed a role for NFP in the perception of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiotic signals and plant pathogenic microorganisms. The dual role of NFP in symbiosis and immunity suggests that this receptor protein controls the perception of different signals and the activation of different downstream signalling pathways. These advances provide new insights into the evolution and functioning of this versatile plant protein.}, } @article {pmid23850078, year = {2013}, author = {Cordeiro, LM and Beilke, F and Reinhardt, Vde F and Sassaki, GL and Iacomini, M}, title = {Rhamnogalactofuranan from the microalga Myrmecia biatorellae, symbiotic partner of Lobaria linita.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {254-259}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.06.008}, pmid = {23850078}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Cell Wall/chemistry ; Chlorophyta/*chemistry ; Furans/chemistry ; Galactose/chemistry ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Microalgae/*chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Polysaccharides/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A structural study of the cell wall polysaccharides of Myrmecia biatorellae, the symbiotic algal partner of the lichenized fungus Lobaria linita was carried out. It produced a cold-water insoluble rhamnogalactofuranan, with a (1→3)-linked β-d-galactofuranosyl main-chain, substituted at O-6 by single units of β-d-Galf, or by side-chains of 2-O- and 2,4-di-O-linked α-l-Rhap units. The structure of the polysaccharide was established by chemical and NMR spectroscopic analysis.}, } @article {pmid23850071, year = {2013}, author = {Schardl, CL and Florea, S and Pan, J and Nagabhyru, P and Bec, S and Calie, PJ}, title = {The epichloae: alkaloid diversity and roles in symbiosis with grasses.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {480-488}, pmid = {23850071}, issn = {1879-0356}, support = {P20 RR016481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 2 P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Alkaloids/*genetics/metabolism ; Epichloe/genetics/*physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Neotyphodium/genetics/*physiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Epichloae (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species; Clavicipitaceae) are fungi that live in systemic symbioses with cool-season grasses, and many produce alkaloids that are deterrent or toxic to herbivores. The epichloae colonize much of the aerial plant tissues, and most benignly colonize host seeds to transmit vertically. Of their four chemical classes of alkaloids, the ergot alkaloids and indole-diterpenes are active against mammals and insects, whereas peramine and lolines specifically affect insects. Comparative genomic analysis of Clavicipitaceae reveals a distinctive feature of the epichloae, namely, large repeat blocks in their alkaloid biosynthesis gene loci. Such repeat blocks can facilitate gene losses, mutations, and duplications, thus enhancing diversity of alkaloid structures within each class. We suggest that alkaloid diversification is selected especially in the vertically transmissible epichloae.}, } @article {pmid23848577, year = {2013}, author = {Thakur, S and Normand, P and Daubin, V and Tisa, LS and Sen, A}, title = {Contrasted evolutionary constraints on secreted and non-secreted proteomes of selected Actinobacteria.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {474}, pmid = {23848577}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Codon/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Proteome/genetics/*metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Actinobacteria have adapted to contrasted ecological niches such as the soil, and among others to plants or animals as pathogens or symbionts. Mycobacterium genus contains mostly pathogens that cause a variety of mammalian diseases, among which the well-known leprosy and tuberculosis, it also has saprophytic relatives. Streptomyces genus is mostly a soil microbe known for its secondary metabolites, it contains also plant pathogens, animal pathogens and symbionts. Frankia, a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium establishes a root symbiosis with dicotyledonous pionneer plants. Pathogens and symbionts live inside eukaryotic cells and tissues and interact with their cellular environment through secreted proteins and effectors transported through transmembrane systems; nevertheless they also need to avoid triggering host defense reactions. A comparative genome analysis of the secretomes of symbionts and pathogens allows a thorough investigation of selective pressures shaping their evolution. In the present study, the rates of silent mutations to non-silent mutations in secretory proteins were assessed in different strains of Frankia, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium, of which several genomes have recently become publicly available.

RESULTS: It was found that secreted proteins as a whole have a stronger purifying evolutionary rate (non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions or Ka/Ks ratio) than the non-secretory proteins in most of the studied genomes. This difference becomes statistically significant in cases involving obligate symbionts and pathogens. Amongst the Frankia, secretomes of symbiotic strains were found to have undergone evolutionary trends different from those of the mainly saprophytic strains. Even within the secretory proteins, the signal peptide part has a higher Ka/Ks ratio than the mature part. Two contrasting trends were noticed amongst the Frankia genomes regarding the relation between selection strength (i.e. Ka/Ks ratio) and the codon adaptation index (CAI), a predictor of the expression rate, in all the genes belonging to the core genome as well as the core secretory protein genes. The genomes of pathogenic Mycobacterium and Streptomyces also had reduced secretomes relative to saprophytes, as well as in general significant pairwise Ka/Ks ratios in their secretomes.

CONCLUSION: In marginally free-living facultative symbionts or pathogenic organisms under consideration, secretory protein genes as a whole evolve at a faster rate than the rest and this process may be an adaptive life-strategy to counter the host selection pressure. The higher evolutionary rate of signal peptide part compared to mature protein provides an indication that signal peptide parts may be under relaxed purifying selection, indicative of the signal peptides not being secreted into host cells. Codon usage analysis suggests that in actinobacterial strains under host selection pressure such as symbiotic Frankia, ACN, FD and the pathogenic Mycobacterium, codon usage bias was negatively correlated to the selective pressure exerted on the secretory protein genes.}, } @article {pmid23848071, year = {2013}, author = {Robles-Alonso, V and Guarner, F}, title = {[Progress in the knowledge of the intestinal human microbiota].}, journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {553-557}, doi = {10.3305/nh.2013.28.3.6601}, pmid = {23848071}, issn = {1699-5198}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; }, abstract = {New sequencing technologies together with the development of bio-informatics allow a description of the full spectrum of the microbial communities that inhabit the human intestinal tract, as well as their functional contributions to host health. Most community members belong to the domain Bacteria, but Archaea, Eukaryotes (yeasts and protists), and Viruses are also present. Only 7 to 9 of the 55 known divisions or phyla of the domain Bacteria are detected in faecal or mucosal samples from the human gut. Most taxa belong to just two divisions: Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and the other divisions that have been consistently found are Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium and Bifidobacterium are the most abundant genera but their relative proportion is highly variable across individuals. Full metagenomic analysis has identified more than 5 million non-redundant microbial genes encoding up to 20,000 biological functions related with life in the intestinal habitat. The overall structure of predominant genera in the human gut can be assigned into three robust clusters, which are known as "enterotypes". Each of the three enterotypes is identifiable by the levels of one of three genera: Bacteroides (enterotype 1), Prevotella (enterotype 2) and Ruminococcus (enterotype 3). This suggests that microbiota variations across individuals are stratified, not continuous. Next steps include the identification of changes that may play a role in certain disease states. A better knowledge of the contributions of microbial symbionts to host health will help in the design of interventions to improve symbiosis and combat disease.}, } @article {pmid23847604, year = {2013}, author = {Hanson, TE and Campbell, BJ and Kalis, KM and Campbell, MA and Klotz, MG}, title = {Nitrate ammonification by Nautilia profundicola AmH: experimental evidence consistent with a free hydroxylamine intermediate.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {180}, pmid = {23847604}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The process of nitrate reduction via nitrite controls the fate and bioavailability of mineral nitrogen within ecosystems; i.e., whether it is retained as ammonium (ammonification) or lost as nitrous oxide or dinitrogen (denitrification). Here, we present experimental evidence for a novel pathway of microbial nitrate reduction, the reverse hydroxylamine:ubiquinone reductase module (reverse-HURM) pathway. Instead of a classical ammonia-forming nitrite reductase that performs a 6 electron-transfer process, the pathway is thought to employ two catalytic redox modules operating in sequence: the reverse-HURM reducing nitrite to hydroxylamine followed by a hydroxylamine reductase that converts hydroxylamine to ammonium. Experiments were performed on Nautilia profundicola strain AmH, whose genome sequence led to the reverse-HURM pathway proposal. N. profundicola produced ammonium from nitrate, which was assimilated into biomass. Furthermore, genes encoding the catalysts of the reverse-HURM pathway were preferentially expressed during growth of N. profundicola on nitrate as an electron acceptor relative to cultures grown on polysulfide as an electron acceptor. Finally, nitrate-grown cells of N. profundicola were able to rapidly and stoichiometrically convert high concentrations of hydroxylamine to ammonium in resting cell assays. These experiments are consistent with the reverse-HURM pathway and a free hydroxylamine intermediate, but could not definitively exclude direct nitrite reduction to ammonium by the reverse-HURM with hydroxylamine as an off-pathway product. N. profundicola and related organisms are models for a new pathway of nitrate ammonification that may have global impact due to the wide distribution of these organisms in hypoxic environments and symbiotic or pathogenic associations with animal hosts.}, } @article {pmid23847174, year = {2013}, author = {Fabina, NS and Putnam, HM and Franklin, EC and Stat, M and Gates, RD}, title = {Symbiotic specificity, association patterns, and function determine community responses to global changes: defining critical research areas for coral-Symbiodinium symbioses.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {19}, number = {11}, pages = {3306-3316}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12320}, pmid = {23847174}, issn = {1365-2486}, mesh = {Alveolata/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biodiversity ; Climate Change ; *Models, Biological ; Polynesia ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Climate change-driven stressors threaten the persistence of coral reefs worldwide. Symbiotic relationships between scleractinian corals and photosynthetic endosymbionts (genus Symbiodinium) are the foundation of reef ecosystems, and these associations are differentially impacted by stress. Here, we couple empirical data from the coral reefs of Moorea, French Polynesia, and a network theoretic modeling approach to evaluate how patterns in coral-Symbiodinium associations influence community stability under climate change. To introduce the effect of climate perturbations, we simulate local 'extinctions' that represent either the loss of coral species or the ability to engage in symbiotic interactions. Community stability is measured by determining the duration and number of species that persist through the simulated extinctions. Our results suggest that four factors greatly increase coral-Symbiodinium community stability in response to global changes: (i) the survival of generalist hosts and symbionts maximizes potential symbiotic unions; (ii) elevated symbiont diversity provides redundant or complementary symbiotic functions; (iii) compatible symbiotic assemblages create the potential for local recolonization; and (iv) the persistence of certain traits associate with symbiotic diversity and redundancy. Symbiodinium may facilitate coral persistence through novel environmental regimes, but this capacity is mediated by symbiotic specificity, association patterns, and the functional performance of the symbionts. Our model-based approach identifies general trends and testable hypotheses in coral-Symbiodinium community responses. Future studies should consider similar methods when community size and/or environmental complexity preclude experimental approaches.}, } @article {pmid23846876, year = {2013}, author = {Cruz, S and Calado, R and Serôdio, J and Cartaxana, P}, title = {Crawling leaves: photosynthesis in sacoglossan sea slugs.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {13}, pages = {3999-4009}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ert197}, pmid = {23846876}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Animals ; Autotrophic Processes ; Chloroplasts/*physiology/radiation effects ; Fluorometry ; Gastropoda/classification/*physiology/radiation effects ; Light ; Photosynthesis/*physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some species of sacoglossan sea slugs can maintain functional chloroplasts from specific algal food sources in the cells of their digestive diverticula. These 'stolen' chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) can survive in the absence of the plant cell and continue to photosynthesize, in some cases for as long as one year. Within the Metazoa, this phenomenon (kleptoplasty) seems to have only evolved among sacoglossan sea slugs. Known for over a century, the mechanisms of interaction between the foreign organelle and its host animal cell are just now starting to be unravelled. In the study of sacoglossan sea slugs as photosynthetic systems, it is important to understand their relationship with light. This work reviews the state of knowledge on autotrophy as a nutritional source for sacoglossans and the strategies they have developed to avoid excessive light, with emphasis to the behavioural and physiological mechanisms suggested to be involved in the photoprotection of kleptoplasts. A special focus is given to the advantages and drawbacks of using pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry in photobiological studies addressing sacoglossan sea slugs. Finally, the classification of photosynthetic sacoglossan sea slugs according to their ability to retain functional kleptoplasts and the importance of laboratory culturing of these organisms are briefly discussed.}, } @article {pmid23846301, year = {2013}, author = {Haselkorn, TS and Watts, TD and Markow, TA}, title = {Density dynamics of diverse Spiroplasma strains naturally infecting different species of Drosophila.}, journal = {Fly}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {204-210}, pmid = {23846301}, issn = {1933-6942}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/genetics ; Drosophila/genetics/*microbiology ; Female ; Male ; Phenotype ; Species Specificity ; Spiroplasma/*pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Facultative heritable bacterial endosymbionts can have dramatic effects on their hosts, ranging from mutualistic to parasitic. Within-host bacterial endosymbiont density plays a critical role in maintenance of a symbiotic relationship, as it can affect levels of vertical transmission and expression of phenotypic effects, both of which influence the infection prevalence in host populations. Species of genus Drosophila are infected with Spiroplasma, whose characterized phenotypic effects range from that of a male-killing reproductive parasite to beneficial defensive endosymbiont. For many strains of Spiroplasma infecting at least 17 species of Drosophila, however, the phenotypic effects are obscure. The infection prevalence of these Spiroplasma vary within and among Drosophila species, and little is known about the within-host density dynamics of these diverse strains. To characterize the patterns of Spiroplasma density variation among Drosophila we used quantitative PCR to assess bacterial titer at various life stages of three species of Drosophila naturally-infected with two different types of Spiroplasma. For naturally infected Drosophila species we found that non-male-killing infections had consistently lower densities than the male-killing infection. The patterns of Spiroplasma titer change during aging varied among Drosophila species infected with different Spiroplasma strains. Bacterial density varied within and among populations of Drosophila, with individuals from the population with the highest prevalence of infection having the highest density. This density variation underscores the complex interaction of Spiroplasma strain and host genetic background in determining endosymbiont density.}, } @article {pmid23846281, year = {2013}, author = {Wall, LG and Beauchemin, N and Cantor, MN and Chaia, E and Chen, A and Detter, JC and Furnholm, T and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Goodwin, L and Gtari, M and Han, C and Han, J and Huntemann, M and Hua, SX and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Markowitz, V and Mavrommatis, K and Mikhailova, N and Nordberg, HP and Nouioui, I and Ovchinnikova, G and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Sen, A and Sur, S and Szeto, E and Thakur, S and Wei, CL and Woyke, T and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Frankia sp. Strain BCU110501, a Nitrogen-Fixing Actinobacterium Isolated from Nodules of Discaria trinevis.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {23846281}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Frankia forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with actinorhizal plants. We report a draft genome sequence for Frankia sp. strain BCU110501, a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from nodules of Discaria trinevis grown in the Patagonia region of Argentina.}, } @article {pmid23846272, year = {2013}, author = {Nouioui, I and Beauchemin, N and Cantor, MN and Chen, A and Detter, JC and Furnholm, T and Ghodhbane-Gtari, F and Goodwin, L and Gtari, M and Han, C and Han, J and Huntemann, M and Hua, SX and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Markowitz, V and Mavrommatis, K and Mikhailova, N and Nordberg, HP and Ovchinnikova, G and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Sen, A and Sur, S and Szeto, E and Thakur, S and Wall, L and Wei, CL and Woyke, T and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Frankia sp. Strain BMG5.12, a Nitrogen-Fixing Actinobacterium Isolated from Tunisian Soils.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {23846272}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Members of the actinomycete genus Frankia form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with 8 different families of actinorhizal plants. We report a draft genome sequence for Frankia sp. strain BMG5.12, a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from Tunisian soils with the ability to infect Elaeagnus angustifolia and Myrica gale.}, } @article {pmid23845877, year = {2013}, author = {Brock, JR and Bielmyer, GK}, title = {Metal accumulation and sublethal effects in the sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida, after waterborne exposure to metal mixtures.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP}, volume = {158}, number = {3}, pages = {150-158}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpc.2013.07.001}, pmid = {23845877}, issn = {1532-0456}, mesh = {Animals ; Cadmium/metabolism/*toxicity ; Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Copper/metabolism/*toxicity ; Dinoflagellida ; Environmental Exposure ; Glutathione Reductase/metabolism ; Nickel/metabolism/*toxicity ; Sea Anemones/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism/*toxicity ; Zinc/metabolism/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The marine environment is subjected to contamination by a complex mixture of metals from various anthropogenic sources. Measuring the biological responses of organisms to a complex mixture of metals allows for examination of metal-specific responses in an environmentally realistic exposure scenario. To address this issue, the sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida was exposed to a control and a metal mixture (copper, zinc, nickel, and cadmium) at three exposure levels (10, 50, and 100 μg/L) for 7 days. Anemones were then transferred to metal-free seawater for an additional 7 days after the metal exposure to assess metal depuration and recovery. Metal accumulation, activity of the enzymes catalase, glutathione reductase, and carbonic anhydrase, as well as, cell density of the symbiotic zooxanthellae were measured over 14 days. Metal accumulation in A. pallida occurred in a concentration dependent manner over the 7-day exposure period. Altered enzyme activity and tentacle retraction of the host, as well as decreased zooxanthellae cell density were observed responses over the 7 days, after exposure to a metal concentration as low as 10 μg/L. Metal depuration and physiological recovery were dependent on both the metal and the exposure concentration. Understanding how A. pallida and their symbionts are affected by metal exposures in the laboratory may allow better understanding about the responses of symbiotic cnidarians in metal polluted aquatic environments.}, } @article {pmid23844990, year = {2013}, author = {Hernandez, RR and Allen, MF}, title = {Diurnal patterns of productivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi revealed with the Soil Ecosystem Observatory.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {200}, number = {2}, pages = {547-557}, pmid = {23844990}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Artemisia/microbiology ; Biomass ; Bromus/microbiology ; California ; Circadian Rhythm ; Ecosystem ; Eriogonum/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development/metabolism ; Hyphae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Observation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Pteridium/microbiology ; Software ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most abundant plant symbiont and a major pathway of carbon sequestration in soils. However, their basic biology, including their activity throughout a 24-h day : night cycle, remains unknown. We employed the in situ Soil Ecosystem Observatory to quantify the rates of diurnal growth, dieback and net productivity of extra-radical AM fungi. AM fungal hyphae showed significantly different rates of growth and dieback over a period of 24 h and paralleled the circadian-driven photosynthetic oscillations observed in plants. The greatest rates (and incidences) of growth and dieback occurred between noon and 18:00 h. Growth and dieback events often occurred simultaneously and were tightly coupled with soil temperature and moisture, suggesting a rapid acclimation of the external phase of AM fungi to the immediate environment. Changes in the environmental conditions and variability of the mycorrhizosphere may alter the diurnal patterns of productivity of AM fungi, thereby modifying soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and host plant success.}, } @article {pmid23844217, year = {2013}, author = {Tonk, L and Sampayo, EM and Weeks, S and Magno-Canto, M and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Host-specific interactions with environmental factors shape the distribution of symbiodinium across the Great Barrier Reef.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e68533}, pmid = {23844217}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; *Environment ; Host Specificity ; Oceanography ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) within coral reef invertebrates are critical to the survival of the holobiont. The genetic variability of Symbiodinium may contribute to the tolerance of the symbiotic association to elevated sea surface temperatures (SST). To assess the importance of factors such as the local environment, host identity and biogeography in driving Symbiodinium distributions on reef-wide scales, data from studies on reef invertebrate-Symbiodinium associations from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) were compiled.

The resulting database consisted of 3717 entries from 26 studies. It was used to explore ecological patterns such as host-specificity and environmental drivers structuring community complexity using a multi-scalar approach. The data was analyzed in several ways: (i) frequently sampled host species were analyzed independently to investigate the influence of the environment on symbiont distributions, thereby excluding the influence of host specificity, (ii) host species distributions across sites were added as an environmental variable to determine the contribution of host identity on symbiont distribution, and (iii) data were pooled based on clade (broad genetic groups dividing the genus Symbiodinium) to investigate factors driving Symbiodinium distributions using lower taxonomic resolution. The results indicated that host species identity plays a dominant role in determining the distribution of Symbiodinium and environmental variables shape distributions on a host species-specific level. SST derived variables (especially SSTstdev) most often contributed to the selection of the best model. Clade level comparisons decreased the power of the predictive model indicating that it fails to incorporate the main drivers behind Symbiodinium distributions.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Including the influence of different host species on Symbiodinium distributional patterns improves our understanding of the drivers behind the complexity of Symbiodinium-invertebrate symbioses. This will increase our ability to generate realistic models estimating the risk reefs are exposed to and their resilience in response to a changing climate.}, } @article {pmid23842927, year = {2013}, author = {Angelis-Pereira, MC and Barcelos, Mde F and Sousa, MS and Pereira, Jde A}, title = {Effects of the kefir and banana pulp and skin flours on hypercholesterolemic rats.}, journal = {Acta cirurgica brasileira}, volume = {28}, number = {7}, pages = {481-486}, doi = {10.1590/s0102-86502013000700001}, pmid = {23842927}, issn = {1678-2674}, mesh = {Animals ; Cholesterol/blood ; Cholesterol, Dietary/blood ; Cultured Milk Products/*chemistry ; Hypercholesterolemia/*diet therapy ; Male ; Musa/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/*therapeutic use ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reference Values ; Reproducibility of Results ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides/blood ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of kefir and banana pulp and skin flours on the serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and triacylglycerols in rats fed cholesterol-rich diet.

METHODS: Thirty Male Wistar rats were used. In the first 21 days, the animals were fed purified hypercholesterolemic diets, except the standard group. In the next 21 days, the animals were given modified diets: Group GC: standard diet AIN-93G; Group HIP: hypercholesterolemic diet; Group F: hypercholesterolemic diet added of 1% of banana skin flour and 7% of banana pulp flour; Group Q: hypercholesterolemic diet plus kefir suspension by oral infusion (1.5 ml/animal); Group FQ: hypercholesterolemic diet added of 1% banana skin flour and 7% of banana pulp flour plus kefir suspension (1.5 ml/animal).

RESULTS: In spite of the high fiber content, the addition of banana pulp (7%) and skin (1%) flour did not alter the plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-c and LDL-c. However, they reduced the TG levels in 22%. Already fermented kefir reduced significantly the levels of VLDL, LDL-c and triacylglycerols, in addition to having increased HDL-c. However, it was not possible to verify the symbiotic effect between both.

CONCLUSION: The results reinforce the beneficial effects of kefir in reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases.}, } @article {pmid23841878, year = {2014}, author = {Brown, AMV and Huynh, LY and Bolender, CM and Nelson, KG and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Population genomics of a symbiont in the early stages of a pest invasion.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {23}, number = {6}, pages = {1516-1530}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12366}, pmid = {23841878}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Frequency ; *Genetics, Population ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Host Specificity ; Introduced Species ; Japan ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pueraria ; Soybeans ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; United States ; }, abstract = {Invasive species often depend on microbial symbionts, but few studies have examined the evolutionary dynamics of symbionts during the early stages of an invasion. The insect Megacopta cribraria and its bacterial nutritional symbiont Candidatus Ishikawaella capsulata invaded the southeastern US in 2009. While M. cribraria was initially discovered on wild kudzu plants, it was found as a pest on soybeans within 1 year of infestation. Because prior research suggests Ishikawaella confers the pest status--that is, the ability to thrive on soybeans--in some Megacopta species, we performed a genomic study on Ishikawaella from US. Megacopta cribraria populations to understand the role of the symbiont in driving host plant preferences. We included Ishikawaella samples collected in the first days of the invasion in 2009 and from 23 locations across the insect's 2011 US range. The 0.75 Mb symbiont genome revealed only 47 fixed differences from the pest-conferring Ishikawaella in Japan, with only one amino acid change in a nutrition-provisioning gene. This similarity, along with a lack of fixed substitutions in the US symbiont population, indicates that Ishikawella likely arrived in the US capable of being a soybean pest. Analyses of allele frequency changes between 2009 and 2011 uncover signatures of both positive and negative selection and suggest that symbionts on soybeans and kudzu experience differential selection for genes related to nutrient provisioning. Our data reveal the evolutionary trajectory of an important insect-bacteria symbiosis in the early stages of an invasion, highlighting the role microbial symbionts may play in the spread of invasive species.}, } @article {pmid23838959, year = {2013}, author = {Chen, C and Zhu, H}, title = {Are common symbiosis genes required for endophytic rice-rhizobial interactions?.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {}, pmid = {23838959}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Endophytes/*genetics/*physiology ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Mutation ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume plants are able to establish root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, called rhizobia. Recent studies revealed that the root nodule symbiosis has co-opted the signaling pathway that mediates the ancestral mycorrhizal symbiosis that occurs in most land plants. Despite being unable to induce nodulation, rhizobia have been shown to be able to infect and colonize the roots of non-legumes such as rice. One fascinating question is whether establishment of such associations requires the common symbiosis (Sym) genes that are essential for infection of plant cells by mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia in legumes. Here, we demonstrated that the common Sym genes are not required for endophytic colonization of rice roots by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid23838414, year = {2013}, author = {Burd, B and Macdonald, T and Bertold, S}, title = {The effects of wastewater effluent and river discharge on benthic heterotrophic production, organic biomass and respiration in marine coastal sediments.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {74}, number = {1}, pages = {351-363}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.06.029}, pmid = {23838414}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*classification/growth & development ; Ecosystem ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Geologic Sediments/*chemistry ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Rivers/chemistry ; Wastewater/*analysis/statistics & numerical data ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis ; }, abstract = {We examine effects of high river particulate flux and municipal wastewater effluent on heterotrophic organic carbon cycling in coastal subtidal sediments. Heterotrophic production was a predictable (r(2)=0.95) proportion (56%) of oxidized OC flux and strongly correlated with organic/inorganic flux. Consistent growth efficiencies (36%) occurred at all stations. Organic biomass was correlated with total, OC and buried OC fluxes, but not oxidized OC flux. Near the river, production was modest and biomass high, resulting in low P/B. Outfall deposition resulted in depleted biomass and high bacterial production, resulting in the highest P/B. These patterns explain why this region is production "saturated". The δ(15)N in outfall effluent, sediments and dominant taxa provided insight into where, and which types of organisms feed directly on fresh outfall particulates, on older, refractory material buried in sediments, or utilize chemosynthetic symbiotic bacteria. Results are discussed in the context of declining bottom oxygen conditions along the coast.}, } @article {pmid23837533, year = {2013}, author = {Pita, L and Turon, X and López-Legentil, S and Erwin, PM}, title = {Host rules: spatial stability of bacterial communities associated with marine sponges (Ircinia spp.) in the Western Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {86}, number = {2}, pages = {268-276}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12159}, pmid = {23837533}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Mediterranean Sea ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dispersal limitation and environmental selection are the main processes shaping free-living microbial communities, but host-related factors may also play a major role in structuring symbiotic communities. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of isolation-by-distance and host species on the spatial structure of sponge-associated bacterial communities using as a model the abundant demosponge genus Ircinia. We targeted three co-occurring Ircinia species and used terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences to explore the differentiation of their bacterial communities across a scale of hundreds of kilometres in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Multivariate analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots of T-RFLP profiles showed that bacterial communities in Ircinia sponges were structured by host species and remained stable across sampling locations, despite geographic distances (80-800 km) and diverse local conditions. While significant differences among some locations were observed in Ircinia variabilis-derived communities, no correlation between geographic distance and community similarity was consistently detected for symbiotic bacteria in any host sponge species. Our results indicate that bacterial communities are mostly shaped by host species-specific factors and suggest that evolutionary processes acting on long-term symbiotic relationships have favored spatial stability of sponge-associated bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid23834765, year = {2013}, author = {Nadal, M and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Polyphony in the rhizosphere: presymbiotic communication in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {473-479}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2013.06.005}, pmid = {23834765}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a ubiquitous relationship established in terrestrial ecosystems between the roots of most plants and fungi of the Glomeromycota. AM fungi occur amongst many other inhabitants of the soil, and successful development of AM symbioses relies on a pre-symbiotic signal exchange that allows mutual recognition and reprogramming for the anticipated physical interaction. The nature of some of the signals has been discovered in recent years, providing a first insight into the type of chemical language spoken between the two symbiotic partners. Importantly, these discoveries suggest that the dialogue is complex and that additional factors and corresponding receptors remain to be unveiled. Here, we explore the latest advances in this pre-symbiotic plant-fungal signal exchange and present the resulting current understanding of rhizosphere communication in AM symbioses.}, } @article {pmid23834595, year = {2013}, author = {Montebelli, A and Lowe, R and Ziemke, T}, title = {Toward metabolic robotics: insights from modeling embodied cognition in a biomechatronic symbiont.}, journal = {Artificial life}, volume = {19}, number = {3-4}, pages = {299-315}, doi = {10.1162/ARTL_a_00114}, pmid = {23834595}, issn = {1064-5462}, mesh = {*Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Metabolic Engineering/*methods ; *Models, Biological ; Robotics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We present a novel example of a biomechatronic hybrid system. The living component of the system, embedded within microbial fuel cells, relies on the availability of food and water in order to produce electrical energy. The latter is essential to the operations of the mechatronic component, responsible for finding and collecting food and water, and for the execution of work. In simulation, we explore the behavioral and cognitive consequences of this symbiotic relation. In particular we highlight the importance of the integration of sensorimotor and metabolic signals within an evolutionary perspective, in order to create sound cognitive living technology.}, } @article {pmid23833245, year = {2015}, author = {Bakır, TÖ and Geyikoglu, F and Çolak, S and Türkez, H and Aslan, A and Bakır, M}, title = {The effects of Cetraria islandica and Pseudevernia furfuracea extracts in normal and diabetic rats.}, journal = {Toxicology and industrial health}, volume = {31}, number = {12}, pages = {1304-1317}, doi = {10.1177/0748233713475521}, pmid = {23833245}, issn = {1477-0393}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Complex Mixtures/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/complications/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Diabetic Nephropathies/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ethnopharmacology ; Hyperglycemia/prevention & control ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Kidney/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Parmeliaceae/*chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Insufficiency/chemically induced/complications/prevention & control ; Streptozocin/administration & dosage/toxicity ; Turkey ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of a fungus joined to a photosynthesizing partner that can be either an alga or a cyanobacterium. They can be used as a novel bioresource for natural antioxidants. However, there is also a need for further studies to validate the lichens used in medicinal remedies. This study covers a previously unrecognized effects of Cetraria islandica (CIAE) and Pseudevernia furfuracea (PFAE) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. In experimental design, control or diabetic rats were either untreated or treated with aqueous lichen extracts (250-500 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks starting at 72 h after STZ injection. On day 14, animals were anesthetized, metabolic and biochemical parameters were appreciated between control and treatment groups. The histopathology of kidney was examined using four different staining methods: hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Masson trichrome and Congo red. Our experimental data showed that increasing doses of CIAE and PFAE did not have any detrimental effects on the studied parameters and the malondialdehyde level of kidney. CIAE extract showed prominent results compared to doses of PFAE extract for antioxidant capacity. However, the protective effect of CIAE extract was inadequate on diabetes-induced disorders and kidney damages. Moreover, animals subjected to diabetes mellitus (DM) therapy did not benefit unfortunately from the usage of increasing lichen doses due to their unchanged antioxidant activity to tissue. The results obtained in present study suggested that CIAE and PFAE are safe but the power of these is limited because of the intensive oxidative stress in kidney of type 1 diabetic rats. It is also implied that CIAE extract is especially suitable for different administration routes in DM.}, } @article {pmid23833137, year = {2013}, author = {Shibata, TF and Maeda, T and Nikoh, N and Yamaguchi, K and Oshima, K and Hattori, M and Nishiyama, T and Hasebe, M and Fukatsu, T and Kikuchi, Y and Shigenobu, S}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of Burkholderia sp. Strain RPE64, Bacterial Symbiont of the Bean Bug Riptortus pedestris.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {23833137}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We isolated Burkholderia symbiont strain RPE64 from the bean bug Riptortus pedestris. Analysis of the complete 6.96-Mb genome, which consists of three chromosomes and two plasmids, will facilitate further understanding of insect-microbe symbiosis and the development of pest-control technologies.}, } @article {pmid23831316, year = {2014}, author = {Schonberg, DL and Lubelski, D and Miller, TE and Rich, JN}, title = {Brain tumor stem cells: Molecular characteristics and their impact on therapy.}, journal = {Molecular aspects of medicine}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {82-101}, pmid = {23831316}, issn = {1872-9452}, support = {GM007250/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; CA154130/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA129958/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA1129958/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007250/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA154130/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Brain Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology/*therapy ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Glioblastoma/*metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Radiation Tolerance ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent primary brain tumor and ranks among the most lethal of human cancers with conventional therapy offering only palliation. Great strides have been made in understanding brain cancer genetics and modeling these tumors with new targeted therapies being tested, but these advances have not translated into substantially improved patient outcomes. Multiple chemotherapeutic agents, including temozolomide, the first-line treatment for glioblastoma, have been developed to kill cancer cells. However, the response to temozolomide in GBM is modest. Radiation is also moderately effective but this approach is plagued by limitations due to collateral radiation damage to healthy brain tissue and development of radioresistance. Therapeutic resistance is attributed at least in part to a cell population within the tumor that possesses stem-like characteristics and tumor propagating capabilities, referred to as cancer stem cells. Within GBM, the intratumoral heterogeneity is derived from a combination of regional genetic variance and a cellular hierarchy often regulated by distinct cancer stem cell niches, most notably perivascular and hypoxic regions. With the recent emergence as a key player in tumor biology, cancer stem cells have symbiotic relationships with the tumor microenvironment, oncogenic signaling pathways, and epigenetic modifications. The origins of cancer stem cells and their contributions to brain tumor growth and therapeutic resistance are under active investigation with novel anti-cancer stem cell therapies offering potential new hope for this lethal disease.}, } @article {pmid23830996, year = {2013}, author = {de Saint Germain, A and Bonhomme, S and Boyer, FD and Rameau, C}, title = {Novel insights into strigolactone distribution and signalling.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {583-589}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2013.06.007}, pmid = {23830996}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Lactones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs), a group of small carotenoid-derived molecules, were first known for their function in the rhizosphere in both symbiotic and parasitic interactions. Most of the progress for deciphering SL biosynthesis and signalling pathways comes from the use of high branching mutants identified in several species demonstrating that SLs also play a hormonal role in plant development. How SLs are perceived by the different organisms on which they show bioactivity is a current major challenge for the growing SL research community. These molecules very likely predate the colonization of land by plants and represent a fascinating example of signalling molecules involved in key innovations during plant evolution.}, } @article {pmid23830484, year = {2013}, author = {Kandoth, PK and Heinz, R and Yeckel, G and Gross, NW and Juvale, PS and Hill, J and Whitham, SA and Baum, TJ and Mitchum, MG}, title = {A virus-induced gene silencing method to study soybean cyst nematode parasitism in Glycine max.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {255}, pmid = {23830484}, issn = {1756-0500}, mesh = {Animals ; Comovirus/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Silencing ; *Genetic Vectors ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Nematoda/*genetics ; Plant Roots ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics/*parasitology ; *RNA Interference ; Soybeans/*genetics/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vectors have been developed and used in soybean for the functional analysis of genes involved in disease resistance to foliar pathogens. However, BPMV-VIGS protocols for studying genes involved in disease resistance or symbiotic associations with root microbes have not been developed.

FINDINGS: Here we describe a BPMV-VIGS protocol suitable for reverse genetic studies in soybean roots. We use this method for analyzing soybean genes involved in resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). A detailed SCN screening pipeline is described.

CONCLUSIONS: The VIGS method described here provides a new tool to identify genes involved in soybean-nematode interactions. This method could be adapted to study genes associated with any root pathogenic or symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid23830047, year = {2013}, author = {Erturk-Hasdemir, D and Kasper, DL}, title = {Resident commensals shaping immunity.}, journal = {Current opinion in immunology}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {450-455}, pmid = {23830047}, issn = {1879-0372}, support = {R21 AI090102/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Dendritic Cells/immunology ; Epithelial Cells/immunology ; Humans ; *Immune System ; Immunoglobulin A/immunology ; Microbial Interactions ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; }, abstract = {All animals coexist with myriad commensal microorganisms in a symbiotic relationship that plays a key role in health and disease. Continuous commensal-host interactions profoundly affect the development and regulation of the host's immune system. The complex interaction of the commensal microbiota with the immune system is a topic of substantial interest. An understanding of these interactions and the mechanisms through which commensal microbes actively shape host immunity may yield new insights into the pathogenesis of many immune-mediated diseases and lead to new prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. This review examines recent advances in this field and their potential implications not just for the colonized tissues but also for the entire immune system.}, } @article {pmid23825731, year = {2013}, author = {Vijayakumari, SJ and Sasidharannair, NK and Nambisan, B and Mohandas, C}, title = {Optimization of media and temperature for enhanced antimicrobial production by bacteria associated with Rhabditis sp.}, journal = {Iranian journal of microbiology}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {136-141}, pmid = {23825731}, issn = {2008-3289}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Entomopathogenic nematodes, belonging to the family heterorhabditis and steinernematidae, are reported to be symbiotically associated with specific bacteria and the secondary metabolites produced by these bacteria possess antimicrobial activity. In this study, bacteria were isolated from nematodes belonging to the family rhabditidae, and the antimicrobial activity was tested against four bacteria viz. Bacillus subtilis MTCC 2756, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 902, Escherichia coli MTCC 2622, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 2642 and five fungi viz. Aspergillus flavus MTCC 183, Candida albicans MTCC 277, Fusarium oxysporum MTCC 284, Rhizoctonia solani MTCC 4634 and Penicillium expansum MTCC 2006.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The isolated bacteria were cultured in nutrient broth (NB), Luria broth (LB) and Tryptic soya broth (TSB) at 25, 30 and 35°C. Cell free culture filtrate was prepared by centrifugation and was separated into organic and aqueous fractions. Organic fraction was concentrated and tested for antimicrobial activity.

RESULTS: The culture filtrate of the bacteria isolated from the entomopathogenic Rhabditis sp. was found to possess antimicrobial activity against the four bacteria and five fungi tested. The bacterium grew well in TSB, LB and NB media though in TSB yield and activity were higher. Antimicrobial activity was higher at 30°C as compared with 25 or 35°C. HPLC analysis indicated major differences in peak areas and retention times at different temperatures. Increased number of peaks with higher peak areas was obtained at 30°C.

CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the bacteria could produce more bioactive molecules effective against medically and agriculturally important bacteria and fungi depending on culture media and temperature. Modified media could yield different types of molecules effective against diseases/disorders of plant, animals and humans.}, } @article {pmid23825551, year = {2013}, author = {Kapoula, Z and Gaertner, C and Yang, Q and Denise, P and Toupet, M}, title = {Vergence and Standing Balance in Subjects with Idiopathic Bilateral Loss of Vestibular Function.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {e66652}, pmid = {23825551}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; *Convergence, Ocular ; Eye Movements ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postural Balance/*physiology ; Vestibule, Labyrinth/*physiopathology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: There is a natural symbiosis between vergence and vestibular responses. Deficits in vergence can lead to vertigo, disequilibrium, and postural instability. This study examines both vergence eye movements in patients with idiopathic bilateral vestibular loss, and their standing balance in relation to vergence. Eleven patients participated in the study and 16 controls. Bilateral loss of vestibular function was objectified with many tests; only patients without significant response to caloric tests, to video head impulse tests and without vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were included in the study.

A LED display with targets at 20, 40, and 100 cm along the median plane was used to elicit vergence eye movements, recorded with the IRIS device.

Four conditions were run, each lasting 1 min: fixation of a LED at 40 cm (convergence of 9°), at 150 cm (convergence of 2.3°); this last condition was repeated with eyes closed. Comparison of the eyes closed-eyes open conditions at 150 cm allowed evaluation of the Romberg Quotient. In the forth condition, two LEDS, at 20 and at 100 cm, were light on, one after the other for 1 sec, causing the eyes to converge then diverge. Standing balance was recorded with an accelerometer placed at the back near the center of mass (McRoberts, Dynaport).

VERGENCE: Relative to controls, convergence eye movements in patients showed significantly lower accuracy, lower mean velocity, and saccade intrusions of significantly higher amplitude.

BALANCE: The normalized 90% area of body sway was significantly higher for patients than for controls for all conditions. Yet, similarly to controls, postural stability was better while fixating at near (sustained convergence) than at far, or while making active vergence movements. We argue that vestibular loss deteriorates convergence, but even deficient, convergence can be helpful for postural control.}, } @article {pmid23825220, year = {2013}, author = {Miyata, K and Kawaguchi, M and Nakagawa, T}, title = {Two distinct EIN2 genes cooperatively regulate ethylene signaling in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {54}, number = {9}, pages = {1469-1477}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct095}, pmid = {23825220}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Cyclic/pharmacology ; Ethylenes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants establish a mutualistic symbiosis with bacteria, collectively referred to as rhizobia. Host plants positively and negatively regulate the symbiotic processes to keep the symbiosis at an appropriate level. Although the plant hormone ethylene is known as a negative regulator of symbiotic processes, the molecular mechanisms of ethylene signaling remain unresolved, especially in the model plant Lotus japonicus. Here, we identified two genes, LjEIN2-1 and LjEIN2-2, from L. japonicus. These genes share moderate similarity in their amino acid sequences, are located on different chromosomes and are composed of different numbers of exons. Suppression of either LjEIN2-1 or LjEIN2-2 expression significantly promoted the root growth of transformed plants on plates containing 1-amino-cyclopropane-carboxylic acid (ACC), the biosynthetic precursor of ethylene. Simultaneous suppression of both LjEIN2-1 and LjEIN2-2 markedly increased the ethylene insensitivity of transgenic roots and resulted in an increased nodulation phenotype. These results indicate that LjEIN2-1 and LjEIN2-2 concertedly regulate ethylene signaling in L. japonicus. We also observed that Nod factor (NF) induced the expression of the ethylene-responsive gene LjACO2, and simultaneous treatment with NF and ACC markedly increases its transcript level compared with either NF or ACC alone. Because LjACO2 encodes ACC oxidase, which is a key enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis, this result suggests the existence of an NF-triggered negative feedback mechanism through ethylene signaling.}, } @article {pmid23823585, year = {2013}, author = {Barengolts, E}, title = {Vitamin D and prebiotics may benefit the intestinal microbacteria and improve glucose homeostasis in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.}, journal = {Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {497-510}, doi = {10.4158/EP12263.RA}, pmid = {23823585}, issn = {1934-2403}, mesh = {Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*drug therapy/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Humans ; *Prebiotics ; Prediabetic State/*drug therapy/*metabolism/microbiology ; Vitamin D/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To review the role of human large bowel microbacteria (microbiota) in the glucose homeostasis, to address vitamin D (VD) and prebiotics interactions with microbiota, and to summarize recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of VD and prebiotics supplementation in prediabetes (PreDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS: Primary literature was reviewed in the following areas: composition and activity of human microbiota associated with PreDM and T2DM, interactions between microbiota and glucose homeostasis, the interaction of microbiota with VD/prebiotics, and RCTs of VD/prebiotics in subjects with PreDM or T2DM.

RESULTS: The human microbiota is comprised of 100 trillion bacteria with an aggregate genome that is 150-fold larger than the human genome. Data from the animal models and human studies reveal that an "obesogenic" diet results into the initial event of microbiota transformation from symbiosis to dysbiosis. The microbial antigens, such as Gram(-) bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), translocate to the host interior and trigger increased energy harvesting and Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation with subsequent inflammatory pathways signaling. The "double hit" of steatosis (ectopic fat accumulation) and "-itis" (inflammation) and contribution of "corisks" (e.g., vitamin D deficiency [VDD]) are required to activate molecular signaling, including impaired insulin signaling and secretion, that ends with T2DM and associated diseases. Dietary changes (e.g., prebiotics, VD supplementation) may ameliorate this process if initiated prior to the process becoming irreversible.

CONCLUSION: Emerging evidence suggests an important role of microbiota in glucose homeostasis. VD supplementation and prebiotics may be useful in managing PreDM and T2DM.}, } @article {pmid23822984, year = {2013}, author = {Zheng, W and Rasmussen, U and Zheng, S and Bao, X and Chen, B and Gao, Y and Guan, X and Larsson, J and Bergman, B}, title = {Multiple Modes of Cell Death Discovered in a Prokaryotic (Cyanobacterial) Endosymbiont.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {e66147}, pmid = {23822984}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Apoptosis ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Ferns/cytology/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically-based cell death mechanism with vital roles in eukaryotes. Although there is limited consensus on similar death mode programs in prokaryotes, emerging evidence suggest that PCD events are operative. Here we present cell death events in a cyanobacterium living endophytically in the fern Azolla microphylla, suggestive of PCD. This symbiosis is characterized by some unique traits such as a synchronized development, a vertical transfer of the cyanobacterium between plant generations, and a highly eroding cyanobacterial genome. A combination of methods was used to identify cell death modes in the cyanobacterium. Light- and electron microscopy analyses showed that the proportion of cells undergoing cell death peaked at 53.6% (average 20%) of the total cell population, depending on the cell type and host developmental stage. Biochemical markers used for early and late programmed cell death events related to apoptosis (Annexin V-EGFP and TUNEL staining assays), together with visualization of cytoskeleton alterations (FITC-phalloidin staining), showed that all cyanobacterial cell categories were affected by cell death. Transmission electron microscopy revealed four modes of cell death: apoptotic-like, autophagic-like, necrotic-like and autolytic-like. Abiotic stresses further enhanced cell death in a dose and time dependent manner. The data also suggest that dynamic changes in the peptidoglycan cell wall layer and in the cytoskeleton distribution patterns may act as markers for the various cell death modes. The presence of a metacaspase homolog (domain p20) further suggests that the death modes are genetically programmed. It is therefore concluded that multiple, likely genetically programmed, cell death modes exist in cyanobacteria, a finding that may be connected with the evolution of cell death in the plant kingdom.}, } @article {pmid23819708, year = {2013}, author = {Altura, MA and Heath-Heckman, EA and Gillette, A and Kremer, N and Krachler, AM and Brennan, C and Ruby, EG and Orth, K and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {The first engagement of partners in the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri symbiosis is a two-step process initiated by a few environmental symbiont cells.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {2937-2950}, pmid = {23819708}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; NIH-NRSA AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; NIH RR 12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; NIH AI 50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*pathogenicity ; Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cilia/*microbiology ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Environment ; Epithelium/microbiology ; Hemocytes/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Light ; Mucous Membrane/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We studied the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri symbiosis to characterize, in vivo and in real time, the transition between the bacterial partner's free-living and symbiotic life styles. Previous studies using high inocula demonstrated that environmental V. fischeri cells aggregate during a 3 h period in host-shed mucus along the light organ's superficial ciliated epithelia. Under lower inoculum conditions, similar to the levels of symbiont cells in the environment, this interaction induces haemocyte trafficking into these tissues. Here, in experiments simulating natural conditions, microscopy revealed that at 3 h following first exposure, only ∼ 5 V. fischeri cells aggregated on the organ surface. These cells associated with host cilia and induced haemocyte trafficking. Symbiont viability was essential and mutants defective in symbiosis initiation and/or production of certain surface features, including the Mam7 protein, which is implicated in host cell attachment of V. cholerae, associated normally with host cilia. Studies with exopolysaccharide mutants, which are defective in aggregation, suggest a two-step process of V. fischeri cell engagement: association with host cilia followed by aggregation, i.e. host cell-symbiont interaction with subsequent symbiont-symbiont cell interaction. Taken together, these data provide a new model of early partner engagement, a complex model of host-symbiont interaction with exquisite sensitivity.}, } @article {pmid23819287, year = {2013}, author = {Guefrachi, I and Rejili, M and Mahdhi, M and Mars, M}, title = {Assessing genotypic diversity and symbiotic efficiency of five rhizobial legume interactions under cadmium stress for soil phytoremediation.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {15}, number = {10}, pages = {938-951}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2012.751350}, pmid = {23819287}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/*toxicity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fabaceae/drug effects/microbiology/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Lathyrus/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Lens Plant/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Medicago/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {In the framework of soil phytoremediation using local legume plants coupled with their native root-nodulating bacteria to increase forage yields and preserve contaminated soils in arid regions of Tunisia, we investigated the diversity of bacteria from root nodules of Lathyrus sativus, Lens culinaris, Medicago marina, M. truncatula, and M. minima and the symbiotic efficiency of these five legume symbiosis under Cadmium stress. Fifty bacterial strains were characterized using physiological and biochemical features such heavy metals resistant, and PCR-RFLP of 16S rDNA. Taxonomically, the isolates nodulating L. sativus, and L. culinaris are species within the genera Rhizobium and the ones associated to Medicago sp, within the genera Sinorhizobium. The results revealed also that the cadmium tolerance of the different legumes-rhizobia interaction was as follows: M. minima < M. truncatula < M. marina < L. sativus < L. culinaris indicating that the effect of Cadmium on root nodulation and biomass production is more deleterious on M. minima-S. meliloti and M. truncatula-S. meliloti than in other symbiosis. Knowledge on genetic and functional diversity of M. marina, L. sativus and L. culinaris microsymbiotes is very useful for inoculant strain selection and can be selected to develop inoculants for soil phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid23815769, year = {2013}, author = {Brading, P and Warner, ME and Smith, DJ and Suggett, DJ}, title = {Contrasting modes of inorganic carbon acquisition amongst Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) phylotypes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {200}, number = {2}, pages = {432-442}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12379}, pmid = {23815769}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Dinoflagellida/growth & development/*metabolism/physiology/radiation effects ; Electron Transport ; Light ; Microalgae/growth & development/metabolism/physiology/radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Growing concerns over ocean acidification have highlighted the need to critically understand inorganic carbon acquisition and utilization in marine microalgae. Here, we contrast these characteristics for the first time between two genetically distinct dinoflagellate species of the genus Symbiodinium (phylotypes A13 and A20) that live in symbiosis with reef-forming corals. Both phylotypes were grown in continuous cultures under identical environmental conditions. Rubisco was measured using quantitative Western blots, and radioisotopic (14) C uptake was used to characterize light- and total carbon dioxide (TCO2)-dependent carbon fixation, as well as inorganic carbon species preference and external carbonic anhydrase activity. A13 and A20 exhibited similar rates of carbon fixation despite cellular concentrations of Rubisco being approximately four-fold greater in A13. The uptake of CO2 over HCO3 - was found to support the majority of carbon fixation in both phylotypes. However, A20 was also able to indirectly utilize HCO3 - by first converting it to CO2 via external carbonic anhydrase. These results show that adaptive differences in inorganic carbon acquisition have evolved within the Symbiodinium genus, which thus carries fundamental implications as to how this functionally key genus will respond to ocean acidification, but could also represent a key trait factor that influences their productivity when in hospite of their coral hosts.}, } @article {pmid23813587, year = {2013}, author = {Giauque, H and Hawkes, CV}, title = {Climate affects symbiotic fungal endophyte diversity and performance.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {100}, number = {7}, pages = {1435-1444}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1200568}, pmid = {23813587}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {*Climate Change ; Endophytes ; Environmental Monitoring ; Fungi/*classification/physiology ; Panicum/*microbiology/physiology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Water ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Fungal endophytes are symbionts that inhabit aboveground tissues of most terrestrial plants and can affect plant physiology and growth under stressed conditions. In a future faced with substantial climate change, endophytes have the potential to play an important role in plant stress resistance. Understanding both the distributions of endophytes and their functioning in symbiosis with plants are key aspects of predicting their role in an altered climate.

METHODS: Here we characterized endophytes in grasses across a steep precipitation gradient to examine the relative importance of environmental and spatial factors in structuring endophyte communities. We also tested how 20 endophytes isolated from drier and wetter regions performed in symbiosis with grass seedlings under high and low soil moisture in the greenhouse.

KEY RESULTS: Environmental factors related to historical and current precipitation were the most important predictors of endophyte communities in the field. On average, endophytic fungi from western sites also reduced plant water loss in the greenhouse compared to fungi from eastern sites. However, there was substantial variability in how individual endophytic taxa affected plant traits under high and low water availability, with up to two orders of magnitude difference in the plasticity of plant traits conferred by the different fungal taxa.

CONCLUSIONS: While species sorting appears to largely explain local endophyte community composition, their function in symbiosis is not predictable from local environmental conditions. The development of a predictive framework for endophyte function will require further study of individual fungal taxa and genotypes across environmental gradients.}, } @article {pmid23809654, year = {2013}, author = {van der Nest, MA and Steenkamp, ET and Wilken, MP and Stenlid, J and Wingfield, MJ and Wingfield, BD and Slippers, B}, title = {Mutualism and asexual reproduction influence recognition genes in a fungal symbiont.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {117}, number = {6}, pages = {439-450}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2013.05.001}, pmid = {23809654}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*genetics/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Pheromone/genetics ; *Recombination, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualism between microbes and insects is common and alignment of the reproductive interests of microbial symbionts with this lifestyle typically involves clonal reproduction and vertical transmission by insect partners. Here the Amylostereum fungus-Sirex woodwasp mutualism was used to consider whether their prolonged association and predominance of asexuality have affected the mating system of the fungal partner. Nucleotide information for the pheromone receptor gene rab1, as well as the translation elongation factor 1α gene and ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer region were utilized. The identification of rab1 alleles in Amylostereum chailletii and Amylostereum areolatum populations revealed that this gene is more polymorphic than the other two regions, although the diversity of all three regions was lower than what has been observed in free-living Agaricomycetes. Our data suggest that suppressed recombination might be implicated in the diversification of rab1, while no evidence of balancing selection was detected. We also detected positive selection at only two codons, suggesting that purifying selection is important for the evolution of rab1. The symbiotic relationship with their insect partners has therefore influenced the diversity of this gene and influenced the manner in which selection drives and maintains this diversity in A. areolatum and A. chailletii.}, } @article {pmid23809653, year = {2013}, author = {Beckett, RP and Zavarzina, AG and Liers, C}, title = {Oxidoreductases and cellulases in lichens: possible roles in lichen biology and soil organic matter turnover.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {117}, number = {6}, pages = {431-438}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2013.04.007}, pmid = {23809653}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Biotransformation ; Cellulases/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Lichens/*enzymology ; Organic Chemicals/*metabolism ; Oxidoreductases/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations of a fungus (usually an Ascomycete) with green algae and/or a cyanobacterium. They dominate on 8 % of the world's land surface, mainly in Arctic and Antarctic regions, tundra, high mountain elevations and as components of dryland crusts. In many ecosystems, lichens are the pioneers on the bare rock or soil following disturbance, presumably because of their tolerance to desiccation and high temperature. Lichens have long been recognized as agents of mineral weathering and fine-earth stabilization. Being dominant biomass producers in extreme environments they contribute to primary accumulation of soil organic matter. However, biochemical role of lichens in soil processes is unknown. Our recent research has demonstrated that Peltigeralean lichens contain redox enzymes which in free-living fungi participate in lignocellulose degradation and humification. Thus lichen enzymes may catalyse formation and degradation of soil organic matter, particularly in high-stress communities dominated by lower plants. In the present review we synthesize recently published data on lichen phenol oxidases, peroxidases, and cellulases and discuss their possible roles in lichen physiology and soil organic matter transformations.}, } @article {pmid23809631, year = {2013}, author = {Rattmann, YD and Malquevicz-Paiva, SM and Iacomini, M and Cordeiro, LM}, title = {Galactofuranose-rich polysaccharides from Trebouxia sp. induce inflammation and exacerbate lethality by sepsis in mice.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {94}, number = {}, pages = {206-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.05.020}, pmid = {23809631}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*chemistry ; Creatinine/blood ; Galactose/chemistry ; Inflammation/blood/*chemically induced ; Interleukin-1beta/blood ; Lung/drug effects/pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neutrophils/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Polysaccharides/chemistry/*toxicity ; Sepsis/blood/*chemically induced/mortality ; Sesquiterpenes/chemistry/toxicity ; Survival Rate ; }, abstract = {Trebouxia sp. is a genus of green algae that is a symbiotic partner of lichenized fungi. Previous studies conduced demonstrated that Trebouxia sp. is able to produce galactofuranose-rich polysaccharides (β-d-galactofuranan, mannogalactofuranan), which were able to activate macrophages in vitro. The present study was proposed to investigate the effects of SK10 polysaccharides fraction from Trebouxia sp. on the model of polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture in mice in vivo. The subcutaneous administration of SK10 increased the late mortality rate by 20%, stimulated neutrophil accumulation in lungs (indirectly measured through myeloperoxidase activity) and also Interleukin-1β, creatinine and glucose serum levels. Moreover this study demonstrates the in vivo proinflammatory effects of polymers of galactofuranose and that they can act as pathogen-associated molecular patterns being highly recognized by the immune system of mammals, even if they come from a non-pathogenic microorganism.}, } @article {pmid23808871, year = {2013}, author = {Fliegmann, J and Canova, S and Lachaud, C and Uhlenbroich, S and Gasciolli, V and Pichereaux, C and Rossignol, M and Rosenberg, C and Cumener, M and Pitorre, D and Lefebvre, B and Gough, C and Samain, E and Fort, S and Driguez, H and Vauzeilles, B and Beau, JM and Nurisso, A and Imberty, A and Cullimore, J and Bono, JJ}, title = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharidic symbiotic signals are recognized by LysM receptor-like kinase LYR3 in the legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {1900-1906}, doi = {10.1021/cb400369u}, pmid = {23808871}, issn = {1554-8937}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chitin/*analogs & derivatives ; Lipids/chemistry ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligosaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While chitooligosaccharides (COs) derived from fungal chitin are potent elicitors of defense reactions, structurally related signals produced by certain bacteria and fungi, called lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), play important roles in the establishment of symbioses with plants. Understanding how plants distinguish between friend and foe through the perception of these signals is a major challenge. We report the synthesis of a range of COs and LCOs, including photoactivatable probes, to characterize a membrane protein from the legume Medicago truncatula. By coupling photoaffinity labeling experiments with proteomics and transcriptomics, we identified the likely LCO-binding protein as LYR3, a lysin motif receptor-like kinase (LysM-RLK). LYR3, expressed heterologously, exhibits high-affinity binding to LCOs but not COs. Homology modeling, based on the Arabidopsis CO-binding LysM-RLK AtCERK1, suggests that LYR3 could accommodate the LCO in a conserved binding site. The identification of LYR3 opens up ways for the molecular characterization of LCO/CO discrimination.}, } @article {pmid23808340, year = {2013}, author = {van Dooren, GG and Striepen, B}, title = {The algal past and parasite present of the apicoplast.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {271-289}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155741}, pmid = {23808340}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {R01 AI064671/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI 64671/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI 84415/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Apicomplexa/genetics/*metabolism ; Apicoplasts/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Humans ; Parasites/genetics/*metabolism ; Protozoan Infections/parasitology ; Rhodophyta/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plasmodium and Toxoplasma are genera of apicomplexan parasites that infect millions of people each year. The former causes malaria, and the latter causes neurotropic infections associated with a weakened or developing immune system. These parasites harbor a peculiar organelle, the apicoplast. The apicoplast is the product of an ancient endosymbiosis between a heterotrophic and a photosynthetic protist. We explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms that enabled a stable union of two previously independent organisms. These include the exchange of metabolites, transfer of genes, transport of proteins, and overall coordination of biogenesis and proliferation. These mechanisms are still active today and can be exploited to treat parasite infection. They were shaped by the dramatic changes that occurred in the evolution of the phylum Apicomplexa--including the gain and loss of photosynthesis, adaptation to symbiosis and parasitism, and the explosion of animal diversity-that ultimately provided an aquatic alga access to every biotope on this planet.}, } @article {pmid23807431, year = {2013}, author = {Body, M and Kaiser, W and Dubreuil, G and Casas, J and Giron, D}, title = {Leaf-miners co-opt microorganisms to enhance their nutritional environment.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {39}, number = {7}, pages = {969-977}, pmid = {23807431}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cytokinins/*metabolism ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Larva/microbiology ; Male ; Malus/*metabolism ; Moths/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Organisms make the best of their mother's oviposition choices and utilize specific feeding options that meet energetic requirements and cope with environmental constraints. This is particularly true for leaf-miner insects that develop enclosed in the two epidermis layers of a single leaf for their entire larval life. Cytokinins (CKs) play a central role in plant physiology - including regulation of senescence and nutrient translocation - and, as such, can be the specific target of plant exploiters that manipulate plant primary metabolism. 'Green-islands' are striking examples of a CK-induced phenotype where green areas are induced by plant pathogens/insects in otherwise yellow senescent leaves. Here, we document how the leaf-miner caterpillar Phyllonorycter blancardella, working through an endosymbiotic bacteria, modifies phytohormonal profiles, not only on senescing (photosynthetically inactive) but also on normal (photosynthetically active) leaf tissues of its host plant (Malus domestica). This leaf physiological manipulation allows the insect to maintain sugar-rich green tissues and to create an enhanced nutritional microenvironment in an otherwise degenerating context. It also allows them to maintain a nutritional homeostasis even under distinct leaf environments. Our study also highlights that only larvae harboring bacterial symbionts contain significant amounts of CKs that are most likely not plant-derived. This suggests that insects are able to provide CKs to the plant through their symbiotic association, thus extending further the role of insect bacterial symbionts in plant-insect interactions.}, } @article {pmid23805661, year = {2013}, author = {Bukharin, OV}, title = {[Symbiotic interactions of microorganisms during infection].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {1}, pages = {93-97}, pmid = {23805661}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Animals ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Humans ; *Infections ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions of microorganisms during infection are reviewed. Infectious process is presented as a model system of associative symbiosis with 3 functional vectors of symbiont interactions. The principal attention is paid to microsymbiocenosis and estimation of its role during infection. Materials on population-communicative dialogue of microsymbionts are given, and their applied importance for medical-biological science is shown. Algorithm of microbial "self-non self" recognition under the control of opposite (increase/ suppression) effect of dominant-associant microbe pair on principal physiological (growth and persistence) functions of microsymbionts is presented.}, } @article {pmid23802876, year = {2013}, author = {Le Clec'h, W and Raimond, M and Guillot, S and Bouchon, D and Sicard, M}, title = {Horizontal transfers of feminizing versus non-feminizing Wolbachia strains: from harmless passengers to pathogens.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {2922-2936}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12172}, pmid = {23802876}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Isopoda/classification/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence/genetics ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis infects various hosts in which it navigates vertically from mothers to offspring. However, horizontal transfers of Wolbachia can occur between hosts. The virulence of the horizontally acquired Wolbachia can change in the new host as it has been illustrated by the case of the feminizing strain wVulC from the woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare that turns to a pathogen when introduced into Porcellio dilatatus dilatatus. In the present study, we aim to show whether symbiotic traits, such as (i) host sex manipulation and (ii) colonization patterns, which differ between eight isopod Wolbachia strains, are connected to their virulence towards the recipient host P. d. dilatatus. Among the transferred Wolbachia, some feminizing strains gradually differing in feminizing intensity in their native hosts induced different levels of pathogenicity to P. d. dilatatus. Not a single feminizing strain passed vertically with high titres to the next generation. The non-feminizing Wolbachia strains, even if they reached high densities in the host, did not impact host life-history traits and some vertically passed with high titres to the offspring. These results suggest that a potential link between the manners Wolbachia manipulates its native host reproduction, its virulence and its ability to vertically infect the offspring.}, } @article {pmid23802036, year = {2013}, author = {Behie, SW and Padilla-Guerrero, IE and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Nutrient transfer to plants by phylogenetically diverse fungi suggests convergent evolutionary strategies in rhizospheric symbionts.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {e22321}, pmid = {23802036}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Most land plants are able to form symbiotic associations with fungi, and in many cases these associations are necessary for plant and fungal survival. These plant/fungal associations are formed with mycorrhizal (arbuscular mycorrhizal or ectomycorrhizal) or endophytic fungi, fungi from distinct phylogenetic lineages. While it has been shown that mycorrhizal fungi are able to transfer nutrients to plant roots in exchange for carbon, endophytes have been thought as asymptomatic colonizers. Recently, however, it has been shown that some insect pathogenic endophytic fungi are able to transfer insect derived nitrogen to plant roots, likely in exchange for plant sugars. Here we explore potential convergent evolutionary strategies for nutrient transfer between insect pathogenic endophytes and mycorrhizal fungus.}, } @article {pmid23801125, year = {2013}, author = {Solovchenko, A and Khozin-Goldberg, I}, title = {High-CO2 tolerance in microalgae: possible mechanisms and implications for biotechnology and bioremediation.}, journal = {Biotechnology letters}, volume = {35}, number = {11}, pages = {1745-1752}, doi = {10.1007/s10529-013-1274-7}, pmid = {23801125}, issn = {1573-6776}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; *Metabolism ; Microalgae/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Recent developments in the field of microalgal biotechnology, including CO2 biomitigation and the discovery of new species of microalgae that are tolerant to extremely high CO2 levels (40-100 vol%), have renewed interest in the physiological effects and mechanisms of high-CO2 tolerance in photoautotrophs. Photosynthetic apparatus state transitions that increase ATP generation, upregulation of H(+)-ATPases pumping protons out of the cell, rapid shutdown of CO2-concentrating mechanisms, and adjustment of membranes' fatty acid composition are currently believed to be the key mechanisms governing cellular pH homeostasis and hence microalgae's tolerance to high CO2 levels, which is especially characteristic of extremophile and symbiotic species. The mechanisms governing acclimation to high CO2 comprise the subject of this review and are discussed in view of the use of CO2 enrichment to increase the productivity of microalgal cultures, as well as the practice of carbon capture from flue gases.}, } @article {pmid23800318, year = {2013}, author = {Technau, U and Weis, VM}, title = {EvoDevo meets ecology: the Ninth Okazaki Biology Conference on Marine Biology.}, journal = {EvoDevo}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {18}, doi = {10.1186/2041-9139-4-18}, pmid = {23800318}, issn = {2041-9139}, support = {P 24858/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {The "9th Okazaki Biology Conference: Marine Biology II" held at the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB) in Okazaki, Japan and at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Okinawa, Japan (14-19 October 2012) bridged the fields of EvoDevo, symbiosis and coral reef ecology.}, } @article {pmid23799814, year = {2013}, author = {Hussa, EA and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {It takes a village: ecological and fitness impacts of multipartite mutualism.}, journal = {Annual review of microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {}, pages = {161-178}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155723}, pmid = {23799814}, issn = {1545-3251}, support = {1F32AI084441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbioses, in which microbes have either positive (mutualistic) or negative (parasitic) impacts on host fitness, are integral to all aspects of biology, from ecology to human health. In many well-studied cases, microbial symbiosis is characterized by a specialized association between a host and a specific microbe that provides it with one or more beneficial functions, such as novel metabolic pathways or defense against pathogens. Even in relatively simple associations, symbiont-derived benefits can be context dependent and influenced by other host-associated or environmental microbes. Furthermore, naturally occurring symbioses are typically complex, in which multiple symbionts exhibit coordinated, competing, or independent influences on host physiology, or in which individual symbionts affect multiple interacting hosts. Here we describe research on the mechanisms and consequences of multipartite symbioses, including consortia in which multiple organisms interact with the host and one another, and on conditional mutualists whose impact on the host depends on additional interacting organisms.}, } @article {pmid23799247, year = {2013}, author = {Dam, S and Thaysen-Andersen, M and Stenkjær, E and Lorentzen, A and Roepstorff, P and Packer, NH and Stougaard, J}, title = {Combined N-glycome and N-glycoproteome analysis of the Lotus japonicus seed globulin fraction shows conservation of protein structure and glycosylation in legumes.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {3383-3392}, doi = {10.1021/pr400224s}, pmid = {23799247}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Conserved Sequence ; Globulins/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Glycoproteins/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Seeds/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume food allergy, such as allergy toward peanuts and soybeans, is a health issue predicted to worsen as dietary advice recommends higher intake of legume-based foods. Lotus japonicus (Lotus) is an established legume plant model system for studies of symbiotic and pathogenic microbial interactions and, due to its well characterized genotype/phenotype and easily manipulated genome, may also be suitable for studies of legume food allergy. Here we present a comprehensive study of the Lotus N-glycoproteome. The global and site-specific N-glycan structures of Lotus seed globulins were analyzed using mass spectrometry-based glycomics and glycoproteomics techniques. In total, 19 N-glycan structures comprising high mannose (∼20%), pauci-mannosidic (∼40%), and complex forms (∼40%) were determined. The pauci-mannosidic and complex N-glycans contained high amounts of the typical plant determinants β-1,2-xylose and α-1,3-fucose. Two abundant Lotus seed N-glycoproteins were site-specifically profiled; a predicted lectin containing two fully occupied N-glycosylation sites carried predominantly pauci-mannosidic structures in different distributions. In contrast, Lotus convicilin storage protein 2 (LCP2) carried exclusively high mannose N-glycans similar to its homologue, Ara h 1, which is the major allergen in peanut. In silico investigation confirmed that peanut Ara h 1 and Lotus LCP2 are highly similar at the primary and higher protein structure levels. Hence, we suggest that Lotus has the potential to serve as a model system for studying the role of seed proteins and their glycosylation in food allergy.}, } @article {pmid23797930, year = {2013}, author = {Saikkonen, K and Gundel, PE and Helander, M}, title = {Chemical ecology mediated by fungal endophytes in grasses.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {39}, number = {7}, pages = {962-968}, pmid = {23797930}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*biosynthesis ; Animals ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Herbivory ; Insecta ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Defensive mutualism is widely accepted as providing the best framework for understanding how seed-transmitted, alkaloid producing fungal endophytes of grasses are maintained in many host populations. Here, we first briefly review current knowledge of bioactive alkaloids produced by systemic grass-endophytes. New findings suggest that chemotypic diversity of the endophyte-grass symbiotum is far more complex, involving multifaceted signaling and chemical cross-talk between endophyte and host cells (e.g., reactive oxygen species and antioxidants) or between plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies (e.g., volatile organic compounds, and salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways). Accumulating evidence also suggests that the tight relationship between the systemic endophyte and the host grass can lead to the loss of grass traits when the lost functions, such as plant defense to herbivores, are compensated for by an interactive endophytic fungal partner. Furthermore, chemotypic diversity of a symbiotum appears to depend on the endophyte and the host plant life histories, as well as on fungal and plant genotypes, abiotic and biotic environmental conditions, and their interactions. Thus, joint approaches of (bio)chemists, molecular biologists, plant physiologists, evolutionary biologists, and ecologists are urgently needed to fully understand the endophyte-grass symbiosis, its coevolutionary history, and ecological importance. We propose that endophyte-grass symbiosis provides an excellent model to study microbially mediated multirophic interactions from molecular mechanisms to ecology.}, } @article {pmid23796963, year = {2013}, author = {Bao, X and Roossinck, MJ}, title = {A life history view of mutualistic viral symbioses: quantity or quality for cooperation?.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {514-518}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2013.05.007}, pmid = {23796963}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Models, Theoretical ; *Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses between viruses and their hosts do not employ a straightforward rule by viral genome characteristics, transmission mechanisms or host genotypes. In this review we propose that reproduction rates and environmental carrying capacity of hosts may play a major role in maintaining the mutualism. Depending on how host life history shifts following establishment of the symbiosis, a symbiosis can be classified as quality-selected mutualism or quantity-selected mutualism. Quality-selected mutualism is described with modified Lotka-Volterra models. Both our models and previous empirical examples support the hypothesis that quality-selected mutualism can reach stable equilibrium under certain conditions. Quantity-selected mutualism is rare and is not supported by our model. With increasing attention to mutualistic viral ecology, we will have a better understanding of how viruses drive evolution.}, } @article {pmid23796794, year = {2013}, author = {Turner, M and Nizampatnam, NR and Baron, M and Coppin, S and Damodaran, S and Adhikari, S and Arunachalam, SP and Yu, O and Subramanian, S}, title = {Ectopic expression of miR160 results in auxin hypersensitivity, cytokinin hyposensitivity, and inhibition of symbiotic nodule development in soybean.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {162}, number = {4}, pages = {2042-2055}, pmid = {23796794}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Benzyl Compounds ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Cytokinins/metabolism/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Kinetin/pharmacology ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Purines ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*physiology ; Soybeans/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic root nodules in leguminous plants result from interaction between the plant and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. There are two major types of legume nodules, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate nodules do not have a persistent meristem, while indeterminate nodules have a persistent meristem. Auxin is thought to play a role in the development of both these types of nodules. However, inhibition of rootward auxin transport at the site of nodule initiation is crucial for the development of indeterminate nodules but not determinate nodules. Using the synthetic auxin-responsive DR5 promoter in soybean (Glycine max), we show that there is relatively low auxin activity during determinate nodule initiation and that it is restricted to the nodule periphery subsequently during development. To examine if and what role auxin plays in determinate nodule development, we generated soybean composite plants with altered sensitivity to auxin. We overexpressed microRNA393 to silence the auxin receptor gene family, and these roots were hyposensitive to auxin. These roots nodulated normally, suggesting that only minimal/reduced auxin signaling is required for determinate nodule development. We overexpressed microRNA160 to silence a set of repressor auxin response factor transcription factors, and these roots were hypersensitive to auxin. These roots were not impaired in epidermal responses to rhizobia but had significantly reduced nodule primordium formation, suggesting that auxin hypersensitivity inhibits nodule development. These roots were also hyposensitive to cytokinin and had attenuated expression of key nodulation-associated transcription factors known to be regulated by cytokinin. We propose a regulatory feedback loop involving auxin and cytokinin during nodulation.}, } @article {pmid23796072, year = {2013}, author = {Rey, T and Schornack, S}, title = {Interactions of beneficial and detrimental root-colonizing filamentous microbes with plant hosts.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {121}, pmid = {23796072}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/immunology ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phytophthora/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; Plant Immunity/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tobacco/*genetics/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding commonalities and differences of how symbiotic and parasitic microbes interact with plants will improve advantageous interactions and allow pathogen control strategies in crops. Recently established systems enable studies of root pathogenic and symbiotic interactions in the same plant species.}, } @article {pmid23795916, year = {2013}, author = {Bay, G and Nahar, N and Oubre, M and Whitehouse, MJ and Wardle, DA and Zackrisson, O and Nilsson, MC and Rasmussen, U}, title = {Boreal feather mosses secrete chemical signals to gain nitrogen.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {200}, number = {1}, pages = {54-60}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12403}, pmid = {23795916}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Bryopsida/microbiology/*physiology ; *Nitrogen/physiology ; Nitrogen Cycle ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {The mechanistic basis of feather moss-cyanobacteria associations, a main driver of nitrogen (N) input into boreal forests, remains unknown. Here, we studied colonization by Nostoc sp. on two feather mosses that form these associations (Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens) and two acrocarpous mosses that do not (Dicranum polysetum and Polytrichum commune). We also determined how N availability and moss reproductive stage affects colonization, and measured N transfer from cyanobacteria to mosses. The ability of mosses to induce differentiation of cyanobacterial hormogonia, and of hormogonia to then colonize mosses and re-establish a functional symbiosis was determined through microcosm experiments, microscopy and acetylene reduction assays. Nitrogen transfer between cyanobacteria and Pleurozium schreberi was monitored by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). All mosses induced hormogonia differentiation but only feather mosses were subsequently colonized. Colonization on Pleurozium schreberi was enhanced during the moss reproductive phase but impaired by elevated N. Transfer of N from cyanobacteria to their host moss was observed. Our results reveal that feather mosses likely secrete species-specific chemo-attractants when N-limited, which guide cyanobacteria towards them and from which they gain N. We conclude that this signalling is regulated by N demands of mosses, and serves as a control of N input into boreal forests.}, } @article {pmid23795235, year = {2013}, author = {Samuels, RI and Mattoso, TC and Moreira, DD}, title = {Chemical warfare: Leaf-cutting ants defend themselves and their gardens against parasite attack by deploying antibiotic secreting bacteria.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {e23095}, pmid = {23795235}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants are well known for their highly complex social organization, which provides them with a strong defense against parasites invading their colonies. Besides this attribute, these insects have morphological, physiological and structural characteristics further reinforcing the defense of their colonies. With the discovery of symbiotic bacteria present on the integument of leaf-cutting ants, a new line of defense was proposed and considered to be specific for the control of a specialized fungal parasite of the ants' fungus gardens (Escovopsis). However, recent studies have questioned the specificity of the integumental bacteria, as they were also found to inhibit a range of fungi, including entomopathogens. The microbiota associated with the leaf-cutting ant gardens has also been proposed as another level of chemical defense, protecting the garden from parasite invasion. Here we review the chemical defense weaponry deployed by leaf-cutting ants against parasites of their fungus gardens and of the ants themselves.}, } @article {pmid23794913, year = {2013}, author = {Su, SW and Hirose, E and Chen, SL and Mok, MH}, title = {Photosymbiotic ascidians in Singapore: turbid waters may reduce living space.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {305}, pages = {55-65}, pmid = {23794913}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {The photosymbiotic ascidian fauna at Changi Beach, Pulau Semakau, Sentosa and St. John's Island, Singapore were surveyed. A total of five species, Diplosoma simile, Lissoclinum bistratum, Lissoclinum punctatum, Lissoclinum timorense and Trididemnum cyclops, were recorded, with Lissoclinum timorense and Trididemnum cyclops being newly recorded in Singapore. However, no photosymbiotic species were found at Changi Beach probably due to the polluted waters in the region. Coastal development has caused Singapore waters to become turbid, leading to decrease in suitable habitats for photosymbiotic ascidians. Clean waters in Pulau Semakau probably provide a better environment for the growth of photosymbiotic ascidians and this area has a greater variety of these ascidians than the other areas in Singapore. Each of the five species has also been recorded in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Japan) and three species (Diplosoma simile, Lissoclinum bistratum and Trididemnum cyclops) have also been recorded in Taiwan.}, } @article {pmid23793497, year = {2013}, author = {Ho, JS and Ivanenko, VN}, title = {Doridicola indistinctus n. sp. (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida: Rhynchomolgidae) associated with the soft coral Gersemia fruticosa Sars (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) from the White Sea.}, journal = {Systematic parasitology}, volume = {85}, number = {3}, pages = {235-241}, pmid = {23793497}, issn = {1573-5192}, mesh = {Animal Structures/anatomy & histology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Aquatic Organisms/*parasitology ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/*classification ; Microscopy ; }, abstract = {A new species of poecilostomatoid copepod, Doridicola indistinctus n. sp. (Rhynchomolgidae), is described from specimens found in association with the soft coral Gersemia fruticosa Sars (Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae), collected from the White Sea. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following features in the female: (i) antenna tipped, with two subequal large claws which are about as long as the segment bearing them; (ii) two naked, extremely unequal setae on the middle segment of the maxilliped, the short, medial seta less than half-length of the outer seta; and (iii) free segment of leg 5 bears the basal swelling and is ornamented with spinules on the outer surface. This is the first report of a copepod occurring in symbiosis with nephtheid corals from the Arctic Zone. It also constitutes the northernmost record for a species of Doridicola Leydig, 1853, which is the largest genus of the Rhynchomolgidae Burmeister, 1835 comprising 52 species, including the present new species.}, } @article {pmid23791183, year = {2013}, author = {Husnik, F and Nikoh, N and Koga, R and Ross, L and Duncan, RP and Fujie, M and Tanaka, M and Satoh, N and Bachtrog, D and Wilson, AC and von Dohlen, CD and Fukatsu, T and McCutcheon, JP}, title = {Horizontal gene transfer from diverse bacteria to an insect genome enables a tripartite nested mealybug symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {153}, number = {7}, pages = {1567-1578}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.040}, pmid = {23791183}, issn = {1097-4172}, support = {R01GM076007/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM093182/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM076007/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM093182/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM101255/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Hemiptera/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The smallest reported bacterial genome belongs to Tremblaya princeps, a symbiont of Planococcus citri mealybugs (PCIT). Tremblaya PCIT not only has a 139 kb genome, but possesses its own bacterial endosymbiont, Moranella endobia. Genome and transcriptome sequencing, including genome sequencing from a Tremblaya lineage lacking intracellular bacteria, reveals that the extreme genomic degeneracy of Tremblaya PCIT likely resulted from acquiring Moranella as an endosymbiont. In addition, at least 22 expressed horizontally transferred genes from multiple diverse bacteria to the mealybug genome likely complement missing symbiont genes. However, none of these horizontally transferred genes are from Tremblaya, showing that genome reduction in this symbiont has not been enabled by gene transfer to the host nucleus. Our results thus indicate that the functioning of this three-way symbiosis is dependent on genes from at least six lineages of organisms and reveal a path to intimate endosymbiosis distinct from that followed by organelles.}, } @article {pmid23794014, year = {2013}, author = {Hussain, A and Hamayun, M and Shah, ST}, title = {Root colonization and phytostimulation by phytohormones producing entophytic Nostoc sp. AH-12.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {67}, number = {5}, pages = {624-630}, pmid = {23794014}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; }, abstract = {Nostoc, a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, has great potential to make symbiotic associations with a wide range of plants and benefit its hosts with nitrogen in the form of nitrates. It may also use phytohormones as a tool to promote plant growth. Phytohormones [cytokinin (Ck) and IAA] were determined in the culture of an endophytic Nostoc isolated from rice roots. The strain was able to accumulate as well as release phytohormones to the culture media. Optimum growth conditions for the production of zeatin and IAA were a temperature of 25 °C and a pH of 8.0. Time-dependent increase in the accumulation and release of phytohormones was recorded. To evaluate the impact of cytokinins, an ipt knockout mutant in the background of Nostoc was generated by homologous recombination method. A sharp decline (up to 80 %) in the zeatin content was observed in the culture of mutant strain Nostoc AHM-12. Association of the mutant and wild type strain with rice and wheat roots was studied under axenic conditions. The efficacy of Nostoc to colonize plant root was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) as a result of ipt inactivation as evident by low chlorophyll a concentration in the roots. In contrast to the mutant strain, wild type strain showed good association with the roots and enhanced several growth parameters, such as fresh weight, dry weight, shoot length, and root length of the crop plants. The study clearly demonstrated that Ck is a tool of endophytic Nostoc to colonize plant root and promote its growth.}, } @article {pmid23793582, year = {2013}, author = {Emery, SM and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Impacts of simulated climate change and fungal symbionts on survival and growth of a foundation species in sand dunes.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {173}, number = {4}, pages = {1601-1612}, pmid = {23793582}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Biomass ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Endophytes/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Michigan ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Poaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {For many ecosystems, one of the primary avenues of climate impact may be through changes to foundation species, which create habitats and sustain ecosystem services. For plants, microbial symbionts can often act as mutualists under abiotic stress and may mediate foundational plant responses to climate change. We manipulated the presence of endophytes in Ammophila breviligulata, a foundational sand dune species, to evaluate their potential to influence plant responses to climate change. We simulated projected climate change scenarios for temperature and precipitation using a growth chamber experiment. A 5 °C increase in temperature relative to current climate in northern Michigan reduced A. breviligulata survival by 45 %. Root biomass of A. breviligulata, which is critical to dune stabilization, was also strongly reduced by temperature. Plants inoculated with the endophyte had 14 % higher survival than endophyte-free plants. Contrary to our prediction, endophyte symbiosis did not alter the magnitude or direction of the effects of climate manipulations on A. breviligulata survival. However, in the absence of the endophyte, an increase in temperature increased the number of sand grains bound by roots by 80 %, while in symbiotic plants sand adherence did not significantly respond to temperature. Thus, plant-endophyte symbiosis actually negated the benefits in ecosystem function gained under a warmer climate. This study suggests that heat stress related to climate change in the Great Lakes may compromise the ability of A. breviligulata to stabilize dune ecosystems and reduce carbon storage and organic matter build-up in these early-successional systems due to reduced plant survival and root growth.}, } @article {pmid23791850, year = {2013}, author = {Addison, AL and Powell, JA and Six, DL and Moore, M and Bentz, BJ}, title = {The role of temperature variability in stabilizing the mountain pine beetle-fungus mutualism.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {335}, number = {}, pages = {40-50}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.06.012}, pmid = {23791850}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Ophiostoma/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {As global climate patterns continue to change and extreme weather events become increasingly common, it is likely that many ecological interactions will be affected. One such interaction is the multipartite symbiosis that exists between the mountain pine beetle and two species of fungi, Grosmannia clavigera and Ophiostoma montium. In this mutualism, the fungi provide nutrition to the beetle, while the fungi benefit by being dispersed to new host trees. Multi-partite mutualisms are predicted to be unstable due to strong direct competition among symbionts or natural selection for superior over inferior mutualists. However, this mutualism has remained stable over long periods of evolutionary time. In this paper, we developed a temperature-based model for the spread of fungi within a tree and connected it to an existing model for mountain pine beetle development. Using this integrated model for fungal growth, we explored the possibility that temperature variability is a stabilizing mechanism for the mountain pine beetle-fungi mutualism. Of the three types of temperature variability we tested: intra-year, inter-year and variability due to transitioning between different thermal habitats (thermal migration), we found that thermal migration was the most robust stabilizing mechanism. Additionally, we found that the MPB attack density or spacing between fungal lesions also had a significant effect on the stability of the system. High attack densities or close lesion spacings also tended to stabilize the system, regardless of temperature.}, } @article {pmid23791668, year = {2013}, author = {Patiño Cano, LP and Bartolotta, SA and Casanova, NA and Siless, GE and Portmann, E and Schejter, L and Palermo, JA and Carballo, MA}, title = {Isolation of acetylated bile acids from the sponge Siphonochalina fortis and DNA damage evaluation by the comet assay.}, journal = {Steroids}, volume = {78}, number = {10}, pages = {982-986}, doi = {10.1016/j.steroids.2013.05.020}, pmid = {23791668}, issn = {1878-5867}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholic Acids/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Comet Assay ; *DNA Damage ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Humans ; Lymphocytes/drug effects/physiology ; Mutagens/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Porifera/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {From the organic extracts of the sponge Siphonochalina fortis, collected at Bahía Bustamante, Chubut, Argentina, three major compounds were isolated and identified as deoxycholic acid 3, 12-diacetate (1), cholic acid 3, 7, 12-triacetate (2) and cholic acid, 3, 7, 12-triacetate. (3). This is the first report of acetylated bile acids in sponges and the first isolation of compound 3 as a natural product. The potential induction of DNA lesions by the isolated compounds was investigated using the comet assay in lymphocytes of human peripheral blood as in vitro model. The results showed that the administration of the bile acid derivatives would not induce DNA damages, indicating that acetylated bile acids are nontoxic metabolites at the tested concentrations. Since the free bile acids were not detected, it is unlikely that the acetylated compounds may be part of the sponge cells detoxification mechanisms. These results may suggest a possible role of acetylated bile acids as a chemical defense mechanism, product of a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms, which would explain their seasonal and geographical variation, and their influence on the previously observed genotoxicity of the organic extract of S. fortis.}, } @article {pmid23791634, year = {2013}, author = {Furukawa, S and Watanabe, T and Toyama, H and Morinaga, Y}, title = {Significance of microbial symbiotic coexistence in traditional fermentation.}, journal = {Journal of bioscience and bioengineering}, volume = {116}, number = {5}, pages = {533-539}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiosc.2013.05.017}, pmid = {23791634}, issn = {1347-4421}, mesh = {Acetic Acid/metabolism ; Alcoholic Beverages/microbiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Edible Grain/metabolism ; *Fermentation ; *Food Microbiology ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Yeasts/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis has long been a central theme in microbiology. There have been many studies on the symbioses between microorganisms and higher organisms such as plants and animals. There also have been some studies on the symbiosis or coexistence of microorganisms, such as yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and koji molds, in traditional fermentation (brewing). These microorganisms are considered to interact and cooperate with each other in various natural environments, such as dropped cereal crops or ripe fruits. Human beings have taken advantage of these microbial interactions for producing various fermented foods.}, } @article {pmid23790215, year = {2013}, author = {de la Providencia, IE and Nadimi, M and Beaudet, D and Rodriguez Morales, G and Hijri, M}, title = {Detection of a transient mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in the progeny of crossed genetically divergent isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {200}, number = {1}, pages = {211-221}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12372}, pmid = {23790215}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Crosses, Genetic ; *DNA, Mitochondrial ; *Genotype ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; Haplotypes ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Spores, Fungal/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nonself fusion and nuclear genetic exchange have been documented in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), particularly in Rhizophagus irregularis. However, mitochondrial transmission accompanying nonself fusion of genetically divergent isolates remains unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy occurs in the progeny of spores, obtained by crossing genetically divergent mtDNAs in R. irregularis isolates. Three isolates of geographically distant locations were used to investigate nonself fusions and mtDNA transmission to the progeny. We sequenced two additional mtDNAs of two R. irregularis isolates and developed isolate-specific size-variable markers in intergenic regions of these isolates and those of DAOM-197198. We achieved three crossing combinations in pre-symbiotic and symbiotic phases. Progeny spores per crossing combination were genotyped using isolate-specific markers. We found evidence that nonself recognition occurs between isolates originating from different continents both in pre-symbiotic and symbiotic phases. Genotyping patterns of individual spores from the progeny clearly showed the presence of markers of the two parental mtDNA haplotypes. Our results demonstrate that mtDNA heteroplasmy occurs in the progeny of the crossed isolates. However, this heteroplasmy appears to be a transient stage because all the live progeny spores that were able to germinate showed only one mtDNA haplotype.}, } @article {pmid23788702, year = {2013}, author = {Samuni-Blank, M and Izhaki, I and Dearing, MD and Karasov, WH and Gerchman, Y and Kohl, KD and Lymberakis, P and Kurnath, P and Arad, Z}, title = {Physiological and behavioural effects of fruit toxins on seed-predating versus seed-dispersing congeneric rodents.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 19}, pages = {3667-3673}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.089664}, pmid = {23788702}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Animals ; Body Size ; Eating ; Ecosystem ; *Feeding Behavior ; Fruit/chemistry/*metabolism ; Glucosinolates/chemistry/*metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Murinae/blood/*physiology ; Resedaceae/chemistry/enzymology/*metabolism ; *Seed Dispersal ; Seeds/chemistry/enzymology/metabolism ; Toxins, Biological/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fleshy, ripe fruits attract seed dispersers but also seed predators. Although many fruit consumers (legitimate seed dispersers as well as seed predators) are clearly exposed to plant secondary compounds (PSCs), their impact on the consumers' physiology and foraging behaviour has been largely overlooked. Here, we document the divergent behavioural and physiological responses to fruit consumption of three congeneric rodent species in the Middle East, representing both seed dispersers and seed predators. The fruit pulp of the desert plant Ochradenus baccatus contains high concentrations of glucosinolates (GLSs). These GLSs are hydrolyzed into active toxic compounds upon contact with the myrosinase enzyme released from seeds crushed during fruit consumption. Acomys russatus and A. cahirinus share a desert habitat. Acomys russatus acts as an O. baccatus seed predator, and A. cahirinus circumvents the activation of the GLSs by orally expelling vital seeds. We found that between the three species examined, A. russatus was physiologically most tolerant to whole fruit consumption and even A. minous, which is evolutionarily naïve to O. baccatus, exhibits greater tolerance to whole fruit consumption than A. cahirinus. However, like A. cahirinus, A. minous may also behaviourally avoid the activation of the GLSs by making a hole in the pulp and consuming only the seeds. Our findings demonstrate that seed predators have a higher physiological tolerance than seed dispersers when consuming fruits containing toxic PSCs. The findings also demonstrate the extreme ecological/evolutionary lability of this plant-animal symbiosis to shift from predation to mutualism and vice versa.}, } @article {pmid23788647, year = {2013}, author = {Arthikala, MK and Montiel, J and Nava, N and Santana, O and Sánchez-López, R and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C}, title = {PvRbohB negatively regulates Rhizophagus irregularis colonization in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {54}, number = {8}, pages = {1391-1402}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct089}, pmid = {23788647}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Down-Regulation ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; NADPH Oxidases/*genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; RNA Interference ; Reactive Oxygen Species/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant NADPH oxidases (RBOHs) regulate the early stages of rhizobial infection in Phaseolus vulgaris and affect nodule function in Medicago truncatula. In contrast, the role of RBOHs in the plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during the establishment of the AM interaction is largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the role of P. vulgaris Rboh (PvRbohB) during the symbiosis with the AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis. Our results indicate that the PvRbohB transcript is significantly up-regulated in the mycorrhized roots of P. vulgaris. Further, the PvRbohB promoter was found to be active during the invasion of R. irregularis. Down-regulation of PvRbohB transcription by RNAi (RNA interference) silencing resulted in diminished ROS levels in the transgenic mycorrhized roots and induced early hyphal root colonization. Interestingly, the size of appressoria increased in PvRbohB-RNAi roots (760 ± 70.1 µm) relative to controls (251 ± 73.2 µm). Finally, the overall level of mycorrhizal colonization significantly increased in PvRbohB-RNAi roots [48.1 ± 3.3% root length colonization (RLC)] compared with controls (29.4 ± 1.9% RLC). We propose that PvRbohB negatively regulates AM colonization in P. vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid23788540, year = {2013}, author = {Pachebat, JA and van Keulen, G and Whitten, MM and Girdwood, S and Del Sol, R and Dyson, PJ and Facey, PD}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus rhodnii Strain LMG5362, a Symbiont of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae), the Principle Vector of Trypanosoma cruzi.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {23788540}, issn = {2169-8287}, support = {BB/G024154/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {We report the 4,385,577-bp high-quality draft assembly of the bacterial symbiont Rhodococcus rhodnii strain LMG5362, isolated from the gut of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae), the principle vector of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. This sequence might provide useful information for subsequent studies of the symbiotic relationship between Rd. prolixus and Rc. rhodnii, while also providing a starting point for the development of biotechnological applications for the control of Rd. prolixus.}, } @article {pmid23787050, year = {2013}, author = {Raven, JA}, title = {Cells inside cells: symbiosis and continuing phagotrophy.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {R530-1}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2013.05.006}, pmid = {23787050}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Phagocytosis/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Phytoplankton/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plastids evolved after a cell entered a genetically different cell, followed by integration of the two genomes. Many photosynthetic cells can ingest organic particles as food, as now demonstrated in an ancestral green alga.}, } @article {pmid23786766, year = {2013}, author = {Carillo, P and Feil, R and Gibon, Y and Satoh-Nagasawa, N and Jackson, D and Bläsing, OE and Stitt, M and Lunn, JE}, title = {A fluorometric assay for trehalose in the picomole range.}, journal = {Plant methods}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {21}, pmid = {23786766}, issn = {1746-4811}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide that is used as an osmolyte, transport sugar, carbon reserve and stress protectant in a wide range of organisms. In plants, trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P), the intermediate of trehalose biosynthesis, is thought to be a signal of sucrose status. Trehalose itself may play a role in pathogenic and symbiotic plant-microbe interactions, in responses to abiotic stress and in developmental signalling, but its precise functions are unknown. A major obstacle to investigating its function is the technical difficulty of measuring the very low levels of trehalose usually found in plant tissues, as most of the established trehalose assays lack sufficient specificity and/or sensitivity.

RESULTS: A kinetic assay for trehalose was established using recombinant Escherichia coli cytoplasmic trehalase (treF), which was shown to be highly specific for trehalose. Hydrolysis of trehalose to glucose is monitored fluorometrically and the trehalose content of the tissue extract is determined from an internal calibration curve. The assay is linear for 0.2-40 pmol trehalose, and recoveries of trehalose were ≥88%. A. thaliana Col-0 rosettes contain about 20-30 nmol g-1FW of trehalose, increasing to about 50-60 nmol g-1FW in plants grown at 8°C. Trehalose is not correlated with sucrose content, whereas a strong correlation between Tre6P and sucrose was confirmed. The trehalose contents of ear inflorescence primordia from the maize ramosa3 mutant and wild type plants were 6.6±2.6 nmol g-1FW and 19.0±12.7 nmol g-1FW, respectively. The trehalose:Tre6P ratios in the ramosa3 and wild-type primordia were 2.43±0.85 and 6.16±3.45, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The fluorometric assay is highly specific for trehalose and sensitive enough to measure the trehalose content of very small amounts of plant tissue. Chilling induced a 2-fold accumulation of trehalose in A. thaliana rosettes, but the levels were too low to make a substantial quantitative contribution to osmoregulation. Trehalose is unlikely to function as a signal of sucrose status. The abnormal inflorescence branching phenotype of the maize ramosa3 mutant might be linked to a decrease in trehalose levels in the inflorescence primordia or a downward shift in the trehalose:Tre6P ratio.}, } @article {pmid23785383, year = {2013}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Multiple control levels of root system remodeling in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {204}, pmid = {23785383}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In nature, the root systems of most plants develop intimate symbioses with glomeromycotan fungi that assist in the acquisition of mineral nutrients and water through uptake from the soil and direct delivery into the root cortex. Root systems are endowed with a strong, environment-responsive architectural plasticity that also manifests itself during the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses, predominantly in lateral root proliferation. In this review, we collect evidence for the idea that AM-induced root system remodeling is regulated at several levels: by AM fungal signaling molecules and by changes in plant nutrient status and distribution within the root system.}, } @article {pmid23780616, year = {2014}, author = {Sebastián, F and Vanesa, S and Eduardo, F and Graciela, T and Silvana, S}, title = {Symbiotic seed germination and protocorm development of Aa achalensis Schltr., a terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {35-43}, pmid = {23780616}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Argentina ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Germination/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Aa achalensis is an endangered terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina. In vitro symbiotic seed germination was evaluated for its propagation. Five different fungal strains were isolated from this species: two Rhizoctonia-like related to Thanatephorus cucumeris and three ascomicetaceous fungi belonging to Phialophora graminicola and one to an uncultured Pezizaceae. All five isolates promoted seed germination being one T. cucumeris strain the most effective. After 16 weeks of growth, 30% of A. achalensis protocorms developed until seedlings with two/four leaves in this treatment. These findings open an opportunity to the knowledge and preservation of this species.}, } @article {pmid23779049, year = {2014}, author = {Sodhi, K and Puri, N and Kim, DH and Hinds, TD and Stechschulte, LA and Favero, G and Rodella, L and Shapiro, JI and Jude, D and Abraham, NG}, title = {PPARδ binding to heme oxygenase 1 promoter prevents angiotensin II-induced adipocyte dysfunction in Goldblatt hypertensive rats.}, journal = {International journal of obesity (2005)}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, pages = {456-465}, pmid = {23779049}, issn = {1476-5497}, support = {P01 HL034300/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK056601/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; HL-34300/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; DK56601/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipocytes/*metabolism ; Angiotensin II/pharmacology ; Animals ; Enzyme Activation ; Heme Oxygenase-1/*metabolism ; Hypertension, Renovascular/*metabolism ; Kidney/*metabolism ; PPAR delta/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin/blood ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) regulates adipogenic response with adipocyte hypertrophy by increasing oxidative stress. Recent studies have shown the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPARδ) agonist in attenuation of angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to explore a potential mechanistic link between PPARδ and the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and to elucidate the contribution of HO-1 to the adipocyte regulatory effects of PPARδ agonism in an animal model of enhanced RAS, the Goldblatt 2 kidney 1 clip (2K1C) model.

METHOD: We first established a direct stimulatory effect of the PPARδ agonist (GW 501516) on the HO-1 gene by demonstrating increased luciferase activity in COS-7 cells transfected with a luciferase-HO-1 promoter construct. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated animals, 2K1C rats and 2K1C rats treated with GW 501516, in the absence or presence of the HO activity inhibitor, stannous mesoporphyrin (SnMP).

RESULTS: 2K1C animals had increased visceral adiposity, adipocyte hypertrophy, increased inflammatory cytokines, increased circulatory and adipose tisssue levels of renin and Ang II along with increased adipose tissue gp91 phox expression (P<0.05) when compared with sham-operated animals. Treatment with GW 501516 increased adipose tissue HO-1 and adiponectin levels (P<0.01) along with enhancement of Wnt10b and β-catenin expression. HO-1 induction was accompanied by the decreased expression of Wnt5b, mesoderm specific transcript (mest) and C/EBPα levels and an increased number of small adipocytes (P<0.05). These effects of GW501516 were reversed in 2K1C animals exposed to SnMP (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Taken together, our study demonstrates, for the first time, that increased levels of Ang II contribute towards adipose tissue dysregulation, which is abated by PPARδ-mediated upregulation of the heme-HO system. These findings highlight the pivotal role and symbiotic relationship of HO-1, adiponectin and PPARδ in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis in adipose tissues.}, } @article {pmid23778794, year = {2013}, author = {Chu, H and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Innate immune recognition of the microbiota promotes host-microbial symbiosis.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {668-675}, pmid = {23778794}, issn = {1529-2916}, support = {R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM099535/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*immunology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) are traditionally known to sense microbial molecules during infection to initiate inflammatory responses. However, ligands for PRRs are not exclusive to pathogens and are abundantly produced by the resident microbiota during normal colonization. Mechanism(s) that underlie this paradox have remained unclear. Recent studies reveal that gut bacterial ligands from the microbiota signal through PRRs to promote development of host tissue and the immune system, and protection from disease. Evidence from both invertebrate and vertebrate models reveals that innate immune receptors are required to promote long-term colonization by the microbiota. This emerging perspective challenges current models in immunology and suggests that PRRs may have evolved, in part, to mediate the bidirectional cross-talk between microbial symbionts and their hosts.}, } @article {pmid23778793, year = {2013}, author = {Brown, EM and Sadarangani, M and Finlay, BB}, title = {The role of the immune system in governing host-microbe interactions in the intestine.}, journal = {Nature immunology}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {660-667}, pmid = {23778793}, issn = {1529-2916}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestinal tract harbors a diverse community of trillions of microorganisms, which have co-evolved with the host immune system for millions of years. Many of these microorganisms perform functions critical for host physiology, but the host must remain vigilant to control the microbial community so that the symbiotic nature of the relationship is maintained. To facilitate homeostasis, the immune system ensures that the diverse microbial load is tolerated and anatomically contained, while remaining responsive to microbial breaches and invasion. Although the microbiota is required for intestinal immune development, immune responses also regulate the structure and composition of the intestinal microbiota. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of these complex interactions and their implications for human health and disease.}, } @article {pmid23777981, year = {2013}, author = {Schaarschmidt, S and Gresshoff, PM and Hause, B}, title = {Analyzing the soybean transcriptome during autoregulation of mycorrhization identifies the transcription factors GmNF-YA1a/b as positive regulators of arbuscular mycorrhization.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {R62}, pmid = {23777981}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Acetyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; CCAAT-Binding Factor/*genetics/metabolism ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics/metabolism ; Feedback, Physiological ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Similarly to the legume-rhizobia symbiosis, the arbuscular mycorrhiza interaction is controlled by autoregulation representing a feedback inhibition involving the CLAVATA1-like receptor kinase NARK in shoots. However, little is known about signals and targets down-stream of NARK. To find NARK-related transcriptional changes in mycorrhizal soybean (Glycine max) plants, we analyzed wild-type and two nark mutant lines interacting with the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.

RESULTS: Affymetrix GeneChip analysis of non-inoculated and partially inoculated plants in a split-root system identified genes with potential regulation by arbuscular mycorrhiza or NARK. Most transcriptional changes occur locally during arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis and independently of NARK. RT-qPCR analysis verified nine genes as NARK-dependently regulated. Most of them have lower expression in roots or shoots of wild type compared to nark mutants, including genes encoding the receptor kinase GmSIK1, proteins with putative function as ornithine acetyl transferase, and a DEAD box RNA helicase. A predicted annexin named GmAnnx1a is differentially regulated by NARK and arbuscular mycorrhiza in distinct plant organs. Two putative CCAAT-binding transcription factor genes named GmNF-YA1a and GmNF-YA1b are down-regulated NARK-dependently in non-infected roots of mycorrhizal wild-type plants and functional gene analysis confirmed a positive role for these genes in the development of an arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate GmNF-YA1a/b as positive regulators in arbuscular mycorrhiza establishment, whose expression is down-regulated by NARK in the autoregulated root tissue thereby diminishing subsequent infections. Genes regulated independently of arbuscular mycorrhization by NARK support an additional function of NARK in symbioses-independent mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid23777746, year = {2013}, author = {Capone, A and Ricci, I and Damiani, C and Mosca, M and Rossi, P and Scuppa, P and Crotti, E and Epis, S and Angeletti, M and Valzano, M and Sacchi, L and Bandi, C and Daffonchio, D and Mandrioli, M and Favia, G}, title = {Interactions between Asaia, Plasmodium and Anopheles: new insights into mosquito symbiosis and implications in malaria symbiotic control.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {182}, pmid = {23777746}, issn = {1756-3305}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Anopheles/immunology/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/immunology/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Larva/immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Malaria/*parasitology/prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmodium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria represents one of the most devastating infectious diseases. The lack of an effective vaccine and the emergence of drug resistance make necessary the development of new effective control methods. The recent identification of bacteria of the genus Asaia, associated with larvae and adults of malaria vectors, designates them as suitable candidates for malaria paratransgenic control.To better characterize the interactions between Asaia, Plasmodium and the mosquito immune system we performed an integrated experimental approach.

METHODS: Quantitative PCR analysis of the amount of native Asaia was performed on individual Anopheles stephensi specimens. Mosquito infection was carried out with the strain PbGFPCON and the number of parasites in the midgut was counted by fluorescent microscopy.The colonisation of infected mosquitoes was achieved using GFP or DsRed tagged-Asaia strains.Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis, growth and phagocytosis tests were performed using An. stephensi and Drosophila melanogaster haemocyte cultures and DsRed tagged-Asaia and Escherichia coli strains.

RESULTS: Using quantitative PCR we have quantified the relative amount of Asaia in infected and uninfected mosquitoes, showing that the parasite does not interfere with bacterial blooming. The correlation curves have confirmed the active replication of Asaia, while at the same time, the intense decrease of the parasite.The 'in vitro' immunological studies have shown that Asaia induces the expression of antimicrobial peptides, however, the growth curves in conditioned medium as well as a phagocytosis test, indicated that the bacterium is not an immune-target.Using fluorescent strains of Asaia and Plasmodium we defined their co-localisation in the mosquito midgut and salivary glands.

CONCLUSIONS: We have provided important information about the relationship of Asaia with both Plasmodium and Anopheles. First, physiological changes in the midgut following an infected or uninfected blood meal do not negatively affect the residing Asaia population that seems to benefit from this condition. Second, Asaia can act as an immune-modulator activating antimicrobial peptide expression and seems to be adapted to the host immune response. Last, the co-localization of Asaia and Plasmodium highlights the possibility of reducing vectorial competence using bacterial recombinant strains capable of releasing anti-parasite molecules.}, } @article {pmid23777431, year = {2013}, author = {Podlešáková, K and Fardoux, J and Patrel, D and Bonaldi, K and Novák, O and Strnad, M and Giraud, E and Spíchal, L and Nouwen, N}, title = {Rhizobial synthesized cytokinins contribute to but are not essential for the symbiotic interaction between photosynthetic Bradyrhizobia and Aeschynomene legumes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {10}, pages = {1232-1238}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-13-0076-R}, pmid = {23777431}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Acetylene/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Cytokinins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Fabaceae/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Genes, Reporter ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Transfer/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Deletion ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cytokinins (CK) play an important role in the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. It has been known for years that rhizobia secrete CK in the extracellular medium but whether they play a role in nodule formation is not known. We have examined this question using the photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 which is able to nodulate Aeschynomene afraspera and A. indica using a Nod-dependent or Nod-independent symbiotic process, respectively. CK profiling showed that the most abundant CK secreted by Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 are the 2MeS (2-methylthiol) derivatives of trans-zeatin and isopentenyladenine. In their pure form, these CK can activate legume CK receptors in vitro, and their exogenous addition induced nodule-like structures on host plants. Deletion of the miaA gene showed that transfer RNA degradation is the source of CK production in Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285. In nodulation studies performed with A. indica and A. afraspera, the miaA mutant had a 1-day delay in nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Moreover, A. indica plants formed considerably smaller but more abundant nodules when inoculated with the miaA mutant. These data show that CK produced by Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 are not the key signal triggering nodule formation during the Nod-independent symbiosis but they contribute positively to nodule development in Aeschynomene plants.}, } @article {pmid23777315, year = {2013}, author = {Plazzi, F and Ribani, A and Passamonti, M}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of Solemya velum (Mollusca: Bivalvia) and its relationships with conchifera.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {409}, pmid = {23777315}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Gene Order/genetics ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Genomics ; Mollusca/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bivalve mitochondrial genomes exhibit a wide array of uncommon features, like extensive gene rearrangements, large sizes, and unusual ways of inheritance. Species pertaining to the order Solemyida (subclass Opponobranchia) show many peculiar evolutionary adaptations, f.i. extensive symbiosis with chemoautotrophic bacteria. Despite Opponobranchia are central in bivalve phylogeny, being considered the sister group of all Autobranchia, a complete mitochondrial genome has not been sequenced yet.

RESULTS: In this paper, we characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic awning clam Solemya velum: A-T content, gene arrangement and other features are more similar to putative ancestral mollusks than to other bivalves. Two supranumerary open reading frames are present in a large, otherwise unassigned, region, while the origin of replication could be located in a region upstream to the cox3 gene.

CONCLUSIONS: We show that S. velum mitogenome retains most of the ancestral conchiferan features, which is unusual among bivalve mollusks, and we discuss main peculiarities of this first example of an organellar genome coming from the subclass Opponobranchia. Mitochondrial genomes of Solemya (for bivalves) and Haliotis (for gastropods) seem to retain the original condition of mollusks, as most probably exemplified by Katharina.}, } @article {pmid23776854, year = {2013}, author = {Rao, PN and Shashidhar, A and Ashok, C}, title = {In utero fuel homeostasis: Lessons for a clinician.}, journal = {Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {60-68}, pmid = {23776854}, issn = {2230-8210}, abstract = {Fetus exists in a complex, dynamic, and yet intriguing symbiosis with its mother as far as fuel metabolism is concerned. Though the dependence on maternal fuel is nearly complete to cater for its high requirement, the fetus is capable of some metabolism of its own. The first half of gestation is a period of maternal anabolism and storage whereas the second half results in exponential fetal growth where maternal stores are mobilized. Glucose is the primary substrate for energy production in the fetus though capable of utilizing alternate sources like lactate, ketoacids, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycogen as fuel under special circumstances. Key transporters like glucose transporters (GLUT) are responsible for preferential transfers, which are in turn regulated by complex interaction of maternal and fetal hormones. Amino acids are preferentially utilized for growth and essential fatty acids for development of brain and retina. Insulin, insulin like growth factors, glucagon, catecholamines, and letpin are the hormones implicated in this fascinating process. Hormonal regulation of metabolic substrate utilization and anabolism in the fetus is secondary to the supply of nutrient substrates. The knowledge of fuel homeostasis is crucial for a clinician caring for pregnant women and neonates to manage disorders of metabolism (diabetes), growth (intrauterine growth restriction), and transitional adaptation (hypoglycemia).}, } @article {pmid23776436, year = {2013}, author = {Chen, H and Chou, M and Wang, X and Liu, S and Zhang, F and Wei, G}, title = {Profiling of differentially expressed genes in roots of Robinia pseudoacacia during nodule development using suppressive subtractive hybridization.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {e63930}, pmid = {23776436}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; *Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/*genetics/*microbiology ; Robinia/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legume-rhizobium symbiosis is a complex process that is regulated in the host plant cell through gene expression network. Many nodulin genes that are upregulated during different stages of nodulation have been identified in leguminous herbs. However, no nodulin genes in woody legume trees, such as black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), have yet been reported.

To identify the nodulin genes involved in R. pseudoacacia-Mesorhizobium amorphae CCNWGS0123 symbiosis, a suppressive subtractive hybridization approach was applied to reveal profiling of differentially expressed genes and two subtracted cDNA libraries each containing 600 clones were constructed. Then, 114 unigenes were identified from forward SSH library by differential screening and the putative functions of these translational products were classified into 13 categories. With a particular interest in regulatory genes, twenty-one upregulated genes encoding potential regulatory proteins were selected based on the result of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. They included nine putative transcription genes, eight putative post-translational regulator genes and four membrane protein genes. The expression patterns of these genes were further analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR at different stages of nodule development.

CONCLUSIONS: The data presented here offer the first insights into the molecular foundation underlying R. pseudoacacia-M. amorphae symbiosis. A number of regulatory genes screened in the present study revealed a high level of regulatory complexity (transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational) that is likely essential to develop symbiosis. In addition, the possible roles of these genes in black locust nodulation are discussed.}, } @article {pmid23776090, year = {2013}, author = {Sá, RM and Petrášová, J and Pomajbíková, K and Profousová, I and Petrželková, KJ and Sousa, C and Cable, J and Bruford, MW and Modrý, D}, title = {Gastrointestinal symbionts of chimpanzees in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau with respect to habitat fragmentation.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {75}, number = {10}, pages = {1032-1041}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.22170}, pmid = {23776090}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; Feces/parasitology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*parasitology ; Guinea-Bissau ; Microscopy, Interference/veterinary ; Pan troglodytes/*parasitology ; Parasite Egg Count/veterinary ; Strongyloides/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One of the major factors threatening chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Guinea-Bissau is habitat fragmentation. Such fragmentation may cause changes in symbiont dynamics resulting in increased susceptibility to infection, changes in host specificity and virulence. We monitored gastrointestinal symbiotic fauna of three chimpanzee subpopulations living within Cantanhez National Park (CNP) in Guinea Bissau in the areas with different levels of anthropogenic fragmentation. Using standard coproscopical methods (merthiolate-iodine formalin concentration and Sheather's flotation) we examined 102 fecal samples and identified at least 13 different symbiotic genera (Troglodytella abrassarti, Troglocorys cava, Blastocystis spp., Entamoeba spp., Iodamoeba butschlii, Giardia intestinalis, Chilomastix mesnili, Bertiella sp., Probstmayria gombensis, unidentified strongylids, Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongyloides fuelleborni, and Trichuris sp.). The symbiotic fauna of the CNP chimpanzees is comparable to that reported for other wild chimpanzee populations, although CNP chimpanzees have a higher prevalence of Trichuris sp. Symbiont richness was higher in chimpanzee subpopulations living in fragmented forests compared to the community inhabiting continuous forest area. We reported significantly higher prevalence of G. intestinalis in chimpanzees from fragmented areas, which could be attributed to increased contact with humans and livestock.}, } @article {pmid23772612, year = {2013}, author = {Xu, H and Wang, X and Veazey, RS}, title = {Mucosal immunology of HIV infection.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {254}, number = {1}, pages = {10-33}, pmid = {23772612}, issn = {1600-065X}, support = {OD011104-51/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI062410/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P51 OD011104/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI084793/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI049080/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {AIDS Vaccines/immunology ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology/virology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/virology ; HIV Infections/*immunology/prevention & control/transmission ; HIV-1/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Mucous Membrane/*immunology/*virology ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology/prevention & control/transmission ; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology ; Vagina/immunology/virology ; }, abstract = {Recent advances in the immunology, pathogenesis, and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continue to reveal clues to the mechanisms involved in the progressive immunodeficiency attributed to infection, but more importantly have shed light on the correlates of immunity to infection and disease progression. HIV selectively infects, eliminates, and/or dysregulates several key cells of the human immune system, thwarting multiple arms of the host immune response, and inflicting severe damage to mucosal barriers, resulting in tissue infiltration of 'symbiotic' intestinal bacteria and viruses that essentially become opportunistic infections promoting systemic immune activation. This leads to activation and recruitment or more target cells for perpetuating HIV infection, resulting in persistent, high-level viral replication in lymphoid tissues, rapid evolution of resistant strains, and continued evasion of immune responses. However, vaccine studies and studies of spontaneous controllers are finally providing correlates of immunity from protection and disease progression, including virus-specific CD4(+) T-cell responses, binding anti-bodies, innate immune responses, and generation of antibodies with potent antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity. Emerging correlates of immunity indicate that prevention of HIV infection may be possible through effective vaccine strategies that protect and stimulate key regulatory cells and immune responses in susceptible hosts. Furthermore, immune therapies specifically directed toward boosting specific aspects of the immune system may eventually lead to a cure for HIV-infected patients.}, } @article {pmid23772357, year = {2013}, author = {Masiulionis, VE and Weber, RW and Pagnocca, FC}, title = {Foraging of Psilocybe basidiocarps by the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis in Santa Fé, Argentina.}, journal = {SpringerPlus}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {254}, pmid = {23772357}, issn = {2193-1801}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that material collected by leaf-cutting ants of the genus Acromyrmex consists solely of plant matter, which is used in the nest as substrate for a symbiotic fungus providing nutrition to the ants. There is only one previous report of any leaf-cutting ant foraging directly on fungal basidiocarps.

FINDINGS: Basidiocarps of Psilocybe coprophila growing on cow dung were actively collected by workers of Acromyrmex lobicornis in Santa Fé province, Argentina. During this behaviour the ants displayed typical signals of recognition and continuously recruited other foragers to the task. Basidiocarps of different stages of maturity were being transported into the nest by particular groups of workers, while other workers collected plant material.

CONCLUSIONS: The collection of mature basidiocarps with viable spores by leaf-cutting ants in nature adds substance to theories relating to the origin of fungiculture in these highly specialized social insects.}, } @article {pmid23771622, year = {2013}, author = {Dall'Agnol, RF and Ribeiro, RA and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Rogel, MA and Delamuta, JRM and Andrade, DS and Martínez-Romero, E and Hungria, M}, title = {Rhizobium freirei sp. nov., a symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris that is very effective at fixing nitrogen.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {Pt 11}, pages = {4167-4173}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.052928-0}, pmid = {23771622}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) can establish symbiotic associations with several Rhizobium species; however, the effectiveness of most strains at fixing nitrogen under field conditions is very low. PRF 81(T) is a very effective strain, usually referred to as Rhizobium tropici and used successfully in thousands of doses of commercial inoculants for the common bean crop in Brazil; it has shown high rates of nitrogen fixation in all areas representative of the crop in the country. Here, we present results that indicate that PRF 81(T), although it belongs to the 'R. tropici group', which includes 10 Rhizobium species, R. tropici, R. leucaenae, R. lusitanum, R. multihospitium, R. miluonense, R. hainanense, R. calliandrae, R. mayense, R. jaguaris and R. rhizogenes, represents a novel species. Several morpho-physiological traits differentiated PRF 81(T) from related species. Differences were also confirmed in the analysis of rep-PCR (sharing less than 45 % similarity with the other species), MLSA with recA, atpD and rpoB genes, and DNA-DNA hybridization. The novel species, for which we propose the name Rhizobium freirei sp. nov., is able to establish effective root nodule symbioses with Phaseolus vulgaris, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena esculenta, Crotalaria juncea and Macroptilium atropurpureum. The type strain is PRF 81(T) (= CNPSo 122(T) = SEMIA 4080(T) = IPR-Pv81(T) = WDCM 440(T)).}, } @article {pmid23765084, year = {2013}, author = {Rodríguez-Haas, B and Finney, L and Vogt, S and González-Melendi, P and Imperial, J and González-Guerrero, M}, title = {Iron distribution through the developmental stages of Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, volume = {5}, number = {9}, pages = {1247-1253}, doi = {10.1039/c3mt00060e}, pmid = {23765084}, issn = {1756-591X}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Iron/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/growth & development/*metabolism ; Metalloproteins/biosynthesis ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism/physiology ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods ; Symbiosis ; Synchrotrons ; }, abstract = {Paramount to symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is the synthesis of a number of metalloenzymes that use iron as a critical component of their catalytical core. Since this process is carried out by endosymbiotic rhizobia living in legume root nodules, the mechanisms involved in iron delivery to the rhizobia-containing cells are critical for SNF. In order to gain insight into iron transport to the nodule, we have used synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence to determine the spatio-temporal distribution of this metal in nodules of the legume Medicago truncatula with hitherto unattained sensitivity and resolution. The data support a model in which iron is released from the vasculature into the apoplast of the infection/differentiation zone of the nodule (zone II). The infected cell subsequently takes up this apoplastic iron and delivers it to the symbiosome and the secretory system to synthesize ferroproteins. Upon senescence, iron is relocated to the vasculature to be reused by the shoot. These observations highlight the important role of yet to be discovered metal transporters in iron compartmentalization in the nodule and in the recovery of an essential and scarce nutrient for flowering and seed production.}, } @article {pmid23764913, year = {2013}, author = {Ribeiro, RA and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Dall'Agnol, RF and Graham, PH and Martinez-Romero, E and Hungria, M}, title = {Novel Rhizobium lineages isolated from root nodules of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Andean and Mesoamerican areas.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {164}, number = {7}, pages = {740-748}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2013.05.002}, pmid = {23764913}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phaseolus/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The taxonomic affiliations of nineteen root-nodule bacteria isolated from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Mexico, Ecuador and Brazil were investigated by analyses of 16S rRNA and of four protein-coding housekeeping genes. One strain from Mexico could be assigned to Rhizobium etli and two from Brazil to Rhizobium leucaenae, whereas another from Mexico corresponded to a recently described bean-nodulating species-level lineage related to R. etli and Rhizobium phaseoli. Ten strains isolated in Ecuador and Mexico corresponded to three novel Rhizobium lineages that fall into the R. phaseoli/R. etli/Rhizobium leguminosarum clade. One of those lineages, with representatives isolated mostly from Ecuador, seems to be dominant in beans from that Andean region. Only one of the Mexican strains clustered within the Rhizobium tropici clade, but as an independent lineage. Interestingly, four strains were affiliated with species within the Rhizobium radiobacter clade. The existence of yet non-described native Rhizobium lineages in both the Andean and Mesoamerican areas is discussed in relation to common-bean diversity and environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid23762997, year = {2012}, author = {Takadanohara, H and Catanzaro, R and Chui, de H and He, F and Yadav, H and Ganguli, A and Sakata, Y and Solimene, U and Minelli, E and Kobayashi, R and Nagamachi, Y and Marotta, F}, title = {Beneficial effect of a symbiotic preparation with S. boulardii lysate in mild stress-induced gut hyper-permeability.}, journal = {Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis}, volume = {83}, number = {3}, pages = {208-216}, pmid = {23762997}, issn = {0392-4203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use ; Fragaria ; Ileum/*metabolism/pathology ; Intestinal Absorption/physiology ; Intestinal Diseases/etiology/metabolism/*therapy ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/pathology ; Jejunum/*metabolism/pathology ; Lactoferrin/therapeutic use ; Lactose/therapeutic use ; Male ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saccharomyces/*physiology ; Stress, Psychological/*complications/metabolism/pathology ; Vaccinium macrocarpon ; }, abstract = {Increased intestinal permeability has been advocated as one of the likely causes of various pathologies, such as allergies and metabolic or even cardiovascular disturbances. Thus, the aim of the present study was to test a symbiotic preparation containing microbial lysates (KC-1317, Named, Italy) against stress-induced derangement of gut mucosa permeability. Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into control (n=20) and stress (n=20) group. Stress was implemented by 1h of water avoidance stress daily for 10 days. Body weight, food and water intake and passage of stool pellet during stress session were recorded throughout the experiment. On the 11th day, fluorescent iso-thiocyanate dextran solution was injected into small intestinal loops. One hour after the injection, rats were sacrificed. Jejunum and ileum were taken for histopathology. Blood was collected from the abdominal aorta to measure intestinal permeability. In stress group, stool pellets during stress session was significantly higher than control group (p < 0.01). Villus height (p < 0.01), crypt depth (p < 0.01), number of goblet cells in villus (p < 0.01) and crypt (p < 0.05) decreased significantly in jejunum as compared to control. These phenomena were significantly prevented by KC-1317 (p < 0.05). Ileum also showed atrophy but villus height and the number of goblet cells in the villi did not significantly differ. Plasma-concentration of brain-gut peptides (substance P, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, cholecystokinin and motilin) were affected by stress (p < 0.001) and this effect did not change during supplementation with KC-1317. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil counting was significantly higher in stress group as compared to control (p < 0.01) but this phenomenon was abolished in the ileum (p < 0.01) or partly but significantly reduced by KC-1317 supplementation (p < 0.05). Accordingly, intestinal permeability was significantly enhanced in stress group as compared to control (p < 0.01) and prevented by KC-1317 (p < 0.01) in both intestinal segments examined. While confirming that chronic mild stress in rats compromises small intestinal morphology and permeability, we showed that a symbiotic microbial lysate can partly counteract this phenomenon.}, } @article {pmid23762518, year = {2013}, author = {Stat, M and Pochon, X and Franklin, EC and Bruno, JF and Casey, KS and Selig, ER and Gates, RD}, title = {The distribution of the thermally tolerant symbiont lineage (Symbiodinium clade D) in corals from Hawaii: correlations with host and the history of ocean thermal stress.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {1317-1329}, pmid = {23762518}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Spatially intimate symbioses, such as those between scleractinian corals and unicellular algae belonging to the genus Symbiodinium, can potentially adapt to changes in the environment by altering the taxonomic composition of their endosymbiont communities. We quantified the spatial relationship between the cumulative frequency of thermal stress anomalies (TSAs) and the taxonomic composition of Symbiodinium in the corals Montipora capitata, Porites lobata, and Porites compressa across the Hawaiian archipelago. Specifically, we investigated whether thermally tolerant clade D Symbiodinium was in greater abundance in corals from sites with high frequencies of TSAs. We recovered 2305 Symbiodinium ITS2 sequences from 242 coral colonies in lagoonal reef habitats at Pearl and Hermes Atoll, French Frigate Shoals, and Kaneohe Bay, Oahu in 2007. Sequences were grouped into 26 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with 12 OTUs associated with Montipora and 21 with Porites. Both coral genera associated with Symbiodinium in clade C, and these co-occurred with clade D in M. capitata and clade G in P. lobata. The latter represents the first report of clade G Symbiodinium in P. lobata. In M. capitata (but not Porites spp.), there was a significant correlation between the presence of Symbiodinium in clade D and a thermal history characterized by high cumulative frequency of TSAs. The endogenous community composition of Symbiodinium and an association with clade D symbionts after long-term thermal disturbance appear strongly dependent on the taxa of the coral host.}, } @article {pmid23760895, year = {2012}, author = {Pernice, M and Boucher-Rodoni, R}, title = {Occurrence of a specific dual symbiosis in the excretory organ of geographically distant Nautiloids populations.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {4}, number = {5}, pages = {504-511}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2012.00352.x}, pmid = {23760895}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Nautilus is one of the most intriguing of all sea creatures, sharing morphological similarities with the extinct forms of coiled cephalopods that evolved since the Cambrian (542-488 mya). Further, bacterial symbioses found in their excretory organ are of particular interest as they provide a great opportunity to investigate the influence of host-microbe interactions upon the origin and evolution of an innovative nitrogen excretory system. To establish the potential of Nautilus excretory organ as a new symbiotic system, it is, however, necessary to assess the specificity of this symbiosis and whether it is consistent within the different species of present-day Nautiloids. By addressing the phylogeny and distribution of bacterial symbionts in three Nautilus populations separated by more than 6000 km (N. pompilius from Philippines and Vanuatu, and N. macromphalus from New Caledonia), this study confirms the specificity of this dual symbiosis involving the presence of betaproteobacteria and spirochaete symbionts on a very wide geographical area. Overall, this work sheds further light on Nautiloids excretory organ as an innovative system of interaction between bacteria and cephalopods.}, } @article {pmid23760644, year = {2013}, author = {Tresguerres, M and Katz, S and Rouse, GW}, title = {How to get into bones: proton pump and carbonic anhydrase in Osedax boneworms.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1761}, pages = {20130625}, pmid = {23760644}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Bone and Bones/metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrases/*metabolism ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; Female ; Polychaeta/anatomy & histology/*metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/*metabolism ; Whales ; }, abstract = {Osedax are gutless siboglinid worms that thrive on vertebrate bones lying on the ocean floor, mainly those of whales. The posterior body of female Osedax penetrates into the bone forming extensions known as 'roots', which host heterotrophic symbiotic bacteria in bacteriocytes beneath the epidermis. The Osedax root epithelium presumably absorbs bone collagen and/or lipids, which are metabolized by the symbiotic bacteria that in turn serve for Osedax's nutrition. Here, we show that Osedax roots express extremely high amounts of vacuolar-H(+)-ATPase (VHA), which is located in the apical membrane and in cytoplasmic vesicles of root and ovisac epithelial cells. The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), which catalyses the hydration of CO2 into H(+) and HCO3(-), is also expressed in roots and throughout Osedax body. These results suggest Osedax roots have massive acid-secreting capacity via VHA, fuelled by H(+) derived from the CA-catalysed hydration of CO2 produced by aerobic metabolism. We propose the secreted acid dissolves the bone carbonate matrix to then allow the absorption of bone-derived nutrients across the skin. In an exciting example of convergent evolution, this model for acid secretion is remarkably similar to mammalian osteoclast cells. However, while osteoclasts dissolve bone for repairing and remodelling, the Osedax root epithelium secretes acid to dissolve foreign bone to access nutrients.}, } @article {pmid23760057, year = {2013}, author = {Hardy, H and Harris, J and Lyon, E and Beal, J and Foey, AD}, title = {Probiotics, prebiotics and immunomodulation of gut mucosal defences: homeostasis and immunopathology.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {1869-1912}, pmid = {23760057}, issn = {2072-6643}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms/diet therapy ; Dietary Fiber ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypersensitivity ; *Immunomodulation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/diet therapy ; Mucus/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; *Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Probiotics are beneficial microbes that confer a realistic health benefit on the host, which in combination with prebiotics, (indigestible dietary fibre/carbohydrate), also confer a health benefit on the host via products resulting from anaerobic fermentation. There is a growing body of evidence documenting the immune-modulatory ability of probiotic bacteria, it is therefore reasonable to suggest that this is potentiated via a combination of prebiotics and probiotics as a symbiotic mix. The need for probiotic formulations has been appreciated for the health benefits in "topping up your good bacteria" or indeed in an attempt to normalise the dysbiotic microbiota associated with immunopathology. This review will focus on the immunomodulatory role of probiotics and prebiotics on the cells, molecules and immune responses in the gut mucosae, from epithelial barrier to priming of adaptive responses by antigen presenting cells: immune fate decision-tolerance or activation? Modulation of normal homeostatic mechanisms, coupled with findings from probiotic and prebiotic delivery in pathological studies, will highlight the role for these xenobiotics in dysbiosis associated with immunopathology in the context of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and hypersensitivity.}, } @article {pmid23759552, year = {2013}, author = {Koegel, S and Boller, T and Lehmann, MF and Wiemken, A and Courty, PE}, title = {Rapid nitrogen transfer in the Sorghum bicolor-Glomus mosseae arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {23759552}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Soil/chemistry ; Sorghum/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {We have recently identified two genes coding for ammonium transporters (AMT) in Sorghum bicolor that were induced in roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. To improve our understanding of the dynamics of ammonium transport in this symbiosis, we studied the transfer of soil-ammonium-derived (15)N to S. bicolor plants via the Glomus mosseae fungal mycelium in compartmented microcosms. The (15)NH (4+)-containing hyphal compartment was inaccessible to the roots in the plant compartment. (15)N label concentrations significantly increased in plant roots and leaves already 48 h after exposure of the AM fungus to the (15)NH (4+) substrate, attesting an efficient symbiotic N transfer between the symbiotic partners and further highlighting that AM symbiosis represents an important component of plant nitrogen nutrition.}, } @article {pmid23758731, year = {2013}, author = {Bélanger, L and Charles, TC}, title = {Members of the Sinorhizobium meliloti ChvI regulon identified by a DNA binding screen.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {132}, pmid = {23758731}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Protein Binding ; *Regulon ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Sinorhizobium meliloti ExoS/ChvI two component regulatory system is required for N2-fixing symbiosis and exopolysaccharide synthesis. Orthologous systems are present in other Alphaproteobacteria, and in many instances have been shown to be necessary for normal interactions with corresponding eukaryotic hosts. Only a few transcriptional regulation targets have been determined, and as a result there is limited understanding of the mechanisms that are controlled by the system.

RESULTS: In an attempt to better define the members of the regulon, we have applied a simple in vitro electrophoretic screen for DNA fragments that are bound by the ChvI response regulator protein. Several putative transcriptional targets were identified and three were further examined by reporter gene fusion experiments for transcriptional regulation. Two were confirmed to be repressed by ChvI, while one was activated by ChvI.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a role for ChvI as both a direct activator and repressor of transcription. The identities and functions of many of these genes suggest explanations for some aspects of the pleiotropic phenotype of exoS and chvI mutants. This work paves the way for in depth characterization of the ExoS/ChvI regulon and its potential role in directing bacteria-host relationships.}, } @article {pmid23757494, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, JK and Won, YJ and Nikoh, N and Nakayama, H and Han, SH and Kikuchi, Y and Rhee, YH and Park, HY and Kwon, JY and Kurokawa, K and Dohmae, N and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Polyester synthesis genes associated with stress resistance are involved in an insect-bacterium symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {26}, pages = {E2381-9}, pmid = {23757494}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Burkholderia/*genetics/*metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Digestive System/microbiology ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates/*biosynthesis/*genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria accumulate granules of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) within their cells, which confer resistance to nutritional depletion and other environmental stresses. Here, we report an unexpected involvement of the bacterial endocellular storage polymer, PHA, in an insect-bacterium symbiotic association. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris harbors a beneficial and specific gut symbiont of the β-proteobacterial genus Burkholderia, which is orally acquired by host nymphs from the environment every generation and easily cultivable and genetically manipulatable. Biochemical and cytological comparisons between symbiotic and cultured Burkholderia detected more PHA granules consisting of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and associated phasin (PhaP) protein in the symbiotic Burkholderia. Among major PHA synthesis genes, phaB and phaC were disrupted by homologous recombination together with the phaP gene, whereby ΔphaB, ΔphaC, and ΔphaP mutants were generated. Both in culture and in symbiosis, accumulation of PHA granules was strongly suppressed in ΔphaB and ΔphaC, but only moderately in ΔphaP. In symbiosis, the host insects infected with ΔphaB and ΔphaC exhibited significantly lower symbiont densities and smaller body sizes. These deficient phenotypes associated with ΔphaB and ΔphaC were restored by complementation of the mutants with plasmids encoding a functional phaB/phaC gene. Retention analysis of the plasmids revealed positive selection acting on the functional phaB/phaC in symbiosis. These results indicate that the PHA synthesis genes of the Burkholderia symbiont are required for normal symbiotic association with the Riptortus host. In vitro culturing analyses confirmed vulnerability of the PHA gene mutants to environmental stresses, suggesting that PHA may play a role in resisting stress under symbiotic conditions.}, } @article {pmid23757444, year = {2013}, author = {Kivlin, SN and Emery, SM and Rudgers, JA}, title = {Fungal symbionts alter plant responses to global change.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {100}, number = {7}, pages = {1445-1457}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1200558}, pmid = {23757444}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Carbon Dioxide ; *Climate Change ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {While direct plant responses to global change have been well characterized, indirect plant responses to global change, via altered species interactions, have received less attention. Here, we examined how plants associated with four classes of fungal symbionts (class I leaf endophytes [EF], arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [AMF], ectomycorrhizal fungi [ECM], and dark septate endophytes [DSE]) responded to four global change factors (enriched CO2, drought, N deposition, and warming). We performed a meta-analysis of 434 studies spanning 174 publications to search for generalizable trends in responses of plant-fungal symbioses to future environments. Specifically, we addressed the following questions: (1) Can fungal symbionts ameliorate responses of plants to global change? (2) Do fungal symbiont groups differ in the degree to which they modify plant response to global change? (3) Do particular global change factors affect plant-fungal symbioses more than others? In all global change scenarios, except elevated CO2, fungal symbionts significantly altered plant responses to global change. In most cases, fungal symbionts increased plant biomass in response to global change. However, increased N deposition reduced the benefits of symbiosis. Of the global change factors we considered, drought and N deposition resulted in the strongest fungal mediation of plant responses. Our analysis highlighted gaps in current knowledge for responses of particular fungal groups and revealed the importance of considering not only the nonadditive effects of multiple global change factors, but also the interactive effects of multiple fungal symbioses. Our results show that considering plant-fungal symbioses is critical to predicting ecosystem response to global change.}, } @article {pmid23756685, year = {2013}, author = {Houard, J and Aumelas, A and Noël, T and Pages, S and Givaudan, A and Fitton-Ouhabi, V and Villain-Guillot, P and Gualtieri, M}, title = {Cabanillasin, a new antifungal metabolite, produced by entomopathogenic Xenorhabdus cabanillasii JM26.}, journal = {The Journal of antibiotics}, volume = {66}, number = {10}, pages = {617-620}, doi = {10.1038/ja.2013.58}, pmid = {23756685}, issn = {1881-1469}, mesh = {Animals ; *Antifungal Agents/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Cell Line/drug effects ; Cross Infection/microbiology ; Fungi/classification/*drug effects ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycoses/*microbiology ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Opportunistic Infections/*microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/*classification/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Since the early 1980s, fungi have emerged as a major cause of human disease. Fungal infections are associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality, and are now recognized as an important public health problem. Gram-negative bacterial strains of genus Xenorhabdus are known to form symbiotic associations with soil-dwelling nematodes of the Steinernematidae family. We describe here the discovery of a new antifungal metabolite, cabanillasin, produced by Xenorhabdus cabanillasii. We purified this molecule by cation-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase chromatography. We then determined the chemical structure of cabanillasin by homo- and heteronuclear NMR and MS-MS. Cabanillasin was found to be active against yeasts and filamentous fungi involved in opportunistic infections.}, } @article {pmid23756036, year = {2013}, author = {Chagnon, PL and Bradley, RL and Maherali, H and Klironomos, JN}, title = {A trait-based framework to understand life history of mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {484-491}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2013.05.001}, pmid = {23756036}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Embryophyta/*microbiology ; Fungi/classification/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Despite the growing appreciation for the functional diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, our understanding of the causes and consequences of this diversity is still poor. In this opinion article, we review published data on AM fungal functional traits and attempt to identify major axes of life history variation. We propose that a life history classification system based on the grouping of functional traits, such as Grime's C-S-R (competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal) framework, can help to explain life history diversification in AM fungi, successional dynamics, and the spatial structure of AM fungal assemblages. Using a common life history classification framework for both plants and AM fungi could also help in predicting probable species associations in natural communities and increase our fundamental understanding of the interaction between land plants and AM fungi.}, } @article {pmid23754716, year = {2013}, author = {Kemppainen, MJ and Pardo, AG}, title = {LbNrt RNA silencing in the mycorrhizal symbiont Laccaria bicolor reveals a nitrate-independent regulatory role for a eukaryotic NRT2-type nitrate transporter.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {353-366}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12029}, pmid = {23754716}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Laccaria/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/metabolism ; Nitrate Transporters ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Populus/microbiology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Fungal/antagonists & inhibitors/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungal nitrogen metabolism plays a fundamental role in function of mycorrhizal symbiosis and consequently in nutrient cycling of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite its global ecological relevance the information on control and molecular regulation of nitrogen utilization in mycorrhizal fungi is very limited. We have extended the nitrate utilization RNA silencing studies of the model mycorrhizal basidiomycete, Laccaria bicolor, by altering the expression of LbNrt, the sole nitrate transporter-encoding gene of the fungus. Here we report the first nutrient transporter mutants for mycorrhizal fungi. Silencing of LbNrt results in fungal strains with minimal detectable LbNrt transcript levels, significantly reduced growth capacity on nitrate and altered symbiotic interaction with poplar. Transporter silencing also creates marked co-downregulation of whole Laccaria fHANT-AC (fungal high-affinity nitrate assimilation cluster). Most importantly, this effect on the nitrate utilization pathway appears independent of extracellular nitrate or nitrogen status of the fungus. Our results indicate a novel and central nitrate uptake-independent regulatory role for a eukaryotic nitrate transporter. The possible cellular mechanisms behind this regulation mode are discussed in the light of current knowledge on NRT2-type nitrate transporters in different eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid23754715, year = {2013}, author = {Gryndler, M and Soukupová, L and Hršelová, H and Gryndlerová, H and Borovička, J and Streiblová, E and Jansa, J}, title = {A quest for indigenous truffle helper prokaryotes.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {346-352}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12014}, pmid = {23754715}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/classification/*genetics ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Metagenome ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Tuber aestivum is the most common European truffle with significant commercial exploitation. Its production originates from natural habitats and from artificially inoculated host tree plantations. Formation of Tuber ectomycorrhizae in host seedling roots is often inefficient. One possible reason is the lack of indigenous associative microbes. Here we aimed at metagenetic characterization and cultivation of indigenous prokaryotes associated with T. aestivum in a field transect cutting through the fungus colony margin. Several operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed close association with the T. aestivum in the ectomycorrhizae and in the soil, but there was no overlap between the associative prokaryotes in the two different habitats. Among those positively associated with the ectomycorrhizae, we identified several bacterial genera belonging to Pseudonocardineae. Extensive isolation efforts yielded many cultures of ectomycorrhizae-associative bacteria belonging to Rhizobiales and Streptomycineae, but none belonging to the Pseudonocardineae. The specific unculturable Tuber-associated prokaryotes are likely to play important roles in the biology of these ectomycorrhizal fungi, including modulation of competition with other symbiotic and saprotrophic microbes, facilitation of root penetration and/or accessing mineral nutrients in the soil. However, the ultimate proof of this hypothesis will require isolation of the microbes for metabolic studies, using novel cultivation approaches.}, } @article {pmid23754396, year = {2013}, author = {McLean, JS and Lombardo, MJ and Badger, JH and Edlund, A and Novotny, M and Yee-Greenbaum, J and Vyahhi, N and Hall, AP and Yang, Y and Dupont, CL and Ziegler, MG and Chitsaz, H and Allen, AE and Yooseph, S and Tesler, G and Pevzner, PA and Friedman, RM and Nealson, KH and Venter, JC and Lasken, RS}, title = {Candidate phylum TM6 genome recovered from a hospital sink biofilm provides genomic insights into this uncultivated phylum.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {26}, pages = {E2390-9}, pmid = {23754396}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {3P41RR024851-02S1/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HG003647/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE020102/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; 2R01 HG003647/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; P41 RR024851/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; UL1TR000100/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01GM095373/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095373/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000100/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Biofilms ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Hospitals ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Sanitary Engineering ; *Water Microbiology ; Water Supply ; }, abstract = {The "dark matter of life" describes microbes and even entire divisions of bacterial phyla that have evaded cultivation and have yet to be sequenced. We present a genome from the globally distributed but elusive candidate phylum TM6 and uncover its metabolic potential. TM6 was detected in a biofilm from a sink drain within a hospital restroom by analyzing cells using a highly automated single-cell genomics platform. We developed an approach for increasing throughput and effectively improving the likelihood of sampling rare events based on forming small random pools of single-flow-sorted cells, amplifying their DNA by multiple displacement amplification and sequencing all cells in the pool, creating a "mini-metagenome." A recently developed single-cell assembler, SPAdes, in combination with contig binning methods, allowed the reconstruction of genomes from these mini-metagenomes. A total of 1.07 Mb was recovered in seven contigs for this member of TM6 (JCVI TM6SC1), estimated to represent 90% of its genome. High nucleotide identity between a total of three TM6 genome drafts generated from pools that were independently captured, amplified, and assembled provided strong confirmation of a correct genomic sequence. TM6 is likely a Gram-negative organism and possibly a symbiont of an unknown host (nonfree living) in part based on its small genome, low-GC content, and lack of biosynthesis pathways for most amino acids and vitamins. Phylogenomic analysis of conserved single-copy genes confirms that TM6SC1 is a deeply branching phylum.}, } @article {pmid23750954, year = {2013}, author = {Moukoumi, J and Hynes, RK and Dumonceaux, TJ and Town, J and Bélanger, N}, title = {Characterization and genus identification of rhizobial symbionts from Caragana arborescens in western Canada.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {6}, pages = {399-406}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2013-0158}, pmid = {23750954}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Caragana/*microbiology ; Carbon/analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, rRNA ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Saskatchewan ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Naturally occurring nitrogen-fixing symbionts from root nodules of caragana (Caragana arborescens) growing in central Saskatchewan were isolated following surface sterilization of caragana root nodules and squashing and spreading of the contents on yeast extract - mannitol medium. The symbiotic nature of the strains was confirmed following inoculation onto surface-sterilized C. arborescens seed in a gnotobiotic Leonard jar system. The Rhizobium isolates from C. arborescens root nodules were intermediate in generation time (g) (mean g of 5 isolates was 6.41 h) compared with the fast growers, Rhizobium leguminosarum NRG457 (g: 4.44 h), Rhizobium tropici 899 (g: 3.19 h), and Sinorhizobium meliloti BALSAC (g: 3.45 h), but they were faster than the slow-growing Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 (g: 13.86 h) and similar to Mesorhizobium amorphae (g: 7.76 h). Nitrogen derived from fixation by measuring changes in δ(15)N natural abundance in plant tissue confirmed the effectiveness of the strains; approximately 80% N2 from fixation. Strain identification was carried out by determining the sequences of 3 genes: 16S rRNA-encoding genes, cpn60, and recA. This analysis determined that the symbiotic partner of Canadian C. arborescens belongs to the genus Mesorhizobium and seems more related to M. loti than to previously described caragana symbionts like M. caraganae. This is the first report of Mesorhizobium sp. nodulating C. arborescens in western Canada.}, } @article {pmid23750228, year = {2013}, author = {Pietraszewska-Bogiel, A and Lefebvre, B and Koini, MA and Klaus-Heisen, D and Takken, FL and Geurts, R and Cullimore, JV and Gadella, TW}, title = {Interaction of Medicago truncatula lysin motif receptor-like kinases, NFP and LYK3, produced in Nicotiana benthamiana induces defence-like responses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {e65055}, pmid = {23750228}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Cell Death ; Chitin/metabolism ; Intracellular Space/enzymology ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*enzymology/genetics ; Plant Leaves/cytology/genetics ; Protein Binding ; Protein Kinases/*biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tobacco/cytology/*genetics/*immunology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Receptor(-like) kinases with Lysin Motif (LysM) domains in their extracellular region play crucial roles during plant interactions with microorganisms; e.g. Arabidopsis thaliana CERK1 activates innate immunity upon perception of fungal chitin/chitooligosaccharides, whereas Medicago truncatula NFP and LYK3 mediate signalling upon perception of bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharides, termed Nod factors, during the establishment of mutualism with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. However, little is still known about the exact activation and signalling mechanisms of MtNFP and MtLYK3. We aimed at investigating putative molecular interactions of MtNFP and MtLYK3 produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Surprisingly, heterologous co-production of these proteins resulted in an induction of defence-like responses, which included defence-related gene expression, accumulation of phenolic compounds, and cell death. Similar defence-like responses were observed upon production of AtCERK1 in N. benthamiana leaves. Production of either MtNFP or MtLYK3 alone or their co-production with other unrelated receptor(-like) kinases did not induce cell death in N. benthamiana, indicating that a functional interaction between these LysM receptor-like kinases is required for triggering this response. Importantly, structure-function studies revealed that the MtNFP intracellular region, specific features of the MtLYK3 intracellular region (including several putative phosphorylation sites), and MtLYK3 and AtCERK1 kinase activity were indispensable for cell death induction, thereby mimicking the structural requirements of nodulation or chitin-induced signalling. The observed similarity of N. benthamiana response to MtNFP and MtLYK3 co-production and AtCERK1 production suggests the existence of parallels between Nod factor-induced and chitin-induced signalling mediated by the respective LysM receptor(-like) kinases. Notably, the conserved structural requirements for MtNFP and MtLYK3 biological activity in M. truncatula (nodulation) and in N. benthamiana (cell death induction) indicates the relevance of the latter system for studies on these, and potentially other symbiotic LysM receptor-like kinases.}, } @article {pmid23749981, year = {2013}, author = {Crook, MB and Draper, AL and Guillory, RJ and Griffitts, JS}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti essential porin RopA1 is a target for numerous bacteriophages.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {16}, pages = {3663-3671}, pmid = {23749981}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacteriophages/*physiology ; Cell Membrane ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Porins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti harbors a gene, SMc02396, which encodes a predicted outer membrane porin that is conserved in many symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria in the order Rhizobiales. Here, this gene (renamed ropA1) is shown to be required for infection by two commonly utilized transducing bacteriophages (ΦM12 and N3). Mapping of S. meliloti mutations conferring resistance to ΦM12, N3, or both phages simultaneously revealed diverse mutations mapping within the ropA1 open reading frame. Subsequent tests determined that RopA1, lipopolysaccharide, or both are required for infection by all of a larger collection of Sinorhizobium-specific phages. Failed attempts to disrupt or delete ropA1 suggest that this gene is essential for viability. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that ropA1 homologs in many Rhizobiales species are often found as two genetically linked copies and that the intraspecies duplicates are always more closely related to each other than to homologs in other species, suggesting multiple independent duplication events.}, } @article {pmid23749852, year = {2013}, author = {Charpentier, M and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Nuclear calcium signaling in plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {163}, number = {2}, pages = {496-503}, pmid = {23749852}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Calcium Signaling ; Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Plants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant cell nuclei can generate calcium responses to a variety of inputs, tantamount among them the response to signaling molecules from symbiotic microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid23747704, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, JK and Lee, HJ and Kikuchi, Y and Kitagawa, W and Nikoh, N and Fukatsu, T and Lee, BL}, title = {Bacterial cell wall synthesis gene uppP is required for Burkholderia colonization of the Stinkbug Gut.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {16}, pages = {4879-4886}, pmid = {23747704}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Burkholderia/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To establish a host-bacterium symbiotic association, a number of factors involved in symbiosis must operate in a coordinated manner. In insects, bacterial factors for symbiosis have been poorly characterized at the molecular and biochemical levels, since many symbionts have not yet been cultured or are as yet genetically intractable. Recently, the symbiotic association between a stinkbug, Riptortus pedestris, and its beneficial gut bacterium, Burkholderia sp., has emerged as a promising experimental model system, providing opportunities to study insect symbiosis using genetically manipulated symbiotic bacteria. Here, in search of bacterial symbiotic factors, we targeted cell wall components of the Burkholderia symbiont by disruption of uppP gene, which encodes undecaprenyl pyrophosphate phosphatase involved in biosynthesis of various bacterial cell wall components. Under culture conditions, the ΔuppP mutant showed higher susceptibility to lysozyme than the wild-type strain, indicating impaired integrity of peptidoglycan of the mutant. When administered to the host insect, the ΔuppP mutant failed to establish normal symbiotic association: the bacterial cells reached to the symbiotic midgut but neither proliferated nor persisted there. Transformation of the ΔuppP mutant with uppP-encoding plasmid complemented these phenotypic defects: lysozyme susceptibility in vitro was restored, and normal infection and proliferation in the midgut symbiotic organ were observed in vivo. The ΔuppP mutant also exhibited susceptibility to hypotonic, hypertonic, and centrifugal stresses. These results suggest that peptidoglycan cell wall integrity is a stress resistance factor relevant to the successful colonization of the stinkbug midgut by Burkholderia symbiont.}, } @article {pmid23747371, year = {2013}, author = {Diagne, N and Diouf, D and Svistoonoff, S and Kane, A and Noba, K and Franche, C and Bogusz, D and Duponnois, R}, title = {Casuarina in Africa: distribution, role and importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal fungi and Frankia on plant development.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {128}, number = {}, pages = {204-209}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.05.009}, pmid = {23747371}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Africa ; Australia ; Ecology ; Forestry/methods ; Frankia/*physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Exotic trees were introduced in Africa to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems. Introduced species included several Australian species belonging to the Casuarinaceae family. Casuarinas trees grow very fast and are resistant to drought and high salinity. They are particularly well adapted to poor and disturbed soils thanks to their capacity to establish symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi -both arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal- and with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Frankia. These trees are now widely distributed in more than 20 African countries. Casuarina are mainly used in forestation programs to rehabilitate degraded or polluted sites, to stabilise sand dunes and to provide fuelwood and charcoal and thus contribute considerably to improving livelihoods and local economies. In this paper, we describe the geographical distribution of Casuarina in Africa, their economic and ecological value and the role of the symbiotic interactions between Casuarina, mycorrhizal fungi and Frankia.}, } @article {pmid23744275, year = {2013}, author = {Sutela, S and Ylioja, T and Jokipii-Lukkari, S and Anttila, AK and Julkunen-Tiitto, R and Niemi, K and Mölläri, T and Kallio, PT and Häggman, H}, title = {The responses of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin-expressing hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides) exposed to 24-h herbivory: expression of hemoglobin and stress-related genes in exposed and nonorthostichous leaves.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {126}, number = {6}, pages = {795-809}, pmid = {23744275}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Chimera ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Herbivory ; Hydroxybenzoates/analysis ; Insecta/physiology ; Larva ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Leaves/genetics/parasitology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Populus/*genetics/physiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Transcriptome ; Truncated Hemoglobins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The responses of transcriptome and phenolic compounds were determined with Populus tremula L. × Populus tremuloides Michx. expressing the hemoglobin (Hb) of Vitreoscilla (VHb) and non-transformant (wt) line. After 24-h exposure of leaves to Conistra vaccinii L., the transcript levels of endogenous non-symbiotic class 1 Hb (PttHb1) and truncated Hb (PttTrHb) genes were modestly reduced and increased, respectively, in both wt and VHb-expressing line. Besides the herbivory exposed leaves showing the most significant transcriptome changes, alterations were also detected in the transcriptome of nonorthostichous leaves positioned directly above the exposed leaves. Both wt and VHb-expressing line displayed similar herbivory-induced effects on gene expression, although the extent of responses was more pronounced in the wt than in the VHb-expressing line. The contents of phenolic compounds were not altered due to herbivory and they were alike in the wt and VHb-expressing line. In addition, we determined the relative growth rates (RGRs) of Orthosia gothica L., Ectropis crepuscularia Denis & Schiff. and Orgyia antiqua L. larvae, and found no variation in the RGRs between the lines. Thus, VHb-expressing P. tremula × tremuloides lines showed to be comparable with wt in regards to the food quality of leaves.}, } @article {pmid23742191, year = {2013}, author = {Pérez-Prieto, J}, title = {Symbiosis between photoactive nanoparticles and their organic ligands.}, journal = {Photochemistry and photobiology}, volume = {89}, number = {6}, pages = {1291-1298}, doi = {10.1111/php.12109}, pmid = {23742191}, issn = {1751-1097}, mesh = {Ligands ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; *Nanoparticles ; Organic Chemicals/*chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photoactive spherical metal and semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) are smart systems that exhibit unique properties, such as a high surface-to-volume ratio, a broad absorption spectrum and size-dependent properties. They are capped with a considerable number of ligands required to give rise to stable organic and aqueous NP colloidal solutions. In addition, the ligands can also be used to introduce functionality at the NP periphery. In this case, the NP could act as a 3D-scaffold, which would make a high local concentration of a functional moiety at the NP periphery possible, moreover, the photophysical properties of the NP could be tuned. The combined action of the organic capping and the inorganic core can exert an encapsulating effect, i.e. the organic capping could establish specific interactions with nearby molecules and this would enable the molecules to approach or interact with the NP surface. Therefore, the NP core and the ligand can work together providing the overall hybrid system with new properties or capacities. The relevance of the cooperative action between the spherical photoactive core and the capping are shown in this report with several recent examples developed by my research group, some of them in collaboration with other groups.}, } @article {pmid23742115, year = {2014}, author = {Ryan, GD and Rasmussen, S and Xue, H and Parsons, AJ and Newman, JA}, title = {Metabolite analysis of the effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilization on the association between tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and its fungal symbiont Neotyphodium coenophialum.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {204-212}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12146}, pmid = {23742115}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Alkaloids/analysis/metabolism ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; Endophytes ; Fertilizers ; *Festuca/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*drug effects/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Atmospheric CO2 is expected to increase to between 550 ppm and 1000 ppm in the next century. CO2-induced changes in plant physiology can have ecosystem-wide implications and may alter plant-plant, plant-herbivore and plant-symbiont interactions. We examined the effects of three concentrations of CO2 (390, 800 and 1000 ppm) and two concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer (0.004 g N/week versus 0.2 g N/week) on the physiological response of Neotyphodium fungal endophyte-infected and uninfected tall fescue plants. We used quantitative PCR to estimate the concentration of endophyte under altered CO2 and N conditions. We found that elevated CO2 increased the concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates and decreased the concentration of plant total amino acids in plants. Fungal-derived alkaloids decreased in response to elevated CO2 and increased in response to nitrogen fertilization. Endophyte concentration (expressed as the number of copies of an endophyte-specific gene per total genomic DNA) increased under elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilization. The correlation between endophyte concentration and alkaloid production observed at ambient conditions was not observed under elevated CO2. These results suggest that nutrient exchange dynamics important for maintaining the symbiotic relationship between fungal endophytes and their grass hosts may be altered by changes in environmental variables such as CO2 and nitrogen fertilization.}, } @article {pmid23741505, year = {2013}, author = {Stanton-Geddes, J and Paape, T and Epstein, B and Briskine, R and Yoder, J and Mudge, J and Bharti, AK and Farmer, AD and Zhou, P and Denny, R and May, GD and Erlandson, S and Yakub, M and Sugawara, M and Sadowsky, MJ and Young, ND and Tiffin, P}, title = {Candidate genes and genetic architecture of symbiotic and agronomic traits revealed by whole-genome, sequence-based association genetics in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e65688}, pmid = {23741505}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Genome, Plant ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; *Genomics ; Genotype ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; }, abstract = {Genome-wide association study (GWAS) has revolutionized the search for the genetic basis of complex traits. To date, GWAS have generally relied on relatively sparse sampling of nucleotide diversity, which is likely to bias results by preferentially sampling high-frequency SNPs not in complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) with causative SNPs. To avoid these limitations we conducted GWAS with >6 million SNPs identified by sequencing the genomes of 226 accessions of the model legume Medicago truncatula. We used these data to identify candidate genes and the genetic architecture underlying phenotypic variation in plant height, trichome density, flowering time, and nodulation. The characteristics of candidate SNPs differed among traits, with candidates for flowering time and trichome density in distinct clusters of high linkage disequilibrium (LD) and the minor allele frequencies (MAF) of candidates underlying variation in flowering time and height significantly greater than MAF of candidates underlying variation in other traits. Candidate SNPs tagged several characterized genes including nodulation related genes SERK2, MtnodGRP3, MtMMPL1, NFP, CaML3, MtnodGRP3A and flowering time gene MtFD as well as uncharacterized genes that become candidates for further molecular characterization. By comparing sequence-based candidates to candidates identified by in silico 250K SNP arrays, we provide an empirical example of how reliance on even high-density reduced representation genomic makers can bias GWAS results. Depending on the trait, only 30-70% of the top 20 in silico array candidates were within 1 kb of sequence-based candidates. Moreover, the sequence-based candidates tagged by array candidates were heavily biased towards common variants; these comparisons underscore the need for caution when interpreting results from GWAS conducted with sparsely covered genomes.}, } @article {pmid23741463, year = {2013}, author = {Hosokawa, T and Hironaka, M and Inadomi, K and Mukai, H and Nikoh, N and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Diverse strategies for vertical symbiont transmission among subsocial stinkbugs.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e65081}, pmid = {23741463}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/physiology ; Genes, Insect ; Genetic Fitness ; Genome Size ; Heteroptera/classification/*microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oviposition ; Ovum/ultrastructure ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sociality may affect symbiosis and vice versa. Many plant-sucking stinkbugs harbor mutualistic bacterial symbionts in the midgut. In the superfamily Pentatomoidea, adult females excrete symbiont-containing materials from the anus, which their offspring ingest orally and establish vertical symbiont transmission. In many stinkbug families whose members are mostly non-social, females excrete symbiont-containing materials onto/beside eggs upon oviposition. However, exceptional cases have been reported from two subsocial species representing the closely related families Cydnidae and Parastrachiidae, wherein females remain nearby eggs for maternal care after oviposition, and provide their offspring with symbiont-containing secretions at later stages, either just before or after hatching. These observations suggested that sociality of the host stinkbugs may be correlated with their symbiont transmission strategies. However, we found that cydnid stinkbugs of the genus Adomerus, which are associated with gammaproteobacterial gut symbionts and exhibit elaborate maternal care over their offspring, smear symbiont-containing secretions onto eggs upon oviposition as many non-social stinkbugs do. Surface sterilization of the eggs resulted in aposymbiotic insects of slower growth, smaller size and abnormal body coloration, indicating vertical symbiont transmission via egg surface contamination and presumable beneficial nature of the symbiosis. The Adomerus symbionts exhibited AT-biased nucleotide compositions, accelerated molecular evolutionary rates and reduced genome size, while these degenerative genomic traits were less severe than those in the symbiont of a subsocial parastrachiid. These results suggest that not only sociality but also other ecological and evolutionary aspects of the host stinkbugs, including the host-symbiont co-evolutionary history, may have substantially affected their symbiont transmission strategies.}, } @article {pmid23741336, year = {2013}, author = {Svistoonoff, S and Benabdoun, FM and Nambiar-Veetil, M and Imanishi, L and Vaissayre, V and Cesari, S and Diagne, N and Hocher, V and de Billy, F and Bonneau, J and Wall, L and Ykhlef, N and Rosenberg, C and Bogusz, D and Franche, C and Gherbi, H}, title = {The independent acquisition of plant root nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in Fabids recruited the same genetic pathway for nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e64515}, pmid = {23741336}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase/*genetics/metabolism ; Cannabaceae/enzymology/*genetics ; Fabaceae/enzymology/*genetics ; Frankia/enzymology/*genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Rhizobium/enzymology/*genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transduction, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Only species belonging to the Fabid clade, limited to four classes and ten families of Angiosperms, are able to form nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses (RNS) with soil bacteria. This concerns plants of the legume family (Fabaceae) and Parasponia (Cannabaceae) associated with the Gram-negative proteobacteria collectively called rhizobia and actinorhizal plants associated with the Gram-positive actinomycetes of the genus Frankia. Calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is a key component of the common signaling pathway leading to both rhizobial and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses (AM) and plays a central role in cross-signaling between root nodule organogenesis and infection processes. Here, we show that CCaMK is also needed for successful actinorhiza formation and interaction with AM fungi in the actinorhizal tree Casuarina glauca and is also able to restore both nodulation and AM symbioses in a Medicago truncatula ccamk mutant. Besides, we expressed auto-active CgCCaMK lacking the auto-inhibitory/CaM domain in two actinorhizal species: C. glauca (Casuarinaceae), which develops an intracellular infection pathway, and Discaria trinervis (Rhamnaceae) which is characterized by an ancestral intercellular infection mechanism. In both species, we found induction of nodulation independent of Frankia similar to response to the activation of CCaMK in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis and conclude that the regulation of actinorhiza organogenesis is conserved regardless of the infection mode. It has been suggested that rhizobial and actinorhizal symbioses originated from a common ancestor with several independent evolutionary origins. Our findings are consistent with the recruitment of a similar genetic pathway governing rhizobial and Frankia nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid23740297, year = {2013}, author = {Wooding, AL and Wingfield, MJ and Hurley, BP and Garnas, JR and de Groot, P and Slippers, B}, title = {Lack of fidelity revealed in an insect-fungal mutualism after invasion.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {20130342}, pmid = {23740297}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/genetics/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Canada ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Introduced Species ; Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Pinus/growth & development ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiont fidelity is an important mechanism in the evolution and stability of mutualisms. Strict fidelity has been assumed for the obligate mutualism between Sirex woodwasps and their mutualistic Amylostereum fungi. This assumption has been challenged in North America where the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, and its fungal mutualist, Amylostereum areolatum, have recently been introduced. We investigate the specificity of the mutualism between Sirex and Amylostereum species in Canada, where S. noctilio co-infests Pinus with native Sirex nigricornis and its mutualist, Amylostereum chailletii. Using phylogenetic and culture methods, we show that extensive, reciprocal exchange of fungal species and strains is occurring, with 75.3 per cent of S. nigricornis carrying A. areolatum and 3.5 per cent of S. noctilio carrying A. chailletii. These findings show that the apparent specificity of the mutualism between Sirex spp. and their associated Amylostereum spp. is not the result of specific biological mechanisms that maintain symbiont fidelity. Rather, partner switching may be common when shifting geographical distributions driven by ecological or anthropogenic forces bring host and mutualist pairs into sympatry. Such novel associations have potentially profound consequences for fitness and virulence. Symbiont sharing, if it occurs commonly, may represent an important but overlooked mechanism of community change linked to biological invasions.}, } @article {pmid23739268, year = {2012}, author = {Cumby, N and Davidson, AR and Maxwell, KL}, title = {The moron comes of age.}, journal = {Bacteriophage}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {225-228}, pmid = {23739268}, issn = {2159-7073}, abstract = {Prophage-encoded genes can provide a variety of benefits for their bacterial hosts. These beneficial genes are often contained within "moron" elements. Morons, thus termed as the insertion of the DNA encoding them adds "more on" the genome in which they are found, are independent transcriptional units disseminated among phage genomes through horizontal gene transfer. Morons have been identified in the majority of phage genomes and they have been found to play diverse roles in bacterial physiology. At present, we are only beginning to ascribe functions to the many proteins encoded within these ubiquitous genetic elements. Recently, we discovered that the first described moron-encoded protein, gp15 of phage HK97, is expressed from the HK97 prophage and functions as a superinfection exclusion protein, protecting its host from genome injection by other phages. This work and the growing body of data pertaining to other morons challenges the traditional view of phages as purely parasites of bacteria and emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and prophages.}, } @article {pmid23737810, year = {2013}, author = {Tourneur, E and Chassin, C}, title = {Neonatal immune adaptation of the gut and its role during infections.}, journal = {Clinical & developmental immunology}, volume = {2013}, number = {}, pages = {270301}, pmid = {23737810}, issn = {1740-2530}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*immunology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/biosynthesis/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/microbiology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Immune Evasion ; *Immune Tolerance ; *Immunity, Innate ; Infant, Newborn ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Microbiota/*immunology ; Sepsis/*immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {The intestinal tract is engaged in a relationship with a dense and complex microbial ecosystem, the microbiota. The establishment of this symbiosis is essential for host physiology, metabolism, and immune homeostasis. Because newborns are essentially sterile, the first exposure to microorganisms and environmental endotoxins during the neonatal period is followed by a crucial sequence of active events leading to immune tolerance and homeostasis. Contact with potent immunostimulatory molecules starts immediately at birth, and the discrimination between commensal bacteria and invading pathogens is essential to avoid an inappropriate immune stimulation and/or host infection. The dysregulation of these tight interactions between host and microbiota can be responsible for important health disorders, including inflammation and sepsis. This review summarizes the molecular events leading to the establishment of postnatal immune tolerance and how pathogens can avoid host immunity and induce neonatal infections and sepsis.}, } @article {pmid23737501, year = {2013}, author = {Kosugi, M and Miyake, H and Yamakawa, H and Shibata, Y and Miyazawa, A and Sugimura, T and Satoh, K and Itoh, S and Kashino, Y}, title = {Arabitol provided by lichenous fungi enhances ability to dissipate excess light energy in a symbiotic green alga under desiccation.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {54}, number = {8}, pages = {1316-1325}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct079}, pmid = {23737501}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*physiology/radiation effects ; Desiccation ; Fluorescence ; Lichens/microbiology/*physiology/radiation effects ; Light ; Sugar Alcohols/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are drought-resistant symbiotic organisms of mycobiont fungi and photobiont green algae or cyanobacteria, and have an efficient mechanism to dissipate excess captured light energy into heat in a picosecond time range to avoid photoinhibition. This mechanism can be assessed as drought-induced non-photochemical quenching (d-NPQ) using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. A green alga Trebouxia sp., which lives within a lichen Ramalina yasudae, is one of the most common green algal photobionts. This alga showed very efficient d-NPQ under desiccation within the lichen thallus, whereas it lost d-NPQ ability when isolated from R. yasudae, indicating the importance of the interaction with the mycobiont for d-NPQ ability. We analyzed the water extracts from lichen thalli that enhanced d-NPQ in Trebouxia. Of several sugar compounds identified in the water extracts by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and gas chromatography (GC) analyses, only d-arabitol recovered d-NPQ in isolated Trebouxia to a level similar to that detected for R. yasudae thallus. Other sugar compounds did not help the expression of d-NPQ at the same concentrations. Thus, arabitol is essential for the expression of d-NPQ to dissipate excess captured light energy into heat, protecting the photobiont from photoinhibition. The relationship between mycobionts and photobionts is, therefore, not commensalism, but mutualism with each other, as shown by d-NPQ expression.}, } @article {pmid23733067, year = {2013}, author = {Couzigou, JM and Mondy, S and Sahl, L and Gourion, B and Ratet, P}, title = {To be or noot to be: evolutionary tinkering for symbiotic organ identity.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {23733067}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Genes, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Peas/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants develop symbiosis specific organs on their roots as a result of their interaction with rhizobia. These organs, called nodules, house the nitrogen fixing bacteria. The molecular mechanisms governing the identity and maintenance of this organ are still poorly understood, but it is supposed that root and nodule development share common features. We have identified the Medicago truncatula nodule root (NOOT) and Pisum sativum cochleata (COCH) orthologous genes as necessary for the robust maintenance of nodule identity throughout the nodule developmental program. NOOT and COCH are Arabidopsis blade-on-petiole (BOP) orthologs and NOOT and COCH show functions in leaf and flower development in M. truncatula and P. sativum respectively that are conserved with the functions of BOP in Arabidopsis. The characterization of the noot and coch mutants highlights the root evolutionary origin of nodule vascular strands and suggests that the NOOT and COCH genes were recruited to repress root identity in the legume symbiotic organ.}, } @article {pmid23733065, year = {2013}, author = {Bargaz, A and Ghoulam, C and Drevon, JJ}, title = {Specific expression and activity of acid phosphatases in common bean nodules.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {}, pmid = {23733065}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/*metabolism ; Cell Respiration ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/genetics ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*enzymology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Under phosphorus (P) deficiency, sensitivity of the N 2-fixing legumes increases since the large amount of P-dependent carbon and energy turnover required during N 2 fixation are not satisfied. However, despites the fact that these crops have been widely characterized under P-deficiency and a number of tolerance traits have been identified, abilities of the nodules to cope with this environmental constraint have still to be further investigated. Increases both of activity and gene expression of acid phosphatases (APases) are among mechanisms that lead to increase both of N 2 fixation and nodule respiration under P-deficiency. Our findings have revealed that expression of phosphoenol pyruvate phosphatase (PEPase) and trehalose 6P phosphatase (TPP) genes and activities of the corresponding enzymes were positively correlated with increases both of the rhizobial symbiosis efficiency in use of P for N 2 fixation and nodule O 2 permeability. Under P-deficiency, this positive correlation was more significant for the recombinant inbred line (RIL) of Phaseolus vulgaris RIL115 that is tolerant to P-deficiency than the sensitive RIL147. Overall, the present work suggests that the tissue-specific localized PEPase and TPP transcripts of infected cells and nodule cortex play a role in adaptation to P-deficiency and are likely involved in nodule respiration linked to symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF).}, } @article {pmid23731358, year = {2013}, author = {Těšitelová, T and Jersáková, J and Roy, M and Kubátová, B and Těšitel, J and Urfus, T and Trávníček, P and Suda, J}, title = {Ploidy-specific symbiotic interactions: divergence of mycorrhizal fungi between cytotypes of the Gymnadenia conopsea group (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {4}, pages = {1022-1033}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12348}, pmid = {23731358}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Czech Republic ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Ploidies ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Polyploidy is widely recognized as a major mechanism of sympatric speciation in plants, yet little is known about its effects on interactions with other organisms. Mycorrhizal fungi are among the most common plant symbionts and play an important role in plant nutrient supply. It remains to be understood whether mycorrhizal associations of ploidy-variable plants can be ploidy-specific. We examined mycorrhizal associations in three cytotypes (2x, 3x, 4x) of the Gymnadenia conopsea group (Orchidaceae), involving G. conopsea s.s. and G. densiflora, at different spatial scales and during different ontogenetic stages. We analysed: adults from mixed- and single-ploidy populations at a regional scale; closely spaced adults within a mixed-ploidy site; and mycorrhizal seedlings. All Gymnadenia cytotypes associated mainly with saprotrophic Tulasnellaceae (Basidiomycota). Nonetheless, both adults and seedlings of diploids and their autotetraploid derivatives significantly differed in the identity of their mycorrhizal symbionts. Interploidy segregation of mycorrhizal symbionts was most pronounced within a site with closely spaced adults. This study provides the first evidence that polyploidization of a plant species can be associated with a shift in mycorrhizal symbionts. This divergence may contribute to niche partitioning and facilitate establishment and co-existence of different cytotypes.}, } @article {pmid23730932, year = {2013}, author = {Kluschke, F and Patzelt, A and Lademann, J and Sterry, W and Lange-Asschenfeldt, B}, title = {Skin care. Sun care. A successful symbiosis?.}, journal = {Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {1020-1021}, doi = {10.1111/ddg.12144}, pmid = {23730932}, issn = {1610-0387}, mesh = {Aging/*drug effects ; Clinical Decision-Making/methods ; Combined Modality Therapy/methods ; Dermatologic Agents/*administration & dosage ; Drug Synergism ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Skin Care/*methods ; Skin Cream/*administration & dosage ; Sunburn/*prevention & control ; Sunscreening Agents/*administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; }, } @article {pmid23728626, year = {2013}, author = {Sadowski, CS and Wilson, D and Schallies, KB and Walker, G and Gibson, KE}, title = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti sensor histidine kinase CbrA contributes to free-living cell cycle regulation.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {159}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1552-1563}, pmid = {23728626}, issn = {1465-2080}, support = {R01 GM031030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R15 GM099052/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1 R15 GM099052-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM31030/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Caulobacter crescentus/genetics ; *Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Histidine Kinase ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is alternately capable of colonizing the soil as a free-living bacterium or establishing a chronic intracellular infection with its legume host for the purpose of nitrogen fixation. We previously identified the S. meliloti two-component sensor histidine kinase CbrA as playing an important role in regulating exopolysaccharide production, flagellar motility and symbiosis. Phylogenetic analysis of CbrA has highlighted its evolutionary relatedness to the Caulobacter crescentus sensor histidine kinases PleC and DivJ, which are involved in CtrA-dependent cell cycle regulation through the shared response regulator DivK. We therefore became interested in testing whether CbrA plays a role in regulating S. meliloti cell cycle processes. We find the loss of cbrA results in filamentous cell growth accompanied by cells that contain an aberrant genome complement, indicating CbrA plays a role in regulating cell division and possibly DNA segregation. S. meliloti DivK localizes to the old cell pole during distinct phases of the cell cycle in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Loss of cbrA results in a significantly decreased rate of DivK polar localization when compared with the wild-type, suggesting CbrA helps regulate cell cycle processes by modulating DivK phosphorylation status as a kinase. Consistent with a presumptive decrease in DivK phosphorylation and activity, we also find the steady-state level of CtrA increased in cbrA mutants. Our data therefore demonstrate that CbrA contributes to free-living cell cycle regulation, which in light of its requirement for symbiosis, points to the potential importance of cell cycle regulation for establishing an effective host interaction.}, } @article {pmid23728162, year = {2013}, author = {Fischer, R and Ostafe, R and Twyman, RM}, title = {Cellulases from insects.}, journal = {Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology}, volume = {136}, number = {}, pages = {51-64}, doi = {10.1007/10_2013_206}, pmid = {23728162}, issn = {0724-6145}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified/*metabolism ; Cellulases/*biosynthesis/*chemistry/genetics ; Cellulose/*chemistry ; Genetic Enhancement/*methods ; Insecta/*enzymology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bioethanol is currently produced by the fermentation of sugary and starchy crops, but waste plant biomass is a more abundant source because sugars can be derived directly from cellulose. One of the limiting steps in the biomass-to-ethanol process is the degradation of cellulose to fermentable sugars (saccharification). This currently relies on the use of bacterial and/or fungal cellulases, which tend to have low activity under biorefinery conditions and are easily inhibited. Some insect species feed on plant biomass and can efficiently degrade cellulose to produce glucose as an energy source. Although insects were initially thought to require symbiotic relationships with bacteria and fungi to break down cellulose, several species in the orders Dictyoptera, Orthoptera, and Coleoptera have now been shown to produce their own cellulases in the midgut or salivary glands, and putative cellulase genes have been identified in other orders. Insect cellulases often work in concert with cellulases provided by symbiotic microbiota in the gut to achieve efficient cellulolysis. We discuss the current status of insect cellulases and potential strategies that could be used to find novel enzymes and improve their efficiency.}, } @article {pmid23727346, year = {2013}, author = {Bjørnson, S and Steele, T and Hu, Q and Ellis, B and Saito, T}, title = {Ultrastructure and molecular characterization of the microsporidium, Nosema chrysoperlae sp. nov., from the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) used for biological pest control.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {53-60}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2013.05.007}, pmid = {23727346}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry ; Genome, Fungal ; Insecta/growth & development/*microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Nosema/genetics/isolation & purification/*ultrastructure ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spores, Fungal/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lacewing larvae are generalist predators that are commercially available for aphid control on a variety of crops in both Europe and North America. Although lacewings are known for their symbiotic association with yeasts and bacteria, there are few reports of microsporidia in these natural enemies. An undescribed microsporidium was found in Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) during the routine examination of specimens that were obtained from a commercial insectary for biological pest control. The objective of this study was to describe the pathogen by means of ultrastructure, molecular characterization and tissue pathology. All stages of the microsporidium were diplokaryotic and developed in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. Merogony and sporogony were not observed. Mature spores measured 3.49±0.10×1.52±0.05μm and had an isofilar polar filament with 8-10 coils that were frequently arranged in a single row, although double rows were also observed. Spores contained a lamellar polaroplast and a relatively small and inconspicuous polar vacuole was observed in the posterior region of about half of the spores that were examined. Tubular structures, similar in appearance to those in Nosema granulosis were observed in both sporonts and in spores. A cluster of small tubules was also observed in the posterior region of some spores. Microsporidian spores were observed in cells of the proventriculus, diverticulum and in epithelial cells of the posterior midgut. The Malpighian tubules, ileum, and rectum were heavily infected. Spores were also observed in the fat body, peripheral region of the ganglia, within and between the flight muscles, and beneath the cuticle. Although the tissues adjacent to the ovaries were heavily infected, microsporidian spores were not observed within the developing eggs. Pathogen transmission was not studied directly because it was difficult to maintain microsporidia-infected C. carnea in the laboratory. The presence of microsporidian spores in the alimentary canal suggests that the pathogen is transmitted per os and horizontal transmission may occur when infected larvae or adults are cannibalized by uninfected larvae. Molecular analysis of the microsporidian genome showed that the pathogen described in this study was 99% similar to Nosema bombycis, N. furnacalis, N. granulosis and N. spodopterae. Based on information gained during this study, we propose that the microsporidium in C. carnea be given the name Nosema chrysoperlae sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid23727055, year = {2013}, author = {Baeza, JA}, title = {Molecular phylogeny of broken-back shrimps (genus Lysmata and allies): a test of the 'Tomlinson-Ghiselin' hypothesis explaining the evolution of hermaphroditism.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {46-62}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2013.05.013}, pmid = {23727055}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Decapoda/*classification/genetics ; Environment ; Female ; Male ; *Phylogeny ; Reproduction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Characteristics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The 'Tomlinson-Ghiselin' hypothesis (TGh) predicts that outcrossing simultaneous hermaphroditism (SH) is advantageous when population density is low because the probability of finding sexual partners is negligible. In shrimps from the family Lysmatidae, Bauer's historical contingency hypothesis (HCh) suggests that SH evolved in an ancestral tropical species that adopted a symbiotic lifestyle with, e.g., sea anemones and became a specialized fish-cleaner. Restricted mobility of shrimps due to their association with a host, and hence, reduced probability of encountering mating partners, would have favored SH. The HCh is a special case of the TGh. Herein, I examined within a phylogenetic framework whether the TGh/HCh explains the origin of SH in shrimps. A phylogeny of caridean broken-back shrimps in the families Lysmatidae, Barbouriidae, Merguiidae was first developed using nuclear and mitochondrial makers. Complete evidence phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) demonstrated that Lysmatidae+Barbouriidae are monophyletic. In turn, Merguiidae is sister to the Lysmatidae+Barbouriidae. ML and BI ancestral character-state reconstruction in the resulting phylogenetic trees indicated that the ancestral Lysmatidae was either gregarious or lived in small groups and was not symbiotic. Four different evolutionary transitions from a free-living to a symbiotic lifestyle occurred in shrimps. Therefore, the evolution of SH in shrimps cannot be explained by the TGh/HCh; reduced probability of encountering mating partners in an ancestral species due to its association with a sessile host did not favor SH in the Lysmatidae. It is proposed that two conditions acting together in the past; low male mating opportunities and brooding constraints, might have favored SH in the ancestral Lysmatidae+Barbouridae. Additional studies on the life history and phylogenetics of broken-back shrimps are needed to understand the evolution of SH in the ecologically diverse Caridea.}, } @article {pmid23726053, year = {2013}, author = {Zhao, DX and Zhang, XF and Hong, XY}, title = {Host-symbiont interactions in spider mite Tetranychus truncates doubly infected with Wolbachia and Cardinium.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {445-452}, doi = {10.1603/EN12354}, pmid = {23726053}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*physiology ; China ; Female ; Fertility ; Longevity ; Male ; Reproduction ; *Symbiosis ; Tetranychidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Inherited bacteria Wolbachia, and more recently Cardinium, have received a great deal of attention for their ability to manipulate the reproduction and fitness of their host species. Wolbachia and Cardinium have been found to co-infect the same host species. In this study, both Wolbachia and Cardinium were found to manipulate host reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility and to affect the male-biased sex-ratio in the doubly infected spider mite Tetranychus truncates Ehara. We also investigated effects of double infection with Wolbachia and Cardinium on host fecundity and longevity. Results indicated that Wolbachia and Cardinium increased the fecundity of doubly infected females, although no infection effect on host longevity was observed. Our most important finding was that the mating of uninfected mites facilitated the proliferation of Wolbachia and Cardinium in double-infected mites. We discuss the results observed with respect to the spread of bacterial infection in natural populations and the evolution of the endosymbiont-T. truncates symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23725492, year = {2013}, author = {Smith, WA and Oakeson, KF and Johnson, KP and Reed, DL and Carter, T and Smith, KL and Koga, R and Fukatsu, T and Clayton, DH and Dale, C}, title = {Phylogenetic analysis of symbionts in feather-feeding lice of the genus Columbicola: evidence for repeated symbiont replacements.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {109}, pmid = {23725492}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Base Sequence ; Evolution, Molecular ; Ischnocera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many groups of insects have obligate bacterial symbionts that are vertically transmitted. Such associations are typically characterized by the presence of a monophyletic group of bacteria living in a well-defined host clade. In addition the phylogeny of the symbiotic bacteria is typically congruent with that of the host, signifying co-speciation. Here we show that bacteria living in a single genus of feather lice, Columbicola (Insecta: Phthiraptera), present an exception to this typical pattern.

RESULTS: The phylogeny of Columbicola spp. symbionts revealed the presence of three candidate clades, with the most species-rich clade having a comb-like topology with very short internodes and long terminal branches. Evolutionary simulations indicate that this topology is characteristic of a process of repeated symbiont replacement over a brief time period. The two remaining candidate clades in our study exhibit high levels of nucleotide substitution, suggesting accelerated molecular evolution due to relaxed purifying selection or smaller effective population size, which is typical of many vertically transmitted insect symbionts. Representatives of the fast-evolving and slow-evolving symbiont lineages exhibit the same localization, migration, and transmission patterns in their hosts, implying direct replacement.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that repeated, independent symbiont replacements have taken place over the course of the relatively recent radiation of Columbicola spp. These results are compatible with the notion that lice and other insects have the capability to acquire novel symbionts through the domestication of progenitor strains residing in their local environment.}, } @article {pmid23724115, year = {2013}, author = {Fransolet, D and Roberty, S and Herman, AC and Tonk, L and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Plumier, JC}, title = {Increased cell proliferation and mucocyte density in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida recovering from bleaching.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e65015}, pmid = {23724115}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Organ Specificity ; Population Dynamics ; Sea Anemones/*cytology/*physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; Wheat Germ Agglutinins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recovery of coral after bleaching episodes is a critical period for the health of the reef ecosystem. While events such as symbiont (genus Symbiodinium) shifting/shuffling or tissue apoptosis have been demonstrated to occur following bleaching, little is known concerning tissue recovery or cell proliferation. Here, we studied the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida exposed to a transient elevation of water temperature combined with high illumination (33°C and 1900 µmol photons x m(-2) x s(-1) for 30 h). Following such treatment bleached anemones showed a significant reduction of their Symbiodinium density. Cell proliferation in the ectodermis and gastrodermis was determined by assessing the densities of cells labeled with a thymidine analogue (EdU). Cell proliferation significantly increased during the first day following stress in both tissue types. This increased cell proliferation returned to pre-stress values after one week. Although cell proliferation was higher in the ectodermis in absence of stress, it was relatively more pronounced in the gastrodermis of stressed anemones. In addition, the ratio of ectodermal mucocytes significantly increased three weeks after induced stress. These results suggest that thermal/photic stress coupled with the loss of the symbionts is able to enhance cell proliferation in both gastrodermis and ectodermis of cnidarians. While new cells formed in the gastrodermis are likely to host new Symbiodinium, the fate of new cells in the ectodermis was only partially revealed. Some new ectodermal cells may, in part, contribute to the increased number of mucocytes which could eventually help strengthen the heterotrophic state until restoration of the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23724046, year = {2013}, author = {Jancek, S and Bézier, A and Gayral, P and Paillusson, C and Kaiser, L and Dupas, S and Le Ru, BP and Barbe, V and Periquet, G and Drezen, JM and Herniou, EA}, title = {Adaptive selection on bracovirus genomes drives the specialization of Cotesia parasitoid wasps.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e64432}, pmid = {23724046}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Amino Acids/genetics ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Viral/genetics ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Genomics ; Parasites/*virology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {The geographic mosaic of coevolution predicts parasite virulence should be locally adapted to the host community. Cotesia parasitoid wasps adapt to local lepidopteran species possibly through their symbiotic bracovirus. The virus, essential for the parasitism success, is at the heart of the complex coevolutionary relationship linking the wasps and their hosts. The large segmented genome contained in the virus particles encodes virulence genes involved in host immune and developmental suppression. Coevolutionary arms race should result in the positive selection of particular beneficial alleles. To understand the global role of bracoviruses in the local adaptation or specialization of parasitoid wasps to their hosts, we studied the molecular evolution of four bracoviruses associated with wasps of the genus Cotesia, including C congregata, C vestalis and new data and annotation on two ecologically differentiated populations of C sesamie, Kitale and Mombasa. Paired orthologs analyses revealed more genes under positive selection when comparing the two C sesamiae bracoviruses belonging to the same species, and more genes under strong evolutionary constraint between species. Furthermore branch-site evolutionary models showed that 17 genes, out of the 54 currently available shared by the four bracoviruses, harboured sites under positive selection including: the histone H4-like, a C-type lectin, two ep1-like, ep2, a viral ankyrin, CrV1, a ben-domain, a Serine-rich, and eight unknown genes. Lastly the phylogenetic analyses of the histone, ep2 and CrV1 genes in different African C sesamiae populations showed that each gene described differently the individual relationships. In particular we found recombination had happened between the ep2 and CrV1 genes, which are localized 37.5 kb apart on the wasp chromosomes. Involved in multidirectional coevolutionary interactions, C sesamiae wasps rely on different bracovirus mediated molecular pathways to overcome local host resistance.}, } @article {pmid23723670, year = {2012}, author = {Dornala, SN and Dornala, SS}, title = {Clinical efficacy of Bhringarajasava as Naimittika Rasayana in Rajayakshma with special reference to pulmonary tuberculosis.}, journal = {Ayu}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {523-529}, pmid = {23723670}, issn = {0974-8520}, abstract = {The clinical study was conducted at the Out Patient Department of State TB Training and Demonstration Centre, S.R. Nagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, during June 2003 to December 2004. A group of 60 patients of PTB were included in the study and were divided into two equal groups. Both the groups were on the Directly Observed Treatment Short - course chemotherapy (DOTS) regime. The test group was given DOTS + Bhringarajasava (30 ml thrice a day) and the control group was only on DOTS. The study was to evaluate whether the addition of Bhringarajasava as Naimittika Rasayana (complementary drug) is beneficial in providing faster and better relief or not. Both subjective and objective parameters were considered for the assessment of results. Among the specific symptomatology, Amsaparsabitapah (pain in costal and scapular region), Kasa (cough), Jwara (pyrexia), Swasa (dyspnoea) and Bhaktadwesha (anorexia) were the symptoms manifested by all the patients. Results of the present study indicate that better, safer, and faster relief provided by the addition of Bhringarajasava to DOTS. This is an effort to utilize drugs from the vast Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia as safe adjuvant to DOTS regime so that toxicity and associated side effects of the DOTS can be ameliorated. This process of using therapies from two disparate systems of medicine could potentially lead to further enhancements in the field of complementary medicine and create a symbiosis between the different systems, which may lead to Rasayana DOTS (R-DOTS) in future.}, } @article {pmid23721090, year = {2013}, author = {Khan, AL and Lee, IJ}, title = {Endophytic Penicillium funiculosum LHL06 secretes gibberellin that reprograms Glycine max L. growth during copper stress.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {86}, pmid = {23721090}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Copper/*metabolism ; Endophytes/*metabolism ; Gibberellins/*metabolism ; Penicillium/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Soybeans/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Heavy metal pollution in crop fields is one of the major issues in sustainable agriculture production. To improve crop growth and reduce the toxic effects of metals is an ideal strategy. Understanding the resilience of gibberellins producing endophytic fungi associated with crop plants in metal contaminated agriculture fields could be an important step towards reducing agrochemical pollutions. In present study, it was aimed to screen and identify metal resistant endophyte and elucidate its role in rescuing crop plant growth and metabolism during metal stress.

RESULTS: Fungal endophyte, Penicillium funiculosum LHL06, was identified to possess higher growth rate in copper (Cu) and cadmium contaminated mediums as compared to other endophytes (Metarhizium anisopliae, Promicromonospora sp. and Exophiala sp.). P. funiculosum had high biosorption potential toward copper as compared to cadmium. An endophyte-metal-plant interaction was assessed by inoculating the host Glycine max L. plants with P. funiculosum during Cu (100 μM) stress. The Cu application adversely affected the biomass, chlorophyll and total protein content of non-inoculated control plants. The control plants unable to synthesis high carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen because the roots had lower access to phosphorous, potassium, sulphur and calcium during Cu treatment. Conversely, P. funiculosum-association significantly increased the plant biomass, root physiology and nutrients uptake to support higher carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen assimilation in shoot. The metal-removal potential of endophyte-inoculated plants was significantly higher than control as the endophyte-association mediated the Cu uptake via roots into shoots. The symbiosis rescued the host-plant growth by minimizing Cu-induced electrolytic leakage and lipid peroxidation while increasing reduces glutathione activities to avoid oxidative stress. P. funiculosum-association synthesized higher quantities of proline and glutamate as compared to control. Stress-responsive abscisic acid was significantly down-regulated in the plant-metal-microbe association.

CONCLUSION: The endophyte P. funiculosum symbiosis counteracted the Cu stress and reprogrammed soybean plant growth. Such growth promoting and stress mediating endophytes can be applied at field levels to help in bioremediation of the polluted agricultural fields.}, } @article {pmid23720665, year = {2013}, author = {Jansa, J and Bukovská, P and Gryndler, M}, title = {Mycorrhizal hyphae as ecological niche for highly specialized hypersymbionts - or just soil free-riders?.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {134}, pmid = {23720665}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi interconnect two different kinds of environments, namely the plant roots with the surrounding soil. This widespread coexistence of plants and fungi has important consequences for plant mineral nutrition, water acquisition, carbon allocation, tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses and interplant competition. Yet some current research indicates a number of important roles to be played by hyphae-associated microbes, in addition to the hyphae themselves, in foraging for and acquisition of soil resources and in transformation of organic carbon in the soil-plant systems. We critically review the available scientific evidence for the theory that the surface of mycorrhizal hyphae in soil is colonized by highly specialized microbial communities, and that these fulfill important functions in the ecology of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae such as accessing recalcitrant forms of mineral nutrients, and production of signaling and other compounds in the vicinity of the hyphae. The validity of another hypothesis will then be addressed, namely that the specific associative microbes are rewarded with exclusive access to fungal carbon, which would qualify them as hypersymbionts (i.e., symbionts of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi). Thereafter, we ask whether recruitment of functionally different microbial assemblages by the hyphae is required under different soil conditions (questioning what evidence is available for such an effect), and we identify knowledge gaps requiring further attention.}, } @article {pmid23720328, year = {2013}, author = {Karasov, WH and Douglas, AE}, title = {Comparative digestive physiology.}, journal = {Comprehensive Physiology}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {741-783}, pmid = {23720328}, issn = {2040-4603}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Digestion/*physiology ; Eating ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/*physiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Metagenome ; }, abstract = {In vertebrates and invertebrates, morphological and functional features of gastrointestinal (GI) tracts generally reflect food chemistry, such as content of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and material(s) refractory to rapid digestion (e.g., cellulose). The expression of digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters approximately matches the dietary load of their respective substrates, with relatively modest excess capacity. Mechanisms explaining differences in hydrolase activity between populations and species include gene copy number variations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional adjustments mediate phenotypic changes in the expression of hydrolases and transporters in response to dietary signals. Many species respond to higher food intake by flexibly increasing digestive compartment size. Fermentative processes by symbiotic microorganisms are important for cellulose degradation but are relatively slow, so animals that rely on those processes typically possess special enlarged compartment(s) to maintain a microbiota and other GI structures that slow digesta flow. The taxon richness of the gut microbiota, usually identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, is typically an order of magnitude greater in vertebrates than invertebrates, and the interspecific variation in microbial composition is strongly influenced by diet. Many of the nutrient transporters are orthologous across different animal phyla, though functional details may vary (e.g., glucose and amino acid transport with K+ rather than Na+ as a counter ion). Paracellular absorption is important in many birds. Natural toxins are ubiquitous in foods and may influence key features such as digesta transit, enzymatic breakdown, microbial fermentation, and absorption.}, } @article {pmid23719709, year = {2014}, author = {Phieler, R and Voit, A and Kothe, E}, title = {Microbially supported phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils: strategies and applications.}, journal = {Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology}, volume = {141}, number = {}, pages = {211-235}, doi = {10.1007/10_2013_200}, pmid = {23719709}, issn = {0724-6145}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Fungi/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metals, Heavy/chemistry/*metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/chemistry/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Heavy metal contamination of soil as a result of, for example, mining operations, evokes worldwide concern. The use of selected metal-accumulating plants to clean up heavy metal contaminated sites represents a sustainable and inexpensive method for remediation approaches and, at the same time, avoids destruction of soil function. Within this scenario, phytoremediation is the use of plants (directly or indirectly) to reduce the risks of contaminants in soil to the environment and human health. Microbially assisted bioremediation strategies, such as phytoextraction or phytostabilization, may increase the beneficial aspects and can be viewed as potentially useful methods for application in remediation of low and heterogeneously contaminated soil. The plant-microbe interactions in phytoremediation strategies include mutually beneficial symbiotic associations such as mycorrhiza, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB), or endophytic bacteria that are discussed with respect to their impact on phytoremediation approaches.}, } @article {pmid23719585, year = {2013}, author = {Watanarojanaporn, N and Boonkerd, N and Tittabutr, P and Longtonglang, A and Young, JP and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Effect of rice cultivation systems on indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community structure.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {316-324}, pmid = {23719585}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Oryza/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in an agricultural ecosystem are necessary for proper management of beneficial symbiosis. Here we explored how the patterns of the AMF community in rice roots were affected by rice cultivation systems (the system of rice intensification [SRI] and the conventional rice cultivation system [CS]), and by compost application during growth stages. Rice plants harvested from SRI-managed plots exhibited considerably higher total biomass, root dry weight, and seed fill than those obtained from conventionally managed plots. Our findings revealed that all AMF sequences observed from CS plots belonged (only) to the genus Glomus, colonizing in rice roots grown under this type of cultivation, while rice roots sown in SRI showed sequences belonging to both Glomus and Acaulospora. The AMF community was compared between the different cultivation types (CS and SRI) and compost applications by principle component analysis. In all rice growth stages, AMF assemblages of CS management were not separated from those of SRI management. The distribution of AMF community composition based on T-RFLP data showed that the AMF community structure was different among four cultivation systems, and there was a gradual increase of Shannon-Weaver indices of diversity (H') of the AMF community under SRI during growth stages. The results of this research indicated that rice grown in SRI-managed plots had more diverse AMF communities than those grown in CS plots.}, } @article {pmid23719219, year = {2013}, author = {Picard, KT and Letcher, PM and Powell, MJ}, title = {Evidence for a facultative mutualist nutritional relationship between the green coccoid alga Bracteacoccus sp. (Chlorophyceae) and the zoosporic fungus Rhizidium phycophilum (Chytridiomycota).}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {117}, number = {5}, pages = {319-328}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2013.03.003}, pmid = {23719219}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/classification/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Chytridiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between fungi and photosynthetic partners are common among derived fungal lineages. The only fungal-phototroph interactions thus far reported from the early diverging zoosporic fungi are parasitic in nature. Rhizidium phycophilum is a terrestrial, saprotrophic chytrid, which appears to be able to enter a facultative mutualism with a coccoid green alga in the absence of refractory organic material, such as pollen and chitin. Liquid and solid culturing methods were used in a series of differential fitness experiments in conjunction with microscopic analyses to characterize the interaction between R. phycophilum and the alga. The alga in this partnership is identified as a member of the genus Bracteacoccus. Under certain culturing conditions, algal cells grown in coculture with R. phycophilum were shown to grow larger and more prolifically than when cultured axenically under the same conditions. Additionally, dialysis experiments demonstrate that R. phycophilum does not parasitize Bracteacoccus sp., and can be cultured in media infused with unknown algal exudates. Rhizidium phycophilum and Bracteacoccus sp. represent the first facultative positive interaction between a zoosporic fungus and a photoautotroph and may prove a tractable system for modelling interactions between early fungi and plants.}, } @article {pmid23717522, year = {2013}, author = {Noonan, SH and Fabricius, KE and Humphrey, C}, title = {Symbiodinium community composition in scleractinian corals is not affected by life-long exposure to elevated carbon dioxide.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e63985}, pmid = {23717522}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acclimatization/genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Carbon Dioxide/adverse effects/*metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Papua New Guinea ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) is expected to negatively affect coral reefs, however little is known about how OA will change the coral-algal symbiosis on which reefs ultimately depend. This study investigated whether there would be differences in coral Symbiodinium types in response to OA, potentially improving coral performance. We used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA to investigate the dominant types of Symbiodinium associating with six species of scleractinian coral that were exposed to elevated partial pressures of carbon dioxide (pCO2) in situ from settlement and throughout their lives. The study was conducted at three naturally occurring volcanic CO2 seeps (pCO2 ∼500 to 900 ppm, pHTotal 7.8 - 7.9) and adjacent control areas (pCO2 ∼390 ppm, pHTotal ∼8.0 - 8.05) in Papua New Guinea. The Symbiodinium associated with corals living in an extreme seep site (pCO2 >1000 ppm) were also examined. Ten clade C types and three clade D types dominated the 443 coral samples. Symbiodinium types strongly contrasted between coral species, however, no differences were observed due to CO2 exposure. Within five species, 85 - 95% of samples exhibited the same Symbiodinium type across all sites, with remaining rare types having no patterns attributable to CO2 exposure. The sixth species of coral displayed site specific differences in Symbiodinium types, unrelated to CO2 exposure. Symbiodinium types from the coral inhabiting the extreme CO2 seep site were found commonly throughout the moderate seeps and control areas. Our finding that symbiotic associations did not change in response to CO2 exposure suggest that, within the six coral hosts, none of the investigated 13 clade C and D Symbiodinium types had a selective advantage at high pCO2. Acclimatisation through changing symbiotic association therefore does not seem to be an option for Indo-Pacific corals to deal with future OA.}, } @article {pmid23717496, year = {2013}, author = {Arrighi, JF and Cartieaux, F and Chaintreuil, C and Brown, S and Boursot, M and Giraud, E}, title = {Genotype delimitation in the Nod-independent model legume Aeschynomene evenia.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e63836}, pmid = {23717496}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fabaceae/*classification/*genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Genotype ; Hybridization, Genetic ; INDEL Mutation ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Typing ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Research on the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis has been so far focused on two model legumes, Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, which use a sophisticated infection process involving infection thread formation. However, in 25% of the legumes, the bacterial entry occurs more simply in an intercellular fashion. Among them, some semi-aquatic Aeschynomene species present the distinctive feature to form nitrogen-fixing nodules on both roots and stems following elicitation by photosynthetic bradyrhizobia that do not produce Nod factors. This interaction is believed to represent a living testimony of the ancestral state of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. To decipher the molecular mechanisms of this unique Nod-independent nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, we previously identified A. evenia C. Wright as an appropriate model legume, because it displays all the requisites for molecular and genetic approaches. To advance the use of this new model legume species, here we characterized the intraspecific diversity found in A. evenia. For this, the accessions available in germplasm banks were collected and subjected to morphological investigations, genotyping with RAPD and SSR markers, molecular phylogenies using ITS and single nuclear gene sequences, and cross-compatibility tests. These combined analyses revealed an important intraspecific differentiation that led us to propose a new taxonomic classification for A. evenia comprising two subspecies and four varieties. The A. evenia ssp. evenia contains var. evenia and var. pauciciliata whereas A. evenia ssp. serrulata comprises var. serrulata and var. major. This study provides information to exploit efficiently the diversity encountered in A. evenia and proposes subsp. evenia as the most appropriate subspecies for future projects aimed at identifying plant determinants of the Nod-independent symbiotic process.}, } @article {pmid23716136, year = {2014}, author = {Wang, Y and Ji, B and Wu, W and Wang, R and Yang, Z and Zhang, D and Tian, W}, title = {Hepatoprotective effects of kombucha tea: identification of functional strains and quantification of functional components.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {94}, number = {2}, pages = {265-272}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.6245}, pmid = {23716136}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Acetaminophen ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase/blood ; Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Beverages ; Camellia sinensis/*chemistry/microbiology ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/blood/enzymology/*prevention & control ; Fermentation ; Glucaric Acid/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; *Gluconacetobacter ; Lactones/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Liver/*drug effects/enzymology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts/metabolism/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Tea/*microbiology ; Triglycerides/blood ; Yeasts ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Kombucha tea (KT), a traditional health beverage containing potential hepatoprotective agents, is fermented from sugared tea by a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria for 8 days. However, the functional strains that produce components for the hepatoprotective property of KT remain unclear. Multiple strains are involved in traditional KT production. Therefore, KT has not been standardized or produced commercially. This study aimed to identify the functional strains and quantify the functional components with hepatoprotective effects in kombucha tea.

RESULTS: Gluconacetobacter sp. A4 was one of the microorganisms in KT in which the D-saccharic acid-1,4-lactone (DSL) produced by G. sp. A4 was significantly higher than that produced by original tea fungus at 8 days of fermentation. Traditional KT (TKT, tea broth fermented by mixed tea fungus), modified KT (MKT, fermented by single G. sp. A4), and DSL significantly inhibited the acetaminophen-induced increase of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglyceride and malondialdehyde, as well as facilitating the reduction of total antioxidant capacity in mice. Furthermore, MKT and TKT are both similar to DSL in terms of protection against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice. These results suggested a positive relationship between DSL content and the hepatoprotective effect of TKT, MKT and DSL groups.

CONCLUSION: G. sp. A4 was concluded to be a potential functional strain and DSL might be the key functional component for the hepatoprotective property in KT. The stronger capability of G. sp. A4 in producing DSL makes it a better choice for the commercial production of KT.}, } @article {pmid23714153, year = {2013}, author = {Turnau, K and Przybyłowicz, WJ and Ryszka, P and Orłowska, E and Anielska, T and Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz, J}, title = {Mycorrhizal fungi modify element distribution in gametophytes and sporophytes of a fern Pellaeaviridis from metaliferous soils.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {92}, number = {9}, pages = {1267-1273}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.04.062}, pmid = {23714153}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Ferns/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Germ Cells, Plant/drug effects/metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Software ; Soil Pollutants/chemistry/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Symbiosis ; Tissue Distribution ; }, abstract = {In the present study, the element distribution within mycothallic and nonmycothallic gametophytes and the early stages of sporophyte development of Pellaea viridis (Pteridaceae) were investigated. Gametophytes of this fern were collected from soil samples originating in the ultramafic area of the Agnes Mine near Barberton, South Africa. The gametophytes were grown on both the original soil and on a plant growth substratum obtained from the local botanical garden. Gametophytes and young sporophytes grown on substratum inoculated with Glomus tenue or non-inoculated were freeze-dried, and the distribution of elements was studied using micro-PIXE. The GeoPIXE II software package was used for quantitative elemental mapping complemented by data extracted from arbitrarily selected micro-areas. The obtained results suggest that although the fern itself avoids the uptake of large amounts of heavy metals, increased levels of Ni, Cr, Fe, Co and Ti were found in the part of the gametophyte that hosted the fungal endophyte. This finding suggests that the fungus might be active in the immobilisation of certain potentially toxic metals that are taken up from the soil by the plant, although other mechanisms cannot be excluded. For the first time, precise, quantitative measurements of the concentration of individual elements in the fern gametophytes and young sporophytes were obtained, along with their distribution within the plant parts.}, } @article {pmid23712451, year = {2013}, author = {Ardley, JK and Reeve, WG and O'Hara, GW and Yates, RJ and Dilworth, MJ and Howieson, JG}, title = {Nodule morphology, symbiotic specificity and association with unusual rhizobia are distinguishing features of the genus Listia within the Southern African crotalarioid clade Lotononis s.l.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {1-15}, pmid = {23712451}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Africa, Southern ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Methylobacteriaceae/genetics/physiology ; Methylobacterium/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The legume clade Lotononis sensu lato (s.l.; tribe Crotalarieae) comprises three genera: Listia, Leobordea and Lotononis sensu stricto (s.s.). Listia species are symbiotically specific and form lupinoid nodules with rhizobial species of Methylobacterium and Microvirga. This work investigated whether these symbiotic traits were confined to Listia by determining the ability of rhizobial strains isolated from species of Lotononis s.l. to nodulate Listia, Leobordea and Lotononis s.s. hosts and by examining the morphology and structure of the resulting nodules.

METHODS: Rhizobia were characterized by sequencing their 16S rRNA and nodA genes. Nodulation and N2 fixation on eight taxonomically diverse Lotononis s.l. species were determined in glasshouse trials. Nodules of all hosts, and the process of infection and nodule initiation in Listia angolensis and Listia bainesii, were examined by light microscopy.

KEY RESULTS: Rhizobia associated with Lotononis s.l. were phylogenetically diverse. Leobordea and Lotononis s.s. isolates were most closely related to Bradyrhizobium spp., Ensifer meliloti, Mesorhizobium tianshanense and Methylobacterium nodulans. Listia angolensis formed effective nodules only with species of Microvirga. Listia bainesii nodulated only with pigmented Methylobacterium. Five lineages of nodA were found. Listia angolensis and L. bainesii formed lupinoid nodules, whereas nodules of Leobordea and Lotononis s.s. species were indeterminate. All effective nodules contained uniformly infected central tissue. Listia angolensis and L. bainesii nodule initials occurred on the border of the hypocotyl and along the tap root, and nodule primordia developed in the outer cortical layer. Neither root hair curling nor infection threads were seen.

CONCLUSIONS: Two specificity groups occur within Lotononis s.l.: Listia species are symbiotically specific, while species of Leobordea and Lotononis s.s. are generally promiscuous and interact with rhizobia of diverse chromosomal and symbiotic lineages. The seasonally waterlogged habitat of Listia species may favour the development of symbiotic specificity.}, } @article {pmid23711432, year = {2013}, author = {Kubo, I and Hosoda, K and Suzuki, S and Yamamoto, K and Kihara, K and Mori, K and Yomo, T}, title = {Construction of bacteria-eukaryote synthetic mutualism.}, journal = {Bio Systems}, volume = {113}, number = {2}, pages = {66-71}, doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.05.006}, pmid = {23711432}, issn = {1872-8324}, mesh = {Dictyostelium/*growth & development ; Escherichia coli/*growth & development ; Population Dynamics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Synthetic Biology/*methods ; }, abstract = {Mutualism is ubiquitous in nature but is known to be intrinsically vulnerable with regard to both population dynamics and evolution. Synthetic ecology has indicated that it is feasible for organisms to establish novel mutualism merely through encountering each other by showing that it is feasible to construct synthetic mutualism between organisms. However, bacteria-eukaryote mutualism, which is ecologically important, has not yet been constructed. In this study, we synthetically constructed mutualism between a bacterium and a eukaryote by using two model organisms. We mixed a bacterium, Escherichia coli (a genetically engineered glutamine auxotroph), and an amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum, in 14 sets of conditions in which each species could not grow in monoculture but potentially could grow in coculture. Under a single condition in which the bacterium and amoeba mutually compensated for the lack of required nutrients (lipoic acid and glutamine, respectively), both species grew continuously through several subcultures, essentially establishing mutualism. Our results shed light on the establishment of bacteria-eukaryote mutualism and indicate that a bacterium and eukaryote pair in nature also has a non-negligible possibility of establishing novel mutualism if the organisms are potentially mutualistic.}, } @article {pmid23711415, year = {2013}, author = {Hepat, R and Kim, Y}, title = {A viral factor, CpBV15α, interacts with a translation initiation factor, eIF2, to suppress host gene expression at a post-transcriptional level.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {114}, number = {1}, pages = {34-41}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2013.05.004}, pmid = {23711415}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva/genetics/parasitology ; Moths/genetics/*parasitology ; Polydnaviridae/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Trans-Activators/metabolism/*physiology ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {An endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, possesses its specific symbiotic virus called C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) and parasitizes young larvae of Plutella xylostella. CpBV encodes CpBV15α, which was previously shown to interfere with host protein translation. In vivo transient expression of CpBV15α induced a significant decrease in a storage protein level without its transcriptional level change. In vitro translation assay using rabbit reticulocyte lysate showed that CpBV15α suppressed translation efficiency of mRNAs extracted from fat body of P. xylostella. Transient expression of CpBV15α in nonparasitized P. xylostella suppressed humoral immunity and development to pupal and adult stages. Immunoprecipitation (IP) of CpBV15α co-precipitated eIF2 and eIF2B (a guanine nucleotide exchange factor of eIF2) in parasitized P. xylostella. Additionally, IP of eIF2 co-precipitated CpBV15α as well as eIF2B and eIF5 in parasitized larvae. IP with eIF5 antibody showed that relative amount of eIF2 bound to eIF5 was much decreased in parasitized larvae, while significant amount of eIF2 was bound to CpBV15α. These results suggest that CpBV15α inhibits some host mRNA translation by sequestering eIF2.}, } @article {pmid23710655, year = {2013}, author = {Tai, V and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Termite hindguts and the ecology of microbial communities in the sequencing age.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {421-428}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12048}, pmid = {23710655}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Biota ; Cockroaches/genetics/microbiology ; Digestive System/metabolism/*microbiology ; Ecology ; Eukaryota ; Isoptera/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Advances in high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing have improved our understanding of microbial communities in a number of ways. Deeper sequence coverage provides the means to assess diversity at the resolution necessary to recover ecological and biogeographic patterns, and at the same time single-cell genomics provides detailed information about the interactions between members of a microbial community. Given the vastness and complexity of microbial ecosystems, such analyses remain challenging for most environments, so greater insight can also be drawn from analysing less dynamic ecosystems. Here, we outline the advantages of one such environment, the wood-digesting hindgut communities of termites and cockroaches, and how it is a model to examine and compare both protist and bacterial communities. Beyond the analysis of diversity, our understanding of protist community ecology will depend on using statistically sound sampling regimes at biologically relevant scales, transitioning from discovery-based to experimental ecology, incorporating single-cell microbiology and other data sources, and continued development of analytical tools.}, } @article {pmid23710278, year = {2013}, author = {Su, Q and Zhou, X and Zhang, Y}, title = {Symbiont-mediated functions in insect hosts.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {e23804}, pmid = {23710278}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {The bacterial endosymbionts occur in a diverse array of insect species and are usually rely within the vertical transmission from mothers to offspring. In addition to primary symbionts, plant sap-sucking insects may also harbor several diverse secondary symbionts. Bacterial symbionts play a prominent role in insect nutritional ecology by aiding in digestion of food or supplementing nutrients that insect hosts can't obtain sufficient amounts from a restricted diet of plant phloem. Currently, several other ecologically relevant traits mediated by endosymbionts are being investigated, including defense toward pathogens and parasites, adaption to environment, influences on insect-plant interactions, and impact of population dynamics. Here, we review recent theoretical predictions and experimental observations of these traits mediated by endosymbionts and suggest that clarifying the roles of symbiotic microbes may be important to offer insights for ameliorating pest invasiveness or impact.}, } @article {pmid23708979, year = {2013}, author = {Castillo-Medina, RE and Islas-Flores, T and Thomé, PE and Iglesias-Prieto, R and Lin, S and Zhang, H and Villanueva, MA}, title = {The PsbO homolog from Symbiodinium kawagutii (Dinophyceae) characterized using biochemical and molecular methods.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {115}, number = {2-3}, pages = {167-178}, pmid = {23708979}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {3' Untranslated Regions ; 5' Untranslated Regions ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; DNA, Complementary ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gene Expression ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/immunology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {A photosystem II component, the PsbO protein is essential for maximum rates of oxygen production during photosynthesis, and has been extensively characterized in plants and cyanobacteria but not in symbiotic dinoflagellates. Its close interaction with D1 protein has important environmental implications since D1 has been identified as the primary site of damage in endosymbiotic dinoflagellates after thermal stress. We identified and biochemically characterized the PsbO homolog from Symbiodinium kawagutii as a 28-kDa protein, and immunolocalized it to chloroplast membranes. Chloroplast association was further confirmed by western blot on photosynthetic membrane preparations. TX-114 phase partitioning, chromatography, and SDS-PAGE for single band separation and partial peptide sequencing yielded peptides identical or with high identity to PsbO from dinoflagellates. Analysis of a cDNA library revealed three genes differing by only one aminoacid residue in the in silico-translated ORFs despite greater differences at nucleotide level in the untranslated, putative regulatory sequences. The consensus full amino acid sequence displayed all the characteristic domains and features of PsbO from other sources, but changes in functionally critical, highly conserved motifs were detected. Our biochemical, molecular, and immunolocalization data led to the conclusion that the 28-kDa protein from S. kawagutii is the PsbO homolog, thereby named SkPsbO. We discuss the implications of critical amino acid substitutions for a putative regulatory role of this protein.}, } @article {pmid23707430, year = {2013}, author = {Maruyama, S and Kim, E}, title = {A modern descendant of early green algal phagotrophs.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {23}, number = {12}, pages = {1081-1084}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2013.04.063}, pmid = {23707430}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Cells, Cultured ; Chloroplasts/physiology ; Cyanobacteria/*physiology ; Eukaryota/physiology ; Phagocytosis/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Phytoplankton/*physiology ; Plastids/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Green algae, land plants, and other photosynthetic eukaryotes possess plastids, such as chloroplasts, which have evolved from cyanobacterial ancestors via endosymbiosis. An early evolutionary merger between heterotrophic eukaryotes and cyanobacteria called primary endosymbiosis gave rise to the first photosynthetic eukaryotes. A series of plastid acquisitions involving engulfment of eukaryotic phototrophs, known as secondary or tertiary endosymbiosis, followed. Through these repeated symbiotic events, photosynthesis spread across a number of eukaryotic lineages. While the origin of eukaryotic photosynthesis was undoubtedly a fundamentally important evolutionary event in Earth's history, without which much of the modern marine phytoplankton would not exist, the cellular processes that shaped this initial plastid genesis remain largely unknown. Here, we report ultrastructural evidence for bacterial phagocytosis in a primary plastid-bearing alga. This mixotrophic green alga utilizes a mouth-like opening, a tubular channel, and a large permanent vacuole to engulf, transport, and digest bacterial cells. This mode of phagocytosis, likely inherited from its plastid-lacking ancestor, differs from those displayed by many other eukaryotes, including animals, amoebas, and ciliates. These results provide insight into the key phagocytosis step during the origin of the first photosynthetic eukaryotes.}, } @article {pmid23707348, year = {2013}, author = {Zhong, H and Zhang, Y and Wei, C}, title = {Anatomy and fine structure of the alimentary canal of the spittlebug Lepyronia coleopterata (L.) (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea).}, journal = {Arthropod structure & development}, volume = {42}, number = {6}, pages = {521-530}, doi = {10.1016/j.asd.2013.04.005}, pmid = {23707348}, issn = {1873-5495}, mesh = {Animals ; Digestive System/anatomy & histology/*ultrastructure ; Hemiptera/anatomy & histology/*ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; }, abstract = {The alimentary canal of the spittlebug Lepyronia coleopterata (L.) differentiates into esophagus, filter chamber, midgut (conical segment, tubular midgut), and hindgut (ileum, rectum). The filter chamber is composed of the anterior extremity of the midgut, posterior extremity of the midgut, proximal Malpighian tubules, and proximal ileum; it is externally enveloped by a thin cellular sheath and thick muscle layers. The sac-like anterior extremity of the midgut is coiled around by the posterior extremity of the midgut and proximal Malpighian tubules. The tubular midgut is subdivided into an anterior tubular midgut, mid-midgut, posterior tubular midgut, and distal tubular midgut. Four Malpighian tubules run alongside the ileum, and each terminates in a rod closely attached to the rectum. Ultrastructurally, the esophagus is lined with a cuticle and enveloped by circular muscles; its cytoplasm contains virus-like fine granules of high electron-density. The anterior extremity of the midgut consists of two cellular types: (1) thin epithelia with well-developed and regularly arranged microvilli, and (2) large cuboidal cells with short and sparse microvilli. Cells of the posterior extremity of the midgut have regularly arranged microvilli and shallow basal infoldings devoid of mitochondria. Cells of the proximal Malpighian tubule possess concentric granules of different electron-density. The internal proximal ileum lined with a cuticle facing the lumen and contains secretory vesicles in its cytoplasm. Dense and long microvilli at the apical border of the conical segment cells are coated with abundant electron-dense fine granules. Cells of the anterior tubular midgut contain spherical secretory granules, oval secretory vesicles of different size, and autophagic vacuoles. Ferritin-like granules exist in the mid-midgut cells. The posterior tubular midgut consists of two cellular types: 1) cells with shallow and bulb-shaped basal infoldings containing numerous mitochondria, homocentric secretory granules, and fine electron-dense granules, and 2) cells with well-developed basal infoldings and regularly-arranged apical microvilli containing vesicles filled with fine granular materials. Cells of the distal tubular midgut are similar to those of the conical segment, but lack electron-dense fine granules coating the microvilli apex. Filamentous materials coat the microvilli of the conical segment, anterior and posterior extremities of the midgut, which are possibly the perimicrovillar membrane closely related to the nutrient absorption. The lumen of the hindgut is lined with a cuticle, beneath which are cells with poorly-developed infoldings possessing numerous mitochondria. Single-membraned or double-membraned microorganisms exist in the anterior and posterior extremities of the midgut, proximal Malpighian tubule and ileum; these are probably symbiotic.}, } @article {pmid23706651, year = {2013}, author = {Bradbury, PC and Hash, SM and Rogers, FK and Neptun, SH and Zhang, L}, title = {Conjugation in Hyalophysa chattoni Bradbury (Apostomatida): An adaptation to a symbiotic life cycle.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {575-589}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2013.02.002}, pmid = {23706651}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animals ; Ciliophora/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Conjugation, Genetic/*physiology ; Meiosis/physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Palaemonidae/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hyalophysa chattoni, borne as an encysted phoront on a crustacean's exoskeleton, metamorphoses to the trophont during the host's premolt. After the molt within 15min to 2h conjugants with food vacuoles appear in the exuvium, swimming along with the trophonts. Starvation in other ciliates usually precedes conjugation, but food vacuoles in conjugants do not preclude starvation. Only after ingestion and dehydration of vacuoles ceases, does digestion of exuvial fluid begin. Conjugants resorb their feeding apparatus as they fuse. A single imperforate membrane from each partner forms the junction membrane. In a reproductive cyst conjugants divide synchronously, but now the junction membrane is interrupted by pores and channels. After the last division the daughters undergo meiosis--two meiotic divisions and one mitotic division yielding two prokarya as they simultaneously differentiate into tomites. After fertilization, pairs separate and the synkaryon divides once into a macronuclear anlage and a micronucleus. Exconjugants leave the cyst and seek a host. The parental macronucleus remains active until the phoront stage when the anlage develops. Owing to random association of micronuclei during meiosis, Hyalophysa's exconjugants are more genetically diverse than exconjugants from conventional patterns of conjugation.}, } @article {pmid23704790, year = {2013}, author = {D'Heygère, F and Rabhi, M and Boudvillain, M}, title = {Phyletic distribution and conservation of the bacterial transcription termination factor Rho.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {159}, number = {Pt 7}, pages = {1423-1436}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.067462-0}, pmid = {23704790}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Conserved Sequence/*genetics ; Databases, Genetic ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Phylogeny ; Rho Factor/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Species Specificity ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Transcription termination factor Rho is a ring-shaped, ATP-dependent molecular motor that targets hundreds of transcription units in Escherichia coli. Interest in Rho was renewed recently on the realization that this essential factor is involved in multiple interactions and cellular processes that protect the E. coli genome and regulate its expression on a global scale. Yet it is currently unknown if (and how) Rho-dependent mechanisms are conserved throughout the bacterial kingdom. Here, we mined public databases to assess the distribution, expression and structural conservation of Rho across bacterial phyla. We found that rho is present in more than 90 % of sequenced bacterial genomes, although Cyanobacteria, Mollicutes and a fraction of Firmicutes are totally devoid of rho. Genomes lacking rho tend to be small and AT-rich and often belong to species with parasitic/symbiotic lifestyles (such as Mollicutes). By contrast, large GC-rich genomes, such as those of Actinobacteria, often contain rho duplicates and/or encode Rho proteins that bear insertion domains of unknown function(s). Notwithstanding, most Rho sequences across taxa contain canonical RNA-binding and ATP hydrolysis signature motifs, a feature suggestive of largely conserved mechanism(s) of action. Mutations that impair binding of bicyclomycin are present in ~5 % of rho sequences, implying that species from diverse ecosystems have developed resistance against this natural antibiotic. Altogether, these findings assert that Rho function is widespread among bacteria and suggest that it plays a particularly relevant role in the expression of complex genomes and/or bacterial adaptation to changing environments.}, } @article {pmid23700351, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, YK and Kim, S and Um, JH and Kim, K and Choi, SK and Um, BH and Kang, SW and Kim, JW and Takaichi, S and Song, SB and Lee, CH and Kim, HS and Kim, KW and Nam, KH and Lee, SH and Kim, YH and Park, HM and Ha, SH and Verma, DP and Cheon, CI}, title = {Functional implication of β-carotene hydroxylases in soybean nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {162}, number = {3}, pages = {1420-1433}, pmid = {23700351}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Cytosol/enzymology ; Dioxygenases/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/*genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Plastids/enzymology ; Protoplasts/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/genetics ; Soybeans/*physiology ; Xanthophylls/analysis ; Zeaxanthins ; }, abstract = {Legume-Rhizobium spp. symbiosis requires signaling between the symbiotic partners and differential expression of plant genes during nodule development. Previously, we cloned a gene encoding a putative β-carotene hydroxylase (GmBCH1) from soybean (Glycine max) whose expression increased during nodulation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In this work, we extended our study to three GmBCHs to examine their possible role(s) in nodule development, as they were additionally identified as nodule specific, along with the completion of the soybean genome. In situ hybridization revealed the expression of three GmBCHs (GmBCH1, GmBCH2, and GmBCH3) in the infected cells of root nodules, and their enzymatic activities were confirmed by functional assays in Escherichia coli. Localization of GmBCHs by transfecting Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) protoplasts with green fluorescent protein fusions and by electron microscopic immunogold detection in soybean nodules indicated that GmBCH2 and GmBCH3 were present in plastids, while GmBCH1 appeared to be cytosolic. RNA interference of the GmBCHs severely impaired nitrogen fixation as well as nodule development. Surprisingly, we failed to detect zeaxanthin, a product of GmBCH, or any other carotenoids in nodules. Therefore, we examined the possibility that most of the carotenoids in nodules are converted or cleaved to other compounds. We detected the expression of some carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (GmCCDs) in wild-type nodules and also a reduced amount of zeaxanthin in GmCCD8-expressing E. coli, suggesting cleavage of the carotenoid. In view of these findings, we propose that carotenoids such as zeaxanthin synthesized in root nodules are cleaved by GmCCDs, and we discuss the possible roles of the carotenoid cleavage products in nodulation.}, } @article {pmid23694939, year = {2013}, author = {Cheng, XY and Tian, XL and Wang, YS and Lin, RM and Mao, ZC and Chen, N and Xie, BY}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of the pinewood nematode microbiome reveals a symbiotic relationship critical for xenobiotics degradation.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1869}, pmid = {23694939}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Benzoates/metabolism ; *Inactivation, Metabolic ; Metagenome/*genetics ; *Metagenomics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nematoda/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Pinus/*genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Xenobiotics ; }, abstract = {Our recent research revealed that pinewood nematode (PWN) possesses few genes encoding enzymes for degrading α-pinene, which is the main compound in pine resin. In this study, we examined the role of PWN microbiome in xenobiotics detoxification by metagenomic and bacteria culture analyses. Functional annotation of metagenomes illustrated that benzoate degradation and its related metabolisms may provide the main metabolic pathways for xenobiotics detoxification in the microbiome, which is obviously different from that in PWN that uses cytochrome P450 metabolism as the main pathway for detoxification. The metabolic pathway of degrading α-pinene is complete in microbiome, but incomplete in PWN genome. Experimental analysis demonstrated that most of tested cultivable bacteria can not only survive the stress of 0.4% α-pinene, but also utilize α-pinene as carbon source for their growth. Our results indicate that PWN and its microbiome have established a potentially mutualistic symbiotic relationship with complementary pathways in detoxification metabolism.}, } @article {pmid23694677, year = {2013}, author = {Singh, Y and Ahmad, J and Musarrat, J and Ehtesham, NZ and Hasnain, SE}, title = {Emerging importance of holobionts in evolution and in probiotics.}, journal = {Gut pathogens}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {23694677}, issn = {1757-4749}, abstract = {The existence of microbe free animals or plants in nature is virtually impossible as they and plants have a certain degree of symbiotic association with microbes. This symbiotic association leads to the formation of holobiont (host and its symbionts). This mutual coexistence is not merely at the physical or chemical level but also at the genetic level leading to the emergence of the concept of hologenome (gene pool of host and its associated symbionts). The abundance of symbionts with the associated gene diversity contributes to the fitness of the holobiont under varying environmental conditions. The hologenome theory of evolution considers the dynamic holobiont as a single unit for natural selection and provides a more accommodating view of evolution blending Darwinism and Lamarkism. Additionally, holobionts are providing scientific basis to our understanding of the growing importance of probiotics in human health and in disease management.}, } @article {pmid23692388, year = {2013}, author = {Engel, P and Moran, NA}, title = {The gut microbiota of insects - diversity in structure and function.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {37}, number = {5}, pages = {699-735}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6976.12025}, pmid = {23692388}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect guts present distinctive environments for microbial colonization, and bacteria in the gut potentially provide many beneficial services to their hosts. Insects display a wide range in degree of dependence on gut bacteria for basic functions. Most insect guts contain relatively few microbial species as compared to mammalian guts, but some insects harbor large gut communities of specialized bacteria. Others are colonized only opportunistically and sparsely by bacteria common in other environments. Insect digestive tracts vary extensively in morphology and physicochemical properties, factors that greatly influence microbial community structure. One obstacle to the evolution of intimate associations with gut microorganisms is the lack of dependable transmission routes between host individuals. Here, social insects, such as termites, ants, and bees, are exceptions: social interactions provide opportunities for transfer of gut bacteria, and some of the most distinctive and consistent gut communities, with specialized beneficial functions in nutrition and protection, have been found in social insect species. Still, gut bacteria of other insects have also been shown to contribute to nutrition, protection from parasites and pathogens, modulation of immune responses, and communication. The extent of these roles is still unclear and awaits further studies.}, } @article {pmid23692134, year = {2013}, author = {Tedersoo, L and Mett, M and Ishida, TA and Bahram, M}, title = {Phylogenetic relationships among host plants explain differences in fungal species richness and community composition in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {3}, pages = {822-831}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12328}, pmid = {23692134}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Biodiversity ; Databases as Topic ; Host Specificity/*physiology ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Salicaceae/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Geographic and taxonomic host ranges determine the distribution of biotrophic organisms. Host phylogenetic distance strongly affects the community composition of pathogens and parasites, but little is known about the host phylogeny effect on communities of mutualists, such as plant-pollinator and plant-mycorrhizal fungi systems. By incorporating phylogenetic eigenvectors into univariate and multivariate models, we aimed to determine the relative contribution of host phylogeny and environmental variables to mycorrhizal traits and community composition of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi in Salicaceae at the local scale. Host phylogeny explained 75% of the variation in fungal species richness and 20% of the variation in community composition. We also re-analyzed a system involving eight hosts from Japan, in which host phylogeny explained 26% and 9% of the variation in fungal richness and community composition, respectively. [Correction added after online publication 21 May 2013: in the preceding sentence the values 9% and 26% have been transposed.] Phylogenetic eigenvectors that differentially account for clades and terminal taxa across the phylogeny revealed stronger host effects than did the treatment of host species as categorical or dummy variables in multiregression models, and in comparison with methods such as Mantel test and its analogs. Our results indicate the usefulness of the eigenvector method for the quantification of the host phylogeny effect, which represents an integrated complex function of taxonomic sampling effect and phylogenetic distance per se.}, } @article {pmid23692063, year = {2013}, author = {Abdel-Lateif, K and Vaissayre, V and Gherbi, H and Verries, C and Meudec, E and Perrine-Walker, F and Cheynier, V and Svistoonoff, S and Franche, C and Bogusz, D and Hocher, V}, title = {Silencing of the chalcone synthase gene in Casuarina glauca highlights the important role of flavonoids during nodulation.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {4}, pages = {1012-1021}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12326}, pmid = {23692063}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/*genetics/metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fagaceae/*enzymology/*genetics ; Flavanones/metabolism ; Flavonoids/*metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; *Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/cytology/enzymology/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodulation is confined to four plant orders, including > 14,000 Leguminosae, one nonlegume genus Parasponia and c. 200 actinorhizal species that form symbioses with rhizobia and Frankia bacterial species, respectively. Flavonoids have been identified as plant signals and developmental regulators for nodulation in legumes and have long been hypothesized to play a critical role during actinorhizal nodulation. However, direct evidence of their involvement in actinorhizal symbiosis is lacking. Here, we used RNA interference to silence chalcone synthase, which is involved in the first committed step of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, in the actinorhizal tropical tree Casuarina glauca. Transformed flavonoid-deficient hairy roots were generated and used to study flavonoid accumulation and further nodulation. Knockdown of chalcone synthase expression reduced the level of specific flavonoids and resulted in severely impaired nodulation. Nodule formation was rescued by supplementing the plants with naringenin, which is an upstream intermediate in flavonoid biosynthesis. Our results provide, for the first time, direct evidence of an important role for flavonoids during the early stages of actinorhizal nodulation.}, } @article {pmid23691247, year = {2013}, author = {Futahashi, R and Tanaka, K and Tanahashi, M and Nikoh, N and Kikuchi, Y and Lee, BL and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Gene expression in gut symbiotic organ of stinkbug affected by extracellular bacterial symbiont.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e64557}, pmid = {23691247}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Burkholderia/*physiology ; Expressed Sequence Tags/metabolism ; Extracellular Space/*microbiology ; Female ; Gene Ontology ; Heteroptera/anatomy & histology/*genetics/*microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The bean bug Riptortus pedestris possesses a specialized symbiotic organ in a posterior region of the midgut, where numerous crypts harbor extracellular betaproteobacterial symbionts of the genus Burkholderia. Second instar nymphs orally acquire the symbiont from the environment, and the symbiont infection benefits the host by facilitating growth and by occasionally conferring insecticide resistance. Here we performed comparative transcriptomic analyses of insect genes expressed in symbiotic and non-symbiotic regions of the midgut dissected from Burkholderia-infected and uninfected R. pedestris. Expression sequence tag analysis of cDNA libraries and quantitative reverse transcription PCR identified a number of insect genes expressed in symbiosis- or aposymbiosis-associated patterns. For example, genes up-regulated in symbiotic relative to aposymbiotic individuals, including many cysteine-rich secreted protein genes and many cathepsin protease genes, are likely to play a role in regulating the symbiosis. Conversely, genes up-regulated in aposymbiotic relative to symbiotic individuals, including a chicken-type lysozyme gene and a defensin-like protein gene, are possibly involved in regulation of non-symbiotic bacterial infections. Our study presents the first transcriptomic data on gut symbiotic organ of a stinkbug, which provides initial clues to understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the insect-bacterium gut symbiosis and sheds light on several intriguing commonalities between endocellular and extracellular symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid23691052, year = {2013}, author = {Bournaud, C and de Faria, SM and dos Santos, JM and Tisseyre, P and Silva, M and Chaintreuil, C and Gross, E and James, EK and Prin, Y and Moulin, L}, title = {Burkholderia species are the most common and preferred nodulating symbionts of the Piptadenia group (tribe Mimoseae).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e63478}, pmid = {23691052}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Brazil ; Burkholderia/classification/*isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Burkholderia legume symbionts (also called α-rhizobia) are ancient in origin and are the main nitrogen-fixing symbionts of species belonging to the large genus Mimosa in Brazil. We investigated the extent of the affinity between Burkholderia and species in the tribe Mimoseae by studying symbionts of the genera Piptadenia (P.), Parapiptadenia (Pp.), Pseudopiptadenia (Ps.), Pityrocarpa (Py.), Anadenanthera (A.) and Microlobius (Mi.), all of which are native to Brazil and are phylogenetically close to Mimosa, and which together with Mimosa comprise the "Piptadenia group". We characterized 196 strains sampled from 18 species from 17 locations in Brazil using two neutral markers and two symbiotic genes in order to assess their species affiliations and the evolution of their symbiosis genes. We found that Burkholderia are common and highly diversified symbionts of species in the Piptadenia group, comprising nine Burkholderia species, of which three are new ones and one was never reported as symbiotic (B. phenoliruptrix). However, α-rhizobia were also detected and were occasionally dominant on a few species. A strong sampling site effect on the rhizobial nature of symbionts was detected, with the symbiont pattern of the same legume species changing drastically from location to location, even switching from β to α-rhizobia. Coinoculation assays showed a strong affinity of all the Piptadenia group species towards Burkholderia genotypes, with the exception of Mi. foetidus. Phylogenetic analyses of neutral and symbiotic markers showed that symbiosis genes in Burkholderia from the Piptadenia group have evolved mainly through vertical transfer, but also by horizontal transfer in two species.}, } @article {pmid23690590, year = {2013}, author = {Barr, JJ and Auro, R and Furlan, M and Whiteson, KL and Erb, ML and Pogliano, J and Stotland, A and Wolkowicz, R and Cutting, AS and Doran, KS and Salamon, P and Youle, M and Rohwer, F}, title = {Bacteriophage adhering to mucus provide a non-host-derived immunity.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {26}, pages = {10771-10776}, pmid = {23690590}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {GM98791/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI094534/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R24 GM098791/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM095384/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM073898/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adhesiveness ; Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion/immunology ; Bacteriophage T4/genetics/immunology/physiology ; Bacteriophages/genetics/*immunology/*physiology ; Cell Line ; Escherichia coli/immunology/virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Mice ; Models, Immunological ; Mucus/*immunology/microbiology/*virology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Mucosal surfaces are a main entry point for pathogens and the principal sites of defense against infection. Both bacteria and phage are associated with this mucus. Here we show that phage-to-bacteria ratios were increased, relative to the adjacent environment, on all mucosal surfaces sampled, ranging from cnidarians to humans. In vitro studies of tissue culture cells with and without surface mucus demonstrated that this increase in phage abundance is mucus dependent and protects the underlying epithelium from bacterial infection. Enrichment of phage in mucus occurs via binding interactions between mucin glycoproteins and Ig-like protein domains exposed on phage capsids. In particular, phage Ig-like domains bind variable glycan residues that coat the mucin glycoprotein component of mucus. Metagenomic analysis found these Ig-like proteins present in the phages sampled from many environments, particularly from locations adjacent to mucosal surfaces. Based on these observations, we present the bacteriophage adherence to mucus model that provides a ubiquitous, but non-host-derived, immunity applicable to mucosal surfaces. The model suggests that metazoan mucosal surfaces and phage coevolve to maintain phage adherence. This benefits the metazoan host by limiting mucosal bacteria, and benefits the phage through more frequent interactions with bacterial hosts. The relationships shown here suggest a symbiotic relationship between phage and metazoan hosts that provides a previously unrecognized antimicrobial defense that actively protects mucosal surfaces.}, } @article {pmid23690068, year = {2013}, author = {Roberts, AB and Wallace, BD and Venkatesh, MK and Mani, S and Redinbo, MR}, title = {Molecular insights into microbial β-glucuronidase inhibition to abrogate CPT-11 toxicity.}, journal = {Molecular pharmacology}, volume = {84}, number = {2}, pages = {208-217}, pmid = {23690068}, issn = {1521-0111}, support = {CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA161879/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA98468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA098468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA127231/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Camptothecin/*analogs & derivatives/toxicity ; Cattle ; Drug Interactions ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/enzymology ; Female ; Glucuronidase/*antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Glycoproteins/*pharmacology ; Irinotecan ; Liver/drug effects/enzymology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; }, abstract = {Bacterial β-glucuronidases expressed by the symbiotic intestinal microbiota appear to play important roles in drug-induced epithelial cell toxicity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. For the anticancer drug CPT-11 (irinotecan) and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, it has been shown that removal of the glucuronide moieties from drug metabolites by bacterial β-glucuronidases in the GI lumen can significantly damage the intestinal epithelium. Furthermore, selective disruption of bacterial β-glucuronidases by small molecule inhibitors alleviates these side effects, which, for CPT-11 {7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]}, can be dose limiting. Here we characterize novel microbial β-glucuronidase inhibitors that inhibit Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase in vitro with Ki values between 180 nM and 2 μM, and disrupt the enzyme in E. coli cells, with EC50 values as low as 300 nM. All compounds are selective for E. coli β-glucuronidase without inhibiting purified mammalian β-glucuronidase, and they do not impact the survival of either bacterial or mammalian cells. The 2.8 Å resolution crystal structure of one inhibitor bound to E. coli β-glucuronidase demonstrates that it contacts and orders only a portion of the "bacterial loop" present in microbial, but not mammalian, β-glucuronidases. The most potent compound examined in this group was found to protect mice against CPT-11-induced diarrhea. Taken together, these data advance our understanding of the chemical and structural basis of selective microbial β-glucuronidase inhibition, which may improve human drug efficacy and toxicity.}, } @article {pmid23688502, year = {2013}, author = {Zhou, J and Zheng, Q and Liu, J and Du, G and Chen, J}, title = {Indigenous plasmids of Bacillus megaterium WSH-002 involved in mutualism with Ketogulonicigenium vulgare WSH-001.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {240-246}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2013.05.001}, pmid = {23688502}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Bacillus megaterium/*genetics/*growth & development ; Base Sequence ; Computational Biology ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sugar Acids/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In the two-step vitamin C fermentation process, the precursor 2-keto-l-gulonic acid (2-KLG) was synthesized using a mixed culture of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare WSH-001 and Bacillus megaterium WSH-002, which contained three plasmids, pBME1, pBME2 and pBME3. The cell growth of B. megaterium was not affected by the elimination of these plasmids. However, elimination of pBME2 and pBME3 significantly affected l-sorbose uptake and 2-KLG production. Sequence analysis of the plasmids showed that many of the pBME2 and pBME3 genes were of unknown function or could not be assigned to a specific metabolic pathway. The current work showed that the indigenous plasmids pBME2 and pBME3 of B. megaterium WSH-002 involved in mutualism with K. vulgare WSH-001. The results provided a promising new route to further demonstrate the mutualism process between the two bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23688383, year = {2013}, author = {Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Chahboune, R and Velázquez, E and Gómez-Moriano, A and Mora, E and Peix, A and Toro, M}, title = {Centrosema is a promiscuous legume nodulated by several new putative species and symbiovars of Bradyrhizobium in various American countries.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {6}, pages = {392-400}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.03.007}, pmid = {23688383}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Venezuela ; }, abstract = {Centrosema is an American indigenous legume that can be used in agroecosystems for recovery of acidic and degraded soils. In this study, a Centrosema-nodulating rhizobial collection of strains isolated in a poor acid savanna soil from Venezuela was characterized, and the members of the collection were compared to other Centrosema strains from America. The analysis of the rrs gene showed that the strains nodulating Centrosema in American countries were closely related to different species of the genus Bradyrhizobium. However, the analysis of the atpD and recA genes, as well as the 16S-23S ITS region, showed that they formed several new phylogenetic lineages within this genus. The Venezuela strains formed three lineages that were divergent among themselves and with respect to those formed by Centrosema strains isolated in other countries, as well as to the currently described species and genospecies of Bradyrhizobium. In addition, the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH carried by Centrosema-nodulating strains were analyzed for the first time, and it was shown that they belonged to three new phylogenetic lineages within Bradyrhizobium. The nodC genes of the Centrosema strains were divergent among themselves and with respect to the genistearum and glycinearum symbiovars, indicating that Centrosema is a promiscuous legume. According to these results, the currently known Centrosema-nodulating strains represent several new putative species and symbiovars of the genus Bradyrhizobium.}, } @article {pmid23687899, year = {2013}, author = {Yelenik, S and Perakis, S and Hibbs, D}, title = {Regional constraints to biological nitrogen fixation in post-fire forest communities.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {739-750}, doi = {10.1890/12-0278.1}, pmid = {23687899}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Biomass ; California ; Carbon/chemistry/metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; *Fires ; Nitrogen/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phosphorus/chemistry/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Trees/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a key ecological process that can restore nitrogen (N) lost in wildfire and shape the pace and pattern of post-fire forest recovery. To date, there is limited information on how climate and soil fertility interact to influence different pathways of BNF in early forest succession. We studied asymbiotic (forest floor and soil) and symbiotic (the shrub Ceanothus integerrimus) BNF rates across six sites in the Klamath National Forest, California, USA. We used combined gradient and experimental phosphorus (P) fertilization studies to explore cross-site variation in BNF rates and then related these rates to abiotic and biotic variables. We estimate that our measured BNF rates 22 years after wildfire (6.1-12.1 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1)) are unlikely to fully replace wildfire N losses. We found that asymbiotic BNF is P limited, although this is not the case for symbiotic BNF in Ceanothus. In contrast, Ceanothus BNF is largely driven by competition from other vegetation: in high-productivity sites with high potential evapotranspiration (Et), shrub biomass is suppressed as tree biomass increases. Because shrub biomass governed cross-site variation in Ceanothus BNF, this competitive interaction led to lower BNF in sites with high productivity and Et. Overall, these results suggest that the effects of nutrients play a larger role in driving asymbiotic than symbiotic fixation across our post-fire sites. However, because symbiotic BNF is 8-90x greater than asymbiotic BNF, it is interspecific plant competition that governs overall BNF inputs in these forests.}, } @article {pmid23687894, year = {2013}, author = {Palmer, TM and Brody, AK}, title = {Enough is enough: the effects of symbiotic ant abundance on herbivory, growth, and reproduction in an African acacia.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {94}, number = {3}, pages = {683-691}, doi = {10.1890/12-1413.1}, pmid = {23687894}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Acacia/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Mammals/physiology ; Population Density ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Understanding how cooperative interactions evolve and persist remains a central challenge in biology. Many mutualisms are thought to be maintained by "partner fidelity feedback," in which each partner bases their investment on the benefits they receive. Yet, we know little about how benefits change as mutualists vary their investment, which is critical to understanding the balance between mutualism and antagonism in any given partnership. Using an obligate ant-plant mutualism, we manipulated the density of symbiotic acacia ants (Crematogaster mimosae) and examined how the costs and benefits to Acacia drepanolobium trees scaled with ant abundance. Benefits of ants to plants saturated with increasing ant abundance for protection from branch browsing by elephants and attack by branch galling midges, while varying linearly for protection from cerambycid beetles. In addition, the risk of catastrophic whole-tree herbivory by elephants was highest for trees with very low ant abundance. However, there was no relationship between ant abundance and herbivory by leaf-feeding invertebrates, nor by vertebrate browsers such as giraffe, steinbuck, and Grant's gazelle. Ant abundance did not significantly influence rates of branch growth on acacias, but there was a significant negative relationship between ant abundance and the number of fruits produced by host plants, suggesting that maintaining high-density ant colonies is costly. Because benefits to plants largely saturated with increasing colony size, while costs to plant reproduction increased, we suggest that ant colonies may achieve abundances that are higher than optimal for host plants. Our results highlight the conflicts of interest inherent in many mutualisms, and demonstrate the value of examining the shape of curves relating costs and benefits within these globally important interactions.}, } @article {pmid23686946, year = {2014}, author = {Ichimura, M and Uchida, K and Nakayama-Imaohji, H and Hirakawa, H and Tada, T and Morita, H and Yasutomo, K and Okazaki, K and Kuwahara, T}, title = {Mariner-based transposon mutagenesis for Bacteroides species.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {54}, number = {6}, pages = {558-567}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201200763}, pmid = {23686946}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Bacteroides/*genetics ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Genetics, Microbial/*methods ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/*methods ; Plasmids ; Transformation, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Bacteroides is one of the most predominant groups of human gut microbiota. Recent metagenomic analyses and studies on gnotobiotic mice demonstrated the tight association of Bacteroides with epithelial function, the gut immune system and systemic metabolism in the host. The mariner family transposon shows relatively low target site specificity and has hosts ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Thereby, random mutagenesis using the mariner family transposon is expected to identify key molecules for human-Bacteroides symbiosis. In this study, we constructed the plasmid pMI07 to deliver the gene cassette (ermF/ITR), which harbors the erythromycin resistant marker (ermF) and the inverted repeat sequences (ITRs) recognized by Himar1 transposase, to Bacteroides via electrotransformation. pMI07 successfully delivered ermF/ITR to the Bacteroides genomes and generated thousands of insertion mutants/μg of pMI07 in B. thetaiotaomicron, B. fragilis, B. ovatus, and also, although to a lesser extent, B. vulgatus. Analyses of the ermF/ITR insertion sites in B. thetaiotaomicron and B. vulgatus revealed that the cassette targeted the dinucleotide TA and integrated into the genomes in an unbiased manner. The data reported here will provide useful information for transposon mutagenesis in Bacteroides species, which will enable identification of the genes responsible for their unique phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid23686649, year = {2013}, author = {Büntgen, U and Peter, M and Kauserud, H and Egli, S}, title = {Unraveling environmental drivers of a recent increase in Swiss fungi fruiting.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {2785-2794}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12263}, pmid = {23686649}, issn = {1354-1013}, mesh = {Agaricales/*growth & development ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Disentangling biotic and abiotic drivers of wild mushroom fruiting is fraught with difficulties because mycelial growth is hidden belowground, symbiotic and saprotrophic supply strategies may interact, and myco-ecological observations are often either discontinuous or too short. Here, we compiled and analyzed 115 417 weekly fungal fruit body counts from permanent Swiss inventories between 1975 and 2006. Mushroom fruiting exhibited an average autumnal delay of 12 days after 1991 compared with before, the annual number of fruit bodies increased from 1801 to 5414 and the mean species richness doubled from 10 to 20. Intra- and interannual coherency of symbiotic and saprotrophic mushroom fruiting, together with little agreement between mycorrhizal yield and tree growth suggests direct climate controls on fruit body formation of both nutritional modes. Our results contradict a previously reported declining of mushroom harvests and propose rethinking the conceptual role of symbiotic pathways in fungi-host interaction. Moreover, this conceptual advancement may foster new cross-disciplinary research avenues, and stimulate questions about possible amplifications of the global carbon cycle, as enhanced fungal production in moist mid-latitude forests rises carbon cycling and thus increases greenhouse gas exchanges between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere.}, } @article {pmid23685970, year = {2013}, author = {Hawkins, TD and Davy, SK}, title = {Nitric oxide and coral bleaching: is peroxynitrite generation required for symbiosis collapse?.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 17}, pages = {3185-3188}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.087510}, pmid = {23685970}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Heat-Shock Response ; Hot Temperature ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Peroxynitrous Acid/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The temperature-induced collapse ('bleaching') of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis is hypothesised to result from symbiont oxidative stress and a subsequent host innate immune-like response. This includes the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in numerous microbial symbioses. Much of NO's cytotoxicity has been attributed to its conversion, in the presence of superoxide (O2(-)), to highly reactive peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). However, ONOO(-) generation has yet to be observed in either a lower invertebrate or an intracellular mutualism. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy with the fluorescent ONOO(-) indicator aminophenyl fluorescein (APF), we observed strong evidence that ONOO(-) is generated in symbiotic Aiptasia pulchella under conditions known to induce thermal bleaching. However, a role for ONOO(-) in bleaching remains unclear as treatment with a peroxynitrite scavenger had no significant effect on thermal bleaching. Therefore, while ONOO(-) may have a potential for cytotoxicity, in vivo levels of the compound may be insufficient to affect bleaching.}, } @article {pmid23685936, year = {2013}, author = {de Vasconcelos, MA and Cunha, CO and Arruda, FV and Carneiro, VA and Bastos, RM and Mercante, FM and do Nascimento, KS and Cavada, BS and dos Santos, RP and Teixeira, EH}, title = {Effect of leguminous lectins on the growth of Rhizobium tropici CIAT899.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {18}, number = {5}, pages = {5792-5803}, pmid = {23685936}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*chemistry ; *Plant Lectins/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Rhizobium tropici/*growth & development ; Seeds/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium tropici is a Gram-negative bacterium that induces nodules and fixed atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and some other leguminous species. Lectins are proteins that specifically bind to carbohydrates and, consequently, modulate different biological functions. In this study, the d-glucose/ d-mannose-binding lectins (from seeds of Dioclea megacarpa, D. rostrata and D. violacea) and D-galactose-binding lectins (from seeds of Bauhinia variegata, Erythina velutina and Vatairea macrocarpa) were purified using chromatographic techniques and evaluated for their effect on the growth of R. tropici CIAT899. All lectins were assayed with a satisfactory degree of purity according to SDS-PAGE analysis, and stimulated bacterial growth; in particular, the Dioclea rostrata lectin was the most active among all tested proteins. As confirmed in the present study, both d-galactose- and d-glucose/d-mannose-binding lectins purified from the seeds of leguminous plants may be powerful biotechnological tools to stimulate the growth of R. tropici CIAT99, thus improving symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and common bean and, hence, the production of this field crop.}, } @article {pmid23684536, year = {2013}, author = {Kayano, Y and Tanaka, A and Akano, F and Scott, B and Takemoto, D}, title = {Differential roles of NADPH oxidases and associated regulators in polarized growth, conidiation and hyphal fusion in the symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {87-97}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2013.05.001}, pmid = {23684536}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Culture Media/chemistry ; Epichloe/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hyphae/*growth & development ; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases/genetics/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Spores, Fungal/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae systemically colonizes the intercellular spaces of temperate grasses to establish mutualistic symbiotic associations. We have previously shown that reactive oxygen species produced by a specific NADPH oxidase isoform, NoxA, and associated regulators, NoxR and RacA, have a critical role in regulating hyphal growth in the host plant to maintain a mutualistic symbiotic interaction. We also identified BemA and Cdc24, homologues of polarity establishment proteins of yeast, as interactors of NoxR. In this study, we investigated culture developmental phenotypes of 'knockout' mutants of noxA and noxB and their associated regulators, noxR, racA and bemA. On nutrient-rich medium, all of the mutants except racA, which had undulating hyphae, hyphal swellings and increased branching, had a colony growth phenotype similar to the wild type strain. In contrast, on water agar, noxA, noxR and bemA mutants had disorganized hyphal growth and distorted instead of straight hyphae. These changes in hyphal growth characteristics indicate that NoxA and associated regulators have a crucial role in polarized growth under conditions of nutrient starvation. Conidiation in the noxA mutant was greater than wild type, and further enhanced in the noxA/noxB double mutant suggesting ROS negatively regulates asexual development. In contrast, deletion of noxR had no effect on conidiation. Hyphae of the wild type and noxB mutant of E. festucae had frequent vegetative hyphal fusions, whereas noxA, noxR and racA mutants totally lost this ability and fusions in the bemA mutant were significantly reduced. These results indicate that NoxA, NoxB and their associated regulators have distinct or overlapping functions for the regulation of different hyphal morphogenesis processes.}, } @article {pmid23684301, year = {2013}, author = {Valanne, S and Rämet, M}, title = {Uracil debases pathogenic but not commensal bacteria.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {505-506}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2013.04.013}, pmid = {23684301}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Pectobacterium carotovorum/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Uracil/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The metazoan gut harbors microbial communities on its mucosal surfaces, yet the mechanisms by which gut immunity tolerates symbiotic and commensal bacteria while eliminating pathogens is insufficiently understood. In a recent Cell paper, Lee et al. (2013) show that bacterial uracil, not secreted by commensal bacteria, triggers dual oxidase-dependent immunity.}, } @article {pmid23683932, year = {2013}, author = {Palma, F and López-Gómez, M and Tejera, NA and Lluch, C}, title = {Salicylic acid improves the salinity tolerance of Medicago sativa in symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti by preventing nitrogen fixation inhibition.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {208}, number = {}, pages = {75-82}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2013.03.015}, pmid = {23683932}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Cyclic/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Fluorescence ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipoxygenases/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*drug effects ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development ; Polyamines/metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/*pharmacology ; Salt Tolerance/*drug effects ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {In this work we have investigated the contribution of pretreatment with 0.1 and 0.5mM salicylic acid (SA) to the protection against salt stress in root nodules of Medicago sativa in symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti. SA alleviated the inhibition induced by salinity in the plant growth and photosynthetic capacity of M. sativa-S. meliloti symbiosis. In addition, SA prevented the inhibition of the nitrogen fixation capacity under salt stress since nodule biomass was not affected by salinity in SA pretreated plants. Antioxidant enzymes peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehidroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR), key in the main pathway that scavenges H2O2 in plants, were induced by SA pretreatments which suggest that SA may participate in the redox balance in root nodules under salt stress. Catalase activity (CAT) was inhibited around 40% by SA which could be behind the increase of H2O2 detected in nodules of plants pretreated with SA. The accumulation of polyamines (PAs) synthesized in response to salinity was prevented by SA which together with the induction of 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) content suggest the prevalence of the ethylene signaling pathway induced by SA in detriment of the synthesis of PAs. In conclusion, SA alleviated the negative effect of salt stress in the M. sativa-S. meliloti symbiosis through the increased level of nodule biomass and the induction of the nodular antioxidant metabolism under salt stress. The H2O2 accumulation and the PAs inhibition induced by SA in nodules of M. sativa suggest that SA activates a hypersensitive response dependent on ethylene.}, } @article {pmid23682114, year = {2013}, author = {Sulieman, S and Ha, CV and Schulze, J and Tran, LS}, title = {Growth and nodulation of symbiotic Medicago truncatula at different levels of phosphorus availability.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {10}, pages = {2701-2712}, pmid = {23682114}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is an important model plant for characterization of P deficiency on leguminous plants at the physiological and molecular levels. Growth optimization of this plant with regard to P supply is the first essential step for elucidation of the role of P in regulation of nodulation. Hence, a study was carried out to address the growth pattern of M. truncatula hydroponically grown at different gradual increases in P levels. The findings revealed that M. truncatula had a narrow P regime, with an optimum P level (12 μM P) which is relatively close to the concentration that induces P toxicity. The accumulated P concentration (2.7 mg g(-1) dry matter), which is normal for other crops and legumes, adversely affected the growth of M. truncatula plants. Under P deficiency, M. truncatula showed a higher symbiotic efficiency with Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011 in comparison with S. meliloti 102F51, partially as a result of higher electron allocation to N2 versus H(+). The total composition of free amino acids in the phloem was significantly affected by P deprivation. This pattern was found to be almost exclusively the result of the increase in the asparagine level, suggesting that asparagine might be the shoot-derived signal that translocates to the nodules and exerts the down-regulation of nitrogenase activity. Additionally, P deprivation was found to have a strong influence on the contents of the nodule carbon metabolites. While levels of sucrose and succinate tended to decrease, a higher accumulation of malate was observed. These findings have provided evidence that N2 fixation of M. truncatula is mediated through an N feedback mechanism which is closely related to nodule carbon metabolism.}, } @article {pmid23681570, year = {2013}, author = {Burhenne, H and Kaever, V}, title = {Quantification of cyclic dinucleotides by reversed-phase LC-MS/MS.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {1016}, number = {}, pages = {27-37}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-62703-441-8_3}, pmid = {23681570}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid/*methods ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase/*methods ; Nucleotides, Cyclic/*analysis/isolation & purification ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; }, abstract = {Cyclic dinucleotides such as bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) and bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) represent important second messengers in bacteria. Although their synthesis has not been described in plants so far, they may be involved in the regulation of bacterial phytopathogen-plant interactions as well as rhizobium plant symbiosis. Here, we describe a sensitive and specific quantification method for c-di-AMP and c-di-GMP by HPLC-coupled tandem mass spectrometry. Additional linear dinucleotide metabolites and mononucleotides, as well as cyclic mononucleotides, can be simultaneously determined by this method.}, } @article {pmid23680493, year = {2013}, author = {Wallace, BD and Redinbo, MR}, title = {The human microbiome is a source of therapeutic drug targets.}, journal = {Current opinion in chemical biology}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {379-384}, pmid = {23680493}, issn = {1879-0402}, support = {R01 CA098468/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA78924/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drug Discovery ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/microbiology ; Health ; Humans ; Microbiota/*drug effects ; Molecular Targeted Therapy/*methods ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/metabolism ; }, abstract = {It was appreciated early in drug discovery that the microbiota play an important role in the efficacy of therapeutic compounds. Indeed, the first antibiotic sulfa drugs were shown in the 1940s to be transformed by the bacteria that encode what we now call the intestinal microbiome. Here we briefly review the roles symbiotic bacteria play in the chemistry of human health, and we focus on the emerging appreciation that specific enzyme targets expressed by microbial symbiotes can be selectively disrupted to achieve clinical outcomes. We conclude that components of the microbiome should be considered 'druggable targets,' and we suggest that our rapidly evolving understanding of the chemical biology of mammalian-microbial symbiosis will translate into improved human health.}, } @article {pmid23679580, year = {2013}, author = {Devers, EA and Teply, J and Reinert, A and Gaude, N and Krajinski, F}, title = {An endogenous artificial microRNA system for unraveling the function of root endosymbioses related genes in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {82}, pmid = {23679580}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; *Genetic Techniques ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes have the unique capacity to undergo two important root endosymbioses: the root nodule symbiosis and the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Medicago truncatula is widely used to unravel the functions of genes during these root symbioses. Here we describe the development of an artificial microRNA (amiR)-mediated gene silencing system for M. truncatula roots.

RESULTS: The endogenous microRNA (miR) mtr-miR159b was selected as a backbone molecule for driving amiR expression. Heterologous expression of mtr-miR159b-amiR constructs in tobacco showed that the backbone is functional and mediates an efficient gene silencing. amiR-mediated silencing of a visible marker was also effective after root transformation of M. truncatula constitutively expressing the visible marker. Most importantly, we applied the novel amiR system to shed light on the function of a putative transcription factor, MtErf1, which was strongly induced in arbuscule-containing cells during mycorrhizal symbiosis. MtPt4 promoter driven amiR-silencing led to strongly decreased transcript levels and deformed, non-fully truncated arbuscules indicating that MtErf1 is required for arbuscule development.

CONCLUSIONS: The endogenous amiR system demonstrated here presents a novel and highly efficient tool to unravel gene functions during root endosymbioses.}, } @article {pmid23677567, year = {2013}, author = {Lazali, M and Zaman-Allah, M and Amenc, L and Ounane, G and Abadie, J and Drevon, JJ}, title = {A phytase gene is overexpressed in root nodules cortex of Phaseolus vulgaris-rhizobia symbiosis under phosphorus deficiency.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {238}, number = {2}, pages = {317-324}, pmid = {23677567}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {6-Phytase/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Inbreeding ; Nitrogen/analysis/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Phosphorus/*deficiency/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for rhizobial symbioses to convert N2 into NH4 usable for N nutrition in legumes and N cycle in ecosystems. This N2 fixation process occurs in nodules with a high energy cost. Phytate is the major storage form of P and accounts for more than 50 % of the total P in seeds of cereals and legumes. The phytases, a group of enzymes widely distributed in plant and microorganisms, are able to hydrolyze a variety of inositol phosphates. Recently, phytase activity was discovered in nodules. However, the gene expression localization and its role in N2-fixing nodules are still unknown. In this work, two recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), selected as contrasting for N2 fixation under P deficiency, namely RILs 115 (P-efficient) and 147 (P-inefficient) were inoculated with Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, and grown under hydroaeroponic conditions with sufficient versus deficient P supply. With in situ RT-PCR methodology, we found that phytase transcripts were particularly abundant in the nodule cortex and infected zone of both RILs. Under P deficiency, phytase transcripts were significantly more abundant for RIL115 than for RIL147, and more in the outer cortex than in the infected zone. Additionally, the high expression of phytase among nodule tissues for the P-deficient RIL115 was associated with an increase in phytase (33 %) and phosphatase (49 %) activities and efficiency in use of the rhizobial symbiosis (34 %). It is argued that phytase activity in nodules would contribute to the adaptation of the rhizobia-legume symbiosis to low-P environments.}, } @article {pmid24558561, year = {2012}, author = {Sharma, A and Rahul, GR and Poduval, ST and Shetty, K}, title = {Short clinical crowns (SCC) - treatment considerations and techniques.}, journal = {Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {e230-6}, pmid = {24558561}, issn = {1989-5488}, abstract = {When the clinical crowns of teeth are dimensionally inadequate, esthetically and biologically acceptable restoration of these dental units is difficult. Often an acceptable restoration cannot be accomplished without first surgically increasing the length of the existing clinical crowns; therefore, successful management requires an understanding of both the dental and periodontal parameters of treatment. The complications presented by teeth with short clinical crowns demand a comprehensive treatment plan and proper sequencing of therapy to ensure a satisfactory result. Visualization of the desired result is a prerequisite of successful therapy. This review examines the periodontal and restorative factors related to restoring teeth with short clinical crowns. Modes of therapy are usually combined to meet the biologic, restorative, and esthetic requirements imposed by short clinical crowns. In this study various methods for treating short clinical crowns are reviewed, the role that restoration margin location play in the maintenance of periodontal and dental symbiosis and the effects of violation of the supracrestal gingivae by improper full-coverage restorations has also been discussed. Key words:Short clinical crown, surgical crown lengthening, forced eruption, diagnostic wax up, alveoloplasty, gingivectomy.}, } @article {pmid24501062, year = {2012}, author = {Lam, SK and Chen, D and Norton, R and Armstrong, R and Mosier, AR}, title = {Nitrogen dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration: A meta-analysis.}, journal = {Global change biology}, volume = {18}, number = {9}, pages = {2853-2859}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02758.x}, pmid = {24501062}, issn = {1365-2486}, abstract = {Understanding nitrogen (N) removal and replenishment is crucial to crop sustainability under rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2 ]). While a significant portion of N is removed in grains, the soil N taken from agroecosystems can be replenished by fertilizer application and N2 fixation by legumes. The effects of elevated [CO2 ] on N dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems were evaluated using meta-analytic techniques (366 observations from 127 studies). The information analysed for non-legume crops included grain N removal, residue C : N ratio, fertilizer N recovery and nitrous oxide (N2 O) emission. In addition to these parameters, nodule number and mass, nitrogenase activity, the percentage and amount of N fixed from the atmosphere were also assessed in legumes. Elevated [CO2 ] increased grain N removal of C3 non-legumes (11%), legumes (36%) and C4 crops (14%). The C : N ratio of residues from C3 non-legumes and legumes increased under elevated [CO2 ] by 16% and 8%, respectively, but the increase for C4 crops (9%) was not statistically significant. Under elevated [CO2 ], there was a 38% increase in the amount of N fixed from the atmosphere by legumes, which was accompanied by greater whole plant nodule number (33%), nodule mass (39%), nitrogenase activity (37%) and %N derived from the atmosphere (10%; non-significant). Elevated [CO2 ] increased the plant uptake of fertilizer N by 17%, and N2 O emission by 27%. These results suggest that N demand and removal in grain cropping systems will increase under future CO2 -enriched environments, and that current N management practices (fertilizer application and legume incorporation) will need to be revised.}, } @article {pmid24031906, year = {2012}, author = {Farias, BC and Souza, PR and Ferreira, B and Melo, RS and Machado, FB and Gusmão, ES and Cimões, R}, title = {Occurrence of periodontal pathogens among patients with chronic periodontitis.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {909-916}, pmid = {24031906}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of the periodontal pathogens that form the red complex (Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in patients with chronic periodontitis. The sample consisted of 29 patients with a clinical and radiographic diagnosis of chronic periodontitis based on the criteria of the American Academy of Periodontology (3). Samples for microbiological analysis were collected from the four sites of greatest probing depth in each patient, totaling 116 samples. These samples were processed using conventional polymerase chain reaction, which achieved the following positive results: 46.6% for P. gingivalis, 41.4% for T. forsythia, 33.6% for T. denticola and 27.6% for A. actinomycetemcomitans. P. gingivalis and T. forsythia were more prevalent (p < 0.05) in periodontal pockets ≥ 8 mm. The combinations T. forsythia + P. gingivalis (23.2%) and T. forsythia + P. gingivalis + T. denticola (20.0%) were more frequent in sites with a probing depth ≥ 8 mm. Associations with the simultaneous presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans + P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans + T. forsythia, P. gingivalis + T. forsythia and T. forsythia + T. denticola were statistically significant (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the red complex pathogens are related to chronic periodontitis, presenting a higher occurrence in deep periodontal pockets. Moreover, the simultaneous presence of these bacteria in deep sites suggests a symbiotic relationship between these virulent species, favoring, in this way, a further progression of periodontal disease.}, } @article {pmid24470951, year = {2012}, author = {Goodwin, R and Schley, D and Lai, KM and Ceddia, GM and Barnett, J and Cook, N}, title = {Interdisciplinary approaches to zoonotic disease.}, journal = {Infectious disease reports}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {e37}, pmid = {24470951}, issn = {2036-7430}, support = {G0902431/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Zoonotic infections are on the increase worldwide, but most research into the biological, environmental and life science aspects of these infections has been conducted in separation. In this review we bring together contemporary research in these areas to suggest a new, symbiotic framework which recognises the interaction of biological, economic, psychological, and natural and built environmental drivers in zoonotic infection and transmission. In doing so, we propose that some contemporary debates in zoonotic research could be resolved using an expanded framework which explicitly takes into account the combination of motivated and habitual human behaviour, environmental and biological constraints, and their interactions.}, } @article {pmid24031884, year = {2012}, author = {León-Martínez, DG and Vielle-Calzada, JP and Olalde-Portugal, V}, title = {Expression of phenazine biosynthetic genes during the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of Glomus intraradices.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {716-738}, pmid = {24031884}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {To explore the molecular mechanisms that prevail during the establishment of the arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis involving the genus Glomus, we transcriptionally analysed spores of Glomus intraradices BE3 during early hyphal growth. Among 458 transcripts initially identified as being expressed at presymbiotic stages, 20% of sequences had homology to previously characterized eukaryotic genes, 30% were homologous to fungal coding sequences, and 9% showed homology to previously characterized bacterial genes. Among them, GintPbr1a encodes a homolog to Phenazine Biosynthesis Regulator (Pbr) of Burkholderia cenocepacia, an pleiotropic regulatory protein that activates phenazine production through transcriptional activation of the protein D isochorismatase biosynthetic enzyme phzD (Ramos et al., 2010). Whereas GintPbr1a is expressed during the presymbiotic phase, the G. intraradices BE3 homolog of phzD (BGintphzD) is transcriptionally active at the time of the establishment of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. DNA from isolated bacterial cultures found in spores of G. intraradices BE3 confirmed that both BGintPbr1a and BGintphzD are present in the genome of its potential endosymbionts. Taken together, our results indicate that spores of G. intraradices BE3 express bacterial phenazine biosynthetic genes at the onset of the fungal-plant symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid24031882, year = {2012}, author = {Delamuta, JR and Ribeiro, RA and Menna, P and Bangel, EV and Hungria, M}, title = {Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of Bradyrhizobium strains: revealing high diversity of tropical diazotrophic symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {43}, number = {2}, pages = {698-710}, pmid = {24031882}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {Symbiotic association of several genera of bacteria collectively called as rhizobia and plants belonging to the family Leguminosae (=Fabaceae) results in the process of biological nitrogen fixation, playing a key role in global N cycling, and also bringing relevant contributions to the agriculture. Bradyrhizobium is considered as the ancestral of all nitrogen-fixing rhizobial species, probably originated in the tropics. The genus encompasses a variety of diverse bacteria, but the diversity captured in the analysis of the 16S rRNA is often low. In this study, we analyzed twelve Bradyrhizobium strains selected from previous studies performed by our group for showing high genetic diversity in relation to the described species. In addition to the 16S rRNA, five housekeeping genes (recA, atpD, glnII, gyrB and rpoB) were analyzed in the MLSA (multilocus sequence analysis) approach. Analysis of each gene and of the concatenated housekeeping genes captured a considerably higher level of genetic diversity, with indication of putative new species. The results highlight the high genetic variability associated with Bradyrhizobium microsymbionts of a variety of legumes. In addition, the MLSA approach has proved to represent a rapid and reliable method to be employed in phylogenetic and taxonomic studies, speeding the identification of the still poorly known diversity of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in the tropics.}, } @article {pmid23961175, year = {2012}, author = {Tajini, F and Trabelsi, M and Drevon, JJ}, title = {Combined inoculation with Glomus intraradices and Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 increases phosphorus use efficiency for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Saudi journal of biological sciences}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {157-163}, pmid = {23961175}, issn = {1319-562X}, abstract = {This study compared the response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia strain inoculation. Two common bean genotypes i.e. CocoT and Flamingo varying in their effectiveness for nitrogen fixation were inoculated with Glomus intraradices and Rhizobium tropici CIAT899, and grown for 50 days in soil-sand substrate in glasshouse conditions. Inoculation of common bean plants with the AM fungi resulted in a significant increase in nodulation compared to plants without inoculation. The combined inoculation of AM fungi and rhizobia significantly increased various plant growth parameters compared to simple inoculated plants. In addition, the combined inoculation of AM fungi and rhizobia resulted in significantly higher nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in the shoots of common bean plants and improved phosphorus use efficiency compared with their controls, which were not dually inoculated. It is concluded that inoculation with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could improve the efficiency in phosphorus use for symbiotic nitrogen fixation especially under phosphorus deficiency.}, } @article {pmid24278668, year = {2012}, author = {Higa, GM and Hicks, J and Isabella, C}, title = {Adjudication of the alleged role of vitamin d in the antimicrobial pathway.}, journal = {Scientifica}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {129516}, pmid = {24278668}, issn = {2090-908X}, abstract = {Dynamic interactions between microorganism and host have evolved in such a way that while microbial pathogens are the cause of many human infections, a symbiotic relationship is also known to exist. Another important anomaly is that exposure to pathogenic organisms does not necessarily result in development of clinical disease. The latter conclusion infers that susceptibility to infectious disease can be modified by host-related factors. Arguably the two most prominent factors are genetic variability and immunologic status of the exposed individual. Because of the Human Genome and the HapMap projects, developments in genotyping technology have brought the possibility of identifying associations between specific genetic alterations and common diseases closer to reality. In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests vitamin D has an important contributory role in the antimicrobial pathway.}, } @article {pmid23990811, year = {2012}, author = {Shenderov, BA}, title = {Gut indigenous microbiota and epigenetics.}, journal = {Microbial ecology in health and disease}, volume = {23}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {23990811}, issn = {0891-060X}, abstract = {This review introduces and discusses data regarding fundamental and applied investigations in mammalian epigenomics and gut microbiota received over the last 10 years. Analysis of these data enabled us first to come to the conclusion that the multiple low-molecular-weight substances of indigenous gut microbiota origin should be considered one of the main endogenous factors actively participating in epigenomic mechanisms that are responsible for the mammalian genome reprograming and post-translated modifications. Gut microecological imbalance caused by various biogenic and abiogenic agents and factors can produce different epigenetic abnormalities and the onset and progression of metabolic diseases associated. The authors substantiate the necessity to create an international project 'Human Gut Microbiota and Epigenomics' that facilitates interdisciplinary collaborations among scientists and clinicians engaged in host microbial ecology, nutrition, metagenomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics investigations as well as in disease prevention and treatment. Some priority scientific and applied directions in the current omic technologies coupled with gnotobiological approaches are suggested that can open a new era in characterizing the role of the symbiotic microbiota small metabolic and signal molecules in the host epigenomics. Although the discussed subject is only at an early stage its validation can open novel approaches in drug discovery studies.}, } @article {pmid23761367, year = {2011}, author = {Webster, NS and Botté, ES and Soo, RM and Whalan, S}, title = {The larval sponge holobiont exhibits high thermal tolerance.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {756-762}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2011.00296.x}, pmid = {23761367}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Marine sponges are critical components of benthic environments; however, their sessile habit, requirement to filter large volumes of water and complex symbiotic partnerships make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of global climate change. We assessed the effect of elevated seawater temperature on bacterial communities in larvae of the Great Barrier Reef sponge, Rhopaloeides odorabile. In contrast to the strict thermal threshold of 32°C previously identified in adult R. odorabile, larvae exhibit a markedly higher thermal tolerance, with no adverse health effects detected at temperatures below 36°C. Similarly, larval microbial communities were conserved at temperatures up to 34°C with a highly significant shift occurring after 24 h at 36°C. This shift involved the loss of previously described symbionts (in particular the Nitrospira, Chloroflexi and a Roseobacter lineage) and the appearance of new Gammaproteobacteria not detected at lower temperatures. Here, we demonstrated that sponge larvae maintain highly stable symbioses at seawater temperatures exceeding those that are predicted under current climate change scenarios. In addition, by revealing that the shift in microbial composition occurs in conjunction with necrosis and mortality of larvae at 36°C we have provided additional evidence of the strong link between host health and the stability of symbiont communities.}, } @article {pmid23761353, year = {2011}, author = {Littman, R and Willis, BL and Bourne, DG}, title = {Metagenomic analysis of the coral holobiont during a natural bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {651-660}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00234.x}, pmid = {23761353}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Understanding the effects of elevated seawater temperatures on each member of the coral holobiont (the complex comprised of coral polyps and associated symbiotic microorganisms, including Bacteria, viruses, Fungi, Archaea and endolithic algae) is becoming increasingly important as evidence accumulates that microbial members contribute to overall coral health, particularly during thermal stress. Here we use a metagenomic approach to identify metabolic and taxonomic shifts in microbial communities associated with the hard coral Acropora millepora throughout a natural thermal bleaching event at Magnetic Island (Great Barrier Reef). A direct comparison of metagenomic data sets from healthy versus bleached corals indicated major shifts in microbial associates during heat stress, including Bacteria, Archaea, viruses, Fungi and micro-algae. Overall, metabolism of the microbial community shifted from autotrophy to heterotrophy, including increases in genes associated with the metabolism of fatty acids, proteins, simple carbohydrates, phosphorus and sulfur. In addition, the proportion of virulence genes was higher in the bleached library, indicating an increase in microorganisms capable of pathogenesis following bleaching. These results demonstrate that thermal stress results in shifts in coral-associated microbial communities that may lead to deteriorating coral health.}, } @article {pmid23761334, year = {2011}, author = {Liaimer, A and Jenke-Kodama, H and Ishida, K and Hinrichs, K and Stangeland, J and Hertweck, C and Dittmann, E}, title = {A polyketide interferes with cellular differentiation in the symbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {550-558}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2011.00258.x}, pmid = {23761334}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Nostoc punctiforme is a filamentous cyanobacterium capable of forming symbiotic associations with a wide range of plants. The strain exhibits extensive phenotypic characteristics and can differentiate three mutually exclusive cell types: nitrogen-fixing heterocysts, motile hormogonia and spore-like akinetes. Here, we provide evidence for a crucial role of an extracellular metabolite in balancing cellular differentiation. Insertional mutagenesis of a gene of the polyketide synthase gene cluster pks2 led to the accumulation of short filaments carrying mostly terminal heterocysts under diazotrophic conditions. The mutant has a strong tendency to form biofilms on solid surfaces as well as in liquid culture. The pks2(-) strain keeps forming hormogonia over the entire growth curve and shows an early onset of akinete formation. We could isolate two fractions of the wild-type supernatant that could restore the capability to form long filaments with intercalary heterocysts. Growth of the mutant cells in the neighbourhood of wild-type cells on plates led to a reciprocal influence and a partial reconstruction of wild-type and mutant phenotype respectively. We postulate that extracellular metabolites of Nostoc punctiforme act as life cycle governing factors (LCGFs) and that the ratio between distinct factors may guide the differentiation into different life stages.}, } @article {pmid24031707, year = {2011}, author = {de Lima, AS and Xavier, TF and de Lima, CE and de Paula Oliveira, J and Mergulhão, AC and Figueiredo, FM}, title = {Triple inoculation with Bradyrhizobium, Glomus and Paenibacillus on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] walp.) development.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, pages = {919-926}, pmid = {24031707}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {The use of microorganisms to improve the availability of nutrients to plants is of great importance to agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of triple inoculation of cowpea with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and rhizobia to maximize biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and promote plant growth. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp cv. IPA 206). The treatments included inoculation with strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. (BR 3267 and EI - 6) individually and as a mixture, an absolute control (AC) and mineral nitrogen control (NC), all combined with the presence or absence of native AMF (Glomus etunicatum) and PGPB (Paenibacillus brasilensis - 24) in a 5x2x2 factorial design. All treatments were replicated three times. Contrasts were performed to study the treatment of variables. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. (BR 3267 and EI - 6) and G. etunicatum favored nitrogen acquisition and phosphorus availability for the cowpea plants. Inoculation with P. brasilensis - 24 increased colonization by Bradyrhizobium sp. and G. etunicatum and promoted cowpea growth, while the nitrogen from symbiosis was sufficient to supply the plants nutritional needs.}, } @article {pmid24031674, year = {2011}, author = {Rossi, MJ and Oliveira, VL}, title = {Growth of the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Pisolithus Microcarpus in different nutritional conditions.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {42}, number = {2}, pages = {624-632}, pmid = {24031674}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {The most important plant species employed in reforestation programs depend on ectomycorrhizal fungi for their establishment and growth. The exploitation of this symbiosis to improve forest productivity requires fungal inoculants in a large scale level. To develop such a technology it is necessary to define the optimal composition of the culture medium for each fungus. With these objectives in mind, the effect of the composition of the culture medium on biomass production of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus (isolate UFSC-Pt116) was studied. The original composition of two culture media, already employed for cultivation of ectomycorrhizal fungi, was submitted to several variations with the C/N ratio as the main variable. A variation of the Pridham-Gottlieb medium was the most efficient for the production of biomass. Therefore, it was submitted to a factorial assay where glucose, peptone and yeast extract components were the factors analyzed. Results showed that the glucose concentration may be increased up to 40 % in order to promote higher biomass production. Peptone had a positive effect on this variable, whereas yeast extract promoted a deleterious effect. These results indicate that it is advisable to eliminate yeast extract from the medium and replace it with peptone prior to use.}, } @article {pmid23761252, year = {2011}, author = {Cusano, AM and Burlinson, P and Deveau, A and Vion, P and Uroz, S and Preston, GM and Frey-Klett, P}, title = {Pseudomonas fluorescens BBc6R8 type III secretion mutants no longer promote ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {203-210}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00209.x}, pmid = {23761252}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {The Mycorrhiza Helper Bacterium (MHB) Pseudomonas fluorescens BBc6R8 promotes the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between Douglas fir roots and Laccaria bicolor. In this study, we identified a non-flagellar type III secretion system (T3SS) in the draft genome of BBc6R8 similar to that described in the biocontrol strain P. fluorescens SBW25. We examined whether this T3SS plays a role in the BBc6R8 mycorrhizal helper effect by creating a deletion in the rscRST genes encoding the central channel of the injectisome. The in vitro effect of BBc6R8 T3SS mutants on the radial growth rate of L. bicolor was unchanged compared with the parental strain. In contrast, T3SS mutants were unable to promote mycorrhization, suggesting that type III secretion plays an important role in the mycorrhizal helper effect of P. fluorescens BBc6R8 independent of the promotion of hyphal growth that BBc6R8 exhibits in vitro.}, } @article {pmid23761245, year = {2011}, author = {Anbutsu, H and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Spiroplasma as a model insect endosymbiont.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {3}, number = {2}, pages = {144-153}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00240.x}, pmid = {23761245}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Members of the genus Spiroplasma are actively motile and helical bacteria of the class Mollicutes, which are associated with a variety of arthropods and plants. Some spiroplasmas cause female-biased sex ratios of their host insects as a result of selective death of the male offspring during embryogenesis. Several strains of male-killing spiroplasmas have been successfully transfected into Drosophila melanogaster by haemolymph injection and maintained in laboratory fly stocks. Spiroplasma-Drosophila endosymbiosis represents an ideal model system for analysing the molecular mechanisms underlying host-symbiont interactions. The infection dynamics exhibited by the symbiont within the host, the effects of external and environmental factors on the symbiotic association and symbiont interactions with the host's immune system have been investigated using this system. Comparisons between a male-killing Spiroplasma strain and its non-male-killing variant revealed that, in addition to different male-killing abilities, they also differed in infection dynamics and resistance to host innate immunity. It is currently unclear whether these different phenotypes are interconnected to each other. However, if so, such pleiotropy could facilitate our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of the endosymbiotic system.}, } @article {pmid24310356, year = {2011}, author = {Alfarouk, KO and Shayoub, ME and Muddathir, AK and Elhassan, GO and Bashir, AH}, title = {Evolution of Tumor Metabolism might Reflect Carcinogenesis as a Reverse Evolution process (Dismantling of Multicellularity).}, journal = {Cancers}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {3002-3017}, pmid = {24310356}, issn = {2072-6694}, abstract = {Carcinogenesis occurs through a series of steps from normal into benign and finally malignant phenotype. This cancer evolutionary trajectory has been accompanied by similar metabolic transformation from normal metabolism into Pasteur and/or Crabtree-Effects into Warburg-Effect and finally Cannibalism and/or Lactate-Symbiosis. Due to lactate production as an end-product of glycolysis, tumor colonies acquire new phenotypes that rely on lactate as energetic fuel. Presence of Warburg-Effect indicates that some tumor cells undergo partial (if not complete) de-endosymbiosis and so cancer cells have been become unicellular microorganism (anti-Dollo's Law) specially when they evolve to develop cannibalism as way of metabolism while oxidative types of cells that rely on lactate, as their energetic fuel, might represent extra-endosymbiosis. Thus, at the end, the cancer colony could be considered as integrated metabolic ecosystem. Proper understanding of tumor metabolism will contribute to discover potential anticancer agents besides conventional chemotherapy.}, } @article {pmid23776778, year = {2011}, author = {Gupta, SK}, title = {The need to develop and sustain a symbiotic relationship between the industry and academia in the field of clinical pharmacology in India.}, journal = {International journal of applied & basic medical research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {63-64}, pmid = {23776778}, issn = {2229-516X}, } @article {pmid24031563, year = {2010}, author = {Rigamonte, TA and Pylro, VS and Duarte, GF}, title = {The role of mycorrhization helper bacteria in the establishment and action of ectomycorrhizae associations.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {832-840}, pmid = {24031563}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {More than 95 % short roots of most terrestrial plants are colonized by mycorrhizal fungi as soon as they emerge in the upper soil profiles. The establishment of mycorrhizal association involves profound morphological and physiological changes in root and fungus. It is affected by other rhizospheric microorganisms, specifically by the bacteria. Bacteria may have developed mechanisms of selective interaction with surrounding microorganisms, with neutral or positive effects on mycorrhizal associations, but negative effect on root pathogens in general. Because of the beneficial effect of bacteria on mycorrhizae, the concept of Mycorrhization Helper Bacteria (MHB) was created. Five main actions of MHB on mycorrhizae were proposed: in the receptivity of root to the mycobiont, in root-fungus recognition, in fungal growth, in the modification of rhizospheric soil and in the germination of fungal propagules. MHB appear to develop a gradation of specificity for the mycobiont, but little or no specificity for the host plant in symbiosis. One of the main groups of MHB is the fluorescent Pseudomonas, well represented in diversity and cell density studies of mycorrhizal associations. This review covers the activity of MHB in the establishment of ectomycorrhizae, taking as model the effects of Pseudomonas sp. described in scientific literature.}, } @article {pmid23766226, year = {2010}, author = {Deveau, A and Brulé, C and Palin, B and Champmartin, D and Rubini, P and Garbaye, J and Sarniguet, A and Frey-Klett, P}, title = {Role of fungal trehalose and bacterial thiamine in the improved survival and growth of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor S238N and the helper bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens BBc6R8.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {560-568}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00145.x}, pmid = {23766226}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {The mycorrhiza helper bacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens BBc6R8 enhances the establishment of Laccaria bicolor S238N ectomycorrhizae by improving the pre-symbiotic growth and survival of the fungus. Nothing is known about the effect of the ectomycorrhizal fungus on the helper bacteria or the molecules that are involved in the interaction. In this study, we have monitored the population density of the helper strain P. fluorescens BBc6R8 in soils inoculated with L. bicolor and in control soils and found that the ectomycorhizal fungus improves the survival of the helper bacteria. We investigated the identity of the fungal and bacterial metabolites involved in this reciprocal growth-promoting effect using a combination of growth measurements, chemoattractant assays, HPLC and in silico genome analyses. We showed that trehalose, a disaccharide that accumulates to high levels in the fungal hyphae, chemoattracted and promoted the growth of the helper bacteria. Meanwhile, P. fluorescens BBc6R8 produced thiamine at concentrations that enhanced the fungal growth in vitro. Altogether our data indicate that the interaction between the two microorganisms is beneficial for both species and relies, at least in part, on trophic mutualism.}, } @article {pmid23766224, year = {2010}, author = {Kemppainen, MJ and Alvarez Crespo, MC and Pardo, AG}, title = {fHANT-AC genes of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor are not repressed by l-glutamine allowing simultaneous utilization of nitrate and organic nitrogen sources.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {541-553}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2009.00111.x}, pmid = {23766224}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {In boreal and temperate forest ectomycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in nitrogen cycling by assimilating nitrogenous compounds from soil and transferring them to tree hosts. The expression profile of fHANT-AC genes, nitrate transporter (Lbnrt), nitrate reductase (Lbnr) and nitrite reductase (Lbnir), responsible for nitrate utilization in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor, was studied on variable N regimens. The three genes were shown to be under a common regulation: repressed in the presence of ammonium while growth on nitrate resulted in high transcripts accumulation. The presence of nitrate was shown not to be indispensable for activation of Laccaria fHANT-AC as also N starvation and growth on urea and l-asparagine resulted in high transcript levels. Equally high expression of Laccaria fHANT-AC genes was detected in mycelia grown on variable concentrations of l-glutamine. This finding shows that in L. bicolor N metabolite repression of fHANT-AC is not signalled via l-glutamine like described in ascomycetes. The expression patterns of Lbnrt and Lbnir were also studied in an Lbnr RNA-silenced Laccaria strain. No differences were observed on the N source regulation or the degree of transcript accumulation of these genes, indicating that the presence of high nitrate reductase activity is not a core regulator of L. bicolor fHANT-AC expression. The simultaneous utilization of nitrate and organic N sources, already suggested by high transcript levels of Laccaria fHANT-AC genes on organic N, was supported by the increase of culture medium pH as a result of nitrate transporter activity. The possible ecological and evolutionary significance of the herein reported high regulatory flexibility of Laccaria nitrate utilization pathway for ectomycorrizal fungi and the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is discussed.}, } @article {pmid23766221, year = {2010}, author = {Rosenberg, E and Sharon, G and Atad, I and Zilber-Rosenberg, I}, title = {The evolution of animals and plants via symbiosis with microorganisms.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {500-506}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00177.x}, pmid = {23766221}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Animals and plants evolved from prokaryotes and have remained in close association with them. We suggest that early eukaryotic cells, formed by the fusion of two or more prokaryotes, already contained prokaryotic genetic information for aggregation and the formation of multicellular structures. The hologenome theory of evolution posits that a unit of selection in evolution is the holobiont (host plus symbionts). The hologenome is defined as the genetic information of the host and its microbiota, which function in consortium. Genetic variation of the holobiont, the raw material for evolution, can arise from changes in either the host or the symbiotic microbiota genomes. Changes in the hologenome can occur by two processes that are specific to holobionts: microbial amplification and acquisition of novel strains from the environment. Recent data from culture-independent studies provides considerable support of the hologenome theory: (i) all animals and plants contain abundant and diverse microbiota, (ii) the symbiotic microbiota affects the fitness of their host and (iii) symbiotic microorganisms are transmitted from parent to offspring. Consideration of the dynamic aspects of symbioses of hosts with their diverse microbiota leads to the conclusion that holobionts can evolve not only via Darwinian but also by adaptive Lamarckian principles.}, } @article {pmid23766218, year = {2010}, author = {Bonfante, P and Visick, K and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {475-478}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2010.00168.x}, pmid = {23766218}, issn = {1758-2229}, } @article {pmid24026933, year = {2010}, author = {Roma Neto, IV and Ribeiro, RA and Hungria, M}, title = {Genetic diversity of elite rhizobial strains of subtropical and tropical legumes based on the 16S rRNA and glnII genes.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {26}, number = {7}, pages = {1291-1302}, pmid = {24026933}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Biodiversity of diazotrophic symbiotic bacteria in the tropics is a valuable but still poorly studied resource. The objective of this study was to determine if a second housekeeping gene, glnII, in addition to the 16S rRNA, can be employed to improve the knowledge about taxonomy and phylogeny of rhizobia. Twenty-three elite rhizobial strains, very effective in fixing nitrogen with twenty-one herbal and woody legumes (including species from fourteen tribes in the three subfamilies of the family Leguminosae) were selected for this study; all strains are used as commercial inoculants in Brazil. Complete sequences of the 16S rRNA and partial sequences (480 bp) of the glnII gene were obtained. The same primers and amplification conditions were successful for sequencing the glnII genes of bacteria belonging to five different rhizobial genera-Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Methylobacterium, Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium)-positioned in distantly related branches. The analysis of the concatenated genes (16S rRNA + glnII) considerably improved information about phylogeny and taxonomy of rhizobia in comparison to the single analysis of the 16S rRNA. Nine strains might belong to new species. The complementary analysis of the glnII gene was successful with all strains and improved the phylogenetic clustering and clarified the taxonomic position of several strains. The strategy of including the analysis of glnII, in addition to the 16S rRNA, is cost- and time- effective for the characterization of large rhizobial culture collections or in surveys of many isolates.}, } @article {pmid23765884, year = {2009}, author = {Petersen, JM and Dubilier, N}, title = {Methanotrophic symbioses in marine invertebrates.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {1}, number = {5}, pages = {319-335}, doi = {10.1111/j.1758-2229.2009.00081.x}, pmid = {23765884}, issn = {1758-2229}, abstract = {Symbioses between marine animals and aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria are found at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps in the deep sea where reduced, methane-rich fluids mix with the surrounding oxidized seawater. These habitats are 'oases' in the otherwise nutrient-poor deep sea, where entire ecosystems are fueled by microbial chemosynthesis. By associating with bacteria that gain energy from the oxidation of CH4 with O2 , the animal host is indirectly able to gain nutrition from methane, an energy source that is otherwise only available to methanotrophic microorganisms. The host, in turn, provides its symbionts with continuous access to both electron acceptors and donors that are only available at a narrow oxic - anoxic interface for free-living methanotrophs. Symbiotic methane oxidizers have resisted all attempts at cultivation, so that all evidence for these symbiotic associations comes from ultrastructural, enzymatic, physiological, stable isotope and molecular biological studies of the symbiotic host tissues. In this review, we present an overview of the habitats and invertebrate hosts in which symbiotic methane oxidizers have been found, and the methods used to investigate these symbioses, focusing on the symbioses of bathymodiolin mussels that have received the most attention among methanotrophic associations.}, } @article {pmid24031360, year = {2009}, author = {Acioli-Santos, B and Malosso, E and Calzavara-Silva, CE and Lima, CE and Figueiredo, A and Sebastiana, M and Pais, MS}, title = {PtSRR1, a putative Pisolithus tinctorius symbiosis related receptor gene is expressed during the first hours of mycorrhizal interaction with Castanea sativa roots.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {292-295}, pmid = {24031360}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {PtSRR1 EST was previously identified in the first hours of Pisolithus tinctorius and Castanea sativa interaction. QRT-PCR confirmed PtSRR1 early expression and in silico preliminary translated peptide analysis indicated a strong probability that PtSRR1 be a transmembrane protein. These data stimulate the PtSRR1 gene research during ectomycorrhiza formation.}, } @article {pmid23983503, year = {2009}, author = {Wang, Y and Han, KS and Wang, XY and Koh, YJ and Hur, JS}, title = {Effect of Ribitol and Plant Hormones on Aposymbiotical Growth of the Lichen-forming Fungi of Ramalina farinacea and Ramalina fastigiata.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {37}, number = {1}, pages = {28-30}, pmid = {23983503}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {This study was aimed at evaluating the growth promoting effect of symbiotic algal polyol (ribitol) and plant hormones on the lichen-forming fungi (LFF), Ramalina farinacea (CH050010 and 40403) and Ramalina fastigiata. The addition of ribitol to basal (malt-yeast extract) medium enhanced the relative growth rates of all three LFF. R. farinacea (CH050010), R. farinacea (40403) and R. fastigiata (H06127) showed 35.3%, 29.0% and 29.3% higher growth rates, respectively, compared to the control. IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) and TIBA (2,3,5-tridobenzoic acid) also increased growth rates of the LFF by 34 to 64% and 7 to 28%, respectively, compared to the control. The combination of ribitol with IBA or TIBA synergistically increased the growth of all LFF. For example, ribitol and IBA treatments increased growth rates of R. farinacea (CH050010), R. farinacea (40403) and R. fastigiata (H06127) by 79.4%, 40.3% and 72.8% in, respectively, compared to those grown on the basal medium. The stimulating effect of ribitol and IBA on the LFF growth induced vertical development of the fungal mass in culture. We suggest that lichen-forming fungal growth of Ramalina lichens can be stimulated aposymbiotically by supplementing polyols and plant hormones to the basal medium in the mass production of lichen secondary metabolites under large scale culture conditions.}, } @article {pmid24391234, year = {2009}, author = {Dattagupta, S and Redding, M and Luley, K and Fisher, C}, title = {Comparison of proton-specific ATPase activities in plume and root tissues of two co-occurring hydrocarbon seep tubeworm species Lamellibrachia luymesi and Seepiophila jonesi.}, journal = {Marine biology}, volume = {156}, number = {4}, pages = {779-786}, pmid = {24391234}, issn = {0025-3162}, abstract = {Lamellibrachia luymesi and Seepiophila jonesi are co-occurring species of vestimentiferan tubeworms found at hydrocarbon seepage sites on the upper Louisiana slope of the Gulf of Mexico. Like all vestimentiferans, they rely on internal sulfide-oxidizing symbiotic bacteria for nutrition. These symbionts produce hydrogen ions as a byproduct of sulfide oxidation, which the host tubeworm needs to eliminate to prevent acidosis. The hydrothermal vent tubeworm Riftia pachyptila uses a high activity of P- and V-type H[+]-ATPases located in its plume epithelium to excrete protons. Unlike R. pachyptila, the seep species grow a posterior root, which they can use in addition to their plumes as a nutrient exchange surface. In this study we measured the ATPase activities of plume and root tissues collected from L. luymesi and S. jonesi, and used a combination of inhibitors to determine the relative activities of P- and V-type H[+]-ATPases. We found that the total H[+]-ATPase activity of their plumes was approximately 14 μmol h[-1] g[-1] wet weight, and that of their roots was between 5 and 7 μmol h[-1] g[-1] wet weight. These activities were more than ten times lower than those measured in R. pachyptila. We suggest that seep tubeworms might use passive channels to eliminate protons across their roots, in addition to ATP-dependant proton pumps located in their plumes and roots. In addition, we found strong differences between the types of ATPase activities in the plumes of L. luymesi and S. jonesi. While the H[+]-ATPase activity of L. luymesi plumes is dominated by P-type ATPases, S. jonesi has an unusually high activity of V-type H[+]-ATPases. We suggest that S. jonesi relies on its high V-type H[+]-ATPase activity to drive carbon dioxide uptake across its plume surface. L. luymesi, on the other hand, might rely partially on bicarbonate uptake across its root.}, } @article {pmid24031325, year = {2009}, author = {Fonseca, HM and Ferreira, JI and Berbara, RL and Zatorre, NP}, title = {Dominance of Paris-type morphology on mycothallus of Lunularia cruciata colonised by Glomus proliferum.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {96-101}, pmid = {24031325}, issn = {1517-8382}, abstract = {Microscopic evidence confirms that L. cruciata hosting G. proliferum shows major anatomical traits (arbuscules, coils, arbusculate coils and vesicles) generally associated arbuscular mycorrhizal roots and the anatomical morphology of intra-thalli mycelium is predominantly of the Paris-type. Colonised L. cruciata showed a reduction of biomass when compared with axenic plants suggesting a drain of resources towards the fungus and depletion of nutrients required for optimum plant growth. The behaviour of mycothalli regarding available KH2PO4 indicates that the nutritional stress threshold for phosphorus (P) is above the residual amount of P already present in Phytagel(TM) and in plant inoculum. These raise the possibility that in certain circumstances the relationship between L. cruciata and G. proliferum be parasitic rather than symbiotic and open the door for future studies to ascertain the nature of liverwort-AM fungi relationships.}, } @article {pmid23997602, year = {2008}, author = {Lee, SW and Lee, EH and Eom, AH}, title = {Effects of organic farming on communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {19-23}, pmid = {23997602}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) roots and soils representing different agricultural management practices such as conventional (CON), no-chemical (NOC), and organic farming systems (ORG) were collected from 32 farm field sites in Kyunggi, Korea to investigate the effects of these agricultural practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. ORG inoculum significantly increased plant growth compared to inoculum from CON and NOC. A community analysis of AM fungi (AMF) using morphological features of spores revealed that AMF spore abundance and species diversity were significantly higher in ORG than in CON. Additionally, a community analysis of AMF colonizing roots using a molecular technique revealed higher AMF diversity in ORG than in CON. These results suggest that agricultural practices significantly influence AM fungal community structure and mycorrhizal inoculum potential.}, } @article {pmid24015095, year = {2007}, author = {Park, SH and Eom, AH}, title = {Effects of mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi on plant community: a microcosm study.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {186-190}, pmid = {24015095}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {This study was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant community structure in experimental microcosms containing an assemblage of five species of plants (Oenothera odorata, Plantago asiatica, Trifolium repens, Isodon japonicas and Aster yomena). Leaves of Sasa borealis, Potentilla fragarioides, and Viola mandshurica were collected in Chungbuk, Korea. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the surface sterilized leaves and identified to species level using molecular and morphological techniques. Four isolates of the endophytic fungi were inoculated to the leaves of host plants in the microcosms. Also, three species of AMF spores were extracted from pure cultures and the mixture of the three species inoculated to the roots of the plants. After four months of growth in a green house, effects of both symbiotic fungi on plant species diversity, community composition and productivity were examined. The plant species diversity showed significant differences with inoculation of the symbiotic fungi. Results indicate that AMF significantly affect plant productivity and plant community structure.}, } @article {pmid24039475, year = {2006}, author = {Kim, YI and Chang, KJ and Ka, KH and Hur, H and Hong, IP and Shim, JO and Lee, TS and Lee, JY and Lee, MW}, title = {Seed Germination of Gastrodia elata Using Symbiotic Fungi, Mycena osmundicola.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {79-82}, pmid = {24039475}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {The germination rate and longevity of seeds of Gastrodia elata Blume have been observed for 48 weeks using Mycena osmundicola strain H-21, one of fungi stimulating seed germination. Storage condition of post-harvest seeds was observed in the different temperature ranges of -30℃, -5℃, 5℃ and 30℃ for 48 weeks. After storage period of 48 weeks, the germination rate of G. elata was 65.7% at 5℃ and 71.6% at -5℃, respectively. Although the germination rate of G. elata was 77.3% for 11 weeks at 25℃, the germination rate had been decreased gradually to 49.3% at 13 weeks, 0.3% at 23 weeks and then 0% at 25 weeks. The germination rate was reached to the level of 10% for 2 weeks at -30℃ and then decreased to 0%.}, } @article {pmid24039463, year = {2006}, author = {Lee, J and Park, SH and Eom, AH}, title = {Molecular identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores collected in Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {7-13}, pmid = {24039463}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) have mutualistic symbiosis with plants and thus efforts have been placed on application of these symbiotic relationships to agricultural and environmental fields. In this study, AM fungi were collected from 25 sites growing with 16 host plant species in Korea and cultured with Sorghum bicolor in greenhouse condition. AM fungal spores were extracted and identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Using morphological characters, total 15 morpho-speices were identified. DNA was extracted from single spore of AM fungi and a partial region on 18S rDNA was amplified using nested PCR with AM fungal specific primers AML1/AML2. A total of 36 18S rDNA sequences were analyzed for phylogenetic analysis and 15 groups of AM fungi were identified using both morphological and molecular data of spores. Among the species, 4 species, Archaeospora leptoticha, Scutellospora castanea, S. cerradensis, S. weresubiae were described for the first time in Korea and two species in Glomus and a species in Gigaspora were not identified. Morphological and molecular identification of AM fungal spores in this study would help identify AM fungal community colonizing roots.}, } @article {pmid24049474, year = {2005}, author = {Rabie, GH and Aboul-Nasr, MB and Al-Humiany, A}, title = {Increased Salinity Tolerance of Cowpea Plants by Dual Inoculation of an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Glomus clarum and a Nitrogen-fixer Azospirillum brasilense.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {51-60}, pmid = {24049474}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Pot greenhouse experiments were carried out to attempt to increase the salinity tolerance of one of the most popular legume of the world; cowpea; by using dual inoculation of an Am fungus Glomus clarum and a nitrogen-fixer Azospirillum brasilense. The effect of these beneficial microbes, as single- or dual inoculation-treatments, was assessed in sterilized loamy sand soil at five NaCl levels (0.0~7.2 ds/m) in irrigating water. The results of this study revealed that percentage of mycorrhizal infection, plant height, dry weight, nodule number, protein content, nitrogenase and phosphatase activities, as well as nutrient elements N, P, K, Ca, Mg were significantly decreased by increasing salinity level in non-mycorrhized plants in absence of NFB. Plants inoculated with NFB showed higher nodule numbers, protein content, nitrogen concentration and nitrogenase activities than those of non-inoculated at all salinity levels. Mycorrhized plants exhibited better improvement in all measurements than that of non-mycorrhized ones at all salinity levels, especially, in the presence of NFB. The concentration of Na(+) was significantly accumulated in cowpea plants by rising salinity except in shoots of mycorrhizal plants which had K(+)/Na(+) ratios higher than other treatments. This study indicated that dual inoculation with Am fungi and N-fixer Azospirillum can support both needs for N and P, excess of NaCl and will be useful in terms of soil recovery in saline area.}, } @article {pmid24549904, year = {2001}, author = {Killingbeck, K and Whitford, W}, title = {Nutrient resorption in shrubs growing by design, and by default in Chihuahuan Desert arroyos.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {128}, number = {3}, pages = {351-359}, doi = {10.1007/s004420100668}, pmid = {24549904}, issn = {0029-8549}, abstract = {In the northern stretches of the Chihuahuan Desert, the margins of ephemeral stream channels called arroyos support a unique vegetation dominated by a guild of winter-deciduous shrubs. To explore the dynamics of nutrient conservation in this assemblage of arroyo shrubs, we measured nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption efficiency and proficiency in six species of shrubs growing in arroyos in southern New Mexico. Collectively, these six species were no more efficient or proficient at resorbing N and P from senescing leaves than shrubs growing in other environments. Resorption efficiency averaged 53% and 50% for N and P, respectively, and resorption proficiency averaged 0.80% and 0.06% for N and P, respectively. However, resorption varied significantly between species specifically restricted in their distribution to riparian habitats (obligate riparian species), and those that were not. The two obligate riparian species combined (Brickellia laciniata, Chilopsis linearis) were significantly more efficient and proficient at resorbing N than the non-obligate riparian species combined (Fallugia paradoxa, Flourensia cernua, Prosopis glandulosa, Rhus microphylla). Additionally, both Brickellia and Chilopsis were individually significantly more proficient at resorbing N than any of the other four species. The dichotomy in resorption between obligate riparian species and those that were not may have been the result of the interplay between hydrology, geomorphology, and biology. Because arroyos move in space as the movement of water erodes banks and changes channel location, some plants are found along arroyos only because the arroyos have moved to them. These plants (plants growing by default) may be less well adapted to arroyo margins than obligate riparian species (plants growing by design). Significant differences in resorption between obligate and non-obligate riparian species suggested that evolutionary history and habitat specificity may be added to the list of factors known to influence resorption. Selected life history traits of the six species did not appear to be related to any measure of resorption, but leaf surface area, specific leaf mass, and nutrient concentrations in green leaves were all correlated with resorption efficiency or proficiency in one or more species. The only species capable of symbiotic N fixation, Prosopis glandulosa, retained at least 2.3 times more N in its senesced leaves than any other species. Patterns of resorption in arroyo shrubs strongly indicated that efficiency and proficiency are fundamentally different, complementary measures of resorption.}, } @article {pmid24162481, year = {1996}, author = {Endre, G and Kaló, P and Tárczy, MH and Csanádi, G and Kiss, GB}, title = {Reducing the tetraploid non-nodulating alfalfa (Medicago sativa) MnNC-1008(NN) germ plasm to the diploid level.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {93}, number = {7}, pages = {1061-1065}, pmid = {24162481}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {MnNC-1008(NN) (referred to as MN-1008) is a tetraploid alfalfa mutant with two recessive genes (nn 1 and nn 2)conditioning the non-nodulating trait. The tetraploid level (2n=4x=32) of this Medicago sativa germ plasm was reduced to the diploid (2n=2x=16) level using the 4x-2x genetic cross originally described as a workable method for the induction of haploidy in alfalfa by T. E. Bingham. In our experiments more than 7000 emasculated flowers of a single non-nodulating MN-1008 mutant alfalfa plant with purple petals were cross-pollinated with pollen from a single, diploid, yellow-flowered alfalfa plant. Mature seeds from these crosses were collected and germinated, after which the plants were subjected to morphological and cytogenetic analyses as well as to DNA fingerprinting. Out of 26 viable progeny, 6 were hybrid plants, 19 proved to be self-mated derivatives of MN-1008, while one descendant turned out to be a diploid (2n=2x=16), purple flowered, non-nodulating plant denoted as M. sativa DN-1008. This diploid, non-nodulating alfalfa plant can serve as starting material to facilitate the comprehensive morphological, physiological and genetic analysis (gene mapping and cloning) of nodulation in order to learn more about the biology of the symbiotic root nodule development. To produce diploid, nodulating hybrid F1 plants, DN-1008 was crossed with a diploid, yellow-flowered M. sativa ssp. quasifalcata plant. An F2 population segregating the nn 1 and nn 2 genes in a diploid manner, in which the genetic analysis is more simple than in a tetraploid population, can be established by self-mating of the F1 plants.}, } @article {pmid24193492, year = {1996}, author = {Hackstein, JH and Langer, P and Rosenberg, J}, title = {Genetic and evolutionary constraints for the symbiosis between animals and methanogenic bacteria.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {42}, number = {1-2}, pages = {39-56}, pmid = {24193492}, issn = {0167-6369}, abstract = {It has been assumed that the feeding habits of animals predispose the composition of the microbial biota living in their intestinal tracts. Here we show that in arthropods and vertebrates the presence of methanogenic bacteria requires a quality of the host that is under phylogenetic rather than dietary constraint: competence for intestinal methanogenic bacteria is a primitive-shared character among reptiles, birds, and mammals, and a shared-derived trait of millipedes, termites, cockroaches and scarab beetles. The presence of methanogenic bacteria seems to be a prerequisite for the evolution of anatomic specializations of the intestinal tract such as hindguts, caeca or rumina, and it is likely that it also has consequences for the reproductive strategies of the animals.Methanogenic animals contribute to atmospheric methane by their breath and faeces. Because the status as either methane-producer or non-producer is shared by most species belonging to a higher taxonomic unit, it is possible to calculate methane emissions that are characteristic for whole taxa. In combination with ecological field data on the biomass it is possible to arive at estimates concerning the global contributions by animals.The demonstration of a genetic basis for the symbiosis between methanogens and animals will allow new approaches for the reduction of methane emission by domestic animals.}, } @article {pmid24226088, year = {1996}, author = {Pagnocca, FC and Ribeiro, SB and Torkomian, VL and Hebling, MJ and Bueno, OC and Da Silva, OA and Fernandes, JB and Vieira, PC and Da Silva, MF and Ferreira, AG}, title = {Toxicity of lignans to symbiotic fungus of leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {1325-1330}, pmid = {24226088}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Lignans fromVirola sebifera Aubl.,Virola sp., andOtoba parvifolia (Mkfg.) A. Gentry (Myristicaceae) inhibited the in vitro growth of the fungus cultivated by leaf-cutting ants of the speciesAtta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). A comparison of activity among the lignans was obtained.}, } @article {pmid24415166, year = {1996}, author = {Muñoz, JA and Palomares, AJ and Ratet, P}, title = {Plant genes induced in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {189-202}, pmid = {24415166}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium and Azorhizobium can elicit the formation of N2-fixing nodules on the roots or stems of their leguminous host plants. The nodule formation involves several developmental steps determined by different sets of genes from both partners, the gene expression being temporally and spatially coordinated. The plant proteins that are specifically synthesised during the formation and function of the nodule are called nodulins. The nodulins that are expressed before the onset of N2 fixation are termed early nodulins. These proteins are probably involved in the infection process as well as in nodule morphogenesis rather than in nodule function. The nodulins expressed just before or during N2 fixation are termed late nodulins and they participate in the function of the nodule by creating the physiological conditions required for nitrogen fixation, ammonium assimilation and transport. In this review we will describe nodulins, nodulin genes and the relationship between nodulin gene expression and nodule development. The study of nodulin gene expression may provide insight into root-nodule development and the mechanism of communication between bacteria and host plant.}, } @article {pmid24415165, year = {1996}, author = {Buffard, D and Esnault, R and Kondorosi, A}, title = {Role of plant defence in alfalfa during symbiosis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {175-188}, pmid = {24415165}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {During effective symbiosis, rhizobia colonize their hosts, and avoid plant defence mechanisms. To determine whether the host defence responses can be elicited by the symbiotic bacteria, specific markers involved in incompatible pathogenic interactions are required. The available markers of alfalfa defence mechanisms are described and their use in the study of the symbiotic interaction discussed. As defence-related gene expression in roots is not always related to defence mechanisms, other model systems have been established allowing confirmation of an important role of bacterial surface components in alfalfa-Rhizobium meliloti interactions. Nod factors at high concentrations have been shown to elicit defence-like responses in Medicago cell suspensions and roots. Elicitation of defence mechanisms by high levels of Nod factors in Rhizobium-infected roots may be a part of the mechanism by which nodulation is feed-back regulated.}, } @article {pmid24415163, year = {1996}, author = {Toro, A}, title = {Nodulation competitiveness in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {157-162}, pmid = {24415163}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Successful nodulation of legumes by rhizobia is a complex process that, in the open field, depends on many different environmental factors. Generally, legume productivity in an agricultural field may be improved by inoculation with selected highly effective N2-fixing root nodule bacteria. However, field legume inoculation with Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium spp. has often been unsuccessful because of the presence in the soil of native strains that compete with the introduced strain in nodule formation on the host plants. This ability to dominate nodulation is termed 'competitiveness' and is critical for the successful use of inoculants.}, } @article {pmid24415162, year = {1996}, author = {Giblin, L and Archdeacon, J and O'Gara, F}, title = {Regulation of dct genes in the Rhizobium meliloti-alfalfa interaction.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {151-156}, pmid = {24415162}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {In order to support symbiotic N2 fixation, Rhizobium meliloti must be able to utilize the C4-dicarboxylic acids provided by its legume host, alfalfa. These compounds are taken up via a single transport protein, DctA. Transcription from the dctA promoter is positively regulated by the DctB/DctD two-component system. In response to dicarboxylic acids, the transmembrane sensor DctB, activates the transcriptional activator DctD, which together with σ(54) holoenzyme initiates transcription of dctA. In bacteroids an alternative mode of activation has also been implicated in dctA expression and the exact nature of this system remains to be elucidated. Evidence also suggests that expression of the dctA promoter can be influenced negatively by other DNA regulatory proteins.}, } @article {pmid24415161, year = {1996}, author = {Schultze, M and Kondorosi, A}, title = {The role of Nod signal structures in the determination of host specificity in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {137-149}, pmid = {24415161}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {During the past five years the structure of nodulation signals from more than a dozen different Rhizobium species has been elucidated. In addition, the role of numerous nod genes in the biosynthesis of the lipooligosaccharides has been identified. This review discusses how Nod signal structure is determined by the specificity of the various biosynthetic steps and how this influences variation in host specificity. Until recently, it appeared that the decorations of a common lipochitooligosaccharide core determine the host-specific recognition of the signals, possibly via specific receptors in the host plant cell. A number of recent publications, however, suggest that beyond the interaction of Nod signals with a putative receptor, certain structural features of Nod factors are involved in controlling the concentration of the signals during their uptake by the root tissue.}, } @article {pmid24415160, year = {1996}, author = {Coronado, C and Sánchez-Andújar, B and Palomares, AJ}, title = {Rhizobium extracellular structures in the symbiosis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {127-136}, pmid = {24415160}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {The extracellular and surface polysaccharides produced by Rhizobium species constitute a composite macromolecular interface between the bacterial cell and its environment. Several of these polysaccharides are involved in the complex series of interactions leading to the establishment of an effective Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Extracellular heteropolysaccharides (EPSs) are found in culture supernatants, while capsular polysaccharides adhere to the cell surface. Cyclic (1-2)-β-d glucan is a periplasmic oligosaccharide that has also been found in the culture supernatants of some strains. The lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), which form part of the outer membrane and contain the O-somatic antigens, comprise the other major group of extracellular polysaccharides. In this review we will describe the major Rhizobium extracellular structures and their role in symbiosis with leguminous plants.}, } @article {pmid24415159, year = {1996}, author = {García-de Los Santos, A and Brom, S and Romero, D}, title = {Rhizobium plasmids in bacteria-legume interactions.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {119-125}, pmid = {24415159}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {The functional analysis of plasmids in Rhizobium strains has concentrated mainly on the symbiotic plasmid (pSym). However, genetic information relevant to both symbiotic and saprophytic Rhizobium life cycles, localized on other 'cryptic' replicons, has also been reported. Information is reviewed which concerns functional features encoded in plasmids other than the pSym: biosynthesis of cell surface polysaccharides, metabolic processes, the utilization of plant exudates, aromatic compounds and diverse sugars, and features involved symbiotic performance. In addition, factors which affect plasmid evolution through their influence on structural features of the plasmids, such as conjugative transfer and genomic rearrangements, is discussed. Based on the overall data, we propose that together the plasmids and the chromosome constitute a fully integrated genomic complex, entailing structural features as well as saprophytic and cellular functions.}, } @article {pmid24234876, year = {1996}, author = {Hulpke, H}, title = {Sustainable development : Symbiosis of environmental science, economics and social sciences.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {1-2}, doi = {10.1007/BF02986802}, pmid = {24234876}, issn = {0944-1344}, } @article {pmid24415085, year = {1996}, author = {Lotti, F and Giovannetti, L and Margheri, MC and Ventura, S and Materassi, R}, title = {Diversity of DNA methylation pattern and total DNA restriction pattern in symbiotic Nostoc.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {38-42}, pmid = {24415085}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Attempts were made to use total DNA restriction patterns and the response of purified DNA to treatment with restriction endonucleases to characterize several symbiotic Nostoc strains which had been isolated from different host plants cultivated in Italy. Among 27 restriction endonucleases tested, several did not cut any DNA and no significant variation in the susceptibility of the genomes to DNA restriction was seen among the strains. Therefore the Nostoc strains could not be separated into groups based on their different susceptibilities to the action of restriction endonucleases. However, in studies of total DNA restriction patterns, the restriction endonucleases BfrI and HpaI gave unique band patterns for each cyanobacterial isolate. Different profiles were even found in strains isolated from host plants belonging to the same species. The results do not support any definition of symbiotic Nostoc genomic groups or species and show that a tight specificity between the host plant and the cyanobacterium might not exist in the symbiotic associations involving Nostoc.}, } @article {pmid24178347, year = {1996}, author = {Chabaud, M and Larsonneau, C and Marmouget, C and Huguet, T}, title = {Transformation of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and regeneration via somatic embryogenesis of transgenic plants with the MtENOD12 nodulin promoter fused to the gus reporter gene.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {305-310}, pmid = {24178347}, issn = {0721-7714}, abstract = {Fertile and stable transgenic plants of the model legume Medicago truncatula Gaertn. were obtained through transformation of leaf tissue with the disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 and in vitro regeneration via somatic embryogenesis. An optimised transformation/regeneration protocol has been established for two genotypes of the cultivar Jemalong, including a previously described highly embryogenic line (Nolan et al. 1989, Plant Cell Rep. 8: 278-281). Using this protocol, transgenic plantlets were obtained within 4-10 months following cocultivation with Agrobacterium. We have introduced into M. truncatula a chimeric fusion between the early nodulin MtENOD12 promoter and the gus (β-glucuronidase) reporter gene, and shown that symbiosis-specific gene expression can be elicited in the roots of such transgenic plants following the addition of purified Rhizobium nodulation factors.}, } @article {pmid24169885, year = {1995}, author = {Van Coppenolle, B and McCouch, SR and Watanabe, I and Huang, N and Van Hove, C}, title = {Genetic diversity and phylogeny analysis of Anabaena azollae based on RFLPs detected in Azolla-Anabaena azollae DNA complexes using nif gene probes.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {91}, number = {4}, pages = {589-597}, pmid = {24169885}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {The cyanobacterium Anabaena has both symbiotic and free-living forms. The genetic diversity of Anabaena strains symbiotically associated with the aquatic fern Azolla and the evolutionary relationships among these symbionts were evaluated by means of RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) experiments. Three DNA fragments corresponding to nif genes were cloned from the free-living cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120 and used as probes. A mixture of Azolla, Anabaena and bacterial DNA was extracted from Azolla fronds and digested with two restriction enzymes. Single-copy RFLP signals were detected with two of the probes in all Azolla Anabaena examined. Multiple-copy RFLP signals were obtained from the third probe which corresponded to a part of the nif N gene. A total of 46 probe/enzyme combinations were scored as present or absent and used to calculate pairwise Nei's genetic distances among symbiotic Anaebaena strains. Phylogenetic trees summarizing phenetic and cladistic relationships among strains were generated according to three different evolutionary scenarios: parsimony, UPGMA and neighbour joining. All trees revealed identical phylogenetic relationships. Principal component analysis was also used to evaluate genetic similarities and revealed three groups: group one contains the cyanobacteria associated with plants from the Azolla section, group two contains those associated with plants from the pinnata species and group three contains those associated with plants from the nilotica species. The same groups had already been identified earlier in a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of Azolla-Anbaena DNA complexes, suggesting that the present Azolla taxonomy should be revised. We now suggest a taxonomy of Anabaena azollae that is parallel to such a revised Azolla taxonomy. An Azolla chloroplast DNA sequence derived from Oryza sativa was also used as an RFLP probe on Azolla DNA to confirm the presence of plant DNA in the total genomic DNA extracted from ferns with or without the symbiont. Our results also suggest that total DNA extracted from the Azolla-Anabaena complexes includes both plant and symbiont DNA and can be used equally well for RFLP analysis of host plant or symbiotic cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid24186633, year = {1995}, author = {Mathur, N and Vyas, A}, title = {In vitro production of Glomus deserticola in association with Ziziphus nummularia.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {14}, number = {11}, pages = {735-737}, pmid = {24186633}, issn = {0721-7714}, abstract = {Glomus deserticola Trappe, Bloss & Menge, one of the most commonly occuring VAM fungi of arid and semiarid regions, was cultured and multiplied in root organ cultures of Ziziphus nummularia under in vitro conditions. The In vitro produced VAM fungi established efficient symbiosis with in vitro raised plantlets of Z. nummularia. This VAM strain improved the biomass production, nutrient uptake, and acclimatization of the in vitro produced plantlets of Z. nummularia in pots under green house conditions.}, } @article {pmid24233563, year = {1995}, author = {Brooks, WR and Ceperley, L and Pittschof, D}, title = {Disturbance and reattachment behavior of sea anemonesCalliactis tricolor (Le Sueur): Temporal, textural and chemical mediation.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {1-12}, pmid = {24233563}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Two hermit crabs,Dardanus venosus (Milne-Edwards) andPagurus pollicaris Say, have evolved mutualistic symbiotic relationships with sea anemones,Calliactis tricolor (Le Sueur). Anemones live on gastropod shells occupied by the crabs. Both partners are thought to participate in the transfer of the anemone to the crab's shell. However, neither species invariably exhibits transfer behavior when in contact with the other symbiont. Factors influencing transfer activity ofC. tricolor were studied. Anemone attachment is stimulated by disturbance and is time dependent. Anemones attached to shells more frequently immediately after the anemone was disturbed. Assays testing surface texture and surface composition showed that attachment activity of the sea anemone is dependent upon the organic matrix of the shell and is enhanced by texture. Attachment by anemones to shells with organic matrix removed is reduced, but is stimulated by adsorption of complex odor mixtures. Anemones respond to odor mixtures that signal food to crabs and to odor mixtures that stimulate shell investigation and shell switching in crabs. Thus,C. tricolor participates in shell transfer activity after disturbance. Behavior of the anemone is cued by texture and chemicals, including chemical mixtures that cause hermit crabs to change shells.}, } @article {pmid24421202, year = {1994}, author = {Sarkar, A and Upadhyay, SN}, title = {Purification and properties of cellulase from Micrococcus roseus.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {709-710}, pmid = {24421202}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {The extracellular carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) was purified 17-fold from Micrococcus roseus, a symbiotic organism of higher termites. Purified CMCase had an M r of 45 kDa and was optimally active at pH 8.0 and 40°C. Carbohydrate was associated with it and cellobiose was a competitive inhibitor of its activity.}, } @article {pmid24241831, year = {1994}, author = {Paine, TD and Hanlon, CC}, title = {Influence of oleoresin constituents fromPinus ponderosa andPinus jeffreyi on growth of mycangial fungi fromDendroctonus ponderosae andDendroctonus jeffreyi.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {20}, number = {10}, pages = {2551-2563}, pmid = {24241831}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Dendroctonus jeffreyi andD. ponderosae are morphologically similar sympatric species of pine bark beetles over portions of their geographic ranges; however,D. jeffreyi is monophagous onP. jeffreyi whileD. ponderosae is highly polyphagous. Both species carry a species of mycangial fungi that are also very similar in appearance. Growth of the two mycangial fungi and of the fungusLeptographium terebrantis (associated with the polyphagous and non-tree-killingDendroctonus valens) in the presence of oleoresin constituents of host and nonhost conifers was tested by placing individual chemicals on agar growth medium and by growing the cultures in saturated atmospheres of the chemicals. The fungus associated withD. jeffreyi showed greater tolerance for chemical constituents placed on the growth medium than the other two fungi, and growth after three days was enhanced by heptane, the dominant constituent ofP. jeffreyi oleoresin. Growth of all three species of fungi was reduced by the resin constituents when the chemicals were presented as saturated atmospheres. The results suggest that the influence of the tree on growth of the symbiotic fungi of the bark beetles during the initial attack process may be different than after colonization by the beetles is complete. The difference in the responses of the apparently related species of mycangial fungi may provide some new insight into the evolutionary history of these beetle/mycangial fungus/host tree systems.}, } @article {pmid24421016, year = {1994}, author = {Singh, V and Goyle, MR and Srivastava, AK and Talpasayi, ER}, title = {Isolation of a symbiotic cyanobacterium, Nostoc cycadae, and its nitrogen metabolism.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {299-302}, pmid = {24421016}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Nostoc cycadae isolated from the host Cycas revoluta grew well in medium devoid of combined nitrogen but maximum growth was in medium containing nitrate (4.1 μg chlorophyll a ml(-1)). Aerated coralloid roots in the dark produced more NH3 when treated with L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine (MSO), an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase. With cultured N. cycadae and freshly isolated N. cycadae, NH3 production was enhanced by adding a host-tissue extract in the light or in the dark, whereas it was decreased by adding MSO. Nitrogenase activity was four times higher in coralloid root than in the cultured endophyte N. cycadae. The host-tissue extract may inhibit NH3 assimilatory pathways, thus inducing production of NH3 that can be utilized by the host itself.}, } @article {pmid24190165, year = {1994}, author = {Purcell, AH and Suslow, KG and Klein, M}, title = {Transmission via plants of an insect pathogenic bacterium that does not multiply or move in plants.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {19-26}, pmid = {24190165}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {A bacterial parasite (designated as BEV) of the leafhopper Euscelidius variegatus, which is passed transovarially to offspring, was transmitted from insect to insect via feeding of the insects in plants. The rate of bacterial infection of leafhoppers fed upon plants that had previously been exposed to BEV-infected leafhoppers declined with an increase in the time that infected leafhoppers had been off rye grass. Transmission of BEV also occurred on sugar beet and barley but not celery. The bacterium was also transmitted to and acquired from membrane-encased artificial diets. There was no evidence that the bacterium was transmitted via plant surfaces, but transmission and direct culture assays from plants indicated that the bacterium did not multiply or move within plants. This parasite-host relationship may represent a primitive stage in either the evolution of intracellular symbiosis with its insect host or to alternative parasitization of plant and insect hosts via insect transmission, as is the case for insect-vectored plant pathogens.}, } @article {pmid24420111, year = {1993}, author = {Megías, M and Folch, JL and Sousa, C}, title = {Control of the expression of bacterial genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {444-454}, pmid = {24420111}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Several genera of N2-fixing bacteria establish symbiotic associations with plants. Among these, the genus Rhizobium has the most significant contribution, in terms of yield, in many important crop plants. The establishment of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis is a very complex process involving many genes which need to be co-ordinately regulated. In the first instance, plant signal molecules, known to be flavonoids, trigger the expression of host-specific genes in the bacterial partner through the action of the regulatory NodD protein. In response to these signals, Rhizobium bacteria synthesize lipo-oligosaccharide molecules which in turn cause cell differentiation and nodule development. Once the nodule has formed, Rhizobium cells differentiate into bacteroids and another set of genes is activated. These genes, designated nif and fix, are responsible for N2 fixation. In this system, several regulatory proteins are involved in a complex manner, the most important being NifA and a two component (FixK and FixL) regulatory system. Our knowledge about the establishment of these symbioses has advanced recently, although there are many questions yet to be solved.}, } @article {pmid24408830, year = {1992}, author = {Hill, DJ}, title = {An overlooked symbiosis.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {339-340}, pmid = {24408830}, issn = {0166-8595}, } @article {pmid24425602, year = {1992}, author = {Mariño, GB and Boiardi, JL}, title = {Role of bean lectins inRhizobium phaseoli-Phaseolus vulgaris interactions. Some properties of lectins from two bean cultivars.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {573-578}, pmid = {24425602}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Lectins from twoPhaseolus vulgaris L. cultivars were isolated and purified by salt fractionation, affinity chromatography and gel permeation chromatography. The cultivars used were: 'alubia', with a low-nodulating ability, and Bat 76 with a good symbiotic aptitude. Differences in properties of the two lectins were noted: 'alubia' lectin gave only one peak with haemagglutinating activity following gel permeation chromatography while Bat 76 yielded two active peaks, although both lectins had several bands of about 30 kDa following gel electrophoresis, Bat 76 lecting had three bands of about 50 kDa which were not present in 'alubia' and red kidney bean lectins. Peptide-mapping, by limited proteolysis and two dimensional gel electrophoresis, also showed differences between the lectins which are therefore judged to be different.}, } @article {pmid24254785, year = {1992}, author = {Wetzel, JM and Ohnishi, M and Fujita, T and Nakanishi, K and Naya, Y and Noda, H and Sugiura, M}, title = {Diversity in steroidogenesis of symbiotic microorganisms from planthoppers.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {18}, number = {11}, pages = {2083-2094}, pmid = {24254785}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Ergosta-5,7,24(28)-trien-3β-ol (trienol)6 was isolated from the intracellular symbiotes (symbiotic microorganisms) of the planthoppers,Nilaparvata lugens andLaodelphax striatellus. The steroidogenic end product of the symbiotes was found to depend on the environmental conditions, i.e., although trienol6 was produced under symbiotic conditions, ergosterol4 was formed in aerobic culture. When the normal diet was replaced by a steroiddeficient artificial one, the ratio of 24-methylenecholesterol5 to total insect sterols was significantly increased. The above study offers further corroborating evidence for our assumption that the host insects require 24-methylenecholesterol5 as an alternate source for cholesterol1 under certain environmental conditions. In our previous biotransformation experiments, 24methylenecholesterol5 was shown to be an immediate precursor of cholesterol1. However, the complexity of the insects' vital functions hindered all subsequent attempted transformations into cholesterol1 of sitosterol2, trienol6, and ergosterol4, under injection conditions.}, } @article {pmid24197328, year = {1992}, author = {An, ZQ and Liu, JS and Siegel, MR and Bunge, G and Schardl, CL}, title = {Diversity and origins of endophytic fungal symbionts of the North American grass Festuca arizonica.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {85}, number = {2-3}, pages = {366-371}, pmid = {24197328}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {Acremonium spp. endophytes are mutualistic fungal symbionts of many C3 grasses. They are anamorphs of Epichloë typhina (Clavicipitaceae) that have become strictly seedborne, heritable components of symbiotic units ("symbiota"). In order to test the possibility that endophytes may contribute to the genetic diversity of symbiota, a survey was conducted of plants from nine populations of Festuca arizonica in the southern Rocky Mountains. Sequence analysis of rRNA gene segments distinguished three Acremonium endophyte types. Parsimony analysis indicated at least two distinct evolutionary origins of the Acremonium endophytes from E. typhina. Either or both of these evolutionary lineages may have involved cospeciation with the host.}, } @article {pmid24193210, year = {1992}, author = {Polz, MF and Felbeck, H and Novak, R and Nebelsick, M and Ott, JA}, title = {Chemoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing symbiotic bacteria on marine nematodes: Morphological and biochemical characterization.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {313-329}, pmid = {24193210}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {The marine, free-living Stilbonematinae (Nematoda: Desmodorida) inhabit the oxygen sulfide chemocline in marine sands. They are characterized by an association with ectosymbiotic bacteria. According to their ultrastructure the bacteria are Gram-negative and form morphologically uniform coats that cover the entire body surface of the worms. They are arranged in host-genus or host-species specific patterns: cocci form multilayered sheaths, rods, and crescent- or filament-shaped bacteria form monolayers. The detection of enzymes associated with sulfur metabolism and of ribulose-1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, as well as elemental sulfur in the bacteria indicate a chemolithoautotrophic nature of the symbionts. Their reproductive patterns appear to optimize space utilization on the host surface: vertically standing rods divide by longitudinal fission, whereas other bacteria form non-septate filaments of up to 100 μm length.}, } @article {pmid24178331, year = {1992}, author = {Johansson, C and Bergman, B}, title = {Early events during the establishment of the Gunnera/Nostoc symbiosis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {188}, number = {3}, pages = {403-413}, pmid = {24178331}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The symbiosis between Gunnera and Nostoc was reconstituted using G. chilensis Lam. and G. manicata Linden, respectively, and three different Nostoc strains. Six stages characterised by specific modifications in both the cyanobiont and the host were recognised during the infection process. Mucilage-secreting stem glands developed on the Gunnera stems independent of the presence of cyanobacteria (Stage I). Soon after addition of the Nostoc isolates to the plant apices, an abundant differentiation of motile hormogonia commenced. The cyanobacteria accumulated in the mucilage on the surface of the gland (Stage II), and the hormogonia then proceeded into the stem tissue through intercellular channels (Stage III). At the channel bases, Nostoc was detected between the cell walls of small, densely cytoplasmic Gunnera cells and also in elaborate folds of these (Stage IV). The Gunnera cell walls subsequently dissolved adjacent to the cyanobacteria and Nostoc entered the host cells (Stage V). Once the intracellular association was formed, a high proportion of the vegetative Nostoc cells differentiated into heterocysts (Stage VI). Nostoc changed from being rich in inclusions (particularly cyanophycin) while on the gland surface into a comparatively "non-storing" form during penetration and the early intracellular stages. Bacteria were numerous on the gland surface, fewer in the channels, and were never detected within the Gunnera cells, indicating the existence of specific recognition mechanisms discriminating between conceivable microsymbionts. Mechanisms behind mutual adaptations and interactions between the two symbionts are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24425570, year = {1992}, author = {Sharma, A and Mishra, DP and Kumar, A}, title = {Characterization of a symbiotic, heterocystous, N2-fixing cyanobacterium fromCycas coralloid roots.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {529-531}, pmid = {24425570}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {A symbiotic, heterocystous, N2-fixing blue-green alga, isolated from the coralloid roots of a xerophytic plant,Cycas revoluta, grew best in liquid medium supplemented with 4 mM NO 3 (-) . Morphologically, the isolated alga was identical to that of the natural endophyte but the cell size had decreased markedly. The alga was heterotrophic. Intact coralloid roots had nearly 4 to 5 times more nitrogenase activity compared with natural- and laboratory-grown agla but nitrate reductase was inducible in both the forms. Plasmid(s) were found in both algal forms.}, } @article {pmid24408574, year = {1992}, author = {Gogarten, JP and Taiz, L}, title = {Evolution of proton pumping ATPases: Rooting the tree of life.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {137-146}, pmid = {24408574}, issn = {0166-8595}, abstract = {Proton pumping ATPases are found in all groups of present day organisms. The F-ATPases of eubacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts also function as ATP synthases, i.e., they catalyze the final step that transforms the energy available from reduction/oxidation reactions (e.g., in photosynthesis) into ATP, the usual energy currency of modern cells. The primary structure of these ATPases/ATP synthases was found to be much more conserved between different groups of bacteria than other parts of the photosynthetic machinery, e.g., reaction center proteins and redox carrier complexes.These F-ATPases and the vacuolar type ATPase, which is found on many of the endomembranes of eukaryotic cells, were shown to be homologous to each other; i.e., these two groups of ATPases evolved from the same enzyme present in the common ancestor. (The term eubacteria is used here to denote the phylogenetic group containing all bacteria except the archaebacteria.) Sequences obtained for the plasmamembrane ATPase of various archaebacteria revealed that this ATPase is much more similar to the eukaryotic than to the eubacterial counterpart. The eukaryotic cell of higher organisms evolved from a symbiosis between eubacteria (that evolved into mitochondria and chloroplasts) and a host organism. Using the vacuolar type ATPase as a molecular marker for the cytoplasmic component of the eukaryotic cell reveals that this host organism was a close relative of the archaebacteria.A unique feature of the evolution of the ATPases is the presence of a non-catalytic subunit that is paralogous to the catalytic subunit, i.e., the two types of subunits evolved from a common ancestral gene. Since the gene duplication that gave rise to these two types of subunits had already occurred in the last common ancestor of all living organisms, this non-catalytic subunit can be used to root the tree of life by means of an outgroup; that is, the location of the last common ancestor of the major domains of living organisms (archaebacteria, eubacteria and eukaryotes) can be located in the tree of life without assuming constant or equal rates of change in the different branches.A correlation between structure and function of ATPases has been established for present day organisms. Implications resulting from this correlation for biochemical pathways, especially photosynthesis, that were operative in the last common ancestor and preceding life forms are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24201350, year = {1992}, author = {Caetano-Anollés, G and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Plant genetic suppression of the non-nodulation phenotype of Rhizobium meliloti host-range nodH mutants: gene-for-gene interaction in the alfalfa-Rhizobium symbiosis?.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {84}, number = {5-6}, pages = {624-632}, pmid = {24201350}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {Rhizobium nodulation genes can produce active extracellular signals for legume nodulation. The R. meliloti host-range nodH gene has been postulated to mediate the transfer of a sulfate to a modified lipo-oligosaccharide, which in its sulfated form is a specific nodulation factor for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). We found that alfalfa was capable of effective nodulation with signal-defective and non-nodulating nodH mutants (Nnr) defining a novel gene-for-gene interaction that conditions nodulation. Bacteria-free nodules that formed spontaneously at about a 3-5% rate in unselected seed populations of alfalfa cv 'Vernal' in the total absence of Rhizobium (Nar) exhibited all the histological, regulatory and ontogenetic characteristics of alfalfa nodules. Inoculation of such populations with nodH mutants, but not with nodA or nodC mutants, produced a four- to five-fold increase in the percentage of nodulated plants. Some 10-25% of these nodulated plants formed normal pink nitrogen-fixing nodules instead of white empty nodules. About 70% of the S1 progeny of such Nnr(+) plants retained the parental phenotype; these plants were also able to form nodules in the absence of Rhizobium. If selected Nar(+) plants were self-pollinated almost the entire progeny exhibited the parental Nar(+) phenotype. Segregation analysis of S1 and S2 progeny from selected Nar(+) plants suggests that the Nar character is monogenic dominant and that the nodulation phenotype is controlled by a gene dose effect. The inoculation of different S1 Nar(+) progeny with nodH mutant bacteria gave only empty non-fixing nodules. Our results indicate that certain alfalfa genotypes can be selected for suppression of the non-nodulation phenotype of nodH mutants. The fact that the Nnr plant phenotype behaved as a dominant genetic trait and that it directly correlated with the ability of the selected plants to form nodules in the absence of Rhizobium suggests that the interaction of plant and bacterial alleles occurs early during signal transduction through the alteration of a signal reception component of the plant so that it responds to putative signal precursors.}, } @article {pmid24178209, year = {1992}, author = {Guttenberger, M and Hampp, R}, title = {Ectomycorrhizins - symbiosis-specific or artitactual polypeptides from ectomycorrhizas?.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {188}, number = {1}, pages = {129-136}, pmid = {24178209}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Fungal mycelium of the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria [L. ex Fr.] Hooker), and inoculated or noninoculated seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) were grown aseptically under controlled conditions. In order to detect symbiosis-specific polypeptides ('ectomycorrhizins', see Hubert and Martin, 1988, New Phytol. 110, 339-346) the protein patterns of (i) fungal mycelium, (ii) mycorrhizal, and (iii) non-mycorrhizal root tips were compared by means of one- and twodimensional electrophoresis on a microscale. Because of the sensitivity of these micromethods (50 and 200 ng of protein, respectively), single mycorrhizal root tips and even the minute quantities of extramatrical mycelium growing between the roots of inoculated plants could be analysed. Differences in the protein patterns of root tips could be shown within the root system of an individual plant (mycorrhizal as well as non-mycorrhizal). In addition, the protein pattern of fungal mycelium grown on a complex medium (malt extract and casein hydrolysate) differed from that of extramatrical mycelium collected from the mycorrhiza culture (pure mineral medium). Such differences in protein patterns are obviously due to the composition of the media and/or different developmental stages. Consequently, conventional analyses which use extracts of a large number of root tips, are not suitable for differentiating between these effects and symbiosis-specific differences in protein patterns. In order to detect ectomycorrhizins, it is suggested that roots and mycelium from individual, inoculated plants should be analysed. This approach eliminates the influence of differing media, and at the same time allows a correct discrimination between developmental and symbiosisspecific changes. In our gels we could only detect changes in spot intensity but could not detect any ectomycorrhizins or the phenomenon of polypeptide 'cleansing', which both characterize the Eucalyptus-Pisolithus symbiosis (Martin and Hubert, 1991, Experientia 47, 321-331). We thus suggest that these reported effects either are specific for the Eucalyptus-Pisolithus symbiosis or simply represent artifacts. The latter point of view is strengthened by a comparison of the experimental approaches.}, } @article {pmid24241779, year = {1992}, author = {Haustein, J and Schürgers, G}, title = {Therapy with male pathological gamblers: Between self help group and group therapy-Report of a developmental process.}, journal = {Journal of gambling studies}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {131-142}, doi = {10.1007/BF01014631}, pmid = {24241779}, issn = {1050-5350}, abstract = {A therapy project was developed for pathological gambling patients and, within a three year period, more than 60 gamblers were studied and treated. Diagnostic evaluation was made according to DSM-III. In addition to individual and family therapy, we designed a voluntary group setting. In this report, we concentrate first on the development of group work, then on some psychodynamic hypotheses about the personality of the gambler. We also try to show the correspondence between these hypotheses and the group process. Pathological gambling is seen as an attempt at self-healing and a strategy of conflict-solving; the slot machine, as an inanimate object, offers a temporary symbiosis with clear limitations; the gambling will come to a guaranteed end, either when all of the money is lost, or when gaming ends at night. Finally, we list some recommendations for the treatment of gamblers in group therapy.}, } @article {pmid24178068, year = {1992}, author = {Staehelin, C and Müller, J and Mellor, RB and Wiemken, A and Boller, T}, title = {Chitinase and peroxidase in effective (fix(+)) and ineffective (fix (-)) soybean nodules.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {187}, number = {3}, pages = {295-300}, pmid = {24178068}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Chitinase and peroxidase, two enzymes thought to be involved in the defense of plants against pathogens, were measured in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) roots and in nodules colonized by Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains differing in their symbiotic potential. Activities of both enzymes were higher in nodules than in roots. In "effective", nitrogen-fixing nodules, colonized by wild-type bacteria, chitinase and peroxidase activities had low levels in the central infected zone and were enhanced primarily in the nodule cortex. An ascorbate-specific peroxidase, possibly involved in radical scavenging, had similarly high activities in the infected zone and in the cortex. "Ineffective" nodules colonized by bacteria unable to fix nitrogen symbiotically showed a similar distribution of chitinase and peroxidase. In another type of "ineffective" nodule, colonized by a B. japonicum strain eliciting a hypersensitive response, activities of both enzymes were enhanced to a similar degree in the infected zone as well as in the cortex. Tissue prints using a direct assay for peroxidase and an antiserum against bean chitinase corroborated these results. The antiserum against bean chitinase cross-reacted with a nodule protein of Mr 32 000; it inhibited most of the chitinase activity in the nodules but barely affected the chitinase in uninfected roots. It is concluded that proteins characteristic of the defense reaction accumulate in the cortex of nodules independently of their ability to fix nitrogen, and in the entire body of hypersensitively reacting nodules.}, } @article {pmid24425410, year = {1992}, author = {Zhang, X and Karsisto, M and Lindström, K}, title = {Assessment of the competitiveness of fast-growing rhizobia infectingAcacia senegal using antibiotic resistance and melanin production as identification markers.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {199-205}, pmid = {24425410}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {The competitiveness of fourRhizobium sp. strains infectingAcacia senegal and originating in the Sudan was assessed in a growth chamber experiment using Sudanese soil, WhenAcacia senegal was inoculated with pure cultures of the strains, there were statistically significant differences among the strains with respect to the numbers of nodules formed, the amount of dry matter produced and acetylene reduction activity. However, the best strain when applied as a pure culture, was only the second best as a competitor. Two strains with inferior symbiotic capabilities were also bad competitors but nevertheless reduced the yields of the plants when they were applied as inocula mixed with the better strains. The bacterial markers used to assess nodule occupancy were resistance to streptomycin or spectinomycin. Two of the strains formed the dark-brown pigment melanin. Melanin production was a stable characeristic, well suited to serve as an intrinsic identification marker when assessing the competitiveness of melanin-producing versus non-producing strains in controlled conditions.}, } @article {pmid24425403, year = {1992}, author = {Okereke, GU and Unaegbu, D}, title = {Nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation of 80 soybean cultivars in symbiosis with indigenous rhizobia.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {171-174}, doi = {10.1007/BF01195841}, pmid = {24425403}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Eighty soybean cultivars were assessed for their potential for nodulation and nitrogen fixation with indigenous rhizobia in a Nigerian soil. Seventy-six days after planting (DAP) 87%, 3% and 10% of the soybean cultivars had from 0 to 30, 31 to 60 and over 61 nodules/plant, respectively. Only 8% had a nodule dry weight of 600 to 1100 mg/plant. At 84 DAP the proportion of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) ranged from 0 to 65% 16% of the cultivars derived 51 to 65% of their N2 from the atmosphere. The diversity of soybean germplasm and the variation in nodulation and N2 fixation permitted the selection of the five best cultivars in terms of their compatibility with indigenous rhizobia, % Ndfa and the amount of N2 which they fixed.}, } @article {pmid24178210, year = {1992}, author = {Guttenberger, M and Hampp, R}, title = {Ectomycorrhizins - symbiosis-specific or artifactual polypeptides from ectomycorrhizas?.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {188}, number = {1}, pages = {129-136}, pmid = {24178210}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Fungal mycelium of the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria [L. ex Fr.] Hooker), and inoculated or noninoculated seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) were grown aseptically under controlled conditions. In order to detect symbiosis-specific polypeptides ('ectomycorrhizins', see Hubert and Martin, 1988, New Phytol.110, 339-346) the protein patterns of (i) fungal mycelium, (ii) mycorrhizal, and (iii) non-mycorrhizal root tips were compared by means of one- and twodimensional electrophoresis on a microscale. Because of the sensitivity of these micromethods (50 and 200 ng of protein, respectively), single mycorrhizal root tips and even the minute quantities of extramatrical mycelium growing between the roots of inoculated plants could be analysed. Differences in the protein patterns of root tips could be shown within the root system of an individual plant (mycorrhizal as well as non-mycorrhizal). In addition, the protein pattern of fungal mycelium grown on a complex medium (malt extract and casein hydrolysate) differed from that of extramatrical mycelium collected from the mycorrhiza culture (pure mineral medium). Such differences in protein patterns are obviously due to the composition of the media and/or different developmental stages. Consequently, conventional analyses which use extracts of a large number of root tips, are not suitable for differentiating between these effects and symbiosis-specific differences in protein patterns. In order to detect ectomycorrhizins, it is suggested that roots and mycelium from individual, inoculated plants should be analysed. This approach eliminates the influence of differing media, and at the same time allows a correct discrimination between developmental and symbiosisspecific changes. In our gels we could only detect changes in spot intensity but could not detect any ectomycorrhizins or the phenomenon of polypeptide 'cleansing', which both characterize theEucalyptus-Pisolithus symbiosis (Martin and Hubert, 1991, Experientia47, 321-331). We thus suggest that these reported effects either are specific for theEucalyptus-Pisolithus symbiosis or simply represent artifacts. The latter point of view is strengthened by a comparison of the experimental approaches.}, } @article {pmid24425330, year = {1992}, author = {Mirgain, I and Hagnere, C and Green, GA and Harf, C and Monteil, H}, title = {Synthetic oligonucleotide probes for detection of mercury-resistance genes in environmental freshwater microbial communities in response to pollutants.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {30-38}, pmid = {24425330}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Mercury-resistance genes were detected byin situ hybridization using new synthetic oligonucleotide probes specific formerA andmerB genes according to the published sequences of the corresponding enzymes. These DNA probes were used for the detection of specific mercury-resistant microorganisms isolated from the Rhine River which had been polluted 3 years previously in 1986. Mercuric reductase and organomercurial lyase genes persist in the bacterial genome even after the disappearance of the pollutant but are absent in axenic amoebae. A total of 49 bacterial isolates showed DNA homologies with the(32)P-labelled DNA probes and 15 free-living amoebae were selected due to their harboured symbiotic mercury-resistant bacteria.}, } @article {pmid24194211, year = {1991}, author = {Zimmerman, WJ and Culley, DE}, title = {Genetic variation at theapcAB,cpcAB,gvpA1, andnifH loci and in DNA methylation among N2-fixing cyanobacteria designatedNostoc punctiforme.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {199-209}, pmid = {24194211}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {Genetic similarity among cyanobacteria of a morphological subgroup ofNostoc was evaluated through a comparison of several specific genes and the extent of DNA methylation. Four of six cyanobacteria were originally cultured from facultative symbioses with higher plants (Gunnera andEncephalartos); these and one free-living isolate had been identified or reputed to beN. punctiforme. No consistent correlation to species or symbiotic history was found from DNA hybridizations to genes coding for phycocyanin (cpcAB), allophycocyanin (apcAB), gas vesicle protein (gvpA1), and dinitrogenase reductase (nifH). One gene (gvpC) was not present, andgvpA1 was a single-copy gene in all strains. The gas vesicle genes were concluded to be potentially useful for broadly characterizingNostoc or at least this subgroup. Incubations ofNostoc genomic DNA with 22 restriction endonucleases indicated a high degree of methylation and similarity of its methylated DNA to that of other heterocystous cyanobacteria. The genetic variation of theNostoc isolates was judged to reflect primarily different soil origins.}, } @article {pmid24257922, year = {1991}, author = {Nichols-Orians, C}, title = {Differential effects of condensed and hydrolyzable tannin on polyphenol oxidase activity of attine symbiotic fungus.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {1811-1819}, pmid = {24257922}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {The leaf-cutting antAtta cephalotes is a generalist herbivore of the neotropics and collects leaf material to cultivate a fungus. It appears that this fungus, a Basidiomycete, is responsible for the ability of the ants to utilize most of the available woody plant species. Tannins and other phenolics are ubiquitous secondary chemicals in woody plants, and Basidiomycete fungi produce enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase, that are capable of polymerizing and inactivating the phenolics. This study evaluates the effects of a condensed and a hydrolyzable tannin on the activity of polyphenoi oxidase and the growth of the fungus. I hypothesized that low concentrations of tannin would not inhibit polyphenol oxidase activity but high concentrations would inhibit the enzyme. Consequently, I predicted that only high concentrations of tannin would inhibit fungal growth. Laboratory assays with the fungus indicated that hydrolyzable tannin (tannic acid) and condensed tannin (quebracho tannin) differ in the mechanism of inhibition. Tannic acid does not inhibit polyphenol oxidase activity but does inhibit fungal growth. Quebracho tannin, however, inhibits both polyphenol oxidase activity and fungal growth. As predicted, both tannic acid and quebracho tannin primarily inhibit the fungus at high concentrations.}, } @article {pmid24259176, year = {1991}, author = {Nichols-Orians, C}, title = {Condensed tannins, attine ants, and the performance of a symbiotic fungus.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {17}, number = {6}, pages = {1177-1195}, pmid = {24259176}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Field experiments indicate that the foliar concentration of condensed tannin affects the selection of leaf material ofInga oerstediana Benth., a tropical legume tree, by leaf cutter ants. In one study an increase in tannin concentration was correlated with a decrease in the acceptability of leaves to leaf-cutter ants, except at low tannin concentrations. Protein concentration was not correlated with acceptability nor was the ratio of protein to tannin. Results from a second study suggest that when the concentration of tannin was low the ants appear to select leaves on the basis of nutrient availability. Laboratory assays with the ants indicated that quebracho tannin, a commercially available condensed tannin, inhibits foraging ants. Again, at lower concentrations, quebracho tannin appeared to have little affect on the ants. The fungus the ants cultivate is a wood-rotting Basidiomycete that produces enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO), that are capable of inactivating tannins. The activity of these PPOs may explain why leaf-cutter ants are undeterred by low concentrations of condensed tannins. I hypothesized that PPO activity would be absent from fungal cultures without tannin and that only high concentrations of tannin would inhibit the fungus. Cultures with and without tannin showed similar PPO activity. Thus PPO activity is constitutive. In fact, as fungal biomass increased, so did PPO activity. As hypothesized, only high concentrations of quebracho tannin inhibited PPO activity and fungal growth. However, it is not clear whether the ants can discriminate between concentrations that do and do not inhibit the fungus.}, } @article {pmid24272463, year = {1991}, author = {Ott, PW}, title = {John wesley on health as wholeness.}, journal = {Journal of religion and health}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {43-57}, pmid = {24272463}, issn = {0022-4197}, abstract = {This paper explores John Wesley's concept of health as wholeness. Three themes gleaned from the medical community of his day-the idea of the well-working of the body as a whole, the view of "sympathy" throughout one's total being, and a belief in the natural means of promoting health-were critical for Wesley. Moreover, the themes were interconnected. Because of the symbiotic relation between body and spirit, a well-working body was fundamental to Wesley's wholistic view of health. Furthermore, sensible regimen was viewed as the natural way of realizing a life of health and wholeness.}, } @article {pmid24430148, year = {1990}, author = {Jain, V and Garg, N and Nainawatee, HS}, title = {Naringenin enhanced efficiency ofRhizobium meliloti-alfalfa symbiosis.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {434-436}, pmid = {24430148}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Rhizobium meliloti-alfalfa (Medicago sativa) symbiosis was influenced by the rhizospheric application of naringenin which increased nodule number, nodule weight (2-to 8-fold) and nitrogenase activity. Plant blomass and total nitrogen content also increased by 60 to 72%. The enhancing effects of naringenin were more pronounced if it was applied at the early vegetative stage of plant growth or at the time of sowing.}, } @article {pmid24221111, year = {1990}, author = {Jain, DK and Bordeleau, LM}, title = {Enhanced N2-fixing ability of a deletion mutant of arctic rhizobia with sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia).}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {80}, number = {6}, pages = {795-800}, pmid = {24221111}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {Mutagenesis provoked by exposure at elevated temperature of the cold-adapted, arctic Rhizobium strain N31 resulted in the generation of five deletion mutants, which exhibited loss of their smaller plasmid (200 kb), whereas the larger plasmid (> 500 kb) was still present in all mutants. Deletion mutants did not show differences from the wild type in the antibiotic resistance pattern, the carbohydrates and organic acids utilization, and the growth rate at low temperature. However, deletion mutants differed from the wild type and among themselves in the ex planta nitrogenase activity, the nodulation index, and the symbiotic effectiveness. The deletion mutant N31.6rif (r) showed higher nodulation index and exhibited higher nitrogenase activity and symbiotic efficiency than the other deletion mutants and the wild type. The process of deletion mutation resulted in the improvement of an arctic Rhizobium strain having an earlier and higher symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency than the wild type.}, } @article {pmid24197385, year = {1990}, author = {Vikman, PÅ and Lundquist, PO and Huss-Danell, K}, title = {Respiratory capacity, nitrogenase activity and structural changes ofFrankia, in symbiosis withAlnus incana, in response to prolonged darkness.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {182}, number = {4}, pages = {617-625}, pmid = {24197385}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Plants ofAlnus incana (L.) Moench in symbiosis with a local source ofFrankia were exposed to prolonged darkness under controlled climate conditions.Frankia vesicle clusters were prepared from the root nodules, and the condition ofFrankia was measured as respiratory capacity by supplying the preparation with saturating amounts of four different substrates. During darkness, nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity decreased in intact plants and in the vesicle-cluster preparations. The respiratory capacity ofFrankia also decreased. After 4 d in darkness most respiration was lost, though all nitrogenase activity was already lost after 3 d. When the dark treatment was ended after 2 d and normal light/dark conditions restored, nitrogenase activity immediately started to recover. The respiratory capacity continued to decrease and no recovery was observed until the third day after the end of the dark treatment. Whole-plant nitrogenase activity slowly increased at a rate similar to the rate of increase observed in untreated plants. Transmission electron micrographs of the root nodules showed that the cytoplasm of infected host cells and the cells ofFrankia were structurally degraded in response to dark treatment, while young vesicles were frequent during recovery. Growth and differentiation ofFrankia cells were apparently important for recovery of the enzyme activities studied.}, } @article {pmid24197200, year = {1990}, author = {Lange, OL and Pfanz, H and Kilian, E and Meyer, A}, title = {Effect of low water potential on photosynthesis in intact lichens and their liberated algal components.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {467-472}, pmid = {24197200}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Earlier experiments (T.D. Brock 1975, Planta124, 13-23) addressed the question whether the fungus of the lichen thallus might enable the algal component to function when moisture stress is such that the algal component would be unable to function under free-living conditions. It was concluded that the liberated phycobiont in ground lichen thalli could not photosynthesize at water potentials as low as those at which the same alga could when it was present within the thallus. However, our experience with lichen photosynthesis has not substantiated this finding. Using instrumentation developed since the mid-1970's to measure photosynthesis and control humidity, we repeated Brock's experiments. When applying "matric" water stress (equilibrium with air of constant relative humidity) we were unable to confirm the earlier results for three lichen species including one of the species,Letharia vulpina, had also been used by Brock. We found no difference between the effects of low water potential on intact lichens and their liberated algal components (ground thallus material and isolated algae) and no indication that the fungal component of the lichen symbiosis protects the phycobiont from the adverse effects of desiccation once equilibrium conditions are reached. The photosynthetic apparatus of the phycobiont alone proved to be highly adapted to water stress as it possesses not only the capability of functioning under extremely low degrees of hydration but also of becoming reactivated solely by water vapor uptake.}, } @article {pmid24197196, year = {1990}, author = {Ou Yang, LJ and Udvardi, MK and Day, DA}, title = {Specificity and regulation of the dicarboxylate carrier on the peribacteroid membrane of soybean nodules.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {437-444}, pmid = {24197196}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Malate and succinate were taken up rapidly by isolated, intact peribacteroid units (PBUs) from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) root nodules and inhibited each other in a competitive manner. Malonate uptake was slower and was severely inhibited by equimolar malate in the reaction medium. The apparent Km for malonate uptake was higher than that for malate and succinate uptake. Malate uptake by PBUs was inhibited by (in diminishing order of severity) oxaloacetate, fumarate, succinate, phthalonate and oxoglutarate. Malonate and butylmalonate inhibited only slightly and pyruvate,isocitrate and glutamate not at all. Of these compounds, only oxaloacetate, fumarate and succinate inhibited malate uptake by free bacteroids. Malate uptake by PBUs was inhibited severely by the uncoupler carbonylcyanidem-chlorophenyl hydrazone and the respiratory poison KCN, and was stimulated by ATP. We conclude that the peribacteroid membrane contains a dicarboxylate transport system which is distinct from that on the bacteroid membrane and other plant membranes. This system can catalyse the rapid uptake of a range of dicarboxylates into PBUs, with malate and succinate preferred substrates, and is likely to play an important role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Energization of both the bacteroid and peribacteroid membranes controls the rate of dicarboxylate transport into peribacteroid units.}, } @article {pmid24197185, year = {1990}, author = {Söderbäck, E and Lindblad, P and Bergman, B}, title = {Developmental patterns related to nitrogen fixation in theNostoc-Gunnera magellanica Lam. symbiosis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {182}, number = {3}, pages = {355-362}, pmid = {24197185}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Developmental patterns related to nitrogen fixation in the heterocystous cyanobacteriumNostoc harboured in distinct colonies along the stem ofGunnera magellanica Lam. plantlets were examined using successive plant sections. Pronounced morphological, physiological and biochemical alterations in the cyanobacterium were demonstrated. Close to the growing apex the cyanobacterial biomass, contained in smallGunnera cells, was low and consisted mostly of vegetative cells showing a high density of different storage structures except for cyanophycin granules. In contrast, both the total and specific nitrogenase activity and the relative nitrogenase protein level were at maximum within this part; while the frequency of heterocysts increased from zero to 30% within the same area. The nitrogenase protein was localized only in the heterocysts throughout the plant. Further down theGunnera stem there was a progressive increase in both the cyanobacterial biomass and the heterocyst frequency, which finally constituted about 60% of the cyanobacterial cell population. Throughout this part of the stem, cyanophycin granules were frequent in the vegetativeNostoc cells. At the base of the stem, degeneratedNostoc cells dominated and the nitrogenase activity was close to zero, although the nitrogenase protein remained. Degeneration of theNostoc cells and leaf shedding coincided. Both intact plants (approx. 20 mm in height) and plant stem sections (2 mm in length) showed substantial nitrogenase activity, although sectioning caused a 30% reduction in total nitrogenase activity.}, } @article {pmid24430068, year = {1990}, author = {Yanni, YG}, title = {Response of symbiotic interrelationship between soybean and the indigenous or inoculated microsymbiont,Bradyrhizobium japonicum, to soil application of manganese and molybdenum.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {289-294}, doi = {10.1007/BF01201299}, pmid = {24430068}, issn = {0959-3993}, abstract = {Soybean nodulation was induced indigenously by three strains ofBradyrhizobium japonicum inoculated in each of the two previous seasons. The same strains were applied, as a peat-based inoculum in similar cell density as the indigenous ones, to a rhizobia-free soll from the same field. Inoculation was tested under soll application of 10 or 20 ppm Mn and/or 2 or 4 ppm Mo. Inoculation with the peat-based inoculum significantly increased nodule numbers and weight, dry weight, N content and mg N/g of the 50-day-old plants, number of pods and seeds per plant, seed yield, seed N content and percentage, and mg N/g of the empty pods. Increasing the application of Mn and Mo fed to further increases. There was a complex response of nodulation, vegetative growth and yield to the applications of Mn and Mo.}, } @article {pmid24197112, year = {1990}, author = {Matzke, B and Schwarzmeier, E and Loos, E}, title = {Erratum : Maltose excretion by the symbiotic Chlorella of the heliozoan Acanthocystis turfacea.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {182}, number = {2}, pages = {312}, doi = {10.1007/BF00197127}, pmid = {24197112}, issn = {0032-0935}, } @article {pmid24196994, year = {1990}, author = {Wyss, P and Mellor, RB and Wiemken, A}, title = {Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas of wild-type soybean and non-nodulating mutants with Glomus mosseae contain symbiosis-specific polypeptides (mycorrhizins), immunologically cross-reactive with nodulins.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {182}, number = {1}, pages = {22-26}, pmid = {24196994}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Wild-type soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Bragg) plants and two soybean mutants derived from cv. Bragg (nod 49 and nod 139) unable to form nodules with Bradyrhizobium japonicum were compared with regard to their reaction to the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. The roots from wild-type and mutant plants entered equally well into vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis. Polyadenylated RNA was isolated from nodule-free mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots of wild-type and mutant plants and translated in vitro. The translation products were subjected to immunoprecipitation using antisera reacting with soluble or membrane-bound nodulins. The antisera did not immunoprecipitate any of the translation products from non-mycorrhizal roots. However, they reacted with specific translation products from mycorrhizal roots of both wild-type and mutant plants: two polypeptides (MWs 135-140 and 18 kDa) were immunoprecipitated with the antiserum against soluble nodulins and three (MWs 21-28 kDa) with the antiserum against membrane-bound nodulins. These results indicate that symbiosis-specific polypeptides, possibly identical with nodulins, are induced in the mycorrhiza and therefore can be termed "mycorrhizins".}, } @article {pmid24196942, year = {1990}, author = {Matzke, B and Schwarzmeier, E and Loos, E}, title = {Maltose excretion by the symbiotic Chlorella of the heliozoan Acanthocystis turfacea.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {181}, number = {4}, pages = {593-598}, pmid = {24196942}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Chlorella sp. strain 3.83, a symbiotic Chlorella isolated from the heliozoan Acanthocystis turfacea, excreted between 8% and 16% of assimilated (14)CO2 as maltose in the light (15000 lx), with a pH optimum around 4.8. This percentage increased when the illuminance was lowered (36% at 1700 lx). Release of [(14)C]maltose continued in darkness and could be inhibited by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoro-methoxyphenylhydrazone and by diethylstilbestrol. Net efflux of maltose was observed even at a concentration ratio of extracellular/intracellular maltose of 7.8. Exogenous [(14)C]maltose (5 mM) was taken up by the cells with a rate <2% of that of simultaneous maltose release, indicating a practically unidirectional transport. It is concluded that maltose excretion is an active-transport process.}, } @article {pmid24263985, year = {1990}, author = {Seidel, JL and Epstein, WW and Davidson, DW}, title = {Neotropical ant gardens : I. Chemical constituents.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {1791-1816}, pmid = {24263985}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {In ant gardens of lowland Amazonia, parabiotic ant speciesCamponotus femoratus andCrematogaster cf.limata parabiotica cultivate a taxonomically diverse group of epiphytic plants, whose establishment is restricted to arboreal carton ant nests. Epiphyte seeds are collected by workers ofCa. femoratus, the larger of the two ants, and stored unharmed in brood chambers where they subsequently germinate. Although seeds of some ant-garden epiphytes bear nutritional rewards, previous studies have shown that these rewards are not sufficient to explain the pattern of ant attraction to seeds. Five aromatic compounds occur frequently in and on the seeds of most ant-garden epiphytes and may be chemical cues by which ants recognize propagules of their symbiotic plants. The most widely distributed of these is methyl 6-methylsalicylate [6-MMS]1, previously reported as a major mandibular gland product in relatedCamponotus species and present in trace quantities inCa. femoratus males. (-)-Citronellol6 (previously unreported inCamponotus) was the principal volatile constituent in extracts of male heads, and (-)-mellein7 was present in small quantities. Discovery of 6-MMS inside the mandibular glands of maleCa. femoratus (and its presence in analogous glands of related ants) offers preliminary support for Ule's (1906) hypothesis that seeds attract ants by mimicking ant brood. In addition, the likely fungistatic activity of seed compounds suggests that they could retard microbial pathogens of ants and plants in the organic detritus of nest gardens. While the presence of identical seed compounds in so many unrelated plant lineages might represent a remarkable case of convergent evolution, other interpretations are possible.}, } @article {pmid24263826, year = {1990}, author = {Briggs, MA}, title = {Relation ofSpodoptera eridania choice to tannins and protein oflotus corniculatus.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {1557-1564}, pmid = {24263826}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Plant secondary compounds such as tannins may influence herbivore choice. To determine if herbivory was influenced by tannin concentration,Spodoptera eridania larvae were given a choice ofLotus corniculatus plants whose chemical profiles were altered by fertilization. Herbivores chose plants that had been grown with symbiotic nitrogen fixation as their only nitrogen source more often than fertilized plants. Choice was related to protein concentration, but not to tannin concentration.}, } @article {pmid24196366, year = {1990}, author = {Zimmerman, WJ and Bergman, B}, title = {TheGunnera symbiosis: DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism and protein comparisons ofNostoc symbionts.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {291-302}, pmid = {24196366}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {Cyanobacteria separated from symbiosis with several species of the angiospermGunnera were comparatively characterized and correlated with the locales and taxonomy of their host plants. All were identified as strains ofNostoc. Protein profiles and DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (from hybridizations with heterologousnifH andglnA probes) determined that three of the four cyanobacteria fromGunnera grown at one site in Sweden, each from a different host species, were very similar or identical. Plants of one species,G. manicata, grown in a second location at the site were infected with a different cyanobiont. Among five isolates from two species ofGunnera, collected in the same locale in New Zealand, three subgroups were documented. Isolates from three differentGunnera species grown in separate locations in the United States were each uniquely different. None of the cyanobacteria differed in the molecular weights of their glutamine synthetase and Fe-nitrogenase proteins. The diversity and accessibility of compatibleNostoc populations present in the soil micro-environment, not a critical selective factor required byGunnera, were concluded to be a major determinant in symbiont selection.}, } @article {pmid24196682, year = {1990}, author = {Caetano-Anollés, G and Bauer, WD}, title = {Host-specificity mutants of Rhizobium meliloti have additive effects in situ on initiation of alfalfa nodules.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {181}, number = {1}, pages = {109-116}, pmid = {24196682}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Pairs of Rhizobium meliloti nod mutants were co-inoculated onto alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) roots to determine whether one nod mutant could correct, in situ, for defects in nodule initiation of another nod mutant. None of the Tn5 or nod deletion mutants were able to help each other form nodules when co-inoculated together in the absence of the wild-type. However, as previously observed, individual nod mutants significantly increased nodule initiation by low dosages of co-inoculated wild-type cells. Thus, nod mutants do produce certain signal substances or other factors which overcome limits to nodule initiation by the wild-type. When pairs of nod mutants were co-inoculated together with the wild-type, the stimulation of nodulation provided by individual nodABC mutants was not additive. However, clearly additive or synergistic stimulation was observed between pairs of mutants with a defective host-specificity gene (nodE, nodF, or nodH). Each pair of host-specificity mutants stimulated first nodule formation to nearly the maximum levels obtainable with high dosages of the wild-type. Mutant bacteria were recovered from only about 10% of these nodules, whereas the co-inoculated wild-type was present in all these nodules and substantially outnumbered mutant bacteria in nodules occupied by both. Thus, these mutant co-inoculants appeared to help their parent in situ even though they could not help each other. Sterile culture filtrates from wild-type cells stimulated nodule initiation by low dosages of the wild-type, but only when a host-specificity mutant was also present. The results from our studies seem consistent with the possibility that pairs of host-specificity mutants are able to help the wild-type initiate nodule formation by sustained production of complementary signals required for induction of symbiotic host responses.}, } @article {pmid24277058, year = {1990}, author = {Vanderpool, HY and Levin, JS}, title = {Religion and medicine: How are they related?.}, journal = {Journal of religion and health}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {9-20}, pmid = {24277058}, issn = {0022-4197}, abstract = {This paper provides a comprehensive and dynamic profile of religion-medicine interrelationships. This profile is drawn from the respective characteristics of religion and medicine, as well as from historic and contemporary literature regarding their interconnections. Six symbiotic functions are identified and discussed with respect to their bearing on clinical practice, medical education, and research.}, } @article {pmid24263604, year = {1990}, author = {Wacker, TL and Safir, GR and Stephens, CT}, title = {Effects of ferulic acid onGlomus fasciculatum and associated effects on phosphorus uptake and growth of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.).}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {901-909}, pmid = {24263604}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {The effect of ferulic acid, an allelochemical produced by asparagus, on hyphal elongation and colonization of asparagus byG. fasciculatum was studied. Spore germination in vitro was not affected, but hyphal elongation decreased significantly with increasing ferulic acid concentration. In the greenhouse, mycorrhizal colonization of roots and growth of mycorrhizal asparagus decreased significantly with increasing ferulic acid concentration, while growth of nonmycorrhizal plants was not affected by ferulic acid. Although plant tissue phosphorus levels were not affected by ferulic acid or mycorrhizal status, ferulic acid inhibition of hyphal elongation in vitro and fungal root colonization in vivo suggests that production of ferulic acid by asparagus reduces the symbiotic effectiveness of the fungus and subsequently reduces plant growth.}, } @article {pmid24202099, year = {1990}, author = {Bonfante-Fasolo, P and Vian, B and Perotto, S and Faccio, A and Knox, JP}, title = {Cellulose and pectin localization in roots of mycorrhizalAllium porrum: labelling continuity between host cell wall and interfacial material.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {180}, number = {4}, pages = {537-547}, pmid = {24202099}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Two different types of contacts (or interfaces) exist between the plant host and the fungus during the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, depending on whether the fungus is intercellular or intracellular. In the first case, the walls of the partners are in contact, while in the second case the fungal wall is separated from the host cytoplasm by the invaginated host plasmamembrane and by an interfacial material. In order to verify the origin of the interfacial material, affinity techniques which allow identification in situ of cell-wall components, were used. Cellobiohydrolase (CBH I) that binds to cellulose and a monoclonal antibody (JIM 5) that reacts with pectic components were tested on roots ofAllium porrum L. (leek) colonized byGlomus versiforme (Karst.) Berch. Both probes gave a labelling specific for the host cell wall, but each probe labelled over specific and distinct areas. The CBH I-colloidal gold complex heavily labelled the thick epidermal cell walls, whereas JIM 5 only labelled this area weakly. Labelling of the hypodermis was mostly on intercellular material after treatment with JIM 5 and only on the wall when CBH I was used. Suberin bands found on the radial walls were never labelled. Cortical cells were mostly labelled on the middle lamella with JIM 5 and on the wall with CBH I. Gold granules from the two probes were found in interfacial material both near the point where the fungus enters the cell and around the thin hyphae penetrating deep into the cell. The ultrastructural observations demonstrate that cellulose and pectic components have different but complementary distributions in the walls of root cells involved in the mycorrhizal symbiosis. These components show a similar distribution in the interfacial material laid down around the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus indicating that the interfacial material is of host origin.}, } @article {pmid24196207, year = {1989}, author = {Messer, AC and Lee, MJ}, title = {Effect of chemical treatments on methane emission by the hindgut microbiota in the termiteZootermopsis angusticollis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {275-284}, pmid = {24196207}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {Selective removal of symbiotic hindgut microorganisms by chemical treatments reduced methane emission by the termiteZootermopsis angusticollis. Methane emission from untreated termites incubated in 25% H2 increased 123%, from 10.3 nmol/termite/hour (U) to 22.9 U. Though linear with time, methane emission was not correlated with termite mass. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments reduced methane emission to unquantifiable levels and eliminated all but the protozoaTricercomitus andHexamastix. Exogenous H2 restored 5% of methane emission to 1.3 U. 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid, fed on filter papers to termites, eliminated methane production. Epifluorescence microscopy showed that this treatment selectively removed methanogens from symbioses withTricercomitus, Hexamastix, andTrichomitopsis, but the protozoa did not appear to be affected. The insect molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone reduced methane production 86% to 1.6 U from an initial level of 11.4 U. Hydrogen incubation increased this rate to 77% of the initial rate, 8.8 U. Hormone treatment reduced the number ofTrichonympha in the hindgut and induced sexuality in these protozoa. A model suggests thatTrichonympha evolve most of the hydrogen and that methanogenic bacteria symbiotic withTrichomitopsis produce most of the methane in this hindgut ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid24201525, year = {1989}, author = {Fischer, A and Meindl, D and Loos, E}, title = {Glucose excretion by the symbiotic Chlorella of Spongilla fluviatilis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {179}, number = {2}, pages = {251-256}, pmid = {24201525}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Chlorella sorokiniana strain 211-40c, a symbiotic Chlorella isolated from a freshwater sponge, excreted between 3% and 5% of assimilated (14)CO2 as glucose in the light, with a pH optimum around 5. This percentage increased when the illuminance was lowered (to 15% at 20 lx). Release of [(14)C]glucose continued in the dark and could be inhibited by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP). Net efflux of glucose occurred even at a concentration ratio of extracellular/intracellular glucose of 4. This, together with the sensitivity to FCCP, is taken as evidence for active transport. Exogenous [(14)C]glucose was taken up by the cells under conditions of net glucose efflux, showing uptake and excretion to take place simultaneously.}, } @article {pmid24272090, year = {1989}, author = {Hunt, DW and Borden, JH}, title = {Terpene alcohol pheromone production byDendroctonus ponderosae andIps paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in the absence of readily culturable microorganisms.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {1433-1463}, pmid = {24272090}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins andIps paraconfusus Lanier of both sexes produced most of their complement of terpene alcohols at normal to elevated levels in the absence of readily culturable microorganisms. However, there was some evidence that microbial involvement may be required by maleI. paraconfusus to produce ipsenol and ipsdienol at normal levels. Increased levels of certain terpene alcohols found in axenically reared or streptomycin-fed beetles suggest that symbiotic microorganisms may be responsible for breaking down pheromones and other terpene alcohols. There was also evidence for microbial involvement in the production of the antiaggregation pheromone verbenone inD. ponderosae. This compound was not produced in quantifiable levels by axenically reared or streptomycin-fed beetles exposed to α-pinene as vapors or through feeding, but was found in wildD. ponderosae exposed to α-pinene through feeding on bolts of lodgepole pine,Pinus contorta var.latifolia Engelmann.}, } @article {pmid24232586, year = {1989}, author = {Hansen, J and Jørgensen, JE and Stougaard, J and Marcker, KA}, title = {Hairy roots - a short cut to transgenic root nodules.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {12-15}, pmid = {24232586}, issn = {0721-7714}, abstract = {To facilitate molecular studies of symbiotic nitrogen fixation a procedure for rapid production of transgenic root nodules was established on the legumeLotus corniculatus (Bird'sfoot trefoil). Regeneration of transgenic plants is not required as transgenic nodules are formed onAgrobacterium rhizogenes incited roots inoculated withRhizobium. Easy identification of transformed roots is possible using a set ofA. rhizogenes acceptor strains carrying assayable marker genes such as chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), β-glucuronidase (GUS), or luciferase (LUC) under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Counterselection ofA. rhizogenes after infection of plants was improved using an auxotrophy marker.}, } @article {pmid24212486, year = {1989}, author = {Spanu, P and Boller, T and Ludwig, A and Wiemken, A and Faccio, A and Bonfante-Fasolo, P}, title = {Chitinase in roots of mycorrhizal Allium porrum: regulation and localization.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {177}, number = {4}, pages = {447-455}, pmid = {24212486}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14) activity was measured in roots of Allium prorrum L. (leek) during development of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis with Glomus versiforme (Karst.) Berch. During the early stages of infection, between 10 and 20 d after inoculation, the specific activity of chitinase was higher in mycorrhizal roots than in the uninfected controls. However, 60-90 d after inoculation, when the symbiosis was fully established, the mycorrhizal roots contained much less chitinase than control roots. Chitinase was purified from A. porrum roots. An antiserum against beanleaf chitinase was found to cross-react specifically with chitinase in the extracts from non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal A. porrum roots. This antiserum was used for the immunocytochemical localization of the enzyme with fluorescent and gold-labelled probes. Chitinase was localized in the vacuoles and in the extracellular spaces of non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal roots. There was no immunolabelling on the fungal cell walls in the intercellular or the intracellular phases. It is concluded that the chitin in the fungal walls is inaccessible to plant chitinase. This casts doubts on the possible involvement of this hydrolase in the development of the mycorrhizal fungus. However, fungal penetration does appear to cause a typical defense response in the first stages that is later depressed.}, } @article {pmid24212485, year = {1989}, author = {Vreeland, V and Morse, SR and Robichaux, RH and Miller, KL and Hua, SS and Laetsch, WM}, title = {Pectate distribution and esterification in Dubautia leaves and soybean nodules, studied with a fluorescent hybridization probe.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {177}, number = {4}, pages = {435-446}, pmid = {24212485}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Carbohydrate-hybridization probes (Vreeland and Laetsch, 1989, Planta (177, 423-434) were used to localize the homogalacturonan (pectate) component of pectins in the cell walls of leaves and soybean root nodules. Leaves of two species of the dicotyledon Dubautia were compared; these species contain much pectin but differ in their tissue water relations with respect to their cell-wall properties. Maturation of the primary cell walls in nodules was studied in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum-Glycine max symbiosis. Probe labelling was based on the divalent-cation-mediated association between pectate in tissue sections and fluorescein-conjugated pectate fragments. Pectate was also labelled by mixed-dimer formation with fluorescent polyguluronate derived from alginate. The specificity of the probe for unesterified polygalacturonate was indicated by increased cell-wall labelling after chemical or enzymatic deesterification of tissue sections, in contrast to elimination of labelling by chemical esterification. Postfixation of tissue sections improved retention of soluble pectate. Pectate differences were found in the leaves among cell types, in degree of esterification, and between plant species. The cell walls of soybean nodules were strongly labelled by the pectate probe in nodules one week and three weeks after infection. Pectate was more highly esterified in the central infected zone than in the surrouding cortex. Within the infected zone, walls of uninfected cells and infected cells were similarly labelled by the pectate probe. The results indicate that the pectate molecular probe provides detailed information on pectate distribution at the cellular level for investigations of cell-wall structure, development and physiology.}, } @article {pmid24271450, year = {1989}, author = {Eya, BK and Kenny, PT and Tamura, SY and Ohnishi, M and Naya, Y and Nakanishi, K and Sugiura, M}, title = {Chemical association in symbiosis sterol donors in planthoppers.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {373-380}, pmid = {24271450}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {The role of intracellular symbionts contributing to their host has been investigated in the planthoppers,Nilaparvata lugens Stal andLaodelphax striatellus Fallen. We have found that the isolated yeastlike symbionts, identified as a member of the genusCandida, from the host's egg produce ergosterol when cultured. A comparative study of sterols in the cultured symbionts, the host insects, aposymbiotic host insects, and dietary plants demonstrated that ergosterol produced in the symbiotes is provided to the host insects and possibly transformed in the host insects into cholesterol via 24-methylenecholesterol. The conversion of injected 24-methylenecholesterol-d3 into cholesterol has been shown in the brown planthopper (N. lugens).}, } @article {pmid24220942, year = {1988}, author = {Pate, JS and Lindblad, P and Atkins, CA}, title = {Pathways of assimilation and transfer of fixed nitrogen in coralloid roots of cycad-Nostoc symbioses.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {176}, number = {4}, pages = {461-471}, pmid = {24220942}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Freshly detached coralloid roots of several cycad species were found to bleed spontaneously from xylem, permitting identification of products of nitrogen transfer from symbiotic organ to host. Structural features relevant to the export of fixed N were described for Macrozamia riedlei (Fisch. ex Gaud.) Gardn. the principal species studied. Citrulline (Cit), glutamine (Gln) and glutamic acid (Glu), the latter usually in a lesser amount, were the principal translocated solutes in Macrozamia (5 spp.), Encephalartos (4 spp.) and Lepidozamia (1 sp.), while Gln and a smaller amount of Glu, but no Cit were present in xylem sap of Bowenia (1 sp.),and Cycas (2 spp.). Time-course studies of (15)N enrichment of the different tissue zones and the xylem sap of (15)N2-pulse-fed coralloid roots of M. riedlei showed earlier (15)N incorporation into Gln than into Cit, and a subsequent net decline in the (15)N of Gln of the coralloid-root tissues, whereas Cit labeling continued to increase in inner cortex and stele and in the xylem sap. Hydrolysis of the (15)N-labeled Cit and Gln consistently demonstrated much more intense labeling of the respective carbamyl and amide groups than of the other N-atoms. Coralloid roots of M. riedlei pulse-fed (14)CO2 in darkness showed (14)C labeling of aspartic acid (Asp) and Cit in all tissue zones and of Cit of xylem bleeding sap. Lateral roots and uninfected apogeotropic roots of M. riedlei and M. moorei also incorporated (14)CO2 into Cit. The (14)C of Cit was restricted to the carbamyl-C. Comparable (15)N2 and CO2-feeding studies on corallid roots of Cycas revoluta showed Gln to be the dominant product of N2 fixation, with Asp and alanine as other major (14)C-labeled amino compounds, but a total absence of Cit in labeled or unlabeled form.}, } @article {pmid24277625, year = {1988}, author = {de Lajudie, P and Huguet, T}, title = {Plant gene expression during effective and ineffective nodule development of the tropical stem-nodulated legume Sesbania rostrata.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {537-548}, pmid = {24277625}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {The expression of plant genes during symbiosis of Sesbania rostrata with Rhizobium sp. and Azorhizobium caulinodans was studied by comparing two-dimensional PAGE patterns of in vitro translation products of poly(A)(+) RNA from uninfected roots and stems with that of root and stem nodules. Both types of nodules are essentially similar, particularly when stem nodules are formed in the dark. We detected the specific expression of at least 16 genes in stem and root nodules and observed the stimulated expression of about 10 other genes in both nodules. Six of the nodule-specific translation products (apparent molecular masses around 16 kDa) cross-react with an antiserum raised against leghemoglobin purified from Sesbania rostrata stem nodules. During stem nodule development, most of the nodule-stimulated genes are expressed concomitantly with leghemoglobin at day 12 after inoculation. However, some genes are already stimulated at days 6-7, some others later in development (day 18), and some are transiently activated. Patterns of root nodules induced by either Azorhizobium caulinodans strain ORS571, capable of effective root and stem nodulation, or Rhizobium sp. strain ORS51, capable of effective root nodulation only, are very similar except for a specific 37.5 kDa polypeptide. Several types of ineffective stem and root nodules were studied; in every case the amount of leghemoglobin components appeared reduced together with most of the nodule-stimulated polypeptides.}, } @article {pmid24277102, year = {1988}, author = {Gerhart, DJ and Rittschof, D and Mayo, SW}, title = {Chemical ecology and the search for marine antifoulants : Studies of a predator-prey symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {1905-1917}, pmid = {24277102}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {The gorgonian octocoralLeptogorgia virgulata (Phylum Coelenterata, Class Anthozoa) is rarely overgrown by fouling organisms and is avoided by most predators. Laboratory experiments suggest that secondary metabolites and calcium carbonate spicules interact synergistically to provideL. virgulata with an effective defense against predatory fish. In spite of these defenses,L. virgulata is consumed by the symbiotic, trophically specialized gastropodNeosimnia uniplicata, which closely mimics the appearance of the gorgonian.Neosimnia uniplicata is readily eaten by fish and appears not to acquire an effective antipredator defense from its gorgonian host. Extracts ofLeptogorgia virgulata andNeosimnia uniplicata strongly inhibited the settlement of the barnacleBalanus atnphitrite. Bioassay-directed purification of the more potent antifouling agents fromL. virgulata led to the isolation of two previously described, diterpenoid hydrocarbons, known as pukalide and epoxypukalide. A third inhibitor of barnacle settlement, whose structure is presently unknown, was obtained from bothL. virgulata andN. uniplicata. When assayed for ability to inhibit barnacle settlement, these three compounds possessed EC50 values ranging from 19 to 55 ng/ml. These secondary metabolites may prevent the overgrowth ofL. virgulata by fouling organisms in nature. The allelochemicals ofL. virgulata, N. uniplicata, and other marine organisms may provide nonpolluting alternatives to existing, commercial antifoulants based on derivatives of tri-n-butyltin.}, } @article {pmid24240262, year = {1988}, author = {Reddy, PM and Fisher, RW}, title = {A novel method to produce Anabaena-free Azolla by in vitro fertilization of micromanipulated megasporocarps.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {430-433}, pmid = {24240262}, issn = {0721-7714}, abstract = {In the Azolla-Anabaena azollae symbiotic system, Anabaena akinetes get entrapped between the indusium and the apical cap of the megaspore apparatus during megasporocarp development, thus maintaining the continuity of the cyanobacterial association throughout the life cycle of the fern. The entrapped akinetes serve as the source of inoculum for infecting the new sporophyte when it is emerging from the megaspore apparatus. A procedure to generate Anabaena-free Azolla was developed by fertilizing the germinating megasporocarps in which the indusium along with the akinetes were removed by micromanipulation. This method has the advantage of not requiring drastic treatments of Azolla with antibiotics to eliminate the endosymbiotic cyanobacterial cells. Details of this new method and its usefulness in studies aimed at recombination of Azolla with Anabaena azollae are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24272399, year = {1988}, author = {Nash, JH and Ma, S and Iyer, VN}, title = {Characterization of Sym plasmids of Rhizobium leguminosarum strains able to nodulate Pisum sativum cv Afghanistan.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {427-432}, pmid = {24272399}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum strains that can form nodules on Pisum sativum cv. Afghanistan have been reported as uncommon in Europe, North America and Africa [11, 12]. The organization of the nodulation regions of the symbiotic plasmids of five strains of R. leguminosarum originating from Denmark [9], which can nodulate P. sativum cv. Afghanistan, was compared with that of a Turkish strain (TOM [18]) by DNA hybridizations. Four of the five Danish strains were found to be very similar to the Turkish strain with respect to the overall organizations of their respective nodulation regions.}, } @article {pmid24221521, year = {1988}, author = {Caetano-Anollés, G and Bauer, WD}, title = {Enhanced nodule initiation on alfalfa by wild-typeRhizobium meliloti co-inoculated withnod gene mutants and other bacteria.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {174}, number = {3}, pages = {385-395}, pmid = {24221521}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Nodule formation on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) roots was determined at different inoculum dosages for wild-typeRhizobium meliloti strain RCR2011 and for various mutant derivatives with altered nodulation behavior. The number of nodules formed on the whole length of the primary roots was essentially constant regardless of initial inoculum dosage or subsequent bacterial multiplication, indicative of homeostatic regulation of total nodule number. In contrast, the number of nodules formed in just the initially susceptible region of these roots was sigmoidally dependent on the number of wild-type bacteria added, increasing rapidly at dosages above 5·10(3) bacteria/plant. This behavior indicates the possible existence of a threshold barrier to nodule initiation in the host which the bacteria must overcome. When low dosages of the parent (10(3) cells/plant) were co-inoculated with 10(6) cells/plant of mutants lacking functionalnodA, nodC, nodE, nodF ornodH genes, nodule initiation was increased 10- to 30-fold. Analysis of nodule occupancy indicated that these mutants were able to help the parent (wild-type) strain initiate nodules without themselves occupying the nodules. Co-inoculation withR. trifolii orAgrobacterium tumefaciens cured of its Ti plasmid also markedly stimulated nodule initiation by theR. meliloti parent strain. Introduction of a segment of the symbiotic megaplasmid fromR. meliloti intoA. tumefaciens abolished this stimulation.Bradyrhizobium japonicum and a chromosomal Tn5 nod(-) mutant ofR. meliloti did not significantly stimulate nodule initiation when co-inoculated with wild-typeR. meliloti. These results indicate that certainnod gene mutants and members of theRhizobiaceae may produce extracellular "signals" that supplement the ability of wild-typeR. meliloti cells to induce crucial responses in the host.}, } @article {pmid24277522, year = {1988}, author = {Prakash, RK and Cummings, B}, title = {Creation of novel nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes by protoplast fusion of Frankia with streptomyces.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {281-289}, pmid = {24277522}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Protoplast fusion was used for the creation of a novel actinomycete capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Protoplasts of Streptomyces griseofuscus, a fast-growing actinomycete, and Frankia, a slow-growing actinomycete which fixes atmospheric nitrogen in culture and in symbiotic association with alders, were allowed to fuse and regenerate on media without supplied nitrogen. Colonies which regenerated acquired the fast-growing characteristic of Streptomyces and the ability to grow on nitrogen-deficient media from Frankia. These colonies resembled Streptomyces in their morphology and fixed atmospheric nitrogen in culture. They contained both the parent Streptomyces DNA sequences and the Frankia DNA sequences homologous to nif structural genes HDK of K. pneumoniae. In addition to in vitro nitrogen-fixing capacity, one out of 20 colonies also formed nitrogen-fixing root nodules on Alnus rubra, the host plant for the Frankia strain. Examination of the root nodules induced by the hybrids showed only the presence of hyphae-like structures. The typical vesicle-like structures present in Frankia were absent.}, } @article {pmid24272260, year = {1988}, author = {Katinakis, P and Lankhorst, RM and Louwerse, J and van Kammen, A and van den Bos, RC}, title = {Bacteroid-encoded proteins are secreted into the peribacteroid space by Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {183-190}, pmid = {24272260}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Bacteroids of Rhizobium leguminosarum in root nodules of Pisum sativum are enclosed by a plant-derived peribacteriod membrane (PBM). The contents of the interstitial peribacteroid space (PBS) between bacteroid membrane and PBM were isolated by a controlled osmotic shock of PBM-enclosed bacteroids and analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Silver staining revealed approximately 40 PBS polypeptides. Ex planta (35)S-methionine labeling of PBM-enclosed bacteroids revealed that about 90% of the PBS proteins are synthesized by the bacteroid. Approximately 30% of the PBS polypeptides are common between the PBS and the periplasmic space of free-living bacteria; one (38kDa) PBS protein is also excreted by free-living bacteria in the bacterial culture medium. At least four bacteroid-encoded PBS polypeptides were clearly identified as symbiosis-specific.}, } @article {pmid24226395, year = {1988}, author = {Bradley, DJ and Wood, EA and Larkins, AP and Galfre, G and Butcher, GW and Brewin, NJ}, title = {Isolation of monoclonal antibodies reacting with peribacteriod membranes and other components of pea root nodules containing Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {173}, number = {2}, pages = {149-160}, pmid = {24226395}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Plant and bacterial antigens contributing to nodule development and symbiosis in pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots were identified after isolation of a set of monoclonal antibody (McAb)-producing hybridoma lines. Rats were immunised with the peribacteriod material released by mild osmotic shock treatment from membrane-enclosed bacteroids of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae. In order to diversify the range of McAb specificities, this material was either used as immunogen directly (method 1), or after immunodepletion of a set of glycoprotein and lipopolysaccharide antigens (method 2), or after deglycosylation (method 3). After fusion and screening of cloned hybridoma lines, these three immunisation methods gave respectively 4, 2 and 1 classes of McAb with unique antigen specificities. Ultrastructural immunogold localisation studies showed four different antigens to be present on peribacteriod and plasma membranes (identified by MAC 64, 202, 206 or 209); in addition, a glycoprotein of plant origin but present in the infection-thread matrix was identified by MAC 204. Although none of the epitopes recognised by these McAb was nodule-specific, several were found to be more abundant in extracts of nodule tissue than in uninfected roots (MAC 64, 202, 204, 206). Two McAb reacted with new bacterial antigens: MAC 203 identified a bacterial antigen expressed upon infection but not in free-living cultures of Rhizobium, and MAC 115 identified a bacterial polypeptide (55 kdaltons) that was present in both free-living and bacteroid forms. There were also some McAb of broader specificity that react with antigens present in both plant and bacterial cytoplasms.}, } @article {pmid24248965, year = {1988}, author = {Izrael, YA and Filippova, LM and Insarov, GE and Semevsky, FN and Semenov, SM}, title = {Disturbance of the terrestrial ecosystems stability due to global-scale anthropogenic impacts.}, journal = {Environmental monitoring and assessment}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {239-246}, doi = {10.1007/BF00394673}, pmid = {24248965}, issn = {0167-6369}, abstract = {Intact natural ecosystems are fairly stable objects. In the course of natural selection proceeding against the background of synecological interactions (trophic, competitive, symbiotic, etc.), a respective complex of coadapted species forms, each being maximally accommodated to its habitat. Such a complex is of specific composition and possesses stable structural characteristics. Fairly regular processes of changes in these characteristics, specific to the given type of environmental conditions, are observed in non-stationary cases.We analyze probable causes of the loss of stability in natural systems exposed to man made impacts of a global scale, in particular structural instability, landscape (distributive) instability, and conductive instability.The study of the mechanisms ensuring biosphere sustainability and stability of its elements is a vital ecological problem. There are applied aspects in the problem solution since identification of man-induced instability is feasible only on the basis of precise knowledge of the natural mechanisms of weak points of the relevant natural process. This circumstance makes the problem of stability one of the focal questions of applied ecology.}, } @article {pmid24301307, year = {1987}, author = {Lewin, A and Rosenberg, C and H Meyer, ZA and Wong, CH and Nelson, L and Manen, JF and Stanley, J and Dowling, DN and Denarie, J and Broughton, WJ}, title = {Multiple host-specificity loci of the broad host-range Rhizobium sp. NGR234 selected using the widely compatible legume Vigna unguiculata.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {447-459}, pmid = {24301307}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Specificity in legume-Rhizobium symbiosis depends on plant and rhizobial genes. As our objective was to study broad host-range determinants of rhizobia, we sought a legume and a Rhizobium with the lowest possible specificity. By inoculating 12 different legumes with a heterogenous collection of 35 fast-growing rhizobia, we found Rhizobium sp. NGR234 to be the Rhizobium and Vigna unguiculata to be the plant with the lowest specificities. Transfer of cloned fragments of the Sym-plasmid pNGR234a into heterologous rhizobia, screening for extension of host-range of the transconjugants to include V. unguiculata, and restriction mapping of the Hsn- and overlapping clones, proved that there were at least three distinct Hsn-regions (HsnI, II, and III) on pNGR234a. HsnI is located next to nodD, HsnII is linked to nifKDH and HsnIII to nodC. In addition to nodulation of Vigna, HsnI conferred upon the transconjugants the ability to nodulate Glycine max, Macroptilium atropurpureum and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus. All three Hsn-regions, when transferred to the appropriate recipients, induced root-hair-curling on M. atropurpureum. Hsn-region III was able to complement a mutation in the host-range gene nodH of R. meliloti strain 2011. Homology to "nod-box"-sequences could be shown only for the sub-clones containing HsnII and HsnIII, thus suggesting different regulation mechanisms for HsnI and HsnII/III.}, } @article {pmid24225914, year = {1987}, author = {Shi, DJ and Brouers, M and Hall, DO and Robins, RJ}, title = {The effects of immobilization on the biochemical, physiological and morphological features of Anabaena azollae.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {172}, number = {3}, pages = {298-308}, pmid = {24225914}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Anabaena azollae, a presumptive isolate from Azolla filiculoides, was immobilized in polyurethane foam, hydrophilic polyvinyl foam and alginate. When viewed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy a thick mucilage layer covered the surface of both cells and matrix; this closely resembles the mode of attachment of the symbiont Anabaena in the Azolla leaf cavity. The heterocyst frequency of the immobilized A. azollae doubled relative to free-living cells and reached a level of 14-17%. Immobilization induced increases in both hydrogen production via nitrogenase or hydrogenase and in the rates and stabilization of acetylene reduction (N2-fixation). Ammonia production by immobilized cells with L-methionine-D,L-sulfoximine (MSX) is greater than that of freeliving cells. Immobilized cells without MSX were, however, able to excrete ammonium at lower rates thus emulating the characteristic of the symbiotic cyanobacteria (A. azollae) in the leaf cavity of Azolla.}, } @article {pmid24277133, year = {1987}, author = {Lullien, V and Barker, DG and de Lajudie, P and Huguet, T}, title = {Plant gene expression in effective and ineffective root nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa).}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {469-478}, pmid = {24277133}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Expression of plant genes involved in the symbiosis between alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Rhizobium meliloti has been studied by comparing root and root nodule mRNA populations. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separation of the in vitro translation products of polyA(+) RNA isolated from either roots or effective root nodules has allowed us to identify thirteen nodule-specific translation products, including those corresponding to the leghemoglobins (Lb). These translation products, representing putative nodulin mRNAs, are first detected between 9 and 12 days after inoculation, a result which has been confirmed for Lb mRNA by Northern blotting and hybridization with a Lb cDNA probe. Analysis of three different types of ineffective root nodules arrested in different stages of development has led to the following conclusions. (i) The transcription of eleven nodule-specific genes, including the Lb genes, is independent of nitrogen-fixing activity. (ii) Differentiation of the primary nodule structure does not require the transcription of any of these genes but can be correlated with a dramatic reduction in the level of at least five transcripts present in the root. (iii) There is enhanced expression of certain plant genes in the case of nodules elicited by an Agrobacterium strain carrying the symbiotic plasmid of R. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid24225717, year = {1987}, author = {McAuley, PJ}, title = {Nitrogen limitation and amino-acid metabolism of Chlorella symbiotic with green hydra.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {171}, number = {4}, pages = {532-538}, pmid = {24225717}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Chlorella algae symbiotic in the digestive cells of Hydra viridissima Pallas (green hydra) were found to contain less amino-N and smaller pools of free amino acids than their cultured counterparts, indicating that growth in symbiosis was nitrogen-limiting. This difference was reflected in uptake of amino acids and subsequent incorporation into protein; symbiotic algae incorporated a greater proportion of sequestered radioactivity, supplied as (14)C-labelled alanine, glycine or arginine, than algae from nitrogen-sufficient culture, presumably because smaller internal pools diluted sequestered amino acids to a lesser extent. Further experiments with symbiotic algae showed that metabolism of the neutral amino acid alanine differed from that of the basic amino acid arginine. Alanine but not arginine continued to be incorporated into protein after uptake ceased, and while internal pools of alanine were exchangeable with alanine in the medium, those of arginine were not exchangeable with external arginine. Thin-layer chromatography of ethanol-soluble extracts of algae incubated with [(14)C]alanine or [(14)C]arginine showed that both were precursors of other amino acids. The significance of nitrogen-limiting growth of symbiotic algae is discussed in terms of host-cell regulation of algal cell growth and division.}, } @article {pmid24301884, year = {1987}, author = {Weston, LA and Burke, BA and Putnam, AR}, title = {Isolation, characterization and activity of phytotoxic compounds from quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.)Beauv].}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {403-421}, doi = {10.1007/BF01880089}, pmid = {24301884}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Previous experiments showed that legumes grown in the presence of living or herbicidally treated quackgrass residues or extracts exhibited reduced seedling root and shoot growth and decreased nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Aqueous extracts of quackgrass shoots were most inhibitory to plant growth. Upon sequential partitioning of an aqueous extract of quackgrass shoots, the ether extract possessed the most activity and caused 50% reductions in radicle elongation of eight crop and weed species at concentrations of less than 240 μg/ml (small-seeded species) and 1000 μg/ml (large-seeded species). Snapbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. "Bush Blue Lake") grown aseptically in agar containing an ether extract at 100 and 200 μg/ml exhibited severe root browning, lack of root hair formation, and a two- to three-fold reduction in root and shoot dry weights. The ether extract of quackgrass shoots had no inhibitory effect on the growth of fourRhizobium species in Petri dishes or two species in broth culture. Inhibitors present in the ether extract may influence the legumeRhizobium symbiosis indirectly by reducing legume root growth and root hair formation. The ether extract of quackgrass shoots was separated using high-pressure liquid, thin-layer, and liquid column chromatography in an attempt to isolate and identify the inhibitors responsible for the inhibition of seedling growth. Two closely related flavonoid inhibitors were isolated from the ether extract. One was identified as 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone (tricin). Both flavonoids caused 50% inhibition of radicle elongation in cress (Lepidium sativum L. "Burpee curly") seeds at concentrations of less than 125 μg/ml. Both flavonoids were found in ether extracts of quackgrass shoots and rhizomes, but the largest amounts of both compounds occurred in quackgrass shoots collected from the field.}, } @article {pmid24302525, year = {1987}, author = {Rodriguez-Quinones, F and Banfalvi, Z and Murphy, P and Kondorosi, A}, title = {Interspecies homology of nodulation genes in Rhizobium.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {61-75}, pmid = {24302525}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {The internal structural portion of genes nodC and nodD (representatives of the two transcription units coding for common nodulation functions) and of hsnB and hsnD (genes from the two transcription units determining host-specificity of nodulation) have been cloned from Rhizobium meliloti into M13 vectors and used as probes against genomic DNAs from different Rhizobium strains and species. nodC and nodD were found in all species with one exception, indicating that they are common and widely spread genes, though the nodD gene hybridized only very weakly with slow-growing rhizobia. Interestingly, reiteration of nodD sequences was observed in almost all fast-growing strains (with the exception of R. leguminosarum). hsnB and, more so, hsnD are present only in a few species tested, supporting their specific involvement in R. meliloti-Medicago sativa symbiosis. In several cases the hybridizing bands from total Rhizobium DNA were compared to those found in recombinant plasmids carrying functional nodulation regions, and these analyses supported the notion that the bands indicate the presence of functional genes.}, } @article {pmid24276795, year = {1987}, author = {Spaink, HP and Okker, RJ and Wijffelman, CA and Pees, E and Lugtenberg, BJ}, title = {Promoters in the nodulation region of the Rhizobium leguminosarum Sym plasmid pRL1JI.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {27-39}, pmid = {24276795}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {A region of 16.8 kb of the Sym(biosis) plasmid pRL1JI of Rhizobium leguminosarum, consisting of the established 9.7 kb nodulation region which confers nodulation ability on Vicia hirsuta and a region of 7.1 kb which appeared to be necessary for nodulation on V. sativa and Trifolium subterraneum, was subcloned as fragments of maximally 2.5 kb in a newly developed IncQ transcriptional fusion vector. The expression of these fragments was studied in Rhizobium. One constitutive promoter, pr.nodD, and three plant-exudate inducible promoters were found, namely the known pr.nodA and pr.nodF as well as a new promoter designated pr.nodM. The latter promoters were localized within 114 bp, 330 bp and 630 bp respectively and they regulate the transcription of the operons nodA, B, C, I, J, nodF, E and of an operon of at least 2.5 kb located in the 7.1 kb region. Induction of the three inducible operons required plant exudate and a functional nodD product. The flavanone naringenin could replace plant exudate. Each of the three inducible promoters contained a nod-box. A consensus for the nod-box sequence, based on known sequences, is proposed. The 114 bp fragment which contains pr.nodA activity was used to localize pr.nodA by means of deletion mapping. The fragment which appeared necessary for complete pr.nodA activity is 72 bp in size, contains the complete nod-box and in addition a region of 21 bp downstream of the nod-box, in which the loosely conserved sequence AT(T)AG appears to be important for promoter activity.}, } @article {pmid24232650, year = {1986}, author = {Rai, AN and Lindblad, P and Bergman, B}, title = {Absence of the glutamine-synthetase-linked methylammonium (ammonium)-transport system in the cyanobiont of Cycas-cyanobacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {169}, number = {3}, pages = {379-381}, pmid = {24232650}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Using the ammonium analogue (14)CH3NH 3 (+) , ammonium transport was studied in the cyanobiont cells freshly isolated from the root nodules of Cycas revoluta. An L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine (MSX)-insensitive ammonium-transport system, which was dependent on membrane potential (ΔΨ), was found in the cyanobiont. However, the cyanobiont was incapable of metabolizing exogenous (14)CH3NH 3 (+) or NH 4 (+) because of the absence of another ammonium-transport system responsible for the uptake of ammonium for assimilation via glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2). Such a modification seems to be the result of symbiosis because the free-living cultured isolate, Anabaena cycadeae, has been shown to possess both the ammonium-transport systems.}, } @article {pmid24232329, year = {1986}, author = {McAuley, PJ}, title = {Glucose uptake by symbiotic Chlorella in the green-hydra symbiosis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {168}, number = {4}, pages = {523-529}, pmid = {24232329}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {There is a correlation between the ability of symbiotic Chlorella algae to take up glucose and their survival in green hydra grown in continuous darkness. Although normal symbionts of European green hydra, which persist at a stable level in dark-grown animals, possessed no detectable constitutive ability to take up glucose when grown in light, uptake was induced after incubation in a medium containing glucose. Further, symbionts isolated from hydra grown in darkness for two weeks had acquired a constitutive uptake ability. Neither NC64A nor 3N813A strains of algae, in artificial symbiosis with hydra, persisted in dark-grown animals, and they showed little or no uptake ability, although in culture NC64A possessed both constitutive and inducible glucose-uptake mechanisms. In contrast, mitotic indices in all three types of algae in symbiosis with hydra increased after host feeding, indicating that the factor which stimulates algal cell division is not identical to the substrate utilised during heterotrophic growth.}, } @article {pmid24232148, year = {1986}, author = {Strasser, P and Falkner, G}, title = {Characterization of the glutamate/aspartate-transport system in a symbiotic Nostoc sp.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {168}, number = {3}, pages = {381-385}, pmid = {24232148}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The permeability properties of the cell membrane of a symbiotic Nostoc sp. for glutamate and aspartate were investigated. These compounds were translocated across the plasmalemma by a transport system which showed a very high affinity for glutamate and a lower one for aspartate. Since a concomitant release of glutamate was observed during the uptake of these two amino acids it is concluded that the transport proceeds via a counterexchange mechanism. In addition to this counterexchange a net release of glutamate occurred in the dark. Some aspects concerning the possible function of this transport system in the symbiotic association Geosiphon pyriforme are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24248122, year = {1986}, author = {Duhoux, E and Sougoufara, B and Dommergues, Y}, title = {Propagation of Casuarina equisetifolia through axillary buds of immature female inflorescences cultured in vitro.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {161-164}, doi = {10.1007/BF00269108}, pmid = {24248122}, issn = {0721-7714}, abstract = {The study of the actinorhizal symbiosis in Casuarina equisetifolia requires an homogenous plant material. Consequently, we devised a method of micropropagation based on the use of immature female inflorescences (IFI) as explants. IFI excised from an adult tree formed multiple buds after 4-week incubation on Murashige and Skoog medium with 0.05 μmol 1(-1) NAA and 11.1 μmol 1(-1) BAP. The axillary buds evolved into 5-6 cm long shoots 5 weeks after the transfer of IFI on a similar medium except for the addition of activated charcoal. Rooting of the shoots was obtained on a third medium, without BAP or charcoal, but with 1 μmol 1(-1) NAA. The plantlets were transferred into soil. Their growth was satisfactory and no plagiotropic tendency was observed.}, } @article {pmid24302303, year = {1986}, author = {Ramakrishnan, N and Prakash, RK and Atherly, AG}, title = {Conservation of IS66 homologue of octopine Ti plasmid DNA in Rhizobium fredii plasmid DNA.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {177-188}, pmid = {24302303}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {DNA sequences homologous to the T-DNA region of the octopine Ti plasmid from Agrobacterium tumefaciens are found in various fast-growing Rhizobium fredii strains. The largest fragment (BamHI fragment 2) at the right-boundary region of the 'core' T-DNA hybridizes to more than one plasmid present in R. fredii. However, one smaller fragment (EcoRI fragment 19a) adjacent to the 'core' T-DNA shows homology only with the plasmid carrying the symbiotic nitrogen-fixation genes (pSym). Hybridization data obtained with digested R. fredii USDA193 pSym DNA suggests that the homology is mainly with two HindIII fragments, 1.7 kb and 8.8 kb in size, of the plasmid. The 1.7 kb HindIII fragment also hybridizes to two regions of the virulence plasmid of A. tumefaciens, pAL1819, a deletion plasmid derived from the octopine Ti plasmid, pTiAch5. Hybridization studies with an insertion element IS66 from A. tumefaciens indicate that the 1.7 kb HindIII fragment of R. fredii plasmid, homologous to the T-DNA and the virulence region of Ti plasmid, is itself an IS66 homologue.}, } @article {pmid24240309, year = {1986}, author = {Sellstedt, A and Huss-Danell, K}, title = {Biomass production and nitrogen utilization by Alnus incana when grown on N2 or NH 4 (+) made available at the same rate.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {167}, number = {3}, pages = {387-394}, pmid = {24240309}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {A single clone of Alnus incana (L.) Moench was grown in a controlled-environment chamber. The plants were either inoculated with Frankia and fixed atmospheric nitrogen or were left uninoculated but received ammonium at the same rate as the first group fixed their nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation was calculated from frequenct measurements of acetylene reduction and hydrogen evolution. The diurnal variation of acetylene reduction was also taken into account. The relative efficiency of nitrogenase could be used in the calculations of fixed nitrogen since the Frankia used did not show any detectable hydrogenase activity. Alders fixing nitrogen developed more biomass, longer shoots, larger leaf areas and contained more nitrogen than alders receiving ammonium. In one experiment, almost all ammonium given to the non-nodulated alders was taken up and 15% of the nitrogen taken up was excreted. In the other experiment, 34% of the ammonium was left in the nutrient solution and 8% of the nitrogen taken up was excreted. Alders inoculated with Frankia did not excrete any detectable amount of nitrogen. It seems that the energy demand for nitrogen fixation is not so high that biomass production in alders is retarded. The symbiotic system of A. incana and Frankia seems to be more efficient in utilizing its nitrogen than non-symbiotic A. incana receiving ammonium.}, } @article {pmid24240308, year = {1986}, author = {Sellstedt, A}, title = {Acetylene reduction, H2 evolution and (15)N 2 fixation in the Alnus incana-Frankia symbiosis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {167}, number = {3}, pages = {382-386}, pmid = {24240308}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Acetylene reduction, (15)N2 reduction and H2 evolution were measured in root systems of intact plants of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) in symbiosis with Frankia. The ratios of C2H2: (15)N2 were compared with C2H2:N2 ratios calculated from C2H2 reduction and H2 evolution, and with C2H2:N2 ratios calculated from accumulated C2H4 production and nitrogen content. It was possible to calculate C2H2:N2 ratios from C2H2 reduction and H2 evolution because this source of Frankia did not show any hydrogenase activity. The ratios obtained using the different methods ranged from 2.72 to 4.42, but these values were not significantly different. It was also shown that enriched (15)N could be detected in the shoot after a 1-h incubation of the root-system. It is concluded that the measurement of H2 evolution in combination with C2H2 reduction represents a nondestructive assay for nitrogen fixation in a Frankia symbiosis which shows no detectable hydrogenase activity.}, } @article {pmid24307153, year = {1986}, author = {Engwall, KS and Atherly, AG}, title = {The formation of R-prime deletion mutants and the identification of the symbiotic genes in Rhizobium fredii strain USDA191.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {41-51}, pmid = {24307153}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {R-prime plasmids were formed between the plasmid of Rhizobium fredii strain USDA191 containing nodulation and nitrogen-fixation genes, pRjaUSDA191c, and pRL180, and RP1 derivative. R. fredii USDA191 contains four HindIII fragments that hybridize with an 8.7 kb EcoRI fragment that contains nodulation genes from R. meliloti. These four fragments are on pRjaUSDA191c and are 15.5 kb, 12.5 kb, 6.8 kb, and 5.2 kb in size. A series of R-primes generated in E. coli of pRjaUSDA191c were transferred into a Nod(-) Nif(-) derivative of strain USDA191 to determine which nodulation region is necessary for nodule formation. Transconjugants containing the 12.5 kb and the 6.8 kb HindIII fragments on segments of pRjaUSDA191c produced nodules on soybean plants. However, transconjugants containing the 12.5 kb HindIII fragment alone were unable to form nodules, suggesting that the 6.8 kb HindIII fragment or the 6.8 kb and the 12.5 kb HindIII fragments together were needed for nodule formation. The 6.8 kb HindIII fragment was subcloned into the vector pVK102 and transferred into transconjugants containing no sequences homologous to R. meliloti nodulation DNA or to transconjugants containing only the 12.5 kb HindIII fragment. Nodules were formed on soybeans only when both the 12.5 kb and the 6.8 kb HindIII fragments were present in R. frediistrain USDA191.}, } @article {pmid24302157, year = {1986}, author = {Verma, DP and Fortin, MG and Stanley, J and Mauro, VP and Purohit, S and Morrison, N}, title = {Nodulins and nodulin genes of Glycine max.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {51-61}, pmid = {24302157}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Nodulins are organ-specific plant proteins induced during symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Nodulins play both metabolic and structural roles within infected and uninfected nodule cells. In soybean, several nodulin genes, coding for abundant nodulins, have been identified and isolated. Structural analysis of some of these genes has revealed their possible mode of regulation and the subcellar location of the protein product. Studies of ineffective symbiosis based on cultivar-strain genotype differences suggested that both partners influence the expression of nodulin genes. Concomitant with nodule organogenesis, the Rhizobium undergoes substantial differentiation leading to the accumulation of nodule-specific bacterial proteins, bacteroidins. The major structural alteration occuring in the infected cell is the formation of a membrane enclosing the bacteroid (peribacteroid membrane). A number of nodulins are specifically targetted to this membrane during endosymbiosis. The induction of nodulins and bacteroidins leads to the formation of an effective nodule. Nodulin genes can be induced in vitro by factors derived from nodules suggesting that trans-activators may be involved in derepression of the host genes necessary for Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24253123, year = {1985}, author = {Fernandez, GC and Miller, JC}, title = {Estimation of heritability by parent-offspring regression.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {70}, number = {6}, pages = {650-654}, doi = {10.1007/BF00252291}, pmid = {24253123}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {The implications of bias due to previous inbreeding of parents and genotype x environmental interaction on narrow sense heritability (h(2)) estimates by parent-offspring regression are enumerated. To remove the bias caused by genotype x environment interaction, an analysis of covariance model could be used. In special cases, where phenotypic expression is a result of two organisms interacting, such as in symbiotic N2 fixation, an analysis of covariance model with a test of heterogeneity of slopes is recommended. When host genotype x strain interactions are significant, separate heritability estimates for each strain are suggested to take advantage of genotype x strain interaction, which may be a major factor contributing to the expression of N2 fixation traits.}, } @article {pmid24221366, year = {1985}, author = {Haanstad, JO and Norris, DM}, title = {Microbial symbiotes of the ambrosia beetleXyloterinus politus.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {267-276}, pmid = {24221366}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {Progression in the understanding of the microecology of ambrosia beetles and their associated microorganisms is briefly reviewed. Between the 1840s and the early 1960s the concept of one ambrosial fungus per ambrosia beetle was emphasized. Some subsequent research has supported the view that each ambrosia beetle plus several associated microorganisms constitute a highly co-evolved symbiotic community. It was hypothesized in this study that such a community of symbiotic microbial species, not just one ambrosial fungus, is actively cultivated and perpetuated by the ambrosia beetleXyloterinus politus. Experimental results indicated that bacteria, yeasts, a yeastlike fungus, and ambrosial fungi compose such a symbiotic microbial complex in association withX. politus. The microecology of the ectosymbiotic microorganisms in relation to this insect is discussed.}, } @article {pmid24249612, year = {1985}, author = {Meeks, JC and Enderlin, CS and Joseph, CM and Chapman, JS and Lollar, MW}, title = {Fixation of [(13)N]N 2 and transfer of fixed nitrogen in the Anthoceros-Nostoc symbiotic association.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {164}, number = {3}, pages = {406-414}, pmid = {24249612}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The initial product of fixation of [(13)N]N2 by pure cultures of the reconstituted symbiotic association between Anthoceros punctatus L. and Nostoc sp. strain ac 7801 was ammonium; it accounted for 75% of the total radioactivity recovered in methanolic extracts after 0.5 min and 14% after 10 min of incubation. Glutamine and glutamate were the primary organic products synthesized from [(13)N]N2 after incubation times of 0.5-10 min. The kinetics of labeling of these two amino acids were characteristic of a precursor (glutamine) and product (glutamate) relationship. Results of inhibition experiments with methionine sulfoximine (MSX) and diazo-oxonorleucine were also consistent with the assimilation of N2-derived NH 4 (+) by Anthoceros-Nostoc through the sequential activities of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) and glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.7.1), with little or no assimilation by glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.3). Isolated symbiotic Nostoc assimilated exogenous (13)NH 4 (+) into glutamine and glutamate and their formation was inhibited by MSX, indicating operation of the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase (GS-GOGAT) pathway: However, relative to free-living cultures, isolated symbiotic Nostoc assimilated 80% less exogenous ammonium into glutamine and glutamate, implying that symbiotic Nostoc could assimilate only a fraction of N2-derived NH 4 (+) . This implication was tested by using Anthoceros associations reconstituted with wild-type or MSX-resistant strains of Nostoc incubated with [(13)N]N2 in the presence of MSX. The results of these experiments indicated that, in situ, symbiotic Nostoc assimilated about 10% of the N2-derived NH 4 (+) and that NH 4 (+) was made available to Anthoceros tissue where it was apparently assimilated by the GS-GOGAT pathway. Since less than 1% of the fixed N2 was lost to the suspension medium, it appears that transfer of NH 4 (+) from symbiont to host tissue was very efficient in this extracellular symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid24310752, year = {1985}, author = {Djordjevic, MA and Schofield, PR and Ridge, RW and Morrison, NA and Bassam, BJ and Plazinski, J and Watson, JM and Rolfe, BG}, title = {Rhizobium nodulation genes involved in root hair curling (Hac) are functionally conserved.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {4}, number = {2-3}, pages = {147-160}, pmid = {24310752}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {Five specific transposon-induced nodulation defective (Nod(-)) mutants from different fast-growing species ofRhizobium were used as the recipients for the transfer of each of several endogenous Sym(biosis) plasmids or for recombinant plasmids that encode early nodulation and host-specificity functions. The Nod(-) mutants were derived fromR. trifolii, R. meliloti and from a broad-host-rangeRhizobium strain which is able to nodulate both cowpea (tropical) legumes and the non-legumeParasponia. These mutants had several common features (a), they were Nod(-) on all their known plant hosts, (b), they could not induce root hair curling (Hac(-)) and (c), the mutations were all located on the endogenous Sym-plasmid of the respective strain. Transfer to these mutants of Sym plasmids (or recombinant plasmids) encoding heterologous information for clover nodulation (pBR1AN, pRt032, pRt038), for pea nodulation (pJB5JI, pRL1JI::Tn1831), for lucerne nodulation (pRmSL26), or for the nodulation of both tropical legumes and non-legumes (pNM4AN), was able to restore root hair curling capacity and in most cases, nodulation capacity of the original plant host(s). This demonstrated a functional conservation of at least some genes involved in root hair curling. Positive hybridization between Nod DNA sequences fromR. trifolii and from a broad-host-rangeRhizobium strain (ANU240) was obtained to other fast-growingRhizobium strains. These results indicate that at least some of the early nodulation functions are common in a broad spectrum ofRhizobium strains.}, } @article {pmid24253917, year = {1984}, author = {Vasse, JM and Truchet, GL}, title = {The Rhizobium - legume symbiosis: observation of root infection by bright-field microscopy after staining with methylene blue.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {161}, number = {6}, pages = {487-489}, pmid = {24253917}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Staining of infected legume roots with 0.01% methylene blue facilitated the observation of the initial steps of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. It allowed particularly the visualization by bright-field microscopy of infection threads in the root hairs and the root cortex of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid24253166, year = {1984}, author = {Atkins, CA and Shelp, BJ and Storer, PJ and Pate, JS}, title = {Nitrogen nutrition and the development of biochemical functions associated with nitrogen fixation and ammonia assimilation of nodules on cowpea seedlings.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {162}, number = {4}, pages = {327-333}, pmid = {24253166}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {During early development (up to 18 d after sowing) of nodules of an "effective" cowpea symbiosis (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp cv. Vita 3: Rhizobium strain CB756), rapidly increasing nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity and leghaemoglobin content were accompanied by rapid increases in activities of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2), glutamate synthase (EC 2.6.1.53), enzymes of denovo purine synthesis (forming inosine monophosphate) xanthine oxidoreductase (EC 1.2.3.2), urate oxidase (EC 1.7.3.3), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) and led to increased export of ureides (allantoin and allantoic acid) to the shoot of the host plant in the xylem. Culturing plants with the nodulated root systems maintained in the absence of N2 (in 80 Ar: 20 O2, v/v) had little effect on the rates of induction and increase in nitrogenase activity and leghaemoglobin content but, in the absence of N2 fixation and consequent ammonia production by bacteroids, there was no stimulation of activity of enzymes of ammonia assimilation or of the synthesis of purines or ureides. Addition of NO 3 (-) (0.1-0.2 mM) relieved host-plant nitrogen deficiency caused by the Ar: O2 treatment but failed to increase levels of enzymes of N metabolism in either the bacteroid or the plant-cell fractions of the nodule. Premature senescence in Ar: O2-grown nodules occurred at 18-20 d after sowing, and resulted in reduced levels of nitrogenase activity and leghaemoglobin but increased the activity of hydroxybutyrate oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.30).}, } @article {pmid24253165, year = {1984}, author = {Atkins, CA and Shelp, BJ and Kuo, J and Peoples, MB and Pate, JS}, title = {Nitrogen nutrition and the development and senescence of nodules on cowpea seedlings.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {162}, number = {4}, pages = {316-326}, pmid = {24253165}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp cv. Vita 3) seedlings inoculated with Rhizobium strain CB756 were cultured with their root systems maintained in air or in Ar: O2 (80:20, v/v) during early nodule development (up to 24 d after sowing). Compared with those in air, seedlings in Ar:O2 showed progressive N deficiency with inhibited shoot growth, reduced ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and total protein levels and loss of chlorophyll in the leaves. Nodule initiation, differentiation of infected and uninfected nodule tissues and the ultrastructure of bacteriod-containing cells were similar in the air and Ar: O2 treatments up to 16 d after sowing. Thereafter the Ar: O2 treatment caused cessation of growth and development of nodules, reduced protein levels in bacteroids and nodule plant cells, and progressive degeneration of nodule ultrastructure leading to premature senescence of these organs. Provision of NO 3 (-) (0.1-0.2 mM) to Ar: O2-grown seedlings overcame the abovementioned consequences of N2 deficiency on nodule and plant growth, but merely delayed the degenerative effects of Ar: O2 treatment on nodule structure and senescence. Treatment of Ar: O2-grown seedlings with NO 3 (-) greatly increased the protein level of nodules but the increase was largely restricted to the plant cell fraction as opposed to the bacteroids. By contrast, NO 3 (-) treatment of air-grown seedlings increased protein of bacteroid and host nodule fractions to the same relative extents when compared with air-grown plants not supplemented with NO 3 (-) . These findings, taken together with studies of the distribution of N in nodules of symbiotically effective plants grown from (15)N-labeled seed, indicate that direct incorporation of fixation products by bacteroids may be a critical feature in the establishment and continued growth of an effective symbiosis in the cowpea seedling.}, } @article {pmid24221092, year = {1984}, author = {Heritage, AD and Foster, RC}, title = {Catalase and sulfur in the rice rhizosphere: An ultrastructural histochemical demonstration of a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {10}, number = {2}, pages = {115-121}, pmid = {24221092}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {An ultrastructural study has been made of a symbiotic association between a sulfur bacterium and the roots of the rice plant (Oryza saliva L.). This association is proposed to have useful economic consequences in ameliorating hydrogen sulfide toxicity and associated Akiochi or Straighthead disease in lowland rice cultivation. The presence of catalase (E.C. 1.11.1.6) in rice roots and in some rhizosphere bacteria has been demonstrated in ultrathin sections of field-grown rice using a catalasespecific medium. Catalase was detected in capsules surrounding the catalase-negative S-bacteria. These capsules were of a novel fibrillar structure. Two sizes of inclusion bodies were present in these large bacteria. The disappearance of the smaller inclusions during carbon disulfide treatment suggests that they are the sulfur granules. The name "thiosome" is proposed for these membrane-bound structures.}, } @article {pmid24310254, year = {1984}, author = {Schofield, PR and Ridge, RW and Rolfe, BG and Shine, J and Watson, JM}, title = {Host-specific nodulation is encoded on a 14kb DNA fragment in Rhizobium trifolii.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {3-11}, pmid = {24310254}, issn = {0167-4412}, abstract = {The Rhizobium trifolii genes necessary for nodule induction and development have been isolated on a 14.0kb fragment of symbiotic (Sym) plasmid DNA. When cloned into a broad-host-range plasmid vector, these sequences confer a clover nodulation phenotype on a derivative of R. trifolii which has been cured of its endogenous Sym plasmid. Furthermore, these sequences encode both host specificity and nodulation functions since they confer the ability to recognize and nodulate clover plants on Agrobacterium and a fast-growing cowpea Rhizobium. This indicates that the bacterial genes essential for the initial, highly-specific interaction with plants are closely linked.}, } @article {pmid24407809, year = {1983}, author = {Dawson, JO and Seymour, PE}, title = {Effects of juglone concentration on growth in vitro ofFrankia ArI3 andRhizobium japonicum strain 71.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {1175-1183}, pmid = {24407809}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing nurse crops and cocrops of plant species nodulated byFrankia andRhizobium have been used to promote the growth of black walnut trees. Although walnut is known to inhibit the growth of certain associated plants due to its allelopathic derivative juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-napthoquinone), juglone inhibition of symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing soil microorganisms had not been investigated. This research revealed that a concentration of 10(-3) M juglone absolutely inhibited the growth in vitro of aFrankia isolate from root nodules of red alder and ofRhizobium japonicum strain 71. Lesser concentrations of juglone inhibited the growth of these bacteria relative to the controls. The more-rapidly growingRhizobium strain exhibited slight growth at 10(-4) M juglone concentration, whereasFrankia growth was completely inhibited. Considering both the susceptibility of the host plant and nitrogen-fixing endophyte to the allelochemical juglone, caution should be exercised in selecting nitrogen-fixing plants as nurse crops for black walnut.}, } @article {pmid24264845, year = {1983}, author = {Meeks, JC and Enderlin, CS and Wycoff, KL and Chapman, JS and Joseph, CM}, title = {Assimilation of (13)NH 4 (+) by Anthoceros grown with and without symbiotic Nostoc.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {158}, number = {5}, pages = {384-391}, pmid = {24264845}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The pathways of assimilation of ammonium by pure cultures of symbiont-free Anthoceros punctatus L. and the reconstituted Anthoceros-Nostoc symbiotic association were determined from time-course (5-300 s) and inhibitor experiments using (13)NH 4 (+) . The major product of assimilation after all incubation times was glutamine, whether the tissues were cultured with excess ammonium or no combined nitrogen. The (13)N in glutamine was predominantly in the amide-nitrogen position. Formation of glutamine and glutamate by Anthoceros-Nostoc was strongly inhibited by either 1mM methionine sulfoximine (MSX) or 1 mM exogenous ammonium. These data are consistent with the assimilation of (13)NH 4 (+) and formation of glutamate by the glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2)-glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.7.1) pathway in dinitrogen-grown Anthoceros-Nostoc. However, in symbiont-free Anthoceros, grown with 2.5 mM ammonium, formation of glutamine, but not glutamate, was decreased by either MSX or exogenous ammonium. These results indicate that during short incubation times ammonium is assimilated in nitrogenreplete Anthoceros by the activities of both glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.2). In-vitro activities of glutamine synthetase were similar in nitrogen-replete Anthoceros and Anthoceros-Nostoc, indicating that the differences in the routes of glutamate formation were not based upon regulation of synthesis of the initial enzyme of the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway. When symbiont-free Anthoceros was cultured for 2 d in the absence of combined nitrogen, total (13)NH 4 (+) assimilation, and glutamine and glutamate formation in the presence of inhibitors, were similar to dinitrogen-grown Anthoceros-Nostoc. The routes of immediate (within 2 min) glutamate formation and ammonium assimilation in Anthoceros were apparently determined by the intracellular levels of ammonium; at low levels the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway was predominant, while at high levels independent activities of both glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase were expressed.}, } @article {pmid24264545, year = {1983}, author = {Enderlin, CS and Meeks, JC}, title = {Pure culture and reconstitution of the Anthoceros-Nostoc symbiotic association.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {158}, number = {2}, pages = {157-165}, pmid = {24264545}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The partners of the symbiotic association between Anthoceros punctatus L. and Nostoc spp. have been cultured separately in a pure state. The symbiotic association was reconstituted following dual culture in liquid Anthoceros growth medium with a variety of axenic Nostoc isolates and mutant strains. The heterocyst frequency of competent Nostoc strains increased four- to fivefold when in symbiotic association relative to free-living N2-grown cultures. Dinitrogen fixation by symbiotic Nostoc supported the growth of Anthoceros tissue, although this growth was nitrogen-limited relative to that supported by exogenous ammonium. When the association was reconstituted in the presence of two or three wild-type and mutant Nostoc strains some of these strains were found to compete in infection of Anthoceros tissue and a fraction of the symbiotic Nostoc colonies contained more than one strain. Exogenous ammonium did not affect infection, but repressed development of the symbiotic Nostoc colonies in Anthoceros tissue, and symbiotic Nostoc in N2-grown Anthoceros tissue appeared to regress from the symbiotic state in the presence of exogenous ammonium. The results show that the Anthoceros-Nostoc symbiotic association is amenable to specific experimental manipulations; their implications are discussed with respect to infection of Anthoceros tissue and control of the development of symbiotic Nostoc.}, } @article {pmid24306612, year = {1983}, author = {Hutch, RA}, title = {An essay on psychotherapy and religion.}, journal = {Journal of religion and health}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {7-18}, pmid = {24306612}, issn = {0022-4197}, abstract = {Cultural innovation by thinkers of the early twentieth century created an intellectual impasse between competing understandings of religion. Religion was understood as either transcendence and the sacred (e.g., Otto) or as fantasy and projection (e.g., Freud). Whether a cooperative symbiosis of these orientations toward religion can be achieved is the central and unresolved issue of this paper. "Examined experience" is considered within religious studies and psychotherapy. Although not conclusive, the argument is that examined experience is a means by which the desired symbiosis can be achieved. The essay is personal in that it reflects the author's struggle for understanding, especially as Western (e.g., Christian) and Eastern (e.g., Zen) experiences are examined.}, } @article {pmid24272662, year = {1982}, author = {Niess, D and Reisser, W and Wiessner, W}, title = {Photobehaviour of Paramecium bursaria infected with different symbiotic and aposymbiotic species of Chlorella.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {156}, number = {5}, pages = {475-480}, pmid = {24272662}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The endosymbiotic unit of Paramecium bursaria and Chlorella spec. shows two types of photobehaviour: 1) A step-up photophobic response which possibly depends on photosensitive agents in the ciliate cell itself - as is also shown by alga-free Paramecium bursaria - and can be drastically enhanced by photosynthetic activity of symbiotic algae; and 2) a step-down photophobic response. The step-down response leads to photoaccumulation of green paramecia. Both types of photobehaviour in Paramecium bursaria do not depend on any special kind of algal partners: The infection of alga-free Paramecium bursaria with different Chlorella species results in new ciliatealgae-associations. They are formed not only by combination of the original symbiotic algae with their host, but also by infection with other symbiotic or free-living (aposymbiotic) chlorellae, respecitively. Systems with other than the original algae are not permanently stable - algae are lost under stress conditions - but show the same types of photobehaviour. Photoaccumulation in general requires algal photosynthesis and occurs only with ciliates containing more than fifty algae/cell. It is not mediated by a chemotactic response to oxygen in the medium, since it occurs at light fluence rates not sufficient for a release of oxygen by the symbiotic system, e.g., below its photosynthetic compensation point. Photoresponses can be inhibited by 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). Sensory transduction does not depend on any special symbiotic features of the algae, e.g., sugar excretion. The participation of oxygen in the Paramecium cell, of its cytoplasmic pH and of ions released or taken up by endosymbiotic algae in sensory transduction is discussed.}, } @article {pmid24271674, year = {1982}, author = {Marten, S and Brandt, P and Wiessner, W}, title = {On the developmental dependence between Cyanophora paradoxa and Cyanocyta korschikoffiana in symbiosis : Host-dependent development of endocyanelles.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {155}, number = {2}, pages = {190-192}, pmid = {24271674}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The prokaryote Cyanocyta korschikoffiana was isolated from the eukaryote Cyanophora paradoxa. The synthesis of several thylakoid proteins in these cyanelles is influenced by light and darkness and is sensitive to cycloheximide, the inhibitor of the eukaryotic host's translation. The possibility of a direct coordination between the translations of the host and of the cyanelles is discussed.}, } @article {pmid24258748, year = {1981}, author = {Scott, A and Gardner, IC and McNally, SF}, title = {Localisation of citrulline synthesis in the alder root nodule and its implication in nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {21-22}, pmid = {24258748}, issn = {0721-7714}, abstract = {The site of citrulline synthesis in the alder root nodule symbiosis has been located cytochemically in the mitochondria of the host cell. Added to our understanding of nitrogen fixation in this symbiosis such results suggest that the host exerts a modifying influence on the nitrogen metabolism of the endophyte and is in keeping with the findings of other workers on the blue-green algal/fungal or hepatic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid24302426, year = {1981}, author = {Niess, D and Reisser, W and Wiessner, W}, title = {The role of endosymbiotic algae in photoaccumulation of green Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {152}, number = {3}, pages = {268-271}, pmid = {24302426}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The endosymbiotic unit of Paramecium bursaria with Chlorella sp. photoaccumulates in white, blue-green, and red light (λ<700 nm), whereas alga-free Paramecia never do. The intensity of photoaccumulation depends on both the light fluence rate and the size of the symbiotic algal population. Photoaccumulation can be stopped completely with 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), an inhibitor of photosynthetic electron transport. Hence the photosynthetic pigments of the algae act as receptors of the light stimulus for photomovement and a close connection must exist between photosynthesis of the algae and ciliary beating of the Paramecium.}, } @article {pmid24227423, year = {1981}, author = {Bridges, JR}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with bark beetles.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {131-137}, pmid = {24227423}, issn = {0095-3628}, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixingEnterobacter agglomerans andEnterobacter spp. were consistently isolated from the bark beetleDendroctonus terebrans. Large populations of nitrogen-fixing bacteria were found with the beetle, although no in situ acetylene reduction was demonstrated. The constant occurrence of nitrogenfixing bacteria withD. terebrans suggests a symbiotic relationship. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria were also isolated from the bark beetlesDendroctonus frontalis andIps avulsus.}, } @article {pmid24420598, year = {1981}, author = {Paul, VJ and Frautschy, S and Fenical, W and Nealson, KH}, title = {Antibiotics in microbial ecology : Isolation and structure assignment of several new antibacterial compounds from the insect-symbiotic bacteriaXenorhabdus spp.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {589-597}, pmid = {24420598}, issn = {0098-0331}, abstract = {Nine strains of the terrestrial bacterial genusXenorhabdus, all isolated as symbionts of nematodes, were examined for their abilities to produce substances with antibiotic activites when grown in pure culture. All nine produced measurable antibiotic activities against one or more of the test strains utilized. The inhibition patterns indicated that different compounds were being produced by the various bacteria. Two of the species that showed particularly strong inhibition patterns were studied in detail. The inhibitory compounds were purified and identified. Strain R produced a mixture of active substances, the major components of which were hydroxyl- and acetoxyl-bearing indole derivatives, presumably produced via tryptophan. Strain Hb, on the other hand, produced only two antibiotics, 4-ethyl- and 4-isopropyl-3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbenes, which are presumed to arise via polyketide pathways.}, } @article {pmid24301852, year = {1981}, author = {Rai, AN and Rowell, P and Stewart, WD}, title = {Nitrogenase activity and dark CO2 fixation in the lichen Peltigera aphthosa Willd.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {151}, number = {3}, pages = {256-264}, pmid = {24301852}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The lichen Peltigera aphthosa consists of a fungus and green alga (Coccomyxa) in the main thallus and of a Nostoc located in superficial packets, intermixed with fungus, called cephalodia. Dark nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) of lichen discs (of alga, fungus and Nostoc) and of excised cephalodia was sustained at higher rates and for longer than was the dark nitrogenase activity of the isolated Nostoc growing exponentially. Dark nitrogenase activity of the symbiotic Nostoc was supported by the catabolism of polyglucose accumulated in the ligh and which in darkness served to supply ATP and reductant. The decrease in glucose content of the cephalodia paralleled the decline in dark nitrogenase activity in the presence of CO2; in the absence of CO2 dark nitrogenase activity declined faster although the rate of glucose loss was similar in the presence and absence of CO2. Dark CO2 fixation, which after 30 min in darkness represented 17 and 20% of the light rates of discs and cephalodia, respectively, also facilitated dark nitrogenase activity. The isolated Nostoc, the Coccomyxa and the excised fungus all fixed CO2 in the dark; in the lichen most dark CO2 fixation was probably due to the fungus. Kinetic studies using discs or cephalodia showed highest initial incorporation of (14)CO2 in the dark in to oxaloacetate, aspartate, malate and fumarate; incorporation in to alanine and citrulline was low; incorporation in to sugar phosphates, phosphoglyceric acid and sugar alcohols was not significant. Substantial activities of the enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) and carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (EC 2.7.2.5 and 2.7.2.9) were detected but the activities of PEP carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.49) and PEP carboxyphosphotransferase (EC 4.1.1.38) were negligible. In the dark nitrogenase activity by the cephalodia, but not by the free-living Nostoc, declined more rapidly in the absence than in the presence of CO2 in the gas phase. Exogenous NH 4 (+) inhibited nitrogenase activity by cephalodia in the dark especially in the absence of CO2 but had no effect in the light. The overall data suggest that in the lichen dark CO2 fixation by the fungus may provide carbon skeletons which accept NH 4 (+) released by the cyanobacterium and that in the absence of CO2, NH 4 (+) directly, or indirectly via a mechanism which involves glutamine synthetase, inhibits nitrogenase activity.}, } @article {pmid24306802, year = {1980}, author = {Bedmar, EJ and Olivares, J}, title = {Effect of chemical inhibitors of photorespiration on nitrogenase activity in nodulated alfalfa plants.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {150}, number = {4}, pages = {299-302}, pmid = {24306802}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Nitrogen fixation (measured as acetylene reduction) by whole nodulated alfalfa plants was stimulated when the plants were treated with isonicotinic acid hydracide (INH) and glyoxylate, both inhibitors of the glycolate pathway of carbohydrate metabolism, at concentrations of 300 and 100 mM, respectively. Reducing energetic loses caused by photorespiration results in an increase in the symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24309832, year = {1980}, author = {Sutton, WD and Paterson, AD}, title = {Effects of the plant host on the detergent sensitivity and viability of Rhizobium bacteroids.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {148}, number = {3}, pages = {287-292}, pmid = {24309832}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Bacteroids prepared from different legume species showed large differences in detergent sensitivity as judged by changes in turbidity and the release of cytochrome c oxidase activity after detergent treatments. There was a strong correlation between the detergent sensitivity and non-viability of bacteroids. Differences in the detergent sensitivity of bacteroids were determined by the plant host rather than the Rhizobium strain or the effectiveness of the symbiosis. The most common level of detergent sensitivity observed amongst bacteroids from 34 legume species was intermediate between lupin bacteroids and brothcultured bacteria.}, } @article {pmid24317866, year = {1979}, author = {Wooi, KC and Broughton, WJ}, title = {Isolation and metabolism of Vigna unguiculata root nodule protoplasts.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {145}, number = {5}, pages = {487-495}, pmid = {24317866}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Axenic cultures of bacteroid-containing protoplasts were isolated from root nodules of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Dimensions of the protoplasts were 35 to 135 μm long x 35 to 95 μm wide. Yields were about 30 to 50 mg dry weight per gram fresh weight of nodules. About 5x10(8) protoplasts packed into 1 ml of basal medium under the influence of gravity. When incubated in hypertonic, nitrogen-free media, freshly isolated protoplasts began to reduce acetylene to ethylene after a lag period of 24 to 48 h. Various additions to the basal medium showed that the system possessed functional glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid pathways. Endogenous application of various intermediary metabolites stimulated both acetylene reduction and respiration, though not often equally. As acetylene reduction, but not respiration, was inhibitable by both asparagine and glutamine, the system appears suitable for the study of mechanisms controlling symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24414160, year = {1978}, author = {Broughton, WJ and Hoh, CH and Behm, CA and Tung, HF}, title = {Development of the nitrogen fixing apparatus in the legumes, Centrosema pubescens Benth., and Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {139}, number = {2}, pages = {183-192}, pmid = {24414160}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The sequence of events leading up to the establishment of symbiotic nitrogen-fixation were studied in two tropical legumes, Centrosema pubescens Benth, and Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Parameters measured included fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll and leghaemoglobin contents, as well as the activities of NADH-nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1), and nitrogenase (nitric-oxide reductase-EC 1.7.99.2) in plants that were inoculated with suitable rhizobia or which were watered with potassium nitrate. Dry weight and photosynthetic activity of both species followed the sigmoidal pattern which is characteristic of most plants. Growth was little different in either a qualitative or quantitative sense whether nitrogen was supplied as nitrate or through dinitrogen fixation. Although the biochemical sequence of events was dependent on the limiting sensitivities of the individual assays used, the data suggest that nitrate reductase is the first measurable enzymatic activity in the nodules (and roots), followed by acetylene reduction and leghaemoglobin in that order. It is possible therefore, that low levels of symbiotic nitrogen fixation occur in the nodules in the absence of leghaemoglobin. Nitrate reductase activity in C. pubescens nodules was negatively exponentially correlated with nitrogenase activity of the same nodules, suggesting a changing metabolism in old nodules. These data are discussed in terms of environmental and physical factors known to control nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid24413952, year = {1978}, author = {Verma, DP and Hunter, N and Bal, AK}, title = {Asymbiotic association of Rhizobium with pea epicotyls treated with a plant hormone.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {138}, number = {1}, pages = {107-110}, pmid = {24413952}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Treatment of epicotyls of dark-grown pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings with indole-3-acetic acid causes swelling of the tissue. Application of Rhizobium to the cut surface of the swollen tissue results in the development of an "infection". The infection spreads in the cortical cells and proceeds 2-3 mm deep into the stem within 3-4 days. An acetylene reduction assay used for detecting nitrogen-fixation capacity of the infected tissue was negative at 10% [O2]; however, if [O2] was reduced to below 1%, some activity could be detected. Ultrastructural observations indicate that the cytoplasmic contents of the infected cells are destroyed and no membrane structure around the bacteria is formed during this infection. Rhizobium does not appear to have developed any symbiotic relationship with the host. Failure to develop symbiosis appears to result in a parasitic or saprophytic association and the nitrogen fixed under such conditions may not be of any use to the plant.}, } @article {pmid24419573, year = {1977}, author = {Gibson, AH and Pagan, JD}, title = {Nitrate effects on the nodulation of legumes inoculated with nitrate-reductase-deficient mutants of Rhizobium.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {134}, number = {1}, pages = {17-22}, pmid = {24419573}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The effect of nitrate on the symbiotic properties of nitrate-reductase-deficient mutants of a strain of cowpea rhizobia (32H1), and of a strain of Rhizobium trifolii (TA1), were examined; the host species were Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb. and Trifolium subterraneum L. Nitrate retarded initial nodulation by the mutant strains to an extent similar to that found with the parent strains. It is therefore unlikely that nitrite produced from nitrate by the rhizobia, plays a significant role in the inhibition of nodulation by nitrate. Nitrite is an inhibitor of nitrogenase, and its possible production in the nodule tissue by the action of nitrate reductase could be responsible for the observed inhibition of nitrogen fixation when nodulated plants are exposed to nitrate. However, the results of this investigation show that nitrogen fixation by the plants nodulated by parent or mutant strains was depressed by similar amounts in the presence of nitrate. No nitrite was detected in the nodules. Nodule growth, and to a lesser extent, the nitrogenase specific activity of the nodules (μmol C2H4g(-1) nodule fr. wt. h(-1)), were both affected by the added nitrate.}, } @article {pmid24408086, year = {1976}, author = {Sugar, M}, title = {At-risk factors for the adolescent mother and her infant.}, journal = {Journal of youth and adolescence}, volume = {5}, number = {3}, pages = {251-270}, pmid = {24408086}, issn = {0047-2891}, abstract = {This article describes some at-risk features for the adolescent mother and her infant. The inadequacies of the adolescent mother may be manifest in her inability to provide for herself or her infant, and in difficulties in relating to a mate in a suitable fashion since she is still dependent on and, to some extent, symbiotic with her own mother. Complications, such as the increased possibility of having crises in pregnancy, a premature birth, giving up the baby for adoption, malnutrition, decreased stimulation, and divided mothering, are detailed. Compared to infants of adult mothers, offspring of adolescent mothers have a greater risk later on of conduct disorders, absence of both parents, and placement in foster homes or institutions. The adolescent mother's dynamics seem related to oedipal conflicts, wishes to mother and be mothered, and a predominance of symbiotic or other preoedipal conflicts. Becoming a mother in adolescence may be based on efforts to separate from infantile objects, an attempt to make up for the loss thereof, or substitution and avoidance of separation-individuation conflicts; or it might be an accident to avoid regression. At-risk factors are listed for the psychiatrist and pediatrician to observe in the adolescent mother and her infant in order to be alert to the possibilities of increased complications.}, } @article {pmid24424547, year = {1976}, author = {van Staden, J and Dimalla, GG}, title = {Cytokinins from soils.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {130}, number = {1}, pages = {85-87}, pmid = {24424547}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Substances that coeluted with zeatin and zeatin riboside were extracted from soils supporting plants growing in symbiotic association with microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid24435967, year = {1975}, author = {Hill, DJ}, title = {The pattern of development of Anabaena in the Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {122}, number = {2}, pages = {179-184}, pmid = {24435967}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The development of Anabaena in the leaf cavities of Azolla (probably A. filiculoides) was studied. After the alga is installed in the cavity, heterocyst frequency rises to a maximum (20-30%) about 12 leaves from the apex, then remains constant until the leaf senesces. The size of vegetative cells of the alga increases with cell width apparently increasing linearly with increasing leaf age.}, } @article {pmid24481561, year = {1972}, author = {Hill, DJ and Ahmadjian, V}, title = {Relationship between carbohydrate movement and the symbiosis in lichens with green algae.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {103}, number = {3}, pages = {267-277}, pmid = {24481561}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {When isolated in pure culture, four genera of lichen algae were able to produce the polyol which is known to move from the alga to the fungus in lichens with these algae. This conclusion corrects earlier suggestions that the mobile polyol is only formed by the alga in the lichen thallus. Stichococcus produced sorbitol and it is therefore suggested that, in lichens with this alga, sorbitol moves between the symbionts. Hyalococcus and Stichococcus had a similar pattern of incorporation of H(14)CO 3 (-) in the light, suggesting a close relationship between these algae which are only separated now on morphological grounds.The pattern of incorporation of H(14)CO 3 (-) in the light into Cladonia cristatella and its alga (Trebouxia erici) in culture indicates that in the cultured algae more (14)C was incorporated into ethanol insoluble substances and lipids and less into ribitol than in the lichen. The pattern in a joint culture of the alga and the fungus of C. cristatella was approximately intermediate between that of the lichen and the alga. However, only a small amount of (14)C fixed by the alga reached the fungus in the joint culture, and it is therefore suggested that the presence of the fungus without morphological differentiation into a lichen thallus is not sufficient to promote the alga to release carbohydrate.}, } @article {pmid24488192, year = {1971}, author = {Hadley, G and Johnson, RP and John, DA}, title = {Fine structure of the host-fungus interface in orchid mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {100}, number = {3}, pages = {191-199}, pmid = {24488192}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {Electron microscopy of protocorms of Dactylorhiza purpurella infected with a symbiotic Rhizoctonia sp. showed that the intracellular hyphae examined did not penetrate the plasmalemma of the host cell. Walls of hyphae within cells bore many hemispherical protuberances over which the host plasmalemma was closely pressed. we estimate that these protuberances would increase the area of contact between hyphae and host plasmalemma by about 15%. They were not found on hyphae growing on agar. Except for these protuberances, and some vesicles or tubules which invaginated the fungus plasmalemma, no other structures were seen which could be suggested to be adaptations to transport across the living fungus-host interface.}, } @article {pmid24504516, year = {1969}, author = {Dörr, I and Kollmann, R}, title = {Fine structure of mycorrhiza in Neottia nidus-avis (L.) L. C. Rich. (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {89}, number = {4}, pages = {372-375}, pmid = {24504516}, issn = {0032-0935}, abstract = {The fine structural features of the symbiotic relationship between Neottia and the fungus Rhizoctonia have been examined. Different stages of development of the fungus within the orchid's root cells are described. The fungus-attacked Neottia cells show striking changes. The central vacuole is partly filled by a conspicuous plasmatic network while the nucleus enlarges considerably. Of special interest is the development of an extended rough-surfaced ER.}, } @article {pmid24435482, year = {1969}, author = {Connolly, V and Masterson, CL and Conniffe, D}, title = {Some genetic aspects of the symbiotic relationship between white clover (Trifolium repens) and Rhizobium Trifolii.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {39}, number = {5}, pages = {206-213}, pmid = {24435482}, issn = {0040-5752}, abstract = {The results of experiments with white clover (Trifolium repens) in which time of nodulation and seedling plant weight or vigour were measured are reported. Experiments 1 and 2 were conducted in artificial growth medium in test tubes with controlled inoculation and experiment 3 in soil without controlled inoculation. Experiment 1 which was preliminary in nature showed the extent of the variation for time of nodulation after inoculation with Rhizobium trifolii. It was evident also that plant vigour and the number of days to nodulation were negatively correlated. Experiment 2 forms the major part of the results and is concerned with the analyses and interpretation of the diallel cross progeny of twelve plants selected from experiment 1. The results indicated a rather complex genetic picture for the two characters measured, namely days to nodulation and seedling plant weight at 80 days. Reciprocal (both general and specific) as well as additive (g.c.a.) and non-additive (s.c.a.) effects were present. Experiment 3, in which seed from 22 families of the diallel cross was sown in soil without controlled inoculation, indicated that the results obtained under the laboratory conditions of experiment 2 and those obtained in soil conditions were not correlated. The implications of these results in relation to selection of improved varieties of the host species are discussed.}, } @article {pmid24543279, year = {1952}, author = {KORINEK, J}, title = {Isolation and multiplication of rhizobia by means of the artificial symbiosis with algae and oscillatoriae.}, journal = {Bulletin - Academie serbe des sciences. Classe des sciences mathematiques et naturelles. Sciences naturelles}, volume = {53}, number = {}, pages = {129-133}, pmid = {24543279}, issn = {0352-5651}, mesh = {*Eukaryota ; *Rhizobium ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24539315, year = {1950}, author = {ROW, R}, title = {Symbiosis in microbic cultures.}, journal = {The Indian physician}, volume = {9}, number = {11}, pages = {301-303}, pmid = {24539315}, mesh = {*Leishmania ; *Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid24539589, year = {1950}, author = {}, title = {[Complex associations in ants: commensalism, symbiosis and parasitism].}, journal = {Bulletin biologique de la France et de la Belgique}, volume = {84}, number = {4}, pages = {376-399}, pmid = {24539589}, issn = {0007-4187}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23675380, year = {2013}, author = {Berruti, A and Borriello, R and Lumini, E and Scariot, V and Bianciotto, V and Balestrini, R}, title = {Application of laser microdissection to identify the mycorrhizal fungi that establish arbuscules inside root cells.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {135}, pmid = {23675380}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Obligate symbiotic fungi that form arbuscular mycorrhizae (AMF; belonging to the Glomeromycota phylum) are some of the most important soil microorganisms. AMFs facilitate mineral nutrient uptake from the soil, in exchange for plant-assimilated carbon, and promote water-stress tolerance and resistance to certain diseases. AMFs colonize the root by producing inter- and intra-cellular hyphae. When the fungus penetrates the inner cortical cells, it produces a complex ramified structure called arbuscule, which is considered the preferential site for nutrient exchange. Direct DNA extraction from the whole root and sequencing of ribosomal gene regions are commonly carried out to investigate intraradical AMF communities. Nevertheless, this protocol cannot discriminate between the AMFs that actively produce arbuscules and those that do not. To solve this issue, the authors have characterized the AMF community of arbusculated cells (AC) through a laser microdissection (LMD) approach, combined with sequencing-based taxa identification. The results were then compared with the AMF community that was found from whole root DNA extraction. The AMF communities originating from the LMD samples and the whole root samples differed remarkably. Five taxa were involved in the production of arbuscules, while two taxa were retrieved inside the root but not in the AC. Unexpectedly, one taxon was found in the AC, but its detection was not possible when extracting from the whole root. Thus, the LMD technique can be considered a powerful tool to obtain more precise knowledge on the symbiotically active intraradical AMF community.}, } @article {pmid23674611, year = {2013}, author = {Kopp, C and Pernice, M and Domart-Coulon, I and Djediat, C and Spangenberg, JE and Alexander, DT and Hignette, M and Meziane, T and Meibom, A}, title = {Highly dynamic cellular-level response of symbiotic coral to a sudden increase in environmental nitrogen.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {e00052-13}, pmid = {23674611}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Alveolata/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry/*parasitology/*physiology ; Isotope Labeling ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Compounds/metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Organelles/chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Metabolic interactions with endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium spp. are fundamental to reef-building corals (Scleractinia) thriving in nutrient-poor tropical seas. Yet, detailed understanding at the single-cell level of nutrient assimilation, translocation, and utilization within this fundamental symbiosis is lacking. Using pulse-chase (15)N labeling and quantitative ion microprobe isotopic imaging (NanoSIMS; nanoscale secondary-ion mass spectrometry), we visualized these dynamic processes in tissues of the symbiotic coral Pocillopora damicornis at the subcellular level. Assimilation of ammonium, nitrate, and aspartic acid resulted in rapid incorporation of nitrogen into uric acid crystals (after ~45 min), forming temporary N storage sites within the dinoflagellate endosymbionts. Subsequent intracellular remobilization of this metabolite was accompanied by translocation of nitrogenous compounds to the coral host, starting at ~6 h. Within the coral tissue, nitrogen is utilized in specific cellular compartments in all four epithelia, including mucus chambers, Golgi bodies, and vesicles in calicoblastic cells. Our study shows how nitrogen-limited symbiotic corals take advantage of sudden changes in nitrogen availability; this opens new perspectives for functional studies of nutrient storage and remobilization in microbial symbioses in changing reef environments.

IMPORTANCE: The methodology applied, combining transmission electron microscopy with nanoscale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) imaging of coral tissue labeled with stable isotope tracers, allows quantification and submicrometric localization of metabolic fluxes in an intact symbiosis. This study opens the way for investigations of physiological adaptations of symbiotic systems to nutrient availability and for increasing knowledge of global nitrogen and carbon biogeochemical cycling.}, } @article {pmid23674121, year = {2013}, author = {Stobbe, U and Stobbe, A and Sproll, L and Tegel, W and Peter, M and Büntgen, U and Egli, S}, title = {New evidence for the symbiosis between Tuber aestivum and Picea abies.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {669-673}, pmid = {23674121}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Germany ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Picea/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.), an ectomycorrhizal fungus living in association with host plants, is one of the most exclusive delicacies. The symbiosis with deciduous oak, beech, and hazel dominates our concept of truffle ecophysiology, whereas potential conifer hosts have rarely been reported. Here, we present morphological and molecular evidence of a wildlife T. aestivum symbiosis with Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and an independent greenhouse inoculation experiment, to confirm our field observation in southwest Germany. A total of 27 out of 50 P. abies seedlings developed T. aestivum ectomycorrhizae with a mean mycorrhization rate of 19.6 %. These findings not only suggest P. abies to be a productive host species under suitable biogeographic conditions but also emphasize the broad ecological amplitude and great symbiotic range of T. aestivum. While challenging common knowledge, this study demonstrates a significant expansion of the species' cultivation potential to the central European regions, where P. abies forests occur on calcareous soils.}, } @article {pmid23673873, year = {2013}, author = {Guerrouj, K and Pérez-Valera, E and Chahboune, R and Abdelmoumen, H and Bedmar, EJ and El Idrissi, MM}, title = {Identification of the rhizobial symbiont of Astragalus glombiformis in Eastern Morocco as Mesorhizobium camelthorni.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {104}, number = {2}, pages = {187-198}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-013-9936-y}, pmid = {23673873}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Astragalus gombiformis is a desert symbiotic nitrogen-fixing legume of great nutritional value as fodder for camels and goats. However, there are no data published on the rhizobial bacteria that nodulate this wild legume in northern Africa. Thirty-four rhizobial bacteria were isolated from root nodules of A. gombifomis grown in sandy soils of the South-Eastern of Morocco. Twenty-five isolates were able to renodulate their original host and possessed a nodC gene copy. The phenotypic and genotypic characterizations carried out illustrated the diversity of the isolates. Phenotypic analysis showed that isolates used a great number of carbohydrates as sole carbon source. However, although they were isolated from arid sandy soils, the isolates do not tolerate drought stress applied in vitro. The phenotypic diversity corresponded mainly to the diversity in the use of some carbohydrates. The genetic analysis as assessed by repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the isolates clustered into 3 groups at a similarity coefficient of 81 %. The nearly-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence from a representative strain of each PCR-group showed they were closely related to members of the genus Mesorhizobium of the family Phyllobactericeae within the Alphaproteobacteria. Sequencing of the housekeeping genes atpD, glnII and recA, and their concatenated phylogenetic analysis, showed they are closely related to Mesorhizobium camelthorni. Sequencing of the symbiotic nodC gene from each strain revealed they had 83.53 % identity with the nodC sequence of the type strain M. camelthorni CCNWXJ 40-4(T.)}, } @article {pmid23672230, year = {2013}, author = {Tarkka, MT and Herrmann, S and Wubet, T and Feldhahn, L and Recht, S and Kurth, F and Mailänder, S and Bönn, M and Neef, M and Angay, O and Bacht, M and Graf, M and Maboreke, H and Fleischmann, F and Grams, TEE and Ruess, L and Schädler, M and Brandl, R and Scheu, S and Schrey, SD and Grosse, I and Buscot, F}, title = {OakContigDF159.1, a reference library for studying differential gene expression in Quercus robur during controlled biotic interactions: use for quantitative transcriptomic profiling of oak roots in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {2}, pages = {529-540}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12317}, pmid = {23672230}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biota ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Library ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Quercus/*genetics/*microbiology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reference Standards ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Oaks (Quercus spp.), which are major forest trees in the northern hemisphere, host many biotic interactions, but molecular investigation of these interactions is limited by fragmentary genome data. To date, only 75 oak expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have been characterized in ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbioses. We synthesized seven beneficial and detrimental biotic interactions between microorganisms and animals and a clone (DF159) of Quercus robur. Sixteen 454 and eight Illumina cDNA libraries from leaves and roots were prepared and merged to establish a reference for RNA-Seq transcriptomic analysis of oak EMs with Piloderma croceum. Using the Mimicking Intelligent Read Assembly (MIRA) and Trinity assembler, the OakContigDF159.1 hybrid assembly, containing 65 712 contigs with a mean length of 1003 bp, was constructed, giving broad coverage of metabolic pathways. This allowed us to identify 3018 oak contigs that were differentially expressed in EMs, with genes encoding proline-rich cell wall proteins and ethylene signalling-related transcription factors showing up-regulation while auxin and defence-related genes were down-regulated. In addition to the first report of remorin expression in EMs, the extensive coverage provided by the study permitted detection of differential regulation within large gene families (nitrogen, phosphorus and sugar transporters, aquaporins). This might indicate specific mechanisms of genome regulation in oak EMs compared with other trees.}, } @article {pmid23670312, year = {2013}, author = {Avelar Ferreira, PA and Lopes, G and Bomfeti, CA and de Oliveira Longatti, SM and de Sousa Soares, CR and Guimarães Guilherme, LR and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Leguminous plants nodulated by selected strains of Cupriavidus necator grow in heavy metal contaminated soils amended with calcium silicate.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {29}, number = {11}, pages = {2055-2066}, pmid = {23670312}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Calcium Carbonate ; *Calcium Compounds ; Cupriavidus necator/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Metals, Heavy/analysis/*metabolism ; Mimosa/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; *Silicates ; Soil/chemistry/parasitology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zinc/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Increasing concern regarding mining area environmental contamination with heavy metals has resulted in an emphasis of current research on phytoremediation. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of symbiotic Cupriavidus necator strains on different leguminous plants in soil contaminated with heavy metals following the application of inorganic materials. The application of limestone and calcium silicate induced a significant increase in soil pH, with reductions in zinc and cadmium availability of 99 and 94 %, respectively. In addition, improved nodulation of Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, Leucaena leucocephala and Mimosa pudica in soil with different levels of contamination was observed. Significant increases in the nitrogen content of the aerial parts of the plant were observed upon nodulation of the root system of Leucaena leucocephala and Mimosa pudica by strain UFLA01-659 (36 and 40 g kg(-1)) and by strain UFLA02-71 in Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia (39 g kg(-1)). The alleviating effect of calcium silicate resulted in higher production of dry matter from the aerial part of the plant, an increase in nodule number and an increase in the nitrogen fixation rate. The results of the present study demonstrate that the combination of rhizobia, leguminous plants and calcium silicate may represent a key factor in the remediation of areas contaminated by heavy metals.}, } @article {pmid23667711, year = {2013}, author = {Ezzat, L and Merle, PL and Furla, P and Buttler, A and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {The response of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis to thermal stress is independent of its nutritional regime.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e64370}, pmid = {23667711}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*physiology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; *Climate Change ; Energy Metabolism/*physiology ; Fluorescence ; *Hot Temperature ; Mediterranean Sea ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Over the last few decades, sessile benthic organisms from the Mediterranean Sea have suffered from the global warming of the world's oceans, and several mass mortality events were observed during warm summers. It has been hypothesized that mortality could have been due to a nutrient (food) shortage following the stratification of the water column. However, the symbiotic gorgonian Eunicella singularis has also presented a locally exceptional mortality, despite its autotrophic capacities through the photosynthesis of its dinoflagellate symbionts. Thus, this study has experimentally investigated the response of E. singularis to a thermal stress (temperature increase from 18 to 26°C), with colonies maintained more than 2 months under four nutritional diets: autotrophy only (AO), autotrophy and inorganic nitrogen addition (AN), autotrophy and heterotrophy (AH), heterotrophy only (HO). At 18°C, and contrary to many other anthozoans, supplementation of autotrophy with either inorganic nitrogen or food (heterotrophy) had no effect on the rates of respiration, photosynthesis, as well as in the chlorophyll, lipid and protein content. In the dark, heterotrophy maintained the gorgonian's metabolism, except a bleaching (loss of pigments), which did not affect the rates of photosynthesis. At 24°C, rates of respiration, and photosynthesis significantly decreased in all treatments. At 26°C, in addition to a decrease in the lipid content of all treatments, a bleaching was observed after 1 week in the AO treatment, while the AH and AN treatments resisted three weeks before bleaching. These last results suggest that, temperatures above 24°C impair the energetic reserves of this species and might explain the mortality events in the Mediterranean.}, } @article {pmid23667672, year = {2013}, author = {Sentoku, A and Ezaki, Y}, title = {Intrinsic constraints on sympodial growth morphologies of azooxanthellate scleractinian coral Dendrophyllia.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e63790}, pmid = {23667672}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*anatomy & histology/*growth & development ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Asexual increase occurs in virtually all colonial organisms. However, little is known about the intrinsic mechanisms that control asexual reproduction and the resultant morphologies of colonies. Scleractinian corals, both symbiotic (zoaxanthellate) and non-symbiotic (azooxanthellate) corals are known to form elaborate colonies. To better understand the growth mechanisms that control species-specific type of colony in azooxanthellate dendrophyllid scleractinian corals, we have studied details of the budding pattern in the sympodial colonies of Dendrophyllia boschmai and Dendrophyllia cribrosa.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Budding exhibits the following regularities: (1) the two directive septa of offset corallites are oriented almost perpendicular to the growth direction of parent corallites; (2) offsets generally occur in either of the lateral primary septa that occur on one side of a corallite; the individuals thus show a definite polarity with respect to the directive septa, and only when branching dichotomously offsets occur in both primary septa; (3) the lateral corallites grow more-or-less diagonally upwards; and (4) the regularities and polarities are maintained throughout growth. Given these regularities, D. boschmai grows in a zigzag fashion by alternately budding on the right and left sites. In contrast, D. cribrosa grows helically by budding at a particular site.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The strict constraints on budding regularities and shifts in budding sites observed in the sympodial growth forms of corals greatly affect resulting morphologies in azooxanthellate coral colonies. A precise understanding of these intrinsic constraints leads to a fundamental comprehension of colony-forming mechanisms in modular organisms.}, } @article {pmid23667413, year = {2013}, author = {Mello, A and Ding, GC and Piceno, YM and Napoli, C and Tom, LM and DeSantis, TZ and Andersen, GL and Smalla, K and Bonfante, P}, title = {Truffle brûlés have an impact on the diversity of soil bacterial communities.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e61945}, pmid = {23667413}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Bacillus/classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Archaeal/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; France ; Microarray Analysis ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Tubers/microbiology ; Proteobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Pseudomonas/classification/*genetics ; Quercus/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/classification/*genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The development of Tuber melanosporum mycorrhizal symbiosis is associated with the production of an area devoid of vegetation (commonly referred to by the French word 'brûlé') around the symbiotic plants and where the fruiting bodies of T. melanosporum are usually collected. The extent of the ecological impact of such an area is still being discovered. While the relationship between T. melanosporum and the other fungi present in the brûlé has been assessed, no data are available on the relationship between this fungus and the bacteria inhabiting the brûlé.

We used DGGE and DNA microarrays of 16S rRNA gene fragments to compare the bacterial and archaeal communities inside and outside of truffle brûlés. Soil samples were collected in 2008 from four productive T. melanosporum/Quercus pubescens truffle-grounds located in Cahors, France, showing characteristic truffle brûlé. All the samples were analyzed by DGGE and one truffle-ground was analyzed also using phylogenetic microarrays. DGGE profiles showed differences in the bacterial community composition, and the microarrays revealed a few differences in relative richness between the brûlé interior and exterior zones, as well as differences in the relative abundance of several taxa.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The different signal intensities we have measured for members of bacteria and archaea inside versus outside the brûlé are the first demonstration, to our knowledge, that not only fungal communities, but also other microorganisms are affected by T. melanosporum. Firmicutes (e.g., Bacillus), several genera of Actinobacteria, and a few Cyanobacteria had greater representation inside the brûlé compared with outside, whereas Pseudomonas and several genera within the class Flavobacteriaceae had higher relative abundances outside the brûlé. The findings from this study may contribute to future searches for microbial bio-indicators of brûlés.}, } @article {pmid23666538, year = {2013}, author = {Kasai-Maita, H and Hirakawa, H and Nakamura, Y and Kaneko, T and Miki, K and Maruya, J and Okazaki, S and Tabata, S and Saeki, K and Sato, S}, title = {Commonalities and differences among symbiosis islands of three Mesorhizobium loti strains.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {275-278}, pmid = {23666538}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Order ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genomic Islands ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {To shed light on the breadth of the host range of Mesorhizobium loti strain NZP2037, we determined the sequence of the NZP2037 symbiosis island and compared it with those of strain MAFF303099 and R7A islands. The determined 533 kb sequence of NZP2037 symbiosis island, on which 504 genes were predicted, implied its integration into a phenylalanine-tRNA gene and subsequent genome rearrangement. Comparative analysis revealed that the core regions of the three symbiosis islands consisted of 165 genes. We also identified several NZP2037-specific genes with putative functions in nodulation-related events, suggesting that these genes contribute to broaden the host range of NZP2037.}, } @article {pmid23666478, year = {2013}, author = {Stobbe, U and Egli, S and Tegel, W and Peter, M and Sproll, L and Büntgen, U}, title = {Potential and limitations of Burgundy truffle cultivation.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {97}, number = {12}, pages = {5215-5224}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-013-4956-0}, pmid = {23666478}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*growth & development ; Europe ; Food Microbiology/*methods ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plants/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Burgundy truffles (Tuber aestivum syn. Tuber uncinatum) are the highly prized fruit bodies of subterranean fungi always occurring in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with host plants. Successful cultivation can be achieved through artificial mycorrhization and outplanting of mostly oaks and hazel on suitable terrain. Here, we review ecological requirements, the influence of environmental factors, and the importance of molecular techniques for a successful cultivation of T. aestivum across Europe. The historical background and current knowledge of T. aestivum cultivation are discussed in light of its socioeconomic relevance.}, } @article {pmid23665536, year = {2013}, author = {Park, KH and Kim, MG and Ahn, HJ and Lee, DH and Kim, JH and Kim, YW and Woo, EJ}, title = {Structural and biochemical characterization of the broad substrate specificity of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron commensal sialidase.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1834}, number = {8}, pages = {1510-1519}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbapap.2013.04.028}, pmid = {23665536}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacteroides/*enzymology ; Binding Sites ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Kinetics ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/*analogs & derivatives/*metabolism ; Neuraminidase/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Substrate Specificity ; Sulfonic Acids/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sialidases release the terminal sialic acid residue from a wide range of sialic acid-containing polysaccharides. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a symbiotic commensal microbe, resides in and dominates the human intestinal tract. We characterized the recombinant sialidase from B. thetaiotaomicron (BTSA) and demonstrated that it has broad substrate specificity with a relative activity of 97, 100 and 64 for 2,3-, 2,6- and 2,8-linked sialic substrates, respectively. The hydrolysis activity of BTSA was inhibited by a transition state analogue, 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetyl neuraminic acid, by competitive inhibition with a Ki value of 35μM. The structure of BSTA was determined at a resolution of 2.3Å. This structure exhibited a unique carbohydrate-binding domain (CBM) at its N-terminus (a.a. 23-190) that is adjacent to the catalytic domain (a.a. 191-535). The catalytic domain has a conserved arginine triad with a wide-open entrance for the substrate that exposes the catalytic residue to the surface. Unlike other pathogenic sialidases, the polysaccharide-binding site in the CBM is near the active site and possibly holds and positions the polysaccharide substrate directly at the active site. The structural feature of a wide substrate-binding groove and closer proximity of the polysaccharide-binding site to the active site could be a unique signature of the commensal sialidase BTSA and provide a molecular basis for its pharmaceutical application.}, } @article {pmid23664259, year = {2013}, author = {Stadie, J and Gulitz, A and Ehrmann, MA and Vogel, RF}, title = {Metabolic activity and symbiotic interactions of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts isolated from water kefir.}, journal = {Food microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {92-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2013.03.009}, pmid = {23664259}, issn = {1095-9998}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Cattle ; Coculture Techniques ; Cultured Milk Products/*microbiology ; Fermentation ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Lactobacillus/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Milk/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Yeasts/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Water kefir is a mildly sour and alcoholic drink fermented by a stable microbial multispecies community. With its high sugar content and low amino acid concentration water kefir medium represents a demanding habitat. In this ecological niche only well adapted microorganisms which are fit to the consortium are able to grow and mutually provide essential nutrients. The synergism between main representatives of water kefir yeasts and lactobacilli was studied in a co-culture model system. Co-cultivation of yeasts and lactobacilli in water kefir medium significantly increased cell yield of all interaction partners, delineating the interaction of these water kefir isolates as mutualism. The support of Zygotorulaspora (Z.) florentina was due to the acidification of the medium by the lactobacilli, whereas lactobacilli are improved in growth by the disposal of essential nutrients produced by yeasts. The trophic interaction between Lactobacillus (Lb.) hordei and yeasts is constituted by the release of amino acids and Vitamin B6 from yeasts, whereas Lb. nagelii is supported in growth by their production of amino acids. The interaction of Z. florentina and Lb. nagelii was further examined to reveal that co-cultivation induced the yeast to release arginine, which was essential for Lb. nagelii.}, } @article {pmid23663780, year = {2013}, author = {Mukherji, A and Kobiita, A and Ye, T and Chambon, P}, title = {Homeostasis in intestinal epithelium is orchestrated by the circadian clock and microbiota cues transduced by TLRs.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {153}, number = {4}, pages = {812-827}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.020}, pmid = {23663780}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {Animals ; Corticosterone/metabolism ; Ileum/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Male ; *Metagenome ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1/metabolism ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptors/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Alterations of symbiosis between microbiota and intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) are associated with intestinal and systemic pathologies. Interactions between bacterial products (MAMPs) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are known to be mandatory for IEC homeostasis, but how TLRs may time homeostatic functions with circadian changes is unknown. Our functional and molecular dissections of the IEC circadian clock demonstrate that its integrity is required for microbiota-IEC dialog. In IEC, the antiphasic expression of the RORα activator and RevErbα repressor clock output regulators generates a circadian rhythmic TLR expression that converts the temporally arrhythmic microbiota signaling into circadian rhythmic JNK and IKKβ activities, which prevents RevErbα activation by PPARα that would disrupt the circadian clock. Moreover, through activation of AP1 and NF-κB, these activities, together with RORα and RevErbα, enable timing homeostatic functions of numerous genes with IEC circadian events. Interestingly, microbiota signaling deficiencies induce a prediabetic syndrome due to ileal corticosterone overproduction consequent to clock disruption.}, } @article {pmid23663779, year = {2013}, author = {Lee, KA and Kim, SH and Kim, EK and Ha, EM and You, H and Kim, B and Kim, MJ and Kwon, Y and Ryu, JH and Lee, WJ}, title = {Bacterial-derived uracil as a modulator of mucosal immunity and gut-microbe homeostasis in Drosophila.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {153}, number = {4}, pages = {797-811}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.009}, pmid = {23663779}, issn = {1097-4172}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*immunology/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; NADPH Oxidases/metabolism ; Pectobacterium carotovorum/*physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Stem Cells/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Uracil/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {All metazoan guts are subjected to immunologically unique conditions in which an efficient antimicrobial system operates to eliminate pathogens while tolerating symbiotic commensal microbiota. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling this process are only partially understood. Here, we show that bacterial-derived uracil acts as a ligand for dual oxidase (DUOX)-dependent reactive oxygen species generation in Drosophila gut and that the uracil production in bacteria causes inflammation in the gut. The acute and controlled uracil-induced immune response is required for efficient elimination of bacteria, intestinal cell repair, and host survival during infection of nonresident species. Among resident gut microbiota, uracil production is absent in symbionts, allowing harmonious colonization without DUOX activation, whereas uracil release from opportunistic pathobionts provokes chronic inflammation. These results reveal that bacteria with distinct abilities to activate uracil-induced gut inflammation, in terms of intensity and duration, act as critical factors that determine homeostasis or pathogenesis in gut-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid23663433, year = {2013}, author = {Grostern, A and Alvarez-Cohen, L}, title = {RubisCO-based CO2 fixation and C1 metabolism in the actinobacterium Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {11}, pages = {3040-3053}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12144}, pmid = {23663433}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {ES04705-19/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinomycetales/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Chemoautotrophic Growth/*genetics ; Multigene Family ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Photosynthesis/*genetics ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pseudonocardia is an actinobacterial genus of interest due to its potential biotechnological, medical and environmental remediation applications, as well as for the ecologically relevant symbiotic relationships it forms with attine ants. Some Pseudonocardia spp. can grow autotrophically, but the genetic basis of this capability has not previously been reported. In this study, we examined autotrophy in Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190, which can grow using H2 and CO2, as well as heterotrophically. Genomic and transcriptomic analysis of CB1190 cells grown with H2/bicarbonate implicated the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle in growth-supporting CO2 fixation, as well as a [NiFe] hydrogenase-encoding gene cluster in H2 oxidation. The CBB cycle genes are evolutionarily most related to actinobacterial homologues, although synteny has not been maintained. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity was confirmed in H2/bicarbonate-grown CB1190 cells and was detected in cells grown with the C1 compounds formate, methanol and carbon monoxide. We also demonstrated the upregulation of CBB cycle genes upon exposure of CB1190 to these C1 substrates, and identified genes putatively involved in generating CO2 from the C1 substrates by using RT-qPCR. Finally, the potential for autotrophic growth of other Pseudonocardia spp. was explored, and the ecological implications of autotrophy in attine ant- and plant root-associated Pseudonocardia discussed.}, } @article {pmid23663036, year = {2013}, author = {Delaux, PM and Bécard, G and Combier, JP}, title = {NSP1 is a component of the Myc signaling pathway.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {59-65}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12340}, pmid = {23663036}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhization require the activation of plant host symbiotic programs by Nod factors, and Myc-LCOs and COs, respectively. The pathways involved in the perception and downstream signaling of these signals include common and distinct components. Among the distinct components, NSP1, a GRAS transcription factor, has been considered for years to be specifically involved in nodulation. Here, we analyzed the degree of conservation of the NSP1 sequence in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) host and non-AM host plants and carefully examined the ability of Medicago truncatula nsp1 mutants to respond to Myc-LCOs and to be colonized by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. In AM-host plants, the selection pressure on NSP1 is stronger than in non-AM host ones. The response to Myc-LCOs and the frequency of mycorrhizal colonization are significantly reduced in the nsp1 mutants. Our results reveal that NSP1, previously described for its involvement in the Nod factor signaling pathway, is also involved in the Myc-LCO signaling pathway. They bring additional evidence on the evolutionary relatedness between nodulation and mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid23662629, year = {2013}, author = {Rech, SS and Heidt, S and Requena, N}, title = {A tandem Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI106)-serine carboxypeptidase (SCP1) controls mycorrhiza establishment and arbuscule development in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {75}, number = {5}, pages = {711-725}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12242}, pmid = {23662629}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Carboxypeptidases/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/*microbiology ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Peptides/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA Interference ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Plant proteases and protease inhibitors are involved in plant developmental processes including those involving interactions with microbes. Here we show that a tandem between a Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI106) and a serine carboxypeptidase (SCP1) controls arbuscular mycorrhiza development in the root cortex of Medicago truncatula. Both proteins are only induced during mycorrhiza formation and belong to large families whose members are also mycorrhiza-specific. Furthermore, the interaction between KPI106 and SCP1 analysed using the yeast two-hybrid system is specific, indicating that each family member might have a defined counterpart. In silico docking analysis predicted a putative P1 residue in KPI106 (Lys173) that fits into the catalytic pocket of SCP1, suggesting that KPI106 might inhibit the enzyme activity by mimicking the protease substrate. In vitro mutagenesis of the Lys173 showed that this residue is important in determining the strength and specificity of the interaction. The RNA interference (RNAi) inactivation of the serine carboxypeptidase SCP1 produces aberrant mycorrhizal development with an increased number of septated hyphae and degenerate arbuscules, a phenotype also observed when overexpressing KPI106. Protease and inhibitor are both secreted as observed when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana epidermal cells. Taken together we envisage a model in which the protease SCP1 is secreted in the apoplast where it produces a peptide signal critical for proper fungal development within the root. KPI106 also at the apoplast would modulate the spatial and/or temporal activity of SCP1 by competing with the protease substrate.}, } @article {pmid23661760, year = {2013}, author = {Bian, G and Joshi, D and Dong, Y and Lu, P and Zhou, G and Pan, X and Xu, Y and Dimopoulos, G and Xi, Z}, title = {Wolbachia invades Anopheles stephensi populations and induces refractoriness to Plasmodium infection.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {340}, number = {6133}, pages = {748-751}, doi = {10.1126/science.1236192}, pmid = {23661760}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {R01AI061576/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI080597/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21AI082141/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology/*prevention & control ; Male ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Plasmodium falciparum/*growth & development ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Wolbachia/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted symbiotic bacterium of insects that has been proposed as a potential agent for the control of insect-transmitted diseases. One of the major limitations preventing the development of Wolbachia for malaria control has been the inability to establish inherited infections of Wolbachia in anopheline mosquitoes. Here, we report the establishment of a stable Wolbachia infection in an important malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi. In A. stephensi, Wolbachia strain wAlbB displays both perfect maternal transmission and the ability to induce high levels of cytoplasmic incompatibility. Seeding of naturally uninfected A. stephensi populations with infected females repeatedly resulted in Wolbachia invasion of laboratory mosquito populations. Furthermore, wAlbB conferred resistance in the mosquito to the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.}, } @article {pmid23659474, year = {2013}, author = {Xu, W and Cai, J and Li, S and Zhang, H and Han, J and Wen, M and Wen, J and Gao, F}, title = {Improving the in vivo persistence, distribution and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by inhibiting the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment.}, journal = {Scandinavian journal of immunology}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {50-60}, doi = {10.1111/sji.12065}, pmid = {23659474}, issn = {1365-3083}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cyclophosphamide/pharmacology ; Cytokines/blood ; *Immune Tolerance ; *Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology/*therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/*immunology ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Adoptive cell transfer immunotherapy of malignant tumors has the problem of symbiosis between effector cells and tumor cells, a short in vivo residence time, and a poor killing efficiency of effector cells. Thus, releasing effector cells from the cancer immunosuppressive microenvironment and improving their effective time and functional status in vivo would seem to be ideal strategies for facilitating immunotherapy. Low-dose cyclophosphamide administration can effectively break immunotolerance by inhibiting regulatory T cells. In the present study, in order to verify whether the persistence, distribution and function of effector cells can be improved by inhibiting immunosuppressive microenvironment, low-dose cyclophosphamide was previously intraperitoneally injected into melanoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice, thereafter, CFSE-labeled cytotoxic T lymphocytes were transfused intravenously, and their effective time, distributive pattern, and killing efficiency in different groups were observed by measuring the fluorescence intensity and cell cycle of cytotoxic T lymphocytes distributed in various organs, in comparison with tumor growth. We found down-regulating Tregs in vivo can simultaneously reduce the levels of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β. Migration and distribution of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo was found to vary with time. Inhibition of immunotolerance can significantly improve the persistence, distribution, and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Correspondingly, significantly higher secretion of perforin, granzyme B, IL-2, and IFN-γ in tumor tissues with decreased tumor growth was seen in the cyclophosphamide injection group than in the control group. Our study may provide useful information on the cyclophosphamide-mediated mechanism for facilitating tumor immunotherapy by inhibiting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.}, } @article {pmid23659431, year = {2013}, author = {Varga, S and Vega-Frutis, R and Kytöviita, MM}, title = {Transgenerational effects of plant sex and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {3}, pages = {812-821}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12305}, pmid = {23659431}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Geranium/*microbiology/*physiology ; Germination ; Linear Models ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Seeds/growth & development ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In gynodioecious plants, females are predicted to produce more and/or better offspring than hermaphrodites in order to be maintained in the same population. In the field, the roots of both sexes are usually colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Transgenerational effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis are largely unknown, although theoretically expected. We examined the maternal and paternal effects of AM fungal symbiosis and host sex on seed production and posterior seedling performance in Geranium sylvaticum, a gynodioecious plant. We hand-pollinated cloned females and hermaphrodites in symbiosis with AM fungi or in nonmycorrhizal conditions and measured seed number and mass, and seedling survival and growth in a glasshouse experiment. Females produced more seeds than hermaphrodites, but the seeds did not germinate, survive or grow better. Mycorrhizal plants were larger, but did not produce more seeds than nonmycorrhizal plants. Transgenerational parental effects of AM fungi were verified in seedling performance. This is the first study to show transgenerational mycorrhiza-mediated parental effects in a gynodioecious species. Mycorrhizal symbiosis affects plant fitness mainly through female functions with enduring effects on the next generation.}, } @article {pmid23658520, year = {2013}, author = {Johnson, LJ and Koulman, A and Christensen, M and Lane, GA and Fraser, K and Forester, N and Johnson, RD and Bryan, GT and Rasmussen, S}, title = {An extracellular siderophore is required to maintain the mutualistic interaction of Epichloë festucae with Lolium perenne.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {9}, number = {5}, pages = {e1003332}, pmid = {23658520}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {MC_PC_13030/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_UP_A090_1006/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Epichloe/genetics/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Fungal/physiology ; Iron/*metabolism ; Lolium/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Siderophores/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We have identified from the mutualistic grass endophyte Epichloë festucae a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene (sidN) encoding a siderophore synthetase. The enzymatic product of SidN is shown to be a novel extracellular siderophore designated as epichloënin A, related to ferrirubin from the ferrichrome family. Targeted gene disruption of sidN eliminated biosynthesis of epichloënin A in vitro and in planta. During iron-depleted axenic growth, ΔsidN mutants accumulated the pathway intermediate N(5)-trans-anhydromevalonyl-N(5)-hydroxyornithine (trans-AMHO), displayed sensitivity to oxidative stress and showed deficiencies in both polarized hyphal growth and sporulation. Infection of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) with ΔsidN mutants resulted in perturbations of the endophyte-grass symbioses. Deviations from the characteristic tightly regulated synchronous growth of the fungus with its plant partner were observed and infected plants were stunted. Analysis of these plants by light and transmission electron microscopy revealed abnormalities in the distribution and localization of ΔsidN mutant hyphae as well as deformities in hyphal ultrastructure. We hypothesize that lack of epichloënin A alters iron homeostasis of the symbiotum, changing it from mutually beneficial to antagonistic. Iron itself or epichloënin A may serve as an important molecular/cellular signal for controlling fungal growth and hence the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid23658210, year = {2013}, author = {Djoumad, A and Stoltz, D and Béliveau, C and Boyle, B and Kuhn, L and Cusson, M}, title = {Ultrastructural and genomic characterization of a second banchine polydnavirus confirms the existence of shared features within this ichnovirus lineage.}, journal = {The Journal of general virology}, volume = {94}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1888-1895}, doi = {10.1099/vir.0.052506-0}, pmid = {23658210}, issn = {1465-2099}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Viral/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Viral ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics/isolation & purification/*ultrastructure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Virion/*ultrastructure ; Wasps/*virology ; }, abstract = {Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are symbiotic viruses carried by endoparasitic wasps and transmitted to caterpillar hosts during parasitization. Although they share several features, including a segmented dsDNA genome, a unique life cycle where replication is restricted to the wasp host, and immunodepressive/developmental effects on the caterpillar host, PDVs carried by ichneumonid and braconid wasps (referred to as ichnoviruses and bracoviruses, respectively) have different evolutionary origins. In addition, ichnoviruses (IVs) form two distinct lineages, with viral entities found in wasps belonging to the subfamilies Campopleginae and Banchinae displaying strikingly different virion morphologies and genomic features. However, the current description for banchine IVs is based on the characterization of a single species, namely that of the Glypta fumiferanae IV (GfIV). Here we provide an ultrastructural and genomic analysis of a second banchine IV isolated from the wasp Apophua simplicipes, and we show that this virus shares many features with GfIV, including a multi-nucleocapsid virion, an aggregate genome size of ~300 kb, genome segments <5 kb, an impressively high degree of genome segmentation and a very similar gene content (same gene families in both viruses). Altogether, the data presented here confirm the existence of shared characteristics within this banchine IV lineage.}, } @article {pmid23657492, year = {2013}, author = {Brachmann, AO and Bode, HB}, title = {Identification and bioanalysis of natural products from insect symbionts and pathogens.}, journal = {Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology}, volume = {135}, number = {}, pages = {123-155}, doi = {10.1007/10_2013_192}, pmid = {23657492}, issn = {0724-6145}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; *Biological Products ; *Insecta ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {: With the development of several novel methods in genome sequencing, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry a new area of natural product chemistry is currently starting that allows the analysis of minute amounts of complex biological samples. The combination of these methods, as discussed in this review, also enables the analysis of bacteria living in symbiosis or being pathogenic to insects, which might be the largest reservoir for novel microbes associated with higher organisms due to the huge number of insect species.}, } @article {pmid23656873, year = {2013}, author = {Barraza, A and Sánchez, F}, title = {Trehalases: a neglected carbon metabolism regulator?.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e24778}, pmid = {23656873}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Plants/*enzymology/genetics ; Structural Homology, Protein ; Trehalase/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Trehalases are enzymes that carry out the degradation of the non-reducing disaccharide trehalose. Trehalase phylogeny unveiled three major branches comprising those from bacteria; plant and animals; and those from fungal origin. Comparative analysis between several deduced trehalase structures and the crystallographic structure of bacterial trehalase indicated that these enzyme's structures are highly conserved in spite of the marked differences found at the sequence level. These results suggest a bacterial origin for the trehalases in contrast to an eukaryotic origin, as previously proposed. Trehalases structural analysis showed that they contain six discrete motifs which are characteristic of each phylogenetic group, suggesting a positive evolutionary selection pressure for the structural conservation. Interestingly, trehalases are involved in multiple regulatory functions: In the response against pathogens (plant-pathogen interactions); the regulation of bacterial viability in symbiotic interactions (legume-Rhizobium); carbon partitioning in plants; regulating chitin biosynthesis, as well as energy supply in the hemolymph for flight, in insects. In summary, trehalases seem to have a prokaryotic origin and play an active role in carbon metabolism and other diverse regulatory effects on cell physiology.}, } @article {pmid23656864, year = {2013}, author = {Pii, Y and Molesini, B and Pandolfini, T}, title = {The involvement of Medicago truncatula non-specific lipid transfer protein N5 in the control of rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e24836}, pmid = {23656864}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, Plant/*physiology ; Carrier Proteins/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cysteine-rich proteins seem to play important regulatory roles in Medicago truncatula/Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis. In particular, a large family of nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides is crucial for the differentiation of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The Medicago truncatula N5 protein (MtN5) is currently the only reported non-specific lipid transfer protein necessary for successful rhizobial symbiosis; in addition, MtN5 shares several characteristics with NCR peptides: a small size, a conserved cysteine-rich motif, an N-terminal signal peptide for secretion and antimicrobial activity. Unlike NCR peptides, MtN5 expression is not restricted to the root nodules and is induced during the early phases of symbiosis in root hairs and nodule primordia. Recently, MtN5 was determined to be involved in the regulation of root tissue invasion; while, it was dispensable for nodule primordia formation. Here, we discuss the hypothesis that MtN5 participates in linking the progression of bacterial invasion with restricting the competence of root hairs for infection.}, } @article {pmid23656332, year = {2013}, author = {Navarro-Ródenas, A and Bárzana, G and Nicolás, E and Carra, A and Schubert, A and Morte, A}, title = {Expression analysis of aquaporins from desert truffle mycorrhizal symbiosis reveals a fine-tuned regulation under drought.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {1068-1078}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-12-0178-R}, pmid = {23656332}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Aquaporins/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Ascomycota/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Biological Transport ; Cistaceae/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Droughts ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Transpiration ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {We have performed the isolation, functional characterization, and expression analysis of aquaporins in roots and leaves of Helianthemum almeriense, in order to evaluate their roles in tolerance to water deficit. Five cDNAs, named HaPIP1;1, HaPIP1;2, HaPIP2;1, HaPIP2;2, and HaTIP1;1, were isolated from H. almeriense. A phylogenetic analysis of deduced proteins confirmed that they belong to the water channel proteins family. The HaPIP1;1, HaPIP2;1, and HaTIP1;1 genes encode functional water channel proteins, as indicated by expression assays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showing divergent roles in the transport of water, CO2, and NH3. The expression patterns of the genes isolated from H. almeriense and of a previously described gene from Terfezia claveryi (TcAQP1) were analyzed in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants cultivated under well-watered or drought-stress conditions. Some of the studied aquaporins were subjected to fine-tuned expression only under drought-stress conditions. A beneficial effect on plant physiological parameters was observed in mycorrhizal plants with respect to nonmycorrhizal ones. Moreover, stress induced a change in the mycorrhizal type formed, which was more intracellular under drought stress. The combination of a high intracellular colonization, together with the fine-tuned expression of aquaporins could result in a morphophysiological adaptation of this symbiosis to drought conditions.}, } @article {pmid23656330, year = {2013}, author = {Mendis, HC and Queiroux, C and Brewer, TE and Davis, OM and Washburn, BK and Jones, KM}, title = {The succinoglycan endoglycanase encoded by exoK is required for efficient symbiosis of Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 with the host plants Medicago truncatula and Medicago sativa (Alfalfa).}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {9}, pages = {1089-1105}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-13-0087-R}, pmid = {23656330}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Glycoside Hydrolases/*genetics/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The acidic polysaccharide succinoglycan produced by the nitrogen-fixing rhizobial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 is required for this bacterium to invade the host plant Medicago truncatula and to efficiently invade the host plant M. sativa (alfalfa). The β-glucanase enzyme encoded by exoK has previously been demonstrated to cleave succinoglycan and participate in producing the low molecular weight form of this polysaccharide. Here, we show that exoK is required for efficient S. meliloti invasion of both M. truncatula and alfalfa. Deletion mutants of exoK have a substantial reduction in symbiotic productivity on both of these plant hosts. Insertion mutants of exoK have an even less productive symbiosis than the deletion mutants with the host M. truncatula that is caused by a secondary effect of the insertion itself, and may be due to a polar effect on the expression of the downstream exoLAMON genes.}, } @article {pmid23653496, year = {2013}, author = {Kajihara, H and Kuris, AM}, title = {Ovicides paralithodis (Nemertea, Carcinonemertidae), a new species of symbiotic egg predator of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815) (Decapoda, Anomura).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {258}, pages = {1-15}, pmid = {23653496}, issn = {1313-2989}, abstract = {Ovicides paralithodis sp. n. is described from the egg mass of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815) from the Sea of Okhotsk, off Hokkaido, Japan, and Alaska, USA. Among four congeners, Ovicides paralithodis can be distinguished from Ovicides julieae Shields, 2001 and Ovicides davidi Shields and Segonzac, 2007 by having no eyes; from Ovicides jonesi Shields and Segonzac, 2007 by the presence of basophilic, vacuolated glandular lobes in the precerebral region; and from Ovicides jasoni Shields and Segonzac, 2007 by the arrangement of the acidophilic submuscular glands, which are not arranged in a row. Ovicides paralithodis represents the third described species of egg-predatory nemertean from Paralithodes camtschaticus, the second described carcinonemertid species from Japan, and the 21st described species in the family. The intensity of infestations may exceed 24,000 worms per a single egg-bearing pleopod of Paralithodes camtschaticus. A preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of 28S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes among selected monostiliferous hoplonemertean species supported the monophyly of Carcinonemertidae, suggesting that within the lineage of the family, evolution of the unique vas deferens, Takakura's duct, preceded loss of accessory stylets and accessory-stylet pouches.}, } @article {pmid23653358, year = {2013}, author = {Bianchetti, CM and Harmann, CH and Takasuka, TE and Hura, GL and Dyer, K and Fox, BG}, title = {Fusion of dioxygenase and lignin-binding domains in a novel secreted enzyme from cellulolytic Streptomyces sp. SirexAA-E.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {288}, number = {25}, pages = {18574-18587}, pmid = {23653358}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {R01 GM105404/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Binding Sites/genetics ; Biocatalysis ; Catechols/chemistry/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Chitin/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Dioxygenases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Fusion ; Iron/chemistry/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Structure ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protein Binding ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Streptomyces/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces sp. SirexAA-E is a highly cellulolytic bacterium isolated from an insect/microbe symbiotic community. When grown on lignin-containing biomass, it secretes SACTE_2871, an aromatic ring dioxygenase domain fused to a family 5/12 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM 5/12). Here we present structural and catalytic studies of this novel fusion enzyme, thus providing insight into its function. The dioxygenase domain has the core β-sandwich fold typical of this enzyme family but lacks a dimerization domain observed in other intradiol dioxygenases. Consequently, the x-ray structure shows that the enzyme is monomeric and the Fe(III)-containing active site is exposed to solvent in a shallow depression on a planar surface. Purified SACTE_2871 catalyzes the O2-dependent intradiol cleavage of catechyl compounds from lignin biosynthetic pathways, but not their methylated derivatives. Binding studies show that SACTE_2871 binds synthetic lignin polymers and chitin through the interactions of the CBM 5/12 domain, representing a new binding specificity for this fold-family. Based on its unique structural features and functional properties, we propose that SACTE_2871 contributes to the invasive nature of the insect/microbial community by destroying precursors needed by the plant for de novo lignin biosynthesis as part of its natural wounding response.}, } @article {pmid23652766, year = {2013}, author = {Oliveira, LR and Rodrigues, EP and Marcelino-Guimarães, FC and Oliveira, AL and Hungria, M}, title = {Fast induction of biosynthetic polysaccharide genes lpxA, lpxE, and rkpI of Rhizobium sp. strain PRF 81 by common bean seed exudates is indicative of a key role in symbiosis.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {275-283}, pmid = {23652766}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Phaseolus/*chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Exudates/*pharmacology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*genetics ; Seeds/*chemistry ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial surface polysaccharides (SPS) are, together with nodulation (Nod) factors, recognized as key molecules for establishment of rhizobia-legume symbiosis. In Rhizobium tropici, an important nitrogen-fixing symbiont of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), molecular structures and symbiotic roles of the SPS are poorly understood. In this study, Rhizobium sp. strain PRF 81 genes, belonging to the R. tropici group, were investigated: lpxA and lpxE, involved in biosynthesis and modification of the lipid-A anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and rkpI, involved in synthesis of a lipid carrier required for production of capsular polysaccharides (KPS). Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed, for the first time, that inducers released from common bean seeds strongly stimulated expression of all three SPS genes. When PRF 81 cells were grown for 48 h in the presence of seed exudates, twofold increases (p < 0.05) in the transcription levels of lpxE, lpxA, and rkpI genes were observed. However, higher increases (p < 0.05) in transcription rates, about 50-fold for lpxE and about 30-fold for lpxA and rkpI, were observed after only 5 min of incubation with common bean seed exudates. Evolutionary analyses revealed that lpxA and lpxE of PRF81 and of the type strain of R. tropici CIAT899(T)clustered with orthologous Rhizobium radiobacter and were more related to R. etli and Rhizobium leguminosarum, while rkpI was closer to the Sinorhizobium sp. group. Upregulation of lpxE, lpxA, and rkpI genes suggests that seed exudates can modulate production of SPS of Rhizobium sp. PRF81, leading to cell wall changes necessary for symbiosis establishment.}, } @article {pmid23647797, year = {2013}, author = {Hogekamp, C and Küster, H}, title = {A roadmap of cell-type specific gene expression during sequential stages of the arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {306}, pmid = {23647797}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: About 80% of today's land plants are able to establish an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with Glomeromycota fungi to improve their access to nutrients and water in the soil. On the molecular level, the development of AM symbioses is only partly understood, due to the asynchronous development of the microsymbionts in the host roots. Although many genes specifically activated during fungal colonization have been identified, genome-wide information on the exact place and time point of their activation remains limited.

RESULTS: In this study, we relied on a combination of laser-microdissection and the use of Medicago GeneChips to perform a genome-wide analysis of transcription patterns in defined cell-types of Medicago truncatula roots mycorrhized with Glomus intraradices. To cover major stages of AM development, we harvested cells at 5-6 and at 21 days post inoculation (dpi). Early developmental stages of the AM symbiosis were analysed by monitoring gene expression in appressorial and non-appressorial areas from roots harbouring infection units at 5-6 dpi. Here, the use of laser-microdissection for the first time enabled the targeted harvest of those sites, where fungal hyphae first penetrate the root. Circumventing contamination with developing arbuscules, we were able to specifically detect gene expression related to early infection events. To cover the late stages of AM formation, we studied arbusculated cells, cortical cells colonized by intraradical hyphae, and epidermal cells from mature mycorrhizal roots at 21 dpi. Taken together, the cell-specific expression patterns of 18014 genes were revealed, including 1392 genes whose transcription was influenced by mycorrhizal colonization at different stages, namely the pre-contact phase, the infection of roots via fungal appressoria, the subsequent colonization of the cortex by fungal hyphae, and finally the formation of arbuscules. Our cellular expression patterns identified distinct groups of AM-activated genes governing the sequential reprogramming of host roots towards an accommodation of microsymbionts, including 42 AM-activated transcription factor genes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our genome-wide analysis provides novel information on the cell-specific activity of AM-activated genes during both early and late stages of AM development, together revealing the road map of fine-tuned adjustments of transcript accumulation within root tissues during AM fungal colonization.}, } @article {pmid23646174, year = {2013}, author = {Matsuki, T and Pédron, T and Regnault, B and Mulet, C and Hara, T and Sansonetti, PJ}, title = {Epithelial cell proliferation arrest induced by lactate and acetate from Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium breve.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e63053}, pmid = {23646174}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acetates/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Animals ; Bifidobacterium/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects/genetics ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cyclin D1/genetics/metabolism ; Cyclin E/genetics/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Lactic Acid/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Lacticaseibacillus casei/*metabolism ; Mice ; Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In an attempt to identify and characterize how symbiotic bacteria of the gut microbiota affect the molecular and cellular mechanisms of epithelial homeostasis, intestinal epithelial cells were co-cultured with either Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium as bona fide symbionts to examine potential gene modulations. In addition to genes involved in the innate immune response, genes encoding check-point molecules controlling the cell cycle were among the most modulated in the course of these interactions. In the m-ICcl2 murine cell line, genes encoding cyclin E1 and cyclin D1 were strongly down regulated by L. casei and B. breve respectively. Cell proliferation arrest was accordingly confirmed. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were the effectors of this modulation, alone or in conjunction with the acidic pH they generated. These results demonstrate that the production of SCFAs, a characteristic of these symbiotic microorganisms, is potentially an essential regulatory effector of epithelial proliferation in the gut.}, } @article {pmid23645554, year = {2013}, author = {Bhattacharya, D and Pelletreau, KN and Price, DC and Sarver, KE and Rumpho, ME}, title = {Genome analysis of Elysia chlorotica Egg DNA provides no evidence for horizontal gene transfer into the germ line of this Kleptoplastic Mollusc.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {8}, pages = {1843-1852}, pmid = {23645554}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Computational Biology/methods ; *DNA ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Gastropoda/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genomics ; Germ Cells/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The sea slug Elysia chlorotica offers a unique opportunity to study the evolution of a novel function (photosynthesis) in a complex multicellular host. Elysia chlorotica harvests plastids (absent of nuclei) from its heterokont algal prey, Vaucheria litorea. The "stolen" plastids are maintained for several months in cells of the digestive tract and are essential for animal development. The basis of long-term maintenance of photosynthesis in this sea slug was thought to be explained by extensive horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from the nucleus of the alga to the animal nucleus, followed by expression of algal genes in the gut to provide essential plastid-destined proteins. Early studies of target genes and proteins supported the HGT hypothesis, but more recent genome-wide data provide conflicting results. Here, we generated significant genome data from the E. chlorotica germ line (egg DNA) and from V. litorea to test the HGT hypothesis. Our comprehensive analyses fail to provide evidence for alga-derived HGT into the germ line of the sea slug. Polymerase chain reaction analyses of genomic DNA and cDNA from different individual E. chlorotica suggest, however, that algal nuclear genes (or gene fragments) are present in the adult slug. We suggest that these nucleic acids may derive from and/or reside in extrachromosomal DNAs that are made available to the animal through contact with the alga. These data resolve a long-standing issue and suggest that HGT is not the primary reason underlying long-term maintenance of photosynthesis in E. chlorotica. Therefore, sea slug photosynthesis is sustained in as yet unexplained ways that do not appear to endanger the animal germ line through the introduction of dozens of foreign genes.}, } @article {pmid23644278, year = {2013}, author = {Rípodas, C and Via, VD and Aguilar, OM and Zanetti, ME and Blanco, FA}, title = {Knock-down of a member of the isoflavone reductase gene family impairs plant growth and nodulation in Phaseolus vulgaris.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {68}, number = {}, pages = {81-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.04.003}, pmid = {23644278}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors/*genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium etli/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids and isoflavonoids participate in the signaling exchange between roots of legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and can promote division of cortical cells during nodule formation by inhibiting auxin transport. Here, we report the characterization of a member of the common bean isoflavone reductase (EC 1.3.1.45, PvIFR1) gene family, an enzyme that participates in the last steps of the biosynthetic pathway of isoflavonoids. Transcript levels of PvIFR1 were detected preferentially in the susceptible zone of roots, augmented upon nitrogen starvation and in response to Rhizobium etli inoculation at very early stages of the interaction. Knockdown of PvIFR1 mediated by RNA interference (RNAi) in common bean composite plants resulted in a reduction of shoot and root length. Furthermore, reduction of PvIFR1 mRNAs also affected growth of lateral roots after emergence, a stage in which auxins are required to establish a persistent meristem. Upon inoculation, the number of nodules formed by different strains of R. etli was significantly lower in IFR RNAi than in control roots. Transcript levels of two auxin-regulated genes are consistent with lower levels of auxin in PvIFR1 silenced roots. These results suggest a complex role of PvIFR1 during plant growth, root development and symbiosis, all processes in which auxin transport is involved.}, } @article {pmid23643092, year = {2013}, author = {Degefu, T and Wolde-meskel, E and Frostegård, Å}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of Rhizobium strains nodulating diverse legume species growing in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {272-280}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.03.004}, pmid = {23643092}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Ethiopia ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Trees/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The taxonomic diversity of thirty-seven Rhizobium strains, isolated from nodules of leguminous trees and herbs growing in Ethiopia, was studied using multilocus sequence analyses (MLSA) of six core and two symbiosis-related genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene grouped them into five clusters related to nine Rhizobium reference species (99-100% sequence similarity). In addition, two test strains occupied their own independent branches on the phylogenetic tree (AC86a2 along with R. tibeticum; 99.1% similarity and AC100b along with R. multihospitium; 99.5% similarity). One strain from Milletia ferruginea was closely related (>99%) to the genus Shinella, further corroborating earlier findings that nitrogen-fixing bacteria are distributed among phylogenetically unrelated taxa. Sequence analyses of five housekeeping genes also separated the strains into five well-supported clusters, three of which grouped with previously studied Ethiopian common bean rhizobia. Three of the five clusters could potentially be described into new species. Based on the nifH genes, most of the test strains from crop legumes were closely related to several strains of Ethiopian common bean rhizobia and other symbionts of bean plants (R. etli and R. gallicum sv. phaseoli). The grouping of the test strains based on the symbiosis-related genes was not in agreement with the housekeeping genes, signifying differences in their evolutionary history. Our earlier studies revealing a large diversity of Mesorhizobium and Ensifer microsymbionts isolated from Ethiopian legumes, together with the results from the present analysis of Rhizobium strains, suggest that this region might be a potential hotspot for rhizobial biodiversity.}, } @article {pmid23641251, year = {2013}, author = {Mitter, B and Petric, A and Shin, MW and Chain, PS and Hauberg-Lotte, L and Reinhold-Hurek, B and Nowak, J and Sessitsch, A}, title = {Comparative genome analysis of Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN reveals a wide spectrum of endophytic lifestyles based on interaction strategies with host plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {120}, pmid = {23641251}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {P 22867/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN is a naturally occurring plant-associated bacterial endophyte that effectively colonizes a wide range of plants and stimulates their growth and vitality. Here we analyze whole genomes, of PsJN and of eight other endophytic bacteria. This study illustrates that a wide spectrum of endophytic life styles exists. Although we postulate the existence of typical endophytic traits, no unique gene cluster could be exclusively linked to the endophytic lifestyle. Furthermore, our study revealed a high genetic diversity among bacterial endophytes as reflected in their genotypic and phenotypic features. B. phytofirmans PsJN is in many aspects outstanding among the selected endophytes. It has the biggest genome consisting of two chromosomes and one plasmid, well-equipped with genes for the degradation of complex organic compounds and detoxification, e.g., 24 glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genes. Furthermore, strain PsJN has a high number of cell surface signaling and secretion systems and harbors the 3-OH-PAME quorum-sensing system that coordinates the switch of free-living to the symbiotic lifestyle in the plant-pathogen R. solanacearum. The ability of B. phytofirmans PsJN to successfully colonize such a wide variety of plant species might be based on its large genome harboring a broad range of physiological functions.}, } @article {pmid23641248, year = {2013}, author = {Lee, J and Lei, Z and Watson, BS and Sumner, LW}, title = {Sub-cellular proteomics of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {112}, pmid = {23641248}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is a leading model species and substantial molecular, genetic, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics resources have been developed for this species to facilitate the study of legume biology. Currently, over 60 proteomics studies of M. truncatula have been published. Many of these have focused upon the unique symbiosis formed between legumes and nitrogen fixing rhizobia bacteria, while others have focused on seed development and the specialized proteomes of distinct tissues/organs. These include the characterization of sub-cellular organelle proteomes such as nuclei and mitochondria, as well as proteins distributed in plasma or microsomal membranes from various tissues. The isolation of sub-cellular proteins typically requires a series of steps that are labor-intensive. Thus, efficient protocols for sub-cellular fractionation, purification, and enrichment are necessary for each cellular compartment. In addition, protein extraction, solubilization, separation, and digestion prior to mass spectral identification are important to enhance the detection of low abundance proteins and to increase the overall detectable proportion of the sub-cellular proteome. This review summarizes the sub-cellular proteomics studies in M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid23638913, year = {2013}, author = {Recorbet, G and Abdallah, C and Renaut, J and Wipf, D and Dumas-Gaudot, E}, title = {Protein actors sustaining arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: underground artists break the silence.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {26-40}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12287}, pmid = {23638913}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Hyphae/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Plastids/metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The roots of most land plants can enter a relationship with soil-borne fungi belonging to the phylum Glomeromycota. This symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi belongs to the so-called biotrophic interactions, involving the intracellular accommodation of a microorganism by a living plant cell without causing the death of the host. Although profiling technologies have generated an increasing depository of plant and fungal proteins eligible for sustaining AM accommodation and functioning, a bottleneck exists for their functional analysis as these experiments are difficult to carry out with mycorrhiza. Nonetheless, the expansion of gene-to-phenotype reverse genetic tools, including RNA interference and transposon silencing, have recently succeeded in elucidating some of the plant-related protein candidates. Likewise, despite the ongoing absence of transformation tools for AM fungi, host-induced gene silencing has allowed knockdown of fungal gene expression in planta for the first time, thus unlocking a technological limitation in deciphering the functional pertinence of glomeromycotan proteins during mycorrhizal establishment. This review is thus intended to draw a picture of our current knowledge about the plant and fungal protein actors that have been demonstrated to be functionally implicated in sustaining AM symbiosis mostly on the basis of silencing approaches.}, } @article {pmid23637607, year = {2013}, author = {Weiss, BL and Wang, J and Maltz, MA and Wu, Y and Aksoy, S}, title = {Trypanosome infection establishment in the tsetse fly gut is influenced by microbiome-regulated host immune barriers.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {9}, number = {4}, pages = {e1003318}, pmid = {23637607}, issn = {1553-7374}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007404/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; NIGMS; 069449//PHS HHS/United States ; NIAID; AI051584//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carrier Proteins/biosynthesis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/parasitology ; Insect Proteins/biosynthesis ; *Microbiota ; NADPH Oxidases/biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/biosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense/*immunology/pathogenicity ; Trypanosomiasis, African/transmission ; Tsetse Flies/growth & development/*immunology/microbiology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) vector pathogenic African trypanosomes, which cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in domesticated animals. Additionally, tsetse harbors 3 maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that modulate their host's physiology. Tsetse is highly resistant to infection with trypanosomes, and this phenotype depends on multiple physiological factors at the time of challenge. These factors include host age, density of maternally-derived trypanolytic effector molecules present in the gut, and symbiont status during development. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms that result in tsetse's resistance to trypanosomes. We found that following parasite challenge, young susceptible tsetse present a highly attenuated immune response. In contrast, mature refractory flies express higher levels of genes associated with humoral (attacin and pgrp-lb) and epithelial (inducible nitric oxide synthase and dual oxidase) immunity. Additionally, we discovered that tsetse must harbor its endogenous microbiome during intrauterine larval development in order to present a parasite refractory phenotype during adulthood. Interestingly, mature aposymbiotic flies (Gmm(Apo)) present a strong immune response earlier in the infection process than do WT flies that harbor symbiotic bacteria throughout their entire lifecycle. However, this early response fails to confer significant resistance to trypanosomes. Gmm(Apo) adults present a structurally compromised peritrophic matrix (PM), which lines the fly midgut and serves as a physical barrier that separates luminal contents from immune responsive epithelial cells. We propose that the early immune response we observe in Gmm(Apo) flies following parasite challenge results from the premature exposure of gut epithelia to parasite-derived immunogens in the absence of a robust PM. Thus, tsetse's PM appears to regulate the timing of host immune induction following parasite challenge. Our results document a novel finding, which is the existence of a positive correlation between tsetse's larval microbiome and the integrity of the emerging adult PM gut immune barrier.}, } @article {pmid23636807, year = {2013}, author = {Lagrange, A and L'huillier, L and Amir, H}, title = {Mycorrhizal status of Cyperaceae from New Caledonian ultramafic soils: effects of phosphorus availability on arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Costularia comosa under field conditions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {655-661}, pmid = {23636807}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cyperaceae/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; New Caledonia ; Nickel/analysis ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Plant Shoots/chemistry ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plants from the Cyperaceae family (sedges), usually considered as non-mycorrhizal, constitute almost exclusively the herbaceous stratum of the ultramafic maquis in New Caledonia. These plants are pioneers and are important for the ecological restoration of mined areas. Costularia comosa, one of the most common sedges in this environment, was grown under field conditions on ultramafic soil, fertilized or not with phosphate and/or nitrogen. Results showed that the addition of phosphate to the soil induced a clear increase in mycorrhizal colonization of C. comosa and an increase in arbuscule abundance, reflecting the establishment of a functional mycorrhizal symbiosis. Significant positive correlations were found among mycorrhizal parameters and plant or soil phosphorus concentrations. Nitrogen fertilization did not affect mycorrhizal colonization of C. comosa. The improvement in mycorrhizal colonization by phosphate fertilization did not influence significantly nickel concentrations in the roots and shoots of plants. This study demonstrated that phosphate fertilization of ultramafic soil improved mycorrhizal colonization of C. comosa, with formation of a functional symbiosis under field conditions.}, } @article {pmid23634841, year = {2013}, author = {Xi, J and Chen, Y and Nakashima, J and Wang, SM and Chen, R}, title = {Medicago truncatula esn1 defines a genetic locus involved in nodule senescence and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {8}, pages = {893-902}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-13-0043-R}, pmid = {23634841}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interaction between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti results in the formation on the host roots of new organs, nodules, in which biological nitrogen fixation takes place. In infected cells, rhizobia enclosed in a plant-derived membrane, the symbiosome membrane, differentiate to nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. The symbiosome membrane serves as an interface for metabolite and signal exchanges between the host cells and endosymbionts. At some point during symbiosis, symbiosomes and symbiotic cells are disintegrated, resulting in nodule senescence. The regulatory mechanisms that underlie nodule senescence are not fully understood. Using a forward genetics approach, we have uncovered the early senescent nodule 1 (esn1) mutant from an M. truncatula fast neutron-induced mutant collection. Nodules on esn1 roots are spherically shaped, ineffective in nitrogen fixation, and senesce early. Atypical among fixation defective mutants isolated thus far, bacteroid differentiation and expression of nifH, Leghemoglobin, and DNF1 genes are not affected in esn1 nodules, supporting the idea that a process downstream of bacteroid differentiation and nitrogenase gene expression is affected in the esn1 mutant. Expression analysis shows that marker genes involved in senescence, macronutrient degradation, and remobilization are greatly upregulated during nodule development in the esn1 mutant, consistent with a role of ESN1 in nodule senescence and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid23633668, year = {2013}, author = {Fiori, PL and Diaz, N and Cocco, AR and Rappelli, P and Dessì, D}, title = {Association of Trichomonas vaginalis with its symbiont Mycoplasma hominis synergistically upregulates the in vitro proinflammatory response of human monocytes.}, journal = {Sexually transmitted infections}, volume = {89}, number = {6}, pages = {449-454}, doi = {10.1136/sextrans-2012-051006}, pmid = {23633668}, issn = {1472-3263}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase/analysis ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Cytokines/*metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology/*pathology ; Monocytes/*immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Mycoplasma hominis/*immunology/pathogenicity/physiology ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*immunology/*microbiology/pathogenicity/physiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. In recent years we have described the symbiotic relationship between T vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis. How this biological association might affect the pathogenicity of one or both the microorganisms is still unknown. Since local inflammation is thought to play a central role in T vaginalis infection, we investigated the in vitro response of human macrophages to naturally mycoplasma-free T vaginalis, as compared to a mycoplasma-infected trichomonad isolate.

METHODS: THP-1 cells were stimulated with two isogenic T vaginalis isolates, one naturally mycoplasma-free and one stably associated with M hominis, and secreted cytokines measured by ELISA. Nuclear factor κB (NFκB) involvement in THP-1 response to T vaginalis and M hominis was evaluated by means of a reporter system based on detection of alkaline phosphatase activity.

RESULTS: We found that the presence of M hominis upregulates the expression of a panel of proinflammatory cytokines in a synergistic fashion. We also found that the upregulation of the proinflammatory response by THP-1 cells involves the transcription factor NFκB.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the presence of M hominis in T vaginalis isolates might play a key role in inflammation during trichomoniasis, thus affecting the severity of the disease. The synergistic upregulation of the macrophage proinflammatory response might also affect some important clinical conditions associated with T vaginalis infection, such as the increased risk of acquiring cervical cancer or HIV, which are thought to be affected by the inflammatory milieu during trichomoniasis.}, } @article {pmid23631387, year = {2013}, author = {Maynaud, G and Brunel, B and Mornico, D and Durot, M and Severac, D and Dubois, E and Navarro, E and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Le Quéré, A}, title = {Genome-wide transcriptional responses of two metal-tolerant symbiotic Mesorhizobium isolates to zinc and cadmium exposure.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {292}, pmid = {23631387}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Biological Transport/drug effects/genetics ; Cadmium/*pharmacology ; Chromosome Mapping ; Conserved Sequence ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genomics ; Mesorhizobium/*drug effects/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic/*drug effects ; Transcriptome/drug effects ; Zinc/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mesorhizobium metallidurans STM 2683T and Mesorhizobium sp. strain STM 4661 were isolated from nodules of the metallicolous legume Anthyllis vulneraria from distant mining spoils. They tolerate unusually high Zinc and Cadmium concentrations as compared to other mesorhizobia. This work aims to study the gene expression profiles associated with Zinc or Cadmium exposure and to identify genes involved in metal tolerance in these two metallicolous Mesorhizobium strains of interest for mine phytostabilization purposes.

RESULTS: The draft genomes of the two Mezorhizobium strains were sequenced and used to map RNAseq data obtained after Zinc or Cadmium stresses. Comparative genomics and transcriptomics allowed the rapid discovery of metal-specific or/and strain-specific genes. Respectively 1.05% (72/6,844) and 0.97% (68/6,994) predicted Coding DNA Sequences (CDS) for STM 2683 and STM 4661 were significantly differentially expressed upon metal exposure. Among these, a significant number of CDS involved in transport (13/72 and 13/68 for STM 2683 and STM 4661, respectively) and sequestration (15/72 and 16/68 for STM 2683 and STM 4661, respectively) were identified. Thirteen CDS presented homologs in both strains and were differentially regulated by Zinc and/or Cadmium. For instance, several PIB-type ATPases and genes likely to participate in metal sequestration were identified. Among the conserved CDS that showed differential regulation in the two isolates, we also found znuABC homologs encoding for a high affinity ABC-type Zinc import system probably involved in Zinc homeostasis. Additionally, global analyses suggested that both metals also repressed significantly the translational machinery.

CONCLUSIONS: The comparative RNAseq-based approach revealed a relatively low number of genes significantly regulated in the two Mesorhizobium strains. Very few of them were involved in the non-specific metal response, indicating that the approach was well suited for identifying genes that specifically respond to Zinc and Cadmium. Among significantly up-regulated genes, several encode metal efflux and sequestration systems which can be considered as the most widely represented mechanisms of rhizobial metal tolerance. Downstream functional studies will increase successful phytostabilization strategies by selecting appropriate metallicolous rhizobial partners.}, } @article {pmid23630635, year = {2013}, author = {Sweet, M and Burn, D and Croquer, A and Leary, P}, title = {Characterisation of the bacterial and fungal communities associated with different lesion sizes of dark spot syndrome occurring in the coral Stephanocoenia intersepta.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e62580}, pmid = {23630635}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Acinetobacter/genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/genetics ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Coral Reefs ; Corynebacterium/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Typing ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; Oscillatoria/genetics ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Vibrio/genetics ; }, abstract = {The number and prevalence of coral diseases/syndromes are increasing worldwide. Dark Spot Syndrome (DSS) afflicts numerous coral species and is widespread throughout the Caribbean, yet there are no known causal agents. In this study we aimed to characterise the microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) associated with DSS lesions affecting the coral Stephanocoenia intersepta using nonculture molecular techniques. Bacterial diversity of healthy tissues (H), those in advance of the lesion interface (apparently healthy AH), and three sizes of disease lesions (small, medium, and large) varied significantly (ANOSIM R = 0.052 p<0.001), apart from the medium and large lesions, which were similar in their community profile. Four bacteria fitted into the pattern expected from potential pathogens; namely absent from H, increasing in abundance within AH, and dominant in the lesions themselves. These included ribotypes related to Corynebacterium (KC190237), Acinetobacter (KC190251), Parvularculaceae (KC19027), and Oscillatoria (KC190271). Furthermore, two Vibrio species, a genus including many proposed coral pathogens, dominated the disease lesion and were absent from H and AH tissues, making them candidates as potential pathogens for DSS. In contrast, other members of bacteria from the same genus, such as V. harveyii were present throughout all sample types, supporting previous studies where potential coral pathogens exist in healthy tissues. Fungal diversity varied significantly as well, however the main difference between diseased and healthy tissues was the dominance of one ribotype, closely related to the plant pathogen, Rhytisma acerinum, a known causal agent of tar spot on tree leaves. As the corals' symbiotic algae have been shown to turn to a darker pigmented state in DSS (giving rise to the syndromes name), the two most likely pathogens are R. acerinum and the bacterium Oscillatoria, which has been identified as the causal agent of the colouration in Black Band Disease, another widespread coral disease.}, } @article {pmid23630594, year = {2013}, author = {Marcelino, LA and Westneat, MW and Stoyneva, V and Henss, J and Rogers, JD and Radosevich, A and Turzhitsky, V and Siple, M and Fang, A and Swain, TD and Fung, J and Backman, V}, title = {Modulation of light-enhancement to symbiotic algae by light-scattering in corals and evolutionary trends in bleaching.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e61492}, pmid = {23630594}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/radiation effects/*ultrastructure ; Biological Evolution ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Light ; *Scattering, Radiation ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Calcium carbonate skeletons of scleractinian corals amplify light availability to their algal symbionts by diffuse scattering, optimizing photosynthetic energy acquisition. However, the mechanism of scattering and its role in coral evolution and dissolution of algal symbioses during "bleaching" events are largely unknown. Here we show that differences in skeletal fractal architecture at nano/micro-lengthscales within 96 coral taxa result in an 8-fold variation in light-scattering and considerably alter the algal light environment. We identified a continuum of properties that fall between two extremes: (1) corals with low skeletal fractality that are efficient at transporting and redistributing light throughout the colony with low scatter but are at higher risk of bleaching and (2) corals with high skeletal fractality that are inefficient at transporting and redistributing light with high scatter and are at lower risk of bleaching. While levels of excess light derived from the coral skeleton is similar in both groups, the low-scatter corals have a higher rate of light-amplification increase when symbiont concentration is reduced during bleaching, thus creating a positive feedback-loop between symbiont concentration and light-amplification that exposes the remaining symbionts to increasingly higher light intensities. By placing our findings in an evolutionary framework, in conjunction with a novel empirical index of coral bleaching susceptibility, we find significant correlations between bleaching susceptibility and light-scattering despite rich homoplasy in both characters; suggesting that the cost of enhancing light-amplification to the algae is revealed in decreased resilience of the partnership to stress.}, } @article {pmid23628342, year = {2013}, author = {Zuroff, TR and Xiques, SB and Curtis, WR}, title = {Consortia-mediated bioprocessing of cellulose to ethanol with a symbiotic Clostridium phytofermentans/yeast co-culture.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {59}, pmid = {23628342}, issn = {1754-6834}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lignocellulosic ethanol is a viable alternative to petroleum-based fuels with the added benefit of potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions. Consolidated bioprocessing (simultaneous enzyme production, hydrolysis and fermentation; CBP) is thought to be a low-cost processing scheme for lignocellulosic ethanol production. However, no single organism has been developed which is capable of high productivity, yield and titer ethanol production directly from lignocellulose. Consortia of cellulolytic and ethanologenic organisms could be an attractive alternate to the typical single organism approaches but implementation of consortia has a number of challenges (e.g., control, stability, productivity).

RESULTS: Ethanol is produced from α-cellulose using a consortium of C. phytofermentans and yeast that is maintained by controlled oxygen transport. Both Saccharomyces cerevisiae cdt-1 and Candida molischiana "protect" C. phytofermentans from introduced oxygen in return for soluble sugars released by C. phytofermentans hydrolysis. Only co-cultures were able to degrade filter paper when mono- and co-cultures were incubated at 30°C under semi-aerobic conditions. Using controlled oxygen delivery by diffusion through neoprene tubing at a calculated rate of approximately 8 μmol/L hour, we demonstrate establishment of the symbiotic relationship between C. phytofermentans and S. cerevisiae cdt-1 and maintenance of populations of 105 to 106 CFU/mL for 50 days. Comparable symbiotic population dynamics were observed in scaled up 500 mL bioreactors as those in 50 mL shake cultures. The conversion of α-cellulose to ethanol was shown to improve with additional cellulase indicating a limitation in hydrolysis rate. A co-culture of C. phytofermentans and S. cerevisiae cdt-1 with added endoglucanase produced approximately 22 g/L ethanol from 100 g/L α-cellulose compared to C. phytofermentans and S. cerevisiae cdt-1 mono-cultures which produced approximately 6 and 9 g/L, respectively.

CONCLUSION: This work represents a significant step toward developing consortia-based bioprocessing systems for lignocellulosic biofuels production which utilize scalable, environmentally-mediated symbiosis mechanisms to provide consortium stability.}, } @article {pmid23627596, year = {2013}, author = {Groth, M and Kosuta, S and Gutjahr, C and Haage, K and Hardel, SL and Schaub, M and Brachmann, A and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Findlay, K and Wang, TL and Parniske, M}, title = {Two Lotus japonicus symbiosis mutants impaired at distinct steps of arbuscule development.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, pages = {117-129}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12220}, pmid = {23627596}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000150/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 83/D15167/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Ethyl Methanesulfonate/pharmacology ; Fungi/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Loci ; Hyphae ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development/ultrastructure ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi form nutrient-acquiring symbioses with the majority of higher plants. Nutrient exchange occurs via arbuscules, highly branched hyphal structures that are formed within root cortical cells. With a view to identifying host genes involved in AM development, we isolated Lotus japonicus AM-defective mutants via a microscopic screen of an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized population. A standardized mapping procedure was developed that facilitated positioning of the defective loci on the genetic map of L. japonicus, and, in five cases, allowed identification of mutants of known symbiotic genes. Two additional mutants representing independent loci did not form mature arbuscules during symbiosis with two divergent AM fungal species, but exhibited signs of premature arbuscule arrest or senescence. Marker gene expression patterns indicated that the two mutants are affected in distinct steps of arbuscule development. Both mutants formed wild-type-like root nodules upon inoculation with Mesorhizobium loti, indicating that the mutated loci are essential during AM but not during root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23625082, year = {2013}, author = {Kviderova, J and Hajek, J and Worland, RM}, title = {The ice nucleation activity of extremophilic algae.}, journal = {Cryo letters}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {137-148}, pmid = {23625082}, issn = {0143-2044}, mesh = {Acclimatization ; Chlamydomonas/chemistry/cytology/physiology ; Chlorophyta/chemistry/cytology/*physiology ; Crystallization ; Freezing ; Ice/*analysis ; Lichens/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Differences in the level of cold acclimation and cryoprotection estimated as ice nucleation activity in snow algae (Chlamydomonas cf. nivalis and Chloromonas nivalis), lichen symbiotic algae (Trebouxia asymmetrica, Trebouxia erici and Trebouxia glomerata), and a mesophilic strain (Chlamydomonas reinhardti) were evaluated. Ice nucleation activity was measured using the freezing droplet method. Measurements were performed using suspensions of cells of A750 (absorbance at 750 nm) ~ 1, 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 dilutions for each strain. The algae had lower ice nucleation activity, with the exception of Chloromonas nivalis contaminated by bacteria. The supercooling points of the snow algae were higher than those of lichen photobionts. The supercooling points of both, mesophilic and snow Chlamydomonas strains were similar. The lower freezing temperatures of the lichen algae may reflect either the more extreme and more variable environmental conditions of the original localities or the different cellular structure of the strains examined.}, } @article {pmid23623853, year = {2013}, author = {Ni, J and Tokuda, G}, title = {Lignocellulose-degrading enzymes from termites and their symbiotic microbiota.}, journal = {Biotechnology advances}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {838-850}, doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.04.005}, pmid = {23623853}, issn = {1873-1899}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofuels/microbiology ; Cellulases/chemistry/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/*enzymology ; Laccase/chemistry/*genetics ; Lignin/*chemistry/metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Microbiota ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Lignocellulose-the dry matter of plants, or "plant biomass"-digestion is of increasing interest in organismal metabolism research, specifically the conversion of biomass into biofuels. Termites efficiently decompose lignocelluloses, and studies on lignocellulolytic systems may elucidate mechanisms of efficient lignocellulose degradation in termites as well as offer novel enzyme sources, findings which have significant potential industrial applications. Recent progress in metagenomic and metatranscriptomic research has illuminated the diversity of lignocellulolytic enzymes within the termite gut. Here, we review state-of-the-art research on lignocellulose-degrading systems in termites, specifically cellulases, xylanases, and lignin modification enzymes produced by termites and their symbiotic microbiota. We also discuss recent investigations into heterologous overexpression of lignocellulolytic enzymes from termites and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid23623319, year = {2013}, author = {Helliwell, KE and Wheeler, GL and Smith, AG}, title = {Widespread decay of vitamin-related pathways: coincidence or consequence?.}, journal = {Trends in genetics : TIG}, volume = {29}, number = {8}, pages = {469-478}, doi = {10.1016/j.tig.2013.03.003}, pmid = {23623319}, issn = {0168-9525}, support = {BB/I013164/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Eukaryota/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Metagenomics ; Pseudogenes/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Vitamins/*biosynthesis ; }, abstract = {The advent of modern genomics has provided an unparalleled opportunity to consider the gene complement of an organism, and scrutinize metabolic pathways that are no longer active. This approach has led to an increasing number of reports of vitamin-associated pathway deterioration, with many indicating that independent gene-loss events of one or a few key genes have led to vitamin auxotrophy. Nonfunctional unitary pseudogenes belonging to these pathways are found in several species, demonstrating that these are recent evolutionary processes. Here, we examine the commonalities in the cellular roles and metabolism of vitamins that might have led to these losses. The complex pattern of vitamin auxotrophy across the eukaryotic tree of life is intimately connected with the interdependence between organisms. The importance of this process in terms of shaping communities on the one hand, and facilitating symbioses between organisms on the other, is only just beginning to be recognized.}, } @article {pmid23622719, year = {2013}, author = {Mandyam, KG and Roe, J and Jumpponen, A}, title = {Arabidopsis thaliana model system reveals a continuum of responses to root endophyte colonization.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {117}, number = {4}, pages = {250-260}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2013.02.001}, pmid = {23622719}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Ascomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Botany/methods ; Endophytes/growth & development/*physiology ; Host Specificity ; Mycology/methods ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We surveyed the non-mycorrhizal model plant Arabidopsis thaliana microscopically for its ability to form dark septate endophyte (DSE) symbioses in field, greenhouse, and laboratory studies. The laboratory studies were also used to estimate host growth responses to 34 Periconia macrospinosa and four Microdochium sp. isolates. Consistent with broad host range observed in previous experiments, field-, greenhouse-, and laboratory-grown A. thaliana were colonized by melanized inter- and intracellular hyphae and microsclerotia or chlamydospores indicative of DSE symbiosis. Host responses to colonization were variable and depended on the host ecotype. On average, two A. thaliana accessions (Col-0 and Cvi-0) responded negatively, whereas one (Kin-1) was unresponsive, a conclusion consistent with our previous analyses with forbs native to the field site where the fungi originate. Despite the average negative responses, examples of positive responses were also observed, a conclusion also congruent with earlier studies. Our results suggest that A. thaliana has potential as a model for more detailed dissection of the DSE symbiosis. Furthermore, our data suggest that host responses are controlled by variability in the host and endophyte genotypes.}, } @article {pmid23621827, year = {2013}, author = {Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Martínez-Bueno, M and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Valdivia, E and Soler, JJ}, title = {Bacteriocins with a broader antimicrobial spectrum prevail in enterococcal symbionts isolated from the hoopoe's uropygial gland.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {3}, pages = {495-502}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12138}, pmid = {23621827}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Antibiosis ; Bacteriocins/genetics/*pharmacology ; Birds/*microbiology ; Enterococcus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The use of compounds produced by symbiotic bacteria against pathogens in animals is one of the most exciting discoveries in ecological immunology. The study of those antibiotic metabolites will enable an understanding of the defensive strategies against pathogenic infections. Here, we explore the role of bacteriocins explaining the antimicrobial properties of symbiotic bacteria isolated from the uropygial gland of the hoopoe (Upupa epops). The antagonistic activity of 187 strains was assayed against eight indicator bacteria, and the presence of six bacteriocin genes was detected in the genomic DNA. The presence of bacteriocin genes correlated with the antimicrobial activity of isolates. The most frequently detected bacteriocin genes were those encoding for the MR10 and AS-48 enterocins, which confer the highest inhibition capacity. All the isolates belonged to the genus Enterococcus, with E. faecalis as the most abundant species, with the broadest antimicrobial spectrum and the highest antagonistic activity. The vast majority of E. faecalis strains carried the genes of MR10 and AS-48 in their genome. Therefore, we suggest that fitness-related benefits for hoopoes associated with harbouring the most bactericidal symbionts cause the highest frequency of strains carrying MR10 and AS-48 genes. The study of mechanisms associated with the acquisition and selection of bacterial symbionts by hoopoes is necessary, however, to reach further conclusions.}, } @article {pmid23620744, year = {2013}, author = {Lewandowski, TJ and Dunfield, KE and Antunes, PM}, title = {Isolate identity determines plant tolerance to pathogen attack in assembled mycorrhizal communities.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e61329}, pmid = {23620744}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Analysis of Variance ; Biomass ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Leucanthemum/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizoctonia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread soil microorganisms that associate mutualistically with plant hosts. AMF receive photosynthates from the host in return for various benefits. One of such benefits is in the form of enhanced pathogen tolerance. However, this aspect of the symbiosis has been understudied compared to effects on plant growth and its ability to acquire nutrients. While it is known that increased AMF species richness positively correlates with plant productivity, the relationship between AMF diversity and host responses to pathogen attack remains obscure. The objective of this study was to test whether AMF isolates can differentially attenuate the deleterious effects of a root pathogen on plant growth, whether the richest assemblage of AMF isolates provides the most tolerance against the pathogen, and whether AMF-induced changes to root architecture serve as a mechanism for improved plant disease tolerance. In a growth chamber study, we exposed the plant oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) to all combinations of three AMF isolates and to the plant root pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. We found that the pathogen caused an 81% reduction in shoot and a 70% reduction in root biomass. AMF significantly reduced the highly deleterious effect of the pathogen. Mycorrhizal plants infected with the pathogen produced 91% more dry shoot biomass and 72% more dry root biomass relative to plants solely infected with R. solani. AMF isolate identity was a better predictor of AMF-mediated host tolerance to the pathogen than AMF richness. However, the enhanced tolerance response did not result from AMF-mediated changes to root architecture. Our data indicate that AMF communities can play a major role in alleviating host pathogen attack but this depends primarily on the capacity of individual AMF isolates to provide this benefit.}, } @article {pmid23619418, year = {2013}, author = {Paxton, CW and Davy, SK and Weis, VM}, title = {Stress and death of cnidarian host cells play a role in cnidarian bleaching.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 15}, pages = {2813-2820}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.087858}, pmid = {23619418}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Caspases/metabolism ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Cnidaria/*cytology/drug effects/*physiology ; Colchicine/pharmacology ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/*physiology ; Heat-Shock Response/drug effects ; Models, Biological ; Organic Chemicals/metabolism ; Sea Anemones/cytology/drug effects/enzymology ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching occurs when there is a breakdown of the symbiosis between cnidarian hosts and resident Symbiodinium spp. Multiple mechanisms for the bleaching process have been identified, including apoptosis and autophagy, and most previous work has focused on the Symbiodinium cell as the initiator of the bleaching cascade. In this work we show that it is possible for host cells to initiate apoptosis that can contribute to death of the Symbiodinium cell. First we found that colchicine, which results in apoptosis in other animals, causes cell death in the model anemone Aiptasia sp. but not in cultured Symbiodinium CCMP-830 cells or in cells freshly isolated from host Aiptasia (at least within the time frame of our study). In contrast, when symbiotic Aiptasia were incubated in colchicine, cell death in the resident Symbiodinium cells was observed, suggesting a host effect on symbiont mortality. Using live-cell confocal imaging of macerated symbiotic host cell isolates, we identified a pattern where the initiation of host cell death was followed by mortality of the resident Symbiodinium cells. This same pattern was observed in symbiotic host cells that were subjected to temperature stress. This research suggests that mortality of symbionts during temperature-induced bleaching can be initiated in part by host cell apoptosis.}, } @article {pmid23618829, year = {2013}, author = {Kamada, N and Seo, SU and Chen, GY and Núñez, G}, title = {Role of the gut microbiota in immunity and inflammatory disease.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {321-335}, pmid = {23618829}, issn = {1474-1741}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine is colonized by trillions of microorganisms, most of which are bacteria that have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship. The collection of microbial populations that reside on and in the host is commonly referred to as the microbiota. A principal function of the microbiota is to protect the intestine against colonization by exogenous pathogens and potentially harmful indigenous microorganisms via several mechanisms, which include direct competition for limited nutrients and the modulation of host immune responses. Conversely, pathogens have developed strategies to promote their replication in the presence of competing microbiota. Breakdown of the normal microbial community increases the risk of pathogen infection, the overgrowth of harmful pathobionts and inflammatory disease. Understanding the interaction of the microbiota with pathogens and the host might provide new insights into the pathogenesis of disease, as well as novel avenues for preventing and treating intestinal and systemic disorders.}, } @article {pmid23615669, year = {2013}, author = {Icard, P and Lincet, H}, title = {[The cancer tumor: a metabolic parasite?].}, journal = {Bulletin du cancer}, volume = {100}, number = {5}, pages = {427-433}, doi = {10.1684/bdc.2013.1742}, pmid = {23615669}, issn = {1769-6917}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia/physiology ; *Cell Proliferation ; Citric Acid/metabolism ; Glycolysis/physiology ; Humans ; Lipolysis/physiology ; NADP/metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins/*metabolism ; Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {Cancer cells activate glycolysis, glutaminolysis and β-oxidation to promote their biosynthesis. The low activity of pyruvate kinase, reexpressed in its embryonic isoform PKM2, generates a bottleneck at the end of glycolysis, which reorients glucose catabolism towards formation of molecules implied in numerous synthesis: ribose for nucleic acids, glycerol for lipid synthesis, etc. However, a part of glucose is transformed in pyruvate, which also comes from aminoacids catabolism. Due to the inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate is preferentially transformed into lactate, either in the presence of oxygen (Warburg effect). Lactate dehydrogenase reaction furnishes lactic acid, which acidifies the tumoral microenvironment, a process which favors the cellular growth and regenerates NAD(+), a crucial cofactor for the functioning of various metabolic pathways (glycolysis, DNA synthesis and repair…). Cancer cells consume a lot of glutamine, which replenish Krebs cycle (coupled with ATP production), and/or furnishes aspartate for nucleotides synthesis. This particular metabolism is sustained by activation of oncogenes (Myc, AKT, etc.) and suppressors inactivation (P53, PTEN…). Like a parasite, cells draw on reserves of the host to supply their own biosynthesis, while they secrete waste products (NO, polyamines, ammonia, lactate…) that promote cellular growth. A "symbiotic" cooperation could be established between tumor cells themselves, and/or with environmental cells, to maximize ATP production in relation with resources and oxygen concentration.}, } @article {pmid23613930, year = {2013}, author = {Zhao, XM and Wang, ZQ and Shu, SH and Wang, WJ and Xu, HJ and Ahn, YJ and Wang, M and Hu, X}, title = {Ethanol and methanol can improve huperzine A production from endophytic Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ES026.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e61777}, pmid = {23613930}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Biomass ; Carbon/pharmacology ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Colletotrichum/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Endophytes/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Ethanol/*pharmacology ; Fermentation/drug effects ; Methanol/*pharmacology ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Mycelium/drug effects/metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes/chemistry ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Huperzine A (HupA) is a plant alkaloid that is of great interest as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, the current production of HupA from plants in large quantity is unsustainable because the plant resource is scarce and the content of HupA in plants is extremely low. Surprisingly, this compound was recently found to be produced by various endophytic fungi, which are much more controllable than the plants due to simpler genetics and ease of manipulation. However, it might be due to the innate properties of endophytic symbiosis, that production of this chemical in large quantity from endophytes has not yet been put into practice. Endophytic Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ES026 was previously isolated from a HupA producing plant and the fungi also proved to produce HupA. In this study, various fermentation conditions were tried to optimize the production of HupA from C. gloeosporioides ES026. Optimization of these parameters resulted in a 25.58% increase in HupA yield. Potato extracts supplemented with glucose or sucrose but not maltose facilitated HupA producing from the fungi. A final concentration of 0.5-2% ethanol stimulated the growth of fungi while methanol with the same treatment slightly inhibited the growth. However, both methanol and ethanol greatly increased the HupA production with the highest yield of HupA (51.89% increment) coming from ethanol treatment. Further analysis showed that both ethanol and methanol were strong inducers of HupA production, while ethanol was partially used as a carbon source during fermentation. It was noticed that the color of that ethanol treated mycelia gradually became dark while methanol treated ones stayed grey during fermentation. The present study sheds light on the importance of optimizing the fermentation process, which, combined with effective inducers, maximizes production of chemicals of important economic interest from endophytic fungi.}, } @article {pmid23613802, year = {2013}, author = {Kurihara, T and Yamada, H and Inoue, K and Iwai, K and Hatta, M}, title = {Impediment to symbiosis establishment between giant clams and Symbiodinium algae due to sterilization of seawater.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e61156}, pmid = {23613802}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/*parasitology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Seawater ; *Sterilization ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {To survive the juvenile stage, giant clam juveniles need to establish a symbiotic relationship with the microalgae Symbiodinium occurring in the environment. The percentage of giant clam juveniles succeeding in symbiosis establishment ("symbiosis rate") is often low, which is problematic for seed producers. We investigated how and why symbiosis rates vary, depending on whether giant clam seeds are continuously reared in UV treated or non treated seawater. Results repeatedly demonstrated that symbiosis rates were lower for UV treated seawater than for non treated seawater. Symbiosis rates were also lower for autoclaved seawater and 0.2-µm filtered seawater than for non treated seawater. The decreased symbiosis rates in various sterilized seawater suggest the possibility that some factors helping symbiosis establishment in natural seawater are weakened owing to sterilization. The possible factors include vitality of giant clam seeds, since additional experiments revealed that survival rates of seeds reared alone without Symbiodinium were lower in sterilized seawater than in non treated seawater. In conclusion, UV treatment of seawater was found to lead to decreased symbiosis rates, which is due possibly to some adverse effects common to the various sterilization techniques and relates to the vitality of the giant clam seeds.}, } @article {pmid23613025, year = {2013}, author = {Fujii-Muramatsu, R and Kobayashi, H and Noda, H and Takeishi, K}, title = {Expression of genes derived from the genomic DNA fragments of the brown-winged green bug (Plautia stali) symbiont in Escherichia coli.}, journal = {Journal of biochemistry}, volume = {154}, number = {2}, pages = {149-158}, doi = {10.1093/jb/mvt036}, pmid = {23613025}, issn = {1756-2651}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/*genetics ; *Genomic Library ; Heteroptera/genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insect species harbour symbiotic microorganisms (symbionts) that are generally unculturable in media. To utilize symbionts as genome resources, we examined whether insect symbiont genes can be expressed in Escherichia coli. 144 plasmid clones were isolated from gene libraries, which were constructed from the genomic DNA of the intestinal bacterial symbiont in the brown-winged green bug, Plautia stali, using an E. coli system. Proteins prepared from a culture of each clone were analysed using SDS-PAGE. A discrete symbiont-specific band was detected in six clones. From the structural analyses of the insert in each clone, the candidate gene encoding the symbiont-specific protein was predicted and the amino acid sequence of the protein was deduced. The amino acid sequence in the N-terminal region of each protein was identical to that deduced from the genomic DNA sequence of the symbiont, but not of the host. The promoter sequences of the symbiont genes, very similar to those of the corresponding E. coli genes, were found in the insert DNA. These findings clearly indicate that genes derived from genomic DNA fragments of the P. stali symbiont can be expressed in E. coli.}, } @article {pmid23612324, year = {2013}, author = {Czarnecki, O and Yang, J and Weston, DJ and Tuskan, GA and Chen, JG}, title = {A dual role of strigolactones in phosphate acquisition and utilization in plants.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {7681-7701}, pmid = {23612324}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Lactones/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Reproduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Phosphorus, acquired in the form of phosphate (Pi), is one of the primary macronutrients for plants but is least available in the soil. Pi deficiency is a major factor limiting plant growth, development and reproduction. Plants have developed a complex signaling network to respond to Pi deficiency. The recent discovery of strigolactones, a new class of plant hormones, has led to an emerging signaling module illustrating the integrated control of Pi acquisition, plant-microbe symbiotic interactions and plant architecture. This review article focuses on the recent findings of plant responses and roles of strigolactones to Pi deficiency.}, } @article {pmid23612308, year = {2013}, author = {Hilton, JA and Foster, RA and Tripp, HJ and Carter, BJ and Zehr, JP and Villareal, TA}, title = {Genomic deletions disrupt nitrogen metabolism pathways of a cyanobacterial diatom symbiont.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1767}, pmid = {23612308}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; Diatoms/*microbiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogenase/genetics ; Operon/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Deletion/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Diatoms with symbiotic N2-fixing cyanobacteria are often abundant in the oligotrophic open ocean gyres. The most abundant cyanobacterial symbionts form heterocysts (specialized cells for N2 fixation) and provide nitrogen (N) to their hosts, but their morphology, cellular locations and abundances differ depending on the host. Here we show that the location of the symbiont and its dependency on the host are linked to the evolution of the symbiont genome. The genome of Richelia (found inside the siliceous frustule of Hemiaulus) is reduced and lacks ammonium transporters, nitrate/nitrite reductases and glutamine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase. In contrast, the genome of the closely related Calothrix (found outside the frustule of Chaetoceros) is more similar to those of free-living heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. The genome of Richelia is an example of metabolic streamlining that has implications for the evolution of N2-fixing symbiosis and potentially for manipulating plant-cyanobacterial interactions.}, } @article {pmid23611473, year = {2013}, author = {Schrempf, H}, title = {Actinobacteria within soils: capacities for mutualism, symbiosis and pathogenesis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {342}, number = {2}, pages = {77-78}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12147}, pmid = {23611473}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/metabolism/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23610627, year = {2013}, author = {Rosic, NN and Leggat, W and Kaniewska, P and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {New-old hemoglobin-like proteins of symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {822-834}, pmid = {23610627}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Symbiotic dinoflagellates are unicellular photosynthetic algae that live in mutualistic symbioses with many marine organisms. Within the transcriptome of coral endosymbionts Symbiodinium sp. (type C3), we discovered the sequences of two novel and highly polymorphic hemoglobin-like genes and proposed their 3D protein structures. At the protein level, four isoforms shared between 87 and 97% sequence identity for Hb-1 and 78-99% for Hb-2, whereas between Hb-1 and Hb-2 proteins, only 15-21% sequence homology has been preserved. Phylogenetic analyses of the dinoflagellate encoding Hb sequences have revealed a separate evolutionary origin of the discovered globin genes and indicated the possibility of horizontal gene transfer. Transcriptional regulation of the Hb-like genes was studied in the reef-building coral Acropora aspera exposed to elevated temperatures (6-7°C above average sea temperature) over a 24-h period and a 72-h period, as well as to nutrient stress. Exposure to elevated temperatures resulted in an increased Hb-1 gene expression of 31% after 72 h only, whereas transcript abundance of the Hb-2 gene was enhanced by up to 59% by both 1-day and 3-day thermal stress conditions. Nutrient stress also increased gene expression of Hb-2 gene by 70%. Our findings describe the differential expression patterns of two novel Hb genes from symbiotic dinoflagellates and their polymorphic nature. Furthermore, the inducible nature of Hb-2 gene by both thermal and nutrient stressors indicates a prospective role of this form of hemoglobin in the initial coral-algal responses to changes in environmental conditions. This novel hemoglobin has potential use as a stress biomarker.}, } @article {pmid23610585, year = {2013}, author = {Imani Fooladi, AA and Mahmoodzadeh Hosseini, H and Nourani, MR and Khani, S and Alavian, SM}, title = {Probiotic as a novel treatment strategy against liver disease.}, journal = {Hepatitis monthly}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {e7521}, pmid = {23610585}, issn = {1735-143X}, abstract = {CONTEXT: A symbiotic relationship between the liver and intestinal tract enables the healthy status of both organs. Microflora resident in intestinal lumen plays a significant role in hepatocytes function. Alterations to the type and amount of microorganisms that live in the intestinal tract can result in serious and harmful liver dysfunctions such as cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, and hepatic encephalopathy. An increased number of pathogens, especially enterobacteriaceae, enterococci, and streptococci species causes the elevation of intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation. The presence of high levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial substances in the blood result in a portal hypertension and ensuing hepatocytes damage. Several methods including the usage of antibiotics, prebiotics, and probiotics can be used to prevent the overgrowth of pathogens. Compared to prebiotic and antibiotic therapy, probiotics strains are a safer and less expensive therapy. Probiotics are "live microorganisms (according to the FAO/WHO) which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host".

EVIDENCE ACQUISITIONS: Data from numerous preclinical and clinical trials allows for control of the flora bacteria quantity, decreases in compounds derived from bacteria, and lowers proinflammatory production such as TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ via down-regulation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κ B).

RESULTS: On the other hand, probiotic can reduce the urease activity of bacterial microflora. Furthermore, probiotic decreases fecal pH value and reduces ammonia adsorption. In addition, the serum level of liver enzymes and other substances synthesized by the liver are modulated subsequent to probiotic consumption.

CONCLUSIONS: According to our knowledge, Probiotic therapy as a safe, inexpensive and a noninvasive strategy can reduce pathophysiological symptoms and improve different types of liver diseases without side effects.}, } @article {pmid23610087, year = {2013}, author = {Arshad, N and Visweswariah, SS}, title = {Cyclic nucleotide signaling in intestinal epithelia: getting to the gut of the matter.}, journal = {Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Systems biology and medicine}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {409-424}, doi = {10.1002/wsbm.1223}, pmid = {23610087}, issn = {1939-005X}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Adenylyl Cyclases/metabolism ; Cyclic AMP/*metabolism ; Cyclic GMP/*metabolism ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*metabolism ; Ion Channels ; Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases/metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption, fluid-ion secretion, and home to trillions of symbiotic microbiota. The high turnover of the intestinal epithelia also renders it susceptible to neoplastic growth. These diverse processes are carefully regulated by an intricate signaling network. Among the myriad molecules involved in intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis are the second messengers, cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cyclic GMP (cGMP). These cyclic nucleotides are synthesized by nucleotidyl cyclases whose activities are regulated by extrinsic and intrinsic cues. Downstream effectors of cAMP and cGMP include protein kinases, cyclic nucleotide gated ion channels, and transcription factors, which modulate key processes such as ion-balance, immune response, and cell proliferation. The web of interaction involving the major signaling pathways of cAMP and cGMP in the intestinal epithelial cell, and possible cross-talk among the pathways, are highlighted in this review. Deregulation of these pathways occurs during infection by pathogens, intestinal inflammation, and cancer. Thus, an appreciation of the importance of cyclic nucleotide signaling in the intestine furthers our understanding of bowel disease, thereby aiding in the development of therapeutic approaches.}, } @article {pmid23609130, year = {2013}, author = {Fernández-Martínez, MA and de Los Ríos, A and Sancho, LG and Pérez-Ortega, S}, title = {Diversity of endosymbiotic Nostoc in Gunnera magellanica from Tierra del Fuego, Chile [corrected].}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {66}, number = {2}, pages = {335-350}, pmid = {23609130}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Chile ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nostoc/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Global warming is causing ice retreat in glaciers worldwide, most visibly over the last few decades in some areas of the planet. One of the most affected areas is the region of Tierra del Fuego (southern South America). Vascular plant recolonisation of recently deglaciated areas in this region is initiated by Gunnera magellanica, which forms symbiotic associations with the cyanobacterial genus Nostoc, a trait that likely confers advantages in this colonisation process. This symbiotic association in the genus Gunnera is notable as it represents the only known symbiotic relationship between angiosperms and cyanobacteria. The aim of this work was to study the genetic diversity of the Nostoc symbionts in Gunnera at three different, nested scale levels: specimen, population and region. Three different genomic regions were examined in the study: a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (16S), the RuBisCO large subunit gene coupled with its promoter sequence and a chaperon-like protein (rbcLX) and the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The identity of Nostoc as the symbiont was confirmed in all the infected rhizome tissue analysed. Strains isolated in the present study were closely related to strains known to form symbioses with other organisms, such as lichen-forming fungi or bryophytes. We found 12 unique haplotypes in the 16S rRNA (small subunit) region analysis, 19 unique haplotypes in the ITS region analysis and 57 in the RuBisCO proteins region (rbcLX). No genetic variability was found among Nostoc symbionts within a single host plant while Nostoc populations among different host plants within a given sampling site revealed major differences. Noteworthy, interpopulation variation was also shown between recently deglaciated soils and more ancient ones, between eastern and western sites and between northern and southern slopes of Cordillera Darwin. The cell structure of the symbiotic relationship was observed with low-temperature scanning electron microscopy, showing changes in morphology of both cyanobiont cells (differentiate more heterocysts) and plant cells (increased size). Developmental stages of the symbiosis, including cell walls and membranes and EPS matrix states, were also observed.}, } @article {pmid23608321, year = {2013}, author = {Kasson, MT and O'Donnell, K and Rooney, AP and Sink, S and Ploetz, RC and Ploetz, JN and Konkol, JL and Carrillo, D and Freeman, S and Mendel, Z and Smith, JA and Black, AW and Hulcr, J and Bateman, C and Stefkova, K and Campbell, PR and Geering, AD and Dann, EK and Eskalen, A and Mohotti, K and Short, DP and Aoki, T and Fenstermacher, KA and Davis, DD and Geiser, DM}, title = {An inordinate fondness for Fusarium: phylogenetic diversity of fusaria cultivated by ambrosia beetles in the genus Euwallacea on avocado and other plant hosts.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {56}, number = {}, pages = {147-157}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2013.04.004}, pmid = {23608321}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fusarium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Genes, rRNA ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; Persea/*parasitology ; Phylogeny ; RNA Polymerase II/genetics ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ambrosia beetle fungiculture represents one of the most ecologically and evolutionarily successful symbioses, as evidenced by the 11 independent origins and 3500 species of ambrosia beetles. Here we document the evolution of a clade within Fusarium associated with ambrosia beetles in the genus Euwallacea (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) symbionts are unusual in that some are plant pathogens that cause significant damage in naïve natural and cultivated ecosystems, and currently threaten avocado production in the United States, Israel and Australia. Most AFC fusaria produce unusual clavate macroconidia that serve as a putative food source for their insect mutualists. AFC symbionts were abundant in the heads of four Euwallacea spp., which suggests that they are transported within and from the natal gallery in mandibular mycangia. In a four-locus phylogenetic analysis, the AFC was resolved in a strongly supported monophyletic group within the previously described Clade 3 of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). Divergence-time estimates place the origin of the AFC in the early Miocene ∼21.2 Mya, which coincides with the hypothesized adaptive radiation of the Xyleborini. Two strongly supported clades within the AFC (Clades A and B) were identified that include nine species lineages associated with ambrosia beetles, eight with Euwallacea spp. and one reportedly with Xyleborus ferrugineus, and two lineages with no known beetle association. More derived lineages within the AFC showed fixation of the clavate (club-shaped) macroconidial trait, while basal lineages showed a mix of clavate and more typical fusiform macroconidia. AFC lineages consisted mostly of genetically identical individuals associated with specific insect hosts in defined geographic locations, with at least three interspecific hybridization events inferred based on discordant placement in individual gene genealogies and detection of recombinant loci. Overall, these data are consistent with a strong evolutionary trend toward obligate symbiosis coupled with secondary contact and interspecific hybridization.}, } @article {pmid23607440, year = {2013}, author = {Podar, M and Makarova, KS and Graham, DE and Wolf, YI and Koonin, EV and Reysenbach, AL}, title = {Insights into archaeal evolution and symbiosis from the genomes of a nanoarchaeon and its inferred crenarchaeal host from Obsidian Pool, Yellowstone National Park.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {9}, pmid = {23607440}, issn = {1745-6150}, support = {//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Archaeal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nanoarchaeota/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Homology ; Sulfolobales/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wyoming ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A single cultured marine organism, Nanoarchaeum equitans, represents the Nanoarchaeota branch of symbiotic Archaea, with a highly reduced genome and unusual features such as multiple split genes.

RESULTS: The first terrestrial hyperthermophilic member of the Nanoarchaeota was collected from Obsidian Pool, a thermal feature in Yellowstone National Park, separated by single cell isolation, and sequenced together with its putative host, a Sulfolobales archaeon. Both the new Nanoarchaeota (Nst1) and N. equitans lack most biosynthetic capabilities, and phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal RNA and protein sequences indicates that the two form a deep-branching archaeal lineage. However, the Nst1 genome is more than 20% larger, and encodes a complete gluconeogenesis pathway as well as the full complement of archaeal flagellum proteins. With a larger genome, a smaller repertoire of split protein encoding genes and no split non-contiguous tRNAs, Nst1 appears to have experienced less severe genome reduction than N. equitans. These findings imply that, rather than representing ancestral characters, the extremely compact genomes and multiple split genes of Nanoarchaeota are derived characters associated with their symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle. The inferred host of Nst1 is potentially autotrophic, with a streamlined genome and simplified central and energetic metabolism as compared to other Sulfolobales.

CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of the N. equitans and Nst1 genomes suggests that the marine and terrestrial lineages of Nanoarchaeota share a common ancestor that was already a symbiont of another archaeon. The two distinct Nanoarchaeota-host genomic data sets offer novel insights into the evolution of archaeal symbiosis and parasitism, enabling further studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these relationships.

REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Patrick Forterre, Bettina Siebers (nominated by Michael Galperin) and Purification Lopez-Garcia.}, } @article {pmid23604049, year = {2013}, author = {Kåhrström, CT}, title = {Symbiosis: Bacteria seize control of the clock.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {362}, pmid = {23604049}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Animals ; Cryptochromes/*biosynthesis ; Decapodiformes/*enzymology/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation/*radiation effects ; *Luminescence ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23602626, year = {2013}, author = {Guerrouj, K and Ruíz-Díez, B and Chahboune, R and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Abdelmoumen, H and Quiñones, MA and El Idrissi, MM and Velázquez, E and Fernández-Pascual, M and Bedmar, EJ and Peix, A}, title = {Definition of a novel symbiovar (sv. retamae) within Bradyrhizobium retamae sp. nov., nodulating Retama sphaerocarpa and Retama monosperma.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {218-223}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.03.001}, pmid = {23602626}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Essential ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Morocco ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; }, abstract = {In this paper we analyze through a polyphasic approach several Bradyrhizobium strains isolated in Spain and Morocco from root nodules of Retama sphaerocarpa and Retama monosperma. All the strains have identical 16S rRNA genes and their closest relative species is Bradyrhizobium lablabi CCBAU 23086(T), with 99.41% identity with respect to the strain Ro19(T). Despite the closeness of the 16S rRNA genes, the housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII were divergent in Ro19(T) and B. lablabi CCBAU 23086(T), with identity values of 95.71%, 93.75% and 93.11%, respectively. These differences were congruent with DNA-DNA hybridization analysis that revealed an average of 35% relatedness between the novel species and B. lablabi CCBAU 23086(T). Also, differential phenotypic characteristics of the new species were found with respect to the already described species of Bradyrhizobium. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, we propose to classify the group of strains isolated from R. sphaerocarpa and R. monosperma as a novel species named Bradyrhizobium retamae sp. nov. (type strain Ro19(T)=LMG 27393(T)=CECT 8261(T)). The analysis of symbiotic genes revealed that some of these strains constitute a new symbiovar within genus Bradyrhizobium for which we propose the name "retamae", that mainly contains nodulating strains isolated from Retama species in different continents.}, } @article {pmid23601235, year = {2013}, author = {Bondarev, V and Richter, M and Romano, S and Piel, J and Schwedt, A and Schulz-Vogt, HN}, title = {The genus Pseudovibrio contains metabolically versatile bacteria adapted for symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {2095-2113}, pmid = {23601235}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodobacteraceae/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The majority of strains belonging to the genus Pseudovibrio have been isolated from marine invertebrates such as tunicates, corals and particularly sponges, but the physiology of these bacteria is poorly understood. In this study, we analyse for the first time the genomes of two Pseudovibrio strains - FO-BEG1 and JE062. The strain FO-BEG1 is a required symbiont of a cultivated Beggiatoa strain, a sulfide-oxidizing, autotrophic bacterium, which was initially isolated from a coral. Strain JE062 was isolated from a sponge. The presented data show that both strains are generalistic bacteria capable of importing and oxidizing a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds to meet their carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and energy requirements under both, oxic and anoxic conditions. Several physiological traits encoded in the analysed genomes were verified in laboratory experiments with both isolates. Besides the versatile metabolic abilities of both Pseudovibrio strains, our study reveals a number of open reading frames and gene clusters in the genomes that seem to be involved in symbiont-host interactions. Both Pseudovibrio strains have the genomic potential to attach to host cells, interact with the eukaryotic cell machinery, produce secondary metabolites and supply the host with cofactors.}, } @article {pmid23600702, year = {2013}, author = {Hebelstrup, KH and Shah, JK and Igamberdiev, AU}, title = {The role of nitric oxide and hemoglobin in plant development and morphogenesis.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {148}, number = {4}, pages = {457-469}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12062}, pmid = {23600702}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Free Radical Scavengers/metabolism ; Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; *Morphogenesis ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; *Plant Development ; }, abstract = {Plant morphogenesis is regulated endogenously through phytohormones and other chemical signals, which may act either locally or distant from their place of synthesis. Nitric oxide (NO) is formed by a number of controlled processes in plant cells. It is a central signaling molecule with several effects on control of plant growth and development, such as shoot and root architecture. All plants are able to express non-symbiotic hemoglobins at low concentration. Their function is generally not related to oxygen transport or storage; instead they effectively oxidize NO to NO(3)(-) and thereby control the local cellular NO concentration. In this review, we analyze available data on the role of NO and plant hemoglobins in morphogenetic processes in plants. The comparison of the data suggests that hemoglobin gene expression in plants modulates development and morphogenesis of organs, such as roots and shoots, through the localized control of NO, and that hemoglobin gene expression should always be considered a modulating factor in processes controlled directly or indirectly by NO in plants.}, } @article {pmid23597788, year = {2013}, author = {Khosravi, A and Mazmanian, SK}, title = {Disruption of the gut microbiome as a risk factor for microbial infections.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {221-227}, pmid = {23597788}, issn = {1879-0364}, support = {R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; DK 078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biota ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Metagenome/*drug effects ; Models, Biological ; Risk Factors ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The discovery that microorganisms can be etiologic agents of disease has driven clinical, research and public health efforts to reduce exposure to bacteria. However, despite extensive campaigns to eradicate pathogens (via antibiotics, vaccinations, hygiene, sanitation, etc.), the incidence and/or severity of multiple immune-mediated diseases including, paradoxically, infectious disease have increased in recent decades. We now appreciate that most microbes in our environment are not pathogenic, and that many human-associated bacteria are symbiotic or beneficial. Notably, recent examples have emerged revealing that the microbiome augments immune system function. This review will focus on how commensal-derived signals enhance various aspects of the host response against pathogens. We suggest that modern lifestyle advances may be depleting specific microbes that enhance immunity against pathogens. Validation of the notion that absence of beneficial microbes is a risk factor for infectious disease may have broad implications for future medical practices.}, } @article {pmid23596449, year = {2013}, author = {Kiirika, LM and Behrens, C and Braun, HP and Colditz, F}, title = {The Mitochondrial Complexome of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {84}, pmid = {23596449}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Legumes (Fabaceae, Leguminosae) are unique in their ability to carry out an elaborate endosymbiotic nitrogen fixation process with rhizobia proteobacteria. The symbiotic nitrogen fixation enables the host plants to grow almost independently of any other nitrogen source. Establishment of symbiosis requires adaptations of the host cellular metabolism, here foremost of the energy metabolism mainly taking place in mitochondria. Since the early 1990s, the galegoid legume Medicago truncatula Gaertn. is a well-established model for studying legume biology, but little is known about the protein complement of mitochondria from this species. An initial characterization of the mitochondrial proteome of M. truncatula (Jemalong A17) was published recently. In the frame of this study, mitochondrial protein complexes were characterized using Two-dimensional (2D) Blue native (BN)/SDS-PAGE. From 139 detected spots, the "first hit" (=most abundant) proteins of 59 spots were identified by mass spectrometry. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial "complexome" (the "protein complex proteome") of M. truncatula via 2D BN/SDS-PAGE in combination with highly sensitive MS protein identification. In total, 1,485 proteins were identified within 158 gel spots, representing 467 unique proteins. Data evaluation by the novel GelMap annotation tool allowed recognition of protein complexes of low abundance. Overall, at least 36 mitochondrial protein complexes were found. To our knowledge several of these complexes were described for the first time in Medicago. The data set is accessible under http://www.gelmap.de/medicago/. The mitochondrial protein complex proteomes of Arabidopsis available at http://www.gelmap.de/arabidopsis/ and Medicago are compared.}, } @article {pmid23595421, year = {2013}, author = {Barnay-Verdier, S and Dall'osso, D and Joli, N and Olivré, J and Priouzeau, F and Zamoum, T and Merle, PL and Furla, P}, title = {Establishment of primary cell culture from the temperate symbiotic cnidarian, Anemonia viridis.}, journal = {Cytotechnology}, volume = {65}, number = {5}, pages = {697-704}, pmid = {23595421}, issn = {0920-9069}, abstract = {The temperate symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis, a member of the Cnidaria phylum, is a relevant experimental model to investigate the molecular and cellular events involved in the preservation or in the rupture of the symbiosis between the animal cells and their symbiotic microalgae, commonly named zooxanthellae. In order to increase research tools for this model, we developed a primary culture from A. viridis animal cells. By adapting enzymatic dissociation protocols, we isolated animal host cells from a whole tentacle in regeneration state. Each plating resulted in a heterogeneous primary culture consisted of free zooxanthellae and many regular, small rounded and adherent cells (of 3-5 μm diameter). Molecular analyses conducted on primary cultures, maintained for 2 weeks, confirmed a specific signature of A. viridis cells. Further serial dilutions and micromanipulation allowed us to obtain homogenous primary cultures of the small rounded cells, corresponding to A. viridis "epithelial-like cells". The maintenance and the propagation over a 4 weeks period of primary cells provide, for in vitro cnidarian studies, a preliminary step for further investigations on cnidarian cellular pathways notably in regard to symbiosis interactions.}, } @article {pmid23594228, year = {2013}, author = {Coba de la Peña, T and Redondo, FJ and Fillat, MF and Lucas, MM and Pueyo, JJ}, title = {Flavodoxin overexpression confers tolerance to oxidative stress in beneficial soil bacteria and improves survival in the presence of the herbicides paraquat and atrazine.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {115}, number = {1}, pages = {236-246}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12224}, pmid = {23594228}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Atrazine/toxicity ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; Escherichia coli/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Flavodoxin/genetics/*metabolism ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity ; Microbial Viability ; *Oxidative Stress ; Paraquat/toxicity ; *Soil Microbiology ; Transformation, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {AIM: To determine whether expression of a cyanobacterial flavodoxin in soil bacteria of agronomic interest confers protection against the widely used herbicides paraquat and atrazine.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The model bacterium Escherichia coli, the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Ensifer meliloti and the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Aur6 were transformed with expression vectors containing the flavodoxin gene of Anabaena variabilis. Expression of the cyanobacterial protein was confirmed by Western blot. Bacterial tolerance to oxidative stress was tested in solid medium supplemented with hydrogen peroxide, paraquat or atrazine. In all three bacterial strains, flavodoxin expression enhanced tolerance to the oxidative stress provoked by hydrogen peroxide and by the reactive oxygen species-inducing herbicides, witnessed by the enhanced survival of the transformed bacteria in the presence of these oxidizing agents.

CONCLUSIONS: Flavodoxin overexpression in beneficial soil bacteria confers tolerance to oxidative stress and improves their survival in the presence of the herbicides paraquat and atrazine. Flavodoxin could be considered as a general antioxidant resource to face oxidative challenges in different micro-organisms.

The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria or nitrogen-fixing bacteria with enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress in contaminated soils is of significant agronomic interest. The enhanced tolerance of flavodoxin-expressing bacteria to atrazine and paraquat points to potential applications in herbicide-treated soils.}, } @article {pmid23593967, year = {2013}, author = {Li, X and Miao, W and Gong, C and Jiang, H and Ma, W and Zhu, S}, title = {Effects of prometryn and acetochlor on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and symbiotic system.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {57}, number = {2}, pages = {122-128}, doi = {10.1111/lam.12084}, pmid = {23593967}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Biomass ; Daucus carota/metabolism/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/physiology ; Herbicides/pharmacology ; Hyphae/drug effects/enzymology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Prometryne/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Spores, Fungal/drug effects/physiology ; Succinate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Toluidines/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Prometryn and acetochlor are common herbicides widely used to control weeds in agricultural systems. The impacts of the two herbicides on spore germination, hyphal elongation, the biomass and malondialdehyde content of carrot hairy roots were investigated using a strict in vitro cultivation system associating the Ri T-DNA-transferred carrot hairy roots with Glomus etunicatum. Alternatively, root colonization, daughter spore production and the proportion of hyphae with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were also investigated. No significant impact on spore germination was noted in the presence of acetochlor at all three concentrations tested, while a significant decrease was observed with prometryn only at the highest concentration. Moreover, an inverse correlation was identified between herbicides concentrations and G. etunicatum root colonization and spore production as well as hyphal SDH and ALP activity, with a positive correlation identified among these four factors. Both herbicides exerted negative effects on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus and symbiosis at increasing concentrations, with prometryn apparently more toxic than acetochlor. Furthermore, the AM symbiotic system was shown to improve biomass, reduce malondialdehyde accumulation and ease lipid peroxidation in carrot hairy roots and decrease damage in host plants, thus enhancing plant tolerance to adverse conditions.

In this study, the effect of prometryn and acetochlor on the physiology and metabolic activities of the AM fungus Glomus etunicatum were investigated. Our findings demonstrate for the first time, the impact of the two herbicides at three concentrations (0.1, 1 and 10 mg l(-1)) on transformed carrot hairy roots/AM fungus association under strict in vitro culture conditions, which may guide the application of the two herbicides in modern agriculture.}, } @article {pmid23593519, year = {2013}, author = {Melnikow, E and Xu, S and Liu, J and Bell, AJ and Ghedin, E and Unnasch, TR and Lustigman, S}, title = {A potential role for the interaction of Wolbachia surface proteins with the Brugia malayi glycolytic enzymes and cytoskeleton in maintenance of endosymbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e2151}, pmid = {23593519}, issn = {1935-2735}, support = {R01 AI072465/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI072465/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Brugia malayi/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Cytoskeleton/*metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Protozoan Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Wolbachia/*metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The human filarial parasite Brugia malayi harbors an endosymbiotic bacterium of the genus Wolbachia. The Wolbachia represent an attractive target for the control of filarial induced disease as elimination of the bacteria affects molting, reproduction and survival of the worms. The molecular basis for the symbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and their filarial hosts has yet to be elucidated. To identify proteins involved in this process, we focused on the Wolbachia surface proteins (WSPs), which are known to be involved in bacteria-host interactions in other bacterial systems. Two WSP-like proteins (wBm0152 and wBm0432) were localized to various host tissues of the B. malayi female adult worms and are present in the excretory/secretory products of the worms. We provide evidence that both of these proteins bind specifically to B. malayi crude protein extracts and to individual filarial proteins to create functional complexes. The wBm0432 interacts with several key enzymes involved in the host glycolytic pathway, including aldolase and enolase. The wBm0152 interacts with the host cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin. We also show these interactions in vitro and have verified that wBm0432 and B. malayi aldolase, as well as wBm0152 and B. malayi actin, co-localize to the vacuole surrounding Wolbachia. We propose that both WSP protein complexes interact with each other via the aldolase-actin link and/or via the possible interaction between the host's enolase and the cytoskeleton, and play a role in Wolbachia distribution during worm growth and embryogenesis.}, } @article {pmid23592793, year = {2013}, author = {Kostic, AD and Howitt, MR and Garrett, WS}, title = {Exploring host-microbiota interactions in animal models and humans.}, journal = {Genes & development}, volume = {27}, number = {7}, pages = {701-718}, pmid = {23592793}, issn = {1549-5477}, support = {R01CA154426/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; AI078942/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK092405/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K08 AI078942/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA154426/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; F32DK098826/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM099537/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 DK098826/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM099531/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK092405/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenome/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The animal and bacterial kingdoms have coevolved and coadapted in response to environmental selective pressures over hundreds of millions of years. The meta'omics revolution in both sequencing and its analytic pipelines is fostering an explosion of interest in how the gut microbiome impacts physiology and propensity to disease. Gut microbiome studies are inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on approaches and technical skill sets from the biomedical sciences, ecology, and computational biology. Central to unraveling the complex biology of environment, genetics, and microbiome interaction in human health and disease is a deeper understanding of the symbiosis between animals and bacteria. Experimental model systems, including mice, fish, insects, and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, continue to provide critical insight into how host-microbiota homeostasis is constructed and maintained. Here we consider how model systems are influencing current understanding of host-microbiota interactions and explore recent human microbiome studies.}, } @article {pmid23589521, year = {2013}, author = {Bidard, F and Clavé, C and Saupe, SJ}, title = {The transcriptional response to nonself in the fungus Podospora anserina.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, pages = {1015-1030}, pmid = {23589521}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {Chromosomes, Fungal/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; Down-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Kinetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycotoxins/toxicity ; Neurospora crassa/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Podospora/drug effects/*genetics/*physiology ; *Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Up-Regulation/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {In fungi, heterokaryon incompatibility is a nonself recognition process occurring when filaments of different isolates of the same species fuse. Compatibility is controlled by so-called het loci and fusion of strains of unlike het genotype triggers a complex incompatibility reaction that leads to the death of the fusion cell. Herein, we analyze the transcriptional changes during the incompatibility reaction in Podospora anserina. The incompatibility response was found to be associated with a massive transcriptional reprogramming: 2231 genes were up-regulated by a factor 2 or more during incompatibility. In turn, 2441 genes were down-regulated. HET, NACHT, and HeLo domains previously found to be involved in the control of heterokaryon incompatibility were enriched in the up-regulated gene set. In addition, incompatibility was characterized by an up-regulation of proteolytic and other hydrolytic activities, of secondary metabolism clusters and toxins and effector-like proteins. The up-regulated set was found to be enriched for proteins lacking orthologs in other species and chromosomal distribution of the up-regulated genes was uneven with up-regulated genes residing preferentially in genomic islands and on chromosomes IV and V. There was a significant overlap between regulated genes during incompatibility in P. anserina and Neurospora crassa, indicating similarities in the incompatibility responses in these two species. Globally, this study illustrates that the expression changes occurring during cell fusion incompatibility in P. anserina are in several aspects reminiscent of those described in host-pathogen or symbiotic interactions in other fungal species.}, } @article {pmid23589360, year = {2013}, author = {Andres, J and Arsène-Ploetze, F and Barbe, V and Brochier-Armanet, C and Cleiss-Arnold, J and Coppée, JY and Dillies, MA and Geist, L and Joublin, A and Koechler, S and Lassalle, F and Marchal, M and Médigue, C and Muller, D and Nesme, X and Plewniak, F and Proux, C and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Schenowitz, C and Sismeiro, O and Vallenet, D and Santini, JM and Bertin, PN}, title = {Life in an arsenic-containing gold mine: genome and physiology of the autotrophic arsenite-oxidizing bacterium rhizobium sp. NT-26.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {934-953}, pmid = {23589360}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Arsenites/chemistry/*metabolism ; Autotrophic Processes ; *Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Genetic Fitness ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Gold/chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arsenic is widespread in the environment and its presence is a result of natural or anthropogenic activities. Microbes have developed different mechanisms to deal with toxic compounds such as arsenic and this is to resist or metabolize the compound. Here, we present the first reference set of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data of an Alphaproteobacterium isolated from an arsenic-containing goldmine: Rhizobium sp. NT-26. Although phylogenetically related to the plant-associated bacteria, this organism has lost the major colonizing capabilities needed for symbiosis with legumes. In contrast, the genome of Rhizobium sp. NT-26 comprises a megaplasmid containing the various genes, which enable it to metabolize arsenite. Remarkably, although the genes required for arsenite oxidation and flagellar motility/biofilm formation are carried by the megaplasmid and the chromosome, respectively, a coordinate regulation of these two mechanisms was observed. Taken together, these processes illustrate the impact environmental pressure can have on the evolution of bacterial genomes, improving the fitness of bacterial strains by the acquisition of novel functions.}, } @article {pmid23586685, year = {2013}, author = {Pierre, O and Engler, G and Hopkins, J and Brau, F and Boncompagni, E and Hérouart, D}, title = {Peribacteroid space acidification: a marker of mature bacteroid functioning in Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {36}, number = {11}, pages = {2059-2070}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12116}, pmid = {23586685}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Darkness ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes form a symbiotic interaction with Rhizobiaceae bacteria, which differentiate into nitrogen-fixing bacteroids within nodules. Here, we investigated in vivo the pH of the peribacteroid space (PBS) surrounding the bacteroid and pH variation throughout symbiosis. In vivo confocal microscopy investigations, using acidotropic probes, demonstrated the acidic state of the PBS. In planta analysis of nodule senescence induced by distinct biological processes drastically increased PBS pH in the N2 -fixing zone (zone III). Therefore, the PBS acidification observed in mature bacteroids can be considered as a marker of bacteroid N2 fixation. Using a pH-sensitive ratiometric probe, PBS pH was measured in vivo during the whole symbiotic process. We showed a progressive acidification of the PBS from the bacteroid release up to the onset of N2 fixation. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were conducted and led to disruption of the PBS acidification. Altogether, our findings shed light on the role of PBS pH of mature bacteroids in nodule functioning, providing new tools to monitor in vivo bacteroid physiology.}, } @article {pmid23586060, year = {2013}, author = {Mendes, TD and Borges, WS and Rodrigues, A and Solomon, SE and Vieira, PC and Duarte, MC and Pagnocca, FC}, title = {Anti-Candida properties of urauchimycins from actinobacteria associated with trachymyrmex ants.}, journal = {BioMed research international}, volume = {2013}, number = {}, pages = {835081}, pmid = {23586060}, issn = {2314-6141}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Antimycin A/analogs & derivatives/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Ants/chemistry/*microbiology ; Candida/*drug effects/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {After decades of intensive searching for antimicrobial compounds derived from actinobacteria, the frequency of isolation of new molecules has decreased. To cope with this concern, studies have focused on the exploitation of actinobacteria from unexplored environments and actinobacteria symbionts of plants and animals. In this study, twenty-four actinobacteria strains isolated from workers of Trachymyrmex ants were evaluated for antifungal activity towards a variety of Candida species. Results revealed that seven strains inhibited the tested Candida species. Streptomyces sp. TD025 presented potent and broad spectrum of inhibition of Candida and was selected for the isolation of bioactive molecules. From liquid shake culture of this bacterium, we isolated the rare antimycin urauchimycins A and B. For the first time, these molecules were evaluated for antifungal activity against medically important Candida species. Both antimycins showed antifungal activity, especially urauchimycin B. This compound inhibited the growth of all Candida species tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration values equivalent to the antifungal nystatin. Our results concur with the predictions that the attine ant-microbe symbiosis may be a source of bioactive metabolites for biotechnology and medical applications.}, } @article {pmid23584968, year = {2013}, author = {Webster, NS and Negri, AP and Flores, F and Humphrey, C and Soo, R and Botté, ES and Vogel, N and Uthicke, S}, title = {Near-future ocean acidification causes differences in microbial associations within diverse coral reef taxa.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {243-251}, doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12006}, pmid = {23584968}, issn = {1758-2229}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Foraminifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/chemistry/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms form symbiotic partnerships with a diverse range of marine organisms and can be critical to the health and survival of their hosts. Despite the importance of these relationships, the sensitivity of symbiotic microbes to ocean acidification (OA) is largely unknown and this needs to be redressed to adequately predict marine ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. We adopted a profiling approach to explore the sensitivity of microbes associated with coral reef biofilms and representatives of three ecologically important calcifying invertebrate phyla [corals, foraminifera and crustose coralline algae (CCA)] to OA. The experimental design for this study comprised four pHs consistent with current IPCC predictions for the next few centuries (pHNIST 8.1, 7.9, 7.7, 7.5); these pH/pCO2 conditions were produced in flow-through aquaria using CO2 bubbling. All reduced pH/increased pCO2 treatments caused clear differences in the microbial communities associated with coral, foraminifera, CCA and reef biofilms over 6 weeks, while no visible signs of host stress were detected over this period. The microbial communities of coral, foraminifera, CCA and biofilms were significantly different between pH 8.1 (pCO2 = 464 μatm) and pH 7.9 (pCO2 = 822 μatm), a concentration likely to be exceeded by the end of the present century. This trend continued at lower pHs/higher pCO2. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed variable and species-specific changes in the microbial communities with no microbial taxa consistently present or absent from specific pH treatments. The high sensitivity of coral, foraminifera, CCA and biofilm microbes to OA conditions projected to occur by 2100 is a concern for reef ecosystems and highlights the need for urgent research to assess the implications of microbial shifts for host health and coral reef processes.}, } @article {pmid23584789, year = {2013}, author = {Aylward, FO and Burnum-Johnson, KE and Tringe, SG and Teiling, C and Tremmel, DM and Moeller, JA and Scott, JJ and Barry, KW and Piehowski, PD and Nicora, CD and Malfatti, SA and Monroe, ME and Purvine, SO and Goodwin, LA and Smith, RD and Weinstock, GM and Gerardo, NM and Suen, G and Lipton, MS and Currie, CR}, title = {Leucoagaricus gongylophorus produces diverse enzymes for the degradation of recalcitrant plant polymers in leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {12}, pages = {3770-3778}, pmid = {23584789}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Agaricales/*enzymology/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Base Sequence ; Cellulases/*genetics/metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Herbivory/physiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Panama ; Phylogeny ; Plants/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants represent a large reservoir of organic carbon comprised primarily of recalcitrant polymers that most metazoans are unable to deconstruct. Many herbivores gain access to nutrients in this material indirectly by associating with microbial symbionts, and leaf-cutter ants are a paradigmatic example. These ants use fresh foliar biomass as manure to cultivate gardens composed primarily of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, a basidiomycetous fungus that produces specialized hyphal swellings that serve as a food source for the host ant colony. Although leaf-cutter ants are conspicuous herbivores that contribute substantially to carbon turnover in Neotropical ecosystems, the process through which plant biomass is degraded in their fungus gardens is not well understood. Here we present the first draft genome of L. gongylophorus, and, using genomic and metaproteomic tools, we investigate its role in lignocellulose degradation in the gardens of both Atta cephalotes and Acromyrmex echinatior leaf-cutter ants. We show that L. gongylophorus produces a diversity of lignocellulases in ant gardens and is likely the primary driver of plant biomass degradation in these ecosystems. We also show that this fungus produces distinct sets of lignocellulases throughout the different stages of biomass degradation, including numerous cellulases and laccases that likely play an important role in lignocellulose degradation. Our study provides a detailed analysis of plant biomass degradation in leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens and insight into the enzymes underlying the symbiosis between these dominant herbivores and their obligate fungal cultivar.}, } @article {pmid23583621, year = {2013}, author = {Spyrakis, F and Lucas, F and Bidon-Chanal, A and Viappiani, C and Guallar, V and Luque, FJ}, title = {Comparative analysis of inner cavities and ligand migration in non-symbiotic AHb1 and AHb2.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1834}, number = {9}, pages = {1957-1967}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbapap.2013.04.003}, pmid = {23583621}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Heme/*metabolism ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Histidine/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Molecular ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; }, abstract = {This study reports a comparative analysis of the topological properties of inner cavities and the intrinsic dynamics of non-symbiotic hemoglobins AHb1 and AHb2 from Arabidopsis thaliana. The two proteins belong to the 3/3 globin fold and have a sequence identity of about 60%. However, it is widely assumed that they have distinct physiological roles. In order to investigate the structure-function relationships in these proteins, we have examined the bis-histidyl and ligand-bound hexacoordinated states by atomistic simulations using in silico structural models. The results allow us to identify two main pathways to the distal cavity in the bis-histidyl hexacoordinated proteins. Nevertheless, a larger accessibility to small gaseous molecules is found in AHb2. This effect can be attributed to three factors: the mutation Leu35(AHb1)→Phe32(AHb2), the enhanced flexibility of helix B, and the more favorable energetic profile for ligand migration to the distal cavity. The net effect of these factors would be to facilitate the access of ligands, thus compensating the preference for the fully hexacoordination of AHb2, in contrast to the equilibrium between hexa- and pentacoordinated species in AHb1. On the other hand, binding of the exogenous ligand introduces distinct structural changes in the two proteins. A well-defined tunnel is formed in AHb1, which might be relevant to accomplish the proposed NO detoxification reaction. In contrast, no similar tunnel is found in AHb2, which can be ascribed to the reduced flexibility of helix E imposed by the larger number of salt bridges compared to AHb1. This feature would thus support the storage and transport functions proposed for AHb2. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins.}, } @article {pmid23580751, year = {2013}, author = {Gil-Quintana, E and Larrainzar, E and Seminario, A and Díaz-Leal, JL and Alamillo, JM and Pineda, M and Arrese-Igor, C and Wienkoop, S and González, EM}, title = {Local inhibition of nitrogen fixation and nodule metabolism in drought-stressed soybean.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {8}, pages = {2171-2182}, pmid = {23580751}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Amino Acids/analysis/metabolism ; Droughts ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Transpiration/physiology ; Proteomics ; Soybeans/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Urea/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Drought stress is a major factor limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation (NF) in soybean crop production. However, the regulatory mechanisms involved in this inhibition are still controversial. Soybean plants were symbiotically grown in a split-root system (SRS), which allowed for half of the root system to be irrigated at field capacity while the other half remained water deprived. NF declined in the water-deprived root system while nitrogenase activity was maintained at control values in the well-watered half. Concomitantly, amino acids and ureides accumulated in the water-deprived belowground organs regardless of transpiration rates. Ureide accumulation was found to be related to the decline in their degradation activities rather than increased biosynthesis. Finally, proteomic analysis suggests that plant carbon metabolism, protein synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and cell growth are among the processes most altered in soybean nodules under drought stress. Results presented here support the hypothesis of a local regulation of NF taking place in soybean and downplay the role of ureides in the inhibition of NF.}, } @article {pmid23580418, year = {2013}, author = {Tolin, S and Arrigoni, G and Moscatiello, R and Masi, A and Navazio, L and Sablok, G and Squartini, A}, title = {Quantitative analysis of the naringenin-inducible proteome in Rhizobium leguminosarum by isobaric tagging and mass spectrometry.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {13}, number = {12-13}, pages = {1961-1972}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201200472}, pmid = {23580418}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*analysis/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Flavanones/*pharmacology ; Isotope Labeling ; Mass Spectrometry ; Peptide Fragments/analysis/chemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Proteome/analysis/drug effects ; Proteomics/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*drug effects/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume interaction is a critical cornerstone of crop productivity and environmental sustainability. Its potential improvement relies on elucidation of the complex molecular dialogue between its two partners. In the present study, the proteomic patterns of gnotobiotic cultures of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 grown for 6 h in presence or absence of the nod gene-inducing plant flavonoid naringenin (10 μM) were analyzed using the iTRAQ approach. A total of 1334 proteins were identified corresponding to 18.67% of the protein-coding genes annotated in the sequenced genome of bv. viciae 3841. The abundance levels of 47 proteins were increased upon naringenin treatment showing fold change ratios ranging from 1.5 to 25 in two biological replicates. Besides the nod units, naringenin enhanced the expression of a number of other genes, many of which organized in operons, including β(1-2) glucan production and secretion, succinoglycan export, the RopA outer membrane protein with homology to an oligogalacturonide-specific porin motif, other enzymes for carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and proteins involved in the translation machinery. Data were validated at the transcriptional and phenotypic levels by RT-PCR and an assay of secreted sugars in culture supernatants, respectively. The current approach provides not only a high-resolution analysis of the prokaryotic proteome but also unravels the rhizobium molecular dialogue with legumes by detecting the enhanced expression of several symbiosis-associated proteins, whose flavonoid-dependency had not yet been reported.}, } @article {pmid23575215, year = {2013}, author = {Rabatel, A and Febvay, G and Gaget, K and Duport, G and Baa-Puyoulet, P and Sapountzis, P and Bendridi, N and Rey, M and Rahbé, Y and Charles, H and Calevro, F and Colella, S}, title = {Tyrosine pathway regulation is host-mediated in the pea aphid symbiosis during late embryonic and early larval development.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {235}, pmid = {23575215}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*embryology/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Embryonic Development/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Larva/genetics/growth & development ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; *Peas ; *Symbiosis ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nutritional symbioses play a central role in insects' adaptation to specialized diets and in their evolutionary success. The obligatory symbiosis between the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and the bacterium, Buchnera aphidicola, is no exception as it enables this important agricultural pest insect to develop on a diet exclusively based on plant phloem sap. The symbiotic bacteria provide the host with essential amino acids lacking in its diet but necessary for the rapid embryonic growth seen in the parthenogenetic viviparous reproduction of aphids. The aphid furnishes, in exchange, non-essential amino acids and other important metabolites. Understanding the regulations acting on this integrated metabolic system during the development of this insect is essential in elucidating aphid biology.

RESULTS: We used a microarray-based approach to analyse gene expression in the late embryonic and the early larval stages of the pea aphid, characterizing, for the first time, the transcriptional profiles in these developmental phases. Our analyses allowed us to identify key genes in the phenylalanine, tyrosine and dopamine pathways and we identified ACYPI004243, one of the four genes encoding for the aspartate transaminase (E.C. 2.6.1.1), as specifically regulated during development. Indeed, the tyrosine biosynthetic pathway is crucial for the symbiotic metabolism as it is shared between the two partners, all the precursors being produced by B. aphidicola. Our microarray data are supported by HPLC amino acid analyses demonstrating an accumulation of tyrosine at the same developmental stages, with an up-regulation of the tyrosine biosynthetic genes. Tyrosine is also essential for the synthesis of cuticular proteins and it is an important precursor for cuticle maturation: together with the up-regulation of tyrosine biosynthesis, we observed an up-regulation of cuticular genes expression. We were also able to identify some amino acid transporter genes which are essential for the switch over to the late embryonic stages in pea aphid development.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that, in the development of A. pisum, a specific host gene set regulates the biosynthetic pathways of amino acids, demonstrating how the regulation of gene expression enables an insect to control the production of metabolites crucial for its own development and symbiotic metabolism.}, } @article {pmid23574725, year = {2013}, author = {Curry, JM and Tuluc, M and Whitaker-Menezes, D and Ames, JA and Anantharaman, A and Butera, A and Leiby, B and Cognetti, DM and Sotgia, F and Lisanti, MP and Martinez-Outschoorn, UE}, title = {Cancer metabolism, stemness and tumor recurrence: MCT1 and MCT4 are functional biomarkers of metabolic symbiosis in head and neck cancer.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {1371-1384}, pmid = {23574725}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor/*metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Fibroblasts/metabolism/pathology ; Glycolysis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Ketone Bodies/metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/*metabolism ; Muscle Proteins/*metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/metabolism/*pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism/*pathology ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Oxidative Stress ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism ; Symporters/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Here, we interrogated head and neck cancer (HNSCC) specimens (n = 12) to examine if different metabolic compartments (oxidative vs. glycolytic) co-exist in human tumors. A large panel of well-established biomarkers was employed to determine the metabolic state of proliferative cancer cells. Interestingly, cell proliferation in cancer cells, as marked by Ki-67 immunostaining, was strictly correlated with oxidative mitochondrial metabolism (OXPHOS) and the uptake of mitochondrial fuels, as detected via MCT1 expression (p < 0.001). More specifically, three metabolic tumor compartments were delineated: (1) proliferative and mitochondrial-rich cancer cells (Ki-67+/TOMM20+/COX+/MCT1+); (2) non-proliferative and mitochondrial-poor cancer cells (Ki-67-/TOMM20-/COX-/MCT1-); and (3) non-proliferative and mitochondrial-poor stromal cells (Ki-67-/TOMM20-/COX-/MCT1-). In addition, high oxidative stress (MCT4+) was very specific for cancer tissues. Thus, we next evaluated the prognostic value of MCT4 in a second independent patient cohort (n = 40). Most importantly, oxidative stress (MCT4+) in non-proliferating epithelial cancer cells predicted poor clinical outcome (tumor recurrence; p < 0.0001; log-rank test), and was functionally associated with FDG-PET avidity (p < 0.04). Similarly, oxidative stress (MCT4+) in tumor stromal cells was specifically associated with higher tumor stage (p < 0.03), and was a highly specific marker for cancer-associated fibroblasts (p < 0.001). We propose that oxidative stress is a key hallmark of tumor tissues that drives high-energy metabolism in adjacent proliferating mitochondrial-rich cancer cells, via the paracrine transfer of mitochondrial fuels (such as L-lactate and ketone bodies). New antioxidants and MCT4 inhibitors should be developed to metabolically target "three-compartment tumor metabolism" in head and neck cancers. It is remarkable that two "non-proliferating" populations of cells (Ki-67-/MCT4+) within the tumor can actually determine clinical outcome, likely by providing high-energy mitochondrial "fuels" for proliferative cancer cells to burn. Finally, we also show that in normal mucosal tissue, the basal epithelial "stem cell" layer is hyper-proliferative (Ki-67+), mitochondrial-rich (TOMM20+/COX+) and is metabolically programmed to use mitochondrial fuels (MCT1+), such as ketone bodies and L-lactate. Thus, oxidative mitochondrial metabolism (OXPHOS) is a common feature of both (1) normal stem cells and (2) proliferating cancer cells. As such, we should consider metabolically treating cancer patients with mitochondrial inhibitors (such as Metformin), and/or with a combination of MCT1 and MCT4 inhibitors, to target "metabolic symbiosis."}, } @article {pmid23574724, year = {2013}, author = {Avena, P and Anselmo, W and Whitaker-Menezes, D and Wang, C and Pestell, RG and Lamb, RS and Hulit, J and Casaburi, I and Andò, S and Martinez-Outschoorn, UE and Lisanti, MP and Sotgia, F}, title = {Compartment-specific activation of PPARγ governs breast cancer tumor growth, via metabolic reprogramming and symbiosis.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {12}, number = {9}, pages = {1360-1370}, pmid = {23574724}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {Animals ; Autophagy ; Breast Neoplasms/blood supply/*metabolism/*pathology ; Caveolin 1/metabolism ; *Cell Compartmentation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cellular Senescence ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Fibroblasts/metabolism ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; Mice ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism/pathology ; PPAR gamma/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The role of PPARγ in cancer therapy is controversial, with studies showing either pro-tumorigenic or antineoplastic effects. This debate is very clinically relevant, because PPARγ agonists are used as antidiabetic drugs. Here, we evaluated if the effects of PPARγ on tumorigenesis are determined by the cell type in which PPARγ is activated. Second, we examined if the metabolic changes induced by PPARγ, such as glycolysis and autophagy, play any role in the tumorigenic process. To this end, PPARγ was overexpressed in breast cancer cells or in stromal cells. PPARγ-overexpressing cells were examined with respect to (1) their tumorigenic potential, using xenograft models, and (2) regarding their metabolic features. In xenograft models, we show that when PPARγ is activated in cancer cells, tumor growth is inhibited by 40%. However, when PPARγ is activated in stromal cells, the growth of co-injected breast cancer cells is enhanced by 60%. Thus, the effect(s) of PPARγ on tumorigenesis are dependent on the cell compartment in which PPARγ is activated. Mechanistically, stromal cells with activated PPARγ display metabolic features of cancer-associated fibroblasts, with increased autophagy, glycolysis and senescence. Indeed, fibroblasts overexpressing PPARγ show increased expression of autophagic markers, increased numbers of acidic autophagic vacuoles, increased production of L-lactate, cell hypertrophy and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, PPARγ fibroblasts show increased expression of CDKs (p16/p21) and β-galactosidase, which are markers of cell cycle arrest and senescence. Finally, PPARγ induces the activation of the two major transcription factors that promote autophagy and glycolysis, i.e., HIF-1α and NFκB, in stromal cells. Thus, PPARγ activation in stromal cells results in the formation of a catabolic pro-inflammatory microenvironment that metabolically supports cancer growth. Interestingly, the tumor inhibition observed when PPARγ is expressed in epithelial cancer cells is also associated with increased autophagy, suggesting that activation of an autophagic program has both pro- or antitumorigenic effects depending on the cell compartment in which it occurs. Finally, when PPARγ is expressed in epithelial cancer cells, the suppression of tumor growth is associated with a modest inhibition of angiogenesis. In conclusion, these data support the "two-compartment tumor metabolism" model, which proposes that metabolic coupling exists between catabolic stromal cells and oxidative cancer cells. Cancer cells induce autophagy, glycolysis and senescence in stromal cells. In return, stromal cells generate onco-metabolites and mitochondrial fuels (L-lactate, ketones, glutamine/aminoacids and fatty acids) that are used by cancer cells to enhance their tumorigenic potential. Thus, as researchers design new therapies, they must be conscious that cancer is not a cell-autonomous disease, but rather a tumor is an ecosystem of many different cell types, which engage in metabolic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23574711, year = {2013}, author = {Kwong-Lam, F and Chi-Fung, CG}, title = {Vincristine could partly suppress stromal support to T-ALL blasts during pegylated arginase I treatment.}, journal = {Experimental hematology & oncology}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, pmid = {23574711}, issn = {2162-3619}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Relapsed T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) has been an incurable disease. Recent reports showed that an L-arginine depleting enzyme, pegylated arginase (BCT-100) may be effective against T-ALL cells. On the other hand, studies including ours had shown the symbiosis of ALL blasts and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) in bone marrow microenvironment during L-asparaginase treatment. As L-asparaginase and BCT-100 both act by depleting lymphoid cells of specific amino acid, we hypothesized that hMSCs may also protect T-ALL blasts from BCT-100 treatment in co-culture and such protection may be abrogated by pre-treating hMSCs with vincristine (VCR).

METHODS: XTT assay was used to test sensitivities of T-ALL cell lines and hMSCs to BCT-100. Apoptosis of T-ALL cell lines with or without BCT-100 treatment were tested by annexin V / propidium iodide (AV/PI) assay using flow cytometer. Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), an enzyme involved in L-arginine metabolism which may account for BCT-100 resistance.

RESULTS: hMSCs were resistant to BCT-100 while CCRF-CEM, Jurkat and MOLT-4 were very sensitive to it. hMSCs could protect all the three cell lines from BCT-100 treatment in transwell co-culture. All the 3 T-ALL cell lines were also found to be rescued by an L-arginine precursor citrulline, while the breakdown product of BCT-100, ornithine only had limited salvaging effect on CCRF-CEM but not Jurkat and MOLT-4. Both hMSCs and 3 T-ALL cell lines express citrulline synthesis enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) at basal level while only hMSCs could express OTC at relatively higher level under BCT-100 treatment. Treating hMSCs with vincristine before co-culturing with T-ALL could resume the cytotoxicity of BCT-100 to CCRF-CEM and MOLT-4 cells.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a possible strategy to overcome resistance to BCT-100 from cancer microenvironments by suppressing hMSCs either in marrow or in the perivascular niche using vincristine.}, } @article {pmid23574391, year = {2013}, author = {Koga, R and Bennett, GM and Cryan, JR and Moran, NA}, title = {Evolutionary replacement of obligate symbionts in an ancient and diverse insect lineage.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {2073-2081}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12121}, pmid = {23574391}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/physiology ; Betaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/physiology ; Hemiptera/genetics/microbiology ; Insecta/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many insect groups depend on ancient obligate symbioses with bacteria that undergo long-term genomic degradation due to inactivation and loss of ancestral genes. Sap-feeding insects in the hemipteran suborder Auchenorrhyncha show complex symbioses with at least two obligate bacterial symbionts, inhabiting specialized host cells (bacteriocytes). We explored the symbiotic relationships of the spittlebugs (Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopoidea) using phylogenetic and microscopy methods. Results show that most spittlebugs contain the symbionts Sulcia muelleri (Bacteroidetes) and Zinderia insecticola (Betaproteobacteria) with each restricted to its own bacteriocyte type. However, the ancestral Zinderia symbiont has been replaced with a novel symbiont closely related to Sodalis glossinidius (Enterobacteriaceae) in members of the ecologically successful spittlebug tribe Philaenini. At least one spittlebug species retains Sulcia and Zinderia, but also has acquired a Sodalis-like symbiont, possibly representing a transitional stage in the evolutionary succession of symbioses. Phylogenetic analyses including symbionts of other Auchenorrhyncha lineages suggest that Zinderia, like Sulcia, descends from an ancestral symbiont present in the common ancestor of Auchenorrhyncha. This betaproteobacterial symbiont has been repeatedly replaced by other symbionts, such as the Sodalis-like symbiont of spittlebugs. Symbiont replacement may offer a route for hosts to escape dependence on an ancient, degraded and potentially inefficient symbiont.}, } @article {pmid23573247, year = {2013}, author = {Nallu, S and Silverstein, KA and Samac, DA and Bucciarelli, B and Vance, CP and VandenBosch, KA}, title = {Regulatory patterns of a large family of defensin-like genes expressed in nodules of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e60355}, pmid = {23573247}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chromosome Mapping ; Conserved Sequence ; Defensins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Sequence Deletion ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Root nodules are the symbiotic organ of legumes that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Many genes are specifically induced in nodules during the interactions between the host plant and symbiotic rhizobia. Information regarding the regulation of expression for most of these genes is lacking. One of the largest gene families expressed in the nodules of the model legume Medicago truncatula is the nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) group of defensin-like (DEFL) genes. We used a custom Affymetrix microarray to catalog the expression changes of 566 NCRs at different stages of nodule development. Additionally, bacterial mutants were used to understand the importance of the rhizobial partners in induction of NCRs. Expression of early NCRs was detected during the initial infection of rhizobia in nodules and expression continued as nodules became mature. Late NCRs were induced concomitantly with bacteroid development in the nodules. The induction of early and late NCRs was correlated with the number and morphology of rhizobia in the nodule. Conserved 41 to 50 bp motifs identified in the upstream 1,000 bp promoter regions of NCRs were required for promoter activity. These cis-element motifs were found to be unique to the NCR family among all annotated genes in the M. truncatula genome, although they contain sub-regions with clear similarity to known regulatory motifs involved in nodule-specific expression and temporal gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid23572326, year = {2013}, author = {Larkan, NJ and Ruzicka, DR and Edmonds-Tibbett, T and Durkin, JM and Jackson, LE and Smith, FA and Schachtman, DP and Smith, SE and Barker, SJ}, title = {The reduced mycorrhizal colonisation (rmc) mutation of tomato disrupts five gene sequences including the CYCLOPS/IPD3 homologue.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {573-584}, pmid = {23572326}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/*genetics/microbiology ; *Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in vascular plant roots is an ancient mutualistic interaction that evolved with land plants. More recently evolved root mutualisms have recruited components of the AM signalling pathway as identified with molecular approaches in model legume research. Earlier we reported that the reduced mycorrhizal colonisation (rmc) mutation of tomato mapped to chromosome 8. Here we report additional functional characterisation of the rmc mutation using genotype grafts and proteomic and transcriptomic analyses. Our results led to identification of the precise genome location of the Rmc locus from which we identified the mutation by sequencing. The rmc phenotype results from a deletion that disrupts five predicted gene sequences, one of which has close sequence match to the CYCLOPS/IPD3 gene identified in legumes as an essential intracellular regulator of both AM and rhizobial symbioses. Identification of two other genes not located at the rmc locus but with altered expression in the rmc genotype is also described. Possible roles of the other four disrupted genes in the deleted region are discussed. Our results support the identification of CYCLOPS/IPD3 in legumes and rice as a key gene required for AM symbiosis. The extensive characterisation of rmc in comparison with its 'parent' 76R, which has a normal mycorrhizal phenotype, has validated these lines as an important comparative model for glasshouse and field studies of AM and non-mycorrhizal plants with respect to plant competition and microbial interactions with vascular plant roots.}, } @article {pmid23572325, year = {2013}, author = {Casieri, L and Ait Lahmidi, N and Doidy, J and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Migeon, A and Bonneau, L and Courty, PE and Garcia, K and Charbonnier, M and Delteil, A and Brun, A and Zimmermann, S and Plassard, C and Wipf, D}, title = {Biotrophic transportome in mutualistic plant-fungal interactions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {8}, pages = {597-625}, pmid = {23572325}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biomass ; Fungi/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Development ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Understanding the mechanisms that underlie nutrient use efficiency and carbon allocation along with mycorrhizal interactions is critical for managing croplands and forests soundly. Indeed, nutrient availability, uptake and exchange in biotrophic interactions drive plant growth and modulate biomass allocation. These parameters are crucial for plant yield, a major issue in the context of high biomass production. Transport processes across the polarized membrane interfaces are of major importance in the functioning of the established mycorrhizal association as the symbiotic relationship is based on a 'fair trade' between the fungus and the host plant. Nutrient and/or metabolite uptake and exchanges, at biotrophic interfaces, are controlled by membrane transporters whose regulation patterns are essential for determining the outcome of plant-fungus interactions and adapting to changes in soil nutrient quantity and/or quality. In the present review, we summarize the current state of the art regarding transport systems in the two major forms of mycorrhiza, namely ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid23570961, year = {2013}, author = {Ratzka, C and Gross, R and Feldhaar, H}, title = {Gene expression analysis of the endosymbiont-bearing midgut tissue during ontogeny of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {6}, pages = {611-623}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.03.011}, pmid = {23570961}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Ants/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Digestive System/metabolism/microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Gene Expression ; Insect Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects have frequently evolved mutualistic relationships with extracellular and/or intracellular bacterial endosymbionts. Infection with endosymbionts seems to affect several cellular functions of the host such as immune pathways, oxidative stress regulation and autophagy. Our current knowledge about specific host factors leading to endosymbiont tolerance and/or control is still scarce and is based on very few associations between insect hosts and bacteria only. Camponotus floridanus ants harbour the obligate intracellular bacterium Blochmannia floridanus within specialized midgut cells called bacteriocytes. The number of Blochmannia endosymbionts within the midgut tissue increases strongly during host development and reaches a maximum at the late pupal stage, where the entire midgut is transformed into a symbiotic organ. After eclosion of workers the number of Blochmannia strongly decreases again. We chose 15 candidate genes from C. floridanus likely to be involved in host-symbiont interactions based on their significant homology to previously investigated symbiosis-relevant genes from other insects. We determined the expression of these genes in the endosymbiont-bearing midgut tissue in comparison to the residual body tissue at different developmental stages of C. floridanus in order to reveal changes in gene expression correlating with changes in endosymbiont number per host. Strikingly, two pattern recognition receptors (amidase PGRP-LB and PGRP-SC2) were highly expressed in the midgut tissue at the pupal stage, potentially down-modulating the IMD pathway to enable endosymbiont tolerance. Moreover, we investigated the immune gene expression in response to bacterial challenge at the pupal stage. Results showed that the midgut tissue differs in expression pattern in contrast to the residual body. Our results support a key role for amidase PGRPs, especially PGRP-LB, in regulation of the immune response towards endosymbionts in C. floridanus and suggest an involvement of the lysosomal system in control of Blochmannia endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid23568780, year = {2013}, author = {Wood, BM and Jader, LR and Schendel, FJ and Hahn, NJ and Valentas, KJ and McNamara, PJ and Novak, PM and Heilmann, SM}, title = {Industrial symbiosis: corn ethanol fermentation, hydrothermal carbonization, and anaerobic digestion.}, journal = {Biotechnology and bioengineering}, volume = {110}, number = {10}, pages = {2624-2632}, doi = {10.1002/bit.24924}, pmid = {23568780}, issn = {1097-0290}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis ; Animal Feed ; Biofuels ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Ethanol/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Fermentation/*physiology ; Methane/metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; Zea mays/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The production of dry-grind corn ethanol results in the generation of intermediate products, thin and whole stillage, which require energy-intensive downstream processing for conversion into commercial animal feed products. Hydrothermal carbonization of thin and whole stillage coupled with anaerobic digestion was investigated as alternative processing methods that could benefit the industry. By substantially eliminating evaporation of water, reductions in downstream energy consumption from 65% to 73% were achieved while generating hydrochar, fatty acids, treated process water, and biogas co-products providing new opportunities for the industry. Processing whole stillage in this manner produced the four co-products, eliminated centrifugation and evaporation, and substantially reduced drying. With thin stillage, all four co-products were again produced, as well as a high quality animal feed. Anaerobic digestion of the aqueous product stream from the hydrothermal carbonization of thin stillage reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) by more than 90% and converted 83% of the initial COD to methane. Internal use of this biogas could entirely fuel the HTC process and reduce overall natural gas usage.}, } @article {pmid23568184, year = {2013}, author = {Doubková, P and Kohout, P and Sudová, R}, title = {Soil nutritional status, not inoculum identity, primarily determines the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of Knautia arvensis plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {561-572}, pmid = {23568184}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Biomass ; Dipsacaceae/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Soil/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is among the factors contributing to plant survival in serpentine soils characterised by unfavourable physicochemical properties. However, AM fungi show a considerable functional diversity, which is further modified by host plant identity and edaphic conditions. To determine the variability among serpentine AM fungal isolates in their effects on plant growth and nutrition, a greenhouse experiment was conducted involving two serpentine and two non-serpentine populations of Knautia arvensis plants grown in their native substrates. The plants were inoculated with one of the four serpentine AM fungal isolates or with a complex AM fungal community native to the respective plant population. At harvest after 6-month cultivation, intraradical fungal development was assessed, AM fungal taxa established from native fungal communities were determined and plant growth and element uptake evaluated. AM symbiosis significantly improved the performance of all the K. arvensis populations. The extent of mycorrhizal growth promotion was mainly governed by nutritional status of the substrate, while the effect of AM fungal identity was negligible. Inoculation with the native AM fungal communities was not more efficient than inoculation with single AM fungal isolates in any plant population. Contrary to the growth effects, a certain variation among AM fungal isolates was revealed in terms of their effects on plant nutrient uptake, especially P, Mg and Ca, with none of the AM fungi being generally superior in this respect. Regardless of AM symbiosis, K. arvensis populations significantly differed in their relative nutrient accumulation ratios, clearly showing the plant's ability to adapt to nutrient deficiency/excess.}, } @article {pmid23567864, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, J and Novero, M and Charnikhova, T and Ferrandino, A and Schubert, A and Ruyter-Spira, C and Bonfante, P and Lovisolo, C and Bouwmeester, HJ and Cardinale, F}, title = {Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 7 modulates plant growth, reproduction, senescence, and determinate nodulation in the model legume Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {7}, pages = {1967-1981}, pmid = {23567864}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Lotus/*enzymology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are newly identified hormones that regulate multiple aspects of plant development, infection by parasitic weeds, and mutualistic symbiosis in the roots. In this study, the role of SLs was studied for the first time in the model plant Lotus japonicus using transgenic lines silenced for carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 7 (LjCCD7), the orthologue of Arabidopsis More Axillary Growth 3. Transgenic LjCCD7-silenced plants displayed reduced height due to shorter internodes, and more branched shoots and roots than the controls, and an increase in total plant biomass, while their root:shoot ratio remained unchanged. Moreover, these lines had longer primary roots, delayed senescence, and reduced flower/pod numbers from the third round of flower and pod setting onwards. Only a mild reduction in determinate nodule numbers and hardly any impact on the colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were observed. The results show that the impairment of CCD7 activity in L. japonicus leads to a phenotype linked to SL functions, but with specific features possibly due to the peculiar developmental pattern of this plant species. It is believed that the data also link determinate nodulation, plant reproduction, and senescence to CCD7 function for the first time.}, } @article {pmid23566872, year = {2013}, author = {Pańka, D and Piesik, D and Jeske, M and Baturo-Cieśniewska, A}, title = {Production of phenolics and the emission of volatile organic compounds by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)/Neotyphodium lolii association as a response to infection by Fusarium poae.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {11}, pages = {1010-1019}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2013.02.009}, pmid = {23566872}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Fusarium/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lolium/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Grasses very often form symbiotic associations with Neotyphodium/Epichloë endophytic fungi. These endophytes often allow the host grass to be protected from different pathogens. However, there is little known about the mechanisms of such endophyte influence on the host. Thus, the purpose of this research was to examine the effect of the N. lolii endophyte on the total production of phenolic compounds, VOCs emission and the resistance of three perennial ryegrass genotypes infected by pathogenic Fusarium poae. Analyses of total phenolics content were performed in control (not inoculated) and inoculated plants after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 days (DAI) and for VOCs after 0, 3, 6 and 12 DAI. The presence of endophytes significantly reduced the disease index in two of the three genotypes relative to that in E-. Plants infected by N. lolii exhibited higher production of phenolics relative to the E- plants. The highest amounts of phenolics were observed on the second and sixth DAI. Genotype Nl22 showed the strongest effect of the endophyte on the production of phenolics, which increased by over 61%. Both the endophyte infected and non-infected plants emitted most abundantly two GLVs ((Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate), three terpenes (linalool, (Z)-ocimene, β-caryophyllene) and three shikimic acid pathway derivatives (benzyl acetate, indole, and methyl salicylate). The endophyte presence and the intervals of VOCs detection were a highly significant source of variation for all emitted volatiles (P<0.001). The genotype of the perennial ryegrass significantly affected only the emission of methyl salicylate (P<0.05) and β-caryophyllene (P<0.05). Most of the VOCs ((Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenal, linalool and methyl salicylate) reached their highest levels of emission on the sixth DAI, when averaged over genotypes and endophyte status. The results highlight the role of Neotyphodium spp. in the mediation of quadro-trophic interactions among plants, symbiotic endophytes, invertebrate herbivores and plant pathogenic fungi. Our results also confirm the fact that symbiotic plants can activate a defense reaction faster than non-symbiotic plants after a pathogen attack. Thus, N. lolii can be involved in the defense of perennial ryegrass against pathogens and potentially could be central to the host plants' protection.}, } @article {pmid23566016, year = {2013}, author = {Bazin, J and Khan, GA and Combier, JP and Bustos-Sanmamed, P and Debernardi, JM and Rodriguez, R and Sorin, C and Palatnik, J and Hartmann, C and Crespi, M and Lelandais-Brière, C}, title = {miR396 affects mycorrhization and root meristem activity in the legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {74}, number = {6}, pages = {920-934}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12178}, pmid = {23566016}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cell Proliferation ; Computational Biology ; Fungi/physiology ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Meristem/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA Interference ; Sequence Alignment ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The root system is crucial for acquisition of resources from the soil. In legumes, the efficiency of mineral and water uptake by the roots may be reinforced due to establishment of symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi and interactions with soil rhizobia. Here, we investigated the role of miR396 in regulating the architecture of the root system and in symbiotic interactions in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Analyses with promoter-GUS fusions suggested that the mtr-miR396a and miR396b genes are highly expressed in root tips, preferentially in the transition zone, and display distinct expression profiles during lateral root and nodule development. Transgenic roots of composite plants that over-express the miR396b precursor showed lower expression of six growth-regulating factor genes (MtGRF) and two bHLH79-like target genes, as well as reduced growth and mycorrhizal associations. miR396 inactivation by mimicry caused contrasting tendencies, with increased target expression, higher root biomass and more efficient colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In contrast to MtbHLH79, repression of three GRF targets by RNA interference severely impaired root growth. Early activation of mtr-miR396b, concomitant with post-transcriptional repression of MtGRF5 expression, was also observed in response to exogenous brassinosteroids. Growth limitation in miR396 over-expressing roots correlated with a reduction in cell-cycle gene expression and the number of dividing cells in the root apical meristem. These results link the miR396 network to the regulation of root growth and mycorrhizal associations in plants.}, } @article {pmid23564626, year = {2013}, author = {Orozco-Mosqueda, Mdel C and Macías-Rodríguez, LI and Santoyo, G and Farías-Rodríguez, R and Valencia-Cantero, E}, title = {Medicago truncatula increases its iron-uptake mechanisms in response to volatile organic compounds produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {58}, number = {6}, pages = {579-585}, pmid = {23564626}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Biomass ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; FMN Reductase/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Iron/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/chemistry/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula represents a model plant species for understanding legume-bacteria interactions. M. truncatula roots form a specific root-nodule symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation generates high iron (Fe) demands for bacterial nitrogenase holoenzyme and plant leghemoglobin proteins. Leguminous plants acquire Fe via "Strategy I," which includes mechanisms such as rhizosphere acidification and enhanced ferric reductase activity. In the present work, we analyzed the effect of S. meliloti volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the Fe-uptake mechanisms of M. truncatula seedlings under Fe-deficient and Fe-rich conditions. Axenic cultures showed that both plant and bacterium modified VOC synthesis in the presence of the respective symbiotic partner. Importantly, in both Fe-rich and -deficient experiments, bacterial VOCs increased the generation of plant biomass, rhizosphere acidification, ferric reductase activity, and chlorophyll content in plants. On the basis of our results, we propose that M. truncatula perceives its symbiont through VOC emissions, and in response, increases Fe-uptake mechanisms to facilitate symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23563967, year = {2013}, author = {Vogel, KJ and Moran, NA}, title = {Functional and evolutionary analysis of the genome of an obligate fungal symbiont.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {891-904}, pmid = {23563967}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/physiology ; Buchnera/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Drift ; Genome, Fungal/*genetics ; Introns/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Nutritional symbionts of insects include some of the most bizarre genomes studied to date, with extremely reduced size, biased base composition, and limited metabolic abilities. A monophyletic group of aphids within the subfamily Cerataphidinae have lost the bacterial symbiont common to all other Aphididae (Buchnera aphidicola), which have been replaced by a eukaryotic one, the yeast-like symbiont (YLS). As symbionts are expected to experience reduced effective population size (Ne) and largely clonal life cycles, we used this system as a model to test the hypothesis that chronically high levels of genetic drift will result in an increase in size of a eukaryotic genome. We sequenced the genome of the YLS of the aphid Cerataphis brasiliensis and observed elevated rates of protein sequence evolution and intron proliferation in YLS orthologs relative to those of its closest-sequenced relative, consistent with predictions. A moderate amount of repetitive DNA was found along with evidence of directed mutation to prevent proliferation of repetitive elements. Despite increased intron numbers, the overall genome structure appears not to have undergone massive expansion and is around 25 Mb in size. Compared with Buchnera, the YLS appears to have a much broader metabolic repertoire, though many gene families have been reduced in the YLS relative to related fungi. The patterns observed in the YLS genome suggest that its symbiotic lifestyle is permissive to intron proliferation and accelerated sequence evolution, though other factors appear to limit its overall genome expansion.}, } @article {pmid23562935, year = {2013}, author = {Catta-Preta, CM and Nascimento, MT and Garcia, MC and Saraiva, EM and Motta, MC and Meyer-Fernandes, JR}, title = {The presence of a symbiotic bacterium in Strigomonas culicis is related to differential ecto-phosphatase activity and influences the mosquito-protozoa interaction.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {43}, number = {7}, pages = {571-577}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.02.005}, pmid = {23562935}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Aedes/*parasitology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/parasitology ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Salivary Glands/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Trypanosomatina/enzymology/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenous trypanosomatid that co-evolves with a symbiotic bacterium in a mutualistic relationship that is characterized by intense metabolic exchanges between both partners. S. culicis infects and colonizes the Aedes aegypti mosquito midgut, reaches its hemocoel and then invades the salivary glands. An artificial aposymbiotic strain is unable to colonize insects, reinforcing the idea that the bacterium influences the protozoan surface composition and cell interaction. Here, we report the characterization of the hydrolytic activity of ecto-phosphatases evaluated in symbiont-bearing and aposymbiotic strains of S. culicis by incubating the protozoa with p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) at different pH levels, in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors, and with several divalent metals. The symbiont-bearing and aposymbiotic cells differ in their ecto-phosphatase enzymes, based on their activities and specificities. Furthermore, the ability of the protozoan to bind to the mosquito midgut and salivary glands was impaired by ecto-phosphatase inhibition. Taken together, our data suggest that the symbiont influences the host protozoan ecto-phosphatase activity and indicate a possible role of this enzyme during mosquito tissue colonization by S. culicis.}, } @article {pmid23561576, year = {2013}, author = {Hoffman, J and Gabel, P}, title = {Expanding Panjabi's stability model to express movement: a theoretical model.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {80}, number = {6}, pages = {692-697}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2013.02.006}, pmid = {23561576}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Humans ; Joints/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Movement/*physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology ; Neural Conduction/physiology ; Postural Balance/*physiology ; Rehabilitation/*methods ; Spine/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Novel theoretical models of movement have historically inspired the creation of new methods for the application of human movement. The landmark theoretical model of spinal stability by Panjabi in 1992 led to the creation of an exercise approach to spinal stability. This approach however was later challenged, most significantly due to a lack of favourable clinical effect. The concepts explored in this paper address and consider the deficiencies of Panjabi's model then propose an evolution and expansion from a special model of stability to a general one of movement. It is proposed that two body-wide symbiotic elements are present within all movement systems, stability and mobility. The justification for this is derived from the observable clinical environment. It is clinically recognised that these two elements are present and identifiable throughout the body in different joints and muscles, and the neural conduction system. In order to generalise the Panjabi model of stability to include and illustrate movement, a matching parallel mobility system with the same subsystems was conceptually created. In this expanded theoretical model, the new mobility system is placed beside the existing stability system and subsystems. The ability of both stability and mobility systems to work in harmony will subsequently determine the quality of movement. Conversely, malfunction of either system, or their subsystems, will deleteriously affect all other subsystems and consequently overall movement quality. For this reason, in the rehabilitation exercise environment, focus should be placed on the simultaneous involvement of both the stability and mobility systems. It is suggested that the individual's relevant functional harmonious movements should be challenged at the highest possible level without pain or discomfort. It is anticipated that this conceptual expansion of the theoretical model of stability to one with the symbiotic inclusion of mobility, will provide new understandings on human movement. The use of this model may provide a universal system for body movement analysis and understanding musculoskeletal disorders. In turn, this may lead to a simple categorisation system alluding to the functional face-value of a wide range of commonly used passive, active or combined musculoskeletal interventions. Further research is required to investigate the mechanisms that enable or interfere with harmonious body movements. Such work may then potentially lead to new and evolved evidence based interventions.}, } @article {pmid23560078, year = {2013}, author = {Motta, MC and Martins, AC and de Souza, SS and Catta-Preta, CM and Silva, R and Klein, CC and de Almeida, LG and de Lima Cunha, O and Ciapina, LP and Brocchi, M and Colabardini, AC and de Araujo Lima, B and Machado, CR and de Almeida Soares, CM and Probst, CM and de Menezes, CB and Thompson, CE and Bartholomeu, DC and Gradia, DF and Pavoni, DP and Grisard, EC and Fantinatti-Garboggini, F and Marchini, FK and Rodrigues-Luiz, GF and Wagner, G and Goldman, GH and Fietto, JL and Elias, MC and Goldman, MH and Sagot, MF and Pereira, M and Stoco, PH and de Mendonça-Neto, RP and Teixeira, SM and Maciel, TE and de Oliveira Mendes, TA and Ürményi, TP and de Souza, W and Schenkman, S and de Vasconcelos, AT}, title = {Predicting the proteins of Angomonas deanei, Strigomonas culicis and their respective endosymbionts reveals new aspects of the trypanosomatidae family.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e60209}, pmid = {23560078}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; *Genes, Protozoan ; Leishmania major/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; *Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Trypanosomatina/classification/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatids have been considered excellent models for the study of cell evolution because the host protozoan co-evolves with an intracellular bacterium in a mutualistic relationship. Such protozoa inhabit a single invertebrate host during their entire life cycle and exhibit special characteristics that group them in a particular phylogenetic cluster of the Trypanosomatidae family, thus classified as monoxenics. In an effort to better understand such symbiotic association, we used DNA pyrosequencing and a reference-guided assembly to generate reads that predicted 16,960 and 12,162 open reading frames (ORFs) in two symbiont-bearing trypanosomatids, Angomonas deanei (previously named as Crithidia deanei) and Strigomonas culicis (first known as Blastocrithidia culicis), respectively. Identification of each ORF was based primarily on TriTrypDB using tblastn, and each ORF was confirmed by employing getorf from EMBOSS and Newbler 2.6 when necessary. The monoxenic organisms revealed conserved housekeeping functions when compared to other trypanosomatids, especially compared with Leishmania major. However, major differences were found in ORFs corresponding to the cytoskeleton, the kinetoplast, and the paraflagellar structure. The monoxenic organisms also contain a large number of genes for cytosolic calpain-like and surface gp63 metalloproteases and a reduced number of compartmentalized cysteine proteases in comparison to other TriTryp organisms, reflecting adaptations to the presence of the symbiont. The assembled bacterial endosymbiont sequences exhibit a high A+T content with a total of 787 and 769 ORFs for the Angomonas deanei and Strigomonas culicis endosymbionts, respectively, and indicate that these organisms hold a common ancestor related to the Alcaligenaceae family. Importantly, both symbionts contain enzymes that complement essential host cell biosynthetic pathways, such as those for amino acid, lipid and purine/pyrimidine metabolism. These findings increase our understanding of the intricate symbiotic relationship between the bacterium and the trypanosomatid host and provide clues to better understand eukaryotic cell evolution.}, } @article {pmid23558912, year = {2013}, author = {Wasternack, C and Hause, B}, title = {Jasmonates: biosynthesis, perception, signal transduction and action in plant stress response, growth and development. An update to the 2007 review in Annals of Botany.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {1021-1058}, pmid = {23558912}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Herbivory ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Light ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Plants/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Jasmonates are important regulators in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as in development. Synthesized from lipid-constituents, the initially formed jasmonic acid is converted to different metabolites including the conjugate with isoleucine. Important new components of jasmonate signalling including its receptor were identified, providing deeper insight into the role of jasmonate signalling pathways in stress responses and development.

SCOPE: The present review is an update of the review on jasmonates published in this journal in 2007. New data of the last five years are described with emphasis on metabolites of jasmonates, on jasmonate perception and signalling, on cross-talk to other plant hormones and on jasmonate signalling in response to herbivores and pathogens, in symbiotic interactions, in flower development, in root growth and in light perception.

CONCLUSIONS: The last few years have seen breakthroughs in the identification of JASMONATE ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins and their interactors such as transcription factors and co-repressors, and the crystallization of the jasmonate receptor as well as of the enzyme conjugating jasmonate to amino acids. Now, the complex nature of networks of jasmonate signalling in stress responses and development including hormone cross-talk can be addressed.}, } @article {pmid23558517, year = {2013}, author = {Korhonen, A and Lehto, T and Repo, T}, title = {Frost hardiness of mycorrhizal (Hebeloma sp.) and non-mycorrhizal Scots pine roots.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {551-559}, pmid = {23558517}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Cold Temperature ; Hebeloma/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The frost hardiness (FH) of mycorrhizal [ectomycorrhizal (ECM)] and non-mycorrhizal (NM) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings was studied to assess whether mycorrhizal symbiosis affected the roots' tolerance of below-zero temperatures. ECM (Hebeloma sp.) and NM seedlings were cultivated in a growth chamber for 18 weeks. After 13 weeks' growth in long-day and high-temperature (LDHT) conditions, a half of the ECM and NM seedlings were moved into a chamber with short-day and low-temperature (SDLT) conditions to cold acclimate. After exposures to a range of below-zero temperatures, the FH of the roots was assessed by means of the relative electrolyte leakage test. The FH was determined as the inflection point of the temperature-response curve. No significant difference was found between the FH of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots in LDHT (-8.9 and -9.8 °C) or SDLT (-7.5 and -6.8 °C). The mycorrhizal treatment had no significant effect on the total dry mass, the allocation of dry mass among the roots and needles or nutrient accumulation. The mycorrhizal treatment with Hebeloma sp. did not affect the FH of Scots pine in this experimental setup. More information is needed on the extent to which mycorrhizas tolerate low temperatures, especially with different nutrient contents and different mycorrhiza fungi.}, } @article {pmid23558516, year = {2013}, author = {Redecker, D and Schüssler, A and Stockinger, H and Stürmer, SL and Morton, JB and Walker, C}, title = {An evidence-based consensus for the classification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {515-531}, pmid = {23558516}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Consensus ; Evolution, Molecular ; Glomeromycota/*classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The publication of a large number of taxon names at all levels within the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota) has resulted in conflicting systematic schemes and generated considerable confusion among biologists working with these important plant symbionts. A group of biologists with more than a century of collective experience in the systematics of Glomeromycota examined all available molecular-phylogenetic evidence within the framework of phylogenetic hypotheses, incorporating morphological characters when they were congruent. This study is the outcome, wherein the classification of Glomeromycota is revised by rejecting some new names on the grounds that they are founded in error and by synonymizing others that, while validly published, are not evidence-based. The proposed "consensus" will provide a framework for additional original research aimed at clarifying the evolutionary history of this important group of symbiotic fungi.}, } @article {pmid23557360, year = {2013}, author = {McDonald, TR and Mueller, O and Dietrich, FS and Lutzoni, F}, title = {High-throughput genome sequencing of lichenizing fungi to assess gene loss in the ammonium transporter/ammonia permease gene family.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {225}, pmid = {23557360}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lichens/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Horizontal gene transfer has shaped the evolution of the ammonium transporter/ammonia permease gene family. Horizontal transfers of ammonium transporter/ammonia permease genes into the fungi include one transfer from archaea to the filamentous ascomycetes associated with the adaptive radiation of the leotiomyceta. The horizontally transferred gene has subsequently been lost in most of the group but has been selectively retained in lichenizing fungi. However, some groups of lichens appear to have secondarily lost the archaeal ammonium transporter. Definitive assessment of gene loss can only be made via whole genome sequencing.

RESULTS: Ammonium transporter/ammonia permease gene sequences were recovered from the assembled genomes of eight lichenizing fungi in key clades including the Caliciales, the Peltigerales, the Ostropomycetidae, the Acarosporomycetidae, the Verrucariales, the Arthoniomycetidae and the Lichinales. The genes recovered were included in a refined phylogenetic analysis. The hypothesis that lichens symbiotic with a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium as a primary photobiont or lichens living in high nitrogen environments lose the plant-like ammonium transporters was upheld, but did not account for additional losses of ammonium transporters/ammonia permeases in the lichens from the Acarosporomycetidae, Chaetotheriomycetes and Arthoniomycetes. In addition, the four ammonium transporter/ammonia permease genes from Cladonia grayi were shown to be functional by expressing the lichen genes in a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which all three native ammonium transporters were deleted, and assaying for growth on limiting ammonia as a sole nitrogen source.

CONCLUSIONS: Given sufficient coverage, next-generation sequencing technology can definitively address the loss of a gene in a genome when using environmental DNA isolated from lichen thalli collected from their natural habitats. Lichen-forming fungi have been losing ammonium transporters/ammonia permease genes at a slower rate than the most closely related non-lichenized lineages. These horizontally transferred genes in the Cladonia grayi genome encode functional ammonium transporters/ammonia permeases.}, } @article {pmid23557243, year = {2013}, author = {Niedzwiedzki, DM and Jiang, J and Lo, CS and Blankenship, RE}, title = {Low-temperature spectroscopic properties of the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) complex from the coral symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium.}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry. B}, volume = {117}, number = {38}, pages = {11091-11099}, doi = {10.1021/jp401022u}, pmid = {23557243}, issn = {1520-5207}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; Carotenoids/*chemistry ; Chlorophyll/*chemistry ; Chlorophyll A ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Energy Transfer ; Kinetics ; Protozoan Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Quantum Theory ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The spectroscopic properties of the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) from the coral symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium have been characterized by application of various ultrafast optical spectroscopies including femto- and nanosecond time-resolved absorption and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) at 77 K. Excited state properties of peridinin and Chl a and their intramolecular interaction characteristics have been obtained from global fitting analysis and directed kinetic modeling of the data sets and compared to their counterparts known for the PCP from Amphidinium carterae. The lifetimes of the excited state of peridinin show close agreement with those known for the counterpart PCP, demonstrating that molecular interactions have the same characteristics in both complexes. More variances have been recorded for the excited state properties of Chl a including elongation of both the intramolecular energy transfer time between Chl's within the pair in the protein monomer and the excited state lifetime of the long wavelength form of Chl a (terminal acceptor). Kinetic modeling of formation of the peridinin triplet state has shown that the PCP is protected from potential photodamage due to an extremely fast peridinin triplet state formation of kTT = (14.4 ± 2.3) × 10(9) s(-1) ((70 ± 12)(-1) (ps)(-1)) that guarantees instantaneous depletion of Chl a triplets and prevents formation of harmful singlet oxygen ((1)ΔgO2).}, } @article {pmid23555890, year = {2013}, author = {Morris, AR and Visick, KL}, title = {Inhibition of SypG-induced biofilms and host colonization by the negative regulator SypE in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e60076}, pmid = {23555890}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri produces a specific biofilm to promote colonization of its eukaryotic host, the squid Euprymna scolopes. Formation of this biofilm is induced by the sensor kinase RscS, which functions upstream of the response regulator SypG to regulate transcription of the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus. Biofilm formation is also controlled by SypE, a multi-domain response regulator that consists of a central regulatory receiver (REC) domain flanked by an N-terminal serine kinase domain and a C-terminal serine phosphatase domain. SypE permits biofilm formation under rscS overexpression conditions, but inhibits biofilms induced by overexpression of sypG. We previously investigated the function of SypE in controlling biofilm formation induced by RscS. Here, we examined the molecular mechanism by which SypE naturally inhibits SypG-induced biofilms. We found that SypE's N-terminal kinase domain was both required and sufficient to inhibit SypG-induced biofilms. This effect did not occur at the level of syp transcription. Instead, under sypG-overexpressing conditions, SypE inhibited biofilms by promoting the phosphorylation of another syp regulator, SypA, a putative anti-sigma factor antagonist. Inhibition by SypE of SypG-induced biofilm formation could be overcome by the expression of a non-phosphorylatable SypA mutant, indicating that SypE functions primarily if not exclusively to control SypA activity via phosphorylation. Finally, the presence of SypE was detrimental to colonization under sypG-overexpressing conditions, as cells deleted for sypE outcompeted wild-type cells for colonization when both strains overexpressed sypG. These results provide further evidence that biofilm formation is critical to symbiotic colonization, and support a model in which SypE naturally functions to restrict biofilm formation, and thus host colonization, to the appropriate environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid23555721, year = {2013}, author = {Byler, KA and Carmi-Veal, M and Fine, M and Goulet, TL}, title = {Multiple symbiont acquisition strategies as an adaptive mechanism in the coral Stylophora pistillata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e59596}, pmid = {23555721}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Environment ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In obligate symbioses, the host's survival relies on the successful acquisition and maintenance of symbionts. Symbionts can either be transferred from parent to offspring via direct inheritance (vertical transmission) or acquired anew each generation from the environment (horizontal transmission). With vertical symbiont transmission, progeny benefit by not having to search for their obligate symbionts, and, with symbiont inheritance, a mechanism exists for perpetuating advantageous symbionts. But, if the progeny encounter an environment that differs from that of their parent, they may be disadvantaged if the inherited symbionts prove suboptimal. Conversely, while in horizontal symbiont acquisition host survival hinges on an unpredictable symbiont source, an individual host may acquire genetically diverse symbionts well suited to any given environment. In horizontal acquisition, however, a potentially advantageous symbiont will not be transmitted to subsequent generations. Adaptation in obligate symbioses may require mechanisms for both novel symbiont acquisition and symbiont inheritance. Using denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis and real-time PCR, we identified the dinoflagellate symbionts (genus Symbiodinium) hosted by the Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata throughout its ontogenesis and over depth. We present evidence that S. pistillata juvenile colonies may utilize both vertical and horizontal symbiont acquisition strategies. By releasing progeny with maternally derived symbionts, that are also capable of subsequent horizontal symbiont acquisition, coral colonies may acquire physiologically advantageous novel symbionts that are then perpetuated via vertical transmission to subsequent generations. With symbiont inheritance, natural selection can act upon the symbiotic variability, providing a mechanism for coral adaptation.}, } @article {pmid23555278, year = {2013}, author = {Soyano, T and Kouchi, H and Hirota, A and Hayashi, M}, title = {Nodule inception directly targets NF-Y subunit genes to regulate essential processes of root nodule development in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {e1003352}, pmid = {23555278}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; CCAAT-Binding Factor/*genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development ; Organogenesis ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription Factors ; }, abstract = {The interactions of legumes with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria cause the formation of specialized lateral root organs called root nodules. It has been postulated that this root nodule symbiosis system has recruited factors that act in early signaling pathways (common SYM genes) partly from the ancestral mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, the origins of factors needed for root nodule organogenesis are largely unknown. NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is a nodulation-specific gene that encodes a putative transcription factor and acts downstream of the common SYM genes. Here, we identified two Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) subunit genes, LjNF-YA1 and LjNF-YB1, as transcriptional targets of NIN in Lotus japonicus. These genes are expressed in root nodule primordia and their translational products interact in plant cells, indicating that they form an NF-Y complex in root nodule primordia. The knockdown of LjNF-YA1 inhibited root nodule organogenesis, as did the loss of function of NIN. Furthermore, we found that NIN overexpression induced root nodule primordium-like structures that originated from cortical cells in the absence of bacterial symbionts. Thus, NIN is a crucial factor responsible for initiating nodulation-specific symbiotic processes. In addition, ectopic expression of either NIN or the NF-Y subunit genes caused abnormal cell division during lateral root development. This indicated that the Lotus NF-Y subunits can function to stimulate cell division. Thus, transcriptional regulation by NIN, including the activation of the NF-Y subunit genes, induces cortical cell division, which is an initial step in root nodule organogenesis. Unlike the legume-specific NIN protein, NF-Y is a major CCAAT box binding protein complex that is widespread among eukaryotes. We propose that the evolution of root nodules in legume plants was associated with changes in the function of NIN. NIN has acquired functions that allow it to divert pathways involved in the regulation of cell division to root nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid23554392, year = {2013}, author = {Sorek, M and Yacobi, YZ and Roopin, M and Berman-Frank, I and Levy, O}, title = {Photosynthetic circadian rhythmicity patterns of Symbiodinium, [corrected] the coral endosymbiotic algae.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1759}, pages = {20122942}, pmid = {23554392}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Circadian Rhythm ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Photoperiod ; *Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Biological clocks are self-sustained endogenous timers that enable organisms (from cyanobacteria to humans) to anticipate daily environmental rhythms, and adjust their physiology and behaviour accordingly. Symbiotic corals play a central role in the creation of biologically rich ecosystems based on mutualistic symbioses between the invertebrate coral and dinoflagellate protists from the genus Symbiodinium. In this study, we experimentally establish that Symbiodinium photosynthesis, both as a free-living unicellular algae and as part of the symbiotic association with the coral Stylophora pistillata, is 'wired' to the circadian clock mechanism with a 'free-run' cycle close to 24 h. Associated photosynthetic pigments also showed rhythmicity under light/dark conditions and under constant light conditions, while the expression of the oxygen-evolving enhancer 1 gene (within photosystem II) coincided with photosynthetically evolved oxygen in Symbiodinium cultures. Thus, circadian regulation of the Symbiodinium photosynthesis is, however, complicated as being linked to the coral/host that have probably profound physiochemical influence on the intracellular environment. The temporal patterns of photosynthesis demonstrated here highlight the physiological complexity and interdependence of the algae circadian clock associated in this symbiosis and the plasticity of algae regulatory mechanisms downstream of the circadian clock.}, } @article {pmid23553724, year = {2013}, author = {Hajong, S and Kumaria, S and Tandon, P}, title = {Compatible fungi, suitable medium, and appropriate developmental stage essential for stable association of Dendrobium chrysanthum.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {53}, number = {12}, pages = {1025-1033}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201200411}, pmid = {23553724}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Culture Media ; Dendrobium/growth & development/*microbiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Rhizoctonia/*physiology ; Seeds/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Establishment of symbiotic association at the appropriate developmental stage helped maintain continued growth which is vital for the long-term ex vitro survival of the orchid. In the present study, symbiotic association was carried out using different developmental stages of Dendrobium chrysanthum and pathogenic Rhizoctonia isolates (obtained from orchids and non-orchid hosts) in different culture media. Isolate 2162 supported highest symbiotic germination on OMA-S (oat meal agar medium without nutrients + sucrose), whereas, stable symbiotic association with plantlets was obtained with isolate 4634 on OMA-NC (oat meal agar medium + cellulose). Isolate Dc-2S2 obtained from the host plant did not promote seed germination nor did it form association with protocorms or plantlets. This study, for the first time identifies a combination of compatible fungal isolate, suitable culture medium, and appropriate developmental stage at which symbiotic association in vitro can be deemed successful for the medicinally important orchid, D. chrysanthum.}, } @article {pmid23551619, year = {2013}, author = {Ye, H and Gemperline, E and Venkateshwaran, M and Chen, R and Delaux, PM and Howes-Podoll, M and Ané, JM and Li, L}, title = {MALDI mass spectrometry-assisted molecular imaging of metabolites during nitrogen fixation in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {75}, number = {1}, pages = {130-145}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12191}, pmid = {23551619}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gentisates/chemistry ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Metabolome ; Molecular Imaging/*methods ; Naphthols/chemistry ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia culminate in the formation of specialized organs called root nodules, in which the rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen and transfer it to the plant. Efficient biological nitrogen fixation depends on metabolites produced by and exchanged between both partners. The Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti association is an excellent model for dissecting this nitrogen-fixing symbiosis because of the availability of genetic information for both symbiotic partners. Here, we employed a powerful imaging technique - matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)/mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) - to study metabolite distribution in roots and root nodules of M. truncatula during nitrogen fixation. The combination of an efficient, novel MALDI matrix [1,8-bis(dimethyl-amino) naphthalene, DMAN] with a conventional matrix 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) allowed detection of a large array of organic acids, amino acids, sugars, lipids, flavonoids and their conjugates with improved coverage. Ion density maps of representative metabolites are presented and correlated with the nitrogen fixation process. We demonstrate differences in metabolite distribution between roots and nodules, and also between fixing and non-fixing nodules produced by plant and bacterial mutants. Our study highlights the benefits of using MSI for detecting differences in metabolite distributions in plant biology.}, } @article {pmid23551525, year = {2013}, author = {Emer, C and Venticinque, EM and Fonseca, CR}, title = {Effects of dam-induced landscape fragmentation on amazonian ant-plant mutualistic networks.}, journal = {Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {763-773}, doi = {10.1111/cobi.12045}, pmid = {23551525}, issn = {1523-1739}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Brazil ; Conservation of Natural Resources/trends ; *Demography ; *Ecosystem ; Linear Models ; *Plants ; *Rivers ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic networks are critical to biological diversity maintenance; however, their structures and functionality may be threatened by a swiftly changing world. In the Amazon, the increasing number of dams poses a large threat to biological diversity because they greatly alter and fragment the surrounding landscape. Tight coevolutionary interactions typical of tropical forests, such as the ant-myrmecophyte mutualism, where the myrmecophyte plants provide domatia nesting space to their symbiotic ants, may be jeopardized by the landscape changes caused by dams. We analyzed 31 ant-myrmecophyte mutualistic networks in undisturbed and disturbed sites surrounding Balbina, the largest Central Amazonian dam. We tested how ant-myrmecophyte networks differ among dam-induced islands, lake edges, and undisturbed forests in terms of species richness, composition, structure, and robustness (number of species remaining in the network after partner extinctions). We also tested how landscape configuration in terms of area, isolation, shape, and neighborhood alters the structure of the ant-myrmecophyte networks on islands. Ant-myrmecophytic networks were highly compartmentalized in undisturbed forests, and the compartments had few strongly connected mutualistic partners. In contrast, networks at lake edges and on islands were not compartmentalized and were negatively affected by island area and isolation in terms of species richness, density, and composition. Habitat loss and fragmentation led to coextinction cascades that contributed to the elimination of entire ant-plant compartments. Furthermore, many myrmecophytic plants in disturbed sites lost their mutualistic ant partners or were colonized by opportunistic, nonspecialized ants. Robustness of ant-myrmecophyte networks on islands was lower than robustness near lake edges and in undisturbed forest and was particularly susceptible to the extinction of plants. Beyond the immediate habitat loss caused by the building of large dams in Amazonia, persistent edge effects and habitat fragmentation associated with dams had large negative effects on animal-plant mutualistic networks.}, } @article {pmid23549919, year = {2013}, author = {Heath-Heckman, EA and Peyer, SM and Whistler, CA and Apicella, MA and Goldman, WE and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Bacterial bioluminescence regulates expression of a host cryptochrome gene in the squid-Vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {23549919}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007215/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 ES005605/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01-AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01-RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Cryptochromes/*biosynthesis ; Decapodiformes/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation/*radiation effects ; *Luminescence ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminous symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, is characterized by daily transcriptional rhythms in both partners and daily fluctuations in symbiont luminescence. In this study, we sought to determine whether symbionts affect host transcriptional rhythms. We identified two transcripts in host tissues (E. scolopes cry1 [escry1] and escry2) that encode cryptochromes, proteins that influence circadian rhythms in other systems. Both genes cycled daily in the head of the squid, with a pattern similar to that of other animals, in which expression of certain cry genes is entrained by environmental light. In contrast, escry1 expression cycled in the symbiont-colonized light organ with 8-fold upregulation coincident with the rhythms of bacterial luminescence, which are offset from the day/night light regime. Colonization of the juvenile light organ by symbionts was required for induction of escry1 cycling. Further, analysis with a mutant strain defective in light production showed that symbiont luminescence is essential for cycling of escry1; this defect could be complemented by presentation of exogenous blue light. However, blue-light exposure alone did not induce cycling in nonsymbiotic animals, but addition of molecules of the symbiont cell envelope to light-exposed animals did recover significant cycling activity, showing that light acts in synergy with other symbiont features to induce cycling. While symbiont luminescence may be a character specific to rhythms of the squid-vibrio association, resident microbial partners could similarly influence well-documented daily rhythms in other systems, such as the mammalian gut.}, } @article {pmid23548081, year = {2013}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Latorre, A and Porcar, M and Moya, A and Gil, R}, title = {Mealybugs nested endosymbiosis: going into the 'matryoshka' system in Planococcus citri in depth.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {74}, pmid = {23548081}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In all branches of life there are plenty of symbiotic associations. Insects are particularly well suited to establishing intracellular symbiosis with bacteria, providing them with metabolic capabilities they lack. Essential primary endosymbionts can coexist with facultative secondary symbionts which can, eventually, establish metabolic complementation with the primary endosymbiont, becoming a co-primary. Usually, both endosymbionts maintain their cellular identity. An exception is the endosymbiosis found in mealybugs of the subfamily Pseudoccinae, such as Planococcus citri, with Moranella endobia located inside Tremblaya princeps.

RESULTS: We report the genome sequencing of M. endobia str. PCVAL and the comparative genomic analyses of the genomes of strains PCVAL and PCIT of both consortium partners. A comprehensive analysis of their functional capabilities and interactions reveals their functional coupling, with many cases of metabolic and informational complementation. Using comparative genomics, we confirm that both genomes have undergone a reductive evolution, although with some unusual genomic features as a consequence of coevolving in an exceptional compartmentalized organization.

CONCLUSIONS: M. endobia seems to be responsible for the biosynthesis of most cellular components and energy provision, and controls most informational processes for the consortium, while T. princeps appears to be a mere factory for amino acid synthesis, and translating proteins, using the precursors provided by M. endobia. In this scenario, we propose that both entities should be considered part of a composite organism whose compartmentalized scheme (somehow) resembles a eukaryotic cell.}, } @article {pmid23542003, year = {2013}, author = {Nováková, E and Hypša, V and Klein, J and Foottit, RG and von Dohlen, CD and Moran, NA}, title = {Reconstructing the phylogeny of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) using DNA of the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {68}, number = {1}, pages = {42-54}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.016}, pmid = {23542003}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*classification/genetics/microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*classification/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/*classification/genetics ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Markers ; Insect Proteins/*classification/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reliable phylogenetic reconstruction, as a framework for evolutionary inference, may be difficult to achieve in some groups of organisms. Particularly for lineages that experienced rapid diversification, lack of sufficient information may lead to inconsistent and unstable results and a low degree of resolution. Coincidentally, such rapidly diversifying taxa are often among the biologically most interesting groups. Aphids provide such an example. Due to rapid adaptive diversification, they feature variability in many interesting biological traits, but consequently they are also a challenging group in which to resolve phylogeny. Particularly within the family Aphididae, many interesting evolutionary questions remain unanswered due to phylogenetic uncertainties. In this study, we show that molecular data derived from the symbiotic bacteria of the genus Buchnera can provide a more powerful tool than the aphid-derived sequences. We analyze 255 Buchnera gene sequences from 70 host aphid species and compare the resulting trees to the phylogenies previously retrieved from aphid sequences, only. We find that the host and symbiont data do not conflict for any major phylogenetic conclusions. Also, we demonstrate that the symbiont-derived phylogenies support some previously questionable relationships and provide new insights into aphid phylogeny and evolution.}, } @article {pmid23537168, year = {2013}, author = {Valiente Moro, C and Tran, FH and Raharimalala, FN and Ravelonandro, P and Mavingui, P}, title = {Diversity of culturable bacteria including Pantoea in wild mosquito Aedes albopictus.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {70}, pmid = {23537168}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology/physiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Female ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the biology of insects. In recent decades, significant efforts have been made to better understand the diversity of symbiotic bacteria associated with mosquitoes and assess their influence on pathogen transmission. Here, we report the bacterial composition found in field-caught Aedes albopictus populations by using culture-dependent methods.

RESULTS: A total of 104 mosquito imagos (56 males and 48 females) were caught from four contrasting biotopes of Madagascar and their bacterial contents were screened by plating whole body homogenates on three different culture media. From 281 bacterial colony types obtained, amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) showed they had 40 distinct ribotypes. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA genes responsible for each representative profile made it possible to identify 27 genera distributed in three major phyla. In female mosquitoes, bacterial isolates were mostly Proteobacteria (51.3%) followed by Firmicutes (30.3%) and Actinobacteria (18.4%). Conversely, Actinobacteria was the most abundant phylum in male mosquitoes (48%) followed by Proteobacteria (30.6%) and Firmicutes (20.4%). The relative abundance and composition of isolates also varied between sampling sites, ranging from 3 distinct families in Ankazobe to 8 in Tsimbazaza Park, and Toamasina and Ambohidratrimo. Pantoea was the most common genus in both females and males from all sampling sites, except for Ambohidratrimo. No differences in genome size were found between Pantoea isolates from mosquitoes and reference strains in pulse field gel electrophoresis. However, according to the numbers and sizes of plasmids, mosquito isolates clustered into three different groups with other strains isolated from insects but distinct from isolates from the environment.

CONCLUSIONS: The recent upsurge in research into the functional role of the insect microbiota prompts the interest to better explore the role some bacteria detected here may have in the mosquito biology. Future studies of culturable bacteria might decipher whether they have a biological role in the invasiveness of Ae. albopictus. As a possible candidate for paratransgenesis, the predominant genus Pantoea will be characterized to better understand its genetic contents and any possible influence it may have on vector competence of Ae. albopictus.}, } @article {pmid23536894, year = {2013}, author = {Van Steenkiste, N and Tessens, B and Willems, W and Backeljau, T and Jondelius, U and Artois, T}, title = {A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of dalytyphloplanida (platyhelminthes: rhabdocoela) reveals multiple escapes from the marine environment and origins of symbiotic relationships.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e59917}, pmid = {23536894}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Environment ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Male ; *Phylogeny ; Platyhelminths/*classification/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study we elaborate the phylogeny of Dalytyphloplanida based on complete 18S rDNA (156 sequences) and partial 28S rDNA (125 sequences), using a Maximum Likelihood and a Bayesian Inference approach, in order to investigate the origin of a limnic or limnoterrestrial and of a symbiotic lifestyle in this large group of rhabditophoran flatworms. The results of our phylogenetic analyses and ancestral state reconstructions indicate that dalytyphloplanids have their origin in the marine environment and that there was one highly successful invasion of the freshwater environment, leading to a large radiation of limnic and limnoterrestrial dalytyphloplanids. This monophyletic freshwater clade, Limnotyphloplanida, comprises the taxa Dalyelliidae, Temnocephalida, and most Typhloplanidae. Temnocephalida can be considered ectosymbiotic Dalyelliidae as they are embedded within this group. Secondary returns to brackish water and marine environments occurred relatively frequently in several dalyeliid and typhloplanid taxa. Our phylogenies also show that, apart from the Limnotyphloplanida, there have been only few independent invasions of the limnic environment, and apparently these were not followed by spectacular speciation events. The distinct phylogenetic positions of the symbiotic taxa also suggest multiple origins of commensal and parasitic life strategies within Dalytyphloplanida. The previously established higher-level dalytyphloplanid clades are confirmed in our topologies, but many of the traditional families are not monophyletic. Alternative hypothesis testing constraining the monophyly of these families in the topologies and using the approximately unbiased test, also statistically rejects their monophyly.}, } @article {pmid23536808, year = {2013}, author = {Mueller, CE and Lundälv, T and Middelburg, JJ and van Oevelen, D}, title = {The symbiosis between Lophelia pertusa and Eunice norvegica stimulates coral calcification and worm assimilation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e58660}, pmid = {23536808}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Ecosystem ; *Feeding Behavior ; Polychaeta/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {We investigated the interactions between the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa and its associated polychaete Eunice norvegica by quantifying carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) budgets of tissue assimilation, food partitioning, calcification and respiration using (13)C and (15)N enriched algae and zooplankton as food sources. During incubations both species were kept either together or in separate chambers to study the net outcome of their interaction on the above mentioned processes. The stable isotope approach also allowed us to follow metabolically derived tracer C further into the coral skeleton and therefore estimate the effect of the interaction on coral calcification. Results showed that food assimilation by the coral was not significantly elevated in presence of E. norvegica but food assimilation by the polychaete was up to 2 to 4 times higher in the presence of the coral. The corals kept assimilation constant by increasing the consumption of smaller algae particles less favored by the polychaete while the assimilation of Artemia was unaffected by the interaction. Total respiration of tracer C did not differ among incubations, although E. norvegica enhanced coral calcification up to 4 times. These results together with the reported high abundance of E. norvegica in cold-water coral reefs, indicate that the interactions between L. pertusa and E. norvegica can be of high importance for ecosystem functioning.}, } @article {pmid23536598, year = {2013}, author = {Desirò, A and Duckett, JG and Pressel, S and Villarreal, JC and Bidartondo, MI}, title = {Fungal symbioses in hornworts: a chequered history.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1759}, pages = {20130207}, pmid = {23536598}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Anthocerotophyta/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungi/classification/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Hornworts are considered the sister group to vascular plants, but their fungal associations remain largely unexplored. The ancestral symbiotic condition for all plants is, nonetheless, widely assumed to be arbuscular mycorrhizal with Glomeromycota fungi. Owing to a recent report of other fungi in some non-vascular plants, here we investigate the fungi associated with diverse hornworts worldwide, using electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetics. We found that both Glomeromycota and Mucoromycotina fungi can form symbioses with most hornworts, often simultaneously. This discovery indicates that ancient terrestrial plants relied on a wider and more versatile symbiotic repertoire than previously thought, and it highlights the so far unappreciated ecological and evolutionary role of Mucoromycotina fungi.}, } @article {pmid23534902, year = {2013}, author = {Koller, R and Rodriguez, A and Robin, C and Scheu, S and Bonkowski, M}, title = {Protozoa enhance foraging efficiency of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for mineral nitrogen from organic matter in soil to the benefit of host plants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {203-211}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12249}, pmid = {23534902}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis/metabolism ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Minerals/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plantago/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dead organic matter (OM) is a major source of nitrogen (N) for plants. The majority of plants support N uptake by symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Mineralization of N is regulated by microfauna, in particular, protozoa grazing on bacteria. We hypothesized that AM fungi and protozoa interactively facilitate plant N nutrition from OM. In soil systems consisting of an OM patch and a root compartment, plant N uptake and consequences for plant carbon (C) allocation were investigated using stable isotopes. Protozoa mobilized N by consuming bacteria, and the mobilized N was translocated via AM fungi to the host plant. The presence of protozoa in both the OM and root compartment stimulated photosynthesis and the translocation of C from the host plant via AM fungi into the OM patch. This stimulated microbial activity in the OM patch, plant N uptake from OM and doubled plant growth. The results indicate that protozoa increase plant growth by both mobilization of N from OM and by protozoa-root interactions, resulting in increased C allocation to roots and into the rhizosphere, thereby increasing plant nutrient exploitation. Hence, mycorrhizal plants need to interact with protozoa to fully exploit N resources from OM.}, } @article {pmid23533102, year = {2013}, author = {Vorburger, C and Ganesanandamoorthy, P and Kwiatkowski, M}, title = {Comparing constitutive and induced costs of symbiont-conferred resistance to parasitoids in aphids.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {706-713}, pmid = {23533102}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Host defenses against parasites do not come for free. The evolution of increased resistance can be constrained by constitutive costs associated with possessing defense mechanisms, and by induced costs of deploying them. These two types of costs are typically considered with respect to resistance as a genetically determined trait, but they may also apply to resistance provided by 'helpers' such as bacterial endosymbionts. We investigated the costs of symbiont-conferred resistance in the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae (Scopoli), which receives strong protection against the parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum from the defensive endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa. Aphids infected with H. defensa were almost ten times more resistant to L. fabarum than genetically identical aphids without this symbiont, but in the absence of parasitoids, they had strongly reduced lifespans, resulting in lower lifetime reproduction. This is evidence for a substantial constitutive cost of harboring H. defensa. We did not observe any induced cost of symbiont-conferred resistance. On the contrary, symbiont-protected aphids that resisted a parasitoid attack enjoyed increased longevity and lifetime reproduction compared with unattacked controls, whereas unprotected aphids suffered a reduction of longevity and reproduction after resisting an attack. This surprising result suggests that by focusing exclusively on the protection, we might underestimate the selective advantage of infection with H. defensa in the presence of parasitoids.}, } @article {pmid23532045, year = {2013}, author = {Wu, J and Ma, H and Xu, X and Qiao, N and Guo, S and Liu, F and Zhang, D and Zhou, L}, title = {Mycorrhizas alter nitrogen acquisition by the terrestrial orchid Cymbidium goeringii.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {111}, number = {6}, pages = {1181-1187}, pmid = {23532045}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Biomass ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Orchid mycorrhizas exhibit a unique type of mycorrhizal symbiosis that occurs between fungi and plants of the family Orchidaceae. In general, the roots of orchids are typically coarse compared with those of other plant species, leading to a considerably low surface area to volume ratio. As a result, orchids are often ill-adapted for direct nutrient acquisition from the soil and so mycorrhizal associations are important. However, the role of the fungal partners in the acquisition of inorganic and organic N by terrestrial orchids has yet to be clarified.

METHODS: Inorganic and amino acid N uptake by non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal Cymbidium goeringii seedlings, which were grown in pots in a greenhouse, was investigated using a (15)N-labelling technique in which the tracer was injected at two different soil depths, 2·5 cm or 7·5 cm. Mycorrhizal C. goeringii seedlings were obtained by inoculation with three different mycorrhizal strains isolated from the roots of wild terrestrial orchids (two C. goeringii and one C. sinense).

KEY RESULTS: Non-mycorrhizal C. goeringii primarily took up NO3(-) from tracers injected at 2·5-cm soil depth, whereas C. goeringii inoculated with all three mycorrhiza primarily took up NH4(+) injected at the same depth. Inoculation of the mycorrhizal strain MLX102 (isolated from adult C. sinense) on C. goeringii roots only significantly increased the below-ground biomass of the C. goeringii; however, it enhanced (15)NH4(+) uptake by C. goeringii at 2·5-cm soil depth. Compared to the uptake of tracers injected at 2·5-cm soil depth, the MLX102 fungal strain strongly enhanced glycine-N uptake by C. goeringii from tracers injected at 7·5-cm soil depth. Cymbidium goeringii inoculated with CLB113 and MLX102 fungal strains demonstrated a similar N uptake pattern to tracers injected at 2·5-cm soil depth.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that mycorrhizal fungi are able to switch the primary N source uptake of a terrestrial orchid, in this case C. goeringii, from NO3(-) to NH4(+). The reasons for variation in N uptake in the different soil layers may be due to possible differentiation in the mycorrhizal hyphae of the C. goeringii fungal partner.}, } @article {pmid23531826, year = {2013}, author = {Béraud, E and Gevaert, F and Rottier, C and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {The response of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis to thermal stress depends on the nitrogen status of the coral holobiont.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 14}, pages = {2665-2674}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.085183}, pmid = {23531826}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Ammonium Compounds/pharmacology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic/drug effects ; Carotenoids ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Dinoflagellida/*drug effects/metabolism ; Fluorescence ; *Hot Temperature ; Indian Ocean ; Nitrogen/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Photosynthesis/drug effects/physiology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xanthophylls/metabolism ; beta Carotene/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The physiological response of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis to ammonium enrichment (3 μmol l(-1)) was examined at 26°C as well as during a 7 day increase in temperature to 31°C (thermal stress). At 26°C, ammonium supplementation had little effect on the coral physiology. It induced a decrease in symbiont density, compensated by an increase in chlorophyll content per symbiont cell. Organic carbon release was reduced, likely because of a better utilization of the photosynthesized carbon (i.e. incorporation into proteins, kept in the coral tissue). The δ(15)N signatures of the ammonium-enriched symbionts and host tissue were also significantly decreased, by 4 and 2‰, respectively, compared with the non-enriched conditions, suggesting a significant uptake of inorganic nitrogen by the holobiont. Under thermal stress, coral colonies that were not nitrogen enriched experienced a drastic decrease in photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments (chlorophyll a, β-carotene, diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin and peridinin), followed by a decrease in the rates of photosynthesis and calcification. Organic carbon release was not affected by this thermal stress. Conversely, nitrogen-enriched corals showed an increase in their pigment concentrations, and maintained rates of photosynthesis and calcification at ca. 60% and 100% of those measured under control conditions, respectively. However, these corals lost more organic carbon into the environment. Overall, these results indicate that inorganic nitrogen availability can be important to determining the resilience of some scleractinian coral species to thermal stress, and can have a function equivalent to that of heterotrophic feeding concerning the maintenance of coral metabolism under stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid23530593, year = {2013}, author = {Muggia, L and Vancurova, L and Škaloud, P and Peksa, O and Wedin, M and Grube, M}, title = {The symbiotic playground of lichen thalli--a highly flexible photobiont association in rock-inhabiting lichens.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {2}, pages = {313-323}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12120}, pmid = {23530593}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {T 481/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Ascomycota/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Chlorophyta/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Europe ; Genotype ; Lichens/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The development of characteristic thallus structures in lichen-forming fungi requires the association with suitable photoautotrophic partners. Previous work suggests that fungi have a specific range of compatible photobionts and that selected algal strains are also correlated with the habitat conditions. We selected the rock-inhabiting crust lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis, which exhibits high flexibility in algal associations. We present a geographically extended and detailed analysis of algal association patterns including thalli which host superficial algal colonies. We sampled 17 localities in Europe, and investigated the photobiont genotypic diversity within and between thalli and compared the diversity of intrathalline photobionts and externally associate algal communities between washed and unwashed thalli by single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses and ITS sequence data. The results show that (1) photobiont population within the lichen thalli is homogeneous; (2) multiple photobiont genotypes occur within single areoles and lobes of individual lichens; and (3) algal communities which superficially colonize the lichen thalli host taxa known as photobionts in unrelated lichens. Photobiont association patterns are extremely flexible in this ecologically versatile crust-forming lichen. We suggest that lichen surfaces represent a potential temporary niche for free-living stages of lichen photobionts, which could facilitate the establishment of further lichens in the proximal area.}, } @article {pmid23527688, year = {2013}, author = {Veiga, RS and Faccio, A and Genre, A and Pieterse, CM and Bonfante, P and van der Heijden, MG}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce growth and infect roots of the non-host plant Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {36}, number = {11}, pages = {1926-1937}, doi = {10.1111/pce.12102}, pmid = {23527688}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Biomass ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Genotype ; Lolium/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Trifolium/growth & development ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is widespread throughout the plant kingdom and important for plant nutrition and ecosystem functioning. Nonetheless, most terrestrial ecosystems also contain a considerable number of non-mycorrhizal plants. The interaction of such non-host plants with AM fungi (AMF) is still poorly understood. Here, in three complementary experiments, we investigated whether the non-mycorrhizal plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the model organism for plant molecular biology and genetics, interacts with AMF. We grew A. thaliana alone or together with a mycorrhizal host species (either Trifolium pratense or Lolium multiflorum) in the presence or absence of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis. Plants were grown in a dual-compartment system with a hyphal mesh separating roots of A. thaliana from roots of the host species, avoiding direct root competition. The host plants in the system ensured the presence of an active AM fungal network. AM fungal networks caused growth depressions in A. thaliana of more than 50% which were not observed in the absence of host plants. Microscopy analyses revealed that R. irregularis supported by a host plant was capable of infecting A. thaliana root tissues (up to 43% of root length colonized), but no arbuscules were observed. The results reveal high susceptibility of A. thaliana to R. irregularis, suggesting that A. thaliana is a suitable model plant to study non-host/AMF interactions and the biological basis of AM incompatibility.}, } @article {pmid23527067, year = {2013}, author = {Tesfaye, M and Silverstein, KA and Nallu, S and Wang, L and Botanga, CJ and Gomez, SK and Costa, LM and Harrison, MJ and Samac, DA and Glazebrook, J and Katagiri, F and Gutierrez-Marcos, JF and Vandenbosch, KA}, title = {Spatio-temporal expression patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula defensin-like genes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e58992}, pmid = {23527067}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {BBS/E/H/00JG0371/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Defensins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seedlings/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant genomes contain several hundred defensin-like (DEFL) genes that encode short cysteine-rich proteins resembling defensins, which are well known antimicrobial polypeptides. Little is known about the expression patterns or functions of many DEFLs because most were discovered recently and hence are not well represented on standard microarrays. We designed a custom Affymetrix chip consisting of probe sets for 317 and 684 DEFLs from Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula, respectively for cataloging DEFL expression in a variety of plant organs at different developmental stages and during symbiotic and pathogenic associations. The microarray analysis provided evidence for the transcription of 71% and 90% of the DEFLs identified in Arabidopsis and Medicago, respectively, including many of the recently annotated DEFL genes that previously lacked expression information. Both model plants contain a subset of DEFLs specifically expressed in seeds or fruits. A few DEFLs, including some plant defensins, were significantly up-regulated in Arabidopsis leaves inoculated with Alternaria brassicicola or Pseudomonas syringae pathogens. Among these, some were dependent on jasmonic acid signaling or were associated with specific types of immune responses. There were notable differences in DEFL gene expression patterns between Arabidopsis and Medicago, as the majority of Arabidopsis DEFLs were expressed in inflorescences, while only a few exhibited root-enhanced expression. By contrast, Medicago DEFLs were most prominently expressed in nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Thus, our data document salient differences in DEFL temporal and spatial expression between Arabidopsis and Medicago, suggesting distinct signaling routes and distinct roles for these proteins in the two plant species.}, } @article {pmid23525100, year = {2013}, author = {Hartmann, A and Arroyo-Olarte, RD and Imkeller, K and Hegemann, P and Lucius, R and Gupta, N}, title = {Optogenetic modulation of an adenylate cyclase in Toxoplasma gondii demonstrates a requirement of the parasite cAMP for host-cell invasion and stage differentiation.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {288}, number = {19}, pages = {13705-13717}, pmid = {23525100}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Adenylyl Cyclases/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP/*physiology ; Fibroblasts/metabolism/parasitology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Optogenetics ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Second Messenger Systems ; Toxoplasma/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: cAMP research in intracellular parasites remains underappreciated, and it requires a specific method for cyclic nucleotide regulation.

RESULTS: Optogenetic induction of cAMP in T. gondii affects host-cell invasion, stage-specific expression, and parasite differentiation. The underlying method allows a versatile control of parasite cAMP.

CONCLUSIONS: Optogenetic parasite strains offer valuable tools for dissecting cAMP-mediated processes.

SIGNIFICANCE: The method is applicable to other gene-tractable intertwined systems. Successful infection and transmission of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii depends on its ability to switch between fast-replicating tachyzoite (acute) and quiescent bradyzoite (chronic) stages. Induction of cAMP in the parasitized host cells has been proposed to influence parasite differentiation. It is not known whether the parasite or host cAMP is required to drive this phenomenon. Other putative roles of cAMP for the parasite biology also remain to be identified. Unequivocal research on cAMP-mediated signaling in such intertwined systems also requires a method for an efficient and spatial control of the cAMP pool in the pathogen or in the enclosing host cell. We have resolved these critical concerns by expressing a photoactivated adenylate cyclase that allows light-sensitive control of the parasite or host-cell cAMP. Using this method, we reveal multiple roles of the parasite-derived cAMP in host-cell invasion, stage-specific expression, and asexual differentiation. An optogenetic method provides many desired advantages such as: (i) rapid, transient, and efficient cAMP induction in extracellular/intracellular and acute/chronic stages; (ii) circumvention of the difficulties often faced in cultures, i.e. poor diffusion, premature degradation, steady activation, and/or pleiotropic effects of cAMP agonists and antagonists; (iii) genetically encoded enzyme expression, thus inheritable to the cell progeny; and (iv) conditional and spatiotemporal control of cAMP levels. Importantly, a successful optogenetic application in Toxoplasma also illustrates its wider utility to study cAMP-mediated signaling in other genetically amenable two-organism systems such as in symbiotic and pathogen-host models.}, } @article {pmid23517677, year = {2013}, author = {Ercole, E and Rodda, M and Molinatti, M and Voyron, S and Perotto, S and Girlanda, M}, title = {Cryopreservation of orchid mycorrhizal fungi: a tool for the conservation of endangered species.}, journal = {Journal of microbiological methods}, volume = {93}, number = {2}, pages = {134-137}, doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2013.03.003}, pmid = {23517677}, issn = {1872-8359}, mesh = {Cryopreservation/*methods ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The effectiveness of cryopreservation at --80 °C on orchid mycorrhizal fungi was assessed by testing the symbiotic ability of ten fungal isolates following cryo-storage for 10-24 months. The results obtained prove the efficacy of the method, thus providing a valuable tool for ex situ conservation.}, } @article {pmid23517377, year = {2013}, author = {Kravchenko, V and Garner, AL and Mathison, J and Seit-Nebi, A and Yu, J and Gileva, IP and Ulevitch, R and Janda, KD}, title = {Facilitating cytokine-mediated cancer cell death by proteobacterial N-acylhomoserine lactones.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {1117-1120}, pmid = {23517377}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {R01 AI077644/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI094348/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI077644/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI094348/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/chemistry/*immunology ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytokines/*immunology ; Humans ; NF-kappa B/immunology ; Neoplasms/*immunology/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/chemistry/*immunology ; Signal Transduction ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand/immunology ; }, abstract = {Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) preferentially induces apoptosis in cancer cells over normal cells; however, tumor cells may develop TRAIL resistance. Here, we demonstrate that this resistance can be overcome in the presence of bacterial acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) or AHL-producing bacteria through the combined effect of TRAIL-induced apoptosis and AHL-mediated inhibition of inflammation regulated by NF-κB signaling. This discovery unveils a previously unrecognized symbiotic link between bacteria and host immunosurveillance.}, } @article {pmid23516234, year = {2013}, author = {Aylward, FO and Tremmel, DM and Starrett, GJ and Bruce, DC and Chain, P and Chen, A and Davenport, KW and Detter, C and Han, CS and Han, J and Huntemann, M and Ivanova, NN and Kyrpides, NC and Markowitz, V and Mavrommatis, K and Nolan, M and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Pitluck, S and Teshima, H and Deshpande, S and Goodwin, L and Woyke, T and Currie, CR}, title = {Complete Genome of Serratia sp. Strain FGI 94, a Strain Associated with Leaf-Cutter Ant Fungus Gardens.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {e0023912}, pmid = {23516234}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Serratia sp. strain FGI 94 was isolated from a fungus garden of the leaf-cutter ant Atta colombica. Analysis of its 4.86-Mbp chromosome will help advance our knowledge of symbiotic interactions and plant biomass degradation in this ancient ant-fungus mutualism.}, } @article {pmid23516220, year = {2013}, author = {Sen, A and Beauchemin, N and Bruce, D and Chain, P and Chen, A and Walston Davenport, K and Deshpande, S and Detter, C and Furnholm, T and Ghodbhane-Gtari, F and Goodwin, L and Gtari, M and Han, C and Han, J and Huntemann, M and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, N and Land, ML and Markowitz, V and Mavrommatis, K and Nolan, M and Nouioui, I and Pagani, I and Pati, A and Pitluck, S and Santos, CL and Sur, S and Szeto, E and Tavares, F and Teshima, H and Thakur, S and Wall, L and Woyke, T and Wishart, J and Tisa, LS}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Frankia sp. strain QA3, a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from the root nodule of Alnus nitida.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {2}, pages = {e0010313}, pmid = {23516220}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Members of the actinomycete genus Frankia form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with 8 different families of actinorhizal plants. We report a high-quality draft genome sequence for Frankia sp. strain QA3, a nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium isolated from root nodules of Alnus nitida.}, } @article {pmid23515978, year = {2013}, author = {Tokuda, G and Elbourne, LD and Kinjo, Y and Saitoh, S and Sabree, Z and Hojo, M and Yamada, A and Hayashi, Y and Shigenobu, S and Bandi, C and Paulsen, IT and Watanabe, H and Lo, N}, title = {Maintenance of essential amino acid synthesis pathways in the Blattabacterium cuenoti symbiont of a wood-feeding cockroach.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {20121153}, pmid = {23515978}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*biosynthesis ; Animals ; Cockroaches/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Genome ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In addition to harbouring intestinal symbionts, some animal species also possess intracellular symbiotic microbes. The relative contributions of gut-resident and intracellular symbionts to host metabolism, and how they coevolve are not well understood. Cockroaches and the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis present a unique opportunity to examine the evolution of spatially separated symbionts, as they harbour gut symbionts and the intracellular symbiont Blattabacterium cuenoti. The genomes of B. cuenoti from M. darwiniensis and the social wood-feeding cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus are each missing most of the pathways for the synthesis of essential amino acids found in the genomes of relatives from non-wood-feeding hosts. Hypotheses to explain this pathway degradation include: (i) feeding on microbes present in rotting wood by ancestral hosts; (ii) the evolution of high-fidelity transfer of gut microbes via social behaviour. To test these hypotheses, we sequenced the B. cuenoti genome of a third wood-feeding species, the phylogenetically distant and non-social Panesthia angustipennis. We show that host wood-feeding does not necessarily lead to degradation of essential amino acid synthesis pathways in B. cuenoti, and argue that ancestral high-fidelity transfer of gut microbes best explains their loss in strains from M. darwiniensis and C. punctulatus.}, } @article {pmid23515159, year = {2013}, author = {Gatsogiannis, C and Lang, AE and Meusch, D and Pfaumann, V and Hofnagel, O and Benz, R and Aktories, K and Raunser, S}, title = {A syringe-like injection mechanism in Photorhabdus luminescens toxins.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {495}, number = {7442}, pages = {520-523}, pmid = {23515159}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {ADP Ribose Transferases/chemistry/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Bacterial Toxins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Cryoelectron Microscopy ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Models, Molecular ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism/pathogenicity/ultrastructure ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Transport ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus luminescens is an insect pathogenic bacterium that is symbiotic with entomopathogenic nematodes. On invasion of insect larvae, P. luminescens is released from the nematodes and kills the insect through the action of a variety of virulence factors including large tripartite ABC-type toxin complexes (Tcs). Tcs are typically composed of TcA, TcB and TcC proteins and are biologically active only when complete. Functioning as ADP-ribosyltransferases, TcC proteins were identified as the actual functional components that induce actin-clustering, defects in phagocytosis and cell death. However, little is known about the translocation of TcC into the cell by the TcA and TcB components. Here we show that TcA in P. luminescens (TcdA1) forms a transmembrane pore and report its structure in the prepore and pore state determined by cryoelectron microscopy. We find that the TcdA1 prepore assembles as a pentamer forming an α-helical, vuvuzela-shaped channel less than 1.5 nanometres in diameter surrounded by a large outer shell. Membrane insertion is triggered not only at low pH as expected, but also at high pH, explaining Tc action directly through the midgut of insects. Comparisons with structures of the TcdA1 pore inserted into a membrane and in complex with TcdB2 and TccC3 reveal large conformational changes during membrane insertion, suggesting a novel syringe-like mechanism of protein translocation. Our results demonstrate how ABC-type toxin complexes bridge a membrane to insert their lethal components into the cytoplasm of the host cell. We believe that the proposed mechanism is characteristic of the whole ABC-type toxin family. This explanation of toxin translocation is a step towards understanding the host-pathogen interaction and the complex life cycle of P. luminescens and other pathogens, including human pathogenic bacteria, and serves as a strong foundation for the development of biopesticides.}, } @article {pmid23511636, year = {2013}, author = {Brown, DB and Muszynski, A and Salas, O and Speed, K and Carlson, RW}, title = {Elucidation of the 3-O-deacylase gene, pagL, required for the removal of primary β-hydroxy fatty acid from the lipid A in the nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont Rhizobium etli CE3.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {288}, number = {17}, pages = {12004-12013}, pmid = {23511636}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {R01 GM039583/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM39583/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/genetics/*metabolism ; Lipid A/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Phaseolus/microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium/*enzymology/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Until now, the gene responsible for the 3-O-deacylation of lipid A among nitrogen-fixing endosymbionts has not been characterized. Several Gram-negative animal pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bordetella bronchiseptica contain an outer membrane 3-O-deacylase (PagL) that has been implicated in host immune evasion. The role of 3-O-deacylated lipid A among nitrogen-fixing endosymbionts, plant endophytes, and plant pathogens has not been studied. However, D'Haeze et al. (D'Haeze, W., Leoff, C., Freshour, G., Noel, K. D., and Carlson, R. W. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282, 17101-17113) reported that the lipopolysaccharide from Rhizobium etli CE3 bacteroids isolated from host bean root nodules contained exclusively tetraacylated lipid A that lacked a lipid A β-hydroxymyristyl residue, an observation that is consistent with the possibility of PagL activity being important in symbiosis. A putative pagL gene was identified in the R. etli genome sequence. With this information, we created a pagL(-) mutant strain derived from R. etli CE3. Using mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that the mutant lacks 3-O-deacylated lipid A. The parent and mutant LPS were very similar as determined by gel electrophoresis and glycosyl composition analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. However, fatty acid analysis showed that the mutant lipid A contained larger amounts of β-hydroxypentadecanoic acid than that of the parent. Furthermore, the mutant was adversely affected in establishing symbiosis with its host, Phaseolus vulgaris.}, } @article {pmid23507586, year = {2013}, author = {Marek-Kozaczuk, M and Leszcz, A and Wielbo, J and Wdowiak-Wróbel, S and Skorupska, A}, title = {Rhizobium pisi sv. trifolii K3.22 harboring nod genes of the Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii cluster.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {252-258}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2013.01.005}, pmid = {23507586}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Medicago/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plasmids ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The taxonomic status of the Rhizobium sp. K3.22 clover nodule isolate was studied by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of 16S rRNA and six housekeeping chromosomal genes, as well as by a subsequent phylogenic analysis. The results revealed full congruence with the Rhizobium pisi DSM 30132(T) core genes, thus supporting the same taxonomic position for both strains. However, the K3.22 plasmid symbiosis nod genes demonstrated high sequence similarity to Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii, whereas the R. pisi DSM 30132(T)nod genes were most similar to R. leguminosarum sv. viciae. The strains differed in the host range nodulation specificity, since strain K3.22 effectively nodulated red and white clover but not vetch, in contrast to R. pisi DSM 30132(T), which effectively nodulated vetch but was not able to nodulate clover. Both strains had the ability to form nodules on pea and bean but they differed in bean cultivar specificity. The R. pisi K3.22 and DSM 30132(T) strains might provide evidence for the transfer of R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii and sv. viciae symbiotic plasmids occurring in natural soil populations.}, } @article {pmid23506613, year = {2013}, author = {Bonneau, L and Huguet, S and Wipf, D and Pauly, N and Truong, HN}, title = {Combined phosphate and nitrogen limitation generates a nutrient stress transcriptome favorable for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {199}, number = {1}, pages = {188-202}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12234}, pmid = {23506613}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Erythritol/analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; Sugar Phosphates/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Terpenes/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is stimulated by phosphorus (P) limitation and contributes to P and nitrogen (N) acquisition. However, the effects of combined P and N limitation on AM formation are largely unknown. Medicago truncatula plants were cultivated in the presence or absence of Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly Glomus intraradices) in P-limited (LP), N-limited (LN) or combined P- and N-limited (LPN) conditions, and compared with plants grown in sufficient P and N. The highest AM formation was observed in LPN, linked to systemic signaling by the plant nutrient status. Plant free phosphate concentrations were higher in LPN than in LP, as a result of cross-talk between P and N. Transcriptome analyses suggest that LPN induces the activation of NADPH oxidases in roots, concomitant with an altered profile of plant defense genes and a coordinate increase in the expression of genes involved in the methylerythritol phosphate and isoprenoid-derived pathways, including strigolactone synthesis genes. Taken together, these results suggest that low P and N fertilization systemically induces a physiological state of plants favorable for AM symbiosis despite their higher P status. Our findings highlight the importance of the plant nutrient status in controlling plant-fungus interaction.}, } @article {pmid23503869, year = {2013}, author = {Lancellotti, E and Franceschini, A}, title = {Studies on the ectomycorrhizal community in a declining Quercus suber L. stand.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {7}, pages = {533-542}, pmid = {23503869}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Quercus/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {This survey was carried out in a Quercus suber L. stand with many trees affected by the disease "oak decline". Its aim was to obtain information about both the belowground ectomycorrhizal fungal community in a declining Q. suber stand as a whole, and the ectomycorrhizal fungal community of individual tree (EFT) detected in healthy and diseased plants. To this end, we first categorized the trees into four different decline classes (one for healthy plants and three for diseased plants) and then, by using morphological and molecular tools, we identified the ectomycorrhizas isolated from samples collected near the trees with different declining classes. The ectomycorrhizal community as a whole was seen to be composed of numerous ectomycorrhizal fungal species, only some of which appeared to be dominant (Cenococcum geophilum, Lactarius chrysorrheus, and some species of Tomentella genus), while most occurred sporadically. Results show that all root tips observed are mycorrhized and that decline class does not influence the number of ectomycorrhizal root tips found in the EFTs, thus oak decline does not impact the investment in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. However, some statistical differences can be observed in the values of evenness and taxonomic distinctness in the EFT associated with trees with different states of health. Finally, both the analysis of similarity test and the ordination technique highlight a compositional difference between the EFT associated with trees in different health conditions, but also suggest that other factors may play a role in causing these differences.}, } @article {pmid23500888, year = {2013}, author = {Nieman, KM and Romero, IL and Van Houten, B and Lengyel, E}, title = {Adipose tissue and adipocytes support tumorigenesis and metastasis.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1831}, number = {10}, pages = {1533-1541}, pmid = {23500888}, issn = {0006-3002}, support = {K12 HD000849/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA111882/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; L30 CA153336/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA169604/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; F32 CA168309/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adipocytes/*physiology ; Adipose Tissue/*physiology ; *Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; *Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms/complications/metabolism/pathology ; Obesity/complications/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Adipose tissue influences tumor development in two major ways. First, obese individuals have a higher risk of developing certain cancers (endometrial, esophageal, and renal cell cancer). However, the risk of developing other cancers (melanoma, rectal, and ovarian) is not altered by body mass. In obesity, hypertrophied adipose tissue depots are characterized by a state of low grade inflammation. In this activated state, adipocytes and inflammatory cells secrete adipokines and cytokines which are known to promote tumor development. In addition, the adipocyte mediated conversion of androgens to estrogen specifically contributes to the development of endometrial cancer, which shows the greatest relative risk (6.3-fold) increase between lean and obese individuals. Second, many tumor types (gastric, breast, colon, renal, and ovarian) grow in the anatomical vicinity of adipose tissue. During their interaction with cancer cells, adipocytes dedifferentiate into pre-adipocytes or are reprogrammed into cancer-associated adipocytes (CAA). CAA secrete adipokines which stimulate the adhesion, migration, and invasion of tumor cells. Cancer cells and CAA also engage in a dynamic exchange of metabolites. Specifically, CAA release fatty acids through lipolysis which are then transferred to cancer cells and used for energy production through β-oxidation. The abundant availability of lipids from adipocytes in the tumor microenvironment, supports tumor progression and uncontrolled growth. Given that adipocytes are a major source of adipokines and energy for the cancer cell, understanding the mechanisms of metabolic symbiosis between cancer cells and adipocytes, should reveal new therapeutic possibilities. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Lipid Metabolism in Cancer.}, } @article {pmid23497287, year = {2013}, author = {Schlüter, JP and Reinkensmeier, J and Barnett, MJ and Lang, C and Krol, E and Giegerich, R and Long, SR and Becker, A}, title = {Global mapping of transcription start sites and promoter motifs in the symbiotic α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {156}, pmid = {23497287}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Chromosome Mapping ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Sigma Factor/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Initiation Site ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil-dwelling α-proteobacterium that possesses a large, tripartite genome and engages in a nitrogen fixing symbiosis with its plant hosts. Although much is known about this important model organism, global characterization of genetic regulatory circuits has been hampered by a lack of information about transcription and promoters.

RESULTS: Using an RNAseq approach and RNA populations representing 16 different growth and stress conditions, we comprehensively mapped S. meliloti transcription start sites (TSS). Our work identified 17,001 TSS that we grouped into six categories based on the genomic context of their transcripts: mRNA (4,430 TSS assigned to 2,657 protein-coding genes), leaderless mRNAs (171), putative mRNAs (425), internal sense transcripts (7,650), antisense RNA (3,720), and trans-encoded sRNAs (605). We used this TSS information to identify transcription factor binding sites and putative promoter sequences recognized by seven of the 15 known S. meliloti σ factors σ70, σ54, σH1, σH2, σE1, σE2, and σE9). Altogether, we predicted 2,770 new promoter sequences, including 1,302 located upstream of protein coding genes and 722 located upstream of antisense RNA or trans-encoded sRNA genes. To validate promoter predictions for targets of the general stress response σ factor, RpoE2 (σE2), we identified rpoE2-dependent genes using microarrays and confirmed TSS for a subset of these by 5' RACE mapping.

CONCLUSIONS: By identifying TSS and promoters on a global scale, our work provides a firm foundation for the continued study of S. meliloti gene expression with relation to gene organization, σ factors and other transcription factors, and regulatory RNAs.}, } @article {pmid23497193, year = {2013}, author = {Carvalho, GA and Batista, JS and Marcelino-Guimarães, FC and Nascimento, LC and Hungria, M}, title = {Transcriptional analysis of genes involved in nodulation in soybean roots inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain CPAC 15.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {153}, pmid = {23497193}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/genetics ; Brazil ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Soybeans/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Biological nitrogen fixation in root nodules is a process of great importance to crops of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], as it may provide the bulk of the plant's needs for nitrogen. Legume nodulation involves several complex steps and, although studied for many decades, much remains to be understood.

RESULTS: This research aimed at analyzing the global expression of genes in soybean roots of a Brazilian cultivar (Conquista) inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum CPAC 15, a strain broadly used in commercial inoculants in Brazil. To achieve this, we used the suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique combined with Illumina sequencing. The subtractive library (non-inoculated x inoculated) of soybean roots resulted in 3,210 differentially expressed transcripts at 10 days after inoculation were studied. The data were grouped according to the ontologies of the molecular functions and biological processes. Several classes of genes were confirmed as related to N2 fixation and others were reported for the first time.

CONCLUSIONS: During nodule formation, a higher percentage of genes were related to primary metabolism, cell-wall modifications and the antioxidant defense system. Putative symbiotic functions were attributed to some of these genes for the first time.}, } @article {pmid23496174, year = {2013}, author = {Moncrieff, J and Timimi, S}, title = {The social and cultural construction of psychiatric knowledge: an analysis of NICE guidelines on depression and ADHD.}, journal = {Anthropology & medicine}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {59-71}, pmid = {23496174}, issn = {1469-2910}, mesh = {*Anthropology, Medical ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/*drug therapy/*psychology ; Central Nervous System Stimulants/administration & dosage ; Child ; Culture ; Depression/*drug therapy/*psychology ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Mental Health Services ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Social Values ; }, abstract = {The current paper presents an analysis of the NICE guidelines on depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from the perspective of the philosophy of science, guided particularly by Foucault's notion of the symbiosis of knowledge and power. It examines how data that challenged the orthodox position on the validity and drug treatment of these conditions was managed in the process of guideline development. The depression guideline briefly considered the complexity and heterogeneity of depression, and numerous methodological problems with evaluating treatments, including antidepressants. However, the guideline recommendations made no reference to these issues and ignored evidence that questioned the analysis of antidepressant trials. The guideline on ADHD reviewed validity, but did not consider evidence from the critical literature, and overlooked inconsistencies in the data. The guideline identified that drug trials have shown no long-term benefit in ADHD, but still recommended treatment with stimulant drugs for children with severe symptoms and for all adults claiming consensus for this position. Both guidelines demonstrate how contradictory data are managed so as not to jeopardise the currently predominant view that ADHD and depression are valid and un-contentious medical conditions that should be treated with drugs. The subjective nature of guideline formation that is revealed illustrates Foucault's suggestion that the authority of medicine operates to promote a technological view of the nature of certain human problems, which in turn strengthens medical hegemony over these areas.}, } @article {pmid23494209, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, C and Zhu, H and Jin, L and Chen, T and Wang, L and Kang, H and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z}, title = {Splice variants of the SIP1 transcripts play a role in nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {82}, number = {1-2}, pages = {97-111}, pmid = {23494209}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Alternative Splicing/*genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/growth & development ; Lotus/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multiprotein Complexes/metabolism ; Organogenesis/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Binding/genetics ; Protein Multimerization/genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*growth & development/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {SymRK-interacting protein 1 (SIP1) has previously been shown to interact with the symbiosis receptor kinase, SymRK, in Lotus japonicus. A longer variant of the SIP1 transcript, SIP1L, was isolated and characterized. SIP1L contains an additional 17 amino acids that make its C-terminus a complete heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20)-like domain. In contrast to SIP1S, the longer splicing variant SIP1L could not interact with SymRK. Both SIP1L and SIP1S transcripts could be detected in developing nodules and other plant tissues, although the former was always more abundant than the latter. SIP1L and SIP1S formed heteromeric protein complexes, which were co-localized in the plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nuclei. Expression of SIP1-RNAi in transgenic hairy roots resulted in impairment in the nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal development, suggesting an important role of SIP1 in the common symbiosis pathway. Overexpression of either SIP1L or SIP1S increased the number of nodules formed on transgenic hairy roots, indicating a positive role of SIP1 in nodulation. The SIP1S-like transcript was not detected in other higher plants tested, and the SIP1L-like proteins of these plants were capable of interacting with the SymRK orthologs. It is proposed that the loss of the ability of SIP1L to interact with SymRK in Lotus is compensated by the expression of a shorter splicing variant, SIP1S, which binds SymRK and may play a role in relaying the symbiosis signals to downstream cellular events.}, } @article {pmid23493145, year = {2013}, author = {Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Speak, friend, and enter: signalling systems that promote beneficial symbiotic associations in plants.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {11}, number = {4}, pages = {252-263}, pmid = {23493145}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Calcium Signaling ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants associate with a wide range of microorganisms, with both detrimental and beneficial outcomes. Central to plant survival is the ability to recognize invading microorganisms and either limit their intrusion, in the case of pathogens, or promote the association, in the case of symbionts. To aid in this recognition process, elaborate communication and counter-communication systems have been established that determine the degree of ingress of the microorganism into the host plant. In this Review, I describe the common signalling processes used by plants during mutualistic interactions with microorganisms as diverse as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23493073, year = {2013}, author = {Schnabl, B}, title = {Linking intestinal homeostasis and liver disease.}, journal = {Current opinion in gastroenterology}, volume = {29}, number = {3}, pages = {264-270}, pmid = {23493073}, issn = {1531-7056}, support = {K08 DK081830/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AA020703/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Bacterial Translocation/physiology ; Homeostasis/physiology ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Liver Diseases/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Metagenome/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Interactions of the gut microbiome with the host are important in health and disease. Microbial translocation releases bacterial products that play a key role in progression of chronic liver disease by promoting hepatic injury and inflammation. Although this has long been recognized, we are just beginning to understand the circumstances under which the gut becomes leaky and to discover bacterial metabolites that promote liver disease. In this review, we will summarize recent findings from the last 2 years.

RECENT FINDINGS: Chronic liver disease is associated with an altered microbiome with both qualitative (dysbiosis) and quantitative (overgrowth) differences. This can be viewed as a loss of the symbiotic relationship between the microflora and the host. An imbalanced intestinal homeostasis results in a breach of the gut barrier and subsequent microbial translocation. However, the contribution of the intestinal microflora is beyond simple microbial translocation as a pathogenic factor. Bacterial metabolites resulting from an imbalanced homeostasis and dysbiosis play also a crucial role in liver disease.

SUMMARY: A combination between an initiating liver insult and a disturbance of the gut-host symbiosis synergize in progression of liver disease.}, } @article {pmid23488744, year = {2013}, author = {Ceuppens, S and Boon, N and Uyttendaele, M}, title = {Diversity of Bacillus cereus group strains is reflected in their broad range of pathogenicity and diverse ecological lifestyles.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {84}, number = {3}, pages = {433-450}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12110}, pmid = {23488744}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillaceae Infections/*microbiology ; Bacillus/classification/genetics/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Bacillus cereus/classification/genetics/*pathogenicity/*physiology ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics/metabolism ; Diarrhea/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Emetics/metabolism ; Enterotoxins/genetics/metabolism ; Food Microbiology ; Foodborne Diseases/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Interactions ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Bacillus cereus comprises a highly versatile group of bacteria, which are of particular interest because of their capacity to cause disease. Emetic food poisoning is caused by the toxin cereulide produced during the growth of emetic B. cereus in food, while diarrhoeal food poisoning is the result of enterotoxin production by viable vegetative B. cereus cells in the small intestine, probably in the mucus layer and/or attached to the host's intestinal epithelium. The numbers of B. cereus causing disease are highly variable, depending on diverse factors linked to the host (age, diet, physiology and immunology), bacteria (cellular form, toxin genes and expression) and food (nutritional composition and meal characteristics). Bacillus cereus group strains show impressive ecological diversity, ranging from their saprophytic life cycle in soil to symbiotic (commensal and mutualistic) lifestyles near plant roots and in guts of insects and mammals to various pathogenic ones in diverse insect and mammalian hosts. During all these different ecological lifestyles, their toxins play important roles ranging from providing competitive advantages within microbial communities to inhibition of specific pathogenic organisms for their host and accomplishment of infections by damaging their host's tissues.}, } @article {pmid23488722, year = {2013}, author = {Simister, R and Taylor, MW and Rogers, KM and Schupp, PJ and Deines, P}, title = {Temporal molecular and isotopic analysis of active bacterial communities in two New Zealand sponges.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, pages = {195-205}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12109}, pmid = {23488722}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Carbon Isotopes ; New Zealand ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The characterization of changes in microbial communities is an essential step towards a better understanding of host-microbe associations. It is well established that sponges (phylum Porifera) harbour a diverse and abundant microbial community, but it is not known whether these microbial communities change over time. Here, we followed two sponge species (Ancorina alata and Tethya stolonifera) over a 2-year sampling period using RNA (16S rRNA)-based amplicon pyrosequencing and bulk stable isotope analysis (δ(13) C and δ(15)N). A total of 4468 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was identified, which were affiliated with 26 bacterial phyla. Bacterial communities of both sponge species were remarkably stable throughout the monitoring period, driven by a small number of OTUs that dominated their respective communities. Variability of sponge-associated bacterial communities was driven by OTUs that were low in abundance or transient over time. Stable isotope analysis provided evidence of both bacteria- and host-derived nutrients and their variability throughout the season. While δ(15) N values were similar, significant differences were found in δ(13) C of sponge tissue, indicative of a varying reliance on particulate organic matter as a carbon source. Further temporal studies, such as those undertaken here, will be highly valuable to identify which members of a sponge bacterial community are truly symbiotic in nature.}, } @article {pmid23486251, year = {2013}, author = {Lekberg, Y and Gibbons, SM and Rosendahl, S and Ramsey, PW}, title = {Severe plant invasions can increase mycorrhizal fungal abundance and diversity.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {1424-1433}, pmid = {23486251}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {T32 EB009412/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Genes, rRNA/genetics ; *Introduced Species ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/physiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Poaceae/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Invasions by non-native plants can alter ecosystem functions and reduce native plant diversity, but relatively little is known about their effect on belowground microbial communities. We show that invasions by knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula, hereafter spurge)--but not cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)--support a higher abundance and diversity of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) than multi-species native plant communities. The higher AMF richness associated with knapweed and spurge is unlikely due to a co-invasion by AMF, because a separate sampling showed that individual native forbs hosted a similar AMF abundance and richness as exotic forbs. Native grasses associated with fewer AMF taxa, which could explain the reduced AMF richness in native, grass-dominated communities. The three invasive plant species harbored distinct AMF communities, and analyses of co-occurring native and invasive plants indicate that differences were partly driven by the invasive plants and were not the result of pre-invasion conditions. Our results suggest that invasions by mycotrophic plants that replace poorer hosts can increase AMF abundance and richness. The high AMF richness in monodominant plant invasions also indicates that the proposed positive relationship between above and belowground diversity is not always strong. Finally, the disparate responses among exotic plants and consistent results between grasses and forbs suggest that AMF respond more to plant functional group than plant provenance.}, } @article {pmid23483956, year = {2013}, author = {Garrett, TA and Schmeitzel, JL and Klein, JA and Hwang, JJ and Schwarz, JA}, title = {Comparative lipid profiling of the cnidarian Aiptasia pallida and its dinoflagellate symbiont.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e57975}, pmid = {23483956}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {U54 GM069338/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM-069338/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Corals and other cnidarians house photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts within membrane-bound compartments inside gastrodermal cells. Nutritional interchanges between the partners produce carbohydrates and lipids for metabolism, growth, energy stores, and cellular structures. Although lipids play a central role in the both the energetics and the structural/morphological features of the symbiosis, previous research has primarily focused on the fatty acid and neutral lipid composition of the host and symbiont. In this study we conducted a mass spectrometry-based survey of the lipidomic changes associated with symbiosis in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida, an important model system for coral symbiosis. Lipid extracts from A. pallida in and out of symbiosis with its symbiont Symbiodinium were prepared and analyzed using negative-ion electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Through this analysis we have identified, by exact mass and collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry (MS/MS), several classes of glycerophospholipids in A. pallida. Several molecular species of di-acyl phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine as well as 1-alkyl, 2-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidycholine were identified. The 1-alkyl, 2-acyl PEs are acid sensitive suggestive that they are plasmalogen PEs possessing a double bond at the 1-position of the alkyl linked chain. In addition, we identified several molecular species of phosphonosphingolipids called ceramide aminoethylphosphonates in anemone lipid extracts by the release of a characteristic negative product ion at m/z 124.014 during MS/MS analysis. Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG), an anionic lipid often found in photosynthetic organisms, was identified as a prominent component of Symbiodinium lipid extracts. A comparison of anemone lipid profiles revealed a subset of lipids that show dramatic differences in abundance when anemones are in the symbiotic state as compared to the non-symbiotic state. The data generated in this analysis will serve as a resource to further investigate the role of lipids in symbiosis between Symbiodinium and A. pallida.}, } @article {pmid23483805, year = {2013}, author = {Suzaki, T and Ito, M and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Genetic basis of cytokinin and auxin functions during root nodule development.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {42}, pmid = {23483805}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The phytohormones cytokinin and auxin are essential for the control of diverse aspects of cell proliferation and differentiation processes in plants. Although both phytohormones have been suggested to play key roles in the regulation of root nodule development, only recently, significant progress has been made in the elucidation of the molecular genetic basis of cytokinin action in the model leguminous species, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. Identification and functional analyses of the putative cytokinin receptors LOTUS HISTIDINE KINASE 1 and M. truncatula CYTOKININ RESPONSE 1 have brought a greater understanding of how activation of cytokinin signaling is crucial to the initiation of nodule primordia. Recent studies have also started to shed light on the roles of auxin in the regulation of nodule development. Here, we review the history and recent progress of research into the roles of cytokinin and auxin, and their possible interactions, in nodule development.}, } @article {pmid23482825, year = {2012}, author = {Campos-Herrera, R and Barbercheck, M and Hoy, CW and Stock, SP}, title = {Entomopathogenic nematodes as a model system for advancing the frontiers of ecology.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {162-176}, pmid = {23482825}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the families Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae have a mutualistic-symbiotic association with enteric γ-Proteobacteria (Steinernema-Xenorhabdus and Heterorhabditis-Photorhabdus), which confer high virulence against insects. EPNs have been studied intensively because of their role as a natural mortality factor for soil-dwelling arthropods and their potential as biological control agents for belowground insect pests. For many decades, research on EPNs focused on the taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, genetics, physiology, biochemistry and ecology, as well as commercial production and application technologies. More recently, EPNs and their bacterial symbionts are being viewed as a model system for advancing research in other disciplines such as soil ecology, symbiosis and evolutionary biology. Integration of existing information, particularly the accumulating information on their biology, into increasingly detailed population models is critical to improving our ability to exploit and manage EPNs as a biological control agent and to understand ecological processes in a changing world. Here, we summarize some recent advances in phylogeny, systematics, biogeography, community ecology and population dynamics models of EPNs, and describe how this research is advancing frontiers in ecology.}, } @article {pmid23482822, year = {2012}, author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Borucki, W and Znojek, E}, title = {Structural changes in Medicago truncatula root nodules caused by short-term aluminum stress.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {58}, number = {1-3}, pages = {161-170}, pmid = {23482822}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Aluminum in the form of Al[3+] is one of the most toxic heavy metal pollutants in nature and its effects are primarily root-related. Roots of Medicago truncatula exposed to 50 μM of AlCl3 for 2 h and 24 h were examined by light and electron microscopy. Changes in the appearance of the host cells, infection threads and bacteroidal tissue occurred during the first 2 h of Al stress. Microscopic observations showed that aluminum: (1) induced thickening of plant cell and infection threads (ITs) walls, (2) stimulated IT enlargement, (3) caused disturbances in bacterial release from the ITs, (4) modified cell vacuolation and induced synthesis of granular material and its deposition in the cytoplasm, (5) and caused structural alterations of organella and bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid23482460, year = {2012}, author = {Geniez, S and Foster, JM and Kumar, S and Moumen, B and Leproust, E and Hardy, O and Guadalupe, M and Thomas, SJ and Boone, B and Hendrickson, C and Bouchon, D and Grève, P and Slatko, BE}, title = {Targeted genome enrichment for efficient purification of endosymbiont DNA from host DNA.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {58}, number = {1-3}, pages = {201-207}, pmid = {23482460}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Wolbachia endosymbionts are widespread in arthropods and are generally considered reproductive parasites, inducing various phenotypes including cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, feminization and male killing, which serve to promote their spread through populations. In contrast, Wolbachia infecting filarial nematodes that cause human diseases, including elephantiasis and river blindness, are obligate mutualists. DNA purification methods for efficient genomic sequencing of these unculturable bacteria have proven difficult using a variety of techniques. To efficiently capture endosymbiont DNA for studies that examine the biology of symbiosis, we devised a parallel strategy to an earlier array-based method by creating a set of SureSelect™ (Agilent) 120-mer target enrichment RNA oligonucleotides ("baits") for solution hybrid selection. These were designed from Wolbachia complete and partial genome sequences in GenBank and were tiled across each genomic sequence with 60 bp overlap. Baits were filtered for homology against host genomes containing Wolbachia using BLAT and sequences with significant host homology were removed from the bait pool. Filarial parasite Brugia malayi DNA was used as a test case, as the complete sequence of both Wolbachia and its host are known. DNA eluted from capture was size selected and sequencing samples were prepared using the NEBNext® Sample Preparation Kit. One-third of a 50 nt paired-end sequencing lane on the HiSeq™ 2000 (Illumina) yielded 53 million reads and the entirety of the Wolbachia genome was captured. We then used the baits to isolate more than 97.1 % of the genome of a distantly related Wolbachia strain from the crustacean Armadillidium vulgare, demonstrating that the method can be used to enrich target DNA from unculturable microbes over large evolutionary distances.}, } @article {pmid23482453, year = {2012}, author = {Poinar, GO and Grewal, PS}, title = {History of entomopathogenic nematology.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {153-161}, pmid = {23482453}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {The history of entomopathogenic nematology is briefly reviewed. Topic selections include early descriptions of members of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, how only morphology was originally used to distinguish between the species; descriptions of the symbiotic bacteria and elucidating their role in the nematode- insect complex, including antibiotic properties, phase variants, and impeding host defense responses. Other topics include early solutions regarding production, storage, field applications and the first commercial sales of entomopathogenic nematodes in North America. Later studies centered on how the nematodes locate insect hosts, their effects on non-target organisms and susceptibility of the infective juveniles to soil microbes. While the goals of early workers was to increase the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes for pest control, the increasing use of Heterorhabditis and Photorhabdus as genetic models in molecular biology is noted.}, } @article {pmid23482442, year = {2012}, author = {Lotocka, B and Kopcińska, J and Skalniak, M}, title = {Review article: The meristem in indeterminate root nodules of Faboideae.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {58}, number = {1-3}, pages = {63-72}, pmid = {23482442}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {In this review, the anatomy of indeterminate legume root nodule is briefly summarized. Next, the indeterminate nodule meristem activity, organization and cell ultrastructure are described in species with a distinct nodule meristem zonation. Finally, the putative primary endogenous factors controlling nodule meristem maintenance are discussed in the context of the well-studied root apical meristem (RAM) of Arabidopsis thaliana.}, } @article {pmid23482343, year = {2012}, author = {Griffin, CT}, title = {Perspectives on the behavior of entomopathogenic nematodes from dispersal to reproduction: traits contributing to nematode fitness and biocontrol efficacy.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {44}, number = {2}, pages = {177-184}, pmid = {23482343}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Heterorhabditis and Steinernema are widely used for the biological control of insect pests and are gaining importance as model organisms for studying parasitism and symbiosis. In this paper recent advances in the understanding of EPN behavior are reviewed. The "foraging strategy" paradigm (distinction between species with ambush and cruise strategies) as applied to EPN is being challenged and alternative paradigms proposed. Infection decisions are based on condition of the potential host, and it is becoming clear that already-infected and even long-dead hosts may be invaded, as well as healthy live hosts. The state of the infective juvenile (IJ) also influences infection, and evidence for a phased increase in infectivity of EPN species is mounting. The possibility of social behavior - adaptive interactions between IJs outside the host - is discussed. EPNs' symbiotic bacteria (Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus) are important for killing the host and rendering it suitable for nematode reproduction, but may reduce survival of IJs, resulting in a trade-off between survival and reproduction. The symbiont also contributes to defence of the cadaver by affecting food-choice decisions of insect and avian scavengers. I review EPN reproductive behavior (including sperm competition, copulation and evidence for attractive and organizational effects of pheromones), and consider the role of endotokia matricida as parental behavior exploited by the symbiont for transmission.}, } @article {pmid23480581, year = {2013}, author = {Yek, SH and Boomsma, JJ and Schiøtt, M}, title = {Differential gene expression in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants after challenges with two fungal pathogens.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {8}, pages = {2173-2187}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12255}, pmid = {23480581}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*genetics/microbiology ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation/*genetics ; *Genome, Insect ; Hypocreales/pathogenicity ; Metarhizium/pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Social insects in general and leaf-cutting ants in particular have increased selection pressures on their innate immune system due to their social lifestyle and monoclonality of the symbiotic fungal cultivar. As this symbiosis is obligate for both parties, prophylactic behavioural defences against infections are expected to increase either ant survival or fungus-garden survival, but also to possibly trade off when specific infections differ in potential danger. We examined the effectiveness of prophylactic behaviours and modulations of innate immune defences by a combination of inoculation bioassays and genome-wide transcriptomic studies (RNA-Seq), using an ant pathogen (Metarhizium brunneum) and a fungus-garden pathogen (Escovopsis weberi) and administering inoculations both directly and indirectly (via the symbiotic partner). Upon detection of pathogen conidia, ant workers responded by increasing both general activity and the frequency of specific defence behaviours (self-grooming, allo-grooming, garden-grooming) independent of the pathogen encountered. This trend was also evident in the patterns of gene expression change. Both direct and indirect (via fungus garden) inoculations with Metarhizium induced a general up-regulation of gene expression, including a number of well-known immune-related genes. In contrast, direct inoculation of the fungus garden by Escovopsis induced an overall down-regulation of ant gene expression, whereas indirect inoculation (via the ants) did not, suggesting that increased activity of ants to remove this fungus-garden pathogen is costly and involves trade-offs with the activation of other physiological pathways.}, } @article {pmid23480552, year = {2013}, author = {Chaston, JM and Murfin, KE and Heath-Heckman, EA and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Previously unrecognized stages of species-specific colonization in the mutualism between Xenorhabdus bacteria and Steinernema nematodes.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {9}, pages = {1545-1559}, pmid = {23480552}, issn = {1462-5822}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Epithelial Cells/microbiology ; Rhabditida/*growth & development/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/classification/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The specificity of a horizontally transmitted microbial symbiosis is often defined by molecular communication between host and microbe during initial engagement, which can occur in discrete stages. In the symbiosis between Steinernema nematodes and Xenorhabdus bacteria, previous investigations focused on bacterial colonization of the intestinal lumen (receptacle) of the nematode infective juvenile (IJ), as this was the only known persistent, intimate and species-specific contact between the two. Here we show that bacteria colonize the anterior intestinal cells of other nematode developmental stages in a species-specific manner. Also, we describe three processes that only occur in juveniles that are destined to become IJs. First, a few bacterial cells colonize the nematode pharyngeal-intestinal valve (PIV) anterior to the intestinal epithelium. Second, the nematode intestine constricts while bacteria initially remain in the PIV. Third, anterior intestinal constriction relaxes and colonizing bacteria occupy the receptacle. At each stage, colonization requires X. nematophila symbiosis region 1 (SR1) genes and is species-specific: X. szentirmaii, which naturally lacks SR1, does not colonize unless SR1 is ectopically expressed. These findings reveal new aspects of Xenorhabdus bacteria interactions with and transmission by theirSteinernema nematode hosts, and demonstrate that bacterial SR1 genes aid in colonizing nematode epithelial surfaces.}, } @article {pmid23480445, year = {2013}, author = {Hardham, AR}, title = {Microtubules and biotic interactions.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {278-289}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12171}, pmid = {23480445}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Fungi/pathogenicity ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microtubules/*physiology ; Oomycetes/pathogenicity ; Plant Cells/*microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant microtubules undergo extensive reorganization in response to symbiotic and pathogenic organisms. During the development of successful symbioses with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi, novel microtubule arrays facilitate the progression of infection threads and hyphae, respectively, from the plant surface through epidermal and cortical cells. During viral and nematode infections, plant microtubules appear to be commandeered by the pathogen. Viruses use plant microtubules for intra and intercellular movement, as well as for interhost transmission. Nematodes manipulate spindle and phragmoplast microtubules to enhance mitosis and partial cytokinesis during the development of syncytia and giant cells. Pathogenic bacteria, fungi and oomycetes induce a range of alterations to microtubule arrays and dynamics. In many situations, the pathogen, or the elicitor or effector proteins derived from them, induce depolymerization of plant cortical microtubule arrays. In some cases, microtubule disruption is associated with the plant defence response and resistance. In other cases, microtubule depolymerization increases plant susceptibility to the invading pathogen. The reasons for this apparent inconsistency may depend on a number of factors, in particular on the identity of the organism orchestrating the microtubule changes. Overall, the weight of evidence indicates that microtubules play an important role in both the establishment of functional symbioses and in defence against invading pathogens. Research is beginning to unravel details about the nature of both the chemical and the mechanical signals to which the plant microtubule arrays respond during biotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid23480054, year = {2013}, author = {Vauclare, P and Bligny, R and Gout, E and Widmer, F}, title = {An overview of the metabolic differences between Bradyrhizobium japonicum 110 bacteria and differentiated bacteroids from soybean (Glycine max) root nodules: an in vitro 13C- and 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {343}, number = {1}, pages = {49-56}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12124}, pmid = {23480054}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; *Metabolome ; Nucleotides/analysis ; Phosphates/analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria that induce root nodules formation in legume soybean (Glycine max.). Using (13)C- and (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we have analysed the metabolite profiles of cultivated B. japonicum cells and bacteroids isolated from soybean nodules. Our results revealed some quantitative and qualitative differences between the metabolite profiles of bacteroids and their vegetative state. This includes in bacteroids a huge accumulation of soluble carbohydrates such as trehalose, glutamate, myo-inositol and homospermidine as well as Pi, nucleotide pools and intermediates of the primary carbon metabolism. Using this novel approach, these data show that most of the compounds detected in bacteroids reflect the metabolic adaptation of rhizobia to the surrounding microenvironment with its host plant cells.}, } @article {pmid23479019, year = {2013}, author = {Britayev, TA and Mikheev, VN}, title = {Clumped spatial distribution of scleractinian corals influences the structure of their symbiotic associations.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {448}, number = {}, pages = {45-48}, pmid = {23479019}, issn = {0012-4966}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Aquatic Organisms/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid23478942, year = {2013}, author = {Santi, C and Bogusz, D and Franche, C}, title = {Biological nitrogen fixation in non-legume plants.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {111}, number = {5}, pages = {743-767}, pmid = {23478942}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/*physiology ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Endophytes/physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is an essential nutrient in plant growth. The ability of a plant to supply all or part of its requirements from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) thanks to interactions with endosymbiotic, associative and endophytic symbionts, confers a great competitive advantage over non-nitrogen-fixing plants.

SCOPE: Because BNF in legumes is well documented, this review focuses on BNF in non-legume plants. Despite the phylogenic and ecological diversity among diazotrophic bacteria and their hosts, tightly regulated communication is always necessary between the microorganisms and the host plant to achieve a successful interaction. Ongoing research efforts to improve knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying these original relationships and some common strategies leading to a successful relationship between the nitrogen-fixing microorganisms and their hosts are presented.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the molecular mechanism of BNF outside the legume-rhizobium symbiosis could have important agronomic implications and enable the use of N-fertilizers to be reduced or even avoided. Indeed, in the short term, improved understanding could lead to more sustainable exploitation of the biodiversity of nitrogen-fixing organisms and, in the longer term, to the transfer of endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixation capacities to major non-legume crops.}, } @article {pmid23475938, year = {2013}, author = {Driscoll, T and Gillespie, JJ and Nordberg, EK and Azad, AF and Sobral, BW}, title = {Bacterial DNA sifted from the Trichoplax adhaerens (Animalia: Placozoa) genome project reveals a putative rickettsial endosymbiont.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {621-645}, pmid = {23475938}, issn = {1759-6653}, support = {R01 AI017828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI059118/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN272200900040C/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI017828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI59118/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Placozoa/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Rickettsiaceae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic genome sequencing projects often yield bacterial DNA sequences, data typically considered as microbial contamination. However, these sequences may also indicate either symbiont genes or lateral gene transfer (LGT) to host genomes. These bacterial sequences can provide clues about eukaryote-microbe interactions. Here, we used the genome of the primitive animal Trichoplax adhaerens (Metazoa: Placozoa), which is known to harbor an uncharacterized Gram-negative endosymbiont, to search for the presence of bacterial DNA sequences. Bioinformatic and phylogenomic analyses of extracted data from the genome assembly (181 bacterial coding sequences [CDS]) and trace read archive (16S rDNA) revealed a dominant proteobacterial profile strongly skewed to Rickettsiales (Alphaproteobacteria) genomes. By way of phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and 113 proteins conserved across proteobacterial genomes, as well as identification of 27 rickettsial signature genes, we propose a Rickettsiales endosymbiont of T. adhaerens (RETA). The majority (93%) of the identified bacterial CDS belongs to small scaffolds containing prokaryotic-like genes; however, 12 CDS were identified on large scaffolds comprised of eukaryotic-like genes, suggesting that T. adhaerens might have recently acquired bacterial genes. These putative LGTs may coincide with the placozoan's aquatic niche and symbiosis with RETA. This work underscores the rich, and relatively untapped, resource of eukaryotic genome projects for harboring data pertinent to host-microbial interactions. The nature of unknown (or poorly characterized) bacterial species may only emerge via analysis of host genome sequencing projects, particularly if these species are resistant to cell culturing, as are many obligate intracellular microbes. Our work provides methodological insight for such an approach.}, } @article {pmid23475423, year = {2013}, author = {Um, JH and Kim, S and Kim, YK and Song, SB and Lee, SH and Verma, DP and Cheon, CI}, title = {RNA interference-mediated repression of S6 kinase 1 impairs root nodule development in soybean.}, journal = {Molecules and cells}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {243-248}, pmid = {23475423}, issn = {0219-1032}, mesh = {Gene Expression ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa/*genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nodule formation on legume roots is characterized with a series of developmental reprograming in root tissues, including extensive proliferation of cortical cells. We examined a possible involvement of the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway, a central regulator of cell growth and proliferation in animals and yeasts, during soybean nodule development. Our results show that transcription of both GmTOR and its key downstream effector, GmS6K1, are activated during nodulation, which is paralleled with higher kinase activities of these gene products as well. RNAi-mediated knockdown of GmS6K1 impaired the nodule development with severely reduced nodule weight and numbers. In addition, expression of a few nodulins including leghemoglobin was also decreased, and consequently nitrogen fixation was found to be reduced by half. Proteomic analysis of the GmS6K1-RNAi nodules identified glutamine synthetase (GS), an essential enzyme for nitrogen assimilation in nodules, as one of the proteins that are significantly down regulated. These results appear to provide solid evidence for a functional link between GmS6K1 and nodule development.}, } @article {pmid23475217, year = {2013}, author = {Ifrim, DC and Joosten, LA and Kullberg, BJ and Jacobs, L and Jansen, T and Williams, DL and Gow, NA and van der Meer, JW and Netea, MG and Quintin, J}, title = {Candida albicans primes TLR cytokine responses through a Dectin-1/Raf-1-mediated pathway.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {190}, number = {8}, pages = {4129-4135}, pmid = {23475217}, issn = {1550-6606}, support = {R01 GM053522/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM53522/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacteroides fragilis/immunology ; Candida albicans/genetics/*immunology ; Cytokines/*biosynthesis ; Escherichia coli/immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Inflammation/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Lectins, C-Type/*physiology ; Ligands ; Mucous Membrane/microbiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/*immunology ; Skin/microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus/immunology ; Toll-Like Receptors/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The immune system is essential to maintain homeostasis with resident microbial populations, ensuring that the symbiotic host-microbial relationship is maintained. In parallel, commensal microbes significantly shape mammalian immunity at the host mucosal surface, as well as systemically. Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that lives as a commensal on skin and mucosa of healthy individuals. Little is known about its capacity to modulate responses toward other microorganisms, such as colonizing bacteria (e.g., intestinal microorganisms). The aim of this study was to assess the cytokine production of PBMCs induced by commensal bacteria when these cells were primed by C. albicans. We show that C. albicans and β-1,3-glucan induce priming of human primary mononuclear cells and this leads to enhanced cytokine production upon in vitro stimulation with TLR ligands and bacterial commensals. This priming requires the β-1,3-glucan receptor dectin-1 and the noncanonical Raf-1 pathway. In addition, although purified mannans cannot solely mediate the priming, the presence of mannosyl residues in the cell wall of C. albicans is nevertheless required. In conclusion, C. albicans is able to modify cytokine responses to TLR ligands and colonizing bacteria, which is likely to impact the inflammatory reaction during mucosal diseases.}, } @article {pmid23472225, year = {2013}, author = {Siozios, S and Cestaro, A and Kaur, R and Pertot, I and Rota-Stabelli, O and Anfora, G}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of the Wolbachia Endosymbiont of Drosophila suzukii.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {23472225}, issn = {2169-8287}, support = {MR/K001744/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia is one of the most successful and abundant symbiotic bacteria in nature, infecting more than 40% of the terrestrial arthropod species. Here we report the draft genome sequence of a novel Wolbachia strain named "wSuzi" that was retrieved from the genome sequencing of its host, the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii.}, } @article {pmid23470594, year = {2013}, author = {Lee, WB and Meinecke, E and Varnum, B}, title = {The evolution of eye banking and corneal transplantation: a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {International ophthalmology clinics}, volume = {53}, number = {2}, pages = {115-129}, doi = {10.1097/IIO.0b013e31827823c5}, pmid = {23470594}, issn = {1536-9617}, mesh = {Corneal Diseases/*history/surgery ; Corneal Transplantation/*history ; Eye Banks/*history ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Tissue Preservation/*history ; }, } @article {pmid23470320, year = {2013}, author = {Quintana-Murci, L and Clark, AG}, title = {Population genetic tools for dissecting innate immunity in humans.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {280-293}, pmid = {23470320}, issn = {1474-1741}, support = {R01 AI064950/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics ; Genetics, Population/*methods ; Genome, Human/genetics ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Models, Immunological ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Innate immunity involves direct interactions between the host and microorganisms, both pathogenic and symbiotic, so natural selection is expected to strongly influence genes involved in these processes. Population genetics investigates the impact of past natural selection events on the genome of present-day human populations, and it complements immunological as well as clinical and epidemiological genetic studies. Recent data show that the impact of selection on the different families of innate immune receptors and their downstream signalling molecules varies considerably. This Review discusses these findings and highlights how they help to delineate the relative functional importance of innate immune pathways, which can range from being essential to being redundant.}, } @article {pmid23468838, year = {2013}, author = {Cao, H and Auguet, JC and Gu, JD}, title = {Global ecological pattern of ammonia-oxidizing archaea.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e52853}, pmid = {23468838}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Archaea/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Genes, Archaeal ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The global distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), which play a pivotal role in the nitrification process, has been confirmed through numerous ecological studies. Though newly available amoA (ammonia monooxygenase subunit A) gene sequences from new environments are accumulating rapidly in public repositories, a lack of information on the ecological and evolutionary factors shaping community assembly of AOA on the global scale is apparent.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS: We conducted a meta-analysis on uncultured AOA using over ca. 6,200 archaeal amoA gene sequences, so as to reveal their community distribution patterns along a wide spectrum of physicochemical conditions and habitat types. The sequences were dereplicated at 95% identity level resulting in a dataset containing 1,476 archaeal amoA gene sequences from eight habitat types: namely soil, freshwater, freshwater sediment, estuarine sediment, marine water, marine sediment, geothermal system, and symbiosis. The updated comprehensive amoA phylogeny was composed of three major monophyletic clusters (i.e. Nitrosopumilus, Nitrosotalea, Nitrosocaldus) and a non-monophyletic cluster constituted mostly by soil and sediment sequences that we named Nitrososphaera. Diversity measurements indicated that marine and estuarine sediments as well as symbionts might be the largest reservoirs of AOA diversity. Phylogenetic analyses were further carried out using macroevolutionary analyses to explore the diversification pattern and rates of nitrifying archaea. In contrast to other habitats that displayed constant diversification rates, marine planktonic AOA interestingly exhibit a very recent and accelerating diversification rate congruent with the lowest phylogenetic diversity observed in their habitats. This result suggested the existence of AOA communities with different evolutionary history in the different habitats.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Based on an up-to-date amoA phylogeny, this analysis provided insights into the possible evolutionary mechanisms and environmental parameters that shape AOA community assembly at global scale.}, } @article {pmid23468653, year = {2013}, author = {Schardl, CL and Young, CA and Hesse, U and Amyotte, SG and Andreeva, K and Calie, PJ and Fleetwood, DJ and Haws, DC and Moore, N and Oeser, B and Panaccione, DG and Schweri, KK and Voisey, CR and Farman, ML and Jaromczyk, JW and Roe, BA and O'Sullivan, DM and Scott, B and Tudzynski, P and An, Z and Arnaoudova, EG and Bullock, CT and Charlton, ND and Chen, L and Cox, M and Dinkins, RD and Florea, S and Glenn, AE and Gordon, A and Güldener, U and Harris, DR and Hollin, W and Jaromczyk, J and Johnson, RD and Khan, AK and Leistner, E and Leuchtmann, A and Li, C and Liu, J and Liu, J and Liu, M and Mace, W and Machado, C and Nagabhyru, P and Pan, J and Schmid, J and Sugawara, K and Steiner, U and Takach, JE and Tanaka, E and Webb, JS and Wilson, EV and Wiseman, JL and Yoshida, R and Zeng, Z}, title = {Plant-symbiotic fungi as chemical engineers: multi-genome analysis of the clavicipitaceae reveals dynamics of alkaloid loci.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, pages = {e1003323}, pmid = {23468653}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {P20 RR016481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; BB/G020418/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 2 P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HG006272/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086888/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Alkaloids/chemistry/classification/genetics/metabolism ; *Claviceps/genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Epichloe/genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Ergot Alkaloids/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Hypocreales/genetics/metabolism ; Neotyphodium ; Poaceae/genetics/metabolism/parasitology ; *Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive and bioprotective alkaloids. The family includes grass symbionts in the epichloae clade (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both in their host interactions and in their alkaloid profiles. Epichloae produce alkaloids of four distinct classes, all of which deter insects, and some-including the infamous ergot alkaloids-have potent effects on mammals. The exceptional chemotypic diversity of the epichloae may relate to their broad range of host interactions, whereby some are pathogenic and contagious, others are mutualistic and vertically transmitted (seed-borne), and still others vary in pathogenic or mutualistic behavior. We profiled the alkaloids and sequenced the genomes of 10 epichloae, three ergot fungi (Claviceps species), a morning-glory symbiont (Periglandula ipomoeae), and a bamboo pathogen (Aciculosporium take), and compared the gene clusters for four classes of alkaloids. Results indicated a strong tendency for alkaloid loci to have conserved cores that specify the skeleton structures and peripheral genes that determine chemical variations that are known to affect their pharmacological specificities. Generally, gene locations in cluster peripheries positioned them near to transposon-derived, AT-rich repeat blocks, which were probably involved in gene losses, duplications, and neofunctionalizations. The alkaloid loci in the epichloae had unusual structures riddled with large, complex, and dynamic repeat blocks. This feature was not reflective of overall differences in repeat contents in the genomes, nor was it characteristic of most other specialized metabolism loci. The organization and dynamics of alkaloid loci and abundant repeat blocks in the epichloae suggested that these fungi are under selection for alkaloid diversification. We suggest that such selection is related to the variable life histories of the epichloae, their protective roles as symbionts, and their associations with the highly speciose and ecologically diverse cool-season grasses.}, } @article {pmid23468402, year = {2013}, author = {D'Aversa, F and Tortora, A and Ianiro, G and Ponziani, FR and Annicchiarico, BE and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {Gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome.}, journal = {Internal and emergency medicine}, volume = {8 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {S11-5}, pmid = {23468402}, issn = {1970-9366}, mesh = {*Diet ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome/*etiology/therapy ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is the result of the relationship between gut microbiota and human surfaces; in fact, it regulates many functions such as metabolic and protective ones. It is widely known that any changes in the microbes in gut microbiota (dysbiosis) and the regulation of mucosal and systemic host's immunity have been linked to different diseases such as metabolic syndromes and associated disorders. Recent studies report an aberrant gut microbiota and an alteration of gut microbial metabolic activities in obese subjects, with an important influence of a number of human physiological functions. Most studies suggest that diet, especially the high-fat low-fiber western-style diet, dramatically impacts on gut microbiota composition and functions in those patients with metabolic syndrome. A deeper knowledge of a specific microbiota profile associated with increased risk of metabolic disease and its subsequent modification induced by prebiotics, probiotics or targeted antibiotics will be necessary for the development of new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of metabolic disease.}, } @article {pmid23463784, year = {2013}, author = {Ekman, M and Picossi, S and Campbell, EL and Meeks, JC and Flores, E}, title = {A Nostoc punctiforme sugar transporter necessary to establish a Cyanobacterium-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {161}, number = {4}, pages = {1984-1992}, pmid = {23463784}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Anthocerotophyta/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Fructose/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Glucose/metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; Nostoc/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In cyanobacteria-plant symbioses, the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium has low photosynthetic activity and is supplemented by sugars provided by the plant partner. Which sugars and cyanobacterial sugar uptake mechanism(s) are involved in the symbiosis, however, is unknown. Mutants of the symbiotically competent, facultatively heterotrophic cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme were constructed bearing a neomycin resistance gene cassette replacing genes in a putative sugar transport gene cluster. Results of transport activity assays using (14)C-labeled fructose and glucose and tests of heterotrophic growth with these sugars enabled the identification of an ATP-binding cassette-type transporter for fructose (Frt), a major facilitator permease for glucose (GlcP), and a porin needed for the optimal uptake of both fructose and glucose. Analysis of green fluorescent protein fluorescence in strains of N. punctiforme bearing frt::gfp fusions showed high expression in vegetative cells and akinetes, variable expression in hormogonia, and no expression in heterocysts. The symbiotic efficiency of N. punctiforme sugar transport mutants was investigated by testing their ability to infect a nonvascular plant partner, the hornwort Anthoceros punctatus. Strains that were specifically unable to transport glucose did not infect the plant. These results imply a role for GlcP in establishing symbiosis under the conditions used in this work.}, } @article {pmid23462549, year = {2013}, author = {Delaux, PM and Séjalon-Delmas, N and Bécard, G and Ané, JM}, title = {Evolution of the plant-microbe symbiotic 'toolkit'.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {18}, number = {6}, pages = {298-304}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2013.01.008}, pmid = {23462549}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Beneficial associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi play a major role in terrestrial environments and in the sustainability of agroecosystems. Proteins, microRNAs, and small molecules have been identified in model angiosperms as required for the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and define a symbiotic 'toolkit' used for other interactions such as the rhizobia-legume symbiosis. Based on recent studies, we propose an evolutionary framework for this toolkit. Some components appeared recently in angiosperms, whereas others are highly conserved even in land plants unable to form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. The exciting finding that some components pre-date the appearance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi suggests the existence of unknown roles for this toolkit and even the possibility of symbiotic associations in charophyte green algae.}, } @article {pmid23461682, year = {2013}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Fewer, DP and Jokela, J and Wahlsten, M and Sivonen, K and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Lichen species identity and diversity of cyanobacterial toxins in symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {3}, pages = {647-651}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12215}, pmid = {23461682}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Ascomycota/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Toxins/*analysis/genetics ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; DNA, Intergenic ; Lichens/*classification/*microbiology ; Marine Toxins/*analysis/genetics ; Microcystins/analysis/*chemistry/genetics ; Nostoc/physiology ; Peptide Synthases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid23461653, year = {2013}, author = {Koegel, S and Ait Lahmidi, N and Arnould, C and Chatagnier, O and Walder, F and Ineichen, K and Boller, T and Wipf, D and Wiemken, A and Courty, PE}, title = {The family of ammonium transporters (AMT) in Sorghum bicolor: two AMT members are induced locally, but not systemically in roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {3}, pages = {853-865}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12199}, pmid = {23461653}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Ammonium Compounds/pharmacokinetics ; Cation Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Microdissection/methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sorghum/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Yeasts/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contribute to plant nitrogen (N) acquisition. Recent studies demonstrated the transport of N in the form of ammonium during AM symbiosis. Here, we hypothesize that induction of specific ammonium transporter (AMT) genes in Sorghum bicolor during AM colonization might play a key role in the functionality of the symbiosis. For the first time, combining a split-root experiment and microdissection technology, we were able to assess the precise expression pattern of two AM-inducible AMTs, SbAMT3;1 and SbAMT4. Immunolocalization was used to localize the protein of SbAMT3;1. The expression of SbAMT3;1 and SbAMT4 was greatly induced locally in root cells containing arbuscules and in adjacent cells. However, a split-root experiment revealed that this induction was not systemic. By contrast, a strictly AM-induced phosphate transporter (SbPt11) was expressed systemically in the split-root experiment. However, a gradient of expression was apparent. Immunolocalization analyses demonstrated that SbAMT3;1 was present only in cells containing developing arbuscules. Our results show that the SbAMT3;1 and SbAMT4 genes are expressed in root cortical cells, which makes them ready to accommodate arbuscules, a process of considerable importance in view of the short life span of arbuscules. Additionally, SbAMT3;1 might play an important role in N transfer during AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23461635, year = {2013}, author = {Sellstedt, A and Richau, KH}, title = {Aspects of nitrogen-fixing Actinobacteria, in particular free-living and symbiotic Frankia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {342}, number = {2}, pages = {179-186}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12116}, pmid = {23461635}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Frankia/classification/growth & development/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeography ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Studies of nitrogen-fixing properties among the Gram-positive Actinobacteria revealed that some species of Arthrobacter, Agromyces, Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Micromonospora, Propionibacteria and Streptomyces have nitrogen-fixing capacity. This is also valid for Frankia that fix nitrogen both in free-living and in symbiotic conditions. Frankia symbiosis results from interaction between the Frankia bacteria and dicotyledonous plants, that is, actinorhiza. These plants, which are important in forestry and agroforestry, form, together with the legumes (Fabales), a single nitrogen-fixing clade. It has been shown that a receptor-like kinase gene, SymRK, is necessary for nodulation in actinorhizal plants as well as in legumes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Recently, the involvement of isoflavonoids as signal molecules during nodulation of an actinorhizal plant was shown. The genome sizes of three Frankia species, Frankia EANpec, ACN14a and CcI3, are different, revealing a relationship between genome size and geographical distribution. Recent genomic sequencing data of Frankia represent genomes from cluster I to IV, indicating that the genome of DgI is one of the smallest genomes in Frankia. In addition, nonsymbiotic Frankiales such as Acidothermus cellulolyticus, Blastococcus saxoobsidens, Geodermatophilus obscurus and Modestobacter marinus have a variety of genome sizes ranging from 2.4 to 5.57 Mb.}, } @article {pmid23461521, year = {2013}, author = {Petrun, B and Lostroh, CP}, title = {Vibrio fischeri exhibit the growth advantage in stationary-phase phenotype.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {130-135}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2012-0439}, pmid = {23461521}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*growth & development ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri are bioluminescent marine bacteria that can be isolated from their symbiotic animal partners or from ocean water. A V. fischeri population increases exponentially inside the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) while the host is quiescent during the day. This bacterial light organ population reaches stationary phase and then remains high during the night, when the squid use bacterial bioluminescence as a counter-predation strategy. At dawn, host squid release 90%-95% of the light organ contents into the ocean water prior to burying in the sand for the day. As the squid sleeps, the cycle of bacterial population growth in the light organ begins again. These V. fischeri cells that are vented into the ocean must persist under typical marine low nutrient conditions until they encounter another opportunity to colonize a host. We hypothesized that because V. fischeri regularly encounter cycles of feast and famine in nature, they would exhibit the growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP) phenotype. We found that older V. fischeri cells exhibit a Class 2 GASP response in which old cells increase dramatically in frequency while the population of young V. fischeri cells remains almost constant during co-incubation.}, } @article {pmid23460979, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, G and Zhao, MM and Song, C and Zhang, DW and Li, B and Guo, SX}, title = {[Molecular characterization of a mitogen-activated protein kinase gene DoMPK1 in Dendrobium officinale].}, journal = {Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica}, volume = {47}, number = {12}, pages = {1703-1709}, pmid = {23460979}, issn = {0513-4870}, mesh = {*Agaricales/growth & development ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Dendrobium/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, composed of MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K), MAPK kinase (MAP2K), and MAPK, is abundantly conserved in all eukaryotes. MAPK along with MAPK cascade plays a vital regulatory role in the plant-arbuscular mycorrhiza/rhizobium nodule symbioses. However, the biological function of MAPK in orchid mycorrhiza (OM) symbiosis remains elusive. In the present study, a MAPK gene, designated as DoMPK1 (GenBank accession No. JX297594), was identified from D. officinale roots infected by an OM fungus-Mycena sp. using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. The full length cDNA of DoMPK1 was 1 263 bp and encoded a 372 aa protein with a molecular weight of 42.61 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.07. The deduced DoMPK1 protein contained the conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase catalytic domain (39-325) and MAP kinase signature (77-177). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that DoMPK1 was highly homologous (71%-85%) to MAPK genes from various plant species and was closely related to those from monocots. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoMPK1 was constitutively expressed in leaves, stems, roots and seeds, and the transcript abundance was not significantly different in the four included tissues. Furthermore, DoMPK1 transcript was markedly induced in roots at 30 d after fungal infection, with 7.91 fold compared to that of the mock inoculated roots, suggesting implication of DoMPK1 in the early D. officinale and Mycena sp. interaction and an essential role in the symbiosis. Our study characterized a MAPK gene associated with OM symbiosis for the first time, and will be helpful for further functional elucidation of DoMPK1 involving in D. officinale and Mycena sp. symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid23459233, year = {2013}, author = {Sulieman, S and Schulze, J and Tran, LS}, title = {Comparative Analysis of the Symbiotic Efficiency of Medicago truncatula and Medicago sativa under Phosphorus Deficiency.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {5198-5213}, pmid = {23459233}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Phosphorus (P)-deficiency is a major abiotic stress that limits legume growth in many types of soils. The relationship between Medicago and Sinorhizobium, is known to be affected by different environmental conditions. Recent reports have shown that, in combination with S. meliloti 2011, Medicago truncatula had a lower symbiotic efficiency than Medicago sativa. However, little is known about how Medicago-Sinorhizobium is affected by P-deficiency at the whole-plant level. The objective of the present study was to compare and characterize the symbiotic efficiency of N2 fixation of M. truncatula and M. sativa grown in sand under P-limitation. Under this condition, M. truncatula exhibited a significantly higher rate of N2 fixation. The specific activity of the nodules was much higher in M. truncatula in comparison to M. sativa, partially as a result of an increase in electron allocation to N2 versus H+. Although the main organic acid, succinate, exhibited a strong tendency to decrease under P-deficiency, the more efficient symbiotic ability observed in M. truncatula coincided with an apparent increase in the content of malate in its nodules. Our results indicate that the higher efficiency of the M. truncatula symbiotic system is related to the ability to increase malate content under limited P-conditions.}, } @article {pmid23458035, year = {2013}, author = {Ji, B and Gehring, CA and Wilson, GW and Miller, RM and Flores-Rentería, L and Johnson, NC}, title = {Patterns of diversity and adaptation in Glomeromycota from three prairie grasslands.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {9}, pages = {2573-2587}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12268}, pmid = {23458035}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread root symbionts that often improve the fitness of their plant hosts. We tested whether local adaptation in mycorrhizal symbioses would shape the community structure of these root symbionts in a way that maximizes their symbiotic functioning. We grew a native prairie grass (Andropogon gerardii) with all possible combinations of soils and AM fungal inocula from three different prairies that varied in soil characteristics and disturbance history (two native prairie remnants and one recently restored). We identified the AM fungi colonizing A. gerardii roots using PCR amplification and cloning of the small subunit rRNA gene. We observed 13 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to six genera in three families. Taxonomic richness was higher in the restored than the native prairies with one member of the Gigaspora dominating the roots of plants grown with inocula from native prairies. Inoculum source and the soil environment influenced the composition of AM fungi that colonized plant roots. Correspondingly, host plants and AM fungi responded significantly to the soil-inoculum combinations such that home fungi often had the highest fitness and provided the greatest benefit to A. gerardii. Similar patterns were observed within the soil-inoculum combinations originating from two native prairies, where five sequence types of a single Gigaspora OTU were virtually the only root colonizers. Our results indicate that indigenous assemblages of AM fungi were adapted to the local soil environment and that this process occurred both at a community scale and at the scale of fungal sequence types within a dominant OTU.}, } @article {pmid23457793, year = {2012}, author = {Dou, Y and Lu, J and Kang, L and Wang, S and Jiang, Y and Liao, S}, title = {[Biodiversity of Rhizobia associated with Acacia melanoxylon grown in South China].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {52}, number = {12}, pages = {1439-1448}, pmid = {23457793}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Acacia/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of 174 isolates of symbiotic bacteria associated with Acacia melanoxylon obtained from 15 sampling sites in Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi provinces of China.

METHODS: The 16S rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA and housekeeping genes (recA, glnII and atpD).

RESULTS: In the 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP analysis, 9 rDNA types were identified among the 174 isolates; Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA and housekeeping gene sequences indicated that 34 representative isolates belonged to the genus Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium in Alpha-Proteobacteria, and the most closely related strains are Bradyrhizobium liaoningense, Bradyrhizobium betae, Bradyrhizobium cytisi, Rhizobium multihospitium and Mesorhizobium plurifarium.

CONCLUSION: All of the isolates could be identified to general, and Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium or Mesorhizobium could be the dominant microsymbiont. The microsymbionts associated with Acacia melanoxylon showed relative genetic diversity.}, } @article {pmid23456815, year = {2015}, author = {Nardemir, G and Yanmis, D and Alpsoy, L and Gulluce, M and Agar, G and Aslan, A}, title = {Genotoxic, antigenotoxic and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts obtained from Peltigera horizontalis and Peltigera praetextata.}, journal = {Toxicology and industrial health}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {602-613}, doi = {10.1177/0748233713480207}, pmid = {23456815}, issn = {1477-0393}, mesh = {Adult ; Aflatoxin B1/toxicity ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Biological Assay ; DNA Damage/drug effects ; Escherichia coli/*genetics ; Free Radical Scavengers ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Humans ; Lichens/*metabolism ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Methanol/*pharmacology ; Mutagens/*toxicity ; Poisons ; Salmonella typhimurium/genetics ; Sister Chromatid Exchange/drug effects ; Solvents ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Now-a-days, there is a big need to reduce genotoxic effects of mutagenic and carcinogenic agents in environment, which are increased by the technological development. Lichens produce a wide variety of unique metabolites due to being in various extreme areas and being symbiotic organisms of fungi and algae. Therefore, this study was planned to search new sources having antimutagenic activity by researching two different lichen species and to determine whether their usage is safe. With this respect, the mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of methanol extracts of the lichens were determined by the bacterial reverse mutation and sister chromatid exchange assays. Furthermore, the malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activities against aflatoxin B1 were determined for understanding the ways in which the lichens showed their genotoxic properties.}, } @article {pmid23456712, year = {2013}, author = {Rodrigues, AC and Antunes, JE and da Costa, AF and de Paula Oliveira, J and do Vale Barreto Figueiredo, M}, title = {Interrelationship of Bradyrhizobium sp. and plant growth-promoting bacteria in cowpea: survival and symbiotic performance.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {49-55}, pmid = {23456712}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Microbial Interactions ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of cowpea during bacterial colonization and evaluate the interrelationship of the Bradyrhizobium sp. and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) as a potential method for optimizing symbiotic performance and cowpea development. Two experiments using the model legume cowpea cv. "IPA 206" were conducted. In the first experiment, cowpea seeds were disinfected, germinated and transferred to sterilized Gibson tubes containing a nitrogen-free nutritive solution. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 24 treatments [Bradyrhizobium sp. (BR 3267); 22 PGPB; absolute control (AC)] with three replicates. In the second experiment, seeds were disinfected, inoculated according to their specific treatment and grown in Leonard jars containing washed and autoclaved sand. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 24 treatments [BR 3267; 22 BR 3267 + PGPB; AC] with three replicates. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated satisfactory colonization of the roots of inoculated plants. Additionally, synergism between BR 3267 and PGPB in cowpeas was observed, particularly in the BR 3267 + Paenibacillus graminis (MC 04.21) and BR 3267 + P. durus (C 04.50), which showed greater symbiotic performance and promotion of cowpea development.}, } @article {pmid23456689, year = {2013}, author = {de Campos, MC and Pearse, SJ and Oliveira, RS and Lambers, H}, title = {Viminaria juncea does not vary its shoot phosphorus concentration and only marginally decreases its mycorrhizal colonization and cluster-root dry weight under a wide range of phosphorus supplies.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {111}, number = {5}, pages = {801-809}, pmid = {23456689}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Australia ; *Biomass ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Fabaceae/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*growth & development ; Phosphorus/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Australian legume species Viminaria juncea forms both cluster roots and mycorrhizal associations. The aim of this study was to identify if these root specializations are expressed at differential supplies of phosphorus (P) and at different shoot P concentrations [P].

METHODS: Seedlings were planted in sand and provided with a mycorrhizal inoculum and basal nutrients plus one of 21 P treatments, ranging from 0 to 50 mg P kg(-1) dry soil. Plants were harvested after 12 weeks, and roots, shoots and cluster roots were measured for length and fresh and dry weight. The number of cluster roots, the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization, and shoot [P] were determined.

KEY RESULTS: Shoot biomass accumulation increased with increasing P supply until a shoot dry weight of 3 g was reached at a P supply of approx. 27·5 mg P kg(-1) dry soil. Neither cluster-root formation nor mycorrhizal colonization was fully suppressed at the highest P supply. Most intriguingly, shoot [P] did not differ across treatments, with an average of 1·4 mg P kg(-1) shoot dry weight.

CONCLUSIONS: The almost constant shoot [P] in V. juncea over the very wide range of P supplies is, to our knowledge, unprecedented. To maintain these stable values, this species down-regulates its growth rate when no P is supplied; conversely, it down-regulates its P-uptake capacity very tightly at the highest P supplies, when its maximum growth rate has been reached. It is proposed that the persistence of cluster roots and mycorrhizal colonization up to the highest P treatments is a consequence of its tightly controlled shoot [P]. This unusual P physiology of V. juncea is surmised to be related to the habitat of this N2-fixing species. Water and nutrients are available at a low but steady supply for most of the year, negating the need for storage of P which would be metabolically costly and be at the expense of metabolic energy and P available for symbiotic N2 fixation.}, } @article {pmid23455431, year = {2013}, author = {Uroz, S and Courty, PE and Pierrat, JC and Peter, M and Buée, M and Turpault, MP and Garbaye, J and Frey-Klett, P}, title = {Functional profiling and distribution of the forest soil bacterial communities along the soil mycorrhizosphere continuum.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {66}, number = {2}, pages = {404-415}, pmid = {23455431}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {An ectomycorrhiza is a multitrophic association between a tree root, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, free-living fungi and the associated bacterial communities. Enzymatic activities of ectomycorrhizal root tips are therefore result of the contribution from different partners of the symbiotic organ. However, the functional potential of the fungus-associated bacterial communities remains unknown. In this study, a collection of 80 bacterial strains randomly selected and isolated from a soil-ectomycorrhiza continuum (oak-Scleroderma citrinum ectomycorrhizas, the ectomycorrhizosphere and the surrounding bulk soil) were characterized. All the bacterial isolates were identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequences as members of the genera Burkholderia, Collimonas, Dyella, Mesorhizobium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Sphingomonas. The bacterial strains were then assayed for β-xylosidase, β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, β-glucuronidase, cellobiohydrolase, phosphomonoesterase, leucine-aminopeptidase and laccase activities, chitin solubilization and auxin production. Using these bioassays, we demonstrated significant differences in the functional distribution of the bacterial communities living in the different compartments of the soil-ectomycorrhiza continuum. The surrounding bulk soil was significantly enriched in bacterial isolates capable of hydrolysing cellobiose and N-acetylglucosamine. In contrast, the ectomycorrhizosphere appeared significantly enriched in bacterial isolates capable of hydrolysing glucopyranoside and chitin. Notably, chitinase and laccase activities were found only in bacterial isolates belonging to the Collimonas and Pseudomonas genera. Overall, the results suggest that the ectomycorrhizal fungi favour specific bacterial communities with contrasting functional characteristics from the surrounding soil.}, } @article {pmid23454729, year = {2013}, author = {Matthews, DM and Jenks, SM}, title = {Ingestion of Mycobacterium vaccae decreases anxiety-related behavior and improves learning in mice.}, journal = {Behavioural processes}, volume = {96}, number = {}, pages = {27-35}, doi = {10.1016/j.beproc.2013.02.007}, pmid = {23454729}, issn = {1872-8308}, mesh = {Animals ; Anxiety/*microbiology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Exploratory Behavior/*physiology ; Male ; Maze Learning/*physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; *Mycobacterium ; Reward ; }, abstract = {Coevolution of microbes and their hosts has resulted in the formation of symbiotic relationships that enable animals to adapt to their environments and protect themselves against pathogens. Recent studies show that contact with tolerogenic microbes is important for the proper functioning of immunoregulatory circuits affecting behavior, emotionality and health. Few studies have examined the potential influence of ambient bacteria, such as Mycobacterium vaccae on the gut-brain-microbiota axis. In this preliminary research, we show that mice fed live M. vaccae prior to and during a maze learning task demonstrated a reduction in anxiety-related behaviors and maze completion time, when tested at three maze difficulty levels over 12 trials for four weeks. Treated mice given M. vaccae in their reward completed the maze twice as fast as controls, and with reduced anxiety-related behaviors. In a consecutive set of 12 maze trials without M. vaccae exposure, treated mice continued to run the maze faster for the first three trials, and with fewer errors overall, suggesting a treatment persistence of about one week. Following a three-week hiatus, a final maze run revealed no differences between the experimentals and controls. Additionally, M. vaccae-treated mice showed more exploratory head-dip behavior in a zero maze, and M. vaccae treatment did not appear to affect overall activity levels as measured by activity wheel usage. Collectively, our results suggest a beneficial effect of naturally delivered, live M. vaccae on anxiety-related behaviors and maze performance, supporting a positive role for ambient microbes in the immunomodulation of animal behavior.}, } @article {pmid23452409, year = {2013}, author = {Khan, AL and Waqas, M and Hamayun, M and Al-Harrasi, A and Al-Rawahi, A and Lee, IJ}, title = {Co-synergism of endophyte Penicillium resedanum LK6 with salicylic acid helped Capsicum annuum in biomass recovery and osmotic stress mitigation.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {51}, pmid = {23452409}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Biomass ; Capsicum/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Osmotic Pressure ; Penicillium/*physiology ; Salicylic Acid/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Water-deficiency adversely affects crop growth by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) at cellular level. To mitigate such stressful events, it was aimed to investigate the co-synergism of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) and symbiosis of endophytic fungus with Capsicum annuum L. (pepper).

RESULTS: The findings of the study showed that exogenous SA (10⁻⁶ M) application to endophyte (Penicillium resedanum LK6) infected plants not only increased the shoot length and chlorophyll content but also improved the biomass recovery of pepper plants under polyethylene glycol (15%) induced osmotic stress (2, 4 and 8 days). Endophyte-infected plants had low cellular injury and high photosynthesis rate. SA also enhanced the colonization rate of endophyte in the host-plant roots. Endophyte and SA, in combination, reduced the production of ROS by increasing the total polyphenol, reduce glutathione, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase as compared to control plants. Osmotic stress pronounced the lipid peroxidation and superoxide anions formation in control plants as compared to endophyte and SA-treated plants. The endogenous SA contents were significantly higher in pepper plants treated with endophyte and SA under osmotic stress as compared to control.

CONCLUSION: Endophytic fungal symbiosis and exogenous SA application can help the plants to relieve the adverse effects of osmotic stress by decreasing losses in biomass as compared to non-inoculated plants. These findings suggest that SA application positively impact microbial colonization while in combination, it reprograms the plant growth under various intervals of drought stress. Such symbiotic strategy can be useful for expanding agriculture production in drought prone lands.}, } @article {pmid23452278, year = {2013}, author = {Lota, F and Wegmüller, S and Buer, B and Sato, S and Bräutigam, A and Hanf, B and Bucher, M}, title = {The cis-acting CTTC-P1BS module is indicative for gene function of LjVTI12, a Qb-SNARE protein gene that is required for arbuscule formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {74}, number = {2}, pages = {280-293}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12120}, pmid = {23452278}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Solanum tuberosum/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The majority of land plants live in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota. This symbiosis improves acquisition of phosphorus (P) by the host plant in exchange for carbohydrates, especially under low-P availability. The symbiosome, constituted by root cortex cells accommodating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae, is the site at which bi-directional exchange of nutrients and metabolites takes place. Uptake of orthophosphate (Pi) in the symbiosome is facilitated by mycorrhiza-specific plant Pi transporters. Modifications of the potato Pi transporter 3 (StPT3) promoter were analysed in transgenic mycorrhizal roots, and it was found that the CTTC cis-regulatory element is necessary and sufficient for a transcriptional response to fungal colonization under low-Pi conditions. Phylogenetic footprinting also revealed binary combination of the CTTC element with the Pi starvation response-associated PHR1-binding site (P1BS) in the promoters of several mycorrhiza-specific Pi transporter genes. Scanning of the Lotus japonicus genome for gene promoters containing both cis-regulatory elements revealed a strong over-representation of genes involved in transport processes. One of these, LjVTI12, encoding a member of the SNARE family of proteins involved in membrane transport, exhibited enhanced transcript levels in Lotus roots colonized with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices. Down-regulation of LjVTI12 by RNA interference resulted in a mycorrhiza-specific phenotype characterized by distorted arbuscule morphology. The results highlight cooperative cis-regulation which integrates mycorrhiza and Pi starvation signaling with vesicle trafficking in symbiosome development.}, } @article {pmid23452253, year = {2013}, author = {Kuechler, SM and Gibbs, G and Burckhardt, D and Dettner, K and Hartung, V}, title = {Diversity of bacterial endosymbionts and bacteria-host co-evolution in Gondwanan relict moss bugs (Hemiptera: Coleorrhyncha: Peloridiidae).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {7}, pages = {2031-2042}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12101}, pmid = {23452253}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Hemiptera/*classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; New Zealand ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/genetics ; South America ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many hemipterans are associated with symbiotic bacteria, which are usually found intracellularly in specific bacteriomes. In this study, we provide the first molecular identification of the bacteriome-associated, obligate endosymbiont in a Gondwanan relict insect taxon, the moss bugs (Hemiptera: Coleorrhyncha: Peloridiidae), which represents one of the oldest lineages within the Hemiptera. Endosymbiotic associations of fifteen species of the family were analysed, covering representatives from South America, Australia/Tasmania and New Zealand. Phylogenetic analysis based on four kilobases of 16S-23S rRNA gene fragments showed that the obligate endosymbiont of Peloridiidae constitute a so far unknown group of Gammaproteobacteria which is named here 'Candidatus Evansia muelleri'. They are related to the sternorrhynchous endosymbionts Candidatus Portiera and Candidatus Carsonella. Comparison of the primary-endosymbiont and host (COI + 28S rRNA) trees showed overall congruence indicating co-speciation the hosts and their symbionts. The distribution of the endosymbiont within the insect body and its transmission was studied using FISH. The endosymbionts were detected endocellularly in a pair of bacteriomes as well as in the 'symbiont ball' of the posterior pole of each developing oocyte. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis of the Malpighian tubules revealed that most host nuclei are infected by an endosymbiotic, intranuclear bacterium that was determined as an Alphaproteobacterium of the genus Rickettsia.}, } @article {pmid23451778, year = {2013}, author = {Udvardi, M and Poole, PS}, title = {Transport and metabolism in legume-rhizobia symbioses.}, journal = {Annual review of plant biology}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {781-805}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120235}, pmid = {23451778}, issn = {1545-2123}, support = {BB/F013159/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/B/02916/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000C0622/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by rhizobia in legume root nodules injects approximately 40 million tonnes of nitrogen into agricultural systems each year. In exchange for reduced nitrogen from the bacteria, the plant provides rhizobia with reduced carbon and all the essential nutrients required for bacterial metabolism. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires exquisite integration of plant and bacterial metabolism. Central to this integration are transporters of both the plant and the rhizobia, which transfer elements and compounds across various plant membranes and the two bacterial membranes. Here we review current knowledge of legume and rhizobial transport and metabolism as they relate to symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Although all legume-rhizobia symbioses have many metabolic features in common, there are also interesting differences between them, which show that evolution has solved metabolic problems in different ways to achieve effective symbiosis in different systems.}, } @article {pmid23451247, year = {2013}, author = {Hu, Y and Rillig, MC and Xiang, D and Hao, Z and Chen, B}, title = {Changes of AM fungal abundance along environmental gradients in the arid and semi-arid grasslands of northern China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e57593}, pmid = {23451247}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; China ; *Ecosystem ; *Environment ; Fungi/metabolism/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyphae/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous symbionts of higher plants in terrestrial ecosystems, while the occurrence of the AM symbiosis is influenced by a complex set of abiotic and biotic factors. To reveal the regional distribution pattern of AM fungi as driven by multiple environmental factors, and to understand the ecological importance of AM fungi in natural ecosystems, we conducted a field investigation on AM fungal abundance along environmental gradients in the arid and semi-arid grasslands of northern China. In addition to plant parameters recorded in situ, soil samples were collected, and soil chemo-physical and biological parameters were measured in the lab. Statistical analyses were performed to reveal the relative contribution of climatic, edaphic and vegetation factors to AM fungal abundance, especially for extraradical hyphal length density (HLD) in the soil. The results indicated that HLD were positively correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT), soil clay content and soil pH, but negatively correlated with both soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil available N. The multiple regressions and structural equation model showed that MAT was the key positive contributor and soil fertility was the key negative contributor to HLD. Furthermore, both the intraradical AM colonization (IMC) and relative abundance of AM fungi, which was quantified by real-time PCR assay, tended to decrease along the increasing SOC content. With regard to the obvious negative correlation between MAT and SOC in the research area, the positive correlation between MAT and HLD implied that AM fungi could potentially mitigate soil carbon losses especially in infertile soils under global warming. However, direct evidence from long-term experiments is still expected to support the AM fungal contribution to soil carbon pools.}, } @article {pmid23451053, year = {2013}, author = {Emery, VJ and Tsutsui, ND}, title = {Recognition in a social symbiosis: chemical phenotypes and nestmate recognition behaviors of neotropical parabiotic ants.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e56492}, pmid = {23451053}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Behavior, Animal/physiology ; Nesting Behavior/physiology ; Odorants ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Social organisms rank among the most abundant and ecologically dominant species on Earth, in part due to exclusive recognition systems that allow cooperators to be distinguished from exploiters. Exploiters, such as social parasites, manipulate their hosts' recognition systems, whereas cooperators are expected to minimize interference with their partner's recognition abilities. Despite our wealth of knowledge about recognition in single-species social nests, less is known of the recognition systems in multi-species nests, particularly involving cooperators. One uncommon type of nesting symbiosis, called parabiosis, involves two species of ants sharing a nest and foraging trails in ostensible cooperation. Here, we investigated recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) and recognition behaviors in the parabiotic mixed-species ant nests of Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior in North-Eastern Amazonia. We found two sympatric, cryptic Cr. levior chemotypes in the population, with one type in each parabiotic colony. Although they share a nest, very few hydrocarbons were shared between Ca. femoratus and either Cr. levior chemotype. The Ca. femoratus hydrocarbons were also unusually long-chained branched alkenes and dienes, compounds not commonly found amongst ants. Despite minimal overlap in hydrocarbon profile, there was evidence of potential interspecific nestmate recognition -Cr. levior ants were more aggressive toward Ca. femoratus non-nestmates than Ca. femoratus nestmates. In contrast to the prediction that sharing a nest could weaken conspecific recognition, each parabiotic species also maintains its own aggressive recognition behaviors to exclude conspecific non-nestmates. This suggests that, despite cohabitation, parabiotic ants maintain their own species-specific colony odors and recognition mechanisms. It is possible that such social symbioses are enabled by the two species each using their own separate recognition cues, and that interspecific nestmate recognition may enable this multi-species cooperative nesting.}, } @article {pmid23448378, year = {2013}, author = {D'Argenio, G and Cariello, R and Tuccillo, C and Mazzone, G and Federico, A and Funaro, A and De Magistris, L and Grossi, E and Callegari, ML and Chirico, M and Caporaso, N and Romano, M and Morelli, L and Loguercio, C}, title = {Symbiotic formulation in experimentally induced liver fibrosis in rats: intestinal microbiota as a key point to treat liver damage?.}, journal = {Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver}, volume = {33}, number = {5}, pages = {687-697}, doi = {10.1111/liv.12117}, pmid = {23448378}, issn = {1478-3231}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride/toxicity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Feces/chemistry ; Galactans/pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects/immunology ; Glutamine/pharmacology ; Lactobacillus/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/chemically induced/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Male ; Permeability/*drug effects ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood ; }, abstract = {AIM: Evidence indicates that intestinal microbiota may participate in both the induction and the progression of liver damage. The aim of our research was the detection and evaluation of the effects of chronic treatment with a symbiotic formulation on CCl4 -induced rat liver fibrosis.

RESULTS: CCl4 significantly increased gastric permeability in respect to basal values, and the treatment with symbiotic significantly decreased it. CCl4 per se induced a decrease in intestinal permeability. This effect was also seen in fibrotic rats treated with symbiotic and was still evident when normal rats were treated with symbiotic alone (P < 0.001 in all cases). Circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α were significantly increased in rats with liver fibrosis as compared with normal rats, while symbiotic treatment normalized the plasma levels of TNF-α and significantly enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokine IL 10. TNF-α, TGF-β, TLR4, TLR2, iNOS and α-SMA mRNA expression in the liver were up-regulated in rats with CCl4 -induced liver fibrosis and down-regulated by symbiotic treatment. Moreover, IL-10 and eNOS mRNA levels were increased in the CCL4 (+) symbiotic group. Symbiotic treatment of fibrotic rats normalized serum ALT, AST and improved histology and liver collagen deposition. DGGE analysis of faecal samples revealed that CCl4 administration and symbiotic treatment either alone or in combination produced modifications in faecal profiles vs controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that in CCl4 -induced liver fibrosis, significant changes in gastro-intestinal permeability and in faecal flora occur. Treatment with a specific symbiotic formulation significantly affects these changes, leading to improvement in both liver inflammation and fibrosis.}, } @article {pmid23448295, year = {2013}, author = {Herron, MD and Rashidi, A and Shelton, DE and Driscoll, WW}, title = {Cellular differentiation and individuality in the 'minor' multicellular taxa.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {88}, number = {4}, pages = {844-861}, pmid = {23448295}, issn = {1469-185X}, support = {T32 GM084905/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM084905/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Differentiation ; Eukaryota/*cytology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Biology needs a concept of individuality in order to distinguish organisms from parts of organisms and from groups of organisms, to count individuals and compare traits across taxa, and to distinguish growth from reproduction. Most of the proposed criteria for individuality were designed for 'unitary' or 'paradigm' organisms: contiguous, functionally and physiologically integrated, obligately sexually reproducing multicellular organisms with a germ line sequestered early in development. However, the vast majority of the diversity of life on Earth does not conform to all of these criteria. We consider the issue of individuality in the 'minor' multicellular taxa, which collectively span a large portion of the eukaryotic tree of life, reviewing their general features and focusing on a model species for each group. When the criteria designed for unitary organisms are applied to other groups, they often give conflicting answers or no answer at all to the question of whether or not a given unit is an individual. Complex life cycles, intimate bacterial symbioses, aggregative development, and strange genetic features complicate the picture. The great age of some of the groups considered shows that 'intermediate' forms, those with some but not all of the traits traditionally associated with individuality, cannot reasonably be considered ephemeral or assumed transitional. We discuss a handful of recent attempts to reconcile the many proposed criteria for individuality and to provide criteria that can be applied across all the domains of life. Finally, we argue that individuality should be defined without reference to any particular taxon and that understanding the emergence of new kinds of individuals requires recognizing individuality as a matter of degree.}, } @article {pmid23447116, year = {2013}, author = {Halloran, AR and Cloutier, CT and Sesay, PB}, title = {A previously undiscovered group of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) is observed living in the Tonkolili district of Sierra Leone.}, journal = {American journal of primatology}, volume = {75}, number = {6}, pages = {519-523}, doi = {10.1002/ajp.22140}, pmid = {23447116}, issn = {1098-2345}, mesh = {Animals ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; *Pan troglodytes ; Rural Population ; Sierra Leone ; }, abstract = {A previously undocumented group of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) was recently discovered along the Pampana River in the Tonkolili District of Sierra Leone. Based on interviews from local residents (N = 6), we estimate the group size to be approximately 30 individuals. Though this population does not show up in the most recent census of chimpanzees in Sierra Leone, it concurs with findings that indicate most of the chimpanzees in Sierra Leone live scattered throughout the country alongside villages, rather than in protected areas. During a three-week observation in the area, two chimpanzees were hunted and killed. The reason for these deaths, along with other reported instances of hunting in the area, are primarily due to crop-raiding and competition for resources between chimpanzees and humans. We conclude that this is a heavily imperiled population. Based on the ecology of the area and composition of local villages, we propose a number of conservation strategies that will promote a symbiotic relationship between the chimpanzees and human populations residing in the area.}, } @article {pmid23446834, year = {2013}, author = {Toju, H and Tanabe, AS and Notsu, Y and Sota, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Diversification of endosymbiosis: replacements, co-speciation and promiscuity of bacteriocyte symbionts in weevils.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {1378-1390}, pmid = {23446834}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Weevils/*classification/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The processes and mechanisms underlying the diversification of host-microbe endosymbiotic associations are of evolutionary interest. Here we investigated the bacteriocyte-associated primary symbionts of weevils wherein the ancient symbiont Nardonella has experienced two independent replacement events: once by Curculioniphilus symbiont in the lineage of Curculio and allied weevils of the tribe Curculionini, and once by Sodalis-allied symbiont in the lineage of grain weevils of the genus Sitophilus. The Curculioniphilus symbiont was detected from 27 of 36 Curculionini species examined, the symbiont phylogeny was congruent with the host weevil phylogeny, and the symbiont gene sequences exhibited AT-biased nucleotide compositions and accelerated molecular evolution. These results suggest that the Curculioniphilus symbiont was acquired by an ancestor of the tribe Curculionini, replaced the original symbiont Nardonella, and has co-speciated with the host weevils over evolutionary time, but has been occasionally lost in several host lineages. By contrast, the Sodalis-allied symbiont of Sitophilus weevils exhibited no host-symbiont co-speciation, no AT-biased nucleotide compositions and only moderately accelerated molecular evolution. These results suggest that the Sodalis-allied symbiont was certainly acquired by an ancestor of the Sitophilus weevils and replaced the original Nardonella symbiont, but the symbiotic association must have experienced occasional re-associations such as new acquisitions, horizontal transfers, replacements and/or losses. We detected Sodalis-allied facultative symbionts in populations of the Curculionini weevils, which might represent potential evolutionary sources of the Sodalis-allied primary symbionts. Comparison of these newcomer bacteriocyte-associated symbiont lineages highlights potential evolutionary trajectories and consequences of novel symbionts after independent replacements of the same ancient symbiont.}, } @article {pmid23443347, year = {2013}, author = {Salavati, A and Shafeinia, A and Klubicova, K and Bushehri, AA and Komatsu, S}, title = {Proteomic insights into intra- and intercellular plant-bacteria symbiotic association during root nodule formation.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {28}, pmid = {23443347}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Over the last several decades, there have been a large number of studies done on the all aspects of legumes and bacteria which participate in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. The analysis of legume-bacteria interaction is not just a matter of numerical complexity in terms of variants of gene products that can arise from a single gene. Bacteria regulate their quorum-sensing genes to enhance their ability to induce conjugation of plasmids and symbiotic islands, and various protein secretion mechanisms; that can stimulate a collection of chain reactions including species-specific combinations of plant-secretion isoflavonoids, complicated calcium signaling pathways and autoregulation of nodulation mechanisms. Quorum-sensing systems are introduced by the intra- and intercellular organization of gene products lead to protein-protein interactions or targeting of proteins to specific cellular structures. In this study, an attempt has been made to review significant contributions related to nodule formation and development and their impacts on cell proteome for better understanding of plant-bacterium interaction mechanism at protein level. This review would not only provide new insights into the plant-bacteria symbiosis response mechanisms but would also highlights the importance of studying changes in protein abundance inside and outside of cells in response to symbiosis. Furthermore, the application to agriculture program of plant-bacteria interaction will be discussed.}, } @article {pmid23442117, year = {2013}, author = {Xie, X and Huang, W and Liu, F and Tang, N and Liu, Y and Lin, H and Zhao, B}, title = {Functional analysis of the novel mycorrhiza-specific phosphate transporter AsPT1 and PHT1 family from Astragalus sinicus during the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {3}, pages = {836-852}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12188}, pmid = {23442117}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Astragalus Plant/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Conserved Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Yeasts/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas contribute significantly to inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake in plants. Gene networks involved in the regulation and function of the Pht1 family transporters in legume species during AM symbiosis are not fully understood. In order to characterize the six distinct members of Pht1 transporters in mycorrhizal Astragalus sinicus, we combined cellular localization, heterologous functional expression in yeast with expression/subcellular localization studies and reverse genetics approaches in planta. Pht1;1 and Pht1;4 silenced lines were generated to uncover the role of the newly discovered dependence of the AM symbiosis on another phosphate transporter AsPT1 besides AsPT4. These Pht1 transporters are triggered in Pi-starved mycorrhizal roots. AsPT1 and AsPT4 were localized in arbuscule-containing cells of the cortex. The analysis of promoter sequences revealed conserved motifs in both AsPT1 and AsPT4. AsPT1 overexpression showed higher mycorrhization levels than controls for parameters analysed, including abundance of arbuscules. By contrast, knockdown of AsPT1 by RNA interference led to degenerating or dead arbuscule phenotypes identical to that of AsPT4 silencing lines. AsPT4 but not AsPT1 is required for symbiotic Pi uptake. These results suggest that both, AsPT1 and AsPT4, are required for the AM symbiosis, most importantly, AsPT1 may serve as a novel symbiotic transporter for AM development.}, } @article {pmid23439280, year = {2013}, author = {Foster, JS and Khodadad, CL and Ahrendt, SR and Parrish, ML}, title = {Impact of simulated microgravity on the normal developmental time line of an animal-bacteria symbiosis.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1340}, pmid = {23439280}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Female ; Hemocytes ; Luminescence ; Models, Biological ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology ; *Symbiosis ; *Weightlessness Simulation ; }, abstract = {The microgravity environment during space flight imposes numerous adverse effects on animal and microbial physiology. It is unclear, however, how microgravity impacts those cellular interactions between mutualistic microbes and their hosts. Here, we used the symbiosis between the host squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri as a model system. We examined the impact of simulated microgravity on the timeline of bacteria-induced development in the host light organ, the site of the symbiosis. To simulate the microgravity environment, host squid and symbiosis-competent bacteria were incubated together in high-aspect ratio rotating wall vessel bioreactors and examined throughout the early stages of the bacteria-induced morphogenesis. The host innate immune response was suppressed under simulated microgravity; however, there was an acceleration of bacteria-induced apoptosis and regression in the host tissues. These results suggest that the space flight environment may alter the cellular interactions between animal hosts and their natural healthy microbiome.}, } @article {pmid23437379, year = {2013}, author = {La Rivière, M and Roumagnac, M and Garrabou, J and Bally, M}, title = {Transient shifts in bacterial communities associated with the temperate gorgonian Paramuricea clavata in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e57385}, pmid = {23437379}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; *Coral Reefs ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Ecosystem ; Gene Library ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microbial Consortia/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Ribotyping ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial communities that are associated with tropical reef-forming corals are being increasingly recognized for their role in host physiology and health. However, little is known about the microbial diversity of the communities associated with temperate gorgonian corals, even though these communities are key structural components of the ecosystem. In the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, gorgonians undergo recurrent mass mortalities, but the potential relationship between these events and the structure of the associated bacterial communities remains unexplored. Because microbial assemblages may contribute to the overall health and disease resistance of their host, a detailed baseline of the associated bacterial diversity is required to better understand the functioning of the gorgonian holobiont.

The bacterial diversity associated with the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata was determined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism and the construction of clone libraries of the bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA. Three study sites were monitored for 4 years to assess the variability of communities associated with healthy colonies. Bacterial assemblages were highly dominated by one Hahellaceae-related ribotype and exhibited low diversity. While this pattern was mostly conserved through space and time, in summer 2007, a deep shift in microbiota structure toward increased bacterial diversity and the transient disappearance of Hahellaceae was observed.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first spatiotemporal study to investigate the bacterial diversity associated with a temperate shallow gorgonian. Our data revealed an established relationship between P. clavata and a specific bacterial group within the Oceanospirillales. These results suggest a potential symbiotic role of Hahellaceae in the host-microbe association, as recently suggested for tropical corals. However, a transient imbalance in bacterial associations can be tolerated by the holobiont without apparent symptoms of disease. The subsequent restoration of the Hahellaceae-dominated community is indicative of the specificity and resilience of the bacteria associated with the gorgonian host.}, } @article {pmid23435173, year = {2013}, author = {Li, T and Hu, YJ and Hao, ZP and Li, H and Chen, BD}, title = {Aquaporin genes GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2 from Glomus intraradices contribute to plant drought tolerance.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e24030}, pmid = {23435173}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Aquaporins/*genetics/metabolism ; Daucus carota/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Droughts ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; Mycelium/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, established between AM fungi (AMF) and roots of higher plants, occurs in most terrestrial ecosystems. It has been well demonstrated that AM symbiosis can improve plant performance under various environmental stresses, including drought stress. However, the molecular basis for the direct involvement of AMF in plant drought tolerance has not yet been established. Most recently, we cloned two functional aquaporin genes, GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2, from AM fungus Glomus intraradices. By heterologous gene expression in yeast, aquaporin localization, activities and water permeability were examined. Gene expressions during symbiosis in expose to drought stress were also analyzed. Our data strongly supported potential water transport via AMF to host plants. As a complement, here we adopted the monoxenic culture system for AMF, in which carrot roots transformed by Ri-T DNA were cultured with Glomus intraradices in two-compartment Petri dishes, to verify the aquaporin gene functions in assisting AMF survival under polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. Our results showed that 25% PEG significantly upregulated the expression of two aquaporin genes, which was in line with the gene functions examined in yeast. We therefore concluded that the aquaporins function similarly in AMF as in yeast subjected to osmotic stress. The study provided further evidence to the direct involvement of AMF in improving plant water relations under drought stresses.}, } @article {pmid23432573, year = {2013}, author = {Ramírez, M and Guillén, G and Fuentes, SI and Iñiguez, LP and Aparicio-Fabre, R and Zamorano-Sánchez, D and Encarnación-Guevara, S and Panzeri, D and Castiglioni, B and Cremonesi, P and Strozzi, F and Stella, A and Girard, L and Sparvoli, F and Hernández, G}, title = {Transcript profiling of common bean nodules subjected to oxidative stress.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {149}, number = {3}, pages = {389-407}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12040}, pmid = {23432573}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; *Oxidative Stress/genetics ; Paraquat ; Phaseolus/*genetics/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium tropici/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Several environmental stresses generate high amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells, resulting in oxidative stress. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis is sensitive to damage from oxidative stress. Active nodules of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) exposed to the herbicide paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride hydrate), which stimulates ROS accumulation, exhibited reduced nitrogenase activity and ureide content. We analyzed the global gene response of nodules subjected to oxidative stress using the Bean Custom Array 90K, which includes probes from 30,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). A total of 4280 ESTs were differentially expressed in stressed bean nodules; of these, 2218 were repressed. Based on Gene Ontology analysis, these genes were grouped into 42 different biological process categories. Analysis with the PathExpress bioinformatic tool, adapted for bean, identified five significantly repressed metabolic pathways related to carbon/nitrogen metabolism, which is crucial for nodule function. Quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR analysis of transcription factor (TF) gene expression showed that 67 TF genes were differentially expressed in nodules exposed to oxidative stress. Putative cis-elements recognized by highly responsive TF were detected in promoter regions of oxidative stress regulated genes. The expression of oxidative stress responsive genes and of genes important for SNF in bacteroids analyzed in stressed nodules revealed that these conditions elicited a transcriptional response.}, } @article {pmid23432463, year = {2013}, author = {Rey, T and Nars, A and Bonhomme, M and Bottin, A and Huguet, S and Balzergue, S and Jardinaud, MF and Bono, JJ and Cullimore, J and Dumas, B and Gough, C and Jacquet, C}, title = {NFP, a LysM protein controlling Nod factor perception, also intervenes in Medicago truncatula resistance to pathogens.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {3}, pages = {875-886}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12198}, pmid = {23432463}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Aphanomyces/pathogenicity/physiology ; Colletotrichum/*pathogenicity ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Plant LysM proteins control the perception of microbial-derived N-acetylglucosamine compounds for the establishment of symbiosis or activation of plant immunity. This raises questions about how plants, and notably legumes, can differentiate friends and foes using similar molecular actors and whether any receptors can intervene in both symbiosis and resistance. To study this question, nfp and lyk3 LysM-receptor like kinase mutants of Medicago truncatula that are affected in the early steps of nodulation, were analysed following inoculation with Aphanomyces euteiches, a root oomycete. The role of NFP in this interaction was further analysed by overexpression of NFP and by transcriptome analyses. nfp, but not lyk3, mutants were significantly more susceptible than wildtype plants to A. euteiches, whereas NFP overexpression increased resistance. Transcriptome analyses on A. euteiches inoculation showed that mutation in the NFP gene led to significant changes in the expression of c. 500 genes, notably involved in cell dynamic processes previously associated with resistance to pathogen penetration. nfp mutants also showed an increased susceptibility to the fungus Colletotrichum trifolii. These results demonstrate that NFP intervenes in M. truncatula immunity, suggesting an unsuspected role for NFP in the perception of pathogenic signals.}, } @article {pmid23431594, year = {2012}, author = {McCarthy-Neumann, S and Ibáñez, I}, title = {Tree range expansion may be enhanced by escape from negative plant-soil feedbacks.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {12}, pages = {2637-2649}, doi = {10.1890/11-2281.1}, pmid = {23431594}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Conservation of Natural Resources ; Demography ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Michigan ; Models, Biological ; Soil/*chemistry ; Trees/classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many plant species are expected to shift their distributional ranges in response to global warming. As they arrive at new sites, migrant plant species may be released from their natural soil pathogens and/or deprived of key symbiotic organisms. Under such scenarios plant-soil feedbacks (PSF) will likely have an impact on plant species' ability to establish in new areas. In this study we evaluated the role that PSF may play on the migratory potential of dominant temperate tree species at the northern limit of their distributional range in the Great Lakes region of North America. To test their ability to expand their current range, we assessed seedling establishment, i.e., survival, of local and potential migrant tree species in a field transplant experiment. To test for the presence and strength of PSF, we also assessed seedling survival during establishment in a greenhouse experiment, where the potential migrant species were grown in soils collected within and beyond their distributional ranges. The combination of experiments provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the role of PSF in seedling establishment in new areas. In the field, we found that survival for most migrant species was similar to those of the local community, ensuring that these species could establish in areas beyond their current range. In the greenhouse, we found that the majority of species experienced strong negative conspecific feedbacks mediated by soil biota, but these responses occurred for most species only in low light conditions. Lastly, our combined results indicate that migrant tree species can colonize and may even have enhanced short-term recruitment beyond their ranges due to a lack of conspecific adults (and the resulting negative PSF from these adults).}, } @article {pmid23427848, year = {2013}, author = {Lee, CC and Chiou, WB}, title = {Keep logging in! Experimental evidence showing the relation of affiliation needs to the idea of online social networking.}, journal = {Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {419-422}, doi = {10.1089/cyber.2012.0544}, pmid = {23427848}, issn = {2152-2723}, mesh = {*Arousal ; *Attention ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Motivation ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Reaction Time ; *Social Isolation ; *Social Networking ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {As social networking sites (SNS) increasingly provide social connections that meet the need for affiliation, people are developing symbiotic relationships with these sites. Drawing on the notion that people motivated by affiliation may increase their attention to sources that provide social connections, we conducted a lab experiment to explore whether priming affiliation needs would prompt the idea of online social networking. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three between-subjects conditions (affiliation arousal, social exclusion, control) in which we employed the scrambled-sentence paradigm to manipulate affiliation motivations. Each experimental condition was followed by a modified Stroop task (a color naming task) to test reaction times to SNS and non-SNS terms (including general terms and brand names). People who were primed to think about a topic typically showed slowed reaction times for naming the color of related words (i.e., Stroop interference), as those words become more interesting and accessible. Confirming our hypothesis, participants took longer to name the font color of SNS-related words than that of matched general words when affiliation motivation was evoked. Moreover, priming with affiliation motivation created more Stroop interference for SNS brand names rather than for other global brand names. These results suggest that the idea of online social networking seems to have become deeply rooted in human social practices.}, } @article {pmid23426535, year = {2013}, author = {Purchiaroni, F and Tortora, A and Gabrielli, M and Bertucci, F and Gigante, G and Ianiro, G and Ojetti, V and Scarpellini, E and Gasbarrini, A}, title = {The role of intestinal microbiota and the immune system.}, journal = {European review for medical and pharmacological sciences}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {323-333}, pmid = {23426535}, issn = {1128-3602}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases/microbiology/physiopathology/*therapy ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The human gut is an ecosystem consisting of a great number of commensal bacteria living in symbiosis with the host. Several data confirm that gut microbiota is engaged in a dynamic interaction with the intestinal innate and adaptive immune system, affecting different aspects of its development and function.

AIM: To review the immunological functions of gut microbiota and improve knowledge of its therapeutic implications for several intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases associated to dysregulation of the immune system.

METHODS: Significant articles were identified by literature search and selected based on content, including atopic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases and treatment of these conditions with probiotics.

RESULTS: Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microflora has protective, metabolic, trophic and immunological functions and is able to establish a "cross-talk" with the immune component of mucosal immunity, comprising cellular and soluble elements. When one or more steps in this fine interaction fail, autoimmune or auto-inflammatory diseases may occur. Furthermore, it results from the data that probiotics, used for the treatment of the diseases caused by the dysregulation of the immune system, can have a beneficial effect by different mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiota interacts with both innate and adaptive immune system, playing a pivotal role in maintenance and disruption of gut immune quiescence. A cross talk between the mucosal immune system and endogenous microflora favours a mutual growth, survival and inflammatory control of the intestinal ecosystem. Based on these evidences, probiotics can be used as an ecological therapy in the treatment of immune diseases.  }, } @article {pmid23425859, year = {2013}, author = {Bourcy, M and Berrabah, F and Ratet, P and Gourion, B}, title = {Failure of self-control: defense-like reactions during legume/rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e23915}, pmid = {23425859}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cellular Senescence ; Disease Resistance/*genetics ; *Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti form a symbiotic association resulting in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. In this organ, symbiotic cells contain large numbers of bacteroids. Remarkably, this chronic infection does not trigger visible defense reactions. Despite the importance of this phenomenon for potential transfer of the symbiotic capacity to non-legume plants, the molecular mechanisms underlying this tolerance are not understood. We have characterized the dnf2 M. truncatula mutant blocked in the symbiotic process after bacterial infection of the symbiotic cells. Nodules formed by the mutant contain only few layers of infected cells. Furthermore, they exhibit defense-like reactions which clearly contrast with premature senescence frequently observed during inefficient symbioses. This atypical phenotype raises DNF2 as an exciting starting point to investigate the molecular basis of symbiotic repression of plant defenses.}, } @article {pmid23425606, year = {2013}, author = {Sugawara, M and Epstein, B and Badgley, BD and Unno, T and Xu, L and Reese, J and Gyaneshwar, P and Denny, R and Mudge, J and Bharti, AK and Farmer, AD and May, GD and Woodward, JE and Médigue, C and Vallenet, D and Lajus, A and Rouy, Z and Martinez-Vaz, B and Tiffin, P and Young, ND and Sadowsky, MJ}, title = {Comparative genomics of the core and accessory genomes of 48 Sinorhizobium strains comprising five genospecies.}, journal = {Genome biology}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {R17}, pmid = {23425606}, issn = {1474-760X}, mesh = {Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Lipopolysaccharides/biosynthesis/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Sinorhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The sinorhizobia are amongst the most well studied members of nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacteria and contribute substantial amounts of fixed nitrogen to the biosphere. While the alfalfa symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti RM 1021 was one of the first rhizobial strains to be completely sequenced, little information is available about the genomes of this large and diverse species group.

RESULTS: Here we report the draft assembly and annotation of 48 strains of Sinorhizobium comprising five genospecies. While S. meliloti and S. medicae are taxonomically related, they displayed different nodulation patterns on diverse Medicago host plants, and have differences in gene content, including those involved in conjugation and organic sulfur utilization. Genes involved in Nod factor and polysaccharide biosynthesis, denitrification and type III, IV, and VI secretion systems also vary within and between species. Symbiotic phenotyping and mutational analyses indicated that some type IV secretion genes are symbiosis-related and involved in nitrogen fixation efficiency. Moreover, there is a correlation between the presence of type IV secretion systems, heme biosynthesis and microaerobic denitrification genes, and symbiotic efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that each Sinorhizobium strain uses a slightly different strategy to obtain maximum compatibility with a host plant. This large genome data set provides useful information to better understand the functional features of five Sinorhizobium species, especially compatibility in legume-Sinorhizobium interactions. The diversity of genes present in the accessory genomes of members of this genus indicates that each bacterium has adopted slightly different strategies to interact with diverse plant genera and soil environments.}, } @article {pmid23424014, year = {2013}, author = {Afroz, A and Zahur, M and Zeeshan, N and Komatsu, S}, title = {Plant-bacterium interactions analyzed by proteomics.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {21}, pmid = {23424014}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The evolution of the plant immune response has resulted in a highly effective defense system that is able to resist potential attack by microbial pathogens. The primary immune response is referred to as pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) triggered immunity and has evolved to recognize common features of microbial pathogens. In response to the delivery of pathogen effector proteins, plants acquired R proteins to fight against pathogen attack. R-dependent defense response is important in understanding the biochemical and cellular mechanisms and underlying these interactions will enable molecular and transgenic approaches for crops with increased biotic resistance. Proteomic analyses are particularly useful for understanding the mechanisms of host plant against the pathogen attack. Recent advances in the field of proteome analyses have initiated a new research area, i.e., the analysis of more complex microbial communities and their interaction with plant. Such areas hold great potential to elucidate, not only the interactions between bacteria and their host plants, but also of bacteria-bacteria interactions between different bacterial taxa, symbiotic, pathogenic bacteria, and commensal bacteria. During biotic stress, plant hormonal signaling pathways prioritizes defense over other cellular functions. Some plant pathogens take advantage of hormone dependent regulatory system by mimicking hormones that interfere with host immune responses to promote virulence (vir). In this review, it is discussed the cross talk that plays important role in response to pathogens attack with different infection strategies using proteomic approaches.}, } @article {pmid23421653, year = {2013}, author = {Xie, G and Li, X and Li, H and Jia, W}, title = {Toward personalized nutrition: comprehensive phytoprofiling and metabotyping.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {1547-1559}, doi = {10.1021/pr301222b}, pmid = {23421653}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Microbiota ; Nutritional Sciences/*methods ; Phytochemicals/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Precision Medicine ; }, abstract = {Nutrition research is increasingly concerned with the complex interactions between multicomponent dietary ingredients and the human metabolic regulatory system. The substantiation of nutritional health benefits is challenged by the intrinsic complexity of macro- and micronutrients and individualized human metabolic responses. Metabonomics, uniquely suited to assess metabolic responses to deficiencies or excesses of nutrients, is used to characterize the metabolic phenotype of individuals integrating genetic polymorphisms, metabolic interactions with commensal and symbiotic partners such as gut microbiota, as well as environmental and behavioral factors including dietary preferences. The two profiling strategies, metabolic phenotyping (metabotyping) and phytochemical profiling (phytoprofiling), greatly facilitate the measurement of these important health determinants and the discovery of new biomarkers associated with nutritional requirements and specific phytochemical interventions. This paper presents an overview of the applications of these two profiling approaches for personalized nutrition research, with a focus on recent advances in the study of the role of phytochemicals in regulating the human or animal metabolic regulatory system.}, } @article {pmid23417898, year = {2013}, author = {Seipke, RF and Barke, J and Heavens, D and Yu, DW and Hutchings, MI}, title = {Analysis of the bacterial communities associated with two ant-plant symbioses.}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {276-283}, pmid = {23417898}, issn = {2045-8827}, support = {G0801721//Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Africa ; Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Erwinia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Metagenome ; Plants/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serratia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Soil Microbiology ; South America ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect fungiculture is practiced by ants, termites, beetles, and gall midges and it has been suggested to be widespread among plant-ants. Some of the insects engaged in fungiculture, including attine ants and bark beetles, are known to use symbiotic antibiotic-producing actinobacteria to protect themselves and their fungal cultivars against infection. In this study, we analyze the bacterial communities on the cuticles of the plant-ant genera Allomerus and Tetraponera using deep sequencing of 16S rRNA. Allomerus ants cultivate fungus as a building material to strengthen traps for prey, while Tetraponera ants cultivate fungus as a food source. We report that Allomerus and Tetraponera microbiomes contain >75% Proteobacteria and remarkably the bacterial phyla that dominate their cuticular microbiomes are very similar despite their geographic separation (South America and Africa, respectively). Notably, antibiotic-producing actinomycete bacteria represent a tiny fraction of the cuticular microbiomes of both Allomerus and Tetraponera spp. and instead they are dominated by γ-proteobacteria Erwinia and Serratia spp. Both these phyla are known to contain antibiotic-producing species which might therefore play a protective role in these ant-plant systems.}, } @article {pmid23417725, year = {2013}, author = {Zeng, Y and Guo, LP and Chen, BD and Hao, ZP and Wang, JY and Huang, LQ and Yang, G and Cui, XM and Yang, L and Wu, ZX and Chen, ML and Zhang, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and active ingredients of medicinal plants: current research status and prospectives.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {253-265}, pmid = {23417725}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Extracts/analysis/*metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Medicinal plants have been used world-wide for thousands of years and are widely recognized as having high healing but minor toxic side effects. The scarcity and increasing demand for medicinal plants and their products have promoted the development of artificial cultivation of medicinal plants. Currently, one of the prominent issues in medicinal cultivation systems is the unstable quality of the products. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) affects secondary metabolism and the production of active ingredients of medicinal plants and thus influence the quality of herbal medicines. In this review, we have assembled, analyzed, and summarized the effects of AM symbioses on secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. We conclude that symbiosis of AM is conducive to favorable characteristics of medicinal plants, by improving the production and accumulation of important active ingredients of medicinal plants such as terpenes, phenols, and alkaloids, optimizing the composition of different active ingredients in medicinal plants and ultimately improving the quality of herbal materials. We are convinced that the AM symbiosis will benefit the cultivation of medicinal plants and improve the total yield and quality of herbal materials. Through this review, we hope to draw attention to the status and prospects of, and arouse more interest in, the research field of medicinal plants and mycorrhiza.}, } @article {pmid23417437, year = {2013}, author = {Lahrouni, M and Oufdou, K and El Khalloufi, F and Baz, M and Lafuente, A and Dary, M and Pajuelo, E and Oudra, B}, title = {Physiological and biochemical defense reactions of Vicia faba L.-Rhizobium symbiosis face to chronic exposure to cyanobacterial bloom extract containing microcystins.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {20}, number = {8}, pages = {5405-5415}, pmid = {23417437}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Catalase/metabolism ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; Complex Mixtures/*pharmacology ; *Cyanobacteria ; Microcystins/*pharmacology ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Phenols/metabolism ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*drug effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Vicia/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {The presence of cyanotoxins, mainly microcystins (MCs), in surface freshwater represents a serious health risk to aquatic organisms living in the water body, as well as terrestrial animals and plants that are in contact with contaminated water. Consequently, the use of MCs contaminated water for irrigation represents a hazard for cultivated plants and could induce severe economical losses due to crops' yield reduction. The experimental approach undertaken in this work was exposing Vicia faba seedlings (inoculated with a Rhizobium strain resistant to MCs), to water supplemented with cyanobacterial crude extract containing total microcystins at a concentration of 50 and 100 μg/L (environmental relevant concentrations of MCs dissolved in the raw irrigation water from Lalla Takerkoust Lake-Marrakesh region). After chronic MCs exposure (2 months), biological and physiological parameters (plant growth, nitrogen uptake, mineral assimilation, and oxidative defense mechanisms) were evaluated. The results obtained showed evidence that chronic exposure to cyanobacterial bloom extract containing MCs strongly affected the physiological and biological plants activities; reduction of dry matter, photosynthetic activity, nodule number, and nitrogen assimilation. At the same time, an increase of oxidative stress was observed, as deduced from a significant increase of the activities of peroxidase, catalase, polyphenoloxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase in leaves, roots, and nodules of faba bean plants exposed to cyanotoxins, especially at 100 μg/L of MCs. This experimentation constitutes a simulation of the situation related to cyanotoxins chronic exposure of seedlings-plants via the contaminated irrigation water. For this reason, once should take into consideration the possibility of contamination of agricultural crops and the quality of irrigation water should be by the way monitored for cyanotoxins biohazard.}, } @article {pmid23415766, year = {2013}, author = {Bentley, K and Jones, M and Cruys, B}, title = {Predicting the future: towards symbiotic computational and experimental angiogenesis research.}, journal = {Experimental cell research}, volume = {319}, number = {9}, pages = {1240-1246}, doi = {10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.02.001}, pmid = {23415766}, issn = {1090-2422}, support = {//Cancer Research UK/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Breast Neoplasms/blood supply ; *Computer Simulation ; Empirical Research ; Female ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Studies ; *Models, Biological ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism ; *Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Understanding the fundamental organisational principles underlying the complex and multilayered process of angiogenesis is the mutual aim of both the experimental and theoretical angiogenesis communities. Surprisingly, these two fields have in the past developed in near total segregation, with neither fully benefiting from the other. However, times are changing and here we report on the new direction that angiogenesis research is taking, where from well-integrated collaborations spring new surprises, experimental predictions and research avenues. We show that several successful ongoing collaborations exist in the angiogenesis field and analyse what aspects of their approaches led them to achieve novel and impactful biological insight. We conclude that there are common elements we can learn from for the future, and provide a list of guidelines to building a successful collaborative venture. Specifically, we find that a near symbiosis of computation with experimentation reaps the most impactful results by close cyclical feedback and communication between the two disciplines resulting in continual refinement of models, experimental directions and our understanding. We discuss high impact examples of predictive modelling from the wider, more established integrated scientific domains and conclude that the angiogenesis community can do nothing but benefit from joining this brave new, integrated world.}, } @article {pmid23415334, year = {2013}, author = {Salvioli, A and Bonfante, P}, title = {Systems biology and "omics" tools: a cooperation for next-generation mycorrhizal studies.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {203-204}, number = {}, pages = {107-114}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2013.01.001}, pmid = {23415334}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Agriculture ; *Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plants/*microbiology ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Omics tools constitute a powerful means of describing the complexity of plants and soil-borne microorganisms. Next generation sequencing technologies, coupled with emerging systems biology approaches, seem promising to represent a new strategy in the study of plant-microbe interactions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous symbionts of plant roots, that provide their host with many benefits. However, as obligate biotrophs, AMF show a genetic, cellular and physiological complexity that makes the study of their biology as well as their effective agronomical exploitation rather difficult. Here, we speculate that the increasing availability of omics data on mycorrhiza and of computational tools that allow systems biology approaches represents a step forward in the understanding of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Furthermore, the application of this study-perspective to agriculturally relevant model plants, such as tomato and rice, will lead to a better in-field exploitation of this beneficial symbiosis in the frame of low-input agriculture.}, } @article {pmid23415153, year = {2013}, author = {Reddy, CA and Saravanan, RS}, title = {Polymicrobial Multi-functional Approach for Enhancement of Crop Productivity.}, journal = {Advances in applied microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {}, pages = {53-113}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-407679-2.00003-X}, pmid = {23415153}, issn = {0065-2164}, mesh = {*Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Fertilizers ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Development ; Plants/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {There is an increasing global need for enhancing the food production to meet the needs of the fast-growing human population. Traditional approach to increasing agricultural productivity through high inputs of chemical nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and pesticides is not sustainable because of high costs and concerns about global warming, environmental pollution, and safety concerns. Therefore, the use of naturally occurring soil microbes for increasing productivity of food crops is an attractive eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. There is a vast body of published literature on microbial symbiotic and nonsymbiotic nitrogen fixation, multiple beneficial mechanisms used by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), the nature and significance of mycorrhiza-plant symbiosis, and the growing technology on production of efficacious microbial inoculants. These areas are briefly reviewed here. The construction of an inoculant with a consortium of microbes with multiple beneficial functions such as N(2) fixation, biocontrol, phosphate solubilization, and other plant growth-promoting properties is a positive new development in this area in that a single inoculant can be used effectively for increasing the productivity of a broad spectrum of crops including legumes, cereals, vegetables, and grasses. Such a polymicrobial inoculant containing several microorganisms for each major function involved in promoting the plant growth and productivity gives it greater stability and wider applications for a range of major crops. Intensifying research in this area leading to further advances in our understanding of biochemical/molecular mechanisms involved in plant-microbe-soil interactions coupled with rapid advances in the genomics-proteomics of beneficial microbes should lead to the design and development of inoculants with greater efficacy for increasing the productivity of a wide range of crops.}, } @article {pmid23414432, year = {2013}, author = {Torres, MJ and Hidalgo-García, A and Bedmar, EJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {Functional analysis of the copy 1 of the fixNOQP operon of Ensifer meliloti under free-living micro-oxic and symbiotic conditions.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {114}, number = {6}, pages = {1772-1781}, doi = {10.1111/jam.12168}, pmid = {23414432}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Cytochrome c Group/metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV/metabolism ; Heme/analogs & derivatives/analysis ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; *Operon ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {AIM: In this work, phenotypic analyses of a Ensifer meliloti fixN1 mutant under free-living and symbiotic conditions have been carried out.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Ensifer meliloti fixN1 mutant showed a defect in growth as well as in TMPD-dependent oxidase activity when cells were incubated under micro-oxic conditions. Furthermore, haem c staining analyses of a fixN1 and a fixP1 mutant identified two membrane-bound c-type cytochromes of 27 and 32 kDa, present in microaerobically grown cells and in bacteroids, as the FixO and FixP components of the E. meliloti cbb3 oxidase. Under symbiotic conditions, fixN1 mutant showed a clear nitrogen fixation defect in alfalfa plants that were grown in an N-free nutrient solution during 3 weeks. However, in plants grown for a longer period, fixNOQP1 copy was not indispensable for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

CONCLUSIONS: The copy 1 of the fixNOQP operon is involved in E. meliloti respiration and growth under micro-oxic conditions as well as in the expression of the FixO and FixP components of the cbb3 oxidase present in free-living microaerobic cultures and in bacteroids. This copy is important for nitrogen fixation during the early steps of the symbiosis.

It is the first time that a functional analysis of the E. meliloti copy 1 of the fixNOQP operon is performed. In this work, the cytochromes c that constitute the cbb3 oxidase operating in free-living micro-oxic cultures and in bacteroids of E. meliloti have been identified.}, } @article {pmid23411802, year = {2012}, author = {de Oliveira, AL and Aarestrup, FM}, title = {Nutritional status and systemic inflammatory activity of colorectal patients on symbiotic supplementation.}, journal = {Arquivos brasileiros de cirurgia digestiva : ABCD = Brazilian archives of digestive surgery}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {147-153}, doi = {10.1590/s0102-67202012000300003}, pmid = {23411802}, issn = {2317-6326}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*complications ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation/*etiology ; Male ; Malnutrition/*diet therapy/*etiology ; Middle Aged ; *Nutritional Status ; Prospective Studies ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nutritional depletion in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, even with adequate weight, may be associated with co-morbidity factors such as: reduction of immunity, increased rate of infections, impaired cicatrization and muscle weakness. Immunomodulating diets have recently been used as a nutritional approach to cancer patients. Prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics (a mixture of the first two) have been studied.

AIM: To assess the Nutritional Status and Systemic Inflammatory Activity of colorectal patients on symbiotic supplementation. It was a progressive longitudinal study in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODS: All patients underwent assessment of nutritional status and subsequent serological analysis, daily use of the symbiotic supplement, anthropometric and biochemical assessment every three months Besides anthropometric data, the following blood components were measured: C-reactive protein (CRP), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and albumin.

RESULTS: The mean CRP level at baseline, before symbiotic administration, was 11 mg/dL, with a reduction to below 6 mg/dL at the end of the study.

CONCLUSION: There was a beneficial effect of symbiotic supplementation, because although albumin and CEA levels were stable during the study, there was a CRP reduction in meantime.}, } @article {pmid23411159, year = {2013}, author = {Gifford, WD and Pfaff, SL and Macfarlan, TS}, title = {Transposable elements as genetic regulatory substrates in early development.}, journal = {Trends in cell biology}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {218-226}, pmid = {23411159}, issn = {1879-3088}, support = {T32 GM007198/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; ZIA HD008933-01/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; ZIA HD008933-02/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *DNA Transposable Elements ; Embryonic Development/*physiology ; Endogenous Retroviruses/genetics/physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic/physiology ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Genes, Viral/physiology ; Humans ; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements/physiology ; Mammals/genetics ; Mice ; Placenta/physiology ; Pregnancy ; Retroelements/physiology ; }, abstract = {The abundance and ancient origins of transposable elements (TEs) in eukaryotic genomes has spawned research into the potential symbiotic relationship between these elements and their hosts. In this review, we introduce the diversity of TEs, discuss how distinct classes are uniquely regulated in development, and describe how they appear to have been coopted for the purposes of gene regulation and the orchestration of a number of processes during early embryonic development. Although young, active TEs play an important role in somatic tissues and evolution, we focus mostly on the contributions of the older, fixed elements in mammalian genomes. We also discuss major challenges inherent in the study of TEs and contemplate future experimental approaches to further investigate how they coordinate developmental processes.}, } @article {pmid23409262, year = {2013}, author = {Martínez-Abarca, F and Martínez-Rodríguez, L and López-Contreras, JA and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Toro, N}, title = {Complete Genome Sequence of the Alfalfa Symbiont Sinorhizobium/Ensifer meliloti Strain GR4.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {23409262}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {We present the complete nucleotide sequence of the multipartite genome of Sinorhizobium/Ensifer meliloti GR4, a predominant rhizobial strain in an agricultural field site. The genome (total size, 7.14 Mb) consists of five replicons: one chromosome, two expected symbiotic megaplasmids (pRmeGR4c and pRmeGR4d), and two accessory plasmids (pRmeGR4a and pRmeGR4b).}, } @article {pmid23409119, year = {2013}, author = {Marchetti, M and Capela, D and Poincloux, R and Benmeradi, N and Auriac, MC and Le Ru, A and Maridonneau-Parini, I and Batut, J and Masson-Boivin, C}, title = {Queuosine biosynthesis is required for sinorhizobium meliloti-induced cytoskeletal modifications on HeLa Cells and symbiosis with Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e56043}, pmid = {23409119}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cytoskeleton/*metabolism ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mutation ; Nucleoside Q/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are symbiotic soil bacteria able to intracellularly colonize legume nodule cells and form nitrogen-fixing symbiosomes therein. How the plant cell cytoskeleton reorganizes in response to rhizobium colonization has remained poorly understood especially because of the lack of an in vitro infection assay. Here, we report on the use of the heterologous HeLa cell model to experimentally tackle this question. We observed that the model rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti, and other rhizobia as well, were able to trigger a major reorganization of actin cytoskeleton of cultured HeLa cells in vitro. Cell deformation was associated with an inhibition of the three major small RhoGTPases Cdc42, RhoA and Rac1. Bacterial entry, cytoskeleton rearrangements and modulation of RhoGTPase activity required an intact S. meliloti biosynthetic pathway for queuosine, a hypermodifed nucleoside regulating protein translation through tRNA, and possibly mRNA, modification. We showed that an intact bacterial queuosine biosynthetic pathway was also required for effective nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of S. meliloti with its host plant Medicago truncatula, thus indicating that one or several key symbiotic functions of S. meliloti are under queuosine control. We discuss whether the symbiotic defect of que mutants may originate, at least in part, from an altered capacity to modify plant cell actin cytoskeleton.}, } @article {pmid23407311, year = {2013}, author = {Baker, DM and Andras, JP and Jordán-Garza, AG and Fogel, ML}, title = {Nitrate competition in a coral symbiosis varies with temperature among Symbiodinium clades.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1248-1251}, pmid = {23407311}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/growth & development/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Many reef-building corals form symbioses with dinoflagellates from the diverse genus Symbiodinium. There is increasing evidence of functional significance to Symbiodinium diversity, which affects the coral holobiont's response to changing environmental conditions. For example, corals hosting Symbiodinium from the clade D taxon exhibit greater resistance to heat-induced coral bleaching than conspecifics hosting the more common clade C. Yet, the relatively low prevalence of clade D suggests that this trait is not advantageous in non-stressful environments. Thus, clade D may only be able to out-compete other Symbiodinium types within the host habitat when conditions are chronically stressful. Previous studies have observed enhanced photosynthesis and fitness by clade C holobionts at non-stressful temperatures, relative to clade D. Yet, carbon-centered metrics cannot account for enhanced growth rates and patterns of symbiont succession to other genetic types when nitrogen often limits reef productivity. To investigate the metabolic costs of hosting thermally tolerant symbionts, we examined the assimilation and translocation of inorganic (15)N and (13)C in the coral Acropora tenuis experimentally infected with either clade C (sub-type C1) or D Symbiodinium at 28 and 30 °C. We show that at 28 °C, C1 holobionts acquired 22% more (15)N than clade D. However, at 30 °C, C1 symbionts acquired equivalent nitrogen and 16% less carbon than D. We hypothesize that C1 competitively excludes clade D in hospite via enhanced nitrogen acquisition and thus dominates coral populations despite warming oceans.}, } @article {pmid23407307, year = {2013}, author = {Freeman, CJ and Thacker, RW and Baker, DM and Fogel, ML}, title = {Quality or quantity: is nutrient transfer driven more by symbiont identity and productivity than by symbiont abundance?.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1116-1125}, pmid = {23407307}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {By forming symbiotic interactions with microbes, many animals and plants gain access to the products of novel metabolic pathways. We investigated the transfer of symbiont-derived carbon and nitrogen to the sponges Aplysina cauliformis, Aplysina fulva, Chondrilla caribensis, Neopetrosia subtriangularis and Xestospongia bocatorensis, all of which host abundant microbial populations, and Niphates erecta, which hosts a sparse symbiont community. We incubated sponges in light and dark bottles containing seawater spiked with (13)C- and (15)N-enriched inorganic compounds and then measured (13)C and (15)N enrichment in the microbial (nutrient assimilation) and sponge (nutrient transfer) fractions. Surprisingly, although most sponges hosting abundant microbial communities were more enriched in (13)C than N. erecta, only N. subtriangularis was more enriched in (15)N than N. erecta. Although photosymbiont abundance varied substantially across species, (13)C and (15)N enrichment was not significantly correlated with photosymbiont abundance. Enrichment was significantly correlated with the ratio of gross productivity to respiration (P:R), which varied across host species and symbiont phylotype. Because irradiance impacts P:R ratios, we also incubated A. cauliformis in (13)C-enriched seawater under different irradiances to determine whether symbiont carbon fixation and transfer are dependent on irradiance. Carbon fixation and transfer to the sponge host occurred in all treatments, but was greatest at higher irradiances and was significantly correlated with P:R ratios. Taken together, these results demonstrate that nutrient transfer from microbial symbionts to host sponges is influenced more by host-symbiont identities and P:R ratios than by symbiont abundance.}, } @article {pmid23407165, year = {2013}, author = {Guillaumond, F and Leca, J and Olivares, O and Lavaut, MN and Vidal, N and Berthezène, P and Dusetti, NJ and Loncle, C and Calvo, E and Turrini, O and Iovanna, JL and Tomasini, R and Vasseur, S}, title = {Strengthened glycolysis under hypoxia supports tumor symbiosis and hexosamine biosynthesis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {10}, pages = {3919-3924}, pmid = {23407165}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*metabolism/pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glutamine/metabolism ; *Glycolysis ; Hexosamines/biosynthesis ; Humans ; Hypoxia/*metabolism ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Male ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Mice, Transgenic ; Models, Biological ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most intractable and fatal cancer. The decreased blood vessel density displayed by this tumor not only favors its resistance to chemotherapy but also participates in its aggressiveness due to the consequent high degree of hypoxia. It is indeed clear that hypoxia promotes selective pressure on malignant cells that must develop adaptive metabolic responses to reach their energetic and biosynthetic demands. Here, using a well-defined mouse model of pancreatic cancer, we report that hypoxic areas from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are mainly composed of epithelial cells harboring epithelial-mesenchymal transition features and expressing glycolytic markers, two characteristics associated with tumor aggressiveness. We also show that hypoxia increases the "glycolytic" switch of pancreatic cancer cells from oxydative phosphorylation to lactate production and we demonstrate that increased lactate efflux from hypoxic cancer cells favors the growth of normoxic cancer cells. In addition, we show that glutamine metabolization by hypoxic pancreatic tumor cells is necessary for their survival. Metabolized glucose and glutamine converge toward a common pathway, termed hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, which allows O-linked N-acetylglucosamine modifications of proteins. Here, we report that hypoxia increases transcription of hexosamine biosynthetic pathway genes as well as levels of O-glycosylated proteins and that O-linked N-acetylglucosaminylation of proteins is a process required for hypoxic pancreatic cancer cell survival. Our results demonstrate that hypoxia-driven metabolic adaptive processes, such as high glycolytic rate and hexosamine biosynthetic pathway activation, favor hypoxic and normoxic cancer cell survival and correlate with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma aggressiveness.}, } @article {pmid23406441, year = {2013}, author = {O'Brien, HE and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Assessing population structure and host specialization in lichenized cyanobacteria.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {2}, pages = {557-566}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12165}, pmid = {23406441}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Alleles ; Cyanobacteria/*growth & development/radiation effects ; Genetic Loci/genetics ; Geography ; Lichens/*microbiology/radiation effects ; Light ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*physiology/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Coevolutionary theory predicts that the distribution of obligately symbiotic organisms will be determined by the dispersal ability and ecological range of both partners. We examined this prediction for lichen-forming fungi that form obligate symbioses with cyanobacteria. We compared genotypes of both partners of 250 lichens collected at multiple spatial scales in British Columbia, Canada. Multilocus sequence data collected from a subset of 128 of the specimens were used to determine the degree of recombination within the cyanobacterial populations. We found that six distinct clusters of cyanobacterial genotypes are distributed throughout the known global phylogeny of the genus Nostoc, and that each appears to be evolving clonally. Fungal specialization is high, with each species associating with either one or two of the cyanobacterial clusters, while cyanobacterial specialization varies, with clusters associating with between one and 12 different fungal species. Specialization also varies geographically, with some combinations restricted to a single site despite the availability of both partners elsewhere. Photobiont association patterns are determined by a combination of genetically based specificity, spatial population structure, and ecological factors and cannot be easily predicted by photobiont dispersal syndromes.}, } @article {pmid23406415, year = {2013}, author = {Estrada, C and Wcislo, WT and Van Bael, SA}, title = {Symbiotic fungi alter plant chemistry that discourages leaf-cutting ants.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {1}, pages = {241-251}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12140}, pmid = {23406415}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Biological Assay ; Colletotrichum/growth & development/*physiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Cucumis sativus/chemistry/*microbiology ; Herbivory/*physiology ; Plant Epidermis/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Solvents ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; Waxes/analysis ; }, abstract = {Fungal symbionts that live asymptomatically inside plant tissues (endophytes) can influence plant-insect interactions. Recent work has shown that damage by leaf-cutting ants, a major Neotropical defoliator, is reduced to almost half in plants with high densities of endophytes. We investigated changes in the phenotype of leaves that could influence ants' behavior to result in the reduction of foliar damage. We produced cucumber seedlings with high and low densities of one common endophyte species, Colletotrichum tropicale. We used the leaves in bioassays and to compare chemical and physical leaf characteristics important for ants' food selection. Ants cut about one-third more area of cucumber leaves with lower densities of endophytes and removed c. 20% more paper disks impregnated with the extracts of those leaves compared with leaves and disks from plants hosting the fungus. Colletotrichum tropicale colonization did not cause detectable changes in the composition of volatile compounds, cuticular waxes, nutrients or leaf toughness. Our study shows that endophytes changed leaf chemistry and suggests that compounds with relative low volatility released after leaf wounding are a major factor influencing foraging decisions by ants when choosing between plants with low or high endophyte loads.}, } @article {pmid23405330, year = {2013}, author = {Weigand, MR and Ryu, H and Bozcek, L and Konstantinidis, KT and Santo Domingo, JW}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Catellicoccus marimammalium, a Novel Species Commonly Found in Gull Feces.}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {23405330}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Catellicoccus marimammalium is a relatively uncharacterized Gram-positive facultative anaerobe with potential utility as an indicator of waterfowl fecal contamination. Here, we report an annotated draft genome sequence that suggests that this organism may be a symbiotic gut microbe.}, } @article {pmid23405314, year = {2013}, author = {Moulin, L and Mornico, D and Melkonian, R and Klonowska, A}, title = {Draft Genome Sequence of Rhizobium mesoamericanum STM3625, a Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiont of Mimosa pudica Isolated in French Guiana (South America).}, journal = {Genome announcements}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {23405314}, issn = {2169-8287}, abstract = {Rhizobium mesoamericanum STM3625 is a Mimosa pudica symbiont isolated in French Guiana. This strain serves as a model bacterium for comparison of adaptation to mutualism (symbiotic traits, bacterial genetic programs for plant infection) between alpha and beta rhizobial symbionts of Mimosa pudica.}, } @article {pmid23405111, year = {2013}, author = {Baker, DM and Weigt, L and Fogel, M and Knowlton, N}, title = {Ancient DNA from coral-hosted Symbiodinium reveal a static mutualism over the last 172 years.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e55057}, pmid = {23405111}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Psychological/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; DNA/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Ecology ; Environment ; Genotype ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Ancient DNA (aDNA) provides powerful evidence for detecting the genetic basis for adaptation to environmental change in many taxa. Among the greatest of changes in our biosphere within the last century is rapid anthropogenic ocean warming. This phenomenon threatens corals with extinction, evidenced by the increasing observation of widespread mortality following mass bleaching events. There is some evidence and conjecture that coral-dinoflagellate symbioses change partnerships in response to changing external conditions over ecological and evolutionary timescales. Until now, we have been unable to ascertain the genetic identity of Symbiodinium hosted by corals prior to the rapid global change of the last century. Here, we show that Symbiodinium cells recovered from dry, century old specimens of 6 host species of octocorals contain sufficient DNA for amplification of the ITS2 subregion of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, commonly used for genotyping within this genus. Through comparisons with modern specimens sampled from similar locales we show that symbiotic associations among several species have been static over the last century, thereby suggesting that adaptive shifts to novel symbiont types is not common among these gorgonians, and perhaps, symbiotic corals in general.}, } @article {pmid23404899, year = {2013}, author = {Tsikou, D and Kalloniati, C and Fotelli, MN and Nikolopoulos, D and Katinakis, P and Udvardi, MK and Rennenberg, H and Flemetakis, E}, title = {Cessation of photosynthesis in Lotus japonicus leaves leads to reprogramming of nodule metabolism.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {5}, pages = {1317-1332}, pmid = {23404899}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Carbon/pharmacology ; Carbon Cycle/drug effects/genetics ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Darkness ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Lotus/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Metabolomics ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Organ Specificity/drug effects/genetics ; Photosynthesis/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Starch/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) involves global changes in gene expression and metabolite accumulation in both rhizobia and the host plant. In order to study the metabolic changes mediated by leaf-root interaction, photosynthesis was limited in leaves by exposure of plants to darkness, and subsequently gene expression was profiled by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and metabolite levels by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the nodules of the model legume Lotus japonicus. Photosynthetic carbon deficiency caused by prolonged darkness affected many metabolic processes in L. japonicus nodules. Most of the metabolic genes analysed were down-regulated during the extended dark period. In addition to that, the levels of most metabolites decreased or remained unaltered, although accumulation of amino acids was observed. Reduced glycolysis and carbon fixation resulted in lower organic acid levels, especially of malate, the primary source of carbon for bacteroid metabolism and SNF. The high amino acid concentrations together with a reduction in total protein concentration indicate possible protein degradation in nodules under these conditions. Interestingly, comparisons between amino acid and protein content in various organs indicated systemic changes in response to prolonged darkness between nodulated and non-nodulated plants, rendering the nodule a source organ for both C and N under these conditions.}, } @article {pmid23403226, year = {2013}, author = {Hansen, K and Perry, BA and Dranginis, AW and Pfister, DH}, title = {A phylogeny of the highly diverse cup-fungus family Pyronemataceae (Pezizomycetes, Ascomycota) clarifies relationships and evolution of selected life history traits.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {311-335}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2013.01.014}, pmid = {23403226}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Carotenoids/genetics ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pyronemataceae is the largest and most heterogeneous family of Pezizomycetes. It is morphologically and ecologically highly diverse, comprising saprobic, ectomycorrhizal, bryosymbiotic and parasitic species, occurring in a broad range of habitats (on soil, burnt ground, debris, wood, dung and inside living bryophytes, plants and lichens). To assess the monophyly of Pyronemataceae and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis of the group, we compiled a four-gene dataset including one nuclear ribosomal and three protein-coding genes for 132 distinct Pezizomycetes species (4437 nucleotides with all markers available for 80% of the total 142 included taxa). This is the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Pyronemataceae, and Pezizomycetes, to date. Three hundred ninety-four new sequences were generated during this project, with the following numbers for each gene: RPB1 (124), RPB2 (99), EF-1α (120) and LSU rDNA (51). The dataset includes 93 unique species from 40 genera of Pyronemataceae, and 34 species from 25 genera representing an additional 12 families of the class. Parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses suggest that Pyronemataceae is paraphyletic due to the nesting of both Ascodesmidaceae and Glaziellaceae within the family. Four lineages with taxa currently classified in the family, the Boubovia, Geopyxis, Pseudombrophila and Pulvinula lineages, form a monophyletic group with Ascodesmidaceae and Glaziellaceae. We advocate the exclusion of these four lineages in order to recognize a monophyletic Pyronemataceae. The genus Coprotus (Thelebolales, Leotiomycetes) is shown to belong to Pezizomycetes, forming a strongly supported monophyletic group with Boubovia. Ten strongly supported lineages are identified within Pyronemataceae s. str. Of these, the Pyropyxis and Otidea lineages are identified as successive sister lineages to the rest of Pyronemataceae s. str. The highly reduced (gymnohymenial) Monascella is shown to belong to Pezizomycetes and is for the first time suggested to be closely related to the cleistothecial Warcupia, as a sister group to the primarily apothecial Otidea. None of the lineages of pyronemataceous taxa identified here correspond to previous families or subfamily classifications. Ancestral character state reconstructions (ASR) using a Bayesian approach support that the ancestors of Pezizomycetes and Pyronemataceae were soil inhabiting and saprobic. Ectomycorrhizae have arisen within both lineages A, B and C of Pezizomycetes and are suggested to have evolved independently seven to eight times within Pyronemataceae s. l., whereas an obligate bryosymbiotic lifestyle has arisen only twice. No reversals to a free-living, saprobic lifestyle have happened from symbiotic or parasitic Pyronemataceae. Specializations to various substrates (e.g. burnt ground and dung) are suggested to have occurred several times in mainly saprobic lineages. Although carotenoids in the apothecia are shown to have arisen at least four times in Pezizomycetes, the ancestor of Pyronemataceae s. str., excluding the Pyropyxis and Otidea lineages, most likely produced carotenoids, which were then subsequently lost in some clades (- and possibly gained again). Excipular hairs were found with a high probability to be absent from apothecia in the deepest nodes of Pezizomycetes and in the ancestor of Pyronemataceae s. str. True hairs are restricted to the core group of Pyronemataceae s. str., but are also found in Lasiobolus (Ascodesmidaceae), the Pseudombrophila lineage and the clade of Chorioactidaceae, Sarcoscyphaceae and Sarcosomataceae. The number of gains and losses of true hairs within Pyronemataceae s. str., however, remains uncertain. The ASR of ascospore guttulation under binary coding (present or absent) indicates that this character is fast evolving and prone to shifts.}, } @article {pmid23400879, year = {2013}, author = {Bowers, J}, title = {Balancing operating theatre and bed capacity in a cardiothoracic centre.}, journal = {Health care management science}, volume = {16}, number = {3}, pages = {236-244}, pmid = {23400879}, issn = {1386-9620}, mesh = {*Computer Simulation ; Hospital Bed Capacity ; Hospitals, Special/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; *Needs Assessment ; Operating Rooms/*organization & administration ; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling/*organization & administration ; Referral and Consultation ; }, abstract = {Cardiothoracic surgery requires many expensive resources. This paper examines the balance between operating theatres and beds in a specialist facility providing elective heart and lung surgery. Without both operating theatre time and an Intensive Care bed a patient's surgery has to be postponed. While admissions can be managed, there are significant stochastic features, notably the cancellation of theatre procedures and patients' length of stay on the Intensive Care Unit. A simulation was developed, with clinical and management staff, to explore the interdependencies of resource availabilities and the daily demand. The model was used to examine options for expanding the capacity of the whole facility. Ideally the bed and theatre capacity should be well balanced but unmatched increases in either resource can still be beneficial. The study provides an example of a capacity planning problem in which there is uncertainty in the demand for two symbiotic resources.}, } @article {pmid23398406, year = {2013}, author = {Bouchery, T and Lefoulon, E and Karadjian, G and Nieguitsila, A and Martin, C}, title = {The symbiotic role of Wolbachia in Onchocercidae and its impact on filariasis.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {131-140}, doi = {10.1111/1469-0691.12069}, pmid = {23398406}, issn = {1469-0691}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Filariasis/drug therapy ; Filaricides/therapeutic use ; Filarioidea/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; Tetracycline/*therapeutic use ; Wolbachia/*drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between eukaryotes and microorganisms are frequently observed in nature, and range along the continuum between parasitism and mutualism. The genus Wolbachia contains well-known intracellular bacteria of arthropods that induce several reproductive phenotypes that benefit the transmission of the bacteria. Interestingly, Wolbachia bacteria have been found in the Onchocercidae, a family of filarial nematodes, including species that cause human filarial diseases, e.g. lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. The endosymbiont is thought to be mutualistic in the Onchocercidae, and to provide essential metabolites to the filariae. Currently, Wolbachia bacteria are targets of antibiotic therapy with tetracyclines, which have profound effects on the development, viability and fertility of filarial parasites. This overview article presents the Onchocercidae and Wolbachia, and then discusses the origin and the nature of the symbiosis. It highlights the contribution of Wolbachia to the survival of the filariae and to the development of pathology. Finally, the infection control implications for filariases are debated. Potential directions for future research are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid23397797, year = {2012}, author = {Gilbert, SF and Sapp, J and Tauber, AI}, title = {A symbiotic view of life: we have never been individuals.}, journal = {The Quarterly review of biology}, volume = {87}, number = {4}, pages = {325-341}, doi = {10.1086/668166}, pmid = {23397797}, issn = {0033-5770}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The notion of the "biological individual" is crucial to studies of genetics, immunology, evolution, development, anatomy, and physiology. Each of these biological subdisciplines has a specific conception of individuality, which has historically provided conceptual contexts for integrating newly acquired data. During the past decade, nucleic acid analysis, especially genomic sequencing and high-throughput RNA techniques, has challenged each of these disciplinary definitions by finding significant interactions of animals and plants with symbiotic microorganisms that disrupt the boundaries that heretofore had characterized the biological individual. Animals cannot be considered individuals by anatomical or physiological criteria because a diversity of symbionts are both present and functional in completing metabolic pathways and serving other physiological functions. Similarly, these new studies have shown that animal development is incomplete without symbionts. Symbionts also constitute a second mode of genetic inheritance, providing selectable genetic variation for natural selection. The immune system also develops, in part, in dialogue with symbionts and thereby functions as a mechanism for integrating microbes into the animal-cell community. Recognizing the "holobiont"--the multicellular eukaryote plus its colonies of persistent symbionts--as a critically important unit of anatomy, development, physiology, immunology, and evolution opens up new investigative avenues and conceptually challenges the ways in which the biological subdisciplines have heretofore characterized living entities.}, } @article {pmid23368899, year = {2013}, author = {Belarmino, LC and Silva, RL and Cavalcanti, Nda M and Krezdorn, N and Kido, EA and Horres, R and Winter, P and Kahl, G and Benko-Iseppon, AM}, title = {SymGRASS: a database of sugarcane orthologous genes involved in arbuscular mycorrhiza and root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC bioinformatics}, volume = {14 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S2}, pmid = {23368899}, issn = {1471-2105}, mesh = {*Databases, Genetic ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; *Genes, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Saccharum/*genetics ; Software ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The rationale for gathering information from plants procuring nitrogen through symbiotic interactions controlled by a common genetic program for a sustainable biofuel production is the high energy demanding application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. We curated sequence information publicly available for the biofuel plant sugarcane, performed an analysis of the common SYM pathway known to control symbiosis in other plants, and provide results, sequences and literature links as an online database.

METHODS: Sugarcane sequences and informations were downloaded from the nucEST database, cleaned and trimmed with seqclean, assembled with TGICL plus translating mapping method, and annotated. The annotation is based on BLAST searches against a local formatted plant Uniprot90 generated with CD-HIT for functional assignment, rpsBLAST to CDD database for conserved domain analysis, and BLAST search to sorghum's for Gene Ontology (GO) assignment. Gene expression was normalized according the Unigene standard, presented as ESTs/100 kb. Protein sequences known in the SYM pathway were used as queries to search the SymGRASS sequence database. Additionally, antimicrobial peptides described in the PhytAMP database served as queries to retrieve and generate expression profiles of these defense genes in the libraries compared to the libraries obtained under symbiotic interactions.

RESULTS: We describe the SymGRASS, a database of sugarcane orthologous genes involved in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and root nodule (RN) symbiosis. The database aggregates knowledge about sequences, tissues, organ, developmental stages and experimental conditions, and provides annotation and level of gene expression for sugarcane transcripts and SYM orthologous genes in sugarcane through a web interface. Several candidate genes were found for all nodes in the pathway, and interestingly a set of symbiosis specific genes was found.

CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge integrated in SymGRASS may guide studies on molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms by which sugarcane controls the establishment and efficiency of endophytic associations. We believe that the candidate sequences for the SYM pathway together with the pool of exclusively expressed tentative consensus (TC) sequences are crucial for the design of molecular studies to unravel the mechanisms controlling the establishment of symbioses in sugarcane, ultimately serving as a basis for the improvement of grass crops.}, } @article {pmid23360877, year = {2013}, author = {Robles Alonso, V and Guarner, F}, title = {Linking the gut microbiota to human health.}, journal = {The British journal of nutrition}, volume = {109 Suppl 2}, number = {}, pages = {S21-6}, doi = {10.1017/S0007114512005235}, pmid = {23360877}, issn = {1475-2662}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; *Health Status ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The human gut is the natural environment for a diverse and dynamic microbial ecosystem, whose structure and functions are presently a major target of research in biomedicine. Experimental studies in germ-free animals performed some decades ago revealed the importance of these microbial communities for normal growth and development and for the maintenance of health in adult life. The host provides habitat and nutrition to the microbial communities and derives many benefits from its symbionts that contribute to metabolic, defensive and trophic functions. Development of novel gene sequencing technologies as well as availability of powerful bioinformatic analysis tools provide new insights into the composition and structure of the human gut microbiota. There is no clear definition of the characteristics of a normal 'healthy' gut microbiota in human subjects, but several disease states have been associated with changes in the composition of faecal and intestinal mucosal communities, including inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Probiotics and prebiotics are used to improve symbiosis between enteric microbiota and the host or restore states of dysbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23397456, year = {2013}, author = {Weston, LA and Mathesius, U}, title = {Flavonoids: their structure, biosynthesis and role in the rhizosphere, including allelopathy.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {283-297}, pmid = {23397456}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Flavonoids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Pheromones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/chemistry/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids are biologically active low molecular weight secondary metabolites that are produced by plants, with over 10,000 structural variants now reported. Due to their physical and biochemical properties, they interact with many diverse targets in subcellular locations to elicit various activities in microbes, plants, and animals. In plants, flavonoids play important roles in transport of auxin, root and shoot development, pollination, modulation of reactive oxygen species, and signalling of symbiotic bacteria in the legume Rhizobium symbiosis. In addition, they possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer activities. In the plant, flavonoids are transported within and between plant tissues and cells, and are specifically released into the rhizosphere by roots where they are involved in plant/plant interactions or allelopathy. Released by root exudation or tissue degradation over time, both aglycones and glycosides of flavonoids are found in soil solutions and root exudates. Although the relative role of flavonoids in allelopathic interference has been less well-characterized than that of some secondary metabolites, we present classic examples of their involvement in autotoxicity and allelopathy. We also describe their activity and fate in the soil rhizosphere in selected examples involving pasture legumes, cereal crops, and ferns. Potential research directions for further elucidation of the specific role of flavonoids in soil rhizosphere interactions are considered.}, } @article {pmid23397165, year = {2013}, author = {Aspray, TJ and Jones, EE and Davies, MW and Shipman, M and Bending, GD}, title = {Increased hyphal branching and growth of ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius rufus by the helper bacterium Paenibacillus sp.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {403-410}, pmid = {23397165}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Basidiomycota/drug effects/*growth & development ; Biological Factors/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Hyphae/drug effects/*growth & development ; Molecular Weight ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*growth & development ; Paenibacillus/chemistry/*metabolism ; Pinus sylvestris/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Paenibacillus sp. EJP73 has been previously demonstrated as a mycorrhization helper bacterium (MHB) for the Lactarius rufus-Pinus sylvestris symbiosis in both laboratory and glasshouse experiments. In the present study, the effect of Paenibacillus sp. EJP73 metabolites on L. rufus EO3 pre-symbiotic growth was tested in two agar plate-based systems. Specifically, volatile metabolites were investigated using a dual plate system, in which the presence of strain EJP73 resulted in a significant negative effect on L. rufus EO3 hyphal radial growth but enhanced hyphal branching and reduced internode distance. Soluble metabolites produced by strain EJP73 were tested on L. rufus EO3 growth in single-agar plate assays by incorporating bacterial cell-free whole or molecular weight fraction spent broth into the agar. Whole spent broth had a negative effect on hyphal growth, whereas a low molecular weight fraction (100-1,000) promoted colony radial growth. Headspace and spent broth analysis of strain EJP73 cultures revealed 2,5-diisopropylpyrazine to be the most significant component. Synthesised 2,5-diisopropylpyrazine and elevated CO2 (2,000 ppm) were tested as specific volatile metabolites in the dual plate system, but neither produced the response shown when strain EJP73 was present. Increased pre-symbiotic hyphal branching leading to increased likelihood of plant infection may be an important MHB mechanism for strain EJP73. Although the precise signal molecules could not be identified, the work suggests a number of metabolites may work synergistically to increase L. rufus root colonisation.}, } @article {pmid23397108, year = {2013}, author = {Saïdi, S and Chebil, S and Gtari, M and Mhamdi, R}, title = {Characterization of root-nodule bacteria isolated from Vicia faba and selection of plant growth promoting isolates.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {1099-1106}, pmid = {23397108}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Biomass ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/*growth & development ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Pseudomonas/growth & development/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Vicia faba/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {A collection of 104 isolates from root-nodules of Vicia faba was submitted to 16S rRNA PCR-RFLP typing. A representative sample was further submitted to sequence analysis of 16S rRNA. Isolates were assigned to 12 genera. All the nodulating isolates (45 %) were closely related to Rhizobium leguminosarum USDA2370(T) (99.34 %). The remaining isolates, including potential human pathogens, failed to nodulate their original host. They were checked for presence of symbiotic genes, P-solubilization, phytohormone and siderophore production, and then tested for their growth promoting abilities. Results indicated that 9 strains could induce significant increase (41-71 %) in shoot dry yield of faba bean. A Pseudomonas strain was further assessed in on-farm trial in combination with a selected rhizobial strain. This work indicated that nodule-associated bacteria could be a valuable pool for selection of effective plant growth promoting isolates. Nevertheless, the possible involvement of nodules in increasing risks related to pathogenic bacteria should not be neglected and needs to be investigated further.}, } @article {pmid23396330, year = {2013}, author = {Okubo, T and Fukushima, S and Itakura, M and Oshima, K and Longtonglang, A and Teaumroong, N and Mitsui, H and Hattori, M and Hattori, R and Hattori, T and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Genome analysis suggests that the soil oligotrophic bacterium Agromonas oligotrophica (Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum) is a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Aeschynomene indica.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {8}, pages = {2542-2551}, pmid = {23396330}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Base Composition ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Agromonas oligotrophica (Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum) S58(T) is a nitrogen-fixing oligotrophic bacterium isolated from paddy field soil that is able to grow in extra-low-nutrient environments. Here, the complete genome sequence of S58 was determined. The S58 genome was found to comprise a circular chromosome of 8,264,165 bp with an average GC content of 65.1% lacking nodABC genes and the typical symbiosis island. The genome showed a high level of similarity to the genomes of Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS278 and Bradyrhizobium sp. BTAi1, including nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis gene clusters, which nodulate an aquatic legume plant, Aeschynomene indica, in a Nod factor-independent manner. Although nonsymbiotic (brady)rhizobia are significant components of rhizobial populations in soil, we found that most genes important for nodule development (ndv) and symbiotic nitrogen fixation (nif and fix) with A. indica were well conserved between the ORS278 and S58 genomes. Therefore, we performed inoculation experiments with five A. oligotrophica strains (S58, S42, S55, S72, and S80). Surprisingly, all five strains of A. oligotrophica formed effective nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots and/or stems of A. indica, with differentiated bacteroids. Nonsymbiotic (brady)rhizobia are known to be significant components of rhizobial populations without a symbiosis island or symbiotic plasmids in soil, but the present results indicate that soil-dwelling A. oligotrophica generally possesses the ability to establish symbiosis with A. indica. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that Nod factor-independent symbiosis with A. indica is a common trait of nodABC- and symbiosis island-lacking strains within the members of the photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium clade, including A. oligotrophica.}, } @article {pmid23396326, year = {2013}, author = {Villari, C and Tomlinson, JA and Battisti, A and Boonham, N and Capretti, P and Faccoli, M}, title = {Use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of Ophiostoma clavatum, the primary blue stain fungus associated with Ips acuminatus.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {8}, pages = {2527-2533}, pmid = {23396326}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/*methods ; Ophiostoma/*classification/*genetics ; Pinus sylvestris ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an alternative amplification technology which is highly sensitive and less time-consuming than conventional PCR-based methods. Three LAMP assays were developed, two for detection of species of symbiotic blue stain fungi associated with Ips acuminatus, a bark beetle infesting Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and an additional assay specific to I. acuminatus itself for use as a control. In common with most bark beetles, I. acuminatus is associated with phytopathogenic blue stain fungi involved in the process of exhausting tree defenses, which is a necessary step for the colonization of the plant by the insect. However, the identity of the main blue stain fungus vectored by I. acuminatus was still uncertain, as well as its frequency of association with I. acuminatus under outbreak and non-outbreak conditions. In this study, we employed LAMP technology to survey six populations of I. acuminatus sampled from the Southern Alps. Ophiostoma clavatum was detected at all sampling sites, while Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, reported in part of the literature as the main blue stain fungus associated with I. acuminatus, was not detected on any of the samples. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that O. clavatum is the main blue stain fungus associated with I. acuminatus in the Southern Alps. The method developed in the course of this work provides a molecular tool by which it will be easy to screen populations and derive important data regarding the ecology of the species involved.}, } @article {pmid23395563, year = {2013}, author = {Tod, J and Jenei, V and Thomas, G and Fine, D}, title = {Tumor-stromal interactions in pancreatic cancer.}, journal = {Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.]}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {1-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.pan.2012.11.311}, pmid = {23395563}, issn = {1424-3911}, support = {G1002008/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adenocarcinoma/pathology ; Animals ; Extracellular Matrix/physiology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology ; Pancreas/pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Pancreatic Stellate Cells/*pathology ; Stromal Cells/*pathology ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; }, abstract = {Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has one of the worse prognoses of any cancer with a 5-year survival of only 3%. Pancreatic cancer displays one of the most prominent stromal reactions of all tumors and it is evident that this is a key contributing factor to disease outcome. The tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer harbors a wide spectrum of cell types and a complex network of mechanisms which all serve to promote tumor progression. It is clear that the symbiotic relationship between pancreatic cancer cells and stellate cells is the chief factor creating this unique tumor milieu. Pancreatic stellate cells play critical roles in evasion of cancer cell apoptosis, invasion and metastases, angiogenesis, and promotion of an immunosuppressive environment, all key hallmarks of malignancy. Existing treatments for pancreatic cancer focus on targeting the cancer cells rather than the whole tumor, of which cancer cells represent a small proportion. It is now increasingly evident that research targeted towards the interactions between these cell types, ideally at an early stage of tumor development, is imperative in order to propel the way forward to more effective treatments.}, } @article {pmid23394239, year = {2012}, author = {Kiper, DC and Klusman, I and Kunfermann, C and Sarraf-Zadeh, L and Butschi, A and Leumann, L}, title = {LifeScience Zurich Learning Center - a new symbiosis of research institutions and schools.}, journal = {Chimia}, volume = {66}, number = {11}, pages = {853-856}, doi = {10.2533/chimia.2012.853}, pmid = {23394239}, issn = {0009-4293}, mesh = {*Academies and Institutes ; Biological Science Disciplines/*education ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Faculty ; *Learning ; *Research/education ; *Schools ; Switzerland ; }, abstract = {The Life Science Learning Center (LSLC) was officially founded in 2005. It is a branch of the pre-existing Life Science Zurich, an organization created by and belonging to the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich to promote and support life sciences in several central parts of society. The LSLC's primary goals are to offer educational opportunities for school children as well as continuing education for teachers of the primary and secondary school levels. In particular, the LSLC facilitates various types of interactions between schools and the higher educational and research institutions (University of Zurich and Federal Institutes of Technology): it offers practicals for pupils in a special laboratory, tours of professional research laboratories, pedagogical training for future biology teachers, and specialized modules of continuing education for teachers. It also contributes to diverse initiatives promoting life sciences in the general public. It is led by a small team of dedicated people based on the Irchel Campus of the University of Zurich.}, } @article {pmid23394165, year = {2013}, author = {Manghera, M and Douville, RN}, title = {Endogenous retrovirus-K promoter: a landing strip for inflammatory transcription factors?.}, journal = {Retrovirology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {16}, pmid = {23394165}, issn = {1742-4690}, mesh = {Endogenous Retroviruses/*genetics ; Humans ; Inflammation/pathology/*virology ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Humans are symbiotic organisms; our genome is populated with a substantial number of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), some remarkably intact, while others are remnants of their former selves. Current research indicates that not all ERVs remain silent passengers within our genomes; re-activation of ERVs is often associated with inflammatory diseases. ERVK is the most recently endogenized and transcriptionally active ERV in humans, and as such may potentially contribute to the pathology of inflammatory disease. Here, we showcase the transcriptional regulation of ERVK. Expression of ERVs is regulated in part by epigenetic mechanisms, but also depends on transcriptional regulatory elements present within retroviral long terminal repeats (LTRs). These LTRs are responsive to both viral and cellular transcription factors; and we are just beginning to appreciate the full complexity of transcription factor interaction with the viral promoter. In this review, an exploration into the inflammatory transcription factor sites within the ERVK LTR will highlight the possible mechanisms by which ERVK is induced in inflammatory diseases.}, } @article {pmid23393673, year = {2012}, author = {Bascones-Martínez, A and Arias-Herrera, S and Criado-Cámara, E and Bascones-Ilundáin, J and Bascones-Ilundáin, C}, title = {Periodontal disease and diabetes.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {771}, number = {}, pages = {76-87}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4614-5441-0_9}, pmid = {23393673}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {Diabetes Complications/epidemiology/*immunology/*microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology ; Incidence ; Periodontal Diseases/epidemiology/*immunology/*microbiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Diabetes is considered to be a genetically and environmentally based chronic metabolic and vascular syndrome caused by a partial or total insulin deficiency with alteration in the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins culminating with different manifestations in different organisms. In humans hyperglycemia is the main consequence of defects in the secretion and/or action of insulin, and its deregulation can produce secondary lesions in various organs, especially kidneys, eyes, nerves, blood vessels and immune systems. Periodontal disease is an entity of localized infection that involves tooth-supporting tissues. The first clinical manifestation of periodontal disease is the appearance of periodontal pockets, which offer a favorable niche for bacterial colonization. The etiology of periodontal disease is multifactorial, being caused by interactions between multiple micro-organisms (necessary but not sufficient primary etiologic factors), a host with some degree of susceptibility and environmental factors. According to current scientific evidence, there is a symbiotic relationship between diabetes and periodontitis, such that diabetes is associated with an increased incidence and progression of periodontitis, and periodontal infection is associated with poor glycaemic control in diabetes due to poor immune systems. Hence, for a good periodontal control it is necessary to treat both periodontal disease and glycaemic control.}, } @article {pmid23390535, year = {2013}, author = {Siozios, S and Ioannidis, P and Klasson, L and Andersson, SG and Braig, HR and Bourtzis, K}, title = {The diversity and evolution of Wolbachia ankyrin repeat domain genes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e55390}, pmid = {23390535}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ankyrin Repeat/*genetics ; Ankyrins/chemistry/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Bacteriophages/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Drosophila/classification/microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Wolbachia/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ankyrin repeat domain-encoding genes are common in the eukaryotic and viral domains of life, but they are rare in bacteria, the exception being a few obligate or facultative intracellular Proteobacteria species. Despite having a reduced genome, the arthropod strains of the alphaproteobacterium Wolbachia contain an unusually high number of ankyrin repeat domain-encoding genes ranging from 23 in wMel to 60 in wPip strain. This group of genes has attracted considerable attention for their astonishing large number as well as for the fact that ankyrin proteins are known to participate in protein-protein interactions, suggesting that they play a critical role in the molecular mechanism that determines host-Wolbachia symbiotic interactions. We present a comparative evolutionary analysis of the wMel-related ankyrin repeat domain-encoding genes present in different Drosophila-Wolbachia associations. Our results show that the ankyrin repeat domain-encoding genes change in size by expansion and contraction mediated by short directly repeated sequences. We provide examples of intra-genic recombination events and show that these genes are likely to be horizontally transferred between strains with the aid of bacteriophages. These results confirm previous findings that the Wolbachia genomes are evolutionary mosaics and illustrate the potential that these bacteria have to generate diversity in proteins potentially involved in the symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid23390201, year = {2013}, author = {Takahara, M and Magori, S and Soyano, T and Okamoto, S and Yoshida, C and Yano, K and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Yamaguchi, K and Shigenobu, S and Takeda, N and Suzaki, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Too much love, a novel Kelch repeat-containing F-box protein, functions in the long-distance regulation of the legume-Rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {54}, number = {4}, pages = {433-447}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct022}, pmid = {23390201}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {F-Box Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Lotus/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The interaction of legumes with N2-fixing bacteria collectively called rhizobia results in root nodule development. The number of nodules formed is tightly restricted through the systemic negative feedback control by the host called autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Here, we report the characterization and gene identification of TOO MUCH LOVE (TML), a root factor that acts during AON in a model legume Lotus japonicus. In our genetic analyses using another root-regulated hypernodulation mutant, plenty, the tml-1 plenty double mutant showed additive effects on the nodule number, whereas the tml-1 har1-7 double mutant did not, suggesting that TML and PLENTY act in different genetic pathways and that TML and HAR1 act in the same genetic pathway. The systemic suppression of nodule formation by CLE-RS1/RS2 overexpression was not observed in the tml mutant background, indicating that TML acts downstream of CLE-RS1/RS2. The tml-1 Snf2 double mutant developed an excessive number of spontaneous nodules, indicating that TML inhibits nodule organogenesis. Together with the determination of the deleted regions in tml-1/-2/-3, the fine mapping of tml-4 and the next-generation sequencing analysis, we identified a nonsense mutation in the Kelch repeat-containing F-box protein. As the gene knockdown of the candidate drastically increased the number of nodules, we concluded that it should be the causative gene. An expression analysis revealed that TML is a root-specific gene. In addition, the activity of ProTML-GUS was constitutively detected in the root tip and in the nodules/nodule primordia upon rhizobial infection. In conclusion, TML is a root factor acting at the final stage of AON.}, } @article {pmid23390106, year = {2013}, author = {Joy, JB}, title = {Symbiosis catalyses niche expansion and diversification.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1756}, pages = {20122820}, pmid = {23390106}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Diptera ; Insecta/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Plant Tumors/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Interactions between species are important catalysts of the evolutionary processes that generate the remarkable diversity of life. Symbioses, conspicuous and inherently interesting forms of species interaction, are pervasive throughout the tree of life. However, nearly all studies of the impact of species interactions on diversification have concentrated on competition and predation leaving unclear the importance of symbiotic interaction. Here, I show that, as predicted by evolutionary theories of symbiosis and diversification, multiple origins of a key innovation, symbiosis between gall-inducing insects and fungi, catalysed both expansion in resource use (niche expansion) and diversification. Symbiotic lineages have undergone a more than sevenfold expansion in the range of host-plant taxa they use relative to lineages without such fungal symbionts, as defined by the genetic distance between host plants. Furthermore, symbiotic gall-inducing insects are more than 17 times as diverse as their non-symbiotic relatives. These results demonstrate that the evolution of symbiotic interaction leads to niche expansion, which in turn catalyses diversification.}, } @article {pmid23389105, year = {2013}, author = {Wentrup, C and Wendeberg, A and Huang, JY and Borowski, C and Dubilier, N}, title = {Shift from widespread symbiont infection of host tissues to specific colonization of gills in juvenile deep-sea mussels.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {1244-1247}, pmid = {23389105}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Gills/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mytilidae/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus harbors chemosynthetic bacteria in its gills that provide it with nutrition. Symbiont colonization is assumed to occur in early life stages by uptake from the environment, but little is known about this process. In this study, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization to examine symbiont distribution and the specificity of the infection process in juvenile B. azoricus and B. puteoserpentis (4-21 mm). In the smallest juveniles, we observed symbionts, but no other bacteria, in a wide range of epithelial tissues. This suggests that despite the widespread distribution of symbionts in many different juvenile organs, the infection process is highly specific and limited to the symbiotic bacteria. Juveniles ≥ 9 mm only had symbionts in their gills, indicating an ontogenetic shift in symbiont colonization from indiscriminate infection of almost all epithelia in early life stages to spatially restricted colonization of gills in later developmental stages.}, } @article {pmid23387091, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, G and Zhao, MM and Li, B and Song, C and Zhang, DW and Guo, SX}, title = {[Cloning and expression analysis of a calcium-dependent protein kinase gene in Dendrobium officinale in response to mycorrhizal fungal infection].}, journal = {Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica}, volume = {47}, number = {11}, pages = {1548-1554}, pmid = {23387091}, issn = {0513-4870}, mesh = {Agaricales/*growth & development/physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Dendrobium/enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Weight ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Roots/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Stems/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal/enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; Protein Kinases/*genetics/metabolism ; Seeds/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play an important regulatory role in the plantarbuscular mycorrhiza/rhizobium nodule symbiosis. However, the biological action of CDPKs in orchid mycorrhiza (OM) symbiosis remains unclear. In the present study, a CDPK encoding gene, designated as DoCPK1 (GenBank accession No. JX193703), was identified from D. officinale roots infected by an OM fungus-Mycena sp. using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods, for the first time. The full length cDNA of DoCPK1 was 2137 bp in length and encoded a 534 aa protein with a molecular weight of 59.61 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.03. The deduced DoCPK1 protein contained the conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase catalytic domain and four Ca2+ binding EF hand motifs. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated that DoCPK1 was highly homologous (85%) to the Panax ginseng PgCPK1 (ACY78680), followed by CDPKs genes from wheat, rice, and Arabidopsis (ABD98803, ADM14342, Q9ZSA2, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis showed that DoCPK1 was closely related to CDPKs genes from monocots, such as wheat, maize and rice. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoCPK1 was constitutively expressed in the included tissues and the transcript levels were in the order of roots > stems > seeds > leaves. Furthermore, DoCPK1 transcripts were significantly accumulated in roots 30 d after fungal infection, with 5.16 fold compared to that of the mock roots, indicating involvement of DoCPK1 during the early interaction between D. officinale and Mycena sp., and a possible role in the symbiosis process. This study firstly provided important clues of a CDPK gene associated with OM symbiosis, and will be useful for further functional determination of the gene involving in D. officinale and Mycena sp. symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23386683, year = {2013}, author = {Reid, DE and Li, D and Ferguson, BJ and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Structure-function analysis of the GmRIC1 signal peptide and CLE domain required for nodulation control in soybean.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {6}, pages = {1575-1585}, pmid = {23386683}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/growth & development/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism ; Point Mutation ; *Protein Sorting Signals ; Soybeans/genetics/*metabolism ; Static Electricity ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes control the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis in response to external and internal stimuli, such as nitrate, and via systemic autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Overexpression of the CLV3/ESR-related (CLE) pre-propeptide-encoding genes GmNIC1 (nitrate-induced and acting locally) and GmRIC1 (Bradyrhizobium-induced and acting systemically) suppresses soybean nodulation dependent on the activity of the nodulation autoregulation receptor kinase (GmNARK). This nodule inhibition response was used to assess the relative importance of key structural components within and around the CLE domain sequences of these genes. Using a site-directed mutagenesis approach, mutants were produced at each amino acid within the CLE domain (RLAPEGPDPHHN) of GmRIC1. This approach identified the Arg1, Ala3, Pro4, Gly6, Pro7, Asp8, His11, and Asn12 residues as critical to GmRIC1 nodulation suppression activity (NSA). In contrast, none of the mutations in conserved residues outside of the CLE domain showed compromised NSA. Chimeric genes derived from combinations of GmRIC1 and GmNIC1 domains were used to determine the role of each pre-propeptide domain in NSA differences that exist between the two peptides. It was found that the transit peptide and CLE peptide regions of GmRIC1 significantly enhanced activity of GmNIC1. In contrast, the comparable GmNIC1 domains reduced the NSA of GmRIC1. Identification of these critical residues and domains provides a better understanding of how these hormone-like peptides function in plant development and regulation.}, } @article {pmid23385147, year = {2013}, author = {Takanashi, K and Yokosho, K and Saeki, K and Sugiyama, A and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Ma, JF and Yazaki, K}, title = {LjMATE1: a citrate transporter responsible for iron supply to the nodule infection zone of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {54}, number = {4}, pages = {585-594}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pct019}, pmid = {23385147}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Iron/*metabolism ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation by intracellular rhizobia within legume root nodules requires the exchange of nutrients between host plant cells and their resident bacteria. While exchanged molecules imply nitrogen compounds, carbohydrates and also various minerals, knowledge of the molecular basis of plant transporters that mediate those metabolite exchanges is still limited. In this study, we have shown that a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) protein, LjMATE1, is specifically induced during nodule formation, which nearly paralleled nodule maturation, in a model legume Lotus japonicus. Reporter gene experiments indicated that the expression of LjMATE1 was restricted to the infection zone of nodules. To characterize the transport function of LjMATE1, we conducted a biochemical analysis using a heterologous expression system, Xenopus oocytes, and found that LjMATE1 is a specific transporter for citrate. The physiological role of LjMATE1 was analyzed after generation of L. japonicus RNA interference (RNAi) lines. One RNAi knock-down line revealed limited growth under nitrogen-deficient conditions with inoculation of rhizobia compared with the controls (the wild type and an RNAi line in which LjMATE1 was not suppressed). It was noteworthy that Fe localization was clearly altered in nodule tissues of the knock-down line. These results strongly suggest that LjMATE1 is a nodule-specific transporter that assists the translocation of Fe from the root to nodules by providing citrate.}, } @article {pmid23384430, year = {2013}, author = {James, ER and Burki, F and Todd Harper, J and Scheffrahn, RH and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Molecular characterization of parabasalian symbionts Coronympha clevelandii and Trichonympha subquasilla from the Hawaiian lowland tree termite Incisitermes immigrans.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {60}, number = {3}, pages = {313-316}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.12027}, pmid = {23384430}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Animals ; Hypermastigia/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Isoptera/*parasitology ; Parabasalidea/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An important and undervalued challenge in characterizing symbiotic protists is the accurate identification of their host species. Here, we use DNA barcoding to resolve one confusing case involving parabasalian symbionts in the hindgut of the Hawaiian lowland tree termite, Incisitermes immigrans, which is host to several parabasalians, including the type species for the genus Coronympha, C. clevelandii. We collected I. immigrans from its type locality (Hawaii), confirmed its identity by DNA barcoding, and characterized the phylogenetic position of two symbionts, C. clevelandii and Trichonympha subquasilla. These data show that previous molecular surveys of "I. immigrans" are, in fact, mainly derived from the Caribbean termite I. schwarzi, and perhaps also another related species. These results emphasize the need for host barcoding, clarify the relationship between morphologically distinct Coronympha species, and also suggest some interesting distribution patterns of nonendemic termite species and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid23383354, year = {2013}, author = {Chen, L and Zhu, C and Zhang, D}, title = {Naturally occurring incompatibilities between different Culex pipiens pallens populations as the basis of potential mosquito control measures.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e2030}, pmid = {23383354}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; China ; Crosses, Genetic ; Culex/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Germ Cells/*microbiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mosquito Control/*methods ; Reproduction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sexual Behavior ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Vector-borne diseases remain a threat to public health, especially in tropical countries. The incompatible insect technique has been explored as a potential control strategy for several important insect vectors. However, this strategy has not been tested in Culex pipiens pallens, the most prevalent mosquito species in China. Previous works used introgression to generate new strains that matched the genetic backgrounds of target populations while harboring a new Wolbachia endosymbiont, resulting in mating competitiveness and cytoplasmic incompatibility. The generation of these incompatible insects is often time-consuming, and the long-term stability of the newly created insect-Wolbachia symbiosis is uncertain. Considering the wide distribution of Cx. pipiens pallens and hence possible isolation of different populations, we sought to test for incompatibilities between natural populations and the possibility of exploiting these incompatibilities as a control strategy.

Three field populations were collected from three geographic locations in eastern China. Reciprocal cross results showed that bi-directional patterns of incompatibility existed between some populations. Mating competition experiments indicated that incompatible males could compete with cognate males in mating with females, leading to reduced overall fecundity. F1 offspring from incompatible crosses maintained their maternal crossing types. All three populations tested positive for Wolbachia. Removal of Wolbachia by tetracycline rendered matings between these populations fully compatible.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings indicate that naturally occurring patterns of cytoplasmic incompatibility between Cx. pipiens pallens populations can be the basis of a control strategy for this important vector species. The observed incompatibilities are caused by Wolbachia. More tests including field trials are warranted to evaluate the feasibility of this strategy as a supplement to other control measures.}, } @article {pmid23383036, year = {2013}, author = {Aistleitner, K and Heinz, C and Hörmann, A and Heinz, E and Montanaro, J and Schulz, F and Maier, E and Pichler, P and Benz, R and Horn, M}, title = {Identification and characterization of a novel porin family highlights a major difference in the outer membrane of chlamydial symbionts and pathogens.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e55010}, pmid = {23383036}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amoeba/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Chlamydiaceae/*cytology/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Lipid Bilayers/metabolism ; Porins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Transport ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The Chlamydiae constitute an evolutionary well separated group of intracellular bacteria comprising important pathogens of humans as well as symbionts of protozoa. The amoeba symbiont Protochlamydia amoebophila lacks a homologue of the most abundant outer membrane protein of the Chlamydiaceae, the major outer membrane protein MOMP, highlighting a major difference between environmental chlamydiae and their pathogenic counterparts. We recently identified a novel family of putative porins encoded in the genome of P. amoebophila by in silico analysis. Two of these Protochlamydiaouter membrane proteins, PomS (pc1489) and PomT (pc1077), are highly abundant in outer membrane preparations of this organism. Here we show that all four members of this putative porin family are toxic when expressed in the heterologous host Escherichia coli. Immunofluorescence analysis using antibodies against heterologously expressed PomT and PomS purified directly from elementary bodies, respectively, demonstrated the location of both proteins in the outer membrane of P. amoebophila. The location of the most abundant protein PomS was further confirmed by immuno-transmission electron microscopy. We could show that pomS is transcribed, and the corresponding protein is present in the outer membrane throughout the complete developmental cycle, suggesting an essential role for P. amoebophila. Lipid bilayer measurements demonstrated that PomS functions as a porin with anion-selectivity and a pore size similar to the Chlamydiaceae MOMP. Taken together, our results suggest that PomS, possibly in concert with PomT and other members of this porin family, is the functional equivalent of MOMP in P. amoebophila. This work contributes to our understanding of the adaptations of symbiotic and pathogenic chlamydiae to their different eukaryotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid23381385, year = {2013}, author = {Wongwilaiwalin, S and Laothanachareon, T and Mhuantong, W and Tangphatsornruang, S and Eurwilaichitr, L and Igarashi, Y and Champreda, V}, title = {Comparative metagenomic analysis of microcosm structures and lignocellulolytic enzyme systems of symbiotic biomass-degrading consortia.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {97}, number = {20}, pages = {8941-8954}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-013-4699-y}, pmid = {23381385}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/enzymology/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Cattle ; Cellulases/genetics/*metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Industrial Waste/analysis ; Lignin/metabolism ; *Metagenomics ; *Microbial Consortia ; Rumen/*microbiology/physiology ; Saccharum/*microbiology/physiology ; Sewage/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Decomposition of lignocelluloses by cooperative microbial actions is an essential process of carbon cycling in nature and provides a basis for biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals in biorefineries. In this study, structurally stable symbiotic aero-tolerant lignocellulose-degrading microbial consortia were obtained from biodiversified microflora present in industrial sugarcane bagasse pile (BGC-1), cow rumen fluid (CRC-1), and pulp mill activated sludge (ASC-1) by successive subcultivation on rice straw under facultative anoxic conditions. Tagged 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed that all isolated consortia originated from highly diverse environmental microflora shared similar composite phylum profiles comprising mainly Firmicutes, reflecting convergent adaptation of microcosm structures, however, with substantial differences at refined genus level. BGC-1 comprising cellulolytic Clostridium and Acetanaerobacterium in stable coexistence with ligninolytic Ureibacillus showed the highest capability on degradation of agricultural residues and industrial pulp waste with CMCase, xylanase, and β-glucanase activities in the supernatant. Shotgun pyrosequencing of the BGC-1 metagenome indicated a markedly high relative abundance of genes encoding for glycosyl hydrolases, particularly for lignocellulytic enzymes in 26 families. The enzyme system comprised a unique composition of main-chain degrading and side-chain processing hydrolases, dominated by GH2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 43, reflecting adaptation of enzyme profiles to the specific substrate. Gene mapping showed metabolic potential of BGC-1 for conversion of biomass sugars to various fermentation products of industrial importance. The symbiotic consortium is a promising simplified model for study of multispecies mechanisms on consolidated bioprocessing and a platform for discovering efficient synergistic enzyme systems for biotechnological application.}, } @article {pmid23379715, year = {2013}, author = {Hacquard, S and Tisserant, E and Brun, A and Legué, V and Martin, F and Kohler, A}, title = {Laser microdissection and microarray analysis of Tuber melanosporum ectomycorrhizas reveal functional heterogeneity between mantle and Hartig net compartments.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {1853-1869}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12080}, pmid = {23379715}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; *Microarray Analysis ; *Microdissection ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis, a mutualistic plant-fungus association, plays a fundamental role in forest ecosystems by enhancing plant growth and by providing host protection from root diseases. The cellular complexity of the symbiotic organ, characterized by the differentiation of structurally specialized tissues (i.e. the fungal mantle and the Hartig net), is the major limitation to study fungal gene expression in such specific compartments. We investigated the transcriptional landscape of the ECM fungus Tuber melanosporum during the major stages of its life cycle and we particularly focused on the complex symbiotic stage by combining the use of laser capture microdissection and microarray gene expression analysis. We isolated the fungal/soil (i.e. the mantle) and the fungal/plant (i.e. the Hartig net) interfaces from transverse sections of T. melanosporum/Corylus avellana ectomycorrhizas and identified the distinct genetic programmes associated with each compartment. Particularly, nitrogen and water acquisition from soil, synthesis of secondary metabolites and detoxification mechanisms appear to be important processes in the fungal mantle. In contrast, transport activity is enhanced in the Hartig net and we identified carbohydrate and nitrogen-derived transporters that might play a key role in the reciprocal resources' transfer between the host and the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid23377934, year = {2013}, author = {Lyell, NL and Stabb, EV}, title = {Symbiotic characterization of Vibrio fischeri ES114 mutants that display enhanced luminescence in culture.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {7}, pages = {2480-2483}, pmid = {23377934}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Luminescence ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri ES114 is a bioluminescent symbiont of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Like most isolates from E. scolopes, ES114 produces only dim luminescence outside the host, even in dense cultures. We previously identified mutants with brighter luminescence, and here we report their symbiotic phenotypes, providing insights into the host environment.}, } @article {pmid23376945, year = {2013}, author = {Shimada, K and Lo, N and Kitade, O and Wakui, A and Maekawa, K}, title = {Cellulolytic protist numbers rise and fall dramatically in termite queens and kings during colony foundation.}, journal = {Eukaryotic cell}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {545-550}, pmid = {23376945}, issn = {1535-9786}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*physiology ; Hypermastigia/*physiology ; Isoptera/*physiology ; Male ; Organ Size ; Population Density ; *Population Dynamics ; Reproduction ; Seasons ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Among the best-known examples of mutualistic symbioses is that between lower termites and the cellulolytic flagellate protists in their hindguts. Although the symbiosis in worker termites has attracted much attention, there have been only a few studies of protists in other castes. We have performed the first examination of protist population dynamics in queens and kings during termite colony foundation. Protist numbers, as well as measurements of hindgut and reproductive tissue sizes, were undertaken at five time points over 400 days in incipient colonies of Reticulitermes speratus, as well as in other castes of mature colonies of this species. We found that protist numbers increased dramatically in both queens and kings during the first 50 days of colony foundation but began to decrease by day 100, eventually disappearing by day 400. Hindgut width followed a pattern similar to that of protist numbers, while ovary and testis widths increased significantly only at day 400. Kings were found to contain higher numbers of protists than queens in incipient colonies, which may be linked to higher levels of nutrient transfer from kings to queens than vice versa, as is known in some other termite species. Protists were found to be abundant in soldiers from mature colonies but absent in neotenics. This probably reflects feeding of soldiers by workers via proctodeal trophallaxis and of reproductives via stomodeal trophallaxis. The results reveal the dynamic nature of protist numbers during colony foundation and highlight the trade-offs that exist between reproduction and parental care during this critical phase of the termite life cycle.}, } @article {pmid23375088, year = {2013}, author = {Brinza, L and Calevro, F and Charles, H}, title = {Genomic analysis of the regulatory elements and links with intrinsic DNA structural properties in the shrunken genome of Buchnera.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {73}, pmid = {23375088}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Buchnera/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome Size/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genomics ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Buchnera aphidicola is an obligate symbiotic bacterium, associated with most of the aphididae, whose genome has drastically shrunk during intracellular evolution. Gene regulation in Buchnera has been a matter of controversy in recent years as the combination of genomic information with the experimental results has been contradictory, refuting or arguing in favour of a functional and responsive transcription regulation in Buchnera.The goal of this study was to describe the gene transcription regulation capabilities of Buchnera based on the inventory of cis- and trans-regulators encoded in the genomes of five strains from different aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum, Schizaphis graminum, Baizongia pistacea, Cinara cedri and Cinara tujafilina), as well as on the characterisation of some intrinsic structural properties of the DNA molecule in these bacteria.

RESULTS: Interaction graph analysis shows that gene neighbourhoods are conserved between E. coli and Buchnera in structures called transcriptons, interactons and metabolons, indicating that selective pressures have acted on the evolution of transcriptional, protein-protein interaction and metabolic networks in Buchnera. The transcriptional regulatory network in Buchnera is composed of a few general DNA-topological regulators (Nucleoid Associated Proteins and topoisomerases), with the quasi-absence of any specific ones (except for multifunctional enzymes with a known gene expression regulatory role in Escherichia coli, such as AlaS, PepA and BolA, and the uncharacterized hypothetical regulators YchA and YrbA). The relative positioning of regulatory genes along the chromosome of Buchnera seems to have conserved its ancestral state, despite the genome erosion. Sigma-70 promoters with canonical thermodynamic sequence profiles were detected upstream of about 94% of the CDS of Buchnera in the different aphids. Based on Stress-Induced Duplex Destabilization (SIDD) measurements, unstable σ70 promoters were found specifically associated with the regulator and transporter genes.

CONCLUSIONS: This genomic analysis provides supporting evidence of a selection of functional regulatory structures and it has enabled us to propose hypotheses concerning possible links between these regulatory elements and the DNA-topology (i.e., supercoiling, curvature, flexibility and base-pair stability) in the regulation of gene expression in the shrunken genome of Buchnera.}, } @article {pmid23372921, year = {2013}, author = {Mur, LA and Mandon, J and Persijn, S and Cristescu, SM and Moshkov, IE and Novikova, GV and Hall, MA and Harren, FJ and Hebelstrup, KH and Gupta, KJ}, title = {Nitric oxide in plants: an assessment of the current state of knowledge.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {5}, number = {}, pages = {pls052}, pmid = {23372921}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: After a series of seminal works during the last decade of the 20th century, nitric oxide (NO) is now firmly placed in the pantheon of plant signals. Nitric oxide acts in plant-microbe interactions, responses to abiotic stress, stomatal regulation and a range of developmental processes. By considering the recent advances in plant NO biology, this review will highlight certain key aspects that require further attention.

SCOPE AND CONCLUSIONS: The following questions will be considered. While cytosolic nitrate reductase is an important source of NO, the contributions of other mechanisms, including a poorly defined arginine oxidizing activity, need to be characterized at the molecular level. Other oxidative pathways utilizing polyamine and hydroxylamine also need further attention. Nitric oxide action is dependent on its concentration and spatial generation patterns. However, no single technology currently available is able to provide accurate in planta measurements of spatio-temporal patterns of NO production. It is also the case that pharmaceutical NO donors are used in studies, sometimes with little consideration of the kinetics of NO production. We here include in planta assessments of NO production from diethylamine nitric oxide, S-nitrosoglutathione and sodium nitroprusside following infiltration of tobacco leaves, which could aid workers in their experiments. Further, based on current data it is difficult to define a bespoke plant NO signalling pathway, but rather NO appears to act as a modifier of other signalling pathways. Thus, early reports that NO signalling involves cGMP-as in animal systems-require revisiting. Finally, as plants are exposed to NO from a number of external sources, investigations into the control of NO scavenging by such as non-symbiotic haemoglobins and other sinks for NO should feature more highly. By crystallizing these questions the authors encourage their resolution through the concerted efforts of the plant NO community.}, } @article {pmid23372845, year = {2013}, author = {Verstraete, B and Janssens, S and Smets, E and Dessein, S}, title = {Symbiotic ß-proteobacteria beyond legumes: Burkholderia in Rubiaceae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e55260}, pmid = {23372845}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Endophytes/classification/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Rubiaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic ß-proteobacteria not only occur in root nodules of legumes but are also found in leaves of certain Rubiaceae. The discovery of bacteria in plants formerly not implicated in endosymbiosis suggests a wider occurrence of plant-microbe interactions. Several ß-proteobacteria of the genus Burkholderia are detected in close association with tropical plants. This interaction has occurred three times independently, which suggest a recent and open plant-bacteria association. The presence or absence of Burkholderia endophytes is consistent on genus level and therefore implies a predictive value for the discovery of bacteria. Only a single Burkholderia species is found in association with a given plant species. However, the endophyte species are promiscuous and can be found in association with several plant species. Most of the endophytes are part of the plant-associated beneficial and environmental group, but others are closely related to B. glathei. This soil bacteria, together with related nodulating and non-nodulating endophytes, is therefore transferred to a newly defined and larger PBE group within the genus Burkholderia.}, } @article {pmid23371946, year = {2013}, author = {Ball, SG and Subtil, A and Bhattacharya, D and Moustafa, A and Weber, AP and Gehre, L and Colleoni, C and Arias, MC and Cenci, U and Dauvillée, D}, title = {Metabolic effectors secreted by bacterial pathogens: essential facilitators of plastid endosymbiosis?.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {7-21}, pmid = {23371946}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {T32 GM008629/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Carbon/metabolism ; Chlamydiales/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Computational Biology ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Glycogen/metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Isoamylase/genetics/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plants/genetics/*microbiology ; Plastids/enzymology/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Under the endosymbiont hypothesis, over a billion years ago a heterotrophic eukaryote entered into a symbiotic relationship with a cyanobacterium (the cyanobiont). This partnership culminated in the plastid that has spread to forms as diverse as plants and diatoms. However, why primary plastid acquisition has not been repeated multiple times remains unclear. Here, we report a possible answer to this question by showing that primary plastid endosymbiosis was likely to have been primed by the secretion in the host cytosol of effector proteins from intracellular Chlamydiales pathogens. We provide evidence suggesting that the cyanobiont might have rescued its afflicted host by feeding photosynthetic carbon into a chlamydia-controlled assimilation pathway.}, } @article {pmid23369509, year = {2013}, author = {Koehler, S and Doubský, J and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Dynamics of symbiont-mediated antibiotic production reveal efficient long-term protection for beewolf offspring.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {23369509}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects have evolved a wide range of mechanisms to defend themselves and their offspring against antagonists. One of these strategies involves the utilization of antimicrobial compounds provided by symbiotic bacteria to protect the host or its nutritional resources from pathogens and parasites. In the symbiosis of the solitary digger wasp, Philanthus triangulum (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), the bacterial symbiont 'Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi' defends the developing larvae against pathogens by producing a mixture of at least nine antimicrobial substances on the cocoon surface. This antibiotic cocktail inhibits the growth of a broad range of detrimental fungi and bacteria, thereby significantly enhancing the offspring's survival probability.

RESULTS: Here we show that the production of antimicrobial compounds by the beewolf symbionts is confined to the first two weeks after cocoon spinning, leading to a high concentration of piericidins and streptochlorin on the cocoon surface. Expression profiling of housekeeping, sporulation, and antibiotic biosynthesis genes indicates that antibiotic production coincides with morphological differentiation that enables the symbionts to survive the nutrient-limited conditions on the beewolf cocoon. The antibiotic substances remain stable on the cocoon surface for the entire duration of the beewolf's hibernation period, demonstrating that the compounds are resistant against environmental influences.

CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic production by the beewolf symbionts serves as a reliable protection for the wasp offspring against pathogenic microorganisms during the long and unpredictable developmental phase in the subterranean brood cells. Thus, the beewolf-Streptomyces symbiosis provides one of the rare examples of antibiotics serving as an efficient defense in the natural environment and may aid in devising new strategies for the utilization of antibiotic combination therapies in human medicine against increasingly resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens.}, } @article {pmid23365194, year = {2013}, author = {Kojadinovic, M and Armitage, JP and Tindall, MJ and Wadhams, GH}, title = {Response kinetics in the complex chemotaxis signalling pathway of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.}, journal = {Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}, volume = {10}, number = {81}, pages = {20121001}, pmid = {23365194}, issn = {1742-5662}, support = {BB/F018630/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/H531400/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Chemotaxis/drug effects/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Kinetics ; *Models, Biological ; Propionates/pharmacology ; Rhodobacter sphaeroides/cytology/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Chemotaxis is one of the best-characterized signalling systems in biology. It is the mechanism by which bacteria move towards optimal environments and is implicated in biofilm formation, pathogenesis and symbiosis. The properties of the bacterial chemosensory response have been described in detail for the single chemosensory pathway of Escherichia coli. We have characterized the properties of the chemosensory response of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, an α-proteobacterium with multiple chemotaxis pathways, under two growth conditions allowing the effects of protein expression levels and cell architecture to be investigated. Using tethered cell assays, we measured the responses of the system to step changes in concentration of the attractant propionate and show that, independently of the growth conditions, R. sphaeroides is chemotactic over at least five orders of magnitude and has a sensing profile following Weber's Law. Mathematical modelling also shows that, as E. coli, R. sphaeroides is capable of showing fold-change detection (FCD). Our results indicate that general features of bacterial chemotaxis such as the range and sensitivity of detection, adaptation times, adherence to Weber's Law and the presence of FCD may be integral features of chemotaxis systems in general, regardless of network complexity, protein expression levels and cellular architecture across different species.}, } @article {pmid23364352, year = {2013}, author = {Liang, H and Zen, K and Zhang, J and Zhang, CY and Chen, X}, title = {New roles for microRNAs in cross-species communication.}, journal = {RNA biology}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {367-370}, pmid = {23364352}, issn = {1555-8584}, mesh = {Cell Communication ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Plants/genetics ; Plasmodium falciparum/genetics ; Viruses/genetics/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Communication between cells ensures coordinated behavior. In prokaryotes, this signaling is typically referred to as quorum sensing, whereas in eukaryotic cells, communication occurs through hormones. In recent years, reports have shown that small noncoding RNAs, called microRNAs (miRNAs), can be transmitted from one species to another, inducing signal interference in distant species, even in a cross-kingdom manner. This new mode of cross-species communication might mediate symbiotic and pathogenic relationships between various organisms (e.g., microorganisms and their hosts). Here, we discuss several recent studies concerning miRNA-mediated cross-species gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid23363490, year = {2013}, author = {Friesen, ML and Heath, KD}, title = {One hundred years of solitude: integrating single-strain inoculations with community perspectives in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {1}, pages = {7-9}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12173}, pmid = {23363490}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, } @article {pmid23361889, year = {2013}, author = {Fiorilli, V and Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {The expression of GintPT, the phosphate transporter of Rhizophagus irregularis, depends on the symbiotic status and phosphate availability.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {237}, number = {5}, pages = {1267-1277}, pmid = {23361889}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*metabolism/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The development of mutualistic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is one of the most important adaptation of terrestrial plants to face mineral nutrition requirements. As an essential plant nutrient, phosphorus uptake is acknowledged as a major benefit of the AM symbiosis, but the molecular mechanisms of its transport as inorganic phosphate (Pi) from the soil to root cells via AM fungi remain poorly known. Here we monitored the expression profile of the high-affinity phosphate transporter (PT) gene (GintPT) of Rhizophagus irregularis (DAOM 197198) in fungal structures (spores, extraradical mycelium and arbuscules), under different Pi availability, and in respect to plant connection. GintPT resulted constitutively expressed along the major steps of the fungal life cycle and the connection with the host plant was crucial to warrant GintPT high expression levels in the extraradical mycelium. The influence of Pi availability on gene expression of the fungal GintPT and the Medicago truncatula symbiosis-specific Pi transporter (MtPT4) was examined by qRT-PCR assay on microdissected arbusculated cells. The expression profiles of both genes revealed that these transporters are sensitive to changing Pi conditions: we observed that MtPT4 mRNA abundance is higher at 320 than at 32 μM suggesting that the flow towards the plant requires high concentrations. Taken on the whole, the findings highlight novel traits for the functioning of the GintPT gene and offer a molecular scenario to the models describing nutrient transfers as a cooperation between the mycorrhizal partners.}, } @article {pmid23361658, year = {2014}, author = {Niedzwiedzki, DM and Jiang, J and Lo, CS and Blankenship, RE}, title = {Spectroscopic properties of the Chlorophyll a-Chlorophyll c 2-Peridinin-Protein-Complex (acpPC) from the coral symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Photosynthesis research}, volume = {120}, number = {1-2}, pages = {125-139}, pmid = {23361658}, issn = {1573-5079}, mesh = {Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll/*metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy was performed on the chlorophyll a-chlorophyll c 2-peridinin-protein-complex (acpPC), a major light-harvesting complex of the coral symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. The measurements were carried out on the protein as well on the isolated pigments in the visible and the near-infrared region at 77 K. The data were globally fit to establish inter-pigment energy transfer paths within the scaffold of the complex. In addition, microsecond flash photolysis analysis was applied to reveal photoprotective capabilities of carotenoids (peridinin and diadinoxanthin) in the complex, especially the ability to quench chlorophyll a triplet states. The results demonstrate that the majority of carotenoids and other accessory light absorbers such as chlorophyll c 2 are very well suited to support chlorophyll a in light harvesting. However, their performance in photoprotection in the acpPC is questionable. This is unusual among carotenoid-containing light-harvesting proteins and may explain the low resistance of the acpPC complex against photoinduced damage under even moderate light conditions.}, } @article {pmid23360975, year = {2013}, author = {Valle, LG}, title = {New and rare Harpellales from Portugal and northwestern Iberian Peninsula: discovering the hidden mycobiota of Galicia-Tras-os-Montes region.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {105}, number = {3}, pages = {748-759}, doi = {10.3852/12-211}, pmid = {23360975}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Chironomidae/microbiology ; Fungi/*classification/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Geography ; Larva/microbiology ; Portugal ; Spain ; }, abstract = {The species of Harpellales obtained from a survey of the gut fungi of aquatic arthropods in the Galaico-Portuguese region, also known as the Galicia-Trás-os-Montes Zone, are presented. New species include Orphella lusitanica, a close relative of O. helicospora in Plecoptera nymphs and Stachylina pleurospora, in Chironomiidae larvae, both from Galicia and Portugal. Tectimyces gallaecicus, in Ephemeroptera nymphs from Galicia, Spain, morphologically resembles the narrowly distributed T. robustus representing a genus known only from Europe. New geographical records from Portugal include Genistellospora homothallica, Graminella bulbosa, Harpella melusinae, Lancisporomyces vernalis, Legeriomyces ramosus, O. coronata, Simuliomyces microsporus and Smittium simulii. Also three rare taxa are reported from Galicia: Legeriomyces dolabrae and Baetimyces ancorae from Baetidae nymphs and Smittium inexpectans from Chironomidae larvae.}, } @article {pmid23360457, year = {2013}, author = {Olivares, J and Bedmar, EJ and Sanjuán, J}, title = {Biological nitrogen fixation in the context of global change.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {5}, pages = {486-494}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-12-0293-CR}, pmid = {23360457}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The intensive application of fertilizers during agricultural practices has led to an unprecedented perturbation of the nitrogen cycle, illustrated by the growing accumulation of nitrates in soils and waters and of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. Besides increasing use efficiency of current N fertilizers, priority should be given to value the process of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) through more sustainable technologies that reduce the undesired effects of chemical N fertilization of agricultural crops. Wider legume adoption, supported by coordinated legume breeding and inoculation programs are approaches at hand. Also available are biofertilizers based on microbes that help to reduce the needs of N fertilization in important crops like cereals. Engineering the capacity to fix nitrogen in cereals, either by themselves or in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing microbes, are attractive future options that, nevertheless, require more intensive and internationally coordinated research efforts. Although nitrogen-fixing plants may be less productive, at some point, agriculture must significantly reduce the use of warming (chemically synthesized) N and give priority to BNF if it is to sustain both food production and environmental health for a continuously growing human population.}, } @article {pmid23358256, year = {2013}, author = {Dong, Z and Shi, L and Wang, Y and Chen, L and Cai, Z and Wang, Y and Jin, J and Li, X}, title = {Identification and Dynamic Regulation of microRNAs Involved in Salt Stress Responses in Functional Soybean Nodules by High-Throughput Sequencing.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, pages = {2717-2738}, pmid = {23358256}, issn = {1422-0067}, abstract = {Both symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia and nitrogen fixation in functional nodules are dramatically affected by salt stress. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the salt tolerance of functional nodules is essential for genetic improvement of nitrogen fixation efficiency. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in stress responses in many plants and in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in soybean. However, the dynamic regulation of miRNAs in functioning nodules during salt stress response remains unknown. We performed deep sequencing of miRNAs to understand the miRNA expression profile in normal or salt stressed-soybean mature nodules. We identified 110 known miRNAs belonging to 61 miRNA families and 128 novel miRNAs belonging to 64 miRNA families. Among them, 104 miRNAs were dramatically differentially expressed (>2-fold or detected only in one library) during salt stress. qRT-PCR analysis of eight miRNAs confirmed that these miRNAs were dynamically regulated in response to salt stress in functional soybean nodules. These data significantly increase the number of miRNAs known to be expressed in soybean nodules, and revealed for the first time a dynamic regulation of miRNAs during salt stress in functional nodules. The findings suggest great potential for miRNAs in functional soybean nodules during salt stress.}, } @article {pmid23357018, year = {2013}, author = {Dix, L and Ward, DT and Stewart, GS}, title = {Short communication: urea transporter protein UT-B in the bovine parotid gland.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {96}, number = {3}, pages = {1685-1690}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2012-6230}, pmid = {23357018}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Cattle ; Cell Membrane/chemistry/physiology ; Female ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*analysis/physiology ; Parotid Gland/*chemistry/physiology ; Rumen/chemistry/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ruminant nutrition relies upon the symbiotic relationship that exists with microbial populations in the rumen. Urea transported across the ruminal epithelia and secreted by the salivary glands is a key source of nitrogen for microbial growth in the rumen. As ruminal urea transport can be mediated by specific UT-B urea transporters, this study investigated whether UT-B urea transporters were also present in the bovine salivary gland. Western blotting experiments detected only small amounts of UT-B protein in whole-cell lysate from the bovine parotid gland. In contrast, strong 32 to 34 and 40 kDa UT-B proteins were detected in parotid plasma membrane-enriched protein, showing the importance of using enriched samples. These signals were also detected in rumen and correspond to bovine UT-B1 and UT-B2 urea transporters, respectively. Further immunolocalization studies identified that these proteins were located in the ductal system of the parotid gland. This study, therefore, confirmed the presence of UT-B urea transporter protein in the bovine parotid salivary gland.}, } @article {pmid23356631, year = {2013}, author = {Porter, SS and Rice, KJ}, title = {Trade-offs, spatial heterogeneity, and the maintenance of microbial diversity.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {67}, number = {2}, pages = {599-608}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01788.x}, pmid = {23356631}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genetic Variation ; Lotus/genetics/physiology ; Medicago/genetics/physiology ; Nickel/analysis/pharmacology ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*genetics/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Specialization and concomitant trade-offs are assumed to underlie the non-neutral coexistence of lineages. Trade-offs across heterogeneous environments can promote diversity by preventing competitive exclusion. However, the importance of trade-offs in maintaining diversity in natural microbial assemblages is unclear, as trade-offs are frequently not detected in artificial evolution experiments. Stressful conditions associated with patches of heavy-metal enriched serpentine soils provide excellent opportunities for examining how heterogeneity may foster genetic diversity. Using a spatially replicated design, we demonstrate that rhizobium bacteria symbiotic with legumes inhabiting contrasting serpentine and nonserpentine soils exhibit a trade-off between a genotype's nickel tolerance and its ability to replicate rapidly. Furthermore, we detected adaptive divergence in rhizobial assemblages across soil type heterogeneity at multiple sites, suggesting that this trade-off may promote the coexistence of phenotypically distinct bacterial lineages. Trade-offs and adaptive divergence may be important factors maintaining the tremendous diversity within natural assemblages of bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23356503, year = {2013}, author = {Näsholm, T and Högberg, P and Franklin, O and Metcalfe, D and Keel, SG and Campbell, C and Hurry, V and Linder, S and Högberg, MN}, title = {Are ectomycorrhizal fungi alleviating or aggravating nitrogen limitation of tree growth in boreal forests?.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {1}, pages = {214-221}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12139}, pmid = {23356503}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Atmosphere/chemistry ; Carbon/metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Trees/drug effects/*growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi are thought to enhance plant uptake of nutrients through a favourable exchange for photosynthates. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are considered to play this vital role for trees in nitrogen (N)-limited boreal forests. We followed symbiotic carbon (C)-N exchange in a large-scale boreal pine forest experiment by tracing (13) CO(2) absorbed through tree photosynthesis and (15) N injected into a soil layer in which ectomycorrhizal fungi dominate the microbial community. We detected little (15) N in tree canopies, but high levels in soil microbes and in mycorrhizal root tips, illustrating effective soil N immobilization, especially in late summer, when tree belowground C allocation was high. Additions of N fertilizer to the soil before labelling shifted the incorporation of (15) N from soil microbes and root tips to tree foliage. These results were tested in a model for C-N exchange between trees and mycorrhizal fungi, suggesting that ectomycorrhizal fungi transfer small fractions of absorbed N to trees under N-limited conditions, but larger fractions if more N is available. We suggest that greater allocation of C from trees to ectomycorrhizal fungi increases N retention in soil mycelium, driving boreal forests towards more severe N limitation at low N supply.}, } @article {pmid23355979, year = {2012}, author = {Fukatsu, T}, title = {Next-generation sequencing sheds light on intricate regulation of insect gut microbiota.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {24}, pages = {5908-5910}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12090}, pmid = {23355979}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are getting cheaper and easier and hence becoming readily accessible for many researchers in biological disciplines including ecology. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Sudakaran et al. (2012) show how the NGS revolution contributes to our better and more comprehensive understanding of ecological interactions between gut symbiotic microbiota and the host organism. Using the European red firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus as a model system, they demonstrated that the gut microbiota consists of a small number of major bacterial phylotypes plus other minor bacterial associates. The major bacteria are localized in a specific anoxic section of the midgut and quantitatively account for most of the gut microbiota irrespective of host's geographic populations. The specific gut microbiota is established through early nymphal development of the host insect. Interestingly, the host feeding on different food, namely linden seeds, sunflower seeds or wasp larvae, scarcely affected the symbiont composition, suggesting homoeostatic control over the major symbiotic microbiota in the anoxic section of the midgut. Some of the minor components of the gut microbiota, which conventional PCR/cloning/sequencing approaches would have failed to detect, were convincingly shown to be food-derived. These findings rest on the robust basis of high-throughput sequencing data, and some of them could not be practically obtained by conventional molecular techniques, highlighting the significant impact of NGS approaches on ecological aspects of host-symbiont interactions in a nonmodel organism.}, } @article {pmid23355305, year = {2013}, author = {Patiño-Navarrete, R and Moya, A and Latorre, A and Peretó, J}, title = {Comparative genomics of Blattabacterium cuenoti: the frozen legacy of an ancient endosymbiont genome.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {5}, number = {2}, pages = {351-361}, pmid = {23355305}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Cockroaches/*genetics/microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Many insect species have established long-term symbiotic relationships with intracellular bacteria. Symbiosis with bacteria has provided insects with novel ecological capabilities, which have allowed them colonize previously unexplored niches. Despite its importance to the understanding of the emergence of biological complexity, the evolution of symbiotic relationships remains hitherto a mystery in evolutionary biology. In this study, we contribute to the investigation of the evolutionary leaps enabled by mutualistic symbioses by sequencing the genome of Blattabacterium cuenoti, primary endosymbiont of the omnivorous cockroach Blatta orientalis, and one of the most ancient symbiotic associations. We perform comparative analyses between the Blattabacterium cuenoti genome and that of previously sequenced endosymbionts, namely those from the omnivorous hosts the Blattella germanica (Blattelidae) and Periplaneta americana (Blattidae), and the endosymbionts harbored by two wood-feeding hosts, the subsocial cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus (Cryptocercidae) and the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis (Termitidae). Our study shows a remarkable evolutionary stasis of this symbiotic system throughout the evolutionary history of cockroaches and the deepest branching termite M. darwiniensis, in terms of not only chromosome architecture but also gene content, as revealed by the striking conservation of the Blattabacterium core genome. Importantly, the architecture of central metabolic network inferred from the endosymbiont genomes was established very early in Blattabacterium evolutionary history and could be an outcome of the essential role played by this endosymbiont in the host's nitrogen economy.}, } @article {pmid23354704, year = {2013}, author = {Giraud, E and Xu, L and Chaintreuil, C and Gargani, D and Gully, D and Sadowsky, MJ}, title = {Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 is capable of forming nitrogen-fixing root nodules on soybeans (Glycine max).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {7}, pages = {2459-2462}, pmid = {23354704}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The ability of photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strains ORS285 and ORS278 to nodulate soybeans was investigated. While the nod gene-deficient ORS278 strain induced bumps only on soybean roots, the nod gene-containing ORS285 strain formed nitrogen-fixing nodules. However, symbiotic efficiencies differed drastically depending on both the soybean genotype used and the culture conditions tested.}, } @article {pmid23354496, year = {2013}, author = {Otagiri, M and Lopez, CM and Kitamoto, K and Arioka, M and Kudo, T and Moriya, S}, title = {Heterologous expression and characterization of a glycoside hydrolase family 45 endo-β-1,4-glucanase from a symbiotic protist of the lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {169}, number = {6}, pages = {1910-1918}, doi = {10.1007/s12010-012-9992-1}, pmid = {23354496}, issn = {1559-0291}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aspergillus oryzae/genetics ; Cellulase/chemistry/*genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Substrate Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The termite symbiotic system is one of the efficient lignocellulose degradation systems. We tried to express and characterize a novel cellulolytic enzyme from this system. Here, we report the isolation of an endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene homolog of glycoside hydrolase family 45 from a symbiotic protistan community of Reticulitermes speratus. Heterologous expression of this gene was performed using the expression system of Aspergillus oryzae. Analysis of enzymatic properties revealed 786 μmol/min/mg protein in specific activity, a V max of 833.0 units/mg protein, and a K m value of 2.58 mg/ml with carboxymethyl cellulose as the substrate. Thin-layer chromatography analysis showed that RsSymEG2 produces cellobiose from cellodextrins larger than cellohexaose. This enzyme showed high specific activity like other endo-β-1,4-glucanases from the symbiotic system of termites. It means that the termite symbiotic system is a good resource for highly active endo-β-1,4-glucanases.}, } @article {pmid23352401, year = {2013}, author = {Estrada, B and Aroca, R and Barea, JM and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from a saline habitat improved maize antioxidant systems and plant tolerance to salinity.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {201-202}, number = {}, pages = {42-51}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.11.009}, pmid = {23352401}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Enzyme Activation ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Plant Stomata/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Salinity ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/enzymology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Zea mays/enzymology/*metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {High soil salinity is a serious problem for crop production because most of the cultivated plants are salt sensitive, which is also the case for the globally important crop plant maize. Salinity stress leads to secondary oxidative stress in plants and a correlation between antioxidant capacity and salt tolerance has been demonstrated in several plant species. The plant antioxidant capacity may be enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and it has been proposed that AM symbiosis is more effective with native than with collection AMF species. Thus, we investigated whether native AMF isolated from a dry and saline environment can help maize plants to overcome salt stress better than AMF from a culture collection and whether protection against oxidative stress is involved in such an effect. Maize plants inoculated with three native AMF showed higher efficiency of photosystem II and stomatal conductance, which surely decreased photorespiration and ROS production. Indeed, the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, the oxidative damage to lipids and the membrane electrolyte leakage in these AM plants were significantly lower than in non-mycorrhizal plants or in plants inoculated with the collection AMF. The activation of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase or catalase also accounted for these effects.}, } @article {pmid23352141, year = {2013}, author = {Lin, Z and Torres, JP and Ammon, MA and Marett, L and Teichert, RW and Reilly, CA and Kwan, JC and Hughen, RW and Flores, M and Tianero, MD and Peraud, O and Cox, JE and Light, AR and Villaraza, AJ and Haygood, MG and Concepcion, GP and Olivera, BM and Schmidt, EW}, title = {A bacterial source for mollusk pyrone polyketides.}, journal = {Chemistry & biology}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {73-81}, pmid = {23352141}, issn = {1879-1301}, support = {R01 ES017431/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U01TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/chemistry/*physiology ; Animals ; Mollusca/chemistry/*microbiology/*physiology ; Polyketides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Pyrones/chemistry/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the oceans, secondary metabolites often protect otherwise poorly defended invertebrates, such as shell-less mollusks, from predation. The origins of these metabolites are largely unknown, but many of them are thought to be made by symbiotic bacteria. In contrast, mollusks with thick shells and toxic venoms are thought to lack these secondary metabolites because of reduced defensive needs. Here, we show that heavily defended cone snails also occasionally contain abundant secondary metabolites, γ-pyrones known as nocapyrones, which are synthesized by symbiotic bacteria. The bacteria, Nocardiopsis alba CR167, are related to widespread actinomycetes that we propose to be casual symbionts of invertebrates on land and in the sea. The natural roles of nocapyrones are unknown, but they are active in neurological assays, revealing that mollusks with external shells are an overlooked source of secondary metabolite diversity.}, } @article {pmid23347006, year = {2013}, author = {Andrio, E and Marino, D and Marmeys, A and de Segonzac, MD and Damiani, I and Genre, A and Huguet, S and Frendo, P and Puppo, A and Pauly, N}, title = {Hydrogen peroxide-regulated genes in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {198}, number = {1}, pages = {179-189}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12120}, pmid = {23347006}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/enzymology/*genetics/*microbiology ; MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Onium Compounds/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/genetics/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), play an important role in signalling in various cellular processes. The involvement of H(2)O(2) in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiotic interaction raises questions about its effect on gene expression. A transcriptome analysis was performed on inoculated roots of M. truncatula in which ROS production was inhibited with diphenylene iodonium (DPI). In total, 301 genes potentially regulated by ROS content were identified 2 d after inoculation. These genes included MtSpk1, which encodes a putative protein kinase and is induced by exogenous H(2)O(2) treatment. MtSpk1 gene expression was also induced by nodulation factor treatment. MtSpk1 transcription was observed in infected root hair cells, nodule primordia and the infection zone of mature nodules. Analysis with a fluorescent protein probe specific for H(2)O(2) showed that MtSpk1 expression and H(2)O(2) were similarly distributed in the nodule infection zone. Finally, the establishment of symbiosis was impaired by MtSpk1 downregulation with an artificial micro-RNA. Several genes regulated by H(2)O(2) during the establishment of rhizobial symbiosis were identified. The involvement of MtSpk1 in the establishment of the symbiosis is proposed.}, } @article {pmid23346228, year = {2012}, author = {Gundel, PE and Martínez-Ghersa, MA and Omacini, M and Cuyeu, R and Pagano, E and Ríos, R and Ghersa, CM}, title = {Mutualism effectiveness and vertical transmission of symbiotic fungal endophytes in response to host genetic background.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {5}, number = {8}, pages = {838-849}, pmid = {23346228}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Certain species of the Pooideae subfamily develop stress tolerance and herbivory resistance through symbiosis with vertically transmitted, asexual fungi. This symbiosis is specific, and genetic factors modulate the compatibility between partners. Although gene flow is clearly a fitness trait in allogamous grasses, because it injects hybrid vigor and raw material for evolution, it could reduce compatibility and thus mutualism effectiveness. To explore the importance of host genetic background in modulating the performance of symbiosis, Lolium multiflorum plants, infected and noninfected with Neotyphodium occultans, were crossed with genetically distant plants of isolines (susceptible and resistant to diclofop-methyl herbicide) bred from two cultivars and exposed to stress. The endophyte improved seedling survival in genotypes susceptible to herbicide, while it had a negative effect on one of the genetically resistant crosses. Mutualism provided resistance to herbivory independently of the host genotype, but this effect vanished under stress. While no endophyte effect was observed on host reproductive success, it was increased by interpopulation plant crosses. Neither gene flow nor herbicide had an important impact on endophyte transmission. Host fitness improvements attributable to gene flow do not appear to result in direct conflict with mutualism while this seems to be an important mechanism for the ecological and contemporary evolution of the symbiotum.}, } @article {pmid23346080, year = {2012}, author = {Webster, NS and Luter, HM and Soo, RM and Botté, ES and Simister, RL and Abdo, D and Whalan, S}, title = {Same, same but different: symbiotic bacterial associations in GBR sponges.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {444}, pmid = {23346080}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbioses in marine sponges involve diverse consortia of microorganisms that contribute to the health and ecology of their hosts. The microbial communities of 13 taxonomically diverse Great Barrier Reef (GBR) sponge species were assessed by DGGE and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine intra and inter species variation in bacterial symbiont composition. Microbial profiling revealed communities that were largely conserved within different individuals of each species with intra species similarity ranging from 65-100%. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Nitrospira, and Cyanobacteria. Sponge-associated microbes were also highly host-specific with no operational taxonomic units (OTUs) common to all species and the most ubiquitous OTU found in only 5 of the 13 sponge species. In total, 91% of the OTUs were restricted to a single sponge species. However, GBR sponge microbes were more closely related to other sponge-derived bacteria than they were to environmental communities with sequences falling within 50 of the 173 previously defined sponge-(or sponge-coral) specific sequence clusters (SC). These SC spanned the Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospira, and the Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydiae superphylum. The number of sequences assigned to these sponge-specific clusters across all species ranged from 0 to 92%. No relationship between host phylogeny and symbiont communities were observed across the different sponge orders, although the highest level of similarity was detected in two closely related Xestospongia species. This study identifies the core microbial inhabitants in a range of GBR sponges thereby providing the basis for future studies on sponge symbiotic function and research aiming to predict how sponge holobionts will respond to environmental perturbation.}, } @article {pmid23342088, year = {2013}, author = {Costechareyre, D and Chich, JF and Strub, JM and Rahbé, Y and Condemine, G}, title = {Transcriptome of Dickeya dadantii infecting Acyrthosiphon pisum reveals a strong defense against antimicrobial peptides.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e54118}, pmid = {23342088}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects/genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The plant pathogenic bacterium Dickeya dadantii has recently been shown to be able to kill the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. While the factors required to cause plant disease are now well characterized, those required for insect pathogeny remain mostly unknown. To identify these factors, we analyzed the transcriptome of the bacteria isolated from infected aphids. More than 150 genes were upregulated and 300 downregulated more than 5-fold at 3 days post infection. No homologue to known toxin genes could be identified in the upregulated genes. The upregulated genes reflect the response of the bacteria to the conditions encountered inside aphids. While only a few genes involved in the response to oxidative stress were induced, a strong defense against antimicrobial peptides (AMP) was induced. Expression of a great number of efflux proteins and transporters was increased. Besides the genes involved in LPS modification by addition of 4-aminoarabinose (the arnBCADTEF operon) and phosphoethanolamine (pmrC, eptB) usually induced in Gram negative bacteria in response to AMPs, dltBAC and pbpG genes, which confer Gram positive bacteria resistance to AMPs by adding alanine to teichoic acids, were also induced. Both types of modification confer D. dadantii resistance to the AMP polymyxin. A. pisum harbors symbiotic bacteria and it is thought that it has a very limited immune system to maintain these populations and do not synthesize AMPs. The arnB mutant was less pathogenic to A. pisum, which suggests that, in contrast to what has been supposed, aphids do synthesize AMP.}, } @article {pmid23337934, year = {2013}, author = {Rosenstiel, P}, title = {Stories of love and hate: innate immunity and host-microbe crosstalk in the intestine.}, journal = {Current opinion in gastroenterology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {125-132}, doi = {10.1097/MOG.0b013e32835da2c7}, pmid = {23337934}, issn = {1531-7056}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Mice ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Toll-Like Receptors/immunology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent advances in molecular techniques have enabled a deep view into the structure and function of the host's immune system and the stably associated commensal intestinal flora. This review outlines selected aspects of the interplay of innate immune recognition and effectors that shape the ecological niches for the intestinal microbiota.

RECENT FINDINGS: Several studies have demonstrated a pivotal role of innate immune receptor pathways (NOD-like receptors and Toll-like receptors) for the maintenance of microbial communities in the gut. Genetic deficiencies in these pathways have been associated with increased susceptibility to inflammation that in animal models can be transmitted via direct contact or by stool transplantation in the absence of abundant pathogens.

SUMMARY: The genetic architecture of the human host shapes the diversity and function of its stably associated intestinal microflora. Innate immune receptors such as NOD2 or the inflammasome component NOD-like receptor, pyrin-domain containing 6 play a major role in licensing the microbiota under physiological conditions. Understanding the symbiotic interplay in the intestinal tract should help develop procedures and therapeutic interventions aiming at the identification and restoration of disturbed microbiota states. Indeed, these states may be the missing trigger factor for the manifestation of a multitude of civilization disorders including inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal cancer.}, } @article {pmid23336126, year = {2013}, author = {Nogales, J and Blanca-Ordóñez, H and Olivares, J and Sanjuán, J}, title = {Conjugal transfer of the Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 symbiotic plasmid is governed through the concerted action of one- and two-component signal transduction regulators.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {811-821}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.12073}, pmid = {23336126}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Conjugation, Genetic/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Order ; Plasmids/*genetics ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics ; *Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Conjugal transfer of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium etli symbiotic plasmids are repressed by the transcriptional regulator RctA. Here we report on new key players in the signal transduction cascade towards S. meliloti pSym conjugation. We have identified S. meliloti pSymA gene SMa0974 as an orthologue of the R. etli rctB gene which is required to antagonize repression by RctA. In S. meliloti two additional genes, rctR and rctC participate in control of rctB expression. rctR (SMa0955) encodes a protein of the GntR family of transcriptional regulators involved in repression of rctB. A rctR mutant promotes pSymA conjugal transfer and displays increased transcription of tra, virB and rctB genes even in presence of wild-type rctA gene. Among genes repressed by RctR, rctC (SMa0961) encodes a response regulator required to activate rctB transcription and therefore for derepression of plasmid conjugative functions. We conclude that in both R. etli and S. meliloti pSym conjugal transfer is derepressed via rctB, however the regulatory cascades to achieve activation of rctB are probably different. Upstream of rctB, the S. meliloti pSym conjugal transfer is regulated through the concerted action of genes representing one- (rctR) and two-component (rctC) signal transduction systems in response to yet unidentified signals.}, } @article {pmid23336072, year = {2013}, author = {Wijgerde, T and Schots, P and Van Onselen, E and Janse, M and Karruppannan, E and Verreth, JA and Osinga, R}, title = {Epizoic acoelomorph flatworms impair zooplankton feeding by the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {10-17}, pmid = {23336072}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Many scleractinian coral species host epizoic acoelomorph flatworms, both in aquaculture and in situ. These symbiotic flatworms may impair coral growth and health through light-shading, mucus removal and disruption of heterotrophic feeding. To quantify the effect of epizoic flatworms on zooplankton feeding, we conducted video analyses of single polyps of Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus 1767) grazing on Artemia nauplii in the presence and absence of symbiotic flatworms. 18S DNA analysis revealed that flatworms inhabiting G. fascicularis belonged to the genus Waminoa (Convolutidae), which were hosted at a density of 3.6±0.4 individuals polyp(-1). Polyps hosting flatworms exhibited prey capture rates of 2.2±2.5, 3.4±4.5 and 2.7±3.4 nauplii polyp(-1) 30 min(-1) at prey concentrations of 250, 500 and 1,000 nauplii L(-1), respectively. Polyps that had their flatworms removed displayed prey capture rates of 2.7±1.6, 4.8±4.1 and 16.9±10.3 nauplii polyp(-1) 30 min(-1). Significant main and interactive effects of flatworm presence and ambient prey concentration were found, reflected by the fact that flatworms significantly impaired host feeding rates at the highest prey density of 1,000 nauplii L(-1). In addition, flatworms displayed kleptoparasitism, removing between 0.1±0.3 and 0.6±1.1 nauplii 30 min(-1) from the oral disc of their host, or 5.3±3.3 to 50.0±2.1% of prey acquired by the coral. We suggest classifying the coral-associated Waminoa sp. as an epizoic parasite, as its presence may negatively affect growth and health of the host.}, } @article {pmid23336017, year = {2012}, author = {Vázquez-Limón, C and Castro-Bustos, S and Arredondo-Peter, R}, title = {Spectroscopic analysis of moss (Ceratodon purpureus and Physcomitrella patens) recombinant non-symbiotic hemoglobins.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {527-530}, pmid = {23336017}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Non-symbiotic hemoglobins (nsHbs) are O(2)-binding proteins widely distributed in land plants, including primitive bryophytes. Little is known about the properties of bryophyte nsHbs. Here, we report the spectroscopic characterization of two moss recombinant nsHbs, CerpurnsHb of Ceratodon purpureus and PhypatnsHb of Physcomitrella patens. Spectra showed that the absorption maxima of the ferrous and ferric forms of recombinant CerpurnsHb are located at 418, 531 and 557 nm and 407, 537, 569 (shoulder) and 632 (shoulder) nm, respectively, and of PhypatnsHb are located at 422, 529 and 557 nm and 407, 531, 571 (shoulder) and 647 (shoulder) nm, respectively. These absorption maxima are similar to those of rice Hb1. Also, the absorption maxima of the oxygenated ferrous form of recombinant CerpurnsHb and PhypatnsHb are located at 412, 541 and 575 nm and 414, 541 and 574 nm, respectively, similar to those of oxygenated rice Hb1 and cowpea leghemoglobin II. This evidence indicates that CerpurnsHb and PhypatnsHb are mostly hexacoordinate and that they bind O(2).}, } @article {pmid23335920, year = {2012}, author = {Rivera, IN and Souza, KM and Souza, CP and Lopes, RM}, title = {Free-living and plankton-associated vibrios: assessment in ballast water, harbor areas, and coastal ecosystems in Brazil.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {443}, pmid = {23335920}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Ballast water (BW) is a major transport vector of exotic aquatic species and pathogenic microorganisms. The wide-ranging spread of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 from harbor areas has been frequently ascribed to discharge of contaminated BW into eutrophic coastal environments, such as during the onset of the seventh cholera pandemic in South America in the early 1990s. To determine the microbiological hazards of BWs transported to Brazilian ports, we evaluated water and plankton samples taken from (i) BW tanks of recently arrived ships, (ii) port areas along the Brazilian coastline from ∼1 to 32°S and (iii) three coastal areas in São Paulo State. Vibrio concentration and toxigenic V. cholerae O1 occurrence were analyzed. Plankton-associated vibrios were more abundant than free-living vibrios in all studied environments. V. cholerae was found in 9.5% of ballast tanks and 24.2% of port samples, both as free-living and attached forms and, apart from the Santos harbor, was absent off São Paulo State. Toxigenic V. cholerae O1 isolates (ctxA(+), tcpA(+)), involved in cholera disease, were found in BW (2%) and harbor (2%) samples. These results confirm that BW is an important carrier of pathogenic organisms, and that monitoring of vibrios and other plankton-attached bacteria is of paramount importance in BW management programs.}, } @article {pmid23335779, year = {2013}, author = {Visick, KL and Quirke, KP and McEwen, SM}, title = {Arabinose induces pellicle formation by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {6}, pages = {2069-2080}, pmid = {23335779}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Arabinose/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Genes, Bacterial ; Locomotion ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Biofilms are multicellular communities of bacteria attached to a surface and embedded in a protective matrix. In many cases, the signals that induce biofilm formation are unknown. Here, we report that biofilm formation by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri can be induced by the addition of arabinose to LBS (Luria-Bertani-salt), a tryptone-based medium. Growth of cells in the presence of 0.2% arabinose, but not other sugars, induced the production of a pellicle at the air/liquid interfaces of static cultures. V. fischeri failed to grow on arabinose as the sole carbon source, suggesting that pellicle production did not occur as a result of increased growth, but experiments using the acid/base indicator phenol red suggested that V. fischeri may partially metabolize arabinose. Pellicle production was independent of the syp polysaccharide locus but was altered upon disruption of the bcs cellulose locus. Through a screen for mutants defective for pellicle production, we found that loss of motility disrupted the formation of the arabinose-induced pellicle. Among the ∼20 mutants that retained motility were strains with insertions in a putative msh pilus locus and a strain with a defect in yidK, which is involved in galactose catabolism. Mutants with the msh gene disrupted grew poorly in the presence of arabinose, while the yidK mutant appeared to be "blind" to the presence of arabinose. Finally, arabinose impaired symbiotic colonization by V. fischeri. This work thus identifies a novel signal and new pathways involved in control of biofilm formation by V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid23335760, year = {2013}, author = {Yurgel, SN and Mortimer, MW and Rice, JT and Humann, JL and Kahn, ML}, title = {Directed construction and analysis of a Sinorhizobium meliloti pSymA deletion mutant library.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {6}, pages = {2081-2087}, pmid = {23335760}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; *Gene Library ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Open Reading Frames ; *Plasmids ; *Sequence Deletion ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Resources from the Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 open reading frame (ORF) plasmid libraries were used in a medium-throughput method to construct a set of 50 overlapping deletion mutants covering all of the Rm1021 pSymA megaplasmid except the replicon region. Each resulting pSymA derivative carried a defined deletion of approximately 25 ORFs. Various phenotypes, including cytochrome c respiration activity, the ability of the mutants to grow on various carbon and nitrogen sources, and the symbiotic effectiveness of the mutants with alfalfa, were analyzed. This approach allowed us to systematically evaluate the potential impact of regions of Rm1021 pSymA for their free-living and symbiotic phenotypes.}, } @article {pmid23335624, year = {2013}, author = {Ristova, D and Rosas, U and Krouk, G and Ruffel, S and Birnbaum, KD and Coruzzi, GM}, title = {RootScape: a landmark-based system for rapid screening of root architecture in Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {161}, number = {3}, pages = {1086-1096}, pmid = {23335624}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {R01 GM078279/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01-GM078270/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*anatomy & histology/drug effects/genetics ; Genotype ; Mutation/genetics ; Organ Size/drug effects ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/drug effects ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; *Software ; }, abstract = {The architecture of plant roots affects essential functions including nutrient and water uptake, soil anchorage, and symbiotic interactions. Root architecture comprises many features that arise from the growth of the primary and lateral roots. These root features are dictated by the genetic background but are also highly responsive to the environment. Thus, root system architecture (RSA) represents an important and complex trait that is highly variable, affected by genotype × environment interactions, and relevant to survival/performance. Quantification of RSA in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) using plate-based tissue culture is a very common and relatively rapid assay, but quantifying RSA represents an experimental bottleneck when it comes to medium- or high-throughput approaches used in mutant or genotype screens. Here, we present RootScape, a landmark-based allometric method for rapid phenotyping of RSA using Arabidopsis as a case study. Using the software AAMToolbox, we created a 20-point landmark model that captures RSA as one integrated trait and used this model to quantify changes in the RSA of Arabidopsis (Columbia) wild-type plants grown under different hormone treatments. Principal component analysis was used to compare RootScape with conventional methods designed to measure root architecture. This analysis showed that RootScape efficiently captured nearly all the variation in root architecture detected by measuring individual root traits and is 5 to 10 times faster than conventional scoring. We validated RootScape by quantifying the plasticity of RSA in several mutant lines affected in hormone signaling. The RootScape analysis recapitulated previous results that described complex phenotypes in the mutants and identified novel gene × environment interactions.}, } @article {pmid23335015, year = {2013}, author = {Bansal, MS and Banay, G and Harlow, TJ and Gogarten, JP and Shamir, R}, title = {Systematic inference of highways of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes.}, journal = {Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)}, volume = {29}, number = {5}, pages = {571-579}, doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btt021}, pmid = {23335015}, issn = {1367-4811}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {MOTIVATION: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays a crucial role in the evolution of prokaryotic species. Typically, no more than a few genes are horizontally transferred between any two species. However, several studies identified pairs of species (or linages) between which many different genes were horizontally transferred. Such a pair is said to be linked by a highway of gene sharing. Inferring such highways is crucial to understanding the evolution of prokaryotes and for inferring past symbiotic and ecological associations among different species.

RESULTS: We present a new improved method for systematically detecting highways of gene sharing. As we demonstrate using a variety of simulated datasets, our method is highly accurate and efficient, and robust to noise and high rates of HGT. We further validate our method by applying it to a published dataset of >22 000 gene trees from 144 prokaryotic species. Our method makes it practical, for the first time, to perform accurate highway analysis quickly and easily even on large datasets with high rates of HGT.

An implementation of the method can be freely downloaded from: http://acgt.cs.tau.ac.il/hide.}, } @article {pmid23334948, year = {2013}, author = {Ahantarig, A and Trinachartvanit, W and Baimai, V and Grubhoffer, L}, title = {Hard ticks and their bacterial endosymbionts (or would be pathogens).}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {58}, number = {5}, pages = {419-428}, pmid = {23334948}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; Ixodidae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic microorganisms of arthropod vectors are highly significant from several points of view, partly due to their possible roles in the transmission of pathogenic causative agents by blood-sucking vectors. Although ticks are well studied because of their significance to human health, novel microbial associations remain to be described. This review summarises several endosymbiotic bacterial species in hard ticks from various parts of the world, including Coxiella-, Francisella-, Rickettsia- and Arsenophonus-like symbionts as well as Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii and Wolbachia. New methodologies for the isolation and characterization of tick-associated bacteria will, in turn, encourage new strategies of tick control by studying their endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid23334657, year = {2013}, author = {Maya, MA and Matsubara, Y}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza on the growth and antioxidative activity in cyclamen under heat stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {381-390}, pmid = {23334657}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants/physiology ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Ascorbate Peroxidases/metabolism ; Cyclamen/enzymology/*growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The influence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus fasciculatum, on the growth, heat stress responses and the antioxidative activity in cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) plants was studied. Cyclamen plants (inoculated or not with the AM fungus) were placed in a commercial potting media at 17-20 °C for 12 weeks in a greenhouse and subsequently subjected to two temperature conditions in a growth chamber. Initially, plants were grown at 20 °C for 4 weeks as a no heat stress (HS-) condition, followed by 30 °C for another 4 weeks as a heat stress (HS+) condition. Different morphological and physiological growth parameters were compared between G. fasciculatum-inoculated and noninoculated plants. The mycorrhizal symbiosis markedly enhanced biomass production and HS + responses in plants compared to that in the controls. A severe rate of leaf browning (80-100%) was observed in control plants, whereas the mycorrhizal plants showed a minimum rate of leaf browning under HS + conditions. The mycorrhizal plants showed an increase activity of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, as well as an increase in ascorbic acid and polyphenol contents. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity also showed a greater response in mycorrhizal plants than in the control plants under each temperature condition. The results indicate that in cyclamen plants, AM fungal colonisation alleviated heat stress damage through an increased antioxidative activity and that the mycorrhizal symbiosis strongly enhanced temperature stress tolerance which promoted plant growth and increased the host biomass under heat stress.}, } @article {pmid23333973, year = {2013}, author = {Foo, E}, title = {Something old, something new: auxin and strigolactone interact in the ancient mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e23656}, doi = {10.4161/psb.23656}, pmid = {23333973}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Glomeromycota ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Peas/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, formed between more than 80% of land plants and fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota, is an ancient association that is believed to have evolved as plants moved onto land more than 400 mya. Similarly ancient, the plant hormones auxin and strigolactone are thought to have been present in the plant lineage since before the divergence of the bryophytes in the case of auxin and before the colonisation of land in the case of strigolactones. The discovery of auxin in the 1930s predates the discovery of strigolactones as a plant hormone in 2008 by over 70 y. Recent studies in pea suggest that these two signals may interact to regulate mycorrhizal symbiosis. Furthermore, the first quantitative studies are presented that show that low auxin content of the root is correlated with low strigolactone production, an interaction that has implications for how these plant hormones regulate several developmental programs including shoot branching, secondary growth and root development. With recent advances in our understanding of auxin and strigolactone biosynthesis, together with the discovery of the fungal signals that activate the plant host, the stage is set for real breakthroughs in our understanding of the interactions between plant and fungal signals in mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23333966, year = {2013}, author = {Volpe, V and Dell'Aglio, E and Bonfante, P}, title = {The Lotus japonicus MAMI gene links root development, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and phosphate availability.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e23414}, pmid = {23333966}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Meristem/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal-induced LjMAMI gene is phylogenetically related to GARP transcription factors involved in Pi-starvation responses such as AtPHR1. The gene is strongly upregulated in arbusculated cells from mycorrhizal plants and in root meristems, irrespectively of the fungal presence. A further expression analysis revealed a similar expression pattern for LjPT4, considered a marker gene for mycorrhizal functionality. Here we show that the LjPT4 promoter contains two conserved cis-acting elements typically found in Pi-starvation induced Pi transporters. One of these is strongly related to the binding site of AtPHR1, suggesting a direct regulation of LjPT4 by LjMAMI. The expression of both genes in non-mycorrhizal tissues leads to the hypothesis that these symbiosis-inducible genes are also involved in Pi starvation responses in root meristems in an AM-independent manner.}, } @article {pmid23333963, year = {2013}, author = {Ferguson, BJ and Lin, MH and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Regulation of legume nodulation by acidic growth conditions.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e23426}, pmid = {23333963}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Acids ; Fabaceae/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/metabolism ; *Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes represent some of the most important crop species worldwide. They are able to form novel root organs known as nodules, within which biological nitrogen fixation is facilitated through a symbiotic interaction with soil-dwelling bacteria called rhizobia. This provides legumes with a distinct advantage over other plant species, as nitrogen is a key factor for growth and development. Nodule formation is tightly regulated by the plant and can be inhibited by a number of external factors, such as soil pH. This is of significant agricultural and economic importance as much of global legume crops are grown on low pH soils. Despite this, the precise mechanism by which low pH conditions inhibits nodule development remains poorly characterized.}, } @article {pmid23333956, year = {2013}, author = {Suzaki, T and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Grafting analysis indicates that malfunction of TRICOT in the root causes a nodulation-deficient phenotype in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e23497}, pmid = {23333956}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Carboxypeptidases/*genetics/metabolism ; *Genes, Plant ; Lotus/*genetics/metabolism ; Meristem/metabolism ; Mutation ; *Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Rhizobium ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants develop root nodules in symbiosis with soil rhizobia. Nodule formation occurs following rhizobial infection of the host root that induces dedifferentiation of some cortical cells and the initiation of a new developmental program to form nodule primordia. In a recent study, we identified a novel gene, TRICOT (TCO), that acts as a positive regulator of nodulation in Lotus japonicus. In addition to its role in nodulation, tco mutant plants display pleiotropic defects including abnormal shoot apical meristem formation. Here, we investigated the effect of the tco mutation on nodulation using a grafting approach. The results strongly indicate that the nodulation-deficient phenotype of the mutant results from malfunction of the TCO gene in the root.}, } @article {pmid23332830, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, Y and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V and Arnould, C and Wipf, D and Zhao, B and van Tuinen, D}, title = {Fungal genes related to calcium homeostasis and signalling are upregulated in symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhiza interactions.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {117}, number = {1}, pages = {22-31}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2012.11.002}, pmid = {23332830}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Calcium/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Lasers ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Microdissection ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Fluctuations in intracellular calcium levels generate signalling events and regulate different cellular processes. Whilst the implication of Ca(2+) in plant responses during arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) interactions is well documented, nothing is known about the regulation or role of this secondary messenger in the fungal symbiont. The spatio-temporal expression pattern of putatively Ca(2+)-related genes of Glomus intraradices BEG141 encoding five proteins involved in membrane transport and one nuclear protein kinase, was investigated during the AM symbiosis. Expression profiles related to successful colonization of host roots were observed in interactions of G. intraradices with roots of wild-type Medicago truncatula (line J5) compared to the mycorrhiza-defective mutant dmi3/Mtsym13. Symbiotic fungal activity was monitored using stearoyl-CoA desaturase and phosphate transporter genes. Laser microdissection based-mapping of fungal gene expression in mycorrhizal root tissues indicated that the Ca(2+)-related genes were differentially upregulated in arbuscules and/or in intercellular hyphae. The spatio-temporal variations in gene expression suggest that the encoded proteins may have different functions in fungal development or function during symbiosis development. Full-length cDNA obtained for two genes with interesting expression profiles confirmed a close similarity with an endoplasmic reticulum P-type ATPase and a Vcx1-like vacuolar Ca(2+) ion transporter functionally characterized in other fungi and involved in the regulation of cell calcium pools. Possible mechanisms are discussed in which Ca(2+)-related proteins G. intraradices BEG141 may play a role in mobilization and perception of the intracellular messenger by the AM fungus during symbiotic interactions with host roots.}, } @article {pmid23331708, year = {2013}, author = {Crowther, TW and Bradford, MA}, title = {Thermal acclimation in widespread heterotrophic soil microbes.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {469-477}, doi = {10.1111/ele.12069}, pmid = {23331708}, issn = {1461-0248}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Basidiomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes ; *Soil Microbiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Respiration by plants and microorganisms is primarily responsible for mediating carbon exchanges between the biosphere and atmosphere. Climate warming has the potential to influence the activity of these organisms, regulating exchanges between carbon pools. Physiological 'down-regulation' of warm-adapted species (acclimation) could ameliorate the predicted respiratory losses of soil carbon under climate change scenarios, but unlike plants and symbiotic microbes, the existence of this phenomenon in heterotrophic soil microbes remains controversial. Previous studies using complex soil microbial communities are unable to distinguish physiological acclimation from other community-scale adjustments. We explored the temperature-sensitivity of individual saprotrophic basidiomycete fungi growing in agar, showing definitively that these widespread heterotrophic fungi can acclimate to temperature. In almost all cases, the warm-acclimated individuals had lower growth and respiration rates at intermediate temperatures than cold-acclimated isolates. Inclusion of such microbial physiological responses to warming is essential to enhance the robustness of global climate-ecosystem carbon models.}, } @article {pmid23328806, year = {2013}, author = {Seguel, A and Cumming, JR and Klugh-Stewart, K and Cornejo, P and Borie, F}, title = {The role of arbuscular mycorrhizas in decreasing aluminium phytotoxicity in acidic soils: a review.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {3}, pages = {167-183}, pmid = {23328806}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Aluminum/chemistry/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plants/*drug effects ; Soil/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Soil acidity is an impediment to agricultural production on a significant portion of arable land worldwide. Low productivity of these soils is mainly due to nutrient limitation and the presence of high levels of aluminium (Al), which causes deleterious effects on plant physiology and growth. In response to acidic soil stress, plants have evolved various mechanisms to tolerate high concentrations of Al in the soil solution. These strategies for Al detoxification include mechanisms that reduce the activity of Al3+ and its toxicity, either externally through exudation of Al-chelating compounds such as organic acids into the rhizosphere or internally through the accumulation of Al-organic acid complexes sequestered within plant cells. Additionally, root colonization by symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi increases plant resistance to acidity and phytotoxic levels of Al in the soil environment. In this review, the role of the AM symbiosis in increasing the Al resistance of plants in natural and agricultural ecosystems under phytotoxic conditions of Al is discussed. Mechanisms of Al resistance induced by AM fungi in host plants and variation in resistance among AM fungi that contribute to detoxifying Al in the rhizosphere environment are considered with respect to altering Al bioavailability.}, } @article {pmid23328118, year = {2013}, author = {de Munck, E and Muñoz-Sáez, E and Antonio, MT and Pineda, J and Herrera, A and Miguel, BG and Arahuetes, RM}, title = {Effect of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine on oxidative stress of liver and kidney in rat.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and pharmacology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {193-199}, doi = {10.1016/j.etap.2012.12.004}, pmid = {23328118}, issn = {1872-7077}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Diamino/*toxicity ; Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; Female ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Kidney/*drug effects/metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Liver/*drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; }, abstract = {β-N-methylamino-(L)-alanine (L)-BMAA) is a neurotoxic amino acid, found in the majority of cyanbacterial genera tested. Evidence for implication of (L)-BMAA in neurodegenerative disorders, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), relies on bioaccumulation and biomagnification from symbiotic cyanobacteria. The involvement of (L)-BMAA in oxidative stress was demonstrated in several studies in the central nervous system. In the present study, we investigated the effect of (L)-BMAA on the oxidative stress responses of liver and kidney in rats treated by intraperitoneal administration with this amino acid. Oxidative stress was demonstrated by the quantification of lipid peroxidation, the measurement of both catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, as well as the quantification of glutathione (GSH) levels and the total antioxidant capacity. It was observed that (L)-BMAA caused a significant increase in the degree of lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in both organs. A significant increase in glutathione peroxidase activity was obtained only in liver, whereas glutathione levels were also increased in both organs. The total antioxidant capacity decreased in liver and increased in kidney. These results suggest that the oxidative stress was higher in liver than in kidney, and might be crucial for (L)-BMAA toxicological action.}, } @article {pmid23327521, year = {2013}, author = {Eloe-Fadrosh, EA and Rasko, DA}, title = {The human microbiome: from symbiosis to pathogenesis.}, journal = {Annual review of medicine}, volume = {64}, number = {}, pages = {145-163}, pmid = {23327521}, issn = {1545-326X}, support = {U01 AT002388/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; RC4 AI092828/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19 AI082655/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U01 AT002952/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; RC4 AI092828A/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Environment ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The human microbiota is a complex assemblage of the microbes inhabiting many sites in the human body. Recent advances in technology have enabled deep sequencing and analysis of the members and structures of these communities. Two sites, the vagina and gastrointestinal tract, are highlighted to exemplify how technological advances have enhanced our knowledge of the host-microbiota system. These examples represent low- and high-complexity communities, respectively. In each example, certain community structures are identified that can be extrapolated to larger collections representing multiple individuals and potential disease or health states. One common feature is the unexpected diversity of the microbiota at any of these locations, which poses a challenge for relating the microbiota to health and disease. However, we anticipate microbiota compositional measurements could become standard clinical practice in the future and may become diagnostic for certain diseases or increased susceptibility to certain disorders. The microbiota of a number of disease states are currently being examined to identify potential correlations. In line with these predictions, it is possible that existing conditions may be resolved by altering the microbiota in a positive way.}, } @article {pmid23326463, year = {2013}, author = {Decelle, J and Martin, P and Paborstava, K and Pond, DW and Tarling, G and Mahé, F and de Vargas, C and Lampitt, R and Not, F}, title = {Diversity, ecology and biogeochemistry of cyst-forming acantharia (radiolaria) in the oceans.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e53598}, pmid = {23326463}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Carbon/analysis ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; *Genetic Variation ; Geologic Sediments/parasitology ; Geological Phenomena ; Life Cycle Stages ; Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Rhizaria/*genetics/growth & development ; Seasons ; Spores, Protozoan/genetics ; Strontium/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine planktonic organisms that undertake active vertical migrations over their life cycle are important contributors to downward particle flux in the oceans. Acantharia, globally distributed heterotrophic protists that are unique in building skeletons of celestite (strontium sulfate), can produce reproductive cysts covered by a heavy mineral shell that sink rapidly from surface to deep waters. We combined phylogenetic and biogeochemical analyses to explore the ecological and biogeochemical significance of this reproductive strategy. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S and 28S rRNA genes of different cyst morphotypes collected in different oceans indicated that cyst-forming Acantharia belong to three early diverging and essentially non symbiotic clades from the orders Chaunacanthida and Holacanthida. Environmental high-throughput V9 tag sequences and clone libraries of the 18S rRNA showed that the three clades are widely distributed in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at different latitudes, but appear prominent in regions of higher primary productivity. Moreover, sequences of cyst-forming Acantharia were distributed evenly in both the photic and mesopelagic zone, a vertical distribution that we attribute to their life cycle where flagellated swarmers are released in deep waters from sinking cysts. Bathypelagic sediment traps in the subantarctic and oligotrophic subtropical Atlantic Ocean showed that downward flux of Acantharia was only large at high-latitudes and during a phytoplankton bloom. Their contribution to the total monthly particulate organic matter flux can represent up to 3%. High organic carbon export in cold waters would be a putative nutritional source for juveniles ascending in the water column. This study improves our understanding of the life cycle and biogeochemical contribution of Acantharia, and brings new insights into a remarkable reproductive strategy in marine protists.}, } @article {pmid23326321, year = {2013}, author = {Altincicek, B and Elashry, A and Guz, N and Grundler, FM and Vilcinskas, A and Dehne, HW}, title = {Next generation sequencing based transcriptome analysis of septic-injury responsive genes in the beetle Tribolium castaneum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e52004}, pmid = {23326321}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Endotoxins/immunology/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Genes, Insect/immunology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Insect Proteins/genetics/immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*immunology/pharmacology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcriptome/drug effects/*immunology ; Tribolium/*genetics/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Beetles (Coleoptera) are the most diverse animal group on earth and interact with numerous symbiotic or pathogenic microbes in their environments. The red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum is a genetically tractable model beetle species and its whole genome sequence has recently been determined. To advance our understanding of the molecular basis of beetle immunity here we analyzed the whole transcriptome of T. castaneum by high-throughput next generation sequencing technology. Here, we demonstrate that the Illumina/Solexa sequencing approach of cDNA samples from T. castaneum including over 9.7 million reads with 72 base pairs (bp) length (approximately 700 million bp sequence information with about 30× transcriptome coverage) confirms the expression of most predicted genes and enabled subsequent qualitative and quantitative transcriptome analysis. This approach recapitulates our recent quantitative real-time PCR studies of immune-challenged and naïve T. castaneum beetles, validating our approach. Furthermore, this sequencing analysis resulted in the identification of 73 differentially expressed genes upon immune-challenge with statistical significance by comparing expression data to calculated values derived by fitting to generalized linear models. We identified up regulation of diverse immune-related genes (e.g. Toll receptor, serine proteinases, DOPA decarboxylase and thaumatin) and of numerous genes encoding proteins with yet unknown functions. Of note, septic-injury resulted also in the elevated expression of genes encoding heat-shock proteins or cytochrome P450s supporting the view that there is crosstalk between immune and stress responses in T. castaneum. The present study provides a first comprehensive overview of septic-injury responsive genes in T. castaneum beetles. Identified genes advance our understanding of T. castaneum specific gene expression alteration upon immune-challenge in particular and may help to understand beetle immunity in general.}, } @article {pmid23326206, year = {2012}, author = {Wrede, C and Dreier, A and Kokoschka, S and Hoppert, M}, title = {Archaea in symbioses.}, journal = {Archaea (Vancouver, B.C.)}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {596846}, pmid = {23326206}, issn = {1472-3654}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*physiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Ecosystem ; Eukaryota/physiology ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Methane/biosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {During the last few years, the analysis of microbial diversity in various habitats greatly increased our knowledge on the kingdom Archaea. At the same time, we became aware of the multiple ways in which Archaea may interact with each other and with organisms of other kingdoms. The large group of euryarchaeal methanogens and their methane oxidizing relatives, in particular, take part in essential steps of the global methane cycle. Both of these processes, which are in reverse to each other, are partially conducted in a symbiotic interaction with different partners, either ciliates and xylophagous animals or sulfate reducing bacteria. Other symbiotic interactions are mostly of unknown ecological significance but depend on highly specific mechanisms. This paper will give an overview on interactions between Archaea and other organisms and will point out the ecological relevance of these symbiotic processes, as long as these have been already recognized.}, } @article {pmid23325116, year = {2013}, author = {Biswas, A and Kobayashi, KS}, title = {Regulation of intestinal microbiota by the NLR protein family.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {25}, number = {4}, pages = {207-214}, pmid = {23325116}, issn = {1460-2377}, support = {R01DK074738/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*immunology ; Intestines/*immunology/*microbiology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/immunology/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The human intestine harbors a diverse microbial community consisting of a large number of bacteria and other micro-organisms that have co-evolved with the host intestinal immune system. During this process, microbiota and the host immune system shape one another by various mechanisms to achieve a successful symbiotic relationship. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that dysbiosis--the breakdown of such harmonized colonization--may result in infectious and inflammatory disorders, and recent advances in our studies indicate that receptors such as Toll-like receptors and NLR (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor; or nucleotide-binding domain- and leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor) proteins that detect micro-organisms and their products play a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. In this review, we summarize the role of NLR proteins in the regulation of intestinal microbiota. NLR proteins belong to a diverse family of cytoplasmic microbial sensors, mutations of which are involved in various disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases. Understanding of the different roles of NLR family proteins in the intestine is, therefore, an important step towards the development of therapeutics against digestive diseases.}, } @article {pmid23324544, year = {2013}, author = {Tanaka, Y and Iguchi, A and Inoue, M and Mori, C and Sakai, K and Suzuki, A and Kawahata, H and Nakamura, T}, title = {Microscopic observation of symbiotic and aposymbiotic juvenile corals in nutrient-enriched seawater.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {68}, number = {1-2}, pages = {93-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.12.017}, pmid = {23324544}, issn = {1879-3363}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Chlorophyll A ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Microscopy ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Seawater/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic and aposymbiotic juvenile corals, which were grown in the laboratory from the gametes of the scleractinian coral Acropora digitifera and had settled down onto plastic culture plates, were observed with a microscope under different nutrient conditions. The symbiotic corals successfully removed the surrounding benthic microalgae (BMA), whereas the aposymbiotic corals were in close physical contact with BMA. The areal growth rate of the symbiotic corals was significantly higher than that of the aposymbiotic corals. The addition of nutrients to the culture seawater increased the chlorophyll a content in the symbiotic coral polyps and enhanced the growth of some of the symbiotic corals, however the average growth rate was not significantly affected, most likely because of the competition with BMA. The comparison between the symbiotic and aposymbiotic juvenile corals showed that the establishment of a symbiotic association could be imperative for post-settlement juvenile corals to survive in high-nutrient seawater.}, } @article {pmid23320641, year = {2012}, author = {Redondo Calderón, JL}, title = {[Fetal experimentation, transplantations, cosmetics and their connection with induced abortion].}, journal = {Cuadernos de bioetica : revista oficial de la Asociacion Espanola de Bioetica y Etica Medica}, volume = {23}, number = {79}, pages = {695-733}, pmid = {23320641}, issn = {1132-1989}, mesh = {Abortion, Induced/*ethics ; *Cosmetics ; Female ; Fetal Research/*ethics ; Fetus/cytology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Transplantation/*ethics ; }, abstract = {The increase in induced abortion produces large numbers of cells, tissues and organs, which are used in several fields of Medicine, either in research or in treatment. The main uses are in Cardiology, Hematology, Metabolism, Embryology, Neurology, Immunology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology and Transplantations. Flavor enhancers and cosmetics also benefit. Utilitarianism has led to an increase in abortion-originated cell and tissue banks. Abortion is justified through the manipulation of language. Vested interests give rise to complicity in researchers and society as a whole. Abortion and tissue 'donation' cannot be split; since fresh tissues are involved there is a symbiotic relationship between them. Valid consent is not possible. A contradiction emerges, the nasciturus is not desired or valued but fetal organs are. When someone is deprived of his rights it is because another wants to enslave them. Research must have a moral base. Knowledge should not be increased at any price. Something that is legal and well intentioned is not always morally acceptable. The duty of omission is applicable. Means to achieve a goal must be ethical means. Educational efforts to restore respect for the human embryo and fetus must be promoted. Technical advances are not always in accordance with human nature and dignity. Research and treatment that do not resort to cells, tissues and organs obtained from induced abortions should be promoted.}, } @article {pmid23320050, year = {2013}, author = {Bien, J and Palagani, V and Bozko, P}, title = {The intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and Clostridium difficile infection: is there a relationship with inflammatory bowel disease?.}, journal = {Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {53-68}, pmid = {23320050}, issn = {1756-283X}, abstract = {Gut microbiota is a compilation of microorganisms dwelling in the entire mammalian gastrointestinal tract. They display a symbiotic relationship with the host contributing to its intestinal health and disease. Even a slight fluctuation in this equipoise may be deleterious to the host, leading to many pathological conditions like Clostridium difficile infection or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this review, we focus on the role of microbial dysbiosis in initiation of C. difficile infection and IBD, and we also touch upon the role of specific pathogens, particularly C. difficile, as causative agents of IBD. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms activated by C. difficile that contribute to the development and exacerbation of gastrointestinal disorders.}, } @article {pmid23314797, year = {2013}, author = {de Novais, CB and Sbrana, C and Saggin Júnior, OJ and Siqueira, JO and Giovannetti, M}, title = {Vegetative compatibility and anastomosis formation within and among individual germlings of tropical isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota).}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {325-331}, pmid = {23314797}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Hyphae/classification/genetics/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/classification/genetics/growth & development ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Hyphal anastomoses which play a key role in the formation of interconnected mycorrhizal networks and in genetic exchange among compatible individuals have been studied in a limited number of species and isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), mainly in symbiotic mycelium. In this work, the occurrence and frequency of anastomosis between hyphae of the same and different germlings were assessed in tropical isolates belonging to Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Gigaspora, Glomus, Rhizophagus and Scutellospora. Germlings belonging to Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Glomus and Rhizophagus formed perfect hyphal fusions, with frequencies ranging from 9.29 ± 3.01 to 79.84 ± 4.39 % within the same germling and from 14.02 ± 7.36 to 91.41 ± 3.92 % between different germlings. Rare fusions, occurring within the same hypha, were detected in Gigaspora species, and no anastomoses were observed in Scutellospora species. The consistent detection of nuclei in perfect fusions suggests that nuclear migration is active both within and between germlings. Present data on anastomosis formation, nuclear migration and germling viability in tropical isolates of AMF widen our knowledge on the extensive and consistent occurrence of successful hyphal fusions in this group of beneficial symbionts. The ability to anastomose and establish protoplasm flow, fundamental for the maintenance of physiological and genetic continuity, may produce important fitness consequences for the obligately biotrophic AMF.}, } @article {pmid23314495, year = {2013}, author = {Nars, A and Rey, T and Lafitte, C and Vergnes, S and Amatya, S and Jacquet, C and Dumas, B and Thibaudeau, C and Heux, L and Bottin, A and Fliegmann, J}, title = {An experimental system to study responses of Medicago truncatula roots to chitin oligomers of high degree of polymerization and other microbial elicitors.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {32}, number = {4}, pages = {489-502}, pmid = {23314495}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Acetylation ; Aphanomyces ; Arabidopsis/physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Chitin/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Phytophthora ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Polymerization ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A fully acetylated, soluble CO preparation of mean DP of ca. 7 was perceived with high sensitivity by M. truncatula in a newly designed versatile root elicitation assay. The root system of legume plants interacts with a large variety of microorganisms, either pathogenic or symbiotic. Understanding how legumes recognize and respond specifically to pathogen-associated or symbiotic signals requires the development of standardized bioassays using well-defined preparations of the corresponding signals. Here we describe the preparation of chitin oligosaccharide (CO) fractions from commercial chitin and their characterization by a combination of liquid-state and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We show that the CO fraction with highest degree of polymerization (DP) became essentially insoluble after lyophilization. However, a fully soluble, fully acetylated fraction with a mean DP of ca. 7 was recovered and validated by showing its CERK1-dependent activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. In parallel, we developed a versatile root elicitation bioassay in the model legume Medicago truncatula, using a hydroponic culture system and the Phytophthora β-glucan elicitor as a control elicitor. We then showed that M. truncatula responded with high sensitivity to the CO elicitor, which caused the production of extracellular reactive oxygen species and the transient induction of a variety of defense-associated genes. In addition, the bioassay allowed detection of elicitor activity in culture filtrates of the oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches, opening the way to the analysis of recognition of this important legume root pathogen by M. truncatula.}, } @article {pmid23308282, year = {2013}, author = {Sullivan, JT and Brown, SD and Ronson, CW}, title = {The NifA-RpoN regulon of Mesorhizobium loti strain R7A and its symbiotic activation by a novel LacI/GalR-family regulator.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e53762}, pmid = {23308282}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; *Chromosomes, Bacterial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genes, Regulator ; Genomic Islands/genetics ; Lotus/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Porins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; RNA Polymerase Sigma 54/*genetics/metabolism ; *Regulon ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti is the microsymbiont of Lotus species, including the model legume L. japonicus. M. loti differs from other rhizobia in that it contains two copies of the key nitrogen fixation regulatory gene nifA, nifA1 and nifA2, both of which are located on the symbiosis island ICEMlSym(R7A). M. loti R7A also contains two rpoN genes, rpoN1 located on the chromosome outside of ICEMlSym(R7A) and rpoN2 that is located on ICEMlSym(R7A). The aims of the current work were to establish how nifA expression was activated in M. loti and to characterise the NifA-RpoN regulon. The nifA2 and rpoN2 genes were essential for nitrogen fixation whereas nifA1 and rpoN1 were dispensable. Expression of nifA2 was activated, possibly in response to an inositol derivative, by a novel regulator of the LacI/GalR family encoded by the fixV gene located upstream of nifA2. Other than the well-characterized nif/fix genes, most NifA2-regulated genes were not required for nitrogen fixation although they were strongly expressed in nodules. The NifA-regulated nifZ and fixU genes, along with nifQ which was not NifA-regulated, were required in M. loti for a fully effective symbiosis although they are not present in some other rhizobia. The NifA-regulated gene msi158 that encodes a porin was also required for a fully effective symbiosis. Several metabolic genes that lacked NifA-regulated promoters were strongly expressed in nodules in a NifA2-dependent manner but again mutants did not have an overt symbiotic phenotype. In summary, many genes encoded on ICEMlSym(R7A) were strongly expressed in nodules but not free-living rhizobia, but were not essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. It seems likely that some of these genes have functional homologues elsewhere in the genome and that bacteroid metabolism may be sufficiently plastic to adapt to loss of certain enzymatic functions.}, } @article {pmid23307847, year = {2013}, author = {Aiken, GE and Strickland, JR}, title = {Forages and pastures symposium: managing the tall fescue-fungal endophyte symbiosis for optimum forage-animal production.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {91}, number = {5}, pages = {2369-2378}, doi = {10.2527/jas.2012-5948}, pmid = {23307847}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animal Feed/microbiology ; Animal Husbandry/*methods ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Endophytes/physiology ; Ergotism/microbiology/prevention & control/*veterinary ; Lolium/genetics/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Alkaloids produced by the fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) that infects tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.] are a paradox to cattle production. Although certain alkaloids impart tall fescue with tolerances to environmental stresses, such as moisture, heat, and herbivory, ergot alkaloids produced by the endophyte can induce fescue toxicosis, a malady that adversely affects animal production and physiology. Hardiness and persistence of tall fescue under limited management can be attributed to the endophyte, but the trade-off is reduced cattle production from consumption of ergot alkaloids produced by the endophyte. Improved understanding and knowledge of this endophyte-grass complex has facilitated development of technologies and management systems that can either mitigate or completely alleviate fescue toxicosis. This review discusses the research results that have led to development of 5 management approaches to either reduce the severity of fescue toxicosis or alleviate it altogether. Three approaches manipulate the endophyte-tall fescue complex to reduce or alleviate ergot alkaloids: 1) use of heavy grazing intensities, 2) replacing the toxic endophyte with nonergot alkaloid-producing endophytes, and 3) chemical suppression of seed head emergence. The remaining 2 management options do not affect ergot alkaloid concentrations in fescue tissues but are used 1) to avoid grazing of tall fescue with increased ergot alkaloid concentrations in the late spring and summer by moving cattle to warm-season grass pasture and 2) to dilute dietary alkaloids by interseeding clovers or feeding supplements.}, } @article {pmid23307839, year = {2013}, author = {Young, CA and Hume, DE and McCulley, RL}, title = {Forages and pastures symposium: fungal endophytes of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass: pasture friend or foe?.}, journal = {Journal of animal science}, volume = {91}, number = {5}, pages = {2379-2394}, doi = {10.2527/jas.2012-5951}, pmid = {23307839}, issn = {1525-3163}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; *Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Australia ; Climate Change ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Ecosystem ; Endophytes/physiology ; Epichloe/*physiology ; *Livestock ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; New Zealand ; United States ; }, abstract = {Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh. syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.] and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) are important perennial forage grasses utilized throughout the moderate- to high-rainfall temperate zones of the world. These grasses have coevolved with symbiotic fungal endophytes (Epichloë/Neotyphodium spp.) that can impart bioactive properties and environmental stress tolerance to the grass compared with endophyte-free individuals. These endophytes have proven to be very important in pastoral agriculture in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, where forage grasses are the principal feed for grazing ruminants. In this review, we describe the biology of these grass-endophyte associations and implications for the livestock industries that are dependent on these forages. Endophyte alkaloid production is put in context with endophyte diversity, and we illustrate how this has facilitated utilization of grasses infected with different endophyte strains that reduce livestock toxicity issues. Utilization of tall fescue and use of perennial ryegrass in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia are compared, and management strategies focused predominantly on the success of endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass in New Zealand and Australia are discussed. In addition, we consider the impact of grass-endophyte associations on the sustainability of pasture ecosystems and their likely response to future changes in climate.}, } @article {pmid23307835, year = {2013}, author = {Zindel, R and Ofek, M and Minz, D and Palevsky, E and Zchori-Fein, E and Aebi, A}, title = {The role of the bacterial community in the nutritional ecology of the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini (Acari: Astigmata: Acaridae).}, journal = {FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {1488-1497}, doi = {10.1096/fj.12-216242}, pmid = {23307835}, issn = {1530-6860}, mesh = {Acaridae/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Animals ; Fertility/genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; }, abstract = {The biology of many arthropods can only be understood when their associated microbiome is considered. The nutritional requirements of the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini Claparede (Acari: Astigmata: Acaridae) in the laboratory have been shown to be very easily satisfied, and in the field the mites prefer fungus-infected over uninfected plants. To test whether symbiotic bacteria facilitate the survival of R. robini on a temporarily nutritionally unbalanced diet, we investigated the composition of its microbiome. Using 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments, 3 genera were found to dominate the bacterial community: Myroides (41.4%), Serratia (11.4%), and Alcaligenes (4.5%); the latter 2 are known to include chitinase-producing species. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that mite fecundity is significantly higher (2 times) on fungus than on controls (sterilized potato dextrose agar and filter paper). Also, when mite homogenate was applied to a chitin layer, the halo produced through degradation was clearly visible, while the saline control did not produce a halo. We thus concluded that R. robini utilizes fungal chitin, at least to a certain extent, as a food source with the help of its associated bacteria. This information supports the general concept of multigenome organisms and the involvement of bacteria in the mite's nutritional ecology.}, } @article {pmid23303372, year = {2013}, author = {Bourne, DG and Dennis, PG and Uthicke, S and Soo, RM and Tyson, GW and Webster, N}, title = {Coral reef invertebrate microbiomes correlate with the presence of photosymbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {1452-1458}, pmid = {23303372}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Australia ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*physiology ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Microbiota/genetics/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs provide habitat for an array of marine invertebrates that host symbiotic microbiomes. Photosynthetic symbionts including Symbiodinium dinoflagellates and diatoms potentially influence the diversity of their host-associated microbiomes by releasing carbon-containing photosynthates and other organic compounds that fuel microbial metabolism. Here we used 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon pyrosequencing to characterise the microbiomes of 11 common Great Barrier Reef marine invertebrate species that host photosynthetic symbionts and five taxa in which they are absent. The presence of photosynthetic symbionts influenced the composition but not the species richness, evenness and phylogenetic diversity of invertebrate-associated microbiomes. Invertebrates without photosynthetic symbionts were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, whereas those hosting photosynthetic symbionts were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria. Interestingly, many microbial species from photosymbiont-bearing invertebrates, including Oceanospirillales spp., Alteromonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., Halomonas spp., are implicated in the metabolism of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). DMSP is produced in high concentrations by photosynthetic dinoflagellates and is involved in climate regulation by facilitating cloud formation. Microbiomes correlated with host taxa and replicate individuals from most sampled species grouped in distance-based redundancy analysis of retrieved 16S rRNA gene sequences. This study highlights the complex nature of invertebrate holobionts and confirms the importance of photosynthetic symbionts in structuring marine invertebrate bacterial communities.}, } @article {pmid23301178, year = {2012}, author = {Beck, A and Mayr, C}, title = {Nitrogen and carbon isotope variability in the green-algal lichen Xanthoria parietina and their implications on mycobiont-photobiont interactions.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {3132-3144}, pmid = {23301178}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Stable isotope patterns in lichens are known to vary largely, but effects of substrate on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures of lichens were previously not investigated systematically. N and C contents and stable isotope (δ(15)N, δ(13)C) patterns have been measured in 92 lichen specimens of Xanthoria parietina from southern Bavaria growing on different substrates (bark and stone). Photobiont and mycobiont were isolated from selected populations and isotopically analyzed. Molecular investigations of the internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS nrDNA) region have been conducted on a subset of the specimens of X. parietina. Phylogenetic analysis showed no correlation between the symbionts X. parietina and Trebouxia decolorans and the substrate, isotope composition, or geographic origin. Instead specimens grown on organic substrate significantly differ in isotope values from those on minerogenic substrate. This study documents that the lichens growing on bark use additional or different N sources than the lichens growing on stone. δ(15)N variation of X. parietina apparently is controlled predominantly by the mass fraction of the mycobiont and its nitrogen isotope composition. In contrast with mycobionts, photobionts of X. parietina are much more (15)N-depleted and show less isotopic variability than mycobionts, probably indicating a mycobiont-independent nitrogen acquisition by uptake of atmospheric ammonia.}, } @article {pmid23301163, year = {2012}, author = {Tang, J and Bromfield, ES and Rodrigue, N and Cloutier, S and Tambong, JT}, title = {Microevolution of symbiotic Bradyrhizobium populations associated with soybeans in east North America.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {2943-2961}, pmid = {23301163}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Microevolution and origins of Bradyrhizobium populations associated with soybeans at two field sites (A and B, 280 km apart in Canada) with contrasting histories of inoculation was investigated using probabilistic analyses of six core (housekeeping) gene sequences. These analyses supported division of 220 isolates in five lineages corresponding either to B. japonicum groups 1 and 1a or to one of three novel lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium. None of the isolates from site A and about 20% from site B (the only site with a recent inoculation history) were attributed to inoculation sources. The data suggest that most isolates were of indigenous origin based on sequence analysis of 148 isolates of soybean-nodulating bacteria from native legumes (Amphicarpaea bracteata and Desmodium canadense). Isolates from D. canadense clustered with B. japonicum group 1, whereas those from A. bracteata were placed in two novel lineages encountered at soybean field sites. One of these novel lineages predominated at soybean sites and exhibited a significant clonal expansion likely reflecting selection by the plant host. Homologous recombination events detected in the 35 sequence types from soybean sites had an effect on genetic diversification that was approximately equal to mutation. Interlineage transfer of core genes was infrequent and mostly attributable to gyrB that had a history of frequent recombination. Symbiotic gene sequences (nodC and nifH) of isolates from soybean sites and native legumes clustered in two lineages corresponding to B. japonicum and B. elkani with the inheritance of these genes appearing predominantly by vertical transmission. The data suggest that soybean-nodulating bacteria associated with native legumes represent a novel source of ecologically adapted bacteria for soybean inoculation.}, } @article {pmid23300250, year = {2013}, author = {Nam, TW and Ziegelhoffer, EC and Lemke, RA and Donohue, TJ}, title = {Proteins needed to activate a transcriptional response to the reactive oxygen species singlet oxygen.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {e00541-12}, pmid = {23300250}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 GM075273/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM075273/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Oxidative Stress ; Rhodobacter sphaeroides/*drug effects/*genetics ; Sigma Factor/biosynthesis ; Singlet Oxygen/*metabolism/toxicity ; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) is a reactive oxygen species generated by energy transfer from one or more excited donors to molecular oxygen. Many biomolecules are prone to oxidation by (1)O(2), and cells have evolved systems to protect themselves from damage caused by this compound. One way that the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides protects itself from (1)O(2) is by inducing a transcriptional response controlled by ChrR, an anti-σ factor which releases an alternative sigma factor, σ(E), in the presence of (1)O(2). Here we report that induction of σ(E)-dependent gene transcription is decreased in the presence of (1)O(2) when two conserved genes in the σ(E) regulon are deleted, including one encoding a cyclopropane fatty acid synthase homologue (RSP2144) or one encoding a protein of unknown function (RSP1091). Thus, we conclude that RSP2144 and RSP1091 are each necessary to increase σ(E) activity in the presence of (1)O(2). In addition, we found that unlike in wild-type cells, where ChrR is rapidly degraded when (1)O(2) is generated, turnover of this anti-σ factor is slowed when cells lacking RSP2144, RSP1091, or both of these proteins are exposed to (1)O(2). Further, we demonstrate that the organic hydroperoxide tert-butyl hydroperoxide promotes ChrR turnover in both wild-type cells and mutants lacking RSP2144 or RSP1091, suggesting differences in the ways different types of oxidants increase σ(E) activity.

IMPORTANCE: Oxygen serves many crucial functions on Earth; it is produced during photosynthesis and needed for other pathways. While oxygen is relatively inert, it can be converted to reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroy biomolecules, cause disease, or kill cells. When energy is transferred to oxygen, the ROS singlet oxygen is generated. To understand how singlet oxygen impacts cells, we study the stress response to this ROS in Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a bacterium that, like plants, generates this compound as a consequence of photosynthesis. This paper identifies proteins that activate a stress response to singlet oxygen and shows that they act in a specific response to this ROS. The identified proteins are found in many free-living, symbiotic, or pathogenic bacteria that can encounter singlet oxygen in nature. Thus, our findings provide new information about a stress response to a ROS of broad biological, agricultural, and biomedical importance.}, } @article {pmid23299337, year = {2013}, author = {Vega-Frutis, R and Varga, S and Kytöviita, MM}, title = {Dioecious species and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses: the case of Antennaria dioica.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {e23445}, pmid = {23299337}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Asteraceae/*microbiology ; Finland ; Flowers ; *Fungi ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Reproduction ; Seeds ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sex-specific interactions with herbivores and pollinators have been observed in female and male plants of dioecious species. However, only a limited number of studies have revised sex-specific patterns in mycorrhizal symbiosis. To test whether female and male plants of Antennaria dioica differ in their relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, we examined the temporal and spatial variation in AM fungi in female, male and non-reproductive A. dioica plants in three natural populations in Finland during flowering and after seed production. Our results are consistent with previous studies both under greenhouse and field conditions with the same species showing differences in AM colonization between the sexes linked with allocation to reproduction. Taken together, the results indicate that there is a sex-specific interaction between A. dioica and AM fungi. Overall, females have a greater investment in AM fungi, likely to enhance their uptake of soil nutrients and support the reproduction by seed.}, } @article {pmid23298679, year = {2013}, author = {Dorémus, T and Urbach, S and Jouan, V and Cousserans, F and Ravallec, M and Demettre, E and Wajnberg, E and Poulain, J and Azéma-Dossat, C and Darboux, I and Escoubas, JM and Colinet, D and Gatti, JL and Poirié, M and Volkoff, AN}, title = {Venom gland extract is not required for successful parasitism in the polydnavirus-associated endoparasitoid Hyposoter didymator (Hym. Ichneumonidae) despite the presence of numerous novel and conserved venom proteins.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {43}, number = {3}, pages = {292-307}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.12.010}, pmid = {23298679}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Exocrine Glands/ultrastructure ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Hydrolases/metabolism ; Immunity, Cellular ; Insect Proteins/metabolism ; Larva/drug effects/growth & development/immunology/parasitology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Proteome ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors/isolation & purification ; Spodoptera/*drug effects/growth & development/immunology/parasitology ; Wasp Venoms/chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Wasps/metabolism/ultrastructure/*virology ; }, abstract = {The venom gland is a conserved organ in Hymenoptera that shows adaptations associated with life-style diversification. Few studies have investigated venom components and function in the highly diverse parasitic wasps and all suggest that the venom regulates host physiology. We explored the venom of the endoparasitoid Hyposoter didymator (Campopleginae), a species with an associated polydnavirus produced in the ovarian tissue. We investigated the effects of the H. didymator venom on two physiological traits of the host Spodoptera frugiperda (Noctuidae): encapsulation response and growth rate. We found that H. didymator venom had no significant effect on host cellular immunity or development, suggesting that it does not contribute to parasitism success. The host physiology seemed to be modified essentially by the ovarian fluid containing the symbiotic polydnaviruses. Proteomic analyses indicated that the H. didymator venom gland produces a large variety of proteins, consistent with the classical hymenopteran venom protein signature, including: reprolysin-like, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, hyaluronidase, arginine kinase or allergen proteins. The venom extracts also contained novel proteins, encoded by venom genes conserved in Campopleginae ichneumonids, and proteins with similarities to active molecules identified in other parasitoid species, such as calreticulin, reprolysin, superoxide dismutase and serpin. However, some of these proteins appear to be produced only in small amounts or to not be secreted. Possibly, in Campopleginae carrying polydnaviruses, the host-modifying activities of venom became redundant following the acquisition of polydnaviruses by the lineage.}, } @article {pmid23297640, year = {2012}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Kremleva, EA and Sgibnev, AV}, title = {[Role of associative microsymbionts in functioning of associative symbiosis].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {6}, pages = {89-95}, pmid = {23297640}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {*Antibiosis ; Bacterial Adhesion/drug effects ; Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Catalase/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Corynebacterium/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology ; Cytokines/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Epithelial Cells/cytology/drug effects/immunology ; Erythrocytes/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/*drug effects/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism/pharmacology ; Lactobacillus/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the role of associative microsymbionts in biocenosis based on comparative evaluation of interbacterial and epithelial-bacterial interactions on the example of vaginal biotope.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus spp. and primary epitheliocytes isolated from the lower part of reproductive tract of women were used. Interactions by associant-macropartner vector were evaluated by changes of growth properties and antagonistic activity of the associant under the influence of exometabolites of vaginal epitheliocytes and expression of cytokines by epitheliocytes under the influence of associants. The nature of interaction by associant-dominant vector was evaluated by changes of adhesive properties and biofilm formation of associants and bactericidal activity of peroxide-producing lactobacilli.

RESULTS: Groups of associants that are opposite by their function in symbiosis were isolated. An example of associants that stabilize associative symbiosis by stimulating growth and antagonistic activity of dominant, moderate increase of cytokine production by epitheliocytes are corynebacteria, whose growth, biofilm formation, adhesion and antagonism during interaction with dominant and macropartner are also increased. The nature of interaction of associants of the other group (S. aureus and E. coli) with dominant and macropartner is the opposite. The determinative role of hydrogen peroxide in mechanisms of differentiation of associative microsymbionts and functioning of associative symbiosis ofvagina was shown.

CONCLUSION: The proposed approach allows to differentiate associative microsymbionts with various ecological roles, evaluate their contribution into maintenance of the stability of the symbiosis and open new possibilities of management of quality of microbiocenosis.}, } @article {pmid23297625, year = {2012}, author = {Cherkasov, SV and Gladysheva, IV and Bukharin, OV}, title = {[Symbiotic interactions of corynebacteria and lactobacilli in realization of oxidative mechanisms of antagonism].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {6}, pages = {13-16}, pmid = {23297625}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {*Antibiosis ; Catalase/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Corynebacterium/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism/pharmacology ; Lactobacillus/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Staphylococcus aureus/*drug effects/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the interaction of vaginal corynebacteria and lactobacilli in realization of oxidative mechanism of antagonistic relations of bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Effect of supernatants of corynebacteria inhibiting catalase on antagonism of peroxide producing lactobacilli to Staphylococcus aureus was studied.

RESULTS: High frequency (55.5 - 72.7%) of potentiating of antagonism of lactobacilli with medium and high level of hydrogen peroxide production under the effect of supernatants of corynebacteria inhibiting catalase was established. The frequency of potentiation of antagonism of lactobacilli and corynebacteriae depended on the intensity of hydrogen peroxide production and on the ability of corynebacteria to suppress catalase of staphylococci.

CONCLUSION: Potentiation of antagonism to S. aureus of peroxide producing lactobacilli and corynebacteria with catalase inhibitors gives evidence on realization of oxidative bacterial mechanism of colonization resistance in human organism.}, } @article {pmid23296446, year = {2013}, author = {Boscaro, V and Petroni, G and Ristori, A and Verni, F and Vannini, C}, title = {"Candidatus Defluviella procrastinata" and "Candidatus Cyrtobacter zanobii", two novel ciliate endosymbionts belonging to the "Midichloria clade".}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {302-310}, pmid = {23296446}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Euplotes/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Paramecium/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The "Midichloria clade" is a recently discovered but well-established evolutionary lineage clustering inside the order Rickettsiales (Alphaproteobacteria). Not much is known about the biology of these organisms. The best characterized ones are endocellular symbionts of very different eukaryotic hosts, ranging from arthropods to protists. "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii", the most studied organism of the group, is an interesting object of study because of its unique capability to infect metazoans' mitochondria and the presence of flagellar genes in its genome. With this work, we aim at increasing the knowledge on the biodiversity and phylogeny of the "Midichloria group". We characterized according to the "full cycle rRNA approach" two novel endosymbionts of ciliated protozoa, i.e. Paramecium nephridiatum and Euplotes aediculatus. According to the nomenclatural rules for uncultivated prokaryotes, we established the novel taxa "Candidatus Defluviella procrastinata" and "Candidatus Cyrtobacter zanobii" for the two bacterial symbionts. Our phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences confirms that the evolutionary histories of "Midichloria clade" representatives and of their hosts are very different. This suggests that the symbiotic processes arose many times independently, perhaps through ways of transmission still not described in Rickettsiales.}, } @article {pmid23295655, year = {2012}, author = {Martinez, PH}, title = {Petrifying the nation: paleontology collections in Brazil, 1836-1844.}, journal = {Historia, ciencias, saude--Manguinhos}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {1155-1170}, doi = {10.1590/s0104-59702012000400004}, pmid = {23295655}, issn = {0104-5970}, abstract = {The formation and study of natural history and paleontology collections was part of the installation of political order under the Empire of Brazil, as well as the establishment of a scientific program. The symbiosis between science and the nation was actively promoted by Peter W. Lund, pioneer of paleontology studies in the country. The collections and writings produced by the naturalist lent support to the visualization of the past and the writing of history in Brazilian and European scientific and cultural institutions and museums. The disputes over the political order under the Regencies and the Majority were closely accompanied by the study and explanation of the forms of life and the planet found in the past.}, } @article {pmid23294456, year = {2013}, author = {Raychoudhury, R and Sen, R and Cai, Y and Sun, Y and Lietze, VU and Boucias, DG and Scharf, ME}, title = {Comparative metatranscriptomic signatures of wood and paper feeding in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {22}, number = {2}, pages = {155-171}, doi = {10.1111/imb.12011}, pmid = {23294456}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/*genetics ; Animals ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Feeding Behavior ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Insect/*genetics ; Isoptera/*physiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Paper ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Wood ; }, abstract = {Termites are highly eusocial insects that thrive on recalcitrant materials like wood and soil and thus play important roles in global carbon recycling and also in damaging wooden structures. Termites, such as Reticulitermes flavipes (Rhinotermitidae), owe their success to their ability to extract nutrients from lignocellulose (a major component of wood) with the help of gut-dwelling symbionts. With the aim to gain new insights into this enzymatic process we provided R. flavipes with a complex lignocellulose (wood) or pure cellulose (paper) diet and followed the resulting differential gene expression on a custom oligonucleotide-microarray platform. We identified a set of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with differential abundance between the two diet treatments and demonstrated the source (host/symbiont) of these genes, providing novel information on termite nutritional symbiosis. Our results reveal: (1) the majority of responsive wood- and paper-abundant ESTs are from host and symbionts, respectively; (2) distinct pathways are associated with lignocellulose and cellulose feeding in both host and symbionts; and (3) sets of diet-responsive ESTs encode putative digestive and wood-related detoxification enzymes. Thus, this study illuminates the dynamics of termite nutritional symbiosis and reveals a pool of genes as potential targets for termite control and functional studies of termite-symbiont interactions.}, } @article {pmid23293821, year = {2012}, author = {Titova, LV and Brovko, IS and Leonova, NO and Votselko, SK and Iutinskaia, GA and Patyka, VF}, title = {[Role of biocompatible adhesives in the increase of rhizobia physiological activity and productivity of soybean-rhizobia symbiosis].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {74}, number = {6}, pages = {9-16}, pmid = {23293821}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Acrylic Resins/pharmacology ; Adhesives/pharmacology ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Gels ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/pharmacology ; Rhizosphere ; Soybeans/drug effects/*microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {On the basis of natural exopolysaccharide xanthan and exopolyacrylamide the sticky-gene composition has been developed. Addition of that composition to the culture medium provided a 26.3 times higher viability of Bradyrhizobium japonicum UCM B-6035 cells during its storage. Introduction of plant growth regulators biosil or ivin into this composition increased the survival of rhizobia. Application of gel inoculant B. japonicum favored more intensive growth of rhizosphere microorganisms, nutrient's accumulation in the soil and increased productivity of soybean-Rhizobium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23291051, year = {2013}, author = {Edge, SE and Shearer, TL and Morgan, MB and Snell, TW}, title = {Sub-lethal coral stress: detecting molecular responses of coral populations to environmental conditions over space and time.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {128-129}, number = {}, pages = {135-146}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.11.014}, pmid = {23291051}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Alveolata/physiology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; *Stress, Physiological ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {In order for sessile organisms to survive environmental fluctuations and exposures to pollutants, molecular mechanisms (i.e. stress responses) are elicited. Previously, detrimental effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on coral health could not be ascertained until significant physiological responses resulted in visible signs of stress (e.g. tissue necrosis, bleaching). In this study, a focused anthozoan holobiont microarray was used to detect early and sub-lethal effects of spatial and temporal environmental changes on gene expression patterns in the scleractinian coral, Montastraea cavernosa, on south Florida reefs. Although all colonies appeared healthy (i.e. no visible tissue necrosis or bleaching), corals were differentially physiologically compensating for exposure to stressors that varied over time. Corals near the Port of Miami inlet experienced significant changes in expression of stress responsive and symbiont (zooxanthella)-specific genes after periods of heavy precipitation. In contrast, coral populations did not demonstrate stress responses during periods of increased water temperature (up to 29°C). Specific acute and long-term localized responses to other stressors were also evident. A correlation between stress response genes and symbiont-specific genes was also observed, possibly indicating early processes involved in the maintenance or disruption of the coral-zooxanthella symbiosis. This is the first study to reveal spatially- and temporally-related variation in gene expression in response to different stressors of in situ coral populations, and demonstrates that microarray technology can be used to detect specific sub-lethal physiological responses to specific environmental conditions that are not visually detectable.}, } @article {pmid23290449, year = {2013}, author = {Durán, D and Rey, L and Sánchez-Cañizares, C and Navarro, A and Imperial, J and Ruiz-Argueso, T}, title = {Genetic diversity of indigenous rhizobial symbionts of the Lupinus mariae-josephae endemism from alkaline-limed soils within its area of distribution in Eastern Spain.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {128-136}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.10.008}, pmid = {23290449}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spain ; }, abstract = {The genomic diversity of a collection of 103 indigenous rhizobia isolates from Lupinus mariae-josephae (Lmj), a recently described Lupinus species endemic to alkaline-limed soils from a restricted habitat in Eastern Spain, was investigated by molecular methods. Isolates were obtained from soils of four geographic locations in the Valencia province that harbored the known Lmj plant populations. Using an M13 RAPD fingerprinting technique, 19 distinct RAPD profiles were identified. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA and the housekeeping genes glnII, recA and atpD showed a high diversity of native Bradyrhizobium strains that were able to establish symbiosis with Lmj. All the strains grouped in a clade unrelated to strains of the B. canariense and B. japonicum lineages that establish symbioses with lupines in acid soils of the Mediterranean area. The phylogenetic tree based on concatenated glnII, recA and atpD gene sequences grouped the Lmj isolates in six different operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the 93% similarity level. These OTUs were not associated to any specific geographical location, and their observed divergence predicted the existence of different Bradyrhizobium genomic species. In contrast, phylogenetic analysis of symbiotic genes based on nodC and nodA gene sequences, defined only two distinct clusters among the Lmj strains. These two Lmj nod gene types were largely distinct from nod genes of bradyrhizobia nodulating other Old World lupine species. The singularity and large diversity of these strains in such a small geographical area makes this an attractive system for studying the evolution and adaptation of the rhizobial symbiont to the plant host.}, } @article {pmid23289754, year = {2013}, author = {Seidl-Seiboth, V and Zach, S and Frischmann, A and Spadiut, O and Dietzsch, C and Herwig, C and Ruth, C and Rodler, A and Jungbauer, A and Kubicek, CP}, title = {Spore germination of Trichoderma atroviride is inhibited by its LysM protein TAL6.}, journal = {The FEBS journal}, volume = {280}, number = {5}, pages = {1226-1236}, doi = {10.1111/febs.12113}, pmid = {23289754}, issn = {1742-4658}, support = {P 20559/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chitin/*metabolism ; Chitinases/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Spores, Bacterial/genetics ; Trichoderma/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {LysM motifs are carbohydrate-binding modules found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They have general N-acetylglucosamine binding properties and therefore bind to chitin and related carbohydrates. In plants, plasma-membrane-bound proteins containing LysM motifs are involved in plant defence responses, but also in symbiotic interactions between plants and microorganisms. Filamentous fungi secrete LysM proteins that contain several LysM motifs but no enzymatic modules. In plant pathogenic fungi, for LysM proteins roles in dampening of plant defence responses and protection from plant chitinases were shown. In this study, the carbohydrate-binding specificities and biological function of the LysM protein TAL6 from the plant-beneficial fungus Trichoderma atroviride were investigated. TAL6 contains seven LysM motifs and the sequences of its LysM motifs are very different from other fungal LysM proteins investigated so far. The results showed that TAL6 bound to some forms of polymeric chitin, but not to chito-oligosaccharides. Further, no binding to fungal cell wall preparations was detected. Despite these rather weak carbohydrate-binding properties, a strong inhibitory effect of TAL6 on spore germination was found. TAL6 was shown to specifically inhibit germination of Trichoderma spp., but interestingly not of other fungi. Thus, this protein is involved in self-signalling processes during fungal growth rather than fungal-plant interactions. These data expand the functional repertoire of fungal LysM proteins beyond effectors in plant defence responses and show that fungal LysM proteins are also involved in the self-regulation of fungal growth and development.}, } @article {pmid23288898, year = {2013}, author = {Elshahawi, SI and Trindade-Silva, AE and Hanora, A and Han, AW and Flores, MS and Vizzoni, V and Schrago, CG and Soares, CA and Concepcion, GP and Distel, DL and Schmidt, EW and Haygood, MG}, title = {Boronated tartrolon antibiotic produced by symbiotic cellulose-degrading bacteria in shipworm gills.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {4}, pages = {E295-304}, pmid = {23288898}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; 1U01 TW008163/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis/chemistry/pharmacology ; Base Sequence ; Biotransformation ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Boronic Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Gills/microbiology ; Macrolides/chemistry/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Molecular Structure ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Polyketides/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Shipworms are marine wood-boring bivalve mollusks (family Teredinidae) that harbor a community of closely related Gammaproteobacteria as intracellular endosymbionts in their gills. These symbionts have been proposed to assist the shipworm host in cellulose digestion and have been shown to play a role in nitrogen fixation. The genome of one strain of Teredinibacter turnerae, the first shipworm symbiont to be cultivated, was sequenced, revealing potential as a rich source of polyketides and nonribosomal peptides. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation and identification of two macrodioloide polyketides belonging to the tartrolon class. Both compounds were found to possess antibacterial properties, and the major compound was found to inhibit other shipworm symbiont strains and various pathogenic bacteria. The gene cluster responsible for the synthesis of these compounds was identified and characterized, and the ketosynthase domains were analyzed phylogenetically. Reverse-transcription PCR in addition to liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry revealed the transcription of these genes and the presence of the compounds in the shipworm, suggesting that the gene cluster is expressed in vivo and that the compounds may fulfill a specific function for the shipworm host. This study reports tartrolon polyketides from a shipworm symbiont and unveils the biosynthetic gene cluster of a member of this class of compounds, which might reveal the mechanism by which these bioactive metabolites are biosynthesized.}, } @article {pmid23286879, year = {2013}, author = {Matilla, AJ and Rodríguez-Gacio, Mdel C}, title = {Non-symbiotic hemoglobins in the life of seeds.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {}, pages = {7-15}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.11.016}, pmid = {23286879}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; Hypoxia/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Seeds/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Non-symbiotic hemoglobins (nsHbs), ancestors of symbiotic-Hbs, are hexacoordinated dimeric proteins, for which the crystal structure is well described. According to the extent of hexacoordination, nsHbs are classified as belonging to class-1 (nsHbs1) or class-2 (nsHbs2). The nsHbs1 show weak hexacoordination, moderate rates of O(2)-binding, very small rates of O(2) dissociation, and a remarkably high affinity for O(2), all suggesting a function involving O(2) scavenging. In contrast, the nsHbs2 exhibit strong hexacoordination, low rates of O(2)-binding and moderately low O(2) dissociation and affinity, suggesting a sensing role for sustained low (μM) levels of O(2). The existence of spatial and specific expression of nsHbs1 suggests that nsHbs play tissue-specific rather than housekeeping functions. The permeation of O(2) into seeds is usually prevented during the desiccation phase and early imbibition, generating an internal hypoxic environment that leads to ATP limitation. During evolution, the seed has acquired mechanisms to prevent or reduce this hypoxic stress. The nsHbs1/NO cycle appear to be involved in modulating the redox state in the seed and in maintaining an active metabolism. Under O(2) deficit, NADH and NO are synthesized in the seed and nsHbs1 scavenges O(2), which is used to transform NO into NO(3)(-) with concomitant formation of Fe(3+)-nsHbs1. Expression of nsHbs1 is not detectable in dry viable seeds. However, in the seeds cross-talk occurs between nsHbs1 and NO during germination. This review considers the current status of our knowledge of seed nsHbs and considers key issues of further work to better understand their role in seed physiology.}, } @article {pmid23285269, year = {2012}, author = {Ambrose, KV and Belanger, FC}, title = {SOLiD-SAGE of endophyte-infected red fescue reveals numerous effects on host transcriptome and an abundance of highly expressed fungal secreted proteins.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {e53214}, pmid = {23285269}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {P20 RR016481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 2 P20 RR16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Epichloe/physiology ; Festuca/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Fungal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Neotyphodium/physiology ; Plant Diseases/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {One of the most important plant-fungal symbiotic relationships is that of cool season grasses with endophytic fungi of the genera Epichloë and Neotyphodium. These associations often confer benefits, such as resistance to herbivores and improved drought tolerance, to the hosts. One benefit that appears to be unique to fine fescue grasses is disease resistance. As a first step towards understanding the basis of the endophyte-mediated disease resistance in Festuca rubra we carried out a SOLiD-SAGE quantitative transcriptome comparison of endophyte-free and Epichloë festucae-infected F. rubra. Over 200 plant genes involved in a wide variety of physiological processes were statistically significantly differentially expressed between the two samples. Many of the endophyte expressed genes were surprisingly abundant, with the most abundant fungal tag representing over 10% of the fungal mapped tags. Many of the abundant fungal tags were for secreted proteins. The second most abundantly expressed fungal gene was for a secreted antifungal protein and is of particular interest regarding the endophyte-mediated disease resistance. Similar genes in Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. have been demonstrated to have antifungal activity. Of the 10 epichloae whole genome sequences available, only one isolate of E. festucae and Neotyphodium gansuense var inebrians have an antifungal protein gene. The uniqueness of this gene in E. festucae from F. rubra, its transcript abundance, and the secreted nature of the protein, all suggest it may be involved in the disease resistance conferred to the host, which is a unique feature of the fine fescue-endophyte symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23284943, year = {2012}, author = {Simister, R and Taylor, MW and Tsai, P and Webster, N}, title = {Sponge-microbe associations survive high nutrients and temperatures.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {e52220}, pmid = {23284943}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are under considerable pressure from global stressors such as elevated sea surface temperature and ocean acidification, as well as local factors including eutrophication and poor water quality. Marine sponges are diverse, abundant and ecologically important components of coral reefs in both coastal and offshore environments. Due to their exceptionally high filtration rates, sponges also form a crucial coupling point between benthic and pelagic habitats. Sponges harbor extensive microbial communities, with many microbial phylotypes found exclusively in sponges and thought to contribute to the health and survival of their hosts. Manipulative experiments were undertaken to ascertain the impact of elevated nutrients and seawater temperature on health and microbial community dynamics in the Great Barrier Reef sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile. R. odorabile exposed to elevated nutrient levels including 10 µmol/L total nitrogen at 31°C appeared visually similar to those maintained under ambient seawater conditions after 7 days. The symbiotic microbial community, analyzed by 16S rRNA gene pyrotag sequencing, was highly conserved for the duration of the experiment at both phylum and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) (97% sequence similarity) levels with 19 bacterial phyla and 1743 OTUs identified across all samples. Additionally, elevated nutrients and temperatures did not alter the archaeal associations in R. odorabile, with sequencing of 16S rRNA gene libraries revealing similar Thaumarchaeota diversity and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealing consistent amoA gene patterns, across all experimental treatments. A conserved eukaryotic community was also identified across all nutrient and temperature treatments by DGGE. The highly stable microbial associations indicate that R. odorabile symbionts are capable of withstanding short-term exposure to elevated nutrient concentrations and sub-lethal temperatures.}, } @article {pmid23284297, year = {2012}, author = {Richardson, MF and Weinert, LA and Welch, JJ and Linheiro, RS and Magwire, MM and Jiggins, FM and Bergman, CM}, title = {Population genomics of the Wolbachia endosymbiont in Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {8}, number = {12}, pages = {e1003129}, pmid = {23284297}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; WT094664/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; BB/E012868/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Haplotypes ; *Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Wolbachia/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are maternally inherited symbiotic bacteria, commonly found in arthropods, which are able to manipulate the reproduction of their host in order to maximise their transmission. The evolutionary history of endosymbionts like Wolbachia can be revealed by integrating information on infection status in natural populations with patterns of sequence variation in Wolbachia and host mitochondrial genomes. Here we use whole-genome resequencing data from 290 lines of Drosophila melanogaster from North America, Europe, and Africa to predict Wolbachia infection status, estimate relative cytoplasmic genome copy number, and reconstruct Wolbachia and mitochondrial genome sequences. Overall, 63% of Drosophila strains were predicted to be infected with Wolbachia by our in silico analysis pipeline, which shows 99% concordance with infection status determined by diagnostic PCR. Complete Wolbachia and mitochondrial genomes show congruent phylogenies, consistent with strict vertical transmission through the maternal cytoplasm and imperfect transmission of Wolbachia. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis reveals that the most recent common ancestor of all Wolbachia and mitochondrial genomes in D. melanogaster dates to around 8,000 years ago. We find evidence for a recent global replacement of ancestral Wolbachia and mtDNA lineages, but our data suggest that the derived wMel lineage arose several thousand years ago, not in the 20th century as previously proposed. Our data also provide evidence that this global replacement event is incomplete and is likely to be one of several similar incomplete replacement events that have occurred since the out-of-Africa migration that allowed D. melanogaster to colonize worldwide habitats. This study provides a complete genomic analysis of the evolutionary mode and temporal dynamics of the D. melanogaster-Wolbachia symbiosis, as well as important resources for further analyses of the impact of Wolbachia on host biology.}, } @article {pmid23283017, year = {2013}, author = {Fan, L and Liu, M and Simister, R and Webster, NS and Thomas, T}, title = {Marine microbial symbiosis heats up: the phylogenetic and functional response of a sponge holobiont to thermal stress.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {991-1002}, pmid = {23283017}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Large-scale mortality of marine invertebrates is a major global concern for ocean ecosystems and many sessile, reef-building animals, such as sponges and corals, are experiencing significant declines through temperature-induced disease and bleaching. The health and survival of marine invertebrates is often dependent on intimate symbiotic associations with complex microbial communities, yet we have a very limited understanding of the detailed biology and ecology of both the host and the symbiont community in response to environmental stressors, such as elevated seawater temperatures. Here, we use the ecologically important sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile as a model to explore the changes in symbiosis during the development of temperature-induced necrosis. Expression profiling of the sponge host was examined in conjunction with the phylogenetic and functional structure and the expression profile of the symbiont community. Elevated temperature causes an immediate stress response in both the host and symbiont community, including reduced expression of functions that mediate their partnership. Disruption to nutritional interdependence and molecular interactions during early heat stress further destabilizes the holobiont, ultimately leading to the loss of archetypal sponge symbionts and the introduction of new microorganisms that have functional and expression profiles consistent with a scavenging lifestyle, a lack virulence functions and a high growth rate. Previous models have postulated various mechanisms of mortality and disease in marine invertebrates. Our study suggests that interruption of symbiotic interactions is a major determinant for mortality in marine sessile invertebrates. High symbiont specialization and low functional redundancy, thus make these holobionts extremely vulnerable to environmental perturbations, including climate change.}, } @article {pmid23280634, year = {2013}, author = {Helm, C and Weigert, A and Mayer, G and Bleidorn, C}, title = {Myoanatomy of Myzostoma cirriferum (Annelida, Myzostomida): implications for the evolution of the myzostomid body plan.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {274}, number = {4}, pages = {456-466}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.20107}, pmid = {23280634}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/*anatomy & histology ; Muscles/anatomy & histology ; }, abstract = {Studies of rare genomic marker systems suggest that Myzostomida are a subgroup of Annelida and phylogenomic analyses indicate an early divergence of this taxon within annelids. However, adult myzostomids show a highly specialized body plan, which lacks typical annelid features, such as external body annulation, coelomic cavities with metanephridia, and segmental ganglia of the nervous system. The putative loss of these features might be due to the parasitic/symbiotic lifestyle of myzostomids associated with echinoderms. In contrast, the larval anatomy and adult locomotory system resemble those of annelids. To clarify whether the myoanatomy of myzostomids reflects their relationship to annelids, we analyzed the distribution of f-actin, a common component of muscle fibers, in specimens of Myzostoma cirriferum using phalloidin-rhodamine labeling in conjunction with confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Our data reveal that the musculature of the myzostomid body comprises an outer circular layer, an inner longitudinal layer, numerous dorsoventral muscles, and prominent muscles of the parapodial complex. These features correspond well with the common organization of the muscular system in Annelida. In contrast to other annelids, however, several elements of the muscular system in M. cirriferum, including the musculature of the body wall, and the parapodial flexor muscles, exhibit radial symmetry overlaying a bilateral body plan. These findings are in line with the annelid affinity of myzostomids and suggest that the apparent partial radial symmetry of M. cirriferum arose secondarily in this species. Based on our data, we provide a scenario on the rearrangements of muscle fibers that might have taken place in the lineage leading to this species.}, } @article {pmid23278348, year = {2013}, author = {Bourcy, M and Brocard, L and Pislariu, CI and Cosson, V and Mergaert, P and Tadege, M and Mysore, KS and Udvardi, MK and Gourion, B and Ratet, P}, title = {Medicago truncatula DNF2 is a PI-PLC-XD-containing protein required for bacteroid persistence and prevention of nodule early senescence and defense-like reactions.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {197}, number = {4}, pages = {1250-1261}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12091}, pmid = {23278348}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Gene Knockout Techniques ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti form a symbiotic association resulting in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Nodule cells contain large numbers of bacteroids which are differentiated, nitrogen-fixing forms of the symbiotic bacteria. In the nodules, symbiotic plant cells home and maintain hundreds of viable bacteria. In order to better understand the molecular mechanism sustaining the phenomenon, we searched for new plant genes required for effective symbiosis. We used a combination of forward and reverse genetics approaches to identify a gene required for nitrogen fixation, and we used cell and molecular biology to characterize the mutant phenotype and to gain an insight into gene function. The symbiotic gene DNF2 encodes a putative phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C-like protein. Nodules formed by the mutant contain a zone of infected cells reduced to a few cell layers. In this zone, bacteria do not differentiate properly into bacteroids. Furthermore, mutant nodules senesce rapidly and exhibit defense-like reactions. This atypical phenotype amongst Fix(-) mutants unravels dnf2 as a new actor of bacteroid persistence inside symbiotic plant cells.}, } @article {pmid23275632, year = {2013}, author = {De Long, JR and Swarts, ND and Dixon, KW and Egerton-Warburton, LM}, title = {Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {409-418}, pmid = {23275632}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Australia ; Basidiomycota/classification/growth & development ; *Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Germination ; Introduced Species ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*growth & development ; Orchidaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phosphorus/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Seeds/growth & development ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mycorrhizal specialization has been shown to limit recruitment capacity in orchids, but an increasing number of orchids are being documented as invasive or weed-like. The reasons for this proliferation were examined by investigating mycorrhizal fungi and edaphic correlates of Microtis media, an Australian terrestrial orchid that is an aggressive ecosystem and horticultural weed.

METHODS: Molecular identification of fungi cultivated from M. media pelotons, symbiotic in vitro M. media seed germination assays, ex situ fungal baiting of M. media and co-occurring orchid taxa (Caladenia arenicola, Pterostylis sanguinea and Diuris magnifica) and soil physical and chemical analyses were undertaken.

KEY RESULTS: It was found that: (1) M. media associates with a broad taxonomic spectrum of mycobionts including Piriformospora indica, Sebacina vermifera, Tulasnella calospora and Ceratobasidium sp.; (2) germination efficacy of mycorrhizal isolates was greater for fungi isolated from plants in disturbed than in natural habitats; (3) a higher percentage of M. media seeds germinate than D. magnifica, P. sanguinea or C. arenicola seeds when incubated with soil from M. media roots; and (4) M. media-mycorrhizal fungal associations show an unusual breadth of habitat tolerance, especially for soil phosphorus (P) fertility.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings in M. media support the idea that invasive terrestrial orchids may associate with a diversity of fungi that are widespread and common, enhance seed germination in the host plant but not co-occurring orchid species and tolerate a range of habitats. These traits may provide the weedy orchid with a competitive advantage over co-occurring orchid species. If so, invasive orchids are likely to become more broadly distributed and increasingly colonize novel habitats.}, } @article {pmid23275547, year = {2013}, author = {Reid, AJ and Berriman, M}, title = {Genes involved in host-parasite interactions can be revealed by their correlated expression.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {1508-1518}, pmid = {23275547}, issn = {1362-4962}, support = {098051//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anopheles/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Insect Vectors/genetics/metabolism ; Mice ; Plasmodium berghei/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Interaction Mapping/*methods ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Molecular interactions between a parasite and its host are key to the ability of the parasite to enter the host and persist. Our understanding of the genes and proteins involved in these interactions is limited. To better understand these processes it would be advantageous to have a range of methods to predict pairs of genes involved in such interactions. Correlated gene expression profiles can be used to identify molecular interactions within a species. Here we have extended the concept to different species, showing that genes with correlated expression are more likely to encode proteins, which directly or indirectly participate in host-parasite interaction. We go on to examine our predictions of molecular interactions between the malaria parasite and both its mammalian host and insect vector. Our approach could be applied to study any interaction between species, for example, between a host and its parasites or pathogens, but also symbiotic and commensal pairings.}, } @article {pmid23274881, year = {2013}, author = {Gerwick, WH and Fenner, AM}, title = {Drug discovery from marine microbes.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {4}, pages = {800-806}, pmid = {23274881}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {R01 CA100851/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA100851/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; TW006634/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; D43 TW009343/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; NS053398/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW006634/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA108874/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; CA108874/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS053398/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry/microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Products/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Drug Discovery ; Invertebrates/*chemistry/microbiology/physiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The marine environment has been a source of more than 20,000 inspirational natural products discovered over the past 50 years. From these efforts, 9 approved drugs and 12 current clinical trial agents have been discovered, either as natural products or as molecules inspired from the natural product structure. To a significant degree, these have come from collections of marine invertebrates largely obtained from shallow-water tropical ecosystems. However, there is a growing recognition that marine invertebrates are oftentimes populated with enormous quantities of "associated" or symbiotic microorganisms and that microorganisms are the true metabolic sources of these most valuable of marine natural products. Also, because of the inherently multidisciplinary nature of this field, a high degree of innovation is characteristic of marine natural product drug discovery efforts.}, } @article {pmid23271830, year = {2012}, author = {Piper, PW and Millson, SH}, title = {Spotlight on the microbes that produce heat shock protein 90-targeting antibiotics.}, journal = {Open biology}, volume = {2}, number = {12}, pages = {120138}, pmid = {23271830}, issn = {2046-2441}, mesh = {Adenosine Diphosphate/chemistry/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphatases/chemistry/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/chemistry/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Benzoquinones/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Binding Sites ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drug Resistance ; Fungi/*metabolism ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lactams, Macrocyclic/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Macrolides/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Binding ; }, abstract = {Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a promising cancer drug target as a molecular chaperone critical for stabilization and activation of several of the oncoproteins that drive cancer progression. Its actions depend upon its essential ATPase, an activity fortuitously inhibited with a very high degree of selectivity by natural antibiotics: notably the actinomycete-derived benzoquinone ansamycins (e.g. geldanamycin) and certain fungal-derived resorcyclic acid lactones (e.g. radicicol). The molecular interactions made by these antibiotics when bound within the ADP/ATP-binding site of Hsp90 have served as templates for the development of several synthetic Hsp90 inhibitor drugs. Much attention now focuses on the clinical trials of these drugs. However, because microbes have evolved antibiotics to target Hsp90, it is probable that they often exploit Hsp90 inhibition when interacting with each other and with plants. Fungi known to produce Hsp90 inhibitors include mycoparasitic, as well as plant-pathogenic, endophytic and mycorrhizal species. The Hsp90 chaperone may, therefore, be a prominent target in establishing a number of mycoparasitic (interfungal), fungal pathogen-plant and symbiotic fungus-plant relationships. Furthermore the Hsp90 family proteins of the microbes that produce Hsp90 inhibitor antibiotics are able to reveal how drug resistance can arise by amino acid changes in the highly conserved ADP/ATP-binding site of Hsp90.}, } @article {pmid23271332, year = {2012}, author = {Hussa, E and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Rearing and injection of Manduca sexta larvae to assess bacterial virulence.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {70}, pages = {e4295}, pmid = {23271332}, issn = {1940-087X}, support = {F32 AI084441/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; FAI084441Z//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Larva/microbiology ; Manduca/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*pathogenicity ; Virulence ; Xenorhabdus/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Manduca sexta, commonly known as the tobacco hornworm, is considered a significant agricultural pest, feeding on solanaceous plants including tobacco and tomato. The susceptibility of M. sexta larvae to a variety of entomopathogenic bacterial species(1-5), as well as the wealth of information available regarding the insect's immune system(6-8), and the pending genome sequence(9) make it a good model organism for use in studying host-microbe interactions during pathogenesis. In addition, M. sexta larvae are relatively large and easy to manipulate and maintain in the laboratory relative to other susceptible insect species. Their large size also facilitates efficient tissue/hemolymph extraction for analysis of the host response to infection. The method presented here describes the direct injection of bacteria into the hemocoel (blood cavity) of M. sexta larvae. This approach can be used to analyze and compare the virulence characteristics of various bacterial species, strains, or mutants by simply monitoring the time to insect death after injection. This method was developed to study the pathogenicity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species, which typically associate with nematode vectors as a means to gain entry into the insect. Entomopathogenic nematodes typically infect larvae via natural digestive or respiratory openings, and release their symbiotic bacterial contents into the insect hemolymph (blood) shortly thereafter(10). The injection method described here bypasses the need for a nematode vector, thus uncoupling the effects of bacteria and nematode on the insect. This method allows for accurate enumeration of infectious material (cells or protein) within the inoculum, which is not possible using other existing methods for analyzing entomopathogenesis, including nicking(11) and oral toxicity assays(12). Also, oral toxicity assays address the virulence of secreted toxins introduced into the digestive system of larvae, whereas the direct injection method addresses the virulence of whole-cell inocula. The utility of the direct injection method as described here is to analyze bacterial pathogenesis by monitoring insect mortality. However, this method can easily be expanded for use in studying the effects of infection on the M. sexta immune system. The insect responds to infection via both humoral and cellular responses. The humoral response includes recognition of bacterial-associated patterns and subsequent production of various antimicrobial peptides(7); the expression of genes encoding these peptides can be monitored subsequent to direct infection via RNA extraction and quantitative PCR(13). The cellular response to infection involves nodulation, encapsulation, and phagocytosis of infectious agents by hemocytes(6). To analyze these responses, injected insects can be dissected and visualized by microscopy(13, 14).}, } @article {pmid23270491, year = {2012}, author = {Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Menna, P and Almeida, LG and Ollero, FJ and Nicolás, MF and Pains Rodrigues, E and Shigueyoshi Nakatani, A and Silva Batista, JS and Oliveira Chueire, LM and Souza, RC and Ribeiro Vasconcelos, AT and Megías, M and Hungria, M and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Genomic basis of broad host range and environmental adaptability of Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and Rhizobium sp. PRF 81 which are used in inoculants for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {735}, pmid = {23270491}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Agricultural Inoculants/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; *Environment ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; *Genomics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrogenase/genetics ; Iron/metabolism ; Metals/pharmacology ; Multigene Family/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nitrosation/genetics ; Osmotic Pressure ; Oxidative Stress/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/biosynthesis ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Polysaccharides/genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and Rhizobium sp. PRF 81 are α-Proteobacteria that establish nitrogen-fixing symbioses with a range of legume hosts. These strains are broadly used in commercial inoculants for application to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in South America and Africa. Both strains display intrinsic resistance to several abiotic stressful conditions such as low soil pH and high temperatures, which are common in tropical environments, and to several antimicrobials, including pesticides. The genetic determinants of these interesting characteristics remain largely unknown.

RESULTS: Genome sequencing revealed that CIAT 899 and PRF 81 share a highly-conserved symbiotic plasmid (pSym) that is present also in Rhizobium leucaenae CFN 299, a rhizobium displaying a similar host range. This pSym seems to have arisen by a co-integration event between two replicons. Remarkably, three distinct nodA genes were found in the pSym, a characteristic that may contribute to the broad host range of these rhizobia. Genes for biosynthesis and modulation of plant-hormone levels were also identified in the pSym. Analysis of genes involved in stress response showed that CIAT 899 and PRF 81 are well equipped to cope with low pH, high temperatures and also with oxidative and osmotic stresses. Interestingly, the genomes of CIAT 899 and PRF 81 had large numbers of genes encoding drug-efflux systems, which may explain their high resistance to antimicrobials. Genome analysis also revealed a wide array of traits that may allow these strains to be successful rhizosphere colonizers, including surface polysaccharides, uptake transporters and catabolic enzymes for nutrients, diverse iron-acquisition systems, cell wall-degrading enzymes, type I and IV pili, and novel T1SS and T5SS secreted adhesins.

CONCLUSIONS: Availability of the complete genome sequences of CIAT 899 and PRF 81 may be exploited in further efforts to understand the interaction of tropical rhizobia with common bean and other legume hosts.}, } @article {pmid23270369, year = {2012}, author = {Serbielle, C and Dupas, S and Perdereau, E and Héricourt, F and Dupuy, C and Huguet, E and Drezen, JM}, title = {Evolutionary mechanisms driving the evolution of a large polydnavirus gene family coding for protein tyrosine phosphatases.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {253}, pmid = {23270369}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Duplication ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polydnaviridae/*enzymology/*genetics/metabolism ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/chemistry/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Wasps/virology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gene duplications have been proposed to be the main mechanism involved in genome evolution and in acquisition of new functions. Polydnaviruses (PDVs), symbiotic viruses associated with parasitoid wasps, are ideal model systems to study mechanisms of gene duplications given that PDV genomes consist of virulence genes organized into multigene families. In these systems the viral genome is integrated in a wasp chromosome as a provirus and virus particles containing circular double-stranded DNA are injected into the parasitoids' hosts and are essential for parasitism success. The viral virulence factors, organized in gene families, are required collectively to induce host immune suppression and developmental arrest. The gene family which encodes protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) has undergone spectacular expansion in several PDV genomes with up to 42 genes.

RESULTS: Here, we present strong indications that PTP gene family expansion occurred via classical mechanisms: by duplication of large segments of the chromosomally integrated form of the virus sequences (segmental duplication), by tandem duplications within this form and by dispersed duplications. We also propose a novel duplication mechanism specific to PDVs that involves viral circle reintegration into the wasp genome. The PTP copies produced were shown to undergo conservative evolution along with episodes of adaptive evolution. In particular recently produced copies have undergone positive selection in sites most likely involved in defining substrate selectivity.

CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence about the dynamic nature of polydnavirus proviral genomes. Classical and PDV-specific duplication mechanisms have been involved in the production of new gene copies. Selection pressures associated with antagonistic interactions with parasitized hosts have shaped these genes used to manipulate lepidopteran physiology with evidence for positive selection involved in adaptation to host targets.}, } @article {pmid23269388, year = {2012}, author = {Cervino, JM and Hauff, B and Haslun, JA and Winiarski-Cervino, K and Cavazos, M and Lawther, P and Wier, AM and Hughen, K and Strychar, KB}, title = {Ulcerated yellow spot syndrome: implications of aquaculture-related pathogens associated with soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi tissue lesions.}, journal = {Diseases of aquatic organisms}, volume = {102}, number = {2}, pages = {137-148}, doi = {10.3354/dao02541}, pmid = {23269388}, issn = {0177-5103}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; *Aquaculture ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {We introduce a new marine syndrome called ulcerated yellow spot, affecting the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi. To identify bacteria associated with tissue lesions, tissue and mucus samples were taken during a 2009 Indo-Pacific research expedition near the Wakatobi Island chain, Indonesia. Polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S rDNA gene indicated associations with the known fish-disease-causing bacterium Photobacterium damselae, as well as multiple Vibrio species. Results indicate a shift toward decreasing diversity of bacteria in lesioned samples. Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida, formerly known as Pasteurella piscicida, is known as the causative agent of fish pasteurellosis and in this study, was isolated solely in lesioned tissues. Globally, fish pasteurellosis is one of the most damaging fish diseases in marine aquaculture. Vibrio alginolyticus, a putative pathogen associated with yellow band disease in scleractinian coral, was also isolated from lesioned tissues. Lesions appear to be inflicting damage on symbiotic zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.), measurable by decreases in mitotic index, cell density and photosynthetic efficiency. Mitotic index of zooxanthellae within infected tissue samples was decreased by ~80%, while zooxanthellae densities were decreased by ~40% in lesioned tissue samples compared with healthy coral. These results provide evidence for the presence of known aquaculture pathogens in lesioned soft coral and may be a concern with respect to cross-species epizootics in the tropics.}, } @article {pmid23267362, year = {2012}, author = {Staudinger, C and Mehmeti, V and Turetschek, R and Lyon, D and Egelhofer, V and Wienkoop, S}, title = {Possible Role of Nutritional Priming for Early Salt and Drought Stress Responses in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {285}, pmid = {23267362}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {P 23441/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, abstract = {Most legume species establish a symbiotic association with soil bacteria. The plant accommodates the differentiated rhizobia in specialized organs, the root nodules. In this environment, the microsymbiont reduces atmospheric nitrogen (N) making it available for plant metabolism. Symbiotic N-fixation is driven by the respiration of the host photosynthates and thus constitutes an additional carbon sink for the plant. Molecular phenotypes of symbiotic and non-symbiotic Medicago truncatula are identified. The implication of nodule symbiosis on plant abiotic stress response mechanisms is not well understood. In this study, we exposed nodulated and non-symbiotic N-fertilized plants to salt and drought conditions. We assessed the stress effects with proteomic and metabolomic methods and found a nutritionally regulated phenotypic plasticity pivotal for a differential stress adjustment strategy.}, } @article {pmid23267060, year = {2013}, author = {De Fine Licht, HH and Schiøtt, M and Rogowska-Wrzesinska, A and Nygaard, S and Roepstorff, P and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Laccase detoxification mediates the nutritional alliance between leaf-cutting ants and fungus-garden symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, number = {2}, pages = {583-587}, pmid = {23267060}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Agaricales/*enzymology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Hyphae/*metabolism ; Laccase/*genetics/metabolism ; Likelihood Functions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plants/chemistry ; Polyphenols/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants combine large-scale herbivory with fungus farming to sustain advanced societies. Their stratified colonies are major evolutionary achievements and serious agricultural pests, but the crucial adaptations that allowed this mutualism to become the prime herbivorous component of neotropical ecosystems has remained elusive. Here we show how coevolutionary adaptation of a specific enzyme in the fungal symbiont has helped leaf-cutting ants overcome plant defensive phenolic compounds. We identify nine putative laccase-coding genes in the fungal genome of Leucocoprinus gongylophorus cultivated by the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior. One of these laccases (LgLcc1) is highly expressed in the specialized hyphal tips (gongylidia) that the ants preferentially eat, and we confirm that these ingested laccase molecules pass through the ant guts and remain active when defecated on the leaf pulp that the ants add to their gardens. This accurate deposition ensures that laccase activity is highest where new leaf material enters the fungus garden, but where fungal mycelium is too sparse to produce extracellular enzymes in sufficient quantities to detoxify phenolic compounds. Phylogenetic analysis of LgLcc1 ortholog sequences from symbiotic and free-living fungi revealed significant positive selection in the ancestral lineage that gave rise to the gongylidia-producing symbionts of leaf-cutting ants and their non-leaf-cutting ant sister group. Our results are consistent with fungal preadaptation and subsequent modification of a particular laccase enzyme for the detoxification of secondary plant compounds during the transition to active herbivory in the ancestor of leaf-cutting ants between 8 and 12 Mya.}, } @article {pmid23266520, year = {2013}, author = {Bogdanos, DP and Smyk, DS and Invernizzi, P and Rigopoulou, EI and Blank, M and Pouria, S and Shoenfeld, Y}, title = {Infectome: a platform to trace infectious triggers of autoimmunity.}, journal = {Autoimmunity reviews}, volume = {12}, number = {7}, pages = {726-740}, pmid = {23266520}, issn = {1873-0183}, mesh = {Animals ; Autoantibodies/immunology ; Autoimmune Diseases/genetics/immunology ; *Autoimmunity ; Communicable Diseases/*immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Proteome/immunology ; }, abstract = {The "exposome" is a term recently used to describe all environmental factors, both exogenous and endogenous, which we are exposed to in a lifetime. It represents an important tool in the study of autoimmunity, complementing classical immunological research tools and cutting-edge genome wide association studies (GWAS). Recently, environmental wide association studies (EWAS) investigated the effect of environment in the development of diseases. Environmental triggers are largely subdivided into infectious and non-infectious agents. In this review, we introduce the concept of the "infectome", which is the part of the exposome referring to the collection of an individual's exposures to infectious agents. The infectome directly relates to geoepidemiological, serological and molecular evidence of the co-occurrence of several infectious agents associated with autoimmune diseases that may provide hints for the triggering factors responsible for the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. We discuss the implications that the investigation of the infectome may have for the understanding of microbial/host interactions in autoimmune diseases with long, pre-clinical phases. It may also contribute to the concept of the human body as a superorganism where the microbiome is part of the whole organism, as can be seen with mitochondria which existed as microbes prior to becoming organelles in eukaryotic cells of multicellular organisms over time. A similar argument can now be made in regard to normal intestinal flora, living in symbiosis within the host. We also provide practical examples as to how we can characterise and measure the totality of a disease-specific infectome, based on the experimental approaches employed from the "immunome" and "microbiome" projects.}, } @article {pmid23266364, year = {2013}, author = {Guillas, I and Guellim, A and Rezé, N and Baudouin, E}, title = {Long chain base changes triggered by a short exposure of Arabidopsis to low temperature are altered by AHb1 non-symbiotic haemoglobin overexpression.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {191-195}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.11.020}, pmid = {23266364}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; Hemoglobins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sphingolipids/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Long chain bases (LCB) are both precursors of complex sphingolipids (SL) and cellular signals in eukaryotic cells. Increasing evidence support a function for SL and/or LCBs in plant responses to environmental cues. In this study we analysed the impact of a short exposure to cold on the global LCB content and composition in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. We report that the total LCB amount significantly decreased after low temperature exposure. The decline was essentially due to reduction of t18:1 isomer content. On the other hand, chilling led to the increase of LCB content in a mutant over-expressing the non-symbiotic haemoglobin AHb1. Furthermore, this mutant was impaired in cold-dependent root growth inhibition and anthocyanin synthesis. As AHb1 is an element of nitric oxide turnover, our data suggest a possible link between nitric oxide, SL content and cold stress response.}, } @article {pmid23266363, year = {2013}, author = {Shah, JK and Cochrane, DW and De Paepe, R and Igamberdiev, AU}, title = {Respiratory complex I deficiency results in low nitric oxide levels, induction of hemoglobin and upregulation of fermentation pathways.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {185-190}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.11.022}, pmid = {23266363}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Aconitate Hydratase/metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex I/*deficiency/*metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Tobacco/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) mutant of Nicotiana sylvestris which lacks NAD7, one of the subunits of respiratory complex I (NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.5.3), is characterized by very low (~10 times lower as compared to the wild type plants) emissions of nitric oxide (NO) under hypoxic conditions. The level of the non-symbiotic class 1 hemoglobin, as shown by Western blotting, is increased compared to the wild type plants not only under hypoxia but this protein reveals its marked expression in the CMS mutant even under normoxic conditions. The activity of aconitase (EC 4.2.1.3) is low in the CMS mutant, especially in the mitochondrial compartment, which indicates the suppression of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The CMS mutant exhibits the severalfold higher activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) under the normoxic conditions as compared to the wild type plants. It is concluded that the lack of functional complex I results in upregulation of the pathways of hypoxic metabolism which include both fermentation of pyruvate and scavenging of NO by the non-symbiotic hemoglobin.}, } @article {pmid23266268, year = {2013}, author = {Chamam, A and Sanguin, H and Bellvert, F and Meiffren, G and Comte, G and Wisniewski-Dyé, F and Bertrand, C and Prigent-Combaret, C}, title = {Plant secondary metabolite profiling evidences strain-dependent effect in the Azospirillum-Oryza sativa association.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {87}, number = {}, pages = {65-77}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.11.009}, pmid = {23266268}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Azospirillum/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Phenols/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Azospirillum is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) able to enhance growth and yield of cereals such as rice, maize and wheat. The growth-promoting ability of some Azospirillum strains appears to be highly specific to certain plant species and cultivars. In order to ascertain the specificity of the associative symbiosis between rice and Azospirillum, the physiological response of two rice cultivars, Nipponbare and Cigalon, inoculated with two rice-associated Azospirillum was analyzed at two levels: plant growth response and plant secondary metabolic response. Each strain of Azospirillum (Azospirillum lipoferum 4B isolated from Cigalon and Azospirillum sp. B510 isolated from Nipponbare) preferentially increased growth of the cultivar from which it was isolated. This specific effect is not related to a defect in colonization of host cultivar as each strain colonizes effectively both rice cultivars, either at the rhizoplane (for 4B and B510) and inside the roots (for B510). The metabolic profiling approach showed that, in response to PGPR inoculation, profiles of rice secondary metabolites were modified, with phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic derivatives being the main metabolites affected. Moreover, plant metabolic changes differed according to Azospirillum strain×cultivar combinations; indeed, 4B induced major secondary metabolic profile modifications only on Cigalon roots, while B510, probably due to its endophytic feature, induced metabolic variations on shoots and roots of both cultivars, triggering a systemic response. Plant secondary metabolite profiling thereby evidences the specific interaction between an Azospirillum strain and its original host cultivar.}, } @article {pmid23265608, year = {2012}, author = {Ricci, I and Valzano, M and Ulissi, U and Epis, S and Cappelli, A and Favia, G}, title = {Symbiotic control of mosquito borne disease.}, journal = {Pathogens and global health}, volume = {106}, number = {7}, pages = {380-385}, pmid = {23265608}, issn = {2047-7732}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*drug effects/*growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Culicidae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Humans ; Mosquito Control/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {It is well accepted that the symbiotic relationships insects have established with several microorganisms have had a key role in their evolutionary success. Bacterial symbiosis is also prevalent in insects that are efficient disease vectors, and numerous studies have sought to decrypt the basic mechanisms of the host-symbiont relationships and develop ways to control vector borne diseases. 'Symbiotic control', a new multifaceted approach that uses symbiotic microorganisms to control insect pests or reduce vector competence, seems particularly promising. Three such approaches currently at the cutting edge are: (1) the disruption of microbial symbionts required by insect pests; (2) the manipulation of symbionts that can express anti-pathogen molecules within the host; and (3) the introduction of endogenous microbes that affect life-span and vector capacity of the new hosts in insect populations. This work reviews current knowledge on microbial symbiosis in mosquitoes that holds promise for development of symbiotic control for mosquito borne diseases.}, } @article {pmid23264485, year = {2013}, author = {Laurent, J and Tambutté, S and Tambutté, É and Allemand, D and Venn, A}, title = {The influence of photosynthesis on host intracellular pH in scleractinian corals.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {216}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1398-1404}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.082081}, pmid = {23264485}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Light ; *Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) is a fundamental aspect of cell physiology that has received little attention in studies of reef-building corals and symbiotic cnidarians. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that dynamic changes in the pHi of coral host cells are controlled by the photosynthetic activity of the coral's dinoflagellate symbionts. Using live cell imaging and the pH-sensitive dye SNARF-1, we tracked pH in symbiont-containing and symbiont-free cells isolated from the reef coral Stylophora pistillata. We characterised the response of coral pHi in the presence of a photosynthetic inhibitor, the dynamics of coral pHi during light exposure and how pHi values vary on exposure to a range of irradiance levels lying within the coral's photosynthesis-irradiance response curve. Our results demonstrate that increases in coral pHi are dependent on photosynthetic activity of intracellular symbionts and that pHi recovers under darkness to values that match those of symbiont-free cells. Furthermore, we show that the timing of the pHi response is governed by irradiance level and that pHi increases to irradiance-specific steady-state values. Minimum steady-state pHi values of 7.05 ± 0.05 were obtained under darkness and maximum values of 7.46 ± 0.07 were obtained under saturating irradiance. As changes in pHi often affect organism homeostasis, there is a need for continued research into acid/base regulation in symbiotic corals. More generally, these results represent the first characterization of photosynthesis-driven pHi changes in animal cells.}, } @article {pmid23264474, year = {2012}, author = {Hernández, JE and Bolaños, JA and Palazón, JL and Hernández, G and Lira, C and Baeza, JA}, title = {The enigmatic life history of the symbiotic crab Tunicotheres moseri (Crustacea, Brachyura, Pinnotheridae): implications for its mating system and population structure.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {3}, pages = {278-290}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n3p278}, pmid = {23264474}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Brachyura/*physiology ; Caribbean Region ; Female ; Male ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/parasitology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Resource-monopolization theory predicts the adoption of a solitary habit in species using scarce, discrete, and small refuges. Life-history theory suggests that temporarily stable parental dwellings favor extended parental care in species that brood embryos. We tested these two predictions with the symbiotic crab Tunicotheres moseri. This species exhibits abbreviated development and inhabits the atrial chamber of the scarce, structurally simple, long-lived, and relatively small ascidian Phalusia nigra in the Caribbean. These host characteristics should favor a solitary habit and extended parental care (EPC) in T. moseri. As predicted, males and females of T. moseri inhabited ascidians solitarily with greater frequency than expected by chance alone. The male-female association pattern and reverse sexual dimorphism (males < females) additionally suggests a promiscuous "pure-search" mating system in T. moseri. Also in agreement with theoretical considerations, T. moseri displays EPC; in addition to embryos, females naturally retain larval stages, megalopae, and juveniles within their brooding pouches. This is the first record of EPC in a symbiotic crab and the second confirmed record of EPC in a marine brachyuran crab. This study supports predictions central to resource-monopolization and life-history theories.}, } @article {pmid23263235, year = {2013}, author = {Gloeckner, V and Lindquist, N and Schmitt, S and Hentschel, U}, title = {Ectyoplasia ferox, an experimentally tractable model for vertical microbial transmission in marine sponges.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {462-474}, pmid = {23263235}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Gene Library ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Reproduction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The oviparous sponge Ectyoplasia ferox is commonly found in Florida and the Bahamas. Every year in August and/or September about 6 days after a full moon, E. ferox will shed embryo-containing spawning material into the seawater from which hundreds to thousands of larvae will hatch per host individual. In order to investigate vertical microbial transmission in E. ferox, 16S rRNA gene library construction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was employed. Microbial symbionts from six phyla and the unknown lineage SAUL were shown to be vertically transmitted. The identification of 21 VT clusters, of which 19 were situated within sponge-specific or sponge-coral-specific clusters, indicated that a large fraction of the symbiotic microbial consortium was present in the sexual reproductive stages. Spawning led to a 50 % reduction of microbial numbers in the adult sponge mesohyl. We furthermore provide the first evidence that the symbiotic microbial consortia of E. ferox were generally metabolically active within the reproductive stages. Finally, we propose E. ferox as a model system for vertical transmission owing to the ease of experimental access to all sexual reproductive stages, and to experimental tractability in the laboratory including the possibility of rearing symbiont-free juvenile sponges.}, } @article {pmid23259634, year = {2013}, author = {Daub, ME and Herrero, S and Chung, KR}, title = {Reactive oxygen species in plant pathogenesis: the role of perylenequinone photosensitizers.}, journal = {Antioxidants & redox signaling}, volume = {19}, number = {9}, pages = {970-989}, doi = {10.1089/ars.2012.5080}, pmid = {23259634}, issn = {1557-7716}, mesh = {Apoptosis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Necrosis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Perylene/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Photosensitizing Agents/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*etiology/genetics/microbiology ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Quinones/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {SIGNIFICANCE: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play multiple roles in interactions between plants and microbes, both as host defense mechanisms and as mediators of pathogenic and symbiotic associations. One source of ROS in these interactions are photoactivated, ROS-generating perylenequinone pigments produced via polyketide metabolic pathways in plant-associated fungi. These natural products, including cercosporin, elsinochromes, hypocrellins, and calphostin C, are being utilized as medicinal agents, enzyme inhibitors, and in tumor therapy, but in nature, they play a role in the establishment of pathogenic associations between fungi and their plant hosts.

RECENT ADVANCES: Photoactivated perylenequinones are photosensitizers that use light energy to form singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and free radical oxygen species which damage cellular components based on localization of the perylenequinone molecule. Production of perylenequinones during infection commonly results in lipid peroxidation and membrane damage, leading to leakage of nutrients from cells into the intercellular spaces colonized by the pathogen. Perylenequinones show almost universal toxicity against organisms, including plants, mice, bacteria, and most fungi. The producing fungi are resistant, however, and serve as models for understanding resistance mechanisms.

CRITICAL ISSUES: Studies of resistance mechanisms by perylenequinone-producing fungi such as Cercospora species are leading to an understanding of cellular resistance to ¹O₂ and oxidative stress. Recent studies show commonalities between resistance mechanisms in these fungi with extensive studies of ¹O₂ and oxidative stress responses in photosynthetic organisms.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Such studies hold promise both for improved medical use and for engineering crop plants for disease resistance.}, } @article {pmid23258401, year = {2012}, author = {Jirillo, E and Jirillo, F and Magrone, T}, title = {Healthy effects exerted by prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotics with special reference to their impact on the immune system.}, journal = {International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition}, volume = {82}, number = {3}, pages = {200-208}, doi = {10.1024/0300-9831/a000112}, pmid = {23258401}, issn = {0300-9831}, mesh = {Aging ; *Diet ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; *Immunity ; Inflammation/prevention & control ; Intestines/microbiology ; Neoplasms/prevention & control ; *Prebiotics ; *Probiotics ; }, abstract = {Pre-, pro-, and symbiotics are endowed with a broad spectrum of beneficial effects when administered to animals and humans. A series of experimental and clinical studies have clearly demonstrated that prebiotics, probiotics, or their combination are very effective in attenuating chronic inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or obesity. In addition, these natural products are able to prevent or arrest tumor development, acting on the intestinal microbiota as well as potentiating the immune response.Aging is characterized by a dramatic reduction of both innate and adaptive immune responses, the so-called immunosenescence. This leads to an increased incidence of infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancer in the elderly. Pre-, pro-, and symbiotic administration has been shown to ameliorate the immune response in aging. In particular, administration of a symbiotic to free-living elderly was able to potentiate the release of interleukin-8, thus increasing neutrophils in the host, perhaps explaining the reduced frequency of winter infections in the elderly.}, } @article {pmid23257078, year = {2013}, author = {Pallara, G and Todeschini, V and Lingua, G and Camussi, A and Racchi, ML}, title = {Transcript analysis of stress defence genes in a white poplar clone inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae and grown on a polluted soil.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {131-139}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.11.016}, pmid = {23257078}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Metals, Heavy/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Populus/drug effects/*microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {In this study we investigated if the symbiosis with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae, which contributes to alleviate heavy metal stress in plants, may affect the transcription of genes involved in the stress defence in the white poplar clone 'AL35' grown on a multimetal (Cu and Zn) contaminated soil. The results obtained showed that the symbiosis with G. mosseae reduced transcript abundance of genes involved in antioxidant defence in leaves and roots of 'AL35' plants grown on the heavy metal-polluted soil. Moreover, the interaction between this poplar clone and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus induced the gene coding for phytochelatin synthase in leaves, whereas the expression of genes involved in heavy metal homeostasis did not change in roots. The present results suggest that, in presence of high levels of heavy metals, inoculation with G. mosseae may confer to 'AL35' a more efficient control of the oxidant level. Moreover, in mycorrhizal plants heavy metal chelation pathways appear involved in the defence strategies in leaves, whereas in roots they do not seem to contribute to increase the plant tolerance of heavy metals.}, } @article {pmid23252767, year = {2013}, author = {Rath, M and Weber, HC and Imhof, S}, title = {Morpho-anatomical and molecular characterization of the mycorrhizas of European Polygala species.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {548-557}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00680.x}, pmid = {23252767}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Germany ; Hyphae/genetics ; Malta ; Mycorrhizae/*cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Polygala ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The mycorrhizas of 12 species of Polygala (Polygalaceae), including herbs, subshrubs and one shrub, collected from Germany, Mallorca (Spain) and Malta, were investigated by morpho-anatomical and molecular methods. Aseptate hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles indicate an arbuscular mycorrhiza in all species examined. Hyphal spread in Polygala is predominantly, but not exclusively, intracellular and comprises three characteristic stages of colonization: (i) intracellular, linear hyphal growth in a cascading manner after penetration towards the penultimate parenchyma layer (layer 2), (ii) initially linear hyphal growth in the cells of layer 2 from where hyphal branches repeatedly penetrate the anatomically distinct innermost parenchyma layer (layer 1), forming arbuscule-like structures therein which are subject to degeneration, (iii) more branches from the linear hyphae in layer 2 develop, but coil and make contact to the layer outside layer 2 (layer 3) in which arbuscule-like structures similar to those in layer 1 form and degenerate. This general colonization pattern differs in details between the species, and critical comparisons, in particular between the woody P. myrtifolia, the herbaceous Polygala spp. and the mycoheterotrophic Epirixanthes spp. (Polygalaceae) suggest an evolutionary shift of mycorrhizal features within the family towards an optimization of plant benefit through the fungus. Based on the molecular marker 18S rDNA mycorrhizal fungi detected in roots of Polygala spp. are largely restricted to five clades of Glomeraceae 1 (Glomus Group A). This result rejects the hypothesis of a strict symbiotic specificity in Polygalaceae but may stimulate a discussion on functionally compatible groups of fungi.}, } @article {pmid23251637, year = {2012}, author = {Alex, A and Vasconcelos, V and Tamagnini, P and Santos, A and Antunes, A}, title = {Unusual symbiotic cyanobacteria association in the genetically diverse intertidal marine sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis (Demospongiae, Halichondrida).}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {e51834}, pmid = {23251637}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Cyanobacteria/classification/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/methods ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*genetics/*microbiology ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria represent one of the most common members of the sponge-associated bacterial community and are abundant symbionts of coral reef ecosystems. In this study we used Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and molecular techniques (16S rRNA gene marker) to characterize the spatial distribution of cyanobionts in the widely dispersed marine intertidal sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis along the coast of Portugal (Atlantic Ocean). We described new sponge associated cyanobacterial morphotypes (Xenococcus-like) and we further observed Acaryochloris sp. as a sponge symbiont, previously only reported in association with ascidians. Besides these two unique cyanobacteria, H. perlevis predominantly harbored Synechococcus sp. and uncultured marine cyanobacteria. Our study supports the hypothesis that the community of sponge cyanobionts varies irrespective of the geographical location and is likely influenced by seasonal fluctuations. The observed multiple cyanobacterial association among sponges of the same host species over a large distance may be attributed to horizontal transfer of symbionts. This may explain the absence of a co-evolutionary pattern between the sponge host and its symbionts. Finally, in spite of the short geographic sampling distance covered, we observed an unexpected high intra-specific genetic diversity in H. perlevis using the mitochondrial genes ATP6 (π = 0.00177), COI (π = 0.00241) and intergenic spacer SP1 (π = 0.00277) relative to the levels of genetic variation of marine sponges elsewhere. Our study suggests that genotypic variation among the sponge host H. perlevis and the associated symbiotic cyanobacteria diversity may be larger than previously recognized.}, } @article {pmid23250115, year = {2013}, author = {Worchel, ER and Giauque, HE and Kivlin, SN}, title = {Fungal symbionts alter plant drought response.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {3}, pages = {671-678}, pmid = {23250115}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Biomass ; Climate Change ; Droughts ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/physiology ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Poaceae/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Grassland productivity is often primarily limited by water availability, and therefore, grasslands may be especially sensitive to climate change. Fungal symbionts can mediate plant drought response by enhancing drought tolerance and avoidance, but these effects have not been quantified across grass species. We performed a factorial meta-analysis of previously published studies to determine how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and endophytic fungal symbionts affect growth of grasses under drought. We then examined how the effect of fungal symbionts on plant growth was influenced by biotic (plant photosynthetic pathway) and abiotic (level of drought) factors. We also measured the phylogenetic signal of fungal symbionts on grass growth under control and drought conditions. Under drought conditions, grasses colonized by AM fungi grew larger than those without mycorrhizal symbionts. The increased growth of grasses conferred from fungal symbionts was greatest at the lowest soil moisture levels. Furthermore, under both drought and control conditions, C3 grasses colonized by AM fungi grew larger than C3 grasses without symbionts, but the biomass of C4 grasses was not affected by AM fungi. Endophytes did not increase plant biomass overall under any treatment. However, there was a phylogenetically conserved increase in plant biomass in grasses colonized by endophytes. Grasses and their fungal symbionts seem to interact within a context-dependent symbiosis, varying with biotic and abiotic conditions. Because plant-fungal symbioses significantly alter plant drought response, including these responses could improve our ability to predict grassland functioning under global change.}, } @article {pmid23249379, year = {2013}, author = {Puppo, A and Pauly, N and Boscari, A and Mandon, K and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide: key regulators of the Legume-Rhizobium and mycorrhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Antioxidants & redox signaling}, volume = {18}, number = {16}, pages = {2202-2219}, doi = {10.1089/ars.2012.5136}, pmid = {23249379}, issn = {1557-7716}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {SIGNIFICANCE: During the Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) appear to play an important signaling role in the establishment and the functioning of this interaction. Modifications of the levels of these reactive species in both partners impair either the development of the nodules (new root organs formed on the interaction) or their N(2)-fixing activity.

RECENT ADVANCES: NADPH oxidases (Noxs) have been recently described as major sources of H(2)O(2) production, via superoxide anion dismutation, during symbiosis. Nitrate reductases (NR) and electron transfer chains from both partners were found to significantly contribute to NO production in N(2)-fixing nodules. Both S-sulfenylated and S-nitrosylated proteins have been detected during early interaction and in functioning nodules, linking reactive oxygen species (ROS)/NO production to redox-based protein regulation. NO was also found to play a metabolic role in nodule energy metabolism.

CRITICAL ISSUES: H(2)O(2) may control the infection process and the subsequent bacterial differentiation into the symbiotic form. NO is required for an optimal establishment of symbiosis and appears to be a key player in nodule senescence.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS: A challenging question is to define more precisely when and where reactive species are generated and to develop adapted tools to detect their production in vivo. To investigate the role of Noxs and NRs in the production of H(2)O(2) and NO, respectively, the use of mutants under the control of organ-specific promoters will be of crucial interest. The balance between ROS and NO production appears to be a key point to understand the redox regulation of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23246865, year = {2013}, author = {Zizza, M and Giusi, G and Crudo, M and Canonaco, M and Facciolo, RM}, title = {Lead-induced neurodegenerative events and abnormal behaviors occur via ORXRergic/GABA(A)Rergic mechanisms in a marine teleost.}, journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {126}, number = {}, pages = {231-241}, doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.11.011}, pmid = {23246865}, issn = {1879-1514}, mesh = {Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*drug effects ; Bicuculline/pharmacology ; Brain/drug effects/metabolism ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Lead/*toxicity ; Muscimol/pharmacology ; Nerve Degeneration/*chemically induced ; Nitrates/toxicity ; Orexin Receptors ; *Perciformes ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/*metabolism ; Receptors, GABA-A/*metabolism ; Receptors, Neuropeptide/*metabolism ; Swimming ; }, abstract = {The hindering effects of metals and in particular lead (Pb) are representing a growing threat to aquatic organisms such as fish. This observation derives from toxic concentrations of Pb accounting for altered neurophysiological activities of some interesting teleost models like Thalassoma pavo, a fish species highly known for its host-cleaning symbiosis. In this study, the nominal PbNO(3) concentration of 1.6 mg/L was capable of reducing feeding and resting bouts as early as 24 h of exposure while hyperactive swimming episodes were also detected. Such abnormal behaviors were tightly correlated to up-regulated orexin receptor (ORXR) mRNA expression levels in some brain areas such as the lateral thalamic nucleus (+213%) and the optic tectum (+90%) with respect to controls. Interestingly, these transcriptional effects seemed to be attenuated when Pb-exposed fish received either 100 ng/g of ORX-A (-70%) or 0.1 μg/g of γ-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor (GABA(A)R) agonist muscimol (MUS; -97%) compared to fish exposed to Pb alone. Moreover, a net neurodegenerative process of the different brain areas was reported after Pb exposure as displayed by their marked amino cupric silver stained cells while these cells were devoid of any staining reaction after treatment with MUS only. Conversely, addition of the GABA(A)R antagonist bicuculline (BIC; 1 μg/g) moderately (p<0.05) enhanced Pb-dependent behavioral and neurodegenerative actions. Overall, these first indications strongly point to altered ORXR/GABA(A)R interactions during neurotoxic events of a metal that by evoking harmful neurobiological dysfunctions may endanger the survival of commercially valuable fish with eventual repercussions on human health.}, } @article {pmid23246268, year = {2013}, author = {Venkateshwaran, M and Volkening, JD and Sussman, MR and Ané, JM}, title = {Symbiosis and the social network of higher plants.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {118-127}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.11.007}, pmid = {23246268}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Bacteria ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Brassicaceae/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Fabaceae/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In the Internet era, communicating with friends and colleagues via social networks constitutes a significant proportion of our daily activities. Similarly animals and plants also interact with many organisms, some of which are pathogens and do no good for the plant, while others are beneficial symbionts. Almost all plants indulge in developing social networks with microbes, in particular with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and emerging evidence indicates that most employ an ancient and widespread central 'social media' pathway made of signaling molecules within what is called the SYM pathway. Some plants, like legumes, are particularly active recruiters of friends, as they have established very sophisticated and beneficial interactions with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, also via the SYM pathway. Interestingly, many members of the Brassicaceae, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, seem to have removed themselves from this ancestral social network and lost the ability to engage in mutually favorable interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Despite these generalizations, recent studies exploring the root microbiota of A. thaliana have found that in natural conditions, A. thaliana roots are colonized by many different bacterial species and therefore may be using different and probably more recent 'social media' for these interactions. In general, recent advances in the understanding of such molecular machinery required for plant-symbiont associations are being obtained using high throughput genomic profiling strategies including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. The crucial mechanistic understanding that such data reveal may provide the infrastructure for future efforts to genetically manipulate crop social networks for our own food and fiber needs.}, } @article {pmid23245852, year = {2013}, author = {Yang, W and Kong, Z and Chen, W and Wei, G}, title = {Genetic diversity and symbiotic evolution of rhizobia from root nodules of Coronilla varia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {49-55}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.10.004}, pmid = {23245852}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ninety symbiotic rhizobial isolates from root nodules of Coronilla varia growing in the Shaanxi province of China were characterized. Combined with the results of RFLP patterns, six genotypes were defined among the rhizobial strains and they were divided into three genomic genera. These included Mesorhizobium sp., M. alhagi, M. amorphae, M. metallidurans/M. gobiense as the dominant group (86.7%), and Rhizobium yanglingense and Agrobacterium tumefaciens as the minor groups, according to analysis of the corresponding 16S rRNA, nodC and nifH genes. Five nodC types, which mainly grouped into the Mesorhizobium genus, were obtained from all the isolates examined, implying that nodC genes probably occurred from the native habitat through lateral transfer and long-term adaptation, finally evolving toward M. alhagi. Four different nifH types, displaying obvious differences compared to those of 16S rRNA and nodC, implied that possible lateral transfer of the symbiotic genes occurred between different genera. The association between soil components and the genetic diversity of the rhizobial population demonstrated that combined genotypes were positively correlated with the pH of soil samples.}, } @article {pmid23242424, year = {2013}, author = {Ballhorn, DJ and Kautz, S and Schädler, M}, title = {Induced plant defense via volatile production is dependent on rhizobial symbiosis.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {172}, number = {3}, pages = {833-846}, pmid = {23242424}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/classification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can substantially influence plant-herbivore interactions by altering plant chemical composition and food quality. However, the effects of rhizobia on plant volatiles, which serve as indirect and direct defenses against arthropod herbivores and as signals in defense-associated plant-plant and within-plant signaling, are still unstudied. We measured the release of jasmonic acid (JA)-induced volatiles of rhizobia-colonized and rhizobia-free lima bean plants (Fabaceae: Phaseolus lunatus L.) and tested effects of their respective bouquets of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on a specialist insect herbivore (Mexican bean beetle; Coccinellidae: Epilachna varivestis Mulsant) in olfactometer choice trials. In a further experiment, we showed that VOC induction by JA reflects the plant responses to mechanical wounding and insect herbivory. Following induction with JA, rhizobia-colonized plants released significantly higher amounts of the shikimic acid-derived compounds, whereas the emission of compounds produced via the octadecanoid, mevalonate and non-mevalonate pathways was reduced. These changes affected the choice behavior of beetles as the preference of non-induced plants was much more pronounced for plants that were colonized by rhizobia. We showed that indole likely represents the causing agent for the observed repellent effects of jasmonic acid-induced VOCs of rhizobia-colonized lima bean plants. Our study demonstrates a rhizobia-triggered efficacy of induced plant defense via volatiles. Due to these findings, we interpret rhizobia as an integral part of legume defenses against herbivores.}, } @article {pmid23241669, year = {2013}, author = {Marczak, M and Dźwierzyńska, M and Skorupska, A}, title = {Homo- and heterotypic interactions between Pss proteins involved in the exopolysaccharide transport system in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii.}, journal = {Biological chemistry}, volume = {394}, number = {4}, pages = {541-559}, doi = {10.1515/hsz-2012-0161}, pmid = {23241669}, issn = {1437-4315}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum produces large amounts of exopolysaccharide (EPS) that has been shown to be an important determinant of successful nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legume plants. EPS is assembled in a Wzx/Wzy-dependent manner, and proteins involved in the process are proposed to form a complex that enables coupling the synthesis of EPS subunits with their polymerization and transport. Pss proteins, which are encoded within the chromosomal polysaccharide synthesis cluster of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1, were subjected to interaction analysis. PssN was shown to form multimeric complexes in the outer membrane and interact with the extracellular PssO protein and the inner membrane oligomeric PssP co-polymerase. PssO was demonstrated to form oligomers in the presence of the cross-linker. Bacterial two-hybrid analysis showed that PssP interacts with PssL and PssT, counterparts of Gram-negative bacteria Wzx and Wzy proteins. Membrane topology of PssT is discussed in the context of its plausible Wzy-like polymerase activity, interactions with PssP and a possible impact of these interactions on EPS polymerization and chain length determination. The importance of protein-protein and putative protein-polysaccharide interactions in EPS transport is discussed. A topology model for the EPS transport system, with highlights on localization, functions and interactions between the Pss proteins, is proposed.}, } @article {pmid23239089, year = {2013}, author = {Wojdak, JM and Clay, L and Moore, S and Williams, T and Belden, LK}, title = {Echinostoma trivolvis (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) second intermediate host preference matches host suitability.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {112}, number = {2}, pages = {799-805}, pmid = {23239089}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Acanthaceae/*parasitology ; Animals ; Echinostoma/pathogenicity/*physiology ; *Host Specificity ; Oligochaeta/growth & development ; Parasite Load ; Ponds ; }, abstract = {Many trematodes infect a single mollusk species as their first intermediate host, and then infect a variety of second intermediate host species. Determining the factors that shape host specificity is an important step towards understanding trematode infection dynamics. Toward this end, we studied two pond snails (Physa gyrina and Helisoma trivolvis) that can be infected as second intermediate hosts by the trematode Echinostoma trivolvis lineage a (ETa). We performed laboratory preference trials with ETa cercariae in the presence of both snail species and also characterized host suitability by quantifying encystment and excystment success for each host species alone. We tested the prediction that trematodes might preferentially infect species other than their obligate first intermediate host (in this case, H. trivolvis) as second intermediate hosts to avoid potentially greater host mortality associated with residing in first intermediate hosts. In our experiments, ETa had roughly equivalent encystment success in Helisoma and Physa snails, but greater excystment success in Physa, when offered each species in isolation. Also, the presence of the symbiotic oligochaete Chaetogaster limnaei in a subset of Helisoma snails reduced encystment success in those individuals. When both hosts were present, we found dramatically reduced infection prevalence and intensity in Helisoma-ETa cercariae strongly preferred Physa. Thus, the presence of either an alternative host, or a predator of free-living parasites, offered protection for Helisoma snails from E. trivolvis lineage a infection.}, } @article {pmid23233514, year = {2013}, author = {Valle, LG and Rossi, W and Santamaria, S}, title = {New species and new records of trichomycetes from Italy.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {105}, number = {3}, pages = {712-727}, doi = {10.3852/12-184}, pmid = {23233514}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology ; France ; Fungi/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Italy ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {We present the results obtained from a short survey in central Italy to broaden the poorly known diversity of trichomycetous gut symbionts, members of the Kickxellomycotina, in this country. Among the reported fungi, two new species of Harpellales are described: Harpellomyces aprutinus and Orphella italica, as well as 14 other species that are new for Italy. Among these, the remarkable and rare species Gauthieromyces microsporus is included, previously known only from the type locality in France. One species of Asellariales, Asellaria gramenei, also is reported. Taxonomic and biogeographic implications of these records are discussed.}, } @article {pmid23233505, year = {2013}, author = {Purin, S and Morton, JB}, title = {Anastomosis behavior differs between asymbiotic and symbiotic hyphae of Rhizophagus clarus.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {105}, number = {3}, pages = {589-602}, doi = {10.3852/12-135}, pmid = {23233505}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Genotype ; Glomeromycota/genetics/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Hyphae/genetics/growth & development/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The life history of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota) consists of a short asymbiotic phase when spores germinate and a longer symbiotic phase where hyphae form a network within roots and subsequently in the rhizosphere. Hyphal anastomosis contributes to colony formation, yet this process has been studied mostly in the asymbiotic phase rather than in mycorrhizal plants because of methodological limitations. We sought to compare patterns of anastomosis during each phase of fungal growth by measuring hyphal fusions in genetically identical and different single spore isolates of Rhizophagus clarus from different environments and geographic locations. These isolates were genotyped with two anonymous markers of microsatellite-flanking regions. Anastomosis of hyphae from germinating spores was examined in axenic Petri dishes. A rhizohyphatron consisting of agar-coated glass slides bridging single or paired mycorrhizal sorghum plants allowed evaluation of anastomosis of symbiotic hyphae. Anastomosis of hyphae within a colony, defined here as a mycelium from an individual germinating spore or from mycorrhizal roots of one plant, occurred with similar frequencies (8-38%). However, anastomosis between paired colonies was observed in germinating spores from either genetically identical or different isolates, but it was never detected in symbiotic hyphae. The frequency of anastomosis in asymbiotic hyphae from paired interactions was low, occurring in fewer than 6% of hyphal contacts. These data suggest that anastomosis is relatively unconstrained when interactions occur within a colony but is confined to asymbiotic hyphae when interactions occur between paired colonies. This pattern of behavior suggests that asymbiotic and symbiotic phases of mycelium development by R. clarus may differ in function. Anastomosis in the asymbiotic phase may provide brief opportunities for gene flow between populations of this and possibly other AMF species.}, } @article {pmid23233246, year = {2012}, author = {Duperron, S and Rodrigues, CF and Léger, N and Szafranski, K and Decker, C and Olu, K and Gaudron, SM}, title = {Diversity of symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and metazoans at the Guiness cold seep site (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa).}, journal = {MicrobiologyOpen}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {467-480}, pmid = {23233246}, issn = {2045-8827}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Base Sequence ; Bivalvia/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Gills/microbiology ; Guinea ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fauna from deep-sea cold seeps worldwide is dominated by chemosymbiotic metazoans. Recently, investigation of new sites in the Gulf of Guinea yielded numerous new species for which symbiosis was strongly suspected. In this study, symbioses are characterized in five seep-specialist metazoans recently collected from the Guiness site located at ≈ 600 m depth. Four bivalve and one annelid species belonging to families previously documented to harbor chemosynthetic bacteria were investigated using bacterial marker gene sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and stable isotope analyses. Results support that all five species display chemosynthetic, sulfur-oxidizing γ-proteobacteria. Bacteria are abundant in the gills of bivalves, and in the trophosome of the siboglinid annelid. As observed for their relatives occurring at deeper sites, chemoautotrophy is a major source of carbon for animal nutrition. Although symbionts found in each host species are related to symbionts found in other metazoans from the same families, several incongruencies are observed among phylogenetic trees obtained from the different bacterial genes, suggesting a certain level of heterogeneity in symbiont strains present. Results provide new insights into the diversity, biogeography, and role of symbiotic bacteria in metazoans from the Gulf of Guinea, at a site located at an intermediate depth between the continental shelf and the deep sea.}, } @article {pmid23228549, year = {2013}, author = {Talano, MA and Cejas, RB and González, PS and Agostini, E}, title = {Arsenic effect on the model crop symbiosis Bradyrhizobium-soybean.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {63}, number = {}, pages = {8-14}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.11.007}, pmid = {23228549}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Arsenic/*toxicity ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Soybeans/*drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is often being cultivated in soils with moderate to high arsenic (As) concentrations or under irrigation with As contaminated groundwater. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of As on soybean germination, development and nodulation in soybean-Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 symbiosis, as a first-step approach to evaluate the impact of As on soybean production. Semi-hydroponic assays were conducted using soybean seedlings inoculated and non-inoculated with B. japonicum E109 and treated with arsenate or arsenite. Soybean germination and development, at early stage of growth, were significantly reduced from 10 μM arsenate or arsenite. This also was seen for soybean seedlings inoculated with B. japonicum mainly with arsenite where, in addition, the number of effective nodules was reduced, despite that the microorganism tolerated the metalloid. This minor nodulation could be due to a reduced motility (swarming and swimming) of the microorganism in presence of As. Arsenic concentration in roots was about 250-times higher than in shoots. Transference coefficient values indicated that As translocation to aerial parts was low and As accumulated mainly in roots, without significant differences between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. The presence of As restricted soybean-B. japonicum symbiosis and hence, the efficiency of most used commercial inoculants for soybean. Thus, water and/or soils containing As would negatively impact on soybean production, even in plants inoculated with B. japonicum E109.}, } @article {pmid23226379, year = {2012}, author = {Bastiat, B and Sauviac, L and Picheraux, C and Rossignol, M and Bruand, C}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti sigma factors RpoE1 and RpoE4 are activated in stationary phase in response to sulfite.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e50768}, pmid = {23226379}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mass Spectrometry ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Regulon/genetics ; Sigma Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Sulfites/*metabolism ; Taurine/metabolism ; Thiosulfates/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria able to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legume plants. Both in soil and in planta, rhizobia spend non-growing periods resembling the stationary phase of in vitro-cultured bacteria. The primary objective of this work was to better characterize gene regulation in this biologically relevant growth stage in Sinorhizobium meliloti. By a tap-tag/mass spectrometry approach, we identified five sigma factors co-purifying with the RNA polymerase in stationary phase: the general stress response regulator RpoE2, the heat shock sigma factor RpoH2, and three extra-cytoplasmic function sigma factors (RpoE1, RpoE3 and RpoE4) belonging to the poorly characterized ECF26 subgroup. We then showed that RpoE1 and RpoE4 i) are activated upon metabolism of sulfite-generating compounds (thiosulfate and taurine), ii) display overlapping regulatory activities, iii) govern a dedicated sulfite response by controlling expression of the sulfite dehydrogenase SorT, iv) are activated in stationary phase, likely as a result of endogenous sulfite generation during bacterial growth. We showed that SorT is required for optimal growth of S. meliloti in the presence of sulfite, suggesting that the response governed by RpoE1 and RpoE4 may be advantageous for bacteria in stationary phase either by providing a sulfite detoxification function or by contributing to energy production through sulfite respiration. This paper therefore reports the first characterization of ECF26 sigma factors, the first description of sigma factors involved in control of sulphur metabolism, and the first indication that endogenous sulfite may act as a signal for regulation of gene expression upon entry of bacteria in stationary phase.}, } @article {pmid23226144, year = {2012}, author = {Kühl, M and Behrendt, L and Trampe, E and Qvortrup, K and Schreiber, U and Borisov, SM and Klimant, I and Larkum, AW}, title = {Microenvironmental Ecology of the Chlorophyll b-Containing Symbiotic Cyanobacterium Prochloron in the Didemnid Ascidian Lissoclinum patella.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {402}, pmid = {23226144}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The discovery of the cyanobacterium Prochloron was the first finding of a bacterial oxyphototroph with chlorophyll (Chl) b, in addition to Chl a. It was first described as Prochloron didemni but a number of clades have since been described. Prochloron is a conspicuously large (7-25 μm) unicellular cyanobacterium living in a symbiotic relationship, primarily with (sub-) tropical didemnid ascidians; it has resisted numerous cultivation attempts and appears truly obligatory symbiotic. Recently, a Prochloron draft genome was published, revealing no lack of metabolic genes that could explain the apparent inability to reproduce and sustain photosynthesis in a free-living stage. Possibly, the unsuccessful cultivation is partly due to a lack of knowledge about the microenvironmental conditions and ecophysiology of Prochloron in its natural habitat. We used microsensors, variable chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and imaging of O(2) and pH to obtain a detailed insight to the microenvironmental ecology and photobiology of Prochloron in hospite in the didemnid ascidian Lissoclinum patella. The microenvironment within ascidians is characterized by steep gradients of light and chemical parameters that change rapidly with varying irradiances. The interior zone of the ascidians harboring Prochloron thus became anoxic and acidic within a few minutes of darkness, while the same zone exhibited O(2) super-saturation and strongly alkaline pH after a few minutes of illumination. Photosynthesis showed lack of photoinhibition even at high irradiances equivalent to full sunlight, and photosynthesis recovered rapidly after periods of anoxia. We discuss these new insights on the ecological niche of Prochloron and possible interactions with its host and other microbes in light of its recently published genome and a recent study of the overall microbial diversity and metagenome of L. patella.}, } @article {pmid23224570, year = {2013}, author = {Thompson, BM and Grebenok, RJ and Behmer, ST and Gruner, DS}, title = {Microbial symbionts shape the sterol profile of the xylem-feeding woodwasp, Sirex noctilio.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {39}, number = {1}, pages = {129-139}, pmid = {23224570}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Male ; Pinus/*parasitology ; Sterols/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; Xylem ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic fungus Amylostereum areolatum is essential for growth and development of larvae of the invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio. In the nutrient poor xylem of pine trees, upon which Sirex feeds, it is unknown whether Amylostereum facilitates survival directly through consumption (mycetophagy) and/or indirectly through digestion of recalcitrant plant polymers (external rumen hypothesis). We tested these alternative hypotheses for Amylostereum involvement in Sirex foraging using the innate dependency of all insects on dietary sources of sterol and the unique sterols indicative of fungi and plants. We tested alternative hypotheses by using GC-MS to quantify concentrations of free and bound sterol pools from multiple life-stages of Sirex, food sources, and waste products in red pine (Pinus resinosa). Cholesterol was the primary sterol found in all life-stages of Sirex. However, cholesterol was not found in significant quantities in either plant or fungal resources. Ergosterol was the most prevalent sterol in Amylostereum but was not detectable in either wood or insect tissue (<0.001 μg/g). Phytosterols were ubiquitous in both pine xylem and Sirex. Therefore, dealkylation of phytosterols (sitosterol and campesterol) is the most likely pathway to meet dietary demand for cholesterol in Sirex. Ergosterol concentrations from fungal-infested wood demonstrated low fungal biomass, which suggests mycetophagy is not the primary source of sterol or bulk nutrition for Sirex. Our findings suggest there is a potentially greater importance for fungal enzymes, including the external digestion of recalcitrant plant polymers (e.g., lignin and cellulose), shaping this insect-fungal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23221781, year = {2013}, author = {Rival, P and Bono, JJ and Gough, C and Bensmihen, S and Rosenberg, C}, title = {Cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous control of rhizobial and mycorrhizal infection in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e22999}, pmid = {23221781}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes can form a nitrogen fixing symbiosis with soil bacteria called rhizobia (the RL symbiosis). They can also, like most plants, form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which facilitate plants' phosphate nutrition. In both interactions, the symbionts are hosted inside the plant root. Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are housed in intracellular symbiotic structures within nodules, while AM fungi form intracellular symbiotic structures, called arbuscules, within cortical root cells. These two endosymbioses present other similarities, including production by the microsymbionts of lipo-chitooligosaccharidic signals (Nod Factors and Myc-LCOs), and the involvement of common plant signaling elements. In Medicago truncatula, DMI3 encodes a calcium and calmodulin dependent protein kinase that is part of this common signaling pathway, while NFP encodes a LysM domain receptor-like kinase involved in Nod Factor perception. Using tissue specific promoters, we recently uncoupled the roles of NFP and DMI3 in the cortex and the epidermis of the root during the RL symbiosis. (1) Here, we provide additional data showing a cell autonomous tissular contribution of DMI3 in the AM symbiosis, and we comment on a non-cell autonomous cortical role of NFP during rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid23221780, year = {2013}, author = {Reynoso, MA and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Insights into post-transcriptional regulation during legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e23102}, pmid = {23221780}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {During the past ten years, changes in the transcriptome have been assessed at different stages of the legume-rhizobia association by the use of DNA microarrays and, more recently, by RNA sequencing technologies. These studies allowed the identification of hundred or thousand of genes whose steady-state mRNA levels increase or decrease upon bacterial infection or in nodules as compared with uninfected roots. However, transcriptome based-approaches do not distinguish between mRNAs that are being actively translated, stored as messenger ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs) or targeted for degradation. Despite that the increase in steady-state levels of an mRNA does not necessarily correlate with an increase in abundance or activity of the encoded protein, this information has been commonly used to select genes that are candidates to play a role during nodule organogenesis or bacterial infection. Such criterion does not take into account the post-transcriptional mechanisms that contribute to the regulation of gene expression. One of such mechanisms, which has significant impact on gene expression, is the selective recruitment of mRNAs to the translational machinery. Here, we review the post-transcriptional mechanisms that contribute to the regulation of gene expression in the context of the ecological and agronomical important symbiotic interaction established between roots of legumes and the nitrogen fixing bacteria collectively known as rhizobia. In addition, we discuss how the development of new technologies that allow the assessment of these regulatory layers would help to understand the genetic network governing legume rhizobia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23221743, year = {2013}, author = {Kohlen, W and Charnikhova, T and Bours, R and López-Ráez, JA and Bouwmeester, H}, title = {Tomato strigolactones: a more detailed look.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {e22785}, pmid = {23221743}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Furans/metabolism ; Indenes/metabolism ; Isomerism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*metabolism ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Exudates/chemistry ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are plant signaling molecules that induce germination of parasitic plant seeds, initiate host plant - arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus symbiosis and act as plant hormones controlling shoot branching and root architecture. To date four unique strigolactones (e.g., orobanchol, didehydroorobanchol isomers 1 and 2 and the aromatic strigolactone solanacol) have been reported in the root exudates and extracts of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here we report on the presence of several additional strigolactones in tomato root exudates and extracts, orobanchyl acetate, two 7-hydroxyorobanchol isomers, 7-oxoorobanchol and two additional didehydroorobanchol isomers and discuss their possible biological relevance.}, } @article {pmid23221721, year = {2012}, author = {Sisaphaithong, T and Kondo, D and Matsunaga, H and Kobae, Y and Hata, S}, title = {Expression of plant genes for arbuscular mycorrhiza-inducible phosphate transporters and fungal vesicle formation in sorghum, barley, and wheat roots.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {76}, number = {12}, pages = {2364-2367}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.120782}, pmid = {23221721}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*cytology/*physiology ; Hordeum/genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Poaceae/*genetics/*microbiology ; Sorghum/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptional Activation ; Triticum/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sorghum shows strong growth stimulation on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, while barley and wheat show growth depression. We identified the AM-inducible phosphate transporter genes of these cereals. Their protein products play major roles in phosphate absorption from arbuscules, intracellular fungal structures. Unexpectedly, barley and wheat expressed the AM-inducible genes at high levels. Hence the cause of their growth depression appears to be unrelated to the transcription of these genes. Notably, fungal vesicles were formed significantly more in barley and wheat than in sorghum. This study yielded new clues for investigation of the mechanism underlying these various responses.}, } @article {pmid23221680, year = {2012}, author = {Nair, A and Bhargava, S}, title = {Reduced mycorrhizal colonization (rmc) tomato mutant lacks expression of SymRK signaling pathway genes.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {1578-1583}, pmid = {23221680}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Comparison of the expression of 13 genes involved in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis was performed in a wild type tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv 76R) and its reduced mycorrhizal colonization mutant rmc in response to colonization with Glomus fasiculatum. Four defense-related genes were induced to a similar extent in the mutant and wild type AM colonized plants, indicating a systemic response to AM colonization. Genes related to nutrient exchange between the symbiont partners showed higher expression in the AM roots of wild type plants than the mutant plants, which correlated with their arbuscular frequency. A symbiosis receptor kinase that is involved in both nodulation and AM symbiosis was not expressed in the rmc mutant. The fact that some colonization was observed in rmc was suggestive of the existence of an alternate colonization signaling pathway for AM symbiosis in this mutant.}, } @article {pmid23220943, year = {2013}, author = {Cohen, M and Prandi, C and Occhiato, EG and Tabasso, S and Wininger, S and Resnick, N and Steinberger, Y and Koltai, H and Kapulnik, Y}, title = {Structure-function relations of strigolactone analogs: activity as plant hormones and plant interactions.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {141-152}, doi = {10.1093/mp/sss134}, pmid = {23220943}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Carbazoles/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Germination/drug effects ; Hyphae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Orobanche/drug effects/growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators/chemical synthesis/*chemistry/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Seeds/drug effects/growth & development ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) have several functions as signaling molecules in their interactions with symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the parasitic weeds Orobanche and Striga. SLs are also a new class of plant hormone regulating plant development. In all three organisms, a specific and sensitive receptor-mediated perception system is suggested. By comparing the activity of synthetic SL analogs on Arabidopsis root-hair elongation, Orobanche aegyptiaca seed germination, and hyphal branching of the AM fungus Glomus intraradices, we found that each of the tested organisms differs in its response to the various examined synthetic SL analogs. Structure-function relations of the SL analogs suggest substitutions on the A-ring as the cause of this variation. Moreover, the description of competitive antagonistic analogs suggests that the A-ring of SL can affect not only affinity to the receptor, but also the molecule's ability to activate it. The results support the conclusion that Arabidopsis, Orobanche, and AM fungi possess variations in receptor sensitivity to SL analogs, probably due to variation in SL receptors among the different species.}, } @article {pmid23219706, year = {2013}, author = {Kawaida, H and Ohba, K and Koutake, Y and Shimizu, H and Tachida, H and Kobayakawa, Y}, title = {Symbiosis between hydra and chlorella: molecular phylogenetic analysis and experimental study provide insight into its origin and evolution.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {66}, number = {3}, pages = {906-914}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2012.11.018}, pmid = {23219706}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Chlorella/*genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Genetic Speciation ; Hydra/*genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although many physiological studies have been reported on the symbiosis between hydra and green algae, very little information from a molecular phylogenetic aspect of symbiosis is available. In order to understand the origin and evolution of symbiosis between the two organisms, we compared the phylogenetic relationships among symbiotic green algae with the phylogenetic relationships among host hydra strains. To do so, we reconstructed molecular phylogenetic trees of several strains of symbiotic chlorella harbored in the endodermal epithelial cells of viridissima group hydra strains and investigated their congruence with the molecular phylogenetic trees of the host hydra strains. To examine the species specificity between the host and the symbiont with respect to the genetic distance, we also tried to introduce chlorella strains into two aposymbiotic strains of viridissima group hydra in which symbiotic chlorella had been eliminated in advance. We discussed the origin and history of symbiosis between hydra and green algae based on the analysis.}, } @article {pmid23219475, year = {2013}, author = {Foo, E}, title = {Auxin influences strigolactones in pea mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {5}, pages = {523-528}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2012.11.002}, pmid = {23219475}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Lactones/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development ; Peas/*drug effects/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Stems/drug effects ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Hormone interactions are essential for the control of many developmental processes, including intracellular symbioses. The interaction between auxin and the new plant hormone strigolactone in the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis was examined in one of the few auxin deficient mutants available in a mycorrhizal species, the auxin-deficient bsh mutant of pea (Pisum sativum). Mycorrhizal colonisation with the fungus Glomus intraradices was significantly reduced in the low auxin bsh mutant. The bsh mutant also exhibited a reduction in strigolactone exudation and the expression of a key strigolactone biosynthesis gene (PsCCD8). Strigolactone exudation was also reduced in wild type plants when the auxin content was reduced by stem girdling. Low strigolactone levels appear to be at least partially responsible for the reduced colonisation of the bsh mutant, as application of the synthetic strigolactone GR24 could partially rescue the mycorrhizal phenotype of bsh mutants. Data presented here indicates root auxin content was correlated with strigolactone exudation in both mutant and wild type plants. Mutant studies suggest that auxin may regulate early events in the formation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by controlling strigolactone levels, both in the rhizosphere and possibly during early root colonisation.}, } @article {pmid23218015, year = {2012}, author = {Geurts, R and Vleeshouwers, VG}, title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis: ancient signalling mechanisms co-opted.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {R997-9}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2012.10.021}, pmid = {23218015}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oomycetes/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal root endosymbiosis is an ancient property of land plants. Two parallel studies now provide novel insight into the mechanism driving this interaction and how it is used by other filamentous microbes like pathogenic oomycetes.}, } @article {pmid23217154, year = {2012}, author = {Pii, Y and Molesini, B and Masiero, S and Pandolfini, T}, title = {The non-specific lipid transfer protein N5 of Medicago truncatula is implicated in epidermal stages of rhizobium-host interaction.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {233}, pmid = {23217154}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Cytokinins/physiology ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Epidermis/*microbiology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Time Factors ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic interaction between leguminous plants and rhizobia involves two processes: bacterial infection, resulting in the penetration of bacteria in epidermal and cortical cells, and root nodule organogenesis. Root nodule symbiosis is activated by rhizobial signalling molecules, called Nodulation factors (NFs). NF perception induces the expression of several genes called early nodulins. The early nodulin N5 of Medicago truncatula is a lipid transfer protein that has been shown to positively regulate nodulation although it displays in vitro inhibitory activity against Sinorhizobium meliloti. The purpose of this work was to investigate the role of MtN5 by studying its spatial and temporal pattern of expression during the symbiotic interaction, also in relation to known components of the symbiotic signalling pathway, and by analysing the phenotypic alterations displayed by rhizobia-inoculated MtN5-silenced roots.

RESULTS: We show here that MtN5 is a NF-responsive gene expressed at a very early phase of symbiosis in epidermal cells and root hairs. MtN5 expression is induced in vitro by rhizobial effector molecules and by auxin and cytokinin, phytohormones involved in nodule organogenesis. Furthermore, lipid signaling is implicated in the response of MtN5 to rhizobia, since the activity of phospholipase D is required for MtN5 induction in S. meliloti-inoculated roots. MtN5-silenced roots inoculated with rhizobia display an increased root hair curling and a reduced number of invaded primordia compared to that in wild type roots, but with no impairment to nodule primordia formation. This phenotype is associated with the stimulation of ENOD11 expression, an early marker of infection, and with the down-regulation of Flotillin 4 (FLOT4), a protein involved in rhizobial entry.

CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that MtN5 acts downstream of NF perception and upstream of FLOT4 in regulating pre-infection events. The positive effect of MtN5 on nodule primordia invasion is linked to the restriction of bacterial spread at the epidermal level. Furthermore, MtN5 seems to be dispensable for nodule primordia formation. These findings provide new information about the complex mechanism that controls the competence of root epidermal cells for rhizobial invasion.}, } @article {pmid23216788, year = {2013}, author = {Bever, JD and Broadhurst, LM and Thrall, PH}, title = {Microbial phylotype composition and diversity predicts plant productivity and plant-soil feedbacks.}, journal = {Ecology letters}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {167-174}, pmid = {23216788}, issn = {1461-0248}, support = {R01 GM092660/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 5 R01 GM092660/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acacia/growth & development/*microbiology ; DNA, Ribosomal ; *Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The relationship between ecological variation and microbial genetic composition is critical to understanding microbial influence on community and ecosystem function. In glasshouse trials using nine native legume species and 40 rhizobial strains, we find that bacterial rRNA phylotype accounts for 68% of amoung isolate variability in symbiotic effectiveness and 79% of host specificity in growth response. We also find that rhizobial phylotype diversity and composition of soils collected from a geographical breadth of sites explains the growth responses of two acacia species. Positive soil microbial feedback between the two acacia hosts was largely driven by changes in diversity of rhizobia. Greater rhizobial diversity accumulated in association with the less responsive host species, Acacia salicina, and negatively affected the growth of the more responsive Acacia stenophylla. Together, this work demonstrates correspondence of phylotype with microbial function, and demonstrates that the dynamics of rhizobia on host species can feed back on plant population performance.}, } @article {pmid23214451, year = {2012}, author = {Wadhavane, PD and Galian, RE and Izquierdo, MA and Aguilera-Sigalat, J and Galindo, F and Schmidt, L and Burguete, MI and Pérez-Prieto, J and Luis, SV}, title = {Photoluminescence enhancement of CdSe quantum dots: a case of organogel-nanoparticle symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {134}, number = {50}, pages = {20554-20563}, doi = {10.1021/ja310508r}, pmid = {23214451}, issn = {1520-5126}, abstract = {Highly fluorescent organogels (QD-organogel), prepared by combining a pseudopeptidic macrocycle and different types of CdSe quantum dots (QDs), have been characterized using a battery of optical and microscopic techniques. The results indicate that the presence of the QDs not only does not disrupt the supramolecular organization of the internal fibrillar network of the organogel to a significant extent, but it also decreases the critical concentration of gelator needed to form stable and thermoreversible organogels. Regarding the photophysical properties of the QDs, different trends were observed depending on the presence of a ZnS inorganic shell around the CdSe core. Thus, while the core-shell QDs preserve their photophysical properties in the organogel medium, a high to moderate increase of the fluorescence intensity (up to 528%) and the average lifetime (up to 1.7), respectively, was observed for the core QDs embedded in the organogel. The results are relevant for the development of luminescent organogels based on quantum dots, which have potential applications as advanced hybrid materials in different fields.}, } @article {pmid23213455, year = {2012}, author = {Towanda, T and Thuesen, EV}, title = {Prolonged exposure to elevated CO(2) promotes growth of the algal symbiont Symbiodinium muscatinei in the intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {1}, number = {7}, pages = {615-621}, pmid = {23213455}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Some photosynthetic organisms benefit from elevated levels of carbon dioxide, but studies on the effects of elevated PCO(2) on the algal symbionts of animals are very few. This study investigated the impact of hypercapnia on a photosynthetic symbiosis between the anemone Anthopleura elegantissima and its zooxanthella Symbiodinium muscatinei. Anemones were maintained in the laboratory for 1 week at 37 Pa PCO(2) and pH 8.1. Clonal pairs were then divided into two groups and maintained for 6 weeks under conditions naturally experienced in their intertidal environment, 45 Pa PCO(2), pH 8.1 and 231 Pa PCO(2), pH 7.3. Respiration and photosynthesis were measured after the 1-week acclimation period and after 6 weeks in experimental conditions. Density of zooxanthellal cells, zooxanthellal cell size, mitotic index and chlorophyll content were compared between non-clonemate anemones after the 1-week acclimation period and clonal anemones at the end of the experiment. Anemones thrived in hypercapnia. After 6 weeks, A. elegantissima exhibited higher rates of photosynthesis at 45 Pa (4.2 µmol O(2) g(-1) h(-1)) and 231 Pa (3.30 µmol O(2) g(-1) h(-1)) than at the initial 37 Pa (1.53 µmol O(2) g(-1) h(-1)). Likewise, anemones at 231 Pa received more of their respiratory carbon from zooxanthellae (CZAR = 78.2%) than those at 37 Pa (CZAR = 66.6%) but less than anemones at 45 Pa (CZAR = 137.3%). The mitotic index of zooxanthellae was significantly greater in the hypercapnic anemones than in anemones at lower PCO(2). Excess zooxanthellae were expelled by their hosts, and cell densities, cell diameters and chlorophyll contents were not significantly different between the groups. The response of A. elegantissima to hypercapnic acidification reveals the potential adaptation of an intertidal, photosynthetic symbiosis for high PCO(2).}, } @article {pmid23213446, year = {2012}, author = {Landmann, F and Bain, O and Martin, C and Uni, S and Taylor, MJ and Sullivan, W}, title = {Both asymmetric mitotic segregation and cell-to-cell invasion are required for stable germline transmission of Wolbachia in filarial nematodes.}, journal = {Biology open}, volume = {1}, number = {6}, pages = {536-547}, pmid = {23213446}, issn = {2046-6390}, abstract = {Parasitic filarial nematodes that belong to the Onchocercidae family live in mutualism with Wolbachia endosymbionts. We developed whole-mount techniques to follow the segregation patterns of Wolbachia through the somatic and germline lineages of four filarial species. These studies reveal multiple evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that are required for Wolbachia localization to the germline. During the initial embryonic divisions, Wolbachia segregate asymmetrically such that they concentrate in the posteriorly localized P(2) blastomere, a precursor to the adult germline and hypodermal lineages. Surprisingly, in the next division they are excluded from the germline precursor lineage. Rather, they preferentially segregate to the C blastomere, a source of posterior hypodermal cells. Localization to the germline is accomplished by a distinct mechanism in which Wolbachia invade first the somatic gonadal cells close to the ovarian distal tip cell, the nematode stem cell niche, from the hypodermis. This tropism is associated with a cortical F-actin disruption, suggesting an active engulfment. Significantly, germline invasion occurs only in females, explaining the lack of Wolbachia in the male germline. Once in the syncytial environment of the ovaries, Wolbachia rely on the rachis to multiply and disperse into the germ cells. The utilization of cell-to-cell invasion for germline colonization may indicate an ancestral mode of horizontal transfer that preceded the acquisition of the mutualism.}, } @article {pmid23213135, year = {2013}, author = {Ben, C and Toueni, M and Montanari, S and Tardin, MC and Fervel, M and Negahi, A and Saint-Pierre, L and Mathieu, G and Gras, MC and Noël, D and Prospéri, JM and Pilet-Nayel, ML and Baranger, A and Huguet, T and Julier, B and Rickauer, M and Gentzbittel, L}, title = {Natural diversity in the model legume Medicago truncatula allows identifying distinct genetic mechanisms conferring partial resistance to Verticillium wilt.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {317-332}, pmid = {23213135}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Disease Resistance/*genetics/immunology ; *Genetic Variation ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Inbreeding ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Plant Diseases/genetics/*immunology/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics ; Verticillium/growth & development/*physiology ; Xylem/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Verticillium wilt is a major threat to alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and many other crops. The model legume Medicago truncatula was used as a host for studying resistance and susceptibility to Verticillium albo-atrum. In addition to presenting well-established genetic resources, this wild plant species enables to investigate biodiversity of the response to the pathogen and putative crosstalk between disease and symbiosis. Symptom scoring after root inoculation and modelling of disease curves allowed assessing susceptibility levels in recombinant lines of three crosses between susceptible and resistant lines, in a core collection of 32 lines, and in mutants affected in symbiosis with rhizobia. A GFP-expressing V. albo-atrum strain was used to study colonization of susceptible plants. Symptoms and colonization pattern in infected M. truncatula plants were typical of Verticillium wilt. Three distinct major quantitative trait loci were identified using a multicross, multisite design, suggesting that simple genetic mechanisms appear to control Verticillium wilt resistance in M. truncatula lines A17 and DZA45.5. The disease functional parameters varied largely in lines of the core collection. This biodiversity with regard to disease response encourages the development of association genetics and ecological approaches. Several mutants of the resistant line, impaired in different steps of rhizobial symbiosis, were affected in their response to V. albo-atrum, which suggests that mechanisms involved in the establishment of symbiosis or disease might have some common regulatory control points.}, } @article {pmid23212654, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, X and Liu, X and Kono, S and Wang, G}, title = {The ecological perspective of microbial communities in two pairs of competitive Hawaiian native and invasive macroalgae.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {361-370}, pmid = {23212654}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Gene Library ; Gracilaria/microbiology ; Hawaii ; Introduced Species ; Laurencia/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodophyta/*microbiology ; Seawater/microbiology ; Seaweed/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Marine macroalgae are known to harbor large populations of microbial symbionts, and yet, microbe symbiosis in invasive macroalgae remains largely unknown. In this study, we applied molecular methods to study microbial communities associated with two invasive algae Acanthophora spicifera and Gracilaria salicornia and the two native algae Gracilaria coronopifolia and Laurencia nidifica at spatial and temporal scales in Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems. Bacterial communities of both the invasive and native macroalgae displayed little spatial and temporal variations, suggesting consistent and stable bacterial associations with these macroalgae. Results of this study identified three types of bacterial populations: nonspecific (present in both algal and water samples); algae-specific (found in all algal species); and species-specific (only found in individual species). The bacterial diversity of invasive algae was lower than that of their native counterparts at phylum and species levels. Notably, the vast majority (71 %) of bacterial communities associated with the invasive algae G. salicornia were representatives of Cyanobacteria, suggesting a potential ecological significance of symbiotic Cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid23209655, year = {2012}, author = {Fontana, S and Keshavmurthy, S and Hsieh, HJ and Denis, V and Kuo, CY and Hsu, CM and Leung, JK and Tsai, WS and Wallace, CC and Chen, CA}, title = {Molecular evidence shows low species diversity of coral-associated hydroids in Acropora corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e50130}, pmid = {23209655}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Australia ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genetic Markers/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Hydrozoa/*physiology ; Indonesia ; Phylogeny ; RNA/metabolism ; RNA, Mitochondrial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {A novel symbiosis between scleractinians and hydroids (Zanclea spp.) was recently discovered using taxonomic approaches for hydroid species identification. In this study, we address the question whether this is a species-specific symbiosis or a cosmopolitan association between Zanclea and its coral hosts. Three molecular markers, including mitochondrial 16S and nuclear 28S ribosomal genes, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), were utilized to examine the existence of Zanclea species from 14 Acropora species and 4 other Acroporidae genera including 142 coral samples collected from reefs in Kenting and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan, Togian Island, Indonesia, and Osprey Reef and Orpheus Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the 16S and 28S genes showed that Acropora-associated Zanclea was monophyletic, but the genus Zanclea was not. Analysis of the ITS, and 16S and 28S genes showed either identical or extremely low genetic diversity (with mean pairwise distances of 0.009 and 0.006 base substitutions per site for the 16S and 28S genes, respectively) among Zanclea spp. collected from diverse Acropora hosts in different geographic locations, suggesting that a cosmopolitan and probably genus-specific association occurs between Zanclea hydroids and their coral hosts.}, } @article {pmid23209231, year = {2012}, author = {Torres Tejerizo, G and Lozano, L and González, V and Bustos, P and Romero, D and Brom, S}, title = {Draft genome sequence of the bean-nodulating Sinorhizobium fredii strain GR64.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {24}, pages = {6978}, pmid = {23209231}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium fredii GR64 is a peculiar strain that is able to effectively nodulate bean but not soybean, the common host of S. fredii. Here we present the draft genome of S. fredii GR64. This information will contribute to a better understanding of the symbiotic rhizobium-plant interaction and of rhizobial evolution.}, } @article {pmid23207105, year = {2013}, author = {de Souza, DJ and Lenoir, A and Kasuya, MC and Ribeiro, MM and Devers, S and Couceiro, Jda C and Della Lucia, TM}, title = {Ectosymbionts and immunity in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus.}, journal = {Brain, behavior, and immunity}, volume = {28}, number = {}, pages = {182-187}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbi.2012.11.014}, pmid = {23207105}, issn = {1090-2139}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/drug effects/*immunology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/*immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Immune System/immunology/physiology ; Respiration/immunology ; Social Behavior ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Associations with symbiotic organisms can serve as a strategy for social insects to resist pathogens. Antibiotics produced by attine ectosymbionts (Actinobacteria) suppress the growth of Escovopsis spp., the specialized parasite of attine fungus gardens. Our objective was to evaluate whether the presence or absence of symbiotic actinobacteria covering the whole ant cuticle is related to differential immunocompetence, respiratory rate and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs). We evaluated these parameters in three worker groups of Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus: External workers (EXT), internal workers with actinobacteria covering the whole body (INB) and internal workers without actinobacteria covering the whole body (INØ). We also eliminated the actinobacteria by antibiotic treatment and examined worker encapsulation response. INB ants showed lower rates of encapsulation and respiration than did the EXT and INØ ants. The lower encapsulation rate did not seem to be a cost imposed by actinomycetes because the elimination of the actinomycetes did not increase the encapsulation rate. Instead, we propose that actinobacteria confer protection to young workers until the maturation of their immune system. Actinobacteria do not seem to change nestmate recognition in these colonies. Although it is known that actinobacteria have a specific action against Escovopsis spp., our studies, along with other independent studies, indicate that actinomycetes may also be important for the individual health of the workers.}, } @article {pmid23205679, year = {2013}, author = {Fan, Y and Thompson, JW and Dubois, LG and Moseley, MA and Wernegreen, JJ}, title = {Proteomic analysis of an unculturable bacterial endosymbiont (Blochmannia) reveals high abundance of chaperonins and biosynthetic enzymes.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, pages = {704-718}, pmid = {23205679}, issn = {1535-3907}, support = {R01 GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Ants/metabolism/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Group I Chaperonins/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Insect Proteins/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Nucleotides/metabolism ; *Proteomics ; Sulfates/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Many insect groups have coevolved with bacterial endosymbionts that live within specialized host cells. As a salient example, ants in the tribe Camponotini rely on Blochmannia, an intracellular bacterial mutualist that synthesizes amino acids and recycles nitrogen for the host. We performed a shotgun, label-free, LC/MS/MS quantitative proteomic analysis to investigate the proteome of Blochmannia associated with Camponotus chromaiodes. We identified more than 330 Blochmannia proteins, or 54% coverage of the predicted proteome, as well as 244 Camponotus proteins. Using the average intensity of the top 3 "best flier" peptides along with spiking of a surrogate standard at a known concentration, we estimated the concentration (fmol/μg) of those proteins with confident identification. The estimated dynamic range of Blochmannia protein abundance spanned 3 orders of magnitude and covered diverse functional categories, with particularly high representation of metabolism, information transfer, and chaperones. GroEL, the most abundant protein, totaled 6% of Blochmannia protein abundance. Biosynthesis of essential amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides, and sulfate assimilation had disproportionately high coverage in the proteome, further supporting a nutritional role of the symbiosis. This first quantitative proteomic analysis of an ant endosymbiont illustrates a promising approach to study the functional basis of intimate symbioses.}, } @article {pmid23204487, year = {2012}, author = {Alford, ER and Pilon-Smits, EA and Fakra, SC and Paschke, MW}, title = {Selenium hyperaccumulation by Astragalus (Fabaceae) does not inhibit root nodule symbiosis.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {99}, number = {12}, pages = {1930-1941}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1200124}, pmid = {23204487}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Arizona ; Astragalus Plant/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Bacteria/drug effects/metabolism ; Colorado ; Endophytes/drug effects/metabolism ; Fabaceae/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Selenium/*pharmacology ; Soil/*chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Washington ; X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF STUDY: A survey of the root-nodule symbiosis in Astragalus and its interaction with selenium (Se) has not been conducted before. Such studies can provide insight into how edaphic conditions modify symbiotic interactions and influence partner coevolution. In this paper plant-organ Se concentration ([Se]) was investigated to assess potential Se exposure to endophytes. •

METHODS: Selenium distribution and molecular speciation of root nodules from Se-hyperaccumulators Astragalus bisulcatus, A. praelongus, and A. racemosus was determined by Se K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. A series of greenhouse experiments were conducted to characterize the response of root-nodule symbiosis in Se-hyperaccumulators and nonhyperaccumulators. •

KEY RESULTS: Nodules in three Se-hyperaccumulators (Astragalus crotalariae, A. praelongus, and A. preussii) are reported for the first time. Leaves, flowers, and fruits from Se-hyperaccumulators were routinely above the hyperaccumulator threshold (1,000 µg Se g(-1) DW), but root samples rarely contained that amount, and nodules never exceeded 110 µg Se g(-1) DW. Nodules from A. bisulcatus, A. praelongus, and A. racemosus had Se throughout, with a majority stored in C-Se-C form. Finally, an evaluation of nodulation in Se-hyperaccumulators and nonhyperaccumulators indicated that there was no nodulation inhibition because of plant Se tolerance. Rather, we found that in Se-hyperaccumulators higher levels of Se treatment (up to 100 µM Se) corresponded with higher nodule counts, indicating a potential role for dinitrogen fixation in Se-hyperaccumulation. The effect was not found in nonhyperaccumulators. •

CONCLUSIONS: As the evolution of Se hyperaccumulation in Astragalus developed, root-nodule symbiosis may have played an integral role.}, } @article {pmid23204412, year = {2013}, author = {Tsukui, T and Eda, S and Kaneko, T and Sato, S and Okazaki, S and Kakizaki-Chiba, K and Itakura, M and Mitsui, H and Yamashita, A and Terasawa, K and Minamisawa, K}, title = {The type III Secretion System of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA122 mediates symbiotic incompatibility with Rj2 soybean plants.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {3}, pages = {1048-1051}, pmid = {23204412}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Secretion Systems/*genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhcJ and ttsI mutants of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA122 for the type III protein secretion system (T3SS) failed to secrete typical effector proteins and gained the ability to nodulate Rj2 soybean plants (Hardee), which are symbiotically incompatible with wild-type USDA122. This suggests that effectors secreted via the T3SS trigger incompatibility between these two partners.}, } @article {pmid23203890, year = {2013}, author = {Pan, B and Sheng, J and Sun, W and Zhao, Y and Hao, P and Li, X}, title = {OrysPSSP: a comparative platform for small secreted proteins from rice and other plants.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {41}, number = {Database issue}, pages = {D1192-8}, pmid = {23203890}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {*Databases, Protein ; Genomics ; Internet ; Oryza/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Secretory Pathway ; Software ; User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {Plants have large diverse families of small secreted proteins (SSPs) that play critical roles in the processes of development, differentiation, defense, flowering, stress response, symbiosis, etc. Oryza sativa is one of the major crops worldwide and an excellent model for monocotyledonous plants. However, there had not been any effort to systematically analyze rice SSPs. Here, we constructed a comparative platform, OrysPSSP (http://www.genoportal.org/PSSP/index.do), involving >100 000 SSPs from rice and 25 plant species. OrysPSSP is composed of a core SSP database and a dynamic web interface that integrates a variety of user tools and resources. The current release (v0530) of core SSP database contains a total of 101 048 predicted SSPs, which were generated through a rigid computation/curation pipeline. The web interface consists of eight different modules, providing users with rich resources/functions, e.g. browsing SSP by chromosome, searching and filtering SSP, validating SSP with omics data, comparing SSP among multiple species and querying core SSP database with BLAST. Some cases of application are discussed to demonstrate the utility of OrysPSSP. OrysPSSP serves as a comprehensive resource to explore SSP on the genome scale and across the phylogeny of plant species.}, } @article {pmid23200850, year = {2013}, author = {Weiling, H and Xiaowen, Y and Chunmei, L and Jianping, X}, title = {Function and evolution of ubiquitous bacterial signaling adapter phosphopeptide recognition domain FHA.}, journal = {Cellular signalling}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {660-665}, doi = {10.1016/j.cellsig.2012.11.019}, pmid = {23200850}, issn = {1873-3913}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/classification/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Lipids/biosynthesis ; Phosphopeptides/chemistry/classification/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Forkhead-associated domain (FHA) is a phosphopeptide recognition domain embedded in some regulatory proteins. With similar fold type to important eukaryotic signaling molecules such as Smad2 and IRF3, the role of bacterial FHA domain is intensively pursued. Reported bacterial FHA domain roles include: regulation of glutamate and lipids production, regulation of cell shape, type III secretion, ethambutol resistance, sporulation, signal transduction, carbohydrate storage and transport, and pathogenic and symbiotic host-bacterium interactions. To provide basis for the studies of other bacterial FHA domain containing proteins, the status of bacterial FHA functionality and evolution were summarized.}, } @article {pmid23199478, year = {2013}, author = {Bertucci, A and Moya, A and Tambutté, S and Allemand, D and Supuran, CT and Zoccola, D}, title = {Carbonic anhydrases in anthozoan corals-A review.}, journal = {Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {1437-1450}, doi = {10.1016/j.bmc.2012.10.024}, pmid = {23199478}, issn = {1464-3391}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*enzymology ; Calcium Carbonate/chemistry/metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/chemistry/metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrases/chemistry/classification/*metabolism ; Humans ; Isoenzymes/chemistry/metabolism ; Mitochondria/enzymology ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and economically important ecosystems on the planet. The deposition of massive calcium carbonate skeletons (biomineralization or calcification) by scleractinian corals forms the coral reef framework/architecture that serves as habitat for a large diversity of organisms. This process would not be possible without the intimate symbiosis between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates, commonly called zooxanthellae. Carbonic anhydrases play major roles in those two essential processes of coral's physiology: they are involved in the carbon supply for calcium carbonate precipitation as well as in carbon-concentrating mechanisms for symbiont photosynthesis. Here, we review the current understanding of diversity and function of carbonic anhydrases in corals and discuss the perspective of theses enzymes as a key to understanding impacts of environmental changes on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid23193591, year = {2012}, author = {Ng, TB and Cheung, RC and Wong, JH and Ye, X}, title = {Lipid-transfer proteins.}, journal = {Biopolymers}, volume = {98}, number = {4}, pages = {268-279}, doi = {10.1002/bip.22098}, pmid = {23193591}, issn = {0006-3525}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Humans ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Lipid-transfer proteins (LTPs) are basic proteins found in abundance in higher plants. LTPs play lots of roles in plants such as participation in cutin formation, embryogenesis, defense reactions against phytopathogens, symbiosis, and the adaptation of plants to various environmental conditions. In addition, LTPs from field mustard and Chinese daffodil exhibit antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells. LTPs from chili pepper and coffee manifest inhibitory activity against fungi pathogenic to humans such as Candida species. The intent of this article is to review LTPs in the plant kingdom.}, } @article {pmid23193123, year = {2013}, author = {Weldon, SR and Strand, MR and Oliver, KM}, title = {Phage loss and the breakdown of a defensive symbiosis in aphids.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1751}, pages = {20122103}, pmid = {23193123}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/physiology ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*virology ; Genetic Fitness/*genetics ; *Podoviridae ; Population Dynamics ; Reproduction/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Vicia faba ; Viral Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Terrestrial arthropods are often infected with heritable bacterial symbionts, which may themselves be infected by bacteriophages. However, what role, if any, bacteriophages play in the regulation and maintenance of insect-bacteria symbioses is largely unknown. Infection of the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum by the bacterial symbiont Hamiltonella defensa confers protection against parasitoid wasps, but only when H. defensa is itself infected by the phage A. pisum secondary endosymbiont (APSE). Here, we use a controlled genetic background and correlation-based assays to show that loss of APSE is associated with up to sevenfold increases in the intra-aphid abundance of H. defensa. APSE loss is also associated with severe deleterious effects on aphid fitness: aphids infected with H. defensa lacking APSE have a significantly delayed onset of reproduction, lower weight at adulthood and half as many total offspring as aphids infected with phage-harbouring H. defensa, indicating that phage loss can rapidly lead to the breakdown of the defensive symbiosis. Our results overall indicate that bacteriophages play critical roles in both aphid defence and the maintenance of heritable symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23193043, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, B and Lu, M and Cheng, C and Salcedo, C and Sun, J}, title = {Saccharide-mediated antagonistic effects of bark beetle fungal associates on larvae.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {20120787}, pmid = {23193043}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {*Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Ophiostomatales/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phloem/metabolism/microbiology ; Pinus/microbiology ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles are among the most destructive of pine forest pests and they form close symbiotic relationships with ophiostomatoid fungi. Although some fungi are considered to be mutualistic symbionts of bark beetles with respect to the supply of nutrients, detrimental effects of fungal symbionts on larval growth have also been frequently reported. The mechanisms of such antagonistic effects are hypothesized to be a decrease in nutritional resources caused by competition for saccharides by the fungi. Here, we provide experimental evidence that three beetle-associated fungi modify the nutritional content of an artificial phloem diet, leading to a detrimental effect on the growth of Dendroctonus valens larvae. When larvae were fed a diet of pine phloem in agar medium colonized with any of these fungi, feeding activity was not affected but weight significantly decreased. Additional analysis showed that fungi depleted the fructose and glucose concentrations in the phloem media. Furthermore, these detrimental effects were neutralized by supplementing the media with fructose or glucose, suggesting that fungi may affect larval growth by modifying diet saccharide contents. These data indicate that fungus-induced nutritional changes in bark beetle diet can affect larval growth, and that the mechanism involves fungus-induced saccharide depletion from the larval diet.}, } @article {pmid23192346, year = {2013}, author = {Cavazzini, D and Meschi, F and Corsini, R and Bolchi, A and Rossi, GL and Einsle, O and Ottonello, S}, title = {Autoproteolytic Activation of a Symbiosis-regulated Truffle Phospholipase A2.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {288}, number = {3}, pages = {1533-1547}, pmid = {23192346}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Enzyme Activation ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycelium/*enzymology/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/genetics ; Phospholipases A2/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/microbiology ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Proteolysis ; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungal phospholipases are members of the fungal/bacterial group XIV secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s). TbSP1, the sPLA(2) primarily addressed in this study, is up-regulated by nutrient deprivation and is preferentially expressed in the symbiotic stage of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii. A peculiar feature of this phospholipase and of its ortholog from the black truffle Tuber melanosporum is the presence of a 54-amino acid sequence of unknown functional significance, interposed between the signal peptide and the start of the conserved catalytic core of the enzyme. X-ray diffraction analysis of a recombinant TbSP1 form corresponding to the secreted protein previously identified in T. borchii mycelia revealed a structure comprising the five α-helices that form the phospholipase catalytic module but lacking the N-terminal 54 amino acids. This finding led to a series of functional studies that showed that TbSP1, as well as its T. melanosporum ortholog, is a self-processing pro-phospholipase A(2), whose phospholipase activity increases up to 80-fold following autoproteolytic removal of the N-terminal peptide. Proteolytic cleavage occurs within a serine-rich, intrinsically flexible region of TbSP1, does not involve the phospholipase active site, and proceeds via an intermolecular mechanism. Autoproteolytic activation, which also takes place at the surface of nutrient-starved, sPLA(2) overexpressing hyphae, may strengthen and further control the effects of phospholipase up-regulation in response to nutrient deprivation, also in the context of symbiosis establishment and mycorrhiza formation.}, } @article {pmid23190168, year = {2013}, author = {Sieh, D and Watanabe, M and Devers, EA and Brueckner, F and Hoefgen, R and Krajinski, F}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis influences sulfur starvation responses of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {197}, number = {2}, pages = {606-616}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12034}, pmid = {23190168}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/drug effects/genetics ; Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Metabolome/drug effects/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phosphates/pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects/genetics ; Sulfur/*deficiency/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction that occurs between the large majority of vascular plants and fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota. In addition to other nutrients, sulfur compounds are symbiotically transferred from AM fungus to host plants; however, the physiological importance of mycorrhizal-mediated sulfur for plant metabolism has not yet been determined. We applied different sulfur and phosphate fertilization treatments to Medicago truncatula and investigated whether mycorrhizal colonization influences leaf metabolite composition and the expression of sulfur starvation-related genes. The expression pattern of sulfur starvation-related genes indicated reduced sulfur starvation responses in mycorrhizal plants grown at 1 mM phosphate nutrition. Leaf metabolite concentrations clearly showed that phosphate stress has a greater impact than sulfur stress on plant metabolism, with no demand for sulfur at strong phosphate starvation. However, when phosphate nutrition is high enough, mycorrhizal colonization reduces sulfur stress responses, probably as a result of symbiotic sulfur uptake. Mycorrhizal colonization is able to reduce sulfur starvation responses in M. truncatula when the plant's phosphate status is high enough that sulfur starvation is of physiological importance. This clearly shows the impact of mycorrhizal sulfur transfer on plant metabolism.}, } @article {pmid23187219, year = {2012}, author = {Roeksabutr, A and Mayteevarunyoo, T and Malomed, BA}, title = {Symbiotic two-component gap solitons.}, journal = {Optics express}, volume = {20}, number = {22}, pages = {24559-24574}, doi = {10.1364/OE.20.024559}, pmid = {23187219}, issn = {1094-4087}, abstract = {We consider a two-component one-dimensional model of gap solitons (GSs), which is based on two nonlinear Schrödinger equations, coupled by repulsive XPM (cross-phase-modulation) terms, in the absence of the SPM (self-phase-modulation) nonlinearity. The equations include a periodic potential acting on both components, thus giving rise to GSs of the "symbiotic" type, which exist solely due to the repulsive interaction between the two components. The model may be implemented for "holographic solitons" in optics, and in binary bosonic or fermionic gases trapped in the optical lattice. Fundamental symbiotic GSs are constructed, and their stability is investigated, in the first two finite bandgaps of the underlying spectrum. Symmetric solitons are destabilized, including their entire family in the second bandgap, by symmetry-breaking perturbations above a critical value of the total power. Asymmetric solitons of intra-gap and inter-gap types are studied too, with the propagation constants of the two components falling into the same or different bandgaps, respectively. The increase of the asymmetry between the components leads to shrinkage of the stability areas of the GSs. Inter-gap GSs are stable only in a strongly asymmetric form, in which the first-bandgap component is a dominating one. Intra-gap solitons are unstable in the second bandgap. Unstable two-component GSs are transformed into persistent breathers. In addition to systematic numerical considerations, analytical results are obtained by means of an extended ("tailed") Thomas-Fermi approximation (TFA).}, } @article {pmid23186675, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, H and Zhang, W and Chen, L and Wang, J and Liu, T}, title = {The contamination and control of biological pollutants in mass cultivation of microalgae.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {128}, number = {}, pages = {745-750}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.158}, pmid = {23186675}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Bioreactors/*microbiology ; Cell Culture Techniques/*methods ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Water Pollutants/*analysis/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The potential of microalgae as a biomass feedstock for biofuels, bioproducts and as a technological solution for CO(2) fixation is subject to intense academic and industrial researches. However, current microalgal mass culture technologies have failed to produce bulk volume of microalgal biomass at low cost, because the contaminations of biological pollutants become a big constraint in mass cultivation and impede the industrial process. Here the transmission routes, contamination mechanisms of biological pollutants both in open ponds and photobioreactors are described and recent attempts to overcome the barrier are reviewed. What worth noting, unlike conventional microbial fermentation which uses a pure monoculture, the cultivation of microalgae is a complicated symbiotic system of microalgae-bacterial-zooplankton where the target microalgae dominate, cross infection or contamination by biological pollutants is inevitable and it will require much further research. Further investigation and development of control methods are necessary, particularly microalgal strain selection.}, } @article {pmid23185888, year = {2012}, author = {Hoeksema, JD and Hernandez, JV and Rogers, DL and Mendoza, LL and Thompson, JN}, title = {Geographic divergence in a species-rich symbiosis: interactions between monterey pines and ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {10}, pages = {2274-2285}, doi = {10.1890/11-1715.1}, pmid = {23185888}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; California ; Demography ; Genetic Variation ; Islands ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Pinus/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A key problem in evolutionary biology is to understand how multispecific networks are reshaped by evolutionary and coevolutionary processes as they spread across contrasting environments. To address this problem, we need studies that explicitly evaluate the multispecific guild structure of coevolutionary processes and some of their key outcomes such as local adaptation. We evaluated geographic variation in interactions between most extant native populations of Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) and the associated resistant-propagule community (RPC) of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, using a reciprocal cross-inoculation experiment with all factorial combinations of plant genotypes and soils with fungal guilds from each population. Our results suggest that the pine populations have diverged in community composition of their RPC fungi, and have also diverged genetically in several traits related to interactions of seedlings with particular EM fungi, growth, and biomass allocation. Patterns of genetic variation among pine populations for compatibility with EM fungi differed for the three dominant species of EM fungi, suggesting that Monterey pines can evolve differently in their compatibility with different symbiont species.}, } @article {pmid23185603, year = {2012}, author = {Abrego, D and Willis, BL and van Oppen, MJ}, title = {Impact of light and temperature on the uptake of algal symbionts by coral juveniles.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e50311}, pmid = {23185603}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology/*radiation effects ; DNA Primers ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics ; Ecosystem ; Light ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The effects of temperature and light on the breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis are well documented but current understanding of their roles during initial uptake and establishment of symbiosis is limited. In this study, we investigate how temperature and light affect the uptake of the algal symbionts, ITS1 types C1 and D, by juveniles of the broadcast-spawning corals Acropora tenuis and A. millepora. Elevated temperatures had a strong negative effect on Symbiodinium uptake in both coral species, with corals at 31 °C showing as little as 8% uptake compared to 87% at 28 °C. Juveniles in high light treatments (390 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1)) had lower cell counts across all temperatures, emphasizing the importance of the light environment during the initial uptake phase. The proportions of the two Symbiodinium types taken up, as quantified by a real time PCR assay using clade C- and D-specific primers, were also influenced by temperature, although variation in uptake dynamics between the two coral species indicates a host effect. At 28 °C, A. tenuis juveniles were dominated by C1 Symbiodinium, and while the number of D Symbiodinium cells increased at 31 °C, they never exceeded the number of C1 cells. In contrast, juveniles of A. millepora had approximately equal numbers of C1 and D cells at 28 °C, but were dominated by D at 30 °C and 31 °C. This study highlights the significant role that environmental factors play in the establishment of coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis and provides insights into how potentially competing Symbiodinium types take up residence in coral juveniles.}, } @article {pmid23185466, year = {2012}, author = {Sun, L and Pei, K and Wang, F and Ding, Q and Bing, Y and Gao, B and Zheng, Y and Liang, Y and Ma, K}, title = {Different distribution patterns between putative ercoid mycorrhizal and other fungal assemblages in roots of Rhododendron decorum in the Southwest of China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e49867}, pmid = {23185466}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {China ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; Genetic Variation ; *Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; *Rhododendron/genetics/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungal diversity within plant roots is affected by several factors such as dispersal limitation, habitat filtering, and plant host preference. Given the differences in life style between symbiotic and non-symbiotic fungi, the main factors affecting these two groups of fungi may be different. We assessed the diversity of root associated fungi of Rhododendron decorum using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis, and our aim was to evaluate the role of different factors in structuring ericoid mycorrhizal (ERM) and non-ericoid mycorrhizal (NEM) fungal communities. Thirty-five fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in roots of R. decorum, of which 25 were putative ERM fungal species. Of the two main groups of known ERM, helotialean fungi were more abundant and common than sebacinalean species. Geographic and host patterning of the fungal assemblages were different for ERM and NEM. The distribution of putative ERM fungal terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) showed that there were more common species within ERM than in the NEM fungal assemblages. Results of Mantel tests indicated that the composition of NEM fungal assemblages correlated with geographic parameters while ERM fungal assemblages lacked a significant geographic pattern and instead were correlated with host genotype. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the NEM fungal assemblages were significantly correlated with latitude, longitude, elevation, mean annual precipitation (MAP), and axis 2 of a host-genetic principle component analysis (PCA), while ERM fungal assemblages correlated only with latitude and axis 1 of the host-genetic PCA. We conclude that ERM and NEM assemblages are affected by different factors, with the host genetic composition more important for ERM and geographic factors more important for NEM assemblages. Our results contribute to understanding the roles of dispersal limitation, abiotic factors and biotic interactions in structuring fungal communities in plant roots.}, } @article {pmid23185349, year = {2012}, author = {Fonseca, MB and Peix, A and de Faria, SM and Mateos, PF and Rivera, LP and Simões-Araujo, JL and França, MG and Isaias, RM and Cruz, C and Velázquez, E and Scotti, MR and Sprent, JI and James, EK}, title = {Nodulation in Dimorphandra wilsonii Rizz. (Caesalpinioideae), a threatened species native to the Brazilian Cerrado.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e49520}, pmid = {23185349}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Biomass ; Bradyrhizobium/metabolism ; Brazil ; DNA, Intergenic ; Epitopes/chemistry ; Fabaceae/*metabolism ; Likelihood Functions ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission/methods ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Oxidoreductases/metabolism ; Pectins/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*metabolism ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The threatened caesalpinioid legume Dimorphandra wilsonii, which is native to the Cerrado biome in Brazil, was examined for its nodulation and N(2)-fixing ability, and was compared with another, less-threatened species, D. jorgei. Nodulation and potential N(2) fixation was shown on seedlings that had been inoculated singly with five bradyrhizobial isolates from mature D. wilsonii nodules. The infection of D. wilsonii by two of these strains (Dw10.1, Dw12.5) was followed in detail using light and transmission electron microscopy, and was compared with that of D. jorgei by Bradyrhizobium strain SEMIA6099. The roots of D. wilsonii were infected via small transient root hairs at 42 d after inoculation (dai), and nodules were sufficiently mature at 63 dai to express nitrogenase protein. Similar infection and nodule developmental processes were observed in D. jorgei. The bacteroids in mature Dimorphandra nodules were enclosed in plant cell wall material containing a homogalacturonan (pectic) epitope that was recognized by the monoclonal antibody JIM5. Analysis of sequences of their rrs (16S rRNA) genes and their ITS regions showed that the five D. wilsonii strains, although related to SEMIA6099, may constitute five undescribed species of genus Bradyrhizobium, whilst their nodD and nifH gene sequences showed that they formed clearly separated branches from other rhizobial strains. This is the first study to describe in full the N(2)-fixing symbiotic interaction between defined rhizobial strains and legumes in the sub-family Caesalpinioideae. This information will hopefully assist in the conservation of the threatened species D. wilsonii.}, } @article {pmid23185130, year = {2012}, author = {Schluter, J and Foster, KR}, title = {The evolution of mutualism in gut microbiota via host epithelial selection.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {e1001424}, pmid = {23185130}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development ; *Biological Evolution ; Biota ; Computer Simulation ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/*metabolism/microbiology ; Intestinal Secretions/microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Models, Biological ; Selection, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human gut harbours a large and genetically diverse population of symbiotic microbes that both feed and protect the host. Evolutionary theory, however, predicts that such genetic diversity can destabilise mutualistic partnerships. How then can the mutualism of the human microbiota be explained? Here we develop an individual-based model of host-associated microbial communities. We first demonstrate the fundamental problem faced by a host: The presence of a genetically diverse microbiota leads to the dominance of the fastest growing microbes instead of the microbes that are most beneficial to the host. We next investigate the potential for host secretions to influence the microbiota. This reveals that the epithelium-microbiota interface acts as a selectivity amplifier: Modest amounts of moderately selective epithelial secretions cause a complete shift in the strains growing at the epithelial surface. This occurs because of the physical structure of the epithelium-microbiota interface: Epithelial secretions have effects that permeate upwards through the whole microbial community, while lumen compounds preferentially affect cells that are soon to slough off. Finally, our model predicts that while antimicrobial secretion can promote host epithelial selection, epithelial nutrient secretion will often be key to host selection. Our findings are consistent with a growing number of empirical papers that indicate an influence of host factors upon microbiota, including growth-promoting glycoconjugates. We argue that host selection is likely to be a key mechanism in the stabilisation of the mutualism between a host and its microbiota.}, } @article {pmid23185008, year = {2012}, author = {Kwan, JC and Donia, MS and Han, AW and Hirose, E and Haygood, MG and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Genome streamlining and chemical defense in a coral reef symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {50}, pages = {20655-20660}, pmid = {23185008}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM092009/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Azoles/chemistry/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Coral Reefs ; Genome, Bacterial ; Metagenome ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Prochloron/*genetics/physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodospirillaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Urochordata/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Secondary metabolites are ubiquitous in bacteria, but by definition, they are thought to be nonessential. Highly toxic secondary metabolites such as patellazoles have been isolated from marine tunicates, where their exceptional potency and abundance implies a role in chemical defense, but their biological source is unknown. Here, we describe the association of the tunicate Lissoclinum patella with a symbiotic α-proteobacterium, Candidatus Endolissoclinum faulkneri, and present chemical and biological evidence that the bacterium synthesizes patellazoles. We sequenced and assembled the complete Ca. E. faulkneri genome, directly from metagenomic DNA obtained from the tunicate, where it accounted for 0.6% of sequence data. We show that the large patellazoles biosynthetic pathway is maintained, whereas the remainder of the genome is undergoing extensive streamlining to eliminate unneeded genes. The preservation of this pathway in streamlined bacteria demonstrates that secondary metabolism is an essential component of the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid23184157, year = {2013}, author = {Otálora, MA and Salvador, C and Martínez, I and Aragón, G}, title = {Does the reproductive strategy affect the transmission and genetic diversity of bionts in cyanolichens? A case study using two closely related species.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {517-530}, pmid = {23184157}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fungi/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Haplotypes ; Lichens/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Reproduction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Observed levels of population genetic diversity are often associated with differences in species dispersal and reproductive strategies. In symbiotic organisms, the genetic diversity level of each biont should also be highly influenced by biont transmission. In this study, we evaluated the influence of the reproductive strategies of cyanolichen species on the current levels of population genetic diversity of bionts. To eliminate any phylogenetic noise, we selected two closely related species within the genus Degelia, which only differ in their reproductive systems. We sampled all known populations of both species in central Spain and genotyped the fungal and cyanobacterial components of lichen samples using DNA sequences as molecular markers. We applied population genetics approaches to evaluate the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the symbiotic components of both lichen species. Our results indicate that fungal and cyanobiont genetic diversity is highly influenced by the reproductive systems of lichen fungus. We detected higher bionts genetic diversity values in the sexual species Degelia plumbea. By contrast, the levels of fungal and cyanobiont genetic diversity in the asexual species Degelia atlantica were extremely low (almost clonal), and the species shows a high specificity towards its cyanobiont. Our results indicate that reproduction by vegetative propagules, in species of the genus Degelia, favors vertical transmission and clonality, which affects the species' capacity for resources and competition, thereby limiting the species to restricted niches.}, } @article {pmid23183977, year = {2013}, author = {Gharzouli, R and Carpéné, MA and Couderc, F and Benguedouar, A and Poinsot, V}, title = {Relevance of fucose-rich extracellular polysaccharides produced by Rhizobium sullae strains nodulating Hedysarum coronarium l. legumes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {79}, number = {6}, pages = {1764-1776}, pmid = {23183977}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Algeria ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Fucose/*metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Specific and complex interactions between soil bacteria, known as rhizobia, and their leguminous host plants result in the development of root nodules. This process implies a complex dialogue between the partners. Rhizobia synthesize different classes of polysaccharides: exopolysaccharides (EPS), Kdo-rich capsular polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, and cyclic β-(1,2)-glucans. These polymers are actors of a successful symbiosis with legumes. We focus here on studying the EPS produced by Rhizobium sullae bacteria that nodulate Hedysarum coronarium L., largely distributed in Algeria. We describe the influence of the carbon source on the production and on the composition of EPS produced by R. sullae A6 and RHF strains. High-molecular-weight EPS preserve the bacteria from desiccation. The structural characterization of the EPS produced by R. sullae strains has been performed through sugar analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The low-molecular-weight EPS of one strain (RHF) has been totally elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance and quantitative time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry analyses. An unusual fucose-rich EPS has been characterized. The presence of this deoxy sugar seems to be related to nodulation capacity.}, } @article {pmid23182355, year = {2013}, author = {Awaisheh, SS and Khalifeh, MS and Al-Ruwaili, MA and Khalil, OM and Al-Ameri, OH and Al-Groom, R}, title = {Effect of supplementation of probiotics and phytosterols alone or in combination on serum and hepatic lipid profiles and thyroid hormones of hypercholesterolemic rats.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {96}, number = {1}, pages = {9-15}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2012-5442}, pmid = {23182355}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Cholesterol/analysis/blood ; Cholesterol, Dietary/pharmacology ; Dietary Supplements ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hypercholesterolemia/blood/*drug therapy ; Lactobacillus ; Lipids/*analysis/blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL/analysis/blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL/analysis/blood ; Liver/*chemistry/drug effects ; Male ; Phytosterols/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thyroid Hormones/*blood ; Thyroxine/blood ; Triglycerides/analysis/blood ; Triiodothyronine/blood ; }, abstract = {Probiotic bacteria and phytosterols are natural hypocholesterolemic agents with potential cardiovascular benefits. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of probiotics and phytosterols alone or in combination on serum and hepatic lipid profiles and thyroid hormones of hypercholesterolemic rats. Mixed probiotics treatment consisted of 8 probiotic strains: 2 strains of each of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Lactobacillus reuteri. The rats were fed for 8 wk with the given treatments in addition to a high-fat-high-cholesterol basal diet to induce hypercholesterolemia. Results showed that supplementation significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides compared with the controls. The symbiotic treatment was more effective in lowering LDL-C, whereas mixed probiotics treatment more effectively lowered serum total cholesterol and LDL-C than the phytosterol-containing treatment. The phytosterol-containing treatments induced the increased activity of thyroid glands, as evident by elevated levels of serum total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine, and free triiodothyronine. In conclusion, the lipid profile can effectively be reduced to lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease using combinations of Lactobacillus-based probiotics and phytosterols in functional foods.}, } @article {pmid23178670, year = {2013}, author = {Jacobsen, UP and Nielsen, HB and Hildebrand, F and Raes, J and Sicheritz-Ponten, T and Kouskoumvekaki, I and Panagiotou, G}, title = {The chemical interactome space between the human host and the genetically defined gut metabotypes.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {730-742}, pmid = {23178670}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*microbiology ; *Metabolome ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Obesity/*microbiology ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals represent a highly selected microbiome that has a profound influence on human physiology by shaping the host's metabolic and immune system activity. Despite the recent advances on the biological principles that underlie microbial symbiosis in the gut of mammals, mechanistic understanding of the contributions of the gut microbiome and how variations in the metabotypes are linked to the host health are obscure. Here, we mapped the entire metabolic potential of the gut microbiome based solely on metagenomics sequencing data derived from fecal samples of 124 Europeans (healthy, obese and with inflammatory bowel disease). Interestingly, three distinct clusters of individuals with high, medium and low metabolic potential were observed. By illustrating these results in the context of bacterial population, we concluded that the abundance of the Prevotella genera is a key factor indicating a low metabolic potential. These metagenome-based metabolic signatures were used to study the interaction networks between bacteria-specific metabolites and human proteins. We found that thirty-three such metabolites interact with disease-relevant protein complexes several of which are highly expressed in cells and tissues involved in the signaling and shaping of the adaptive immune system and associated with squamous cell carcinoma and bladder cancer. From this set of metabolites, eighteen are present in DrugBank providing evidence that we carry a natural pharmacy in our guts. Furthermore, we established connections between the systemic effects of non-antibiotic drugs and the gut microbiome of relevance to drug side effects and health-care solutions.}, } @article {pmid23176248, year = {2013}, author = {Fujii, T and Rondelez, Y}, title = {Predator-prey molecular ecosystems.}, journal = {ACS nano}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {27-34}, doi = {10.1021/nn3043572}, pmid = {23176248}, issn = {1936-086X}, mesh = {Animals ; Biopolymers/*metabolism ; Computer Simulation ; *Ecosystem ; *Models, Biological ; *Population Dynamics ; Predatory Behavior/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Biological organisms use intricate networks of chemical reactions to control molecular processes and spatiotemporal organization. In turn, these living systems are embedded in self-organized structures of larger scales, for example, ecosystems. Synthetic in vitro efforts have reproduced the architectures and behaviors of simple cellular circuits. However, because all these systems share the same dynamic foundations, a generalized molecular programming strategy should also support complex collective behaviors, as seen, for example, in animal populations. We report here the bottom-up assembly of chemical systems that reproduce in vitro the specific dynamics of ecological communities. We experimentally observed unprecedented molecular behaviors, including predator-prey oscillations, competition-induced chaos, and symbiotic synchronization. These synthetic systems are tailored through a novel, compact, and versatile design strategy, leveraging the programmability of DNA interactions under the precise control of enzymatic catalysis. Such self-organizing assemblies will foster a better appreciation of the molecular origins of biological complexity and may also serve to orchestrate complex collective operations of molecular agents in technological applications.}, } @article {pmid23175748, year = {2012}, author = {De Filippo, C and Ramazzotti, M and Fontana, P and Cavalieri, D}, title = {Bioinformatic approaches for functional annotation and pathway inference in metagenomics data.}, journal = {Briefings in bioinformatics}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {696-710}, pmid = {23175748}, issn = {1477-4054}, mesh = {*Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {Metagenomic approaches are increasingly recognized as a baseline for understanding the ecology and evolution of microbial ecosystems. The development of methods for pathway inference from metagenomics data is of paramount importance to link a phenotype to a cascade of events stemming from a series of connected sets of genes or proteins. Biochemical and regulatory pathways have until recently been thought and modelled within one cell type, one organism, one species. This vision is being dramatically changed by the advent of whole microbiome sequencing studies, revealing the role of symbiotic microbial populations in fundamental biochemical functions. The new landscape we face requires a clear picture of the potentialities of existing tools and development of new tools to characterize, reconstruct and model biochemical and regulatory pathways as the result of integration of function in complex symbiotic interactions of ontologically and evolutionary distinct cell types.}, } @article {pmid23173437, year = {2012}, author = {Liu, W and Yang, P and Ruan, Y and Chen, X and Xu, D and Li, Y}, title = {[Molecular detection of symbiotic bacteria Arsenophonus from Ericerus pela Chavannes].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {52}, number = {8}, pages = {1002-1010}, pmid = {23173437}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between the sex ratio of Ericerus pela and its symbiotic bacterial Arsenophonus.

METHODS: The symbiotic bacterial diversity in male Ericerus pela was determined through sequencing 16S rDNA gene library. PCR amplification for Arsenophonus was performed by using two 16S rDNA specific primers and 23S rDNA specific primer. The molecular detection of Arsenophonus in six geographic populations of E. pela, namely Zhaotong, Kunming, Jinkouhe, Hangzhou, Changchun, and Jianghua, were performed by semi-quantitative PCR. The absolute concentrations of Arsenophonus in E. pela of Zhaotong, Kunming, Jinkouhe geographic populations were determined using absolute quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS: Two different 16S rDNA sequences were obtained; the sizes were 445bp and 1462bp respectively. A 23S rDNA sequence was obtained, the size was 582bp. Some E. pela individuals of Hangzhou and Jianghua were not infected with Arsenophonus. The contents of Arsenophonus in E. pela of Zhaotong were significantly higher than that of Kunming and Jinkouhe, while the contents of Arsenophonus from the latter two geographic populations were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION: Arsenophonus is not responsible for the sex ratio of E. pela.}, } @article {pmid23173429, year = {2012}, author = {Zhu, Y and Zhou, J and Chen, J}, title = {[Molecular mechanism of co-culturing Bacillus megaterium and Ketogulonigenium vulgare--a review].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {52}, number = {8}, pages = {940-947}, pmid = {23173429}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacillus megaterium/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Genomics ; Metabolomics ; Rhodobacteraceae/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Sugar Acids/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Co-culturing Bacillus megaterium and Ketogulonigenium vulgare is widely applied to 2-keto-gulonic acid production. For optimizing the process, numerous researchers studied on the symbiotic molecular mechanism of the co-culture process. The research was promoted greatly owing to omics technologies, bioinformatics, high throughput technologies and physiology. Recently, the proteomic, metabolomic, comparative genomics and transcriptomics were performed to the research. These omics data provided us the interaction network of the artificial ecosystem in multilevel. Combining with the physiological validation based on the high throughput method, we can elucidate the molecular mechanism in detail, which will facilitate us to develop strategies for metabolic engineering. The paper reviewed the recent developments of symbiotic molecular mechanism research in this co-culture process and its applications. In addition, we proposed the future research needs.}, } @article {pmid23173201, year = {2013}, author = {Shigenobu, S and Stern, DL}, title = {Aphids evolved novel secreted proteins for symbiosis with bacterial endosymbiont.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {280}, number = {1750}, pages = {20121952}, pmid = {23173201}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aphids/*genetics/*microbiology ; Buchnera/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; In Situ Hybridization ; Insect Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Protein Sorting Signals ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Aphids evolved novel cells, called bacteriocytes, that differentiate specifically to harbour the obligatory mutualistic endosymbiotic bacteria Buchnera aphidicola. The genome of the host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum contains many orphan genes that display no similarity with genes found in other sequenced organisms, prompting us to hypothesize that some of these orphan genes are related to lineage-specific traits, such as symbiosis. We conducted deep sequencing of bacteriocytes mRNA followed by whole mount in situ hybridizations of over-represented transcripts encoding aphid-specific orphan proteins. We identified a novel class of genes that encode small proteins with signal peptides, which are often cysteine-rich, that are over-represented in bacteriocytes. These genes are first expressed at a developmental time point coincident with the incorporation of symbionts strictly in the cells that contribute to the bacteriocyte and this bacteriocyte-specific expression is maintained throughout the aphid's life. The expression pattern suggests that recently evolved secretion proteins act within bacteriocytes, perhaps to mediate the symbiosis with beneficial bacterial partners, which is reminiscent of the evolution of novel cysteine-rich secreted proteins of leguminous plants that regulate nitrogen-fixing endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid23173081, year = {2012}, author = {Gorton, AJ and Heath, KD and Pilet-Nayel, ML and Baranger, A and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Mapping the genetic basis of symbiotic variation in legume-rhizobium interactions in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {1291-1303}, pmid = {23173081}, issn = {2160-1836}, mesh = {*Chromosome Mapping ; Fruit/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualisms are known to be genetically variable, where the genotypes differ in the fitness benefits they gain from the interaction. To date, little is known about the loci that underlie such genetic variation in fitness or whether the loci influencing fitness are partner specific, and depend on the genotype of the interaction partner. In the legume-rhizobium mutualism, one set of potential candidate genes that may influence the fitness benefits of the symbiosis are the plant genes involved in the initiation of the signaling pathway between the two partners. Here we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in Medicago truncatula in two different rhizobium strain treatments to locate regions of the genome influencing plant traits, assess whether such regions are dependent on the genotype of the rhizobial mutualist (QTL × rhizobium strain), and evaluate the contribution of sequence variation at known symbiosis signaling genes. Two of the symbiotic signaling genes, NFP and DMI3, colocalized with two QTL affecting average fruit weight and leaf number, suggesting that natural variation in nodulation genes may potentially influence plant fitness. In both rhizobium strain treatments, there were QTL that influenced multiple traits, indicative of either tight linkage between loci or pleiotropy, including one QTL with opposing effects on growth and reproduction. There was no evidence for QTL × rhizobium strain or genotype × genotype interactions, suggesting either that such interactions are due to small-effect loci or that more genotype-genotype combinations need to be tested in future mapping studies.}, } @article {pmid23172368, year = {2012}, author = {Sotgia, F and Whitaker-Menezes, D and Martinez-Outschoorn, UE and Salem, AF and Tsirigos, A and Lamb, R and Sneddon, S and Hulit, J and Howell, A and Lisanti, MP}, title = {Mitochondria "fuel" breast cancer metabolism: fifteen markers of mitochondrial biogenesis label epithelial cancer cells, but are excluded from adjacent stromal cells.}, journal = {Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)}, volume = {11}, number = {23}, pages = {4390-4401}, pmid = {23172368}, issn = {1551-4005}, mesh = {Breast Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology ; Epithelial Cells/*metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Turnover ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Ribosomal Proteins/metabolism ; Stromal Cells/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Here, we present new genetic and morphological evidence that human tumors consist of two distinct metabolic compartments. First, re-analysis of genome-wide transcriptional profiling data revealed that > 95 gene transcripts associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and/or mitochondrial translation were significantly elevated in human breast cancer cells, as compared with adjacent stromal tissue. Remarkably, nearly 40 of these upregulated gene transcripts were mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs), functionally associated with mitochondrial translation of protein components of the OXPHOS complex. Second, during validation by immunohistochemistry, we observed that antibodies directed against 15 markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and/or mitochondrial translation (AKAP1, GOLPH3, GOLPH3L, MCT1, MRPL40, MRPS7, MRPS15, MRPS22, NRF1, NRF2, PGC1-α, POLRMT, TFAM, TIMM9 and TOMM70A) selectively labeled epithelial breast cancer cells. These same mitochondrial markers were largely absent or excluded from adjacent tumor stromal cells. Finally, markers of mitochondrial lipid synthesis (GOLPH3) and mitochondrial translation (POLRMT) were associated with poor clinical outcome in human breast cancer patients. Thus, we conclude that human breast cancers contain two distinct metabolic compartments-a glycolytic tumor stroma, which surrounds oxidative epithelial cancer cells-that are mitochondria-rich. The co-existence of these two compartments is indicative of metabolic symbiosis between epithelial cancer cells and their surrounding stroma. As such, epithelial breast cancer cells should be viewed as predatory metabolic "parasites," which undergo anabolic reprogramming to amplify their mitochondrial "power." This notion is consistent with the observation that the anti-malarial agent chloroquine may be an effective anticancer agent. New anticancer therapies should be developed to target mitochondrial biogenesis and/or mitochondrial translation in human cancer cells.}, } @article {pmid23172275, year = {2012}, author = {Myung, DS and Joo, YE}, title = {[Gut microbial influence and probiotics on colorectal cancer].}, journal = {The Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi}, volume = {60}, number = {5}, pages = {275-284}, doi = {10.4166/kjg.2012.60.5.275}, pmid = {23172275}, issn = {2233-6869}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroides/metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology/*microbiology ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Metagenome ; *Probiotics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Toxins, Biological/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal microbiota is a community of 10(13)-10(14) microorganisms that harbor in the intestine and normally participate in a symbiotic relationship with human. Technical and conceptual advances have enabled rapid progress in characterizing the taxonomic composition, metabolic capacity and immunomodulatory activity of the human intestinal microbiota. Their collective genome, defined as microbiome, is estimated to contain ≥150 times as many genes as 2.85 billion base pair human genome. The intestinal microbiota and its microbiome form a diverse and complex ecological community that profoundly impact intestinal homeostasis and disease states. It is becoming increasingly evident that the large and complex bacterial population of the large intestine plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Numerous studies show that gut immunity and inflammation have impact on the development of colorectal cancer. Additionally, bacteria have been linked to colorectal cancer by the production of toxic and genotoxic bacterial metabolite. In this review, we discuss the multifactorial role of intestinal microbiota in colorectal cancer and role for probiotics in the prevention of colorectal cancer.}, } @article {pmid23171087, year = {2013}, author = {Morris, AR and Visick, KL}, title = {The response regulator SypE controls biofilm formation and colonization through phosphorylation of the syp-encoded regulator SypA in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {3}, pages = {509-525}, pmid = {23171087}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Phosphorylation ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Bacteria utilize multiple regulatory systems to modulate gene expression in response to environmental changes, including two-component signalling systems and partner-switching networks. We recently identified a novel regulatory protein, SypE, that combines features of both signalling systems. SypE contains a central response regulator receiver domain flanked by putative kinase and phosphatase effector domains with similarity to partner-switching proteins. SypE was previously shown to exert dual control over biofilm formation through the opposing activities of its terminal effector domains. Here, we demonstrate that SypE controls biofilms in Vibrio fischeri by regulating the activity of SypA, a STAS (sulphate transporter and anti-sigma antagonist) domain protein. Using biochemical and genetic approaches, we determined that SypE both phosphorylates and dephosphorylates SypA, and that phosphorylation inhibits SypA's activity. Furthermore, we found that biofilm formation and symbiotic colonization required active, unphosphorylated SypA, and thus SypA phosphorylation corresponded with a loss of biofilms and impaired host colonization. Finally, expression of a non-phosphorylatable mutant of SypA suppressed both the biofilm and symbiosis defects of a constitutively inhibitory SypE mutant strain. This study demonstrates that regulation of SypA activity by SypE is a critical mechanism by which V. fischeri controls biofilm development and symbiotic colonization.}, } @article {pmid23171044, year = {2013}, author = {Andras, JP and Rypien, KL and Harvell, CD}, title = {Range-wide population genetic structure of the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {56-73}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12104}, pmid = {23171044}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animal Distribution ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Caribbean Region ; Cluster Analysis ; Dinoflagellida/genetics ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Variation ; *Genetics, Population ; Geography ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The population structure of benthic marine organisms is of central relevance to the conservation and management of these often threatened species, as well as to the accurate understanding of their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. A growing body of evidence suggests that marine populations can be structured over short distances despite theoretically high dispersal potential. Yet the proposed mechanisms governing this structure vary, and existing empirical population genetic evidence is of insufficient taxonomic and geographic scope to allow for strong general inferences. Here, we describe the range-wide population genetic structure of an ecologically important Caribbean octocoral, Gorgonia ventalina. Genetic differentiation was positively correlated with geographic distance and negatively correlated with oceanographically modelled dispersal probability throughout the range. Although we observed admixture across hundreds of kilometres, estimated dispersal was low, and populations were differentiated across distances <2 km. These results suggest that populations of G. ventalina may be evolutionarily coupled via gene flow but are largely demographically independent. Observed patterns of differentiation corroborate biogeographic breaks found in other taxa (e.g. an east/west divide near Puerto Rico), and also identify population divides not discussed in previous studies (e.g. the Yucatan Channel). High genotypic diversity and absence of clonemates indicate that sex is the primary reproductive mode for G. ventalina. A comparative analysis of the population structure of G. ventalina and its dinoflagellate symbiont, Symbiodinium, indicates that the dispersal of these symbiotic partners is not coupled, and symbiont transmission occurs horizontally.}, } @article {pmid23170223, year = {2012}, author = {Oliver, KR and Greene, WK}, title = {Transposable elements and viruses as factors in adaptation and evolution: an expansion and strengthening of the TE-Thrust hypothesis.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {11}, pages = {2912-2933}, pmid = {23170223}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In addition to the strong divergent evolution and significant and episodic evolutionary transitions and speciation we previously attributed to TE-Thrust, we have expanded the hypothesis to more fully account for the contribution of viruses to TE-Thrust and evolution. The concept of symbiosis and holobiontic genomes is acknowledged, with particular emphasis placed on the creativity potential of the union of retroviral genomes with vertebrate genomes. Further expansions of the TE-Thrust hypothesis are proposed regarding a fuller account of horizontal transfer of TEs, the life cycle of TEs, and also, in the case of a mammalian innovation, the contributions of retroviruses to the functions of the placenta. The possibility of drift by TE families within isolated demes or disjunct populations, is acknowledged, and in addition, we suggest the possibility of horizontal transposon transfer into such subpopulations. "Adaptive potential" and "evolutionary potential" are proposed as the extremes of a continuum of "intra-genomic potential" due to TE-Thrust. Specific data is given, indicating "adaptive potential" being realized with regard to insecticide resistance, and other insect adaptations. In this regard, there is agreement between TE-Thrust and the concept of adaptation by a change in allele frequencies. Evidence on the realization of "evolutionary potential" is also presented, which is compatible with the known differential survivals, and radiations of lineages. Collectively, these data further suggest the possibility, or likelihood, of punctuated episodes of speciation events and evolutionary transitions, coinciding with, and heavily underpinned by, intermittent bursts of TE activity.}, } @article {pmid23170037, year = {2013}, author = {Takahashi, S and Yoshioka-Nishimura, M and Nanba, D and Badger, MR}, title = {Thermal acclimation of the symbiotic alga Symbiodinium spp. alleviates photobleaching under heat stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {161}, number = {1}, pages = {477-485}, pmid = {23170037}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Chloramphenicol/pharmacology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Darkness ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/*metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Light ; Oxygen/metabolism ; *Photobleaching ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {A moderate increase in seawater temperature causes coral bleaching, at least partially through photobleaching of the symbiotic algae Symbiodinium spp. Photobleaching of Symbiodinium spp. is primarily associated with the loss of light-harvesting proteins of photosystem II (PSII) and follows the inactivation of PSII under heat stress. Here, we examined the effect of increased growth temperature on the change in sensitivity of Symbiodinium spp. PSII inactivation and photobleaching under heat stress. When Symbiodinium spp. cells were grown at 25°C and 30°C, the thermal tolerance of PSII, measured by the thermal stability of the maximum quantum yield of PSII in darkness, was commonly enhanced in all six Symbiodinium spp. tested. In Symbiodinium sp. CCMP827, it took 6 h to acquire the maximum PSII thermal tolerance after transfer from 25°C to 30°C. The effect of increased growth temperature on the thermal tolerance of PSII was completely abolished by chloramphenicol, indicating that the acclimation mechanism of PSII is associated with the de novo synthesis of proteins. When CCMP827 cells were exposed to light at temperature ranging from 25°C to 35°C, the sensitivity of cells to both high temperature-induced photoinhibition and photobleaching was ameliorated by increased growth temperatures. These results demonstrate that thermal acclimation of Symbiodinium spp. helps to improve the thermal tolerance of PSII, resulting in reduced inactivation of PSII and algal photobleaching. These results suggest that whole-organism coral bleaching associated with algal photobleaching can be at least partially suppressed by the thermal acclimation of Symbiodinium spp. at higher growth temperatures.}, } @article {pmid23168274, year = {2012}, author = {Osellame, LD and Blacker, TS and Duchen, MR}, title = {Cellular and molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial function.}, journal = {Best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism}, volume = {26}, number = {6}, pages = {711-723}, pmid = {23168274}, issn = {1878-1594}, support = {089698//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; MC_G1000735/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; Cell Death/physiology ; Citric Acid Cycle ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria are membrane bound organelles present in almost all eukaryotic cells. Responsible for orchestrating cellular energy production, they are central to the maintenance of life and the gatekeepers of cell death. Thought to have originated from symbiotic ancestors, they carry a residual genome as mtDNA encoding 13 proteins essential for respiratory chain function. Mitochondria comprise an inner and outer membrane that separate and maintain the aqueous regions, the intermembrane space and the matrix. Mitochondria contribute to many processes central to cellular function and dysfunction including calcium signalling, cell growth and differentiation, cell cycle control and cell death. Mitochondrial shape and positioning in cells is crucial and is tightly regulated by processes of fission and fusion, biogenesis and autophagy, ensuring a relatively constant mitochondrial population. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in metabolic and age related disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and ischemic injury in heart and brain.}, } @article {pmid23166503, year = {2012}, author = {Clayton, AL and Oakeson, KF and Gutin, M and Pontes, A and Dunn, DM and von Niederhausern, AC and Weiss, RB and Fisher, M and Dale, C}, title = {A novel human-infection-derived bacterium provides insights into the evolutionary origins of mutualistic insect-bacterial symbioses.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {8}, number = {11}, pages = {e1002990}, pmid = {23166503}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {R01 AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007464/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01AI095736/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria/genetics/pathogenicity ; *Biological Evolution ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Humans ; Insecta/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Despite extensive study, little is known about the origins of the mutualistic bacterial endosymbionts that inhabit approximately 10% of the world's insects. In this study, we characterized a novel opportunistic human pathogen, designated "strain HS," and found that it is a close relative of the insect endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius. Our results indicate that ancestral relatives of strain HS have served as progenitors for the independent descent of Sodalis-allied endosymbionts found in several insect hosts. Comparative analyses indicate that the gene inventories of the insect endosymbionts were independently derived from a common ancestral template through a combination of irreversible degenerative changes. Our results provide compelling support for the notion that mutualists evolve from pathogenic progenitors. They also elucidate the role of degenerative evolutionary processes in shaping the gene inventories of symbiotic bacteria at a very early stage in these mutualistic associations.}, } @article {pmid23161855, year = {2012}, author = {Okubo, T and Fukushima, S and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Evolution of Bradyrhizobium-Aeschynomene mutualism: living testimony of the ancient world or highly evolved state?.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {53}, number = {12}, pages = {2000-2007}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcs150}, pmid = {23161855}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium/cytology/genetics/*physiology ; Endophytes ; Fabaceae/cytology/*genetics/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Until recently it had been well established that the initial step in legume-rhizobia symbioses was flavonoid and Nod factor (NF) signaling. However, NF-independent symbiosis is now known to occur between Bradyrhizobium and some species of Aeschynomene. Since its discovery, this unusual symbiotic system has attracted attention, and efforts have been devoted to revealing the NF-independent symbiotic mechanism, although the molecular mechanisms of nodule initiation still remain to be elucidated. NF-independent symbiosis is also interesting from the perspective of the evolution of legume-rhizobia symbiosis. In this mini-review, we discuss the current literature on the NF-independent symbiotic system in terms of phylogeny of the partners, infection, bacteroid differentiation, nodule structure, photosynthesis, endophytic features and model host plant. We also discuss NF-independent symbiosis, which is generally regarded to be more primitive than NF-dependent symbiosis, because the bacteria invade host plants via 'crack entry'. We propose three possible scenarios concerning the evolution of NF-independent symbiosis, which do not exclude the possibility that the NF-independent system evolved from NF-dependent interactions. Finally, we examine an interesting question on Bradyrhizobium-Aeschynomene mutualism, which is how do they initiate symbiosis without NF. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses of symbiotic and non-symbiotic bradyrhizobia with A. indica may be crucial to address the question, because of the very narrow phylogeny of natural endosymbionts without nod genes compared with other legume-rhizobia symbioses.}, } @article {pmid23161030, year = {2013}, author = {Sule, P and Belas, R}, title = {A novel inducer of Roseobacter motility is also a disruptor of algal symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {4}, pages = {637-646}, pmid = {23161030}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Biofilms ; Coumaric Acids/pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; Flagellin/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Movement ; Mutation ; Phenylacetates/metabolism ; Phytoplankton/cytology/*physiology ; Propionates ; Roseobacter/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Silicibacter sp. strain TM1040, a member of the Roseobacter clade, forms a symbiosis with unicellular phytoplankton, which is inextricably linked to the biphasic "swim or stick" lifestyle of the bacteria. Mutations in flaC bias the population toward the motile phase. Renewed examination of the FlaC(-) strain (HG1016) uncovered that it is composed of two different cells: a pigmented type, PS01, and a nonpigmented cell, PS02, each of which has an identical mutation in flaC. While monocultures of PS01 and PS02 had few motile cells (0.6 and 6%, respectively), coculturing the two strains resulted in a 10-fold increase in the number of motile cells. Cell-free supernatants from coculture or wild-type cells were fully capable of restoring motility to PS01 and PS02, which was due to increased fliC3 (flagellin) transcription, FliC3 protein levels per cell, and flagella synthesis. The motility-inducing compound has an estimated mass of 226 Da, as determined by mass spectrometry, and is referred to as Roseobacter Motility Inducer (RMI). Mutations affecting genes involved in phenyl acetic acid synthesis significantly reduced RMI, while defects in tropodithietic acid (TDA) synthesis had marginal or no effect on RMI. RMI biosynthesis is induced by p-coumaric acid, a product of algal lignin degradation. When added to algal cultures, RMI caused loss of motility, cell enlargement, and vacuolization in the algal cells. RMI is a new member of the roseobacticide family of troponoid compounds whose activities affect roseobacters, by shifting their population toward motility, as well as their phytoplankton hosts, through an algicidal effect.}, } @article {pmid23161027, year = {2013}, author = {Arnold, MF and Haag, AF and Capewell, S and Boshoff, HI and James, EK and McDonald, R and Mair, I and Mitchell, AM and Kerscher, B and Mitchell, TJ and Mergaert, P and Barry, CE and Scocchi, M and Zanda, M and Campopiano, DJ and Ferguson, GP}, title = {Partial complementation of Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA mutant phenotypes by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis BacA protein.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {195}, number = {2}, pages = {389-398}, pmid = {23161027}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {//Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Genetic Complementation Test ; Medicago sativa/microbiology/physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*deficiency/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; beta-Defensins/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {The Sinorhizobium meliloti BacA ABC transporter protein plays an important role in its nodulating symbiosis with the legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The Mycobacterium tuberculosis BacA homolog was found to be important for the maintenance of chronic murine infections, yet its in vivo function is unknown. In the legume plant as well as in the mammalian host, bacteria encounter host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We found that the M. tuberculosis BacA protein was able to partially complement the symbiotic defect of an S. meliloti BacA-deficient mutant on alfalfa plants and to protect this mutant in vitro from the antimicrobial activity of a synthetic legume peptide, NCR247, and a recombinant human β-defensin 2 (HBD2). This finding was also confirmed using an M. tuberculosis insertion mutant. Furthermore, M. tuberculosis BacA-mediated protection of the legume symbiont S. meliloti against legume defensins as well as HBD2 is dependent on its attached ATPase domain. In addition, we show that M. tuberculosis BacA mediates peptide uptake of the truncated bovine AMP, Bac7(1-16). This process required a functional ATPase domain. We therefore suggest that M. tuberculosis BacA is important for the transport of peptides across the cytoplasmic membrane and is part of a complete ABC transporter. Hence, BacA-mediated protection against host AMPs might be important for the maintenance of latent infections.}, } @article {pmid23159341, year = {2013}, author = {Shen, J and Obin, MS and Zhao, L}, title = {The gut microbiota, obesity and insulin resistance.}, journal = {Molecular aspects of medicine}, volume = {34}, number = {1}, pages = {39-58}, doi = {10.1016/j.mam.2012.11.001}, pmid = {23159341}, issn = {1872-9452}, mesh = {Animals ; Endotoxemia/microbiology/physiopathology ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Inflammation/microbiology/physiopathology ; *Insulin Resistance ; *Metagenome ; Mice ; Obesity/*metabolism/microbiology/physiopathology ; Prebiotics/analysis ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; Thinness/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human gut is densely populated by commensal and symbiotic microbes (the "gut microbiota"), with the majority of the constituent microorganisms being bacteria. Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiota plays a significant role in the development of obesity, obesity-associated inflammation and insulin resistance. In this review we discuss molecular and cell biological mechanisms by which the microbiota participate in host functions that impact the development and maintenance of the obese state, including host ingestive behavior, energy harvest, energy expenditure and fat storage. We additionally explore the diverse signaling pathways that regulate gut permeability and bacterial translocation to the host and how these are altered in the obese state to promote the systemic inflammation ("metabolic endotoxemia") that is a hallmark of obesity and its complications. Fundamental to our discussions is the concept of "crosstalk", i.e., the biochemical exchange between host and microbiota that maintains the metabolic health of the superorganism and whose dysregulation is a hallmark of the obese state. Differences in community composition, functional genes and metabolic activities of the gut microbiota appear to distinguish lean vs obese individuals, suggesting that gut 'dysbiosis' contributes to the development of obesity and/or its complications. The current challenge is to determine the relative importance of obesity-associated compositional and functional changes in the microbiota and to identify the relevant taxa and functional gene modules that promote leanness and metabolic health. As diet appears to play a predominant role in shaping the microbiota and promoting obesity-associated dysbiosis, parallel initiatives are required to elucidate dietary patterns and diet components (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics) that promote healthy gut microbiota. How the microbiota promotes human health and disease is a rich area of investigation that is likely to generate fundamental discoveries in energy metabolism, molecular endocrinology and immunobiology and may lead to new strategies for prevention of obesity and its complications.}, } @article {pmid23158502, year = {2013}, author = {Kim, GB and Nam, YW}, title = {A novel Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase gene of Medicago truncatula plays a predominant role in stress-induced proline accumulation during symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {3}, pages = {291-302}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2012.10.004}, pmid = {23158502}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Ornithine-Oxo-Acid Transaminase/*genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Proline/*metabolism ; Pyrroles/*metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Proline accumulates in environmentally stressed plant cells including those of legume roots and nodules, but how its level is regulated is poorly understood. Δ(1)-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), the committed-step enzyme of proline biosynthesis, is encoded by two duplicated genes in many plants. Here, we isolated MtP5CS3, a third gene, from Medicago truncatula, whose predicted polypeptide sequence is highly similar to those of previously isolated MtP5CS1 and MtP5CS2 except an extra amino-terminal segment. MtP5CS3 was strongly expressed under salinity and drought in shoots and nodulating roots, while MtP5CS1 was constitutive and MtP5CS2 induced by abscisic acid. Under salinity, MtP5CS3 promoter was more active than those of MtP5CS1 and MtP5CS2, as shown by GUS fusions. Translationally fused MtP5CS1-GFP was localized in the cytoplasm, whereas significant proportions of MtP5CS2-GFP and MtP5CS3-GFP were co-localized with rubisco small subunit protein-fused RFP in transformed hairy root cells. Under salinity, RNA silencing of MtP5CS1 or MtP5CS2 strongly induced MtP5CS3 expression, while that of MtP5CS3 decreased free proline content and nodule number. Consistently, Mtp5cs3, a loss-of-function mutant, accumulated much less proline, formed fewer nodules, and fixed nitrogen significantly less efficiently than the wild type under salinity. Thus, MtP5CS3 plays a critical role in regulating stress-induced proline accumulation during symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid23157494, year = {2013}, author = {Li, T and Hu, YJ and Hao, ZP and Li, H and Wang, YS and Chen, BD}, title = {First cloning and characterization of two functional aquaporin genes from an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {197}, number = {2}, pages = {617-630}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12011}, pmid = {23157494}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Aquaporins/*genetics ; Calcium/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Computational Biology ; Droughts ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycelium/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Osmotic Pressure ; Phylogeny ; Pichia/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Protein Transport/genetics ; Protons ; Protoplasts/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Transformation, Genetic ; Water/metabolism ; Zea mays/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is known to stimulate plant drought tolerance. However, the molecular basis for the direct involvement of AM fungi (AMF) in plant water relations has not been established. Two full-length aquaporin genes, namely GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2, were cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA 5'- and 3'-ends from an AMF, Glomus intraradices. Aquaporin localization, activities and water permeability were examined by heterologous expression in yeast. Gene expression during symbiosis was also analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. GintAQPF1 was localized to the plasma membrane of yeast, whereas GintAQPF2 was localized to both plasma and intracellular membranes. Transformed yeast cells exhibited a significant decrease in cell volume on hyperosmotic shock and faster protoplast bursting on hypo-osmotic shock. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) stimulated, but glycerol inhibited, the aquaporin activities. Furthermore, the expression of the two genes in arbuscule-enriched cortical cells and extraradical mycelia of maize roots was also enhanced significantly under drought stress. GintAQPF1 and GintAQPF2 are the first two functional aquaporin genes from AMF reported to date. Our data strongly support potential water transport via AMF to host plants, which leads to a better understanding of the important role of AMF in plant drought tolerance.}, } @article {pmid23157289, year = {2012}, author = {Blackburn, GM and Bowler, MW and Jin, Y and Waltho, JP}, title = {Reflections on biocatalysis involving phosphorus.}, journal = {Biochemistry. Biokhimiia}, volume = {77}, number = {10}, pages = {1083-1096}, doi = {10.1134/S000629791210001X}, pmid = {23157289}, issn = {1608-3040}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Biocatalysis ; Ligands ; Organophosphonates/chemistry ; Phosphorus/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Early studies on chemical synthesis of biological molecules can be seen to progress to preparation and biological evaluation of phosphonates as analogues of biological phosphates, with emphasis on their isosteric and isopolar character. Work with such mimics progressed into structural studies with a range of nucleotide-utilising enzymes. The arrival of metal fluorides as analogues of the phosphoryl group, PO(3)(-), for transition state (TS) analysis of enzyme reactions stimulated the symbiotic deployment of (19)F NMR and protein crystallography. Characteristics of enzyme transition state analogues are reviewed for a range of reactions. From the available MF(x) species, trifluoroberyllate gives tetrahedral mimics of ground states (GS) in which phosphate is linked to carboxylate and phosphate oxyanions. Tetrafluoroaluminate is widely employed as a TS mimic, but it necessarily imposes octahedral geometry on the assembled complexes, whereas phosphoryl transfer involves trigonal bipyramidal (tbp) geometry. Trifluoromagnesate (MgF(3)(-)) provides the near-ideal solution, delivering tbp geometry and correct anionic charge. Some of the forty reported tbp structures assigned as having AlF(3)(0) cores have been redefined as trifluoromagnesate complexes. Transition state analogues for a range of kinases, mutases, and phosphatases provide a detailed description of mechanism for phosphoryl group transfer, supporting the concept of charge balance in their TS and of concerted-associative pathways for biocatalysis. Above all, superposition of GS and TS structures reveals that in associative phosphoryl transfer, the phosphorus atom migrates through a triangle of three, near-stationary, equatorial oxygens. The extension of these studies to near attack conformers further illuminates enzyme catalysis of phosphoryl transfer.}, } @article {pmid23155045, year = {2013}, author = {Brewer, PB and Koltai, H and Beveridge, CA}, title = {Diverse roles of strigolactones in plant development.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {18-28}, doi = {10.1093/mp/sss130}, pmid = {23155045}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects ; Lactones/*metabolism ; *Plant Development/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development ; }, abstract = {With the discovery of strigolactones as root exudate signals that trigger parasitic weed seed germination, and then as a branching inhibitor and plant hormone, the next phase of strigolactone research has quickly revealed this hormone class as a major player in optimizing plant growth and development. From the early stages of plant evolution, it seems that strigolactones were involved in enabling plants to modify growth in order to gain advantage in competition with neighboring organisms for limited resources. For example, a moss plant can alter its growth in response to strigolactones emanating from a neighbor. Within a higher plant, strigolactones appear to be involved in controlling the balance of resource distribution via strategic modification of growth and development. Most notably, higher plants that encounter phosphate deficiency increase strigolactone production, which changes root growth and promotes fungal symbiosis to enhance phosphate intake. The shoot also changes by channeling resources away from unessential leaves and branches and into the main stem and root system. This hormonal response is a key adaption that radically alters whole-plant architecture in order to optimize growth and development under diverse environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid23154505, year = {2013}, author = {Salehin, M and Huang, YS and Bagchi, R and Sherrier, DJ and Dickstein, R}, title = {Allelic differences in Medicago truncatula NIP/LATD mutants correlate with their encoded proteins' transport activities in planta.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {e22813}, pmid = {23154505}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Alleles ; Biological Transport/genetics/physiology ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula NIP/LATD gene, required for symbiotic nitrogen fixing nodule and root architecture development, encodes a member of the NRT1(PTR) family that demonstrates high-affinity nitrate transport in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Of three Mtnip/latd mutant proteins, one retains high-affinity nitrate transport in oocytes, while the other two are nitrate-transport defective. To further examine the mutant proteins' transport properties, the missense Mtnip/latd alleles were expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana chl1-5, resistant to the herbicide chlorate because of a deletion spanning the nitrate transporter AtNRT1.1(CHL1) gene. Mtnip-3 expression restored chlorate sensitivity in the Atchl1-5 mutant, similar to wild type MtNIP/LATD, while Mtnip-1 expression did not. The high-affinity nitrate transporter AtNRT2.1 gene was expressed in Mtnip-1 mutant roots; it did not complement, which could be caused by several factors. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that MtNIP/LATD may have another biochemical activity.}, } @article {pmid23152924, year = {2012}, author = {Septer, AN and Stabb, EV}, title = {Coordination of the arc regulatory system and pheromone-mediated positive feedback in controlling the Vibrio fischeri lux operon.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e49590}, pmid = {23152924}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/cytology/*genetics ; Animal Structures/drug effects/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/drug effects/microbiology ; Feedback, Physiological/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Luminescence ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Operon/*genetics ; Pheromones/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial pheromone signaling is often governed both by environmentally responsive regulators and by positive feedback. This regulatory combination has the potential to coordinate a group response among distinct subpopulations that perceive key environmental stimuli differently. We have explored the interplay between an environmentally responsive regulator and pheromone-mediated positive feedback in intercellular signaling by Vibrio fischeri ES114, a bioluminescent bacterium that colonizes the squid Euprymna scolopes. Bioluminescence in ES114 is controlled in part by N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC6), a pheromone produced by LuxI that together with LuxR activates transcription of the luxICDABEG operon, initiating a positive feedback loop and inducing luminescence. The lux operon is also regulated by environmentally responsive regulators, including the redox-responsive ArcA/ArcB system, which directly represses lux in culture. Here we show that inactivating arcA leads to increased 3OC6 accumulation to initiate positive feedback. In the absence of positive feedback, arcA-mediated control of luminescence was only ∼2-fold, but luxI-dependent positive feedback contributed more than 100 fold to the net induction of luminescence in the arcA mutant. Consistent with this overriding importance of positive feedback, 3OC6 produced by the arcA mutant induced luminescence in nearby wild-type cells, overcoming their ArcA repression of lux. Similarly, we found that artificially inducing ArcA could effectively repress luminescence before, but not after, positive feedback was initiated. Finally, we show that 3OC6 produced by a subpopulation of symbiotic cells can induce luminescence in other cells co-colonizing the host. Our results suggest that even transient loss of ArcA-mediated regulation in a sub-population of cells can induce luminescence in a wider community. Moreover, they indicate that 3OC6 can communicate information about both cell density and the state of ArcA/ArcB.}, } @article {pmid23151646, year = {2013}, author = {Janouškovec, J and Horák, A and Barott, KL and Rohwer, FL and Keeling, PJ}, title = {Environmental distribution of coral-associated relatives of apicomplexan parasites.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {444-447}, pmid = {23151646}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Apicomplexa/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Coral Reefs ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A lineage of plastid-bearing eukaryotic microbes that is closely related to apicomplexan parasites was recently found in a specific association with coral reefs (apicomplexan-related lineage-V, or ARL-V). Here, we address the possible nature of this association using plastid 'contamination' in fine-scale bacterial sequence surveys. In a transect between corals and associated macroalgae, ARL-V is specifically associated with the coral, in contrast to all microalgal types (including diatoms, haptophytes, pelagophytes and photosynthetic apicomplexan relatives, Chromera and Vitrella), which are associated with macroalgae. ARL-V is associated with at least 20 species of symbiotic corals through extended time periods and large geographic distances. It is significantly enriched in healthy coral tissue and shallow reef depths. Altogether, the evidence points to a specific relationship between ARL-V and corals, and is suggestive of symbiosis, perhaps based on photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid23150544, year = {2012}, author = {Tao, H and Kainerstorfer, JM and Siebert, SM and Pritchard, EM and Sassaroli, A and Panilaitis, BJ and Brenckle, MA and Amsden, JJ and Levitt, J and Fantini, S and Kaplan, DL and Omenetto, FG}, title = {Implantable, multifunctional, bioresorbable optics.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {48}, pages = {19584-19589}, pmid = {23150544}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {*Biocompatible Materials ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; *Optics and Photonics ; *Prostheses and Implants ; }, abstract = {Advances in personalized medicine are symbiotic with the development of novel technologies for biomedical devices. We present an approach that combines enhanced imaging of malignancies, therapeutics, and feedback about therapeutics in a single implantable, biocompatible, and resorbable device. This confluence of form and function is accomplished by capitalizing on the unique properties of silk proteins as a mechanically robust, biocompatible, optically clear biomaterial matrix that can house, stabilize, and retain the function of therapeutic components. By developing a form of high-quality microstructured optical elements, improved imaging of malignancies and of treatment monitoring can be achieved. The results demonstrate a unique family of devices for in vitro and in vivo use that provide functional biomaterials with built-in optical signal and contrast enhancement, demonstrated here with simultaneous drug delivery and feedback about drug delivery with no adverse biological effects, all while slowly degrading to regenerate native tissue.}, } @article {pmid23149396, year = {2012}, author = {Xiao, S and Callaway, RM and Newcombe, G and Aschehoug, ET}, title = {Models of experimental competitive intensities predict home and away differences in invasive impact and the effects of an endophytic mutualist.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {180}, number = {6}, pages = {707-718}, doi = {10.1086/668008}, pmid = {23149396}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Alternaria/genetics/*physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Centaurea/*microbiology/*physiology ; Demography ; Endophytes/genetics/*physiology ; Europe ; Introduced Species ; *Models, Biological ; North America ; Poaceae/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Understanding the role of competition in the organization of communities is limited in part by the difficulty of extrapolating the outcomes of small-scale experiments to how such outcomes might affect the distribution and abundance of species. We modeled the community-level outcomes of competition, using experimentally derived competitive effects and responses between an exotic invasive plant, Centaurea stoebe, and species from both its native and nonnative ranges and using changes in these effects and responses elicited by experimentally establishing symbioses between C. stoebe and fungal endophytes. Using relative interaction intensities (RIIs) and holding other life-history factors constant, individual-based and spatially explicit models predicted competitive exclusion of all but one North American species but none of the European species, regardless of the endophyte status of C. stoebe. Concomitantly, C. stoebe was eliminated from the models with European natives but was codominant in models with North American natives. Endophyte symbiosis predicted increased dominance of C. stoebe in North American communities but not in European communities. However, when experimental variation was included, some of the model outcomes changed slightly. Our results are consistent with the idea that the effects of competitive intensity and mutualisms measured at small scales have the potential to play important roles in determining the larger-scale outcomes of invasion and that the stabilizing indirect effects of competition may promote species coexistence.}, } @article {pmid23145489, year = {2012}, author = {Ladner, JT and Barshis, DJ and Palumbi, SR}, title = {Protein evolution in two co-occurring types of Symbiodinium: an exploration into the genetic basis of thermal tolerance in Symbiodinium clade D.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {217}, pmid = {23145489}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Acclimatization/*genetics ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; *Hot Temperature ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiosis between reef-building corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) is an integral part of the coral reef ecosystem, as corals are dependent on Symbiodinium for the majority of their energy needs. However, this partnership is increasingly at risk due to changing climatic conditions. It is thought that functional diversity within Symbiodinium may allow some corals to rapidly adapt to different environments by changing the type of Symbiodinium with which they partner; however, very little is known about the molecular basis of the functional differences among symbiont groups. One group of Symbiodinium that is hypothesized to be important for the future of reefs is clade D, which, in general, seems to provide the coral holobiont (i.e., coral host and associated symbiont community) with elevated thermal tolerance. Using high-throughput sequencing data from field-collected corals we assembled, de novo, draft transcriptomes for Symbiodinium clades C and D. We then explore the functional basis of thermal tolerance in clade D by comparing rates of coding sequence evolution among the four clades of Symbiodinium most commonly found in reef-building corals (A-D).

RESULTS: We are able to highlight a number of genes and functional categories as candidates for involvement in the increased thermal tolerance of clade D. These include a fatty acid desaturase, molecular chaperones and proteins involved in photosynthesis and the thylakoid membrane. We also demonstrate that clades C and D co-occur within most of the sampled colonies of Acropora hyacinthus, suggesting widespread potential for this coral species to acclimatize to changing thermal conditions via 'shuffling' the proportions of these two clades from within their current symbiont communities.

CONCLUSIONS: Transcriptome-wide analysis confirms that the four main Symbiodinium clades found within corals exhibit extensive evolutionary divergence (18.5-27.3% avg. pairwise nucleotide difference). Despite these evolutionary distinctions, many corals appear to host multiple clades simultaneously, which may allow for rapid acclimatization to changing environmental conditions. This study provides a first step toward understanding the molecular basis of functional differences between Symbiodinium clades by highlighting a number of genes with signatures consistent with positive selection along the thermally tolerant clade D lineage.}, } @article {pmid23145139, year = {2012}, author = {Louarn, J and Carbonne, F and Delavault, P and Bécard, G and Rochange, S}, title = {Reduced germination of Orobanche cumana seeds in the presence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi or their exudates.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e49273}, pmid = {23145139}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Biological Control Agents ; *Germination ; Helianthus/metabolism/microbiology/parasitology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Orobanche/*growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/parasitology ; Seeds/*growth & development/microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Broomrapes (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp) are parasitic plants responsible for important crop losses, and efficient procedures to control these pests are scarce. Biological control is one of the possible strategies to tackle these pests. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread soil microorganisms that live symbiotically with the roots of most plant species, and they have already been tested on sorghum for their ability to reduce infestation by witchweeds, another kind of parasitic plants. In this work AM fungi were evaluated as potential biocontrol agents against Orobanche cumana, a broomrape species that specifically attacks sunflower. When inoculated simultaneously with O. cumana seeds, AM fungi could offer a moderate level of protection against the broomrape. Interestingly, this protection did not only rely on a reduced production of parasitic seed germination stimulants, as was proposed in previous studies. Rather, mycorrhizal root exudates had a negative impact on the germination of O. cumana induced by germination stimulants. A similar effect could be obtained with AM spore exudates, establishing the fungal origin of at least part of the active compounds. Together, our results demonstrate that AM fungi themselves can lead to a reduced rate of parasitic seed germination, in addition to possible effects mediated by the mycorrhizal plant. Combined with the other benefits of AM symbiosis, these effects make AM fungi an attractive option for biological control of O. cumana.}, } @article {pmid23145114, year = {2012}, author = {Colleye, O and Parmentier, E}, title = {Overview on the diversity of sounds produced by clownfishes (Pomacentridae): importance of acoustic signals in their peculiar way of life.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e49179}, pmid = {23145114}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Acoustics ; Aggression/physiology ; Agonistic Behavior/physiology ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Female ; Fishes/*physiology ; Perciformes/physiology ; *Social Dominance ; Sound ; Vocalization, Animal/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Clownfishes (Pomacentridae) are brightly colored coral reef fishes well known for their mutualistic symbiosis with tropical sea anemones. These fishes live in social groups in which there is a size-based dominance hierarchy. In this structure where sex is socially controlled, agonistic interactions are numerous and serve to maintain size differences between individuals adjacent in rank. Clownfishes are also prolific callers whose sounds seem to play an important role in the social hierarchy. Here, we aim to review and to synthesize the diversity of sounds produced by clownfishes in order to emphasize the importance of acoustic signals in their way of life.

Recording the different acoustic behaviors indicated that sounds are divided into two main categories: aggressive sounds produced in conjunction with threat postures (charge and chase), and submissive sounds always emitted when fish exhibited head shaking movements (i.e. a submissive posture). Both types of sounds showed size-related intraspecific variation in dominant frequency and pulse duration: smaller individuals produce higher frequency and shorter duration pulses than larger ones, and inversely. Consequently, these sonic features might be useful cues for individual recognition within the group. This observation is of significant importance due to the size-based hierarchy in clownfish group. On the other hand, no acoustic signal was associated with the different reproductive activities.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Unlike other pomacentrids, sounds are not produced for mate attraction in clownfishes but to reach and to defend the competition for breeding status, which explains why constraints are not important enough for promoting call diversification in this group.}, } @article {pmid23144415, year = {2012}, author = {de Oliveira Cunha, C and Goda Zuleta, LF and Paula de Almeida, LG and Prioli Ciapina, L and Lustrino Borges, W and Pitard, RM and Baldani, JI and Straliotto, R and de Faria, SM and Hungria, M and Sousa Cavada, B and Mercante, FM and Ribeiro de Vasconcelos, AT}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Burkholderia phenoliruptrix BR3459a (CLA1), a heat-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Mimosa flocculosa.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {23}, pages = {6675-6676}, pmid = {23144415}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Burkholderia/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Hot Temperature ; Mimosa/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South America ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Burkholderia represents a challenge to the fields of taxonomy and phylogeny and, especially, to the understanding of the contrasting roles as either opportunistic pathogens or bacteria with biotechnological potential. Few genomes of nonpathogenic strains, especially of diazotrophic symbiotic bacteria, have been sequenced to improve understanding of the genus. Here, we contribute with the complete genome sequence of Burkholderia phenoliruptrix strain BR3459a (CLA1), an effective diazotrophic symbiont of the leguminous tree Mimosa flocculosa Burkart, which is endemic to South America.}, } @article {pmid23140894, year = {2012}, author = {Alberdi, MP and Nijhof, AM and Jongejan, F and Bell-Sakyi, L}, title = {Tick cell culture isolation and growth of Rickettsia raoultii from Dutch Dermacentor reticulatus ticks.}, journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases}, volume = {3}, number = {5-6}, pages = {349-354}, pmid = {23140894}, issn = {1877-9603}, support = {088588//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacteriological Techniques/methods ; Cell Culture Techniques/methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Dermacentor/*microbiology ; Female ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Netherlands ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsia/*isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Tick cell lines play an important role in research on ticks and tick-borne pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms. In an attempt to derive continuous Dermacentor reticulatus cell lines, embryo-derived primary cell cultures were set up from eggs laid by field ticks originally collected as unfed adults in The Netherlands and maintained for up to 16 months. After several months, it became evident that cells in the primary cultures were infected with a Rickettsia-like intracellular organism. Supernatant medium containing some D. reticulatus cells was inoculated into cultures of 2 Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus cell lines, BME/CTVM2 and BME/CTVM23, where abundant growth of the bacteria occurred intracellularly on transfer to both cell lines. Bacterial growth was monitored by light (live, inverted microscope, Giemsa-stained cytocentrifuge smears) and transmission electron microscopy revealing heavy infection with typical intracytoplasmic Rickettsia-like bacteria, not present in uninfected cultures. DNA was extracted from bacteria-infected and uninfected control cultures, and primers specific for Rickettsia 16S rRNA, ompB, and sca4 genes were used to generate PCR products that were subsequently sequenced. D. reticulatus primary cultures and both infected tick cell lines were positive for all 3 Rickettsia genes. Sequencing of PCR products revealed 99-100% identity with published Rickettsia raoultii sequences. The R. raoultii also grew abundantly in the D. nitens cell line ANE58, poorly in the D. albipictus cell line DALBE3, and not at all in the D. andersoni cell line DAE15. In conclusion, primary tick cell cultures and cell lines are useful systems for isolation and propagation of fastidious tick-borne microorganisms. In vitro isolation of R. raoultii from Dutch D. reticulatus confirms previous PCR-based detection in field ticks, and presence of the bacteria in the tick eggs used to initiate the primary cultures confirms that transovarial transmission of this Rickettsia occurs.}, } @article {pmid23140640, year = {2012}, author = {Holmes, E and Li, JV and Marchesi, JR and Nicholson, JK}, title = {Gut microbiota composition and activity in relation to host metabolic phenotype and disease risk.}, journal = {Cell metabolism}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, pages = {559-564}, doi = {10.1016/j.cmet.2012.10.007}, pmid = {23140640}, issn = {1932-7420}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Phenotype ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic gut microbiota modulate health and disease of the host through a series of transgenomic metabolic and immune regulatory axes. We explore connections between microbiome composition and function related to individual metabolic phenotypes and consider these interactions as possible targets for developing new personalized therapies and clinical management strategies.}, } @article {pmid23139887, year = {2012}, author = {Fedrowitz, K and Kaasalainen, U and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Geographic mosaic of symbiont selectivity in a genus of epiphytic cyanolichens.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, pages = {2291-2303}, pmid = {23139887}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {In symbiotic systems, patterns of symbiont diversity and selectivity are crucial for the understanding of fundamental ecological processes such as dispersal and establishment. The lichen genus Nephroma (Peltigerales, Ascomycota) has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution and is thus an attractive model for the study of symbiotic interactions over a wide range of spatial scales. In this study, we analyze the genetic diversity of Nephroma mycobionts and their associated Nostoc photobionts within a global framework. The study is based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences of fungal symbionts and tRNA(L) (eu) (UAA) intron sequences of cyanobacterial symbionts. The full data set includes 271 Nephroma and 358 Nostoc sequences, with over 150 sequence pairs known to originate from the same lichen thalli. Our results show that all bipartite Nephroma species associate with one group of Nostoc different from Nostoc typically found in tripartite Nephroma species. This conserved association appears to have been inherited from the common ancestor of all extant species. While specific associations between some symbiont genotypes can be observed over vast distances, both symbionts tend to show genetic differentiation over wide geographic scales. Most bipartite Nephroma species share their Nostoc symbionts with one or more other fungal taxa, and no fungal species associates solely with a single Nostoc genotype, supporting the concept of functional lichen guilds. Symbiont selectivity patterns within these lichens are best described as a geographic mosaic, with higher selectivity locally than globally. This may reflect specific habitat preferences of particular symbiont combinations, but also the influence of founder effects.}, } @article {pmid23139886, year = {2012}, author = {Annan, H and Golding, AL and Zhao, Y and Dong, Z}, title = {Choice of hydrogen uptake (Hup) status in legume-rhizobia symbioses.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {9}, pages = {2285-2290}, pmid = {23139886}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The H(2) is an obligate by-product of N-fixation. Recycling of H(2) through uptake hydrogenase (Hup) inside the root nodules of leguminous plants is often considered an advantage for plants. However, many of the rhizobium-legume symbioses found in nature, especially those used in agriculture are shown to be Hup(-), with the plants releasing H(2) produced by nitrogenase activity from root nodules into the surrounding rhizosphere. Recent studies have suggested that, H(2) induces plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which may explain the widespread of Hup(-) symbioses in spite of the low energy efficiency of such associations. Wild legumes grown in Nova Scotia, Canada, were surveyed to determine if any plant-growth characteristics could give an indication of Hup choice in leguminous plants. Out of the plants sampled, two legumes, Securigera varia and Vicia cracca, showed Hup(+) associations. Securigera varia exhibited robust root structure as compared with the other plants surveyed. Data from the literature and the results from this study suggested that plants with established root systems are more likely to form the energy-efficient Hup(+) symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. Conversely, Hup(-) associations could be beneficial to leguminous plants due to H(2)-oxidizing plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria that allow plants to compete successfully, early in the growing season. However, some nodules from V. cracca tested Hup(+), while others were Hup(-). This was similar to that observed in Glycine max and Pisum sativum, giving reason to believe that Hup choice might be affected by various internal and environmental factors.}, } @article {pmid23139608, year = {2012}, author = {Lahner, E and Esposito, G and Zullo, A and Hassan, C and Cannaviello, C and Paolo, MC and Pallotta, L and Garbagna, N and Grossi, E and Annibale, B}, title = {High-fibre diet and Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {18}, number = {41}, pages = {5918-5924}, pmid = {23139608}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Abdominal Pain/etiology/therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dietary Fiber/*administration & dosage ; Diverticulum, Colon/complications/diagnosis/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Italy ; Lactobacillus/*growth & development ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; *Synbiotics ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {AIM: To investigate in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease the efficacy of symbiotics associated with a high-fibre diet on abdominal symptoms.

METHODS: This study was a multicentre, 6-mo randomized, controlled, parallel-group intervention with a preceding 4-wk washout period. Consecutive outpatients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, aged 40-80 years, evaluated in 4 Gastroenterology Units, were enrolled. Symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients were randomized to two treatment arms A or B. Treatment A (n = 24 patients) received 1 symbiotic sachet Flortec(©) (Lactobacillus paracasei B21060) once daily plus high-fibre diet for 6 mo. Treatment B (n = 21 patients) received high-fibre diet alone for 6 mo. The primary endpoint was regression of abdominal symptoms and change of symptom severity after 3 and 6 mo of treatment.

RESULTS: In group A, the proportion of patients with abdominal pain < 24 h decreased from 100% at baseline to 35% and 25% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively (P < 0.001). In group B the proportion of patients with this symptom decreased from 90.5% at baseline to 61.9% and 38.1% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively (P = 0.001). Symptom improvement became statistically significant at 3 and 6 mo in group A and B, respectively.The proportion of patients with abdominal pain >24 h decreased from 60% to 20% then 5% after 3 and 6 mo, respectively in group A (P < 0.001) and from 33.3% to 9.5% at both 3 and 6 mo in group B (P = 0.03). In group A the proportion of patients with abdominal bloating significantly decreased from 95% to 60% after 3 mo, and remained stable (65%) at 6-mo follow-up (P = 0.005) while in group B, no significant changes in abdominal bloating was observed (P = 0.11). After 6 mo of treatment, the mean visual analogic scale (VAS) values of both short-lasting abdominal pain (VAS, mean ± SD, group A: 4.6 ± 2.1 vs 2.2 ± 0.8, P = 0.02; group B: 4.6 ± 2.9 vs 2.0 ± 1.9, P = 0.03) and abdominal bloating (VAS, mean ± SD, group A: 5.3 ± 2.2 vs 3.0 ± 1.7, P = 0.005; group B: 5.3 ± 3.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.9, P = 0.006) decreased in both groups, whilst the VAS values of prolonged abdominal pain decreased in the Flortec(©) group, but remained unchanged in the high-fibre diet group (VAS, mean ± SD, group A: 6.5 ± 1.5 vs 4.5 ± 2.1, P = 0.052; group B: 4.5 ± 3.8 vs 5.5 ± 3.5).

CONCLUSION: A high-fibre diet is effective in relieving abdominal symptoms in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. This treatment may be implemented by combining the high-fibre diet with Flortec(©).}, } @article {pmid23139333, year = {2012}, author = {Dixson, DL and Hay, ME}, title = {Corals chemically cue mutualistic fishes to remove competing seaweeds.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {338}, number = {6108}, pages = {804-807}, pmid = {23139333}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {U01 TW007401/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U19 TW007401/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; U01-TW007401/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry/*physiology ; *Chlorophyta/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Cues ; *Odorants ; Perciformes/*physiology ; *Seaweed/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals in the genus Acropora generate much of the structural complexity upon which coral reefs depend, but they are susceptible to damage from toxic seaweeds. Acropora nasuta minimizes this damage by chemically cuing symbiotic goby fishes (Gobiodon histrio or Paragobiodon echinocephalus) to remove the toxic seaweed Chlorodesmis fastigiata. Within minutes of seaweed contact, or contact from only seaweed chemical extract, the coral releases an odor that recruits gobies to trim the seaweed and dramatically reduce coral damage that would otherwise occur. In turn, chemically defended gobies become more toxic after consumption of this noxious alga. Mutualistic gobies and corals appear to represent a marine parallel to terrestrial ant-plants, in that the host provides shelter and food in return for protection from natural enemies.}, } @article {pmid23136881, year = {2012}, author = {Albareda, M and Manyani, H and Imperial, J and Brito, B and Ruiz-Argüeso, T and Böck, A and Palacios, JM}, title = {Dual role of HupF in the biosynthesis of [NiFe] hydrogenase in Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {256}, pmid = {23136881}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Hydrogenase/*biosynthesis/genetics/*metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Models, Molecular ; Multiprotein Complexes/analysis ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*enzymology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: [NiFe] hydrogenases are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of hydrogen into protons and electrons, to use H2 as energy source, or the production of hydrogen through proton reduction, as an escape valve for the excess of reduction equivalents in anaerobic metabolism. Biosynthesis of [NiFe] hydrogenases is a complex process that occurs in the cytoplasm, where a number of auxiliary proteins are required to synthesize and insert the metal cofactors into the enzyme structural units. The endosymbiotic bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum requires the products of eighteen genes (hupSLCDEFGHIJKhypABFCDEX) to synthesize an active hydrogenase. hupF and hupK genes are found only in hydrogenase clusters from bacteria expressing hydrogenase in the presence of oxygen.

RESULTS: HupF is a HypC paralogue with a similar predicted structure, except for the C-terminal domain present only in HupF. Deletion of hupF results in the inability to process the hydrogenase large subunit HupL, and also in reduced stability of this subunit when cells are exposed to high oxygen tensions. A ΔhupF mutant was fully complemented for hydrogenase activity by a C-terminal deletion derivative under symbiotic, ultra low-oxygen tensions, but only partial complementation was observed in free living cells under higher oxygen tensions (1% or 3%). Co-purification experiments using StrepTag-labelled HupF derivatives and mass spectrometry analysis indicate the existence of a major complex involving HupL and HupF, and a less abundant HupF-HupK complex.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that HupF has a dual role during hydrogenase biosynthesis: it is required for hydrogenase large subunit processing and it also acts as a chaperone to stabilize HupL when hydrogenase is synthesized in the presence of oxygen.}, } @article {pmid23136493, year = {2012}, author = {Hayashi, M and Saeki, Y and Haga, M and Harada, K and Kouchi, H and Umehara, Y}, title = {Rj (rj) genes involved in nitrogen-fixing root nodule formation in soybean.}, journal = {Breeding science}, volume = {61}, number = {5}, pages = {544-553}, pmid = {23136493}, issn = {1344-7610}, abstract = {It has long been known that formation of symbiotic root nodules in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is controlled by several host genes referred to as Rj (rj) genes, but molecular cloning of these genes has been hampered by soybean's complicated genome structure and large genome size. Progress in molecular identification of legume genes involved in root nodule symbiosis have been mostly achieved by using two model legumes, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, that have relatively simple and small genomes and are capable of molecular transfection. However, recent development of resources for soybean molecular genetic research, such as genome sequencing, large EST databases, and high-density linkage maps, have enabled us to isolate several Rj genes. This progress has been achieved in connection with systematic utilization of the information obtained from molecular genetics of the model legumes. In this review, we summarize the current status of knowledge of host-controlled nodulation in soybean based on information from recent studies on Rj genes, and discuss the future research prospects.}, } @article {pmid23136382, year = {2013}, author = {Roberts, NJ and Morieri, G and Kalsi, G and Rose, A and Stiller, J and Edwards, A and Xie, F and Gresshoff, PM and Oldroyd, GE and Downie, JA and Etzler, ME}, title = {Rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses in Lotus japonicus require lectin nucleotide phosphohydrolase, which acts upstream of calcium signaling.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {161}, number = {1}, pages = {556-567}, pmid = {23136382}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; GM21882/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Apyrase/genetics/*metabolism ; Calcium/metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Lotus/enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nodulation in legumes requires the recognition of rhizobially made Nod factors. Genetic studies have revealed that the perception of Nod factors involves LysM domain receptor-like kinases, while biochemical approaches have identified LECTIN NUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHOHYDROLASE (LNP) as a Nod factor-binding protein. Here, we show that antisense inhibition of LNP blocks nodulation in Lotus japonicus. This absence of nodulation was due to a defect in Nod factor signaling based on the observations that the early nodulation gene NODULE INCEPTION was not induced and that both Nod factor-induced perinuclear calcium spiking and calcium influx at the root hair tip were blocked. However, Nod factor did induce root hair deformation in the LNP antisense lines. LNP is also required for infection by the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices, suggesting that LNP plays a role in the common signaling pathway shared by the rhizobial and mycorrhizal symbioses. Taken together, these observations indicate that LNP acts at a novel position in the early stages of symbiosis signaling. We propose that LNP functions at the earliest stage of the common nodulation and mycorrhization symbiosis signaling pathway downstream of the Nod factor receptors; it may act either by influencing signaling via changes in external nucleotides or in conjunction with the LysM receptor-like kinases for recognition of Nod factor.}, } @article {pmid23136381, year = {2013}, author = {Boscari, A and Del Giudice, J and Ferrarini, A and Venturini, L and Zaffini, AL and Delledonne, M and Puppo, A}, title = {Expression dynamics of the Medicago truncatula transcriptome during the symbiotic interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti: which role for nitric oxide?.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {161}, number = {1}, pages = {425-439}, pmid = {23136381}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {3' Untranslated Regions ; 5' Untranslated Regions ; Alternative Splicing ; Exons ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Introns ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is one of the most studied model plants. Nevertheless, the genome of this legume remains incompletely determined. We used RNA-Seq to characterize the transcriptome during the early organogenesis of the nodule and during its functioning. We detected 37,333 expressed transcription units; to our knowledge, 1,670 had never been described before and were functionally annotated. We identified 7,595 new transcribed regions, mostly corresponding to 5' and 3' untranslated region extensions and new exons associated with 5,264 previously annotated genes. We also inferred 23,165 putative transcript isoforms from 6,587 genes and measured the abundance of transcripts for each isoform, which suggests an important role for alternative splicing in the generation of proteome diversity in M. truncatula. Finally, we carried out a differential expression analysis, which provided a comprehensive view of transcriptional reprogramming during nodulation. In particular, depletion of nitric oxide in roots inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti greatly increased our understanding of the role of this reactive species in the optimal establishment of the symbiotic interaction, revealing differential patterns of expression for 2,030 genes and pointing to the inhibition of the expression of defense genes.}, } @article {pmid23136374, year = {2012}, author = {Couzigou, JM and Zhukov, V and Mondy, S and Abu el Heba, G and Cosson, V and Ellis, TH and Ambrose, M and Wen, J and Tadege, M and Tikhonovich, I and Mysore, KS and Putterill, J and Hofer, J and Borisov, AY and Ratet, P}, title = {NODULE ROOT and COCHLEATA maintain nodule development and are legume orthologs of Arabidopsis BLADE-ON-PETIOLE genes.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {4498-4510}, pmid = {23136374}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Flowers/cytology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Peas/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/cytology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During their symbiotic interaction with rhizobia, legume plants develop symbiosis-specific organs on their roots, called nodules, that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The molecular mechanisms governing the identity and maintenance of these organs are unknown. Using Medicago truncatula nodule root (noot) mutants and pea (Pisum sativum) cochleata (coch) mutants, which are characterized by the abnormal development of roots from the nodule, we identified the NOOT and COCH genes as being necessary for the robust maintenance of nodule identity throughout the nodule developmental program. NOOT and COCH are Arabidopsis thaliana BLADE-ON-PETIOLE orthologs, and we have shown that their functions in leaf and flower development are conserved in M. truncatula and pea. The identification of these two genes defines a clade in the BTB/POZ-ankyrin domain proteins that shares conserved functions in eudicot organ development and suggests that NOOT and COCH were recruited to repress root identity in the legume symbiotic organ.}, } @article {pmid23134664, year = {2012}, author = {Albornos, L and Martín, I and Iglesias, R and Jiménez, T and Labrador, E and Dopico, B}, title = {ST proteins, a new family of plant tandem repeat proteins with a DUF2775 domain mainly found in Fabaceae and Asteraceae.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {207}, pmid = {23134664}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; Asteraceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Glycosylation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mucoproteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Multigene Family ; Peptides/chemistry/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; *Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid ; Secretory Pathway/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many proteins with tandem repeats in their sequence have been described and classified according to the length of the repeats: I) Repeats of short oligopeptides (from 2 to 20 amino acids), including structural cell wall proteins and arabinogalactan proteins. II) Repeats that range in length from 20 to 40 residues, including proteins with a well-established three-dimensional structure often involved in mediating protein-protein interactions. (III) Longer repeats in the order of 100 amino acids that constitute structurally and functionally independent units. Here we analyse ShooT specific (ST) proteins, a family of proteins with tandem repeats of unknown function that were first found in Leguminosae, and their possible similarities to other proteins with tandem repeats.

RESULTS: ST protein sequences were only found in dicotyledonous plants, limited to several plant families, mainly the Fabaceae and the Asteraceae. ST mRNAs accumulate mainly in the roots and under biotic interactions. Most ST proteins have one or several Domain(s) of Unknown Function 2775 (DUF2775). All deduced ST proteins have a signal peptide, indicating that these proteins enter the secretory pathway, and the mature proteins have tandem repeat oligopeptides that share a hexapeptide (E/D)FEPRP followed by 4 partially conserved amino acids, which could determine a putative N-glycosylation signal, and a fully conserved tyrosine. In a phylogenetic tree, the sequences clade according to taxonomic group. A possible involvement in symbiosis and abiotic stress as well as in plant cell elongation is suggested, although different STs could play different roles in plant development.

CONCLUSIONS: We describe a new family of proteins called ST whose presence is limited to the plant kingdom, specifically to a few families of dicotyledonous plants. They present 20 to 40 amino acid tandem repeat sequences with different characteristics (signal peptide, DUF2775 domain, conservative repeat regions) from the described group of 20 to 40 amino acid tandem repeat proteins and also from known cell wall proteins with repeat sequences. Several putative roles in plant physiology can be inferred from the characteristics found.}, } @article {pmid23134480, year = {2013}, author = {Kelly, SJ and Muszyński, A and Kawaharada, Y and Hubber, AM and Sullivan, JT and Sandal, N and Carlson, RW and Stougaard, J and Ronson, CW}, title = {Conditional requirement for exopolysaccharide in the Mesorhizobium-Lotus symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {319-329}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-12-0227-R}, pmid = {23134480}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Genes, Reporter ; Genotype ; Lotus/growth & development/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Mutagenesis ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; Uronic Acids/analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial surface polysaccharides are required for nodule formation on the roots of at least some legumes but the mechanisms by which they act are yet to be determined. As a first step to investigate the function of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in the formation of determinate nodules, we isolated Mesorhizobium loti mutants affected in various steps of EPS biosynthesis and characterized their symbiotic phenotypes on two Lotus spp. The wild-type M. loti R7A produced both high molecular weight EPS and lower molecular weight (LMW) polysaccharide fractions whereas most mutant strains produced only LMW fractions. Mutants affected in predicted early biosynthetic steps (e.g., exoB) formed nitrogen-fixing nodules on Lotus corniculatus and L. japonicus 'Gifu', whereas mutants affected in mid or late biosynthetic steps (e.g., exoU) induced uninfected nodule primordia and, occasionally, a few infected nodules following a lengthy delay. These mutants were disrupted at the stage of infection thread (IT) development. Symbiotically defective EPS and Nod factor mutants functionally complemented each other in co-inoculation experiments. The majority of full-length IT observed harbored only the EPS mutant strain and did not show bacterial release, whereas the nitrogen-fixing nodules contained both mutants. Examination of the symbiotic proficiency of the exoU mutant on various L. japonicus ecotypes revealed that both host and environmental factors were linked to the requirement for EPS. These results reveal a complex function for M. loti EPS in determinate nodule formation and suggest that EPS plays a signaling role at the stages of both IT initiation and bacterial release.}, } @article {pmid23134119, year = {2012}, author = {Brígido, C and Robledo, M and Menéndez, E and Mateos, PF and Oliveira, S}, title = {A ClpB chaperone knockout mutant of Mesorhizobium ciceri shows a delay in the root nodulation of chickpea plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {12}, pages = {1594-1604}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-12-0140-R}, pmid = {23134119}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Cicer/cytology/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Heat-Shock Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response/*genetics ; Mesorhizobium/cytology/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Molecular Chaperones/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Several molecular chaperones are known to be involved in bacteria stress response. To investigate the role of chaperone ClpB in rhizobia stress tolerance as well as in the rhizobia-plant symbiosis process, the clpB gene from a chickpea microsymbiont, strain Mesorhizobium ciceri LMS-1, was identified and a knockout mutant was obtained. The ClpB knockout mutant was tested to several abiotic stresses, showing that it was unable to grow after a heat shock and it was more sensitive to acid shock than the wild-type strain. A plant-growth assay performed to evaluate the symbiotic performance of the clpB mutant showed a higher proportion of ineffective root nodules obtained with the mutant than with the wild-type strain. Nodulation kinetics analysis showed a 6- to 8-day delay in nodule appearance in plants inoculated with the ΔclpB mutant. Analysis of nodC gene expression showed lower levels of transcript in the ΔclpB mutant strain. Analysis of histological sections of nodules formed by the clpB mutant showed that most of the nodules presented a low number of bacteroids. No differences in the root infection abilities of green fluorescent protein-tagged clpB mutant and wild-type strains were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first study that presents evidence of the involvement of the chaperone ClpB from rhizobia in the symbiotic nodulation process.}, } @article {pmid23132300, year = {2013}, author = {Rodrigues, CF and Cunha, MR and Génio, L and Duperron, S}, title = {A complex picture of associations between two host mussels and symbiotic bacteria in the Northeast Atlantic.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {100}, number = {1}, pages = {21-31}, pmid = {23132300}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Bivalvia/*microbiology ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Among chemosymbiotic metazoans found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and organic falls, members of the mussel clade Bathymodiolinae (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) have evolved interactions with a higher diversity of bacterial lineages than other bivalve groups. Here, we characterized the bacteria associated with "Bathymodiolus" mauritanicus and Idas-like specimens from three sites in the Northeast Atlantic (two mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz and one seamount of the Gorringe Bank). Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA-encoding gene sequences demonstrated that "B". mauritanicus has a dual symbiosis dominated by two phylotypes of methane-oxidising bacteria and a less abundant phylotype of a sulphur-oxidising bacterium. The latter was the dominant phylotype in a sympatric population of Idas-like mussels at the Darwin mud volcano. These results are the first report of a bacterial phylotype shared between two deep-sea mussels from divergent clades. This sulphur-oxidising bacterium was absent from Idas-like specimens from the other two sites (Gorringe Bank and Meknès mud volcano), in which bacterial clone libraries were dominated by other Gammaproteobacteria related to symbionts previously identified in Idas modiolaeformis from the Eastern Mediterranean. All Idas-like specimens studied herein are closely related and also related to I. modiolaeformis. However, they probably display different associations with bacteria, with the possible absence of both methane- and sulphur-oxidising symbionts at the Gorringe Bank. These results draw a very complex picture of associations between mussels and bacteria in the Northeast Atlantic, which could be highly variable depending on locale characteristics of the habitats.}, } @article {pmid23126265, year = {2013}, author = {Mazziotta, L and Reynoso, MA and Aguilar, OM and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Transcriptional and functional variation of NF-YC1 in genetically diverse accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris during the symbiotic association with Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {15}, number = {5}, pages = {808-818}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00683.x}, pmid = {23126265}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Americas ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; CCAAT-Binding Factor/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Plant ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Plant ; *Genetic Variation ; *Mycorrhizae ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Open Reading Frames ; Phaseolus/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) is an agronomic important legume crop native to America, where two centres of genetic diversification (GD) are recognised, one in Mesoamerica and the other in the south Andes. Mesoamerican bean accessions have preferential and more efficient nodulation with Rhizobium etli strains carrying the allele nodC type-α, which is predominant in soils of Mesoamerica. It was previously demonstrated that the host nuclear factor NF-YC1, which is involved in nodule formation and rhizobial infection, contributes to this preferential selection and enhances nodulation in the domesticated accession NAG12 from Mesoamerica. Here, we show that both domesticated and wild Mesoamerican beans exhibit higher nodulation performance with a nodC type-α than with a nodC type-δ strain. Transcripts of NF-YC1 significantly increased in roots of these accessions 24 h post-inoculation (hpi) with the nodC type-α strain. On the other hand, accessions from the Andean GD centre formed a higher number of nodules with a strain carrying the nodC type-δ, which is predominant in Andean soils. However, NF-YC1 transcript levels did not exhibit significant changes in Andean accessions upon inoculation with the nodC type-δ strain, at least at 24 hpi. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing of NF-YC1 in the domesticated Andean accession Alubia showed that NF-YC1 or a closely related member of this family is required for nodule formation and bacterial infection, in agreement with observations in Mesoamerican common beans. Isolation and sequencing of the full-length ORF of NF-YC1 from Alubia revealed that it was identical to the sequence previously identified in the Mesoamerican accession NAG12. Interestingly, overexpression of NF-YC1 had a negative impact on nodule formation in the Alubia accession, independently of the R. etli lineage. Our findings suggest that transcriptional and functional variation of NF-YC1 occurs among genetically diverse bean accessions, which might positively or negatively contribute to the fine-tuning mechanisms that regulate nodule formation in the common bean-R. etli symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23124347, year = {2012}, author = {You, YH and Yoon, H and Kang, SM and Shin, JH and Choo, YS and Lee, IJ and Lee, JM and Kim, JG}, title = {Fungal diversity and plant growth promotion of endophytic fungi from six halophytes in Suncheon Bay.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {22}, number = {11}, pages = {1549-1556}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1205.05010}, pmid = {23124347}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Endophytes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fungi/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Gibberellins/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oryza/*growth & development/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Republic of Korea ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi were isolated from roots of six halophytes in Suncheon Bay. The endophytic fungi of 35 species isolated from halophytes were identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) containing the ITS1, 5.8s, and ITS2 regions. All fungal strains were analyzed to diversity at the genus level. Fungal culture filtrates (FCF) of endophytic fungi were treated to Waito-c rice (WR) seedling for plant growth-promoting verification. It was confirmed that fungal strain Sj-2-2 provided plant growth promotion (PGP) to WR seedling. Then, PGP of Suaeda japonica was confirmed by treating culture filtrate of Sj-2-2. As a result, it was verified that culture filtrate of Sj-2-2 had more advanced PGP than positive control when treated to S. japonica. The secondary metabolites involved in culture filtrate of Sj-2-2 were identified by HPLC and GC-MS SIM analysis. The presence of physiologically bioactive gibberellins (GAs) and other inactive GAs in culture filtrate of Sj-2-2 was detected. The molecular analysis of sequences of Sj-2-2 showed the similarity to Penicillium sp. of 99% homology. The PGP of Sj-2-2 as well as symbiosis between endophytic fungi and halophytes growing naturally in salt marsh was confirmed. Sj-2-2 was identified as a new fungal strain producing GAs by molecular analysis of sequences. Consequently, the Sj-2-2 fungal strain was named as Penicillium sp. Sj-2-2. In this study, the diversity of endophytic fungi isolated from roots of halophytes in salt marsh and the PGP of a new gibberellin-producing fungal strain were confirmed.}, } @article {pmid23122845, year = {2012}, author = {Gobbato, E and Marsh, JF and Vernié, T and Wang, E and Maillet, F and Kim, J and Miller, JB and Sun, J and Bano, SA and Ratet, P and Mysore, KS and Dénarié, J and Schultze, M and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {A GRAS-type transcription factor with a specific function in mycorrhizal signaling.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {2236-2241}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.044}, pmid = {23122845}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/E001408/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/E003850/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase/genetics/*metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/*biosynthesis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish mutualistic associations with mycorrhizal fungi and with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. These interactions occur following plant recognition of Nod factor from rhizobial bacteria and Myc factor from mycorrhizal fungi. A common symbiosis signaling pathway is involved in the recognition of both Nod factor and Myc factor and is required for the establishment of these two symbioses. The outcomes of these associations differ, and therefore, despite the commonality in signaling, there must be mechanisms that allow specificity. In Nod factor signaling, a complex of GRAS-domain transcription factors controls gene expression downstream of the symbiosis signaling pathway. Here, we show that a GRAS-domain transcription factor, RAM1, functions in mycorrhizal-specific signaling. Plants mutated in RAM1 are unable to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi, with a defect in hyphopodia formation on the surface of the root. RAM1 is specifically required for Myc factor signaling and appears to have no role in Nod factor signaling. RAM1 regulates the expression of RAM2, a glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase that promotes cutin biosynthesis to enhance hyphopodia formation. We conclude that mycorrhizal signaling downstream of the symbiosis-signaling pathway has parallels with nodulation-specific signaling and functions to promote mycorrhizal colonization by regulating cutin biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid23122843, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, E and Schornack, S and Marsh, JF and Gobbato, E and Schwessinger, B and Eastmond, P and Schultze, M and Kamoun, S and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {A common signaling process that promotes mycorrhizal and oomycete colonization of plants.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {22}, number = {23}, pages = {2242-2246}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.043}, pmid = {23122843}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {BB/E001408/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/E003850/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase/*genetics/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/*genetics ; Membrane Lipids/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oomycetes/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is almost ubiquitous within the plant kingdom, and the early stages of the association are controlled by plant-derived strigolactones acting as a signal to the fungus in the rhizosphere and lipochito-oligosaccharides acting as fungal signals to the plant. Hyphopodia form at the root surface, allowing the initial invasion, and this is analogous to appressoria, infection structures of pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. Here, we characterize RAM2, a gene of Medicago truncatula required for colonization of the root by mycorrhizal fungi, which is necessary for appropriate hyphopodia and arbuscule formation. RAM2 encodes a glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase (GPAT) and is involved in the production of cutin monomers. Plants defective in RAM2 are unable to be colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but also show defects in colonization by an oomycete pathogen, with the absence of appressoria formation. RAM2 defines a direct signaling function, because exogenous addition of the C16 aliphatic fatty acids associated with cutin are sufficient to promote hyphopodia/appressoria formation. Thus, cutin monomers act as plant signals that promote colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and this signaling function has been recruited by pathogenic oomycetes to facilitate their own invasion.}, } @article {pmid23121215, year = {2013}, author = {Barraza, A and Estrada-Navarrete, G and Rodriguez-Alegria, ME and Lopez-Munguia, A and Merino, E and Quinto, C and Sanchez, F}, title = {Down-regulation of PvTRE1 enhances nodule biomass and bacteroid number in the common bean.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {197}, number = {1}, pages = {194-206}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12002}, pmid = {23121215}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics/metabolism ; Autophagy ; Bacterial Load ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/enzymology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Plant ; Microbial Viability ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/enzymology/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA Interference ; Rhizobium etli/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; Trehalase/genetics/*metabolism ; Trehalose/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium interactions have been widely studied and characterized, and the disaccharide trehalose has been commonly detected during this symbiotic interaction. It has been proposed that trehalose content in nodules during this symbiotic interaction might be regulated by trehalase. In the present study, we assessed the role of trehalose accumulation by down-regulating trehalase in the nodules of common bean plants. We performed gene expression analysis for trehalase (PvTRE1) during nodule development. PvTRE1 was knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi) in transgenic nodules of the common bean. PvTRE1 expression in nodulated roots is mainly restricted to nodules. Down-regulation of PvTRE1 led to increased trehalose content (78%) and bacteroid number (almost one order of magnitude). In addition, nodule biomass, nitrogenase activity, and GOGAT transcript accumulation were significantly enhanced too. The trehalose accumulation, triggered by PvTRE1 down-regulation, led to a positive impact on the legume-rhizobium symbiotic interaction. This could contribute to the agronomical enhancement of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid23120986, year = {2012}, author = {Pogorelova, VV and Bega, ZT and Kurdish, IK}, title = {[Interrelations of infusoria with Azotobacter and their influence on plants].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {74}, number = {5}, pages = {48-54}, pmid = {23120986}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Azotobacter vinelandii/*physiology ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacterial Load ; Ciliophora/*physiology ; Cucumis sativus/drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; Culture Media ; Germination/*drug effects ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/*drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; Raphanus/drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; Seeds/*drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Triticum/drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic coexistence of infusoria Colpoda steinii with bacteria of Azotobacter genus has been investigated. It is shown that when infusoria are incubated during 3 days with the cells of A. vinelandii IMV D-7076 selected in the logarithmic phase of growth, the number of colpods increased 19 times, and with A. chrooccum 20--only 1.8 times. After 6 days of incubation with bacteria selected in the phase of stationary growth the number of infusoria increased with A. vinelandii 10 times, and with A. chrooccum 20 - 9.2 times. Treatment of seeds by the bacterial mix of A. vinelandii and C. stenii stimulates their germination, growth of roots and sprouts at early stages of plants development as compared with the use of cultures of monobacteria. It is evident that infusoria Colpoda steinii as well as the bacteria of Azotobacter genus secrete biologically active substances which accelerate growth and development of plants.}, } @article {pmid23119037, year = {2012}, author = {Sobrero, P and Schlüter, JP and Lanner, U and Schlosser, A and Becker, A and Valverde, C}, title = {Quantitative proteomic analysis of the Hfq-regulon in Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e48494}, pmid = {23119037}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Order ; Homeostasis ; Host Factor 1 Protein/genetics/*metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; Nitro Compounds/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Protein Binding ; *Proteome ; *Proteomics ; Regulon ; Siderophores/biosynthesis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; Uracil/metabolism ; Uridine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Riboregulation stands for RNA-based control of gene expression. In bacteria, small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are a major class of riboregulatory elements, most of which act at the post-transcriptional level by base-pairing target mRNA genes. The RNA chaperone Hfq facilitates antisense interactions between target mRNAs and regulatory sRNAs, thus influencing mRNA stability and/or translation rate. In the α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 2011, the identification and detection of multiple sRNAs genes and the broadly pleitropic phenotype associated to the absence of a functional Hfq protein both support the existence of riboregulatory circuits controlling gene expression to ensure the fitness of this bacterium in both free living and symbiotic conditions. In order to identify target mRNAs subject to Hfq-dependent riboregulation, we have compared the proteome of an hfq mutant and the wild type S. meliloti by quantitative proteomics following protein labelling with (15)N. Among 2139 univocally identified proteins, a total of 195 proteins showed a differential abundance between the Hfq mutant and the wild type strain; 65 proteins accumulated ≥2-fold whereas 130 were downregulated (≤0.5-fold) in the absence of Hfq. This profound proteomic impact implies a major role for Hfq on regulation of diverse physiological processes in S. meliloti, from transport of small molecules to homeostasis of iron and nitrogen. Changes in the cellular levels of proteins involved in transport of nucleotides, peptides and amino acids, and in iron homeostasis, were confirmed with phenotypic assays. These results represent the first quantitative proteomic analysis in S. meliloti. The comparative analysis of the hfq mutant proteome allowed identification of novel strongly Hfq-regulated genes in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid23118477, year = {2013}, author = {Venus, Y and Oelmüller, R}, title = {Arabidopsis ROP1 and ROP6 influence germination time, root morphology, the formation of F-actin bundles, and symbiotic fungal interactions.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {872-886}, doi = {10.1093/mp/sss101}, pmid = {23118477}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Actins/*metabolism ; Arabidopsis/anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Calcium/metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; *Germination ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Roots/*anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Seeds/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The RHO-related GTPases ROP1 and ROP6 and the ROP1-interacting protein RIC4 in Arabidopsis are involved in various processes of F-actin dynamics, cell growth, and plant/microbe interactions. The knockout rop1 and rop1 rop6 seeds germinate earlier and are impaired in root hair development. Also root hair branching is strongly affected by manipulation of the RHO-related GTPase (ROP) levels. Furthermore, in the double knockout line rop1 rop6, no actin bundle formation can be detected. We demonstrate that these proteins are required for establishing a mutualistic interaction between the root-colonizing endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica and Arabidopsis. The fungus promotes growth of wild-type plants. rop1, rop6, rop1 rop6, ric4, 35S::ROP1, and 35S::ROP6 seedlings are impaired in the response to the fungus. Since the different root architectures have no effect on root colonization, the impaired response to P. indica should be caused by ROP-mediated events in the root cells. In wild-type roots, P. indica stimulates the formation of F-actin bundles and this does not occur in the rop1 rop6 knockout line. Furthermore, the fungus stimulates the expression of the calmodulin-binding protein gene Cbp60g, and this response is severely reduced in the rop mutants. We propose that ROP1 and ROP6 are required for F-actin bundle formation in the roots, which is required for P. indica-mediated growth promotion in Arabidopsis.}, } @article {pmid23117838, year = {2012}, author = {Murfin, KE and Chaston, J and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Visualizing bacteria in nematodes using fluorescent microscopy.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {68}, pages = {}, pmid = {23117838}, issn = {1940-087X}, support = {T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/analysis/biosynthesis/genetics ; Microscopy, Fluorescence/*methods ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Xenorhabdus/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbioses, the living together of two or more organisms, are widespread throughout all kingdoms of life. As two of the most ubiquitous organisms on earth, nematodes and bacteria form a wide array of symbiotic associations that range from beneficial to pathogenic (1-3). One such association is the mutually beneficial relationship between Xenorhabdus bacteria and Steinernema nematodes, which has emerged as a model system of symbiosis (4). Steinernema nematodes are entomopathogenic, using their bacterial symbiont to kill insects (5). For transmission between insect hosts, the bacteria colonize the intestine of the nematode's infective juvenile stage (6-8). Recently, several other nematode species have been shown to utilize bacteria to kill insects (9-13), and investigations have begun examining the interactions between the nematodes and bacteria in these systems (9). We describe a method for visualization of a bacterial symbiont within or on a nematode host, taking advantage of the optical transparency of nematodes when viewed by microscopy. The bacteria are engineered to express a fluorescent protein, allowing their visualization by fluorescence microscopy. Many plasmids are available that carry genes encoding proteins that fluoresce at different wavelengths (i.e. green or red), and conjugation of plasmids from a donor Escherichia coli strain into a recipient bacterial symbiont is successful for a broad range of bacteria. The methods described were developed to investigate the association between Steinernema carpocapsae and Xenorhabdus nematophila (14). Similar methods have been used to investigate other nematode-bacterium associations (9) (,) (15-18)and the approach therefore is generally applicable. The method allows characterization of bacterial presence and localization within nematodes at different stages of development, providing insights into the nature of the association and the process of colonization (14) (,) (16) (,) (19). Microscopic analysis reveals both colonization frequency within a population and localization of bacteria to host tissues (14) (,) (16) (,) (19-21). This is an advantage over other methods of monitoring bacteria within nematode populations, such as sonication (22)or grinding (23), which can provide average levels of colonization, but may not, for example, discriminate populations with a high frequency of low symbiont loads from populations with a low frequency of high symbiont loads. Discriminating the frequency and load of colonizing bacteria can be especially important when screening or characterizing bacterial mutants for colonization phenotypes (21) (,) (24). Indeed, fluorescence microscopy has been used in high throughput screening of bacterial mutants for defects in colonization (17) (,) (18), and is less laborious than other methods, including sonication (22) (,) (25-27)and individual nematode dissection (28) (,) (29).}, } @article {pmid23115973, year = {2012}, author = {Shi, H and Zeng, H and Qiu, D}, title = {[An IDP16 protein from Xenorhabdus bovienii depresses the immune response in Galleria mellonella].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {52}, number = {7}, pages = {885-893}, pmid = {23115973}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Hemocytes/drug effects/immunology ; Hemolymph/drug effects/immunology ; Immunity/drug effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Lepidoptera/*drug effects/enzymology/*immunology ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors ; Nematoda ; Phagocytosis/drug effects ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: A protein with insect immunodepressive activity was purified from Xenorhabdus bovienii, a bacterial symbiosis of entomopathogenic nematode. To determine the function of this protein in the pathogenesis of bacterium-nematode symbiosis, we detected the effect of this protein on immune response in Galleria mellonella.

METHODS: Proteins from extracellular extact of X. bovienii were purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation, HiTrap Q HP chromatography, HiTrap Butyl FF chromatography, and HiTrap SP HP chromatography. Intra-hemocoel injection assay followed by observation of hemolymph melanization was used for activity determination. Fluorescent microspheres and sepharose beads were used to assess the effect of purified protein on phagocytosis and encapsulation of hemocytes, respectively. The purified protein was identified by 2-D and MS anlysis. The full-length encoding gene was cloned by PCR, and expressed with pET 30a in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.

RESULTS: An immunodepressive protein was purified and designed as IDP16, which can inhibit the phenoloxidase activity, and weaken the phagocytosis and encapsulation of Galleria mellonella hemocytes. The encoding gene was then cloned and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant protein was also determined to be immunodepressive.

CONCLUSION: The IDP16 protein from Xenorhabdus bovienii can depress the immune response in insect, which may play an important role in bacteria-host interaction.}, } @article {pmid23115631, year = {2012}, author = {Dunn, SR and Thomas, MC and Nette, GW and Dove, SG}, title = {A lipidomic approach to understanding free fatty acid lipogenesis derived from dissolved inorganic carbon within cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e46801}, pmid = {23115631}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cnidaria/*metabolism/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism/physiology ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/*metabolism ; *Lipids ; *Lipogenesis ; Mass Spectrometry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis is arguably one of the most important within the marine environment in that it is integral to the formation of coral reefs. However, the regulatory processes that perpetuate this symbiosis remain unresolved. It is essential to understand these processes, if we are to elucidate the mechanisms that support growth and resource accumulation by coral host, and conversely, recently observed reduction and/or mortality of corals in response to rapid environmental change. This study specifically focused on one area of metabolic activity within the symbiosis, that of free fatty acid synthesis within both the dinoflagellate symbionts and cnidarian host. The main model system used was Aiptasia pulchella and Symbiodinium sp. in combination with aposymbiotic A. pulchella, the symbiotic coral Acropora millepora system and dinoflagellate culture. Fatty acids (FAs) were selected because of their multiple essential roles inclusive of energy storage (resource accumulation), membrane structure fluidity and cell signaling. The study addressed free FA lipogenesis by using a new method of enriched stable isotopic ((13)C) incorporation from dissolved inorganic carbon (DI(13)C) combined with HPLC-MS. FAs derived from DI(13)C aligned with a mixture of known lipogenesis pathways with the addition of some unusual FAs. After 120 hr, (13)C-enriched FA synthesis rates were attributed to only a complex integration of both n-3 and n-6 lipogenesis pathways within the dinoflagellate symbionts. Furthermore, there was no detectible evidence of symbiont derived enriched isotope fatty acids, catabolized (13)C derivatives or DI(13)C being directly utilized, in host late n-6 pathway long-chain FA lipogenesis. These findings do not align with a popular mutualistic translocation model with respect to the use of translocated symbiont photoassimilates in host long-chain FA lipogenesis, which has important connotations for linking nutrient sources with metabolite production and the dynamic regulation of this symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23113535, year = {2014}, author = {Miransari, M and Abrishamchi, A and Khoshbakht, K and Niknam, V}, title = {Plant hormones as signals in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {123-133}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2012.731684}, pmid = {23113535}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae ; *Plant Growth Regulators ; *Plants ; *Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are non-specific symbionts developing mutual and beneficial symbiosis with most terrestrial plants. Because of the obligatory nature of the symbiosis, the presence of the host plant during the onset and proceeding of symbiosis is necessary. However, AM fungal spores are able to germinate in the absence of the host plant. The fungi detect the presence of the host plant through some signal communications. Among the signal molecules, which can affect mycorrhizal symbiosis are plant hormones, which may positively or adversely affect the symbiosis. In this review article, some of the most recent findings regarding the signaling effects of plant hormones, on mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis are reviewed. This may be useful for the production of plants, which are more responsive to mycorrhizal symbiosis under stress.}, } @article {pmid23112864, year = {2012}, author = {Untergasser, A and Bijl, GJ and Liu, W and Bisseling, T and Schaart, JG and Geurts, R}, title = {One-step Agrobacterium mediated transformation of eight genes essential for rhizobium symbiotic signaling using the novel binary vector system pHUGE.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e47885}, pmid = {23112864}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*genetics ; Cloning, Molecular/methods ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Vectors/*genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; Plants/*genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified/*genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transformation, Genetic ; Transgenes ; }, abstract = {Advancement in plant research is becoming impaired by the fact that the transfer of multiple genes is difficult to achieve. Here we present a new binary vector for Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation, pHUGE-Red, in concert with a cloning strategy suited for the transfer of up to nine genes at once. This vector enables modular cloning of large DNA fragments by employing Gateway technology and contains DsRED1 as visual selection marker. Furthermore, an R/Rs inducible recombination system was included allowing subsequent removal of the selection markers in the newly generated transgenic plants. We show the successful use of pHUGE-Red by transferring eight genes essential for Medicago truncatula to establish a symbiosis with rhizobia bacteria as one 74 kb T-DNA into four non-leguminous species; strawberry, poplar, tomato and tobacco. We provide evidence that all transgenes are expressed in the root tissue of the non-legumes. Visual control during the transformation process and subsequent marker gene removal makes the pHUGE-Red vector an excellent tool for the efficient transfer of multiple genes.}, } @article {pmid23112181, year = {2012}, author = {Dorrell, RG and Howe, CJ}, title = {Functional remodeling of RNA processing in replacement chloroplasts by pathways retained from their predecessors.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {46}, pages = {18879-18884}, pmid = {23112181}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chloroplasts/genetics/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA Editing/*physiology ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Chloroplasts originate through the endosymbiotic integration of a host and a photosynthetic symbiont, with processes established within the host for the biogenesis and maintenance of the nascent chloroplast. It is thought that several photosynthetic eukaryotes have replaced their original chloroplasts with others derived from different source organisms in a process termed "serial endosymbiosis of chloroplasts." However, it is not known whether replacement chloroplasts are affected by the biogenesis and maintenance pathways established to support their predecessors. Here, we investigate whether pathways established during a previous chloroplast symbiosis function in the replacement chloroplasts of the dinoflagellate alga Karenia mikimotoi. We show that chloroplast transcripts in K. mikimotoi are subject to 3' polyuridylylation and extensive sequence editing. We confirm that these processes do not occur in free-living relatives of the replacement chloroplast lineage, but are otherwise found only in the ancestral, red algal-derived chloroplasts of dinoflagellates and their closest relatives. This indicates that these unusual RNA-processing pathways have been retained from the original symbiont lineage and made use of by the replacement chloroplast. Our results constitute an addition to current theories of chloroplast evolution in which chloroplast biogenesis may be radically remodeled by pathways remaining from previous symbioses.}, } @article {pmid23111047, year = {2012}, author = {Montero, P and Powell, R and Travis, CM and Nehler, MR}, title = {Selection, mentorship, and subsequent placement of preliminary residents without a designated categorical position in an academic general surgery residency program.}, journal = {Journal of surgical education}, volume = {69}, number = {6}, pages = {785-791}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsurg.2012.04.009}, pmid = {23111047}, issn = {1878-7452}, mesh = {Adult ; Female ; General Surgery/*education ; Humans ; *Internship and Residency ; Male ; *Mentors ; Middle Aged ; *Personnel Selection ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Academic general surgery residency programs face a reduction in clinical hours for residents at a time of expanding educational material/clinical programs. To meet these challenges, clinical staffing includes additional faculty, physician extenders, or additional residents. Categorical resident expansion is difficult but there is an ample pool of preliminary first year resident (R1) candidates every match week, and this pool is projected to increase markedly as all medical schools have increased enrollment without any real change to the demographics of available categorical residency positions. Our experience with preliminary R1s without a designated categorical position over the last 8 academic years forms the basis of this report.

METHODS: The University of Colorado-Denver general surgery residency program recruits 8-12 preliminary R1s annually. Most of these are recruited on scramble day, as we found that having individual interview dates for these positions was labor-intensive and did not yield better candidates. Preliminary R1s were mentored in a systematic fashion by the program during the year to focus on career planning. Files for preliminary R1s were reviewed for demographics, medical school of origin, original prematch career goal, successful completion of the intern year, and subsequent categorical residency placement/type.

RESULTS: We recruited 64 preliminary R1s without a designated categorical position over the past 8 years (16 females and 48 males) with an average age of 30 years old (range 25-45 years). These preliminary R1s attended medical schools throughout the United States (West 24, South 18, Central 11, Northeast 4, or International 7). The average United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 test score was 213 (range 185-252). The majority (95%) completed their preliminary year of training or left for a categorical position during the year. Most preliminary R1s (79%) were successfully placed into categorical training programs at the end of the year, with 23% ultimately receiving categorical training at our institution. Four did not complete their preliminary training year due to medical leave or unsatisfactory performance. The categorical positions preliminary R1s obtained include general surgery (n = 7, 15%), surgical subspecialties (n = 31, 65%), and nonsurgical subspecialties (n = 10, 20%). Ultimately, 14 (29%) of preliminary R1s who matched after 1 year did so in their fields of original interest.

CONCLUSIONS: A symbiotic relationship can exist between a general surgery residency program and preliminary R1s. An approach that focuses on scramble day recruitment, frequent mentorship meetings, and an active role in secondary placement results in successful placement into categorical positions for the vast majority. In that regard, we would argue that we have provided equal career mentorship to these graduated students in comparison with their medical schools of origin.}, } @article {pmid23110403, year = {2012}, author = {Junttila, S and Rudd, S}, title = {Characterization of a transcriptome from a non-model organism, Cladonia rangiferina, the grey reindeer lichen, using high-throughput next generation sequencing and EST sequence data.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {575}, pmid = {23110403}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/*genetics ; Desiccation ; *Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genes, Fungal ; *Genes, Plant ; *Genome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Lichens/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are symbiotic organisms that have a remarkable ability to survive in some of the most extreme terrestrial climates on earth. Lichens can endure frequent desiccation and wetting cycles and are able to survive in a dehydrated molecular dormant state for decades at a time. Genetic resources have been established in lichen species for the study of molecular systematics and their taxonomic classification. No lichen species have been characterised yet using genomics and the molecular mechanisms underlying the lichen symbiosis and the fundamentals of desiccation tolerance remain undescribed. We report the characterisation of a transcriptome of the grey reindeer lichen, Cladonia rangiferina, using high-throughput next-generation transcriptome sequencing and traditional Sanger EST sequencing data.

RESULTS: Altogether 243,729 high quality sequence reads were de novo assembled into 16,204 contigs and 49,587 singletons. The genome of origin for the sequences produced was predicted using Eclat with sequences derived from the axenically grown symbiotic partners used as training sequences for the classification model. 62.8% of the sequences were classified as being of fungal origin while the remaining 37.2% were predicted as being of algal origin. The assembled sequences were annotated by BLASTX comparison against a non-redundant protein sequence database with 34.4% of the sequences having a BLAST match. 29.3% of the sequences had a Gene Ontology term match and 27.9% of the sequences had a domain or structural match following an InterPro search. 60 KEGG pathways with more than 10 associated sequences were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results present a first transcriptome sequencing and de novo assembly for a lichen species and describe the ongoing molecular processes and the most active pathways in C. rangiferina. This brings a meaningful contribution to publicly available lichen sequence information. These data provide a first glimpse into the molecular nature of the lichen symbiosis and characterise the transcriptional space of this remarkable organism. These data will also enable further studies aimed at deciphering the genetic mechanisms behind lichen desiccation tolerance.}, } @article {pmid23109507, year = {2013}, author = {Kindrachuk, J and Jenssen, H and Elliott, M and Nijnik, A and Magrangeas-Janot, L and Pasupuleti, M and Thorson, L and Ma, S and Easton, DM and Bains, M and Finlay, B and Breukink, EJ and Georg-Sahl, H and Hancock, RE}, title = {Manipulation of innate immunity by a bacterial secreted peptide: lantibiotic nisin Z is selectively immunomodulatory.}, journal = {Innate immunity}, volume = {19}, number = {3}, pages = {315-327}, doi = {10.1177/1753425912461456}, pmid = {23109507}, issn = {1753-4267}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*administration & dosage ; Bacterial Load/radiation effects ; Cell Line ; Chemokines/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/*immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate/drug effects ; Immunomodulation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nisin/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives ; Salmonella enterica/*immunology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus/*immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Innate immunity is triggered by a variety of bacterial molecules, resulting in both protective and potentially harmful pro-inflammatory responses. Further, innate immunity also provides a mechanism for the maintenance of homeostasis between the host immune system and symbiotic or non-pathogenic microorganisms. However, the bacterial factors that mediate these protective effects have been incompletely defined. Here, it was demonstrated that the lantiobiotic nisin Z is able to modulate host immune responses and mediate protective host immunity. Nisin Z induced the secretion of the chemokines MCP-1, IL-8 and Gro-α, and significantly reduced TNF-α induction in response to bacterial LPS in human PBMC. The results correlated with the ability of nisin Z to confer protection against both the Gram-positive organism Staphylococcus aureus, and the Gram-negatives Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium and Escherichia coli in murine challenge models. Mechanistic studies revealed that nisin Z modulates host immunity through similar mechanisms as natural host defense peptides, engaging multiple signal transduction pathways and growth factor receptors. The results presented herein demonstrate that, in addition to nisin Z, other bacterial cationic peptides and, in particular, the lantibiotics, could represent a new class of secreted bacterial molecule with immunomodulatory activities.}, } @article {pmid23108717, year = {2013}, author = {Pedone-Bonfim, MV and Lins, MA and Coelho, IR and Santana, AS and Silva, FS and Maia, LC}, title = {Mycorrhizal technology and phosphorus in the production of primary and secondary metabolites in cebil (Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan) seedlings.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {93}, number = {6}, pages = {1479-1484}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.5919}, pmid = {23108717}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {*Carbohydrate Metabolism/drug effects ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae ; Phenols/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Polyphenols/*metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Seedlings/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tannins/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase the growth and concentration of primary and secondary metabolites in several plant species. Cebil (Anadenanthera colubrina), a medicinal plant, benefits from mycorrhizal association, but the influence of the symbiosis on the production of its bioactive compounds is unknown. In this study the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus (P) supply on the production of primary and secondary metabolites in cebil seedlings was determined.

RESULTS: The production of proteins and carbohydrates in terms of both concentration and content was enhanced by inoculation with AMF, but this benefit was mitigated at higher levels of P (30 and 50 mg dm(-3) soil). The concentration of phenols, flavonoids and total tannins was favoured by mycorrhizal inoculation even at the highest levels of P (30 and 50 mg dm(-3) soil).

CONCLUSION: The production of primary and secondary metabolites in leaves of A. colubrina can be maximised by mycorrhization, with the benefit depending on supplementation of soil phosphate.}, } @article {pmid23108206, year = {2013}, author = {Sethi, A and Slack, JM and Kovaleva, ES and Buchman, GW and Scharf, ME}, title = {Lignin-associated metagene expression in a lignocellulose-digesting termite.}, journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {91-101}, doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.10.001}, pmid = {23108206}, issn = {1879-0240}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Diet ; Gene Library ; Genes, Insect ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Isoptera/*enzymology/genetics ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Lignin is a component of plant biomass that presents a significant obstacle to biofuel production. It is composed of a highly stable phenylpropanoid matrix that upon degradation, releases toxic metabolites. Termites have specialized digestive systems that overcome the lignin barrier in wood lignocellulose to efficiently release fermentable simple sugars; however, how termites specifically degrade lignin and tolerate its toxic byproducts remains unknown. Here, using the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and its symbiotic (protozoan) gut fauna as a model system, we used high throughput Roche 454-titanium pyrosequencing and proteomics approaches to (i) experimentally compare the effects of diets containing varying degrees of lignin complexity on host-symbiont digestome composition, (ii) deeply sample host and symbiont lignocellulase diversity, and (iii) identify promising lignocellulase candidates for functional characterization. In addition to revealing over 9500 differentially expressed transcripts related to a wide range of physiological processes, our findings reveal two detoxification enzyme families not generally considered in connection with lignocellulose digestion: aldo-keto reductases and catalases. Recombinant versions of two host enzymes from these enzyme families, which apparently play no roles in cellulose or hemicellulose digestion, significantly enhance lignocellulose saccharification by cocktails of host and symbiont cellulases. These hypothesis-driven results provide important new insights into (i) dietary lignin as a xenobiotic challenge, (ii) the complex mechanisms used by termites to cope with their lignin-rich diets, and (iii) novel lignin-targeted enzymatic approaches to enhance biofuel and biomaterial production.}, } @article {pmid23107774, year = {2013}, author = {Hamidou Soumana, I and Berthier, D and Tchicaya, B and Thevenon, S and Njiokou, F and Cuny, G and Geiger, A}, title = {Population dynamics of Glossina palpalis gambiensis symbionts, Sodalis glossinidius, and Wigglesworthia glossinidia, throughout host-fly development.}, journal = {Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {41-48}, doi = {10.1016/j.meegid.2012.10.003}, pmid = {23107774}, issn = {1567-7257}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Trypanosomiasis, African ; Tsetse Flies/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae), the vector of trypanosomes causing human and animal trypanosomiasis, harbors symbiotic microorganisms including the primary symbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidia, involved in the fly's nutrition and fertility, and the secondary symbiont Sodalis glossinidius, involved in the trypanosome establishment in the fly's midgut. Both symbionts are maternally transmitted to the intrauterine progeny through the fly's milk gland secretions. In this study, we investigated the population dynamics of these symbionts during fly development. Wigglesworthia and Sodalis densities were estimated using quantitative PCR performed on Glossina palpalis gambiensis at different developmental stages. The results showed that the density of the primary Wigglesworthia symbiont was higher than that of Sodalis for all host developmental stages. Sodalis densities remained constant in pupae, but increased significantly in adult flies. The opposite situation was observed for Wigglesworthia, whose density increased in pupae and remained constant during the female adult stage. Moreover, Wigglesworthia density increased significantly during the transition from the pupal to the teneral stage, while mating had a contradictory effect depending on the age of the fly. Finally, tsetse fly colonization by both symbionts appears as a continuous and adaptive process throughout the insect's development. Last, the study demonstrated both symbionts of G. p. gambiensis, the vector of the chronic form of human African trypanosomiasis, to be permanent inhabitants of the colony flies throughout their life span. This was expected for the primary symbiont, Wigglesworthia, but not necessarily for the secondary symbiont, S. glossinidius, whose permanent presence is not required for the fly's survival. This result is of importance as Sodalis could be involved in the tsetse fly vector competence and may constitute a target in the frame of sleeping sickness fighting strategies.}, } @article {pmid23106190, year = {2013}, author = {Ramsay, JP and Major, AS and Komarovsky, VM and Sullivan, JT and Dy, RL and Hynes, MF and Salmond, GP and Ronson, CW}, title = {A widely conserved molecular switch controls quorum sensing and symbiosis island transfer in Mesorhizobium loti through expression of a novel antiactivator.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.12079}, pmid = {23106190}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {BB/F009666/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/H013261/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Conjugation, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genomic Islands ; Homoserine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Lotus/metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Quorum Sensing/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; *Transcriptional Activation/drug effects ; }, abstract = {ICEMlSym(R7A) of Mesorhizobium loti is an integrative and conjugative element (ICE) that confers the ability to form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Lotus species. Horizontal transfer is activated by TraR and N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL), which can stimulate ICE excision in 100% of cells. However, in wild-type cultures, the ICE is excised at low frequency. Here we show that QseM, a widely conserved ICE-encoded protein, is an antiactivator of TraR. Mutation of qseM resulted in TraR-dependent activation of AHL production and excision, but did not affect transcription of traR. QseM and TraR directly interacted in a bacterial two-hybrid assay in the presence of AHL. qseM expression was repressed by a DNA-binding protein QseC, which also activated qseC expression from a leaderless transcript. QseC differentially bound two adjacent operator sites, the lower affinity of which overlapped the -35 regions of the divergent qseC-qseM promoters. QseC homologues were identified on ICEs, TraR/TraM-regulated plasmids and restriction-modification cassettes, suggesting a conserved mode of regulation. Six QseC variants with distinct operators were identified that showed evidence of reassortment between mobile elements. We propose that QseC and QseM comprise a bimodal switch that restricts quorum sensing and ICEMlSym(R7A) transfer to a small proportion of cells in the population.}, } @article {pmid23105056, year = {2012}, author = {Servín-Garcidueñas, LE and Rogel, MA and Ormeño-Orrillo, E and Delgado-Salinas, A and Martínez-Romero, J and Sánchez, F and Martínez-Romero, E}, title = {Genome sequence of Rhizobium sp. strain CCGE510, a symbiont isolated from nodules of the endangered wild bean Phaseolus albescens.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {22}, pages = {6310-6311}, pmid = {23105056}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Endangered Species ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phaseolus/classification/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We present the genome sequence of Rhizobium sp. strain CCGE510, a nitrogen fixing bacterium taxonomically affiliated with the R. leguminosarum-R. etli group, isolated from wild Phaseolus albescens nodules grown in native pine forests in western Mexico. P. albescens is an endangered bean species phylogenetically related to P. vulgaris. In spite of the close host relatedness, Rhizobium sp. CCGE510 does not establish an efficient symbiosis with P. vulgaris. This is the first genome of a Rhizobium symbiont from a Phaseolus species other than P. vulgaris, and it will provide valuable new insights about symbiont-host specificity.}, } @article {pmid23103862, year = {2012}, author = {Young, GR and Eksmond, U and Salcedo, R and Alexopoulou, L and Stoye, JP and Kassiotis, G}, title = {Resurrection of endogenous retroviruses in antibody-deficient mice.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {491}, number = {7426}, pages = {774-778}, pmid = {23103862}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {U.1175.02.006.00007(81330)/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_U117512710/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; U117512710/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; U117581330/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; U.1175.02.005.00005(60891)/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; MC_U117581330/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/*biosynthesis/immunology ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; Endogenous Retroviruses/genetics/growth & development/immunology/*physiology ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host/*immunology ; Leukemia/virology ; Leukemia Virus, Murine/genetics/growth & development/immunology/physiology ; Lymphoma/virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/deficiency/genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Viremia/immunology/virology ; *Virus Activation ; }, abstract = {The mammalian host has developed a long-standing symbiotic relationship with a considerable number of microbial species. These include the microbiota on environmental surfaces, such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and also endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), comprising a substantial fraction of the mammalian genome. The long-term consequences for the host of interactions with these microbial species can range from mutualism to parasitism and are not always completely understood. The potential effect of one microbial symbiont on another is even less clear. Here we study the control of ERVs in the commonly used C57BL/6 (B6) mouse strain, which lacks endogenous murine leukaemia viruses (MLVs) able to replicate in murine cells. We demonstrate the spontaneous emergence of fully infectious ecotropic MLV in B6 mice with a range of distinct immune deficiencies affecting antibody production. These recombinant retroviruses establish infection of immunodeficient mouse colonies, and ultimately result in retrovirus-induced lymphomas. Notably, ERV activation in immunodeficient mice is prevented in husbandry conditions associated with reduced or absent intestinal microbiota. Our results shed light onto a previously unappreciated role for immunity in the control of ERVs and provide a potential mechanistic link between immune activation by microbial triggers and a range of pathologies associated with ERVs, including cancer.}, } @article {pmid23102876, year = {2013}, author = {Aroca, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Zamarreño, AM and Paz, JA and García-Mina, JM and Pozo, MJ and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis influences strigolactone production under salinity and alleviates salt stress in lettuce plants.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {170}, number = {1}, pages = {47-55}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2012.08.020}, pmid = {23102876}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/genetics/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Lettuce/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Transpiration ; Salinity ; Seeds/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can alleviate salt stress in plants. However the intimate mechanisms involved, as well as the effect of salinity on the production of signalling molecules associated to the host plant-AM fungus interaction remains largely unknown. In the present work, we have investigated the effects of salinity on lettuce plant performance and production of strigolactones, and assessed its influence on mycorrhizal root colonization. Three different salt concentrations were applied to mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, and their effects, over time, analyzed. Plant biomass, stomatal conductance, efficiency of photosystem II, as well as ABA content and strigolactone production were assessed. The expression of ABA biosynthesis genes was also analyzed. AM plants showed improved growth rates and a better performance of physiological parameters such as stomatal conductance and efficiency of photosystem II than non-mycorrhizal plants under salt stress since very early stages - 3 weeks - of plant colonization. Moreover, ABA levels were lower in those plants, suggesting that they were less stressed than non-colonized plants. On the other hand, we show that both AM symbiosis and salinity influence strigolactone production, although in a different way in AM and non-AM plants. The results suggest that AM symbiosis alleviates salt stress by altering the hormonal profiles and affecting plant physiology in the host plant. Moreover, a correlation between strigolactone production, ABA content, AM root colonization and salinity level is shown. We propose here that under these unfavourable conditions, plants increase strigolactone production in order to promote symbiosis establishment to cope with salt stress.}, } @article {pmid23102714, year = {2013}, author = {Schneider, J and Stürmer, SL and Guilherme, LR and de Souza Moreira, FM and Soares, CR}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in arsenic-contaminated areas in Brazil.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {262}, number = {}, pages = {1105-1115}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.09.063}, pmid = {23102714}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Arsenic/*chemistry ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Brazil ; Discriminant Analysis ; Ecology ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Mining ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rain ; Rhizosphere ; Soil ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous and establish important symbiotic relationships with the majority of the plants, even in soils contaminated with arsenic (As). In order to better understand the ecological relationships of these fungi with excess As in soils and their effects on plants in tropical conditions, occurrence and diversity of AMF were evaluated in areas affected by gold mining activity in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Soils of four areas with different As concentrations (mg dm(-3)) were sampled: reference Area (10); B1 (subsuperficial layer) (396); barren material (573), and mine waste (1046). Soil sampling was carried out in rainy and dry seasons, including six composite samples per area (n = 24). AMF occurred widespread in all areas, being influenced by As concentrations and sampling periods. A total of 23 species were identified, belonging to the following genus: Acaulospora (10 species), Scutellospora (4 species), Racocetra (3 species), Glomus (4 species), Gigaspora (1 species) and Paraglomus (1 species). The most frequent species occurring in all areas were Paraglomus occultum, Acaulospora morrowiae and Glomus clarum. The predominance of these species indicates their high tolerance to excess As. Although arsenic contamination reduced AMF species richness, presence of host plants tended to counterbalance this reduction.}, } @article {pmid23101402, year = {2012}, author = {Savinov, AB}, title = {[Autocenosis and democenosis as symbiotic systems and biological notions].}, journal = {Zhurnal obshchei biologii}, volume = {73}, number = {4}, pages = {284-301}, pmid = {23101402}, issn = {0044-4596}, mesh = {Animals ; *Models, Biological ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Contemporary data and concepts about the role of symbiogenesis in organization, functioning, and evolution of biosystems at different organizational levels allow to contemplate the forming of a symbiotic approach to solving theoretical and practical problems in biology. According to the author's concept, at the organismic level, the basic unit should be considered as not being an individual, but autocenosis, i.e., a self-regulating system of "host-symbionts" type. Then, democenosis, being a system of autocenoses, would correspond to the population level, and speciocenosis, being a system of democenoses, would correspond to the species level. Within democenoses, not individuals, but autocenoses are subject to natural selection. Different links in trophic chains and webs are not "individuals" or "populations" but auto- and democenoses. However, symbiotic approach does not leave out the population paradigm and should develop in parallel with it. Novel concepts in the field of symbiology are indicative of this point of view.}, } @article {pmid23100025, year = {2012}, author = {Okude, M and Matsuo, J and Nakamura, S and Kawaguchi, K and Hayashi, Y and Sakai, H and Yoshida, M and Takahashi, K and Yamaguchi, H}, title = {Environmental chlamydiae alter the growth speed and motility of host acanthamoebae.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {423-429}, pmid = {23100025}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Cell Movement ; Chlamydiales/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Doxycycline/pharmacology ; *Phagocytosis ; *Pinocytosis ; Rifampin/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between living beings is an important driver of evolutionary novelty and ecological diversity; however, understanding the mechanisms underlying obligate mutualism remains a significant challenge. Regarding this, we have previously isolated two different Acanthamoeba strains harboring endosymbiotic bacteria, Protochlamydia (R18 symbiotic amoebae: R18WT) or Neochlamydia (S13 symbiotic amoebae; S13WT). In this study, we treated the symbiotic amoebae R18WT and S13WT with doxycycline (DOX) and rifampicin (RFP), respectively, to establish the aposymbiotic amoebae R18DOX and S13RFP, respectively. Subsequently, we compared the growth speed, motility, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and morphology of the symbiotic and aposymbiotic amoebae. The growth speed of R18DOX was decreased, although that of S13RFP was increased. A marked change in motility was observed only for R18DOX amoebae. There was no difference in phagocytic and pinocytic activities between the symbiotic and aposymbiotic amoebae. Meanwhile, we observed a significant change in the phalloidin staining pattern and morphological changes in R18DOX (but not S13RFP) aposymbiotic amoebae, indicating a change in actin accumulation upon removal of the Protochlamydia. Infection of C3 (a reference strain) or S13RFP amoebae with Protochlamydia had a harmful effect on the host amoebae, but R18DOX amoebae re-infected with Protochlamydia showed recovery in both growth speed and motility. Taken together, we conclude that endosymbiont environmental chlamydiae alter the growth speed and/or motility of their host Acanthamoeba, possibly implying an close mutual relationship between amoebae and environmental chlamydiae.}, } @article {pmid23099430, year = {2013}, author = {Bianco, L and Angelini, J and Fabra, A and Malpassi, R}, title = {Diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of indigenous rhizobia-nodulating Adesmia bicolor in soils of Central Argentina.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {66}, number = {2}, pages = {174-184}, pmid = {23099430}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Argentina ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Native perennial legume Adesmia bicolor reveals characteristics that are key to securing persistence under grazing. Literature on the diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of indigenous rhizobia-nodulating A. bicolor in central Argentina is limited. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine phenotypic and genotypic variability as well as biological N-fixation effectiveness in rhizobia isolated from A. bicolor nodules. To this end, repetitive genomic regions were analyzed using ERIC primers. In the greenhouse, plants were grown under a (i) N-fertilized treatment, (ii) N-free control treatment, and (iii) rhizobia inoculation treatment. Dry weight and N-content were analyzed. All isolates belonged to Rhizobium genus and showed high symbiotic effectiveness. The N-content/subterranean N-content ratio in aerial and subterranean parts of inoculated plants was higher than that observed in N-fertilized plants during the vegetative stage. Results from this study demonstrate that symbiosis between native rhizobial strains and A. bicolor is very effective.}, } @article {pmid23095257, year = {2012}, author = {Merelli, I and Viti, F and Milanesi, L}, title = {IBDsite: a Galaxy-interacting, integrative database for supporting inflammatory bowel disease high throughput data analysis.}, journal = {BMC bioinformatics}, volume = {13 Suppl 14}, number = {Suppl 14}, pages = {S5}, pmid = {23095257}, issn = {1471-2105}, mesh = {Colon/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; *Databases, Genetic ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*genetics/immunology/microbiology/*pathology ; Internet ; Intestine, Small/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Metagenome ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Software ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) refer to a group of inflammatory conditions concerning colon and small intestine, which cause socially uncomfortable symptoms and often are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. IBD are complex disorders, which rely on genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, deregulation of the immune system, and host relationship with commensal microbiota. The complexity of these pathologies makes difficult to clearly understand the mechanisms of their onset. Therefore, the study of IBD must be faced exploiting an integrated and multilevel approach, ranging from genes, transcripts and proteins to pathways altered in affected tissues, and carefully considering their regulatory mechanisms, which may intervene in the pathology onset. It is also crucial to have a knowledge base about the symbiotic bacteria that are hosted in the human gut. To date, much data exist regarding IBD and human commensal bacteria, but this information is sparse in literature and no free resource provides a homogeneously and rationally integrated view of biomolecular data related to these pathologies.

METHODS: Human genes altered in IBD have been collected from literature, paying particular interest for the immune system alterations prompted by the interaction with the gut microbiome. This process has been performed manually to assure the reliability of collected data. Heterogeneous metadata from different sources have been automatically formatted and integrated in order to enrich information about these altered genes. A user-friendly web interface has been created for easy access to structured data. Tools such as gene clustering coefficients, all-pairs shortest paths and pathway lengths calculation have been developed to provide data analysis support. Moreover, the implemented resource is compliant to the Galaxy framework, allowing the collected data to be exploited in the context of high throughput bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTS: To fill the lack of a reference resource for 'omics' science analysis in the context of IBD, we developed the IBDsite (available at http://www.itb.cnr.it/ibd), a disease-oriented platform, which collects data related to biomolecular mechanisms involved in the IBD onset. The resource provides a section devoted to human genes identified as altered in IBD, which can be queried at different biomolecular levels and visualised in gene-centred report pages. Furthermore, the system presents information related to the gut microbiota involved in IBD affected patients. The IBDsite is compliant with all Galaxy installations (in particular, it can be accessed from our custom version of Galaxy, http://www.itb.cnr.it/galaxy), in order to facilitate high-throughput data integration and to enable evaluations of the genomic basis of these diseases, complementing the tools embedded in the IBDsite.

CONCLUSIONS: Lots of sparse data exist concerning IBD studies, but no on-line resource homogeneously and rationally integrate and collect them. The IBDsite is an attempt to group available information regarding human genes and microbial aspects related to IBD, by means of a multilevel mining tool. Moreover, it constitutes a knowledge base to filter, annotate and understand new experimental data in order to formulate new scientific hypotheses, thanks to the possibility of integrating genomics aspects by employing the Galaxy framework. Discussed use-cases demonstrate that the developed system is useful to infer not trivial knowledge from the existing widespread data or from novel experiments.}, } @article {pmid23095088, year = {2012}, author = {Theodore, CM and King, JB and You, J and Cichewicz, RH}, title = {Production of cytotoxic glidobactins/luminmycins by Photorhabdus asymbiotica in liquid media and live crickets.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {75}, number = {11}, pages = {2007-2011}, pmid = {23095088}, issn = {1520-6025}, support = {R01 AI085161/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI101487/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21AI1101487./AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Gryllidae/*microbiology ; Humans ; Oligopeptides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Photorhabdus/*chemistry/genetics ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Photorhabdus asymbiotica engages in a two-part life cycle that requires adaptation to both symbiotic and pathogenic phases. The genome of P. asymbiotica contains several gene clusters, which are predicted to be involved in the biosynthesis of unique secondary metabolites that are hypothesized to enhance the bacterium's pathogenic capabilities. However, recent reports on Photorhabdus secondary metabolite production have indicated that many of its genes are silent under laboratory culture conditions. Using a circumscribed panel of media and alternative fermentation conditions, we have successfully achieved the production of a series of new and known glidobactin/luminmycin derivatives from P. asymbiotica including glidobactin A (1), luminmycin A (2), and luminmycin D (3). These compounds were also obtained upon infection of live crickets with the bacterium. Luminmycin D showed cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cells (IC50 of 0.11 μM), as well as proteasome inhibition (IC50 of 0.38 μM).}, } @article {pmid23094600, year = {2012}, author = {Widmer, I and Dal Grande, F and Excoffier, L and Holderegger, R and Keller, C and Mikryukov, VS and Scheidegger, C}, title = {European phylogeography of the epiphytic lichen fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and its green algal symbiont.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {23}, pages = {5827-5844}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12051}, pmid = {23094600}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Alleles ; Ascomycota/*genetics/physiology ; Balkan Peninsula ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/physiology ; Europe ; Genetic Variation ; Italy ; Lichens/*microbiology ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Models, Genetic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phylogeography ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In lichen symbiosis, fungal and algal partners form close associations, often codispersed by vegetative propagules. Due to the particular interdependence, processes such as colonization, dispersal or genetic drift are expected to result in congruent patterns of genetic structure in the symbionts. To study the population structure of an obligate symbiotic system in Europe, we genotyped the fungal and algal symbionts of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria at eight and seven microsatellite loci, respectively, and analysed about 4300 L. pulmonaria thalli from 142 populations from the species' European distribution range. Based on a centroid approach, which localizes centres of genetic differentiation with a high frequency of geographically restricted alleles, we identified the South Italy-Balkan region as the primary glacial refugial area of the lichen symbiosis. Procrustean rotation analysis and a distance congruence test between the fungal and algal population graphs indicated general concordance between the phylogeographies of the symbionts. The incongruent patterns found in areas of postglacial recolonization may show the presence of an additional refugial area for the fungal symbiont, and the impact that horizontal photobiont transmission and different mutation rates of the symbionts have on their genotypic associations at a continental scale.}, } @article {pmid23091436, year = {2012}, author = {Hwang, JS and Im, CR and Im, SH}, title = {Immune disorders and its correlation with gut microbiome.}, journal = {Immune network}, volume = {12}, number = {4}, pages = {129-138}, pmid = {23091436}, issn = {2092-6685}, abstract = {Allergic disorders such as atopic dermatitis and asthma are common hyper-immune disorders in industrialized countries. Along with genetic association, environmental factors and gut microbiota have been suggested as major triggering factors for the development of atopic dermatitis. Numerous studies support the association of hygiene hypothesis in allergic immune disorders that a lack of early childhood exposure to diverse microorganism increases susceptibility to allergic diseases. Among the symbiotic microorganisms (e.g. gut flora or probiotics), probiotics confer health benefits through multiple action mechanisms including modification of immune response in gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Although many human clinical trials and mouse studies demonstrated the beneficial effects of probiotics in diverse immune disorders, this effect is strain specific and needs to apply specific probiotics for specific allergic diseases. Herein, we briefly review the diverse functions and regulation mechanisms of probiotics in diverse disorders.}, } @article {pmid23091033, year = {2012}, author = {Beinart, RA and Sanders, JG and Faure, B and Sylva, SP and Lee, RW and Becker, EL and Gartman, A and Luther, GW and Seewald, JS and Fisher, CR and Girguis, PR}, title = {Evidence for the role of endosymbionts in regional-scale habitat partitioning by hydrothermal vent symbioses.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {47}, pages = {E3241-50}, pmid = {23091033}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; Carbon Isotopes ; *Ecosystem ; Electrochemical Techniques ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Epsilonproteobacteria/*genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Gastropoda/*genetics/*microbiology ; Geography ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Hydrothermal Vents/*microbiology ; Isotope Labeling ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pacific Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Protein Subunits/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are populated by dense communities of animals that form symbiotic associations with chemolithoautotrophic bacteria. To date, our understanding of which factors govern the distribution of host/symbiont associations (or holobionts) in nature is limited, although host physiology often is invoked. In general, the role that symbionts play in habitat utilization by vent holobionts has not been thoroughly addressed. Here we present evidence for symbiont-influenced, regional-scale niche partitioning among symbiotic gastropods (genus Alviniconcha) in the Lau Basin. We extensively surveyed Alviniconcha holobionts from four vent fields using quantitative molecular approaches, coupled to characterization of high-temperature and diffuse vent-fluid composition using gastight samplers and in situ electrochemical analyses, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses exposed cryptic host and symbiont diversity, revealing three distinct host types and three different symbiont phylotypes (one ε-proteobacteria and two γ-proteobacteria) that formed specific associations with one another. Strikingly, we observed that holobionts with ε-proteobacterial symbionts were dominant at the northern fields, whereas holobionts with γ-proteobacterial symbionts were dominant in the southern fields. This pattern of distribution corresponds to differences in the vent geochemistry that result from deep subsurface geological and geothermal processes. We posit that the symbionts, likely through differences in chemolithoautotrophic metabolism, influence niche utilization among these holobionts. The data presented here represent evidence linking symbiont type to habitat partitioning among the chemosynthetic symbioses at hydrothermal vents and illustrate the coupling between subsurface geothermal processes and niche availability.}, } @article {pmid23087675, year = {2012}, author = {King, AJ and Farrer, EC and Suding, KN and Schmidt, SK}, title = {Co-occurrence patterns of plants and soil bacteria in the high-alpine subnival zone track environmental harshness.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {347}, pmid = {23087675}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Plants and soil microorganisms interact to play a central role in ecosystem functioning. To determine the potential importance of biotic interactions in shaping the distributions of these organisms in a high-alpine subnival landscape, we examine co-occurrence patterns between plant species and bulk soil bacteria abundances. In this context, a co-occurrence relationship reflects a combination of several assembly processes: that both parties can disperse to the site, that they can survive the abiotic environmental conditions, and that interactions between the biota either facilitate survival or allow for coexistence. Across the entire landscape, 31% of the bacterial sequences in this dataset were significantly correlated to the abundance distribution of one or more plant species. These sequences fell into 14 clades, 6 of which are related to bacteria that are known to form symbioses with plants in other systems. Abundant plant species were more likely to have significant as well as stronger correlations with bacteria and these patterns were more prevalent in lower altitude sites. Conversely, correlations between plant species abundances and bacterial relative abundances were less frequent in sites near the snowline. Thus, plant-bacteria associations became more common as environmental conditions became less harsh and plants became more abundant. This pattern in co-occurrence strength and frequency across the subnival landscape suggests that plant-bacteria interactions are important for the success of life, both below- and above-ground, in an extreme environment.}, } @article {pmid23087539, year = {2012}, author = {White, JF and Crawford, H and Torres, MS and Mattera, R and Irizarry, I and Bergen, M}, title = {A proposed mechanism for nitrogen acquisition by grass seedlings through oxidation of symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {57}, number = {3}, pages = {161-171}, pmid = {23087539}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {In this paper we propose and provide evidence for a mechanism, oxidative nitrogen scavenging (ONS), whereby seedlings of some grass species may extract nitrogen from symbiotic diazotrophic bacteria through oxidation by plant-secreted reactive oxygen species (ROS). Experiments on this proposed mechanism employ tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae) seedlings to elucidate features of the oxidative mechanism. We employed 15N(2) gas assimilation experiments to demonstrate nitrogen fixation, direct microscopic visualization of bacteria on seedling surfaces to visualize the bacterial oxidation process, reactive oxygen probes to test for the presence of H(2)O(2) and cultural experiments to assess conditions under which H(2)O(2) is secreted by seedlings. We also made surveys of the seedlings of several grass species to assess the distribution of the phenomenon of microbial oxidation in the Poaceae. Key elements of the proposed mechanism for nitrogen acquisition in seedlings include: 1) diazotrophic bacteria are vectored on or within seeds; 2) at seed germination bacteria colonize seedling roots and shoots; 3) seedling tissues secrete ROS onto bacteria; 4) bacterial cell walls, membranes, nucleic acids, proteins and other biological molecules are oxidized; 5) nitrates and/or smaller fragments of organic nitrogen-containing molecules resulting from oxidation may be absorbed by seedling tissues and larger peptide fragments may be further processed by secreted or cell wall plant proteases until they are small enough for transport into cells. Hydrogen peroxide secretion from seedling roots and bacterial oxidation was observed in several species in subfamily Pooideae where seeds possessed adherent paleas and lemmas, but was not seen in grasses that lacked this feature or long-cultivated crop species.}, } @article {pmid23086393, year = {2012}, author = {Okabe, K and Masuya, H and Kanzaki, N and Taki, H}, title = {Regional collapse of symbiotic specificity between lucanid beetles and canestriniid mites.}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {99}, number = {11}, pages = {959-965}, pmid = {23086393}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*parasitology ; Ecosystem ; *Host Specificity ; Japan ; Mites/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The intensity of interspecific interactions between hosts and symbionts varies among populations of each organism because of differences in the biotic and abiotic environment. We found geographic mosaics in associations between lucanid beetles (Dorcus rectus and Dorcus striatipennis) and symbiotic mites (Haitlingeria sp. and Sandrophela sp., respectively) that were caused by the collapse of host specificity in the northern part of Japan. Haitlingeria sp. was only collected from the surface of the exoskeleton of D. rectus in south and central Japan. Sandrophela sp. showed host specificity in southern to central Japan but was found on both beetle species in areas where Haitlingeria sp. was not found. Because Haitlingeria sp. was able to reproduce on D. rectus collected from Haitlingeria-free regions and no significant differences were observed in average temperature between the host-specific and nonspecific regions bordering on each other, we suggest that the expansion of Haitlingeria sp. in the north has been limited for unknown reasons. When both mites were placed together on D. rectus, only Haitlingeria sp. reproduced, probably because it killed Sandrophela sp., especially juveniles. Thus, we conclude that Sandrophela sp. has expanded its host use to include D. rectus in areas where Haitlingeria sp. is absent. We hypothesise that false host specificity in the canestriniids has been maintained by habitat isolation and/or aggressive behaviour toward competitors. We suggest that host-specific canestriniids provide benefits to hosts that do not develop countermeasures to exclude micro- or macroparasites from their surfaces.}, } @article {pmid23086281, year = {2012}, author = {Murugappan, R and Karthikeyan, M and Aravinth, A and Alamelu, M}, title = {Siderophore-mediated iron uptake promotes yeast-bacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {Applied biochemistry and biotechnology}, volume = {168}, number = {8}, pages = {2170-2183}, doi = {10.1007/s12010-012-9926-y}, pmid = {23086281}, issn = {1559-0291}, mesh = {Ascomycota/chemistry/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Bacteria ; Biological Transport ; Iron/*metabolism ; Photolysis ; Probiotics ; RNA, Fungal/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Siderophores/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the present study, siderophore produced by the marine yeast Aureobasidium pullulans was characterized as hydroxamate by chemical and bioassays. The hydroxamate assignment was supported by the appearance of peaks at 1,647.21-1,625.99 cm(-1) and at 1,435.04 cm(-1) in the infrared spectrum. The purified siderophore exhibited specific growth-promoting activity under iron-limited conditions for siderophore auxotrophic probiotic bacteria. Cross-utilization of siderophore indicates a symbiotic relationship between the yeast A. pullulans and the selected probiotic bacterial strains. Statistical optimization of medium components for improved siderophore production in A. pullulans was depicted by response surface methodology. The shift in UV-Vis spectroscopy indicates the photoreactive property and subsequent oxidative cleavage of purified siderophore on exposure to sunlight.}, } @article {pmid23085046, year = {2012}, author = {Ibrahim, M and Anishetty, S}, title = {A meta-metabolome network of carbohydrate metabolism: interactions between gut microbiota and host.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {428}, number = {2}, pages = {278-284}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.10.045}, pmid = {23085046}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/enzymology/*metabolism ; Bacteroidetes/enzymology/*metabolism ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metabolome ; *Metagenome ; Obesity/metabolism/microbiology ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System/metabolism ; }, abstract = {With the current knowledge of the multitude of microbes that inhabit the human body, it is increasingly clear that they constitute an integral component of the host. The gut microbiota community is principally involved in the metabolism of dietary constituents such as carbohydrates which account for majority of the energy intake from diet. Diet has gained an important role in shaping the composition of gut inhabitants. The quantity and type of food consumed is recognized as a causal factor for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Analysis of host-microbe interactions can thus contribute to the understanding of such metabolic disorders. In this study, data from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Carbohydrate Active EnZYmes Database was utilized as a starting point. Enzyme information from the host Homo sapiens coupled with details of the three predominant phyla of gut bacteria, namely Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were used in the creation of a comprehensive metabolic network, which we refer to as 'meta-metabolome'. This 'meta-metabolome' provides a perspective of the degree to which microbes influence carbohydrate metabolism, in conjunction with host specific enzymes. Analysis of reactions in the network reveals the amplification of monosaccharide content brought about by microbial enzyme activity. The framework outlined in this study provides a holistic approach to assess host-microbe symbiosis. It also provides us with a means of analyzing how diet can be modulated to provide beneficial effects to the host or how probiotics can potentially be used to relieve certain metabolic disorders.}, } @article {pmid23084933, year = {2012}, author = {Seipke, RF and Grüschow, S and Goss, RJ and Hutchings, MI}, title = {Isolating antifungals from fungus-growing ant symbionts using a genome-guided chemistry approach.}, journal = {Methods in enzymology}, volume = {517}, number = {}, pages = {47-70}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-404634-4.00003-6}, pmid = {23084933}, issn = {1557-7988}, support = {G0801721/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antifungal Agents/chemistry/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Antimycin A/analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Ants/*microbiology ; Biological Assay/*methods ; Candicidin/biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Candida albicans/drug effects ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Cloning, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics/*methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multigene Family ; Nystatin/biosynthesis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Streptomyces/chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We describe methods used to isolate and identify antifungal compounds from actinomycete strains associated with the leaf-cutter ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. These ants use antibiotics produced by symbiotic actinomycete bacteria to protect themselves and their fungal cultivar against bacterial and fungal infections. The fungal cultivar serves as the sole food source for the ant colony, which can number up to tens of thousands of individuals. We describe how we isolate bacteria from leaf-cutter ants collected in Trinidad and analyze the antifungal compounds made by two of these strains (Pseudonocardia and Streptomyces spp.), using a combination of genome analysis, mutagenesis, and chemical isolation. These methods should be generalizable to a wide variety of insect-symbiont situations. Although more time consuming than traditional activity-guided fractionation methods, this approach provides a powerful technique for unlocking the complete biosynthetic potential of individual strains and for avoiding the problems of rediscovery of known compounds. We describe the discovery of a novel nystatin compound, named nystatin P1, and identification of the biosynthetic pathway for antimycins, compounds that were first described more than 60 years ago. We also report that disruption of two known antifungal pathways in a single Streptomyces strain has revealed a third, and likely novel, antifungal plus four more pathways with unknown products. This validates our approach, which clearly has the potential to identify numerous new compounds, even from well-characterized actinomycete strains.}, } @article {pmid23084931, year = {2012}, author = {Zhao, LX and Xu, LH and Jiang, CL}, title = {Methods for the study of endophytic microorganisms from traditional Chinese medicine plants.}, journal = {Methods in enzymology}, volume = {517}, number = {}, pages = {3-21}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-404634-4.00001-2}, pmid = {23084931}, issn = {1557-7988}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification ; Biological Products/chemistry ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Culture Techniques/methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry ; Endophytes/chemistry/classification/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/chemistry/isolation & purification ; *Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant endophytes are very numerous and widely distributed in nature, their relationships being described as a balanced symbiotic continuum ranging from mutualism through commensalism to parasitism during a long period of coevolution. Traditional Chinese medicines have played a very important role in disease treatment in China and other Asian countries. Investigations show that these medicinal plants harbor endophytes with different kinds of ecological functions, and some of them have potential to produce bioactive small-molecule compounds. This chapter will focus on the selective isolation methods, the diversity of some endophytes (actinobacteria and fungi) isolated from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plants, and the bioactive compounds from selected endophytic actinobacteria reported in the past 3 years.}, } @article {pmid23083939, year = {2012}, author = {Bandyopadhyay, S and Peralta-Videa, JR and Plascencia-Villa, G and José-Yacamán, M and Gardea-Torresdey, JL}, title = {Comparative toxicity assessment of CeO2 and ZnO nanoparticles towards Sinorhizobium meliloti, a symbiotic alfalfa associated bacterium: use of advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {241-242}, number = {}, pages = {379-386}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.09.056}, pmid = {23083939}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Cerium/*toxicity ; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology/physiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; *Nanoparticles/toxicity ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/growth & development/ultrastructure ; Soil Pollutants/*toxicity ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; *Symbiosis ; Zinc Oxide/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {Cerium oxide (CeO(2)) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively used in a variety of instruments and consumer goods. These NPs are of great concern because of potential toxicity towards human health and the environment. The present work aimed to assess the toxic effects of 10nm CeO(2) and ZnO NPs towards the nitrogen fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Toxicological parameters evaluated included UV/Vis measurement of minimum inhibitory concentration, disk diffusion tests, and dynamic growth. Ultra high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilized to determine the spatial distribution of NPs and macromolecule changes in bacterial cells, respectively. Results indicate that ZnO NPs were more toxic than CeO(2) NPs in terms of inhibition of dynamic growth and viable cells counts. STEM images revealed that CeO(2) and ZnO NPs were found on bacterial cell surfaces and ZnO NPs were internalized into the periplasmic space of the cells. FTIR spectra showed changes in protein and polysaccharide structures of extra cellular polymeric substances present in bacterial cell walls treated with both NPs. The growth data showed that CeO(2) NPs have a bacteriostatic effect, whereas ZnO NPs is bactericidal to S. meliloti. Overall, ZnO NPs were found to be more toxic than CeO(2) NPs.}, } @article {pmid23082497, year = {2012}, author = {Krapivin, VA}, title = {[Symbionts of Mytilus edulis in the littoral and sublittoral zones of the Kandalaksha and Onega Gulfs of the White Sea].}, journal = {Parazitologiia}, volume = {46}, number = {3}, pages = {203-225}, pmid = {23082497}, issn = {0031-1847}, mesh = {Animals ; Mytilus edulis/*physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Russia ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; *Trematoda/classification/physiology ; *Turbellaria/classification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Composition of the fauna of organisms associated with Mytilus edulis in the Kandalaksha and Onega Gulfs of the White Sea has been examined. The following 8 symbiotic species were revealed: Choricystis sp. (Chloro[hyceae), Peniculistoma mytili, Ancistrum mytili (Ciliata, Oligohymenophorea), Urastoma cyprinae, Paravortex sp. (Platyhelminthes, Rhabditophora), and metacercaria of Cercaria parvicaudata, Himasthla sp., and Gymnophallus sp. (Platyhelminthes, Trematoda). Besides, different free-living organisms were found in the mantle cavity; 6 species of nematodes, the planktonic copepod Microsetella norvegica, undetermined copepods, isopod Jaera sp., sea mites of the family Halacaridae, and chironomid larvae. Parameters of infestation and places of localization in the host are given for each group of organisms. Some regularities in the horizontal and vertical distribution of organisms associated with M. edulis are noted.}, } @article {pmid23082186, year = {2012}, author = {Penney, D and McNeil, A and Green, DI and Bradley, RS and Jepson, JE and Withers, PJ and Preziosi, RF}, title = {Ancient Ephemeroptera-Collembola symbiosis fossilized in amber predicts contemporary phoretic associations.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e47651}, pmid = {23082186}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Amber ; Animals ; Arthropods/*physiology ; *Fossils ; Insecta/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {X-ray computed tomography is used to identify a unique example of fossilized phoresy in 16 million-year-old Miocene Dominican amber involving a springtail being transported by a mayfly. It represents the first evidence (fossil or extant) of phoresy in adult Ephemeroptera and only the second record in Collembola (the first is also preserved in amber). This is the first record of Collembola using winged insects for dispersal. This fossil predicts the occurrence of similar behaviour in living springtails and helps explain the global distribution of Collembola today.}, } @article {pmid23077583, year = {2012}, author = {Manzano-Marín, A and Lamelas, A and Moya, A and Latorre, A}, title = {Comparative genomics of Serratia spp.: two paths towards endosymbiotic life.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e47274}, pmid = {23077583}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology ; Buchnera/*genetics/growth & development ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Phylogeny ; Serratia/*genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis is a widespread phenomenon in nature, in which insects show a great number of these associations. Buchnera aphidicola, the obligate endosymbiont of aphids, coexists in some species with another intracellular bacterium, Serratia symbiotica. Of particular interest is the case of the cedar aphid Cinara cedri, where B. aphidicola BCc and S. symbiotica SCc need each other to fulfil their symbiotic role with the insect. Moreover, various features seem to indicate that S. symbiotica SCc is closer to an obligate endosymbiont than to other facultative S. symbiotica, such as the one described for the aphid Acirthosyphon pisum (S. symbiotica SAp). This work is based on the comparative genomics of five strains of Serratia, three free-living and two endosymbiotic ones (one facultative and one obligate) which should allow us to dissect the genome reduction taking place in the adaptive process to an intracellular life-style. Using a pan-genome approach, we have identified shared and strain-specific genes from both endosymbiotic strains and gained insight into the different genetic reduction both S. symbiotica have undergone. We have identified both retained and reduced functional categories in S. symbiotica compared to the Free-Living Serratia (FLS) that seem to be related with its endosymbiotic role in their specific host-symbiont systems. By means of a phylogenomic reconstruction we have solved the position of both endosymbionts with confidence, established the probable insect-pathogen origin of the symbiotic clade as well as the high amino-acid substitution rate in S. symbiotica SCc. Finally, we were able to quantify the minimal number of rearrangements suffered in the endosymbiotic lineages and reconstruct a minimal rearrangement phylogeny. All these findings provide important evidence for the existence of at least two distinctive S. symbiotica lineages that are characterized by different rearrangements, gene content, genome size and branch lengths.}, } @article {pmid23077241, year = {2012}, author = {Cerri, MR and Frances, L and Laloum, T and Auriac, MC and Niebel, A and Oldroyd, GE and Barker, DG and Fournier, J and de Carvalho-Niebel, F}, title = {Medicago truncatula ERN transcription factors: regulatory interplay with NSP1/NSP2 GRAS factors and expression dynamics throughout rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {160}, number = {4}, pages = {2155-2172}, pmid = {23077241}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000603/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*microbiology ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Epidermis/cytology/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial nodulation factors (NFs) activate a specific signaling pathway in Medicago truncatula root hairs that involves the complex interplay of Nodulation Signaling Pathway1 (NSP1)/NSP2 GRAS and Ethylene Response Factor Required for Nodulation1 (ERN1) transcription factors (TFs) to achieve full ENOD11 transcription. ERN1 acts as a direct transcriptional regulator of ENOD11 through the activation of the NF-responsive "NF box." Here, we show that NSP1, when combined with NSP2, can act as a strong positive regulator of ERN1 and ENOD11 transcription. Although ERN1 and NSP1/NSP2 both activate ENOD11, two separate promoter regions are involved that regulate expression during consecutive symbiotic stages. Our findings indicate that ERN1 is required to activate NF-elicited ENOD11 expression exclusively during early preinfection, while NSP1/NSP2 mediates ENOD11 expression during subsequent rhizobial infection. The relative contributions of ERN1 and the closely related ERN2 to the rhizobial symbiosis were then evaluated by comparing their regulation and in vivo dynamics. ERN1 and ERN2 exhibit expression profiles compatible with roles during NF signaling and subsequent infection. However, differences in expression levels and spatiotemporal profiles suggest specialized functions for these two TFs, ERN1 being involved in stages preceding and accompanying infection thread progression while ERN2 is only involved in certain stages of infection. By cross complementation, we show that ERN2, when expressed under the control of the ERN1 promoter, can restore both NF-elicited ENOD11 expression and nodule formation in an ern1 mutant background. This indicates that ERN1 and ERN2 possess similar biological activities and that functional diversification of these closely related TFs relies primarily on changes in tissue-specific expression patterns.}, } @article {pmid23073876, year = {2013}, author = {Gourion, B and Bourcy, M and Cosson, V and Ratet, P}, title = {Protocols for growing plant symbioses; rhizobia.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {953}, number = {}, pages = {61-75}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-62703-152-3_4}, pmid = {23073876}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Germination ; Humans ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/*growth & development ; Seeds/growth & development ; Sterilization ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tissue Culture Techniques/*methods ; }, abstract = {Legume plants are used as a protein source for human and animal nutrition. The high protein content of legume plants is achieved via the establishment of a root symbiosis with rhizobia that allows the reduction of atmospheric nitrogen. In recent years, M. truncatula has been used as a legume model in view of its small, diploid genome, self-fertility, and short life cycle, as well as availability of various genomic and genetic tools. The choice and use of this model legume plant in parallel with the other model legume Lotus japonicus for molecular studies has triggered extensive studies that have now identified the molecular actors corresponding to the first steps of the plant-bacterial interaction. The use of this plant as model in an increasing number of laboratories has resulted in the development of numerous protocols to study the establishment of the symbiosis. The media and growth conditions used in our laboratory to nodulate wild-type or transgenic plants as well as wild-type plants with transgenic hairy root system are described below.}, } @article {pmid23073875, year = {2013}, author = {Schultze, M}, title = {Protocols for growing plant symbioses; mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {953}, number = {}, pages = {47-59}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-62703-152-3_3}, pmid = {23073875}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Colony Count, Microbial ; Daucus carota/growth & development/microbiology ; Medicago truncatula/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/isolation & purification ; Surface Properties ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tissue Culture Techniques/*methods ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is receiving increased attention as a potential contributor to sustainable crop plant nutrition. This chapter details a set of protocols for plant growth to study the development and physiology of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, and how to establish root organ cultures for the production of axenic inoculum.}, } @article {pmid23073852, year = {2012}, author = {Choudhary, DK}, title = {Microbial rescue to plant under habitat-imposed abiotic and biotic stresses.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {96}, number = {5}, pages = {1137-1155}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-012-4429-x}, pmid = {23073852}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Habitat-imposed abiotic and biotic stress is a serious condition and is also a land-degradation problem in arid and semi-arid regions, causing major problem for crop productivity. Most of the cultivable and a least half of irrigated lands around the world are severely affected by environmental stresses. However, in these conditions, there are plant populations successfully adapted and evolutionarily different in their strategy of stress tolerance. Vascular plants do not function as autonomous individuals, but house diverse communities of symbiotic microbes. The role of these microbes can no longer be ignored. Microbial interactions are critical not only for host but also for fungal survival in stressed environments. Plants benefit extensively by harboring these associated microbes; they promote plant growth and confer enhanced resistance to various pathogens by producing antibiotics. To date, improvements in plant quality, production, abiotic and biotic stress resistance, nutrient, and water use have relied largely on manipulating plant genomes by breeding and genetic modification. Increasing evidence indicates that the function of symbiotic microbes seems to parallel more than one of these characteristics.}, } @article {pmid23073651, year = {2012}, author = {Yang, SY and Grønlund, M and Jakobsen, I and Grotemeyer, MS and Rentsch, D and Miyao, A and Hirochika, H and Kumar, CS and Sundaresan, V and Salamin, N and Catausan, S and Mattes, N and Heuer, S and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Nonredundant regulation of rice arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by two members of the phosphate transporter1 gene family.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {10}, pages = {4236-4251}, pmid = {23073651}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Open Reading Frames ; Oryza/*genetics/microbiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Pi acquisition of crops via arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is becoming increasingly important due to limited high-grade rock Pi reserves and a demand for environmentally sustainable agriculture. Here, we show that 70% of the overall Pi acquired by rice (Oryza sativa) is delivered via the symbiotic route. To better understand this pathway, we combined genetic, molecular, and physiological approaches to determine the specific functions of two symbiosis-specific members of the PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER1 (PHT1) gene family from rice, ORYsa;PHT1;11 (PT11) and ORYsa;PHT1;13 (PT13). The PT11 lineage of proteins from mono- and dicotyledons is most closely related to homologs from the ancient moss, indicating an early evolutionary origin. By contrast, PT13 arose in the Poaceae, suggesting that grasses acquired a particular strategy for the acquisition of symbiotic Pi. Surprisingly, mutations in either PT11 or PT13 affected the development of the symbiosis, demonstrating that both genes are important for AM symbiosis. For symbiotic Pi uptake, however, only PT11 is necessary and sufficient. Consequently, our results demonstrate that mycorrhizal rice depends on the AM symbiosis to satisfy its Pi demands, which is mediated by a single functional Pi transporter, PT11.}, } @article {pmid23073021, year = {2012}, author = {León Morcillo, RJ and Ocampo, JA and García Garrido, JM}, title = {Plant 9-lox oxylipin metabolism in response to arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {1584-1588}, pmid = {23073021}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal symbiotic interaction (MA) is a successful strategy to substantially promote plant growth, development and fitness. Numerous studies have supported the hypothesis that plant hormones play an important role in the recognition and establishment of symbiosis. Particular attention has been devoted to jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivates, the jasmonates, which are believed to play a major role in AM symbiosis. Jasmonates belong to a diverse class of lipid metabolites known as oxylipins that include other biologically active molecules. Recent transcriptional analyses revealed upregulation of the oxylipin pathway during AM symbiosis in mycorrhizal tomato roots and point a key regulatory feature for oxylipins during AM symbiosis in tomato, particularly these derived from the action of 9-lipoxygenases (9-LOX). In this mini-review we highlight recent progress understanding the function of oxylipins in the establishment of the AM symbiosis and hypothesize that the activation of the 9-LOX pathway might be part of the activation of host defense responses which will then contribute to both, the control of AM fungal spread and the increased resistance to fungal pathogens in mycorrhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid23072986, year = {2012}, author = {Khatabi, B and Schäfer, P}, title = {Ethylene in mutualistic symbioses.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {12}, pages = {1634-1638}, pmid = {23072986}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Ethylenes/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Ethylene (ET) is a gaseous phytohormone that participates in various plant physiological processes and essentially contributes to plant immunity. ET conducts its functions by regulating the expression of ET-responsive genes or in crosstalk with other hormones. Several recent studies have shown the significance of ET in the establishment and development of plant-microbe interactions. Therefore, it is not surprising that pathogens and mutualistic symbionts target ET synthesis or signaling to colonize plants. This review introduces the significance of ET metabolism in plant-microbe interactions, with an emphasis on its role in mutualistic symbioses.}, } @article {pmid23072138, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, PJ and Xie, CB}, title = {[Mycoplasma hominis symbiosis and Trichomonas vaginalis metronidazole resistance].}, journal = {Zhongguo ji sheng chong xue yu ji sheng chong bing za zhi = Chinese journal of parasitology & parasitic diseases}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {210-213}, pmid = {23072138}, issn = {1000-7423}, mesh = {*Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Metronidazole/*pharmacology ; Mycoplasma Infections/*parasitology ; Mycoplasma hominis/isolation & purification ; Trichomonas Infections/*microbiology/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation of Mycoplasma hominis symbiosis and the resistance of Trichomonas vaginalis to metronidazole.

METHODS: From November 2010 to July 2011, 160 isolates of T. vaginalis were collected from the genital tract secretion of gynecological out-patients at the Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children. The minimum lethal concentration (MLC) to metronidazole of these isolates was determined by an in vitro sensitivity assay with different concentration gradients of metronidazole (from 1 to 1 024 microg/ml), and M. hominis DNA in T. vaginalis was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with specific 16S rRNA primers. After clearance of M. hominis from the parasites by 32 microg/ml doxycycline, MLC was determined and compared with that before clearance.

RESULTS: MLC of metronidazole in T. vaginalis ranged from 1 to 256 microg/ml, with 61.3% isolates (98/160) ranging from 1 to 8 microg/ml, 26.3% isolates (42/160) ranging from 16 to 32 microg/ml, and 12.5% isolates (20/160) ranging from 64 to 256 microg/ml. 61 isolates were PCR positive for M. hominis DNA in the 160 isolates of T. vaginalis. The M. hominis DNA positive rate was significantly higher in the T. vaginalis isolates with higher MLC than those isolates with lower MLC (P<0.01). However, when M. hominis was cleared by doxycycline from 8 isolates among the 61 ones, no change was observed in sensitivity of the isolates to metronidazole.

CONCLUSION: M. hominis symbiosis might be associated with the metronidazole-resistance of T. vaginalis. However, it needs direct evidence.}, } @article {pmid23071753, year = {2012}, author = {Suescún-Bolívar, LP and Iglesias-Prieto, R and Thomé, PE}, title = {Induction of glycerol synthesis and release in cultured Symbiodinium.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e47182}, pmid = {23071753}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carbon Cycle ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Glycerol/*metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic dinoflagellates transfer a substantial amount of their photosynthetic products to their animal hosts. This amount has been estimated to represent up to 90% of the photosynthetically fixed carbon and can satisfy in some instances the full respiratory requirements of the host. Although in several cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses glycerol is the primary photosynthetic product translocated to the host, the mechanism for its production and release has not been demonstrated conclusively.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using Symbiodinium cells in culture we were able to reproduce the synthesis and release of glycerol in vitro by employing an inductor for glycerol synthesis, osmotic up-shocks. Photosynthetic parameters and fluorescence analysis of photosystem II showed that the inductive conditions did not have a negative effect on photosynthetic performance, suggesting that the capacity for carbon fixation by the cells was not compromised. The demand for glycerol production required to attain osmotic balance increased the expression of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, possibly competing with the flux of fixed carbon necessary for protein synthesis. In longer exposures of cultured Symbiodinium cells to high osmolarity, the response was analogous to photoacclimation, reducing the excitation pressure over photosystem II, suggesting that Symbiodinium cells perceived the stress as an increase in light. The induced synthesis of glycerol resulted in a reduction of growth rates.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results favor a hypothetical mechanism of a signaling event involving a pressure sensor that may induce the flux of carbon (glycerol) from the symbiotic algae to the animal host, and strongly suggest that carbon limitation may be a key factor modulating the population of symbionts within the host.}, } @article {pmid23071431, year = {2012}, author = {Resendis-Antonio, O and Hernández, M and Mora, Y and Encarnación, S}, title = {Functional modules, structural topology, and optimal activity in metabolic networks.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {8}, number = {10}, pages = {e1002720}, pmid = {23071431}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*physiology ; Metabolome/*physiology ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phaseolus/microbiology ; Phenotype ; Proteome ; Rhizobium etli/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Systems Biology/methods ; }, abstract = {Modular organization in biological networks has been suggested as a natural mechanism by which a cell coordinates its metabolic strategies for evolving and responding to environmental perturbations. To understand how this occurs, there is a need for developing computational schemes that contribute to integration of genomic-scale information and assist investigators in formulating biological hypotheses in a quantitative and systematic fashion. In this work, we combined metabolome data and constraint-based modeling to elucidate the relationships among structural modules, functional organization, and the optimal metabolic phenotype of Rhizobium etli, a bacterium that fixes nitrogen in symbiosis with Phaseolus vulgaris. To experimentally characterize the metabolic phenotype of this microorganism, we obtained the metabolic profile of 220 metabolites at two physiological stages: under free-living conditions, and during nitrogen fixation with P. vulgaris. By integrating these data into a constraint-based model, we built a refined computational platform with the capability to survey the metabolic activity underlying nitrogen fixation in R. etli. Topological analysis of the metabolic reconstruction led us to identify modular structures with functional activities. Consistent with modular activity in metabolism, we found that most of the metabolites experimentally detected in each module simultaneously increased their relative abundances during nitrogen fixation. In this work, we explore the relationships among topology, biological function, and optimal activity in the metabolism of R. etli through an integrative analysis based on modeling and metabolome data. Our findings suggest that the metabolic activity during nitrogen fixation is supported by interacting structural modules that correlate with three functional classifications: nucleic acids, peptides, and lipids. More fundamentally, we supply evidence that such modular organization during functional nitrogen fixation is a robust property under different environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid23071304, year = {2012}, author = {Decelle, J and Probert, I and Bittner, L and Desdevises, Y and Colin, S and de Vargas, C and Galí, M and Simó, R and Not, F}, title = {An original mode of symbiosis in open ocean plankton.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {44}, pages = {18000-18005}, pmid = {23071304}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oceans and Seas ; Plankton/classification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic relationships are widespread in nature and are fundamental for ecosystem functioning and the evolution of biodiversity. In marine environments, photosymbiosis with microalgae is best known for sustaining benthic coral reef ecosystems. Despite the importance of oceanic microbiota in global ecology and biogeochemical cycles, symbioses are poorly characterized in open ocean plankton. Here, we describe a widespread symbiotic association between Acantharia biomineralizing microorganisms that are abundant grazers in plankton communities, and members of the haptophyte genus Phaeocystis that are cosmopolitan bloom-forming microalgae. Cophylogenetic analyses demonstrate that symbiont biogeography, rather than host taxonomy, is the main determinant of the association. Molecular dating places the origin of this photosymbiosis in the Jurassic (ca. 175 Mya), a period of accentuated marine oligotrophy. Measurements of intracellular dimethylated sulfur indicate that the host likely profits from antioxidant protection provided by the symbionts as an adaptation to life in transparent oligotrophic surface waters. In contrast to terrestrial and marine symbioses characterized to date, the symbiont reported in this association is extremely abundant and ecologically active in its free-living phase. In the vast and barren open ocean, partnership with photosymbionts that have extensive free-living populations is likely an advantageous strategy for hosts that rely on such interactions. Discovery of the Acantharia-Phaeocystis association contrasts with the widely held view that symbionts are specialized organisms that are rare and ecologically passive outside the host.}, } @article {pmid23071252, year = {2012}, author = {De Luis, A and Markmann, K and Cognat, V and Holt, DB and Charpentier, M and Parniske, M and Stougaard, J and Voinnet, O}, title = {Two microRNAs linked to nodule infection and nitrogen-fixing ability in the legume Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {160}, number = {4}, pages = {2137-2154}, pmid = {23071252}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Copper/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Library ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Homeostasis/genetics ; Laccase/genetics ; Lotus/*genetics/*microbiology ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legumes overcome nitrogen shortage by developing root nodules in which symbiotic bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in exchange for host-derived carbohydrates and mineral nutrients. Nodule development involves the distinct processes of nodule organogenesis, bacterial infection, and the onset of nitrogen fixation. These entail profound, dynamic gene expression changes, notably contributed to by microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we used deep-sequencing, candidate-based expression studies and a selection of Lotus japonicus mutants uncoupling different symbiosis stages to identify miRNAs involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Induction of a noncanonical miR171 isoform, which targets the key nodulation transcription factor Nodulation Signaling Pathway2, correlates with bacterial infection in nodules. A second candidate, miR397, is systemically induced in the presence of active, nitrogen-fixing nodules but not in that of noninfected or inactive nodule organs. It is involved in nitrogen fixation-related copper homeostasis and targets a member of the laccase copper protein family. These findings thus identify two miRNAs specifically responding to symbiotic infection and nodule function in legumes.}, } @article {pmid23070321, year = {2012}, author = {Caldera, EJ and Currie, CR}, title = {The population structure of antibiotic-producing bacterial symbionts of Apterostigma dentigerum ants: impacts of coevolution and multipartite symbiosis.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {180}, number = {5}, pages = {604-617}, pmid = {23070321}, issn = {1537-5323}, support = {RC4 GM096347/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*classification/genetics ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Central America ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants (Attini) are part of a complex symbiosis with Basidiomycetous fungi, which the ants cultivate for food, Ascomycetous fungal pathogens (Escovopsis), which parasitize cultivars, and Actinobacteria, which produce antibiotic compounds that suppress pathogen growth. Earlier studies that have characterized the association between attine ants and their bacterial symbionts have employed broad phylogenetic approaches, with conclusions ranging from a diffuse coevolved mutualism to no specificity being reported. However, the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution proposes that coevolved interactions likely occur at a level above local populations but within species. Moreover, the scale of population subdivision is likely to impact coevolutionary dynamics. Here, we describe the population structure of bacteria associated with the attine Apterostigma dentigerum across Central America using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of six housekeeping genes. The majority (90%) of bacteria that were isolated grouped into a single clade within the genus Pseudonocardia. In contrast to studies that have suggested that Pseudonocardia dispersal is high and therefore unconstrained by ant associations, we found highly structured ([Formula: see text]) and dispersal-limited (i.e., significant isolation by distance; [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) populations over even a relatively small scale (e.g., within the Panama Canal Zone). Estimates of recombination versus mutation were uncharacteristically low compared with estimates for free-living Actinobacteria (e.g., [Formula: see text] in La Selva, Costa Rica), which suggests that recombination is constrained by association with ant hosts. Furthermore, Pseudonocardia population structure was correlated with that of Escovopsis species ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), supporting the bacteria's role in disease suppression. Overall, the population dynamics of symbiotic Pseudonocardia are more consistent with a specialized mutualistic association than with recently proposed models of low specificity and frequent horizontal acquisition.}, } @article {pmid23065252, year = {2013}, author = {St-Pierre, B and de la Fuente, G and O'Neill, S and Wright, AD and Al Jassim, R}, title = {Analysis of stomach bacterial communities in Australian feral horses.}, journal = {Molecular biology reports}, volume = {40}, number = {1}, pages = {369-376}, pmid = {23065252}, issn = {1573-4978}, mesh = {Animals ; Australia ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Horses ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Stomach/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {We investigated the community structure of bacteria that populate the stomach of the Brumby, a breed of feral horses from the Australian outback. Using a 16S rRNA gene clone library, we identified 155 clones that were assigned to 26 OTUs based on a 99.0 % sequence identity cutoff. Two OTUs represented 73.5 % of clones, while 18 OTUs were each assigned only a single clone. Four major bacterial types were identified in the Brumby stomach: Lactobacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, Veillonellaceae and Pasteurellaceae. The first three groups, which represented 98.1 % of the Brumby stomach library clones, belonged to the bacterial phylum Firmicutes. We found that 49.7 % of clones were related to bacterial species previously identified in the equine hindgut, and that 44.5 % of clones were related to symbiotic bacterial species identified in the mouth or throat of either horses or other mammals. Our results indicated that the composition of mutualistic bacterial communities of feral horses was consistent with other studies on domestic horses. In addition to bacterial sequences, we also identified four plastid 16S rRNA gene sequences, which may help in further characterizing the type of vegetation consumed by Brumby horses in their natural environment.}, } @article {pmid23065191, year = {2012}, author = {Pfabel, C and Eckhardt, KU and Baum, C and Struck, C and Frey, P and Weih, M}, title = {Impact of ectomycorrhizal colonization and rust infection on the secondary metabolism of poplar (Populus trichocarpa x deltoides).}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {32}, number = {11}, pages = {1357-1364}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tps093}, pmid = {23065191}, issn = {1758-4469}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Flavonoids/analysis/metabolism ; Hebeloma/growth & development/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hydroxybenzoates/analysis/metabolism ; Lipids/analysis ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Populus/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Proanthocyanidins/analysis/metabolism ; Salicylic Acid/analysis/metabolism ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fungal colonization can significantly affect the secondary metabolism of the host plants. We tested the impact of a common below-ground symbiosis, i.e., ectomycorrhiza formation, on poplar leaf chemical components that are involved in the defence against a common disease, i.e., rust fungi, in N-deficient soil. A rust-susceptible poplar clone (Populus trichocarpa × deltoides 'Beaupré') was (a) non-associated with ectomycorrhizal fungus (EM) Hebeloma mesophaeum (Pers.) Quélet MÜN and non-infected with rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina Kleb. (isolate 98AG31), (b) associated with EM, (c) inoculated with rust fungus and (d) associated with EM and inoculated with rust fungus. Poplar leaves were analysed by photometric and mass spectrometric techniques (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS)). Both rust infection and mycorrhiza formation led to increased proportions of condensed tannins in relation to total phenolics (13% in the control, 18-19% in the fungal treatments). In contrast, salicylic acid concentration (6.8 µg g(-1) in the control) was higher only in the rust treatments (17.9 and 25.4 µg g(-1) with rust infection). The Py-FIMS analysis revealed that the rust-infected treatments were significantly separated from the non-rust-infected treatments on the basis of six flavonoids and one lipid. The relative abundance of these components, which have known functions in plant defence, was decreased after rust infection of non-mycorrhizal plants, but not in mycorrhizal plants. The results indicate that the ectomycorrhizal formation compensated the rust infection by a decrease in the flavonoid syntheses. The study provides new evidence for an interactive response of mycorrhizal colonization and infection with rust fungi in the metabolism of poplar.}, } @article {pmid23063731, year = {2013}, author = {Cumbo, VR and Baird, AH and Moore, RB and Negri, AP and Neilan, BA and Salih, A and van Oppen, MJ and Wang, Y and Marquis, CP}, title = {Chromera velia is endosymbiotic in larvae of the reef corals Acropora digitifera and A. tenuis.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {164}, number = {2}, pages = {237-244}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2012.08.003}, pmid = {23063731}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Alveolata/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Histocytochemistry ; Larva/parasitology ; Microscopy ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals occur in symbiosis with a range of organisms including the dinoflagellate alga, Symbiodinium, an association that is mutualistic. However, not all symbionts benefit the host. In particular, many organisms within the microbial mucus layer that covers the coral epithelium can cause disease and death. Other organisms in symbiosis with corals include the recently described Chromera velia, a photosynthetic relative of the apicomplexan parasites that shares a common ancestor with Symbiodinium. To explore the nature of the association between C. velia and corals we first isolated C. velia from the coral Montipora digitata and then exposed aposymbiotic Acropora digitifera and A. tenuis larvae to these cultures. Three C. velia cultures were isolated, and symbiosis was established in coral larvae of both these species exposed to all three clones. Histology verified that C. velia was located in the larval endoderm and ectoderm. These results indicate that C. velia has the potential to be endosymbiotic with coral larvae.}, } @article {pmid23063074, year = {2012}, author = {Chassaing, B and Aitken, JD and Gewirtz, AT and Vijay-Kumar, M}, title = {Gut microbiota drives metabolic disease in immunologically altered mice.}, journal = {Advances in immunology}, volume = {116}, number = {}, pages = {93-112}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-394300-2.00003-X}, pmid = {23063074}, issn = {1557-8445}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/immunology ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metabolic Diseases/immunology/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; *Mice ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine harbors trillions of microbes collectively known as the microbiota, which can be viewed as an anaerobic metabolic organ that benefits the host in a number of ways. The homeostasis of this large microbial biomass is a prerequisite to maintaining host health by maximizing symbiotic interrelations and minimizing the risk of living in a close relationship. The cooperation between the innate and adaptive immune systems of the host maintains homeostasis of the microbiota. The dysregulation/alteration of microbiota in various immunodeficiency states including both innate and adaptive deficiency results in metabolic disease. This review examines the influence of microbiota on host metabolic health in immunologically altered mice. Accumulated data from a variety of immune-deficient murine models indicate that altered microbiota can play a key role in origination of metabolic diseases through the following potential mechanisms: (i) increasing calorie extraction resulting in adiposity, (ii) inducing low-grade chronic inflammation in the gut directly or increasing systemic loads of microbial ligands via leaky guts, (iii) generating toxic metabolites from dietary components, and (iv) inducing a switch from pro-metabolic to pro-immune phenotype that drives malabsorption of lipids resulting in muscle wastage and weight loss-particularly upon states of adaptive immune deficiency. Further, these murine models demonstrate that altered microbiota is not purely a consequence of metabolic disease but plays a key role in driving this disorder.}, } @article {pmid23061984, year = {2012}, author = {Graham, RI and Wilson, K}, title = {Male-killing Wolbachia and mitochondrial selective sweep in a migratory African insect.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {204}, pmid = {23061984}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {BB/F004311/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animal Migration ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/classification/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Geography ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Seasons ; Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Factors ; Spodoptera/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tanzania ; Wolbachia/classification/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Numerous recent studies have shown that resident symbiotic microorganisms of insects play a fundamental role in host ecology and evolution. The lepidopteran pest, African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta), is a highly migratory and destructive species found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, that can experience eruptive outbreaks within the space of a single generation, making predicting population dynamics and pest control forecasting extremely difficult. Three strains of Wolbachia have recently been identified infecting this species in populations sampled from Tanzania. In this study, we examined the interaction between Wolbachia pipiensis infections and the co-inherited marker, mtDNA, within populations of armyworm, as a means to investigate the population biology and evolutionary history of Wolbachia and its host.

RESULTS: A Wolbachia-infected isofemale line was established in the laboratory. Phenotypic studies confirmed the strain wExe1 as a male-killer. Partial sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene from 164 individual field-collected armyworm of known infection status revealed 17 different haplotypes. There was a strong association between Wolbachia infection status and mtDNA haplotype, with a single dominant haplotype, haplo1 (90.2% prevalence), harbouring the endosymbiont. All three Wolbachia strains were associated with this haplotype. This indicates that Wolbachia may be driving a selective sweep on armyworm haplotype diversity. Despite very strong biological and molecular evidence that the samples represent a single species (including from nuclear 28S gene markers), the 17 haplotypes did not fall into a monophyletic clade within the Spodoptera genus; with six haplotypes (2 each from 3 geographically separate populations) differing by >11% in their nucleotide sequence to the other eleven.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that three strains of Wolbachia may be driving a selective sweep on armyworm haplotype diversity, and that based on COI sequence data, S. exempta is not a monophyletic group within the Spodoptera genus. This has clear implications for the use of mtDNA as neutral genetic markers in insects, and also demonstrates the impact of Wolbachia infections on host evolutionary genetics.}, } @article {pmid23061021, year = {2012}, author = {Brüggemann, H and Lomholt, HB and Kilian, M}, title = {The flexible gene pool of Propionibacterium acnes.}, journal = {Mobile genetic elements}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {145-148}, pmid = {23061021}, issn = {2159-2543}, abstract = {Propionibacterium acnes is a Gram-positive bacterium that is intimately associated with humans. The nature and consequences of this symbiosis are poorly understood; it might comprise both mutualistic and parasitic properties. Recent advances in distinguishing phylotypes of P. acnes have revealed that certain type I lineages are predominantly associated with acne vulgaris. Genome analyses revealed a highly conserved core genome and the existence of island-like genomic regions and possible mobile genetic elements as part of the flexible gene pool. The analysis of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), found exclusively in type II P. acnes, recently revealed the presence of CRISPR spacers that derived from mobile genetic elements. These elements are present in a subset of P. acnes type I lineages. Their significance for type-specific host-interacting properties and their contribution to pathogenicity is currently under investigation.}, } @article {pmid23060968, year = {2012}, author = {Abe, T and Sekiguchi, K}, title = {Why does the ocean sunfish bask?.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {5}, number = {4}, pages = {395-398}, pmid = {23060968}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Basking at the sea surface is a well known, but peculiar behavior of ocean sunfish (Mola mola). One of hypotheses for this behavior is parasite elimination. However, in oceanic regions, very little direct evidence exists for this form of interspecific communication. In pelagic waters of the North Pacific Ocean, we observed a school of 57 ocean sunfish, that were heavily infested around the base of their dorsal fins with the ecto-parasite Pennella sp. We photographed a Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) nearby that picked a Pennella sp. from one of ocean sunfish and ate it. We hypothesize that ocean sunfish did "bask" to look for skin cleaning and that this symbiotic cleaning behavior by the albatrosses may be a common feature of the biology of the ocean sunfish. Here we provide more photographs to show heavy parasite infections and scars after parasite removal by "cleaners," and discuss how important a symbiotic cleaning relationship could be in the open ocean ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid23060892, year = {2012}, author = {Bapaume, L and Reinhardt, D}, title = {How membranes shape plant symbioses: signaling and transport in nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {223}, pmid = {23060892}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {As sessile organisms that cannot evade adverse environmental conditions, plants have evolved various adaptive strategies to cope with environmental stresses. One of the most successful adaptations is the formation of symbiotic associations with beneficial microbes. In these mutualistic interactions the partners exchange essential nutrients and improve their resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and in root nodule symbiosis (RNS), AM fungi and rhizobia, respectively, penetrate roots and accommodate within the cells of the plant host. In these endosymbiotic associations, both partners keep their plasma membranes intact and use them to control the bidirectional exchange of signaling molecules and nutrients. Intracellular accommodation requires the exchange of symbiotic signals and the reprogramming of both interacting partners. This involves fundamental changes at the level of gene expression and of the cytoskeleton, as well as of organelles such as plastids, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and the central vacuole. Symbiotic cells are highly compartmentalized and have a complex membrane system specialized for the diverse functions in molecular communication and nutrient exchange. Here, we discuss the roles of the different cellular membrane systems and their symbiosis-related proteins in AM and RNS, and we review recent progress in the analysis of membrane proteins involved in endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23060052, year = {2013}, author = {Engel, P and Moran, NA}, title = {Functional and evolutionary insights into the simple yet specific gut microbiota of the honey bee from metagenomic analysis.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {60-65}, pmid = {23060052}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bees/*microbiology ; *Biota ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The honey bee, Apis mellifera, harbors a characteristic gut microbiota composed of only a few species which seem to be specific to social bees. The maintenance of this stable and distinct microbial community depends on the social lifestyle of these insects. As in other animals, the bacteria in the gut of honey bees probably govern important functions critical to host health. We recently sequenced a metagenome of the gut microbiota of A. mellifera, assigned gene contents to bins corresponding to the major species present in the honey bee gut, and compared functional gene categories between these species, and between the complete metagenome and those of other animals. Gene contents could be linked to different symbiotic functions with the host. Further, we found a high degree of genetic diversity within each of these species. In the case of the gammaproteobacterial species Gilliamella apicola, we experimentally showed a link between genetic variation of isolates and functional differences suggesting that niche partitioning within this species has emerged during evolution with its bee hosts. The consistent presence of only a few species, combined with strain variation within each of these species, makes the gut microbiota of social bees an ideal model for studying functional, structural, and evolutionary aspects of host-associated microbial communities: many characteristics resemble the gut microbiota of humans and other mammals, but the complexity is considerably reduced. In this addendum, we summarize and discuss our major findings and provide a detailed perspective on future research.}, } @article {pmid23056381, year = {2012}, author = {Schils, T}, title = {Episodic eruptions of volcanic ash trigger a reversible cascade of nuisance species outbreaks in pristine coral habitats.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e46639}, pmid = {23056381}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects ; *Ecosystem ; Volcanic Eruptions/*adverse effects ; }, abstract = {Volcanically active islands abound in the tropical Pacific and harbor complex coral communities. Whereas lava streams and deep ash deposits are well-known to devastate coral communities through burial and smothering, little is known about the effect of moderate amounts of small particulate ash deposits on reef communities. Volcanic ash contains a diversity of chemical compounds that can induce nutrient enrichments triggering changes in benthic composition. Two independently collected data sets on the marine benthos of the pristine and remote reefs around Pagan Island, Northern Mariana Islands, reveal a sudden critical transition to cyanobacteria-dominated communities in 2009-2010, which coincides with a period of continuous volcanic ash eruptions. Concurrently, localized outbreaks of the coral-killing cyanobacteriosponge Terpios hoshinota displayed a remarkable symbiosis with filamentous cyanobacteria, which supported the rapid overgrowth of massive coral colonies and allowed the sponge to colonize substrate types from which it has not been documented before. The chemical composition of tephra from Pagan indicates that the outbreak of nuisance species on its reefs might represent an early succession stage of iron enrichment (a.k.a. "black reefs") similar to that caused by anthropogenic debris like ship wrecks or natural events like particulate deposition from wildfire smoke plumes or desert dust storms. Once Pagan's volcanic activity ceased in 2011, the cyanobacterial bloom disappeared. Another group of well-known nuisance algae in the tropical Pacific, the pelagophytes, did not reach bloom densities during this period of ash eruptions but new species records for the Northern Mariana Islands were documented. These field observations indicate that the study of population dynamics of pristine coral communities can advance our understanding of the resilience of tropical reef systems to natural and anthropogenic disturbances.}, } @article {pmid23054391, year = {2012}, author = {Seto, Y and Kameoka, H and Yamaguchi, S and Kyozuka, J}, title = {Recent advances in strigolactone research: chemical and biological aspects.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {53}, number = {11}, pages = {1843-1853}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcs142}, pmid = {23054391}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Dioxygenases/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/chemistry/growth & development ; Plants/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Terpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are a group of terpenoid lactones that were discovered in the 1960s. They were initially characterized as allelochemicals secreted from roots to the rhizosphere, and have functions in parasitic and symbiotic interactions with root parasitic plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, respectively. In 2008, SLs were shown to act as endogenous hormones that regulate shoot branching. The discovery of a hormonal function for SLs has provided a link between genetically studied shoot branching mutants and chemically characterized SLs in earlier studies. This has offered new strategies and experimental tools to address a number of intriguing questions as to the biological function and molecular action of SLs. In this review, we will provide an overview of recent topics on SLs, and highlight new discoveries regarding its biosynthetic pathway and multiple hormonal roles in plant development and adaptive responses.}, } @article {pmid23051146, year = {2013}, author = {Volpe, V and Dell'Aglio, E and Giovannetti, M and Ruberti, C and Costa, A and Genre, A and Guether, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {An AM-induced, MYB-family gene of Lotus japonicus (LjMAMI) affects root growth in an AM-independent manner.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {73}, number = {3}, pages = {442-455}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12045}, pmid = {23051146}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; *Genes, Plant ; *Genes, myb ; Lotus/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {The interaction between legumes and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is vital to the development of sustainable plant production systems. Here, we focus on a putative MYB-like (LjMAMI) transcription factor (TF) previously reported to be highly upregulated in Lotus japonicus mycorrhizal roots. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the protein is related to a group of TFs involved in phosphate (Pi) starvation responses, the expression of which is independent of the Pi level, such as PHR1. GUS transformed plants and quantitative reverse transcription PCR revealed strong gene induction in arbusculated cells, as well as the presence of LjMAMI transcripts in lateral root primordia and root meristems, even in the absence of the fungus, and independently of Pi concentration. In agreement with its putative identification as a TF, an eGFP-LjMAMI chimera was localized to the nuclei of plant protoplasts, whereas in transgenic Lotus roots expressing the eGFP-LjMAMI fusion protein under the control of the native promoter, the protein was located in the nuclei of the arbusculated cells. Further expression analyses revealed a correlation between LjMAMI and LjPT4, a marker gene for mycorrhizal function. To elucidate the role of the LjMAMI gene in the mycorrhizal process, RNAi and overexpressing root lines were generated. All the lines retained their symbiotic capacity; however, RNAi root lines and composite plants showed an important reduction in root elongation and branching in the absence of the symbiont. The results support the involvement of the AM-responsive LjMAMI in non-symbiotic functions: i.e. root growth.}, } @article {pmid23050939, year = {2013}, author = {Reynoso, MA and Blanco, FA and Bailey-Serres, J and Crespi, M and Zanetti, ME}, title = {Selective recruitment of mRNAs and miRNAs to polyribosomes in response to rhizobia infection in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {73}, number = {2}, pages = {289-301}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.12033}, pmid = {23050939}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Polyribosomes/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Translation of mRNAs is a key regulatory step that contributes to the coordination and modulation of eukaryotic gene expression during development or adaptation to the environment. mRNA stability or translatability can be regulated by the action of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which control diverse biological processes. Under low nitrogen conditions, leguminous plants associate with soil bacteria and develop a new organ specialized in nitrogen fixation: the nodule. To gain insight into the translational regulation of mRNAs during nodule formation, the association of mRNAs and sRNAs to polysomes was characterized in roots of the model legume Medicago truncatula during the symbiotic interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti. Quantitative comparison of steady-state and polysomal mRNAs for 15 genes involved in nodulation identified a group of transcripts with slight or no change in total cellular abundance that were significantly upregulated at the level of association with polysomes in response to rhizobia. This group included mRNAs encoding receptors like kinases required either for nodule organogenesis, bacterial infection or both, and transcripts encoding GRAS and NF-Y transcription factors (TFs). Quantitative analysis of sRNAs in total and polysomal RNA samples revealed that mature microRNAs (miRNAs) were associated with the translational machinery, notably, miR169 and miR172, which target the NF-YA/HAP2 and AP2 TFs, respectively. Upon inoculation, levels of miR169 pronouncedly decreased in polysomal complexes, concomitant with the increased accumulation of the NF-YA/HAP2 protein. These results indicate that both mRNAs and miRNAs are subject to differential recruitment to polysomes, and expose the importance of selective mRNA translation during root nodule symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23049527, year = {2012}, author = {Orsi, W and Charvet, S and Vd'ačný, P and Bernhard, JM and Edgcomb, VP}, title = {Prevalence of partnerships between bacteria and ciliates in oxygen-depleted marine water columns.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {341}, pmid = {23049527}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbioses between Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya in deep-sea marine environments represent a means for eukaryotes to exploit otherwise inhospitable habitats. Such symbioses are abundant in many low-oxygen benthic marine environments, where the majority of microbial eukaryotes contain prokaryotic symbionts. Here, we present evidence suggesting that in certain oxygen-depleted marine water-column habitats, the majority of microbial eukaryotes are also associated with prokaryotic cells. Ciliates (protists) associated with bacteria were found to be the dominant eukaryotic morphotype in the haloclines of two different deep-sea hypersaline anoxic basins (DHABs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. These findings are compared to associations between ciliates and bacteria documented from the permanently anoxic waters of the Cariaco Basin (Caribbean Sea). The dominance of ciliates exhibiting epibiotic bacteria across three different oxygen-depleted marine water column habitats suggests that such partnerships confer a fitness advantage for ciliates in these environments.}, } @article {pmid23048184, year = {2012}, author = {Suzaki, T and Yano, K and Ito, M and Umehara, Y and Suganuma, N and Kawaguchi, M}, title = {Positive and negative regulation of cortical cell division during root nodule development in Lotus japonicus is accompanied by auxin response.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {139}, number = {21}, pages = {3997-4006}, doi = {10.1242/dev.084079}, pmid = {23048184}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Cell Division/physiology ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lotus/*cytology/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*cytology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nodulation is a form of de novo organogenesis that occurs mainly in legumes. During early nodule development, the host plant root is infected by rhizobia that induce dedifferentiation of some cortical cells, which then proliferate to form the symbiotic root nodule primordium. Two classic phytohormones, cytokinin and auxin, play essential roles in diverse aspects of cell proliferation and differentiation. Although recent genetic studies have established how activation of cytokinin signaling is crucial to the control of cortical cell differentiation, the physiological pathways through which auxin might act in nodule development are poorly characterized. Here, we report the detailed patterns of auxin accumulation during nodule development in Lotus japonicus. Our analyses showed that auxin predominantly accumulates in dividing cortical cells and that NODULE INCEPTION, a key transcription factor in nodule development, positively regulates this accumulation. Additionally, we found that auxin accumulation is inhibited by a systemic negative regulatory mechanism termed autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Analysis of the constitutive activation of LjCLE-RS genes, which encode putative root-derived signals that function in AON, in combination with the determination of auxin accumulation patterns in proliferating cortical cells, indicated that activation of LjCLE-RS genes blocks the progress of further cortical cell division, probably through controlling auxin accumulation. Our data provide evidence for the existence of a novel fine-tuning mechanism that controls nodule development in a cortical cell stage-dependent manner.}, } @article {pmid23046951, year = {2012}, author = {Dunn, AK}, title = {Vibrio fischeri metabolism: symbiosis and beyond.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {61}, number = {}, pages = {37-68}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-394423-8.00002-0}, pmid = {23046951}, issn = {2162-5468}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Fishes/*microbiology/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Quorum Sensing ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri is a bioluminescent, Gram-negative marine bacterium that can be found free living and in a mutualistic association with certain squids and fishes. Over the past decades, the study of V. fischeri has led to important discoveries about bioluminescence, quorum sensing, and the mechanisms that underlie beneficial host-microbe interactions. This chapter highlights what has been learned about metabolic pathways in V. fischeri, and how this information contributes to a broader understanding of the role of bacterial metabolism in host colonization by both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, as well as in the growth and survival of free-living bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23046713, year = {2012}, author = {Giovannetti, M and Balestrini, R and Volpe, V and Guether, M and Straub, D and Costa, A and Ludewig, U and Bonfante, P}, title = {Two putative-aquaporin genes are differentially expressed during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {186}, pmid = {23046713}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Aquaporins/chemistry/*genetics ; Biological Transport/genetics ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/*genetics/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Epidermis/cytology/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Time Factors ; Tobacco/cytology/metabolism ; Urea/metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are widespread symbioses that provide great advantages to the plant, improving its nutritional status and allowing the fungus to complete its life cycle. Nevertheless, molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of AM symbiosis are not yet fully deciphered. Here, we have focused on two putative aquaporin genes, LjNIP1 and LjXIP1, which resulted to be upregulated in a transcriptomic analysis performed on mycorrhizal roots of Lotus japonicus.

RESULTS: A phylogenetic analysis has shown that the two putative aquaporins belong to different functional families: NIPs and XIPs. Transcriptomic experiments have shown the independence of their expression from their nutritional status but also a close correlation with mycorrhizal and rhizobial interaction. Further transcript quantification has revealed a good correlation between the expression of one of them, LjNIP1, and LjPT4, the phosphate transporter which is considered a marker gene for mycorrhizal functionality. By using laser microdissection, we have demonstrated that one of the two genes, LjNIP1, is expressed exclusively in arbuscule-containing cells. LjNIP1, in agreement with its putative role as an aquaporin, is capable of transferring water when expressed in yeast protoplasts. Confocal analysis have demonstrated that eGFP-LjNIP1, under its endogenous promoter, accumulates in the inner membrane system of arbusculated cells.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results have shown different functionality and expression specificity of two mycorrhiza-inducible aquaporins in L. japonicus. One of them, LjNIP1 can be considered a novel molecular marker of mycorrhizal status at different developmental stages of the arbuscule. At the same time, LjXIP1 results to be the first XIP family aquaporin to be transcriptionally regulated during symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23043612, year = {2012}, author = {Ho, J and de Moura, MB and Lin, Y and Vincent, G and Thorne, S and Duncan, LM and Hui-Min, L and Kirkwood, JM and Becker, D and Van Houten, B and Moschos, SJ}, title = {Importance of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in advanced melanoma.}, journal = {Molecular cancer}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {76}, pmid = {23043612}, issn = {1476-4598}, support = {P50 CA121973/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50CA121973/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Progression ; *Glycolysis ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; Isoenzymes/blood ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood ; Melanoma/blood/*metabolism/pathology ; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nevus/metabolism ; *Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a prognostic factor for patients with stage IV melanoma. To gain insights into the biology underlying this prognostic factor, we analyzed total serum LDH, serum LDH isoenzymes, and serum lactate in up to 49 patients with metastatic melanoma. Our data demonstrate that high serum LDH is associated with a significant increase in LDH isoenzymes 3 and 4, and a decrease in LDH isoenzymes 1 and 2. Since LDH isoenzymes play a role in both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), we subsequently determined using tissue microarray (TMA) analysis that the levels of proteins associated with mitochondrial function, lactate metabolism, and regulators of glycolysis were all elevated in advanced melanomas compared with nevic melanocytes. To investigate whether in advanced melanoma, the glycolysis and OXPHOS pathways might be linked, we determined expression of the monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) 1 and 4. Analysis of a nevus-to-melanoma progression TMA revealed that MCT4, and to a lesser extend MCT1, were elevated with progression to advanced melanoma. Further analysis of human melanoma specimens using the Seahorse XF24 extracellular flux analyzer indicated that metastatic melanoma tumors derived a large fraction of energy from OXPHOS. Taken together, these findings suggest that in stage IV melanomas with normal serum LDH, glycolysis and OXPHOS may provide metabolic symbiosis within the same tumor, whereas in stage IV melanomas with high serum LDH glycolysis is the principle source of energy.}, } @article {pmid23043322, year = {2012}, author = {Planamente, S and Mondy, S and Hommais, F and Vigouroux, A and Moréra, S and Faure, D}, title = {Structural basis for selective GABA binding in bacterial pathogens.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {5}, pages = {1085-1099}, doi = {10.1111/mmi.12043}, pmid = {23043322}, issn = {1365-2958}, mesh = {Agrobacterium tumefaciens/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Protein Binding ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, GABA/genetics/metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tobacco/*microbiology ; Transcriptome ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {GABA acts as an intercellular signal in eukaryotes and as an interspecies signal in host-microbe interactions. Structural characteristics of selective eukaryotic GABA receptors and bacterial GABA sensors are unknown. Here, we identified the selective GABA-binding protein, called Atu4243, in the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A constructed atu4243 mutant was affected in GABA transport and in expression of the GABA-regulated functions, including aggressiveness on two plant hosts and degradation of the quorum-sensing signal. The GABA-bound Atu4243 structure at 1.28 Å reveals that GABA adopts a conformation never observed so far and interacts with two key residues, Arg(203) and Asp(226) of which the role in GABA binding and GABA signalling in Agrobacterium has been validated using appropriate mutants. The conformational GABA-analogue trans-4-aminocrotonic acid (TACA) antagonizes GABA activity, suggesting structural similarities between the binding sites of the bacterial sensor Atu4243 and mammalian GABA(C) receptors. Exploration of genomic databases reveals Atu4243 orthologues in several pathogenic and symbiotic proteobacteria, such as Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Burkholderia and Pseudomonas. Thus, this study establishes a structural basis for selective GABA sensors and offers opportunities for deciphering the role of the GABA-mediated communication in several host-pathogen interactions.}, } @article {pmid23042998, year = {2012}, author = {Shibata, S and Yip, ES and Quirke, KP and Ondrey, JM and Visick, KL}, title = {Roles of the structural symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) genes in host colonization, biofilm formation, and polysaccharide biosynthesis in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {24}, pages = {6736-6747}, pmid = {23042998}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Adhesion/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Glass ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis polysaccharide locus, syp, is required for Vibrio fischeri to form a symbiotic association with the squid Euprymna scolopes. It is also required for biofilm formation induced by the unlinked regulator RscS. The syp locus includes 18 genes that can be classified into four groups based on putative function: 4 genes encode putative regulators, 6 encode glycosyltransferases, 2 encode export proteins, and the remaining 6 encode proteins with other functions, including polysaccharide modification. To understand the roles of each of the 14 structural syp genes in colonization and biofilm formation, we generated nonpolar in-frame deletions of each gene. All of the deletion mutants exhibited defects in their ability to colonize juvenile squid, although the impact of the loss of SypB or SypI was modest. Consistent with their requirement for colonization, most of the structural genes were also required for RscS-induced biofilm formation. In particular, the production of wrinkled colonies, pellicles, and the matrix on the colony surface was eliminated or severely decreased in all mutants except for the sypB and sypI mutants; in contrast, only a subset of genes appeared to play a role in attachment to glass. Finally, immunoblotting data suggested that the structural Syp proteins are involved in polysaccharide production and/or export. These results provide important insights into the requirements for the syp genes under different environmental conditions and thus lay the groundwork for a more complete understanding of the matrix produced by V. fischeri to enhance cell-cell interactions and promote symbiotic colonization.}, } @article {pmid23042513, year = {2013}, author = {Scales, BS and Huffnagle, GB}, title = {The microbiome in wound repair and tissue fibrosis.}, journal = {The Journal of pathology}, volume = {229}, number = {2}, pages = {323-331}, pmid = {23042513}, issn = {1096-9896}, support = {U19 AI090871/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01HL114447/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; P30DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL114447/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; T32AI007528/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R21AI087869/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI087869/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; U19AI090871/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007528/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms ; Fibrosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Symbiosis ; *Wound Healing ; }, abstract = {Bacterial colonization occurs in all wounds, chronic or acute, and the break in epithelium integrity that defines a wound impairs the forces that shape and constrain the microbiome at that site. This review highlights the interactions between bacterial communities in the wound and the ultimate resolution of the wound or development of fibrotic lesions. Chronic wounds support complex microbial communities comprising a wide variety of bacterial phyla, genera, and species, including some fastidious anaerobic bacteria not identified using culture-based methods. Thus, the complexity of bacterial communities in wounds has historically been underestimated. There are a number of intriguing possibilities to explain these results that may also provide novel insights into changes and adaptation of bacterial metabolic networks in inflamed and wounded mucosa, including the critical role of biofilm formation. It is well accepted that the heightened state of activation of host cells in a wound that is driven by the microbiota can certainly lead to detrimental effects on wound regeneration, but the microbiota of the wound may also have beneficial effects on wound healing. Studies in experimental systems have clearly demonstrated a beneficial effect for members of the gut microbiota on regulation of systemic inflammation, which could also impact wound healing at sites outside the gastrointestinal tract. The utilization of culture-independent microbiology to characterize the microbiome of wounds and surrounding mucosa has raised many intriguing questions regarding previously held notions about the cause and effect relationships between bacterial colonization and wound repair and mechanisms involved in this symbiotic relationship.}, } @article {pmid23042170, year = {2012}, author = {Morse, SF and Dick, CW and Patterson, BD and Dittmar, K}, title = {Some like it hot: evolution and ecology of novel endosymbionts in bat flies of cave-roosting bats (hippoboscoidea, nycterophiliinae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {24}, pages = {8639-8649}, pmid = {23042170}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chiroptera/*parasitology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Diptera/*microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {We investigated previously unknown associations between bacterial endosymbionts and bat flies of the subfamily Nycterophiliinae (Diptera, Streblidae). Molecular analyses revealed a novel clade of Gammaproteobacteria in Nycterophilia bat flies. This clade was not closely related to Arsenophonus-like microbes found in its sister genus Phalconomus and other bat flies. High population infection rates in Nycterophilia across a wide geographic area, the presence of the symbionts in pupae, the general codivergence between hosts and symbionts, and high AT composition bias in symbiont genes together suggest that this host-symbiont association is obligate in nature and ancient in origin. Some Nycterophilia samples (14.8%) also contained Wolbachia supergroup F (Alphaproteobacteria), suggesting a facultative symbiosis. Likelihood-based ancestral character mapping revealed that, initially, obligate symbionts exhibited association with host-specific Nycterophilia bat flies that use a broad temperature range of cave environments for pupal development. As this mutualism evolved, the temperature range of bat flies narrowed to an exclusive use of hot caves, which was followed by a secondary broadening of the bat flies' host associations. These results suggest that the symbiosis has influenced the environmental tolerance of parasite life history stages. Furthermore, the contingent change to an expanded host range of Nycterophilia bat flies upon narrowing the ecological niche of their developmental stages suggests that altered environmental tolerance across life history stages may be a crucial factor in shaping parasite-host relationships.}, } @article {pmid23042130, year = {2012}, author = {Charlton, ND and Shoji, JY and Ghimire, SR and Nakashima, J and Craven, KD}, title = {Deletion of the fungal gene soft disrupts mutualistic symbiosis between the grass endophyte Epichloë festucae and the host plant.}, journal = {Eukaryotic cell}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {1463-1471}, pmid = {23042130}, issn = {1535-9786}, mesh = {Endophytes/*genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism/toxicity ; *Gene Deletion ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; Hyphae/cytology ; Hypocreales/cytology/*genetics/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Lolium/cytology/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Hyphal anastomosis, or vegetative hyphal fusion, establishes the interconnection of individual hyphal strands into an integrated network of a fungal mycelium. In contrast to recent advances in the understanding of the molecular basis for hyphal anastomosis, knowledge of the physiological role of hyphal anastomosis in the natural habitats of filamentous fungi is still very limited. To investigate the role of hyphal anastomosis in fungal endophyte-plant interactions, we generated mutant strains lacking the Epichloë festucae soft (so) gene, an ortholog of the hyphal anastomosis gene so in the endophytic fungus E. festucae. The E. festucae Δso mutant strains grew similarly to the wild-type strain in culture but with reduced aerial hyphae and completely lacked hyphal anastomosis. The most striking phenotype of the E. festucae Δso mutant strain was that it failed to establish a mutualistic symbiosis with the tall fescue plant host (Lolium arundinaceum); instead, it killed the host plant within 2 months after the initial infection. Microscopic examination revealed that the death of the tall fescue plant host was associated with the distortion and disorganization of plant cells. This study suggests that hyphal anastomosis may have an important role in the establishment/maintenance of fungal endophyte-host plant mutualistic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23041644, year = {2013}, author = {Zheng, WT and Li, Y and Wang, R and Sui, XH and Zhang, XX and Zhang, JJ and Wang, ET and Chen, WX}, title = {Mesorhizobium qingshengii sp. nov., isolated from effective nodules of Astragalus sinicus.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {2002-2007}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.044362-0}, pmid = {23041644}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/*microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/analysis ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ubiquinone/analogs & derivatives/analysis ; }, abstract = {In a study on the diversity of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of Astragalus sinicus, five strains showed identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. They were related most closely to the type strains of Mesorhizobium loti, Mesorhizobium shangrilense, Mesorhizobium ciceri and Mesorhizobium australicum, with sequence similarities of 99.6-99.8%. A polyphasic approach, including 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS) RFLP, comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, atpD, glnII and recA genes, DNA-DNA hybridization and phenotypic tests, clustered the five isolates into a coherent group distinct from all recognized Mesorhizobium species. Except for strain CCBAU 33446, from which no symbiotic gene was detected, the four remaining strains shared identical nifH and nodC gene sequences and nodulated with Astragalus sinicus. In addition, these five strains showed similar but different fingerprints in IGS-RFLP and BOX-repeat-based PCR, indicating that they were not clones of the same strain. They were also distinguished from recognized Mesorhizobium species by several phenotypic features and fatty acid profiles. Based upon all the results, we suggest that the five strains represent a novel species for which the name Mesorhizobium qingshengii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 33460(T) (=CGMCC 1.12097(T)=LMG 26793(T)=HAMBI 3277(T)). The DNA G+C content of the type strain is 59.52 mol% (Tm).}, } @article {pmid23041355, year = {2012}, author = {Lefoulon, E and Gavotte, L and Junker, K and Barbuto, M and Uni, S and Landmann, F and Laaksonen, S and Saari, S and Nikander, S and de Souza Lima, S and Casiraghi, M and Bain, O and Martin, C}, title = {A new type F Wolbachia from Splendidofilariinae (Onchocercidae) supports the recent emergence of this supergroup.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {42}, number = {11}, pages = {1025-1036}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.09.004}, pmid = {23041355}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nematoda/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics/metabolism ; Wolbachia/*classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are vertically transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria of arthropods and onchocercid nematodes. It is commonly accepted that they co-evolved with their filarial hosts, and have secondarily been lost in some species. However, most of the data on the Wolbachia/Onchocercidae relationship have been derived from studies on two subfamilies, the Dirofilariinae and the Onchocercinae, which harbour parasites of humans and domestic animals. Within the last few years, analyses of more diverse material have suggested that some groups of Onchocercidae do not have Wolbachia, such as recently studied Splendidofilariinae from birds. This study takes advantage of the analysis of additional Splendidofilariinae, Rumenfilaria andersoni from a Finnish reindeer and Madathamugadia hiepei from a South African gecko, using PCR, immunohistochemical staining and whole-mount fluorescent analysis to detect Wolbachia and describe its strains. A DNA barcoding approach and phylogenetic analyses were used to investigate the symbiosis between Wolbachia and the Onchocercidae. A new supergroup F Wolbachia was demonstrated in M. hiepei, representing the first filarial nematode harbouring Wolbachia described in a non-mammalian host. In the adult, Wolbachia infects the female germline but not the hypodermis, and intestinal cells are also infected. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed a recent emergence of supergroup F. They also suggested several events of horizontal transmission between nematodes and arthropods in this supergroup, and the existence of different metabolic interactions between the filarial nematodes and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid23036821, year = {2012}, author = {Harrison, MJ}, title = {Cellular programs for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, pages = {691-698}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.08.010}, pmid = {23036821}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Calcium Signaling ; Cell Membrane/metabolism/microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Hyphae/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Cells/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Epidermis/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, AM fungi colonize root cortical cells to obtain carbon from the plant, while assisting the plant with the acquisition of mineral nutrients from the soil. Within the root cells, the fungal hyphae inhabit membrane-bound compartments that the plant establishes to accommodate the fungal symbiont. Recent data provide new insights into the events associated with development of the symbiosis including signaling for the formation of a cellular apparatus that guides hyphal growth through the cell. Plant genes that play key roles in a cellular program for the accommodation of microbial symbionts have been identified. In the inner cortical cells, tightly regulated changes in gene expression accompanied by a transient reorientation of secretion, enables the cell to build and populate the periarbuscular membrane with its unique complement of transporter proteins. Similarities between the cellular events for development of the periarbuscular membrane and cell plate formation are emerging.}, } @article {pmid23036053, year = {2014}, author = {Saadeddin, A}, title = {The complexities of hydrolytic enzymes from the termite digestive system.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {115-122}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2012.727379}, pmid = {23036053}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {Animals ; Biofuels ; Biomass ; *Cellulases ; Digestive System/*enzymology/microbiology/parasitology ; Hydrolysis ; Isoptera/*enzymology/microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Lignin/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The main challenge in second generation bioethanol production is the efficient breakdown of cellulose to sugar monomers (hydrolysis). Due to the recalcitrant character of cellulose, feedstock pretreatment and adapted hydrolysis steps are needed to obtain fermentable sugar monomers. The conventional industrial production process of second-generation bioethanol from biomass comprises several steps: thermochemical pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and sugar fermentation. This process is undergoing continuous optimization in order to increase the bioethanol yield and reduce the economic cost. Therefore, the discovery of new enzymes with high lignocellulytic activity or new strategies is extremely important. In nature, wood-feeding termites have developed a sophisticated and efficient cellulose degrading system in terms of the rate and extent of cellulose hydrolysis and exploitation. This system, which represents a model for digestive symbiosis has attracted the attention of biofuel researchers. This review describes the termite digestive system, gut symbionts, termite enzyme resources, in vitro studies of isolated enzymes and lignin degradation in termites.}, } @article {pmid23035866, year = {2012}, author = {Ray, VA and Visick, KL}, title = {LuxU connects quorum sensing to biofilm formation in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {86}, number = {4}, pages = {954-970}, pmid = {23035866}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Gene Deletion ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Library ; Models, Biological ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Phosphoproteins/*metabolism ; *Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {Biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri is a complex process involving multiple regulators, including the sensor kinase (SK) RscS and the response regulator (RR) SypG, which control the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus. To identify other regulators of biofilm formation in V. fischeri, we screened a transposon library for mutants defective in wrinkled colony formation. We identified LuxQ as a positive regulator of syp-dependent biofilm formation. LuxQ is a member of the Lux phosphorelay and is predicted to control bioluminescence in concert with the SK AinR, the phosphotransferase LuxU and the RR LuxO. Of these, LuxU was the only other regulator that exerted a substantial impact on biofilm formation. We propose a model in which the Lux pathway branches at LuxU to control both bioluminescence and biofilm formation. Furthermore, our evidence suggests that LuxU functions to regulate syp transcription, likely by controlling SypG activity. Finally, we found that, in contrast to its predicted function, the SK AinR has little impact on bioluminescence under our conditions. Thus, this study reveals a novel connection between the Lux and Syp pathways in V. fischeri, and furthers our understanding of how the Lux pathway regulates bioluminescence in this organism.}, } @article {pmid23035572, year = {2012}, author = {Makarova, LE and Smirnov, VI and Klyba, LV and Petrova, IG and Dudareva, LV}, title = {[Role of allelopathic compositions in the regulation and development of legume-rhizobial symbiosis].}, journal = {Prikladnaia biokhimiia i mikrobiologiia}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {394-402}, pmid = {23035572}, issn = {0555-1099}, mesh = {2-Naphthylamine/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Bacterial Load/drug effects ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Esters ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Peas/microbiology/*physiology ; Phthalic Acids/chemistry/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Plant Exudates/*chemistry ; Plant Roots/*chemistry/microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*drug effects/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Soybeans/microbiology/*physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/physiology ; Vicia faba/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {It was discovered that aromatic compounds isolated from root exudates of three legume species (Pisum sativum L., Vicia faba L. var. major Hartz, and Glycine max L. MERR) and identified as N-phenyl-2-naphthyl amine, dibutyl, and dioctyl esters of orthophthalic acid, which are known to work as negative allelopathic substances, are involved in the regulation of legume-rhizobial symbiosis formation after the inoculation of roots with rhizobia under unfavorable conditions for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23034505, year = {2012}, author = {Heyman, J and De Veylder, L}, title = {The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome in control of plant development.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {1182-1194}, doi = {10.1093/mp/sss094}, pmid = {23034505}, issn = {1752-9867}, mesh = {Anaphase-Promoting Complex-Cyclosome/genetics/*metabolism ; Gametogenesis, Plant/genetics ; Mutation ; *Plant Development/genetics ; Plants/*enzymology ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; }, abstract = {Temporal controlled degradation of key cell division proteins ensures a correct onset of the different cell cycle phases and exit from the cell division program. In light of the cell cycle, the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) is an important conserved multi-subunit ubiquitin ligase, marking targets for degradation by the 26S proteasome. However, whereas the APC/C has been studied extensively in yeast and mammals, only in the last decade has the plant APC/C started to unveil its secrets. Research results have shown the importance of the APC/C core complex and its activators during gametogenesis, growth, hormone signaling, symbiotic interactions, and endoreduplication onset. In addition, recently, the first plant APC/C inhibitors have been reported, allowing a fine-tuning of APC/C activity during the cell cycle. Together with the identification of the first APC/C targets, a picture emerges of APC/C activity being essential for many different developmental processes.}, } @article {pmid23029512, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, JT and Chen, YY and Tew, KS and Meng, PJ and Chen, CA}, title = {Physiological and biochemical performances of menthol-induced aposymbiotic corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e46406}, pmid = {23029512}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/*physiology ; Cell Respiration/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/*physiology ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Light ; Malate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Menthol/*pharmacology ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {The unique mutualism between corals and their photosynthetic zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium spp.) is the driving force behind functional assemblages of coral reefs. However, the respective roles of hosts and Symbiodinium in this endosymbiotic association, particularly in response to environmental challenges (e.g., high sea surface temperatures), remain unsettled. One of the key obstacles is to produce and maintain aposymbiotic coral hosts for experimental purposes. In this study, a simple and gentle protocol to generate aposymbiotic coral hosts (Isopora palifera and Stylophora pistillata) was developed using repeated incubation in menthol/artificial seawater (ASW) medium under light and in ASW in darkness, which depleted more than 99% of Symbiodinium from the host within 4∼8 days. As indicated by the respiration rate, energy metabolism (by malate dehydrogenase activity), and nitrogen metabolism (by glutamate dehydrogenase activity and profiles of free amino acids), the physiological and biochemical performances of the menthol-induced aposymbiotic corals were comparable to their symbiotic counterparts without nutrient supplementation (e.g., for Stylophora) or with a nutrient supplement containing glycerol, vitamins, and a host mimic of free amino acid mixture (e.g., for Isopora). Differences in biochemical responses to menthol-induced bleaching between Stylophora and Isopora were attributed to the former digesting Symbiodinium rather than expelling the algae live as found in the latter species. Our studies showed that menthol could successfully bleach corals and provided aposymbiotic corals for further exploration of coral-alga symbioses.}, } @article {pmid23029158, year = {2012}, author = {File, AL and Klironomos, J and Maherali, H and Dudley, SA}, title = {Plant kin recognition enhances abundance of symbiotic microbial partner.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e45648}, pmid = {23029158}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The stability of cooperative interactions among different species can be compromised by cheating. In the plant-mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis, a single mycorrhizal network may interact with many plants, providing the opportunity for individual plants to cheat by obtaining nutrients from the fungi without donating carbon. Here we determine whether kin selection may favour plant investment in the mycorrhizal network, reducing the incentive to cheat when relatives interact with a single network.

We show that mycorrhizal network size and root colonization were greater when Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. was grown with siblings compared to strangers. Soil fungal abundance was positively correlated with group leaf nitrogen, and increased root colonization was associated with a reduced number of pathogen-induced root lesions, indicating greater benefit to plants grown with siblings.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Plants can benefit their relatives through investment in mycorrhizal fungi, and kin selection in plants could promote the persistence of the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23028533, year = {2012}, author = {Palavesam, A and Guerrero, FD and Heekin, AM and Wang, J and Dowd, SE and Sun, Y and Foil, LD and Pérez de León, AA}, title = {Pyrosequencing-based analysis of the microbiome associated with the horn fly, Haematobia irritans.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e44390}, pmid = {23028533}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Cattle ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Female ; Male ; Metagenome/*genetics ; Muscidae/*microbiology ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {The horn fly, Haematobia irritans, is one of the most economically important pests of cattle. Insecticides have been a major element of horn fly management programs. Growing concerns with insecticide resistance, insecticide residues on farm products, and non-availability of new generation insecticides, are serious issues for the livestock industry. Alternative horn fly control methods offer the promise to decrease the use of insecticides and reduce the amount of insecticide residues on livestock products and give an impetus to the organic livestock farming segment. The horn fly, an obligatory blood feeder, requires the help of microflora to supply additional nutrients and metabolize the blood meal. Recent advancements in DNA sequencing methodologies enable researchers to examine the microflora diversity independent of culture methods. We used the bacterial 16S tag-encoded FLX-titanium amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) method to carry out the classification analysis of bacterial flora in adult female and male horn flies and horn fly eggs. The bTEFAP method identified 16S rDNA sequences in our samples which allowed the identification of various prokaryotic taxa associated with the life stage examined. This is the first comprehensive report of bacterial flora associated with the horn fly using a culture-independent method. Several rumen, environmental, symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria associated with the horn fly were identified and quantified. This is the first report of the presence of Wolbachia in horn flies of USA origin and is the first report of the presence of Rikenella in an obligatory blood feeding insect.}, } @article {pmid23028202, year = {2013}, author = {Yu, ZT and Chen, C and Kling, DE and Liu, B and McCoy, JM and Merighi, M and Heidtman, M and Newburg, DS}, title = {The principal fucosylated oligosaccharides of human milk exhibit prebiotic properties on cultured infant microbiota.}, journal = {Glycobiology}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {169-177}, pmid = {23028202}, issn = {1460-2423}, support = {AI075563/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; HD013021/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; HD059140/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Bifidobacterium/drug effects/growth & development ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; Fermentation ; Fucose/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lactic Acid/biosynthesis ; Metagenome/drug effects ; *Milk, Human/chemistry/microbiology ; *Oligosaccharides/chemistry/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Trisaccharides/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Breast-fed infant microbiota is typically rich in bifidobacteria. Herein, major human milk oligosaccharides (HMOS) are assessed for their ability to promote the growth of bifidobacteria and to acidify their environment, key features of prebiotics. During in vitro anaerobic fermentation of infant microbiota, supplementation by HMOS significantly decreased the pH even greater than supplementation by fructooligosaccharide (FOS), a prebiotic positive control. HMOS elevated lactate concentrations, increased the proportion of Bifidobacterium spp. in culture, and through their fermentation into organic acids, decreased the proportion of Escherichia and Clostridium perfringens. Three principal components of HMOS, 2'-fucosyllactose, lactodifucotetraose and 3-fucosyllactose, were consumed in these cultures. These three principal oligosaccharides of human milk were then individually tested as supplements for in vitro growth of four individual representative strains of infant gut microbes. Bifidobacterium longum JCM7007 and B. longum ATCC15697 efficiently consumed oligosaccharides and produced abundant lactate and short-chain fatty acids, resulting in significant pH reduction. The specificity of fermentation differed by microbe species and strain and by oligosaccharide structure. Escherichia coli K12 and C. perfringens did not utilize appreciable fucosylated oligosaccharides, and a typical mixture of organic acid fermentation products inhibited their growth. In summary, 2'-fucosyllactose, lactodifucotetraose, and 3-fucosyllactose, when cultured with B. longum JCM7007 and B. longum ATCC15697, exhibit key characteristics of a prebiotic in vitro. If these bifidobacteria are representative of pioneering or keystone species for human microbiota, fucosylated HMOS could strongly promote colonization and maintenance of a mutualist symbiotic microbiome. Thus, these simple glycans could mediate beneficial effects of human milk on infant health.}, } @article {pmid23027876, year = {2012}, author = {Rol, N and Favre, L and Benyacoub, J and Corthésy, B}, title = {The role of secretory immunoglobulin A in the natural sensing of commensal bacteria by mouse Peyer's patch dendritic cells.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {287}, number = {47}, pages = {40074-40082}, pmid = {23027876}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; *Dendritic Cells/immunology/microbiology ; Female ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/*immunology ; *Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/immunology/microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; *Peyer's Patches/cytology/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a diverse population of commensal species collectively known as the microbiota, which interact continuously with the host. From very early in life, secretory IgA (SIgA) is found in association with intestinal bacteria. It is considered that this helps to ensure self-limiting growth of the microbiota and hence participates in symbiosis. However, the importance of this association in contributing to the mechanisms ensuring natural host-microorganism communication is in need of further investigation. In the present work, we examined the possible role of SIgA in the transport of commensal bacteria across the GI epithelium. Using an intestinal loop mouse model and fluorescently labeled bacteria, we found that entry of commensal bacteria in Peyer's patches (PP) via the M cell pathway was mediated by their association with SIgA. Preassociation of bacteria with nonspecific SIgA increased their dynamics of entry and restored the reduced transport observed in germ-free mice known to have a marked reduction in intestinal SIgA production. Selective SIgA-mediated targeting of bacteria is restricted to the tolerogenic CD11c(+)CD11b(+)CD8(-) dendritic cell subset located in the subepithelial dome region of PPs, confirming that the host is not ignorant of its resident commensals. In conclusion, our work supports the concept that SIgA-mediated monitoring of commensal bacteria targeting dendritic cells in the subepithelial dome region of PPs represents a mechanism whereby the host mucosal immune system controls the continuous dialogue between the host and commensal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23027664, year = {2012}, author = {Granqvist, E and Wysham, D and Hazledine, S and Kozlowski, W and Sun, J and Charpentier, M and Martins, TV and Haleux, P and Tsaneva-Atanasova, K and Downie, JA and Oldroyd, GE and Morris, RJ}, title = {Buffering capacity explains signal variation in symbiotic calcium oscillations.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {160}, number = {4}, pages = {2300-2310}, pmid = {23027664}, issn = {1532-2548}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Buffers ; Calcium/metabolism ; *Calcium Signaling ; Computer Simulation ; Kinetics ; Medicago truncatula/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Reproducibility of Results ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes form symbioses with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that aid plant nutrition. A critical component in the establishment of these symbioses is nuclear-localized calcium (Ca(2+)) oscillations. Different components on the nuclear envelope have been identified as being required for the generation of the Ca(2+) oscillations. Among these an ion channel, Doesn't Make Infections1, is preferentially localized on the inner nuclear envelope and a Ca(2+) ATPase is localized on both the inner and outer nuclear envelopes. Doesn't Make Infections1 is conserved across plants and has a weak but broad similarity to bacterial potassium channels. A possible role for this cation channel could be hyperpolarization of the nuclear envelope to counterbalance the charge caused by the influx of Ca(2+) into the nucleus. Ca(2+) channels and Ca(2+) pumps are needed for the release and reuptake of Ca(2+) from the internal store, which is hypothesized to be the nuclear envelope lumen and endoplasmic reticulum, but the release mechanism of Ca(2+) remains to be identified and characterized. Here, we develop a mathematical model based on these components to describe the observed symbiotic Ca(2+) oscillations. This model can recapitulate Ca(2+) oscillations, and with the inclusion of Ca(2+)-binding proteins it offers a simple explanation for several previously unexplained phenomena. These include long periods of frequency variation, changes in spike shape, and the initiation and termination of oscillations. The model also predicts that an increase in buffering capacity in the nucleoplasm would cause a period of rapid oscillations. This phenomenon was observed experimentally by adding more of the inducing signal.}, } @article {pmid23027344, year = {2012}, author = {Anwar, H and Rahman, ZU and Muhammad, F and Javed, I}, title = {Immunohistochemical localization and morphometry of somatotrophs and lactotrophs in protein, probiotic and symbiotic supplemented molted layers.}, journal = {European journal of histochemistry : EJH}, volume = {56}, number = {3}, pages = {e28}, pmid = {23027344}, issn = {2038-8306}, mesh = {Animals ; Chickens ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lactotrophs/*cytology/metabolism ; Oviposition/physiology ; Probiotics/*metabolism ; Somatotrophs/*cytology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Two-hundred Single Comb White Leg-Horn spent hens at the age of 70 weeks were purchased from a commercial layer farm. The birds were shifted to the Poultry Research Station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. High dietary zinc (3g/kg feed/day) was used to induce molting in all the birds after one week of acclimatization. Thereafter, birds were divided in groups of 50 birds each, with the following treatments: G1 [control; crude protein (CP)16%, no other supplement], G2 (CP18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP16%, Symbiotic, 85 mg/L drinking water) and G4 (CP16%, Probiotic, 85mg/L in drinking water). Fifteen birds were slaughtered at 5% of peak of production each to collect their pituitary glands. The better egg production was seen in all the supplemented groups as compared to the control. Especially an earlier post molt production recovery and delayed decline was seen in the G2 as compared to all other groups. The immunohistochemistry of the pituitary gland reveals the decrease (P≤0.01) in the cell and nucleus size as well as area of somatotrophs in G2 and G4 as compared to G1. The cell and nucleus size as well as area of lactotrophs decreased (P≤0.01) in G2, G3 and G4 as compared to G1. The better and earlier post molt production in G2 highlights the potential role of protein supplementation in connection with the decreased lactotroph size and area in molted birds.}, } @article {pmid23025593, year = {2012}, author = {Uriz, MJ and Agell, G and Blanquer, A and Turon, X and Casamayor, EO}, title = {Endosymbiotic calcifying bacteria: a new cue to the origin of calcification in metazoa?.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {66}, number = {10}, pages = {2993-2999}, pmid = {23025593}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*growth & development ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Porifera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges show the highest diversity of associated bacteria among marine invertebrates. Immunological evidence traces the origin of the sponge bacterial symbioses to the Precambrian era. Hence, sponges appear to be ideally suited for studying the evolutionary origins of prokaryote-metazoan associations. Sponges produce either calcareous or siliceous skeletons, which only coexist in a relict group of demosponges, the sclerosponges. We report here, for the first time, intensive calcification in nonsclerosponge siliceous demosponges. Calcification is mediated by endosymbiotic bacteria (calcibacteria) located in archeocyte-like sponge cells. These calcibacteria are devoid of bacterial walls and divide within sponge cells until they became surrounded by a calcitic sheet, being subsequently extruded to the sponge subectosomal (subepithelial) zone. Thousands of bacteria-produced calcitic spherules cover the surface of the host sponges, forming a cortex-like structure that mimics a rudimentary peripheral skeleton. Calcibacteria are vertically transferred to the sponge larvae during embryogenesis. Calcium detoxification may have generated this symbiotic association, with some additional benefits for the sponges, such as skeletal formation and deterrence from predation. This unique symbiosis holds implications for sponge biology and may advance discussions on the role of bacteria in early biocalcification processes in metazoans.}, } @article {pmid23025552, year = {2012}, author = {Ho-Huu, J and Ronfort, J and De Mita, S and Bataillon, T and Hochu, I and Weber, A and Chantret, N}, title = {Contrasted patterns of selective pressure in three recent paralogous gene pairs in the Medicago genus (L.).}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {195}, pmid = {23025552}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Gene Duplication ; Medicago/*classification/*genetics ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Polygalacturonase/genetics ; *Selection, Genetic ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gene duplications are a molecular mechanism potentially mediating generation of functional novelty. However, the probabilities of maintenance and functional divergence of duplicated genes are shaped by selective pressures acting on gene copies immediately after the duplication event. The ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution rates in protein-coding sequences provides a means to investigate selective pressures based on genic sequences. Three molecular signatures can reveal early stages of functional divergence between gene copies: change in the level of purifying selection between paralogous genes, occurrence of positive selection, and transient relaxed purifying selection following gene duplication. We studied three pairs of genes that are known to be involved in an interaction with symbiotic bacteria and were recently duplicated in the history of the Medicago genus (Fabaceae). We sequenced two pairs of polygalacturonase genes (Pg11-Pg3 and Pg11a-Pg11c) and one pair of auxine transporter-like genes (Lax2-Lax4) in 17 species belonging to the Medicago genus, and sought for molecular signatures of differentiation between copies.

RESULTS: Selective histories revealed by these three signatures of molecular differentiation were found to be markedly different between each pair of paralogs. We found sites under positive selection in the Pg11 paralogs while Pg3 has mainly evolved under purifying selection. The most recent paralogs examined Pg11a and Pg11c, are both undergoing positive selection and might be acquiring new functions. Lax2 and Lax4 paralogs are both under strong purifying selection, but still underwent a temporary relaxation of purifying selection immediately after duplication.

CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the variety of selective pressures undergone by duplicated genes and the effect of age of the duplication. We found that relaxation of selective constraints immediately after duplication might promote adaptive divergence.}, } @article {pmid23025475, year = {2012}, author = {Yoshida, S and Kameoka, H and Tempo, M and Akiyama, K and Umehara, M and Yamaguchi, S and Hayashi, H and Kyozuka, J and Shirasu, K}, title = {The D3 F-box protein is a key component in host strigolactone responses essential for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {4}, pages = {1208-1216}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04339.x}, pmid = {23025475}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {F-Box Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Terpenes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) represents an ancient endosymbiosis between plant roots and Glomeromycota fungi. Strigolactones (SLs), plant-derived terpenoid lactones, activate hyphal branching of AM fungi before physical contact. Lack of SL biosynthesis results in lower colonization of AM fungi. The F-box protein, DWARF3 (D3), and the hydrolase family protein DWARF14 (D14) are crucial for SL responses in rice. Here we conducted AM fungal colonization assays with the SL-insensitive d3 and d14 mutants. The d3 mutant exhibited strong defects in AM fungal colonization, whereas the d14 mutant showed higher AM fungal colonization. As D14 has a homologous protein, D14-LIKE, we generated D14-LIKE knockdown lines by RNA interference in the wildtype and d14 background. D14 and D14-LIKE double knockdown lines exhibited similar colonization rates as those of the d14-1 mutant. D3 is crucial for establishing AM symbiosis in rice, whereas D14 and D14-LIKE are not. Our results suggest distinct roles for these SL-related components in AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23024768, year = {2012}, author = {Guo, Z and Liu, S and Hu, S and Li, T and Huang, Y and Liu, G and Zhang, H and Lin, S}, title = {Prevalent ciliate symbiosis on copepods: high genetic diversity and wide distribution detected using small subunit ribosomal RNA gene.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e44847}, pmid = {23024768}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ciliophora/classification/*genetics ; Copepoda/*parasitology ; Ecosystem ; *Genes, rRNA ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Toward understanding the genetic diversity and distribution of copepod-associated symbiotic ciliates and the evolutionary relationships with their hosts in the marine environment, we developed a small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA)-based molecular method and investigated the genetic diversity and genotype distribution of the symbiotic ciliates on copepods. Of the 10 copepod species representing six families collected from six locations of Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, 9 were found to harbor ciliate symbionts. Phylogenetic analysis of the 391 ciliate 18S rDNA sequences obtained revealed seven groups (ribogroups), six (containing 99% of all the sequences) belonging to subclass Apostomatida, the other clustered with peritrich ciliate Vorticella gracilis. Among the Apostomatida groups, Group III were essentially identical to Vampyrophrya pelagica, and the other five groups represented the undocumented ciliates that were close to Vampyrophrya/Gymnodinioides/Hyalophysa. Group VI ciliates were found in all copepod species but one (Calanus sinicus), and were most abundant among all ciliate sequences obtained, indicating that they are the dominant symbiotic ciliates universally associated with copepods. In contrast, some ciliate sequences were found only in some of the copepods examined, suggesting the host selectivity and geographic differentiation of ciliates, which requires further verification by more extensive sampling. Our results reveal the wide occurrence and high genetic diversity of symbiotic ciliates on marine copepods and highlight the need to systematically investigate the host- and geography-based genetic differentiation and ecological roles of these ciliates globally.}, } @article {pmid23024607, year = {2012}, author = {Dutta, C and Paul, S}, title = {Microbial lifestyle and genome signatures.}, journal = {Current genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {153-162}, pmid = {23024607}, issn = {1875-5488}, abstract = {Microbes are known for their unique ability to adapt to varying lifestyle and environment, even to the extreme or adverse ones. The genomic architecture of a microbe may bear the signatures not only of its phylogenetic position, but also of the kind of lifestyle to which it is adapted. The present review aims to provide an account of the specific genome signatures observed in microbes acclimatized to distinct lifestyles or ecological niches. Niche-specific signatures identified at different levels of microbial genome organization like base composition, GC-skew, purine-pyrimidine ratio, dinucleotide abundance, codon bias, oligonucleotide composition etc. have been discussed. Among the specific cases highlighted in the review are the phenomena of genome shrinkage in obligatory host-restricted microbes, genome expansion in strictly intra-amoebal pathogens, strand-specific codon usage in intracellular species, acquisition of genome islands in pathogenic or symbiotic organisms, discriminatory genomic traits of marine microbes with distinct trophic strategies, and conspicuous sequence features of certain extremophiles like those adapted to high temperature or high salinity.}, } @article {pmid23023168, year = {2012}, author = {Ariel, F and Brault-Hernandez, M and Laffont, C and Huault, E and Brault, M and Plet, J and Moison, M and Blanchet, S and Ichanté, JL and Chabaud, M and Carrere, S and Crespi, M and Chan, RL and Frugier, F}, title = {Two direct targets of cytokinin signaling regulate symbiotic nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {3838-3852}, pmid = {23023168}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Consensus Sequence ; Cytokinins/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Seedlings/drug effects/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Cytokinin regulates many aspects of plant development, and in legume crops, this phytohormone is necessary and sufficient for symbiotic nodule organogenesis, allowing them to fix atmospheric nitrogen. To identify direct links between cytokinins and nodule organogenesis, we determined a consensus sequence bound in vitro by a transcription factor (TF) acting in cytokinin signaling, the nodule-enhanced Medicago truncatula Mt RR1 response regulator (RR). Among genes rapidly regulated by cytokinins and containing this so-called RR binding site (RRBS) in their promoters, we found the nodulation-related Type-A RR Mt RR4 and the Nodulation Signaling Pathway 2 (NSP2) TF. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that RRBS cis-elements in the RR4 and NSP2 promoters are essential for expression during nodule development and for cytokinin induction. Furthermore, a microRNA targeting NSP2 (miR171 h) is also rapidly induced by cytokinins and then shows an expression pattern anticorrelated with NSP2. Other primary targets regulated by cytokinins depending on the Cytokinin Response1 (CRE1) receptor were a cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX1) and a basic Helix-Loop-Helix TF (bHLH476). RNA interference constructs as well as insertion of a Tnt1 retrotransposon in the bHLH gene led to reduced nodulation. Hence, we identified two TFs, NSP2 and bHLH476, as direct cytokinin targets acting at the convergence of phytohormonal and symbiotic cues.}, } @article {pmid23022739, year = {2013}, author = {Heinken, A and Sahoo, S and Fleming, RM and Thiele, I}, title = {Systems-level characterization of a host-microbe metabolic symbiosis in the mammalian gut.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {28-40}, pmid = {23022739}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteroides/*genetics/*metabolism ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Metabolome ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; Systems Biology/methods ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota consists of ten times more microorganisms than there are cells in our body, processes otherwise indigestible nutrients, and produces important energy precursors, essential amino acids, and vitamins. In this study, we assembled and validated a genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (iAH991), a prominent representative of the human gut microbiota, consisting of 1488 reactions, 1152 metabolites, and 991 genes. To create a comprehensive metabolic model of host-microbe interactions, we integrated iAH991 with a previously published mouse metabolic reconstruction, which was extended for intestinal transport and absorption reactions. The two metabolic models were linked through a joint compartment, the lumen, allowing metabolite exchange and providing a route for simulating different dietary regimes. The resulting model consists of 7239 reactions, 5164 metabolites, and 2769 genes. We simultaneously modeled growth of mouse and B. thetaiotaomicron on five different diets varying in fat, carbohydrate, and protein content. The integrated model captured mutually beneficial cross-feeding as well as competitive interactions. Furthermore, we identified metabolites that were exchanged between the two organisms, which were compared with published metabolomics data. This analysis resulted for the first time in a comprehensive description of the co-metabolism between a host and its commensal microbe. We also demonstrate in silico that the presence of B. thetaiotaomicron could rescue the growth phenotype of the host with an otherwise lethal enzymopathy and vice versa. This systems approach represents a powerful tool for modeling metabolic interactions between a gut microbe and its host in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid23022682, year = {2013}, author = {Zhang, H and Li, Y and Huang, X and Zheng, C}, title = {Global transcriptional analysis of model of persistent FMDV infection reveals critical role of host cells in persistence.}, journal = {Veterinary microbiology}, volume = {162}, number = {2-4}, pages = {321-329}, doi = {10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.09.007}, pmid = {23022682}, issn = {1873-2542}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Line ; Chronic Disease ; Cricetinae ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/*genetics/*virology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {With the aid of ammonium chloride, we established a model for persistent foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection of BHK-21 cells (Huang et al., 2011). Distinctive to a previously established model, the persistently infected cell line acquired new features including more rounded morphology, resistance to wild type FMDV infection, consistent replication efficiency in late passages, etc. To elucidate the mechanism of establishment of persistence, we performed systematically microarray analysis of gene expression profiles of acute and persistent infections and real-time quantitative PCR validation of key genes. Our results showed 12 common genes were found to be up-regulated in acute infection while down-regulated in persistent infection. Gene expression analysis indicated differences in the KEGG pathway, revealing important roles of host factors in the maintenance of symbiotic environment. The results suggest that, in contrast to previous viral persistence system, the critical element in establishment of the persistence in our lab is the evolution of host cells which regulate genome transcription to defy the lytic effects of FMDV infection.}, } @article {pmid23017151, year = {2012}, author = {Sudakaran, S and Salem, H and Kost, C and Kaltenpoth, M}, title = {Geographical and ecological stability of the symbiotic mid-gut microbiota in European firebugs, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae).}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {24}, pages = {6134-6151}, doi = {10.1111/mec.12027}, pmid = {23017151}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diet ; Europe ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genetics, Population ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria often play an essential nutritional role for insects, thereby allowing them to exploit novel food sources and expand into otherwise inaccessible ecological niches. Although many insects are inhabited by complex microbial communities, most studies on insect mutualists so far have focused on single endosymbionts and their interactions with the host. Here, we provide a comprehensive characterization of the gut microbiota of the red firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus, Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae), a model organism for physiological and endocrinological research. A combination of several culture-independent techniques (454 pyrosequencing, quantitative PCR and cloning/sequencing) revealed a diverse community of likely transient bacterial taxa in the mid-gut regions M1, M2 and M4. However, the completely anoxic M3 region harboured a distinct microbiota consisting of facultative and obligate anaerobes including Actinobacteria (Coriobacterium glomerans and Gordonibacter sp.), Firmicutes (Clostri-dium sp. and Lactococcus lactis) and Proteobacteria (Klebsiella sp. and a previously undescribed Rickettsiales bacterium). Characterization of the M3 microbiota in different life stages of P. apterus indicated that the symbiotic bacterial community is vertically transmitted and becomes well defined between the second and third nymphal instar, which coincides with the initiation of feeding. Comparing the mid-gut M3 microbial communities of P. apterus individuals from five different populations and after feeding on three different diets revealed that the community composition is qualitatively and quantitatively very stable, with the six predominant taxa being consistently abundant. Our findings suggest that the firebug mid-gut microbiota constitutes a functionally important and possibly coevolved symbiotic community.}, } @article {pmid23017123, year = {2013}, author = {Loridon, K and Burgarella, C and Chantret, N and Martins, F and Gouzy, J and Prospéri, JM and Ronfort, J}, title = {Single-nucleotide polymorphism discovery and diversity in the model legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Molecular ecology resources}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {84-95}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.12021}, pmid = {23017123}, issn = {1755-0998}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; DNA Primers/genetics ; *Demography ; Gene Frequency ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Mediterranean Region ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Extensive genomic resources are available in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Here, we present the discovery and design of the first array of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in M. truncatula through large-scale Sanger resequencing of genomic fragments spanning the genome, in a diverse panel of 16 M. truncatula accessions. Both anonymous fragments and fragments targeting candidate genes for flowering phenology and symbiosis were surveyed for nucleotide variation in almost 230 kb of unique genomic regions. A set of 384 SNP markers was designed for an Illumina's GoldenGate assay, genotyped on a collection of 192 inbred lines (CC192) representing the geographical range of the species and used to survey the diversity of two natural populations. Finally, 86% of the tested SNPs were of high quality and exhibited polymorphism in the CC192 collection. Even at the population level, we detected polymorphism for more than 50% of the selected SNPs. Analysis of the allele frequency spectrum in the CC192 showed a reduced ascertainment bias, mostly limited to very rare alleles (frequency <0.01). The substantial polymorphism detected at the species and population levels, the high marker quality and the potential to survey large samples of individuals make this set of SNP markers a valuable tool to improve our understanding of the effect of demographic and selective factors that shape the natural genetic diversity within the selfing species Medicago truncatula.}, } @article {pmid23016971, year = {2012}, author = {Gilbert, SF}, title = {Ecological developmental biology: environmental signals for normal animal development.}, journal = {Evolution & development}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {20-28}, doi = {10.1111/j.1525-142X.2011.00519.x}, pmid = {23016971}, issn = {1525-142X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Developmental Biology ; Ecology ; *Embryonic Development ; *Environment ; *Gene-Environment Interaction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The environment plays instructive roles in development and selective roles in evolution. This essay reviews several of the instructive roles whereby the organism has evolved to receive cues from the environment in order to modulate its developmental trajectory. The environmental cues can be abiotic (such as temperature or photoperiod) or biotic (such as those emanating from predators, conspecifics, or food), and the "alteration" produces a normal, not a pathological, phenotype, that is appropriate for the environment. In addition, symbiotic organisms can produce important signals during normal development. Environmental cues can be obligatory, such that the organism cannot develop without the environmental cue. These cues often permit and instruct the organism to proceed from one developmental stage to another, as when larvae receive cues to settle and undergo metamorphosis from substrates. Such obligatory cues can also be given by symbionts, as when Wolbachia bacteria prevent apoptosis in developing ovaries of some wasps. Other environmental cues can be used facultatively, allowing organisms to follow different developmental trajectories depending on whether the cue is present or not. This can be seen in the temperature-dependent determination of sex in many reptiles and in the determination of thermotolerance in aphids by their symbiotic bacteria. Signaling from the environment is essential in development, and co-development appears to be normative between symbionts and their hosts. Here, one sees the reciprocal induction of gene expression, just as within the embryonic organism. The ability of organisms to respond to environmental cues by producing different phenotypes may be critically important in evolution, and it may be an essential feature that can facilitate or limit evolution.}, } @article {pmid23015844, year = {2012}, author = {Riclea, R and Gleitzmann, J and Bruns, H and Junker, C and Schulz, B and Dickschat, JS}, title = {Algicidal lactones from the marine Roseobacter clade bacterium Ruegeria pomeroyi.}, journal = {Beilstein journal of organic chemistry}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {941-950}, pmid = {23015844}, issn = {1860-5397}, abstract = {Volatiles released by the marine Roseobacter clade bacterium Rugeria pomeroyi were collected by use of a closed-loop stripping headspace apparatus (CLSA) and analysed by GC-MS. Several lactones were found for which structural proposals were derived from their mass spectra and unambiguously verified by the synthesis of reference compounds. An enantioselective synthesis of two exemplary lactones was performed to establish the enantiomeric compositions of the natural products by enantioselective GC-MS analyses. The lactones were subjected to biotests to investigate their activity against several bacteria, fungi, and algae. A specific algicidal activity was observed that may be important in the interaction between the bacteria and their algal hosts in fading algal blooms.}, } @article {pmid23015773, year = {2012}, author = {Egas, C and Pinheiro, M and Gomes, P and Barroso, C and Bettencourt, R}, title = {The transcriptome of Bathymodiolus azoricus gill reveals expression of genes from endosymbionts and free-living deep-sea bacteria.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {10}, number = {8}, pages = {1765-1783}, pmid = {23015773}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Gills/microbiology ; Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mytilidae/*genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Deep-sea environments are largely unexplored habitats where a surprising number of species may be found in large communities, thriving regardless of the darkness, extreme cold, and high pressure. Their unique geochemical features result in reducing environments rich in methane and sulfides, sustaining complex chemosynthetic ecosystems that represent one of the most surprising findings in oceans in the last 40 years. The deep-sea Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field, located in the Mid Atlantic Ridge, is home to large vent mussel communities where Bathymodiolus azoricus represents the dominant faunal biomass, owing its survival to symbiotic associations with methylotrophic or methanotrophic and thiotrophic bacteria. The recent transcriptome sequencing and analysis of gill tissues from B. azoricus revealed a number of genes of bacterial origin, hereby analyzed to provide a functional insight into the gill microbial community. The transcripts supported a metabolically active microbiome and a variety of mechanisms and pathways, evidencing also the sulfur and methane metabolisms. Taxonomic affiliation of transcripts and 16S rRNA community profiling revealed a microbial community dominated by thiotrophic and methanotrophic endosymbionts of B. azoricus and the presence of a Sulfurovum-like epsilonbacterium.}, } @article {pmid23013436, year = {2013}, author = {Riely, BK and Larrainzar, E and Haney, CH and Mun, JH and Gil-Quintana, E and González, EM and Yu, HJ and Tricoli, D and Ehrhardt, DW and Long, SR and Cook, DR}, title = {Development of tools for the biochemical characterization of the symbiotic receptor-like kinase DMI2.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {216-226}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-11-0276}, pmid = {23013436}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Shoots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; *Plants, Genetically Modified ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Medicago truncatula DMI2 gene encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase that is essential for symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. While phenotypic analyses have provided a description for the host's responses mediated by DMI2, a lack of tools for in vivo biochemical analysis has hampered efforts to elucidate the mechanisms by which DMI2 mediates symbiotic signal transduction. Here, we report stably transformed M. truncatula lines that express a genomic DMI2 construct that is fused to a dual-affinity tag containing three copies of the hemagglutinin epitope and a single StrepII tag (gDMI2:HAST). gDMI2: HAST complements the dmi2-1 mutation, and transgenic plants expressing this construct behave similarly to wild-type plants. We show that the expression patterns of gDMI2:HAST recapitulate those of endogenous DMI2 and that we can detect and purify DMI2:HAST from microsomal root and nodule extracts. Using this line, we show that DMI2 resides in a high-molecular weight complex, which is consistent with our observation that DMI2:GFP localizes to plasma membrane-associated puncta and cytoplasmic vesicles. We further demonstrate that Nod factor (NF) perception increases the abundance of DMI2 vesicles. These tools should be a valuable resource for the Medicago community to dissect the biochemical function of DMI2.}, } @article {pmid23012364, year = {2012}, author = {Serventi, F and Youard, ZA and Murset, V and Huwiler, S and Bühler, D and Richter, M and Luchsinger, R and Fischer, HM and Brogioli, R and Niederer, M and Hennecke, H}, title = {Copper starvation-inducible protein for cytochrome oxidase biogenesis in Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {287}, number = {46}, pages = {38812-38823}, pmid = {23012364}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*enzymology ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Copper/*chemistry/metabolism ; Electron Transport Complex IV/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Mitochondrial Proteins/metabolism ; Molecular Chaperones/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Periplasm/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {Microarray analysis of Bradyrhizobium japonicum grown under copper limitation uncovered five genes named pcuABCDE, which are co-transcribed and co-regulated as an operon. The predicted gene products are periplasmic proteins (PcuA, PcuC, and PcuD), a TonB-dependent outer membrane receptor (PcuB), and a cytoplasmic membrane-integral protein (PcuE). Homologs of PcuC and PcuE had been discovered in other bacteria, namely PCu(A)C and YcnJ, where they play a role in cytochrome oxidase biogenesis and copper transport, respectively. Deletion of the pcuABCDE operon led to a pleiotropic phenotype, including defects in the aa(3)-type cytochrome oxidase, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and anoxic nitrate respiration. Complementation analyses revealed that, under our assay conditions, the tested functions depended only on the pcuC gene and not on pcuA, pcuB, pcuD, or pcuE. The B. japonicum genome harbors a second pcuC-like gene (blr7088), which, however, did not functionally replace the mutated pcuC. The PcuC protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and shown to bind Cu(I) with high affinity in a 1:1 stoichiometry. The replacement of His(79), Met(90), His(113), and Met(115) by alanine perturbed copper binding. This corroborates the previously purported role of this protein as a periplasmic copper chaperone for the formation of the Cu(A) center on the aa(3)-type cytochrome oxidase. In addition, we provide evidence that PcuC and the copper chaperone ScoI are important for the symbiotically essential, Cu(A)-free cbb(3)-type cytochrome oxidase specifically in endosymbiotic bacteroids of soybean root nodules, which could explain the symbiosis-defective phenotype of the pcuC and scoI mutants.}, } @article {pmid23010785, year = {2012}, author = {Túry, F and Szentes, A and Varga, M}, title = {Pitfalls of the psychotherapy of twins with eating disorders.}, journal = {Eating and weight disorders : EWD}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {e140-3}, pmid = {23010785}, issn = {1590-1262}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Alcoholism/complications ; Amenorrhea/etiology ; Anorexia/psychology/therapy ; Anorexia Nervosa/complications/*psychology/*therapy ; Beauty ; Body Mass Index ; Bulimia/psychology/therapy ; Bulimia Nervosa/complications/*psychology/*therapy ; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/*methods ; Family Therapy/*methods ; Female ; Holocaust ; Humans ; Identification, Psychological ; Individuation ; *Intergenerational Relations ; Jews ; *Object Attachment ; *Parenting/psychology ; Survivors ; *Twins, Monozygotic ; }, abstract = {AIM: Scientific literature is limited on problems related to the psychotherapy of twins, especially eating disorders. This paper discusses the therapeutic difficulties encountered with two anorexic and one bulimic sets of twins.

METHOD AND RESULTS: The three case reports show that the symbiotic tendency of twins is a frequent phenomenon, which may be a special resistance against change, and can serve as a factor maintaining the pathological state. In many cases, the parental behaviour strengthens the symbiosis of the twins, instead of helping the individuation.

CONCLUSION: The integration of individual and family therapeutic interventions is proposed. The separation-individuation process of the twins can be stimulated by individual sessions with each of the twins, or separate sessions during family therapy (i.e., sessions with the parents and with one of the twins). In this case, the best strategy would be to have the individual and family therapies conducted by the same therapist.}, } @article {pmid23010760, year = {2012}, author = {Vaziri, ND}, title = {CKD impairs barrier function and alters microbial flora of the intestine: a major link to inflammation and uremic toxicity.}, journal = {Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension}, volume = {21}, number = {6}, pages = {587-592}, pmid = {23010760}, issn = {1473-6543}, support = {MD000182/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; U54 MD007598/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; P20 MD000182/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United States ; RR026138/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; U54 RR026138/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Colon/metabolism/*microbiology ; Disease Progression ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Inflammation/blood/*etiology/immunology/microbiology ; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Oxidants/metabolism ; Permeability ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/blood/*complications/immunology/microbiology ; Uremia/blood/*etiology/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation which contribute to progression of kidney disease and its numerous complications. Until recently, little attention had been paid to the role of the intestine and its microbial flora in the pathogenesis of CKD-associated inflammation. This article is intended to provide an over view of the impact of uremia on the structure and function of the gut and its microbial flora and their potential link to the associated systemic inflammation.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies conducted in the author's laboratories have demonstrated marked disintegration of the colonic epithelial barrier structure and significant alteration of the colonic bacterial flora in humans and animals with advanced CKD. The observed disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier complex can play an important part in the development of systemic inflammation by enabling influx of endotoxin and other noxious luminal contents into the systemic circulation. Similarly via disruption of the normal symbiotic relationship and production, absorption and retention of noxious products, alteration of the microbial flora can contribute to systemic inflammation and uremic toxicity. In fact recent studies have documented the role of colonic bacteria as the primary source of several well known pro-inflammatory/pro-oxidant uremic toxins as well as many as-yet unidentified retained compounds.

SUMMARY: CKD results in disruption of the intestinal barrier structure and marked alteration of its microbial flora - events that play a major role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and uremic toxicity.}, } @article {pmid23009874, year = {2013}, author = {Van Elst, D and van Wyk, B and Schultz, A and Prinsen, E}, title = {Production of toxic pavettamine and pavettamine conjugates in the gousiekte-causing Fadogia homblei plant and its relation to the bacterial endosymbiont.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {85}, number = {}, pages = {92-98}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.08.025}, pmid = {23009874}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Animals ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; *Plant Poisoning ; Polyamines/*adverse effects ; Rubiaceae/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Ruminants ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant poisoning of livestock is responsible for considerable economic losses in southern Africa. Six plant species of the Rubiaceae family are known to cause gousiekte, a cardiac syndrome of ruminants induced by ingestion of the toxic compound pavettamine. Progress in understanding the etiology of this disease is largely hampered by the variable toxicity of the plants and the absence of a quantification method for pavettamine. The pavettamine concentration in leaf samples of Fadogia homblei, a known gousiekte causing plant, was analyzed by mass-spectrometry. In the most apical leaf pair, the highest concentration of pavettamine was detected. Distal leaves contained progressively less pavettamine. Besides a significant amount of free pavettamine, most pavettamine was found to occur in a conjugated form. To which molecules the pavettamine is conjugated remains unknown as is the function of conjugated pavettamine in the development of gousiekte. All know gousiekte-causing plants contain symbiotic bacteria in their leaves; it was hypothesized that these bacteria might be involved in the production of pavettamine. However, analysis of in vitro cultures of the F. homblei endosymbiont revealed no production of pavettamine. Pavettamine is therefore not produced by the bacteria alone. It is either the product of the interaction with the plant or solely produced by the host.}, } @article {pmid23009647, year = {2012}, author = {Simms, EL and Porter, SS}, title = {Transcriptomic insights into mechanisms of symbiotic cooperation.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {19}, pages = {4665-4668}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05719.x}, pmid = {23009647}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Genetic Variation ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Intraspecific genetic variation can affect community structure and ecosystem processes (Bolnick et al. 2011). It can also influence phenotypic expression by genotypes within other species to produce genotype-by-genotype (G × G) interaction (Falconer & Mackay 1996). Evolution of one species drives correlated evolution of others when it causes G × G for fitness (Thompson 2005). However, the mechanisms by which species interact also influence evolutionary outcomes (Kummel & Salant 2006; Golubski & Klausmeier 2010; Akçay & Simms 2011; Grman et al. 2012). To identify genes and putative functional mechanisms underlying G × G interactions, Heath et al. (2012) analysed natural variation in the symbiotic transcriptome of the mutualistic nutritional symbiosis between a legume host Medicago truncatula and the facultative endosymbiotic rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Using twelve microarrays, the authors simultaneously measured host and symbiont gene expression in root nodules from four factorial pairings of host and symbiont genotypes that produced G × G in host fitness (Fig. 1, upper panel). Rhizobium gene expression was influenced by rhizobium and plant genotype and the G × G interaction (Fig. 1, lower panel), whereas plant gene expression was influenced primarily by plant genotype. The authors identified rhizobium genes that might contribute to G × G in host plant fitness. Heath et al. (2012) have moved beyond the constraints of single organism analysis towards a more realistic understanding of plants and bacteria as organisms inextricably linked with symbioses that affect even basic patterns of gene expression.}, } @article {pmid23005382, year = {2012}, author = {de Oliveira, MM and Dos Santos, RV and Dickman, R}, title = {Symbiotic two-species contact process.}, journal = {Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {86}, number = {1 Pt 1}, pages = {011121}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.86.011121}, pmid = {23005382}, issn = {1550-2376}, mesh = {Animals ; *Birth Rate ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; *Models, Statistical ; *Mortality ; *Population Dynamics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We study a contact process (CP) with two species that interact in a symbiotic manner. In our model, each site of a lattice may be vacant or host individuals of species A and/or B; multiple occupancy by the same species is prohibited. Symbiosis is represented by a reduced death rate μ<1 for individuals at sites with both species present. Otherwise, the dynamics is that of the basic CP, with creation (at vacant neighbor sites) at rate λ and death of (isolated) individuals at a rate of unity. Mean-field theory and Monte Carlo simulation show that the critical creation rate λ(c)(μ) is a decreasing function of μ, even though a single-species population must go extinct for λ<λ(c) (1), the critical point of the basic CP. Extensive simulations yield results for critical behavior that are compatible with the directed percolation (DP) universality class, but with unusually strong corrections to scaling. A field-theoretic argument supports the conclusion of DP critical behavior. We obtain similar results for a CP with creation at second-neighbor sites and enhanced survival at first neighbors in the form of an annihilation rate that decreases with the number of occupied first neighbors.}, } @article {pmid23004787, year = {2012}, author = {Singh, P and Mahata, P and Baumgart, T and Das, SL}, title = {Curvature sorting of proteins on a cylindrical lipid membrane tether connected to a reservoir.}, journal = {Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {85}, number = {5 Pt 1}, pages = {051906}, pmid = {23004787}, issn = {1550-2376}, support = {R01 GM097552/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cell Membrane/*chemistry/metabolism ; Lipid Bilayers/*chemistry/metabolism ; *Mechanical Phenomena ; Membrane Proteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Thermodynamics ; Unilamellar Liposomes/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Membrane curvature of a biological cell is actively involved in various fundamental cell biological functions. It has been discovered that membrane curvature and binding of peripheral membrane proteins follow a symbiotic relationship. The exact mechanism behind this interplay of protein binding and membrane curvature has not yet been properly understood. To improve understanding of the mechanism, we study curvature sorting of proteins in a model system consisting of a tether pulled from a giant unilamellar vesicle using mechanical-thermodynamic models. The concentration of proteins bound to the membrane changes significantly due to curvature. This has also been observed in experiments by other researchers. We also find that there is a phase transition based on protein concentration and we discuss the coexistence of phases and stability of solutions. Furthermore, when sorting is favorable, the increase in protein concentration stabilizes the tether in the sense that less pulling force is required to maintain the tether. A similar mechanism may be in place, when motor proteins pull tethers from donor membranes.}, } @article {pmid23000955, year = {2012}, author = {Collins, SM and Surette, M and Bercik, P}, title = {The interplay between the intestinal microbiota and the brain.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {11}, pages = {735-742}, pmid = {23000955}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Autonomic Nervous System/physiology ; Brain/embryology/*physiology ; Enteric Nervous System/physiology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology ; Intestines/*microbiology/physiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Mice ; Multiple Sclerosis/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The intestinal microbiota consists of a vast bacterial community that resides primarily in the lower gut and lives in a symbiotic relationship with the host. A bidirectional neurohumoral communication system, known as the gut-brain axis, integrates the host gut and brain activities. Here, we describe the recent advances in our understanding of how the intestinal microbiota communicates with the brain via this axis to influence brain development and behaviour. We also review how this extended communication system might influence a broad spectrum of diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, psychiatric disorders and demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis.}, } @article {pmid23000816, year = {2012}, author = {Aloui, A and Dumas-Gaudot, E and Daher, Z and van Tuinen, D and Aschi-Smit, S and Morandi, D}, title = {Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation on cadmium induced Medicago truncatula root isoflavonoid accumulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {60}, number = {}, pages = {233-239}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.08.014}, pmid = {23000816}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Alcohol Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Biomass ; Cadmium/*pharmacology ; Coumestrol/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Glucosides/metabolism ; Isoflavones/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Pterocarpans/metabolism ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cadmium is a serious environmental pollution threats to the planet. Its accumulation in plants affects many cellular functions, resulting in growth and development inhibition, whose mechanisms are not fully understood. However, some fungi forming arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis with the majority of plant species have the capacity to buffer the deleterious effect of this heavy metal. In the present work we investigated the capacity of Rhizophagus irregularis (syn. Glomus irregularis) to alleviate cadmium stress in Medicago truncatula. In spite of a reduction in all mycorrhizal parameters, plants colonized for 21 days by R. irregularis and treated by 2 mg kg[-1] cadmium displayed less growth inhibition in comparison to plants grown without cadmium. Cadmium strongly increased the accumulation of some isoflavonoids and their derivates: formononetin, malonylononin, medicarpin 3-O-β-(6'-malonylglucoside), medicarpin and coumestrol. Interestingly, in plants colonized by R. irregularis we noticed a strong reduction of the cadmium-induced accumulation of root isoflavonoids, a part for medicarpin and coumestrol. Moreover, transcripts of chalcone reductase, a protein that we reported previously as being down-regulated in R. irregularis-colonized M. truncatula roots, revealed a similar expression pattern with a strong increase in response to cadmium and a reduced expression in cadmium-treated mycorrhizal roots.}, } @article {pmid22998605, year = {2013}, author = {Haag, AF and Arnold, MF and Myka, KK and Kerscher, B and Dall'Angelo, S and Zanda, M and Mergaert, P and Ferguson, GP}, title = {Molecular insights into bacteroid development during Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {37}, number = {3}, pages = {364-383}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6976.12003}, pmid = {22998605}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial soil bacteria can form a symbiosis with legumes in which the bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia that can be utilized by the host. The plant, in turn, supplies the rhizobia with a carbon source. After infecting the host cell, the bacteria differentiate into a distinct bacteroid form, which is able to fix nitrogen. The bacterial BacA protein is essential for bacteroid differentiation in legumes producing nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs), which induce the terminal differentiation of the bacteria into bacteroids. NCRs are antimicrobial peptides similar to mammalian defensins, which are important for the eukaryotic response to invading pathogens. The BacA protein is essential for rhizobia to survive the NCR peptide challenge. Similarities in the lifestyle of intracellular pathogenic bacteria suggest that host factors might also be important for inducing chronic infections associated with Brucella abortus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, rhizobial lipopolysaccharide is modified with an unusual fatty acid, which plays an important role in protecting the bacteria from environmental stresses. Mutants defective in the biosynthesis of this fatty acid display bacteroid development defects within the nodule. In this review, we will focus on these key components, which affect rhizobial bacteroid development and survival.}, } @article {pmid22997729, year = {2012}, author = {Gamaleĭ, IuV and Sheremet'ev, SN}, title = {[Trends of genome evolution in land and secondary-water herbs].}, journal = {Tsitologiia}, volume = {54}, number = {6}, pages = {449-458}, pmid = {22997729}, issn = {0041-3771}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Climate Change ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Embryophyta/*genetics/growth & development ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Seaweed/*genetics/growth & development ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Comparative analysis of genome sizes in two groups of herbs, land and secondary-water, has been released. It is shown that their genomes are changed to opposite topics in cenozoic. The genome of land herbs is increased, and it is decreased in secondary water herbs. Genome growth in land herbs is analyzed as the result of unfavourable changes in global climate: cooling, aridization and atmospheric CO2 deficit. Genome minimization in secondary-water herbs is interpreted as the sequence of united effect of two groups of factors: returning to more stable water environment and breakdown of symbiotic relations with fungi partner. The influence of environmental discomfort and development of symbiotic or parasitic relations on genome size is discussed in association with established differences.}, } @article {pmid22997339, year = {2012}, author = {Thompson, AW and Foster, RA and Krupke, A and Carter, BJ and Musat, N and Vaulot, D and Kuypers, MM and Zehr, JP}, title = {Unicellular cyanobacterium symbiotic with a single-celled eukaryotic alga.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {337}, number = {6101}, pages = {1546-1550}, doi = {10.1126/science.1222700}, pmid = {22997339}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Calcification, Physiologic ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/cytology/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genes, rRNA ; Genome, Bacterial ; Haptophyta/cytology/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Pacific Ocean ; *Photosynthesis ; Phytoplankton/cytology/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Seawater/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between nitrogen (N)(2)-fixing prokaryotes and photosynthetic eukaryotes are important for nitrogen acquisition in N-limited environments. Recently, a widely distributed planktonic uncultured nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium (UCYN-A) was found to have unprecedented genome reduction, including the lack of oxygen-evolving photosystem II and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which suggested partnership in a symbiosis. We showed that UCYN-A has a symbiotic association with a unicellular prymnesiophyte, closely related to calcifying taxa present in the fossil record. The partnership is mutualistic, because the prymnesiophyte receives fixed N in exchange for transferring fixed carbon to UCYN-A. This unusual partnership between a cyanobacterium and a unicellular alga is a model for symbiosis and is analogous to plastid and organismal evolution, and if calcifying, may have important implications for past and present oceanic N(2) fixation.}, } @article {pmid22997182, year = {2013}, author = {Tucker, RP}, title = {Horizontal gene transfer in choanoflagellates.}, journal = {Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution}, volume = {320}, number = {1}, pages = {1-9}, doi = {10.1002/jez.b.22480}, pmid = {22997182}, issn = {1552-5015}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Choanoflagellata/*genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/*genetics ; Genes, Protozoan/*genetics ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics ; Phosphofructokinases/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Tenascin/genetics ; }, abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), also known as lateral gene transfer, results in the rapid acquisition of genes from another organism. HGT has long been known to be a driving force in speciation in prokaryotes, and there is evidence for HGT from symbiotic and infectious bacteria to metazoans, as well as from protists to bacteria. Recently, it has become clear that as many as a 1,000 genes in the genome of the choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis may have been acquired by HGT. Interestingly, these genes reportedly come from algae, bacteria, and other choanoflagellate prey. Some of these genes appear to have allowed an ancestral choanoflagellate to exploit nutrient-poor environments and were not passed on to metazoan descendents. However, some of these genes are also found in animal genomes, suggesting that HGT into a common ancestor of choanozoans and animals may have contributed to metazoan evolution.}, } @article {pmid22992469, year = {2013}, author = {Vaziri, ND and Wong, J and Pahl, M and Piceno, YM and Yuan, J and DeSantis, TZ and Ni, Z and Nguyen, TH and Andersen, GL}, title = {Chronic kidney disease alters intestinal microbial flora.}, journal = {Kidney international}, volume = {83}, number = {2}, pages = {308-315}, doi = {10.1038/ki.2012.345}, pmid = {22992469}, issn = {1523-1755}, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uremia/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The population of microbes (microbiome) in the intestine is a symbiotic ecosystem conferring trophic and protective functions. Since the biochemical environment shapes the structure and function of the microbiome, we tested whether uremia and/or dietary and pharmacologic interventions in chronic kidney disease alters the microbiome. To identify different microbial populations, microbial DNA was isolated from the stools of 24 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and 12 healthy persons, and analyzed by phylogenetic microarray. There were marked differences in the abundance of 190 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between the ESRD and control groups. OTUs from Brachybacterium, Catenibacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, Halomonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, Nesterenkonia, Polyangiaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Thiothrix families were markedly increased in patients with ESRD. To isolate the effect of uremia from inter-individual variations, comorbid conditions, and dietary and medicinal interventions, rats were studied 8 weeks post 5/6 nephrectomy or sham operation. This showed a significant difference in the abundance of 175 bacterial OTUs between the uremic and control animals, most notably as decreases in the Lactobacillaceae and Prevotellaceae families. Thus, uremia profoundly alters the composition of the gut microbiome. The biological impact of this phenomenon is unknown and awaits further investigation.}, } @article {pmid22992385, year = {2012}, author = {Hawkins, TD and Davy, SK}, title = {Nitric oxide production and tolerance differ among Symbiodinium types exposed to heat stress.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {53}, number = {11}, pages = {1889-1898}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcs127}, pmid = {22992385}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Dinoflagellida/metabolism/*physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescence ; *Hot Temperature ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous molecule and its involvement in metazoan-microbe symbiosis is well known. Evidence suggests that it plays a role in the temperature-induced breakdown ('bleaching') of the ecologically important cnidarian-dinoflagellate association, and this can often lead to widespread mortality of affected hosts. This study confirms that dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium can produce NO and that production of the compound is differentially regulated in different types when exposed to elevated temperature. Temperature-sensitive type B1 cells under heat stress (8°C above ambient) exhibited significant increases in NO synthesis, which occurred alongside pronounced photoinhibition and cell mortality. Tolerant type A1 cells also displayed increases in NO production, yet maintained photosynthetic yields at levels similar to those of untreated cells and displayed less dramatic increases in cell death. Type C1 cells displayed a down-regulation of NO synthesis at high temperature, and no significant mortality increases were observed in this type. Temperature-induced mortality in types A1 and B1 was affected by the prevailing level of NO and, furthermore, photosynthetic yields of these temperature-tolerant and -sensitive types appeared differentially susceptible to NO donated by pharmacological agents. Taken together, these differences in NO synthesis and tolerance could potentially influence the varying bleaching responses seen among hosts harboring different Symbiodinium types.}, } @article {pmid22991999, year = {2013}, author = {Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Valverde, C and Becker, A}, title = {Insights into the noncoding RNome of nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic α-proteobacteria.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {160-167}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-12-0186-CR}, pmid = {22991999}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Host Factor 1 Protein/genetics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Untranslated/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic chronic infection of legumes by rhizobia involves transition of invading bacteria from a free-living environment in soil to an intracellular state as differentiated nitrogen-fixing bacteroids within the nodules elicited in the host plant. The adaptive flexibility demanded by this complex lifestyle is likely facilitated by the large set of regulatory proteins encoded by rhizobial genomes. However, proteins are not the only relevant players in the regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Large-scale high-throughput analysis of prokaryotic genomes is evidencing the expression of an unexpected plethora of small untranslated transcripts (sRNAs) with housekeeping or regulatory roles. sRNAs mostly act in response to environmental cues as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression through protein-assisted base-pairing interactions with target mRNAs. Riboregulation contributes to fine-tune a wide range of bacterial processes which, in intracellular animal pathogens, largely compromise virulence traits. Here, we summarize the incipient knowledge about the noncoding RNome structure of nitrogen-fixing endosymbiotic bacteria as inferred from genome-wide searches for sRNA genes in the alfalfa partner Sinorhizobium meliloti and further comparative genomics analysis. The biology of relevant S. meliloti RNA chaperones (e.g., Hfq) is also reviewed as a first global indicator of the impact of riboregulation in the establishment of the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid22991547, year = {2012}, author = {Anwar, H and Rahman, ZU and Javed, I and Muhammad, F}, title = {Effect of protein, probiotic, and symbiotic supplementation on serum biological health markers of molted layers.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {91}, number = {10}, pages = {2606-2613}, doi = {10.3382/ps.2012-02172}, pmid = {22991547}, issn = {0032-5791}, mesh = {Animal Feed/analysis ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Biomarkers/blood ; *Chickens ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Proteins/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Molting/*physiology ; Oviposition ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Dietary zinc was used to induce molt in 200 White Leghorn birds in caged housing at the age of 70 wk. The birds were equally and randomly allocated to 4 groups each of 50 birds as G1 (control; CP 16%, no supplement), G2 (CP 18%, no other supplement), G3 (CP 16%, symbiotic Perfectin: 85 mg•L(-1) in drinking water daily), and G4 (CP 16%, probiotic Protexin: 85 mg•L(-1) in drinking water daily) after the completion of molt. The sampling was conducted 3 times at 5% production, peak production, and end of production with 15 birds being killed at each sampling from each group to collect the blood for harvesting of serum. Serum health markers including total oxidant status, total antioxidant capacity, homocysteine concentration, and paraoxonase, arylesterase, and ceruloplasmin activity were determined by the prescribed assays. The overall total antioxidant capacity was increased, whereas total oxidant status and homocysteine concentrations were reduced significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in all the supplemented groups compared with the control. The paraoxonase and ceruloplasmin activity were enhanced (P ≤ 0.01) in the supplemented groups compared with the control, and arylesterase activity was increased (P ≤ 0.01) in only G2 compared with the other groups. Although protein supplementation significantly reduced the oxidative stress, supplementation with symbiotic and probiotic also improved the health status by decreasing the oxidative stress in the birds.}, } @article {pmid22990749, year = {2013}, author = {Singh, PK and Singh, M and Tripathi, BN}, title = {Glomalin: an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal soil protein.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {250}, number = {3}, pages = {663-669}, pmid = {22990749}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Glycoproteins/*biosynthesis/chemistry ; Greenhouse Effect ; Groundwater ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Glomalin is abundant in soils and is closely correlated with aggregate water stability. Glomalin contains carbon and, hence, constitutes a non-trivial portion of the terrestrial carbon pool. Possibly far more importantly, however, stabilization of aggregates amplifies the role of glomalin in soils because carbonaceous compounds are protected from degradation inside of aggregates. Increased atmospheric CO2 can lead to increased production of glomalin because of the symbiotic association that exists between plants and producers of glomalin, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Glomalin concentrations in soils are influenced by management practices, for example, in agroecosystems, further highlighting the role of this protein in carbon storage. Glomalin is an unusual molecule that has proven difficult to analyze biochemically due to its recalcitrance and complexity. Future research will be directed towards the elucidation of its structure and controls on its production.}, } @article {pmid22990447, year = {2012}, author = {Fellbaum, CR and Mensah, JA and Pfeffer, PE and Kiers, ET and Bücking, H}, title = {The role of carbon in fungal nutrient uptake and transport: implications for resource exchange in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {1509-1512}, pmid = {22990447}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Biological Transport/physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, which forms between plant hosts and ubiquitous soil fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota, plays a key role for the nutrient uptake of the majority of land plants, including many economically important crop species. AM fungi take up nutrients from the soil and exchange them for photosynthetically fixed carbon from the host. While our understanding of the exact mechanisms controlling carbon and nutrient exchange is still limited, we recently demonstrated that (i) carbon acts as an important trigger for fungal N uptake and transport, (ii) the fungus changes its strategy in response to an exogenous supply of carbon, and that (iii) both plants and fungi reciprocally reward resources to those partners providing more benefit. Here, we summarize recent research findings and discuss the implications of these results for fungal and plant control of resource exchange in the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22989671, year = {2012}, author = {Drogue, B and Doré, H and Borland, S and Wisniewski-Dyé, F and Prigent-Combaret, C}, title = {Which specificity in cooperation between phytostimulating rhizobacteria and plants?.}, journal = {Research in microbiology}, volume = {163}, number = {8}, pages = {500-510}, doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2012.08.006}, pmid = {22989671}, issn = {1769-7123}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Host Specificity ; *Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are found in association with a large range of host plants. Although the subject of plant host specificity has been well studied in parasitic and mutualistic interactions, the question of whether phytostimulating rhizobacteria efficiently interact only with a specific host remains poorly discussed. This review presents elements suggesting the existence of specificity in three-step establishment of associative symbiosis between phytostimulating rhizobacteria and plants: bacterial attraction by the host plant, bacterial colonization of roots, and functioning of associative symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22989463, year = {2012}, author = {Melino, VJ and Drew, EA and Ballard, RA and Reeve, WG and Thomson, G and White, RG and O'Hara, GW}, title = {Identifying abnormalities in symbiotic development between Trifolium spp. and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii leading to sub-optimal and ineffective nodule phenotypes.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {110}, number = {8}, pages = {1559-1572}, pmid = {22989463}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Trifolium/cytology/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Legumes overcome nitrogen limitations by entering into a mutualistic symbiosis with N(2)-fixing bacteria (rhizobia). Fully compatible associations (effective) between Trifolium spp. and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii result from successful recognition of symbiotic partners in the rhizosphere, root hair infection and the formation of nodules where N(2)-fixing bacteroids reside. Poorly compatible associations can result in root nodule formation with minimal (sub-optimal) or no (ineffective) N(2)-fixation. Despite the abundance and persistence of strains in agricultural soils which are poorly compatible with the commercially grown clover species, little is known of how and why they fail symbiotically. The aims of this research were to determine the morphological aberrations occurring in sub-optimal and ineffective clover nodules and to determine whether reduced bacteroid numbers or reduced N(2)-fixing activity is the main cause for the Sub-optimal phenotype.

METHODS: Symbiotic effectiveness of four Trifolium hosts with each of four R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strains was assessed by analysis of plant yields and nitrogen content; nodule yields, abundance, morphology and internal structure; and bacteroid cytology, quantity and activity.

KEY RESULTS: Effective nodules (Nodule Function 83-100 %) contained four developmental zones and N(2)-fixing bacteroids. In contrast, Sub-optimal nodules of the same age (Nodule Function 24-57 %) carried prematurely senescing bacteroids and a small bacteroid pool resulting in reduced shoot N. Ineffective-differentiated nodules carried bacteroids aborted at stage 2 or 3 in differentiation. In contrast, bacteroids were not observed in Ineffective-vegetative nodules despite the presence of bacteria within infection threads.

CONCLUSIONS: Three major responses to N(2)-fixation incompatibility between Trifolium spp. and R. l. trifolii strains were found: failed bacterial endocytosis from infection threads into plant cortical cells, bacteroid differentiation aborted prematurely, and a reduced pool of functional bacteroids which underwent premature senescence. We discuss possible underlying genetic causes of these developmental abnormalities and consider impacts on N(2)-fixation of clovers.}, } @article {pmid22985902, year = {2012}, author = {Iglesias, D and Rodríguez, L and Gómez, L and Azevedo, C and Montes, J}, title = {Histological survey of Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg) in Galicia (NW Spain).}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {244-251}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2012.08.015}, pmid = {22985902}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Crassostrea/cytology/*parasitology/virology ; Ecosystem ; Spain ; }, abstract = {In Galicia, there is an increasingly interest among representatives of the oyster industry in the development of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas culture. Nevertheless severe mortalities and emerging health problems in this species have been recently reported in European farming areas. A histological survey was performed from 2004 to 2009 to assess health status in both cultured and wild Galician oysters. Different symbiotic organisms and conditions were detected, including viral gametocytic hypertrophy (VGH) which is reported here for first time in Spanish coast. VGH, prokaryote-like colonies and ciliates were observed in oyster tissues without causing host damage. A haplosporidian infection, copepods inducing lesions and a cellular proliferative disorder were detected in some samples causing moderate host damage; their low prevalence suggests these parasites are not a threat for C. gigas in Galicia. None of the parasites detected is OIE (Office International des Epizooties: the World Organization for Animal Health) notifiable. Although the current study did not identify any pathogens or diseases of concern, it provides important prevalence baseline data for future health and epidemiological assessments needed to better understanding the existing and emerging health problems in this species.}, } @article {pmid22984446, year = {2012}, author = {Thanwisai, A and Tandhavanant, S and Saiprom, N and Waterfield, NR and Ke Long, P and Bode, HB and Peacock, SJ and Chantratita, N}, title = {Diversity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. and their symbiotic entomopathogenic nematodes from Thailand.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e43835}, pmid = {22984446}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 089275//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; BB/E021328/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; 087769/Z/08/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Base Pairing/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Likelihood Functions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nematoda/*genetics/isolation & purification/*microbiology ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Thailand ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. are bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). In this study, we isolated and characterized Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. from across Thailand together with their associated nematode symbionts, and characterized their phylogenetic diversity. EPNs were isolated from soil samples using a Galleria-baiting technique. Bacteria from EPNs were cultured and genotyped based on recA sequence. The nematodes were identified based on sequences of 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer regions. A total of 795 soil samples were collected from 159 sites in 13 provinces across Thailand. A total of 126 EPNs isolated from samples taken from 10 provinces were positive for Xenorhabdus (n = 69) or Photorhabdus spp. (n = 57). Phylogenetic analysis separated the 69 Xenorhabdus isolates into 4 groups. Groups 1, 2 and 3 consisting of 52, 13 and 1 isolates related to X. stockiae, and group 4 consisting of 3 isolates related to X. miraniensis. The EPN host for isolates related to X. stockiae was S. websteri, and for X. miraniensis was S. khoisanae. The Photorhabdus species were identified as P. luminescens (n = 56) and P. asymbiotica (n = 1). Phylogenenic analysis divided P. luminescens into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of 45 and 8 isolates defined as subspecies hainanensis and akhurstii, respectively. One isolate was related to hainanensis and akhurstii, two isolates were related to laumondii, and one isolate was the pathogenic species P. asymbiotica subsp. australis. H. indica was the major EPN host for Photorhabdus. This study reveals the genetic diversity of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. and describes new associations between EPNs and their bacterial symbionts in Thailand.}, } @article {pmid22984141, year = {2013}, author = {Ferreira, T and van Reenen, C and Pagès, S and Tailliez, P and Malan, AP and Dicks, LMT}, title = {Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. noenieputensis subsp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium associated with a novel Heterorhabditis species related to Heterorhabditis indica.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {Pt 5}, pages = {1853-1858}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.044388-0}, pmid = {22984141}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photorhabdus/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; South Africa ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bacterial symbiont AM7(T), isolated from a novel entomopathogenic nematode species of the genus Heterorhabditis, displays the main phenotypic traits of the genus Photorhabdus and is highly pathogenic to Galleria mellonella. Phylogenetic analysis based on a multigene approach (16S rRNA, recA, gyrB, dnaN, gltX and infB) confirmed the classification of isolate AM7(T) within the species Photorhabdus luminescens and revealed its close relatedness to Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. caribbeanensis, P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii and P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis. The five concatenated protein-encoding sequences (4197 nt) of strain AM7(T) revealed 95.8, 95.4 and 94.9 % nucleotide identity to sequences of P. luminescens subsp. caribbeanensis HG29(T), P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii FRG04(T) and P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis C8404(T), respectively. These identity values are less than the threshold of 97 % proposed for classification within one of the existing subspecies of P. luminescens. Unlike other strains described for P. luminescens, strain AM7(T) produces acid from adonitol, sorbitol and xylitol, assimilates xylitol and has no lipase activity on medium containing Tween 20 or 60. Strain AM7(T) is differentiated from P. luminescens subsp. caribbeanensis by the assimilation of N-acetylglucosamine and the absence of haemolytic activity. Unlike P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii, strain AM7(T) does not assimilate mannitol, and it is distinguished from P. luminescens subsp. hainanensis by the assimilation of trehalose and citrate, the inability to produce indole from tryptophan and the presence of acetoin production and urease activity. Strain AM7(T) (= ATCC BAA-2407(T) = DSM 25462(T)) belongs to a novel subspecies, and is proposed as the type strain of Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. noenieputensis sp. nov.}, } @article {pmid22983040, year = {2012}, author = {Bomar, L and Graf, J}, title = {Investigation into the physiologies of Aeromonas veronii in vitro and inside the digestive tract of the medicinal leech using RNA-seq.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {155-166}, pmid = {22983040}, issn = {1939-8697}, support = {R01 GM095390/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aeromonas/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Leeches/*microbiology/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Host-associated microbial communities are widespread in nature and vital to the health and fitness of the host. Deciphering the physiology of the microbiome in vivo is critical to understanding the molecular basis of the symbiosis. Recently, the development and application of high-throughput sequencing techniques, particularly RNA-seq, for studying microbial communities has enabled researchers to address not only which microbes are present in a given community but also how the community functions. For microbes that can also be cultivated in the laboratory, RNA-seq provides the opportunity to identify genes that are differentially expressed during symbiosis by comparing in vitro to in vivo transcriptomes. In the current study, we used RNA-seq to identify genes expressed by the digestive-tract microbiome of the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, and by one of the two dominant symbionts, Aeromonas veronii, in a rich medium. We used a comparative approach to identify genes differentially expressed during symbiosis and gain insight into the symbiont's physiology in vivo. Notable findings include evidence for the symbionts experiencing environmental stress, performing arginine catabolism, and expressing noncoding RNAs that are implicated in stationary phase survival, a state in which A. veronii persists for months within the host.}, } @article {pmid22983039, year = {2012}, author = {Devine, SP and Pelletreau, KN and Rumpho, ME}, title = {16S rDNA-based metagenomic analysis of bacterial diversity associated with two populations of the kleptoplastic sea slug Elysia chlorotica and its algal prey Vaucheria litorea.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {138-154}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p138}, pmid = {22983039}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biota ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastropoda/*microbiology ; Massachusetts ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nova Scotia ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stramenopiles/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The molluscan sea slug Elysia chlorotica is best known for its obligate endosymbiosis with chloroplasts (= kleptoplasty) from its algal prey Vaucheria litorea and its ability to sustain itself photoautotrophically for several months. This unusual photosynthetic sea slug also harbors an array of undescribed bacteria, which may contribute to the long-term success of the symbiosis. Here, we utilized 16S rDNA-based metagenomic analyses to characterize the microbial diversity associated with two populations of E. chlorotica from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA. Animals were examined immediately after collection from their native environments, after being starved of their algal prey for several months, and after being bred in the laboratory (second-generation sea slugs) to characterize the effect of varying environmental and culturing conditions on the associated bacteria. Additionally, the microbiome of the algal prey, laboratory-cultured V. litorea, was analyzed to determine whether the laboratory-bred sea slugs obtained bacteria from their algal food source during development. Bacterial profiles varied between populations and among all conditions except for the F2 laboratory-bred samples, which were similar in diversity and abundance, but not to the algal microbiome. Alpha-, beta-, and gamma-proteobacteria dominated all of the samples along with Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Flavobacteria, and Sphingobacteria. Bacteria capable of polysaccharide digestion and photosynthesis, as well as putative nitrogen fixation, vitamin B(12) production, and natural product biosynthesis were associated with the sea slug and algal samples.}, } @article {pmid22983038, year = {2012}, author = {Petersen, JM and Wentrup, C and Verna, C and Knittel, K and Dubilier, N}, title = {Origins and evolutionary flexibility of chemosynthetic symbionts from deep-sea animals.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {123-137}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p123}, pmid = {22983038}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Methane/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mytilidae/*microbiology/physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sulfur/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bathymodiolin mussels dominate hydrothermal vent and cold seep communities worldwide. Symbiotic associations with chemosynthetic sulfur- and methane-oxidizing bacteria that provide for their nutrition are the key to their ecological and evolutionary success. The current paradigm is that these symbioses evolved from two free-living ancestors, one methane-oxidizing and one sulfur-oxidizing bacterium. In contrast to previous studies, our phylogenetic analyses of the bathymodiolin symbionts show that both the sulfur and the methane oxidizers fall into multiple clades interspersed with free-living bacteria, many of which were discovered recently in metagenomes from marine oxygen minimum zones. We therefore hypothesize that symbioses between bathymodiolin mussels and free-living sulfur- and methane-oxidizing bacteria evolved multiple times in convergent evolution. Furthermore, by 16S rRNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we show that close relatives of the bathymodiolin symbionts occur on hosts belonging to different animal phyla: Raricirrus beryli, a terebellid polychaete from a whale-fall, and a poecilosclerid sponge from a cold seep. The host range within the bathymodiolin symbionts is therefore greater than previously recognized, confirming the remarkable flexibility of these symbiotic associations.}, } @article {pmid22983037, year = {2012}, author = {Wernegreen, JJ}, title = {Strategies of genomic integration within insect-bacterial mutualisms.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {112-122}, pmid = {22983037}, issn = {1939-8697}, support = {R01 GM062626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome Size ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genome, Insect ; Insecta/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects, the most diverse group of macroorganisms with 900,000 known species, have been a rich playground for the evolution of symbiotic associations. Symbionts of this enormous animal group include a range of microbial partners. Insects are prone to establishing relationships with intracellular bacteria, which include the most intimate, highly integrated mutualisms known in the biological world. In recent years, an explosion of genomic studies has offered new insights into the molecular, functional, and evolutionary consequences of these insect-bacterial partnerships. In this review, I highlight some insights from genome sequences of bacterial endosymbionts and select insect hosts. Notably, comparisons between facultative and obligate bacterial mutualists have revealed distinct genome features representing different stages along a shared trajectory of genome reduction. Bacteria associated with the cedar aphid offer a snapshot of a transition from facultative to obligate mutualism, illustrating the genomic basis of this key step along the symbiotic spectrum. In addition, genomes of stable, dual bacterial symbionts reflect independent instances of astonishing metabolic integration. In these systems, synthesis of key nutrients, and perhaps basic cellular processes, require collaboration among co-residing bacteria and their insect host. These findings provide a launching point for a new era of genomic explorations of bacterial-animal symbioses. Future studies promise to reveal symbiotic strategies across a broad ecological and phylogenetic range, to clarify key transitions along a spectrum of interaction types, and to fuel new experimental approaches to dissect the mechanistic basis of intimate host-symbiont associations.}, } @article {pmid22983036, year = {2012}, author = {Rader, BA and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Host/microbe interactions revealed through "omics" in the symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {103-111}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p103}, pmid = {22983036}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/immunology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Genomics/methods ; Immunity, Innate ; Proteomics/methods ; Quorum Sensing ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species/toxicity ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The association between Euprymna scolopes, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, and Vibrio fischeri, a bioluminescent bacterium, has served as a model for beneficial symbioses for over 25 years. The experimental tractability of this association has helped researchers characterize many of the colonization events necessary for symbiosis. Recent technological advances, such as the sequenced genome of V. fischeri, DNA microarrays, and high-throughput transcriptomics and proteomics, have allowed for the identification of host and symbiont factors that are important in establishing and maintaining specificity in the association. We highlight some of these findings pertaining to quorum sensing, luminescence, responses to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, recognition of microbe-associated molecular patterns by the innate immune system of the host, and a diel rhythm that helps regulate the symbiont population. We also discuss how comparative genomics has allowed the identification of symbiont factors important for specificity and why sequencing the host's genome should be a priority for the research community.}, } @article {pmid22983035, year = {2012}, author = {Murfin, KE and Dillman, AR and Foster, JM and Bulgheresi, S and Slatko, BE and Sternberg, PW and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {Nematode-bacterium symbioses--cooperation and conflict revealed in the "omics" age.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {85-102}, pmid = {22983035}, issn = {1939-8697}, support = {T32 GM007616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P 22470/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; T32GM07616/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/chemistry/genetics/*growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Genomics/methods ; Metabolomics/methods ; Nematoda/*microbiology/*physiology ; Proteomics/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Nematodes are ubiquitous organisms that have a significant global impact on ecosystems, economies, agriculture, and human health. The applied importance of nematodes and the experimental tractability of many species have promoted their use as models in various research areas, including developmental biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, and animal-bacterium interactions. Nematodes are particularly well suited for the investigation of host associations with bacteria because all nematodes have interacted with bacteria during their evolutionary history and engage in a variety of association types. Interactions between nematodes and bacteria can be positive (mutualistic) or negative (pathogenic/parasitic) and may be transient or stably maintained (symbiotic). Furthermore, since many mechanistic aspects of nematode-bacterium interactions are conserved, their study can provide broader insights into other types of associations, including those relevant to human diseases. Recently, genome-scale studies have been applied to diverse nematode-bacterial interactions and have helped reveal mechanisms of communication and exchange between the associated partners. In addition to providing specific information about the system under investigation, these studies also have helped inform our understanding of genome evolution, mutualism, and innate immunity. In this review we discuss the importance and diversity of nematodes, "omics"' studies in nematode-bacterial systems, and the wider implications of the findings.}, } @article {pmid22983034, year = {2012}, author = {Bosch, TC}, title = {What hydra has to say about the role and origin of symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {78-84}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p78}, pmid = {22983034}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chlorella/growth & development/*physiology ; Genomics/methods ; Hydra/*microbiology/*physiology ; Metabolomics/methods ; Proteomics/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Toll-Like Receptors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Hydra holobiont involves at least three types of organisms that all share a long coevolutionary history and appear to depend on each other. Here I review how symbiotic algae and stably associated bacteria interact with the Hydra host and where in the tissue they are located. In particular I discuss the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in maintaining Hydra's species-specific microbiota. I also discuss studies in Hydra viridis and its symbiotic Chlorella algae which indicate that the symbiotic algae are critically involved in the control of sexual differentiation in green Hydra. Finally, I review the state of "omics" in this tripartite association and the fact that the functioning of this holobiont is also a tale of several genomes.}, } @article {pmid22983032, year = {2012}, author = {Meyer, E and Weis, VM}, title = {Study of cnidarian-algal symbiosis in the "omics" age.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {44-65}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p44}, pmid = {22983032}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Alveolata/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Cnidaria/*microbiology ; Genomics/*methods/trends ; Metabolomics/*methods/trends ; Proteomics/*methods/trends ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic associations between cnidarians and dinoflagellate algae (Symbiodinium) support productive and diverse ecosystems in coral reefs. Many aspects of this association, including the mechanistic basis of host-symbiont recognition and metabolic interaction, remain poorly understood. The first completed genome sequence for a symbiotic anthozoan is now available (the coral Acropora digitifera), and extensive expressed sequence tag resources are available for a variety of other symbiotic corals and anemones. These resources make it possible to profile gene expression, protein abundance, and protein localization associated with the symbiotic state. Here we review the history of "omics" studies of cnidarian-algal symbiosis and the current availability of sequence resources for corals and anemones, identifying genes putatively involved in symbiosis across 10 anthozoan species. The public availability of candidate symbiosis-associated genes leaves the field of cnidarian-algal symbiosis poised for in-depth comparative studies of sequence diversity and gene expression and for targeted functional studies of genes associated with symbiosis. Reviewing the progress to date suggests directions for future investigations of cnidarian-algal symbiosis that include (i) sequencing of Symbiodinium, (ii) proteomic analysis of the symbiosome membrane complex, (iii) glycomic analysis of Symbiodinium cell surfaces, and (iv) expression profiling of the gastrodermal cells hosting Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid22983031, year = {2012}, author = {Kamke, J and Bayer, K and Woyke, T and Hentschel, U}, title = {Exploring symbioses by single-cell genomics.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {30-43}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p30}, pmid = {22983031}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Genomics/*methods ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Vertebrates/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Single-cell genomics has advanced the field of microbiology from the analysis of microbial metagenomes where information is "drowning in a sea of sequences," to recognizing each microbial cell as a separate and unique entity. Single-cell genomics employs Phi29 polymerase-mediated whole-genome amplification to yield microgram-range genomic DNA from single microbial cells. This method has now been applied to a handful of symbiotic systems, including bacterial symbionts of marine sponges, insects (grasshoppers, termites), and vertebrates (mouse, human). In each case, novel insights were obtained into the functional genomic repertoire of the bacterial partner, which, in turn, led to an improved understanding of the corresponding host. Single-cell genomics is particularly valuable when dealing with uncultivated microorganisms, as is still the case for many bacterial symbionts. In this review, we explore the power of single-cell genomics for symbiosis research and highlight recent insights into the symbiotic systems that were obtained by this approach.}, } @article {pmid22983030, year = {2012}, author = {Chaston, J and Douglas, AE}, title = {Making the most of "omics" for symbiosis research.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {21-29}, pmid = {22983030}, issn = {1939-8697}, support = {R01 GM095372/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01GM095372-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*chemistry/classification/*genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Genomics/*methods/trends ; Metabolomics/*methods/trends ; Proteomics/*methods/trends ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Omics, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, enable us to explain symbioses in terms of the underlying molecules and their interactions. The central task is to transform molecular catalogs of genes, metabolites, etc., into a dynamic understanding of symbiosis function. We review four exemplars of omics studies that achieve this goal, through defined biological questions relating to metabolic integration and regulation of animal-microbial symbioses, the genetic autonomy of bacterial symbionts, and symbiotic protection of animal hosts from pathogens. As omic datasets become increasingly complex, computationally sophisticated downstream analyses are essential to reveal interactions not evident from visual inspection of the data. We discuss two approaches, phylogenomics and transcriptional clustering, that can divide the primary output of omics studies-long lists of factors-into manageable subsets, and we describe how they have been applied to analyze large datasets and generate testable hypotheses.}, } @article {pmid22983028, year = {2012}, author = {Hentschel, U and Weis, VM and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Biological bulletin virtual symposium: discoveries in animal symbiosis in the “omics” age.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {223}, number = {1}, pages = {5-6}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv223n1p5}, pmid = {22983028}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biota ; Genomics/*methods/trends ; Invertebrates/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid22981578, year = {2012}, author = {Kimoto-Nira, H and Ohmori, H and Suzuki, C}, title = {Commensal symbiosis between a Lactococcus lactis strain and an Enterococcus mundtii strain increases cell yield in constituted broth.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {95}, number = {11}, pages = {6372-6378}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2012-5764}, pmid = {22981578}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Citric Acid/metabolism ; Culture Media ; Dairy Products/microbiology ; Enterococcus/metabolism/*physiology ; Ethanol/metabolism ; Glucose/metabolism ; Lactates/metabolism ; Lactococcus lactis/metabolism/*physiology ; Probiotics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {To exert their beneficial effects, probiotics need to survive in the stringent conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Symbiosis between different bacteria is a potential way of enhancing this survival. In developing new probiotic cultures, we investigated the synergic effect between Enterococcus mundtii IFO 13712 and 7 strains of Lactococcus lactis, many of which are widely used as starter bacteria for making dairy products and have probiotic properties. The growth yield of a mixed culture of L. lactis strain Y and IFO 13712 in de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe broth was greater than that of a single culture. Supernatant from culture of strain IFO 13712 enhanced the growth of strain Y, but that of strain Y did not enhance the growth of strain IFO 13712. This commensalism phenomenon was confirmed by using a simpler tryptone-yeast extract-glucose (TYG) broth. Increased cell yield in mixed culture of the 2 strains compared with single cultures was observed in TYG broth in the presence of both Tween 80 and citrate but not in TYG broth alone or TYG broth containing either Tween 80 or citrate. Thus, the Tween 80 and citrate in the broth contributed to the commensalism. Metabolite analysis revealed that ethanol production in the co-metabolism of glucose and citrate by strain Y was suppressed by mixed culture in TYG broth containing Tween 80 and citrate, compared with that in TYG broth containing citrate alone. The mechanism supporting the observed commensal symbiosis between strains Y and IFO 13712 was the increase in availability of glucose for lactate production by strain Y because, in glycolysis, the pathway from glucose to lactate is energic, whereas the pathway from glucose to ethanol is not. Whether growth stimulation of strain Y by mixing it with IFO 13712 in milk products will enhance the survival of strain Y in the intestine remains to be elucidated.}, } @article {pmid22976347, year = {2013}, author = {Benecke, AG}, title = {Critical dynamics in host-pathogen systems.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {363}, number = {}, pages = {235-259}, pmid = {22976347}, issn = {0070-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; Genome ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Probability ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology ; *Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Host-pathogen interactions provide a fascinating example of two or more active genomes directly exerting mutual influence upon each other. These encounters can lead to multiple outcomes from symbiotic homeostasis to mutual annihilation, undergo multiple cycles of latency and lysogeny, and lead to coevolution of the interacting genomes. Such systems pose numerous challenges but also some advantages to modeling, especially in terms of functional, mathematical genome representations. The main challenges for the modeling process start with the conceptual definition of a genome for instance in the case of host-integrated viral genomes. Furthermore, hardly understood influences of the activity of either genome on the other(s) via direct and indirect mechanisms amplify the needs for a coherent description of genome activity. Finally, genetic and local environmental heterogeneities in both the host's cellular and the pathogen populations need to be considered in multiscale modeling efforts. We will review here two prominent examples of host-pathogen interactions at the genome level, discuss the current modeling efforts and their shortcomings, and explore novel ideas of representing active genomes which promise being particularly adapted to dealing with the modeling challenges posed by host-pathogen interactions.}, } @article {pmid22972880, year = {2012}, author = {Zamoum, T and Furla, P}, title = {Symbiodinium isolation by NaOH treatment.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {215}, number = {Pt 22}, pages = {3875-3880}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.074955}, pmid = {22972880}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cnidaria/drug effects/parasitology ; DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/*drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Genome, Protozoan/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification ; Sodium Hydroxide/*pharmacology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The presence of photosynthetic zooxanthellae (dinoflagellates) in the tissue of many cnidarians is the main reason for their ecological success (i.e. coral reefs). It could also be the main cause of their demise, as the worldwide bleaching of reef-building coral is nothing less than the breakdown of this symbiotic association. The stability of this relationship is the principal marker for the biomonitoring of cnidarian health. We have therefore developed a new, simple method to isolate zooxanthellae in a few steps using NaOH solution. The protocol was validated in three symbiotic cnidarian species: a sea anemone, a gorgonian and a coral. Our method allows the isolation of intact and viable zooxanthellae with better yields than classic methods, especially for species with a calcareous skeleton. Moreover, the isolated zooxanthellae were free of host nucleic contaminants, facilitating subsequent specific molecular analyses.}, } @article {pmid22972296, year = {2012}, author = {Maynard, CL and Elson, CO and Hatton, RD and Weaver, CT}, title = {Reciprocal interactions of the intestinal microbiota and immune system.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {489}, number = {7415}, pages = {231-241}, pmid = {22972296}, issn = {1476-4687}, support = {T32 AI007051/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R24 DK064400/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI057956/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 DK071176/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK093015/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Blood Group Antigens/immunology ; Cesarean Section ; Epithelium/immunology ; Female ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines/*immunology/*microbiology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Pregnancy ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The emergence of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates set the stage for evolution of an advanced symbiotic relationship with the intestinal microbiota. The defining features of specificity and memory that characterize adaptive immunity have afforded vertebrates the mechanisms for efficiently tailoring immune responses to diverse types of microbes, whether to promote mutualism or host defence. These same attributes can put the host at risk of immune-mediated diseases that are increasingly linked to the intestinal microbiota. Understanding how the adaptive immune system copes with the remarkable number and diversity of microbes that colonize the digestive tract, and how the system integrates with more primitive innate immune mechanisms to maintain immune homeostasis, holds considerable promise for new approaches to modulate immune networks to treat and prevent disease.}, } @article {pmid22970813, year = {2012}, author = {Robledo, M and Rivera, L and Jiménez-Zurdo, JI and Rivas, R and Dazzo, F and Velázquez, E and Martínez-Molina, E and Hirsch, AM and Mateos, PF}, title = {Role of Rhizobium endoglucanase CelC2 in cellulose biosynthesis and biofilm formation on plant roots and abiotic surfaces.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {125}, pmid = {22970813}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Cellulase/genetics/*metabolism ; Cellulose/*biosynthesis ; Mutation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trifolium/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The synthesis of cellulose is among the most important but poorly understood biochemical processes, especially in bacteria, due to its complexity and high degree of regulation. In this study, we analyzed both the production of cellulose by all known members of the Rhizobiaceae and the diversity of Rhizobium celABC operon predicted to be involved in cellulose biosynthesis. We also investigated the involvement in cellulose production and biofilm formation of celC gene encoding an endoglucanase (CelC2) that is required for canonical symbiotic root hair infection by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii.

RESULTS: ANU843 celC mutants lacking (ANU843ΔC2) or overproducing cellulase (ANU843C2+) produced greatly increased or reduced amounts of external cellulose micro fibrils, respectively. Calcofluor-stained cellulose micro fibrils were considerably longer when formed by ANU843ΔC2 bacteria rather than by the wild-type strain, in correlation with a significant increase in their flocculation in batch culture. In contrast, neither calcofluor-stained extracellular micro fibrils nor flocculation was detectable in ANU843C2+ cells. To clarify the role of cellulose synthesis in Rhizobium cell aggregation and attachment, we analyzed the ability of these mutants to produce biofilms on different surfaces. Alteration of wild-type CelC2 levels resulted in a reduced ability of bacteria to form biofilms both in abiotic surfaces and in planta.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a key role of the CelC2 cellulase in cellulose biosynthesis by modulating the length of the cellulose fibrils that mediate firm adhesion among Rhizobium bacteria leading to biofilm formation. Rhizobium cellulose is an essential component of the biofilm polysaccharidic matrix architecture and either an excess or a defect of this "building material" seem to collapse the biofilm structure. These results position cellulose hydrolytic enzymes as excellent anti-biofilm candidates.}, } @article {pmid22970303, year = {2012}, author = {Tromas, A and Parizot, B and Diagne, N and Champion, A and Hocher, V and Cissoko, M and Crabos, A and Prodjinoto, H and Lahouze, B and Bogusz, D and Laplaze, L and Svistoonoff, S}, title = {Heart of endosymbioses: transcriptomics reveals a conserved genetic program among arbuscular mycorrhizal, actinorhizal and legume-rhizobial symbioses.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e44742}, pmid = {22970303}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Fungal ; Genes, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {To improve their nutrition, most plants associate with soil microorganisms, particularly fungi, to form mycorrhizae. A few lineages, including actinorhizal plants and legumes are also able to interact with nitrogen-fixing bacteria hosted intracellularly inside root nodules. Fossil and molecular data suggest that the molecular mechanisms involved in these root nodule symbioses (RNS) have been partially recycled from more ancient and widespread arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. We used a comparative transcriptomics approach to identify genes involved in establishing these 3 endosymbioses and their functioning. We analysed global changes in gene expression in AM in the actinorhizal tree C. glauca. A comparison with genes induced in AM in Medicago truncatula and Oryza sativa revealed a common set of genes induced in AM. A comparison with genes induced in nitrogen-fixing nodules of C. glauca and M. truncatula also made it possible to define a common set of genes induced in these three endosymbioses. The existence of this core set of genes is in accordance with the proposed recycling of ancient AM genes for new functions related to nodulation in legumes and actinorhizal plants.}, } @article {pmid22970284, year = {2012}, author = {Tremblay, P and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Maguer, JF and Rottier, C and Legendre, L and Grover, R}, title = {Controlling effects of irradiance and heterotrophy on carbon translocation in the temperate coral Cladocora caespitosa.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e44672}, pmid = {22970284}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism/physiology ; Biological Transport ; Carbon/*metabolism ; *Light ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Temperate symbiotic corals, such as the Mediterranean species Cladocora caespitosa, live in seasonally changing environments, where irradiance can be ten times higher in summer than winter. These corals shift from autotrophy in summer to heterotrophy in winter in response to light limitation of the symbiont's photosynthesis. In this study, we determined the autotrophic carbon budget under different conditions of irradiance (20 and 120 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1)) and feeding (fed three times a week with Artemia salina nauplii, and unfed). Corals were incubated in H(13)CO(3) (-)-enriched seawater, and the fate of (13)C was followed in the symbionts and the host tissue. The total amount of carbon fixed by photosynthesis and translocated was significantly higher at high than low irradiance (ca. 13 versus 2.5-4.5 µg cm(-2) h(-1)), because the rates of photosynthesis and carbon fixation were also higher. However, the percent of carbon translocation was similar under the two irradiances, and reached more than 70% of the total fixed carbon. Host feeding induced a decrease in the percentage of carbon translocated under low irradiance (from 70 to 53%), and also a decrease in the rates of carbon translocation per symbiont cell under both irradiances. The fate of autotrophic and heterotrophic carbon differed according to irradiance. At low irradiance, autotrophic carbon was mostly respired by the host and the symbionts, and heterotrophic feeding led to an increase in host biomass. Under high irradiance, autotrophic carbon was both respired and released as particulate and dissolved organic carbon, and heterotrophic feeding led to an increase in host biomass and symbiont concentration. Overall, the maintenance of high symbiont concentration and high percentage of carbon translocation under low irradiance allow this coral species to optimize its autotrophic carbon acquisition, when irradiance conditions are not favourable to photosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid22969760, year = {2012}, author = {McManus, GB and Schoener, DM and Haberlandt, K}, title = {Chloroplast symbiosis in a marine ciliate: ecophysiology and the risks and rewards of hosting foreign organelles.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {321}, pmid = {22969760}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Simultaneous use of both heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism ("mixotrophy") is common among protists. Strombidium rassoulzadegani is a planktonic mixotrophic marine ciliate that saves chloroplasts from its algal food and obtains a nutritional subsidy via photosynthesis. Cultures from the northeast, northwest, and southwest Atlantic Ocean show similar numerical response parameters (maximum growth rate, food concentration at which growth is half its maximum, and threshold food concentration for growth), and some isolates have been maintained in vitro for over 3 years. This ciliate grows equally well when fed on the green alga Tetraselmis chui (strain PLY429) or the cryptophyte Rhodomonas lens (strain RHODO). It appears to be an obligate mixotroph, requiring both food and light to achieve positive growth, when feeding on either of these algae. However, it has also been grown for several weeks (>10 generations) heterotrophically on the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum (strain EXUV) during which it grows better in dark than in light. In this paper, we review the ecology of S. rassoulzadegani, discuss some aspects of its photo- and feeding physiology, and speculate on benefits and costs to the ciliate of chloroplast symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22968071, year = {2012}, author = {Plerhoples, TA and Greco, RS and Krummel, TM and Melcher, ML}, title = {Symbiotic or parasitic? A review of the literature on the impact of fellowships on surgical residents.}, journal = {Annals of surgery}, volume = {256}, number = {6}, pages = {904-908}, doi = {10.1097/SLA.0b013e318262edd5}, pmid = {22968071}, issn = {1528-1140}, mesh = {*Fellowships and Scholarships ; *Internship and Residency ; Specialties, Surgical/*education ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review of published literature to gain a better understanding of the impact of advanced fellowships on surgical resident training and education.

BACKGROUND: As fellowship opportunities rise, resident training may be adversely impacted.

METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, BIOSIS, Web of Science, and a manual search of article bibliographies. Of the 139 citations identified through the initial electronic search and screened for possible inclusion, 23 articles were retained and accepted for this review. Data were extracted regarding surgical specialty, methodology, sample population, outcomes measured, and results.

RESULTS: Eight studies retrospectively compared the eras before and after the introduction of a fellowship or trended data over time. Approximately half used data from a single institution, whereas the other half used some form of national data or survey. Only 3 studies used national case data. Fourteen studies looked at general surgery, 6 at obstetrics-gynecology, 2 at urology, and 1 at otolaryngology. Only one study concluded that fellowships have a generally positive impact on resident education, whereas 9 others found a negative impact. The remaining 13 studies found mixed results (n = 6) or minimal to no impact (n = 7).

CONCLUSIONS: The overall impact of advanced surgical fellowships on surgical resident education and training remains unclear, as most studies rely on limited data of questionable generalizability. A careful study of the national database of surgery resident case logs is essential to better understand how early surgical specialization and fellowships will impact the future of general surgery education.}, } @article {pmid22965803, year = {2013}, author = {Coelho-Souza, SA and Miranda, MR and Salgado, LT and Coutinho, R and Guimaraes, JR}, title = {Adaptation of the 3H-leucine incorporation technique to measure heterotrophic activity associated with biofilm on the blades of the seaweed Sargassum spp.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {424-436}, pmid = {22965803}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism/radiation effects ; *Biofilms ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; Leucine/metabolism ; Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Sargassum/*microbiology ; Seaweed/microbiology ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The ecological interaction between microorganisms and seaweeds depends on the production of secondary compounds that can influence microbial diversity in the water column and the composition of reef environments. We adapted the (3)H-leucine incorporation technique to measure bacterial activity in biofilms associated with the blades of the macroalgae Sargassum spp. We evaluated (1) if the epiphytic bacteria on the blades were more active in detritus or in the biofilm, (2) substrate saturation and linearity of (3)H-leucine incorporation, (3) the influence of specific metabolic inhibitors during (3)H-leucine incorporation under the presence or absence of natural and artificial light, and (4) the efficiency of radiolabeled protein extraction. Scanning electron microscopy showed heterogeneous distribution of bacteria, diatoms, and polymeric extracellular secretions. Active bacteria were present in both biofilm and detritus on the blades. The highest (3)H-leucine incorporation was obtained when incubating blades not colonized by macroepibionts. Incubations done under field conditions reported higher (3)H-leucine incorporation than in the laboratory. Light quality and sampling manipulation seemed to be the main factors behind this difference. The use of specific metabolic inhibitors confirmed that bacteria are the main group incorporating (3)H-leucine but their association with primary production suggested a symbiotic relationship between bacteria, diatoms, and the seaweed.}, } @article {pmid22964251, year = {2012}, author = {Qin, X and Zerr, DM and McNutt, MA and Berry, JE and Burns, JL and Kapur, RP}, title = {Pseudomonas aeruginosa syntrophy in chronically colonized airways of cystic fibrosis patients.}, journal = {Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy}, volume = {56}, number = {11}, pages = {5971-5981}, pmid = {22964251}, issn = {1098-6596}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/drug effects/*genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Chronic Disease ; Clone Cells ; Cystic Fibrosis/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Heterogeneity ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mosaicism ; Mutation ; Pseudomonas Infections/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Respiratory System/drug effects/*microbiology ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients undergo remarkable phenotypic divergence over time, including loss of pigmentation, hemolysis, motility, and quorum sensing and emergence of antibiotic hypersusceptibility and/or auxotrophism. With prolonged antibiotic treatment and steady decline in lung function in chronically infected patients, the divergent characteristics associated with CF isolates have traditionally been regarded as "adapted/unusual virulence," despite the degenerative nature of these adaptations. We examined the phenotypic and genotypic diversity in clonally related isogenic strains of P. aeruginosa from individual CF patients. Our observations support a novel model of intra-airway pseudomonal syntrophy and accompanying loss of virulence. A 2007 calendar year collection of CF P. aeruginosa isolates (n = 525) from 103 CF patients yielded in vitro MICs of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP, which typically has no activity against P. aeruginosa) ranging from 0.02 to >32 μg/ml (median, 1.5). Coisolation of clonally related SMX-TMP-susceptible and -resistant P. aeruginosa strains from the same host was common (57%), as were isogenic coisolates with mutations in efflux gene determinants (mexR, mexAB-oprM, and mexZ) and genes governing DNA mismatch repair (mutL and mutS). In this cohort, complete in vitro growth complementation between auxotrophic and prototrophic P. aeruginosa isogenic strains was evident and concurrent with the coding sequence mosaicism in resistance determinants. These observations suggest that syntrophic clonal strains evolve in situ in an organized colonial structure. We propose that P. aeruginosa adopts a multicellular lifestyle in CF patients due to host selection of an energetically favorable, less-virulent microbe restricted within and symbiotic with the airway over the host's lifetime.}, } @article {pmid22963080, year = {2012}, author = {Roselino, MN and Pauly-Silveira, ND and Cavallini, DC and Celiberto, LS and Pinto, RA and Vendramini, RC and Rossi, EA}, title = {A potential synbiotic product improves the lipid profile of diabetic rats.}, journal = {Lipids in health and disease}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {114}, pmid = {22963080}, issn = {1476-511X}, mesh = {Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*blood/*diet therapy ; Enterococcus faecium ; Fermentation ; Lactobacillus helveticus ; Lipids/*blood ; Male ; Plant Extracts/administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soybeans ; *Synbiotics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that intake of yacon or some lactic acid bacteria was able to inhibit the development of diabetes mellitus, by reducing glucose and associated symptoms, for example, the lipid profile.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the consumption influence of a potential symbiotic product of soybean and yacon extract and fermented Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Lactobacillus helveticus ssp jugurti 416 in reducing blood glucose and lipid levels in an animal model.

METHODS: Diabetes mellitus was chemically induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). The rats were divided into four groups (n=10): GI - non-diabetic animals that received only a standard chow diet (negative control), GII - diabetic animals that received only chow diet (positive control), GIII - diabetic animals that received the chow diet + 1 mL/kg body weight/day of soybean and yacon unfermented product, GIV - diabetic rats that received the chow diet + 1 mL/kg body weight/day of soybean and yacon fermented product. There was a seven-week treatment period and the following parameters were evaluated: animal body weight, food and water intake, blood glucose, enzyme activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides levels, total cholesterol, HDL-C, non-HDL-C. Cell viability of the fermented product was checked weekly for a seven-week period.

RESULTS: The product average viable population was 10(8)-10(9) CFU/mL, by ensuring both the rods and cocci regular intake. No difference was observed between the water and feed intake and body weight of groups that received unfermented and fermented products and the untreated diabetic group. The same was observed for the blood glucose and AST and ALT activities, while some improvement was observed for a lipid profile, represented by reduction of triglycerides level by 15.07% and 33.50% in groups III and IV, respectively, and an increase of 23.70% in HDL-C level for group IV.

CONCLUSION: The results showed that the ingestion of a potential symbiotic product was neither able to promote improvement in some of the disease symptoms, nor reduce blood glucose. However, a positive effect on triglycerides levels and HDL-cholesterol was observed in the groups that received the unfermented product containing yacon extract and the fermented product with Enterococcus faecium CRL 183, as well as Lactobacillus helveticus ssp jugurti 416 and yacon extract (symbiotic product).}, } @article {pmid22961408, year = {2013}, author = {Fernández, NV and Messuti, MI and Fontenla, SB}, title = {Occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizas and dark septate endophytes in pteridophytes from a Patagonian rainforest, Argentina.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {53}, number = {6}, pages = {498-508}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201100613}, pmid = {22961408}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {Argentina ; Endophytes/physiology ; Ferns/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; Trees/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are one of the most widespread types of symbiotic associations. Pteridophytes occupy an important position in the evolution of vascular plants. However, their mycorrhizal state remains poorly understood. The aim of this work was to describe the general mycorrhizal status and the occurrence of dark septate endophytes (DSE) in the pteridophytic flora of a Valdivian temperate forest in Patagonia, Argentina. First, the roots of nine terrestrial species representing six families were examined, and this information was then compared with other surveys concerning the occurrence of AM in other pteridophytic species within the same Valdivian temperate forest. AM were recorded in 98.6% of the samples analyzed in this work and all of them corresponded to the Paris-type morphology. DSEs were also present within the roots of all terrestrial species. A comparison to published results in other ferns and lycophytes that have been studied in this Valdivian temperate forest (161 sporophytes, 21 species and 10 families) was made. Clear differences in colonization patterns between eusporangiate/leptosporangiate and epiphytic/terrestrial species became evident and are discussed.}, } @article {pmid22960869, year = {2012}, author = {Waqas, M and Khan, AL and Kamran, M and Hamayun, M and Kang, SM and Kim, YH and Lee, IJ}, title = {Endophytic fungi produce gibberellins and indoleacetic acid and promotes host-plant growth during stress.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {17}, number = {9}, pages = {10754-10773}, pmid = {22960869}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Ascomycota/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Cucumis sativus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal/analysis ; Endophytes/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Gibberellins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Indoleacetic Acids/chemistry/*metabolism ; Penicillium/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Salinity ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {We isolated and examined two endophytic fungi for their potential to secrete phytohormones viz. gibberellins (GAs) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) and mitigate abiotic stresses like salinity and drought. The endophytic fungi Phoma glomerata LWL2 and Penicillium sp. LWL3 significantly promoted the shoot and allied growth attributes of GAs-deficient dwarf mutant Waito-C and Dongjin-beyo rice. Analysis of the pure cultures of these endophytic fungi showed biologically active GAs (GA1, GA3, GA4 and GA7) in various quantities. The cultures of P. glomerata and Penicillium sp. also contained IAA. The culture application and endophytic-association with host-cucumber plants significantly increased the plant biomass and related growth parameters under sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol induced salinity and drought stress as compared to control plants. The endophytic symbiosis resulted in significantly higher assimilation of essential nutrients like potassium, calcium and magnesium as compared to control plants during salinity stress. Endophytic-association reduced the sodium toxicity and promoted the host-benefit ratio in cucumber plants as compared to non-inoculated control plants. The symbiotic-association mitigated stress by compromising the activities of reduced glutathione, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Under stress conditions, the endophyte-infection significantly modulated stress through down-regulated abscisic acid, altered jasmonic acid, and elevated salicylic acid contents as compared to control. In conclusion, the two endophytes significantly reprogrammed the growth of host plants during stress conditions.}, } @article {pmid22958178, year = {2013}, author = {Herand, D and Gürder, F and Taşkin, H and Yuksel, EN}, title = {A healthcare management system for Turkey based on a service-oriented architecture.}, journal = {Informatics for health & social care}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, pages = {246-264}, doi = {10.3109/17538157.2012.710689}, pmid = {22958178}, issn = {1753-8165}, mesh = {Computer Security ; *Developing Countries ; *Health Services Administration ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Information Systems/*organization & administration ; *Software Design ; *Systems Integration ; Turkey ; }, abstract = {The current Turkish healthcare management system has a structure that is extremely inordinate, cumbersome and inflexible. Furthermore, this structure has no common point of view and thus has no interoperability and responds slowly to innovations. The purpose of this study is to show that using which methods can the Turkish healthcare management system provide a structure that could be more modern, more flexible and more quick to respond to innovations and changes taking advantage of the benefits given by a service-oriented architecture (SOA). In this paper, the Turkish healthcare management system is chosen to be examined since Turkey is considered as one of the Third World countries and the information architecture of the existing healthcare management system of Turkey has not yet been configured with SOA, which is a contemporary innovative approach and should provide the base architecture of the new solution. The innovation of this study is the symbiosis of two main integration approaches, SOA and Health Level 7 (HL7), for integrating divergent healthcare information systems. A model is developed which is based on SOA and enables obtaining a healthcare management system having the SSF standards (HSSP Service Specification Framework) developed by the framework of the HSSP (Healthcare Services Specification Project) under the leadership of HL7 and the Object Management Group.}, } @article {pmid22958119, year = {2013}, author = {Vences-Guzmán, MÁ and Guan, Z and Bermúdez-Barrientos, JR and Geiger, O and Sohlenkamp, C}, title = {Agrobacteria lacking ornithine lipids induce more rapid tumour formation.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {895-906}, pmid = {22958119}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {U54 GM069338/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM-069338/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Lipids/genetics ; Membrane Lipids/chemistry/metabolism ; Ornithine/*analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Tubers/microbiology ; Plant Tumors/*microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Ornithine lipids (OLs) are phosphorus-free membrane lipids that are widespread among Gram-negative bacteria. Their basic structure consists of a 3-hydroxy fatty acyl group attached in amide linkage to the α-amino group of ornithine and a second fatty acyl group ester-linked to the 3-hydroxy position of the first fatty acid. It has been shown that OLs can be hydroxylated within the amide-linked fatty acyl moiety, the secondary fatty acyl moiety or within the ornithine moiety. These modifications have been related to increased stress tolerance and symbiotic proficiency in different organisms such as Rhizobium tropici or Burkholderia cenocepacia. Analysing the membrane lipid composition of the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens we noticed that it forms two different OLs. In the present work we studied if OLs play a role in stress tolerance and pathogenicity in A. tumefaciens. Mutants deficient in the OLs biosynthesis genes olsB or olsE were constructed and characterized. They either completely lack OLs (ΔolsB) or only form the unmodified OL (ΔolsE). Here we present a characterization of both OL mutants under stress conditions and in a plant transformation assay using potato tuber discs. Surprisingly, the lack of agrobacterial OLs promotes earlier tumour formation on the plant host.}, } @article {pmid22957874, year = {2012}, author = {Dunlap, PV and Gould, AL and Wittenrich, ML and Nakamura, M}, title = {Symbiosis initiation in the bacterially luminous sea urchin cardinalfish Siphamia versicolor.}, journal = {Journal of fish biology}, volume = {81}, number = {4}, pages = {1340-1356}, doi = {10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03415.x}, pmid = {22957874}, issn = {1095-8649}, mesh = {Animals ; Perciformes/growth & development/*microbiology ; Photobacterium/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {To determine how each new generation of the sea urchin cardinalfish Siphamia versicolor acquires the symbiotic luminous bacterium Photobacterium mandapamensis, and when in its development the S. versicolor initiates the symbiosis, procedures were established for rearing S. versicolor larvae in an aposymbiotic state. Under the conditions provided, larvae survived and developed for 28 days after their release from the mouths of males. Notochord flexion began at 8 days post release (dpr). By 28 dpr, squamation was evident and the caudal complex was complete. The light organ remained free of bacteria but increased in size and complexity during development of the larvae. Thus, aposymbiotic larvae of the fish can survive and develop for extended periods, major components of the luminescence system develop in the absence of the bacteria and the bacteria are not acquired directly from a parent, via the egg or during mouth brooding. Presentation of the symbiotic bacteria to aposymbiotic larvae at 8-10 dpr, but not earlier, led to initiation of the symbiosis. Upon colonization of the light organ, the bacterial population increased rapidly and cells forming the light-organ chambers exhibited a differentiated appearance. Therefore, the light organ apparently first becomes receptive to colonization after 1 week post-release development, the symbiosis is initiated by bacteria acquired from the environment and bacterial colonization induces morphological changes in the nascent light organ. The abilities to culture larvae of S. versicolor for extended periods and to initiate the symbiosis in aposymbiotic larvae are key steps in establishing the experimental tractability of this highly specific vertebrate and microbe mutualism.}, } @article {pmid22957171, year = {2012}, author = {Ehlers, BK and Grøndahl, E and Ronfort, J and Bataillon, T}, title = {"Ménage à trois": the presence/absence of thyme shapes the mutualistic interaction between the host plant Medicago truncatula (Fabaceae) and its symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {2}, number = {7}, pages = {1676-1681}, pmid = {22957171}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {The long-term maintenance of specialized mutualisms remains an evolutionary puzzle. Recent focus has been on factors governing the stability of these mutualisms, including sanctions by the host, partner choice, and coevolutionary constraint, that is, the genetic correlation (r(G)) between fitness of both partners. So far these studies have been typically carried out in a single environment. Here, we ask if the genetic correlation between fitness of the host plant Medicago truncatula (Fabaceae) and its bacterial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti is affected by the presence/absence of a monoterpene (carvacrol) leached into the soil by Thymus vulgaris-a common plant of the Mediterranean vegetation, often co-occuring with Medicago. We show that the presence of carvacrol in the soil dramatically affects fitness of the rhizobial partner and increases the magnitude of r(G) between plant and rhizobia fitness (r(G) = 0.02 ± 0.05 vs. r(G) = 0.57 ± 0.02). This finding emphasizes the importance of heterogeneity in the biotic environment for understanding the evolution of species interactions.}, } @article {pmid22956894, year = {2012}, author = {Kwiatkowski, M and Engelstädter, J and Vorburger, C}, title = {On genetic specificity in symbiont-mediated host-parasite coevolution.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e1002633}, pmid = {22956894}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Alleles ; Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Existing theory of host-parasite interactions has identified the genetic specificity of interaction as a key variable affecting the outcome of coevolution. The Matching Alleles (MA) and Gene For Gene (GFG) models have been extensively studied as the canonical examples of specific and non-specific interaction. The generality of these models has recently been challenged by uncovering real-world host-parasite systems exhibiting specificity patterns that fit neither MA nor GFG, and by the discovery of symbiotic bacteria protecting insect hosts against parasites. In the present paper we address both challenges, simulating a large number of non-canonical models of host-parasite interactions that explicitly incorporate symbiont-based host resistance. To assess the genetic specialisation in these hybrid models, we develop a quantitative index of specificity applicable to any coevolutionary model based on a fitness matrix. We find qualitative and quantitative effects of host-parasite and symbiont-parasite specificities on genotype frequency dynamics, allele survival, and mean host and parasite fitnesses.}, } @article {pmid22956249, year = {2012}, author = {Burriesci, MS and Raab, TK and Pringle, JR}, title = {Evidence that glucose is the major transferred metabolite in dinoflagellate-cnidarian symbiosis.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {215}, number = {Pt 19}, pages = {3467-3477}, pmid = {22956249}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; 5 T32 HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon Isotopes ; Cnidaria/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Gluconeogenesis ; Glucose/*metabolism ; Glycerol/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals and many other cnidarians are symbiotic with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. It has long been known that the endosymbiotic algae transfer much of their photosynthetically fixed carbon to the host and that this can provide much of the host's total energy. However, it has remained unclear which metabolite(s) are directly translocated from the algae into the host tissue. We reexamined this question in the small sea anemone Aiptasia using labeling of intact animals in the light with (13)C-bicarbonate, rapid homogenization and separation of animal and algal fractions, and analysis of metabolite labeling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found labeled glucose in the animal fraction within 2 min of exposure to (13)C-bicarbonate, whereas no significant labeling of other compounds was observed within the first 10 min. Although considerable previous evidence has suggested that glycerol might be a major translocated metabolite, we saw no significant labeling of glycerol within the first hour, and incubation of intact animals with (13)C-labeled glycerol did not result in a rapid production of (13)C-glucose. In contrast, when Symbiodinium cells freshly isolated from host tissue were exposed to light and (13)C-bicarbonate in the presence of host homogenate, labeled glycerol, but not glucose, was detected in the medium. We also observed early production of labeled glucose, but not glycerol, in three coral species. Taken together, the results suggest that glucose is the major translocated metabolite in dinoflagellate-cnidarian symbiosis and that the release of glycerol from isolated algae may be part of a stress response.}, } @article {pmid22954825, year = {2012}, author = {Viaud-Delmon, I and Gaggioli, A and Ferscha, A and Dunne, S}, title = {Human computer confluence applied in healthcare and rehabilitation.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {42-45}, pmid = {22954825}, issn = {0926-9630}, mesh = {Biosensing Techniques ; Computer Simulation ; *Computer Systems ; Delivery of Health Care/*methods ; Humans ; *Man-Machine Systems ; Neurosciences ; Rehabilitation/*methods ; Robotics ; User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {Human computer confluence (HCC) is an ambitious research program studying how the emerging symbiotic relation between humans and computing devices can enable radically new forms of sensing, perception, interaction, and understanding. It is an interdisciplinary field, bringing together researches from horizons as various as pervasive computing, bio-signals processing, neuroscience, electronics, robotics, virtual & augmented reality, and provides an amazing potential for applications in medicine and rehabilitation.}, } @article {pmid22954375, year = {2012}, author = {Goto, R and Kawakita, A and Ishikawa, H and Hamamura, Y and Kato, M}, title = {Molecular phylogeny of the bivalve superfamily Galeommatoidea (Heterodonta, Veneroida) reveals dynamic evolution of symbiotic lifestyle and interphylum host switching.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {172}, pmid = {22954375}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bivalvia/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/chemistry/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Histones/genetics ; Host Specificity ; Invertebrates/classification/parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Galeommatoidea is a superfamily of bivalves that exhibits remarkably diverse lifestyles. Many members of this group live attached to the body surface or inside the burrows of other marine invertebrates, including crustaceans, holothurians, echinoids, cnidarians, sipunculans and echiurans. These symbiotic species exhibit high host specificity, commensal interactions with hosts, and extreme morphological and behavioral adaptations to symbiotic life. Host specialization to various animal groups has likely played an important role in the evolution and diversification of this bivalve group. However, the evolutionary pathway that led to their ecological diversity is not well understood, in part because of their reduced and/or highly modified morphologies that have confounded traditional taxonomy. This study elucidates the taxonomy of the Galeommatoidea and their evolutionary history of symbiotic lifestyle based on a molecular phylogenic analysis of 33 galeommatoidean and five putative galeommatoidean species belonging to 27 genera and three families using two nuclear ribosomal genes (18S and 28S ribosomal DNA) and a nuclear (histone H3) and mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit I) protein-coding genes.

RESULTS: Molecular phylogeny recovered six well-supported major clades within Galeommatoidea. Symbiotic species were found in all major clades, whereas free-living species were grouped into two major clades. Species symbiotic with crustaceans, holothurians, sipunculans, and echiurans were each found in multiple major clades, suggesting that host specialization to these animal groups occurred repeatedly in Galeommatoidea.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the evolutionary history of host association in Galeommatoidea has been remarkably dynamic, involving frequent host switches between different animal phyla. Such an unusual pattern of dynamic host switching is considered to have resulted from their commensalistic lifestyle, in which they maintain filter-feeding habits even in symbiotic habitats. The results of the molecular phylogenetic analysis did not correspond with the current taxonomic circumscription. Galeommatidae and Lasaeidae were polyphyletic, and Basterotia, which is traditionally assigned to Cyamioidea, formed a monophyletic clade within Galeommatoidea.}, } @article {pmid22952398, year = {2012}, author = {Gray, MW}, title = {Mitochondrial evolution.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology}, volume = {4}, number = {9}, pages = {a011403}, pmid = {22952398}, issn = {1943-0264}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria/*genetics ; Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Proteome ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Viewed through the lens of the genome it contains, the mitochondrion is of unquestioned bacterial ancestry, originating from within the bacterial phylum α-Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria). Accordingly, the endosymbiont hypothesis--the idea that the mitochondrion evolved from a bacterial progenitor via symbiosis within an essentially eukaryotic host cell--has assumed the status of a theory. Yet mitochondrial genome evolution has taken radically different pathways in diverse eukaryotic lineages, and the organelle itself is increasingly viewed as a genetic and functional mosaic, with the bulk of the mitochondrial proteome having an evolutionary origin outside Alphaproteobacteria. New data continue to reshape our views regarding mitochondrial evolution, particularly raising the question of whether the mitochondrion originated after the eukaryotic cell arose, as assumed in the classical endosymbiont hypothesis, or whether this organelle had its beginning at the same time as the cell containing it.}, } @article {pmid22950721, year = {2012}, author = {Gossmann, JA and Markmann, K and Brachmann, A and Rose, LE and Parniske, M}, title = {Polymorphic infection and organogenesis patterns induced by a Rhizobium leguminosarum isolate from Lotus root nodules are determined by the host genotype.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {2}, pages = {561-573}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04281.x}, pmid = {22950721}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/isolation & purification ; Europe ; Genotype ; Glucuronidase/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*genetics ; Lotus/*genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/isolation & purification ; Organogenesis/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {To sample the natural variation in genes controlling compatibility in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, we isolated rhizobia from nodules of endemic Lotus species from 21 sites across Europe. The majority of isolates were identified as Mesorhizobium- or Bradyrhizobium-related and formed nitrogen-fixing root nodules on Lotus corniculatus and L. pendunculatus, respectively, thus confirming previously defined cross-inoculation groups. Rhizobium leguminosarum (Rl) strain Norway, isolated from L. corniculatus nodules, displayed an exceptional phenotypic variation on different Lotus genotypes. On L. burttii, Rl Norway formed infected nodules, whereas tumors and elongated infected swellings were induced on L. glaber and L. japonicus ecotype Nepal, respectively. A symbiosis- and Nod-factor-responsive promoter:uidA fusion was strongly and rapidly induced in L. japonicus Gifu, but infection threads or signs of nodule organogenesis were absent. This complex phenotypic pattern was not mimicked by either of three engineered R. leguminosarum bv viciae strains producing different Nod-factor variants. Intriguingly, Rl Norway formed infection threads on Pisum sativum cv Sparkle, but failed to induce organogenesis. Rl Norway thus uncovered variation in symbiotic capabilities among diploid Lotus species and ecotypes that are obscured by optimally adapted M. loti strains. These contrasting infection and organogenesis phenotypes reveal recent diversification of recognition determinants in Lotus.}, } @article {pmid22947614, year = {2012}, author = {Chapman, N and Miller, AJ and Lindsey, K and Whalley, WR}, title = {Roots, water, and nutrient acquisition: let's get physical.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {701-710}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2012.08.001}, pmid = {22947614}, issn = {1878-4372}, support = {BB/E006531/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/C/00004983/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Particle Size ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Trees/growth & development/metabolism ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Improved root water and nutrient acquisition can increase fertiliser use efficiency and is important for securing food production. Root nutrient acquisition includes proliferation, transporter function, exudation, symbioses, and the delivery of dissolved nutrients from the bulk soil to the root surface via mass flow and diffusion. The widespread adoption of simplified experimental systems has restricted consideration of the influence of soil symbiotic organisms and physical properties on root acquisition. The soil physical properties can directly influence root growth and explain some of the disparities obtained from different experimental systems. Turning this to an advantage, comparing results obtained with the same model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) in different systems, we can tease apart the specific effects of soil physical properties.}, } @article {pmid22945529, year = {2012}, author = {Dvoretsky, AG and Dvoretsky, VG}, title = {New data on the symbiosis of Ischyrocerus amphipods colonizing the eggs of the host species, red king crab.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {445}, number = {}, pages = {255-257}, pmid = {22945529}, issn = {0012-4966}, mesh = {Amphipoda/*physiology ; Animals ; Crustacea/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid22945464, year = {2012}, author = {Nachappa, P and Levy, J and Tamborindeguy, C}, title = {Transcriptome analyses of Bactericera cockerelli adults in response to "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" infection.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {287}, number = {10}, pages = {803-817}, pmid = {22945464}, issn = {1617-4623}, mesh = {Aging ; Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Helicobacter ; Hemiptera/*genetics/microbiology ; Insect Proteins/analysis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) is an economically important crop pest that not only causes damage through its feeding but also transmits the bacterium, "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" (CLs), which causes zebra chip disease in potato. There is some information about the phenotypic effects of phytopathogenic bacteria on their insect vectors; however, there are no published reports of the molecular mechanisms underlying phytopathogenic bacteria-insect vector interaction. In order to investigate the effects of CLs infection on B. cockerelli, transcriptomic analyses of CLs-infected and uninfected adult psyllids that were reared on potato were performed. De novo assembly of cDNA sequences generated 136,518 and 109,983 contigs for infected and uninfected insect libraries with an average contig length of 514 bp. BlastX analysis against the NCBI-nr database revealed that 33.33 % had significant matches. Gene ontology data illustrated that the majority of the expressed psyllid genes are involved in metabolic process, biological regulation, binding and catalytic activity. The psyllid transcriptome had an abundance of genes such as vitellogenin, heat shock protein, ejaculatory bulb-specific protein, ferritin, and cytochrome oxidase. Notably absent in the psyllid transcriptome were innate immunity genes induced in response to Gram-negative bacteria (IMD pathway). Several functionally diverse contigs related to symbiotic bacteria including the primary endosymbiont Carsonella ruddii, Wolbachia, and CLs in the psyllid transcriptome were identified. A total of 247 contigs showed differential expression in response to CLs infection including immune and stress-related genes and vitellogenins. Expression analyses of selected psyllid genes were performed on psyllids that were exclusively reared on potato (host of the insects used for RNAseq) and psyllids exclusively reared on tomato (alternative host of psyllids). These genes showed similar expression patterns irrespective of the host plant on which the psyllids were reared, which suggests that host-plant association may not modulate expression of these genes. Our findings suggest that the impact of CLs on psyllid transcriptome was to a large extent on genes involved in metabolic processes and to a small extent on immune and stress response genes. This study is the first description of transcriptomic changes in an insect vector in response to infection with a naturally occurring bacterial plant pathogen. Data from this study provide new sequence and gene expression resources for functional genomics of potato psyllids.}, } @article {pmid22944447, year = {2012}, author = {Cordeiro, LM and Beilke, F and Bettim, FL and Reinhardt, Vde F and Rattmann, YD and Iacomini, M}, title = {(1→2) and (1→6)-linked β-D-galactofuranan of microalga Myrmecia biatorellae, symbiotic partner of Lobaria linita.}, journal = {Carbohydrate polymers}, volume = {90}, number = {4}, pages = {1779-1785}, doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.07.069}, pmid = {22944447}, issn = {1879-1344}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Wall/*chemistry ; Lichens/*chemistry/microbiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Methylation ; Mice ; Microalgae/*chemistry ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides/adverse effects/*chemistry ; Sepsis/*etiology/pathology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {A structural study of the cell wall polysaccharides of Myrmecia biatorellae, the symbiotic algal partner of the lichenized fungus Lobaria linita was carried out. It produced a rhamnogalactofuranan, with a (1→6)-β-D-galactofuranose in the main-chain, substituted at O-2 by single units of β-D-Galf, α-L-Rhap or by side chains of 2-O-linked β-D-Galf units. The structure of the polysaccharide was established by chemical and NMR spectroscopic analysis, and is new among natural polysaccharides. Moreover, in a preliminary study, this polysaccharide increased the lethality of mice submitted to polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture, probably due to the presence of galactofuranose, which have been shown to be highy immunogenic in mammals.}, } @article {pmid22943063, year = {2012}, author = {Rasul, A and Amalraj, EL and Praveen Kumar, G and Grover, M and Venkateswarlu, B}, title = {Characterization of rhizobial isolates nodulating Millettia pinnata in India.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {336}, number = {2}, pages = {148-158}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6968.12001}, pmid = {22943063}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Climate ; India ; Millettia/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Millettia pinnata (Synonym Pongamia pinnata) is a viable source of oil for the mushrooming biofuel industry, source for agroforestry, urban landscaping, and the bio-amelioration of degraded lands. It also helps in maintaining soil fertility through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, not much work is reported on classification and characterization of the rhizobia associated with this plant. In the present study, an attempt was made to isolate rhizobial strains nodulating Millettia from soils collected from southern regions of India. The isolates were characterized using numerical taxonomy, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and cross nodulation ability. The results showed high phenotypic and genetic diversity among the rhizobia symbiotic with Millattia pinnata. The isolates formed five clusters at similarity level of 0.82 based on the results of numerical taxonomy. Results on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that most microsymbionts of M. pinnata belonged to Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium, which are closely related to Rhizobium sp., B. elkanii and B. yuanmingense. Among these isolates, some isolates could grow in a pH range of 4.0-10.0, some could tolerate a high salt concentration (3% NaCl) and could grow at a maximum temperature between 35 and 45 °C. M. pinnata formed nodules with diverse rhizobia in Indian soils. These results offered the first systematic information about the microsymbionts of M. pinnata grown in the soils from southern part of India.}, } @article {pmid22942250, year = {2012}, author = {Montiel, J and Nava, N and Cárdenas, L and Sánchez-López, R and Arthikala, MK and Santana, O and Sánchez, F and Quinto, C}, title = {A Phaseolus vulgaris NADPH oxidase gene is required for root infection by Rhizobia.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {53}, number = {10}, pages = {1751-1767}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcs120}, pmid = {22942250}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; NADPH Oxidases/*genetics/metabolism ; Phaseolus/*genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Plant NADPH oxidases [respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs)] have emerged as key players in the regulation of plant-pathogen interactions. Nonetheless, their role in mutualistic associations, such as the rhizobia-legume symbiosis, is poorly understood. In this work, nine members of the Phaseolus vulgaris Rboh gene family were identified. The transcript of one of these, PvRbohB, accumulated abundantly in shoots, roots and nodules. PvRbohB promoter activity was detected in meristematic regions of P. vulgaris roots, as well as during infection thread (IT) progression and nodule development. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated PvRbohB down-regulation in transgenic roots reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lateral root density, and greatly impaired nodulation. Microscopy analysis revealed that progression of the ITs was impeded at the base of root hairs in PvRbohB-RNAi roots. Furthermore, the few nodules that formed in PvRbohB-down-regulated roots displayed abnormally wide ITs and reduced nitrogen fixation. These findings indicate that this common bean NADPH oxidase is crucial for successful rhizobial colonization and probably maintains proper IT growth and shape.}, } @article {pmid22941198, year = {2013}, author = {Ocón, B and Anzola, A and Ortega-González, M and Zarzuelo, A and Suárez, MD and Sánchez de Medina, F and Martínez-Augustin, O}, title = {Active hexose-correlated compound and Bifidobacterium longum BB536 exert symbiotic effects in experimental colitis.}, journal = {European journal of nutrition}, volume = {52}, number = {2}, pages = {457-466}, pmid = {22941198}, issn = {1436-6215}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; *Bifidobacterium ; Blotting, Western ; Colitis/chemically induced/*therapy ; Colon/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics/metabolism ; Interleukin-2/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics/metabolism ; Organ Size ; Polysaccharides/*pharmacology ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; Weight Gain ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: Active hexose-correlated compound (AHCC) is a commercial extract obtained from Basidiomycetes under controlled conditions, yielding a 74 % content in oligosaccharides, especially α-glucans. AHCC has a number of therapeutic effects, including intestinal anti-inflammatory activity. Bifidobacterium longum BB536 is a probiotic with potential health-promoting effect at the gut level. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of synergism between AHCC, which is believed to act as a prebiotic, and B. longum BB536.

METHODS: We used the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid model (TNBS) of colitis in rats. AHCC (100 or 500 mg kg(-1)) and B. longum BB536 (5 × 10(6) CFU rat(-1) day(-1)) were administered together or separately for 7 days prior to colitis induction and then for another 7 days and compared with control (noncolitic) and TNBS rats.

RESULTS: The results show that both treatments had intestinal anti-inflammatory activity separately, which was enhanced when used in combination, as shown by changes in body weight gain, colonic weight to length ratio, myeloperoxydase activity and iNOS expression. Interestingly, the association of AHCC 100 mg kg(-1) + B. longum BB536 showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide a preclinical experimental basis for the synergistic effect of AHCC and B. longum BB536 on inflammatory bowel disease.}, } @article {pmid22941073, year = {2012}, author = {Maltz, MA and Weiss, BL and O'Neill, M and Wu, Y and Aksoy, S}, title = {OmpA-mediated biofilm formation is essential for the commensal bacterium Sodalis glossinidius to colonize the tsetse fly gut.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {21}, pages = {7760-7768}, pmid = {22941073}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; NIGMS 069449//PHS HHS/United States ; 5T32AI007404/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007404/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/growth & development/*physiology ; Female ; Male ; Metagenome ; Mutation ; Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Many bacteria successfully colonize animals by forming protective biofilms. Molecular processes that underlie the formation and function of biofilms in pathogenic bacteria are well characterized. In contrast, the relationship between biofilms and host colonization by symbiotic bacteria is less well understood. Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house 3 maternally transmitted symbionts, one of which is a commensal (Sodalis glossinidius) found in several host tissues, including the gut. We determined that Sodalis forms biofilms in the tsetse gut and that this process is influenced by the Sodalis outer membrane protein A (OmpA). Mutant Sodalis strains that do not produce OmpA (Sodalis ΔOmpA mutants) fail to form biofilms in vitro and are unable to colonize the tsetse gut unless endogenous symbiotic bacteria are present. Our data indicate that in the absence of biofilms, Sodalis ΔOmpA mutant cells are exposed to and eliminated by tsetse's innate immune system, suggesting that biofilms help Sodalis evade the host immune system. Tsetse is the sole vector of pathogenic African trypanosomes, which also reside in the fly gut. Acquiring a better understanding of the dynamics that promote Sodalis colonization of the tsetse gut may enhance the development of novel disease control strategies.}, } @article {pmid22940733, year = {2013}, author = {Ritchie, RJ}, title = {The ammonia transport, retention and futile cycling problem in cyanobacteria.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {180-196}, pmid = {22940733}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Membrane Potentials ; Methylamines/metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; *Substrate Cycling ; Synechococcus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ammonia is the preferred nitrogen source for many algae including the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatis (Synechococcus R-2; PCC 7942). Modelling ammonia uptake by cells is not straightforward because it exists in solution as NH(3) and NH (4) (+) . NH(3) is readily diffusible not only via the lipid bilayer but also through aquaporins and other more specific porins. On the other hand, NH (4) (+) requires cationic transporters to cross a membrane. Significant intracellular ammonia pools (≈1-10 mol m(-3)) are essential for the synthesis of amino acids from ammonia. The most common model envisaged for how cells take up ammonia and use it as a nitrogen source is the "pump-leak model" where uptake occurs through a simple diffusion of NH(3) or through an energy-driven NH (4) (+) pump balancing a leak of NH(3) out of the cell. The flaw in such models is that cells maintain intracellular pools of ammonia much higher than predicted by such models. With caution, [(14)C]-methylamine can be used as an analogue tracer for ammonia and has been used to test various models of ammonia transport and metabolism. In this study, simple "proton trapping" accumulation by the diffusion of uncharged CH(3)NH(2) has been compared to systems where CH(3)NH (3) (+) is taken up through channels, driven by the membrane potential (ΔU (i,o)) or the electrochemical potential for Na(+) (ΔμNa (i,o) (+)). No model can be reconciled with experimental data unless the permeability of CH(3)NH(2) across the cell membrane is asymmetric: permeability into the cell is very high through gated porins, whereas permeability out of the cell is very low (≈40 nm s(-1)) and independent of the extracellular pH. The best model is a Na (in) (+) /CH(3)NH (3) (+) (in) co-porter driven by ΔμNa (i,o) (+) balancing synthesis of methylglutamine and a slow leak governed by Ficks law, and so there is significant futile cycling of methylamine across the cell membrane to maintain intracellular methylamine pools high enough for fixation by glutamine synthetase. The modified pump-leak model with asymmetric permeability of the uncharged form is a viable model for understanding ammonia uptake and retention in plants, free-living microbes and organisms in symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid22938206, year = {2012}, author = {Klein, CC and Cottret, L and Kielbassa, J and Charles, H and Gautier, C and Ribeiro de Vasconcelos, AT and Lacroix, V and Sagot, MF}, title = {Exploration of the core metabolism of symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {438}, pmid = {22938206}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A large number of genome-scale metabolic networks is now available for many organisms, mostly bacteria. Previous works on minimal gene sets, when analysing host-dependent bacteria, found small common sets of metabolic genes. When such analyses are restricted to bacteria with similar lifestyles, larger portions of metabolism are expected to be shared and their composition is worth investigating. Here we report a comparative analysis of the small molecule metabolism of symbiotic bacteria, exploring common and variable portions as well as the contribution of different lifestyle groups to the reduction of a common set of metabolic capabilities.

RESULTS: We found no reaction shared by all the bacteria analysed. Disregarding those with the smallest genomes, we still do not find a reaction core, however we did find a core of biochemical capabilities. While obligate intracellular symbionts have no core of reactions within their group, extracellular and cell-associated symbionts do have a small core composed of disconnected fragments. In agreement with previous findings in Escherichia coli, their cores are enriched in biosynthetic processes whereas the variable metabolisms have similar ratios of biosynthetic and degradation reactions. Conversely, the variable metabolism of obligate intracellular symbionts is enriched in anabolism.

CONCLUSION: Even when removing the symbionts with the most reduced genomes, there is no core of reactions common to the analysed symbiotic bacteria. The main reason is the very high specialisation of obligate intracellular symbionts, however, host-dependence alone is not an explanation for such absence. The composition of the metabolism of cell-associated and extracellular bacteria shows that while they have similar needs in terms of the building blocks of their cells, they have to adapt to very distinct environments. On the other hand, in obligate intracellular bacteria, catabolism has largely disappeared, whereas synthetic routes appear to have been selected for depending on the nature of the symbiosis. As more genomes are added, we expect, based on our simulations, that the core of cell-associated and extracellular bacteria continues to diminish, converging to approximately 60 reactions.}, } @article {pmid22937888, year = {2012}, author = {Cam, Y and Pierre, O and Boncompagni, E and Hérouart, D and Meilhoc, E and Bruand, C}, title = {Nitric oxide (NO): a key player in the senescence of Medicago truncatula root nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {2}, pages = {548-560}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04282.x}, pmid = {22937888}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Biomass ; Darkness ; Hemeproteins/metabolism ; Hydrazines/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology/drug effects ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/drug effects/enzymology/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Subcellular Fractions/drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a signalling and defence molecule involved in diverse plant developmental processes, as well as in the plant response to pathogens. NO has also been detected at different steps of the symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. NO is required for an optimal establishment of the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiotic interaction, but little is known about the role of NO in mature nodules. Here, we investigate the role of NO in the late steps of symbiosis. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were conducted to modulate the NO level inside root nodules, and their effects on nitrogen fixation and root nodule senescence were monitored. An increase in endogenous NO levels led to a decrease in nitrogen fixation and early nodule senescence, characterized by cytological modifications of the nodule structure and the early expression of a specific senescence marker. By contrast, a decrease in NO levels led to a delay in nodule senescence. Together, our results strongly suggest that NO is a signal in developmental as well as stress-induced nodule senescence. In addition, this work demonstrates the pivotal role of the bacterial NO detoxification response in the prevention of early nodule senescence, and hence the maintenance of efficient symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22937711, year = {2012}, author = {Nemtseva, NV}, title = {[Significance of hydrobiont persistent properties for symbiotic interactions].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {70-76}, pmid = {22937711}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Aquatic Organisms/*physiology ; Autotrophic Processes/physiology ; Biota ; Catalase/metabolism ; Fresh Water/*microbiology ; Heterotrophic Processes/physiology ; Histones/analysis/antagonists & inhibitors ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Muramidase/analysis/antagonists & inhibitors ; *Symbiosis ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Significance of symbiotic relations formed by associative symbiosis type for autochthonous and allochthonous microflora of natural water bodies is shown. Generality of symbiotic interaction mechanisms of symbionts in limnetic and halophilous communities provided by secreted factors of natural resistance from the side of the host, and by factors of persistence from the side of symbionts is proven based on a set of examples. Features of operation of lysozyme-antilysozyme, histon-antihiston, hydrogen peroxide-catalase functional systems in symbiotic interactions of autotrophic and heterotrophic components of hydrobiocenosis with dominant and associative microflora are presented. Associative microflora of allochthonous origin was shown to actively use the ecologically formed system of interaction between hydrobionts that facilitates survival of these microorganisms and preservation of their persistent potential, and as a result leads to biocenosis disorders. The knowledge obtained open new possibilities and perspectives of research of sanitary and ecological aspects of vital activity of aquatic biocenoses.}, } @article {pmid22937707, year = {2012}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Perunova, NB and Ivanova, EV}, title = {[Interaction of Bifidobacterium bifidum with members of normal microflora in human intestine microsymbiocenosis].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {51-56}, pmid = {22937707}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/*physiology ; Biofilms/drug effects/growth & development ; Culture Media, Conditioned/*pharmacology ; Enterococcus faecium/drug effects/growth & development ; Escherichia coli/drug effects/growth & development ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects/growth & development ; Lactobacillus acidophilus/drug effects/growth & development ; Lactose/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Muramidase/antagonists & inhibitors ; Probiotics/metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the influence of exometabolites of B. bifidum on biological properties of bacteria that are the members of normoflora and their ability to interact with associative microsymbionts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial strains that are members of the normal microflora of human intestine: B. bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcusfaecium and Escherichia coli lactose positive non-hemolytic (lac "+"/hly "-") were used. As opportunistic microorganisms cultures of E. coli lactose negative hemolytic (lac "-"/hly "+"), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were used. Isolation and identification of microorganisms was performed by generally accepted methods according to guidances. In the first series of experiments influence of B. bifidum metabolites on biological properties of microorganisms that are members ofnormoflora was studied. In the second series--the influence of bifidobacteria supernatants on interrelations of B. bifidum, L. acidophilus and E. coli lac "+"/hly "-" with opportunistic associants. Growth properties (GP), biofilm formation (BFF) and anti-lysozyme activity (ALA) of microorganisms was studied photometrically. Optical density measurement were performed on ELx808 (BioTek, U.S.A.) photometer. The data obtained were treated by nonparametric method using Mann-Whitney criteria.

RESULTS: B. bifidum supernatant was established to stimulate in 33.3-66.7% of cases or did not alter growth/reproduction, BFF and ALA of microorganisms that are characteristic for eubiosis of intestine including bacteria of the same species that could have implications for realization by bifidobacteria ofbiotope colonization resistance. Features of interaction ofexometabolites of bifidobacteria with microorganisms that are characteristic for eubiosis of human intestine consisting in enchantment or changes of effects of the influence of normoflora members on BFF of associants were revealed. The maximum enchantment of inhibitory effect of indigenous strains under the influence ofbifidobacteria was noted in associations E. coli lac "+"/hly "-" E. coli lac "-"/hly "+" as well as E. faecium--S. aureus.

CONCLUSION: Thus, the data obtained may be used for detection of mechanisms of functioning of normal microsymbiocenosis in human associative symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22937697, year = {2012}, author = {Bukharin, OV}, title = {[From persistence to symbiosis of microorganisms].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {4-9}, pmid = {22937697}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Bacteria/*growth & development/immunology/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/immunology/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune Evasion ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Microbial Viability/immunology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology ; Quorum Sensing ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Primary results of study of problem of microorganism persistence over the last 2 decades on 7 all-Russian conferences in Orenburg are examined in the article. Milestones of both fundamental research and practically significant studies are designated, the role of persistent potential of microorganisms in infectious pathology is evaluated. The emerging turn of studies from persistence to symbiosis is consonant with the idea of international project "Human microbiom" and allows to use the persistent potential of microorganisms as one of the instruments of resolving issues of infectology.}, } @article {pmid22937224, year = {2012}, author = {Theis, KR and Schmidt, TM and Holekamp, KE}, title = {Evidence for a bacterial mechanism for group-specific social odors among hyenas.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {615}, pmid = {22937224}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Behavior, Animal ; Female ; Hyaenidae/*microbiology ; Kenya ; Male ; *Odorants ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Scent Glands/microbiology ; *Social Behavior ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes can benefit their animal hosts by enhancing the diversity of communication signals available to them. The fermentation hypothesis for chemical recognition posits that 1) fermentative bacteria in specialized mammalian scent glands generate odorants that mammals co-opt to communicate with one another, and 2) that variation in scent gland odors is due to underlying variation in the structure of bacterial communities within scent glands. For example, group-specific social odors are suggested to be due to members of the same social group harboring more similar bacterial communities in their scent glands than do members of different social groups. We used 16S rRNA gene surveys to show that 1) the scent secretions of spotted hyenas are densely populated by fermentative bacteria whose closest relatives are well-documented odor producers, and that 2) these bacterial communities are more similar among hyenas from the same social group than among those from different groups.}, } @article {pmid22936866, year = {2012}, author = {Chen, YY and Lin, HC and Chan, BK}, title = {Description of a new species of coral-inhabiting barnacle, Darwiniella angularis sp. n. (Cirripedia, Pyrgomatidae) from Taiwan.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {214}, pages = {43-74}, pmid = {22936866}, issn = {1313-2970}, abstract = {The present study has identified a new species from the previously monotypic genus Darwiniella Anderson, 1992. Darwiniella angularissp. n. is similar to Darwiniella conjugatum (Darwin, 1854) in external shell morphology and arthropodal characters. Darwiniella conjugatum, however, has a sharper tergal spur and a less obvious adductor plate angle when compared to Darwiniella angularissp. n. Molecular analyses on mitochondrial DNA 12S rDNA and COI regions also support the morphological differences. Sequence divergences in 12S rDNA and COI between Darwiniella conjugatum and Darwiniella angularissp. n. are 5% and 13% respectively, which are equivalent to the inter-specific sequence divergences in other barnacles. Both Darwiniella species are common on Cyphastrea Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1848 corals and Darwiniella angularissp. n. is also collected from Astreopora de Blainville, 1830 corals in Taiwan.}, } @article {pmid22936719, year = {2013}, author = {Hamada, M and Shoguchi, E and Shinzato, C and Kawashima, T and Miller, DJ and Satoh, N}, title = {The complex NOD-like receptor repertoire of the coral Acropora digitifera includes novel domain combinations.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {167-176}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/mss213}, pmid = {22936719}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/immunology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Duplication ; Genetic Loci ; Genetic Variation ; Genome ; Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Innate immunity in corals is of special interest not only in the context of self-defense but also in relation to the establishment and collapse of their obligate symbiosis with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. In innate immunity system of vertebrates, approximately 20 tripartite nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor proteins that are defined by the presence of a NAIP, CIIA, HET-E and TP1 (NACHT) domain, a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, and one of three types of N-terminal effector domain, are known to function as the primary intracellular pattern recognition molecules. Surveying the coral genome revealed not only a larger number of NACHT- and related domain nucleotide-binding adaptor shared by APAF-1, R proteins, and CED-4 (NB-ARC)-encoding loci (~500) than in other metazoans but also surprising diversity of domain combinations among the coral NACHT/NB-ARC-containing proteins; N-terminal effector domains included the apoptosis-related domains caspase recruitment domain (CARD), death effector domain (DED), and Death, and C-terminal repeat domains included LRRs, tetratricopeptide repeats, ankyrin repeats, and WD40 repeats. Many of the predicted coral proteins that contain a NACHT/NB-ARC domain also contain a glycosyl transferase group 1 domain, a novel domain combination first found in metazoans. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the NACHT/NB-ARC domain inventories of various metazoan lineages, including corals, are largely products of lineage-specific expansions. Many of the NACHT/NB-ARC loci are organized in pairs or triplets in the Acropora genome, suggesting that the large coral NACHT/NB-ARC repertoire has been generated at least in part by tandem duplication. In addition, shuffling of N-terminal effector domains may have occurred after expansions of specific NACHT/NB-ARC-repeat domain types. These results illustrate the extraordinary complexity of the innate immune repertoire of corals, which may in part reflect adaptive evolution to a symbiotic lifestyle in a uniquely complex and challenging environment.}, } @article {pmid22933373, year = {2012}, author = {Putnam, HM and Stat, M and Pochon, X and Gates, RD}, title = {Endosymbiotic flexibility associates with environmental sensitivity in scleractinian corals.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1746}, pages = {4352-4361}, pmid = {22933373}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/*physiology ; Climate Change ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polynesia ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Flexibility in biological systems is seen as an important driver of macro-ecosystem function and stability. Spatially constrained endosymbiotic settings, however, are less studied, although environmental thresholds of symbiotic corals are linked to the function of their endosymbiotic dinoflagellate communities. Symbiotic flexibility is a hypothesized mechanism that corals may exploit to adapt to climate change. This study explores the flexibility of the coral-Symbiodinium symbiosis through quantification of Symbiodinium ITS2 sequence assemblages in a range of coral species and genera. Sequence assemblages are expressed as an index of flexibility incorporating phylogenetic divergence and relative abundance of Symbiodinium sequences recovered from the host. This comparative analysis reveals profound differences in the flexibility of corals for Symbiodinium, thereby classifying corals as generalists or specifists. Generalists such as Acropora and Pocillopora exhibit high intra- and inter-species flexibility in their Symbiodinium assemblages and are some of the most environmentally sensitive corals. Conversely, specifists such as massive Porites colonies exhibit low flexibility, harbour taxonomically narrow Symbiodinium assemblages, and are environmentally resistant corals. Collectively, these findings challenge the paradigm that symbiotic flexibility enhances holobiont resilience. This underscores the need for a deeper examination of the extent and duration of the functional benefits associated with endosymbiotic diversity and flexibility under environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid22931432, year = {2012}, author = {Chua, JPS and Wallace, EJS and Yardley, JA and Duncan, EJ and Dearden, PK and Summerfield, TC}, title = {Gene expression indicates a zone of heterocyst differentiation within the thallus of the cyanolichen Pseudocyphellaria crocata.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {3}, pages = {862-872}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04272.x}, pmid = {22931432}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Blotting, Northern ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics/metabolism ; Fluorescence ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Lichens/*cytology/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nostoc/*cytology/genetics/metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/genetics/metabolism ; Phycobilins/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Development of the symbiotic association in the bipartite lichen Pseudocyphellaria crocata was investigated by characterizing two regions of the thallus. Thallus organization was examined using microscopy. A HIP1-based differential display technique was modified for use on Nostoc strains, including lichenized strains. Northern hybridization and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm differential display results, and determine expression levels of key cyanobacterial genes. Photosystem II yield across the thallus was measured using pulse-amplitude modulated fluorescence. Microscopy revealed structural differences in the thallus margins compared with the centre and identified putative heterocysts in both regions. Differential display identified altered transcript levels in both Nostoc punctiforme and a lichenized Nostoc strain. Transcript abundance of cox2, atpA, and ribA was increased in the thallus margin compared with the centre. Expression of cox2 is heterocyst specific and expression of other heterocyst-specific genes (hetR and nifK) was elevated in the margin, whereas, expression of psbB and PSII yield were not. Structural organization of the thallus margin differed from the centre. Both regions contained putative heterocysts but gene expression data indicated increased heterocyst differentiation in the margins where photosystem II yield was decreased. This is consistent with a zone of heterocyst differentiation within the thallus margin.}, } @article {pmid22928301, year = {2012}, author = {Boulogne, I and Ozier-Lafontaine, H and Germosén-Robineau, L and Desfontaines, L and Loranger-Merciris, G}, title = {Acromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management: effects of TRAMILs fungicidal plant extracts.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {105}, number = {4}, pages = {1224-1233}, doi = {10.1603/ec11313}, pmid = {22928301}, issn = {0022-0493}, mesh = {Alkaloids/analysis ; Animals ; *Ants ; *Basidiomycota ; Fungicides, Industrial/*analysis ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; *Insect Control ; Phenols/analysis ; Plant Extracts/*chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Terpenes/analysis ; Tetrazolium Salts ; Thiazoles ; }, abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), are considering among the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, the main insecticides used for controlling these ants were synthetic chemicals. Leaf-cutting ants live in obligate symbiosis with abasidiomycete fungus, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (Heim) Moeller. The crucial role of this symbiotic partner in the nest of leaf-cutting ants has prompted us to focus on A. octospinosus management through the use of fungicides in our study. Five parts of plants identified for their antifungal potential through TRAMIL ethnopharmacological surveys were tested: 1) bulbs of Allium cepa L.; 2) seed pods of Allium sativum L.; 3) green fruits of Lycopersicon esculentum L.; 4) leaves of Manihot esculenta Crantz; and 5) leaves of Senna alata (L.) Roxburgh. One plant extract with strong fungicidal activity (S. alata) against L. gongylophorus was found. The other extracts had lesser fungistatic or fungicidal effects depending on the concentrations used. The data presented in this study showed that TRAMILs fungicidal plant extracts have potential to control the symbiotic fungus of leaf cutting ants, in particular a foliage extract of S. alata.}, } @article {pmid22927963, year = {2012}, author = {Sun, S and Wang, J and Zhu, L and Liao, D and Gu, M and Ren, L and Kapulnik, Y and Xu, G}, title = {An active factor from tomato root exudates plays an important role in efficient establishment of mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e43385}, pmid = {22927963}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Hyphae/drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Methanol/chemistry ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/*physiology ; Solubility ; Spores, Fungal/drug effects/physiology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Root exudates play an important role in the early signal exchange between host plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. M161, a pre-mycorrhizal infection (pmi) mutant of the tomoto (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivar Micro-Tom, fails to establish normal arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses, and produces exudates that are unable to stimulate hyphal growth and branching of Glomus intraradices. Here, we report the identification of a purified active factor (AF) that is present in the root exudates of wild-type tomato, but absent in those of M161. A complementation assay using the dual root organ culture system showed that the AF could induce fungal growth and branching at the pre-infection stage and, subsequently, the formation of viable new spores in the M161 background. Since the AF-mediated stimulation of hyphal growth and branching requires the presence of the M161 root, our data suggest that the AF is essential but not sufficient for hyphal growth and branching. We propose that the AF, which remains to be chemically determined, represents a plant signal molecule that plays an important role in the efficient establishment of mycorrhizal symbioses.}, } @article {pmid22927090, year = {2012}, author = {Howe, PL and Reichelt-Brushett, AJ and Clark, MW}, title = {Aiptasia pulchella: a tropical cnidarian representative for laboratory ecotoxicological research.}, journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry}, volume = {31}, number = {11}, pages = {2653-2662}, doi = {10.1002/etc.1993}, pmid = {22927090}, issn = {1552-8618}, mesh = {Animals ; Copper/*toxicity ; Ecotoxicology/*methods ; Models, Animal ; Sea Anemones/drug effects/*growth & development ; *Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic ; Tropical Climate ; Water Pollutants/toxicity ; }, abstract = {An urgent need exists to identify suitable tropical marine species for use in the development of sensitive and reliable test methods for routine laboratory ecotoxicological testing. Corals are a group of organisms not represented in routine ecotoxicology due to inherent difficulties in laboratory husbandry, and sea anemones from the same phylum (cnidaria) may be useful proxies. Aiptasia pulchella is a tropical symbiotic sea anemone with a wide geographic range. It is well suited to laboratory conditions and has been used extensively in research. However, its suitability as a toxicity test species has not been investigated. Assessment of juvenile recruitment in laboratory and semi-outdoor conditions showed higher production in semi-outdoor conditions; however, laboratory rearing produced enough recruits to run routine toxicity tests. In investigations of the sensitivity of A. pulchella to contaminants, acute tests were conducted on 1- to 2-mm juveniles using copper. Lethal concentration, 50% (LC50) values at 96 h estimated from tests using five and 10 replicates ranged from 30 to 83 and 60 to 90 µg/L, respectively, and a 28-d LC50 of 26 µg/L was estimated. During the present study, sublethal endpoints were investigated; chronic assessment of inhibited asexual reproduction looks promising (12-d effective concentration, 50% [EC50] 15 µg/L) and should be assessed further. Aiptasia pulchella is a species worthy of investigation as a cnidarian representative, and will be an invaluable contribution to tropical marine ecotoxicologists.}, } @article {pmid22925763, year = {2012}, author = {Lujan, DK and Stanziale, JA and Mostafavi, AZ and Sharma, S and Troutman, JM}, title = {Chemoenzymatic synthesis of an isoprenoid phosphate tool for the analysis of complex bacterial oligosaccharide biosynthesis.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {359}, number = {}, pages = {44-53}, pmid = {22925763}, issn = {1873-426X}, support = {R15 GM100402/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R15GM100402/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylgalactosamine/chemistry ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Bacteroides fragilis/*enzymology/metabolism ; Biocatalysis ; Campylobacter jejuni/enzymology ; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic ; Glycosyltransferases/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides/*biosynthesis ; Polyisoprenyl Phosphates/*chemical synthesis/chemistry/metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Synthase (UPPS) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the production of bactoprenols, which act as membrane anchors for the assembly of complex bacterial oligosaccharides. One of the major hurdles in understanding the assembly of oligosaccharide assembly is a lack of chemical tools to study this process, since bactoprenols and the resulting isoprenoid-linked oligosaccharides lack handles or chromophores for use in pathway analysis. Here we describe the isolation of a new UPPS from the symbiotic microorganism Bacteroides fragilis, a key species in the human microbiome. The protein was purified to homogeneity and utilized to accept a chromophore containing farnesyl diphosphate analogue as a substrate. The analogue was utilized by the enzyme and resulted in a bactoprenyl diphosphate product with an easy to monitor tag associated with it. Furthermore, the diphosphate is shown to be readily converted to monophosphate using a common molecular biology reagent. This monophosphate product allowed for the investigation of complex oligosaccharide biosynthesis, and was used to probe the activity of glycosyltransferases involved in the well characterized Campylobacter jejuni N-linked protein glycosylation. Novel reagents similar to this will provide key tools for the study of uncharacterized oligosaccharide assemblies, and open the possibility for the development of rapid screening methodology for these biosynthetic systems.}, } @article {pmid22925570, year = {2013}, author = {Yubuki, N and Simpson, AG and Leander, BS}, title = {Reconstruction of the feeding apparatus in Postgaardi mariagerensis provides evidence for character evolution within the Symbiontida (Euglenozoa).}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {49}, number = {1}, pages = {32-39}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2012.07.001}, pmid = {22925570}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Euglenozoa/*classification/physiology/*ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Microbial eukaryotes living in low oxygen environments often have novel physiological and morphological features that facilitate symbiotic relationships with bacteria and other means for acquiring nutrients. Comparative studies of these features provide evidence for phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history. Postgaardi mariagerensis, for instance, is a euglenozoan that lives in low oxygen environments and is enveloped by episymbiotic bacteria. The general ultrastructure of P. mariagerensis was described more than a decade ago and no further studies have been carried out since, mainly because these cells are difficult to obtain. Postgaardi lacks the diagnostic features found in other major euglenozoan lineages (e.g., pellicle strips and kinetoplast-like mitochondrial inclusions) and no molecular data are available, so the phylogenetic position of this genus within the Euglenozoa remains unclear. We re-examined and reconstructed the ultrastructural organization of the feeding apparatus in Postgaardi by serial sectioning an existing block of resin-embedded cells. Postgaardi possesses distinctive finger-like projections within the feeding apparatus; this system has only been found in one other highly distinctive flagellate, namely the symbiontid Calkinsia. Detailed comparisons of the cytoskeleton in Postgaardi and in two symbiontids, Calkinsia and Bihospites, provided new evidence for phylogenetic relationships and character evolution in all three genera.}, } @article {pmid22925460, year = {2012}, author = {Parnell, J and Foster, S}, title = {Ordovician ash geochemistry and the establishment of land plants.}, journal = {Geochemical transactions}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {22925460}, issn = {1467-4866}, abstract = {The colonization of the terrestrial environment by land plants transformed the planetary surface and its biota, and shifted the balance of Earth's biomass from the subsurface towards the surface. However there was a long delay between the formation of palaeosols (soils) on the land surface and the key stage of plant colonization. The record of palaeosols, and their colonization by fungi and lichens extends well back into the Precambrian. While these early soils provided a potential substrate, they were generally leached of nutrients as part of the weathering process. In contrast, volcanic ash falls provide a geochemically favourable substrate that is both nutrient-rich and has high water retention, making them good hosts to land plants. An anomalously extensive system of volcanic arcs generated unprecedented volumes of lava and volcanic ash (tuff) during the Ordovician. The earliest, mid-Ordovician, records of plant spores coincide with these widespread volcanic deposits, suggesting the possibility of a genetic relationship. The ash constituted a global environment of nutrient-laden, water-saturated soil that could be exploited to maximum advantage by the evolving anchoring systems of land plants. The rapid and pervasive inoculation of modern volcanic ash by plant spores, and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing fungi, suggests that the Ordovician ash must have received a substantial load of the earliest spores and their chemistry favoured plant development. In particular, high phosphorus levels in ash were favourable to plant growth. This may have allowed photosynthesizers to diversify and enlarge, and transform the surface of the planet.}, } @article {pmid22924530, year = {2012}, author = {Hilbert, M and Voll, LM and Ding, Y and Hofmann, J and Sharma, M and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Indole derivative production by the root endophyte Piriformospora indica is not required for growth promotion but for biotrophic colonization of barley roots.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {2}, pages = {520-534}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04275.x}, pmid = {22924530}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Endophytes/drug effects/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Hordeum/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Indoles/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Beneficial effects elicited by the root endophyte Piriformospora indica are widely known, but the mechanism by which these are achieved is still unclear. It is proposed that phytohormones produced by the fungal symbiont play a crucial role in the interaction with the plant roots. Biochemical analyses of the underlying biosynthetic pathways for auxin production have shown that, on tryptophan feeding, P. indica can produce the phytohormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-lactate (ILA) through the intermediate indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA). Time course transcriptional analyses after exposure to tryptophan designated the piTam1 gene as a key player. A green fluorescence protein (GFP) reporter study and transcriptional analysis of colonized barley roots showed that piTam1 is induced during the biotrophic phase. Piriformospora indica strains in which the piTam1 gene was silenced via an RNA interference (RNAi) approach were compromised in IAA and ILA production and displayed reduced colonization of barley (Hordeum vulgare) roots in the biotrophic phase, but the elicitation of growth promotion was not affected compared with the wild-type situation. Our results suggest that IAA is involved in the establishment of biotrophy in P. indica-barley symbiosis and might represent a compatibility factor in this system.}, } @article {pmid22924438, year = {2012}, author = {Kohlen, W and Charnikhova, T and Lammers, M and Pollina, T and Tóth, P and Haider, I and Pozo, MJ and de Maagd, RA and Ruyter-Spira, C and Bouwmeester, HJ and López-Ráez, JA}, title = {The tomato CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE8 (SlCCD8) regulates rhizosphere signaling, plant architecture and affects reproductive development through strigolactone biosynthesis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {2}, pages = {535-547}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04265.x}, pmid = {22924438}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Cloning, Molecular ; Flowers/anatomy & histology ; Fruit/anatomy & histology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Lactones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Solanum lycopersicum/*anatomy & histology/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Mass Spectrometry ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Exudates/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/anatomy & histology/enzymology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Reproduction ; *Rhizosphere ; Seeds/anatomy & histology ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are plant hormones that regulate both above- and belowground plant architecture. Strigolactones were initially identified as rhizosphere signaling molecules. In the present work, the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE 8 (SlCCD8) was cloned and its role in rhizosphere signaling and plant physiology assessed by generating knock-down lines. Transgenic SlCCD8 plants were generated by RNAi-mediated silencing. Lines with different levels of strigolactone reduction--confirmed by UPLC-MS/MS--were selected and their phenotypes investigated. Lines exhibiting reduced SlCCD8 levels displayed increased shoot branching, reduced plant height, increased number of nodes and excessive adventitious root development. In addition, these lines exhibited reproductive phenotypes such as smaller flowers, fruits, as well as fewer and smaller seeds per fruit. Furthermore, we show that strigolactone loading to the xylem sap is possibly restricted to orobanchol. Infestation by Phelipanche ramosa was reduced by 90% in lines with a relatively mild reduction in strigolactone biosynthesis and secretion while arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, apical dominance and fruit yield were only mildly affected. This demonstrates that reduction of strigolactone biosynthesis could be a suitable tool in parasitic weed management. Furthermore, our results suggest that strigolactones are involved in even more physiological processes than so far assumed.}, } @article {pmid22924031, year = {2012}, author = {Ma, L and Zhang, Y and Yan, X and Guo, L and Wang, L and Qiu, J and Yang, R and Zhou, D}, title = {Expression of the type VI secretion system 1 component Hcp1 is indirectly repressed by OpaR in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.}, journal = {TheScientificWorldJournal}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {982140}, pmid = {22924031}, issn = {1537-744X}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Base Sequence ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Loci ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Quorum Sensing ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is bacterial protein injection machinery with roles in virulence, symbiosis, interbacterial interaction, antipathogenesis, and environmental stress responses. There are two T6SS loci, T6SS1 and T6SS2, in the two chromosomes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, respectively. This work disclosed that the master quorum sensing (QS) regulator OpaR repressed the transcription of hcp1 encoding the structural component Hcp1 of T6SS1 in V. parahaemolyticus, indicating that QS had a negative regulatory action on T6SS1. A single σ(54)-dependent promoter was transcribed for hcp1 in V. parahaemolyticus, and its activity was repressed by the OpaR regulator. Since the OpaR protein could not bind to the upstream region of hcp1, OpaR would repress the transcription of hcp1 in an indirect manner.}, } @article {pmid22923575, year = {2012}, author = {Dilday, B and Howell, DA and Cenko, SB and Silverman, JM and Nugent, PE and Sullivan, M and Ben-Ami, S and Bildsten, L and Bolte, M and Endl, M and Filippenko, AV and Gnat, O and Horesh, A and Hsiao, E and Kasliwal, MM and Kirkman, D and Maguire, K and Marcy, GW and Moore, K and Pan, Y and Parrent, JT and Podsiadlowski, P and Quimby, RM and Sternberg, A and Suzuki, N and Tytler, DR and Xu, D and Bloom, JS and Gal-Yam, A and Hook, IM and Kulkarni, SR and Law, NM and Ofek, EO and Polishook, D and Poznanski, D}, title = {PTF 11kx: a type Ia supernova with a symbiotic nova progenitor.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {337}, number = {6097}, pages = {942-945}, doi = {10.1126/science.1219164}, pmid = {22923575}, issn = {1095-9203}, abstract = {There is a consensus that type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) arise from the thermonuclear explosion of white dwarf stars that accrete matter from a binary companion. However, direct observation of SN Ia progenitors is lacking, and the precise nature of the binary companion remains uncertain. A temporal series of high-resolution optical spectra of the SN Ia PTF 11kx reveals a complex circumstellar environment that provides an unprecedentedly detailed view of the progenitor system. Multiple shells of circumstellar material are detected, and the SN ejecta are seen to interact with circumstellar material starting 59 days after the explosion. These features are best described by a symbiotic nova progenitor, similar to RS Ophiuchi.}, } @article {pmid22922772, year = {2012}, author = {Du, X and Li, X and Wang, Y and Peng, J and Hong, H and Yang, H}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity of nitrogen fixation genes in the intestinal tract of Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {5}, pages = {547-551}, pmid = {22922772}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/enzymology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Wood-feeding termites live on cellulolytic materials that typically lack of nitrogen sources. It was reported that symbiotic microbes play important roles in the maintenance of a normal nitrogen contents in termite by different metabolisms including nitrogen fixation. In this study, the diversity of nitrogen-fixing organisms in the symbiotic intestinal microflora of Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder was investigated with culture independent method. Fragments of the nifH genes, which encode dinitrogenase reductase, were directly amplified from the DNA of the mixed microbial population in the termite gut with four sets of primers corresponding to the conserved regions of the genes. Clones were randomly selected and analyzed by RFLP. Sequence analysis revealed that a large number of nifH sequences retrieved from the termite gut were most closely related to strict anaerobic bacteria such as clostridia and spirochetes, some of the others were affiliated with proteobacteria, bacteroides, or methanogenic archaea. The results showed that there was a remarkable diversity of nitrogenase genes in the gut of Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder.}, } @article {pmid22922179, year = {2012}, author = {Hassan, F and Noorian, MS and Jacobsen, HJ}, title = {Effect of antifungal genes expressed in transgenic pea (Pisum sativum L.) on root colonization with Glomus intraradices.}, journal = {GM crops & food}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {301-309}, doi = {10.4161/gmcr.21897}, pmid = {22922179}, issn = {2164-5701}, mesh = {Antifungal Agents/*metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Glomeromycota/*growth & development ; Models, Biological ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Peas/*genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Physical Chromosome Mapping ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transgenes ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic fungi have always been a major problem in agriculture. One of the effective methods for controlling pathogen fungi to date is the introduction of resistance genes into the genome of crops. It is interesting to find out whether the induced resistance in crops will have a negative effect on non-target organisms such as root colonization with the AM fungi. The objective of the present research was to study the influence of producing antifungal molecules by four transgenic pea (Pisum sativum L.) lines expressing PGIP gene from raspberry, VST-stilbene synthase from vine, a hybrid of PGIP/VST and bacterial Chitinase gene (Chit30) from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis respectively on the colonization potential of Glomus intraradices. Four different experiments were done in greenhouse and climate chamber, colonization was observed in all replications. The following parameters were used for evaluation: frequency of mycorrhization, the intensity of mycorrhization, the average presence of arbuscules within the colonized areas and the presence of arbuscules in the whole root system which showed insignificant difference between transgenic and non-transgenic plants. The root/shoot ratio exhibited different values according to the experiment condition. Compared with negative non-transgenic control all transgenic lines showed the ability to establish symbiosis and the different growth parameters had insignificant effect due to mycorrhization. The results of the present study proved that the introduced pathogen resistance genes did not affect the mycorrhization allocations in pea.}, } @article {pmid22921503, year = {2012}, author = {Veresoglou, SD and Caruso, T and Rillig, MC}, title = {Metacommunities and symbiosis: hosts of challenges.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {588-9; author reply 589-90}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2012.08.002}, pmid = {22921503}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid22920561, year = {2012}, author = {Antolín-Llovera, M and Ried, MK and Binder, A and Parniske, M}, title = {Receptor kinase signaling pathways in plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Annual review of phytopathology}, volume = {50}, number = {}, pages = {451-473}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-phyto-081211-173002}, pmid = {22920561}, issn = {1545-2107}, mesh = {*Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/immunology/*metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Kinases/metabolism/*physiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) function in diverse signaling pathways, including the responses to microbial signals in symbiosis and defense. This versatility is achieved with a common overall structure: an extracytoplasmic domain (ectodomain) and an intracellular protein kinase domain involved in downstream signal transduction. Various surfaces of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) ectodomain superstructure are utilized for interaction with the cognate ligand in both plant and animal receptors. RLKs with lysin-motif (LysM) ectodomains confer recognitional specificity toward N-acetylglucosamine-containing signaling molecules, such as chitin, peptidoglycan (PGN), and rhizobial nodulation factor (NF), that induce immune or symbiotic responses. Signaling downstream of RLKs does not follow a single pattern; instead, the detailed analysis of brassinosteroid (BR) signaling, innate immunity, and symbiosis revealed at least three largely nonoverlapping pathways. In this review, we focus on RLKs involved in plant-microbe interactions and contrast the signaling pathways leading to symbiosis and defense.}, } @article {pmid22919645, year = {2012}, author = {Salvucci, E}, title = {Selfishness, warfare, and economics; or integration, cooperation, and biology.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {54}, pmid = {22919645}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Biology/*trends ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is not complete and it has been pointed out its limitation to explain the complex processes that constitute the transformation of species. It is necessary to discuss the explaining power of the dominant paradigm. It is common that new discoveries bring about contradictions that are intended to be overcome by adjusting results to the dominant reductionist paradigm using all sorts of gradations and combinations that are admitted for each case. In addition to the discussion on the validity of natural selection, modern findings represent a challenge to the interpretation of the observations with the Darwinian view of competition and struggle for life as theoretical basis. New holistic interpretations are emerging related to the Net of Life, in which the interconnection of ecosystems constitutes a dynamic and self-regulating biosphere: viruses are recognized as a macroorganism with a huge collection of genes, most unknown that constitute the major planet's gene pool. They play a fundamental role in evolution since their sequences are capable of integrating into the genomes in an "infective" way and become an essential part of multicellular organisms. They have content with "biological sense" i.e., they appear as part of normal life processes and have a serious role as carrier elements of complex genetic information. Antibiotics are cell signals with main effects on general metabolism and transcription on bacterial cells and communities. The hologenome theory considers an organism and all of its associated symbiotic microbes (parasites, mutualists, synergists, amensalists) as a result of symbiopoiesis. Microbes, helmints, that are normally understood as parasites are cohabitants and they have cohabited with their host and drive the evolution and existence of the partners. Each organism is the result of integration of complex systems. The eukaryotic organism is the result of combination of bacterial, virus, and eukaryotic DNA and it is the result of the interaction of its own genome with the genome of its microbiota, and their metabolism are intertwined (as a "superorganism") along evolution. The darwinian paradigm had its origin in the free market theories and concepts of Malthus and Spencer. Then, nature was explained on the basis of market theories moving away from an accurate explanation of natural phenomena. It is necessary to acknowledge the limitations of the dominant dogma. These new interpretations about biological processes, molecules, roles of viruses in nature, and microbial interactions are remarkable points to be considered in order to construct a solid theory adjusted to the facts and with less speculations and tortuous semantic traps.}, } @article {pmid22919073, year = {2012}, author = {Darby, AC and Armstrong, SD and Bah, GS and Kaur, G and Hughes, MA and Kay, SM and Koldkjær, P and Rainbow, L and Radford, AD and Blaxter, ML and Tanya, VN and Trees, AJ and Cordaux, R and Wastling, JM and Makepeace, BL}, title = {Analysis of gene expression from the Wolbachia genome of a filarial nematode supports both metabolic and defensive roles within the symbiosis.}, journal = {Genome research}, volume = {22}, number = {12}, pages = {2467-2477}, pmid = {22919073}, issn = {1549-5469}, support = {MR/K001744/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA Replication ; DNA, Helminth/genetics ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Male ; Onchocerca volvulus/*microbiology ; Proteomics/methods ; Riboflavin/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Toll-Like Receptors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; Wolbachia/*genetics/immunology ; }, abstract = {The α-proteobacterium Wolbachia is probably the most prevalent, vertically transmitted symbiont on Earth. In contrast with its wide distribution in arthropods, Wolbachia is restricted to one family of animal-parasitic nematodes, the Onchocercidae. This includes filarial pathogens such as Onchocerca volvulus, the cause of human onchocerciasis, or river blindness. The symbiosis between filariae and Wolbachia is obligate, although the basis of this dependency is not fully understood. Previous studies suggested that Wolbachia may provision metabolites (e.g., haem, riboflavin, and nucleotides) and/or contribute to immune defense. Importantly, Wolbachia is restricted to somatic tissues in adult male worms, whereas females also harbor bacteria in the germline. We sought to characterize the nature of the symbiosis between Wolbachia and O. ochengi, a bovine parasite representing the closest relative of O. volvulus. First, we sequenced the complete genome of Wolbachia strain wOo, which revealed an inability to synthesize riboflavin de novo. Using RNA-seq, we also generated endobacterial transcriptomes from male soma and female germline. In the soma, transcripts for membrane transport and respiration were up-regulated, while the gonad exhibited enrichment for DNA replication and translation. The most abundant Wolbachia proteins, as determined by geLC-MS, included ligands for mammalian Toll-like receptors. Enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis were dominant among metabolism-related proteins, whereas the haem biosynthetic pathway was poorly represented. We conclude that Wolbachia may have a mitochondrion-like function in the soma, generating ATP for its host. Moreover, the abundance of immunogenic proteins in wOo suggests a role in diverting the immune system toward an ineffective antibacterial response.}, } @article {pmid22916345, year = {2012}, author = {Grube, M and Spribille, T}, title = {Exploring symbiont management in lichens.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {13}, pages = {3098-3099}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05647.x}, pmid = {22916345}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are unique among fungal symbioses in that their mycelial structures are compact and exposed to the light as thallus structures. The myriad intersections of unique fungal species with photosynthetic partner organisms (green algae in 90% of lichens) produce a wide variety of diverse shapes and colours of the fully synthesized lichen thallus when growing in nature. This characteristic complex morphology is, however, not achieved in the fungal axenic state. Even under ideal environmental conditions, the lichen life cycle faces considerable odds: first, meiotic spores are only produced on well-established thalli and often only after achieving considerable age in a stable environment, and second, even then in vivo resynthesis requires the presence of compatible algal strains where fungal spores germinate. Many lichen species have evolved a way around the resynthesis bottleneck by producing asexual propagules for joint propagation of symbionts. These different dispersal strategies ostensibly shape the population genetic structure of lichen symbioses, but the relative contributions of vertical (joint) and horizontal (independent) symbiont transmission have long eluded lichen evolutionary biologists. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Dal Grande et al. (2012) close in on this question with the lung lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria, a flagship species in the conservation of old growth forests. By capitalizing on available microsatellite markers for both fungal and algal symbionts, they show that while vertical transmission is the predominant mode of reproduction, horizontal transmission is demonstrable and actively shapes population genetic structure. The resulting mixed propagation system is a highly successful balance of safe recruitment of symbiotic clones and endless possibilities for fungal recombination and symbiont shuffling.}, } @article {pmid22916258, year = {2012}, author = {Masloboeva, N and Reutimann, L and Stiefel, P and Follador, R and Leimer, N and Hennecke, H and Mesa, S and Fischer, HM}, title = {Reactive oxygen species-inducible ECF σ factors of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e43421}, pmid = {22916258}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Protein Binding ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Sigma Factor/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors control the transcription of genes involved in different cellular functions, such as stress responses, metal homeostasis, virulence-related traits, and cell envelope structure. The genome of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, the nitrogen-fixing soybean endosymbiont, encodes 17 putative ECF σ factors belonging to nine different ECF σ factor families. The genes for two of them, ecfQ (bll1028) and ecfF (blr3038), are highly induced in response to the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). The ecfF gene is followed by the predicted anti-σ factor gene osrA (blr3039). Mutants lacking EcfQ, EcfF plus OsrA, OsrA alone, or both σ factors plus OsrA were phenotypically characterized. While the symbiotic properties of all mutants were indistinguishable from the wild type, they showed increased sensitivity to singlet oxygen under free-living conditions. Possible target genes of EcfQ and EcfF were determined by microarray analyses, and candidate genes were compared with the H(2)O(2)-responsive regulon. These experiments disclosed that the two σ factors control rather small and, for the most part, distinct sets of genes, with about half of the genes representing 13% of the members of H(2)O(2)-responsive regulon. To get more insight into transcriptional regulation of both σ factors, the 5' ends of ecfQ and ecfF mRNA were determined. The presence of conserved sequence motifs in the promoter region of ecfQ and genes encoding EcfQ-like σ factors in related α-proteobacteria suggests regulation via a yet unknown transcription factor. By contrast, we have evidence that ecfF is autoregulated by transcription from an EcfF-dependent consensus promoter, and its product is negatively regulated via protein-protein interaction with OsrA. Conserved cysteine residues 129 and 179 of OsrA are required for normal function of OsrA. Cysteine 179 is essential for release of EcfF from an EcfF-OsrA complex upon H(2)O(2) stress while cysteine 129 is possibly needed for EcfF-OsrA interaction.}, } @article {pmid22915746, year = {2012}, author = {Hebelstrup, KH and van Zanten, M and Mandon, J and Voesenek, LA and Harren, FJ and Cristescu, SM and Møller, IM and Mur, LA}, title = {Haemoglobin modulates NO emission and hyponasty under hypoxia-related stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {15}, pages = {5581-5591}, pmid = {22915746}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Ethylenes/analysis/*metabolism ; Floods ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Hemoglobins/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitric Oxide/analysis/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; S-Nitrosothiols/analysis/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) and ethylene are signalling molecules that are synthesized in response to oxygen depletion. Non-symbiotic plant haemoglobins (Hbs) have been demonstrated to act in roots under oxygen depletion to scavenge NO. Using Arabidopsis thaliana plants, the online emission of NO or ethylene was directly quantified under normoxia, hypoxia (0.1-1.0% O(2)), or full anoxia. The production of both gases was increased with reduced expression of either of the Hb genes GLB1 or GLB2, whereas NO emission decreased in plants overexpressing these genes. NO emission in plants with reduced Hb gene expression represented a major loss of nitrogen equivalent to 0.2mM nitrate per 24h under hypoxic conditions. Hb gene expression was greatly enhanced in flooded roots, suggesting induction by reduced oxygen diffusion. The function could be to limit loss of nitrogen under NO emission. NO reacts with thiols to form S-nitrosylated compounds, and it is demonstrated that hypoxia substantially increased the content of S-nitrosylated compounds. A parallel up-regulation of Hb gene expression in the normoxic shoots of the flooded plants may reflect signal transmission from root to shoot via ethylene and a role for Hb in the shoots. Hb gene expression was correlated with ethylene-induced upward leaf movement (hyponastic growth) but not with hypocotyl growth, which was Hb independent. Taken together the data suggest that Hb can influence flood-induced hyponasty via ethylene-dependent and, possibly, ethylene-independent pathways.}, } @article {pmid22915379, year = {2012}, author = {Scherlach, K and Busch, B and Lackner, G and Paszkowski, U and Hertweck, C}, title = {Symbiotic cooperation in the biosynthesis of a phytotoxin.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {51}, number = {38}, pages = {9615-9618}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201204540}, pmid = {22915379}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Macrolides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Rhizopus/*chemistry ; }, } @article {pmid22914957, year = {2012}, author = {Myers, JM and Ramsey, JP and Blackman, AL and Nichols, AE and Minbiole, KP and Harris, RN}, title = {Synergistic inhibition of the lethal fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: the combined effect of symbiotic bacterial metabolites and antimicrobial peptides of the frog Rana muscosa.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {38}, number = {8}, pages = {958-965}, pmid = {22914957}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*pharmacology ; Chytridiomycota/*drug effects/growth & development ; Drug Synergism ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Phloroglucinol/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/pharmacology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/metabolism ; Ranidae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Skin/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A powerful mechanism for protection against disease in animals is synergy between metabolites present in the natural microbiota of the host and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by the host. We studied this method of protection in amphibians in regard to the lethal disease chytridiomycosis, which is caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). In this study, we show that the AMPs of Rana muscosa, as well as the metabolite 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) from Pseudomonas fluorescens, a bacterial species normally found on the skin of R. muscosa, were inhibitory to the growth of Bd in vitro. When both AMPs and 2,4-DAPG were used in growth inhibition assays, they worked synergistically to inhibit the growth of Bd. This synergy resulted in reduced minimum concentrations necessary for inhibition by either 2,4-DAPG or AMPs. This inhibitory concentration of AMPs did not inhibit the growth of a P. fluorescens strain that produced 2,4-DAPG in vitro, although its growth was inhibited at higher peptide concentrations. These data suggest that the AMPs secreted onto frog skin and the metabolites secreted by the resident beneficial bacteria may work synergistically to enhance protection against Bd infection on amphibian skin. These results may aid conservation efforts to augment amphibian skins' resistance to chytridiomycosis by introducing anti-Bd bacterial species that work synergistically with amphibian AMPs.}, } @article {pmid22913513, year = {2012}, author = {di Menna, ME and Finch, SC and Popay, AJ and Smith, BL}, title = {A review of the Neotyphodium lolii / Lolium perenne symbiosis and its associated effects on animal and plant health, with particular emphasis on ryegrass staggers.}, journal = {New Zealand veterinary journal}, volume = {60}, number = {6}, pages = {315-328}, doi = {10.1080/00480169.2012.697429}, pmid = {22913513}, issn = {0048-0169}, mesh = {Animals ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Plant Poisoning/*veterinary ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ryegrass staggers is a seasonal mycotoxicosis of grazing livestock characterised by tremors, in coordination and a staggering gait almost unaccompanied by physical lesions. Deaths occur only as a consequence of accident or starvation. Outbreaks, in summer and autumn, occur only on pasture in which endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii)-infected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) predominates and usually on which animals are grazed intensively. Animals recover when moved to a different type of grazing or after rain has promoted pasture growth. The disease was recognised for 80 years before its cause was discovered as a consequence of a grazing trial of sheep on three ryegrass cultivars which happened to have three different levels of endophyte infection. The endophyte was first formally described as Acremonium loliae, later corrected to Acremonium lolii, and was finally placed in the genus Neotyphodium. It produces a number of secondary metabolites of which lolitrem B is the principal one causing ryegrass staggers symptoms. Ergopeptides are also produced which cause heat stress and lack of productivity. N. lolii is symptomless in the plant, seed borne and grows intercellularly in the aerial parts, mainly in reproductive tillers and leaf sheaths but sparsely in leaf blades. It dies in stored seed and infection rates of different ryegrass cultivars have depended on seed storage times during their production. In addition, N. Lolii produces insect feeding deterrents, among them peramine, which protects infected plants from pest predation. Because of this, control of ryegrass staggers by elimination of endophyte-infected ryegrass is not feasible in areas in which insect predation is a serious pasture problem. However, N. lolii strains vary in the secondary metabolites they produce allowing the selection of strains that produce desirable metabolites. By inoculating such strains into uninfected ryegrass plants it is possible to produce cultivars which do not cause ryegrass staggers but resist insect predation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current understanding of the N. lolii / L. perenne symbiosis, the toxins it is known to produce, their effects on animals and plants and the strategies used to control their ill effects while maximising their beneficial ones.}, } @article {pmid22912840, year = {2012}, author = {Sorek, M and Levy, O}, title = {Influence of the quantity and quality of light on photosynthetic periodicity in coral endosymbiotic algae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e43264}, pmid = {22912840}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology/radiation effects ; Cryptochromes/genetics/metabolism ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Israel ; *Light ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/*physiology/radiation effects ; Phytochrome/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic corals, which are benthic organisms intimately linked with their environment, have evolved many ways to deal with fluctuations in the local marine environment. One possible coping mechanism is the endogenous circadian clock, which is characterized as free running, maintaining a ~24 h periodicity of circuits under constant stimuli or in the absence of external cues. The quantity and quality of light were found to be the most influential factors governing the endogenous clock for plants and algae. Unicellular dinoflagellate algae are among the best examples of organisms that exhibit circadian clocks using light as the dominant signal. This study is the first to examine the effects of light intensity and quality on the rhythmicity of photosynthesis in the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp., both as a free-living organism and in symbiosis with the coral Stylophora pistillata. Oxygen production measurements in Symbiodinium cultures exhibited rhythmicity with a periodicity of approximately 24 h under constant high light (LL), whereas under medium and low light, the cycle time increased. Exposing Symbiodinium cultures and corals to spectral light revealed different effects of blue and red light on the photosynthetic rhythm, specifically shortening or increasing the cycle time respectively. These findings suggest that the photosynthetic rhythm is entrained by different light cues, which are wired to an endogenous circadian clock. Furthermore, we provide evidence that mRNA expression was higher under blue light for two potential cryptochrome genes and higher under red light for a phytochrome gene isolated from Symbiodinium. These results offer the first evidence of the impact of the intensity and quality of light on the photosynthetic rhythm in algal cells living freely or as part of a symbiotic association. Our results indicate the presence of a circadian oscillator in Symbiodinium governing the photosynthetic apparatus through a light-induced signaling pathway that has yet to be described.}, } @article {pmid22912803, year = {2012}, author = {Qiu, X and Yan, X and Liu, M and Han, R}, title = {Genetic and proteomic characterization of rpoB mutations and their effect on nematicidal activity in Photorhabdus luminescens LN2.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e43114}, pmid = {22912803}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/*genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation/*genetics ; Photorhabdus/*genetics/metabolism ; Proteomics/methods ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; *Rifampin ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Rifampin resistant (Rif(R)) mutants of the insect pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens LN2 from entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica LN2 were genetically and proteomically characterized. The Rif(R) mutants showed typical phase one characters of Photorhabdus bacteria, and insecticidal activity against Galleria mellonella larvae, but surprisingly influenced their nematicidal activity against axenic infective juveniles (IJs) of H. bacteriophora H06, an incompatible nematode host. 13 out of 34 Rif(R) mutants lost their nematicidal activity against H06 IJs but supported the reproduction of H06 nematodes. 7 nematicidal-producing and 7 non-nematicidal-producing Rif(R) mutants were respectively selected for rpoB sequence analysis. rpoB mutations were found in all 14 Rif(R) mutants. The rpoB (P564L) mutation was found in all 7 mutants which produced nematicidal activity against H06 nematodes, but not in the mutants which supported H06 nematode production. Allelic exchange assays confirmed that the Rif-resistance and the impact on nematicidal activity of LN2 bacteria were conferred by rpoB mutation(s). The non-nematicidal-producing Rif(R) mutant was unable to colonize in the intestines of H06 IJs, but able to colonize in the intestines of its indigenous LN2 IJs. Proteomic analysis revealed different protein expression between wild-type strain and Rif(R) mutants, or between nematicidal-producing and non nematicidal-producing mutants. At least 7 putative proteins including DsbA, HlpA, RhlE, RplC, NamB (a protein from T3SS), and 2 hypothetical proteins (similar to unknown protein YgdH and YggE of Escherichia coli respectively) were probably involved in the nematicidal activity of LN2 bacteria against H06 nematodes. This hypothesis was further confirmed by creating insertion-deletion mutants of three selected corresponding genes (the downregulated rhlE and namB, and upregulated dsbA). These results indicate that the rpoB mutations greatly influence the symbiotic association between the symbionts and their entomopathogenic nematode hosts.}, } @article {pmid22912499, year = {2012}, author = {Goldberg, P}, title = {Active perception and the search for sensory symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association}, volume = {60}, number = {4}, pages = {791-812}, doi = {10.1177/0003065112455691}, pmid = {22912499}, issn = {1941-2460}, mesh = {Humans ; *Perception ; *Professional-Patient Relations ; *Psychoanalytic Therapy ; Sensation ; }, } @article {pmid22912369, year = {2012}, author = {Hancock, LM and Ernst, CL and Charneskie, R and Ruane, LG}, title = {Effects of cadmium and mycorrhizal fungi on growth, fitness, and cadmium accumulation in flax (Linum usitatissimum; Linaceae).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {99}, number = {9}, pages = {1445-1452}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1100497}, pmid = {22912369}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Biomass ; Cadmium/*metabolism/*toxicity ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Flax/anatomy & histology/drug effects/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Fruit/drug effects/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Stems/drug effects/metabolism ; Seeds/drug effects/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Agricultural soils have become contaminated with a variety of heavy metals, including cadmium. The degree to which soil contaminants affect plants may depend on symbiotic relationships between plant roots and soil microorganisms. We examined (1) whether mycorrhizal fungi counteract the potentially negative effects of cadmium on the growth and fitness of flax (Linum usitatissimum) and (2) whether mycorrhizal fungi affect the accumulation of cadmium within plant parts.

METHODS: Two flax cultivars (Linott and Omega) were grown in three soil cadmium environments (0, 5, and 15 ppm). Within each cadmium environment, plants were grown in either the presence or absence of mycorrhizal fungi. Upon senescence, we measured growth and fitness and quantified the concentration of cadmium within plants.

KEY RESULTS: Soil cadmium significantly decreased plant fitness, but did not affect plant growth. Mycorrhizal fungi, which were able to colonize roots of plants growing in all cadmium levels, significantly increased plant growth and fitness. Although mycorrhizal fungi counteracted the negative effects of cadmium on fruit and seed production, they also enhanced the concentration of cadmium within roots, fruits, and seeds.

CONCLUSIONS: The degree to which soil cadmium affects plant fitness and the accumulation of cadmium within plants depended on the ability of plants to form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. The use of mycorrhizal fungi in contaminated agricultural soils may offset the negative effects of metals on the quantity of seeds produced, but exacerbate the accumulation of these metals in our food supply.}, } @article {pmid22911968, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, X and Leadbetter, JR}, title = {Evidence for cascades of perturbation and adaptation in the metabolic genes of higher termite gut symbionts.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, pages = {}, pmid = {22911968}, issn = {2150-7511}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Formate Dehydrogenases/genetics/metabolism ; Genetic Variation ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction/*genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Termites and their gut microbes engage in fascinating dietary mutualisms. Less is known about how these complex symbioses have evolved after first emerging in an insect ancestor over 120 million years ago. Here we examined a bacterial gene, formate dehydrogenase (fdhF), that is key to the mutualism in 8 species of "higher" termite (members of the Termitidae, the youngest and most biomass-abundant and species-rich termite family). Patterns of fdhF diversity in the gut communities of higher termites contrasted strongly with patterns in less-derived (more-primitive) insect relatives (wood-feeding "lower" termites and roaches). We observed phylogenetic evidence for (i) the sweeping loss of several clades of fdhF that may reflect extinctions of symbiotic protozoa and, importantly, bacteria dependent on them in the last common ancestor of all higher termites and (ii) a radiation of genes from the (possibly) single allele that survived. Sweeping gene loss also resulted in (iii) the elimination of an entire clade of genes encoding selenium (Se)-independent enzymes from higher termite gut communities, perhaps reflecting behavioral or morphological innovations in higher termites that relaxed preexisting environmental limitations of Se, a dietary trace element. Curiously, several higher termite gut communities may have subsequently reencountered Se limitation, reinventing genes for Se-independent proteins via convergent evolution. Lastly, the presence of a novel fdhF lineage within litter-feeding and subterranean higher (but not other) termites may indicate recent gene "invasion" events. These results imply that cascades of perturbation and adaptation by distinct evolutionary mechanisms have impacted the evolution of complex microbial communities in a highly successful lineage of insects.

IMPORTANCE: Since patterns of relatedness between termite hosts are broadly mirrored by the relatedness of their symbiotic gut microbiota, coevolution between hosts and gut symbionts is rightly considered an important force that has shaped dietary mutualism since its inception over 120 million years ago. Apart from that concerning lateral gene or symbiont transfer between termite gut communities (for which no evidence yet exists), there has been little discussion of alternative mechanisms impacting the evolution of mutualism. Here we provide strong gene-based evidence for past environmental perturbations creating significant upheavals that continue to reverberate throughout the gut communities of species comprising a single termite lineage. We suggest that symbiont extinction events, sweeping gene losses, evolutionary radiations, relaxation and reemergence of key nutritional pressures, convergent evolution of similar traits, and recent gene invasions have all shaped gene composition in the symbiotic gut microbial communities of higher termites, currently the most dominant and successful termite family on Earth.}, } @article {pmid22911858, year = {2012}, author = {Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and Valdivia, E and Martín-Vivaldi, M and Martín-Platero, AM and Martínez-Bueno, M and Méndez, M and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Soler, JJ}, title = {Antimicrobial activity and genetic profile of Enteroccoci isolated from hoopoes uropygial gland.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e41843}, pmid = {22911858}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animal Structures/*microbiology ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Birds/*microbiology ; Enterococcus/drug effects/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Female ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Principal Component Analysis ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms may be directly transferred from parents to offspring or acquired from a particular environment that animals may be able to select. If benefits for hosts vary among microbial strains, natural selection may favour hosts holding the most beneficial one. Enterococci symbionts living in the hoopoe (Upupa epops) uropygial gland are able to synthesise bacteriocins (antimicrobial peptides that inhibit the growth of competitor bacteria). We explored variability in genetic profile (through RAPD-PCR analyses) and antimicrobial properties (by performing antagonistic tests against ten bacterial indicator strains) of the different isolates obtained from the uropygial glands of hoopoe females and nestlings. We found that the genetic profile of bacterial isolates was related to antimicrobial activity, as well as to individual host identity and the nest from which samples were obtained. This association suggest that variation in the inhibitory capacity of Enterococci symbionts should be under selection.}, } @article {pmid22911833, year = {2012}, author = {Fu, Y and Lan, J and Zhang, Z and Hou, R and Wu, X and Yang, D and Zhang, R and Zheng, W and Nie, H and Xie, Y and Yan, N and Yang, Z and Wang, C and Luo, L and Liu, L and Gu, X and Wang, S and Peng, X and Yang, G}, title = {Novel insights into the transcriptome of Dirofilaria immitis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e41639}, pmid = {22911833}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; Databases, Genetic ; Dirofilaria immitis/*genetics ; Dogs ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Helminth/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Intestines/parasitology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is the causal agent of cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and cats, and also infects a wide range of wild mammals as well as humans. One bottleneck for the design of fundamentally new intervention and management strategies against D. immitis may be the currently limited knowledge of fundamental molecular aspects of D. immitis.

A next-generation sequencing platform combining computational approaches was employed to assess a global view of the heartworm transcriptome. A total of 20,810 unigenes (mean length  =  1,270 bp) were assembled from 22.3 million clean reads. From these, 15,698 coding sequences (CDS) were inferred, and about 85% of the unigenes had orthologs/homologs in public databases. Comparative transcriptomic study uncovered 4,157 filarial-specific genes as well as 3,795 genes potentially involved in filarial-Wolbachia symbiosis. In addition, the potential intestine transcriptome of D. immitis (1,101 genes) was mined for the first time, which might help to discover 'hidden antigens'.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides novel insights into the transcriptome of D. immitis and sheds light on its molecular processes and survival mechanisms. Furthermore, it provides a platform to discover new vaccine candidates and potential targets for new drugs against dirofilariosis.}, } @article {pmid22910908, year = {2012}, author = {Cameron, EA and Maynard, MA and Smith, CJ and Smith, TJ and Koropatkin, NM and Martens, EC}, title = {Multidomain Carbohydrate-binding Proteins Involved in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Starch Metabolism.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {287}, number = {41}, pages = {34614-34625}, pmid = {22910908}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K01DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; *Bacteroides/chemistry/metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*physiology ; Colon/metabolism/microbiology ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; *Lectins/chemistry/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Starch/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Human colonic bacteria are necessary for the digestion of many dietary polysaccharides. The intestinal symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron uses five outer membrane proteins to bind and degrade starch. Here, we report the x-ray crystallographic structures of SusE and SusF, two outer membrane proteins composed of tandem starch specific carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) with no enzymatic activity. Examination of the two CBMs in SusE and three CBMs in SusF reveals subtle differences in the way each binds starch and is reflected in their K(d) values for both high molecular weight starch and small maltooligosaccharides. Thus, each site seems to have a unique starch preference that may enable these proteins to interact with different regions of starch or its breakdown products. Proteins similar to SusE and SusF are encoded in many other polysaccharide utilization loci that are possessed by human gut bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes. Thus, these proteins are likely to play an important role in carbohydrate metabolism in these abundant symbiotic species. Understanding structural changes that diversify and adapt related proteins in the human gut microbial community will be critical to understanding the detailed mechanistic roles that they perform in the complex digestive ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid22908633, year = {2012}, author = {Dudhane, M and Borde, M and Jite, PK}, title = {Effect of aluminium toxicity on growth responses and antioxidant activities in Gmelina arborea Roxb. inoculated with AM fungi.}, journal = {International journal of phytoremediation}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {643-655}, doi = {10.1080/15226514.2011.619230}, pmid = {22908633}, issn = {1522-6514}, mesh = {Aluminum/chemistry/*toxicity ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Glycoproteins/genetics/metabolism ; Lamiaceae/*drug effects/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects ; Proline/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/chemistry/toxicity ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviating the adverse Aluminium effects on growth and antioxidant activity was tested in Gmelina plants. Under greenhouse and aluminium stress condition, the mycorrhizal Gmelina plants showed good growth as compared to non mycorrhizal Gmelina plants. Mycorrhizal colonization in Gmelina was found not to be significantly influenced by aluminium concentrations. Results also indicate that symbiotic association was successfully established between Glomus intraradices and Gmelina plants and mycorrhizal colonization consequently increased the biomass of Gmelina. The root proline accumulation was found to increase in mycorrhizal Gmelina plants for osmotic adjustment of stress tissues under first and second level of Aluminium stress. It was observed that Mycorrhizal colonization increased the shoot root Peroxidase and Superoxide dismutase activities in mycorrhizal Gmelina under second level of Aluminium stress. Mycorrhizal fungi play a major role in phytostabilization by secreting one of the glycoprotein, i.e., Glomalin, which stabilizes the Aluminium in soil as well as in the roots of Gmelina plants.}, } @article {pmid22906221, year = {2013}, author = {del Campo, EM and Catalá, S and Gimeno, J and del Hoyo, A and Martínez-Alberola, F and Casano, LM and Grube, M and Barreno, E}, title = {The genetic structure of the cosmopolitan three-partner lichen Ramalina farinacea evidences the concerted diversification of symbionts.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {2}, pages = {310-323}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01474.x}, pmid = {22906221}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Chlorophyta/classification/*genetics ; Europe ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Lichens/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal/chemistry ; Spain ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The epiphytic lichen Ramalina farinacea is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere in which the same two algal Trebouxia species (provisionally named TR1 and TR9) coexist in every thallus. Ramalina farinacea symbionts were characterized based on the two fungal nuclear loci (nrITS and rpb2) along with the primary and secondary structures of nrITS from each Trebouxia species in the Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands. The results indicated a noticeable genetic differentiation between mycobionts from these two geographic areas and also suggested concerted changes in the three partners of a lichen symbiosis toward two clearly distinguishable 'holobiont' lineages. Modeling of ITS2 RNA secondary structures suggested their temperature sensitivity in TR1 but not in TR9, which was consistent with the observed superior physiological performance of TR9 phycobionts under relatively high temperatures. Both TR1 and TR9 phycobionts have been also found in a variety of taxonomically distinct lichens with a preferably Mediterranean distribution, being TR1 much more widespread than TR9. Our observations support a model in which ecological diversification and speciation of lichen symbionts in different habitats could include a transient phase consisting of associations with more than one photobiont in individual thalli. Such diversification is likely to be promoted by different physiological backgrounds.}, } @article {pmid22905879, year = {2012}, author = {Moco, S and Martin, FP and Rezzi, S}, title = {Metabolomics view on gut microbiome modulation by polyphenol-rich foods.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {11}, number = {10}, pages = {4781-4790}, doi = {10.1021/pr300581s}, pmid = {22905879}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Cacao/*metabolism ; Coffee/*metabolism ; Diet ; Digestion ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; *Metagenome ; Polyphenols/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Health is influenced by genetic, lifestyle, and diet determinants; therefore, nutrition plays an essential role in health management. Still, the substantiation of nutritional health benefits is challenged by the intrinsic macro- and micronutrient complexity of foods and individual responses. Evidence of healthy effects of food requires new strategies not only to stratify populations according to their metabolic requirements but also to predict and measure individual responses to dietary intakes. The influence of the gut microbiome and its interaction with the host is pivotal to understand nutrition and metabolism. Thus, the modulation of the gut microbiome composition by alteration of food habits has potentialities in health improvement or even disease prevention. Dietary polyphenols are naturally occurring constituents in vegetables and fruits, including coffee and cocoa. They are commonly associated to health benefits, although mechanistic evidence in vivo is not yet fully understood. Polyphenols are extensively metabolized by gut bacteria into a complex series of end-products that support a significant effect on the functional ecology of symbiotic partners that can affect the host physiology. This review reports recent nutritional metabolomics inspections of gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions with a particular focus on the cometabolism of cocoa and coffee polyphenols.}, } @article {pmid22904061, year = {2012}, author = {Snyder, AK and McLain, C and Rio, RV}, title = {The tsetse fly obligate mutualist Wigglesworthia morsitans alters gene expression and population density via exogenous nutrient provisioning.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {21}, pages = {7792-7797}, pmid = {22904061}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R03 AI081701/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03AI081701/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Feeding Behavior ; Gene Expression ; Population Density ; *Symbiosis ; Thiamine/*metabolism ; Tsetse Flies/metabolism/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The obligate mutualist Wigglesworthia morsitans provisions nutrients to tsetse flies. The symbiont's response to thiamine (B(1)) supplementation of blood meals, specifically towards the regulation of thiamine biosynthesis and population density, is described. Despite an ancient symbiosis and associated genome tailoring, Wigglesworthia responds to nutrient availability, potentially accommodating a decreased need.}, } @article {pmid22903036, year = {2012}, author = {Correa, CC and Ballard, JW}, title = {Wolbachia gonadal density in female and male Drosophila vary with laboratory adaptation and respond differently to physiological and environmental challenges.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {111}, number = {3}, pages = {197-204}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2012.08.003}, pmid = {22903036}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bacterial Load ; Diet ; Drosophila/genetics/immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Male ; Ovary/*microbiology ; Sex Factors ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Testis/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In symbiotic associations such as those between Wolbachia and insects, the within-host symbiont density plays an important role in the maintenance of the infection in natural populations, as it relates to transmission fidelity and pathogenicity of the symbiont. Within-host density is speculated to be the result of complex interactions between the bacterial genotype, the host genotype and the environment, which may account for the substantial variation in Wolbachia titres among wild collected individuals compared to laboratory lines. Using quantitative PCR, we screened the Wolbachia gonadal density of individuals from 50 isofemale Drosophila simulans lines raised in standard conditions for at least two generations after collection from the wild. Although these newly collected lines displayed significant variation of ovarian Wolbachia titres, such variation was lost by F(19). Assaying these flies at different ages and under different environmental conditions indicated that symbiont titres in female gonads were not affected by the conditions tested. However, Wolbachia density in male gonads was consistently affected by these treatments in a line-specific way. We propose that the differences in Wolbachia densities among ovaries of F(4) flies are the consequence of large differences in the field-collected females caused by the variable environment, and carried over for at least four generations. In addition, we provide evidence of sex-specific dynamics of Wolbachia in gonads of females and males. In combination, our results support the view of sex-specific Wolbachia evolutionary interactions for males and females, which has been predicted by theory and observed experimentally.}, } @article {pmid22902418, year = {2012}, author = {Triggle, DJ}, title = {Nous sommes tous des bacteries: implications for medicine, pharmacology and public health.}, journal = {Biochemical pharmacology}, volume = {84}, number = {12}, pages = {1543-1550}, doi = {10.1016/j.bcp.2012.08.005}, pmid = {22902418}, issn = {1873-2968}, mesh = {*Bacteria ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; *Pharmacology ; *Public Health ; }, abstract = {As a species we humans are outnumbered by bacteria in both cell and gene count. This somewhat humbling observation is key to the increasing recognition that the long-standing symbiotic and commensal relations between Homo sapiens and bacteria are of great significance to basic human physiology and health. Knowledge of our human bacterial environment is contributing to an understanding of a variety of disorders including obesity and metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, immunity, and neuronal development and behavior. The Human Microbiome Project is providing a genetic and ecological analysis and will serve as a parallel to the Human Genome Project. Exploration of the chemical space utilized by bacteria will contribute to the development of new small molecule therapeutic agents, including new antibiotics. And genetically re-engineered bacteria are proving to be of potential value as actual therapeutic entities. Our understanding of our bacterial world has the capability to transform radically our current approach to human health diverting it from an emphasis on acute treatments to living in healthy harmony with both our internal and external environments.}, } @article {pmid22902375, year = {2012}, author = {Bianchini, K and Tattersall, GJ and Sashaw, J and Porteus, CS and Wright, PA}, title = {Acid water interferes with salamander-green algae symbiosis during early embryonic development.}, journal = {Physiological and biochemical zoology : PBZ}, volume = {85}, number = {5}, pages = {470-480}, doi = {10.1086/667407}, pmid = {22902375}, issn = {1537-5293}, mesh = {Ambystoma/embryology/*physiology ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Fresh Water/*chemistry ; *Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ontario ; Ovum/growth & development/physiology ; Oxygen/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The inner egg capsule of embryos of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) are routinely colonized by green algae, such as Oophila amblystomatis, that supply O(2) in the presence of light and may consume nitrogenous wastes, forming what has been proposed to be a mutualistic relationship. Given that A. maculatum have been reported to breed in acidic (pH <5.0) and neutral lakes, we hypothesized that low water pH would negatively affect these symbiotic organisms and alter the gradients within the jelly mass. Oxygen gradients were detected within jelly masses measured directly in a natural breeding pond (pH 4.5-4.8) at midday in full sunlight. In the lab, embryo jelly masses reared continuously at pH 4.5 had lower P(O)2and higher ammonia levels relative to jelly masses held at pH 8.0 (control). Ammonia and lactate concentrations in embryonic tissues were approximately 37%-93% higher, respectively, in embryos reared at water pH 4.5 compared with pH 8.0. Mass was also reduced in embryos reared at pH 4.5 versus pH 8.0. In addition, light conditions (24 h light, 12L : 12D, or 24 h dark) and embryonic position (periphery vs. center) in the jelly mass affected P(O)2but not ammonia gradients, suggesting that algal symbionts generate O(2) but do not significantly impact local ammonia concentrations, regardless of the pH of the water. We conclude that chronic exposure to acidic breeding ponds had a profound effect on the microenvironment of developing A. maculatum embryos, which in turn resulted in an elevation of potentially harmful metabolic end products and inhibited growth. Under acidic conditions, the expected benefit provided by the algae to the salamander embryo (i.e., high O(2) and low ammonia microenvironment) is compromised, suggesting that the A. maculatum-algal mutualism is beneficial to salamanders only at higher water pH values.}, } @article {pmid22900008, year = {2012}, author = {Rana, VS and Singh, ST and Priya, NG and Kumar, J and Rajagopal, R}, title = {Arsenophonus GroEL interacts with CLCuV and is localized in midgut and salivary gland of whitefly B. tabaci.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e42168}, pmid = {22900008}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Begomovirus/genetics/*metabolism ; Biodiversity ; Chaperonin 60/*metabolism ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Gossypium/virology ; Hemiptera/classification/genetics/*microbiology/virology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/virology ; Protein Binding ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) (Gemininiviridae: Begomovirus) is the causative agent of leaf curl disease in cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum). CLCuV is exclusively transmitted by the whitefly species B. tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Alerodidae). B. tabaci contains several biotypes which harbor dissimilar bacterial endo-symbiotic community. It is reported that these bacterial endosymbionts produce a 63 kDa chaperon GroEL protein which binds to geminivirus particles and protects them from rapid degradation in gut and haemolymph. In biotype B, GroEL protein of Hamiltonella has been shown to interact with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). The present study was initiated to find out whether endosymbionts of B. tabaci are similarly involved in CLCuV transmission in Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), an area endemic with cotton leaf curl disease. Biotype and endosymbiont diversity of B. tabaci were identified using MtCO1 and 16S rDNA genes respectively. Analysis of our results indicated that the collected B. tabaci population belong to AsiaII genetic group and harbor the primary endosymbiont Portiera and the secondary endosymbiont Arsenophonus. The GroEL proteins of Portiera and Arsenophonus were purified and in-vitro interaction studies were carried out using pull down and co-immunoprecipitation assays. In-vivo interaction was confirmed using yeast two hybrid system. In both in-vitro and in-vivo studies, the GroEL protein of Arsenophonus was found to be interacting with the CLCuV coat protein. Further, we also localized the presence of Arsenophonus in the salivary glands and the midgut of B. tabaci besides the already reported bacteriocytes. These results suggest the involvement of Arsenophonus in the transmission of CLCuV in AsiaII genetic group of B. tabaci.}, } @article {pmid22897745, year = {2012}, author = {Rupa, P and Mine, Y}, title = {Recent advances in the role of probiotics in human inflammation and gut health.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {60}, number = {34}, pages = {8249-8256}, doi = {10.1021/jf301903t}, pmid = {22897745}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Tract/*drug effects/immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*prevention & control ; Probiotics/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) tract provides residence to an astounding number of bacterial species, which have profound effects on host biology, function, physiology, and immune response. Discovery of "symbiosis factors" from symbionts that facilitate the peaceful coexistence of microbiota and the host immune system are of interest. Symbionts synthesize immunomodulatory molecules that guide maturation of the immune system and have pivotal roles in many biological processes; however, individuals differ in the makeup of their GI microbiota, which is influenced by many external and internal factors such as diet, antibiotic use, and host genetics, which in turn influences health and disease outcomes. Various endogenous, genetic, and environmental factors influence GI development including species composition and health status of neonates, resulting in interactions that occur between the bacteria and the host. Mechanisms of probiotics involved in homeostasis of a balanced immune system have been inconclusive. The probable mechanism of action may be postulated as direct competition between pathogenic bacteria in the gut and/or immune modulation. This review focuses on probiotics in health and disease prevention, especially the biological importance of intestinal regulation of inflammatory processes that may be beneficial in a multitude of disorders both inside and outside the GI tract.}, } @article {pmid22893295, year = {2012}, author = {Bicchi, C and Maffei, M}, title = {The plant volatilome: methods of analysis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {918}, number = {}, pages = {289-310}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-61779-995-2_15}, pmid = {22893295}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Adsorption ; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical/instrumentation/*methods ; Electronic Nose ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Nanostructures/chemistry ; Plants/*chemistry ; Polymers/chemistry ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; Temperature ; Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis/chemistry/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Analysis of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and essential oils (EOs, collectively called the plant volatilome) is an invaluable technique in plant biology, as it provides the qualitative and quantitative composition of bioactive compounds. From a physiological standpoint, the plant volatilome is involved in some critical processes, namely plant-plant interactions, the signaling between symbiotic organisms, the attraction of pollinating insects, a range of biological activities in mammals, and as an endless source of novel drugs and drug leads. This chapter analyses and discusses the most advanced methods of analysis of the plant volatilome.}, } @article {pmid22891731, year = {2013}, author = {Benyamina, SM and Baldacci-Cresp, F and Couturier, J and Chibani, K and Hopkins, J and Bekki, A and de Lajudie, P and Rouhier, N and Jacquot, JP and Alloing, G and Puppo, A and Frendo, P}, title = {Two Sinorhizobium meliloti glutaredoxins regulate iron metabolism and symbiotic bacteroid differentiation.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {795-810}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02835.x}, pmid = {22891731}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutaredoxins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Iron/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/growth & development/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Succinate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes interact symbiotically with bacteria of the Rhizobiaceae to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. We investigated the contribution of the three glutaredoxin (Grx)-encoding genes present in the Sinorhizobium meliloti genome to this symbiosis. SmGRX1 (CGYC active site) and SmGRX3 (CPYG) recombinant proteins displayed deglutathionylation activity in the 2-hydroethyldisulfide assay, whereas SmGRX2 (CGFS) did not. Mutation of SmGRX3 did not affect S. meliloti growth or symbiotic capacities. In contrast, SmGRX1 and SmGRX2 mutations decreased the growth of free-living bacteria and the nitrogen fixation capacity of bacteroids. Mutation of SmGRX1 led to nodule abortion and an absence of bacteroid differentiation, whereas SmGRX2 mutation decreased nodule development without modifying bacteroid development. The higher sensitivity of the Smgrx1 mutant strain as compared with wild-type strain to oxidative stress was associated with larger amounts of glutathionylated proteins. The Smgrx2 mutant strain displayed significantly lower levels of activity than the wild type for two iron-sulfur-containing enzymes, aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase. This lower level of activity could be associated with deregulation of the transcriptional activity of the RirA iron regulator and higher intracellular iron content. Thus, two S. meliloti Grx proteins are essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, playing independent roles in bacterial differentiation and the regulation of iron metabolism.}, } @article {pmid22891065, year = {2012}, author = {Dziallas, C and Allgaier, M and Monaghan, MT and Grossart, HP}, title = {Act together-implications of symbioses in aquatic ciliates.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {288}, pmid = {22891065}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Mutual interactions in the form of symbioses can increase the fitness of organisms and provide them with the capacity to occupy new ecological niches. The formation of obligate symbioses allows for rapid evolution of new life forms including multitrophic consortia. Microbes are important components of many known endosymbioses and their short generation times and strong potential for genetic exchange may be important drivers of speciation. Hosts provide endo- and ectosymbionts with stable, nutrient-rich environments, and protection from grazers. This is of particular importance in aquatic ecosystems, which are often highly variable, harsh, and nutrient-deficient habitats. It is therefore not surprising that symbioses are widespread in both marine and freshwater environments. Symbioses in aquatic ciliates are good model systems for exploring symbiont-host interactions. Many ciliate species are globally distributed and have been intensively studied in the context of plastid evolution. Their relatively large cell size offers an ideal habitat for numerous microorganisms with different functional traits including commensalism and parasitism. Phagocytosis facilitates the formation of symbiotic relationships, particularly since some ingested microorganisms can escape the digestion. For example, photoautotrophic algae and methanogens represent endosymbionts that greatly extend the biogeochemical functions of their hosts. Consequently, symbiotic relationships between protists and prokaryotes are widespread and often result in new ecological functions of the symbiotic communities. This enables ciliates to thrive under a wide range of environmental conditions including ultraoligotrophic or anoxic habitats. We summarize the current understanding of this exciting research topic to identify the many areas in which knowledge is lacking and to stimulate future research by providing an overview on new methodologies and by formulating a number of emerging questions in this field.}, } @article {pmid22890380, year = {2012}, author = {Kim, IH and Huys, R}, title = {Sabelliphilidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) associated with the tube anemone Pachycerianthus maua (Carlgren) and the horseshoe worm Phoronis australis Haswell off New Caledonia.}, journal = {Systematic parasitology}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {51-64}, doi = {10.1007/s11230-012-9369-4}, pmid = {22890380}, issn = {1573-5192}, mesh = {Anemone/*parasitology ; Animals ; Copepoda/anatomy & histology/classification/*physiology ; Female ; Invertebrates/*parasitology ; Male ; New Caledonia ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Examination of washings of the ceriantharian Pachycerianthus maua (Carlgren) and its phoronid symbiont Phoronis australis Haswell in New Caledonian waters revealed two species of symbiotic copepods belonging to the family Sabelliphilidae (Cyclopoida). Phoronicola spinulatus Boxshall & Humes, 1988, the only other copepod known to be associated with a phoronid and originally described from Hong Kong, was found on both the lophophore of Phoronis australis and the tentacular crown of Pachycerianthus maua. Both sexes of Phoronicola spinulatus are redescribed based on the New Caledonian material and re-examination of the type-material revealed some observational errors in the original description. Myxomolgus hoi n. sp. was exclusively found on the ceriantharian host and appears most closely related to its only known Pacific congener, M. invulgus Kim, 2001, in lacking the strong spines on antennulary segments 1-2, the presence of closely set, fine teeth along the convex margin of the mandibular blade, and the absence of a proximal bulbous protrusion along the inner margin of leg 5 exopod. Differences between both species are found in the rostrum, antennule, antenna, maxillule, leg 4, caudal rami and body size. The relatively low number of specimens of P. spinulatus recovered from washings of the lophophores (and its presence on Pachycerianthus maua) suggests that its real host is a ceriantharian rather than a phoronid. It is conceivable that both Phoronicola spinulatus and M. hoi n. sp. live and feed on/inside the mucilaginous ceriantharian tube rather than on the lophophore or tentacular crown of their respective hosts.}, } @article {pmid22889004, year = {2012}, author = {Swainsbury, DJ and Zhou, L and Oldroyd, GE and Bornemann, S}, title = {Calcium ion binding properties of Medicago truncatula calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase.}, journal = {Biochemistry}, volume = {51}, number = {35}, pages = {6895-6907}, doi = {10.1021/bi300826m}, pmid = {22889004}, issn = {1520-4995}, support = {BBS/E/J/000C0631/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000CA336/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004553/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Signaling ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Calmodulin/metabolism ; EF Hand Motifs ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Medicago truncatula/chemistry/*enzymology/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; }, abstract = {A calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is essential in the interpretation of calcium oscillations in plant root cells for the establishment of symbiotic relationships with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. Some of its properties have been studied in detail, but its calcium ion binding properties and subsequent conformational change have not. A biophysical approach was taken with constructs comprising either the visinin-like domain of Medicago truncatula CCaMK, which contains EF-hand motifs, or this domain together with the autoinhibitory domain. The visinin-like domain binds three calcium ions, leading to a conformational change involving the exposure of hydrophobic surfaces and a change in tertiary but not net secondary or quaternary structure. The affinity for calcium ions of visinin-like domain EF-hands 1 and 2 (K(d) = 200 ± 50 nM) was appropriate for the interpretation of calcium oscillations (~125-850 nM), while that of EF-hand 3 (K(d) ≤ 20 nM) implied occupancy at basal calcium ion levels. Calcium dissociation rate constants were determined for the visinin-like domain of CCaMK, M. truncatula calmodulin 1, and the complex between these two proteins (the slowest of which was 0.123 ± 0.002 s(-1)), suggesting the corresponding calcium association rate constants were at or near the diffusion-limited rate. In addition, the dissociation of calmodulin from the protein complex was shown to be on the same time scale as the dissociation of calcium ions. These observations suggest that the formation and dissociation of the complex between calmodulin and CCaMK would substantially mirror calcium oscillations, which typically have a 90 s periodicity.}, } @article {pmid22888297, year = {2012}, author = {Schäfer, T and Hanke, MV and Flachowsky, H and König, S and Peil, A and Kaldorf, M and Polle, A and Buscot, F}, title = {Chitinase activities, scab resistance, mycorrhization rates and biomass of own-rooted and grafted transgenic apple.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {466-473}, pmid = {22888297}, issn = {1678-4685}, abstract = {This study investigated the impact of constitutively expressed Trichoderma atroviride genes encoding exochitinase nag70 or endochitinase ech42 in transgenic lines of the apple cultivar Pinova on the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We compared the exo- and endochitinase activities of leaves and roots from non-transgenic Pinova and the transgenic lines T386 and T389. Local and systemic effects were examined using own-rooted trees and trees grafted onto rootstock M9. Scab susceptibility was also assessed in own-rooted and grafted trees. AMF root colonization was assessed microscopically in the roots of apple trees cultivated in pots with artificial substrate and inoculated with the AMF Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae. Own-rooted transgenic lines had significantly higher chitinase activities in their leaves and roots compared to non-transgenic Pinova. Both of the own-rooted transgenic lines showed significantly fewer symptoms of scab infection as well as significantly lower root colonization by AMF. Biomass production was significantly reduced in both own-rooted transgenic lines. Rootstock M9 influenced chitinase activities in the leaves of grafted scions. When grafted onto M9, the leaf chitinase activities of non-transgenic Pinova (M9/Pinova) and transgenic lines (M9/T386 and M9/T389) were not as different as when grown on their own roots. M9/T386 and M9/T389 were only temporarily less infected by scab than M9/Pinova. M9/T386 and M9/T389 did not differ significantly from M9/Pinova in their root chitinase activities, AMF root colonization and biomass.}, } @article {pmid22887656, year = {2012}, author = {Alam, M and Roy, C and Pyne, P and Agarwal, A and George, A and Ghosh, W}, title = {Whole-genome shotgun sequence of the sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotroph Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans KCT001.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {17}, pages = {4743-4744}, pmid = {22887656}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chromosome Mapping ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phyllobacteriaceae/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The facultatively sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic alphaproteobacterium Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans KCT001 (MTCC 7265) belongs to the family Phyllobacteriaceae of the order Rhizobiales. Analysis of its genome offers valuable insight into the adaptive specializations and evolution of free-living soil bacteria that are phylogenetically closely related to symbiotic and invasive rhizobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22886707, year = {2012}, author = {Silvani, VA and Rothen, CP and Rodríguez, MA and Godeas, A and Fracchia, S}, title = {The thalloid liverwort Plagiochasma rupestre supports arbuscular mycorrhiza-like symbiosis in vitro.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {12}, pages = {3393-3397}, pmid = {22886707}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Culture Media/chemistry ; Glomeromycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Hepatophyta/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycelium/cytology/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Spores, Fungal/cytology/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the present study, we obtained in vitro dual cultures between the liverwort Plagiochasma rupestre and two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi: Glomus intraradices and Glomus clarum. Four agarized culture media were tested for optimal growth of P. rupestre. Also, a description of the symbiotic association is provided. Plagiochasma rupestre gametophytes profusely grew axenically in MM with sucrose, and thalli were successfully subcultured under these growth conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae colonized P. rupestre thalli through rhizoids or by forming appresoria in the ventral thallus cells. Arbuscules, mycelia and structures resembling intrathallic spores or vesicles were developed in the internal parenchymatic cells. The pattern of AM colonization in P. rupestre was very similar to the Paris-type. After 100 days of dual culture, the external mycelia of both AM fungal strains formed thousands of small viable spores, suggesting that P. rupestre in vitro culture could be a valuable tool for studying the biology of both symbiotic partners and conserving AM fungi in in vitro germplasm collections.}, } @article {pmid22885882, year = {2013}, author = {Cappello, C and Tremolaterra, F and Pascariello, A and Ciacci, C and Iovino, P}, title = {A randomised clinical trial (RCT) of a symbiotic mixture in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): effects on symptoms, colonic transit and quality of life.}, journal = {International journal of colorectal disease}, volume = {28}, number = {3}, pages = {349-358}, pmid = {22885882}, issn = {1432-1262}, mesh = {Abdominal Pain/complications ; Adult ; Demography ; Diet ; Female ; Flatulence/complications ; *Gastrointestinal Transit/drug effects ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications/*drug therapy/*physiopathology ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Pain Measurement ; Probiotics/adverse effects/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; *Quality of Life ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to test in a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled study the effects of a commercially available multi-strain symbiotic mixture on symptoms, colonic transit and quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients who meet Rome III criteria.

BACKGROUND: There is only one other double-blinded RCT on a single-strain symbiotic mixture in IBS.

METHODS: This is a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled study of a symbiotic mixture (Probinul, 5 g bid) over 4 weeks after 2 weeks of run-in. The primary endpoints were global satisfactory relief of abdominal flatulence and bloating. Responders were patients who reported at least 50 % of the weeks of treatment with global satisfactory relief. The secondary endpoints were change in abdominal bloating, flatulence, pain and urgency by a 100-mm visual analog scale, stool frequency and bowel functions on validated adjectival scales (Bristol Scale and sense of incomplete evacuation). Pre- and post-treatment colonic transit time (Metcalf) and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed.

RESULTS: Sixty-four IBS patients (symbiotic n = 32, 64 % females, mean age 38.7 ± 12.6 years) were studied. This symbiotic mixture reduced flatulence over a 4-week period of treatment (repeated-measures analysis of covariance, p < 0.05). Proportions of responders were not significantly different between groups. At the end of the treatment, a longer rectosigmoid transit time and a significant improvement in most SF-36 scores were observed in the symbiotic group.

CONCLUSIONS: This symbiotic mixture has shown a beneficial effect in decreasing the severity of flatulence in IBS patients, a lack of adverse events and a good side-effect profile; however, it failed to achieve an improvement in global satisfactory relief of abdominal flatulence and bloating. Further studies are warranted.}, } @article {pmid22885741, year = {2012}, author = {Erwin, PM and Pita, L and López-Legentil, S and Turon, X}, title = {Stability of sponge-associated bacteria over large seasonal shifts in temperature and irradiance.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {20}, pages = {7358-7368}, pmid = {22885741}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Mediterranean Sea ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Complex microbiomes reside in marine sponges and consist of diverse microbial taxa, including functional guilds that may contribute to host metabolism and coastal marine nutrient cycles. Our understanding of these symbiotic systems is based primarily on static accounts of sponge microbiota, while their temporal dynamics across seasonal cycles remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated temporal variation in bacterial symbionts of three sympatric sponges (Ircinia spp.) over 1.5 years in the northwestern (NW) Mediterranean Sea, using replicated terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and clone library analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences. Bacterial symbionts in Ircinia spp. exhibited host species-specific structure and remarkable stability throughout the monitoring period, despite large fluctuations in temperature and irradiance. In contrast, seawater bacteria exhibited clear seasonal shifts in community structure, indicating that different ecological constraints act on free-living and on symbiotic marine bacteria. Symbiont profiles were dominated by persistent, sponge-specific bacterial taxa, notably affiliated with phylogenetic lineages capable of photosynthesis, nitrite oxidation, and sulfate reduction. Variability in the sponge microbiota was restricted to rare symbionts and occurred most prominently in warmer seasons, coincident with elevated thermal regimes. Seasonal stability of the sponge microbiota supports the hypothesis of host-specific, stable associations between bacteria and sponges. Further, the core symbiont profiles revealed in this study provide an empirical baseline for diagnosing abnormal shifts in symbiont communities. Considering that these sponges have suffered recent, episodic mass mortalities related to thermal stresses, this study contributes to the development of model sponge-microbe symbioses for assessing the link between symbiont fluctuations and host health.}, } @article {pmid22885637, year = {2013}, author = {Guerrero-Ferreira, R and Gorman, C and Chavez, AA and Willie, S and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Characterization of the bacterial diversity in Indo-West Pacific loliginid and sepiolid squid light organs.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {214-226}, pmid = {22885637}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T34 GM007667/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC1AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; S06 GM008136/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM-61222-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T34GMO7667-34//PHS HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM048998/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659-02/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM48998/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SO6 GM008136-32 S2/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animal Structures/*microbiology ; Animals ; Australia ; Bacteriological Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Luminescence ; Metagenome ; Photobacterium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Thailand ; Vibrio/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Loliginid and sepiolid squid light organs are known to host a variety of bacterial species from the family Vibrionaceae, yet little is known about the species diversity and characteristics among different host squids. Here we present a broad-ranging molecular and physiological analysis of the bacteria colonizing light organs in loliginid and sepiolid squids from various field locations of the Indo-West Pacific (Australia and Thailand). Our PCR-RFLP analysis, physiological characterization, carbon utilization profiling, and electron microscopy data indicate that loliginid squid in the Indo-West Pacific carry a consortium of bacterial species from the families Vibrionaceae and Photobacteriaceae. This research also confirms our previous report of the presence of Vibrio harveyi as a member of the bacterial population colonizing light organs in loliginid squid. pyrH sequence data were used to confirm isolate identity, and indicates that Vibrio and Photobacterium comprise most of the light organ colonizers of squids from Australia, confirming previous reports for Australian loliginid and sepiolid squids. In addition, combined phylogenetic analysis of PCR-RFLP and 16S rDNA data from Australian and Thai isolates associated both Photobacterium and Vibrio clades with both loliginid and sepiolid strains, providing support that geographical origin does not correlate with their relatedness. These results indicate that both loliginid and sepiolid squids demonstrate symbiont specificity (Vibrionaceae), but their distribution is more likely due to environmental factors that are present during the infection process. This study adds significantly to the growing evidence for complex and dynamic associations in nature and highlights the importance of exploring symbiotic relationships in which non-virulent strains of pathogenic Vibrio species could establish associations with marine invertebrates.}, } @article {pmid22878720, year = {2012}, author = {Großkopf, T and Mohr, W and Baustian, T and Schunck, H and Gill, D and Kuypers, MM and Lavik, G and Schmitz, RA and Wallace, DW and LaRoche, J}, title = {Doubling of marine dinitrogen-fixation rates based on direct measurements.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {488}, number = {7411}, pages = {361-364}, pmid = {22878720}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/*metabolism ; Atlantic Ocean ; Cyanobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Diatoms/metabolism ; Kinetics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Proteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Seawater/chemistry ; Taq Polymerase/metabolism ; Temperature ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Biological dinitrogen fixation provides the largest input of nitrogen to the oceans, therefore exerting important control on the ocean's nitrogen inventory and primary productivity. Nitrogen-isotope data from ocean sediments suggest that the marine-nitrogen inventory has been balanced for the past 3,000 years (ref. 4). Producing a balanced marine-nitrogen budget based on direct measurements has proved difficult, however, with nitrogen loss exceeding the gain from dinitrogen fixation by approximately 200 Tg N yr−1 (refs 5, 6). Here we present data from the Atlantic Ocean and show that the most widely used method of measuring oceanic N2-fixation rates underestimates the contribution of N2-fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) relative to a newly developed method. Using molecular techniques to quantify the abundance of specific clades of diazotrophs in parallel with rates of 15N2 incorporation into particulate organic matter, we suggest that the difference between N2-fixation rates measured with the established method and those measured with the new method can be related to the composition of the diazotrophic community. Our data show that in areas dominated by Trichodesmium, the established method underestimates N2-fixation rates by an average of 62%. We also find that the newly developed method yields N2-fixation rates more than six times higher than those from the established method when unicellular, symbiotic cyanobacteria and γ-proteobacteria dominate the diazotrophic community. On the basis of average areal rates measured over the Atlantic Ocean, we calculated basin-wide N2-fixation rates of 14 ± 1 Tg N yr−1 and 24 ±1 Tg N yr−1 for the established and new methods, respectively. If our findings can be extrapolated to other ocean basins, this suggests that the global marine N2-fixation rate derived from direct measurements may increase from 103 ± 8 Tg N yr−1 to 177 ± 8 Tg N yr−1, and that the contribution of N2 fixers other than Trichodesmium is much more significant than was previously thought.}, } @article {pmid22876202, year = {2012}, author = {Epstein, B and Branca, A and Mudge, J and Bharti, AK and Briskine, R and Farmer, AD and Sugawara, M and Young, ND and Sadowsky, MJ and Tiffin, P}, title = {Population genomics of the facultatively mutualistic bacteria Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {8}, number = {8}, pages = {e1002868}, pmid = {22876202}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; *Chromosomes, Bacterial ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; *Metagenomics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plasmids/genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/classification/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between rhizobial bacteria and legume plants has served as a model for investigating the genetics of nitrogen fixation and the evolution of facultative mutualism. We used deep sequence coverage (>100×) to characterize genomic diversity at the nucleotide level among 12 Sinorhizobium medicae and 32 S. meliloti strains. Although these species are closely related and share host plants, based on the ratio of shared polymorphisms to fixed differences we found that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between these species was confined almost exclusively to plasmid genes. Three multi-genic regions that show the strongest evidence of HGT harbor genes directly involved in establishing or maintaining the mutualism with host plants. In both species, nucleotide diversity is 1.5-2.5 times greater on the plasmids than chromosomes. Interestingly, nucleotide diversity in S. meliloti but not S. medicae is highly structured along the chromosome - with mean diversity (θ(π)) on one half of the chromosome five times greater than mean diversity on the other half. Based on the ratio of plasmid to chromosome diversity, this appears to be due to severely reduced diversity on the chromosome half with less diversity, which is consistent with extensive hitchhiking along with a selective sweep. Frequency-spectrum based tests identified 82 genes with a signature of adaptive evolution in one species or another but none of the genes were identified in both species. Based upon available functional information, several genes identified as targets of selection are likely to alter the symbiosis with the host plant, making them attractive targets for further functional characterization.}, } @article {pmid22875811, year = {2012}, author = {Blatrix, R and Renard, D and Djieto-Lordon, C and McKey, D}, title = {The cost of myrmecophytism: insights from allometry of stem secondary growth.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {110}, number = {5}, pages = {943-951}, pmid = {22875811}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/physiology ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Models, Biological ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Stems/*growth & development/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Wood/growth & development/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant defence traits against herbivores incur production costs that are usually difficult to measure. However, estimating these costs is a prerequisite for characterizing the plant defence strategy as a whole. Myrmecophytes are plants that provide symbiotic ants with specialized nesting cavities, called domatia, in exchange for protection against herbivores. In the particular case of stem domatia, production of extra wood seems to be the only associated cost, making this indirect defence trait a particularly suitable model for estimating the cost of defence.

METHODS: Measurements were made of growth pattern and cumulative production cost of domatia over secondary growth in the myrmecophyte Leonardoxa africana subsp. africana, whose internodes display both a solid basal segment and a hollow distal part (the domatium), thus allowing paired comparison of investment in wood.

KEY RESULTS: Previous studies showed that 'overconstruction' of the hollow part of internodes during primary growth is needed for mechanical support. In this study, it is shown that the relationship between the woody cross-sectional area of the solid and hollow parts of internodes is negatively allometric at the beginning of secondary growth and nearly isometric later on. Thus, in hollow stems, the first phase of slow secondary growth compensates for the 'overconstruction' of the ring of wood during primary growth. Moreover, the cumulative production cost of a domatium (estimated as the additional volume of wood required for a hollow stem compared with a solid one) is very high at the beginning of secondary growth and then quickly tends to zero.

CONCLUSIONS: Making domatia incurs high costs early in ontogeny, costs that are then amortized later in development of stems and of individual plants. Characterizing ontogenetic variation of the net cost of this peculiar defence mechanism will help us build more accurate theoretical models of resource allocation in myrmecophytes.}, } @article {pmid22875536, year = {2013}, author = {Sun, J and Chen, Q and Lun, JC and Xu, J and Qiu, JW}, title = {PcarnBase: development of a transcriptomic database for the brain coral Platygyra carnosus.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {244-251}, pmid = {22875536}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Computational Biology ; *Databases, Genetic ; Gene Library ; Genomics/methods ; Internet ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The aims of this study were to sequence the transcriptome and organize the sequence data into a searchable database for the brain coral Platygyra carnosus, a structure-forming dominant species along the coast of southern China. We collected healthy and tumorous coral tissues from two locations, extracted RNA from each tissue sample, pooled the RNA from all tissue samples, generated a cDNA library from the pooled samples, and conducted paired-end sequencing of the cDNA library using the Illumina platform to produce 59.6 M clean sequences with a read length of 90 bp. De novo assembly of the sequence data resulted in 162,468 unigenes with an average length of 606 bp (range, 201 to 23,923 bp). This is the largest transcriptome dataset for a species of coral whose genome has not been sequenced. A BLASTx search against the NCBI protein database showed that 55,355 of the unigenes matched at least a sequence with an E-value of < 0.00001; 59 % of the matched sequences are from Metazoa, 13 % are from Alveolata to which the symbiont Symbiodinium belongs, and 7 % are from bacteria. A database (PcarnBase) was constructed to provide easy access to the unigenes with attributes such as NCBI protein annotation, GO annotation, and KEGG pathway. It will facilitate functional genomic studies of P. carnosus, such as biomarker discovery for bleaching, tumor formation, and disease development at the gene or protein level, involvement of coral symbiotic algae in the host coral's stress responses, and genetic basis of stress resistance.}, } @article {pmid22874912, year = {2012}, author = {Rival, P and de Billy, F and Bono, JJ and Gough, C and Rosenberg, C and Bensmihen, S}, title = {Epidermal and cortical roles of NFP and DMI3 in coordinating early steps of nodulation in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Development (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {139}, number = {18}, pages = {3383-3391}, doi = {10.1242/dev.081620}, pmid = {22874912}, issn = {1477-9129}, mesh = {Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Epidermis/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes have evolved the capacity to form a root nodule symbiosis with soil bacteria called rhizobia. The establishment of this symbiosis involves specific developmental events occurring both in the root epidermis (notably bacterial entry) and at a distance in the underlying root cortical cells (notably cell divisions leading to nodule organogenesis). The processes of bacterial entry and nodule organogenesis are tightly linked and both depend on rhizobial production of lipo-chitooligosaccharide molecules called Nod factors. However, how these events are coordinated remains poorly understood. Here, we have addressed the roles of two key symbiotic genes of Medicago truncatula, the lysin motif (LysM) domain-receptor like kinase gene NFP and the calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase gene DMI3, in the control of both nodule organogenesis and bacterial entry. By complementing mutant plants with corresponding genes expressed either in the epidermis or in the cortex, we have shown that epidermal DMI3, but not NFP, is sufficient for infection thread formation in root hairs. Epidermal NFP is sufficient to induce cortical cell divisions leading to nodule primordia formation, whereas DMI3 is required in both cell layers for these processes. Our results therefore suggest that a signal, produced in the epidermis under the control of NFP and DMI3, is responsible for activating DMI3 in the cortex to trigger nodule organogenesis. We integrate these data to propose a new model for epidermal/cortical crosstalk during early steps of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid22874746, year = {2013}, author = {Wang, J and Brelsfoard, C and Wu, Y and Aksoy, S}, title = {Intercommunity effects on microbiome and GpSGHV density regulation in tsetse flies.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {112 Suppl}, number = {0}, pages = {S32-9}, pmid = {22874746}, issn = {1096-0805}, support = {R01 GM069449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03 TW008755/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Infections/transmission ; DNA Viruses ; Female ; *Insect Viruses ; Male ; *Metagenome ; Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia ; Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies have a highly regulated and defined microbial fauna made of 3 bacterial symbionts (obligate Wigglesworthia glossinidia, commensal Sodalis glossinidius and parasitic Wolbachia pipientis) in addition to a DNA virus (Glossina pallidipes Salivary gland Hypertrophy Virus, GpSGHV). It has been possible to rear flies in the absence of either Wigglesworthia or in totally aposymbiotic state by dietary supplementation of tsetse's bloodmeal. In the absence of Wigglesworthia, tsetse females are sterile, and adult progeny are immune compromised. The functional contributions for Sodalist are less known, while Wolbachia cause reproductive manupulations known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). High GpSGHV virus titers result in reduced fecundity and lifespan, and have compromised efforts to colonize flies in the insectary for large rearing purposes. Here we investigated the within community effects on the density regulation of the individual microbiome partners in tsetse lines with different symbiotic compositions. We show that absence of Wigglesworthia results in loss of Sodalis in subsequent generations possibly due to nutritional dependancies between the symbiotic partners. While an initial decrease in Wolbachia and GpSGHV levels are also noted in the absence of Wigglesworthia, these infections eventually reach homeostatic levels indicating adaptations to the new host immune environment or nutritional ecology. Absence of all bacterial symbionts also results in an initial reduction of viral titers, which recover in the second generation. Our findings suggest that in addition to the host immune system, interdependencies between symbiotic partners result in a highly tuned density regulation for tsetse's microbiome.}, } @article {pmid22873809, year = {2012}, author = {Shinzato, C and Hamada, M and Shoguchi, E and Kawashima, T and Satoh, N}, title = {The repertoire of chemical defense genes in the coral Acropora digitifera genome.}, journal = {Zoological science}, volume = {29}, number = {8}, pages = {510-517}, doi = {10.2108/zsj.29.510}, pmid = {22873809}, issn = {0289-0003}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Environment ; Gene Expression Regulation/*physiology ; *Genome ; Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism ; Metals/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Phylogeny ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Scleractinian corals are of fundamental ecological significance in tropical and sub-tropical shallow water. This ecological success is attributed to their ability of formation of obligate endosymbioses with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. Nevertheless, approximately one-third of reef-building coral species are critically endangered and the remainder are under threat from the effects of climate change and local impacts. Molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in stress responses and the establishment and collapse of the symbiosis are therefore an urgent subject of research. Metazoans possess large numbers of genes that participate in response to environmental stressors, and chemical defense genes included P450 and other oxidases, various conjugating enzymes, ATP-dependent efflux transporters, oxidative detoxification proteins, as well as transcription factors that regulate these genes. Here we searched those genes in recently decoded the coral Acropora digitifera genome. We found that this genome contains a set of chemical defense genes in numbers comparable with other cnidarians and metazoans and that there are some lineagespecific gene family expansions in the coral genome. These provide information for future research into molecular mechanisms involved in coral stress responses.}, } @article {pmid22870281, year = {2012}, author = {Menge, DN and Hedin, LO and Pacala, SW}, title = {Nitrogen and phosphorus limitation over long-term ecosystem development in terrestrial ecosystems.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e42045}, pmid = {22870281}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*metabolism ; Soil ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Nutrient limitation to net primary production (NPP) displays a diversity of patterns as ecosystems develop over a range of timescales. For example, some ecosystems transition from N limitation on young soils to P limitation on geologically old soils, whereas others appear to remain N limited. Under what conditions should N limitation and P limitation prevail? When do transitions between N and P limitation occur? We analyzed transient dynamics of multiple timescales in an ecosystem model to investigate these questions. Post-disturbance dynamics in our model are controlled by a cascade of rates, from plant uptake (very fast) to litter turnover (fast) to plant mortality (intermediate) to plant-unavailable nutrient loss (slow) to weathering (very slow). Young ecosystems are N limited when symbiotic N fixation (SNF) is constrained and P weathering inputs are high relative to atmospheric N deposition and plant N:P demand, but P limited under opposite conditions. In the absence of SNF, N limitation is likely to worsen through succession (decades to centuries) because P is mineralized faster than N. Over long timescales (centuries and longer) this preferential P mineralization increases the N:P ratio of soil organic matter, leading to greater losses of plant-unavailable N versus P relative to plant N:P demand. These loss dynamics favor N limitation on older soils despite the rising organic matter N:P ratio. However, weathering depletion favors P limitation on older soils when continual P inputs (e.g., dust deposition) are low, so nutrient limitation at the terminal equilibrium depends on the balance of these input and loss effects. If NPP switches from N to P limitation over long time periods, the transition time depends most strongly on the P weathering rate. At all timescales SNF has the capacity to overcome N limitation, so nutrient limitation depends critically on limits to SNF.}, } @article {pmid22870194, year = {2012}, author = {Labbé, J and Murat, C and Morin, E and Tuskan, GA and Le Tacon, F and Martin, F}, title = {Characterization of transposable elements in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e40197}, pmid = {22870194}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Fungal/*physiology ; Laccaria/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Retroelements/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The publicly available Laccaria bicolor genome sequence has provided a considerable genomic resource allowing systematic identification of transposable elements (TEs) in this symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungus. Using a TE-specific annotation pipeline we have characterized and analyzed TEs in the L. bicolor S238N-H82 genome.

TEs occupy 24% of the 60 Mb L. bicolor genome and represent 25,787 full-length and partial copy elements distributed within 171 families. The most abundant elements were the Copia-like. TEs are not randomly distributed across the genome, but are tightly nested or clustered. The majority of TEs exhibits signs of ancient transposition except some intact copies of terminal inverted repeats (TIRS), long terminal repeats (LTRs) and a large retrotransposon derivative (LARD) element. There were three main periods of TE expansion in L. bicolor: the first from 57 to 10 Mya, the second from 5 to 1 Mya and the most recent from 0.5 Mya ago until now. LTR retrotransposons are closely related to retrotransposons found in another basidiomycete, Coprinopsis cinerea.

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis 1) represents an initial characterization of TEs in the L. bicolor genome, 2) contributes to improve genome annotation and a greater understanding of the role TEs played in genome organization and evolution and 3) provides a valuable resource for future research on the genome evolution within the Laccaria genus.}, } @article {pmid22865078, year = {2012}, author = {Lee, OO and Yang, J and Bougouffa, S and Wang, Y and Batang, Z and Tian, R and Al-Suwailem, A and Qian, PY}, title = {Spatial and species variations in bacterial communities associated with corals from the Red Sea as revealed by pyrosequencing.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {20}, pages = {7173-7184}, pmid = {22865078}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {27301C0040/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Indian Ocean ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribotyping ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Microbial associations with corals are common and are most likely symbiotic, although their diversity and relationships with environmental factors and host species remain unclear. In this study, we adopted a 16S rRNA gene tag-pyrosequencing technique to investigate the bacterial communities associated with three stony Scleractinea and two soft Octocorallia corals from three locations in the Red Sea. Our results revealed highly diverse bacterial communities in the Red Sea corals, with more than 600 ribotypes detected and up to 1,000 species estimated from a single coral species. Altogether, 21 bacterial phyla were recovered from the corals, of which Gammaproteobacteria was the most dominant group, and Chloroflexi, Chlamydiae, and the candidate phylum WS3 were reported in corals for the first time. The associated bacterial communities varied greatly with location, where environmental conditions differed significantly. Corals from disturbed areas appeared to share more similar bacterial communities, but larger variations in community structures were observed between different coral species from pristine waters. Ordination methods identified salinity and depth as the most influential parameters affecting the abundance of Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter in the corals. On the other hand, bacteria such as Chloracidobacterium and Endozoicomonas were more sensitive to the coral species, suggesting that the host species type may be influential in the associated bacterial community, as well. The combined influences of the coral host and environmental factors on the associated microbial communities are discussed. This study represents the first comparative study using tag-pyrosequencing technology to investigate the bacterial communities in Red Sea corals.}, } @article {pmid22865066, year = {2012}, author = {Saad, MM and Crèvecoeur, M and Masson-Boivin, C and Perret, X}, title = {The type 3 protein secretion system of Cupriavidus taiwanensis strain LMG19424 compromises symbiosis with Leucaena leucocephala.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {20}, pages = {7476-7479}, pmid = {22865066}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {*Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Cupriavidus/metabolism/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Glutamates/metabolism ; Proteins ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {Cupriavidus taiwanensis forms proficient symbioses with a few Mimosa species. Inactivation of a type III protein secretion system (T3SS) had no effect on Mimosa pudica but allowed C. taiwanensis to establish chronic infections and fix nitrogen in Leucaena leucocephala. Unlike what was observed for other rhizobia, glutamate rather than plant flavonoids mediated transcriptional activation of this atypical T3SS.}, } @article {pmid22864853, year = {2013}, author = {Lins-de-Barros, MM and Cardoso, AM and Silveira, CB and Lima, JL and Clementino, MM and Martins, OB and Albano, RM and Vieira, RP}, title = {Microbial community compositional shifts in bleached colonies of the Brazilian reef-building coral Siderastrea stellata.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {65}, number = {1}, pages = {205-213}, pmid = {22864853}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Archaea/*classification/genetics ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Brazil ; Chlorophyta/classification/*genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Algal/genetics ; DNA, Archaeal/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diatoms/classification/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Gene Library ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodophyta/*classification/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The association of metazoan, protist, and microbial communities with Scleractinian corals forms the basis of the coral holobiont. Coral bleaching events have been occurring around the world, introducing changes in the delicate balance of the holobiont symbiotic interactions. In this study, Archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotic phototrophic plastids of bleached colonies of the Brazilian coral Siderastrea stellata were analyzed for the first time, using 16S rRNA gene libraries. Prokaryotic communities were slightly more diverse in healthy than in bleached corals. However, the eukaryotic phototrophic plastids community was more diverse in bleached corals. Archaea phylogenetic analyses revealed a high percentage of Crenarchaeota sequences, mainly related to Nitrosopumilus maritimus and Cenarchaeum symbiosum. Dramatic changes in bacterial community composition were observed in this bleaching episode. The dominant bacterial group was Alphaproteobacteria followed by Gammaproteobacteria in bleached and Betaproteobacteria in healthy samples. Plastid operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from both coral samples were mainly related to red algae chloroplasts (Florideophycea), but we also observed some OTUs related to green algae chloroplasts (Chlorophyta). There seems to be a strong relationship between the Bacillariophyta phylum and our bleached coral samples as clones related to members of the diatom genera Amphora and Nitzschia were detected. The present study reveals information from a poorly investigated coral species and improves the knowledge of coral microbial community shifts that could occur during bleaching episodes.}, } @article {pmid22864834, year = {2012}, author = {Chen, CS and Yeh, SP and Wang, LH and Li, HH and Chen, UW}, title = {Increased susceptibility of algal symbionts to photo-inhibition resulting from the perturbation of coral gastrodermal membrane trafficking.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {55}, number = {7}, pages = {599-611}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-012-4345-4}, pmid = {22864834}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Membrane Lipids/metabolism ; Microalgae/*physiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The stability of cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbioses is dependent upon communication between the host gastrodermal cell and the symbionts housed within it. Although the molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated, existing evidence suggests that the establishment of these endosymbioses may involve the sorting of membrane proteins. The present study examined the role of host gastrodermal membranes in regulating symbiont (genus Symbiodinium) photosynthesis in the stony coral Euphyllia glabrescens. In comparison with the photosynthetic behavior of Symbiodinium in culture, the Symbiodinium populations within isolated symbiotic gastrodermal cells (SGCs) exhibited a significant degree of photo-inhibition, as determined by a decrease in the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F (v)/F (m)). This photo-inhibition coincided with increases in plasma membrane perturbation and oxidative activity in the SGCs. Membrane trafficking in SGCs was examined using the metabolism of a fluorescent lipid analog, N-[5-(5,7-dimethyl boron dipyrromethene difluoride)-1-pentanoyl]-D-erythro-Sphingosylphosphoryl-choline (BODIPY-Sphingomyelin or BODIPY-SM). Light irradiation altered both membrane distribution and trafficking of BODIPY-SM, resulting in metabolic changes. Cholesterol depletion of the SGC plasma membranes by methyl-β-cyclodextrin retarded BODIPY-SM degradation and further augmented Symbiodinium photo-inhibition. These results indicate that Symbiodinium photo-inhibition may be related to perturbation of the host gastrodermal membrane, providing evidence for the pivotal role of host membrane trafficking in the regulation of this environmentally important coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22864583, year = {2012}, author = {Hossain, MS and Liao, J and James, EK and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Jurkiewicz, A and Madsen, LH and Stougaard, J and Ross, L and Szczyglowski, K}, title = {Lotus japonicus ARPC1 is required for rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {160}, number = {2}, pages = {917-928}, pmid = {22864583}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Actin Cytoskeleton/genetics/metabolism ; Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex/genetics/metabolism ; Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genetic Loci ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Phenotype ; Plant Epidermis/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development/microbiology ; Seeds/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Remodeling of the plant cell cytoskeleton precedes symbiotic entry of nitrogen-fixing bacteria within the host plant roots. Here we identify a Lotus japonicus gene encoding a predicted ACTIN-RELATED PROTEIN COMPONENT1 (ARPC1) as essential for rhizobial infection but not for arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis. In other organisms ARPC1 constitutes a subunit of the ARP2/3 complex, the major nucleator of Y-branched actin filaments. The L. japonicus arpc1 mutant showed a distorted trichome phenotype and was defective in epidermal infection thread formation, producing mostly empty nodules. A few partially colonized nodules that did form in arpc1 contained abnormal infections. Together with previously described L. japonicus Nck-associated protein1 and 121F-specific p53 inducible RNA mutants, which are also impaired in the accommodation of rhizobia, our data indicate that ARPC1 and, by inference a suppressor of cAMP receptor/WASP-family verpolin homologous protein-ARP2/3 pathway, must have been coopted during evolution of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis to specifically mediate bacterial entry.}, } @article {pmid22863656, year = {2012}, author = {Balestrini, R and Ott, T and Güther, M and Bonfante, P and Udvardi, MK and De Tullio, MC}, title = {Ascorbate oxidase: the unexpected involvement of a 'wasteful enzyme' in the symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {71-79}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.07.006}, pmid = {22863656}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Ascorbate Oxidase/*genetics/metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Ascorbate oxidase (AO, EC 1.10.3.3) catalyzes the oxidation of ascorbate (AsA) to yield water. AO over-expressing plants are prone to ozone and salt stresses, whereas lower expression apparently confers resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions. Previous studies have suggested a role for AO as a regulator of oxygen content in photosynthetic tissues. For the first time we show here that the expression of a Lotus japonicus AO gene is induced in the symbiotic interaction with both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In this framework, high AO expression is viewed as a possible strategy to down-regulate oxygen diffusion in root nodules, and a component of AM symbiosis. A general model of AO function in plants is discussed.}, } @article {pmid22859998, year = {2012}, author = {Heath, KD and McGhee, KE}, title = {Coevolutionary constraints? The environment alters tripartite interaction traits in a legume.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e41567}, pmid = {22859998}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biomass ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Herbivory ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology/radiation effects ; Models, Genetic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phenotype ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/radiation effects ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Third party species, which interact with one or both partners of a pairwise species interaction, can shift the ecological costs and the evolutionary trajectory of the focal interaction. Shared genes that mediate a host's interactions with multiple partners have the potential to generate evolutionary constraints, making multi-player interactions critical to our understanding of the evolution of key interaction traits. Using a field quantitative genetics approach, we studied phenotypic and genetic correlations among legume traits for rhizobium and herbivore interactions in two light environments. Shifts in plant biomass allocation mediated negative phenotypic correlations between symbiotic nodule number and herbivory in the field, whereas positive genetic covariances suggested shared genetic pathways between nodulation and herbivory response. Trait variance-covariance (G) matrices were not equal in sun and shade, but nevertheless responses to independent and correlated selection are expected to be similar in both environments. Interactions between plants and aboveground antagonists might alter the evolutionary potential of traits mediating belowground mutualisms (and vice versa). Thus our understanding of legume-rhizobium genetics and coevolution may be incomplete without a grasp of how these networks overlap with other plant interactions.}, } @article {pmid22859596, year = {2012}, author = {Blatrix, R and Djiéto-Lordon, C and Mondolot, L and La Fisca, P and Voglmayr, H and McKey, D}, title = {Plant-ants use symbiotic fungi as a food source: new insight into the nutritional ecology of ant-plant interactions.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1744}, pages = {3940-3947}, pmid = {22859596}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Ascomycota/*physiology ; Benzenesulfonates/chemistry ; Cameroon ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; French Guiana ; Nitrogen Isotopes/chemistry ; Passifloraceae/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Usually studied as pairwise interactions, mutualisms often involve networks of interacting species. Numerous tropical arboreal ants are specialist inhabitants of myrmecophytes (plants bearing domatia, i.e. hollow structures specialized to host ants) and are thought to rely almost exclusively on resources derived from the host plant. Recent studies, following up on century-old reports, have shown that fungi of the ascomycete order Chaetothyriales live in symbiosis with plant-ants within domatia. We tested the hypothesis that ants use domatia-inhabiting fungi as food in three ant-plant symbioses: Petalomyrmex phylax/Leonardoxa africana, Tetraponera aethiops/Barteria fistulosa and Pseudomyrmex penetrator/Tachigali sp. Labelling domatia fungal patches in the field with either a fluorescent dye or (15)N showed that larvae ingested domatia fungi. Furthermore, when the natural fungal patch was replaced with a piece of a (15)N-labelled pure culture of either of two Chaetothyriales strains isolated from T. aethiops colonies, these fungi were also consumed. These two fungi often co-occur in the same ant colony. Interestingly, T. aethiops workers and larvae ingested preferentially one of the two strains. Our results add a new piece in the puzzle of the nutritional ecology of plant-ants.}, } @article {pmid22859556, year = {2012}, author = {Quirk, J and Beerling, DJ and Banwart, SA and Kakonyi, G and Romero-Gonzalez, ME and Leake, JR}, title = {Evolution of trees and mycorrhizal fungi intensifies silicate mineral weathering.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {8}, number = {6}, pages = {1006-1011}, pmid = {22859556}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Calcium/metabolism ; England ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Silicates ; Soil/*analysis ; Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/*genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Forested ecosystems diversified more than 350 Ma to become major engines of continental silicate weathering, regulating the Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration by driving calcium export into ocean carbonates. Our field experiments with mature trees demonstrate intensification of this weathering engine as tree lineages diversified in concert with their symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi. Preferential hyphal colonization of the calcium silicate-bearing rock, basalt, progressively increased with advancement from arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) to later, independently evolved ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, and from gymnosperm to angiosperm hosts with both fungal groups. This led to 'trenching' of silicate mineral surfaces by AM and EM fungi, with EM gymnosperms and angiosperms releasing calcium from basalt at twice the rate of AM gymnosperms. Our findings indicate mycorrhiza-driven weathering may have originated hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously recognized and subsequently intensified with the evolution of trees and mycorrhizas to affect the Earth's long-term CO(2) and climate history.}, } @article {pmid22858833, year = {2012}, author = {Li, H and Sun, J and Zhao, J and Deng, T and Lu, J and Dong, Y and Deng, W and Mo, J}, title = {Physicochemical conditions and metal ion profiles in the gut of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {10}, pages = {1368-1375}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.07.012}, pmid = {22858833}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Isoptera/*metabolism ; Metals/*metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; *Termitomyces ; }, abstract = {The physicochemical conditions in an insect's gut microenvironment have been reported to play an important role in food processing and metabolisms. In this study, the profiles of oxygen, pH, redox potentials, and hydrogen in the isolated guts of the fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes formosanus Shiraki, were investigated with a microeletrode system. Compared with those in other termites, O. formosanus exhibited a relatively lower oxygen partial pressures in its gut system ranging from 0 to 8.6 kPa. The pH profile in the different gut compartments was neutral (pH 6.1-7.4) except in the rectum region. The average redox potentials at the center of each gut region (except rectum) were high and ranged from approximately +70 to +310 mV. Especially, as the central intermediate during lignocellulose degradation, hydrogen partial pressures in the hindgut paunch lumen were recorded as high as 10.4 kPa. Furthermore, thirteen metal ion concentrations in the termite's gut system, nest symbiotic fungal combs, as well as the nest soil samples were evaluated with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), which indicated that six metal ions (K, Mg, Mn, Ba, Se, and Mo) out of 13 ions recorded in the major digestive tract regions show some significant differences in their spatial distributions. A significant enrichment of some metal ions was also observed in the rectum, fungal combs, and the nest soil samples. The lower oxygen profiles, neutral pH, higher redox potentials, and higher hydrogen accumulation with the characterized spatial distributions for metal ions in the digestive tract of O. formosanus, highlighted the most important distinctiveness of the fungus-growing termites in its gut microenvironments, suggesting that the unique structure and functions of the intestinal ecosystem may present within its gut.}, } @article {pmid22858633, year = {2012}, author = {Hakoyama, T and Oi, R and Hazuma, K and Suga, E and Adachi, Y and Kobayashi, M and Akai, R and Sato, S and Fukai, E and Tabata, S and Shibata, S and Wu, GJ and Hase, Y and Tanaka, A and Kawaguchi, M and Kouchi, H and Umehara, Y and Suganuma, N}, title = {The SNARE protein SYP71 expressed in vascular tissues is involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus nodules.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {160}, number = {2}, pages = {897-905}, pmid = {22858633}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crosses, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/growth & development ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mutagenesis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Vascular Bundle/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Qc-SNARE Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) proteins are crucial for signal transduction and development in plants. Here, we investigate a Lotus japonicus symbiotic mutant defective in one of the SNARE proteins. When in symbiosis with rhizobia, the growth of the mutant was retarded compared with that of the wild-type plant. Although the mutant formed nodules, these exhibited lower nitrogen fixation activity than the wild type. The rhizobia were able to invade nodule cells, but enlarged symbiosomes were observed in the infected cells. The causal gene, designated LjSYP71 (for L. japonicus syntaxin of plants71), was identified by map-based cloning and shown to encode a Qc-SNARE protein homologous to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SYP71. LjSYP71 was expressed ubiquitously in shoot, roots, and nodules, and transcripts were detected in the vascular tissues. In the mutant, no other visible defects in plant morphology were observed. Furthermore, in the presence of combined nitrogen, the mutant plant grew almost as well as the wild type. These results suggest that the vascular tissues expressing LjSYP71 play a pivotal role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in L. japonicus nodules.}, } @article {pmid22858258, year = {2012}, author = {Wan, Y and Luo, S and Chen, J and Xiao, X and Chen, L and Zeng, G and Liu, C and He, Y}, title = {Effect of endophyte-infection on growth parameters and Cd-induced phytotoxicity of Cd-hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {89}, number = {6}, pages = {743-750}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.07.005}, pmid = {22858258}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cadmium/chemistry/*metabolism/toxicity ; Catalase/metabolism ; Endophytes/drug effects/*metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/enzymology/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/enzymology/metabolism ; Soil Pollutants/chemistry/*metabolism/toxicity ; Solanum nigrum/chemistry/enzymology/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim of this work was to evaluate effects of endophytic bacterium inoculation on plant growth and assess the possible mechanism of endophyte in heavy metal phytoremediation. Seeds of Solanum nigrum L. were inoculated with endophyte Serratia nematodiphila LRE07 and were subjected to Cd in the growing medium. Cd produced a significant inhibition on plant growth and a reduction in the content of photosynthetic pigments. The inoculation of endophytic bacterium alleviated the Cd-induced changes, resulting in more biomass production and higher photosynthetic pigments content of leaves compared with non-symbiotic ones. The beneficial effect was more obvious at relatively low Cd concentration (10 μM). Based on the alteration of nutrient uptake and activated oxygen metabolism in infected plants, the possible mechanisms of endophytic bacterium in Cd phytotoxicity reduction can be concluded as uptake enhancement of essential mineral nutrition and improvement in the antioxidative enzymes activities in infected plant.}, } @article {pmid22855328, year = {2012}, author = {Galliot, B}, title = {Hydra, a fruitful model system for 270 years.}, journal = {The International journal of developmental biology}, volume = {56}, number = {6-8}, pages = {411-423}, doi = {10.1387/ijdb.120086bg}, pmid = {22855328}, issn = {1696-3547}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; *Cell Transdifferentiation ; Developmental Biology ; *Hydra/cytology/genetics/physiology ; Models, Animal ; Models, Biological ; *Morphogenesis ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; *Regeneration ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The discovery of Hydra regeneration by Abraham Trembley in 1744 promoted much scientific curiosity thanks to his clever design of experimental strategies away from the natural environment. Since then, this little freshwater cnidarian polyp flourished as a potent and fruitful model system. Here, we review some general biological questions that benefitted from Hydra research, such as the nature of embryogenesis, neurogenesis, induction by organizers, sex reversal, symbiosis, aging, feeding behavior, light regulation, multipotency of somatic stem cells, temperature-induced cell death, neuronal transdifferentiation, to cite only a few. To understand how phenotypes arise, theoricists also chose Hydra to model patterning and morphogenetic events, providing helpful concepts such as reaction-diffusion, positional information, and autocatalysis combined with lateral inhibition. Indeed, throughout these past 270 years, scientists used transplantation and grafting experiments, together with tissue, cell and molecular labelings, as well as biochemical procedures, in order to establish the solid foundations of cell and developmental biology. Nowadays, thanks to transgenic, genomic and proteomic tools, Hydra remains a promising model for these fields, but also for addressing novel questions such as evolutionary mechanisms, maintenance of dynamic homeostasis, regulation of stemness, functions of autophagy, cell death, stress response, innate immunity, bioactive compounds in ecosystems, ecotoxicant sensing and science communication.}, } @article {pmid22855327, year = {2012}, author = {Galliot, B}, title = {Preface: the hydra model system.}, journal = {The International journal of developmental biology}, volume = {56}, number = {6-8}, pages = {407-409}, doi = {10.1387/ijdb.120094bg}, pmid = {22855327}, issn = {1696-3547}, mesh = {Animals ; *Hydra/physiology ; Models, Animal ; Models, Biological ; Regeneration ; }, abstract = {The freshwater Hydra polyp emerged as a model system in 1741 when Abraham Trembley not only discovered its amazing regenerative potential, but also demonstrated that experimental manipulations pave the way to research in biology. Since then, Hydra flourished as a potent and fruitful model system to help answer questions linked to cell and developmental biology, as such as the setting up of an organizer to regenerate a complex missing structure, the establishment and maintainance of polarity in a multicellular organism, the development of mathematical models to explain the robust developmental rules observed in this animal, the maintainance of stemness and multipotency in a highly dynamic environment, the plasticity of differentiated cells, to name but a few. However the Hydra model system is not restricted to cell and developmental biology; during the past 270 years it has also been heavily used to investigate the relationships between Hydra and its environment, opening new horizons concerning neurophysiology, innate immunity, ecosystems, ecotoxicology, symbiosis...}, } @article {pmid22848726, year = {2012}, author = {Schmitz, A and Anselme, C and Ravallec, M and Rebuf, C and Simon, JC and Gatti, JL and Poirié, M}, title = {The cellular immune response of the pea aphid to foreign intrusion and symbiotic challenge.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e42114}, pmid = {22848726}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Blood Coagulation/immunology ; Cell Adhesion/immunology ; Cell Count ; Escherichia coli/immunology ; Female ; Foreign Bodies/*immunology ; Granulocytes/cytology/immunology ; Hemocytes/cytology/immunology ; *Immunity, Cellular ; Microspheres ; Phagocytosis ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Recent studies suggest that the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) has low immune defenses. However, its immune components are largely undescribed, and notably, extensive characterization of circulating cells has been missing. Here, we report characterization of five cell categories in hemolymph of adults of the LL01 pea aphid clone, devoid of secondary symbionts (SS): prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes and wax cells. Circulating lipid-filed wax cells are rare; they otherwise localize at the basis of the cornicles. Spherulocytes, that are likely sub-cuticular sessile cells, are involved in the coagulation process. Prohemocytes have features of precursor cells. Plasmatocytes and granulocytes, the only adherent cells, can form a layer in vivo around inserted foreign objects and phagocytize latex beads or Escherichia coli bacteria injected into aphid hemolymph. Using digital image analysis, we estimated that the hemolymph from one LL01 aphid contains about 600 adherent cells, 35% being granulocytes. Among aphid YR2 lines differing only in their SS content, similar results to LL01 were observed for YR2-Amp (without SS) and YR2-Ss (with Serratia symbiotica), while YR2-Hd (with Hamiltonella defensa) and YR2(Ri) (with Regiella insecticola) had strikingly lower adherent hemocyte numbers and granulocyte proportions. The effect of the presence of SS on A. pisum cellular immunity is thus symbiont-dependent. Interestingly, Buchnera aphidicola (the aphid primary symbiont) and all SS, whether naturally present, released during hemolymph collection, or artificially injected, were internalized by adherent hemocytes. Inside hemocytes, SS were observed in phagocytic vesicles, most often in phagolysosomes. Our results thus raise the question whether aphid symbionts in hemolymph are taken up and destroyed by hemocytes, or actively promote their own internalization, for instance as a way of being transmitted to the next generation. Altogether, we demonstrate here a strong interaction between aphid symbionts and immune cells, depending upon the symbiont, highlighting the link between immunity and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22848648, year = {2012}, author = {Toki, W and Tanahashi, M and Togashi, K and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Fungal farming in a non-social beetle.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e41893}, pmid = {22848648}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Fungi/classification/*physiology ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Oviposition ; Plant Stems ; Poaceae ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Culturing of microbes for food production, called cultivation mutualism, has been well-documented from eusocial and subsocial insects such as ants, termites and ambrosia beetles, but poorly described from solitary, non-social insects. Here we report a fungal farming in a non-social lizard beetle Doubledaya bucculenta (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languriinae), which entails development of a special female structure for fungal storage/inoculation, so-called mycangium, and also obligate dependence of the insect on the fungal associate. Adult females of D. bucculenta bore a hole on a recently-dead bamboo culm with their specialized mandibles, lay an egg into the internode cavity, and plug the hole with bamboo fibres. We found that the inner wall of the bamboo internode harboring a larva is always covered with a white fungal layer. A specific Saccharomycetes yeast, Wickerhamomyces anomalus (= Pichia anomala), was consistently isolated from the inner wall of the bamboo internodes and also from the body surface of the larvae. Histological examination of the ovipositor of adult females revealed an exoskeletal pocket on the eighth abdominal segment. The putative mycangium contained yeast cells, and W. anomalus was repeatedly detected from the symbiotic organ. When first instar larvae were placed on culture media inoculated with W. anomalus, they grew and developed normally to adulthood. By contrast, first instar larvae placed on either sterile culture media or autoclaved strips of bamboo inner wall exhibited arrested growth at the second instar, and addition of W. anomalus to the media resumed growth and development of the larvae. These results strongly suggest a mutualistic nature of the D. bucculenta-W. anomalus association with morphological specialization and physiological dependence. Based on these results, we compare the fungal farming of D. bucculenta with those of social and subsocial insects, and discuss ecological factors relevant to the evolution of fungal farming in a non-social insect.}, } @article {pmid22846039, year = {2012}, author = {Nascimento, FX and Brígido, C and Glick, BR and Oliveira, S}, title = {ACC deaminase genes are conserved among Mesorhizobium species able to nodulate the same host plant.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {336}, number = {1}, pages = {26-37}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02648.x}, pmid = {22846039}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*genetics/metabolism ; Cicer/*microbiology/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Mesorhizobium/classification/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Portugal ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia strains expressing the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase have been reported to display an augmented symbiotic performance as a consequence of lowering the plant ethylene levels that inhibit the nodulation process. Genes encoding ACC deaminase (acdS) have been studied in Rhizobium spp.; however, not much is known about the presence of acdS genes in Mesorhizobium spp. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and phylogeny of acdS genes in Mesorhizobium strains including a collection of chickpea-nodulating mesorhizobia from Portugal. ACC deaminase genes were detected in 10 of 12 mesorhizobia type strains as well as in 18 of 18 chickpea Mesorhizobium isolates studied in this work. No ACC deaminase activity was detected in any Mesorhizobium strain tested under free-living conditions. Despite the lack of ACC deaminase activity, it was possible to demonstrate that in Mesorhizobium ciceri UPM-Ca7(T) , the acdS gene is transcribed under symbiotic conditions. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that strains belonging to different species of Mesorhizobium, but nodulating the same host plant, have similar acdS genes, suggesting that acdS genes are horizontally acquired by transfer of the symbiosis island. This data, together with analysis of the symbiosis islands from completely sequenced Mesorhizobium genomes, suggest the presence of the acdS gene in a Mesorhizobium common ancestor that possessed this gene in a unique symbiosis island.}, } @article {pmid22845058, year = {2013}, author = {Liu, XP and Gong, CM and Fan, YY and Eiblmeier, M and Zhao, Z and Han, G and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Response pattern of amino compounds in phloem and xylem of trees to soil drought depends on drought intensity and root symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {15 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {101-108}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00647.x}, pmid = {22845058}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Bacteria ; Biomass ; Buddleja/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; *Droughts ; Hippophae/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phloem/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Vascular Bundle/*metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Robinia/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Soil ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Water ; Xylem/metabolism ; }, abstract = {This study aimed to identify drought-mediated differences in amino nitrogen (N) composition and content of xylem and phloem in trees having different symbiotic N(2)-fixing bacteria. Under controlled water availability, 1-year-old seedlings of Robinia pseudoacacia (nodules with Rhizobium), Hippophae rhamnoides (symbiosis with Frankia) and Buddleja alternifolia (no such root symbiosis) were exposed to control, medium drought and severe drought, corresponding soil water content of 70-75%, 45-50% and 30-35% of field capacity, respectively. Composition and content of amino compounds in xylem sap and phloem exudates were analysed as a measure of N nutrition. Drought strongly reduced biomass accumulation in all species, but amino N content in xylem and phloem remained unaffected only in R. pseudoacacia. In H. rhamnoides and B. alternifolia, amino N in phloem remained constant, but increased in xylem of both species in response to drought. There were differences in composition of amino compounds in xylem and phloem of the three species in response to drought. Proline concentrations in long-distance transport pathways of all three species were very low, below the limit of detection in phloem of H. rhamnoides and in phloem and xylem of B. alternifolia. Apparently, drought-mediated changes in N composition were much more connected with species-specific changes in C:N ratios. Irrespective of soil water content, the two species with root symbioses did not show similar features for the different types of symbiosis, neither in N composition nor in N content. There was no immediate correlation between symbiotic N fixation and drought-mediated changes in amino N in the transport pathways.}, } @article {pmid22843990, year = {2012}, author = {Nguyen, TH and Brechenmacher, L and Aldrich, JT and Clauss, TR and Gritsenko, MA and Hixson, KK and Libault, M and Tanaka, K and Yang, F and Yao, Q and Pasa-Tolić, L and Xu, D and Nguyen, HT and Stacey, G}, title = {Quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of soybean root hairs inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {11}, number = {11}, pages = {1140-1155}, pmid = {22843990}, issn = {1535-9484}, support = {P41 RR018522/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR018522/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Calcium Signaling/drug effects ; Cytoskeleton/drug effects/metabolism ; Gene Duplication ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Organ Specificity/drug effects ; Phosphopeptides/chemistry/metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/drug effects/enzymology/*microbiology ; Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Proteome/chemistry/metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; Soybeans/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Statistics as Topic ; Water ; }, abstract = {Root hairs are single hair-forming cells on roots that function to increase root surface area, enhancing water and nutrient uptake. In leguminous plants, root hairs also play a critical role as the site of infection by symbiotic nitrogen fixing rhizobia, leading to the formation of a novel organ, the nodule. The initial steps in the rhizobia-root hair infection process are known to involve specific receptor kinases and subsequent kinase cascades. Here, we characterize the phosphoproteome of the root hairs and the corresponding stripped roots (i.e. roots from which root hairs were removed) during rhizobial colonization and infection to gain insight into the molecular mechanism of root hair cell biology. We chose soybean (Glycine max L.), one of the most important crop plants in the legume family, for this study because of its larger root size, which permits isolation of sufficient root hair material for phosphoproteomic analysis. Phosphopeptides derived from root hairs and stripped roots, mock inoculated or inoculated with the soybean-specific rhizobium Bradyrhizobium japonicum, were labeled with the isobaric tag eight-plex iTRAQ, enriched using Ni-NTA magnetic beads and subjected to nanoRPLC-MS/MS1 analysis using HCD and decision tree guided CID/ETD strategy. A total of 1625 unique phosphopeptides, spanning 1659 nonredundant phosphorylation sites, were detected from 1126 soybean phosphoproteins. Among them, 273 phosphopeptides corresponding to 240 phosphoproteins were found to be significantly regulated (>1.5-fold abundance change) in response to inoculation with B. japonicum. The data reveal unique features of the soybean root hair phosphoproteome, including root hair and stripped root-specific phosphorylation suggesting a complex network of kinase-substrate and phosphatase-substrate interactions in response to rhizobial inoculation.}, } @article {pmid22843606, year = {2012}, author = {Schuldes, J and Rodriguez Orbegoso, M and Schmeisser, C and Krishnan, HB and Daniel, R and Streit, WR}, title = {Complete genome sequence of the broad-host-range strain Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {16}, pages = {4483}, pmid = {22843606}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Host Specificity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Here we announce the complete genome sequence of the symbiotic and nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257. The genome shares a high degree of sequence similarity with the closely related broad-host-range strains S. fredii NGR234 and HH103. Most strikingly, the USDA257 genome encodes a wealth of secretory systems.}, } @article {pmid22843517, year = {2012}, author = {Pickering, BS and Yudistira, H and Oresnik, IJ}, title = {Characterization of the twin-arginine transport secretome in Sinorhizobium meliloti and evidence for host-dependent phenotypes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {19}, pages = {7141-7144}, pmid = {22843517}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Gene Deletion ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Melilotus/microbiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Recombination, Genetic ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The twin-arginine transport (Tat) system is essential for cell viability in Sinorhizobium meliloti and may play a role during the development of root nodules. Utilizing an in vivo recombination strategy, we have constructed 28 strains that contain deletions in predicted Tat substrates. Testing of these mutations for symbiotic proficiency on the plant hosts alfalfa and sweet clover shows that some of these mutations affect associations with these hosts differentially.}, } @article {pmid22843029, year = {2013}, author = {Shamekhi, F and Shuhaimi, M and Ariff, A and Manap, YA}, title = {Cell viability of microencapsulated Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis under freeze-drying, storage and gastrointestinal tract simulation conditions.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {58}, number = {2}, pages = {91-101}, pmid = {22843029}, issn = {1874-9356}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/*physiology/radiation effects ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Storage/methods ; *Freeze Drying ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; Microbial Viability/*radiation effects ; Probiotics/*radiation effects ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to improve the survival of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis 10140 during freeze-drying process by microencapsulation, using a special pediatric prebiotics mixture (galactooligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides). Probiotic microorganisms were encapsulated with a coat combination of prebiotics-calcium-alginate prior to freeze-drying. Both encapsulated and free cells were then freeze-dried in their optimized combinations of skim milk and prebiotics. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to produce a coating combination as well as drying medium with the highest cell viability during freeze-drying. The optimum encapsulation composition was found to be 2.1 % Na-alginate, 2.9 % prebiotic, and 21.7 % glycerol. Maximum survival predicted by the model was 81.2 %. No significant (p > 0.05) difference between the predicted and experimental values verified the adequacy of final reduced models. The protection ability of encapsulation was then examined over 120 days of storage at 4 and 25 °C and exposure to a sequential model of infantile GIT conditions including both gastric conditions (pH 3.0 and 4.0, 90 min, 37 °C) and intestinal conditions (pH 7.5, 5 h, 37 °C). Significantly improved cell viability showed that microencapsulation of B. lactis 10140 with the prebiotics was successful in producing a stable symbiotic powdery nutraceutical.}, } @article {pmid22842661, year = {2012}, author = {Hentschel, U and Piel, J and Degnan, SM and Taylor, MW}, title = {Genomic insights into the marine sponge microbiome.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {9}, pages = {641-654}, pmid = {22842661}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; *Biota ; Metagenome/*genetics/physiology ; Porifera/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges (phylum Porifera) often contain dense and diverse microbial communities, which can constitute up to 35% of the sponge biomass. The genome of one sponge, Amphimedon queenslandica, was recently sequenced, and this has provided new insights into the origins of animal evolution. Complementary efforts to sequence the genomes of uncultivated sponge symbionts have yielded the first glimpse of how these intimate partnerships are formed. The remarkable microbial and chemical diversity of the sponge-microorganism association, coupled with its postulated antiquity, makes sponges important model systems for the study of metazoan host-microorganism interactions, and their evolution, as well as for enabling access to biotechnologically important symbiont-derived natural products. In this Review, we discuss our current understanding of the interactions between marine sponges and their microbial symbiotic consortia, and highlight recent insights into these relationships from genomic studies.}, } @article {pmid22842157, year = {2012}, author = {Bladergroen, MR and Derks, RJ and Nicolardi, S and de Visser, B and van Berloo, S and van der Burgt, YE and Deelder, AM}, title = {Standardized and automated solid-phase extraction procedures for high-throughput proteomics of body fluids.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {144-153}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2012.07.023}, pmid = {22842157}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Blood Proteins/*chemistry/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Plasma/*chemistry/metabolism ; Proteomics/*instrumentation/*methods/*standards ; Robotics/instrumentation/methods ; }, abstract = {In order to balance the speed of analytical sample preparation procedures with mass spectrometry (MS)-based clinical proteomics the application of high-throughput robotic systems for body fluid workup is essential. In this paper we describe the implementation of various solid-phase extraction (SPE) sample preparation protocols on two different platforms, namely: 1) Magnetic bead-based SPE of peptides and proteins from body fluids on a Hamilton liquid handling workstation; 2) Cartridge-based SPE on a SPARK Symbiosis system. All SPE protocols were optimized for MS-based proteomics and compared with respect to obtained peptide- and protein profiles. Throughput numbers that were achieved in a 24 hour time frame for the sample workup procedures were more than 700 samples for the magnetic bead-based method and over 1000 samples for the cartridge-based method.}, } @article {pmid22842091, year = {2012}, author = {Aserse, AA and Räsänen, LA and Aseffa, F and Hailemariam, A and Lindström, K}, title = {Phylogenetically diverse groups of Bradyrhizobium isolated from nodules of Crotalaria spp., Indigofera spp., Erythrina brucei and Glycine max growing in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {65}, number = {2}, pages = {595-609}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2012.07.008}, pmid = {22842091}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Crotalaria/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Erythrina/microbiology ; Ethiopia ; Genetic Variation ; Indigofera/microbiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ethiopian Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from root nodules of Crotalaria spp., Indigofera spp., Erythina brucei and soybean (Glycine max) represented genetically diverse phylogenetic groups of the genus Bradyrhizobium. Strains were characterized using the amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting technique (AFLP) and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of core and symbiotic genes. Based on phylogenetic analyses of concatenated recA-glnII-rpoB-16S rRNA genes sequences, Bradyrhizobium strains were distributed into fifteen phylogenetic groups under B. japonicum and B. elkanii super clades. Some of the isolates belonged to the species B. yuanmingense, B. elkanii and B. japonicum type I. However, the majority of the isolates represented unnamed Bradyrhizobium genospecies and of these, two unique lineages that most likely represent novel Bradyrhizobium species were identified among Ethiopian strains. The nodulation nodA gene sequence analysis revealed that all Ethiopian Bradyrhizobium isolates belonged to nodA sub-clade III.3. Strains were further classified into 14 groups together with strains from Africa, as well as some originating from the other tropical and subtropics regions. Strains were also clustered into 14 groups in nodY/K phylogeny similarly to the nodA tree. The nifH phylogenies of the Ethiopian Bradyrhizobium were generally also congruent with the nodA gene phylogeny, supporting the monophyletic origin of the symbiotic genes in Bradyrhizobium. The phylogenies of nodA and nifH genes were also partially congruent with that inferred from the concatenated core genes sequences, reflecting that the strains obtained their symbiotic genes vertically from their ancestor as well as horizontally from more distantly related Bradyrhizobium species.}, } @article {pmid22837816, year = {2012}, author = {Sorek, M and Levy, O}, title = {The effect of temperature compensation on the circadian rhythmicity of photosynthesis in Symbiodinium, coral-symbiotic alga.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {536}, pmid = {22837816}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/*physiology ; Circadian Rhythm/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Electron Transport ; Oxygen Consumption ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Circadian rhythms, which are found in most eukaryotes, are defined as rhythms that persist under constant conditions with a periodicity close to 24 h. One central key characteristic of all circadian rhythms is "temperature compensation", which allows organisms to maintain robust rhythms with a period close to a diel cycle over a broad range of physiological temperatures. To better understand the response of the circadian clock in corals to temperature elevation, photosynthesis as an output process of the circadian clock was studied both in Stylophora pistillata corals and in cultured Symbiodinium algae. The time period of photosynthesis was not affected by temperature elevation in the cultured algae or in the corals harbouring Symbiodinium. However, the photosynthetic system responded to temperature elevations by adjusting the photosynthetic apparatus. These findings suggest that the endogenous algal circadian clock regulates the photosynthetic rhythm and compensates for temperature elevations that occur in the natural environment.}, } @article {pmid22837691, year = {2012}, author = {El Hadrami, A and El-Bebany, AF and Yao, Z and Adam, LR and El Hadrami, I and Daayf, F}, title = {Plants versus fungi and oomycetes: pathogenesis, defense and counter-defense in the proteomics era.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {7237-7259}, pmid = {22837691}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*physiology ; Oomycetes/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Plant-fungi and plant-oomycete interactions have been studied at the proteomic level for many decades. However, it is only in the last few years, with the development of new approaches, combined with bioinformatics data mining tools, gel staining, and analytical instruments, such as 2D-PAGE/nanoflow-LC-MS/MS, that proteomic approaches thrived. They allow screening and analysis, at the sub-cellular level, of peptides and proteins resulting from plants, pathogens, and their interactions. They also highlight post-translational modifications to proteins, e.g., glycosylation, phosphorylation or cleavage. However, many challenges are encountered during in planta studies aimed at stressing details of host defenses and fungal and oomycete pathogenicity determinants during interactions. Dissecting the mechanisms of such host-pathogen systems, including pathogen counter-defenses, will ensure a step ahead towards understanding current outcomes of interactions from a co-evolutionary point of view, and eventually move a step forward in building more durable strategies for management of diseases caused by fungi and oomycetes. Unraveling intricacies of more complex proteomic interactions that involve additional microbes, i.e., PGPRs and symbiotic fungi, which strengthen plant defenses will generate valuable information on how pathosystems actually function in nature, and thereby provide clues to solving disease problems that engender major losses in crops every year.}, } @article {pmid22835978, year = {2012}, author = {Chan, C and Qi, X and Li, MW and Wong, FL and Lam, HM}, title = {Recent developments of genomic research in soybean.}, journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao}, volume = {39}, number = {7}, pages = {317-324}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2012.02.002}, pmid = {22835978}, issn = {1673-8527}, mesh = {*Chromosome Mapping ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomics/methods ; Soybeans/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Soybean is an important cash crop with unique and important traits such as the high seed protein and oil contents, and the ability to perform symbiotic nitrogen fixation. A reference genome of cultivated soybeans was established in 2010, followed by whole-genome re-sequencing of wild and cultivated soybean accessions. These efforts revealed unique features of the soybean genome and helped to understand its evolution. Mapping of variations between wild and cultivated soybean genomes were performed. These genomic variations may be related to the process of domestication and human selection. Wild soybean germplasms exhibited high genomic diversity and hence may be an important source of novel genes/alleles. Accumulation of genomic data will help to refine genetic maps and expedite the identification of functional genes. In this review, we summarize the major findings from the whole-genome sequencing projects and discuss the possible impacts on soybean researches and breeding programs. Some emerging areas such as transcriptomic and epigenomic studies will be introduced. In addition, we also tabulated some useful bioinformatics tools that will help the mining of the soybean genomic data.}, } @article {pmid22835702, year = {2012}, author = {Vandenplas, Y and De Hert, S and , }, title = {Cost/benefit of synbiotics in acute infectious gastroenteritis: spend to save.}, journal = {Beneficial microbes}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {189-194}, doi = {10.3920/BM2012.0007}, pmid = {22835702}, issn = {1876-2891}, mesh = {Acute Disease/economics/therapy ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Gastroenteritis/*economics/*therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prebiotics/economics/statistics & numerical data ; Probiotics/economics/therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Synbiotics/*economics/statistics & numerical data ; }, abstract = {The cost/benefit ratio of probiotics in the ambulatory treatment of acute infectious gastro-enteritis with or without a synbiotic food supplement (containing fructo-oligosaccharides and probiotic strains of Streptoccoccus thermophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium infantis) has been studied. 111 children (median age 37 and 43 months for the synbiotic and placebo group, respectively) with acute infectious gastroenteritis were included in a randomised, prospective placebo-controlled trial performed in primary health care. All children were treated with an oral rehydration solution and with the synbiotic food supplement (n=57) or placebo (n=54). Physicians were allowed to prescribe additional medication according to what they considered as 'necessary'. Cost of add-on medication and total healthcare cost were calculated. Median duration of diarrhoea was 1 day shorter (95% confidence interval -0.6 to -1.9 days) in the symbiotic than in the placebo group (P<0.005). Significantly more concomitant medication (antibiotics, antipyretics, antiemetics) was prescribed in the placebo group (39 prescriptions in 28 patients) compared to the synbiotic group (12 prescriptions in 7 patients) (P<0.001). The difference was most striking for antiemetics: 28 vs. 5 prescriptions. The cost of add-on medication in the placebo group was evaluated at € 4.04/patient (median 4.97 (interquartile (IQ) 25-75: 0-4.97)) vs. € 1.13 /patient in the synbiotic arm (P<0.001). If the cost of the synbiotic is considered, median cost raised to € 7.15/patient (IQ 25-75: 7.15-7.15) (P<0.001). The extra consultations needed to prescribe the concomitant medication resulted in a higher health care cost in the placebo group (€ 14.41 vs. € 10.74/patient, P<0.001). Synbiotic food supplementation resulted in a 24 h earlier normalisation of stool consistency. Although use of the synbiotic supplementation increased cost, add-on medication and extra consultations were reduced, resulting in a reduction of health care cost of 25%.}, } @article {pmid22835476, year = {2013}, author = {Doudoumis, V and Alam, U and Aksoy, E and Abd-Alla, AM and Tsiamis, G and Brelsfoard, C and Aksoy, S and Bourtzis, K}, title = {Tsetse-Wolbachia symbiosis: comes of age and has great potential for pest and disease control.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {112 Suppl}, number = {0}, pages = {S94-103}, pmid = {22835476}, issn = {1096-0805}, support = {AI06892/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03TW008413/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R03 TW008755/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; D43 TW007391/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; D43TW007391/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03 TW008413/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; Humans ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Trypanosomiasis, African/prevention & control ; Tsetse Flies/genetics/*microbiology ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the sole vectors of African trypanosomes, the causative agent of sleeping sickness in human and nagana in animals. Like most eukaryotic organisms, Glossina species have established symbiotic associations with bacteria. Three main symbiotic bacteria have been found in tsetse flies: Wigglesworthia glossinidia, an obligate symbiotic bacterium, the secondary endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius and the reproductive symbiont Wolbachia pipientis. In the present review, we discuss recent studies on the detection and characterization of Wolbachia infections in Glossina species, the horizontal transfer of Wolbachia genes to tsetse chromosomes, the ability of this symbiont to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility in Glossina morsitans morsitans and also how new environment-friendly tools for disease control could be developed by harnessing Wolbachia symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22835276, year = {2012}, author = {Moscatiello, R and Baldan, B and Squartini, A and Mariani, P and Navazio, L}, title = {Oligogalacturonides: novel signaling molecules in Rhizobium-legume communications.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {11}, pages = {1387-1395}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-12-0066-R}, pmid = {22835276}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Calcium/metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*metabolism/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; }, abstract = {Oligogalacturonides are pectic fragments of the plant cell wall, whose signaling role has been described thus far during plant development and plant-pathogen interactions. In the present work, we evaluated the potential involvement of oligogalacturonides in the molecular communications between legumes and rhizobia during the establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Oligogalacturonides with a degree of polymerization of 10 to 15 were found to trigger a rapid intracellular production of reactive oxygen species in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841. Accumulation of H(2)O(2), detected by both 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate-based fluorescence and electron-dense deposits of cerium perhydroxides, was transient and did not affect bacterial cell viability, due to the prompt activation of the katG gene encoding a catalase. Calcium measurements carried out in R. leguminosarum transformed with the bioluminescent Ca(2+) reporter aequorin demonstrated the induction of a rapid and remarkable intracellular Ca(2+) increase in response to oligogalacturonides. When applied jointly with naringenin, oligogalacturonides effectively inhibited flavonoid-induced nod gene expression, indicating an antagonistic interplay between oligogalacturonides and inducing flavonoids in the early stages of plant root colonization. The above data suggest a novel role for oligogalacturonides as signaling molecules released in the rhizosphere in the initial rhizobium-legume interaction.}, } @article {pmid22834753, year = {2012}, author = {Mondo, SJ and Toomer, KH and Morton, JB and Lekberg, Y and Pawlowska, TE}, title = {Evolutionary stability in a 400-million-year-old heritable facultative mutualism.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {66}, number = {8}, pages = {2564-2576}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01611.x}, pmid = {22834753}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/*genetics/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fossils ; *Genes, Bacterial ; *Genes, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spores, Fungal/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many eukaryotes interact with heritable endobacteria to satisfy diverse metabolic needs. Some of these interactions are facultative symbioses, in which one partner is not essential to the other. Facultative symbioses are expected to be transitional stages along an evolutionary trajectory toward obligate relationships. We tested this evolutionary theory prediction in Ca. Glomeribacter gigasporarum, nonessential endosymbionts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota). We found that heritable facultative mutualisms can be both ancient and evolutionarily stable. We detected significant patterns of codivergence between the partners that we would only expect in obligate associations. Using codiverging partner pairs and the fungal fossil record, we established that the Glomeromycota-Glomeribacter symbiosis is at least 400 million years old. Despite clear signs of codivergence, we determined that the Glomeribacter endobacteria engage in recombination and host switching, which display patterns indicating that the association is not evolving toward reciprocal dependence. We postulate that low frequency of recombination in heritable endosymbionts together with host switching stabilize facultative mutualisms over extended evolutionary times.}, } @article {pmid22833276, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, H and Mao, J and Liu, F and Zeng, F}, title = {Expression of a nematode symbiotic bacterium-derived protease inhibitor protein in tobacco enhanced tolerance against Myzus persicae.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {31}, number = {11}, pages = {1981-1989}, pmid = {22833276}, issn = {1432-203X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; Aphids/growth & development/*physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Assay ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; DNA, Plant/analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Pest Control, Biological ; Plant Diseases/*parasitology ; Plant Leaves ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/parasitology/*physiology ; Xenorhabdus/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fusion proteins of a protease inhibitor from an entomopathogenic nematode symbiotic bacterium (PIN1) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum cv. Samsun NN). The PIN1-GFP protein expressed under the control of the CaMV-35S promoter was detected in leaves of transgenic tobacco plants. The effect of PIN1 on anti-pest activity for Myzus persicae was tested by feeding neonate aphids on three independent homozygous lines. For nymphs fed on PIN1-GFP-expressing plants, no effects on insect survival were observed but average insect weight and fecundity were significantly reduced. The aphid biomass was decreased by 30-35 % compared to those reared on control plants. The effects of PIN1 on M. persicae were correlated with the decrease of the leucine aminopeptidase and total protease activities of whole insect extracts. Furthermore, an increase in polyphenoloxidase activity was observed in PIN1-GFP-expressing plants. These results revealed that the transgenic expression of PIN1 in tobacco enhanced tolerance against aphids. Key message This study suggests that entomopathogenic nematode symbiotic bacterium is another valuable resource of protease inhibitors which can be engineered into plants for insect pest management.}, } @article {pmid22831171, year = {2012}, author = {Brennan, LJ and Haukedal, JA and Earle, JC and Keddie, B and Harris, HL}, title = {Disruption of redox homeostasis leads to oxidative DNA damage in spermatocytes of Wolbachia-infected Drosophila simulans.}, journal = {Insect molecular biology}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {510-520}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2583.2012.01155.x}, pmid = {22831171}, issn = {1365-2583}, mesh = {8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Cell Line ; Comet Assay ; *DNA Damage ; Deoxyguanosine/analogs & derivatives/analysis ; Drosophila/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Glutathione ; Homeostasis ; Male ; *Oxidative Stress ; Spermatocytes/metabolism ; *Spermatogenesis ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Testis/metabolism/microbiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Molecular interactions between symbiotic bacteria and their animal hosts are, as yet, poorly understood. The most widespread bacterial endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis, occurs in high density in testes of infected Drosophila simulans and causes cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), a form of male-derived zygotic lethality. Wolbachia grow and divide within host vacuoles that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn stimulate the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes. These enzymes appear to protect the host from ROS-mediated damage, as there is no obvious fitness cost to Drosophila carrying Wolbachia infections. We have now determined that DNA from Wolbachia-infected mosquito Aedes albopictus (Aa23) cells shows a higher amount of the base 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative DNA damage, than DNA from uninfected cells, and that Wolbachia infection in D. simulans is associated with an increase in DNA strand breaks in meiotic spermatocytes. Feeding exogenous antioxidants to male and female D. simulans dramatically increased Wolbachia numbers with no obvious effects on host fitness. These results suggest that ROS-induced DNA damage in sperm nuclei may contribute to the modification characteristic of CI expression in Wolbachia-infected males and that Wolbachia density is sensitive to redox balance in these flies.}, } @article {pmid22830264, year = {2012}, author = {Shaĭkevich, EV and Ivshina, EV and Zakharov, IA}, title = {[Polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA and distribution of cytoplasmic symbionts in the populations of two-spot ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {48}, number = {5}, pages = {666-671}, pmid = {22830264}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Coleoptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rickettsia/isolation & purification ; Spiroplasma/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In geographically distant populations of ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata from Eurasia mitotypes and infection with symbiotic bacteria Spiroplasma and Rickettsia were determined. All populations examined demonstrated mtDNA polymorphism and striking differences in prevalence of bacteria (from about 50% of individuals infected with Spiroplasma in St.-Petersburg population and 50% of the Rickettsia prevalence in Kem' population to complete absence of bacteria in the population from Archangelsk). In the populations studied a total of 14 mitotypes were discovered, including two mitotypes that were remarkably different from the others in nucleotide composition. Mitotype 10, which was the most different from all the others, was found in all populations from Germany to Transbaikalia, excluding the population from Tashkent. Linkage disequilibrium between mitotype 10 and the Rickettsia infection was confirmed. Infection with the Spiroplasma bacteria was typical of the individuals with haplotype 1 and relative to it. The results obtained supported the conclusion on the association between infection with Spiroplasma and Rickettsia and certain mitotype of A. bipunctata, which was the consequence of either absence or rare horizontal transfer of symbionts and ancientness of the first contact between the bacteria and A. bipunctata ladybird beetles.}, } @article {pmid22827482, year = {2012}, author = {Kreutz, M and Stoeck, T and Foissner, W}, title = {Morphological and molecular characterization of Paramecium (Viridoparamecium nov. subgen.) chlorelligerum Kahl (Ciliophora).}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {6}, pages = {548-563}, pmid = {22827482}, issn = {1550-7408}, support = {P 20360/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; P 22846/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genes, rRNA ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paramecium/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {We redescribe Paramecium chlorelligerum, a forgotten species, which Kahl (Tierwelt Dtl., 1935, 30:651) briefly but precisely described in the addendum to his ciliate monographs as a Paramecium with symbiotic green algae. The redescription is based on classical morphological methods and the analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rDNA. Morphologically, P. chlorelligerum differs from P. (C.) bursaria, the second green species in the genus, by having a special swimming shape, the length of the caudal cilia, the size of the micronucleus, the size of the symbiotic algae, the contractile vacuoles (with collecting vesicles vs. collecting canals), and the number of excretory pores/contractile vacuole (1 vs. 2-3). The molecular investigations show that P. chlorelligerum forms a distinct branch distant from the P. (Chloroparamecium) bursaria clade. Thus, we classify P. chlorelligerum in a new subgenus: Paramecium (Viridoparamecium) chlorelligerum. The symbiotic alga belongs to the little-known genus Meyerella, as yet recorded only from the plankton of a North American lake.}, } @article {pmid22822209, year = {2012}, author = {Yuan, S and Zhu, H and Gou, H and Fu, W and Liu, L and Chen, T and Ke, D and Kang, H and Xie, Q and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z}, title = {A ubiquitin ligase of symbiosis receptor kinase involved in nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {160}, number = {1}, pages = {106-117}, pmid = {22822209}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/genetics/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Vectors ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*growth & development ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Plasmids ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protein Transport ; RNA Interference ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis receptor kinase (SymRK) is required for morphological changes of legume root hairs triggered by rhizobial infection. How protein turnover of SymRK is regulated and how the nodulation factor signals are transduced downstream of SymRK are not known. In this report, a SymRK-interacting E3 ubiquitin ligase (SIE3) was shown to bind and ubiquitinate SymRK. The SIE3-SymRK interaction and the ubiquitination of SymRK were shown to occur in vitro and in planta. SIE3 represents a new class of plant-specific E3 ligases that contain a unique pattern of the conserved CTLH (for C-terminal to LisH), CRA (for CT11-RanBPM), and RING (for Really Interesting New Gene) domains. Expression of SIE3 was detected in all tested tissues of Lotus japonicus plants, and its transcript level in roots was enhanced by rhizobial infection. The SIE3 protein was localized to multiple subcellular locations including the nuclei and plasma membrane, where the SIE3-SymRK interaction took place. Overexpression of SIE3 promoted nodulation in transgenic hairy roots, whereas downregulation of SIE3 transcripts by RNA interference inhibited infection thread development and nodule organogenesis. These results suggest that SIE3 represents a new class of E3 ubiquitin ligase, acts as a regulator of SymRK, and is involved in rhizobial infection and nodulation in L. japonicus.}, } @article {pmid22821013, year = {2012}, author = {Sloan, DB and Moran, NA}, title = {Genome reduction and co-evolution between the primary and secondary bacterial symbionts of psyllids.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {29}, number = {12}, pages = {3781-3792}, pmid = {22821013}, issn = {1537-1719}, support = {F32 GM099334/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1F32GM099334/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gammaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Genome Size/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Genome reduction in obligately intracellular bacteria is one of the most well-established patterns in the field of molecular evolution. In the extreme, many sap-feeding insects harbor nutritional symbionts with genomes that are so reduced that it is not clear how they perform basic cellular functions. For example, the primary symbiont of psyllids (Carsonella) maintains one of the smallest and most AT-rich bacterial genomes ever identified and has surprisingly lost many genes that are thought to be essential for its role in provisioning its host with amino acids. However, our understanding of this extreme case of genome reduction is limited, as genomic data for Carsonella are available from only a single host species, and little is known about the functional role of "secondary" bacterial symbionts in psyllids. To address these limitations, we analyzed complete Carsonella genomes from pairs of congeneric hosts in three divergent genera within the Psyllidae (Ctenarytaina, Heteropsylla, and Pachypsylla) as well as complete secondary symbiont genomes from two of these host species (Ctenarytaina eucalypti and Heteropsylla cubana). Although the Carsonella genomes are generally conserved in size, structure, and GC content and exhibit genome-wide signatures of purifying selection, we found that gene loss has remained active since the divergence of the host species and had a particularly large impact on the amino acid biosynthesis pathways that define the symbiotic role of Carsonella. In some cases, the presence of additional bacterial symbionts may compensate for gene loss in Carsonella, as functional gene content indicates a high degree of metabolic complementarity between co-occurring symbionts. The genomes of the secondary symbionts also show signatures of long-term evolution as vertically transmitted, intracellular bacteria, including more extensive genome reduction than typically observed in facultative symbionts. Therefore, a history of co-evolution with secondary bacterial symbionts can partially explain the ongoing genome reduction in Carsonella. However, the absence of these secondary symbionts in other host lineages indicates that the relationships are dynamic and that other mechanisms, such as changes in host diet or functional coordination with the host genome, must also be at play.}, } @article {pmid22820920, year = {2012}, author = {Ryu, H and Cho, H and Choi, D and Hwang, I}, title = {Plant hormonal regulation of nitrogen-fixing nodule organogenesis.}, journal = {Molecules and cells}, volume = {34}, number = {2}, pages = {117-126}, pmid = {22820920}, issn = {0219-1032}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Legumes have evolved symbiotic interactions with rhizobial bacteria to efficiently utilize nitrogen. Recent progress in symbiosis has revealed several key components of host plants required for nitrogen-fixing nodule organogenesis, in which complicated metabolic and signaling pathways in the host plant are reprogrammed to generate nodules in the cortex upon perception of the rhizobial Nod factor. Following the recognition of Nod factors, plant hormones are likely to be essential throughout nodule organogenesis for integration of developmental and environmental signaling cues into nodule development. Here, we review the molecular events involved in plant hormonal regulation and signaling cross-talk for nitrogen-fixing nodule development, and discuss how these signaling networks are integrated into Nod factor-mediated signaling during plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid22819645, year = {2012}, author = {McMaster, TJ}, title = {Atomic Force Microscopy of the fungi-mineral interface: applications in mineral dissolution, weathering and biogeochemistry.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {562-569}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2012.05.006}, pmid = {22819645}, issn = {1879-0429}, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Hyphae/metabolism ; *Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Minerals/chemistry/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Trees/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The interaction between mycorrhizal fungi and minerals is of fundamental importance in affecting the geochemical carbon cycle and CO(2) concentration in the atmosphere, alongside roles in soil creation and the release of nutrients. The symbiosis between the fungi and the plant, supported by photosynthesis in the host plant, has as one of its key features the interfacial zone where mineral and fungi come into contact. At this interface, the organism exudes a complex mixture of organic acids, chelating molecules, protons, and extracellular polysaccharide. In this review, examples will be given of recent Atomic Force Microscopy experiments to monitor the colonization of phyllosilicate minerals in sterile controlled microcosm environments containing only tree seedlings, mineral chips and mycorrhizal fungi. The surface activity of the colonizing fungal hyphae is extensive and complex. In complementary experiments involving exposure of minerals surfaces to single organic acids, it has been possible to monitor dissolution at the unit cell level and to extract activation energies for specific dissolution processes, for example 49 kJ mol(-1) for 100 mM oxalic acid acting upon a biotite sample. The link between these simpler model experiments and the whole microcosm studies is illustrated partly by observations of fungal-colonized mineral surfaces from microcosms after careful removal of the organism and biolayer. These mineral surfaces give clear indications of basal plane modification and fungal weathering.}, } @article {pmid22819020, year = {2012}, author = {Márquez, LM and Roossinck, MJ}, title = {Do persistent RNA viruses fit the trade-off hypothesis of virulence evolution?.}, journal = {Current opinion in virology}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {556-560}, doi = {10.1016/j.coviro.2012.06.010}, pmid = {22819020}, issn = {1879-6265}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/*virology ; Fungi/*virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; RNA Viruses/*genetics/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {The evolution of virulence has been studied from a number of theoretical perspectives, and a few experimental systems. Although there is no consensus on an overarching framework that covers all situations, the 'trade-off' hypothesis is a useful framework for examining the nature of symbiotic relationships between viruses and their hosts. Here we use this framework to look at persistent RNA viruses of unicellular eukaryotes and fungi that are themselves parasites of more complex eukaryotes. In these tripartite symbioses we look at the cost to the microbial host as well as the macrobial host. In some cases benefits conferred by the virus to the microbial host result in greater costs to the macrobial host, in other cases the microbial host suffers a greater cost but the macrobial host wins, and in some cases everyone wins. In all cases the trade-off hypothesis can be invoked.}, } @article {pmid22817876, year = {2012}, author = {Laranjo, M and Young, JP and Oliveira, S}, title = {Multilocus sequence analysis reveals multiple symbiovars within Mesorhizobium species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {6}, pages = {359-367}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.06.002}, pmid = {22817876}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Cicer/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/*genetics ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genus Mesorhizobium includes species nodulating several legumes, such as chickpea, which has a high agronomic importance. Chickpea rhizobia were originally described as either Mesorhizobium ciceri or M. mediterraneum. However, rhizobia able to nodulate chickpea have been shown to belong to several different species within the genus Mesorhizobium. The present study used a multilocus sequence analysis approach to infer a high resolution phylogeny of the genus Mesorhizobium and to confirm the existence of a new chickpea nodulating genospecies. The phylogenetic structure of the Mesorhizobium clade was evaluated by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, ITS region and the five core genes atpD, dnaJ, glnA, gyrB, and recA. Phylogenies obtained with the different genes are in overall good agreement and a well-supported, almost fully resolved, phylogenetic tree was obtained using the combined data. Our phylogenetic analyses of core genes sequences and their comparison with the symbiosis gene nodC, corroborate the existence of one new chickpea Mesorhizobium genospecies and one new symbiovar, M. opportunistum sv. ciceri. Furthermore, our results show that symbiovar ciceri spreads over six species of mesorhizobia. To our knowledge this study shows the most complete Mesorhizobium multilocus phylogeny to date and contributes to the understanding of how a symbiovar may be present in different species.}, } @article {pmid22815743, year = {2012}, author = {Chrudimský, T and Husník, F and Nováková, E and Hypša, V}, title = {Candidatus Sodalis melophagi sp. nov.: phylogenetically independent comparative model to the tsetse fly symbiont Sodalis glossinidius.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e40354}, pmid = {22815743}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Sodalis live in symbiosis with various groups of insects. The best known member of this group, a secondary symbiont of tsetse flies Sodalis glossinidius, has become one of the most important models in investigating establishment and evolution of insect-bacteria symbiosis. It represents a bacterium in the early/intermediate state of the transition towards symbiosis, which allows for exploring such interesting topics as: usage of secretory systems for entering the host cell, tempo of the genome modification, and metabolic interaction with a coexisting primary symbiont. In this study, we describe a new Sodalis species which could provide a useful comparative model to the tsetse symbiont. It lives in association with Melophagus ovinus, an insect related to tsetse flies, and resembles S. glossinidius in several important traits. Similar to S. glossinidius, it cohabits the host with another symbiotic bacterium, the bacteriome-harbored primary symbiont of the genus Arsenophonus. As a typical secondary symbiont, Candidatus Sodalis melophagi infects various host tissues, including bacteriome. We provide basic morphological and molecular characteristics of the symbiont and show that these traits also correspond to the early/intermediate state of the evolution towards symbiosis. Particularly, we demonstrate the ability of the bacterium to live in insect cell culture as well as in cell-free medium. We also provide basic characteristics of type three secretion system and using three reference sequences (16 S rDNA, groEL and spaPQR region) we show that the bacterium branched within the genus Sodalis, but originated independently of the two previously described symbionts of hippoboscoids. We propose the name Candidatus Sodalis melophagi for this new bacterium.}, } @article {pmid22815710, year = {2012}, author = {Wolfe, BE and Tulloss, RE and Pringle, A}, title = {The irreversible loss of a decomposition pathway marks the single origin of an ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e39597}, pmid = {22815710}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amanita/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Cellulose/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Fungal/*genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Plants ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Microbial symbioses have evolved repeatedly across the tree of life, but the genetic changes underlying transitions to symbiosis are largely unknown, especially for eukaryotic microbial symbionts. We used the genus Amanita, an iconic group of mushroom-forming fungi engaged in ectomycorrhizal symbioses with plants, to identify both the origins and potential genetic changes maintaining the stability of this mutualism. A multi-gene phylogeny reveals one origin of the symbiosis within Amanita, with a single transition from saprotrophic decomposition of dead organic matter to biotrophic dependence on host plants for carbon. Associated with this transition are the losses of two cellulase genes, each of which plays a critical role in extracellular decomposition of organic matter. However a third gene, which acts at later stages in cellulose decomposition, is retained by many, but not all, ectomycorrhizal species. Experiments confirm that symbiotic Amanita species have lost the ability to grow on complex organic matter and have therefore lost the capacity to live in forest soils without carbon supplied by a host plant. Irreversible losses of decomposition pathways are likely to play key roles in the evolutionary stability of these ubiquitous mutualisms.}, } @article {pmid22815696, year = {2012}, author = {Dunn, SR and Pernice, M and Green, K and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, SG}, title = {Thermal stress promotes host mitochondrial degradation in symbiotic cnidarians: are the batteries of the reef going to run out?.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e39024}, pmid = {22815696}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/biosynthesis ; Animals ; Cnidaria/*cytology/metabolism/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Electron Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; *Mitophagy ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between cnidarians and their dinoflagellate symbionts, Symbiodinium spp, which underpins the formation of tropical coral reefs, can be destabilized by rapid changes to environmental conditions. Although some studies have concluded that a breakdown in the symbiosis begins with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation within the symbiont due to a decoupling of photosynthesis, others have reported the release of viable symbionts via a variety of host cell derived mechanisms. We explored an alternative model focused upon changes in host cnidarian mitochondrial integrity in response to thermal stress. Mitochondria are often likened to being batteries of the cell, providing energy in the form of ATP, and controlling cellular pathway activation and ROS generation. The overall morphology of host mitochondria was compared to that of associated symbionts under an experimental thermal stress using confocal and electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that hyperthermic stress induces the degradation of cnidarian host mitochondria that is independent of symbiont cellular deterioration. The potential sites of host mitochondrial disruption were also assessed by measuring changes in the expression of genes associated with electron transport and ATP synthesis using quantitative RT-PCR. The primary site of degradation appeared to be downstream of complex III of the electron transport chain with a significant reduction in host cytochrome c and ATP synthase expression. The consequences of reduced expression could limit the capacity of the host to mitigate ROS generation and maintain both organelle integrity and cellular energy supplies. The disruption of host mitochondria, cellular homeostasis, and subsequent cell death irrespective of symbiont integrity highlights the importance of the host response to thermal stress and in symbiosis dysfunction that has substantial implications for understanding how coral reefs will survive in the face of climate change.}, } @article {pmid22815450, year = {2012}, author = {Alonso-Vega, P and Normand, P and Bacigalupe, R and Pujic, P and Lajus, A and Vallenet, D and Carro, L and Coll, P and Trujillo, ME}, title = {Genome sequence of Micromonospora lupini Lupac 08, isolated from root nodules of Lupinus angustifolius.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {15}, pages = {4135}, pmid = {22815450}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Lupinus/*microbiology ; Micromonospora/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Micromonospora strains have been isolated from diverse niches, including soil, water, and marine sediments and root nodules of diverse symbiotic plants. In this work, we report the genome sequence of Micromonospora lupini Lupac 08 isolated from root nodules of the wild legume Lupinus angustifolious.}, } @article {pmid22814379, year = {2012}, author = {Jeong, HJ and Yoo, YD and Kang, NS and Lim, AS and Seong, KA and Lee, SY and Lee, MJ and Lee, KH and Kim, HS and Shin, W and Nam, SW and Yih, W and Lee, K}, title = {Heterotrophic feeding as a newly identified survival strategy of the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {31}, pages = {12604-12609}, pmid = {22814379}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/cytology/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Genes, Protozoan ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Synechococcus/metabolism ; Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Survival of free-living and symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) in coral reefs is critical to the maintenance of a healthy coral community. Most coral reefs exist in oligotrophic waters, and their survival strategy in such nutrient-depleted waters remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that two strains of Symbiodinium spp. cultured from the environment and acquired from the tissues of the coral Alveopora japonica had the ability to feed heterotrophically. Symbiodinium spp. fed on heterotrophic bacteria, cyanobacteria (Synechococcus spp.), and small microalgae in both nutrient-replete and nutrient-depleted conditions. Cultured free-living Symbiodinium spp. displayed no autotrophic growth under nitrogen-depleted conditions, but grew when provided with prey. Our results indicate that Symbiodinium spp.'s mixotrophic activity greatly increases their chance of survival and their population growth under nitrogen-depleted conditions, which tend to prevail in coral habitats. In particular, free-living Symbiodinium cells acquired considerable nitrogen from algal prey, comparable to or greater than the direct uptake of ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, or urea. In addition, free-living Symbiodinium spp. can be a sink for planktonic cyanobacteria (Synechococcus spp.) and remove substantial portions of Synechococcus populations from coral reef waters. Our discovery of Symbiodinium's feeding alters our conventional views of the survival strategies of photosynthetic Symbiodinium and corals.}, } @article {pmid22810583, year = {2013}, author = {Ngwene, B and Gabriel, E and George, E}, title = {Influence of different mineral nitrogen sources (NO3(-)-N vs. NH4(+)-N) on arbuscular mycorrhiza development and N transfer in a Glomus intraradices-cowpea symbiosis.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {107-117}, pmid = {22810583}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ammonia/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/metabolism/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/metabolism/*physiology ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrates/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Labeled nitrogen ((15)N) was applied to a soil-based substrate in order to study the uptake of N by Glomus intraradices extraradical mycelium (ERM) from different mineral N (NO(3)(-) vs. NH(4)(+)) sources and the subsequent transfer to cowpea plants. Fungal compartments (FCs) were placed within the plant growth substrate to simulate soil patches containing root-inaccessible, but mycorrhiza-accessible, N. The fungus was able to take up both N-forms, NO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+). However, the amount of N transferred from the FC to the plant was higher when NO(3)(-) was applied to the FC. In contrast, analysis of ERM harvested from the FC showed a higher (15)N enrichment when the FC was supplied with (15)NH(4)(+) compared with (15)NO(3)(-). The (15)N shoot/root ratio of plants supplied with (15)NO(3)(-) was much higher than that of plants supplied with (15)NH(4)(+), indicative of a faster transfer of (15)NO(3)(-) from the root to the shoot and a higher accumulation of (15)NH (4)(+) in the root and/or intraradical mycelium. It is concluded that hyphae of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus may absorb NH(4)(+) preferentially over NO(3)(-) but that export of N from the hyphae to the root and shoot may be greater following NO(3)(-) uptake. The need for NH(4)(+) to be assimilated into organically bound N prior to transport into the plant is discussed.}, } @article {pmid22809273, year = {2012}, author = {Zamorano-Sánchez, D and Reyes-González, A and Gómez-Hernández, N and Rivera, P and Georgellis, D and Girard, L}, title = {FxkR provides the missing link in the fixL-fixK signal transduction cascade in Rhizobium etli CFN42.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {11}, pages = {1506-1517}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-12-0136-R}, pmid = {22809273}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/genetics/physiology ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Rhizobium etli/genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Transcriptional control of the fixK gene in Rhizobium etli and R. leguminosarum bv. viciae is governed by a two-component signal transduction system that diverts from the conventional FixL-FixJ cascade that occurs in model rhizobia. Although a fixL gene, encoding a hybrid histidine kinase (hFixL), is present in R. etli, no fixJ, the cognate response regulator, has been identified. In this work, we present evidence that the pRet42f-located open reading frame RHE_PF00530 (fxkR) encodes a novel response regulator indispensable for fixKf activation under microaerobic growth. Moreover, results from complementation assays demonstrate that the activation of fixKf expression requires the presence of both hFixL and FxkR, and that the fxkR ortholog from R. leguminosarum bv. viciae is able to substitute for FxkR transcriptional control in R. etli. In addition, in these two organisms, hFixL- and FxkR-related proteins were identified in other bacteria, located in close proximity to a fixK-related gene. Using reporter fusions, site-directed mutagenesis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we identified the FxkR binding site upstream from the transcriptional start site of fixKf. Similar to our previous observations for fixL and fixKf mutants, a null mutation in fxkR does not affect the symbiotic effectiveness of the strain. Thus, our findings reveal that FxkR is the long-standing missing key regulator that allows the transduction of the microaerobic signal for the activation of the FixKf regulon.}, } @article {pmid22807668, year = {2012}, author = {Faust, K and Sathirapongsasuti, JF and Izard, J and Segata, N and Gevers, D and Raes, J and Huttenhower, C}, title = {Microbial co-occurrence relationships in the human microbiome.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {8}, number = {7}, pages = {e1002606}, pmid = {22807668}, issn = {1553-7358}, support = {U54HG004969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK043351/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HG005969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; U54 HG004969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; CA139193/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA139193/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01HG005969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genes, rRNA/genetics ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Nasal Cavity/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Skin/microbiology ; Vagina/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The healthy microbiota show remarkable variability within and among individuals. In addition to external exposures, ecological relationships (both oppositional and symbiotic) between microbial inhabitants are important contributors to this variation. It is thus of interest to assess what relationships might exist among microbes and determine their underlying reasons. The initial Human Microbiome Project (HMP) cohort, comprising 239 individuals and 18 different microbial habitats, provides an unprecedented resource to detect, catalog, and analyze such relationships. Here, we applied an ensemble method based on multiple similarity measures in combination with generalized boosted linear models (GBLMs) to taxonomic marker (16S rRNA gene) profiles of this cohort, resulting in a global network of 3,005 significant co-occurrence and co-exclusion relationships between 197 clades occurring throughout the human microbiome. This network revealed strong niche specialization, with most microbial associations occurring within body sites and a number of accompanying inter-body site relationships. Microbial communities within the oropharynx grouped into three distinct habitats, which themselves showed no direct influence on the composition of the gut microbiota. Conversely, niches such as the vagina demonstrated little to no decomposition into region-specific interactions. Diverse mechanisms underlay individual interactions, with some such as the co-exclusion of Porphyromonaceae family members and Streptococcus in the subgingival plaque supported by known biochemical dependencies. These differences varied among broad phylogenetic groups as well, with the Bacilli and Fusobacteria, for example, both enriched for exclusion of taxa from other clades. Comparing phylogenetic versus functional similarities among bacteria, we show that dominant commensal taxa (such as Prevotellaceae and Bacteroides in the gut) often compete, while potential pathogens (e.g. Treponema and Prevotella in the dental plaque) are more likely to co-occur in complementary niches. This approach thus serves to open new opportunities for future targeted mechanistic studies of the microbial ecology of the human microbiome.}, } @article {pmid22807623, year = {2012}, author = {Rashid, M and Guangyuan, H and Guangxiao, Y and Hussain, J and Xu, Y}, title = {AP2/ERF Transcription Factor in Rice: Genome-Wide Canvas and Syntenic Relationships between Monocots and Eudicots.}, journal = {Evolutionary bioinformatics online}, volume = {8}, number = {}, pages = {321-355}, pmid = {22807623}, issn = {1176-9343}, abstract = {The transcription factor family intimately regulates gene expression in response to hormones, biotic and abiotic factors, symbiotic interactions, cell differentiation, and stress signalling pathways in plants. In this study, 170 AP2/ERF family genes are identified by phylogenetic analysis of the rice genome (Oryza sativa l. japonica) and they are divided into a total of 11 groups, including four major groups (AP2, ERF, DREB, and RAV), 10 subgroups, and two soloists. Gene structure analysis revealed that, at position-6, the amino acid threonine (Thr-6) is conserved in the double domain AP2 proteins compared to the amino acid arginine (Arg-6), which is preserved in the single domain of ERF proteins. In addition, the histidine (His) amino acid is found in both domains of the double domain AP2 protein, which is missing in single domain ERF proteins. Motif analysis indicates that most of the conserved motifs, apart from the AP2/ERF domain, are exclusively distributed among the specific clades in the phylogenetic tree and regulate plausible functions. Expression analysis reveals a widespread distribution of the rice AP2/ERF family genes within plant tissues. In the vegetative organs, the transcripts of these genes are found most abundant in the roots followed by the leaf and stem; whereas, in reproductive tissues, the gene expression of this family is observed high in the embryo and lemma. From chromosomal localization, it appears that repetition and tandem-duplication may contribute to the evolution of new genes in the rice genome. In this study, interspecies comparisons between rice and wheat reveal 34 rice loci and unveil the extent of collinearity between the two genomes. It was subsequently ascertained that chromosome-9 has more orthologous loci for CRT/DRE genes whereas chromosome-2 exhibits orthologs for ERF subfamily members. Maximum conserved synteny is found in chromosome-3 for AP2 double domain subfamily genes. Macrosynteny between rice and Arabidopsis, a distant, related genome, uncovered 11 homologs/orthologs loci in both genomes. The distribution of AP2/ERF family gene paralogs in Arabidopsis was most frequent in chromosome-1 followed by chromosome-5. In Arabidopsis, ERF subfamily gene orthologs are found on chromosome-1, chromosome-3, and chromosome-5, whereas DRE subfamily genes are found on chromosome-2 and chromosome-5. Orthologs for RAV and AP2 with double domains in Arabidopsis are located on chromosome-1 and chromosome-3, respectively. In conclusion, the data generated in this survey will be useful for conducting genomic research to determine the precise role of the AP2/ERF gene during stress responses with the ultimate goal of improving crops.}, } @article {pmid22807274, year = {2012}, author = {Kai, K and Furuyabu, K and Tani, A and Hayashi, H}, title = {Production of the quorum-sensing molecules N-acylhomoserine lactones by endobacteria associated with Mortierella alpina A-178.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {1776-1784}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.201200263}, pmid = {22807274}, issn = {1439-7633}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/*analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Homoserine/*analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis/metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lactones ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mortierella/*physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quorum Sensing/*physiology ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Gram-negative bacteria communicate with one another using N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) as signaling molecules. This mechanism, known as quorum sensing (QS), is needed to develop pathogenicity, as well as symbiotic interactions with eukaryotic hosts, such as animals and plants. Increasing evidence indicates that certain bacteria, namely endobacteria, also inhabit fungal cells and establish symbiotic relationships with their hosts. However, it has not been clear whether bacterial QS acts in developing the relationships. Here we describe the isolation and identification of N-heptanoylhomoserine lactone and N-octanoylhomoserine lactone from the culture broth of the zygomycete fungus Mortierella alpina A-178. This suggested the presence of endobacteria in the fungus, as was confirmed by PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and transmission electron microscopy. Two major bands obtained by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed sequence identity to genes in the β-proteobacterium Castellaniella defragrans (100 %) and the Gram-positive bacterium Cryobacterium sp. (99.8 %). The production of AHLs depended on the presence of endobacteria and was induced in response to the increase in the concentration of AHLs, suggesting that the bacterium conducts AHL-mediated QS in the fungus. This paper is the first to report the production of AHLs by endofungal bacteria and raises the possibility that QS plays roles in the development of fungus-endobacterium symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22806582, year = {2013}, author = {Ogura-Tsujita, Y and Sakoda, A and Ebihara, A and Yukawa, T and Imaichi, R}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza formation in cordate gametophytes of two ferns, Angiopteris lygodiifolia and Osmunda japonica.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {126}, number = {1}, pages = {41-50}, pmid = {22806582}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Ferns/*microbiology/*physiology ; Germ Cells, Plant/*cytology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*cytology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis is common among land plants including pteridophytes (monilophytes and lycophytes). In pteridophytes with diplohaplontic life cycle, mycorrhizal formations were mostly reported for sporophytes, but very few for gametophytes. To clarify the mycorrhizal association of photosynthetic gametophytes, field-collected gametophytes of Angiopteris lygodiifolia (Marattiaceae, n = 52) and Osmunda japonica (Osmundaceae, n = 45) were examined using microscopic and molecular techniques. Collected gametophytes were mostly cut into two pieces. One piece was used for light and scanning microscopic observations, and the other for molecular identification of plant species (chloroplast rbcL sequences) and mycorrhizal fungi (small subunit rDNA sequences). Microscopic observations showed that 96 % (50/52) of Angiopteris and 95 % (41/43) of Osmunda gametophytes contained intracellular hyphae with arbuscules and/or vesicles and fungal colonization was limited to the inner tissue of the thick midribs (cushion). Fungal DNA analyses showed that 92 % (48/52) of Angiopteris and 92 % (35/38) of Osmunda have sequences of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which were highly divergent but all belonged to Glomus group A. These results suggest that A. lygodiifolia and O. japonica gametophytes consistently form arbuscular mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizal formation in wild fern gametophytes, based on large-scale sampling with molecular identification of host plant species, was demonstrated for the first time.}, } @article {pmid22806105, year = {2012}, author = {Sawhasan, P and Worapong, J and Flegel, TW and Vinijsanun, T}, title = {Fungal partnerships stimulate growth of Termitomyces clypeatus stalk mycelium in vitro.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {2311-2318}, pmid = {22806105}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Animals ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Mycelium/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Termitomyces/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between termites and Termitomyces fungi, which allows the termite to digest cellulose-rich food sources, is poorly understood. In this study, in vitro mixed symbiotic relationships between Termitomyces clypeatus and fungi isolated from individual fungus-comb communities using a culture-dependent method were analyzed. Twenty-day-old stalk cultures of three T. clypeatus isolates were co-cultured with cellulase-producing fungi on potato dextrose agar. The high cellulase-producing fungal isolate no. 18, which showed 99 % ITS sequence identity to Sordariomycetes endophyte isolate 2171 (EU687039), increased growth of T. clypeatus 18/50 by 85.7 %. The high xylanase-producing isolate no. 13, which showed 88 % ITS sequence identity to Arthrinium sacchari isolate L06 (HQ115662), stimulated T. clypeatus 18/50 growth by 58.6 %. The high cellulase- and xylanase-producing isolate no. 50, which showed 90 % ITS sequence identity to the fungal endophyte isolate 2196 (EU687056), improved T. clypeatus 18/50 growth by 45.7 %. A Gigantropanus sp. promoted the growth of T. clypeatus 18/50 and 20/50 by 45.7 and 44.1 %, respectively, and that of T. clypeatus 19/50 by 10.6 %. These results indicated the most beneficial potential partnership of T. clypeatus might involve cellulase-producing fungi isolated from the same ecological niche. The Gigantropanus sp. is a potential partner of T. clypeatus but is likely to be less common than cellulase-producing fungi isolated from fungus combs owing to the lower host specificity of the Gigantropanus sp. This study provides an interesting method to culture Termitomyces using an in vitro mixed culture method for production of Termitomyces fruiting bodies in the future.}, } @article {pmid22806016, year = {2012}, author = {Avelar Ferreira, PA and Bomfeti, CA and Lima Soares, B and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Efficient nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium strains isolated from amazonian soils are highly tolerant to acidity and aluminium.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {5}, pages = {1947-1959}, pmid = {22806016}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Acids/*toxicity ; Aluminum/*toxicity ; Brazil ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Drug Tolerance ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/chemistry ; Rhizobium/classification/drug effects/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One of the most cultivated and consumed vegetables in Brazil is the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. The symbiosis of this plant species with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are adapted to the stresses commonly found in tropical soils can increase production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the symbiotic effectiveness of bacterial strains from soils under different land uses in the Amazon region. Further, rhizobia tolerance to acidity and aluminium and the involvement of some possible physiological mechanisms of such tolerance were also investigated. In assessing the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation, inoculation with strains UFLA04-195, UFLA04-173 and UFLA04-202, belonging to the genus Rhizobium, resulted in greater plant growth, higher shoot nitrogen content and good nodulation compared to the inoculation with the strain CIAT 899 (R. tropici), and to the mineral nitrogen control or Burkholderia fungorum strains that nodulated or not bean plants. These efficient strains grew better at pH 5.0 than at pH 6.0 or pH 6.9; they also tolerated up to 1 mmol l(-1) of Al(3+) and showed an increased production of exopolysaccharides where the growing rates were less (pH 6.0 and pH 6.9). With respect to aluminium, the highest production of EPS produced greater tolerance to this element. Taken together, these results indicate that the strains evaluated in this study were tolerant to acidity and aluminium; they appeared to have developed resistance mechanisms such as EPS production and a resistant cell outer membrane (indicated by resistance to polymyxin and methyl violet). As these strains also gave increased yields of the host species, further studies on whether to recommend these strains as inoculants are already underway.}, } @article {pmid22805968, year = {2012}, author = {Torres, AR and Kaschuk, G and Saridakis, GP and Hungria, M}, title = {Genetic variability in Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains nodulating soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill].}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {1831-1835}, pmid = {22805968}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Biomass ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Brazil ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/chemistry/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Soybeans/chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Brazil has succeeded in sustaining production of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] by relying mainly on symbiotic N(2) fixation, thanks to the selection and use in inoculants of very effective strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii. It is desirable that rhizobial strains used in inoculants have stable genetic and physiological traits, but experience confirms that rhizobial strains nodulating soybean often lose competitiveness in the field. In this study, soybean cultivar BR 16 was single-inoculated with four B. japonicum strains (CIAT 88, CIAT 89, CIAT 104 and CIAT 105) under aseptic conditions. Forty colonies were isolated from nodules produced by each strain. The progenitor strains, the isolates and four other commercially recommended strains were applied separately to the same cultivar under controlled greenhouse conditions. We observed significant variability in nodulation, shoot dry weight, shoot total N, nodule efficiency (total N mass over nodule mass) and BOX-PCR fingerprinting profiles between variant and progenitor strains. Some variant strains resulted in significantly larger responses in terms of shoot total N, dry weight and nodule efficiency, when compared to their progenitor strain. These results highlight the need for intermittent evaluation of stock bacterial cultures to guarantee effective symbiosis after inoculation. Most importantly, it indicates that it is possible to improve symbiotic effectiveness by screening rhizobial strains for higher N(2) fixation capacity within the natural variability that can be found within each progenitor strain.}, } @article {pmid22805943, year = {2012}, author = {Cheng, Y and Ma, W and Li, X and Miao, W and Zheng, L and Cheng, B}, title = {Polyamines stimulate hyphal branching and infection in the early stage of Glomus etunicatum colonization.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {1615-1621}, pmid = {22805943}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Daucus carota/*microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/*growth & development/physiology ; Hyphae/*drug effects/*growth & development ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polyamines/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Polyamines are known to strongly stimulate hyphal growth in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The effect of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine on spore germination, hyphal elongation and branching by the AM fungus Glomus etunicatum was investigated in this study. The effect of spermine on infection and the development of the host and of daughter spores was further investigated using the dual monoaxenic culture system comprised of Gl. etunicatum fungal cultures in Ri T-DNA transformed carrot hairy roots. Spermidine and spermine showed positive effects on germination and all three polyamines significantly promoted hyphal growth. Hyphal branching was also strongly stimulated by treatment with polyamines, such as an increase in the number of branches. Infection during the early stages of the in vitro co-culture life cycle was enhanced in the presence of spermine, and daughter spores appeared at earlier timepoints compared to the control. Our results demonstrate that polyamines stimulate germination and hyphal branching in the early stage of AM fungal colonization. Moreover, results from the investigations conducted in the fungus-root co-culture suggest that polyamines may be involved in establishing the symbiotic relationship between root and fungus.}, } @article {pmid22805929, year = {2012}, author = {Ferreira Filho, AS and Quecine, MC and Bogas, AC and Rossetto, Pde B and Lima, AO and Lacava, PT and Azevedo, JL and Araújo, WL}, title = {Endophytic Methylobacterium extorquens expresses a heterologous β-1,4-endoglucanase A (EglA) in Catharanthus roseus seedlings, a model host plant for Xylella fastidiosa.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {1475-1481}, pmid = {22805929}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {Antibiosis ; Catharanthus/*microbiology ; Cellulase/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Endophytes/*enzymology/genetics ; Metabolic Engineering ; Methylobacterium extorquens/*enzymology/genetics ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; Seedlings/*microbiology ; Xylella/*growth & development ; Xylem/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Based on the premise of symbiotic control, we genetically modified the citrus endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens, strain AR1.6/2, and evaluated its capacity to colonize a model plant and its interaction with Xylella fastidiosa, the causative agent of Citrus Variegated Chlorosis (CVC). AR1.6/2 was genetically transformed to express heterologous GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) and an endoglucanase A (EglA), generating the strains ARGFP and AREglA, respectively. By fluorescence microscopy, it was shown that ARGFP was able to colonize xylem vessels of the Catharanthus roseus seedlings. Using scanning electron microscopy, it was observed that AREglA and X. fastidiosa may co-inhabit the C. roseus vessels. M. extorquens was observed in the xylem with the phytopathogen X. fastidiosa, and appeared to cause a decrease in biofilm formation. AREglA stimulated the production of resistance protein, catalase, in the inoculated plants. This paper reports the successful transformation of AR1.6/2 to generate two different strains with a different gene each, and also indicates that AREglA and X. fastidiosa could interact inside the host plant, suggesting a possible strategy for the symbiotic control of CVC disease. Our results provide an enhanced understanding of the M. extorquens-X. fastidiosa interaction, suggesting the application of AR1.6/2 as an agent of symbiotic control.}, } @article {pmid22805296, year = {2012}, author = {Grossmann, G and Meier, M and Cartwright, HN and Sosso, D and Quake, SR and Ehrhardt, DW and Frommer, WB}, title = {Time-lapse fluorescence imaging of Arabidopsis root growth with rapid manipulation of the root environment using the RootChip.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {65}, pages = {}, pmid = {22805296}, issn = {1940-087X}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*growth & development ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/chemistry ; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer/*methods ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/*methods ; Plant Roots/*growth & development ; Seedlings/growth & development ; Time-Lapse Imaging/*methods ; }, abstract = {The root functions as the physical anchor of the plant and is the organ responsible for uptake of water and mineral nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfate and trace elements that plants acquire from the soil. If we want to develop sustainable approaches to producing high crop yield, we need to better understand how the root develops, takes up a wide spectrum of nutrients, and interacts with symbiotic and pathogenic organisms. To accomplish these goals, we need to be able to explore roots in microscopic detail over time periods ranging from minutes to days. We developed the RootChip, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)- based microfluidic device, which allows us to grow and image roots from Arabidopsis seedlings while avoiding any physical stress to roots during preparation for imaging(1) (Figure 1). The device contains a bifurcated channel structure featuring micromechanical valves to guide the fluid flow from solution inlets to each of the eight observation chambers(2). This perfusion system allows the root microenvironment to be controlled and modified with precision and speed. The volume of the chambers is approximately 400 nl, thus requiring only minimal amounts of test solution. Here we provide a detailed protocol for studying root biology on the RootChip using imaging-based approaches with real time resolution. Roots can be analyzed over several days using time lapse microscopy. Roots can be perfused with nutrient solutions or inhibitors, and up to eight seedlings can be analyzed in parallel. This system has the potential for a wide range of applications, including analysis of root growth in the presence or absence of chemicals, fluorescence-based analysis of gene expression, and the analysis of biosensors, e.g. FRET nanosensors(3).}, } @article {pmid22803786, year = {2012}, author = {Rasmussen, S and Liu, Q and Parsons, AJ and Xue, H and Sinclair, B and Newman, JA}, title = {Grass-endophyte interactions: a note on the role of monosaccharide transport in the Neotyphodium lolii-Lolium perenne symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {196}, number = {1}, pages = {7-12}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04250.x}, pmid = {22803786}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {2 P20 RR-16481/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Biological Transport/drug effects ; Endophytes/drug effects/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal/drug effects ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Hydrolases/metabolism ; Lolium/drug effects/*microbiology ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Monosaccharides/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Mutation/genetics ; Neotyphodium/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; }, } @article {pmid22803324, year = {2012}, author = {Rai, R and Dash, PK and Mohapatra, T and Singh, A}, title = {Phenotypic and molecular characterization of indigenous rhizobia nodulating chickpea in India.}, journal = {Indian journal of experimental biology}, volume = {50}, number = {5}, pages = {340-350}, pmid = {22803324}, issn = {0019-5189}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Cicer/*microbiology ; Genotype ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; India ; Mesorhizobium/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Salinity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In a combined approach of phenotypic and genotypic characterization, 28 indigenous rhizobial isolates obtained from different chickpea growing regions in peninsular and northern India were analyzed for diversity. The field isolates were compared to two reference strains TAL620 and UPM-Ca142 representing M. ciceri and M. mediterraneum respectively. Phenotypic markers such as resistance to antibiotics, tolerance to salinity, temperature, pH, phosphate solubilization ability, growth rate and also symbiotic efficiency showed considerable diversity among rhizobial isolates. Their phenotypic patterns showed adaptations of rhizobial isolates to abiotic stresses such as heat and salinity. Two salt tolerant strains (1.5% NaCl by T1 and T4) with relatively high symbiotic efficiency and two P-solubilising strains (66.7 and 71 microg/ml by T2 and T5) were identified as potential bioinoculants. Molecular profiling by 16S ribosomal DNA Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) revealed three clusters at 67% similarity level. Further, the isolates were differentiated at intraspecific level by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. Results assigned all the chickpea rhizobial field isolates to belong to three different species of Mesorhizobium genus. 46% of the isolates grouped with Mesorhizobium loti and the rest were identified as M. ciceri and M. mediterraneum, the two species which have been formerly described as specific chickpea symbionts. This is the first report on characterization of chickpea nodulating rhizobia covering soils of both northern and peninsular India. The collection of isolates, diverse in terms of species and symbiotic effectiveness holds a vast pool of genetic material which can be effectively used to yield superior inoculant strains.}, } @article {pmid22802720, year = {2012}, author = {Rodrigues, EP and Torres, AR and da Silva Batista, JS and Huergo, L and Hungria, M}, title = {A simple, economical and reproducible protein extraction protocol for proteomics studies of soybean roots.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {35}, number = {1 (suppl)}, pages = {348-352}, pmid = {22802720}, issn = {1678-4685}, abstract = {Sample preparation is a critical step in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) of plant tissues. Here we describe a phenol/SDS procedure that, although greatly simplified, produced well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE profiles of protein extracts from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] roots. Extractions were made in three replicates using both the original and simplified procedure. To evaluate the quality of the extracted proteins, ten spots were randomly selected and identified by mass spectrometry (MS). The 2-DE gels were equally well resolved, with no streaks or smears, and no significant differences were observed in protein yield, reproducibility, resolution or number of spots. Mass spectra of the ten selected spots were compared with database entries and allowed high-quality identification of proteins. The simplified protocol described here presents considerable savings of time and reagents without compromising the quality of 2-DE protein profiles and compatibility with MS analysis, and may facilitate the progress of proteomics studies of legume-rhizobia interactions.}, } @article {pmid22802714, year = {2012}, author = {Molina, LG and da Fonseca, GC and de Morais, GL and de Oliveira, LF and de Carvalho, JB and Kulcheski, FR and Margis, R}, title = {Metatranscriptomic analysis of small RNAs present in soybean deep sequencing libraries.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {35}, number = {1 (suppl)}, pages = {292-303}, pmid = {22802714}, issn = {1678-4685}, abstract = {A large number of small RNAs unrelated to the soybean genome were identified after deep sequencing of soybean small RNA libraries. A metatranscriptomic analysis was carried out to identify the origin of these sequences. Comparative analyses of small interference RNAs (siRNAs) present in samples collected in open areas corresponding to soybean field plantations and samples from soybean cultivated in greenhouses under a controlled environment were made. Different pathogenic, symbiotic and free-living organisms were identified from samples of both growth systems. They included viruses, bacteria and different groups of fungi. This approach can be useful not only to identify potentially unknown pathogens and pests, but also to understand the relations that soybean plants establish with microorganisms that may affect, directly or indirectly, plant health and crop production.}, } @article {pmid22802646, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, S and Ghosh, AK and Bongio, N and Stebbings, KA and Lampe, DJ and Jacobs-Lorena, M}, title = {Fighting malaria with engineered symbiotic bacteria from vector mosquitoes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {31}, pages = {12734-12739}, pmid = {22802646}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {M01 RR000052/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI088033/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI088033/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RR00052/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anopheles/metabolism/microbiology/parasitology ; Antimalarials/*metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems/genetics ; Escherichia coli Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Hemolysin Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; *Insect Vectors/immunology/parasitology ; Malaria, Falciparum/metabolism/*prevention & control ; Pantoea/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plasmodium berghei ; *Plasmodium falciparum ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The most vulnerable stages of Plasmodium development occur in the lumen of the mosquito midgut, a compartment shared with symbiotic bacteria. Here, we describe a strategy that uses symbiotic bacteria to deliver antimalaria effector molecules to the midgut lumen, thus rendering host mosquitoes refractory to malaria infection. The Escherichia coli hemolysin A secretion system was used to promote the secretion of a variety of anti-Plasmodium effector proteins by Pantoea agglomerans, a common mosquito symbiotic bacterium. These engineered P. agglomerans strains inhibited development of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei by up to 98%. Significantly, the proportion of mosquitoes carrying parasites (prevalence) decreased by up to 84% for two of the effector molecules, scorpine, a potent antiplasmodial peptide and (EPIP)(4), four copies of Plasmodium enolase-plasminogen interaction peptide that prevents plasminogen binding to the ookinete surface. We demonstrate the use of an engineered symbiotic bacterium to interfere with the development of P. falciparum in the mosquito. These findings provide the foundation for the use of genetically modified symbiotic bacteria as a powerful tool to combat malaria.}, } @article {pmid22802389, year = {2013}, author = {Card, SD and Tapper, BA and Lloyd-West, C and Wright, KM}, title = {Assessment of fluorescein-based fluorescent dyes for tracing Neotyphodium endophytes in planta.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {105}, number = {1}, pages = {221-229}, doi = {10.3852/12-062}, pmid = {22802389}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Endophytes/*chemistry/physiology ; Fluoresceins/*chemistry ; Fluorescent Dyes/*chemistry ; Neotyphodium/*chemistry/physiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Staining and Labeling ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fluorescent dyes were assessed for their ability to stain viable hyphae of the fungi Neotyphodium lolii and N. coenophialum, symbiotic endophytes of the Pooideae grasses Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea, respectively. The fluorescein-based fluorophores; fluorescein diacetate (FDA), 5(6)-carboxy-fluorescein diacetate (CFDA), 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) and the chitin-binding stain, Calcofluor while M2R, were assessed for staining of endophyte hyphae in vitro from axenic fungal cultures and in planta, including epidermal leaf sheath peels, nodes, ovaries, embryos and meristems. CMFDA produced the greatest intensity of staining of fungal hyphae and gave excellent contrast in planta compared to the plant cells. Compared to the other dyes, CMFDA was also the least affected by photo bleaching and continued to fluoresce up to 2 h after initial excitation. None of the fluorescent dyes stained fungal hyphae in seed.}, } @article {pmid22799217, year = {2012}, author = {Zhao, J and Liu, C and Qiu, L and Pang, Y}, title = {[Variable fragment of 23S rDNA for classification and identification of Xenorhabdus].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {512-518}, pmid = {22799217}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Xenorhabdus/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Members of Xenorhabdus are symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema, and can be applied as biopesticides against insects. Therefore, a rapid and accurate method for classification and identification of Xenorhabdus is essential.

METHODS: An 845bp-fragment of 23S rDNA sequence of 26 strains of Xenorhabdus representing 20 described species was PCR amplified and sequenced. A phylogenetic tree of Xenorhabdus based on the sequences obtained was constructed and compared to that based on nearly complete 16S rDNA sequences for suitability as molecular maker for classification and identification of Xenorhabdus.

RESULTS: The 23S rDNA fragment contained more variable and parsimony-informative sites proportionally, and with greater pairwise distances among sequences compared to those of 16S rDNA.

CONCLUSION: The 23S rDNA fragment can be used to identify Xenorhabdus, especially for a large number of Xenorhabdus strains obtained from field survey.}, } @article {pmid22799212, year = {2012}, author = {Yang, F and Xu, B and Li, J and Huang, Z}, title = {Transcriptome analysis of Termitomyces albuminosus reveals the biodegradation of lignocellulose.}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {52}, number = {4}, pages = {466-477}, pmid = {22799212}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Termitomyces/classification/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To study whether Termitomyces albuminosus can degrade lignocelluloses and to understand the symbiotic relationship between termite mushroom and fungus-growing termite.

METHODS: cDNA library of T. albuminosus was sequenced by the Roche 454 GS FLX Titanium platform, and the diverse enzymes relevant to degradation of cellulose and lignin of symbiotic fungus T. albuminosus were analyzed.

RESULTS: Eighth sequencing run resulted in a total of 82386 reads (express sequence tags, EST). After removing the vector and primer sequences, the remained 54410 reads were assembled into 3301 contigs and 3193 singletons. Comparing sequence similarity with known proteins, these sequences, representing approximately 2681 unique genes, were successfully annotated using BLAST searches (E-value < or = 1e(-10)) against the Nr, SwissProt and CDD databases. The T. albuminosus transcripts included 33 enzymes putatively involved in cellulose and hemicelluloses biodegradation. 5 enzymes could hydrolyze cellulose and others had catalytic activities for degradation of hemicelluloses, starch and glycogen and chitin. Moreover, four genes encoding laccases and a single aryl-alcohol oxidase which could degrade lignin were also identified. These results revealed symbiosis fungus T. albuminosus had many laccases and possibly decomposed phenolic compounds from plant litter.

CONCLUSIONS: Data presented in this study indicated that T. albuminosus had the ability to degrade lignin, which made cellulose more easily degraded by the cellulase produced by fungus-growing termite.}, } @article {pmid22798373, year = {2012}, author = {Wangkeeree, J and Miller, TA and Hanboonsong, Y}, title = {Candidates for symbiotic control of sugarcane white leaf disease.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {19}, pages = {6804-6811}, pmid = {22798373}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; *Antibiosis ; Bacteria/*classification/*isolation & purification ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Saccharum/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The leafhopper Matsumuratettix hiroglyphicus (Matsumura) is the most important vector of a phytoplasma pathogen causing sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate candidate bacterial symbionts for possible use as vehicles in the control of the disease. 16S rRNA bacterial genes were amplified from whole bodies of M. hiroglyphicus leafhoppers and analyzed by cloning and sequencing. Two dominant groups were found: one belonged to the Betaproteobacteria that did not closely match any sequences in the database and was named bacterium associated with M. hiroglyphicus (BAMH). Another one found to be abundant in this leafhopper is "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" in the order Bacteroidetes, which was previously reported in the insect members of the Auchenorrhyncha. Most M. hiroglyphicus leafhoppers carry both BAMH and "Ca. Sulcia muelleri." Fluorescent in situ hybridization showed that BAMH and "Ca. Sulcia muelleri" colocalized in the same bacteriomes. BAMH was present in the midgut and ovaries of the leafhopper and was found in all developmental stages, including eggs, nymphs, and adults. Because BAMH appears to be specific for the SCWL vector, we evaluated it as a candidate for symbiotic control of sugarcane white leaf disease.}, } @article {pmid22798370, year = {2012}, author = {Azarias Guimarães, A and Duque Jaramillo, PM and Simão Abrahão Nóbrega, R and Florentino, LA and Barroso Silva, K and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Genetic and symbiotic diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from agricultural soils in the western Amazon by using cowpea as the trap plant.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {18}, pages = {6726-6733}, pmid = {22798370}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Cowpea is a legume of great agronomic importance that establishes symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, little is known about the genetic and symbiotic diversity of these bacteria in distinct ecosystems. Our study evaluated the genetic diversity and symbiotic efficiencies of 119 bacterial strains isolated from agriculture soils in the western Amazon using cowpea as a trap plant. These strains were clustered into 11 cultural groups according to growth rate and pH. The 57 nonnodulating strains were predominantly fast growing and acidifying, indicating a high incidence of endophytic strains in the nodules. The other 62 strains, authenticated as nodulating bacteria, exhibited various symbiotic efficiencies, with 68% of strains promoting a significant increase in shoot dry matter of cowpea compared with the control with no inoculation and low levels of mineral nitrogen. Fifty genotypes with 70% similarity and 21 genotypes with 30% similarity were obtained through repetitive DNA sequence (BOX element)-based PCR (BOX-PCR) clustering. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing of strains representative of BOX-PCR clusters showed a predominance of bacteria from the genus Bradyrhizobium but with high species diversity. Rhizobium, Burkholderia, and Achromobacter species were also identified. These results support observations of cowpea promiscuity and demonstrate the high symbiotic and genetic diversity of rhizobia species in areas under cultivation in the western Amazon.}, } @article {pmid22796495, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, N and Venkateshwaran, M and Boersma, M and Harms, A and Howes-Podoll, M and den Os, D and Ané, JM and Sussman, MR}, title = {Metabolomic profiling reveals suppression of oxylipin biosynthesis during the early stages of legume-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {586}, number = {19}, pages = {3150-3158}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2012.06.046}, pmid = {22796495}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The establishment of symbiosis between leguminous plants and rhizobial bacteria requires rapid metabolic changes in both partners. We utilized untargeted quantitative mass spectrometry to perform metabolomic profiling of small molecules in extracts of the model legume Medicago truncatula treated with rhizobial Nod factors. One metabolite closely resembling the 9(R)-HODE class of oxylipins reproducibly showed a decrease in concentration within the first hour of in planta nod factor treatment. Oxylipins are precursors of the jasmonic acid biosynthetic pathway and we showed that both this metabolite and jasmonic acid inhibit Nod factor signaling. Since, oxylipins have been implicated as antimicrobial compounds produced by plants, these observations suggest that the oxylipin pathway may play multiple roles in facilitating Nod factor signaling during the early stages of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22793647, year = {2013}, author = {Sulieman, S and Tran, LS}, title = {Asparagine: an amide of particular distinction in the regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation of legumes.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {309-327}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2012.695770}, pmid = {22793647}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {Asparagine/*metabolism ; Fabaceae/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is tightly regulated by a range of fine processes at the nodule level, over which the host plant has overall control through the whole life of the plant. The operation of this control at the nodule level is not yet fully understood, but greater knowledge will ultimately lead to a better improvement of N2 fixation through the use of crop legumes and genetic engineering of crop plants for higher performance. It has been suggested that, nodule responses to the nutritional complexity of the rhizosphere environment involve a great deal of coordination of sensing and signal transduction. This regulation can be achieved through several mechanisms, including changes in carbon metabolism, oxygen supply and/or overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Recently, the cycling of amino acids observed between the plant and bacteroid fractions suggests a new and important regulatory mechanism involved in nodule responses. Most of the recent transcriptional findings are consistent with the earlier biochemical and physiological reports. Current research revealed unique advances for nodule metabolism, especially on the regulation of asparagine synthetase gene expression and the control of asparagine (ASN) to N2 fixing activity. A large amount of ASN is found accumulating in the root nodules of the symbiotic plants under restricted environments, such as drought, salinity and nutrient deficiency. Exceptionally, ASN phloem feeding has resulted in an increased concentration of the ASN amide in nodules followed by a remarkable decrease in nodule activity. In this review, recent progress concerning the possible role of ASN in whole-plant-based down-regulation of symbiotic N2 fixation will be reviewed.}, } @article {pmid22792206, year = {2012}, author = {Tilney, PM and van Wyk, AE and van der Merwe, CF}, title = {Structural evidence in Plectroniella armata (Rubiaceae) for possible material exchange between domatia and mites.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e39984}, pmid = {22792206}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Mites ; Plant Epidermis/parasitology/ultrastructure ; Plant Leaves/parasitology ; Rubiaceae/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Domatia are small structures on the lower surface of a leaf, usually taking the form of cavities, pouches, domes with an opening, or hairs (or a combination of these), and located in the axils between the main veins. They are found in many dicotyledons including certain members of the Rubiaceae. As part of an ongoing study of selected southern African members of the tribe Vanguerieae of this family, their structure in transverse section was investigated. In some taxa, such as Plectroniella armata, light microscopic (LM) observations revealed large numbers of stomata in the domatia as well as a number of channel-like structures extending across the cuticle toward the cavity of the domatia. The cuticle of the epidermis lining the domatia also appeared thicker than in other parts of the leaves. The epidermis in P. armata was also examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Domatia have been shown to house mainly mites, many of which are predatory or fungivorous, in a symbiotic (mutualistic) relationship with the plant. To date, much research has focussed on the role of domatia in providing shelter for various organisms, their eggs and their young. However, the TEM study revealed the apparent "channels" and thick cuticle seen under LM to be electron dense non-cellulosic branching fibrils within pronounced, often closely spaced cuticular folds. The functional significance of these fibrils and folds requires further investigation. Folding of cell walls and membranes at ultrastructural level is usually functionally associated with an increased surface area to facilitate active exchange of compounds/metabolites. This may indicate that translocation of substances and/or other forms of communication is possible between the domatium and its inhabitants. This therefore suggests a far more active role for the leaf in the symbiotic relationship than was previously thought. More work is required to test such a possibility.}, } @article {pmid22791238, year = {2013}, author = {Correa, AM and Welsh, RM and Vega Thurber, RL}, title = {Unique nucleocytoplasmic dsDNA and +ssRNA viruses are associated with the dinoflagellate endosymbionts of corals.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {13-27}, pmid = {22791238}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology/*virology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/physiology/*virology ; Humans ; Phycodnaviridae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA Viruses/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The residence of dinoflagellate algae (genus: Symbiodinium) within scleractinian corals is critical to the construction and persistence of tropical reefs. In recent decades, however, acute and chronic environmental stressors have frequently destabilized this symbiosis, ultimately leading to coral mortality and reef decline. Viral infection has been suggested as a trigger of coral-Symbiodinium dissociation; knowledge of the diversity and hosts of coral-associated viruses is critical to evaluating this hypothesis. Here, we present the first genomic evidence of viruses associated with Symbiodinium, based on the presence of transcribed +ss (single-stranded) RNA and ds (double-stranded) DNA virus-like genes in complementary DNA viromes of the coral Montastraea cavernosa and expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries generated from Symbiodinium cultures. The M. cavernosa viromes contained divergent viral sequences similar to the major capsid protein of the dinoflagellate-infecting +ssRNA Heterocapsa circularisquama virus, suggesting a highly novel dinornavirus could infect Symbiodinium. Further, similarities to dsDNA viruses dominated (∼69%) eukaryotic viral similarities in the M. cavernosa viromes. Transcripts highly similar to eukaryotic algae-infecting phycodnaviruses were identified in the viromes, and homologs to these sequences were found in two independently generated Symbiodinium EST libraries. Phylogenetic reconstructions substantiate that these transcripts are undescribed and distinct members of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus (NCLDVs) group. Based on a preponderance of evidence, we infer that the novel NCLDVs and RNA virus described here are associated with the algal endosymbionts of corals. If such viruses disrupt Symbiodinium, they are likely to impact the flexibility and/or stability of coral-algal symbioses, and thus long-term reef health and resilience.}, } @article {pmid22791052, year = {2012}, author = {Thong-On, A and Suzuki, K and Noda, S and Inoue, J and Kajiwara, S and Ohkuma, M}, title = {Isolation and characterization of anaerobic bacteria for symbiotic recycling of uric acid nitrogen in the gut of various termites.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {186-192}, pmid = {22791052}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Ammonia/metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria, Anaerobic/classification/*isolation & purification/metabolism/*physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; Uric Acid/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Recycling of the nitrogenous waste uric acid (UA) of wood-feeding termites by their gut bacteria is one of the significant aspects of symbiosis for the conservation of nitrogen sources. Diverse anaerobic UA-degrading bacteria comprising 16 species were isolated from the gut of eight termite species, and were assigned to Clostridia, Enterobacteriaceae, and low G+C Gram-positive cocci. UA-degrading Clostridia had never been isolated from termite guts. UA-degrading ability was sporadically distributed among phylogenetically various culturable anaerobic bacteria from termite guts. A strain of Clostridium sp., which was commonly isolated from three termite species and represented a probable new species in cluster XIVa of clostridia, utilized UA as a nitrogen source but not as a sole carbon and energy source. This feature is in clear contrast to that of well-studied purinolytic clostridia or previously isolated UA degraders from termite guts, which also utilize UA as a sole carbon and energy source. Ammonia is the major nitrogenous product of UA degradation. Various purines stimulated the growth of this strain when added to an otherwise growth-limiting, nitrogen poor medium. The bacterial species involved the recycling of UA nitrogen in the gut microbial community of termites are more diverse in terms of both taxonomy and nutritional physiology than previously recognized.}, } @article {pmid22782793, year = {2013}, author = {Ramos, MA and Sousa, NR and Franco, AR and Costa, V and Oliveira, RS and Castro, PM}, title = {Effect of diflubenzuron on the development of Pinus pinaster seedlings inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {582-590}, pmid = {22782793}, issn = {1614-7499}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Diflubenzuron/*toxicity ; Insecticides/*toxicity ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth & development/physiology ; Pinus/*drug effects/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Risk Assessment ; Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diflubenzuron (DFB) is an insecticide commonly used to control forest pests. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of diflubenzuron on the development of Pinus pinaster seedlings and Pisolithus tinctorius under laboratory conditions and to study the possible protective role of this ectomycorrhizal fungus against the effects of diflubenzuron. In vitro experiments revealed that diflubenzuron inhibited fungal growth at all tested concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg L(-1)). Root growth was inhibited at the two highest diflubenzuron concentrations. The activity of the antioxidant defence system of non-inoculated P. pinaster increased at 1 and 10 mg DFB kg(-1) substrate, and inoculation increased the threshold to the highest concentration. The protective role of the ectomycorrhizal fungus was seen in the increase of CAT activity. This study revealed that despite causing no mortality, diflubenzuron has the ability to cause sub-lethal damage to P. pinaster. The disproportionate use of this insecticide may lead to higher amounts of its residues in soil and the biosphere, endangering trees, fungi and their symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22777512, year = {2012}, author = {Grignon, B}, title = {Anatomy and medical imaging: a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA}, volume = {34}, number = {8}, pages = {673-674}, pmid = {22777512}, issn = {1279-8517}, mesh = {Anatomy/education/*methods ; Contrast Media ; Diagnostic Imaging/*methods ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Humans ; }, } @article {pmid22777271, year = {2012}, author = {Yarnold, JE and Hamilton, BR and Welsh, DT and Pool, GF and Venter, DJ and Carroll, AR}, title = {High resolution spatial mapping of brominated pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole alkaloids distributions in the marine sponge Stylissa flabellata via MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging.}, journal = {Molecular bioSystems}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {2249-2259}, doi = {10.1039/c2mb25152c}, pmid = {22777271}, issn = {1742-2051}, mesh = {Alkaloids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Halogenation ; Imidazoles/chemistry/*metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Porifera/*metabolism ; Pyrroles/chemistry/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {A number of pharmacologically active brominated pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole (B-P-2-AI) alkaloids have been isolated from several families of marine sponges, including those belonging to the genus Stylissa. In the present study, MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-imaging) was applied to determine the spatial distribution of B-P-2-AIs within 20 μm cross sections of S. flabellata. A number of previously characterised B-P-2-AIs were readily identified by MALDI-imaging and confirmed by MS-MS and NMR profiling. Unknown B-P-2-AIs were also observed. Discrete microchemical environments were revealed for several B-P-2-AIs including dibromophakellin which was localised within the external pinacoderm and internal network of choanoderm chambers. Additionally, dibromopalau'amine and konbu'acidin B were also found to be confined to the choanoderm, while sceptrin was found to be highly abundant within the mesohyl. Further brominated compounds of unknown structure were also observed to have distinct localisation in both choanoderm chambers and the pinacoderm. These findings provide insights into the chemical ecology of S. flabellata, as most B-P-2-AIs were found on highly exposed surfaces, where they may act to prevent pathogens, predation and/or biofouling. Moreover this study demonstrates the power of MALDI-imaging to visualise the location of a range of metabolites in situ and to characterise compounds by MS-MS directly from intact specimens without the need for extraction. These methodologies facilitate selective targeting of micro-regions of sponge to screen for symbiotic microbial candidates or genes that may be involved in the production of the correlated compounds, and may represent a change in paradigm for natural product drug development.}, } @article {pmid22776740, year = {2013}, author = {Jose, C and Rossignol, R}, title = {Rationale for mitochondria-targeting strategies in cancer bioenergetic therapies.}, journal = {The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {123-129}, doi = {10.1016/j.biocel.2012.07.005}, pmid = {22776740}, issn = {1878-5875}, mesh = {Animals ; Energy Metabolism/drug effects ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the 1920s, Otto Warburg first hypothesized that mitochondrial impairment is a leading cause of cancer although he recognized the existence of oxidative tumors. Likewise, Weinhouse and others in the 50s found that deficient mitochondrial respiration is not an obligatory feature of cancer and Peter Vaupel suggested in the 1990s that tumor oxygenation rather than OXPHOS capacity was the limiting factor of mitochondrial energy production in cancer. Recent studies now clearly indicate that mitochondria are highly functional in mice tumors and the field of oncobioenergetic identified MYC, Oct1 and RAS as pro-OXPHOS oncogenes. In addition, cancer cells adaptation to aglycemia, metabolic symbiosis between hypoxic and non-hypoxic tumor regions as well the reverse Warburg hypothesis support the crucial role of mitochondria in the survival of a subclass of tumors. Therefore, mitochondria are now considered as potential targets for anti-cancer therapy and tentative strategies including a bioenergetic profile characterization of the tumor and the subsequent adapted bioenergetic modulation could be considered for cancer killing. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Bioenergetic dysfunction, adaptation and therapy.}, } @article {pmid22776735, year = {2012}, author = {Laming, EM and McGrath, AP and Guss, JM and Kappler, U and Maher, MJ}, title = {The X-ray crystal structure of a pseudoazurin from Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Journal of inorganic biochemistry}, volume = {115}, number = {}, pages = {148-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2012.04.005}, pmid = {22776735}, issn = {1873-3344}, mesh = {Azurin/*chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry ; Copper/*chemistry ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The X-ray crystal structure of oxidised pseudoazurin from the denitrifying plant symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti (SmPAz2) has been solved to a resolution of 2.0 Å. The pseudoazurin from Sinorhizobium sp. is unusual as it forms an operon with a sulfite dehydrogenase enzyme, rather than a Cu nitrite reductase. Examination of the structure reveals that the geometric parameters of the Type I Cu site in SmPAz2 correlate with observed features in the electronic spectrum of the protein. Comparison of the structure of SmPAz2 with those of pseudoazurins from five other bacterial species shows that the surface of SmPAz2 bears a conserved hydrophobic patch encircled by positively-charged residues, which may serve as a recognition site for its redox partners.}, } @article {pmid22775757, year = {2013}, author = {Hollants, J and Leliaert, F and De Clerck, O and Willems, A}, title = {What we can learn from sushi: a review on seaweed-bacterial associations.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {83}, number = {1}, pages = {1-16}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01446.x}, pmid = {22775757}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*growth & development ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Biodiversity ; Endophytes/growth & development/*physiology ; Seaweed/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many eukaryotes are closely associated with bacteria which enable them to expand their physiological capacities. Associations between algae (photosynthetic eukaryotes) and bacteria have been described for over a hundred years. A wide range of beneficial and detrimental interactions exists between macroalgae (seaweeds) and epi- and endosymbiotic bacteria that reside either on the surface or within the algal cells. While it has been shown that these chemically mediated interactions are based on the exchange of nutrients, minerals, and secondary metabolites, the diversity and specificity of macroalgal-bacterial relationships have not been thoroughly investigated. Some of these alliances have been found to be algal or bacterial species-specific, whereas others are widespread among different symbiotic partners. Reviewing 161 macroalgal-bacterial studies from the last 55 years, a definite bacterial core community, consisting of Gammaproteobacteria, CFB group, Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria species, seems to exist which is specifically (functionally) adapted to an algal host-associated lifestyle. Because seaweed-bacterial associations are appealing from evolutionary and applied perspectives, future studies should integrate the aspects of diverse biological fields.}, } @article {pmid22775306, year = {2012}, author = {Lauressergues, D and Delaux, PM and Formey, D and Lelandais-Brière, C and Fort, S and Cottaz, S and Bécard, G and Niebel, A and Roux, C and Combier, JP}, title = {The microRNA miR171h modulates arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Medicago truncatula by targeting NSP2.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {512-522}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05099.x}, pmid = {22775306}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Lactones/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/*genetics/metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Most land plants live symbiotically with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Establishment of this symbiosis requires signals produced by both partners: strigolactones in root exudates stimulate pre-symbiotic growth of the fungus, which releases lipochito-oligosaccharides (Myc-LCOs) that prepare the plant for symbiosis. Here, we have investigated the events downstream of this early signaling in the roots. We report that expression of miR171h, a microRNA that targets NSP2, is up-regulated in the elongation zone of the root during colonization by Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly Glomus intraradices) and in response to Myc-LCOs. Fungal colonization was much reduced by over-expressing miR171h in roots, mimicking the phenotype of nsp2 mutants. Conversely, in plants expressing an NSP2 mRNA resistant to miR171h cleavage, fungal colonization was much increased and extended into the elongation zone of the roots. Finally, phylogenetic analyses revealed that miR171h regulation of NSP2 is probably conserved among mycotrophic plants. Our findings suggest a regulatory mechanism, triggered by Myc-LCOs, that prevents over-colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by a mechanism involving miRNA-mediated negative regulation of NSP2.}, } @article {pmid22775286, year = {2012}, author = {Liao, J and Singh, S and Hossain, MS and Andersen, SU and Ross, L and Bonetta, D and Zhou, Y and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Stougaard, J and Szczyglowski, K and Parniske, M}, title = {Negative regulation of CCaMK is essential for symbiotic infection.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {72}, number = {4}, pages = {572-584}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05098.x}, pmid = {22775286}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Alleles ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Asparagine/metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Calcium/metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase/genetics/*metabolism ; Chromosome Mapping ; Enzyme Activation ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/growth & development ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development ; Phenotype ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Epidermis/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Serine/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One of the earliest responses of legumes to symbiotic signalling is oscillation of the calcium concentration in the nucleoplasm of root epidermal cells. Integration and decoding of the calcium-spiking signal involve a calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) and its phosphorylation substrates, such as CYCLOPS. Here we describe the Lotus japonicus ccamk-14 mutant that originated from a har1-1 suppressor screen. The ccamk-14 mutation causes a serine to asparagine substitution at position 337 located within the calmodulin binding site, which we determined to be an in vitro phosphorylation site in CCaMK. We show that ccamk-14 exerts cell-specific effects on symbiosis. The mutant is characterized by an increased frequency of epidermal infections and significantly compromised cortical infections by Mesorhizobium loti and also the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. The S337 residue is conserved across angiosperm CCaMKs, and testing discrete substitutions at this site showed that it participates in a negative regulation of CCaMK activity, which is required for the cell-type-specific integration of symbiotic signalling.}, } @article {pmid22773814, year = {2012}, author = {Bonomi, HR and Posadas, DM and Paris, G and Carrica, Mdel C and Frederickson, M and Pietrasanta, LI and Bogomolni, RA and Zorreguieta, A and Goldbaum, FA}, title = {Light regulates attachment, exopolysaccharide production, and nodulation in Rhizobium leguminosarum through a LOV-histidine kinase photoreceptor.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {30}, pages = {12135-12140}, pmid = {22773814}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Adhesion/*physiology/radiation effects ; Base Sequence ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Blotting, Western ; Flagella/metabolism ; Gentian Violet ; Histidine Kinase ; *Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peas/*microbiology ; Photoreceptors, Microbial/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology/radiation effects ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*physiology/radiation effects/ultrastructure ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum is a soil bacterium that infects root hairs and induces the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on leguminous plants. Light, oxygen, and voltage (LOV)-domain proteins are blue-light receptors found in higher plants and many algae, fungi, and bacteria. The genome of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841, a pea-nodulating endosymbiont, encodes a sensor histidine kinase containing a LOV domain at the N-terminal end (R-LOV-HK). R-LOV-HK has a typical LOV domain absorption spectrum with broad bands in the blue and UV-A regions and shows a truncated photocycle. Here we show that the R-LOV-HK protein regulates attachment to an abiotic surface and production of flagellar proteins and exopolysaccharide in response to light. Also, illumination of bacterial cultures before inoculation of pea roots increases the number of nodules per plant and the number of intranodular bacteroids. The effects of light on nodulation are dependent on a functional lov gene. The results presented in this work suggest that light, sensed by R-LOV-HK, is an important environmental factor that controls adaptive responses and the symbiotic efficiency of R. leguminosarum.}, } @article {pmid22773790, year = {2012}, author = {Barnett, MJ and Bittner, AN and Toman, CJ and Oke, V and Long, SR}, title = {Dual RpoH sigma factors and transcriptional plasticity in a symbiotic bacterium.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {18}, pages = {4983-4994}, pmid = {22773790}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Consensus Sequence ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Heat-Shock Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Microarray Analysis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sigma Factor/*genetics/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Initiation Site ; *Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti can live as a soil saprophyte and can engage in a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with plant roots. To succeed in such diverse environments, the bacteria must continually adjust gene expression. Transcriptional plasticity in eubacteria is often mediated by alternative sigma (σ) factors interacting with core RNA polymerase. The S. meliloti genome encodes 14 of these alternative σ factors, including two putative RpoH ("heat shock") σ factors. We used custom Affymetrix symbiosis chips to characterize the global transcriptional response of S. meliloti rpoH1, rpoH2, and rpoH1 rpoH2 mutants during heat shock and stationary-phase growth. Under these conditions, expression of over 300 genes is dependent on rpoH1 and rpoH2. We mapped transcript start sites of 69 rpoH-dependent genes using 5' RACE (5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends), which allowed us to determine putative RpoH1-dependent, RpoH2-dependent, and dual-promoter (RpoH1- and RpoH2-dependent) consensus sequences that were each used to search the genome for other potential direct targets of RpoH. The inferred S. meliloti RpoH promoter consensus sequences share features of Escherichia coli RpoH promoters but lack extended -10 motifs.}, } @article {pmid22771853, year = {2012}, author = {Bargaz, A and Ghoulam, C and Amenc, L and Lazali, M and Faghire, M and Abadie, J and Drevon, JJ}, title = {A phosphoenol pyruvate phosphatase transcript is induced in the root nodule cortex of Phaseolus vulgaris under conditions of phosphorus deficiency.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {13}, pages = {4723-4730}, pmid = {22771853}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/*genetics/metabolism ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Inbreeding ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phaseolus/cytology/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Phosphorus/analysis/*deficiency ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Plant Shoots/cytology/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Seedlings/cytology/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although previous studies on N2-fixing legumes have demonstrated the contribution of acid phosphatases to their phosphorus (P) use efficiency under P-deficient growth conditions, localization of these enzymes in bean nodules has not been demonstrated. In this study, phosphoenol pyruvate phosphatase (PEPase) gene transcripts were localized within the nodule tissues of two recombinant inbred lines, RIL115 (P-deficiency tolerant) and RIL147 (P-deficiency sensitive), of Phaseolus vulgaris. Nodules were induced by Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 under hydroaeroponic conditions with a sufficient versus a deficient P supply. The results indicated that PEPase transcripts were particularly abundant in the nodule infected zone and cortex of both RILs. Analysis of fluorescence intensity indicated that nodule PEPase was induced under conditions of P deficiency to a significantly higher extent in RIL147 than in RIL115, and more in the inner cortex (91%) than in the outer cortex (71%) or the infected zone (79%). In addition, a significant increase (39%) in PEPase enzyme activity in the P-deficient RIL147 correlated with an increase (58%) in the efficiency of use in rhizobial symbiosis. It was concluded that nodule PEPase is upregulated under conditions of P deficiency in the P-deficiency-sensitive RIL147, and that this gene may contribute to adaptation of rhizobial symbiosis to low-P environments.}, } @article {pmid22771302, year = {2013}, author = {Login, FH and Heddi, A}, title = {Insect immune system maintains long-term resident bacteria through a local response.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {232-239}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.06.015}, pmid = {22771302}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Immunity, Innate ; Insect Proteins/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Weevils/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Long-term associations between bacteria and animals are widely represented in nature and play an important role in animal adaptation and evolution. In insects thriving on nutritionally unbalanced diets, intracellular symbiotic bacteria (endosymbionts) complement the host nutrients with amino acids and vitamins and interfere with host physiology and reproduction. Endosymbionts permanently infect host cells, called bacteriocytes, which express an adapted local immune response that permits symbiont maintenance and control. Among the immune players in bacteriocytes, the coleoptericin A (ColA) antimicrobial peptide of the cereal weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, was recently found to specifically trigger endosymbionts and to inhibit their cytokinesis, thereby limiting bacterial cell division and dispersion throughout the insect tissues. This review focuses on the biological and evolutionary features of Sitophilus symbiosis, and discusses the possible interactions of ColA with weevil endosymbiont proteins and pathways.}, } @article {pmid22768100, year = {2012}, author = {van Winden, JF and Reichart, GJ and McNamara, NP and Benthien, A and Damsté, JS}, title = {Temperature-induced increase in methane release from peat bogs: a mesocosm experiment.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e39614}, pmid = {22768100}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Methane/*analysis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Sphagnopsida/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; *Temperature ; United Kingdom ; *Wetlands ; }, abstract = {Peat bogs are primarily situated at mid to high latitudes and future climatic change projections indicate that these areas may become increasingly wetter and warmer. Methane emissions from peat bogs are reduced by symbiotic methane oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs). Higher temperatures and increasing water levels will enhance methane production, but also methane oxidation. To unravel the temperature effect on methane and carbon cycling, a set of mesocosm experiments were executed, where intact peat cores containing actively growing Sphagnum were incubated at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C. After two months of incubation, methane flux measurements indicated that, at increasing temperatures, methanotrophs are not able to fully compensate for the increasing methane production by methanogens. Net methane fluxes showed a strong temperature-dependence, with higher methane fluxes at higher temperatures. After removal of Sphagnum, methane fluxes were higher, increasing with increasing temperature. This indicates that the methanotrophs associated with Sphagnum plants play an important role in limiting the net methane flux from peat. Methanotrophs appear to consume almost all methane transported through diffusion between 5 and 15°C. Still, even though methane consumption increased with increasing temperature, the higher fluxes from the methane producing microbes could not be balanced by methanotrophic activity. The efficiency of the Sphagnum-methanotroph consortium as a filter for methane escape thus decreases with increasing temperature. Whereas 98% of the produced methane is retained at 5°C, this drops to approximately 50% at 25°C. This implies that warming at the mid to high latitudes may be enhanced through increased methane release from peat bogs.}, } @article {pmid22767181, year = {2013}, author = {Xu, KW and Penttinen, P and Chen, YX and Chen, Q and Zhang, X}, title = {Symbiotic efficiency and phylogeny of the rhizobia isolated from Leucaena leucocephala in arid-hot river valley area in Panxi, Sichuan, China.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {97}, number = {2}, pages = {783-793}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-012-4246-2}, pmid = {22767181}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {China ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/*metabolism/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {In search of effective nitrogen-fixing strains for inoculating Leucaena leucocephala, we assessed the symbiotic efficiency of 41 rhizobial isolates from root nodules of L. leucocephala growing in the arid-hot river valley area in Panxi, China. The genetic diversity of the isolates was studied by analyzing the housekeeping genes 16S rRNA and recA, and the symbiotic genes nifH and nodC. In the nodulation and symbiotic efficiency assay, only 11 of the 41 isolates promoted the growth of L. leucocephala while the majority of the isolates were ineffective in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, one fourth of the isolates had a growth slowing effect on the host. According to the 16S rRNA and recA gene analyses, most of the isolates were Ensifer spp. The remaining isolates were assigned to Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. The sequence analyses indicated that the L. leucocephala rhizobia had undergone gene recombination. In contrast to the promiscuity observed as a wide species distribution of the isolates, the results implied that L. leucocephala is preferentially nodulated by strains that share common symbiosis genes. The symbiotic efficiency was not connected to chromosomal background of the symbionts and isolates carrying a similar nifH or nodC showed totally different nitrogen fixation efficiency.}, } @article {pmid22767125, year = {2012}, author = {Shnit-Orland, M and Sivan, A and Kushmaro, A}, title = {Antibacterial activity of Pseudoalteromonas in the coral holobiont.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {851-859}, pmid = {22767125}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; *Antibiosis ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; Indian Ocean ; Israel ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/methods ; Microbial Viability ; Phylogeny ; Pseudoalteromonas/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Staphylococcus aureus/genetics/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Corals harbor diverse and abundant prokaryotic populations. Bacterial communities residing in the coral mucus layer may be either pathogenic or symbiotic. Some species may produce antibiotics as a method of controlling populations of competing microbial species. The present study characterizes cultivable Pseudoalteromonas sp. isolated from the mucus layer of different coral species from the northern Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea, Israel. Six mucus-associated Pseudoalteromonas spp. obtained from different coral species were screened for antibacterial activity against 23 tester strains. Five of the six Pseudoalteromonas strains demonstrated extracellular antibacterial activity against Gram-positive-but not Gram-negative-tester strains. Active substances secreted into the cell-free supernatant are heat-tolerant and inhibit growth of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and of ten endogenous Gram-positive marine bacteria isolated from corals. The Pseudoalteromonas spp. isolated from Red sea corals aligned in a phylogenetic tree with previously isolated Pseudoalteromonas spp. of marine origin that demonstrated antimicrobial activity. These results suggest that coral mucus-associated Pseudoalteromonas may play a protective role in the coral holobiont's defense against potential Gram-positive coral pathogens.}, } @article {pmid22767124, year = {2012}, author = {McGinty, ES and Pieczonka, J and Mydlarz, LD}, title = {Variations in reactive oxygen release and antioxidant activity in multiple Symbiodinium types in response to elevated temperature.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {1000-1007}, pmid = {22767124}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Catalase/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/classification/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Heat-Shock Response ; *Hot Temperature ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {As ocean temperatures rise, investigations into what the physiological effects will be on the symbiotic microalga Symbiodinium, and how these may play into the cnidarian bleaching response, have highlighted the contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Previous studies have laid this groundwork using a limited number of Symbiodinium phylotypes, and so this study aims to expand this understanding by exploring the effects of sub-lethal elevated temperatures on the physiological response of seven genetically distinct types of Symbiodinium, including A1, B1, B2, C1, D, E1, and F2. The production of ROS (at 26 °C, 29 °C, 30 °C, and 31 °C) and activity of the antioxidants catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (at 26 °C and 31 °C) were measured as indicators of sensitivity or tolerance to heat stress. Symbiodinium types B1 and C1 were the most thermally sensitive, with C1 producing the highest amount of ROS at elevated temperatures. Types A1 and F2 were tolerant, having no increase in ROS production, and were the only types to increase both CAT and SOD activity with temperature stress. Type B2 had decreased ROS production and elevation of CAT activity, while type E1 had decreased levels of ROS production at elevated temperatures. Type D was the only Symbiodinium type to remain unaffected by elevated temperatures. These results are consistent with previous findings of relative sensitivity or tolerance to elevated temperatures, specifically with regards to types A1, B1, and F2. The inclusion of types B2, C1, D, and E1 provides further new evidence of how types differ in their thermal responses, suggesting differing mechanisms exist in the Symbiodnium response to higher temperature and highlighting the importance of establishing symbiont identity when exploring the response of intact associations to this type of stress.}, } @article {pmid22765874, year = {2012}, author = {Hayward, A and Vighnesh, G and Delay, C and Samian, MR and Manoli, S and Stiller, J and McKenzie, M and Edwards, D and Batley, J}, title = {Second-generation sequencing for gene discovery in the Brassicaceae.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {750-759}, doi = {10.1111/j.1467-7652.2012.00719.x}, pmid = {22765874}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Brassica rapa/genetics ; Brassicaceae/*genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; }, abstract = {The Brassicaceae contains the most diverse collection of agriculturally important crop species of all plant families. Yet, this is one of the few families that do not form functional symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi in the soil for improved nutrient acquisition. The genes involved in this symbiosis were more recently recruited by legumes for symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria. This study applied second-generation sequencing (SGS) and analysis tools to discover that two such genes, NSP1 (Nodulation Signalling Pathway 1) and NSP2, remain conserved in diverse members of the Brassicaceae despite the absence of these symbioses. We demonstrate the utility of SGS data for the discovery of putative gene homologs and their analysis in complex polyploid crop genomes with little prior sequence information. Furthermore, we show how this data can be applied to enhance downstream reverse genetics analyses. We hypothesize that Brassica NSP genes may function in the root in other plant-microbe interaction pathways that were recruited for mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbioses during evolution.}, } @article {pmid22763636, year = {2012}, author = {Simón, F and Siles-Lucas, M and Morchón, R and González-Miguel, J and Mellado, I and Carretón, E and Montoya-Alonso, JA}, title = {Human and animal dirofilariasis: the emergence of a zoonotic mosaic.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology reviews}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {507-544}, pmid = {22763636}, issn = {1098-6618}, mesh = {Animals ; Cats ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology/parasitology ; Dirofilaria immitis/immunology/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Dirofilaria repens/immunology/metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Dirofilariasis/epidemiology/immunology/*parasitology/pathology ; Dogs ; Energy Metabolism ; Geography ; Helminth Proteins/immunology/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/parasitology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Population Dynamics ; Wolbachia/growth & development ; Zoonoses/epidemiology/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {Dirofilariasis represents a zoonotic mosaic, which includes two main filarial species (Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens) that have adapted to canine, feline, and human hosts with distinct biological and clinical implications. At the same time, both D. immitis and D. repens are themselves hosts to symbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, the study of which has resulted in a profound shift in the understanding of filarial biology, the mechanisms of the pathologies that they produce in their hosts, and issues related to dirofilariasis treatment. Moreover, because dirofilariasis is a vector-borne transmitted disease, their distribution and infection rates have undergone significant modifications influenced by global climate change. Despite advances in our knowledge of D. immitis and D. repens and the pathologies that they inflict on different hosts, there are still many unknown aspects of dirofilariasis. This review is focused on human and animal dirofilariasis, including the basic morphology, biology, protein composition, and metabolism of Dirofilaria species; the climate and human behavioral factors that influence distribution dynamics; the disease pathology; the host-parasite relationship; the mechanisms involved in parasite survival; the immune response and pathogenesis; and the clinical management of human and animal infections.}, } @article {pmid22762188, year = {2012}, author = {Salavati, A and Taleei, A and Bushehri, AA and Komatsu, S}, title = {Analysis of the proteome of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) roots after inoculation with Rhizobium etli.}, journal = {Protein and peptide letters}, volume = {19}, number = {8}, pages = {880-889}, doi = {10.2174/092986612801619615}, pmid = {22762188}, issn = {1875-5305}, mesh = {Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Phaseolus/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/analysis/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Proteome/*analysis ; *Rhizobium etli/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Proteomics techniques were used to identify the underlying mechanism of the early stage of symbiosis between the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and bacteria. Proteins from roots of common beans inoculated with bacteria were separated using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified using mass spectrometry. From 483 protein spots, 29 plant and 3 bacterial proteins involved in the early stage of symbiosis were identified. Of the 29 plant proteins, the expression of 19 was upregulated and the expression of 10 was downregulated. Upregulated proteins included those involved in protein destination/storage, energy production, and protein synthesis; whereas the downregulated proteins included those involved in metabolism. Many upregulated proteins involved in protein destination/storage were chaperonins and proteasome subunits. These results suggest that defense mechanisms associated with induction of chaperonins and protein degradation regulated by proteasomes occur during the early stage of symbiosis between the common bean and bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22761814, year = {2012}, author = {Vohník, M and Sadowsky, JJ and Kohout, P and Lhotáková, Z and Nestby, R and Kolařík, M}, title = {Novel root-fungus symbiosis in Ericaceae: sheathed ericoid mycorrhiza formed by a hitherto undescribed basidiomycete with affinities to Trechisporales.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e39524}, pmid = {22761814}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*genetics ; Ericaceae/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics ; Norway ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Ericaceae (the heath family) are widely distributed calcifuges inhabiting soils with inherently poor nutrient status. Ericaceae overcome nutrient limitation through symbiosis with ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi that mobilize nutrients complexed in recalcitrant organic matter. At present, recognized ErM fungi include a narrow taxonomic range within the Ascomycota, and the Sebacinales, basal Hymenomycetes with unclamped hyphae and imperforate parenthesomes. Here we describe a novel type of basidiomycetous ErM symbiosis, termed 'sheathed ericoid mycorrhiza', discovered in two habitats in mid-Norway as a co-dominant mycorrhizal symbiosis in Vaccinium spp. The basidiomycete forming sheathed ErM possesses clamped hyphae with perforate parenthesomes, produces 1- to 3-layer sheaths around terminal parts of hair roots and colonizes their rhizodermis intracellularly forming hyphal coils typical for ErM symbiosis. Two basidiomycetous isolates were obtained from sheathed ErM and molecular and phylogenetic tools were used to determine their identity; they were also examined for the ability to form sheathed ErM and lignocellulolytic potential. Surprisingly, ITS rDNA of both conspecific isolates failed to amplify with the most commonly used primer pairs, including ITS1 and ITS1F + ITS4. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear LSU, SSU and 5.8S rDNA indicates that the basidiomycete occupies a long branch residing in the proximity of Trechisporales and Hymenochaetales, but lacks a clear sequence relationship (>90% similarity) to fungi currently placed in these orders. The basidiomycete formed the characteristic sheathed ErM symbiosis and enhanced growth of Vaccinium spp. in vitro, and degraded a recalcitrant aromatic substrate that was left unaltered by common ErM ascomycetes. Our findings provide coherent evidence that this hitherto undescribed basidiomycete forms a morphologically distinct ErM symbiosis that may occur at significant levels under natural conditions, yet remain undetected when subject to amplification by 'universal' primers. The lignocellulolytic assay suggests the basidiomycete may confer host adaptations distinct from those provisioned by the so far investigated ascomycetous ErM fungi.}, } @article {pmid22761694, year = {2012}, author = {Lingua, G and Bona, E and Todeschini, V and Cattaneo, C and Marsano, F and Berta, G and Cavaletto, M}, title = {Effects of heavy metals and arbuscular mycorrhiza on the leaf proteome of a selected poplar clone: a time course analysis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e38662}, pmid = {22761694}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Copper/pharmacology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Metals, Heavy/*pharmacology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Populus/drug effects/*metabolism/microbiology ; Proteome/analysis/*drug effects ; Proteomics ; Soil Pollutants/pharmacology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Zinc/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish a mutualistic symbiosis with the roots of most plant species. While receiving photosynthates, they improve the mineral nutrition of the plant and can also increase its tolerance towards some pollutants, like heavy metals. Although the fungal symbionts exclusively colonize the plant roots, some plant responses can be systemic. Therefore, in this work a clone of Populus alba L., previously selected for its tolerance to copper and zinc, was used to investigate the effects of the symbiosis with the AM fungus Glomus intraradices on the leaf protein expression. Poplar leaf samples were collected from plants maintained in a glasshouse on polluted (copper and zinc contaminated) or unpolluted soil, after four, six and sixteen months of growth. For each harvest, about 450 proteins were reproducibly separated on 2DE maps. At the first harvest the most relevant effect on protein modulation was exerted by the AM fungi, at the second one by the metals, and at the last one by both treatments. This work demonstrates how importantly the time of sampling affects the proteome responses in perennial plants. In addition, it underlines the ability of a proteomic approach, targeted on protein identification, to depict changes in a specific pattern of protein expression, while being still far from elucidating the biological function of each protein.}, } @article {pmid22759813, year = {2012}, author = {Silva-Sousa, R and López-Panadѐs, E and Casacuberta, E}, title = {Drosophila telomeres: an example of co-evolution with transposable elements.}, journal = {Genome dynamics}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {46-67}, doi = {10.1159/000337127}, pmid = {22759813}, issn = {1660-9263}, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosome Mapping ; Drosophila/*genetics ; Drosophila Proteins/*genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Products, gag/*genetics ; *Genome, Insect ; Models, Genetic ; Retroelements/*genetics ; Species Specificity ; Telomere/*genetics ; Telomere Homeostasis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Telomeres have a DNA component composed of repetitive sequences. In most eukaryotes these repeats are very similar in length and sequence and are maintained by a highly conserved specialized cellular enzyme, telomerase. Some exceptions of the telomerase mechanism exist in eukaryotes of which the most studied are concentrated in insects, and from these, Drosophila species stand out in particular. The alternative mechanism of telomere maintenance in Drosophila is based on targeted transposition of 3 very special non-LTR retrotransposons, HeT-A, TART and TAHRE. The fingerprint of the co-evolution between the Drosophila genome and the telomeric retrotransposons is visible in special features of both. In this chapter, we will review the main aspects of Drosophila telomeres and the telomere retrotransposons that explain how this alternative mechanism works, is regulated, and evolves. By going through the different aspects of this symbiotic relationship, we will try to unravel which have been the necessary changes at Drosophila telomeres in order to exert their telomeric function analogously to telomerase telomeres, and also which particularities have been maintained in order to preserve the retrotransposon personality of HeT-A, TART and TAHRE. Drosophila telomeres constitute a remarkable variant that reminds us how exceptions should be treasured in order to widen our knowledge in any particular biological mechanism.}, } @article {pmid22759520, year = {2012}, author = {Emblem, A and Karlsen, BO and Evertsen, J and Miller, DJ and Moum, T and Johansen, SD}, title = {Mitogenome polymorphism in a single branch sample revealed by SOLiD deep sequencing of the Lophelia pertusa coral genome.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {506}, number = {2}, pages = {344-349}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2012.06.040}, pmid = {22759520}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromosome Mapping/methods ; DNA/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; *Genome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {We present an initial genomic analysis of the non-symbiotic scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa, the dominant cold-water reef-building coral species in the North Atlantic Ocean. A significant fraction of the deep sequencing reads was of mitochondrial and microbial origins. SOLiD deep sequencing reads from fragment library experiments of total DNA and PCR amplified mitogenome generated about 21,000 times and 136,000 times coverage, respectively, of the 16,150 bp mitogenome. Five polymorphic sites that include two non-synonymous sites in the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 genes were detected in both experiments. This observation is surprising since anthozoans in general exhibit very low mtDNA sequence variation at intraspecific level compared to nuclear sequences. More than fifty bacterial species associated with the coral isolate were also sequence detected, representing at least ten complete genomes. Most reads, however, were predicted to originate from the Lophelia nuclear genome.}, } @article {pmid22754363, year = {2012}, author = {Shi, Z and Wang, L and Zhang, H}, title = {Low diversity bacterial community and the trapping activity of metabolites from cultivable bacteria species in the female reproductive system of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae).}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {6266-6278}, pmid = {22754363}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Chemotaxis ; Female ; Ovum/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Tephritidae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Our goal was to identify the bacteria inhabiting the reproductive system of the female oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and evaluate the chemotaxis of B. dorsalis to the metabolites produced by the bacteria. Based on 16S rRNA-based polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), 18 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assigned to the five bacterial classes Betaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinobacteria. Nine OTUs were assigned to Gammaproteobacteria, which was the most highly represented class. Enterobacteriaceae constituted the dominant family, and within this family, three genera and five species were identified, including Enterobacter sakazakii, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Raoultella terrigena and Enterobacter amnigenus. In this set, the first two species were the dominant components, and the latter three species were the minor ones. Finally, we found that the metabolites produced by R. terrigena, K. oxytoca and K. pneumoniae were attractive to the B. dorsalis adults, and in field studies, B. dorsalis adults were most attracted to K. oxytoca. Collectively, our results suggest that the female reproductive system plays an important role in the transfer of enterobacteria from the gut to fruit. Our data may prompt the development of a female-targeted population control strategy for this fly.}, } @article {pmid22754019, year = {2011}, author = {Barua, S and Tripathi, S and Chakraborty, A and Ghosh, S and Chakrabarti, K}, title = {Studies on non-symbiotic diazotrophic bacterial populations of coastal arable saline soils of India.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {51}, number = {3}, pages = {369-376}, pmid = {22754019}, issn = {0973-7715}, abstract = {The effect of fluctuations of salinity in three different seasons on diazotrophic populations and N(2) fixation in six mono cropped rice field soils of the coastal region of the Gangetic delta of West Bengal, India, was studied. The average pH, ECe, organic carbon and total nitrogen of the soils ranged from 4.99-7.08, 2.02-19.58 dSm(-1), 4.68-12.03 g kg(-1) and 0.44-1.70 g kg (-1), respectively. The average log colony forming units of the bacterial populations and N(2)-fixation in the soils varied from 4.61 to 5.86 and 2.74 to 4.52 mg N(2) fixed 50 ml (-1) culture media respectively, with the lowest value recorded in summer. Recovery of microorganisms and N(2)- fixation gradually decreased with extraneous addition of NaCl in the culture media. All the eight isolates were Gram positive, spore and capsule formers. They could utilize glucose, sucrose, mannitol, starch, citrate and nitrate, and were catalase and gelatinase positive, but indole, methyl red and Vogues Proskauer reaction negative. The organisms produced alkaline reaction on TSI agar slant. The acetylene reduction assay of the isolates at 0 and 1% NaCl in the culture media were 4.51-164.52 and 1.72-100.6 nmole C(2)H(4) ml(-1) culture media in 72 h, respectively. The isolates could fix 2.42-4.45 and 2.04-4.08 mg N(2) fixed 50 ml(-1) culture media at 0 and 1% NaCl in the culture media respectively. 16S rDNA sequences of the isolates were similar to the species: Bacillus sp. isolate 28A, Bacillus sp. MOLA 87, Bacillus sp. By113 (B)Ydz-dh, Bacillus sp. PN13, Bacillus licheniformis strain RH101, Bacterium Antarctica 14, Bacillus sp. PN13 and Bacillus megaterium.}, } @article {pmid22752179, year = {2012}, author = {Noisangiam, R and Teamtisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Toshiki, U and Minamisawa, K and Teaumroong, N}, title = {Genetic diversity, symbiotic evolution, and proposed infection process of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from root nodules of Aeschynomene americana L. in Thailand.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {17}, pages = {6236-6250}, pmid = {22752179}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Blotting, Southern ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Thailand ; }, abstract = {The diversity of bacteria nodulating Aeschynomene americana L. in Thailand was determined from phenotypic characteristics and multilocus sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and 3 housekeeping genes (dnaK, recA, and glnB). The isolated strains were nonphotosynthetic bacteria and were assigned to the genus Bradyrhizobium, in which B. yuanmingense was the dominant species. Some of the other species, including B. japonicum, B. liaoningense, and B. canariense, were minor species. These isolated strains were divided into 2 groups-nod-containing and divergent nod-containing strains-based on Southern blot hybridization and PCR amplification of nodABC genes. The divergent nod genes could not be PCR amplified and failed to hybridize nod gene probes designed from B. japonicum USDA110, but hybridized to probes from other bradyrhizobial strains under low-stringency conditions. The grouping based on sequence similarity of nod genes was well correlated with the grouping based on that of nifH gene, in which the nod-containing and divergent nod-containing strains were obviously distinguished. The divergent nod-containing strains and photosynthetic bradyrhizobia shared close nifH sequence similarity and an ability to fix nitrogen in the free-living state. Surprisingly, the strains isolated from A. americana could nodulate Aeschynomene plants that belong to different cross-inoculation (CI) groups, including A. afraspera and A. indica. This is the first discovery of bradyrhizobia (nonphotosynthetic and nod-containing strain) originating from CI group 1 nodulating roots of A. indica (CI group 3). An infection process used to establish symbiosis on Aeschynomene different from the classical one is proposed.}, } @article {pmid22752172, year = {2012}, author = {Nakajima, A and Aono, T and Tsukada, S and Siarot, L and Ogawa, T and Oyaizu, H}, title = {Lon protease of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 is required for suppression of reb gene expression.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {17}, pages = {6251-6261}, pmid = {22752172}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Azorhizobium caulinodans/*enzymology/*genetics/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; Protease La/genetics/*metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sesbania/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial Lon proteases play important roles in a variety of biological processes in addition to housekeeping functions. In this study, we focused on the Lon protease of Azorhizobium caulinodans, which can fix nitrogen both during free-living growth and in stem nodules of the legume Sesbania rostrata. The nitrogen fixation activity of an A. caulinodans lon mutant in the free-living state was not significantly different from that of the wild-type strain. However, the stem nodules formed by the lon mutant showed little or no nitrogen fixation activity. By microscopic analyses, two kinds of host cells were observed in the stem nodules formed by the lon mutant. One type has shrunken host cells containing a high density of bacteria, and the other type has oval or elongated host cells containing a low density or no bacteria. This phenotype is similar to a praR mutant highly expressing the reb genes. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analyses revealed that reb genes were also highly expressed in the lon mutant. Furthermore, a lon reb double mutant formed stem nodules showing higher nitrogen fixation activity than the lon mutant, and shrunken host cells were not observed in these stem nodules. These results suggest that Lon protease is required to suppress the expression of the reb genes and that high expression of reb genes in part causes aberrance in the A. caulinodans-S. rostrata symbiosis. In addition to the suppression of reb genes, it was found that Lon protease was involved in the regulation of exopolysaccharide production and autoagglutination of bacterial cells.}, } @article {pmid22751318, year = {2012}, author = {Shigeyama, T and Tominaga, A and Arima, S and Sakai, T and Inada, S and Jikumaru, Y and Kamiya, Y and Uchiumi, T and Abe, M and Hashiguchi, M and Akashi, R and Hirsch, AM and Suzuki, A}, title = {Additional cause for reduced JA-Ile in the root of a Lotus japonicus phyB mutant.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {746-748}, pmid = {22751318}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Isoleucine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Light ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Mutation/*genetics ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Phytochrome B/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/radiation effects ; Plant Shoots/metabolism/radiation effects ; }, abstract = {Light is critical for supplying carbon for use in the energetically expensive process of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. We recently showed that root nodule formation in phyB mutants [which have a constitutive shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) phenotype] was suppressed in white light, and that nodulation in wild-type is controlled by sensing the R/FR ratio through jasmonic acid (JA) signaling. We concluded that the cause of reduced root nodule formation in phyB mutants was the inhibition of JA-Ile production in root. Here we show that the shoot JA-Ile level of phyB mutants is higher than that of the wild-type strain MG20, suggesting that translocation of JA-Ile from shoot to root is impeded in the mutant. These results indicate that root nodule formation in phyB mutants is suppressed both by decreased JA-Ile production, caused by reduced JAR1 activity in root, and by reduced JA-Ile translocation from shoot to root.}, } @article {pmid22749969, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, X and Lin, L and Chen, M and Zhu, Z and Yang, W and Chen, B and Yang, X and An, Q}, title = {A nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strain enhances phytoextraction of heavy metals by the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {229-230}, number = {}, pages = {361-370}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.06.013}, pmid = {22749969}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; *Fusarium ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism ; Mycelium ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sedum/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Low biomass and shallow root systems limit the application of heavy metal phytoextraction by hyperaccumulators. Plant growth-promoting microbes may enhance hyperaccumulators'phytoextraction. A heavy metal-resistant fungus belonged to the Fusarium oxysporum complex was isolated from the Zn/Cd co-hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance grown in a Pb/Zn mined area. This Fusarium fungus was not pathogenic to plants but promoted host growth. Hydroponic experiments showed that 500 μM Zn(2+) or 50 μM Cd(2+) combined with the fungus increased root length, branches, and surface areas, enhanced nutrient uptake and chlorophyll synthesis, leading to more vigorous hyperaccumulators with greater root systems. Soil experiments showed that the fungus increased root and shoot biomass and S. alfredii-mediated heavy metal availabilities, uptake, translocation or concentrations, and thus increased phytoextraction of Zn (144% and 44%), Cd (139% and 55%), Pb (84% and 85%) and Cu (63% and 77%) from the original Pb/Zn mined soil and a multi-metal contaminated paddy soil. Together, the nonpathogenic Fusarium fungus was able to increase S. alfredii root systems and function, metal availability and accumulation, plant biomass, and thus phytoextraction efficiency. This study showed a great application potential for culturable indigenous fungi other than symbiotic mycorrhizas to enhance the phytoextraction by hyperaccumulators.}, } @article {pmid22749782, year = {2012}, author = {Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Hernández, M and Peix, A and Velázquez, E and León-Barrios, M}, title = {Mesorhizobial strains nodulating Anagyris latifolia and Lotus berthelotii in Tamadaya ravine (Tenerife, Canary Islands) are two symbiovars of the same species, Mesorhizobium tamadayense sp. nov.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {5}, pages = {334-341}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.05.003}, pmid = {22749782}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Lotus/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Spain ; }, abstract = {Barranco de Tamadaya is a deep ravine located in southern Tenerife, which is included within a protected area where several endemic plants grow. Among them, two legumes are catalogued as critically endangered, Anagyris latifolia and Lotus berthelotii. Rhizobial strains isolated from their root nodules grown in soil samples from this ravine harboured symbiotic genes belonging to two distant symbiovars, but they shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences (rrs). The phylogeny based on the rrs sequences placed these isolates in a separate subbranch that did not include any of the currently recognised Mesorhizobium species, but the resolution of the ribosomal tree did not permit further taxonomic conclusions. Nevertheless, multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of four housekeeping genes (atpD, recA, glnII and dnaK) and the rrs gene generated a highly supported Bayesian phylogeny, identifying these isolates as a new Mesorhizobium lineage. DNA-DNA hybridisation homology percentages were lower than 30% compared to type strains of the closest related species, and supported the phylogenetic data. Phenotypic characterisation also distinguished this lineage from the other closest Mesorhizobium species. The polyphasic approach thus confirmed that the isolates represented a novel species for which we propose the name Mesorhizobium tamadayense sp. nov. The type strain is Ala-3(T) (CECT 8040(T), LMG 26736(T)).}, } @article {pmid22746823, year = {2012}, author = {Crook, MB and Lindsay, DP and Biggs, MB and Bentley, JS and Price, JC and Clement, SC and Clement, MJ and Long, SR and Griffitts, JS}, title = {Rhizobial plasmids that cause impaired symbiotic nitrogen fixation and enhanced host invasion.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {1026-1033}, pmid = {22746823}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plasmids ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The genetic rules that dictate legume-rhizobium compatibility have been investigated for decades, but the causes of incompatibility occurring at late stages of the nodulation process are not well understood. An evaluation of naturally diverse legume (genus Medicago) and rhizobium (genus Sinorhizobium) isolates has revealed numerous instances in which Sinorhizobium strains induce and occupy nodules that are only minimally beneficial to certain Medicago hosts. Using these ineffective strain-host pairs, we identified gain-of-compatibility (GOC) rhizobial variants. We show that GOC variants arise by loss of specific large accessory plasmids, which we call HR plasmids due to their effect on symbiotic host range. Transfer of HR plasmids to a symbiotically effective rhizobium strain can convert it to incompatibility, indicating that HR plasmids can act autonomously in diverse strain backgrounds. We provide evidence that HR plasmids may encode machinery for their horizontal transfer. On hosts in which HR plasmids impair N fixation, the plasmids also enhance competitiveness for nodule occupancy, showing that naturally occurring, transferrable accessory genes can convert beneficial rhizobia to a more exploitative lifestyle. This observation raises important questions about agricultural management, the ecological stability of mutualisms, and the genetic factors that distinguish beneficial symbionts from parasites.}, } @article {pmid22745792, year = {2012}, author = {Balakirev, ES and Krupnova, TN and Ayala, FJ}, title = {Symbiotic associations in the phenotypically-diverse brown alga Saccharina japonica.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e39587}, pmid = {22745792}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Phaeophyta/classification/*genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The brown alga Saccharina japonica (Areschoug) Lane, Mayes, Druehl et Saunders is a highly polymorphic representative of the family Laminariaceae, inhabiting the northwest Pacific region. We have obtained 16S rRNA sequence data in symbiont microorganisms of the typical form (TYP) of S. japonica and its common morphological varieties, known as "longipes" (LON) and "shallow-water" (SHA), which show contrasting bathymetric distribution and sharp morphological, life history traits, and ecological differences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences shows that the microbial communities are significantly different in the three forms studied and consist of mosaic sets of common and form-specific bacterial lineages. The divergence in bacterial composition is substantial between the TYP and LON forms in spite of their high genetic similarity. The symbiont distribution in the S. japonica forms and in three other laminarialean species is not related to the depth or locality of the algae settlements. Combined with our previous results on symbiont associations in sea urchins and taking into account the highly specific character of bacteria-algae associations, we propose that the TYP and LON forms may represent incipient species passing through initial steps of reproductive isolation. We suggest that phenotype differences between genetically similar forms may be caused by host-symbiont interactions that may be a general feature of evolution in algae and other eukaryote organisms. Bacterial symbionts could serve as sensitive markers to distinguish genetically similar algae forms and also as possible growth-promoting inductors to increase algae productivity.}, } @article {pmid22740375, year = {2012}, author = {Liang, H and Huang, L and Cao, J and Zen, K and Chen, X and Zhang, CY}, title = {Regulation of mammalian gene expression by exogenous microRNAs.}, journal = {Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. RNA}, volume = {3}, number = {5}, pages = {733-742}, doi = {10.1002/wrna.1127}, pmid = {22740375}, issn = {1757-7012}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Mammals ; MicroRNAs/*genetics/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Communication between cells ensures coordination of behavior. In prokaryotes, this signaling is usually referred to as quorum sensing, while eukaryotic cells communicate through hormones. In recent years, a growing number of reports have shown that small signaling molecules produced by organisms from different kingdoms of nature can facilitate cross-talk, communication, or signal interference. This trans-kingdom communication (also termed as trans-kingdom signaling or inter-kingdom signaling) mediates symbiotic and pathogenic relationships between various organisms (e.g., microorganisms and their hosts). Strikingly, it has been discovered that microRNAs (miRNAs)--single-stranded noncoding RNAs with an average length of 22 nt--can be transmitted from one species to another, inducing posttranscriptional gene silencing in distant species, even in a cross-kingdom fashion. Here, we discuss several recent studies concerning miRNA-mediated cross-kingdom gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid22738134, year = {2012}, author = {Delaux, PM and Xie, X and Timme, RE and Puech-Pages, V and Dunand, C and Lecompte, E and Delwiche, CF and Yoneyama, K and Bécard, G and Séjalon-Delmas, N}, title = {Origin of strigolactones in the green lineage.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {195}, number = {4}, pages = {857-871}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04209.x}, pmid = {22738134}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Algal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bryopsida/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Chlorophyta/drug effects/genetics/metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Hepatophyta/drug effects/*genetics/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {The aims of this study were to investigate the appearance of strigolactones in the green lineage and to determine the primitive function of these molecules. We measured the strigolactone content of several isolated liverworts, mosses, charophyte and chlorophyte green algae using a sensitive biological assay and LC-MS/MS analyses. In parallel, sequence comparison of strigolactone-related genes and phylogenetic analyses were performed using available genomic data and newly sequenced expressed sequence tags. The primitive function of strigolactones was determined by exogenous application of the synthetic strigolactone analog, GR24, and by mutant phenotyping. Liverworts, the most basal Embryophytes and Charales, one of the closest green algal relatives to Embryophytes, produce strigolactones, whereas several other species of green algae do not. We showed that GR24 stimulates rhizoid elongation of Charales, liverworts and mosses, and rescues the phenotype of the strigolactone-deficient Ppccd8 mutant of Physcomitrella patens. These findings demonstrate that the first function of strigolactones was not to promote arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Rather, they suggest that the strigolactones appeared earlier in the streptophyte lineage to control rhizoid elongation. They may have been conserved in basal Embryophytes for this role and then recruited for the stimulation of colonization by glomeromycotan fungi.}, } @article {pmid22736981, year = {2012}, author = {Nievas, F and Bogino, P and Sorroche, F and Giordano, W}, title = {Detection, characterization, and biological effect of quorum-sensing signaling molecules in peanut-nodulating bradyrhizobia.}, journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {2851-2873}, pmid = {22736981}, issn = {1424-8220}, mesh = {4-Butyrolactone/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/metabolism ; Arachis/physiology ; Biofilms ; Bradyrhizobium/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromobacterium/isolation & purification/physiology ; Plant Roots/physiology ; *Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; beta-Galactosidase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium are able to establish a symbiotic relationship with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) root cells and to fix atmospheric nitrogen by converting it to nitrogenous compounds. Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-cell communication mechanism employed by a variety of bacterial species to coordinate behavior at a community level through regulation of gene expression. The QS process depends on bacterial production of various signaling molecules, among which the N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are most commonly used by Gram-negative bacteria. Some previous reports have shown the production of QS signaling molecules by various rhizobia, but little is known regarding mechanisms of communication among peanut-nodulating strains. The aims of this study were to identify and characterize QS signals produced by peanut-nodulating bradyrhizobial strains and to evaluate their effects on processes related to cell interaction. Detection of AHLs in 53 rhizobial strains was performed using the biosensor strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 (pZLR4) and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 for AHLs with long and short acyl chains, respectively. None of the strains screened were found to produce AHLs with short acyl chains, but 14 strains produced AHLs with long acyl chains. These 14 AHL-producing strains were further studied by quantification of β-galactosidase activity levels (AHL-like inducer activity) in NTL4 (pZLR4). Strains displaying moderate to high levels of AHL-like inducer activity were subjected to chemical identification of signaling molecules by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For each AHL-producing strain, we found at least four different AHLs, corresponding to N-hexanoyl-DL-homoserine lactone (C(6)), N-(3-oxodecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC(10)), N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC(12)), and N-(3-oxotetradecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC(14)). Biological roles of 3OC10, 3OC12, and 3OC14 AHLs were evaluated in both AHL-producing and -non-producing peanut-nodulating strains. Bacterial processes related to survival and nodulation, including motility, biofilm formation, and cell aggregation, were affected or modified by the exogenous addition of increasing concentrations of synthetic AHLs. Our results clearly demonstrate the existence of cell communication mechanisms among bradyrhizobial strains symbiotic of peanut. AHLs with long acyl chains appear to be signaling molecules regulating important QS physiological processes in these bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22735983, year = {2012}, author = {Anand, A and Jaiswal, SK and Dhar, B and Vaishampayan, A}, title = {Surviving and thriving in terms of symbiotic performance of antibiotic and phage-resistant mutants of Bradyrhizobium of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill].}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {65}, number = {4}, pages = {390-397}, pmid = {22735983}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Antibiosis ; Bacteriophages/growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/*isolation & purification/*physiology/virology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial inoculation plays an important role in yielding enhancement of soybean, but it is frequently disturbed by competition with bacterial population present in the soil. Identification of potential indigenous rhizobia as competitive inoculants for efficient nodulation and N(2)-fixation of soybean was assessed under laboratory and field conditions. Two indigenous bradyrhizobial isolates (MPSR033 and MPSR220) and its derived different antibiotic (streptomycin and gentamicin) and phage (RT5 and RT6)-resistant mutant strains were used for competition study. Nodulation occupancy between parent and mutant strains was compared on soybean cultivar JS335 under exotic condition. Strain MPSR033 Sm(r) V(r) was found highly competitive for nodule occupancy in all treatment combinations. On the basis of laboratory experiments four indigenous strains (MPSR033, MPSR033 Sm(r), MPSR033 Sm(r) V(r), MPSR220) were selected for their symbiotic performance along with two exotic strains (USDA123 and USDA94) on two soybean cultivars under field conditions. A significant symbiotic interaction between Bradyrhizobium strains and soybean cultivar was observed. Strain MPSR033 Sm(r) V(r) was found superior among the rhizobial treatments in seed yield production with both cultivars. The 16S rRNA region sequence analysis of the indigenous strains showed close relationship with Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense strain. These findings widen out the usefulness of antibiotic-resistance marked phage-resistant bradyrhizobial strains in interactive mode for studying their symbiotic effectiveness with host plant, and open the way to study the mechanism of contact-dependent growth inhibition in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid22735778, year = {2012}, author = {He, R and Wakimoto, T and Takeshige, Y and Egami, Y and Kenmoku, H and Ito, T and Wang, B and Asakawa, Y and Abe, I}, title = {Porphyrins from a metagenomic library of the marine sponge Discodermia calyx.}, journal = {Molecular bioSystems}, volume = {8}, number = {9}, pages = {2334-2338}, doi = {10.1039/c2mb25169h}, pmid = {22735778}, issn = {1742-2051}, mesh = {Animals ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/genetics/*metabolism ; Porphyrins/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges harbouring uncultured symbiotic bacteria are important sources of biologically active compounds. Since they would be interesting resources to explore unknown functional genes by means of a metagenomic approach, we constructed a metagenomic library of the Japanese marine sponge Discodermia calyx. The functional screening afforded the two clones producing porphyrins as red pigments. The isolation and structural elucidation of the red pigments revealed that the major red pigment was Zn-coproporphyrin III. The sequence data of the clones identified genes encoding glutamyl-tRNA reductase along with other ORFs related to porphyrin biosynthesis.}, } @article {pmid22732605, year = {2012}, author = {Goodsman, DW and Erbilgin, N and Lieffers, VJ}, title = {The impact of phloem nutrients on overwintering mountain pine beetles and their fungal symbionts.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {478-486}, doi = {10.1603/EN11205}, pmid = {22732605}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Alberta ; Animals ; Female ; Fertilizers ; Food Chain ; Larva/physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ophiostomatales/*physiology ; Phloem/chemistry ; Pinus/*chemistry ; Population Dynamics ; Seasons ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; Weevils/*physiology ; }, abstract = {In the low nutrient environment of conifer bark, subcortical beetles often carry symbiotic fungi that concentrate nutrients in host tissues. Although bark beetles are known to benefit from these symbioses, whether this is because they survive better in nutrient-rich phloem is unknown. After manipulating phloem nutrition by fertilizing lodgepole pine trees (Pinus contorta Douglas var. latifolia), we found bolts from fertilized trees to contain more living individuals, and especially more pupae and teneral adults than bolts from unfertilized trees at our southern site. At our northern site, we found that a larger proportion of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) larvae built pupal chambers in bolts from fertilized trees than in bolts from unfertilized trees. The symbiotic fungi of the mountain pine beetle also responded to fertilization. Two mutualistic fungi of bark beetles, Grosmannia clavigera (Rob.-Jeffr. & R. W. Davidson) Zipfel, Z. W. de Beer, & M. J. Wingf. and Leptographium longiclavatum Lee, S., J. J. Kim, & C. Breuil, doubled the nitrogen concentrations near the point of infection in the phloem of fertilized trees. These fungi were less capable of concentrating nitrogen in unfertilized trees. Thus, the fungal symbionts of mountain pine beetle enhance phloem nutrition and likely mediate the beneficial effects of fertilization on the survival and development of mountain pine beetle larvae.}, } @article {pmid22732600, year = {2012}, author = {Raman, A and Wheatley, W and Popay, A}, title = {Endophytic fungus-vascular plant-insect interactions.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {41}, number = {3}, pages = {433-447}, doi = {10.1603/EN11317}, pmid = {22732600}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Embryophyta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Food Chain ; Fungi/*physiology ; Herbivory ; Insecta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insect association with fungi has a long history. Theories dealing with the evolution of insect herbivory indicate that insects used microbes including fungi as their principal food materials before flowering plants evolved. Subtlety and the level of intricacy in the interactions between insects and fungi indicate symbiosis as the predominant ecological pattern. The nature of the symbiotic interaction that occurs between two organisms (the insect and the fungus), may be either mutualistic or parasitic, or between these two extremes. However, the triangular relationship involving three organisms, viz., an insect, a fungus, and a vascular plant is a relationship that is more complicated than what can be described as either mutualism or parasitism, and may represent facets of both. Recent research has revealed such a complex relationship in the vertically transmitted type-I endophytes living within agriculturally important grasses and the pestiferous insects that attack them. The intricacy of the association depends on the endophytic fungus-grass association and the insect present. Secondary compounds produced in the endophytic fungus-grass association can provide grasses with resistance to herbivores resulting in mutualistic relationship between the fungus and the plant that has negative consequences for herbivorous insects. The horizontally transmitted nongrass type-II endophytes are far less well studied and as such their ecological roles are not fully understood. This forum article explores the intricacy of dependence in such complex triangular relationships drawing from well-established examples from the fungi that live as endophytes in vascular plants and how they impact on the biology and evolution of free-living as well as concealed (e.g., gall-inducing, gall-inhabiting) insects. Recent developments with the inoculation of strains of type-I fungal endophytes into grasses and their commercialization are discussed, along with the possible roles the endophytic fungi play in the galls induced by the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera).}, } @article {pmid22730762, year = {2012}, author = {Tikhonovich, IA and Provorova, NA}, title = {[Development of symbiogenetic approaches for studying variation and heredity of superspecies systems].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {437-450}, pmid = {22730762}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Biota ; Ecology ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Metagenome/*genetics ; Plants/genetics/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Based on the knowledge on the structural and functional organization, ecological potential, and evolution of symbiotic complexes, we suggest to formulate the subject, aims, and methodology of symbiogenetics as a science studying the genetic control of interspecies interactions. It is based on the view on the superspecies system of variation and heredity (symbiogenome) controlling the development of novel properties lacking in the unitary organisms and radically extending their adaptive potentials. Investigation of symbiogenomes represents the first step toward genetic analysis of microbiomes and metagenomes, which are superspecies hereditary systems responsible for developing the multicomponent complexes of biocenotic type, such as rumen microflora, endophytic and rhizospheric communities, soil microbial consortia. The approaches of symbiogenetics can be used for developing biotechnologies of integration of plants or animals with beneficial microbes ensuring host nutrition and development as well as resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid22729619, year = {2012}, author = {Hinde, K and German, JB}, title = {Food in an evolutionary context: insights from mother's milk.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {92}, number = {11}, pages = {2219-2223}, pmid = {22729619}, issn = {1097-0010}, support = {P42 ES02710/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P01 ES011269/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES002710/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P51 RR000169/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD061923/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD059127/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P01 ES11269/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01HD061923/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R37 ES002710/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; 5R01HD059127/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AT007079/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Child Development ; Female ; *Food Analysis ; Food Technology ; Gene-Environment Interaction ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Milk/chemistry ; Milk, Human/*chemistry ; Mothers ; Precision Medicine ; }, abstract = {In the emergence of diverse animal life forms, food is the most insistent and pervasive of environmental pressures. As the life sciences begin to understand organisms in genomic detail, evolutionary perspectives provide compelling insights into the results of these dynamic interactions between food and consumer. Such an evolutionary perspective is particularly needed today in the face of unprecedented capabilities to alter the food supply. What should we change? Answering this question for food production, safety and sustainability will require a much more detailed understanding of the complex interplay between humans and their food. Many organisms that we grow, produce, process and consume as foods naturally evolved adaptations in part to avoid being eaten. Crop breeding and processing have been the tools to convert overtly toxic and antinutritious commodities into foods that are safe to eat. Now the challenge is to enhance the nutritional quality and thereby contribute to improving human health. We posit that the Rosetta stone of food and nourishment is mammalian lactation and 'mother's milk'. The milk that a mammalian mother produces for her young is a complete and comprehensive diet. Moreover, the capacity of the mammary gland as a remarkable bioreactor to synthesise milk, and the infant to utilise milk, reflects 200 million years of symbiotic co-evolution between producer and consumer. Here we present emerging transdisciplinary research 'decoding' mother's milk from humans and other mammals. We further discuss how insights from mother's milk have important implications for food science and human health.}, } @article {pmid22729484, year = {2012}, author = {Dirks, U and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Egger, B and Ott, JA}, title = {Proliferation pattern during rostrum regeneration of the symbiotic flatworm Paracatenula galateia: a pulse-chase-pulse analysis.}, journal = {Cell and tissue research}, volume = {349}, number = {2}, pages = {517-525}, pmid = {22729484}, issn = {1432-0878}, support = {BB/H006966/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Immunohistochemistry ; Platyhelminths/*anatomy & histology/cytology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Regeneration ; S Phase ; Stem Cells/cytology ; }, abstract = {The remarkable totipotent stem-cell-based regeneration capacities of the Platyhelminthes have brought them into the focus of stem cell and regeneration research. Although selected platyhelminth groups are among the best-studied invertebrates, our data provide new insights into regenerative processes in the most basally branching group of the Platyhelminthes, the Catenulida. The mouth- and gutless free-living catenulid flatworm Paracatenula galateia harbors intracellular bacterial symbionts in its posterior body region, the trophosome region, accounting for up to 50% of the volume. Following decapitation of this flatworm, we have analyzed the behavior of the amputated fragments and any anterior and posterior regeneration. Using an EdU-pulse-chase/BrdU-pulse thymidine analog double-labeling approach combined with immunohistochemistry, we show that neoblasts are the main drivers of the regeneration processes. During anterior (rostrum) regeneration, EdU-pulse-chase-labeled cells aggregate inside the regenerating rostrum, whereas BrdU pulse-labeling before fixation indicates clusters of S-phase neoblasts at the same position. In parallel, serotonergic nerves reorganize and the brain regenerates. In completely regenerated animals, the original condition with S-phase neoblasts being restricted to the body region posterior to the brain is restored. In contrast, no posterior regeneration or growth of the trophosome region in anterior fragments cut a short distance posterior to the brain has been observed. Our data thus reveal interesting aspects of the cellular processes underlying the regeneration of the emerging catenulid-bacteria symbiosis model P. galateia and show that a neoblast stem cell system is indeed a plesiomorphic feature of basal platyhelminths.}, } @article {pmid22728755, year = {2012}, author = {Hamada, F and Yokono, M and Hirose, E and Murakami, A and Akimoto, S}, title = {Excitation energy relaxation in a symbiotic cyanobacterium, Prochloron didemni, occurring in coral-reef ascidians, and in a free-living cyanobacterium, Prochlorothrix hollandica.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1817}, number = {11}, pages = {1992-1997}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2012.06.008}, pmid = {22728755}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Animals ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/physiology ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/physiology ; Prochloron/*metabolism ; Prochlorothrix/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The marine cyanobacterium Prochloron is a unique photosynthetic organism that lives in obligate symbiosis with colonial ascidians. We compared Prochloron harbored in four different host species and cultured Prochlorothrix by means of spectroscopic measurements, including time-resolved fluorescence, to investigate host-induced differences in light-harvesting strategies between the cyanobacteria. The light-harvesting efficiency of photosystems including antenna Pcb, PS II-PS I connection, and pigment status, especially that of PS I Red Chls, were different among the four samples. We also discuss relationships between these observed characteristics and the light conditions, to which Prochloron cells are exposed, influenced by distribution pattern in the host colonies, presence or absence of tunic spicules, and microenvironments within the ascidians' habitat.}, } @article {pmid22727503, year = {2012}, author = {Singh, S and Parniske, M}, title = {Activation of calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK), the central regulator of plant root endosymbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {444-453}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.04.002}, pmid = {22727503}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Fungi/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plants/enzymology/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The key molecular event during the development of arbuscular mycorrhiza and the root nodule symbiosis is the activation of calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK). Its regulation is complex and involves positive as well as negative regulation facilitated by autophosphorylation of two conserved sites. Deregulated versions of CCaMK are sufficient for mediating both organogenesis and infection processes. Epistasis tests demonstrated that a main function of signaling components upstream of calcium spiking is the activation of CCaMK. Despite CCaMK being a central signaling hub, specificity for both symbioses exists, resulting in differential transcriptional gene expression patterns. While the specificity upstream of CCaMK can be conceptualized by the specific perception of rhizobial and fungal lipo-chitooligosaccharides via cognate LysM receptors, the mechanisms conferring transcriptional specificity downstream of CCaMK are likely conferred by a variety of transcriptional regulators, mediating symbiosis appropriate gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid22726260, year = {2012}, author = {Lehnert, EM and Burriesci, MS and Pringle, JR}, title = {Developing the anemone Aiptasia as a tractable model for cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis: the transcriptome of aposymbiotic A. pallida.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {271}, pmid = {22726260}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {HG000044/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Gene Library ; Genome Size/genetics ; INDEL Mutation/genetics ; *Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neuropeptides/chemistry/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Protein Precursors/chemistry/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coral reefs are hotspots of oceanic biodiversity, forming the foundation of ecosystems that are important both ecologically and for their direct practical impacts on humans. Corals are declining globally due to a number of stressors, including rising sea-surface temperatures and pollution; such stresses can lead to a breakdown of the essential symbiotic relationship between the coral host and its endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, a process known as coral bleaching. Although the environmental stresses causing this breakdown are largely known, the cellular mechanisms of symbiosis establishment, maintenance, and breakdown are still largely obscure. Investigating the symbiosis using an experimentally tractable model organism, such as the small sea anemone Aiptasia, should improve our understanding of exactly how the environmental stressors affect coral survival and growth.

RESULTS: We assembled the transcriptome of a clonal population of adult, aposymbiotic (dinoflagellate-free) Aiptasia pallida from ~208 million reads, yielding 58,018 contigs. We demonstrated that many of these contigs represent full-length or near-full-length transcripts that encode proteins similar to those from a diverse array of pathways in other organisms, including various metabolic enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins, and neuropeptide precursors. The contigs were annotated by sequence similarity, assigned GO terms, and scanned for conserved protein domains. We analyzed the frequency and types of single-nucleotide variants and estimated the size of the Aiptasia genome to be ~421 Mb. The contigs and annotations are available through NCBI (Transcription Shotgun Assembly database, accession numbers JV077153-JV134524) and at http://pringlelab.stanford.edu/projects.html.

CONCLUSIONS: The availability of an extensive transcriptome assembly for A. pallida will facilitate analyses of gene-expression changes, identification of proteins of interest, and other studies in this important emerging model system.}, } @article {pmid22725647, year = {2012}, author = {Collier, R and Tegeder, M}, title = {Soybean ureide transporters play a critical role in nodule development, function and nitrogen export.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {72}, number = {3}, pages = {355-367}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05086.x}, pmid = {22725647}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Allantoin/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Shoots/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Vascular Bundle/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Soybeans/cytology/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism ; Urea/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Yeasts/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes can access atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteroids that reside in root nodules. In soybean, the products of fixation are the ureides allantoin and allantoic acid, which are also the dominant long-distance transport forms of nitrogen from nodules to the shoot. Movement of nitrogen assimilates out of the nodules occurs via the nodule vasculature; however, the molecular mechanisms for ureide export and the importance of nitrogen transport processes for nodule physiology have not been resolved. Here, we demonstrate the function of two soybean proteins - GmUPS1-1 (XP_003516366) and GmUPS1-2 (XP_003518768) - in allantoin and allantoic acid transport out of the nodule. Localization studies revealed the presence of both transporters in the plasma membrane, and expression in nodule cortex cells and vascular endodermis. Functional analysis in soybean showed that repression of GmUPS1-1 and GmUPS1-2 in nodules leads to an accumulation of ureides and decreased nitrogen partitioning to roots and shoot. It was further demonstrated that nodule development, nitrogen fixation and nodule metabolism were negatively affected in RNAi UPS1 plants. Together, we conclude that export of ureides from nodules is mediated by UPS1 proteins, and that activity of the transporters is not only essential for shoot nitrogen supply but also for nodule development and function.}, } @article {pmid22723421, year = {2012}, author = {Behie, SW and Zelisko, PM and Bidochka, MJ}, title = {Endophytic insect-parasitic fungi translocate nitrogen directly from insects to plants.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {336}, number = {6088}, pages = {1576-1577}, doi = {10.1126/science.1222289}, pmid = {22723421}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; Aspergillus flavus/physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Metarhizium/*physiology ; Moths/metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Cycle ; Panicum/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phaseolus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most plants obtain nitrogen through nitrogen-fixing bacteria and microbial decomposition of plant and animal material. Many vascular plants are able to form close symbiotic associations with endophytic fungi. Metarhizium is a common plant endophyte found in a large number of ecosystems. This abundant soil fungus is also a pathogen to a large number of insects, which are a source of nitrogen. It is possible that the endophytic capability and insect pathogenicity of Metarhizium are coupled to provide an active method of nitrogen transfer to plant hosts via fungal mycelia. We used soil microcosms to test the ability of M. robertsii to translocate insect-derived nitrogen to plants. Insects were injected with (15)N-labeled nitrogen, and we tracked the incorporation of (15)N into amino acids in two plant species, haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), in the presence of M. robertsii. These findings are evidence that active nitrogen acquisition by plants in this tripartite interaction may play a larger role in soil nitrogen cycling than previously thought.}, } @article {pmid22717175, year = {2013}, author = {St-Pierre, B and Wright, AD}, title = {Diversity of gut methanogens in herbivorous animals.}, journal = {Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience}, volume = {7 Suppl 1}, number = {}, pages = {49-56}, doi = {10.1017/S1751731112000912}, pmid = {22717175}, issn = {1751-732X}, mesh = {Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Birds/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Herbivory ; Mammals/*microbiology ; Methane/*metabolism ; Reptiles/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The digestion of plant biomass by symbiotic microbial communities in the gut of herbivore hosts also results in the production of methane, a greenhouse gas that is released into the environment where it contributes to climate change. As methane is exclusively produced by methanogenic archaea, various research groups have devoted their efforts to investigate the population structure of symbiotic methanogens in the gut of herbivores. In this review, we summarized and compared currently available results from 16S rRNA gene clone library studies, which cover a broad range of hosts from ruminant livestock species to wild ruminants, camelids, marsupials, primates, birds and reptiles. Although gut methanogens are very diverse, they tend to be limited to specific phylogenetic groups. Overall, methanogens related to species of the genus Methanobrevibacter are the most highly represented archaea in the gut of herbivores. However, under certain conditions, archaea from more phylogenetically distant groups are the most prevalent, such as methanogens belonging to either the genus Methanosphaera, the order Methanomicrobiales or the Thermoplasmatales-Affiliated Lineage C Comparisons not only highlight the strong influence of host species and diet in the determination of the population structure of symbiotic methanogens, but also reveal other complex relationships, such as wide differences between breeds, as well as unexpected similarities between unrelated species. These observations strongly support the need for high throughput sequencing and metagenomic studies to gain further insight.}, } @article {pmid22712590, year = {2012}, author = {Kahn, C}, title = {Aspects of narcissism and symbiosis, or, essential neurosis of twins.}, journal = {Psychoanalytic review}, volume = {99}, number = {3}, pages = {315-332}, doi = {10.1521/prev.2012.99.3.315}, pmid = {22712590}, issn = {1943-3301}, mesh = {Adult ; Child ; Child Development ; Dependency, Psychological ; Empathy ; Female ; *Freudian Theory ; Humans ; Love ; Male ; Mother-Child Relations ; *Narcissism ; Neurotic Disorders/*psychology ; Object Attachment ; *Personality Development ; *Sibling Relations ; Symbiosis ; Twins/*psychology ; }, abstract = {Following a brief introduction I address the relationships of twins from five different perspectives: the Intimate Connection, the Mirror Image and Complementarity, Object- and Self-Representation, Self and Object or Rivalry, and Intersubjective Communication. This approach attempts to understand twin relationships and the individual development of twins in terms of their intense mutual dependence, akin to infantile symbiosis, and in terms of narcissism. In their similarity to each other, twins may choose each other as love objects even as they see themselves in the other. That is, a twin may "love what he himself is" or "someone who was once part of himself." This "type of object-choice … must be termed 'narcissistic'" (Freud, 1914, pp. 90, 88). Such "cathexis of an undifferentiated self-object" is considered to be "primary narcissism" (Burstein, 1977, p. 103). Hoffer (1952) describes primary narcissism as "the lack of all qualities discriminating between self and not-self, inside and outside" (p. 33).}, } @article {pmid22711284, year = {2012}, author = {Hong, JJ and Park, YS and Bravo, A and Bhattarai, KK and Daniels, DA and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Diversity of morphology and function in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses in Brachypodium distachyon.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {236}, number = {3}, pages = {851-865}, pmid = {22711284}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Brachypodium/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*physiology ; Hyphae/cytology/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/*growth & development ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Brachypodium distachyon is a grass species that serves as a useful model for wheat and also for many of the grass species proposed as feedstocks for bioenergy production. Here, we monitored B. distachyon symbioses with five different arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and identified symbioses that vary functionally with respect to plant performance. Three symbioses promoted significant increases in shoot phosphorus (P) content and shoot growth of Brachypodium, while two associations were neutral. The Brachypodium/Glomus candidum symbiosis showed a classic 'Paris-type' morphology. In the other four AM symbioses, hyphal growth was exclusively intracellular and linear; hyphal coils were not observed and arbuscules were abundant. Expression of the Brachypodium ortholog of the symbiosis-specific phosphate (Pi) transporter MtPT4 did not differ significantly in these five interactions indicating that the lack of apparent functionality did not result from a failure to express this gene or several other AM symbiosis-associated genes. Analysis of the expression patterns of the complete PHT1 Pi transporter gene family and AMT2 gene family in B. distachyon/G. intraradices mycorrhizal roots identified additional family members induced during symbiosis and again, transcript levels were similar in the different Brachypodium AM symbioses. This initial morphological, molecular and functional characterization provides a framework for future studies of functional diversity in AM symbiosis in B. distachyon.}, } @article {pmid22706284, year = {2012}, author = {Venkateshwaran, M and Cosme, A and Han, L and Banba, M and Satyshur, KA and Schleiff, E and Parniske, M and Imaizumi-Anraku, H and Ané, JM}, title = {The recent evolution of a symbiotic ion channel in the legume family altered ion conductance and improved functionality in calcium signaling.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {2528-2545}, pmid = {22706284}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Alanine/genetics ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Biological Evolution ; Calcium Signaling/*physiology ; Cell Line ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/physiology ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Humans ; Ion Channels/genetics/*metabolism ; Lotus/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Potassium/metabolism ; Serine/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza and the rhizobia-legume symbiosis are two major root endosymbioses that facilitate plant nutrition. In Lotus japonicus, two symbiotic cation channels, CASTOR and POLLUX, are indispensable for the induction of nuclear calcium spiking, one of the earliest plant responses to symbiotic partner recognition. During recent evolution, a single amino acid substitution in DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS1 (DMI1), the POLLUX putative ortholog in the closely related Medicago truncatula, rendered the channel solo sufficient for symbiosis; castor, pollux, and castor pollux double mutants of L. japonicus were rescued by DMI1 alone, while both Lj-CASTOR and Lj-POLLUX were required for rescuing a dmi1 mutant of M. truncatula. Experimental replacement of the critical serine by an alanine in the selectivity filter of Lj-POLLUX conferred a symbiotic performance indistinguishable from DMI1. Electrophysiological characterization of DMI1 and Lj-CASTOR (wild-type and mutants) by planar lipid bilayer experiments combined with calcium imaging in Human Embryonic Kidney-293 cells expressing DMI1 (the wild type and mutants) suggest that the serine-to-alanine substitution conferred reduced conductance with a long open state to DMI1 and improved its efficiency in mediating calcium oscillations. We propose that this single amino acid replacement in the selectivity filter made DMI1 solo sufficient for symbiosis, thus explaining the selective advantage of this allele at the mechanistic level.}, } @article {pmid22705517, year = {2012}, author = {Wen, B and Yuan, X and Cao, Y and Liu, Y and Wang, X and Cui, Z}, title = {Optimization of liquid fermentation of microbial consortium WSD-5 followed by saccharification and acidification of wheat straw.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {118}, number = {}, pages = {141-149}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2012.05.025}, pmid = {22705517}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Acids/*chemistry ; Anaerobiosis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biodiversity ; Biotechnology/*methods ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Enzymes/metabolism ; Fermentation/*physiology ; *Microbial Consortia/genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Substrate Specificity ; Triticum/*chemistry ; Waste Products/*analysis ; }, abstract = {The microbial consortium WSD-5 is composed of bacteria and fungi, and the cooperation and symbiosis of the contained microbes enhance the degradation ability of WSD-5. Experiment results showed that the highest cellulase and hemicellulase were obtained when ventilation volume was 4 L/min, stirring rate was 0 rpm, and substrate loading rate was 3%. After 6 days of cultivation, a 67.60% loss in wheat straw dry weight was observed. The crude enzyme secreted from WSD-5 after optimization was evaluated by experiments of saccharification and acidification. The maximum concentration of reducing sugars was 3254 mg/L after 48 h saccharification. The concentration of sCOD peaked on day 2 with a value of 4345 mg/L during acidification, and the biogas yield and methane yield were 22.3% and 32.3% higher than un-acidified samples. This study is the first attempt to explore both the saccharification and the acidification ability of crude enzymes secreted by microbial consortium.}, } @article {pmid22704769, year = {2013}, author = {Schneider, J and Labory, CR and Rangel, WM and Alves, E and Guilherme, LR}, title = {Anatomy and ultrastructure alterations of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi in response to arsenic-contaminated soil.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {262}, number = {}, pages = {1245-1258}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.05.091}, pmid = {22704769}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Apoptosis ; Arsenic/*analysis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biomass ; Cell Wall/ultrastructure ; Chloroplasts/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/*ultrastructure ; Plant Shoots/microbiology/*ultrastructure ; Plants/*anatomy & histology/microbiology ; Soil ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Many studies demonstrate the potential application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for remediation purposes, but little is known on AMF potential to enhance plant tolerance to arsenic (As) and the mechanisms involved in this process. We carried anatomical and ultrastructural studies to examine this symbiotic association and the characteristics of shoots and roots of Leucaena leucocephala in As-amended soils (35 and 75 mg As dm(-3)). The experiment used 3 AMF isolates from uncontaminated soils: Acaulospora morrowiae, Glomus clarum, and Gigaspora albida; a mixed inoculum derived from combining these 3 isolates (named Mix AMF); and, 3 AMF isolates from As-contaminated areas: A. morrowiae, G. clarum and Paraglomus occultum. Phytotoxicity symptoms due to arsenic contamination appeared during plant growth, especially in treatments without AMF application. Inoculation with G. clarum and the mixture of species (A. morrowiae, G. albida, and G. clarum) resulted in better growth of L. leucocephala in soils with high As concentrations, as well as significant As removal from the soil, showing a potential for using AMF in phytoextraction. Light microscopy (LS), transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopies (SEM) studies showed the colonization of the AMF in plant tissues and damage in all treatments, with ultrastructural changes being observed in leaves and roots of L. leucocephala, especially with the addition of 75 mg dm(-3) of As.}, } @article {pmid22702142, year = {2012}, author = {Baĭmiev, AKh and Ivanova, ES and Ptitsyn, KG and Belimov, AA and Safronova, VI and Baĭmiev, AKh}, title = {[Genetic characterization of wild leguminous nodular bacteria living in the South Urals].}, journal = {Molekuliarnaia genetika, mikrobiologiia i virusologiia}, volume = {}, number = {1}, pages = {29-34}, pmid = {22702142}, issn = {0208-0613}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics ; Phyllobacteriaceae/classification/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/genetics/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Genetic diversity and phylogeny of rhizobia that nodulate 18 species of wild-growing bean plants of South Urals from 8 genera belonging to 4 tribes (Loteae, Genisteae, Galegeaev and Hedysareae) was studied. It was demonstrated that for the wild-growing plants of Galegeae and Hedysareae tribes symbiotic interaction with various strains of nodule bacteria that closely related to bacteria of Mesorhizobium sp. was typical of the plants of Genisteae tribe--to bacteria of Bradyrhizobium sp. In the nodules of Lortus ucrainicus from Loteae tribe we have found a rhizobium that is closely related to the bacteria of Mesorhizobium sp., and at Coronilla varia rhizobia strains obtained by us were close by sequence of a 16S pRNA gene to Rhizobium sp. In the nodules of some kinds of the investigated plants we found also minor species of a rhizobia, which structure is under the great influence of conditions of the host plant growth.}, } @article {pmid22701642, year = {2012}, author = {Padilla-Gamiño, JL and Pochon, X and Bird, C and Concepcion, GT and Gates, RD}, title = {From parent to gamete: vertical transmission of Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) ITS2 sequence assemblages in the reef building coral Montipora capitata.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e38440}, pmid = {22701642}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/*microbiology ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Genes, Protozoan/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Hawaii ; Inheritance Patterns/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Ovum/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Parental effects are ubiquitous in nature and in many organisms play a particularly critical role in the transfer of symbionts across generations; however, their influence and relative importance in the marine environment has rarely been considered. Coral reefs are biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems, whose success is framed by symbiosis between reef-building corals and unicellular dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Many corals produce aposymbiotic larvae that are infected by Symbiodinium from the environment (horizontal transmission), which allows for the acquisition of new endosymbionts (different from their parents) each generation. In the remaining species, Symbiodinium are transmitted directly from parent to offspring via eggs (vertical transmission), a mechanism that perpetuates the relationship between some or all of the Symbiodinium diversity found in the parent through multiple generations. Here we examine vertical transmission in the Hawaiian coral Montipora capitata by comparing the Symbiodinium ITS2 sequence assemblages in parent colonies and the eggs they produce. Parental effects on sequence assemblages in eggs are explored in the context of the coral genotype, colony morphology, and the environment of parent colonies. Our results indicate that ITS2 sequence assemblages in eggs are generally similar to their parents, and patterns in parental assemblages are different, and reflect environmental conditions, but not colony morphology or coral genotype. We conclude that eggs released by parent colonies during mass spawning events are seeded with different ITS2 sequence assemblages, which encompass phylogenetic variability that may have profound implications for the development, settlement and survival of coral offspring.}, } @article {pmid22701617, year = {2012}, author = {Nyholm, SV and Song, P and Dang, J and Bunce, C and Girguis, PR}, title = {Expression and putative function of innate immunity genes under in situ conditions in the symbiotic hydrothermal vent tubeworm Ridgeia piscesae.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e38267}, pmid = {22701617}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Cell Communication/*genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/*genetics ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Immunity, Innate/*genetics ; Pacific Ocean ; Polychaeta/*genetics/immunology/*microbiology ; Pressure ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The relationships between hydrothermal vent tubeworms and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria have served as model associations for understanding chemoautotrophy and endosymbiosis. Numerous studies have focused on the physiological and biochemical adaptations that enable these symbioses to sustain some of the highest recorded carbon fixation rates ever measured. However, far fewer studies have explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of host and symbiont interactions, specifically those mediated by the innate immune system of the host. To that end, we conducted a series of studies where we maintained the tubeworm, Ridgeia piscesae, in high-pressure aquaria and examined global and quantitative changes in gene expression via high-throughput transcriptomics and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). We analyzed over 32,000 full-length expressed sequence tags as well as 26 Mb of transcript sequences from the trophosome (the organ that houses the endosymbiotic bacteria) and the plume (the gas exchange organ in contact with the free-living microbial community). R. piscesae maintained under conditions that promote chemoautotrophy expressed a number of putative cell signaling and innate immunity genes, including pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), often associated with recognizing microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Eighteen genes involved with innate immunity, cell signaling, cell stress and metabolite exchange were further analyzed using qPCR. PRRs, including five peptidoglycan recognition proteins and a Toll-like receptor, were expressed significantly higher in the trophosome compared to the plume. Although PRRs are often associated with mediating host responses to infection by pathogens, the differences in expression between the plume and trophosome also implicate similar mechanisms of microbial recognition in interactions between the host and symbiont. We posit that regulation of this association involves a molecular "dialogue" between the partners that includes interactions between the host's innate immune system and the symbiont.}, } @article {pmid22701613, year = {2012}, author = {White, JR and Patel, J and Ottesen, A and Arce, G and Blackwelder, P and Lopez, JV}, title = {Pyrosequencing of bacterial symbionts within Axinella corrugata sponges: diversity and seasonal variability.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e38204}, pmid = {22701613}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology ; Florida ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Principal Component Analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine sponge species are of significant interest to many scientific fields including marine ecology, conservation biology, genetics, host-microbe symbiosis and pharmacology. One of the most intriguing aspects of the sponge "holobiont" system is the unique physiology, interaction with microbes from the marine environment and the development of a complex commensal microbial community. However, intraspecific variability and temporal stability of sponge-associated bacterial symbionts remain relatively unknown.

We have characterized the bacterial symbiont community biodiversity of seven different individuals of the Caribbean reef sponge Axinella corrugata, from two different Florida reef locations during variable seasons using multiplex 454 pyrosequencing of 16 S rRNA amplicons. Over 265,512 high-quality 16 S rRNA sequences were generated and analyzed. Utilizing versatile bioinformatics methods and analytical software such as the QIIME and CloVR packages, we have identified 9,444 distinct bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Approximately 65,550 rRNA sequences (24%) could not be matched to bacteria at the class level, and may therefore represent novel taxa. Differentially abundant classes between seasonal Axinella communities included Gammaproteobacteria, Flavobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Acidobacter and Nitrospira. Comparisons with a proximal outgroup sponge species (Amphimedon compressa), and the growing sponge symbiont literature, indicate that this study has identified approximately 330 A. corrugata-specific symbiotic OTUs, many of which are related to the sulfur-oxidizing Ectothiorhodospiraceae. This family appeared exclusively within A. corrugata, comprising >34.5% of all sequenced amplicons. Other A. corrugata symbionts such as Deltaproteobacteria, Bdellovibrio, and Thiocystis among many others are described.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Slight shifts in several bacterial taxa were observed between communities sampled during spring and fall seasons. New 16 S rDNA sequences and concomitant identifications greatly expand the microbial community profile for this model reef sponge, and will likely be useful as a baseline for any future comparisons regarding sponge microbial community dynamics.}, } @article {pmid22701463, year = {2012}, author = {Rose, CM and Venkateshwaran, M and Grimsrud, PA and Westphall, MS and Sussman, MR and Coon, JJ and Ané, JM}, title = {Medicago PhosphoProtein Database: a repository for Medicago truncatula phosphoprotein data.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {122}, pmid = {22701463}, issn = {1664-462X}, support = {T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The ability of legume crops to fix atmospheric nitrogen via a symbiotic association with soil rhizobia makes them an essential component of many agricultural systems. Initiation of this symbiosis requires protein phosphorylation-mediated signaling in response to rhizobial signals named Nod factors. Medicago truncatula (Medicago) is the model system for studying legume biology, making the study of its phosphoproteome essential. Here, we describe the Medicago PhosphoProtein Database (MPPD; http://phospho.medicago.wisc.edu), a repository built to house phosphoprotein, phosphopeptide, and phosphosite data specific to Medicago. Currently, the MPPD holds 3,457 unique phosphopeptides that contain 3,404 non-redundant sites of phosphorylation on 829 proteins. Through the web-based interface, users are allowed to browse identified proteins or search for proteins of interest. Furthermore, we allow users to conduct BLAST searches of the database using both peptide sequences and phosphorylation motifs as queries. The data contained within the database are available for download to be investigated at the user's discretion. The MPPD will be updated continually with novel phosphoprotein and phosphopeptide identifications, with the intent of constructing an unparalleled compendium of large-scale Medicago phosphorylation data.}, } @article {pmid22701462, year = {2012}, author = {Gouws, LM and Botes, E and Wiese, AJ and Trenkamp, S and Torres-Jerez, I and Tang, Y and Hills, PN and Usadel, B and Lloyd, JR and Fernie, AR and Kossmann, J and van der Merwe, MJ}, title = {The plant growth promoting substance, lumichrome, mimics starch, and ethylene-associated symbiotic responses in lotus and tomato roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {120}, pmid = {22701462}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Symbiosis involves responses that maintain the plant host and symbiotic partner's genetic program; yet these cues are far from elucidated. Here we describe the effects of lumichrome, a flavin identified from Rhizobium spp., applied to lotus (Lotus japonicus) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Combined transcriptional and metabolite analyses suggest that both species shared common pathways that were altered in response to this application under replete, sterile conditions. These included genes involved in symbiosis, as well as transcriptional and metabolic responses related to enhanced starch accumulation and altered ethylene metabolism. Lumichrome priming also resulted in altered colonization with either Mesorhizobium loti (for lotus) or Glomus intraradices/G. mossea (for tomato). It enhanced nodule number but not nodule formation in lotus; while leading to enhanced hyphae initiation and delayed arbuscule maturation in tomato.}, } @article {pmid22700927, year = {2012}, author = {van der Heide, T and Govers, LL and de Fouw, J and Olff, H and van der Geest, M and van Katwijk, MM and Piersma, T and van de Koppel, J and Silliman, BR and Smolders, AJ and van Gils, JA}, title = {A three-stage symbiosis forms the foundation of seagrass ecosystems.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {336}, number = {6087}, pages = {1432-1434}, doi = {10.1126/science.1219973}, pmid = {22700927}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Bivalvia/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; Chemoautotrophic Growth ; *Ecosystem ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; Gills/microbiology ; Magnoliopsida/growth & development/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; *Seawater/chemistry ; Sulfides/analysis/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Zosteraceae/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Seagrasses evolved from terrestrial plants into marine foundation species around 100 million years ago. Their ecological success, however, remains a mystery because natural organic matter accumulation within the beds should result in toxic sediment sulfide levels. Using a meta-analysis, a field study, and a laboratory experiment, we reveal how an ancient three-stage symbiosis between seagrass, lucinid bivalves, and their sulfide-oxidizing gill bacteria reduces sulfide stress for seagrasses. We found that the bivalve-sulfide-oxidizer symbiosis reduced sulfide levels and enhanced seagrass production as measured in biomass. In turn, the bivalves and their endosymbionts profit from organic matter accumulation and radial oxygen release from the seagrass roots. These findings elucidate the long-term success of seagrasses in warm waters and offer new prospects for seagrass ecosystem conservation.}, } @article {pmid22699912, year = {2012}, author = {Oluich, LJ and Stratton, JA and Xing, YL and Ng, SW and Cate, HS and Sah, P and Windels, F and Kilpatrick, TJ and Merson, TD}, title = {Targeted ablation of oligodendrocytes induces axonal pathology independent of overt demyelination.}, journal = {The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience}, volume = {32}, number = {24}, pages = {8317-8330}, pmid = {22699912}, issn = {1529-2401}, mesh = {Action Potentials/physiology ; Animals ; Axons/pathology/ultrastructure ; Brain/drug effects/pathology/physiology ; Cell Count/methods/statistics & numerical data ; Demyelinating Diseases/chemically induced/*pathology/physiopathology ; Diphtheria Toxin/toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory/physiology ; Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Myelin Sheath/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Neurons/pathology ; Oligodendroglia/drug effects/*pathology/physiology ; Spinal Cord/metabolism/pathology ; }, abstract = {The critical role of oligodendrocytes in producing and maintaining myelin that supports rapid axonal conduction in CNS neurons is well established. More recently, additional roles for oligodendrocytes have been posited, including provision of trophic factors and metabolic support for neurons. To investigate the functional consequences of oligodendrocyte loss, we have generated a transgenic mouse model of conditional oligodendrocyte ablation. In this model, oligodendrocytes are rendered selectively sensitive to exogenously administered diphtheria toxin (DT) by targeted expression of the diphtheria toxin receptor in oligodendrocytes. Administration of DT resulted in severe clinical dysfunction with an ascending spastic paralysis ultimately resulting in fatal respiratory impairment within 22 d of DT challenge. Pathologically, at this time point, mice exhibited a loss of ∼26% of oligodendrocyte cell bodies throughout the CNS. Oligodendrocyte cell-body loss was associated with moderate microglial activation, but no widespread myelin degradation. These changes were accompanied with acute axonal injury as characterized by structural and biochemical alterations at nodes of Ranvier and reduced somatosensory-evoked potentials. In summary, we have shown that a death signal initiated within oligodendrocytes results in subcellular changes and loss of key symbiotic interactions between the oligodendrocyte and the axons it ensheaths. This produces profound functional consequences that occur before the removal of the myelin membrane, i.e., in the absence of demyelination. These findings have clear implications for the understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases of the CNS such as multiple sclerosis in which the oligodendrocyte is potentially targeted.}, } @article {pmid22699508, year = {2012}, author = {Fan, L and Reynolds, D and Liu, M and Stark, M and Kjelleberg, S and Webster, NS and Thomas, T}, title = {Functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence in complex communities of microbial sponge symbionts.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {27}, pages = {E1878-87}, pmid = {22699508}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/classification/*genetics ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bacteriophages/classification/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Cyanobacteria/classification/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Metagenome/physiology ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/metabolism/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Microorganisms often form symbiotic relationships with eukaryotes, and the complexity of these relationships can range from those with one single dominant symbiont to associations with hundreds of symbiont species. Microbial symbionts occupying equivalent niches in different eukaryotic hosts may share functional aspects, and convergent genome evolution has been reported for simple symbiont systems in insects. However, for complex symbiont communities, it is largely unknown how prevalent functional equivalence is and whether equivalent functions are conducted by evolutionarily convergent mechanisms. Sponges represent an evolutionarily divergent group of species with common physiological and ecological traits. They also host complex communities of microbial symbionts and thus are the ideal model to test whether functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence exist in complex symbiont communities across phylogenetically divergent hosts. Here we use a sampling design to determine the phylogenetic and functional profiles of microbial communities associated with six sponge species. We identify common functions in the six microbiomes, demonstrating the existence of functional equivalence. These core functions are consistent with our current understanding of the biological and ecological roles of sponge-associated microorganisms and also provide insight into symbiont functions. Importantly, core functions also are provided in each sponge species by analogous enzymes and biosynthetic pathways. Moreover, the abundance of elements involved in horizontal gene transfer suggests their key roles in the genomic evolution of symbionts. Our data thus demonstrate evolutionary convergence in complex symbiont communities and reveal the details and mechanisms that underpin the process.}, } @article {pmid22693803, year = {2012}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Churkina, LN and Perunova, NB and Ivanova, EV and Novikova, IV and Avdeeva, LV and Iaroshenko, LV}, title = {[Influence of antistaphylococcus antiobiotic batumin on microorganism biofilm formation].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {2}, pages = {8-12}, pmid = {22693803}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Biofilms/*drug effects/growth & development ; Candida albicans/*physiology ; Escherichia coli/*physiology ; Humans ; Organic Chemicals/pharmacology ; Staphylococcus aureus/*physiology ; }, abstract = {AIM: Study the influence of batumin on microorganism biofilm formation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental data on the antimicrobial effect of batumin on microorganisms and biofilm formation (BFF) was obtained by studying 80 strains of bacteria and fungi isolated from microbial biocenosis of the nose of staphylococcus carriers and patients during examination for intestine dysbiosis. 80% pure batumin was used in the experiments. Antimicrobial activity of batumin was studied by serial dilutions method (CLSI, 2005), BFF--by photometry method (O'Toole G., 2000). The results were statistically treated by non-parametric method by using Mann-Whitney criterion.

RESULTS: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of batumin varied from 0.25 mcg/ml to 64 mcg/ml depending on the species of the studied microorganisms. The most sensitive to batumin strains were Staphylococcus aureus when compared with escherichia and klebsiella. Batumin had no antimicrobial effect on the studied Candida albicans. Inhibitory effect of batumin against BFF of staphylococci, klebsiella and fungi that have an initial level of this property above 2.5 units was established. While in strains that have the initial BFF level of 2.5 units or less, batumin stimulated biofilm formation. Such a dependence was not detected in the studied escherichia coli cultures: batumin stimulated BFF of Escherichia in 80 - 90% of cases.

CONCLUSION: The data obtained uncover one of the possible mechanisms of microsymbiocenosis formation in the human associative symbiosis and open the perspectives for further studies of batumin not only as an antimicrobial preparation but also a substance possessing anti-persistence effect against pathogens.}, } @article {pmid22692703, year = {2012}, author = {Khatoon, A and Rehman, S and Salavati, A and Komatsu, S}, title = {A comparative proteomics analysis in roots of soybean to compatible symbiotic bacteria under flooding stress.}, journal = {Amino acids}, volume = {43}, number = {6}, pages = {2513-2525}, doi = {10.1007/s00726-012-1333-8}, pmid = {22692703}, issn = {1438-2199}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Floods ; Plant Proteins/*analysis ; Plant Roots/*chemistry ; Proteome/*analysis ; Proteomics ; Soybeans/*chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A proteomics approach was used to evaluate the effects of flooding stress on early symbiotic interaction between soybean roots and soil bacteria, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Three-day-old soybean was inoculated with B. japonicum followed by flooding. The number of root hairs in seedlings, without or with flooding stress, was increased after 3 days of inoculation. Proteins were extracted from roots and separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Out of 219 protein spots, 14 and 8 proteins were increased and decreased, respectively, by inoculation under flooding compared with without flooding. These proteins were compared in untreated and flooded seedlings. Increased level of 6 proteins in flooded seedlings compared with untreated seedlings was suppressed by inoculation in seedlings under flooding. They were related to disease/defense, protein synthesis, energy, and metabolism. Differential abundance of glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and triosephosphate isomerase, based on their localization in middle and tip of root, indicated that they might be related to increase in number of root hairs. These results suggest that disease/defense, energy, and metabolism-related proteins may be particularly subjected to regulation in flooded soybean seedlings, when inoculated with B. japonicum and that this regulation may lead to increase in number of root hair during early symbiotic differentiation.}, } @article {pmid22691197, year = {2012}, author = {Buckeridge, JS}, title = {Opportunism and the resilience of barnacles (Cirripedia: Thoracica) to environmental change.}, journal = {Integrative zoology}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {137-146}, doi = {10.1111/j.1749-4877.2012.00286.x}, pmid = {22691197}, issn = {1749-4877}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/*physiology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Seawater/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Thoracica/*anatomy & histology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Cirripede-like organisms have their origins in the Palaeozoic, but until the Cainozoic, were represented primarily by pedunculated forms, such as the Scalpelliformes. Acorn barnacles (Balanomorpha) are first recorded after the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. During the late Palaeogene, rapid radiation of cirripedes resulted in sufficient diversification for them to occupy most marine environments. That they survived both the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and the Pleistocene glaciation is testament to their ability to rapidly adapt to opportunities. The wide habitat distribution of balanomorphs in particular is unparalleled; they are known from the upper littoral (Chthamalus) to depths of 3600 m (Tetrachaelasma) and within this attached to rock, wood and miscellaneous flotsam, plus in symbiosis or commensalism with larger marine organisms. Darwin's (1854) view of the Tertiary as the age of barnacles is reflected in this diversity, distribution and biomass. All cirripedes are, nonetheless, at risk, from rapid habitat change, competition, pollution and, especially in light of their sessile habit, from predation. This paper assesses the viability of a number of cirripedes and concludes that the Lepadiformes, Scalpelliformes and Balanomorpha are the most resilient, and will most quickly adapt to occupy new niches when opportunities arise.}, } @article {pmid22690621, year = {2012}, author = {Grman, E}, title = {Plant species differ in their ability to reduce allocation to non-beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {711-718}, doi = {10.1890/11-1358.1}, pmid = {22690621}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phosphorus/chemistry ; Poaceae/classification/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Theory suggests that cheaters threaten the persistence of mutualisms, but that sanctions to prevent cheating can stabilize mutualisms. In the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, reports of parasitism suggest that reductions in plant carbon allocation are not universally effective. I asked whether plant species differences in mycorrhizal responsiveness would affect both their susceptibility to parasitism and their reduction in allocation to non-beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in high-phosphorus soils. In a greenhouse experiment, I found that two C3 grasses, Bromus inermis and Elymus repens, effectively suppressed root colonization and AMF hyphal abundance. Increases in soil phosphorus did not reduce the degree to which AMF increased plant biomass. In contrast, two C4 grasses, Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium, more weakly reduced root colonization and failed to suppress AMF hyphal abundance. Consequently, they experienced strong declines in their response to AMF, and one species suffered parasitism. Thus, species differ in susceptibility to parasitism and their reduction in allocation to non-beneficial AMF. These differences may affect the distribution and abundance of plants and AMF, as well as the stability of the mutualism.}, } @article {pmid22690266, year = {2012}, author = {Davies, AJ}, title = {Immigration control in the vertebrate body with special reference to chimerism.}, journal = {Chimerism}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {1-8}, pmid = {22690266}, issn = {1938-1964}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/*immunology ; Animals ; *Chimerism ; Communicable Diseases/immunology ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Vertebrates/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The phenomenon of chimerism is reviewed against an understanding of adaptive immunity in vertebrates. It is shown that chimerism can be regarded as a ubiquitous condition and this suggests that monophylesis has played little part in evolution. It is suggested that the adaptive immune response has a special role in facilitating the development of chimerism and that the consensus view of adaptive immunity as a rejection mechanism should be revised.}, } @article {pmid22689989, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, J and Aksoy, S}, title = {PGRP-LB is a maternally transmitted immune milk protein that influences symbiosis and parasitism in tsetse's offspring.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {26}, pages = {10552-10557}, pmid = {22689989}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI081774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insect Proteins/immunology/*physiology ; Milk Proteins/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tsetse Flies/growth & development/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Beneficial microbe functions range from host dietary supplementation to development and maintenance of host immune system. In mammals, newborn progeny are quickly colonized with a symbiotic fauna that is provisioned in mother's milk and that closely resembles that of the parent. Tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) also depends on the obligate symbiont Wigglesworthia for nutritional supplementation, optimal fecundity, and immune system development. Tsetse progeny develop one at a time in an intrauterine environment and receive nourishment and symbionts in mother's milk. We show that the host Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein (PGRP-LB) is expressed only in adults and is a major component of the milk that nourishes the developing progeny. The amidase activity associated with PGRP-LB may scavenge the symbiotic peptidoglycan and prevent the induction of tsetse's Immune Deficiency pathway that otherwise can damage the symbionts. Reduction of PGRP-LB experimentally diminishes female fecundity and damages Wigglesworthia in the milk through induction of antimicrobial peptides, including Attacin. Larvae that receive less maternal PGRP-LB give rise to adults with fewer Wigglesworthia and hyperimmune responses. Such adults also suffer dysregulated immunity, as indicated by the presence of higher trypanosome densities in parasitized adults. We show that recPGRP-LB has antimicrobial and antitrypanosomal activities that may regulate symbiosis and impact immunity. Thus, PGRP-LB plays a pivotal role in tsetse's fitness by protecting symbiosis against host-inflicted damage during development and by controlling parasite infections in adults that can otherwise reduce host fecundity.}, } @article {pmid22689374, year = {2012}, author = {Kovacevic, G}, title = {Value of the Hydra model system for studying symbiosis.}, journal = {The International journal of developmental biology}, volume = {56}, number = {6-8}, pages = {627-635}, doi = {10.1387/ijdb.123510gk}, pmid = {22689374}, issn = {1696-3547}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorella/*physiology ; Chlorophyta/physiology ; Hydra/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Green Hydra is used as a classical example for explaining symbiosis in schools as well as an excellent research model. Indeed the cosmopolitan green Hydra (Hydra viridissima) provides a potent experimental framework to investigate the symbiotic relationships between a complex eumetazoan organism and a unicellular photoautotrophic green algae named Chlorella. Chlorella populates a single somatic cell type, the gastrodermal myoepithelial cells (also named digestive cells) and the oocyte at the time of sexual reproduction. This symbiotic relationship is stable, well-determined and provides biological advantages to the algal symbionts, but also to green Hydra over the related non-symbiotic Hydra i.e. brown hydra. These advantages likely result from the bidirectional flow of metabolites between the host and the symbiont. Moreover genetic flow through horizontal gene transfer might also participate in the establishment of these selective advantages. However, these relationships between the host and the symbionts may be more complex. Thus, Jolley and Smith showed that the reproductive rate of the algae increases dramatically outside of Hydra cells, although this endosymbiont isolation is debated. Recently it became possible to keep different species of endosymbionts isolated from green Hydra in stable and permanent cultures and compare them to free-living Chlorella species. Future studies testing metabolic relationships and genetic flow should help elucidate the mechanisms that support the maintenance of symbiosis in a eumetazoan species.}, } @article {pmid22689236, year = {2012}, author = {de Souza, JA and Tieppo, E and Magnani, Gde S and Alves, LM and Cardoso, RL and Cruz, LM and de Oliveira, LF and Raittz, RT and de Souza, EM and Pedrosa, Fde O and Lemos, EG}, title = {Draft genome sequence of the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium elkanii 587.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {13}, pages = {3547-3548}, pmid = {22689236}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Brazil ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Soybeans/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The draft sequence of the genome of Bradyrhizobium elkanii 587 is presented. This was obtained using Illumina Next-Gen DNA sequencing combined with Sanger sequencing. Genes for the pathways involved in biological nitrogen fixation (the nif gene cluster), nod genes including nodABC, and genes for the type III protein secretion system (T3SS) are present.}, } @article {pmid22688813, year = {2012}, author = {Davy, SK and Allemand, D and Weis, VM}, title = {Cell biology of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {229-261}, pmid = {22688813}, issn = {1098-5557}, mesh = {Animals ; Cnidaria/*physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Phagocytosis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between cnidarians (e.g., corals or sea anemones) and intracellular dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium is of immense ecological importance. In particular, this symbiosis promotes the growth and survival of reef corals in nutrient-poor tropical waters; indeed, coral reefs could not exist without this symbiosis. However, our fundamental understanding of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and of its links to coral calcification remains poor. Here we review what we currently know about the cell biology of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. In doing so, we aim to refocus attention on fundamental cellular aspects that have been somewhat neglected since the early to mid-1980s, when a more ecological approach began to dominate. We review the four major processes that we believe underlie the various phases of establishment and persistence in the cnidarian/coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis: (i) recognition and phagocytosis, (ii) regulation of host-symbiont biomass, (iii) metabolic exchange and nutrient trafficking, and (iv) calcification. Where appropriate, we draw upon examples from a range of cnidarian-alga symbioses, including the symbiosis between green Hydra and its intracellular chlorophyte symbiont, which has considerable potential to inform our understanding of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Ultimately, we provide a comprehensive overview of the history of the field, its current status, and where it should be going in the future.}, } @article {pmid22688426, year = {2012}, author = {Tĕšitelová, T and Tĕšitel, J and Jersáková, J and RÍhová, G and Selosse, MA}, title = {Symbiotic germination capability of four Epipactis species (Orchidaceae) is broader than expected from adult ecology.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {99}, number = {6}, pages = {1020-1032}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1100503}, pmid = {22688426}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/genetics/physiology ; Czech Republic ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; *Germination ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/physiology ; Orchidaceae/classification/*growth & development/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S/genetics ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; Seeds/*growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Both abiotic and biotic factors shape species distributions. Orchids produce minute seeds with few nutrient reserves, thus requiring mycorrhizal fungi for germination. Therefore, both environmental conditions and mycorrhizal fungi distribution affect their germination success, but these ecological requirements and their congruence with habitat preferences of adults remain poorly understood. We investigated the importance of these factors during germination in four forest orchid species of the genus Epipactis.

METHODS: We sowed seeds of three habitat specialists and one generalist in different forest types at sites harboring adults of at least one of these ecologically diverging species. We analyzed germination pattern and identified mycorrhizal fungi of both seedlings and adults.

KEY RESULTS: Habitat conditions had little influence on germination pattern as seedlings grew in more habitats than expected from the adults' ecology. Ectomycorrhizal fungi availability did not limit germination. Suitable mycorrhizal fungi, mostly pezizalean ascomycetes, were recruited in various forest types, though the fungal communities differed according to habitat type. Finally, orchids with divergent ecological preferences shared similar mycorrhizal fungi.

CONCLUSIONS: Limited adult distribution contrasted with successful seed germination at diverse sites and indicates existence of niche differentiation between adults and seedlings. Ecological specialization may thus be determined by factors other than mycorrhizal fungi that act later in the ontogeny, perhaps during the transition to above-ground development.}, } @article {pmid22686018, year = {2012}, author = {Pogorelova, VV and Bega, ZT and Kurdish, IK}, title = {[Relationship of bacteria of Bacillus genus with ciliate Colpoda steinii and their impact on germination of plant seeds].}, journal = {Mikrobiolohichnyi zhurnal (Kiev, Ukraine : 1993)}, volume = {74}, number = {2}, pages = {48-54}, pmid = {22686018}, issn = {1028-0987}, mesh = {Bacillus/*growth & development ; Bacillus megaterium/*growth & development ; Bacillus subtilis/*growth & development ; Bacterial Load ; Ciliophora/*microbiology/physiology ; Cucumis sativus/microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Culture Media ; Germination/*physiology ; Raphanus/microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Seeds/microbiology/parasitology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; Triticum/microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; }, abstract = {Features of symbiotic coexistence of bacteria of the genus Bacillus with ciliates Colpoda steinii have been studied. In their mutual cultivation during 10 days the number of bacteria B. subtilis IMV V-7023 was reduced 4.4 times, B. pumilus 3 - 3.4 times, B. megaterium 12 - 2.5 times. In the mixed culture with B. pumilus 3 the number of the ciliates increased gradualluy while under availability of the other two bacilli strains the number of protozoan increased in the first two days, after that their amount decreased. Treatment of some plants seeds by suspension of B. subtilis IMV V-7023 with the protozoan increased their germination and stimulated the growth of plants at the early stages of development.}, } @article {pmid22685684, year = {2012}, author = {Comito, D and Romano, C}, title = {Dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases.}, journal = {International journal of inflammation}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {687143}, pmid = {22685684}, issn = {2042-0099}, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that occur in genetically susceptible individuals. Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are two major types of IBD. In about 20-25% of patients, disease onset is during childhood and pediatric IBD can be considered the best model for studying immunopathogentic mechanisms. The fundamentals of IBD pathogenesis are considered a defective innate immunity and bacterial killing with overaggressive adaptive immune response. A condition of "dysbiosis", with alterations of the gut microbial composition, is regarded as the basis of IBD pathogenesis. The human gastrointestinal (GI) microbial population is a complex, dynamic ecosystem and consists of up to one thousand different bacterial species. In healthy individuals, intestinal microbiota have a symbiotic relationship with the host organism and carry out important metabolic, "barrier," and immune functions. Microbial dysbiosis in IBD with lack of beneficial bacteria, together with genetic predisposition, is the most relevant conditions in the pathogenesis of the pediatric IBD.}, } @article {pmid22685597, year = {2012}, author = {Ciesielski, F and Davis, B and Rittig, M and Bonev, BB and O'Shea, P}, title = {Receptor-independent interaction of bacterial lipopolysaccharide with lipid and lymphocyte membranes; the role of cholesterol.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {e38677}, pmid = {22685597}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {//Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Binding, Competitive ; Cell Membrane/chemistry/*metabolism ; Cholesterol/chemistry/*metabolism ; Escherichia coli/chemistry ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Kinetics ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/chemistry ; Lipid Bilayers/chemistry/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/*metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/chemistry/metabolism ; Phosphatidylcholines/chemistry/metabolism ; Phosphatidylethanolamines/chemistry/metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism ; Salmonella enterica/chemistry ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Sphingomyelins/chemistry/metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major constituent of bacterial outer membranes where it makes up the bulk of the outer leaflet and plays a key role as determinant of bacterial interactions with the host. Membrane-free LPS is known to activate T-lymphocytes through interactions with Toll-like receptor 4 via multiprotein complexes. In the present study, we investigate the role of cholesterol and membrane heterogeneities as facilitators of receptor-independent LPS binding and insertion, which underpin bacterial interactions with the host in symbiosis, pathogenesis and cell invasion. We use fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the interactions of membrane-free LPS from intestinal gram-negative organisms with cholesterol-containing model membranes and with T-lymphocytes. LPS preparations from Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica were found to bind preferentially to mixed lipid membranes by comparison to pure PC bilayers. The same was observed for LPS from the symbiote Escherichia coli but with an order of magnitude higher dissociation constant. Insertion of LPS into model membranes confirmed the preference for sphingomyelin/cholesterol-containing systems. LPS insertion into Jurkat T-lymphocyte membranes reveals that they have a significantly greater LPS-binding capacity by comparison to methyl-β-cyclodextrin cholesterol-depleted lymphocyte membranes, albeit at slightly lower binding rates.}, } @article {pmid22685282, year = {2012}, author = {Jones, KM}, title = {Increased production of the exopolysaccharide succinoglycan enhances Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 symbiosis with the host plant Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {16}, pages = {4322-4331}, pmid = {22685282}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Glucosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/physiology ; Metabolic Engineering ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing rhizobial symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 produces acidic symbiotic exopolysaccharides that enable it to initiate and maintain infection thread formation on host legume plants. The exopolysaccharide that is most efficient in mediating this process is succinoglycan (exopolysaccharide I [EPSI]), a polysaccharide composed of octasaccharide repeating units of 1 galactose and 7 glucose residues, modified with succinyl, acetyl, and pyruvyl substituents. Previous studies had shown that S. meliloti 1021 mutants that produce increased levels of succinoglycan, such as exoR mutants, are defective in symbiosis with host plants, leading to the hypothesis that high levels of succinoglycan production might be detrimental to symbiotic development. This study demonstrates that increased succinoglycan production itself is not detrimental to symbiotic development and, in fact, enhances the symbiotic productivity of S. meliloti 1021 with the host plant Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong A17. Increased succinoglycan production was engineered by overexpression of the exoY gene, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the first step in succinoglycan biosynthesis. These results suggest that the level of symbiotic exopolysaccharide produced by a rhizobial species is one of the factors involved in optimizing the interaction with plant hosts.}, } @article {pmid22684866, year = {2012}, author = {Bauer, JT and Kleczewski, NM and Bever, JD and Clay, K and Reynolds, HL}, title = {Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and the productivity and structure of prairie grassland communities.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {170}, number = {4}, pages = {1089-1098}, pmid = {22684866}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Population Dynamics ; }, abstract = {Due to their complementary roles in meeting plant nutritional needs, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (N(2)-fixers) may have synergistic effects on plant communities. Using greenhouse microcosms, we tested the effects of AMF, N(2)-fixers (symbiotic: rhizobia, and associative: Azospirillum brasilense), and their potential interactions on the productivity, diversity, and species composition of diverse tallgrass prairie communities and on the productivity of Panicum virgatum in monoculture. Our results demonstrate the importance of AMF and N(2)-fixers as drivers of plant community structure and function. In the communities, we found a positive effect of AMF on diversity and productivity, but a negative effect of N(2)-fixers on productivity. Both AMF and N(2)-fixers affected relative abundances of species. AMF shifted the communities from dominance by Elymus canadensis to Sorghastrum nutans, and seven other species increased in abundance with AMF, accounting for the increased diversity. N(2)-fixers led to increases in Astragalus canadensis and Desmanthus illinoense, two legumes that likely benefited from the presence of the appropriate rhizobia symbionts. Sorghastrum nutans declined 44 % in the presence of N(2)-fixers, with the most likely explanation being increased competition from legumes. Panicum monocultures were more productive with AMF, but showed no response to N(2)-fixers, although inference was constrained by low Azospirillum treatment effectivity. We did not find interactions between AMF and N(2)-fixers in communities or Panicum monocultures, indicating that short-term effects of these microbial functional groups are additive.}, } @article {pmid22684077, year = {2012}, author = {Bhatt, H and Trivedi, DK and Pal, RK and Johri, AK and Tuteja, N and Bhavesh, NS}, title = {Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a cyclophilin A-like protein from Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology and crystallization communications}, volume = {68}, number = {Pt 6}, pages = {709-712}, pmid = {22684077}, issn = {1744-3091}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*chemistry ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Cyclophilin A/*chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Cyclophilins are widely distributed both in eukaryotes and prokaryotes and have a primary role as peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases). This study focuses on the cloning, expression, purification and crystallization of a salinity-stress-induced cyclophilin A (CypA) homologue from the symbiotic fungus Piriformospora indica. Crystallization experiments in the presence of 56 mM sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, 1.34 M potassium phosphate dibasic pH 8.2 yielded crystals that were suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 121.15, b = 144.12, c = 110.63 Å. The crystals diffracted to a resolution limit of 2.0 Å. Analysis of the diffraction data indicated the presence of three molecules of the protein per asymmetric unit (V(M) = 4.48 Å(3) Da(-1), 72.6% solvent content).}, } @article {pmid22683509, year = {2012}, author = {Rose, CM and Venkateshwaran, M and Volkening, JD and Grimsrud, PA and Maeda, J and Bailey, DJ and Park, K and Howes-Podoll, M and den Os, D and Yeun, LH and Westphall, MS and Sussman, MR and Ané, JM and Coon, JJ}, title = {Rapid phosphoproteomic and transcriptomic changes in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {11}, number = {9}, pages = {724-744}, pmid = {22683509}, issn = {1535-9484}, support = {T32 GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32GM008505/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic associations between legumes and rhizobia usually commence with the perception of bacterial lipochitooligosaccharides, known as Nod factors (NF), which triggers rapid cellular and molecular responses in host plants. We report here deep untargeted tandem mass spectrometry-based measurements of rapid NF-induced changes in the phosphorylation status of 13,506 phosphosites in 7739 proteins from the model legume Medicago truncatula. To place these phosphorylation changes within a biological context, quantitative phosphoproteomic and RNA measurements in wild-type plants were compared with those observed in mutants, one defective in NF perception (nfp) and one defective in downstream signal transduction events (dmi3). Our study quantified the early phosphorylation and transcription dynamics that are specifically associated with NF-signaling, confirmed a dmi3-mediated feedback loop in the pathway, and suggested "cryptic" NF-signaling pathways, some of them being also involved in the response to symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid22682566, year = {2012}, author = {Vázquez-Limón, C and Hoogewijs, D and Vinogradov, SN and Arredondo-Peter, R}, title = {The evolution of land plant hemoglobins.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {191-192}, number = {}, pages = {71-81}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.04.013}, pmid = {22682566}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Embryophyta/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {This review discusses the evolution of land plant hemoglobins within the broader context of eukaryote hemoglobins and the three families of bacterial globins. Most eukaryote hemoglobins, including metazoan globins and the symbiotic and non-symbiotic plant hemoglobins, are homologous to the bacterial 3/3-fold flavohemoglobins. The remaining plant hemoglobins are homologous to the bacterial 2/2-fold group 2 hemoglobins. We have proposed that all eukaryote globins were acquired via horizontal gene transfer concomitant with the endosymbiotic events responsible for the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Although the 3/3 hemoglobins originated in the ancestor of green algae and plants prior to the emergence of embryophytes at about 450 mya, the 2/2 hemoglobins appear to have originated via horizontal gene transfer from a bacterium ancestral to present day Chloroflexi. Unlike the 2/2 hemoglobins, the evolution of the 3/3 hemoglobins was accompanied by duplication, diversification, and functional adaptations. Duplication of the ancestral plant nshb gene into the nshb-1 and nshb-2 lineages occurred prior to the monocot-dicot divergence at ca. 140 mya. It was followed by the emergence of symbiotic hemoglobins from a non-symbiotic hemoglobin precursor and further specialization, leading to leghemoglobins in N2-fixing legume nodules concomitant with the origin of nodulation at ca. 60 mya. The transition of non-symbiotic to symbiotic hemoglobins (including to leghemoglobins) was accompanied by the alteration of heme-Fe coordination from hexa- to penta-coordination. Additional genomic information about Charophyte algae, the sister group to land plants, is required for the further clarification of plant globin phylogeny.}, } @article {pmid22682561, year = {2012}, author = {Fiasconaro, ML and Gogorcena, Y and Muñoz, F and Andueza, D and Sánchez-Díaz, M and Antolín, MC}, title = {Effects of nitrogen source and water availability on stem carbohydrates and cellulosic bioethanol traits of alfalfa plants.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {191-192}, number = {}, pages = {16-23}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.04.007}, pmid = {22682561}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Biofuels/analysis ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/*drug effects ; Cell Wall/drug effects/metabolism ; Cellulose/*metabolism ; Ethanol/*metabolism ; Gases/metabolism ; Lignin/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Phenols/metabolism ; Plant Stems/drug effects/enzymology/*metabolism ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Sewage/chemistry ; Solubility/drug effects ; Water/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic association of legumes with rhizobia frequently results in higher photosynthesis and soluble carbohydrates in comparison with nitrate-fed plants, which might improve its potential for biomass conversion into bioethanol. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the effects of nitrogen source and water availability on stem characteristics and on relationships between carbohydrates, phenolic metabolism activity and cell wall composition in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Aragón). The experiment included three treatments: (1) plants fed with ammonium nitrate (AN); (2) plants inoculated with rhizobia (R); and (3) plants inoculated with rhizobia and amended with sewage sludge (RS). Two levels of irrigation were imposed: (1) well-watered and (2) drought stress. Under well-watered conditions, nitrogen-fixing plants have increased photosynthesis and stem fermentable carbohydrate concentrations, which result in higher potential for biomass conversion to bioethanol than in AN plants. The latter had higher lignin due to enhanced activities of phenolic metabolism-related enzymes. Under drought conditions, the potential for bioethanol conversion decreased to a similar level in all treatments. Drought-stressed nitrogen-fixing plants have high concentrations of fermentable carbohydrates and cell wall cellulose, but ammonium nitrate-fed plants produced higher plant and stem biomass, which might compensate the decreasing stem carbohydrates and cellulose concentrations.}, } @article {pmid22679222, year = {2012}, author = {Pislariu, CI and Murray, JD and Wen, J and Cosson, V and Muni, RR and Wang, M and Benedito, VA and Andriankaja, A and Cheng, X and Jerez, IT and Mondy, S and Zhang, S and Taylor, ME and Tadege, M and Ratet, P and Mysore, KS and Chen, R and Udvardi, MK}, title = {A Medicago truncatula tobacco retrotransposon insertion mutant collection with defects in nodule development and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {159}, number = {4}, pages = {1686-1699}, pmid = {22679222}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Genes, Plant/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Morphogenesis/genetics ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/*genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Retroelements/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tobacco/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A Tnt1-insertion mutant population of Medicago truncatula ecotype R108 was screened for defects in nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Primary screening of 9,300 mutant lines yielded 317 lines with putative defects in nodule development and/or nitrogen fixation. Of these, 230 lines were rescreened, and 156 lines were confirmed with defective symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Mutants were sorted into six distinct phenotypic categories: 72 nonnodulating mutants (Nod-), 51 mutants with totally ineffective nodules (Nod+ Fix-), 17 mutants with partially ineffective nodules (Nod+ Fix+/-), 27 mutants defective in nodule emergence, elongation, and nitrogen fixation (Nod+/- Fix-), one mutant with delayed and reduced nodulation but effective in nitrogen fixation (dNod+/- Fix+), and 11 supernodulating mutants (Nod++Fix+/-). A total of 2,801 flanking sequence tags were generated from the 156 symbiotic mutant lines. Analysis of flanking sequence tags revealed 14 insertion alleles of the following known symbiotic genes: NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), DOESN'T MAKE INFECTIONS3 (DMI3/CCaMK), ERF REQUIRED FOR NODULATION, and SUPERNUMERARY NODULES (SUNN). In parallel, a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy was used to identify Tnt1 insertions in known symbiotic genes, which revealed 25 additional insertion alleles in the following genes: DMI1, DMI2, DMI3, NIN, NODULATION SIGNALING PATHWAY1 (NSP1), NSP2, SUNN, and SICKLE. Thirty-nine Nod- lines were also screened for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis phenotypes, and 30 mutants exhibited defects in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Morphological and developmental features of several new symbiotic mutants are reported. The collection of mutants described here is a source of novel alleles of known symbiotic genes and a resource for cloning novel symbiotic genes via Tnt1 tagging.}, } @article {pmid22677398, year = {2012}, author = {Yamauchi, A and Telschow, A}, title = {Bistability of endosymbiont evolution of genome size and host sex control.}, journal = {Journal of theoretical biology}, volume = {309}, number = {}, pages = {58-66}, doi = {10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.05.014}, pmid = {22677398}, issn = {1095-8541}, mesh = {Animals ; Computer Simulation ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Genome Size/*genetics ; Male ; Models, Biological ; *Sex Ratio ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic organisms often harbor several genetic factors in their cytoplasm. These cytoplasmic genetic elements (CGEs) include both eukaryotic organelles (mitochondria, chloroplasts) and bacterial endosymbionts, which have evolved from free-living bacteria. A common feature of CGEs is their cytoplasmic inheritance from mother to offspring. A striking difference is that some CGEs have evolved a short genome size (e.g., animal mitochondria), while others cause a sex ratio distortion (SRD) in their hosts (e.g., Wolbachia). In this study, we sought to resolve the evolution of these endosymbiont properties using a population genetics approach. Our model divides the endosymbiont genome into a functional part and a part that can cause SRD, and our results indicate that the cytoplasmic inheritance system at the initiation of symbiosis plays a key role in determining the evolutionary trajectory of CGEs. We show that in endosymbiotic evolution, two states can be bistable, depending on the parameters. The evolution of the cytoplasmic inheritance system from biparental to uniparental can result in hysteresis in the evolution of cytoplasmic symbionts.}, } @article {pmid22675052, year = {2012}, author = {Lamus, V and Montoya, L and Aguilar, CJ and Bandala, VM and Ramos, D}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal association of three Lactarius species with Carpinus and Quercus trees in a Mexican montane cloud forest.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {104}, number = {6}, pages = {1261-1266}, doi = {10.3852/11-144}, pmid = {22675052}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Betulaceae/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics ; Hyphae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Meristem/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mexico ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Quercus/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are being monitored in the Santuario del Bosque de Niebla in the central region of Veracruz (eastern Mexico). Based on the comparison of DNA sequences (ITS rDNA) of spatiotemporally co-occurring basidiomes and EM root tips, we discovered the EM symbiosis of Lactarius indigo, L. areolatus and L. strigosipes with Carpinus caroliniana, Quercus xalapensis and Quercus spp. The host of the EM tips was identified by comparison of the large subunit of the ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase gene (rbcL). Descriptions coupled with photographs of ectomycorrhizas and basidiomes are presented.}, } @article {pmid22675051, year = {2012}, author = {Karimi, S and Mirlohi, A and Sabzalian, MR and Sayed Tabatabaei, BE and Sharifnabi, B}, title = {Molecular evidence for Neotyphodium fungal endophyte variation and specificity within host grass species.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {104}, number = {6}, pages = {1281-1290}, doi = {10.3852/11-316}, pmid = {22675051}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Endophytes ; Festuca/*microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; *Host Specificity ; Lolium/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal/cytology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Host specificity of Neotyphodium species symbiotic with three grass species, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca pratensis and Lolium perenne, was studied based on comparisons of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) between hosts and their corresponding endophytes. Endophytic fungi were isolated from 24 accessions of host plants. Neotyphodium identity was determined based on morphological characteristics observed in cultures and polymerase chain reaction analysis using specific primers. The results of AFLP data analysis revealed high genetic variation in plant and fungal endophyte species. Plant AFLP genotypes from different species clustered in three distinctive groups, congruent with species. A cluster analysis of AFLP data grouped endophytic isolates according to their host species and secondarily according to their host geographic distribution. The result of the AMOVA on AFLP data accounted for a large and significant proportion of genetic variation due to differences among plant and endophyte species. Phylogenetic groups of isolates corresponded to their respective host genotypes based on maximum parsimony phylograms. Comparisons of the two phylograms illustrated a significant congruence between nodes and branches of host and endophyte clades. These results strongly suggest host specificity of Neotyphodium fungal endophytes with their geographically distant host grasses within each species.}, } @article {pmid22675049, year = {2012}, author = {Charlton, ND and Craven, KD and Mittal, S and Hopkins, AA and Young, CA}, title = {Epichloe canadensis, a new interspecific epichloid hybrid symbiotic with Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis).}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {104}, number = {5}, pages = {1187-1199}, doi = {10.3852/11-403}, pmid = {22675049}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Alkaloids/genetics ; Canada ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Elymus/*microbiology ; Endophytes/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Epichloe/*classification/genetics/ultrastructure ; Ergot Alkaloids/genetics ; Peptide Elongation Factor 1/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Poaceae/genetics/microbiology ; Tubulin/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many Epichloë endophytes found in cool-season grasses are interspecific hybrids possessing much or all of the genomes of two or three progenitors. Here we characterize Epichloë canadensis sp. nov., a hybrid species inhabiting the grass species Elymus canadensis native to North America. Three distinct morphotypes were identified that were separated into two groups by molecular phylogenetic analysis. Sequence analysis of the translation elongation factor 1-α (tefA) and β-tubulin (tubB) genes revealed two copies in all isolates examined. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that allele 1 of each gene was derived from Epichloë amarillans and allele 2 from Epichloë elymi. This is the first documentation of an interspecific hybrid endophyte derived from parents of strictly North American origins. Alkaloid gene profiling using primers specific to genes in the peramine, loline, indole-diterpene and ergot alkaloid pathways may indicate chemotypic variation in the ergot alkaloid and loline pathways between the assigned morphotypes. All isolates have the gene enabling the production of peramine but lack genes in the indole-diterpene biosynthesis pathway. Morphology and phylogenetic evidence support the designation of isolates from El. canadensis as a new interspecific hybrid species.}, } @article {pmid22674692, year = {2012}, author = {Ieropoulos, IA and Greenman, J and Melhuish, C and Horsfield, I}, title = {Microbial fuel cells for robotics: energy autonomy through artificial symbiosis.}, journal = {ChemSusChem}, volume = {5}, number = {6}, pages = {1020-1026}, doi = {10.1002/cssc.201200283}, pmid = {22674692}, issn = {1864-564X}, mesh = {Automation ; *Bioelectric Energy Sources ; *Robotics ; }, abstract = {The development of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has seen an enormous growth over the last hundred years since its inception by Potter in 1911. The technology has reached a level of maturity that it is now considered to be a field in its own right with a growing scientific community. The highest level of activity has been recorded over the last decade and it is perhaps considered commonplace that MFCs are primarily suitable for stationary, passive wastewater treatment applications. Sceptics have certainly not considered MFCs as serious contenders in the race for developing renewable energy technologies. Yet this is the only type of alternative system that can convert organic waste-widely distributed around the globe-directly into electricity, and therefore, the only technology that will allow artificial agents to autonomously operate in a plethora of environments. This Minireview describes the history and current state-of-the-art regarding MFCs in robotics and their vital role in artificial symbiosis and autonomy. Furthermore, the article demonstrates how pursuing practical robotic applications can provide insights of the core MFC technology in general.}, } @article {pmid22674557, year = {2012}, author = {Blumberg, R and Powrie, F}, title = {Microbiota, disease, and back to health: a metastable journey.}, journal = {Science translational medicine}, volume = {4}, number = {137}, pages = {137rv7}, pmid = {22674557}, issn = {1946-6242}, support = {R37 DK044319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK51362/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK088199/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK44319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK051362/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK053056/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 095688/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK034854/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK88199/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK044319/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK53056/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Health ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology ; Metagenome/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Alterations in the composition of the commensal microbiota have been observed in many complex diseases. Understanding the basis for these changes, how they relate to disease risk or activity, and the mechanisms by which the symbiotic state of colonization resistance and host homeostasis is restored is critical for future therapies aimed at manipulating the microbiota.}, } @article {pmid22674556, year = {2012}, author = {Holmes, E and Kinross, J and Gibson, GR and Burcelin, R and Jia, W and Pettersson, S and Nicholson, JK}, title = {Therapeutic modulation of microbiota-host metabolic interactions.}, journal = {Science translational medicine}, volume = {4}, number = {137}, pages = {137rv6}, doi = {10.1126/scitranslmed.3004244}, pmid = {22674556}, issn = {1946-6242}, support = {R01AA020212/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS/United States ; //Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; //Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; //Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Prebiotics ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The complex metabolic relationships between the host and its microbiota change throughout life and vary extensively between individuals, affecting disease risk factors and therapeutic responses through drug metabolism. Elucidating the biochemical mechanisms underlying this human supraorganism symbiosis is yielding new therapeutic insights to improve human health, treat disease, and potentially modify human disease risk factors. Therapeutic options include targeting drugs to microbial genes or co-regulated host pathways and modifying the gut microbiota through diet, probiotic and prebiotic interventions, bariatric surgery, fecal transplants, or ecological engineering. The age-associated co-development of the host and its microbiota provides a series of windows for therapeutic intervention from early life through old age.}, } @article {pmid22673109, year = {2012}, author = {Lanfranco, L and Young, JP}, title = {Genetic and genomic glimpses of the elusive arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {454-461}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.04.003}, pmid = {22673109}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form an ancient and widespread mutualistic symbiosis with plants, are a crucial but still enigmatic component of the plant microbiome. Nowadays, their obligate biotrophy is no longer an obstacle to deciphering the role played by AMF in this fascinating symbiosis. The first genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of an AMF showed a metabolic complexity with no sign of massive gene loss, and the presence of genes for meiotic recombination suggests that AMF are not simple clonal organisms, as originally thought. New findings on suppression of host defenses and nutrient exchange processes have shed light on the mechanisms that contribute to such an intimate and long-lasting integration between living plant and fungal cells.}, } @article {pmid22672708, year = {2012}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Cell division and density of symbiotic Chlorella variabilis of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria is controlled by the host's nutritional conditions during early infection process.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2800-2811}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02793.x}, pmid = {22672708}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Cell Division ; Chlorella/*cytology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Light ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Paramecium/*microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Population Density ; Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The association of ciliate Paramecium bursaria with symbiotic Chlorella sp. is a mutualistic symbiosis. However, both the alga-free paramecia and symbiotic algae can still grow independently and can be reinfected experimentally by mixing them. Effects of the host's nutritional conditions against the symbiotic algal cell division and density were examined during early reinfection. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that algal cell division starts 24 h after mixing with alga-free P. bursaria, and that the algal mother cell wall is discarded from the perialgal vacuole membrane, which encloses symbiotic alga. Labelling of the mother cell wall with Calcofluor White Stain, a cell-wall-specific fluorochrome, was used to show whether alga had divided or not. Pulse labelling of alga-free P. bursaria cells with Calcofluor White Stain-stained algae with or without food bacteria for P. bursaria revealed that the fluorescence of Calcofluor White Stain in P. bursaria with bacteria disappeared within 3 days after mixing, significantly faster than without bacteria. Similar results were obtained both under constant light and dark conditions. This report is the first describing that the cell division and density of symbiotic algae of P. bursaria are controlled by the host's nutritional conditions during early infection.}, } @article {pmid22672589, year = {2012}, author = {Gros, O and Elisabeth, NH and Gustave, SD and Caro, A and Dubilier, N}, title = {Plasticity of symbiont acquisition throughout the life cycle of the shallow-water tropical lucinid Codakia orbiculata (Mollusca: Bivalvia).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1584-1595}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02748.x}, pmid = {22672589}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Gills/microbiology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Life Cycle Stages ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Sulfides/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In marine invertebrates that acquire their symbionts from the environment, these are generally only taken up during early developmental stages. In the symbiosis between lucinid clams and their intracellular sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, it has been shown that the juveniles acquire their symbionts from an environmental stock of free-living symbiont forms, but it is not known if adult clams are still competent to take up symbiotic bacteria from the environment. In this study, we investigated symbiont acquisition in adult specimens of the lucinid clam Codakia orbiculata, using transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and PCR. We show here that adults that had no detectable symbionts after starvation in aquaria for 6 months, rapidly reacquired symbionts within days after being returned to their natural environments in the field. Control specimens that were starved and then exposed to seawater aquaria with sulfide did not reacquire symbionts. This indicates that the reacquisition of symbionts in the starved clams returned to the field was not caused by high division rates of a small pool of remaining symbionts that we were not able to detect with the methods used here. Immunohistochemistry with an antibody against actin, a protein involved in the phagocytosis of intracellular bacteria, showed that actin was expressed at the apical ends of the gill cells that took up symbionts, providing further evidence that the symbionts were acquired from the environment. Interestingly, actin expression was also observed in symbiont-containing cells of untreated lucinids freshly collected from the environment, indicating that symbiont acquisition from the environment occurs continuously in these clams throughout their lifetime.}, } @article {pmid22672103, year = {2012}, author = {Heath, KD and Burke, PV and Stinchcombe, JR}, title = {Coevolutionary genetic variation in the legume-rhizobium transcriptome.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {19}, pages = {4735-4747}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05629.x}, pmid = {22672103}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Gene Library ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phenotype ; Plasmids/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Coevolutionary change requires reciprocal selection between interacting species, where the partner genotypes that are favoured in one species depend on the genetic composition of the interacting species. Coevolutionary genetic variation is manifested as genotype × genotype (G × G) interactions for fitness in interspecific interactions. Although quantitative genetic approaches have revealed abundant evidence for G × G interactions in symbioses, the molecular basis of this variation remains unclear. Here we study the molecular basis of G × G interactions in a model legume-rhizobium mutualism using gene expression microarrays. We find that, like quantitative traits such as fitness, variation in the symbiotic transcriptome may be partitioned into additive and interactive genetic components. Our results suggest that plant genetic variation had the largest influence on nodule gene expression and that plant genotype and the plant genotype × rhizobium genotype interaction determine global shifts in rhizobium gene expression that in turn feedback to influence plant fitness benefits. Moreover, the transcriptomic variation we uncover implicates regulatory changes in both species as drivers of symbiotic gene expression variation. Our study is the first to partition genetic variation in a symbiotic transcriptome and illuminates potential molecular routes of coevolutionary change.}, } @article {pmid22671560, year = {2012}, author = {Armitage, SA and Fernández-Marín, H and Wcislo, WT and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {An evaluation of the possible adaptive function of fungal brood covering by Attine ants.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {66}, number = {6}, pages = {1966-1975}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01568.x}, pmid = {22671560}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Ants/genetics/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Fungi/*growth & development ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Fungus-growing ants (Myrmicinae: Attini) live in an obligate symbiotic relationship with a fungus that they rear for food, but they can also use the fungal mycelium to cover their brood. We surveyed colonies from 20 species of fungus-growing ants and show that brood-covering behavior occurs in most species, but to varying degrees, and appears to have evolved shortly after the origin of fungus farming, but was partly or entirely abandoned in some genera. To understand the evolution of the trait we used quantitative phylogenetic analyses to test whether brood-covering behavior covaries among attine ant clades and with two hygienic traits that reduce risk of disease: mycelial brood cover did not correlate with mutualistic bacteria that the ants culture on their cuticles for their antibiotics, but there was a negative relationship between metapleural gland grooming and mycelial cover. A broader comparative survey showed that the pupae of many ant species have protective cocoons but that those in the subfamily Myrmicinae do not. We therefore evaluated the previously proposed hypothesis that mycelial covering of attine ant brood evolved to provide cocoon-like protection for the brood.}, } @article {pmid22671536, year = {2012}, author = {Grube, M and Köberl, M and Lackner, S and Berg, C and Berg, G}, title = {Host-parasite interaction and microbiome response: effects of fungal infections on the bacterial community of the Alpine lichen Solorina crocea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {82}, number = {2}, pages = {472-481}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01425.x}, pmid = {22671536}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {I 882/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fungi/*pathogenicity ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The lichen symbiosis allows a self-sustained life under harsh environmental conditions, yet symbiotic integrity can be affected by fungal parasites. Nothing is known about the impact of these biologically diverse and often specific infections on the recently detected bacterial community in lichens. To address this question, we studied the arctic-alpine 'chocolate chip lichen' Solorina crocea, which is frequently infected by Rhagadostoma lichenicola. We sampled healthy and infected lichens at two different sites in the Eastern Alps. High abundances of Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria were identified analyzing 16S rRNA gene regions obtained by barcoded pyrosequencing. At the phylum and genus level, no significant alterations were present among infected and healthy individuals. Yet, evidence for a differentiation of communities emerged, when data were analyzed at the strain level by detrended correspondence analysis. Further, a profile clustering network revealed strain-specific abundance shifts among Acidobacteria and other bacteria. Study of stability and change in host-associated bacterial communities requires a fine-grained analysis at strain level. No correlation with the infection was found by analysis of nifH genes responsible for nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid22670754, year = {2012}, author = {Jackson, O and Taylor, O and Adams, DG and Knox, JP}, title = {Arabinogalactan proteins occur in the free-living cyanobacterium genus Nostoc and in plant-Nostoc symbioses.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {10}, pages = {1338-1349}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-12-0095-R}, pmid = {22670754}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Computer Simulation ; Epitopes ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Hepatophyta/metabolism/*microbiology ; Magnoliopsida/metabolism/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mucoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Nostoc/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arabinogalactan proteins (AGP) are a diverse family of proteoglycans associated with the cell surfaces of plants. AGP have been implicated in a wide variety of plant cell processes, including signaling in symbioses. This study investigates the existence of putative AGP in free-living cyanobacterial cultures of the nitrogen-fixing, filamentous cyanobacteria Nostoc punctiforme and Nostoc sp. strain LBG1 and at the symbiotic interface in the symbioses between Nostoc spp. and two host plants, the angiosperm Gunnera manicata (in which the cyanobacterium is intracellular) and the liverwort Blasia pusilla (in which the cyanobacterium is extracellular). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence analyses demonstrated that three AGP glycan epitopes (recognized by monoclonal antibodies LM14, MAC207, and LM2) are present in free-living Nostoc cyanobacterial species. The same three AGP glycan epitopes are present at the Gunnera-Nostoc symbiotic interface and the LM2 epitope is detected during the establishment of the Blasia-Nostoc symbiosis. Bioinformatic analysis of the N. punctiforme genome identified five putative AGP core proteins that are representative of AGP classes found in plants. These results suggest a possible involvement of AGP in cyanobacterial-plant symbioses and are also suggestive of a cyanobacterial origin of AGP.}, } @article {pmid22670383, year = {2012}, author = {Martínez Riera, JR}, title = {[Crisis and nurses].}, journal = {Revista de enfermeria (Barcelona, Spain)}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {28-30, 33-9}, pmid = {22670383}, issn = {0210-5020}, mesh = {*Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; *Nursing ; }, abstract = {Nobody can escape that we are in crisis. Already are responsible every day media, risk agencies and abstract but crucial markets reminded us. In this crisis, deep, prolonged and distressing health systems have been in the spotlight of national Governments and corporations, as key elements of building and resolution of the crisis. Generation because it interprets its inefficiency is responsible for much of the crisis. Resolution because it is understood that actions that envelope the same are carried out they shall foster the output. So then we have two key elements: crisis and health systems, which combine very differently but which inevitably and unfortunately have been associated on a permanent basis. To understand this symbiosis and try to analyze it I operate the simple formula of semantically understanding what is crisis and what health crisis.}, } @article {pmid22647049, year = {2012}, author = {Gosalbes, MJ and Abellan, JJ and Durbán, A and Pérez-Cobas, AE and Latorre, A and Moya, A}, title = {Metagenomics of human microbiome: beyond 16s rDNA.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases}, volume = {18 Suppl 4}, number = {}, pages = {47-49}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-0691.2012.03865.x}, pmid = {22647049}, issn = {1469-0691}, mesh = {DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Humans ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics/*methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota presents a symbiotic relationship with the human host playing a beneficial role in human health. Since its establishment, the bacterial community is subjected to the influence of many different factors that shape its composition within each individual. However, an important convergence is observed at functional level in the gut microbiota. A metatranscriptomic study of healthy individuals showed homogeneity in the composition of the active microbiota that increased further at functional level.}, } @article {pmid22668002, year = {2012}, author = {Op den Camp, RH and Polone, E and Fedorova, E and Roelofsen, W and Squartini, A and Op den Camp, HJ and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {Nonlegume Parasponia andersonii deploys a broad rhizobium host range strategy resulting in largely variable symbiotic effectiveness.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {954-963}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-11-0304}, pmid = {22668002}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cannabaceae/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Cell Death ; Fabaceae/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host Specificity/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/ultrastructure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The non-legume genus Parasponia has evolved the rhizobium symbiosis independent from legumes and has done so only recently. We aim to study the promiscuity of such newly evolved symbiotic engagement and determine the symbiotic effectiveness of infecting rhizobium species. It was found that Parasponia andersonii can be nodulated by a broad range of rhizobia belonging to four different genera, and therefore, we conclude that this non-legume is highly promiscuous for rhizobial engagement. A possible drawback of this high promiscuity is that low-efficient strains can infect nodules as well. The strains identified displayed a range in nitrogen-fixation effectiveness, including a very inefficient rhizobium species, Rhizobium tropici WUR1. Because this species is able to make effective nodules on two different legume species, it suggests that the ineffectiveness of P. andersonii nodules is the result of the incompatibility between both partners. In P. andersonii nodules, rhizobia of this strain become embedded in a dense matrix but remain vital. This suggests that sanctions or genetic control against underperforming microsymbionts may not be effective in Parasponia spp. Therefore, we argue that the Parasponia-rhizobium symbiosis is a delicate balance between mutual benefits and parasitic colonization.}, } @article {pmid22664220, year = {2012}, author = {Beck, M and Heard, W and Mbengue, M and Robatzek, S}, title = {The INs and OUTs of pattern recognition receptors at the cell surface.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {367-374}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.05.004}, pmid = {22664220}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Disease Resistance/*immunology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/*metabolism ; Golgi Apparatus/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Plant Immunity/physiology ; Plants/*immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/*immunology ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) enable plants to sense non-self molecules displayed by microbes to mount proper defense responses or establish symbiosis. In recent years the importance of PRR subcellular trafficking to plant immunity has become apparent. PRRs traffic through the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane, where they recognize their cognate ligands. At the plasma membrane, PRRs can be recycled or internalized via endocytic pathways. By using genetic and biochemical tools in combination with bioimaging, the trafficking pathways and their role in PRR perception of microbial molecules are now being revealed.}, } @article {pmid22664121, year = {2012}, author = {Thacker, RW and Freeman, CJ}, title = {Sponge-microbe symbioses: recent advances and new directions.}, journal = {Advances in marine biology}, volume = {62}, number = {}, pages = {57-111}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-394283-8.00002-3}, pmid = {22664121}, issn = {0065-2881}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; *Phylogeny ; *Porifera ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges can host abundant and diverse communities of symbiotic microorganisms. In this chapter, we review recent work in the area of sponge-microbe symbioses, focusing on (1) the diversity of these associations, (2) host specificity, (3) modes of symbiont transmission, and (4) the positive and negative impacts of symbionts on their hosts. Over the past 4 years, numerous studies have catalogued the diversity of sponge-microbe symbioses, challenging previous hypotheses of a uniform, vertically transmitted microbial community and supporting a mixed model of symbiont community transmission. We emphasize the need for experimental manipulations of sponge-symbiont interactions coupled with advanced laboratory techniques to determine the identity of metabolically active microbial symbionts, to investigate the physiological processes underlying these interactions, and to elucidate whether symbionts act as mutualists, commensals, or parasites. The amazing diversity of these complex associations continues to offer critical insights into the evolution of symbiosis and the impacts of symbiotic microbes on nutrient cycling and other ecosystem functions.}, } @article {pmid22664074, year = {2012}, author = {Hurwitz, I and Fieck, A and Durvasula, R}, title = {Antimicrobial peptide delivery strategies: use of recombinant antimicrobial peptides in paratransgenic control systems.}, journal = {Current drug targets}, volume = {13}, number = {9}, pages = {1173-1180}, doi = {10.2174/138945012802002366}, pmid = {22664074}, issn = {1873-5592}, support = {R01AI66045-4/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Anti-Infective Agents/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Chagas Disease/drug therapy ; Peptides/*administration & dosage ; Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Antimicrobial peptides (AMP's) are small peptides that have evolved as part of an innate cell defense mechanism in many organisms. We are currently developing methodologies to use these molecules to control the transmission of vector borne diseases utilizing a paratransgenic strategy. In this approach, symbiotic or commensal microbes of host insects are transformed to express gene products that interfere with pathogen transmission. These genetically altered microbes are re-introduced back to the insect where expression of the engineered molecules decreases the host's ability to transmit the pathogen. In previous work, we demonstrated that the paratransgenic expression of the AMP, cecropin A, by transformed microbes residing in the midgut of the reduviid bug, reduced carriage of the parasite, T. cruzi, substantially. In more recent work, we reported a dramatic increase in parasite killing efficiency when AMP's are used in combination. Further, the AMP concentrations required for parasite killing are decreased by at least 10-fold. In this review, we discuss the feasibility of utilizing other AMP's, individually or in combination, as effector molecules to control the transmission of leishmania parasites by sand flies and to control Vibriosis, a highly devastating disease in shrimp mariculture.}, } @article {pmid22661573, year = {2014}, author = {Durbach, N}, title = {"Skinless wonders": Body Worlds and the Victorian freak show.}, journal = {Journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {38-67}, doi = {10.1093/jhmas/jrs035}, pmid = {22661573}, issn = {1468-4373}, mesh = {Anatomy, Artistic/*history ; *Cadaver ; Culture ; Embalming/*history ; *Exhibitions as Topic ; History, 19th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Models, Anatomic ; *Plastic Embedding ; }, abstract = {In 2002, Gunther von Hagens's display of plastinated corpses opened in London. Although the public was fascinated by Body Worlds, the media largely castigated the exhibition by dismissing it as a resuscitated Victorian freak show. By using the freak show analogy, the British press expressed their moral objection to this type of bodily display. But Body Worlds and nineteenth-century displays of human anomalies were linked in more complex and telling ways as both attempted to be simultaneously entertaining and educational. This essay argues that these forms of corporeal exhibitionism are both examples of the dynamic relationship between the popular and professional cultures of the body that we often erroneously think of as separate and discrete. By reading Body Worlds against the Victorian freak show, I seek to generate a fuller understanding of the historical and enduring relationship between exhibitionary culture and the discourses of science, and thus to argue that the scientific and the spectacular have been, and clearly continue to be, symbiotic modes of generating bodily knowledge.}, } @article {pmid22660706, year = {2012}, author = {Brumin, M and Levy, M and Ghanim, M}, title = {Transovarial transmission of Rickettsia spp. and organ-specific infection of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {16}, pages = {5565-5574}, pmid = {22660706}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology ; Male ; Microscopy ; Oocytes/microbiology ; Ovary/microbiology ; Rickettsia/*isolation & purification ; Testis/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a cosmopolitan insect pest that harbors Portiera aleyrodidarum, the primary obligatory symbiotic bacterium, and several facultative secondary symbionts. Secondary symbionts in B. tabaci are generally associated with the bacteriome, ensuring their vertical transmission; however, Rickettsia is an exception and occupies most of the body cavity, except the bacteriome. The mode of Rickettsia transfer between generations and its subcellular localization in insect organs have not been investigated. Using electron and fluorescence microscopy, we show that Rickettsia infects the digestive, salivary, and reproductive organs of the insect; however, it was not observed in the bacteriome. Rickettsia invades the oocytes during early developmental stages and resides in follicular cells and cytoplasm; it is mostly excluded when the egg matures; however, some bacterial cells remain in the egg, ensuring their transfer to subsequent generations. Rickettsia was localized to testicles and the spermatheca, suggesting a horizontal transfer between males and females during mating. The bacterium was further observed at large amounts in midgut cells, concentrating in vacuole-like structures, and was located in the hemolymph, specifically at exceptionally large amounts around bacteriocytes and in fat bodies. Organs further infected by Rickettsia included the primary salivary glands and stylets, sites of possible secretion of the bacterium outside the whitefly body. The close association between Rickettsia and the B. tabaci digestive system might be important for digestive purposes. The vertical transmission of Rickettsia to subsequent generations occurs via the oocyte and not, like other secondary symbionts, the bacteriome.}, } @article {pmid22659204, year = {2012}, author = {Rangberg, A and Diep, DB and Rudi, K and Amdam, GV}, title = {Paratransgenesis: an approach to improve colony health and molecular insight in honey bees (Apis mellifera)?.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {89-99}, doi = {10.1093/icb/ics089}, pmid = {22659204}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Animals ; Bees/*microbiology/physiology ; Colony Collapse/prevention & control ; Enterococcus/genetics/metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Lactobacillus/genetics/growth & development/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements/methods ; Male ; Organisms, Genetically Modified/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is highly valued as a commercial crop pollinator and a model animal in research. Over the past several years, governments, beekeepers, and the general public in the United States and Europe have become concerned by increased losses of honey bee colonies, calling for more research on how to keep colonies healthy while still employing them extensively in agriculture. The honey bee, like virtually all multicellular organisms, has a mutually beneficial relationship with specific microbes. The microbiota of the gut can contribute essential nutrients and vitamins and prevent colonization by non-indigenous and potentially harmful species. The gut microbiota is also of interest as a resource for paratransgenesis; a Trojan horse strategy based on genetically modified symbiotic microbes that express effector molecules antagonizing development or transmission of pathogens. Paratransgenesis was originally engineered to combat human diseases and agricultural pests that are vectored by insects. We suggest an alternative use, as a method to promote health of honey bees and to expand the molecular toolbox for research on this beneficial social insect. The honey bees' gut microbiota contains lactic acid bacteria including the genus Lactobacillus that has paratransgenic potential. We present a strategy for transforming one Lactobacillus species, L. kunkeei, for use as a vector to promote health of honey bees and functional genetic research.}, } @article {pmid22653427, year = {2012}, author = {Lazáry, Á and Ito, K and Eisenstein, S and Fairbank, J and Roberts, S and Kletsas, D and Kümin, M and Brayda-Bruno, M and Varga, PP}, title = {Surgeons and scientists: symbiosis in spinal research?.}, journal = {European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {1681-1683}, pmid = {22653427}, issn = {1432-0932}, mesh = {Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; *Medical Laboratory Personnel ; *Orthopedics ; *Physicians ; *Research ; Spine/*surgery ; }, } @article {pmid22653327, year = {2013}, author = {Handa, C and Okubo, T and Yoneyama, A and Nakamura, M and Sakaguchi, M and Takahashi, N and Okamoto, M and Tanaka-Oda, A and Kenzo, T and Ichie, T and Itioka, T}, title = {Change in biomass of symbiotic ants throughout the ontogeny of a myrmecophyte, Macaranga beccariana (Euphorbiaceae).}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {126}, number = {1}, pages = {73-79}, pmid = {22653327}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Biomass ; Borneo ; Ecosystem ; Euphorbiaceae/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trees ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {Macaranga myrmecophytes (ant-plants) provide their partner symbiotic ants (plant-ants) with food bodies as their main food, and they are protected by the plant-ants from herbivores. The amount of resource allocated to food bodies determines the plant-ant colony size and consequently determines the intensity of ant defense (anti-herbivore defense by plant-ants). As constraints in resource allocation change as plants grow, the plant-ant colony size is hypothesized to change with the ontogenesis of Macaranga myrmecophyte. To determine the ontogenetic change in the relative size of the plant-ant colony, we measured the dry weights of the whole plant-ant colony and all of the aboveground parts of trees at various ontogenetic stages for a myrmecophytic species (Macaranga beccariana) in a Bornean lowland tropical rain forest. Ant biomass increased as plant biomass increased. However, the rate of increase gradually declined, and the ant biomass appeared to reach a ceiling once trees began to branch. The ant/plant biomass ratio consistently decreased as plant biomass increased, with the rate of decrease gradually accelerating. We infer that the ontogenetic reduction in ant/plant biomass ratio is caused by an ontogenetic change in resource allocation to food rewards for ants related to the physiological changes accompanying the beginning of branching.}, } @article {pmid22652128, year = {2012}, author = {Czaja, LF and Hogekamp, C and Lamm, P and Maillet, F and Martinez, EA and Samain, E and Dénarié, J and Küster, H and Hohnjec, N}, title = {Transcriptional responses toward diffusible signals from symbiotic microbes reveal MtNFP- and MtDMI3-dependent reprogramming of host gene expression by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal lipochitooligosaccharides.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {159}, number = {4}, pages = {1671-1685}, pmid = {22652128}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biological Assay ; Diffusion/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/genetics ; Kinetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/*pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*genetics/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics ; Symbiosis/*drug effects/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic/*drug effects ; Transcriptional Activation/drug effects/genetics ; }, abstract = {The formation of root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) roots is controlled by a common signaling pathway including the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase Doesn't Make Infection3 (DMI3). While nodule initiation by lipochitooligosaccharide (LCO) Nod factors is well characterized, diffusible AM fungal signals were only recently identified as sulfated and nonsulfated LCOs. Irrespective of different outcomes, the perception of symbiotic LCOs in Medicago truncatula is mediated by the LysM receptor kinase M. truncatula Nod factor perception (MtNFP). To shed light on transcriptional responses toward symbiotic LCOs and their dependence on MtNFP and Ca(2+) signaling, we performed genome-wide expression studies of wild-type, Nod-factor-perception mutant1, and dmi3 mutant roots challenged with Myc- and Nod-LCOs. We show that Myc-LCOs lead to transient, quick responses in the wild type, whereas Nod-LCOs require prolonged incubation for maximal expression activation. While Nod-LCOs are most efficient for an induction of persistent transcriptional changes, sulfated Myc-LCOs are less active, and nonsulfated Myc-LCOs display the lowest capacity to activate and sustain expression. Although all symbiotic LCOs up-regulated a common set of genes, discrete subsets were induced by individual LCOs, suggesting common and specific functions for these in presymbiotic signaling. Surprisingly, even sulfated fungal Myc-LCOs and Sinorhizobium meliloti Nod-LCOs, having very similar structures, each elicited discrete subsets of genes, while a mixture of both Myc-LCOs activated responses deviating from those induced by single treatments. Focusing on the precontact phase, we identified signaling-related and transcription factor genes specifically up-regulated by Myc-LCOs. Comparative gene expression studies in symbiotic mutants demonstrated that transcriptional reprogramming by AM fungal LCOs strictly depends on MtNFP and largely requires MtDMI3.}, } @article {pmid22651853, year = {2012}, author = {de Freitas-Junior, PR and Catta-Preta, CM and Andrade, Ida S and Cavalcanti, DP and de Souza, W and Einicker-Lamas, M and Motta, MC}, title = {Effects of miltefosine on the proliferation, ultrastructure, and phospholipid composition of Angomonas deanei, a trypanosomatid protozoan that harbors a symbiotic bacterium.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {333}, number = {2}, pages = {129-137}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02607.x}, pmid = {22651853}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacteria/drug effects/growth & development ; Cell Membrane/drug effects/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Cell Wall/drug effects/metabolism ; Choline-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase/metabolism ; Crithidia/*drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria/drug effects/ultrastructure ; Phosphatidylcholines/biosynthesis ; Phosphorus Isotopes/metabolism ; Phosphorylcholine/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Some trypanosomatids, such as Angomonas deanei formerly named as Crithidia deanei, present an obligatory intracellular bacterium, which maintains a mutualistic relationship with the host. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major phospholipid in eukaryotes and an essential component of cell membranes playing structural, biochemical, and physiological roles. However, in prokaryotes, PC is present only in those species closely associated with eukaryotes, either in symbiotic or pathogenic interactions. In trypanosomatids, the endosymbiont envelope is composed by a reduced cell wall and by two membrane units that lack sterols and present cardiolipin (CL) and PC as the major phospholipids. In this study, we tested the effects of miltefosine in A. deanei proliferation, as well as, on the ultrastrucuture and phospholipid composition considering that this drug inhibits the CTP-phosphocholine cytidyltransferase (CCT), a key enzyme in the PC biosynthesis. Besides the low effect of miltefosine in cellular proliferation, treated protozoa presented ultrastructural alterations such as plasma membrane shedding and blebbing, mitochondrial swelling, and convolutions of the endosymbiont envelope. The use of (32) Pi as a tracer revealed that the production of PC, CL, and phosphatidylethanolamine decreased while phosphatidylinositol production remained stable. Mitochondrion and symbiont fractions obtained from protozoa treated with miltefosine also presented a decrease in phospholipid production, reinforcing the idea that an intensive metabolic exchange occurs between the host trypanosomatid and structures of symbiotic origin.}, } @article {pmid22648507, year = {2012}, author = {Hartmann, A and Schikora, A}, title = {Quorum sensing of bacteria and trans-kingdom interactions of N-acyl homoserine lactones with eukaryotes.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {704-713}, pmid = {22648507}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/immunology/*metabolism ; Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Fungi/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/immunology/microbiology ; *Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {Many environmental and interactive important traits of bacteria, such as antibiotic, siderophore or exoenzyme (like cellulose, pectinase) production, virulence factors of pathogens, as well as symbiotic interactions, are regulated in a population density-dependent manner by using small signaling molecules. This phenomenon, called quorum sensing (QS), is widespread among bacteria. Many different bacterial species are communicating or "speaking" through diffusible small molecules. The production often is sophisticatedly regulated via an autoinducing mechanism. A good example is the production of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL), which occur in many variations of molecular structure in a wide variety of Gram-negative bacteria. In Gram-positive bacteria, other compounds, such as peptides, regulate cellular activity and behavior by sensing the cell density. The degradation of the signaling molecule--called quorum quenching--is probably another important integral part in the complex quorum sensing circuit. Most interestingly, bacterial quorum sensing molecules also are recognized by eukaryotes that are colonized by QS-active bacteria. In this case, the cross-kingdom interaction can lead to specific adjustment and physiological adaptations in the colonized eukaryote. The responses are manifold, such as modifications of the defense system, modulation of the immune response, or changes in the hormonal status and growth responses. Thus, the interaction with the quorum sensing signaling molecules of bacteria can profoundly change the physiology of higher organisms too. Higher organisms are obligatorily associated with microbial communities, and these truly multi-organismic consortia, which are also called holobionts, can actually be steered via multiple interlinked signaling substances that originate not only from the host but also from the associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22647940, year = {2012}, author = {Crossin, KL}, title = {Oxygen levels and the regulation of cell adhesion in the nervous system: a control point for morphogenesis in development, disease and evolution?.}, journal = {Cell adhesion & migration}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {49-58}, pmid = {22647940}, issn = {1933-6926}, mesh = {Animals ; Atmosphere ; Brain Ischemia ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Hypoxia, Brain/metabolism/pathology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism ; *Morphogenesis ; Nervous System/cytology/*metabolism ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism ; Neural Stem Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Neurogenesis ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; }, abstract = {In this article, I discuss the hallmarks of hypoxia in vitro and in vivo and review work showing that many types of stem cell proliferate more robustly in lowered oxygen. I then discuss recent studies showing that alterations in the levels and the types of cell and substrate adhesion molecules are a notable response to reduced O(2) levels in both cultured primary neural stem cells and brain tissues in response to hypoxia in vivo. The ability of O(2) levels to regulate adhesion molecule expression is linked to the Wnt signaling pathway, which can control and be controlled by adhesion events. The ability of O(2) levels to influence cell adhesion also has far-reaching implications for development, ischemic trauma and neural regeneration, as well as for cancer and other diseases. Finally I discuss the possibility that the fluctuations in O(2) levels known to have occurred over evolutionary time could, by influencing adhesion systems, have contributed to early symbiotic events in unicellular organisms and to the emergence of multicellularity. It is not my intention to be exhaustive in these domains, which are far from my own field of study. Rather this article is meant to provoke and stimulate thinking about molecular evolution involving O(2) sensing and signaling during eras of geologic and atmospheric change that might inform modern studies on development and disease.}, } @article {pmid22646059, year = {2012}, author = {Pringle, EG and Ramírez, SR and Bonebrake, TC and Gordon, DM and Dirzo, R}, title = {Diversification and phylogeographic structure in widespread Azteca plant-ants from the northern Neotropics.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {14}, pages = {3576-3592}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05618.x}, pmid = {22646059}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological/genetics ; Animals ; Ants/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Central America ; Climate ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Gene Flow ; *Genetics, Population ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; *Phylogeography ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The Neotropical myrmecophytic tree Cordia alliodora hosts symbiotic Azteca ants in most of its widespread range. The taxonomy of the genus Azteca is notoriously difficult, which has frequently obscured species identity in ecological studies. We used sequence data from one mitochondrial and four nuclear loci to infer phylogenetic relationships, patterns of geographic distribution, and timing of diversification for 182 colonies of five C. alliodora-dwelling Azteca species from Mexico to Colombia. All morphological species were recovered as monophyletic, but we identified at least five distinct genetic lineages within the most abundant and specialized species, Azteca pittieri. Mitochondrial and nuclear data were concordant at the species level, but not within species. Divergence time analyses estimated that C. alliodora-dwelling Azteca shared a common ancestor approximately 10-22million years ago, prior to the proposed arrival of the host tree in Middle America. Diversification in A. pittieri occurred in the Pleistocene and was not correlated with geographic distance, which suggests limited historical gene flow among geographically restricted populations. This contrasts with the previously reported lack of phylogeographic structure at this spatial scale in the host tree. Climatic niches, and particularly precipitation-related variables, did not overlap between the sites occupied by northern and southern lineages of A. pittieri. Together, these results suggest that restricted gene flow among ant populations may facilitate local adaptation to environmental heterogeneity. Differences in population structure between the ants and their host trees may profoundly affect the evolutionary dynamics of this widespread ant-plant mutualism.}, } @article {pmid22645586, year = {2012}, author = {Jayaraman, D and Forshey, KL and Grimsrud, PA and Ané, JM}, title = {Leveraging proteomics to understand plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {44}, pmid = {22645586}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Understanding the interactions of plants with beneficial and pathogenic microbes is a promising avenue to improve crop productivity and agriculture sustainability. Proteomic techniques provide a unique angle to describe these intricate interactions and test hypotheses. The various approaches for proteomic analysis generally include protein/peptide separation and identification, but can also provide quantification and the characterization of post-translational modifications. In this review, we discuss how these techniques have been applied to the study of plant-microbe interactions. We also present some areas where this field of study would benefit from the utilization of newly developed methods that overcome previous limitations. Finally, we reinforce the need for expanding, integrating, and curating protein databases, as well as the benefits of combining protein-level datasets with those from genetic analyses and other high-throughput large-scale approaches for a systems-level view of plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid22645363, year = {2012}, author = {Voronin, D and Cook, DA and Steven, A and Taylor, MJ}, title = {Autophagy regulates Wolbachia populations across diverse symbiotic associations.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {25}, pages = {E1638-46}, pmid = {22645363}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; *Autophagy ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Brugia malayi/metabolism/microbiology ; Cell Line/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/metabolism ; Nematoda/microbiology ; Subcellular Fractions/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are widespread and abundant intracellular symbionts of arthropods and filarial nematodes. Their symbiotic relationships encompass obligate mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and pathogenicity. A consequence of these diverse associations is that Wolbachia encounter a wide range of host cells and intracellular immune defense mechanisms of invertebrates, which they must evade to maintain their populations and spread to new hosts. Here we show that autophagy, a conserved intracellular defense mechanism and regulator of cell homeostasis, is a major immune recognition and regulatory process that determines the size of Wolbachia populations. The regulation of Wolbachia populations by autophagy occurs across all distinct symbiotic relationships and can be manipulated either chemically or genetically to modulate the Wolbachia population load. The recognition and activation of host autophagy is particularly apparent in rapidly replicating strains of Wolbachia found in somatic tissues of Drosophila and filarial nematodes. In filarial nematodes, which host a mutualistic association with Wolbachia, the use of antibiotics such as doxycycline to eliminate Wolbachia has emerged as a promising approach to their treatment and control. Here we show that the activation of host nematode autophagy reduces bacterial loads to the same magnitude as antibiotic therapy; thus we identify a bactericidal mode of action targeting Wolbachia that can be exploited for the development of chemotherapeutic agents against onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and heartworm.}, } @article {pmid22644482, year = {2012}, author = {Davis, TS and Boundy-Mills, K and Landolt, PJ}, title = {Volatile emissions from an epiphytic fungus are semiochemicals for eusocial wasps.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {4}, pages = {1056-1063}, pmid = {22644482}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/chemistry/*metabolism ; Fungi/chemistry ; Odorants ; Pheromones/chemistry/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Microbes are ubiquitous on plant surfaces. However, interactions between epiphytic microbes and arthropods are rarely considered as a factor that affects arthropod behaviors. Here, volatile emissions from an epiphytic fungus were investigated as semiochemical attractants for two eusocial wasps. The fungus Aureobasidium pullulans was isolated from apples, and the volatile compounds emitted by fungal colonies were quantified. The attractiveness of fungal colonies and fungal volatiles to social wasps (Vespula spp.) were experimentally tested in the field. Three important findings emerged: (1) traps baited with A. pullulans caught 2750 % more wasps on average than unbaited control traps; (2) the major headspace volatiles emitted by A. pullulans were 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 2-phenylethyl alcohol; and (3) a synthetic blend of fungal volatiles attracted 4,933 % more wasps on average than unbaited controls. Wasps were most attracted to 2-methyl-1-butanol. The primary wasp species attracted to fungal volatiles were the western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica) and the German yellowjacket (V. germanica), and both species externally vectored A. pullulans. This is the first study to link microbial volatile emissions with eusocial wasp behaviors, and these experiments indicate that volatile compounds emitted by an epiphytic fungus can be responsible for wasp attraction. This work implicates epiphytic microbes as important components in the community ecology of some eusocial hymenopterans, and fungal emissions may signal suitable nutrient sources to foraging wasps. Our experiments are suggestive of a potential symbiosis, but additional studies are needed to determine if eusocial wasp-fungal associations are widespread, and whether these associations are incidental, facultative, or obligate.}, } @article {pmid22644394, year = {2013}, author = {Velmala, SM and Rajala, T and Haapanen, M and Taylor, AF and Pennanen, T}, title = {Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {21-33}, pmid = {22644394}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/genetics/*growth & development ; Basidiomycota/genetics/*growth & development ; Biomass ; DNA, Plant/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Genotype ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Picea/*genetics/microbiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seedlings/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/genetics/microbiology ; }, abstract = {A greenhouse experiment was used to study the effects of host genotype on short root formation and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community structure in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Rooted cuttings representing 55 clones were inoculated with a mix of vegetative hyphae of five ECM fungal species (Laccaria sp., Amphinema byssoides, Piloderma sp., Cadophora finlandia, Paxillus involutus). After one growing season, the ECM fungal community structure was determined by amplifying the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA directly from ECM root tips. Restriction profiles of obtained amplicons were then compared to those of the inoculated strains. Spruce clones differed in their ECM fungal community composition; we found a statistically significant clone-specific effect on ECM fungal diversity and dominating fungal species. Nevertheless, the broad sense heritabilities of the levels of Laccaria sp., Piloderma sp. and A. byssoides colonisations as well as the ECM fungal community structure were low (H(2) = 0.04-0.11), owing to the high within-clone variation. As nitrogen concentration of needles correlated negatively with ECM fungal richness, our results imply that in the experimental conditions nutrient acquisition of young trees may benefit from colonisation with only one or two ECM fungal species. The heritability of short root density was moderate (H(2) = 0.41) and highest among all the measured shoot and root growth characteristics of Norway spruce cuttings. We suggest that the genetic component determining root growth and short root formation is significant for the performance of young trees in natural environments as these traits drive the formation of the below-ground symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid22642263, year = {2012}, author = {Hashimoto, Y and Fukukawa, S and Kunishi, A and Suga, H and Richard, F and Sauve, M and Selosse, MA}, title = {Mycoheterotrophic germination of Pyrola asarifolia dust seeds reveals convergences with germination in orchids.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {195}, number = {3}, pages = {620-630}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04174.x}, pmid = {22642263}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Computer Simulation ; Ecosystem ; *Germination ; *Heterotrophic Processes ; Japan ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/physiology ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Pyrola/microbiology/*physiology ; Seedlings/physiology ; Seeds/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Dust seeds that germinate by obtaining nutrients from symbiotic fungi have evolved independently in orchids and 11 other plant lineages. The fungi involved in this 'mycoheterotrophic' germination have been identified in some orchids and non-photosynthetic Ericaceae, and proved identical to mycorrhizal fungi of adult plants. We investigated a third lineage, the Pyroleae, chlorophyllous Ericaceae species whose partial mycoheterotrophy at adulthood has recently attracted much attention. We observed experimental Pyrola asarifolia germination at four Japanese sites and investigated the germination pattern and symbiotic fungi, which we compared to mycorrhizal fungi of adult plants. Adult P. asarifolia, like other Pyroleae, associated with diverse fungal species that were a subset of those mycorrhizal on surrounding trees. Conversely, seedlings specifically associated with a lineage of Sebacinales clade B (endophytic Basidiomycetes) revealed an intriguing evolutionary convergence with orchids, some of which also germinate with Sebacinales clade B. Congruently, seedlings clustered spatially together, but not with adults. This unexpected transition in specificity and ecology of partners could support the developmental transition from full to partial mycoheterotrophy, but probably challenges survival and distribution during development. We discuss the physiological and ecological traits that predisposed to the repeated recruitment of Sebacinales clade B for dust seed germination.}, } @article {pmid22638926, year = {2013}, author = {Forsythe, P and Kunze, WA}, title = {Voices from within: gut microbes and the CNS.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {70}, number = {1}, pages = {55-69}, pmid = {22638926}, issn = {1420-9071}, mesh = {Animals ; Brain/metabolism/physiology ; Central Nervous System/growth & development/*microbiology ; Enteric Nervous System/*microbiology ; Germ-Free Life ; Humans ; Inflammation/microbiology ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Mice ; *Models, Biological ; Neuropeptides/metabolism/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; Vagus Nerve/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Recent advances in research have greatly increased our understanding of the importance of the gut microbiota. Bacterial colonization of the intestine is critical to the normal development of many aspects of physiology such as the immune and endocrine systems. It is emerging that the influence of the gut microbiota also extends to modulation of host neural development. Furthermore, the overall balance in composition of the microbiota, together with the influence of pivotal species that induce specific responses, can modulate adult neural function, peripherally and centrally. Effects of commensal gut bacteria in adult animals include protection from the central effects of infection and inflammation as well as modulation of normal behavioral responses. There is now robust evidence that gut bacteria influence the enteric nervous system, an effect that may contribute to afferent signaling to the brain. The vagus nerve has also emerged as an important means of communicating signals from gut bacteria to the CNS. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying microbiome-gut-brain communication will provide us with new insight into the symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and their mammalian hosts and help us identify the potential for microbial-based therapeutic strategies to aid in the treatment of mood disorders.}, } @article {pmid22638862, year = {2012}, author = {Iwamori, M and Nakasa, M and Yamazaki, K and Iwamori, Y and Tanaka, K and Aoki, D and Adachi, S and Nomura, T}, title = {Bacterial species-characteristic profiles of molecular species, and the antigenicity of phospholipids and glycolipids in symbiotic Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species.}, journal = {Glycoconjugate journal}, volume = {29}, number = {4}, pages = {199-209}, pmid = {22638862}, issn = {1573-4986}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial/blood/immunology ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes/chemistry/immunology ; Glycolipids/chemistry/*immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; Lactobacillus/*immunology ; Phospholipids/chemistry/*immunology/metabolism ; Rabbits ; Species Specificity ; Staphylococcus/*immunology ; Streptococcus/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Human symbiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus reuteri (LR) in the intestines, Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE) in skin and Streptococcus salivalis (SS) in the oral cavity, contain dihexaosyl diglycerides (DH-DG) in concentrations equivalent to those of phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL), together with mono- to tetrahexaosyl DGs. The molecular species, as the combination of fatty acids in the DG moiety, were revealed to be bacterial species-characteristic, but to be similar between glycolipids and phospholipids in individual bacteria, the major ones being 16:0 and cy19:0 for LR, ai15:0 and ai17:0 for SE, and 16:0 and 18:1 for SS, respectively. The carbohydrate structures of DH-DGs were also bacterial species-characteristic, being Galα1-2Glcα for LR, Glcβ1-6Glcβ for SE, and Glcα1-2Glcα for SS, respectively. Also, bacterial glycolipids were revealed to provide antigenic determinants characteristic of bacterial species on immunization of rabbits with the respective bacteria. Anti-L. johnsonii antiserum intensely reacted with tri- and tetrahexaosyl DGs, in which Galα was bound to DH-DG through an α1-6 linkage, as well as with DH-DG from LR. Although anti-SE antiserum preferentially reacted with DH-DG from SE, anti-SS antiserum reacted with DH-DG from SS and, to a lesser extent, with DH-DGs from LR and SE. But, both anti-SE and anti-SS antiserum did not react at all with monohexaosyl DG or glycosphingolipids with the same carbohydrates at the nonreducing terminals. In addition, 75 % of human sera, irrespective of the ABO blood group, were found to contain IgM to tri- and tetrahexaosyl DGs from LR, but not to DH-DGs from LR, SE and SS.}, } @article {pmid22636773, year = {2012}, author = {Lu, HY and Luo, L and Yang, MH and Cheng, HP}, title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti ExoR is the target of periplasmic proteolysis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {15}, pages = {4029-4040}, pmid = {22636773}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {SC3 GM081147/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SGM081147//PHS HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Peptide Hydrolases/*metabolism ; Periplasm/*enzymology/*metabolism ; Proteolysis ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti ExoR regulates the production of succinoglycan and flagella through the ExoS/ChvI two-component regulatory system. ExoR has been proposed to inhibit the ExoS sensor through direct interaction in the periplasm. To understand how ExoR suppression of ExoS is relieved, which is required for the expression of ExoS/ChvI-regulated symbiosis genes, we characterized wild-type ExoR and ExoR95 mutant proteins. In addition to the previously identified precursor and mature forms of ExoR (designated ExoR(p) and ExoR(m), respectively), we detected a 20-kDa form of ExoR (designated ExoR(c20)) derived from the wild-type ExoR protein, but not from the ExoR95 mutant protein. ExoR(c20) was isolated directly from S. meliloti periplasm to identify its N-terminal amino acids and the site of the proteolysis, which is highly conserved among ExoR homologs. ExoR(c20) retains the C terminus of the wild-type ExoR. When expressed directly, ExoR(c20) did not complement the exoR95 mutation, suggesting that ExoR(c20) does not function directly in the ExoR-ExoS/ChvI regulatory pathway and that ExoR(m) is the functional form of ExoR. A single-amino-acid change (ExoRL81A) at the site of ExoR periplasmic proteolysis resulted in the reduction of the amount of ExoR(m) and the loss of the regulatory function of the ExoR protein. These findings suggest that ExoR(m) is a target of periplasmic proteolysis and that the amount of ExoR(m) could be reduced through effective proteolysis to relieve its suppression of ExoS.}, } @article {pmid22634402, year = {2012}, author = {Oger, E and Marino, D and Guigonis, JM and Pauly, N and Puppo, A}, title = {Sulfenylated proteins in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {75}, number = {13}, pages = {4102-4113}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2012.05.024}, pmid = {22634402}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/metabolism ; Sulfenic Acids/*metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), play a crucial role as signaling molecules in the establishment and functioning of the nitrogen-fixing legume-Rhizobium symbiosis. The regulation of protein function through oxidative modification has emerged as an important molecular mechanism modulating various biological processes. Protein cysteine residues are known to be sensitive targets of H(2)O(2), in a posttranslational modification called sulfenylation. We trapped and identified sulfenylated proteins in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis, by combining the use of chemical and genetic probes with mass spectrometry analysis. We identified 44 M. truncatula proteins sulfenylated in inoculated roots (two days post infection, 2dpi) and 65 such proteins in the functioning symbiotic organ, the nodule (four weeks post infection, 4wpi); 18 proteins were identified at both time points. However, the largest functional groups at 2dpi and 4wpi were different: redox state-linked proteins early in the interaction and proteins involved in amino-acid and carbohydrate metabolism in the nodule. Twenty proteins from S. meliloti, including some directly involved in nitrogen fixation, were also identified as sulfenylated. These results suggest that sulfenylation may regulate the activity of proteins playing major roles in the development and functioning of the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid22633856, year = {2012}, author = {Geurts, R and Lillo, A and Bisseling, T}, title = {Exploiting an ancient signalling machinery to enjoy a nitrogen fixing symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {438-443}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.04.004}, pmid = {22633856}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*metabolism/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {For almost a century now it has been speculated that a transfer of the largely legume-specific symbiosis with nitrogen fixing rhizobium would be profitable in agriculture [1,2]. Up to now such a step has not been achieved, despite intensive research in this era. Novel insights in the underlying signalling networks leading to intracellular accommodation of rhizobium as well as mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomeromycota order show extensive commonalities between both interactions. As mycorrhizae symbiosis can be established basically with most higher plant species it raises questions why is it only in a few taxonomic lineages that the underlying signalling network could be hijacked by rhizobium. Unravelling this will lead to insights that are essential to achieve an old dream.}, } @article {pmid22633818, year = {2012}, author = {Mnasri, B and Saïdi, S and Chihaoui, SA and Mhamdi, R}, title = {Sinorhizobium americanum symbiovar mediterranense is a predominant symbiont that nodulates and fixes nitrogen with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a Northern Tunisian field.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {263-269}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.04.003}, pmid = {22633818}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribotyping ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {A total of 40 symbiotic bacterial strains isolated from root nodules of common bean grown in a soil located in the north of Tunisia were characterized by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rRNA genes. Six different ribotypes were revealed. Nine representative isolates were submitted to phylogenetic analyses of rrs, recA, atpD, dnaK, nifH and nodA genes. The strains 23C40 and 23C95 representing the most abundant ribotype were closely related to Sinorhizobium americanum CFNEI 156(T). S. americanum was isolated from Acacia spp. in Mexico, but this is the first time that this species is reported among natural populations of rhizobia nodulating common bean. These isolates nodulated and fixed nitrogen with this crop and harbored the symbiotic genes of the symbiovar mediterranense. The strains 23C2 and 23C55 were close to Rhizobium gallicum R602sp(T) but formed a well separated clade and may probably constitute a new species. The sequence similarities with R. gallicum type strain were 98.7% (rrs), 96.6% (recA), 95.8% (atpD) and 93.4% (dnaK). The remaining isolates were, respectively, affiliated to R. gallicum, E. meliloti, Rhizobium giardinii and Rhizobium radiobacter. However, some of them failed to re-nodulate their original host but promoted root growth.}, } @article {pmid22632405, year = {2012}, author = {Ryan, MH and Tibbett, M and Edmonds-Tibbett, T and Suriyagoda, LD and Lambers, H and Cawthray, GR and Pang, J}, title = {Carbon trading for phosphorus gain: the balance between rhizosphere carboxylates and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant phosphorus acquisition.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {35}, number = {12}, pages = {2170-2180}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3040.2012.02547.x}, pmid = {22632405}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Carbon/*metabolism ; Carboxylic Acids/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Phaseolus/*metabolism/microbiology ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two key plant adaptations for phosphorus (P) acquisition are carboxylate exudation into the rhizosphere and mycorrhizal symbioses. These target different soil P resources, presumably with different plant carbon costs. We examined the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on amount of rhizosphere carboxylates and plant P uptake for 10 species of low-P adapted Kennedia grown for 23 weeks in low-P sand. Inoculation decreased carboxylates in some species (up to 50%), decreased plant dry weight (21%) and increased plant P content (23%). There was a positive logarithmic relationship between plant P content and the amount of rhizosphere citric acid for inoculated and uninoculated plants. Causality was indicated by experiments using sand where little citric acid was lost from the soil solution over 2 h and citric acid at low concentrations desorbed P into the soil solution. Senesced leaf P concentration was often low and P-resorption efficiencies reached >90%. In conclusion, we propose that mycorrhizally mediated resource partitioning occurred because inoculation reduced rhizosphere carboxylates, but increased plant P uptake. Hence, presumably, the proportion of plant P acquired from strongly sorbed sources decreased with inoculation, while the proportion from labile inorganic P increased. Implications for plant fitness under field conditions now require investigation.}, } @article {pmid22629347, year = {2012}, author = {Koch, AM and Antunes, PM and Klironomos, JN}, title = {Diversity effects on productivity are stronger within than between trophic groups in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e36950}, pmid = {22629347}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*genetics ; Plants/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The diversity of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been experimentally shown to alter plant and AMF productivity. However, little is known about how plant and AMF diversity interact to shape their respective productivity.

We co-manipulated the diversity of both AMF and plant communities in two greenhouse studies to determine whether the productivity of each trophic group is mainly influenced by plant or AMF diversity, respectively, and whether there is any interaction between plant and fungal diversity. In both experiments we compared the productivity of three different plant species monocultures, or their respective 3-species mixtures. Similarly, in both studies these plant treatments were crossed with an AMF diversity gradient that ranged from zero (non-mycorrhizal controls) to a maximum of three and five taxonomically distinct AMF taxa, respectively. We found that within both trophic groups productivity was significantly influenced by taxon identity, and increased with taxon richness. These main effects of AMF and plant diversity on their respective productivities did not depend on each other, even though we detected significant individual taxon effects across trophic groups.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that similar ecological processes regulate diversity-productivity relationships within trophic groups. However, productivity-diversity relationships are not necessarily correlated across interacting trophic levels, leading to asymmetries and possible biotic feedbacks. Thus, biotic interactions within and across trophic groups should be considered in predictive models of community assembly.}, } @article {pmid22629327, year = {2012}, author = {van der Lelie, D and Taghavi, S and McCorkle, SM and Li, LL and Malfatti, SA and Monteleone, D and Donohoe, BS and Ding, SY and Adney, WS and Himmel, ME and Tringe, SG}, title = {The metagenome of an anaerobic microbial community decomposing poplar wood chips.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e36740}, pmid = {22629327}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria, Anaerobic/*genetics/metabolism ; Cell Wall/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Cellulose/analysis/metabolism ; *Metagenome ; Populus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Wood/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study describes the composition and metabolic potential of a lignocellulosic biomass degrading community that decays poplar wood chips under anaerobic conditions. We examined the community that developed on poplar biomass in a non-aerated bioreactor over the course of a year, with no microbial inoculation other than the naturally occurring organisms on the woody material. The composition of this community contrasts in important ways with biomass-degrading communities associated with higher organisms, which have evolved over millions of years into a symbiotic relationship. Both mammalian and insect hosts provide partial size reduction, chemical treatments (low or high pH environments), and complex enzymatic 'secretomes' that improve microbial access to cell wall polymers. We hypothesized that in order to efficiently degrade coarse untreated biomass, a spontaneously assembled free-living community must both employ alternative strategies, such as enzymatic lignin depolymerization, for accessing hemicellulose and cellulose and have a much broader metabolic potential than host-associated communities. This would suggest that such a community would make a valuable resource for finding new catalytic functions involved in biomass decomposition and gaining new insight into the poorly understood process of anaerobic lignin depolymerization. Therefore, in addition to determining the major players in this community, our work specifically aimed at identifying functions potentially involved in the depolymerization of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin, and to assign specific roles to the prevalent community members in the collaborative process of biomass decomposition. A bacterium similar to Magnetospirillum was identified among the dominant community members, which could play a key role in the anaerobic breakdown of aromatic compounds. We suggest that these compounds are released from the lignin fraction in poplar hardwood during the decay process, which would point to lignin-modification or depolymerization under anaerobic conditions.}, } @article {pmid22627006, year = {2012}, author = {Khanna, I}, title = {Drug discovery in pharmaceutical industry: productivity challenges and trends.}, journal = {Drug discovery today}, volume = {17}, number = {19-20}, pages = {1088-1102}, doi = {10.1016/j.drudis.2012.05.007}, pmid = {22627006}, issn = {1878-5832}, mesh = {Animals ; Cooperative Behavior ; *Drug Discovery ; Drug Industry/*trends ; Efficiency ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Low productivity, rising R&D costs, dissipating proprietary products and dwindling pipelines are driving the pharmaceutical industry to unprecedented challenges and scrutiny. In this article I reflect on the current status of the pharmaceutical industry and reasons for continued low productivity. An emerging 'symbiotic model of innovation', that addresses underlying issues in drug failure and attempts to narrow gaps in current drug discovery processes, is discussed to boost productivity. The model emphasizes partnerships in innovation to deliver quality products in a cost-effective system. I also discuss diverse options to build a balanced research portfolio with higher potential for persistent delivery of drug molecules.}, } @article {pmid22624946, year = {2012}, author = {Craven, KD}, title = {Population studies of native grass-endophyte symbioses provide clues for the roles of host jumps and hybridization in driving their evolution.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {2562-2564}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05564.x}, pmid = {22624946}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Endophytes/*genetics ; Epichloe/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Neotyphodium/*genetics ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Fungal endophytes in the genera Epichloë and Neotyphodium, collectively termed the epichloae, have fascinated biologists for decades. These intriguing fungi, also referred to as 'class 1 or clavicipitaceous endophytes', spend the large majority, or even their entire life cycle, within the tissues of their cool-season grass hosts without eliciting any symptoms of infection. While all epichloae reside within the intercellular spaces of aboveground vegetative grass tissues, the species at the symbiotic extreme are known as Neotyphodium, and the intimacy of their interaction extends to the reproductive (flowering) stage. At this point, fungal filaments (hyphae) nondestructively invade the developing ovaries of their host and are incorporated into perfectly viable, healthy seeds. Thus, these endophytes live solely within the tissues of their host plants and are transmitted maternally from generation to generation. A second life history characteristic of interest is that while all Epichloë and some Neotyphodium species are haploid, a great many of the strictly seed-transmitted Neotyphodium spp. are interspecific hybrids. This phenomenon may be critical for the success of these symbioses over longer spans of evolutionary time and will be discussed in greater detail below. A third characteristic, and one of the primary reasons these grass endophytes have received so much attention over the last three decades, is the strong mutualistic nature these relationships often exhibit. In exchange for photosynthetically derived carbon, the endophytes protect their cool-season grass hosts from grazing herbivores and a variety of abiotic stresses. It has been hypothesized that these three biological phenomena are related (Schardl & Craven 2003), perhaps with the former two driving the third, and it is here that the recent article in Molecular Ecology entitled 'Genetic diversity in epichloid endophytes of Hordelymus europaeus suggests repeated host jumps and interspecific hybridizations', by Oberhofer & Leuchtmann (2012), provides critical clues to linking these traits together. While the large majority of studies have focused on documenting the ever-increasing list of mutualistic qualities attributed to these fungi, very few have taken an exhaustive population-level approach to document plant and endophyte genotypes within a naturally occurring system (Faeth et al. 2010; Jani et al. 2010; Tintjer & Rudgers 2006). Such information is crucial to more fully elucidate the factors shaping grass-endophyte symbioses and those often driving these relationships to mutualistic extremes.}, } @article {pmid22624854, year = {2012}, author = {Zhao, L and Nicholson, JK and Lu, A and Wang, Z and Tang, H and Holmes, E and Shen, J and Zhang, X and Li, JV and Lindon, JC}, title = {Targeting the human genome-microbiome axis for drug discovery: inspirations from global systems biology and traditional Chinese medicine.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {3509-3519}, doi = {10.1021/pr3001628}, pmid = {22624854}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Animals ; Chronic Disease/drug therapy ; *Drug Discovery ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Genome, Human ; Humans ; *Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; *Metagenome/drug effects ; Systems Biology ; }, abstract = {Most chronic diseases impairing current human public health involve not only the human genome but also gene-environment interactions, and in the latter case the gut microbiome is an important factor. This makes the classical single drug-receptor target drug discovery paradigm much less applicable. There is widespread and increasing international interest in understanding the properties of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for their potential utilization as a source of new drugs for Western markets as emerging evidence indicates that most TCM drugs are actually targeting both the host and its symbiotic microbes. In this review, we explore the challenges of and opportunities for harmonizing Eastern-Western drug discovery paradigms by focusing on emergent functions at the whole body level of humans as superorganisms. This could lead to new drug candidate compounds for chronic diseases targeting receptors outside the currently accepted "druggable genome" and shed light on current high interest issues in Western medicine such as drug-drug and drug-diet-gut microbial interactions that will be crucial in the development and delivery of future therapeutic regimes optimized for the individual patient.}, } @article {pmid22624799, year = {2012}, author = {Smits, MM and Bonneville, S and Benning, LG and Banwart, SA and Leake, JR}, title = {Plant-driven weathering of apatite--the role of an ectomycorrhizal fungus.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {445-456}, doi = {10.1111/j.1472-4669.2012.00331.x}, pmid = {22624799}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Apatites/*metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Pinus sylvestris/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi are increasingly recognized as important agents of mineral weathering and soil development, with far-reaching impacts on biogeochemical cycles. Because EcM fungi live in a symbiotic relationship with trees and in close contact with bacteria and archaea, it is difficult to distinguish between the weathering effects of the fungus, host tree and other micro-organisms. Here, we quantified mineral weathering by the fungus Paxillus involutus, growing in symbiosis with Pinus sylvestris under sterile conditions. The mycorrhizal trees were grown in specially designed sterile microcosms in which the supply of soluble phosphorus (P) in the bulk media was varied and grains of the calcium phosphate mineral apatite mixed with quartz, or quartz alone, were provided in plastic wells that were only accessed by their fungal partner. Under P limitation, pulse labelling of plants with (14)CO(2) revealed plant-to-fungus allocation of photosynthates, with 17 times more (14)C transferred into the apatite wells compared with wells with only quartz. Fungal colonization increased the release of P from apatite by almost a factor of three, from 7.5 (±1.1) × 10(-10) mol m(-2) s(-1) to 2.2 (±0.52) × 10(-9) mol m(-2) s(-1). On increasing the P supply in the microcosms from no added P, through apatite alone, to both apatite and orthophosphate, the proportion of biomass in roots progressively increased at the expense of the fungus. These three observations, (i) proportionately more plant energy investment in the fungal partner under P limitation, (ii) preferential fungal transport of photosynthate-derived carbon towards patches of apatite grains and (iii) fungal enhancement of weathering rate, reveal the tightly coupled plant-fungal interactions underpinning enhanced EcM weathering of apatite and its utilization as P source.}, } @article {pmid22624681, year = {2012}, author = {Reid, DE and Hayashi, S and Lorenc, M and Stiller, J and Edwards, D and Gresshoff, PM and Ferguson, BJ}, title = {Identification of systemic responses in soybean nodulation by xylem sap feeding and complete transcriptome sequencing reveal a novel component of the autoregulation pathway.}, journal = {Plant biotechnology journal}, volume = {10}, number = {6}, pages = {680-689}, doi = {10.1111/j.1467-7652.2012.00706.x}, pmid = {22624681}, issn = {1467-7652}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Genes, Plant ; Homeostasis ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction ; Soybeans/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Ubiquitins/metabolism ; Xylem ; }, abstract = {Establishment of the nitrogen-fixing nodulation symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia requires plant-wide reprogramming to allow infection and development of nodules. Nodulation is regulated principally via a mechanism called autoregulation of nodulation (AON). AON is dependent on shoot and root factors and is maintained by the nodulation autoregulation receptor kinase (NARK) in soybean. We developed a bioassay to detect root-derived signalling molecules in xylem sap of soybean plants which may function in AON. The bioassay involves feeding of xylem extracts via the cut hypocotyl of soybean seedlings and monitoring of molecular markers of AON in the leaf. Transcript abundance changes occurring in the leaf in response to feeding were used to determine the biological activity of the extracts. To identify transcript abundance changes that occur during AON, which may also be used in the bioassay, we used an RNA-seq-based transcriptomics approach. We identified changes in the leaves of bioassay plants fed with xylem extracts derived from either Bradyrhizobium japonicum-inoculated or uninoculated plants. Differential expression responses were detected for genes involved in jasmonic acid metabolism, pathogenesis and receptor kinase signalling. We identified an inoculation- and NARK-dependent candidate gene (GmUFD1a) that responds in both the bioassay and intact, inoculated plants. GmUFD1a is a component of the ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathway and provides new insight into the molecular responses occurring during AON. It may now also be used in our feeding bioassay as a molecular marker to assist in identifying the factors contributing to the systemic regulation of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid22624211, year = {2012}, author = {Rudgers, JA and Miller, TE and Ziegler, SM and Craven, KD}, title = {There are many ways to be a mutualist: endophytic fungus reduces plant survival but increases population growth.}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {93}, number = {3}, pages = {565-574}, doi = {10.1890/11-0689.1}, pmid = {22624211}, issn = {0012-9658}, mesh = {Endophytes/*physiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Poaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Population Growth ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {One of the challenges to quantifying the costs and benefits of symbiosis is that symbionts can influence different components of host fitness. To improve understanding of the ecology of inherited symbionts, we developed general theory for a perennial host-hereditary symbiont interaction, in which symbionts can have independent and potentially opposing effects on host regeneration and survival. The model showed that negative effects on one component of fitness may be outweighed by positive effects on another, leading to a net positive impact of symbiosis on population growth. Model predictions depended on the availability of suitable patches, which influenced the relative contributions of survival vs. regeneration to host fitness. We then used experimental symbiont removal to quantify effects of a hereditary, fungal endophyte on a grass host. Endophyte presence strongly reduced host survival but increased regeneration. Application of the model revealed that negative effects on plant survival were overwhelmed by beneficial effects on regeneration, resulting in stable endophyte persistence at 100% frequency, consistent with field observations. Our work demonstrates the utility of a demographic perspective for predicting the dynamics of symbioses and supports the hypothesis that symbionts function as mutualists when host and symbiont fitness are coupled through vertical transmission.}, } @article {pmid22623151, year = {2012}, author = {Jung, SC and Martinez-Medina, A and Lopez-Raez, JA and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Mycorrhiza-induced resistance and priming of plant defenses.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {651-664}, pmid = {22623151}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Cyclopentanes/immunology ; Herbivory ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/immunology ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/immunology/microbiology/parasitology/physiology ; Plants/immunology/*microbiology/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbioses between plants and beneficial soil microorganisms like arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to promote plant growth and help plants to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses. Profound physiological changes take place in the host plant upon root colonization by AMF affecting the interactions with a wide range of organisms below- and above-ground. Protective effects of the symbiosis against pathogens, pests, and parasitic plants have been described for many plant species, including agriculturally important crop varieties. Besides mechanisms such as improved plant nutrition and competition, experimental evidence supports a major role of plant defenses in the observed protection. During mycorrhiza establishment, modulation of plant defense responses occurs thus achieving a functional symbiosis. As a consequence of this modulation, a mild, but effective activation of the plant immune responses seems to occur, not only locally but also systemically. This activation leads to a primed state of the plant that allows a more efficient activation of defense mechanisms in response to attack by potential enemies. Here, we give an overview of the impact on interactions between mycorrhizal plants and pathogens, herbivores, and parasitic plants, and we summarize the current knowledge of the underlying mechanisms. We focus on the priming of jasmonate-regulated plant defense mechanisms that play a central role in the induction of resistance by arbuscular mycorrhizas.}, } @article {pmid22622392, year = {2012}, author = {Alkama, N and Ounane, G and Drevon, JJ}, title = {Is genotypic variation of H[+] efflux under P deficiency linked with nodulated-root respiration of N2 fixing common-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)?.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {11}, pages = {1084-1089}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2012.03.013}, pmid = {22622392}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Cell Respiration/genetics/physiology ; Genotype ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Phaseolus/genetics/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/*deficiency/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {To examine genotypic variation of common bean in growth, phosphorus uptake, nodulated-root proton release, and nodule gas permeability, seven common bean recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from the cross of BAT477×DOR364 were inoculated by Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and grown in hydroaeroponic culture under glasshouse conditions. A positive correlation was observed between shoot and nodule biomass for most of the studied RILs. Under P deficiency, the tolerant common bean RILs acidified more of their rhizosphere than the sensitive ones. The proton release of the RILs 147, 124, 104, 75 and RIL34 was positively correlated with nodule O2 permeability. We conclude that nodulated common bean plants release a substantial amount of H[+] into the rhizosphere that is linked to the symbiotic N2 fixation. It depends upon the nodule permeability to O2 diffusion, and varies with genotype.}, } @article {pmid22619310, year = {2012}, author = {Sandal, N and Jin, H and Rodriguez-Navarro, DN and Temprano, F and Cvitanich, C and Brachmann, A and Sato, S and Kawaguchi, M and Tabata, S and Parniske, M and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Andersen, SU and Stougaard, J}, title = {A set of Lotus japonicus Gifu x Lotus burttii recombinant inbred lines facilitates map-based cloning and QTL mapping.}, journal = {DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {317-323}, pmid = {22619310}, issn = {1756-1663}, mesh = {*Chromosome Mapping ; Crosses, Genetic ; Ecotype ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Linkage ; Genotype ; Lotus/*genetics ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Recombination, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Model legumes such as Lotus japonicus have contributed significantly to the understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This insight is mainly a result of forward genetic screens followed by map-based cloning to identify causal alleles. The L. japonicus ecotype 'Gifu' was used as a common parent for inter-accession crosses to produce F2 mapping populations either with other L. japonicus ecotypes, MG-20 and Funakura, or with the related species L. filicaulis. These populations have all been used for genetic studies but segregation distortion, suppression of recombination, low polymorphism levels, and poor viability have also been observed. More recently, the diploid species L. burttii has been identified as a fertile crossing partner of L. japonicus. To assess its qualities in genetic linkage analysis and to enable quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for a wider range of traits in Lotus species, we have generated and genotyped a set of 163 Gifu × L. burttii recombinant inbred lines (RILs). By direct comparisons of RIL and F2 population data, we show that L. burttii is a valid alternative to MG-20 as a Gifu mapping partner. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of the Gifu × L. burttii RILs in QTL mapping by identifying an Nfr1-linked QTL for Sinorhizobium fredii nodulation.}, } @article {pmid22617526, year = {2012}, author = {Cheung, DY and Kim, TH}, title = {[Helicobacter pylori in human stomach: can it be called mutualism or a disease?].}, journal = {The Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi}, volume = {59}, number = {5}, pages = {329-337}, doi = {10.4166/kjg.2012.59.5.329}, pmid = {22617526}, issn = {2233-6869}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/microbiology/pathology ; Helicobacter Infections/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Helicobacter pylori/*immunology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been a major concern as a gastric pathogen with unique features since discovered in the end of the 20th century. Recent data on comparative genome study have revealed that H. pylori has successfully survived with its host though over 58,000 years of evolution and migration from continent to continent. To maintain the symbiotic relationship with human, H. pylori has come up with ways to induce host tolerance as well as exert harmful injuries. Studies about H. pylori have accumulated the knowledge about how the cellular and molecular interactions are controlled and regulated to decide whether the symbiotic relationship is directed to diseases or peaceful mutualism. We reviewed recent literatures and research outcomes about the H. pylori and host interaction in molecular and cellular basis.}, } @article {pmid22617264, year = {2012}, author = {Frederickson, ME and Ravenscraft, A and Miller, GA and Arcila Hernández, LM and Booth, G and Pierce, NE}, title = {The direct and ecological costs of an ant-plant symbiosis.}, journal = {The American naturalist}, volume = {179}, number = {6}, pages = {768-778}, doi = {10.1086/665654}, pmid = {22617264}, issn = {1537-5323}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; *Behavior, Animal ; Cordia/*physiology ; Hemiptera/physiology ; Herbivory ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {How strong is selection for cheating in mutualisms? The answer depends on the type and magnitude of the costs of the mutualism. Here we investigated the direct and ecological costs of plant defense by ants in the association between Cordia nodosa, a myrmecophytic plant, and Allomerus octoarticulatus, a phytoecious ant. Cordia nodosa trees produce food and housing to reward ants that protect them against herbivores. For nearly 1 year, we manipulated the presence of A. octoarticulatus ants and most insect herbivores on C. nodosa in a full-factorial experiment. Ants increased plant growth when herbivores were present but decreased plant growth when herbivores were absent, indicating that hosting ants can be costly to plants. However, we did not detect a cost to ant colonies of defending host plants against herbivores. Although this asymmetry in costs suggests that the plants may be under stronger selection than the ants to cheat by withholding investment in their partner, the costs to C. nodosa are probably at least partly ecological, arising because ants tend scale insects on their host plants. We argue that ecological costs should favor resistance or traits other than cheating and thus that neither partner may face much temptation to cheat.}, } @article {pmid22616625, year = {2012}, author = {Fterich, A and Mahdhi, M and Lafuente, A and Pajuelo, E and Caviedes, MA and Rodriguez-Llorente, ID and Mars, M}, title = {Taxonomic and symbiotic diversity of bacteria isolated from nodules of Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana in arid soils of Tunisia.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {6}, pages = {738-751}, doi = {10.1139/w2012-048}, pmid = {22616625}, issn = {1480-3275}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; }, abstract = {A collection of rhizobia isolated from Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana nodules from various arid soils in Tunisia was analyzed for their diversity at both taxonomic and symbiotic levels. The isolates were found to be phenotypically diverse. The majority of the isolates tolerated 3% NaCl and grew at 40 °C. Genetic characterization emphasized that most of the strains (42/50) belong to the genus Ensifer, particularly the species Ensifer meliloti, Ensifer garamanticus, and Ensifer numidicus. Symbiotic properties of isolates showed diversity in their capacity to nodulate their host plant and to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The most effective isolates were closely related to E. garamanticus. Nodulation tests showed that 3 strains belonging to Mesorhizobium genus failed to renodulate their host plant, which is surprising for symbiotic rhizobia. Furthermore, our results support the presence of non-nodulating endophytic bacteria belonging to the Acinetobacter genus in legume nodules.}, } @article {pmid22615938, year = {2012}, author = {Ziegler, D and Mariotti, A and Pflüger, V and Saad, M and Vogel, G and Tonolla, M and Perret, X}, title = {In situ identification of plant-invasive bacteria with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e37189}, pmid = {22615938}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Bacteriological Techniques/methods ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Rhizome/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium fredii/isolation & purification ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization/*methods ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia form a disparate collection of soil bacteria capable of reducing atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes. The study of rhizobial populations in nature involves the collection of large numbers of nodules found on roots or stems of legumes, and the subsequent typing of nodule bacteria. To avoid the time-consuming steps of isolating and cultivating nodule bacteria prior to genotyping, a protocol of strain identification based on the comparison of MALDI-TOF MS spectra was established. In this procedure, plant nodules were considered as natural bioreactors that amplify clonal populations of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Following a simple isolation procedure, bacteroids were fingerprinted by analysing biomarker cellular proteins of 3 to 13 kDa using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. In total, bacteroids of more than 1,200 nodules collected from roots of three legumes of the Phaseoleae tribe (cowpea, soybean or siratro) were examined. Plants were inoculated with pure cultures of a slow-growing Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain G49, or either of two closely related and fast-growing Sinorhizobium fredii strains NGR234 and USDA257, or with mixed inoculants. In the fully automatic mode, correct identification of bacteroids was obtained for >97% of the nodules, and reached 100% with a minimal manual input in processing of spectra. These results showed that MALDI-TOF MS is a powerful tool for the identification of intracellular bacteria taken directly from plant tissues.}, } @article {pmid22615567, year = {2012}, author = {Xin, DW and Liao, S and Xie, ZP and Hann, DR and Steinle, L and Boller, T and Staehelin, C}, title = {Functional analysis of NopM, a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase (NEL) domain effector of Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {8}, number = {5}, pages = {e1002707}, pmid = {22615567}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Flagellin/immunology ; Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing)/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*enzymology/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tobacco/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Ubiquitin/metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Type 3 effector proteins secreted via the bacterial type 3 secretion system (T3SS) are not only virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria, but also influence symbiotic interactions between nitrogen-fixing nodule bacteria (rhizobia) and leguminous host plants. In this study, we characterized NopM (nodulation outer protein M) of Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234, which shows sequence similarities with novel E3 ubiquitin ligase (NEL) domain effectors from the human pathogens Shigella flexneri and Salomonella enterica. NopM expressed in Escherichia coli, but not the non-functional mutant protein NopM-C338A, showed E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in vitro. In vivo, NopM, but not inactive NopM-C338A, promoted nodulation of the host plant Lablab purpureus by NGR234. When NopM was expressed in yeast, it inhibited mating pheromone signaling, a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. When expressed in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana, NopM inhibited one part of the plant's defense response, as shown by a reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to the flagellin peptide flg22, whereas it stimulated another part, namely the induction of defense genes. In summary, our data indicate the potential for NopM as a functional NEL domain E3 ubiquitin ligase. Our findings that NopM dampened the flg22-induced ROS burst in N. benthamiana but promoted defense gene induction are consistent with the concept that pattern-triggered immunity is split in two separate signaling branches, one leading to ROS production and the other to defense gene induction.}, } @article {pmid22615461, year = {2012}, author = {Cartwright, JH and Mackay, AL}, title = {Beyond crystals: the dialectic of materials and information.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences}, volume = {370}, number = {1969}, pages = {2807-2822}, pmid = {22615461}, issn = {1364-503X}, mesh = {Biopolymers/*chemistry ; Crystallization/*methods ; *Models, Biological ; *Models, Chemical ; Nanostructures/*chemistry/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {We argue for a convergence of crystallography, materials science and biology, that will come about through asking materials questions about biology and biological questions about materials, illuminated by considerations of information. The complex structures now being studied in biology and produced in nanotechnology have outstripped the framework of classical crystallography, and a variety of organizing concepts are now taking shape into a more modern and dynamic science of structure, form and function. Absolute stability and equilibrium are replaced by metastable structures existing in a flux of energy-carrying information and moving within an energy landscape of complex topology. Structures give place to processes and processes to systems. The fundamental level is that of atoms. As smaller and smaller groups of atoms are used for their physical properties, quantum effects become important; already we see quantum computation taking shape. Concepts move towards those in life with the emergence of specifically informational structures. We now see the possibility of the artificial construction of a synthetic living system, different from biological life, but having many or all of the same properties. Interactions are essentially nonlinear and collective. Structures begin to have an evolutionary history with episodes of symbiosis. Underlying all the structures are constraints of time and space. Through hierarchization, a more general principle than the periodicity of crystals, structures may be found within structures on different scales. We must integrate unifying concepts from dynamical systems and information theory to form a coherent language and science of shape and structure beyond crystals. To this end, we discuss the idea of categorizing structures based on information according to the algorithmic complexity of their assembly.}, } @article {pmid22614785, year = {2012}, author = {Dobes, P and Wang, Z and Markus, R and Theopold, U and Hyrsl, P}, title = {An improved method for nematode infection assays in Drosophila larvae.}, journal = {Fly}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {75-79}, pmid = {22614785}, issn = {1933-6942}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/*parasitology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/parasitology ; Photorhabdus/*physiology ; Rhabditida/microbiology/*physiology ; Xenorhabdus/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The infective juveniles (IJs) of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) seek out host insects and release their symbiotic bacteria into their body cavity causing septicaemia, which eventually leads to host death. The interaction between EPNs and their hosts are only partially understood, in particular the host immune responses appears to involve pathways other than phagocytosis and the canonical transcriptional induction pathways. These pathways are genetically tractable and include for example clotting factors and lipid mediators. The aim of this study was to optimize the nematode infections in Drosophila melanogaster larvae, a well-studied and genetically tractable model organism. Here we show that two nematode species namely Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora display different infectivity toward Drosophila larvae with the latter being less pathogenic. The effects of supporting media and IJ dosage on the mortality of the hosts were assessed and optimized. Using optimum conditions, a faster and efficient setup for nematode infections was developed. This newly established infection model in Drosophila larvae will be applicable in large scale screens aimed at identifying novel genes/pathways involved in innate immune responses.}, } @article {pmid22612927, year = {2012}, author = {Horiuchi, H and Sasaki, Y}, title = {Short communication: effect of oxygen on symbiosis between Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {95}, number = {6}, pages = {2904-2909}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2011-5147}, pmid = {22612927}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Fermentation/drug effects ; Formates/metabolism ; Lactobacillus/*drug effects/physiology ; Oxygen/*pharmacology ; Streptococcus thermophilus/*drug effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; Time Factors ; Yogurt/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus) and Streptococcus thermophilus are traditionally used for the manufacture of yogurt. It is said that a symbiotic relationship exists between Strep. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus and this decreases fermentation time. It is well known that L. bulgaricus is stimulated by the formate produced by Strep. thermophilus, and Strep. thermophilus is stimulated by free amino acids and peptides liberated from milk proteins by L. bulgaricus in symbiotic fermentation. We found that acid production by starter culture LB81 composed of L. bulgaricus 2038 and Strep. thermophilus 1131 was greatly accelerated by decreasing dissolved oxygen (DO) to almost 0 mg/kg in the yogurt mix (reduced dissolved oxygen fermentation) and that DO interferes with the symbiotic relationship between L. bulgaricus 2038 and Strep. thermophilus 1131. We attributed the acceleration of acid production of LB81 by reduced dissolved oxygen fermentation mainly to the acceleration of formate production and the suppression of acid production of LB81 by DO mainly to the suppression of formate production.}, } @article {pmid22607312, year = {2012}, author = {Pini, F and Frascella, A and Santopolo, L and Bazzicalupo, M and Biondi, EG and Scotti, C and Mengoni, A}, title = {Exploring the plant-associated bacterial communities in Medicago sativa L.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {78}, pmid = {22607312}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant-associated bacterial communities caught the attention of several investigators which study the relationships between plants and soil and the potential application of selected bacterial species in crop improvement and protection. Medicago sativa L. is a legume crop of high economic importance as forage in temperate areas and one of the most popular model plants for investigations on the symbiosis with nitrogen fixing rhizobia (mainly belonging to the alphaproteobacterial species Sinorhizobium meliloti). However, despite its importance, no studies have been carried out looking at the total bacterial community associated with the plant. In this work we explored for the first time the total bacterial community associated with M. sativa plants grown in mesocosms conditions, looking at a wide taxonomic spectrum, from the class to the single species (S. meliloti) level.

RESULTS: Results, obtained by using Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis, quantitative PCR and sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene libraries, showed a high taxonomic diversity as well as a dominance by members of the class Alphaproteobacteria in plant tissues. Within Alphaproteobacteria the families Sphingomonadaceae and Methylobacteriaceae were abundant inside plant tissues, while soil Alphaproteobacteria were represented by the families of Hyphomicrobiaceae, Methylocystaceae, Bradyirhizobiaceae and Caulobacteraceae. At the single species level, we were able to detect the presence of S. meliloti populations in aerial tissues, nodules and soil. An analysis of population diversity on nodules and soil showed a relatively low sharing of haplotypes (30-40%) between the two environments and between replicate mesocosms, suggesting drift as main force shaping S. meliloti population at least in this system.

CONCLUSIONS: In this work we shed some light on the bacterial communities associated with M. sativa plants, showing that Alphaproteobacteria may constitute an important part of biodiversity in this system, which includes also the well known symbiont S. meliloti. Interestingly, this last species was also found in plant aerial part, by applying cultivation-independent protocols, and a genetic diversity analysis suggested that population structure could be strongly influenced by random drift.}, } @article {pmid22592855, year = {2013}, author = {Bahram, M and Kõljalg, U and Kohout, P and Mirshahvaladi, S and Tedersoo, L}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi of exotic pine plantations in relation to native host trees in Iran: evidence of host range expansion by local symbionts to distantly related host taxa.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {11-19}, pmid = {22592855}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Betulaceae/*microbiology ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Plant/chemistry/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Fagaceae/*microbiology ; Geography ; Host Specificity ; Introduced Species ; Iran ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mycorrhizae/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Pinaceae/*microbiology ; Pinus/microbiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Introduction of exotic plants change soil microbial communities which may have detrimental ecological consequences for ecosystems. In this study, we examined the community structure and species richness of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi associated with exotic pine plantations in relation to adjacent native ectomycorrhizal trees in Iran to elucidate the symbiont exchange between distantly related hosts, i.e. Fagales (Fagaceae and Betulaceae) and Pinaceae. The combination of morphological and molecular identification approaches revealed that 84.6 % of species with more than one occurrence (at least once on pines) were shared with native trees and only 5.9 % were found exclusively on pine root tips. The community diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the pine plantations adjacent to native EcM trees was comparable to their adjacent native trees, but the isolated plantations hosted relatively a species-poor community. Specific mycobionts of conifers were dominant in the isolated plantation while rarely found in the plantations adjacent to native EcM trees. These data demonstrate the importance of habitat isolation and dispersal limitation of EcM fungi in their potential of host range expansion. The great number of shared and possibly compatible symbiotic species between exotic Pinaceae and local Fagales (Fagaceae and Betulaceae) may reflect their evolutionary adaptations and/or ancestral compatibility with one another.}, } @article {pmid22591396, year = {2012}, author = {Stefanini, A and Duron, O}, title = {Exploring the effect of the Cardinium endosymbiont on spiders.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {25}, number = {8}, pages = {1521-1530}, doi = {10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02535.x}, pmid = {22591396}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Cytoplasm/microbiology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Male ; Ovum/microbiology ; Reproduction ; Spiders/*genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Spiders have recently emerged as important diversity hot spots for endosymbiotic bacteria, but the consequences of these symbiotic interactions are largely unknown. In this article, we examined the evolutionary history and effect of the intracellular bacterium Cardinium hertigii in the marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei. We showed that Cardinium infection is primarily transmitted in spider populations maternally via egg cytoplasm, with 100% of the progeny from infected mothers being also infected. Examination of a co-inherited marker, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), revealed that Cardinium infection is associated with a wide diversity of mtDNA haplotypes, showing that the interaction between Cardinium and H. pluchei has a long-term evolutionary dimension and that horizontal transmission among individuals could also occur. Although Cardinium is well known to exert sex ratio distortion or cytoplasmic incompatibility in various arthropod hosts, we show, however, that Cardinium does not interact with the reproductive biology of H. pluchei. A field survey shows a clear geographical structuring of Cardinium infection, with a marked gradual variation of infection frequencies from ca. 0.80 to 0. We discuss different mechanistic and evolutionary explanations for these results as well as their consequences for spider phenotypes. Notably, we suggest that Cardinium can either behave as a neutral cytoplasmic element within H. pluchei or exhibit a context-dependent effect, depending on the environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid22590524, year = {2012}, author = {Bazile, V and Moran, JA and Le Moguédec, G and Marshall, DJ and Gaume, L}, title = {A carnivorous plant fed by its ant symbiont: a unique multi-faceted nutritional mutualism.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e36179}, pmid = {22590524}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Borneo ; Feeding Behavior/psychology ; Magnoliopsida/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Scarcity of essential nutrients has led plants to evolve alternative nutritional strategies, such as myrmecotrophy (ant-waste-derived nutrition) and carnivory (invertebrate predation). The carnivorous plant Nepenthes bicalcarata grows in the Bornean peatswamp forests and is believed to have a mutualistic relationship with its symbiotic ant Camponotus schmitzi. However, the benefits provided by the ant have not been quantified. We tested the hypothesis of a nutritional mutualism, using foliar isotopic and reflectance analyses and by comparing fitness-related traits between ant-inhabited and uninhabited plants. Plants inhabited by C. schmitzi produced more leaves of greater area and nitrogen content than unoccupied plants. The ants were estimated to provide a 200% increase in foliar nitrogen to adult plants. Inhabited plants also produced more and larger pitchers containing higher prey biomass. C. schmitzi-occupied pitchers differed qualitatively in containing C. schmitzi wastes and captured large ants and flying insects. Pitcher abortion rates were lower in inhabited plants partly because of herbivore deterrence as herbivory-aborted buds decreased with ant occupation rate. Lower abortion was also attributed to ant nutritional service. The ants had higher δ(15)N values than any tested prey, and foliar δ(15)N increased with ant occupation rate, confirming their predatory behaviour and demonstrating their direct contribution to the plant-recycled N. We estimated that N. bicalcarata derives on average 42% of its foliar N from C. schmitzi wastes, (76% in highly-occupied plants). According to the Structure Independent Pigment Index, plants without C. schmitzi were nutrient stressed compared to both occupied plants, and pitcher-lacking plants. This attests to the physiological cost of pitcher production and poor nutrient assimilation in the absence of the symbiont. Hence C. schmitzi contributes crucially to the nutrition of N. bicalcarata, via protection of assimilatory organs, enhancement of prey capture, and myrmecotrophy. This combination of carnivory and myrmecotrophy represents an outstanding strategy of nutrient sequestration.}, } @article {pmid22590467, year = {2012}, author = {Collins, AJ and Schleicher, TR and Rader, BA and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Understanding the role of host hemocytes in a squid/vibrio symbiosis using transcriptomics and proteomics.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {91}, pmid = {22590467}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {The symbiosis between the squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, serves as a model for understanding interactions between beneficial bacteria and animal hosts. The establishment and maintenance of the association is highly specific and depends on the selection of V. fischeri and exclusion of non-symbiotic bacteria from the environment. Current evidence suggests that the host's cellular innate immune system, in the form of macrophage-like hemocytes, helps to mediate host tolerance of V. fischeri. To begin to understand the role of hemocytes in this association, we analyzed these cells by high-throughput 454 transcriptomic and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomic analyses. 454 high-throughput sequencing produced 650, 686 reads totaling 279.9 Mb while LC-MS/MS analyses of circulating hemocytes putatively identified 702 unique proteins. Several receptors involved with the recognition of microbial-associated molecular patterns were identified. Among these was a complete open reading frame to a putative peptidoglycan recognition protein (EsPGRP5) with conserved residues for amidase activity. Assembly of the hemocyte transcriptome showed EsPGRP5 had high coverage, suggesting it is among the 5% most abundant transcripts in circulating hemocytes. Other transcripts and proteins identified included members of the conserved NF-κB signaling pathway, putative members of the complement pathway, the carbohydrate binding protein galectin, and cephalotoxin. Quantitative Real-Time PCR of complement-like genes, cephalotoxin, EsPGRP5, and a nitric oxide synthase showed differential expression in circulating hemocytes from adult squid with colonized light organs compared to those isolated from hosts where the symbionts were removed. These data suggest that the presence of the symbiont influences gene expression of the cellular innate immune system of E. scolopes.}, } @article {pmid22588432, year = {2013}, author = {Swiatoniowska, M and Ogorzalek, A and Golas, A and Michalik, A and Szklarzewicz, T}, title = {Ultrastructure, distribution, and transovarial transmission of symbiotic microorganisms in Nysius ericae and Nithecus jacobaeae (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae: Orsillinae).}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {250}, number = {1}, pages = {325-332}, pmid = {22588432}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*ultrastructure ; Female ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Ovary/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The organization of the symbiotic system (i.e., distribution and ultrastructure of symbionts) and the mode of inheritance of symbionts in two species, Nysius ericae and Nithecus jacobaeae belonging to Heteroptera: Lygaeidae, are described. Like most hemipterans, Nysius ericae and Nithecus jacobaeae harbor obligate prokaryotic symbionts. The symbiotic bacteria are harbored in large, specialized cells termed bacteriocytes which are localized in the close vicinity of the ovaries as well as inside the ovaries. The ovaries are composed of seven ovarioles of the telotrophic type. Bacteriocytes occur in each ovariole in the basal part of tropharium termed the infection zone. The bacteriocytes form a ring surrounding the early previtellogenic oocytes. The cytoplasm of the bacteriocytes is tightly packed with large elongated bacteria. In the bacteriocytes of Nysius ericae, small, rod-shaped bacteria also occur. Both types of bacteria are transovarially transmitted from one generation to the next.}, } @article {pmid22588297, year = {2012}, author = {Field, KJ and Cameron, DD and Leake, JR and Tille, S and Bidartondo, MI and Beerling, DJ}, title = {Contrasting arbuscular mycorrhizal responses of vascular and non-vascular plants to a simulated Palaeozoic CO2 decline.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {835}, pmid = {22588297}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Carbon Dioxide/*analysis/metabolism ; Ferns/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Hepatophyta/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Magnoliopsida/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Paleontology ; Phosphates/analysis/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Soil/analysis ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiosis is widely hypothesized to have promoted the evolution of land plants from rootless gametophytes to rooted sporophytes during the mid-Palaeozoic (480-360 Myr, ago), at a time coincident with a 90% fall in the atmospheric CO(2) concentration ([CO(2)](a)). Here we show using standardized dual isotopic tracers ((14)C and (33)P) that AM symbiosis efficiency (defined as plant P gain per unit of C invested into fungi) of liverwort gametophytes declines, but increases in the sporophytes of vascular plants (ferns and angiosperms), at 440 p.p.m. compared with 1,500 p.p.m. [CO(2)](a). These contrasting responses are associated with larger AM hyphal networks, and structural advances in vascular plant water-conducting systems, promoting P transport that enhances AM efficiency at 440 p.p.m. [CO(2)](a). Our results suggest that non-vascular land plants not only faced intense competition for light, as vascular land floras grew taller in the Palaeozoic, but also markedly reduced efficiency and total capture of P as [CO(2)](a) fell.}, } @article {pmid22587634, year = {2012}, author = {Queiroux, C and Washburn, BK and Davis, OM and Stewart, J and Brewer, TE and Lyons, MR and Jones, KM}, title = {A comparative genomics screen identifies a Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 sodM-like gene strongly expressed within host plant nodules.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {74}, pmid = {22587634}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Medicago sativa/microbiology/physiology ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase/biosynthesis/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We have used the genomic data in the Integrated Microbial Genomes system of the Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute to make predictions about rhizobial open reading frames that play a role in nodulation of host plants. The genomic data was screened by searching for ORFs conserved in α-proteobacterial rhizobia, but not conserved in closely-related non-nitrogen-fixing α-proteobacteria.

RESULTS: Using this approach, we identified many genes known to be involved in nodulation or nitrogen fixation, as well as several new candidate genes. We knocked out selected new genes and assayed for the presence of nodulation phenotypes and/or nodule-specific expression. One of these genes, SMc00911, is strongly expressed by bacterial cells within host plant nodules, but is expressed minimally by free-living bacterial cells. A strain carrying an insertion mutation in SMc00911 is not defective in the symbiosis with host plants, but in contrast to expectations, this mutant strain is able to out-compete the S. meliloti 1021 wild type strain for nodule occupancy in co-inoculation experiments. The SMc00911 ORF is predicted to encode a "SodM-like" (superoxide dismutase-like) protein containing a rhodanese sulfurtransferase domain at the N-terminus and a chromate-resistance superfamily domain at the C-terminus. Several other ORFs (SMb20360, SMc01562, SMc01266, SMc03964, and the SMc01424-22 operon) identified in the screen are expressed at a moderate level by bacteria within nodules, but not by free-living bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the analysis of ORFs identified in this study, we conclude that this comparative genomics approach can identify rhizobial genes involved in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with host plants, although none of the newly identified genes were found to be essential for this process.}, } @article {pmid22586130, year = {2012}, author = {Tian, CF and Zhou, YJ and Zhang, YM and Li, QQ and Zhang, YZ and Li, DF and Wang, S and Wang, J and Gilbert, LB and Li, YR and Chen, WX}, title = {Comparative genomics of rhizobia nodulating soybean suggests extensive recruitment of lineage-specific genes in adaptations.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {22}, pages = {8629-8634}, pmid = {22586130}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/physiology ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics/*methods ; Geography ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/physiology ; Soybeans/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The rhizobium-legume symbiosis has been widely studied as the model of mutualistic evolution and the essential component of sustainable agriculture. Extensive genetic and recent genomic studies have led to the hypothesis that many distinct strategies, regardless of rhizobial phylogeny, contributed to the varied rhizobium-legume symbiosis. We sequenced 26 genomes of Sinorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium nodulating soybean to test this hypothesis. The Bradyrhizobium core genome is disproportionally enriched in lipid and secondary metabolism, whereas several gene clusters known to be involved in osmoprotection and adaptation to alkaline pH are specific to the Sinorhizobium core genome. These features are consistent with biogeographic patterns of these bacteria. Surprisingly, no genes are specifically shared by these soybean microsymbionts compared with other legume microsymbionts. On the other hand, phyletic patterns of 561 known symbiosis genes of rhizobia reflected the species phylogeny of these soybean microsymbionts and other rhizobia. Similar analyses with 887 known functional genes or the whole pan genome of rhizobia revealed that only the phyletic distribution of functional genes was consistent with the species tree of rhizobia. Further evolutionary genetics revealed that recombination dominated the evolution of core genome. Taken together, our results suggested that faithfully vertical genes were rare compared with those with history of recombination including lateral gene transfer, although rhizobial adaptations to symbiotic interactions and other environmental conditions extensively recruited lineage-specific shell genes under direct or indirect control through the speciation process.}, } @article {pmid22583376, year = {2012}, author = {Gay-Fraret, J and Ardissone, S and Kambara, K and Broughton, WJ and Deakin, WJ and Le Quéré, A}, title = {Cyclic-β-glucans of Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) sp. strain NGR234 are required for hypo-osmotic adaptation, motility, and efficient symbiosis with host plants.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {333}, number = {1}, pages = {28-36}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02595.x}, pmid = {22583376}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Escherichia coli/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Flagella/chemistry/physiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/chemistry ; Locomotion ; Membrane Proteins/chemistry/genetics ; Mutation ; Osmosis ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/chemistry/genetics/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; beta-Glucans/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Cyclic-β-glucans (CβG) consist of cyclic homo-polymers of glucose that are present in the periplasmic space of many Gram-negative bacteria. A number of studies have demonstrated their importance for bacterial infection of plant and animal cells. In this study, a mutant of Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) sp. strain NGR234 (NGR234) was generated in the cyclic glucan synthase (ndvB)-encoding gene. The great majority of CβG produced by wild-type NGR234 are negatively charged and substituted. The ndvB mutation abolished CβG biosynthesis. We found that, in NGR234, a functional ndvB gene is essential for hypo-osmotic adaptation and swimming, attachment to the roots, and efficient infection of Vigna unguiculata and Leucaena leucocephala.}, } @article {pmid22582371, year = {2012}, author = {Lee, J and Shin, SC and Kim, SJ and Kim, BK and Hong, SG and Kim, EH and Park, H and Lee, H}, title = {Draft genome sequence of a Sphingomonas sp., an endosymbiotic bacterium isolated from an arctic lichen Umbilicaria sp.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {11}, pages = {3010-3011}, pmid = {22582371}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; Base Sequence ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Lichens/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sphingomonas/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sphingomonas sp. strain PAMC 26617 has been isolated from an Arctic lichen Umbilicaria sp. on the Svalbard Islands. Here we present the draft genome sequence of this strain, which represents a valuable resource for understanding the symbiotic mechanisms between endosymbiotic bacteria and lichens surviving in extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid22580697, year = {2012}, author = {Abdel-Lateif, K and Bogusz, D and Hocher, V}, title = {The role of flavonoids in the establishment of plant roots endosymbioses with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, rhizobia and Frankia bacteria.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {636-641}, pmid = {22580697}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Flavonoids/*metabolism ; Frankia/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids are a group of secondary metabolites derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. They are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom and have many diverse functions including key roles at different levels of root endosymbioses. While there is a lot of information on the role of particular flavonoids in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, yet their exact role during the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza and actinorhizal symbioses still remains unclear. Within the context of the latest data suggesting a common symbiotic signaling pathway for both plant-fungal and plant bacterial endosymbioses between legumes and actinorhiza-forming fagales, this mini-review highlights some of the recent studies on the three major types of root endosymbioses. Implication of the molecular knowledge of endosymbioses signaling and genetic manipulation of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway on the development of strategies for the transfer and optimization of nodulation are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid22580688, year = {2012}, author = {Sánchez-López, R and Jáuregui, D and Quinto, C}, title = {SymRK and the nodule vascular system: an underground connection.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {6}, pages = {691-693}, pmid = {22580688}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Phaseolus/*enzymology ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Vascular Bundle/*enzymology ; Protein Kinases/chemistry/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic legume-rhizobia relationship leads to the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Successful nodulation depends on the expression and cross-talk of a batttery of genes, among them SymRK (symbiosis receptor-like kinase), a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase. SymRK is required for the rhizobia invasion of root hairs, as well as for the infection thread and symbiosome formation. Using immunolocalization and downregulation strategies we have recently provided evidence of a new function of PvSymRK in nodulation. We have found that a tight regulation of PvSymRK expression is required for the accurate development of the vascular bundle system in Phaseolus vulgaris nodules.}, } @article {pmid22579811, year = {2012}, author = {Anker, A and Baeza, JA}, title = {Molecular and morphological phylogeny of hooded shrimps, genera Betaeus and Betaeopsis (Decapoda, Alpheidae): testing the center of origin biogeographic model and evolution of life history traits.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {64}, number = {3}, pages = {401-415}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2012.04.015}, pmid = {22579811}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; *Biological Evolution ; Decapoda/anatomy & histology/classification/*genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Pacific Ocean ; *Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The phylogenetic relationships of the alpheid shrimp genera Betaeus (Dana, 1852) (15 species) and Betaeopsis (Yaldwyn, 1971) (three species), collectively known as hooded shrimps, are analyzed with morphological, molecular (16S and H3) and combined "total evidence" (morphology+DNA) datasets. The tree topology resulting from morphological and combined analyses places Betaeus jucundus as sister to all the remaining species of Betaeus and Betaeopsis, rendering Betaeus paraphyletic. On the other hand, Betaeopsis is recovered as monophyletic. Betaeus australis is positioned as sister to the remaining species of Betaeus s. str. (excluding B. jucundus), which is composed of three well-supported and resolved clades. Mapping of biogeographic traits on the combined tree suggests at least two possible historic scenarios. In the first scenario, the North-East Pacific harboring the highest diversity of hooded shrimps (seven species of Betaeus), acted as the "center of origin", where species appeared, matured and eventually migrated toward peripheral regions. In the second scenario, Betaeus+Betaeopsis originated in the southern Indo-West Pacific and subsequently colonized the North-East Pacific, where a major radiation involving dispersal/vicariance events took place. The mapping of life history traits (symbiosis vs. free living and gregariousness vs. single/pair living) in the combined tree suggests (1) that different types of symbioses with dissimilar host organisms (sea urchins, abalones, other decapods, spoon worms) evolved independently more than once in the group (in B. jucundus and in various lineages of Betaeus s. str.), and (2) that gregariousness was ancestral in the Betaeus s. str. -Betaeopsis clade and later shifted toward single/pair living in several lineages.}, } @article {pmid22578284, year = {2012}, author = {Gust, AA and Willmann, R and Desaki, Y and Grabherr, HM and Nürnberger, T}, title = {Plant LysM proteins: modules mediating symbiosis and immunity.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {17}, number = {8}, pages = {495-502}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2012.04.003}, pmid = {22578284}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Motifs ; Arabidopsis/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/immunology/*metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; Fungi/growth & development/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Immune Evasion ; Ligands ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; *Plant Immunity ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/immunology/*metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/immunology/metabolism ; Rhizobiaceae/growth & development/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Microbial glycans, such as bacterial peptidoglycans, fungal chitin or rhizobacterial Nod factors (NFs), are important signatures for plant immune activation or for the establishment of beneficial symbioses. Plant lysin motif (LysM) domain proteins serve as modules mediating recognition of these different N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-containing ligands, suggesting that this class of proteins evolved from an ancient sensor for GlcNAc. During early plant evolution, these glycans probably served as immunogenic patterns activating LysM protein receptor-mediated plant immunity and stopping microbial infection. The biochemical potential of plant LysM proteins for sensing microbial GlcNAc-containing glycans has probably since favored the evolution of receptors facilitating microbial infection and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22576945, year = {2013}, author = {Ji, G and Wang, C and Guo, F}, title = {Characterisation of microbial floras and functional gene levels in an anaerobic/aerobic bio-reactor for the degradation of carboxymethyl cellulose.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {97}, number = {7}, pages = {3195-3206}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-012-4134-9}, pmid = {22576945}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Aerobiosis ; Anaerobiosis ; Archaea/*classification/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Bioreactors/*microbiology ; *Biota ; Biotransformation ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/*metabolism ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Metagenome ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The current study determined the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) degradation efficiency, dominant microbial flora, eubacteria and archaebacteria characteristics, and expression levels of genes cel5A, cel6B, and bglC in an anaerobic/aerobic bio-reactor consisting of two-stage UASB (U1 and U2) and two-stage BAF (B1 and B2). The results showed that under three CMC loads, the CMC degradation efficiency of the UASB-BAF system was 91.25%, 80.44%, and 78.73%, respectively. At higher CMC loads, the degradation of cellulose and transformation to cellobiose in U1 was higher, while the transformation to glucose was lower. The results of DGGE and real-time PCR indicated that cellulose degradation bacteria are dominant in U1, cellulose degradation bacteria and cellulose degradation symbiosis bacteria are dominant in B1, and non-cellulose degradation symbiosis bacteria are dominant in both U2 and B2. The rate-limiting enzyme gene of cellulose degradation in U1, B1, and B2 is cel6B, but it is cel5A in U2.}, } @article {pmid22574939, year = {2012}, author = {Zheng, YB and Lu, CH and Shen, YM}, title = {New abscisic acid-related metabolites from Phellinus vaninii.}, journal = {Journal of Asian natural products research}, volume = {14}, number = {7}, pages = {613-617}, doi = {10.1080/10286020.2012.681379}, pmid = {22574939}, issn = {1477-2213}, mesh = {*Abscisic Acid/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*chemistry ; China ; Molecular Structure ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; }, abstract = {Two new and three known abscisic acid-related metabolites were obtained from the potato dextrose agar culture of Phellinus vaninii YB2005. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HR-Q-TOF-MS techniques. The putative biosynthesis pathway of these secondary metabolites would decipher the mechanism of the symbiosis between plant and fungi from the view of chemistry.}, } @article {pmid22574700, year = {2012}, author = {Minagawa, S and Inami, H and Kato, T and Sawada, S and Yasuki, T and Miyairi, S and Horikawa, M and Okuda, J and Gotoh, N}, title = {RND type efflux pump system MexAB-OprM of Pseudomonas aeruginosa selects bacterial languages, 3-oxo-acyl-homoserine lactones, for cell-to-cell communication.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {70}, pmid = {22574700}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*metabolism ; Artificial Gene Fusion ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/analysis/genetics ; Homoserine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; *Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction ; Vibrio/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacteria release a wide variety of small molecules including cell-to-cell signaling compounds. Gram-negative bacteria use a variety of self-produced autoinducers such as acylated homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) as signal compounds for quorum sensing (QS) within and between bacterial species. QS plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and in beneficial symbiosis by responding to acyl-HSLs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is considered that the selection of bacterial languages is necessary to regulate gene expression and thus it leads to the regulation of virulence and provides a growth advantage in several environments. In this study, we hypothesized that RND-type efflux pump system MexAB-OprM of P. aeruginosa might function in the selection of acyl-HSLs, and we provide evidence to support this hypothesis.

RESULTS: Loss of MexAB-OprM due to deletion of mexB caused increases in QS responses, as shown by the expression of gfp located downstream of the lasB promoter and LasB elastase activity, which is regulated by a LasR-3-oxo-C12-HSL complex. Either complementation with a plasmid containing wild-type mexB or the addition of a LasR-specific inhibitor, patulin, repressed these high responses to 3-oxo-acyl-HSLs. Furthermore, it was shown that the acyl-HSLs-dependent response of P. aeruginosa was affected by the inhibition of MexB transport activity and the mexB mutant. The P. aeruginosa MexAB-OprM deletion mutant showed a strong QS response to 3-oxo-C10-HSL produced by Vibrio anguillarum in a bacterial cross-talk experiment.

CONCLUSION: This work demonstrated that MexAB-OprM does not control the binding of LasR to 3-oxo-Cn-HSLs but rather accessibility of non-cognate acyl-HSLs to LasR in P. aeruginosa. MexAB-OprM not only influences multidrug resistance, but also selects acyl-HSLs and regulates QS in P. aeruginosa. The results demonstrate a new QS regulation mechanism via the efflux system MexAB-OprM in P. aeruginosa.}, } @article {pmid22574129, year = {2012}, author = {Leppiniemi, J and Grönroos, T and Määttä, JA and Johnson, MS and Kulomaa, MS and Hytönen, VP and Airenne, TT}, title = {Structure of bradavidin-C-terminal residues act as intrinsic ligands.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {e35962}, pmid = {22574129}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Affinity Labels/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Biotin/metabolism ; *Bradyrhizobium ; Carrier Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Ligands ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Stability ; Protein Subunits/chemistry/metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Bradavidin is a homotetrameric biotin-binding protein from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, a nitrogen fixing and root nodule-forming symbiotic bacterium of the soybean. Wild-type (wt) bradavidin has 138 amino acid residues, whereas the C-terminally truncated core-bradavidin has only 118 residues. We have solved the X-ray structure of wt bradavidin and found that the C-terminal amino acids of each subunit were uniquely bound to the biotin-binding pocket of an adjacent subunit. The biotin-binding pocket occupying peptide (SEKLSNTK) was named "Brad-tag" and it serves as an intrinsic stabilizing ligand in wt bradavidin. The binding of Brad-tag to core-bradavidin was analysed by isothermal titration calorimetry and a binding affinity of ∼25 µM was measured. In order to study the potential of Brad-tag, a green fluorescent protein tagged with Brad-tag was prepared and successfully concentrated from a bacterial cell lysate using core-bradavidin-functionalized Sepharose resin.}, } @article {pmid22570928, year = {2011}, author = {Serban, DE}, title = {The gut microbiota in the metagenomics era: sometimes a friend, sometimes a foe.}, journal = {Roumanian archives of microbiology and immunology}, volume = {70}, number = {3}, pages = {134-140}, pmid = {22570928}, issn = {1222-3891}, mesh = {Animals ; Celiac Disease/etiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/etiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia/etiology ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/etiology ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/etiology ; Metagenome/*physiology ; *Metagenomics ; Obesity/etiology ; }, abstract = {The normal intestinal microflora (microbiota) represents a complex, dynamic, and diverse collection of microorganisms, which usually inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Normally, between this flora and the human host a mutually beneficial long-term symbiotic relationship is established, where the host contributes essential nutrients necessary for the survival of the microbiota and the latter fulfils multiple roles in host nutrition and development. Several achievements have recently converged to renew interest in studying the normal gut microbiota: the development of molecular methods of studying the microbial communities, the improved understanding of host-microbe interactions in health and disease, and the potential for therapeutic manipulation of the microbiota. We present recent data concerning the molecular technologies of studying the microbiota and new findings regarding the composition of the normal flora. We underline the beneficial activities of the gut flora on the human host. We emphasize the recent findings in the alterations of the microbiota in various medical conditions (celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, colorectal cancer, allergic disorders, and especially inflammatory bowel diseases). The results of these new studies suggest that changes of the microbiota could be linked to the etiopathogenesis of these diseases. These outstanding findings could be used for further diagnostic tools and/or therapy.}, } @article {pmid22567965, year = {2012}, author = {Provorov, NA and Vorob'ev, NI}, title = {[Co-evolution of partners and the integrity of symbiotic systems].}, journal = {Zhurnal obshchei biologii}, volume = {73}, number = {1}, pages = {21-36}, pmid = {22567965}, issn = {0044-4596}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Ecology ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Fabaceae/*physiology ; Feedback, Physiological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are very suitable models for studying the integrity of biosystems which characterizes their structural/functional organization enabling the partners to respond adequately to the environmental changes. Analysis of different forms of plant-microbe and animal-microbe symbiosis suggests that a qualitative increase of its integrity occurs under the facultative and ecologically obligatory interactions and is culminated under the genetically obligatory interactions. By use of mathematical models, we demonstrate that the functional integrity of N2-fixing legume-rhizobia symbiosis (concordance of changes in partners' genotypic frequencies induced by environmental fluctuations) correlates to its ecological efficiency which increases under force of natural selection. It results in the tight partners' regulatory feedbacks leading to their genetic integration manifested in the establishment of "symbiogenome". The genetic integrity of symbiosis determines its high evolutionary potential based on: a) epigenetic inheritance of symbiotic traits by hosts which may occur in the form of vertical transmission of either microsymbionts themselves or genes obtained from them; b) interspecies altruism interactions related to the positive partners' feedbacks which determine the ecological efficiency of mutualistic interactions. Realization of this potential results in the deep genetic integration of initially independent partners including their fusions into the novel integral organisms.}, } @article {pmid22567847, year = {2012}, author = {Bukharin, OV and Perunova, NB}, title = {[Symbiotic relations of human and microorganisms].}, journal = {Fiziologiia cheloveka}, volume = {38}, number = {1}, pages = {128-138}, pmid = {22567847}, issn = {0131-1646}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*pathogenicity ; *Biota ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics/*physiology ; Humans ; Infections/genetics/*microbiology ; Microbial Consortia/physiology ; Microbial Interactions/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis has been considered as a biological basis of infectious process. Particular attention was paid to the change of paradigm in symbiology and the appearance of a novel term--associative symbiosis. Principal structural-and-functional elements of associative symbiosis were estimated, and 3 vectors of infectious process such as i) host--normaflora, ii) host--associants, iii) associants--indigious microflora (microsymbiocenosis) were isolated. Functions of microsymbionts that determine colonization resistance of the host, and the formation of dysbioses and pathobiocenoses were reviewed. Phenomenon of microbial recognition for "self-nonself" has been revealed on the basis of opportunistic (increase/decrease) interactions on growth persistent (including biofilm formation) peculiarities of a pair "dominant-associant" under conditions of microsymbiocenosis in human. Material was presented to characterize the role of intercellular interactions of symbionts at the level of prokaryotes, pro-eukaryotes under conditions of infectious pathology.}, } @article {pmid22566917, year = {2012}, author = {Arrieta, MC and Finlay, BB}, title = {The commensal microbiota drives immune homeostasis.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {33}, pmid = {22566917}, issn = {1664-3224}, abstract = {For millions of years, microbes have coexisted with eukaryotic cells at the mucosal surfaces of vertebrates in a complex, yet usually harmonious symbiosis. An ever-expanding number of reports describe how eliminating or shifting the intestinal microbiota has profound effects on the development and functionality of the mucosal and systemic immune systems. Here, we examine some of the mechanisms by which bacterial signals affect immune homeostasis. Focusing on the strategies that microbes use to keep our immune system healthy, as opposed to trying to correct the immune imbalances caused by dysbiosis, may prove to be a more astute and efficient way of treating immune-mediated disease.}, } @article {pmid22566631, year = {2012}, author = {Ivanov, S and Fedorova, EE and Limpens, E and De Mita, S and Genre, A and Bonfante, P and Bisseling, T}, title = {Rhizobium-legume symbiosis shares an exocytotic pathway required for arbuscule formation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {21}, pages = {8316-8321}, pmid = {22566631}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Exocytosis/physiology ; *Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Silencing ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Populus/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; R-SNARE Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Soybeans/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiotic interactions are characterized by the formation of specialized membrane compartments, by the host in which the microbes are hosted, in an intracellular manner. Two well-studied examples, which are of major agricultural and ecological importance, are the widespread arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. In both symbioses, the specialized host membrane that surrounds the microbes forms a symbiotic interface, which facilitates the exchange of, for example, nutrients in a controlled manner and, therefore, forms the heart of endosymbiosis. Despite their key importance, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of these membrane interfaces are largely unknown. Recent studies strongly suggest that the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis coopted a signaling pathway, including receptor, from the more ancient arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to form a symbiotic interface. Here, we show that two highly homologous exocytotic vesicle-associated membrane proteins (VAMPs) are required for formation of the symbiotic membrane interface in both interactions. Silencing of these Medicago VAMP72 genes has a minor effect on nonsymbiotic plant development and nodule formation. However, it blocks symbiosome as well as arbuscule formation, whereas root colonization by the microbes is not affected. Identification of these VAMP72s as common symbiotic regulators in exocytotic vesicle trafficking suggests that the ancient exocytotic pathway forming the periarbuscular membrane compartment has also been coopted in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22566467, year = {2012}, author = {Zeng, F and Xue, R and Zhang, H and Jiang, T}, title = {A new gene from Xenorhabdus bovienii and its encoded protease inhibitor protein against Acyrthosiphon pisum.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {68}, number = {10}, pages = {1345-1351}, doi = {10.1002/ps.3299}, pmid = {22566467}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Aminopeptidases/antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Aphids/drug effects/enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Insect Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; Protease Inhibitors/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Xenorhabdus/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aphids are insect pests with significant importance worldwide for agricultural and horticultural crops. The chemical pesticides used to control aphids could result in pesticide residues in agricultural and horticultural products as well as in negative effects on the environment. Therefore, alternative control methods are urgently needed. This study identified a new gene from strain BJFS526 of the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii and expressed the protease inhibitor protein encoded by the gene. The effects of the protein on the pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, were also investigated.

RESULTS: The gene PIN1 encoding the protease inhibitor protein against aphids was successfully cloned from BJFS526. The study demonstrated that the protein had adverse effects on pea aphid survival, and that the activity of aphid aminopeptidase was significantly inhibited by the protein.

CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that this gene and the protease inhibitor protein encoded may offer an alternative method to control aphids in the future.}, } @article {pmid22566204, year = {2012}, author = {Popa, V and Déziel, E and Lavallée, R and Bauce, E and Guertin, C}, title = {The complex symbiotic relationships of bark beetles with microorganisms: a potential practical approach for biological control in forestry.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {68}, number = {7}, pages = {963-975}, doi = {10.1002/ps.3307}, pmid = {22566204}, issn = {1526-4998}, mesh = {Animals ; *Bacteria ; Coleoptera/*microbiology ; *Fungi ; Pest Control, Biological/*methods ; *Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Bark beetles, especially Dendroctonus species, are considered to be serious pests of the coniferous forests in North America. Bark beetle forest pests undergo population eruptions, causing region wide economic losses. In order to save forests, finding new and innovative environmentally friendly approaches in wood-boring insect pest management is more important than ever. Several biological control methods have been attempted over time to limit the damage and spreading of bark beetle epidemics. The use of entomopathogenic microorganisms against bark beetle populations is an attractive alternative tool for many biological control programmes in forestry. However, the effectiveness of these biological control agents is strongly affected by environmental factors, as well as by the susceptibility of the insect host. Bark beetle susceptibility to entomopathogens varies greatly between species. According to recent literature, bark beetles are engaged in symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria. These types of relationship are very complex and apparently involved in bark beetle defensive mechanisms against pathogens. The latest scientific discoveries in multipartite symbiosis have unravelled unexpected opportunities in bark beetle pest management, which are discussed in this article.}, } @article {pmid22564260, year = {2012}, author = {Kim, SK and Flores-Lara, Y and Patricia Stock, S}, title = {Morphology and ultrastructure of the bacterial receptacle in Steinernema nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae).}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {366-374}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2012.04.011}, pmid = {22564260}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Animals ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology/pathology/*veterinary ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Larva/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microvilli/ultrastructure ; Pest Control, Biological ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*physiology/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Infective juveniles of entomopathogenic nematodes in the genus Steinernema harbor symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus spp., in a discrete structure located in the anterior portion of the intestine known as the 'bacterial receptacle' (formerly known as the bacterial or intestinal vesicle). The receptacle itself is a structured environment in which the bacteria are spatially restricted. Inside this receptacle, bacterial symbionts are protected from the environment and grow to fill the receptacle. Until now, no comparative study across different Steinernema spp. has been undertaken to investigate if morphological variation in this structure exists at the interspecific level. In this study, we examined the bacterial receptacles of 25 Steinernema spp. representatives of the currently accepted five evolutionary clades. Our observations confirmed the bacterial receptacle is a modification of the two most anterior cells of the ventricular portion of the intestine. Size of the bacterial receptacle varied across the examined species. Steinernema monticolum (clade II) had the largest receptacle of all examined species (average: 46×17 μm) and S. rarum (no clade affiliation) was noted as the species with the smallest observed receptacle (average: 8×5 μm). At the morphological level, species can be grouped into two categories based on the presence or absence of vesicle within the receptacle. The receptacles of all examined species harbored an intravesicular structure (IVS) with variable morphology. All examined taxa members of the 'feltiae' (clade III) and 'intermedium' (clade II) clades were characterized by having a vesicle. This structure was also observed in S. diaprepesi (clade V), S. riobrave (clade IV) and S. monticolum (clade I).}, } @article {pmid22563391, year = {2012}, author = {Caffrey, BE and Williams, TA and Jiang, X and Toft, C and Hokamp, K and Fares, MA}, title = {Proteome-wide analysis of functional divergence in bacteria: exploring a host of ecological adaptations.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e35659}, pmid = {22563391}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacteria/classification/*metabolism ; Cluster Analysis ; Energy Metabolism ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Proteome/*metabolism ; Software ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Functional divergence is the process by which new genes and functions originate through the modification of existing ones. Both genetic and environmental factors influence the evolution of new functions, including gene duplication or changes in the ecological requirements of an organism. Novel functions emerge at the expense of ancestral ones and are generally accompanied by changes in the selective forces at constrained protein regions. We present software capable of analyzing whole proteomes, identifying putative amino acid replacements leading to functional change in each protein and performing statistical tests on all tabulated data. We apply this method to 750 complete bacterial proteomes to identify high-level patterns of functional divergence and link these patterns to ecological adaptations. Proteome-wide analyses of functional divergence in bacteria with different ecologies reveal a separation between proteins involved in information processing (Ribosome biogenesis etc.) and those which are dependent on the environment (energy metabolism, defense etc.). We show that the evolution of pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria is constrained by their association with the host, and also identify unusual events of functional divergence even in well-studied bacteria such as Escherichia coli. We present a description of the roles of phylogeny and ecology in functional divergence at the level of entire proteomes in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22563328, year = {2012}, author = {Dishaw, LJ and Flores-Torres, JA and Mueller, MG and Karrer, CR and Skapura, DP and Melillo, D and Zucchetti, I and De Santis, R and Pinto, MR and Litman, GW}, title = {A Basal chordate model for studies of gut microbial immune interactions.}, journal = {Frontiers in immunology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {96}, pmid = {22563328}, issn = {1664-3224}, support = {R01 AI023338/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI023338/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R56 AI023338/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Complex symbiotic interactions at the surface of host epithelia govern most encounters between host and microbe. The epithelium of the gut is a physiologically ancient structure that is comprised of a single layer of cells and is thought to possess fully developed immunological capabilities. Ciona intestinalis (sea squirt), which is a descendant of the last common ancestor of all vertebrates, is a potentially valuable model for studying barrier defenses and gut microbial immune interactions. A variety of innate immunological phenomena have been well characterized in Ciona, of which many are active in the gut tissues. Interactions with gut microbiota likely involve surface epithelium, secreted immune molecules including variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins, and hemocytes from a densely populated laminar tissue space. The microbial composition of representative gut luminal contents has been characterized by molecular screening and a potentially relevant, reproducible, dysbiosis can be induced via starvation. The dialog between host and microbe in the gut can be investigated in Ciona against the background of a competent innate immune system and in the absence of the integral elements and processes that are characteristic of vertebrate adaptive immunity.}, } @article {pmid22562484, year = {2013}, author = {Bayer, K and Scheuermayer, M and Fieseler, L and Hentschel, U}, title = {Genomic mining for novel FADH2-dependent halogenases in marine sponge-associated microbial consortia.}, journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {63-72}, pmid = {22562484}, issn = {1436-2236}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Data Mining/*methods ; Enzymes/*genetics/metabolism ; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide/analogs & derivatives/genetics/metabolism ; France ; Genomics/*methods ; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated/metabolism ; Metagenome/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Many marine sponges (Porifera) are known to contain large amounts of phylogenetically diverse microorganisms. Sponges are also known for their large arsenal of natural products, many of which are halogenated. In this study, 36 different FADH2-dependent halogenase gene fragments were amplified from various Caribbean and Mediterranean sponges using newly designed degenerate PCR primers. Four unique halogenase-positive fosmid clones, all containing the highly conserved amino acid motif "GxGxxG", were identified in the microbial metagenome of Aplysina aerophoba. Sequence analysis of one halogenase-bearing fosmid revealed notably two open reading frames with high homologies to efflux and multidrug resistance proteins. Single cell genomic analysis allowed for a taxonomic assignment of the halogenase genes to specific symbiotic lineages. Specifically, the halogenase cluster S1 is predicted to be produced by a deltaproteobacterial symbiont and halogenase cluster S2 by a poribacterial sponge symbiont. An additional halogenase gene is possibly produced by an actinobacterial symbiont of marine sponges. The identification of three novel, phylogenetically, and possibly also functionally distinct halogenase gene clusters indicates that the microbial consortia of sponges are a valuable resource for novel enzymes involved in halogenation reactions.}, } @article {pmid22562422, year = {2012}, author = {Pringle, EG and Dirzo, R and Gordon, DM}, title = {Plant defense, herbivory, and the growth of Cordia alliodora trees and their symbiotic Azteca ant colonies.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {170}, number = {3}, pages = {677-685}, pmid = {22562422}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants ; *Behavior, Animal ; Cordia/growth & development/*physiology ; *Herbivory ; Mexico ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Population Density ; *Symbiosis ; Trees ; }, abstract = {The effects of herbivory on plant fitness are integrated over a plant's lifetime, mediated by ontogenetic changes in plant defense, tolerance, and herbivore pressure. In symbiotic ant-plant mutualisms, plants provide nesting space and food for ants, and ants defend plants against herbivores. The benefit to the plant of sustaining the growth of symbiotic ant colonies depends on whether defense by the growing ant colony outpaces the plant's growth in defendable area and associated herbivore pressure. These relationships were investigated in the symbiotic mutualism between Cordia alliodora trees and Azteca pittieri ants in a Mexican tropical dry forest. As ant colonies grew, worker production remained constant relative to ant-colony size. As trees grew, leaf production increased relative to tree size. Moreover, larger trees hosted lower densities of ants, suggesting that ant-colony growth did not keep pace with tree growth. On leaves with ants experimentally excluded, herbivory per unit leaf area increased exponentially with tree size, indicating that larger trees experienced higher herbivore pressure per leaf area than smaller trees. Even with ant defense, herbivory increased with tree size. Therefore, although larger trees had larger ant colonies, ant density was lower in larger trees, and the ant colonies did not provide sufficient defense to compensate for the higher herbivore pressure in larger trees. These results suggest that in this system the tree can decrease herbivory by promoting ant-colony growth, i.e., sustaining space and food investment in ants, as long as the tree continues to grow.}, } @article {pmid22560780, year = {2012}, author = {Wulff, J}, title = {Ecological interactions and the distribution, abundance, and diversity of sponges.}, journal = {Advances in marine biology}, volume = {61}, number = {}, pages = {273-344}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-387787-1.00003-9}, pmid = {22560780}, issn = {0065-2881}, mesh = {Animals ; Demography ; *Ecosystem ; Porifera/*classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Although abiotic factors may be important first-order filters dictating which sponge species can thrive at a particular site, ecological interactions can play substantial roles influencing distribution and abundance, and thus diversity. Ecological interactions can modify the influences of abiotic factors both by further constraining distribution and abundance due to competitive or predatory interactions and by expanding habitat distribution or abundance due to beneficial interactions that ameliorate otherwise limiting circumstances. It is likely that the importance of ecological interactions has been greatly underestimated because they tend to only be revealed by experiments and time-series observations in the field. Experiments have revealed opportunistic predation to be a primary enforcer of sponge distribution boundaries that coincide with habitat boundaries in several systems. Within habitats, by contrast, dramatic effects of predators on sponge populations seem to occur primarily in cases of unusually high recruitment rates or unusually low mortality rates for the predators, which are often specialists on the sponge species affected. Competitive interactions have been demonstrated to diminish populations or exclude sponge species from a habitat in only a few cases. Cases in which competitive interactions have appeared obvious have often turned out to be neutral or even beneficial interactions when observed over time. Especially striking in this regard are sponge-sponge interactions in dense sponge-dominated communities, which may promote the continued coexistence of all participating species. Mutualistic symbioses of sponges with other animals, plants, or macroalgae have been demonstrated to increase abundance, habitat distribution, and diversity of all participants. Symbiotic microbes can enhance sponge distribution and abundance but also render their hosts more vulnerable to environmental changes. And while photosynthetic symbionts can boost growth and excavation rates for some sponge hosts, in other cases sponge growth proceeds as well or even better in diminished light. Metrics chosen for evaluating sponge abundance make a substantial difference in interpretation of data comparing between different sites, or over time at the same site. In most cases, evaluating abundance by volume or biomass allows more ecologically meaningful interpretation of influences on distribution and abundance than does evaluating abundance by numbers of individuals or area covered. Accurate identification of species, and understanding how they are related within higher taxa, is essential. Studies in every habitat have illustrated the great power of experimental manipulations, and of time-series observations of sponge individuals, for understanding the processes underlying observed patterns; in many cases, these processes have been revealed to be ecological interactions.}, } @article {pmid23469710, year = {2012}, author = {Walklate, J and Richards, A}, title = {The symbiotic academy: on specialisation and interdisciplinarity.}, journal = {Science progress}, volume = {95}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {447-465}, doi = {10.3184/003685012X13445364922174}, pmid = {23469710}, issn = {0036-8504}, mesh = {Academies and Institutes/*organization & administration/standards/trends ; Congresses as Topic ; Cooperative Behavior ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; *Interdisciplinary Communication ; *Interprofessional Relations ; Specialization/*standards/trends ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {The authors historicise, contextualise and debate the values and problems of both disciplinarity and interdisciplinarity. Their aim is not to posit one as superior to the other nor to suggest that the two are mutually exclusive. Instead, they seek to break down the oppositional dichotomy in which the concepts are often placed, and, further to propose a 'symbiotic academy' in which the two can exist to their mutual benefit.}, } @article {pmid23056792, year = {2011}, author = {Farid, R and Ahanchian, H and Jabbari, F and Moghiman, T}, title = {Effect of a new synbiotic mixture on atopic dermatitis in children: a randomized-controlled trial.}, journal = {Iranian journal of pediatrics}, volume = {21}, number = {2}, pages = {225-230}, pmid = {23056792}, issn = {2008-2150}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic relapsing skin disease seen in infancy and childhood. The intestinal microbiota play an important role in immune development and may play a role in the development of allergic disorders. Manipulation of the intestinal microbiota by synbiotics may therefore offer an approach to the prevention or treatment of AD and allergic diseases. We studied the clinical and immunologic effects of a new symbiotic (a mixture of seven probiotic strains of bacteria and Fructooligosaccharide) in infants and children with AD.

METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 40 infants and children aged 3 months to 6 years with AD received either a synbiotic or placebo for 8 weeks. The Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index was recorded at baseline and also at 4 and 8 weeks of treatment.

FINDINGS: There was no significant difference between the probiotic and placebo group in baseline characteristics including sex, age, family history, corticosteroid usage and prick testing. Mean age was 23 months. The synbiotic group showed a significantly greater reduction in SCORAD than did the placebo group (P=0.001). No specific effect was demonstrated of the probiotics employed on cytokine profile (P=0.4, P=0.6). Egg white was the most common (45%) allergen followed by peanut and cow's milk.

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that a mixture of seven strains of probiotics and Fructooligosaccharide can clinically improve the severity of AD in young children. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects on underlying immune responses and the potential long term benefits for patients with AD.}, } @article {pmid23573010, year = {2011}, author = {Karmakar, J and Mukhopadhyay, SK}, title = {Study of antimicrobial activity and root symbionts of Hemionitis arifolia.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, pages = {199-202}, pmid = {23573010}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Antibacterial and antifungal activity of crude extract, alcoholic extract and extracted phenol from various parts of tropical pteridophyta, Hemionitis arifolia were tested by agar diffusion and tube dilution assay. Both the crude and alcoholic extracts of vegetative and reproductive leaves of H. arifolia showed considerable antibacterial activity against Gram negative test strain of Escherichia coli (MTCC-739). Extract from reproductive leaves also showed moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-441) (Gram positive test strain) but didn't show any antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MTCC-7353). Mycorrhizal and other symbiotic association with the root system of H. arifolia was studied and it is revealed that a number of mycorrhizal strains were present in both vegetative and reproductive form. Presence of Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi (DSF) was also detected.}, } @article {pmid22702184, year = {2011}, author = {Schmidt, B and Gaşpar, S and Camen, D and Ciobanu, I and Sumălan, R}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in terms of symbiosis-parasitism continuum.}, journal = {Communications in agricultural and applied biological sciences}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {653-659}, pmid = {22702184}, issn = {1379-1176}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Tagetes/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are forming the most wide-spread mycorrhizal relationships on Earth. Mycorrhiza contributes to phosphorous acquisition, water absorption and resistance to diseases. The fungus promotes the absorption of nutrients and water from soil, meanwhile the host plant offers photosynthetic assimilates in exchange, like carbohydrates, as energy source. The plant benefits from the contribution of symbiotic partner only when nutrients are in low concentrations in soil and the root system would not be able to absorb sufficiently the minerals. When the help of mycorrhizal fungi is not necessarily needed, the host plant is making an economy of energy, suppressing the development of fungi in the internal radicular space. In this moment, the nature of relationship turns from symbiotic to parasitic, triggering a series of defensive reactions from the plant. Also, there were several cases reported when the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi negatively influenced the host plant. For example, in adverse environmental conditions, like very high temperatures, instead of determining a higher plant biomass and flowering, the mycorrhiza reduces the growth of the host plant. We conducted a pot experiment with hydroponic culture to examine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on development of French marigold as a host plant. As experimental variants, the phosphorous content in nutrient medium and temperature varied. Plants were artificially infected with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi using a commercial inoculum containing three fungal species, as following: Glomus intraradices, Glomus etunicatum and Glomus claroideum. Colonization intensity and arbuscular richness were checked using root staining with aniline blue and estimation with the Trouvelot method. To observe the differences between plants from the experimental variants, we examined the number of side shoots, flower buds and fully developed flowers, fresh biomass and total leaf area. Results show that adverse climatic conditions, like temperature shock at the beginning of growing period modified the nature of symbiosis. In this case, the physiological parameters were reduced at colonized plants, while usual, constant growing conditions permitted the normal, efficient and beneficial development of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22654845, year = {2011}, author = {Negri, I}, title = {Wolbachia as an "infectious" extrinsic factor manipulating host signaling pathways.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {115}, pmid = {22654845}, issn = {1664-2392}, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is a widespread endosymbiont of filarial nematodes and arthropods. While in worms the symbiosis is obligate, in arthropods Wolbachia induces several reproductive manipulations (i.e., cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, feminization of genetic males, and male-killing) in order to increase the number of infected females. These various phenotypic effects may be linked to differences in host physiology, and in particular to endocrine-related processes governing growth, development, and reproduction. Indeed, a number of evidences links Wolbachia symbiosis to insulin and ecdysteroid signaling, two multilayered pathways known to work antagonistically, jointly or even independently for the regulation of different molecular networks. At present it is not clear whether Wolbachia manipulates one pathway, thus affecting other related metabolic networks, or if it targets both pathways, even interacting at several points in each of them. Interestingly, in view of the interplay between hormone signaling and epigenetic machinery, a direct influence of the "infection" on hormonal signaling involving ecdysteroids might be achievable through the manipulation of the host's epigenetic pathways.}, } @article {pmid23572984, year = {2010}, author = {Sajedi, NA and Ardakani, MR and Rejali, F and Mohabbati, F and Miransari, M}, title = {Yield and yield components of hybrid corn (Zea mays L.) as affected by mycorrhizal symbiosis and zinc sulfate under drought stress.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {343-351}, pmid = {23572984}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {With respect to the significance of improving hybrid corn performance under stress, this experiment was conducted at the Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Iran. A complete randomized block design with three levels of irrigations (at 100%, 75% and 50% crop water requirement), two levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glumus intraradisis) (including control), and three levels of zinc (Zn) sulfate (0, 25 and 45 kg ha(-1)), was performed. Results of the 2-year experiments indicated that irrigation treatment significantly affected corn yield and its components at P = 1%. AM fungi and increasing Zn levels also resulted in similar effects on corn growth and production. Although AM fungi did not significantly affect corn growth at the non-stressed irrigation treatment, at moderate drought stress AM fungi significantly enhanced corn quality and yield relative to the control treatment. The combined effects of AM fungi and Zn sulfate at 45 kg ha(-1) application significantly affected corn growth and production. In addition, the tripartite treatments significantly enhanced corn yield at P = 1%. Effects of Zn and AM fungi on plant growth under drought stress is affected by the stress level.}, } @article {pmid23100853, year = {2010}, author = {Ratti, N and Verma, HN and Gautam, SP}, title = {Effect of Glomus species on physiology and biochemistry of Catharanthus roseus.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {50}, number = {3}, pages = {355-360}, pmid = {23100853}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {The present study on efficacy of different Glomus species, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (G. aggregatum, G. fasciculatum, G. mosseae, G. intraradices) on various growth parameters such as biomass, macro and micronutrients, chlorophyll, protein, cytokinin and alkaloid content and phosphatase activity of pink flowered Catharanthus roseus plants showed that all Glomus species except G. intraradices enhanced the chlorophyll, protein, crude alkaloid, phosphorus, sulphur, manganese and copper contents of C. roseus plants along with phosphatase activity significantly over uninoculated plants. However only G. mosseae and G. fasciculatum exhibited superior symbiotic relationship with the plant. G. mosseae was found to be the best for increasing the crude alkaloid content (8.19%) in leaf and also in increasing the quantity of important alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine.}, } @article {pmid23572956, year = {2010}, author = {Kamboj, DV and Bhatia, R and Pathak, DV and Sharma, PK}, title = {Role of nodD gene product and flavonoid interactions in induction of nodulation genes in Mesorhizobium ciceri.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {69-77}, pmid = {23572956}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Mesorhizobium ciceri is a host specific bacterium which nodulates the genus, Cicer. Host specificity is regulated at first step by induction of nodulation (nod) genes in the presence of NodD protein and inducers (flavonoids) of plant origin. The inducer specificity of M. ciceri nodD gene was studied in NodD-mutant strain HN-9 carrying heterologous nodD genes and nodAlacZ fusion. The induction profile of nod promoter in M. ciceri revealed that nodD gene product of M. ciceri is specifically activated by chickpea root exudates only. M. ciceri HN-9 (nodA-lacZ) containing heterologous nodD genes from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii and Sinorhizobium meliloti was induced in presence of a number of flavonoids. On the other hand, induction profile of nod promoter showed that heterologous nodD gene products were activated to different levels in NodD(-) mutant of M. ciceri in presence of root exudates from homologous as well as heterologous legume hosts. The transfer of FITA (Flavonoid independent transcription activation) nodD gene in NodD(-) mutant, M. ciceri HN-9, was able to break the inducer specificity barrier and nod promoter was induced to maximum level irrespective of the presence or absence of inducer. It is concluded from the results that host specificity in M. ciceri - chickpea (Cicer arietinum) symbiosis is regulated at first step by the host specific interaction of nodD gene product of M. ciceri and inducers present in the root exudates of chickpea.}, } @article {pmid22736827, year = {2009}, author = {Craig, JP and Bekal, S and Niblack, T and Domier, L and Lambert, KN}, title = {Evidence for horizontally transferred genes involved in the biosynthesis of vitamin B(1), B(5), and B(7) in Heterodera glycines.}, journal = {Journal of nematology}, volume = {41}, number = {4}, pages = {281-290}, pmid = {22736827}, issn = {0022-300X}, abstract = {Heterodera glycines is a nematode that is highly adapted to manipulate and parasitize plant hosts. The molecular players involved in these interactions have only recently begun to be identified. Here, the sequencing of the second stage juvenile transcriptome, followed by a bioinformatic screen for novel genes, identified seven new genes involved in biosynthesis and salvage of vitamins B1, B5, and B7. With no confirmed reports in the literature, each of these biosynthesis pathways is believed to have been lost in multicellular animals. However, eukaryotic-like introns in the genomic sequences of the genes confirmed eukaryotic origin and nematode-specific splice leaders found on five of the cDNAs confirmed their nematode origin. Two of the genes were found to be flanked by known nematode sequences and quantitative polymerase chain reactions on individual nematodes showed similar and consistent amplification between the vitamin B biosynthesis genes and other known H. glycines genes. This further confirmed their presence in the nematode genome. Similarity to bacterial sequences at the amino acid level suggested a prokaryotic ancestry and phylogenetic analysis of the genes supported a likely horizontal gene transfer event, suggesting H. glycines re-appropriated the genes from the prokaryotic kingdom. This finding complements the previous discovery of a vitamin B6 biosynthesis pathway within the nematode. However, unlike the complete vitamin B6 pathway, many of these vitamin B pathways appear to be missing the initial enzymes required for full de novo biosynthesis, suggesting that initial substrates in the pathways are obtained exogenously. These partial vitamin B biosynthesis enzymes have recently been identified in other single-celled eukaryotic parasites and on rhizobia symbiosis plasmids, indicating that they may play an important role in host-parasite interactions and survival within the plant environment.}, } @article {pmid23489153, year = {2009}, author = {Fraga, CA}, title = {Drug hybridization strategies: before or after lead identification?.}, journal = {Expert opinion on drug discovery}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {605-609}, doi = {10.1517/17460440902956636}, pmid = {23489153}, issn = {1746-0441}, abstract = {The molecular hybridization approach is one of the most valuable structural modification tools useful for the discovery of ligands and prototypes presenting either optimized affinity for one bioreceptor or the ability to modulate more than one bioreceptor associated with the target disease. The growing efforts to discover hybrid drugs resulting from the combination of pharmacophoric moieties of different known lead compounds have brought a new hope for the treatment of multifactorial diseases in recent years. This editorial describes possible ways of exploring molecular hybridization strategies to plan new effective dual or symbiotic drug candidates.}, } @article {pmid23572916, year = {2009}, author = {Singh, G and Singh, N and Marwaha, TS}, title = {Crop genotype and a novel symbiotic fungus influences the root endophytic colonization potential of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria.}, journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {87-92}, pmid = {23572916}, issn = {0971-5894}, abstract = {Effect of plant genotype on the root endophytic colonization ability of a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Pseudomonas striata was undertaken in this study. Use of a lac-Z tagged P. striata strain showed that, it can exist as an endophyte and the plant genotype determines the performance of the inoculated PGPR. The cultivars of Zea mays L. (maize) and Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) tested showed differential affinity to the PGPR (P. striata) as reflected by a significant variation in the root endophytic colonization ability of P. striata. Coinoculation with a novel symbiotic fungus Piriformospora indica was found to stimulate endophytic colonization of P. striata in both maize and mungbean. The root exudates of maize and mungbean cultivars showed variations in the total sugar and amino acid contents. However, no consistent relationship was recorded between the concentrations of these metabolites and endophytic colonization of the added PGPR.}, } @article {pmid22880749, year = {2009}, author = {Gyllenberg, M and Preoteasa, D and Yan, P}, title = {Ecology and evolution of symbiosis in metapopulations.}, journal = {Journal of biological dynamics}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {39-57}, doi = {10.1080/17513750802101935}, pmid = {22880749}, issn = {1751-3766}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; *Ecological and Environmental Phenomena ; Introduced Species ; Models, Biological ; *Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Population Dynamics ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {We present a model for symbionts in plant host metapopulation. Symbionts are assumed not only to form a systemic infection throughout the host and pass into the host seeds, but also to reproduce and infect new plants by spores. Thus, we study a metapopulation of qualitatively identical patches coupled through seeds and spores dispersal. Symbionts that are only vertically inherited cannot persist in such a uniform environment if they lower the host's fitness. They have to be beneficial in order to coexist with the host if they are not perfectly transmitted to the seeds; but evolution selects for 100% fidelity of infection inheritance. In this model we want to see how mixed strategies (both vertical and horizontal infection) affect the coexistence of uninfected and infected plants at equilibrium; also, what would evolution do for the host, for the symbionts and for their association. We present a detailed classification of the possible equilibria with examples. The stability of the steady states is rigorously proved for the first time in a metapopulation set-up.}, } @article {pmid22880748, year = {2009}, author = {Yuan, C and Mao, X and Lygeros, J}, title = {Stochastic hybrid delay population dynamics: well-posed models and extinction.}, journal = {Journal of biological dynamics}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {1-21}, doi = {10.1080/17513750802020804}, pmid = {22880748}, issn = {1751-3766}, mesh = {*Extinction, Biological ; *Models, Biological ; Population Dynamics ; Stochastic Processes ; }, abstract = {Nonlinear differential equations have been used for decades for studying fluctuations in the populations of species, interactions of species with the environment, and competition and symbiosis between species. Over the years, the original non-linear models have been embellished with delay terms, stochastic terms and more recently discrete dynamics. In this paper, we investigate stochastic hybrid delay population dynamics (SHDPD), a very general class of population dynamics that comprises all of these phenomena. For this class of systems, we provide sufficient conditions to ensure that SHDPD have global positive, ultimately bounded solutions, a minimum requirement for a realistic, well-posed model. We then study the question of extinction and establish conditions under which an ecosystem modelled by SHDPD is doomed.}, } @article {pmid23100745, year = {2008}, author = {Kundu, S and Dudeja, SS}, title = {Molecular diversity, effectiveness and competitiveness of indigenous rhizobial population infecting mungbean Vigna radiata (L. Wilczek) under semi-arid conditions.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {48}, number = {4}, pages = {445-452}, pmid = {23100745}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Nodules from mungbean crop raised for the first time at Ram Dhan Singh (RDS) farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh (CCS) Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar were collected from 17 different locations. Twenty-five mungbean rhizobia were isolated and authenticated by plant infection test. DNA of all these rhizobia was extracted purified and amplified using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) primers. All the mungbean rhizobial isolates were clustered into 4 groups at 65% of similarity and were further divided into 17 subclusters at 80% of similarity. All the 4 types of rhizobia were not present at any of the location and group 2 or 4 rhizobia were invariably present. Efficacy of these rhizobia in terms of nodulation, nitrogen uptake and chlorophyll a fluorescence was determined under pot culture conditions. Strain MB 307 showed maximum nitrogen uptake of 31.9 mg N plant(-1) followed by strain MB 1205, MB 1206(2), MB 308, MB 1524 and strain MB 1521 was found to be the least efficient in terms of N 2 fixation. Nodule occupancy by different rhizobia ranged from 5.5 to 40.3%. Most of the strains belonging to the 2nd group which clustered maximum number of strains were comparatively better competitors and formed 19.5-40.3% of the nodules and were also effective. Isolate MB 307, the most efficient strain, was found to have nodule occupancy of 31.5%. Such type of predominant, efficient and better competitor strains should be selected for enhancing nodule competitiveness.}, } @article {pmid23100686, year = {2007}, author = {Nehra, K and Yadav, AS and Sehrawat, AR and Vashishat, RK}, title = {Characterization of heat resistant mutant strains of Rhizobium sp. [Cajanus] for growth, survival and symbiotic properties.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {329-335}, pmid = {23100686}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Fourteen heat resistant mutant strains were isolated from a wild-type strain (PP201, Nod(+) Fix(+)) of Rhizobium sp. (Cajanus) by giving it a heat shock of 43°C. These mutant strains showed a greater increase in optical density (O.D.) and a higher viable cell count in both rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil at high temperature. Symbiotic studies showed that pigeon pea plants inoculated with a few mutant strains had ineffective nodules (Nod(+) Fix(-)) under controlled temperature (43°C) conditions, but under natural high temperature (40-45°C) conditions, the host plants infected with all the mutant strains showed higher total shoot nitrogen than the plants inoculated with the parent strain. Four mutant strains (HR-3, HR-6, HR-10 and HR-12) were found to be highly efficient for all the symbiotic parameters, and thus have the potential to be used as bioinoculants in the North-Western regions of India during the summer season.}, } @article {pmid23100679, year = {2007}, author = {Yadav, AS}, title = {Auxotrophy in rhizobia revisited.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {47}, number = {4}, pages = {279-288}, pmid = {23100679}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Among the various types of mutations studied in rhizobia, the auxotrophic mutations (which confer on the mutants the inability to synthesize certain essential substances such as amino acids, vitamins and nucleic acids), are the most favoured ones as these can be used as suitable markers for genetic analysis. An important property of rhizobia is their effectiveness i.e. their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia within the nodule. Special interest in this category of mutations by rhizobial geneticists is due to the fact that there is a strong correlation between the metabolic defects and the ineffectiveness (Nod(-) and/or Fix(-)) of the rhizobial strains. Auxotrophic mutants of various species of rhizobia with defects in the synthesis of nucleic bases, vitamins and amino acids have been obtained by mutagenising with physical, chemical and Tn5 mutagens. These mutants have been used in mapping studies as well as in establishing a correlation between its metabolic requirement and symbiotic relationship with the host plant. The present review deals with the isolation of auxotrophs, and their genetic, biochemical and symbiotic characterization. The review also encompasses the studies on the elucidation of biosynthetic pathways of nutritional substances in rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid22707847, year = {2007}, author = {Guerrero-Ferreira, RC and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Biodiversity among luminescent symbionts from squid of the genera Uroteuthis, Loliolus and Euprymna (Mollusca: Cephalopoda).}, journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {497-506}, pmid = {22707847}, issn = {0748-3007}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; S06 GM008136/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {Luminescent bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae (Bacteria: γ-Proteobacteria) are commonly found in complex, bilobed light organs of sepiolid and loliginid squids. Although morphology of these organs in both families of squid is similar, the species of bacteria that inhabit each host has yet to be verified. We utilized sequences of 16S ribosomal RNA, luciferase α-subunit (luxA) and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapA) genes to determine phylogenetic relationships between 63 strains of Vibrio bacteria, which included representatives from different environments as well as unidentified luminescent isolates from loliginid and sepiolid squid from Thailand. A combined phylogenetic analysis was used including biochemical data such as carbon use, growth and luminescence. Results demonstrated that certain symbiotic Thai isolates found in the same geographic area were included in a clade containing bacterial species phenotypically suitable to colonize light organs. Moreover, multiple strains isolated from a single squid host were identified as more than one bacteria species in our phylogeny. This research presents evidence of species of luminescent bacteria that have not been previously described as symbiotic strains colonizing light organs of Indo-West Pacific loliginid and sepiolid squids, and supports the hypothesis of a non-species-specific association between certain sepiolid and loliginid squids and marine luminescent bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23484816, year = {2007}, author = {Huang, SH and Wang, X and Jong, A}, title = {The evolving role of infectomics in drug discovery.}, journal = {Expert opinion on drug discovery}, volume = {2}, number = {7}, pages = {961-975}, doi = {10.1517/17460441.2.7.961}, pmid = {23484816}, issn = {1746-0441}, abstract = {Signatures of infectomes, which are encoded by both host and microbial genomes, and mirror the interplay between pathogens and their hosts, provide invaluable knowledge in the search for novel antimicrobial drugs. Infectomics is the study of infectomes by using systems biology and high-throughput omic approaches. There are three types of infectomic approaches that can be used for drug discovery: ecological infectomics, immunoinfectomics and chemical infectomics. Ecological infectomics, which is the ecological study of infectomes, explores symbiotic solutions to microbial infections. Research on drug discovery using infectomic signatures and immunomic approaches falls within the field of immunoinfectomics. Advances in chemical infectomics will lead to the development of a new generation of chemical drugs for therapeutics for microbial infections.}, } @article {pmid23100640, year = {2007}, author = {Sivaramaiah, N and Malik, DK and Sindhu, SS}, title = {Improvement in symbiotic efficiency of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) by coinoculation of Bacillus strains with Mesorhizobium sp. Cicer.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {47}, number = {1}, pages = {51-56}, pmid = {23100640}, issn = {0046-8991}, abstract = {Rhizobacteria belonging to Bacillus sp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Ten Bacillus strains were studied for their antifungal activity, effect on seedling emergence and plant growth promotion. Two Bacillus strains CBS127 and CBS155 inhibited the growth of all the four pathogenic fungi tested on nutrient agar medium plates in vitro. Seed inoculation with different Bacillus strains showed stimulatory effect on root and shoot growth at 10 d of observation in comparison to control whereas four Bacillus strains CBS24, CBS127, CBS129 and CBS155 caused retardation of shoot growth at 10 d. Maximum nodule-promoting effect was observed with Bacillus strains CBS106, CBS127 and CBS155. The symbiotic effectiveness of Mesorhizobium sp. Cicer strain Ca181 was further improved on coinoculation with six Bacillus strains i.e. CBS9, CBS17, CBS20, CBS106, CBS127 and CBS155 at 80 d of plant growth under sterile conditions and shoot dry weight ratios increased 1.62 to 1.74 times those of Mesorhizobium-inoculated treatments, suggesting the usefulness of introduced rhizobacteria in improving crop productivity.}, } @article {pmid23217924, year = {2007}, author = {Parikh, N}, title = {Medicine and the media: a symbiotic relationship?.}, journal = {The virtual mentor : VM}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {163-165}, doi = {10.1001/virtualmentor.2007.9.3.fred1-0703}, pmid = {23217924}, issn = {1937-7010}, } @article {pmid23671303, year = {2004}, author = {Kirklin, D}, title = {Editorial: The medical humanities teaching and research agenda: a symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Medical humanities}, volume = {30}, number = {2}, pages = {96-97}, doi = {10.1136/jmh.2004.000175}, pmid = {23671303}, issn = {1468-215X}, } @article {pmid23345814, year = {2002}, author = {Todoriki, M and Oki, S and Matsuyama, SI and Urabe, I and Yomo, T}, title = {Unique Colony Housing the Coexisting Escherichia coli and Dictyostelium discoideum.}, journal = {Journal of biological physics}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {793-797}, pmid = {23345814}, issn = {0092-0606}, abstract = {Two well-characterized and phylogenetically diverse species, Escherichiacoli and Dictyostelium discoideum, were used as the modelorganisms. When the two species were mixed and allowed to grow onminimal agar plates at 22 (°)C, instead of the predator Dictyostelium exterminating E.coli, the two species remarkablyachieved a state of stable coexistence in about two weeks. In addition, theemerged colonies housing the coexisting species have a mucoidal naturethat is distinctive from its origin. The simplicity of the system and the shorttime span for the two species to develop the coexistence state, that isproven stable and reproducible on laboratory conditions, hence, providesa new model system for the study of symbiosis, particularly with referenceto the initial stages.}, } @article {pmid22905386, year = {2002}, author = {Bhattacharya, J and Singh, AK and Rai, AN}, title = {Nitrogen nutrition in the cyanobacterium Nostoc ANTH, a symbiotic isolate from Anthoceros: uptake and assimilation of inorganic-n and amino acids.}, journal = {Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics}, volume = {39}, number = {3}, pages = {163-169}, pmid = {22905386}, issn = {0301-1208}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*chemistry ; Anthocerotophyta/*metabolism ; Arginine/chemistry ; Asparagine/chemistry ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/chemistry/metabolism ; Glutamine/chemistry ; Inorganic Chemicals ; Mutation ; Nitrate Reductase/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*chemistry ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/chemistry ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Amino acid uptake and utilization of various nitrogen sources (amino acids, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia) were studied in Nostoc ANTH and i ts mu tant (Het(-)Nif(-)) isolate defective in heterocyst formation and N2-fixation. Both parent and its mutant grew at the expense of glutamine, asparagine and arginine as a source of fixed-nitrogen. Growth was better in glutamine-and asparagine-media as compared to that in arginine media. Glutamine and asparagine repressed heterocyst formation, N2-fixation and nitrate reduction in Nostoc ANTH, but arginine did so only partially. The poor growth in arginine-medium was not due to poor uptake rates, since the uptake rates were not significantly different from those for glutamine or asparagine. The glutamine synthetase activity remained unaffected during cultivation in media containing any one of the three amino acids tested. The uptake of amino acids was substrate-inducible, energy-dependent and required de novo protein synthesis. Nitrate and ammonium repressed ammonium uptake, but did not repress uptake of amino acids. In N2-medium (BG-11(0)), the uptake of ammonium and amino acids in the mutant was significantly higher than its parent strain. This was apparently due to nitrogen limitation since the mutant was unable to fix N2 and the growth medium lacked combined-N.}, } @article {pmid23195550, year = {1993}, author = {Clarke, KJ and Finlay, BJ and Esteban, G and Guhl, BE and Embley, TM}, title = {Cyclidium porcatum n. sp.: a Free-living anaerobic scuticociliate containing a stable complex of hydrogenosomes, eubacteria and archaeobacteria.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {262-270}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(11)80281-6}, pmid = {23195550}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {A new ciliate species (Cyclidium porcatum) is the first freshwater anaerobic scuticociliate to be cultured and described. It contains a unique tripartite structure consisting of hydrogenosomes (confirmed by cytochemical staining for hydrogenase), interspersed with methanogens (confirmed by auto fluorescence and in situ hybridisation with an archaeobacterial 16S rRNA-specific probe) and unidentified eubacteria (confirmed with a eubacterial 16S rRNA-specific probe). This complex structure is stable and persistent, indicating that it is an anaerobic symbiotic consortium incorporating three functional partners.}, } @article {pmid23195537, year = {1993}, author = {Hagneré, C and Harf, C}, title = {Symbiotic interactions between free-living amoeba and harboured mercury-resistant bacteria.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {155-159}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(11)80268-3}, pmid = {23195537}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {A co-culture of environmental Acanthamoeba sp. associated to Hg-sensitive, narrow or broad-spectrum Hg-resistant Aeromonas sp. strains was exposed to HgCl(2) and phenylmercuric acetate. Amoebic growth depended on the Hg-resistance determinants of harboured bacteria. This laboratory model helped in understanding the mechanisms of Hg-resistance observed in amoeba isolated in river waters after a mercuric pollution. Amoeba acquired Hg-resistance by using symbiotic resistant bacteria.}, } @article {pmid23195450, year = {1993}, author = {Broers, CA and Meijers, HH and Symens, JC and Stumm, CK and Vogels, GD and Brugerolle, G}, title = {Symbiotic association of Psalteriomonas vulgaris n. spec. with Methanobacterium formicicum.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {98-105}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(11)80302-0}, pmid = {23195450}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {The free-living anaerobic flagellate Psalteriomonas vulgaris n. spec. is described. The organism has four flagella of equal length which arise immediately subapically to the anterior part of the cell, within the apex of the ventral groove. The ultrastructural organization of the mastigont system and the ventral groove show the characteristics of the genus Psalteriomonas. The cells harboured methanogenic endosymbionts which were associated with hydrogenosome-like organelles in which hydrogenase could be localized. The methanogenic bacteria were isolated and identified as Methanobacterium formicicum. After addition of 5% O(2) to the cultures, the cells lost the methanogenic endosymbionts. P. vulgaris lacked cytochrome oxidase and catalase but contained superoxide dismutase.}, } @article {pmid23195446, year = {1993}, author = {Ossipov, DV and Skoblo, II and Borchsenius, ON and Lebedeva, NA}, title = {Interactions between Paramecium bursaria (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Hymenostomatida) and their nuclear symbionts: I. Phenomenon of symbiogenic lysis of the bacterium Holospora acuminata.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {61-71}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(11)80298-1}, pmid = {23195446}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {In experimental infections the phenomenon of the lysis of symbiotic bacteria (SB) in the host-cell nucleus was discovered for the first time. Light optical investigations were made of 308 possible combinations of experimental infections of 44 clones of originally symbiont-free Paramecium bursaria by 7 strains of SB Holospora acuminata of different origin. In 5% of the cases studied the early stages of infection appeared to be the same as in susceptible strains, but all the SB were lysed during 1-2 days after their penetration of the nucleus. The dynamics and ultrastructural peculiarities of bacterial lysis were thoroughly studied. Possible microevolutionary consequences of direct contacts of heterologous genetic materials in the symbiotic system are discussed.}, } @article {pmid23194707, year = {1991}, author = {Finlay, BJ and Clarke, KJ and Vicente, E and Miracle, MR}, title = {Anaerobic ciliates from a sulphide-rich solution lake in Spain.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {148-159}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(11)80337-8}, pmid = {23194707}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {We have examined and quantified the anaerobic ciliates living in the hypolimnion of a 14 m deep sulphide-rich (up to 0.73 mM) solution lake in Spain. At least seven ciliate species were found, numbering up to 50 ml-1 in total and reaching maximum abundance close to the sediment. Caenomorpha medusula, Lacrymaria elegans, L. sapropelica and Lagynus sp. were the most abundant species. Their vertical distributions were not related to the sulphide profile. Most ciliates were dependent on the sedimentation of cryptomonads, photosynthetic bacteria (especially Chromatium and Oscillatoria) and other bacteria from their sites of production in closely-juxtaposed mid-water plates. All anaerobic ciliates contained at least one type of symbiotic bacterium which showed methanogen autofluorescence. C. medusula, Lagynus sp. and Lacrymaria sapropelica also contained a large, non-fluorescing rod-shaped bacterium. In C. medusula, the methanogens and the non-fluorescing rods were both attached to the hydrogenosomes. In this ciliate alone, a third bacterial type was attached to the external ventral surface of the ciliate. Digestion of sulphide-oxidising bacteria by ciliates which harbour methanogenic bacteria provides a short bridge between the anaerobic sulphur and carbon cycles. Theoretical considerations of the rate of ciliate consumption of microbial carbon in the anoxic hypolimnion indicate that it is significant and that it may amount to 4 × 10(-5) g cm(-2)d(-1).}, } @article {pmid23196279, year = {1991}, author = {Fenchel, T and Finlay, BJ}, title = {The biology of free-living anaerobic ciliates.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {26}, number = {3-4}, pages = {201-215}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(11)80143-4}, pmid = {23196279}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {Anaerobic ciliates are incapable of using oxidative phosphorylation in their energy metabolism and they are more or less sensitive to oxygen. All anaerobic ciliates possess mitochondria-like organelles (with a double outer membrane and often a few cristae) but these do not contain typical mitochondrial enzymes (e.g., cytochromes, cytochrome oxidase). In some species these organelles are capable of fermenting pyruvate into acetate and H2 and they are then referred to as hydrogenosomes. At least six orders of ciliates include anaerobic species. It is concluded that the evolution of anaerobic forms has taken place independently within different taxonomic groups and that hydrogenosomes are modified mitochondria. Many anaerobic ciliates harbour ecto- or endosymbiotic bacteria. Several ciliate species which produce hydrogen as a metabolic waste product harbour endosymbiotic methanogenic bacteria; in some cases this symbiosis represents a mutualistic relationship in which the host controls the life cycle of the symbionts and gains from their presence in terms of growth rate and growth efficiency. Many marine anaerobic ciliates harbour ectosymbiotic bacteria, but the nature of these bacteria and the significance of the association is not yet understood. The present paper reviews what is known about the biology of anaerobic ciliates with special emphasis on free-living forms, including a discussion of their habitats and their role in the microbial communities of anoxic environments.}, } @article {pmid23494341, year = {1989}, author = {Walter, CA and Bien, A}, title = {Aerial root nodules in the tropical legume,Pentaclethra macroloba.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {80}, number = {1}, pages = {27-31}, pmid = {23494341}, issn = {0029-8549}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in angiosperms normally occurs in buried root nodules and is severely inhibited in flooded soils. A few plant species, however, respond to flooding by forming nodules on stems, or, in one case, submerged roots with aerenchyma. We report here the novel occurrence of aerial rhizobial nodules attached to adventitious roots of the legume,Pentaclethra macroloba, in a lowland tropical rainforest swamp in Costa Rica. Swamp sapdings (1-10 cm diameter) support an average 12 g nodules dry weight per plant on roots 2-300 cm above water, and nodules remain in aerial positions at least 6 months. Collections from four swamp plants maintained linear activity rates (3-14 μmoles C2H4/g nodule dry weight/hr) throughout incubations for 6 and 13 hrs; excised nodule activity in most legumes declines after 1-2 hrs. Preliminary study of the anatomy and physiology suggest aerial nodules possess unusual features associated with tolerance to swamp conditions. High host tree abundance and nodulation in the swamp compared to upland sites indicate the aerial root symbiosis may contribute more fixed nitrogen to the local ecosystem than the more typical buried root symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid23195469, year = {1988}, author = {Meier, R and Wiessner, W}, title = {Infection of algae-free Paramecium bursaria with symbiotic Chlorella sp. Isolated from green paramecia: I. Effect of the incubation period.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {69-74}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(88)80011-7}, pmid = {23195469}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {The significance of the length of incubation (30 sec to 48 h) of algae-free Paramecium bursaria with symbiotic Chlorella sp. for the success of infection, i.e. the reestablishment of the endosymbiotic algae has been investigated. When algae are brought together with paramecia, they are rapidly taken up by the ciliates. During a 30 sec incubation one ciliate engulfs about 50 chlorellae. A prolongation of the incubation period increases the number of ingested algae. However, the success of infection, determined one and five day(s) after the end of the incubation, is independent from the length of the incubation period and, consequently, does not depend on the number of ingested algae, either: In all experiments about 50% of the Paramecium population becomes infected and one to three algae are primarily enclosed in individual perialgal vacuoles within a ciliate cell. Thus, the endosymbiont population of a Paramecium cell originates on an average from two algae. Since successful infection is restricted only to a part of the Paramecium population and since the number of primarily established endosymbionts does not depend on the number of ingested algae, the success of infection and the formation of perialgal vacuoles seem to be not limited by properties of the algae but by features of the host, the possible nature of which is discussed.}, } @article {pmid23194917, year = {1987}, author = {Patterson, DJ and Dürrschmidt, M}, title = {Selective retention of chloroplasts by algivorous heliozoa: Fortuitous chloroplast symbiosis?.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {51-55}, doi = {10.1016/S0932-4739(87)80007-X}, pmid = {23194917}, issn = {0932-4739}, abstract = {The selective retention of functionally intact chloroplasts by the algivorous centroheliozoa (protists) Acanthocystis serrata, Raphidocystis tubifera and Chlamydaster fimbriatus is documented by ultrastructural accounts of individual cells from natural habitats. The plastids are derived from different algae. The 'plastidoplasm' may be bounded by two or three membranes, in the latter case the outer membrane having been provided by the centroheliozoon. Such symbioses only involve certain species of centroheliozoa, and are short-lived. These appear to be examples of fortuitous symbioses and their study may provide clues as to the mechanisms by which stable symbioses are established.}, } @article {pmid22560779, year = {2012}, author = {Rützler, K}, title = {The role of sponges in the Mesoamerican Barrier-Reef Ecosystem, Belize.}, journal = {Advances in marine biology}, volume = {61}, number = {}, pages = {211-271}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-387787-1.00002-7}, pmid = {22560779}, issn = {0065-2881}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Belize ; *Coral Reefs ; Demography ; Porifera/classification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Over the past four decades, sponge research has advanced by leaps and bounds through endeavours such as the Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems (CCRE) programme at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Since its founding in the early 1970s, the programme has been dedicated to a detailed multidisciplinary study of a section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the Atlantic's largest reef complex, and has generated data far beyond the capability of lone investigators and brief expeditions. This reef complex extends 250 km southward from Yucatan, Mexico, into the Gulf of Honduras, most of it lying 20-40 km off the coast of Belize. A relatively unspoiled ecosystem, it features a great variety of habitats in close proximity, ranging from mangrove islands, seagrass meadows, and patch reefs in its lagoon to the barrier reef along the margin of the continental shelf. Among its varied macrobenthos, sponges stand out for their ubiquity, range of colours, rich species and biomass, and ecological importance; they populate rocky substrates, some sandy bottoms, and the subtidal stilt roots and peat banks of mangroves. Working from a field station established in 1972 on Carrie Bow Cay, a sand islet atop the reef off southern Belize, experts in numerous disciplines from both the Museum and academic institutions throughout the world have explored the area's biodiversity in the broadest sense and community development over time. At last count, 113 researchers (88 working on site) have focused on the biological and geological role of Porifera in Carrie Bow's reef communities, with the results reported in 125 scientific papers to date. The majority of these sponge studies have centred on systematics and faunistics, including quantitative distribution among the various habitats. Taxonomic approaches have ranged from basic morphology to fine structure, DNA barcoding, and ecological manipulations and culminated in a mini-workshop involving several experts on Caribbean Porifera. Ecological work has covered a broad spectrum as well: bioerosion, silica and nutrient cycling, symbiosis, mutualism, space competition, predation, disease, and the effects on sponge individuals and populations of environmental factors such as light, temperature, salinity, desiccation, substrate, and sedimentation. Many projects were enhanced by scientific illustration, laboratory studies of larvae settlement preferences and development, and investigations of microbial and invertebrate sponge associates, notably symbiotic cyanobacteria, parazoanthid epizoans, and crustacean and ophiuroid endobionts. Of the striking discoveries, the work on alpheid shrimps colonizing sponges off Carrie Bow Cay has yielded the first report of eusociality in marine organisms.}, } @article {pmid22559803, year = {2012}, author = {Ambrůzová, B and Rédová, M and Michálek, J and Sachlová, M and Slabý, O}, title = {[New knowledge of the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease].}, journal = {Vnitrni lekarstvi}, volume = {58}, number = {4}, pages = {291-298}, pmid = {22559803}, issn = {0042-773X}, mesh = {Crohn Disease/etiology/*genetics/physiopathology ; Humans ; }, abstract = {Crohns disease is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract with multifactorial pathogenesis. Over the recent years, there has been rather a sharp increase in the incidence of Crohn's disease and, even though this disease had been known for some time, the cause remains unknown. Studies exploring genetic basis of Crohn's disease have provided new knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease, suggesting that this may be associated with a failure of mechanisms behind symbiosis of gut microflora and intestinal mucosal immune system. Crohn's disease seems to be caused by inadequate immune response to intestinal flora in genetically predisposed individuals. Crohn's disease has been linked to a number of genes. Many of them are related to the modulation of non-specific immune response, defects of which are considered to be key in Crohn's disease pathogenesis. The aim of this review paper is to summarize the new knowledge on the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease at the level of polymorphisms of the NOD2, ATG16L1 genes and the IL23-Th17-lymfocytes signalling pathway genes and to consider further research directions in this disease.}, } @article {pmid22558125, year = {2012}, author = {Xie, W and Meng, QS and Wu, QJ and Wang, SL and Yang, X and Yang, NN and Li, RM and Jiao, XG and Pan, HP and Liu, BM and Su, Q and Xu, BY and Hu, SN and Zhou, XG and Zhang, YJ}, title = {Pyrosequencing the Bemisia tabaci transcriptome reveals a highly diverse bacterial community and a robust system for insecticide resistance.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e35181}, pmid = {22558125}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Computational Biology ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Gene Library ; Hemiptera/*genetics/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecticide Resistance/*genetics ; Metagenomics/methods ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neonicotinoids ; Nitro Compounds/toxicity ; Oxazines/toxicity ; Phylogeny ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Thiamethoxam ; Thiazoles/toxicity ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a phloem-feeding insect poised to become one of the major insect pests in open field and greenhouse production systems throughout the world. The high level of resistance to insecticides is a main factor that hinders continued use of insecticides for suppression of B. tabaci. Despite its prevalence, little is known about B. tabaci at the genome level. To fill this gap, an invasive B. tabaci B biotype was subjected to pyrosequencing-based transcriptome analysis to identify genes and gene networks putatively involved in various physiological and toxicological processes.

Using Roche 454 pyrosequencing, 857,205 reads containing approximately 340 megabases were obtained from the B. tabaci transcriptome. De novo assembly generated 178,669 unigenes including 30,980 from insects, 17,881 from bacteria, and 129,808 from the nohit. A total of 50,835 (28.45%) unigenes showed similarity to the non-redundant database in GenBank with a cut-off E-value of 10-5. Among them, 40,611 unigenes were assigned to one or more GO terms and 6,917 unigenes were assigned to 288 known pathways. De novo metatranscriptome analysis revealed highly diverse bacterial symbionts in B. tabaci, and demonstrated the host-symbiont cooperation in amino acid production. In-depth transcriptome analysis indentified putative molecular markers, and genes potentially involved in insecticide resistance and nutrient digestion. The utility of this transcriptome was validated by a thiamethoxam resistance study, in which annotated cytochrome P450 genes were significantly overexpressed in the resistant B. tabaci in comparison to its susceptible counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS: This transcriptome/metatranscriptome analysis sheds light on the molecular understanding of symbiosis and insecticide resistance in an agriculturally important phloem-feeding insect pest, and lays the foundation for future functional genomics research of the B. tabaci complex. Moreover, current pyrosequencing effort greatly enriched the existing whitefly EST database, and makes RNAseq a viable option for future genomic analysis.}, } @article {pmid22553970, year = {2012}, author = {Fields, AT and Navarrete, CS and Zare, AZ and Huang, Z and Mostafavi, M and Lewis, JC and Rezaeihaghighi, Y and Brezler, BJ and Ray, S and Rizzacasa, AL and Barnett, MJ and Long, SR and Chen, EJ and Chen, JC}, title = {The conserved polarity factor podJ1 impacts multiple cell envelope-associated functions in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {5}, pages = {892-920}, pmid = {22553970}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01-GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM082318-03/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM067472/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM082318/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM048972/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM082318-02/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25 GM059298/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC2GM082318/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25-GM59298/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM082318-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM082318-03S1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM093628/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25-GM48972/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*metabolism ; Caulobacter crescentus/*metabolism ; Cell Division ; Flagella/physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Locomotion ; Membrane Proteins/*metabolism ; Microarray Analysis ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Although diminutive in size, bacteria possess highly diverse and spatially confined cellular structures. Two related alphaproteobacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Caulobacter crescentus, serve as models for investigating the genetic basis of morphological variations. S. meliloti, a symbiont of leguminous plants, synthesizes multiple flagella and no prosthecae, whereas C. crescentus, a freshwater bacterium, has a single polar flagellum and stalk. The podJ gene, originally identified in C. crescentus for its role in polar organelle development, is split into two adjacent open reading frames, podJ1 and podJ2, in S. meliloti. Deletion of podJ1 interferes with flagellar motility, exopolysaccharide production, cell envelope integrity, cell division and normal morphology, but not symbiosis. As in C. crescentus, the S. meliloti PodJ1 protein appears to act as a polarity beacon and localizes to the newer cell pole. Microarray analysis indicates that podJ1 affects the expression of at least 129 genes, the majority of which correspond to observed mutant phenotypes. Together, phenotypic characterization, microarray analysis and suppressor identification suggest that PodJ1 controls a core set of conserved elements, including flagellar and pili genes, the signalling proteins PleC and DivK, and the transcriptional activator TacA, while alternative downstream targets have evolved to suit the distinct lifestyles of individual species.}, } @article {pmid22553287, year = {2012}, author = {Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Porcel, R and Azcón, C and Aroca, R}, title = {Regulation by arbuscular mycorrhizae of the integrated physiological response to salinity in plants: new challenges in physiological and molecular studies.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {11}, pages = {4033-4044}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ers126}, pmid = {22553287}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Development ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Salinity ; Sodium Chloride/*metabolism ; Soil/analysis ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Excessive salt accumulation in soils is a major ecological and agronomical problem, in particular in arid and semi-arid areas. Excessive soil salinity affects the establishment, development, and growth of plants, resulting in important losses in productivity. Plants have evolved biochemical and molecular mechanisms that may act in a concerted manner and constitute the integrated physiological response to soil salinity. These include the synthesis and accumulation of compatible solutes to avoid cell dehydration and maintain root water uptake, the regulation of ion homeostasis to control ion uptake by roots, compartmentation and transport into shoots, the fine regulation of water uptake and distribution to plant tissues by the action of aquaporins, the reduction of oxidative damage through improved antioxidant capacity and the maintenance of photosynthesis at values adequate for plant growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can help the host plants to cope with the detrimental effects of high soil salinity. There is evidence that AM symbiosis affects and regulates several of the above mentioned mechanisms, but the molecular bases of such effects are almost completely unknown. This review summarizes current knowledge about the effects of AM symbiosis on these physiological mechanisms, emphasizing new perspectives and challenges in physiological and molecular studies on salt-stress alleviation by AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22550038, year = {2012}, author = {Rader, BA and Kremer, N and Apicella, MA and Goldman, WE and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {Modulation of symbiont lipid A signaling by host alkaline phosphatases in the squid-vibrio symbiosis.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {22550038}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; RR 12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI 50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*physiology ; Alkaline Phosphatase/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Lipid A/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The synergistic activity of Vibrio fischeri lipid A and the peptidoglycan monomer (tracheal cytotoxin [TCT]) induces apoptosis in the superficial cells of the juvenile Euprymna scolopes light organ during the onset of the squid-vibrio symbiosis. Once the association is established in the epithelium-lined crypts of the light organ, the host degrades the symbiont's constitutively produced TCT by the amidase activity of a peptidoglycan recognition protein (E. scolopes peptidoglycan recognition protein 2 [EsPGRP2]). In the present study, we explored the role of alkaline phosphatases in transforming the lipid A of the symbiont into a form that changes its signaling properties to host tissues. We obtained full-length open reading frames for two E. scolopes alkaline phosphatase (EsAP) mRNAs (esap1 and esap2); transcript levels suggested that the dominant light organ isoform is EsAP1. Levels of total EsAP activity increased with symbiosis, but only after the lipid A-dependent morphogenetic induction at 12 h, and were regulated over the day-night cycle. Inhibition of total EsAP activity impaired normal colonization and persistence by the symbiont. EsAP activity localized to the internal regions of the symbiotic juvenile light organ, including the lumina of the crypt spaces where the symbiont resides. These data provide evidence that EsAPs work in concert with EsPGRPs to change the signaling properties of bacterial products and thereby promote persistent colonization by the mutualistic symbiont.

IMPORTANCE: The potential for microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to compromise host-tissue health is reflected in the often-used nomenclature for these molecules: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is also called "endotoxin" and the peptidoglycan monomer is also called "tracheal cytotoxin" (TCT). With constant presentation of MAMPs by the normal microbiota, mechanisms to tolerate their effects have developed. The results of this contribution provide evidence that host alkaline phosphatases (APs) dephosphorylate and inactivate the symbiont MAMP lipid A. As such, APs work in synergy with a peptidoglycan recognition protein, which inactivates symbiont-exported TCT, to alter the symbiont MAMPs and promote persistence of the partnership. Not only may these activities serve to "tame" the MAMPs, but also the resulting products may themselves be important signals in persistent mutualisms. The finding of lipid A modification by APs in an invertebrate mutualism provides evidence that this specific strategy for dealing with symbiotic partners is conserved across the animal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid22548823, year = {2012}, author = {Carlier, AL and Eberl, L}, title = {The eroded genome of a Psychotria leaf symbiont: hypotheses about lifestyle and interactions with its plant host.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {10}, pages = {2757-2769}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02763.x}, pmid = {22548823}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Psychotria/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Several plant species of the genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) harbour Burkholderia sp. bacteria within specialized leaf nodules. The bacteria are transmitted vertically between plant generations and have not yet been cultured outside of their host. This symbiosis is also generally described as obligatory because plants devoid of symbionts fail to develop into mature individuals. We sequenced for the first time the genome of the symbiont of Psychotria kirkii in order to shed some light on the nature of their symbiotic relationship. We found that the 4 Mb genome of Candidatus Burkholderia kirkii (B. kirkii) is small for a Burkholderia species and displays features consistent with ongoing genome erosion such as large proportions of pseudogenes and transposable elements. Reductive genome evolution affected a wide array of functional categories that may hinder the ability of the symbiont to be free-living. The genome does not encode functions commonly found in plant symbionts such as nitrogen fixation or plant hormone metabolism. Instead, a collection of genes for secondary metabolites' synthesis is located on the 140 kb plasmid of B. kirkii and suggests that leaf nodule symbiosis benefits the host by providing protection against herbivores or pathogens.}, } @article {pmid22548481, year = {2012}, author = {Laguerre, G and Heulin-Gotty, K and Brunel, B and Klonowska, A and Le Quéré, A and Tillard, P and Prin, Y and Cleyet-Marel, JC and Lepetit, M}, title = {Local and systemic N signaling are involved in Medicago truncatula preference for the most efficient Sinorhizobium symbiotic partners.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {195}, number = {2}, pages = {437-449}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04159.x}, pmid = {22548481}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Biomass ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen/deficiency/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sinorhizobium/drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {• Responses of the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium interaction to variation in N2-fixation of the bacterial partner were investigated. • Split-root systems were used to discriminate between local responses, at the site of interaction with bacteria, and systemic responses related to the whole plant N status. • The lack of N acquisition by a half-root system nodulated with a nonfixing rhizobium triggers a compensatory response enabling the other half-root system nodulated with N2-fixing partners to compensate the local N limitation. This response is mediated by a stimulation of nodule development (number and size) and involves a systemic signaling mechanism related to the plant N demand. In roots co-infected with poorly and highly efficient strains, partner choice for nodule formation was not modulated by the plant N status. However, the plant N demand induced preferential expansion of nodules formed with the most efficient partners when the symbiotic organs were functional. The response of nodule expansion was associated with the stimulation of symbiotic plant cell multiplication and of bacteroid differentiation. • A general model where local and systemic N signaling mechanisms modulate interactions between Medicago truncatula and its Sinorhizobium partners is proposed.}, } @article {pmid22548370, year = {2012}, author = {De Mita, S}, title = {For better or for worse: cooperation and competition in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {4}, pages = {885-887}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04148.x}, pmid = {22548370}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, } @article {pmid22547586, year = {2012}, author = {Porche, DJ}, title = {Men's health: intricately linked in a symbiotic relationship manner.}, journal = {American journal of men's health}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {265}, doi = {10.1177/1557988312445503}, pmid = {22547586}, issn = {1557-9891}, mesh = {*Gestalt Theory ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; *Men's Health ; Quality of Life/*psychology ; *Social Support ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid22547565, year = {2012}, author = {Dorrell, RG and Howe, CJ}, title = {What makes a chloroplast? Reconstructing the establishment of photosynthetic symbioses.}, journal = {Journal of cell science}, volume = {125}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1865-1875}, doi = {10.1242/jcs.102285}, pmid = {22547565}, issn = {1477-9137}, support = {BB/F017464/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chloroplasts/genetics/*metabolism ; Eukaryota/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Earth is populated by an extraordinary diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes. Many eukaryotic lineages contain chloroplasts, obtained through the endosymbiosis of a wide range of photosynthetic prokaryotes or eukaryotes, and a wide variety of otherwise non-photosynthetic species form transient associations with photosynthetic symbionts. Chloroplast lineages are likely to be derived from pre-existing transient symbioses, but it is as yet poorly understood what steps are required for the establishment of permanent chloroplasts from photosynthetic symbionts. In the past decade, several species that contain relatively recently acquired chloroplasts, such as the rhizarian Paulinella chromatophora, and non-photosynthetic taxa that maintain photosynthetic symbionts, such as the sacoglossan sea slug Elysia, the ciliate Myrionecta rubra and the dinoflagellate Dinophysis, have emerged as potential model organisms in the study of chloroplast establishment. In this Commentary, we compare recent molecular insights into the maintenance of chloroplasts and photosynthetic symbionts from these lineages, and others that might represent the early stages of chloroplast establishment. We emphasise the importance in the establishment of chloroplasts of gene transfer events that minimise oxidative stress acting on the symbiont. We conclude by assessing whether chloroplast establishment is facilitated in some lineages by a mosaic of genes, derived from multiple symbiotic associations, encoded in the host nucleus.}, } @article {pmid22547296, year = {2012}, author = {Costanzo, ME and Andrade, A and del Carmen Tordable, M and Cassán, F and Abdala, G}, title = {Production and function of jasmonates in nodulated roots of soybean plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {194}, number = {10}, pages = {837-845}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-012-0817-y}, pmid = {22547296}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Adult ; Bradyrhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/metabolism/pharmacology ; Humans ; Oxylipins/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/drug effects ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Soybeans/drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Little is known regarding production and function of endogenous jasmonates (JAs) in root nodules of soybean plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. We investigated (1) production of jasmonic acid (JA) and 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) in roots of control and inoculated plants and in isolated nodules; (2) correlations between JAs levels, nodule number, and plant growth during the symbiotic process; and (3) effects of exogenous JA and OPDA on nodule cell number and size. In roots of control plants, JA and OPDA levels reached a maximum at day 18 after inoculation; OPDA level was 1.24 times that of JA. In roots of inoculated plants, OPDA peaked at day 15, whereas JA level did not change appreciably. Shoot dry matter of inoculated plants was higher than that of control at day 21. Chlorophyll a decreased more abruptly in control plants than in inoculated plants, whereas b decreased gradually in both cases. Exogenous JA or OPDA changed number and size of nodule central cells and peripheral cells. Findings from this and previous studies suggest that increased levels of JA and OPDA in control plants are related to senescence induced by nutritional stress. OPDA accumulation in nodulated roots suggests its involvement in "autoregulation of nodulation."}, } @article {pmid22546962, year = {2012}, author = {Hulcr, J and Rountree, NR and Diamond, SE and Stelinski, LL and Fierer, N and Dunn, RR}, title = {Mycangia of ambrosia beetles host communities of bacteria.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {3}, pages = {784-793}, pmid = {22546962}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Ambrosia ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Coleoptera/classification/*microbiology/*ultrastructure ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Ecosystem ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The research field of animal and plant symbioses is advancing from studying interactions between two species to whole communities of associates. High-throughput sequencing of microbial communities supports multiplexed sampling for statistically robust tests of hypotheses about symbiotic associations. We focus on ambrosia beetles, the increasingly damaging insects primarily associated with fungal symbionts, which have also been reported to support bacteria. To analyze the diversity, composition, and specificity of the beetles' prokaryotic associates, we combine global sampling, insect anatomy, 454 sequencing of bacterial rDNA, and multivariate statistics to analyze prokaryotic communities in ambrosia beetle mycangia, organs mostly known for transporting symbiotic fungi. We analyze six beetle species that represent three types of mycangia and include several globally distributed species, some with major economic importance (Dendroctonus frontalis, Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus bispinatus-ferrugineus, Xyleborus glabratus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, and Xylosandrus germanus). Ninety-six beetle mycangia yielded 1,546 bacterial phylotypes. Several phylotypes appear to form the core microbiome of the mycangium. Three Mycoplasma (originally thought restricted to vertebrates), two Burkholderiales, and two Pseudomonadales are repeatedly present worldwide in multiple beetle species. However, no bacterial phylotypes were universally present, suggesting that ambrosia beetles are not obligately dependent on bacterial symbionts. The composition of bacterial communities is structured by the host beetle species more than by the locality of origin, which suggests that more bacteria are vertically transmitted than acquired from the environment. The invasive X. glabratus and the globally distributed X. crassiusculus have unique sets of bacteria, different from species native to North America. We conclude that the mycangium hosts in multiple vertically transmitted bacteria such as Mycoplasma, most of which are likely facultative commensals or parasites.}, } @article {pmid22546901, year = {2012}, author = {Castillo, JC and Shokal, U and Eleftherianos, I}, title = {A novel method for infecting Drosophila adult flies with insect pathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {Virulence}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {339-347}, pmid = {22546901}, issn = {2150-5608}, mesh = {Animals ; Drosophila/*parasitology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Models, Animal ; Photorhabdus/pathogenicity ; Rhabditoidea/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Drosophila has been established as an excellent genetic and genomic model to investigate host-pathogen interactions and innate immune defense mechanisms. To date, most information on the Drosophila immune response derives from studies that involve bacterial, fungal or viral pathogens. However, immune reactions to insect parasitic nematodes are still not well characterized. The nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora live in symbiosis with the entomopathogenic bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens, and they are able to invade and kill insects. Interestingly, Heterorhabditis nematodes are viable in the absence of Photorhabdus. Techniques for infecting Drosophila larvae with these nematodes have been previously reported. Here, we have developed a method for infecting Drosophila adult flies with Heterorhabditis nematodes carrying (symbiotic worms) or lacking (axenic worms) their associated bacteria. The protocol we present can be readily adapted for studying parasitic strategies of other insect nematodes using Drosophila as the host infection model.}, } @article {pmid22545727, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, Y and Huang, H and Sun, M and Zhang, Q and Guo, D}, title = {T3DB: an integrated database for bacterial type III secretion system.}, journal = {BMC bioinformatics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {66}, pmid = {22545727}, issn = {1471-2105}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Secretion Systems ; *Databases, Genetic ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Chaperones/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Software ; User-Computer Interface ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Type III Secretion System (T3SS), which plays important roles in pathogenesis or symbiosis, is widely expressed in a variety of gram negative bacteria. However, lack of unique nomenclature for T3SS genes has hindered T3SS related research. It is necessary to set up a knowledgebase integrating T3SS-related research data to facilitate the communication between different research groups interested in different bacteria.

DESCRIPTION: A T3SS-related Database (T3DB) was developed. T3DB serves as an integrated platform for sequence collection, function annotation, and ortholog classification for T3SS related apparatus, effector, chaperone and regulatory genes. The collection of T3SS-containing bacteria, T3SS-related genes, function annotation, and the ortholog information were all manually curated from literature. BPBAac, a highly efficient T3SS effector prediction tool, was also implemented.

CONCLUSIONS: T3DB is the first systematic platform integrating well-annotated T3SS-related gene and protein information to facilitate T3SS and bacterial pathogenecity related research. The newly constructed T3 ortholog clusters may faciliate effective communication between different research groups and will promote de novo discoveries. Besides, the manually-curated high-quality effector and chaperone data are useful for feature analysis and evolutionary studies of these important proteins.}, } @article {pmid22545239, year = {2011}, author = {Upton, KR and Baillie, JK and Faulkner, GJ}, title = {Is somatic retrotransposition a parasitic or symbiotic phenomenon?.}, journal = {Mobile genetic elements}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {279-282}, pmid = {22545239}, issn = {2159-2543}, abstract = {The extraordinary evolutionary success of transposable elements (TEs) invites us to question the nature of the co-evolutionary dynamics between TE and host. Although sometimes assumed to be wholly parasitic, TEs have penetrated and spread throughout eukaryotic genomes at a rate unparalleled by other parasites. This near-ubiquity, occurring despite the potentially deleterious effects of insertional mutagenesis, raises the possibility that a counterbalancing benefit exists for the host. Such a benefit may act at the population level to generate genomic diversity within a species and hence greater adaptability under new selective pressures, or at the level of primary gain for the individual. Recent studies have highlighted the occurrence of retrotransposition events in the germline and discovered a surprisingly high rate of mobilization in somatic cells. Here we examine the available evidence for somatic retrotransposition and discuss how this phenomenon may confer a selective advantage upon an individual or species.}, } @article {pmid22544408, year = {2012}, author = {Muesch Helm, D}, title = {Mentors matter: relationships that increase the number of oral health professionals serving the underserved.}, journal = {Journal of allied health}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {e1-8}, pmid = {22544408}, issn = {1945-404X}, mesh = {*Career Choice ; Dental Hygienists/education/*supply & distribution ; Dentists/*statistics & numerical data/supply & distribution ; Female ; Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; *Medically Underserved Area ; *Mentors ; Politics ; United States ; }, abstract = {Access to oral healthcare is a persistent problem in the United States. One barrier to this multifaceted issue is the shortage of oral healthcare providers who are willing to provide care for underserved populations. Mentoring relationships with oral health professionals is one solution that will increase the number of public oral health professionals. Using narrative inquiry, this interpretive study explored the relationships that public health dental hygienists had with mentors who leveraged their capital to empower those they mentored. The stories of six dental hygienists practicing in public health and four of their mentors were gathered through one or two 60- to 90-minute interviews. Qualitative data analysis was used to untangle and make meaning of their narrations. The findings are reported in the words of dental hygienists and their mentors, wherever possible, to embrace the voice of the participants. The Iroquois legend of The Three Sisters is used as a metaphor to illustrate the mentoring relationship. These mentor relationships, in which there was mutual growth, were built on a symbiotic, natural bond. The dental hygienists recalled relationships with multiple mentors who leveraged their social and political capital to empower and thereby encouraged a career path in public health.}, } @article {pmid22544335, year = {2012}, author = {Achata Böttger, J and Creamer, R and Gardner, D}, title = {Seasonal changes in Undifilum colonization and swainsonine content of locoweeds.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {38}, number = {5}, pages = {486-495}, pmid = {22544335}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*physiology ; Astragalus Plant/*microbiology/physiology ; Colorado ; Enzyme Inhibitors/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; New Mexico ; Oxytropis/*microbiology/physiology ; Seasons ; Swainsonine/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; alpha-Mannosidase/antagonists & inhibitors ; }, abstract = {Locoweeds (Astragalus and Oxytropis) are leguminous plants that are toxic due to a symbiotic association with the endophytic fungus Undifilum oxytropis. The fungus produces the alkaloid swainsonine, an α-mannosidase-inhibitor that causes serious damage to mammals when consumed. A real-time PCR technique was developed to quantify the colonization extent of Undifilum in locoweeds and to compare it to the swainsonine concentration in the plants. Amplification of the endophyte nuclear ITS region allowed reliable quantification of Undifilum DNA from field plants and in vitro cultures. Swainsonine concentration was highly correlated (ρ = 0.972, P < 0.001) with the proportion of Undifilum DNA during the first 4 weeks of in vitro culture growth. Species of Astragalus and Oxytropis were sampled seasonally in New Mexico and Colorado for two years. High swainsonine concentration in plant samples was associated with high levels of endophyte DNA, except in plant reproductive tissues.}, } @article {pmid22544247, year = {2012}, author = {Alam, U and Hyseni, C and Symula, RE and Brelsfoard, C and Wu, Y and Kruglov, O and Wang, J and Echodu, R and Alioni, V and Okedi, LM and Caccone, A and Aksoy, S}, title = {Implications of microfauna-host interactions for trypanosome transmission dynamics in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Uganda.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {13}, pages = {4627-4637}, pmid = {22544247}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R03 TW008755/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biota ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Microbial Interactions ; Trypanosoma/*growth & development ; Trypanosomiasis, African/transmission ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Uganda ; Viruses/*growth & development ; Wolbachia/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors for African trypanosomes (Euglenozoa: kinetoplastida), protozoan parasites that cause African trypanosomiasis in humans (HAT) and nagana in livestock. In addition to trypanosomes, two symbiotic bacteria (Wigglesworthia glossinidia and Sodalis glossinidius) and two parasitic microbes, Wolbachia and a salivary gland hypertrophy virus (SGHV), have been described in tsetse. Here we determined the prevalence of and coinfection dynamics between Wolbachia, trypanosomes, and SGHV in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Uganda over a large geographical scale spanning the range of host genetic and spatial diversity. Using a multivariate analysis approach, we uncovered complex coinfection dynamics between the pathogens and statistically significant associations between host genetic groups and pathogen prevalence. It is important to note that these coinfection dynamics and associations with the host were not apparent by univariate analysis. These associations between host genotype and pathogen are particularly evident for Wolbachia and SGHV where host groups are inversely correlated for Wolbachia and SGHV prevalence. On the other hand, trypanosome infection prevalence is more complex and covaries with the presence of the other two pathogens, highlighting the importance of examining multiple pathogens simultaneously before making generalizations about infection and spatial patterns. It is imperative to note that these novel findings would have been missed if we had employed the standard univariate analysis used in previous studies. Our results are discussed in the context of disease epidemiology and vector control.}, } @article {pmid22544238, year = {2012}, author = {Hosokawa, T and Kikuchi, Y and Nikoh, N and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Polyphyly of gut symbionts in stinkbugs of the family Cydnidae.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {13}, pages = {4758-4761}, pmid = {22544238}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biota ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria associated with midgut crypts of stinkbugs of the family Cydnidae, representing seven species and 13 populations, were investigated. All of the symbionts were species specific, and constituted at least four distinct lineages in the Gammaproteobacteria, indicating multiple evolutionary origins of the gut symbionts among the burrower bugs.}, } @article {pmid22542780, year = {2012}, author = {Bhutto, I and Lutty, G}, title = {Understanding age-related macular degeneration (AMD): relationships between the photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane/choriocapillaris complex.}, journal = {Molecular aspects of medicine}, volume = {33}, number = {4}, pages = {295-317}, pmid = {22542780}, issn = {1872-9452}, support = {P30 EY001765/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY009357/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; EY016151/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 EY016151/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; EY01765/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; EY09357/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bruch Membrane/cytology/pathology ; Choroid/cytology/pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation/immunology/metabolism ; Macular Degeneration/*etiology/*metabolism ; Photoreceptor Cells/cytology/pathology ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/cytology/pathology ; }, abstract = {There is a mutualistic symbiotic relationship between the components of the photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/Bruch's membrane (BrMb)/choriocapillaris (CC) complex that is lost in AMD. Which component in the photoreceptor/RPE/BrMb/CC complex is affected first appears to depend on the type of AMD. In atrophic AMD (~85-90% of cases), it appears that large confluent drusen formation and hyperpigmentation (presumably dysfunction in RPE) are the initial insult and the resorption of these drusen and loss of RPE (hypopigmentation) can be predictive for progression of geographic atrophy (GA). The death and dysfunction of photoreceptors and CC appear to be secondary events to loss in RPE. In neovascular AMD (~10-15% of cases), the loss of choroidal vasculature may be the initial insult to the complex. Loss of CC with an intact RPE monolayer in wet AMD has been observed. This may be due to reduction in blood supply because of large vessel stenosis. Furthermore, the environment of the CC, basement membrane and intercapillary septa, is a proinflammatory milieu with accumulation of complement components as well as proinflammatory molecules like CRP during AMD. In this toxic milieu, CC die or become dysfunction making adjacent RPE hypoxic. These hypoxic cells then produce angiogenic substances like VEGF that stimulate growth of new vessels from CC, resulting in choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The loss of CC might also be a stimulus for drusen formation since the disposal system for retinal debris and exocytosed material from RPE would be limited. Ultimately, the photoreceptors die of lack of nutrients, leakage of serum components from the neovascularization, and scar formation. Therefore, the mutualistic symbiotic relationship within the photoreceptor/RPE/BrMb/CC complex is lost in both forms of AMD. Loss of this functionally integrated relationship results in death and dysfunction of all of the components in the complex.}, } @article {pmid22541872, year = {2012}, author = {Brucker, RM and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Speciation by symbiosis.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {27}, number = {8}, pages = {443-451}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2012.03.011}, pmid = {22541872}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Eukaryota/genetics/*physiology ; *Genetic Speciation ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In the Origin of Species, Darwin struggled with how continuous changes within a species lead to the emergence of discrete species. Molecular analyses have since identified nuclear genes and organelles that underpin speciation. In this review, we explore the microbiota as a third genetic component that spurs species formation. We first recall Ivan Wallin's original conception from the early 20th century on the role that bacteria play in speciation. We then describe three fundamental observations that justify a prominent role for microbes in eukaryotic speciation, consolidate exemplar studies of microbe-assisted speciation and incorporate the microbiota into classic models of speciation.}, } @article {pmid22539932, year = {2012}, author = {Lamers, LP and van Diggelen, JM and Op den Camp, HJ and Visser, EJ and Lucassen, EC and Vile, MA and Jetten, MS and Smolders, AJ and Roelofs, JG}, title = {Microbial transformations of nitrogen, sulfur, and iron dictate vegetation composition in wetlands: a review.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {156}, pmid = {22539932}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The majority of studies on rhizospheric interactions focus on pathogens, mycorrhizal symbiosis, or carbon transformations. Although the biogeochemical transformations of N, S, and Fe have profound effects on vegetation, these effects have received far less attention. This review, meant for microbiologists, biogeochemists, and plant scientists includes a call for interdisciplinary research by providing a number of challenging topics for future ecosystem research. Firstly, all three elements are plant nutrients, and microbial activity significantly changes their availability. Secondly, microbial oxidation with oxygen supplied by radial oxygen loss from roots in wetlands causes acidification, while reduction using alternative electron acceptors leads to generation of alkalinity, affecting pH in the rhizosphere, and hence plant composition. Thirdly, reduced species of all three elements may become phytotoxic. In addition, Fe cycling is tightly linked to that of S and P. As water level fluctuations are very common in wetlands, rapid changes in the availability of oxygen and alternative terminal electron acceptors will result in strong changes in the prevalent microbial redox reactions, with significant effects on plant growth. Depending on geological and hydrological settings, these interacting microbial transformations change the conditions and resource availability for plants, which are both strong drivers of vegetation development and composition by changing relative competitive strengths. Conversely, microbial composition is strongly driven by vegetation composition. Therefore, the combination of microbiological and plant ecological knowledge is essential to understand the biogeochemical and biological key factors driving heterogeneity and total (i.e., microorganisms and vegetation) community composition at different spatial and temporal scales.}, } @article {pmid22539902, year = {2012}, author = {Ohtsuka, S and Shimomura, M and Kitazawa, K}, title = {A new species of Enterognathus (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Enterognathidae) collected from the Seto Inland Sea, western Japan.}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {180}, pages = {1-8}, pmid = {22539902}, issn = {1313-2970}, abstract = {A new species of the endoparasitic copepod Enterognathus (Cyclopoida, Enterognathidae) is described from a crinoid host in the Seto Inland Sea, western Japan. This is a third species of the genus and its first occurrence in the Pacific Ocean. The new species is distinguished from two previously known congeners by the morphology of the body somites, caudal rami, antennae and legs. Crinoid parasites belonging to Enterognathus and the closely related genus Parenterognathus have a broad distribution from the northeastern Atlantic through the Red Sea to the West Pacific.}, } @article {pmid22539724, year = {2012}, author = {Kawamoto, S and Tran, TH and Maruya, M and Suzuki, K and Doi, Y and Tsutsui, Y and Kato, LM and Fagarasan, S}, title = {The inhibitory receptor PD-1 regulates IgA selection and bacterial composition in the gut.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {336}, number = {6080}, pages = {485-489}, doi = {10.1126/science.1217718}, pmid = {22539724}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Adoptive Transfer ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; Bacteria/immunology ; Bacterial Load ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Feces/microbiology ; Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain ; Germinal Center/cytology/immunology ; Immunoglobulin A/biosynthesis/*immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Intestine, Small/immunology/*microbiology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mice ; Peyer's Patches/cytology/immunology ; Plasma Cells/immunology/physiology ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is essential to maintain the symbiotic balance between gut bacterial communities and the host immune system. Here we provide evidence that the inhibitory co-receptor programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) regulates the gut microbiota through appropriate selection of IgA plasma cell repertoires. PD-1 deficiency generates an excess number of T follicular helper (T(FH)) cells with altered phenotypes, which results in dysregulated selection of IgA precursor cells in the germinal center of Peyer's patches. Consequently, the IgAs produced in PD-1-deficient mice have reduced bacteria-binding capacity, which causes alterations of microbial communities in the gut. Thus, PD-1 plays a critical role in regulation of antibody diversification required for the maintenance of intact mucosal barrier.}, } @article {pmid22539505, year = {2012}, author = {Whittington, HR and Deede, L and Powers, JS}, title = {Growth responses, biomass partitioning, and nitrogen isotopes of prairie legumes in response to elevated temperature and varying nitrogen source in a growth chamber experiment.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {99}, number = {5}, pages = {838-846}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1100283}, pmid = {22539505}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Biomass ; *Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/anatomy & histology/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Plant Roots/drug effects/growth & development ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/growth & development ; Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Because legumes can add nitrogen (N) to ecosystems through symbiotic fixation, they play important roles in many plant communities, such as prairies and grasslands. However, very little research has examined the effect of projected climate change on legume growth and function. Our goal was to study the effects of temperature on growth, nodulation, and N chemistry of prairie legumes and determine whether these effects are mediated by source of N.

METHODS: We grew seedlings of Amorpha canescens, Dalea purpurea, Lespedeza capitata, and Lupinus perennis at 25/20°C (day/night) or 28/23°C with and without rhizobia and mineral N in controlled-environment growth chambers. Biomass, leaf area, nodule number and mass, and shoot N concentration and δ(15)N values were measured after 12 wk of growth.

KEY RESULTS: Both temperature and N-source affected responses in a species-specific manner. Lespedeza showed increased growth and higher shoot N content at 28°C. Lupinus showed decreases in nodulation and lower shoot N concentration at 28°C. The effect of temperature on shoot N concentration occurred only in individuals whose sole N source was N(2)-fixation, but there was no effect of temperature on δ(15)N values in these plants.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated temperature enhanced seedling growth of some species, while inhibiting nodulation in another. Temperature-induced shifts in legume composition or nitrogen dynamics may be another potential mechanism through which climate change affects unmanaged ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid22539436, year = {2012}, author = {Gomes, DF and Batista, JS and Torres, AR and de Souza Andrade, D and Galli-Terasawa, LV and Hungria, M}, title = {Two-dimensional proteome reference map of Rhizobium tropici PRF 81 reveals several symbiotic determinants and strong resemblance with agrobacteria.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {859-863}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201100406}, pmid = {22539436}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/*chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins/*analysis ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; *Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Proteome/analysis ; *Proteomics ; Rhizobium tropici/*chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium tropici strain PRF 81 is used in commercial inoculants for common-bean crops in Brazil because of its high efficiency in nitrogen fixation and, as in other strains belonging to this species, its tolerance of environmental stresses, representing a useful biological alternative to chemical nitrogen fertilizers. In this study, a proteomic reference map of PRF 81 was obtained by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. In total, 115 spots representing 109 different proteins were successfully identified, contributing to a better understanding of the rhizobia-legume symbiosis and supporting, at proteomics level, a strong resemblance with agrobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22539164, year = {2012}, author = {Tymensen, LD and Beauchemin, KA and McAllister, TA}, title = {Structures of free-living and protozoa-associated methanogen communities in the bovine rumen differ according to comparative analysis of 16S rRNA and mcrA genes.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {158}, number = {Pt 7}, pages = {1808-1817}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.057984-0}, pmid = {22539164}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biota ; Cattle ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Archaeal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Methane/*metabolism ; Methanobrevibacter/*genetics/metabolism ; Methanomicrobiaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidoreductases/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Structures of free-living and protozoa-associated methanogen (PAM) communities from forage-fed cattle were investigated by comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcrA) gene clone libraries. The free-living and protozoa-associated communities were composed of the same three genera [namely Methanobrevibacter, Methanomicrobium and rumen cluster C (RCC), which is distantly related to Thermoplasma]; however, the distribution of the methanogen genera differed between the two communities. Despite previous reports of potential bias for the degenerate mcrA primer set, the 16S rRNA (n = 100 clones) and mcrA (n = 92 clones) gene libraries exhibited a similar distribution pattern for the three methanogenic genera. RCC was more abundant in the free-living community and represented 72 and 42 % of the 16S rRNA and mrcA gene sequences, respectively, versus 54 and 13 % of the 16S rRNA and mrcA gene sequences from the PAM community, respectively. The majority of RCC sequences from the free-living and protozoa-associated communities belonged to different species-level operational taxonomic units. Methanobrevibacter species were more abundant in the PAM community and represented 42 and 79 % of clones for the 16S rRNA and mrcA gene libraries, respectively, versus 9 and 27 % of 16S rRNA and mrcA gene clones from the free-living community, respectively. Methanomicrobium species were predominantly free-living. Primers for quantitative PCR were designed to target specific methanogen groups and used to assess the effect of a high-grain diet on methanogen species composition. Switching the ruminant diet from forage to high-grain resulted in reduced protozoal diversity, along with a profound overall reduction in the relative abundance of RCC and an increase in the relative abundance of free-living Methanobrevibacter spp. It was unclear whether the reduced abundance of RCC in grain-fed animals was due to the loss of symbiotic protozoa species or due to broader changes in the rumen environment that affected both RCC and protozoa. Importantly, results from this study emphasize the need to consider the different methanogen communities when developing strategies for mitigating methane emissions in ruminants.}, } @article {pmid22539163, year = {2012}, author = {Koppell, JH and Parker, MA}, title = {Phylogenetic clustering of Bradyrhizobium symbionts on legumes indigenous to North America.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {158}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {2050-2059}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.059238-0}, pmid = {22539163}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogenase/genetics ; North America ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To analyse determinants of biogeographic structure in members of the genus Bradyrhizobium, isolates were obtained from 41 legume genera, originating from North American sites spanning 48.5 ° of latitude (Alaska to Panama). Sequencing of portions of six gene loci (3674 bp) in 203 isolates showed that there was only a weak trend towards higher nucleotide diversity in tropical regions. Phylogenetic relationships for nifD, in the symbiosis island region of the Bradyrhizobium chromosome, conflicted substantially with a tree inferred for five housekeeping gene loci. For both nifD and housekeeping gene trees, bacteria from each region were significantly more similar, on average, than would be expected if the source location was permuted at random on the tree. Within-region permutation tests also showed that bacteria clustered significantly on particular host plant clades at all levels in the phylogeny of legumes (from genus up to subfamily). Nevertheless, some bacterial groups were dispersed across multiple regions and were associated with diverse legume host lineages. These results indicate that migration, horizontal gene transfer and host interactions have all influenced the geographical divergence of Bradyrhizobium populations on a continental scale.}, } @article {pmid22537833, year = {2013}, author = {Balmand, S and Lohs, C and Aksoy, S and Heddi, A}, title = {Tissue distribution and transmission routes for the tsetse fly endosymbionts.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {112 Suppl}, number = {0}, pages = {S116-22}, pmid = {22537833}, issn = {1096-0805}, support = {R01 AI081774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM069449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI06892/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM069449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Enterobacteriaceae ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Symbiosis ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; *Wigglesworthia ; *Wolbachia ; }, abstract = {The tsetse fly Glossina is the vector of the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei spp., which causes Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan African countries. To supplement their unbalanced vertebrate bloodmeal diet, flies permanently harbor the obligate bacterium Wigglesworthia glossinidia, which resides in bacteriocytes in the midgut bacteriome organ as well as in milk gland organ. Tsetse flies also harbor the secondary facultative endosymbionts (S-symbiont) Sodalis glossinidius that infects various tissues and Wolbachia that infects germ cells. Tsetse flies display viviparous reproductive biology where a single embryo hatches and completes its entire larval development in utero and receives nourishments in the form of milk secreted by mother's accessory glands (milk glands). To analyze the precise tissue distribution of the three endosymbiotic bacteria and to infer the way by which each symbiotic partner is transmitted from parent to progeny, we conducted a Fluorescence In situ Hybridization (FISH) study to survey bacterial spatial distribution across the fly tissues. We show that bacteriocytes are mono-infected with Wigglesworthia, while both Wigglesworthia and Sodalis are present in the milk gland lumen. Sodalis was further seen in the uterus, spermathecae, fat body, milk and intracellular in the milk gland cells. Contrary to Wigglesworthia and Sodalis, Wolbachia were the only bacteria infecting oocytes, trophocytes, and embryos at early embryonic stages. Furthermore, Wolbachia were not seen in the milk gland and in the fat body. This work further highlights the diversity of symbiont interactions in multipartner associations and supports two maternal routes of symbiont inheritance in the tsetse fly: Wolbachia through oocytes, and, Wigglesworthia and Sodalis by means of milk gland bacterial infection at early post-embryonic stages.}, } @article {pmid22537413, year = {2012}, author = {Yamada, S and Ohkubo, S and Miyashita, H and Setoguchi, H}, title = {Genetic diversity of symbiotic cyanobacteria in Cycas revoluta (Cycadaceae).}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {696-706}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01403.x}, pmid = {22537413}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Cyanobacteria/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Cycas/*microbiology/physiology ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; *Genetic Variation ; Nostoc/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Phylogeography ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The diversity of cyanobacterial species within the coralloid roots of an individual and populations of Cycas revoluta was investigated based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Sixty-six coralloid roots were collected from nine natural populations of cycads on Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands, covering the entire distribution range of the species. Approximately 400 bp of the 5'-end of 16S rRNA genes was amplified, and each was identified by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Most coralloid roots harbored only one cyanobiont, Nostoc, whereas some contained two or three, representing cyanobiont diversity within a single coralloid root isolated from a natural habitat. Genotypes of Nostoc within a natural population were occasionally highly diverged and lacked DNA sequence similarity, implying genetic divergence of Nostoc. On the other hand, Nostoc genotypes showed no phylogeographic structure across the distribution range, while host cycads exhibited distinct north-south differentiation. Cycads may exist in symbiosis with either single or multiple Nostoc strains in natural soil habitats.}, } @article {pmid22536730, year = {2012}, author = {Bychkov, VG and Ivanova, LA and Kulikova, SV and Khadieva, ED}, title = {[The strategy of a parasite is to preserve and continue its species; some trends for achieving the goal].}, journal = {Meditsinskaia parazitologiia i parazitarnye bolezni}, volume = {}, number = {1}, pages = {4-7}, pmid = {22536730}, issn = {0025-8326}, mesh = {Animals ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Life Cycle Stages ; Opisthorchiasis/*parasitology/pathology ; Opisthorchis/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The authors show that the strategy of parasites, which is to preserve and continue its species is accomplished mainly by providing of a trophic substrate. Opisthorichiasis is used as an example to show that the nutriceutic biomass of cholangiocytes may be increased due to gene mutations, induced proliferation of liver stem cells, their differentiation to committed ones and cholangiocellular differon elements; moreover, the proliferative processes of mesenchymal components become active in other organs of a host. During their ontogenesis in the intermediate and final hosts, the parasites work out the mechanisms for prolonging their life span to complete a full development cycle (Margaritifera margaritifera glochidia); however, predominantly the parasite-host symbiosis is attended by the latter's lameness. Predation is one of the types of symbiotic relations.}, } @article {pmid22536394, year = {2012}, author = {Khatabi, B and Molitor, A and Lindermayr, C and Pfiffi, S and Durner, J and von Wettstein, D and Kogel, KH and Schäfer, P}, title = {Ethylene supports colonization of plant roots by the mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e35502}, pmid = {22536394}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acids, Cyclic/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/metabolism/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/metabolism/*physiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Cyclopropanes/metabolism ; Ethylenes/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Glucuronidase/biosynthesis/genetics ; Hordeum/metabolism/*microbiology ; Lyases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Respiratory Burst ; *Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The mutualistic basidiomycete Piriformospora indica colonizes roots of mono- and dicotyledonous plants, and thereby improves plant health and yield. Given the capability of P. indica to colonize a broad range of hosts, it must be anticipated that the fungus has evolved efficient strategies to overcome plant immunity and to establish a proper environment for nutrient acquisition and reproduction. Global gene expression studies in barley identified various ethylene synthesis and signaling components that were differentially regulated in P. indica-colonized roots. Based on these findings we examined the impact of ethylene in the symbiotic association. The data presented here suggest that P. indica induces ethylene synthesis in barley and Arabidopsis roots during colonization. Moreover, impaired ethylene signaling resulted in reduced root colonization, Arabidopsis mutants exhibiting constitutive ethylene signaling, -synthesis or ethylene-related defense were hyper-susceptible to P. indica. Our data suggest that ethylene signaling is required for symbiotic root colonization by P. indica.}, } @article {pmid22536229, year = {2012}, author = {Williams, AC and Hill, LJ and Ramsden, DB}, title = {Nicotinamide, NAD(P)(H), and Methyl-Group Homeostasis Evolved and Became a Determinant of Ageing Diseases: Hypotheses and Lessons from Pellagra.}, journal = {Current gerontology and geriatrics research}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {302875}, pmid = {22536229}, issn = {1687-7071}, abstract = {Compartmentalized redox faults are common to ageing diseases. Dietary constituents are catabolized to NAD(H) donating electrons producing proton-based bioenergy in coevolved, cross-species and cross-organ networks. Nicotinamide and NAD deficiency from poor diet or high expenditure causes pellagra, an ageing and dementing disorder with lost robustness to infection and stress. Nicotinamide and stress induce Nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase (NNMT) improving choline retention but consume methyl groups. High NNMT activity is linked to Parkinson's, cancers, and diseases of affluence. Optimising nicotinamide and choline/methyl group availability is important for brain development and increased during our evolution raising metabolic and methylome ceilings through dietary/metabolic symbiotic means but strict energy constraints remain and life-history tradeoffs are the rule. An optimal energy, NAD and methyl group supply, avoiding hypo and hyper-vitaminoses nicotinamide and choline, is important to healthy ageing and avoids utilising double-edged symbionts or uncontrolled autophagy or reversions to fermentation reactions in inflammatory and cancerous tissue that all redistribute NAD(P)(H), but incur high allostatic costs.}, } @article {pmid22535379, year = {2012}, author = {Casieri, L and Gallardo, K and Wipf, D}, title = {Transcriptional response of Medicago truncatula sulphate transporters to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis with and without sulphur stress.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {235}, number = {6}, pages = {1431-1447}, pmid = {22535379}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/*physiology ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects/*genetics ; Sulfur/*toxicity ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Sulphur is an essential macronutrient for plant growth, development and response to various abiotic and biotic stresses due to its key role in the biosynthesis of many S-containing compounds. Sulphate represents a very small portion of soil S pull and it is the only form that plant roots can uptake and mobilize through H(+)-dependent co-transport processes implying sulphate transporters. Unlike the other organically bound forms of S, sulphate is normally leached from soils due to its solubility in water, thus reducing its availability to plants. Although our knowledge of plant sulphate transporters has been growing significantly in the past decades, little is still known about the effect of the arbuscular mycorrhiza interaction on sulphur uptake. Carbon, nitrogen and sulphur measurements in plant parts and expression analysis of genes encoding putative Medicago sulphate transporters (MtSULTRs) were performed to better understand the beneficial effects of mycorrhizal interaction on Medicago truncatula plants colonized by Glomus intraradices at different sulphate concentrations. Mycorrhization significantly promoted plant growth and sulphur content, suggesting increased sulphate absorption. In silico analyses allowed identifying eight putative MtSULTRs phylogenetically distributed over the four sulphate transporter groups. Some putative MtSULTRs were transcribed differentially in roots and leaves and affected by sulphate concentration, while others were more constitutively transcribed. Mycorrhizal-inducible and -repressed MtSULTRs transcripts were identified allowing to shed light on the role of mycorrhizal interaction in sulphate uptake.}, } @article {pmid22534128, year = {2012}, author = {Den Herder, G and Yoshida, S and Antolín-Llovera, M and Ried, MK and Parniske, M}, title = {Lotus japonicus E3 ligase SEVEN IN ABSENTIA4 destabilizes the symbiosis receptor-like kinase SYMRK and negatively regulates rhizobial infection.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {4}, pages = {1691-1707}, pmid = {22534128}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Dominant/genetics ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Binding ; Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Protein Stability ; Protein Transport ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism ; Subcellular Fractions/enzymology ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The Lotus japonicus SYMBIOSIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SYMRK) is required for symbiotic signal transduction upon stimulation of root cells by microbial signaling molecules. Here, we identified members of the SEVEN IN ABSENTIA (SINA) E3 ubiquitin-ligase family as SYMRK interactors and confirmed their predicted ubiquitin-ligase activity. In Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, SYMRK-yellow fluorescent protein was localized at the plasma membrane, and interaction with SINAs, as determined by bimolecular fluorescence complementation, was observed in small punctae at the cytosolic interface of the plasma membrane. Moreover, fluorescence-tagged SINA4 partially colocalized with SYMRK and caused SYMRK relocalization as well as disappearance of SYMRK from the plasma membrane. Neither the localization nor the abundance of Nod-factor receptor1 was altered by the presence of SINA4. SINA4 was transcriptionally upregulated during root symbiosis, and rhizobia inoculated roots ectopically expressing SINA4 showed reduced SYMRK protein levels. In accordance with a negative regulatory role in symbiosis, infection thread development was impaired upon ectopic expression of SINA4. Our results implicate SINA4 E3 ubiquitin ligase in the turnover of SYMRK and provide a conceptual mechanism for its symbiosis-appropriate spatio-temporal containment.}, } @article {pmid22533449, year = {2012}, author = {Vannini, C and Ferrantini, F and Ristori, A and Verni, F and Petroni, G}, title = {Betaproteobacterial symbionts of the ciliate Euplotes: origin and tangled evolutionary path of an obligate microbial association.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {9}, pages = {2553-2563}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02760.x}, pmid = {22533449}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Euplotes/classification/genetics/*microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The Polynucleobacter-Euplotes association is an obligatory symbiotic system between a monophyletic group of ciliate species belonging to the genus Euplotes and bacteria of the species Polynucleobacter necessarius (Betaproteobacteria). Both organisms are unable to survive independently. Several studies revealed the existence of free-living populations of Polynucleobacter bacteria which are phylogenetically closely related to the endosymbiotic ones, but never share associations with Euplotes in the natural environment. Hence, following the most parsimonious explanation on the origin of the association, this symbiosis should represent a synapomorphic character for the hosts' clade. Nevertheless, phylogenetic analyses performed on an increased number of strains here presented suggest that Euplotes species, during their evolution, recruited Polynucleobacter bacteria as symbionts more than once. Moreover, in three cases, we observed different bacteria as obligate symbionts. These symbionts are the first characterized representatives of a phylogenetic lineage branching in a basal position with respect to the genus Polynucleobacter. The hypothesis that the original obligate symbionts belonged to this newly discovered clade and that, only subsequently, in most cases they have been replaced by Polynucleobacter bacteria recruited from the environment is proposed and discussed. The evolutionary path of this association seems anyway to have been more complex than so far supposed.}, } @article {pmid22532798, year = {2012}, author = {Corradi, N and Bonfante, P}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: origin and evolution of a beneficial plant infection.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e1002600}, pmid = {22532798}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/parasitology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid22530696, year = {2012}, author = {Andersen, SB and Boye, M and Nash, DR and Boomsma, JJ}, title = {Dynamic Wolbachia prevalence in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants: potential for a nutritional symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {1340-1350}, doi = {10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02521.x}, pmid = {22530696}, issn = {1420-9101}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; Pupa/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are renowned as reproductive parasites, but their phenotypic effects in eusocial insects are not well understood. We used a combination of qrt-PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization and laser scanning confocal microscopy to evaluate the dynamics of Wolbachia infections in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus across developmental stages of sterile workers. We confirm that workers are infected with one or two widespread wsp genotypes of Wolbachia, show that colony prevalence is always 100% and characterize two rare recombinant genotypes. One dominant genotype is always present and most abundant, whereas another only proliferates in adult workers of some colonies and is barely detectable in larvae and pupae. An explanation may be that Wolbachia genotypes compete for host resources in immature stages while adult tissues provide substantially more niche space. Tissue-specific prevalence of the two genotypes differs, with the rarer genotype being over-represented in the adult foregut and thorax muscles. Both genotypes occur extracellularly in the foregut, suggesting an unknown mutualistic function in worker ant nutrition. Both genotypes are also abundant in the faecal fluid of the ants, suggesting that they may have extended functional phenotypes in the fungus garden that the ants manure with their own faeces.}, } @article {pmid22529998, year = {2012}, author = {Bayer, T and Aranda, M and Sunagawa, S and Yum, LK and Desalvo, MK and Lindquist, E and Coffroth, MA and Voolstra, CR and Medina, M}, title = {Symbiodinium transcriptomes: genome insights into the dinoflagellate symbionts of reef-building corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e35269}, pmid = {22529998}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics ; Base Composition ; Codon ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Genome ; Histones/classification/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nucleosomes/genetics ; Oxidative Stress/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates are unicellular algae that are ubiquitously abundant in aquatic environments. Species of the genus Symbiodinium form symbiotic relationships with reef-building corals and other marine invertebrates. Despite their ecologic importance, little is known about the genetics of dinoflagellates in general and Symbiodinium in particular. Here, we used 454 sequencing to generate transcriptome data from two Symbiodinium species from different clades (clade A and clade B). With more than 56,000 assembled sequences per species, these data represent the largest transcriptomic resource for dinoflagellates to date. Our results corroborate previous observations that dinoflagellates possess the complete nucleosome machinery. We found a complete set of core histones as well as several H3 variants and H2A.Z in one species. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis points toward a low number of transcription factors in Symbiodinium spp. that also differ in the distribution of DNA-binding domains relative to other eukaryotes. In particular the cold shock domain was predominant among transcription factors. Additionally, we found a high number of antioxidative genes in comparison to non-symbiotic but evolutionary related organisms. These findings might be of relevance in the context of the role that Symbiodinium spp. play as coral symbionts.Our data represent the most comprehensive dinoflagellate EST data set to date. This study provides a comprehensive resource to further analyze the genetic makeup, metabolic capacities, and gene repertoire of Symbiodinium and dinoflagellates. Overall, our findings indicate that Symbiodinium possesses some unique characteristics, in particular the transcriptional regulation in Symbiodinium may differ from the currently known mechanisms of eukaryotic gene regulation.}, } @article {pmid22529384, year = {2012}, author = {Kikuchi, Y and Hayatsu, M and Hosokawa, T and Nagayama, A and Tago, K and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Symbiont-mediated insecticide resistance.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {22}, pages = {8618-8622}, pmid = {22529384}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Female ; Fenitrothion/metabolism/pharmacology ; Geography ; Heteroptera/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics/*physiology ; Insecticides/metabolism/pharmacology ; Japan ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Development of insecticide resistance has been a serious concern worldwide, whose mechanisms have been attributed to evolutionary changes in pest insect genomes such as alteration of drug target sites, up-regulation of degrading enzymes, and enhancement of drug excretion. Here, we report a previously unknown mechanism of insecticide resistance: Infection with an insecticide-degrading bacterial symbiont immediately establishes insecticide resistance in pest insects. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris and allied stinkbugs harbor mutualistic gut symbiotic bacteria of the genus Burkholderia, which are acquired by nymphal insects from environmental soil every generation. In agricultural fields, fenitrothion-degrading Burkolderia strains are present at very low densities. We demonstrated that the fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia strains establish a specific and beneficial symbiosis with the stinkbugs and confer a resistance of the host insects against fenitrothion. Experimental applications of fenitrothion to field soils drastically enriched fenitrothion-degrading bacteria from undetectable levels to >80% of total culturable bacterial counts in the field soils, and >90% of stinkbugs reared with the enriched soil established symbiosis with fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia. In a Japanese island where fenitrothion has been constantly applied to sugarcane fields, we identified a stinkbug population wherein the insects live on sugarcane and ≈8% of them host fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia. Our finding suggests the possibility that the symbiont-mediated insecticide resistance may develop even in the absence of pest insects, quickly establish within a single insect generation, and potentially move around horizontally between different pest insects and other organisms.}, } @article {pmid22527400, year = {2012}, author = {Bazin, J and Bustos-Sanmamed, P and Hartmann, C and Lelandais-Brière, C and Crespi, M}, title = {Complexity of miRNA-dependent regulation in root symbiosis.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {367}, number = {1595}, pages = {1570-1579}, pmid = {22527400}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Conserved Sequence ; Fabaceae/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Fungal ; Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Plant Immunity ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The development of root systems may be strongly affected by the symbiotic interactions that plants establish with soil organisms. Legumes are able to develop symbiotic relationships with both rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi leading to the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules and mycorrhizal arbuscules, respectively. Both of these symbiotic interactions involve complex cellular reprogramming and profound morphological and physiological changes in specific root cells. In addition, the repression of pathogenic defence responses seems to be required for successful symbiotic interactions. Apart from typical regulatory genes, such as transcription factors, microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as riboregulators that control gene networks in eukaryotic cells through interactions with specific target mRNAs. In recent years, the availability of deep-sequencing technologies and the development of in silico approaches have allowed for the identification of large sets of miRNAs and their targets in legumes. A number of conserved and legume-specific miRNAs were found to be associated with symbiotic interactions as shown by their expression patterns or actions on symbiosis-related targets. In this review, we combine data from recent literature and genomic and deep-sequencing data on miRNAs controlling nodule development or restricting defence reactions to address the diversity and specificity of miRNA-dependent regulation in legume root symbiosis. Phylogenetic analysis of miRNA isoforms and their potential targets suggests a role for miRNAs in the repression of plant defence during symbiosis and revealed the evolution of miRNA-dependent regulation in legumes to allow for the modification of root cell specification, such as the formation of mycorrhized roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules.}, } @article {pmid22526292, year = {2012}, author = {Pollock, NB and Vredevoe, LK and Taylor, EN}, title = {How do host sex and reproductive state affect host preference and feeding duration of ticks?.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {111}, number = {2}, pages = {897-907}, pmid = {22526292}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Ixodes/*physiology ; Lizards/*parasitology ; Male ; Reproduction/physiology ; Seasons ; Sex Factors ; Tick Infestations/*veterinary ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Parasitism is one of the most notable forms of symbiosis in the biological world, with nearly all organisms hosting parasites. In many vertebrates, males have higher ectoparasite burdens than females, especially when testosterone concentrations are elevated. Furthermore, reproductive females may have higher ectoparasite burdens than non-reproductive females. It is possible that testosterone-stimulated behaviors in males and offspring investment by females incur energetic costs that inhibit immune function. If questing ticks can sense host sex or reproductive condition prior to attachment, they could potentially choose hosts with the poorest immune function, thereby leading to improved feeding success and decreased feeding duration. In this study, we examined the host-parasite relationship between western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) to test the following hypotheses: (1) ticks prefer male lizards to female lizards. (2) Ticks prefer male lizards with higher testosterone. (3) Ticks prefer reproductive female lizards to non-reproductive female lizards. (4) Ticks feed to repletion more rapidly (decreased feeding duration) on reproductive females and males with higher testosterone. In all three experiments, ticks failed to show a preference for one group over another as demonstrated by similar attachment rates between groups. This suggests that observed differences in ectoparasite loads in free-ranging lizards is due to some other factor than host choice. However, tick feeding duration on female lizards was shorter when hosts were reproductive, suggesting that host reproductive condition alters tick feeding, possibly due to a decreased immune response. Interestingly, ticks fed more slowly on male lizards with elevated testosterone, suggesting that testosterone may actually improve immune function against ectoparasites.}, } @article {pmid22526112, year = {2012}, author = {Bohn, HF and Thornham, DG and Federle, W}, title = {Ants swimming in pitcher plants: kinematics of aquatic and terrestrial locomotion in Camponotus schmitzi.}, journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology}, volume = {198}, number = {6}, pages = {465-476}, pmid = {22526112}, issn = {1432-1351}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Ants/*physiology ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Diving ; Feeding Behavior ; *Gait ; Immersion ; Models, Biological ; *Sarraceniaceae ; *Swimming ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Video Recording ; }, abstract = {Camponotus schmitzi ants live in symbiosis with the Bornean pitcher plant Nepenthes bicalcarata. Unique among ants, the workers regularly dive and swim in the pitcher's digestive fluid to forage for food. High-speed motion analysis revealed that C. schmitzi ants swim at the surface with all legs submerged, with an alternating tripod pattern. Compared to running, swimming involves lower stepping frequencies and larger phase delays within the legs of each tripod. Swimming ants move front and middle legs faster and keep them more extended during the power stroke than during the return stroke. Thrust estimates calculated from three-dimensional leg kinematics using a blade-element approach confirmed that forward propulsion is mainly achieved by the front and middle legs. The hind legs move much less, suggesting that they mainly serve for steering. Experiments with tethered C. schmitzi ants showed that characteristic swimming movements can be triggered by submersion in water. This reaction was absent in another Camponotus species investigated. Our study demonstrates how insects can use the same locomotory system and similar gait patterns for moving on land and in water. We discuss insect adaptations for aquatic/amphibious lifestyles and the special adaptations of C. schmitzi to living on an insect-trapping pitcher plant.}, } @article {pmid22525065, year = {2012}, author = {Calderon, O and Berkov, A}, title = {Midgut and fat body bacteriocytes in neotropical cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {108-117}, doi = {10.1603/EN11258}, pmid = {22525065}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Adipocytes/cytology/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Coleoptera/*cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Fat Body/cytology/*microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/cytology/microbiology ; Genes, Insect ; Larva/cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peru ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Xylophagous insects derive nutrients from intractable substrates by producing or ingesting cellulolytic enzymes, or by maintaining associations with symbiotic microbes. Wood-boring cerambycid beetle larvae sometimes house maternally-transmitted endosymbiotic yeasts that are presumed to provide their hosts with nutritional benefits. These are thought to be absent from species in the large subfamily Lamiinae; nevertheless yeasts have been repeatedly isolated from the guts of neotropical lamiines. The objective of this study was to conduct transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of cerambycid larval midgut tissues to determine if gut yeasts were intracellular, or simply present in the gut lumen. Nine cerambycid larvae were harvested from two trees in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) in the rain forest of SE Peru; seven were identified using mtDNA sequence data and processed for TEM. Yeasts cultured from larval frass or exuvia, and identified with rDNA sequence data, were identical or similar to yeasts previously isolated from beetles. In TEM analyses yeast cells were found only in the gut lumens, sometimes associated with fragments of thick-walled xylem cells. Apparent bacteriocytes were found in either midgut or fat body tissue of three larval specimens, including two lamiines. This is the first report of a potential fat body symbiosis in a cerambycid beetle. Future studies of cerambycid symbiosis should distinguish the identities and potential roles of free-living organisms in the gut lumen from those of organisms harbored within gut epithelial or fat body tissue.}, } @article {pmid22524446, year = {2013}, author = {Huerlimann, R and Heimann, K}, title = {Comprehensive guide to acetyl-carboxylases in algae.}, journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {49-65}, doi = {10.3109/07388551.2012.668671}, pmid = {22524446}, issn = {1549-7801}, mesh = {Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*enzymology ; Lipids/*biosynthesis ; Microalgae/enzymology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Rhodophyta/*enzymology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lipids from microalgae have become an important commodity in the last 20 years, biodiesel and supplementing human diets with ω-3 fatty acids are just two of the many applications. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) is a key enzyme in the lipid synthesis pathway. In general, ACCases consist of four functional domains: the biotin carboxylase (BC), the biotin carboxyl binding protein (BCCP), and α-and β-carboxyltransferases (α-and β-CT). In algae, like in plants, lipid synthesis is another function of the chloroplast. Despite being well researched in plants and animals, there is a distinct lack of information about this enzyme in the taxonomically diverse algae. In plastid-containing organisms, ACCases are present in the cytosol and the plastid (chloroplasts) and two different forms exist, the heteromeric (prokaryotic) and homomeric (eukaryotic) form. Despite recognition of the existence of the two ACCase forms, generalized published statements still list the heteromeric form as the one present in algal plastids. In this study, the authors show this is not the case for all algae. The presence of heteromeric or homomeric ACCase is dependent on the origin of plastid. The authors used ACCase amino acid sequence comparisons to show that green (Chlorophyta) and red (Rhodophyta) algae, with the exception of the green algal class Prasinophyceae, contain heteromeric ACCase in their plastids, which are of primary symbiotic origin and surrounded by two envelope membranes. In contrast, algal plastids surrounded by three to four membranes were derived through secondary endosymbiosis (Heterokontophyta and Haptophyta), as well as apicoplast containing Apicomplexa, contain homomeric ACCase in their plastids. Distinctive differences in the substrate binding regions of heteromeric and homomeric α-CT and β-CT were discovered, which can be used to distinguish between the two ACCase types. Furthermore, the acetyl-CoA binding region of homomeric α-CT can be used to distinguish between cytosolic and plastidial ACCase. The information provided here will be of fundamental importance in ACCase expression and activity research to unravel impacts of environmental and physicochemical parameters on lipid content and productivity.}, } @article {pmid22522684, year = {2012}, author = {Mandel, MJ and Schaefer, AL and Brennan, CA and Heath-Heckman, EA and Deloney-Marino, CR and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Ruby, EG}, title = {Squid-derived chitin oligosaccharides are a chemotactic signal during colonization by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {13}, pages = {4620-4626}, pmid = {22522684}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM078760/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RR012994/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Animals ; Chemotactic Factors/*metabolism ; *Chemotaxis ; Chitin/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/metabolism/*microbiology ; Oligosaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), is noted as the second most abundant biopolymer in nature. Chitin serves many functions for marine bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae ("vibrios"), in some instances providing a physical attachment site, inducing natural genetic competence, and serving as an attractant for chemotaxis. The marine luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri is the specific symbiont in the light-emitting organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. The bacterium provides the squid with luminescence that the animal uses in an antipredatory defense, while the squid supports the symbiont's nutritional requirements. V. fischeri cells are harvested from seawater during each host generation, and V. fischeri is the only species that can complete this process in nature. Furthermore, chitin is located in squid hemocytes and plays a nutritional role in the symbiosis. We demonstrate here that chitin oligosaccharides produced by the squid host serve as a chemotactic signal for colonizing bacteria. V. fischeri uses the gradient of host chitin to enter the squid light organ duct and colonize the animal. We provide evidence that chitin serves a novel function in an animal-bacterial mutualism, as an animal-produced bacterium-attracting synomone.}, } @article {pmid22522092, year = {2012}, author = {Wingender, G and Stepniak, D and Krebs, P and Lin, L and McBride, S and Wei, B and Braun, J and Mazmanian, SK and Kronenberg, M}, title = {Intestinal microbes affect phenotypes and functions of invariant natural killer T cells in mice.}, journal = {Gastroenterology}, volume = {143}, number = {2}, pages = {418-428}, pmid = {22522092}, issn = {1528-0012}, support = {UL1 RR033176/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI045053/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 TR000124/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI071922/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI45053/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 DK046763/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI069296/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI71922/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R56 DK078938/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cytokines/metabolism ; *Escherichia coli ; Flow Cytometry ; Galactosylceramides/*immunology ; Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor ; Germ-Free Life ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; *Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Natural Killer T-Cells/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; *Sphingomonas ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells undergo canonical, Vα14-Jα18 rearrangement of the T-cell receptor (TCR) in mice; this form of the TCR recognizes glycolipids presented by CD1d. iNKT cells mediate many different immune reactions. Their constitutive activated and memory phenotype and rapid initiation of effector functions after stimulation indicate previous antigen-specific stimulation. However, little is known about this process. We investigated whether symbiotic microbes can determine the activated phenotype and function of iNKT cells.

METHODS: We analyzed the numbers, phenotypes, and functions of iNKT cells in germ-free mice, germ-free mice reconstituted with specified bacteria, and mice housed in specific pathogen-free environments.

RESULTS: Specific pathogen-free mice, obtained from different vendors, have different intestinal microbiota. iNKT cells isolated from these mice differed in TCR Vβ7 frequency and cytokine response to antigen, which depended on the environment. iNKT cells isolated from germ-free mice had a less mature phenotype and were hyporesponsive to activation with the antigen α-galactosylceramide. Intragastric exposure of germ-free mice to Sphingomonas bacteria, which carry iNKT cell antigens, fully established phenotypic maturity of iNKT cells. In contrast, reconstitution with Escherichia coli, which lack specific antigens for iNKT cells, did not affect the phenotype of iNKT cells. The effects of intestinal microbes on iNKT cell responsiveness did not require Toll-like receptor signals, which can activate iNKT cells independently of TCR stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal microbes can affect iNKT cell phenotypes and functions in mice.}, } @article {pmid22519819, year = {2012}, author = {Lewis, AL and Lewis, WG}, title = {Host sialoglycans and bacterial sialidases: a mucosal perspective.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {1174-1182}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-5822.2012.01807.x}, pmid = {22519819}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*enzymology ; Bacterial Proteins ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mucoproteins ; Mucous Membrane/metabolism/*microbiology ; Neuraminidase ; Oligosaccharides/metabolism/*physiology ; Sialic Acids/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sialic acids are nine-carbon-backbone sugars that occupy outermost positions on vertebrate cells and secreted sialoglycoproteins. These negatively charged hydrophilic carbohydrates have a variety of biological, biophysical and immunological functions. Mucosal surfaces and secretions of the mouth, airway, gut and vagina are especially sialoglycan-rich. Given their prominent positions and important functions, a variety of microbial strategies have targeted host sialic acids for adherence, mimicry and/or degradation. Here we review the roles of bacterial sialidases (neuraminidases) during colonization and pathogenesis of mammalian mucosal surfaces. Evidence is presented to support the myriad roles of mucosal sialoglycans in protecting the host from bacterial infection. In opposition, many bacteria hydrolyse sialic acids during associations with the gastrointestinal, oral, respiratory and reproductive tracts. Sialidases promote bacterial survival in mucosal niche environments in several ways, including: (i) nutritional benefits of sialic acid catabolism, (ii) unmasking of cryptic host ligands used for adherence, (iii) participation in biofilm formation and (iv) modulation of immune function. Bacterial sialidases are among the best-studied enzymes involved in pathogenesis and may also drive commensal and/or symbiotic host associations. Future studies should continue to define host substrates of bacterial sialidases and the mechanisms of their pathologic, commensal and symbiotic interactions with the mammalian host.}, } @article {pmid22519773, year = {2012}, author = {Soto, W and Punke, EB and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Evolutionary perspectives in a mutualism of sepiolid squid and bioluminescent bacteria: combined usage of microbial experimental evolution and temporal population genetics.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {66}, number = {5}, pages = {1308-1321}, pmid = {22519773}, issn = {1558-5646}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R25GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC1A1081659-01/SC/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics ; Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/physiology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Environment ; *Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; Luminescent Measurements ; New South Wales ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between marine bioluminescent Vibrio bacteria and the sepiolid squid Euprymna is a model for studying animal-bacterial Interactions. Vibrio symbionts native to particular Euprymna species are competitively dominant, capable of outcompeting foreign Vibrio strains from other Euprymna host species. Despite competitive dominance, secondary colonization events by invading nonnative Vibrio fischeri have occurred. Competitive dominance can be offset through superior nonnative numbers and advantage of early start host colonization by nonnatives, granting nonnative vibrios an opportunity to establish beachheads in foreign Euprymna hosts. Here, we show that nonnative V. fischeri are capable of rapid adaptation to novel sepiolid squid hosts by serially passaging V. fischeri JRM200 (native to Hawaiian Euprymna scolopes) lines through the novel Australian squid host E. tasmanica for 500 generations. These experiments were complemented by a temporal population genetics survey of V. fischeri, collected from E. tasmanica over a decade, which provided a perspective from the natural history of V. fischeri evolution over 15,000-20,000 generations in E. tasmanica. No symbiont anagenic evolution within squids was observed, as competitive dominance does not purge V. fischeri genetic diversity through time. Instead, abiotic factors affecting abundance of V. fischeri variants in the planktonic phase sustain temporal symbiont diversity, a property itself of ecological constraints imposed by V. fischeri host adaptation.}, } @article {pmid22519571, year = {2012}, author = {Phillips, CD and Phelan, G and Dowd, SE and McDonough, MM and Ferguson, AW and Delton Hanson, J and Siles, L and Ordóñez-Garza, N and San Francisco, M and Baker, RJ}, title = {Microbiome analysis among bats describes influences of host phylogeny, life history, physiology and geography.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {11}, pages = {2617-2627}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05568.x}, pmid = {22519571}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Carnivory ; Chiroptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Female ; Guatemala ; Herbivory ; Male ; Metagenome/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Metagenomic methods provide an experimental approach to inform the relationships between hosts and their microbial inhabitants. Previous studies have provided the conceptual realization that microbiomes are dynamic among hosts and the intimacy of relation between micro- and macroorganisms. Here, we present an intestinal microflora community analysis for members of the order Chiroptera and investigate the relative influence of variables in shaping observed microbiome relationships. The variables ranged from those considered to have ancient and long-term influences (host phylogeny and life history) to the relatively transient variable of host reproductive condition. In addition, collection locality data, representing the geographic variable, were included in analyses. Results indicate a complex influence of variables in shaping sample relationships in which signal for host phylogeny is recovered at broad taxonomic levels (family), whereas intrafamilial analyses disclosed various degrees of resolution for the remaining variables. Although cumulative probabilities of assignment indicated both reproductive condition and geography influenced relationships, comparison of ecological measures among groups revealed statistical differences between most variable classifications. For example, ranked ecological diversity was associated with host phylogeny (deeper coalescences among families were associated with more microfloral diversity), dietary strategy (herbivory generally retained higher diversity than carnivory) and reproductive condition (reproductively active females displayed more diverse microflora than nonreproductive conditions). Overall, the results of this study describe a complex process shaping microflora communities of wildlife species as well as provide avenues for future research that will further inform the nature of symbiosis between microflora communities and hosts.}, } @article {pmid22519438, year = {2012}, author = {Margassery, LM and Kennedy, J and O'Gara, F and Dobson, AD and Morrissey, JP}, title = {Diversity and antibacterial activity of bacteria isolated from the coastal marine sponges Amphilectus fucorum and Eurypon major.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {2-8}, doi = {10.1111/j.1472-765X.2012.03256.x}, pmid = {22519438}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/isolation & purification ; Antibiosis ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ireland ; *Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Proteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIMS: To assess the diversity and antimicrobial activity of culturable bacteria associated with two temperate-water marine sponges, Amphilectus fucorum and Eurypon major.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Sponge samples were collected in August 2008 and bacteria were cultured on several different media. The 16S rRNA gene of representative strains was sequenced to allow classification. It was found that Proteobacteria were the dominant group of bacteria cultured from both sponges, but overall, the bacterial composition was diverse and distinct between the sponges. The most notable features were the significantly higher proportion of firmicutes in E. major and the low frequency of actinobacteria in both sponges. Four bacterial isolates were identified as potentially novel species and will be characterised in future studies. Approximately 400 cultured bacteria were screened for antimicrobial activity against a collection of indicator strains, with only eight strains, all Pseudovibrio spp., displaying any such activity. These strains were active against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis but not Staphylococcus aureus or a selection of fungal strains.

CONCLUSIONS: Diverse and distinct populations of culturable bacteria are present in the coastal sponges A. fucorum and E. major. Only a minority of isolates produce antibacterial metabolites in culture, but this activity is common in Pseudovibrio spp.

This study illustrates the diversity of sponge-associated bacteria and the need to increase our knowledge about the function of these symbiotic bacteria. The data suggest that production of antibacterial metabolites is restricted to a subset of species, with the majority involved in other functions. The importance of Pseudovibrio as a reservoir of antibacterial metabolites is also highlighted.}, } @article {pmid22517752, year = {2012}, author = {Kleiner, M and Wentrup, C and Lott, C and Teeling, H and Wetzel, S and Young, J and Chang, YJ and Shah, M and VerBerkmoes, NC and Zarzycki, J and Fuchs, G and Markert, S and Hempel, K and Voigt, B and Becher, D and Liebeke, M and Lalk, M and Albrecht, D and Hecker, M and Schweder, T and Dubilier, N}, title = {Metaproteomics of a gutless marine worm and its symbiotic microbial community reveal unusual pathways for carbon and energy use.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {19}, pages = {E1173-82}, pmid = {22517752}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Cycle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ecosystem ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Energy Metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics/methods ; Oligochaeta/*metabolism/microbiology ; Proteomics/*methods ; Seawater ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Low nutrient and energy availability has led to the evolution of numerous strategies for overcoming these limitations, of which symbiotic associations represent a key mechanism. Particularly striking are the associations between chemosynthetic bacteria and marine animals that thrive in nutrient-poor environments such as the deep sea because the symbionts allow their hosts to grow on inorganic energy and carbon sources such as sulfide and CO(2). Remarkably little is known about the physiological strategies that enable chemosynthetic symbioses to colonize oligotrophic environments. In this study, we used metaproteomics and metabolomics to investigate the intricate network of metabolic interactions in the chemosynthetic association between Olavius algarvensis, a gutless marine worm, and its bacterial symbionts. We propose previously undescribed pathways for coping with energy and nutrient limitation, some of which may be widespread in both free-living and symbiotic bacteria. These pathways include (i) a pathway for symbiont assimilation of the host waste products acetate, propionate, succinate and malate; (ii) the potential use of carbon monoxide as an energy source, a substrate previously not known to play a role in marine invertebrate symbioses; (iii) the potential use of hydrogen as an energy source; (iv) the strong expression of high-affinity uptake transporters; and (v) as yet undescribed energy-efficient steps in CO(2) fixation and sulfate reduction. The high expression of proteins involved in pathways for energy and carbon uptake and conservation in the O. algarvensis symbiosis indicates that the oligotrophic nature of its environment exerted a strong selective pressure in shaping these associations.}, } @article {pmid22517738, year = {2012}, author = {Koga, R and Meng, XY and Tsuchida, T and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Cellular mechanism for selective vertical transmission of an obligate insect symbiont at the bacteriocyte-embryo interface.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {20}, pages = {E1230-7}, pmid = {22517738}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; Blastula/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Buchnera/*physiology ; Cell Lineage/physiology ; Endocytosis/*physiology ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization ; Microscopy, Electron ; Serratia/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Many insects are associated with obligate symbiotic bacteria, which are localized in specialized cells called bacteriocytes, vertically transmitted through host generations via ovarial passage, and essential for growth and reproduction of their hosts. Although vertical transmission is pivotal for maintenance of such intimate host-symbiont associations, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the process are largely unknown. Here we report a cellular mechanism for vertical transmission of the obligate symbiont Buchnera in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. In the aphid body, Buchnera cells are transmitted from maternal bacteriocytes to adjacent blastulae at the ovariole tips in a highly coordinated manner. By making use of symbiont-manipulated strains of A. pisum, we demonstrated that the facultative symbiont Serratia is, unlike Buchnera, not transmitted from maternal bacteriocytes to blastulae, suggesting a specific mechanism for Buchnera transmission. EM observations revealed a series of exo-/endocytotic processes operating at the bacteriocyte-blastula interface: Buchnera cells are exocytosed from the maternal bacteriocyte, temporarily released to the extracellular space, and endocytosed by the posterior syncytial cytoplasm of the blastula. These results suggest that the selective Buchnera transmission is likely attributable to Buchnera-specific exocytosis by the maternal bacteriocyte, whereas both Buchnera and Serratia are nonselectively incorporated by the endocytotic activity of the posterior region of the blastula. The sophisticated cellular mechanism for vertical transmission of Buchnera must have evolved to ensure the obligate host-symbiont association, whereas facultative symbionts like Serratia may coopt the endocytotic component of the mechanism for their entry into the host embryos.}, } @article {pmid22517410, year = {2012}, author = {Walder, F and Niemann, H and Natarajan, M and Lehmann, MF and Boller, T and Wiemken, A}, title = {Mycorrhizal networks: common goods of plants shared under unequal terms of trade.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {159}, number = {2}, pages = {789-797}, pmid = {22517410}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biomarkers/analysis ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; Culture Techniques/methods ; Flax/metabolism/*microbiology ; Hyphae/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Phosphorus Isotopes/analysis ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Sorghum/metabolism/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants commonly live in a symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). They invest photosynthetic products to feed their fungal partners, which, in return, provide mineral nutrients foraged in the soil by their intricate hyphal networks. Intriguingly, AMF can link neighboring plants, forming common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs). What are the terms of trade in such CMNs between plants and their shared fungal partners? To address this question, we set up microcosms containing a pair of test plants, interlinked by a CMN of Glomus intraradices or Glomus mosseae. The plants were flax (Linum usitatissimum; a C(3) plant) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; a C(4) plant), which display distinctly different (13)C/(12)C isotope compositions. This allowed us to differentially assess the carbon investment of the two plants into the CMN through stable isotope tracing. In parallel, we determined the plants' "return of investment" (i.e. the acquisition of nutrients via CMN) using (15)N and (33)P as tracers. Depending on the AMF species, we found a strong asymmetry in the terms of trade: flax invested little carbon but gained up to 94% of the nitrogen and phosphorus provided by the CMN, which highly facilitated growth, whereas the neighboring sorghum invested massive amounts of carbon with little return but was barely affected in growth. Overall biomass production in the mixed culture surpassed the mean of the two monocultures. Thus, CMNs may contribute to interplant facilitation and the productivity boosts often found with intercropping compared with conventional monocropping.}, } @article {pmid22513857, year = {2012}, author = {Macdonald, SJ and Lin, GG and Russell, CW and Thomas, GH and Douglas, AE}, title = {The central role of the host cell in symbiotic nitrogen metabolism.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1740}, pages = {2965-2973}, pmid = {22513857}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {BB/F005342/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids, Essential/metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/cytology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Buchnera/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Peas/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen recycling enables animals to thrive on nitrogen-poor diets and environments. It traditionally refers to the utilization of animal waste nitrogen by symbiotic micro-organisms to synthesize essential amino acids (EAAs), which are translocated back to the animal host. We applied metabolic modelling and complementary metabolite profiling to investigate nitrogen recycling in the symbiosis between the pea aphid and the intracellular bacterium Buchnera, which synthesizes EAAs. The results differ from traditional notions of nitrogen recycling in two important respects. First, aphid waste ammonia is recycled predominantly by the host cell (bacteriocyte) and not Buchnera. Host cell recycling is mediated by shared biosynthetic pathways for four EAAs, in which aphid transaminases incorporate ammonia-derived nitrogen into carbon skeletons synthesized by Buchnera to generate EAAs. Second, the ammonia substrate for nitrogen recycling is derived from bacteriocyte metabolism, such that the symbiosis is not a sink for nitrogenous waste from other aphid organs. Host cell-mediated nitrogen recycling may be general among insect symbioses with shared EAA biosynthetic pathways generated by the loss of symbiont genes mediating terminal reactions in EAA synthesis.}, } @article {pmid22512871, year = {2012}, author = {García, I and Mendoza, R}, title = {Impact of defoliation intensities on plant biomass, nutrient uptake and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus tenuis growing in a saline-sodic soil.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {964-971}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00581.x}, pmid = {22512871}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Lotus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/metabolism ; Rhizobium/growth & development ; Salinity ; Salt-Tolerant Plants/growth & development/metabolism/microbiology ; Sodium/metabolism ; Soil/*chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The impact of different defoliation intensities on the ability of Lotus tenuis plants to regrowth, mobilise nutrients and to associate with native AM fungi and Rhizobium in a saline-sodic soil was investigated. After 70 days, plants were subjected to 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% defoliation and shoot regrowth was assessed at the end of subsequent 35 days. Compared to non-defoliated plants, low or moderate defoliation up to 75% did not affect shoot regrowth. However, 100% treatment affected shoot regrowth and the clipped plants were not able to compensate the growth attained by non-defoliated plants. Root growth was more affected by defoliation than shoot growth. P and N concentrations in shoots and roots increased with increasing defoliation while Na(+) concentration in shoots of non-defoliated and moderately defoliated plants was similar. Non-defoliated and moderately defoliated plants prevented increases of Na(+) concentration in shoots through both reducing Na(+) uptake and Na(+) transport to shoots by accumulating Na(+) in roots. At high defoliation, the salinity tolerance mechanism is altered and Na(+) concentration in shoots was higher than in roots. Reduction in the photosynthetic capacity induced by defoliation neither changed the root length colonised by AM fungi nor arbuscular colonisation but decreased the vesicular colonisation. Spore density did not change, but hyphal density and Rhizobium nodules increased with defoliation. The strategy of the AM symbiont consists in investing most of the C resources to preferentially retain arbuscular colonisation as well as inoculum density in the soil.}, } @article {pmid22512707, year = {2012}, author = {Klonowska, A and Chaintreuil, C and Tisseyre, P and Miché, L and Melkonian, R and Ducousso, M and Laguerre, G and Brunel, B and Moulin, L}, title = {Biodiversity of Mimosa pudica rhizobial symbionts (Cupriavidus taiwanensis, Rhizobium mesoamericanum) in New Caledonia and their adaptation to heavy metal-rich soils.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {618-635}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01393.x}, pmid = {22512707}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Cupriavidus/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; New Caledonia ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are soil bacteria able to develop a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes. They are taxonomically spread among the alpha and beta subclasses of the Proteobacteria. Mimosa pudica, a tropical invasive weed, has been found to have an affinity for beta-rhizobia, including species within the Burkholderia and Cupriavidus genera. In this study, we describe the diversity of M. pudica symbionts in the island of New Caledonia, which is characterized by soils with high heavy metal content, especially of Ni. By using a plant-trapping approach on four soils, we isolated 96 strains, the great majority of which belonged to the species Cupriavidus taiwanensis (16S rRNA and recA gene phylogenies). A few Rhizobium strains in the newly described species Rhizobium mesoamericanum were also isolated. The housekeeping and nod gene phylogenies supported the hypothesis of the arrival of the C. taiwanensis and R. mesoamericanum strains together with their host at the time of the introduction of M. pudica in New Caledonia (NC) for its use as a fodder. The C. taiwanensis strains exhibited various tolerances to Ni, Zn and Cr, suggesting their adaptation to the specific environments in NC. Specific metal tolerance marker genes were found in the genomes of these symbionts, and their origin was investigated by phylogenetic analyses.}, } @article {pmid22512380, year = {2012}, author = {Mastouri, F and Björkman, T and Harman, GE}, title = {Trichoderma harzianum enhances antioxidant defense of tomato seedlings and resistance to water deficit.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {9}, pages = {1264-1271}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-11-0240}, pmid = {22512380}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Solanum lycopersicum/*microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Seedlings/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Trichoderma/*physiology ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Some plant-symbiotic strains of the genus Trichoderma colonize roots and induce profound changes in plant gene expression that lead to enhanced growth, especially under biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that one of the protective mechanisms enhanced by T. harzianum T22 colonization is the antioxidant defense mechanism. Having established that strain T22 modulates the expression of the genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, the status of antioxidant defense of tomato seedlings in response to colonization by T22 and water deficit was investigated. Total ascorbate or glutathione levels were not affected by either stimuli, but under water deficit, antioxidant pools became more oxidized (lower ratios of reduced to oxidized forms), whereas colonized plants maintained redox state as high as or higher than unstressed and untreated plants. The enhanced redox state of colonized plants could be explained by their higher activity of ascorbate and glutathione-recycling enzymes, higher activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase, in both root and shoot throughout the experiment. Similar enzymes were induced in uncolonized plants in response to water-deficit stress but to a lower extent when compared with colonized plants. This orchestrated enhancement in activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging pathways in colonized plants in response to stress supports the hypothesis that enhanced resistance of colonized plants to water deficit is at least partly due to higher capacity to scavenge ROS and recycle oxidized ascorbate and glutathione, a mechanism that is expected to enhance tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses.}, } @article {pmid22511920, year = {2012}, author = {Decker, C and Olu, K and Cunha, RL and Arnaud-Haond, S}, title = {Phylogeny and diversification patterns among vesicomyid bivalves.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e33359}, pmid = {22511920}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bivalvia/anatomy & histology/*genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*chemistry ; Electron Transport Complex IV/chemistry/genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Vesicomyid bivalves are among the most abundant and diverse symbiotic taxa in chemosynthetic-based ecosystems: more than 100 different vesicomyid species have been described so far. In the present study, we investigated the phylogenetic positioning of recently described vesicomyid species from the Gulf of Guinea and their western Atlantic and Pacific counterparts using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. The maximum-likelihood (ML) tree provided limited support for the recent taxonomic revision of vesicomyids based on morphological criteria; nevertheless, most of the newly sequenced specimens did not cluster with their morphological conspecifics. Moreover, the observed lack of geographic clustering suggests the occurrence of independent radiations followed by worldwide dispersal. Ancestral character state reconstruction showed a significant correlation between the characters "depth" and "habitat" and the reconstructed ML phylogeny suggesting possible recurrent events of 'stepwise speciation' from shallow to deep waters in different ocean basins. This is consistent with genus or species bathymetric segregation observed from recent taxonomic studies. Altogether, our results highlight the need for ongoing re-evaluation of the morphological characters used to identify vesicomyid bivalves.}, } @article {pmid22511858, year = {2012}, author = {Rodrigues, JF and Rankin, DJ and Rossetti, V and Wagner, A and Bagheri, HC}, title = {Differences in cell division rates drive the evolution of terminal differentiation in microbes.}, journal = {PLoS computational biology}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, pages = {e1002468}, pmid = {22511858}, issn = {1553-7358}, mesh = {Cell Communication/*genetics ; Cell Differentiation/*genetics ; Cell Division ; Clonal Evolution/*genetics ; Computer Simulation ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; *Models, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Multicellular differentiated organisms are composed of cells that begin by developing from a single pluripotent germ cell. In many organisms, a proportion of cells differentiate into specialized somatic cells. Whether these cells lose their pluripotency or are able to reverse their differentiated state has important consequences. Reversibly differentiated cells can potentially regenerate parts of an organism and allow reproduction through fragmentation. In many organisms, however, somatic differentiation is terminal, thereby restricting the developmental paths to reproduction. The reason why terminal differentiation is a common developmental strategy remains unexplored. To understand the conditions that affect the evolution of terminal versus reversible differentiation, we developed a computational model inspired by differentiating cyanobacteria. We simulated the evolution of a population of two cell types -nitrogen fixing or photosynthetic- that exchange resources. The traits that control differentiation rates between cell types are allowed to evolve in the model. Although the topology of cell interactions and differentiation costs play a role in the evolution of terminal and reversible differentiation, the most important factor is the difference in division rates between cell types. Faster dividing cells always evolve to become the germ line. Our results explain why most multicellular differentiated cyanobacteria have terminally differentiated cells, while some have reversibly differentiated cells. We further observed that symbioses involving two cooperating lineages can evolve under conditions where aggregate size, connectivity, and differentiation costs are high. This may explain why plants engage in symbiotic interactions with diazotrophic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22511804, year = {2012}, author = {Talbi, C and Sánchez, C and Hidalgo-Garcia, A and González, EM and Arrese-Igor, C and Girard, L and Bedmar, EJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {Enhanced expression of Rhizobium etli cbb3 oxidase improves drought tolerance of common bean symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {14}, pages = {5035-5043}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/ers101}, pmid = {22511804}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Droughts ; Electron Transport Complex IV/*metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Rhizobium etli/*enzymology/*genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To investigate the involvement of Rhizobium etli cbb(3) oxidase in the response of Phaseolus vulgaris to drought, common bean plants were inoculated with the R. etli strain, CFNX713, overexpressing this oxidase in bacteroids (cbb(3)(+)) and subjected to drought conditions. The negative effect of drought on plant and nodule dryweight, nitrogen content, and nodule functionality was more pronounced in plants inoculated with the wild-type (WT) strain than in those inoculated with the cbb(3)(+) strain. Regardless of the plant treatment, bacteroids produced by the cbb(3)(+) strain showed higher respiratory capacity than those produced by the WT strain. Inoculation of plants with the cbb(3)(+) strain alleviated the negative effect of a moderate drought on the respiratory capacity of bacteroids and the energy charge of the nodules. Expression of the FixP and FixO components of the cbb(3) oxidase was higher in bacteroids of the cbb(3)(+) strain than in those of the WT strain under all experimental conditions. The decline in sucrose synthase activity and the decrease in dicarboxylic acids provoked by moderate drought stress were more pronounced in nodules from plants inoculated with the WT strain than in those inoculated with the cbb(3)(+) strain. Taken together, these results suggest that inoculation of plants with a R. etli strain having enhanced expression of cbb(3) oxidase in bacteroids reduces the sensitivity of P. vulgaris-R. etli symbiosis to drought and can modulate carbon metabolism in nodules.}, } @article {pmid22509881, year = {2012}, author = {Ash, JK and Walters, LK and Prideaux, DJ and Wilson, IG}, title = {The context of clinical teaching and learning in Australia.}, journal = {The Medical journal of Australia}, volume = {196}, number = {7}, pages = {475}, doi = {10.5694/mja10.11488}, pmid = {22509881}, issn = {1326-5377}, mesh = {Australia ; Clinical Clerkship ; *Education, Medical/organization & administration/trends ; *Hospitals, Rural ; *Hospitals, Teaching/trends ; Humans ; Students, Medical ; *Teaching ; }, abstract = {Gaining clinical experience for an extended period of time in teaching hospitals is one of the enduring strengths of medical education. Teaching hospitals have recently faced significant challenges, with increasing specialisation of services and workload pressures reducing clinical learning opportunities. New clinical teaching environments have been established in Australia, particularly in rural and regional areas; these are proving to be ideal contexts for student learning. The new clinical teaching environments have shown the importance of developing symbiotic relationships between universities and health services. Symbiotic clinical learning is built around longitudinal, patient-based learning emphasising priority health concerns. The symbiotic framework provides a basis for reconstructing clinical teaching in teaching hospitals so th@they continue to play a vital role in Australian medical education, with additional clinical experience provided by primary care and community, rural and regional hospitals.}, } @article {pmid22509766, year = {2012}, author = {Poulsen, M and Sapountzis, P}, title = {Behind every great ant, there is a great gut.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {2054-2057}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05510.x}, pmid = {22509766}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; *Metagenome ; }, abstract = {Ants are quite possibly the most successful insects on Earth, with an estimated 10,000 species worldwide, making up at least a third of the global insect biomass, and comprising several times the biomass of all land vertebrates combined. Ant species have diverse trophic habits, including herbivory, hunting/gathering, scavenging and predation and are distributed in diverse habitats, performing a variety of important ecosystem functions. Often they exert these functions while engaging in symbiotic associations with other insects, plants or microbes; however, remarkably little work has focused on the potential contribution of the ants' gut symbionts. This issue of Molecular Ecology contains a study by Anderson et al. (2012), who take a comparative approach to explore the link between trophic levels and ant microbiomes, specifically, to address three main questions: (i) Do closely related herbivorous ants share similar bacterial communities? (ii) Do species of predatory ants share similar bacterial communities? (iii) Do distantly related herbivorous ants tend to share similar bacterial communities? By doing so, the authors demonstrate that ants with similar trophic habits appear to have relatively conserved gut microbiomes, suggesting symbiont functions that directly relate to dietary preference of the ant host. These findings suggest an ecological role of gut symbionts in ants, for example, in metabolism and/or protection, and the comparative approach taken supports a model of co-evolution between ant species and specific core symbiont microbiomes. This study, thereby, highlights the omnipresence and importance of gut symbioses-also in the Hymenoptera-and suggests that these hitherto overlooked microbes likely have contributed to the ecological success of the ants.}, } @article {pmid22509347, year = {2012}, author = {Dirks, U and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Leisch, N and Bulgheresi, S and Egger, B and Ladurner, P and Ott, JA}, title = {Bacterial symbiosis maintenance in the asexually reproducing and regenerating flatworm Paracatenula galateia.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e34709}, pmid = {22509347}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Click Chemistry ; Mitosis/physiology ; Platyhelminths/*microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Reproduction, Asexual/*physiology ; Rhodospirillales/*physiology ; S Phase/physiology ; Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Thymidine ; }, abstract = {Bacteriocytes set the stage for some of the most intimate interactions between animal and bacterial cells. In all bacteriocyte possessing systems studied so far, de novo formation of bacteriocytes occurs only once in the host development, at the time of symbiosis establishment. Here, we present the free-living symbiotic flatworm Paracatenula galateia and its intracellular, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as a system with previously undescribed strategies of bacteriocyte formation and bacterial symbiont transmission. Using thymidine analogue S-phase labeling and immunohistochemistry, we show that all somatic cells in adult worms - including bacteriocytes - originate exclusively from aposymbiotic stem cells (neoblasts). The continued bacteriocyte formation from aposymbiotic stem cells in adult animals represents a previously undescribed strategy of symbiosis maintenance and makes P. galateia a unique system to study bacteriocyte differentiation and development. We also provide morphological and immunohistochemical evidence that P. galateia reproduces by asexual fragmentation and regeneration (paratomy) and, thereby, vertically transmits numerous symbiont-containing bacteriocytes to its asexual progeny. Our data support the earlier reported hypothesis that the symbiont population is subjected to reduced bottleneck effects. This would justify both the codiversification between Paracatenula hosts and their Candidatus Riegeria symbionts, and the slow evolutionary rates observed for several symbiont genes.}, } @article {pmid22509341, year = {2012}, author = {Kaniewska, P and Campbell, PR and Kline, DI and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M and Miller, DJ and Dove, S and Hoegh-Guldberg, O}, title = {Major cellular and physiological impacts of ocean acidification on a reef building coral.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e34659}, pmid = {22509341}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Carbon Dioxide/*chemistry ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Photosynthesis ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As atmospheric levels of CO(2) increase, reef-building corals are under greater stress from both increased sea surface temperatures and declining sea water pH. To date, most studies have focused on either coral bleaching due to warming oceans or declining calcification due to decreasing oceanic carbonate ion concentrations. Here, through the use of physiology measurements and cDNA microarrays, we show that changes in pH and ocean chemistry consistent with two scenarios put forward by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) drive major changes in gene expression, respiration, photosynthesis and symbiosis of the coral, Acropora millepora, before affects on biomineralisation are apparent at the phenotype level. Under high CO(2) conditions corals at the phenotype level lost over half their Symbiodinium populations, and had a decrease in both photosynthesis and respiration. Changes in gene expression were consistent with metabolic suppression, an increase in oxidative stress, apoptosis and symbiont loss. Other expression patterns demonstrate upregulation of membrane transporters, as well as the regulation of genes involved in membrane cytoskeletal interactions and cytoskeletal remodeling. These widespread changes in gene expression emphasize the need to expand future studies of ocean acidification to include a wider spectrum of cellular processes, many of which may occur before impacts on calcification.}, } @article {pmid22507289, year = {2012}, author = {Seears, HA and Darling, KF and Wade, CM}, title = {Ecological partitioning and diversity in tropical planktonic foraminifera.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {54}, pmid = {22507289}, issn = {1471-2148}, support = {BBS/S/K/6 2004/11230//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Bayes Theorem ; *Environment ; Foraminifera/*genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Geography ; Oceans and Seas ; *Phylogeny ; Plankton/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ecological processes are increasingly being viewed as an important mode of diversification in the marine environment, where the high dispersal potential of pelagic organisms, and a lack of absolute barriers to gene flow may limit the occurrence of allopatric speciation through vicariance. Here we focus on the potential role of ecological partitioning in the diversification of a widely distributed group of marine protists, the planktonic foraminifera. Sampling was conducted in the tropical Arabian Sea, during the southwest (summer) monsoon, when pronounced environmental conditions result in a strong disparity in temperature, salinity and productivity between distinct northern and southern water masses.

RESULTS: We uncovered extensive genetic diversity within the Arabian Sea planktonic foraminifera, identifying 13 morphospecies, represented by 20 distinct SSU rRNA genetic types. Several morphospecies/genetic types displayed non-random biogeographical distributions, partitioning between the northern and southern water masses, giving a strong indication of independent ecological adaptations.

CONCLUSIONS: We propose sea-surface primary productivity as the main factor driving the geographical segregation of Arabian Sea planktonic foraminifera, during the SW monsoon, with variations in symbiotic associations possibly playing a role in the specific ecological adaptations observed. Our findings suggest that ecological partitioning could be contributing to the high levels of 'cryptic' genetic diversity observed within the planktonic foraminifera, and support the view that ecological processes may play a key role in the diversification of marine pelagic organisms.}, } @article {pmid22505803, year = {2012}, author = {Schüller, A and Slater, AW and Norambuena, T and Cifuentes, JJ and Almonacid, LI and Melo, F}, title = {Computer-based annotation of putative AraC/XylS-family transcription factors of known structure but unknown function.}, journal = {Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {103132}, pmid = {22505803}, issn = {1110-7251}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; AraC Transcription Factor/chemistry/*classification ; Binding Sites ; Cluster Analysis ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Databases, Protein ; Models, Molecular ; Models, Statistical ; Molecular Sequence Annotation/*methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; Transcription Factors/chemistry/*classification ; }, abstract = {Currently, about 20 crystal structures per day are released and deposited in the Protein Data Bank. A significant fraction of these structures is produced by research groups associated with the structural genomics consortium. The biological function of many of these proteins is generally unknown or not validated by experiment. Therefore, a growing need for functional prediction of protein structures has emerged. Here we present an integrated bioinformatics method that combines sequence-based relationships and three-dimensional (3D) structural similarity of transcriptional regulators with computer prediction of their cognate DNA binding sequences. We applied this method to the AraC/XylS family of transcription factors, which is a large family of transcriptional regulators found in many bacteria controlling the expression of genes involved in diverse biological functions. Three putative new members of this family with known 3D structure but unknown function were identified for which a probable functional classification is provided. Our bioinformatics analyses suggest that they could be involved in plant cell wall degradation (Lin2118 protein from Listeria innocua, PDB code 3oou), symbiotic nitrogen fixation (protein from Chromobacterium violaceum, PDB code 3oio), and either metabolism of plant-derived biomass or nitrogen fixation (protein from Rhodopseudomonas palustris, PDB code 3mn2).}, } @article {pmid22504817, year = {2012}, author = {Collins, AJ and LaBarre, BA and Won, BS and Shah, MV and Heng, S and Choudhury, MH and Haydar, SA and Santiago, J and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Diversity and partitioning of bacterial populations within the accessory nidamental gland of the squid Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {12}, pages = {4200-4208}, pmid = {22504817}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/cytology/*isolation & purification ; *Biota ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Female ; Genitalia, Female/cytology/microbiology ; *Microbial Consortia ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Microbial consortia confer important benefits to animal and plant hosts, and model associations are necessary to examine these types of host/microbe interactions. The accessory nidamental gland (ANG) is a female reproductive organ found among cephalopod mollusks that contains a consortium of bacteria, the exact function of which is unknown. To begin to understand the role of this organ, the bacterial consortium was characterized in the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, a well-studied model organism for symbiosis research. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of the ANG revealed dense bacterial assemblages of rod- and coccus-shaped cells segregated by morphology into separate, epithelium-lined tubules. The host epithelium was morphologically heterogeneous, containing ciliated and nonciliated cells with various brush border thicknesses. Hemocytes of the host's innate immune system were also found in close proximity to the bacteria within the tubules. A census of 16S rRNA genes suggested that Rhodobacterales, Rhizobiales, and Verrucomicrobia bacteria were prevalent, with members of the genus Phaeobacter dominating the consortium. Analysis of 454-shotgun sequencing data confirmed the presence of members of these taxa and revealed members of a fourth, Flavobacteria of the Bacteroidetes phylum. 16S rRNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that many ANG tubules were dominated by members of specific taxa, namely, Rhodobacterales, Verrucomicrobia, or Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroidetes, suggesting symbiont partitioning to specific host tubules. In addition, FISH revealed that bacteria, including Phaeobacter species from the ANG, are likely deposited into the jelly coat of freshly laid eggs. This report establishes the ANG of the invertebrate E. scolopes as a model to examine interactions between a bacterial consortium and its host.}, } @article {pmid22504801, year = {2012}, author = {Salunke, BK and Salunkhe, RC and Dhotre, DP and Walujkar, SA and Khandagale, AB and Chaudhari, R and Chandode, RK and Ghate, HV and Patole, MS and Werren, JH and Shouche, YS}, title = {Determination of Wolbachia diversity in butterflies from Western Ghats, India, by a multigene approach.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {12}, pages = {4458-4467}, pmid = {22504801}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Butterflies/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; India ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Recombination, Genetic ; Wolbachia/*classification/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Members of the genus Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that are widespread in arthropods and establish diverse symbiotic associations with their hosts, ranging from mutualism to parasitism. Here we present the first detailed analyses of Wolbachia in butterflies from India with screening of 56 species. Twenty-nine species (52%) representing five families were positive for Wolbachia. This is the first report of Wolbachia infection in 27 of the 29 species; the other two were reported previously. This study also provides the first evidence of infection in the family Papilionidae. A striking diversity was observed among Wolbachia strains in butterfly hosts based on five multilocus sequence typing (MLST) genes, with 15 different sequence types (STs). Thirteen STs are new to the MLST database, whereas ST41 and ST125 were reported earlier. Some of the same host species from this study carried distinctly different Wolbachia strains, whereas the same or different butterfly hosts also harbored closely related Wolbachia strains. Butterfly-associated STs in the Indian sample originated by recombination and point mutation, further supporting the role of both processes in generating Wolbachia diversity. Recombination was detected only among the STs in this study and not in those from the MLST database. Most of the strains were remarkably similar in their wsp genotype, despite divergence in MLST. Only two wsp alleles were found among 25 individuals with complete hypervariable region (HVR) peptide profiles. Although both wsp and MLST show variability, MLST gives better separation between the strains. Completely different STs were characterized for the individuals sharing the same wsp alleles.}, } @article {pmid22503896, year = {2012}, author = {Balasubramanian, N and Nascimento, G and Ferreira, R and Martinez, M and Simões, N}, title = {Pepsin-like aspartic protease (Sc-ASP155) cloning, molecular characterization and gene expression analysis in developmental stages of nematode Steinernema carpocapsae.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {500}, number = {2}, pages = {164-171}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2012.03.062}, pmid = {22503896}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid Proteases/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*genetics ; Helminth Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Moths/*parasitology ; Pepsin A/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA, Helminth/genetics ; Rhabditida/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/physiology ; }, abstract = {Steinernema carpocapsae is an insect parasitic nematode associated with the bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. These symbiotic complexes are virulent against the insect host. Many protease genes were shown previously to be induced during parasitism, including one predicted to encode an aspartic protease, which was cloned and analyzed in this study. A cDNA encoding Sc-ASP155 was cloned based on the EST fragment. The full-length cDNA of Sc-ASP155 consists of 955 nucleotides with multiple domains, including a signal peptide (aa1-15), a pro-peptide region (aa16-45), and a typical catalytic aspartic domain (aa71-230). The putative 230 amino acid residues have a calculated molecular mass of 23,812Da and a theoretical pI of 5.01. Sc-ASP155 blastp analysis showed 40-62% amino acid sequence identity to aspartic proteases from parasitic and free-living nematodes. Expression analysis showed that the sc-asp155 gene was up-regulated during the initial parasitic stage, especially in L3 gut and 6h induced nematodes. Sequence comparison revealed that Sc-ASP155 was a member of an aspartic protease family and phylogenetic analysis indicated that Sc-ASP155 was clustered with Sc-ASP113. In situ hybridization showed that sc-asp155 was expressed in subventral cells. Additionally, we determined that sc-asp155 is a single-copy gene in S. carpocapsae. Homology modeling showed that Sc-ASP155 adopts a typical aspartic protease structure. The up-regulated Sc-ASP155 expression revealed that this protease could play a role in the parasitic process. In this study, we have cloned the gene and determined the expression of the pepsin-like aspartic protease Sc-ASP155 in S. carpocapsae.}, } @article {pmid22503273, year = {2012}, author = {Deng, BP and Zhang, Y and Wang, QJ and Xu, XF and Zhang, H and Yang, YM and Mao, HT and Gao, WJ and Song, BF and Kong, BH and Qu, X}, title = {Soluble BAFF-R produced by decidual stromal cells plays an inhibitory role in monocytes and macrophages.}, journal = {Reproductive biomedicine online}, volume = {24}, number = {6}, pages = {654-663}, doi = {10.1016/j.rbmo.2012.02.024}, pmid = {22503273}, issn = {1472-6491}, mesh = {B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor/*metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Decidua/cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Macrophages/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Monocytes/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Poly I-C/metabolism/pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Stromal Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 3/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; }, abstract = {A sophisticated immunological regulation between decidual stromal cells (DSC) and monocytes and macrophages is essential for the successful symbiosis of the mother and her fetus, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The mRNA and proteins of B lymphocyte stimulator (BAFF, also known as BLys) and its receptor, BAFF-R (also known as BR3, CD268 or TNFRSF17), have been detected in both first-trimester and term placentas, but whether BAFF or BAFF-R participates in the cross-talk between DSC and monocytes and macrophages in the first-trimester pregnancy has not been described. This study found that purified DSC extensively shed BAFF-R and that polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C); a synthetic toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 agonist) dramatically up-regulated BAFF-R secretion, suggesting that release of these soluble proteins was an inherent property of DSC and its induction might have relevance to TLR-3-mediated signal transduction. When monocytes were cultured with the supernatants of resting DSC or poly(I:C)-treated DSC, the proliferation of CD14(+)HLA-DR(+) monocytes (P=0.025 and 0.045) and the secretion levels of tumour necrosis factor α (P=0.035 and 0.031) and interleukin 6 (P=0.021 and 0.035) were significantly increased after the BAFF-R was blocked. Soluble BAFF-R may play inhibitory roles in monocytes and macrophages.}, } @article {pmid22500943, year = {2012}, author = {Miyashiro, T and Ruby, EG}, title = {Shedding light on bioluminescence regulation in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {84}, number = {5}, pages = {795-806}, pmid = {22500943}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {K99 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K99 GM097032-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1K99GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Luminescence ; Luminescent Proteins/*metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Quorum Sensing ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The bioluminescence emitted by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri is a particularly striking result of individual microbial cells co-ordinating a group behaviour. The genes responsible for light production are principally regulated by the LuxR-LuxI quorum-sensing system. In addition to LuxR-LuxI, numerous other genetic elements and environmental conditions control bioluminescence production. Efforts to mathematically model the LuxR-LuxI system are providing insight into the dynamics of this autoinduction behaviour. The Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes forms a natural symbiosis with V. fischeri, and utilizes the symbiont-derived bioluminescence for certain nocturnal behaviours, such as counterillumination. Recent work suggests that the tissue with which V. fischeri associates not only can detect bioluminescence but may also use this light to monitor the V. fischeri population.}, } @article {pmid22499208, year = {2012}, author = {Peleg-Grossman, S and Melamed-Book, N and Levine, A}, title = {ROS production during symbiotic infection suppresses pathogenesis-related gene expression.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {409-415}, pmid = {22499208}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Cytosol/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics/physiology ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Pseudomonas putida/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Leguminous plants have exclusive ability to form symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria of the genus Rhizobium. Symbiosis is a complex process that involves multiple molecular signaling activities, such as calcium fluxes, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and synthesis of nodulation genes. We analyzed the role of ROS in defense gene expression in Medicago truncatula during symbiosis and pathogenesis. Studies in Arabidopsis thaliana showed that the induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes during systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is regulated by NPR1 protein, which resides in the cytoplasm as an oligomer. After oxidative burst and return of reducing conditions, the NPR1 undergoes monomerization and becomes translocated to the nucleus, where it functions in PR genes induction. We show that ROS production is both stronger and longer during symbiotic interactions than during interactions with pathogenic, nonhost or common nonpathogenic soil bacteria. Moreover, root cells inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti accumulated ROS in the cytosol but not in vacuoles, as opposed to Pseudomonas putida inoculation or salt stress treatment. Furthermore, increased ROS accumulation by addition of H2O2 reduced the PR gene expression, while catalase had an opposite effect, establishing that the PR gene expression is opposite to the level of cytoplasmic ROS. In addition, we show that salicylic acid pretreatment significantly reduced ROS production in root cells during symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid22499167, year = {2012}, author = {Gaude, N and Schulze, WX and Franken, P and Krajinski, F}, title = {Cell type-specific protein and transcription profiles implicate periarbuscular membrane synthesis as an important carbon sink in the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {461-464}, pmid = {22499167}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Biological Transport/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Carbon Sequestration/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Lipid Metabolism/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/genetics/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Proteome/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The development of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is a non-synchronous process with typical mycorrhizal root containing different symbiotic stages at one time. Methods providing cell type-specific resolution are therefore required to separate these stages and analyze each particular structure independently from each other. We established an experimental system for analyzing specific proteomic changes in arbuscule-containing cells of Glomus intraradices colonized Medicago truncatula roots. The combination of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass chromatography (LC-MS/MS) allowed the identification of proteins with specific or increased expression in arbuscule-containing cells. Consistent with previous transcriptome data, the proteome of arbuscule-containing cells showed an increased number of proteins involved in lipid metabolism, most likely related to the synthesis of the periarbuscular membrane. In addition, transcriptome data of non-colonized cells of mycorrhizal roots suggest mobilization of carbon resources and their symplastic transport toward arbuscule-containing cells for the synthesis of periarbuscular membranes. This highlights the periarbuscular membrane as important carbon sink in the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22497806, year = {2012}, author = {Xiao, Y and Meng, F and Qiu, D and Yang, X}, title = {Two novel antimicrobial peptides purified from the symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus budapestensis NMC-10.}, journal = {Peptides}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {253-260}, doi = {10.1016/j.peptides.2012.03.027}, pmid = {22497806}, issn = {1873-5169}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemical synthesis/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Bacillus/drug effects ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; Fungi/*drug effects ; Fusarium/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Phytophthora/drug effects ; Prototheca/drug effects ; Ralstonia solanacearum/drug effects ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Verticillium/drug effects ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria, which are carried in the intestinal vesicle of the infective stage of juvenile entomopathogenic nematodes, produce broad-spectrum antibiotics. In this study, we aimed to isolate the antimicrobial peptides from the culture of the entomopathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus budapestensis NMC-10. By screening chromatography columns and optimizing flow rate, pH, salinity and other purification conditions, we identified the final purification procedures which consisted of Q ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and two-step reverse-phase chromatography. Two novel antimicrobial peptides were identified via Q-TOF-TOF and de novo sequencing, and designated as GP-19 and EP-20. Both natural and synthetic peptides demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. The synthetic GP-19 peptide was active against Verticillium dahlia with EC(50) values of 17.54 μg/ml and highly inhibited the growth of a variety of bacteria, while the synthetic EP-20 peptide was highly active against Phytophthora capsici with EC(50) values of 3.14 μg/ml.}, } @article {pmid22496914, year = {2012}, author = {Kipfer, T and Wohlgemuth, T and van der Heijden, MG and Ghazoul, J and Egli, S}, title = {Growth response of drought-stressed Pinus sylvestris seedlings to single- and multi-species inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {4}, pages = {e35275}, pmid = {22496914}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Droughts ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/*growth & development ; Pinus sylvestris/enzymology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Seedlings/enzymology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Water/administration & dosage ; }, abstract = {Many trees species form symbiotic associations with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, which improve nutrient and water acquisition of their host. Until now it is unclear whether the species richness of ECM fungi is beneficial for tree seedling performance, be it during moist conditions or drought. We performed a pot experiment using Pinus sylvestris seedlings inoculated with four selected ECM fungi (Cenococcum geophilum, Paxillus involutus, Rhizopogon roseolus and Suillus granulatus) to investigate (i) whether these four ECM fungi, in monoculture or in species mixtures, affect growth of P. sylvestris seedlings, and (ii) whether this effect can be attributed to species number per se or to species identity. Two different watering regimes (moist vs. dry) were applied to examine the context-dependency of the results. Additionally, we assessed the activity of eight extracellular enzymes in the root tips. Shoot growth was enhanced in the presence of S. granulatus, but not by any other ECM fungal species. The positive effect of S. granulatus on shoot growth was more pronounced under moist (threefold increase) than under dry conditions (twofold increase), indicating that the investigated ECM fungi did not provide additional support during drought stress. The activity of secreted extracellular enzymes was higher in S. granulatus than in any other species. In conclusion, our findings suggest that ECM fungal species composition may affect seedling performance in terms of aboveground biomass.}, } @article {pmid22493242, year = {2012}, author = {Tian, CF and Garnerone, AM and Mathieu-Demazière, C and Masson-Boivin, C and Batut, J}, title = {Plant-activated bacterial receptor adenylate cyclases modulate epidermal infection in the Sinorhizobium meliloti-Medicago symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {17}, pages = {6751-6756}, pmid = {22493242}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Adenylyl Cyclases/*metabolism ; Cyclic AMP/metabolism ; Medicago/*parasitology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*pathogenicity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legumes and soil bacteria called rhizobia have coevolved a facultative nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Establishment of the symbiosis requires bacterial entry via root hair infection threads and, in parallel, organogenesis of nodules that subsequently are invaded by bacteria. Tight control of nodulation and infection is required to maintain the mutualistic character of the interaction. Available evidence supports a passive bacterial role in nodulation and infection after the microsymbiont has triggered the symbiotic plant developmental program. Here we identify in Sinorhizobium meliloti, the Medicago symbiont, a cAMP-signaling regulatory cascade consisting of three receptor-like adenylate cyclases, a Crp-like regulator, and a target gene of unknown function. The cascade is activated specifically by a plant signal during nodule organogenesis. Cascade inactivation results in a hyperinfection phenotype consisting of abortive epidermal infection events uncoupled from nodulation. These findings show that, in response to a plant signal, rhizobia play an active role in the control of infection. We suggest that rhizobia may modulate the plant's susceptibility to infection. This regulatory loop likely aims at optimizing legume infection.}, } @article {pmid22492433, year = {2012}, author = {Sorroche, FG and Spesia, MB and Zorreguieta, A and Giordano, W}, title = {A positive correlation between bacterial autoaggregation and biofilm formation in native Sinorhizobium meliloti isolates from Argentina.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {12}, pages = {4092-4101}, pmid = {22492433}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Argentina ; *Bacterial Adhesion ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium that elicits nodule formation on roots of alfalfa plants. S. meliloti produces two exopolysaccharides (EPSs), termed EPS I and EPS II, that are both able to promote symbiosis. EPS I and EPS II are secreted in two major fractions that reflect differing degrees of subunit polymerization, designated high- and low-molecular-weight fractions. We reported previously that EPSs are crucial for autoaggregation and biofilm formation in S. meliloti reference strains and isogenic mutants. However, the previous observations were obtained by use of "domesticated" laboratory strains, with mutations resulting from successive passages under unnatural conditions, as has been documented for reference strain Rm1021. In the present study, we analyzed the autoaggregation and biofilm formation abilities of native S. meliloti strains isolated from root nodules of alfalfa plants grown in four regions of Argentina. 16S rRNA gene analysis of all the native isolates revealed a high degree of identity with reference S. meliloti strains. PCR analysis of the expR gene of all the isolates showed that, as in the case of reference strain Rm8530, this gene is not interrupted by an insertion sequence (IS) element. A positive correlation was found between autoaggregation and biofilm formation abilities in these rhizobia, indicating that both processes depend on the same physical adhesive forces. Extracellular complementation experiments using mutants of the native strains showed that autoaggregation was dependent on EPS II production. Our results indicate that a functional EPS II synthetic pathway and its proper regulation are essential for cell-cell interactions and surface attachment of S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid22491358, year = {2012}, author = {Koropatkin, NM and Cameron, EA and Martens, EC}, title = {How glycan metabolism shapes the human gut microbiota.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {5}, pages = {323-335}, pmid = {22491358}, issn = {1740-1534}, support = {T32 GM007544/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK034933/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM07544/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Biota ; *Diet ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms that reside in the human intestine are adept at foraging glycans and polysaccharides, including those in dietary plants (starch, hemicellulose and pectin), animal-derived cartilage and tissue (glycosaminoglycans and N-linked glycans), and host mucus (O-linked glycans). Fluctuations in the abundance of dietary and endogenous glycans, combined with the immense chemical variation among these molecules, create a dynamic and heterogeneous environment in which gut microorganisms proliferate. In this Review, we describe how glycans shape the composition of the gut microbiota over various periods of time, the mechanisms by which individual microorganisms degrade these glycans, and potential opportunities to intentionally influence this ecosystem for better health and nutrition.}, } @article {pmid22489964, year = {2012}, author = {Saari, S and Faeth, SH}, title = {Hybridization of Neotyphodium endophytes enhances competitive ability of the host grass.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {195}, number = {1}, pages = {231-236}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04140.x}, pmid = {22489964}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Endophytes ; Festuca/*microbiology/*physiology ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {• Associations with microbial symbionts may lead to niche differentiation of their host. Vertically transmitted Neotyphodium endophytes of grasses often hybridize in nature. Infection by these hybrid symbionts may result in different host-plant phenotypes from those caused as a result of infection by nonhybrid symbionts. Observations of wild Arizona fescue (Festuca arizonica) populations show that hybrid Neotyphodium-infected (H+) grasses dominate in resource-poor environments, whereas nonhybrid endophyte-infected (NH+) grasses dominate in environments with more resources. We studied the hypothesis that hybridization of endophytes increases stress tolerance of the host. • To test whether hybridization of Neotyphodium affects performance and competitive abilities of the host depending on resources, we conducted a glasshouse experiment where competition, nutrients and watering were manipulated. • H+ plants had greater wet biomass than NH+ and endophyte-free plants, when grown in competition, but only in low-water and low-nutrient treatments. By contrast, NH+ plants did not perform better than H+ or endophyte-free plants regardless of the treatment combination. • Our results suggest that hybridization of symbiotic Neotyphodium endophytes may increase competitive potential of the host in stressful environments and that this hybridization may be underlying niche expansion of Arizona fescue in the environments with low resources.}, } @article {pmid22486918, year = {2012}, author = {Sullam, KE and Essinger, SD and Lozupone, CA and O'Connor, MP and Rosen, GL and Knight, R and Kilham, SS and Russell, JA}, title = {Environmental and ecological factors that shape the gut bacterial communities of fish: a meta-analysis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {13}, pages = {3363-3378}, pmid = {22486918}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {/HHMI_/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Fishes/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria often help their hosts acquire nutrients from their diet, showing trends of co-evolution and independent acquisition by hosts from the same trophic levels. While these trends hint at important roles for biotic factors, the effects of the abiotic environment on symbiotic community composition remain comparably understudied. In this investigation, we examined the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the gut bacterial communities of fish from different taxa, trophic levels and habitats. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses of 25 16S rRNA libraries revealed that salinity, trophic level and possibly host phylogeny shape the composition of fish gut bacteria. When analysed alongside bacterial communities from other environments, fish gut communities typically clustered with gut communities from mammals and insects. Similar consideration of individual phylotypes (vs. communities) revealed evolutionary ties between fish gut microbes and symbionts of animals, as many of the bacteria from the guts of herbivorous fish were closely related to those from mammals. Our results indicate that fish harbour more specialized gut communities than previously recognized. They also highlight a trend of convergent acquisition of similar bacterial communities by fish and mammals, raising the possibility that fish were the first to evolve symbioses resembling those found among extant gut fermenting mammals.}, } @article {pmid22486781, year = {2012}, author = {Chavez-Dozal, A and Hogan, D and Gorman, C and Quintanal-Villalonga, A and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Multiple Vibrio fischeri genes are involved in biofilm formation and host colonization.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {562-573}, pmid = {22486781}, issn = {1574-6941}, support = {R25 GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R25GM061222/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; IOS-0744498//PHS HHS/United States ; 1SC1AI081659-01/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC1 AI081659/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biofilms ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Fimbriae Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Flagella/metabolism ; Genes, Regulator ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Biofilms are increasingly recognized as being the predominant form for survival for most bacteria in the environment. The successful colonization of Vibrio fischeri in its squid host Euprymna tasmanica involves complex microbe-host interactions mediated by specific genes that are essential for biofilm formation and colonization. Here, structural and regulatory genes were selected to study their role in biofilm formation and host colonization. We have mutated several genes (pilT, pilU, flgF, motY, ibpA and mifB) by an insertional inactivation strategy. The results demonstrate that structural genes responsible for synthesis of type IV pili and flagella are crucial for biofilm formation and host infection. Moreover, regulatory genes affect colony aggregation by various mechanisms, including alteration of synthesis of transcriptional factors and regulation of extracellular polysaccharide production. These results reflect the significance of how genetic alterations influence communal behavior, which is important in understanding symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid22486441, year = {2012}, author = {Nascimento, FX and Brígido, C and Glick, BR and Oliveira, S and Alho, L}, title = {Mesorhizobium ciceri LMS-1 expressing an exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase increases its nodulation abilities and chickpea plant resistance to soil constraints.}, journal = {Letters in applied microbiology}, volume = {55}, number = {1}, pages = {15-21}, doi = {10.1111/j.1472-765X.2012.03251.x}, pmid = {22486441}, issn = {1472-765X}, mesh = {Biological Control Agents ; Biomass ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases/*metabolism ; Cicer/growth & development/*microbiology ; Fusarium/pathogenicity ; Mesorhizobium/*enzymology/physiology ; Organisms, Genetically Modified/physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {AIMS: Our goal was to understand the symbiotic behaviour of a Mesorhizobium strain expressing an exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, which was used as an inoculant of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) plants growing in soil.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Mesorhizobium ciceri LMS-1 (pRKACC) was tested for its plant growth promotion abilities on two chickpea cultivars (ELMO and CHK3226) growing in nonsterilized soil that displayed biotic and abiotic constraints to plant growth. When compared to its wild-type form, the M. ciceri LMS-1 (pRKACC) strain showed an increased nodulation performance of c. 125 and 180% and increased nodule weight of c. 45 and 147% in chickpea cultivars ELMO and CHK3226, respectively. Mesorhizobium ciceri LMS-1 (pRKACC) was also able to augment the total biomass of both chickpea plant cultivars by c. 45% and to reduce chickpea root rot disease susceptibility.

CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained indicate that the production of ACC deaminase under free living conditions by Mesorhizobium strains increases the nodulation, plant growth abilities and biocontrol potential of these strains.

This is the first study regarding the use of a transformed rhizobial strain expressing an exogenous ACC deaminase in different plant cultivars growing in soil. Hence, obtaining Mesorhizobium strains with high ACC deaminase activity is a matter of extreme importance for the development of inoculants for field applications.}, } @article {pmid22484923, year = {2012}, author = {Abe, T and Sahin, FP and Akiyama, K and Naito, T and Kishigami, M and Miyamoto, K and Sakakibara, Y and Uemura, D}, title = {Construction of a metagenomic library for the marine sponge Halichondria okadai.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {76}, number = {4}, pages = {633-639}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.110533}, pmid = {22484923}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*genetics ; Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Animals ; Centrifugation ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomic Library ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbionts of the marine sponge Halichondria okadai are promising as a source of natural products. Metagenomic technology is a powerful tool for accessing the genetic and biochemical potential of bacteria. Hence, we established a method of recovering bacterial-enriched metagenomic DNA by stepwise centrifugation. The metagenomic DNA was analyzed by ultrafast 454-pyrosequencing technology, and the results suggested that more than three types of bacterial DNA, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria, had been recovered, and that eukaryotic genes comprised only 0.02% of the metagenomic DNA. These results indicate that stepwise centrifugation and real-time quantitative PCR were effective for separating sponge cells and symbiotic bacteria, and that we constructed a bacteria-enriched metagenomic library from a marine sponge, H. okadai, selectively for the first time.}, } @article {pmid22483052, year = {2012}, author = {Tondello, A and Vendramin, E and Villani, M and Baldan, B and Squartini, A}, title = {Fungi associated with the southern Eurasian orchid Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {116}, number = {4}, pages = {543-549}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2012.02.004}, pmid = {22483052}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Endophytes/*classification/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Fungi/*classification/cytology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Italy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Orchidaceae/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The hitherto unknown relationships between the European orchid Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall and its internally associated fungi were explored by a combined approach involving microscopy-based investigations at a morpho-histological level as well as by molecular analyses of the identity of the eukaryotic endophytes present in the root tissue of the plant. We found that this orchid which is currently reported to have a vulnerable status in northern Italy, can host and interact with at least nine types of fungi. Some of these fungi show similarity to mycorrhizal genera found in orchids such as the Ceratobasidium-Rhizoctonia group. Other fungi found are from the genera Davidiella (Ascomycota), Leptosphaeria (Ascomycota), Alternaria (Ascomycota), and Malassezia (Basidiomycota), some of which until have not previously been reported to have an endophytic relationship with plants. The repeated occurrence of often pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum, Bionectria ochroleuca, and Alternaria sp., within healthy specimens of this orchid suggests a tempered interaction with species that are sometimes deleterious to non-orchid plants. The fact is reminiscent of the symbiotic compromise established by orchids with fungi of the rhizoctonia group.}, } @article {pmid22481122, year = {2012}, author = {Balestrini, R and Sillo, F and Kohler, A and Schneider, G and Faccio, A and Tisserant, E and Martin, F and Bonfante, P}, title = {Genome-wide analysis of cell wall-related genes in Tuber melanosporum.}, journal = {Current genetics}, volume = {58}, number = {3}, pages = {165-177}, pmid = {22481122}, issn = {1432-0983}, mesh = {Ascomycota/classification/*genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Cell Wall/*genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; *Genome, Fungal ; Genomics ; Glucans/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Reproducibility of Results ; }, abstract = {A genome-wide inventory of proteins involved in cell wall synthesis and remodeling has been obtained by taking advantage of the recently released genome sequence of the ectomycorrhizal Tuber melanosporum black truffle. Genes that encode cell wall biosynthetic enzymes, enzymes involved in cell wall polysaccharide synthesis or modification, GPI-anchored proteins and other cell wall proteins were identified in the black truffle genome. As a second step, array data were validated and the symbiotic stage was chosen as the main focus. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments were performed on 29 selected genes to verify their expression during ectomycorrhizal formation. The results confirmed the array data, and this suggests that cell wall-related genes are required for morphogenetic transition from mycelium growth to the ectomycorrhizal branched hyphae. Labeling experiments were also performed on T. melanosporum mycelium and ectomycorrhizae to localize cell wall components.}, } @article {pmid22479675, year = {2012}, author = {Hill, RD}, title = {Non-symbiotic haemoglobins-What's happening beyond nitric oxide scavenging?.}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {2012}, number = {}, pages = {pls004}, pmid = {22479675}, issn = {2041-2851}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-symbiotic haemoglobins have been an active research topic for over 30 years, during which time a considerable portfolio of knowledge has accumulated relative to their chemical and molecular properties, and their presence and mode of induction in plants. While progress has been made towards understanding their physiological role, there remain a number of unanswered questions with respect to their biological function. This review attempts to update recent progress in this area and to introduce a hypothesis as to how non-symbiotic haemoglobins might participate in regulating hormone signal transduction.

PRINCIPAL RESULTS: Advances have been made towards understanding the structural nuances that explain some of the differences in ligand association characteristics of class 1 and class 2 non-symbiotic haemoglobins. Non-symbiotic haemoglobins have been found to function in seed development and germination, flowering, root development and differentiation, abiotic stress responses, pathogen invasion and symbiotic bacterial associations. Microarray analyses under various stress conditions yield uneven results relative to non-symbiotic haemoglobin expression. Increasing evidence of the role of nitric oxide (NO) in hormone responses and the known involvement of non-symbiotic haemoglobins in scavenging NO provide opportunities for fruitful research, particularly at the cellular level.

CONCLUSIONS: Circumstantial evidence suggests that non-symbiotic haemoglobins may have a critical function in the signal transduction pathways of auxin, ethylene, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, cytokinin and abscisic acid. There is a strong need for research on haemoglobin gene expression at the cellular level relative to hormone signal transduction.}, } @article {pmid22479626, year = {2012}, author = {Carilli, J and Donner, SD and Hartmann, AC}, title = {Historical temperature variability affects coral response to heat stress.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e34418}, pmid = {22479626}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/growth & development/*physiology ; Climate ; Coral Reefs ; Micronesia ; Stress, Physiological ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching is the breakdown of symbiosis between coral animal hosts and their dinoflagellate algae symbionts in response to environmental stress. On large spatial scales, heat stress is the most common factor causing bleaching, which is predicted to increase in frequency and severity as the climate warms. There is evidence that the temperature threshold at which bleaching occurs varies with local environmental conditions and background climate conditions. We investigated the influence of past temperature variability on coral susceptibility to bleaching, using the natural gradient in peak temperature variability in the Gilbert Islands, Republic of Kiribati. The spatial pattern in skeletal growth rates and partial mortality scars found in massive Porites sp. across the central and northern islands suggests that corals subject to larger year-to-year fluctuations in maximum ocean temperature were more resistant to a 2004 warm-water event. In addition, a subsequent 2009 warm event had a disproportionately larger impact on those corals from the island with lower historical heat stress, as indicated by lower concentrations of triacylglycerol, a lipid utilized for energy, as well as thinner tissue in those corals. This study indicates that coral reefs in locations with more frequent warm events may be more resilient to future warming, and protection measures may be more effective in these regions.}, } @article {pmid22479509, year = {2012}, author = {Kerner, A and Park, J and Williams, A and Lin, XN}, title = {A programmable Escherichia coli consortium via tunable symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e34032}, pmid = {22479509}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Bacterial Proteins ; Biofuels ; Calibration ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical/methods ; Coculture Techniques ; Escherichia coli/*genetics/metabolism ; Genetic Engineering/methods ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Luminescent Proteins ; *Microbial Consortia ; Microbiological Techniques/methods ; Models, Biological ; Models, Statistical ; Plasmids/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; Tyrosine/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Synthetic microbial consortia that can mimic natural systems have the potential to become a powerful biotechnology for various applications. One highly desirable feature of these consortia is that they can be precisely regulated. In this work we designed a programmable, symbiotic circuit that enables continuous tuning of the growth rate and composition of a synthetic consortium. We implemented our general design through the cross-feeding of tryptophan and tyrosine by two E. coli auxotrophs. By regulating the expression of genes related to the export or production of these amino acids, we were able to tune the metabolite exchanges and achieve a wide range of growth rates and strain ratios. In addition, by inverting the relationship of growth/ratio vs. inducer concentrations, we were able to "program" the co-culture for pre-specified attributes with the proper addition of inducing chemicals. This programmable proof-of-concept circuit or its variants can be applied to more complex systems where precise tuning of the consortium would facilitate the optimization of specific objectives, such as increasing the overall efficiency of microbial production of biofuels or pharmaceuticals.}, } @article {pmid22479445, year = {2012}, author = {Tani, A and Takai, Y and Suzukawa, I and Akita, M and Murase, H and Kimbara, K}, title = {Practical application of methanol-mediated mutualistic symbiosis between Methylobacterium species and a roof greening moss, Racomitrium japonicum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e33800}, pmid = {22479445}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/growth & development ; Bryophyta/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Methanol/*metabolism ; Methylobacterium/*growth & development/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Bryophytes, or mosses, are considered the most maintenance-free materials for roof greening. Racomitrium species are most often used due to their high tolerance to desiccation. Because they grow slowly, a technology for forcing their growth is desired. We succeeded in the efficient production of R. japonicum in liquid culture. The structure of the microbial community is crucial to stabilize the culture. A culture-independent technique revealed that the cultures contain methylotrophic bacteria. Using yeast cells that fluoresce in the presence of methanol, methanol emission from the moss was confirmed, suggesting that it is an important carbon and energy source for the bacteria. We isolated Methylobacterium species from the liquid culture and studied their characteristics. The isolates were able to strongly promote the growth of some mosses including R. japonicum and seed plants, but the plant-microbe combination was important, since growth promotion was not uniform across species. One of the isolates, strain 22A, was cultivated with R. japonicum in liquid culture and in a field experiment, resulting in strong growth promotion. Mutualistic symbiosis can thus be utilized for industrial moss production.}, } @article {pmid22479120, year = {2011}, author = {Cieślik, M and Derewenda, ZS and Mura, C}, title = {Abstractions, algorithms and data structures for structural bioinformatics in PyCogent.}, journal = {Journal of applied crystallography}, volume = {44}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {424-428}, pmid = {22479120}, issn = {0021-8898}, support = {U54 GM074946/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {To facilitate flexible and efficient structural bioinformatics analyses, new functionality for three-dimensional structure processing and analysis has been introduced into PyCogent - a popular feature-rich framework for sequence-based bioinformatics, but one which has lacked equally powerful tools for handling stuctural/coordinate-based data. Extensible Python modules have been developed, which provide object-oriented abstractions (based on a hierarchical representation of macromolecules), efficient data structures (e.g.kD-trees), fast implementations of common algorithms (e.g. surface-area calculations), read/write support for Protein Data Bank-related file formats and wrappers for external command-line applications (e.g. Stride). Integration of this code into PyCogent is symbiotic, allowing sequence-based work to benefit from structure-derived data and, reciprocally, enabling structural studies to leverage PyCogent's versatile tools for phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses.}, } @article {pmid22477033, year = {2012}, author = {Shi, H and Zeng, H and Yang, X and Zhao, J and Chen, M and Qiu, D}, title = {An insecticidal protein from Xenorhabdus ehlersii triggers prophenoloxidase activation and hemocyte decrease in Galleria mellonella.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {6}, pages = {604-610}, pmid = {22477033}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {Animals ; Catechol Oxidase/*metabolism ; Chaperonin 60/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Enzyme Precursors/*metabolism ; Hemocytes/*immunology ; Insecticides/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Larva/immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Lepidoptera/immunology/*microbiology/physiology ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Survival Analysis ; Xenorhabdus/chemistry/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {The bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. are entomopathogenic symbionts that can produce several toxic proteins that interfere the immune system of insects. We purified an insecticidal protein from Xenorhabdus ehlersii, and designated it as XeGroEL with an estimated molecular mass of ~58 kDa. Galleria mellonella larva injected with XeGroEL presented prophenoloxidase activation and hemocyte decrease. XeGroEL can kill G. mellonella larva in 48 h with an LD(50) of 0.76 ± 0.08 μg/larva. Our results demonstrate that X. ehlersii possesses a toxic XeGroEL protein acting as a potential factor to activate proPO in host insect, which also provides a meaningful hypothesis to understand the interaction between nematode-symbiotic bacteria and host.}, } @article {pmid22476036, year = {2012}, author = {Duran, VA and Todd, CD}, title = {Four allantoinase genes are expressed in nitrogen-fixing soybean.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {54}, number = {}, pages = {149-155}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2012.03.002}, pmid = {22476036}, issn = {1873-2690}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases/*genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Duplication ; *Gene Expression ; *Genes, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Germination/genetics ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Phaseolus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots ; Polyploidy ; Soybeans/enzymology/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr]) plants export nitrogen from the nodules as ureides during symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation. Ureides also play a role as nitrogen storage compounds in the seeds and are broken down in germinating seedlings. In this work we identified four soybean genes encoding allantoinase (E.C. 3.5.2.5), an enzyme involved in both ureide production in nodules and ureide catabolism in leaves and other sink tissues. We examined ureide content, allantoinase enzyme activity and expression of these genes, which we term GmALN1 through GmALN4, in germinating seedlings and in vegetative tissues from 45 day old soybean plants. GmALN1 and GmALN2 transcripts were measured in all tissues, but similar levels of expression of GmALN3 and GmALN4 was only observed in nodules. The soybean allantoinase genes seem to have arisen through tandem gene duplication followed by a whole genome duplication. We looked for evidence of the tandem duplication in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and present evidence that it occured sometime in the bean lineage before these two species diverged, but before soybean became a tetraploid.}, } @article {pmid22475377, year = {2012}, author = {Arrighi, JF and Cartieaux, F and Brown, SC and Rodier-Goud, M and Boursot, M and Fardoux, J and Patrel, D and Gully, D and Fabre, S and Chaintreuil, C and Giraud, E}, title = {Aeschynomene evenia, a model plant for studying the molecular genetics of the nod-independent rhizobium-legume symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {851-861}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-12-0045-TA}, pmid = {22475377}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Agrobacterium ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/physiology ; DNA, Plant/analysis/genetics ; Fabaceae/anatomy & histology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Flowers/anatomy & histology ; Genetic Markers ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Stems/anatomy & histology ; Pollination ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Seedlings/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transformation, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Research on the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis has been focused, thus far, on two model legumes, Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, which use a sophisticated infection process involving infection thread formation. However, in 25% of the legumes, the bacterial entry occurs more simply in an intercellular fashion. Among them, some Aeschynomene spp. are nodulated by photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium spp. that do not produce Nod factors. This interaction is believed to represent a living testimony of the ancestral state of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. To decipher the mechanisms of this Nod-independent process, we propose Aeschynomene evenia as a model legume because it presents all the characteristics required for genetic and molecular analysis. It is a short-perennial and autogamous species, with a diploid and relatively small genome (2n=20; 460 Mb/1C). A. evenia 'IRFL6945' is nodulated by the well-characterized photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS278 and is efficiently transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Aeschynomene evenia is genetically homozygous but polymorphic accessions were found. A manual hybridization procedure has been set up, allowing directed crosses. Therefore, it should be relatively straightforward to unravel the molecular determinants of the Nod-independent process in A. evenia. This should shed new light on the evolution of rhizobium-legume symbiosis and could have important agronomic implications.}, } @article {pmid22473978, year = {2012}, author = {Cheeke, TE and Rosenstiel, TN and Cruzan, MB}, title = {Evidence of reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization in multiple lines of Bt maize.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {99}, number = {4}, pages = {700-707}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1100529}, pmid = {22473978}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Bacillus thuringiensis/*metabolism ; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Endotoxins/metabolism ; Hemolysin Proteins/metabolism ; Hyphae/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Soil Microbiology ; Soybeans/growth & development/microbiology ; Zea mays/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Insect-resistant Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize is widely cultivated, yet few studies have examined the interaction of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with different lines of Bt maize. As obligate symbionts, AMF may be sensitive to genetic changes within a plant host. Previous evaluations of the impact of Bt crops on AMF have been inconsistent, and because most studies were conducted under disparate experimental conditions, the results are difficult to compare.

METHODS: We evaluate AMF colonization in nine Bt maize lines, differing in number and type of engineered trait, and five corresponding near-isogenic parental (P) base hybrids in greenhouse microcosms. Plants were grown in 50% local agricultural soil with low levels of fertilization, and AMF colonization was evaluated at 60 and 100 d. Nontarget effects of Bt cultivation on AMF colonization were tested in a subsequently planted crop, Glycine max, which was seeded into soil that had been preconditioned for 60 d with Bt or P maize.

KEY RESULTS: We found that Bt maize had lower levels of AMF colonization in their roots than did the non-Bt parental lines. However, reductions in AMF colonization were not related to the expression of a particular Bt protein. There was no difference in AMF colonization in G. max grown in the Bt- or P-preconditioned soil.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings are the first demonstration of a reduction in AMF colonization in multiple Bt maize lines grown under the same experimental conditions and contribute to the growing body of knowledge examining the unanticipated effects of Bt crop cultivation on nontarget soil organisms.}, } @article {pmid22471936, year = {2012}, author = {Zambare, VP and Christopher, LP}, title = {Biopharmaceutical potential of lichens.}, journal = {Pharmaceutical biology}, volume = {50}, number = {6}, pages = {778-798}, doi = {10.3109/13880209.2011.633089}, pmid = {22471936}, issn = {1744-5116}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Antioxidants/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Biodiversity ; Biological Products/chemistry/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Drug Discovery ; Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Insecticides/chemistry ; Lichens/*chemistry/genetics/growth & development ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {CONTEXT: Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic association of a fungus (the mycobiont) with a photosynthetic partner (the phytobiont), usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium. The morphology, physiology and biochemistry of lichens are very different from those of the isolated fungus and alga in culture. Lichens occur in some of the most extreme environments on the Earth and may be useful to scientists in many commercial applications.

OBJECTIVE: Over the past 2 decades, there has been a renewed and growing interest in lichens as a source of novel, pharmacologically active biomolecules. This review summarizes the past and current research and development trends in the characterization and use of lichens and their bioactive compounds in traditional medicine and other biopharmaceutical applications of commercial interest.

METHODS: The present review contains 10 illustrations and 188 references compiled from major databases including Science Direct, Chemical Abstracts, PubMed and Directory of Open Access Journals.

RESULTS: Lichen morphology, symbiosis, diversity and bioactivities including enzyme inhibitory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-insecticidal and antioxidant actions were reviewed and summarized. Recent progress in lichens and lichen-forming fungi was discussed with emphasis on their potential to accelerate commercialization of lichen-based products.

CONCLUSIONS: Lichens are an untapped source of biological activities of industrial importance and their potential is yet to be fully explored and utilized. Lichen-derived bioactive compounds hold great promise for biopharmaceutical applications as antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic agents and in the development of new formulations or technologies for the benefit of human life.}, } @article {pmid22469289, year = {2012}, author = {Rineau, F and Roth, D and Shah, F and Smits, M and Johansson, T and Canbäck, B and Olsen, PB and Persson, P and Grell, MN and Lindquist, E and Grigoriev, IV and Lange, L and Tunlid, A}, title = {The ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus converts organic matter in plant litter using a trimmed brown-rot mechanism involving Fenton chemistry.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1477-1487}, pmid = {22469289}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Agaricales/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Carbon/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*metabolism ; Iron/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/growth & development/metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/metabolism/microbiology ; Wood/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Soils in boreal forests contain large stocks of carbon. Plants are the main source of this carbon through tissue residues and root exudates. A major part of the exudates are allocated to symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi. In return, the plant receives nutrients, in particular nitrogen from the mycorrhizal fungi. To capture the nitrogen, the fungi must at least partly disrupt the recalcitrant organic matter-protein complexes within which the nitrogen is embedded. This disruption process is poorly characterized. We used spectroscopic analyses and transcriptome profiling to examine the mechanism by which the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus degrades organic matter when acquiring nitrogen from plant litter. The fungus partially degraded polysaccharides and modified the structure of polyphenols. The observed chemical changes were consistent with a hydroxyl radical attack, involving Fenton chemistry similar to that of brown-rot fungi. The set of enzymes expressed by Pa. involutus during the degradation of the organic matter was similar to the set of enzymes involved in the oxidative degradation of wood by brown-rot fungi. However, Pa. involutus lacked transcripts encoding extracellular enzymes needed for metabolizing the released carbon. The saprotrophic activity has been reduced to a radical-based biodegradation system that can efficiently disrupt the organic matter-protein complexes and thereby mobilize the entrapped nutrients. We suggest that the released carbon then becomes available for further degradation and assimilation by commensal microbes, and that these activities have been lost in ectomycorrhizal fungi as an adaptation to symbiotic growth on host photosynthate. The interdependence of ectomycorrhizal symbionts and saprophytic microbes would provide a key link in the turnover of nutrients and carbon in forest ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid22468989, year = {2012}, author = {Dhami, MK and Turner, AP and Deines, P and Beggs, JR and Taylor, MW}, title = {Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of a bacterial symbiosis in the ecologically important scale insect family Coelostomidiidae.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {3}, pages = {537-546}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01378.x}, pmid = {22468989}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; New Zealand ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Scale insects are important ecologically and as agricultural pests. The majority of scale insect taxa feed exclusively on plant phloem sap, which is carbon rich but deficient in essential amino acids. This suggests that, as seen in the related aphids and psyllids, scale insect nutrition might also depend upon bacterial symbionts, yet very little is known about scale insect-bacteria symbioses. We report here the first identification and molecular characterization of symbiotic bacteria associated with the New Zealand giant scale Coelostomidia wairoensis, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 16S rRNA gene-based analysis. Dissection and FISH confirmed the location of the bacteria in large, paired, multilobate organs in the abdominal region of the insect. TEM indicated that the dominant pleomorphic bacteria were confined to bacteriocytes in the sheath-enclosed bacteriome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of three distinct bacterial types, the bacteriome-associated B-symbiont (Bacteroidetes), an Erwinia-related symbiont (Gammaproteobacteria) and Wolbachia sp. (Alphaproteobacteria). This study extends the current knowledge of scale insect symbionts and is the first microbiological investigation of the ecologically important coelostomidiid scales.}, } @article {pmid22467133, year = {2012}, author = {Soler, R and Van der Putten, WH and Harvey, JA and Vet, LE and Dicke, M and Bezemer, TM}, title = {Root herbivore effects on aboveground multitrophic interactions: patterns, processes and mechanisms.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {38}, number = {6}, pages = {755-767}, pmid = {22467133}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecosystem ; *Herbivory ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Insecta/*physiology ; Plant Components, Aerial/*parasitology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Roots/*parasitology ; Plants/*parasitology ; }, abstract = {In terrestrial food webs, the study of multitrophic interactions traditionally has focused on organisms that share a common domain, mainly above ground. In the last two decades, it has become clear that to further understand multitrophic interactions, the barrier between the belowground and aboveground domains has to be crossed. Belowground organisms that are intimately associated with the roots of terrestrial plants can influence the levels of primary and secondary chemistry and biomass of aboveground plant parts. These changes, in turn, influence the growth, development, and survival of aboveground insect herbivores. The discovery that soil organisms, which are usually out of sight and out of mind, can affect plant-herbivore interactions aboveground raised the question if and how higher trophic level organisms, such as carnivores, could be influenced. At present, the study of above-belowground interactions is evolving from interactions between organisms directly associated with the plant roots and shoots (e.g., root feeders - plant - foliar herbivores) to interactions involving members of higher trophic levels (e.g., parasitoids), as well as non-herbivorous organisms (e.g., decomposers, symbiotic plant mutualists, and pollinators). This multitrophic approach linking above- and belowground food webs aims at addressing interactions between plants, herbivores, and carnivores in a more realistic community setting. The ultimate goal is to understand the ecology and evolution of species in communities and, ultimately how community interactions contribute to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we summarize studies on the effects of root feeders on aboveground insect herbivores and parasitoids and discuss if there are common trends. We discuss the mechanisms that have been reported to mediate these effects, from changes in concentrations of plant nutritional quality and secondary chemistry to defense signaling. Finally, we discuss how the traditional framework of fixed paired combinations of root- and shoot-related organisms feeding on a common plant can be transformed into a more dynamic and realistic framework that incorporates community variation in species, densities, space and time, in order to gain further insight in this exciting and rapidly developing field.}, } @article {pmid22466405, year = {2012}, author = {Vergara, R and Rubio, S and Pérez, FJ}, title = {Hypoxia and hydrogen cyanamide induce bud-break and up-regulate hypoxic responsive genes (HRG) and VvFT in grapevine-buds.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {79}, number = {1-2}, pages = {171-178}, pmid = {22466405}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Anaerobiosis/drug effects ; Cyanamide/*pharmacology ; Flowers/drug effects/*genetics/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*drug effects ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Oxygen/*pharmacology ; Plant Dormancy/drug effects/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Up-Regulation/*drug effects ; Vitis/drug effects/*genetics ; }, abstract = {It has been reported that dormancy-breaking compound hydrogen cyanamide (HC) stimulates the fermentative pathway and inhibits respiration in grapevine-buds, suggesting in this way, that a respiratory stress must be involved in the release of buds from dormancy. Here, we tested low-oxygen effect (hypoxia) on the bud-break response of endodormant grapevine buds, and HC and hypoxia effects on the expression of hypoxic responsive genes (HRG) PYRUVATE DECARBOXYLASE (VvPDC), ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (VvADH2), SUCROSE SYNTHASE (VvSUSY), non-symbiotic HEMOGLOBIN (VvnsHb), and on FLOWERING LOCUS T (VvFT), a transcription factor related to dormancy release in Vitis. Hypoxia as HC, induce transiently the expression of HRG and VvFT and hasten the sprouting of endodormant grapevine-buds. During the first 24 h after treatment, HRG and VvFT were strongly induced by hypoxia, subsequently, their expressions fell, and 14 days post-treatment increased again above control levels. These results indicate that in the short-term, a respiratory stress, caused either by oxygen deprivation or by inhibitors of respiration, induces transiently the expression of HRG and VvFT, and in the long-term, along with the advancement of bud-break, the expression of these genes move forward in treated buds, suggesting that these second induction that occurs just before bud-break is developmentally regulated.}, } @article {pmid22465740, year = {2012}, author = {Li, X and Guo, W and Ding, J}, title = {Mycangial fungus benefits the development of a leaf-rolling weevil, Euops chinesis.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {6}, pages = {867-873}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2012.03.011}, pmid = {22465740}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cellulose/analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Fallopia japonica/microbiology/*parasitology ; Female ; Lignin/analysis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Penicillium/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology/parasitology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Survival Analysis ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/*physiology ; }, abstract = {While a wide array of insects form symbiotic relationships with microbes, the underlying mechanisms of these relationships are various and complex. In this study, we investigated the role that the mycangial fungus Penicillium herquei plays in the development of the leaf-rolling weevil Euops chinesis, which feeds on the knotweed Fallopia japonica. The weevil inoculates the fungus during oviposition into a leaf-roll that it creates for its larvae. We found that removal of P. herquei inocula from leaf-rolls significantly decreased the weevil's survival rate especially in the larval stage. Although inoculation with P. herquei had no effect on the plant's lignin content, it significantly decreased the cellulose content of the knotweed leaves. P. herquei also showed antibiotic properties against two fungi (Rhizopus sp.) that attack the weevil's leaf-rolls. Our results suggest that the mycangial fungus may help alter leaf chemical components and protect against pathogens thus improve leaf-rolls for the development of E. chinesis.}, } @article {pmid22465162, year = {2012}, author = {Tanaka, A and Takemoto, D and Chujo, T and Scott, B}, title = {Fungal endophytes of grasses.}, journal = {Current opinion in plant biology}, volume = {15}, number = {4}, pages = {462-468}, doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2012.03.007}, pmid = {22465162}, issn = {1879-0356}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/*growth & development ; Epichloe/genetics/*growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Poaceae/*genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Epichloae endophytes form mutualistic symbiotic associations with temperate grasses and confer on the host a number of bioprotective benefits through production of fungal secondary metabolites and changed host metabolism. Maintenance of this mutualistic interaction requires that growth of the endophyte within the host is restricted. Recent work has shown that epichloae endophytes grow in the leaves by intercalary division and extension rather than tip growth. This novel pattern of growth enables the fungus to synchronise its growth with that of the host. Reactive oxygen species signalling is required to maintain this pattern of growth. Disruption of components of the NADPH oxidase complex or a MAP kinase, result in a switch from restricted to proliferative growth and a breakdown in the symbiosis. RNAseq analysis of mutant and wild-type associations identifies key fungal and plant genes that define the symbiotic state. Endophyte genes for secondary metabolite biosynthesis are only expressed in the plant and under conditions of restricted growth.}, } @article {pmid22463809, year = {2012}, author = {Li, M and Li, Y and Chen, WF and Sui, XH and Li, Y and Li, Y and Wang, ET and Chen, WX}, title = {Genetic diversity, community structure and distribution of rhizobia in the root nodules of Caragana spp. from arid and semi-arid alkaline deserts, in the north of China.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {4}, pages = {239-245}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.02.004}, pmid = {22463809}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biota ; Caragana/*microbiology ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Desert Climate ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Potassium/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity of 88 Caragana nodule rhizobial isolates, collected from arid and semi-arid alkaline sandy soils in the north of China, was assessed by PCR-RFLP of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S IGS, as well as the phylogenies of housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII and recA) and symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH). Of the 88 strains, 69 were placed in the genus Mesorhizobium, 16 in Rhizobium and 3 in Bradyrhizobium. Mesorhizobium amorphae, Mesorhizobium septentrionale, Mesorhizobium temperatum and Rhizobium yanglingense were the four predominant microsymbionts associated with Caragana spp. in the surveyed regions, and M. septentrionale was widely distributed among the sampling sites. Phylogenies of nodC and nifH genes showed that two kinds of symbiotic genes existed, corresponding to Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium, respectively. Available phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) contents were the main soil factors correlated with the distribution of these rhizobia in the sampling regions. Positive correlations between the available higher P content/lower K content and the dominance of Mesorhizobium species (M. temperatum, M. amorphae and M. septentrionale), and between the lower P content/higher K content and the dominance of R. yanglingense were found.}, } @article {pmid22463346, year = {2012}, author = {Malomed, BA and Kaup, DJ and Van Gorder, RA}, title = {Unstaggered-staggered solitons in two-component discrete nonlinear Schrödinger lattices.}, journal = {Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {85}, number = {2 Pt 2}, pages = {026604}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.85.026604}, pmid = {22463346}, issn = {1550-2376}, abstract = {We present stable bright solitons built of coupled unstaggered and staggered components in a symmetric system of two discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations with the attractive self-phase-modulation nonlinearity, coupled by the repulsive cross-phase-modulation interaction. These mixed modes are of a "symbiotic" type, as each component in isolation may only carry ordinary unstaggered solitons. The results are obtained in an analytical form, using the variational and Thomas-Fermi approximations (VA and TFA), and the generalized Vakhitov-Kolokolov (VK) criterion for the evaluation of the stability. The analytical predictions are verified against numerical results. Almost all the symbiotic solitons are predicted by the VA quite accurately and are stable. Close to a boundary of the existence region of the solitons (which may feature several connected branches), there are broad solitons which are not well approximated by the VA and are unstable.}, } @article {pmid22463064, year = {2012}, author = {Kazamia, E and Czesnick, H and Nguyen, TT and Croft, MT and Sherwood, E and Sasso, S and Hodson, SJ and Warren, MJ and Smith, AG}, title = {Mutualistic interactions between vitamin B12 -dependent algae and heterotrophic bacteria exhibit regulation.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {1466-1476}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02733.x}, pmid = {22463064}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {BB/E024203/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/I013164/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Vitamin B 12/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Many algae are auxotrophs for vitamin B(12) (cobalamin), which they need as a cofactor for B(12) -dependent methionine synthase (METH). Because only prokaryotes can synthesize the cobalamin, they must be the ultimate source of the vitamin. In the laboratory, a direct interaction between algae and heterotrophic bacteria has been shown, with bacteria supplying cobalamin in exchange for fixed carbon. Here we establish a system to study this interaction at the molecular level. In a culture of a B(12) -dependent green alga Chlamydomonas nivalis, we found a contaminating bacterium, identified by 16S rRNA analysis as Mesorhizobium sp. Using the sequenced strain of M. loti (MAFF303099), we found that it was able to support the growth of B(12) -dependent Lobomonas rostrata, another green alga, in return for fixed carbon. The two organisms form a stable equilibrium in terms of population numbers, which is maintained over many generations in semi-continuous culture, indicating a degree of regulation. However, addition of either vitamin B(12) or a carbon source for the bacteria perturbs the equilibrium, demonstrating that the symbiosis is mutualistic and facultative. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii does not require B(12) for growth because it encodes a B(12) -independent methionine synthase, METE, the gene for which is suppressed by addition of exogenous B(12) . Co-culturing C. reinhardtii with M. loti also results in reduction of METE expression, demonstrating that the bacterium can deliver the vitamin to this B(12) -independent alga. We discuss the implications of this for the widespread distribution of cobalamin auxotrophy in the algal kingdom.}, } @article {pmid22459863, year = {2012}, author = {Kimoto-Nira, H and Aoki, R and Mizumachi, K and Sasaki, K and Naito, H and Sawada, T and Suzuki, C}, title = {Interaction between Lactococcus lactis and Lactococcus raffinolactis during growth in milk: development of a new starter culture.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {95}, number = {4}, pages = {2176-2185}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2011-4824}, pmid = {22459863}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Load ; Cattle ; Cultured Milk Products/microbiology ; Lactococcus/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Lactococcus lactis/growth & development/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Milk/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Taste ; }, abstract = {Many milk fermentations use mixed cultures of lactic acid bacteria. To select a new mixed starter culture, 100 acid-producing bacterial strains were isolated from raw cow milk. Of these, 13 strains identified as belonging to the genera Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, or Weissella (based on phenotypic and genotypic tests) were assessed for a symbiotic effect between pairs of isolated strains during growth in milk. Among the strains tested, a mixed culture of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis strain 54 and Lactococcus raffinolactis strain 37 stimulated greater acid production during fermentation than occurred with pure fermentation. This stimulatory effect was not observed in milk supplemented with yeast extract or glucose or in constituted medium. Addition of a cell-free filtrate from milk fermented by strain 54 increased acid production by strain 37; however, the converse effect was not observed. The increased acid production by this mixed culture was, therefore, due to stimulation of strain 37 by metabolic products of strain 54, suggesting that the interaction between strains 54 and 37 is commensal. Analysis with a taste-sensing system indicated that fermented milk containing the mixed culture was more acidic, had more anionic bitterness, had greater aftertastes of anionic bitterness and astringency, and was less salty and umami than milk containing the individual cultures. This study identifies a new commensal relationship between 2 lactococcal strains that are commonly used for making dairy products.}, } @article {pmid22458810, year = {2012}, author = {Criscuolo, G and Valkov, VT and Parlati, A and Alves, LM and Chiurazzi, M}, title = {Molecular characterization of the Lotus japonicus NRT1(PTR) and NRT2 families.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {35}, number = {9}, pages = {1567-1581}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3040.2012.02510.x}, pmid = {22458810}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Anion Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cytokinins/pharmacology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Gene Regulatory Networks/genetics ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Lotus/drug effects/*genetics/microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; Multigene Family/*genetics ; Nitrate Transporters ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/drug effects/microbiology ; Time Factors ; Transcription, Genetic/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Nitrate is an essential element for plant growth, both as a primary nutrient in the nitrogen assimilation pathway and as an important signal for plant development. Low- and high-affinity transport systems are involved in the nitrate uptake from the soil and its distribution between different plant tissues. By an in silico search, we identified putative members of both systems in the model legume Lotus japonicus. We investigated, by a time course analysis, the transcripts abundance in root tissues of nine and four genes encoding putative low-affinity (NRT1) and high-affinity (NRT2) nitrate transporters, respectively. The genes were sub-classified as inducible, repressible and constitutive on the basis of their responses to provision of nitrate, auxin or cytokinin. Furthermore, the analysis of the pattern of expression in root and nodule tissues after Mesorhizobium loti inoculation permitted the identification of sequences significantly regulated during the symbiotic interaction. The interpretation of the global regulative networks obtained allowed to postulate roles for nitrate transporters as possible actors in the cross-talks between different signalling pathways triggered by biotic and abiotic factors.}, } @article {pmid22458451, year = {2012}, author = {Dreier, A and Stannek, L and Blumenberg, M and Taviani, M and Sigovini, M and Wrede, C and Thiel, V and Hoppert, M}, title = {The fingerprint of chemosymbiosis: origin and preservation of isotopic biosignatures in the nonseep bivalve Loripes lacteus compared with Venerupis aurea.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {480-493}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01374.x}, pmid = {22458451}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animal Shells/*chemistry ; Animals ; Bacteria/*enzymology/genetics ; Bivalvia/chemistry/*microbiology ; Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Isotopes/*analysis ; Fossils ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/analysis ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidoreductases Acting on Sulfur Group Donors/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/analysis ; Sulfur/analysis ; Sulfur Isotopes/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endosymbionts in marine bivalves leave characteristic biosignatures in their host organisms. Two nonseep bivalve species collected in Mediterranean lagoons, thiotrophic symbiotic Loripes lacteus and filter-feeding nonsymbiotic Venerupis aurea, were studied in detail with respect to generation and presence of such signatures in living animals, and the preservation of these signals in subfossil (late Pleistocene) sedimentary shells. Three key enzymes from sulfur oxidation (APS-reductase), CO(2) fixation (RubisCO) and assimilation of nitrogen [glutamine synthetase (GS)] were detected by immunofluorescence in the bacterial symbionts of Loripes. In Loripes, major activity was derived from GS of the symbionts whereas in Venerupis the host GS is active. In search of geologically stable biosignatures for thiotrophic chemosymbiosis that might be suitable to detect such associations in ancient bivalves, we analyzed the isotopic composition of shell lipids (δ(13)C) and the bulk organic matrix of the shell (δ(13)C , δ(15)N , δ(34)S). In the thiotrophic Loripes, δ(13)C values were depleted compared with the filter-feeding Venerupis by as much as 8.5‰ for individual fatty acids, and 4.4‰ for bulk organic carbon. Likewise, bulk δ(15)N and δ(34)S values were more depleted in recent thiotrophic Loripes. Whereas δ (34)S values were found to be unstable over time, the combined δ(15)N and δ(13)C values in organic shell extracts revealed a specific signature for chemosymbiosis in recent and subfossil specimens.}, } @article {pmid22457967, year = {2012}, author = {Doney, SC and Ruckelshaus, M and Duffy, JE and Barry, JP and Chan, F and English, CA and Galindo, HM and Grebmeier, JM and Hollowed, AB and Knowlton, N and Polovina, J and Rabalais, NN and Sydeman, WJ and Talley, LD}, title = {Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.}, journal = {Annual review of marine science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {11-37}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-041911-111611}, pmid = {22457967}, issn = {1941-1405}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Carbon Dioxide/chemistry ; *Climate Change ; *Ecosystem ; Oceans and Seas ; Seawater/chemistry ; }, abstract = {In marine ecosystems, rising atmospheric CO2 and climate change are associated with concurrent shifts in temperature, circulation, stratification, nutrient input, oxygen content, and ocean acidification, with potentially wide-ranging biological effects. Population-level shifts are occurring because of physiological intolerance to new environments, altered dispersal patterns, and changes in species interactions. Together with local climate-driven invasion and extinction, these processes result in altered community structure and diversity, including possible emergence of novel ecosystems. Impacts are particularly striking for the poles and the tropics, because of the sensitivity of polar ecosystems to sea-ice retreat and poleward species migrations as well as the sensitivity of coral-algal symbiosis to minor increases in temperature. Midlatitude upwelling systems, like the California Current, exhibit strong linkages between climate and species distributions, phenology, and demography. Aggregated effects may modify energy and material flows as well as biogeochemical cycles, eventually impacting the overall ecosystem functioning and services upon which people and societies depend.}, } @article {pmid22456448, year = {2012}, author = {Gehringer, MM and Adler, L and Roberts, AA and Moffitt, MC and Mihali, TK and Mills, TJ and Fieker, C and Neilan, BA}, title = {Nodularin, a cyanobacterial toxin, is synthesized in planta by symbiotic Nostoc sp.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {1834-1847}, pmid = {22456448}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arginine/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins/*biosynthesis ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Chlorophyll A ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nostoc/genetics/*metabolism ; Peptides, Cyclic/*biosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; *Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Zamiaceae/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Nostoc, is a commonly occurring cyanobacterium often found in symbiotic associations. We investigated the potential of cycad cyanobacterial endosymbionts to synthesize microcystin/nodularin. Endosymbiont DNA was screened for the aminotransferase domain of the toxin biosynthesis gene clusters. Five endosymbionts carrying the gene were screened for bioactivity. Extracts of two isolates inhibited protein phosphatase 2A and were further analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/MS. Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia riedlei 65.1' and Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia serpentina 73.1' both contained nodularin. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) HESI-MS/MS analysis confirmed the presence of nodularin at 9.55±2.4 ng μg-1 chlorophyll a in Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia riedlei 65.1' and 12.5±8.4 ng μg-1 Chl a in Nostoc sp. 'Macrozamia serpentina 73.1' extracts. Further scans indicated the presence of the rare isoform [L-Har(2)] nodularin, which contains L-homoarginine instead of L-arginine. Nodularin was also present at 1.34±0.74 ng ml(-1) (approximately 3 pmol per g plant ww) in the methanol root extracts of M. riedlei MZ65, while the presence of [L-Har(2)] nodularin in the roots of M. serpentina MZ73 was suggested by HPLC HESI-MS/MS analysis. The ndaA-B and ndaF genomic regions were sequenced to confirm the presence of the hybrid polyketide/non-ribosomal gene cluster. A seven amino-acid insertion into the NdaA-C1 domain of N. spumigena NSOR10 protein was observed in all endosymbiont-derived sequences, suggesting the transfer of the nda cluster from N. spumigena to terrestrial Nostoc species. This study demonstrates the synthesis of nodularin and [L-Har(2)] nodularin in a non-Nodularia species and the production of cyanobacterial hepatotoxin by a symbiont in planta.}, } @article {pmid22453834, year = {2012}, author = {Sano, Y and Kobayashi, S and Shirai, K and Takahata, N and Matsumoto, K and Watanabe, T and Sowa, K and Iwai, K}, title = {Past daily light cycle recorded in the strontium/calcium ratios of giant clam shells.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {761}, pmid = {22453834}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animal Shells/*chemistry/physiology ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; Barium/analysis ; Bivalvia/*physiology ; Calcium/*analysis ; Carbonates/analysis ; Circadian Rhythm ; Environment ; Magnesium/analysis ; *Photoperiod ; Seasons ; Shellfish ; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion ; Strontium/*analysis ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {The historical record of daily light cycle in tropical and subtropical regions is short. Moreover, it remains difficult to extract this cycle in the past from natural archives such as biogenic marine carbonates. Here we describe the precise analysis of Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, and Ba/Ca ratios in a cultivated giant clam shell, using a laterally high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer with 2 μm resolution. The Sr/Ca ratio exhibits striking diurnal variations, reflecting the daily light cycle. A clear seasonal variation in Sr/Ca is also observed in another longer set of measurements with 50 μm resolution. Light-enhanced calcification and elemental transportation processes, in giant clam and symbiotic algae, may explain these diurnal and annual variations. This opens the possibility to develop the Sr/Ca ratio from a giant clam shell as an effective proxy for parameters of the daily light cycle.}, } @article {pmid22453803, year = {2012}, author = {Ben Salah, I and Jelali, N and Slatni, T and Gruber, M and Albacete, A and Martínez Andújar, C and Martinez, V and Pérez-Alfocea, F and Abdelly, C}, title = {Involvement of source-sink relationship and hormonal control in the response of Medicago ciliaris - Sinorhizobium medicae symbiosis to salt stress.}, journal = {Acta biologica Hungarica}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {97-112}, doi = {10.1556/ABiol.63.2012.1.8}, pmid = {22453803}, issn = {0236-5383}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; Amino Acids, Cyclic/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Medicago/*drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Sinorhizobium/*drug effects/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Sucrose/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {In order to explore the relationship between leaf hormonal status and source-sink relations in the response of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) to salt stress, three major phytohormones (cytokinins, abscisic acid and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid), sucrose phosphate synthase activity in source leaves and sucrolytic activities in sink organs were analysed in two lines of Medicago ciliaris (salt-tolerant TNC 1.8 and salt-sensitive TNC 11.9). SNF (measured as nitrogenase activity and amount of N-fixed) was more affected by salt treatment in the TNC 11.9 than in TNC 1.8, and this could be explained by a decrease in nodule sucrolytic activities. SNF capacity was reflected in leaf biomass production and in the sink activity under salinity, as suggested by the higher salt-induced decrease in the young leaf sucrolytic activities in the sensitive line TNC 11.9, while they were not affected in the tolerant line TNC 1.8. As a consequence of maintaining sink activities in the actively growing organs, the key enzymatic activity for synthesis of sucrose (sucrose phosphate synthase) was also less affected in the mature leaves of the more tolerant genotype. Ours results showed also that the major hormone factor associated with the relative tolerance of TNC 1.8 was the stimulation of abscisic acid concentration in young leaves under salt treatment. This stimulation may control photosynthetic organ growth and also may contribute to a certain degree in the maintenance of coordinated sink-source relationships. Therefore, ABA may be an important component which conserves sucrose synthesis in source leaves.}, } @article {pmid22453171, year = {2012}, author = {Rodriguez, CM and Bennett, JP and Johnson, CJ}, title = {Lichens: unexpected anti-prion agents?.}, journal = {Prion}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {11-16}, pmid = {22453171}, issn = {1933-690X}, mesh = {Animals ; Diet/veterinary ; Environment ; Humans ; Lichens/enzymology/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Prion Diseases/prevention & control/transmission ; Prions/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Serine Proteases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The prion diseases sheep scrapie and cervid chronic wasting disease are transmitted, in part, via an environmental reservoir of infectivity; prions released from infected animals persist in the environment and can cause disease years later. Central to controlling disease transmission is the identification of methods capable of inactivating these agents on the landscape. We have found that certain lichens, common, ubiquitous, symbiotic organisms, possess a serine protease capable of degrading prion protein (PrP) from prion-infected animals. The protease functions against a range of prion strains from various hosts and reduces levels of abnormal PrP by at least two logs. We have now tested more than twenty lichen species from several geographical locations and from various taxa and found that approximately half of these species degrade PrP. Critical next steps include examining the effect of lichens on prion infectivity and cloning the protease responsible for PrP degradation. The impact of lichens on prions in the environment remains unknown. We speculate that lichens could have the potential to degrade prions when they are shed from infected animals onto lichens or into environments where lichens are abundant. In addition, lichens are frequently consumed by cervids and many other animals and the effect of dietary lichens on prion disease transmission should also be considered.}, } @article {pmid22452950, year = {2012}, author = {Salvioli, A and Zouari, I and Chalot, M and Bonfante, P}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal status has an impact on the transcriptome profile and amino acid composition of tomato fruit.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {44}, pmid = {22452950}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Asparagine/*chemistry ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Flowers/chemistry/genetics/growth & development ; Fruit/*chemistry/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glutamine/*chemistry ; Solanum lycopersicum/chemistry/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Nitrogen/chemistry ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is the most widespread association between plant roots and fungi in natural and agricultural ecosystems. This work investigated the influence of mycorrhization on the economically relevant part of the tomato plant, by analyzing its impact on the physiology of the fruit. To this aim, a combination of phenological observations, transcriptomics (Microarrays and qRT-PCR) and biochemical analyses was used to unravel the changes that occur on fruits from Micro-Tom tomato plants colonized by the AM fungus Glomus mosseae.

RESULTS: Mycorrhization accelerated the flowering and fruit development and increased the fruit yield. Eleven transcripts were differentially regulated in the fruit upon mycorrhization, and the mycorrhiza-responsive genes resulted to be involved in nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism as well as in regulation and signal transduction. Mycorrhization has increased the amino acid abundance in the fruit from mycorrhizal plants, with glutamine and asparagine being the most responsive amino acids.

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results offer novel data on the systemic changes that are induced by the establishment of AM symbiosis in the plant, and confirm the work hypothesis that AM fungi may extend their influence from the root to the fruit.}, } @article {pmid22452844, year = {2012}, author = {Okubo, T and Tsukui, T and Maita, H and Okamoto, S and Oshima, K and Fujisawa, T and Saito, A and Futamata, H and Hattori, R and Shimomura, Y and Haruta, S and Morimoto, S and Wang, Y and Sakai, Y and Hattori, M and Aizawa, S and Nagashima, KV and Masuda, S and Hattori, T and Yamashita, A and Bao, Z and Hayatsu, M and Kajiya-Kanegae, H and Yoshinaga, I and Sakamoto, K and Toyota, K and Nakao, M and Kohara, M and Anda, M and Niwa, R and Jung-Hwan, P and Sameshima-Saito, R and Tokuda, S and Yamamoto, S and Yamamoto, S and Yokoyama, T and Akutsu, T and Nakamura, Y and Nakahira-Yanaka, Y and Takada Hoshino, Y and Hirakawa, H and Mitsui, H and Terasawa, K and Itakura, M and Sato, S and Ikeda-Ohtsubo, W and Sakakura, N and Kaminuma, E and Minamisawa, K}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. S23321: insights into symbiosis evolution in soil oligotrophs.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {306-315}, pmid = {22452844}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; RNA, Untranslated/genetics ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Synteny ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. S23321 is an oligotrophic bacterium isolated from paddy field soil. Although S23321 is phylogenetically close to Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110, a legume symbiont, it is unable to induce root nodules in siratro, a legume often used for testing Nod factor-dependent nodulation. The genome of S23321 is a single circular chromosome, 7,231,841 bp in length, with an average GC content of 64.3%. The genome contains 6,898 potential protein-encoding genes, one set of rRNA genes, and 45 tRNA genes. Comparison of the genome structure between S23321 and USDA110 showed strong colinearity; however, the symbiosis islands present in USDA110 were absent in S23321, whose genome lacked a chaperonin gene cluster (groELS3) for symbiosis regulation found in USDA110. A comparison of sequences around the tRNA-Val gene strongly suggested that S23321 contains an ancestral-type genome that precedes the acquisition of a symbiosis island by horizontal gene transfer. Although S23321 contains a nif (nitrogen fixation) gene cluster, the organization, homology, and phylogeny of the genes in this cluster were more similar to those of photosynthetic bradyrhizobia ORS278 and BTAi1 than to those on the symbiosis island of USDA110. In addition, we found genes encoding a complete photosynthetic system, many ABC transporters for amino acids and oligopeptides, two types (polar and lateral) of flagella, multiple respiratory chains, and a system for lignin monomer catabolism in the S23321 genome. These features suggest that S23321 is able to adapt to a wide range of environments, probably including low-nutrient conditions, with multiple survival strategies in soil and rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid22451908, year = {2012}, author = {Kaasalainen, U and Fewer, DP and Jokela, J and Wahlsten, M and Sivonen, K and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Cyanobacteria produce a high variety of hepatotoxic peptides in lichen symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {15}, pages = {5886-5891}, pmid = {22451908}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Toxins/toxicity ; Base Sequence ; Bayes Theorem ; Cyanobacteria/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Geography ; Humans ; Lichens/*drug effects/*physiology ; Liver/*drug effects/*pathology ; Marine Toxins/toxicity ; Microcystins/toxicity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptides/*toxicity ; Peptides, Cyclic/toxicity ; Phylogeny ; Specimen Handling ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic associations between fungi and photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. Microcystins are potent toxins that are responsible for the poisoning of both humans and animals. These toxins are mainly associated with aquatic cyanobacterial blooms, but here we show that the cyanobacterial symbionts of terrestrial lichens from all over the world commonly produce microcystins. We screened 803 lichen specimens from five different continents for cyanobacterial toxins by amplifying a part of the gene cluster encoding the enzyme complex responsible for microcystin production and detecting toxins directly from lichen thalli. We found either the biosynthetic genes for making microcystins or the toxin itself in 12% of all analyzed lichen specimens. A plethora of different microcystins was found with over 50 chemical variants, and many of the variants detected have only rarely been reported from free-living cyanobacteria. In addition, high amounts of nodularin, up to 60 μg g(-1), were detected from some lichen thalli. This microcystin analog and potent hepatotoxin has previously been known only from the aquatic bloom-forming genus Nodularia. Our results demonstrate that the production of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins in lichen symbiosis is a global phenomenon and occurs in many different lichen lineages. The very high genetic diversity of the mcyE gene and the chemical diversity of microcystins suggest that lichen symbioses may have been an important environment for diversification of these cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22450510, year = {2012}, author = {Trabal, N and Mazón-Suástegui, JM and Vázquez-Juárez, R and Asencio-Valle, F and Morales-Bojórquez, E and Romero, J}, title = {Molecular analysis of bacterial microbiota associated with oysters (Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea corteziensis) in different growth phases at two cultivation sites.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {555-569}, pmid = {22450510}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Aquaculture ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Burkholderia cepacia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Crassostrea/*growth & development/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Microbiota presumably plays an essential role in inhibiting pathogen colonization and in the maintenance of health in oysters, but limited data exist concerning their different growth phases and conditions. We analyzed the bacterial microbiota composition of two commercial oysters: Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea corteziensis. Differences in microbiota were assayed in three growth phases: post-larvae at the hatchery, juvenile, and adult at two grow-out cultivation sites. Variations in the microbiota were assessed by PCR analysis of the 16S rRNA gene in DNA extracted from depurated oysters. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles were studied using Dice's similarity coefficient (Cs) and statistical principal component analysis (PCA). The microbiota composition was determined by sequencing temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) bands. The RFLP analysis of post-larvae revealed homology in the microbiota of both oyster species (Cs > 88 %). Dice and PCA analyses of C. corteziensis but not C. gigas showed differences in the microbiota according to the cultivation sites. The sequencing analysis revealed low bacterial diversity (primarily β-Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Spirochaetes), with Burkholderia cepacia being the most abundant bacteria in both oyster species. This study provides the first description of the microbiota in C. corteziensis, which was shown to be influenced by cultivation site conditions. During early growth, we observed that B. cepacia colonized and remained strongly associated with the two oysters, probably in a symbiotic host-bacteria relationship. This association was maintained in the three growth phases and was not altered by environmental conditions or the management of the oysters at the grow-out site.}, } @article {pmid22450307, year = {2012}, author = {Fraher, MH and O'Toole, PW and Quigley, EM}, title = {Techniques used to characterize the gut microbiota: a guide for the clinician.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {312-322}, pmid = {22450307}, issn = {1759-5053}, mesh = {DNA Fingerprinting/methods ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Metagenome/genetics ; Metagenomics/*methods/trends ; Microbiological Techniques/*methods/trends ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length/genetics ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that has a symbiotic relationship with its host. An association between the gut microbiota and disease was first postulated in the early 20(th) century. However, until the 1990s, knowledge of the gut microbiota was limited because bacteriological culture was the only technique available to characterize its composition. Only a fraction (estimated at <30%) of the gut microbiota has been cultured to date. Since the 1990s, advances in culture-independent techniques have spearheaded our knowledge of the complexity of this ecosystem. These techniques have elucidated the microbial diversity of the gut microbiota and have shown that alterations in the gut microbiota composition and function are associated with certain disease states, such as IBD and obesity. These new techniques are fast, facilitate high throughput, identify organisms that are uncultured to date and enable enumeration of organisms present in the gut microbiota. This Review discusses the techniques that can used to characterize the gut microbiota, when they can be applied to human studies and their relative advantages and limitations.}, } @article {pmid22449033, year = {2012}, author = {Anderson, B and Kawakita, A and Tayasu, I}, title = {Sticky plant captures prey for symbiotic bug: is this digestive mutualism?.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {14}, number = {6}, pages = {888-893}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00573.x}, pmid = {22449033}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Feces ; Herbivory/physiology ; Insecta/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Nymph/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Rhododendron/metabolism/*physiology ; Soil ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Many plants capture and kill insects but, until relatively recently, only carnivorous plants with digestive enzymes were known to gain directly from the nutrients of those insects. Recent studies show that some carnivorous plants lack digestive enzymes and have evolved digestive mutualisms with symbiotic insects that digest their prey for them. Rhododendron macrosepalum, a plant with sticky leaves that captures insects, has an association with symbiotic Mirid bugs that consume the insects captured. Here, we determine what the nature of the relationship is between Mirid and plant. We find that R. macrosepalum has no digestive enzymes of its own but that it does not seem to have the ability to absorb hemipteran faeces through its leaf cuticle. Naturally occurring levels of (15) N and (14) N were used to determine that R. macrosepalum gains no nitrogen through its association with the Mirid bugs and that it obtains all of its nitrogen from the soil. The Mirids, on the other hand, seem to obtain nitrogen from insects captured by the plant, as well as from plant tissues. The relationship between plant and Mirid is not a digestive mutualism but more likely an antagonistic relationship. This study adds to our understanding of how digestive mutualisms evolve and shows that insect capture alone, or in combination with a symbiotic insect relationship does not necessarily make a plant 'carnivorous'.}, } @article {pmid22448083, year = {2011}, author = {Kumar, S and Blaxter, ML}, title = {Simultaneous genome sequencing of symbionts and their hosts.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {55}, number = {3}, pages = {119-126}, pmid = {22448083}, issn = {0334-5114}, support = {G0900740/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Second-generation sequencing has made possible the sequencing of genomes of interest for even small research groups. However, obtaining separate clean cultures and clonal or inbred samples of metazoan hosts and their bacterial symbionts is often difficult. We present a computational pipeline for separating metazoan and bacterial DNA in silico rather than at the bench. The method relies on the generation of deep coverage of all the genomes in a mixed sample using Illumina short-read sequencing technology, and using aggregate properties of the different genomes to identify read sets belonging to each. This inexpensive and rapid approach has been used to sequence several nematode genomes and their bacterial endosymbionts in the last year in our laboratory and can also be used to visualize and identify unexpected contaminants (or possible symbionts) in genomic DNA samples. We hope that this method will enable researchers studying symbiotic systems to move from gene-centric to genome-centric approaches.}, } @article {pmid22446549, year = {2011}, author = {Scharf, ME and Karl, ZJ and Sethi, A and Sen, R and Raychoudhury, R and Boucias, DG}, title = {Defining host-symbiont collaboration in termite lignocellulose digestion: "The view from the tip of the iceberg".}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {4}, number = {6}, pages = {761-763}, pmid = {22446549}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Termites have the unique ability to exploit lignocellulose as a primary nutrition source. Traditionally, termite lignocellulose digestion has been considered as a gut-symbiont-mediated process; however, in recent years the importance of host digestive capabilities have become apparent. Despite this growing understanding, how digestive enzymes from different origins specifically collaborate (i.e., additively or synergistically) has remained largely unknown. In a recent study, we undertook translational-genomic studies to address these questions in the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and its symbiotic gut fauna. We used a combination of native gut tissue preparations and recombinant enzymes derived from the host gut transcriptome to identify synergistic collaborations between host and symbiont, and also among enzymes produced exclusively by the host termite. These findings provided important new evidence of synergistic collaboration among enzymes in the release of fermentable monosaccharides from wood lignocellulose, and laid a foundation for future integrative studies into termite digestion, symbiosis and eusociality.}, } @article {pmid22446508, year = {2012}, author = {Gulcu, B and Hazir, S and Kaya, HK}, title = {Scavenger deterrent factor (SDF) from symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {110}, number = {3}, pages = {326-333}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2012.03.014}, pmid = {22446508}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Ants/drug effects/physiology ; Biological Factors/*metabolism/toxicity ; Feeding Behavior/drug effects/physiology ; Gryllidae/drug effects/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Larva/microbiology ; Nematoda/*microbiology/physiology ; Oviposition/drug effects/physiology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/drug effects/physiology ; Xenorhabdus/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the genera Steinernema and Heterorhabditis are symbiotically associated with bacteria in the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, respectively. The symbiotic bacteria produce a chemical compound(s) that deterred ants from feeding on nematode-killed insects (i.e., cadavers) and has been previously referred to as an Ant Deterrent Factor (ADF). We studied the response of different arthropod scavenger species which included the ant Lepisiota frauenfeldi, cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, wasps Vespa orientalis and Paravespula sp., and calliphorid fly Chrysomya albiceps, to ADF. These scavengers (ants, crickets, and wasps) were exposed to cadavers with and without the nematode/bacterium complex or to Photorhabdus luminescens cultures of different ages on different substrates. The ant, cricket, and wasp species did not feed on nematode-killed insects containing the nematode/bacterium complex that were 2 days old and older but fed on 1-day-old nematode-killed and freeze -killed insects. Crickets consumed 2- to 7-day-old axenic nematode-killed insects, 1-, 4-, and 5-day-old insects killed by the bacterium, Serratia marcescens, and freeze-killed, putrid insects that were up to 10 days old. The crickets only partially consumed 2- and 3-day-old insects killed by S. marcescens which differed significantly from the 1-, 4-, and 5-day-old killed insects by this bacterium. Ants fed only on 5% sucrose solution (control) and 1- to 3- day old cultures of P. luminescens containing 5% sucrose but not on older cultures of P. luminescens. Wasps did not feed on meat treated with P. luminescens supernatant, whereas they fed on meat treated with Escherichia coli supernatant and control meat. Calliphorid flies did not oviposit on meat treated with P. luminescens supernatant but did oviposit on untreated meat. Based on the response of these scavengers, the chemical compound(s) responsible for this deterrent activity should be called "scavenger deterrent factor" (SDF).}, } @article {pmid22446312, year = {2012}, author = {Enomoto, M and Nakagawa, S and Sawabe, T}, title = {Microbial communities associated with holothurians: presence of unique bacteria in the coelomic fluid.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {300-305}, pmid = {22446312}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stichopus/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Marine invertebrates interact with various microorganisms ranging from pathogens to symbionts. One-to-one symbiosis between a single microbial species and a single host animal has served as a model for the study of host-microbe interactions. In addition, increasing attention has recently been focused on the complex symbiotic associations, e.g., associations between sponges and their symbionts, due to their biotechnological potential; however, relatively little is known about the microbial diversity associated with members of the phylum Echinodermata. Here, for the first time, we investigated microbial communities associated with a commercially important holothurian species, Apostichopus japonicus, using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Diverse and abundant heterotrophs, mostly Gammaproteobacteria members, were cultured semi-quantitatively. Using the cloning and sequencing technique, different microbial communities were found in different holothurian tissues. In the holothurian coelomic fluid, potentially metabolically active and phylogenetically unique members of Epsilonproteobacteria and Rickettsiales were discovered. This study suggests that coelomic fluids of marine invertebrates, at least those inhabiting intertidal areas where physical and chemical conditions fluctuate, provide microbes with unique and stable habitats.}, } @article {pmid22445196, year = {2012}, author = {Mueller, UG}, title = {Symbiont recruitment versus ant-symbiont co-evolution in the attine ant-microbe symbiosis.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {269-277}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2012.03.001}, pmid = {22445196}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*physiology ; Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/*physiology ; Biofilms ; Biological Evolution ; Hypocreales/*physiology ; Research Design ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between fungus-farming ants (Attini, Formicidae), their cultivated fungi, garden-infecting Escovopsis pathogens, and Pseudonocardia bacteria on the ant integument has been popularized as an example of ant-Escovopsis-Pseudonocardia co-evolution. Recent research could not verify earlier conclusions regarding antibiotic-secreting, integumental Pseudonocardia that co-evolve to specifically suppress Escovopsis disease in an ancient co-evolutionary arms-race. Rather than long-term association with a single, co-evolving Pseudonocardia strain, attine ants accumulate complex, dynamic biofilms on their integument and in their gardens. Emerging views are that the integumental biofilms protect the ants primarily against ant diseases, whereas garden biofilms protect primarily against garden diseases; attine ants selectively recruit ('screen in') microbes into their biofilms; and the biofilms of ants and gardens serve diverse functions beyond disease-suppression.}, } @article {pmid22442425, year = {2012}, author = {León-Morcillo, RJ and Angel, J and Martín-Rodríguez, and Vierheilig, H and Ocampo, JA and García-Garrido, JM}, title = {Late activation of the 9-oxylipin pathway during arbuscular mycorrhiza formation in tomato and its regulation by jasmonate signalling.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {10}, pages = {3545-3558}, pmid = {22442425}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/*microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The establishment of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiotic interaction is a successful strategy for the promotion of substantial plant growth, development, and fitness. Numerous studies have supported the hypothesis that plant hormones play an important role in the establishment of functional AM symbiosis. Particular attention has been devoted to jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivates, which are believed to play a major role in AM symbiosis. Jasmonates belong to a diverse class of lipid metabolites known as oxylipins that include other biologically active molecules. Recent transcriptional analyses revealed up-regulation of the oxylipin pathway during AM symbiosis in mycorrhizal tomato roots and indicate a key regulatory role for oxylipins during AM symbiosis in tomato, particularly those derived from the action of 9-lipoxygenases (9-LOXs). Continuing with the tomato as a model, the spatial and temporal expression pattern of genes involved in the 9-LOX pathway during the different stages of AM formation in tomato was analysed. The effects of JA signalling pathway changes on AM fungal colonization were assessed and correlated with the modifications in the transcriptional profiles of 9-LOX genes. The up-regulation of the 9-LOX oxylipin pathway in mycorrhizal wild-type roots seems to depend on a particular degree of AM fungal colonization and is restricted to the colonized part of the roots, suggesting that these genes could play a role in controlling fungal spread in roots. In addition, the results suggest that this strategy of the plant to control AM fungi development within the roots is at least partly dependent on JA pathway activation.}, } @article {pmid22442377, year = {2012}, author = {Tremblay, P and Grover, R and Maguer, JF and Legendre, L and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Autotrophic carbon budget in coral tissue: a new 13C-based model of photosynthate translocation.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {215}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1384-1393}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.065201}, pmid = {22442377}, issn = {1477-9145}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Autotrophic Processes/*physiology ; Biological Transport ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; *Models, Biological ; Photosynthesis/*physiology ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Corals live in symbiosis with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinum. These dinoflagellates translocate a large part of the photosynthetically fixed carbon to the host, which in turn uses it for its own needs. Assessing the carbon budget in coral tissue is a central question in reef studies that still vexes ecophysiologists. The amount of carbon fixed by the symbiotic association can be determined by measuring the rate of photosynthesis, but the amount of carbon translocated by the symbionts to the host and the fate of this carbon are more difficult to assess. In the present study, we propose a novel approach to calculate the budget of autotrophic carbon in the tissue of scleractinian corals, based on a new model and measurements made with the stable isotope (13)C. Colonies of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata were incubated in H(13)CO (-)(3)-enriched seawater, after which the fate of (13)C was followed in the symbionts, the coral tissue and the released particulate organic carbon (i.e. mucus). Results obtained showed that after 15 min, ca. 60% of the carbon fixed was already translocated to the host, and after 48 h, this value reached 78%. However, ca. 48% of the photosynthetically fixed carbon was respired by the symbiotic association, and 28% was released as dissolved organic carbon. This is different from other coral species, where <1% of the total organic carbon released is from newly fixed carbon. Only 23% of the initially fixed carbon was retained in the symbionts and coral tissue after 48 h. Results show that our (13)C-based model could successfully trace the carbon flow from the symbionts to the host, and the photosynthetically acquired carbon lost from the symbiotic association.}, } @article {pmid22442035, year = {2012}, author = {Braukmann, T and Stefanović, S}, title = {Plastid genome evolution in mycoheterotrophic Ericaceae.}, journal = {Plant molecular biology}, volume = {79}, number = {1-2}, pages = {5-20}, pmid = {22442035}, issn = {1573-5028}, mesh = {Autoradiography ; Ericaceae/enzymology/*genetics/*microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Genome, Plastid/*genetics ; Heterotrophic Processes/*genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; NADH Dehydrogenase/genetics ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Photosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Unlike parasitic plants, which are linked to their hosts directly through haustoria, mycoheterotrophic (MHT) plants derive all or part of their water and nutrients from autothrophs via fungal mycorrhizal intermediaries. Ericaceae, the heather family, are a large and diverse group of plants known to form elaborate symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. Using PHYA sequence data, we first investigated relationships among mycoheterotrophic Ericaceae and their close autotrophic relatives. Phylogenetic results suggest a minimum of two independent origins of MHT within this family. Additionally, a comparative investigation of plastid genomes (plastomes) grounded within this phylogenetic framework was conducted using a slot-blot Southern hybridization approach. This survey encompassed numerous lineages of Ericaceae with different life histories and trophic levels, including multiple representatives from mixotrophic Pyroleae and fully heterotrophic Monotropeae and Pterosporeae. Fifty-four probes derived from all categories of protein coding genes typically found within the plastomes of flowering plants were used. Our results indicate that the holo-mycoheterotrophic Ericaceae exhibit extensive loss of genes relating to photosynthetic function and expression of the plastome but retain genes with possible functions outside photosynthesis. Mixotrophic taxa tend to retain most genes relating to photosynthetic functions but are varied regarding the plastid ndh gene content. This investigation extends previous inferences that the loss of the NDH complex occurs prior to becoming holo-heterotrophic and it shows that the pattern of gene losses among mycoheterotrophic Ericaceae is similar to that of haustorial parasites. Additionally, we identify the most desirable candidate species for entire plastome sequencing.}, } @article {pmid22439012, year = {2012}, author = {van Dam, JW and Negri, AP and Mueller, JF and Altenburger, R and Uthicke, S}, title = {Additive pressures of elevated sea surface temperatures and herbicides on symbiont-bearing foraminifera.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e33900}, pmid = {22439012}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Chlorophyll A ; Climate Change ; Diatoms/drug effects/physiology ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/physiology ; Diuron/toxicity ; Foraminifera/*drug effects/physiology ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Models, Biological ; Photobleaching ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/antagonists & inhibitors ; Rhodophyta/drug effects ; Seawater/adverse effects/chemistry ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Temperature ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; *Water Quality ; }, abstract = {Elevated ocean temperatures and agrochemical pollution individually threaten inshore coral reefs, but these pressures are likely to occur simultaneously. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the combined effects of elevated temperature and the photosystem II (PSII) inhibiting herbicide diuron on several types of symbiotic algae (diatom, dinoflagellate or rhodophyte) of benthic foraminifera in hospite. Diuron was shown to evoke a direct effect on photosynthetic efficiency (reduced effective PSII quantum yield ΔF/F'(m)), while elevated temperatures (>30 °C, only 2 °C above current average summer temperatures) were observed to impact photosynthesis more indirectly by causing reductions in maximum PSII quantum yield (F(v)/F(m)), interpreted as photodamage. Additionally, elevated temperatures were shown to cause bleaching through loss of chlorophyll a in foraminifera hosting either diatoms or dinoflagellates. A significant linear correlation was found between reduced F(v)/F(m) and loss of chlorophyll a. In most cases, symbionts within foraminifera proved more sensitive to thermal stress in the presence of diuron (≥ 1 µg L(-1)). The mixture toxicity model of Independent Action (IA) described the combined effects of temperature and diuron on the photosystem of species hosting diatoms or dinoflagellates convincingly and in agreement with probabilistic statistics, so a response additive joint action can be assumed. We thus demonstrate that improving water quality can improve resilience of symbiotic phototrophs to projected increases in ocean temperatures. As IA described the observed combined effects from elevated temperature and diuron stress it may therefore be employed for prediction of untested mixtures and for assessing the efficacy of management measures.}, } @article {pmid22438962, year = {2012}, author = {Nuñez, PA and Soria, M and Farber, MD}, title = {The twin-arginine translocation pathway in α-proteobacteria is functionally preserved irrespective of genomic and regulatory divergence.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e33605}, pmid = {22438962}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Anaplasma marginale/genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Brucella abortus/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Protein Transport ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway exports fully folded proteins out of the cytoplasm of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Although much progress has been made in unraveling the molecular mechanism and biochemical characterization of the Tat system, little is known concerning its functionality and biological role to confer adaptive skills, symbiosis or pathogenesis in the α-proteobacteria class. A comparative genomic analysis in the α-proteobacteria class confirmed the presence of tatA, tatB, and tatC genes in almost all genomes, but significant variations in gene synteny and rearrangements were found in the order Rickettsiales with respect to the typically described operon organization. Transcription of tat genes was confirmed for Anaplasma marginale str. St. Maries and Brucella abortus 2308, two α-proteobacteria with full and partial intracellular lifestyles, respectively. The tat genes of A. marginale are scattered throughout the genome, in contrast to the more generalized operon organization. Particularly, tatA showed an approximately 20-fold increase in mRNA levels relative to tatB and tatC. We showed Tat functionality in B. abortus 2308 for the first time, and confirmed conservation of functionality in A. marginale. We present the first experimental description of the Tat system in the Anaplasmataceae and Brucellaceae families. In particular, in A. marginale Tat functionality is conserved despite operon splitting as a consequence of genome rearrangements. Further studies will be required to understand how the proper stoichiometry of the Tat protein complex and its biological role are achieved. In addition, the predicted substrates might be the evidence of role of the Tat translocation system in the transition process from a free-living to a parasitic lifestyle in these α-proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22438039, year = {2012}, author = {Llewellyn, CA and White, DA and Martinez-Vincente, V and Tarran, G and Smyth, TJ}, title = {Distribution of mycosporine-like amino acids along a surface water meridional transect of the Atlantic.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {64}, number = {2}, pages = {320-333}, pmid = {22438039}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {BB/E018998/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acids/*analysis/metabolism ; Atlantic Ocean ; Cyanobacteria/*metabolism ; Cyclohexanols/analysis/metabolism ; Cyclohexanones/analysis/metabolism ; Cyclohexylamines/analysis/metabolism ; Glycine/analogs & derivatives/analysis/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phytoplankton/*metabolism ; Prochlorococcus/*metabolism ; Seawater/*chemistry/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The composition and abundance of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) were investigated in the surface waters along a 13,000-km meridional transect (52° N to 45° S) in the Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Meridional Transect programme: Cruise AMT 18: 4/10/2008-10/11/2008). MAAs were ubiquitous along the transect, although the composition of the MAAs was variable. Highest concentrations were in the far south (below 40° S; MAA >1 μg L(-1)) and in north subtropical equatorial region (NER: 0-25° N; MAA up to 0.8 μg L(-1)). Highest MAA relative to chlorophyll-a occurred in the NER (MAA/chl-a ratio between 2 and 5). MAA/chl-a significantly correlated with the preceding month's mean daily UV dose and with UV-B/UV-A. In the far south, high MAA concentrations coincided with high phytoplankton biomass, high nutrients and a deep mixed layer associated with the austral spring. Here, the phytoplankton community was dominated by micro- and nano-eukaryotes. At the NER, the high MAA/chl-a coincided with low nutrient concentrations, a shallow mixed layer depth (20-70 m) and to a lesser extent to a shallow nitracline (40-90 m). Here, the phytoplankton consisted primarily of picophytoplankton (0-0.2 μm), dominated by the pico-cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. and Prochlorococcus sp. and by the nitrogen fixing filamentous cyanobacterium Trichodesmium. The low nitrate concentrations (<0.1 μmol L(-1)) at the NER suggest that nitrogen fixation was required for MAA production. Specific MAAs could not easily be assigned to particular groups of phytoplankton and we could not rule out the possibility that MAAs were associated with symbiotic cyanobacteria contained within heterotrophic dinoflagellates or diatoms.}, } @article {pmid22438018, year = {2012}, author = {Elisabeth, NH and Gustave, SD and Gros, O}, title = {Cell proliferation and apoptosis in gill filaments of the lucinid Codakia orbiculata (Montagu, 1808) (Mollusca: Bivalvia) during bacterial decolonization and recolonization.}, journal = {Microscopy research and technique}, volume = {75}, number = {8}, pages = {1136-1146}, doi = {10.1002/jemt.22041}, pmid = {22438018}, issn = {1097-0029}, mesh = {Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/physiology ; Cell Count ; Cell Division ; *Cell Proliferation ; Cell Size ; Food Deprivation ; Gammaproteobacteria/*growth & development ; Gills/*microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; *Regeneration ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The shallow-water bivalve Codakia orbiculata which harbors gill-endosymbiotic sulfur-oxidizing γ-proteobacteria can lose and acquire its endosymbionts throughout its life. Long-term starvation and recolonization experiments led to changes in the organization of cells in the lateral zone of gill filaments. This plasticity is linked to the presence or absence of gill-endosymbionts. Herein, we propose that this reorganization can be explained by three hypotheses: (a) a variation in the number of bacteriocytes and granule cells due to proliferation or apoptosis processes, (b) a variation of the volume of these two cell types without modification in the number, and (c) a combination of both number and cell volume variation. To test these hypotheses, we analyzed cell reorganization in terms of proliferation and apoptosis in adults submitted to starvation and returned to the field using catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and structural analyses. We observed that cell and tissue reorganization in gills filaments is due to a variation in cell relative abundance that maybe associated with a variation in cell apparent volume and depends on the environment. In fact, bacteriocytes mostly multiply in freshly collected and newly recolonized individuals, and excess bacteriocytes are eliminated in later recolonization stages. We highlight that host tissue regeneration in gill filaments of this symbiotic bivalve can occur by both replication of existing cells and division of undifferentiated cells localized in tissular bridges, which might be a tissue-specific multipotent stem cell zone.}, } @article {pmid22435921, year = {2012}, author = {Qawasmeh, A and Obied, HK and Raman, A and Wheatley, W}, title = {Influence of fungal endophyte infection on phenolic content and antioxidant activity in grasses: interaction between Lolium perenne and different strains of Neotyphodium lolii.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {60}, number = {13}, pages = {3381-3388}, doi = {10.1021/jf204105k}, pmid = {22435921}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Antioxidants/analysis/*metabolism ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Lolium/chemistry/*microbiology/*physiology ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Poaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Polyphenols/analysis/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lolium perenne is a major forage and turf grass, which is often naturally infected with a "wild-type" strain (E(WT)) of the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium lolii , establishing a symbiotic relationship. In this study, the impacts of different strains wild type E(WT), AR1 (E(AR1)) and AR37 (E(AR37)), of N. lolii on the phenolic profile, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity of L. perenne were examined. Samples could be ranked according to their phenol content as follows: E(AR1) > E(AR37) ≥ E(-) > E(WT). Radical-scavenging assays showed the same relative ranking of extracts. Flavonoid glycosides and hydroxycinnamic acids were the most abundant polyphenols in L. perenne extracts. Chlorogenic acid and its derivatives were the major compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity. Infection with N. lolii significantly influenced L. perenne phenolic content and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, changes in phenolic composition were merely quantitative. Endophyte infection can have zero, positive, or negative effect on phenol content depending on the endophyte strain.}, } @article {pmid22433115, year = {2012}, author = {Zouache, K and Michelland, RJ and Failloux, AB and Grundmann, GL and Mavingui, P}, title = {Chikungunya virus impacts the diversity of symbiotic bacteria in mosquito vector.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {2297-2309}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05526.x}, pmid = {22433115}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Aedes/*microbiology/*virology ; Alphaproteobacteria/physiology ; Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteroidetes/physiology ; Biodiversity ; Chikungunya virus/genetics/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Vectors/*microbiology/*virology ; *Symbiosis ; Virus Replication ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mosquitoes transmit numerous arboviruses including dengue and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). In recent years, mosquito species Aedes albopictus has expanded in the Indian Ocean region and was the principal vector of chikungunya outbreaks in La Reunion and neighbouring islands in 2005 and 2006. Vector-associated bacteria have recently been found to interact with transmitted pathogens. For instance, Wolbachia modulates the replication of viruses or parasites. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of the diversity of the entire bacterial populations within mosquito individuals particularly in relation to virus invasion. Here, we investigated the effect of CHIKV infection on the whole bacterial community of Ae. albopictus. Taxonomic microarrays and quantitative PCR showed that members of Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria phyla, as well as Bacteroidetes, responded to CHIKV infection. The abundance of bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family increased with CHIKV infection, whereas the abundance of known insect endosymbionts like Wolbachia and Blattabacterium decreased. Our results clearly link the pathogen propagation with changes in the dynamics of the bacterial community, suggesting that cooperation or competition occurs within the host, which may in turn affect the mosquito traits like vector competence.}, } @article {pmid22432875, year = {2012}, author = {Takanashi, K and Takahashi, H and Sakurai, N and Sugiyama, A and Suzuki, H and Shibata, D and Nakazono, M and Yazaki, K}, title = {Tissue-specific transcriptome analysis in nodules of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {869-876}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-01-12-0011-R}, pmid = {22432875}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/*genetics ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Glucuronidase/genetics/metabolism ; Lotus/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Legume plants can establish symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with rhizobia mostly in root nodules, where rhizobia-infected cells are accompanied by uninfected cells in a mosaic pattern. Inside the mature nodules of the legume, carbon and nitrogen nutrients between host plant cells and their resident bacteria are actively exchanged. To elucidate the metabolite dynamics relevant for SNF in nodules, three tissues from a nodule of a model legume, Lotus japonicus, were isolated using laser microdissesction, and transcriptome analysis was done by an oligoarray of 60-mer length representing 21,495 genes. In our tissue-specific profiling, many genes were identified as being expressed in nodules in a spatial-specific manner. Among them, genes coding for metabolic enzymes were classified according to their function, and detailed data analysis showed that a secondary metabolic pathway was highly activated in the nodule cortex. In particular, a number of metabolic genes for a phenylpropanoid pathway were found as highly expressed genes accompanied by those encoding putative transporters of secondary metabolites. These data suggest the involvement of a novel physiological function of phenylpropanoids in SNF. Moreover, five representative genes were selected, and detailed tissue-specific expression was characterized by promoter-β-glucuronidase experiments. Our results provide a new data source for investigation of both nodule differentiation and tissue-specific physiological functions in nodules.}, } @article {pmid22432637, year = {2012}, author = {Richardson, C and Hill, M and Marks, C and Runyen-Janecky, L and Hill, A}, title = {Experimental manipulation of sponge/bacterial symbiont community composition with antibiotics: sponge cell aggregates as a unique tool to study animal/microorganism symbiosis.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {407-418}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01365.x}, pmid = {22432637}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Axenic Culture ; Bacteria/*classification/drug effects/genetics/growth & development ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges can harbor dense and diverse bacterial communities, yet we have a limited understanding of important aspects of this symbiosis. We developed an experimental methodology that permits manipulating the composition of the microbial community. Specifically, we evaluated sponge cell aggregates (SCA) from Clathria prolifera that had been treated with different classes of antibiotics to determine whether this system might offer novel experimental approaches to the study of sponge/bacterial symbioses. Microscopic analysis of the SCA demonstrated that two distinct morphological types of microbiota existed on the external surface vs. the internal regions of the SCA. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries indicated that we were unable to create entirely aposymbiotic SCA but that different classes of antibiotics produced distinctive shifts in the SCA-associated bacterial community. After exposure to antibiotics, some bacterial species were 'revealed', thus uncovering novel components of the sponge-associated community. The antibiotic treatments used here had little discernible effect on the formation of SCA or subsequent development of the adult. The experimental approach we describe offers empirical options for studying the role symbionts play in sponge growth and development and for ascertaining relationships among bacterial species in communities residing in sponges.}, } @article {pmid22432474, year = {2012}, author = {Meadow, JF and Zabinski, CA}, title = {Linking symbiont community structures in a model arbuscular mycorrhizal system.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {3}, pages = {800-809}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04096.x}, pmid = {22432474}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mimulus/genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Seasons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil/chemistry ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Wyoming ; }, abstract = {• The influence of plant communities on symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities is difficult to study in situ as both symbionts are strongly influenced by some of the same soil and environmental conditions, and thus we have a poor understanding of the potential links in community composition and structure between host and fungal communities. • AMF were characterized in colonized roots of thermal soil Mimulus guttatus in both isolated plants supporting AMF for only a few months of the growing season and plants growing in mixed plant communities composed of annual and perennial hosts. Cluster and discriminant analysis were used to compare competing models based on either communities or soil conditions. • Mimulus guttatus in adjacent contrasting plant community situations harbored distinct AMF communities with few fungal taxa occurring in both community types. Isolated plants harbored communities of fewer fungal taxa with lower diversity than plants in mixed communities. Host community type was more indicative than pH of AMF community structure. • Our results support an inherent relationship between host plant and AMF community structures, although pH-based models were also statistically supported.}, } @article {pmid22429457, year = {2012}, author = {Boyd, BM and Reed, DL}, title = {Taxonomy of lice and their endosymbiotic bacteria in the post-genomic era.}, journal = {Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases}, volume = {18}, number = {4}, pages = {324-331}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-0691.2012.03782.x}, pmid = {22429457}, issn = {1469-0691}, mesh = {Animals ; Ecology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/growth & development ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Genetic Markers ; Genetics, Population ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Insect ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Phthiraptera/*classification/genetics/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent studies of molecular and genomic data from the parasitic lice of birds and mammals, as well as their mutualistic endosymbiotic bacteria, are changing the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of these organisms. Phylogenetic studies of lice suggest that vertebrate parasitism arose multiple times from free-living book and bark lice. Molecular clocks show that the major families of lice arose in the late Mesozoic and radiated in the early Cenozoic, following the radiation of mammals and birds. The recent release of the human louse genome has provided new opportunities for research. The genome is being used to find new genetic markers for phylogenetics and population genetics, to understand the complex evolutionary relationships of mitochondrial genes, and to study genome evolution. Genomes are informing us not only about lice, but also about their obligate endosymbiotic bacteria. In contrast to lice and their hosts, lice and their endosymbionts do not share common evolutionary histories, suggesting that endosymbionts are either replaced over time or that there are multiple independent origins of symbiosis in lice. Molecular phylogenetics and whole genome sequencing have recently provided the first insights into the phylogenetic placement and metabolic characteristics of these distantly related bacteria. Comparative genomics between distantly related louse symbionts can provide insights into conserved metabolic functions and can help to explain how distantly related species are fulfilling their role as mutualistic symbionts. In lice and their endosymbionts, molecular data and genome sequencing are driving our understanding of evolutionary relationships and classification, and will for the foreseeable future.}, } @article {pmid22429391, year = {2012}, author = {Faghire, M and Mandri, B and Oufdou, K and Bargaz, A and Ghoulam, C and Ramírez-Bahena, MH and Velázquez, E and Peix, A}, title = {Identification at the species and symbiovar levels of strains nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in saline soils of the Marrakech region (Morocco) and analysis of the otsA gene putatively involved in osmotolerance.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {156-164}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2012.02.003}, pmid = {22429391}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {*Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genotype ; Glucosyltransferases/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; Morocco ; Osmotic Pressure ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Rhizobium/*classification/enzymology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; Trehalose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Salinity is an increasing problem in Africa affecting rhizobia-legume symbioses. In Morocco, Phaseolus vulgaris is cultivated in saline soils and its symbiosis with rhizobia depends on the presence of osmotolerant strains in these soils. In this study, 32 osmotolerant rhizobial strains nodulating P. vulgaris were identified at the species and symbiovar levels by analysing core and symbiotic genes, respectively. The most abundant strains were closely related to Rhizobium etli and R. phaseoli and belonged to symbiovar phaseoli. A second group of strains was identified as R. gallicum sv gallicum. The remaining strains, identified as R. tropici, belonged to the CIAT 899(T) nodC group, which has not yet been described as a symbiovar. In representative strains, the otsA gene involved in the accumulation of trehalose and putatively in osmotolerance was analysed. The results showed that the phylogeny of this gene was not completely congruent with those of other core genes, since the genus Ensifer was more closely related to some Rhizobium species than others. Although the role of the otsA gene in osmotolerance is not well established, it can be a useful protein-coding gene for phylogenetic studies in the genus Rhizobium, since the phylogenies of otsA and other core genes are coincident at the species level.}, } @article {pmid22428564, year = {2012}, author = {Sánchez, C and Mercante, V and Babuin, MF and Lepek, VC}, title = {Dual effect of Mesorhizobium loti T3SS functionality on the symbiotic process.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {330}, number = {2}, pages = {148-156}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02545.x}, pmid = {22428564}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {*Bacterial Secretion Systems ; Genes, Reporter ; Lotus/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*enzymology/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 has a functional type III secretory system (T3SS) involved in the nodulation process on Lotus tenuis and Lotus japonicus. Four putative M. loti T3SS effectors (Mlr6358, Mlr6331, Mlr6361, and Mlr6316) have been previously described, and it has been demonstrated that the N-terminal regions of Mlr6361 and Mlr6358 mediate the secretion via a T3SS. Here, we demonstrate the capacity of Mlr6316 and Mlr6331 N-terminal regions to direct the secretion of a translational fusion to a reporter peptide through T3SS. By using single, double, and triple mutants, we demonstrated the positive and negative participation of some of these proteins in the determination of competitiveness on Lotus spp. Low competitiveness values correlated with low nodulation efficiency for a mutant deficient in three of the putative M. loti effectors. Our data suggest that the net effect of M. loti T3SS function on symbiotic process with Lotus results from a balance between positive and negative effects.}, } @article {pmid22427985, year = {2012}, author = {Vásquez, A and Forsgren, E and Fries, I and Paxton, RJ and Flaberg, E and Szekely, L and Olofsson, TC}, title = {Symbionts as major modulators of insect health: lactic acid bacteria and honeybees.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {e33188}, pmid = {22427985}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bees/*microbiology/*physiology ; Bifidobacterium/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Lactobacillus/genetics/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are well recognized beneficial host-associated members of the microbiota of humans and animals. Yet LAB-associations of invertebrates have been poorly characterized and their functions remain obscure. Here we show that honeybees possess an abundant, diverse and ancient LAB microbiota in their honey crop with beneficial effects for bee health, defending them against microbial threats. Our studies of LAB in all extant honeybee species plus related apid bees reveal one of the largest collections of novel species from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium ever discovered within a single insect and suggest a long (>80 mya) history of association. Bee associated microbiotas highlight Lactobacillus kunkeei as the dominant LAB member. Those showing potent antimicrobial properties are acquired by callow honey bee workers from nestmates and maintained within the crop in biofilms, though beekeeping management practices can negatively impact this microbiota. Prophylactic practices that enhance LAB, or supplementary feeding of LAB, may serve in integrated approaches to sustainable pollinator service provision. We anticipate this microbiota will become central to studies on honeybee health, including colony collapse disorder, and act as an exemplar case of insect-microbe symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22427210, year = {2012}, author = {Vitetta, L and Briskey, D and Hayes, E and Shing, C and Peake, J}, title = {A review of the pharmacobiotic regulation of gastrointestinal inflammation by probiotics, commensal bacteria and prebiotics.}, journal = {Inflammopharmacology}, volume = {20}, number = {5}, pages = {251-266}, pmid = {22427210}, issn = {1568-5608}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastric Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; *Gastroenteritis/immunology/microbiology/prevention & control ; Humans ; *Immune Tolerance ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; *Prebiotics ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The idea that microbes induce disease has steered medical research toward the discovery of antibacterial products for the prevention and treatment of microbial infections. The twentieth century saw increasing dependency on antimicrobials as mainline therapy accentuating the notion that bacterial interactions with humans were to be avoided or desirably controlled. The last two decades, though, have seen a refocusing of thinking and research effort directed towards elucidating the critical inter-relationships between the gut microbiome and its host that control health/wellness or disease. This research has redefined the interactions between gut microbes and vertebrates, now recognizing that the microbial active cohort and its mammalian host have shared co-evolutionary metabolic interactions that span millennia. Microbial interactions in the gastrointestinal tract provide the necessary cues for the development of regulated pro- and anti-inflammatory signals that promotes immunological tolerance, metabolic regulation and other factors which may then control local and extra-intestinal inflammation. Pharmacobiotics, using nutritional and functional food additives to regulate the gut microbiome, will be an exciting growth area of therapeutics, developing alongside an increased scientific understanding of gut-microbiome symbiosis in health and disease.}, } @article {pmid22426627, year = {2012}, author = {Marylène Gaudron, S and Demoyencourt, E and Duperron, S}, title = {Reproductive traits of the cold-seep symbiotic mussel Idas modiolaeformis: gametogenesis and larval biology.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {222}, number = {1}, pages = {6-16}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv222n1p6}, pmid = {22426627}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animal Shells/ultrastructure ; Animals ; *Cold Temperature ; Ecosystem ; Female ; *Gametogenesis ; Gills/microbiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Larva/anatomy & histology/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mytilidae/anatomy & histology/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Oocytes/cytology/physiology ; Reproduction ; Spirochaeta/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We describe the first reproductive features of a chemosynthetic mussel collected at cold seeps from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Idas modiolaeformis (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) is a hermaphroditic species in which production of male and female gametes likely alternates, a feature regarded as an adaptation to patchy and ephemeral habitats. By using fluorescent in situ hybridization, we demonstrate that bacterial symbionts, while present within the gills, are absent within acini that enclose female gametes and male gametes. This supports the hypothesis of environmental acquisition of symbionts in chemosynthetic mytilids. Prodissoconch I (PI) is relatively small compared to prodissoconch II (PII), suggesting a planktotrophic larval stage. Diameters of the two larval shells are in the range of sizes reported for mytilids, with a PII size between that of the shallow Mytilus edulis and that of the cold-seep mussel "Bathymodiolus" childressi.}, } @article {pmid22425601, year = {2012}, author = {Creasey, RG and Voelcker, NH and Schultz, CJ}, title = {Investigation of self-assembling proline- and glycine-rich recombinant proteins and peptides inspired by proteins from a symbiotic fungus using atomic force microscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1824}, number = {5}, pages = {711-722}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbapap.2012.02.009}, pmid = {22425601}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Biomimetic Materials/*chemical synthesis ; Circular Dichroism ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mucoproteins/biosynthesis/*chemistry/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*chemistry/physiology ; Nanofibers/*chemistry/ultrastructure ; Osmolar Concentration ; Peptides/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Plant Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; Point Mutation ; Polylysine/*chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis/chemistry/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Fiber-forming proteins and peptides are being scrutinized as a promising source of building blocks for new nanomaterials. Arabinogalactan-like (AGL) proteins expressed at the symbiotic interface between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have novel sequences, hypothesized to form polyproline II (PPII) helix structures. The functional nature of these proteins is unknown but they may form structures for the establishment and maintenance of fungal hyphae. Here we show that recombinant AGL1 (rAGL1) and recombinant AGL3 (rAGL3) are extended proteins based upon secondary structural characteristics determined by electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and can self-assemble into fibers and microtubes as observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CD spectroscopy results of synthetic peptides based on repeat regions in AGL1, AGL2 and AGL3 suggest that the synthetic peptides contain significant amounts of extended PPII helices and that these structures are influenced by ionic strength and, at least in one case, by concentration. Point mutations of a single residue of the repeat region of AGL3 resulted in altered secondary structures. Self-assembly of these repeats was observed by means of AFM and optical microscopy. Peptide (APADGK)(6) forms structures with similar morphology to rAGL1 suggesting that these repeats are crucial for the morphology of rAGL1 fibers. These novel self-assembling sequences may find applications as precursors for bioinspired nanomaterials.}, } @article {pmid22425549, year = {2012}, author = {Fokin, SI}, title = {Frequency and biodiversity of symbionts in representatives of the main classes of Ciliophora.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {138-148}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2011.12.001}, pmid = {22425549}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; Ciliophora/*microbiology/parasitology/ultrastructure ; Eukaryota/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Representatives of all classes of Ciliophora have been studied for the detection and investigation of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic (not algal) endo- (EnS) and ectosymbionts (EcS). Different methods including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) have been used. Apparently, the capability of keeping symbionts varies among the different ciliate groups as it generally is the case in different protist taxa. Most of the prokaryotic EnSs detected belong to Alphaproteobacteria. Holospora or Holospora-like infectious bacteria of this group were found in representatives of Heterotrichea, Armophorea, Phyllopharyngea, Prostomatea and mainly of Oligohymenophorea. Bacteria associated with bacteriophages were found in species of Heterotrichea and Oligohymenophorea. This holds true also for bacteria with R-bodies. A quite rare type of EnS - motile bacteria - was found in ciliates of the same two classes as well, either in the cytoplasm (Heterotrichea) or in the macronucleus and its perinuclear space (Oligohymenophorea). EcSs are more common in Heterotrichea, Armophorea and Plagiopylea, but were never found in other groups. Among the eukaryotic EnSs of ciliates, very few representatives of Microsporidia and Trypanosomatidae were recorded. In conclusion, heterotrichs and oligohymenophoreans are the most promising groups of Ciliophora for the investigation of symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22422528, year = {2012}, author = {Pietra, F}, title = {Understanding How H-NOX (Heme Nitric Oxide/Oxygen) domain works needs first clarifying how diatomic gases are relocated inside this sensing protein. A molecular-mechanics approach.}, journal = {Chemistry & biodiversity}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {606-614}, doi = {10.1002/cbdv.201100382}, pmid = {22422528}, issn = {1612-1880}, mesh = {Binding Sites ; Carbon Monoxide/chemistry ; Gases/*chemistry ; Hemeproteins/*chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; *Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Nostoc/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Symbiosis ; Xenon/chemistry ; }, abstract = {H-NOX (Heme Nitric Oxide/Oxygen) domain has widespread occurrence, either standalone or associated with functional proteins, sending signals for functions that span from modulating vasodilation and neurotransmission with humans to competition and symbiosis with bacteria. Understanding how H-NOX works, and possibly intervening on degeneration for health purposes, needs first clarifying how diatomic gases are relocated through this protein in relation to the deeply buried heme. To this end, a biased form of molecular dynamics, i.e., Random Accelaration Molecular Dynamics (RAMD), is used by applying a randomly oriented tiny force to heme-dissociated CO of Nostoc sp. H-NOX, while changing randomly the direction of the force, if CO travels less than specified for the evaluated block. The result is that a large area of the protein, comprising amino acids from serine 44 to leucine 67 along two adjacent helices, offers a broad portal to CO from the surrounding medium to the deeply buried heme. Most traffic is concentrated through a channel lined by tyrosine 49, valine 52, and leucine 67. This modifies the picture drawn from mapping Xe cavities on pressurizing Nostoc sp. H-NOX with Xe gas. What is the main pathway with Xe-cavity mapping becomes a minor pathway with RAMD, and vice versa. The reason is that the fluctuating protein under MD creates clefts for CO slipping through, as it is expected to occur in nature.}, } @article {pmid22421886, year = {2013}, author = {de Carvalho, K and Bespalhok Filho, JC and dos Santos, TB and de Souza, SG and Vieira, LG and Pereira, LF and Domingues, DS}, title = {Nitrogen starvation, salt and heat stress in coffee (Coffea arabica L.): identification and validation of new genes for qPCR normalization.}, journal = {Molecular biotechnology}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, pages = {315-325}, pmid = {22421886}, issn = {1559-0305}, mesh = {Coffea/*genetics/metabolism ; Food Handling ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; *Hot Temperature ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics/isolation & purification ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Sodium Chloride ; Software ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Abiotic stresses are among the most important factors that affect food production. One important step to face these environmental challenges is the transcriptional modulation. Quantitative real-time PCR is a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for the detection of mRNAs and it has become a powerful tool to mitigate plant stress tolerance; however, suitable reference genes are required for data normalization. Reference genes for coffee plants during nitrogen starvation, salinity and heat stress have not yet been reported. We evaluated the expression stability of ten candidate reference genes using geNorm PLUS, NormFinder, and BestKeeper softwares, in plants submitted to nitrogen starvation, salt and heat stress. EF1, EF1α, GAPDH, MDH, and UBQ10 were ranked as the most stable genes in all stresses and software analyses, while RPL39 and RPII were classified as the less reliable references. For reference gene validation, the transcriptional pattern of a Coffea non-symbiotic hemoglobin (CaHb1) was analyzed using the two new recommended and the most unstable gene references for normalization. The most unstable gene may lead to incorrect interpretation of CaHb1 transcriptional analysis. Here, we recommend two new reference genes in Coffea for use in data normalization in abiotic stresses: MDH and EF1.}, } @article {pmid22420264, year = {2012}, author = {Matsukura, K and Shiba, T and Sasaki, T and Matsumura, M}, title = {Enhanced resistance to four species of Clypeorrhynchan pests in Neotyphodium uncinatum infected Italian ryegrass.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {105}, number = {1}, pages = {129-134}, doi = {10.1603/ec11216}, pmid = {22420264}, issn = {0022-0493}, mesh = {Animals ; Endophytes/chemistry ; Feeding Behavior ; Hemiptera/*drug effects/physiology ; Japan ; Lolium/chemistry/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/chemistry ; Neurotoxins/*pharmacology ; Nymph/drug effects/physiology ; Phloem/chemistry/microbiology ; Population Dynamics ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids/*pharmacology ; Species Specificity ; Xylem/chemistry/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Particular alkaloids produced by Neotyphodium endophytes show toxicity to invertebrates. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lamarck) cultivars and strains that are symbiotic with Neotyphodium endophytes have been recently established in Japan. N. uncinatum-infected Italian ryegrass lines accumulate N-formylloline, a type of loline alkaloid (1-aminopyrrolizidine) showing neurotoxicity to herbivorous insects. This study investigated the toxicity of N-formylloline and resistance of N. uncinatum-infected Italian ryegrass to vascular-sap feeding Clypeorrhynchan pests. When four vascular-sap feeding insects: Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), Cicadulina bipunctata (Melichar) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), and Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) fed on N. uncinatum-infected Italian ryegrass, significant decreases in survival rate were observed for three phloem-sap feeders but not for a xylem-sap feeder, N. cincticeps. This result suggests an uneven distribution of N-formylloline among plant tissues. A potency assay for N-formylloline using a Parafilm feeding sachet and a quantitative analysis of N-formylloline in plant showed a concentration-dependent lethal effect of N-formylloline on all four tested vascular-sap feeders. Our results strongly suggest that N. uncinatum-infected plants can control some Clypeorrhynchan pests in crop fields.}, } @article {pmid22419591, year = {2012}, author = {Sorroche, FG and Giordano, W}, title = {PCR analysis of expR gene regulating biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Biochemistry and molecular biology education : a bimonthly publication of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology}, volume = {40}, number = {2}, pages = {108-111}, doi = {10.1002/bmb.20560}, pmid = {22419591}, issn = {1539-3429}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Biochemistry/*education ; Curriculum ; *Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis ; Quorum Sensing ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*metabolism ; Trans-Activators/genetics ; }, abstract = {Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by the rhizobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti is essential for root nodule formation on its legume host (alfalfa), and for establishment of a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between the two partners. Production of EPS II (galactoglucan) by certain S. meliloti strains results in a mucoid colony phenotype. Other strains that are unable to produce EPS II display a dry phenotype, due to the presence of an insertion element in the gene expR, a key regulator involved in many important cellular processes, including production of low-molecular-weight EPS II. We describe a series of three programmed undergraduate biochemistry laboratory classes teaching PCR and electrophoresis procedures to detect non-functional expR loci in S. meliloti.}, } @article {pmid22419497, year = {2012}, author = {Diaz, PL and Hennell, JR and Sucher, NJ}, title = {Genomic DNA extraction and barcoding of endophytic fungi.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {862}, number = {}, pages = {171-179}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-61779-609-8_14}, pmid = {22419497}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {DNA, Fungal/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Fungi ; Genome, Fungal ; Plants/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Endophytes live inter- and/or intracellularly inside healthy aboveground tissues of plants without causing disease. Endophytic fungi are found in virtually every vascular plant species examined. The origins of this symbiotic relationship between endophytes go back to the emergence of vascular plants. Endophytic fungi receive nutrition and protection from their hosts while the plants benefit from the production of fungal secondary metabolites, which enhance the host plants' resistance to herbivores, pathogens, and various abiotic stresses. Endophytic fungi have attracted increased interest as potential sources of secondary metabolites with agricultural, industrial, and medicinal use. This chapter provides detailed protocols for isolation of genomic DNA from fungal endophytes and its use in polymerase chain reaction-based amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region between the conserved flanking regions of the small and large subunit of ribosomal RNA for barcoding purposes.}, } @article {pmid22419481, year = {2012}, author = {Rodríguez-Echeverría, S and Fajardo, S and Ruiz-Díez, B and Fernández-Pascual, M}, title = {Differential effectiveness of novel and old legume-rhizobia mutualisms: implications for invasion by exotic legumes.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {170}, number = {1}, pages = {253-261}, pmid = {22419481}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Ecosystem ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Forecasting ; *Introduced Species ; Mediterranean Region ; Plant Development ; Rhizobiaceae/*growth & development ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The degree of specialization in the legume-rhizobium mutualism and the variation in the response to different potential symbionts are crucial factors for understanding the process of invasion by exotic legumes and the consequences for the native resident plants and bacteria. The enhanced novel mutualism hypothesis predicts that exotic invasive legumes would take advantage of native rhizobia present in the invaded soils. However, recent studies have shown that exotic legumes might become invasive by using exotic introduced microsymbionts, and that they could be a source of exotic bacteria for native legumes. To unravel the role of novel and old symbioses in the progress of invasion, nodulation and symbiotic effectiveness were analyzed for exotic invasive plants and native co-occurring legumes in a Mediterranean coastal dune ecosystem. Although most of the studied species nodulated with bacteria from distant origins these novel mutualisms were less effective in terms of nodulation, nitrogenase activity and plant growth than the interactions of plants and bacteria from the same origin. The relative effect of exotic bradyrhizobia was strongly positive for exotic invasive legumes and detrimental for native shrubs. We conclude that (1) the studied invasive legumes do not rely on novel mutualisms but rather need the co-introduction of compatible symbionts, and (2) since exotic rhizobia colonize native legumes in invaded areas, the lack of effectiveness of these novel symbiosis demonstrated here suggests that invasion can disrupt native belowground mutualisms and reduce native legumes fitness.}, } @article {pmid22418429, year = {2012}, author = {Abbaspour, H and Saeidi-Sar, S and Afshari, H and Abdel-Wahhab, MA}, title = {Tolerance of Mycorrhiza infected pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) seedling to drought stress under glasshouse conditions.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {7}, pages = {704-709}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2012.01.014}, pmid = {22418429}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Antioxidants/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Droughts ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Osmosis ; Pistacia/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/physiology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development/physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Water/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The influence of Glomus etunicatum colonization on plant growth and drought tolerance of 3-month-old Pistacia vera seedlings in potted culture was studied in two different water treatments. The arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) inoculation and plant growth (including plant shoot and root weight, leaf area, and total chlorophyll) were higher for well-watered than for water-stressed plants. The growth of AM-treated seedlings was higher than non-AM-treatment regardless of water status. P, K, Zn and Cu contents in AM-treated shoots were greater than those in non-AM shoots under well-watered conditions and drought stress. N and Ca content were higher under drought stress, while AM symbiosis did not affect the Mg content. The contents of soluble sugars, proteins, flavonoid and proline were higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal-treated plants under the whole water regime. AM colonization increased the activities of peroxidase enzyme in treatments, but did not affect the catalase activity in shoots and roots under well-watered conditions and drought stress. We conclude that AM colonization improved the drought tolerance of P. vera seedlings by increasing the accumulation of osmotic adjustment compounds, nutritional and antioxidant enzyme activity. It appears that AM formation enhanced the drought tolerance of pistachio plants, which increased host biomass and plant growth.}, } @article {pmid22417480, year = {2011}, author = {Reis, FS and Heleno, SA and Barros, L and Sousa, MJ and Martins, A and Santos-Buelga, C and Ferreira, IC}, title = {Toward the antioxidant and chemical characterization of mycorrhizal mushrooms from northeast Portugal.}, journal = {Journal of food science}, volume = {76}, number = {6}, pages = {C824-30}, doi = {10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02251.x}, pmid = {22417480}, issn = {1750-3841}, mesh = {Agaricales/chemistry/*metabolism ; Amanita/chemistry/metabolism ; Antioxidants/chemistry/*metabolism ; Arabinose/metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/chemistry/*metabolism ; Carbohydrates/*analysis/chemistry ; Cortinarius/chemistry/metabolism ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Lipids/*analysis/chemistry ; Mannitol/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry/*metabolism ; Phenols/chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Portugal ; Species Specificity ; Tocopherols/chemistry/metabolism ; Trees/*microbiology ; Trehalose/metabolism ; Tricholoma/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Mushrooms are widely appreciated all over the world for their nutritional properties and pharmacological value as sources of important bioactive compounds. Mycorrhizal macrofungi associate with plant roots constituting a symbiotic relationship. This symbiosis could influence the production of secondary metabolites, including bioactive compounds. We focused on the evaluation of antioxidant potential and chemical composition of mycorrhizal mushrooms species from Northeast Portugal: Amanita caesarea, Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina, Chroogomphus fulmineus, Cortinarius anomalus, Cortinarius collinitus, Cortinarius violaceus, Lactarius quietus, Lactarius volemus, Russula sardonia, Suillus luteus, and Tricholoma ustale. A similar profile of metabolites was observed in the studied species with the order sugars > fat > ascorbic acid > phenolic compounds > tocopherols. Nevertheless, the samples revealed different compositions: prevalence of sugars in L. volemus, fat and ascorbic acid in A. muscaria, phenolic compounds in C. anomalus and tocopherols, and antioxidant activity in S. luteus.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Chemical characterization of 12 mycorrhizal mushrooms was achieved. They are sources of nutraceuticals, such as sugars and fatty acids, and contain bioactive compounds, such as vitamins and phenolic acids. Edible species can be incorporated in diets as sources of antioxidants, while nonedible species can be explored as sources of bioactive metabolites.}, } @article {pmid22416536, year = {2012}, author = {Robertson, JE}, title = {Can't we all just get along? A primer on student incivility in nursing education.}, journal = {Nursing education perspectives}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {21-26}, doi = {10.5480/1536-5026-33.1.21}, pmid = {22416536}, issn = {1536-5026}, mesh = {*Aggression ; Education, Nursing/*ethics ; Humans ; *Social Behavior ; *Students, Nursing ; United States ; Violence/*prevention & control ; }, abstract = {Student incivility is a growing problem in the academic nursing community. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the increasing prevalence of incivility among nursing students. Various databases (Allied and Complimentary Medicine, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Ovid MEDLINE) were queried using the key words incivility, student incivility, nursing education, student-faculty relations, student aggression, and student violence. Both research- and non-research-based articles were selected for review. Also included among the references retrieved were articles pertaining to unethical conduct and disruptive behavior. Virtually all of the articles characterized incivility as the product of a symbiotic relationship between students and faculty. Fundamentally, incivility was found to be a multifaceted problem whose resolution is predicated on gaining a heightened understanding of the economic, sociological, and psychological underpinnings of disruptive behavior.}, } @article {pmid22415688, year = {2012}, author = {Li, B and Tang, M and Tang, K and Zhao, L and Guo, S}, title = {Screening for differentially expressed genes in Anoectochilus roxburghii (Orchidaceae) during symbiosis with the mycorrhizal fungus Epulorhiza sp.}, journal = {Science China. Life sciences}, volume = {55}, number = {2}, pages = {164-171}, doi = {10.1007/s11427-012-4284-0}, pmid = {22415688}, issn = {1869-1889}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*growth & development/physiology ; Blotting, Northern ; Endoribonucleases/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/physiology ; Nucleotidyltransferases/genetics ; Orchidaceae/*genetics/microbiology ; Pentosyltransferases/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; RNA, Transfer, Lys/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi promote the growth and development of plants, including medicinal plants. The mechanisms by which this growth promotion occurs are of theoretical interest and practical importance to agriculture. Here, an endophytic fungus (AR-18) was isolated from roots of the orchid Anoectochilus roxburghii growing in the wild, and identified as Epulorhiza sp. Tissue-cultured seedlings of A. roxburghii were inoculated with AR-18 and co-cultured for 60 d. Endotrophic mycorrhiza formed and the growth of A. roxburghii was markedly promoted by the fungus. To identify genes in A. roxburghii that were differentially expressed during the symbiosis with AR-18, we used the differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) method to compare the transcriptomes between seedlings inoculated with the fungus and control seedlings. We amplified 52 DDRT-PCR bands using 15 primer combinations of three anchor primers and five arbitrary primers, and nine bands were re-amplified by double primers. Reverse Northern blot analyses were used to further screen the bands. Five clones were up-regulated in the symbiotic interaction, including genes encoding a uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTs; EC 2.4.2.9) and a hypothetical protein. One gene encoding an amino acid transmembrane transporter was down-regulated, and one gene encoding a tRNA-Lys (trnK) and a maturase K (matK) pseudogene were expressed only in the inoculated seedlings. The possible roles of the above genes, especially the UPRTs and matK genes, are discussed in relation to the fungal interaction. This study is the first of its type in A. roxburghii.}, } @article {pmid22415512, year = {2012}, author = {Meckfessel, MH and Blancaflor, EB and Plunkett, M and Dong, Q and Dickstein, R}, title = {Multiple domains in MtENOD8 protein including the signal peptide target it to the symbiosome.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {159}, number = {1}, pages = {299-310}, pmid = {22415512}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/chemistry ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry/genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/chemistry/genetics/microbiology ; *Protein Sorting Signals ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protein Transport ; RNA, Plant/analysis/chemistry ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/genetics/microbiology ; Sequence Alignment ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation occurs in nodules, specialized organs on the roots of legumes. Within nodules, host plant cells are infected with rhizobia that are encapsulated by a plant-derived membrane forming a novel organelle, the symbiosome. In Medicago truncatula, the symbiosome consists of the symbiosome membrane, a single rhizobium, and the soluble space between them, called the symbiosome space. The symbiosome space is enriched with plant-derived proteins, including the M. truncatula EARLY NODULIN8 (MtENOD8) protein. Here, we present evidence from green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion experiments that the MtENOD8 protein contains at least three symbiosome targeting domains, including its N-terminal signal peptide (SP). When ectopically expressed in nonnodulated root tissue, the MtENOD8 SP delivers GFP to the vacuole. During the course of nodulation, there is a nodule-specific redirection of MtENOD8-SP-GFP from the vacuole to punctate intermediates and subsequently to symbiosomes, with redirection of MtENOD8-SP-GFP from the vacuole to punctate intermediates preceding intracellular rhizobial infection. Experiments with M. truncatula mutants having defects in rhizobial infection and symbiosome development demonstrated that the MtNIP/LATD gene is required for redirection of the MtENOD8-SP-GFP from the vacuoles to punctate intermediates in nodules. Our evidence shows that MtENOD8 has evolved redundant targeting sequences for symbiosome targeting and that intracellular localization of ectopically expressed MtENOD8-SP-GFP is useful as a marker for monitoring the extent of development in mutant nodules.}, } @article {pmid22414870, year = {2012}, author = {Naughton, LM and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Colonization of Euprymna scolopes squid by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE}, volume = {}, number = {61}, pages = {e3758}, pmid = {22414870}, issn = {1940-087X}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteriological Techniques/*methods ; Colony Count, Microbial/methods ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Luminescent Measurements/methods ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Specific bacteria are found in association with animal tissue. Such host-bacterial associations (symbioses) can be detrimental (pathogenic), have no fitness consequence (commensal), or be beneficial (mutualistic). While much attention has been given to pathogenic interactions, little is known about the processes that dictate the reproducible acquisition of beneficial/commensal bacteria from the environment. The light-organ mutualism between the marine Gram-negative bacterium V. fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, E. scolopes, represents a highly specific interaction in which one host (E. scolopes) establishes a symbiotic relationship with only one bacterial species (V. fischeri) throughout the course of its lifetime. Bioluminescence produced by V. fischeri during this interaction provides an anti-predatory benefit to E. scolopes during nocturnal activities, while the nutrient-rich host tissue provides V. fischeri with a protected niche. During each host generation, this relationship is recapitulated, thus representing a predictable process that can be assessed in detail at various stages of symbiotic development. In the laboratory, the juvenile squid hatch aposymbiotically (uncolonized), and, if collected within the first 30-60 minutes and transferred to symbiont-free water, cannot be colonized except by the experimental inoculum. This interaction thus provides a useful model system in which to assess the individual steps that lead to specific acquisition of a symbiotic microbe from the environment. Here we describe a method to assess the degree of colonization that occurs when newly hatched aposymbiotic E. scolopes are exposed to (artificial) seawater containing V. fischeri. This simple assay describes inoculation, natural infection, and recovery of the bacterial symbiont from the nascent light organ of E. scolopes. Care is taken to provide a consistent environment for the animals during symbiotic development, especially with regard to water quality and light cues. Methods to characterize the symbiotic population described include (1) measurement of bacterially-derived bioluminescence, and (2) direct colony counting of recovered symbionts.}, } @article {pmid22414436, year = {2012}, author = {Ikeda, Y and Shimura, H and Kitahara, R and Masuta, C and Ezawa, T}, title = {A novel virus-like double-stranded RNA in an obligate biotroph arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus: a hidden player in mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {7}, pages = {1005-1012}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-11-0288}, pmid = {22414436}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Genome, Viral/*genetics ; Glomeromycota/physiology/*virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/physiology/*virology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/virology ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Poaceae/growth & development/microbiology/virology ; RNA Viruses/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Double-Stranded/chemistry/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA, Viral/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; *Symbiosis ; Viral Proteins/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic associations with most land plants and enhance phosphorus uptake of the host plants. Fungal viruses (mycoviruses) that possess a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome often affect plant-fungal interactions via altering phenotypic expression of their host fungi. The present study demonstrates, for the first time, the presence of dsRNAs, which are highly likely to be mycoviruses, in AM fungi. dsRNA was extracted from mycelia of Glomus sp. strain RF1, purified, and subjected to electrophoresis. The fungus was found to harbor various dsRNA segments that differed in size. Among them, a 4.5-kbp segment was termed Glomus sp. strain RF1 virus-like medium dsRNA (GRF1V-M) and characterized in detail. The GRF1V-M genome segment was 4,557 nucleotides in length and encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a structural protein. GRF1V-M was phylogenetically distinct and could not be assigned to known genera of mycovirus. The GRF1V-M-free culture line of Glomus sp. strain RF1, which was raised by single-spore isolation, produced twofold greater number of spores and promoted plant growth more efficiently than the GRF1V-M-positive lines. These observations suggest that mycoviruses in AM fungi, at least some of them, have evolved under unique selection pressures and are a biologically active component in the symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22412285, year = {2011}, author = {Deshpande, V}, title = {Disaster management as part of curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate courses: The Symbiosis model.}, journal = {Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine}, volume = {15}, number = {3}, pages = {97-99}, doi = {10.4103/0019-5278.93197}, pmid = {22412285}, issn = {1998-3670}, abstract = {From times immemorial disasters in some form or the other have been regularly visiting humankind and humans have been trying to manage these upheavals. Noah's arch is the first such endeavor. The United Nations declared 1990-1999 as International Decade for Disaster Reduction. The Indian Government passed the Disaster Management Act 2005. As a consequence of the Act, the National Disaster Management Authority was setup. All states were given the guide lines for disaster risk reduction. The objective of this article is to get a clearer picture of what various states, educational authorities and international bodies have done and what Symbiosis International University (SIU) has done so far. Inputs from various States of the Indian Union and neighboring countries were studied. The moot question that figured all the time was "Is there a conscious effort to include Disaster Management in the curricula of various courses at the college and university level" and what are the achievements. It was seen that the Central Board for Secondary Education with support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Human Resource Development and United Nations Development Project have incorporated DM, as part of its frontline curriculum. Most of the Universities in the disaster prone states have enunciated policies for including DM in the curriculum, but palpable results are still awaited. In the SIU, DM has been incorporated in the curriculum and is mandatory for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses.}, } @article {pmid22404964, year = {2012}, author = {Malcolm, H and April, H}, title = {The magnesium inhibition and arrested phagosome hypotheses: new perspectives on the evolution and ecology of Symbiodinium symbioses.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {87}, number = {4}, pages = {804-821}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-185X.2012.00223.x}, pmid = {22404964}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Calcium/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Magnesium/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Zooxanthella symbioses are arguably the most important ecological interaction on coral reefs because they energetically subsidize the entire community, and enhance the calcification process that provides structure for all other organisms. While we have developed a detailed understanding of the diversity among and within the Symbiodinium clades, we currently lack a mechanistic explanation for which factors favoured zooxanthella invasion of the intracellular habitat in heterotrophic hosts, and for what molecular mechanisms permit residence within the cell. We propose two hypotheses that explain important evolutionary and ecological features of zooxanthella symbioses. The magnesium inhibition hypothesis (MIH) states that increases in the Mg/Ca ratio in sea water that occurred over the last 100 million years created a situation where Mg(2+) inhibited Ca(2+) transport to zooxanthellae. The MIH predicts, among other things, that the intracellular niche was invaded as a response to this abiotic stressor. The arrested phagosome hypothesis (APH) states that Symbiodinium spp. mimic host cell endosomal digestive machinery via the symbiosome to appear like digesting prey through perpetual release of zooxanthella-derived compounds. The APH represents a subtle but important distinction from previous hypotheses regarding interactions between symbiont and host at the cellular level. The APH predicts that symbionts tune rates of material release to match expectations of host cellular machinery. An outcome of the APH is that intra-host residence time becomes a vital parameter to consider. Both hypotheses shift control of the symbiosis away from the host, and instead focus attention on the niche requirements of Symbiodinium spp.}, } @article {pmid22404688, year = {2012}, author = {Friesen, ML}, title = {Widespread fitness alignment in the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {4}, pages = {1096-1111}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04099.x}, pmid = {22404688}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; Genetic Pleiotropy ; Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although 'cheaters' potentially destabilize the legume-rhizobium mutualism, we lack a comprehensive review of host-symbiont fitness correlations. Studies measuring rhizobium relative or absolute fitness and host benefit are surveyed. Mutant studies are tallied for evidence of pleiotropy; studies of natural strains are analyzed with meta-analysis. Of 80 rhizobium mutations, 19 decrease both partners' fitness, four increase both, two increase host fitness but decrease symbiont fitness and none increase symbiont fitness at the host's expense. The pooled correlation between rhizobium nodulation competitiveness and plant aboveground biomass is 0.65 across five experiments that compete natural strains against a reference, whereas, across 14 experiments that compete rhizobia against soil populations or each other, the pooled correlation is 0.24. Pooled correlations between aboveground biomass and nodule number and nodule biomass are 0.76 and 0.83. Positive correlations between legume and rhizobium fitness imply that most ineffective rhizobia are 'defective' rather than 'defectors'; this extends to natural variants, with only one significant fitness conflict. Most studies involve non-coevolved associations, indicating that fitness alignment is the default state. Rhizobium mutations that increase both host and symbiont fitness suggest that some plants maladaptively restrict symbiosis with novel strains.}, } @article {pmid22404479, year = {2012}, author = {Gibert, A and Volaire, F and Barre, P and Hazard, L}, title = {A fungal endophyte reinforces population adaptive differentiation in its host grass species.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {2}, pages = {561-571}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04073.x}, pmid = {22404479}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Agricultural Irrigation ; Droughts ; Endophytes/*physiology ; France ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Geography ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/*physiology ; Lolium/*genetics/*microbiology ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Neotyphodium/*physiology ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Population Dynamics ; Principal Component Analysis ; Species Specificity ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Water ; }, abstract = {Hereditary symbioses between fungal endophytes and grasses are relatively recent in the history of plant life. Given < 80 million yr of co-evolution, symbioses are likely to have impacted plant microevolutionary rather than macroevolutionary processes. Therefore, we investigated the microevolutionary role of the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium lolii in the adaptive differentiation of its host species Lolium perenne. Endophyte frequency in 22 natural L. perenne populations was established across a water availability gradient. Adaptive differentiation among five populations, and between symbiotic (S) and nonsymbiotic (NS) plants, was examined in a glasshouse experiment under nonlimiting and limiting water conditions. Genetic differentiation was subsequently assessed among populations, and between S and NS individuals, using 14 simple sequence repeats (SSR). Symbiosis frequencies were positively correlated to water availability. Adaptive population differentiation occurred following a trade-off between biomass production under nonlimiting water conditions and survivorship under water stress. Endophytic symbiosis increased plant survival in xeric populations, and reinforced competitiveness in mesic populations. No genetic difference was detected between S and NS plants within populations. Therefore, we conclude that the endophyte relationship is responsible for these effects. Local adaptation of the host plant, appears to be supported by the fungal endophyte.}, } @article {pmid22404110, year = {2012}, author = {Urbanczyk, H and Kiwaki, N and Furukawa, T and Iwatsuki, Y}, title = {Limited geographic distribution of certain strains of the bioluminescent symbiont Photobacterium leiognathi.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {81}, number = {2}, pages = {355-363}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01353.x}, pmid = {22404110}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Japan ; Luminescence ; *Operon ; Perciformes/*microbiology ; Photobacterium/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Photobacterium leiognathi is a facultative bioluminescent symbiont of marine animals. Strains of P. leiognathi that are merodiploid for the luminescence genes (lux-rib operon) have been previously obtained only from Japan. In contrast, strains bearing a single lux-rib operon have been obtained from all the areas sampled in Japan and the western Pacific. In this study, we tested whether distribution of merodiploid P. leiognathi is limited by physical barriers in the environment, or because fish in the western Pacific preferentially form symbiosis with bacteria bearing a single lux-rib operon. We collected light organ symbionts from Secutor indicius, a fish species that is typically found in the western Pacific and has only recently expanded its geographic range to Japan. We found that all S. indicius specimens collected from Japan formed symbiosis only with single lux-rib operon-bearing strains, although fish from other species collected from the same geographic area frequently contained merodiploid strains. This result shows that S. indicius were preferentially colonized by bacteria bearing a single lux-rib operon and suggests that the limited geographic distribution of merodiploid P. leiognathi can be attributed to preferential colonization of fish species found in the western Pacific by strains bearing only a single lux-rib operon.}, } @article {pmid22403824, year = {2012}, author = {Kale, SD}, title = {Oomycete and fungal effector entry, a microbial Trojan horse.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {193}, number = {4}, pages = {874-881}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03968.x}, pmid = {22403824}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/*metabolism ; Fungi/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oomycetes/*physiology ; Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates/metabolism ; Phospholipids/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Oomycete and fungal symbionts have significant impacts on most commercially important crop and forest species, and on natural ecosystems, both negatively as pathogens and positively as mutualists. Symbiosis may be facilitated through the secretion of effector proteins, some of which modulate a variety of host defense mechanisms. A subset of these secreted proteins are able to translocate into host cells. In the oomycete pathogens, two conserved N-terminal motifs, RXLR and dEER, mediate translocation of effector proteins into host cells independent of any pathogen-encoded machinery. An expanded 'RXLR-like' motif [R/K/H]X[L/M/I/F/Y/W]X has been used to identify functional translocation motifs in host-cell-entering fungal effector proteins from pathogens and a mutualist. The RXLR-like translocation motifs were required for the fungal effectors to enter host cells in the absence of any pathogen-encoded machinery. Oomycete and fungal effectors with RXLR and RXLR-like motifs can bind phospholipids, specifically phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns-3-P). Effector-PtdIns-3-P binding appears to mediate cell entry via lipid raft-mediated endocytosis, and could be blocked by sequestering cell surface PtdIns-3-P or by utilizing inositides that competitively inhibit effector binding to PtdIns-3-P. These findings suggest that effector blocking technologies could be developed and utilized in a variety of important crop species against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens.}, } @article {pmid22399646, year = {2012}, author = {Kiirika, LM and Bergmann, HF and Schikowsky, C and Wimmer, D and Korte, J and Schmitz, U and Niehaus, K and Colditz, F}, title = {Silencing of the Rac1 GTPase MtROP9 in Medicago truncatula stimulates early mycorrhizal and oomycete root colonizations but negatively affects rhizobial infection.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {159}, number = {1}, pages = {501-516}, pmid = {22399646}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Vectors/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/enzymology/genetics/*microbiology ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; NADPH Oxidases/genetics/metabolism ; Oomycetes/*pathogenicity ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Respiratory Burst ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*growth & development ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {RAC/ROP proteins (ρ-related GTPases of plants) are plant-specific small G proteins that function as molecular switches within elementary signal transduction pathways, including the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation during early microbial infection via the activation of NADPH oxidase homologs of plants termed RBOH (for respiratory burst oxidase homolog). We investigated the role of Medicago truncatula Jemalong A17 small GTPase MtROP9, orthologous to Medicago sativa Rac1, via an RNA interference silencing approach. Composite M. truncatula plants (MtROP9i) whose roots have been transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes carrying the RNA interference vector were generated and infected with the symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus Glomus intraradices and the rhizobial bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti as well as with the pathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches. MtROP9i transgenic lines showed a clear growth-reduced phenotype and revealed neither ROS generation nor MtROP9 and MtRBOH gene expression after microbial infection. Coincidently, antioxidative compounds were not induced in infected MtROP9i roots, as documented by differential proteomics (two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis). Furthermore, MtROP9 knockdown clearly promoted mycorrhizal and A. euteiches early hyphal root colonization, while rhizobial infection was clearly impaired. Infected MtROP9i roots showed, in part, extremely swollen noninfected root hairs and reduced numbers of deformed nodules. S. meliloti nodulation factor treatments of MtROP9i led to deformed root hairs showing progressed swelling of its upper regions or even of the entire root hair and spontaneous constrictions but reduced branching effects occurring only at swollen root hairs. These results suggest a key role of Rac1 GTPase MtROP9 in ROS-mediated early infection signaling.}, } @article {pmid22398987, year = {2012}, author = {Pawlowski, K and Demchenko, KN}, title = {The diversity of actinorhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {249}, number = {4}, pages = {967-979}, pmid = {22398987}, issn = {1615-6102}, mesh = {Frankia/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Filamentous aerobic soil actinobacteria of the genus Frankia can induce the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of a diverse group of plants from eight dicotyledonous families, collectively called actinorhizal plants. Within nodules, Frankia can fix nitrogen while being hosted inside plant cells. Like in legume/rhizobia symbioses, bacteria can enter the plant root either intracellularly through an infection thread formed in a curled root hair, or intercellularly without root hair involvement, and the entry mechanism is determined by the host plant species. Nodule primordium formation is induced in the root pericycle as for lateral root primordia. Mature actinorhizal nodules are coralloid structures consisting of multiple lobes, each of which represents a modified lateral root without a root cap, a superficial periderm and with infected cells in the expanded cortex. In this review, an overview of nodule induction mechanisms and nodule structure is presented including comparisons with the corresponding mechanisms in legume symbioses.}, } @article {pmid22398443, year = {2012}, author = {Kretzschmar, T and Kohlen, W and Sasse, J and Borghi, L and Schlegel, M and Bachelier, JB and Reinhardt, D and Bours, R and Bouwmeester, HJ and Martinoia, E}, title = {A petunia ABC protein controls strigolactone-dependent symbiotic signalling and branching.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {483}, number = {7389}, pages = {341-344}, pmid = {22398443}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/*metabolism ; Abscisic Acid/pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/*drug effects/embryology/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Germination ; Lactones/*pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects ; Naphthaleneacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Petunia/genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones were originally identified as stimulators of the germination of root-parasitic weeds that pose a serious threat to resource-limited agriculture. They are mostly exuded from roots and function as signalling compounds in the initiation of arbuscular mycorrhizae, which are plant-fungus symbionts with a global effect on carbon and phosphate cycling. Recently, strigolactones were established to be phytohormones that regulate plant shoot architecture by inhibiting the outgrowth of axillary buds. Despite their importance, it is not known how strigolactones are transported. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, however, are known to have functions in phytohormone translocation. Here we show that the Petunia hybrida ABC transporter PDR1 has a key role in regulating the development of arbuscular mycorrhizae and axillary branches, by functioning as a cellular strigolactone exporter. P. hybrida pdr1 mutants are defective in strigolactone exudation from their roots, resulting in reduced symbiotic interactions. Above ground, pdr1 mutants have an enhanced branching phenotype, which is indicative of impaired strigolactone allocation. Overexpression of Petunia axillaris PDR1 in Arabidopsis thaliana results in increased tolerance to high concentrations of a synthetic strigolactone, consistent with increased export of strigolactones from the roots. PDR1 is the first known component in strigolactone transport, providing new opportunities for investigating and manipulating strigolactone-dependent processes.}, } @article {pmid22397570, year = {2012}, author = {Bourinbaiar, AS and Mezentseva, MV and Butov, DA and Nyasulu, PS and Efremenko, YV and Jirathitikal, V and Mishchenko, VV and Kutsyna, GA}, title = {Immune approaches in tuberculosis therapy: a brief overview.}, journal = {Expert review of anti-infective therapy}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {381-389}, doi = {10.1586/eri.12.1}, pmid = {22397570}, issn = {1744-8336}, mesh = {Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use ; Immunotherapy/*methods ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*immunology ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculin/immunology/therapeutic use ; Tuberculosis/*immunology/microbiology/physiopathology/therapy ; Tuberculosis Vaccines/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {TB is typically caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a symbiotic bacterium present in one-third of the world's population. There any many factors triggering overt clinical disease in a small proportion of humans. In our view the major role in the process is played by the host's immune response, especially self-directed, destructive inflammation. Conventional chemotherapy produces bactericidal or bacteriostatic effects, but immunopathological changes can only be corrected by immunotherapy. Various attempts have been made to identify the optimal immune intervention. Some have shown promising effects, but many have failed. It is commonly believed that the field started in 1890: the year Robert Koch announced his tuberculin therapy. In the Pên Ts'ao Kang Mu, classical Chinese materia medica, published during Ming dynasty, Li Shi Chen (1518-1593) recommended, as a remedy for hemoptysis, to collect from the sputum "…blood lumps, roast them till they are black, and take then them as a powder". In retrospect, this is perhaps the earliest recorded reference relating to immunotherapy of TB with heat-killed mycobacteria. Modern science is obviously geared toward more palatable approach, but without hindsight from often disdained empirical evidence no progress can be made. The clinical experience from various trial and error processes is briefly discussed in this review.}, } @article {pmid22397406, year = {2012}, author = {Margaret, I and Crespo-Rivas, JC and Acosta-Jurado, S and Buendía-Clavería, AM and Cubo, MT and Gil-Serrano, A and Moreno, J and Murdoch, PS and Rodríguez-Carvajal, MA and Rodríguez-Navarro, DN and Ruiz-Sainz, JE and Sanjuán, J and Soto, MJ and Vinardell, JM}, title = {Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 rkp-3 genes are required for K-antigen polysaccharide biosynthesis, affect lipopolysaccharide structure and are essential for infection of legumes forming determinate nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {825-838}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-10-11-0262}, pmid = {22397406}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Antigens, Bacterial/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Carbohydrate Conformation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Sinorhizobium fredii/*genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {The Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 rkp-3 region has been isolated and sequenced. Based on the similarities between the S. fredii HH103 rkpL, rkpM, rkpN, rkpO, rkpP, and rkpQ genes and their corresponding orthologues in Helicobacter pylori, we propose a possible pathway for the biosynthesis of the S. fredii HH103 K-antigen polysaccharide (KPS) repeating unit. Three rkp-3 genes (rkpM, rkpP, and rkpQ) involved in the biosynthesis of the HH103 KPS repeating unit (a derivative of the pseudaminic acid) have been mutated and analyzed. All the rkp-3 mutants failed to produce KPS and their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles were altered. These mutants showed reduced motility and auto-agglutinated when early-stationary cultures were further incubated under static conditions. Glycine max, Vigna unguiculata (determinate nodule-forming legumes), and Cajanus cajan (indeterminate nodules) plants inoculated with mutants in rkpM, rkpQ, or rkpP only formed pseudonodules that did not fix nitrogen and were devoid of bacteria. In contrast, another indeterminate nodule-forming legume, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, was still able to form some nitrogen-fixing nodules with the three S. fredii HH103 rifampicin-resistant rkp-3 mutants tested. Our results suggest that the severe symbiotic impairment of the S. fredii rkp-3 mutants with soybean, V. unguiculata, and C. cajan is mainly due to the LPS alterations rather than to the incapacity to produce KPS.}, } @article {pmid22396524, year = {2012}, author = {Arisue, N and Hashimoto, T and Mitsui, H and Palacpac, NM and Kaneko, A and Kawai, S and Hasegawa, M and Tanabe, K and Horii, T}, title = {The Plasmodium apicoplast genome: conserved structure and close relationship of P. ovale to rodent malaria parasites.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {29}, number = {9}, pages = {2095-2099}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/mss082}, pmid = {22396524}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Order ; *Genome, Protozoan ; Humans ; Malaria/parasitology ; Phylogeny ; Plasmodium/*classification/*genetics ; Plasmodium ovale/genetics ; Rodentia/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Apicoplast, a nonphotosynthetic plastid derived from secondary symbiotic origin, is essential for the survival of malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Elucidation of the evolution of the apicoplast genome in Plasmodium species is important to better understand the functions of the organelle. However, the complete apicoplast genome is available for only the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Here, we obtained the near-complete apicoplast genome sequences from eight Plasmodium species that infect a wide variety of vertebrate hosts and performed structural and phylogenetic analyses. We found that gene repertoire, gene arrangement, and other structural attributes were highly conserved. Phylogenetic reconstruction using 30 protein-coding genes of the apicoplast genome inferred, for the first time, a close relationship between P. ovale and rodent parasites. This close relatedness was robustly supported using multiple evolutionary assumptions and models. The finding suggests that an ancestral host switch occurred between rodent and human Plasmodium parasites.}, } @article {pmid22396093, year = {2012}, author = {Sood, A and Uniyal, PL and Prasanna, R and Ahluwalia, AS}, title = {Phytoremediation potential of aquatic macrophyte, Azolla.}, journal = {Ambio}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {122-137}, pmid = {22396093}, issn = {0044-7447}, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; Ferns/drug effects/*metabolism ; Metals, Heavy/*metabolism/toxicity ; }, abstract = {Aquatic macrophytes play an important role in the structural and functional aspects of aquatic ecosystems by altering water movement regimes, providing shelter to fish and aquatic invertebrates, serving as a food source, and altering water quality by regulating oxygen balance, nutrient cycles, and accumulating heavy metals. The ability to hyperaccumulate heavy metals makes them interesting research candidates, especially for the treatment of industrial effluents and sewage waste water. The use of aquatic macrophytes, such as Azolla with hyper accumulating ability is known to be an environmentally friendly option to restore polluted aquatic resources. The present review highlights the phytoaccumulation potential of macrophytes with emphasis on utilization of Azolla as a promising candidate for phytoremediation. The impact of uptake of heavy metals on morphology and metabolic processes of Azolla has also been discussed for a better understanding and utilization of this symbiotic association in the field of phytoremediation.}, } @article {pmid22391804, year = {2012}, author = {Navarro-Ródenas, A and Pérez-Gilabert, M and Torrente, P and Morte, A}, title = {The role of phosphorus in the ectendomycorrhiza continuum of desert truffle mycorrhizal plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {565-575}, pmid = {22391804}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cell Wall/enzymology ; Cistaceae/enzymology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Culture Media/metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mycelium/enzymology/growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/classification/enzymology/*growth & development ; Nitrophenols/metabolism ; Organophosphorus Compounds/metabolism ; Phosphorus/analysis/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/enzymology/growth & development/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The influence of inorganic and organic phosphorus (P) and the absence of P in the culture medium on the type of mycorrhizal colonization formed (ecto-, ectendo-, or endomycorrhiza) during Helianthemum almeriense x Terfezia claveryi symbiosis in in vitro conditions was analyzed. This is the first time that the relative proportions of the different mycorrhizal types in mycorrhizal roots of H. almeriense have been quantified and statistically analyzed. The relative proportions of the mycorrhizal types depended on the P source in the medium, suggesting that it is the organic P form that induces the formation of intracellular colonization. The above association should be considered as a continuum between intra- and intercellular colonizations, the most appropriate term for defining it being ectendomycorrhiza. The influence of the endogenous concentration of P on plant growth was also analyzed. P translocation was observed from shoot to roots, especially in mycorrhizal plants because mycorrhizal roots showed higher growth than non-mycorrhizal roots and/or because of an extra P demand from mycelium inside the roots. Soluble and cell wall acid phosphatases activities from H. almeriense roots were kinetically characterized at optimum pH (5.0), using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate, with K (m) values of 3.4 and 1.8 mM, respectively. Moreover, the plant acid phosphatase and fungal alkaline phosphatases activities were histochemically localised in mycorrhizal H. almeriense roots by fluorescence with enzyme-labelled fluorescence substrate.}, } @article {pmid22384938, year = {2012}, author = {Dal Grande, F and Widmer, I and Wagner, HH and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Vertical and horizontal photobiont transmission within populations of a lichen symbiosis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {13}, pages = {3159-3172}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05482.x}, pmid = {22384938}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Algal/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Fungi/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Lichens/genetics/*microbiology ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Models, Genetic ; Mutation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lichens are widespread symbioses and play important roles in many terrestrial ecosystems. The genetic structure of lichens is the result of the association between fungal and algal populations constituting the lichen thallus. Using eight fungus- and seven alga-specific highly variable microsatellite markers on within-population spatial genetic data from 62 replicate populations across Europe, North America, Asia and Africa, we investigated the contributions of vertical and horizontal transmission of the photobiont to the genetic structure of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. Based on pairwise comparisons of multilocus genotypes defined separately for the mycobiont and for the photobiont, we inferred the transmission mode of the photobiont and the relative contribution of somatic mutation and recombination. After constraining the analysis of one symbiont to pairs of individuals with genetically identical symbiotic partners, we found that 77% of fungal and 70% of algal pairs were represented by clones. Thus, the predominant dispersal mode was by means of symbiotic vegetative propagules (vertical transmission), which dispersed fungal and algal clones co-dependently over a short distance, thus shaping the spatial genetic structure up to distances of 20m. Evidence for somatic mutation generating genetic diversity was found in both symbionts, accounting for 30% of pairwise comparisons in the alga and 15% in the fungus. While the alga did not show statistically significant evidence of recombination, recombination accounted for 7.7% of fungal pairs with identical algae. This implies that, even in a mostly vegetatively reproducing species, horizontal transmission plays a role in shaping the symbiotic association, as shown in many coral and other symbioses in nature.}, } @article {pmid22381032, year = {2012}, author = {Andrus, AD and Andam, C and Parker, MA}, title = {American origin of Cupriavidus bacteria associated with invasive Mimosa legumes in the Philippines.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {3}, pages = {747-750}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01342.x}, pmid = {22381032}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Costa Rica ; Cupriavidus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Introduced Species ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Philippines ; Phylogeny ; Puerto Rico ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Texas ; }, abstract = {To identify the origins of Cupriavidus nodule symbionts associated with two invasive Mimosa species in the Philippines, 22 isolates were sequenced for portions of three chromosomal genes and two symbiotic plasmid loci. Eleven isolates were identical at all gene loci (2713 bp) to a lineage found in Central America. Four other Philippine isolates were identical to a second Cupriavidus lineage distributed both in Central America and in the Caribbean. None of the remaining Philippine strains had more than 0.6% sequence divergence from American Cupriavidus lineages. These results imply that the Philippine population was founded by multiple introductions from the native range of their Mimosa hosts.}, } @article {pmid22380845, year = {2012}, author = {Pellegrino, E and Turrini, A and Gamper, HA and Cafà, G and Bonari, E and Young, JPW and Giovannetti, M}, title = {Establishment, persistence and effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculants in the field revealed using molecular genetic tracing and measurement of yield components.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {3}, pages = {810-822}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04090.x}, pmid = {22380845}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Agricultural Inoculants ; Agriculture ; Base Sequence ; Biomass ; Crops, Agricultural ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Genetic Markers/genetics ; Glomeromycota/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Medicago sativa/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {• Inoculation of crop plants by non-native strains of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi as bio-enhancers is promoted without clear evidence for symbiotic effectiveness and fungal persistence. To address such gaps, the forage legume Medicago sativa was inoculated in an agronomic field trial with two isolates of Funneliformis mosseae differing in their nuclear rDNA sequences from native strains. • The inoculants were traced by PCR with a novel combination of the universal fungal NS31 and Glomeromycota-specific LSUGlom1 primers which target the nuclear rDNA cistron. The amplicons were classified by restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing. • The two applied fungal inoculants were successfully traced and discriminated from native strains in roots sampled from the field up to 2 yr post inoculation. Moreover, field inoculation with inocula of non-native isolates of F. mosseae appeared to have stimulated root colonization and yield of M. sativa. • Proof of inoculation success and sustained positive effects on biomass production and quality of M. sativa crop plants hold promise for the role that AM fungal inoculants could play in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid22378626, year = {2012}, author = {Mouhib, H and Stahl, W}, title = {Conformational analysis of green apple flavour: the gas-phase structure of ethyl valerate validated by microwave spectroscopy.}, journal = {Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {1297-1301}, doi = {10.1002/cphc.201100932}, pmid = {22378626}, issn = {1439-7641}, mesh = {Electrons ; Fruit/*chemistry ; Gases ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Isomerism ; Malus/*chemistry ; Microwaves ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Conformation ; Plant Extracts/*analysis ; Quantum Theory ; Rotation ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Valerates/*chemistry ; Vibration ; }, abstract = {We report on the microwave spectrum of ethyl valerate, C(4)H(9)-COO-C(2)H(5), observed by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy (MB-FTMW). Highly accurate rotational and centrifugal distortion constants of the two most abundant conformers were determined. Their structure was investigated by comparison of the experimental rotational constants with those obtained by quantum chemical calculations. MP2/ 6-311++G(d,p) calculations failed to give a proper description of the observed conformers in the supersonic jet. Therefore, also other basis sets were tried using Hartree-Fock, second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2), and B3LYP methods to predict the observed gas-phase structures of the molecule. The quantum chemical results guided the conformer assignment of the rotational constants, obtained from the microwave experiment. One of the two observed conformers has C(s) symmetry, while the most abundant conformer has C(1) symmetry. The main conformer possesses a strong spectrum with high intensities. Additionally, harmonic frequency calculations at different levels of theory where carried out and a low lying vibration of the entire n-butyl group against the rest of the molecule was identified. The symbiotic interplay of microwave gas-phase investigations and quantum chemical calculations becomes evident in our results.}, } @article {pmid22378535, year = {2012}, author = {Aylward, FO and Burnum, KE and Scott, JJ and Suen, G and Tringe, SG and Adams, SM and Barry, KW and Nicora, CD and Piehowski, PD and Purvine, SO and Starrett, GJ and Goodwin, LA and Smith, RD and Lipton, MS and Currie, CR}, title = {Metagenomic and metaproteomic insights into bacterial communities in leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {1688-1701}, pmid = {22378535}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; Enterobacter/classification/genetics ; Fungi/physiology ; *Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; *Proteomics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Herbivores gain access to nutrients stored in plant biomass largely by harnessing the metabolic activities of microbes. Leaf-cutter ants of the genus Atta are a hallmark example; these dominant neotropical herbivores cultivate symbiotic fungus gardens on large quantities of fresh plant forage. As the external digestive system of the ants, fungus gardens facilitate the production and sustenance of millions of workers. Using metagenomic and metaproteomic techniques, we characterize the bacterial diversity and physiological potential of fungus gardens from two species of Atta. Our analysis of over 1.2 Gbp of community metagenomic sequence and three 16S pyrotag libraries reveals that in addition to harboring the dominant fungal crop, these ecosystems contain abundant populations of Enterobacteriaceae, including the genera Enterobacter, Pantoea, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Escherichia. We show that these bacterial communities possess genes associated with lignocellulose degradation and diverse biosynthetic pathways, suggesting that they play a role in nutrient cycling by converting the nitrogen-poor forage of the ants into B-vitamins, amino acids and other cellular components. Our metaproteomic analysis confirms that bacterial glycosyl hydrolases and proteins with putative biosynthetic functions are produced in both field-collected and laboratory-reared colonies. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fungus gardens are specialized fungus-bacteria communities that convert plant material into energy for their ant hosts. Together with recent investigations into the microbial symbionts of vertebrates, our work underscores the importance of microbial communities in the ecology and evolution of herbivorous metazoans.}, } @article {pmid22376153, year = {2012}, author = {Kremer, N and Charif, D and Henri, H and Gavory, F and Wincker, P and Mavingui, P and Vavre, F}, title = {Influence of Wolbachia on host gene expression in an obligatory symbiosis.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S7}, pmid = {22376153}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; *Genes, Insect ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Male ; Ovary/*metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/*genetics/immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria known to be facultative reproductive parasites of numerous arthropod hosts. Apart from these reproductive manipulations, recent findings indicate that Wolbachia may also modify the host's physiology, notably its immune function. In the parasitoid wasp, Asobara tabida, Wolbachia is necessary for oogenesis completion, and aposymbiotic females are unable to produce viable offspring. The absence of egg production is also associated with an increase in programmed cell death in the ovaries of aposymbiotic females, suggesting that a mechanism that ensures the maintenance of Wolbachia in the wasp could also be responsible for this dependence. In order to decipher the general mechanisms underlying host-Wolbachia interactions and the origin of the dependence, we developed transcriptomic approaches to compare gene expression in symbiotic and aposymbiotic individuals.

RESULTS: As no genetic data were available on A. tabida, we constructed several Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) libraries, and obtained 12,551 unigenes from this species. Gene expression was compared between symbiotic and aposymbiotic ovaries through in silico analysis and in vitro subtraction (SSH). As pleiotropic functions involved in immunity and development could play a major role in the establishment of dependence, the expression of genes involved in oogenesis, programmed cell death (PCD) and immunity (broad sense) was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. We showed that Wolbachia might interfere with these numerous biological processes, in particular some related to oxidative stress regulation. We also showed that Wolbachia may interact with immune gene expression to ensure its persistence within the host.

CONCLUSIONS: This study allowed us to constitute the first major dataset of the transcriptome of A. tabida, a species that is a model system for both host/Wolbachia and host/parasitoid interactions. More specifically, our results highlighted that symbiont infection may interfere with numerous pivotal processes at the individual level, suggesting that the impact of Wolbachia should also be investigated beyond reproductive manipulations.}, } @article {pmid22376077, year = {2012}, author = {González-Domenech, CM and Belda, E and Patiño-Navarrete, R and Moya, A and Peretó, J and Latorre, A}, title = {Metabolic stasis in an ancient symbiosis: genome-scale metabolic networks from two Blattabacterium cuenoti strains, primary endosymbionts of cockroaches.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S5}, pmid = {22376077}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/*physiology ; *Citric Acid Cycle ; Cockroaches/*microbiology/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Models, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cockroaches are terrestrial insects that strikingly eliminate waste nitrogen as ammonia instead of uric acid. Blattabacterium cuenoti (Mercier 1906) strains Bge and Pam are the obligate primary endosymbionts of the cockroaches Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana, respectively. The genomes of both bacterial endosymbionts have recently been sequenced, making possible a genome-scale constraint-based reconstruction of their metabolic networks. The mathematical expression of a metabolic network and the subsequent quantitative studies of phenotypic features by Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) represent an efficient functional approach to these uncultivable bacteria.

RESULTS: We report the metabolic models of Blattabacterium strains Bge (iCG238) and Pam (iCG230), comprising 296 and 289 biochemical reactions, associated with 238 and 230 genes, and 364 and 358 metabolites, respectively. Both models reflect both the striking similarities and the singularities of these microorganisms. FBA was used to analyze the properties, potential and limits of the models, assuming some environmental constraints such as aerobic conditions and the net production of ammonia from these bacterial systems, as has been experimentally observed. In addition, in silico simulations with the iCG238 model have enabled a set of carbon and nitrogen sources to be defined, which would also support a viable phenotype in terms of biomass production in the strain Pam, which lacks the first three steps of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. FBA reveals a metabolic condition that renders these enzymatic steps dispensable, thus offering a possible evolutionary explanation for their elimination. We also confirm, by computational simulations, the fragility of the metabolic networks and their host dependence.

CONCLUSIONS: The minimized Blattabacterium metabolic networks are surprisingly similar in strains Bge and Pam, after 140 million years of evolution of these endosymbionts in separate cockroach lineages. FBA performed on the reconstructed networks from the two bacteria helps to refine the functional analysis of the genomes enabling us to postulate how slightly different host metabolic contexts drove their parallel evolution.}, } @article {pmid22376056, year = {2012}, author = {Gonella, E and Crotti, E and Rizzi, A and Mandrioli, M and Favia, G and Daffonchio, D and Alma, A}, title = {Horizontal transmission of the symbiotic bacterium Asaia sp. in the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S4}, pmid = {22376056}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/classification/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Female ; Food Microbiology ; Genitalia/microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacteria of the genus Asaia have been recently recognized as secondary symbionts of different sugar-feeding insects, including the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus, vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasmas. Asaia has been shown to be localized in S. titanus gut, salivary glands and gonoducts and to be maternally transmitted to the progeny by an egg smearing mechanism. It is currently not known whether Asaia in S. titanus is transmitted by additional routes. We performed a study to evaluate if Asaia infection is capable of horizontal transmission via co-feeding and venereal routes.

RESULTS: A Gfp-tagged strain of Asaia was provided to S. titanus individuals to trace the transmission pathways of the symbiotic bacterium. Co-feeding trials showed a regular transfer of bacterial cells from donors to recipients, with a peak of frequency after 72 hours of exposure, and with concentrations of the administrated strain growing over time. Venereal transmission experiments were first carried out using infected males paired with uninfected females. In this case, female individuals acquired Gfp-labelled Asaia, with highest infection rates 72-96 hours after mating and with increasing abundance of the tagged symbiont over time. When crosses between infected females and uninfected males were conducted, the occurrence of "female to male" transmission was observed, even though the transfer occurred unevenly.

CONCLUSIONS: The data presented demonstrate that the acetic acid bacterial symbiont Asaia is horizontally transmitted among S. titanus individuals both by co-feeding and venereal transmission, providing one of the few direct demonstrations of such a symbiotic transfer in Hemiptera. This study contributes to the understanding of the bacterial ecology in the insect host, and indicates that Asaia evolved multiple pathways for the colonization of S. titanus body.}, } @article {pmid22375912, year = {2012}, author = {Vigneron, A and Charif, D and Vincent-Monégat, C and Vallier, A and Gavory, F and Wincker, P and Heddi, A}, title = {Host gene response to endosymbiont and pathogen in the cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S14}, pmid = {22375912}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Library ; Genomics/*methods ; Host Specificity ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Proteins/*genetics ; Larva/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Weevils/embryology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects thriving on nutritionally poor habitats have integrated mutualistic intracellular symbiotic bacteria (endosymbionts) in a bacteria-bearing tissue (the bacteriome) that isolates the endosymbionts and protects them against a host systemic immune response. Whilst the metabolic and physiological features of long-term insect associations have been investigated in detail over the past decades, cellular and immune regulations that determine the host response to endosymbionts and pathogens have attracted interest more recently.

RESULTS: To investigate bacteriome cellular specificities and weevil immune responses to bacteria, we have constructed and sequenced 7 cDNA libraries from Sitophilus oryzae whole larvae and bacteriomes. Bioinformatic analysis of 26,886 ESTs led to the generation of 8,941 weevil unigenes. Based on in silico analysis and on the examination of genes involved in the cellular pathways of potential interest to intracellular symbiosis (i.e. cell growth and apoptosis, autophagy, immunity), we have selected and analyzed 29 genes using qRT-PCR, taking into consideration bacteriome specificity and symbiosis impact on the host response to pathogens. We show that the bacteriome tissue accumulates transcripts from genes involved in cellular development and survival, such as the apoptotic inhibitors iap2 and iap3, and endosomal fusion and trafficking, such as Rab7, Hrs, and SNARE. As regards our investigation into immunity, we first strengthen the bacteriome immunomodulation previously reported in S. zeamais. We show that the sarcotoxin, the c-type lysozyme, and the wpgrp2 genes are downregulated in the S. oryzae bacteriome, when compared to aposymbiotic insects and insects challenged with E. coli. Secondly, transcript level comparison between symbiotic and aposymbiotic larvae provides evidence that the immune systemic response to pathogens is decreased in symbiotic insects, as shown by the relatively high expression of wpgrp2, wpgrp3, coleoptericin-B, diptericin, and sarcotoxin genes in aposymbiotic insects.

CONCLUSIONS: Library sequencing significantly increased the number of unigenes, allowing for improved functional and genetic investigations in the cereal weevil S. oryzae. Transcriptomic analyses support selective and local immune gene expression in the bacteriome tissue and uncover cellular pathways that are of potential interest to bacteriocyte survival and homeostasis. Bacterial challenge experiments have revealed that the systemic immune response would be less induced in a symbiotic insect, thus highlighting new perspectives on host immunity in long-term invertebrate co-evolutionary associations.}, } @article {pmid22375811, year = {2012}, author = {Mouton, L and Thierry, M and Henri, H and Baudin, R and Gnankine, O and Reynaud, B and Zchori-Fein, E and Becker, N and Fleury, F and Delatte, H}, title = {Evidence of diversity and recombination in Arsenophonus symbionts of the Bemisia tabaci species complex.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S10}, pmid = {22375811}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Enterobacteriaceae/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genetic Variation ; Hemiptera/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Maternally inherited bacterial symbionts infecting arthropods have major implications on host ecology and evolution. Among them, the genus Arsenophonus is particularly characterized by a large host spectrum and a wide range of symbiotic relationships (from mutualism to parasitism), making it a good model to study the evolution of host-symbiont associations. However, few data are available on the diversity and distribution of Arsenophonus within host lineages. Here, we propose a survey on Arsenophonus diversity in whitefly species (Hemiptera), in particular the Bemisia tabaci species complex. This polyphagous insect pest is composed of genetic groups that differ in many ecological aspects. They harbor specific bacterial communities, among them several lineages of Arsenophonus, enabling a study of the evolutionary history of these bacteria at a fine host taxonomic level, in association to host geographical range and ecology.

RESULTS: Among 152 individuals, our analysis identified 19 allelic profiles and 6 phylogenetic groups, demonstrating this bacterium's high diversity. These groups, based on Arsenophonus phylogeny, correlated with B. tabaci genetic groups with two exceptions reflecting horizontal transfers. None of three genes analyzed provided evidence of intragenic recombination, but intergenic recombination events were detected. A mutation inducing a STOP codon on one gene in a strain infecting one B. tabaci genetic group was also found. Phylogenetic analyses of the three concatenated loci revealed the existence of two clades of Arsenophonus. One, composed of strains found in other Hemiptera, could be the ancestral clade in whiteflies. The other, which regroups strains found in Hymenoptera and Diptera, may have been acquired more recently by whiteflies through lateral transfers.

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of the genus Arsenophonus revealed a diversity within the B. tabaci species complex which resembles that reported on the larger scale of insect taxonomy. We also provide evidence for recombination events within the Arsenophonus genome and horizontal transmission of strains among insect taxa. This work provides further insight into the evolution of the Arsenophonus genome, the infection dynamics of this bacterium and its influence on its insect host's ecology.}, } @article {pmid22375708, year = {2012}, author = {Chevalier, F and Herbinière-Gaboreau, J and Charif, D and Mitta, G and Gavory, F and Wincker, P and Grève, P and Braquart-Varnier, C and Bouchon, D}, title = {Feminizing Wolbachia: a transcriptomics approach with insights on the immune response genes in Armadillidium vulgare.}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S1}, pmid = {22375708}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Isopoda/*genetics/*immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Ovary/immunology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/immunology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wolbachia are vertically transmitted bacteria known to be the most widespread endosymbiont in arthropods. They induce various alterations of the reproduction of their host, including feminization of genetic males in isopod crustaceans. In the pill bug Armadillidium vulgare, the presence of Wolbachia is also associated with detrimental effects on host fertility and lifespan. Deleterious effects have been demonstrated on hemocyte density, phenoloxidase activity, and natural hemolymph septicemia, suggesting that infected individuals could have defective immune capacities. Since nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in Wolbachia-A. vulgare interactions and its secondary immunocompetence modulation, we developed a transcriptomics strategy and compared A. vulgare gene expression between Wolbachia-infected animals (i.e., "symbiotic" animals) and uninfected ones (i.e., "asymbiotic" animals) as well as between animals challenged or not challenged by a pathogenic bacteria.

RESULTS: Since very little genetic data is available on A. vulgare, we produced several EST libraries and generated a total of 28 606 ESTs. Analyses of these ESTs revealed that immune processes were over-represented in most experimental conditions (responses to a symbiont and to a pathogen). Considering canonical crustacean immune pathways, these genes encode antimicrobial peptides or are involved in pathogen recognition, detoxification, and autophagy. By RT-qPCR, we demonstrated a general trend towards gene under-expression in symbiotic whole animals and ovaries whereas the same gene set tends to be over-expressed in symbiotic immune tissues.

CONCLUSION: This study allowed us to generate the first reference transcriptome ever obtained in the Isopoda group and to identify genes involved in the major known crustacean immune pathways encompassing cellular and humoral responses. Expression of immune-related genes revealed a modulation of host immunity when females are infected by Wolbachia, including in ovaries, the crucial tissue for the Wolbachia route of transmission.}, } @article {pmid22375385, year = {2011}, author = {Duan, Y and He, Z and Liang, S and Wang, Y and Xiong, J and Zhan, F and Zeng, R}, title = {[Study on correlations between total saponins content in rhizome or mycorrhizal infection rate of Pairs polyphylla var. yunnanensis and soil factors].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {36}, number = {22}, pages = {3091-3095}, pmid = {22375385}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Liliaceae/*chemistry/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Rhizome/*chemistry ; Saponins/*analysis ; Soil/*analysis ; Urease/metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Through correlation and path analysis between total saponins content in rhizome/mycorrhizal infection rate in roots of Pairs polyphylla var. yunnanensis and soil factors, to make an inquiry into the role of soil factors in the quality formation of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

METHOD: Tested total saponins in rhizome, mycorrhizal fungal infection rate in root and physical and chemical properties in rhizosphere soil in 25 different growth areas, and statistically analyzed the relationship between total saponins in rhizome/mycorrhizal infection rate in roots of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and soil factors by using correlation and path analysis.

RESULT: The symbiosis relationship between AM mycorrhizal and roots of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were better established under natural condition, of which the infection ratio between 36.41%, 83.37%. There were significantly positive correlation between total saponins content in rhizome and urease activity or alkaline phosphatase activities or organic matter in soil, but there was significantly negative correlation between total saponins content and bulk density. There was significantly positive correlation between AM infection ratio and alkaline nitrogen. Path analysis indicated that total saponins of rhizome mainly affected by alkaline nitrogen in soil rhizosphere, secondly by soil organic matter and soil urease activity. While the mycorrhizal fungal colonization ratio was mainly affected by soil pH, secondly by alkaline nitrogen, urease activity, and available phospherus in soil.

CONCLUSION: There is closed relationship between quality formation of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and soil factors. Path analysis is better for reflecting the contribution of soil factors to total saponins and mycorrhizal infection ratio.}, } @article {pmid22374964, year = {2012}, author = {Gyllborg, MC and Sahl, JW and Cronin, DC and Rasko, DA and Mandel, MJ}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Vibrio fischeri SR5, a strain isolated from the light organ of the Mediterranean squid Sepiola robusta.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {6}, pages = {1639}, pmid = {22374964}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Mediterranean Sea ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of Vibrio fischeri SR5, a squid symbiotic isolate from Sepiola robusta in the Mediterranean Sea. This 4.3-Mbp genome sequence represents the first V. fischeri genome from an S. robusta symbiont and the first from outside the Pacific Ocean.}, } @article {pmid22374946, year = {2012}, author = {Shin, SC and Ahn, DH and Lee, JK and Kim, SJ and Hong, SG and Kim, EH and Park, H}, title = {Genome sequence of Sphingomonas sp. strain PAMC 26605, isolated from Arctic lichen (Ochrolechia sp.).}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {6}, pages = {1607}, pmid = {22374946}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Arctic Regions ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Lichens/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sphingomonas/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Svalbard ; }, abstract = {The endosymbiotic bacterium Sphingomonas sp. strain PAMC 26605 was isolated from Arctic lichens (Ochrolechia sp.) on the Svalbard Islands. Here we report the draft genome sequence of this strain, which could provide further insights into the symbiotic mechanism of lichens in extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid22372745, year = {2012}, author = {Akaza, H}, title = {Prostate cancer chemoprevention by soy isoflavones: role of intestinal bacteria as the "second human genome".}, journal = {Cancer science}, volume = {103}, number = {6}, pages = {969-975}, pmid = {22372745}, issn = {1349-7006}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacteria/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic ; Diet ; Equol/*metabolism ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Isoflavones/administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Male ; *Metagenome ; Prostatic Neoplasms/epidemiology/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Soybeans/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {It has been found that the composition of intestinal microbiota can indicate the risk of disease to each individual. The concepts of biodynamics as used by the Benziger Winery in California, which treats every part of an agricultural environment as a living, breathing entity, can be usefully used in the construction of a system for cancer prevention, which seeks to use the relationship of coexistence (symbiosis) shared between people and intestinal symbiosis, that is, microbiota. Changes in the incidence rate of cancer among Japanese emigrants to Hawaii demonstrate the effect of the changes in the living environment. This leads to the hypothesis that an intake of soy-derived food products and the metabolization of the isoflavones they contain by intestinal microbiota is one of the factors for the significant difference in the incidence rate of prostate cancer among Asian and European/North American populations. It is further hypothesized that isoflavones, particularly equol, are a key factor in the difference in incidence rate between Asia and the West. It is suggested that not having equol converting bacteria in the intestine (non-equol producers) can be a risk factor for prostate cancer and that one direction for future research will be to examine the possibility of improving the intestinal environment to enable equol production.}, } @article {pmid22370879, year = {2012}, author = {El-Mesbahi, MN and Azcón, R and Ruiz-Lozano, JM and Aroca, R}, title = {Plant potassium content modifies the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on root hydraulic properties in maize plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {555-564}, pmid = {22370879}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Aquaporins/genetics/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Fungal ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Stomata/metabolism ; Potassium/*metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; Zea mays/genetics/growth & development/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {It is well known that the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis helps the host plant to overcome several abiotic stresses including drought. One of the mechanisms for this drought tolerance enhancement is the higher water uptake capacity of the mycorrhizal plants. However, the effects of the AM symbiosis on processes regulating root hydraulic properties of the host plant, such as root hydraulic conductivity and plasma membrane aquaporin gene expression, and protein abundance, are not well defined. Since it is known that K(+) status is modified by AM and that it regulates root hydraulic properties, it has been tested how plant K(+) status could modify the effects of the symbiosis on root hydraulic conductivity and plasma membrane aquaporin gene expression and protein abundance, using maize (Zea mays L.) plants and Glomus intraradices as a model. It was observed that the supply of extra K(+) increased root hydraulic conductivity only in AM plants. Also, the different pattern of plasma membrane aquaporin gene expression and protein abundance between AM and non-AM plants changed with the application of extra K(+). Thus, plant K(+) status could be one of the causes of the different observed effects of the AM symbiosis on root hydraulic properties. The present study also highlights the critical importance of AM fungal aquaporins in regulating root hydraulic properties of the host plant.}, } @article {pmid22369247, year = {2012}, author = {Parker, MA}, title = {Legumes select symbiosis island sequence variants in Bradyrhizobium.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {7}, pages = {1769-1778}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05497.x}, pmid = {22369247}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genomic Islands ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Phylogeny ; *Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium strains sampled from 14 legume genera native to eastern North America showed substantial host-related phylogenetic clustering at three loci in the symbiotic island (SI) region (nodC, nifD, nifH), indicating selection of distinct suites of SI lineages by different legumes. Bacteria assorted consistently with particular legumes across two regions separated by 800 km, implying recurrent assembly of the same symbiotic combinations. High genetic polymorphism of all three SI loci relative to four nonsymbiotic loci supported the inference that a form of multiple-niche balancing selection has acted on the SI region, arising from differential symbiont utilization by different legume taxa. Extensive discordance between the tree for SI variants and a phylogenetic tree inferred for four housekeeping loci implied that lateral transfer of the symbiosis island region has been common (at least 26 transfer events among 85 Bradyrhizobium strains analysed). Patterns of linkage disequilibrium also supported the conclusion that recombination has impacted symbiotic and nonsymbiotic regions unequally. The high prevalence of lateral transfer suggests that acquisition of a novel SI variant may often confer a strong selective advantage for recipient cells.}, } @article {pmid22368278, year = {2012}, author = {Weiss, BL and Maltz, M and Aksoy, S}, title = {Obligate symbionts activate immune system development in the tsetse fly.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {188}, number = {7}, pages = {3395-3403}, pmid = {22368278}, issn = {1550-6606}, support = {R01 AI081774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 069449//PHS HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584-03/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Resistance ; Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; Escherichia coli/pathogenicity ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hemocytes/*immunology/transplantation ; Hemolymph/cytology ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Insect Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Larva/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Tissue Extracts/pharmacology ; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis/genetics ; Tsetse Flies/genetics/growth & development/*immunology/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/chemistry/immunology/*physiology ; Wolbachia/physiology ; }, abstract = {Many insects rely on the presence of symbiotic bacteria for proper immune system function. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon are poorly understood. Adult tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house three symbiotic bacteria that are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring during this insect's unique viviparous mode of reproduction. Larval tsetse that undergo intrauterine development in the absence of their obligate mutualist, Wigglesworthia, exhibit a compromised immune system during adulthood. In this study, we characterize the immune phenotype of tsetse that develop in the absence of all of their endogenous symbiotic microbes. Aposymbiotic tsetse (Glossina morsitans morsitans [Gmm(Apo)]) present a severely compromised immune system that is characterized by the absence of phagocytic hemocytes and atypical expression of immunity-related genes. Correspondingly, these flies quickly succumb to infection with normally nonpathogenic Escherichia coli. The susceptible phenotype exhibited by Gmm(Apo) adults can be reversed when they receive hemocytes transplanted from wild-type donor flies prior to infection. Furthermore, the process of immune system development can be restored in intrauterine Gmm(Apo) larvae when their mothers are fed a diet supplemented with Wigglesworthia cell extracts. Our finding that molecular components of Wigglesworthia exhibit immunostimulatory activity within tsetse is representative of a novel evolutionary adaptation that steadfastly links an obligate symbiont with its host.}, } @article {pmid22367985, year = {2012}, author = {Silverstein, RN and Correa, AM and Baker, AC}, title = {Specificity is rarely absolute in coral-algal symbiosis: implications for coral response to climate change.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1738}, pages = {2609-2618}, pmid = {22367985}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Alveolata/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics/*physiology ; *Biodiversity ; *Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Some reef-building corals have been shown to respond to environmental change by shifting the composition of their algal symbiont (genus Symbiodinium) communities. These shifts have been proposed as a potential mechanism by which corals might survive climate stressors, such as increased temperatures. Conventional molecular methods suggest this adaptive capacity may not be widespread because few (∼25%) coral species have been found to associate with multiple Symbiodinium clades. However, these methods can fail to detect low abundance symbionts (typically less than 10-20% of the total algal symbiont community). To determine whether additional Symbiodinium clades are present, but are not detected using conventional techniques, we applied a high-resolution, real-time PCR assay to survey Symbiodinium (in clades A-D) from 39 species of phylogenetically and geographically diverse scleractinian corals. This survey included 26 coral species thought to be restricted to hosting a single Symbiodinium clade ('symbiotic specialists'). We detected at least two Symbiodinium clades (C and D) in at least one sample of all 39 coral species tested; all four Symbiodinium clades were detected in over half (54%) of the 26 symbiotic specialist coral species. Furthermore, on average, 68 per cent of all sampled colonies within a given coral species hosted two or more symbiont clades. We conclude that the ability to associate with multiple symbiont clades is common in scleractinian (stony) corals, and that, in coral-algal symbiosis, 'specificity' and 'flexibility' are relative terms: specificity is rarely absolute. The potential for reef corals to adapt or acclimatize to environmental change via symbiont community shifts may therefore be more phylogenetically widespread than has previously been assumed.}, } @article {pmid22364959, year = {2012}, author = {Brígido, C and Alexandre, A and Oliveira, S}, title = {Transcriptional analysis of major chaperone genes in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive mesorhizobia.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {167}, number = {10}, pages = {623-629}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2012.01.006}, pmid = {22364959}, issn = {1618-0623}, mesh = {Cicer/*genetics ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Molecular Chaperones/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*genetics ; Salinity ; Salts ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Salinity is an important abiotic stress that limits rhizobia-legume symbiosis, affecting plant growth, thus reducing crop productivity. Our aims were to evaluate the tolerance to salinity of native chickpea rhizobia as well as to investigate the expression of chaperone genes groEL, dnaKJ and clpB in both tolerant and sensitive isolates. One hundred and six native chickpea mesorhizobia were screened for salinity tolerance by measuring their growth with 1.5% and 3% NaCl. Most isolates were salt-sensitive, showing a growth below 20% compared to control. An association between salt tolerance and province of origin of the isolates was found. The transcriptional analysis by northern hybridization of chaperone genes was performed using tolerant and sensitive isolates belonging to different Mesorhizobium species. Upon salt shock, most isolates revealed a slight increase in the expression of the dnaK gene, whereas the groESL and clpB expression was unchanged or slightly repressed. No clear relationship was found between the chaperone genes induction and the level of salt tolerance of the isolates. This is the first report on transcriptional analysis of the major chaperones genes in chickpea mesorhizobia under salinity, which may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that influence rhizobia salt tolerance.}, } @article {pmid22364314, year = {2012}, author = {Toenshoff, ER and Gruber, D and Horn, M}, title = {Co-evolution and symbiont replacement shaped the symbiosis between adelgids (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) and their bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1284-1295}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02712.x}, pmid = {22364314}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {P 22533/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Hemiptera/genetics/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Adelgidae (Insecta: Hemiptera), a small group of insects, are known as severe pests on various conifers of the northern hemisphere. Despite of this, little is known about their bacteriocyte-associated endosymbionts, which are generally important for the biology and ecology of plant sap-sucking insects. Here, we investigated the adelgid species complexes Adelges laricis/tardus, Adelges abietis/viridis and Adelges cooleyi/coweni, identified based on their coI and ef1alpha genes. Each of these insect groups harboured two phylogenetically different bacteriocyte-associated symbionts belonging to the Betaproteobacteria and the Gammaproteobacteria, respectively, as inferred from phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences and demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The betaproteobacterial symbionts of all three adelgid complexes ('Candidatus Vallotia tarda', 'Candidatus Vallotia virida' and 'Candidatus Vallotia cooleyia') share a common ancestor and show a phylogeny congruent with that of their respective hosts. Similarly, there is evidence for co-evolution between the gammaproteobacterial symbionts ('Candidatus Profftia tarda', 'Candidatus Profftia virida') and A. laricis/tardus and A. abietis/viridis. In contrast, the gammaproteobacterial symbiont of A. cooleyi/coweni ('Candidatus Gillettellia cooleyia') is different from that of the other two adelgids but shows a moderate relationship to the symbiont 'Candidatus Ecksteinia adelgidicola' of A. nordmannianae/piceae. All symbionts were present in all adelgid populations and life stages analysed, suggesting vertical transmission from mother to offspring. In sharp contrast to their sister group, the aphids, adelgids do not consistently contain a single obligate (primary) symbiont but have acquired phylogenetically different bacterial symbionts during their evolution, which included multiple infections and symbiont replacement.}, } @article {pmid22364271, year = {2012}, author = {Oliver, KM and Noge, K and Huang, EM and Campos, JM and Becerra, JX and Hunter, MS}, title = {Parasitic wasp responses to symbiont-based defense in aphids.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {10}, number = {}, pages = {11}, pmid = {22364271}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology/virology ; Bacteriophages/genetics/*physiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology/virology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; *Oviposition ; Pheromones/pharmacology ; Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recent findings indicate that several insect lineages receive protection against particular natural enemies through infection with heritable symbionts, but little is yet known about whether enemies are able to discriminate and respond to symbiont-based defense. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, receives protection against the parasitic wasp, Aphidius ervi, when infected with the bacterial symbiont Hamiltonella defensa and its associated bacteriophage APSE (Acyrthosiphon pisum secondary endosymbiont). Internally developing parasitoid wasps, such as A. ervi, use maternal and embryonic factors to create an environment suitable for developing wasps. If more than one parasitoid egg is deposited into a single aphid host (superparasitism), then additional complements of these factors may contribute to the successful development of the single parasitoid that emerges.

RESULTS: We performed experiments to determine if superparasitism is a tactic allowing wasps to overcome symbiont-mediated defense. We found that the deposition of two eggs into symbiont-protected aphids significantly increased rates of successful parasitism relative to singly parasitized aphids. We then conducted behavioral assays to determine whether A. ervi selectively superparasitizes H. defensa-infected aphids. In choice tests, we found that A. ervi tends to deposit a single egg in uninfected aphids, but two or more eggs in H. defensa-infected aphids, indicating that oviposition choices may be largely determined by infection status. Finally, we identified differences in the quantity of the trans-β-farnesene, the major component of aphid alarm pheromone, between H. defensa-infected and uninfected aphids, which may form the basis for discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS: Here we show that the parasitic wasp A. ervi discriminates among symbiont-infected and uninfected aphids, and changes its oviposition behavior in a way that increases the likelihood of overcoming symbiont-based defense. More generally, our results indicate that natural enemies are not passive victims of defensive symbionts, and that an evolutionary arms race between A. pisum and the parasitoid A. ervi may be mediated by a bacterial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22361857, year = {2012}, author = {Rosic, NN}, title = {Phylogenetic analysis of genes involved in mycosporine-like amino acid biosynthesis in symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {29-37}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-012-3925-3}, pmid = {22361857}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*biosynthesis ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are multifunctional secondary metabolites involved in photoprotection in many marine organisms. As well as having broad ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra (310-362 nm), these biological sunscreens are also involved in the prevention of oxidative stress. More than 20 different MAAs have been discovered so far, characterized by distinctive chemical structures and a broad ecological distribution. Additionally, UV-screening MAA metabolites have been investigated and used in biotechnology and cosmetics. The biosynthesis of MAAs has been suggested to occur via either the shikimate or pentose phosphate pathways. Despite their wide distribution in marine and freshwater species and also the commercial application in cosmetic products, there are still a number of uncertainties regarding the genetic, biochemical, and evolutionary origin of MAAs. Here, using a transcriptome-mining approach, we identify the gene counterparts from the shikimate or pentose phosphate pathway involved in MAA biosynthesis within the sequences of the reef-building coral symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium). We also report the highly similar sequences of genes from the proposed MAA biosynthetic pathway involved in the metabolism of 4-deoxygadusol (direct MAA precursor) in various Symbiodinium strains confirming their algal origin and conserved nature. Finally, we reveal the separate identity of two O-methyltransferase genes, possibly involved in MAA biosynthesis, as well as nonribosomal peptide synthetase and adenosine triphosphate grasp homologs in symbiotic dinoflagellates. This study provides a biochemical and phylogenetic overview of the genes from the proposed MAA biosynthetic pathway with a focus on coral endosymbionts.}, } @article {pmid22361568, year = {2012}, author = {da Silva, K and Florentino, LA and da Silva, KB and de Brandt, E and Vandamme, P and de Souza Moreira, FM}, title = {Cupriavidus necator isolates are able to fix nitrogen in symbiosis with different legume species.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {3}, pages = {175-182}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2011.10.005}, pmid = {22361568}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/analysis/genetics ; Betaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Brazil ; Cluster Analysis ; Cupriavidus necator/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; DNA Gyrase/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Proteome/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to identify a collection of 35 Cupriavidus isolates at the species level and to examine their capacity to nodulate and fix N(2). These isolates were previously obtained from the root nodules of two promiscuous trap species, Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala, inoculated with soil samples collected near Sesbania virgata plants growing in Minas Gerais (Brazil) pastures. Phenotypic and genotypic methods applied for this study were SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins, and 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequencing. To confirm the ability to nodulate and fix N(2), the presence of the nodC and nifH genes was also determined, and an experiment was carried out with two representative isolates in order to authenticate them as legume nodule symbionts. All 35 isolates belonged to the betaproteobacterium Cupriavidus necator, they possessed the nodC and nifH genes, and two representative isolates were able to nodulate five different promiscuous legume species: Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia, L. leucocephala, Macroptilium atropurpureum, P. vulgaris and Vigna unguiculata. This is the first study to demonstrate that C. necator can nodulate legume species.}, } @article {pmid22361184, year = {2012}, author = {Kim, SK and Dewapriya, P}, title = {Bioactive compounds from marine sponges and their symbiotic microbes: a potential source of nutraceuticals.}, journal = {Advances in food and nutrition research}, volume = {65}, number = {}, pages = {137-151}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-416003-3.00008-1}, pmid = {22361184}, issn = {1043-4526}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Anticholesteremic Agents/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Antioxidants/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Aquatic Organisms/growth & development/*metabolism ; Collagen/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Cyanobacteria/growth & development/metabolism ; *Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Fungi/growth & development/metabolism ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; Pigments, Biological/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Porifera/growth & development/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sponges are considered as the chemical factory in marine environment because of its immense production of chemically diverse compounds. Other than the chemical diversity, these compounds possess remarkable bioactivities. This great potential has aroused applications of sponge-derived compounds as therapeutics and at present, a number of promising compounds are in clinical and preclinical trials. Recently, nutraceuticals have received considerable interest among the health conscious community because of its multiple therapeutic effects. Natural health-promoting substances gain continuous popularity as nutraceuticals due to its reduced risk of side effects. This overview discusses the potentials of marine sponge-derived bioactivities as natural health-promoting compounds.}, } @article {pmid22360638, year = {2012}, author = {Damiani, I and Baldacci-Cresp, F and Hopkins, J and Andrio, E and Balzergue, S and Lecomte, P and Puppo, A and Abad, P and Favery, B and Hérouart, D}, title = {Plant genes involved in harbouring symbiotic rhizobia or pathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {2}, pages = {511-522}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.04046.x}, pmid = {22360638}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Medicago/*genetics/*microbiology/parasitology ; Multigene Family ; Nematoda/*physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {The establishment and development of plant-microorganism interactions involve impressive transcriptomic reprogramming of target plant genes. The symbiont (Sinorhizobium meliloti) and the root knot-nematode pathogen (Meloidogyne incognita) induce the formation of new root organs, the nodule and the gall, respectively. Using laser-assisted microdissection, we specifically monitored, at the cell level, Medicago gene expression in nodule zone II cells, which are preparing to receive rhizobia, and in gall giant and surrounding cells, which play an essential role in nematode feeding and constitute the typical root swollen structure, respectively. We revealed an important reprogramming of hormone pathways and C1 metabolism in both interactions, which may play key roles in nodule and gall neoformation, rhizobia endocytosis and nematode feeding. Common functions targeted by rhizobia and nematodes were mainly down-regulated, whereas the specificity of the interaction appeared to involve up-regulated genes. Our transcriptomic results provide powerful datasets to unravel the mechanisms involved in the accommodation of rhizobia and root-knot nematodes. Moreover, they raise the question of host specificity and the evolution of plant infection mechanisms by a symbiont and a pathogen.}, } @article {pmid22359444, year = {2012}, author = {Pande, V and Middha, SK and Sharma, NK and Lohani, Y and Pandey, M}, title = {Ectomychorrizal DB: a symbiotic association database.}, journal = {Bioinformation}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {104-106}, pmid = {22359444}, issn = {0973-2063}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal species, a "Symbiotic" relationship between tress and fungi in forest has a great ecological and economic importance. Here is an attempt to describe database named "EctomycorrhizalDB", addressing ECM diversity of Central Himalaya (Kumaun region), with special emphasis on their characterization, physical properties and morphological features along with specifications. This database would help the scientific community to draw a better understanding of the environmental factors that affects species diversity.

AVAILABILITY: The database is available for free at http://www.kubic.nic.in/ectomychorhiza.}, } @article {pmid22357099, year = {2012}, author = {Romano-Keeler, J and Weitkamp, JH and Moore, DJ}, title = {Regulatory properties of the intestinal microbiome effecting the development and treatment of diabetes.}, journal = {Current opinion in endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity}, volume = {19}, number = {2}, pages = {73-80}, pmid = {22357099}, issn = {1752-2978}, support = {T32HD068256/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P60 DK020593/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K08 DK090146/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; TL1 RR024978/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; KL2 RR024977/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; 5P60DK20593-33/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K08HD061607/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; K08 HD061607/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; P30DK058404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 RR024975/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD068256/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; UL1 RR024975-01/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; K08DK090146/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/*immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/*immunology/microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*immunology/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines/*microbiology ; Male ; Metagenome/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The microbiome continues to demonstrate an important role in immune and metabolic programming. This review will focus on the mechanistic implications of recent findings for diabetes pathogenesis and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple techniques are developing to specify the microbiome. At the same time, new insights have emerged into local interactions of microbial products with human development. New findings demonstrate that key bacteria and their products result in the programming of diabetes-modulating Th17 and regulatory T lymphocytes within and outside the intestine. The role of the bacterial metagenome in programming human metabolism has also revealed new insights. In turn, these findings suggest a framework in which the microbiome may be modified to change the course of diabetes.

SUMMARY: The microbiome is a key regulator of metabolism and immunity. Specific bacteria and their secreted products are now known to program Th17 and regulatory T-cell development, which may change the course of diabetes. Bacterial genomics are demonstrating important, modifiable roles of bacterial gene products in metabolism. Further understanding of this symbiotic relationship will provide new avenues for intervention in diabetes.}, } @article {pmid22356933, year = {2012}, author = {Moroti, C and Souza Magri, LF and de Rezende Costa, M and Cavallini, DC and Sivieri, K}, title = {Effect of the consumption of a new symbiotic shake on glycemia and cholesterol levels in elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.}, journal = {Lipids in health and disease}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {29}, pmid = {22356933}, issn = {1476-511X}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Bifidobacterium ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol/blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications/*therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia/complications/*therapy ; Hypertriglyceridemia/complications/*therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Hypolipidemic Agents/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligosaccharides/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Probiotics/administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Symbiosis ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The consumption of foods containing probiotic and prebiotic ingredients is growing consistently every year, and in view of the limited number of studies investigating their effect in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a symbiotic shake containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and fructooligosaccharides on glycemia and cholesterol levels in elderly people.

METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on twenty volunteers (ten for placebo group and ten for symbiotic group), aged 50 to 60 years. The criteria for inclusion in the study were: total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL; triglycerides > 200 mg/dL and glycemia > 110 mg/dL. Over a total test period of 30 days, 10 individuals (the symbiotic group) consumed a daily dose of 200 mL of a symbiotic shake containing 10(8) UFC/mL Lactobacillus acidophilus, 10(8) UFC/mL Bifidobacterium bifidum and 2 g oligofructose, while 10 other volunteers (the placebo group) drank daily the same amount of a shake that did not contain any symbiotic bacteria. Blood samples were collected 15 days prior to the start of the experiment and at 10-day intervals after the beginning of the shake intake. The standard lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol) and glycemia, or blood sugar levels, were evaluated by an enzyme colorimetric assay.

RESULTS: The results of the symbiotic group showed a non-significant reduction (P > 0.05) in total cholesterol and triglycerides, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in HDL cholesterol and a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in fasting glycemia. No significant changes were observed in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION: The consumption of symbiotic shake resulted in a significant increase in HDL and a significant decrease of glycemia.}, } @article {pmid22356928, year = {2012}, author = {Kondakova, AN and Kirsheva, NA and Shashkov, AS and Shaikhutdinova, RZ and Arbatsky, NP and Ivanov, SA and Anisimov, AP and Knirel, YA}, title = {Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii containing D-glycero-D-manno-heptose and 3,6-dideoxy-3-formamido-D-glucose.}, journal = {Carbohydrate research}, volume = {351}, number = {}, pages = {134-137}, doi = {10.1016/j.carres.2012.01.021}, pmid = {22356928}, issn = {1873-426X}, mesh = {Carbohydrate Sequence ; Glucosamine/*analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Heptoses/*chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photorhabdus/*chemistry ; Polysaccharides/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {The O-polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of a symbiotic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. laumondii TT01 from an insect-pathogenic nematode was studied by sugar analysis and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and found to contain D-glycero-D-manno-heptose (DDHep) and 3,6-dideoxy-3-formamido-D-glucose (D-Qui3NFo). The following structure of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide was established:}, } @article {pmid22356739, year = {2012}, author = {Ligrone, R and Duckett, JG and Renzaglia, KS}, title = {Major transitions in the evolution of early land plants: a bryological perspective.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {109}, number = {5}, pages = {851-871}, pmid = {22356739}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Anthocerotophyta/anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development ; *Biological Evolution ; Bryophyta/anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development ; Embryophyta/anatomy & histology/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Ferns/anatomy & histology/genetics/growth & development ; Fungi/physiology ; Germ Cells, Plant/*growth & development ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Stomata/anatomy & histology/metabolism ; Plant Transpiration ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Background Molecular phylogeny has resolved the liverworts as the earliest-divergent clade of land plants and mosses as the sister group to hornworts plus tracheophytes, with alternative topologies resolving the hornworts as sister to mosses plus tracheophytes less well supported. The tracheophytes plus fossil plants putatively lacking lignified vascular tissue form the polysporangiophyte clade. Scope This paper reviews phylogenetic, developmental, anatomical, genetic and paleontological data with the aim of reconstructing the succession of events that shaped major land plant lineages. Conclusions Fundamental land plant characters primarily evolved in the bryophyte grade, and hence the key to a better understanding of the early evolution of land plants is in bryophytes. The last common ancestor of land plants was probably a leafless axial gametophyte bearing simple unisporangiate sporophytes. Water-conducting tissue, if present, was restricted to the gametophyte and presumably consisted of perforate cells similar to those in the early-divergent bryophytes Haplomitrium and Takakia. Stomata were a sporophyte innovation with the possible ancestral functions of producing a transpiration-driven flow of water and solutes from the parental gametophyte and facilitating spore separation before release. Stomata in mosses, hornworts and polysporangiophytes are viewed as homologous, and hence these three lineages are collectively referred to as the 'stomatophytes'. An indeterminate sporophyte body (the sporophyte shoot) developing from an apical meristem was the key innovation in polysporangiophytes. Poikilohydry is the ancestral condition in land plants; homoiohydry evolved in the sporophyte of polysporangiophytes. Fungal symbiotic associations ancestral to modern arbuscular mycorrhizas evolved in the gametophytic generation before the separation of major present-living lineages. Hydroids are imperforate water-conducting cells specific to advanced mosses. Xylem vascular cells in polysporangiophytes arose either from perforate cells or de novo. Food-conducting cells were a very early innovation in land plant evolution. The inferences presented here await testing by molecular genetics.}, } @article {pmid22355751, year = {2012}, author = {Fukuyo, M and Sasaki, A and Kobayashi, I}, title = {Success of a suicidal defense strategy against infection in a structured habitat.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {238}, pmid = {22355751}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Ecosystem ; Escherichia coli/isolation & purification/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Infection Control ; Models, Theoretical ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Pathogen infection often leads to the expression of virulence and host death when the host-pathogen symbiosis seems more beneficial for the pathogen. Previously proposed explanations have focused on the pathogen's side. In this work, we tested a hypothesis focused on the host strategy. If a member of a host population dies immediately upon infection aborting pathogen reproduction, it can protect the host population from secondary infections. We tested this "Suicidal Defense Against Infection" (SDAI) hypothesis by developing an experimental infection system that involves a huge number of bacteria as hosts and their virus as pathogen, which is linked to modeling and simulation. Our experiments and simulations demonstrate that a population with SDAI strategy is successful in the presence of spatial structure but fails in its absence. The infection results in emergence of pathogen mutants not inducing the host suicide in addition to host mutants resistant to the pathogen.}, } @article {pmid22355532, year = {2011}, author = {Thrash, JC and Boyd, A and Huggett, MJ and Grote, J and Carini, P and Yoder, RJ and Robbertse, B and Spatafora, JW and Rappé, MS and Giovannoni, SJ}, title = {Phylogenomic evidence for a common ancestor of mitochondria and the SAR11 clade.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {1}, number = {}, pages = {13}, pmid = {22355532}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; *Biological Evolution ; *Chromosome Mapping ; Coxiellaceae/*genetics ; Genome/*genetics ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Mitochondria share a common ancestor with the Alphaproteobacteria, but determining their precise origins is challenging due to inherent difficulties in phylogenetically reconstructing ancient evolutionary events. Nonetheless, phylogenetic accuracy improves with more refined tools and expanded taxon sampling. We investigated mitochondrial origins with the benefit of new, deeply branching genome sequences from the ancient and prolific SAR11 clade of Alphaproteobacteria and publicly available alphaproteobacterial and mitochondrial genome sequences. Using the automated phylogenomic pipeline Hal, we systematically studied the effect of taxon sampling and missing data to accommodate small mitochondrial genomes. The evidence supports a common origin of mitochondria and SAR11 as a sister group to the Rickettsiales. The simplest explanation of these data is that mitochondria evolved from a planktonic marine alphaproteobacterial lineage that participated in multiple inter-specific cell colonization events, in some cases yielding parasitic relationships, but in at least one case producing a symbiosis that characterizes modern eukaryotic life.}, } @article {pmid22355201, year = {2011}, author = {Matin, A and Jung, SY}, title = {Interaction of Escherichia coli K1 and K5 with Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts.}, journal = {The Korean journal of parasitology}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {349-356}, pmid = {22355201}, issn = {1738-0006}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba castellanii/*microbiology ; Animals ; Disease Reservoirs/*microbiology ; Disease Vectors ; Escherichia coli/growth & development/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Oocysts/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trophozoites/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The existence of symbiotic relationships between Acanthamoeba and a variety of bacteria is well-documented. However, the ability of Acanthamoeba interacting with host bacterial pathogens has gained particular attention. Here, to understand the interactions of Escherichia coli K1 and E. coli K5 strains with Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts, association assay, invasion assay, survival assay, and the measurement of bacterial numbers from cysts were performed, and nonpathogenic E. coli K12 was also applied. The association ratio of E. coli K1 with A. castellanii was 4.3 cfu per amoeba for 1 hr but E. coli K5 with A. castellanii was 1 cfu per amoeba for 1 hr. By invasion and survival assays, E. coli K5 was recovered less than E. coli K1 but still alive inside A. castellanii. E. coli K1 and K5 survived and multiplied intracellularly in A. castellanii. The survival assay was performed under a favourable condition for 22 hr and 43 hr with the encystment of A. castellanii. Under the favourable condition for the transformation of trophozoites into cysts, E. coli K5 multiplied significantly. Moreover, the pathogenic potential of E. coli K1 from A. castellanii cysts exhibited no changes as compared with E. coli K1 from A. castellanii trophozoites. E. coli K5 was multiplied in A. castellanii trophozoites and survived in A. castellanii cysts. Therefore, this study suggests that E. coli K5 can use A. castellanii as a reservoir host or a vector for the bacterial transmission.}, } @article {pmid22355114, year = {2012}, author = {Pumplin, N and Zhang, X and Noar, RD and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Polar localization of a symbiosis-specific phosphate transporter is mediated by a transient reorientation of secretion.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {11}, pages = {E665-72}, pmid = {22355114}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; *Cell Polarity ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mutation/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/physiology ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; Protein Transport ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; trans-Golgi Network/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, formed by land plants and AM fungi, evolved an estimated 400 million years ago and has been maintained in angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, and some bryophytes as a strategy for enhancing phosphate acquisition. During AM symbiosis, the AM fungus colonizes the root cortical cells where it forms branched hyphae called arbuscules that function in nutrient exchange with the plant. Each arbuscule is enveloped in a plant membrane, the periarbuscular membrane, that contains a unique set of proteins including phosphate transporters such as Medicago truncatula MtPT4 [Javot et al., (2007) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:1720-1725], which are essential for symbiotic phosphate transport. The periarbuscular membrane is physically continuous with the plasma membrane of the cortical cell, but MtPT4 and other periarbuscular membrane-resident proteins are located only in the domain around the arbuscule branches. Establishing the distinct protein composition of the periarbuscular membrane is critical for AM symbiosis, but currently the mechanism by which this composition is achieved is unknown. Here we investigate the targeting of MtPT4 to the periarbuscular membrane. By expressing MtPT4 and other plasma membrane proteins from promoters active at different phases of the symbiosis, we show that polar targeting of MtPT4 is mediated by precise temporal expression coupled with a transient reorientation of secretion and alterations in the protein cargo entering the secretory system of the colonized root cell. In addition, analysis of phosphate transporter mutants implicates the trans-Golgi network in phosphate transporter secretion.}, } @article {pmid22354364, year = {2012}, author = {Roeselers, G and Newton, IL}, title = {On the evolutionary ecology of symbioses between chemosynthetic bacteria and bivalves.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {1-10}, pmid = {22354364}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biological Evolution ; Bivalvia/*microbiology/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic associations between bacteria and eukaryotes occur ubiquitously in nature, forming the basis for key ecological and evolutionary innovations. Some of the most prominent examples of these symbioses are chemosynthetic bacteria and marine invertebrates living in the absence of sunlight at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and in sediments rich in reduced sulfur compounds. Here, chemosynthetic bacteria living in close association with their hosts convert CO(2) or CH(4) into organic compounds and provide the host with necessary nutrients. The dominant macrofauna of hydrothermal vent and cold seep ecosystems all depend on the metabolic activity of chemosynthetic bacteria, which accounts for almost all primary production in these complex ecosystems. Many of these enigmatic mutualistic associations are found within the molluscan class Bivalvia. Currently, chemosynthetic symbioses have been reported from five distinct bivalve families (Lucinidae, Mytilidae, Solemyidae, Thyasiridae, and Vesicomyidae). This brief review aims to provide an overview of the diverse physiological and genetic adaptations of symbiotic chemosynthetic bacteria and their bivalve hosts.}, } @article {pmid22353766, year = {2012}, author = {Ohkubo, S and Miyashita, H}, title = {Selective detection and phylogenetic diversity of Acaryochloris spp. that exist in association with didemnid ascidians and sponge.}, journal = {Microbes and environments}, volume = {27}, number = {3}, pages = {217-225}, pmid = {22353766}, issn = {1347-4405}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Cyanobacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Palau ; *Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Urochordata/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Acaryochloris spp. are unique cyanobacteria which contain chlorophyll d as the predominant pigment. The phylogenetic diversity of Acaryochloris spp. associated with 7 Prochloron- or Synechocystis-containing didemnid ascidians and 1 Synechococcus-containing sponge obtained from the coast of the Republic of Palau was analyzed; we established a PCR primer set designed to selectively amplify the partial 16S rRNA gene of Acaryochloris spp. even in DNA samples containing a large amount of other cyanobacterial and algal DNAs. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis with this primer set enabled detection of the phyogenetic diversity of Acaryochloris spp. All the ascidian and sponge samples contained Acaryochloris spp. Fourteen phylotypes that were highly homologous (98-100%) with A. marina MBIC11017 were detected, while only 2 phylotypes were detected with our previously developed method for detecting cyanobacteria. The results also revealed that many uncultured phylotypes of Acaryochloris spp. were associated with those didemnid ascidians, since a clonal culture of only 1 phylotype has been established thus far. No specific relationship was found among the Acaryochloris phylotypes and the genera of the ascidians even when sample localities were identical; therefore, these invertebrates may provide a favorable habitat for Acaryochloris spp. rather than hosts showing any specific symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid22353370, year = {2012}, author = {Chen, T and Zhu, H and Ke, D and Cai, K and Wang, C and Gou, H and Hong, Z and Zhang, Z}, title = {A MAP kinase kinase interacts with SymRK and regulates nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {823-838}, pmid = {22353370}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphorylation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; RNA Interference ; Root Nodules, Plant/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Tobacco/enzymology/genetics/growth & development ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis receptor kinase, SymRK, is required for root nodule development. A SymRK-interacting protein (SIP2) was found to form protein complex with SymRK in vitro and in planta. The interaction between SymRK and SIP2 is conserved in legumes. The SIP2 gene was expressed in all Lotus japonicus tissues examined. SIP2 represents a typical plant mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) and exhibited autophosphorylation and transphosphorylation activities. Recombinant SIP2 protein could phosphorylate casein and the Arabidopsis thaliana MAP kinase MPK6. SymRK and SIP2 could not use one another as a substrate for phosphorylation. Instead, SymRK acted as an inhibitor of SIP2 kinase when MPK6 was used as a substrate, suggesting that SymRK may serve as a negative regulator of the SIP2 signaling pathway. Knockdown expression of SIP2 via RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in drastic reduction of nodules formed in transgenic hairy roots. A significant portion of SIP2 RNAi hairy roots failed to form a nodule. In these roots, the expression levels of SIP2 and three marker genes for infection thread and nodule primordium formation were downregulated drastically, while the expression of two other MAPKK genes were not altered. These observations demonstrate an essential role of SIP2 in the early symbiosis signaling and nodule organogenesis.}, } @article {pmid22352718, year = {2012}, author = {Lahrmann, U and Zuccaro, A}, title = {Opprimo ergo sum--evasion and suppression in the root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {6}, pages = {727-737}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-11-11-0291}, pmid = {22352718}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*microbiology ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Endophytes/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The genetically tractable endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica is able to colonize the root cortex of a great variety of different plant species with beneficial effects to its hosts, and it represents a suitable model system to study symbiotic interactions. Recent cytological studies in barley and Arabidopsis showed that, upon penetration of the root, P. indica establishes a biotrophic interaction during which fungal cells are encased by the host plasma membrane. Large-scale transcriptional analyses of fungal and plant responses have shown that perturbance of plant hormone homeostasis and secretion of fungal lectins and other small proteins (effectors) may be involved in the evasion and suppression of host defenses at these early colonization steps. At later stages, P. indica is found more often in moribund host cells where it secretes a large variety of hydrolytic enzymes that degrade proteins. This strategy of colonizing plants is reminiscent of that of hemibiotrophic fungi, although a defined shift to necrotrophy with massive host cell death is missing. Instead, the association with the plant root leads to beneficial effects for the host such as growth promotion, increased resistance to root as well as leaf pathogens, and increased tolerance to abiotic stresses. This review describes current advances in understanding the components of the P. indica endophytic lifestyle from molecular and genomic analyses.}, } @article {pmid22351485, year = {2012}, author = {Rasmussen, S and Parsons, AJ and Jones, CS}, title = {Metabolomics of forage plants: a review.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {110}, number = {6}, pages = {1281-1290}, pmid = {22351485}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Biomass ; *Breeding ; Endophytes ; Fungi/*metabolism/physiology ; Genomics ; Genotype ; Magnoliopsida/*metabolism/physiology ; *Metabolomics ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism/physiology ; Phenotype ; Rhizobiaceae/*metabolism/physiology ; Selection, Genetic ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Forage plant breeding is under increasing pressure to deliver new cultivars with improved yield, quality and persistence to the pastoral industry. New innovations in DNA sequencing technologies mean that quantitative trait loci analysis and marker-assisted selection approaches are becoming faster and cheaper, and are increasingly used in the breeding process with the aim to speed it up and improve its precision. High-throughput phenotyping is currently a major bottle neck and emerging technologies such as metabolomics are being developed to bridge the gap between genotype and phenotype; metabolomics studies on forages are reviewed in this article.

SCOPE: Major challenges for pasture production arise from the reduced availability of resources, mainly water, nitrogen and phosphorus, and metabolomics studies on metabolic responses to these abiotic stresses in Lolium perenne and Lotus species will be discussed here. Many forage plants can be associated with symbiotic microorganisms such as legumes with nitrogen fixing rhizobia, grasses and legumes with phosphorus-solubilizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and cool temperate grasses with fungal anti-herbivorous alkaloid-producing Neotyphodium endophytes and metabolomics studies have shown that these associations can significantly affect the metabolic composition of forage plants. The combination of genetics and metabolomics, also known as genetical metabolomics can be a powerful tool to identify genetic regions related to specific metabolites or metabolic profiles, but this approach has not been widely adopted for forages yet, and we argue here that more studies are needed to improve our chances of success in forage breeding.

CONCLUSIONS: Metabolomics combined with other '-omics' technologies and genome sequencing can be invaluable tools for large-scale geno- and phenotyping of breeding populations, although the implementation of these approaches in forage breeding programmes still lags behind. The majority of studies using metabolomics approaches have been performed with model species or cereals and findings from these studies are not easily translated to forage species. To be most effective these approaches should be accompanied by whole-plant physiology and proof of concept (modelling) studies. Wider considerations of possible consequences of novel traits on the fitness of new cultivars and symbiotic associations need also to be taken into account.}, } @article {pmid22351169, year = {2012}, author = {Allwood, JW and Heald, J and Lloyd, AJ and Goodacre, R and Mur, LA}, title = {Separating the inseparable: the metabolomic analysis of plant-pathogen interactions.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {860}, number = {}, pages = {31-49}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-61779-594-7_3}, pmid = {22351169}, issn = {1940-6029}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Metabolome ; Metabolomics/*methods ; Plants ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; }, abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions-whether pathogenic or symbiotic-exert major influences on plant physiology and productivity. Analysis of such interactions represents a particular challenge to metabolomic approaches due to the intimate association between the interacting partners coupled with a general commonality of metabolites. We here describe an approach based on co-cultivation of Arabidopsis cell cultures and bacterial plant pathogens to assess the metabolomes of both interacting partners, which we refer to as dual metabolomics.}, } @article {pmid22349958, year = {2012}, author = {Adeleke, RA and Cloete, TE and Bertrand, A and Khasa, DP}, title = {Iron ore weathering potentials of ectomycorrhizal plants.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {535-544}, pmid = {22349958}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Citric Acid/analysis/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Iron/metabolism ; Iron Compounds/*metabolism ; Laccaria/growth & development/metabolism ; Microbiological Techniques/methods ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Oxalic Acid/analysis/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Pinus/growth & development/metabolism/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Potassium/metabolism ; Soil/*analysis ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants in association with soil microorganisms play an important role in mineral weathering. Studies have shown that plants in symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi have the potential to increase the uptake of mineral-derived nutrients. However, it is usually difficult to study many of the different factors that influence ectomycorrhizal weathering in a single experiment. In the present study, we carried out a pot experiment where Pinus patula seedlings were grown with or without ECM fungi in the presence of iron ore minerals. The ECM fungi used included Pisolithus tinctorius, Paxillus involutus, Laccaria bicolor and Suillus tomentosus. After 24 weeks, harvesting of the plants was carried out. The concentration of organic acids released into the soil, as well as potassium and phosphorus released from the iron ore were measured. The results suggest that different roles of ectomycorrhizal fungi in mineral weathering such as nutrient absorption and transfer, improving the health of plants and ensuring nutrient circulation in the ecosystem, are species specific, and both mycorrhizal roots and non-mycorrhizal roots can participate in the weathering process of iron ore minerals.}, } @article {pmid22349921, year = {2012}, author = {Lee, BR and Muneer, S and Avice, JC and Jung, WJ and Kim, TH}, title = {Mycorrhizal colonisation and P-supplement effects on N uptake and N assimilation in perennial ryegrass under well-watered and drought-stressed conditions.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {7}, pages = {525-534}, pmid = {22349921}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Dehydration/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Isotope Labeling/methods ; Lolium/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Isotopes/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {To compare the effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and P-supplement on N uptake and N assimilation under well-watered or drought-stressed conditions, Glomus intraradices-colonised, P-supplemented non-mycorrhizal (P) and non-mycorrhizal (control) plants of Lolium perenne were exposed to 12 days of water treatment. Leaf water potential (Ψ (w)), photosynthetic ability, and N and P nutritional status were measured at the beginning (day 0) and end (day 12) of water treatment. N absorption, amino acid and protein synthesis were quantified using the isotopic tracer (15)N at day 12. Under well-watered conditions, growth response and physiological parameters were similar in AM and P plants, as compared to controls. Drought (10% water) significantly decreased these parameters in all three treatments. As compared to control plants, the negative impact of water deficit on the Ψ (w), photosynthesis, biomass, and N and P content was highly alleviated in AM plants, while only slightly improved or remained the same level in P plants. The effect of AM symbiosis on N absorption and N assimilation was greater than that of the P supplement under well-watered and drought-stressed conditions, and this effect was highly enhanced under drought-stressed conditions. At terminal drought stress on day 12, the effect of AM colonisation on de novo synthesis of amino acids and proteins was 4.4- and 4.8-fold higher than that of the P supplement. These results indicate that the AM symbiosis plays an integrative role in N nutrition by alleviating the negative impacts of drought on N or P uptake and N assimilation, whereas the efficiency of a direct P supplement is very limited under drought-stressed conditions.}, } @article {pmid22349861, year = {2012}, author = {Brown, BL and Creed, RP and Skelton, J and Rollins, MA and Farrell, KJ}, title = {The fine line between mutualism and parasitism: complex effects in a cleaning symbiosis demonstrated by multiple field experiments.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {170}, number = {1}, pages = {199-207}, pmid = {22349861}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Animals ; *Annelida ; Astacoidea/*growth & development/parasitology ; Feeding Behavior ; Gills/parasitology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Population Density ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ecological theory and observational evidence suggest that symbiotic interactions such as cleaning symbioses can shift from mutualism to parasitism. However, field experimental evidence documenting these shifts has never been reported for a cleaning symbiosis. Here, we demonstrate shifts in a freshwater cleaning symbiosis in a system involving crayfish and branchiobdellid annelids. Branchiobdellids have been shown to benefit their hosts under some conditions by cleaning material from host crayfish's gill filaments. The system is uniquely suited as an experimental model for symbiosis due to ease of manipulation and ubiquity of the organisms. In three field experiments, we manipulated densities of worms on host crayfish and measured host growth in field enclosures. In all cases, the experiments revealed shifts from mutualism to parasitism: host crayfish growth was highest at intermediate densities of branchiobdellid symbionts, while high symbiont densities led to growth that was lower or not significantly different from 0-worm controls. Growth responses were consistent even though the three experiments involved different crayfish and worm species and were performed at different locations. Results also closely conformed to a previous laboratory experiment using the same system. The mechanism for these shifts appears to be that branchiobdellids switched from cleaning host gills at intermediate densities of worms to consuming host gill tissue at high densities. These outcomes clearly demonstrate shifts along a symbiosis continuum with the maximum benefits to the host at intermediate symbiont densities. At high symbiont densities, benefits to the host disappear, and there is some evidence for a weak parasitism. These are the first field experimental results to demonstrate such shifts in a cleaning symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22348931, year = {2012}, author = {Siddiqui, R and Khan, NA}, title = {War of the microbial worlds: who is the beneficiary in Acanthamoeba-bacterial interactions?.}, journal = {Experimental parasitology}, volume = {130}, number = {4}, pages = {311-313}, doi = {10.1016/j.exppara.2012.01.021}, pmid = {22348931}, issn = {1090-2449}, mesh = {Acanthamoeba/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/*growth & development/immunology/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/immunology/transmission ; Disease Reservoirs ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Acanthamoeba hosts diverse microbial organisms including viruses, bacteria, yeast and protists, some of which are potential human pathogens. The precise nature of this symbiosis is not clear, but it is suggested that such interactions enable pathogenic microbes to survive hostile conditions and lead to their transmission to susceptible hosts to establish infection. In particular, Acanthamoeba-bacteria interactions have gained significant attention by the scientific and the medical community and have led to speculations of employing anti-amoebic approaches in eradicating 'superbugs' from clinical settings. Here, we discuss the nature of these convoluted interactions and the benefit they represent for the symbionts.}, } @article {pmid22347178, year = {2012}, author = {Fetz, EE}, title = {Artistic explorations of the brain.}, journal = {Frontiers in human neuroscience}, volume = {6}, number = {}, pages = {9}, pmid = {22347178}, issn = {1662-5161}, support = {P51 RR000166/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationships between art and the brain begin with the obvious fact that brain mechanisms underlie the creation and appreciation of art. Conversely, many spectacular images of neural structures have remarkable aesthetic appeal. But beyond its fascinating forms, the many functions performed by brain mechanisms provide a profound subject for aesthetic exploration. Complex interactions in the tangled neural networks in our brain miraculously generate coherent behavior and cognition. Neuroscientists tackle these phenomena with specialized methodologies that limit the scope of exposition and are comprehensible to an initiated minority. Artists can perform an end run around these limitations by representing the brain's remarkable functions in a manner that can communicate to a wide and receptive audience. This paper explores the ways that brain mechanisms can provide a largely untapped subject for artistic exploration.}, } @article {pmid22344954, year = {2012}, author = {Sanchez, J and Lytton, W and Carmena, J and Principe, J and Fortes, J and Barbour, R and Francis, J}, title = {Dynamically repairing and replacing neural networks: using hybrid computational and biological tools.}, journal = {IEEE pulse}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {57-59}, doi = {10.1109/MPUL.2011.2175640}, pmid = {22344954}, issn = {2154-2317}, mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; *Models, Biological ; *Neural Networks, Computer ; *Software ; }, abstract = {The debilitating effects of injury to the nervous system can have a profound effect on daily life activities of the injured person. In this article, we present a project overview in which we are utilizing computational and biological principles, along with simulation and experimentation, to create a realistic computational model of natural and injured sensorimotor control systems. Through the development of hybrid in silico/biological coadaptive symbiotic systems, the goal is to create new technologies that yield transformative neuroprosthetic rehabilitative solutions and a new test bed for the development of integrative medical devices for the repair and enhancement of biological systems.}, } @article {pmid22344646, year = {2012}, author = {Lema, KA and Willis, BL and Bourne, DG}, title = {Corals form characteristic associations with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {9}, pages = {3136-3144}, pmid = {22344646}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology/physiology ; Australia ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Biodiversity ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The complex symbiotic relationship between corals and their dinoflagellate partner Symbiodinium is believed to be sustained through close associations with mutualistic bacterial communities, though little is known about coral associations with bacterial groups able to fix nitrogen (diazotrophs). In this study, we investigated the diversity of diazotrophic bacterial communities associated with three common coral species (Acropora millepora, Acropora muricata, and Pocillopora damicormis) from three midshelf locations of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) by profiling the conserved subunit of the nifH gene, which encodes the dinitrogenase iron protein. Comparisons of diazotrophic community diversity among coral tissue and mucus microenvironments and the surrounding seawater revealed that corals harbor diverse nifH phylotypes that differ between tissue and mucus microhabitats. Coral mucus nifH sequences displayed high heterogeneity, and many bacterial groups overlapped with those found in seawater. Moreover, coral mucus diazotrophs were specific neither to coral species nor to reef location, reflecting the ephemeral nature of coral mucus. In contrast, the dominant diazotrophic bacteria in tissue samples differed among coral species, with differences remaining consistent at all three reefs, indicating that coral-diazotroph associations are species specific. Notably, dominant diazotrophs for all coral species were closely related to the bacterial group rhizobia, which represented 71% of the total sequences retrieved from tissue samples. The species specificity of coral-diazotroph associations further supports the coral holobiont model that bacterial groups associated with corals are conserved. Our results suggest that, as in terrestrial plants, rhizobia have developed a mutualistic relationship with corals and may contribute fixed nitrogen to Symbiodinium.}, } @article {pmid22342877, year = {2012}, author = {Hájek, J and Váczi, P and Barták, M and Jahnová, L}, title = {Interspecific differences in cryoresistance of lichen symbiotic algae of genus Trebouxia assessed by cell viability and chlorophyll fluorescence.}, journal = {Cryobiology}, volume = {64}, number = {3}, pages = {215-222}, doi = {10.1016/j.cryobiol.2012.02.002}, pmid = {22342877}, issn = {1090-2392}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Agar ; Chlorophyll/*chemistry ; *Cryopreservation ; Culture Media ; Cyanobacteria/classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Freezing ; Lichens/physiology ; Microbial Viability ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*chemistry ; Species Specificity ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Unicellular algae of genus Trebouxia are the most frequent symbiotic photobionts found in lichen species adapted to extreme environments. When lichenised, they cope well with freezing temperature of polar regions, high-mountains environments and were successfully tested in open-space experiments. Trebouxia sp. is considered potential model species for exobiological experiments. The aim of this paper is to evaluate cryoresistence of Trebouxia sp. when isolated from lichen thalli and cultivated on media. In our study, six algal strains were exposed to repeated freezing/thawing cycles. The strains of Trebouxia sp. (freshly isolated from lichen Lasallia pustulata), Trebouxia erici, Trebouxia asymmetrica, Trebouxia glomerata, Trebouxia irregularis, and Trebouxia jamesii from culture collection were cooled from 25 to -40 °C at two different rates. The strains were also shock frozen in liquid nitrogen. After repeated treatment, the strains were inoculated and cultivated on a BBM agar for 7 days. Then, cell viability was assessed as relative share of living cells. Potential quantum yield of photochemical reactions in PS II (F(V)/F(M)), and effective quantum yield of photochemical reactions in PS II (Φ(PSII)) were measured. While the slow cooling rate (0.5 °C min(-1)) did not cause any change in viability, F(V)/F(M), and Φ(PSII), the fast cooling rate (6.0 °C min(-1)) caused species-specific decrease in all parameters. The most pronounced interspecific differences in cryoresistance were found after shock freezing and consequent cultivation. While T. asymmetrica and T. jamesii exhibited low viability of living cells (18.9% and 34.7%) and full suppression of photosynthetic processes, the other strains had viability over 60%, and unaffected values of F(V)/F(M), and Φ(PSII). This indicated a high degree of cryoresistance of T. glomerata, T. erici, T. irregularis and Trebouxia sp. strains. These strains could be used for detailed investigation of underlying physiological mechanisms and as models for astrobiological tests taken in the Earth facilities.}, } @article {pmid22337918, year = {2012}, author = {Takeda, N and Maekawa, T and Hayashi, M}, title = {Nuclear-localized and deregulated calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activates rhizobial and mycorrhizal responses in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {810-822}, pmid = {22337918}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/enzymology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nuclear Localization Signals ; Plants, Genetically Modified/enzymology/genetics/microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The common symbiosis pathway is at the core of symbiosis signaling between plants and soil microbes. In this pathway, calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) plays a crucial role in integrating the signals both in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) and in root nodule symbiosis (RNS). However, the molecular mechanism by which CCaMK coordinates AMS and RNS is largely unknown. Here, we report that the gain-of-function (GOF) variants of CCaMK without the regulatory domains activate both AMS and RNS signaling pathways in the absence of symbiotic partners. This activation requires nuclear localization of CCaMK. Enforced nuclear localization of the GOF-CCaMK variants by fusion with a canonical nuclear localization signal enhances signaling activity of AMS and RNS. The GOF-CCaMK variant triggers formation of a structure similar to the prepenetration apparatus, which guides infection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to host root cells. In addition, the GOF-CCaMK variants without the regulatory domains partly restore AMS but fail to support rhizobial infection in ccamk mutants. These data indicate that AMS, the more ancient type of symbiosis, can be mainly regulated by the kinase activity of CCaMK, whereas RNS, which evolved more recently, requires complex regulation performed by the regulatory domains of CCaMK.}, } @article {pmid22337916, year = {2012}, author = {Qiang, X and Zechmann, B and Reitz, MU and Kogel, KH and Schäfer, P}, title = {The mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica colonizes Arabidopsis roots by inducing an endoplasmic reticulum stress-triggered caspase-dependent cell death.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {2}, pages = {794-809}, pmid = {22337916}, issn = {1532-298X}, support = {P 20619/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria ; }, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism ; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Caspases/metabolism ; *Cell Death ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/microbiology ; *Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Tunicamycin/pharmacology ; Unfolded Protein Response ; Vacuoles/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In Arabidopsis thaliana roots, the mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica initially colonizes living cells, which die as the colonization proceeds. We aimed to clarify the molecular basis of this colonization-associated cell death. Our cytological analyses revealed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) swelling and vacuolar collapse in invaded cells, indicative of ER stress and cell death during root colonization. Consistent with this, P. indica-colonized plants were hypersensitive to the ER stress inducer tunicamycin. By clear contrast, ER stress sensors bZIP60 and bZIP28 as well as canonical markers for the ER stress response pathway, termed the unfolded protein response (UPR), were suppressed at the same time. Arabidopsis mutants compromised in caspase 1-like activity, mediated by cell death-regulating vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs), showed reduced colonization and decreased cell death incidence. We propose a previously unreported microbial invasion strategy during which P. indica induces ER stress but inhibits the adaptive UPR. This disturbance results in a VPE/caspase 1-like-mediated cell death, which is required for the establishment of the symbiosis. Our results suggest the presence of an at least partially conserved ER stress-induced caspase-dependent cell death pathway in plants as has been reported for metazoans.}, } @article {pmid22335606, year = {2012}, author = {Ribes, M and Jiménez, E and Yahel, G and López-Sendino, P and Diez, B and Massana, R and Sharp, JH and Coma, R}, title = {Functional convergence of microbes associated with temperate marine sponges.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {1224-1239}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02701.x}, pmid = {22335606}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Carbon/metabolism ; Mediterranean Sea ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most marine sponges establish a persistent association with a wide array of phylogenetically and physiologically diverse microbes. To date, the role of these symbiotic microbial communities in the metabolism and nutrient cycles of the sponge-microbe consortium remains largely unknown. We identified and quantified the microbial communities associated with three common Mediterranean sponge species, Dysidea avara, Agelas oroides and Chondrosia reniformis (Demospongiae) that cohabitate coralligenous community. For each sponge we quantified the uptake and release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON), inorganic nitrogen and phosphate. Low microbial abundance and no evidence for DOC uptake or nitrification were found for D. avara. In contrast A. oroides and C. reniformis showed high microbial abundance (30% and 70% of their tissue occupied by microbes respectively) and both species exhibited high nitrification and high DOC and NH(4) (+) uptake. Surprisingly, these unique metabolic pathways were mediated in each sponge species by a different, and host specific, microbial community. The functional convergence of microbial consortia found in these two sympatric sponge species, suggest that these metabolic processes may be of special relevance to the success of the holobiont.}, } @article {pmid22334694, year = {2012}, author = {Lefebvre, B and Klaus-Heisen, D and Pietraszewska-Bogiel, A and Hervé, C and Camut, S and Auriac, MC and Gasciolli, V and Nurisso, A and Gadella, TW and Cullimore, J}, title = {Role of N-glycosylation sites and CXC motifs in trafficking of medicago truncatula Nod factor perception protein to plasma membrane.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {287}, number = {14}, pages = {10812-10823}, pmid = {22334694}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Binding Sites ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; Conserved Sequence ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Lysine ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/*metabolism/physiology ; Models, Molecular ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Protein Transport ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The lysin motif receptor-like kinase, NFP (Nod factor perception), is a key protein in the legume Medicago truncatula for the perception of lipochitooligosaccharidic Nod factors, which are secreted bacterial signals essential for establishing the nitrogen-fixing legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Predicted structural and genetic analyses strongly suggest that NFP is at least part of a Nod factor receptor, but few data are available about this protein. Characterization of a variant encoded by the mutant allele nfp-2 revealed the sensitivity of this protein to the endoplasmic reticulum quality control mechanisms, affecting its trafficking to the plasma membrane. Further analysis revealed that the extensive N-glycosylation of the protein is not essential for biological activity. In the NFP extracellular region, two CXC motifs and two other Cys residues were found to be involved in disulfide bridges, and these are necessary for correct folding and localization of the protein. Analysis of the intracellular region revealed its importance for biological activity but suggests that it does not rely on kinase activity. This work shows that NFP trafficking to the plasma membrane is highly sensitive to regulation in the endoplasmic reticulum and has identified structural features of the protein, particularly disulfide bridges involving CXC motifs in the extracellular region that are required for its biological function.}, } @article {pmid22334516, year = {2012}, author = {Rio, RV and Symula, RE and Wang, J and Lohs, C and Wu, YN and Snyder, AK and Bjornson, RD and Oshima, K and Biehl, BS and Perna, NT and Hattori, M and Aksoy, S}, title = {Insight into the transmission biology and species-specific functional capabilities of tsetse (Diptera: glossinidae) obligate symbiont Wigglesworthia.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {22334516}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {R01 AI081774/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM069449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI051584/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI068932/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; GM062994/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM069449/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM062994/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Chorismic Acid/biosynthesis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Flagella/genetics/metabolism ; Folic Acid/biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genome, Insect ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inheritance Patterns ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenylalanine/biosynthesis ; Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Synteny ; Transcription, Genetic ; Tsetse Flies/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Wigglesworthia/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Ancient endosymbionts have been associated with extreme genome structural stability with little differentiation in gene inventory between sister species. Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbor an obligate endosymbiont, Wigglesworthia, which has coevolved with the Glossina radiation. We report on the ~720-kb Wigglesworthia genome and its associated plasmid from Glossina morsitans morsitans and compare them to those of the symbiont from Glossina brevipalpis. While there was overall high synteny between the two genomes, a large inversion was noted. Furthermore, symbiont transcriptional analyses demonstrated host tissue and development-specific gene expression supporting robust transcriptional regulation in Wigglesworthia, an unprecedented observation in other obligate mutualist endosymbionts. Expression and immunohistochemistry confirmed the role of flagella during the vertical transmission process from mother to intrauterine progeny. The expression of nutrient provisioning genes (thiC and hemH) suggests that Wigglesworthia may function in dietary supplementation tailored toward host development. Furthermore, despite extensive conservation, unique genes were identified within both symbiont genomes that may result in distinct metabolomes impacting host physiology. One of these differences involves the chorismate, phenylalanine, and folate biosynthetic pathways, which are uniquely present in Wigglesworthia morsitans. Interestingly, African trypanosomes are auxotrophs for phenylalanine and folate and salvage both exogenously. It is possible that W. morsitans contributes to the higher parasite susceptibility of its host species.

IMPORTANCE: Genomic stasis has historically been associated with obligate endosymbionts and their sister species. Here we characterize the Wigglesworthia genome of the tsetse fly species Glossina morsitans and compare it to its sister genome within G. brevipalpis. The similarity and variation between the genomes enabled specific hypotheses regarding functional biology. Expression analyses indicate significant levels of transcriptional regulation and support development- and tissue-specific functional roles for the symbiosis previously not observed in obligate mutualist symbionts. Retention of the genetically expensive flagella within these small genomes was demonstrated to be significant in symbiont transmission and tailored to the unique tsetse fly reproductive biology. Distinctions in metabolomes were also observed. We speculate an additional role for Wigglesworthia symbiosis where infections with pathogenic trypanosomes may depend upon symbiont species-specific metabolic products and thus influence the vector competence traits of different tsetse fly host species.}, } @article {pmid22334258, year = {2012}, author = {Amy Janke, E and Kozak, AT}, title = {"The more pain I have, the more I want to eat": obesity in the context of chronic pain.}, journal = {Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)}, volume = {20}, number = {10}, pages = {2027-2034}, doi = {10.1038/oby.2012.39}, pmid = {22334258}, issn = {1930-739X}, mesh = {Chronic Pain/*psychology ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/*complications ; *Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/*psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; }, abstract = {Providers frequently report pain as a barrier to weight loss, and initial evidence suggests individuals with chronic pain and obesity experience reduced treatment success. However, scant evidence informs our understanding of how this comorbidity negatively influences treatment outcome. More effective programs might be designed with (i) insight into the patient's experience of comorbid chronic pain and obesity and (ii) improved understanding of the behavioral linkages between the experience of pain, engagement in health behaviors, and obesity treatment outcomes. Thirty adult primary care patients with mean BMI = 36.8 (SD 8.9) and average 0-10 pain intensity = 5.6 (SD 1.9) participated in semistructured, in-depth interviews. Transcriptions were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Five themes emerged indicating that patients with comorbid chronic pain and obesity experience: depression as magnifying the comorbid physical symptoms and complicating treatment; hedonic hunger triggered by physical pain and associated with depression and shame; emotional or "binge" eating in response to pain; altered dietary choices in response to pain; and low self-efficacy for physical activity due to pain. Individuals with chronic pain and obesity may be less responsive to traditional interventions that fail to address the symbiotic relationship between the two conditions. These individuals are at-risk for depressive symptoms and eating and activity patterns that sustain the comorbidity and make treatment problematic, and they may respond to pain with behaviors that promote weight gain, poor health and low mood. Further research is needed to examine behavioral mechanisms that promote comorbid pain and obesity, and to develop targeted treatment modules.}, } @article {pmid22333491, year = {2012}, author = {Kjeldsen, KU and Bataillon, T and Pinel, N and De Mita, S and Lund, MB and Panitz, F and Bendixen, C and Stahl, DA and Schramm, A}, title = {Purifying selection and molecular adaptation in the genome of Verminephrobacter, the heritable symbiotic bacteria of earthworms.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {4}, number = {3}, pages = {307-315}, pmid = {22333491}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Animals ; Comamonadaceae/*genetics/physiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {While genomic erosion is common among intracellular symbionts, patterns of genome evolution in heritable extracellular endosymbionts remain elusive. We study vertically transmitted extracellular endosymbionts (Verminephrobacter, Betaproteobacteria) that form a beneficial, species-specific, and evolutionarily old (60-130 Myr) association with earthworms. We assembled a draft genome of Verminephrobacter aporrectodeae and compared it with the genomes of Verminephrobacter eiseniae and two nonsymbiotic close relatives (Acidovorax). Similar to V. eiseniae, the V. aporrectodeae genome was not markedly reduced in size and showed no A-T bias. We characterized the strength of purifying selection (ω = dN/dS) and codon usage bias in 876 orthologous genes. Symbiont genomes exhibited strong purifying selection (ω = 0.09 ± 0.07), although transition to symbiosis entailed relaxation of purifying selection as evidenced by 50% higher ω values and less codon usage bias in symbiont compared with reference genomes. Relaxation was not evenly distributed among functional gene categories but was overrepresented in genes involved in signal transduction and cell envelope biogenesis. The same gene categories also harbored instances of positive selection in the Verminephrobacter clade. In total, positive selection was detected in 89 genes, including also genes involved in DNA metabolism, tRNA modification, and TonB-dependent iron uptake, potentially highlighting functions important in symbiosis. Our results suggest that the transition to symbiosis was accompanied by molecular adaptation, while purifying selection was only moderately relaxed, despite the evolutionary age and stability of the host association. We hypothesize that biparental transmission of symbionts and rare genetic mixing during transmission can prevent genome erosion in heritable symbionts.}, } @article {pmid22332931, year = {2012}, author = {Grubisha, LC and Levsen, N and Olson, MS and Lee Taylor, D}, title = {Intercontinental divergence in the Populus-associated ectomycorrhizal fungus, Tricholoma populinum.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {2}, pages = {548-560}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04066.x}, pmid = {22332931}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; *Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; North America ; Nucleotides/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Populus/*microbiology ; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries ; Time Factors ; Tricholoma/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal fungus Tricholoma populinum is host-specific with Populus species. T. populinum has wind-dispersed progagules and may be capable of long-distance dispersal. In this study, we tested the hypothesis of a panmictic population between Scandinavia and North America. DNA sequences from five nuclear loci were used to assess phylogeographic structure and nucleotide divergence between continents. Tricholoma populinum was composed of Scandinavian and North American lineages with complete absence of shared haplotypes and only one shared nucleotide mutation. Divergence of these lineages was estimated at approx. 1.7-1.0 million yr ago (Ma), which occurred after the estimated divergence of host species Populus tremula and Populus balsamifera/Populus trichocarpa at 5 Ma. Phylogeographic structure was not observed within Scandinavian or North American lineages of T. populinum. Intercontinental divergence appears to have resulted from either allopatric isolation; a recent, rare long-distance dispersal founding event followed by genetic drift; or the response in an obligate mycorrhizal fungus with a narrow host range to contractions and expansion of host distribution during glacial and interglacial episodes within continents. Understanding present genetic variation in populations is important for predicting how obligate symbiotic fungi will adapt to present and future changing climatic conditions.}, } @article {pmid22328762, year = {2012}, author = {Li, Z and Ma, Z and Hao, X and Wei, G}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont with copper tolerance capability isolated from lead-zinc mine tailings.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {5}, pages = {1267-1268}, pmid = {22328762}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; China ; Copper/toxicity ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 was isolated from Medicago lupulina plants growing in lead-zinc mine tailings, which can establish a symbiotic relationship with Medicago species. Also, the genome of this bacterium contains a number of protein-coding sequences related to metal tolerance. We anticipate that the genomic sequence provides valuable information to explore environmental bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid22328758, year = {2012}, author = {Zhou, M and Chen, W and Chen, H and Wei, G}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Mesorhizobium alhagi CCNWXJ12-2T, a novel salt-resistant species isolated from the desert of northwestern China.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {5}, pages = {1261-1262}, pmid = {22328758}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Alkalies/toxicity ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; Desert Climate ; Drug Tolerance ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/drug effects/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; Salts/toxicity ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Mesorhizobium alhagi strain CCNWXJ12-2(T) is a novel species of soil-dwelling, nitrogen-fixing bacteria that can form symbiotic root nodules with Alhagi sparsifolia. Moreover, the strain has high resistance to salt and alkali. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Mesorhizobium alhagi strain CCNWXJ12-2(T). A large number of osmotic regulation-related genes have been identified.}, } @article {pmid22328749, year = {2012}, author = {Kim, EK and Kim, SH and Nam, HJ and Choi, MK and Lee, KA and Choi, SH and Seo, YY and You, H and Kim, B and Lee, WJ}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Commensalibacter intestini A911T, a symbiotic bacterium isolated from Drosophila melanogaster intestine.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {5}, pages = {1246}, pmid = {22328749}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/*chemistry/*genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/*microbiology/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Commensalibacter intestini A911(T), a predominant symbiotic bacterium capable of stably colonizing gut epithelia, was isolated from the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Commensalibacter intestini A911(T).}, } @article {pmid22326742, year = {2012}, author = {Xie, L and Zhang, L and Zhong, Y and Liu, N and Long, Y and Wang, S and Zhou, X and Zhou, Z and Huang, Y and Wang, Q}, title = {Profiling the metatranscriptome of the protistan community in Coptotermes formosanus with emphasis on the lignocellulolytic system.}, journal = {Genomics}, volume = {99}, number = {4}, pages = {246-255}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2012.01.009}, pmid = {22326742}, issn = {1089-8646}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/analysis/metabolism ; Eukaryota/enzymology/*genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Library ; Isoptera/*microbiology ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Glycosyl Hydrolases/analysis/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic protists in the hindgut of lower termites are critical for lignocellulose decomposition. Due to the unculturability of these protists, information on lignocellulases and their abundance within the gut is unavailable. The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies enables an investigation of the gene expression profile in this community without culturing these organisms. Here, we carried out 454 pyrosequencing to profile the metatranscriptome of the protistan community in Coptotermes formosanus. In total, 223,477 reads were obtained by sequencing the enriched protistan mRNA. Phagocytosis and cytoskeletal homeostasis pathways were highly represented in the metatranscriptome. Among the metabolic pathways, starch and sucrose metabolism were dominant. A detailed analysis combining Pfam and KEGG annotation identified 118 glycosyl hydrolases belonging to 18 different glycosyl hydrolase families (GHFs). Subsequently, a novel GHF10 endo-1,4-beta-xylanase was functionally characterized to complement our understanding of the protistan hemicellulases.}, } @article {pmid22326092, year = {2012}, author = {Sheldrake, M}, title = {Albert Howard and the mycorrhizal association.}, journal = {Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences}, volume = {43}, number = {1}, pages = {225-231}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsc.2011.10.034}, pmid = {22326092}, issn = {1879-2499}, mesh = {Agriculture/*history ; Colonialism/*history ; Fungi ; Government ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; India ; *Mycorrhizae ; Plants ; Science/*history ; Soil ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {Albert Howard worked as an imperial agronomist for the British Government in India. Following his retirement in 1931, he returned to England and embarked on a passionate global campaign to reform agricultural practices. Central to Howard's project was the mycorrhizal association, a symbiotic relationship between plant roots and subterranean fungi, believed to play an important part in plant nutrition. I show that there are a number of close parallels between Howard's work in India and his portrayal of the mycorrhizal association, and argue that Howard used these fungi to naturalise his imperial project. Understood in this way, these mycorrhizal and imperial associations reveal ways that Howard was able to negotiate the boundaries between the local and global, England and India, science and agriculture, institute and village, and soil and plant. In contrast to Thomas Gieryn's work on hybridisation at the cultural boundaries between science and non-science, I concentrate on Howard's use of intermediaries to negotiate and articulate specific boundaries within his imperial project. Arguing that this approach reveals limitations in Gieryn's hybrid framework, I suggest that a focus on Howard's dependence on intermediaries draws attention to the discontinuities between entities, besides the dynamic ways that they might be coupled.}, } @article {pmid22325568, year = {2012}, author = {Corbari, L and Durand, L and Cambon-Bonavita, MA and Gaill, F and Compère, P}, title = {New digestive symbiosis in the hydrothermal vent amphipoda Ventiella sulfuris.}, journal = {Comptes rendus biologies}, volume = {335}, number = {2}, pages = {142-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.crvi.2011.12.005}, pmid = {22325568}, issn = {1768-3238}, mesh = {Amphipoda/*microbiology/*physiology ; Animals ; Digestive System/*microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ventiella sulfuris Barnard and Ingram, 1990 is the most abundant amphipod species inhabiting the Eastern Pacific Rise (EPR 9°N) vent fields. This vent-endemic species is frequently encountered near colonies of Pompeii worms Alvinella pompejana. V. sulfuris specimens were collected during the oceanographic cruise LADDER II at the Bio9 (9°50.3'N, 2508m depth) hydrothermal vent site. Main objectives were to highlight the occurrence of bacterial symbiosis in V. sulfuris and to hypothesise their implications in nutrition. Observations in light and electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) showed that the outer body surface and appendages are free of microorganisms. In contrast, the digestive system revealed two major microbial communities settled in the midgut and in the hindgut. Gut contents showed bacterial traces together with abundant fragments of Alvinellid cuticle and setae, from A. pompejana, suggesting that V. sulfuris could directly feed on Alvinellids and/or on their bacterial epibionts. Molecular analyses based on the 16S rRNA genes revealed the diversity of bacterial communities in the digestive system, of which, the Epsilonproteobacteria phylum, could be considered as one of the major bacterial group. Hypotheses were proposed on their symbiotic features and their implications in V. sulfuris nutrition.}, } @article {pmid22321609, year = {2012}, author = {Rao, RU and Huang, Y and Abubucker, S and Heinz, M and Crosby, SD and Mitreva, M and Weil, GJ}, title = {Effects of doxycycline on gene expression in Wolbachia and Brugia malayi adult female worms in vivo.}, journal = {Journal of biomedical science}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {21}, pmid = {22321609}, issn = {1423-0127}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Brugia malayi/*metabolism ; Doxycycline/*pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Wolbachia/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most filarial nematodes contain Wolbachia symbionts. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of doxycycline on gene expression in Wolbachia and adult female Brugia malayi.

METHODS: Brugia malayi infected gerbils were treated with doxycycline for 6-weeks. This treatment largely cleared Wolbachia and arrested worm reproduction. RNA recovered from treated and control female worms was labeled by random priming and hybridized to the Version 2- filarial microarray to obtain expression profiles.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results showed significant changes in expression for 200 Wolbachia (29% of Wolbachia genes with expression signals in untreated worms) and 546 B. malayi array elements after treatment. These elements correspond to known genes and also to novel genes with unknown biological functions. Most differentially expressed Wolbachia genes were down-regulated after treatment (98.5%). In contrast, doxycycline had a mixed effect on B. malayi gene expression with many more genes being significantly up-regulated after treatment (85% of differentially expressed genes). Genes and processes involved in reproduction (gender-regulated genes, collagen, amino acid metabolism, ribosomal processes, and cytoskeleton) were down-regulated after doxycycline while up-regulated genes and pathways suggest adaptations for survival in response to stress (energy metabolism, electron transport, anti-oxidants, nutrient transport, bacterial signaling pathways, and immune evasion).

CONCLUSIONS: Doxycycline reduced Wolbachia and significantly decreased bacterial gene expression. Wolbachia ribosomes are believed to be the primary biological target for doxycycline in filarial worms. B. malayi genes essential for reproduction, growth and development were also down-regulated; these changes are consistent with doxycycline effects on embryo development and reproduction. On the other hand, many B. malayi genes involved in energy production, electron-transport, metabolism, anti-oxidants, and others with unknown functions had increased expression signals after doxycycline treatment. These results suggest that female worms are able to compensate in part for the loss of Wolbachia so that they can survive, albeit without reproductive capacity. This study of doxycycline induced changes in gene expression has provided new clues regarding the symbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and B. malayi.}, } @article {pmid22320438, year = {2012}, author = {Pelin, A and Pombert, JF and Salvioli, A and Bonen, L and Bonfante, P and Corradi, N}, title = {The mitochondrial genome of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora margarita reveals two unsuspected trans-splicing events of group I introns.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {194}, number = {3}, pages = {836-845}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04072.x}, pmid = {22320438}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Chicory/*microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Genome, Fungal/genetics ; Genome, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Glomeromycota/*genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Introns/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Trans-Splicing/genetics ; }, abstract = {• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous organisms that benefit ecosystems through the establishment of an association with the roots of most plants: the mycorrhizal symbiosis. Despite their ecological importance, however, these fungi have been poorly studied at the genome level. • In this study, total DNA from the AMF Gigaspora margarita was subjected to a combination of 454 and Illumina sequencing, and the resulting reads were used to assemble its mitochondrial genome de novo. This genome was annotated and compared with those of other relatives to better comprehend the evolution of the AMF lineage. • The mitochondrial genome of G. margarita is unique in many ways, exhibiting a large size (97 kbp) and elevated GC content (45%). This genome also harbors molecular events that were previously unknown to occur in fungal mitochondrial genomes, including trans-splicing of group I introns from two different genes coding for the first subunit of the cytochrome oxidase and for the small subunit of the rRNA. • This study reports the second published genome from an AMF organelle, resulting in relevant DNA sequence information from this poorly studied fungal group, and providing new insights into the frequency, origin and evolution of trans-spliced group I introns found across the mitochondrial genomes of distantly related organisms.}, } @article {pmid22319621, year = {2012}, author = {Zhao, H and Li, M and Fang, K and Chen, W and Wang, J}, title = {In silico insights into the symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Sinorhizobium meliloti via metabolic reconstruction.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {2}, pages = {e31287}, pmid = {22319621}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Computer Simulation ; Genes, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/*genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plants/microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium, known for its capability to establish symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with leguminous plants such as alfalfa. S. meliloti 1021 is the most extensively studied strain to understand the mechanism of SNF and further to study the legume-microbe interaction. In order to provide insight into the metabolic characteristics underlying the SNF mechanism of S. meliloti 1021, there is an increasing demand to reconstruct a metabolic network for the stage of SNF in S. meliloti 1021.

RESULTS: Through an iterative reconstruction process, a metabolic network during the stage of SNF in S. meliloti 1021 was presented, named as iHZ565, which accounts for 565 genes, 503 internal reactions, and 522 metabolites. Subjected to a novelly defined objective function, the in silico predicted flux distribution was highly consistent with the in vivo evidences reported previously, which proves the robustness of the model. Based on the model, refinement of genome annotation of S. meliloti 1021 was performed and 15 genes were re-annotated properly. There were 19.8% (112) of the 565 metabolic genes included in iHZ565 predicted to be essential for efficient SNF in bacteroids under the in silico microaerobic and nutrient sharing condition.

CONCLUSIONS: As the first metabolic network during the stage of SNF in S. meliloti 1021, the manually curated model iHZ565 provides an overview of the major metabolic properties of the SNF bioprocess in S. meliloti 1021. The predicted SNF-required essential genes will facilitate understanding of the key functions in SNF and help identify key genes and design experiments for further validation. The model iHZ565 can be used as a knowledge-based framework for better understanding the symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and legumes, ultimately, uncovering the mechanism of nitrogen fixation in bacteroids and providing new strategies to efficiently improve biological nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid22319135, year = {2012}, author = {Pierce, SK and Fang, X and Schwartz, JA and Jiang, X and Zhao, W and Curtis, NE and Kocot, KM and Yang, B and Wang, J}, title = {Transcriptomic evidence for the expression of horizontally transferred algal nuclear genes in the photosynthetic sea slug, Elysia chlorotica.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {29}, number = {6}, pages = {1545-1556}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msr316}, pmid = {22319135}, issn = {1537-1719}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Chlorophyta/*genetics ; Gastropoda/*genetics ; *Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Chloroplast ; Genome ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photosynthesis/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Analysis of the transcriptome of the kleptoplastic sea slug, Elysia chlorotica, has revealed the presence of at least 101 chloroplast-encoded gene sequences and 111 transcripts matching 52 nuclear-encoded genes from the chloroplast donor, Vaucheria litorea. These data clearly show that the symbiotic chloroplasts are translationally active and, of even more interest, that a variety of functional algal genes have been transferred into the slug genome, as has been suggested by earlier indirect experiments. Both the chloroplast- and nuclear-encoded sequences were rare within the E. chlorotica transcriptome, suggesting that their copy numbers and synthesis rates are low, and required both a large amount of sequence data and native algal sequences to find. These results show that the symbiotic chloroplasts residing inside the host molluscan cell are maintained by an interaction of both organellar and host biochemistry directed by the presence of transferred genes.}, } @article {pmid22313769, year = {2012}, author = {Tamura, Y and Kobae, Y and Mizuno, T and Hata, S}, title = {Identification and expression analysis of arbuscular mycorrhiza-inducible phosphate transporter genes of soybean.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {309-313}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.110684}, pmid = {22313769}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Computational Biology ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/*genetics ; Soybeans/chemistry/*genetics ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptional Activation ; }, abstract = {Soybeans, the world's leading leguminous crop, establish mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungi colonize root cortical cells forming arbuscules, highly branched fungal structures. Arbuscules are enveloped by plant-derived periarbuscular membranes through which plants obtain mineral nutrients, particularly phosphate. We searched the soybean genome in silico, and found 14 Pht1 genes encoding phosphate transporters putatively localized on the plasma membranes. Time course analyses involving reverse transcription-PCR indicated that three of these were AM-inducible. GmPT10 and GmPT11 were induced on fungal colonization, while a transcript of GmPT7 appeared in the later stages. The transport activities of GmPT10 and GmPT11 were confirmed by complementation of a yeast mutant. Soybean hairy roots expressing the GmPT10-green fluorescent protein (GFP) or GmPT11-GFP fusion protein under the control of corresponding promoter showed GFP fluorescence on the branch domains of periarbuscular membranes, indicating that active phosphate transport occurred there.}, } @article {pmid22313762, year = {2012}, author = {Nakamura, T and Saito, M and Aso, H}, title = {Effects of a lactobacilli, oligosaccharide and organic germanium intake on the immune responses of mice.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {76}, number = {2}, pages = {375-377}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.110655}, pmid = {22313762}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Animals ; Drug Synergism ; Germanium/*immunology/pharmacology ; Immunity/*drug effects ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis ; *Immunomodulation ; Interferon Inducers ; Intestines/immunology ; Lactobacillus/*immunology ; Mice ; Oligosaccharides/*immunology/pharmacology ; Organometallic Compounds/*immunology/pharmacology ; Propionates ; }, abstract = {The organic germanium compound, Ge-132, has immune-modulating effects. We evaluated the symbiotic effects of Ge-132 with lactobacilli and oligosaccharide (LB/OS) on the immune responses of mice. The highest fecal IgA levels were observed in the mice receiving a low concentration of Ge-132 with LB/OS for 8 weeks. Our data suggest that LB/OS with a low concentration of Ge-132 stimulated the intestinal immunity.}, } @article {pmid22312895, year = {2011}, author = {Baĭmiev, AKh and Ivanova, ES and Ptitsyn, KG and Chubukova, OV and Baĭmiev, AKh}, title = {[Phylogenetic analysis of symbiotic genes of nodule bacteria in the plants of the genus Lathyrus (L.) (Fabaceae)].}, journal = {Molekuliarnaia genetika, mikrobiologiia i virusologiia}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {14-17}, pmid = {22312895}, issn = {0208-0613}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Agrobacterium/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Plant ; Lathyrus/*microbiology ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phyllobacteriaceae/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*classification/genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/*genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The comparative analysis of the symbiotic genes nifD, nifH, nodA of wild-growing Lathyrus L. species (Fabaceae) connected by genes sequences of 16S aRNA to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae, Rhizobium tropici, Agrobacterium sp., and Phyllobacterium sp. was carried out. It was demonstrated that all tested genes of strains taken for analysis had high degree of homology with analogous genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae. It was suggested that symbiotic genes were introduced into Rhizobium tropici, Agrobacterium sp., and Phyllobacterium sp. strains by means of horizontal gene transfer over from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae strain. The recombinant strains were formed, capable to nodulate Lathyrus L. species that earlier was not considered characteristic for these plants.}, } @article {pmid22310480, year = {2012}, author = {Gáspári, Z and Süveges, D and Perczel, A and Nyitray, L and Tóth, G}, title = {Charged single alpha-helices in proteomes revealed by a consensus prediction approach.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1824}, number = {4}, pages = {637-646}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbapap.2012.01.012}, pmid = {22310480}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Consensus Sequence ; Databases, Protein ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Isoforms/chemistry/genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Proteome/*chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; *Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Software ; }, abstract = {Charged single α-helices (CSAHs) constitute a recently recognized protein structural motif. Its presence and role is characterized in only a few proteins. To explore its general features, a comprehensive study is necessary. We have set up a consensus prediction method available as a web service (at http://csahserver.chem.elte.hu) and downloadable scripts capable of predicting CSAHs from protein sequences. Using our method, we have performed a comprehensive search on the UniProt database. We found that the motif is very rare but seems abundant in proteins involved in symbiosis and RNA binding/processing. Although there are related proteins with CSAH segments, the motif shows no deep conservation in protein families. We conclude that CSAH-containing proteins, although rare, are involved in many key biological processes. Their conservation pattern and prevalence in symbiosis-associated proteins suggest that they might be subjects of relatively rapid molecular evolution and thus can contribute to the emergence of novel functions.}, } @article {pmid22309180, year = {2012}, author = {Nagajyothi, F and Machado, FS and Burleigh, BA and Jelicks, LA and Scherer, PE and Mukherjee, S and Lisanti, MP and Weiss, LM and Garg, NJ and Tanowitz, HB}, title = {Mechanisms of Trypanosoma cruzi persistence in Chagas disease.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {634-643}, pmid = {22309180}, issn = {1462-5822}, support = {R01 HL073732/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HL73732/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; RC1 DK086629/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL094802/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; CA112023/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; HL094802/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; HL088230/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; DK086629/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK55758/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK055758/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; AI076248/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI090366/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI06538/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI054578/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 2AI054578/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI090366/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 HL088230/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI076248/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA112023/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chagas Disease/*immunology/*parasitology ; Chronic Disease ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune Evasion ; Models, Biological ; Trypanosoma cruzi/*immunology/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to development of chronic Chagas disease. In this article, we provide an update on the current knowledge of the mechanisms employed by the parasite to gain entry into the host cells and establish persistent infection despite activation of a potent immune response by the host. Recent studies point to a number of T. cruzi molecules that interact with host cell receptors to promote parasite invasion of the diverse host cells. T. cruzi expresses an antioxidant system and thromboxane A(2) to evade phagosomal oxidative assault and suppress the host's ability to clear parasites. Additional studies suggest that besides cardiac and smooth muscle cells that are the major target of T. cruzi infection, adipocytes and adipose tissue serve as reservoirs from where T. cruzi can recrudesce and cause disease decades later. Further, T. cruzi employs at least four strategies to maintain a symbiotic-like relationship with the host, and ensure consistent supply of nutrients for its own survival and long-term persistence. Ongoing and future research will continue to help refining the models of T. cruzi invasion and persistence in diverse tissues and organs in the host.}, } @article {pmid22308700, year = {2011}, author = {Chen, M and Guo, L and Yang, G and Chen, M and Yang, L and Huang, L}, title = {[Discussion on appraisal methods and key technologies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and medicinal plant symbiosis system].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {36}, number = {21}, pages = {3051-3056}, pmid = {22308700}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development/*microbiology/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Applications of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in research of medicinal plant cultivation are increased in recent years. Medicinal plants habitat is complicated and many inclusions are in root, however crop habitat is simple and few inclusions in root. So appraisal methods and key technologies about the symbiotic system of crop and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can't completely suitable for the symbiotic system of medicinal plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This article discuss the appraisal methods and key technologies about the symbiotic system of medicinal plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from the isolation and identification of arbuscular mycorrhiza, and the appraisal of colonization intensity. This article provides guidance for application research of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in cultivation of medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid22308450, year = {2012}, author = {Karl, DM and Church, MJ and Dore, JE and Letelier, RM and Mahaffey, C}, title = {Predictable and efficient carbon sequestration in the North Pacific Ocean supported by symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {6}, pages = {1842-1849}, pmid = {22308450}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbon/analysis ; *Carbon Sequestration ; Climate ; Hawaii ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Pacific Ocean ; Particulate Matter/analysis ; Surface Properties ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The atmospheric and deep sea reservoirs of carbon dioxide are linked via physical, chemical, and biological processes. The last of these include photosynthesis, particle settling, and organic matter remineralization, and are collectively termed the "biological carbon pump." Herein, we present results from a 13-y (1992-2004) sediment trap experiment conducted in the permanently oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre that document a large, rapid, and predictable summertime (July 15-August 15) pulse in particulate matter export to the deep sea (4,000 m). Peak daily fluxes of particulate matter during the summer export pulse (SEP) average 408, 283, 24.1, 1.1, and 67.5 μmol·m(-2)·d(-1) for total carbon, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus (PP), and biogenic silica, respectively. The SEP is approximately threefold greater than mean wintertime particle fluxes and fuels more efficient carbon sequestration because of low remineralization during downward transit that leads to elevated total carbon/PP and organic carbon/PP particle stoichiometry (371:1 and 250:1, respectively). Our long-term observations suggest that seasonal changes in the microbial assemblage, namely, summertime increases in the biomass and productivity of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in association with diatoms, are the main cause of the prominent SEP. The recurrent SEP is enigmatic because it is focused in time despite the absence of any obvious predictable stimulus or habitat condition. We hypothesize that changes in day length (photoperiodism) may be an important environmental cue to initiate aggregation and subsequent export of organic matter to the deep sea.}, } @article {pmid22308426, year = {2012}, author = {Fellbaum, CR and Gachomo, EW and Beesetty, Y and Choudhari, S and Strahan, GD and Pfeffer, PE and Kiers, ET and Bücking, H}, title = {Carbon availability triggers fungal nitrogen uptake and transport in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {7}, pages = {2666-2671}, pmid = {22308426}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, formed between the majority of land plants and ubiquitous soil fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota, is responsible for massive nutrient transfer and global carbon sequestration. AM fungi take up nutrients from the soil and exchange them against photosynthetically fixed carbon (C) from the host. Recent studies have demonstrated that reciprocal reward strategies by plant and fungal partners guarantee a "fair trade" of phosphorus against C between partners [Kiers ET, et al. (2011) Science 333:880-882], but whether a similar reward mechanism also controls nitrogen (N) flux in the AM symbiosis is not known. Using mycorrhizal root organ cultures, we manipulated the C supply to the host and fungus and followed the uptake and transport of N sources in the AM symbiosis, the enzymatic activities of arginase and urease, and fungal gene expression in the extraradical and intraradical mycelium. We found that the C supply of the host plant triggers the uptake and transport of N in the symbiosis, and that the increase in N transport is orchestrated by changes in fungal gene expression. N transport in the symbiosis is stimulated only when the C is delivered by the host across the mycorrhizal interface, not when C is supplied directly to the fungal extraradical mycelium in the form of acetate. These findings support the importance of C flux from the root to the fungus as a key trigger for N uptake and transport and provide insight into the N transport regulation in the AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22308405, year = {2012}, author = {Navascués, J and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Gay, M and Marcos, M and Yang, F and Walker, FA and Desbois, A and Abián, J and Becana, M}, title = {Leghemoglobin green derivatives with nitrated hemes evidence production of highly reactive nitrogen species during aging of legume nodules.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {7}, pages = {2660-2665}, pmid = {22308405}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Fabaceae/*chemistry ; Heme/*chemistry ; Leghemoglobin/*chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/*chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; }, abstract = {Globins constitute a superfamily of proteins widespread in all kingdoms of life, where they fulfill multiple functions, such as efficient O(2) transport and modulation of nitric oxide bioactivity. In plants, the most abundant Hbs are the symbiotic leghemoglobins (Lbs) that scavenge O(2) and facilitate its diffusion to the N(2)-fixing bacteroids in nodules. The biosynthesis of Lbs during nodule formation has been studied in detail, whereas little is known about the green derivatives of Lbs generated during nodule senescence. Here we characterize modified forms of Lbs, termed Lba(m), Lbc(m), and Lbd(m), of soybean nodules. These green Lbs have identical globins to the parent red Lbs but their hemes are nitrated. By combining UV-visible, MS, NMR, and resonance Raman spectroscopies with reconstitution experiments of the apoprotein with protoheme or mesoheme, we show that the nitro group is on the 4-vinyl. In vitro nitration of Lba with excess nitrite produced several isomers of nitrated heme, one of which is identical to those found in vivo. The use of antioxidants, metal chelators, and heme ligands reveals that nitration is contingent upon the binding of nitrite to heme Fe, and that the reactive nitrogen species involved derives from nitrous acid and is most probably the nitronium cation. The identification of these green Lbs provides conclusive evidence that highly oxidizing and nitrating species are produced in nodules leading to nitrosative stress. These findings are consistent with a previous report showing that the modified Lbs are more abundant in senescing nodules and have aberrant O(2) binding.}, } @article {pmid22307307, year = {2012}, author = {Lee, HI and Lee, JH and Park, KH and Sangurdekar, D and Chang, WS}, title = {Effect of soybean coumestrol on Bradyrhizobium japonicum nodulation ability, biofilm formation, and transcriptional profile.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {8}, pages = {2896-2903}, pmid = {22307307}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Biofilms/drug effects/*growth & development ; Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/*physiology ; Coumestrol/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Soybeans/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Flavonoids, secondary plant metabolites which mainly have a polyphenolic structure, play an important role in plant-microbe communications for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Among 10 polyphenolic compounds isolated from soybean roots in our previous study, coumestrol showed the highest antioxidant activity. In this study, its effect on the soybean nodulation was tested. The soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 pretreated with 20 μM coumestrol enhanced soybean nodulation by increasing the number of nodules 1.7-fold compared to the control. We also tested the effect of coumestrol on B. japonicum biofilm formation. At a concentration of 2 μM, coumestrol caused a higher degree of biofilm formation than two major soybean isoflavonoids, genistein and daidzein, although no biofilm formation was observed at a concentration of 20 μM each compound. A genome-wide transcriptional analysis was performed to obtain a comprehensive snapshot of the B. japonicum response to coumestrol. When the bacterium was incubated in 20 μM coumestrol for 24 h, a total of 371 genes (139 upregulated and 232 downregulated) were differentially expressed at a 2-fold cutoff with a q value of less than 5%. No common nod gene induction was found in the microarray data. However, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) data showed that incubation for 12 h resulted in a moderate induction (ca. 2-fold) of nodD1 and nodABC, indicating that soybean coumestrol is a weak inducer of common nod genes. In addition, disruption of nfeD (bll4952) affected the soybean nodulation by an approximate 30% reduction in the average number of nodules.}, } @article {pmid22307295, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, Y and Aono, T and Poole, P and Finan, TM}, title = {NAD(P)+-malic enzyme mutants of Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234, but not Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, maintain symbiotic N2 fixation capabilities.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {8}, pages = {2803-2812}, pmid = {22307295}, issn = {1098-5336}, support = {BB/F013159/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000C0622/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Acetyl Coenzyme A/metabolism ; Azorhizobium caulinodans/enzymology/metabolism/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Enzyme Activators/metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors/metabolism ; Fumarates/metabolism ; Malate Dehydrogenase/*genetics/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sesbania/microbiology/*physiology ; Sinorhizobium/enzymology/metabolism/*physiology ; Succinic Acid/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {C(4)-dicarboxylic acids appear to be metabolized via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in N(2)-fixing bacteria (bacteroids) within legume nodules. In Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteroids from alfalfa, NAD(+)-malic enzyme (DME) is required for N(2) fixation, and this activity is thought to be required for the anaplerotic synthesis of pyruvate. In contrast, in the pea symbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum, pyruvate synthesis occurs via either DME or a pathway catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) and pyruvate kinase (PYK). Here we report that dme mutants of the broad-host-range Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234 formed nodules whose level of N(2) fixation varied from 27 to 83% (plant dry weight) of the wild-type level, depending on the host plant inoculated. NGR234 bacteroids had significant PCK activity, and while single pckA and single dme mutants fixed N(2) at reduced rates, a pckA dme double mutant had no N(2)-fixing activity (Fix(-)). Thus, NGR234 bacteroids appear to synthesize pyruvate from TCA cycle intermediates via DME or PCK pathways. These NGR234 data, together with other reports, suggested that the completely Fix(-) phenotype of S. meliloti dme mutants may be specific to the alfalfa-S. meliloti symbiosis. We therefore examined the ME-like genes azc3656 and azc0119 from Azorhizobium caulinodans, as azc3656 mutants were previously shown to form Fix(-) nodules on the tropical legume Sesbania rostrata. We found that purified AZC3656 protein is an NAD(P)(+)-malic enzyme whose activity is inhibited by acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and stimulated by succinate and fumarate. Thus, whereas DME is required for symbiotic N(2) fixation in A. caulinodans and S. meliloti, in other rhizobia this activity can be bypassed via another pathway(s).}, } @article {pmid22307293, year = {2012}, author = {Kuechler, SM and Renz, P and Dettner, K and Kehl, S}, title = {Diversity of symbiotic organs and bacterial endosymbionts of lygaeoid bugs of the families blissidae and lygaeidae (hemiptera: heteroptera: lygaeoidea).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {8}, pages = {2648-2659}, pmid = {22307293}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animal Structures/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Chaperonin 60/genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gammaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Heteroptera/*microbiology/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Here we present comparative data on the localization and identity of intracellular symbionts among the superfamily Lygaeoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha). Five different lygaeoid species from the families Blissidae and Lygaeidae (sensu stricto; including the subfamilies Lygaeinae and Orsillinae) were analyzed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that all the bugs studied possess paired bacteriomes that are differently shaped in the abdomen and harbor specific endosymbionts therein. The endosymbionts were also detected in female gonads and at the anterior poles of developing eggs, indicating vertical transmission of the endosymbionts via ovarial passage, in contrast to the posthatch symbiont transmission commonly found among pentatomoid bugs (Pentatomomorpha: Pentatomoidea). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and groEL genes showed that the endosymbionts of Ischnodemus sabuleti, Arocatus longiceps, Belonochilus numenius, Orsillus depressus, and Ortholomus punctipennis constitute at least four distinct clades in the Gammaproteobacteria. The endosymbiont phylogeny did not agree with the host phylogeny based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, but there was a local cospeciating pattern within the subfamily Orsillinae. Meanwhile, the endosymbiont of Belonochilus numenius (Lygaeidae: Orsillinae), although harbored in paired bacteriomes as in other lygaeoid bugs of the related genera Nysius, Ortholomus, and Orsillus, was phylogenetically close to "Candidatus Rohrkolberia cinguli," the endosymbiont of Chilacis typhae (Lygaeoidea: Artheneidae), suggesting an endosymbiont replacement in this lineage. The diverse endosymbionts and the differently shaped bacteriomes may reflect independent evolutionary origins of the endosymbiotic systems among lygaeoid bugs.}, } @article {pmid22303273, year = {2011}, author = {Betsuyaku, S and Sawa, S and Yamada, M}, title = {The Function of the CLE Peptides in Plant Development and Plant-Microbe Interactions.}, journal = {The arabidopsis book}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {e0149}, pmid = {22303273}, issn = {1543-8120}, abstract = {The CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION (ESR) (CLE) peptides consist of 12 or 13 amino acids, including hydroxylated proline residues that may or may not contain sugar modifications, and function in a non-cell-autonomous fashion. The CLE gene was first reported in Zea mays (maize) as an endosperm-specific gene, ESR, in 1997 (Opsahl-Ferstad et al., 1997). CLE genes encode secreted peptides that function in the extracellular space as intercellular signaling molecules and bind to cellular surface receptor-like proteins to transmit a signal. CLE peptides regulate various physiological and developmental processes and its signaling pathway are conserved in diverse land plants. Recent CLE functional studies have pointed to their significance in regulating meristematic activity in plant meristems, through the CLE-receptor kinase-WOX signaling node. CLV3 and CLE40 are responsible for maintenance of shoot apical meristem (SAM) and root apical meristem (RAM) function, regulating homeodomain transcription factors, WUSCHEL (WUS) and WUSCHEL-related homeobox 5 (WOX5), respectively. CLE and WOX form an interconnected and self-correcting feedback loop to provide robustness to stem cell homeostasis. CLE peptides are required for certain plant-microbe interactions, such as those that occur during legume symbiosis and phytopathogenic nematode infection. Understanding the molecular properties of CLE peptides may provide insight into plant cell-cell communication, and therefore also into plant-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid22301976, year = {2012}, author = {Das, A and Kamal, S and Shakil, NA and Sherameti, I and Oelmüller, R and Dua, M and Tuteja, N and Johri, AK and Varma, A}, title = {The root endophyte fungus Piriformospora indica leads to early flowering, higher biomass and altered secondary metabolites of the medicinal plant, Coleus forskohlii.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {103-112}, pmid = {22301976}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; *Biomass ; Coleus/*metabolism ; *Flowers ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of plant probiotic fungus Piriformospora indica on the medicinal plant C. forskohlii. Interaction of the C. forskohlii with the root endophyte P. indica under field conditions, results in an overall increase in aerial biomass, chlorophyll contents and phosphorus acquisition. The fungus also promoted inflorescence development, consequently the amount of p-cymene in the inflorescence increased. Growth of the root thickness was reduced in P. indica treated plants as they became fibrous, but developed more lateral roots. Because of the smaller root biomass, the content of forskolin was decreased. The symbiotic interaction of C. forskohlii with P. indica under field conditions promoted biomass production of the aerial parts of the plant including flower development. The plant aerial parts are important source of metabolites for medicinal application. Therefore we suggest that the use of the root endophyte fungus P. indica in sustainable agriculture will enhance the medicinally important chemical production.}, } @article {pmid22301975, year = {2012}, author = {Hayat, S and Irfan, M and Wani, AS and Alyemeni, MN and Ahmad, A}, title = {Salicylic acids: local, systemic or inter-systemic regulators?.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {93-102}, pmid = {22301975}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Crops, Agricultural/*growth & development ; Photosynthesis ; *Plant Development ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/genetics ; Salicylates/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Salicylic acid is well known phytohormone, emerging recently as a new paradigm of an array of manifestations of growth regulators. The area unleashed yet encompassed the applied agriculture sector to find the roles to strengthen the crops against plethora of abiotic and biotic stresses. The skipped part of integrated picture, however, was the evolutionary insight of salicylic acid to either allow or discard the microbial invasion depending upon various internal factors of two interactants under the prevailing external conditions. The metabolic status that allows the host invasion either as pathogenesis or symbiosis with possible intermediary stages in close systems has been tried to underpin here.}, } @article {pmid22301958, year = {2012}, author = {Plett, JM and Martin, F}, title = {Poplar root exudates contain compounds that induce the expression of MiSSP7 in Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {12-15}, pmid = {22301958}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Laccaria/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism ; Populus/*metabolism ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Communication between organisms is crucial for their survival, especially for sessile organisms such as plants that depend upon interactions with mutualistic organisms to maximize their nutrient acquisition. This communication can take the form of the exchange of volatile compounds, metabolites or effectors - small protein signals secreted from the colonizing cell that change the biology of the host cell. We recently characterized the first mutualistic effector protein from an ectomycorrhizal fungus, a small secreted protein named MiSSP7 encoded by Laccaria bicolor. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are soil-borne mutualistic organisms whose hyphae wrap around host roots and grow into the root apoplastic space where the fungus exchanges nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in return for plant derived sugars. The MiSSP7 protein is induced by root exudates and is highly expressed throughout the root colonization process. Its presence was responsible for alterations to the plant transcriptomic profile, a mechanism by which MiSSP7 may aid in the formation of the symbiotic interface. Here we further discuss the implications of these findings and, further, we demonstrate that the production of MiSSP7 is induced by two flavonoids, rutin and quercitrin, a class of compounds normally found within the exudates of plant roots. We also consider the interesting similarities between the mechanisms of effector induction and action between pathogenic and mutualistic fungi.}, } @article {pmid22297557, year = {2012}, author = {Liu, M and Fan, L and Zhong, L and Kjelleberg, S and Thomas, T}, title = {Metaproteogenomic analysis of a community of sponge symbionts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {1515-1525}, pmid = {22297557}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Biological Transport, Active/genetics ; *Metagenomics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbour complex communities of diverse microorganisms, which have been postulated to form intimate symbiotic relationships with their host. Here we unravel some of these interactions by characterising the functional features of the microbial community of the sponge Cymbastela concentrica through a combined metagenomic and metaproteomic approach. We discover the expression of specific transport functions for typical sponge metabolites (for example, halogenated aromatics, dipeptides), which indicates metabolic interactions between the community and the host. We also uncover the simultaneous performance of aerobic nitrification and anaerobic denitrification, which would aid to remove ammonium secreted by the sponge. Our analysis also highlights the requirement for the microbial community to respond to variable environmental conditions and hence express an array of stress protection proteins. Molecular interactions between symbionts and their host might also be mediated by a set of expressed eukaryotic-like proteins and cell-cell mediators. Finally, some sponge-associated bacteria (for example, a Phyllobacteriaceae phylotype) appear to undergo an evolutionary adaptation process to the sponge environment as evidenced by active mobile genetic elements. Our data clearly show that a combined metaproteogenomic approach can provide novel information on the activities, physiology and interactions of sponge-associated microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid22296838, year = {2012}, author = {Asensio, D and Rapparini, F and Peñuelas, J}, title = {AM fungi root colonization increases the production of essential isoprenoids vs. nonessential isoprenoids especially under drought stress conditions or after jasmonic acid application.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {77}, number = {}, pages = {149-161}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.12.012}, pmid = {22296838}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Carbon/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/*pharmacology ; Droughts ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxylipins/*pharmacology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/*pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Roots/drug effects/*microbiology/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Terpenes/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Previous studies have shown that root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi enhances plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors and finally plant growth. However, little is known about the effect of AM on isoprenoid foliar and root content. In this study we tested whether the AM symbiosis affects carbon resource allocation to different classes of isoprenoids such as the volatile nonessential isoprenoids (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) and the non-volatile essential isoprenoids (abscisic acid, chlorophylls and carotenoids). By subjecting the plants to stressors such as drought and to exogenous application of JA, we wanted to test their interaction with AM symbiosis in conditions where isoprenoids usually play a role in resistance to stress and in plant defence. Root colonization by AM fungi favoured the leaf production of essential isoprenoids rather than nonessential ones, especially under drought stress conditions or after JA application. The increased carbon demand brought on by AM fungi might thus influence not only the amount of carbon allocated to isoprenoids, but also the carbon partitioning between the different classes of isoprenoids, thus explaining the not previously shown decrease of root volatile isoprenoids in AM plants. We propose that since AM fungi are a nutrient source for the plant, other carbon sinks normally necessary to increase nutrient uptake can be avoided and therefore the plant can devote more resources to synthesize essential isoprenoids for plant growth.}, } @article {pmid22296522, year = {2012}, author = {Boleij, A and Tjalsma, H}, title = {Gut bacteria in health and disease: a survey on the interface between intestinal microbiology and colorectal cancer.}, journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society}, volume = {87}, number = {3}, pages = {701-730}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-185X.2012.00218.x}, pmid = {22296522}, issn = {1469-185X}, mesh = {Colorectal Neoplasms/*microbiology ; Diet ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/cytology/immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Mucus ; }, abstract = {A healthy human body contains at least tenfold more bacterial cells than human cells and the most abundant and diverse microbial community resides in the intestinal tract. Intestinal health is not only maintained by the human intestine itself and by dietary factors, but is also largely supported by this resident microbial community. Conversely, however, a large body of evidence supports a relationship between bacteria, bacterial activities and human colorectal cancer. Symbiosis in this multifaceted organ is thus crucial to maintain a healthy balance within the host-diet-microbiota triangle and accordingly, changes in any of these three factors may drive a healthy situation into a state of disease. In this review, the factors that sustain health or drive this complex intestinal system into dysbiosis are discussed. Emphasis is on the role of the intestinal microbiota and related mechanisms that can drive the initiation and progression of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). These mechanisms comprise the induction of pro-inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic pathways in epithelial cells as well as the production of (geno)toxins and the conversion of pro-carcinogenic dietary factors into carcinogens. A thorough understanding of these processes will provide leads for future research and may ultimately aid in development of new strategies for CRC diagnosis and prevention.}, } @article {pmid22294476, year = {2012}, author = {Bárzana, G and Aroca, R and Paz, JA and Chaumont, F and Martinez-Ballesta, MC and Carvajal, M and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis increases relative apoplastic water flow in roots of the host plant under both well-watered and drought stress conditions.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {109}, number = {5}, pages = {1009-1017}, pmid = {22294476}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Aquaporins/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lissamine Green Dyes ; Solanum lycopersicum/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; Plant Leaves/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; Plant Transpiration/physiology ; Sodium Azide/pharmacology ; Soil ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Water/*metabolism ; Zea mays/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The movement of water through mycorrhizal fungal tissues and between the fungus and roots is little understood. It has been demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis regulates root hydraulic properties, including root hydraulic conductivity. However, it is not clear whether this effect is due to a regulation of root aquaporins (cell-to-cell pathway) or to enhanced apoplastic water flow. Here we measured the relative contributions of the apoplastic versus the cell-to-cell pathway for water movement in roots of AM and non-AM plants.

METHODS: We used a combination of two experiments using the apoplastic tracer dye light green SF yellowish and sodium azide as an inhibitor of aquaporin activity. Plant water and physiological status, root hydraulic conductivity and apoplastic water flow were measured.

KEY RESULTS: Roots of AM plants enhanced significantly relative apoplastic water flow as compared with non-AM plants and this increase was evident under both well-watered and drought stress conditions. The presence of the AM fungus in the roots of the host plants was able to modulate the switching between apoplastic and cell-to-cell water transport pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: The ability of AM plants to switch between water transport pathways could allow a higher flexibility in the response of these plants to water shortage according to the demand from the shoot.}, } @article {pmid22293303, year = {2012}, author = {Plett, JM and Gibon, J and Kohler, A and Duffy, K and Hoegger, PJ and Velagapudi, R and Han, J and Kües, U and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F}, title = {Phylogenetic, genomic organization and expression analysis of hydrophobin genes in the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {199-209}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2012.01.002}, pmid = {22293303}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal ; Laccaria/*classification/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multigene Family ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Hydrophobins are morphogenetic, small secreted hydrophobic fungal proteins produced in response to changing development and environmental conditions. These proteins are important in the interaction between certain fungi and their hosts. In mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi several hydrophobins form a subclass of mycorrhizal-induced small secreted proteins that are likely to be critical in the formation of the symbiotic interface with host root cells. In this study, two genomes of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor strains S238N-H82 (from North America) and 81306 (from Europe) were surveyed to construct a comprehensive genome-wide inventory of hydrophobins and to explore their characteristics and roles during host colonization. The S238N-H82 L. bicolor hydrophobin gene family is composed of 12 genes while the 81306 strain encodes nine hydrophobins, all corresponding to class I hydrophobins. The three extra hydrophobin genes encoded by the S238N-H82 genome likely arose via gene duplication and are bordered by transposon rich regions. Expression profiles of the hydrophobin genes of L. bicolor varied greatly depending on life stage (e.g. free living mycelium vs. root colonization) and on the host root environment. We conclude from this study that the complex diversity and range of expression profiles of the Laccaria hydrophobin multi-gene family have likely been a selective advantage for this mutualist in colonizing a wide range of host plants.}, } @article {pmid22292528, year = {2012}, author = {Baz, M and Tran, D and Kettani-Halabi, M and Samri, SE and Jamjari, A and Biligui, B and Meimoun, P and El-Maarouf-Bouteau, H and Garmier, M and Saindrenan, P and Ennaji, MM and Barakate, M and Bouteau, F}, title = {Calcium- and ROS-mediated defence responses in BY2 tobacco cells by nonpathogenic Streptomyces sp.}, journal = {Journal of applied microbiology}, volume = {112}, number = {4}, pages = {782-792}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05248.x}, pmid = {22292528}, issn = {1365-2672}, mesh = {Apoptosis ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Pectobacterium/metabolism ; Pectobacterium carotovorum/metabolism ; Plant Cells/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Scopoletin/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Solanum tuberosum/metabolism ; Streptomyces/metabolism/pathogenicity ; Tobacco/cytology/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {AIMS: The early molecular events underlying the elicitation of plant defence reactions by Gram-positive bacteria are relatively unknown. In plants, calcium and reactive oxygen species are commonly involved as cellular messengers of a wide range of biotic stimuli from pathogenic to symbiotic bacteria. In the present work, we checked whether nonpathogenic Streptomyces sp. strains could induce early signalling events leading to defence responses in BY2 tobacco cell suspensions.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We have demonstrated that nonpathogenic Streptomyces sp. OE7 strain induced a cytosolic Ca(2+) increase and a biphasic oxidative burst in the upstream signalling events, leading to defence responses in BY2 tobacco cell suspensions. Streptomyces sp. OE7 also elicited delayed intracellular free scopoletin production and programmed cell death. In agreement with scopoletin production, OE7 induced accumulation of PAL transcripts and increased accumulation of transcripts of EREBP1 and AOX genes that are known to be regulated by the jasmonate/ethylene pathway. Transcript levels of PR1b and NIMIN2α, both salicylic acid pathway-linked genes, were not modified. Moreover, Streptomyces sp. OE7 culture filtrates could reduce Pectobacterium carotovorum- and Pectobacterium atrosepticum-induced death of BY2 cells and soft rot on potato slices.

CONCLUSIONS: New insights are thus provided into the interaction mechanisms between Streptomyces sp. and plants; Streptomyces sp. could be sensed by plant cells, and through cytosolic Ca(2+) changes and the generation of reactive oxygen species, defence responses were induced.

These induced defence responses appeared to participate in attenuating Pectobacterium-induced diseases in plants. Thus, Streptomyces sp. OE7 could be a biocontrol agent against Pectobacterium sp.}, } @article {pmid22292047, year = {2012}, author = {Tóth, K and Stratil, TF and Madsen, EB and Ye, J and Popp, C and Antolín-Llovera, M and Grossmann, C and Jensen, ON and Schüssler, A and Parniske, M and Ott, T}, title = {Functional domain analysis of the Remorin protein LjSYMREM1 in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e30817}, pmid = {22292047}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Carrier Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Speciation ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Protein Binding ; Protein Multimerization/genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Transfection ; }, abstract = {In legumes rhizobial infection during root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is controlled by a conserved set of receptor proteins and downstream components. MtSYMREM1, a protein of the Remorin family in Medicago truncatula, was shown to interact with at least three receptor-like kinases (RLKs) that are essential for RNS. Remorins are comprised of a conserved C-terminal domain and a variable N-terminal region that defines the six different Remorin groups. While both N- and C-terminal regions of Remorins belonging to the same phylogenetic group are similar to each other throughout the plant kingdom, the N-terminal domains of legume-specific group 2 Remorins show exceptional high degrees of sequence divergence suggesting evolutionary specialization of this protein within this clade. We therefore identified and characterized the MtSYMREM1 ortholog from Lotus japonicus (LjSYMREM1), a model legume that forms determinate root nodules. Here, we resolved its spatio-temporal regulation and showed that over-expression of LjSYMREM1 increases nodulation on transgenic roots. Using a structure-function approach we show that protein interactions including Remorin oligomerization are mainly mediated and stabilized by the Remorin C-terminal region with its coiled-coil domain while the RLK kinase domains transiently interact in vivo and phosphorylate a residue in the N-terminal region of the LjSYMREM1 protein in vitro. These data provide novel insights into the mechanism of this putative molecular scaffold protein and underline its importance during rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid22292021, year = {2012}, author = {Plantard, O and Bouju-Albert, A and Malard, MA and Hermouet, A and Capron, G and Verheyden, H}, title = {Detection of Wolbachia in the tick Ixodes ricinus is due to the presence of the hymenoptera endoparasitoid Ixodiphagus hookeri.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e30692}, pmid = {22292021}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/analysis/genetics ; Female ; Food Chain ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics/physiology ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Ixodes/*microbiology/*parasitology/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Tick Infestations/microbiology ; Wolbachia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {The identification of micro-organisms carried by ticks is an important issue for human and animal health. In addition to their role as pathogen vectors, ticks are also the hosts for symbiotic bacteria whose impact on tick biology is poorly known. Among these, the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis has already been reported associated with Ixodes ricinus and other tick species. However, the origins of Wolbachia in ticks and their consequences on tick biology (known to be very diverse in invertebrates, ranging from nutritional symbionts in nematodes to reproductive manipulators in insects) are unknown. Here we report that the endoparasitoid wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae)--strictly associated with ticks for their development--infested at almost 100% prevalence by a W. pipientis strain belonging to a Wolbachia supergroup that has already been reported as associated with other hymenopteran parasitoids. In a natural population of I. ricinus that suffers high parasitism rates due to I. hookeri, we used specific PCR primers for both hymenopteran and W. pipientis gene fragments to show that all unfed tick nymphs parasitized by I. hookeri also harbored Wolbachia, while unparasitized ticks were Wolbachia-free. We demonstrated experimentally that unfed nymphs obtained from larvae exposed to I. hookeri while gorging on their vertebrate host also harbor Wolbachia. We hypothesize that previous studies that have reported W. pipientis in ticks are due to the cryptic presence of the endoparasitoid wasp I. hookeri. This association has remained hidden until now because parasitoids within ticks cannot be detected until engorgement of the nymphs brings the wasp eggs out of diapause. Finally, we discuss the consequences of this finding for our understanding of the tick microbiome, and their possible role in horizontal gene transfer among pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22292008, year = {2012}, author = {Belda, E and Silva, FJ and Peretó, J and Moya, A}, title = {Metabolic networks of Sodalis glossinidius: a systems biology approach to reductive evolution.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e30652}, pmid = {22292008}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Computer Simulation ; Directed Molecular Evolution/*methods ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/*metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/metabolism/microbiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Phenotype ; Systems Biology/methods ; Tsetse Flies/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Genome reduction is a common evolutionary process affecting bacterial lineages that establish symbiotic or pathogenic associations with eukaryotic hosts. Such associations yield highly reduced genomes with greatly streamlined metabolic abilities shaped by the type of ecological association with the host. Sodalis glossinidius, the secondary endosymbiont of tsetse flies, represents one of the few complete genomes available of a bacterium at the initial stages of this process. In the present study, genome reduction is studied from a systems biology perspective through the reconstruction and functional analysis of genome-scale metabolic networks of S. glossinidius.

RESULTS: The functional profile of ancestral and extant metabolic networks sheds light on the evolutionary events underlying transition to a host-dependent lifestyle. Meanwhile, reductive evolution simulations on the extant metabolic network can predict possible future evolution of S. glossinidius in the context of genome reduction. Finally, knockout simulations in different metabolic systems reveal a gradual decrease in network robustness to different mutational events for bacterial endosymbionts at different stages of the symbiotic association.

CONCLUSIONS: Stoichiometric analysis reveals few gene inactivation events whose effects on the functionality of S. glossinidius metabolic systems are drastic enough to account for the ecological transition from a free-living to host-dependent lifestyle. The decrease in network robustness across different metabolic systems may be associated with the progressive integration in the more stable environment provided by the insect host. Finally, reductive evolution simulations reveal the strong influence that external conditions exert on the evolvability of metabolic systems.}, } @article {pmid22289769, year = {2012}, author = {Simpson, WR and Schmid, J and Singh, J and Faville, MJ and Johnson, RD}, title = {A morphological change in the fungal symbiont Neotyphodium lolii induces dwarfing in its host plant Lolium perenne.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {116}, number = {2}, pages = {234-240}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2011.11.006}, pmid = {22289769}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Lolium/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Neotyphodium/*growth & development/*metabolism ; New Zealand ; Phenotype ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The endophytic fungus Neotyphodium lolii forms symbiotic associations with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and infection is typically described as asymptomatic. Here we describe a naturally occurring New Zealand N. lolii isolate that can induce dwarfing of L. perenne and suppress floral meristem development in the dwarfed plants. Further to this we demonstrate that the observed host dwarfing correlates with a reversible morphological change in the endophyte that appears associated with colony age. Mycelium isolated from normally growing plants had a typical cottony appearance in culture whereas mycelium from dwarfed plants appeared mucoid. Cottony colonies could be induced to turn mucoid after prolonged incubation and seedlings inoculated with this mucoid mycelium formed dwarfed plants. Mucoid colonies on the other hand could be induced to form cottony colonies through additional further incubation and these did not induce dwarfing. The reversibility of colony morphology indicates that the mucoid dwarfing phenotype is not the result of mutation. Ten isolates from other locations in New Zealand could also undergo the reversible morphological changes in culture, induce dwarfing and had the same microsatellite genotype as the original isolate, indicating that a N. lolii genotype with the ability to dwarf host plants is common in New Zealand.}, } @article {pmid22289111, year = {2012}, author = {Lee, BR and Muneer, S and Jung, WJ and Avice, JC and Ourry, A and Kim, TH}, title = {Mycorrhizal colonization alleviates drought-induced oxidative damage and lignification in the leaves of drought-stressed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {145}, number = {3}, pages = {440-449}, doi = {10.1111/j.1399-3054.2012.01586.x}, pmid = {22289111}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Antioxidants/metabolism ; Catechol Oxidase/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Enzyme Activation ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lolium/metabolism/*microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; *Oxidative Stress ; Peroxidase/metabolism ; Phenol/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/*metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {To investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices on antioxidative activity and lignification under drought-stressed (DS) conditions, the enzyme activities, growth, lignin contents and some stress symptomatic parameters as affected by drought treatment were compared in AM colonized or non-colonized (non-AM) perennial ryegrass plants for 28 days. Drought significantly decreased leaf water potential (Ψ(w)), photosynthesis rate and biomass. The negative impact of drought on these parameters was much highly relived in AM plants compared to non-AM ones. Drought increased H2O2, lipid peroxidation, phenol and lignin levels, with significantly higher in non-AM relative to AM plants at day 28 after drought treatment. The enhanced activation of guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), coniferyl alcohol peroxidase (CPOX), syringaldazine peroxidase (SPOX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was closely related with the decrease in Ψ(w) in both AM and non-AM plants. GPOX, CPOX, SPOX and PPO highly activated with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation and lignin as the Ψ(w) decreased below -2.11 MPa in non-AM plants, while much less activated by maintaining Ψ(w) ≥-1.15 MPa in AM ones. These results indicate that AM symbiosis plays an integrative role in drought stress tolerance by alleviating oxidative damage and lignification, which in turn mitigate the reduction of forage growth and digestibility under DS conditions.}, } @article {pmid22288383, year = {2012}, author = {Moya, A and Ganot, P and Furla, P and Sabourault, C}, title = {The transcriptomic response to thermal stress is immediate, transient and potentiated by ultraviolet radiation in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {1158-1174}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05458.x}, pmid = {22288383}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Hot Temperature ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/*radiation effects ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; *Ultraviolet Rays ; }, abstract = {Among the environmental threats to coral reef health, temperature and ultraviolet increases have been proposed as major agents, although the relative contribution of each in the cnidarian/zooxanthellae symbiosis breakdown has been poorly addressed. We have investigated the transcriptomic response to thermal stress, with and without ultraviolet radiation (UVR), in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Using the Oligo2K A. viridis microarray, dedicated to genes potentially involved in the symbiosis interaction, we monitored the gene expression profiles after 1, 2 and 5 days of stresses that further lead to massive losses of zooxanthellae. Each stress showed a specific gene expression profile with very little overlap. We showed that the major response to thermal stress is immediate (24 h) but returns to the baseline gene expression profile after 2 days. UVR alone has little effect but potentiates thermal stress, as a second response at 5 days was observed when the two stresses were coupled. Several pathways were highlighted, such as mesoglea loosening, cell death and calcium homeostasis and described in more details. Finally, we showed that the dermatopontin gene family, potentially involved in collagen fibrillogenesis, issued from actinarian-specific duplication events, with one member preferentially expressed in the gastroderm and specifically responding to stress. Anemonia viridis EST sequences have been deposited into GenBank dbEST ([GenBank:FK719875–FK759813].}, } @article {pmid22288336, year = {2011}, author = {Perru, O}, title = {[Biological mutualism, concepts and models].}, journal = {History and philosophy of the life sciences}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {223-248}, pmid = {22288336}, issn = {0391-9714}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Phenomena ; *Food Chain ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Italy ; *Models, Biological ; Population Dynamics/*history ; *Symbiosis ; United States ; }, abstract = {Mutualism is a biological association for a mutual benefit between two different species. In this paper, firstly, we examine the history and signification of mutualism in relation to symbiosis. Then, we consider the link between concepts and models of mutualism. Models of mutualism depend on different concepts we use: If mutualism is situated at populations' level, it will be expressed by Lotka-Volterra models, concerning exclusively populations' size. If mutualism is considered as a resources' exchange or a biological market increasing the fitness of these organisms, it will be described at an individual level by a cost-benefit model. Our analysis will be limited to the history and epistemology of Lotka-Volterra models and we hypothesize that these models are adapted at first to translate dynamic evolutions of mutualism. They render stability or variations of size and assume that there are clear distinctions and a state of equilibrium between populations of different species. Italian mathematician Vito Volterra demonstrated that biological associations consist in a constant relation between some species. In 1931 and 1935, Volterra described the general form of antagonistic or mutualistic biological associations by the same differential equations. We recognize that these equations have been more used to model competition or prey-predator interactions, but a simple sign change allows describing mutualism. The epistemological problem is the following: Volterra's equations help us to conceptualize a global phenomenon. However, mutualistic interactions may have stronger effects away from equilibrium and these effects may be better understood at individual level. We conclude that, between 1985 and 2000, some researchers carried on working and converting Lotka-Volterra models but this description appeared as insufficient. So, other researchers adopted an economical viewpoint, considering mutualism as a biological market.}, } @article {pmid22287890, year = {2011}, author = {Scheffrahn, RH}, title = {Distribution, diversity, mesonotal morphology, gallery architecture, and queen physogastry of the termite genus Calcaritermes (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae).}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {}, number = {148}, pages = {41-53}, pmid = {22287890}, issn = {1313-2970}, abstract = {An updated New World distribution of the genus Calcaritermes is given along with photographs and a key to the New World species outside Mexico. Calcaritermes recessifrons is found to be a junior synonym of Calcaritermes nigriceps. Except for Calcaritermes temnocephalus, pseudergates of the other seven studied Calcaritermes species possess a mesonotal rasp. The rasps suggest a role in propagation of microbes on gallery surfaces and microbial infusion below the wood surface. Calcaritermes temoncephalus is shown to have an unusually large physogastric queens for a kalotermitid and several species produce large eggs.}, } @article {pmid22286084, year = {2012}, author = {Birhane, E and Sterck, FJ and Fetene, M and Bongers, F and Kuyper, TW}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance photosynthesis, water use efficiency, and growth of frankincense seedlings under pulsed water availability conditions.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {169}, number = {4}, pages = {895-904}, pmid = {22286084}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {Biomass ; Boswellia/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves/physiology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Stomata/physiology ; Plant Transpiration ; Potassium/metabolism ; Seedlings/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {Under drought conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi alter water relationships of plants and improve their resistance to drought. In a factorial greenhouse experiment, we tested the effects of the AM symbiosis and precipitation regime on the performance (growth, gas exchange, nutrient status and mycorrhizal responsiveness) of Boswellia papyrifera seedlings. A continuous precipitation regime was imitated by continuous watering of plants to field capacity every other day during 4 months, and irregular precipitation by pulsed watering of plants where watering was switched every 15 days during these 4 months, with 15 days of watering followed by 15 days without watering. There were significantly higher levels of AM colonization under irregular precipitation regime than under continuous precipitation. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher biomass than control seedlings. Stomatal conductance and phosphorus mass fraction in shoot and root were also significantly higher for mycorrhizal seedlings. Mycorrhizal seedlings under irregular watering had the highest biomass. Both a larger leaf area and higher assimilation rates contributed to higher biomass. Under irregular watering, the water use efficiency increased in non-mycorrhizal seedlings through a reduction in transpiration, while in mycorrhizal seedlings irregular watering increased transpiration. Because assimilation rates increased even more, mycorrhizal seedlings achieved an even higher water use efficiency. Boswellia seedlings allocated almost all carbon to the storage root. Boswellia seedlings had higher mass fractions of N, P, and K in roots than in shoots. Irregular precipitation conditions apparently benefit Boswellia seedlings when they are mycorrhizal. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00442-012-2258-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.}, } @article {pmid22283876, year = {2012}, author = {Boukhatem, ZF and Domergue, O and Bekki, A and Merabet, C and Sekkour, S and Bouazza, F and Duponnois, R and de Lajudie, P and Galiana, A}, title = {Symbiotic characterization and diversity of rhizobia associated with native and introduced acacias in arid and semi-arid regions in Algeria.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {3}, pages = {534-547}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01315.x}, pmid = {22283876}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Acacia/*microbiology ; Algeria ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Desert Climate ; Hot Temperature ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Ochrobactrum/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Salinity ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The diversity of rhizobia associated with introduced and native Acacia species in Algeria was investigated from soil samples collected across seven districts distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. The in vitro tolerances of rhizobial strains to NaCl and high temperature in pure culture varied greatly regardless of their geographical and host plant origins but were not correlated with the corresponding edaphoclimatic characteristics of the sampling sites, as clearly demonstrated by principal component analysis. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the 48 new strains isolated were ranked into 10 phylogenetic groups representing five bacterial genera, namely, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ochrobactrum. Acacia saligna, an introduced species, appeared as the most promiscuous host because it was efficiently nodulated with the widest diversity of rhizobia taxa including both fast-growing ones, Rhizobium, Ensifer, and Mesorhizobium, and slow-growing Bradyrhizobium. The five other Acacia species studied were associated with fast-growing bacterial taxa exclusively. No difference in efficiency was found between bacterial taxa isolated from a given Acacia species. The tolerances of strains to salinity and temperature remains to be tested in symbiosis with their host plants to select the most adapted Acacia sp.-LNB taxa associations for further revegetation programs.}, } @article {pmid22282627, year = {2011}, author = {Mandal, SM and Gouri, SS and De, D and Das, BK and Mondal, KC and Pati, BR}, title = {Effect of Arsenic on Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation of Blackgram (Vigna mungo).}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {44-47}, pmid = {22282627}, issn = {0973-7715}, abstract = {Rhizobium-legume symbiotic interaction is an efficient model system for soil remediation and reclamation. We earlier isolated an arsenic (As) (2.8 mM arsenate) tolerant and symbiotically effective Rhizobium strain, VMA301 from Vigna mungo and in this study we further characterized its efficacy for arsenic removal from the soil and its nitrogen fixation capacity. Although nodule formation is delayed in plants with As-treated composite when the inoculum was prepared without arsenic in culture medium, whereas it attains the significant number of nodules compare to plant grown in As-free soil when the inoculum was prepared with arsenic supplemented medium. Arsenic accumulation was higher in roots than root nodules. Nitrogenase activity is reduced to almost 2 fold in plants with As-treated soil but not abolished. These results suggest that this strain, VMA301, has been able to establish an effective symbiotic interaction in V. mungo in As-contaminated soil and can perform dual role of arsenic bioremediation as well as soil nitrogen improvement.}, } @article {pmid22282626, year = {2011}, author = {Subramanian, KS and Virgine Tenshia, JS and Jayalakshmi, K and Ramachandran, V}, title = {Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (Glomus intraradices) Fungus Inoculated and Non-inoculated Maize Plants Under Zinc Deficiency.}, journal = {Indian journal of microbiology}, volume = {51}, number = {1}, pages = {37-43}, pmid = {22282626}, issn = {0973-7715}, abstract = {A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the changes in antioxidant enzyme activities of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith inoculated (M+) and non-inoculated (M-) maize (Zea mays L.) plants (variety COHM5) under varying levels of zinc (0, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 mg kg(-1)). Roots and shoots sampled at 45 days after sowing (DAS) were estimated for its antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) IAA oxidase, polyphenol oxidase, acid phosphatase and nutritional status especially P and Zn concentrations. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased all the four antioxidant enzymes in both roots and shoots at 45 DAS regardless of Zn levels. All enzyme activities except SOD increased progressively with increasing levels of Zn under M+ and M- conditions. The SOD activity got decreased in roots and shoots at 2.5 and 3.75 mg Zn kg(-1). Acid phosphatase activity in M+ roots and shoots were higher in all levels of Zn but the values decreased with increasing levels of Zn particularly in roots. Mycorrhizal fungus inoculated plants had higher P and Zn concentrations in both stages in comparison to non-inoculated plants. Our overall data suggest that mycorrhizal symbiosis plays a vital role in enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes and nutritional status that enables the host plant to sustain zinc deficient conditions.}, } @article {pmid22282515, year = {2012}, author = {Chen, WM and Prell, J and James, EK and Sheu, DS and Sheu, SY}, title = {Effect of phosphoglycerate mutase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency on symbiotic Burkholderia phymatum.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {158}, number = {Pt 4}, pages = {1127-1136}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.055095-0}, pmid = {22282515}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Burkholderia/*enzymology/genetics ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fructose-Bisphosphatase/genetics/*metabolism ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Mutagenesis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphoglycerate Mutase/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Burkholderia phymatum STM815 is a β-rhizobial strain that can effectively nodulate several species of the large legume genus Mimosa. Two Tn5-induced mutants of this strain, KM16-22 and KM51, failed to form root nodules on Mimosa pudica, but still caused root hair deformation, which is one of the early steps of rhizobial infection. Both mutants grew well in a complex medium. However, KM16-22 could not grow on minimal medium unless a sugar and a metabolic intermediate such as pyruvate were provided, and KM51 also could not grow on minimal medium unless a sugar was added. The Tn5-interrupted genes of the mutants showed strong homologies to pgm, which encodes 2,3-biphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase (dPGM), and fbp, which encodes fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase). Both enzymes are known to be involved in obligate steps in carbohydrate metabolism. Enzyme assays confirmed that KM16-22 and KM51 had indeed lost dPGM and FBPase activity, respectively, whilst the activities of these enzymes were expressed normally in both free-living bacteria and symbiotic bacteroids of the parental strain STM815. Both mutants recovered their enzyme activity after the introduction of wild-type pgm or fbp genes, were subsequently able to use carbohydrate as a carbon source, and were able to form root nodules on M. pudica and to fix nitrogen as efficiently as the parental strain. We conclude that the enzymes dPGM and FBPase are essential for the formation of a symbiosis with the host plant.}, } @article {pmid22281745, year = {2012}, author = {Brzezinski, K and Dauter, Z and Jaskolski, M}, title = {Structures of NodZ α1,6-fucosyltransferase in complex with GDP and GDP-fucose.}, journal = {Acta crystallographica. Section D, Biological crystallography}, volume = {68}, number = {Pt 2}, pages = {160-168}, pmid = {22281745}, issn = {1399-0047}, support = {P41 RR015301/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR-15301/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN2612008000001E//PHS HHS/United States ; /ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN261200800001C/RC/CCR NIH HHS/United States ; HHSN261200800001E/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/*enzymology/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Fucosyltransferases/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Guanosine Diphosphate/*metabolism ; Guanosine Diphosphate Fucose/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Sequence Alignment ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial NodZ α1,6-fucosyltransferase (α1,6-FucT) catalyzes the transfer of the fucose (Fuc) moiety from guanosine 5'-diphosphate-β-L-fucose to the reducing end of the chitin oligosaccharide core during Nod-factor (NF) biosynthesis. NF is a key signalling molecule required for successful symbiosis with a legume host for atmospheric nitrogen fixation. To date, only two α1,6-FucT structures have been determined, both without any donor or acceptor molecule that could highlight the structural background of the catalytic mechanism. Here, the first crystal structures of α1,6-FucT in complex with its substrate GDP-Fuc and with GDP, which is a byproduct of the enzymatic reaction, are presented. The crystal of the complex with GDP-Fuc was obtained through soaking of native NodZ crystals with the ligand and its structure has been determined at 2.35 Å resolution. The fucose residue is exposed to solvent and is disordered. The enzyme-product complex crystal was obtained by cocrystallization with GDP and an acceptor molecule, penta-N-acetyl-L-glucosamine (penta-NAG). The structure has been determined at 1.98 Å resolution, showing that only the GDP molecule is present in the complex. In both structures the ligands are located in a cleft formed between the two domains of NodZ and extend towards the C-terminal domain, but their conformations differ significantly. The structures revealed that residues in three regions of the C-terminal domain, which are conserved among α1,2-, α1,6- and protein O-fucosyltransferases, are involved in interactions with the sugar-donor molecule. There is also an interaction with the side chain of Tyr45 in the N-terminal domain, which is very unusual for a GT-B-type glycosyltransferase. Only minor conformational changes of the protein backbone are observed upon ligand binding. The only exception is a movement of the loop located between strand βC2 and helix αC3. In addition, there is a shift of the αC3 helix itself upon GDP-Fuc binding.}, } @article {pmid22278256, year = {2012}, author = {Zuroff, TR and Curtis, WR}, title = {Developing symbiotic consortia for lignocellulosic biofuel production.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {93}, number = {4}, pages = {1423-1435}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-011-3762-9}, pmid = {22278256}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Biofuels/*microbiology ; Biotechnology/*methods ; Lignin/*metabolism ; Microbial Consortia/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The search for petroleum alternatives has motivated intense research into biological breakdown of lignocellulose to produce liquid fuels such as ethanol. Degradation of lignocellulose for biofuel production is a difficult process which is limited by, among other factors, the recalcitrance of lignocellulose and biological toxicity of the products. Consolidated bioprocessing has been suggested as an efficient and economical method of producing low value products from lignocellulose; however, it is not clear whether this would be accomplished more efficiently with a single organism or community of organisms. This review highlights examples of mixtures of microbes in the context of conceptual models for developing symbiotic consortia for biofuel production from lignocellulose. Engineering a symbiosis within consortia is a putative means of improving both process efficiency and stability relative to monoculture. Because microbes often interact and exist attached to surfaces, quorum sensing and biofilm formation are also discussed in terms of consortia development and stability. An engineered, symbiotic culture of multiple organisms may be a means of assembling a novel combination of metabolic capabilities that can efficiently produce biofuel from lignocellulose.}, } @article {pmid22277337, year = {2012}, author = {Debiane, D and Calonne, M and Fontaine, J and Laruelle, F and Grandmougin-Ferjani, A and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A}, title = {Benzo[a]pyrene induced lipid changes in the monoxenic arbuscular mycorrhizal chicory roots.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {209-210}, number = {}, pages = {18-26}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.12.044}, pmid = {22277337}, issn = {1873-3336}, mesh = {Benzo(a)pyrene/*pharmacology ; *Chicory ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*isolation & purification ; Plant Roots/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization may be one of the means that protects plants and allows them to thrive on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-polluted soils including the carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P). To understand the mechanisms involved in the AM symbiosis tolerance to B[a]P toxicity, the purpose of this study was to compare the lipid compositions as well as the contents between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal chicory root cultures grown in vitro under B[a]P pollution. Firstly, B[a]P induced significant decreases of the Glomalean lipid markers: C16:1ω5 and 24-methyl/methylene sterol amounts in AM roots indicating a reduced AM fungal development inside the roots. Secondly, whereas increases in fatty acid amounts after B[a]P application were measured in non-mycorrhizal roots, no changes were shown in mycorrhizal roots. On the other hand, while, after treatment with B[a]P, the total phospholipid contents were unmodified in non-mycorrhizal roots in comparison with the control, drastic reductions were observed in mycorrhizal roots, mainly owing to decreases in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Moreover, B[a]P affected AM root sterols by reducing stigmasterol. In conclusion, the findings presented in this paper have highlighted, for the first time, significant changes in the AM root lipid metabolism under B[a]P pollution and have culminated on their role in the defense/protection mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid22276952, year = {2012}, author = {Anderson, KE and Russell, JA and Moreau, CS and Kautz, S and Sullam, KE and Hu, Y and Basinger, U and Mott, BM and Buck, N and Wheeler, DE}, title = {Highly similar microbial communities are shared among related and trophically similar ant species.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {2282-2296}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05464.x}, pmid = {22276952}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {5K-12-GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Biodiversity ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Herbivory ; *Metagenome ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ants dominate many terrestrial ecosystems, yet we know little about their nutritional physiology and ecology. While traditionally viewed as predators and scavengers, recent isotopic studies revealed that many dominant ant species are functional herbivores. As with other insects with nitrogen-poor diets, it is hypothesized that these ants rely on symbiotic bacteria for nutritional supplementation. In this study, we used cloning and 16S sequencing to further characterize the bacterial flora of several herbivorous ants, while also examining the beta diversity of bacterial communities within and between ant species from different trophic levels. Through estimating phylogenetic overlap between these communities, we tested the hypothesis that ecologically or phylogenetically similar groups of ants harbor similar microbial flora. Our findings reveal: (i) clear differences in bacterial communities harbored by predatory and herbivorous ants; (ii) notable similarities among communities from distantly related herbivorous ants and (iii) similar communities shared by different predatory army ant species. Focusing on one herbivorous ant tribe, the Cephalotini, we detected five major bacterial taxa that likely represent the core microbiota. Metabolic functions of bacterial relatives suggest that these microbes may play roles in fixing, recycling, or upgrading nitrogen. Overall, our findings reveal that similar microbial communities are harbored by ants from similar trophic niches and, to a greater extent, by related ants from the same colonies, species, genera, and tribes. These trends hint at coevolved histories between ants and microbes, suggesting new possibilities for roles of bacteria in the evolution of both herbivores and carnivores from the ant family Formicidae.}, } @article {pmid22276911, year = {2012}, author = {Nagase, T and Mugo, AN and Chu, HN and Yoshikane, Y and Ohnishi, K and Yagi, T}, title = {The mll6786 gene encodes a repressor protein controlling the degradation pathway for vitamin B6 in Mesorhizobium loti.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {329}, number = {2}, pages = {116-122}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02510.x}, pmid = {22276911}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Pyridoxine/genetics/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pyridoxine is converted to succinic semialdehyde, acetate, ammonia and CO(2) through the actions of eight enzymes. The genes encoding the enzymes occur as a cluster on the chromosomal DNA of Mesorhizobium loti, a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium. Here, it was found that disruption of the mll6786 gene, which is located between the genes encoding the first and eighth enzymes of the pathway, caused constitutive expression of the eight enzymes. The protein encoded by the mll6786 gene is a member of the GntR family and is designated as PyrR. PyrR comprises 223 amino acid residues and is a dimeric protein with a subunit molecular mass of 25 kDa. The purified PyrR with a C-terminal His(6) -tag could bind to an intergenic 67-bp DNA region, which contains a palindrome sequence and a deduced promoter sequence, between the mll6786 and mlr6787 genes, encoding PyrR and AAMS amidohydrolase, respectively.}, } @article {pmid22276533, year = {2012}, author = {Brucker, RM and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {The roles of host evolutionary relationships (genus: Nasonia) and development in structuring microbial communities.}, journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution}, volume = {66}, number = {2}, pages = {349-362}, doi = {10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01454.x}, pmid = {22276533}, issn = {1558-5646}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Metagenome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Wasps/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The comparative structure of bacterial communities among closely related host species remains relatively unexplored. For instance, as speciation events progress from incipient to complete stages, does divergence in the composition of the species' microbial communities parallel the divergence of host nuclear genes? To address this question, we used the recently diverged species of the parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia to test whether the evolutionary relationships of their bacterial microbiotas recapitulate the Nasonia phylogenetic history. We also assessed microbial diversity in Nasonia at different stages of development to determine the role that host age plays in microbiota structure. The results indicate that all three species of Nasonia share simple larval microbiotas dominated by the γ-proteobacteria class; however, bacterial species diversity increases as Nasonia develop into pupae and adults. Finally, under identical environmental conditions, the relationships of the microbial communities reflect the phylogeny of the Nasonia host species at multiple developmental stages, which suggests that the structure of an animal's microbial community is closely allied with divergence of host genes. These findings highlight the importance of host evolutionary relationships on microbiota composition and have broad implications for future studies of microbial symbiosis and animal speciation.}, } @article {pmid22276131, year = {2012}, author = {Hartmann, S and Helm, C and Nickel, B and Meyer, M and Struck, TH and Tiedemann, R and Selbig, J and Bleidorn, C}, title = {Exploiting gene families for phylogenomic analysis of myzostomid transcriptome data.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e29843}, pmid = {22276131}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Annelida/classification/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Invertebrates/classification/*genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Platyhelminths/classification/genetics ; Transcriptome/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: In trying to understand the evolutionary relationships of organisms, the current flood of sequence data offers great opportunities, but also reveals new challenges with regard to data quality, the selection of data for subsequent analysis, and the automation of steps that were once done manually for single-gene analyses. Even though genome or transcriptome data is available for representatives of most bilaterian phyla, some enigmatic taxa still have an uncertain position in the animal tree of life. This is especially true for myzostomids, a group of symbiotic (or parasitic) protostomes that are either placed with annelids or flatworms.

METHODOLOGY: Based on similarity criteria, Illumina-based transcriptome sequences of one myzostomid were compared to protein sequences of one additional myzostomid and 29 reference metazoa and clustered into gene families. These families were then used to investigate the phylogenetic position of Myzostomida using different approaches: Alignments of 989 sequence families were concatenated, and the resulting superalignment was analyzed under a Maximum Likelihood criterion. We also used all 1,878 gene trees with at least one myzostomid sequence for a supertree approach: the individual gene trees were computed and then reconciled into a species tree using gene tree parsimony.

CONCLUSIONS: Superalignments require strictly orthologous genes, and both the gene selection and the widely varying amount of data available for different taxa in our dataset may cause anomalous placements and low bootstrap support. In contrast, gene tree parsimony is designed to accommodate multilocus gene families and therefore allows a much more comprehensive data set to be analyzed. Results of this supertree approach showed a well-resolved phylogeny, in which myzostomids were part of the annelid radiation, and major bilaterian taxa were found to be monophyletic.}, } @article {pmid22274829, year = {2011}, author = {Nardini, CB and Di Salvo, LP and García de Salamone, IE}, title = {[Arbuscular mycorrhiza: symbiotic associations and environmental quality indicators in extensive crop-systems].}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {43}, number = {4}, pages = {311}, doi = {10.1590/S0325-75412011000400011}, pmid = {22274829}, issn = {0325-7541}, mesh = {Crops, Agricultural/*microbiology ; *Environment ; Hyphae/ultrastructure ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Triticum/microbiology ; }, } @article {pmid22272344, year = {2012}, author = {Aratake, S and Tomura, T and Saitoh, S and Yokokura, R and Kawanishi, Y and Shinjo, R and Reimer, JD and Tanaka, J and Maekawa, H}, title = {Soft coral Sarcophyton (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia) species diversity and chemotypes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e30410}, pmid = {22272344}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/classification/*genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/classification/*genetics ; Diterpenes/chemistry/*metabolism ; Genetic Variation ; Japan ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Research on the soft coral genus Sarcophyton extends over a wide range of fields, including marine natural products and the isolation of a number of cembranoid diterpenes. However, it is still unknown how soft corals produce this diverse array of metabolites, and the relationship between soft coral diversity and cembranoid diterpene production is not clear. In order to understand this relationship, we examined Sarcophyton specimens from Okinawa, Japan, by utilizing three methods: morphological examination of sclerites, chemotype identification, and phylogenetic examination of both Sarcophyton (utilizing mitochondrial protein-coding genes MutS homolog: msh1) and their endosymbiotic Symbiodinium spp. (utilizing nuclear internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA: ITS- rDNA). Chemotypes, molecular phylogenetic clades, and sclerites of Sarcophyton trocheliophorum specimens formed a clear and distinct group, but the relationships between chemotypes, molecular phylogenetic clade types and sclerites of the most common species, Sarcophyton glaucum, was not clear. S. glaucum was divided into four clades. A characteristic chemotype was observed within one phylogenetic clade of S. glaucum. Identities of symbiotic algae Symbiodinium spp. had no apparent relation to chemotypes of Sarcophyton spp. This study demonstrates that the complex results observed for S. glaucum are due to the incomplete and complex taxonomy of this species group. Our novel method of identification should help contribute to classification and taxonomic reassessment of this diverse soft coral genus.}, } @article {pmid22269239, year = {2011}, author = {Jawale, BA and Bendgude, V and Husain, N and Thosar, N and Tandon, P}, title = {Soft skill appraisal for dentistry: a tool for positive practice management.}, journal = {The journal of contemporary dental practice}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {475-478}, doi = {10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1079}, pmid = {22269239}, issn = {1526-3711}, mesh = {Attitude of Health Personnel ; Clinical Competence ; Communication ; Dental Staff/organization & administration ; Dentists/*psychology ; *Emotional Intelligence ; Financial Management ; Goals ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Interprofessional Relations ; Leadership ; Motivation ; Organizational Objectives ; Personality ; Practice Management, Dental/*organization & administration ; Self Concept ; Self Efficacy ; Staff Development ; Time Management ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Soft skills adoption is a learning experience for every practitioner and every academician. Author has expressed his opinion for success through educational and real values of soft skill. Soft skills behavior of individual and institution help in achieving desirable goals in general and specialty practices. Author also focused on some realistic soft skill methods for improvisation of practices for all doctor.

CONCLUSION: These skills indulge positive energy in human relationship for working in symbiosis and explore infinite capabilities at institutional and doctoral level. Here, some optimistic suggestions are given for improving dental practices and academic fulfillments.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These soft skills help to organize, plan and manage, and track changes during the course of the growing dental practices. However, understanding of the soft skills in practice management, its simplicity and complexity and also, its contributing factors, helps practitioners to understand the dynamic, social and complex contexts of practices. It is really helpful to all practitioners to grow their practices using soft skills.}, } @article {pmid22268711, year = {2012}, author = {Liu, X and Wei, S and Wang, F and James, EK and Guo, X and Zagar, C and Xia, LG and Dong, X and Wang, YP}, title = {Burkholderia and Cupriavidus spp. are the preferred symbionts of Mimosa spp. in southern China.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {80}, number = {2}, pages = {417-426}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01310.x}, pmid = {22268711}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; China ; Cupriavidus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Introduced Species ; Mimosa/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Taiwan ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia were isolated from invasive Mimosa spp. (M. diplotricha and M. pudica) in Dehong district of the province of Yunnan in subtropical southern China. Almost all of the 98 isolates were β-rhizobia in the genera Burkholderia and Cupriavidus. These strains were analysed for their distribution characteristics together with strains from a previous study from Sishuangbanna. The proportion of nodules containing each β-rhizobial genus varied between Mimosa species, with Cupriavidus being predominant in M. diplotricha nodules (63.3% compared to 36.7% occupation with Burkholderia), but with M. pudica showing a slight preference for Burkholderia over Cupriavidus, with them occupying 56.5% and 43.5% of nodules, respectively. The symbiosis-essential genes nodA and nifH were present in all the Burkholderia and Cupriavidus strains tested, and their phylogenies indicated that these Mimosa symbionts share symbiotic genes with native South American rhizobia. The evolutionary discrepancies among 16S rRNA genes, nodA and nifH of Mimosa spp. symbionts, suggests that the nod and nif genes of β-rhizobia evolved independently.}, } @article {pmid22267660, year = {2012}, author = {Ortiz-Marquez, JC and Do Nascimento, M and Dublan, Mde L and Curatti, L}, title = {Association with an ammonium-excreting bacterium allows diazotrophic culture of oil-rich eukaryotic microalgae.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {7}, pages = {2345-2352}, pmid = {22267660}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Azotobacter/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Biofuels ; Biomass ; Biotechnology/methods ; Chlorella/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Culture Media ; Fresh Water/microbiology ; Gene Deletion ; Microalgae/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Mutation ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/genetics ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Scenedesmus/genetics/*growth & development/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Concerns regarding the depletion of the world's reserves of oil and global climate change have promoted an intensification of research and development toward the production of biofuels and other alternative sources of energy during the last years. There is currently much interest in developing the technology for third-generation biofuels from microalgal biomass mainly because of its potential for high yields and reduced land use changes in comparison with biofuels derived from plant feedstocks. Regardless of the nature of the feedstock, the use of fertilizers, especially nitrogen, entails a potential economic and environmental drawback for the sustainability of biofuel production. In this work, we have studied the possibility of nitrogen biofertilization by diazotrophic bacteria applied to cultured microalgae as a promising feedstock for next-generation biofuels. We have obtained an Azotobacter vinelandii mutant strain that accumulates several times more ammonium in culture medium than wild-type cells. The ammonium excreted by the mutant cells is bioavailable to promote the growth of nondiazotrophic microalgae. Moreover, this synthetic symbiosis was able to produce an oil-rich microalgal biomass using both carbon and nitrogen from the air. This work provides a proof of concept that artificial symbiosis may be considered an alternative strategy for the low-N-intensive cultivation of microalgae for the sustainable production of next-generation biofuels and other bioproducts.}, } @article {pmid22266843, year = {2012}, author = {Lamouchi, M and Jeanneau, E and Pillonnet, A and Brioude, A and Martini, M and Stéphan, O and Meganem, F and Novitchi, G and Luneau, D and Desroches, C}, title = {Tetranuclear manganese(II) complexes of sulfonylcalix[4]arene macrocycles: synthesis, structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties.}, journal = {Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)}, volume = {41}, number = {9}, pages = {2707-2713}, doi = {10.1039/c2dt11786j}, pmid = {22266843}, issn = {1477-9234}, abstract = {Two tetranuclear manganese(II) complexes {K(+)[Mn(4)(ThiaSO(2))(2)(OH)](-)} (1) and {K(+)[Mn(4)(ThiaSO(2))(2)(F)](-)} (2) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions in methanol with p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene (ThiaSO(2)). For both complexes, the structure has been established from single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The two complexes are best described as manganese squares sandwiched between two thiacalixarene macrocycles. In both complexes, in the center of the square formed by the four manganese(II) atoms, the unexpected presence of μ(4)-OH(-) or μ(4)-F(-) gives a negative charge to the cluster. The two tetranuclear complexes exhibit strong orange luminescence behavior resulting from the symbiosis between the ThiaSO(2) and the Mn(2+). Despite similar chemical formulation, (1) and (2) present difference in emission intensity and lifetime τ.}, } @article {pmid22265597, year = {2012}, author = {Aserse, AA and Räsänen, LA and Assefa, F and Hailemariam, A and Lindström, K}, title = {Phylogeny and genetic diversity of native rhizobia nodulating common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Ethiopia.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {120-131}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2011.11.005}, pmid = {22265597}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Ethiopia ; Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis/genetics ; Rec A Recombinases/genetics ; Rhizobiaceae/*classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Rhizosphere ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {The diversity and phylogeny of 32 rhizobial strains isolated from nodules of common bean plants grown on 30 sites in Ethiopia were examined using AFLP fingerprinting and MLSA. Based on cluster analysis of AFLP fingerprints, test strains were grouped into six genomic clusters and six single positions. In a tree built from concatenated sequences of recA, glnII, rpoB and partial 16S rRNA genes, the strains were distributed into seven monophyletic groups. The strains in the groups B, D, E, G1 and G2 could be classified as Rhizobium phaseoli, R. etli, R. giardinii, Agrobacterium tumefaciens complex and A. radiobacter, respectively, whereas the strains in group C appeared to represent a novel species. R. phaseoli, R. etli, and the novel group were the major bean nodulating rhizobia in Ethiopia. The strains in group A were linked to R. leguminosarum species lineages but not resolved. Based on recA, rpoB and 16S rRNA genes sequences analysis, a single test strain was assigned as R. leucaenae. In the nodC tree the strains belonging to the major nodulating groups were clustered into two closely linked clades. They also had almost identical nifH gene sequences. The phylogenies of nodC and nifH genes of the strains belonging to R. leguminosarum, R. phaseoli, R. etli and the putative new species (collectively called R. leguminosarum species complex) were not consistent with the housekeeping genes, suggesting symbiotic genes have a common origin which is different from the core genome of the species and indicative of horizontal gene transfer among these rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid22253915, year = {2012}, author = {Hoogenboom, MO and Campbell, DA and Beraud, E and Dezeeuw, K and Ferrier-Pagès, C}, title = {Effects of light, food availability and temperature stress on the function of photosystem II and photosystem I of coral symbionts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e30167}, pmid = {22253915}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aerobiosis/radiation effects ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology/radiation effects ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Electron Transport/radiation effects ; Food ; *Light ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Photosystem I Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*metabolism ; Principal Component Analysis ; Stress, Physiological/*radiation effects ; Symbiosis/*radiation effects ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Reef corals are heterotrophic coelenterates that achieve high productivity through their photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts. Excessive seawater temperature destabilises this symbiosis and causes corals to "bleach," lowering their photosynthetic capacity. Bleaching poses a serious threat to the persistence of coral reefs on a global scale. Despite expanding research on the causes of bleaching, the mechanisms remain a subject of debate.

This study determined how light and food availability modulate the effects of temperature stress on photosynthesis in two reef coral species. We quantified the activities of Photosystem II, Photosystem I and whole chain electron transport under combinations of normal and stressful growth temperatures, moderate and high light levels and the presence or absence of feeding of the coral hosts. Our results show that PS1 function is comparatively robust against temperature stress in both species, whereas PS2 and whole chain electron transport are susceptible to temperature stress. In the symbiotic dinoflagellates of Stylophora pistillata the contents of chlorophyll and major photosynthetic complexes were primarily affected by food availability. In Turbinaria reniformis growth temperature was the dominant influence on the contents of the photosynthetic complexes. In both species feeding the host significantly protected photosynthetic function from high temperature stress.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings support the photoinhibition model of coral bleaching and demonstrate that PS1 is not a major site for thermal damage during bleaching events. Feeding mitigates bleaching in two scleractinian corals, so that reef responses to temperature stresses will likely be influenced by the coinciding availabilities of prey for the host.}, } @article {pmid22253834, year = {2012}, author = {Andrew, M and Barua, R and Short, SM and Kohn, LM}, title = {Evidence for a common toolbox based on necrotrophy in a fungal lineage spanning necrotrophs, biotrophs, endophytes, host generalists and specialists.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e29943}, pmid = {22253834}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/microbiology ; Endophytes/*genetics ; Fungi/enzymology/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Genetic Loci/genetics ; Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Likelihood Functions ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoses/microbiology ; Oxalic Acid/metabolism ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Selection, Genetic ; Time Factors ; Virulence/genetics ; }, abstract = {The Sclerotiniaceae (Ascomycotina, Leotiomycetes) is a relatively recently evolved lineage of necrotrophic host generalists, and necrotrophic or biotrophic host specialists, some latent or symptomless. We hypothesized that they inherited a basic toolbox of genes for plant symbiosis from their common ancestor. Maintenance and evolutionary diversification of symbiosis could require selection on toolbox genes or on timing and magnitude of gene expression. The genes studied were chosen because their products have been previously investigated as pathogenicity factors in the Sclerotiniaceae. They encode proteins associated with cell wall degradation: acid protease 1 (acp1), aspartyl protease (asps), and polygalacturonases (pg1, pg3, pg5, pg6), and the oxalic acid (OA) pathway: a zinc finger transcription factor (pac1), and oxaloacetate acetylhydrolase (oah), catalyst in OA production, essential for full symptom production in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Site-specific likelihood analyses provided evidence for purifying selection in all 8 pathogenicity-related genes. Consistent with an evolutionary arms race model, positive selection was detected in 5 of 8 genes. Only generalists produced large, proliferating disease lesions on excised Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and oxalic acid by 72 hours in vitro. In planta expression of oah was 10-300 times greater among the necrotrophic host generalists than necrotrophic and biotrophic host specialists; pac1 was not differentially expressed. Ability to amplify 6/8 pathogenicity related genes and produce oxalic acid in all genera are consistent with the common toolbox hypothesis for this gene sample. That our data did not distinguish biotrophs from necrotrophs is consistent with 1) a common toolbox based on necrotrophy and 2) the most conservative interpretation of the 3-locus housekeeping gene phylogeny--a baseline of necrotrophy from which forms of biotrophy emerged at least twice. Early oah overexpression likely expands the host range of necrotrophic generalists in the Sclerotiniaceae, while specialists and biotrophs deploy oah, or other as-yet-unknown toolbox genes, differently.}, } @article {pmid22253228, year = {2012}, author = {Shimoda, Y and Han, L and Yamazaki, T and Suzuki, R and Hayashi, M and Imaizumi-Anraku, H}, title = {Rhizobial and fungal symbioses show different requirements for calmodulin binding to calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {304-321}, pmid = {22253228}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Calmodulin/genetics/*metabolism ; Fungi/*physiology ; Lotus/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is a key regulator of root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses and is believed to be a decoder for Ca(2+) signals induced by microbial symbionts. However, it is unclear how CCaMK is activated by these microbes. Here, we investigated in vivo activation of CCaMK in symbiotic signaling, focusing mainly on the significance of and epistatic relationships among functional domains of CCaMK. Loss-of-function mutations in EF-hand motifs revealed the critical importance of the third EF hand for CCaMK activation to promote infection of endosymbionts. However, a gain-of-function mutation (T265D) in the kinase domain compensated for these loss-of-function mutations in the EF hands. Mutation of the CaM binding domain abolished CaM binding and suppressed CCaMK(T265D) activity in rhizobial infection, but not in mycorrhization, indicating that the requirement for CaM binding to CCaMK differs between root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. Homology modeling and mutagenesis studies showed that the hydrogen bond network including Thr265 has an important role in the regulation of CCaMK. Based on these genetic, biochemical, and structural studies, we propose an activation mechanism of CCaMK in which root nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses are distinguished by differential regulation of CCaMK by CaM binding.}, } @article {pmid22251723, year = {2011}, author = {Pinto-Tomás, AA and Sittenfeld, A and Uribe-Lorío, L and Chavarría, F and Mora, M and Janzen, DH and Goodman, RM and Simon, HM}, title = {Comparison of midgut bacterial diversity in tropical caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) fed on different diets.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {40}, number = {5}, pages = {1111-1122}, doi = {10.1603/EN11083}, pmid = {22251723}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; *Diet ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology ; Male ; Moths/growth & development/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Sex Characteristics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {As primary consumers of foliage, caterpillars play essential roles in shaping the trophic structure of tropical forests. The caterpillar midgut is specialized in plant tissue processing; its pH is exceptionally alkaline and contains high concentrations of toxic compounds derived from the ingested plant material (secondary compounds or allelochemicals) and from the insect itself. The midgut, therefore, represents an extreme environment for microbial life. Isolates from different bacterial taxa have been recovered from caterpillar midguts, but little is known about the impact of these microorganisms on caterpillar biology. Our long-term goals are to identify midgut symbionts and to investigate their functions. As a first step, different diet formulations were evaluated for rearing two species of tropical saturniid caterpillars. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers hybridizing broadly to sequences from the bacterial domain, 16S rRNA gene libraries were constructed with midgut DNA extracted from caterpillars reared on different diets. Amplified rDNA restriction analysis indicated that bacterial sequences recovered from the midguts of caterpillars fed on foliage were more diverse than those from caterpillars fed on artificial diet. Sequences related to Methylobacterium sp., Bradyrhizobium sp., and Propionibacterium sp. were detected in all caterpillar libraries regardless of diet, but were not detected in a library constructed from the diet itself. Furthermore, libraries constructed with DNA recovered from surface-sterilized eggs indicated potential for vertical transmission of midgut symbionts. Taken together, these results suggest that microorganisms associated with the tropical caterpillar midgut may engage in symbiotic interactions with these ecologically important insects.}, } @article {pmid22251682, year = {2011}, author = {Floate, KD and Coghlin, PC and Dosdall, L}, title = {A test using Wolbachia bacteria to identify Eurasian source populations of cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), in North America.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {40}, number = {4}, pages = {818-823}, doi = {10.1603/EN10315}, pmid = {22251682}, issn = {1938-2936}, support = {//Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics ; Europe ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genes, Mitochondrial ; Introduced Species ; Male ; North America ; Reproduction ; Weevils/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/*genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Previous research using mitochondrial haplotypes indicates that North American populations of cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), originated from at least two separate introductions from source populations in Eurasia. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the genetic variation of symbiotic Wolbachia bacteria in C. obstrictus among seven North American and four European populations. Because Wolbachia are maternally inherited, infections acquired by a host species at one geographic location theoretically may be present in derivative populations that have established in new regions. Use of the conserved MLST Wolbachia genes gatB, coxA, hcpA, fbpA, and ftsZ identified one strain present in all beetles. Use of the variable wsp gene identified three distinct isolates of this strain that appear to co-occur in all populations and potentially in all individuals. Use of the variable wspB gene provided independent support for the presence of these isolates and evidence of a wspB pseudogene. The lack of genetic variation for these Wolbachia genes among host populations prevents their use to clarify the origins of C. obstrictus in North America. However, the results are an interesting example illustrating disjunction in genetic variation between mitochondria and a maternally-inherited symbiont.}, } @article {pmid22251560, year = {2012}, author = {Pierce, SK and Curtis, NE}, title = {Cell biology of the chloroplast symbiosis in sacoglossan sea slugs.}, journal = {International review of cell and molecular biology}, volume = {293}, number = {}, pages = {123-148}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-394304-0.00009-9}, pmid = {22251560}, issn = {1937-6448}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Biology/trends ; Chloroplasts/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Digestive System Physiological Phenomena/genetics ; Gastropoda/genetics/metabolism/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Longevity/genetics/physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Photosynthesis/genetics/physiology ; Plastids/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Chloroplasts removed from their species of origin may survive for various periods and even photosynthesize in foreign cells. One of the best studied and impressively long, naturally occurring examples of chloroplast persistence, and function inside foreign cells are the algal chloroplasts taken up by specialized cells of certain sacoglossan sea slugs, a phenomenon called chloroplast symbiosis or kleptoplasty. Among sacoglossan species, kleptoplastic associations vary widely in length and function, with some animals immediately digesting chloroplasts, while others maintain functional plastids for over 10 months. Kleptoplasty is a complex process in long-term associations, and research on this topic has focused on a variety of aspects including plastid uptake and digestive physiology of the sea slugs, the longevity and maintenance of symbiotic associations, biochemical interactions between captured algal plastids and slug cells, and the role of horizontal gene transfers between the sea slug and algal food sources. Although the biochemistry underlying chloroplast symbiosis has been extensively examined in only a few slug species, it is obvious that the mechanisms vary from species to species. In this chapter, we examine those mechanisms from early discoveries to the most current research.}, } @article {pmid22249449, year = {2012}, author = {Lindner, C and Wahl, B and Föhse, L and Suerbaum, S and Macpherson, AJ and Prinz, I and Pabst, O}, title = {Age, microbiota, and T cells shape diverse individual IgA repertoires in the intestine.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental medicine}, volume = {209}, number = {2}, pages = {365-377}, pmid = {22249449}, issn = {1540-9538}, mesh = {Aging/*immunology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cluster Analysis ; Complementarity Determining Regions/genetics ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Variation/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin A/*genetics/immunology ; Intestine, Small/*immunology/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Receptors, CCR/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin/*genetics ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) ensures host defense and symbiosis with our commensal microbiota. Yet previous studies hint at a surprisingly low diversity of intestinal IgA, and it is unknown to what extent the diverse Ig arsenal generated by somatic recombination and diversification is actually used. In this study, we analyze more than one million mouse IgA sequences to describe the shaping of the intestinal IgA repertoire, its determinants, and stability over time. We show that expanded and infrequent clones combine to form highly diverse polyclonal IgA repertoires with very little overlap between individual mice. Selective homing allows expanded clones to evenly seed the small but not large intestine. Repertoire diversity increases during aging in a dual process. On the one hand, microbiota-, T cell-, and transcription factor RORγt-dependent but Peyer's patch-independent somatic mutations drive the diversification of expanded clones, and on the other hand, new clones are introduced into the repertoire of aged mice. An individual's IgA repertoire is stable and recalled after plasma cell depletion, which is indicative of functional memory. These data provide a conceptual framework to understand the dynamic changes in the IgA repertoires to match environmental and intrinsic stimuli.}, } @article {pmid22247546, year = {2012}, author = {Post, DM and Yu, L and Krasity, BC and Choudhury, B and Mandel, MJ and Brennan, CA and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Gibson, BW and Apicella, MA}, title = {O-antigen and core carbohydrate of Vibrio fischeri lipopolysaccharide: composition and analysis of their role in Euprymna scolopes light organ colonization.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {287}, number = {11}, pages = {8515-8530}, pmid = {22247546}, issn = {1083-351X}, support = {P01 AI44642/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008692/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI24616/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AI044642/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR 12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI024616/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Carbohydrate Conformation ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; O Antigens/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Vibrio fischeri exists in a symbiotic relationship with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, where the squid provides a home for the bacteria, and the bacteria in turn provide camouflage that helps protect the squid from night-time predators. Like other gram-negative organisms, V. fischeri expresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on its cell surface. The structure of the O-antigen and the core components of the LPS and their possible role in colonization of the squid have not previously been determined. In these studies, an O-antigen ligase mutant, waaL, was utilized to determine the structures of these LPS components and their roles in colonization of the squid. WaaL ligates the O-antigen to the core of the LPS; thus, LPS from waaL mutants lacks O-antigen. Our results show that the V. fischeri waaL mutant has a motility defect, is significantly delayed in colonization, and is unable to compete with the wild-type strain in co-colonization assays. Comparative analyses of the LPS from the wild-type and waaL strains showed that the V. fischeri LPS has a single O-antigen repeat composed of yersiniose, 8-epi-legionaminic acid, and N-acetylfucosamine. In addition, the LPS from the waaL strain showed that the core structure consists of L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, glucose, 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, 8-epi-legionaminic acid, phosphate, and phosphoethanolamine. These studies indicate that the unusual V. fischeri O-antigen sugars play a role in the early phases of bacterial colonization of the squid.}, } @article {pmid22246528, year = {2012}, author = {Ruiz-Díez, B and Quiñones, MA and Fajardo, S and López, MA and Higueras, P and Fernández-Pascual, M}, title = {Mercury-resistant rhizobial bacteria isolated from nodules of leguminous plants growing in high Hg-contaminated soils.}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {96}, number = {2}, pages = {543-554}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-011-3832-z}, pmid = {22246528}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/microbiology ; Mercury/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {A survey of symbiotic bacteria from legumes grown in high mercury-contaminated soils (Almadén, Spain) was performed to produce a collection of rhizobia which could be well adapted to the environmental conditions of this region and be used for restoration practices. Nineteen Hg-tolerant rhizobia were isolated from nodules of 11 legume species (of the genera Medicago, Trifolium, Vicia, Lupinus, Phaseolus, and Retama) and characterized. Based on their growth on Hg-supplemented media, the isolates were classified into three susceptibility groups. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the effective concentrations that produce 50% mortality identified the patterns of mercury tolerance and showed that 15 isolates were tolerant. The dynamics of cell growth during incubation with mercury showed that five isolates were unaffected by exposure to Hg concentrations under the MICs. Genetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene assigned ten strains to Rhizobium leguminosarum, six to Ensifer medicae, two to Bradyrhizobium canariense, and one to Rhizobium radiobacter. Inoculation of host plants and analysis of the nodC genes revealed that most of them were symbiotically effective. Finally, three isolates were selected for bioremediation processes with restoration purposes on the basis of their levels of Hg tolerance, their response to high concentrations of this heavy metal, and their genetic affiliation and nodulation capacity.}, } @article {pmid22242864, year = {2012}, author = {Kohli, A and Narciso, JO and Miro, B and Raorane, M}, title = {Root proteases: reinforced links between nitrogen uptake and mobilization and drought tolerance.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {145}, number = {1}, pages = {165-179}, doi = {10.1111/j.1399-3054.2012.01573.x}, pmid = {22242864}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Biological Transport ; *Droughts ; Enzyme Activation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oryza/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Peptide Hydrolases/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Proteolysis ; Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Integral subcellular and cellular functions ranging from gene expression, protein targeting and nutrient supply to cell differentiation and cell death require proteases. Plants have unique organelles such as chloroplasts composed of unique proteins that carry out the unique process of photosynthesis. Hence, along with proteases common across kingdoms, plants contain unique proteases. Improved knowledge on proteases can lead to a better understanding of plant development, differentiation and death. Because of their importance in multiple processes, plant proteases are actively studied. However, root proteases specifically are not as well studied. The associated rhizosphere, organic matter and/or inorganic matter make roots a difficult system. Yet recent research conclusively demonstrated the occurrence of endocytosis of proteins, peptides and even microbes by root cells, which, hitherto known for specialized pathogenesis or symbiosis, was unsuspected for nutrient uptake. These results reinforced the importance of root proteases in endocytosis or root exudate-mediated nutrient uptake. Rhizoplane, rhizosphere or in planta protease action on proteins, peptides and microbes generates sources of nitrogen, especially during abiotic stresses such as drought. This article highlights the recent research on root proteases for nitrogen uptake and the connection of the two to drought-tolerance mechanisms. Drought-induced proteases in rice roots, as known from rice expression databases, are discussed for future research on certain M50, Deg, FtsH, AMSH and deubiquitination proteases. The recent emphasis on linking drought and plant hydraulics to nutrient metabolism is illustrated and connected to the value of a systematic study of root proteases in crop improvement.}, } @article {pmid22239944, year = {2012}, author = {Calonne, M and Sahraoui, AL and Campagnac, E and Debiane, D and Laruelle, F and Grandmougin-Ferjani, A and Fontaine, J}, title = {Propiconazole inhibits the sterol 14α-demethylase in Glomus irregulare like in phytopathogenic fungi.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {87}, number = {4}, pages = {376-383}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.12.027}, pmid = {22239944}, issn = {1879-1298}, mesh = {14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors/*toxicity ; Chicory/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/drug effects/*enzymology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects/enzymology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; Sterol 14-Demethylase/*metabolism ; Triazoles/*toxicity ; }, abstract = {The increasing concentrations impact (0.02, 0.2 and 2 mg L(-1)) of a Sterol Biosynthesis Inhibitor (SBI) fungicide, propiconazole, was evaluated on development and sterol metabolism of two non-target organisms: mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal transformed chicory roots and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus irregulare using monoxenic cultures. In this work, we provide the first evidence of a direct impact of propiconazole on the AMF by disturbing its sterol metabolism. A significant decrease in end-products sterols contents (24-methylcholesterol and in 24-ethylcholesterol) was observed concomitantly to a 24-methylenedihydrolanosterol accumulation indicating the inhibition of a key enzyme in sterol biosynthesis pathway, the sterol 14α-demethylase like in phytopathogenic fungi. A decrease in end-product sterol contents in propiconazole-treated roots was also observed suggesting a slowing down of the sterol metabolism in plant. Taken together, our findings suggest that the inhibition of the both AM symbiotic partners development by propiconazole results from their sterol metabolism alterations.}, } @article {pmid22238660, year = {2012}, author = {Pochon, X and Putnam, HM and Burki, F and Gates, RD}, title = {Identifying and characterizing alternative molecular markers for the symbiotic and free-living dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {e29816}, pmid = {22238660}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Algorithms ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular/*methods ; Computational Biology ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/*genetics ; Genes, Protozoan/genetics/physiology ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Markers/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium are best known as endosymbionts of corals and other invertebrate as well as protist hosts, but also exist free-living in coastal environments. Despite their importance in marine ecosystems, less than 10 loci have been used to explore phylogenetic relationships in this group, and only the multi-copy nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions 1 and 2 have been used to characterize fine-scale genetic diversity within the nine clades (A-I) that comprise the genus. Here, we describe a three-step molecular approach focused on 1) identifying new candidate genes for phylogenetic analysis of Symbiodinium spp., 2) characterizing the phylogenetic relationship of these candidate genes from DNA samples spanning eight Symbiodinium clades (A-H), and 3) conducting in-depth phylogenetic analyses of candidate genes displaying genetic divergences equal or higher than those within the ITS-2 of Symbiodinium clade C. To this end, we used bioinformatics tools and reciprocal comparisons to identify homologous genes from 55,551 cDNA sequences representing two Symbiodinium and six additional dinoflagellate EST libraries. Of the 84 candidate genes identified, 7 Symbiodinium genes (elf2, coI, coIII, cob, calmodulin, rad24, and actin) were characterized by sequencing 23 DNA samples spanning eight Symbiodinium clades (A-H). Four genes displaying higher rates of genetic divergences than ITS-2 within clade C were selected for in-depth phylogenetic analyses, which revealed that calmodulin has limited taxonomic utility but that coI, rad24, and actin behave predictably with respect to Symbiodinium lineage C and are potential candidates as new markers for this group. The approach for targeting candidate genes described here can serve as a model for future studies aimed at identifying and testing new phylogenetically informative genes for taxa where transcriptomic and genomics data are available.}, } @article {pmid22237907, year = {2012}, author = {Daskin, JH and Alford, RA}, title = {Context-dependent symbioses and their potential roles in wildlife diseases.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1733}, pages = {1457-1465}, pmid = {22237907}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Amphibians/*microbiology ; Animals ; *Chytridiomycota ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Environment ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Mycoses/epidemiology/*veterinary ; Population Dynamics ; *Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {It is well known in ecology, evolution and medicine that both the nature (commensal, parasitic and mutualistic) and outcome (symbiont fitness, survival) of symbiotic interactions are often context-dependent. Less is known about the importance of context-dependence in symbioses involved in wildlife disease. We review variable symbioses, and use the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis to demonstrate how understanding context-dependence can improve the understanding and management of wildlife diseases. In chytridiomycosis, the host-pathogen interaction is context-dependent; it is strongly affected by environmental temperature. Skin bacteria can also modify the interaction; some bacteria reduce amphibians' susceptibility to chytridiomycosis. Augmentation of protective microbes is being considered as a possible management tool, but informed application of bioaugmentation requires understanding of how the interactions between host, beneficial bacteria and pathogen depend upon environmental context. The community-level response of the amphibian skin microbiota to environmental conditions may explain the relatively narrow range of environmental conditions in which past declines have occurred. Environmental context affects virulence and the protection provided by mutualists in other host-pathogen systems, including threatened bats and corals. Increased focus on context-dependence in interactions between wildlife and their symbionts is likely to be crucial to the future investigation and management of emerging diseases of wildlife.}, } @article {pmid22237540, year = {2012}, author = {Ma, Q and Fonseca, A and Liu, W and Fields, AT and Pimsler, ML and Spindola, AF and Tarone, AM and Crippen, TL and Tomberlin, JK and Wood, TK}, title = {Proteus mirabilis interkingdom swarming signals attract blow flies.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1356-1366}, pmid = {22237540}, issn = {1751-7370}, support = {R01 GM089999/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Chemotaxis ; Diptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutagenesis ; Oviposition ; Proteus mirabilis/genetics/*physiology ; Salivary Glands/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Flies transport specific bacteria with their larvae that provide a wider range of nutrients for those bacteria. Our hypothesis was that this symbiotic interaction may depend on interkingdom signaling. We obtained Proteus mirabilis from the salivary glands of the blow fly Lucilia sericata; this strain swarmed significantly and produced a strong odor that attracts blow flies. To identify the putative interkingdom signals for the bacterium and flies, we reasoned that as swarming is used by this bacterium to cover the food resource and requires bacterial signaling, the same bacterial signals used for swarming may be used to communicate with blow flies. Using transposon mutagenesis, we identified six novel genes for swarming (ureR, fis, hybG, zapB, fadE and PROSTU_03490), then, confirming our hypothesis, we discovered that fly attractants, lactic acid, phenol, NaOH, KOH and ammonia, restore swarming for cells with the swarming mutations. Hence, compounds produced by the bacterium that attract flies also are utilized for swarming. In addition, bacteria with the swarming mutation rfaL attracted fewer blow flies and reduced the number of eggs laid by the flies. Therefore, we have identified several interkingdom signals between P. mirabilis and blow flies.}, } @article {pmid22233679, year = {2012}, author = {Cao, X and Studer, SV and Wassarman, K and Zhang, Y and Ruby, EG and Miyashiro, T}, title = {The novel sigma factor-like regulator RpoQ controls luminescence, chitinase activity, and motility in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {mBio}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {22233679}, issn = {2150-7511}, support = {K99 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1K99GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM084620/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 5F32GM084620/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Animals ; Chitinases/*metabolism ; Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Locomotion ; Luminescence ; Luminescent Proteins/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Quorum Sensing ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Vibrio fischeri, the bacterial symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, uses quorum sensing to control genes involved in bioluminescence, host colonization, and other biological processes. Previous work has shown that AinS/R-directed quorum sensing also regulates the expression of rpoQ (VF_A1015), a gene annotated as an RpoS-like sigma factor. In this study, we demonstrate using phylogenetics that RpoQ is related to, but distinct from, the stationary-phase sigma factor RpoS. Overexpression of rpoQ results in elevated chitinase activity but decreased motility and luminescence, three activities associated with symbiosis. The reduction in bacterial luminescence associated with the overexpression of rpoQ occurs both in culture and within the light-emitting organ of the squid host. This suppression of bioluminescence is due to the repression of the luxICDABEG promoter. Our results highlight RpoQ as a novel regulatory component, embedded in the quorum-signaling network that controls several biological processes in V. fischeri.

IMPORTANCE: Quorum signaling is a widely occurring phenomenon that functions in diverse bacterial taxa. It is most often found associated with species that interact with animal or plant hosts, either as mutualists or pathogens, and controls the expression of genes critical to tissue colonization. We present the discovery of rpoQ, which encodes a new regulatory component in the quorum-signaling pathway of Vibrio fischeri. RpoQ is a novel protein in the RpoS family of stationary-phase sigma factors. Unlike many other regulatory proteins involved in the quorum-signaling pathways of the Vibrionaceae, the distribution of RpoQ appears to be restricted to only two closely related species. The role of this regulator is to enhance some quorum-signaling outputs (motility) while suppressing others (luminescence). We propose that RpoQ may be a recently evolved or acquired component in V. fischeri that provides this organism with an additional level of regulation to modulate its existing quorum-signaling pathway.}, } @article {pmid22233546, year = {2012}, author = {Giusti, Mde L and Pistorio, M and Lozano, MJ and Tejerizo, GA and Salas, ME and Martini, MC and López, JL and Draghi, WO and Del Papa, MF and Pérez-Mendoza, D and Sanjuán, J and Lagares, A}, title = {Genetic and functional characterization of a yet-unclassified rhizobial Dtr (DNA-transfer-and-replication) region from a ubiquitous plasmid conjugal system present in Sinorhizobium meliloti, in Sinorhizobium medicae, and in other nonrhizobial Gram-negative bacteria.}, journal = {Plasmid}, volume = {67}, number = {3}, pages = {199-210}, doi = {10.1016/j.plasmid.2011.12.010}, pmid = {22233546}, issn = {1095-9890}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Conjugation, Genetic ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Medicago/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plasmids ; Sinorhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/classification/*genetics ; *Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Sympatry ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria that live in soils and associate with leguminous plants to establish nitrogen-fixing symbioses. The ability of these bacteria to undergo horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is thought to be one of the main features to explain both the origin of their symbiotic life-style and the plasticity and dynamics of their genomes. In our laboratory we have previously characterized at the species level the non-pSym plasmid mobilome in Sinorhizobium meliloti, the symbiont of Medicago spp., and have found a high incidence of conjugal activity in many plasmids (Pistorio et al., 2008). In this work we characterized the Dtr (DNA-transfer-and-replication) region of one of those plasmids, pSmeLPU88b. This mobilization region was found to represent a previously unclassified Dtr type in rhizobia (hereafter type-IV), highly ubiquitous in S. meliloti and found in other genera of Gram-negative bacteria as well; including Agrobacterium, Ochrobactrum, and Chelativorans. The oriT of the type-IV Dtr described here could be located by function within a DNA fragment of 278 bp, between the divergent genes parA and mobC. The phylogenetic analysis of the cognate relaxase MobZ indicated that this protein groups close to the previously defined MOB(P3) and MOB(P4) type of enzymes, but is located in a separate and novel cluster that we have designated MOB(P0). Noteworthy, MOB(P0) and MOB(P4) relaxases were frequently associated with plasmids present in rhizospheric soil bacteria. A comparison of the nod-gene locations with the phylogenetic topology of the rhizobial relaxases revealed that the symbiotic genes are found on diverse plasmids bearing any of the four Dtr types, thus indicating that pSym plasmids are not specifically associated with any particular mobilization system. Finally, we demonstrated that the type-IV Dtr promoted the mobilization of plasmids from S. meliloti to Sinorhizobium medicae as well as from these rhizobia to other bacteria by means of their own helper functions. The results present an as-yet-unclassified and seemingly ubiquitous conjugal system that provides a mechanistic support for the HGT between sympatric rhizobia of Medicago roots, and between other soil and rhizospheric bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22233390, year = {2012}, author = {Schmidt, EW and Donia, MS and McIntosh, JA and Fricke, WF and Ravel, J}, title = {Origin and variation of tunicate secondary metabolites.}, journal = {Journal of natural products}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {295-304}, pmid = {22233390}, issn = {1520-6025}, support = {GM071425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425-05/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425-01A1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425-04/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425-03/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425-02/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM071425-04S1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Products/chemistry/*isolation & purification ; Drug Discovery ; Molecular Structure ; *Symbiosis ; Urochordata/*chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {Ascidians (tunicates) are rich sources of structurally elegant, pharmaceutically potent secondary metabolites and, more recently, potential biofuels. It has been demonstrated that some of these compounds are made by symbiotic bacteria and not by the animals themselves, and for a few other compounds evidence exists supporting a symbiotic origin. In didemnid ascidians, compounds are highly variable even in apparently identical animals. Recently, we have explained this variation at the genomic and metagenomic levels and have applied the basic scientific findings to drug discovery and development. This review discusses what is currently known about the origin and variation of symbiotically derived metabolites in ascidians, focusing on the family Didemnidae, where most research has occurred. Applications of our basic studies are also described.}, } @article {pmid22233051, year = {2011}, author = {Gu, J and Zhang, J and Jia, R and Chen, W}, title = {[Genetic diversity and phylogeny of bradyrhizobia associated with Desmodium spp].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {51}, number = {10}, pages = {1310-1317}, pmid = {22233051}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; China ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Genetic diversity and phylogeny of bradyrhizobial strains associated with Desmodium spp. in subtropic and temperate regions of China were analyzed.

METHODS: We studied 29 desmodia isolates from different regions with BOX-PCR fingerprinting and multilocus sequence analysis (nifH, nodC and recA gene) to describe the genotypic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships.

RESULTS: We achieved 25 genotypes with BOX-PCR genomic fingerprinting analysis, indicating that the tested strains had a great diversity at genomic level. The representative bradyrhizobial strains were located in three phylogenic branches with multilocus sequence analysis (niffH, nodC and recA gene), that was closely related to Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The desmodia bradyrhizobia had abundantly diversity. Diverse symbiotic genes including nifH and nodC genes were also found in these strains that indicated that the symbiotic genes were mainly maintained by vertical transfer in these bradyrhizobial populations and coevolved with housekeeping genes.}, } @article {pmid22232768, year = {2012}, author = {Taylor, LL and Banwart, SA and Valdes, PJ and Leake, JR and Beerling, DJ}, title = {Evaluating the effects of terrestrial ecosystems, climate and carbon dioxide on weathering over geological time: a global-scale process-based approach.}, journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences}, volume = {367}, number = {1588}, pages = {565-582}, pmid = {22232768}, issn = {1471-2970}, mesh = {Carbon Cycle ; Carbon Dioxide/*chemistry ; Climate Change ; Computer Simulation ; Earth, Planet ; *Ecosystem ; *Geological Phenomena ; Hyphae/chemistry ; Minerals/chemistry ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Plant Roots/*chemistry ; Rhizosphere ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors ; Trees/chemistry ; Water/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Global weathering of calcium and magnesium silicate rocks provides the long-term sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)) on a timescale of millions of years by causing precipitation of calcium carbonates on the seafloor. Catchment-scale field studies consistently indicate that vegetation increases silicate rock weathering, but incorporating the effects of trees and fungal symbionts into geochemical carbon cycle models has relied upon simple empirical scaling functions. Here, we describe the development and application of a process-based approach to deriving quantitative estimates of weathering by plant roots, associated symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi and climate. Our approach accounts for the influence of terrestrial primary productivity via nutrient uptake on soil chemistry and mineral weathering, driven by simulations using a dynamic global vegetation model coupled to an ocean-atmosphere general circulation model of the Earth's climate. The strategy is successfully validated against observations of weathering in watersheds around the world, indicating that it may have some utility when extrapolated into the past. When applied to a suite of six global simulations from 215 to 50 Ma, we find significantly larger effects over the past 220 Myr relative to the present day. Vegetation and mycorrhizal fungi enhanced climate-driven weathering by a factor of up to 2. Overall, we demonstrate a more realistic process-based treatment of plant fungal-geosphere interactions at the global scale, which constitutes a first step towards developing 'next-generation' geochemical models.}, } @article {pmid22232385, year = {2012}, author = {Osipova, MA and Mortier, V and Demchenko, KN and Tsyganov, VE and Tikhonovich, IA and Lutova, LA and Dolgikh, EA and Goormachtig, S}, title = {Wuschel-related homeobox5 gene expression and interaction of CLE peptides with components of the systemic control add two pieces to the puzzle of autoregulation of nodulation.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {158}, number = {3}, pages = {1329-1341}, pmid = {22232385}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/genetics/metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Meristem/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligopeptides/genetics/*metabolism ; Peas/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/growth & development ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {In legumes, the symbiotic nodules are formed as a result of dedifferentiation and reactivation of cortical root cells. A shoot-acting receptor complex, similar to the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) CLAVATA1 (CLV1)/CLV2 receptor, regulating development of the shoot apical meristem, is involved in autoregulation of nodulation (AON), a mechanism that systemically controls nodule number. The targets of CLV1/CLV2 in the shoot apical meristem, the WUSCHEL (WUS)-RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX) family transcription factors, have been proposed to be important regulators of apical meristem maintenance and to be expressed in apical meristem "organizers." Here, we focus on the role of the WOX5 transcription factor upon nodulation in Medicago truncatula and pea (Pisum sativum) that form indeterminate nodules. Analysis of temporal WOX5 expression during nodulation with quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and promoter-reporter fusion revealed that the WOX5 gene was expressed during nodule organogenesis, suggesting that WOX genes are common regulators of cell proliferation in different systems. Furthermore, in nodules of supernodulating mutants, defective in AON, WOX5 expression was higher than that in wild-type nodules. Hence, a conserved WUS/WOX-CLV regulatory system might control cell proliferation and differentiation not only in the root and shoot apical meristems but also in nodule meristems. In addition, the link between nodule-derived CLE peptides activating AON in different legumes and components of the AON system was investigated. We demonstrate that the identified AON component, NODULATION3 of pea, might act downstream from or beside the CLE peptides during AON.}, } @article {pmid22231561, year = {2012}, author = {Kosanić, MM and Ranković, BR and Stanojković, TP}, title = {Antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of three Parmelia species.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {92}, number = {9}, pages = {1909-1916}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.5559}, pmid = {22231561}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Antioxidants/*pharmacology ; Biological Products/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Flavonoids/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lichens/*chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Phenols/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Superoxides/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are symbiotic organisms consisting of algae and fungi. They are used for human and animal nutrition and in the production of colours, perfumes and alcohol. Lichens have also been used in traditional medicine to treat diseases such as jaundice, pulmonary, stomach and cranial diseases. In this study the acetone extracts of three lichens, Parmelia caperata, Parmelia sulcata and Parmelia saxatilis, were tested for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer potential.

RESULTS: Of the lichens tested, P. saxatilis had the highest free radical-scavenging activity (55.3% inhibition). Moreover, all tested extracts showed effective reducing power and superoxide anion radical scavenging. Strong relationships between total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant effects of the tested extracts were observed. The extract of P. sulcata was most active in terms of antimicrobial ability, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 0.78 to 12.5 mg L⁻¹. All extracts were found to have strong anticancer activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 9.55 to 22.95 µg mL⁻¹.

CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the tested lichen extracts exhibited strong antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects. This suggests that lichens may be used as possible natural antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer agents.}, } @article {pmid22230776, year = {2012}, author = {Kim, DY and Ham, SJ and Kim, HJ and Kim, J and Lee, MH and Cho, HY and Shin, DH and Rhee, YH and Son, KH and Park, HY}, title = {Novel modular endo-β-1,4-xylanase with transglycosylation activity from Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13 that is homologous to inverting GH family 6 enzymes.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {107}, number = {}, pages = {25-32}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2011.12.106}, pmid = {22230776}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; DNA Primers ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/chemistry/*metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/classification/*enzymology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {The gene (2304-bp) encoding a novel xylanolytic enzyme (XylK2) with a catalytic domain, which is 70% identical to that of Cellulomonas flavigena DSM 20109 GH6 β-1,4-cellobiohydrolase, was identified from an earthworm (Eisenia fetida)-symbiotic bacterium, Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13. The enzyme consisted of an N-terminal catalytic GH6-like domain, a fibronectin type 3 (Fn3) domain, and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module 2 (CBM 2). XylK2ΔFn3-CBM 2 displayed high transferase activity (788.3 IU mg(-1)) toward p-nitrophenyl (PNP) cellobioside, but did not degrade xylobiose, glucose-based materials, or other PNP-sugar derivatives. Birchwood xylan was degraded by XylK2ΔFn3-CBM 2 to xylobiose (59.2%) and xylotriose (40.8%). The transglycosylation activity of the enzyme, which enabled the formation of xylobiose (33.6%) and xylotriose (66.4%) from the hydrolysis of xylotriose, indicates that it is not an inverting enzyme but a retaining enzyme. The endo-β-1,4-xylanase activity of XylK2ΔFn3-CBM 2 increased significantly by approximately 2.0-fold in the presence of 50mM xylobiose.}, } @article {pmid22230424, year = {2012}, author = {Wu, H and Zhang, Z and Hu, S and Yu, J}, title = {On the molecular mechanism of GC content variation among eubacterial genomes.}, journal = {Biology direct}, volume = {7}, number = {}, pages = {2}, pmid = {22230424}, issn = {1745-6150}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Base Composition ; DNA Polymerase III/genetics ; DNA Replication ; DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Variation ; Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Isoenzymes/genetics ; Mutagenesis ; Phylogeny ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: As a key parameter of genome sequence variation, the GC content of bacterial genomes has been investigated for over half a century, and many hypotheses have been put forward to explain this GC content variation and its relationship to other fundamental processes. Previously, we classified eubacteria into dnaE-based groups (the dimeric combination of DNA polymerase III alpha subunits), according to a hypothesis where GC content variation is essentially governed by genome replication and DNA repair mechanisms. Further investigation led to the discovery that two major mutator genes, polC and dnaE2, may be responsible for genomic GC content variation. Consequently, an in-depth analysis was conducted to evaluate various potential intrinsic and extrinsic factors in association with GC content variation among eubacterial genomes.

RESULTS: Mutator genes, especially those with dominant effects on the mutation spectra, are biased towards either GC or AT richness, and they alter genomic GC content in the two opposite directions. Increased bacterial genome size (or gene number) appears to rely on increased genomic GC content; however, it is unclear whether the changes are directly related to certain environmental pressures. Certain environmental and bacteriological features are related to GC content variation, but their trends are more obvious when analyzed under the dnaE-based grouping scheme. Most terrestrial, plant-associated, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria are members of the dnaE1|dnaE2 group, whereas most pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria in insects, and those dwelling in aquatic environments, are largely members of the dnaE1|polV group.

CONCLUSION: Our studies provide several lines of evidence indicating that DNA polymerase III α subunit and its isoforms participating in either replication (such as polC) or SOS mutagenesis/translesion synthesis (such as dnaE2), play dominant roles in determining GC variability. Other environmental or bacteriological factors, such as genome size, temperature, oxygen requirement, and habitat, either play subsidiary roles or rely indirectly on different mutator genes to fine-tune the GC content. These results provide a comprehensive insight into mechanisms of GC content variation and the robustness of eubacterial genomes in adapting their ever-changing environments over billions of years.}, } @article {pmid22229056, year = {2011}, author = {Charles, H and Balmand, S and Lamelas, A and Cottret, L and Pérez-Brocal, V and Burdin, B and Latorre, A and Febvay, G and Colella, S and Calevro, F and Rahbé, Y}, title = {A genomic reappraisal of symbiotic function in the aphid/Buchnera symbiosis: reduced transporter sets and variable membrane organisations.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e29096}, pmid = {22229056}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Biological Transport ; Buchnera/cytology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genomics/*methods ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Buchnera aphidicola is an obligate symbiotic bacterium that sustains the physiology of aphids by complementing their exclusive phloem sap diet. In this study, we reappraised the transport function of different Buchnera strains, from the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum, Schizaphis graminum, Baizongia pistaciae and Cinara cedri, using the re-annotation of their transmembrane proteins coupled with an exploration of their metabolic networks. Although metabolic analyses revealed high interdependencies between the host and the bacteria, we demonstrate here that transport in Buchnera is assured by low transporter diversity, when compared to free-living bacteria, being mostly based on a few general transporters, some of which probably have lost their substrate specificity. Moreover, in the four strains studied, an astonishing lack of inner-membrane importers was observed. In Buchnera, the transport function has been shaped by the distinct selective constraints occurring in the Aphididae lineages. Buchnera from A. pisum and S. graminum have a three-membraned system and similar sets of transporters corresponding to most compound classes. Transmission electronic microscopic observations and confocal microscopic analysis of intracellular pH fields revealed that Buchnera does not show any of the typical structures and properties observed in integrated organelles. Buchnera from B. pistaciae seem to possess a unique double membrane system and has, accordingly, lost all of its outer-membrane integral proteins. Lastly, Buchnera from C. cedri revealed an extremely poor repertoire of transporters, with almost no ATP-driven active transport left, despite the clear persistence of the ancestral three-membraned system.}, } @article {pmid22228663, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, JJ and Liu, TY and Chen, WF and Wang, ET and Sui, XH and Zhang, XX and Li, Y and Li, Y and Chen, WX}, title = {Mesorhizobium muleiense sp. nov., nodulating with Cicer arietinum L.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {Pt 11}, pages = {2737-2742}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.038265-0}, pmid = {22228663}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Cicer/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Mesorhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Three chickpea rhizobial strains (CCBAU 83963(T), CCBAU 83939 and CCBAU 83908), which were identified previously as representing a distinctive genospecies, were further studied here and compared taxonomically with related species in the genus Mesorhizobium. Results from SDS-PAGE of whole-cell soluble proteins revealed differences from closely related recognized species of the genus Mesorhizobium. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness were 15.28-50.97% between strain CCBAU 83963(T) and the type strains of recognized Mesorhizobium species (except for Mesorhizobium thiogangeticum). Strain CCBAU 83963(T) contained fatty acids characteristic of members of the genus Mesorhizobium, but it possessed high concentrations of C(19:0) cyclo ω8c and iso-C(17:0). Strain CCBAU 83963(T) had phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids, and an ornithine-containing lipid, phosphatidyl-N-dimethylethanolamine and cardiolipin as minor components. Nodulation tests demonstrated the distinct symbiotic character of strain CCBAU 83963(T); only Cicer arietinum, its host plant, could be invaded to form effective nitrogen-fixing nodules. The narrow spectrum of utilization of sole carbon sources, lower resistance to antibiotics, and NaCl, pH and temperature growth ranges differentiated these novel rhizobia from recognized species of the genus Mesorhizobium. Based on the data presented, the three novel rhizobial strains are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the name Mesorhizobium muleiense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 83963(T) (=HAMBI 3264(T)=CGMCC 1.11022(T)).}, } @article {pmid22228080, year = {2013}, author = {Nakajima, EC and Van Houten, B}, title = {Metabolic symbiosis in cancer: refocusing the Warburg lens.}, journal = {Molecular carcinogenesis}, volume = {52}, number = {5}, pages = {329-337}, pmid = {22228080}, issn = {1098-2744}, support = {P30 CA047904/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50CA097190/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30CA047904/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA121973/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50CA121973/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P50 CA097190/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Lactate Dehydrogenases/metabolism ; Lactates/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Neoplasms/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; *Oncogenes ; Phosphorylation ; }, abstract = {Using relatively primitive tools in the 1920s, Otto Warburg demonstrated that tumor cells show an increased dependence on glycolysis to meet their energy needs, regardless of whether they were well-oxygenated or not. High rates of glucose uptake, fueling glycolysis, are now used clinically to identify cancer cells. However, the Warburg effect does not account for the metabolic diversity that has been observed amongst cancer cells nor the influences that might direct such diversity. Modern tools have shown that the oncogenes, variable hypoxia levels, and the utilization of different carbon sources affect tumor evolution. These influences may produce metabolic symbiosis, in which lactate from a hypoxic, glycolytic tumor cell population fuels ATP production in the oxygenated region of a tumor. Lactate, once considered a waste product of glycolysis, is an important metabolite for oxidative phosphorylation in many tissues. While much is known about how muscle and the brain use lactate in oxidative phosphorylation, the contribution of lactate in tumor bioenergetics is less defined. A refocused perspective of cancer metabolism that recognizes metabolic diversity within a tumor offers novel therapeutic targets by which cancer cells may be starved from their fuel sources, and thereby become more sensitive to traditional cancer treatments.}, } @article {pmid22227493, year = {2012}, author = {Al-Asbahi, AA}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal protein mRNA over-expression in bread wheat seedlings by Trichoderma harzianum Raifi (KRL-AG2) elicitation.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {494}, number = {2}, pages = {209-213}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2011.12.030}, pmid = {22227493}, issn = {1879-0038}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics ; RNA, Fungal/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/physiology ; Triticum/*growth & development/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Association between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and majority of terrestrial plant species provides many benefits to plants that range from stress alleviation and bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals to plant growth promotion and yield quantity. Some non-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi such as, Trichoderma harzianum, are known to enhance the AMF symbiosis with vascular plants. However, information about their role in AMF symbiosis is still limited. Shoots of (Avocet S) wheat seedlings were sprayed with the fungal culture filtrate and gene expression patterns were analyzed in the treated tissues. An increase in the level of mRNA of arbuscular mycorrhizal protein comparing with control was found. The over-expression of this protein in wheat tissues might contribute in initiation of AMF colonization in wheat tissues. The result of this study can spark future researches to elucidate possible role of this protein in the symbiotic interaction mechanisms between soil AMF and various plant roots.}, } @article {pmid22227010, year = {2012}, author = {Mehrabadi, M and Bandani, AR and Allahyari, M and Serrão, JE}, title = {The Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) digestive tract: histology, ultrastructure and its physiological significance.}, journal = {Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {631-637}, doi = {10.1016/j.micron.2011.11.008}, pmid = {22227010}, issn = {1878-4291}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*ultrastructure ; Hemiptera/*anatomy & histology ; Microscopy, Electron ; }, abstract = {The Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), is a key pest of wheat in the Middle East and some other areas which causes severe qualitative and quantitative damage. The objective of the current work is to describe the morphology of the midgut of E. integriceps adult. Microscopic studies revealed that foregut consists of oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus likely other phytophagous Hemiptera. In the Midgut, four anatomical regions could be identified: the first ventriculus (V1), the second ventriculus (V2), the third ventriculs (V3), and the fourth ventriculus (V4). The microvilli and perimicrovillar membrane (PMM) were found in V1-V3 regions with columnar cells characterized by presence of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and basal infoldings in the basal portion. However, V2 and V3 showed less developed basal plasma membrane infoldings. Three cell types: columnar, endocrine and regenerative cells were found in V1-V3. The V4 region showed different histological features from the other three midgut regions by showing a vacuolated epithelium with crypts storing symbiotic bacteria. The hindgut had a short ileum followed by a well-developed rectum with an epithelial cell layer and a thin cuticular intima. The current results suggest V1-V3 midgut regions play a role in enzyme and absorption, whereas V4 seems to have no function in digestion.}, } @article {pmid22226956, year = {2012}, author = {Taulé, C and Zabaleta, M and Mareque, C and Platero, R and Sanjurjo, L and Sicardi, M and Frioni, L and Battistoni, F and Fabiano, E}, title = {New betaproteobacterial Rhizobium strains able to efficiently nodulate Parapiptadenia rigida (Benth.) Brenan.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {6}, pages = {1692-1700}, pmid = {22226956}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Burkholderia/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Cupriavidus/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genotype ; Mimosa/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Uruguay ; }, abstract = {Among the leguminous trees native to Uruguay, Parapiptadenia rigida (Angico), a Mimosoideae legume, is one of the most promising species for agroforestry. Like many other legumes, it is able to establish symbiotic associations with rhizobia and belongs to the group known as nitrogen-fixing trees, which are major components of agroforestry systems. Information about rhizobial symbionts for this genus is scarce, and thus, the aim of this work was to identify and characterize rhizobia associated with P. rigida. A collection of Angico-nodulating isolates was obtained, and 47 isolates were selected for genetic studies. According to enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR patterns and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of their nifH and 16S rRNA genes, the isolates could be grouped into seven genotypes, including the genera Burkholderia, Cupriavidus, and Rhizobium, among which the Burkholderia genotypes were the predominant group. Phylogenetic studies of nifH, nodA, and nodC sequences from the Burkholderia and the Cupriavidus isolates indicated a close relationship of these genes with those from betaproteobacterial rhizobia (beta-rhizobia) rather than from alphaproteobacterial rhizobia (alpha-rhizobia). In addition, nodulation assays with representative isolates showed that while the Cupriavidus isolates were able to effectively nodulate Mimosa pudica, the Burkholderia isolates produced white and ineffective nodules on this host.}, } @article {pmid22224779, year = {2012}, author = {Brenchley, JM and Douek, DC}, title = {Microbial translocation across the GI tract.}, journal = {Annual review of immunology}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {149-173}, pmid = {22224779}, issn = {1545-3278}, support = {Z01 AI001029-01/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; ZIA AI005034-09/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Digestive System Diseases/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*immunology/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Metagenome/drug effects/*physiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The lumen of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to an enormous quantity of different bacterial species, our microbiota, that thrive in an often symbiotic relationship with the host. Given that the healthy host must regulate contact between the microbiota and its immune system to avoid overwhelming systemic immune activation, humans have evolved several mechanisms to attenuate systemic microbial translocation (MT) and its consequences. However, several diseases are associated with the failure of one or more of these mechanisms, with consequent immune activation and deleterious effects on health. Here, we discuss the mechanisms underlying MT, diseases associated with MT, and therapeutic interventions that aim to decrease it.}, } @article {pmid22222828, year = {2012}, author = {Raghukumar, C and Ravindran, J}, title = {Fungi and their role in corals and coral reef ecosystems.}, journal = {Progress in molecular and subcellular biology}, volume = {53}, number = {}, pages = {89-113}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-23342-5_5}, pmid = {22222828}, issn = {0079-6484}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Ecosystem ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Fungi in coral reefs exist as endoliths, endobionts, saprotrophs and as pathogens. Although algal and fungal endoliths in corals were described way back in 1973, their role in microboring, carbonate alteration, discoloration, density banding, symbiotic or parasitic association was postulated almost 25 years later. Fungi, as pathogens in corals, have become a much discussed topic in the last 10 years. It is either due to the availability of better tools for investigations or greater awareness among the research communities. Fungi which are exclusive as endoliths (endemic) in corals or ubiquitous forms seem to play a role in coral reef system. Fungi associated with sponges and their role in production or induction of secondary metabolites in their host is of primary interest to various pharmaceutical industries and funding agencies. Fungal enzymes in degradation of coral mucus, and plant detritus hold great promise in biotechnological applications. Unravelling fungal diversity in corals and associated reef organisms using culture and culture-independent approaches is a subject gaining attention from research community world over.}, } @article {pmid22222466, year = {2012}, author = {Pernice, M and Meibom, A and Van Den Heuvel, A and Kopp, C and Domart-Coulon, I and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Dove, S}, title = {A single-cell view of ammonium assimilation in coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1314-1324}, pmid = {22222466}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology/*physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; Nitrogen ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Seawater/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Assimilation of inorganic nitrogen from nutrient-poor tropical seas is an essential challenge for the endosymbiosis between reef-building corals and dinoflagellates. Despite the clear evidence that reef-building corals can use ammonium as inorganic nitrogen source, the dynamics and precise roles of host and symbionts in this fundamental process remain unclear. Here, we combine high spatial resolution ion microprobe imaging (NanoSIMS) and pulse-chase isotopic labeling in order to track the dynamics of ammonium incorporation within the intact symbiosis between the reef-building coral Acropora aspera and its dinoflagellate symbionts. We demonstrate that both dinoflagellate and animal cells have the capacity to rapidly fix nitrogen from seawater enriched in ammonium (in less than one hour). Further, by establishing the relative strengths of the capability to assimilate nitrogen for each cell compartment, we infer that dinoflagellate symbionts can fix 14 to 23 times more nitrogen than their coral host cells in response to a sudden pulse of ammonium-enriched seawater. Given the importance of nitrogen in cell maintenance, growth and functioning, the capability to fix ammonium from seawater into the symbiotic system may be a key component of coral nutrition. Interestingly, this metabolic response appears to be triggered rapidly by episodic nitrogen availability. The methods and results presented in this study open up for the exploration of dynamics and spatial patterns associated with metabolic activities and nutritional interactions in a multitude of organisms that live in symbiotic relationships.}, } @article {pmid22221919, year = {2012}, author = {Moestrup, O and Garcia-Cuetos, L and Hansen, PJ and Fenchel, T}, title = {Studies on the genus Mesodinium I: ultrastructure and description of Mesodinium chamaeleon n. sp., a benthic marine species with green or red chloroplasts.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {20-39}, doi = {10.1111/j.1550-7408.2011.00593.x}, pmid = {22221919}, issn = {1550-7408}, mesh = {Chloroplasts/ultrastructure ; Ciliophora/*classification/*cytology/isolation & purification/physiology ; Cryptophyta/growth & development ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; Digestion ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Microscopy ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vacuoles/parasitology ; }, abstract = {We provide here the description of a new marine species that harbors green or red chloroplasts. In contrast to certain other species of the genus, Mesodinium chamaeleon n. sp. can be maintained in culture for short periods only. It captures and ingests flagellates including cryptomonads. The prey is ingested very rapidly into a food vacuole without the cryptomonad flagella being shed and the trichocysts being discharged. The individual food vacuoles subsequently serve as photosynthetic units, each containing the cryptomonad chloroplast, a nucleus, and some mitochondria. The ingested cells are eventually digested. This type of symbiosis differs from other plastid-bearing Mesodinium spp. in retaining ingested cryptomonad cells almost intact. The food strategy of the new species appears to be intermediate between heterotrophic species, such as Mesodinium pulex and Mesodinium pupula, and species with red cryptomonad endosymbionts, such as Mesodinium rubrum.}, } @article {pmid22221383, year = {2012}, author = {St-Pierre, B and Wright, AD}, title = {Molecular analysis of methanogenic archaea in the forestomach of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos).}, journal = {BMC microbiology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1}, pmid = {22221383}, issn = {1471-2180}, mesh = {Animals ; Archaea/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Biota ; Camelids, New World/*microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Archaeal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Male ; Methane/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Methanogens that populate the gastrointestinal tract of livestock ruminants contribute significantly to methane emissions from the agriculture industry. There is a great need to analyze archaeal microbiomes from a broad range of host species in order to establish causal relationships between the structure of methanogen communities and their potential for methane emission. In this report, we present an investigation of methanogenic archaeal populations in the foregut of alpacas.

RESULTS: We constructed individual 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from five sampled animals and recovered a total of 947 sequences which were assigned to 51 species-level OTUs. Individuals were found to each have between 21 and 27 OTUs, of which two to six OTUs were unique. As reported in other host species, Methanobrevibacter was the dominant genus in the alpaca, representing 88.3% of clones. However, the alpaca archaeal microbiome was different from other reported host species, as clones showing species-level identity to Methanobrevibacter millerae were the most abundant.

CONCLUSION: From our analysis, we propose a model to describe the population structure of Methanobrevibacter-related methanogens in the alpaca and in previously reported host species, which may contribute in unraveling the complexity of symbiotic archaeal communities in herbivores.}, } @article {pmid22217981, year = {2012}, author = {Zheng, W and Zhao, Y and Zhang, H}, title = {Morphology and ultrastructure of the hindgut fermentation chamber of a melolonthine beetle Holotrichia parallela (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) during larval development.}, journal = {Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)}, volume = {43}, number = {5}, pages = {638-642}, doi = {10.1016/j.micron.2011.11.009}, pmid = {22217981}, issn = {1878-4291}, mesh = {Animals ; Coleoptera/*anatomy & histology ; Digestive System/*ultrastructure ; Larva/*ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; }, abstract = {The morphology and ultrastructure of the hindgut fermentation chamber of a melolonthine beetle, Holotrichia parallela, were examined using light and electron microscopy. The results showed that the anterior portion of the hindgut expanded into a characteristic lobe-like structure described as a fermentation chamber. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that the wall of the fermentation chamber was composed of three main layers: the longitudinal muscle layer, the circular muscle layer, and the columnar epithelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the ultrastructure of the inner surface of the fermentation chamber was subjected to significant changes during larval development. Only some folds and a few cocci attached to the folds were found in the first-instar larvae. In the fermentation chambers of the second-instar larvae, a cuticular intima began to emerge, and the bacteria multiplied to form bacterial groups attached to the intima. A special lobe-like structure was formed in the third-instar larvae, constituted by bacteria and the bacteria-covered cuticular intima. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the lobe-like structure held large numbers of rod-shaped bacteria. These data suggest that the hindgut fermentation chamber may have an important role in the symbiotic relationship between microbes and their insect hosts.}, } @article {pmid22217755, year = {2011}, author = {He, H and Chen, Y and Zhang, Y and Wei, C}, title = {Bacteria associated with gut lumen of Camponotus japonicus Mayr.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {40}, number = {6}, pages = {1405-1409}, doi = {10.1603/EN11157}, pmid = {22217755}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/*microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Intestines/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Camponotus ants harbor the obligate intracellular endosymbiont Blochmannia in their midgut bacteriocytes, but little is known about intestinal bacteria living in the gut lumen. In this paper we reported the results of a survey of the intestinal microflora of Camponotus japonicus Mayr based on small-subunit rRNA genes (16S rRNAs) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis of worker guts. From 107 clones, 11 different restriction fragment-length polymorphism profiles were identified, and sequences blasting analysis found these represent four types of bacteria. Most (91.6%) of the clones were "Candidatus Blochmannia", the obligate endosymbionts of Camponotus ants, and 6.5% of the clones were "Candidatus Serratia symbiotica", a secondary endosymbiont of aphids; the remaining 2% clones were Fructobacillus fructosus and uncultured Burkholderiales bacterium, respectively. These results show that the diversity of gut bacteria in C. japonicus was low. "Candidatus Serratia symbiotica" was identified from Camponotus ants for the first time, an interesting result because Blochmannia's closest bacterial relative is also in the genus Serratia. This discovery supports the scenario that consumption of aphid honeydew or tissue provides an initial step in the evolution of an advanced symbiosis, and suggests that Camponotus ant could acquire other secondary endosymbionts from Hemiptera host through their diet. In addition, Burkholderiales bacterium also was identified from the gut of C. japonicus for the first time, and whether it is a nitrogen-recycling endosymbiont in Camponotus ants needs to be investigated further.}, } @article {pmid22216307, year = {2011}, author = {Thornhill, DJ and Rotjan, RD and Todd, BD and Chilcoat, GC and Iglesias-Prieto, R and Kemp, DW and LaJeunesse, TC and Reynolds, JM and Schmidt, GW and Shannon, T and Warner, ME and Fitt, WK}, title = {A connection between colony biomass and death in Caribbean reef-building corals.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e29535}, pmid = {22216307}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa ; *Biomass ; Caribbean Region ; Seasons ; }, abstract = {Increased sea-surface temperatures linked to warming climate threaten coral reef ecosystems globally. To better understand how corals and their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.) respond to environmental change, tissue biomass and Symbiodinium density of seven coral species were measured on various reefs approximately every four months for up to thirteen years in the Upper Florida Keys, United States (1994-2007), eleven years in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas (1995-2006), and four years in Puerto Morelos, Mexico (2003-2007). For six out of seven coral species, tissue biomass correlated with Symbiodinium density. Within a particular coral species, tissue biomasses and Symbiodinium densities varied regionally according to the following trends: Mexico≥Florida Keys≥Bahamas. Average tissue biomasses and symbiont cell densities were generally higher in shallow habitats (1-4 m) compared to deeper-dwelling conspecifics (12-15 m). Most colonies that were sampled displayed seasonal fluctuations in biomass and endosymbiont density related to annual temperature variations. During the bleaching episodes of 1998 and 2005, five out of seven species that were exposed to unusually high temperatures exhibited significant decreases in symbiotic algae that, in certain cases, preceded further decreases in tissue biomass. Following bleaching, Montastraea spp. colonies with low relative biomass levels died, whereas colonies with higher biomass levels survived. Bleaching- or disease-associated mortality was also observed in Acropora cervicornis colonies; compared to A. palmata, all A. cervicornis colonies experienced low biomass values. Such patterns suggest that Montastraea spp. and possibly other coral species with relatively low biomass experience increased susceptibility to death following bleaching or other stressors than do conspecifics with higher tissue biomass levels.}, } @article {pmid22216157, year = {2011}, author = {LaJeunesse, TC and Thornhill, DJ}, title = {Improved resolution of reef-coral endosymbiont (Symbiodinium) species diversity, ecology, and evolution through psbA non-coding region genotyping.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e29013}, pmid = {22216157}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/classification/genetics ; Base Sequence ; *Biodiversity ; DNA Primers ; *Ecology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genotype ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Ribosomal DNA sequence data abounds from numerous studies on the dinoflagellate endosymbionts of corals, and yet the multi-copy nature and intragenomic variability of rRNA genes and spacers confound interpretations of symbiont diversity and ecology. Making consistent sense of extensive sequence variation in a meaningful ecological and evolutionary context would benefit from the application of additional genetic markers. Sequences of the non-coding region of the plastid psbA minicircle (psbA(ncr)) were used to independently examine symbiont genotypic and species diversity found within and between colonies of Hawaiian reef corals in the genus Montipora. A single psbA(ncr) haplotype was recovered in most samples through direct sequencing (~80-90%) and members of the same internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) type were phylogenetically differentiated from other ITS2 types by substantial psbA(ncr) sequence divergence. The repeated sequencing of bacterially-cloned fragments of psbA(ncr) from samples and clonal cultures often recovered a single numerically common haplotype accompanied by rare, highly-similar, sequence variants. When sequence artifacts of cloning and intragenomic variation are factored out, these data indicate that most colonies harbored one dominant Symbiodinium genotype. The cloning and sequencing of ITS2 DNA amplified from these same samples recovered numerically abundant variants (that are diagnostic of distinct Symbiodinium lineages), but also generated a large amount of sequences comprising PCR/cloning artifacts combined with ancestral and/or rare variants that, if incorporated into phylogenetic reconstructions, confound how small sequence differences are interpreted. Finally, psbA(ncr) sequence data from a broad sampling of Symbiodinium diversity obtained from various corals throughout the Indo-Pacific were concordant with ITS lineage membership (defined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis screening), yet exhibited substantially greater sequence divergence and revealed strong phylogeographic structure corresponding to major biogeographic provinces. The detailed genetic resolution provided by psbA(ncr) data brings further clarity to the ecology, evolution, and systematics of symbiotic dinoflagellates.}, } @article {pmid22215967, year = {2011}, author = {Hu, L and Liu, S}, title = {Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic analysis of the ERF gene family in cucumbers.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular biology}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, pages = {624-633}, pmid = {22215967}, issn = {1678-4685}, abstract = {Members of the ERF transcription-factor family participate in a number of biological processes, viz., responses to hormones, adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress, metabolism regulation, beneficial symbiotic interactions, cell differentiation and developmental processes. So far, no tissue-expression profile of any cucumber ERF protein has been reported in detail. Recent completion of the cucumber full-genome sequence has come to facilitate, not only genome-wide analysis of ERF family members in cucumbers themselves, but also a comparative analysis with those in Arabidopsis and rice. In this study, 103 hypothetical ERF family genes in the cucumber genome were identified, phylogenetic analysis indicating their classification into 10 groups, designated I to X. Motif analysis further indicated that most of the conserved motifs outside the AP2/ERF domain, are selectively distributed among the specific clades in the phylogenetic tree. From chromosomal localization and genome distribution analysis, it appears that tandem-duplication may have contributed to CsERF gene expansion. Intron/exon structure analysis indicated that a few CsERFs still conserved the former intron-position patterns existent in the common ancestor of monocots and eudicots. Expression analysis revealed the widespread distribution of the cucumber ERF gene family within plant tissues, thereby implying the probability of their performing various roles therein. Furthermore, members of some groups presented mutually similar expression patterns that might be related to their phylogenetic groups.}, } @article {pmid22213816, year = {2012}, author = {Hassan, S and Mathesius, U}, title = {The role of flavonoids in root-rhizosphere signalling: opportunities and challenges for improving plant-microbe interactions.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {9}, pages = {3429-3444}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/err430}, pmid = {22213816}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Flavonoids/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {The flavonoid pathway produces a diverse array of plant compounds with functions in UV protection, as antioxidants, pigments, auxin transport regulators, defence compounds against pathogens and during signalling in symbiosis. This review highlights some of the known function of flavonoids in the rhizosphere, in particular for the interaction of roots with microorganisms. Depending on their structure, flavonoids have been shown to stimulate or inhibit rhizobial nod gene expression, cause chemoattraction of rhizobia towards the root, inhibit root pathogens, stimulate mycorrhizal spore germination and hyphal branching, mediate allelopathic interactions between plants, affect quorum sensing, and chelate soil nutrients. Therefore, the manipulation of the flavonoid pathway to synthesize specifically certain products has been suggested as an avenue to improve root-rhizosphere interactions. Possible strategies to alter flavonoid exudation to the rhizosphere are discussed. Possible challenges in that endeavour include limited knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate flavonoid transport and exudation, unforeseen effects of altering parts of the flavonoid synthesis pathway on fluxes elsewhere in the pathway, spatial heterogeneity of flavonoid exudation along the root, as well as alteration of flavonoid products by microorganisms in the soil. In addition, the overlapping functions of many flavonoids as stimulators of functions in one organism and inhibitors of another suggests caution in attempts to manipulate flavonoid rhizosphere signals.}, } @article {pmid22212404, year = {2012}, author = {Campos-Soriano, L and García-Martínez, J and San Segundo, B}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis promotes the systemic induction of regulatory defence-related genes in rice leaves and confers resistance to pathogen infection.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {579-592}, pmid = {22212404}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/genetics/*microbiology ; Plant Leaves/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses are mutualistic associations between soil fungi and most vascular plants. Their association benefits the host plant by improving nutrition, mainly phosphorus nutrition, and by providing increased capability to cope with adverse conditions. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional changes triggered in rice leaves as a result of AM symbiosis, focusing on the relevance of the plant defence response. We showed that root colonization by the AM fungus Glomus intraradices is accompanied by the systemic induction of genes that play a regulatory role in the host defence response, such as OsNPR1, OsAP2, OsEREBP and OsJAmyb. Genes involved in signal transduction processes (OsDUF26 and OsMPK6) and genes that function in calcium-mediated signalling processes (OsCBP, OsCaM and OsCML4) are also up-regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice plants in the absence of pathogen infection. In addition, the mycorrhizal rice plants exhibit a stronger induction of defence marker genes [i.e. pathogenesis-related (PR) genes] in their leaves in response to infection by the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Evidence indicates that mycorrhizal rice plants show enhanced resistance to the rice blast fungus. Overall, these results suggest that the protective effect of the AM symbiosis in rice plants relies on both the systemic activation of defence regulatory genes in the absence of pathogen challenge and the priming for stronger expression of defence effector genes during pathogen infection. The possible mechanisms involved in the mycorrhiza-induced resistance to M. oryzae infection are discussed.}, } @article {pmid22211896, year = {2011}, author = {Boerner, BP and Sarvetnick, NE}, title = {Type 1 diabetes: role of intestinal microbiome in humans and mice.}, journal = {Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences}, volume = {1243}, number = {}, pages = {103-118}, doi = {10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06340.x}, pmid = {22211896}, issn = {1749-6632}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/*etiology/immunology/*microbiology/prevention & control ; Diet/adverse effects ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; *Metagenome/immunology ; Mice ; Probiotics/pharmacology ; Risk Factors ; }, abstract = {Type 1 diabetes is a disease involving autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells in genetically predisposed individuals. Identifying factors that trigger initiation and progression of autoimmunity may provide opportunities for directed prophylactic and therapeutic measures to prevent and/or treat type 1 diabetes. The human intestinal microbiome is a complex, symbiotic ecological community that influences human health and development, including the development and maintenance of the human immune system. The role of the intestinal microbiome in autoimmunity has garnered significant attention, and evidence suggests a particular role for intestinal microbiome alterations in autoimmune disease development, including type 1 diabetes. This review will examine the role of the intestinal microbiome in the development and function of the immune system and how this relates to the development of autoimmunity. Data from animal and human studies linking alterations in the intestinal microbiome and intestinal integrity with type 1 diabetes will be closely examined. Finally, we will examine the interactions between the intestinal microbiome and dietary exposures and how these interactions may further influence autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes development.}, } @article {pmid22211188, year = {2011}, author = {Kennedy, DO and Wightman, EL}, title = {Herbal extracts and phytochemicals: plant secondary metabolites and the enhancement of human brain function.}, journal = {Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {32-50}, pmid = {22211188}, issn = {2156-5376}, mesh = {Animals ; Antioxidants ; Brain/*drug effects/*physiology ; Flavonoids ; Ginkgo biloba ; Humans ; Insecta ; Melissa ; Panax ; Phenols ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts/chemistry ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Salvia officinalis ; }, abstract = {Humans consume a wide range of foods, drugs, and dietary supplements that are derived from plants and which modify the functioning of the central nervous sytem (CNS). The psychoactive properties of these substances are attributable to the presence of plant secondary metabolites, chemicals that are not required for the immediate survival of the plant but which are synthesized to increase the fitness of the plant to survive by allowing it to interact with its environment, including pathogens and herbivorous and symbiotic insects. In many cases, the effects of these phytochemicals on the human CNS might be linked either to their ecological roles in the life of the plant or to molecular and biochemical similarities in the biology of plants and higher animals. This review assesses the current evidence for the efficacy of a range of readily available plant-based extracts and chemicals that may improve brain function and which have attracted sufficient research in this regard to reach a conclusion as to their potential effectiveness as nootropics. Many of these candidate phytochemicals/extracts can be grouped by the chemical nature of their potentially active secondary metabolite constituents into alkaloids (caffeine, nicotine), terpenes (ginkgo, ginseng, valerian, Melissa officinalis, sage), and phenolic compounds (curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, Hypericum perforatum, soy isoflavones). They are discussed in terms of how an increased understanding of the relationship between their ecological roles and CNS effects might further the field of natural, phytochemical drug discovery.}, } @article {pmid22210917, year = {2012}, author = {Fagundes, CT and Amaral, FA and Vieira, AT and Soares, AC and Pinho, V and Nicoli, JR and Vieira, LQ and Teixeira, MM and Souza, DG}, title = {Transient TLR activation restores inflammatory response and ability to control pulmonary bacterial infection in germfree mice.}, journal = {Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)}, volume = {188}, number = {3}, pages = {1411-1420}, doi = {10.4049/jimmunol.1101682}, pmid = {22210917}, issn = {1550-6606}, mesh = {Animals ; Germ-Free Life ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Inflammation/*etiology ; Interleukin-10/immunology ; Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; Klebsiella Infections/*immunology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Metagenome/immunology ; Mice ; Toll-Like Receptors/*metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mammals are colonized by an astronomical number of commensal microorganisms on their environmental exposed surfaces. These symbiotic species build up a complex community that aids their hosts in several physiological activities. We have shown that lack of intestinal microbiota is accompanied by a state of active IL-10-mediated inflammatory hyporesponsiveness. The present study investigated whether the germfree state and its hyporesponsive phenotype alter host resistance to an infectious bacterial insult. Experiments performed in germfree mice infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae showed that these animals are drastically susceptible to bacterial infection in an IL-10-dependent manner. In germfree mice, IL-10 restrains proinflammatory mediator production and neutrophil recruitment and favors pathogen growth and dissemination. Germfree mice were resistant to LPS treatment. However, priming of these animals with several TLR agonists recovered their inflammatory responsiveness to sterile injury. LPS pretreatment also rendered germfree mice resistant to pulmonary K. pneumoniae infection, abrogated IL-10 production, and restored TNF-α and CXCL1 production and neutrophil mobilization into lungs of infected germfree mice. This effective inflammatory response mounted by LPS-treated germfree mice resulted in bacterial clearance and enhanced survival upon infection. Therefore, host colonization by indigenous microbiota alters the way the host reacts to environmental infectious stimuli, probably through activation of TLR-dependent pathways. Symbiotic gut colonization enables proper inflammatory response to harmful insults to the host, and increases resilience of the entire mammal-microbiota consortium to environmental pressures.}, } @article {pmid22210193, year = {2012}, author = {Olsson, S and Kaasalainen, U and Rikkinen, J}, title = {Reconstruction of structural evolution in the trnL intron P6b loop of symbiotic Nostoc (Cyanobacteria).}, journal = {Current genetics}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {49-58}, pmid = {22210193}, issn = {1432-0983}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Introns ; Lichens/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nostoc/*genetics/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Double-Stranded/chemistry ; RNA, Transfer, Leu/*chemistry ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {In this study we reconstruct the structural evolution of the hyper-variable P6b region of the group I trnLeu intron in a monophyletic group of lichen-symbiotic Nostoc strains and establish it as a useful marker in the phylogenetic analysis of these organisms. The studied cyanobacteria occur as photosynthetic and/or nitrogen-fixing symbionts in lichen species of the diverse Nephroma guild. Phylogenetic analyses and secondary structure reconstructions are used to improve the understanding of the replication mechanisms in the P6b stem-loop and to explain the observed distribution patterns of indels. The variants of the P6b region in the Nostoc clade studied consist of different combinations of five sequence modules. The distribution of indels together with the ancestral character reconstruction performed enables the interpretation of the evolution of each sequence module. Our results indicate that the indel events are usually associated with single nucleotide changes in the P6b region and have occurred several times independently. In spite of their homoplasy, they provide phylogenetic information for closely related taxa. Thus we recognize that features of the P6b region can be used as molecular markers for species identification and phylogenetic studies involving symbiotic Nostoc cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22209217, year = {2012}, author = {Takanashi, K and Sugiyama, A and Sato, S and Tabata, S and Yazaki, K}, title = {LjABCB1, an ATP-binding cassette protein specifically induced in uninfected cells of Lotus japonicus nodules.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {3}, pages = {322-326}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2011.11.008}, pmid = {22209217}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Lotus/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants develop root nodules through symbiosis with rhizobia, and fix atmospheric nitrogen in this symbiotic organ. Development of root nodules is regulated by many metabolites including phytohormones. Previously, we reported that auxin is strongly involved in the development of the nodule vascular bundle and lenticel formation on the nodules of Lotus japonicus. Here we show that an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein, LjABCB1, which is a homologue of Arabidopsis auxin transporter AtABCB4, is specifically expressed during nodulation of L. japonicus. A reporter gene analysis indicated that the expression of LjABCB1 was restricted to uninfected cells adjacent to infected cells in the nodule, while no expression was observed in shoot apical meristems or root tips, in which most auxin transporter genes are expressed. The auxin transport activity of LjABCB1 was confirmed using a heterologous expression system.}, } @article {pmid22208603, year = {2012}, author = {Weisshaupt, P and Pritzkow, W and Noll, M}, title = {Nitrogen sources of Oligoporus placenta and Trametes versicolor evaluated in a 2(3) experimental plan.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {116}, number = {1}, pages = {81-89}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2011.10.002}, pmid = {22208603}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Beijerinckiaceae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Coriolaceae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Laccase/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; Trametes/growth & development/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Four full-factorial 2(3) experimental plans were applied to evaluate the nitrogen (N) sources of Oligoporus placenta and Trametes versicolor and their interaction with the atmospheric N(2)-assimilating bacterium Beijerinckia acida. The effects of N from peptone, of sapwood and of N from gaseous N(2) on fungal, bacterial and fungal-bacterial activity were investigated. The activities were determined by quantification of biomass, formation of CO(2), consumption of O(2) and laccase activity. The significance of each effect was tested according to t-test recommendation. The activity of both fungi was enhanced by peptone rather than sapwood or gaseous N(2). Nevertheless, comparative studies under an N(2)-free gas mixture as well as under air revealed that the presence of N(2) affected bacterial growth and bacterial-fungal cocultivations. Elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of the bacterial and fungal biomass enabled estimation of N transfer and underlined gaseous N(2) as requisite for fungal-bacterial interactions. Combining full-factorial experimental plans with an analytical set-up comprising gas chromatography, IRMS and enzymatic activity allowed synergistic effects to be revealed, fungal N sources to be traced, and symbiotic fungal-bacterial interactions to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid22208556, year = {2012}, author = {Dall'Asta, M and Calani, L and Tedeschi, M and Jechiu, L and Brighenti, F and Del Rio, D}, title = {Identification of microbial metabolites derived from in vitro fecal fermentation of different polyphenolic food sources.}, journal = {Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)}, volume = {28}, number = {2}, pages = {197-203}, doi = {10.1016/j.nut.2011.06.005}, pmid = {22208556}, issn = {1873-1244}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biological Availability ; Colon/*microbiology ; *Diet ; Feces/*microbiology ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Polyphenols/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The biological effects of dietary polyphenols are linked to their bioavailability and catabolism in humans. The colon, with its symbiotic microbiota, is an active site where complex polyphenolic compounds are possibly modified to smaller and more absorbable molecules. The aim of this study was to identify the major metabolites derived from microbial colonic fermentation of some common polyphenol-rich foods.

METHODS: An in vitro fecal fermentation model was applied to 16 polyphenol-rich foods and polyphenolic precursors. Phenolic metabolites were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection.

RESULTS: Twenty-four phenolic fermentation metabolites were characterized. Some metabolites were common to several polyphenol-rich foods, whereas others were characteristic of specific sources.

CONCLUSION: The metabolites identified in vitro likely are generated in the human colon after consumption of polyphenol-rich foods. Their occurrence in plasma and/or urine should be considered when evaluating the bioavailability of polyphenols from specific food groups in humans and in the definition of markers of exposure to specific foods or food groups in epidemiologic studies. However, the search for these and other microbial metabolites after a feeding study in vivo should consider their possible further conjugation at the level of the liver.}, } @article {pmid22205976, year = {2011}, author = {Burns, JH and Takabayashi, M}, title = {Histopathology of growth anomaly affecting the coral, Montipora capitata: implications on biological functions and population viability.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e28854}, pmid = {22205976}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/cytology/*growth & development ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Population Density ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; }, abstract = {Growth anomalies (GAs) affect the coral, Montipora capitata, at Wai'ōpae, southeast Hawai'i Island. Our histopathological analysis of this disease revealed that the GA tissue undergoes changes which compromise anatomical machinery for biological functions such as defense, feeding, digestion, and reproduction. GA tissue exhibited significant reductions in density of ova (66.1-93.7%), symbiotic dinoflagellates (38.8-67.5%), mesenterial filaments (11.2-29.0%), and nematocytes (28.8-46.0%). Hyperplasia of the basal body wall but no abnormal levels of necrosis and algal or fungal invasion was found in GA tissue. Skeletal density along the basal body wall was significantly reduced in GAs compared to healthy or unaffected sections. The reductions in density of the above histological features in GA tissue were collated with disease severity data to quantify the impact of this disease at the colony and population level. Resulting calculations showed this disease reduces the fecundity of M. capitata colonies at Wai'ōpae by 0.7-49.6%, depending on GA severity, and the overall population fecundity by 2.41±0.29%. In sum, GA in this M. capitata population reduces the coral's critical biological functions and increases susceptibility to erosion, clearly defining itself as a disease and an ecological threat.}, } @article {pmid22205877, year = {2011}, author = {Martens, EC and Lowe, EC and Chiang, H and Pudlo, NA and Wu, M and McNulty, NP and Abbott, DW and Henrissat, B and Gilbert, HJ and Bolam, DN and Gordon, JI}, title = {Recognition and degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides by two human gut symbionts.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {9}, number = {12}, pages = {e1001221}, pmid = {22205877}, issn = {1545-7885}, support = {BB/F014163/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; R01 DK030292/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AI073060/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD07409/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HG000045/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; K01 DK084214/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R37 DK030292/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; K22 HG000045/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; HG00045/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007200/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; DK30292/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; GM07200/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HD007409/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacteroides/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Cell Wall/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Loci ; Humans ; Monosaccharides/metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pectins/metabolism ; Plant Cells/*metabolism ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the human gut have evolved under intense pressure to utilize complex carbohydrates, primarily plant cell wall glycans in our diets. These polysaccharides are not digested by human enzymes, but are processed to absorbable short chain fatty acids by gut bacteria. The Bacteroidetes, one of two dominant bacterial phyla in the adult gut, possess broad glycan-degrading abilities. These species use a series of membrane protein complexes, termed Sus-like systems, for catabolism of many complex carbohydrates. However, the role of these systems in degrading the chemically diverse repertoire of plant cell wall glycans remains unknown. Here we show that two closely related human gut Bacteroides, B. thetaiotaomicron and B. ovatus, are capable of utilizing nearly all of the major plant and host glycans, including rhamnogalacturonan II, a highly complex polymer thought to be recalcitrant to microbial degradation. Transcriptional profiling and gene inactivation experiments revealed the identity and specificity of the polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) that encode individual Sus-like systems that target various plant polysaccharides. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that B. ovatus possesses several unique PULs that enable degradation of hemicellulosic polysaccharides, a phenotype absent from B. thetaiotaomicron. In contrast, the B. thetaiotaomicron genome has been shaped by increased numbers of PULs involved in metabolism of host mucin O-glycans, a phenotype that is undetectable in B. ovatus. Binding studies of the purified sensor domains of PUL-associated hybrid two-component systems in conjunction with transcriptional analyses demonstrate that complex oligosaccharides provide the regulatory cues that induce PUL activation and that each PUL is highly specific for a defined cell wall polymer. These results provide a view of how these species have diverged into different carbohydrate niches by evolving genes that target unique suites of available polysaccharides, a theme that likely applies to disparate bacteria from the gut and other habitats.}, } @article {pmid22203959, year = {2012}, author = {Xie, F and Murray, JD and Kim, J and Heckmann, AB and Edwards, A and Oldroyd, GE and Downie, JA}, title = {Legume pectate lyase required for root infection by rhizobia.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {2}, pages = {633-638}, pmid = {22203959}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BB/G023832/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; E017045/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Enzyme Induction/physiology ; Likelihood Functions ; Lotus/*enzymology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics/metabolism ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Polysaccharide-Lyases/*biosynthesis/*genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {To allow rhizobial infection of legume roots, plant cell walls must be locally degraded for plant-made infection threads (ITs) to be formed. Here we identify a Lotus japonicus nodulation pectate lyase gene (LjNPL), which is induced in roots and root hairs by rhizobial nodulation (Nod) factors via activation of the nodulation signaling pathway and the NIN transcription factor. Two Ljnpl mutants produced uninfected nodules and most infections arrested as infection foci in root hairs or roots. The few partially infected nodules that did form contained large abnormal infections. The purified LjNPL protein had pectate lyase activity, demonstrating that this activity is required for rhizobia to penetrate the cell wall and initiate formation of plant-made infection threads. Therefore, we conclude that legume-determined degradation of plant cell walls is required for root infection during initiation of the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and legumes.}, } @article {pmid22203556, year = {2011}, author = {Lemaire, B and Robbrecht, E and van Wyk, B and Van Oevelen, S and Verstraete, B and Prinsen, E and Smets, E and Dessein, S}, title = {Identification, origin, and evolution of leaf nodulating symbionts of Sericanthe (Rubiaceae).}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {49}, number = {6}, pages = {935-941}, pmid = {22203556}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rubiaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial leaf symbiosis is an intimate association between bacteria and plants in which endosymbionts are housed within leaf nodules. This phenomenon has been reported in three genera of Rubiaceae (Pavetta, Psychotria, and Sericanthe), but the bacterial partner has only been identified in Psychotria and Pavetta. Here we report the identification of symbiotic bacteria in two leaf nodulating Sericanthe species. Using 16S rRNA data and common housekeeping genetic markers (recA and gyrB) we studied the phylogenetic relationships of bacterial endosymbionts in Rubiaceae. Endosymbionts of leaf nodulating Rubiaceae were found to be closely related and were placed as a monophyletic group within the genus Burkholderia (β-Proteobacteria). The phylogenetic analyses revealed a pattern of strict host specificity and placed the two investigated endosymbionts at two distinct positions in the topology of the tree, suggesting at least two different evolutionary origins. The degree of sequence divergence between the Sericanthe endosymbionts and their relatives was large enough to propose the Sericanthe endosymbionts as new species ('Candidatus Burkholderia andongensis' and 'Candidatus Burkholderia petitii'). In a second part of this study, the pylogenetic relationships among nodulating and non-nodulating Sericanthe species were investigated using sequence data from six chloroplast regions (rps16, trnG, trnL-trnF, petD, petA-psbJ, and atpI-atpH). Overall, genetic variation among the plastid markers was insufficient to enable phylogenetic estimation. However, our results could not rule out the possibility that bacterial leaf symbiosis originated once in a common ancestor of the Sericanthe species.}, } @article {pmid22202085, year = {2012}, author = {Macpherson, AJ and Geuking, MB and McCoy, KD}, title = {Innate and adaptive immunity in host-microbiota mutualism.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, pages = {685-698}, doi = {10.2741/s293}, pmid = {22202085}, issn = {1945-0524}, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/immunology ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Bacteria/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunity, Mucosal/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin A/biosynthesis/immunology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; }, abstract = {Healthy individuals live in peaceful co-existence with an immense load of intestinal bacteria. This symbiosis is advantageous for both the host and the bacteria. For the host it provides access to otherwise undigestible nutrients and colonization resistance against pathogens. In return the bacteria receive an excellent nutrient habitat. The mucosal immune adaptations to the presence of this commensal intestinal microflora are manifold. Although bacterial colonization has clear systemic consequences, such as maturation of the immune system, it is striking that the mutualistic adaptive (T and B cells) and innate immune responses are precisely compartmentalized to the mucosal immune system. Here we summarize the mechanisms of mucosal immune compartmentalization and its importance for a healthy host-microbiota mutualism.}, } @article {pmid22201830, year = {2012}, author = {Ardissone, S and Viollier, PH}, title = {Developmental and environmental regulatory pathways in alpha-proteobacteria.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {17}, number = {5}, pages = {1695-1714}, doi = {10.2741/4013}, pmid = {22201830}, issn = {2768-6698}, mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; Chromosomes, Bacterial ; }, abstract = {Spatial and temporal control of cell differentiation and morphogenesis plays a key role in prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes. This is particularly important for bacteria that divide asymmetrically, as they generate two morphologically and functionally distinct daughter cells. Several alpha-proteobacteria, including the aquatic, free-living Caulobacter crescentus, the symbiotic rhizobia and the plant and animal pathogens Agrobacterium and Brucella, have been shown to undergo asymmetrical division. C. crescentus has become a model system for the study of the regulatory networks, in particular the control of the cell cycle, the cytokinetic machinery, the cytoskeleton and the functions required for duplication and differentiation in general. As the bulk of these regulatory networks and functions is conserved in most alpha-proteobacteria, we recapitulate the recent advances in understanding these spatially and temporally controlled processes, focusing on cell cycle progression, DNA replication and partitioning, cell division and regulation of specific phenotypes that vary during the cell cycle or in the case of different lifestyles (like extracellular polysaccharide production) in C. crescentus and other alpha-proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22201793, year = {2012}, author = {Kyriakidis, DA and Theodorou, MC and Tiligada, E}, title = {Histamine in two component system-mediated bacterial signaling.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)}, volume = {17}, number = {3}, pages = {1108-1119}, doi = {10.2741/3976}, pmid = {22201793}, issn = {2768-6698}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Histamine/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Histamine is a key mediator governing vital cellular processes in mammals beyond its decisive role in inflammation. Recent evidence implies additional actions in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Besides its function in host defense against bacterial infections, histamine elicits largely undefined actions in microorganisms that may contribute to bacteria-host interactions. Bacterial proliferation and adaptation are governed by sophisticated signal transduction networks, including the versatile two-component systems (TCSs) that comprise sensor histidine kinases and response regulators and rely on phosphotransfer mechanisms to exert their modulatory function. The AtoSC TCS regulates fundamental cellular processes such as short-chain fatty acid metabolism, poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (cPHB) biosynthesis and chemotaxis in Escherichia coli. The implication of exogenous histamine in the AtoSC-mediated cPHB biosynthesis and in E. coli chemotactic behavior is indicative of a putative function of histamine in bacterial physiology. The data raise questions on the significance of histamine actions in bacteria-host symbiosis, dysbiosis and pathogenicity as well as on the possible consequences upon therapeutic administration of histamine receptor-targeting agents and in particular ligands of the recently identified immunomodulatory H4 receptor.}, } @article {pmid22201529, year = {2011}, author = {Husník, F and Chrudimský, T and Hypša, V}, title = {Multiple origins of endosymbiosis within the Enterobacteriaceae (γ-Proteobacteria): convergence of complex phylogenetic approaches.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {9}, number = {}, pages = {87}, pmid = {22201529}, issn = {1741-7007}, mesh = {Bayes Theorem ; Buchnera/genetics/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Wigglesworthia/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The bacterial family Enterobacteriaceae gave rise to a variety of symbiotic forms, from the loosely associated commensals, often designated as secondary (S) symbionts, to obligate mutualists, called primary (P) symbionts. Determination of the evolutionary processes behind this phenomenon has long been hampered by the unreliability of phylogenetic reconstructions within this group of bacteria. The main reasons have been the absence of sufficient data, the highly derived nature of the symbiont genomes and lack of appropriate phylogenetic methods. Due to the extremely aberrant nature of their DNA, the symbiotic lineages within Enterobacteriaceae form long branches and tend to cluster as a monophyletic group. This state of phylogenetic uncertainty is now improving with an increasing number of complete bacterial genomes and development of new methods. In this study, we address the monophyly versus polyphyly of enterobacterial symbionts by exploring a multigene matrix within a complex phylogenetic framework.

RESULTS: We assembled the richest taxon sampling of Enterobacteriaceae to date (50 taxa, 69 orthologous genes with no missing data) and analyzed both nucleic and amino acid data sets using several probabilistic methods. We particularly focused on the long-branch attraction-reducing methods, such as a nucleotide and amino acid data recoding and exclusion (including our new approach and slow-fast analysis), taxa exclusion and usage of complex evolutionary models, such as nonhomogeneous model and models accounting for site-specific features of protein evolution (CAT and CAT+GTR). Our data strongly suggest independent origins of four symbiotic clusters; the first is formed by Hamiltonella and Regiella (S-symbionts) placed as a sister clade to Yersinia, the second comprises Arsenophonus and Riesia (S- and P-symbionts) as a sister clade to Proteus, the third Sodalis, Baumannia, Blochmannia and Wigglesworthia (S- and P-symbionts) as a sister or paraphyletic clade to the Pectobacterium and Dickeya clade and, finally, Buchnera species and Ishikawaella (P-symbionts) clustering with the Erwinia and Pantoea clade.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the efficiency of several artifact-reducing methods and strongly point towards the polyphyly of P-symbionts within Enterobacteriaceae. Interestingly, the model species of symbiotic bacteria research, Buchnera and Wigglesworthia, originated from closely related, but different, ancestors. The possible origins of intracellular symbiotic bacteria from gut-associated or pathogenic bacteria are suggested, as well as the role of facultative secondary symbionts as a source of bacteria that can gradually become obligate maternally transferred symbionts.}, } @article {pmid22198619, year = {2011}, author = {Tchaptchet, S and Hansen, J}, title = {The Yin and Yang of host-commensal mutualism.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {347-352}, doi = {10.4161/gmic.19089}, pmid = {22198619}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Crohn Disease/immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; Escherichia coli/*growth & development/immunology/*pathogenicity ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology/pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The human body is populated by an extremely diverse group of microbes that live in a symbiotic relationship with their host. Among these, intestinal commensals are the most abundant, induce homeostatic mucosal immune responses, and fulfill physiologic functions that benefit the host. In some cases, gut symbionts, including Escherichia coli, may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic intestinal inflammation by causing dysregulated immune activation in genetically susceptible hosts. Although immune responses to bacterial products are well-characterized, the impact of intestinal inflammation on the function of commensal luminal microbes is only beginning to be elucidated. We recently reported that chronic intestinal inflammation induces commensal E. coli to upregulate stress response genes that paradoxically limit their growth in vivo. Herein, we discuss our findings in the context of host-microbial interactions in health and disease and a developing paradigm that may distinguish pathogens from commensals.}, } @article {pmid22197660, year = {2012}, author = {Yotsu-Yamashita, M and Gilhen, J and Russell, RW and Krysko, KL and Melaun, C and Kurz, A and Kauferstein, S and Kordis, D and Mebs, D}, title = {Variability of tetrodotoxin and of its analogues in the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae).}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {59}, number = {2}, pages = {257-264}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.12.004}, pmid = {22197660}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Animals ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA/genetics/isolation & purification ; Florida ; New Hampshire ; New York ; *Notophthalmus viridescens ; Nova Scotia ; Pennsylvania ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Specimen Handling ; Tetrodotoxin/*analogs & derivatives/analysis ; Virginia ; }, abstract = {Efts and adult specimens (n = 142) of the red-spotted newt Notophthalmus viridescens from various locations in Canada and USA were analyzed for the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and of its analogues 6-epitetrodotoxin and 11-oxotetrodotoxin. Considerable individual variations in toxin levels were found within and among populations from New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia ranging from non-detectable to 69 μg TTX per g newt. TTX and its analogues were absent in efts and adults from various locations in the Canadian province Nova Scotia, the northernmost distribution of the newt, and in adults from Florida. Newts kept in captivity for several years and reared on toxin-free diet lost their toxicity. Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of specimens from the various populations using three phylogenetic markers (COI, ND2 and 16S RNA) revealed that populations from the northern states of the USA and Canada are genetically homogenous, whereas the newts from Florida exhibited a much higher level of genetic divergence. An exogenous source of TTX in the newts either via the food chain or by synthesis of symbiotic bacteria is suggested to explain the high variability and lack of TTX in certain populations.}, } @article {pmid22196076, year = {2013}, author = {Sweet, LP and Glover, P}, title = {An exploration of the midwifery continuity of care program at one Australian University as a symbiotic clinical education model.}, journal = {Nurse education today}, volume = {33}, number = {3}, pages = {262-267}, doi = {10.1016/j.nedt.2011.11.020}, pmid = {22196076}, issn = {1532-2793}, mesh = {Australia ; *Continuity of Patient Care ; Female ; Humans ; Midwifery/*education ; *Models, Educational ; Nursing Education Research ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Pregnancy ; Qualitative Research ; Universities ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This discussion paper analyses a midwifery Continuity of Care program at an Australian University with the symbiotic clinical education model, to identify strengths and weakness, and identify ways in which this new pedagogical approach can be improved.

BACKGROUND: In 2002 a major change in Australian midwifery curricula was the introduction of a pedagogical innovation known as the Continuity of Care experience. This innovation contributes a significant portion of clinical experience for midwifery students. It is intended as a way to give midwifery students the opportunity to provide continuity of care in partnership with women, through their pregnancy and childbirth, thus imitating a model of continuity of care and continuity of carer.

METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted in 2008/9 as part of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Associate Fellowship. Evidence and findings from this project (reported elsewhere) are used in this paper to illustrate the evaluation of midwifery Continuity of Care experience program at an Australian university with the symbiotic clinical education model.

FINDINGS: Strengths of the current Continuity of Care experience are the strong focus on relationships between midwifery students and women, and early clinical exposure to professional practice. Improved facilitation through the development of stronger relationships with clinicians will improve learning, and result in improved access to authentic supported learning and increased provision of formative feedback. This paper presents a timely review of the Continuity of Care experience for midwifery student learning and highlights the potential of applying the symbiotic clinical education model to enhance learning.

CONCLUSION: Applying the symbiotic clinical education framework to evidence gathered about the Continuity of Care experience in Australian midwifery education highlights strengths and weaknesses which may be used to guide curricula and pedagogical improvements.}, } @article {pmid22195583, year = {2012}, author = {Meng, L}, title = {Roles of secreted peptides in intercellular communication and root development.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {183}, number = {}, pages = {106-114}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2011.10.020}, pmid = {22195583}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Physiological Phenomena/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*growth & development/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Intercellular signaling networks control cell identity and activity in all multicellular organisms. Secreted peptides that function as extracellular ligands play essential roles in local communication between adjacent plant cells. The extracellular domain of receptor kinases bind to secreted peptides and initiate downstream cellular responses, resulting in cell proliferation, growth, or differentiation in multicellular organisms. Root growth and development are highly organized processes involving cell division, expansion, and differentiation; these processes depend on the establishment and maintenance of root apical meristem. The regulatory networks controlling root growth and development are tightly controlled by various signal transduction pathways, feedback loops, and crosstalk among signaling pathways. This review demonstrates the remarkable diversity and importance of secreted peptides in cell signaling and summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the peptide signaling cascades with particular emphasis on pathways involved in regulating root apical meristem and vascular tissue development and those involved in rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Furthermore, this review provides an integrated view of the regulatory networks that control root development, including transcription factors, phytohormones and peptide signalings. Future perspectives in peptide signaling are also discussed.}, } @article {pmid22194999, year = {2011}, author = {Bordenstein, SR and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Temperature affects the tripartite interactions between bacteriophage WO, Wolbachia, and cytoplasmic incompatibility.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e29106}, pmid = {22194999}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01 GM085163/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteriophages/*physiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Cytoplasm/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Penetrance ; Wasps/*microbiology ; Wolbachia/growth & development/*physiology/*virology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia infections are a model for understanding intracellular, bacterial symbioses. While the symbiosis is often studied from a binary perspective of host and bacteria, it is increasingly apparent that additional trophic levels can influence the symbiosis. For example, Wolbachia in arthropods harbor a widespread temperate bacteriophage, termed WO, that forms virions and rampantly transfers between coinfections. Here we test the hypothesis that temperatures at the extreme edges of an insect's habitable range alter bacteriophage WO inducibility and in turn, Wolbachia densities and the penetrance of cytoplasmic incompatibility. We report four key findings using the model wasp, Nasonia vitripennis: First, both cold treatment at 18 C and heat treatment at 30 C reduce Wolbachia densities by as much as 74% relative to wasps reared at 25 C. Second, in all cases where Wolbachia densities decline due to temperature changes, phage WO densities increase and inversely associate with Wolbachia densities. Heat has a marked effect on phage WO, yielding phage densities that are 552% higher than the room temperature control. Third, there is a significant affect of insect family on phage WO and endoysmbiont densities. Fourth, at extreme temperatures, there was a temperature-mediated adjustment to the density threshold at which Wolbachia cause complete cytoplasmic incompatibility. Taken together, these results demonstrate that temperature simultaneously affects phage WO densities, endosymbiont densities, and the penetrance of cytoplasmic incompatibility. While temperature shock enhances bacteriophage inducibility and the ensuing bacterial mortality in a wide range of medically and industrially-important bacteria, this is the first investigation of the associations in an obligate intracellular bacteria. Implications to a SOS global sensing feedback mechanism in Wolbachia are discussed.}, } @article {pmid22194970, year = {2011}, author = {Xie, F and Cheng, G and Xu, H and Wang, Z and Lei, L and Li, Y}, title = {Identification of a novel gene for biosynthesis of a bacteroid-specific electron carrier menaquinone.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e28995}, pmid = {22194970}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Astragalus Plant/growth & development/microbiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/*genetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cloning, Molecular ; *Electrons ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mesorhizobium/*genetics ; Methylation ; Methyltransferases/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Ubiquinone/metabolism ; Vitamin K 2/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Ubiquinone (UQ) has been considered as an electron mediator in electron transfer that generates ATP in Rhizobium under both free-living and symbiosis conditions. When mutated, the dmtH gene has a symbiotic phenotype of forming ineffective nodules on Astragalus sinicus. The gene was isolated from a Mesorhizobium huakuii 7653R transposon-inserted mutant library. The DNA sequence and conserved protein domain analyses revealed that dmtH encodes demethylmenaquinone (DMK) methyltransferase, which catalyzes the terminal step of menaquinone (MK) biosynthesis. Comparative analysis indicated that dmtH homologs were present in only a few Rhizobia. Real-time quantitative PCR showed dmtH is a bacteroid-specific gene. The highest expression was seen at 25 days after inoculation of strain 7653R. Gene disruption and complementation tests demonstrated that the dmtH gene was essential for bacteroid development and symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability. MK and UQ were extracted from the wild type strain 7653R and mutant strain HK116. MK-7 was accumulated under microaerobic condition and UQ-10 was accumulated under aerobic condition in M. huakuii 7653R. The predicted function of DmtH protein was confirmed by the measurement of methyltransferase activity in vitro. These results revealed that MK-7 was used as an electron carrier instead of UQ in M. huakuii 7653R bacteroids.}, } @article {pmid22194880, year = {2011}, author = {Kvitt, H and Rosenfeld, H and Zandbank, K and Tchernov, D}, title = {Regulation of apoptotic pathways by Stylophora pistillata (Anthozoa, Pocilloporidae) to survive thermal stress and bleaching.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e28665}, pmid = {22194880}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*cytology/enzymology/*physiology ; *Apoptosis ; Caspases/genetics/metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Organ Specificity ; *Photobleaching ; Phylogeny ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Signal Transduction ; *Stress, Physiological ; Survival Analysis ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Elevated seawater temperatures are associated with coral bleaching events and related mortality. Nevertheless, some coral species are able to survive bleaching and recover. The apoptotic responses associated to this ability were studied over 3 years in the coral Stylophora pistillata from the Gulf of Eilat subjected to long term thermal stress. These include caspase activity and the expression profiles of the S. pistillata caspase and Bcl-2 genes (StyCasp and StyBcl-2-like) cloned in this study. In corals exposed to thermal stress (32 or 34°C), caspase activity and the expression levels of the StyBcl-2-like gene increased over time (6-48 h) and declined to basal levels within 72 h of thermal stress. Distinct transcript levels were obtained for the StyCasp gene, with stimulated expression from 6 to 48 h of 34°C thermal stress, coinciding with the onset of bleaching. Increased cell death was detected in situ only between 6 to 48 h of stress and was limited to the gastroderm. The bleached corals survived up to one month at 32°C, and recovered back symbionts when placed at 24°C. These results point to a two-stage response in corals that withstand thermal stress: (i) the onset of apoptosis, accompanied by rapid activation of anti-oxidant/anti-apoptotic mediators that block the progression of apoptosis to other cells and (ii) acclimatization of the coral to the chronic thermal stress alongside the completion of symbiosis breakdown. Accordingly, the coral's ability to rapidly curb apoptosis appears to be the most important trait affecting the coral's thermotolerance and survival.}, } @article {pmid22194359, year = {2011}, author = {Wallace, DC}, title = {Bioenergetic origins of complexity and disease.}, journal = {Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {1-16}, pmid = {22194359}, issn = {1943-4456}, support = {NS21328/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS041850/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; DK73691/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; NS41850/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; AG24373/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG024373/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK073691/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS021328/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AG013154/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; AG13154/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aging/genetics ; Animals ; Cellular Microenvironment/genetics ; *Disease ; *Energy Metabolism/genetics ; Humans ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; }, abstract = {The organizing power of energy flow is hypothesized to be the origin of biological complexity and its decline the basis of "complex" diseases and aging. Energy flow through organic systems creates nucleic acids, which store information, and the annual accumulation of information generates today's complexity. Energy flow through our bodies is mediated by the mitochondria, symbiotic bacteria whose genomes encompass the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and more than 1000 nuclear genes. Inherited and/or epigenomic variation of the mitochondrial genome determines our initial energetic capacity, but the age-related accumulation of somatic cell mtDNA mutations further erodes energy flow, leading to disease. This bioenergetic perspective on disease provides a unifying pathophysiological and genetic mechanism for neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson Disease, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, autoimmune diseases, aging, and cancer.}, } @article {pmid22191215, year = {2011}, author = {Kato, Y and Imamura, N}, title = {Identification of an algal carbon fixation-enhancing factor extracted from Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences}, volume = {66}, number = {9-10}, pages = {491-498}, doi = {10.1515/znc-2011-9-1009}, pmid = {22191215}, issn = {0939-5075}, mesh = {Animals ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Microalgae/*metabolism ; Paramecium/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The green ciliate Paramecium bursaria contains several hundred symbiotic Chlorella species. We previously reported that symbiotic algal carbon fixation is enhanced by P. bursaria extracts and that the enhancing factor is a heat-stable, low-molecular-weight, water-soluble compound. To identify the factor, further experiments were carried out. The enhancing activity remained even when organic compounds in the extract were completely combusted at 700 degrees C, suggesting that the factor is an inorganic substance. Measurement of the major cations, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, by an electrode and titration of the extract resulted in concentrations of 0.90 mM, 0.55 mM, and 0.21 mM, respectively. To evaluate the effect of these cations, a mixture of the cations at the measured concentrations was prepared, and symbiotic algal carbon fixation was measured in the solution. The results demonstrated that the fixation was enhanced to the same extent as with the P. bursaria extract, and thus this mixture of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ was concluded to be the carbon fixation-enhancing factor. There was no effect of the cation mixture on free-living C. vulgaris. Comparison of the cation concentrations of nonsymbiotic and symbiotic Paramecium extracts revealed that the concentrations of K+ and Mg2+ in nonsymbiotic Paramecium extracts were too low to enhance symbiotic algal carbon fixation, suggesting that symbiotic P. bursaria provide suitable cation conditions for photosynthesis to its symbiotic Chlorella.}, } @article {pmid22189500, year = {2012}, author = {Amend, AS and Barshis, DJ and Oliver, TA}, title = {Coral-associated marine fungi form novel lineages and heterogeneous assemblages.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {1291-1301}, pmid = {22189500}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*classification/genetics ; Fungi/*classification/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Coral stress tolerance is intricately tied to the animal's association with microbial symbionts. The most well-known of these symbioses is that between corals and their dinoflagellate photobionts (Symbiodinium spp.), whose genotype indirectly affects whether a coral can survive cyclical and anthropogenic warming events. Fungi comprise a lesser-known coral symbiotic community whose taxonomy, stability and function is largely un-examined. To assess how fungal communities inside a coral host correlate with water temperature and the genotype of co-occurring Symbiodinium, we sampled Acropora hyacinthus coral colonies from adjacent natural pools with different water temperatures and Symbiodinium identities. Phylogenetic analysis of coral-associated fungal ribosomal DNA amplicons showed a high diversity of Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes, including several clades separated from known fungal taxa by long and well-supported branches. Community similarity did not correlate with any measured variables, and total fungal community composition was highly variable among A. hyacinthus coral colonies. Colonies in the warmer pool contained more phylogenetically diverse fungal communities than the colder pool and contained statistically significant 'indicator' species. Four taxa were present in all coral colonies sampled, and may represent obligate associates. Messenger RNA sequenced from a subset of these same colonies contained an abundance of transcripts involved in metabolism of complex biological molecules. Coincidence between the taxonomic diversity found in the DNA and RNA analysis indicates a metabolically active and diverse resident marine fungal community.}, } @article {pmid22187806, year = {2011}, author = {Griffin, JD}, title = {Conservative zirconia bridge for anterior tooth replacement.}, journal = {Dentistry today}, volume = {30}, number = {11}, pages = {97-8, 100-1; quiz 101, 96}, pmid = {22187806}, issn = {8750-2186}, mesh = {Cementation ; Computer-Aided Design ; Cuspid/surgery ; *Dental Porcelain ; Denture Design ; *Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Maxilla ; Middle Aged ; Resin Cements ; Tooth Extraction ; Tooth, Deciduous/surgery ; Tooth, Impacted/*surgery ; Zirconium ; }, abstract = {The demand for metal-free restorations coupled with the desire for conservation of tooth structure has put new demands on our profession. There is a symbiotic synergy among the great skills of our ceramists, the commitment to successful chemistry of our researchers and manufacturers, and the unwavering desire for happy patients and long-lasting restorations by clinicians (Figure 20). With continually improving bonding materials and when tooth preparation and occlusion are well planned, conservative anterior bridges should be considered in many partially edentulous cases (Figure 21). This treatment option was particularly appropriate in the case described in this article, where an impacted cuspid limited the choices of treatment and the desire for conservative dentistry was maintained (Figure 22).}, } @article {pmid22186914, year = {2011}, author = {Detournay, O and Weis, VM}, title = {Role of the sphingosine rheostat in the regulation of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses.}, journal = {The Biological bulletin}, volume = {221}, number = {3}, pages = {261-269}, doi = {10.1086/BBLv221n3p261}, pmid = {22186914}, issn = {1939-8697}, mesh = {Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspases/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/*physiology ; Florida ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects ; Sea Anemones/drug effects/*physiology ; Sphingosine/*analogs & derivatives/metabolism/pharmacology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between host cnidarians, such as corals and anemones, and their dinoflagellate symbionts is regulated by largely undescribed mechanisms that stabilize the symbiosis during normal conditions but lead to symbiosis breakdown, or cnidarian bleaching, during stress. Previous transcriptomic studies identified the sphingosine rheostat as a putative symbiosis regulatory pathway. The sphingosine rheostat, which includes the sphingolipids sphingosine (Sph) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), is a key homeostatic cell regulatory pathway known to function in cell fate and immunity in animals. This study explores the role of sphingosine rheostat components in the stability of the symbiotic partnership. The anemone Aiptasia pallida, host to the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp., was used to test the hypothesis that S1P promotes symbiosis stability whereas Sph increases bleaching induced by heat stress. Anemones pre-incubated in exogenous S1P and FTY720, a synthetic S1P analog, were partially rescued from heat-stress-induced bleaching. In addition, they displayed a decrease in caspase activity, a measure of apoptosis, compared to controls. In contrast, when anemones were pre-incubated with Sph, both bleaching and caspase activity increased compared to untreated, heat-stressed controls. These data suggest that the sphingosine rheostat may play a role in the balance between stability and dysfunction in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses.}, } @article {pmid22185862, year = {2011}, author = {García-Vigil, JL and García-Mangas, JA and Ocampo-Martínez, J and Martínez-González, A}, title = {[Ethics and teaching medicine. A principles declaration].}, journal = {Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social}, volume = {49}, number = {5}, pages = {571-574}, pmid = {22185862}, issn = {0443-5117}, mesh = {*Codes of Ethics ; *Education, Medical ; Ethics, Medical/*education ; }, abstract = {Medicine is an old profession, having existed for twenty-four centuries. The ethical principles assumed since the beginning and have been enriched through time, culture and tradition. The stone corner of the moral commitment of physicians with the patient and medical students has deteriorated due to a values crisis. This is due to a lack of personalized and humanized care in "altars of progress," characterized by fragmentation of medical care, excessive use of the technology and merchandizing of medicine, where profits is a priority over human need. The effects are unconsciousness and a lack of professional values, which are expressed as disloyalty, deficient solidarity, diminution of confidence, inequality and lack of honesty, affecting the patients and the whole medical relation. The problem also extends to medical education, when the students follow the same way to practice of physicians. To be a real educating physician in medicine implies an indissoluble educational symbiosis (teacher-student). When there is an ethical deterioration the immediate task is to propose alternative ethical and morals rules in medical education, which feed on values and traditional medicine principles.}, } @article {pmid22183123, year = {2012}, author = {Yoneyama, K and Xie, X and Kim, HI and Kisugi, T and Nomura, T and Sekimoto, H and Yokota, T and Yoneyama, K}, title = {How do nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies affect strigolactone production and exudation?.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {235}, number = {6}, pages = {1197-1207}, pmid = {22183123}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Fabaceae/growth & development/metabolism ; Lactones/chemistry/*metabolism ; Magnoliopsida/growth & development/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*deficiency/metabolism ; Phosphorus/*deficiency/metabolism ; Plant Exudates/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants exude strigolactones (SLs) to attract symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere. Previous studies have demonstrated that phosphorus (P) deficiency, but not nitrogen (N) deficiency, significantly promotes SL exudation in red clover, while in sorghum not only P deficiency but also N deficiency enhances SL exudation. There are differences between plant species in SL exudation under P- and N-deficient conditions, which may possibly be related to differences between legumes and non-legumes. To investigate this possibility in detail, the effects of N and P deficiencies on SL exudation were examined in Fabaceae (alfalfa and Chinese milk vetch), Asteraceae (marigold and lettuce), Solanaceae (tomato), and Poaceae (wheat) plants. In alfalfa as expected, and unexpectedly in tomato, only P deficiency promoted SL exudation. In contrast, in Chinese milk vetch, a leguminous plant, and in the other non-leguminous plants examined, N deficiency as well as P deficiency enhanced SL exudation. Distinct reductions in shoot P levels were observed in plants grown under N deficiency, except for tomato, in which shoot P level was increased by N starvation, suggesting that the P status of the shoot regulates SL exudation. There seems to be a correlation between shoot P levels and SL exudation across the species/families investigated.}, } @article {pmid22182546, year = {2010}, author = {Meuti, ME and Jones, SC and Curtis, PS}, title = {15N discrimination and the sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to changes in dietary nitrogen in Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {1810-1815}, doi = {10.1603/EN10082}, pmid = {22182546}, issn = {1938-2936}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; *Diet ; Female ; Isoptera/chemistry/*metabolism/microbiology ; Kanamycin ; Male ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Xylophagous termites possess symbiotic bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen (N(2)). Although symbiotic N(2) fixation is central to termite nutrition and ecologically important, it is energetically costly. Using stable isotopes, we tested the hypothesis that symbiotic N(2) fixation would decrease in workers of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar, which were exposed to high nitrogen diets. To calculate the isotope discrimination factor occurring as a result of digestion, Δ(dig), and which occurs as the result of N(2) fixation, Δ(fix), symbiotic N(2) fixation was inhibited via force feeding termites the antibiotic kanamycin. Antibiotic-treated termites and control (N(2)-fixing) termites were exposed to different concentrations of dietary N (0, 0.21, and 0.94% N), their (15)N signatures were obtained, and the percent nitrogen derived from the atmosphere within termite samples was calculated. As we hypothesized, symbiotic N(2) fixation rates were negatively correlated with dietary N, suggesting that high concentrations of dietary N suppressed symbiotic N(2) fixation in R. flavipes. A comparison of the (15)N isotope signatures of antibiotic-treated termites with their food sources demonstrated that Δ(dig) = 2.284‰, and a comparison of the (15)N isotope signatures of antibiotic-treated termites with control termites indicated that Δ(fix) = -1.238‰. These are the first estimates of Δ(dig) for R. flavipes, and the first estimate of Δ(fix) for any N(2)-fixing termite species.}, } @article {pmid22182211, year = {2012}, author = {Deloney-Marino, CR and Visick, KL}, title = {Role for cheR of Vibrio fischeri in the Vibrio-squid symbiosis.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {29-38}, pmid = {22182211}, issn = {1480-3275}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM059690-10/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/enzymology/genetics/*physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Chemotaxis/genetics/*physiology ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Order ; Methyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Sequence Alignment ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Upon hatching, the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes is rapidly colonized by its symbiotic partner, the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri . Vibrio fischeri cells present in the seawater enter the light organ of juvenile squid in a process that requires bacterial motility. In this study, we investigated the role chemotaxis may play in establishing this symbiotic colonization. Previously, we reported that V. fischeri migrates toward numerous attractants, including N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), a component of squid mucus. However, whether or not migration toward an attractant such as squid-derived NANA helps the bacterium to localize toward the light organ is unknown. When tested for the ability to colonize juvenile squid, a V. fischeri chemotaxis mutant defective for the methyltransferase CheR was outcompeted by the wild-type strain in co-inoculation experiments, even when the mutant was present in fourfold excess. Our results suggest that the ability to perform chemotaxis is an advantage during colonization, but not essential.}, } @article {pmid22180781, year = {2011}, author = {O'Connell, K and Hom, M and Aung, T and Theuss, M and Huntington, D}, title = {Using and joining a franchised private sector provider network in Myanmar.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e28364}, pmid = {22180781}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Data Collection ; Female ; Health Personnel/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myanmar ; Private Sector/*statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Quality is central to understanding provider motivations to join and remain within a social franchising network. Quality also appears as a key issue from the client's perspective, and may influence why a client chooses to use a franchised provider over another type of provider. The dynamic relationships between providers of social franchising clinics and clients who use these services have not been thoroughly investigated in the context of Myanmar, which has an established social franchising network. This study examines client motivations to use a Sun Quality Health network provider and provider motivations to join and remain in the Sun Quality Health network. Taken together, these two aims provide an opportunity to explore the symbiotic relationship between client satisfaction and provider incentives to increase the utilization of reproductive health care services.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: Results from a series of focus group discussions with clients of reproductive health services and franchised providers shows that women chose health services provided by franchised private sector general practitioners because of its perceived higher quality, associated with the availability of effective, affordable, drugs. A key finding of the study is associated with providers. Provider focus group discussions indicate that a principle determinate for joining and remaining in the Sun Quality Health Network was serving the poor.}, } @article {pmid22180067, year = {2011}, author = {Wang, RK and Lu, JJ and Xing, GN and Gai, JY and Zhao, TJ}, title = {Molecular evolution of two consecutive carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase genes in strigolactone biosynthesis in plants.}, journal = {Genetics and molecular research : GMR}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {3664-3673}, doi = {10.4238/2011.December.2.2}, pmid = {22180067}, issn = {1676-5680}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Carotenoids/*metabolism ; Dioxygenases/*genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Exons/genetics ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Introns/genetics ; Lactones/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants/*enzymology/*genetics ; Selection, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Terpenes/*metabolism ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are newly discovered plant hormones that perform various functions, from signaling in symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to controlling outgrowth of axillary buds. We examined the phylogenetic relationships of two carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase genes (CCD7 and CCD8) that are involved in consecutive upstream steps of the proposed strigolactone biosynthesis pathway. The CCD7 and CCD8 sequences from 11 model species, divided into two clades, correspond to sequences from monocotyledons and dicotyledons. However, the sequences from the primitive moss, Physcomitrella patens, appeared to be evolutionarily distinct from those of the angiosperms. CCD7 and CCD8 are much conserved, since no significant positive selection was detected among these plants. Ks values indicated that CCD7 and CCD8 diverged about 290 to 430 million years ago. As essential genes in the strigolactone pathway, the divergence timing of the conserved CCD7 and CCD8 genes reflects the approximate time of generation of strigolactone as a regulatory substance. This timing calculation also coincides with initiation of symbiosis between plants and microorganisms, inferred from the fossil record. Molecular evolution analyses of genes in metabolic pathways can provide insight concerning gene evolution.}, } @article {pmid22178390, year = {2012}, author = {Risal, CP and Djedidi, S and Dhakal, D and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Sekimoto, H and Yokoyama, T}, title = {Phylogenetic diversity and symbiotic functioning in mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) bradyrhizobia from contrast agro-ecological regions of Nepal.}, journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {45-53}, doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2011.06.004}, pmid = {22178390}, issn = {1618-0984}, mesh = {Acyltransferases/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; *Biota ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nepal ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nepal consists wide range of climatic and topographical variations. Here, we explored the phylogeny of native mungbean bradyrhizobia isolated from different agro-ecological regions of Nepal and accessed their nodulation and nitrogen fixation characteristics. Soil samples were collected from three agro-ecological regions with contrasting climate and topography. A local mungbean cultivar, Kalyan, was used as a trap plant. We characterized isolates based on the full nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA, ITS region, and nodA genes; and partial sequences of nodD1 and nifD genes. We found 50% of isolates phylogenetically related to B. yuanmingense, 13% to B. japonicum, 8% to B. elkanii, and 29% to novel phylogenetic origin. Results of the inoculation test suggested that expression of different symbiotic genes in isolates resulted in different degrees of symbiotic functioning. Our results indicate B. yuanmingense and novel strains are more efficient symbiotic partners than B. elkanii for the local mungbean cv. Kalyan. We also found most mungbean rhizobial genotypes were conserved across agro-ecological regions. All the strains from tropical Terai region belonged to B. yuanmingense or a novel lineage of B. yuanmingense, and dominance of B. japonicum related strains was observed in the Hill region. Higher genetic diversity of Bradyrhizobium strains was observed in temperate and sub-tropical region than in the tropical region.}, } @article {pmid22178191, year = {2012}, author = {Jones, RL and Owen, LJ and Adaway, JE and Keevil, BG}, title = {Simultaneous analysis of cortisol and cortisone in saliva using XLC-MS/MS for fully automated online solid phase extraction.}, journal = {Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences}, volume = {881-882}, number = {}, pages = {42-48}, doi = {10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.11.036}, pmid = {22178191}, issn = {1873-376X}, mesh = {Chromatography, Liquid/*methods ; Cortisone/*analysis/chemistry ; Drug Stability ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/*analysis/chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Saliva/*chemistry ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solid Phase Extraction/*methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; }, abstract = {Salivary cortisol measurements are increasingly being used in the investigation of disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In the salivary gland, cortisol is metabolised to cortisone by the action of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, and cortisone is partly responsible for the variable interference observed in current salivary cortisol immunoassays. The aim of this study was to validate an assay for the simultaneous analysis of salivary cortisol and cortisone using the Spark Holland Symbiosis™ in eXtraction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (XLC-MS/MS) mode for fully automated online solid phase extraction (SPE). Saliva samples were diluted in water with the addition of internal standard (d4-cortisol and d7-cortisone). Online SPE was performed using the Spark Holland Symbiosis™ with HySphere™ C18 SPE cartridges and compounds were eluted onto a Phenomenex® C18 guard column attached to a Phenomenex® Onyx monolithic C18 column for chromatography. Mass spectrometry used the Waters® Xevo™ TQ MS in electrospray positive mode. Cortisol and cortisone eluted with their internal standards at 1.95 and 2.17 min, respectively, with a total run time of four minutes. No evidence of ion-suppression was observed. The assay was linear up to 3393 nmol/L for cortisol and 3676 nmol/L for cortisone, with lower limits of quantitation of 0.75 nmol/L and 0.50 nmol/L, respectively. Intra- and inter-assay imprecision was <8.9% for cortisol and <6.5% for cortisone across three levels of internal quality control, with accuracy and recovery within accepted limits. High specificity was demonstrated following interference studies which assessed 29 structurally-related steroids at supra-physiological concentrations. We have successfully validated an assay for the simultaneous analysis of salivary cortisol and cortisone using XLC-MS/MS and fully automated online SPE. The assay benefits from increased specificity compared to immunoassay and minimal sample preparation which allows high sample throughput and is thus suitable for use in a routine clinical laboratory.}, } @article {pmid22177452, year = {2012}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Characteristics of the digestive vacuole membrane of the alga-bearing ciliate Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {163}, number = {4}, pages = {658-670}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2011.10.004}, pmid = {22177452}, issn = {1618-0941}, mesh = {Chlorella/physiology/*ultrastructure ; Intracellular Membranes/ultrastructure ; Paramecium/microbiology/physiology/*ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; Vacuoles/microbiology/physiology/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Cells of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria harbor symbiotic Chlorella spp. in their cytoplasm. To establish endosymbiosis with alga-free P. bursaria, symbiotic algae must leave the digestive vacuole (DV) to appear in the cytoplasm by budding of the DV membrane. This budding was induced not only by intact algae but also by boiled or fixed algae. However, this budding was not induced when food bacteria or India ink were ingested into the DVs. These results raise the possibility that P. bursaria can recognize sizes of the contents in the DVs. To elucidate this possibility, microbeads with various diameters were mixed with alga-free P. bursaria and traced their fate. Microbeads with 0.20μm diameter did not induce budding of the DVs. Microbeads with 0.80μm diameter produced DVs of 5-10μm diameter at 3min after mixing; then the DVs fragmented and became vacuoles of 2-5μm diameter until 3h after mixing. Each microbead with a diameter larger than 3.00μm induced budding similarly to symbiotic Chlorella. These observations reveal that induction of DV budding depends on the size of the contents in the DVs. Dynasore, a dynamin inhibitor, greatly inhibited DV budding, suggesting that dynamin might be involved in DV budding.}, } @article {pmid22174755, year = {2011}, author = {Porter, SS and Stanton, ML and Rice, KJ}, title = {Mutualism and adaptive divergence: co-invasion of a heterogeneous grassland by an exotic legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {12}, pages = {e27935}, pmid = {22174755}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Biodiversity ; *Ecosystem ; Ecotype ; *Introduced Species ; Medicago/*microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Poaceae/*microbiology ; Quantitative Trait, Heritable ; Reproduction ; Rhizobium/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Species interactions play a critical role in biological invasions. For example, exotic plant and microbe mutualists can facilitate each other's spread as they co-invade novel ranges. Environmental context may influence the effect of mutualisms on invasions in heterogeneous environments, however these effects are poorly understood. We examined the mutualism between the legume, Medicago polymorpha, and the rhizobium, Ensifer medicae, which have both invaded California grasslands. Many of these invaded grasslands are composed of a patchwork of harsh serpentine and relatively benign non-serpentine soils. We grew legume genotypes collected from serpentine or non-serpentine soil in both types of soil in combination with rhizobium genotypes from serpentine or non-serpentine soils and in the absence of rhizobia. Legumes invested more strongly in the mutualism in the home soil type and trends in fitness suggested that this ecotypic divergence was adaptive. Serpentine legumes had greater allocation to symbiotic root nodules in serpentine soil than did non-serpentine legumes and non-serpentine legumes had greater allocation to nodules in non-serpentine soil than did serpentine legumes. Therefore, this invasive legume has undergone the rapid evolution of divergence for soil-specific investment in the mutualism. Contrary to theoretical expectations, the mutualism was less beneficial for legumes grown on the stressful serpentine soil than on the non-serpentine soil, possibly due to the inhibitory effects of serpentine on the benefits derived from the interaction. The soil-specific ability to allocate to a robust microbial mutualism may be a critical, and previously overlooked, adaptation for plants adapting to heterogeneous environments during invasion.}, } @article {pmid22174640, year = {2011}, author = {Janczarek, M}, title = {Environmental signals and regulatory pathways that influence exopolysaccharide production in rhizobia.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {7898-7933}, pmid = {22174640}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Environment ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*biosynthesis/*chemistry ; Quorum Sensing ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia are Gram-negative bacteria that can exist either as free-living bacteria or as nitrogen-fixing symbionts inside root nodules of leguminous plants. The composition of the rhizobial outer surface, containing a variety of polysaccharides, plays a significant role in the adaptation of these bacteria in both habitats. Among rhizobial polymers, exopolysaccharide (EPS) is indispensable for the invasion of a great majority of host plants which form indeterminate-type nodules. Various functions are ascribed to this heteropolymer, including protection against environmental stress and host defense, attachment to abiotic and biotic surfaces, and in signaling. The synthesis of EPS in rhizobia is a multi-step process regulated by several proteins at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Also, some environmental factors (carbon source, nitrogen and phosphate starvation, flavonoids) and stress conditions (osmolarity, ionic strength) affect EPS production. This paper discusses the recent data concerning the function of the genes required for EPS synthesis and the regulation of this process by several environmental signals. Up till now, the synthesis of rhizobial EPS has been best studied in two species, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum. The latest data indicate that EPS synthesis in rhizobia undergoes very complex hierarchical regulation, in which proteins engaged in quorum sensing and the regulation of motility genes also participate. This finding enables a better understanding of the complex processes occurring in the rhizosphere which are crucial for successful colonization and infection of host plant roots.}, } @article {pmid22173556, year = {2011}, author = {Jermy, A}, title = {Symbiosis: Sheltered bacteria lose their senses.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {22173556}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/*physiology ; Magnesium/*metabolism ; Salmonella enterica/*genetics ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, } @article {pmid22171078, year = {2012}, author = {Ryberg, M and Matheny, PB}, title = {Asynchronous origins of ectomycorrhizal clades of Agaricales.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1735}, pages = {2003-2011}, pmid = {22171078}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {Agaricales/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Bayes Theorem ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is the most widespread biotrophic nutritional mode in mushroom-forming fungi. ECM fungi include, though are not limited to, about 5000 described species of Agaricales from numerous, independently evolved lineages. Two central hypotheses suggest different explanations for the origin of ECM fungal diversity: (i) dual origins, initially with the Pinaceae in the Jurassic and later with angiosperms during the Late Cretaceous, and (ii) a simultaneous and convergent radiation of ECM lineages in response to cooling climate during the Palaeogene and advancing temperate ECM plant communities. Neither of these hypotheses is supported here. While we demonstrate support for asynchronous origins of ECM Agaricales, the timing of such events appears to have occurred more recently than suggested by the first hypothesis, first during the Cretaceous and later during the Palaeogene. We are also unable to reject models of rate constancy, which suggests that the diversity of ECM Agaricales is not a consequence of convergent rapid radiations following evolutionary transitions from saprotrophic to ECM habits. ECM lineages of Agaricales differ not only in age, but also in rates of diversification and rate of substitution at nuclear ribosomal RNA loci. These results question the biological uniformity of the ECM guild.}, } @article {pmid22168434, year = {2012}, author = {Wang, D and Yang, S and Tang, F and Zhu, H}, title = {Symbiosis specificity in the legume: rhizobial mutualism.}, journal = {Cellular microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {334-342}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01736.x}, pmid = {22168434}, issn = {1462-5822}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/physiology ; Fabaceae/immunology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Lectins/physiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/physiology ; Rhizobiaceae/immunology/metabolism/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/immunology/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants are able to engage in root nodule symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, collectively called rhizobia. This mutualistic association is highly specific, such that each rhizobial species/strain interacts with only a specific group of legumes, and vice versa. Symbiosis specificity can occur at multiple phases of the interaction, ranging from initial bacterial attachment and infection to late nodule development associated with nitrogen fixation. Genetic control of symbiosis specificity is complex, involving fine-tuned signal communication between the symbiotic partners. Here we review our current understanding of the mechanisms used by the host and bacteria to choose their symbiotic partners, with a special focus on the role that the host immunity plays in controlling the specificity of the legume - rhizobial symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22168420, year = {2012}, author = {Eberl, G}, title = {Development and evolution of RORγt+ cells in a microbe's world.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {245}, number = {1}, pages = {177-188}, doi = {10.1111/j.1600-065X.2011.01071.x}, pmid = {22168420}, issn = {1600-065X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*immunology ; Bacterial Infections/*immunology ; *Biological Evolution ; Cytokines/immunology ; Homeostasis ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Lymph Nodes/embryology/*immunology ; Lymphoid Progenitor Cells/immunology ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3/*immunology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The nuclear hormone receptor retinoid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) induces a pro-inflammatory program in lymphoid cells, culminating in the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-17, IL-22, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor. During ontogeny, the first type of cells expressing RORγt are lymphoid tissue inducer cells, a type of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) generated in mammalian fetuses to induce the development of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. After birth, RORγt(+) ILCs and RORγt(+) T cells are involved in the defense of epithelial surfaces against extracellular microbes and play an important role in the intestinal homeostasis with symbiotic microbiota. The development and evolution of RORγt(+) cells is intimately associated with the construction of a stable host-microbe interface.}, } @article {pmid22168414, year = {2012}, author = {Kaiser, P and Diard, M and Stecher, B and Hardt, WD}, title = {The streptomycin mouse model for Salmonella diarrhea: functional analysis of the microbiota, the pathogen's virulence factors, and the host's mucosal immune response.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {245}, number = {1}, pages = {56-83}, doi = {10.1111/j.1600-065X.2011.01070.x}, pmid = {22168414}, issn = {1600-065X}, mesh = {Animals ; Diarrhea/etiology/*immunology/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Metagenome/genetics/immunology ; Mice ; Salmonella/genetics/*immunology ; Salmonella Infections/complications/*immunology/*microbiology/physiopathology ; Streptomycin/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Virulence ; Virulence Factors/*immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine is colonized by a dense microbial community, the microbiota. Homeostatic and symbiotic interactions facilitate the peaceful co-existence between the microbiota and the host, and inhibit colonization by most incoming pathogens ('colonization resistance'). However, if pathogenic intruders overcome colonization resistance, a fierce, innate inflammatory defense can be mounted within hours, the adaptive arm of the immune system is initiated, and the pathogen is fought back. The molecular nature of the homeostatic interactions, the pathogen's ability to overcome colonization resistance, and the triggering of native and adaptive mucosal immune responses are still poorly understood. To study these mechanisms, the streptomycin mouse model for Salmonella diarrhea is of great value. Here, we review how S. Typhimurium triggers mucosal immune responses by active (virulence factor elicited) and passive (MyD88-dependent) mechanisms and introduce the S. Typhimurium mutants available for focusing on either response. Interestingly, mucosal defense turns out to be a double-edged sword, limiting pathogen burdens in the gut tissue but enhancing pathogen growth in the gut lumen. This model allows not only studying the molecular pathogenesis of Salmonella diarrhea but also is ideally suited for analyzing innate defenses, microbe handling by mucosal phagocytes, adaptive secretory immunoglobulin A responses, probing microbiota function, and homeostatic microbiota-host interactions. Finally, we discuss the general need for defined assay conditions when using animal models for enteric infections and the central importance of littermate controls.}, } @article {pmid22168413, year = {2012}, author = {Chinen, T and Rudensky, AY}, title = {The effects of commensal microbiota on immune cell subsets and inflammatory responses.}, journal = {Immunological reviews}, volume = {245}, number = {1}, pages = {45-55}, doi = {10.1111/j.1600-065X.2011.01083.x}, pmid = {22168413}, issn = {1600-065X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/genetics/*immunology ; Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology/trends ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation/*immunology ; Metagenome/genetics/*immunology ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*immunology/microbiology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Billions of years of coevolution shaped the mutually beneficial relationships between metazoans and symbiotic commensal microorganisms. Commensal microorganisms profoundly affect the physiology of the host and provide the host with survival advantages in several ways, while they could also trigger pathogenic immune responses and threaten the well-being of the host. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology enabled the analysis of commensal microbiota, and improvements in the techniques of culturing gut-resident microorganisms and of rearing gnotobiotic rodents have made it possible to assess the effect of individual component of microbial communities on host physiology. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the interactions of commensal microbiota with the host immune system.}, } @article {pmid22166843, year = {2012}, author = {Wallace, IS and Shakesby, AJ and Hwang, JH and Choi, WG and Martínková, N and Douglas, AE and Roberts, DM}, title = {Acyrthosiphon pisum AQP2: a multifunctional insect aquaglyceroporin.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1818}, number = {3}, pages = {627-635}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbamem.2011.11.032}, pmid = {22166843}, issn = {0006-3002}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Aquaporin 1/genetics/metabolism ; Aquaporin 2/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Transport/physiology ; Buchnera/physiology ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Insect Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Water/*metabolism ; Xenopus laevis ; }, abstract = {Annotation of the recently sequenced genome of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) identified a gene ApAQP2 (ACYPI009194, Gene ID: 100168499) with homology to the Major Intrinsic Protein/aquaporin superfamily of membrane channel proteins. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that ApAQP2 is a member of an insect-specific clade of this superfamily. Homology model structures of ApAQP2 showed a novel array of amino acids comprising the substrate selectivity-determining "aromatic/arginine" region of the putative transport pore. Subsequent characterization of the transport properties of ApAQP2 upon expression in Xenopus oocytes supports an unusual substrate selectivity profile. Water permeability analyses show that the ApAQP2 protein exhibits a robust mercury-insensitive aquaporin activity. However unlike the water-specific ApAQP1 protein, ApAQP2 forms a multifunctional transport channel that shows a wide permeability profile to a range of linear polyols, including the potentially biologically relevant substrates glycerol, mannitol and sorbitol. Gene expression analysis indicates that ApAQP2 is highly expressed in the insect bacteriocytes (cells bearing the symbiotic bacteria Buchnera) and the fat body. Overall the results demonstrate that ApAQP2 is a novel insect aquaglyceroporin which may be involved in water and polyol transport in support of the Buchnera symbiosis and aphid osmoregulation.}, } @article {pmid22165434, year = {2011}, author = {Mustapha, AR}, title = {Zimbabwean farmers in Nigeria: exceptional farmers or spectacular support?.}, journal = {African affairs}, volume = {110}, number = {441}, pages = {535-561}, doi = {10.1093/afraf/adr048}, pmid = {22165434}, issn = {0001-9909}, mesh = {*Agriculture/economics/education/history ; *Economics/history/legislation & jurisprudence ; Food Industry/economics/education/history ; Food Supply/economics/history ; *Government/history ; History, 21st Century ; Nigeria/ethnology ; *Social Change/history ; *Social Class/history ; Zimbabwe/ethnology ; }, abstract = {Since 2004, white commercial farmers displaced under Zimbabwe's fast-track land reform programme have established new successful farms near the central Nigerian town of Shonga. This article explores the basis of that success. It addresses three key questions: (1) What has actually happened near Shonga since 2004? (2) What or who is driving the process of agrarian transformation? And (3) What are the long-term consequences for the peasantry since Nigerian agriculture is still largely peasant-based? It argues that contrary to popular myths of ‘enterprising’ white Zimbabwean farmers, the process is driven by a complex group of actors, including the national and regional states. Comparative evidence from similar transplantations of Zimbabwean farmers suggests that active state support is central to the success of Shonga. With respect to the relationship between the commercial farms and the peasantry, it is argued that all the synergies included in the project design to promote a symbiotic development have failed to materialize. As a result, the peasantry faces a process of ‘development by dispossession’.}, } @article {pmid22161224, year = {2011}, author = {Hulcr, J and Mann, R and Stelinski, LL}, title = {The scent of a partner: ambrosia beetles are attracted to volatiles from their fungal symbionts.}, journal = {Journal of chemical ecology}, volume = {37}, number = {12}, pages = {1374-1377}, pmid = {22161224}, issn = {1573-1561}, mesh = {Animals ; Ascomycota/physiology ; Behavior, Animal ; Florida ; Lauraceae/physiology ; Ophiostomatales/*physiology ; Pheromones/*pharmacology ; Smell ; South Carolina ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/pharmacology ; Weevils/*drug effects/physiology ; }, abstract = {Invasive fungus-growing ambrosia beetles are an emerging threat to forest ecosystems and fruit industries, but management tools are lacking. Here we explored the potential of beetle symbionts-ambrosia fungi-as a source of attractants. Our focus was the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, and its symbiotic fungus, Raffaelea lauricola, which are devastating lauraceous hosts in the southeastern United States. We also tested three additional co-occurring beetle species and their symbionts. Each beetle species was consistently attracted to the odors of its symbiotic fungal species, occasionally also to symbionts of other species, but never to non-symbiotic Trichoderma. We further confirmed attraction to ethanol (positive control) in some species. Thus, ambrosia fungi produce volatiles attractive to their vector beetles, which may have potential as novel lures for ambrosia beetle management.}, } @article {pmid22160428, year = {2012}, author = {Jindal, S and Greenseid, K and Berger, D and Santoro, N and Pal, L}, title = {Impaired gremlin 1 (GREM1) expression in cumulus cells in young women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).}, journal = {Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics}, volume = {29}, number = {2}, pages = {159-162}, pmid = {22160428}, issn = {1573-7330}, support = {K12 RR017672/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; K24 HD041978/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Cumulus Cells/cytology/metabolism ; *Down-Regulation ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Growth Differentiation Factor 9/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Female/genetics/*metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Oocytes/*growth & development/metabolism ; Oogenesis/genetics ; Ovary/cytology ; Pregnancy ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: A symbiotic relationship between ovarian granulosa cells (GC) and the developing oocyte is critical. Genetic modulations in GC's can lead to reproductive insufficiency, highlighting the role of GC's in reproductive competence. Utilizing gene expression analyses in cumulus GC's, we attempt to enhance our understanding of mechanisms that may contribute to poor reproductive capacity in young women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

METHODS: We measured gremlin 1 (GREM1) gene expression in GC's from infertile women <38 years undergoing in vitro fertilization in the context of DOR.

RESULTS: GREM1, a member of the differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma (DAN) family of genes known for its highly regulated expression pattern during folliculogenesis and a downstream effecter of oocyte-derived growth and differentiation factor 9, was down-regulated 3-fold (-3.08) in women with DOR versus control; down-regulation was confirmed by qRT-PCR (-4.02).

CONCLUSION: This is the first demonstration linking differential expression of Gremlin with etiology of infertility in women.}, } @article {pmid22159885, year = {2012}, author = {Cardoso, JD and Hungria, M and Andrade, DS}, title = {Polyphasic approach for the characterization of rhizobial symbionts effective in fixing N(2) with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).}, journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {93}, number = {5}, pages = {2035-2049}, doi = {10.1007/s00253-011-3708-2}, pmid = {22159885}, issn = {1432-0614}, mesh = {Actinomycetales/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Brazil ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Proteobacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a legume that has been reported as highly promiscuous in nodulating with a variety of rhizobial strains, often with low effectiveness in fixing nitrogen. The aim of this work was to assess the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobial strains isolated from common bean seeds, nodules of Arachis hypogaea, Mucuna pruriens, and soils from various Brazilian agroecosystems, followed by the characterization of elite strains identified in the first screening. Forty-five elite strains were analyzed for symbiotic properties (nodulation, plant-growth, and nitrogen-fixation parameters) under greenhouse conditions in pots containing non-sterile soil, and variation in symbiotic performance was observed. Elite strains were also characterized in relation to morpho-physiological properties, genetic profiles of rep-polymerase chain reaction (PCR; BOX), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR of the 16S rRNA. Sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA were obtained for 17 strains representative of the main groups resulting from all previous analyses. One of the most effective strains, IPR-Pv 2604, was clustered with Rhizobium tropici, whereas strain IPR-Pv 583, showing lower effectiveness in fixing N(2), was clustered with Herbaspirillum lusitanum. Surprisingly, effective strains were clustered with unusual symbiotic genera/species, including Leifsonia xyli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia, and Enterobacter. Some strains recognized in this study were outstanding in their nitrogen-fixing capacity and therefore, show high biotechnological potential for use in commercial inoculants.}, } @article {pmid22159868, year = {2012}, author = {Pujic, P and Fournier, P and Alloisio, N and Hay, AE and Maréchal, J and Anchisi, S and Normand, P}, title = {Lectin genes in the Frankia alni genome.}, journal = {Archives of microbiology}, volume = {194}, number = {1}, pages = {47-56}, doi = {10.1007/s00203-011-0770-1}, pmid = {22159868}, issn = {1432-072X}, mesh = {Alnus/microbiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Frankia/*genetics ; *Genes, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Lectins/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Streptomyces/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Frankia alni strain ACN14a's genome was scanned for the presence of determinants involved in interactions with its host plant, Alnus spp. One such determinant type is lectin, proteins that bind specifically to sugar motifs. The genome of F. alni was found to contain 7 such lectin-coding genes, five of which were of the ricinB-type. The proteins coded by these genes contain either only the lectin domain, or also a heat shock protein or a serine-threonine kinase domain upstream. These lectins were found to have several homologs in Streptomyces spp., and a few in other bacterial genomes among which none in Frankia EAN1pec and CcI3 and two in strain EUN1f. One of these F. alni genes, FRAAL0616, was cloned in E. coli, fused with a reporter gene yielding a fusion protein that was found to bind to both root hairs and to bacterial hyphae. This protein was also found to modify the dynamics of nodule formation in A. glutinosa, resulting in a higher number of nodules per root. Its role could thus be to permit binding of microbial cells to root hairs and help symbiosis to occur under conditions of low Frankia cell counts such as in pioneer situations.}, } @article {pmid22156213, year = {2011}, author = {Zhai, J and Jeong, DH and De Paoli, E and Park, S and Rosen, BD and Li, Y and González, AJ and Yan, Z and Kitto, SL and Grusak, MA and Jackson, SA and Stacey, G and Cook, DR and Green, PJ and Sherrier, DJ and Meyers, BC}, title = {MicroRNAs as master regulators of the plant NB-LRR defense gene family via the production of phased, trans-acting siRNAs.}, journal = {Genes & development}, volume = {25}, number = {23}, pages = {2540-2553}, pmid = {22156213}, issn = {1549-5477}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Genes, Plant ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plants/*genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes and many nonleguminous plants enter symbiotic interactions with microbes, and it is poorly understood how host plants respond to promote beneficial, symbiotic microbial interactions while suppressing those that are deleterious or pathogenic. Trans-acting siRNAs (tasiRNAs) negatively regulate target transcripts and are characterized by siRNAs spaced in 21-nucleotide (nt) "phased" intervals, a pattern formed by DICER-LIKE 4 (DCL4) processing. A search for phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs) found at least 114 Medicago loci, the majority of which were defense-related NB-LRR-encoding genes. We identified three highly abundant 22-nt microRNA (miRNA) families that target conserved domains in these NB-LRRs and trigger the production of trans-acting siRNAs. High levels of small RNAs were matched to >60% of all ∼540 encoded Medicago NB-LRRs; in the potato, a model for mycorrhizal interactions, phasiRNAs were also produced from NB-LRRs. DCL2 and SGS3 transcripts were also cleaved by these 22-nt miRNAs, generating phasiRNAs, suggesting synchronization between silencing and pathogen defense pathways. In addition, a new example of apparent "two-hit" phasiRNA processing was identified. Our data reveal complex tasiRNA-based regulation of NB-LRRs that potentially evolved to facilitate symbiotic interactions and demonstrate miRNAs as master regulators of a large gene family via the targeting of highly conserved, protein-coding motifs, a new paradigm for miRNA function.}, } @article {pmid22155778, year = {2012}, author = {Vanderlinde, EM and Yost, CK}, title = {Mutation of the sensor kinase chvG in Rhizobium leguminosarum negatively impacts cellular metabolism, outer membrane stability, and symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {4}, pages = {768-777}, pmid = {22155778}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Arginine/metabolism ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/*genetics ; Cell Membrane/genetics/*physiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism ; Histidine/metabolism ; Hydroxybutyrates/metabolism ; Lens Plant/microbiology ; Mutation ; Peas/microbiology ; Polyesters/metabolism ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; Protein Kinases/*genetics ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/*genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/*genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; Vicia/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Two-component signal transduction systems (TCS) are a main strategy used by bacteria to sense and adapt to changes in their environment. In the legume symbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae VF39, mutation of chvG, a histidine kinase, caused a number of pleiotropic phenotypes. ChvG mutants are unable to grow on proline, glutamate, histidine, or arginine as the sole carbon source. The chvG mutant secreted smaller amounts of acidic and neutral surface polysaccharides and accumulated abnormally large amounts of poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate. Mutation of chvG caused symbiotic defects on peas, lentils, and vetch; nodules formed by the chvG mutant were small and white and contained only a few cells that had failed to differentiate into bacteroids. Mutation of chvG also destabilized the outer membrane of R. leguminosarum, resulting in increased sensitivity to membrane stressors. Constitutive expression of ropB, the outer membrane protein-encoding gene, restored membrane stability and rescued the sensitivity phenotypes described above. Similar phenotypes have been described for mutations in other ChvG-regulated genes encoding a conserved operon of unknown function and in the fabXL genes required for synthesis of the lipid A very-long-chain fatty acid, suggesting that ChvG is a key component of the envelope stress response in Rhizobium leguminosarum. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate the important and unique role the ChvG/ChvI TCS plays in the physiology, metabolism, and symbiotic competency of R. leguminosarum.}, } @article {pmid22154673, year = {2012}, author = {Huys, R and Fatih, F and Ohtsuka, S and Llewellyn-Hughes, J}, title = {Evolution of the bomolochiform superfamily complex (Copepoda: Cyclopoida): new insights from ssrDNA and morphology, and origin of Umazuracolids from polychaete-infesting ancestors rejected.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {42}, number = {1}, pages = {71-92}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.10.009}, pmid = {22154673}, issn = {1879-0135}, mesh = {Animals ; Cluster Analysis ; Copepoda/*anatomy & histology/classification/*genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Poecilostome cyclopoids are among the most morphologically diverse copepods, having established symbiotic relationships with teleosts, elasmobranchs and invertebrate hosts belonging to no fewer than 14 marine phyla. Many parasitic lineages display radically divergent body plans and on that basis have traditionally been placed at higher taxonomic rank than they deserve. The most recent example is the monotypic family Umazuracolidae, established for a derived fish parasite with bomolochiform affinities. Phylogenetic analysis of complete ssrDNA (18S) sequences of 44 species belonging to 21 families of cyclopoid copepods shows that there is no support for the familial distinctiveness of the Umazuracolidae. Both maximum parsimony tree reconstruction and Bayesian inference, operating under the GTR+I+Γ model of nucleotide substitution, unambiguously placed Umazuracola elongatus in the Taeniacanthidae within the predominantly fish parasitic bomolochiform complex, refuting the original suggestion of a shared most recent common ancestry with polychaete symbionts. The phylogenies also revealed that the bomolochiform families and the Clausidiidae (and allies) form a monophyletic group, the clausidiiform complex, with high nodal support under both methods. Bayesian inference suggested a diphyletic origin of the "Poecilostomatoida" with the clausidiiform family-group holding a basal position while the traditional cyclopoid families form a monophyletic group in apposition to a second poecilostomatoid clade; however, maximum parsimony results were equivocal, depending on outgroup selection. Scrutiny of the morphological characters diagnosing the monotypic families Tegobomolochidae and Tuccidae demonstrated that they merely represent derived lineages within more inclusive taxa, the former being related to a group of nostril-inhabiting genera within the Bomolochidae, the latter forming the sistergroup of Taeniacanthodes within the Taeniacanthidae. The taeniacanthid genus Makrostrotos occupies a position at the base of the bomolochiform complex and is fixed as the type of a new family, Makrostrotidae. Although both morphological and molecular evidence hint that the Bomolochidae is nested within a paraphyletic Taeniacanthidae, the status quo of maintaining both families is favoured here pending additional molecular data. The bomolochiform complex, comprising the Bomolochidae, Taeniacanthidae, Telsidae and Makrostrotidae, is attributed superfamilial rank as the Bomolochoidea. A recent controversial phylogenetic analysis of the poecilostomatoid families is shown to be flawed, being based on a dataset containing imperfect or misleading information, and characters whose states were wrongly assessed.}, } @article {pmid22154556, year = {2012}, author = {McFall-Ngai, M and Heath-Heckman, EA and Gillette, AA and Peyer, SM and Harvie, EA}, title = {The secret languages of coevolved symbioses: insights from the Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri symbiosis.}, journal = {Seminars in immunology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {3-8}, pmid = {22154556}, issn = {1096-3618}, support = {R01 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R0-AI50661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294-16/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI050661/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01-12294//PHS HHS/United States ; R01 AI050661-10/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*immunology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Decapodiformes/*immunology/*microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent research on a wide variety of systems has demonstrated that animals generally coevolve with their microbial symbionts. Although such relationships are most often established anew each generation, the partners associate with fidelity, i.e., they form exclusive alliances within the context of rich communities of non-symbiotic environmental microbes. The mechanisms by which this exclusivity is achieved and maintained remain largely unknown. Studies of the model symbiosis between the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes and the marine luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri provide evidence that the interplay between evolutionarily conserved features of the innate immune system, most notably MAMP/PRR interactions, and a specific feature of this association, i.e., luminescence, are critical for development and maintenance of this association. As such, in this partnership and perhaps others, symbiotic exclusivity is mediated by the synergism between a general animal-microbe 'language' and a 'secret language' that is decipherable only by the specific partners involved.}, } @article {pmid22153895, year = {2012}, author = {Fujishima, M and Kodama, Y}, title = {Endosymbionts in paramecium.}, journal = {European journal of protistology}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, pages = {124-137}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2011.10.002}, pmid = {22153895}, issn = {1618-0429}, mesh = {Chlorella/*physiology ; Holosporaceae/*physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Paramecium/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Paramecium species are extremely valuable organisms to enable experiments for the reestablishment of endosymbiosis. This is investigated in two different systems, the first with Paramecium caudatum and the endonuclear symbiotic bacterium Holospora species. Although most endosymbiotic bacteria cannot grow outside the host cell as a result of their reduced genome size, Holospora species can maintain their infectivity for a limited time. We found that an 89-kDa periplasmic protein has an important function for Holospora's invasion into the target nucleus, and that Holospora alters the host gene expression; the host thereby acquires resistance against various stresses. The second system is the symbiosis between P. bursaria and symbiotic Chlorella. Alga-free P. bursaria and the algae retain the ability to grow without a partner. Consequently, endosymbiosis between the aposymbiotic host cells and the symbiotic algae can be reestablished easily by mixing them. We now found four checkpoints for the reestablishment of the endosymbiosis between P. bursaria and the algae. The findings in the two systems provide excellent opportunities for us to elucidate not only infection processes but also to assess the associations leading to eukaryotic cell evolution. This paper summarizes recent progresses on reestablishment of the primary and the secondary endosymbiosis in Paramecium.}, } @article {pmid22151606, year = {2012}, author = {Easom, CA and Clarke, DJ}, title = {HdfR is a regulator in Photorhabdus luminescens that modulates metabolism and symbiosis with the nematode Heterorhabditis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {953-966}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02669.x}, pmid = {22151606}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Photorhabdus/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Rhabditoidea/microbiology/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens, is an insect pathogen that also maintains a mutualistic interaction with nematodes from the family Heterorhabditis. Photorhabdus luminescens is carried in the gut of the infective juvenile (IJ), a nematode stage that infects soft-cuticled insect larvae in the soil. Photorhabdus luminescens is released into the insect blood to convert the insect into a biomass that is able to support nematode growth and development. Nematode reproduction continues for 2-3 generations before the nematodes enter an alternative developmental pathway leading to a new generation of IJs that are efficiently colonized by P. luminescens in a process called transmission. Transmission begins with the adherence of P. luminescens to the rectal gland cells (RGC) located in the gut of the hermaphrodite. The bacteria enter, and replicate within, the RGC resulting in vacuolization, and ultimately lysis, of the RGC. In this way P. luminescens are released throughout the body cavity of the hermaphrodite to encounter, and colonize, the developing IJs. In this study we show that the LysR-type regulator, HdfR, is required for normal transmission in P. luminescens TTO1. Transcriptome analysis revealed that HdfR regulates the expression of 124 genes, including genes involved in arginine metabolism, hydroxyphenylacetate catabolism and pigment production. Using fluorescence microscopy we show that the ΔhdfR mutant is able to attach to, and grow within, the hermaphrodite as well as wild-type bacteria but subsequent steps in transmission are delayed. Therefore, HdfR plays an important role in coordinating the interaction between P. luminescens and its nematode partner during transmission.}, } @article {pmid22150226, year = {2012}, author = {Ito, H}, title = {Small RNAs and transposon silencing in plants.}, journal = {Development, growth & differentiation}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {100-107}, doi = {10.1111/j.1440-169X.2011.01309.x}, pmid = {22150226}, issn = {1440-169X}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Transposable Elements/*genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Gene Silencing ; Genome, Plant ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Plants/*genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/*genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Transposons are highly conserved in plants and have created a symbiotic relationship with the host genome. An important factor of the successful communication between transposons and host plants is epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation and the modifications of the histone tail. In plants, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are responsible for RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) that suppresses transposon activities. Although most transposons are silent in their host plants, certain genomic shocks, such as an environmental stress or a hybridization event, might trigger transposon activation. Further, since transposons can affect the regulation mechanisms of host genes, it is possible that transposons have co-evolved as an important mechanism for plant development and adaptation. Recent new findings reveal that siRNAs control not only transcriptional activation, but also suppress transgenerational transposition of mobile elements making siRNAs critically important towards maintaining genome stability. Together these data suggest host-mediated siRNA regulation of transposons appears to have been adapted for controlling essential systems of plant development, morphogenesis, and reproduction.}, } @article {pmid22144168, year = {2012}, author = {Friesen, ML and Jones, EI}, title = {Modelling the evolution of mutualistic symbioses.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {804}, number = {}, pages = {481-499}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-61779-361-5_24}, pmid = {22144168}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Bacteria/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Game Theory ; Genetics, Population ; Mathematical Concepts ; *Models, Biological ; Software ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Mutualistic microbial symbioses are one of the key innovations in the evolution of biological diversity, enabling the expansion of species' niches and the production of sophisticated structures such as the eukaryotic cell. For some of the best-studied cases, we are beginning to have network models of symbiotic metabolism, but this work is in its infancy and has not been developed with an evolutionary perspective. However, theoreticians have long been interested in how these symbioses arise and persist and have applied modelling approaches from economics, evolution, ecology, and sociobology to a number of fundamental questions. We provide an overview of these questions, followed by specific modelling examples. We cover economic game theory, including the Prisoner's Dilemma, the Snowdrift game, and biological markets. We also describe the eco-evolutionary framework of adaptive dynamics, inclusive fitness, and population genetic models. We aim to provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and into how current evolutionary methods can benefit an understanding of the mechanistic basis of host-symbiont interactions elucidated by molecular network models.}, } @article {pmid22140592, year = {2011}, author = {Li, Z and Garner, AL and Gloeckner, C and Janda, KD and Carlow, CK}, title = {Targeting the Wolbachia cell division protein FtsZ as a new approach for antifilarial therapy.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {5}, number = {11}, pages = {e1411}, pmid = {22140592}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Berberine/*pharmacology ; Brugia malayi/*microbiology ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Filaricides/*pharmacology ; GTP Phosphohydrolases/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Wolbachia/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {The use of antibiotics targeting the obligate bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia of filarial parasites has been validated as an approach for controlling filarial infection in animals and humans. Availability of genomic sequences for the Wolbachia (wBm) present in the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi has enabled genome-wide searching for new potential drug targets. In the present study, we investigated the cell division machinery of wBm and determined that it possesses the essential cell division gene ftsZ which was expressed in all developmental stages of B. malayi examined. FtsZ is a GTPase thereby making the protein an attractive Wolbachia drug target. We described the molecular characterization and catalytic properties of Wolbachia FtsZ. We also demonstrated that the GTPase activity was inhibited by the natural product, berberine, and small molecule inhibitors identified from a high-throughput screen. Furthermore, berberine was also effective in reducing motility and reproduction in B. malayi parasites in vitro. Our results should facilitate the discovery of selective inhibitors of FtsZ as a novel anti-symbiotic approach for controlling filarial infection. NOTE: The nucleotide sequences reported in this paper are available in GenBank™ Data Bank under the accession number wAlB-FtsZ (JN616286).}, } @article {pmid22138099, year = {2012}, author = {Genre, A and Ivanov, S and Fendrych, M and Faccio, A and Zársky, V and Bisseling, T and Bonfante, P}, title = {Multiple exocytotic markers accumulate at the sites of perifungal membrane biogenesis in arbuscular mycorrhizas.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {244-255}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcr170}, pmid = {22138099}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Biomarkers/metabolism ; Cell Compartmentation ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Daucus carota/cytology/metabolism/microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Exocytosis ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Models, Biological ; Mycorrhizae/*cytology/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) are symbiotic interactions established within the roots of most plants by soil fungi belonging to the Glomeromycota. The extensive accommodation of the fungus in the root tissues largely takes place intracellularly, within a specialized interface compartment surrounded by the so-called perifungal membrane, an extension of the host plasmalemma. By combining live confocal imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged proteins and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we have investigated the mechanisms leading to the biogenesis of this membrane. Our results show that pre-penetration responses and symbiotic interface construction are associated with extensive membrane dynamics. They involve the main components of the exocytotic machinery, with a major participation of the Golgi apparatus, as revealed by both TEM and in vivo GFP imaging. The labeling of known exocytosis markers, such as v-SNARE proteins of the VAMP72 family and the EXO84b subunit of the exocyst complex, allowed live imaging of the cell components involved in perifungal membrane construction, clarifying how this takes place ahead of the growing intracellular hypha. Lastly, our novel data are used to illustrate a model of membrane dynamics within the pre-penetration apparatus during AM fungal penetration.}, } @article {pmid22137452, year = {2012}, author = {Rauch, M and Lynch, SV}, title = {The potential for probiotic manipulation of the gastrointestinal microbiome.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {192-201}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2011.11.004}, pmid = {22137452}, issn = {1879-0429}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immune System/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Probiotics/*administration & dosage/classification ; }, abstract = {Multiple internal and external sites of the healthy human body are colonized by a diversity of symbiotic microbes. The microbial assemblages found in the intestine represent some of the most dense and diverse of these human-associated ecosystems. Unsurprisingly, the enteric microbiome, that is the totality of microbes, their combined genomes, and their interactions with the human body, has a profound impact on physiological aspects of mammalian function, not least, host immune response. Lack of early-life exposure to certain microbes, or shifts in the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome have been linked to the development and progression of several intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases, including childhood asthma development and inflammatory bowel disease. Modulating microbial exposure through probiotic supplementation represents a long-held strategy towards ameliorating disease via intestinal microbial community restructuring. This field has experienced somewhat of a resurgence over the past few years, primarily due to the exponential increase in human microbiome studies and a growing appreciation of our dependence on resident microbiota to modulate human health. This review aims to review recent regulatory aspects related to probiotics in food. It also summarizes what is known to date with respect to human gastrointestinal microbiota - the niche which has been most extensively studied in the human system - and the evidence for probiotic supplementation as a viable therapeutic strategy for modulating this consortium.}, } @article {pmid22135893, year = {2011}, author = {Muszyńska, B and Sułkowska-Ziaja, K and Wołkowska, M and Ekiert, H}, title = {Chemical, pharmacological, and biological characterization of the culinary-medicinal honey mushroom, Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. (Agaricomycetideae): a review.}, journal = {International journal of medicinal mushrooms}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {167-175}, doi = {10.1615/intjmedmushr.v13.i2.90}, pmid = {22135893}, issn = {1521-9437}, mesh = {*Armillaria/chemistry/cytology/metabolism ; Biological Products/*pharmacology ; Carbohydrates/analysis/biosynthesis ; Gastrodia/*microbiology ; Indoles ; Lipids/analysis/biosynthesis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recently, studies have been conducted on the chemical composition of fruiting bodies of the culinary-medicinal Honey mushroom, Armillaria mellea (Vahl.) P. Kumm. (higher Basidiomycetes). It is considered in Europe and Asia as edible and medicinal, when appropriately prepared, and has demonstrated the presence of different groups of organic compounds, including carbohydrates, sterols, sphingolipids, fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, non-hallucinogenic indole compounds, peptides, enzymes, adenosine derivatives, and many other components. Most of these metabolite groups possess potential therapeutic and dietary values. The results of quantitative analyses of indole compounds and heavy metals signal potential health hazards for humans. Some of the studies reviewed herein describe in detail the mechanism of symbiosis between A. mellea and the orchid species Gastrodia elata. This orchid is native to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and is used in therapeutics in official Chinese medicine.}, } @article {pmid22134823, year = {2011}, author = {Mikheev, VN and Zykova, AV}, title = {The role of parasites in symbiotic associations of coral fish.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {440}, number = {}, pages = {324-327}, pmid = {22134823}, issn = {0012-4966}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa ; Copepoda/pathogenicity ; *Coral Reefs ; Fishes/*parasitology ; Oceans and Seas ; Parasites/*pathogenicity ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid22134816, year = {2011}, author = {Dvoretsky, AG and Dvoretsky, VG}, title = {Interspecific competition of symbiotic and fouling species of red king crab in the Barents Sea.}, journal = {Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections}, volume = {440}, number = {}, pages = {300-302}, pmid = {22134816}, issn = {0012-4966}, mesh = {Amphipoda/physiology ; Animals ; Anomura/*anatomy & histology/*parasitology ; Oceans and Seas ; *Symbiosis ; Thoracica/physiology ; }, } @article {pmid22134645, year = {2012}, author = {Wolfe, BE and Pringle, A}, title = {Geographically structured host specificity is caused by the range expansions and host shifts of a symbiotic fungus.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {745-755}, pmid = {22134645}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Amanita/*physiology ; California ; *Ecosystem ; Host Specificity ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Quercus/*microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Trees/microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {The inability to associate with local species may constrain the spread of mutualists arriving to new habitats, but the fates of introduced, microbial mutualists are largely unknown. The deadly poisonous ectomycorrhizal fungus Amanita phalloides (the death cap) is native to Europe and introduced to the East and West Coasts of North America. By cataloging host associations across the two continents, we record dramatic changes in specificity among the three ranges. On the East Coast, where the fungus is restricted in its distribution, it associates almost exclusively with pines, which are rarely hosts of A. phalloides in its native range. In California, where the fungus is widespread and locally abundant, it associates almost exclusively with oaks, mirroring the host associations observed in Europe. The most common host of the death cap in California is the endemic coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and the current distribution of A. phalloides appears constrained within the distribution of Q. agrifolia. In California, host shifts to native plants are also associated with a near doubling in the resources allocated to sexual reproduction and a prolonged fruiting period; mushrooms are twice as large as they are elsewhere and mushrooms are found throughout the year. Host and niche shifts are likely to shape the continuing range expansion of A. phalloides and other ectomycorrhizal fungi introduced across the world.}, } @article {pmid22131950, year = {2011}, author = {Mansson, M and Gram, L and Larsen, TO}, title = {Production of bioactive secondary metabolites by marine vibrionaceae.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {9}, number = {9}, pages = {1440-1468}, pmid = {22131950}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/biosynthesis ; Ecology ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Quorum Sensing ; Siderophores/biosynthesis ; Vibrionaceae/classification/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Bacteria belonging to the Vibrionaceae family are widespread in the marine environment. Today, 128 species of vibrios are known. Several of them are infamous for their pathogenicity or symbiotic relationships. Despite their ability to interact with eukaryotes, the vibrios are greatly underexplored for their ability to produce bioactive secondary metabolites and studies have been limited to only a few species. Most of the compounds isolated from vibrios so far are non-ribosomal peptides or hybrids thereof, with examples of N-containing compounds produced independent of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS). Though covering a limited chemical space, vibrios produce compounds with attractive biological activities, including antibacterial, anticancer, and antivirulence activities. This review highlights some of the most interesting structures from this group of bacteria. Many compounds found in vibrios have also been isolated from other distantly related bacteria. This cosmopolitan occurrence of metabolites indicates a high incidence of horizontal gene transfer, which raises interesting questions concerning the ecological function of some of these molecules. This account underlines the pending potential for exploring new bacterial sources of bioactive compounds and the challenges related to their investigation.}, } @article {pmid22131751, year = {2011}, author = {Basisht, GK}, title = {Symbiohealth - Need of the hour.}, journal = {Ayu}, volume = {32}, number = {1}, pages = {6-11}, pmid = {22131751}, issn = {0976-9382}, abstract = {A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALLOPATHY (MODERN MEDICINE) AND AYURVEDA IS FUNDAMENTAL IN CREATING A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS : (a) more effective than either system used alone, (b) less expensive, (c) less toxic and (d) more likely to create a healthier society. The fundamental basis of Allopathy is "offense thinking," corresponding to Newton's physics, which makes it an excellent disease management system; on the other hand, Ayurveda is based upon "defense thinking" and corresponds to Quantum physics, and is an excellent system for prevention of disease and for protection and rejuvenation of health. A judicious use of the two systems in group practice will provide better care to the masses.}, } @article {pmid22131640, year = {2011}, author = {Leisch, N and Dirks, U and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Schmid, M and Sterrer, W and Ott, JA}, title = {Microanatomy of the trophosome region of Paracatenula cf. polyhymnia (Catenulida, Platyhelminthes) and its intracellular symbionts.}, journal = {Zoomorphology}, volume = {130}, number = {4}, pages = {261-271}, pmid = {22131640}, issn = {0720-213X}, abstract = {Marine catenulid platyhelminths of the genus Paracatenula lack mouth, pharynx and gut. They live in a symbiosis with intracellular bacteria which are restricted to the body region posterior to the brain. The symbiont-housing cells (bacteriocytes) collectively form the trophosome tissue, which functionally replaces the digestive tract. It constitutes the largest part of the body and is the most important synapomorphy of this group. While some other features of the Paracatenula anatomy have already been analyzed, an in-depth analysis of the trophosome region was missing. Here, we identify and characterize the composition of the trophosome and its surrounding tissue by analyzing series of ultra-thin cross-sections of the species Paracatenula cf. polyhymnia. For the first time, a protonephridium is detected in a Paracatenula species, but it is morphologically reduced and most likely not functional. Cells containing needle-like inclusions in the reference species Paracatenula polyhymnia Sterrer and Rieger, 1974 were thought to be sperm, and the inclusions interpreted as the sperm nucleus. Our analysis of similar cells and their inclusions by EDX and Raman microspectroscopy documents an inorganic spicule consisting of a unique magnesium-phosphate compound. Furthermore, we identify the neoblast stem cells located underneath the epidermis. Except for the modifications due to the symbiotic lifestyle and the enigmatic spicule cells, the organization of Paracatenula cf. polyhymnia conforms to that of the Catenulida in all studied aspects. Therefore, this species represents an excellent model system for further studies of host adaptation to an obligate symbiotic lifestyle. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00435-011-0135-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.}, } @article {pmid22130174, year = {2012}, author = {Mattoso, TC and Moreira, DD and Samuels, RI}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria on the cuticle of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus protect workers from attack by entomopathogenic fungi.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {461-464}, pmid = {22130174}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Actinobacteria/*physiology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Ants/*microbiology/physiology ; Biofilms/drug effects/*growth & development ; Brazil ; Epidermis/microbiology ; Metarhizium/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although only discovered in 1999, the symbiotic filamentous actinobacteria present on the integument of certain species of leaf-cutting ants have been the subject of intense research. These bacteria have been shown to specifically suppress fungal garden parasites by secretion of antibiotics. However, more recently, a wider role for these bacteria has been suggested from research revealing their generalist anti-fungal activity. Here we show, for the first time, evidence for a role of these bacteria in the defence of young worker ants against a fungal entomopathogen. Experimental removal of the bacterial bio-film using an antibiotic resulted in a significant increase in susceptibility of worker ants to infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. This is the first direct evidence for the advantage of maintaining a bacterial bio-film on the cuticle as a defensive strategy of the ants themselves and not exclusively for protection of the fungus garden.}, } @article {pmid22130021, year = {2011}, author = {Vavre, F and Mavingui, P}, title = {[Endosymbionts of arthropods and nematodes: allies to fight infectious diseases?].}, journal = {Medecine sciences : M/S}, volume = {27}, number = {11}, pages = {953-958}, doi = {10.1051/medsci/20112711010}, pmid = {22130021}, issn = {0767-0974}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropods/genetics/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Communicable Diseases/*therapy ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods/trends ; Nematoda/genetics/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Arthropods and nematodes are important protagonists in human health because either they act as vectors of pathogens (bacteria, protozoa, viruses or fungus), or are themselves parasites. Fighting infectious diseases is based essentially on vaccination (prevention) or chemotherapeutic (curative) approaches in human, but one can envisage as an alternative to reduce the number of vectors or limit their ability to spread pathogens. Such strategies controlling dissemination will undoubtedly benefit from the knowledge accumulated by recent works on powerful mechanisms developed by symbiotic insect bacteria such as Wolbachia to popagate in arthropods and nematods. This review summarizes these recent data, and indicate how these mechanisms can be manipulated to reduce the dissemination of insect vectors propagating human diseases.}, } @article {pmid22129973, year = {2012}, author = {Tchernov, D and Mass, T and Gruber, DF}, title = {Symbiotic transition of algae-coral triggered by paleoclimatic events?.}, journal = {Trends in ecology & evolution}, volume = {27}, number = {4}, pages = {194-195}, doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2011.11.002}, pmid = {22129973}, issn = {1872-8383}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; *Climate ; Fossils ; Microalgae/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, } @article {pmid22129435, year = {2012}, author = {Tian, Y and Zhang, L and Wang, Y and Tang, H}, title = {Age-related topographical metabolic signatures for the rat gastrointestinal contents.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {11}, number = {2}, pages = {1397-1411}, doi = {10.1021/pr2011507}, pmid = {22129435}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Discriminant Analysis ; Feces/chemistry ; Gastrointestinal Contents/*chemistry ; Gastrointestinal Tract/chemistry/*metabolism ; Intestines/chemistry ; Least-Squares Analysis ; *Metabolome ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rats ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic gut microbiota is essential for mammalian physiology and analyzing the metabolite compositions of gastrointestinal contents is vital for understanding the microbiome-host interactions. To understand the developmental dependence of the topographical metabolic signatures for the rat gastrointestinal contents, we systematically characterized the metabolite compositional variations of the contents in rat jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon for two age-groups using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis. Significant topographical metabolic variations were present for the jejunal, ileal, cecal, colonic contents, and feces, reflecting the absorption functions for each intestinal region and the gut microbiota therein. The concentrations of amino acids, lactate, creatine, choline, bile acids, uracil and urocanate decreased drastically from jejunal to ileal contents followed with steady decreases from cecal content to feces. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and arabinoxylan-related carbohydrates had highest levels in cecal content and feces, respectively. Such topographical metabolic signatures for the intestinal contents varied with animal age highlighted by the level changes for lactate, choline, taurine, amino acids, carbohydrates, keto-acids, and SCFAs. These findings provided essential information for the topographical metabolic variations in the gastrointestinal tract and demonstrated metabolic profiling as a useful approach for understanding host-microbiome interactions and functional status of the gastrointestinal regions.}, } @article {pmid22126456, year = {2012}, author = {Taylor, M and Mediannikov, O and Raoult, D and Greub, G}, title = {Endosymbiotic bacteria associated with nematodes, ticks and amoebae.}, journal = {FEMS immunology and medical microbiology}, volume = {64}, number = {1}, pages = {21-31}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00916.x}, pmid = {22126456}, issn = {1574-695X}, mesh = {Amoeba/*microbiology/physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Nematoda/*microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Ticks/*microbiology/physiology ; Wolbachia/*isolation & purification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Endosymbiosis is a mutualistic, parasitic or commensal symbiosis in which one symbiont is living within the body of another organism. Such symbiotic relationship with free-living amoebae and arthropods has been reported with a large biodiversity of microorganisms, encompassing various bacterial clades and to a lesser extent some fungi and viruses. By contrast, current knowledge on symbionts of nematodes is still mainly restricted to Wolbachia and its interaction with filarial worms that lead to increased pathogenicity of the infected nematode. In this review article, we aim to highlight the main characteristics of symbionts in term of their ecology, host cell interactions, parasitism and co-evolution, in order to stimulate future research in a field that remains largely unexplored despite the availability of modern tools.}, } @article {pmid22125681, year = {2011}, author = {Nakata, K and Taniguchi, Y and Yoshioka, N and Yoshida, A and Inagawa, H and Nakamoto, T and Yoshimura, H and Miyake, S and Kohchi, C and Kuroki, M and Soma, G}, title = {A mixture of Salacia oblonga extract and IP-PA1 reduces fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.}, journal = {Nutrition research and practice}, volume = {5}, number = {5}, pages = {435-442}, pmid = {22125681}, issn = {2005-6168}, abstract = {At present, lifestyle-related diseases are one of the most critical health issues worldwide. It has been reported that lipopolysaccharide derived from a Gram-negative bacteria (IP-PA1) symbiotic with wheat exhibited several advantageous biological effects, such as the reduction of plasma glucose levels in NOD mice and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in WHHL rabbits. In this study, the beneficial effects on plasma glucose and lipids of a tea (SI tea) consisting of IP-PA1 and Salacia (which contains an inhibitor of α-glucosidase) were investigated in the KK-Ay/TaJcl type 2 diabetic model mice and in human subjects with premetabolic syndrome in a double-blind, randomized study. SI tea significantly decreased plasma glucose levels in KK-Ay/TaJcl mice. A clinical trial of SI tea was performed with 41 subjects between the ages of 40 and 69, who belonged either to a high plasma glucose group (HG: FPG 100-125 mg/dl) or to a hyperlipidemia group (HL: TG ≥ 150 mg/dl, or LDL ≥ 120 mg/dl, or HDL < 40 mg/dl). These subjects ingested either Salacia without IP-PA1 (the control) or SI tea. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days after initiating SI tea treatment, and were measured for FPG, HbA1c, TG, LDL, and HDL. These results showed that SI tea reduced FPG and HbA1c more rapidly than the control in the HL group, and also significantly improved LDL and HDL levels in the HG group. Thus, SI tea may be helpful in preventing lifestyle-related diseases.}, } @article {pmid22125637, year = {2011}, author = {Chaston, JM and Suen, G and Tucker, SL and Andersen, AW and Bhasin, A and Bode, E and Bode, HB and Brachmann, AO and Cowles, CE and Cowles, KN and Darby, C and de Léon, L and Drace, K and Du, Z and Givaudan, A and Herbert Tran, EE and Jewell, KA and Knack, JJ and Krasomil-Osterfeld, KC and Kukor, R and Lanois, A and Latreille, P and Leimgruber, NK and Lipke, CM and Liu, R and Lu, X and Martens, EC and Marri, PR and Médigue, C and Menard, ML and Miller, NM and Morales-Soto, N and Norton, S and Ogier, JC and Orchard, SS and Park, D and Park, Y and Qurollo, BA and Sugar, DR and Richards, GR and Rouy, Z and Slominski, B and Slominski, K and Snyder, H and Tjaden, BC and van der Hoeven, R and Welch, RD and Wheeler, C and Xiang, B and Barbazuk, B and Gaudriault, S and Goodner, B and Slater, SC and Forst, S and Goldman, BS and Goodrich-Blair, H}, title = {The entomopathogenic bacterial endosymbionts Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus: convergent lifestyles from divergent genomes.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {e27909}, pmid = {22125637}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {AI55397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM072342/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI007414/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genomics/methods ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insecta/microbiology/parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nematoda/microbiology/physiology ; Photorhabdus/classification/*genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/classification/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Members of the genus Xenorhabdus are entomopathogenic bacteria that associate with nematodes. The nematode-bacteria pair infects and kills insects, with both partners contributing to insect pathogenesis and the bacteria providing nutrition to the nematode from available insect-derived nutrients. The nematode provides the bacteria with protection from predators, access to nutrients, and a mechanism of dispersal. Members of the bacterial genus Photorhabdus also associate with nematodes to kill insects, and both genera of bacteria provide similar services to their different nematode hosts through unique physiological and metabolic mechanisms. We posited that these differences would be reflected in their respective genomes. To test this, we sequenced to completion the genomes of Xenorhabdus nematophila ATCC 19061 and Xenorhabdus bovienii SS-2004. As expected, both Xenorhabdus genomes encode many anti-insecticidal compounds, commensurate with their entomopathogenic lifestyle. Despite the similarities in lifestyle between Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria, a comparative analysis of the Xenorhabdus, Photorhabdus luminescens, and P. asymbiotica genomes suggests genomic divergence. These findings indicate that evolutionary changes shaped by symbiotic interactions can follow different routes to achieve similar end points.}, } @article {pmid22124663, year = {2012}, author = {Sánchez-Castro, I and Ferrol, N and Cornejo, P and Barea, JM}, title = {Temporal dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing roots of representative shrub species in a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {449-460}, pmid = {22124663}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Glomeromycota/*classification/genetics ; Lamiaceae/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Population Dynamics ; Rosmarinus/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spain ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis plays an important role in improving plant fitness and soil quality, particularly in fragile and stressed environments, as those in certain areas of Mediterranean ecosystems. AM fungal communities are usually affected by dynamic factors such as the plant community structure and composition, which in turn are imposed by seasonality. For this reason, a one-year-round time-course trial was performed by sampling the root system of two representative shrubland species (Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus zygis) within a typical Mediterranean ecosystem from the Southeast of Spain. The 18S rDNA gene, of the AM fungal community in roots, was subjected to PCR-SSCP, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Forty-three different AM fungal sequence types were found which clustered in 16 phylotypes: 14 belonged to the Glomeraceae and two to the Diversisporaceae. Surprisingly, only two of these phylotypes were related with sequences of morphologically defined species: Glomus intraradices and Glomus constrictum. Significant differences were detected for the relative abundance of some phylotypes while no effects were found for the calculated diversity indices. These results may help to design efficient mycorrhizal-based revegetation programs for this type of ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid22123956, year = {2012}, author = {Pan, X and Zhou, G and Wu, J and Bian, G and Lu, P and Raikhel, AS and Xi, Z}, title = {Wolbachia induces reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent activation of the Toll pathway to control dengue virus in the mosquito Aedes aegypti.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {E23-31}, pmid = {22123956}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 AI080597/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI024716/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37AI24716/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI080597/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aedes/genetics/*microbiology/*virology ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Cecropins/metabolism ; Defensins/metabolism ; Dengue/immunology/virology ; Dengue Virus/*physiology ; Fat Body/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Immunological ; Organ Specificity ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction/genetics ; Toll-Like Receptors/*genetics/metabolism ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia are maternally transmitted symbiotic bacteria that can spread within insect populations because of their unique ability to manipulate host reproduction. When introduced to nonnative mosquito hosts, Wolbachia induce resistance to a number of human pathogens, including dengue virus (DENV), Plasmodium, and filarial nematodes, but the molecular mechanism involved is unclear. In this study, we have deciphered how Wolbachia infection affects the Aedes aegypti host in inducing resistance to DENV. The microarray assay indicates that transcripts of genes with functions related to immunity and reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions are up-regulated in Ae. aegypti infected with Wolbachia. Infection with this bacterium leads to induction of oxidative stress and an increased level of reactive oxygen species in its mosquito host. Reactive oxygen species elevation is linked to the activation of the Toll pathway, which is essential in mediating the expression of antioxidants to counterbalance oxidative stress. This immune pathway also is responsible for activation of antimicrobial peptides-defensins and cecropins. We provide evidence that these antimicrobial peptides are involved in inhibition of DENV proliferation in Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. Utilization of transgenic Ae. aegypti and the RNAi depletion approach has been instrumental in proving the role of defensins and cecropins in the resistance of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti to DENV. These results indicate that a symbiotic bacterium can manipulate the host defense system to facilitate its own persistent infection, resulting in a compromise of the mosquito's ability to host human pathogens. Our discoveries will aid in the development of control strategies for mosquito-transmitted diseases.}, } @article {pmid22123943, year = {2011}, author = {Donia, MS and Fricke, WF and Partensky, F and Cox, J and Elshahawi, SI and White, JR and Phillippy, AM and Schatz, MC and Piel, J and Haygood, MG and Ravel, J and Schmidt, EW}, title = {Complex microbiome underlying secondary and primary metabolism in the tunicate-Prochloron symbiosis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {108}, number = {51}, pages = {E1423-32}, pmid = {22123943}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {R01 GM071425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM071425/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Genome ; Genomics ; Metagenome/*physiology ; Metagenomics ; Models, Biological ; Models, Genetic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Prochloron/*metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Urochordata ; }, abstract = {The relationship between tunicates and the uncultivated cyanobacterium Prochloron didemni has long provided a model symbiosis. P. didemni is required for survival of animals such as Lissoclinum patella and also makes secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical interest. Here, we present the metagenomes, chemistry, and microbiomes of four related L. patella tunicate samples from a wide geographical range of the tropical Pacific. The remarkably similar P. didemni genomes are the most complex so far assembled from uncultivated organisms. Although P. didemni has not been stably cultivated and comprises a single strain in each sample, a complete set of metabolic genes indicates that the bacteria are likely capable of reproducing outside the host. The sequences reveal notable peculiarities of the photosynthetic apparatus and explain the basis of nutrient exchange underlying the symbiosis. P. didemni likely profoundly influences the lipid composition of the animals by synthesizing sterols and an unusual lipid with biofuel potential. In addition, L. patella also harbors a great variety of other bacterial groups that contribute nutritional and secondary metabolic products to the symbiosis. These bacteria possess an enormous genetic potential to synthesize new secondary metabolites. For example, an antitumor candidate molecule, patellazole, is not encoded in the genome of Prochloron and was linked to other bacteria from the microbiome. This study unveils the complex L. patella microbiome and its impact on primary and secondary metabolism, revealing a remarkable versatility in creating and exchanging small molecules.}, } @article {pmid22123791, year = {2012}, author = {Hakoyama, T and Niimi, K and Yamamoto, T and Isobe, S and Sato, S and Nakamura, Y and Tabata, S and Kumagai, H and Umehara, Y and Brossuleit, K and Petersen, TR and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J and Udvardi, MK and Tamaoki, M and Kawaguchi, M and Kouchi, H and Suganuma, N}, title = {The integral membrane protein SEN1 is required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus nodules.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {225-236}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcr167}, pmid = {22123791}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume plants establish a symbiotic association with bacteria called rhizobia, resulting in the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. A Lotus japonicus symbiotic mutant, sen1, forms nodules that are infected by rhizobia but that do not fix nitrogen. Here, we report molecular identification of the causal gene, SEN1, by map-based cloning. The SEN1 gene encodes an integral membrane protein homologous to Glycine max nodulin-21, and also to CCC1, a vacuolar iron/manganese transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and VIT1, a vacuolar iron transporter of Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression of the SEN1 gene was detected exclusively in nodule-infected cells and increased during nodule development. Nif gene expression as well as the presence of nitrogenase proteins was detected in rhizobia from sen1 nodules, although the levels of expression were low compared with those from wild-type nodules. Microscopic observations revealed that symbiosome and/or bacteroid differentiation are impaired in the sen1 nodules even at a very early stage of nodule development. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that SEN1 belongs to a protein clade specific to legumes. These results indicate that SEN1 is essential for nitrogen fixation activity and symbiosome/bacteroid differentiation in legume nodules.}, } @article {pmid22119543, year = {2012}, author = {da Silva Batista, JS and Hungria, M}, title = {Proteomics reveals differential expression of proteins related to a variety of metabolic pathways by genistein-induced Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {75}, number = {4}, pages = {1211-1219}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2011.10.032}, pmid = {22119543}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Bradyrhizobium/*metabolism ; Chemotaxis ; Cysteine/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genistein/*pharmacology ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Proteome ; Proteomics/*methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Trypsin/chemistry ; }, abstract = {The rhizobia-legume symbiosis requires a coordinated molecular interaction between the symbionts, initiated by seed and root exudation of several compounds, mainly flavonoids, that trigger the expression of nodulation genes in the bacteria. Since the role of flavonoids seems to be broader than the induction of nodulation genes, we aimed at characterizing genistein-induced proteins of Bradyrhizobium japonicum CPAC 15 (=SEMIA 5079), used in commercial soybean inoculants in Brazil, and of two genetically related strains grown in vitro. Whole-cell proteins were extracted both from induced (1 μM genistein) and from non-induced cultures of the three strains, and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Spot profiles were compared between the two conditions and selected spots were excised and identified by mass spectrometry. Forty-seven proteins were significantly induced by genistein, including several hypothetical proteins, the cytoplasmic flagellar component FliG, periplasmic ABC transporters, a protein related to biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides (ExoN), and proteins involved in redox-state maintenance. Noteworthy was the induction of the PhyR-σ(EcfG) regulon, recently demonstrated to be involved in the symbiotic efficiency of, and general stress response in B. japonicum. Our results confirm that the role of flavonoids, such as genistein, can go far beyond the expression of nodulation-related proteins in B. japonicum.}, } @article {pmid22117932, year = {2012}, author = {Krämer, WE and Caamaño-Ricken, I and Richter, C and Bischof, K}, title = {Dynamic regulation of photoprotection determines thermal tolerance of two phylotypes of Symbiodinium clade A at two photon fluence rates.}, journal = {Photochemistry and photobiology}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {398-413}, doi = {10.1111/j.1751-1097.2011.01048.x}, pmid = {22117932}, issn = {1751-1097}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*radiation effects ; Animals ; Anthozoa/physiology/*radiation effects ; Dinoflagellida/physiology/*radiation effects ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Light ; *Photons ; Photosynthesis/radiation effects ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism/radiation effects ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Xanthophylls/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral bleaching is the manifestation of the dysfunction of the symbiosis between scleractinian corals and dinoflagellates of the diverse genus Symbiodinium and is induced by elevated temperatures and high irradiance. We investigated the photophysiological response of two genetically distinct Symbiodinium subtypes within clade A upon exposure to elevated temperatures at two light intensities for 3 weeks. While both subtypes displayed a characteristic photoacclimation to high light (HL) (decrease in light-harvesting pigments, lower photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, increased xanthophyll pool sizes), the tolerance toward thermal stress clearly differed between the two subtypes. Symbiodinium Ax was highly susceptible to chronic photoinhibition at temperatures ≥30°C, which was exacerbated under HL conditions. A1 showed a capacity for photoacclimation and high thermal tolerance, which might be related to higher cellular concentrations of photoprotective xanthophylls and the low-molecular antioxidant glutathione (GSx) along with the dynamic regulation of these photoprotective pathways. Whereas HL conditions induced both accumulation of diatoxanthin and GSx, thermal stress further stimulated xanthophyll cycling, which might compensate for diminished amounts of GSx at elevated temperatures. Our results show that the two clade A subtypes clearly differ in their strategies to cope with thermal stress in combination with high irradiance.}, } @article {pmid22115919, year = {2012}, author = {Iguchi, A and Ozaki, S and Nakamura, T and Inoue, M and Tanaka, Y and Suzuki, A and Kawahata, H and Sakai, K}, title = {Effects of acidified seawater on coral calcification and symbiotic algae on the massive coral Porites australiensis.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {73}, number = {}, pages = {32-36}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.10.008}, pmid = {22115919}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Acids/metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/metabolism/*physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic/*physiology ; Chlorophyta/*physiology ; Seawater/*chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated the effect of acidified seawater on calcification and symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll content per single algal cell, fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm)) on a massive coral, Porites australiensis, a common species in the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan. We found that acidified seawater significantly decreased the calcification and fluorescence yield, but did not affect zooxanthellae density and chlorophyll content per single algal cell. This indicates low levels of photoacclimation to acidified seawater in this species, and this is contrary to the findings of previous studies of Acropora species. A significant correlation between calcification and fluorescence yield was observed, indicating the presence of a strong relationship between calcification and algal photosynthesis. Our results indicate that endosymbiont photosynthetic dysfunction may enhance the decrease of coral calcification in future acidified ocean conditions. Calcification and fluorescence yield among colonies clearly differed, showing that the response to acidified seawater is highly variable among colonies in natural coral populations.}, } @article {pmid22115613, year = {2012}, author = {Sousa, NR and Ramos, MA and Marques, AP and Castro, PM}, title = {The effect of ectomycorrhizal fungi forming symbiosis with Pinus pinaster seedlings exposed to cadmium.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {414}, number = {}, pages = {63-67}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.10.053}, pmid = {22115613}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Biomass ; Cadmium/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Pinus/*drug effects/growth & development/*microbiology ; Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development/microbiology ; Soil Pollutants/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Cadmium is one of the most toxic heavy metals and its accumulation in the upper layers of forest soils affects plants, microorganisms and their interactions. Adequate strategies for the reforestation of metal contaminated sites are of vital importance. The aim of this work was to evaluate the response of Pinus pinaster seedlings to Cd exposure and to assess the effect of inoculation with two selected ectomycorrhizal fungi, Suillus bovinus and Rhizopogon roseolus on that response. Seedlings were exposed to soil contaminated at 15 and 30 mg Cd kg(-1). Shoot biomass of P. pinaster decreased ca. 36% when exposed to 15 mg Cd kg(-1). Overall, colonization by S. bovinus significantly enhanced shoot development up to 30% in contaminated soil while colonization by R. roseolus produced no significant effect at both Cd concentrations tested and significantly increased the level of Cd in the shoots at both Cd concentrations. Metal accumulation in the shoots and roots of non-inoculated and S. bovinus-inoculated seedlings increased at the higher Cd levels whereas R. roseolus-inoculated seedlings were not sensitive to Cd variation in the soil. The results from our research show that inoculation with ECM fungi has a significant impact on metal uptake and development of P. pinaster seedlings; the differential response induced by the two tested species highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate strains for nursery inoculation, and, as such, this biological tool ought to be considered in reforestation processes of heavy metal contaminated areas by woody species.}, } @article {pmid22114842, year = {2011}, author = {Bowman, LA and McLean, S and Poole, RK and Fukuto, JM}, title = {The diversity of microbial responses to nitric oxide and agents of nitrosative stress close cousins but not identical twins.}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {59}, number = {}, pages = {135-219}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-387661-4.00006-9}, pmid = {22114842}, issn = {2162-5468}, mesh = {Bacteria/*drug effects/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide and related nitrogen species (reactive nitrogen species) now occupy a central position in contemporary medicine, physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology. In particular, NO plays important antimicrobial defenses in innate immunity but microbes have evolved intricate NO-sensing and defense mechanisms that are the subjects of a vast literature. Unfortunately, the burgeoning NO literature has not always been accompanied by an understanding of the intricacies and complexities of this radical and other reactive nitrogen species so that there exists confusion and vagueness about which one or more species exert the reported biological effects. The biological chemistry of NO and derived/related molecules is complex, due to multiple species that can be generated from NO in biological milieu and numerous possible reaction targets. Moreover, the fate and disposition of NO is always a function of its biological environment, which can vary significantly even within a single cell. In this review, we consider newer aspects of the literature but, most importantly, consider the underlying chemistry and draw attention to the distinctiveness of NO and its chemical cousins, nitrosonium (NO(+)), nitroxyl (NO(-), HNO), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), nitrite (NO(2)(-)), and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)). All these species are reported to be generated in biological systems from initial formation of NO (from nitrite, NO synthases, or other sources) or its provision in biological experiments (typically from NO gas, S-nitrosothiols, or NO donor compounds). The major targets of NO and nitrosative damage (metal centers, thiols, and others) are reviewed and emphasis is given to newer "-omic" methods of unraveling the complex repercussions of NO and nitrogen oxide assaults. Microbial defense mechanisms, many of which are critical for pathogenicity, include the activities of hemoglobins that enzymically detoxify NO (to nitrate) and NO reductases and repair mechanisms (e.g., those that reverse S-nitrosothiol formation). Microbial resistance to these stresses is generally inducible and many diverse transcriptional regulators are involved-some that are secondary sensors (such as Fnr) and those that are "dedicated" (such as NorR, NsrR, NssR) in that their physiological function appears to be detecting primarily NO and then regulating expression of genes that encode enzymes with NO as a substrate. Although generally harmful, evidence is accumulating that NO may have beneficial effects, as in the case of the squid-Vibrio light-organ symbiosis, where NO serves as a signal, antioxidant, and specificity determinant. Progress in this area will require a thorough understanding not only of the biology but also of the underlying chemical principles.}, } @article {pmid22113914, year = {2012}, author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Yildirim, E and Gürbüz, MF and Herzner, G and Strohm, E}, title = {Refining the roots of the beewolf-Streptomyces symbiosis: antennal symbionts in the rare genus Philanthinus (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {3}, pages = {822-827}, pmid = {22113914}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Animals ; Arthropod Antennae/anatomy & histology/microbiology/physiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Histocytochemistry ; Hymenoptera/anatomy & histology/*microbiology/*physiology ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Streptomyces/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Insects engage in symbiotic associations with a large diversity of beneficial microorganisms. While the majority of well-studied symbioses have a nutritional basis, several cases are known in which bacteria protect their host from pathogen infestation. Solitary wasps of the genera Philanthus and Trachypus (beewolves; Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) cultivate the actinomycete "Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi" in specialized antennal gland reservoirs. The symbionts are transferred to the larval cocoon, where they provide protection against pathogenic fungi by producing at least nine different antibiotics. Here we investigated the closest relatives of Philanthus and Trachypus, the rare genus Philanthinus, for the presence of antennal gland reservoirs and symbiotic streptomycetes. Molecular analyses identified "Ca. Streptomyces philanthi" in reservoirs of Philanthinus quattuordecimpunctatus. Phylogenies based on the 16S rRNA gene suggest that P. quattuordecimpunctatus may have acquired "Ca. Streptomyces philanthi" by horizontal transfer from other beewolf species. In histological sections and three-dimensional reconstructions, the antennal gland reservoirs were found to occupy six antennal segments (as opposed to only five in Philanthus and Trachypus) and to be structurally less complex than those of the evolutionarily more derived genera of beewolves. The presence of "Ca. Streptomyces philanthi" in antennal glands of Philanthinus indicates that the symbiosis between beewolves and Streptomyces bacteria is much older than previously thought. It probably evolved along the branch leading to the monophyletic tribe Philanthini, as it seems to be confined to the genera Philanthus, Trachypus, and Philanthinus, which together comprise 172 described species of solitary wasps.}, } @article {pmid22113590, year = {2012}, author = {Moreau, D and Burstin, J and Aubert, G and Huguet, T and Ben, C and Prosperi, JM and Salon, C and Munier-Jolain, N}, title = {Using a physiological framework for improving the detection of quantitative trait loci related to nitrogen nutrition in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik}, volume = {124}, number = {4}, pages = {755-768}, pmid = {22113590}, issn = {1432-2242}, mesh = {Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Plant/genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Genetic Linkage ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/*genetics ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is used as a model plant for exploring the genetic and molecular determinants of nitrogen (N) nutrition in legumes. In this study, our aim was to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling plant N nutrition using a simple framework of carbon/N plant functioning stemming from crop physiology. This framework was based on efficiency variables which delineated the plant's efficiency to take up and process carbon and N resources. A recombinant inbred line population (LR4) was grown in a glasshouse experiment under two contrasting nitrate concentrations. At low nitrate, symbiotic N(2) fixation was the main N source for plant growth and a QTL with a large effect located on linkage group (LG) 8 affected all the traits. Significantly, efficiency variables were necessary both to precisely localize a second QTL on LG5 and to detect a third QTL involved in epistatic interactions on LG2. At high nitrate, nitrate assimilation was the main N source and a larger number of QTL with weaker effects were identified compared to low nitrate. Only two QTL were common to both nitrate treatments: a QTL of belowground biomass located at the bottom of LG3 and another one on LG6 related to three different variables (leaf area, specific N uptake and aboveground:belowground biomass ratio). Possible functions of several candidate genes underlying QTL of efficiency variables could be proposed. Altogether, our results provided new insights into the genetic control of N nutrition in M. truncatula. For instance, a novel result for M. truncatula was identification of two epistatic interactions in controlling plant N(2) fixation. As such this study showed the value of a simple conceptual framework based on efficiency variables for studying genetic determinants of complex traits and particularly epistatic interactions.}, } @article {pmid22113456, year = {2012}, author = {Lahrouni, M and Oufdou, K and Faghire, M and Peix, A and El Khalloufi, F and Vasconcelos, V and Oudra, B}, title = {Cyanobacterial extracts containing microcystins affect the growth, nodulation process and nitrogen uptake of faba bean (Vicia faba L., Fabaceae).}, journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)}, volume = {21}, number = {3}, pages = {681-687}, pmid = {22113456}, issn = {1573-3017}, mesh = {Bacterial Toxins/analysis/metabolism/*toxicity ; Biodegradation, Environmental/drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors/analysis/metabolism/*toxicity ; Germination/drug effects/physiology ; Microcystins/analysis/metabolism/*toxicity ; Microcystis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Seeds/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/drug effects/physiology ; Vicia faba/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; }, abstract = {The use of irrigation water containing cyanobacterial toxins may generate a negative impact in both yield and quality of agricultural crops causing significant economic losses. We evaluated the effects of microcystins (MC) on the growth, nodulation process and nitrogen uptake of a Faba bean cultivar (Vicia faba L., Fabaceae), particularly the effect of MC on rhizobia-V. faba symbiosis. Three rhizobial strains (RhOF4, RhOF6 and RhOF21), isolated from nodules of local V. faba were tested. The exposure of rhizobia to MC showed that the toxins had a negative effect on the rhizobial growth especially at the highest concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/l. The germination of faba bean seeds was also affected by cyanotoxins. We registered germination rates of 75 and 68.75% at the toxin levels of 50 and 100 μg/l as compared to the control (100%). The obtained results also showed there was a negative effect of MC on plants shoot, root (dry weight) and total number of nodules per plant. Cyanotoxins exposure induced a significant effect on nitrogen assimilation by faba bean seedlings inoculated with selected rhizobial strains RhOF6 and RhOF21, while the effect was not significant on beans seedling inoculated with RhOF4. This behavior of tolerant rhizobia-legumes symbioses may constitute a very important pathway to increase soil fertility and quality and can represent a friendly biotechnological way to remediate cyanotoxins contamination in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid22112296, year = {2012}, author = {Fotiadis, CT and Dimou, M and Georgakopoulos, DG and Katinakis, P and Tampakaki, AP}, title = {Functional characterization of NopT1 and NopT2, two type III effectors of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {327}, number = {1}, pages = {66-77}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02466.x}, pmid = {22112296}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/chemistry/*enzymology/genetics ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Tobacco/*microbiology/physiology ; }, abstract = {NopT1 and NopT2, putative type III effectors from the plant symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum, are predicted to belong to a family of YopT/AvrPphB effectors, which are cysteine proteases. In the present study, we showed that both NopT1 and NopT2 indeed possess cysteine protease activity. When overexpressed in Escherichia coli, both NopT1 and NopT2 undergo autoproteolytic processing which is largely abolished in the presence of E-64, a papain family-specific inhibitor. Mutations of NopT1 disrupting either the catalytic triad or the putative autoproteolytic site reduce or markedly abolish the protease activity. Autocleavage likely occurs between residues K48 and M49, though another potential cleavage site is also possible. NopT1 also elicitis HR-like cell death when transiently expressed in tobacco plants and its cysteine protease activity is essential for this ability. In contrast, no macroscopic symptoms were observed for NopT2. Furthermore, mutational analysis provided evidence that NopT1 may undergo acylation inside plant cells and that this would be required for its capacity to elicit HR-like cell death in tobacco.}, } @article {pmid22111580, year = {2012}, author = {Qiang, X and Weiss, M and Kogel, KH and Schäfer, P}, title = {Piriformospora indica-a mutualistic basidiomycete with an exceptionally large plant host range.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {508-518}, pmid = {22111580}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/*physiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Host Specificity ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plants/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Piriformospora indica is a basidiomycete of the order Sebacinales, representing a model for the study of mutualistic symbiosis and, beyond that, the plant immune system. The fungus colonizes the roots of a wide range of vascular plants, increasing their growth, seed yield and adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. The fungal colonization of roots begins with a biotrophic growth phase, in which living cells are colonized, and continues with a cell death-dependent phase, in which root cells are actively killed by the fungus. The complexity of sebacinalean symbiosis is further enhanced by the presence of endocellular bacteria which may represent significant determinants for a successful outcome of the symbioses. Molecular ecological analyses have revealed an exceptional relevance of sebacinoid fungi in natural ecosystems worldwide. This natural competence could be rooted in their phenotypic adaptability, which, for instance, allows P. indica to grow readily on various synthetic media and to colonize distinct hosts. In molecular and genetic studies, P. indica's mutualistic colonization strategy has been partly unravelled, showing that the jasmonate pathway is exploited for immune suppression and successful development in roots. Research on P. indica supports efforts to make the bioprotective potential of the fungus accessible for agricultural plant production. The decoding of P. indica's genome has revealed its potential for application as bioagent and for targeted improvement of crop plants in biotechnology-based approaches.}, } @article {pmid22110385, year = {2011}, author = {Hurwitz, I and Fieck, A and Read, A and Hillesland, H and Klein, N and Kang, A and Durvasula, R}, title = {Paratransgenic control of vector borne diseases.}, journal = {International journal of biological sciences}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {1334-1344}, pmid = {22110385}, issn = {1449-2288}, support = {R01 AI066045/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI66045-4/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Chagas Disease/prevention & control/transmission ; Insect Vectors/genetics/*metabolism/*parasitology ; Leishmania donovani/pathogenicity ; Psychodidae/parasitology ; Rhodnius/parasitology ; Risk Assessment ; Trypanosoma cruzi/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Conventional methodologies to control vector borne diseases with chemical pesticides are often associated with environmental toxicity, adverse effects on human health and the emergence of insect resistance. In the paratransgenic strategy, symbiotic or commensal microbes of host insects are transformed to express gene products that interfere with pathogen transmission. These genetically altered microbes are re-introduced back to the insect where expression of the engineered molecules decreases the host's ability to transmit the pathogen. We have successfully utilized this strategy to reduce carriage rates of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, in the triatomine bug, Rhodnius prolixus, and are currently developing this methodology to control the transmission of Leishmania donovani by the sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. Several effector molecules, including antimicrobial peptides and highly specific single chain antibodies, are currently being explored for their anti-parasite activities in these two systems. In preparation for eventual field use, we are actively engaged in risk assessment studies addressing the issue of horizontal gene transfer from the modified bacteria to environmental microbes.}, } @article {pmid22110036, year = {2012}, author = {Li, J and Dai, X and Liu, T and Zhao, PX}, title = {LegumeIP: an integrative database for comparative genomics and transcriptomics of model legumes.}, journal = {Nucleic acids research}, volume = {40}, number = {Database issue}, pages = {D1221-9}, pmid = {22110036}, issn = {1362-4962}, mesh = {Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics ; *Databases, Genetic ; Fabaceae/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; Genomics ; Glycosyltransferases/genetics ; Lotus/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Software ; Soybeans/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Systems Integration ; }, abstract = {Legumes play a vital role in maintaining the nitrogen cycle of the biosphere. They conduct symbiotic nitrogen fixation through endosymbiotic relationships with bacteria in root nodules. However, this and other characteristics of legumes, including mycorrhization, compound leaf development and profuse secondary metabolism, are absent in the typical model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We present LegumeIP (http://plantgrn.noble.org/LegumeIP/), an integrative database for comparative genomics and transcriptomics of model legumes, for studying gene function and genome evolution in legumes. LegumeIP compiles gene and gene family information, syntenic and phylogenetic context and tissue-specific transcriptomic profiles. The database holds the genomic sequences of three model legumes, Medicago truncatula, Glycine max and Lotus japonicus plus two reference plant species, A. thaliana and Populus trichocarpa, with annotations based on UniProt, InterProScan, Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases. LegumeIP also contains large-scale microarray and RNA-Seq-based gene expression data. Our new database is capable of systematic synteny analysis across M. truncatula, G. max, L. japonicas and A. thaliana, as well as construction and phylogenetic analysis of gene families across the five hosted species. Finally, LegumeIP provides comprehensive search and visualization tools that enable flexible queries based on gene annotation, gene family, synteny and relative gene expression.}, } @article {pmid22108855, year = {2012}, author = {Hynson, NA and Mambelli, S and Amend, AS and Dawson, TE}, title = {Measuring carbon gains from fungal networks in understory plants from the tribe Pyroleae (Ericaceae): a field manipulation and stable isotope approach.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {169}, number = {2}, pages = {307-317}, pmid = {22108855}, issn = {1432-1939}, mesh = {California ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Carbon/*metabolism ; Carbon Isotopes ; Ericaceae/*microbiology/*physiology ; Heterotrophic Processes/physiology ; Light ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen/analysis/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Partial mycoheterotrophy, a newly discovered form of mixotrophy in plants, has been described in at least two major lineages of angiosperms, the orchids and ericaceous plants in the tribe Pyroleae. Partial mycoheterotrophy entails carbon gains both directly from photosynthesis and via symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, but determining the degree of plant dependence on fungal carbon is challenging. The purpose of this study was to determine if two chlorophyllous species of Pyroleae, Chimaphila umbellata and Pyrola picta, were receiving carbon via mycorrhizal networks and, if so, if their proportional dependency on fungal carbon gains increased under reduced light conditions. This was accomplished by a field experiment that manipulated light and plants' access to mycorrhizal networks, and by using the stable carbon isotope composition (δ(13)C) of leaf soluble sugars as a marker for the level of mycoheterotrophy. Based on leaf soluble sugars δ(13)C values, we calculated a site-independent isotope enrichment factor as a measure of fungal contributions to plant C. We found that, under each treatment and over time, the two test species demonstrated different isotopic responses caused by their different intrinsic physiologies. Our data, along with previously published studies, suggest that Chimaphila umbellata is primarily an autotrophic understory plant, while Pyrola picta may be capable of partial mycoheterotrophy. However, in this study, a 50% decrease in light availability did not significantly change the relative dependency of P. picta on carbon gains via mycoheterotrophy.}, } @article {pmid22106619, year = {2011}, author = {Poduval, M}, title = {Orthopaedic surgeons and the device industry: skeletons in the closet.}, journal = {Indian journal of medical ethics}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {97-102}, doi = {10.20529/IJME.2011.037}, pmid = {22106619}, issn = {0974-8466}, mesh = {*Conflict of Interest ; Health Care Sector/*ethics ; Humans ; India ; Orthopedic Equipment ; Orthopedics/*ethics ; Professional Autonomy ; *Professional Misconduct ; Prostheses and Implants ; United States ; }, abstract = {The relationship between orthopaedic surgeons and the device industry is one that is mutually beneficial and productive. However there are skeletons in the closet. The financial implications of this relationship have come under intense scrutiny. The sponsorships and the financial benefits of this symbiotic relationship have been found to cross the boundaries considered acceptable to ethical practice of the profession. In India, the ethical transgressions resulting from unhealthy associations between the orthopaedic surgeon and the industry have yet to be given due importance. Adequate rules and regulations are yet to be enforced and self-regulation is practically non-existent. It is essential to deal with the problem and potential implications that can arise from this kind of misconduct at the organisational level and enforce them for compliance.}, } @article {pmid22103545, year = {2011}, author = {Torres, MJ and Rubia, MI and Bedmar, EJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {Denitrification in Sinorhizobium meliloti.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {1886-1889}, doi = {10.1042/BST20110733}, pmid = {22103545}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Denitrification/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Oxygen/pharmacology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/drug effects/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Denitrification is the complete reduction of nitrate or nitrite to N2, via the intermediates nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and is coupled to energy conservation and growth under O2-limiting conditions. In Bradyrhizobium japonicum, this process occurs through the action of the napEDABC, nirK, norCBQD and nosRZDFYLX gene products. DNA sequences showing homology with nap, nirK, nor and nos genes have been found in the genome of the symbiotic plasmid pSymA of Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021. Whole-genome transcriptomic analyses have demonstrated that S. meliloti denitrification genes are induced under micro-oxic conditions. Furthermore, S. meliloti has also been shown to possess denitrifying activities in both free-living and symbiotic forms. Despite possessing and expressing the complete set of denitrification genes, S. meliloti is considered a partial denitrifier since it does not grow under anaerobic conditions with nitrate or nitrite as terminal electron acceptors. In the present paper, we show that, under micro-oxic conditions, S. meliloti is able to grow by using nitrate or nitrite as respiratory substrates, which indicates that, in contrast with anaerobic denitrifiers, O2 is necessary for denitrification by S. meliloti. Current knowledge of the regulation of S. meliloti denitrification genes is also included.}, } @article {pmid22103544, year = {2011}, author = {Cabrera, JJ and Sánchez, C and Gates, AJ and Bedmar, EJ and Mesa, S and Richardson, DJ and Delgado, MJ}, title = {The nitric oxide response in plant-associated endosymbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Biochemical Society transactions}, volume = {39}, number = {6}, pages = {1880-1885}, doi = {10.1042/BST20110732}, pmid = {22103544}, issn = {1470-8752}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Models, Biological ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signalling molecule which becomes very toxic due to its ability to react with multiple cellular targets in biological systems. Bacterial cells protect against NO through the expression of enzymes that detoxify this molecule by oxidizing it to nitrate or reducing it to nitrous oxide or ammonia. These enzymes are haemoglobins, c-type nitric oxide reductase, flavorubredoxins and the cytochrome c respiratory nitrite reductase. Expression of the genes encoding these enzymes is controlled by NO-sensitive regulatory proteins. The production of NO in rhizobia-legume symbiosis has been demonstrated recently. In functioning nodules, NO acts as a potent inhibitor of nitrogenase enzymes. These observations have led to the question of how rhizobia overcome the toxicity of NO. Several studies on the NO response have been undertaken in two non-dentrifying rhizobial species, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium etli, and in a denitrifying species, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the present mini-review, current knowledge of the NO response in those legume-associated endosymbiotic bacteria is summarized.}, } @article {pmid22102823, year = {2011}, author = {Lamelas, A and Gosalbes, MJ and Manzano-Marín, A and Peretó, J and Moya, A and Latorre, A}, title = {Serratia symbiotica from the aphid Cinara cedri: a missing link from facultative to obligate insect endosymbiont.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e1002357}, pmid = {22102823}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Amino Acids/biosynthesis/genetics ; Animals ; Aphids/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/*classification/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Buchnera/*genetics/metabolism ; Enterobacteriaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pseudogenes/genetics ; Riboflavin/biosynthesis/genetics ; Serratia/*genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Tryptophan/biosynthesis/genetics ; }, abstract = {The genome sequencing of Buchnera aphidicola BCc from the aphid Cinara cedri, which is the smallest known Buchnera genome, revealed that this bacterium had lost its symbiotic role, as it was not able to synthesize tryptophan and riboflavin. Moreover, the biosynthesis of tryptophan is shared with the endosymbiont Serratia symbiotica SCc, which coexists with B. aphidicola in this aphid. The whole-genome sequencing of S. symbiotica SCc reveals an endosymbiont in a stage of genome reduction that is closer to an obligate endosymbiont, such as B. aphidicola from Acyrthosiphon pisum, than to another S. symbiotica, which is a facultative endosymbiont in this aphid, and presents much less gene decay. The comparison between both S. symbiotica enables us to propose an evolutionary scenario of the transition from facultative to obligate endosymbiont. Metabolic inferences of B. aphidicola BCc and S. symbiotica SCc reveal that most of the functions carried out by B. aphidicola in A. pisum are now either conserved in B. aphidicola BCc or taken over by S. symbiotica. In addition, there are several cases of metabolic complementation giving functional stability to the whole consortium and evolutionary preservation of the actors involved.}, } @article {pmid22102697, year = {2011}, author = {Yamada, K and Hara-Nishimura, I and Nishimura, M}, title = {Unique defense strategy by the endoplasmic reticulum body in plants.}, journal = {Plant & cell physiology}, volume = {52}, number = {12}, pages = {2039-2049}, doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcr156}, pmid = {22102697}, issn = {1471-9053}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/enzymology/genetics/*immunology/ultrastructure ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/enzymology/*immunology/ultrastructure ; Enzyme Activation ; Models, Biological ; Plant Immunity/*immunology ; beta-Glucosidase/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a site for the production of secretory proteins. Plants have developed ER subdomains for protein storage. The ER body is one such structure, which is observed in Brassicaceae plants. ER bodies accumulate in seedlings and roots or in wounded leaves in Arabidopsis. ER bodies contain high amounts of the β-glucosidases PYK10/BGLU23 in seedlings and roots or BGLU18 in wounded tissues. These results suggest that ER bodies are involved in the metabolism of glycoside molecules, presumably to produce repellents against pests and fungi. When Arabidopsis roots are homogenized, PYK10 formed large protein aggregates that include other β-glucosidases (BGLU21 and BGLU22), GDSL lipase-like proteins (GLL22) and cytosolic jacalin-related lectins (PBP1/JAL30, JAL31, JAL33, JAL34 and JAL35). Glucosidase activity increases by the aggregate formation. NAI1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, regulates the expression of the ER body proteins PYK10 and NAI2. Reduced expression of NAI2, PYK10 and BGLU21 resulted in abnormal ER body formation, indicating that these components regulate ER body formation. PYK10, BGLU21 and BGLU22 possess hydrolytic activity for scopolin, a coumaroyl glucoside that accumulates in the roots of Arabidopsis, and nai1 and pyk10 mutants are more susceptible to the symbiotic fungus Piriformospora indica. Therefore, it appears that the ER body is a unique organelle of Brassicaceae plants that is important for defense against pests and fungi.}, } @article {pmid22101051, year = {2012}, author = {Nishitani, G and Nagai, S and Hayakawa, S and Kosaka, Y and Sakurada, K and Kamiyama, T and Gojobori, T}, title = {Multiple plastids collected by the dinoflagellate Dinophysis mitra through kleptoplastidy.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {3}, pages = {813-821}, pmid = {22101051}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Cluster Analysis ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; *Genetic Variation ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plastids/*genetics/*metabolism ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Kleptoplastidy is the retention of plastids obtained from ingested algal prey, which may remain temporarily functional and be used for photosynthesis by the predator. We showed that the marine dinoflagellate Dinophysis mitra has great kleptoplastid diversity. We obtained 308 plastid rbcL sequences by gene cloning from 14 D. mitra cells and 102 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Most sequences were new in the genetic database and positioned within Haptophyceae (227 sequences [73.7%], 80 OTUs [78.4%]), particularly within the genus Chrysochromulina. Others were closely related to Prasinophyceae (16 sequences [5.2%], 5 OTUs [4.9%]), Dictyochophyceae (14 sequences [4.5%], 5 OTUs [4.9%]), Pelagophyceae (14 sequences [4.5%], 1 OTU [1.0%]), Bolidophyceae (3 sequences [1.0%], 1 OTU [1.0%]), and Bacillariophyceae (1 sequence [0.3%], 1 OTU [1.0%]); however, 33 sequences (10.8%) as 9 OTUs (8.8%) were not closely clustered with any particular group. Only six sequences were identical to those of Chrysochromulina simplex, Chrysochromulina hirta, Chrysochromulina sp. TKB8936, Micromonas pusilla NEPCC29, Micromonas pusilla CCMP491, and an unidentified diatom. Thus, we detected >100 different plastid sequences from 14 D. mitra cells, strongly suggesting kleptoplastidy and the need for mixotrophic prey such as Laboea, Tontonia, and Strombidium-like ciliates, which retain numerous symbiotic plastids from different origins, for propagation and plastid sequestration.}, } @article {pmid22101047, year = {2012}, author = {Beauchemin, NJ and Furnholm, T and Lavenus, J and Svistoonoff, S and Doumas, P and Bogusz, D and Laplaze, L and Tisa, LS}, title = {Casuarina root exudates alter the physiology, surface properties, and plant infectivity of Frankia sp. strain CcI3.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {78}, number = {2}, pages = {575-580}, pmid = {22101047}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Carbohydrates/analysis ; Congo Red/metabolism ; Exudates and Transudates/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Ferns/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Frankia/chemistry/growth & development/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Staining and Labeling ; Surface Properties ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The actinomycete genus Frankia forms nitrogen-fixing symbioses with 8 different families of actinorhizal plants, representing more than 200 different species. Very little is known about the initial molecular interactions between Frankia and host plants in the rhizosphere. Root exudates are important in Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, especially for initiating Nod factor synthesis. We measured differences in Frankia physiology after exposure to host aqueous root exudates to assess their effects on actinorhizal symbioses. Casuarina cunninghamiana root exudates were collected from plants under nitrogen-sufficient and -deficient conditions and tested on Frankia sp. strain CcI3. Root exudates increased the growth yield of Frankia in the presence of a carbon source, but Frankia was unable to use the root exudates as a sole carbon or energy source. Exposure to root exudates caused hyphal "curling" in Frankia cells, suggesting a chemotrophic response or surface property change. Exposure to root exudates altered Congo red dye binding, which indicated changes in the bacterial surface properties at the fatty acid level. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed fatty acid changes and revealed further carbohydrate changes. Frankia cells preexposed to C. cunninghamiana root exudates for 6 days formed nodules on the host plant significantly earlier than control cells. These data support the hypothesis of early chemical signaling between actinorhizal host plants and Frankia in the rhizosphere.}, } @article {pmid22100702, year = {2012}, author = {Baptista, M and Lopes, VM and Pimentel, MS and Bandarra, N and Narciso, L and Marques, A and Rosa, R}, title = {Temporal fatty acid dynamics of the octocoral Veretillum cynomorium.}, journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology}, volume = {161}, number = {2}, pages = {178-187}, doi = {10.1016/j.cbpb.2011.11.002}, pmid = {22100702}, issn = {1879-1107}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*metabolism ; Cell Size ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Female ; Oocytes/cytology/metabolism ; Oogenesis ; Reproduction ; Salinity ; Seasons ; Seawater ; }, abstract = {The objectives of the present work were to investigate the temporal variation in the fatty acid (FA) composition of the octocoral Veretillum cynomorium, examine the effects of reproduction and environmental factors on FA variation, and establish a chemotaxonomic identification for this species. Mean oocyte size-frequency distributions showed that the majority of the oocytes had an intermediate size (Group II) before spawning (April and June). The late-vitellogenic oocytes (Group III) became absent in August and October and, during this post-spawning period, oocytes were primarily of small size (Group I). Most of the major FA, 16:0, 18:0, 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3, and the tetracosapolyenoic fatty acid (TPA), 24:6n-3, varied significantly throughout the year (p<0.01), with two peaks in August/October and February. The boost in early oogenesis, also associated with warmer temperatures, seemed to be responsible for the observed increase in FA content between June and August. The highest values of FA content were observed in February when intermediate oogenesis (Group II) was at its peak and there were considerable levels of available food in the environment. Also, the increase in food availability seemed to trigger the final stages of gametogenesis. The high quantity of 18:1n-7, odd-numbered and branched FAs, suggested the presence of a dynamic bacterial community in V. cynomorium, probably as an adaptive response to the lack of symbiotic microalgae. Although the presence of TPAs is the main feature distinguishing octocorals from other coral species, here we showed that there was no single FA clearly dominating the FA composition of V. cynomorium throughout the year. Instead, four main FAs share similar concentrations: 16:0, 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and 24:6n-3. The predominance of these four FAs combined with the higher amount of 24:6n-3 when compared to 24:5n-6 may serve as a chemotaxonomic feature to distinguish this octocoral species (or genus).}, } @article {pmid22098255, year = {2012}, author = {de Zélicourt, A and Diet, A and Marion, J and Laffont, C and Ariel, F and Moison, M and Zahaf, O and Crespi, M and Gruber, V and Frugier, F}, title = {Dual involvement of a Medicago truncatula NAC transcription factor in root abiotic stress response and symbiotic nodule senescence.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {70}, number = {2}, pages = {220-230}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04859.x}, pmid = {22098255}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; In Situ Hybridization ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; RNA Interference ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Root Nodules, Plant/*genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/classification/*genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume crops related to the model plant Medicago truncatula can adapt their root architecture to environmental conditions, both by branching and by establishing a symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing nodules. Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting plant yield and root growth. Previous transcriptomic analyses identified several transcription factors linked to the M. truncatula response to salt stress in roots, including NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC)-encoding genes. Over-expression of one of these transcription factors, MtNAC969, induced formation of a shorter and less-branched root system, whereas RNAi-mediated MtNAC969 inactivation promoted lateral root formation. The altered root system of over-expressing plants was able to maintain its growth under high salinity, and roots in which MtNAC969 was down-regulated showed improved growth under salt stress. Accordingly, expression of salt stress markers was decreased or induced in MtNAC969 over-expressing or RNAi roots, respectively, suggesting a repressive function for this transcription factor in the salt-stress response. Expression of MtNAC969 in central symbiotic nodule tissues was induced by nitrate treatment, and antagonistically affected by salt in roots and nodules, similarly to senescence markers. MtNAC969 RNAi nodules accumulated amyloplasts in the nitrogen-fixing zone, and were prematurely senescent. Therefore, the MtNAC969 transcription factor, which is differentially affected by environmental cues in root and nodules, participates in several pathways controlling adaptation of the M. truncatula root system to the environment.}, } @article {pmid22097764, year = {2011}, author = {Liu, J and Wang, E and Chen, W}, title = {[Discovery and research progress of endophytic bacteria in the root nodules of legumes--a review].}, journal = {Wei sheng wu xue bao = Acta microbiologica Sinica}, volume = {51}, number = {8}, pages = {1001-1006}, pmid = {22097764}, issn = {0001-6209}, mesh = {Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Endophytes/*isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recently, some research reports showed varied endophytic bacteria in the root nodules of some legumes, which attracts great interest in research field of rhizobia. Here, we reviewed the discovery, identification of some endophytic bacteria (Agrobacterium, non-symbiotic rhizobia, and other bacteria) in root nodules and their influence on symbiosis or plant growth, to understand the microecosystem of root nodule and to extend the field of rhizobia research.}, } @article {pmid22094893, year = {2013}, author = {Cheng, J and Palva, AM and de Vos, WM and Satokari, R}, title = {Contribution of the intestinal microbiota to human health: from birth to 100 years of age.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {358}, number = {}, pages = {323-346}, doi = {10.1007/82_2011_189}, pmid = {22094893}, issn = {0070-217X}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Disease/*history ; Health/*history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; }, abstract = {Our intestinal tract is colonized since birth by multiple microbial species that show a characteristic succession in time. Notably the establishment of the microbiota in early life is important as it appears to impact later health. While apparently stable in healthy adults, the intestinal microbiota is changing significantly during aging. After 100 years of symbiosis marked changes have been observed that may relate to an increased level of intestinal inflammation. There is considerable interest in the microbiota in health and disease as it may provide functional biomarkers, the possibility to differentiate subjects, and avenues for interventions. This chapter reviews the present state of the art on the research to investigate the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to human health. Specific attention will be given to the healthy microbiota and aberrations due to disturbances such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.}, } @article {pmid22093705, year = {2012}, author = {Blengini, GA and Busto, M and Fantoni, M and Fino, D}, title = {Eco-efficient waste glass recycling: Integrated waste management and green product development through LCA.}, journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {32}, number = {5}, pages = {1000-1008}, doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2011.10.018}, pmid = {22093705}, issn = {1879-2456}, mesh = {Environment ; *Glass ; Recycling/*methods ; Waste Management/methods ; Waste Products ; }, abstract = {As part of the EU Life + NOVEDI project, a new eco-efficient recycling route has been implemented to maximise resources and energy recovery from post-consumer waste glass, through integrated waste management and industrial production. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to identify engineering solutions to sustainability during the development of green building products. The new process and the related LCA are framed within a meaningful case of industrial symbiosis, where multiple waste streams are utilised in a multi-output industrial process. The input is a mix of rejected waste glass from conventional container glass recycling and waste special glass such as monitor glass, bulbs and glass fibres. The green building product is a recycled foam glass (RFG) to be used in high efficiency thermally insulating and lightweight concrete. The environmental gains have been contrasted against induced impacts and improvements have been proposed. Recovered co-products, such as glass fragments/powders, plastics and metals, correspond to environmental gains that are higher than those related to landfill avoidance, whereas the latter is cancelled due to increased transportation distances. In accordance to an eco-efficiency principle, it has been highlighted that recourse to highly energy intensive recycling should be limited to waste that cannot be closed-loop recycled.}, } @article {pmid22093060, year = {2012}, author = {Mishra, RP and Tisseyre, P and Melkonian, R and Chaintreuil, C and Miché, L and Klonowska, A and Gonzalez, S and Bena, G and Laguerre, G and Moulin, L}, title = {Genetic diversity of Mimosa pudica rhizobial symbionts in soils of French Guiana: investigating the origin and diversity of Burkholderia phymatum and other beta-rhizobia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {487-503}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01235.x}, pmid = {22093060}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Burkholderia/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Cupriavidus/classification/growth & development ; French Guiana ; Genetic Variation ; Mimosa/*microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil ; South America ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genetic diversity of 221 Mimosa pudica bacterial symbionts trapped from eight soils from diverse environments in French Guiana was assessed by 16S rRNA PCR-RFLP, REP-PCR fingerprints, as well as by phylogenies of their 16S rRNA and recA housekeeping genes, and by their nifH, nodA and nodC symbiotic genes. Interestingly, we found a large diversity of beta-rhizobia, with Burkholderia phymatum and Burkholderia tuberum being the most frequent and diverse symbiotic species. Other species were also found, such as Burkholderia mimosarum, an unnamed Burkholderia species and, for the first time in South America, Cupriavidus taiwanensis. The sampling site had a strong influence on the diversity of the symbionts sampled, and the specific distributions of symbiotic populations between the soils were related to soil composition in some cases. Some alpha-rhizobial strains taxonomically close to Rhizobium endophyticum were also trapped in one soil, and these carried two copies of the nodA gene, a feature not previously reported. Phylogenies of nodA, nodC and nifH genes showed a monophyly of symbiotic genes for beta-rhizobia isolated from Mimosa spp., indicative of a long history of interaction between beta-rhizobia and Mimosa species. Based on their symbiotic gene phylogenies and legume hosts, B. tuberum was shown to contain two large biovars: one specific to the mimosoid genus Mimosa and one to South African papilionoid legumes.}, } @article {pmid22092951, year = {2012}, author = {Mathew, GM and Ju, YM and Lai, CY and Mathew, DC and Huang, CC}, title = {Microbial community analysis in the termite gut and fungus comb of Odontotermes formosanus: the implication of Bacillus as mutualists.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {504-517}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01232.x}, pmid = {22092951}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacillus/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/*classification/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Base Sequence ; Fungi/*classification/growth & development/isolation & purification ; Isoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Symbiosis ; Termitomyces/classification/growth & development/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {The microbial communities harbored in the gut and fungus comb of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus were analyzed by both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to better understand the community structure of their microflora. The microorganisms detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), clonal selection, and culture-dependent methods were hypothesized to contribute to cellulose-hemicellulose hydrolysis, gut fermentation, nutrient production, the breakdown of the fungus comb and the initiation of the growth of the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces. The predominant bacterial cultivars isolated by the cultural approach belonged to the genus Bacillus (Phylum Firmicutes). Apart from their function in lignocellulosic degradation, the Bacillus isolates suppressed the growth of the microfungus Trichoderma harzianum (genus Hypocrea), which grew voraciously on the fungus comb in the absence of termites but grew in harmony with the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces. The in vitro studies suggested that the Bacillus sp. may function as mutualists in the termite-gut-fungus-comb microbial ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid22092879, year = {2012}, author = {Lorite, MJ and Videira e Castro, I and Muñoz, S and Sanjuán, J}, title = {Phylogenetic relationship of Lotus uliginosus symbionts with bradyrhizobia nodulating genistoid legumes.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {2}, pages = {454-464}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01230.x}, pmid = {22092879}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/physiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Genetic Variation ; Lotus/*microbiology/physiology ; Lupinus/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Portugal ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Lotus species are legumes with potential for pastures in soils with low-fertility and environmental constraints. The aim of this work was to characterize bacteria that establish efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the forage species Lotus uliginosus. A total of 39 isolates were obtained from nodules of L. uliginosus naturally growing in two different locations of Portugal. Molecular identification of the isolates plus the commercial inoculant strain NZP2039 was performed by REP-PCR, 16S rRNA RFLP, and 16S rRNA, glnII and recA sequence analyses. Limited genetic diversity was found among the L. uliginosus symbionts, which showed a close phylogenetic relationship with the species Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The symbiotic nifH, nodA and nodC gene sequences were closely related with the corresponding genes of various Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from Lupinus and other genistoid legumes and therefore were phylogenetically separated from other Lotus spp. rhizobia. The L. uliginosus bradyrhizobia were able to nodulate and fix nitrogen in association with L. uliginosus, could nodulate Lotus corniculatus with generally poor nitrogen-fixing efficiency, formed nonfixing nodules in Lotus tenuis and Lupinus luteus roots and were unable to nodulate Glycine soja or Glycine max. Thus, L. uliginosus rhizobia seem closely related to B. japonicum biovar genistearum strains.}, } @article {pmid22092764, year = {2011}, author = {Dziewit, L and Kuczkowska, K and Adamczuk, M and Radlinska, M and Bartosik, D}, title = {Functional characterization of the type II PamI restriction-modification system derived from plasmid pAMI7 of Paracoccus aminophilus JCM 7686.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {324}, number = {1}, pages = {56-63}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02388.x}, pmid = {22092764}, issn = {1574-6968}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; DNA/metabolism ; DNA Restriction-Modification Enzymes/*genetics/*metabolism ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific/*genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paracoccus/*enzymology/*genetics ; *Plasmids ; Sequence Homology ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Plasmid pAMI7 of the methylotrophic bacterium Paracoccus aminophilus JCM 7686 (Alphaproteobacteria) encodes a functional type II restriction-modification (R-M) system designated PamI. Homologous systems were identified in the genomes of distinct taxonomic groups of Bacteria and Archaea, which provides evidence that horizontal gene transfer has contributed to the wide dissemination of R-M modules - even between domains. Analysis of the cleavage specificity of the R.PamI endonuclease revealed that this protein is an isoschizomer of restriction enzyme NcoI. Interestingly, bioinformatic analyses suggest that R.PamI and NcoI are accompanied by methyltransferases of different methylation specificities (C5-methylcytosine and N4-methylcytosine methyltransferases, respectively), which possibly exemplifies recombinational shuffling of genes coding for individual components of R-M systems. The PamI system can stabilize plasmid pAMI7 in a bacterial population, most probably at the postsegregational level. Therefore, it functions in an analogous manner to plasmid-encoded toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. Since the TA system of pAMI7 is nonfunctional, it is highly probable that this lack is compensated by the stabilizing activity of PamI. This indicates the crucial role of the analyzed R-M system in the stable maintenance of pAMI7, which is, to our knowledge, the first report of 'symbiosis' between a R-M system and a plasmid in the Alphaproteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid22092350, year = {2012}, author = {Fuchs, TM and Eisenreich, W and Heesemann, J and Goebel, W}, title = {Metabolic adaptation of human pathogenic and related nonpathogenic bacteria to extra- and intracellular habitats.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {36}, number = {2}, pages = {435-462}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00301.x}, pmid = {22092350}, issn = {1574-6976}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bacteria/pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Ecosystem ; Humans ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {Most bacteria pathogenic for humans have closely related nonpathogenic counterparts that live as saprophytes, commensals or even symbionts (mutualists) in similar or different habitats. The knowledge of how these bacteria adapt their metabolism to the preferred habitats is critical for our understanding of pathogenesis, commensalism and symbiosis, and - in the case of bacterial pathogens - could help to identify targets for new antimicrobial agents. The focus of this review is on the metabolic potentials and adaptations of three different groups of human extra- and intracellular bacterial pathogens and their nonpathogenic relatives. All bacteria selected have the potential to reach the interior of mammalian host cells. However, their ability to replicate intracellularly differs significantly. The question therefore arises whether there are specific metabolic requirements that support stable intracellular replication. Furthermore, we discuss - whenever relevant data for the pathogenic representatives are available - the possible effect of the metabolism on the expression of virulence genes.}, } @article {pmid22092242, year = {2012}, author = {Tisserant, E and Kohler, A and Dozolme-Seddas, P and Balestrini, R and Benabdellah, K and Colard, A and Croll, D and Da Silva, C and Gomez, SK and Koul, R and Ferrol, N and Fiorilli, V and Formey, D and Franken, P and Helber, N and Hijri, M and Lanfranco, L and Lindquist, E and Liu, Y and Malbreil, M and Morin, E and Poulain, J and Shapiro, H and van Tuinen, D and Waschke, A and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Bécard, G and Bonfante, P and Harrison, MJ and Küster, H and Lammers, P and Paszkowski, U and Requena, N and Rensing, SA and Roux, C and Sanders, IR and Shachar-Hill, Y and Tuskan, G and Young, JPW and Gianinazzi-Pearson, V and Martin, F}, title = {The transcriptome of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices (DAOM 197198) reveals functional tradeoffs in an obligate symbiont.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {193}, number = {3}, pages = {755-769}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03948.x}, pmid = {22092242}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Gene Library ; Genes, Fungal/genetics ; Glomeromycota/*genetics/growth & development ; Meiosis/genetics ; Mycelium/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/*genetics/growth & development ; Plants/microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {• The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is arguably the most ecologically important eukaryotic symbiosis, yet it is poorly understood at the molecular level. To provide novel insights into the molecular basis of symbiosis-associated traits, we report the first genome-wide analysis of the transcriptome from Glomus intraradices DAOM 197198. • We generated a set of 25,906 nonredundant virtual transcripts (NRVTs) transcribed in germinated spores, extraradical mycelium and symbiotic roots using Sanger and 454 sequencing. NRVTs were used to construct an oligoarray for investigating gene expression. • We identified transcripts coding for the meiotic recombination machinery, as well as meiosis-specific proteins, suggesting that the lack of a known sexual cycle in G. intraradices is not a result of major deletions of genes essential for sexual reproduction and meiosis. Induced expression of genes encoding membrane transporters and small secreted proteins in intraradical mycelium, together with the lack of expression of hydrolytic enzymes acting on plant cell wall polysaccharides, are all features of G. intraradices that are shared with ectomycorrhizal symbionts and obligate biotrophic pathogens. • Our results illuminate the genetic basis of symbiosis-related traits of the most ancient lineage of plant biotrophs, advancing future research on these agriculturally and ecologically important symbionts.}, } @article {pmid22091965, year = {2012}, author = {Seipke, RF and Kaltenpoth, M and Hutchings, MI}, title = {Streptomyces as symbionts: an emerging and widespread theme?.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews}, volume = {36}, number = {4}, pages = {862-876}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00313.x}, pmid = {22091965}, issn = {1574-6976}, support = {G0801721//Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Fungi/*physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*microbiology ; Streptomyces/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces bacteria are ubiquitous in soil, conferring the characteristic earthy smell, and they have an important ecological role in the turnover of organic material. More recently, a new picture has begun to emerge in which streptomycetes are not in all cases simply free-living soil bacteria but have also evolved to live in symbiosis with plants, fungi and animals. Furthermore, much of the chemical diversity of secondary metabolites produced by Streptomyces species has most likely evolved as a direct result of their interactions with other organisms. Here we review what is currently known about the role of streptomycetes as symbionts with fungi, plants and animals. These interactions can be parasitic, as is the case for scab-causing streptomycetes, which infect plants, and the Streptomyces species Streptomyces somaliensis and Streptomyces sudanensis that infect humans. However, in most cases they are beneficial and growth promoting, as is the case with many insects, plants and marine animals that use streptomycete-produced antibiotics to protect themselves against infection. This is an exciting and newly emerging field of research that will become increasingly important as the search for new antibiotics switches to unusual and under-explored environments.}, } @article {pmid22088195, year = {2012}, author = {Navarro-Ródenas, A and Ruíz-Lozano, JM and Kaldenhoff, R and Morte, A}, title = {The aquaporin TcAQP1 of the desert truffle Terfezia claveryi is a membrane pore for water and CO(2) transport.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {259-266}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-11-0190}, pmid = {22088195}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Aquaporins/genetics/*metabolism ; Ascomycota/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Biological Transport ; Carbon Dioxide/*metabolism ; Cistaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Desert Climate ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycelium/genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Permeability ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Transgenes ; Water/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Terfezia claveryi is a hypogeous mycorrhizal fungus belonging to the so-called "desert truffles," with a good record as an edible fungus and of considerable economic importance. T. claveryi improves the tolerance to water stress of the host plant Helianthemum almeriense, for which, in field conditions, symbiosis with T. claveryi is valuable for its survival. We have characterized cDNAs from T. claveryi and identified a sequence related to the aquaporin gene family. The full-length sequence was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and was named TcAQP1. This aquaporin gene encoded a functional water-channel protein, as demonstrated by heterologous expression assays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mycorrhizal fungal aquaporin increased both water and CO(2) conductivity in the heterologous expression system. The expression patterns of the TcAQP1 gene in mycelium, under different water potentials, and in mycorrhizal plants are discussed. The high levels of water conductivity of TcAQP1 could be related to the adaptation of this mycorrhizal fungus to semiarid areas. The CO(2) permeability of TcAQP1 could be involved in the regulation of T. claveryi growth during presymbiotic phases, making it a good candidate to be considered a novel molecular signaling channel in mycorrhizal fungi.}, } @article {pmid22087221, year = {2011}, author = {Bensmihen, S and de Billy, F and Gough, C}, title = {Contribution of NFP LysM domains to the recognition of Nod factors during the Medicago truncatula/Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {e26114}, pmid = {22087221}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Amino Acids ; Bacterial Infections ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxygenases/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The root nodule nitrogen fixing symbiosis between legume plants and soil bacteria called rhizobia is of great agronomical and ecological interest since it provides the plant with fixed atmospheric nitrogen. The establishment of this symbiosis is mediated by the recognition by the host plant of lipo-chitooligosaccharides called Nod Factors (NFs), produced by the rhizobia. This recognition is highly specific, as precise NF structures are required depending on the host plant. Here, we study the importance of different LysM domains of a LysM-Receptor Like Kinase (LysM-RLK) from Medicago truncatula called Nod factor perception (NFP) in the recognition of different substitutions of NFs produced by its symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. These substitutions are a sulphate group at the reducing end, which is essential for host specificity, and a specific acyl chain at the non-reducing end, that is critical for the infection process. The NFP extracellular domain (ECD) contains 3 LysM domains that are predicted to bind NFs. By swapping the whole ECD or individual LysM domains of NFP for those of its orthologous gene from pea, SYM10 (a legume plant that interacts with another strain of rhizobium producing NFs with different substitutions), we showed that NFP is not directly responsible for specific recognition of the sulphate substitution of S. meliloti NFs, but probably interacts with the acyl substitution. Moreover, we have demonstrated the importance of the NFP LysM2 domain for rhizobial infection and we have pinpointed the importance of a single leucine residue of LysM2 in that step of the symbiosis. Together, our data put into new perspective the recognition of NFs in the different steps of symbiosis in M. truncatula, emphasising the probable existence of a missing component for early NF recognition and reinforcing the important role of NFP for NF recognition during rhizobial infection.}, } @article {pmid22085675, year = {2012}, author = {Tokuda, G and Watanabe, H and Hojo, M and Fujita, A and Makiya, H and Miyagi, M and Arakawa, G and Arioka, M}, title = {Cellulolytic environment in the midgut of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {58}, number = {1}, pages = {147-154}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.10.012}, pmid = {22085675}, issn = {1879-1611}, mesh = {Animals ; Cellulase/metabolism ; Cellulose/chemistry/*metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*enzymology ; Glucose/analysis ; Isoptera/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {Unlike lower termites, xylophagous higher termites thrive on wood without the aid of symbiotic protists. In the higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis, both endogenous endo-β-1,4-glucanase and β-glucosidase genes are expressed in the midgut, which is believed to be the main site of cellulose digestion. To further explore the detailed cellulolytic system in the midgut of N. takasagoensis, we performed immunohistochemistry and digital light microscopy to determine distributions of cellulolytic enzymes in the salivary glands and the midgut as well as the total cellulolytic activity in the midgut. Although cellulolytic enzymes were uniformly produced in the midgut epithelium, the concentration of endo-β-1,4-glucanase activity and luminal volume in the midgut were comparable to those of the wood-feeding lower termite Coptotermes formosanus, which digests cellulose with the aid of hindgut protists. However, the size of ingested wood particles was considerably larger in N. takasagoensis than that in C. formosanus. Nevertheless, it is possible that the cellulolytic system in the midgut of N. takasagoensis hydrolyzes highly crystalline cellulose to a certain extent. The glucose produced did not accumulate in the midgut lumen. Therefore, the present study suggests that the midgut of the higher termite provides the necessary conditions for cellulolysis.}, } @article {pmid22079978, year = {2011}, author = {Harrington, JM and Winkelmann, G and Haselwandter, K and Crumbliss, AL}, title = {Fe(III)-complexes of the tripodal trishydroxamate siderophore basidiochrome: potential biological implications.}, journal = {Journal of inorganic biochemistry}, volume = {105}, number = {12}, pages = {1670-1674}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2011.08.010}, pmid = {22079978}, issn = {1873-3344}, mesh = {Binding, Competitive ; Coordination Complexes/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydroxamic Acids/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Iron/*chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/chemistry ; Orchidaceae/microbiology ; Peptides, Cyclic/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Siderophores/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Titrimetry ; }, abstract = {One method of mobilization of iron by mycorrhizal organisms is through the secretion of small organic chelators called siderophores. Hydroxamate donor chelators are a common type of siderophore that is frequently used by fungal organisms. The primary siderophore that is produced by fungi from the genera Ceratobasidium and Rhizoctonia is the tripodal trishydroxamate siderophore basidiochrome. To gain some insight into the iron uptake mechanisms of these symbiotic fungi, the iron binding characteristics of basidiochrome were determined. It was found that basidiochrome exhibits a log β(110) of 27.8±0.1 and a pFe value of 25.0. These values are similar to those of another fungal trishydroxamate siderophore, ferrichrome. The similarity in iron affinity between the two siderophores suggests that the structure of the backbone has little influence in complex formation due to the length of the pendant arms, although the identity of the terminating groups of the pendant arms is likely related to complex stability. The role of basidiochrome in the biogeochemical cycling of iron is also discussed.}, } @article {pmid22079177, year = {2012}, author = {Rozé, JC and Barbarot, S and Butel, MJ and Kapel, N and Waligora-Dupriet, AJ and De Montgolfier, I and Leblanc, M and Godon, N and Soulaines, P and Darmaun, D and Rivero, M and Dupont, C}, title = {An α-lactalbumin-enriched and symbiotic-supplemented v. a standard infant formula: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised trial.}, journal = {The British journal of nutrition}, volume = {107}, number = {11}, pages = {1616-1622}, doi = {10.1017/S000711451100479X}, pmid = {22079177}, issn = {1475-2662}, mesh = {Bifidobacterium/growth & development/immunology/isolation & purification ; *Child Development ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/microbiology/physiopathology/*prevention & control ; Feces/chemistry/microbiology ; Female ; France ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/analysis ; Infant Behavior ; Infant Formula/*chemistry ; Infant, Newborn ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Lactalbumin/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/growth & development/immunology/isolation & purification ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index ; *Synbiotics/adverse effects ; *Weight Gain ; }, abstract = {The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety, tolerance and preventive effect on atopic dermatitis of an experimental α-lactalbumin-enriched and symbiotic-supplemented infant formula. A total of ninety-seven non-breastfed term neonates were enrolled into a double-blind, multicentre, randomised controlled trial in which they received experimental (n 48) or standard formula (n 49) for 6 months. The primary outcome was weight at 6 months of age. Secondary outcomes were gastrointestinal tolerance and manifestation of atopic dermatitis. Faecal secretory IgA (SIgA) concentration and microbiota composition of forty-three infants were analysed at 1 and 6 months. Growth was similar in both groups. At 1 month, compared to those in the control group, infants in the experimental group exhibited less crying or agitation, and more quiet behaviour (P=0·03). At 6 months, atopic dermatitis was less frequently observed in the experimental group (P<0·05). Decrease of faecal SIgA concentration between 1 and 6 months was mainly observed in the control group. This decrease was significantly associated with atopic dermatitis (P<0·014) and negatively correlated to the level of colonisation by bifidobacteria (P<0·005). In conclusion, compared to the control formula, the experimental formula guaranteed a similar growth, was better tolerated at 1 month and had a protective effect against the development of atopic dermatitis.}, } @article {pmid22078996, year = {2012}, author = {Slatni, T and Dell'Orto, M and Ben Salah, I and Vigani, G and Smaoui, A and Gouia, H and Zocchi, G and Abdelly, C}, title = {Immunolocalization of H(+)-ATPase and IRT1 enzymes in N(2)-fixing common bean nodules subjected to iron deficiency.}, journal = {Journal of plant physiology}, volume = {169}, number = {3}, pages = {242-248}, doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2011.10.003}, pmid = {22078996}, issn = {1618-1328}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; Cation Transport Proteins/metabolism ; FMN Reductase/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Immunohistochemistry ; Iron/metabolism ; *Iron Deficiencies ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Proton-Translocating ATPases/*metabolism ; Rhizobium tropici/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The demand for iron in leguminous plants increases during symbiosis, as the metal is utilised for the synthesis of various Fe-containing proteins in both plant and bacteroids. However, the acquisition of this micronutrient is problematic due to its low bioavailability at physiological pH under aerobic conditions. Induction of root Fe(III)-reductase activity is necessary for Fe uptake and can be coupled to the rhizosphere acidification capacity linked to the H(+)-ATPase activity. Fe uptake is related to the expression of a Fe(2+) transporter (IRT1). In order to verify the possible role of nodules in the acquisition of Fe directly from the soil solution, the localization of H(+)-ATPase and IRT1 was carried out in common bean nodules by immuno-histochemical analysis. The results showed that these proteins were particularly abundant in the central nitrogen-fixing zone of nodules, around the periphery of infected and uninfected cells as well as in the vascular bundle of control nodules. Under Fe deficiency an over-accumulation of H(+)-ATPase and IRT1 proteins was observed especially around the cortex cells of nodules. The results obtained in this study suggest that the increase in these proteins is differentially localized in nodules of Fe-deficient plants when compared to the Fe-sufficient condition and cast new light on the possible involvement of nodules in the direct acquisition of Fe from the nutrient solution.}, } @article {pmid22077667, year = {2012}, author = {Gutjahr, C and Radovanovic, D and Geoffroy, J and Zhang, Q and Siegler, H and Chiapello, M and Casieri, L and An, K and An, G and Guiderdoni, E and Kumar, CS and Sundaresan, V and Harrison, MJ and Paszkowski, U}, title = {The half-size ABC transporters STR1 and STR2 are indispensable for mycorrhizal arbuscule formation in rice.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {69}, number = {5}, pages = {906-920}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04842.x}, pmid = {22077667}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lactones/metabolism ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oryza/*genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {The central structure of the symbiotic association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is the fungal arbuscule that delivers minerals to the plant. Our earlier transcriptome analyses identified two half-size ABCG transporters that displayed enhanced mRNA levels in mycorrhizal roots. We now show specific transcript accumulation in arbusculated cells of both genes during symbiosis. Presently, arbuscule-relevant factors from monocotyledons have not been reported. Mutation of either of the Oryza sativa (rice) ABCG transporters blocked arbuscule growth of different AM fungi at a small and stunted stage, recapitulating the phenotype of Medicago truncatula stunted arbuscule 1 and 2 (str1 and str2) mutants that are deficient in homologous ABCG genes. This phenotypic resemblance and phylogenetic analysis suggest functional conservation of STR1 and STR2 across the angiosperms. Malnutrition of the fungus underlying limited arbuscular growth was excluded by the absence of complementation of the str1 phenotype by wild-type nurse plants. Furthermore, plant AM signaling was found to be intact, as arbuscule-induced marker transcript accumulation was not affected in str1 mutants. Strigolactones have previously been hypothesized to operate as intracellular hyphal branching signals and possible substrates of STR1 and STR2. However, full arbuscule development in the strigolactone biosynthesis mutants d10 and d17 suggested strigolactones to be unlikely substrates of STR1/STR2. Interestingly, rice STR1 is associated with a cis-natural antisense transcript (antiSTR1). Analogous to STR1 and STR2, at the root cortex level, the antiSTR1 transcript is specifically detected in arbusculated cells, suggesting unexpected modes of STR1 regulation in rice.}, } @article {pmid22076558, year = {2011}, author = {Royet, J and Gupta, D and Dziarski, R}, title = {Peptidoglycan recognition proteins: modulators of the microbiome and inflammation.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology}, volume = {11}, number = {12}, pages = {837-851}, pmid = {22076558}, issn = {1474-1741}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism ; Carrier Proteins/chemistry/immunology/*physiology ; Conserved Sequence ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/immunology/microbiology ; Eukaryota/*immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; Host-Parasite Interactions/immunology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation/*immunology/metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Invertebrates/immunology/microbiology ; Metagenome/*immunology ; Models, Biological ; Models, Molecular ; Peptidoglycan/*immunology/metabolism ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; Vertebrates/immunology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {All animals, including humans, live in symbiotic association with microorganisms. The immune system accommodates host colonization by the microbiota, maintains microbiota-host homeostasis and defends against pathogens. This Review analyses how one family of antibacterial pattern recognition molecules - the peptidoglycan recognition proteins - has evolved a fascinating variety of mechanisms to control host interactions with mutualistic, commensal and parasitic microorganisms to benefit both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts.}, } @article {pmid22076025, year = {2013}, author = {Pérez-Brocal, V and Latorre, A and Moya, A}, title = {Symbionts and pathogens: what is the difference?.}, journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology}, volume = {358}, number = {}, pages = {215-243}, doi = {10.1007/82_2011_190}, pmid = {22076025}, issn = {0070-217X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The ecological relationships that organisms establish with others can be considered as broad and diverse as the forms of life that inhabit and interact in our planet. Those interactions can be considered as a continuum spectrum, ranging from beneficial to detrimental outcomes. However, this picture has revealed as more complex and dynamic than previously thought, involving not only factors that affect the two or more members that interact, but also external forces, with chance playing a crucial role in this interplay. Thus, defining a particular symbiont as mutualist or pathogen in an exclusive way, based on simple rules of classification is increasingly challenging if not unfeasible, since new methodologies are providing more evidences that depict exceptions, reversions and transitions within either side of this continuum, especially evident at early stages of symbiotic associations. This imposes a wider and more dynamic view of a complex landscape of interactions.}, } @article {pmid22075432, year = {2011}, author = {Sanders, IR}, title = {Fungal sex: meiosis machinery in ancient symbiotic fungi.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {21}, number = {21}, pages = {R896-7}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2011.09.021}, pmid = {22075432}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Animals ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fungal Proteins/*genetics ; Glomeromycota/*cytology/*genetics ; *Meiosis ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Recombination, Genetic ; Reproduction, Asexual ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are important symbionts that enhance plant growth. They were thought to have been asexual for hundreds of millions of years. A new study reveals that the fungi actually possess highly conserved genetic machinery for completion of meiosis.}, } @article {pmid22074345, year = {2012}, author = {Yurgel, SN and Rice, J and Kahn, ML}, title = {Nitrogen metabolism in Sinorhizobium meliloti-alfalfa symbiosis: dissecting the role of GlnD and PII proteins.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {355-362}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-09-11-0249}, pmid = {22074345}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Biomass ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/*microbiology/physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nucleotidyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism ; PII Nitrogen Regulatory Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/physiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {To contribute nitrogen for plant growth and establish an effective symbiosis with alfalfa, Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 needs normal operation of the GlnD protein, a bifunctional uridylyltransferase/uridylyl-cleavage enzyme that measures cellular nitrogen status and initiates a nitrogen stress response (NSR). However, the only two known targets of GlnD modification in Rm1021, the PII proteins GlnB and GlnK, are not necessary for effectiveness. We introduced a Tyr→Phe variant of GlnB, which cannot be uridylylated, into a glnBglnK background to approximate the expected state in a glnD-sm2 mutant, and this strain was effective. These results suggested that unmodified PII does not inhibit effectiveness. We also generated a glnBglnK-glnD triple mutant and used this and other mutants to dissect the role of these proteins in regulating the free-living NSR and nitrogen metabolism in symbiosis. The glnD-sm2 mutation was dominant to the glnBglnK mutations in symbiosis but recessive in some free-living phenotypes. The data show that the GlnD protein has a role in free-living growth and in symbiotic nitrogen exchange that does not depend on the PII proteins, suggesting that S. meliloti GlnD can communicate with the cell by alternate mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid22074047, year = {2012}, author = {Vincent, D and Kohler, A and Claverol, S and Solier, E and Joets, J and Gibon, J and Lebrun, MH and Plomion, C and Martin, F}, title = {Secretome of the free-living mycelium from the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {157-171}, doi = {10.1021/pr200895f}, pmid = {22074047}, issn = {1535-3907}, mesh = {Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Laccaria/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycelium/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Peptide Fragments/chemistry ; Proteolysis ; Proteome/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {The ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor has a dual lifestyle with a transitory soil saprotrophic phase and a longer mutualistic interaction with tree roots. Recent evidence suggests that secreted proteins play key roles in host plant colonisation and symbiosis development. However, a limited number of secreted proteins have been characterized, and the full spectrum of effectors involved in the mycobiont invasion and survival remains unknown. We analyzed the extracellular proteins secreted in growth medium by free-living mycelium of L. bicolor as a proxy for its saprotrophic phase. The proteomic analyses (two-dimensional electrophoresis and shotgun proteomics) were substantiated by whole-genome expression transcript profiling on ectomycorrhizal roots. Among the 224 proteins identified were carbohydrate-acting enzymes likely involved in the cell wall remodelling linked to hyphal growth as well as secreted proteases possibly digesting soil organic compounds and/or fending off competitors, pathogens, and predators. Evidence of gene expression was found in ectomycorrhizal roots for 210 of them. These findings provide the first global view of the secretome of a mutualistic symbiont and shed some light on the mechanisms controlling cell wall remodelling during the hyphal growth. They also revealed many novel putative secreted proteins of unknown function, including one mycorrhiza-induced small secreted protein.}, } @article {pmid22073160, year = {2011}, author = {Sachs, JL and Russell, JE and Hollowell, AC}, title = {Evolutionary instability of symbiotic function in Bradyrhizobium japonicum.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {e26370}, pmid = {22073160}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Bradyrhizobium/classification/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bacterial mutualists are often acquired from the environment by eukaryotic hosts. However, both theory and empirical work suggest that this bacterial lifestyle is evolutionarily unstable. Bacterial evolution outside of the host is predicted to favor traits that promote an independent lifestyle in the environment at a cost to symbiotic function. Consistent with these predictions, environmentally-acquired bacterial mutualists often lose symbiotic function over evolutionary time. Here, we investigate the evolutionary erosion of symbiotic traits in Bradyrhizobium japonicum, a nodulating root symbiont of legumes. Building on a previous published phylogeny we infer loss events of nodulation capability in a natural population of Bradyrhizobium, potentially driven by mutation or deletion of symbiosis loci. Subsequently, we experimentally evolved representative strains from the symbiont population under host-free in vitro conditions to examine potential drivers of these loss events. Among Bradyrhizobium genotypes that evolved significant increases in fitness in vitro, two exhibited reduced symbiotic quality, but no experimentally evolved strain lost nodulation capability or evolved any fixed changes at six sequenced loci. Our results are consistent with trade-offs between symbiotic quality and fitness in a host free environment. However, the drivers of loss-of-nodulation events in natural Bradyrhizobium populations remain unknown.}, } @article {pmid22072980, year = {2011}, author = {Pontes, MH and Smith, KL and De Vooght, L and Van Den Abbeele, J and Dale, C}, title = {Attenuation of the sensing capabilities of PhoQ in transition to obligate insect-bacterial association.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {7}, number = {11}, pages = {e1002349}, pmid = {22072980}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Adenosine Triphosphatases/genetics ; Alleles ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Host Specificity/genetics ; Lipid A/metabolism ; Magnesium/*metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Salmonella enterica/*genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Tsetse Flies/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Sodalis glossinidius, a maternally inherited endosymbiont of the tsetse fly, maintains genes encoding homologues of the PhoP-PhoQ two-component regulatory system. This two-component system has been extensively studied in facultative bacterial pathogens and is known to serve as an environmental magnesium sensor and a regulator of key virulence determinants. In the current study, we show that the inactivation of the response regulator, phoP, renders S. glossinidius sensitive to insect derived cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The resulting mutant strain displays reduced expression of genes involved in the structural modification of lipid A that facilitates resistance to AMPs. In addition, the inactivation of phoP alters the expression of type-III secretion system (TTSS) genes encoded within three distinct chromosomal regions, indicating that PhoP-PhoQ also serves as a master regulator of TTSS gene expression. In the absence of phoP, S. glossinidius is unable to superinfect either its natural tsetse fly host or a closely related hippoboscid louse fly. Furthermore, we show that the S. glossinidius PhoQ sensor kinase has undergone functional adaptations that result in a substantially diminished ability to sense ancestral signals. The loss of PhoQ's sensory capability is predicted to represent a novel adaptation to the static symbiotic lifestyle, allowing S. glossinidius to constitutively express genes that facilitate resistance to host derived AMPs.}, } @article {pmid22068563, year = {2012}, author = {Dominguez, JA and Martin, A and Anriquez, A and Albanesi, A}, title = {The combined effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Tuber melanosporum on the quality of Pinus halepensis seedlings.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {6}, pages = {429-436}, pmid = {22068563}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Ascomycota/growth & development/*physiology ; Ecosystem ; Microbial Interactions ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Pinus/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Pseudomonas fluorescens/*physiology ; Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Water ; }, abstract = {The ecological, economic and social values of the ectomycorrhizal fungi of the black truffle found in the rural Mediterranean are well known. The inoculation of Pinus halepensis seedlings with mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria can improve the morphology and physiology of the seedlings and benefit the regeneration of arid regions and the reintroduction of inocula of mycorrhizal fungi into these areas. Some rhizobacteria can improve the establishment and functioning of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. In this study, seedlings of P. halepensis were inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum and the rhizobacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens CECT 844 under non-limiting greenhouse conditions. Five months after inoculation, we analysed the growth, water parameters (osmotic potential at saturation, osmotic potential at turgor loss and modulus of elasticity), concentrations of mycorrhizal colonies, nutrient concentration and nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) in roots and aerial parts of the seedlings. Subsequently, tests were performed to estimate the root growth potentials. None of the treatments changed the water parameters or growth potentials of the roots. The inoculations improved the growth and nutrient uptake of the seedlings, although the combination of P. fluorescens CECT 844 and T. melanosporum did not generally lead to a significant improvement over the positive effects of a simple inoculation of T. melanosporum; however, the addition of P. fluorescens CECT 844 did double the rate of the mycorrhization of T. melanosporum. These results may be promising for enhancing the cultivation of truffles.}, } @article {pmid22067937, year = {2011}, author = {Mathias, A and Corthésy, B}, title = {N-Glycans on secretory component: mediators of the interaction between secretory IgA and gram-positive commensals sustaining intestinal homeostasis.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {2}, number = {5}, pages = {287-293}, doi = {10.4161/gmic.2.5.18269}, pmid = {22067937}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism/microbiology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/chemistry/*metabolism ; Intestines/*microbiology/physiology ; Mice ; Polysaccharides/*metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Secretory Component/chemistry/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Human beings live in symbiosis with billions of microorganisms colonizing mucosal surfaces. The understanding of the mechanisms underlying this fine-tuned intestinal balance has made significant processes during the last decades. We have recently demonstrated that the interaction of SIgA with Gram-positive bacteria is essentially based on Fab-independent, glycan-mediated recognition. Results obtained using mouse hybridoma- and colostrum-derived secretory IgA (SIgA) consistently show that N-glycans present on secretory component (SC) play a crucial role in the process. Natural coating may involve specific Gram-positive cell wall components, which may explain selective recognition at the molecular level. More widely, the existence of these complexes is involved in the modulation of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) responses in vitro and the formation of intestinal biofilms. Thus, SIgA may act as one of the pillars in homeostatic maintenance of the microbiota in the gut, adding yet another facet to its multiple roles in the mucosal environment.}, } @article {pmid22066910, year = {2012}, author = {Li, L and Sinkko, H and Montonen, L and Wei, G and Lindström, K and Räsänen, LA}, title = {Biogeography of symbiotic and other endophytic bacteria isolated from medicinal Glycyrrhiza species in China.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {46-68}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01198.x}, pmid = {22066910}, issn = {1574-6941}, mesh = {Agrobacterium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Glycyrrhiza/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {A total of 159 endophytic bacteria were isolated from surface-sterilized root nodules of wild perennial Glycyrrhiza legumes growing on 40 sites in central and northwestern China. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) genomic fingerprinting and sequencing of partial 16S rRNA genes revealed that the collection mainly consisted of Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Agrobacterium and Paenibacillus species. Based on symbiotic properties with the legume hosts Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra, we divided the nodulating species into true and sporadic symbionts. Five distinct Mesorhizobium groups represented true symbionts of the host plants, the majority of strains inducing N2-fixing nodules. Sporadic symbionts consisted of either species with infrequent occurrence (Rhizobium galegae, Rhizobium leguminosarum) or species with weak (Sinorhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium gallicum) or no N2 fixation ability (Rhizobium giardinii, Rhizobium cellulosilyticum, Phyllobacterium sp.). Multivariate analyses revealed that the host plant species and geographic location explained only a small part (14.4%) of the total variation in bacterial AFLP patterns, with the host plant explaining slightly more (9.9%) than geography (6.9%). However, strains isolated from G. glabra were clearly separated from those from G. uralensis, and strains obtained from central China were well separated from those originating from Xinjiang in the northwest, indicating both host preference and regional endemism.}, } @article {pmid22066901, year = {2011}, author = {Ardissone, S and Noel, KD and Klement, M and Broughton, WJ and Deakin, WJ}, title = {Synthesis of the flavonoid-induced lipopolysaccharide of Rhizobium Sp. strain NGR234 requires rhamnosyl transferases encoded by genes rgpF and wbgA.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {1513-1521}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-11-0143}, pmid = {22066901}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Multigene Family ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; Rhamnose/metabolism ; Rhizobium/drug effects/*enzymology/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Transferases/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {In the presence of flavonoids, Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 synthesizes a new lipopolysaccharide (LPS), characterized by a rhamnan O-antigen. The presence of this rhamnose-rich LPS is important for the establishment of competent symbiotic interactions between NGR234 and many species of leguminous plants. Two putative rhamnosyl transferases are encoded in a cluster of genes previously shown to be necessary for the synthesis of the rhamnose-rich LPS. These two genes, wbgA and rgpF, were mutated. The resulting mutant strains synthesized truncated rough LPS species rather than the wild-type rhamnose-rich LPS when grown with flavonoids. Based on the compositions of these purified mutant LPS species, we inferred that RgpF is responsible for adding the first one to three rhamnose residues to the flavonoid-induced LPS, whereas WbgA is necessary for the synthesis of the rest of the rhamnan O-antigen. The NGR234 homologue of lpsB, which, in other bacteria, encodes a glycosyl transferase acting early in synthesis of the core portion of LPS, was identified and also mutated. LpsB was required for all the LPS species produced by NGR234, in the presence or absence of flavonoids. Mutants (i.e., of lpsB and rgpF) that lacked any portion of the rhamnan O-antigen of the induced LPS were severely affected in their symbiotic interaction with Vigna unguiculata, whereas the NGR?wbgA mutant, although having very few rhamnose residues in its LPS, was able to elicit functional nodules.}, } @article {pmid22064560, year = {2011}, author = {McCutcheon, JP and Moran, NA}, title = {Extreme genome reduction in symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {13-26}, pmid = {22064560}, issn = {1740-1534}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome Size ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Models, Biological ; *Sequence Deletion ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Since 2006, numerous cases of bacterial symbionts with extraordinarily small genomes have been reported. These organisms represent independent lineages from diverse bacterial groups. They have diminutive gene sets that rival some mitochondria and chloroplasts in terms of gene numbers and lack genes that are considered to be essential in other bacteria. These symbionts have numerous features in common, such as extraordinarily fast protein evolution and a high abundance of chaperones. Together, these features point to highly degenerate genomes that retain only the most essential functions, often including a considerable fraction of genes that serve the hosts. These discoveries have implications for the concept of minimal genomes, the origins of cellular organelles, and studies of symbiosis and host-associated microbiota.}, } @article {pmid22058060, year = {2011}, author = {Silipo, A and Leone, MR and Erbs, G and Lanzetta, R and Parrilli, M and Chang, WS and Newman, MA and Molinaro, A}, title = {A unique bicyclic monosaccharide from the Bradyrhizobium lipopolysaccharide and its role in the molecular interaction with plants.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {50}, number = {52}, pages = {12610-12612}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201106548}, pmid = {22058060}, issn = {1521-3773}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*chemistry ; Bradyrhizobium/*chemistry ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds/*chemistry ; Lotus/*chemistry ; Monosaccharides/*chemistry ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*chemistry ; }, abstract = {Sugar coat: The nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium Bradyrhizobium sp. BTAi1 is coated with a unique lipopolysaccharide that does not induce innate immune responses in its host plant Aeschynomene indica or in different plant families. The chemical nature of the monosaccharide forming the polymer (see picture) is unprecedented in nature, which helps to avoid "harmful" recognition by its symbiotic host.}, } @article {pmid22056909, year = {2012}, author = {Ortiz, G and Mathias, MI and Bueno, OC}, title = {First evidence of an intimate symbiotic association between fungi and larvae in basal attine ants.}, journal = {Micron (Oxford, England : 1993)}, volume = {43}, number = {2-3}, pages = {263-268}, doi = {10.1016/j.micron.2011.08.011}, pmid = {22056909}, issn = {1878-4291}, mesh = {Animals ; Epithelium/microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/*physiology ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology/*physiology ; Hyphae/physiology ; Integumentary System/microbiology/physiology ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The most conspicuous ants in all of tropical America are those that belong to the tribe Attini which cultivate fungus. The objective of the present study is to verify the alterations that occur in the cuticle of the worker larvae from Myrmicocrypta, Mycetarotes and Trachymyrmex with the purpose of trying to establish the degree of this association. Attine ants from the Atta genus were used as a control group. The analysis of histological sections showed results about the distribution of the cells and tissues on the epidermis of A. sexdens rubropilosa ant larvae and Mycetarotes parallelus, Trachymyrmex fuscus and Myrmicocrypta sp. A cuticle covering the ants was observed in the larvae of all the species, and this is formed by a simple cubic epithelium, whose cells possibly change its shape to prismatic, depending on their secretory activity. Just under this epithelium large adipose cells with reserve granules in their cytoplasm were found. The presence of a space filled by granulose and acellular material was also observed, indicating that the larvae were in a molt period. The presence of fungal hyphae is observed both on the external side of the basal attine larvae as well as emitting projections to the interior of the cuticle reaching the epithelium and the adipocyte cells. Data obtained in the present study demonstrated that the fungus deposited on the surface of immature ants from attine basal species maintain a close relationship with them, once the fungus hyphae have the ability to disorganize the cuticle lamellas, penetrating the interior of the insect cells through the emission of prolongations transporting the cuticle and epithelium barriers and making substances exchanges between larvae and fungus.}, } @article {pmid22056456, year = {2011}, author = {Todaka, N and Nakamura, R and Moriya, S and Ohkuma, M and Kudo, T and Takahashi, H and Ishida, N}, title = {Screening of optimal cellulases from symbiotic protists of termites through expression in the secretory pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {75}, number = {11}, pages = {2260-2263}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.110490}, pmid = {22056456}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Animals ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/chemistry ; Cellulase/biosynthesis/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Cellulases/biosynthesis/*chemistry/isolation & purification ; Ethanol/*chemistry ; Gene Expression ; Isoptera/*enzymology ; Recombinant Proteins/*chemistry ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics/*metabolism ; Secretory Pathway ; Symbiosis ; Trichoderma/enzymology ; }, abstract = {For direct and efficient ethanol production from cellulosic materials, we screened optimal cellulases from symbiotic protists of termites through heterologous expression with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 11 cellulases, belonging to glycoside hydrolase families 5, 7, and 45 endoglucanases (EGs), were confirmed to produce with S. cerevisiae for the first time. A recombinant yeast expressing SM2042B24 EG I was more efficient at degrading carboxylmethyl cellulose than was Trichoderma reesei EG I, a major EG with high cellulolytic activity.}, } @article {pmid22053049, year = {2011}, author = {Shin, SC and Kim, SH and You, H and Kim, B and Kim, AC and Lee, KA and Yoon, JH and Ryu, JH and Lee, WJ}, title = {Drosophila microbiome modulates host developmental and metabolic homeostasis via insulin signaling.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {334}, number = {6056}, pages = {670-674}, doi = {10.1126/science.1212782}, pmid = {22053049}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Acetobacter/genetics/*physiology ; Animals ; Body Size/genetics ; Carbohydrate Dehydrogenases/*metabolism ; Drosophila/growth & development/*microbiology ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Insulin/*metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Metagenome/*physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; Somatomedins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic microbiota profoundly affect many aspects of host physiology; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying host-microbe cross-talk are largely unknown. Here, we show that the pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (PQQ-ADH) activity of a commensal bacterium, Acetobacter pomorum, modulates insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) in Drosophila to regulate host homeostatic programs controlling developmental rate, body size, energy metabolism, and intestinal stem cell activity. Germ-free animals monoassociated with PQQ-ADH mutant bacteria displayed severe deregulation of developmental and metabolic homeostasis. Importantly, these defects were reversed by enhancing host IIS or by supplementing the diet with acetic acid, the metabolic product of PQQ-ADH.}, } @article {pmid22046957, year = {2012}, author = {Werth, S and Scheidegger, C}, title = {Congruent genetic structure in the lichen-forming fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and its green-algal photobiont.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {220-230}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-11-0081}, pmid = {22046957}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Ascomycota/*genetics/physiology ; Chlorophyta/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Computer Simulation ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Loci ; Genetic Structures/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Linkage Disequilibrium/*genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats/*genetics ; Models, Genetic ; Switzerland ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The extent of codispersal of symbionts is one of the key factors shaping genetic structures of symbiotic organisms. Concordant patterns of genetic structure are expected in vertically transmitted symbioses, whereas horizontal transmission generally uncouples genetic structures unless the partners are coadapted. Here, we compared the genetic structures of mutualists, the lichen-forming fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and its primary green-algal photobiont, Dictyochloropsis reticulata. We performed analysis of molecular variance and variogram analysis to compare genetic structures between symbiosis partners. We simulated the expected number of multilocus-genotype recurrences to reveal whether the distribution of multilocus genotypes of either species was concordant with panmixia. Simulations and tests of linkage disequilibrium provided compelling evidence for the codispersal of mutualists. To test whether genotype associations between symbionts were consistent with randomness, as expected under horizontal transmission, we simulated the recurrence of fungal-algal multilocus genotype associations expected by chance. Our data showed nonrandom associations of fungal and algal genotypes. Either vertical transmission or horizontal transmission coupled with coadaptation between symbiont genotypes may have created these nonrandom associations. This study is among the first to show codispersal and highly congruent genetic structures in the partners of a lichen mutualism.}, } @article {pmid22046376, year = {2011}, author = {Zhang, L and Wu, D and Shi, H and Zhang, C and Zhan, X and Zhou, S}, title = {Effects of elevated CO2 and N addition on growth and N2 fixation of a legume subshrub (Caragana microphylla Lam.) in temperate grassland in China.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {e26842}, pmid = {22046376}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide/*pharmacology ; China ; Fabaceae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Nitrogen/*pharmacology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Structures/growth & development ; }, abstract = {It is well demonstrated that the responses of plants to elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentration are species-specific and dependent on environmental conditions. We investigated the responses of a subshrub legume species, Caragana microphylla Lam., to elevated CO(2) and nitrogen (N) addition using open-top chambers in a semiarid temperate grassland in northern China for three years. Measured variables include leaf photosynthetic rate, shoot biomass, root biomass, symbiotic nitrogenase activity, and leaf N content. Symbiotic nitrogenase activity was determined by the C(2)H(2) reduction method. Elevated CO(2) enhanced photosynthesis and shoot biomass by 83% and 25%, respectively, and the enhancement of shoot biomass was significant only at a high N concentration. In addition, the photosynthetic capacity of C. microphylla did not show down-regulation under elevated CO(2). Elevated CO(2) had no significant effect on root biomass, symbiotic nitrogenase activity and leaf N content. Under elevated CO(2), N addition stimulated photosynthesis and shoot biomass. By contrast, N addition strongly inhibited symbiotic nitrogenase activity and slightly increased leaf N content of C. microphylla under both CO(2) levels, and had no significant effect on root biomass. The effect of elevated CO(2) and N addition on C. microphylla did not show interannual variation, except for the effect of N addition on leaf N content. These results indicate that shoot growth of C. microphylla is more sensitive to elevated CO(2) than is root growth. The stimulation of shoot growth of C. microphylla under elevated CO(2) or N addition is not associated with changes in N(2)-fixation. Additionally, elevated CO(2) and N addition interacted to affect shoot growth of C. microphylla with a stimulatory effect occurring only under combination of these two factors.}, } @article {pmid22044954, year = {2012}, author = {Napolitano, M and Matera, S and Bossio, M and Crescibene, A and Costabile, E and Almolla, J and Almolla, H and Togo, F and Giannuzzi, C and Guido, G}, title = {Autologous platelet gel for tissue regeneration in degenerative disorders of the knee.}, journal = {Blood transfusion = Trasfusione del sangue}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {72-77}, pmid = {22044954}, issn = {2385-2070}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthritis/pathology/*therapy ; *Blood Platelets ; Calcium Gluconate/*administration & dosage ; Cartilage Diseases/pathology/*therapy ; Female ; Gels/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; *Knee Joint ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Regenerative Medicine/*methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The refinement of the use of platelet-derived growth factors that has occurred over the last decade has led to a broadening of the fields of use, in particular for new treatments in orthopaedics aimed at improving tissue regeneration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients, aged between 18 and 81 years, with a diagnosis of degenerative joint disease lasting for more than 1 year were treated. The patients were divided into two groups, one with arthritis of the knee, the other with degenerative cartilage disease of the knee. Both groups were treated with a therapeutic protocol consisting of a cycle of three infiltrations of platelet-rich plasma at weekly intervals.The extemporaneous preparation was made from a sample of about 8 mL of venous whole blood collected into a specific Fibrin Polymer 2 test-tube from RegenLab(®) and centrifuged before addition of calcium gluconate.During the initial pre-treatment evaluation, specific questionnaires were administered, the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for subjective measurement of pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC); these assessments were repeated 7 days after the end of the treatment and at 6 months during the follow-up.

RESULTS: The parameters evaluated improved in both groups after treatment and there was a further improvement after 6 months of follow-up; furthermore, there was a substantial decrease in pain right after the first infiltration.

DISCUSSION: The patients were treated on an out-patient basis by a specifically created multidisciplinary team comprising a transfusion specialist, an orthopaedist and a radiologist, who collaborate in a symbiotic manner. The out-patient protocol exploits the regenerative properties of platelet-rich plasma, which is a low cost treatment; in practice, a diagnostic-therapeutic programme of lower intensity, but of high technical and professional quality is created. The strategy also reduces both the number of hospital services and the pharmacological support required, thereby optimising the use of health care resources.}, } @article {pmid22041977, year = {2012}, author = {Lund, MB and Schätzle, S and Schramm, A and Kjeldsen, KU}, title = {Verminephrobacter aporrectodeae sp. nov. subsp. tuberculatae and subsp. caliginosae, the specific nephridial symbionts of the earthworms Aporrectodea tuberculata and A. caliginosa.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {101}, number = {3}, pages = {507-514}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-011-9659-x}, pmid = {22041977}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {Animal Structures/microbiology ; Animals ; Comamonadaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligochaeta/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Ribotyping ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Clone library-based studies have shown that almost all lumbricid earthworm species harbour host-specific symbiotic bacteria belonging to the novel genus Verminephrobacter in their nephridia (excretory organs). To date the only described representative from this genus is Verminephrobacter eiseniae, the specific symbiont of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. In this study two novel rod-shaped, non-endosporeforming, betaproteobacterial symbionts were isolated from the nephridia of two closely related earthworm species. Both isolates were affiliated with the genus Verminephrobacter by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Similarly to V. eiseniae, the two isolates grew aerobically with a preference for low oxygen concentrations on a range of sugars, fatty acids and amino acids and fermentatively on glucose and pyruvate. These phenotypes match well with the conditions reported or inferred for the nephridial environment. Based on 16S rRNA gene similarity, DNA-DNA hybridization value and phenotypic characteristics the two isolates are clearly distinct from V. eiseniae. Phenotypic characteristics could not clearly differentiate the two strains as separate species but a low DNA-DNA hybridization value of 57.3%, their earthworm host specificity, differing temperature ranges and pH optima suggest that they represent two subspecies of a novel species of Verminephrobacter. For this species, the name V. aporrectodeae sp. nov. is proposed, with the two subspecies V. aporrectodeae subsp. tuberculatae (type strain, At4(T) = DSM 21361(T) = LMG 25313(T)) and V. aporrectodeae subsp. caliginosae (type strain, Ac9(T) = DSM 21895(T) = LMG 25312(T)) isolated from the nephridia of the earthworms Aporrectodea tuberculata and A. caliginosa, respectively.}, } @article {pmid22041203, year = {2012}, author = {Shrestha, YK and Lee, KY}, title = {Oral toxicity of Photorhabdus culture media on gene expression of the adult sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci.}, journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {91-96}, doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2011.10.011}, pmid = {22041203}, issn = {1096-0805}, mesh = {Animals ; Culture Media, Conditioned/metabolism/*toxicity ; Gene Expression/*drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Genes, Developmental/drug effects/genetics ; Genes, Essential/drug effects/genetics ; Hemiptera/*drug effects/genetics/microbiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Longevity/drug effects ; Pest Control, Biological ; Photorhabdus/*metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhabditoidea/*microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The oral toxicity of culture media of the symbiotic bacteria, Photorhabdus temperata, mutually associated with entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis megidis and Photorhabdus luminescens ssp. laumondii (TT01) mutually associated with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, were investigated in the adults of Bemisia tabaci. The oral ingestion of sucrose diet solutions (20%) containing bacteria-free supernatant of the culture media from symbiotic bacteria gradually increased mortalities and was completely lethal at 60 h after the treatments, whereas the mortalities of the controls, sucrose solutions with or without media that uncultured with bacteria, were less than 17% up to 84 h of incubation. The effects of oral ingestion of symbiont culture media were demonstrated on the expression rates of several genes of B. tabaci using quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. Genes associated with immunity (knottin) and nervous system (acetylcholine receptor, acetylcholine esterase and sodium channel) were up-regulated while genes involved in metabolism (cytochromep450 and carboxylesterase) were down-regulated, but genes involved in development (ecdysone receptor), reproduction (vitellogenin) and stress (hsp70, hsp90 and shsp) did not change transcription rates. Our results provide information for the understanding of the mechanism of symbiont pathogenic factors for the manipulation of host physiology at the transcription level.}, } @article {pmid22039532, year = {2011}, author = {Leggat, W and Seneca, F and Wasmund, K and Ukani, L and Yellowlees, D and Ainsworth, TD}, title = {Differential responses of the coral host and their algal symbiont to thermal stress.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {e26687}, pmid = {22039532}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*physiology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; }, abstract = {The success of any symbiosis under stress conditions is dependent upon the responses of both partners to that stress. The coral symbiosis is particularly susceptible to small increases of temperature above the long term summer maxima, which leads to the phenomenon known as coral bleaching, where the intracellular dinoflagellate symbionts are expelled. Here we for the first time used quantitative PCR to simultaneously examine the gene expression response of orthologs of the coral Acropora aspera and their dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodinium. During an experimental bleaching event significant up-regulation of genes involved in stress response (HSP90 and HSP70) and carbon metabolism (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase) from the coral host were observed. In contrast in the symbiont, HSP90 expression decreased, while HSP70 levels were increased on only one day, and only the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase expression levels were found to increase. In addition the changes seen in expression patterns of the coral host were much larger, up to 10.5 fold, compared to the symbiont response, which in all cases was less than 2-fold. This targeted study of the expression of key metabolic and stress genes demonstrates that the response of the coral and their symbiont vary significantly, also a response in the host transcriptome was observed prior to what has previously been thought to be the temperatures at which thermal stress events occur.}, } @article {pmid22039214, year = {2011}, author = {Liu, W and Kohlen, W and Lillo, A and Op den Camp, R and Ivanov, S and Hartog, M and Limpens, E and Jamil, M and Smaczniak, C and Kaufmann, K and Yang, WC and Hooiveld, GJ and Charnikhova, T and Bouwmeester, HJ and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {Strigolactone biosynthesis in Medicago truncatula and rice requires the symbiotic GRAS-type transcription factors NSP1 and NSP2.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {3853-3865}, pmid = {22039214}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Carotenoids/analysis/metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lactones/analysis/chemistry/*metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oryza/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Sesquiterpenes/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legume GRAS (GAI, RGA, SCR)-type transcription factors NODULATION SIGNALING PATHWAY1 (NSP1) and NSP2 are essential for rhizobium Nod factor-induced nodulation. Both proteins are considered to be Nod factor response factors regulating gene expression after symbiotic signaling. However, legume NSP1 and NSP2 can be functionally replaced by nonlegume orthologs, including rice (Oryza sativa) NSP1 and NSP2, indicating that both proteins are functionally conserved in higher plants. Here, we show that NSP1 and NSP2 are indispensable for strigolactone (SL) biosynthesis in the legume Medicago truncatula and in rice. Mutant nsp1 plants do not produce SLs, whereas in M. truncatula, NSP2 is essential for conversion of orobanchol into didehydro-orobanchol, which is the main SL produced by this species. The disturbed SL biosynthesis in nsp1 nsp2 mutant backgrounds correlates with reduced expression of DWARF27, a gene essential for SL biosynthesis. Rice and M. truncatula represent distinct phylogenetic lineages that split approximately 150 million years ago. Therefore, we conclude that regulation of SL biosynthesis by NSP1 and NSP2 is an ancestral function conserved in higher plants. NSP1 and NSP2 are single-copy genes in legumes, which implies that both proteins fulfill dual regulatory functions to control downstream targets after rhizobium-induced signaling as well as SL biosynthesis in nonsymbiotic conditions.}, } @article {pmid22038081, year = {2012}, author = {Vazan, P and Mateu-Gelabert, P and Cleland, CM and Sandoval, M and Friedman, SR}, title = {Correlates of staying safe behaviors among long-term injection drug users: psychometric evaluation of the staying safe questionnaire.}, journal = {AIDS and behavior}, volume = {16}, number = {6}, pages = {1472-1481}, pmid = {22038081}, issn = {1573-3254}, support = {R21 DA026328-02/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA019383/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA019383-02/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA19383/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; T32 DA007233/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA019383-04/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DA026328-01/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA019383-01A1/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DA019383-03/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R21 DA026328/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adult ; Aged ; Drug Users/*psychology ; Female ; HIV Infections/*prevention & control ; Hepatitis C/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; New York City ; Psychometrics/*statistics & numerical data ; Reproducibility of Results ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; *Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {We report on psychometric properties of a new questionnaire to study long-term strategies, practices and tactics that may help injection drug users (IDUs) avoid infection with HIV and hepatitis C. Sixty-two long-term IDUs were interviewed in New York City in 2009. Five scales based on a total of 47 items were formed covering the following domains: stigma avoidance, withdrawal prevention, homeless safety, embedding safety within a network of users, and access to resources/social support. All scales (α ≥ .79) except one (α = .61) were highly internally consistent. Seven single-item measures related to drug use reduction and injection practices were also analyzed. All variables were classified as either belonging to a group of symbiotic processes that are not directly focused upon disease prevention but nonetheless lead to risk reduction indirectly or as variables describing prevention tactics in risky situations. Symbiotic processes can be conceived of as unintentional facilitators of safe behaviors. Associations among variables offer suggestions for potential interventions. These Staying Safe variables can be used as predictors of risk behaviors and/or biological outcomes.}, } @article {pmid22038035, year = {2012}, author = {Neave, MJ and Streten-Joyce, C and Glasby, CJ and McGuinness, KA and Parry, DL and Gibb, KS}, title = {The bacterial community associated with the marine polychaete Ophelina sp.1 (Annelida: Opheliidae) is altered by copper and zinc contamination in sediments.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {63}, number = {3}, pages = {639-650}, pmid = {22038035}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Copper/*analysis/metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/*analysis ; Phylogeny ; Polychaeta/*microbiology ; Seawater/analysis/*microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/*analysis/metabolism ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; Zinc/*analysis/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Tolerant species of polychaete worms can survive in polluted environments using various resistance mechanisms. One aspect of resistance not often studied in polychaetes is their association with symbiotic bacteria, some of which have resistance to metals and may help the organism to survive. We used "next generation" 454 sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA sequences associated with polychaetes from a copper- and zinc-polluted harbor and from a reference site to determine bacterial community structure. We found changes in the bacteria at the polluted site, including increases in the abundance of bacteria from the order Alteromonadales. These changes in the bacteria associated with polychaetes may be relatively easy to detect and could be a useful indicator of metal pollution.}, } @article {pmid22037579, year = {2011}, author = {Hepat, R and Kim, Y}, title = {Transient expression of a viral histone H4 inhibits expression of cellular and humoral immune-associated genes in Tribolium castaneum.}, journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications}, volume = {415}, number = {2}, pages = {279-283}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.10.040}, pmid = {22037579}, issn = {1090-2104}, mesh = {Animals ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histones/*genetics ; Immunity, Cellular/*genetics ; Immunity, Humoral/*genetics ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Tribolium/genetics/*immunology/*virology ; Viral Proteins/*genetics ; }, abstract = {A viral histone H4 is encoded in a polydnavirus called Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), which is symbiotic to an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae. Compared to general histone H4s, the viral H4 possesses an extra N-terminal tail containing 38 amino acid residues, which has been presumed to control host gene expression in an epigenetic mode. To analyze the epigenetic control activity of CpBV-H4 on expression of immune-associated genes, it was transiently expressed in larvae of Tribolium castaneum that had been annotated in the immune genes from a full genome sequence. Subsequent alteration of gene expression pattern was compared with that of its mutant form deleting N-terminal tail (truncated CpBV-H4). In response to bacterial challenge, T. castaneum induces expression of 13 antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. When CpBV-H4 was expressed, the larvae failed to express 12 inducible AMP genes. By contrast, when truncated CpBV-H4 was transiently expressed, all AMP genes were expressed. Hemocyte nodule formation was significantly impaired by expression of CpBV-H4, in which expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase and dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase were suppressed. However, expression of truncated CpBV-H4 did not give any significant adverse effect on the cellular immunity. The immunosuppression of CpBV-H4 was further supported by its activity of enhancing bacterial pathogenicity of an entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, against larvae transiently expressing CpBV-H4. These results suggest that CpBV-H4 suppresses both humoral and cellular immune responses of T. castaneum by altering a normal epigenetic control of immune-associated gene expression.}, } @article {pmid22037416, year = {2012}, author = {Marino, D and Dunand, C and Puppo, A and Pauly, N}, title = {A burst of plant NADPH oxidases.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {9-15}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2011.10.001}, pmid = {22037416}, issn = {1878-4372}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; NADPH Oxidases/*metabolism ; Plant Development/physiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plants/*enzymology/immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Respiratory Burst ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules able to damage cellular components but they also act as cell signalling elements. ROS are produced by many different enzymatic systems. Plant NADPH oxidases, also known as respiratory burst oxidase homologues (RBOHs), are the most thoroughly studied enzymatic ROS-generating systems and our understanding of their involvement in various plant processes has increased considerably in recent years. In this review we discuss their roles as ROS producers during cell growth, plant development and plant response to abiotic environmental constraints and biotic interactions, both pathogenic and symbiotic. This broad range of functions suggests that RBOHs may serve as important molecular 'hubs' during ROS-mediated signalling in plants.}, } @article {pmid22036787, year = {2011}, author = {Gupta, KJ and Hebelstrup, KH and Mur, LA and Igamberdiev, AU}, title = {Plant hemoglobins: important players at the crossroads between oxygen and nitric oxide.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {585}, number = {24}, pages = {3843-3849}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2011.10.036}, pmid = {22036787}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Animals ; Hemoglobins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Plants/genetics/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plant hemoglobins constitute a diverse group of hemeproteins and evolutionarily belong to three different classes. Class 1 hemoglobins possess an extremely high affinity to oxygen and their main function consists in scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) at very low oxygen levels. Class 2 hemoglobins have a lower oxygen affinity and they facilitate oxygen supply to developing tissues. Symbiotic hemoglobins in nodules have mostly evolved from class 2 hemoglobins. Class 3 hemoglobins are truncated and represent a clade with a very low similarity to class 1 and 2 hemoglobins. They may regulate oxygen delivery at high O(2) concentrations. Depending on their physical properties, hemoglobins belong either to hexacoordinate non-symbiotic or pentacoordinate symbiotic groups. Plant hemoglobins are plausible targets for improving resistance to multiple stresses.}, } @article {pmid22034982, year = {2011}, author = {Boutet, I and Ripp, R and Lecompte, O and Dossat, C and Corre, E and Tanguy, A and Lallier, FH}, title = {Conjugating effects of symbionts and environmental factors on gene expression in deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {530}, pmid = {22034982}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/enzymology/metabolism ; *Environment ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Library ; Gills/microbiology ; Methanol/metabolism ; Mixed Function Oxygenases/genetics/metabolism ; Mytilidae/*genetics ; Sulfate Adenylyltransferase/genetics/metabolism ; Sulfhydryl Compounds/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus harbors thiotrophic and methanotrophic symbiotic bacteria in its gills. While the symbiotic relationship between this hydrothermal mussel and these chemoautotrophic bacteria has been described, the molecular processes involved in the cross-talking between symbionts and host, in the maintenance of the symbiois, in the influence of environmental parameters on gene expression, and in transcriptome variation across individuals remain poorly understood. In an attempt to understand how, and to what extent, this double symbiosis affects host gene expression, we used a transcriptomic approach to identify genes potentially regulated by symbiont characteristics, environmental conditions or both. This study was done on mussels from two contrasting populations.

RESULTS: Subtractive libraries allowed the identification of about 1000 genes putatively regulated by symbiosis and/or environmental factors. Microarray analysis showed that 120 genes (3.5% of all genes) were differentially expressed between the Menez Gwen (MG) and Rainbow (Rb) vent fields. The total number of regulated genes in mussels harboring a high versus a low symbiont content did not differ significantly. With regard to the impact of symbiont content, only 1% of all genes were regulated by thiotrophic (SOX) and methanotrophic (MOX) bacteria content in MG mussels whereas 5.6% were regulated in mussels collected at Rb. MOX symbionts also impacted a higher proportion of genes than SOX in both vent fields. When host transcriptome expression was analyzed with respect to symbiont gene expression, it was related to symbiont quantity in each field.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study has produced a preliminary description of a transcriptomic response in a hydrothermal vent mussel host of both thiotrophic and methanotrophic symbiotic bacteria. This model can help to identify genes involved in the maintenance of symbiosis or regulated by environmental parameters. Our results provide evidence of symbiont effect on transcriptome regulation, with differences related to type of symbiont, even though the relative percentage of genes involved remains limited. Differences observed between the vent site indicate that environment strongly influences transcriptome regulation and impacts both activity and relative abundance of each symbiont. Among all these genes, those participating in recognition, the immune system, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism constitute new promising targets for extended studies on symbiosis and the effect of environmental parameters on the symbiotic relationships in B. azoricus.}, } @article {pmid22034946, year = {2011}, author = {Stolarski, J and Kitahara, MV and Miller, DJ and Cairns, SD and Mazur, M and Meibom, A}, title = {The ancient evolutionary origins of Scleractinia revealed by azooxanthellate corals.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {316}, pmid = {22034946}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*anatomy & histology/*genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Coral Reefs ; *Fossils ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Scleractinian corals are currently a focus of major interest because of their ecological importance and the uncertain fate of coral reefs in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressure. Despite this, remarkably little is known about the evolutionary origins of corals. The Scleractinia suddenly appear in the fossil record about 240 Ma, but the range of morphological variation seen in these Middle Triassic fossils is comparable to that of modern scleractinians, implying much earlier origins that have so far remained elusive. A significant weakness in reconstruction(s) of early coral evolution is that deep-sea corals have been poorly represented in molecular phylogenetic analyses.

RESULTS: By adding new data from a large and representative range of deep-water species to existing molecular datasets and applying a relaxed molecular clock, we show that two exclusively deep-sea families, the Gardineriidae and Micrabaciidae, diverged prior to the Complexa/Robusta coral split around 425 Ma, thereby pushing the evolutionary origin of scleractinian corals deep into the Paleozoic.

CONCLUSIONS: The early divergence and distinctive morphologies of the extant gardineriid and micrabaciid corals suggest a link with Ordovician "scleractiniamorph" fossils that were previously assumed to represent extinct anthozoan skeletonized lineages. Therefore, scleractinian corals most likely evolved from Paleozoic soft-bodied ancestors. Modern shallow-water Scleractinia, which are dependent on symbionts, appear to have had several independent origins from solitary, non-symbiotic precursors. The Scleractinia have survived periods of massive climate change in the past, suggesting that as a lineage they may be less vulnerable to future changes than often assumed.}, } @article {pmid22034628, year = {2011}, author = {Hogekamp, C and Arndt, D and Pereira, PA and Becker, JD and Hohnjec, N and Küster, H}, title = {Laser microdissection unravels cell-type-specific transcription in arbuscular mycorrhizal roots, including CAAT-box transcription factor gene expression correlating with fungal contact and spread.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {157}, number = {4}, pages = {2023-2043}, pmid = {22034628}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Biological Transport ; CCAAT-Binding Factor/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*growth & development ; Lasers ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/*microbiology/physiology ; Microdissection/*methods ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*growth & development ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are the most widespread symbioses on Earth, promoting nutrient supply of most terrestrial plant species. To unravel gene expression in defined stages of Medicago truncatula root colonization by AM fungi, we here combined genome-wide transcriptome profiling based on whole mycorrhizal roots with real-time reverse transcription-PCR experiments that relied on characteristic cell types obtained via laser microdissection. Our genome-wide approach delivered a core set of 512 genes significantly activated by the two mycorrhizal fungi Glomus intraradices and Glomus mossae. Focusing on 62 of these genes being related to membrane transport, signaling, and transcriptional regulation, we distinguished whether they are activated in arbuscule-containing or the neighboring cortical cells harboring fungal hyphae. In addition, cortical cells from nonmycorrhizal roots served as a reference for gene expression under noncolonized conditions. Our analysis identified 25 novel arbuscule-specific genes and 37 genes expressed both in the arbuscule-containing and the adjacent cortical cells colonized by fungal hyphae. Among the AM-induced genes specifying transcriptional regulators were two members encoding CAAT-box binding transcription factors (CBFs), designated MtCbf1 and MtCbf2. Promoter analyses demonstrated that both genes were already activated by the first physical contact between the symbionts. Subsequently, and corresponding to our cell-type expression patterns, they were progressively up-regulated in those cortical areas colonized by fungal hyphae, including the arbuscule-containing cells. The encoded CBFs thus represent excellent candidates for regulators that mediate a sequential reprogramming of root tissues during the establishment of an AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22034625, year = {2011}, author = {Op den Camp, RH and De Mita, S and Lillo, A and Cao, Q and Limpens, E and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {A phylogenetic strategy based on a legume-specific whole genome duplication yields symbiotic cytokinin type-A response regulators.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {157}, number = {4}, pages = {2013-2022}, pmid = {22034625}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biological Evolution ; Cell Division ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Duplicate/genetics ; Genes, Plant/*genetics ; Genome, Plant/*genetics ; Lotus/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/*metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Seedlings/cytology/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction ; Sinorhizobium/*physiology ; Soybeans/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Legumes host their Rhizobium spp. symbiont in novel root organs called nodules. Nodules originate from differentiated root cortical cells that dedifferentiate and subsequently form nodule primordia, a process controlled by cytokinin. A whole-genome duplication has occurred at the root of the legume Papilionoideae subfamily. We hypothesize that gene pairs originating from this duplication event and are conserved in distinct Papilionoideae lineages have evolved symbiotic functions. A phylogenetic strategy was applied to search for such gene pairs to identify novel regulators of nodulation, using the cytokinin phosphorelay pathway as a test case. In this way, two paralogous type-A cytokinin response regulators were identified that are involved in root nodule symbiosis. Response Regulator9 (MtRR9) and MtRR11 in medicago (Medicago truncatula) and an ortholog in lotus (Lotus japonicus) are rapidly induced upon Rhizobium spp. Nod factor signaling. Constitutive expression of MtRR9 results in arrested primordia that have emerged from cortical, endodermal, and pericycle cells. In legumes, lateral root primordia are not exclusively formed from pericycle cells but also require the involvement of the root cortical cell layer. Therefore, the MtRR9-induced foci of cell divisions show a strong resemblance to lateral root primordia, suggesting an ancestral function of MtRR9 in this process. Together, these findings provide a proof of principle for the applied phylogenetic strategy to identify genes with a symbiotic function in legumes.}, } @article {pmid22030071, year = {2012}, author = {Bou Khalil, R}, title = {Is there any place for macrolides in mood disorders?.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {78}, number = {1}, pages = {86-87}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2011.09.046}, pmid = {22030071}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*pathology ; *Models, Biological ; Mood Disorders/*metabolism/pathology ; Neurons/*metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism ; Ribosomes/genetics/*metabolism ; Sirolimus/*metabolism ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Macrolides are protein synthesis inhibitors exerting an action on the bacterial ribosome. The ribosomes coded for by the human mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are similar to those from bacteria in size and structure. In addition, mitochondria are thought to have originated from a symbiotic relationship between an anaerobic proto-eukaryotic cell that engulfed an aerobic bacterium. Morphological changes of mitochondria have been observed in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Manic episodes associated with the use of antimicrobial agents have been described since the discovery of isoniazid. The oxidative stress induced in the neuronal mitochondria is thought to underlie this effect. The inhibition of GSK-3β in the intra-mitochondrial Akt signaling pathway is thought to convey mood stabilizing properties. Rapamycin is a macrolide that, besides its antiepileptic effect, restores the Akt function and inhibits the mTOR pathway which may have an antidepressant effect. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that rapamycin may have mood stabilizing properties.}, } @article {pmid22028834, year = {2011}, author = {Daskin, JH and Alford, RA and Puschendorf, R}, title = {Short-term exposure to warm microhabitats could explain amphibian persistence with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {e26215}, pmid = {22028834}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anura/*microbiology ; *Chytridiomycota ; *Ecosystem ; Population Dynamics ; Rain ; *Temperature ; Time Factors ; Trees ; }, abstract = {Environmental conditions can alter the outcomes of symbiotic interactions. Many amphibian species have declined due to chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), but many others persist despite high Bd infection prevalence. This indicates that Bd's virulence is lower, or it may even be a commensal, in some hosts. In the Australian Wet Tropics, chytridiomycosis extirpated Litoria nannotis from high-elevation rain forests in the early 1990 s. Although the species is recolonizing many sites, no population has fully recovered. Litoria lorica disappeared from all known sites in the early 1990 s and was thought globally extinct, but a new population was discovered in 2008, in an upland dry forest habitat it shares with L. nannotis. All frogs of both species observed during three population censuses were apparently healthy, but most carried Bd. Frogs perch on sun-warmed rocks in dry forest streams, possibly keeping Bd infections below the lethal threshold attained in cooler rain forests. We tested whether short-term elevated temperatures can hamper Bd growth in vitro over one generation (four days). Simulating the temperatures available to frogs on strongly and moderately warmed rocks in dry forests, by incubating cultures at 33°C for one hour daily, reduced Bd growth below that of Bd held at 15°C constantly (representing rain forest habitats). Even small decreases in the exponential growth rate of Bd on hosts may contribute to the survival of frogs in dry forests.}, } @article {pmid22027812, year = {2012}, author = {Tsuchiya, Y and McCourt, P}, title = {Strigolactones as small molecule communicators.}, journal = {Molecular bioSystems}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {464-469}, doi = {10.1039/c1mb05195d}, pmid = {22027812}, issn = {1742-2051}, mesh = {Host-Parasite Interactions/*physiology ; Lactones/*chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/*microbiology ; Plants/*chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Originally identified as an allelochemical involved in plant host-parasite interactions, strigolactones have more recently been shown to have much broader communication roles. Strigolactones function as a symbiotic communicator in plants and mycorrhizal fungi interactions and have also been shown to have hormonal roles in higher plants. This ability to act as both an exogenous and an endogenous signal has interesting implications with respect to the constraints on strigolactone structures. Probing the hormonal function of strigolactones using chemical biology and genetics is beginning to provide clues as to how strigolactones were co-opted as an allelochemical signal by parasitic plants.}, } @article {pmid22027199, year = {2012}, author = {Qi, Y and Li, P and Zhang, Y and Cui, L and Guo, Z and Xie, G and Su, M and Li, X and Zheng, X and Qiu, Y and Liu, Y and Zhao, A and Jia, W and Jia, W}, title = {Urinary metabolite markers of precocious puberty.}, journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {M111.011072}, pmid = {22027199}, issn = {1535-9484}, mesh = {Biomarkers/*urine ; Child ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/agonists ; Hormones/urine ; Humans ; Metabolome ; Puberty, Precocious/drug therapy/*urine ; Triptorelin Pamoate/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The incidence of precocious puberty (PP, the appearance of signs of pubertal development at an abnormally early age), is rapidly rising, concurrent with changes of diet, lifestyles, and social environment. The current diagnostic methods are based on a hormone (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) stimulation test, which is costly, time-consuming, and uncomfortable for patients. The lack of molecular biomarkers to support simple laboratory tests, such as a blood or urine test, has been a long standing bottleneck in the clinical diagnosis and evaluation of PP. Here we report a metabolomic study using an ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry. Urine metabolites from 163 individuals were profiled, and the metabolic alterations were analyzed after treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) with triptorelin depot. A panel of biomarkers selected from >70 differentially expressed urinary metabolites by receiver operating characteristic and logistic regression analysis provided excellent predictive power with high sensitivity and specificity for PP. The altered metabolic profile of the PP patients was characterized by three major perturbed metabolic pathways: catecholamine, serotonin metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle, presumably resulting from activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Treatment with triptorelin depot was able to normalize these three altered pathways. Additionally, significant changes in the urine levels of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, indoleacetic acid, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and 5-hydroxykynurenamine in the CPP group suggest that the development of CPP condition may involve an alteration in symbiotic gut microbial composition.}, } @article {pmid22024415, year = {2011}, author = {Kristóf, K and Madách, K and Sándor, N and Iványi, Z and Király, A and Erdei, A and Tulassay, E and Gál, J and Bajtay, Z}, title = {Impact of molecular mimicry on the clinical course and outcome of sepsis syndrome.}, journal = {Molecular immunology}, volume = {49}, number = {3}, pages = {512-517}, doi = {10.1016/j.molimm.2011.09.023}, pmid = {22024415}, issn = {1872-9142}, mesh = {Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Molecular Mimicry ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/*immunology/microbiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {We investigated the impact of molecular mimicry between pathogenic microbes and their antigenic surrounding on the clinical course and outcome of pneumonia induced sepsis. Using mathematical prediction, we estimated the mimicry tendency of the identified pathogenic flora of patients with the human proteome as well as intestinal microbes. Since gut bacteria become invasive and hostile in critical illness, mimicry between these organisms and the infectious flora is expected to be rather hyperinflammatory type, in contrast to the expectedly tolerogenic self versus pathogen cross-reactions. Differential effects of these two kinds of cross-reactions were studied. The predicted similarity of the identified pathogenic flora and intestinal microbes was higher in non-survivor patients compared to survivors (P=0.019). Higher values of "pathogen versus intestinal flora/pathogen versus human proteome" mimicry ratios (inflammatory quotients) were associated with mortality at a higher extent of significance (P<0.01), and correlated with admission APACHE II disease severity scores (R=0.311; P=0.017). We also found a correlation between the previously reported sepsis mortality rates by causative agent and the corresponding inflammatory quotients of these pathogens (R=0.738; P<0.05). Gram negative species showed higher similarity to intestinal bacteria and reached higher inflammatory quotients compared to Gram positives (P=0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). The disadvantageous effect of "pathogen versus intestinal flora" mimicry - presumably due to the extension of inflammation from the infectious focus to the already injured gut - is in accordance with the gut-lymph hypothesis, assessing that the destruction of the intestinal symbiosis culminates in the formation of damageous gut origin lymph. Our results raise the idea that molecular mimicry between pathogenic microbes and their antigenic surrounding might be a contributing factor behind the clinically and experimentally observed differences in microbiologically distinct forms of sepsis syndrome.}, } @article {pmid22023733, year = {2011}, author = {Kim, K and Kim, JJ and Masui, R and Kuramitsu, S and Sung, MH}, title = {A commensal symbiotic interrelationship for the growth of Symbiobacterium toebii with its partner bacterium, Geobacillus toebii.}, journal = {BMC research notes}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {437}, pmid = {22023733}, issn = {1756-0500}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiobacterium toebii is a commensal symbiotic thermophile that absolutely requires its partner bacterium Geobacillus toebii for growth. Despite development of an independent cultivation method using cell-free extracts, the growth of Symbiobacterium remains unknown due to our poor understanding of the symbiotic relationship with its partner bacterium. Here, we investigated the interrelationship between these two bacteria for growth of S. toebii using different cell-free extracts of G. toebii.

RESULTS: Symbiobacterium toebii growth-supporting factors were constitutively produced through almost all growth phases and under different oxygen tensions in G. toebii, indicating that the factor may be essential components for growth of G. toebii as well as S. toebii. The growing conditions of G. toebii under different oxygen tension dramatically affected to the initial growth of S. toebii and the retarded lag phase was completely shortened by reducing agent, L-cysteine indicating an evidence of commensal interaction of microaerobic and anaerobic bacterium S. toebii with a facultative aerobic bacterium G. toebii. In addition, the growth curve of S. toebii showed a dependency on the protein concentration of cell-free extracts of G. toebii, demonstrating that the G. toebii-derived factors have nutrient-like characters but not quorum-sensing characters.

CONCLUSIONS: Not only the consistent existence of the factor in G. toebii during all growth stages and under different oxygen tensions but also the concentration dependency of the factor for proliferation and optimal growth of S. toebii, suggests that an important biosynthetic machinery lacks in S. toebii during evolution. The commensal symbiotic bacterium, S. toebii uptakes certain ubiquitous and essential compound for its growth from environment or neighboring bacteria that shares the equivalent compounds. Moreover, G. toebii grown under aerobic condition shortened the lag phase of S. toebii under anaerobic and microaerobic conditions, suggests a possible commensal interaction that G. toebii scavengers ROS/RNS species and helps the initial growth of S. toebii.}, } @article {pmid21995448, year = {2011}, author = {Delzenne, NM and Neyrinck, AM and Cani, PD}, title = {Modulation of the gut microbiota by nutrients with prebiotic properties: consequences for host health in the context of obesity and metabolic syndrome.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {10 Suppl 1}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {S10}, pmid = {21995448}, issn = {1475-2859}, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects/*microbiology ; Humans ; Immune System/physiology ; Metabolic Syndrome/*diet therapy/metabolism/*microbiology ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity/*diet therapy/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Prebiotics ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is increasingly considered as a symbiotic partner for the maintenance of health. The homeostasis of the gut microbiota is dependent on host characteristics (age, gender, genetic background...), environmental conditions (stress, drugs, gastrointestinal surgery, infectious and toxic agents...). Moreover, it is dependent on the day-to-day dietary changes. Experimental data in animals, but also observational studies in obese patients, suggest that the composition of the gut microbiota is a factor characterizing obese versus lean individuals, diabetic versus non diabetic patients, or patients presenting hepatic diseases such as non alcoholic steatohepatitis. Interestingly, the changes in the gut microbes can be reversed by dieting and related weight loss. The qualitative and quantitative changes in the intake of specific food components (fatty acids, carbohydrates, micronutrients, prebiotics, probiotics), have not only consequences on the gut microbiota composition, but may modulate the expression of genes in host tissues such as the liver, adipose tissue, intestine, muscle. This in turn may drive or lessen the development of fat mass and metabolic disturbances associated with the gut barrier function and the systemic immunity. The relevance of the prebiotic or probiotic approaches in the management of obesity in humans is supported by few intervention studies in humans up to now, but the experimental data obtained with those compounds help to elucidate novel potential molecular targets relating diet with gut microbes. The metagenomic and integrative metabolomic approaches could help elucidate which bacteria, among the trillions in human gut, or more specifically which activities/genes, could participate to the control of host energy metabolism, and could be relevant for future therapeutic developments.}, } @article {pmid22022322, year = {2011}, author = {Sait, M and Kamneva, OK and Fay, DS and Kirienko, NV and Polek, J and Shirasu-Hiza, MM and Ward, NL}, title = {Genomic and Experimental Evidence Suggests that Verrucomicrobium spinosum Interacts with Eukaryotes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {211}, pmid = {22022322}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Our knowledge of pathogens and symbionts is heavily biased toward phyla containing species that are straightforward to isolate in pure culture. Novel bacterial phyla are often represented by a handful of strains, and the number of species interacting with eukaryotes is likely underestimated. Identification of predicted pathogenesis and symbiosis determinants such as the Type III Secretion System (T3SS) in the genomes of "free-living" bacteria suggests that these microbes participate in uncharacterized interactions with eukaryotes. Our study aimed to test this hypothesis on Verrucomicrobium spinosum (phylum Verrucomicrobia) and to begin characterization of its predicted T3SS. We showed the putative T3SS structural genes to be transcriptionally active, and that expression of predicted effector proteins was toxic to yeast in an established functional screen. Our results suggest that the predicted T3SS genes of V. spinosum could encode a functional T3SS, although further work is needed to determine whether V. spinosum produces a T3SS injectisome that delivers the predicted effectors. In the absence of a known eukaryotic host, we made use of invertebrate infection models. The injection or feeding of V. spinosum to Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, respectively, was shown to result in increased mortality rates relative to controls, a phenomenon exaggerated in C. elegans mutants hypersensitive to pathogen infection. This finding, although not conclusively demonstrating pathogenesis, suggests that V. spinosum is capable of pathogenic activity toward an invertebrate host. Symbiotic interactions with a natural host provide an alternative explanation for the results seen in the invertebrate models. Further work is needed to determine whether V. spinosum can establish and maintain interactions with eukaryotic species found in its natural habitat, and whether the predicted T3SS is directly involved in pathogenic or symbiotic activity.}, } @article {pmid22022265, year = {2011}, author = {Zuccaro, A and Lahrmann, U and Güldener, U and Langen, G and Pfiffi, S and Biedenkopf, D and Wong, P and Samans, B and Grimm, C and Basiewicz, M and Murat, C and Martin, F and Kogel, KH}, title = {Endophytic life strategies decoded by genome and transcriptome analyses of the mutualistic root symbiont Piriformospora indica.}, journal = {PLoS pathogens}, volume = {7}, number = {10}, pages = {e1002290}, pmid = {22022265}, issn = {1553-7374}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Basidiomycota/*genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Cell Death ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Endophytes/*genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genome, Fungal ; Hordeum/*microbiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Recent sequencing projects have provided deep insight into fungal lifestyle-associated genomic adaptations. Here we report on the 25 Mb genome of the mutualistic root symbiont Piriformospora indica (Sebacinales, Basidiomycota) and provide a global characterization of fungal transcriptional responses associated with the colonization of living and dead barley roots. Extensive comparative analysis of the P. indica genome with other Basidiomycota and Ascomycota fungi that have diverse lifestyle strategies identified features typically associated with both, biotrophism and saprotrophism. The tightly controlled expression of the lifestyle-associated gene sets during the onset of the symbiosis, revealed by microarray analysis, argues for a biphasic root colonization strategy of P. indica. This is supported by a cytological study that shows an early biotrophic growth followed by a cell death-associated phase. About 10% of the fungal genes induced during the biotrophic colonization encoded putative small secreted proteins (SSP), including several lectin-like proteins and members of a P. indica-specific gene family (DELD) with a conserved novel seven-amino acids motif at the C-terminus. Similar to effectors found in other filamentous organisms, the occurrence of the DELDs correlated with the presence of transposable elements in gene-poor repeat-rich regions of the genome. This is the first in depth genomic study describing a mutualistic symbiont with a biphasic lifestyle. Our findings provide a significant advance in understanding development of biotrophic plant symbionts and suggest a series of incremental shifts along the continuum from saprotrophy towards biotrophy in the evolution of mycorrhizal association from decomposer fungi.}, } @article {pmid22021574, year = {2012}, author = {Bibi, F and Chung, EJ and Khan, A and Jeon, CO and Chung, YR}, title = {Rhizobium halophytocola sp. nov., isolated from the root of a coastal dune plant.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1997-2003}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.029488-0}, pmid = {22021574}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Base Composition ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Rosa/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {During a study of endophytic bacteria from coastal dune plants, a bacterial strain, designated YC6881(T), was isolated from the root of Rosa rugosa collected from the coastal dune areas of Namhae Island, Korea. The bacterium was found to be Gram-staining-negative, motile, halophilic and heterotrophic with a single polar flagellum. Strain YC6881(T) grew at temperatures of 4-37 °C (optimum, 28-32 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0), and at NaCl concentrations in the range of 0-7.5% (w/v) (optimum, 4-5% NaCl). Strain YC6881(T) was catalase- and oxidase-positive and negative for nitrate reduction. According to phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain YC6881(T) belonged to the genus Rhizobium and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.9% to Rhizobium rosettiformans, followed by Rhizobium borbori (96.3%), Rhizobium radiobacter (96.1%), Rhizobium daejeonense (95.9%), Rhizobium larrymoorei (95.6%) and Rhizobium giardinii (95.4%). Phylogenetic analysis of strain YC6881(T) by recA, atpD, glnII and 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS) sequences all confirmed the phylogenetic arrangements obtained by using 16S rRNA gene sequences. Cross-nodulation tests showed that strain YC6881(T) was a symbiotic bacterium that nodulated Vigna unguiculata and Pisum sativum. The major components of the cellular fatty acids were C(18:1)ω7c (53.7%), C(19:0) cyclo ω8c (12.6%) and C(12:0) (8.1%). The DNA G+C content was 52.8 mol%. Phenotypic and physiological tests with respect to carbon source utilization, antibiotic resistance, growth conditions, phylogenetic analyses of housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII, and fatty acid composition could be used to discriminate strain YC6881(T) from other species of the genus Rhizobium in the same sublineage. Based on the results obtained in this study, strain YC6881(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium halophytocola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YC6881(T) (= KACC 13775(T) = DSM 21600(T)).}, } @article {pmid22020639, year = {2012}, author = {Shibata, S and Visick, KL}, title = {Sensor kinase RscS induces the production of antigenically distinct outer membrane vesicles that depend on the symbiosis polysaccharide locus in Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {194}, number = {1}, pages = {185-194}, pmid = {22020639}, issn = {1098-5530}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*cytology/*physiology ; Antigens, Bacterial/genetics/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Robust biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri depends upon activation of the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus, which is achieved by overexpressing the RscS sensor kinase (RscS(+)). Other than the Syp polysaccharide, however, little is known about V. fischeri biofilm matrix components. In other bacteria, biofilms contain polysaccharides, secreted proteins, and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Here, we asked whether OMVs are part of V. fischeri biofilms. Transmission electron microscopy revealed OMV-like particles between cells within colonies. In addition, OMVs could be purified from culture supernatants of both RscS(+) and control cells, with the former releasing 2- to 3-fold more OMVs. The increase depended upon the presence of an intact syp locus, as an RscS(+) strain deleted for sypK, which encodes a putative oligosaccharide translocase, exhibited reduced production of OMVs; it also showed a severe defect in biofilm formation. Western immunoblot analyses revealed that the RscS(+) strain, but not the control strain or the RscS(+) sypK mutant, produced a distinct set of nonproteinaceous molecules that could be detected in whole-cell extracts, OMV preparations, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracts. Finally, deletion of degP, which in other bacteria influences OMV production, decreased OMV production and reduced the ability of the cells to form biofilms. We conclude that overexpression of RscS induces OMV production in a manner that depends on the presence of the syp locus and that OMVs produced under these conditions contain antigenically distinct molecules, possibly representing a modified form of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Finally, our data indicate a correlation between OMV production and biofilm formation by V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid22019641, year = {2011}, author = {Takanashi, K and Sugiyama, A and Yazaki, K}, title = {Auxin distribution and lenticel formation in determinate nodule of Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {1405-1407}, pmid = {22019641}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Indoleacetic Acids/*metabolism ; Lotus/*metabolism/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes can establish a symbiosis with rhizobia and form root nodules that function as an apparatus for nitrogen fixation. Nodule development is regulated by several phytohormones including auxin. Although accumulation of auxin is necessary to initiate the nodulation of indeterminate nodules, the functions of auxin on the nodulation of determinate nodules have been less characterized. In this study, the functions of auxin in nodule development in Lotus japonicus have been demonstrated using an auxin responsive promoter and auxin inhibitors. We found that the lenticel formation on the nodule surface was sensitive to the auxin defect. Further analysis indicated that failure in the development of the vascular bundle of the determinate nodule, which was regulated by auxin, was the cause of the disappearance of lenticels.}, } @article {pmid22019636, year = {2011}, author = {Gu, M and Chen, A and Dai, X and Liu, W and Xu, G}, title = {How does phosphate status influence the development of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis?.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {1300-1304}, pmid = {22019636}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Mycorrhizae/*growth & development/metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; Plants/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Most terrestrial plant roots form mutualistic symbiosis with soil-borne arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a characteristic feature of which is nutrient exchange between the two symbiotic partners. Phosphate (Pi) is the main benefit the host plants acquired from the AMF. It has long been a common realization that high Pi supply could suppress the AMF development. However, the direct molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying this plant directed suppression are lacking. Here, we reviewed the recent work providing the evidences that high Pi supply induces transcriptional alteration, leading to the inhibition of AMF development at different stages of AM symbiosis, and gave our view on potential cross-talk among Pi starvation, AM as well as phytohormone signaling.}, } @article {pmid22018235, year = {2011}, author = {Desbrosses, GJ and Stougaard, J}, title = {Root nodulation: a paradigm for how plant-microbe symbiosis influences host developmental pathways.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {348-358}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2011.09.005}, pmid = {22018235}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Ethylenes/metabolism ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Legume plants have an exceptional capacity for association with microorganisms, ranging from largely nonspecific to very specific interactions. Legume-rhizobial symbiosis results in major developmental and metabolic changes for both the microorganism and host, while providing the plant with fixed nitrogen. A complex signal exchange leads to the selective rhizobial colonization of plant cells within nodules, new organs that develop on the roots of host plants. Although the nodulation mechanism is highly specific, it involves the same subset of plant phytohormones, namely auxin, cytokinin, and ethylene, which are required for root development. In addition, nodulation triggered by the rhizobia affects the development of the host root system, indicating that the microorganism can alter host developmental pathways. Nodulation by rhizobia is a prime example of how microorganisms and plants have coevolved and exemplifies how microbial colonization may affect plant developmental pathways.}, } @article {pmid22018232, year = {2011}, author = {Littman, DR and Pamer, EG}, title = {Role of the commensal microbiota in normal and pathogenic host immune responses.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {311-323}, pmid = {22018232}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {RC2 AR058986/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; RC2 AR058986-02/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI080619/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AR054817/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI042135/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI_/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Metagenome/*immunology/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The commensal microbiota that inhabit different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have been shaped by coevolution with the host species. The symbiotic relationship of the hundreds of microbial species with the host requires a tuned response that prevents host damage, e.g., inflammation, while tolerating the presence of the potentially beneficial microbes. Recent studies have begun to shed light on immunological processes that participate in maintenance of homeostasis with the microbiota and on how disturbance of host immunity or the microbial ecosystem can result in disease-provoking dysbiosis. Our growing appreciation of this delicate host-microbe relationship promises to influence our understanding of inflammatory diseases and infection by microbial pathogens and to provide new therapeutic opportunities.}, } @article {pmid22017109, year = {2011}, author = {Eugenia Marquina, M and Enrique González, N and Castro, Y}, title = {[Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of twelve rhizobial isolates from different regions of Venezuela].}, journal = {Revista de biologia tropical}, volume = {59}, number = {3}, pages = {1017-1036}, pmid = {22017109}, issn = {0034-7744}, mesh = {Genotype ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; Rhizobium/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; *Soil Microbiology ; Venezuela ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial taxonomy and systematics have progressed substantially, nevertheless, few studies have been developed on venezuelan species. This study evaluated the phenotypic and genetic variation between 12 venezuelan indigenous rhizobial isolates and 10 international referential strains, by phenotypical traits and DNA molecular markers. In this regard, a PCR-RFLP of the 16S rDNA gene, the presence of large plasmids, metabolic assays in solid media, salinity resistance, pH and temperature growth conditions, and intrinsic antibiotic resistance were assayed. In reference to the phenotypic attributes, we recognized three main groups: A group I, which comprised all the strains metabolizing between 67.5%-90% of the C and N sources. They were also acid-tolerant, as well as acid producers, capable of growing at 40 degrees C and in high salinity conditions (2-2.5% NaCl). With regard to the antibiotic sensitivity, this group was susceptible to a 30% of the antibiotic assayed. Strains belonging to Group II exhibited a lower salt tolerance (0.1-1.5%NaCl), as well as a lower acid tolerance, since they grew well at pH values equal or higher than 5.0. This group appeared to be resistant to all of the antibiotics assayed and only metabolized between 52.5%-82.5% of the C and N sources. Group III was represented by a single bacterial strain: it has a extremely low salt tolerance (0.1% NaCl). This strain grew at a pH equal or higher than 5.6, was susceptible to 50% of the antibiotics assayed and metabolized 72% of the C and N sources. On the basis of a PCR- RFLP of the 16S rDNA, three groups were also obtained. Members of the group A showed a close resemblance to Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and Sinorhizobium americanum CFN-EI 156, while Group B was closely related to Bradyrhizobium spp. Group C, was also represented by only one isolate. The Trebol isolate, was the only one strain able to form nodules and does not appear to be related to any of the referential rhizobial strains, suggesting a possible symbiotic horizontal gene transfer. Finally, in this work, there are evidences of a genetic diversity in the venezuelan rhizobial strains. A different geographical origin is perhaps an important factor affecting the diversity of the indigenous rhizobia in this study.}, } @article {pmid22015684, year = {2012}, author = {Kobune, S and Kajimura, H and Masuya, H and Kubono, T}, title = {Symbiotic fungal flora in leaf galls induced by Illiciomyia yukawai (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and in its mycangia.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {63}, number = {3}, pages = {619-627}, pmid = {22015684}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Diptera/growth & development/*microbiology/*physiology ; Female ; Fungi/*physiology ; Male ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/*parasitology ; Plant Tumors/microbiology/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated the association between a gall midge, Illiciomyia yukawai, and its symbiotic fungi on Japanese star anise, Illicium anisatum. The number of fungal species isolated from the galls increased with development of the galls, whereas those from the leaves showed a different trend. Botryosphaeria dothidea was dominant in the galls from June to October, and after that Phomopsis sp. 1, Colletotrichum sp., and Pestalotiopsis sp. became dominant. Although B. dothidea was not isolated from the leaves, it was detected from mycangia (abdominal sternite VII) of egg-laying adults at a high isolation frequency (>90%). However, B. dothidea was not isolated from mycangia of adults emerging from galls that were enclosed by plastic bags. This indicates that I. yukawai is closely associated with B. dothidea and that its newly emerged adults do not take the fungus into mycangia directly from the galls where they had developed. Also, the fungus from the fungal layers of ambrosia galls has less ability to propagate on artificial media despite the presence of its mycelial mass in mature galls.}, } @article {pmid22014259, year = {2012}, author = {Fukai, E and Soyano, T and Umehara, Y and Nakayama, S and Hirakawa, H and Tabata, S and Sato, S and Hayashi, M}, title = {Establishment of a Lotus japonicus gene tagging population using the exon-targeting endogenous retrotransposon LORE1.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {69}, number = {4}, pages = {720-730}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04826.x}, pmid = {22014259}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {DNA Primers/genetics ; Exons/*genetics ; Gene Targeting ; Lotus/*genetics ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/*methods ; Mutation ; Retroelements/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Terminal Repeat Sequences/genetics ; }, abstract = {We established a gene tagging population of the model legume Lotus japonicus using an endogenous long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon Lotus Retrotransposon 1 (LORE1). The population was composed of 2450 plant lines, from which a total of 4532 flanking sequence tags of LORE1 were recovered by pyrosequencing. The two-dimensional arrangement of the plant population, together with the use of multiple identifier sequences in the primers used to amplify the flanking regions, made it possible to trace insertions back to the original plant lines. The large-scale detection of new LORE1 insertion sites revealed a preference for genic regions, especially in exons of protein-coding genes, which is an interesting feature to consider in the interaction between host genomes and chromoviruses, to which LORE1 belongs, a class of retrotransposon widely distributed among plants. Forward screening of the symbiotic mutants from the population succeeded to identify five symbiotic mutants of known genes. These data suggest that LORE1 is robust as a genetic tool.}, } @article {pmid22012951, year = {2012}, author = {Veresoglou, SD and Rillig, MC}, title = {Suppression of fungal and nematode plant pathogens through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, pages = {214-217}, pmid = {22012951}, issn = {1744-957X}, mesh = {Animals ; Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nematoda/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Development ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/parasitology ; Plants/*microbiology/*parasitology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi represent ubiquitous mutualists of terrestrial plants. Through the symbiosis, plant hosts, among other benefits, receive protection from pathogens. A meta-analysis was conducted on 106 articles to determine whether, following pathogen infection of AM-colonized plants, the identity of the organisms involved (pathogens, AM fungi and host plants) had implications for the extent of the AM-induced pathogen suppression. Data on fungal and nematode pathogens were analysed separately. Although we found no differences in AM effectiveness with respect to the identity of the plant pathogen, the identity of the AM isolate had a dramatic effect on the level of pathogen protection. AM efficiency differences with respect to nematode pathogens were mainly limited to the number of AM isolates present; by contrast, modification of the ability to suppress fungal pathogens could occur even through changing the identity of the Glomeraceae isolate applied. N-fixing plants received more protection from fungal pathogens than non-N-fixing dicotyledons; this was attributed to the more intense AM colonization in N-fixing plants. Results have implications for understanding mycorrhizal ecology and agronomic applications.}, } @article {pmid22010243, year = {2011}, author = {Sohail, MU and Rahman, ZU and Ijaz, A and Yousaf, MS and Ashraf, K and Yaqub, T and Zaneb, H and Anwar, H and Rehman, H}, title = {Single or combined effects of mannan-oligosaccharides and probiotic supplements on the total oxidants, total antioxidants, enzymatic antioxidants, liver enzymes, and serum trace minerals in cyclic heat-stressed broilers.}, journal = {Poultry science}, volume = {90}, number = {11}, pages = {2573-2577}, doi = {10.3382/ps.2011-01502}, pmid = {22010243}, issn = {0032-5791}, mesh = {Animal Feed/*analysis ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Chickens/*metabolism ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hot Temperature/*adverse effects ; Liver/enzymology ; Male ; Mannans/*pharmacology ; Oxidants/blood ; Probiotics/*pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological/*drug effects ; Trace Elements/blood ; }, abstract = {This study was intended to explore the oxidative status of broilers under cyclic heat stress (HS) as modulated by supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and a probiotic mixture (PM). Two hundred fifty 1-d-old chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups. From d 22, birds were either kept in a thermoneutral zone (TN; 26.7°C for 24 h/d) or subjected to HS (35 ± 1.1°C and 75 ± 5% RH for 8 h/d from 1000 to 1800 h) to the conclusion of the study on d 42. Birds were fed either a corn-based diet (TN and HS groups) or the same diet supplemented with 0.5% MOS (HS-MOS group), 0.1% PM (HS-PM group), or their combination as a symbiotic (SYN; HS-SYN group). On d 42, birds were killed by cervical dislocation to collect serum for the determination of total oxidants, total antioxidants, paraoxonase, arylesterase, ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and trace minerals. Heat stress increased (P < 0.05) total oxidants and total antioxidants and decreased (P < 0.05) paraoxonase and arylesterase, with no change in ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities. Dietary supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) total oxidants and total antioxidants, with no effect on the activities of other enzymes. Heat stress did not influence serum copper, zinc, and manganese concentrations of birds when compared with those in the TN group. However, MOS increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of all the trace minerals, whereas SYN increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of only zinc and copper. It was concluded that MOS or PM supplementation, alone or as a SYN, may reduce some of the detrimental effects of HS, whereas MOS alone or as a SYN may improve the absorption of trace minerals.}, } @article {pmid22009016, year = {2012}, author = {Tominaga, A and Gondo, T and Akashi, R and Zheng, SH and Arima, S and Suzuki, A}, title = {Quantitative trait locus analysis of symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity in the model legume Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of plant research}, volume = {125}, number = {3}, pages = {395-406}, pmid = {22009016}, issn = {1618-0860}, mesh = {Acetylene/*metabolism ; Crops, Agricultural/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Lotus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/*genetics ; Plant Roots/growth & development/metabolism ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/genetics ; }, abstract = {Many legumes form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. An elevation of nitrogen fixation in such legumes would have significant implications for plant growth and biomass production in agriculture. To identify the genetic basis for the regulation of nitrogen fixation, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was conducted with recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross Miyakojima MG-20 × Gifu B-129 in the model legume Lotus japonicus. This population was inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099 and grown for 14 days in pods containing vermiculite. Phenotypic data were collected for acetylene reduction activity (ARA) per plant (ARA/P), ARA per nodule weight (ARA/NW), ARA per nodule number (ARA/NN), NN per plant, NW per plant, stem length (SL), SL without inoculation (SLbac-), shoot dry weight without inoculation (SWbac-), root length without inoculation (RLbac-), and root dry weight (RWbac-), and finally 34 QTLs were identified. ARA/P, ARA/NN, NW, and SL showed strong correlations and QTL co-localization, suggesting that several plant characteristics important for symbiotic nitrogen fixation are controlled by the same locus. QTLs for ARA/P, ARA/NN, NW, and SL, co-localized around marker TM0832 on chromosome 4, were also co-localized with previously reported QTLs for seed mass. This is the first report of QTL analysis for symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity traits.}, } @article {pmid22008946, year = {2011}, author = {Vesteg, M and Krajčovič, J}, title = {The falsifiability of the models for the origin of eukaryotes.}, journal = {Current genetics}, volume = {57}, number = {6}, pages = {367-390}, pmid = {22008946}, issn = {1432-0983}, mesh = {Archaea/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryotic Cells ; Models, Biological ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {One group of hypotheses suggests archaeal and/or bacterial ancestry of eukaryotes, while the second group suggests that the ancestor of eukaryotes was different. Especially, the followers of the first group of hypotheses should ask the following: is the replacement of archaeal lipids by bacterial (or vice versa) possible? Do the phylogenies support the origin of one domain from another (or the others)? Can we consider the nutritional mode to resolve the problems of cell origin(s)? Is there any evidence that the ancestor of eukaryotes was intron-free? Would the symbiosis of α-proteobacterial ancestors of mitochondria be successful in an asexual host? Is there evidence that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) or the last eukaryotic common ancestor was bounded by one membrane only? With respect to the current knowledge about cells and their molecular components, the answer to most of these questions is: No! A model for the origins of domains is briefly presented which cannot be assigned as false through the current scientific data, and is rather consistent with the assumption that eukaryotes are direct descendants of neither archaea nor bacteria. It is proposed that the domain Bacteria arose the first, and that the last common ancestor of Archaea and Eukarya was a pre-cell or a progenote similar to LUCA. The pre-karyote (the host entity for α-proteobacterial ancestors of mitochondria) was probably bounded by two membranes, possessed spliceosomal introns and spliceosomes, was sexual, and α-proteobacterial ancestors of mitochondria were most likely parasites of the pre-karyote periplasm (intermembrane space).}, } @article {pmid22008942, year = {2011}, author = {Hosoda, K and Yomo, T}, title = {Designing symbiosis.}, journal = {Bioengineered bugs}, volume = {2}, number = {6}, pages = {338-341}, doi = {10.4161/bbug.2.6.16801}, pmid = {22008942}, issn = {1949-1026}, mesh = {Adaptation, Biological ; Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Escherichia coli/genetics/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Isoleucine/genetics/*metabolism ; Leucine/genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Population Dynamics ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Organisms rarely live as isolated species and usually show symbiosis in nature. As natural selection is not simple in symbiosis, the establishment and development of symbiosis is still unclear. Insight can be gained by not only retracing the history of well-developed natural symbiotic relationships, but also by observing the development of nascent symbiosis. By using synthetic symbiosis composed of two previously noninteracting populations, we can observe the establishment and its development. We have recently simulated the establishment of nascent symbiosis using two genetically engineered auxotrophic strains of Escherichia coli. One strain, 10 h after mixing with the partner strain, began to oversupply metabolites essential for the partner's growth, eventually leading to continual growth of both strains. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the oversupply was accompanied by global metabolic changes. This study demonstrated that an organism has the potential to adapt to the first encounter with another organism to establish symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid22008903, year = {2012}, author = {Meca, G and Mañes, J and Font, G and Ruiz, MJ}, title = {Study of the potential toxicity of enniatins A, A(1), B, B(1) by evaluation of duodenal and colonic bioavailability applying an in vitro method by Caco-2 cells.}, journal = {Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology}, volume = {59}, number = {1}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.10.004}, pmid = {22008903}, issn = {1879-3150}, mesh = {Biological Availability ; Caco-2 Cells ; Colon/metabolism ; Depsipeptides/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; Duodenum/metabolism ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Mycotoxins/pharmacokinetics/*toxicity ; Risk Assessment ; Toxicity Tests/methods ; }, abstract = {The bioavailability of the minor Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (ENs) utilizing an in vitro method which allows the simulation of the small and large intestine tracts has been studied. This method, based on the application of the Caco-2 cells grown alone or in symbiosis with several strains characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract, has permitted to simulate the duodenal and colonic intestinal compartments, respectively. The duodenal bioavailability expressed as absorption value after 4h of exposure, ranged from 57.7 to 76.8% for EN A, from 68.8 to 70.2% for EN A(1), from 65.0 to 67.0% for EN B, and from 62.2 to 65.1% for EN B(1). Colonic bioavailability after 48h of incubation ranged from 17.3 to 33.3% for EN A, from 40.8 to 50.0% for EN A(1), from 47.7 to 55.0% for EN B, and from 52.4 to 57.4% for En B(1). The highest duodenal and colonic bioavailability was observed after Caco-2 cells exposed to EN A, ENs B and B(1), respectively.}, } @article {pmid22008413, year = {2012}, author = {Kowalczyk, M and Kolakowski, P and Radziwill-Bienkowska, JM and Szmytkowska, A and Bardowski, J}, title = {Cascade cell lyses and DNA extraction for identification of genes and microorganisms in kefir grains.}, journal = {The Journal of dairy research}, volume = {79}, number = {1}, pages = {26-32}, doi = {10.1017/S0022029911000677}, pmid = {22008413}, issn = {1469-7629}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Cultured Milk Products/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Yeasts/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Kefir is a dairy product popular in many countries in Central Europe, especially in Poland and other countries of Eastern and Northern Europe. This type of fermented milk is produced by a complex population of symbiotic bacteria and yeasts. In this work, conditions for DNA extraction, involving disruption of kefir grains and a cascade of cell lysis treatments, were established. Extraction procedure of total microbial DNA was carried out directly from fresh kefir grains. Using different lysis stringency conditions, five DNA pools were obtained. Genetic diversity of DNA pools were validated by RAPD analysis, which showed differences in patterns of amplified DNA fragments, indicating diverse microbial composition of all the analysed samples. These DNA pools were used for construction of genomic DNA libraries for sequencing. As much as 50% of the analysed nucleotide sequences showed homology to sequences from bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus genus. Several sequences were similar to sequences from bacteria representing Lactococcus, Oenococcus, Pediococcus, Streptococcus and Leuconostoc species. Among homologues of yeast proteins were those from Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition, several sequences were found to be homologous to sequences from bacteriophages.}, } @article {pmid22008093, year = {2011}, author = {Rotchell, JM and Ostrander, GK}, title = {Molecular toxicology of corals: a review.}, journal = {Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews}, volume = {14}, number = {8}, pages = {571-592}, doi = {10.1080/10937404.2011.615112}, pmid = {22008093}, issn = {1521-6950}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*drug effects/physiology ; Ecotoxicology/*methods ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Environmental Pollutants/*adverse effects/metabolism ; Fishes/genetics ; *Molecular Biology ; Pigmentation/drug effects ; Sea Anemones/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Signal Transduction ; Species Specificity ; Urochordata/genetics ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs worldwide have become increasingly affected by a phenomenon known as "coral bleaching," the loss of the symbiotic algae from the host corals. The underlying causes and mechanism(s) of coral bleaching are not well known, although several have been hypothesized. While coral bleaching has been a primary focus in recent years, corals respond differentially to numerous environmental stresses. The impacts of heat, hydrocarbons, salinity, sewage effluents, biocides, heavy metals, and ultraviolet light have been investigated in both laboratory experiments and field surveys among multiple coral species. Herein what is known regarding the biological impacts of such stresses on corals at the molecular level of organization is summarized. The objective is to focus attention at the early stages of biological effects in order to encourage and facilitate research that provide ways to understand how changes at the molecular level might elucidate processes likely occurring at the population level. This, in turn, should accelerate studies that may elucidate the cellular and physiological changes contributing to coral decline, rather than just document the continued global loss of coral diversity and abundance.}, } @article {pmid22007601, year = {2012}, author = {García-Calderón, M and Chiurazzi, M and Espuny, MR and Márquez, AJ}, title = {Photorespiratory metabolism and nodule function: behavior of Lotus japonicus mutants deficient in plastid glutamine synthetase.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {211-219}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-11-0200}, pmid = {22007601}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Carbohydrates/analysis ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cell Respiration ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/genetics/*metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; Lotus/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Mesorhizobium/*physiology ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phenotype ; Plastids/*enzymology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/genetics/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Two photorespiratory mutants of Lotus japonicus deficient in plastid glutamine synthetase (GS(2)) were examined for their capacity to establish symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium loti bacteria. Biosynthetic glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was reduced by around 40% in crude nodule extracts from mutant plants as compared with the wild type (WT). Western blot analysis further confirmed the lack of GS(2) polypeptide in mutant nodules. The decrease in GS activity affected the nodular carbon metabolism under high CO(2) (suppressed photorespiration) conditions, although mutant plants were able to form nodules and fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, when WT and mutant plants were transferred to an ordinary air atmosphere (photorespiratory active conditions) the nodulation process and nitrogen fixation were substantially affected, particularly in mutant plants. The number and fresh weight of mutant nodules as well as acetylene reduction activity showed a strong inhibition compared with WT plants. Optical microscopy studies from mutant plant nodules revealed the anticipated senescence phenotype linked to an important reduction in starch and sucrose levels. These results show that, in Lotus japonicus, photorespiration and, particularly, GS(2) deficiency result in profound limitations in carbon metabolism that affect the nodulation process and nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid22007600, year = {2012}, author = {Taté, R and Cermola, M and Riccio, A and Diez-Roux, G and Patriarca, EJ}, title = {Glutathione is required by Rhizobium etli for glutamine utilization and symbiotic effectiveness.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {331-340}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-11-0163}, pmid = {22007600}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Biological Transport/drug effects ; Buthionine Sulfoximine/pharmacology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Cell Respiration/drug effects ; Diamide/pharmacology ; Glutamine/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Glutathione/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phaseolus/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Rhizobium etli/drug effects/genetics/growth & development/*metabolism ; Seedlings/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Here, we provide genetic and biochemical evidence indicating that the ability of Rhizobium etli bacteria to efficiently catabolize glutamine depends on its ability to produce reduced glutathione (l-γ-glutamyl-l-cysteinylglycine [GSH]). We find that GSH-deficient strains, namely a gshB (GSH synthetase) and a gor (GSH reductase) mutant, can use different amino acids, including histidine, alanine, and asparagine but not glutamine, as sole source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen. Moreover, l-buthionine(S,R)-sulfoximine, a GSH synthesis inhibitor, or diamide that oxidizes GSH, induced the same phenotype in the wild-type strain. Among the steps required for its utilization, glutamine uptake, occurring through the two well-characterized carriers (Aap and Bra systems) but not glutamine degradation or respiration, was largely reduced in GSH-deficient strains. Furthermore, GSH-deficient mutants of R. etli showed a reduced symbiotic efficiency. Exogenous GSH was sufficient to rescue glutamine uptake or degradation ability, as well as the symbiotic effectiveness of GSH mutants. Our results suggest a previously unknown GSH-glutamine metabolic relationship in bacteria.}, } @article {pmid22005398, year = {2012}, author = {Salavati, A and Bushehri, AA and Taleei, A and Hiraga, S and Komatsu, S}, title = {A comparative proteomic analysis of the early response to compatible symbiotic bacteria in the roots of a supernodulating soybean variety.}, journal = {Journal of proteomics}, volume = {75}, number = {3}, pages = {819-832}, doi = {10.1016/j.jprot.2011.09.022}, pmid = {22005398}, issn = {1876-7737}, mesh = {Bacteria/*metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*physiology ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; *Proteomics ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {To reveal the processes involved in the early stages of symbiosis between soybean plants and root nodule bacteria, we conducted a proteomic analysis of the response to bacterial inoculation in the roots of supernodulating (En-b0-1) and non-nodulating (En1282) varieties, and their parental normal-nodulating variety (Enrei). A total of 56 proteins were identified from 48 differentially expressed protein spots in normal-nodulating variety after bacterial inoculation. Among 56 proteins, metabolism- and energy production-related proteins were upregulated in supernodulating and downregulated in non-nodulating varieties compared to normal-nodulating variety. The supernodulating and non-nodulating varieties responded oppositely to bacterial inoculation with respect to the expression of 11 proteins. Seven proteins of these proteins was downregulated in supernodulating varieties compared to non-nodulating variety, but expression of proteasome subunit alpha type 6, gamma glutamyl hydrolase, glucan endo-1,3-beta glucosidase, and nodulin 35 was upregulated. The expression of seven proteins mirrored the degree of nodule formation. At the transcript level, expression of stem 31kDa glycoprotein, leucine aminopeptidase, phosphoglucomutase, and peroxidase was downregulated in the supernodulating variety compared to the non-nodulating variety, and their expression in the normal-nodulating variety was intermediate. These results suggest that suppression of the autoregulatory mechanism in the supernodulating variety might be due to negative regulation of defense and signal transduction-related processes.}, } @article {pmid22004448, year = {2011}, author = {Acosta, JL and Eguiarte, LE and Santamaría, RI and Bustos, P and Vinuesa, P and Martínez-Romero, E and Dávila, G and González, V}, title = {Genomic lineages of Rhizobium etli revealed by the extent of nucleotide polymorphisms and low recombination.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {305}, pmid = {22004448}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Recombination, Genetic ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Most of the DNA variations found in bacterial species are in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), but there is some debate regarding how much of this variation comes from mutation versus recombination. The nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria Rhizobium etli is highly variable in both genomic structure and gene content. However, no previous report has provided a detailed genomic analysis of this variation at nucleotide level or the role of recombination in generating diversity in this bacterium. Here, we compared draft genomic sequences versus complete genomic sequences to obtain reliable measures of genetic diversity and then estimated the role of recombination in the generation of genomic diversity among Rhizobium etli.

RESULTS: We identified high levels of DNA polymorphism in R. etli, and found that there was an average divergence of 4% to 6% among the tested strain pairs. DNA recombination events were estimated to affect 3% to 10% of the genomic sample analyzed. In most instances, the nucleotide diversity (π) was greater in DNA segments with recombinant events than in non-recombinant segments. However, this degree of recombination was not sufficiently large to disrupt the congruence of the phylogenetic trees, and further evaluation of recombination in strains quartets indicated that the recombination levels in this species are proportionally low.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that R. etli is a species composed of separated lineages with low homologous recombination among the strains. Horizontal gene transfer, particularly via the symbiotic plasmid characteristic of this species, seems to play an important role in diversity but the lineages maintain their evolutionary cohesiveness.}, } @article {pmid22003078, year = {2011}, author = {Eckardt, NA}, title = {A symbiotic sugar transporter in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {3561}, pmid = {22003078}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Glomeromycota/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, } @article {pmid22003042, year = {2012}, author = {Zhang, YM and Li, Y and Chen, WF and Wang, ET and Sui, XH and Li, QQ and Zhang, YZ and Zhou, YG and Chen, WX}, title = {Bradyrhizobium huanghuaihaiense sp. nov., an effective symbiotic bacterium isolated from soybean (Glycine max L.) nodules.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1951-1957}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.034546-0}, pmid = {22003042}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Composition ; Bradyrhizobium/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phospholipids/analysis ; *Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In a survey of the biodiversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with soybean (Glycine max L.) in different sites of the Northern (Huang-Huai-Hai) Plain of China, ten strains were defined as representing a novel genomic species in the genus of Bradyrhizobium. They were distinguished from defined species in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer (IGS). In BOX-PCR, these strains presented two patterns that shared 94% similarity, demonstrating that they were a homogenous group with limited diversity. In phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene, IGS and housekeeping gene sequences, four representative strains formed a distant lineage within the genus Bradyrhizobium, which was consistent with the results of DNA-DNA hybridization. The strains of this novel group formed effective nodules with G. max, Glycine soja and Vigna unguiculata in cross-nodulation tests and harboured symbiotic genes (nodC and nifH) identical to those of reference strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Bradyrhizobium liaoningense and 'Bradyrhizobium daqingense' originating from soybean, implying that the novel group may have obtained these symbiotic genes by lateral gene transfer. In analyses of cellular fatty acids and phenotypic features, some differences were found between the novel group and related Bradyrhizobium species, demonstrating that the novel group is distinct phenotypically from other Bradyrhizobium species. Based upon the data obtained, these strains are proposed to represent a novel species, Bradyrhizobium huanghuaihaiense sp. nov., with CCBAU 23303(T) (= LMG 26136(T) = CGMCC 1.10948(T) = HAMBI 3180(T)) as the type strain. The DNA G+C content of strain CCBAU 23303(T) is 61.5 mol% (T(m)).}, } @article {pmid22003012, year = {2011}, author = {Rosic, NN and Dove, S}, title = {Mycosporine-like amino acids from coral dinoflagellates.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {24}, pages = {8478-8486}, pmid = {22003012}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Amino Acids/*metabolism ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*parasitology ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cyclohexanols/*metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/*metabolism ; Pigments, Biological/*metabolism ; Sunscreening Agents/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are one of the most important marine ecosystems, providing habitat for approximately a quarter of all marine organisms. Within the foundation of this ecosystem, reef-building corals form mutualistic symbioses with unicellular photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. Exposure to UV radiation (UVR) (280 to 400 nm) especially when combined with thermal stress has been recognized as an important abiotic factor leading to the loss of algal symbionts from coral tissue and/or a reduction in their pigment concentration and coral bleaching. UVR may damage biological macromolecules, increase the level of mutagenesis in cells, and destabilize the symbiosis between the coral host and their dinoflagellate symbionts. In nature, corals and other marine organisms are protected from harmful UVR through several important photoprotective mechanisms that include the synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). MAAs are small (<400-Da), colorless, water-soluble compounds made of a cyclohexenone or cyclohexenimine chromophore that is bound to an amino acid residue or its imino alcohol. These secondary metabolites are natural biological sunscreens characterized by a maximum absorbance in the UVA and UVB ranges of 310 to 362 nm. In addition to their photoprotective role, MAAs act as antioxidants scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressing singlet oxygen-induced damage. It has been proposed that MAAs are synthesized during the first part of the shikimate pathway, and recently, it has been suggested that they are synthesized in the pentose phosphate pathway. The shikimate pathway is not found in animals, but in plants and microbes, it connects the metabolism of carbohydrates to the biosynthesis of aromatic compounds. However, both the complete enzymatic pathway of MAA synthesis and the extent of their regulation by environmental conditions are not known. This minireview discusses the current knowledge of MAA synthesis, illustrates the diversity of MAA functions, and opens new perspectives for future applications of MAAs in biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid22002838, year = {2011}, author = {Chen, Z and Cui, Q and Liang, C and Sun, L and Tian, J and Liao, H}, title = {Identification of differentially expressed proteins in soybean nodules under phosphorus deficiency through proteomic analysis.}, journal = {Proteomics}, volume = {11}, number = {24}, pages = {4648-4659}, doi = {10.1002/pmic.201100231}, pmid = {22002838}, issn = {1615-9861}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Phosphorus/*deficiency ; Proteomics/methods ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybean Proteins/*analysis/genetics/metabolism ; Soybeans/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is a high-phosphorus demand process. Proteomic analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed proteins in soybean nodules under phosphate starvation, and qRT-PCR was subsequently conducted to examine the expression patterns of the genes encoding the identified proteins. There were 44 phosphate-starvation responsive proteins identified from soybean nodules. Among them, 14 plant and 3 rhizobial proteins were up-regulated, whereas 13 plant and 14 rhizobial proteins were down-regulated by phosphate starvation. The qRT-PCR assays verified that gene expression correlated with 11 of the 14 up-regulated proteins from plants, but only 4 of 13 down-regulated proteins were correlated to the expression of the corresponding genes, suggesting that most up-regulated proteins may be controlled at the transcriptional level, whereas down-regulated proteins were controlled at the post-transcriptional level. Furthermore, a group of genes exhibited differential responses to phosphate starvation in nodules versus roots, suggesting that different adaptive responses might occur between roots and nodules. To our best knowledge, this is the first study to reveal differential protein profiles of nodules responding to phosphate starvation through proteomic analysis, which could result in a relatively comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms through which soybean nodules adapt to phosphorus stress.}, } @article {pmid22001189, year = {2012}, author = {Yuyama, I and Harii, S and Hidaka, M}, title = {Algal symbiont type affects gene expression in juveniles of the coral Acropora tenuis exposed to thermal stress.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {76}, number = {}, pages = {41-47}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.09.004}, pmid = {22001189}, issn = {1879-0291}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*parasitology ; Dinoflagellida/*physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; *Hot Temperature ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Reef-building corals harbor symbiotic dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium spp., which are currently divided into several clades. The responses of corals associated with different Symbiodinium clades to thermal stress are not well understood, especially at a gene expression level. Juveniles of the coral Acropora tenuis inoculated with different algal types (clade A or D) were exposed to thermal stress and the expression levels of four putative stress-responsive genes, including genes coding green and red fluorescent proteins, an oxidative stress-responsive protein, and an ascorbic acid transporter, were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression levels of the four genes decreased at high temperatures if juveniles were associated with clade A symbionts but increased if the symbionts were in clade D. The intensity of green fluorescence increased with temperature in clade D symbionts harboring juveniles, but not in juveniles associated with clade A symbionts. The present results suggest that genotypes of endosymbiotic algae affect the thermal stress responses of the coral juveniles.}, } @article {pmid22001059, year = {2011}, author = {Lou, J and Sun, P and Guo, M and Wu, G and Song, Y}, title = {Simultaneous sludge reduction and nutrient removal (SSRNR) with interaction between Tubificidae and microorganisms: a full-scale study.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {102}, number = {24}, pages = {11132-11136}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2011.09.048}, pmid = {22001059}, issn = {1873-2976}, mesh = {Ammonia/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacteria/*metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Oligochaeta/growth & development/*metabolism ; Phosphorus/isolation & purification ; Reproduction/physiology ; Sewage/*microbiology/*parasitology ; Volatilization ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purification ; Water Pollution ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic ecosystem between Tubificidae and microorganisms was established at a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). In this ecosystem Tubificidae were inoculated, and then adhered to the outer layers of carrier materials in an oxidation tank. During the long-term treatment of sewage volumes of 20,000 m(3)d(-1), the excess sludge production rate was reduced from 0.21 to 0.051 kg m(-3) and sludge settleability was significantly improved. When the influent concentrations of COD, NH(4)(+)-N, PO(4)(-)-P, and SS were in the ranges of 130.0-459.0 mg L(-1), 14.2-27.5 mg L(-1), 1.6-7.0 mg L(-1), and 60.0-466.0 mg L(-1), respectively, the COD and SS removal efficiency was increased by 8.7% and 13.6% within the symbiotic system compared to the control without Tubificidae. In addition, NH(4)(+)-N and phosphorus removal efficiency can also be improved. The results showed that both sludge reduction and nutrient removal were enhanced simultaneously significantly within the system utilizing the symbiotic interactions of Tubificidae and microorganisms.}, } @article {pmid21998678, year = {2011}, author = {Schleicher, TR and Nyholm, SV}, title = {Characterizing the host and symbiont proteomes in the association between the Bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the bacterium, Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {e25649}, pmid = {21998678}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*metabolism/physiology ; Animals ; Decapodiformes/cytology/immunology/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Immunity, Innate ; Proteome/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Proteomics/*methods ; Quorum Sensing ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The beneficial symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and the bioluminescent bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, provides a unique opportunity to study host/microbe interactions within a natural microenvironment. Colonization of the squid light organ by V. fischeri begins a lifelong association with a regulated daily rhythm. Each morning the host expels an exudate from the light organ consisting of 95% of the symbiont population in addition to host hemocytes and shed epithelial cells. We analyzed the host and symbiont proteomes of adult squid exudate and surrounding light organ epithelial tissue using 1D- and 2D-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) in an effort to understand the contribution of both partners to the maintenance of this association. These proteomic analyses putatively identified 1581 unique proteins, 870 proteins originating from the symbiont and 711 from the host. Identified host proteins indicate a role of the innate immune system and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in regulating the symbiosis. Symbiont proteins detected enhance our understanding of the role of quorum sensing, two-component signaling, motility, and detoxification of ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) inside the light organ. This study offers the first proteomic analysis of the symbiotic microenvironment of the adult light organ and provides the identification of proteins important to the regulation of this beneficial association.}, } @article {pmid21998396, year = {2011}, author = {Vaishnava, S and Yamamoto, M and Severson, KM and Ruhn, KA and Yu, X and Koren, O and Ley, R and Wakeland, EK and Hooper, LV}, title = {The antibacterial lectin RegIIIgamma promotes the spatial segregation of microbiota and host in the intestine.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {334}, number = {6053}, pages = {255-258}, pmid = {21998396}, issn = {1095-9203}, support = {/HHMI_/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; R01 DK070855/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK070855-06/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Load ; Gram-Negative Bacteria/immunology/*physiology ; Gram-Positive Bacteria/immunology/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/*microbiology ; Intestine, Small/immunology/*microbiology ; Lectins, C-Type/physiology ; *Metagenome ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics/metabolism ; Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins ; Proteins/*metabolism ; Symbiosis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology ; }, abstract = {The mammalian intestine is home to ~100 trillion bacteria that perform important metabolic functions for their hosts. The proximity of vast numbers of bacteria to host intestinal tissues raises the question of how symbiotic host-bacterial relationships are maintained without eliciting potentially harmful immune responses. Here, we show that RegIIIγ, a secreted antibacterial lectin, is essential for maintaining a ~50-micrometer zone that physically separates the microbiota from the small intestinal epithelial surface. Loss of host-bacterial segregation in RegIIIγ(-/-) mice was coupled to increased bacterial colonization of the intestinal epithelial surface and enhanced activation of intestinal adaptive immune responses by the microbiota. Together, our findings reveal that RegIIIγ is a fundamental immune mechanism that promotes host-bacterial mutualism by regulating the spatial relationships between microbiota and host.}, } @article {pmid21995799, year = {2011}, author = {Bonaldi, K and Gargani, D and Prin, Y and Fardoux, J and Gully, D and Nouwen, N and Goormachtig, S and Giraud, E}, title = {Nodulation of Aeschynomene afraspera and A. indica by photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium Sp. strain ORS285: the nod-dependent versus the nod-independent symbiotic interaction.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1359-1371}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-11-0093}, pmid = {21995799}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Dalbergia/*microbiology/physiology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Here, we present a comparative analysis of the nodulation processes of Aeschynomene afraspera and A. indica that differ in their requirement for Nod factors (NF) to initiate symbiosis with photosynthetic bradyrhizobia. The infection process and nodule organogenesis was examined using the green fluorescent protein-labeled Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 able to nodulate both species. In A. indica, when the NF-independent strategy is used, bacteria penetrated the root intercellularly between axillary root hairs and invaded the subepidermal cortical cells by invagination of the host cell wall. Whereas the first infected cortical cells collapsed, the infected ones immediately beneath kept their integrity and divided repeatedly to form the nodule. In A. afraspera, when the NF-dependent strategy is used, bacteria entered the plant through epidermal fissures generated by the emergence of lateral roots and spread deeper intercellularly in the root cortex, infecting some cortical cells during their progression. Whereas the infected cells of the lower cortical layers divided rapidly to form the nodule, the infected cells of the upper layers gave rise to an outgrowth in which the bacteria remained enclosed in large tubular structures. Together, two distinct modes of infection and nodule organogenesis coexist in Aeschynomene legumes, each displaying original features.}, } @article {pmid21995798, year = {2011}, author = {Kereszt, A and Mergaert, P and Kondorosi, E}, title = {Bacteroid development in legume nodules: evolution of mutual benefit or of sacrificial victims?.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1300-1309}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-11-0152}, pmid = {21995798}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bacteria/*growth & development ; Biological Evolution ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Symbiosomes are organelle-like structures in the cytoplasm of legume nodule cells which are composed of the special, nitrogen-fixing forms of rhizobia called bacteroids, the peribacteroid space and the enveloping peribacteroid membrane of plant origin. The formation of these symbiosomes requires a complex and coordinated interaction between the two partners during all stages of nodule development as any failure in the differentiation of either symbiotic partner, the bacterium or the plant cell prevents the subsequent transcriptional and developmental steps resulting in early senescence of the nodules. Certain legume hosts impose irreversible terminal differentiation onto bacteria. In the inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) of legumes, host dominance is achieved by nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides that resemble defensin-like antimicrobial peptides, the known effector molecules of animal and plant innate immunity. This article provides an overview on the bacteroid and symbiosome development including the terminal differentiation of bacteria in IRLC legumes as well as the bacterial and plant genes and proteins participating in these processes.}, } @article {pmid21995797, year = {2011}, author = {Yang, SY and Paszkowski, U}, title = {Phosphate import at the arbuscule: just a nutrient?.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1296-1299}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-11-0151}, pmid = {21995797}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Ion Transport ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phosphates/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Central to the mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is the arbuscule, the site where symbiotic phosphate is delivered. Initial investigations in legumes have led to the exciting observation that symbiotic phosphate uptake not only enhances plant growth but also regulates arbuscule dynamics and is, furthermore, required for maintenance of the symbiosis. This review evaluates the possible role of the phosphate ion, not only as a nutrient but also as a signal that is necessary for reprogramming the host cortex cell for symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid21995796, year = {2011}, author = {Doyle, JJ}, title = {Phylogenetic perspectives on the origins of nodulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1289-1295}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-11-0114}, pmid = {21995796}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Evolution, Molecular ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Phylogeny ; Polyploidy ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Recent refinements to the phylogeny of rosid angiosperms support the conclusion that nodulation has evolved several times in the so-called N(2)-fixing clade (NFC), and provide dates for these origins. The hypothesized predisposition that enabled the evolution of nodulation occurred approximately 100 million years ago (MYA), was retained in the various lineages that radiated rapidly shortly thereafter, and was functional in its non-nodulation role for at least an additional 30 million years in each nodulating lineage. Legumes radiated rapidly shortly after their origin approximately 60 MYA, and nodulation most likely evolved several times during this radiation. The major lineages of papilionoid legumes diverged close to the time of origin of nodulation, accounting for the diversity of nodule biology in the group. Nodulation symbioses exemplify the concept of "deep homology," sharing various homologous components across nonhomologous origins of nodulation, largely due to recruitment from existing functions, notably the older arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Although polyploidy may have played a role in the origin of papilionoid legume nodules, it did not do so in other legumes, nor did the prerosid whole-genome triplication lead directly to the predisposition of nodulation.}, } @article {pmid21995765, year = {2012}, author = {Xie, F and Williams, A and Edwards, A and Downie, JA}, title = {A plant arabinogalactan-like glycoprotein promotes a novel type of polar surface attachment by Rhizobium leguminosarum.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {250-258}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-11-0211}, pmid = {21995765}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {E017045/1//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology ; Arabidopsis/*chemistry/microbiology ; Bacterial Adhesion/genetics/physiology ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Carbohydrates/analysis ; Fabaceae/*chemistry/microbiology ; Galactans/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Glass ; Glycoproteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Peas/*chemistry/microbiology ; Plant Exudates/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Plant Proteins/genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Plant Roots/chemistry/microbiology ; Plasmids ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/*growth & development/physiology ; Seedlings/chemistry/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Triticum/*chemistry/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae can attach to the roots of legume and non-legume plants. We wanted to determine whether root exudates could affect in vitro surface attachment in a confocal microscopy assay. Root exudate from pea, other legumes, wheat, and Arabidopsis induced R. leguminosarum bv. viciae to attach end-on (in a polar manner) to glass in hexagonal close-packed arrays, rather than attaching along their long axis. This did not involve a reorientation but was probably due to altered growth. The polar attachment involves a novel bacterial component because it occurred in mutants lacking a symbiosis plasmid (and hence nodulation genes) and polar glucomannan. The major surface (acidic) exopolysaccharide was required, and mutations affecting exported proteins and flagella delayed but did not block polar attachment. The polar attachment activity was purified as a high molecular weight fraction from pea root exudate and is an arabinogalactan protein (AGP) based on its carbohydrate content, reactivity with AGP-specific monoclonal antibodies and Yariv reagent, and sensitivity to enzymes that degrade proteins and carbohydrates. We propose that this novel mode of AGP-induced attachment may be important for growth of these bacteria on the roots of both legumes and non-legumes.}, } @article {pmid21995763, year = {2012}, author = {Zamioudis, C and Pieterse, CM}, title = {Modulation of host immunity by beneficial microbes.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {2}, pages = {139-150}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-11-0179}, pmid = {21995763}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {269072/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; }, mesh = {Fungi/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Plant Immunity ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Plants/*immunology/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In nature, plants abundantly form beneficial associations with soilborne microbes that are important for plant survival and, as such, affect plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Classical examples of symbiotic microbes are mycorrhizal fungi that aid in the uptake of water and minerals, and Rhizobium bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant. Several other types of beneficial soilborne microbes, such as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and fungi with biological control activity, can stimulate plant growth by directly suppressing deleterious soilborne pathogens or by priming aboveground plant parts for enhanced defense against foliar pathogens or insect herbivores. The establishment of beneficial associations requires mutual recognition and substantial coordination of plant and microbial responses. A growing body of evidence suggests that beneficial microbes are initially recognized as potential invaders, after which an immune response is triggered, whereas, at later stages of the interaction, mutualists are able to short-circuit plant defense responses to enable successful colonization of host roots. Here, we review our current understanding of how symbiotic and nonsymbiotic beneficial soil microbes modulate the plant immune system and discuss the role of local and systemic defense responses in establishing the delicate balance between the two partners.}, } @article {pmid21994724, year = {2011}, author = {Roossinck, MJ}, title = {Changes in population dynamics in mutualistic versus pathogenic viruses.}, journal = {Viruses}, volume = {3}, number = {1}, pages = {12-19}, pmid = {21994724}, issn = {1999-4915}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/virology ; Bacteriophages/pathogenicity ; Fungi/virology ; Humans ; Insecta/virology ; Mammals/virology ; Plants/virology ; RNA Nucleotidyltransferases/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Viruses/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although generally regarded as pathogens, viruses can also be mutualists. A number of examples of extreme mutualism (i.e., symbiogenesis) have been well studied. Other examples of mutualism are less common, but this is likely because viruses have rarely been thought of as having any beneficial effects on their hosts. The effect of mutualism on the population dynamics of viruses is a topic that has not been addressed experimentally. However, the potential for understanding mutualism and how a virus might become a mutualist may be elucidated by understanding these dynamics.}, } @article {pmid21993397, year = {2012}, author = {Guri, M and Durand, L and Cueff-Gauchard, V and Zbinden, M and Crassous, P and Shillito, B and Cambon-Bonavita, MA}, title = {Acquisition of epibiotic bacteria along the life cycle of the hydrothermal shrimp Rimicaris exoculata.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {597-609}, pmid = {21993397}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Decapoda/growth & development/*microbiology ; Epsilonproteobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*physiology ; Gills/microbiology ; Hydrothermal Vents ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Life Cycle Stages ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The caridean shrimp Rimicaris exoculata dominates the fauna at several Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vent sites. This shrimp has an enlarged gill chamber, harboring a dense ectosymbiotic community of chemoautotrophic bacteria associated with mineral oxide deposits. Until now, their acquisition is not fully understood. At three hydrothermal vent sites, we analyzed the epibionts diversity at different moult stages and also in the first stages of the shrimp life (eggs, hatched eggs (with larvae) and juveniles). Hatched eggs associated with young larvae were collected for the first time directly from gravid females at the Logachev vent site during the Serpentine cruise. An approach using 16S rRNA clone libraries, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescent in situ hybridization was used. Molecular results and microscope observations indicated a switch in the composition of the bacterial community between early R. exoculata life cycle stage (egg libraries dominated by the Gammaproteobacteria) and later stages (juvenile/adult libraries dominated by the Epsilonproteobacteria). We hypothesized that the epibiotic phylotype composition could vary according to the life stage of the shrimp. Our results confirmed the occurrence of a symbiosis with Gammaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria, but more complex than previously assumed. We revealed the presence of active type-I methanotrophic bacteria colonizing the cephalothorax of shrimps from the Rainbow site. They were also present on the eggs from the Logachev site. This could be the first 'epibiotic' association between methanotrophic bacteria and hydrothermal vent crustacean. We discuss possible transmission pathways for epibionts linked to the shrimp life cycle.}, } @article {pmid21992506, year = {2011}, author = {Miyashiro, T and Klein, W and Oehlert, D and Cao, X and Schwartzman, J and Ruby, EG}, title = {The N-acetyl-D-glucosamine repressor NagC of Vibrio fischeri facilitates colonization of Euprymna scolopes.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {4}, pages = {894-903}, pmid = {21992506}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {K99 GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K99 GM097032-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1K99GM097032/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM084620-03/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F32 GM084620/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 5F32GM084620/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Acetylglucosamine/*biosynthesis ; Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Load ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence Factors/genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {To successfully colonize and persist within a host niche, bacteria must properly regulate their gene expression profiles. The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri establishes a mutualistic symbiosis within the light organ of the Hawaiian squid, Euprymna scolopes. Here, we show that the repressor NagC of V. fischeri directly regulates several chitin- and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-utilization genes that are co-regulated during productive symbiosis. We also demonstrate that repression by NagC is relieved in the presence of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine-6-phosphate, the intracellular form of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. We find that gene repression by NagC is critical for efficient colonization of E. scolopes. Further, our study shows that NagC regulates genes that affect the normal dynamics of host colonization.}, } @article {pmid21991309, year = {2011}, author = {James, PM and Coltman, DW and Murray, BW and Hamelin, RC and Sperling, FA}, title = {Spatial genetic structure of a symbiotic beetle-fungal system: toward multi-taxa integrated landscape genetics.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {e25359}, pmid = {21991309}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Canada ; Coleoptera/*genetics/microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Fungi/*genetics ; Gene Frequency/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Geography ; Models, Genetic ; Principal Component Analysis ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Spatial patterns of genetic variation in interacting species can identify shared features that are important to gene flow and can elucidate co-evolutionary relationships. We assessed concordance in spatial genetic variation between the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and one of its fungal symbionts, Grosmanniaclavigera, in western Canada using neutral genetic markers. We examined how spatial heterogeneity affects genetic variation within beetles and fungi and developed a novel integrated landscape genetics approach to assess reciprocal genetic influences between species using constrained ordination. We also compared landscape genetic models built using Euclidean distances based on allele frequencies to traditional pair-wise Fst. Both beetles and fungi exhibited moderate levels of genetic structure over the total study area, low levels of structure in the south, and more pronounced fungal structure in the north. Beetle genetic variation was associated with geographic location while that of the fungus was not. Pinevolume and climate explained beetle genetic variation in the northern region of recent outbreak expansion. Reciprocal genetic relationships were only detectedin the south where there has been alonger history of beetle infestations. The Euclidean distance and Fst-based analyses resulted in similar models in the north and over the entire study area, but differences between methods in the south suggest that genetic distances measures should be selected based on ecological and evolutionary contexts. The integrated landscape genetics framework we present is powerful, general, and can be applied to other systems to quantify the biotic and abiotic determinants of spatial genetic variation within and among taxa.}, } @article {pmid21990963, year = {2011}, author = {Haag, AF and Baloban, M and Sani, M and Kerscher, B and Pierre, O and Farkas, A and Longhi, R and Boncompagni, E and Hérouart, D and Dall'angelo, S and Kondorosi, E and Zanda, M and Mergaert, P and Ferguson, GP}, title = {Protection of Sinorhizobium against host cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides is critical for symbiosis.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e1001169}, pmid = {21990963}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cysteine/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*microbiology ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/cytology/*drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti differentiates into persisting, nitrogen-fixing bacteroids within root nodules of the legume Medicago truncatula. Nodule-specific cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides (NCR AMPs) and the bacterial BacA protein are essential for bacteroid development. However, the bacterial factors central to the NCR AMP response and the in planta role of BacA are unknown. We investigated the hypothesis that BacA is critical for the bacterial response towards NCR AMPs. We found that BacA was not essential for NCR AMPs to induce features of S. meliloti bacteroids in vitro. Instead, BacA was critical to reduce the amount of NCR AMP-induced membrane permeabilization and bacterial killing in vitro. Within M. truncatula, both wild-type and BacA-deficient mutant bacteria were challenged with NCR AMPs, but this resulted in persistence of the wild-type bacteria and rapid cell death of the mutant bacteria. In contrast, BacA was dispensable for bacterial survival in an M. truncatula dnf1 mutant defective in NCR AMP transport to the bacterial compartment. Therefore, BacA is critical for the legume symbiosis by protecting S. meliloti against the bactericidal effects of NCR AMPs. Host AMPs are ubiquitous in nature and BacA proteins are essential for other chronic host infections by symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. Hence, our findings suggest that BacA-mediated protection of bacteria against host AMPs is a critical stage in the establishment of different prolonged host infections.}, } @article {pmid21990960, year = {2011}, author = {Meadows, R}, title = {How symbiotic bacteria survive host defenses.}, journal = {PLoS biology}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {e1001164}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.1001164}, pmid = {21990960}, issn = {1545-7885}, mesh = {Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*pharmacology ; Cysteine/*metabolism ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/*drug effects ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*drug effects/*physiology ; Symbiosis/*drug effects ; }, } @article {pmid21989710, year = {2012}, author = {Bâ, AM and Duponnois, R and Moyersoen, B and Diédhiou, AG}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis of tropical African trees.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {1-29}, pmid = {21989710}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Africa ; Basidiomycota/genetics/physiology ; Ecology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Fungi/genetics/physiology ; Genetic Variation/*genetics ; Host Specificity/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology ; Seeds/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Trees/*microbiology/physiology ; Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {The diversity, ecology and function of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi and ectomycorrhizas (ECMs) on tropical African tree species are reviewed here. While ECMs are the most frequent mycorrhizal type in temperate and boreal forests, they concern an economically and ecologically important minority of plants in African tropical forests. In these African tropical forests, ECMs are found mainly on caesalpionioid legumes, Sarcolaenaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Asterpeiaceae, Phyllantaceae, Sapotaceae, Papilionoideae, Gnetaceae and Proteaceae, and distributed in open, gallery and rainforests of the Guineo-Congolian basin, Zambezian Miombo woodlands of East and South-Central Africa and Sudanian savannah woodlands of the sub-sahara. Overall, EM status was confirmed in 93 (26%) among 354 tree species belonging to EM genera. In addition, 195 fungal taxa were identified using morphological descriptions and sequencing of the ML5/ML6 fragment of sporocarps and ECMs from West Africa. Analyses of the belowground EM fungal communities mostly based on fungal internal transcribed spacer sequences of ECMs from Continental Africa, Madagascar and the Seychelles also revealed more than 350 putative species of EM fungi belonging mainly to 18 phylogenetic lineages. As in temperate forests, the /russula-lactarius and /tomentella-thelephora lineages dominated EM fungal flora in tropical Africa. A low level of host preference and dominance of multi-host fungal taxa on different African adult tree species and their seedlings were revealed, suggesting a potential for the formation of common ectomycorrhizal networks. Moreover, the EM inoculum potential in terms of types and density of propagules (spores, sclerotia, EM root fragments and fragments of mycelia strands) in the soil allowed opportunistic root colonisation as well as long-term survival in the soil during the dry season. These are important characteristics when choosing an EM fungus for field application. In this respect, Thelephoroid fungal sp. XM002, an efficient and competitive broad host range EM fungus, possessed these characteristics and appeared to be a good candidate for artificial inoculation of Caesalps and Phyllanthaceae seedlings in nurseries. However, further efforts should be made to assess the genetic and functional diversity of African EM fungi as well as the EM status of unstudied plant species and to strengthen the use of efficient and competitive EM fungi to improve production of ecologically and economically important African multipurpose trees in plantations.}, } @article {pmid21988476, year = {2012}, author = {Paleos, CM and Tsiourvas, D and Sideratou, Z}, title = {Preparation of multicompartment lipid-based systems based on vesicle interactions.}, journal = {Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids}, volume = {28}, number = {5}, pages = {2337-2346}, doi = {10.1021/la2027187}, pmid = {21988476}, issn = {1520-5827}, mesh = {Drug Carriers/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; Eukaryotic Cells/chemistry/cytology ; Lipid Bilayers/*chemical synthesis/chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; }, abstract = {Various strategies for constructing artificial multicompartment vesicular systems, which primitively mimic the structure of eukaryotic cells, are presented. These model systems are appropriate for addressing several issues such as the understanding of cell processes, the development of nanoreactors and novel multicompartment delivery systems for specific drug applications, the transport through bilayer membranes, and also hypothesizing on the evolution of eukaryotic cells as originating from the symbiotic association of prokaryotes.}, } @article {pmid21987369, year = {2012}, author = {Schroeder, V and Gange, AC and Stead, AD}, title = {Underground networking: the potential for improving yield and quality of pot-grown herbs with mycorrhizas.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {92}, number = {2}, pages = {203-206}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.4648}, pmid = {21987369}, issn = {1097-0010}, mesh = {Agriculture ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Plant Development ; Plants/*microbiology ; United Kingdom ; }, abstract = {With constant pressure on herb growers to perform to a continuous high standard, finding new ways to improve herb quality and or quantity are gaining importance, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) presenting one possible solution. Viviane Schroeder, Alan Gange and Anthony Stead discuss the introduction of AMF to the herb growth cycle and discuss the benefits and costs that their symbiosis with plants bring to modern agriculture.}, } @article {pmid21986799, year = {2012}, author = {Benucci, GM and Bonito, G and Baciarelli Falini, L and Bencivenga, M}, title = {Mycorrhization of pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) with commercial truffle species: Tuber aestivum Vittad. and Tuber borchii Vittad.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {383-392}, pmid = {21986799}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Ascomycota/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Carya/anatomy & histology/*microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Seedlings/anatomy & histology/growth & development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is an economically important nut tree native to the Mississippi basin and cultivated worldwide. In North America, species of truffles are regularly found fruiting in productive pecan orchards and the truffle genus Tuber appears to be abundant in pecan ectomycorrhizal (EM) communities. As an initial step to determine the feasibility of co-cropping European truffle species with pecan, we evaluated whether mycorrhizae of highly esteemed European truffle species (Tuber aestivum Vittad. T. borchii and T. macrosporum) could be formed on pecan seedlings. Seedlings were inoculated with truffle spores and were grown in a greenhouse for 10 months. Levels of EM colonization were estimated visually and quantified by counting EM tips. Ectomycorrhizae were identified both morphologically and molecularly with species-specific amplification and by sequencing of the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Both T. borchii and T. aestivum spores produced well-formed ectomycorrhizae on pecan seedlings with average root colonization levels of about 62% and 42%, respectively, whereas no ectomycorrhizae of T. macrosporum were formed. The anatomy and morphology of these truffle ectomycorrhizae on pecan was characterized. The co-cropping of T. aestivum and T. borchii may hold promise as an additional stream of revenue to pecan growers, although, further studies are needed to assess whether this symbiosis is maintained after planting in the field and whether truffle production can be supported by this host species.}, } @article {pmid21985276, year = {2011}, author = {Olivares, JE and Díaz-Camino, C and Estrada-Navarrete, G and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Rodríguez-Kessler, M and Zamudio, FZ and Olamendi-Portugal, T and Márquez, Y and Servín, LE and Sánchez, F}, title = {Nodulin 41, a novel late nodulin of common bean with peptidase activity.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {134}, pmid = {21985276}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/genetics/*metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phaseolus/*enzymology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/*enzymology/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The legume-rhizobium symbiosis requires the formation of root nodules, specialized organs where the nitrogen fixation process takes place. Nodule development is accompanied by the induction of specific plant genes, referred to as nodulin genes. Important roles in processes such as morphogenesis and metabolism have been assigned to nodulins during the legume-rhizobium symbiosis.

RESULTS: Here we report the purification and biochemical characterization of a novel nodulin from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root nodules. This protein, called nodulin 41 (PvNod41) was purified through affinity chromatography and was partially sequenced. A genomic clone was then isolated via PCR amplification. PvNod41 is an atypical aspartyl peptidase of the A1B subfamily with an optimal hydrolytic activity at pH 4.5. We demonstrate that PvNod41 has limited peptidase activity against casein and is partially inhibited by pepstatin A. A PvNod41-specific antiserum was used to assess the expression pattern of this protein in different plant organs and throughout root nodule development, revealing that PvNod41 is found only in bean root nodules and is confined to uninfected cells.

CONCLUSIONS: To date, only a small number of atypical aspartyl peptidases have been characterized in plants. Their particular spatial and temporal expression patterns along with their unique enzymatic properties imply a high degree of functional specialization. Indeed, PvNod41 is closely related to CDR1, an Arabidopsis thaliana extracellular aspartyl protease involved in defense against bacterial pathogens. PvNod41's biochemical properties and specific cell-type localization, in uninfected cells of the common bean root nodule, strongly suggest that this aspartyl peptidase has a key role in plant defense during the symbiotic interaction.}, } @article {pmid21984348, year = {2012}, author = {Jaiswal, SK and Anand, A and Dhar, B and Vaishampayan, A}, title = {Genotypic characterization of phage-typed indigenous soybean bradyrhizobia and their host range symbiotic effectiveness.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {116-126}, pmid = {21984348}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Bacteriophage Typing ; Base Sequence ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology/virology ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; *Host Specificity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Soybeans/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Analysis of genetic diversity among indigenous rhizobia and its symbiotic effectiveness with soybean cultivar is important for development of knowledge about rhizobial ecology. In India, little is known about the genetic resources and diversity of rhizobia nodulating soybean. Indigenous bradyrhizobia isolated from root nodules of soybean plants, collected from traditional cultivating regions of two states (Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh) of India, were screened for bacteriophage sensitivity to identify successful broad host range symbiotic effectivity. Of 172 rhizobial isolates, 91 showed sensitivities to eight lytic phages and form ten groups on the basis of sensitivity patterns. The genetic diversity of 23 isolates belonging to different phage groups was assessed along with that of strains USDA123 and USDA94 by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA, intergenic spacer (IGS) (16S-23S rDNA), and DnaK regions. RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA formed 5 groups, whereas 19 and 9 groups were revealed by IGS and the DnaK genes, respectively. The IGS regions showed many amplified polymorphic bands. Nine isolates which revealed high RFLP polymorphism in the abovementioned regions (16S rRNA, IGS, DnaK) were used for 16S rRNA sequence analyses. The results indicate that taxonomically, all isolates were related to Rhizobium etli, Bradyrhizobium spp., and Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense. The doubling time of isolates varied from 9 h (MPSR155) to 16.2 h (MPSR068) in YM broth. Five isolates which did not show cross infectivity with isolated phage strains were studied for symbiotic efficiency. All isolates showed broad host range symbiotic effectiveness forming effective nodules on Vigna mungo, Vigna radiata, Vigna unguiculata, and Cajanus cajan. The present study provides information on genetic diversity and host range symbiosis of indigenous soybean rhizobia typed by different phages.}, } @article {pmid21982722, year = {2012}, author = {Dodd, IC and Ruiz-Lozano, JM}, title = {Microbial enhancement of crop resource use efficiency.}, journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology}, volume = {23}, number = {2}, pages = {236-242}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2011.09.005}, pmid = {21982722}, issn = {1879-0429}, support = {//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Crops, Agricultural/metabolism/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Water/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Naturally occurring soil microbes may be used as inoculants to maintain crop yields despite decreased resource (water and nutrient) inputs. Plant symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi alter root aquaporin gene expression and greatly increase the surface area over which plant root systems take up water and nutrients. Soil bacteria on the root surface alter root phytohormone status thereby increasing growth, and can make nutrients more available to the plant. Combining different classes of soil organism within one inoculant can potentially take advantage of multiple plant growth-promoting mechanisms, but biological interactions between inoculant constituents and the plant are difficult to predict. Whether the yield benefits of such inocula allow modified nutrient and water management continues to challenge crop biotechnologists.}, } @article {pmid21982589, year = {2011}, author = {Hawkins, AK and O'Doherty, KC}, title = {"Who owns your poop?": insights regarding the intersection of human microbiome research and the ELSI aspects of biobanking and related studies.}, journal = {BMC medical genomics}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {72}, pmid = {21982589}, issn = {1755-8794}, support = {94314/CAPMC/CIHR/Canada ; 193095/CAPMC/CIHR/Canada ; }, mesh = {*Biological Specimen Banks/economics/ethics/legislation & jurisprudence ; Consent Forms/economics/ethics/legislation & jurisprudence ; Ethics, Research ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; *Metagenome ; Ownership/economics/ethics/legislation & jurisprudence ; Privacy/legislation & jurisprudence ; Research/economics/legislation & jurisprudence ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: While the social, ethical, and legal implications of biobanking and large scale data sharing are already complicated enough, they may be further compounded by research on the human microbiome.

DISCUSSION: The human microbiome is the entire complement of microorganisms that exists in and on every human body. Currently most biobanks focus primarily on human tissues and/or associated data (e.g. health records). Accordingly, most discussions in the social sciences and humanities on these issues are focused (appropriately so) on the implications of biobanks and sharing data derived from human tissues. However, rapid advances in human microbiome research involve collecting large amounts of data on microorganisms that exist in symbiotic relationships with the human body. Currently it is not clear whether these microorganisms should be considered part of or separate from the human body. Arguments can be made for both, but ultimately it seems that the dichotomy of human versus non-human and self versus non-self inevitably breaks down in this context. This situation has the potential to add further complications to debates on biobanking.

SUMMARY: In this paper, we revisit some of the core problem areas of privacy, consent, ownership, return of results, governance, and benefit sharing, and consider how they might be impacted upon by human microbiome research. Some of the issues discussed also have relevance to other forms of microbial research. Discussion of these themes is guided by conceptual analysis of microbiome research and interviews with leading Canadian scientists in the field.}, } @article {pmid21980996, year = {2011}, author = {Osterman, J and Chizhevskaja, EP and Andronov, EE and Fewer, DP and Terefework, Z and Roumiantseva, ML and Onichtchouk, OP and Dresler-Nurmi, A and Simarov, BV and Dzyubenko, NI and Lindström, K}, title = {Galega orientalis is more diverse than Galega officinalis in Caucasus--whole-genome AFLP analysis and phylogenetics of symbiosis-related genes.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {20}, number = {22}, pages = {4808-4821}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05291.x}, pmid = {21980996}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Galega/*genetics/microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; *Genome, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Russia ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume plants can obtain combined nitrogen for their growth in an efficient way through symbiosis with specific bacteria. The symbiosis between Rhizobium galegae and its host plant Galega is an interesting case where the plant species G. orientalis and G. officinalis form effective, nitrogen-fixing, symbioses only with the appropriate rhizobial counterpart, R. galegae bv. orientalis and R. galegae bv. officinalis, respectively. The symbiotic properties of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are well studied, but more information is needed on the properties of the host plants. The Caucasus region in Eurasia has been identified as the gene centre (centre of origin) of G. orientalis, although both G. orientalis and G. officinalis can be found in this region. In this study, the diversity of these two Galega species in Caucasus was investigated to test the hypothesis that in this region G. orientalis is more diverse than G. officinalis. The amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting performed here showed that the populations of G. orientalis and R. galegae bv. orientalis are more diverse than those of G. officinalis and R. galegae bv. officinalis, respectively. These results support the centre of origin status of Caucasus for G. orientalis at a genetic level. Analysis of the symbiosis-related plant genes NORK and Nfr5 reveals remarkable diversity within the Nfr5 sequence, although no evidence of adaptive evolution could be found.}, } @article {pmid21980162, year = {2011}, author = {Muggia, L and Nelson, P and Wheeler, T and Yakovchenko, LS and Tønsberg, T and Spribille, T}, title = {Convergent evolution of a symbiotic duet: the case of the lichen genus Polychidium (Peltigerales, Ascomycota).}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {98}, number = {10}, pages = {1647-1656}, doi = {10.3732/ajb.1100046}, pmid = {21980162}, issn = {1537-2197}, mesh = {Ascomycota/cytology/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; *Biological Evolution ; Lichens/cytology/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Thallus architecture has long been a powerful guide for classifying lichens and has often trumped photobiont association and ascomatal type, but the reliability of these characters to predict phylogenetic affinity has seldom been tested. The cyanolichen genus Polychidium unites species that have strikingly similar gross morphology but consort with different photobiont genera. If Polychidium were found to be monophyletic, photobiont switching among closely related species would be suggested. If, however, species were found to arise in different lineages, a convergent body plan and ascomatal type evolution would be inferred.

METHODS: We tested the monophyly of Polychidium with a multilocus phylogeny based on nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data from all known Peltigeralean families and reconstructed ancestral states for specific thallus architecture and ascomatal ontogeny types relative to Polychidium and other clades.

KEY RESULTS: We found that Polychidium consists of two species groups that arose independently in different suborders within the Peltigerales, associated with Nostoc and Scytonema photobionts, respectively. We infer from ancestral character state reconstruction that dendroid thallus architecture evolved independently in these two lineages.

CONCLUSIONS: The independent development of similar dendroid thallus architecture in different fungal suborders with different photobionts represents a clear and previously overlooked example of convergent evolution in lichens. Our results also suggest a pattern of character state conservation, loss, and reversion in ascomatal ontogeny types, hitherto considered conserved traits useful for higher level ascomycete systematics.}, } @article {pmid21979160, year = {2011}, author = {Arber, W}, title = {Molecular Darwinism: the contingency of spontaneous genetic variation.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {3}, number = {}, pages = {1090-1092}, pmid = {21979160}, issn = {1759-6653}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Computational Biology ; DNA/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Rearrangement ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Genetic Variation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {The availability of spontaneously occurring genetic variants is an important driving force of biological evolution. Largely thanks to experimental investigations by microbial geneticists, we know today that several different molecular mechanisms contribute to the overall genetic variations. These mechanisms can be assigned to three natural strategies to generate genetic variants: 1) local sequence changes, 2) intragenomic reshuffling of DNA segments, and 3) acquisition of a segment of foreign DNA. In these processes, specific gene products are involved in cooperation with different nongenetic elements. Some genetic variations occur fully at random along the DNA filaments, others rather with a statistical reproducibility, although at many possible sites. We have to be aware that evolution in natural ecosystems is of higher complexity than under most laboratory conditions, not at least in view of symbiotic associations and the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer. The encountered contingency of genetic variation can possibly best ensure a long-term persistence of life under steadily changing living conditions.}, } @article {pmid21978364, year = {2011}, author = {Duperron, S and Guezi, H and Gaudron, SM and Pop Ristova, P and Wenzhöfer, F and Boetius, A}, title = {Relative abundances of methane- and sulphur-oxidising symbionts in the gills of a cold seep mussel and link to their potential energy sources.}, journal = {Geobiology}, volume = {9}, number = {6}, pages = {481-491}, doi = {10.1111/j.1472-4669.2011.00300.x}, pmid = {21978364}, issn = {1472-4669}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Load ; Carbon/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Gills/*microbiology ; Guinea ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Isotope Labeling ; Methane/*metabolism ; Mytilidae/*microbiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Seawater ; Sulfides/metabolism ; Sulfur/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bathymodiolus mussels are key species in many deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems. They often harbour two types of endosymbiotic bacteria in their gills, sulphur- and methane oxidisers. These bacteria take up sulphide and methane from the environment and provide energy to their hosts, supporting some of the most prolific ecosystems in the sea. In this study, we tested whether symbiont relative abundances in Bathymodiolus gills reflect variations in the highly spatially dynamic chemical environment of cold seep mussels. Samples of Bathymodiolus aff. boomerang were obtained from two cold seeps of the deep Gulf of Guinea, REGAB (5°47.86S, 9°42.69E, 3170 m depth) and DIAPIR (6°41.58S, 10°20.94E, 2700 m depth). Relative abundances of both symbiont types were measured by means of 3D fluorescence in situ hybridisation and image analysis and compared considering the local sulphide and methane concentrations and fluxes assessed via benthic chamber incubations. Specimens inhabiting areas with highest methane content displayed higher relative abundances of methane oxidisers. The bacterial abundances correlated also with carbon stable isotope signatures in the mussel tissue, suggesting a higher contribution of methane-derived carbon to the biomass of mussels harbouring higher densities of methane-oxidising symbionts. A dynamic adaptation of abundances of methanotrophs and thiotrophs in the gill could be a key factor optimising the energy yield for the symbiotic system and could explain the success of dual symbiotic mussels at many cold seeps and hydrothermal vents of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.}, } @article {pmid21978245, year = {2012}, author = {Gaude, N and Bortfeld, S and Duensing, N and Lohse, M and Krajinski, F}, title = {Arbuscule-containing and non-colonized cortical cells of mycorrhizal roots undergo extensive and specific reprogramming during arbuscular mycorrhizal development.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {69}, number = {3}, pages = {510-528}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04810.x}, pmid = {21978245}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; Lipid Metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/genetics/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Roots/*cytology/microbiology ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Most vascular plants form a mutualistic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, known as AM symbiosis. The development of AM symbiosis is an asynchronous process, and mycorrhizal roots therefore typically contain several symbiotic structures and various cell types. Hence, the use of whole-plant organs for downstream analyses can mask cell-specific variations in gene expression. To obtain insight into cell-specific reprogramming during AM symbiosis, comparative analyses of various cell types were performed using laser capture microdissection combined with microarray hybridization. Remarkably, the most prominent transcriptome changes were observed in non-arbuscule-containing cells of mycorrhizal roots, indicating a drastic reprogramming of these cells during root colonization that may be related to subsequent fungal colonization. A high proportion of transcripts regulated in arbuscule-containing cells and non-arbuscule-containing cells encode proteins involved in transport processes, transcriptional regulation and lipid metabolism, indicating that reprogramming of these processes is of particular importance for AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid21976970, year = {2011}, author = {Ma, C and Zhou, Y and Huang, SH}, title = {Inequalities and duality in gene coexpression networks of HIV-1 infection revealed by the combination of the double-connectivity approach and the Gini's method.}, journal = {Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology}, volume = {2011}, number = {}, pages = {926407}, pmid = {21976970}, issn = {1110-7251}, mesh = {Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*genetics/metabolism/virology ; Acute Disease ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Computational Biology/*methods ; Disease Progression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; HIV Infections/*genetics/metabolism/virology ; *HIV-1 ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis (Sym) and pathogenesis (Pat) is a duality problem of microbial infection, including HIV/AIDS. Statistical analysis of inequalities and duality in gene coexpression networks (GCNs) of HIV-1 infection may gain novel insights into AIDS. In this study, we focused on analysis of GCNs of uninfected subjects and HIV-1-infected patients at three different stages of viral infection based on data deposited in the GEO database of NCBI. The inequalities and duality in these GCNs were analyzed by the combination of the double-connectivity (DC) approach and the Gini's method. DC analysis reveals that there are significant differences between positive and negative connectivity in HIV-1 stage-specific GCNs. The inequality measures of negative connectivity and edge weight are changed more significantly than those of positive connectivity and edge weight in GCNs from the HIV-1 uninfected to the AIDS stages. With the permutation test method, we identified a set of genes with significant changes in the inequality and duality measure of edge weight. Functional analysis shows that these genes are highly enriched for the immune system, which plays an essential role in the Sym-Pat duality (SPD) of microbial infections. Understanding of the SPD problems of HIV-1 infection may provide novel intervention strategies for AIDS.}, } @article {pmid21976690, year = {2012}, author = {Bellantuono, AJ and Hoegh-Guldberg, O and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M}, title = {Resistance to thermal stress in corals without changes in symbiont composition.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {279}, number = {1731}, pages = {1100-1107}, pmid = {21976690}, issn = {1471-2954}, mesh = {*Acclimatization ; Alveolata/genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Anthozoa/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Climate Change ; Coral Reefs ; Genotype ; Oceans and Seas ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; *Temperature ; }, abstract = {Discovering how corals can adjust their thermal sensitivity in the context of global climate change is important in understanding the long-term persistence of coral reefs. In this study, we showed that short-term preconditioning to higher temperatures, 3°C below the experimentally determined bleaching threshold, for a period of 10 days provides thermal tolerance for the symbiosis stability between the scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora and Symbiodinium. Based on genotypic analysis, our results indicate that the acclimatization of this coral species to thermal stress does not come down to simple changes in Symbiodinium and/or the bacterial communities that associate with reef-building corals. This suggests that the physiological plasticity of the host and/or symbiotic components appears to play an important role in responding to ocean warming. The further study of host and symbiont physiology, both of Symbiodinium and prokaryotes, is of paramount importance in the context of global climate change, as mechanisms for rapid holobiont acclimatization will become increasingly important to the long-standing persistence of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid21972966, year = {2011}, author = {Huang, B and Lv, C and Zhuang, P and Zhang, H and Fan, L}, title = {Endophytic colonisation of Bacillus subtilis in the roots of Robinia pseudoacacia L.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {925-931}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00456.x}, pmid = {21972966}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Bacillus subtilis/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics/*physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Robinia/*microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {The endophytic colonisation of Bacillus subtilis strain GXJM08, isolated from roots of Podocarpus imbricatus B1. Enum. P1. Jav., in roots of the leguminous plant Robinia pseudoacacia L. was investigated. Ultrastructure observations showed that B. subtilis caused morphological changes in the root hair and colonised the plant through infected root hairs. The structure of the infection thread was similar to that of rhizobia, but the structure of infected cells was different. B. subtilis is also different from rhizobia and plant pathogens in terms of the formation of a peribacteroid membrane and the mode of penetration through the host cell wall. Our results provide a basis for studying development of the mutualistic symbiotic relationship between B. subtilis and plants, and a basis for studying the mechanism of the B. subtilis-plant interaction.}, } @article {pmid21972259, year = {2011}, author = {Helber, N and Wippel, K and Sauer, N and Schaarschmidt, S and Hause, B and Requena, N}, title = {A versatile monosaccharide transporter that operates in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp is crucial for the symbiotic relationship with plants.}, journal = {The Plant cell}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, pages = {3812-3823}, pmid = {21972259}, issn = {1532-298X}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biological Transport ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Library ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Glucose/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Mycelium/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Protons ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction ; Substrate Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Xylose/metabolism ; }, abstract = {For more than 400 million years, plants have maintained a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This evolutionary success can be traced to the role of these fungi in providing plants with mineral nutrients, particularly phosphate. In return, photosynthates are given to the fungus, which support its obligate biotrophic lifestyle. Although the mechanisms involved in phosphate transfer have been extensively studied, less is known about the reciprocal transfer of carbon. Here, we present the high-affinity Monosaccharide Transporter2 (MST2) from Glomus sp with a broad substrate spectrum that functions at several symbiotic root locations. Plant cell wall sugars can efficiently outcompete the Glc uptake capacity of MST2, suggesting they can serve as alternative carbon sources. MST2 expression closely correlates with that of the mycorrhiza-specific Phosphate Transporter4 (PT4). Furthermore, reduction of MST2 expression using host-induced gene silencing resulted in impaired mycorrhiza formation, malformed arbuscules, and reduced PT4 expression. These findings highlight the symbiotic role of MST2 and support the hypothesis that the exchange of carbon for phosphate is tightly linked. Unexpectedly, we found that the external mycelium of AM fungi is able to take up sugars in a proton-dependent manner. These results imply that the sugar uptake system operating in this symbiosis is more complex than previously anticipated.}, } @article {pmid21971818, year = {2012}, author = {Epis, S and Gaibani, P and Ulissi, U and Chouaia, B and Ricci, I and Damiani, C and Sambri, V and Castelli, F and Buelli, F and Daffonchio, D and Bandi, C and Favia, G}, title = {Do mosquito-associated bacteria of the genus Asaia circulate in humans?.}, journal = {European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology}, volume = {31}, number = {6}, pages = {1137-1140}, pmid = {21971818}, issn = {1435-4373}, mesh = {Acetobacteraceae/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Blood/*microbiology ; Blood Donors ; Culicidae/*microbiology ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*microbiology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria of the genus Asaia have been proposed as tools for control of mosquito-borne diseases, specifically malaria. However, safety issues are a major concern for paratransgenesis strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate, with immunofluorescence assays and quantitative PCR experiments, whether Asaia spp. is circulating among humans. All human sera and whole blood samples analyzed were negative for Asaia spp., thus suggesting that this organism could be utilized, in the future, as a malaria control tool.}, } @article {pmid21968920, year = {2011}, author = {Bevins, CL and Salzman, NH}, title = {The potter's wheel: the host's role in sculpting its microbiota.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {68}, number = {22}, pages = {3675-3685}, pmid = {21968920}, issn = {1420-9071}, support = {HD59127/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI076246/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI032738/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI76246/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI32738/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI50843/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI57757/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R37 AI032738/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI057757/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI057757-05/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI057757/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050843/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD059127/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Adaptive Immunity/immunology ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/immunology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immune System/physiology ; *Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals, ranging from basal metazoans to primates, are host to complex microbial ecosystems; engaged in a symbiotic relationship that is essential for host physiology and homeostasis. Epithelial surfaces vary in the composition of colonizing microbiota as one compares anatomic sites, developmental stages and species origin. Alterations of microbial composition likely contribute to susceptibility to several distinct diseases. The forces that shape the colonizing microbial composition are the focus of much current investigation, and it is evident that there are pressures exerted both by the host and the external environment to mold these ecosystems. The focus of this review is to discuss recent studies that demonstrate the critical importance of host factors in selecting for its microbiome. Greater insight into host-microbiome interactions will be essential for understanding homeostasis at mucosal surfaces, and developing useful interventions when homeostasis is disrupted.}, } @article {pmid21967640, year = {2012}, author = {Antico Arciuch, VG and Elguero, ME and Poderoso, JJ and Carreras, MC}, title = {Mitochondrial regulation of cell cycle and proliferation.}, journal = {Antioxidants & redox signaling}, volume = {16}, number = {10}, pages = {1150-1180}, pmid = {21967640}, issn = {1557-7716}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Cycle ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Mitochondria/*physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phosphotransferases/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {Eukaryotic mitochondria resulted from symbiotic incorporation of α-proteobacteria into ancient archaea species. During evolution, mitochondria lost most of the prokaryotic bacterial genes and only conserved a small fraction including those encoding 13 proteins of the respiratory chain. In this process, many functions were transferred to the host cells, but mitochondria gained a central role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, and in the modulation of metabolism; accordingly, defective organelles contribute to cell transformation and cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Most cell and transcriptional effects of mitochondria depend on the modulation of respiratory rate and on the production of hydrogen peroxide released into the cytosol. The mitochondrial oxidative rate has to remain depressed for cell proliferation; even in the presence of O2, energy is preferentially obtained from increased glycolysis (Warburg effect). In response to stress signals, traffic of pro- and antiapoptotic mitochondrial proteins in the intermembrane space (B-cell lymphoma-extra large, Bcl-2-associated death promoter, Bcl-2 associated X-protein and cytochrome c) is modulated by the redox condition determined by mitochondrial O2 utilization and mitochondrial nitric oxide metabolism. In this article, we highlight the traffic of the different canonical signaling pathways to mitochondria and the contributions of organelles to redox regulation of kinases. Finally, we analyze the dynamics of the mitochondrial population in cell cycle and apoptosis.}, } @article {pmid21966570, year = {2011}, author = {Lira-Ruan, V and Ruiz-Kubli, M and Arredondo-Peter, R}, title = {Expression of non-symbiotic hemoglobin 1 and 2 genes in rice (Oryza sativa) embryonic organs.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {457-458}, pmid = {21966570}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Rice (Oryza sativa) contains five copies of the non-symbiotic hemoglobin (hb) gene, namely hb1 to hb5. Previous analysis by RT-PCR revealed that rice hb1 expresses in roots and leaves and hb2 expresses in leaves. However, it is not known whether or not hb1 and hb2 express in rice embryonic organs. Here, we report the expression of hb1 and hb2 genes in rice embryonic organs using RT-PCR and specific oligos for Hb1 and Hb2. Our results indicate that hb1 and hb2 genes express in embryonic organs in rice growing under normal conditions. Specifically, hb1 expresses in rice embryos and seminal roots, and hb2 expresses in embryos, coleoptiles and seminal roots. These observations suggest that Hb1 and Hb2 coexist and function in rice embryonic organs.}, } @article {pmid21966276, year = {2011}, author = {Chandler, JA and Lang, JM and Bhatnagar, S and Eisen, JA and Kopp, A}, title = {Bacterial communities of diverse Drosophila species: ecological context of a host-microbe model system.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {7}, number = {9}, pages = {e1002272}, pmid = {21966276}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Biodiversity ; Biological Evolution ; Diet ; Drosophila/genetics/*microbiology ; Metagenome ; Models, Biological ; Population ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Drosophila melanogaster is emerging as an important model of non-pathogenic host-microbe interactions. The genetic and experimental tractability of Drosophila has led to significant gains in our understanding of animal-microbial symbiosis. However, the full implications of these results cannot be appreciated without the knowledge of the microbial communities associated with natural Drosophila populations. In particular, it is not clear whether laboratory cultures can serve as an accurate model of host-microbe interactions that occur in the wild, or those that have occurred over evolutionary time. To fill this gap, we characterized natural bacterial communities associated with 14 species of Drosophila and related genera collected from distant geographic locations. To represent the ecological diversity of Drosophilids, examined species included fruit-, flower-, mushroom-, and cactus-feeders. In parallel, wild host populations were compared to laboratory strains, and controlled experiments were performed to assess the importance of host species and diet in shaping bacterial microbiome composition. We find that Drosophilid flies have taxonomically restricted bacterial communities, with 85% of the natural bacterial microbiome composed of only four bacterial families. The dominant bacterial taxa are widespread and found in many different host species despite the taxonomic, ecological, and geographic diversity of their hosts. Both natural surveys and laboratory experiments indicate that host diet plays a major role in shaping the Drosophila bacterial microbiome. Despite this, the internal bacterial microbiome represents only a highly reduced subset of the external bacterial communities, suggesting that the host exercises some level of control over the bacteria that inhabit its digestive tract. Finally, we show that laboratory strains provide only a limited model of natural host-microbe interactions. Bacterial taxa used in experimental studies are rare or absent in wild Drosophila populations, while the most abundant associates of natural Drosophila populations are rare in the lab.}, } @article {pmid21964927, year = {2011}, author = {Royet, J}, title = {Epithelial homeostasis and the underlying molecular mechanisms in the gut of the insect model Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS}, volume = {68}, number = {22}, pages = {3651-3660}, pmid = {21964927}, issn = {1420-9071}, mesh = {Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism ; Drosophila Proteins/metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/*anatomy & histology/microbiology/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/anatomy & histology/immunology/microbiology/physiology ; *Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance/physiology ; Immunity, Innate/immunology ; Intestinal Mucosa/anatomy & histology/immunology/microbiology/physiology ; Metagenome ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/physiology ; }, abstract = {Insects mostly develop on decaying and contaminated organic matter and often serve as vectors of biologically transmitted diseases by transporting microorganisms to the plant and animal hosts. As such, insects are constantly ingesting microorganisms, a small fraction of which reach their epithelial surfaces, mainly their digestive tract, where they can establish relationships ranging from symbiosis to mutualism or even parasitism. Understanding the tight physical, genetic, and biochemical interactions that takes place between intestinal epithelia and either resident or infectious microbes has been a long-lasting objective of the immunologist. Research in this field has recently been re-vitalized with the development of deep sequencing techniques, which allow qualitative and quantitative characterization of gut microbiota. Interestingly, the recent identification of regenerative stem cells in the Drosophila gut together with the initial characterization of Drosophila gut microbiota have opened up new avenues of study aimed at understanding the mechanisms that regulate the dialog between the Drosophila gut epithelium and its microbiota of this insect model. The fact that some of the responses are conserved across species combined with the power of Drosophila genetics could make this organism model a useful tool to further elucidate some aspects of the interaction occurring between the microbiota and the human gut.}, } @article {pmid21960986, year = {2011}, author = {Yamamoto, M and Takai, K}, title = {Sulfur metabolisms in epsilon- and gamma-proteobacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal fields.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {192}, pmid = {21960986}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {In deep-sea hydrothermal systems, super hot and reduced vent fluids from the subseafloor blend with cold and oxidized seawater. Very unique and dense ecosystems are formed within these environments. Many molecular ecological studies showed that chemoautotrophic epsilon- and gamma-Proteobacteria are predominant primary producers in both free-living and symbiotic microbial communities in global deep-sea hydrothermal fields. Inorganic sulfur compounds are important substrates for the energy conservative metabolic pathways in these microorganisms. Recent genomic and metagenomic analyses and biochemical studies have contributed to the understanding of potential sulfur metabolic pathways for these chemoautotrophs. Epsilon-Proteobacteria use sulfur compounds for both electron-donors and -acceptors. On the other hand, gamma-Proteobacteria utilize two different sulfur-oxidizing pathways. It is hypothesized that differences between the metabolic pathways used by these two predominant proteobacterial phyla are associated with different ecophysiological strategies; extending the energetically feasible habitats with versatile energy metabolisms in the epsilon-Proteobacteria and optimizing energy production rate and yield for relatively narrow habitable zones in the gamma-Proteobacteria.}, } @article {pmid21960277, year = {2012}, author = {Kutuzov, MA and Andreeva, AV}, title = {Prediction of biological functions of Shewanella-like protein phosphatases (Shelphs) across different domains of life.}, journal = {Functional & integrative genomics}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {11-23}, pmid = {21960277}, issn = {1438-7948}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Humans ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Shewanella/*enzymology ; }, abstract = {PPP protein phosphatases are an important enzyme family involved in a variety of aspects of cellular signalling and metabolism. PPPs are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, and are also present in many bacteria. Canonical eukaryotic PPP phosphotases are represented by five major subfamilies (PP1, PP2A, calcineurin, PP5 and PPEF/PP7). We previously reported that three "bacterial-like" PPP groups span the prokaryote-eukaryote boundary, including "Shewanella-like" phosphatases (Shelphs), which are in the focus of this study. Here we predict possible biological functions and functional partners of Shelphs by examining composition of bacterial operons and expression data for eukaryotes available in public databases. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the predicted possible roles include light-dependent regulation of chloroplast functions, signalling between the nucleus and the chloroplast, and defence responses. In Plasmodium falciparum, Shelphs are predicted to be associated with host cell invasion. One isoform has been located in the apical complex, essential for the interaction with the host cell. This makes P. falciparum Shelphs obvious potential candidates for therapeutic targets. Shelphs are also present in bacteria that constitute a considerable proportion of symbiotic microflora in humans. The predicted involvement of bacterial Shelphs in sensing and import of nutrients and extrusion of toxins may be relevant to the links between physiology of humans and our symbionts. Thus, despite the absence of Shelphs in animals, including humans, they may have a direct relationship to human health. Some predicted biological processes and potential functional partners of Shelphs are common between different bacterial and/or eukaryotic lineages, suggesting evolutionary conservation of some Shelph regulatory modules.}, } @article {pmid21959622, year = {2011}, author = {Szeliga, J and Klodzinska, E and Jackowski, M and Buszewski, B}, title = {The clinical use of a fast screening test based on technology of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for identification of Escherichia coli infection in biological material.}, journal = {Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research}, volume = {17}, number = {10}, pages = {MT91-6}, pmid = {21959622}, issn = {1643-3750}, mesh = {Boric Acids ; Edetic Acid ; Electrophoresis, Capillary/*methods ; Escherichia coli Infections/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surgical Wound Infection/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Tromethamine ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium which is a basic, symbiotic element of the physiological flora of the large intestine of humans and warm-blooded animals. However, in specific cases it may become a very dangerous pathogen (eg, diarrhoea, infection of the urinary tract, lungs, and generalized infections). Its early detection, as a cause of infectious disease, helps to achieve optimal treatment results; however, classical microbiological tests require at least 24 hours from sample taking to diagnosis.

MATERIAL/METHODS: We present a unique solution based on CZE technologies enabling identification of E. coli presence in studied sample within half an hour. Altogether, 30 E. coli-infected wounds and ulcerations were examined, comparing the results obtained by classical culture method with the result of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) electropherogram.

RESULTS: The method, which does not require any preparation of the sample, achieved 86.7% sensitivity and 85%specificity in the examined clinical material (infections of surgical wounds).

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results enable reliable, very fast testing for E. coli as a pathogen.}, } @article {pmid21959168, year = {2011}, author = {Denison, RF and Kiers, ET}, title = {Life histories of symbiotic rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {21}, number = {18}, pages = {R775-85}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2011.06.018}, pmid = {21959168}, issn = {1879-0445}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Hyphae/growth & development/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*physiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Rhizobiaceae/growth & development/*physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Research on life history strategies of microbial symbionts is key to understanding the evolution of cooperation with hosts, but also their survival between hosts. Rhizobia are soil bacteria known for fixing nitrogen inside legume root nodules. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous root symbionts that provide plants with nutrients and other benefits. Both kinds of symbionts employ strategies to reproduce during symbiosis using host resources; to repopulate the soil; to survive in the soil between hosts; and to find and infect new hosts. Here we focus on the fitness of the microbial symbionts and how interactions at each of these stages has shaped microbial life-history strategies. During symbiosis, microbial fitness could be increased by diverting more resources to individual reproduction, but that may trigger fitness-reducing host sanctions. To survive in the soil, symbionts employ sophisticated strategies, such as persister formation for rhizobia and reversal of spore germination by mycorrhizae. Interactions among symbionts, from rhizobial quorum sensing to fusion of genetically distinct fungal hyphae, increase adaptive plasticity. The evolutionary implications of these interactions and of microbial strategies to repopulate and survive in the soil are largely unexplored.}, } @article {pmid21957499, year = {2011}, author = {Branscheid, A and Devers, EA and May, P and Krajinski, F}, title = {Distribution pattern of small RNA and degradome reads provides information on miRNA gene structure and regulation.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {1609-1611}, pmid = {21957499}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Loci/genetics ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; RNA Stability/*genetics ; RNA, Plant/*genetics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have an impact in the regulation of several biological processes such as development, growth and metabolism by negatively controlling gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, the role of these small molecules in the symbiotic interaction of plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi remained elusive. To elucidate the role of miRNAs during AM symbiosis we used a deep sequencing approach to analyze the small RNA and degradome sequence tags of Medicago truncatula non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal roots. We identified 243 novel Medicago microRNAs and 118 mRNA cleavage targets of miRNA mature and star sequences. Several AM symbiosis-relevant genes were identified as miRNA targets. The transcript of MtNsp2, encoding a GRAS transcription factor involved in the nodule and mycorrhizal signaling pathway, is cleaved by a novel member of the miR171 gene family, namely miR171h. Here, we carried out a detailed analysis of the genomic structure of the MIR171h gene comprising our deep sequencing data. The results suggest a feedback circuit between mature miR171h and its own primary transcript showing the ability of this miRNA regulating itself.}, } @article {pmid21957459, year = {2011}, author = {Wang, Y and Gilbreath, TM and Kukutla, P and Yan, G and Xu, J}, title = {Dynamic gut microbiome across life history of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae in Kenya.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {e24767}, pmid = {21957459}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {R01AI050243/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI050243/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; SC2 GM092789/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; D43 TW001505/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; 1SC2GM092789-01A1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Anopheles/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Humans ; Insect Vectors/growth & development/microbiology ; Kenya ; Laboratories ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Malaria/*transmission ; *Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; }, abstract = {The mosquito gut represents an ecosystem that accommodates a complex, intimately associated microbiome. It is increasingly clear that the gut microbiome influences a wide variety of host traits, such as fitness and immunity. Understanding the microbial community structure and its dynamics across mosquito life is a prerequisite for comprehending the symbiotic relationship between the mosquito and its gut microbial residents. Here we characterized gut bacterial communities across larvae, pupae and adults of Anopheles gambiae reared in semi-natural habitats in Kenya by pyrosequencing bacterial 16S rRNA fragments. Immatures and adults showed distinctive gut community structures. Photosynthetic Cyanobacteria were predominant in the larval and pupal guts while Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated the adult guts, with core taxa of Enterobacteriaceae and Flavobacteriaceae. At the adult stage, diet regime (sugar meal and blood meal) significantly affects the microbial structure. Intriguingly, blood meals drastically reduced the community diversity and favored enteric bacteria. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the enriched enteric bacteria possess large genetic redox capacity of coping with oxidative and nitrosative stresses that are associated with the catabolism of blood meal, suggesting a beneficial role in maintaining gut redox homeostasis. Interestingly, gut community structure was similar in the adult stage between the field and laboratory mosquitoes, indicating that mosquito gut is a selective eco-environment for its microbiome. This comprehensive gut metatgenomic profile suggests a concerted symbiotic genetic association between gut inhabitants and host.}, } @article {pmid21957326, year = {2011}, author = {Sujkowska, M and Górska-Czekaj, M and Bederska, M and Borucki, W}, title = {Vacuolar organization in the nodule parenchyma is important for the functioning of pea root nodules.}, journal = {Symbiosis (Philadelphia, Pa.)}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {1-16}, pmid = {21957326}, issn = {0334-5114}, abstract = {Different models have been proposed to explain the operation of oxygen diffusion barrier in root nodules of leguminous plants. This barrier participates in protection of oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase, the key enzyme in nitrogen fixation, from inactivation. Details concerning structural and biochemical properties of the barrier are still lacking. Here, the properties of pea root nodule cortical cells were examined under normal conditions and after shoot removal. Microscopic observations, including neutral red staining and epifluorescence investigations, showed that the inner and outer nodule parenchyma cells exhibit different patterns of the central vacuole development. In opposition to the inner part, the outer parenchyma cells exhibited vacuolar shrinkage and formed cell wall infoldings. Shoot removal induced vacuolar shrinkage and formation of infoldings in the inner parenchyma and uninfected cells of the symbiotic tissue, as well. It is postulated that cells which possess shrinking vacuoles are sensitive to the external osmotic pressure. The cells can give an additional resistance to oxygen diffusion by release of water to the intercellular spaces.Immunolocalization studies proved higher expression of endo-β-1,4-glucanases within expanding cells of the outer cortex of pea nodules comparing with nodule endodermis or nodule parenchyma, so it is suggested that (1) endo-glucanases are involved in growth related modifications of cell walls and (2) enlarged cells decrease nodule conductance to oxygen.}, } @article {pmid21955993, year = {2012}, author = {Cárdenas, A and Rodriguez-R, LM and Pizarro, V and Cadavid, LF and Arévalo-Ferro, C}, title = {Shifts in bacterial communities of two Caribbean reef-building coral species affected by white plague disease.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {502-512}, pmid = {21955993}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Colombia ; Coral Reefs ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry ; *Metagenome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are deteriorating at an alarming rate mainly as a consequence of the emergence of coral diseases. The white plague disease (WPD) is the most prevalent coral disease in the southwestern Caribbean, affecting dozens of coral species. However, the identification of a single causal agent has proved problematic. This suggests more complex etiological scenarios involving alterations in the dynamic interaction between environmental factors, the coral immune system and the symbiotic microbial communities. Here we compare the microbiome of healthy and WPD-affected corals from the two reef-building species Diploria strigosa and Siderastrea siderea collected at the Tayrona National Park in the Caribbean of Colombia. Microbiomes were analyzed by combining culture-dependent methods and pyrosequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) V5-V6 hypervariable regions. A total of 20,410 classifiable 16S rDNA sequences reads were obtained including all samples. No significant differences in operational taxonomic unit diversity were found between healthy and affected tissues; however, a significant increase of Alphaproteobacteria and a concomitant decrease in the Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria was observed in WPD-affected corals of both species. Significant shifts were also observed in the orders Rhizobiales, Caulobacteriales, Burkholderiales, Rhodobacterales, Aleteromonadales and Xanthomonadales, although they were not consistent between the two coral species. These shifts in the microbiome structure of WPD-affected corals suggest a loss of community-mediated growth control mechanisms on bacterial populations specific for each holobiont system.}, } @article {pmid21953333, year = {2012}, author = {Ruiz-Díez, B and Fajardo, S and Felipe, Mdel R and Fernández-Pascual, M}, title = {Characterization of rhizobia from legumes of agronomic interest grown in semi-arid areas of Central Spain relates genetic differences to soil properties.}, journal = {Journal of basic microbiology}, volume = {52}, number = {1}, pages = {66-78}, doi = {10.1002/jobm.201100058}, pmid = {21953333}, issn = {1521-4028}, mesh = {DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Bacterial/analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Rhizobium/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/isolation & purification ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Soil/analysis ; Spain ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A study of symbiotic bacteria from traditional agricultural legumes from Central Spain was performed to create a collection of rhizobia from soils differing in physicochemical, analytical and/or agroecological properties which could be well-adapted to the environmental conditions of this region, and be used for sustainable agricultural practices. Thirty-six isolates were obtained from root-nodules of fifteen legume species (including Cicer arietinum, Lathyrus sativus, Lens culinaris, Lupinus spp., Medicago sativa, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, and Vicia spp.) from three agriculture areas with soils of different pHs and from a forest area with undisturbed soils. Phenotypical characterization revealed uniformity across the thirty-six isolates, with important exceptions in terms of environmental tolerance (three isolates survived at high temperatures, three at high salinity and three at acid pH). The molecular analysis of 16S rRNA gene showed a close relationship of twenty-nine isolates to Rhizobium leguminosarum, one to Rhizobium gallicum, one to Mesorhizobium ciceri, two to Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) meliloti and three to Bradyrhizobium canariense. The sequence analysis of a symbiosis-specific gene, nod C, showed a correlation with the plant host and grouped twenty-six isolates with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, establishing the diversity in relation to legume-host. The 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) region allowed for intraspecific differentiation, so that strains with equal 16S rRNA were grouped by means of their soil origin. These results indicated that phenotypical and genetically related strains may be widely distributed in this region and that soil abiotic characteristics could have a substantial bearing on the selection of the strains living in each environment.}, } @article {pmid21952365, year = {2011}, author = {Khan, AL and Hamayun, M and Ahmad, N and Hussain, J and Kang, SM and Kim, YH and Adnan, M and Tang, DS and Waqas, M and Radhakrishnan, R and Hwang, YH and Lee, IJ}, title = {Salinity stress resistance offered by endophytic fungal interaction between Penicillium minioluteum LHL09 and glycine max. L.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {21}, number = {9}, pages = {893-902}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1103.03012}, pmid = {21952365}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Endophytes/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oryza/growth & development/microbiology ; Penicillium/genetics/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Plant Roots/chemistry/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; Salinity ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Soybeans/chemistry/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are little known for their role in gibberellins (GAs) synthesis and abiotic stress resistance in crop plants. We isolated 10 endophytes from the roots of field-grown soybean and screened their culture filtrates (CF) on the GAs biosynthesis mutant rice line - Waito-C. CF bioassay showed that endophyte GMH-1B significantly promoted the growth of Waito-C compared with controls. GMH-1B was identified as Penicillium minioluteum LHL09 on the basis of ITS regions rDNA sequence homology and phylogenetic analyses. GC/MS-SIM analysis of CF of P. minioluteum revealed the presence of bioactive GA(4) and GA(7). In endophyte-soybean plant interaction, P. minioluteum association significantly promoted growth characteristics (shoot length, shoot fresh and dry biomasses, chlorophyll content, and leaf area) and nitrogen assimilation, with and without sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced salinity (70 and 140 mM) stress, as compared with control. Field-emission scanning electron microcopy showed active colonization of endophyte with host plants before and after stress treatments. In response to salinity stress, low endogenous abscisic acid and high salicylic acid accumulation in endophyte-associated plants elucidated the stress mitigation by P. minioluteum. The endophytic fungal symbiosis of P. minioluteum also increased the daidzein and genistein contents in the soybean as compared with control plants, under salt stress. Thus, P. minioluteum ameliorated the adverse effects of abiotic salinity stress and rescued soybean plant growth by influencing biosynthesis of the plant's hormones and flavonoids.}, } @article {pmid21950052, year = {2011}, author = {Osipova, MA and Dolgikh, EA and Lutova, LA}, title = {[Features of the expression of a meristem-specific WOX5 gene during nodule organogenesis in legumes].}, journal = {Ontogenez}, volume = {42}, number = {4}, pages = {264-275}, pmid = {21950052}, issn = {0475-1450}, mesh = {Cell Proliferation ; Homeodomain Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Medicago truncatula/cytology/*embryology/microbiology ; Meristem/cytology/*embryology/microbiology ; Peas/cytology/*embryology/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/*embryology/microbiology ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the role of WOX genes encoding homeodomain transcription factors in the development of the apical meristem of shoots and roots has been actively investigated. However, the role of WOX genes in the control of the cell proliferation in other meristem types is poorly studied. In our work, we have studied the role of the WOX5 gene in the development of the meristem in nitrogen-fixing nodules developing on the roots of legumes in a symbiosis with rhizobia. We have shown that the WOX5 gene is involved in the development of the nodule meristem in legumes, have quantitatively evaluated the gene's expression at different nodule formation stages, and have studied the localization of its expression using a construction containing the WOX5 promoter conjugated with a reporter gene. The role of the WOX5 transcription factor in the nodule organogenesis and its possible interaction with the hormonal system in the course of the nodule development has been discussed.}, } @article {pmid21949860, year = {2011}, author = {Pépin, J and Deslandes, S and Giroux, G and Sobéla, F and Khonde, N and Diakité, S and Demeule, S and Labbé, AC and Carrier, N and Frost, E}, title = {The complex vaginal flora of West African women with bacterial vaginosis.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {e25082}, pmid = {21949860}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Adult ; Africa/epidemiology ; Bacteria/*classification/genetics/*pathogenicity ; DNA, Viral/genetics ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Vagina/*microbiology ; Vaginosis, Bacterial/*epidemiology/*microbiology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The spectrum of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) has recently expanded through taxonomic changes and the use of molecular methods. These methods have yet to be used in large-scale epidemiological studies in Africa where BV is highly prevalent.

METHODS: An analysis of samples obtained during a clinical trial of the management of vaginal discharge in four West African countries. Samples were available from 1555 participants; 843 (54%) had BV. Nucleic acids of 13 bacterial genera or species potentially associated with BV were detected through the polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: The associations between various components of the vaginal flora were complex. Excluding Lactobacillus, the other 12 micro-organisms were all associated with each other at the p≤0.001 level. The prevalence of various bacterial genera or species varied according to age, sexual activity and HIV status. In multivariate analysis, the presence of Gardnerella vaginalis, Bifidobacterium, Megasphaera elsdenii, Dialister, Mycoplasma hominis, Leptotrichia, and Prevotella were independently associated with BV as was the absence of Lactobacillus and Peptoniphilus. However, Mobiluncus, Atopobium vaginae, Anaerococcus, and Eggerthella were not independently associated with BV. Unexpectedly, after treatment with a regimen that included either metronidazole or tinidazole, the proportion of patients with a complete resolution of symptoms by day 14 increased with the number of bacterial genera or species present at enrolment.

CONCLUSIONS: Numerous bacterial genera or species were strongly associated with each other in a pattern that suggested a symbiotic relationship. BV cases with a simpler flora were less likely to respond to treatment. Overall, the vaginal flora of West African women with BV was reminiscent of that of their counterparts in industrialized countries.}, } @article {pmid21949378, year = {2011}, author = {Branca, A and Paape, TD and Zhou, P and Briskine, R and Farmer, AD and Mudge, J and Bharti, AK and Woodward, JE and May, GD and Gentzbittel, L and Ben, C and Denny, R and Sadowsky, MJ and Ronfort, J and Bataillon, T and Young, ND and Tiffin, P}, title = {Whole-genome nucleotide diversity, recombination, and linkage disequilibrium in the model legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {108}, number = {42}, pages = {E864-70}, pmid = {21949378}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {DNA, Plant/genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Plant ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Recombination, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Medicago truncatula is a model for investigating legume genetics, including the genetics and evolution of legume-rhizobia symbiosis. We used whole-genome sequence data to identify and characterize sequence polymorphisms and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in a diverse collection of 26 M. truncatula accessions. Our analyses reveal that M. truncatula harbors both higher diversity and less LD than soybean (Glycine max) and exhibits patterns of LD and recombination similar to Arabidopsis thaliana. The population-scaled recombination rate is approximately one-third of the mutation rate, consistent with expectations for a species with a high selfing rate. Linkage disequilibrium, however, is not extensive, and therefore, the low recombination rate is likely not a major constraint to adaptation. Nucleotide diversity in 100-kb windows was negatively correlated with gene density, which is expected if diversity is shaped by selection acting against slightly deleterious mutations. Among putative coding regions, members of four gene families harbor significantly higher diversity than the genome-wide average. Three of these families are involved in resistance against pathogens; one of these families, the nodule-specific, cysteine-rich gene family, is specific to the galegoid legumes and is involved in control of rhizobial differentiation. The more than 3 million SNPs that we detected, approximately one-half of which are present in more than one accession, are a valuable resource for genome-wide association mapping of genes responsible for phenotypic diversity in legumes, especially traits associated with symbiosis and nodulation.}, } @article {pmid21948626, year = {2012}, author = {Li, C and Gui, S and Yang, T and Walk, T and Wang, X and Liao, H}, title = {Identification of soybean purple acid phosphatase genes and their expression responses to phosphorus availability and symbiosis.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {109}, number = {1}, pages = {275-285}, pmid = {21948626}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Acid Phosphatase/biosynthesis/*genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Glycoproteins/biosynthesis/*genetics/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phosphorus/*deficiency/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Soybeans/*enzymology/*genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) are members of the metallo-phosphoesterase family and have been known to play important roles in phosphorus (P) acquisition and recycling in plants. Low P availability is a major constraint to growth and production of soybean, Glycine max. Comparative studies on structure, transcription regulation and responses to phosphate (Pi) deprivation of the soybean PAP gene family should facilitate further insights into the potential physiological roles of GmPAPs.

METHODS: BLAST searches were performed to identify soybean PAP genes at the phytozome website. Bioinformatic analyses were carried out to investigate their gene structure, conserve motifs and phylogenetic relationships. Hydroponics and sand-culture experiments were carried out to obtain the plant materials. Quantitative real-time PCR was employed to analyse the expression patterns of PAP genes in response to P deficiency and symbiosis.

KEY RESULTS: In total, 35 PAP genes were identified from soybean genomes, which can be classified into three distinct groups including six subgroups in the phylogenetic tree. The expression pattern analysis showed flowers possessed the largest number of tissue-specific GmPAP genes under normal P conditions. The expression of 23 GmPAPs was induced or enhanced by Pi starvation in different tissues. Among them, nine GmPAP genes were highly expressed in the Pi-deprived nodules, whereas only two GmPAP genes showed significantly increased expression in the arbuscular mycorrhizal roots under low-P conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Most GmPAP genes are probably involved in P acquisition and recycling in plants. Also we provide the first evidence that some members of the GmPAP gene family are possibly involved in the response of plants to symbiosis with rhizobia or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under P-limited conditions.}, } @article {pmid21948091, year = {2012}, author = {Tailliez, P and Pagès, S and Edgington, S and Tymo, LM and Buddie, AG}, title = {Description of Xenorhabdus magdalenensis sp. nov., the symbiotic bacterium associated with Steinernema australe.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {62}, number = {Pt 8}, pages = {1761-1765}, doi = {10.1099/ijs.0.034322-0}, pmid = {21948091}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhabditida/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic bacterium, strain IMI 397775(T), was isolated from the insect-pathogenic nematode Steinernema australe. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, this bacterial isolate was shown to belong to the genus Xenorhabdus, in agreement with the genus of its nematode host. The accurate phylogenetic position of this new isolate was defined using a multigene approach and showed that isolate IMI 397775(T) shares a common ancestor with Xenorhabdus doucetiae FRM16(T) and Xenorhabdus romanii PR06-A(T), the symbiotic bacteria associated with Steinernema diaprepesi and Steinernema puertoricense, respectively. The nucleotide identity (less than 97%) between isolate IMI 397775(T), X. doucetiae FRM16(T) and X. romanii PR06-A(T) calculated for the concatenated sequences of five gene fragments encompassing 4275 nt, several phenotypic traits and the difference between the upper temperatures that limit growth of these three bacteria allowed genetic and phenotypic differentiation of isolate IMI 397775(T) from the two closely related species. Strain IMI 397775(T) therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Xenorhabdus magdalenensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain IMI 397775(T) (= DSM 24915(T)).}, } @article {pmid21946030, year = {2011}, author = {Gaboriau-Routhiau, V and Lécuyer, E and Cerf-Bensussan, N}, title = {Role of microbiota in postnatal maturation of intestinal T-cell responses.}, journal = {Current opinion in gastroenterology}, volume = {27}, number = {6}, pages = {502-508}, doi = {10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834bb82b}, pmid = {21946030}, issn = {1531-7056}, mesh = {Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal/*physiology ; Intestinal Mucosa/*immunology ; Metagenome/immunology/*physiology ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Taking advantage of their rapid growth and capacity for continuous genetic adaptation, prokaryotes have colonized all possible ecological environments on earth, including the body surfaces of eukaryotes and their gastrointestinal tract. The mammalian gut contains a complex community of 10 bacteria with a meta-genome containing 1500-fold more genes than the human genome. The forces that control the relationships between eukaryotic hosts and their intestinal bacterial symbionts have, thus, become a major focus of interest.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent data have highlighted how the dialogue between mammalian hosts and their microbiota stimulates the postnatal maturation of an efficient intestinal barrier that promotes niche colonization by symbiotic bacteria and opposes colonization by pathogens. Herein, we review microbiota-induced T-cell responses and discuss how individual bacteria may shape the balance between regulatory and inflammatory responses. We will also show how host factors might influence the outcome of gut immune responses and affect the structure of the microbiota.

SUMMARY: Deciphering host-microbiota reciprocal influence may not only help in understanding the recent outburst of intestinal inflammatory diseases but also point to strategies able to maintain or restore intestinal homeostasis.}, } @article {pmid21944219, year = {2011}, author = {Voglmayr, H and Mayer, V and Maschwitz, U and Moog, J and Djieto-Lordon, C and Blatrix, R}, title = {The diversity of ant-associated black yeasts: insights into a newly discovered world of symbiotic interactions.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {115}, number = {10}, pages = {1077-1091}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2010.11.006}, pmid = {21944219}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Ants/classification/*microbiology/physiology ; Ascomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plants/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Based on pure culture studies and DNA phylogenetic analyses, black yeasts (Chaetothyriales, Ascomycota) are shown to be widely distributed and important components of numerous plant-ant-fungus networks, independently acquired by several ant lineages in the Old and New World. Data from ITS and LSU nu rDNA demonstrate that a high biodiversity of fungal species is involved. There are two common ant-fungus symbioses involving black yeasts: (1) on the carton walls of ant nests and galleries, and (2) the fungal mats growing within non-pathogenic naturally hollow structures (so-called domatia) provided by myrmecophytic plants as nesting space for ants (ant-plant symbiosis). Most carton- and domatia-inhabiting fungi stem from different phylogenetic lineages within Chaetothyriales, and almost all of the fungi isolated are still undescribed. Despite being closely related, carton and domatia fungi are shown to differ markedly in their morphology and ecology, indicating that they play different roles in these associations. The carton fungi appear to improve the stability of the carton, and several species are commonly observed to co-occur on the same carton. Carton fungi commonly have dark-walled monilioid hyphae, colouring the carton blackish and apparently preventing other fungi from invading the carton. Despite the simultaneous presence of usually several species of fungi, forming complex associations on the carton, little overlap is observed between carton fungi from different ant species, even those that co-occur in nature, indicating at least some host specificity of fungi. Most fungi present on carton belong to Chaetothyriales, but in a few samples, Capnodiales are also an important component. Carton fungi are difficult to assign to anamorph genera, as most lack conidiation. The domatia fungi are more specific. In domatia, usually only one or two fungal species co-occur, producing a dense layer on living host plant tissue in domatia. They have hyaline or light brown thin-walled hyphae, and are commonly sporulating. In both carton and domatia, the fungal species seem to be specific to each ant-plant symbiosis. Representative examples of carton and domatia ant-fungus symbioses are illustrated. We discuss hypotheses on the ecological significance of the Chaetothyriales associated with ants.}, } @article {pmid21943727, year = {2011}, author = {Baugher, JL and Klaenhammer, TR}, title = {Invited review: Application of omics tools to understanding probiotic functionality.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {94}, number = {10}, pages = {4753-4765}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2011-4384}, pmid = {21943727}, issn = {1525-3198}, mesh = {*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Computational Biology ; Humans ; Intestines/microbiology ; Probiotics/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human gut microbiota comprises autochthonous species that colonize and reside at high levels permanently and allochthonous species that originate from another source and are transient residents of the human gut. The interactions between bacteria and the human host can be classified as a continuum from symbiosis and commensalism (mutualism) to pathogenesis. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Recent advances in omics tools and sequencing techniques have furthered our understanding of probiotic functionality and the specific interactions between probiotics and their human hosts. Although it is known that not all probiotics use the same mechanisms to confer benefits on hosts, some specific mechanisms of action have been revealed through omic investigations. These include competitive exclusion, bacteriocin-mediated protection against intestinal pathogens, intimate interactions with mucin and the intestinal epithelium, and modulation of the immune system. The ability to examine fully sequenced and annotated genomes has greatly accelerated the application of genetic approaches to elucidate many important functional roles of probiotic microbes.}, } @article {pmid21943130, year = {2011}, author = {Fernandez, FJ and Garces, F and López-Estepa, M and Aguilar, J and Baldomà, L and Coll, M and Badia, J and Vega, MC}, title = {The UlaG protein family defines novel structural and functional motifs grafted on an ancient RNase fold.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {273}, pmid = {21943130}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Amino Acid Motifs ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Archaea/chemistry/enzymology/genetics ; Bacteria/chemistry/*enzymology/*genetics ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/*chemistry/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Bacterial ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; Protein Conformation ; Protein Folding ; Ribonucleases/*chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Structural Homology, Protein ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial populations are highly successful at colonizing new habitats and adapting to changing environmental conditions, partly due to their capacity to evolve novel virulence and metabolic pathways in response to stress conditions and to shuffle them by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). A common theme in the evolution of new functions consists of gene duplication followed by functional divergence. UlaG, a unique manganese-dependent metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) enzyme involved in L-ascorbate metabolism by commensal and symbiotic enterobacteria, provides a model for the study of the emergence of new catalytic activities from the modification of an ancient fold. Furthermore, UlaG is the founding member of the so-called UlaG-like (UlaGL) protein family, a recently established and poorly characterized family comprising divalent (and perhaps trivalent) metal-binding MBLs that catalyze transformations on phosphorylated sugars and nucleotides.

RESULTS: Here we combined protein structure-guided and sequence-only molecular phylogenetic analyses to dissect the molecular evolution of UlaG and to study its phylogenomic distribution, its relatedness with present-day UlaGL protein sequences and functional conservation. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that UlaGL sequences are present in Bacteria and Archaea, with bona fide orthologs found mainly in mammalian and plant-associated Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The incongruence between the UlaGL tree and known species trees indicates exchange by HGT and suggests that the UlaGL-encoding genes provided a growth advantage under changing conditions. Our search for more distantly related protein sequences aided by structural homology has uncovered that UlaGL sequences have a common evolutionary origin with present-day RNA processing and metabolizing MBL enzymes widespread in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. This observation suggests an ancient origin for the UlaGL family within the broader trunk of the MBL superfamily by duplication, neofunctionalization and fixation.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the forerunner of UlaG was present as an RNA metabolizing enzyme in the last common ancestor, and that the modern descendants of that ancestral gene have a wide phylogenetic distribution and functional roles. We propose that the UlaGL family evolved new metabolic roles among bacterial and possibly archeal phyla in the setting of a close association with metazoans, such as in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract or in animal and plant pathogens, as well as in environmental settings. Accordingly, the major evolutionary forces shaping the UlaGL family include vertical inheritance and lineage-specific duplication and acquisition of novel metabolic functions, followed by HGT and numerous lineage-specific gene loss events.}, } @article {pmid21941642, year = {2011}, author = {Tsuda, H}, title = {Revisiting Shimoda's "Shuuchaku-Kishitsu" (Statothymia): A Japanese View of Manic-Depressive Patients.}, journal = {Depression research and treatment}, volume = {2011}, number = {}, pages = {193742}, pmid = {21941642}, issn = {2090-133X}, abstract = {Although the empiric paradigm is now dominant in academic research, in Japan quite a few psychiatric clinicians still take phenomenological-anthropological approaches into consideration, especially when they address manic-depressive illness with typical endogenous features. This is because Shimoda's concept of "shuuchaku-kishitsu" (statothymia) has been widely accepted, together with other phenomenological views of continental origin. In the present paper the author first delineates Shimoda's concept which is based on observations of patients' personality features and the characteristics of their emotionality. He then attempts to refine this concept in spatiotemporal terms, presenting the view that in patients the past self tends to adhere to the present self (the term "shuuchaku" means "adhering to" or "preoccupied with"). He also considers that patients tend to incorporate "soto" (outer space) into "uchi" (inner space), where they believe that symbiotic relations are preserved. Finally, he argues the clinical significance of the presented views in the cultural milieu in which Japanese psychiatric practices are situated.}, } @article {pmid21940998, year = {2011}, author = {Schikora, A and Schenk, ST and Stein, E and Molitor, A and Zuccaro, A and Kogel, KH}, title = {N-acyl-homoserine lactone confers resistance toward biotrophic and hemibiotrophic pathogens via altered activation of AtMPK6.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {1407-1418}, pmid = {21940998}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Acyl-Butyrolactones/*pharmacology ; Arabidopsis/drug effects/*enzymology/growth & development/*microbiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/*metabolism ; Ascomycota/drug effects/physiology ; Disease Resistance/*drug effects ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; Flagellin/pharmacology ; Hordeum/drug effects/immunology/microbiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Mutation/genetics ; Plant Diseases/*immunology/*microbiology ; Plant Immunity/drug effects ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects ; Pseudomonas syringae/drug effects/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria rely on quorum sensing to coordinate the collective behavior during the interactions with their eukaryotic hosts. Many Gram-negative bacteria use N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signals in such communication. Here we show that plants have evolved means to perceive AHLs and that the length of acyl moiety and the functional group at the γ position specify the plant's response. Root treatment with the N-3-oxo-tetradecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (oxo-C14-HSL) reinforced the systemic resistance to the obligate biotrophic fungi Golovinomyces orontii in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei in barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants. In addition, oxo-C14-HSL-treated Arabidopsis plants were more resistant toward the hemibiotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000. Oxo-C14-HSL promoted a stronger activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases AtMPK3 and AtMPK6 when challenged with flg22, followed by a higher expression of the defense-related transcription factors WRKY22 and WRKY29, as well as the PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 gene. In contrast to wild-type Arabidopsis and mpk3 mutant, the mpk6 mutant is compromised in the AHL effect, suggesting that AtMPK6 is required for AHL-induced resistance. Results of this study show that AHLs commonly produced in the rhizosphere are crucial factors in plant pathology and could be an agronomic issue whose full impact has to be elucidated in future analyses.}, } @article {pmid21939699, year = {2012}, author = {Liu, W and Wang, A and Sun, D and Ren, N and Zhang, Y and Zhou, J}, title = {Characterization of microbial communities during anode biofilm reformation in a two-chambered microbial electrolysis cell (MEC).}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {157}, number = {4}, pages = {628-632}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.09.010}, pmid = {21939699}, issn = {1873-4863}, mesh = {Bacteria/genetics/*growth & development ; Bioelectric Energy Sources/*microbiology ; Biofilms/*growth & development ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Cytochromes/genetics ; Electrodes ; Electrolysis/*instrumentation ; Electron Transport ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; }, abstract = {GeoChip (II) and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) were used to characterize anode microbial communities of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Biofilm communities, enriched in a two-chamber MEC (R1, 0.6 V applied) having a coulombic efficiency (CE) of 35±4% and a hydrogen yield (Y(H2))of 31±3%, were used as the inoculum for a new reactor (R2). After three months R2 achieved stable performance with CE=38±4% and (Y(H2)). Few changes in the predominant populations were observed from R1 to R2. Unlike sludge inoculation process in R1 in the beginning, little further elimination was aroused by community competitions in anode biofilm reformation in R2. Functional genes detection of biofilm indicated that cytochrome genes enriched soon in new reactor R2, and four genera (Desulfovibrio, Rhodopseudomonas, Shewanella and Geobacter) were likely to contribute to exoelectrogenic activity. This work also implied that symbiosis of microbial communities (exoelectrogens and others) contribute to system performance and stability.}, } @article {pmid21938955, year = {2011}, author = {Chubukova, OV and Baĭmiev, AKh and Baĭmiev, AKh}, title = {[Polymorphism of lectin genes in Lathyrus plants].}, journal = {Genetika}, volume = {47}, number = {7}, pages = {920-926}, pmid = {21938955}, issn = {0016-6758}, mesh = {Genes, Plant/*physiology ; Lathyrus/*genetics ; Plant Lectins/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The carbohydrate-binding sequences of the lectin genes from spring vetchling Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh., marsh vetchling L. palustris (L.), and Gmelin's vetchling L. gmelinii (Fitsch) (Fabaceae) were determined. Computer-aided analysis revealed substantial differences between nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the lectin gene regions examined in each of the three vetchling species tested. In the phylogenetic trees based on sequence similarity of carbohydrate-biding regions of legume lectins, the sequences examined formed a compact cluster with the lectin genes of the plants belonging to the tribe Fabeae. In each plant, L. vernus, L. palustris, and L. gmelinii, three different lectin-encoding genes were detected. Most of the substitutions were identified within the gene sequence responsible for coding the carbohydrate-binding protein regions. This finding may explain different affinity of these lectins to different carbohydrates, and as a consequence, can affect the plant host specificity upon development of symbiosis with rhizobium bacteria.}, } @article {pmid21938025, year = {2012}, author = {Hosokawa, T and Nikoh, N and Koga, R and Satô, M and Tanahashi, M and Meng, XY and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Reductive genome evolution, host-symbiont co-speciation and uterine transmission of endosymbiotic bacteria in bat flies.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {577-587}, pmid = {21938025}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; Chiroptera/parasitology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Diptera/genetics/*microbiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/physiology ; *Genetic Speciation ; Genitalia, Female/*microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Male ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae are known for their extreme morphological and physiological traits specialized for ectoparasitic blood-feeding lifestyle on bats, including lack of wings, reduced head and eyes, adenotrophic viviparity with a highly developed uterus and milk glands, as well as association with endosymbiotic bacteria. We investigated Japanese nycteribiid bat flies representing 4 genera, 8 species and 27 populations for their bacterial endosymbionts. From all the nycteribiid species examined, a distinct clade of gammaproteobacteria was consistently detected, which was allied to endosymbionts of other insects such as Riesia spp. of primate lice and Arsenophonus spp. of diverse insects. In adult insects, the endosymbiont was localized in specific bacteriocytes in the abdomen, suggesting an intimate host-symbiont association. In adult females, the endosymbiont was also found in the cavity of milk gland tubules, which suggests uterine vertical transmission of the endosymbiont to larvae through milk gland secretion. In adult females of Penicillidia jenynsii, we discovered a previously unknown type of symbiotic organ in the Nycteribiidae: a pair of large bacteriomes located inside the swellings on the fifth abdominal ventral plate. The endosymbiont genes consistently exhibited adenine/thymine biased nucleotide compositions and accelerated rates of molecular evolution. The endosymbiont genome was estimated to be highly reduced, ~0.76 Mb in size. The endosymbiont phylogeny perfectly mirrored the host insect phylogeny, indicating strict vertical transmission and host-symbiont co-speciation in the evolutionary course of the Nycteribiidae. The designation 'Candidatus Aschnera chinzeii' is proposed for the endosymbiont clade.}, } @article {pmid21938022, year = {2012}, author = {Martinez-Garcia, M and Brazel, D and Poulton, NJ and Swan, BK and Gomez, ML and Masland, D and Sieracki, ME and Stepanauskas, R}, title = {Unveiling in situ interactions between marine protists and bacteria through single cell sequencing.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {703-707}, pmid = {21938022}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Cercozoa/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Chrysophyta/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Genes, rRNA ; Heterotrophic Processes ; Phylogeny ; Pilot Projects ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Single-Cell Analysis ; *Water Microbiology ; }, abstract = {Heterotrophic protists are a highly diverse and biogeochemically significant component of marine ecosystems, yet little is known about their species-specific prey preferences and symbiotic interactions in situ. Here we demonstrate how these previously unresolved questions can be addressed by sequencing the eukaryote and bacterial SSU rRNA genes from individual, uncultured protist cells collected from their natural marine environment and sorted by flow cytometry. We detected Pelagibacter ubique in association with a MAST-4 protist, an actinobacterium in association with a chrysophyte and three bacteroidetes in association with diverse protist groups. The presence of identical phylotypes among the putative prey and the free bacterioplankton in the same sample provides evidence for predator-prey interactions. Our results also suggest a discovery of novel symbionts, distantly related to Rickettsiales and the candidate divisions ZB3 and TG2, associated with Cercozoa and Chrysophyta cells. This study demonstrates the power of single cell sequencing to untangle ecological interactions between uncultured protists and prokaryotes.}, } @article {pmid21936384, year = {2011}, author = {Liu, X and Wen, W and Xue, C}, title = {[Effects of the symbiosis of Trichomonas vaginalis with Mycoplasma hominis on ferredoxin gene].}, journal = {Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {800-803}, pmid = {21936384}, issn = {1001-5515}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Ferredoxins/*genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoplasma hominis/*genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {We isolated 30 Trichomonas vaginalis for the PCR detection from the gynecological outpatients in the Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University using the specific 16s rDNA primers of Mycoplasma hominis. The results showed that there were 25 cases of Mycoplasma hominis infection, with the infection rate of 83.33%. This gave a clew that the symbiosis of Trichomonas vaginalis with Mycoplasma hominis may be of certain generality in China. We sequenced the ferredoxin gene of 10 Trichomonas vaginalis where 5 Mycoplasma hominis were positive and five negative, and found that the ferredoxin (Fd) gene of the 10 Trichomonas vaginalis were exactly the same. But compared to the genes in the GenBank, a comparative analysis of the gene revealed that there were 3 more ctg bases at the 200th position of encoding leucine, but this did not lead to changes in reading frame. The gene homology was 99%.}, } @article {pmid21934117, year = {2012}, author = {Lopez-Gomez, M and Sandal, N and Stougaard, J and Boller, T}, title = {Interplay of flg22-induced defence responses and nodulation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {63}, number = {1}, pages = {393-401}, pmid = {21934117}, issn = {1460-2431}, mesh = {DNA, Complementary ; Lotus/genetics/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; }, abstract = {In this study the interplay between the symbiotic and defence signalling pathways in Lotus japonicus was investigated by comparing the responses to Mesorhizobium loti, the symbiotic partner of L. japonicus, and the elicitor flg22, a conserved peptide motif present in flagellar protein of a wide range of bacteria. It was found that defence and symbiotic pathways overlap in the interaction between L. japonicus and M. loti since similar responses were induced by the mutualistic bacteria and flg22. However, purified flagellin from M. loti did not induce any response in L. japonicus, which suggests the production of other elicitors by the symbiotic bacteria. Defence responses induced by flg22 caused inhibition of rhizobial infection and delay in nodule organogenesis, as demonstrated by the negative effect of flg22 in the formation of spontaneous nodules in the snf1 L. japonicus mutant, and the inhibition of NSP1 and NSP2 genes. This indicates the antagonistic effect of the defence pathway on the nodule formation in the initial rhizobium-legume interaction. However, the fact that flg22 did not affect the formation of new nodules once the symbiosis was established indicates that after the colonization of the host plant by the symbiotic partner, the symbiotic pathway has prevalence over the defensive response. This result is also supported by the down-regulation of the expression levels of the flg22 receptor FLS2 in the nodular tissue.}, } @article {pmid21933929, year = {2012}, author = {Smith, SE and Smith, FA}, title = {Fresh perspectives on the roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant nutrition and growth.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {104}, number = {1}, pages = {1-13}, doi = {10.3852/11-229}, pmid = {21933929}, issn = {0027-5514}, mesh = {Fungi/cytology/metabolism/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/cytology/metabolism/*physiology ; *Plant Development ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Plants/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Recent research on arbuscular mycorrhizas has demonstrated that AM fungi play a significant role in plant phosphorus (P) uptake, regardless of whether the plant responds positively to colonization in terms of growth or P content. Here we focus particularly on implications of this finding for consideration of the balance between organic carbon (C) use by the fungi and P delivery (i.e. the C-P trade between the symbionts). Positive growth responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization are attributed frequently to increased P uptake via the fungus, which results in relief of P deficiency and increased growth. Zero AM responses, compared with non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants, have conventionally been attributed to failure of the fungi to deliver P to the plants. Negative responses, combined with excessive C use, have been attributed to this failure. The fungi were viewed as parasites. Demonstration that the AM pathway of P uptake operates in such plants indicates that direct P uptake by the roots is reduced and that the fungi are not parasites but mutualists because they deliver P as well as using C. We suggest that poor plant growth is the result of P deficiency because AM fungi lower the amount of P taken up directly by roots but the AM uptake of P does compensate for the reduction. The implications of interplay between direct root uptake and AM fungal uptake of P also include increased tolerance of AM plants to toxins such as arsenate and increased success when competing with NM plants. Finally we discuss the new information on C-P trade in the context of control of the symbiosis by the fungus or the plant, including new information (from NM plants) on sugar transport and on the role of sucrose in the signaling network involved in responses of plants to P deprivation.}, } @article {pmid21933388, year = {2011}, author = {Bron, JE and Frisch, D and Goetze, E and Johnson, SC and Lee, CE and Wyngaard, GA}, title = {Observing copepods through a genomic lens.}, journal = {Frontiers in zoology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {21933388}, issn = {1742-9994}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Copepods outnumber every other multicellular animal group. They are critical components of the world's freshwater and marine ecosystems, sensitive indicators of local and global climate change, key ecosystem service providers, parasites and predators of economically important aquatic animals and potential vectors of waterborne disease. Copepods sustain the world fisheries that nourish and support human populations. Although genomic tools have transformed many areas of biological and biomedical research, their power to elucidate aspects of the biology, behavior and ecology of copepods has only recently begun to be exploited.

DISCUSSION: The extraordinary biological and ecological diversity of the subclass Copepoda provides both unique advantages for addressing key problems in aquatic systems and formidable challenges for developing a focused genomics strategy. This article provides an overview of genomic studies of copepods and discusses strategies for using genomics tools to address key questions at levels extending from individuals to ecosystems. Genomics can, for instance, help to decipher patterns of genome evolution such as those that occur during transitions from free living to symbiotic and parasitic lifestyles and can assist in the identification of genetic mechanisms and accompanying physiological changes associated with adaptation to new or physiologically challenging environments. The adaptive significance of the diversity in genome size and unique mechanisms of genome reorganization during development could similarly be explored. Genome-wide and EST studies of parasitic copepods of salmon and large EST studies of selected free-living copepods have demonstrated the potential utility of modern genomics approaches for the study of copepods and have generated resources such as EST libraries, shotgun genome sequences, BAC libraries, genome maps and inbred lines that will be invaluable in assisting further efforts to provide genomics tools for copepods.

SUMMARY: Genomics research on copepods is needed to extend our exploration and characterization of their fundamental biological traits, so that we can better understand how copepods function and interact in diverse environments. Availability of large scale genomics resources will also open doors to a wide range of systems biology type studies that view the organism as the fundamental system in which to address key questions in ecology and evolution.}, } @article {pmid21932563, year = {2011}, author = {Gul'neva, MIu and Noskov, SM}, title = {[Colonic microbial biocenosis in rheumatoid arthritis].}, journal = {Klinicheskaia meditsina}, volume = {89}, number = {4}, pages = {45-48}, pmid = {21932563}, issn = {0023-2149}, mesh = {Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Candida/isolation & purification ; Colon/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; }, abstract = {The aim of the work was to study colonic microbial biocenosis and colonizing ability of opportunistic bacteria in 32 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 30 healthy subjects. RA was diagnosed based on the American Rheumatism Association criteria (1987). Qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora was detected by a bacteriological method. StatSoft Statistics 6.0 was used to treat the data obtained. RA was associated with significant modification of the intestinal flora, viz. decrease in lactobacteria and significant increase of enterococci, clostridia, colibacteria showing reduced enzymatic activity, and opportunistic species. Also, symbiotic relationships between microorganisms altered. The fraction of bifidobacteria, bacteroids, and lactopositive colibacteria reduced while the abundance of opportunistic enterobacteria and staphylococci was elevated. Opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae were present in urine and nasal mucosa which suggested their translocation from the intestines. It is concluded that changes in intestinal microflora and colonization by opportunistic bacteria enhance the risk of development of co-morbid conditions in patients with RA.}, } @article {pmid21930895, year = {2011}, author = {Suzuki, A and Suriyagoda, L and Shigeyama, T and Tominaga, A and Sasaki, M and Hiratsuka, Y and Yoshinaga, A and Arima, S and Agarie, S and Sakai, T and Inada, S and Jikumaru, Y and Kamiya, Y and Uchiumi, T and Abe, M and Hashiguchi, M and Akashi, R and Sato, S and Kaneko, T and Tabata, S and Hirsch, AM}, title = {Lotus japonicus nodulation is photomorphogenetically controlled by sensing the red/far red (R/FR) ratio through jasmonic acid (JA) signaling.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {108}, number = {40}, pages = {16837-16842}, pmid = {21930895}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Cyclopentanes/*metabolism ; DNA Primers/genetics ; Isoleucine/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; *Light ; Lotus/microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation/genetics ; Oxylipins/*metabolism ; Phytochrome B/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Signal Transduction/*physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Light is critical for supplying carbon to the energetically expensive, nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. Here, we show that phytochrome B (phyB) is part of the monitoring system to detect suboptimal light conditions, which normally suppress Lotus japonicus nodule development after Mesorhizobium loti inoculation. We found that the number of nodules produced by L. japonicus phyB mutants is significantly reduced compared with the number produced of WT Miyakojima MG20. To explore causes other than photoassimilate production, the possibility that local control by the root genotype occurred was investigated by grafting experiments. The results showed that the shoot and not the root genotype is responsible for root nodule formation. To explore systemic control mechanisms exclusive of photoassimilation, we moved WT MG20 plants from white light to conditions that differed in their ratios of low or high red/far red (R/FR) light. In low R/FR light, the number of MG20 root nodules dramatically decreased compared with plants grown in high R/FR, although photoassimilate content was higher for plants grown under low R/FR. Also, the expression of jasmonic acid (JA) -responsive genes decreased in both low R/FR light-grown WT and white light-grown phyB mutant plants, and it correlated with decreased jasmonoyl-isoleucine content in the phyB mutant. Moreover, both infection thread formation and root nodule formation were positively influenced by JA treatment of WT plants grown in low R/FR light and white light-grown phyB mutants. Together, these results indicate that root nodule formation is photomorphogenetically controlled by sensing the R/FR ratio through JA signaling.}, } @article {pmid21928816, year = {2011}, author = {Seyedsayamdost, MR and Carr, G and Kolter, R and Clardy, J}, title = {Roseobacticides: small molecule modulators of an algal-bacterial symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, volume = {133}, number = {45}, pages = {18343-18349}, pmid = {21928816}, issn = {1520-5126}, support = {R01 GM082137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K99 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 AI057159/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1K99 GM086799-01/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM82137/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM086258/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; AI057159/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R00 GM098299/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Molecular Structure ; Roseobacter/*metabolism ; Stereoisomerism ; *Symbiosis ; Tropolone/analogs & derivatives/chemistry/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Marine bacteria and microalgae engage in dynamic symbioses mediated by small molecules. A recent study of Phaeobacter gallaeciensis, a member of the large roseobacter clade of α-proteobacteria, and Emiliania huxleyi, a prominent member of the microphytoplankton found in large algal blooms, revealed that an algal senescence signal produced by E. huxleyi elicits the production of novel algaecides, the roseobacticides, from the bacterial symbiont. In this report, the generality of these findings are examined by expanding the number of potential elicitors. This expansion led to the identification of nine new members of the roseobacticide family, rare bacterial troponoids, which provide insights into both their biological roles and their biosynthesis. The qualitative and quantitative changes in the levels of roseobacticides induced by the additional elicitors and the elicitors' varied efficiencies support the concept of host-targeted roseobacticide production. Structures of the new family members arise from variable substituents at the C3 and C7 positions of the roseobacticide core as the diversifying elements and suggest that the roseobacticides result from modifications and combinations of aromatic amino acids. Together these studies support a model in which algal senescence converts a mutualistic bacterial symbiont into an opportunistic parasite of its hosts.}, } @article {pmid21927948, year = {2011}, author = {Foo, E and Davies, NW}, title = {Strigolactones promote nodulation in pea.}, journal = {Planta}, volume = {234}, number = {5}, pages = {1073-1081}, pmid = {21927948}, issn = {1432-2048}, mesh = {Lactones/analysis/chemistry/isolation & purification/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Peas/chemistry/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; Phenotype ; Plant Exudates/analysis/chemistry ; Plant Growth Regulators/analysis/chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Shoots/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/chemistry/*drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Strigolactones are recently defined plant hormones with roles in mycorrhizal symbiosis and shoot and root architecture. Their potential role in controlling nodulation, the related symbiosis between legumes and Rhizobium bacteria, was explored using the strigolactone-deficient rms1 mutant in pea (Pisum sativum L.). This work indicates that endogenous strigolactones are positive regulators of nodulation in pea, required for optimal nodule number but not for nodule formation per se. rms1 mutant root exudates and root tissue are almost completely deficient in strigolactones, and rms1 mutant plants have approximately 40% fewer nodules than wild-type plants. Treatment with the synthetic strigolactone GR24 elevated nodule number in wild-type pea plants and also elevated nodule number in rms1 mutant plants to a level similar to that seen in untreated wild-type plants. Grafting studies revealed that nodule number and strigolactone levels in root tissue of rms1 roots were unaffected by grafting to wild-type scions indicating that strigolactones in the root, but not shoot-derived factors, regulate nodule number and provide the first direct evidence that the shoot does not make a major contribution to root strigolactone levels.}, } @article {pmid21926445, year = {2011}, author = {Camacho, R and Pereira, M and Costa, VS and Fonseca, NA and Adriano, C and Simões, CJ and Brito, RM}, title = {A relational learning approach to Structure-Activity Relationships in drug design toxicity studies.}, journal = {Journal of integrative bioinformatics}, volume = {8}, number = {3}, pages = {182}, doi = {10.2390/biecoll-jib-2011-182}, pmid = {21926445}, issn = {1613-4516}, mesh = {*Algorithms ; Animals ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Drug Design ; *Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Humans ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/*chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {It has been recognized that the development of new therapeutic drugs is a complex and expensive process. A large number of factors affect the activity in vivo of putative candidate molecules and the propensity for causing adverse and toxic effects is recognized as one of the major hurdles behind the current "target-rich, lead-poor" scenario. Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies, using relational Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, have already been shown to be very useful in the complex process of rational drug design. Despite the ML successes, human expertise is still of the utmost importance in the drug development process. An iterative process and tight integration between the models developed by ML algorithms and the know-how of medicinal chemistry experts would be a very useful symbiotic approach. In this paper we describe a software tool that achieves that goal--iLogCHEM. The tool allows the use of Relational Learners in the task of identifying molecules or molecular fragments with potential to produce toxic effects, and thus help in stream-lining drug design in silico. It also allows the expert to guide the search for useful molecules without the need to know the details of the algorithms used. The models produced by the algorithms may be visualized using a graphical interface, that is of common use amongst researchers in structural biology and medicinal chemistry. The graphical interface enables the expert to provide feedback to the learning system. The developed tool has also facilities to handle the similarity bias typical of large chemical databases. For that purpose the user can filter out similar compounds when assembling a data set. Additionally, we propose ways of providing background knowledge for Relational Learners using the results of Graph Mining algorithms.}, } @article {pmid21926226, year = {2011}, author = {Pech-Canul, Á and Nogales, J and Miranda-Molina, A and Álvarez, L and Geiger, O and Soto, MJ and López-Lara, IM}, title = {FadD is required for utilization of endogenous fatty acids released from membrane lipids.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {193}, number = {22}, pages = {6295-6304}, pmid = {21926226}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Coenzyme A Ligases/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Acids/*metabolism ; Membrane Lipids/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {FadD is an acyl coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase responsible for the activation of exogenous long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) into acyl-CoAs. Mutation of fadD in the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti promotes swarming motility and leads to defects in nodulation of alfalfa plants. In this study, we found that S. meliloti fadD mutants accumulated a mixture of free fatty acids during the stationary phase of growth. The composition of the free fatty acid pool and the results obtained after specific labeling of esterified fatty acids with a Δ5-desaturase (Δ5-Des) were in agreement with membrane phospholipids being the origin of the released fatty acids. Escherichia coli fadD mutants also accumulated free fatty acids released from membrane lipids in the stationary phase. This phenomenon did not occur in a mutant of E. coli with a deficient FadL fatty acid transporter, suggesting that the accumulation of fatty acids in fadD mutants occurs inside the cell. Our results indicate that, besides the activation of exogenous LCFA, in bacteria FadD plays a major role in the activation of endogenous fatty acids released from membrane lipids. Furthermore, expression analysis performed with S. meliloti revealed that a functional FadD is required for the upregulation of genes involved in fatty acid degradation and suggested that in the wild-type strain, the fatty acids released from membrane lipids are degraded by β-oxidation in the stationary phase of growth.}, } @article {pmid21925113, year = {2011}, author = {Sczesnak, A and Segata, N and Qin, X and Gevers, D and Petrosino, JF and Huttenhower, C and Littman, DR and Ivanov, II}, title = {The genome of th17 cell-inducing segmented filamentous bacteria reveals extensive auxotrophy and adaptations to the intestinal environment.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {10}, number = {3}, pages = {260-272}, pmid = {21925113}, issn = {1934-6069}, support = {U54HG004969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DK085329/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 4R00DK85329-02/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; P30 DK043351/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; /HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; 1R01HG005969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HG005969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; 5RC2AR058986/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 HG004969/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; R00 DK085329-02/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; RC2 AR058986/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 HG004973/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; 1U54HG004973-01/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; U54 HG003273/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Clostridium/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Humans ; Intestines/immunology/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Th17 Cells/immunology/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Perturbations of the composition of the symbiotic intestinal microbiota can have profound consequences for host metabolism and immunity. In mice, segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) direct the accumulation of potentially proinflammatory Th17 cells in the intestinal lamina propria. We present the genome sequence of SFB isolated from monocolonized mice, which classifies SFB phylogenetically as a unique member of Clostridiales with a highly reduced genome. Annotation analysis demonstrates that SFB depend on their environment for amino acids and essential nutrients and may utilize host and dietary glycans for carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Comparative analyses reveal that SFB are functionally related to members of the genus Clostridium and several pathogenic or commensal "minimal" genera, including Finegoldia, Mycoplasma, Borrelia, and Phytoplasma. However, SFB are functionally distinct from all 1200 examined genomes, indicating a gene complement representing biology relatively unique to their role as a gut commensal closely tied to host metabolism and immunity.}, } @article {pmid21922235, year = {2012}, author = {McHaffie, J}, title = {Dirofilaria immitis and Wolbachia pipientis: a thorough investigation of the symbiosis responsible for canine heartworm disease.}, journal = {Parasitology research}, volume = {110}, number = {2}, pages = {499-502}, pmid = {21922235}, issn = {1432-1955}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Dirofilaria immitis/*microbiology/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Dirofilariasis/drug therapy/*parasitology ; Dog Diseases/drug therapy/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Doxycycline/therapeutic use ; *Symbiosis ; Treatment Outcome ; United States ; Wolbachia/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Canine heartworm disease wreaks havoc inside canines all throughout the modern world, including the USA. Any region where mosquitoes thrive will provide efficient dog-to-dog transportation for the microfilaria of the infectious nematode Dirofilaria immitis. Veterinary scientists have recently discovered both phylogenetic and biochemical evidence for the obligate symbiosis of D. immitis and the bacteria Wolbachia pipientis. As a result, veterinarians have initiated testing of antibiotic therapies either instead of, or together with, the currently utilized antiparasitic treatments for canine heartworm. The toxicity of melarsomine adulticidal therapies has prompted an abundance of new research involving doxycycline and other antibiotics, which will be addressed in this review. As our knowledge of the Wolbachia endosymbiont expands, so will our abilities to minimize toxicity and maximize efficiency of heartworm treatments.}, } @article {pmid21922015, year = {2011}, author = {Kosiewicz, MM and Zirnheld, AL and Alard, P}, title = {Gut microbiota, immunity, and disease: a complex relationship.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {180}, pmid = {21922015}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Our immune system has evolved to recognize and eradicate pathogenic microbes. However, we have a symbiotic relationship with multiple species of bacteria that occupy the gut and comprise the natural commensal flora or microbiota. The microbiota is critically important for the breakdown of nutrients, and also assists in preventing colonization by potentially pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the gut commensal bacteria appear to be critical for the development of an optimally functioning immune system. Various studies have shown that individual species of the microbiota can induce very different types of immune cells (e.g., Th17 cells, Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells) and responses, suggesting that the composition of the microbiota can have an important influence on the immune response. Although the microbiota resides in the gut, it appears to have a significant impact on the systemic immune response. Indeed, specific gut commensal bacteria have been shown to affect disease development in organs other than the gut, and depending on the species, have been found to have a wide range of effects on diseases from induction and exacerbation to inhibition and protection. In this review, we will focus on the role that the gut microbiota plays in the development and progression of inflammatory/autoimmune disease, and we will also touch upon its role in allergy and cancer.}, } @article {pmid21917168, year = {2011}, author = {Duncan, RP and Nathanson, L and Wilson, AC}, title = {Novel male-biased expression in paralogs of the aphid slimfast nutrient amino acid transporter expansion.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {253}, pmid = {21917168}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Amino Acid Transport Systems/genetics/*metabolism ; Animals ; Aphids/genetics/*metabolism ; Bayes Theorem ; Computational Biology ; Drosophila ; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Duplicate/*genetics ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; Models, Genetic ; *Phylogeny ; Sex Factors ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: A major goal of molecular evolutionary biology is to understand the fate and consequences of duplicated genes. In this context, aphids are intriguing because the newly sequenced pea aphid genome harbors an extraordinary number of lineage-specific gene duplications relative to other insect genomes. Though many of their duplicated genes may be involved in their complex life cycle, duplications in nutrient amino acid transporters appear to be associated rather with their essential amino acid poor diet and the intracellular symbiosis aphids rely on to compensate for dietary deficits. Past work has shown that some duplicated amino acid transporters are highly expressed in the specialized cells housing the symbionts, including a paralog of an aphid-specific expansion homologous to the Drosophila gene slimfast. Previous data provide evidence that these bacteriocyte-expressed transporters mediate amino acid exchange between aphids and their symbionts.

RESULTS: We report that some nutrient amino acid transporters show male-biased expression. Male-biased expression characterizes three paralogs in the aphid-specific slimfast expansion, and the male-biased expression is conserved across two aphid species for at least two paralogs. One of the male-biased paralogs has additionally experienced an accelerated rate of non-synonymous substitutions.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to document male-biased slimfast expression. Our data suggest that the male-biased aphid slimfast paralogs diverged from their ancestral function to fill a functional role in males. Furthermore, our results provide evidence that members of the slimfast expansion are maintained in the aphid genome not only for the previously hypothesized role in mediating amino acid exchange between the symbiotic partners, but also for sex-specific roles.}, } @article {pmid21915326, year = {2011}, author = {Lemaire, B and Vandamme, P and Merckx, V and Smets, E and Dessein, S}, title = {Bacterial leaf symbiosis in angiosperms: host specificity without co-speciation.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {e24430}, pmid = {21915326}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/*classification/*genetics/growth & development ; Burkholderia/classification/genetics/growth & development ; Host Specificity/genetics/*physiology ; Magnoliopsida/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Bacterial leaf symbiosis is a unique and intimate interaction between bacteria and flowering plants, in which endosymbionts are organized in specialized leaf structures. Previously, bacterial leaf symbiosis has been described as a cyclic and obligate interaction in which the endosymbionts are vertically transmitted between plant generations and lack autonomous growth. Theoretically this allows for co-speciation between leaf nodulated plants and their endosymbionts. We sequenced the nodulated Burkholderia endosymbionts of 54 plant species from known leaf nodulated angiosperm genera, i.e. Ardisia, Pavetta, Psychotria and Sericanthe. Phylogenetic reconstruction of bacterial leaf symbionts and closely related free-living bacteria indicates the occurrence of multiple horizontal transfers of bacteria from the environment to leaf nodulated plant species. This rejects the hypothesis of a long co-speciation process between the bacterial endosymbionts and their host plants. Our results indicate a recent evolutionary process towards a stable and host specific interaction confirming the proposed maternal transmission mode of the endosymbionts through the seeds. Divergence estimates provide evidence for a relatively recent origin of bacterial leaf symbiosis, dating back to the Miocene (5-23 Mya). This geological epoch was characterized by cool and arid conditions, which may have triggered the origin of bacterial leaf symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid21915246, year = {2011}, author = {López-Legentil, S and Song, B and Bosch, M and Pawlik, JR and Turon, X}, title = {Cyanobacterial diversity and a new acaryochloris-like symbiont from Bahamian sea-squirts.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {e23938}, pmid = {21915246}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/*classification/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phycobiliproteins/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Urochordata/metabolism/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions between ascidians (sea-squirts) and microbes are poorly understood. Here we characterized the cyanobacteria in the tissues of 8 distinct didemnid taxa from shallow-water marine habitats in the Bahamas Islands by sequencing a fragment of the cyanobacterial 16S rRNA gene and the entire 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and by examining symbiont morphology with transmission electron (TEM) and confocal microscopy (CM). As described previously for other species, Trididemnum spp. mostly contained symbionts associated with the Prochloron-Synechocystis group. However, sequence analysis of the symbionts in Lissoclinum revealed two unique clades. The first contained a novel cyanobacterial clade, while the second clade was closely associated with Acaryochloris marina. CM revealed the presence of chlorophyll d (chl d) and phycobiliproteins (PBPs) within these symbiont cells, as is characteristic of Acaryochloris species. The presence of symbionts was also observed by TEM inside the tunic of both the adult and larvae of L. fragile, indicating vertical transmission to progeny. Based on molecular phylogenetic and microscopic analyses, Candidatus Acaryochloris bahamiensis nov. sp. is proposed for this symbiotic cyanobacterium. Our results support the hypothesis that photosymbiont communities in ascidians are structured by host phylogeny, but in some cases, also by sampling location.}, } @article {pmid21914892, year = {2011}, author = {López-Madrigal, S and Latorre, A and Porcar, M and Moya, A and Gil, R}, title = {Complete genome sequence of "Candidatus Tremblaya princeps" strain PCVAL, an intriguing translational machine below the living-cell status.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {193}, number = {19}, pages = {5587-5588}, pmid = {21914892}, issn = {1098-5530}, mesh = {Animals ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Helicobacter/*genetics ; Hemiptera/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; }, abstract = {The sequence of the genome of "Candidatus Tremblaya princeps" strain PCVAL, the primary endosymbiont of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri, has been determined. "Ca. Tremblaya princeps" presents an unusual nested endosymbiosis and harbors a gammaproteobacterial symbiont within its cytoplasm in all analyzed mealybugs. The genome sequence reveals that "Ca. Tremblaya princeps" cannot be considered an independent organism but that the consortium with its gammaproteobacterial symbiotic associate represents a new composite living being.}, } @article {pmid21914816, year = {2011}, author = {Melo, PM and Silva, LS and Ribeiro, I and Seabra, AR and Carvalho, HG}, title = {Glutamine synthetase is a molecular target of nitric oxide in root nodules of Medicago truncatula and is regulated by tyrosine nitration.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {157}, number = {3}, pages = {1505-1517}, pmid = {21914816}, issn = {1532-2548}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Catechin/pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation/drug effects ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/chemistry/*metabolism ; Iodoacetamide/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/drug effects/*enzymology ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrates/pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Nitroprusside/pharmacology ; Nitrosation/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/drug effects/*enzymology ; S-Nitrosoglutathione/pharmacology ; Sequence Alignment ; Tetranitromethane/pharmacology ; Tyrosine/*metabolism ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is emerging as an important regulatory player in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, but its biological role in nodule functioning is still far from being understood. To unravel the signal transduction cascade and ultimately NO function, it is necessary to identify its molecular targets. This study provides evidence that glutamine synthetase (GS), a key enzyme for root nodule metabolism, is a molecular target of NO in root nodules of Medicago truncatula, being regulated by tyrosine (Tyr) nitration in relation to active nitrogen fixation. In vitro studies, using purified recombinant enzymes produced in Escherichia coli, demonstrated that the M. truncatula nodule GS isoenzyme (MtGS1a) is subjected to NO-mediated inactivation through Tyr nitration and identified Tyr-167 as the regulatory nitration site crucial for enzyme inactivation. Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it is shown that GS is nitrated in planta and that its nitration status changes in relation to active nitrogen fixation. In ineffective nodules and in nodules fed with nitrate, two conditions in which nitrogen fixation is impaired and GS activity is reduced, a significant increase in nodule GS nitration levels was observed. Furthermore, treatment of root nodules with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside resulted in increased in vivo GS nitration accompanied by a reduction in GS activity. Our results support a role of NO in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism in root nodules and places GS as an important player in the process. We propose that the NO-mediated GS posttranslational inactivation is related to metabolite channeling to boost the nodule antioxidant defenses in response to NO.}, } @article {pmid21913649, year = {2011}, author = {Baslam, M and Pascual, I and Sánchez-Díaz, M and Erro, J and García-Mina, JM and Goicoechea, N}, title = {Improvement of nutritional quality of greenhouse-grown lettuce by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is conditioned by the source of phosphorus nutrition.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {59}, number = {20}, pages = {11129-11140}, doi = {10.1021/jf202445y}, pmid = {21913649}, issn = {1520-5118}, mesh = {Agriculture/*methods ; Fertilizers ; Lettuce/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/*physiology ; *Nutritive Value ; Phosphorus/*administration & dosage/chemistry ; Solubility ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {The improvement of the nutritional quality of lettuce by its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been recently reported in a previous study. The aim of this research was to evaluate if the fertilization with three P sources differing in water solubility affects the effectiveness of AMF for improving lettuce growth and nutritional quality. The application of either water-soluble P sources (Hewitt's solution and single superphosphate) or the water-insoluble (WI) fraction of a "rhizosphere-controlled fertilizer" did not exert negative effects on the establishment of the mycorrhizal symbiosis. AMF improved lettuce growth and nutritional quality. Nevertheless, the effect was dependent on the source of P and cultivar. Batavia Rubia Munguía (green cultivar) benefited more than Maravilla de Verano (red cultivar) in terms of mineral nutrients, total soluble sugars, and ascorbate contents. The association of lettuce with AMF resulted in greater quantities of anthocyanins in plants fertilized with WI, carotenoids when plants received either Hewitt's solution or WI, and phenolics regardless of the P fertilizer applied.}, } @article {pmid21909193, year = {2011}, author = {Wittenberg-Lyles, E and Oliver, DP and Demiris, G and Cunningham, CP}, title = {Sharing atrocity stories in hospice: A study of niceness message strategies in interdisciplinary team meetings.}, journal = {Progress in palliative care}, volume = {19}, number = {4}, pages = {172-176}, pmid = {21909193}, issn = {0969-9260}, support = {R21 CA120179/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA120179-02/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The telling of atrocity stories offers therapeutic benefits to healthcare providers. Transcripts of hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings were used to analyze strategies for telling atrocity stories in the performance of symbiotic niceness through criticism. Symbiotic niceness draws upon niceness messages to establish reciprocal niceness by others in order to facilitate emotional labor. In IDT meetings the two predominant strategy types used were indirect and direct criticism. Nurses and medical directors engaged in niceness message strategies mostly about patients and other healthcare professionals. The study concludes that hospice IDT meetings are a venue for team members to communicate symbiotic niceness through emotional labor.}, } @article {pmid21907817, year = {2011}, author = {Pérez-Tienda, J and Testillano, PS and Balestrini, R and Fiorilli, V and Azcón-Aguilar, C and Ferrol, N}, title = {GintAMT2, a new member of the ammonium transporter family in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices.}, journal = {Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B}, volume = {48}, number = {11}, pages = {1044-1055}, doi = {10.1016/j.fgb.2011.08.003}, pmid = {21907817}, issn = {1096-0937}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Membrane/chemistry ; DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Glomeromycota/*enzymology/*genetics ; Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/*metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/enzymology/genetics ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Protein Conformation ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/*metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {In the symbiotic association of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the fungus delivers mineral nutrients, such as phosphate and nitrogen, to the plant while receiving carbon. Previously, we identified an NH(4)(+) transporter in the AM fungus Glomus intraradices (GintAMT1) involved in NH(4)(+) uptake from the soil when preset at low concentrations. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new G. intraradicesNH(4)(+) transporter gene (GintAMT2). Yeast mutant complementation assays showed that GintAMT2 encodes a functional NH(4)(+) transporter. The use of an anti-GintAMT2 polyclonal antibody revealed a plasma membrane location of GintAMT2. GintAMT1 and GintAMT2 were differentially expressed during the fungal life cycle and in response to N. In contrast to GintAMT1, GintAMT2 transcript levels were higher in the intraradical than in the extraradical fungal structures. However, transcripts of both genes were detected in arbuscule-colonized cortical cells. GintAMT1 expression was induced under low N conditions. Constitutive expression of GintAMT2 in N-limiting conditions and transitory induction after N re-supply suggests a role for GintAMT2 to retrieve NH(4)(+) leaked out during fungal metabolism.}, } @article {pmid21906285, year = {2011}, author = {Etebari, K and Palfreyman, RW and Schlipalius, D and Nielsen, LK and Glatz, RV and Asgari, S}, title = {Deep sequencing-based transcriptome analysis of Plutella xylostella larvae parasitized by Diadegma semiclausum.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {446}, pmid = {21906285}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Insect ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Host-Parasite Interactions/*genetics ; Larva/genetics/parasitology/virology ; Moths/*genetics/*parasitology/virology ; Polydnaviridae/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; *Transcriptome ; Wasps/*physiology/virology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Parasitoid insects manipulate their hosts' physiology by injecting various factors into their host upon parasitization. Transcriptomic approaches provide a powerful approach to study insect host-parasitoid interactions at the molecular level. In order to investigate the effects of parasitization by an ichneumonid wasp (Diadegma semiclausum) on the host (Plutella xylostella), the larval transcriptome profile was analyzed using a short-read deep sequencing method (Illumina). Symbiotic polydnaviruses (PDVs) associated with ichneumonid parasitoids, known as ichnoviruses, play significant roles in host immune suppression and developmental regulation. In the current study, D. semiclausum ichnovirus (DsIV) genes expressed in P. xylostella were identified and their sequences compared with other reported PDVs. Five of these genes encode proteins of unknown identity, that have not previously been reported.

RESULTS: De novo assembly of cDNA sequence data generated 172,660 contigs between 100 and 10000 bp in length; with 35% of > 200 bp in length. Parasitization had significant impacts on expression levels of 928 identified insect host transcripts. Gene ontology data illustrated that the majority of the differentially expressed genes are involved in binding, catalytic activity, and metabolic and cellular processes. In addition, the results show that transcription levels of antimicrobial peptides, such as gloverin, cecropin E and lysozyme, were up-regulated after parasitism. Expression of ichnovirus genes were detected in parasitized larvae with 19 unique sequences identified from five PDV gene families including vankyrin, viral innexin, repeat elements, a cysteine-rich motif, and polar residue rich protein. Vankyrin 1 and repeat element 1 genes showed the highest transcription levels among the DsIV genes.

CONCLUSION: This study provides detailed information on differential expression of P. xylostella larval genes following parasitization, DsIV genes expressed in the host and also improves our current understanding of this host-parasitoid interaction.}, } @article {pmid21906220, year = {2012}, author = {Hodkinson, BP and Gottel, NR and Schadt, CW and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Photoautotrophic symbiont and geography are major factors affecting highly structured and diverse bacterial communities in the lichen microbiome.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {147-161}, doi = {10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02560.x}, pmid = {21906220}, issn = {1462-2920}, mesh = {Bacteria/classification/*genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Ecosystem ; Gene Library ; Geography ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phototrophic Processes ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Although common knowledge dictates that the lichen thallus is formed solely by a fungus (mycobiont) that develops a symbiotic relationship with an alga and/or cyanobacterium (photobiont), the non-photoautotrophic bacteria found in lichen microbiomes are increasingly regarded as integral components of lichen thalli. For this study, comparative analyses were conducted on lichen-associated bacterial communities to test for effects of photobiont-types (i.e. green algal vs. cyanobacterial), mycobiont-types and large-scale spatial distances (from tropical to arctic latitudes). Amplicons of the 16S (SSU) rRNA gene were examined using both Sanger sequencing of cloned fragments and barcoded pyrosequencing. Rhizobiales is typically the most abundant and taxonomically diverse order in lichen microbiomes; however, overall bacterial diversity in lichens is shown to be much higher than previously reported. Members of Acidobacteriaceae, Acetobacteraceae, Brucellaceae and sequence group LAR1 are the most commonly found groups across the phylogenetically and geographically broad array of lichens examined here. Major bacterial community trends are significantly correlated with differences in large-scale geography, photobiont-type and mycobiont-type. The lichen as a microcosm represents a structured, unique microbial habitat with greater ecological complexity and bacterial diversity than previously appreciated and can serve as a model system for studying larger ecological and evolutionary principles.}, } @article {pmid21905117, year = {2011}, author = {Marassi, FM}, title = {Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0899 defines a family of membrane proteins widespread in nitrogen-fixing bacteria.}, journal = {Proteins}, volume = {79}, number = {10}, pages = {2946-2955}, pmid = {21905117}, issn = {1097-0134}, support = {P01 AI074805/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; P01 AI074805-02/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; AI074805/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins/*chemistry/classification/metabolism ; Databases, Protein ; Membrane Proteins/*chemistry/classification/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Porins/chemistry/metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; }, abstract = {The Mycobacterium tuberculosis membrane protein Rv0899 confers adaptation of the bacterium to acidic environments. Due to strong sequence homology of its C-terminus to bacterial OmpA-like domains, Rv0899 has been proposed to constitute an outer membrane porin of M. tuberculosis. However, OmpA-like domains are widespread in a wide variety of bacterial proteins with different functions. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure of Rv0899 does not contain a transmembrane β-barrel, and recent evidence demonstrates that it does not have porin activity. Instead, the rv0899 gene is part of an operon (rv0899-rv0901) that is required for fast ammonia secretion, pH neutralization, and growth of M. tuberculosis in acidic environments. The mechanism whereby these functions are accomplished is not known. To gain further functional insights, a targeted search of the genomic databases was performed for proteins with sequence similarity beyond the OmpA-like C-terminus. The results presented here, show that Rv0899-like proteins are widespread in bacteria with functions in nitrogen metabolism, adaptation to nutrient poor environments, and/or establishing symbiosis with the host organism, and appear to form a protein family. These findings suggest that M. tuberculosis Rv0899 may also assist similar processes and lend further support to its role in ammonia secretion and M. tuberculosis adaptation to the host environment.}, } @article {pmid21904113, year = {2011}, author = {Streng, A and op den Camp, R and Bisseling, T and Geurts, R}, title = {Evolutionary origin of rhizobium Nod factor signaling.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {6}, number = {10}, pages = {1510-1514}, pmid = {21904113}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {*Evolution, Molecular ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Rhizobium/*metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {For over two decades now, it is known that the nodule symbiosis between legume plants and nitrogen fixing rhizobium bacteria is set in motion by the bacterial signal molecule named nodulation (Nod) factor. Upon Nod factor perception a signaling cascade is activated that is also essential for endomycorrhizal symbiosis (Fig. 1). This suggests that rhizobium co-opted the evolutionary far more ancient mycorrhizal signaling pathway in order to establish an endosymbiotic interaction with legumes. As arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomeromycota phylum can establish a symbiosis with the fast majority of land plants, it is most probable that this signaling cascade is wide spread in plant kingdom. However, Nod factor perception generally is considered to be unique to legumes. Two recent breakthroughs on the evolutionary origin of Rhizobium Nod factor signaling demonstrate that this is not the case. The purification of Nod factor-like molecules excreted by the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices and the role of the LysM-type Nod factor receptor PaNFP in the non-legume Parasponia andersonii provide novel understanding on the evolution of rhizobial Nod factor signaling.}, } @article {pmid21902745, year = {2011}, author = {Piercey-Normore, MD and Deduke, C}, title = {Fungal farmers or algal escorts: lichen adaptation from the algal perspective.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {20}, number = {18}, pages = {3708-3710}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05191.x}, pmid = {21902745}, issn = {1365-294X}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*genetics ; *Ecosystem ; *Environment ; Lichens/*microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Domestication of algae by lichen-forming fungi describes the symbiotic relationship between the photosynthetic (green alga or cyanobacterium; photobiont) and fungal (mycobiont) partnership in lichen associations (Goward 1992). The algal domestication implies that the mycobiont cultivates the alga as a monoculture within its thallus, analogous to a farmer cultivating a food crop. However, the initial photobiont 'selection' by the mycobiont may be predetermined by the habitat rather than by the farmer. When the mycobiont selects a photobiont from the available photobionts within a habitat, the mycobiont may influence photobiont growth and reproduction (Ahmadjian & Jacobs 1981) only after the interaction has been initiated. The theory of ecological guilds (Rikkinen et al. 2002) proposes that habitat limits the variety of photobionts available to the fungal partner. While some studies provide evidence to support the theory of ecological guilds in cyanobacterial lichens (Rikkinen et al. 2002), other studies propose models to explain variation in symbiont combinations in green algal lichens (Ohmura et al. 2006; Piercey-Normore 2006; Yahr et al. 2006) hypothesizing the existence of such guilds. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Peksa & Škaloud (2011) test the theory of ecological guilds and suggest a relationship between algal habitat requirements and lichen adaptation in green algal lichens of the genus Lepraria. The environmental parameters examined in this study, exposure to rainfall, altitude and substratum type, are integral to lichen biology. Lichens have a poikilohydric nature, relying on the availability of atmospheric moisture for metabolic processes. Having no known active mechanism to preserve metabolic thallus moisture in times of drought, one would expect a strong influence of the environment on symbiont adaptation to specific habitats. Adaptation to changes in substrata and its properties would be expected with the intimate contact between crustose lichens in the genus Lepraria. Altitude has been suggested to influence species distributions in a wide range of taxonomic groups. This is one of the first studies to illustrate an ecological guild, mainly for exposure to rainfall (ombrophiles and ombrophobes), with green algal lichens.}, } @article {pmid21899387, year = {2012}, author = {Nachappa, P and Shapiro, AA and Tamborindeguy, C}, title = {Effect of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' on fitness of its insect vector, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae), on tomato.}, journal = {Phytopathology}, volume = {102}, number = {1}, pages = {41-46}, doi = {10.1094/PHYTO-03-11-0084}, pmid = {21899387}, issn = {0031-949X}, mesh = {Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Survival ; DNA/genetics ; Female ; Hemiptera/growth & development/microbiology/*physiology ; Insect Vectors ; Longevity ; Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/*parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/*parasitology ; Reproduction ; Rhizobiaceae/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Ratio ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {The potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli transmits the bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum', also known as 'Ca. L. psyllaurous', which causes zebra chip disease in solanaceous crops. There have been no studies addressing the effect of the bacterial plant pathogen on the biology of its insect vector. We examined several life-history traits, including 7-day fecundity, hatching percentage, incubation time, nymphal survival percentage, nymphal development time, total development time, and sex-ratio of 'Ca. L. solanacearum'-positive and -negative psyllid isofemale lines on tomato, as well as adult mortality index of 'Ca. L. solanacearum'-positive and -negative insects. The only two life-history traits that differed between the 'Ca. L. solanacearum'-positive and -negative psyllid isofemale lines were 7-day fecundity and nymphal survival percentage, which were significantly lower in 'Ca. L. solanacearum'- positive lines. The symbiotic bacteria associated with both psyllid isofemale lines were similar, with the exception of 'Ca. L. solanacearum', which showed 100% infection in the 'Ca. L. solanacearum'-positive lines and was not detected in the negative psyllid lines. These results suggest that 'Ca. L. solanacearum' has a negative effect on population growth rate of its insect vector on tomato.}, } @article {pmid21899386, year = {2011}, author = {Miozzi, L and Catoni, M and Fiorilli, V and Mullineaux, PM and Accotto, GP and Lanfranco, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis limits foliar transcriptional responses to viral infection and favors long-term virus accumulation.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {1562-1572}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-11-0116}, pmid = {21899386}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/analysis/metabolism ; Biomass ; Cyclopentanes/analysis/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; Glomeromycota/genetics/*physiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxylipins/analysis/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/analysis/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Shoots/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Salicylic Acid/analysis/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; Time Factors ; Tospovirus/*physiology ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) can establish symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and can be infected by several pathogenic viruses. Here, we investigated the impact of mycorrhization by the fungus Glomus mosseae on the Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection of tomato plants by transcriptomic and hormones level analyses. In TSWV-infected mycorrhizal plants, the AM fungus root colonization limited virus-induced changes in gene expression in the aerial parts. The virus-responsive upregulated genes, no longer induced in infected mycorrhizal plants, were mainly involved in defense responses and hormone signaling, while the virus-responsive downregulated genes, no longer repressed in mycorrhizal plants, were involved in primary metabolism. The presence of the AM fungus limits, in a salicylic acid-independent manner, the accumulation of abscissic acid observed in response to viral infection. At the time of the molecular analysis, no differences in virus concentration or symptom severity were detected between mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. However, in a longer period, increase in virus titer and delay in the appearance of recovery were observed in mycorrhizal plants, thus indicating that the plant's reaction to TSWV infection is attenuated by mycorrhization.}, } @article {pmid21899098, year = {2011}, author = {Fedichkina, TP and Solenova, LG}, title = {[Helicobacter pylori: routes of transmission of infection (a review of literature)].}, journal = {Gigiena i sanitariia}, volume = {}, number = {4}, pages = {30-34}, pmid = {21899098}, issn = {0016-9900}, mesh = {Biofilms/growth & development ; Disease Reservoirs ; Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*transmission ; Helicobacter pylori/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Water Microbiology/standards ; Water Supply/standards ; }, abstract = {The paper reviews the data characterizing the routes of transmission of Helicobacter pylori. Particular emphasis is laid on the water transmission route that has not been long considered to be important despite strong epidemiological evidence that allows it to be regarded as one of the most important routes of transmission of this infection. It describes the most favorable conditions for this microorganism to survive in the water systems, including plumbing, and a possible survival mechanism via biofilm formation and zooplankton symbiosis. The pathogen is able to bind to autochronous microorganisms in the biofilms and to generate itself the latter. It is not inconceivable that this microbe can persist and even multiply within protozoa. Due to the improved analytical studies, there are additional possibilities to detect new pathogenic microorganisms that have not been historically regarded as pollutants. These microorganisms are of interest to community hygiene specialists. The preferred routes of urban and rural transmission of the pathogen may be different, which should be taken into account when elaborating preventive measures.}, } @article {pmid21895812, year = {2012}, author = {Takehisa, H and Sato, Y and Igarashi, M and Abiko, T and Antonio, BA and Kamatsuki, K and Minami, H and Namiki, N and Inukai, Y and Nakazono, M and Nagamura, Y}, title = {Genome-wide transcriptome dissection of the rice root system: implications for developmental and physiological functions.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {69}, number = {1}, pages = {126-140}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04777.x}, pmid = {21895812}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Microdissection ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oryza/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Cap/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*genetics/growth & development ; }, abstract = {The root system is a crucial determinant of plant growth potential because of its important functions, e.g. uptake of water and nutrients, structural support and interaction with symbiotic organisms. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of root development and functions is therefore necessary for improving plant productivity, particularly for crop plants, including rice (Oryza sativa). As an initial step towards developing a comprehensive understanding of the root system, we performed a large-scale transcriptome analysis of the rice root via a combined laser microdissection and microarray approach. The crown root was divided into eight developmental stages along the longitudinal axis and three radial tissue types at two different developmental stages, namely: epidermis, exodermis and sclerenchyma; cortex; and endodermis, pericycle and stele. We analyzed a total of 38 microarray data and identified 22,297 genes corresponding to 17,010 loci that showed sufficient signal intensity as well as developmental- and tissue type-specific transcriptome signatures. Moreover, we clarified gene networks associated with root cap function and lateral root formation, and further revealed antagonistic and synergistic interactions of phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, brassinosteroids and ethylene, based on the expression pattern of genes related to phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling. Expression profiling of transporter genes defined not only major sites for uptake and transport of water and nutrients, but also distinct signatures of the radial transport system from the rhizosphere to the xylem vessel for each nutrient. All data can be accessed from our gene expression profile database, RiceXPro (http://ricexpro.dna.affrc.go.jp), thereby providing useful information for understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in root system development of crop plants.}, } @article {pmid21894519, year = {2012}, author = {Baslam, M and Goicoechea, N}, title = {Water deficit improved the capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for inducing the accumulation of antioxidant compounds in lettuce leaves.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {347-359}, pmid = {21894519}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Anthocyanins/chemistry ; Antioxidants/*chemistry ; Ascorbic Acid/chemistry ; Carbohydrates/chemistry ; Carotenoids/chemistry ; Chlorophyll/chemistry ; *Droughts ; Lettuce/*chemistry/growth & development/*microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/growth & development/*metabolism ; Phenols/chemistry ; Plant Leaves/*chemistry/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/chemistry ; Solubility ; Starch/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Lettuce, a major food crop within the European Union and the most used for the so-called 'Fourth Range' of vegetables, can associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Mycorrhizal symbiosis can stimulate the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which may increase plant tolerance to stresses and enhance the accumulation of antioxidant compounds potentially beneficial to human health. Our objectives were to assess (1) if the application of a commercial formulation of AMF benefited growth of lettuce under different types and degrees of water deficits; (2) if water restrictions affected the nutritional quality of lettuce; and (3) if AMF improved the quality of lettuce when plants grew under reduced irrigation. Two cultivars of lettuce consumed as salads, Batavia Rubia Munguía and Maravilla de Verano, were used in the study. Four different water regimes were applied to both non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants: optimal irrigation (field capacity [FC]), a water regime equivalent to 2/3 of FC, a water regime equivalent to 1/2 of FC and a cyclic drought (CD). Results showed that mycorrhizal symbiosis improved the accumulation of antioxidant compounds, mainly carotenoids and anthocyanins, and to a lesser extent chlorophylls and phenolics, in leaves of lettuce. These enhancements were higher under water deficit than under optimal irrigation. Moreover, shoot biomass in mycorrhizal lettuces subjected to 2/3 of FC were similar to those of non-mycorrhizal plants cultivated under well-watered conditions. In addition, lettuces subjected to 2/3 FC had similar leaf RWC than their respective well-watered controls, regardless of mycorrhizal inoculation. Therefore, results suggest that mycorrhizal symbiosis can improve quality of lettuce and may allow restrict irrigation without reducing production.}, } @article {pmid21894168, year = {2011}, author = {Huddleston, JE}, title = {Symbiosis: market economics in plant-fungus relationships.}, journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, pages = {698-699}, pmid = {21894168}, issn = {1740-1534}, } @article {pmid21893478, year = {2011}, author = {Fehér, J and Kovács, I and Balacco Gabrieli, C}, title = {[Role of gastrointestinal inflammations in the development and treatment of depression].}, journal = {Orvosi hetilap}, volume = {152}, number = {37}, pages = {1477-1485}, doi = {10.1556/OH.2011.29166}, pmid = {21893478}, issn = {0030-6002}, mesh = {Chronic Disease ; Cytokines/biosynthesis ; Depression/drug therapy/*etiology/metabolism/*therapy ; Eicosanoids/biosynthesis ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Gastritis/*metabolism/microbiology/*psychology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*metabolism/microbiology/*psychology ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology ; Neuropeptides/biosynthesis ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Vitamin B Complex/therapeutic use ; Vitamin D/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have revealed that inflammation, among other factors, may be involved in the pathogenesis of depression. One line of studies has shown that depression is frequently associated with manifest gastrointestinal inflammations and autoimmune diseases as well as with cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, type 2-diabetes and also cancer, in which chronic low-grade inflammation is a significant contributing factor. Thus depression may be a neuropsychiatric manifestation of a chronic inflammatory syndrome. Another line of studies has shown that the primary cause of inflammation may be the dysfunction of the "gut-brain axis". Although, this is a bidirectional mechanism, life style factors may primarily affect the symbiosis between host mucous membrane and the microbiota. Local inflammation through the release of cytokines, neuropeptides and eicosanoids may also influence the function of the brain and of other organs. Role of metabolic burst due to inflammation represents a new aspect in both pathophysiology and treatment of the depression. Finally, an increasing number of clinical studies have shown that treating gastrointestinal inflammations with probiotics, vitamin B, D and omega 3 fatty acids, through attenuating proinflammatory stimuli to brain, may also improve depression symptoms and quality of life. All these findings justify an assumption that treating gastrointestinal inflammations may improve the efficacy of the currently used treatment modalities of depression and related diseases. However, further studies are certainly needed to confirm these findings.}, } @article {pmid21893254, year = {2011}, author = {Meilhoc, E and Boscari, A and Bruand, C and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Nitric oxide in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {181}, number = {5}, pages = {573-581}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2011.04.007}, pmid = {21893254}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Energy Metabolism ; Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Models, Biological ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Rhizobium/metabolism/*physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule with a broad spectrum of regulatory functions in plant growth and development. NO has been found to be involved in various pathogenic or symbiotic plant-microbe interactions. During the last decade, increasing evidence of the occurrence of NO during legume-rhizobium symbioses has been reported, from early steps of plant-bacteria interaction, to the nitrogen-fixing step in mature nodules. This review focuses on recent advances on NO production and function in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. First, the potential plant and bacterial sources of NO, including NO synthase-like, nitrate reductase or electron transfer chains of both partners, are presented. Then responses of plant and bacterial cells to the presence of NO are presented in the context of the N(2)-fixing symbiosis. Finally, the roles of NO as either a regulatory signal of development, or a toxic compound with inhibitory effects on nitrogen fixation, or an intermediate involved in energy metabolism, during symbiosis establishment and nodule functioning are discussed.}, } @article {pmid21893247, year = {2011}, author = {Gupta, KJ and Igamberdiev, AU and Manjunatha, G and Segu, S and Moran, JF and Neelawarne, B and Bauwe, H and Kaiser, WM}, title = {The emerging roles of nitric oxide (NO) in plant mitochondria.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {181}, number = {5}, pages = {520-526}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2011.03.018}, pmid = {21893247}, issn = {1873-2259}, mesh = {Cell Hypoxia ; Electron Transport ; Mitochondria/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis/metabolism/*physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism ; Nitrite Reductases/physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/physiology ; Plants/*metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; }, abstract = {In recent years nitric oxide (NO) has been recognized as an important signal molecule in plants. Both, reductive and oxidative pathways and different subcellular compartments appear involved in NO production. The reductive pathway uses nitrite as substrate, which is exclusively generated by cytosolic nitrate reductase (NR) and can be converted to NO by the same enzyme. The mitochondrial electron transport chain is another site for nitrite to NO reduction, operating specifically when the normal electron acceptor, O(2), is low or absent. Under these conditions, the mitochondrial NO production contributes to hypoxic survival by maintaining a minimal ATP formation. In contrast, excessive NO production and concomitant nitrosative stress may be prevented by the operation of NO-scavenging mechanisms in mitochondria and cytosol. During pathogen attacks, mitochondrial NO serves as a nitrosylating agent promoting cell death; whereas in symbiotic interactions as in root nodules, the turnover of mitochondrial NO helps in improving the energy status similarly as under hypoxia/anoxia. The contribution of NO turnover during pathogen defense, symbiosis and hypoxic stress is discussed in detail.}, } @article {pmid21893218, year = {2011}, author = {Dubinin, J and Braun, HP and Schmitz, U and Colditz, F}, title = {The mitochondrial proteome of the model legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta}, volume = {1814}, number = {12}, pages = {1658-1668}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbapap.2011.08.008}, pmid = {21893218}, issn = {0006-3002}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/chemistry/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fabaceae/chemistry/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins/*analysis/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Models, Theoretical ; Multiprotein Complexes/analysis/classification/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/analysis/classification/metabolism ; Proteome/*analysis/metabolism ; Proteomics ; }, abstract = {Legumes carry out special biochemical functions, e.g. the fixation of molecular nitrogen based on a symbiosis with proteobacteria. At the cellular level, this symbiosis has to be implemented into the energy metabolism of the host cell. To provide a basis for future analyses, we have characterized the protein complement of mitochondria of the model legume Medicago truncatula using two-dimensional isoelectric focussing (IEF) and blue-native (BN)-SDS-PAGE. While the IEF reference map resulted mainly in resolution of those proteins associated with the mitochondrial matrix, the BN proteomic map allowed separation of protein subunits from the respiratory chain protein complexes, which are located in the organelle's inner membrane. The M. truncatula mitochondrial BN reference map revealed some striking similarities to the one from Arabidopsis thaliana but at the same time exhibited also some special features: complex II is of increased abundance and additionally represented by a low molecular mass form not reported for Arabidopsis. Furthermore three highly abundant forms of prohibitin complexes are present in the mitochondrial proteome of M. truncatula. Special features with respect to mitochondrial protein complexes might reflect adaptations of legumes to elevated cellular energy requirements enabling them to develop symbiotic interactions with rhizobial bacteria.}, } @article {pmid21892672, year = {2012}, author = {Bressan, A and Terlizzi, F and Credi, R}, title = {Independent origins of vectored plant pathogenic bacteria from arthropod-associated Arsenophonus endosymbionts.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {63}, number = {3}, pages = {628-638}, pmid = {21892672}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; Beta vulgaris/*microbiology ; Enterobacteriaceae/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; Female ; Fragaria/*microbiology ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The genus Arsenophonus (Gammaproteobacteria) is comprised of intracellular symbiotic bacteria that are widespread across the arthropods. These bacteria can significantly influence the ecology and life history of their hosts. For instance, Arsenophonus nasoniae causes an excess of females in the progeny of parasitoid wasps by selectively killing the male embryos. Other Arsenophonus bacteria have been suspected to protect insect hosts from parasitoid wasps or to expand the host plant range of phytophagous sap-sucking insects. In addition, a few reports have also documented some Arsenophonus bacteria as plant pathogens. The adaptation to a plant pathogenic lifestyle seems to be promoted by the infection of sap-sucking insects in the family Cixiidae, which then transmit these bacteria to plants during the feeding process. In this study, we define the specific localization of an Arsenophonus bacterium pathogenic to sugar beet and strawberry plants within the plant hosts and the insect vector, Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae), using fluorescence in situ hybridization assays. Phylogenetic analysis on 16S rRNA and nucleotide coding sequences, using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian criteria, revealed that this bacterium is not a sister taxon to "Candidatus Phlomobacter fragariae," a previously characterized Arsenophonus bacterium pathogenic to strawberry plants in France and Japan. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis indicated that the adaptation to a plant pathogenic lifestyle likely evolved from an arthropod-associated lifestyle and showed that within the genus Arsenophonus, the plant pathogenic lifestyle arose independently at least twice. We also propose a novel Candidatus status, "Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus" novel species, for the bacterium associated with sugar beet and strawberry diseases and transmitted by the planthopper P. leporinus.}, } @article {pmid21892355, year = {2011}, author = {Maoka, T and Akimoto, N and Tsushima, M and Komemushi, S and Mezaki, T and Iwase, F and Takahashi, Y and Sameshima, N and Mori, M and Sakagami, Y}, title = {Carotenoids in marine invertebrates living along the Kuroshio current coast.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {1419-1427}, pmid = {21892355}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/chemistry ; Aquatic Organisms/*chemistry ; Bivalvia/chemistry ; Carotenoids/*chemistry/isolation & purification/metabolism/pharmacology ; Food Chain ; Invertebrates/*chemistry/metabolism ; Shellfish ; Starfish/chemistry ; Xanthophylls/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Carotenoids of the corals Acropora japonica, A. secale, and A. hyacinthus, the tridacnid clam Tridacna squamosa, the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, and the small sea snail Drupella fragum were investigated. The corals and the tridacnid clam are filter feeders and are associated with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Peridinin and pyrrhoxanthin, which originated from symbiotic zooxanthellae, were found to be major carotenoids in corals and the tridacnid clam. The crown-of-thorns starfish and the sea snail D. fragum are carnivorous and mainly feed on corals. Peridinin-3-acyl esters were major carotenoids in the sea snail D. fragum. On the other hand, ketocarotenoids such as 7,8-didehydroastaxanthin and astaxanthin were major carotenoids in the crown-of-thorns starfish. Carotenoids found in these marine animals closely reflected not only their metabolism but also their food chains.}, } @article {pmid21892353, year = {2011}, author = {Penesyan, A and Tebben, J and Lee, M and Thomas, T and Kjelleberg, S and Harder, T and Egan, S}, title = {Identification of the antibacterial compound produced by the marine epiphytic bacterium Pseudovibrio sp. D323 and related sponge-associated bacteria.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {1391-1402}, pmid = {21892353}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rhodobacteraceae/chemistry/genetics/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Tropolone/analogs & derivatives/isolation & purification/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Surface-associated marine bacteria often produce secondary metabolites with antagonistic activities. In this study, tropodithietic acid (TDA) was identified to be responsible for the antibacterial activity of the marine epiphytic bacterium Pseudovibrio sp. D323 and related strains. Phenol was also produced by these bacteria but was not directly related to the antibacterial activity. TDA was shown to effectively inhibit a range of marine bacteria from various phylogenetic groups. However TDA-producers themselves were resistant and are likely to possess resistance mechanism preventing autoinhibition. We propose that TDA in isolate D323 and related eukaryote-associated bacteria plays a role in defending the host organism against unwanted microbial colonisation and, possibly, bacterial pathogens.}, } @article {pmid21892352, year = {2011}, author = {Wang, YN and Shao, CL and Zheng, CJ and Chen, YY and Wang, CY}, title = {Diversity and antibacterial activities of fungi derived from the Gorgonian Echinogorgia rebekka from the South China Sea.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {9}, number = {8}, pages = {1379-1390}, pmid = {21892352}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*isolation & purification/pharmacology ; Ascomycota/isolation & purification/physiology ; Bacteria/*drug effects ; China ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Fungi/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods ; }, abstract = {The diversity of symbiotic fungi associated with the gorgonian coral Echinogorgia rebekka from the Weizhou coral reef in the South China Sea was investigated. Combined with morphologic traits, ITS-rDNA sequences revealed 18 fungal strains from this gorgonian. All of the 18 fungi belonged to the phylum Ascomycota and were distributed among seven genera in five orders: Eurotiales (Aspergillus and Penicillium), Pleosporales (Alternaria), Capnodiales (Cladosporium), Trichosphaeriales (Nigrospora) and Hypocreales (Hypocrea and Nectria). Antibacterial activities of these fungal strains were investigated with five pathogenic bacteria. All of the 18 fungal strains displayed different levels of antibacterial activities, most of which exhibited moderate to high antibacterial activities to the Gram-positive pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus tetragenus, and showed relatively low bioactivities to other three pathogenic bacteria. Several fungal strains in the genera Penicillium and Cladosporium with strong antibacterial activities provide potential for further research on isolation of bioactive secondary metabolites.}, } @article {pmid21889174, year = {2011}, author = {Labidi, S and Calonne, M and Ben Jeddi, F and Debiane, D and Rezgui, S and Laruelle, F and Tisserant, B and Grandmougin-Ferjani, A and Sahraoui, AL}, title = {Calcareous impact on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus development and on lipid peroxidation in monoxenic roots.}, journal = {Phytochemistry}, volume = {72}, number = {18}, pages = {2335-2341}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.08.016}, pmid = {21889174}, issn = {1873-3700}, mesh = {Calcium Carbonate/*pharmacology ; Chicory/*drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; *Lipid Peroxidation ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {The present work underlined the negative effects of increasing CaCO(3) concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mM) both on the chicory root growth and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus irregulare development in monoxenic system. CaCO(3) was found to reduce drastically the main stages of G. irregulare life cycle (spore germination, germinative hyphae elongation, root colonization, extraradical hyphae development and sporulation) but not to inhibit it completely. The root colonization drop was confirmed by the decrease in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal marker C16:1ω5 amounts in the mycorrhizal chicory roots grown in the presence of CaCO(3). Oxidative damage evaluated by lipid peroxidation increase measured by (i) malondialdehyde (MDA) production and (ii) the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase (POD) activities, was highlighted in chicory roots grown in the presence of CaCO(3). However, MDA formation was significantly higher in non-mycorrhizal roots as compared to mycorrhizal ones. This study pointed out the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to enhance plant tolerance to high levels of CaCO(3) by preventing lipid peroxidation and so less cell membrane damage.}, } @article {pmid21887636, year = {2011}, author = {Sundram, S and Meon, S and Seman, IA and Othman, R}, title = {Symbiotic interaction of endophytic bacteria with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and its antagonistic effect on Ganoderma boninense.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)}, volume = {49}, number = {4}, pages = {551-557}, pmid = {21887636}, issn = {1976-3794}, mesh = {Bacteria/isolation & purification/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Ecosystem ; Ganoderma/growth & development/*metabolism ; Hyphae ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Endophytic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 and Burkholderia cepacia UMPB3), isolated from within roots of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) were tested for their presymbiotic effects on two arbuscular mcorrhizal fungi, Glomus intraradices UT126 and Glomus clarum BR152B). These endophytic bacteria were also tested for antagonistic effects on Ganoderma boninense PER 71, a white wood rot fungal pathogen that causes a serious disease in oil palm. Spore germination and hyphal length of each arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) pairing with endophytic bacteria was found to be significantly higher than spores plated in the absence of bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the endophytic bacteria were scattered, resting or embedded on the surface hyaline layer or on the degraded walls of AMF spores, possibly feeding on the outer hyaline spore wall. The antagonistic effect of the endophytic bacteria was expressed as severe morphological abnormalities in the hyphal structures of G. boninense PER 71. The effects of the endophytic bacteria on G. boninense PER 71 hyphal structures were observed clearly under SEM. Severe inter-twisting, distortion, lysis and shriveling of the hyphal structures were observed. This study found that the effect of endophytic bacteria on G. intraradices UT126 and G. clarum BR152B resembled that of a mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB) association because the association significantly promoted AMF spore germination and hyphal length. However, the endophytic bacteria were extremely damaging to G. boninense PER 71.}, } @article {pmid21887270, year = {2011}, author = {Thrall, PH and Laine, AL and Broadhurst, LM and Bagnall, DJ and Brockwell, J}, title = {Symbiotic effectiveness of rhizobial mutualists varies in interactions with native Australian legume genera.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {e23545}, pmid = {21887270}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; Australia ; Fabaceae/growth & development/*microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis/*physiology ; Sympatry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Interactions between plants and beneficial soil organisms (e.g. rhizobial bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi) are models for investigating the ecological impacts of such associations in plant communities, and the evolution and maintenance of variation in mutualisms (e.g. host specificity and the level of benefits provided). With relatively few exceptions, variation in symbiotic effectiveness across wild host species is largely unexplored.

METHODS: We evaluated these associations using representatives of several legume genera which commonly co-occur in natural ecosystems in south-eastern Australia and an extensive set of rhizobial strains isolated from these hosts. These strains had been previously assigned to specific phylotypes on the basis of molecular analyses. In the first of two inoculation experiments, the growth responses of each host species was evaluated with rhizobial strains isolated from that species. The second experiment assessed performance across genera and the extent of host specificity using a subset of these strains.

RESULTS: While host growth responses to their own (sympatric) isolates varied considerably, rhizobial phylotype was a significant predictor of symbiotic performance, indicating that bacterial species designations on the basis of molecular markers have ecological importance. Hosts responded in qualitatively different ways to sympatric and allopatric strains of rhizobia, ranging from species with a clear preference for their own strains, to those that were broad generalists, through to species that grew significantly better with allopatric strains.

CONCLUSION: Theory has focused on trade-offs between the provision of benefits and symbiont competitive ability that might explain the persistence of less beneficial strains. However, differences in performance among co-occurring host species could also drive such patterns. Our results thus highlight the likely importance of plant community structure in maintaining variation in symbiotic effectiveness.}, } @article {pmid21883801, year = {2011}, author = {Septer, AN and Wang, Y and Ruby, EG and Stabb, EV and Dunn, AK}, title = {The haem-uptake gene cluster in Vibrio fischeri is regulated by Fur and contributes to symbiotic colonization.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {13}, number = {11}, pages = {2855-2864}, pmid = {21883801}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {R01 OD011024/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 RR012294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; RR12294/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/*genetics/physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial ; Heme/*metabolism ; Hemin/metabolism ; Iron/metabolism ; *Multigene Family ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Although it is accepted that bacteria-colonizing host tissues are commonly faced with iron-limiting conditions and that pathogenic bacteria often utilize iron from host-derived haem-based compounds, the mechanisms of iron acquisition by beneficial symbiotic bacteria are less clear. The bacterium Vibrio fischeri mutualistically colonizes the light organ of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Genome sequence analysis of V. fischeri revealed a putative haem-uptake gene cluster, and through mutant analysis we confirmed this cluster is important for haemin use by V. fischeri in culture. LacZ reporter assays demonstrated Fur-dependent transcriptional regulation of cluster promoter activity in culture. GFP-based reporter assays revealed that gene cluster promoter activity is induced in symbiotic V. fischeri as early as 14 h post inoculation, although colonization assays with the haem uptake mutant suggested an inability to uptake haem does not begin to limit colonization until later stages of the symbiosis. Our data indicate that the squid light organ is a low iron environment and that haem-based sources of iron are used by symbiotic V. fischeri cells. These findings provide important additional information on the availability of iron during symbiotic colonization of E. scolopes by V. fischeri, as well as the role of haem uptake in non-pathogenic host-microbe interactions.}, } @article {pmid21883250, year = {2011}, author = {Khan, AL and Hamayun, M and Ahmad, N and Waqas, M and Kang, SM and Kim, YH and Lee, IJ}, title = {Exophiala sp. LHL08 reprograms Cucumis sativus to higher growth under abiotic stresses.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {143}, number = {4}, pages = {329-343}, doi = {10.1111/j.1399-3054.2011.01508.x}, pmid = {21883250}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {Abscisic Acid/analysis ; Cucumis sativus/*growth & development/microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Droughts ; Endophytes/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Exophiala/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Gibberellins/*biosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Growth Regulators/*biosynthesis ; Plant Roots/*microbiology ; Salicylic Acid/analysis ; Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; *Stress, Physiological ; }, abstract = {Endophytic fungi are potential sources of secondary metabolites; however, they are little known for phytohormones secretion and amelioration of plant growth under abiotic stresses. We isolated a novel endophyte from the roots of Cucumis sativus and identified it as a strain of Exophiala sp. by sequencing internal transcribed spacer/large subunit rDNA and phylogenetic analysis. Prior to identification, culture filtrate (CF) of Exophiala sp. has shown significant growth promotion of Waito-C [a gibberellins (GAs)-deficient mutant cultivar] and Dongjin-byeo (normal GAs biosynthesis cultivar) rice seedlings. CF analysis of Exophiala sp. showed the presence of physiologically active GAs (GA1, GA3, GA4 and GA7) and inactive GAs (GA5, GA8, GA9, GA12 and GA20). Exophiala sp. had higher GAs in its CF than wild-type strain of Gibberella fujikuroi except GA3. Influence of Exophiala sp. was assessed on cucumber plant's growth and endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA) and bioactive GAs under salinity and drought stresses. Exophiala sp.-treated plants have shown significantly higher growth and rescued the host plants from stress promulgated water deficit, osmotic and cellular damage. The altered levels of stress-responsive ABA showed low level of stress confined to endophyte-applied plants than control. Elevated levels of SA and bioactive GAs (GA3 and GA4) in endophyte-associated plants suggest stress-modulating response toward salinity and drought. In conclusion, symbiotic relations between Exophiala and cucumber have reprogrammed the host plant growth under abiotic stresses, thus indicating a possible threshold role of endophytic fungi in stress alleviation. This study could be extended for improving agricultural productivity under extreme environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid21883231, year = {2011}, author = {Smith, ME and Henkel, TW and Catherine Aime, M and Fremier, AK and Vilgalys, R}, title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity and community structure on three co-occurring leguminous canopy tree species in a Neotropical rainforest.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {192}, number = {3}, pages = {699-712}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03844.x}, pmid = {21883231}, issn = {1469-8137}, mesh = {Analysis of Variance ; *Biodiversity ; DNA, Intergenic/genetics ; Fabaceae/genetics/*microbiology ; Genes, Plant/genetics ; Geography ; Guyana ; Mycorrhizae/*growth & development ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Trees/*microbiology ; *Tropical Climate ; }, abstract = {• The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis was historically considered restricted to the temperate zones, but recent studies have shown the importance of this symbiosis across the tropics. We examined ECM fungal diversity, host plant phylogeny and ECM host preferences in a rainforest dominated by the leguminous host plants Dicymbe corymbosa, Dicymbe altsonii and Aldina insignis. • Ectomycorrhizal fungi were identified by internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequencing and host species were verified with chloroplast trnL sequencing. To test whether Dicymbe and Aldina represent independent gains of the ECM symbiosis, we constructed a Fabaceae phylogeny using MatK and trnL. We identified four independent ECM lineages within the Fabaceae. • We detected a diverse community of 118 ECM species dominated by the /clavulina, /russula-lactarius, /boletus, and /tomentella-thelephora lineages. Ectomycorrhizal species in Agaricales, Atheliales and Polyporales may represent previously unrecognized tropical-endemic ECM lineages. Previous studies suggested that ECM fungi did not diversify in the tropics, but the /clavulina lineage appears to have a center of diversity in tropical South America. • Dicymbe and Aldina represent independent gains of the ECM symbiosis in Fabaceae but their fungal symbionts showed no host preferences. Spatial factors are more important than hosts in structuring the ECM fungal community in this ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid21880106, year = {2012}, author = {Dees, MW and Somervuo, P and Lysøe, E and Aittamaa, M and Valkonen, JP}, title = {Species' identification and microarray-based comparative genome analysis of Streptomyces species isolated from potato scab lesions in Norway.}, journal = {Molecular plant pathology}, volume = {13}, number = {2}, pages = {174-186}, pmid = {21880106}, issn = {1364-3703}, mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genome, Bacterial/*genetics ; Melanins/biosynthesis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Norway ; *Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases/*microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/*microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Streptomyces/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Streptomyces strains were isolated from scab lesions on potatoes collected from different parts of Norway. Twenty-eight plant-pathogenic strains, as tested on seedlings of radish and on potato, were identified on the basis of physiological and molecular criteria. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, using species-specific primers, and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene identified 14 nonmelanin-producing strains to S. turgidiscabies. Fourteen melanin-producing strains were detected with primers specific to S. scabies, but whole-genome microarray analysis, based on 12 766 probes designed for 8848 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) of S. scabies, showed that the 14 strains were different from S. scabies. They were subsequently identified to be S. europaeiscabiei based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the rRNA genes. This is the first report of the occurrence of S. turgidiscabies and S. europaeiscabiei in Norway. The putative 762 genes exhibiting the highest sequence differences between strains of S. europaeiscabiei and S. scabies according to microarray analysis were concentrated in relatively few gene ontology (GO) categories, including 'symbiosis and mutualism through parasitism', 'cell death' and 'responses to biotic stimulus', whereas genes related to primary metabolism appeared to be more conserved. Microarray data and 16S rRNA gene phylogeny showed, consistently, that there were two genetically distinguishable groups of S. europaeiscabiei on the basis of differences in 131 genes. The results provide novel information about the genetic variability of S. europaeiscabiei and the gene-specific variability between the genomes of S. europaeiscabiei and S. scabies. The usefulness of a custom-designed, whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray in a survey of bacterial plant pathogens was demonstrated.}, } @article {pmid21879796, year = {2012}, author = {Stockwell, SB and Reutimann, L and Guerinot, ML}, title = {A role for Bradyrhizobium japonicum ECF16 sigma factor EcfS in the formation of a functional symbiosis with soybean.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {119-128}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-11-0188}, pmid = {21879796}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {T32GM008704/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Gene Expression/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Sigma Factor/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Alternative sigma (σ) factors, proteins that recruit RNA polymerase core enzyme to target promoters, are one mechanism by which bacteria transcriptionally regulate groups of genes in response to environmental stimuli. A class of σ(70) proteins, termed extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors, are involved in cellular processes such as bacterial stress responses and virulence. Here, we describe an ECF16 σ factor, EcfS (Blr4928) from the gram-negative soil bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110, that plays a critical role in the establishment of a functional symbiosis with soybean. Nonpolar insertional mutants of ecfS form immature nodules that do not fix nitrogen, a defect that can be successfully complemented by expression of ecfS. Overexpression of the cocistronic gene, tmrS (blr4929), phenocopies the ecfS mutant in planta and, therefore, we propose that TmrS is a negative regulator of EcfS, a determination consistent with the prediction that it encodes an anti-σ factor. Microarray analysis of the ecfS mutant and tmrS overexpressor was used to identify 40 transcripts misregulated in both strains. These transcripts primarily encode proteins of unknown and transport-related functions and may provide insights into the symbiotic defect in these strains.}, } @article {pmid21876769, year = {2011}, author = {Swithers, KS and Fournier, GP and Green, AG and Gogarten, JP and Lapierre, P}, title = {Reassessment of the lineage fusion hypothesis for the origin of double membrane bacteria.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {e23774}, pmid = {21876769}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Bacteria/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/*metabolism ; *Membrane Fusion ; *Models, Biological ; *Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {In 2009, James Lake introduced a new hypothesis in which reticulate phylogeny reconstruction is used to elucidate the origin of gram-negative bacteria (Nature 460: 967-971). The presented data supported the gram-negative bacteria originating from an ancient endosymbiosis between the Actinobacteria and Clostridia. His conclusion was based on a presence-absence analysis of protein families that divided all prokaryotes into five groups: Actinobacteria, Double Membrane bacteria (DM), Clostridia, Archaea and Bacilli. Of these five groups, the DM are by far the largest and most diverse group compared to the other groupings. While the fusion hypothesis for the origin of double membrane bacteria is enticing, we show that the signal supporting an ancient symbiosis is lost when the DM group is broken down into smaller subgroups. We conclude that the signal detected in James Lake's analysis in part results from a systematic artifact due to group size and diversity combined with low levels of horizontal gene transfer.}, } @article {pmid21876379, year = {2011}, author = {Cho, CH and Whang, KS and Gaugler, R and Yoo, SK}, title = {Submerged monoxenic culture medium development for Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and its symbiotic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens: protein sources.}, journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology}, volume = {21}, number = {8}, pages = {869-873}, doi = {10.4014/jmb.1010.10055}, pmid = {21876379}, issn = {1738-8872}, mesh = {Animals ; Culture Media/chemistry/*metabolism ; Culture Techniques/*instrumentation/methods ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Photorhabdus/*growth & development/physiology ; Rhabditoidea/*growth & development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most medium formulations for improving culture of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) based on protein sources have used enriched media like animal feed such as dried egg yolk, lactalbumin, and liver extract, among other ingredients. Most results, however, showed unstable yields and longer production time. Many of the results do not show the detailed parameters of fermentation. Soy flour, cotton seed flour, corn gluten meal, casein powder, soytone, peptone, casein hydrolysates, and lactalbumin hydrolysate as protein sources were tested to determine the source to support optimal symbiotic bacteria and nematode growth. The protein hydrolysates selected did not improve bacterial cell mass compared with the yeast extract control, but soy flour was the best, showing 75.1% recovery and producing more bacterial cell number (1.4×10[9]/ml) than all other sources. The highest yield (1.85×10[5] IJs/ml), yield coefficient (1.67×10[6] IJs/g medium), and productivity (1.32×10[7] IJs/l/day) were also achieved at enriched medium with soybean protein.}, } @article {pmid21875091, year = {2011}, author = {Rath, CM and Janto, B and Earl, J and Ahmed, A and Hu, FZ and Hiller, L and Dahlgren, M and Kreft, R and Yu, F and Wolff, JJ and Kweon, HK and Christiansen, MA and Håkansson, K and Williams, RM and Ehrlich, GD and Sherman, DH}, title = {Meta-omic characterization of the marine invertebrate microbial consortium that produces the chemotherapeutic natural product ET-743.}, journal = {ACS chemical biology}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {1244-1256}, pmid = {21875091}, issn = {1554-8937}, support = {CA070375/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 TW007404/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA070375/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA070375-08/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; C76HF00659//PHS HHS/United States ; U01 TW007404-08/TW/FIC NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DC002148/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/*metabolism ; Biological Products/chemistry/*metabolism ; Dioxoles/chemistry/*metabolism ; Gene Library ; *Metagenome ; Microbial Consortia/genetics/*physiology ; Molecular Conformation ; Phylogeny ; Proteomics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tetrahydroisoquinolines/chemistry/*metabolism ; Trabectedin ; Urochordata/genetics/*microbiology ; }, abstract = {In many macroorganisms, the ultimate source of potent biologically active natural products has remained elusive due to an inability to identify and culture the producing symbiotic microorganisms. As a model system for developing a meta-omic approach to identify and characterize natural product pathways from invertebrate-derived microbial consortia, we chose to investigate the ET-743 (Yondelis) biosynthetic pathway. This molecule is an approved anticancer agent obtained in low abundance (10(-4)-10(-5) % w/w) from the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata and is generated in suitable quantities for clinical use by a lengthy semisynthetic process. On the basis of structural similarities to three bacterial secondary metabolites, we hypothesized that ET-743 is the product of a marine bacterial symbiont. Using metagenomic sequencing of total DNA from the tunicate/microbial consortium, we targeted and assembled a 35 kb contig containing 25 genes that comprise the core of the NRPS biosynthetic pathway for this valuable anticancer agent. Rigorous sequence analysis based on codon usage of two large unlinked contigs suggests that Candidatus Endoecteinascidia frumentensis produces the ET-743 metabolite. Subsequent metaproteomic analysis confirmed expression of three key biosynthetic proteins. Moreover, the predicted activity of an enzyme for assembly of the tetrahydroisoquinoline core of ET-743 was verified in vitro. This work provides a foundation for direct production of the drug and new analogues through metabolic engineering. We expect that the interdisciplinary approach described is applicable to diverse host-symbiont systems that generate valuable natural products for drug discovery and development.}, } @article {pmid21874853, year = {2011}, author = {Vorob'ieva, IG and Diakin, AIu}, title = {[The fine structure of the cortical zone in the gregarine Bothriopsides histrio (Eugregarinida: Actinocephalidae)].}, journal = {Parazitologiia}, volume = {45}, number = {3}, pages = {220-233}, pmid = {21874853}, issn = {0031-1847}, mesh = {Animals ; Apicomplexa/microbiology/*ultrastructure ; Bacteria/ultrastructure ; Coleoptera/*parasitology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Attached and non-attached trophozoites of the septate gregarine Bothriopsides histrio were found in the intestine of the freshwater beetle Acilius sulcatus. Circular folds in the border between proto- and deutomerites and longitudinal striation, running along the entire body of the parasite, were revealed in an optical microscope. Our studies have demonstrated that circular folds, forming a specific collar, are formed of ecto- and endocytes. The longitudinal striation is represented by overdeveloped folds developed by the epicyte and the ectocite. Numerous typical epicite folds were observed over the entire cell surface. Additionally, the symbiosis between gregarine cells and bacteria was revealed.}, } @article {pmid21873161, year = {2011}, author = {Kadowaki, T and Inagawa, H and Kohchi, C and Hirashima, M and Soma, G}, title = {Functional characterization of lipopolysaccharide derived from symbiotic bacteria in rice as a macrophage-activating substance.}, journal = {Anticancer research}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {2467-2476}, pmid = {21873161}, issn = {1791-7530}, mesh = {Blotting, Western ; Cell Line/drug effects/metabolism ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Cross Reactions ; Cytokines/biosynthesis/genetics ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Limulus Test ; Lipid A/immunology ; Lipopolysaccharides/chemistry/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects ; Macrophage Activation/*drug effects ; Macrophages/drug effects/metabolism ; Micelles ; Molecular Structure ; Molecular Weight ; Monocytes/drug effects/metabolism ; O Antigens/*chemistry ; Oryza/*microbiology ; Pantoea/*chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIM: Lipopolysaccharide derived from a symbiotic bacterium in wheat (Pantoea agglomerans, LPSp) has shown multiple positive effects, such as prophylactic, antiallergic and antitumour effects, without serious side-effects. LPSp has differential biological activities in comparison to other LPS, such as those from Escherichia coli (LPSe). The only difference between LPSp and LPSe is in the O-antigen polysaccharide structure (O-PS). This led us to the hypothesis that the O-PS structure would seem to participate in biological activities. Thus, the characterization of properties of O-PS in LPS is of the utmost importance for understanding cell activation in the maintenance of homeostasis. However, little is known about the correlation between the O-PS structure of LPS and its biological activities. In this study, we extracted LPS derived from a symbiotic bacterium in rice (strain A46, related species of Pantoea), which has a long history of use in foods, and investigated its putative structures and functions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: LPS derived from strain A46 was prepared using a hot phenol extraction method. The properties of LPS-A46 were analysed by thin-layer chromatography, Tricine SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The function of LPS-A46 was analyzed by quantative real-time PCR and flow cytometry using THP-1 cells and Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) derived macrophages.

RESULTS: In Tricine SDS-PAGE, high molecular mass LPS-A46 had a molecular mass lower than that of LPSp. In Western blotting, LPS-A46 reacted with lipid A antibody but did not react with an O-PS antibody of LPSp. In comparison to other LPS, LPS-A46 induced a differential cytokine gene expression profile in THP-1 cells and PBMC-derived macrophages.

CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that LPS derived from symbiotic bacterium in rice is a bioactive functional LPS which may have different functional activities compared to other types of LPS.}, } @article {pmid21873156, year = {2011}, author = {Nakata, K and Inagawa, H and Soma, G}, title = {Lipopolysaccharide IP-PA1 from Pantoea agglomerans prevents suppression of macrophage function in stress-induced diseases.}, journal = {Anticancer research}, volume = {31}, number = {7}, pages = {2437-2440}, pmid = {21873156}, issn = {1791-7530}, mesh = {Administration, Oral ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; Calcification, Physiologic/drug effects ; Dexamethasone/toxicity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy/immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy/immunology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Food Microbiology ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/administration & dosage/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Macrophage Activation/*drug effects/physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Neoplasms/etiology/prevention & control ; Neurosecretory Systems/drug effects ; Pantoea/*chemistry ; Plants, Edible/microbiology ; Stress, Psychological/complications/drug therapy/*immunology/physiopathology ; }, abstract = {Chronic psychological stress impairs health and induces various diseases by causing an imbalance in the immune, neuropsychiatric and endocrine systems. The primary reason for the development of stress-induced disease is suppression of macrophage function, which plays a pivotal role in innate immunity. In fact, surgical stress has been shown to exacerbate opportunistic infections by significantly suppressing macrophage function. Conversely, administration of macrophage activating substances before surgery, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or Picibanil (OK-432), has been shown to protect against macrophage suppression and the resulting exacerbation of infectious diseases, and against tumor metastasis in the lungs. Thus, if suppression of macrophage function by stress could be safely prevented by use of a macrophage activating substance, the detrimental side effects of stress could be reduced. Recently, we identified a lipopolysaccharide, IP-PA1, derived from Pantoea agglomerans, a symbiotic Gram-negative bacteria found in wheat and other food plants. Oral administration of IP-PA1 demonstrated macrophage activation (priming) and protective effects against infection, allergy and cancer, without any side-effects. In this review, the possibility of using IP-PA1 as a safe, macrophage activating substance for prevention of stress-induced impairments is discussed.}, } @article {pmid21872181, year = {2011}, author = {Krause, C and Garnica, S and Bauer, R and Nebel, M}, title = {Aneuraceae (Metzgeriales) and tulasnelloid fungi (Basidiomycota): a model for early steps in fungal symbiosis.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {115}, number = {9}, pages = {839-851}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2011.06.013}, pmid = {21872181}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/*physiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; Hepatophyta/*microbiology/*physiology ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {A total of 35 population samples of the liverwort genera Aneura (A. pinguis) and Riccardia (R. latifrons, R. multifida, and R. palmata) were sampled from diverse habitats and geographical provenances in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Light and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterise the morphological features of the associations, and phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the D1/D2 regions of the fungal 28S rDNA were used to address diversity and phylogenetic relationships. By comparing the cellular structures of the plant-fungus interactions, we recognised the following states of fungal colonisation within the thalli: fungus-free, epiphytic, intercellular, and intracellular. Colonising hyphae showed dolipores with imperforate parenthesomes, slime bodies, and multilayered walls. Colonised liverwort cells had pleomorphic nuclei and elongated starch-free chloroplasts with distinctive grana. Our analyses revealed six phylogenetic groups of tulasnelloid fungi associated with liverworts, where major lineages mostly share similar host and/or ecological specialisations. The mode of colonisation of the tulasnelloid mycobionts in Aneura and Riccardia sharing identical fungal sequences is different. Consequently, the mode of colonisation may be host-dependent. Finally, our findings demonstrate that Aneuraceae are model organisms for evolutionary studies of symbiotic associations between liverworts and fungi.}, } @article {pmid21870967, year = {2011}, author = {Cheng, RX and Meng, L and Mills, NJ and Li, B}, title = {Host preference between symbiotic and aposymbiotic Aphis fabae, by the aphid parasitoid, Lysiphlebus ambiguus.}, journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {81}, pmid = {21870967}, issn = {1536-2442}, mesh = {Animals ; Aphids/microbiology/*parasitology ; Choice Behavior ; Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; Female ; *Host Specificity ; Larva/physiology ; Oviposition ; *Symbiosis ; Wasps/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Few empirical studies have directly explored the association between Buchnera aphidicola (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae), the primary endosymbiont of aphids, and the life history strategies of aphid parasitoids. A series of paired-choice experiments were conducted to explore the preference of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus ambiguus Halliday (Hymenoptera: Aphididae) for symbiotic and aposymbiotic Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the suitability of these hosts for parasitoid development. When given a choice between symbiotic and aposymbiotic aphids of the same instar, the parasitoid significantly preferred symbiotic over aposymbiotic aphids only during the later instars (L(4) and adult). The suitability of aposymbiotic aphids for parasitoid development was equal to that of symbiotic aphids in terms of survivorship and sex ratio, but was significantly lower than that of symbiotic aphids for L(4) and adult instars in development rate and/or female adult size. When given a choice between similar-sized symbiotic L(2) and aposymbiotic L(4) aphids, the parasitoid preferred the former. No significant differences in preference or host suitability were demonstrated when the parasitoid was given a choice between different instars of aposymbiotic aphids. While parasitoid lifetime fecundity increased with aphid instar at the time of oviposition, there was no significant influence of previous development from symbiotic versus aposymbiotic aphids. These results suggest that while L. ambiguus can discriminate between symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. fabae during later instars and when the aphids are of a similar size, the primary endosymbiont is not needed for successful parasitoid development; and its absence only compromises parasitoid growth reared from later instar aposymbiotic host.}, } @article {pmid21868054, year = {2011}, author = {Button, M and Moriarty, MM and Watts, MJ and Zhang, J and Koch, I and Reimer, KJ}, title = {Arsenic speciation in field-collected and laboratory-exposed earthworms Lumbricus terrestris.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {85}, number = {8}, pages = {1277-1283}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.07.026}, pmid = {21868054}, issn = {1879-1298}, support = {//Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Arsenic/*analysis ; Arsenicals/analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Mass Spectrometry ; Oligochaeta/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Plants/metabolism ; Soil/*analysis ; Soil Pollutants/*analysis ; }, abstract = {Mature Lumbricus terrestris were host soils and leaf litter were collected from a former arsenic mine in Devon, UK (Devon Great Consols), a former gold mine in Ontario, Canada (Deloro), and an uncontaminated residential garden in Nottingham, UK. Arsenic concentrations determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in soils were 16-348 mg kg(-1), 6.0-239 mg kg(-1) in the earthworms and 8.6 mg kg(-1) in leaf litter sampled at Deloro (all dry weight). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-ICP-MS) analysis revealed arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)) and five organoarsenic species; arsenobetaine (AB), methylarsonate (MA(V)), dimethylarsinate (DMA(V)), arsenosugar 1 (glycerol sugar), arsenosugar 2 (phosphate sugar), and trimethylarsineoxide (TMAO) in field-collected L. terrestris. Differences were observed in the variety of organoarsenic species present between field sites. Several organoarsenic species were observed in the leaf litter (DMA(V), arsenosugar 2 and TMAO) but not AB. Depuration resulted in higher concentrations of inorganic As being detected in the earthworm whereas the concentration or variety of organoarsenic species was unchanged. Commercially sourced L. terrestris were exposed to As contaminated soil in laboratory mesocosms (1.0, 98, 183, 236, 324 and 436 mg kg(-1)) without leaf litter and were additionally analyzed using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). Only inorganic As(III) and As(V) was observed. It is proposed that ingestion of leaf litter and symbiotic processes in the natural soil environment are likely sources of organoarsenic compounds in field-collected L. terrestris.}, } @article {pmid21866363, year = {2012}, author = {Labidi, S and Ben Jeddi, F and Tisserant, B and Debiane, D and Rezgui, S and Grandmougin-Ferjani, A and Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, A}, title = {Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in root mineral uptake under CaCO3 stress.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {22}, number = {5}, pages = {337-345}, pmid = {21866363}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {Calcium Carbonate/*pharmacology ; Fungi/drug effects/growth & development ; Minerals/*metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/*drug effects/growth & development/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/drug effects/growth & development ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the effects of increasing CaCO(3) concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 mM) on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis establishment as well as on chicory root growth and mineral nutrient uptake in a monoxenic system. Although CaCO(3) treatments significantly decreased root growth and altered the symbiosis-related development steps of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (germination, germination hypha elongation, root colonization rate, extraradical hyphal development, sporulation), the fungus was able to completely fulfill its life cycle. Even when root growth decreased more drastically in mycorrhizal roots than in non-mycorrhizal ones in the presence of high CaCO(3) levels, the AM symbiosis was found to be beneficial for root mineral uptake. Significant increases in P, N, Fe, Zn and Cu concentrations were recorded in the mycorrhizal roots. Whereas acid and alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activities remained constant in mycorrhizal roots, they were affected in non-mycorrhizal roots grown in the presence of CaCO(3) when compared with the control.}, } @article {pmid21866182, year = {2012}, author = {Ghignone, S and Salvioli, A and Anca, I and Lumini, E and Ortu, G and Petiti, L and Cruveiller, S and Bianciotto, V and Piffanelli, P and Lanfranco, L and Bonfante, P}, title = {The genome of the obligate endobacterium of an AM fungus reveals an interphylum network of nutritional interactions.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {136-145}, pmid = {21866182}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Burkholderiaceae/*genetics/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Glomeromycota/*metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Mycorrhizae/*metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Spores, Fungal/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; }, abstract = {As obligate symbionts of most land plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a crucial role in ecosystems, but to date, in the absence of genomic data, their adaptive biology remains elusive. In addition, endobacteria are found in their cytoplasm, the role of which is unknown. In order to investigate the function of the Gram-negative Candidatus Glomeribacter gigasporarum, an endobacterium of the AMF Gigaspora margarita, we sequenced its genome, leading to an ∼1.72-Mb assembly. Phylogenetic analyses placed Ca. G. gigasporarum in the Burkholderiaceae whereas metabolic network analyses clustered it with insect endobacteria. This positioning of Ca. G. gigasporarum among different bacterial classes reveals that it has undergone convergent evolution to adapt itself to intracellular lifestyle. The genome annotation of this mycorrhizal-fungal endobacterium has revealed an unexpected genetic mosaic where typical determinants of symbiotic, pathogenic and free-living bacteria are integrated in a reduced genome. Ca. G. gigasporarum is an aerobic microbe that depends on its host for carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen supply; it also expresses type II and type III secretion systems and synthesizes vitamin B12, antibiotics- and toxin-resistance molecules, which may contribute to the fungal host's ecological fitness. Ca. G. gigasporarum has an extreme dependence on its host for nutrients and energy, whereas the fungal host is itself an obligate biotroph that relies on a photosynthetic plant. Our work represents the first step towards unraveling a complex network of interphylum interactions, which is expected to have a previously unrecognized ecological impact.}, } @article {pmid21864694, year = {2011}, author = {Hendry, TA and Dunlap, PV}, title = {The uncultured luminous symbiont of Anomalops katoptron (Beryciformes: Anomalopidae) represents a new bacterial genus.}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, pages = {834-843}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2011.08.006}, pmid = {21864694}, issn = {1095-9513}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*classification/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Fishes/*microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; Likelihood Functions ; *Luminescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Operon/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; }, abstract = {Flashlight fishes (Beryciformes: Anomalopidae) harbor luminous symbiotic bacteria in subocular light organs and use the bacterial light for predator avoidance, feeding, and communication. Despite many attempts anomalopid symbionts have not been brought into laboratory culture, which has restricted progress in understanding their phylogenetic relationships with other luminous bacteria, identification of the genes of their luminescence system, as well as the nature of their symbiotic interactions with their fish hosts. To begin addressing these issues, we used culture-independent analysis of the bacteria symbiotic with the anomalopid fish, Anomalops katoptron, to characterize the phylogeny of the bacteria and to identify the genes of their luminescence system including those involved in the regulation of luminescence. Analysis of the 16S rRNA, atpA, gapA, gyrB, pyrH, recA, rpoA, and topA genes resolved the A. katoptron symbionts as a clade nested within and deeply divergent from other members of Vibrionaceae. The bacterial luminescence (lux) genes were identified as a contiguous set (luxCDABEG), as found for the lux operons of other luminous bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis based on the lux genes confirmed the housekeeping gene phylogenetic placement. Furthermore, genes flanking the lux operon in the A. katoptron symbionts differed from those flanking lux operons of other genera of luminous bacteria. We therefore propose the candidate name Candidatus Photodesmus (Greek: photo = light, desmus = servant) katoptron for the species of bacteria symbiotic with A. katoptron. Results of a preliminary genomic analysis for genes regulating luminescence in other bacteria identified only a Vibrio harveyi-type luxR gene. These results suggest that expression of the luminescence system might be continuous in P. katoptron.}, } @article {pmid21864534, year = {2011}, author = {Barbier, T and Nicolas, C and Letesson, JJ}, title = {Brucella adaptation and survival at the crossroad of metabolism and virulence.}, journal = {FEBS letters}, volume = {585}, number = {19}, pages = {2929-2934}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2011.08.011}, pmid = {21864534}, issn = {1873-3468}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*physiology ; Animals ; Brucella/genetics/*metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Brucellosis/microbiology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Quorum Sensing ; Virulence ; }, abstract = {"In vivo" bacterial nutrition, i.e. the nature of the metabolic network and substrate(s) used by bacteria within their host, is a fundamental aspect of pathogenic or symbiotic lifestyles. A typical example are the Brucella spp., facultative intracellular pathogens responsible for chronic infections of animals and humans. Their virulence relies on their ability to modulate immune response and the physiology of host cells, but the fine-tuning of their metabolism in the host during infection appears increasingly crucial. Here we review new insights on the links between Brucella virulence and metabolism, pointing out the need to investigate both aspects to decipher Brucella infectious strategies.}, } @article {pmid21864047, year = {2011}, author = {Jeon, JM and Lee, HI and Donati, AJ and So, JS and Emerich, DW and Chang, WS}, title = {Whole-genome expression profiling of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in response to hydrogen peroxide.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {1472-1481}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-03-11-0072}, pmid = {21864047}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Enzyme Induction ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*drug effects/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Complementation Test ; Genome, Bacterial/genetics ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*pharmacology ; Isocitrate Lyase/biosynthesis/drug effects ; Microbial Viability ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oxidants/*pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium in soil, establishes a symbiotic relationship with the leguminous soybean plant. Despite a mutualistic association between the two partners, the host plant produces an oxidative burst to protect itself from the invasion of rhizobial cells. We investigated the effects of H(2)O(2)-mediated oxidative stress on B. japonicum gene expression in both prolonged exposure (PE) and fulminant shock (FS) conditions. In total, 439 and 650 genes were differentially expressed for the PE and FS conditions, respectively, at a twofold cut-off with q < 0.05. A number of genes within the transport and binding proteins category were upregulated during PE and a majority of those genes are involved in ABC transporter systems. Many genes encoding ? factors, global stress response proteins, the FixK(2) transcription factor, and its regulatory targets were found to be upregulated in the FS condition. Surprisingly, catalase and peroxidase genes which are typically expressed in other bacteria under oxidative stress were not differentially expressed in either condition. The isocitrate lyase gene (aceA) was induced by fulminant H(2)O(2) shock, as was evident at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Interestingly, there was no significant effect of H(2)O(2) on exopolysaccharide production at the given experimental conditions.}, } @article {pmid21864045, year = {2011}, author = {Renier, A and Maillet, F and Fardoux, J and Poinsot, V and Giraud, E and Nouwen, N}, title = {Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium Sp. strain ORS285 synthesizes 2-O-methylfucosylated lipochitooligosaccharides for nod gene-dependent interaction with Aeschynomene plants.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {1440-1447}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-11-0104}, pmid = {21864045}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Amidohydrolases/drug effects/*genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/drug effects/*genetics ; Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology/physiology ; Flavanones/chemistry/pharmacology ; Flavonoids/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Fucose/analogs & derivatives/chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Genes, Reporter ; Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; *Photosynthesis ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 is a photosynthetic bacterium that forms nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots and stems of tropical aquatic legumes of the Aeschynomene genus. The symbiotic interaction of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 with certain Aeschynomene spp. depends on the presence of nodulation (nod) genes whereas the interaction with other species is nod gene independent. To study the nod gene-dependent molecular dialogue between Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 and Aeschynomene spp., we used a nodB-lacZ reporter strain to monitor the nod gene expression with various flavonoids. The flavanones liquiritigenin and naringenin were found to be the strongest inducers of nod gene expression. Chemical analysis of the culture supernatant of cells grown in the presence of naringenin showed that the major Nod factor produced by Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 is a modified chitin pentasaccharide molecule with a terminal N-C(18:1)-glucosamine and with a 2-O-methyl fucose linked to C-6 of the reducing glucosamine. In this respect, the Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 Nod factor is the same as the major Nod factor produced by the nonphotosynthetic Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 that nodulates the roots of soybean. This suggests a classic nod gene-dependent molecular dialogue between Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285 and certain Aeschynomene spp. This is supported by the fact that B. japonicum USDA110 is able to form N(2)-fixing nodules on both the roots and stems of Aeschynomene afraspera.}, } @article {pmid21862578, year = {2011}, author = {Takahashi, K and Sugi, Y and Nakano, K and Tsuda, M and Kurihara, K and Hosono, A and Kaminogawa, S}, title = {Epigenetic control of the host gene by commensal bacteria in large intestinal epithelial cells.}, journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {286}, number = {41}, pages = {35755-35762}, pmid = {21862578}, issn = {1083-351X}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/growth & development/*metabolism ; CDX2 Transcription Factor ; Caco-2 Cells ; DNA Methylation/physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic/*physiology ; Epithelial Cells/*metabolism/microbiology ; Germ-Free Life/*physiology ; Homeodomain Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics ; Humans ; Intestine, Large/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Knockout ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/physiology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/biosynthesis/genetics ; Transcription Factors/biosynthesis/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic/physiology ; }, abstract = {Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are continuously exposed to large numbers of commensal bacteria but are relatively insensitive to them, thereby averting an excessive inflammatory reaction. We have previously reported that the hyporesponsiveness of a human IEC line to LPS was primarily the result of a down-regulation of TLR4 gene transcription through epigenetic mechanisms. In the present study we show that DNA methylation in the 5' region of the TLR4 gene is significantly higher in IECs than in splenic cells in vivo. The methylation was shown to be dependent on the differentiation state of the IECs, as the differentiated IEC population that expressed higher levels of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) also displayed greater methylation and lower expression of the TLR4 gene than the undifferentiated population. The IAP(high), differentiated population also showed less abundant expression of CDX2, the transcription factor required for the development of the intestine, than the IAP(low), undifferentiated population. Overexpression of CDX2 in an IEC line decreased the methylation level of the TLR4 gene, increased transcriptional promoter activity of the gene, and increased responsiveness to the TLR4 ligand. Furthermore, the methylation level of the TLR4 gene was significantly lower in IECs of the large intestine of germ-free mice than in those of conventional mice, whereas the level in IECs of the small intestine was almost equal between these mice, indicating that commensal bacteria contribute to the maintenance of intestinal symbiosis by controlling epigenetic modification of the host gene in the large intestine.}, } @article {pmid21861092, year = {2011}, author = {Jacob, C and Lebrun-Julien, F and Suter, U}, title = {How histone deacetylases control myelination.}, journal = {Molecular neurobiology}, volume = {44}, number = {3}, pages = {303-312}, pmid = {21861092}, issn = {1559-1182}, mesh = {Animals ; Axons/pathology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Cell Differentiation/physiology ; Demyelinating Diseases/metabolism/pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Histone Deacetylases/*metabolism ; Humans ; Myelin Sheath/*metabolism/*physiology ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Oligodendroglia/cytology/physiology ; Schwann Cells/cytology/physiology ; Synaptic Transmission/physiology ; }, abstract = {Myelinated axons are a beautiful example of symbiotic interactions between two cell types: Myelinating glial cells organize axonal membranes and build their myelin sheaths to allow fast action potential conduction, while axons regulate myelination and enhance the survival of myelinating cells. Axonal demyelination, occurring in neurodegenerative diseases or after a nerve injury, results in severe motor and/or mental disabilities. Thus, understanding how the myelination process is induced, regulated, and maintained is crucial to develop new therapeutic strategies for regeneration in the nervous system. Epigenetic regulation has recently been recognized as a fundamental contributing player. In this review, we focus on the central mechanisms of gene regulation mediated by histone deacetylation and other key functions of histone deacetylases in Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes, the myelinating glia of the peripheral and central nervous systems.}, } @article {pmid21858016, year = {2011}, author = {Bansal, R and Hulbert, S and Schemerhorn, B and Reese, JC and Whitworth, RJ and Stuart, JJ and Chen, MS}, title = {Hessian fly-associated bacteria: transmission, essentiality, and composition.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {e23170}, pmid = {21858016}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/*growth & development ; Bacterial Load ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Digestive System/microbiology ; Diptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Female ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Larva/drug effects/microbiology/physiology ; Ovary/microbiology ; Ovum/*microbiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Symbiosis ; Triticum/drug effects/microbiology/parasitology ; }, abstract = {Plant-feeding insects have been recently found to use microbes to manipulate host plant physiology and morphology. Gall midges are one of the largest groups of insects that manipulate host plants extensively. Hessian fly (HF, Mayetiola destructor) is an important pest of wheat and a model system for studying gall midges. To examine the role of bacteria in parasitism, a systematic analysis of bacteria associated with HF was performed for the first time. Diverse bacteria were found in different developmental HF stages. Fluorescent in situ hybridization detected a bacteriocyte-like structure in developing eggs. Bacterial DNA was also detected in eggs by PCR using primers targeted to different bacterial groups. These results indicated that HF hosted different types of bacteria that were maternally transmitted to the next generation. Eliminating bacteria from the insect with antibiotics resulted in high mortality of HF larvae, indicating that symbiotic bacteria are essential for the insect to survive on wheat seedlings. A preliminary survey identified various types of bacteria associated with different HF stages, including the genera Enterobacter, Pantoea, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Ochrobactrum, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Nitrosomonas, Arcanobacterium, Microbacterium, Paenibacillus, and Klebsiella. Similar bacteria were also found specifically in HF-infested susceptible wheat, suggesting that HF larvae had either transmitted bacteria into plant tissue or brought secondary infection of bacteria to the wheat host. The bacteria associated with wheat seedlings may play an essential role in the wheat-HF interaction.}, } @article {pmid21857911, year = {2011}, author = {Seipke, RF and Barke, J and Brearley, C and Hill, L and Yu, DW and Goss, RJ and Hutchings, MI}, title = {A single Streptomyces symbiont makes multiple antifungals to support the fungus farming ant Acromyrmex octospinosus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {e22028}, pmid = {21857911}, issn = {1932-6203}, support = {BB/F010591/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; G0801721/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Antimycin A/biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Ants/*growth & development/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Candicidin/biosynthesis/pharmacology ; Fungi/drug effects/growth & development ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Hypocreales/drug effects/growth & development ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Mutation ; Streptomyces/genetics/*metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Attine ants are dependent on a cultivated fungus for food and use antibiotics produced by symbiotic Actinobacteria as weedkillers in their fungus gardens. Actinobacterial species belonging to the genera Pseudonocardia, Streptomyces and Amycolatopsis have been isolated from attine ant nests and shown to confer protection against a range of microfungal weeds. In previous work on the higher attine Acromyrmex octospinosus we isolated a Streptomyces strain that produces candicidin, consistent with another report that attine ants use Streptomyces-produced candicidin in their fungiculture. Here we report the genome analysis of this Streptomyces strain and identify multiple antibiotic biosynthetic pathways. We demonstrate, using gene disruptions and mass spectrometry, that this single strain has the capacity to make candicidin and multiple antimycin compounds. Although antimycins have been known for >60 years we report the sequence of the biosynthetic gene cluster for the first time. Crucially, disrupting the candicidin and antimycin gene clusters in the same strain had no effect on bioactivity against a co-evolved nest pathogen called Escovopsis that has been identified in ∼30% of attine ant nests. Since the Streptomyces strain has strong bioactivity against Escovopsis we conclude that it must make additional antifungal(s) to inhibit Escovopsis. However, candicidin and antimycins likely offer protection against other microfungal weeds that infect the attine fungal gardens. Thus, we propose that the selection of this biosynthetically prolific strain from the natural environment provides A. octospinosus with broad spectrum activity against Escovopsis and other microfungal weeds.}, } @article {pmid21856632, year = {2011}, author = {Reid, DE and Ferguson, BJ and Hayashi, S and Lin, YH and Gresshoff, PM}, title = {Molecular mechanisms controlling legume autoregulation of nodulation.}, journal = {Annals of botany}, volume = {108}, number = {5}, pages = {789-795}, pmid = {21856632}, issn = {1095-8290}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Fabaceae/enzymology/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Homeostasis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/*metabolism/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: High input costs and environmental pressures to reduce nitrogen use in agriculture have increased the competitive advantage of legume crops. The symbiotic relationship that legumes form with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria in root nodules is central to this advantage.

SCOPE: Understanding how legume plants maintain control of nodulation to balance the nitrogen gains with their energy needs and developmental costs will assist in increasing their productivity and relative advantage. For this reason, the regulation of nodulation has been extensively studied since the first mutants exhibiting increased nodulation were isolated almost three decades ago.

CONCLUSIONS: Nodulation is regulated primarily via a systemic mechanism known as the autoregulation of nodulation (AON), which is controlled by a CLAVATA1-like receptor kinase. Multiple components sharing homology with the CLAVATA signalling pathway that maintains control of the shoot apical meristem in arabidopsis have now been identified in AON. This includes the recent identification of several CLE peptides capable of activating nodule inhibition responses, a low molecular weight shoot signal and a role for CLAVATA2 in AON. Efforts are now being focused on directly identifying the interactions of these components and to identify the form that long-distance transport molecules take.}, } @article {pmid21856436, year = {2011}, author = {Kombrink, A and Sánchez-Vallet, A and Thomma, BP}, title = {The role of chitin detection in plant--pathogen interactions.}, journal = {Microbes and infection}, volume = {13}, number = {14-15}, pages = {1168-1176}, doi = {10.1016/j.micinf.2011.07.010}, pmid = {21856436}, issn = {1769-714X}, mesh = {Chitin/*immunology ; Fungal Proteins/immunology ; Fungi/*immunology/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Mycoses/*immunology/microbiology ; Plant Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; *Plant Immunity ; Plant Proteins/immunology ; Plants/*immunology/microbiology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology ; Rhizobiaceae/physiology ; Signal Transduction/*immunology ; Symbiosis/*immunology ; }, abstract = {Despite the deployment of antifungal defence strategies, fungal diseases occur in all types of multicellular organisms. In plants, the role of fungal chitin as pathogen-associated molecular pattern that activates host defence is well established. Interestingly, plants employ homologs of the chitin immune receptors to initiate microbial symbiosis. Accumulating evidence shows that fungal pathogens developed secreted effectors to disarm chitin-triggered host immunity.}, } @article {pmid21855301, year = {2011}, author = {Konnova, SA and Kahraman, M and Zamaleeva, AI and Culha, M and Paunov, VN and Fakhrullin, RF}, title = {Functional artificial free-standing yeast biofilms.}, journal = {Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces}, volume = {88}, number = {2}, pages = {656-663}, doi = {10.1016/j.colsurfb.2011.07.056}, pmid = {21855301}, issn = {1873-4367}, mesh = {Biofilms/*growth & development ; Calcium Carbonate/chemistry ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Polymers/chemistry ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/*growth & development ; }, abstract = {Here we report fabrication of artificial free-standing yeast biofilms built using sacrificial calcium carbonate-coated templates and layer-by-layer assembly of extracellular matrix-mimicking polyelectrolyte multilayers. The free-standing biofilms are freely floating multilayered films of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and live cells incorporated in the polyelectrolyte layers. Such biofilms were initially formed on glass substrates of circular and ribbon-like shapes coated with thin layers of calcium carbonate microparticles. The templates were then coated with cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes to produce a supporting multilayered thin film. Then the yeast alone or mixed with various micro- and nanoparticle inclusions was deposited onto the multilayer composite films and further coated with outer polyelectrolyte multilayers. To detach the biofilms from the glass substrates the calcium carbonate layer was chemically dissolved yielding free-standing composite biofilms. These artificial biofilms to a certain degree mimic the primitive multicellular and colonial species. We have demonstrated the added functionality of the free-standing artificial biofilms containing magnetic, latex and silver micro- and nanoparticles. We have also developed "symbiotic" multicellular biofilms containing yeast and bacteria. This approach for fabrication of free-standing artificial biofilms can be potentially helpful in development of artificial colonial microorganisms composed of several different unicellular species and an important tool for growing cell cultures free of supporting substrates.}, } @article {pmid21854462, year = {2011}, author = {Morris, AR and Darnell, CL and Visick, KL}, title = {Inactivation of a novel response regulator is necessary for biofilm formation and host colonization by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Molecular microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {114-130}, pmid = {21854462}, issn = {1365-2958}, support = {R01 GM059690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM059690-10/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; GM59690/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Aliivibrio fischeri/chemistry/genetics/*growth & development/*physiology ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Biofilms ; Decapodiformes/*microbiology/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Gene Silencing ; *Genes, Regulator ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri uses a biofilm to promote colonization of its eukaryotic host Euprymna scolopes. This biofilm depends on the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus, which is transcriptionally regulated by the RscS-SypG two-component regulatory system. An additional response regulator (RR), SypE, exerts both positive and negative control over biofilm formation. SypE is a novel RR protein, with its three putative domains arranged in a unique configuration: a central phosphorylation receiver (REC) domain flanked by two effector domains with putative enzymatic activities (serine kinase and serine phosphatase). To determine how SypE regulates biofilm formation and host colonization, we generated a library of SypE domain mutants. Our results indicate that the N-terminus inhibits biofilm formation, while the C-terminus plays a positive role. The phosphorylation state of SypE appears to regulate these opposing activities, as disruption of the putative site of phosphorylation results in a protein that constitutively inhibits biofilm formation. Furthermore, SypE restricts host colonization: (i) sypE mutants with constitutive inhibitory activity fail to efficiently initiate host colonization and (ii) loss of sypE partially alleviates the colonization defect of an rscS mutant. We conclude that SypE must be inactivated to promote symbiotic colonization by V. fischeri.}, } @article {pmid21853317, year = {2011}, author = {Zhang, R and Yang, P and Huang, H and Shi, P and Yuan, T and Yao, B}, title = {Two types of phytases (histidine acid phytase and β-propeller phytase) in Serratia sp. TN49 from the gut of Batocera horsfieldi (coleoptera) larvae.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {63}, number = {5}, pages = {408-415}, pmid = {21853317}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {6-Phytase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Coleoptera/growth & development/*microbiology ; Enzyme Stability ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment ; Serratia/chemistry/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Substrate Specificity ; }, abstract = {Microbial phytases play a major role in the mineralization of organic phosphorous, especially in symbiotic plants and animals. In this study, we identified two types of phytases in Serratia sp. TN49 that was harbored in the gut of Batocera horsfieldi (Coleoptera) larvae. The two phytases, an acidic histidine acid phosphatase (PhyH49) and an alkaline β-propeller phytase (PhyB49), shared low identities with known phytases (61% at most). PhyH49 and PhyB49 produced in Escherichia coli exhibited maximal activities at pH 5.0 (60°C) and pH 7.5-8.0 (45°C), respectively, and are complementary in phytate degradation over the pH range 2.0-9.0. Serratia sp. TN49 harboring both PhyH49 and PhyB49 might make it more adaptive to environment change, corresponding to the evolution trend of microorganism.}, } @article {pmid21853113, year = {2011}, author = {Schüssler, A and Krüger, M and Walker, C}, title = {Revealing natural relationships among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: culture line BEG47 represents Diversispora epigaea, not Glomus versiforme.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {8}, pages = {e23333}, pmid = {21853113}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Base Sequence ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Glomeromycota/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/*classification/cytology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Spores, Fungal/cytology/physiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the mechanisms underlying biological phenomena, such as evolutionarily conservative trait inheritance, is predicated on knowledge of the natural relationships among organisms. However, despite their enormous ecological significance, many of the ubiquitous soil inhabiting and plant symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, phylum Glomeromycota) are incorrectly classified.

Here, we focused on a frequently used model AMF registered as culture BEG47. This fungus is a descendent of the ex-type culture-lineage of Glomus epigaeum, which in 1983 was synonymised with Glomus versiforme. It has since then been used as 'G. versiforme BEG47'. We show by morphological comparisons, based on type material, collected 1860-61, of G. versiforme and on type material and living ex-type cultures of G. epigaeum, that these two AMF species cannot be conspecific, and by molecular phylogenetics that BEG47 is a member of the genus Diversispora.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that experimental works published during the last >25 years on an AMF named 'G. versiforme' or 'BEG47' refer to D. epigaea, a species that is actually evolutionarily separated by hundreds of millions of years from all members of the genera in the Glomerales and thus from most other commonly used AMF 'laboratory strains'. Detailed redescriptions substantiate the renaming of G. epigaeum (BEG47) as D. epigaea, positioning it systematically in the order Diversisporales, thus enabling an evolutionary understanding of genetical, physiological, and ecological traits, relative to those of other AMF. Diversispora epigaea is widely cultured as a laboratory strain of AMF, whereas G. versiforme appears not to have been cultured nor found in the field since its original description.}, } @article {pmid21852960, year = {2011}, author = {Kung, HN and Marks, JR and Chi, JT}, title = {Glutamine synthetase is a genetic determinant of cell type-specific glutamine independence in breast epithelia.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {7}, number = {8}, pages = {e1002229}, pmid = {21852960}, issn = {1553-7404}, support = {R01 CA125618/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 CA084955/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; UO1CA084955/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01CA125618/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Breast/*enzymology/pathology ; Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Epithelium/*enzymology ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/*genetics/metabolism ; Glutaminase/*genetics/metabolism ; Glutamine/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Phenotype ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; }, abstract = {Although significant variations in the metabolic profiles exist among different cells, little is understood in terms of genetic regulations of such cell type-specific metabolic phenotypes and nutrient requirements. While many cancer cells depend on exogenous glutamine for survival to justify the therapeutic targeting of glutamine metabolism, the mechanisms of glutamine dependence and likely response and resistance of such glutamine-targeting strategies among cancers are largely unknown. In this study, we have found a systematic variation in the glutamine dependence among breast tumor subtypes associated with mammary differentiation: basal- but not luminal-type breast cells are more glutamine-dependent and may be susceptible to glutamine-targeting therapeutics. Glutamine independence of luminal-type cells is associated mechanistically with lineage-specific expression of glutamine synthetase (GS). Luminal cells can also rescue basal cells in co-culture without glutamine, indicating a potential for glutamine symbiosis within breast ducts. The luminal-specific expression of GS is directly induced by GATA3 and represses glutaminase expression. Such distinct glutamine dependency and metabolic symbiosis is coupled with the acquisition of the GS and glutamine independence during the mammary differentiation program. Understanding the genetic circuitry governing distinct metabolic patterns is relevant to many symbiotic relationships among different cells and organisms. In addition, the ability of GS to predict patterns of glutamine metabolism and dependency among tumors is also crucial in the rational design and application of glutamine and other metabolic pathway targeted therapies.}, } @article {pmid21848862, year = {2011}, author = {Sánchez-López, R and Jáuregui, D and Nava, N and Alvarado-Affantranger, X and Montiel, J and Santana, O and Sanchez, F and Quinto, C}, title = {Down-regulation of SymRK correlates with a deficiency in vascular bundle development in Phaseolus vulgaris nodules.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {2109-2121}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3040.2011.02408.x}, pmid = {21848862}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Phaseolus/enzymology/*genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Plants, Genetically Modified/enzymology/genetics ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/enzymology/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction of legumes and rhizobia results in the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules. Nodulation depends on the finely coordinated expression of a battery of genes involved in the infection and the organogenesis processes. After Nod factor perception, symbiosis receptor kinase (SymRK) receptor triggers a signal transduction cascade essential for nodulation leading to cortical cell divisions, infection thread (IT) formation and final release of rhizobia to the intracellular space, forming the symbiosome. Herein, the participation of SymRK receptor during the nodule organogenesis in Phaseolus vulgaris is addressed. Our findings indicate that besides its expression in the nodule epidermis, in IT, and in uninfected cells of the infection zone, PvSymRK immunolocalizes in the root and nodule vascular system. On the other hand, knockdown expression of PvSymRK led to the formation of scarce and defective nodules, which presented alterations in both IT/symbiosome formation and vascular system.}, } @article {pmid21848683, year = {2011}, author = {Javot, H and Penmetsa, RV and Breuillin, F and Bhattarai, KK and Noar, RD and Gomez, SK and Zhang, Q and Cook, DR and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Medicago truncatula mtpt4 mutants reveal a role for nitrogen in the regulation of arbuscule degeneration in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {68}, number = {6}, pages = {954-965}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04746.x}, pmid = {21848683}, issn = {1365-313X}, mesh = {Genes, Plant ; Medicago truncatula/genetics/*metabolism ; Mutation ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/*metabolism ; Nitrogen/*metabolism ; Phenotype ; Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Plants acquire essential mineral nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) directly from the soil, but the majority of the vascular plants also gain access to these mineral nutrients through endosymbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In AM symbiosis, the fungi deliver P and N to the root through branched hyphae called arbuscules. Previously we identified MtPT4, a Medicago truncatula phosphate transporter located in the periarbuscular membrane that is essential for symbiotic phosphate transport and for maintenance of the symbiosis. In mtpt4 mutants arbuscule degeneration occurs prematurely and symbiosis fails. Here, we show that premature arbuscule degeneration occurs in mtpt4 mutants even when the fungus has access to carbon from a nurse plant. Thus, carbon limitation is unlikely to be the primary cause of fungal death. Surprisingly, premature arbuscule degeneration is suppressed if mtpt4 mutants are deprived of nitrogen. In mtpt4 mutants with a low N status, arbuscule lifespan does not differ from that of the wild type, colonization of the mtpt4 root system occurs as in the wild type and the fungus completes its life cycle. Sulphur is another essential macronutrient delivered to the plant by the AM fungus; however, suppression of premature arbuscule degeneration does not occur in sulphur-deprived mtpt4 plants. The mtpt4 arbuscule phenotype is strongly correlated with shoot N levels. Analyses of an mtpt4-2 sunn-1 double mutant indicates that SUNN, required for N-mediated autoregulation of nodulation, is not involved. Together, the data reveal an unexpected role for N in the regulation of arbuscule lifespan in AM symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid21848398, year = {2011}, author = {Benson, DR and Brooks, JM and Huang, Y and Bickhart, DM and Mastronunzio, JE}, title = {The biology of Frankia sp. strains in the post-genome era.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1310-1316}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-11-0150}, pmid = {21848398}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Frankia/genetics/*physiology ; *Genome, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Proteome ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Progress in understanding symbiotic determinants involved in the N(2)-fixing actinorhizal plant symbioses has been slow but steady. Problems persist with studying the bacterial contributions to the symbiosis using traditional microbiological techniques. However, recent years have seen the emergence of several genomes from Frankia sp. strains and the development of techniques for manipulating plant gene expression. Approaches to understanding the bacterial side of the symbiosis have employed a range of techniques that reveal the proteomes and transcriptomes from both cultured and symbiotic frankiae. The picture beginning to emerge provides some perspective on the heterogeneity of frankial populations in both conditions. In general, frankial populations in root nodules seem to maintain a rather robust metabolism that includes nitrogen fixation and substantial biosynthesis and energy-generating pathways, along with a modified ammonium assimilation program. To date, particular bacterial genes have not been implicated in root nodule formation but some hypotheses are emerging with regard to how the plant and microorganism manage to coexist. In particular, frankiae seem to present a nonpathogenic presence to the plant that may have the effect of minimizing some plant defense responses. Future studies using high-throughput approaches will likely clarify the range of bacterial responses to symbiosis that will need to be understood in light of the more rapidly advancing work on the plant host.}, } @article {pmid21847030, year = {2011}, author = {Hocher, V and Alloisio, N and Bogusz, D and Normand, P}, title = {Early signaling in actinorhizal symbioses.}, journal = {Plant signaling & behavior}, volume = {6}, number = {9}, pages = {1377-1379}, pmid = {21847030}, issn = {1559-2324}, mesh = {Fabaceae/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; Frankia/physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/genetics/*physiology ; Symbiosis/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodulation, confined to four plant orders, encompasses more than 14,000 Leguminosae species, and approximately 200 actinorhizal species forming symbioses with rhizobia (Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, etc) and Frankia bacterial species, respectively. While several genetic components of the host-symbiont interaction have been identified in legumes, little is known about the genetic bases of actinorhizal symbiosis. However, we recently demonstrated the existence of common symbiotic signaling pathways in actinorhizals and legumes. Moreover, important data on the identification of flavonoids as plant signaling compounds and the role for auxins during Frankia infection process and nodule organogenesis have been acquired. All together these results lead us to propose a unified model for symbiotic exchange and genetic control of actinorhizal symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid21842636, year = {2011}, author = {Chen, B and Wang, M and Hu, Y and Lin, Z and Yu, R and Huang, L}, title = {[Preliminary study on promoting effects of endophytic fungi to growth of Rehmannia glutinosa].}, journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica}, volume = {36}, number = {9}, pages = {1137-1140}, pmid = {21842636}, issn = {1001-5302}, mesh = {Fungi/metabolism/*physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology ; Rehmannia/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {In previous studies, four endophytic fungi were isolated from different swollen roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. It's thought that Ceratobasidium sp. , one of the discovered endophytic fingi, was a major promoter for the growth of the roots. In this study, symbiotic experiments were performed to measure the effects of different endophytic fingi cultivated with R. glutinosa. The results showed that the R. glutinosa had significant increases in the size of roots and amount of chlorophyll cultivated with Ceratobasidium sp. And it was tested that indoleacetic acid secreted by Ceratobasidium sp. maybe the effective factor for the promotion of the growth.}, } @article {pmid21840649, year = {2011}, author = {Criscione, SM}, title = {Spinocellular carcinoma from warts in a HPV infection natural history lasting 49 years. Virus strategy or host choice? Implications for researches and therapeutic vaccines.}, journal = {Medical hypotheses}, volume = {77}, number = {5}, pages = {777-781}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2011.07.035}, pmid = {21840649}, issn = {1532-2777}, mesh = {Cancer Vaccines/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; Papillomavirus Infections/*physiopathology ; Spinal Neoplasms/prevention & control/*virology ; }, abstract = {There is a very strong evidence that progression (also to cancer) in variable percentages of cases infected by HPV, HBV, HCV, and HIV depends on host immune response. A large number of observations demonstrate that virus set up a postulated "active strategy" to modify host reactions or to avoid it. But in all those infections it also seems that antigen load (viral RNA or DNA), chronic activation of immune response and time elapsing from the primary infection play a pivotal role in determining clearing or persisting outcomes. My wife's HPV and cancer natural history, lasting 49 years, started at the age of 10 years with facial warts and progressed to CIN 2/3, cervical in situ carcinoma, perineal warts, perianal carcinoma, inguinal lymph nodes, and invasion of bones and muscular structures, until death is paradigmatic: a progressive immune failure was detected in her scaling up all those clinical features, ending in a massive apoptosis of her lymphocytes collected by leukapheresis and cultured with HPV antigens E6/E7, with the aim of obtaining antigen presenting cells and CD8+ specific T lymphocytes. From this experience, a concept of "host choice to reach a tolerance (mainly by a Tregs mediated anergy) or symbiotic-like state" arises, underlining all the affected host's immune-responses to virus persistence (and to consequent tumors). It might be then postulated as the hallmark of a long-term host/parasites co-evolution, and considered a "normal" reaction when the host faces overwhelming numbers of non-self cancer cells (high antigen loads) preceded by persistent virus infections (chronic activation). This happens in patients who do not clear HPV or other viruses soon enough after infection. These observations may lead to a better understanding of many phenomena that are actually difficult to explain or still are open questions. The auto-limiting host's immune-responses are likely to be aimed to avoid risks arising mainly in the protection of "self" (autoimmunity), to prolong its own survival (balance with the virus), to avoid the risk of producing uncontrolled cells (dangerous outcomes). Finally, the postulated negative implications for therapeutic vaccines in cervical cancer, as they really seem to not work till now might be ascribed just to the cited host immune-specific state itself, through an activation induced cell death, elicited by recall antigens (E6/E7 in the case of my wife). Also this latter hypothesis, as well as the previous ones may be of some value to better account for clinical behaviors and researches.}, } @article {pmid21840638, year = {2011}, author = {Barker, KK}, title = {Listening to Lyrica: contested illnesses and pharmaceutical determinism.}, journal = {Social science & medicine (1982)}, volume = {73}, number = {6}, pages = {833-842}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.05.055}, pmid = {21840638}, issn = {1873-5347}, mesh = {Analgesics/*therapeutic use ; Drug Approval/*organization & administration ; Drug Industry/organization & administration ; Fibromyalgia/diagnosis/*drug therapy/psychology ; Humans ; Marketing of Health Services/organization & administration ; Pregabalin ; Sex Factors ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration/*organization & administration ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {Fibromyalgia syndrome is a debilitating pain disorder of unknown origins and a paradigmatic contested illness. As with other contested illnesses, the reality of fibromyalgia is disputed by many physicians. Thus, millions of individuals who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia must cope with chronic symptoms as well as medical and public skepticism. In this context, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration's approval of Lyrica, the first prescription medication specifically for the management of fibromyalgia, is of considerable interest. In this paper I examine the cultural logic whereby the existence (and marketing) of an officially approved prescription medication for a condition lends support to the biomedical existence of the condition itself. I label this logic pharmaceutical determinism and argue that it represents an important new phase in the proliferation of contested illness diagnoses. Using the case of Lyrica, I describe the role that pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceuticals themselves play in promoting and legitimating contested diagnoses and validating those who are so diagnosed. Through a narrative analysis of the Lyrica direct-to-consumer advertising campaign and the responses of fibromyalgia sufferers to the introduction and marketing of Lyrica, I demonstrate the symbiotic relationship between the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, contested illness legitimization, and medicalization. I also provide a gender analysis of this relationship, foregrounding how contested illnesses continue to be shaped by their feminization in a cultural context that equates women with irrationality. Finally, I address the consequences and limitations of relying on the pharmaceutical industry for illness validation.}, } @article {pmid21840247, year = {2011}, author = {Hess, WR}, title = {Cyanobacterial genomics for ecology and biotechnology.}, journal = {Current opinion in microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {5}, pages = {608-614}, doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2011.07.024}, pmid = {21840247}, issn = {1879-0364}, mesh = {Biotechnology/*methods ; Cyanobacteria/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; *Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Microbiology ; *Genomics ; Metagenome ; Organic Chemicals/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; }, abstract = {Cyanobacteria are the only prokaryotes that directly convert solar energy and CO(2) into organic matter by oxygenic photosynthesis, explaining their relevance for primary production in many ecosystems and the increasing interest for biotechnology. At present, there are more than 60 cyanobacteria for which a total genome sequence is publicly available. These cyanobacteria belong to different lifestyles and origins, coming from marine and freshwater aquatic environments, as well as terrestrial and symbiotic habitats. Genome sizes vary by a factor of six, from 1.44 Mb to 9.05 Mb, with the number of reported genes ranging from 1241 to 8462. Several studies have demonstrated how these sequences could be used to successfully infer important ecological, physiological and biotechnologically relevant characteristics. However, sequences of cyanobacterial origin also comprise a significant portion of certain metagenomes. Moreover, genome analysis has been employed for culture-independent approaches and for resequencing mutant strains, a very recent tool in cyanobacterial research.}, } @article {pmid21838550, year = {2011}, author = {Oldroyd, GE and Murray, JD and Poole, PS and Downie, JA}, title = {The rules of engagement in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis.}, journal = {Annual review of genetics}, volume = {45}, number = {}, pages = {119-144}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-genet-110410-132549}, pmid = {21838550}, issn = {1545-2948}, support = {BB/F013159/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/E/J/000C0622/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/C517025/2/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/G023832/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/C517025/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BBS/B/02916/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; CA403A13B/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {Cell Differentiation ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Meristem/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Roots/metabolism/*microbiology ; Rhizobium/*growth & development ; Signal Transduction ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobial bacteria enter a symbiotic association with leguminous plants, resulting in differentiated bacteria enclosed in intracellular compartments called symbiosomes within nodules on the root. The nodules and associated symbiosomes are structured for efficient nitrogen fixation. Although the interaction is beneficial to both partners, it comes with rigid rules that are strictly enforced by the plant. Entry into root cells requires appropriate recognition of the rhizobial Nod factor signaling molecule, and this recognition activates a series of events, including polarized root-hair tip growth, invagination associated with bacterial infection, and the promotion of cell division in the cortex leading to the nodule meristem. The plant's command of the infection process has been highlighted by its enforcement of terminal differentiation upon the bacteria within nodules of some legumes, and this can result in a loss of bacterial viability while permitting effective nitrogen fixation. Here, we review the mechanisms by which the plant allows bacterial infection and promotes the formation of the nodule, as well as the details of how this intimate association plays out inside the cells of the nodule where a complex interchange of metabolites and regulatory peptides force the bacteria into a nitrogen-fixing organelle-like state.}, } @article {pmid21836016, year = {2011}, author = {Kiers, ET and Duhamel, M and Beesetty, Y and Mensah, JA and Franken, O and Verbruggen, E and Fellbaum, CR and Kowalchuk, GA and Hart, MM and Bago, A and Palmer, TM and West, SA and Vandenkoornhuyse, P and Jansa, J and Bücking, H}, title = {Reciprocal rewards stabilize cooperation in the mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {333}, number = {6044}, pages = {880-882}, doi = {10.1126/science.1208473}, pmid = {21836016}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Biological Evolution ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Medicago truncatula/*microbiology/*physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/growth & development/*physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Plant Roots/*microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Fungal/metabolism ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Plants and their arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbionts interact in complex underground networks involving multiple partners. This increases the potential for exploitation and defection by individuals, raising the question of how partners maintain a fair, two-way transfer of resources. We manipulated cooperation in plants and fungal partners to show that plants can detect, discriminate, and reward the best fungal partners with more carbohydrates. In turn, their fungal partners enforce cooperation by increasing nutrient transfer only to those roots providing more carbohydrates. On the basis of these observations we conclude that, unlike many other mutualisms, the symbiont cannot be "enslaved." Rather, the mutualism is evolutionarily stable because control is bidirectional, and partners offering the best rate of exchange are rewarded.}, } @article {pmid21835622, year = {2011}, author = {McCutcheon, JP and von Dohlen, CD}, title = {An interdependent metabolic patchwork in the nested symbiosis of mealybugs.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {21}, number = {16}, pages = {1366-1372}, pmid = {21835622}, issn = {1879-0445}, support = {K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K12 GM000708-10/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1K12GM00708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; Betaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism ; Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/*metabolism/*pathogenicity ; Gene Expression ; Genome, Bacterial ; Hemiptera/genetics/*metabolism/*microbiology ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Highly reduced genomes of 144-416 kilobases have been described from nutrient-provisioning bacterial symbionts of several insect lineages [1-5]. Some host insects have formed stable associations with pairs of bacterial symbionts that live in specialized cells and provide them with essential nutrients; genomic data from these systems have revealed remarkable levels of metabolic complementarity between the symbiont pairs [3, 4, 6, 7]. The mealybug Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) contains dual bacterial symbionts existing with an unprecedented organization: an unnamed gammaproteobacteria, for which we propose the name Candidatus Moranella endobia, lives inside the betaproteobacteria Candidatus Tremblaya princeps [8]. Here we describe the complete genomes and metabolic contributions of these unusual nested symbionts. We show that whereas there is little overlap in retained genes involved in nutrient production between symbionts, several essential amino acid pathways in the mealybug assemblage require a patchwork of interspersed gene products from Tremblaya, Moranella, and possibly P. citri. Furthermore, although Tremblaya has the smallest cellular genome yet described, it contains a genomic inversion present in both orientations in individual insects, starkly contrasting with the extreme structural stability typical of highly reduced bacterial genomes [4, 9, 10].}, } @article {pmid21833311, year = {2011}, author = {Edgcomb, VP and Leadbetter, ER and Bourland, W and Beaudoin, D and Bernhard, JM}, title = {Structured multiple endosymbiosis of bacteria and archaea in a ciliate from marine sulfidic sediments: a survival mechanism in low oxygen, sulfidic sediments?.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {2}, number = {}, pages = {55}, pmid = {21833311}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Marine micro-oxic to sulfidic environments are sites of intensive biogeochemical cycling and elemental sequestration, where prokaryotes are major driving forces mediating carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and metal cycles, important from both biogeochemical and evolutionary perspectives. Associations between single-celled eukaryotes and bacteria and/or archaea are common in such habitats. Here we describe a ciliate common in the micro-oxic to anoxic, typically sulfidic, sediments of Santa Barbara Basin (CA, USA). The ciliate is 95% similar to Parduzcia orbis (18S rRNA). Transmission electron micrographs reveal clusters of at least three different endobiont types organized within membrane-bound sub-cellular regions. Catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescent in situ hybridization and 16S rRNA clone libraries confirm the symbionts include up to two sulfate reducers (Desulfobulbaceae, Desulfobacteraceae), a methanogen (Methanobacteriales), and possibly a Bacteroidete (Cytophaga) and a Type I methanotroph, suggesting synergistic metabolisms in this environment. This case study is discussed in terms of implications to biogeochemistry, and benthic ecology.}, } @article {pmid21833083, year = {2011}, author = {Petersen, JM and Zielinski, FU and Pape, T and Seifert, R and Moraru, C and Amann, R and Hourdez, S and Girguis, PR and Wankel, SD and Barbe, V and Pelletier, E and Fink, D and Borowski, C and Bach, W and Dubilier, N}, title = {Hydrogen is an energy source for hydrothermal vent symbioses.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {476}, number = {7359}, pages = {176-180}, pmid = {21833083}, issn = {1476-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; Atlantic Ocean ; Bivalvia/drug effects/metabolism/*microbiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; *Ecosystem ; *Energy Metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/chemistry ; Gills/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; Hot Springs/*chemistry/microbiology ; Hydrogen/analysis/*metabolism/pharmacology ; Hydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Partial Pressure ; Seawater/chemistry/microbiology ; Sulfides/metabolism ; Sulfur/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics/*physiology ; }, abstract = {The discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vents in 1977 revolutionized our understanding of the energy sources that fuel primary productivity on Earth. Hydrothermal vent ecosystems are dominated by animals that live in symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria. So far, only two energy sources have been shown to power chemosynthetic symbioses: reduced sulphur compounds and methane. Using metagenome sequencing, single-gene fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, shipboard incubations and in situ mass spectrometry, we show here that the symbionts of the hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge use hydrogen to power primary production. In addition, we show that the symbionts of Bathymodiolus mussels from Pacific vents have hupL, the key gene for hydrogen oxidation. Furthermore, the symbionts of other vent animals such as the tubeworm Riftia pachyptila and the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata also have hupL. We propose that the ability to use hydrogen as an energy source is widespread in hydrothermal vent symbioses, particularly at sites where hydrogen is abundant.}, } @article {pmid21831796, year = {2011}, author = {Lakhtin, M and Lakhtin, V and Alyoshkin, V and Afanasyev, S}, title = {Lectins of beneficial microbes: system organisation, functioning and functional superfamily.}, journal = {Beneficial microbes}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, pages = {155-165}, doi = {10.3920/BM2010.0014}, pmid = {21831796}, issn = {1876-2891}, mesh = {Bacteria/*chemistry/metabolism ; Fungi/chemistry/metabolism ; Lectins/chemistry/*classification/*metabolism ; Probiotics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In this review our last results and proposals with respect to general aspects of lectin studies are summarised and compared. System presence, organisation and functioning of lectins are proposed, and accents on beneficial symbiotic microbial lectins studies are presented. The proposed general principles of lectin functioning allows for a comparison of lectins with other carbohydrate-recognition systems. A new structure-functional superfamily of symbiotic microbial lectins is proposed and its main properties are described. The proposed superfamily allows for extended searches of the biological activities of any microbial member. Prospects of lectins of beneficial symbiotic microorganisms are discussed.}, } @article {pmid21830951, year = {2011}, author = {Gyaneshwar, P and Hirsch, AM and Moulin, L and Chen, WM and Elliott, GN and Bontemps, C and Estrada-de Los Santos, P and Gross, E and Dos Reis, FB and Sprent, JI and Young, JP and James, EK}, title = {Legume-nodulating betaproteobacteria: diversity, host range, and future prospects.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1276-1288}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-11-0172}, pmid = {21830951}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Betaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/*physiology ; Fabaceae/*microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Species Specificity ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia form specialized nodules on the roots of legumes (family Fabaceae) and fix nitrogen in exchange for carbon from the host plant. Although the majority of legumes form symbioses with members of genus Rhizobium and its relatives in class Alphaproteobacteria, some legumes, such as those in the large genus Mimosa, are nodulated predominantly by betaproteobacteria in the genera Burkholderia and Cupriavidus. The principal centers of diversity of these bacteria are in central Brazil and South Africa. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that betaproteobacteria have existed as legume symbionts for approximately 50 million years, and that, although they have a common origin, the symbiosis genes in both subclasses have evolved separately since then. Additionally, some species of genus Burkholderia, such as B. phymatum, are highly promiscuous, effectively nodulating several important legumes, including common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). In contrast to genus Burkholderia, only one species of genus Cupriavidus (C. taiwanensis) has so far been shown to nodulate legumes. The recent availability of the genome sequences of C. taiwanensis, B. phymatum, and B. tuberum has paved the way for a more detailed analysis of the evolutionary and mechanistic differences between nodulating strains of alpha- and betaproteobacteria. Initial analyses of genome sequences have suggested that plant-associated Burkholderia spp. have lower G+C contents than Burkholderia spp. that are opportunistic human pathogens, thus supporting previous suggestions that the plant- and human-associated groups of Burkholderia actually belong in separate genera.}, } @article {pmid21830713, year = {2011}, author = {Donner, SD}, title = {An evaluation of the effect of recent temperature variability on the prediction of coral bleaching events.}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {21}, number = {5}, pages = {1718-1730}, doi = {10.1890/10-0107.1}, pmid = {21830713}, issn = {1051-0761}, mesh = {Climate Change ; *Coral Reefs ; Environmental Monitoring ; Oceans and Seas ; Seasons ; *Temperature ; Time Factors ; }, abstract = {Over the past 30 years, warm thermal disturbances have become commonplace on coral reefs worldwide. These periods of anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) can lead to coral bleaching, a breakdown of the symbiosis between the host coral and symbiotic dinoflagellates which reside in coral tissue. The onset of bleaching is typically predicted to occur when the SST exceeds a local climatological maximum by 1 degrees C for a month or more. However, recent evidence suggests that the threshold at which bleaching occurs may depend on thermal history. This study uses global SST data sets (HadISST and NOAA AVHRR) and mass coral bleaching reports (from Reefbase) to examine the effect of historical SST variability on the accuracy of bleaching prediction. Two variability-based bleaching prediction methods are developed from global analysis of seasonal and interannual SST variability. The first method employs a local bleaching threshold derived from the historical variability in maximum annual SST to account for spatial variability in past thermal disturbance frequency. The second method uses a different formula to estimate the local climatological maximum to account for the low seasonality of SST in the tropics. The new prediction methods are tested against the common globally fixed threshold method using the observed bleaching reports. The results find that estimating the bleaching threshold from local historical SST variability delivers the highest predictive power, but also a higher rate of Type I errors. The second method has the lowest predictive power globally, though regional analysis suggests that it may be applicable in equatorial regions. The historical data analysis suggests that the bleaching threshold may have appeared to be constant globally because the magnitude of interannual variability in maximum SST is similar for many of the world's coral reef ecosystems. For example, the results show that a SST anomaly of 1 degrees C is equivalent to 1.73-2.94 standard deviations of the maximum monthly SST for two-thirds of the world's coral reefs. Coral reefs in the few regions that experience anomalously high interannual SST variability like the equatorial Pacific could prove critical to understanding how coral communities acclimate or adapt to frequent and/or severe thermal disturbances.}, } @article {pmid21829485, year = {2011}, author = {Cho, KO and Kim, GW and Lee, OK}, title = {Wolbachia bacteria reside in host Golgi-related vesicles whose position is regulated by polarity proteins.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {e22703}, pmid = {21829485}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Polarity ; Drosophila Proteins/*metabolism ; Drosophila melanogaster/embryology/metabolism/*microbiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism/*microbiology ; Female ; Golgi Apparatus/metabolism/*microbiology ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Male ; Microtubules/metabolism/microbiology ; Secretory Vesicles/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wolbachia/*pathogenicity ; }, abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis are intracellular symbiotic bacteria extremely common in various organisms including Drosophila melanogaster, and are known for their ability to induce changes in host reproduction. These bacteria are present in astral microtubule-associated vesicular structures in host cytoplasm, but little is known about the identity of these vesicles. We report here that Wolbachia are restricted only to a group of Golgi-related vesicles concentrated near the site of membrane biogenesis and minus-ends of microtubules. The Wolbachia vesicles were significantly mislocalized in mutant embryos defective in cell/planar polarity genes suggesting that cell/tissue polarity genes are required for apical localization of these Golgi-related vesicles. Furthermore, two of the polarity proteins, Van Gogh/Strabismus and Scribble, appeared to be present in these Golgi-related vesicles. Thus, establishment of polarity may be closely linked to the precise insertion of Golgi vesicles into the new membrane addition site.}, } @article {pmid21826184, year = {2011}, author = {Zhao, XQ}, title = {Genome-based studies of marine microorganisms to maximize the diversity of natural products discovery for medical treatments.}, journal = {Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM}, volume = {2011}, number = {}, pages = {384572}, pmid = {21826184}, issn = {1741-4288}, abstract = {Marine microorganisms are rich source for natural products which play important roles in pharmaceutical industry. Over the past decade, genome-based studies of marine microorganisms have unveiled the tremendous diversity of the producers of natural products and also contributed to the efficiency of harness the strain diversity and chemical diversity, as well as the genetic diversity of marine microorganisms for the rapid discovery and generation of new natural products. In the meantime, genomic information retrieved from marine symbiotic microorganisms can also be employed for the discovery of new medical molecules from yet-unculturable microorganisms. In this paper, the recent progress in the genomic research of marine microorganisms is reviewed; new tools of genome mining as well as the advance in the activation of orphan pathways and metagenomic studies are summarized. Genome-based research of marine microorganisms will maximize the biodiscovery process and solve the problems of supply and sustainability of drug molecules for medical treatments.}, } @article {pmid21825141, year = {2011}, author = {Capoen, W and Sun, J and Wysham, D and Otegui, MS and Venkateshwaran, M and Hirsch, S and Miwa, H and Downie, JA and Morris, RJ and Ané, JM and Oldroyd, GE}, title = {Nuclear membranes control symbiotic calcium signaling of legumes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {108}, number = {34}, pages = {14348-14353}, pmid = {21825141}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {BBS/E/J/00000611/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Calcium Signaling/drug effects ; Cytosol/drug effects/metabolism ; Diffusion/drug effects ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/drug effects/metabolism ; Gene Silencing/drug effects ; Ion Channels/metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Medicago truncatula/*cytology/enzymology/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nuclear Envelope/drug effects/*metabolism/ultrastructure ; Plant Epidermis/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Plant Roots/cytology/drug effects/ultrastructure ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases/metabolism ; Symbiosis/drug effects/*physiology ; }, abstract = {Nuclear-associated oscillations in calcium act as a secondary messenger in the symbiotic signaling pathway of legumes. These are decoded by a nuclear-localized calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, the activation of which is sufficient to drive downstream responses. This implies that the calcium oscillations within the nucleus are the predominant signals for legume symbiosis. However, the mechanisms that allow targeted release of calcium in the nuclear region have not been defined. Here we show that symbiosis-induced calcium changes occur in both the nucleoplasm and the perinuclear cytoplasm and seem to originate from the nuclear membranes. Reaction diffusion simulations suggest that spike generation within the nucleoplasm is not possible through transmission of a calcium wave from the cytoplasm alone and that calcium is likely to be released across the inner nuclear membrane to allow nuclear calcium changes. In agreement with this, we found that the cation channel DMI1, which is essential for symbiotic calcium oscillations, is preferentially located on the inner nuclear membrane, implying an essential function for the inner nuclear membrane in symbiotic calcium signaling. Furthermore, a sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) essential for symbiotic calcium oscillations is targeted to the inner nuclear membrane, as well as the outer nuclear membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We propose that release of calcium across the inner nuclear membrane allows targeted release of the ER calcium store, and efficient reloading of this calcium store necessitates the capture of calcium from the nucleoplasm and nuclear-associated cytoplasm.}, } @article {pmid21824505, year = {2011}, author = {Bardou, F and Merchan, F and Ariel, F and Crespi, M}, title = {Dual RNAs in plants.}, journal = {Biochimie}, volume = {93}, number = {11}, pages = {1950-1954}, doi = {10.1016/j.biochi.2011.07.028}, pmid = {21824505}, issn = {1638-6183}, mesh = {Arabidopsis/*genetics/growth & development ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Open Reading Frames/*genetics ; Organogenesis/genetics ; RNA, Antisense/*genetics ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; RNA, Messenger/*genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; RNA, Untranslated/*genetics/*metabolism ; Ribonucleoproteins/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Plants have remarkable developmental plasticity, and the same genotype can result in different phenotypes depending on environmental variation. Indeed, abiotic stresses or biotic interactions affect organogenesis and post-embryonic growth and significantly affect gene regulation. The large diversity of non-protein-coding RNAs (npcRNAs) and genes containing only short open reading frames that are expressed during plant growth and development, contribute to the regulation of gene expression. Certain npcRNAs code for oligopeptides and may possess additional biological activity linked to the RNA moiety. The ENOD40 gene is a dual RNA that is activated during a symbiotic interaction leading to root nodule organogenesis. Both the oligopeptides encoded by ENOD40 and the structured regions of the ENOD40 RNA have been shown to interact with different proteins in the cell to control enzymatic activities or induce the relocalisation of ribonucleoproteins, respectively. Other npcRNAs encode for small signalling peptides or are the precursors of small RNAs involved in post-transcriptional or transcriptional gene silencing. They may have RNA-related activities or encode peptides (or even larger proteins), and therefore act as dual RNAs. In addition, long natural antisense RNAs with a coding function and a regulatory RNA-mediated action that are expressed in response to abiotic stress in plants have been identified. In certain cases, these RNAs lead to the synthesis of nat-siRNAs, that are small RNAs derived from the overlapping double-stranded RNA region of natural antisense RNAs, which facilitates the silencing of complementary mRNAs. Finally, the advent of deep sequencing technologies has identified a large number of non-protein-coding RNAs in plants, which could be a large reservoir for dual RNAs.}, } @article {pmid21821953, year = {2011}, author = {Yokoyama, T and Amano, M and Sekine, M and Homma, H and Tokuda, M and Sato, M}, title = {Immunohistochemical localization of endogenous D-Aspartate in the marine brown Alga Sargassum fusiforme.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {75}, number = {8}, pages = {1481-1484}, doi = {10.1271/bbb.110184}, pmid = {21821953}, issn = {1347-6947}, mesh = {Animals ; Antibodies/analysis ; Aquatic Organisms/*ultrastructure ; Cytosol/chemistry/*ultrastructure ; D-Aspartic Acid/*analysis ; Female ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Japan ; Microscopy ; Rabbits ; Sargassum/*ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {Immunohistochemical localization (cellular localization) of endogenous D-aspartate in the marine brown alga Sargassum fusiforme was investigated by the use of a specific polyclonal antibody raised against D-aspartate. D-Aspartate immunoreactivity was evident in the medullary layer in the blade of the alga, and weak staining was found in the cortical layer, whereas epidermal cells were found to lack D-aspartate. Within the cells of the layers, immunoreactivity was confirmed only in the cytosol and not in the cell wall, chloroplast, or vacuole. These results suggest that D-aspartate is present in S. fusiforme cells, and excludes the possibility that it is derived from attached or symbiotic organisms such as marine bacteria. This is the first report describing the localization of free D-aspartate in plant cells.}, } @article {pmid21820796, year = {2012}, author = {Amengual-Morro, C and Moyà Niell, G and Martínez-Taberner, A}, title = {Phytoplankton as bioindicator for waste stabilization ponds.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {95 Suppl}, number = {}, pages = {S71-6}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.07.008}, pmid = {21820796}, issn = {1095-8630}, mesh = {Bacteria, Aerobic ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Chlorophyta ; Cyanobacteria ; *Phytoplankton ; *Ponds/microbiology ; Spain ; Temperature ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/*methods ; Water Quality ; }, abstract = {Waste stabilization ponds are an appropriate technology for domestic onsite wastewater treatment. It is a low-cost technology, requires low maintenance, is highly efficient, mostly natural and remarkably sustainable. In facultative ponds, the existence of an algal population is very important for the stability of the symbiotic relation with aerobic bacteria. The aim of this work is to determine the pattern of microalgae in the facultative and maturation ponds to obtain information for the operation and maintenance work. The important parameters for phytoplankton measured in this study are the organic load, temperature, light penetration, dissolved oxygen and nutrients. Methodology consists in: analysis of main water quality parameters, plankton taxonomic determination and abundance calculation related with the maintenance operations. Results show that cyanobacteria are present in under-loaded conditions and chlorophyceae are present when the pond is overloaded. Using this methodology over time we can obtain a year round pattern to use the phytoplankton as a bioindicator of the pond's conditions. Our conclusion is that the phytoplankton determination and density can be used to know the pond's performance and help the operation and maintenance tasks.}, } @article {pmid21819415, year = {2012}, author = {Mortier, V and Holsters, M and Goormachtig, S}, title = {Never too many? How legumes control nodule numbers.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {35}, number = {2}, pages = {245-258}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3040.2011.02406.x}, pmid = {21819415}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Fabaceae/microbiology/*physiology ; Homeostasis ; Nitrates/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/*physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Rhizobium/*physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/*microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Restricted availability of nitrogen compounds in soils is often a major limiting factor for plant growth and productivity. Legumes circumvent this problem by establishing a symbiosis with soil-borne bacteria, called rhizobia that fix nitrogen for the plant. Nitrogen fixation and nutrient exchange take place in specialized root organs, the nodules, which are formed by a coordinated and controlled process that combines bacterial infection and organ formation. Because nodule formation and nitrogen fixation are energy-consuming processes, legumes develop the minimal number of nodules required to ensure optimal growth. To this end, several mechanisms have evolved that adapt nodule formation and nitrogen fixation to the plant's needs and environmental conditions, such as nitrate availability in the soil. In this review, we give an updated view on the mechanisms that control nodulation.}, } @article {pmid21819412, year = {2011}, author = {He, H and Bleby, TM and Veneklaas, EJ and Lambers, H}, title = {Dinitrogen-fixing Acacia species from phosphorus-impoverished soils resorb leaf phosphorus efficiently.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {34}, number = {12}, pages = {2060-2070}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3040.2011.02403.x}, pmid = {21819412}, issn = {1365-3040}, mesh = {Acacia/*metabolism/physiology ; Ecosystem ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phosphorus/*metabolism ; Plant Leaves/*chemistry ; Soil/*chemistry ; Western Australia ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption from senescing leaves were studied, and the contribution of N and P cycling through litterfall to soil nutrient patchiness was investigated for four Acacia species in the Great Sandy Desert in north-western Australia. N and P concentrations of mature and recently shed leaves were analysed and compared; soils under the canopies of the shrubs and soils in gaps (open areas) between the shrubs were also analysed and compared for N and P concentrations. Mature leaf P concentrations of the plants were considerably lower than the global average values, and N : P ratios of mature leaves were high. Plants derived 0-75% of their leaf N from symbiotic N(2)-fixation. N-resorption efficiency was between 0 and 43%, and P-resorption efficiency was between 32 and 79%; all plants were more efficient at P resorption than at N resorption, and litter N : P ratios were significantly higher than mature leaf N : P ratios. Soils of the study sites were P-impoverished. Total soil N and P concentrations were higher under the canopy than in gaps, but bicarbonate-extractable P concentration was higher in gaps. Nutrient cycling through litterfall results in soil nutrient patchiness and forms 'islands of fertility' under the canopies of the shrubs.}, } @article {pmid21816807, year = {2011}, author = {Rollins-Smith, LA and Ramsey, JP and Pask, JD and Reinert, LK and Woodhams, DC}, title = {Amphibian immune defenses against chytridiomycosis: impacts of changing environments.}, journal = {Integrative and comparative biology}, volume = {51}, number = {4}, pages = {552-562}, doi = {10.1093/icb/icr095}, pmid = {21816807}, issn = {1557-7023}, mesh = {Amphibians/*immunology/microbiology ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/*immunology ; Chytridiomycota/*immunology ; Dermatomycoses/*immunology/microbiology ; Environment ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Skin/microbiology ; }, abstract = {Eco-immunology is the field of study that attempts to understand the functions of the immune system in the context of the host's environment. Amphibians are currently suffering devastating declines and extinctions in nearly all parts of the world due to the emerging infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Because chytridiomycosis is a skin infection and remains confined to the skin, immune defenses of the skin are critical for survival. Skin defenses include secreted antimicrobial peptides and immunoglobulins as well as antifungal metabolites produced by symbiotic skin bacteria. Low temperatures, toxic chemicals, and stress inhibit the immune system and may impair natural defenses against B. dendrobatidis. Tadpoles' mouth parts can be infected by B. dendrobatidis. Damage to the mouth parts can impair growth, and the affected tadpoles maintain the pathogen in the environment even when adults have dispersed. Newly metamorphosing frogs appear to be especially vulnerable to infection and to the lethal effects of this pathogen because the immune system undergoes a dramatic reorganization at metamorphosis, and postmetamorphic defenses are not yet mature. Here we review our current understanding of amphibian immune defenses against B. dendrobatidis and the ability of the pathogen to resist those defenses. We also briefly review what is known about the impacts of temperature, environmental chemicals, and stress on the host-pathogen interactions and suggest future directions for research.}, } @article {pmid21815984, year = {2011}, author = {Ibáñez, F and Fabra, A}, title = {Rhizobial Nod factors are required for cortical cell division in the nodule morphogenetic programme of the Aeschynomeneae legume Arachis.}, journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, pages = {794-800}, doi = {10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00439.x}, pmid = {21815984}, issn = {1438-8677}, mesh = {Arachis/cytology/genetics/*growth & development/*microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/*physiology ; Cell Division/genetics/physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides/*metabolism ; Morphogenesis/genetics/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/growth & development/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/growth & development ; Signal Transduction/genetics/physiology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Nod factors are among the best-studied molecules implicated in the signal exchange that leads to legume-rhizobia symbiosis. The role of these molecules in symbiosis development has been primarily studied in legumes invaded through infection threads. In these plants, Nod factors generate several responses required for nodulation, including the induction of cortical cell division to form the nodule primordium. Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) exhibits a specific mode of rhizobial infection and nodule morphogenetic programme in which infection threads are never formed. The role of Nod factors in this particular mechanism is unknown. In this work, a peanut symbiont mutant strain unable to produce Nod factors was obtained and characterised. The strain Bradyrhizobium (Arachis) sp. SEMIA 6144 V2 is altered in the nodC gene, which encodes an N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase involved in the first step of the Nod factor biosynthetic pathway. Further research revealed that, although its ability to colonise peanut roots was unaffected, it is not capable of inducing the division of cortical cells. The results obtained indicate that rhizobial Nod factors are essential for the induction of cortical cell division that leads to nodule primordium formation.}, } @article {pmid21815830, year = {2011}, author = {Libault, M and Govindarajulu, M and Berg, RH and Ong, YT and Puricelli, K and Taylor, CG and Xu, D and Stacey, G}, title = {A dual-targeted soybean protein is involved in Bradyrhizobium japonicum infection of soybean root hair and cortical cells.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {9}, pages = {1051-1060}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-10-0281}, pmid = {21815830}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Bradyrhizobium/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Carbon/metabolism ; DNA, Plant/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Reporter ; Hydroxybutyrates/*metabolism ; Mitochondrial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/*physiology ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/microbiology/physiology/ultrastructure ; Polyesters/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Plant/genetics ; Soybean Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Soybeans/genetics/microbiology/*physiology/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Tobacco/genetics/metabolism/ultrastructure ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between legumes and soil bacteria (e.g., soybean [Glycine max L.] and Bradyrhizobium japonicum]) leads to the development of a new root organ, the nodule, where bacteria differentiate into bacteroids that fix atmospheric nitrogen for assimilation by the plant host. In exchange, the host plant provides a steady carbon supply to the bacteroids. This carbon can be stored within the bacteroids in the form of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate granules. The formation of this symbiosis requires communication between both partners to regulate the balance between nitrogen fixation and carbon utilization. In the present study, we describe the soybean gene GmNMNa that is specifically expressed during the infection of soybean cells by B. japonicum. GmNMNa encodes a protein of unknown function. The GmNMNa protein was localized to the nucleolus and also to the mitochondria. Silencing of GmNMNa expression resulted in reduced nodulation, a reduction in the number of bacteroids per infected cell in the nodule, and a clear reduction in the accumulation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate in the bacteroids. Our results highlight the role of the soybean GmNMNa gene in regulating symbiotic bacterial infection, potentially through the regulation of the accumulation of carbon reserves.}, } @article {pmid21814818, year = {2011}, author = {Ottaviani, E and Ventura, N and Mandrioli, M and Candela, M and Franchini, A and Franceschi, C}, title = {Gut microbiota as a candidate for lifespan extension: an ecological/evolutionary perspective targeted on living organisms as metaorganisms.}, journal = {Biogerontology}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, pages = {599-609}, doi = {10.1007/s10522-011-9352-5}, pmid = {21814818}, issn = {1573-6768}, mesh = {Aging/immunology/*physiology ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Diet ; Ecosystem ; Gastrointestinal Tract/immunology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Longevity ; Nutritional Status ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {An emerging central concept in evolutionary biology suggests that symbiosis is a universal characteristic of living organisms that can help in understanding complex traits and phenotypes. During evolution, an integrative circuitry fundamental for survival has been established between commensal gut microbiota and host. On the basis of recent knowledge in worms, flies, and humans, an important role of the gut microbiota in aging and longevity is emerging. The complex bacterial community that populates the gut and that represents an evolutionary adapted ecosystem correlated with nutrition appears to limit the accumulation of pathobionts and infections in all taxa, being able of affecting the efficiency of the host immune system and exerting systemic metabolic effects. There is an urgent need to disentangle the underpinning molecular mechanisms, which could shed light on the basic mechanisms of aging in an ecological perspective. Thus, it appears possible to extend healthy aging and lifespan by targeting the host as a metaorganism by manipulating the complex symbiotic ecosystem of gut microbiota, as well as other possible ecosystems of the body.}, } @article {pmid21814564, year = {2011}, author = {Ďuriš, Z and Horká, I and Juračka, PJ and Petrusek, A and Sandford, F}, title = {These squatters are not innocent: the evidence of parasitism in sponge-inhabiting shrimps.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {6}, number = {7}, pages = {e21987}, pmid = {21814564}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Decapoda/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Marine sponges are frequently inhabited by a wide range of associated invertebrates, including caridean shrimps. Symbiotic shrimps are often considered to be commensals; however, in most cases, the relationship with sponge hosts remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that sponge-inhabiting shrimps are often parasites adapted to consumption of sponge tissues. First, we provide detailed examination of morphology and stomach contents of Typton carneus (Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae), a West Atlantic tropical shrimp living in fire sponges of the genus Tedania. Remarkable shear-like claws of T. carneus show evidence of intensive shearing, likely the result of crushing siliceous sponge spicules. Examination of stomach contents revealed that the host sponge tissue is a major source of food for T. carneus. A parasitic mode of life is also reflected in adaptations of mouth appendages, in the reproduction strategy, and in apparent sequestration of host pigments by shrimp. Consistent results were obtained also for congeneric species T. distinctus (Western Atlantic) and T. spongicola (Mediterranean). The distribution of shrimps among sponge hosts (mostly solitary individuals or heterosexual pairs) suggests that Typton shrimps actively prevent colonisation of their sponge by additional conspecifics, thus protecting their resource and reducing the damage to the hosts. We also demonstrate feeding on host tissues by sponge-associated shrimps of the genera Onycocaris, Periclimenaeus, and Thaumastocaris (Pontoniinae) and Synalpheus (Alpheidae). The parasitic mode of life appears to be widely distributed among sponge-inhabiting shrimps. However, it is possible that under some circumstances, the shrimps provide a service to the host sponge by preventing a penetration by potentially more damaging associated animals. The overall nature of interspecific shrimp-sponge relationships thus warrants further investigation.}, } @article {pmid21814289, year = {2012}, author = {Matsuura, Y and Kikuchi, Y and Hosokawa, T and Koga, R and Meng, XY and Kamagata, Y and Nikoh, N and Fukatsu, T}, title = {Evolution of symbiotic organs and endosymbionts in lygaeid stinkbugs.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {6}, number = {2}, pages = {397-409}, pmid = {21814289}, issn = {1751-7370}, mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; Gammaproteobacteria/*classification/genetics/*physiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Hemiptera/*microbiology/ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {We investigated seed bugs of the genus Nysius (Insecta: Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) for their symbiotic bacteria. From all the samples representing 4 species, 18 populations and 281 individuals, specific bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences were consistently identified, which formed a distinct clade in the Gammaproteobacteria. In situ hybridization showed that the bacterium was endocellularly localized in a pair of large bacteriomes that were amorphous in shape, deep red in color, and in association with gonads. In the ovary of adult females, the endosymbiont was also localized in the 'infection zone' in the middle of each germarium and in the 'symbiont ball' at the anterior pole of each oocyte, indicating vertical transmission of the endosymbiont through the ovarial passage. Phylogenetic analyses based on bacterial 16S rRNA, groEL and gyrB genes consistently supported a coherent monophyly of the Nysius endosymbionts. The possibility of a sister relationship to 'Candidatus Kleidoceria schneideri', the bacteriome-associated endosymbiont of a lygaeid bug Kleidocerys resedae, was statistically rejected, indicating independent evolutionary origins of the endosymbionts in the Lygaeidae. The endosymbiont genes consistently exhibited AT-biased nucleotide compositions and accelerated rates of molecular evolution, and the endosymbiont genome was only 0.6 Mb in size. The endosymbiont phylogeny was congruent with the host insect phylogeny, suggesting strict vertical transmission and host-symbiont co-speciation over evolutionary time. Based on these results, we discuss the evolution of bacteriomes and endosymbionts in the Heteroptera, most members of which are associated with gut symbiotic bacteria. The designation 'Candidatus Schneideria nysicola' is proposed for the endosymbiont clade.}, } @article {pmid21812142, year = {2011}, author = {Timokhina, TKh and Nikolenko, MV and Varnitsina, VV and Perunova, NB and Bukharin, OV}, title = {[Modification of infrastructure of Candida albicans under the influence of associative microbiota exometabolites].}, journal = {Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii}, volume = {}, number = {3}, pages = {67-70}, pmid = {21812142}, issn = {0372-9311}, mesh = {Candida albicans/enzymology/*pathogenicity ; Cell Adhesion ; Circadian Rhythm ; Escherichia coli/*metabolism ; Metagenome ; Phospholipases/metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus/*metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {AIM: Evaluation of the influence of bacterial microbiota exometabolites on temporal organization of biological features of Candida albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS; Experiments were carried out on the model of C. albicans 24433 ATCC for 24 hours with 4 hour intervals. Biorythms of proliferative, phospholipase and adhesive activity of fungi were studied. Influence of exometabolites of Staphylococcus aureus 25923 ATCC, Escherichia coli 35218 ATCC, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853 ATCC on biological properties of C. albicans were examined. The results were statistically analyzed by using Student's t-test.

RESULTS: Circadian biological rhythms were detected for all investigated parameters of C. albicans 24433 ATCC. In the presence of exometabolites of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, rhythm profile and amplitude oscillation of the fungi changes, and phase synchronism is disrupted. Under the influence of exometabolites of Gram-negative microbiota a marked desynchrony of fungi adhesive activity was observed.

CONCLUSION: The results obtained confirm the key role of microorganisms in the formation and regulation of pathogenic microsymbiocenosis, and determine the necessity to study mechanisms of symbiotic interaction of bacteria and fungi.}, } @article {pmid21811417, year = {2011}, author = {Ganot, P and Moya, A and Magnone, V and Allemand, D and Furla, P and Sabourault, C}, title = {Adaptations to endosymbiosis in a cnidarian-dinoflagellate association: differential gene expression and specific gene duplications.}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, volume = {7}, number = {7}, pages = {e1002187}, pmid = {21811417}, issn = {1553-7404}, mesh = {Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/classification/genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/classification/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/*genetics/physiology ; France ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Geography ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Mediterranean Sea ; Membrane Proteins/classification/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sea Anemones/*genetics/parasitology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Time Factors ; *Transcriptome ; }, abstract = {Trophic endosymbiosis between anthozoans and photosynthetic dinoflagellates forms the key foundation of reef ecosystems. Dysfunction and collapse of symbiosis lead to bleaching (symbiont expulsion), which is responsible for the severe worldwide decline of coral reefs. Molecular signals are central to the stability of this partnership and are therefore closely related to coral health. To decipher inter-partner signaling, we developed genomic resources (cDNA library and microarrays) from the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Here we describe differential expression between symbiotic (also called zooxanthellate anemones) or aposymbiotic (also called bleached) A. viridis specimens, using microarray hybridizations and qPCR experiments. We mapped, for the first time, transcript abundance separately in the epidermal cell layer and the gastrodermal cells that host photosynthetic symbionts. Transcriptomic profiles showed large inter-individual variability, indicating that aposymbiosis could be induced by different pathways. We defined a restricted subset of 39 common genes that are characteristic of the symbiotic or aposymbiotic states. We demonstrated that transcription of many genes belonging to this set is specifically enhanced in the symbiotic cells (gastroderm). A model is proposed where the aposymbiotic and therefore heterotrophic state triggers vesicular trafficking, whereas the symbiotic and therefore autotrophic state favors metabolic exchanges between host and symbiont. Several genetic pathways were investigated in more detail: i) a key vitamin K-dependant process involved in the dinoflagellate-cnidarian recognition; ii) two cnidarian tissue-specific carbonic anhydrases involved in the carbon transfer from the environment to the intracellular symbionts; iii) host collagen synthesis, mostly supported by the symbiotic tissue. Further, we identified specific gene duplications and showed that the cnidarian-specific isoform was also up-regulated both in the symbiotic state and in the gastroderm. Our results thus offer new insight into the inter-partner signaling required for the physiological mechanisms of the symbiosis that is crucial for coral health.}, } @article {pmid21809981, year = {2011}, author = {Rightmyer, AP and Long, SR}, title = {Pseudonodule formation by wild-type and symbiotic mutant Medicago truncatula in response to auxin transport inhibitors.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {11}, pages = {1372-1384}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-11-0103}, pmid = {21809981}, issn = {0894-0282}, support = {//Howard Hughes Medical Institute/United States ; }, mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biological Transport ; DNA Primers ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Indoleacetic Acids/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Medicago truncatula/metabolism/microbiology/*physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Phthalimides/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA Interference ; *Symbiosis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Triiodobenzoic Acids/*pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium and allied bacteria form symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules on legume roots. Plant hormones play key roles in nodule formation. We treated Medicago truncatula roots with auxin transport inhibitors (ATI) N-(1-naphthyl)phthalamic acid (NPA) and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) to induce the formation of pseudonodules. M. truncatula mutants defective for rhizobial Nod factor signal transduction still formed pseudonodules in response to ATI. However, a M. truncatula ethylene-insensitive supernodulator, sickle 1-1, did not form pseudonodules in response to TIBA, suggesting that the ethylene response pathway is involved in ATI-induced pseudonodule formation. We compared the transcriptional responses of M. truncatula roots treated with ATI to roots inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti. Some genes showed consistently parallel expression in ATI-induced and Rhizobium-induced nodules. For other genes, the transcriptional response of M. truncatula roots 1 and 7 days after ATI treatment was in the opposite direction to roots treated with S. meliloti; then, by 21 days, the transcriptional patterns for the two conditions became similar. We silenced 17 genes that were upregulated in both ATI and S. meliloti treatments to determine their effect on nodule formation. Some gene-silenced roots showed a decrease in nodulation efficiency, suggesting a role in nodule formation but not in later nodule functions.}, } @article {pmid21809980, year = {2011}, author = {Vercruysse, M and Fauvart, M and Beullens, S and Braeken, K and Cloots, L and Engelen, K and Marchal, K and Michiels, J}, title = {A comparative transcriptome analysis of Rhizobium etli bacteroids: specific gene expression during symbiotic nongrowth.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {24}, number = {12}, pages = {1553-1561}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-11-0140}, pmid = {21809980}, issn = {0894-0282}, mesh = {Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/*genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/*genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phaseolus/microbiology/*physiology ; Rhizobium etli/*genetics/growth & development/physiology ; Symbiosis/*genetics ; Transcriptome/*genetics ; Up-Regulation ; }, abstract = {Rhizobium etli occurs either in a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with its host plant, Phaseolus vulgaris, or free-living in the soil. During both conditions, the bacterium has been suggested to reside primarily in a nongrowing state. Using genome-wide transcriptome profiles, we here examine the molecular basis of the physiological adaptations of rhizobia to nongrowth inside and outside of the host. Compared with exponentially growing cells, we found an extensive overlap of downregulated growth-associated genes during both symbiosis and stationary phase, confirming the essentially nongrowing state of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids in determinate nodules that are not terminally differentiated. In contrast, the overlap of upregulated genes was limited. Generally, actively growing cells have hitherto been used as reference to analyze symbiosis-specific expression. However, this prevents the distinction between differential expression arising specifically from adaptation to a symbiotic lifestyle and features associated with nongrowth in general. Using stationary phase as the reference condition, we report a distinct transcriptome profile for bacteroids, containing 203 induced and 354 repressed genes. Certain previously described symbiosis-specific characteristics, such as the downregulation of amino acid metabolism genes, were no longer observed, indicating that these features are more likely due to the nongrowing state of bacteroids rather than representing bacteroid-specific physiological adaptations.}, } @article {pmid21808011, year = {2011}, author = {Schwendemann, AB and Decombeix, AL and Taylor, TN and Taylor, EL and Krings, M}, title = {Morphological and functional stasis in mycorrhizal root nodules as exhibited by a Triassic conifer.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {108}, number = {33}, pages = {13630-13634}, pmid = {21808011}, issn = {1091-6490}, mesh = {Antarctic Regions ; Fossils ; *Mycorrhizae/cytology/physiology ; Plant Roots ; *Root Nodules, Plant/cytology/physiology ; Soil ; Symbiosis ; *Tracheophyta ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal root nodules occur in the conifer families Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Sciadopityaceae. Although the fossil record of these families can be traced back into the early Mesozoic, the oldest fossil evidence of root nodules previously came from the Cretaceous. Here we report on cellularly preserved root nodules of the early conifer Notophytum from Middle Triassic permineralized peat of Antarctica. These fossil root nodules contain fungal arbuscules, hyphal coils, and vesicles in their cortex. Numerous glomoid-type spores are found in the peat matrix surrounding the nodules. This discovery indicates that mutualistic associations between conifer root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi date back to at least the early Mesozoic, the period during which most of the modern conifer families first appeared. Notophytum root nodules predate the next known appearance of this association by 100 million years, indicating that this specialized form of mycorrhizal symbiosis has ancient origins.}, } @article {pmid21806823, year = {2011}, author = {De Mita, S and Chantret, N and Loridon, K and Ronfort, J and Bataillon, T}, title = {Molecular adaptation in flowering and symbiotic recognition pathways: insights from patterns of polymorphism in the legume Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {BMC evolutionary biology}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {229}, pmid = {21806823}, issn = {1471-2148}, mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Medicago truncatula/*genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Selection, Genetic ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We studied patterns of molecular adaptation in the wild Mediterranean legume Medicago truncatula. We focused on two phenotypic traits that are not functionally linked: flowering time and perception of symbiotic microbes. Phenology is an important fitness component, especially for annual plants, and many instances of molecular adaptation have been reported for genes involved in flowering pathways. While perception of symbiotic microbes is also integral to adaptation in many plant species, very few reports of molecular adaptation exist for symbiotic genes. Here we used data from 57 individuals and 53 gene fragments to quantify the overall strength of both positive and purifying selection in M. truncatula and asked if footprints of positive selection can be detected at key genes of rhizobia recognition pathways.

RESULTS: We examined nucleotide variation among 57 accessions from natural populations in 53 gene fragments: 5 genes involved in nitrogen-fixing bacteria recognition, 11 genes involved in flowering, and 37 genes used as control loci. We detected 1757 polymorphic sites yielding an average nucleotide diversity (pi) of 0.003 per site. Non-synonymous variation is under sizable purifying selection with 90% of amino-acid changing mutations being strongly selected against. Accessions were structured in two groups consistent with geographical origins. Each of these two groups harboured an excess of rare alleles, relative to expectations of a constant-sized population, suggesting recent population expansion. Using coalescent simulations and an approximate Bayesian computation framework we detected several instances of genes departing from selective neutrality within each group and showed that the polymorphism of two nodulation and four flowering genes has probably been shaped by recent positive selection.

CONCLUSION: We quantify the intensity of purifying selection in the M. truncatula genome and show that putative footprints of natural selection can be detected at different time scales in both flowering and symbiotic pathways.}, } @article {pmid21804354, year = {2011}, author = {Sharon, G and Segal, D and Zilber-Rosenberg, I and Rosenberg, E}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria are responsible for diet-induced mating preference in Drosophila melanogaster, providing support for the hologenome concept of evolution.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {2}, number = {3}, pages = {190-192}, doi = {10.4161/gmic.2.3.16103}, pmid = {21804354}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; Bacteria/*genetics/isolation & purification ; *Biological Evolution ; Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/microbiology/*physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract/*microbiology ; Genome ; Humans ; Male ; *Mating Preference, Animal ; *Metagenome ; Models, Animal ; *Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Diet-induced mating preference in Drosophila melanogaster results from amplification of the commensal bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum, providing a new role for gut microbiota and support for the hologenome concept of evolution. When the flies were treated with antibiotics prior to changing their diet, mating preference did not occur. These data also indicate that other potentially beneficial bacteria could be irreversibly lost by antibiotic treatment and that their replacement could provide a health benefit. We suggest that D. melanogaster can be a useful model organism to study the activities of gut microbiota and their interaction with the immune system.}, } @article {pmid21803889, year = {2011}, author = {Zhou, J and Ma, Q and Yi, H and Wang, L and Song, H and Yuan, YJ}, title = {Metabolome profiling reveals metabolic cooperation between Bacillus megaterium and Ketogulonicigenium vulgare during induced swarm motility.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {77}, number = {19}, pages = {7023-7030}, pmid = {21803889}, issn = {1098-5336}, mesh = {Agar ; Bacillus megaterium/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Chromatography, Gas ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Locomotion ; *Metabolome ; *Microbial Interactions ; Rhodobacteraceae/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; }, abstract = {The metabolic cooperation in the ecosystem of Bacillus megaterium and Ketogulonicigenium vulgare was investigated by cultivating them spatially on a soft agar plate. We found that B. megaterium swarmed in a direction along the trace of K. vulgare on the agar plate. Metabolomics based on gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) was employed to analyze the interaction mechanism between the two microorganisms. We found that the microorganisms interact by exchanging a number of metabolites. Both intracellular metabolism and cell-cell communication via metabolic cooperation were essential in determining the population dynamics of the ecosystem. The contents of amino acids and other nutritional compounds in K. vulgare were rather low in comparison to those in B. megaterium, but the levels of these compounds in the medium surrounding K. vulgare were fairly high, even higher than in fresh medium. Erythrose, erythritol, guanine, and inositol accumulated around B. megaterium were consumed by K. vulgare upon its migration. The oxidization products of K. vulgare, including 2-keto-gulonic acids (2KGA), were sharply increased. Upon coculturing of B. megaterium and K. vulgare, 2,6-dipicolinic acid (the biomarker of sporulation of B. megaterium), was remarkably increased compared with those in the monocultures. Therefore, the interactions between B. megaterium and K. vulgare were a synergistic combination of mutualism and antagonism. This paper is the first to systematically identify a symbiotic interaction mechanism via metabolites in the ecosystem established by two isolated colonies of B. megaterium and K. vulgare.}, } @article {pmid21802711, year = {2011}, author = {Marini, L and Nascimbene, J and Nimis, PL}, title = {Large-scale patterns of epiphytic lichen species richness: photobiont-dependent response to climate and forest structure.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {409}, number = {20}, pages = {4381-4386}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.07.010}, pmid = {21802711}, issn = {1879-1026}, mesh = {Chlorophyta/*classification/growth & development ; *Climate ; Cyanobacteria/*classification/growth & development ; Environmental Monitoring/*methods ; Italy ; Lichens/*classification/growth & development ; Models, Theoretical ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeography ; *Trees ; }, abstract = {Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic association of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner. Although the photobiont type is a key life-history trait, tests of the potential differential role of the main photobiont types in shaping large-scale patterns of lichen species richness are still absent. The aim of the study was to test the influences of forest structure and climate on epiphytic lichen species richness across Italy and to see whether these relationships change for groups of species sharing different photobiont types. Regional species richness of epiphytic lichens divided into three main photobiont types (i.e. chlorococcoid green algae, cyanobacteria, and Trentepohlia algae) was retrieved for each of the 20 administrative regions. Multiple linear regression was used to quantify the effect of climate and forest structure, and their potential interaction, on the regional species richness for the three photobiont types, accounting also for the effect of regional area. Regional species richness was associated with both climate and forest structure variables but the relationships with both factors were largely photobiont dependent. Regional area and precipitation were the only predictors included in all the models, confirming the strong dependence of lichens on atmospheric water supply, irrespective of the photobiont type. Number of species with chlorococcoid green algae were further positively associated with cover of high forest, whilst lichens with Trentepohlia were further enhanced by warm temperatures. Cyanolichen species richness was only related to area and precipitation. Our study shed light on the relative importance of climate and forest structure on lichen species richness patterns at the macroscale, showing a differential response of the photobiont types to various environmental determinants. This differential response suggested that the current and future impacts of global change on lichens cannot be generalized and that species richness response will be likely dependent on the photobiont type.}, } @article {pmid21802605, year = {2010}, author = {Novák, K}, title = {Early action of pea symbiotic gene NOD3 is confirmed by adventitious root phenotype.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {179}, number = {5}, pages = {472-478}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2010.07.007}, pmid = {21802605}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {A supernodulating and Nts (nitrate-tolerant symbiosis) symbiotic mutation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) line RisfixC was found to retain its expression in the distant genetic background of pea lines Afghanistan L1268, Zhodino E900, and cv. Arvika. This finding allowed for reliable scoring for the trait in mapping crosses. The RisfixC mutation was localized 8.2cM apart from SYM2 and cosegregated with molecular markers for SYM2-NOD3 region Psc923 and OA-1. Grafting experiments showed that supernodulation is root-determined, consistently with mutants in the NOD3 locus. Therefore, the mutation of RisfixC can be localized in gene NOD3. Like in other published nod3 alleles, the RisfixC mutation determines supernodulation when it is expressed in the root but not in the shoot. Supernodulated adventitious roots that are spontaneously formed in the wild-type scions on mutant rootstocks indicate that the descending systemic signal, which is inhibitory to nodule formation, is absent in this type of chimeric plants. Since the descending signal production in the wild-type shoot reflects the presence of the ascending root signal, the nod3-associated lesion must be located in the beginning of the systemic circuit regulating nodule number.}, } @article {pmid21802055, year = {2011}, author = {Bergeron, MJ and Leal, I and Foord, B and Ross, G and Davis, C and Slippers, B and de Groot, P and Hamelin, RC}, title = {Putative origin of clonal lineages of Amylostereum areolatum, the fungal symbiont associated with Sirex noctilio, retrieved from Pinus sylvestris, in eastern Canada.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {115}, number = {8}, pages = {750-758}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2011.05.009}, pmid = {21802055}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {Animals ; Basidiomycota/*classification/genetics/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Canada ; Hymenoptera/*microbiology/physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Pinus sylvestris/*parasitology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The Eurasian Sirex noctilio-Amylostereum areolatum complex was discovered and has become established close to the North American Great Lakes in the 2000s. This invasive forest insect pest represents a very high risk to native and exotic pines in North America. We investigated the geographical origin of clonal lineages of the fungal symbiont A. areolatum in the recently pest-colonized eastern Canadian region by analyzing mitochondrial and nuclear sequence variations and comparing the genetic diversity of a worldwide collection of fungal symbionts among six countries where the Sirex complex is native and four countries from which the insect-fungal complex has been introduced. In total, 102 isolates were analyzed. While 12 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) are observed in the areas where S. noctilio is native, only two MLGs are retrieved from areas where S. noctilio is not native, indicating the wide spread of clonal lineages in the introduced fungal symbiont of S. noctilio. MLG2 comprises 26% of the Canadian isolates and is also observed in Chile and South Africa, where the insect-fungal complex has also been introduced. MLG3 comprises 74% of the Canadian isolates and is also observed in the USA, but nowhere else in our worldwide collection. Thus, at least one of the Canadian clonal lineages shares a common origin with A. areolatum isolates from the Southern Hemisphere. The source of the second clonal lineage is still unknown, but phylogenetic analyses show that MLG3 is isolated. More extended sampling is necessary to determine the origin of this fungal clonal lineage and investigate its probable symbiotic association with native North American Sirex.}, }